PMID- 26862932
TI  - Ratio of platelet count/spleen diameter predicted the presence of esophageal
      varices in patients with schistosomiasis liver cirrhosis.
AB  - AIM: To examine the platelet count (PC)/spleen diameter (SD) ratio in predicting
      the presence of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with schistosomiasis liver
      cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 consecutive patients with EV
      induced by schistosomiasis liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this trial. A total
      of 141 schistosomiasis liver cirrhosis patients without EV were enrolled as
      controls. All patients were diagnosed by endoscopy. Demographic, laboratory, and
      Doppler ultrasound parameters were collected and analyzed. Binary logistic
      regression analysis was carried out to identify independent risk factors
      associated with EV occurrence. Receiver operating curves were generated to obtain
      the PC/SD ratio cutoff values for the optimal sensitivity and specificity with
      respect to EV. RESULTS: The accuracy was increased in diagnosing for EV using the
      ratio of PC/SD compared with the SD alone [area under the curve: 0.891 95%
      confidence interval (CI): 0.844-0.928 vs. 0.764 95% CI: 0.705-0.817; P<0.01]. The
      optimal cutoff value was 1004, with a 77.1% (95% CI: 67.9-84.8%) positive
      predictive value and an 89.3% (95% CI: 82.7-94.0%) negative-predictive value.
      Using a cutoff of 1004, it was determined that 117/141 (83.0%) patients without
      EV could avoid undergoing unnecessary endoscopy, whereas 14/95 (14.7%) patients
      with EV would be misdiagnosed. In contrast, when the ratio was set at 909, the
      positive-predictive and negative-predictive values were 79.5% (95% CI: 69.5
      87.4%) and 83.1% (95% CI: 76.1-88.8%), respectively. A ratio of 909 would
      accurately predict the absence of EV in 123/141 (87.2%) patients; however, 24/95
      (25.3%) patients with EV would miss the necessary screening endoscopy.
      CONCLUSION: The ratio of PC/SD was a useful marker in predicting the presence of
      EV in patients with schistosomiasis liver cirrhosis.

PMID- 26862933
TI  - Pulmonary functions in children with inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate fractional exhaled nitric-oxide (FeNO) levels in
      children with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and their
      correlation to disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with CD and UC
      (aged 8-18 years) and age-matched healthy controls without respiratory symptoms
      were recruited. Disease activity was assessed using validated scores. All
      children performed spirometry and FeNO tests and the association between
      intestinal disease parameters and pulmonary functions was studied. RESULTS:
      Thirty-five children with CD, nine with UC, and 24 healthy controls were
      enrolled. The mean FeNO level was higher in children with CD compared with the
      controls. Increased FeNO levels (>23 parts per billion) were more common among CD
      and UC compared with healthy children (46, 33, and 0%, respectively, P<0.05).
      Nevertheless, FeNO levels did not correlate with disease activity. There were no
      significant differences between CD, UC patients, and healthy controls in any of
      the spirometric variables. CONCLUSION: FeNO level, a marker of airway
      inflammation, is elevated in children with inflammatory bowel diseases
      irrespective of their intestinal disease activity. Increased FeNO levels are not
      associated with respiratory symptoms, suggesting a latent pulmonary involvement
      in the systemic disease.

PMID- 26862934
TI  - Factors associated with impaired quality of life in French patients with chronic
      idiopathic constipation: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Chronic idiopathic constipation can impact the health-related quality
      of life (QoL). We aimed to evaluate QoL in French patients with different
      clinical types of chronic constipation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study,
      338 general practitioners included 1710 consecutive adult patients who fulfilled
      the Rome III criteria for constipation and agreed to complete Patient-Assessment
      of Constipation Quality of Life and Symptom questionnaires. Sociodemographic and
      medical data were collected. Multivariate analyses enabled identification of
      factors associated with poor QoL using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence
      intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: Overall, 1673 patients were eligible for analyses;
      32% had infrequent evacuation (IE) of feces, 24% had difficult evacuation (DE) of
      feces, and 44% had both (IE+DE). The mean global Patient-Assessment of
      Constipation Quality of Life score was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.9-2.0), with a
      significantly worse QoL for IE+DE patients (mean 2.0; 95% CI: 2.0-2.1); 23% of
      patients reported a poor QoL, that is, a more than 2.4 (29% in IE+DE group,
      P<0.0001). Poor QoL was significantly associated with psychosocial parameters,
      associated digestive symptoms, but the main factors were the use of rectal
      treatment (OR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.9-3.3), one or less defecation/week (OR 3.5; 95% CI:
      2.2-5.7), and weak/null perceived treatment efficiency (OR 4.3; 95% CI: 2.8-6.5).
      CONCLUSION: Chronic constipation is associated with a significant decrease in
      QoL, especially in patients suffering from both infrequent and DE of feces and
      feeling unsatisfied by their treatments.

PMID- 26862935
TI  - Brain potentials associated with the shape Stroop effect.
AB  - Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to explore, for the first time, the
      electrophysiological correlates of the shape Stroop effect. Fifteen healthy
      individuals were presented with a frame and a name of an object with a typical
      shape in life and asked to categorize the object's typical shape in life as a
      'circle', a 'square,' or a 'triangle' by pressing the relevant button as quickly
      as possible. Accurate categorization of the name of an object was faster when it
      was presented with a congruent shape frame (e.g. name of a tyre/circle frame)
      than with an incongruent one (e.g. name of a tyre/square frame). Scalp ERPs
      analysis showed that the incongruent condition elicited a more negative component
      N430 and a more late positive component LPC than the congruent condition. N430 is
      a critical sign of conflict detection in the early stage, whereas late positive
      component reflects the response conflict in the late stage. The results provided
      evidence for the dissociation between conflict detection and conflict resolution
      in the shape Stroop effect. 

PMID- 26862936
TI  - Using Digital Image Correlation to Characterize Local Strains on Vascular Tissue
      Specimens.
AB  - Characterization of the mechanical behavior of biological and engineered soft
      tissues is a central component of fundamental biomedical research and product
      development. Stress-strain relationships are typically obtained from mechanical
      testing data to enable comparative assessment among samples and in some cases
      identification of constitutive mechanical properties. However, errors may be
      introduced through the use of average strain measures, as significant
      heterogeneity in the strain field may result from geometrical non-uniformity of
      the sample and stress concentrations induced by mounting/gripping of soft tissues
      within the test system. When strain field heterogeneity is significant, accurate
      assessment of the sample mechanical response requires measurement of local
      strains. This study demonstrates a novel biomechanical testing protocol for
      calculating local surface strains using a mechanical testing device coupled with
      a high resolution camera and a digital image correlation technique. A series of
      sample surface images are acquired and then analyzed to quantify the local
      surface strain of a vascular tissue specimen subjected to ramped uniaxial
      loading. This approach can improve accuracy in experimental vascular biomechanics
      and has potential for broader use among other native soft tissues, engineered
      soft tissues, and soft hydrogel/polymeric materials. In the video, we demonstrate
      how to set up the system components and perform a complete experiment on native
      vascular tissue. 

PMID- 26862937
TI  - Apical Resection Mouse Model to Study Early Mammalian Heart Regeneration.
AB  - Cardiovascular disease plagues the whole world due to intensive lifestyle
      changes. Heart regeneration holds great promise for repairing and restoring
      cardiomyocytes lost due to injury and disease. In contrast to the robust cardiac
      regeneration of certain lower vertebrates, adult mammalian hearts typically show
      minimal capacity for heart regeneration and repair. However, recent studies have
      sparked considerable scientific interest with the finding that, between postnatal
      day 1 to 7 (P1 to P7), the neonatal mouse heart retains significant regenerative
      potential after apical resection (i.e., surgical amputation and exposure of left
      ventricular apex). One major controversy over this finding might be due to the
      diverse surgery-related procedures used in efforts to replicate or expand upon
      this important finding. These instructions dynamically present the materials and
      methodology for apical resection in a mouse model. The salient steps of this
      rodent survival surgery involve hypothermia anesthesia, thoracotomy, surgical
      amputation of heart ventricular apex, and suture and recovery of mice. The
      approach described could expand the application of the apical resection mouse
      model for cardiovascular research. 

PMID- 26862938
TI  - Increased Ghrelin Levels and Unchanged Adipocytokine Levels in Major Depressive
      Disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: One of the hypotheses of the pathophysiology of major depressive
      disorder (MDD) proposes that there is a relationship between adipocytokine and
      ghrelin levels and depression. METHODS: Patients with major depression with a BMI
      <=25 kg/m2 between the ages of 11 and 18 years (n = 30) were compared with a
      healthy control group (n = 30). Both groups were evaluated across a pretreatment
      period (MD-PT) and an improved period (MD-I). We measured serum leptin,
      adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin levels and other parameters related to
      metabolic syndrome, such as glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (homeostasis
      model assessment [HOMA]), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TCHOL).
      RESULTS: Leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels did not differ across groups;
      however, ghrelin levels were increased in the MD-I group compared with the
      control and MD-PT groups (p < 0.05). HOMA levels were also higher in the MD-PT
      group than in the control group (p < 0.05). After treatment, there was no
      difference in this measurement. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between
      adipocytokines and major depression may be dependent on ghrelin levels as a
      result of antidepressant treatment and subsequent obesity.

PMID- 26862940
TI  - 500-mA ECT-A Proof of Concept Report.

PMID- 26862939
TI  - Identification of Critical Conditions for Immunostaining in the Pea Aphid
      Embryos: Increasing Tissue Permeability and Decreasing Background Staining.
AB  - The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, with a sequenced genome and abundant
      phenotypic plasticity, has become an emerging model for genomic and developmental
      studies. Like other aphids, A. pisum propagate rapidly via parthenogenetic
      viviparous reproduction, where the embryos develop within egg chambers in an
      assembly-line fashion in the ovariole. Previously we have established a robust
      platform of whole-mount in situ hybridization allowing detection of mRNA
      expression in the aphid embryos. For analyzing the expression of protein, though,
      established protocols for immunostaining the ovarioles of asexual viviparous
      aphids did not produce satisfactory results. Here we report conditions optimized
      for increasing tissue permeability and decreasing background staining, both of
      which were problems when applying established approaches. Optimizations include:
      (1) incubation of proteinase K (1 ug/ml, 10 min), which was found essential for
      antibody penetration in mid- and late-stage aphid embryos; (2) replacement of
      normal goat serum/bovine serum albumin with a blocking reagent supplied by a
      Digoxigenin (DIG)-based buffer set and (3) application of methanol rather
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for bleaching endogenous peroxidase; which significantly
      reduced the background staining in the aphid tissues. These critical conditions
      optimized for immunostaining will allow effective detection of gene products in
      the embryos of A. pisum and other aphids. 

PMID- 26862941
TI  - Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries Using Fast, Stable, Glassy Nanocomposite
      Electrolytes for Good Safety and Long Cycle-Life.
AB  - The development of safe, stable, and long-life Li-ion batteries is being
      intensively pursued to enable the electrification of transportation and
      intelligent grid applications. Here, we report a new solid-state Li-ion battery
      technology, using a solid nanocomposite electrolyte composed of porous silica
      matrices with in situ immobilizing Li(+)-conducting ionic liquid, anode material
      of MCMB, and cathode material of LiCoO2, LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, or LiFePO4. An
      injection printing method is used for the electrode/electrolyte preparation.
      Solid nanocomposite electrolytes exhibit superior performance to the conventional
      organic electrolytes with regard to safety and cycle-life. They also have a
      transparent glassy structure with high ionic conductivity and good mechanical
      strength. Solid-state full cells tested with the various cathodes exhibited high
      specific capacities, long cycling stability, and excellent high temperature
      performance. This solid-state battery technology will provide new avenues for the
      rational engineering of advanced Li-ion batteries and other electrochemical
      devices. 

PMID- 26862942
TI  - Supernumerary nipples--a new finding in Williams syndrome.

PMID- 26862943
TI  - Temple syndrome misdiagnosed as Silver-Russell syndrome.

PMID- 26862944
TI  - 25-Gauge Vitrectomy with Epiretinal Membrane and Internal Limiting Membrane
      Peeling in Eyes with Very Good Visual Acuity.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in
      patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and preoperative visual acuity (VA) of
      20/40 or better. METHODS: 44 eyes that underwent PPV and ERM peeling were
      included in this retrospective study. Data retrieved included demographic
      information, VA and intraocular pressure (IOP) preoperatively, after 1 month, 6
      months and at final visit, presence of metamorphopsia, surgical reports, and
      occurrence of any complications. RESULTS: Mean preoperative VA was 20/36 (0.24 +/
      0.08 logMAR) and had improved to 20/27 (0.13 +/- 0.11 logMAR) at the final
      follow-up (p < 0.001). Thirty (68.1%) eyes had improved by 1 line of vision or
      more, and 10 (22.7%) achieved final 20/20 vision. Significant improvement in
      vision was achieved earlier in eyes that underwent vitrectomy combined with
      cataract extraction. Preoperative OCT scans demonstrated preserved outer retinal
      layer structure. CONCLUSIONS: PPV and ERM peeling is a safe and effective
      procedure in eyes with very good preoperative VA. PPV combined with cataract
      extraction offers a faster improvement in VA than PPV alone with deferred
      cataract surgery. PPV should be considered in symptomatic eyes with ERM and VA of
      20/40 or better, in order to preserve and even improve the VA.

PMID- 26862945
TI  - Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Expression in the Neovasculature of
      Gynecologic Malignancies: Implications for PSMA-targeted Therapy.
AB  - The goal of the study was to examine expression of prostate-specific membrane
      antigen (PSMA) in neovasculature of gynecologic cancers, as PSMA-targeted therapy
      has showed a promise in treatment of advanced carcinomas. The study included
      cervical carcinoma (n=28), vulvar carcinoma (n=20), endometrial carcinoma (n=23),
      primary ovarian carcinoma (n=21), metastatic ovarian carcinoma (n=25), and normal
      cervix (n=12) as negative control. All cases were immunostained using anti-CD31
      antibody to delineate capillary endothelial cells. In parallel, all cases were
      immunostained using anti-PSMA antibody. The PSMA staining was assessed in tumor
      capillaries and in normal tissues and scored as a percentage of CD31 staining.
      PSMA expression was found in the tumor neovasculature, and no significant
      expression was identified in vasculature of normal tissues. The extent of PSMA
      staining in tumor capillaries varied from high expression in ovarian and
      endometrial cancers, to medium expression in cervical squamous cell carcinomas,
      and low expression in cervical adenocarcinomas and vulvar cancers. All (100%)
      cases of primary ovarian carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma metastases, and primary
      endometrial carcinoma showed PSMA expression in tumor vasculature, which was
      diffuse in majority of cases. The expression of PSMA in ovarian cancer metastases
      was similar among different metastatic foci of the same tumor. Fifteen percent of
      cervical squamous cell carcinoma, 50% of cervical adenocarcinoma, and 75% of
      vulvar carcinomas showed no capillary expression of PSMA. In conclusion, PSMA is
      highly and specifically expressed in the neovasculature of ovarian, endometrial,
      and cervical squamous carcinoma, rendering it a potential therapeutic vascular
      target.

PMID- 26862946
TI  - Ki67 Labeling Correlated With Invasion But Not With Recurrence.
AB  - Pituitary adenomas account for 10% to 15% of intracranial neoplasms. Multiple
      factors had been introduced for tumor recurrence. MIB-1 monoclonal antibody, a
      marker of the proliferative index, has been introduced in various tumors, but
      unfortunately, the usefulness of MIB-1 in predicting the behavior of pituitary
      adenoma has been debated recently. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate
      its role in the recurrence and the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas. In a cross
      sectional study conducted between 2005 and 2010, patients with a diagnosis of
      pituitary adenoma, referred to 2 medical centers (Arad and Iran Mehr hospital) in
      Tehran, were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory data were gathered. Immunostaining
      for MIB-1 monoclonal antibody was performed for each slide and scored blindly by
      2 pathologists. A total of 176 surgically treated patients met the inclusion
      criteria. Thirty-six of 176 cases had recurrent episodes. Eleven of 176 patients
      had invasive tumors. The mean Ki67 index was 2.7%+/-3.96% in recurrent cases and
      2.24%+/-2.35% in nonrecurring cases, with no statistically significant difference
      between them (P>0.05). Ten of 11 invasive pituitary tumors had a Ki67>3%, and a
      statistically significant difference was observed between invasive and
      noninvasive tumors (P<0.05). Hence, the Ki67 index seems to be suitable for
      predicting invasion, but it failed to show any correlation between Ki67 and tumor
      recurrence.

PMID- 26862947
TI  - The Potential Diagnostic Utility of TROP-2 in Thyroid Neoplasms.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Human trophoblast cell-surface marker (TROP-2) has been reported to
      be overexpressed in various human carcinomas (CAs) and suggested to be a
      prognostic marker for some CAs. The diagnostic utility of TROP-2 in CAs has not
      been explored. METHODS: Immunohistochemical evaluation of TROP-2 expression on
      tissue microarray sections of 136 thyroid neoplasms, surgical specimens of 61
      atypical thyroid follicular-patterned lesions [including 33 papillary thyroid
      carcinomas (PTCs), 17 atypical follicular neoplasms (AFNs), and 11 adenomatoid
      nodules with focal nuclear atypia (ANFNA)], and 20 benign thyroid lesions, as
      well as 10 cytology specimens of PTCs was performed. For comparison, immunoassay
      for Hector Battifora mesothelial-1 (HBME-1), galectin-3, and cytokeratin 19 was
      performed on the 61 atypical thyroid follicular-patterned lesions. RESULTS:
      Strong membranous staining with TROP-2 was seen in 94% (33/35) of classic PTCs
      and 81% (30/37) of confirmed follicular variant PTCs on tissue microarray and
      routine surgical sections, as well as 100% (10/10) of PTCs on cytology specimens;
      it was not observed in follicular adenomas (n=51) or CAs (n=37), AFNs or ANFNA
      (n=28), benign (n=20) or normal (n=15) thyroid tissue. In contrast, the
      expression of HBME-1 and galectin-3 was identified in 100% (33/33) of surgical
      cases of PTCs and in 57% (16/28) and 50% (14/28) of AFNs and ANFNA, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that a membranous TROP-2 staining pattern
      is highly specific for PTC, which may serve as a potential diagnostic marker
      aiding in the accurate classification of morphologically equivocal thyroid
      follicular-patterned lesions.

PMID- 26862948
TI  - Overexpression of SIRT1 is Associated With Poor Outcomes in Patients With Ovarian
      Carcinoma.
AB  - Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), originally identified as a longevity gene, regulates DNA
      repair and metabolism by deacetylating target proteins such as p53. SIRT1 plays a
      key role in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative
      disorders, and is considered to protect against age-related diseases including
      cancer. In contrast, SIRT1 may be oncogenic because its overexpression has been
      detected in many cancers. The aim of the present study was to clarify the
      expression and the role of SIRT1 in ovarian carcinoma (OvCa). The expression of
      SIRT1 was evaluated immunohistochemically in 16 cases of normal ovaries, 35 cases
      of endometriosis with/without carcinoma, and 68 cases of OvCa (endometrioid, 16;
      clear cell, 20; mucinous, 16; serous, 16). Staining results were evaluated
      semiquantitatively by the Immunoreactive Scoring System, and the relationships
      with clinicopathologic features and outcomes of patients were analyzed. The
      expression of SIRT1 was higher in endometrioid, mucinous, and clear-cell
      carcinomas than in the inclusion cysts of normal ovaries, but not in serous
      carcinoma (P=0.038). The expression of SIRT1 on OvCa did not correlate with age,
      stage, location of metastasis, or capsular penetration. However, elevated SIRT1
      expression was a significant predictor of shorter survival in univariate
      (P=0.038) and multivariate (P=0.037) survival analyses, regardless of the tumor
      stage. Results of the present study suggest a positive role for SIRT1 in the
      development of OvCa and its potential as a novel therapeutic target.

PMID- 26862949
TI  - Characterizing Molecular Variants and Clinical Utilization of Next-generation
      Sequencing in Advanced Breast Cancer.
AB  - Women with advanced breast carcinomas have few therapeutic options. Recent
      advances in genomic profiling represent a new paradigm of cancer classification
      and treatment, but experience with genomic testing in a clinical setting remains
      limited. We retrospectively determined the genomic variants and correlate these
      with histology [histomorphologic subtype, nuclear grade, standard
      immunohistochemistry (IHC)] and clinical utilization (ordering, turnaround time,
      report review, and targeted therapy). Among 48 patients, 2 showed no genetic
      alterations, 11 (23%) showed variants of unclear significance only and 35 (73%)
      showed variant(s) affecting function (VaF) and/or variants of unclear
      significance. Overall, 119 variants were observed in 20 of 50 tested genes. Each
      patient had a unique molecular profile, with numerous (n=58) variants not
      previously reported in breast cancer. VaF detected in more than 2 patients
      included: TP53 (n=21), PIK3CA (n=20), and FGFR1 (n=3). VaF comprised 46 single
      nucleotide variants (79%), 7 amplifications (12%), 3 frameshifts (5%), 1
      insertion (2%), and 1 deletion (2%). The tested samples had very high Ki67 index
      (average 57%+/-23%) and approximately half were hormone receptor and HER2
      negative (25/46, 54%). Metastatic breast carcinomas showed a higher average VaF
      versus breast-localized tumors (1.3+/-0.99 vs. 0.18+/-0.60, P<0.05). Next
      generation sequencing reports were promptly reported and reviewed (average 1 to 2
      d) and 7 (~25%) of potentially eligible patients received targeted therapy.
      Advanced breast cancers show unique landscapes of genetic variants. Most testing
      was done in late disease, often in metastatic and receptor-negative carcinomas.
      Next-generation sequencing results were promptly reported and reviewed, but the
      utilization of targeted therapies was limited.

PMID- 26862950
TI  - Downexpression of Matriptase-2 Correlates With Tumor Progression and Clinical
      Prognosis in Oral Squamous-Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of matriptase-2
      expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics, the histologic grade, and
      patient survival in oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical
      analysis of matriptase-2 expression was performed in 102 surgical specimens from
      patients with OSCC. The immunohistochemical results were further verified by
      quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The
      immunostaining intensity was scored on a scale ranging from 0 (absence of
      staining) to 3 (intense staining). The distribution score was determined by the
      percentage of stained cells on a scale ranging from 0 (<5%), 1 (5% to 25%), 2
      (25% to 50%), 3 (50% to 75%), to 4 (75% to 100%). The immunoscore of matriptase-2
      expression was the product of the above 2 scores and ranged from 0 to 12 for
      analysis. Faint matriptase-2 immunostaining was observed in the non-neoplastic
      oral mucosal epithelia. The matriptase-2 immunoscore was significantly higher in
      well-differentiated OSCCs than in poorly differentiated tumors (P=0.001).
      Moreover, a reduced matriptase-2 immunoscore was inversely correlated with the
      tumor size (P=0.017), a positive nodal stage (P=0.008), distant metastasis
      (P=0.032), and a late clinical stage (P=0.001). A lower immunoscore of matriptase
      2 expression revealed a significant association with poor survival (P=0.003). Our
      results demonstrate that the inverse expression of matriptase-2 correlates with
      tumor progression and an advanced TNM stage, and has a poor prognosis in patients
      with OSCC. These findings suggest that the expression of matriptase-2 may be both
      a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for this cancer.

PMID- 26862951
TI  - Expression Pattern of the BCL6 and ITM2B Proteins in Normal Human Brains and in
      Alzheimer Disease.
AB  - We reported that the integral membrane 2B gene (ITM2B, also called BRI2) is a
      target of BCL6 repression in lymphomas. Molecular alterations in ITM2B are
      associated with 2 neurodegenerative diseases, Familial British and Danish
      dementia, and dysregulation of ITM2B function has been implicated in the
      pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Although ITM2B expression has been
      studied, the distribution of BCL6 in human brain has not been described. Our goal
      is to analyze BCL6 and ITM2B localization in normal human brains and in AD by
      immunohistochemistry to understand their relationship. We found that, in general,
      they have a reciprocal relationship. BCL6 expression is present in isolated
      cortical neurons, granule cells in the cerebellum, scattered glial cells, and in
      some cells of the ependyma and choroid plexus. ITM2B is expressed in most
      cortical neurons, neurons of the hippocampus and dentate nucleus, cerebellar
      Purkinje and granule cells, and (newly described here) in focal neurons in the
      basal ganglia, many neurons of the thalamus and brainstem, many cells in the
      ependyma and choroid plexus, and in the smooth muscle of blood vessels. ITM2B
      expression is prominent in plaques in AD-containing dystrophic neurites but
      absent in neurofibrillary tangles; BCL6 expression is absent in neurofibrillary
      tangles and in the nuclei of cells associated with plaques in AD. It is essential
      to understand the localization of BCL6 and ITM2B in the brain before considering
      manipulation of their expression as a potential therapeutic tool.

PMID- 26862952
TI  - NRASQ61R Mutation-specific Immunohistochemistry is Highly Specific for Either
      NRASQ61R or KRASQ61R Mutation in Colorectal Carcinoma.
AB  - Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy is only indicated in RAS
      wild-type colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). It is recommended that both NRAS and KRAS
      mutation testing to be performed before a CRC is considered RAS wild-type. Given
      that mutation-specific immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been shown to be sensitive
      and specific for the detection of NRAS mutations in melanoma, we assessed the
      specificity of NRAS mutation-specific IHC in CRC. IHC was performed on tissue
      microarrays containing 2823 consecutive CRC undergoing surgery with curative
      intent using a novel mutation-specific antibody to the protein produced by the
      NRAS mutation (clone SP174). Tissue microarrays were assessed by 2 observers and
      all IHC-positive or equivocal cases were repeated on whole sections to confirm
      the result. Positive cases then underwent molecular testing by matrix-assisted
      laser desorption/ionization-time of flight polymerase chain reaction. In total,
      22 of 2823 (0.8%) CRCs demonstrated confirmed positive staining with complete
      interobserver concordance. RAS mutations were confirmed in all IHC-positive CRCs.
      In total, 11 cases harbored the NRASQ61R mutation. Surprisingly, 11 cases
      demonstrated the KRASQ61R mutation. We conclude that mutation-specific IHC with
      this currently available NRASQ61R antibody is highly specific for the presence of
      either NRASQ61R or KRASQ61R mutations in CRC. We caution that we did not assess
      the sensitivity of IHC and that this antibody does not detect other RAS
      mutations. Therefore, negative staining does not exclude a clinically significant
      RAS mutation. However, positive staining confirms the presence of an NRASQ61R or
      KRASQ61R mutation without the need for further molecular testing.

PMID- 26862953
TI  - Intratumoral FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin
      lymphoma in Egypt and worldwide. Gene expression profiling classifies DLBCL into:
      germinal center B cell-like (GCB) and non germinal center B cell-like (non-GCB)
      DLBCL. Hans' algorithm has high concordance with gene expression profiling
      results. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent important modulators for the
      interaction between lymphoma cells and host microenvironment. FOXP3 is a popular
      single marker for Tregs. There is little information about the possible role of
      Tregs in high-grade lymphoma such as DLBCL. This study aims to assess the
      prognostic impact of FOXP3+ Tregs in DLBCL. The study was carried out on 70
      archival cases (61 de novo DLBCL and 9 reactive follicular hyperplasia cases).
      DLBCL cases were classified into GCB and non-GCB groups using Hans' algorithm.
      All studied cases are subjected to FOXP3 immunostaining. Density of FOXP3+ Tregs
      was higher in reactive cases compared with DLBCL (P=0.000). In DLBCL cases, FOXP3
      expression was associated with free spleen (P=0.02), early stage (P=0.05),
      centroblastic variant (P=0.003), and absence of necrosis (P=0.05). In germinal
      cases, density of FOXP3 was significantly higher in cases with good PS (P=0.02),
      very good and good revised international prognostic index (P=0.002), and low-risk
      age-adjusted international prognostic index >60 (P=0.01). Non germinal DLBCL
      cases with negative FOXP3 were significantly associated with splenic involvement
      (P=0.005). DLBCL cases with high FOXP3 have longer survival (P=0.03). T cells in
      the background of DLBCL may play a role in modulation of tumor progression. Their
      presence is associated with favorable prognostic parameters in DLBCL.

PMID- 26862954
TI  - Detecting early stage osteoarthritis by optical coherence tomography?
AB  - Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic disease of our joints, manifested
      by a dynamically increasing degeneration of hyaline articular cartilage (AC).
      While currently no therapy can reverse this process, the few available treatment
      options are hampered by the inability of early diagnosis. Loss of cartilage
      surface, or extracellular matrix (ECM), integrity is considered the earliest sign
      of OA. Despite the increasing number of imaging modalities surprisingly few
      imaging biomarkers exist. In this narrative review, recent developments in
      optical coherence tomography are critically evaluated for their potential to
      assess different aspects of AC quality as biomarkers of OA. Special attention is
      paid to imaging surface irregularities, ECM organization and the evaluation of
      posttraumatic injuries by light-based modalities. 

PMID- 26862955
TI  - Caspase-3 Activity in the Rat Amygdala Measured by Spectrofluorometry After
      Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - Myocardial infarction (MI) has dramatic mid- and long-term consequences at the
      physiological and behavioral levels, but the mechanisms involved are still
      unclear. Our laboratory has developed a rat model of post-MI syndrome that
      displays impaired cardiac functions, neuronal loss in the limbic system,
      cognitive deficits and behavioral signs of depression. At the neuronal level,
      caspase-3 activation mediates post-MI apoptosis in different limbic regions, such
      as the amygdala - peaking at 3 days post-MI. Cognitive and behavioral impairments
      appear 2-3 weeks post-MI and these correlate statistically with measures of
      caspase-3 activity. The protocol described here is used to induce MI, collect
      amygdala tissue and measure caspase-3 activity using spectrofluorometry. To
      induce MI, the descending coronary artery is occluded for 40 min. The protocol
      for evaluation of caspase-3 activation starts 3 days after MI: the rats are
      sacrificed and the amygdala isolated rapidly from the brain. Samples are quickly
      frozen in liquid nitrogen and kept at -80  degrees C until actual analysis. The
      technique performed to assess caspase-3 activation is based on cleavage of a
      substrate (DEVD-AMC) by caspase-3, which releases a fluorogenic compound that can
      be measured by spectrofluorometry. The methodology is quantitative and
      reproducible but the equipment required is expensive and the procedure for
      quantifying the samples is time-consuming. This technique can be applied to other
      tissues, such as the heart and kidneys. DEVD-AMC can be replaced by other
      substrates to measure the activity of other caspases. 

PMID- 26862956
TI  - Functional Rhinoplasty.

PMID- 26862957
TI  - Evaluation of the Patient with Nasal Obstruction.
AB  - Nasal obstruction is often multifactorial and knowledge of the contributing
      factors is critical to appropriate evaluation, diagnosis, and execution of a
      treatment plan. Recognizing and appropriately managing all components of nasal
      obstruction will increase the likelihood of symptomatic improvement and patient
      satisfaction. 

PMID- 26862958
TI  - Does the Nose Have a Function Beyond Breathing?
AB  - This article examines how functional nasal surgery can result in aesthetic
      improvement to the nose. We performed a literature search examining functional
      rhinoplasty with resultant aesthetic benefits. We also conducted a review of
      various techniques that can be used to correct functional nasal obstruction that
      also achieve aesthetic improvement(s).Although there are data demonstrating
      improvements to quality of life after functional and aesthetic nasal surgery,
      there is limited work linking the close relationship between functional nasal
      surgery with resultant aesthetic improvements.Functional rhinoplasty to correct
      nasal obstruction can also result in aesthetic improvements. Perhaps
      reconsideration of separating these closely tied issues is needed. A formal study
      looking at the degree of worsened, unchanged, and improved nasal aesthetics that
      occurs after true functional rhinoplasty, from both objective and subjective
      viewpoints, should be considered. 

PMID- 26862959
TI  - The Nasal Airway: A Critical Review.
AB  - Functional nasal surgery is frequently performed and deeply embedded in
      otolaryngology. However, unequivocal proof of its efficacy is still pending,
      leading some health authorities toward restrictive policies. In this article, we
      review the evidence and suggest that reexamining the paradigm of functional nasal
      surgery may be appropriate. 

PMID- 26862960
TI  - Extracorporeal Septoplasty: External and Endonasal Techniques.
AB  - Severe septal deformities are among the most challenging problems faced by
      rhinoplasty surgeons. Extracorporeal septoplasty (ES)--also known as subtotal
      septal reconstruction--involves removal of the native deformed septum and
      replacement with a reconstructed neoseptum. Several techniques and multiple
      variations have been described in the literature. We present an overview of ES,
      pertinent anatomical structures and deformities, and the external versus
      endonasal approach, and describe some of our techniques.

PMID- 26862961
TI  - Spreader Grafts in Functional Rhinoplasty.
AB  - Management of the middle vault is paramount to achieving optimal aesthetic and
      functional outcomes in rhinoplasty. The ideal treatment for middle vault
      complications, such as internal nasal valve collapse, inverted-V deformity, and
      middle vault dorsal asymmetry, is prevention. Risk factors for middle vault
      problems in rhinoplasty that may be identified in preoperative consultation
      include short nasal bones, long and weak upper lateral cartilages, thin skin,
      previous trauma or surgery, preoperative positive Cottle maneuver, tension nose
      deformity, and anteriorly positioned inferior turbinates. When any of these risk
      factors are identified, preventive measures should be pursued. These include
      preservation of middle vault support structures, judicious resection in dorsal
      hump reduction, use of conservative osteotomies, and reconstruction of the
      cartilaginous middle vault with structural grafting. Spreader grafts have become
      the workhorse in middle vault reconstruction. They are invaluable in restoring
      nasal dorsal aesthetic lines, repairing or maintaining the internal nasal valve,
      and buttressing a corrected crooked nose. Functional and aesthetic problems
      related to the middle nasal vault are among the most common reasons for patients
      seeking revision rhinoplasty. Although complications in rhinoplasty are
      inevitable, underlying their etiology and instituting prophylactic treatment can
      significantly help reduce their occurrence. 

PMID- 26862962
TI  - The Autospreader Flap for Midvault Reconstruction following Dorsal Hump
      Resection.
AB  - Dorsal hump reduction without adequate reconstitution of the midvault can often
      result in cosmetic or functional problems. One of the simplest techniques to
      avoid these problems is the use of the excess upper lateral cartilage to
      reconstruct the midvault (the spreader flap or autospreader). Herein we outline
      the history of the technique and present the specific indications and
      contraindications, as well as describe our method for achieving it successfully.
      Case studies are presented with the specific indications. Grafting alternatives
      to the spreader flap are also outlined. The spreader flap technique offers
      multiple advantages, including maximal use of local tissues, simplicity, and
      airway preservation. Disadvantages are the use of an external approach and the
      inability to use it alone in the presence of severe asymmetries. 

PMID- 26862963
TI  - The Conchal Cartilage Butterfly Graft.
AB  - Nasal obstruction due to weakening of the nasal sidewall is a very common patient
      complaint. The conchal cartilage butterfly graft is a proven technique for the
      correction of nasal valve collapse. It allows for excellent functional results,
      and with experience and attention to technical detail, it may also provide
      excellent cosmetic results. While this procedure is most useful for restoring
      form and function in cases of secondary rhinoplasty following the reduction of
      nasal support structures, we have found it to be a very powerful and satisfying
      technique in primary rhinoplasty as well. This article aims to describe the
      butterfly graft, discuss its history, and detail the technical considerations
      which we have found useful. 

PMID- 26862964
TI  - Form and Function of the Nasal Tip: Reorienting and Reshaping the Lateral Crus.
AB  - Dysfunction of the external nasal valve affects both the form and function of the
      nose. Successful treatment of these problems is dependent on proper analysis and
      diagnosis of the aberrant anatomy. Cephalic malpositioning of the lateral crura
      has been described for nearly 30 years. Repositioning of the lateral crura in a
      more caudal orientation with lateral crural strut grafts will correct aesthetic
      abnormalities and reinforce the external nasal valve. Sagittal malpositioning has
      been more recently described and also has deleterious effects on both the shape
      of the nasal tip and breathing. Reorienting the short axis of the lateral crus is
      another powerful tool for the rhinoplasty surgeon to correct the weak and narrow
      external nasal valve. 

PMID- 26862965
TI  - Rhinoplasty of the Aging Nose.
AB  - The process of aging leads to countless bodily changes on both a macro- and
      microscopic scale. No organ system is unaffected; however, the nose is especially
      susceptible. Sun damage, hormone levels, regenerative capability, tissue
      elasticity, bone resorption, and the effects of gravity contribute to produce
      classic signs and symptoms. Rhinoplasty of the aging nose requires a
      comprehensive understanding of aging facial anatomy combined with surgical
      techniques designed to resist these ubiquitous remodeling forces over time. 

PMID- 26862966
TI  - Mitek Suspension of the Lateral Nasal Wall.
AB  - The nasal valve has long been described as the anatomical boundary most likely to
      inhibit nasal airflow and lead to subsequent nasal obstruction. Although many
      procedures can address this area to improve the nasal airway, for over 20 years,
      suture lateralization of the external nasal valve has been described as a
      minimally invasive technique that can improve nasal breathing. We report our
      modification of the standard technique in which we lateralize the placement of
      the bone-anchored suture and incorporate Gore-Tex within the nasal vestibular
      incision to prevent tissue migration. 

PMID- 26862967
TI  - Causes and Prevention of Secondary Obstruction.
AB  - Secondary nasal obstruction occurs when surgery fails to improve a patient's
      nasal obstruction symptoms. This may occur from failure to recognize a problem
      preoperatively or failure to address mucocutaneous medical ailments. Secondary
      obstruction may even occur despite perfect execution of the operative plan. In
      this article, we discuss the etiology, intraoperative pitfalls, and surgical
      correction of secondary obstruction after primary rhinoplasty. When managing
      postrhinoplasty secondary obstruction, care must be taken to correct the cause of
      obstruction without creating new problems. 

PMID- 26862968
TI  - Evolution of Preoperative Rhinoplasty Consult by Computer Imaging.
AB  - The preoperative consultation in rhinoplasty involves a multitude of actions that
      are mandatory for the decision-making process: history taking with attention to
      the symptoms and specific requests of the patient, clinical evaluation of the
      aesthetics, the functional status of the nose and the patients' motivation for
      surgery, and acquisition of standardized preoperative photographs. During the
      last decade, computer imaging or morphing of the preoperative pictures of the
      nose has become much more common. This part of the consultation allows the
      surgeon and patient to reach a mutually agreeable set of expectations by
      demonstrating the planned outcome of rhinoplasty and describing the objectives of
      surgery. The evolving literature on computer imaging supports that the benefits
      for both the patients and surgeons seem to outweigh the risks. Indeed, morphing
      enables the surgeon to precisely explain to the patients the goal of surgery, and
      to postpone or even cancel surgery in the group of patients that do not appear
      satisfied with the proposed changes. In addition, patients may feel more prepared
      for surgery and have a more realistic view of the outcome of the intervention.
      Presently, computer imaging is progressing from 2D to 3D models, optimizing the
      surgeons' capacity to perform morphing in the most advantageous manner for both
      parties. The current review provides a state-of-the art analysis on morphing in
      rhinoplasty, putting morphing into a historic and relevant perspective in
      clinical practice.

PMID- 26862969
TI  - Three-Dimensional Surface Imaging and the Continuous Evolution of Preoperative
      and Postoperative Assessment in Rhinoplasty.
AB  - During the preoperative assessment in rhinoplasty, the surgeon takes a thorough
      history, performs a complete examination by assessing functional and aesthetic
      aspects of the nose, obtains a clear understanding of the patient's wishes,
      conducts facial analysis based on standardized photography, and communicates to
      the patient the goals and pitfalls of surgery. Computer imaging or morphing of
      the preoperative pictures of the nose has drawn a lot of interest in the last
      decade, and it is a sign of evolution of the preoperative consultation.
      Technological advances, also in the context of rhinoplasty, have led to the
      development of three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques, and have completely
      revolutionized the way that surgeons manage their patients preoperatively and
      evaluate postoperative results today. The accurate 3D surface imaging aids the
      surgeon to communicate with the patient adequately before surgery, to set an
      appropriate surgical plan, and to measure the shape and volume changes of the
      patient's nose that result from the intervention. The present review provides an
      analysis on the current knowledge of 3D surface imaging in rhinoplasty derived
      from the literature, and highlights future directions of preoperative and
      postoperative assessment in the field. 

PMID- 26862970
TI  - An Economical Approach to Ethnic Asian Rhinoplasty.
AB  - Septal cartilage is deficient in Asians seeking augmentation rhinoplasty.
      Economized utilization of resources is necessary for durable tip enhancement that
      complements a dorsal implant. We introduce a modified tongue-in-groove method
      designed to transmit forces across the dorsum, eliminating the need for robust
      caudal support and prioritizing nasal lengthening and tip projection. We aim to
      promote the roundness index parameter and demonstrate the feasibility of a novel
      method in the context of Asian rhinoplasty. Between 2012 and 2014, a total of 104
      Taiwanese patients underwent rhinoplasty with dorsal augmentation and lengthening
      with a modified tongue-in-groove technique. The concept borrows from methods
      established by Byrd, Guyuron, and Toriumi but distinguished by exaggerated
      forward positioning of a septal extension graft. Paired extended spreader grafts
      obviate the need for a columellar strut. Soft-tissue changes were analyzed with
      photogrammetry. A new parameter, the roundness index, was measured. Tip
      projection, dorsal length, nasal height, alar and columellar length increased
      significantly after 5.5 months of follow-up. Nasal tip angle, roundness,
      columella-labial angle, and nostril axis inclination decreased. There were no
      statistically significant differences in the magnitude of change in patients
      followed for less than and greater than 6 months. The most common complication
      was new or persistent tip deviation in five cases (5%). This technique was
      designed for a nasal anatomy typified by deficient septal cartilage. Significant
      photogrammetric changes were maintained after 6 months. Economized tissue
      allocation, dorsal septal load sharing, and relative independence from caudal
      support are key features of this feasible method. 

PMID- 26862971
TI  - A Retrospective 3D Radiologic Analysis of 52 Patients with Mandible Fractures.
AB  - When fractured, mandible angulates. For better preoperative evaluation, movements
      of fractured mandibular segments should be documented in x-, y-, and z-axes. This
      article quantitatively evaluates the pattern and degree of the angulation. Fifty
      two patients with mandible fractures were involved in this study. After defining
      a three-dimensional (3D) coordination system consisting of the x-axis (the axis
      directed from the medial to lateral side of the skull), y-axis (directed from the
      inferior to superior side), and z-axis (directed from the posterior to anterior
      side), the degree with which the fractured mandible angulated around each of
      these axes was measured using 3D graphic software. The tendency of the angulation
      was compared between the three axes. Frequency of complications, operation times,
      maxilla mandibular fixation (MMF) need, and epidemiologic data were compared with
      the angulation results. Angulation around the x-axis was the most frequent with a
      55.8% incidence, followed by a substantial margin of angulation around the y-axis
      with a 21.2% incidence; angulation around the z-axis was rare, with an incidence
      of 15.4%. Furthermore, the degree of z-axis angulation was minor compared with x-
      and y-axes angulations. There were statistically increased rate of complications,
      operation time, and MMF need in patients with more than 10 degrees of angulation
      in any case. Operation time and complication rates are also increased in patients
      with internal rotation of the proximal segment. Preoperative evaluation of
      mandible fracture angulation degree is useful for determining postoperative
      complication rates, MMF need, and operative challenge. This finding is helpful
      for effective performance to reposition the fractured mandible. 

PMID- 26862972
TI  - Spare Roof Technique: A Middle Third New Technique.
AB  - To our knowledge, the spare roof technique (SRT) is the first technique that is
      based on a complete skeletonization/preservation of the upper lateral cartilages.
      This technique is used to keep the natural roof of the nose's middle third, while
      dehumping and/or correcting the crooked septum. From January 2014 till March
      2015, a total of 40 rhinoplasties were performed through the SRT: 28 reduction
      rhinoplasties, 6 complex crooked noses (with extracorporeal septoplasty), and 6
      mixed cases. The SRT is an excellent middle third technique. The natural roof was
      kept and fitted the accurate new position in almost all cases with no surgical
      complexity. It is an easy technique with many applications and it is also very
      useful in the classical humpectomy of the Caucasian nose and correction of the
      crooked nose. 

PMID- 26862973
TI  - Migrated Implant Causing Refractory Headache in Rhinoplasty.
AB  - Alloplastic materials are popular and readily available for use in nasal
      augmentations. Among them, silicone implant is one of the most widely used,
      especially in certain areas in Asia for its reasonable cost and relatively simple
      operative technique. A major disadvantage of silicone is its notorious mobility
      after implantation and rate of extrusion if traumatized or exposed. Here, an
      unusual complication of a silicone implant for rhinoplasty was presented. We
      report a case of a 58-year-old woman who had augmentation rhinoplasty 20 years
      ago suffered from headache for over a year. Brain lesion and neurologic causes
      were ruled out by neurologists and physician in family medicine. Local finding
      showed upwardly deviated nasion and vague shape of silicone implant underneath
      the skin on nasal dorsum. 

PMID- 26862976
TI  - Steric hindrance inhibits excited-state relaxation and lowers the extent of
      intramolecular charge transfer in two-photon absorbing dyes.
AB  - The two-photon absorbing dye AF240 [1, (7-benzothiazol-2-yl-9,9-diethylfluoren-2
      yl)diphenylamine] is modified by adding bulky alkyl groups to the diphenylamino
      moiety. Three new compounds are synthesized which have ethyl groups in both ortho
      positions of each phenyl ring (2), t-butyl groups in one ortho position of each
      phenyl ring (3), and t-butyl groups in the para position of each phenyl ring (4).
      The dyes are examined in several aprotic solvents with varying polarity to
      observe the effects of the sterically hindering bulky groups on the ground and
      excited-state photophysical properties. While the ground state shows minimal
      solvent dependence, there is significant dependence on the fluorescence quantum
      yield and lifetime, as well as the excited-state energy levels. This effect is
      caused by the formation of an intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) state, which
      is observed in the solvents more polar than n-hexane and supported by TD-DFT
      calculations. Electronic effects of ortho or para alkyl substitution should be
      similar, yet drastic differences are observed. A red shift in the fluorescence
      maximum is observed in 4 relative to 1, yet a blue shift occurs in 2 and 3
      because the substituents at the sterically sensitive ortho-positions inhibit
      excited-state geometric relaxation and result in less ICT character than 1.
      Coupled with theoretical calculations, the data support a planar ICT (PICT)
      excited state where the diphenylamino nitrogen in an sp(2)-like geometry is
      integral with the plane containing the fluorene and benzothiazole moieties.
      Ultrafast transient absorption experiments show that ICT occurs rapidly (<150 fs)
      followed by geometric and solvent relaxation in ~ 1-4 ps to form the PICT or
      solvent-stabilized ICT (SSICT) state. This relaxation is not observed in non
      polar n-hexane because the solvent dependent ICT state energy lies higher than
      the locally-excited (LE) state. Finally, formation of a triplet state (T1) is
      only efficiently observed in n-hexane for all four dyes.

PMID- 26862978
TI  - Multi-target Chromogenic Whole-mount In Situ Hybridization for Comparing Gene
      Expression Domains in Drosophila Embryos.
AB  - To analyze gene regulatory networks active during embryonic development and
      organogenesis it is essential to precisely define how the different genes are
      expressed in spatial relation to each other in situ. Multi-target chromogenic
      whole-mount in situ hybridization (MC-WISH) greatly facilitates the instant
      comparison of gene expression patterns, as it allows distinctive visualization of
      different mRNA species in contrasting colors in the same sample specimen. This
      provides the possibility to relate gene expression domains topographically to
      each other with high accuracy and to define unique and overlapping expression
      sites. In the presented protocol, we describe a MC-WISH procedure for comparing
      mRNA expression patterns of different genes in Drosophila embryos. Up to three
      RNA probes, each specific for another gene and labeled by a different hapten, are
      simultaneously hybridized to the embryo samples and subsequently detected by
      alkaline phosphatase-based colorimetric immunohistochemistry. The described
      procedure is detailed here for Drosophila, but works equally well with zebrafish
      embryos. 

PMID- 26862979
TI  - In vitro analysis of partially hydrolyzed guar gum fermentation differences
      between six individuals.
AB  - Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a fermentable, soluble, non-gelling fiber
      consumed as both a supplement and ingredient. PHGG supports bifidogenic and
      lactogenic growth, and increases the concentration of short chain fatty acids
      (SCFAs) in the distal intestine due to its fermentability. Changes in SCFA
      development due to the fermentation of dietary fibers in the colon have been
      widely studied, but there are limited studies analyzing the differences in SCFA
      development across multiple individuals (ages 23-68) exposed to the same dietary
      fiber (PHGG). With the six donors analyzed in this study, gas production varied
      from 59-80 mL/0.5 g fiber at 12 h and 85-93 mL/0.5 g fiber at 24 h between the
      six donors. At 12 h butyrate concentrations varied from 6.99 MUmol mL(-1) to
      23.84 MUmol mL(-1) and from 8.78 MUmol mL(-1) to 22.84 MUmol mL(-1) at 24 h.
      Total SCFA concentration at 24 h ranged from 42.85 MUmol mL(-1) to 91.17 MUmol
      mL(-1). The overall average SCFA ratio for the six fecal donors was 30 : 45 : 25
      (acetate : propionate : butyrate), which is similar to other fermentable fibers
      analyzed using in vitro systems. SCFA development in the distal intestine
      increases the amount of metabolizable energy from the diet, but varies greatly
      among people based primarily on the composition and changes of their gut
      microflora. With over a 2-fold difference in SCFA production, significant
      differences were found among healthy individuals fecal microflora when exposed to
      PHGG. Donor 6 SCFA concentrations decreased at 24 h, indicating a quicker
      fermentation process than the other five donors. All SCFAs measured fluctuated
      greatly among the six individuals within 24 h of analysis. Results of in vitro
      fermentation analyses are limited by the wide variation found with fecal donor.

PMID- 26862980
TI  - Tweaking Subtype Selectivity and Agonist Efficacy at (S)-2-Amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5
      methyl-isoxazol-4-yl)propionic acid (AMPA) Receptors in a Small Series of
      BnTetAMPA Analogues.
AB  - A series of analogues of the (S)-2-Amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazol-4
      yl)propionic acid (AMPA) receptor agonist BnTetAMPA (5b) were synthesized and
      characterized pharmacologically in radioligand binding assays at native and
      cloned AMPA receptors and functionally by two-electrode voltage clamp
      electrophysiology at the four homomeric AMPA receptors expressed in Xenopus
      laevis oocytes. The analogues 6 and 7 exhibit very different pharmacological
      profiles with binding affinity preference for the subtypes GluA1 and GluA3,
      respectively. X-ray crystal structures of three ligands (6, 7, and 8) in complex
      with the agonist binding domain (ABD) of GluA2 show that they induce full domain
      closure despite their low agonist efficacies. Trp767 in GluA2 ABD could be an
      important determinant for partial agonism of this compound series at AMPA
      receptors, since agonist efficacy also correlated with the location of the Trp767
      side chain. 

PMID- 26862984
TI  - Key Elements for Judging the Quality of a Risk Assessment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many reports have been published that contain recommendations for
      improving the quality, transparency, and usefulness of decision making for risk
      assessments prepared by agencies of the U.S. federal government. A substantial
      measure of consensus has emerged regarding the characteristics that high-quality
      assessments should possess. OBJECTIVE: The goal was to summarize the key
      characteristics of a high-quality assessment as identified in the consensus
      building process and to integrate them into a guide for use by decision makers,
      risk assessors, peer reviewers and other interested stakeholders to determine if
      an assessment meets the criteria for high quality. DISCUSSION: Most of the
      features cited in the guide are applicable to any type of assessment, whether it
      encompasses one, two, or all four phases of the risk-assessment paradigm; whether
      it is qualitative or quantitative; and whether it is screening level or highly
      sophisticated and complex. Other features are tailored to specific elements of an
      assessment. Just as agencies at all levels of government are responsible for
      determining the effectiveness of their programs, so too should they determine the
      effectiveness of their assessments used in support of their regulatory decisions.
      Furthermore, if a nongovernmental entity wishes to have its assessments
      considered in the governmental regulatory decision-making process, then these
      assessments should be judged in the same rigorous manner and be held to similar
      standards. CONCLUSIONS: The key characteristics of a high-quality assessment can
      be summarized and integrated into a guide for judging whether an assessment
      possesses the desired features of high quality, transparency, and usefulness.
      CITATION: Fenner-Crisp PA, Dellarco VL. 2016. Key elements for judging the
      quality of a risk assessment. Environ Health Perspect 124:1127-1135;
      http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510483.

PMID- 26862986
TI  - Observing the Angular Distribution of Raman Scattered Fields.
AB  - In conventional optical spectroscopy, lenses are used to focus light on the
      sample and to collect light scattered from the sample. Focusing increases the
      signal intensity, but it amounts to angular (k-space) averaging and leads to
      information loss. In this issue of ACS Nano, Budde and collaborators record
      radiation patterns of Raman scattering from a single layer of graphene, revealing
      the angular distribution of the scattered field. The authors show that the
      radiation patterns render the spatial symmetry of vibrational modes. Furthermore,
      their results demonstrate that depolarization effects occurring in the focal
      region must be taken into account for proper interpretation of Raman intensities.
      We outline here the working principle of this new approach and discuss future
      applications for studies of graphene and other low-dimensional systems. 

PMID- 26862985
TI  - EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by
      Culture and RT-qPCR. Part III. Virus Detection by RT-qPCR.
AB  - EPA Method 1615 measures enteroviruses and noroviruses present in environmental
      and drinking waters. This method was developed with the goal of having a
      standardized method for use in multiple analytical laboratories during monitoring
      period 3 of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Herein we present the
      protocol for extraction of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) from water sample
      concentrates and for quantitatively measuring enterovirus and norovirus
      concentrations using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Virus
      concentrations for the molecular assay are calculated in terms of genomic copies
      of viral RNA per liter based upon a standard curve. The method uses a number of
      quality controls to increase data quality and to reduce interlaboratory and
      intralaboratory variation. The method has been evaluated by examining virus
      recovery from ground and reagent grade waters seeded with poliovirus type 3 and
      murine norovirus as a surrogate for human noroviruses. Mean poliovirus recoveries
      were 20% in groundwaters and 44% in reagent grade water. Mean murine norovirus
      recoveries with the RT-qPCR assay were 30% in groundwaters and 4% in reagent
      grade water. 

PMID- 26862987
TI  - Controlling the Polarity of Fullerene Derivatives to Optimize Nanomorphology in
      Blend Films.
AB  - Developing a design strategy to establish the compatibility of acceptor materials
      with donor materials is important for the rational development of organic solar
      cells. We synthesized 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl methanofullerene derivatives to realize
      an enhanced open-circuit voltage, and we investigated polarities and their
      effects on the film morphology of the active layer. The polarities of the
      synthesized fullerene derivatives were affected significantly by the presence of
      functional groups, such as methoxy, ether, and ester groups. Macro/nanoscopic
      morphological investigation and spectroscopic analysis of the blend films of the
      poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)/fullerene derivatives showed that a balanced
      polarity between materials results in the formation of optimized nanomorphology
      without grains and robust phase separation. Measurements of the device
      performance of the photovoltaic cells composed of P3HT and the fullerene
      derivatives confirmed the same tendency as that shown in the morphological
      analysis. This finding enables us to obtain an improved power conversion
      efficiency because of the enhanced open circuit voltage derived from the
      fullerene derivatives. 

PMID- 26862988
TI  - Intranasal administration of oxytocin increases human aggressive behavior.
AB  - Considering its role in prosocial behaviors, oxytocin (OT) has been suggested to
      diminish levels of aggression. Nevertheless, recent findings indicate that
      oxytocin may have a broader influence on increasing the salience of social
      stimuli and may therefore, under certain circumstances, increase antisocial
      behaviors such as aggression. This controversy led to the following speculations:
      If indeed oxytocin promotes primarily prosocial behavior, administration of OT is
      expected to diminish levels of aggression. However, if oxytocin mainly acts to
      increase the salience of social stimuli, it is expected to elevate levels of
      aggression following provocation. In order to test this assumption we used the
      Social Orientation Paradigm (SOP), a monetary game played against a fictitious
      partner that allows measuring three types of responses in the context of
      provocation: an aggressive response - reducing a point from the fictitious
      partner, an individualistic response - adding a point to oneself, and a
      collaborative response - adding half a point to the partner and half a point to
      oneself. In the current double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject study
      design, 45 participants completed the SOP task following the administration of
      oxytocin or placebo. The results indicated that among subjects naive to the
      procedure oxytocin increased aggressive responses in comparison with placebo.
      These results support the saliency hypothesis of oxytocin and suggest that
      oxytocin plays a complex role in the modulation of human behavior. 

PMID- 26862989
TI  - Prevailing Photocurrent Generation of D-pi-A Type Oligo(phenyleneethynylene) in
      Contact with Gold over Dexter-Type Energy-Transfer Quenching.
AB  - Photocurrent generation is observed with D-pi-A type oligo(phenyleneethynylene)
      (OPE) physically contacting gold substrate. The OPE is conjugated with helical
      peptides, which helps the OPE moiety orient vertically on gold surface. This
      configuration makes the Dexter energy transfer difficult to occur even though one
      end of the D-pi-A type OPE physically contacts gold. The anodic photocurrent
      continuously increases with increment of applying bias voltage from -0.3 to 0.5
      V. The first principle calculations reveal that the increase in photocurrent
      generation is attributed partly to the change in the electron distributions of
      HOMO and LUMO of the D-pi-A type OPE to be more localized with applying the
      positive potential. 

PMID- 26862990
TI  - N-Iodosuccinimide-Promoted Cascade Trifunctionalization of Alkynoates: Access to
      1,1-Diiodoalkenes.
AB  - An efficient cascade trifunctioalization reaction of alkynoates with N
      iodosuccinimide has been developed which proceeds through iodination, aryl
      migration, decarboxylation, and second iodination. This reaction represents an
      example of 1,1-difunctionalization of the acetylene bond and also provides a new
      strategy for the preparation of 1,1-diiodoalkenes. 

PMID- 26862991
TI  - Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in Wistar rats reduces sperm quality with
      disruption of ERK signal pathway.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic environmental toxin widely used in the
      production of plastics and ubiquitous human exposure to this chemical has been
      proposed to be a potential risk to human health. Exposure to BPA can negatively
      impact sperm quality. However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. The
      objectives of this study were to assess the role of BPA on sperm quality and
      explore the possible mechanisms. The Wistar male rats (aged 28 days) were
      administered BPA by oral gavage for 28 days at dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day;
      meanwhile, the negative control with corn oil (0 mg/kg/day BPA) and positive
      control with E2 at the dose of 100 MUg/kg/day. The sperm density, sperm activity
      and sperm survival rate were analyzed byCASA system, and the sperm abnormality
      rate was analyzed by improved Papanicolaou stained. The protein expression levels
      of Src/p-Src, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2 and CREB/p-CREB were detected by Western bolt. The
      results showed that the body weight gain, testes weight, testis coefficient,
      sperm density, sperm activity, sperm survival rate and protein expression levels
      of p-ERK1, p-ERK2 and p-CREB decreased, but the sperm abnormality rate increased
      with increasing BPA concentrations. There were positive correlations between
      sperm density, sperm activity and sperm survival rate with protein expression
      levels of p-ERK1, p-ERK2 and p-CREB, and negative correlations between sperm
      abnormality rate with the protein expression levels of p-ERK1, p-ERK2 and p-CREB.
      Results from the structural equation model demonstrated that BPA retained a
      significant negative effect to p-ERK, whereas p-ERK retained a significant
      positive effect to sperm quality and acted as the mediate variable. This study
      provides a novel insight regarding the potential role of p-ERK1 and p-ERK2
      protein kinase on reproductive toxicity of BPA. The adverse effects of BPA on
      adult male sperm quality may be through the induction of the disruption of ERK
      signal pathway. However, additional research is needed to confirm our findings
      and to further test the suggested potential mechanisms. 

PMID- 26862992
TI  - Evaluating a Tap Water Contamination Incident Attributed to Oil Contamination by
      Nontargeted Screening Strategies.
AB  - The present study applied nontargeted screening techniques as a novel approach to
      evaluate the tap water samples collected during the "4.11" tap water pollution
      incident occurred on April 11, 2014 in Lanzhou in west China. Multivariate
      analysis (PCA and OPLS-DA) of about 3000 chemical features obtained in extracts
      of tap water samples by ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography quadrupole time
      of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) analysis showed significantly
      different chemical profiles in tap water from pollution regions versus reference
      regions during the event. These different chemical profiles in samples from
      different regions were not observed in samples collected during the nonpollution
      period. The compounds responsible for the differences in profiles between regions
      were identified as naphthenic acids (NAs) and oxidized NAs (oxy-NAs) after the
      sample extracts underwent bromination to explore saturations, dansylation to
      identify hydroxylations and corresponding MS/MS mode analysis. A consistent
      finding was further observed in the targeted analysis of NA mixtures,
      demonstrating that the Lanzhou "4.11" tap water pollution incident could be
      attributed to oil spill pollution, and NA mixtures would be a marker for oil
      contamination. Such evaluations can help to rapidly discriminate pollution
      sources in accidental pollution events and contribute to regular water monitoring
      management of water safety issues. 

PMID- 26862993
TI  - A Validated Tool Would Greatly Enhance Future Research on the Impact of Surgery
      on Sexual Function.

PMID- 26862994
TI  - Development of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Detection of Human Insulin-Like
      Growth Factor Receptor and Insulin Receptor Isoforms.
AB  - The biological activity of insulin and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
      ligands, IGF-I and IGF-II, is based in part on the relative abundance and
      distribution of their target receptors: the insulin receptor (IR) splice variants
      A (IR-A) and B (IR-B) and IGF 1 receptor (IGF-1R). However, the relative quantity
      of all three receptors in human tissues has never been measured together on the
      same scale. Due to the high homology between insulin receptor (IR)-A and IR-B
      proteins and lack of antibodies that discern the two IR splice variants, their
      mRNA sequence is the most reliable means of distinguishing between the receptors.
      Hence, highly specific primers for IR-A, IR-B, and IGF-1R mRNA were designed to
      accurately detect all three receptors by quantitative RT-PCR and enable direct
      quantification of relative receptor expression levels. A standard concentration
      curve of cDNA from each receptor was performed. Assay specificity was tested
      using competition assays and postamplification analysis by gel electrophoresis
      and cloning. Forward and reverse primer concentrations were optimized to ensure
      equal efficiencies across primer pairs. This assay enables a specific molecular
      signature of IGF/insulin signaling receptors to be assayed in different tissues,
      cell types, or cancers. 

PMID- 26862995
TI  - No Evidence That RFamide-Related Peptide 3 Directly Modulates LH Secretion in the
      Ewe.
AB  - The neuropeptide RFamide-related peptide 3 (RFRP-3) has been implicated in the
      control of gonadotropin secretion in both birds and mammals. However, in mammals,
      depending on species, sex and photoperiod, inhibitory, excitatory, or no effect
      of RFRP-3 on the plasma concentration of LH has been reported. In the ewe,
      treatment with RFRP-3 either reduced LH concentration or had no effect, and
      treatment with an RFRP-3 receptor antagonist (ie, RF9) resulted in increased
      concentration of plasma LH. To clarify these conflicting results in the present
      study, a set of experiments was performed in ewes. Multiple iv injections of RFRP
      3 (6 * 50 MUg) in ovariectomized ewes had no effect on plasma LH pulsatility. In
      intact ewes a bolus injection (500 MUg) or an injection (250, 500, or 1000 MUg)
      followed by a 4-hour perfusion (250, 500, or 1000 MUg . h(-1)) of RFRP-3 had no
      effect on the LH pulse induced by kisspeptin (6.5 MUg). In ovariectomized,
      estrogen-replaced ewes, the LH surge induced by estradiol benzoate was not
      modified by a 24-hour perfusion of RFRP-3 (500 MUg h(-1)). Finally, although
      treatment with RF9 induced a robust release of LH, treatment with a more
      selective RFRP-3 receptor antagonist, GJ14, resulted in no evident increase of
      LH. In contrast to the inhibitory effect previously suggested, our data are more
      consistent with the concept that RFRP-3 has no direct effect on LH secretion in
      ewes and that RF9 effect on LH release is likely not RFRP-3 receptor mediated.
      Hence, RFRP-3 probably has a minor role on the control of LH secretion in the
      ewe. 

PMID- 26862996
TI  - ERalpha in Tac2 Neurons Regulates Puberty Onset in Female Mice.
AB  - A variety of data suggest that estrogen action on kisspeptin (Kiss1)-containing
      arcuate nucleus neurons (which coexpress Kiss1, neurokinin B (the product of
      Tac2) and dynorphin (KNDy) neurons restrains reproductive onset and function, but
      roles for estrogen action in these Kiss1 neurons relative to a distinct
      population of rostral hypothalamic Kiss1 neurons (which does not express Tac2 or
      dynorphin) have not been directly tested. To test the role for estrogen receptor
      (ER)alpha in KNDy cells, we thus generated Tac2(Cre) and Kiss1(Cre) knock-in mice
      and bred them onto the Esr1(flox) background to ablate ERalpha specifically in
      Tac2-expressing cells (ERalpha(Tac2)KO mice) or all Kiss1 cells (ERalpha(Kiss1)KO
      mice), respectively. Most ERalpha-expressing Tac2 neurons represent KNDy cells.
      Arcuate nucleus Kiss1 expression was elevated in ERalpha(Tac2)KO and
      ERalpha(Kiss1)KO females independent of gonadal hormones, whereas rostral
      hypothalamic Kiss1 expression was normal in ERalpha(Tac2)KO but decreased in
      ERalpha(Kiss1)KO females; this suggests that ERalpha in rostral Kiss1 cells is
      crucial for control of Kiss1 expression in these cells. Both ERalpha(Kiss1)KO and
      ERalpha(Tac2)KO females displayed early vaginal opening, early and persistent
      vaginal cornification, increased gonadotropins, uterine hypertrophy, and other
      evidence of estrogen excess. Thus, deletion of ERalpha in Tac2 neurons suffices
      to drive precocious gonadal hyperstimulation, demonstrating that ERalpha in Tac2
      neurons typically restrains pubertal onset and hypothalamic reproductive drive. 

PMID- 26862998
TI  - Reactions of gem-Difluorinated Phosphonium Salts Induced by Light.
AB  - gem-Difluorinated phosphonium salts, which are readily obtained from aldehydes
      and difluoromethylene phosphobetaine, can serve as a source of radicals under
      reductive conditions. An iridium complex or Hantzsch ester was used as a one
      electron reducing agent when irradiated with visible light. The fluorinated
      radicals were trapped with various alkenes, leading to products either via a
      photoredox cycle (for the iridium catalyst) or via a hydrogen atom transfer (for
      the Hantzsch ester). 

PMID- 26862997
TI  - A Transient Metabolic Recovery from Early Life Glucose Intolerance in Cystic
      Fibrosis Ferrets Occurs During Pancreatic Remodeling.
AB  - Cystic fibrosis (CF)-related diabetes in humans is intimately related to exocrine
      pancreatic insufficiency, yet little is known about how these 2 disease processes
      simultaneously evolve in CF. In this context, we examined CF ferrets during the
      evolution of exocrine pancreatic disease. At 1 month of age, CF ferrets
      experienced a glycemic crisis with spontaneous diabetic-level hyperglycemia. This
      occurred during a spike in pancreatic inflammation that was preceded by
      pancreatic fibrosis and loss of beta-cell mass. Surprisingly, there was
      spontaneous normalization of glucose levels at 2-3 months, with intermediate
      hyperglycemia thereafter. Mixed meal tolerance was impaired at all ages, but
      glucose intolerance was not detected until 4 months. Insulin secretion in
      response to hyperglycemic clamp and to arginine was impaired. Insulin
      sensitivity, measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, was normal.
      Pancreatic inflammation rapidly diminished after 2 months of age during a period
      where beta-cell mass rose and gene expression of islet hormones, peroxisome
      proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, and adiponectin increased. We conclude
      that active CF exocrine pancreatic inflammation adversely affects beta-cells but
      is followed by islet resurgence. We predict that very young humans with CF may
      experience a transient glycemic crisis and postulate that pancreatic inflammatory
      to adipogenic remodeling may facilitate islet adaptation in CF.

PMID- 26862999
TI  - Changing the Ambulatory Training Paradigm. Design and Implementation of an
      Outpatient Pulmonology Fellowship Curriculum.
AB  - RATIONALE: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has mandated
      that pulmonary fellows practice evidence-based medicine "across multiple care
      settings." Currently, most clinical fellowship training is inpatient based,
      suggesting that more robust fellowship training in outpatient pulmonology is
      needed. No standardized ambulatory pulmonary curriculum is currently available.
      OBJECTIVES: To design, implement and test the feasibility of a standardized, case
      based outpatient curriculum implemented for pulmonary fellows at the Perelman
      School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. METHODS: A list of 20
      topics in ambulatory pulmonology was generated and was used to create a series of
      literature-based teaching scripts, which served as the foundation for twice
      monthly small group teaching sessions. Before implementation, the fellows were
      asked to complete a survey regarding their impressions of their existing
      outpatient training and their competency in ambulatory patient care. Participants
      were surveyed again at 6 and 12 months thereafter. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Fellow survey respondents reported that the curriculum improved the overall
      ambulatory educational experience. Before implementation, only 6 of 12 fellows
      (50%) agreed that their current instruction on relevant outpatient pulmonary
      topics was adequate, compared with 100% after the curriculum (P = 0.01, n = 10).
      In addition, only five fellows (42%) initially agreed or strongly agreed that
      their current outpatient educational experience had prepared them well for
      independent pulmonary practice, compared with 90% on the 12-month survey (P =
      0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We created a standardized outpatient pulmonary curriculum and
      demonstrated its feasibility in positively influencing fellows' perceived
      competency in ambulatory pulmonology. Additional assessment of knowledge,
      performance outcomes, and applicability at other institutions is needed.

PMID- 26863000
TI  - How molecular motors extract order from chaos (a key issues review).
AB  - Molecular motors are the workhorses of living cells. Seemingly by 'magic', these
      molecules are able to complete purposeful tasks while being immersed in a sea of
      thermal chaos. Here, we review the current understanding of how these machines
      work, present simple models based on thermal ratchets, discuss implications for
      statistical physics, and provide an overview of ongoing research in this
      important and fascinating field of study.

PMID- 26863001
TI  - Rapid Bead-Based Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing by Optical Diffusometry.
AB  - This study combined optical diffusometry and bead-based immunoassays to develop a
      novel technique for quantifying the growth of specific microorganisms and
      achieving rapid AST. Diffusivity rises when live bacteria attach to particles,
      resulting in additional energy from motile microorganisms. However, when UV
      sterilized (dead) bacteria attach to particles, diffusivity declines. The
      experimental data are consistent with the theoretical model predicted according
      to the equivalent volume diameter. Using this diffusometric platform, the
      susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the antibiotic gentamicin was tested.
      The result suggests that the proliferation of bacteria is effectively controlled
      by gentamicin. This study demonstrated a sensitive (one bacterium on single
      particles) and time-saving (within 2 h) platform with a small sample volume (~0.5
      MUL) and a low initial bacteria count (50 CFU per droplet ~ 105 CFU/mL) for
      quantifying the growth of microorganisms depending on Brownian motion. The
      technique can be applied further to other bacterial strains and increase the
      success of treatments against infectious diseases in the near future. 

PMID- 26863002
TI  - C-Reactive Protein and Hemogram Parameters for the Non-Sepsis Systemic
      Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Sepsis: What Do They Mean?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is one of the most common reasons of increased mortality and
      morbidity in the intensive care unit. The changes in CRP levels and hemogram
      parameters and their combinations may help to distinguish sepsis from non-sepsis
      SIRS. The aim of this study is to investigate the CRP and hemogram parameters as
      an indicator of sepsis. METHODS: A total of 2777 patients admitted to the ICU of
      two centers between 2006-2013 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were
      diagnosed as SIRS (-), non-sepsis SIRS and sepsis. The patients who were under 18
      years old, re-admitted, diagnosed with hematological disease, on corticosteroid
      and immunosuppressive therapy, SIRS (-), culture negative, undocumented
      laboratory values and outcomes were excluded. 1257 patients were divided into 2
      groups as non-sepsis SIRS and sepsis. The patients' demographic data, CRP levels,
      hemogram parameters, length of ICU stay and mortality were recorded. RESULTS:
      1257 patients were categorized as non-sepsis SIRS (816, 64.9%) and sepsis (441,
      35.1%). In the multivariate analysis, the likelihood of sepsis was increased 3.2
      (2.2-4.6), 1.7 (1.2-2.4), 1.6 (1.2-2.1), 2.3 (1.4-3.8), 1.5 (1.1-2.1) times by
      the APACHE II>=13, SOFA score>=4, CRP>=4.0, LymC<0.45 and PLTC<150 respectively
      (p<0.001 p = 0.007 p = 0.004 p<0.001 p = 0.027). The likelihood of sepsis was
      increased 18.1 (8.4-38.7) times by the combination of CRP>=4.0, lymC<0.45 and
      PLTC<150 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While WBCC, NeuC, Neu%, NLCR and EoC are far
      from being the indicators to distinguish sepsis from non-sepsis SIRS, the
      combinations of CRP, LymC and PLTC can be used to determine the likelihood of
      sepsis.

PMID- 26863003
TI  - Dating of young groundwater using four anthropogenic trace gases (SF6, SF5CF3,
      CFC-12 and Halon-1301): methodology and first results.
AB  - A dedicated, GC-based analytical system is presented which allows detection of
      four anthropogenic trace gases (SF6, SF5CF3, CFC-12 and Halon-1301) in a single
      water sample, with detection limits and measurement uncertainties sufficiently
      low to employ them as quantitative indicators of groundwater age. The gases
      dissolved in water are extracted in the field using the method based on a dynamic
      head-space concept. In the laboratory, the investigated gases are cryogenically
      enriched, separated and measured using an electron capture detector.
      Reproducibility of the analyses is in the order of 2-5 %. The investigated
      tracers were measured in several production wells located in the recharge area of
      an intensively exploited aquifer in southern Poland. While the piston-flow ages
      of groundwater in the investigated wells revealed internal consistency, they
      appeared to be generally smaller than the ages derived from time series of
      tritium content in those wells, interpreted by lumped-parameter models. This
      difference stems mainly from significantly longer travel times of tritium through
      the unsaturated zone, when compared to the gaseous tracers being used. The
      results of this study highlight the benefits of using multiple tracing in
      quantifying timescales of groundwater flow in shallow aquifer systems. 

PMID- 26863004
TI  - Abrupt Decline in Tuberculosis among Foreign-Born Persons in the United States.
AB  - While the number of reported tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States has
      declined over the past two decades, TB morbidity among foreign-born persons has
      remained persistently elevated. A recent unexpected decline in reported TB cases
      among foreign-born persons beginning in 2007 provided an opportunity to examine
      contributing factors and inform future TB control strategies. We investigated the
      relative influence of three factors on the decline: 1) changes in the size of the
      foreign-born population through immigration and emigration, 2) changes in
      distribution of country of origin among foreign-born persons, and 3) changes in
      the TB case rates among foreign-born subpopulations. Using data from the U.S.
      National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and the American Community Survey, we
      examined TB case counts, TB case rates, and population estimates, stratified by
      years since U.S. entry and country of origin. Regression modeling was used to
      assess statistically significant changes in trend. Among foreign-born recent
      entrants (<3 years since U.S. entry), we found a 39.5% decline (-1,013 cases)
      beginning in 2007 (P<0.05 compared to 2000-2007) and ending in 2011 (P<0.05
      compared to 2011-2014). Among recent entrants from Mexico, 80.7% of the decline
      was attributable to a decrease in population, while the declines among recent
      entrants from the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and China were almost exclusively
      (95.5%-100%) the result of decreases in TB case rates. Among foreign-born non
      recent entrants (>=3 years since U.S. entry), we found an 8.9% decline (-443
      cases) that resulted entirely (100%) from a decrease in the TB case rate. Both
      recent and non-recent entrants contributed to the decline in TB cases; factors
      contributing to the decline among recent entrants varied by country of origin.
      Strategies that impact both recent and non-recent entrants (e.g., investment in
      overseas TB control) as well as those that focus on non-recent entrants (e.g.,
      expanded targeted testing of high-risk subgroups among non-recent entrants) will
      be necessary to achieve further declines in TB morbidity among foreign-born
      persons. 

PMID- 26863005
TI  - Factors Influencing Dislodgeable 2, 4-D Plant Residues from Hybrid Bermudagrass
      (Cynodon dactylon L. x C. transvaalensis) Athletic Fields.
AB  - Research to date has confirmed 2,4-D residues may dislodge from turfgrass;
      however, experiments have not been conducted on hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon
      dactylon L. x C. transvaalensis), the most common athletic field turfgrass in
      subtropical climates. More specifically, previous research has not investigated
      the effect of post-application irrigation on dislodgeable 2,4-D residues from
      hybrid bermudagrass and across turfgrass species, research has been nondescript
      regarding sample time within a d (TWD) or conducted in the afternoon when the
      turfgrass canopy is dry, possibly underestimating potential for dislodgement. The
      effect of irrigation and TWD on 2,4-D dislodgeability was investigated.
      Dislodgeable 2,4-D amine was reduced > 300% following irrigation. From 2 to 7 d
      after treatment (DAT), <= 0.5% of applied 2,4-D was dislodged from irrigated
      turfgrass, while <= 2.3% of applied 2,4-D was dislodged when not irrigated. 2,4-D
      dislodgeability decreased as TWD increased. Dislodgeable 2,4-D residues declined
      to < 0.1% of the applied at 1 DAT- 13:00, and increased to 1 to 3% of the applied
      2 DAT- 5:00, suggesting 2,4-D re-suspended on treated turfgrass vegetation
      overnight. In conclusion, irrigating treated turfgrass reduced dislodgeable 2,4
      D. 2,4-D dislodgeability increased as TWD decreased, which was attributed to non
      precipitation climatic conditions favoring turfgrass canopy wetness. This
      research will improve turfgrass management practices and research designed to
      minimize human 2,4-D exposure. 

PMID- 26863006
TI  - Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes of Postmastectomy Radiotherapy between Breast
      Cancer Patients with and without Immediate Flap Reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the long-term clinical outcomes of postmastectomy
      radiotherapy (PMRT) between breast cancer patients with and without immediate
      transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction. METHODS: The
      study included 492 patients with stage II or III breast cancer who underwent
      modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and chemotherapy followed by PMRT between 1997
      and 2011. Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated, and the
      log-rank test was used to evaluate the differences between overall and disease
      free survival rates in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Among 492 patients, 213 patients
      had immediate TRAM flap reconstruction. The mean follow-up was 7.2 years (range,
      11-191 months). The 5-year and 10-year disease free survival rates were 81% and
      76% for the TRAM flap group and 78% and 73% for the non-flap group. The 5-year
      and 10-year overall survival rates were 89% and 73% for the TRAM flap group and
      83% and 74% for the non-flap group. CONCLUSIONS: There exists no statistically
      significant difference in the rates of local recurrence, distant metastasis,
      disease-free and overall survival when comparing immediate TRAM flap
      reconstruction with no reconstruction. Our results suggest that immediate TRAM
      flap reconstruction does not compromise long term clinical outcomes in breast
      cancer patients requiring PMRT.

PMID- 26863007
TI  - Personality Traits of Suicidality Are Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome and
      Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in a Suicidal Women Sample.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Both Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
      (PMDD) might increase the risk of suicidal behavior. The aim of this study was to
      assess the relationship between personality dimensions specifically involved in
      suicidal vulnerability and PMS/PMDD. METHOD: We collected data from 232 women
      consecutively hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We examined the relationship
      between impulsivity, aggressiveness/hostility, hopelessness, trait anger, affect
      intensity, emotional lability, and PMS/PMDD. Notably, we created an algorithm
      from the shortened Premenstrual Assessment form in order to assess PMDD status.
      RESULTS: The proportions of PMS and PMDD among female suicide attempters were 50%
      and 23% respectively. Women with PMS or PMDD were more likely to endorse most of
      these personality traits to than those without even after controlling for
      potential confounders. We found an impulsive-aggressive pattern of personality in
      women with PMS or PMDD, independently from the time of the menstrual cycle.
      Interestingly, trait anger remained associated with both PMS and PMDD
      independently of every other personality traits. The higher the anger level, the
      higher the risk was to suffer from both PMS and PMDD. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrates a strong, independent association between PMS/PMDD and trait anger
      among a representative sample of female suicide attempters. It is of major
      interest for clinicians in view of addressing a substantial public health problem
      among women of reproductive age.

PMID- 26863008
TI  - Association between Social Integration and Health among Internal Migrants in
      ZhongShan, China.
AB  - Internal migrants are the individuals who migrate between regions in one country.
      The number of internal migrants were estimated at 245 million in China in 2013.
      Results were inconsistent in the literature about the relationship between their
      health statuses and social integration. The main difference exists on how to
      measure the social integration and whether health statuses of internal migrants
      improve with years of residence. To complement the existing literature, this
      study measured social integration more comprehensively and estimated the internal
      migrants' health statuses with varying years of residence, and explored the
      associations between the migrants' social integration and health. We used the
      data from 2014 Internal Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey of Health and Family
      Planning in ZhongShan, China. Health status was measured from four aspects: self
      reported health, subjective well-being, perception of stress, mental health. We
      measured social integration through four dimensions: economy, social
      communication, acculturation, and self-identity. The analyses used multiple
      linear regressions to examine the associations between self-reported health,
      subjective well-being, and perception of stress, mental health and social
      integration. The analytical sample included 1,999 households of the internal
      migrants and 1,997 local registered households, who were permanent residents in
      ZhongShan. Among the internal migrants, Adults in the labor force, who were aged
      25 to 44 years old, accounted for 91.2% of the internal migrant population, while
      74.6% of the registered population were in that age group. Median residential
      time among migrants was 2.8 (1.3-6.2) years, and 20.2% of them were migrating in
      the same Guangdong province. Except for mental health, other health statuses
      among migrants had significant differences compared with local registered
      population, e.g. self-reported health was better, but subjective well-being was
      worse. However, these health measurements were improved with more years of
      residence. Moreover, our results show that two aspects of social integration,
      economic integration and self-identity, were significantly associated with health
      status. Subjective feeling of relative social status levels were more associated
      with health, which prompted the attention to social fairness and the creation of
      a fair and respectful culture. More interventions could be experimented, such as
      encouraging internal migrants to participate in community activities more
      actively, educating local registered residents to treat internal migrants more
      equally, and developing self-identity among internal migrants. Better social,
      economic, and cultural environment can benefit internal migrants' health
      statuses. 

PMID- 26863009
TI  - Heterologous Expression Screens in Nicotiana benthamiana Identify a Candidate
      Effector of the Wheat Yellow Rust Pathogen that Associates with Processing
      Bodies.
AB  - Rust fungal pathogens of wheat (Triticum spp.) affect crop yields worldwide. The
      molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence of these pathogens remain elusive,
      due to the limited availability of suitable molecular genetic research tools.
      Notably, the inability to perform high-throughput analyses of candidate virulence
      proteins (also known as effectors) impairs progress. We previously established a
      pipeline for the fast-forward screens of rust fungal candidate effectors in the
      model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. This pipeline involves selecting candidate
      effectors in silico and performing cell biology and protein-protein interaction
      assays in planta to gain insight into the putative functions of candidate
      effectors. In this study, we used this pipeline to identify and characterize
      sixteen candidate effectors from the wheat yellow rust fungal pathogen Puccinia
      striiformis f sp tritici. Nine candidate effectors targeted a specific plant
      subcellular compartment or protein complex, providing valuable information on
      their putative functions in plant cells. One candidate effector, PST02549,
      accumulated in processing bodies (P-bodies), protein complexes involved in mRNA
      decapping, degradation, and storage. PST02549 also associates with the P-body
      resident ENHANCER OF mRNA DECAPPING PROTEIN 4 (EDC4) from N. benthamiana and
      wheat. We propose that P-bodies are a novel plant cell compartment targeted by
      pathogen effectors. 

PMID- 26863010
TI  - Profile and Determinants of Retinal Optical Intensity in Normal Eyes with
      Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the profile and determinants of retinal optical intensity
      in normal subjects using 3D spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD
      OCT). METHODS: A total of 231 eyes from 231 healthy subjects ranging in age from
      18 to 80 years were included and underwent a 3D OCT scan. Forty-four eyes were
      randomly chosen to be scanned by two operators for reproducibility analysis.
      Distribution of optical intensity of each layer and regions specified by the
      Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) were investigated by
      analyzing the OCT raw data with our automatic graph-based algorithm. Univariate
      and multivariate analyses were performed between retinal optical intensity and
      sex, age, height, weight, spherical equivalent (SE), axial length, image quality,
      disc area and rim/disc area ratio (R/D area ratio). RESULTS: For optical
      intensity measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient of each layer
      ranged from 0.815 to 0.941, indicating good reproducibility. Optical intensity
      was lowest in the central area of retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer,
      inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer and
      photoreceptor layer, except for the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Optical
      intensity was positively correlated with image quality in all retinal layers
      (0.553<beta<0.851, p<0.01), and negatively correlated with age in most retinal
      layers (-0.362<beta<-0.179, p<0.01), except for the RPE (beta = 0.456, p<0.01),
      outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer (p>0.05). There was no relationship
      between retinal optical intensity and sex, height, weight, SE, axial length, disc
      area and R/D area ratio. CONCLUSIONS: There was a specific pattern of
      distribution of retinal optical intensity in different regions. The optical
      intensity was affected by image quality and age. Image quality can be used as a
      reference for normalization. The effect of age needs to be taken into
      consideration when using OCT for diagnosis.

PMID- 26863011
TI  - Interferon-gamma Is a Crucial Activator of Early Host Immune Defense against
      Mycobacterium ulcerans Infection in Mice.
AB  - Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a chronic
      necrotizing human skin disease associated with the production of the cytotoxic
      macrolide exotoxin mycolactone. Despite extensive research, the type of immune
      responses elicited against this pathogen and the effector functions conferring
      protection against BU are not yet fully understood. While histopathological
      analyses of advanced BU lesions have demonstrated a mainly extracellular
      localization of the toxin producing acid fast bacilli, there is growing evidence
      for an early intra-macrophage growth phase of M. ulcerans. This has led us to
      investigate whether interferon-gamma might play an important role in containing
      M. ulcerans infections. In an experimental Buruli ulcer mouse model we found that
      interferon-gamma is indeed a critical regulator of early host immune defense
      against M. ulcerans infections. Interferon-gamma knockout mice displayed a faster
      progression of the infection compared to wild-type mice. This accelerated
      progression was reflected in faster and more extensive tissue necrosis and oedema
      formation, as well as in a significantly higher bacterial burden after five weeks
      of infection, indicating that mice lacking interferon-gamma have a reduced
      capacity to kill intracellular bacilli during the early intra-macrophage growth
      phase of M. ulcerans. This data demonstrates a prominent role of interferon-gamma
      in early defense against M. ulcerans infection and supports the view that
      concepts for vaccine development against tuberculosis may also be valid for BU. 

PMID- 26863012
TI  - Lactic Acid Production from Pretreated Hydrolysates of Corn Stover by a Newly
      Developed Bacillus coagulans Strain.
AB  - An inhibitor-tolerance strain, Bacillus coagulans GKN316, was developed through
      atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutation and evolution experiment
      in condensed dilute-acid hydrolysate (CDH) of corn stover. The fermentabilities
      of other hydrolysates with B. coagulans GKN316 and the parental strain B.
      coagulans NL01 were assessed. When using condensed acid-catalyzed steam-exploded
      hydrolysate (CASEH), condensed acid-catalyzed liquid hot water hydrolysate (CALH)
      and condensed acid-catalyzed sulfite hydrolysate (CASH) as substrates, the
      concentration of lactic acid reached 45.39, 16.83, and 18.71 g/L by B. coagulans
      GKN316, respectively. But for B. coagulans NL01, only CASEH could be directly
      fermented to produce 15.47 g/L lactic acid. The individual inhibitory effect of
      furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), vanillin, syringaldehyde and p
      hydroxybenzaldehyde (pHBal) on xylose utilization by B. coagulans GKN316 was also
      studied. The strain B. coagulans GKN316 could effectively convert these toxic
      inhibitors to the less toxic corresponding alcohols in situ. These results
      suggested that B. coagulans GKN316 was well suited to production of lactic acid
      from undetoxified lignocellulosic hydrolysates. 

PMID- 26863013
TI  - Linking Vital Rates of Landbirds on a Tropical Island to Rainfall and Vegetation
      Greenness.
AB  - Remote tropical oceanic islands are of high conservation priority, and they are
      exemplified by range-restricted species with small global populations. Spatial
      and temporal patterns in rainfall and plant productivity may be important in
      driving dynamics of these species. Yet, little is known about environmental
      influences on population dynamics for most islands and species. Here we leveraged
      avian capture-recapture, rainfall, and remote-sensed habitat data (enhanced
      vegetation index [EVI]) to assess relationships between rainfall, vegetation
      greenness, and demographic rates (productivity, adult apparent survival) of three
      native bird species on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: rufous fantail
      (Rhipidura rufifrons), bridled white-eye (Zosterops conspicillatus), and golden
      white-eye (Cleptornis marchei). Rainfall was positively related to vegetation
      greenness at all but the highest rainfall levels. Temporal variation in greenness
      affected the productivity of each bird species in unique ways. Predicted
      productivity of rufous fantail was highest when dry and wet season greenness
      values were high relative to site-specific 5-year seasonal mean values (i.e.,
      relative greenness); while the white-eye species had highest predicted
      productivity when relative greenness contrasted between wet and dry seasons.
      Survival of rufous fantail and bridled white eye was positively related to
      relative dry-season greenness and negatively related to relative wet-season
      greenness. Bridled white-eye survival also showed evidence of a positive response
      to overall greenness. Our results highlight the potentially important role of
      rainfall regimes in affecting population dynamics of species on oceanic tropical
      islands. Understanding linkages between rainfall, vegetation, and animal
      population dynamics will be critical for developing effective conservation
      strategies in this and other regions where the seasonal timing, extent, and
      variability of rainfall is expected to change in the coming decades. 

PMID- 26863014
TI  - Fungal Ferromanganese Mineralisation in Cretaceous Dinosaur Bones from the Gobi
      Desert, Mongolia.
AB  - Well-preserved mycelia of fungal- or saprolegnia-like biota mineralised by
      ferromanganese oxides were found for the first time in long bones of Late
      Cretaceous dinosaurs from the Gobi Desert (Nemegt Valley, Mongolia). The mycelia
      formed a biofilm on the wall of the bone marrow cavity and penetrated the osteon
      channels of the nearby bone tissue. Optical microscopy, Raman, SEM/EDS, SEM/BSE,
      electron microprobe and cathodoluminescence analyses revealed that the
      mineralisation of the mycelia proceeded in two stages. The first stage was early
      post-mortem mineralisation of the hyphae by Fe/Mn-oxide coatings and
      microconcretions. Probably this proceeded in a mildly acidic to circumneutral
      environment, predominantly due to heterotrophic bacteria degrading the mycelial
      necromass and liberating Fe and Mn sorbed by the mycelia during its lifetime. The
      second stage of mineralisation, which proceeded much later following the final
      burial of the bones in an alkaline environment, resulted from the massive
      precipitation of calcite and occasionally barite on the iron/manganese-oxide
      coated mycelia. The mineral phases produced by fungal biofilms colonising the
      interiors of decaying dinosaur bones not only enhance the preservation
      (fossilisation) of fungal remains but can also be used as indicators of the
      geochemistry of the dinosaur burial sites. 

PMID- 26863015
TI  - Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury in Denmark 2000-2012: Time Trends of
      Incidence and Prevalence of Risk Factors-A Nationwide Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury is a severe illness
      associated with poor prognosis. However, information pertaining to incidence
      rates and prevalence of risk factors remains limited in spite of increasing
      focus. We evaluate time trends of incidence rates and changing patterns in
      prevalence of comorbidities, concurrent medication, and other risk factors in
      nationwide retrospective cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with
      dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury were identified between January 1st 2000
      and December 31st 2012. By cross-referencing data from national administrative
      registries, the association of changing patterns in dialysis treatment,
      comorbidity, concurrent medication and demographics with incidence of dialysis
      requiring acute kidney injury was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 18,561 adult
      patients with dialysis-requiring AKI were identified between 2000 and 2012. Crude
      incidence rate of dialysis-requiring AKI increased from 143 per million (95%
      confidence interval, 137-144) in 2000 to 366 per million (357-375) in 2006, and
      remained stable hereafter. Notably, incidence of continuous veno-venous
      hemodialysis (CRRT) and use of acute renal replacement therapy in elderly >75
      years increased substantially from 23 per million (20-26) and 328 per million
      (300-355) in 2000, to 213 per million (206-220) and 1124 per million (1076-1172)
      in 2012, respectively. Simultaneously, patient characteristics and demographics
      shifted towards increased age and comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Although growth in
      crude incidence rate of dialysis-requiring AKI stabilized in 2006, continuous
      growth in use of CRRT, and acute renal replacement therapy of elderly patients
      >75 years, was observed. Our results indicate an underlying shift in clinical
      paradigm, as opposed to unadulterated growth in incidence of dialysis-requiring
      AKI.

PMID- 26863017
TI  - New Proposal of Setal Homology in Schizomida and Revision of Surazomus
      (Hubbardiidae) from Ecuador.
AB  - The homology of three somatic systems in Schizomida is studied yielding the
      following results: (1) proposal of homology and chaetotaxy of abdominal setae in
      Surazomus; (2) revision of the cheliceral chaetotaxy in Schizomida, with
      suggestion of new homology scheme between Hubbardiidae and Protoschizomidae,
      description of a new group of setae in Hubbardiinae (G7), and division of setae
      group 5 in two subgroups, G5A and G5B; (3) proposal of segmental homology between
      trimerous and tetramerous female flagellum in Hubbardiinae with association of
      segment III of tri-segmented species to segments III + IV of tetra-segmented
      species. Considerations about the dorsal microsetae on the male flagellum are
      made. The genus Surazomus in Ecuador is revised. The sympatric species Surazomus
      palenque sp. nov. and S. kitu sp. nov. (Ecuador, Pichincha) are described and
      illustrated. The female of S. cuenca (Rowland and Reddell, 1979) is described,
      with two new distributional records for the species. Surazomus cumbalensis
      (Kraus, 1957) is recorded for the first time from Ecuador (Pichincha). 

PMID- 26863018
TI  - A modified olanzapine regimen for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea
      and vomiting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: At Kaiser Permanente Antioch and Walnut Creek Cancer Centers, a
      modified olanzapine regimen is used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and
      vomiting (CINV) in patients who receive highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).
      OBJECTIVE: To determine if an olanzapine, ondansetron, dexamethasone (OOD)
      regimen is noninferior to a fosaprepitant, ondansetron, dexamethasone (FOD)
      regimen in preventing CINV in patients receiving HEC. METHODS: This retrospective
      cohort study compared the rates of CINV in patients who were treated with HEC and
      received either the OOD or FOD regimen. Electronic medical records were assessed
      for documented reports of CINV. 148 patients were included in this study.
      RESULTS: Complete response (CR), defined as no emesis after Cycle 1 of HEC, in
      patients receiving the OOD regimen was 95.7% in the acute phase, 94.3% in the
      delayed phase, and 92.9% overall. CR in patients receiving the FOD regimen was
      98.7% in the acute phase, 89.7% in the delayed phase, and 89.7% overall. The
      percentage of patients who had no nausea on the OOD regimen was 87.1 in the acute
      phase, 75.5 in the delayed phase, and 71.4 overall, compared with 78.2 in the
      acute phase, 62.8 in the delayed phase, and 62.7 overall in patients on the FOD
      regimen. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective, nonrandomized
      design, and short follow-up period. This study did not assess adverse effects
      from the antiemetic regimens. CONCLUSIONS: A modified olanzapine regimen is
      noninferior to a standard fosaprepitant regimen in regard to CR in showing
      improved control of CINV. In addition, the use of the olanzapine regimen reduces
      patient exposure to corticosteroids and the risk of associated side effects, and
      it is significantly more cost effective, compared with the fosaprepitant regimen.

PMID- 26863016
TI  - Serum Autoantibodies in Chronic Prostate Inflammation in Prostate Cancer
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is frequently observed on histological analysis
      of malignant and non-malignant prostate specimens. It is a suspected supporting
      factor for prostate diseases and their progression and a main cause of false
      positive PSA tests in cancer screening. We hypothesized that inflammation induces
      autoantibodies, which may be useful biomarkers. We aimed to identify and validate
      prostate inflammation associated serum autoantibodies in prostate cancer patients
      and evaluate the expression of corresponding autoantigens. METHODS: Radical
      prostatectomy specimens of prostate cancer patients (N = 70) were classified into
      high and low inflammation groups according to the amount of tissue infiltrating
      lymphocytes. The corresponding pre-surgery blood serum samples were scrutinized
      for autoantibodies using a low-density protein array. Selected autoantigens were
      identified in prostate tissue and their expression pattern analyzed by
      immunohistochemistry and qPCR. The identified autoantibody profile was cross
      checked in an independent sample set (N = 63) using the Luminex-bead protein
      array technology. RESULTS: Protein array screening identified 165 autoantibodies
      differentially abundant in the serum of high compared to low inflammation
      patients. The expression pattern of three corresponding antigens were established
      in benign and cancer tissue by immunohistochemistry and qPCR: SPAST (Spastin),
      STX18 (Syntaxin 18) and SPOP (speckle-type POZ protein). Of these, SPAST was
      significantly increased in prostate tissue with high inflammation. All three
      autoantigens were differentially expressed in primary and/or castration resistant
      prostate tumors when analyzed in an inflammation-independent tissue microarray.
      Cross-validation of the inflammation autoantibody profile on an independent
      sample set using a Luminex-bead protein array, retrieved 51 of the significantly
      discriminating autoantibodies. Three autoantibodies were significantly
      upregulated in both screens, MUT, RAB11B and CSRP2 (p>0.05), two, SPOP and
      ZNF671, close to statistical significance (p = 0.051 and 0.076). CONCLUSIONS: We
      provide evidence of an inflammation-specific autoantibody profile and confirm the
      expression of corresponding autoantigens in prostate tissue. This supports
      evaluation of autoantibodies as non-invasive markers for prostate inflammation.

PMID- 26863019
TI  - Caregivers' attitudes toward promoting exercise among patients with late-stage
      lung cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The benefits of exercise, even at low intensity levels, in improving
      overall health, psychological well-being, and quality of life in patients with
      cancer have been well documented. However, few patients are involved in formal
      exercise programs, and little is known about the factors that motivate those who
      do participate. Although it has not been well assessed, it stands to reason that
      spousal and family support is an important determinant of cancer patients'
      adoption of, and adherence to, an exercise program. OBJECTIVE: To characterize
      attitudes among the family caregivers of patients with late-stage lung cancer
      about their role in promoting exercise. METHODS: 20 adult family caregivers of
      patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer were asked during semi
      structured interviews about their views on the role of exercise in "fighting
      cancer," whether with respect to survival, health, psychological well-being, or
      overall quality of life; their ability to encourage patients to exercise; and
      their receptivity to getting exercise instructions from health care providers.
      FINDINGS: Family caregivers viewed exercise as important in fighting cancer. Past
      exercise patterns and lifestyle were important considerations, with some family
      caregivers who had not previously exercised considering household activities
      sufficient for promoting fitness. Family caregivers emphasized the importance of
      knowing the established boundaries of their relationships and respecting
      patients' autonomy. Caregivers generally thought that direction from health care
      providers to exercise would more likely result in meaningful behavioral change
      for patients. LIMITATIONS: The participants were recruited from a quaternary
      medical center and restricted to those with lung cancer, which may limit the
      generalizability of the findings to other settings or cancers. CONCLUSIONS AND
      INTERPRETATION: Family caregivers believe that exercise is important for
      patients, but feel constrained in their willingness and ability to promote
      exercise behaviors because of the established boundaries of their relationships.
      They have mixed opinions about the utility of exercise promotion by health care
      providers. Family caregivers are ambivalent about promoting exercise for patients
      with advanced cancer. Nonjudgmental assessment of patients' past exercise
      preferences and established relationship boundaries should inform clinical
      judgment about the utility of engaging family caregivers in the promotion of
      exercise.

PMID- 26863020
TI  - Impact of inpatient radiation on length of stay and health care costs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health care costs are rising. Identifying areas for health care
      utilization savings may reduce costs. OBJECTIVE: To identify oncology patients
      receiving inpatient radiotherapy with the purpose of measuring length of stay
      (LoS) and hospital charges. METHODS: During July 2013 the oncology service
      physicians at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City were surveyed daily to
      identify patients receiving inpatient radiation. Actual LoS, acuity LoS were
      determined from the chart review. Expected LoS was calculated using the
      University Healthsystem Consortium database. Charges associated with actual LoS,
      acuity LoS, and expected LoS were then reported. Actual and expected LoS were
      compared for inpatient radiotherapy and nonradiotherapy groups. RESULTS: 7
      patients were identified as having remained in the hospital to receive radiation
      treatment. In that cohort, the average actual LoS and charges per patient were
      40.1 and $48,724, compared with acuity LoS and charges of 25.6 days and $34,089
      and expected LoS and charges of 7.7 days and $10,028. Mean LoS and charges
      attributed to radiation alone amounted to 11 days and $12,514. The mean actual
      LoS of oncology patients admitted during the same time period who did not receive
      radiation was 6.7 days, compared with 40.1 days for patients who received
      radiation (?? < .0001). LIMITATIONS: Inability to access actual reimbursement
      data prevented exact cost calculations, small sample size, and single-institution
      focus. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of radiation therapy during inpatient
      hospitalization extends LoS and contributes to higher health care costs. Methods
      to facilitate the delivery of outpatient radiotherapy may result in cost savings.

PMID- 26863021
TI  - Difference in the timing of cessation of palliative chemotherapy between patients
      with incurable cancer receiving therapy only in a local hospital and those
      transitioned from a tertiary medical center to a local hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is important to know when to decide to end palliative chemotherapy
      (PC) for the quality of life of patients. However, there is currently no clear
      agreement on when to terminate PC. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the
      difference of the period between the completion of PC and death affects patients'
      trajectory of supportive care near end of life. METHODS: This retrospective study
      included 52 adult patients with incurable cancer who had received PC and who were
      referred to our palliative care team and died in our local hospital between July
      2011 and June 2014. Group A comprised patients who received anticancer therapy
      such as surgery and PC only in our hospital and eventually died there. Group B
      comprised patients who were transitioned to our hospital from tertiary medical
      centers after cessation of PC. RESULTS: 17 of 22 patients (77%) in Group A
      conveyed the intention of continuing PC in the first interview with a physician
      of the palliative care team, whereas 4 of 30 patients (13%) in Group B conveyed a
      similar intention. The patients in Group B stopped PC a median of 43 days earlier
      than did the patients in Group A (?? < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed
      that more patients in Group A wanted to continue PC and had a shorter interval
      between last PC and death. Change in the hospital where the patients are given
      supportive care might contribute to the cessation of futile PC at an appropriate
      time.

PMID- 26863022
TI  - Treatment-related MDS/AML in a patient after treatment for large-cell
      neuroendocrine lung cancer.
AB  - Secondary leukemia is a common late complication after exposure to cancer
      therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. With the increase in the overall
      survival of cancer patients over the past 3 decades, treatment-related malignant
      neoplasms have increased in incidence. Secondary leukemias due to breast cancer
      and Hodgkin lymphoma have been studied in detail, but to our knowledge only a few
      case studies have reported secondary leukemias with previous lung cancer.1-4 Lung
      cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.5 Since the
      overall survival (OS) as well as the progression-free survival (PFS) of lung
      cancer has improved, secondary malignancies, which are usually aggressive and
      have a poor prognosis, have become a common occurrence among survivors. The use
      of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy could increase the risk for secondary cancers.
      Here we report the case of a patient who developed treatment-related acute
      myelogenous leukemia (t-AML) with a likely prior myelodysplasia (t-MDS) after
      receiving combined chemo-radiotherapy for lung cancer. 

PMID- 26863023
TI  - Cultural Adaptation of the Portuguese Version of the "Sniffin' Sticks" Smell
      Test: Reliability, Validity, and Normative Data.
AB  - The cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Sniffin'Sticks test for the
      Portuguese population is described. Over 270 people participated in four
      experiments. In Experiment 1, 67 participants rated the familiarity of presented
      odors and seven descriptors of the original test were adapted to a Portuguese
      context. In Experiment 2, the Portuguese version of Sniffin'Sticks test was
      administered to 203 healthy participants. Older age, male gender and active
      smoking status were confirmed as confounding factors. The third experiment showed
      the validity of the Portuguese version of Sniffin'Sticks test in discriminating
      healthy controls from patients with olfactory dysfunction. In Experiment 4, the
      test-retest reliability for both the composite score (r71 = 0.86) and the
      identification test (r71 = 0.62) was established (p<0.001). Normative data for
      the Portuguese version of Sniffin'Sticks test is provided, showing good validity
      and reliability and effectively distinguishing patients from healthy controls
      with high sensitivity and specificity. The Portuguese version of Sniffin'Sticks
      test identification test is a clinically suitable screening tool in routine
      outpatient Portuguese settings. 

PMID- 26863024
TI  - Ratiometric Imaging Using a Single Dye Enables Simultaneous Visualization of Rac1
      and Cdc42 Activation.
AB  - Biosensors that report endogenous protein activity in vivo can be based on
      environment-sensing fluorescent dyes. The dyes can be attached to reagents that
      bind selectively to a specific conformation of the targeted protein, such that
      binding leads to a fluorescence change. Dyes that are sufficiently bright for use
      at low, nonperturbing intracellular concentrations typically undergo changes in
      intensity rather than the shifts in excitation or emission maxima that would
      enable precise quantitation through ratiometric imaging. We report here mero199,
      an environment-sensing dye that undergoes a 33 nm solvent-dependent shift in
      excitation. The dye was used to generate a ratiometric biosensor of Cdc42
      (CRIB199) without the need for additional fluorophores. CRIB199 was used in the
      same cell with a FRET sensor of Rac1 activation to simultaneously observe Cdc42
      and Rac1 activity in cellular protrusions, indicating that Rac1 but not Cdc42
      activity was reduced during tail retraction, and specific protrusions had reduced
      Cdc42 activity. A novel program (EdgeProps) used to correlate localized
      activation with cell edge dynamics indicated that Rac1 was specifically reduced
      during retraction. 

PMID- 26863026
TI  - Sequential Hypothesis Testing to Characterise the Learning Curve and Monitor
      Surgical Performance in Retinal Detachment Surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: To characterise the learning curve of primary retinal detachment (RD)
      repair for trainee surgeons and monitor the outcomes of surgery for established
      surgeons. PROCEDURES: Primary RD operations were analysed sequentially using the
      cumulative sum (CUSUM) and the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT). RESULTS:
      359 analysed cases of primary RD were audited with a recurrent RD (ReRD) rate of
      14.7%. The individual rate of ReRD ranged from 9.4 to 17.4% (p = 0.74). SPRT and
      CUSUM analyses showed that ReRD occurred at random when operated by senior
      surgeons but a learning curve was discernible for junior surgeons. There was a
      trend for a higher proportion of ReRD caused by untreated breaks in cases
      operated by junior surgeons (p = 0.75). CONCLUSION: SPRT and CUSUM are useful
      methods to monitor surgical outcomes and should be included in audits of
      sequential operations such as RD. Trainee surgeons experience a quantifiable
      learning curve.

PMID- 26863025
TI  - A Screen for Modifiers of Cilia Phenotypes Reveals Novel MKS Alleles and Uncovers
      a Specific Genetic Interaction between osm-3 and nphp-4.
AB  - Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a ciliopathy in which genetic modifiers may underlie
      the variable penetrance of clinical features. To identify modifiers, a screen was
      conducted on C. elegans nphp-4(tm925) mutants. Mutations in ten loci exacerbating
      nphp-4(tm925) ciliary defects were obtained. Four loci have been identified,
      three of which are established ciliopathy genes mks-1, mks-2, and mks-5. The
      fourth allele (yhw66) is a missense mutation (S316F) in OSM-3, a kinesin required
      for cilia distal segment assembly. While osm-3(yhw66) mutants alone have no overt
      cilia phenotype, nphp-4(tm925);osm-3(yhw66) double mutants lack distal segments
      and are dye-filling (Dyf) and osmotic avoidance (Osm) defective, similar to osm
      3(mn357) null mutants. In osm-3(yhw66) mutants anterograde intraflagellar
      transport (IFT) velocity is reduced. Furthermore, expression of OSM-3(S316F)::GFP
      reduced IFT velocities in nphp-4(tm925) mutants, but not in wild type animals. In
      silico analysis indicates the S316F mutation may affect a phosphorylation site.
      Putative phospho-null OSM-3(S316F) and phospho-mimetic OSM-3(S316D) proteins
      accumulate at the cilia base and tip respectively. FRAP analysis indicates that
      the cilia entry rate of OSM-3(S316F) is slower than OSM-3 and that in the
      presence of OSM-3(S316F), OSM-3 and OSM-3(S316D) rates decrease. In the presence
      OSM-3::GFP or OSM-3(S316D)::GFP, OSM-3(S316F)::tdTomato redistributes along the
      cilium and accumulates in the cilia tip. OSM-3(S316F) and OSM-3(S316D) are
      functional as they restore cilia distal segment formation in osm-3(mn357) null
      mutants; however, only OSM-3(S316F) rescues the osm-3(mn357) null Dyf phenotype.
      Despite rescue of cilia length in osm-3(mn357) null mutants, neither OSM-3(S316F)
      nor OSM-3(S316D) restores ciliary defects in nphp-4(tm925);osm-3(yhw66) double
      mutants. Thus, these OSM-3 mutations cause NPHP-4 dependent and independent
      phenotypes. These data indicate that in addition to regulating cilia protein
      entry or exit, NPHP-4 influences localization and function of a distal ciliary
      kinesin. Moreover, data suggest human OSM-3 homolog (Kif17) could act as a
      modifying locus affecting disease penetrance or expressivity in NPHP patients.

PMID- 26863027
TI  - How the Pathogenic Fungus Alternaria alternata Copes with Stress via the Response
      Regulators SSK1 and SHO1.
AB  - The tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen
      causing brown spot disease on a number of citrus cultivars. To better understand
      the dynamics of signal regulation leading to oxidative and osmotic stress
      response and fungal infection on citrus, phenotypic characterization of the yeast
      SSK1 response regulator homolog was performed. It was determined that SSK1
      responds to diverse environmental stimuli and plays a critical role in fungal
      pathogenesis. Experiments to determine the phenotypes resulting from the loss of
      SSK1 reveal that the SSK1 gene product may be fulfilling similar regulatory roles
      in signaling pathways involving a HOG1 MAP kinase during ROS resistance, osmotic
      resistance, fungicide sensitivity and fungal virulence. The SSK1 mutants display
      elevated sensitivity to oxidants, fail to detoxify H2O2 effectively, induce minor
      necrosis on susceptible citrus leaves, and displays resistance to dicarboximide
      and phenylpyrrole fungicides. Unlike the SKN7 response regulator, SSK1 and HOG1
      confer resistance to salt-induced osmotic stress via an unknown kinase sensor
      rather than the "two component" histidine kinase HSK1. SSK1 and HOG1 play a
      moderate role in sugar-induced osmotic stress. We also show that SSK1 mutants are
      impaired in their ability to produce germ tubes from conidia, indicating a role
      for the gene product in cell differentiation. SSK1 also is involved in multi-drug
      resistance. However, deletion of the yeast SHO1 (synthetic high osmolarity)
      homolog resulted in no noticeable phenotypes. Nonetheless, our results show that
      A. alternata can sense and react to different types of stress via SSK1, HOG1 and
      SKN7 in a cooperative manner leading to proper physiological and pathological
      functions. 

PMID- 26863028
TI  - Altered Functional Connectivity of the Insula and Nucleus Accumbens in Internet
      Gaming Disorder: A Resting State fMRI Study.
AB  - AIMS: A possible addiction mechanism has been represented by altered functional
      connectivity (FC) in the resting state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      FCs of the insula and nucleus accumbens among subjects with Internet gaming
      disorder (IGD). METHODS: We recruited 30 males with IGD and 30 controls and
      evaluated their FC using functional magnetic imaging scanning under resting, a
      state with relaxation, closed eyes, with inducement to think of nothing
      systematically, become motionless, and instructed not to fall asleep. RESULTS:
      Subjects with IGD had a lower FC with the left insula over the left dorsolateral
      prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbital frontal lobe and a higher FC with the
      insula with the contralateral insula than controls. The inter-hemispheric insula
      connectivity positively correlated with impulsivity. Further, they had lower FC
      with the left nucleus accumbens over the left DLPFC and with the right nucleus
      accumbens over the left DLPFC, and insula and a higher FC with that over the
      right precuneus. CONCLUSION: The elevated inter-hemispheric insula FC is found to
      be associated with impulsivity and might explain why it is involved in IGD. The
      attenuated frontostriatal suggests that the emotion-driven gaming urge through
      nucleus accumbens could not be well regulated by the frontal lobe of subjects
      with IGD.

PMID- 26863030
TI  - On the Road (to a Cure?)--Stem-Cell Tourism and Lessons for Gene Editing.

PMID- 26863029
TI  - Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Promotes Apoptosis in Human Breast Epithelial * Breast
      Cancer Hybrids, but Not in Parental Cells.
AB  - Toll-like receptors (TLRs) belong to the group of pathogen recognition receptors
      known to play a crucial role in the innate immune system. In cancer, TLR
      expression is still debated controversially due to contradictory results
      reporting that both induction of apoptosis as well as tumor progression could
      depend on TLR signaling, whereby recent data rather indicate a pro-tumorigenic
      effect. The biological phenomenon of cell fusion has been associated with cancer
      progression due to findings revealing that fusion-derived hybrid cells could
      exhibit properties like an increased metastatogenic capacity and an increased
      drug resistance. Thus, M13MDA435 hybrid cell lines, which derived from
      spontaneous fusion events between human M13SV1-EGFP-Neo breast epithelial cells
      and human MDA-MB-435-Hyg breast cancer cells, were investigated. Cultivation of
      cells in the presence of the TLR4 ligand LPS potently induced apoptosis in all
      hybrid clones, but not in parental cells, which was most likely attributed to
      differential kinetics of the TLR4 signal transduction cascade. Activation of this
      pathway concomitant with NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and TNF-alpha expression
      was solely observed in hybrid cells. However, induction of LPS mediated apoptosis
      was not TNF-alpha dependent since TNF-alpha neutralization was not correlated to
      a decreased amount of dead cells. In addition to TNF-alpha, LPS also caused IFN
      beta expression in hybrid clones 1 and 3. Interestingly, hybrid clones differ in
      the mode of LPS induced apoptosis. While neutralization of IFN-beta was
      sufficient to impair the LPS induced apoptosis in M13MDA435-1 and -3 hybrids, the
      amount of apoptotic M13MDA435-2 and -4 hybrid cells remained unchanged in the
      presence of neutralizing IFN-beta antibodies. In summary, the fusion of non-LPS
      susceptible parental human breast epithelial cells and human breast cancer cells
      gave rise to LPS susceptible hybrid cells, which is in view with the cell fusion
      hypothesis that hybrid cells could exhibit novel properties. 

PMID- 26863032
TI  - Delayed Treatment with Sodium Hydrosulfide Improves Regional Blood Flow and
      Alleviates Cecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP)-Induced Septic Shock.
AB  - Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis is a serious medical condition,
      caused by a severe systemic infection resulting in a systemic inflammatory
      response. Recent studies have suggested the therapeutic potential of donors of
      hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a novel endogenous gasotransmitter and biological
      mediator in various diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess the
      effect of H2S supplementation in sepsis, with special reference to its effect on
      the modulation of regional blood flow. We infused sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a
      compound that produces H2S in aqueous solution (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg/h, for 1 h at
      each dose level) in control rats or rats 24 h after CLP, and measured blood flow
      using fluorescent microspheres. In normal control animals, NaHS induced a
      characteristic redistribution of blood flow, and reduced cardiac, hepatic, and
      renal blood flow in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, in rats subjected to
      CLP, cardiac, hepatic, and renal blood flow was significantly reduced; infusion
      of NaHS (1 mg/kg/h and 3 mg/kg/h) significantly increased organ blood flow. In
      other words, the effect of H2S on regional blood flow is dependent on the status
      of the animals (i.e., a decrease in blood flow in normal controls, but an
      increase in blood flow in CLP). We have also evaluated the effect of delayed
      treatment with NaHS on organ dysfunction and the inflammatory response by
      treating the animals with NaHS (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) at 24 h after
      the start of the CLP procedure; plasma levels of various cytokines and tissue
      indicators of inflammatory cell infiltration and oxidative stress were measured 6
      h later. After 24 h of CLP, glomerular function was significantly impaired, as
      evidenced by markedly increased (over 4-fold over baseline) blood urea nitrogen
      and creatinine levels; this increase was also significantly reduced by treatment
      with NaHS. NaHS also attenuated the CLP-induced increases in malondialdehyde
      levels (an index of oxidative stress) in heart as well as in liver and
      myeloperoxidase levels (an index of neutrophil infiltration) in heart and lung.
      Plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and HMGB1 were attenuated by
      NaHS. Treatment of NaHS at 3 mg/kg i.p. (but not 1 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg), starting 24
      h post-CLP, with dosing repeated every 6 h, improved the survival rate in CLP
      animals. In summary, treatment with 3 mg/kg H2S-when started in a delayed manner,
      when CLP-induced organ injury, inflammation and blood flow redistribution have
      already ensued-improves blood flow to several organs, protects against multiple
      organ failure, and reduces the plasma levels of multiple pro-inflammatory
      mediators. These findings support the view that H2S donation may have therapeutic
      potential in sepsis.

PMID- 26863033
TI  - Plasma First Resuscitation Reduces Lactate Acidosis, Enhances Redox Homeostasis,
      Amino Acid and Purine Catabolism in a Rat Model of Profound Hemorrhagic Shock.
AB  - The use of aggressive crystalloid resuscitation to treat hypoxemia, hypovolemia,
      and nutrient deprivation promoted by massive blood loss may lead to the
      development of the blood vicious cycle of acidosis, hypothermia, and coagulopathy
      and, utterly, death. Metabolic acidosis is one of the many metabolic derangements
      triggered by severe trauma/hemorrhagic shock, also including enhanced
      proteolysis, lipid mobilization, as well as traumatic diabetes. Appreciation of
      the metabolic benefit of plasma first resuscitation is an important concept.
      Plasma resuscitation has been shown to correct hyperfibrinolysis secondary to
      severe hemorrhage better than normal saline. Here, we hypothesize that plasma
      first resuscitation corrects metabolic derangements promoted by severe hemorrhage
      better than resuscitation with normal saline. Ultra-high-performance liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analyses were performed to
      screen plasma metabolic profiles upon shock and resuscitation with either
      platelet-free plasma or normal saline in a rat model of severe hemorrhage. Of the
      251 metabolites that were monitored, 101 were significantly different in plasma
      versus normal saline resuscitated rats. Plasma resuscitation corrected lactate
      acidosis by promoting glutamine/amino acid catabolism and purine salvage
      reactions. Plasma first resuscitation may benefit critically injured trauma
      patients by relieving the lactate burden and promoting other non-clinically
      measured metabolic changes. In the light of our results, we propose that plasma
      resuscitation may promote fueling of mitochondrial metabolism, through the
      enhancement of glutaminolysis/amino acid catabolism and purine salvage reactions.
      The treatment of trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock with plasma first
      resuscitation is likely not only to improve coagulation, but also to promote
      substrate-specific metabolic corrections.

PMID- 26863034
TI  - Grafting of Beads into Developing Chicken Embryo Limbs to Identify Signal
      Transduction Pathways Affecting Gene Expression.
AB  - Using chicken embryos it is possible to test directly the effects of either
      growth factors or specific inhibitors of signaling pathways on gene expression
      and activation of signal transduction pathways. This technique allows the
      delivery of signaling molecules at precisely defined developmental stages for
      specific times. After this embryos can be harvested and gene expression examined,
      for example by in situ hybridization, or activation of signal transduction
      pathways observed with immunostaining. In this video heparin beads soaked in
      FGF18 or AG 1-X2 beads soaked in U0126, a MEK inhibitor, are grafted into the
      limb bud in ovo. This shows that FGF18 induces expression of MyoD and ERK
      phosphorylation and both endogenous and FGF18 induced MyoD expression is
      inhibited by U0126. Beads soaked in a retinoic acid antagonist can potentiate
      premature MyoD induction by FGF18. This approach can be used with a wide range of
      different growth factors and inhibitors and is easily adapted to other tissues in
      the developing embryo. 

PMID- 26863035
TI  - The Complete and Updated "Rotifer Polyculture Method" for Rearing First Feeding
      Zebrafish.
AB  - The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism of increasing importance in many
      fields of science. One of the most demanding technical aspects of culture of this
      species in the laboratory is rearing first-feeding larvae to the juvenile stage
      with high rates of growth and survival. The central management challenge of this
      developmental period revolves around delivering highly nutritious feed items to
      the fish on a nearly continuous basis without compromising water quality. Because
      larval zebrafish are well-adapted to feed on small zooplankton in the water
      column, live prey items such as brachionid rotifers, Artemia, and Paramecium are
      widely recognized as the feeds of choice, at least until the fish reach the
      juvenile stage and are able to efficiently feed on processed diets. This protocol
      describes a method whereby newly hatched zebrafish larvae are cultured together
      with live saltwater rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) in the same system. This
      polyculture approach provides fish with an "on-demand", nutrient-rich live food
      source without producing chemical waste at levels that would otherwise limit
      performance. Importantly, because the system harnesses both the natural high
      productivity of the rotifers and the behavioral preferences of the fish, the
      labor involved with maintenance is low. The following protocol details an
      updated, step-by-step procedure that incorporates rotifer production (scalable to
      any desired level) for use in a polyculture of zebrafish larvae and rotifers that
      promotes maximal performance during the first 5 days of exogenous feeding. 

PMID- 26863036
TI  - Report of a 14-Year-Old Boy Whose Testosterone Level Decreased After Starting on
      Methylphenidate.

PMID- 26863037
TI  - Effect of sternoclavicular joint mobilization on pain and function in a patient
      with massive supraspinatus tear.
AB  - Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears can be difficult to treat conservatively,
      especially when the patient has multiple comorbidities. Although there is
      evidence to support interventions aimed at the spine, there is paucity in the
      literature describing interventions to the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) in
      individuals with rotator cuff pathology. A 57-year-old female with multiple
      comorbidities and a body mass index of 59 was referred to physical therapy with a
      4-month history of right shoulder pain, significant functional limitations, and
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), demonstrating a full-thickness supraspinatus
      tear. She presented initially with active shoulder flexion range of motion (ROM)
      0-80 degrees , numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) 7/10, and QuickDASH 65.9%. After
      six physical therapy sessions, the patient had plateaued with improvements in
      pain and ROM. SCJ mobilizations at visit 7 immediately improved pain, active ROM,
      and subjective reports of function. The patient was discharged after 13 visits
      with increased active shoulder flexion ROM to 0-170 degrees , NPRS 1/10,
      QuickDASH 31.8%, and Global Rating of Change (GROC) +5. This case highlights the
      successful conservative treatment of an individual with an irreparable rotator
      cuff tear and numerous comorbidities by using a multimodal approach including SCJ
      mobilizations. 

PMID- 26863038
TI  - Assessing the Effectiveness of Arnica montana and Rhododendron tomentosum (Ledum
      palustre) in the Reduction of Ecchymosis and Edema After Oculofacial Surgery:
      Preliminary Results.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data on the
      potential effectiveness of the combination of topical Arnica montana and
      Rhododendron tomentosum (Ledum palustre) in reducing postoperative ecchymosis and
      edema in a select population of healthy volunteers after oculofacial surgery.
      METHODS: This retrospective review examined the postoperative course of healthy
      volunteers using topical Arnica and Ledum after undergoing common oculofacial
      procedures, including blepharoplasty, browpexy, and rhinoplasty, in the hands of
      4 surgeons at tertiary referral centers from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012
      using medical records review. Each patient included had used topical hydrogel
      pads (OcuMend, Cearna Inc., Chicago, IL) containing Arnica 50 M (10) 50% and
      Ledum 50 M (10). The pads were applied bilaterally after surgery through
      postoperative day 6. At each postoperative visit, the patients were evaluated by
      their respective surgeons and assigned a subjective physician-patient rating
      score comparing each patient's observed healing compared with expected healing if
      not using Arnica/Ledum. Photographs of patients undergoing equivalent procedures,
      but not using Arnica/Ledum were used as controls for comparison. Physician
      patient rating scores were categorical: markedly accelerated healing defined as
      approximately 7 days ahead of expected, accelerated healing, defined as <7 days
      ahead of expected, and no appreciable difference from expected. The proportion of
      patients with each physician-patient rating score was calculated for
      postoperative days 1 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and overall. Difference of proportions
      was calculated with 95% confidence intervals using Newcombe unpaired difference
      comparison of proportions. Photographs documenting the clinical progression of
      selected patients are provided. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (16 females, 11
      males) were included in the study. Age range was 18 to 70 years. The majority of
      patients were white (52.9%), and underwent blepharoplasty (78.9%). The median
      duration of follow-up was 7 days, range 1 to 14 days. The proportions of patients
      with markedly accelerated healing were 38.5% (5 of 13), 85.7% (6 of 7), 60.0% (12
      of 20), and 51.9% (14 of 27) at POD 1 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and overall,
      respectively. The proportions of patients with accelerated healing at the same
      time points were 15.4% (2 of 13), 14.3% (1 of 7), 30.0% (6 of 20), and 37.0% (10
      of 27), respectively. The proportions of patients with no appreciable difference
      at the same time points were 46.2% (6 of 13), 0% (0 of 7), 10.0% (2 of 20), and
      11.1% (3 of 27) of patients, respectively. The proportion of patients using
      Arnica/Ledum with markedly accelerated healing was significantly more than the
      proportion of those demonstrating no appreciable difference from expected at POD
      3 to 5 (85.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.05), POD 6 to 8 (60.0% vs. 10.0%), and overall (51.9%
      vs. 11.1%, p = 0.05). No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The
      preliminary results from this study demonstrate that the combination of topical
      Arnica montana and Rhododendron tomentosum (Ledum palustre) may be effective in
      reducing postoperative ecchymosis and edema after oculofacial surgery.

PMID- 26863039
TI  - Changes in Tear Film Characteristics in Patients With Idiopathic Dacryoadenitis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the tear-film meniscus with optical coherence tomography
      (OCT) in patients with idiopathic dacryoadenitis and to determine its
      relationships with the clinical tests. METHODS: Sixteen patients with unilateral
      idiopathic dacryoadenitis were included in the study. Patients with idiopathic
      dacryoadenitis with affected sites (group 1), with contralateral sites (group 2)
      and healthy participants (group 3) completed the ocular surface disease index
      before optical coherence tomography determination of tear meniscus height and
      tear meniscus area. These were followed by measurements of tear breakup time,
      fluorescein staining, and Schirmer test. Finally, surgical debulking or
      incisional biopsies were conducted. RESULTS: Tear meniscus height and tear
      meniscus area were the lowest in patients with affected sites (group 1) among the
      3 groups (p < 0.05). Breakup time was the shortest in group 1 (p < 0.05). In the
      group 1, breakup time, fluorescein staining score, and histopathological phases
      were significantly correlated with tear meniscus height and tear meniscus area (p
      < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tear function was significantly disturbed in idiopathic
      dacryoadenitis. Tear menisci volumes measured by optical coherence tomography may
      assess the tearing function in patients with idiopathic dacryoadenitis.

PMID- 26863040
TI  - Diagnostic Approaches to Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma of the Orbit.
AB  - Orbital metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is exceedingly rare and caries a
      grave prognosis. Three cases of metastatic orbital hepatocellular carcinoma in
      which the primary tumor was initially unknown and the diagnostic challenges
      encountered are presented. With hepatocellular carcinoma, open biopsy and
      palliative tumor debulking has an increased bleeding risk due to the highly
      vascular nature of the tumor and coagulopathy associated with chronic liver
      disease. As an alternative, fine needle aspiration biopsy should be considered
      for hepatocellular carcinoma with a readily accessible mass and the availability
      of an experienced cytopathologist.

PMID- 26863041
TI  - Positive Effects of Subdermal Lipotransfer on Pig's Upper Eyelid Skin: Mature
      Adipocytes or Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Alone Contribute Little and Only
      Cotransplantation of Them Can Generate Benefits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that autologous fat grafting and cell
      assisted lipotransfer can improve skin quality, with both mature adipocytes (MAs)
      and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) considered to play a role. However, it is
      unclear whether transplantation of ADSCs or MAs has the same impact on the
      overlying skin. METHODS: Nine pigs were divided into 3 equal groups, with
      lipoaspirates obtained from the porcine dorsum of each pig. Transplant content
      was injected into the right upper eyelids, while the left eyelids were used as
      controls. Following cellular isolation, 1 group underwent MA grafting, 1
      underwent ADSCs transplantation, and 1 underwent cotransplantation of MAs and
      ADSCs. Epidermal thickness, epidermal cell proliferation, dermal thickness,
      collagen content, and arteriole density were examined. RESULTS: While no
      significant skin changes in the areas examined were noted following MAs or ADSCs
      transplantations, the cotransplantation of MAs and ADSCs resulted in significant
      increases in epidermal cell proliferation, dermal thickness, collagen content,
      and arteriole density. CONCLUSION: Subdermal injection of MAs or ADSCs alone does
      not significantly impact the overlying skin and the benefits to the skin can only
      be seen when MAs and ADSCs are cotransplanted; these findings suggest that ADSCs
      enhanced fat grafting is necessary for the aim of antiaging treatments.

PMID- 26863042
TI  - Fungus Ball of the Maxillary Sinus Presenting With Epiphora.
AB  - The authors report a case of fungus ball of the maxillary sinus with bone erosion
      presenting with epiphora, which was diagnosed after treatment failure using
      silicone intubation for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Symptoms of sinus fungus
      ball are similar to those of chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis, although
      occasionally asymptomatic. To our knowledge, epiphora has never been reported as
      a symptom of sinus fungus ball. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the
      importance of considering sinonasal causes when evaluating epiphora patients, as
      well as to suggest the use of preoperative CT scans for a more accurate diagnosis
      and to prevent unnecessary procedures.

PMID- 26863043
TI  - Intraoperative Instrument Fracture During Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy.

PMID- 26863044
TI  - Preparation of ZnO Nanorod/Graphene/ZnO Nanorod Epitaxial Double Heterostructure
      for Piezoelectrical Nanogenerator by Using Preheating Hydrothermal.
AB  - Well-aligned ZnO nanostructures have been intensively studied over the last
      decade for remarkable physical properties and enormous applications. Here, we
      describe a one-step fabrication technique to synthesis freestanding ZnO
      nanorod/graphene/ZnO nanorod double heterostructure. The preparation of the
      double heterostructure is performed by using thermal chemical vapor deposition
      (CVD) and preheating hydrothermal technique. In addition, the morphological
      properties were characterized by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
      The utility of freestanding double heterostructure is demonstrated by fabricating
      the piezoelectric nanogenerator. The electrical output is improved up to 200%
      compared to that of a single heterostructure owing to the coupling effect of the
      piezoelectricity between the arrays of ZnO nanorods on the top and bottom of
      graphene. This unique double heterostructure have a tremendous potential for
      applications of electrical and optoelectrical devices where the high number
      density and specific surface area of nanorod are needed, such as pressure sensor,
      immuno-biosensor and dye-sensitized solar cells. 

PMID- 26863045
TI  - A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation
      and Reduction.
AB  - Controlling interfacial tension is an effective method for manipulating the
      shape, position, and flow of fluids at sub-millimeter length scales, where
      interfacial tension is a dominant force. A variety of methods exist for
      controlling the interfacial tension of aqueous and organic liquids on this scale;
      however, these techniques have limited utility for liquid metals due to their
      large interfacial tension. Liquid metals can form soft, stretchable, and shape
      reconfigurable components in electronic and electromagnetic devices. Although it
      is possible to manipulate these fluids via mechanical methods (e.g., pumping),
      electrical methods are easier to miniaturize, control, and implement. However,
      most electrical techniques have their own constraints: electrowetting-on
      dielectric requires large (kV) potentials for modest actuation,
      electrocapillarity can affect relatively small changes in the interfacial
      tension, and continuous electrowetting is limited to plugs of the liquid metal in
      capillaries. Here, we present a method for actuating gallium and gallium-based
      liquid metal alloys via an electrochemical surface reaction. Controlling the
      electrochemical potential on the surface of the liquid metal in electrolyte
      rapidly and reversibly changes the interfacial tension by over two orders of
      magnitude ( 500 mN/m to near zero). Furthermore, this method requires only a very
      modest potential (< 1 V) applied relative to a counter electrode. The resulting
      change in tension is due primarily to the electrochemical deposition of a surface
      oxide layer, which acts as a surfactant; removal of the oxide increases the
      interfacial tension, and vice versa. This technique can be applied in a wide
      variety of electrolytes and is independent of the substrate on which it rests. 

PMID- 26863046
TI  - Extended Ciprofloxacin Release Using Vitamin E Diffusion Barrier From Commercial
      Silicone-Based Soft Contact Lenses.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is an antibiotic, widely used in form of
      ophthalmic drops (0.3%) for the treatment of eye infections. In this study,
      vitamin E was used as a hydrophobic barrier to improve and prolong the amount and
      time of Cipro release from silicone-based soft contact lenses. METHODS: Three
      different commercial contact lenses (Air Optix, Biofinity, and Acuvue Oasys) were
      soaked in vitamin E solutions (0.1 and 0.2 g/mL). The effect of vitamin E on
      Cipro loading amount and drug releasing profile was evaluated in artificial tear.
      Swelling properties and diameter changes of the lenses were also investigated in
      aqueous media in presence and absence of vitamin E. RESULTS: The data indicated
      that vitamin E, as a hydrophobic barrier, significantly decreased the water
      content of silicone-based soft contact lenses. After vitamin E loading, a 5% to
      18% increase was observed in lens diameter in the hydrated state, whereas the
      lens diameter increased by 11% to 23% in the dry state. In all commercial lenses,
      vitamin E loading in a 0.2-g/mL solution caused a 27.94% to 37.08% increase in
      Cipro binding. The results indicated that applying vitamin E loading solutions,
      with 0.1 and 0.2 g/mL concentrations, could effectively enhance Cipro release
      time from 2 hr (in a pure non-vitamin E-loaded lens) to 14 to 17 and 30 to 33
      days, respectively. These values showed an increase by a factor of 168 to 204 and
      360 to 396 in Cipro release time after using vitamin E loading solutions with 0.1
      and 0.2 g/mL concentrations, respectively, compared with pure non-vitamin E
      loaded soft contact lenses. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that vitamin E acts
      as an effective hydrophobic barrier, in increasing the Cipro loading capacity of
      silicone-based contact lenses and prolonging the drug release into the artificial
      tear.

PMID- 26863047
TI  - Mifepristone-inducible transgene expression in neural progenitor cells in vitro
      and in vivo.
AB  - Numerous gene and cell therapy strategies are being developed for the treatment
      of neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these strategies use constitutive
      expression of therapeutic transgenic proteins, and although functional in animal
      models of disease, this method is less likely to provide adequate flexibility for
      delivering therapy to humans. Ligand-inducible gene expression systems may be
      more appropriate for these conditions, especially within the central nervous
      system (CNS). Mifepristone's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier makes it an
      especially attractive ligand for this purpose. We describe the production of a
      mifepristone-inducible vector system for regulated expression of transgenes
      within the CNS. Our inducible system used a lentivirus-based vector platform for
      the ex vivo production of mifepristone-inducible murine neural progenitor cells
      that express our transgenes of interest. These cells were processed through a
      series of selection steps to ensure that the cells exhibited appropriate
      transgene expression in a dose-dependent and temporally controlled manner with
      minimal background activity. Inducible cells were then transplanted into the
      brains of rodents, where they exhibited appropriate mifepristone-inducible
      expression. These studies detail a strategy for regulated expression in the CNS
      for use in the development of safe and efficient gene therapy for neurological
      disorders.

PMID- 26863048
TI  - Enhancing Documentation of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Interventions: A Quality
      Improvement Strategy to Reduce Pressure Ulcers.
AB  - Prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers requires the implementation of
      evidence-based interventions. A quality improvement project was conducted to
      provide nurses with data on the frequency with which pressure ulcer prevention
      interventions were performed as measured by documentation. Documentation reports
      provided feedback to stakeholders, triggering reminders and reeducation.
      Intervention reports and modifications to the documentation system were effective
      both in increasing the documentation of pressure ulcer prevention interventions
      and in decreasing the number of avoidable hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. 

PMID- 26863049
TI  - Individualized Care in the Radiation Oncology Setting From the Patients' and
      Nurses' Perspectives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Radiation oncology nurses engage in individualized supportive care of
      people undergoing radiotherapy. A primary nursing/collaborative practice
      framework guides the delivery of individualized care to patients. OBJECTIVE: The
      aim of this study was to describe and compare patients' and nurses' perceptions
      of individualized care in 2 radiotherapy centers. METHODS: This cross-sectional,
      comparative study collected data from patients (n = 173) undergoing curative
      radiotherapy and their nurses (n = 30), using the Individualized Care scales:
      patient and nurse. RESULTS: Moderate to high levels of individual care were
      perceived by both patients and nurses. More than a third of the item scores for
      patients reached the more than 4.5 mean score (13/34 [38.2%]), whereby more than
      half of the items reached this level for nurses (20/34 [58.8%]). The highest
      scores for both patients and nurses were in the Decisional Control subscales, and
      the lowest scores were in the Personal Life subscales. Males rated being treated
      as individuals significantly higher than did females across the majority of
      subscales. Patients receiving chemotherapy perceived less acknowledgement of
      individuality overall. Older nurses (46-70 years) reported acknowledging and
      supporting patient individuality more than did younger nurses. Nurses perceived
      greater individualized care than patients for the Personal Life scales (A: p =
      .001); (B: p = .001) and in the acknowledgement of Decisional Control (p = .001).
      CONCLUSION: A moderate level of individualized nursing care was perceived by the
      largely outpatient cohort of patients undergoing radiotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR
      PRACTICE: The model of care in these departments may contribute to patient
      individuality. Further work into gender differences and those receiving
      chemotherapy may improve care for these patients.

PMID- 26863050
TI  - Japanese Nurses' Perceptions Toward Tobacco Use Intervention for Hospitalized
      Cancer Patients Who Entered End of Life.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Smoking patients who are admitted to a smoke-free hospital often
      experience nicotine withdrawal. Control of withdrawal symptoms in hospitalized
      patients with terminal illness by nurses may be important to end-of-life care.
      OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess Japanese nurses' perceptions
      toward providing a tobacco use intervention to hospitalized cancer patients who
      are receiving palliative and end-of-life care and to investigate demographic
      factors associated with a positive perception. METHODS: We conducted a cross
      sectional survey of 1955 nurses at 6 selected hospitals in Japan. Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis was performed using age, workplace, length of
      nursing education, primary position, academic certification, having received
      instruction on smoking cessation programs at their nursing school, having
      attended lectures on smoking cessation programs at his/her hospital, and smoking
      status as potential independent variables. RESULTS: The proportion of nurses who
      had a positive perception toward providing a tobacco use intervention to
      hospitalized cancer patients receiving end-of-life care was only 16% to 20% at
      each hospital. Experience of having received instruction on tobacco use
      interventions while in nursing school was significantly associated with having a
      positive perception toward providing a tobacco use intervention for such
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the Japanese nurses had a conservative perception
      toward providing a tobacco use intervention for cancer patients who are receiving
      end-of-life care. Having received instruction on interventions while in a nursing
      school was likely to yield a positive perception. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It
      is important to introduce instruction on tobacco use interventions for patients
      with terminal-stage cancer in the standard curriculum of nursing schools in
      Japan.

PMID- 26863051
TI  - Cancer Nursing Research Output in Africa 2005 to 2014: An Integrative Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study is the first review of African cancer nursing research as
      only 1 review focusing on South Africa was conducted in the past decade.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify, summarize, and synthesize the
      findings from previous independent studies conducted by nurses in Africa.
      METHODS: The terms cancer nursing and oncology nursing and Africa were used to
      search PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SA e-publications, and Scopus. Studies
      reporting research conducted in an African setting, coauthored by a nurse
      affiliated with an African institution and published between January 1, 2005, and
      December 31, 2014, in English were included. A data extraction sheet captured the
      data. RESULTS: A potential 536 articles for possible inclusion were identified.
      Fifty met the inclusion requirements. Cancer in women (78%; n = 39) and
      prevention and early detection (62%; n = 31) were most commonly investigated. The
      work was primarily quantitative and collected data on some knowledge aspect from
      women in the community. Most of the studies (96%; n = 48) did not meet the
      criteria of high-quality work. CONCLUSIONS: Africa's nurses have improved their
      research output in the field of cancer nursing considerably. Research focusing on
      the most prevalent cancers, the treatment, the patient living with cancer, the
      family, extended family, and community is lacking, as is work focusing on pain
      and other symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses in practice should
      assist nurse researchers to address the identified knowledge gaps to develop
      cancer nursing science and practice tailored to meet the unique needs of Africa.

PMID- 26863052
TI  - Coping Strategies at the Time of Diagnosis and Quality of Life 2 Years Later: A
      Study in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While coping has been found to have time-lagged effects on
      psychological adjustment in cancer patients, studies addressing this issue are
      missing in melanoma patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide
      more insight into the links between coping strategies at the time of diagnosis
      and quality of life (QOL) 2 years later in patients with primary cutaneous
      melanoma. METHODS: Patients who received diagnosis of melanoma (n = 78) were
      assessed regarding coping strategies within 1 month of diagnosis (T1); their
      anxiety, depression, control, QOL, and life satisfaction were evaluated 24 months
      later (T2). Relevant medical and sociodemographic data were collected at T1 and
      T2. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Consistent with the
      literature, we found that higher positive reframing was associated with greater
      life satisfaction and that increased behavioral disengagement was related to
      decreased cognitive functioning. Surprisingly, our results highlighted that
      higher active coping predicted lower emotional functioning and that greater
      religious coping was associated with more reports of nausea symptoms. We also
      noticed that depression was strongly related to QOL beyond the end of interferon
      alpha therapy. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that
      specific coping strategies may have time-lagged effects on QOL when the treatment
      is completed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings provide new insights into
      the coping strategies that could be promoted in coping skills interventions in
      dermatology units and reveal the significant role of preventive care concerning
      the posttreatment period.

PMID- 26863053
TI  - Quality of Life After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric
      Survivors: Comparison With Healthy Controls and Risk Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has prolonged life for
      children with life-threatening diseases. Quality of life is an essential outcome
      for evaluating the long-term effects of transplantation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of
      this study were to compare the quality of life of children posttransplantation to
      that of healthy peers and explore the variables associated with the quality of
      life of posttransplant children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted
      with 43 pediatric transplantation survivors and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy
      peers. RESULTS: The mean age of the transplant group was 12.06 years. The mean
      time since transplant was 3.73 years. After covariate adjustment, there was no
      difference between posttransplant and healthy children in each domain and overall
      quality of life, except for physical functioning where the posttransplant
      children had lower scores than did the healthy group. Chronic graft-versus-host
      disease was found to be the primary factor associated with poor posttransplant
      overall quality of life and emotional and social functioning. Sociodemographic
      variables, symptom distress, and caregiver depression were not correlated with
      posttransplant quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of pediatric
      transplantation survivors was comparable to that of healthy peers. IMPLICATIONS
      FOR PRACTICE: The finding that children after transplant may achieve quality of
      life similar to their healthy peers is important information for parents to
      consider as they consider treatment options. For those sick children who cannot
      regularly attend school, their emotional and social functioning should be closely
      monitored.

PMID- 26863054
TI  - Macular Thickness in Myopia: An OCT Study of Young Chinese Patients.
AB  - PURPOSES: To investigate macular thickness (MT) in young myopic Chinese patients
      using Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to assess its association
      with gender, axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), and intraocular
      pressure (IOP). METHODS: Included in this study were 133 myopic Chinese patients,
      aged 18-30 years. All underwent complete ophthalmic examinations and Spectralis
      OCT. Inner, central, and outer foveal regions of the macula were measured.
      RESULTS: The central fovea was the thinnest of the three macular regions (mean
      thickness, 250.1 +/- 15.3 MUm). Women had consistently thinner MTs than did men,
      except in the outer superior and inferior areas. Central foveal thickness (CFT)
      was positively correlated with AL and negatively correlated with SE. In the inner
      and outer regions, MT was positively correlated with SE. AL was negatively
      correlated with MT in all quadrants of the inner and outer sectors, but not the
      inner superior and outer nasal areas. No macular measurement was significantly
      correlated with age or IOP in either gender. CONCLUSIONS: Variables affecting MT
      should be considered when evaluating SD-OCT data in young myopic Chinese
      patients, with and without retinal diseases.

PMID- 26863055
TI  - Synovitis biomarkers: ex vivo characterization of three biomarkers for
      identification of inflammatory osteoarthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Characterize biomarkers measuring extracellular matrix turnover of
      inflamed osteoarthritis synovium. METHODS: Human primary fibroblast-like
      synoviocytes and synovial membrane explants (SMEs) treated with various cytokines
      and growth factors were assessed by C1M, C3M, and acMMP3 in the conditioned
      medium. RESULTS: TNFalpha significantly increased C1M up to seven-fold (p =
      0.0002), C3M up to 24-fold (p = 0.0011), and acMMP3 up to 14-fold (p < 0.0001) in
      SMEs. IL-1beta also significantly increased C1M up to five-fold (p = 0.00094),
      C3M four-fold (p = 0.007), and acMMP3 18-fold (p < 0.0001) in SMEs. CONCLUSION:
      The biomarkers C1M, C3M, and acMMP-3 were synovitis biomarkers ex vivo and
      provide a translational tool together with the SME model.

PMID- 26863056
TI  - Malignant Myopericytoma: Report of a New Case and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Malignant myopericytoma is a rare entity with only 8 cases reported in the
      English literature. The authors report a case of a 65-year-old man with a slow
      growing 8-cm nodule on the right arm. Marginal excision was performed, and a
      diagnosis of malignant myopericytoma was made based on histopathologic and
      immunohistochemical aspects. These tumors are characterized by a proliferation of
      round-to-spindle cells of myoid appearance in a concentric perivascular
      arrangement, along with malignant cytological findings. By immunochemistry, the
      cells were positive for smooth muscle actin and negative for desmin, cytokeratin
      AE1/AE3, S100 protein, Melan-A, p63, CD99, bcl-2, CD10, and STAT-6. No membranous
      expression of type IV collagen was observed. These tumors are associated with
      aggressive biological behavior and most develops metastases. 

PMID- 26863057
TI  - Bilateral Gigantomastia, Multiple Synchronous Nodular Pseudoangiomatous Stromal
      Hyperplasia Involving Breast and Bilateral Axillary Accessory Breast Tissue, and
      Perianal Mammary-Type Hamartoma of Anogenital Mammary-Like Glands: A Case Report.
AB  - Mammary-type fibroepithelial lesions involving ectopic breast and anogenital
      region are rare and usually coexist with normal orthotopic breast. We present
      what we believe to be a unique case of synchronous bilateral gestational
      gigantomastia resembling fibrous mastopathy, synchronous rapidly growing
      pregnancy-associated nodular pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia involving
      right breast and bilateral axillary ectopic breast tissue, and metachronous
      perianal mammary-type hamartoma involving anogenital mammary-like glands
      occurring in a 34-year-old patient with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
      Also, we review the literature concerning these lesions. 

PMID- 26863058
TI  - Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma With 6p25.3 Rearrangement in a
      Cardiac Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders define an important form of
      lymphoproliferative disease causally linked with a state of iatrogenic immune
      dysregulation inherent to the posttransplant setting. Most posttransplant
      lymphoproliferative disorders are in the context of Epstein-Barr virus-associated
      B-cell lymphoproliferative disease, most notably diffuse large-cell B-cell
      lymphoma. A less common variant falls under the rubric of posttransplant T-cell
      lymphoproliferative disease, which is largely unrelated to Epstein-Barr virus
      infection. Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is the most recognized form of
      posttransplant T-cell lymphoproliferative disease. Although the 6p25.3
      translocation is seen in a variety of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, this
      particular translocation in the spectrum of T-cell lymphoproliferative disease is
      a fairly specific finding pointing toward a diagnosis of primary cutaneous ALCL
      and a rare subset of lymphomatoid papulosis. This translocation in the peripheral
      T-cell lymphoma setting serves as a favorable prognostic predictor. We report a
      case of an 81-year-old heart transplant recipient who developed an expansile neck
      mass 17 years after his heart transplant. A diagnosis of cutaneous ALCL was
      subsequently made with cytogenetic analysis yielding the 6p25.3 translocation.
      The characteristic biphasic morphology of a small-cell epidermotropic neoplastic
      cell populace in concert with a dermal based large-cell infiltrate characteristic
      for those cases of ALCL harboring this translocation was seen. After excision of
      the nodule, his azathioprine was withheld. He is currently alive and well without
      evidence of disease. 

PMID- 26863059
TI  - Hidradenoma Papilliferum: A Clinicopathologic Study of 264 Tumors From 261
      Patients, With Emphasis on Mammary-Type Alterations.
AB  - Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP), also known as papillary hidradenoma, is the most
      common benign lesion of the female anogenital area derived from anogenital
      mammary-like glands (AGMLG). HP can be viewed conceptually as the cutaneous
      counterpart of mammary intraductal papilloma. The authors have studied 264 cases
      of HP, detailing various changes in the tumor and adjacent AGMLG, with emphasis
      on mammary-type alterations. In many HP, the authors noticed changes typical for
      benign breast lesions, such as sclerosing adenosis-like changes, usual, and
      atypical ductal hyperplasia. Almost in a third of cases, remnants of AGMLG
      adjacent to the lesion were evident, manifesting columnar changes reminiscent of
      those seen in breast lesions. This study shows that the histopathological changes
      in HP run a broad spectrum comparable with that in the mammary counterpart and
      benign breast disease. 

PMID- 26863060
TI  - Syringomatous Structures in Extramammary Paget Disease: A Potential Diagnostic
      Pitfall.
AB  - Primary extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a form of intraepithelial
      adenocarcinoma. Different morphological changes may accompany EMPD, including the
      presence of syringoma-like structures. The authors report 10 cases of EMPD, all
      of which manifested syringoma-like structures within the dermis both in areas
      involved by the carcinoma and beyond, including at the margins of the excisions.
      All patients were women, whose ages ranged from 49 to 93 years (median 75 years).
      The possible pathogenesis of the syringoma-like lesions is discussed. Awareness
      of these structures in vulvectomy specimens for EMPD is important to prevent
      misinterpretation of the syringoma-like lesions as an invasive component of the
      EMPD. 

PMID- 26863061
TI  - Bilateral Aleukemic Myeloid Sarcoma of the Eyelids With Indolent Course.
AB  - Leukemic infiltrates may be seen in the skin in the absence of detectable bone
      marrow involvement. Leukemia cutis may exceptionally occupy the eyelids. An
      unusual case of a 58-year-old man presenting bilateral erythematous eyelid
      lesions, proven to be aleukemic leukemia cutis, is reported. Biopsy was conducted
      and hematoxylin/eosin stained sections were histologically evaluated.
      Immunohistochemistry was also performed.Light microscopy revealed cutaneous
      infiltration by a neoplastic population consisting of medium-sized cells. These
      cells infiltrated the overlying epidermis leading to focal microulcerations. The
      morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the neoplastic
      population were compatible with myeloid leukemia cutis. The bone marrow biopsy
      was normocellular for the patient's age. Although chemotherapy was advised, the
      patient refused any treatment. He remains free of leukemia or evolution of eyelid
      lesions approximately 1 year after diagnosis. Leukemia cutis of the eyelids is a
      rare manifestation of acute leukemia and may remain aleukemic in adults for an
      indefinite period of time. 

PMID- 26863062
TI  - Congenital Blaschkoid Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia With Eosinophilia of the
      Anogenital Region.
AB  - Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is an uncommon, idiopathic
      vascular disorder. It manifests as dermal or subcutaneous red to brown papules or
      nodules, most commonly on the head and neck; other less common sites include the
      trunk, extremities, genitalia, lips, and oral mucosa. Although ALHE is a benign
      disease, lesions are often persistent and difficult to eradicate. ALHE occurs
      more frequently in Asian young and middle-aged women. Histologically, it is
      characterized by a florid vascular proliferation with hobnail epithelioid
      endothelial cells surrounding by lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltrate. Here,
      we reported congenital ALHE in a 2-year-old girl. Unilateral lesions had a
      blaschkoid segmental distribution in the anogenital region and were successfully
      treated with the Nd:YAG laser. 

PMID- 26863063
TI  - Hybrid Epithelioid Schwannoma/Perineurioma.
AB  - We report a case of a 58-year-old who woman presented with a solitary slowly
      growing subcutaneous nodule covered by normally appearing skin on her left groin.
      Microscopically, the lesion was well circumscribed but unencapsulated, and showed
      biphasic cellular differentiation. One cell population was presented by small
      rounded (epithelioid) cells arranged singly, in small aggregates or short cords,
      whereas the second one was composed of cells with slender nuclei and delicate
      elongated bipolar cytoplasmic processes. On immunohistochemistry, the epithelioid
      component showed positive reaction for S-100 protein and negative for epithelial
      membrane antigen (EMA), thus compatible with schwannian differentiation and
      resembling epithelioid schwannoma. The other component showed a reverse
      immunophenotype being S-100 protein negative and EMA positive, thus corresponding
      to perineuriomatous differentiation. The clinicopathologic and
      immunohistochemical features of the lesion were compatible with hybrid
      epithelioid schwannoma/perineurioma, a rare morphological variant of peripheral
      nerve sheath tumors. 

PMID- 26863064
TI  - Depth and Patterns of Adnexal Involvement in Primary Extramammary (Anogenital)
      Paget Disease: A Study of 178 Lesions From 146 Patients.
AB  - Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare neoplasm usually presenting in the
      anogenital area, most commonly in the vulva. Adnexal involvement in primary EMPD
      is a very common feature and serves as a pathway for carcinoma to spread into
      deeper tissue. The depth of carcinomatous spread along the appendages and the
      patterns of adnexal involvement were studied in 178 lesions from 146 patients
      with primary EMPD. Hair follicles and eccrine ducts were the adnexa most commonly
      affected by carcinoma cells. The maximal depth of involvement was 3.6 mm in this
      series. When planning topical therapy or developing novel local treatment
      modalities for EMPD, this potential for significant deep spread along adnexa
      should be taken into account.

PMID- 26863065
TI  - Syringocystadenocarcinoma Papilliferum In Situ-Like Changes in Extramammary Paget
      Disease: A Report of 11 Cases.
AB  - The authors report 11 cases of extramammary Paget disease (EMPD), all of which
      also demonstrated a combination of histological changes highly reminiscent of
      syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum in situ. In addition to the classical
      features of EMPD, characterized by the intraepidermal spread of individually
      dispersed neoplastic cells with ample cytoplasm, many of which contained mucin,
      there were areas of acanthosis with the substitution of spinous layer
      keratinocytes by neoplastic cells, whereas the native basal cell layer was
      intact. In addition to acanthosis (and sometimes papillomatosis), the dermal
      papillae showed a prominent infiltrate of plasma cells, completing the
      resemblance to syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum in situ; this similarity
      was further enhanced in 2 cases, which showed conspicuous gland formation. One
      additional case showed multifocal dermal proliferations compatible with eccrine
      syringofibroadenoma (syringofibroadenomatous hyperplasia). The changes described
      herein seem to be relatively rare in EMPD, and they can represent a diagnostic
      pitfall, as evidenced by 2 cases that were originally misinterpreted as
      syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum in situ. Clinically, these microscopic
      changes sometimes corresponded to nodular lesions, which were specifically noted
      to have a papillated erosive surface.

PMID- 26863066
TI  - Studying Microbial Communities In Vivo: A Model of Host-mediated Interaction
      Between Candida Albicans and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in the Airways.
AB  - Studying host-pathogen interaction enables us to understand the underlying
      mechanisms of the pathogenicity during microbial infection. The prognosis of the
      host depends on the involvement of an adapted immune response against the
      pathogen. Immune response is complex and results from interaction of the
      pathogens and several immune or non-immune cellular types. In vitro studies
      cannot characterise these interactions and focus on cell-pathogen interactions.
      Moreover, in the airway, particularly in patients with suppurative chronic lung
      disease or in mechanically ventilated patients, polymicrobial communities are
      present and complicate host-pathogen interaction. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
      Candida albicans are both problem pathogens, frequently isolated from
      tracheobronchial samples, and associated to severe infections, especially in
      intensive care unit. Microbial interactions have been reported between these
      pathogens in vitro but the clinical impact of these interactions remains unclear.
      To study the interactions between C. albicans and P. aeruginosa, a murine model
      of C. albicans airways colonization, followed by a P. aeruginosa-mediated acute
      lung infection was performed.

PMID- 26863067
TI  - Bladder Acellular Matrix Grafts Seeded with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and
      Incubated Intraperitoneally Promote the Regeneration of Bladder Smooth Muscle and
      Nerve in a Rat Model of Bladder Augmentation.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of bladder
      acellular matrix grafts (BAMGs) seeded with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs)
      followed by intraperitoneal incubation for bladder reconstruction in a rat model
      of bladder augmentation, and to explore the underlying mechanism. Autologous CM
      DiI-labeled ASC-seeded (experimental group) and unseeded (control group) BAMGs
      were incubated in the peritoneum of male rats for 2 weeks and then harvested for
      bladder augmentation. Histological analysis of the incubated BAMGs revealed
      numerous cells growing in homogeneous collagen bundles in both groups. In the
      control BAMGs, these cells were mesenchyme derived, while in the ASC-seeded
      BAMGs, myofibroblasts and mesothelial cells were found inside and on the surface
      of the scaffold, respectively. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that some
      of the myofibroblasts were transdifferentiated from the ASCs after 2 weeks of
      intraperitoneal incubation. The greater bladder capacity was found in the
      experimental group than the control group both 4 and 14 weeks postoperatively.
      Histological analysis revealed that the entire urothelium regenerated well both
      in the experimental group and the control group without significant difference 4
      weeks and 14 weeks postoperatively. From the quantitative data of
      immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining, the smooth muscle cells
      (SMCs) regenerated significantly better in the experimental group than the
      control group both 4 weeks and 14 weeks postoperatively. Also significantly more
      nerve cells were found in the experimental group 14 weeks postoperatively. At 4
      weeks postoperatively, the immunofluorescence double staining revealed that some
      SMCs in the BAMG were transdifferentiated from the implanted ASCs, but no CM-DiI
      labeling of ASCs was detected 14 weeks postoperatively. Taken together, our
      results demonstrate that ASC-seeded and peritoneally incubated BAMGs promote not
      only the morphological regeneration of the bladder smooth muscle and nerve, but
      also the bladder capacity, which indicates their potential for bladder
      regeneration. 

PMID- 26863068
TI  - Positive Association Between Betatrophin and Diabetic Retinopathy Risk in Type 2
      Diabetes Patients.
AB  - Betatrophin is a recently identified protein that has been shown to be associated
      with lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. This study aimed to measure serum
      betatrophin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and evaluate
      the association of betatrophin with diabetic retinopthy (DR). Serum betatrophin
      concentrations were compared between (1) gender-, age- and body mass index
      matched T2DM patients with (n=17) or without (n=33) DR; (2) gender-, age-, and
      body mass index-matched healthy subjects (n=31), newly-diagnosed T2DM patients
      before treatment (n=24), and T2DM patients under antidiabetic treatment (n=35).
      Serum betatrophin concentrations were determined by the enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the
      association between betatrophin concentration and DR. Serum betatrophin
      concentration was significantly associated with DR in T2DM patients under
      treatment (Odds Ratio 2.01; 95% Confidence Interval 1.12-3.60; p=0.019).
      Betatrophin concentrations were significantly increased in treated T2DM patients
      compared to the healthy subjects (4.17+/-0.60 vs. 0.54+/-0.07 ng/ml; p<0.001).
      Serum betatrophin concentrations are increased in T2DM patients under
      antidiabetic treatment and positively associated with diabetic retinopathy. 

PMID- 26863069
TI  - Theoretical study of adsorption of amino acids on graphene and BN sheet in gas
      and aqueous phase with empirical DFT dispersion correction.
AB  - Understanding interactions of biomolecules with nanomaterials at the molecular
      level is crucial to design new materials for practical use. In the present study,
      adsorption of three distinct types of amino acids, namely, valine, arginine and
      aspartic acid, over the surface of structurally analogous but chemically
      different graphene and BN nanosheets has been explored within the formalism of
      DFT. The explicit dispersion correction incorporated in the computational
      methodology improves the accuracy of the results by accounting for long range van
      der Waals interactions and is essential for agreement with experimental values.
      The real biological environment has been mimicked by re-optimizing all the model
      structures in an aqueous medium. The study provides ample evidence in terms of
      adsorption energy, solvation energy, separation distance and charge analysis to
      conclude that both the nano-surfaces adsorb the amino acids with release of
      energy and there are no bonded interactions between the two. The polarity of the
      BN nanosheet provides it an edge over the graphene surface to have more affinity
      towards amino acids. 

PMID- 26863070
TI  - Trapped ion chain thermometry and mass spectrometry through imaging.
AB  - We demonstrate a spatial-imaging thermometry technique for ions in a one
      dimensional Coulomb crystal by relating their imaged spatial extent along the
      linear radiofrequency ion trap axis to normal modes of vibration of coupled
      oscillators in a harmonic potential. We also use the thermal spatial spread of
      "bright" ions in the case of a two-species mixed chain to measure the center-of
      mass resonance frequency of the entire chain and infer the molecular composition
      of the co-trapped "dark" ions. These non-destructive techniques create new
      possibilities for better understanding of sympathetic cooling in mixed-ion
      chains, improving few-ion mass spectrometry, and trapped-ion thermometry without
      requiring a scan of Doppler cooling parameters. 

PMID- 26863071
TI  - Direct matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass
      spectrometric analysis of lysozyme contained in hen egg white.
AB  - As a natural antibacterial peptide, lysozyme (LZ) is widely used in medicine and
      the food industry. Despite many years of research on this compound, its new
      antibacterial properties are still to be determined. The primary aim of this work
      is to demonstrate the application of the matrix-assisted laser desorption
      ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of LZ directly in
      hen egg white samples without extraction thereof. The egg white samples were kept
      over 10 weeks at room temperature and measured every week. The resulting positive
      and negative ion mass spectra were then compared to determine the intensity of
      the LZ mass peak. Storage of the egg white for over 10 weeks did not influence
      the LZ mass peak intensity (both positive and negative). It can be concluded that
      the LZ concentration in the egg white samples did not vary with time. The effect
      of the matrix/sample ratio on LZ detection was also examined, and it was found to
      be different in the case of positive and negative ionization. The mass peaks of
      LZ oligomeric forms were observed in all mass spectra, so the MALDI method could
      be used in subsequent studies. 

PMID- 26863072
TI  - Identification and quantification of unknown antioxidants in plastic materials by
      ultrasonic extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with
      quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
AB  - Mass spectrometry has been applied to the targeted analysis of commonly used
      additives (such as Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076, Irgafos 168, etc.) in plastic
      materials, but a fast and straightforward method for the non-targeted
      identification and quantification of unusual or potentially new antioxidant
      additives is still unavailable. In this study, a novel and simple method for the
      identification and quantification of unknown antioxidant additives in plastic
      food packaging using ultrasonic extraction and ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been
      developed. A method for the Irganox series analyzed here has not been reported
      previously. Unknown antioxidant additives have been identified by accurate m/z
      determination, MS(2) fragments and comparison with synthesized standards. The
      mass fragmentation patterns and structural assignments of these antioxidants have
      been studied. Parameters affecting the efficiency of the process, such as
      extraction solvents, extraction volume, extraction time and chromatographic
      conditions, have been studied and optimized. Ultrasonic extraction of plastic
      materials (40 mg) with dichloromethane (0.5 mL) at 25  degrees C was applied as
      optimal. Limits of detection of the target additives ranged from 0.5 ng g(-1) to
      1.5 ng g(-1), and the detection was linear over the range studied (0.01-1.5 ug
      mg(-1), r(2)>0.99). The accuracy of the method has been tested by relative
      recovery experiments with spiked samples, with results ranging from 94.3% to
      104.8%, and the precision (relative standard deviation) was within 11.0% (n=3).
      Finally, the method has been successfully applied to the determination of
      antioxidants in several real plastic samples.

PMID- 26863073
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of anaerobic degradation biomarkers of n-alkanes
      via hydroxylation/carboxylation pathways.
AB  - Metabolite profiling is a powerful method in research on anaerobic biodegradation
      of hydrocarbons. Hydroxylation and carboxylation are proposed pathways in
      anaerobic degradation but very little direct evidence is available about
      metabolites and signature biomarkers. 2-Acetylalkanoic acid is a potential
      signature metabolite because of its unique and specific structure among possible
      intermediates. A procedure for the synthesis of four homologues with various
      carbon chain lengths was proposed and the characteristics of 2-acetyl- alkanoic
      acid esters were investigated using four derivatization processes, namely methyl,
      ethyl, n-butyl and trimethylsilyl esterification. Four intermediate fragments
      observed were at m/z 73 + 14n, 87 + 14n, 102 + 14n (n = 1, 2 and 4 for methyl,
      ethyl and n-butyl ester, respectively) and [M - 42]+ for three of the
      derivatization methods. For silylation, characteristic ions were observed at m/z
      73, 117, [M - 42](+) and [M - 55](+). These are basic and significant data for
      the future identification of potential intermediates of the hydroxylation and
      carboxylation pathways in hydrocarbon degradation. 

PMID- 26863074
TI  - Letter: Supermetallization of peptides and proteins with tetravalent metal
      Th(IV).
AB  - Supermetallization is the recently observed phenomenon of the formation of
      complex ions of peptide-metal in the gas phase when the peptide accepts an
      unexpectedly large number of metal atoms. It has been found that
      supermetallization takes place during electrospray ionization when charged
      droplets are evaporating at relatively high temperature (ca 400 degrees C). In
      the present paper, we demonstrate supermetallized complexes of small protein
      ubiquitin and two peptides with Th(IV). We have observed complexes of ubiquitin
      with up to five thorium atoms, and attaching each Th(IV) requires the removal of
      four hydrogen atoms. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of gas
      phase complexes of peptides and proteins with tetravalent metal atoms.. 

PMID- 26863075
TI  - Letter: High-mass capabilities of positive-ion and negative-ion direct analysis
      in real time mass spectrometry.
AB  - Of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (C(+)) tricyanomethide (A(-))
      high-mass cluster ions of both positive ([C(n)A(n-1)](+)) and negative ([C(n
      1)A(n)](-)) charge were generated and detected by direct analysis in real time
      (DART) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS).
      After optimization of the settings of the DART ionization source and of the mass
      analyzer ions of m/z values unprecedented in DART-MS were detected. Thus, the
      upper m/z limits of positive-ion and negative-ion DART- MS were substantially
      expanded. Negative-ion DART-MS delivered cluster ions up to [C(15)A(16)](-), m/z
      3527 (nominal mass of monoisotopic ion), while positive-ion DART-MS even yielded
      ions up to [C(30)A(29)](+), m/z 6784. The identification of the cluster ions is
      supported by their accurate mass and exact mass differences corresponding to CA
      between adjacent cluster ion peaks.

PMID- 26863077
TI  - Cross-cultural adaptation of the German version of the Quality of Life in
      Alzheimer's Disease scale - Nursing Home version (QoL-AD NH).
AB  - Dementia is a chronic and currently incurable syndrome. Therefore, quality of
      life (QoL) is a major goal when caring for people with dementia (Gibson et al.,
      2010) and a major outcome in dementia research (Moniz-Cook et al., 2008). The
      measurement of QoL, especially proxy-rating, is challenging because of the proxy
      perspective (Pickard and Knight, 2005), reliability (Dichter et al., 2016),
      validity (O'Rourke et al., 2015), and responsiveness (Perales et al., 2013).
      Probably due to these challenges, it has not been possible to show positive
      effects for QoL in almost all non-pharmacological interventions for people with
      dementia (Cooper et al., 2012). One recommended (Moniz-Cook et al., 2008) and
      frequently used instrument is the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale
      (QoL-AD), which was originally developed in the US for community-dwelling people
      with dementia. The QoL-AD consists of 13 items based on a 4-point Likert scale
      ranging from "1"=poor to "4"=excellent (Logsdon et al., 1999). The original
      instrument has been adapted for people living in nursing homes (NH) by Edelmann
      et al. (2005).

PMID- 26863078
TI  - Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption kinetics of nanoparticles at
      fluid-fluid interfaces.
AB  - The adsorption of particles to the fluid-fluid interface is a key factor for the
      stabilization of fluid-fluid interfaces such as those found in emulsions, foams
      and bijels. However, for the formation of stable particle-laden interfaces, the
      particles must migrate to the interface from the bulk. Recent studies show that
      the adsorption of particles to the interface formed during emulsification is
      influenced by the surface charge of the particles. To further investigate this
      phenomenon, we study the effect of the surface charge of the particle on the
      adsorption kinetics of particles to the oil-water interface. By suspending a drop
      of aqueous dispersion of charge stabilized nanoparticles in decane, the
      adsorption dynamics of particles to the decane-water interface is studied using
      the dynamic surface tension measurements. When the particles are highly charged
      (low salt), a negligible change in the interface tension is observed indicating
      that almost no particles are adsorbed. These results show that the charged
      particles experience an energy barrier when they approach the interface. But when
      the particle surface charge is screened by the addition of monovalent salt, a
      significant reduction in surface tension is observed indicating the migration and
      adsorption of particles to the decane-water interface. We estimate the effective
      diffusivity of particles to the interface by analyzing the initial decay in the
      measured surface tension by considering particle laden drops containing different
      amounts of salt using the modified Ward and Tordai theory. This effective
      diffusivity is used to calculate the energy barrier for the adsorption of
      particles to the interface. The energy barrier from the analysis of dynamic
      surface tension data agrees well with the concept of image charge repulsion which
      inhibits the adsorption of highly charged particles to the interface. By
      considering various types of relevant interactions, we derive an analytical
      expression that qualitatively captures the effect of the surface charge on the
      equilibrium surface coverage of particles at the drop surface. 

PMID- 26863079
TI  - Dynamical regimes of four almost identical chemical oscillators coupled via pulse
      inhibitory coupling with time delay.
AB  - The dynamic regimes in networks of four almost identical spike oscillators with
      pulsatile coupling via inhibitor are systematically studied. We used two models
      to describe individual oscillators: a phase-oscillator model and a model for the
      Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. A time delay tau between a spike in one oscillator
      and the spike-induced inhibitory perturbation of other oscillators is introduced.
      Diagrams of all rhythms found for three different types of connectivities
      (unidirectional on a ring, mutual on a ring, and all-to-all) are built in the
      plane C(inh)-tau, where C(inh) is the coupling strength. It is shown analytically
      and numerically that only four regular rhythms are stable for unidirectional
      coupling: walk (phase shift between spikes of neighbouring oscillators equals the
      quarter of the global period T), walk-reverse (the same as walk but consecutive
      spikes take place in the direction opposite to the direction of connectivity),
      anti-phase (any two neighbouring oscillators are anti-phase), and in-phase
      oscillations. In the case of mutual on the ring coupling, an additional in-phase
      anti-phase mode emerges. For all-to-all coupling, two new asymmetrical patterns
      (two-cluster and three-cluster modes) have been found. More complex rhythms are
      observed at large C(inh), when some oscillators are suppressed completely or
      generate smaller number of spikes than others.

PMID- 26863080
TI  - The crucial role of water in shaping low-barrier hydrogen bonds.
AB  - Low-barrier hydrogen bonds (LBHBs) are key components in a range of chemical
      processes, often appearing in metal-mediated catalytic applications. The
      formation of LBHBs has generally been attributed to the particular geometric
      arrangement of the surrounding atoms and molecules, yet few specific atomic-level
      details have emerged. In this study, several metal maleate tetrahydrates have
      been studied using a combination of solid-state density functional theory,
      terahertz spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to evaluate the significance of
      both water molecules and metal cations in guiding LBHB formation and function.
      The findings reveal the assumption that metal identity is of paramount importance
      to be incomplete, and that the metal cation does not directly influence the LBHB
      in the maleate ligand. Rather, the characteristics are regulated by water
      molecule positioning, asserting the critical role of water in governing LBHBs and
      providing new insight into their formation mechanisms. 

PMID- 26863081
TI  - A Basic Positron Emission Tomography System Constructed to Locate a Radioactive
      Source in a Bi-dimensional Space.
AB  - A simple Positron Emission Tomography (PET) prototype has been constructed to
      fully characterize its basic working principles. The PET prototype was created by
      coupling plastic scintillator crystals to photomultipliers or PMT's which are
      placed at opposing positions to detect two gamma rays emitted from a radioactive
      source, of which is placed in the geometric center of the PET set-up. The
      prototype consists of four detectors placed geometrically in a 20 cm diameter
      circle, and a radioactive source in the center. By moving the radioactive source
      centimeters from the center the system one is able to detect the displacement by
      measuring the time of flight difference between any two PMT's and, with this
      information, the system can calculate the virtual position in a graphical
      interface. In this way, the prototype reproduces the main principles of a PET
      system. It is capable to determine the real position of the source with intervals
      of 4 cm in 2 lines of detection taking less than 2 min. 

PMID- 26863082
TI  - A device for co-culturing autonomic neurons and cardiomyocytes using micro
      fabrication techniques.
AB  - It is still unclear how the activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons
      influences the activity of cardiomyocytes in culture. We developed a device for
      co-culturing sympathetic neurons, parasympathetic neurons, and cardiomyocytes
      using micro-fabrication techniques. Morphological connections between each type
      of autonomic neuron and the cardiomyocytes were observed by immunostaining. The
      inter-beat-interval (IBI) of the cardiomyocytes was modulated after electrically
      stimulating each type of autonomic neuron. Modulation of the IBI was blocked by
      the addition of pharmacological blockers to the culture medium. These results
      suggest that the co-culture device can be utilized to understand how the activity
      of sympathetic neurons and parasympathetic neurons influences the activity of
      cardiomyocytes in the culture environment. 

PMID- 26863083
TI  - Dysiherbols A-C and Dysideanone E, Cytotoxic and NF-kappaB Inhibitory Tetracyclic
      Meroterpenes from a Dysidea sp. Marine Sponge.
AB  - Four new tetracyclic meroterpnes, dysiherbols A-C (1-3) and dysideanone E (4),
      were isolated from a Dysidea sp. marine sponge collected from the South China
      Sea. Their complete structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously
      determined by a combination of NMR spectroscopic data, ECD calculations, and
      single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Within the sesquiterpene quinol
      structures, dysiherbols A-C possess an intriguing 6/6/5/6-fused tetracyclic
      carbon skeleton. The NF-kappaB inhibitory and cytotoxic activity evaluation
      disclosed that dysiherbol A (1) showed potent activity with respective IC50
      values of 0.49 and 0.58 MUM, which were about 10-fold and 20-fold more potent
      than those of dysiherbols B (2) and C (3), which feature hydroxy and ketone
      carbonyl groups at the C-3 position. 

PMID- 26863087
TI  - Cloning and Large-Scale Production of High-Capacity Adenoviral Vectors Based on
      the Human Adenovirus Type 5.
AB  - High-capacity adenoviral vectors (HCAdV) devoid of all viral coding sequences
      represent one of the most advanced gene delivery vectors due to their high
      packaging capacity (up to 35 kb), low immunogenicity and low toxicity. However,
      for many laboratories the use of HCAdV is hampered by the complicated procedure
      for vector genome construction and virus production. Here, a detailed protocol
      for efficient cloning and production of HCAdV based on the plasmid pAdFTC
      containing the HCAdV genome is described. The construction of HCAdV genomes is
      based on a cloning vector system utilizing homing endonucleases (I-CeuI and PI
      SceI). Any gene of interest of up to 14 kb can be subcloned into the shuttle
      vector pHM5, which contains a multiple cloning site flanked by I-CeuI and PI
      SceI. After I-CeuI and PI-SceI-mediated release of the transgene from the shuttle
      vector the transgene can be inserted into the HCAdV cloning vector pAdFTC.
      Because of the large size of the pAdFTC plasmid and the long recognition sites of
      the used enzymes associated with strong DNA binding, careful handling of the
      cloning fragments is needed. For virus production, the HCAdV genome is released
      by NotI digest and transfected into a HEK293 based producer cell line stably
      expressing Cre recombinase. To provide all adenoviral genes for adenovirus
      amplification, co-infection with a helper virus containing a packing signal
      flanked by loxP sites is required. Pre-amplification of the vector is performed
      in producer cells grown on surfaces and large-scale amplification of the vector
      is conducted in spinner flasks with producer cells grown in suspension. For virus
      purification, two ultracentrifugation steps based on cesium chloride gradients
      are performed followed by dialysis. Here tips, tricks and shortcuts developed
      over the past years working with this HCAdV vector system are presented. 

PMID- 26863088
TI  - Interplay between Two Allosteric Sites and Their Influence on Agonist Binding in
      Human MU Opioid Receptor.
AB  - Allostery is a widespread mechanism that allows for precise protein tuning. Its
      underlying mechanisms are elusive, particularly when there are multiple
      allosteric sites at the protein. This concerns also G-protein-coupled receptors
      (GPCRs), which are targets for a vast part of currently used drugs. To address
      this issue, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of a GPCR-human MU opioid
      receptor (MOR) in a native-like environment, with full agonist (R)-methadone,
      Na(+) ions, and a positive modulator BMS986122 in various configurations. We
      found that MOR's seventh transmembrane helix (TM VII) is central for allosteric
      signal transmission, and modulators affect its bending and rotation. The PAM
      stabilizes favorable agonist interactions, while Na(+) tends to disrupt agonist
      binding. We identified two residues involved in allosteric signal transmission:
      Trp 7.35 at the top and Tyr 7.53 at the bottom of TM VII. 

PMID- 26863089
TI  - Core-Shell Coating Silicon Anode Interfaces with Coordination Complex for Stable
      Lithium-Ion Batteries.
AB  - In situ core-shell coating was used to improve the electrochemical performance of
      Si-based anodes with polypyrrole-Fe coordination complex. The vast functional
      groups in the organometallic coordination complex easily formed hydrogen bonds
      when in situ modifying commercial Si nanoparticles. The incorporation of
      polypyrrole-Fe resulted in the conformal conductive coating surrounding each Si
      nanoparticle, not only providing good electrical connection to the particles but
      also promoting the formation of a stable solid-electrolyte-interface layer on the
      Si electrode surface, enhancing the cycling properties. As an anode material for
      Li-ion batteries, modified silicon powders exhibited high reversible capacity
      (3567 mAh/g at 0.3 A/g), good rate property (549.12 mAh/g at 12 A/g), and
      excellent cycling performance (reversible capacity of 1500 mAh/g after 800 cycles
      at 1.2 A/g). The constructed novel concept of core-shell coating Si particles
      presented a promising route for facile and large-scale production of Si-based
      anodes for extremely durable Li-ion batteries, which provided a wide range of
      applications in the field of energy storage of the renewable energy derived from
      the solar energy, hydropower, tidal energy, and geothermal heat. 

PMID- 26863090
TI  - Global analysis of publicly available safety data for 9,801 substances registered
      under REACH from 2008-2014.
AB  - The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) warehouses the largest public dataset of in
      vivo and in vitro toxicity tests. In December 2014 this data was converted into a
      structured, machine readable and searchable database using linguistic search
      engines. It contains data for 9,801 unique substances, 3,609 unique study
      descriptions and 816,048 study documents.This allows exploring toxicological data
      on a scale far larger than previously available. Substance similarity analysis
      was used to determine clustering of substances for hazards by mapping to PubChem.
      Similarity was measured using PubChem 2D conformational substructure
      fingerprints, which were compared via the Tanimoto metric. Following K-Core
      filtration, the Blondel et al.(2008) module recognition algorithm was used to
      identify chemical modules showing clusters of substances in use within the
      chemical universe. Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling
      provides a valuable information source for hazard analysis. The most prevalent
      hazards are H317 "May cause an allergic skin reaction" with 20% and H318 "Causes
      serious eye damage" with 17% positive substances. Such prevalences obtained for
      all hazards here are key for the design of integrated testing strategies. The
      data allowed estimation of animal use. ECHA cover about 20% of substances in the
      high-throughput biological assay database Tox21 (1,737 substances) and have a 917
      substance overlap with the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (~7% of CTD). The
      biological data available in these datasets combined with ECHA in vivo endpoints
      have enormous modeling potential. A case is made that REACH should systematically
      open regulatory data for research purposes. 

PMID- 26863091
TI  - Does naming accuracy improve through self-monitoring of errors?
AB  - This study examined spontaneous self-monitoring of picture naming in people with
      aphasia. Of primary interest was whether spontaneous detection or repair of an
      error constitutes an error signal or other feedback that tunes the production
      system to the desired outcome. In other words, do acts of monitoring cause
      adaptive change in the language system? A second possibility, not incompatible
      with the first, is that monitoring is indicative of an item's representational
      strength, and strength is a causal factor in language change. Twelve PWA
      performed a 615-item naming test twice, in separate sessions, without extrinsic
      feedback. At each timepoint, we scored the first complete response for accuracy
      and error type and the remainder of the trial for verbalizations consistent with
      detection (e.g., "no, not that") and successful repair (i.e., correction). Data
      analysis centered on: (a) how often an item that was misnamed at one timepoint
      changed to correct at the other timepoint, as a function of monitoring; and (b)
      how monitoring impacted change scores in the Forward (Time 1 to Time 2) compared
      to Backward (Time 2 to Time 1) direction. The Strength hypothesis predicts
      significant effects of monitoring in both directions. The Learning hypothesis
      predicts greater effects in the Forward direction. These predictions were
      evaluated for three types of errors--Semantic errors, Phonological errors, and
      Fragments--using mixed-effects regression modeling with crossed random effects.
      Support for the Strength hypothesis was found for all three error types. Support
      for the Learning hypothesis was found for Semantic errors. All effects were due
      to error repair, not error detection. We discuss the theoretical and clinical
      implications of these novel findings.

PMID- 26863092
TI  - Diastereoselective Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of (2R)- and (2S)
      Fluorostatines: An Approach Based on Organocatalytic Fluorination of a Chiral
      Aldehyde.
AB  - Stereoselectively fluorinated analogues of the amino acid statine have been
      efficiently synthesized. The key step is an organocatalytic electrophilic
      fluorination of a chiral beta-oxygenated aldehyde, which provided a test of both
      diastereoselectivity and chemoselectivity. The target statine analogues were
      found to adopt unique conformations influenced by the fluorine gauche effect,
      rendering them potentially valuable building blocks for incorporation into
      bioactive peptides. 

PMID- 26863093
TI  - Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study on Nonequilibrium Reaction
      Pathways in the Photolysis of Solid Nitromethane (CH3NO2) and D3-Nitromethane
      (CD3NO2).
AB  - Thin films of nitromethane (CH3NO2) along with its isotopically labeled
      counterpart D3-nitromethane (CD3NO2) were photolyzed at discrete wavelength
      between 266 nm (4.7 eV) and 121 nm (10.2 eV) to explore the underlying mechanisms
      involved in the decomposition of model compounds of energetic materials in the
      condensed phase at 5 K. The chemical modifications of the ices were traced in
      situ via electron paramagnetic resonance, thus focusing on the detection of
      (hitherto elusive) reaction intermediates and products with unpaired electrons.
      These studies revealed the formation of two carbon-centered radicals [methyl
      (CH3), nitromethyl (CH2NO2)], one oxygen-centered radical [methoxy (CH3O)], two
      nitrogen-centered radicals [nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2)], as
      well as atomic hydrogen (H). The decomposition products of these channels and the
      carbon-centered nitromethyl (CH2NO2) radical in particular represent crucial
      reaction intermediates leading via sequential molecular mass growth processes in
      the exposed nitromethane samples to complex organic molecules as predicted
      previously by dynamics calculations. The detection of the nitromethyl (CH2NO2)
      radical along with atomic hydrogen (H) demonstrated the existence of a high
      energy decomposition pathway, which is closed under collisionless conditions in
      the gas phase. 

PMID- 26863094
TI  - Osteogenesis imperfecta: Ultrastructural and histological findings on examination
      of skin revealing novel insights into genotype-phenotype correlation.
AB  - Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders of
      bone formation, resulting in low bone mass and an increased propensity to
      fracture. Over 90% of patients with OI have a mutation in COL1A1/COL1A2, which
      shows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. In-depth phenotyping and in
      particular, studies involving manifestations in the skin connective tissue have
      not previously been undertaken in OI. The aims of the study were to perform
      histological and ultrastructural examination of skin biopsies in a cohort of
      patients with OI; to identify common and distinguishing features in order to
      inform genotype-phenotype correlation; and to identify common and distinguishing
      features between the different subtypes of OI. As part of the RUDY (Rare Diseases
      in Bone, Joints and/or Blood Vessels) study, in collaboration with the NIHR Rare
      Diseases Translational Research Collaboration, we undertook a national study of
      skin biopsies in patients with OI. We studied the manifestations in the skin
      connective tissue and undertook in-depth clinical and molecular phenotyping of 16
      patients with OI. We recruited 16 patients: analyses have shown that in type 1
      collagen mutation positive patients (COL1A1/ COL1A2) (n-4/16) consistent findings
      included: variable collagen fibril diameter (CFD) and presence of collagen
      flowers. Histological examination in these patients showed an increase in elastic
      fibers that are frequently fragmented and clumped. These observations provide
      evidence that collagen flowers and CFD variability are consistent features in OI
      due to type 1 collagen defects and reinforce the need for accurate phenotyping in
      conjunction with genomic analyses. 

PMID- 26863095
TI  - Gas-Phase Cytosine and Cytosine-N1-Derivatives Have 0.1-1 ns Lifetimes Near the
      S1 State Minimum.
AB  - Ultraviolet radiative damage to DNA is inefficient because of the ultrafast S1 ?
      S0 internal conversion of its nucleobases. Using picosecond pump-ionization delay
      measurements, we find that the S1((1)pipi*) state vibrationless lifetime of gas
      phase keto-amino cytosine (Cyt) is tau = 730 ps or ~ 700 times longer than that
      measured by femtosecond pump-probe ionization at higher vibrational excess
      energy, Eexc. N1-Alkylation increases the S1 lifetime up to tau = 1030 ps for N1
      ethyl-Cyt but decreases it to 100 ps for N1-isopropyl-Cyt. Increasing the
      vibrational energy to Eexc = 300-550 cm(-1) decreases the lifetimes to 20-30 ps.
      The nonradiative dynamics of S1 cytosine is not solely a property of the amino
      pyrimidinone chromophore but is strongly influenced by the N1-substituent.
      Correlated excited-state calculations predict that the gap between the
      S2((1)nOpi*) and S1((1)pipi*) states decreases along the series of N1
      derivatives, thereby influencing the S1 state lifetime.

PMID- 26863096
TI  - Local Lattice Distortions in Mn[N(CN)2]2 under Pressure.
AB  - We combined synchrotron-based infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering, and
      diamond anvil cell techniques with complementary lattice dynamics calculations to
      reveal local lattice distortions in Mn[N(CN)2]2 under compression. Strikingly, we
      found a series of transitions involving octahedral counter-rotations, changes in
      the local Mn environment, and deformations of the superexchange pathway. In
      addition to reinforcing magnetic property trends, these pressure-induced local
      lattice distortions may provide an avenue for the development of new
      functionalities. 

PMID- 26863097
TI  - Career Advice for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows.

PMID- 26863098
TI  - Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum with Transanal Prolapsing
      Specimen Extraction: Early Experience with 23 Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: For laparoscopic low anterior resection of the rectum, a small
      additional incision is needed to extract the specimen. We describe an adjustment
      technique, which inserted the anvil and extracted the specimen through transanal
      pathway. METHODS: Between July 2010 and July 2012, 23 patients underwent
      laparoscopic rectal surgery with transanal anvil insertion and transanal
      prolapsing specimen extraction. All perioperative data and short-term outcomes
      were recorded in a database. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 61.3 years (range
      47-68 years). Of the 23 patients, 17 underwent resection for rectal carcinoma and
      6 had tubulovillous adenomas. No intraoperative complications occurred. The mean
      operative time was 137 minutes (range 118-170 minutes). The distal margins,
      circumferential resection margins, and lymph node dissections were oncologically
      adequate for all malignancies. One patient experienced anastomotic leakage
      (4.3%), treated conservatively. One male patient with benign prostatic
      hyperplasia suffered from postoperative urinary retention. The average
      postoperative hospital stay was 11.3 days (range 7-21 days). No patients
      experienced anal dysfunction. At a median follow-up of 26 months, there were no
      tumor recurrences. CONCLUSION: The technique of transanal prolapsing specimen
      extraction for laparoscopic low anterior resection of the rectum is feasible and
      safe for selected patients.

PMID- 26863099
TI  - Lewis Acid Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroheteroarylation of Pentafulvenes.
AB  - A diverse approach toward the catalytic regioselective nucleophilic addition of
      nitrogen heterocycles to Lewis acid activated pentafulvenes has been established.
      The developed protocol introduces pentafulvenes as nonsymmetrical alkenes for the
      hydroheteroarylation reaction, providing alkylidenecyclopentenylation at the C-3
      position of indoles and the C-2 position of pyrrole. 

PMID- 26863100
TI  - Techniques for nonlinear optical characterization of materials: a review.
AB  - Various techniques to characterize the nonlinear (NL) optical response of centro
      symmetric materials are presented and evaluated with emphasis on the relationship
      between the macroscopic measurable quantities and the microscopic properties of
      photonic materials. NL refraction and NL absorption of the materials are the
      phenomena of major interest. The dependence of the NL refraction and NL
      absorption coefficients on the nature of the materials was studied as well as on
      the laser excitation characteristics of wavelength, intensity, spatial profile,
      pulse duration and pulses repetition rate. Selected experimental results are
      discussed and illustrated. The various techniques currently available were
      compared and their relative advantages and drawbacks were evaluated. Critical
      comparisons among established techniques provided elements to evaluate their
      accuracies and sensitivities with respect to novel methods that present
      improvements with respect to the conventional techniques. 

PMID- 26863101
TI  - Pulmonary and Critical Care In-Service Training Examination Score as a Predictor
      of Board Certification Examination Performance.
AB  - RATIONALE: Most trainees in combined pulmonary and critical care medicine
      fellowship programs complete in-service training examinations (ITEs) that test
      knowledge in both disciplines. Whether ITE scores predict performance on the
      American Board of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Disease Certification Examination
      and Critical Care Medicine Certification Examination is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To
      determine whether pulmonary and critical care medicine ITE scores predict
      performance on subspecialty board certification examinations independently of
      trainee demographics, program director competency ratings, fellowship program
      characteristics, and prior medical knowledge assessments. METHODS: First- and
      second-year fellows who were enrolled in the study between 2008 and 2012
      completed a questionnaire encompassing demographics and fellowship training
      characteristics. These data and ITE scores were matched to fellows' subsequent
      scores on subspecialty certification examinations, program director ratings, and
      previous scores on their American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
      Certification Examination. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression
      were used to identify independent predictors of subspecialty certification
      examination scores and likelihood of passing the examinations, respectively.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of eligible fellows, 82.4% enrolled in the study.
      The ITE score for second-year fellows was matched to their certification
      examination scores, which yielded 1,484 physicians for pulmonary disease and
      1,331 for critical care medicine. Second-year fellows' ITE scores (beta = 0.24, P
      < 0.001) and Internal Medicine Certification Examination scores (beta = 0.49, P <
      0.001) were the strongest predictors of Pulmonary Disease Certification
      Examination scores, and were the only significant predictors of passing the
      examination (ITE odds ratio, 1.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.16]; Internal
      Medicine Certification Examination odds ratio, 1.01 [95% confidence interval,
      1.01-1.02]). Similar results were obtained for predicting Critical Care Medicine
      Certification Examination scores and for passing the examination. The predictive
      value of ITE scores among first-year fellows on the subspecialty certification
      examinations was comparable to second-year fellows' ITE scores. CONCLUSIONS: The
      Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine ITE score is an independent, and stronger,
      predictor of subspecialty certification examination performance than fellow
      demographics, program director competency ratings, and fellowship
      characteristics. These findings support the use of the ITE to identify the
      learning needs of fellows as they work toward subspecialty board certification.

PMID- 26863102
TI  - The Italian multiregional thalassemia registry: Centers characteristics,
      services, and patients' population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The prognosis of beta-Thalassemia major and other congenital
      hemoglobinopathies has profoundly changed over the last decades. Moreover, only
      few countries in Europe provide dedicated services and the description of the
      measures for patients monitoring and treatment is overall very scarce. The HTA
      Thal project is aimed to identify the services available in Italy and to collect
      epidemiological and clinical data on the thalassemic population (HTA-Thal
      Registry). METHODS: A map of the existing centers was created and two electronic
      questionnaires were completed with information on the services and patients.
      RESULTS: On 182 centers identified, 60 completed the two questionnaires. Centers
      resulted to be extremely heterogeneous in terms of size, age of patients in care,
      and services availability. The transition of pediatric patients to adult centers
      was not guaranteed. Thousand eight hundred and seventy-three beta-Thalassemia
      major patients (of which 259 pediatrics), regularly transfused, were registered.
      Deferasirox is the most used chelator as monotherapy (616 patients) and its use
      prevails in younger patients. A higher number of patients (847 patients) use
      Deferoxamine, either alone (448 patients) or in combination with DFP (399
      patients), while 782 patients use Deferiprone alone (383 patients) or in
      combination (399 patients). 31.6 and 66.6% of centers were not equipped for
      specialized visits or local MRI, respectively. Centers with 30-80 patients show
      the high percentage of patients appropriately monitored when compared to smaller
      or bigger centers. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirms the importance of
      patients' registries for the collection of large datasets and the need for
      dedicated 'specialized centers' equipped to provide the best standard treatment
      to patients.

PMID- 26863103
TI  - Bile Acid Metabolome after an Oral Lipid Tolerance Test by Liquid Chromatography
      Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
AB  - CONTEXT: Besides their role in intestinal resorption of lipids, bile acids are
      regarded as endocrine and metabolic signaling molecules. The detailed profile of
      bile acid species in peripheral blood after an oral lipid tolerance test (OLTT)
      is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We quantified the regulation of 18 bile acids after OLTT
      in healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 volunteers were characterized
      by anthropometric and laboratory parameters and underwent OLTT. Venous blood was
      drawn in the fasted state (0 h) and at 2h, 4h, and 6 h after OLTT. Serum
      concentrations of 18 bile acids were measured by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS: All of the 6
      taurine-conjugated bile acids (TUDCA, THDCA, TCA, TCDCA, TDCA, TLCA) and all of
      the 6 glycine-conjugated bile acids (GUDCA, GHDCA, GCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA) rose
      significantly at 2h and remained elevated during OLTT. Of the primary bile acids,
      CA remained unchanged, whereas CDCA significantly decreased at 4h. Of the
      secondary bile acids, DCA, UDCA and HDCA were not altered, whereas LCA decreased.
      There was a significant positive correlation between the intestinal feed-back
      regulator of bile acid synthesis FGF-19 and bile acids. This correlation seems to
      depend on all of the six taurine-conjugated bile acids and on GCA, GDCA, and
      GCDCA. Females and users of hormonal contraception displayed higher levels of
      taurine-conjugated bile acids. CONCLUSIONS: The novelty of the study is based on
      the identification of single bile acids during OLTT. LC-MS/MS-based
      quantification of bile acids in serum provides a reliable tool for future
      investigation of endocrine and metabolic effects of bile acids.

PMID- 26863104
TI  - What constitutes the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery?
AB  - Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator has limited efficacy in fibrinolysis of
      large proximal intracranial thrombi. Thus, recent endovascular acute stroke
      trials restricted their selection criteria to patients with proximal occlusions
      in the anterior circulation. Although the terminal internal carotid artery
      occlusion is relatively easy to identify, there is often a debate as to what
      constitutes a proximal (involving the M1 segment) versus a distal (involving the
      M2 segment and beyond) middle cerebral artery occlusion. In light of overwhelming
      evidence demonstrating superiority of endovascular treatment in patients with
      proximal occlusion, this distinction has significant practical implications in
      patient selection. Here we present a brief review of the proximal (M1) segment of
      the middle cerebral artery anatomy and provide practical methods to recognize and
      separate the M1 and M2 segments. In keeping with the belief that CT angiography
      (CTA) (preferably multiphase CTA) is the ideal screening test for patients with
      emergent large vessel occlusion, we have provided tips for expeditious and
      accurate vascular imaging interpretation.

PMID- 26863105
TI  - Assessment of intracranial aneurysm rupture based on morphology parameters and
      anatomical locations.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify image-based
      morphological parameters and anatomical locations associated with intracranial
      aneurysm (IA) rupture. METHODS: Nine morphological parameters and aneurysm
      location were evaluated in 150 patients with saccular IAs (82 unruptured, 68
      ruptured) using three-dimensional geometry. Aneurysm location and morphological
      parameters including size, aspect ratio, size ratio, height-width ratio, flow
      angle, aneurysm inclination angle, parent artery angle, vessel angle, and
      aneurysm shape were explored to identify a correlation with aneurysm rupture.
      These factors were analyzed using a two-tailed independent Student t test or the
      chi test for significance. Significant factors were further examined using
      logistic regression analysis. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic
      (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate each parameter. RESULTS: Statistically
      significant differences were observed in ruptured and unruptured groups for
      aspect ratio, size ratio, height-width ratio, flow angle, aneurysm inclination
      angle, vessel angle, aneurysm shape, and aneurysm location. Logistic regression
      analysis further revealed that size ratio (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.64), height
      width ratio (OR 14.22; 95% CI 2.67 to 75.88), aneurysm inclination angle (OR
      1.04; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.07), aneurysm shape (OR 4.68; 95% CI 2.44 to 8.98), and
      aneurysm location (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.23) had the strongest independent
      correlation with ruptured IA. The ROC analysis showed that the size ratio and
      flow angle had the highest area under the curve, with values of 0.735 and 0.730,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Size ratio, height-width ratio, aneurysm inclination
      angle, aneurysm shape, and aneurysm location might be important for
      discriminating between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Further investigation
      will determine whether these morphological parameters and anatomical locations
      will be reliable predictors of aneurysm rupture.

PMID- 26863106
TI  - The 'pit-crew' model for improving door-to-needle times in endovascular stroke
      therapy: a Six-Sigma project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delays in delivering endovascular stroke therapy adversely affect
      outcomes. Time-sensitive treatments such as stroke interventions benefit from
      methodically developed protocols. Clearly defined roles in these protocols allow
      for parallel processing of tasks, resulting in consistent delivery of care.
      OBJECTIVE: To present the outcomes of a quality-improvement (QI) process directed
      at reducing stroke treatment times in a tertiary level academic medical center.
      METHODS: A Six-Sigma-based QI process was developed over a 3-month period. After
      an initial analysis, procedures were implemented and fine-tuned to identify and
      address rate-limiting steps in the endovascular care pathway. Prospectively
      recorded treatment times were then compared in two groups of patients who were
      treated 'before' (n=64) or 'after' (n=30) the QI process. Three time intervals
      were measured: emergency room (ER) to arrival for CT scan (ER-CT), CT scan to
      interventional laboratory arrival (CT-Lab), and interventional laboratory arrival
      to groin puncture (Lab-puncture). RESULTS: The ER-CT time was 40 (+/-29) min in
      the 'before' and 26 (+/-15) min in the 'after' group (p=0.008). The CT-Lab time
      was 87 (+/-47) min in the 'before' and 51 (+/-33) min in the 'after' group
      (p=0.0002). The Lab-puncture time was 24 (+/-11) min in the 'before' and 15 (+/
      4) min in the 'after' group (p<0.0001). The overall ER-arrival to groin-puncture
      time was reduced from 2 h, 31 min (+/-51) min in the 'before' to 1 h, 33 min (+/
      37) min in the 'after' group, (p<0.0001). The improved times were seen for both
      working hours and off-hours interventions. CONCLUSIONS: A protocol-driven process
      can significantly improve efficiency of care in time-sensitive stroke
      interventions.

PMID- 26863107
TI  - The Self-Reported Oral Health Status and Dental Attendance of Smokers and Non
      Smokers in England.
AB  - Smoking has been identified as the second greatest risk factor for global death
      and disability and has impacts on the oral cavity from aesthetic changes to fatal
      diseases such as oral cancer. The paper presents a secondary analysis of the
      National Adult Dental Health Survey (2009). The analysis used descriptive
      statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression models to report the self
      reported oral health status and dental attendance of smokers and non-smokers in
      England. Of the 9,657 participants, 21% reported they were currently smoking.
      When compared with smokers; non-smokers were more likely to report 'good oral
      health' (75% versus 57% respectively, p<0.05). Smokers were twice as likely to
      attend the dentist symptomatically (OR = 2.27, CI = 2.02-2.55) compared with non
      smoker regardless the deprivation status. Smokers were more likely to attend
      symptomatically in the most deprived quintiles (OR = 1.99, CI = 1.57-2.52) and
      perceive they had poorer oral health (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.42-2.20). The present
      research is consistent with earlier sub-national research and should be
      considered when planning early diagnosis and management strategies for smoking
      related conditions, considering the potential impact dental teams might have on
      smoking rates. 

PMID- 26863108
TI  - Family Structure as a Correlate of Organized Sport Participation among Youth.
AB  - Organized sport is one way that youth participate in physical activity. There are
      disparities in organized sport participation by family-related factors. The
      purpose of this study was to determine whether non-traditional family structure
      and physical custody arrangements are associated with organized sport
      participation in youth, and if so whether this relationship is mediated by
      socioeconomic status. Data were from the 2009-10 Health Behaviour in School-aged
      Children survey, a nationally representative cross-section of Canadian youth in
      grades 6-10 (N = 21,201). Information on family structure was derived from three
      survey items that asked participants the number of adults they lived with, their
      relationship to these adults, and if applicable, how often they visited another
      parent outside their home. Participants were asked whether or not they were
      currently involved in an organized sport. Logistic regression was used to compare
      the odds of organized sport participation according to family structure.
      Bootstrap-based mediation analysis was used to assess mediation by perceived
      family wealth. The results indicated that by comparison to traditional families,
      boys and girls from reconstituted families with irregular visitation of a second
      parent, reconstituted families with regular visitation of a second parent, single
      parent families with irregular visitation of a second parent, and single-parent
      families with regular visitation of a second parent were less likely to
      participate in organized sport than those from traditional families, with odds
      ratios ranging from 0.48 (95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.61) to 0.78 (95%
      confidence interval: 0.56-1.08). The relationship between family structure and
      organized sport was significantly mediated by perceived family wealth, although
      the magnitude of the mediation was modest (ie, <20% change in effect estimate).
      In conclusion, youth living in both single-parent and reconstituted families
      experienced significant disparities in organized sport participation that was
      partially mediated by perceived family wealth. 

PMID- 26863109
TI  - Disability and Fatigue Can Be Objectively Measured in Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The available clinical outcome measures of disability in multiple
      sclerosis are not adequately responsive or sensitive. OBJECTIVE: To investigate
      the feasibility of inertial sensor-based gait analysis in multiple sclerosis.
      METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 80 multiple sclerosis patients and 50 healthy
      controls was performed. Lower-limb kinematics was evaluated by using a
      commercially available magnetic inertial measurement unit system. Mean and
      standard deviation of range of motion (mROM, sROM) for each joint of lower limbs
      were calculated in one minute walking test. A motor performance index (E) defined
      as the sum of sROMs was proposed. RESULTS: We established two novel observer
      independent measures of disability. Hip mROM was extremely sensitive in measuring
      lower limb motor impairment, being correlated with muscle strength and also
      altered in patients without clinically detectable disability. On the other hand,
      E index discriminated patients according to disability, being altered only in
      patients with moderate and severe disability, regardless of walking speed. It was
      strongly correlated with fatigue and patient-perceived health status.
      CONCLUSIONS: Inertial sensor-based gait analysis is feasible and can detect
      clinical and subclinical disability in multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 26863111
TI  - Serum angiogenic profile in abnormal placentation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1
      (sFlt1), placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) levels in women with abnormal placentation and to compare the data with
      the results of women with normal pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum
      biomarkers of angiogenesis and maternal and perinatal characteristics of 68
      pregnant women, all in the third trimester, who were diagnosed to have vaginal
      bleeding due to complete placenta previa with and without concomitant placenta
      accreta, increta and percreta as the study group and 30 pregnant women without
      any placentation abnormality who eventually delivered at  >=37 weeks of
      gestational age as the control group were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no
      statistical difference in the maternal serum values of sFlt1, PlGF, sFlt1/PlGF
      ratio and VEGF in groups with placental abnormality as compared to controls. Not
      even a single case of preeclampsia and intrauterine fetal growth restriction was
      encountered in the study group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that regardless of
      the localization and the degree of the myometrial invasion of the placenta in the
      uterus, the circulatory biomarkers of angiogenesis and vascularization were
      comparable.

PMID- 26863112
TI  - Surgical management of an odontogenic tumor in a banded Gila monster (Heloderma
      suspectum cinctum) with a novel herpesvirus.

PMID- 26863113
TI  - Multidentate Polymer Coatings for Compact and Homogeneous Quantum Dots with
      Efficient Bioconjugation.
AB  - Quantum dots are fluorescent nanoparticles used to detect and image proteins and
      nucleic acids. Compared with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, these
      nanocrystals have enhanced brightness, photostability, and wavelength tunability,
      but their larger size limits their use. Recently, multidentate polymer coatings
      have yielded stable quantum dots with small hydrodynamic dimensions (<=10 nm) due
      to high-affinity, compact wrapping around the nanocrystal. However, this coating
      technology has not been widely adopted because the resulting particles are
      frequently heterogeneous and clustered, and conjugation to biological molecules
      is difficult to control. In this article we develop new polymeric ligands and
      optimize coating and bioconjugation methodologies for core/shell CdSe/Cd(x)Zn(1
      x)S quantum dots to generate homogeneous and compact products. We demonstrate
      that "ligand stripping" to rapidly displace nonpolar ligands with hydroxide ions
      allows homogeneous assembly with multidentate polymers at high temperature. The
      resulting aqueous nanocrystals are 7-12 nm in hydrodynamic diameter, have quantum
      yields similar to those in organic solvents, and strongly resist nonspecific
      interactions due to short oligoethylene glycol surfaces. Compared with a host of
      other methods, this technique is superior for eliminating small aggregates
      identified through chromatographic and single-molecule analysis. We also
      demonstrate high-efficiency bioconjugation through azide-alkyne click chemistry
      and self-assembly with hexa-histidine-tagged proteins that eliminate the need for
      product purification. The conjugates retain specificity of the attached
      biomolecules and are exceptional probes for immunofluorescence and single
      molecule dynamic imaging. These results are expected to enable broad utilization
      of compact, biofunctional quantum dots for studying crowded macromolecular
      environments such as the neuronal synapse and cellular cytoplasm.

PMID- 26863114
TI  - Lead Contamination in Flint--An Abject Failure to Protect Public Health.

PMID- 26863115
TI  - Sequestration of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Induces Late
      Restrictive Lung Disease.
AB  - RATIONALE: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a restrictive lung disease
      characterized by surfactant deficiency. Decreased vascular endothelial growth
      factor (VEGF), which demonstrates important roles in angiogenesis and
      vasculogenesis, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of restrictive lung
      diseases. Current animal models investigating VEGF in the etiology and outcomes
      of RDS require premature delivery, hypoxia, anatomically or temporally limited
      inhibition, or other supplemental interventions. Consequently, little is known
      about the isolated effects of chronic VEGF inhibition, started at birth, on
      subsequent developing lung structure and function. OBJECTIVES: To determine
      whether inducible, mesenchyme-specific VEGF inhibition in the neonatal mouse lung
      results in long-term modulation of AECII and whole lung function. METHODS: Triple
      transgenic mice expressing the soluble VEGF receptor sFlt-1 specifically in the
      mesenchyme (Dermo-1/rtTA/sFlt-1) were generated and compared to littermate
      controls at 3 months to determine the impact of neonatal downregulation of
      mesenchymal VEGF expression on lung structure, cell composition and function.
      Reduced tissue VEGF bioavailability has previously been demonstrated with this
      model. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Triple transgenic mice demonstrated
      restrictive lung pathology. No differences in gross vascular development or
      protein levels of vascular endothelial markers was noted, but there was a
      significant decrease in perivascular smooth muscle and type I collagen. Mutants
      had decreased expression levels of surfactant protein C and hypoxia inducible
      factor 1-alpha without a difference in number of type II pneumocytes.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data show that mesenchyme-specific inhibition of VEGF in
      neonatal mice results in late restrictive disease, making this transgenic mouse a
      novel model for future investigations on the consequences of neonatal RDS and
      potential interventions.

PMID- 26863116
TI  - An Appraisal of Proliferation and Apoptotic Markers in Papillary Thyroid
      Carcinoma: An Automated Analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Proliferation and apoptosis are opposing processes by which the
      cell numbers are kept in a delicate balance, essential for tissue homeostasis,
      whereas uncontrolled growth of cells is a hallmark of cancer. Papillary thyroid
      cancer (PTC) is the commonest type of thyroid cancer, with some PTC following an
      indolent course, whereas the other ones are more aggressive. AIM: To evaluate
      respective contribution of proliferation and apoptosis in the tumorigenesis of
      PTC by automated analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the
      immunolabeling of phosphorylated histone H3 (pHH3), cyclin D1, active caspase-3,
      and bcl-2 in thirteen cases each of metastatic PTC, follicular variant of PTC
      (FVPTC), papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) and well differentiated tumor of
      uncertain malignant potential (WDT-UMP). FVPTC cases comprised seven encapsulated
      and six unencapsulated cases. RESULTS: Proliferation, as assessed by pHH3 and
      cyclin D1 immunolabeling, was increased in all PTC variants, including the
      putative precursor lesion WDT-UMP, compared to normal thyroid tissue. pHH3 was
      immunolabeled in more cells of metastatic PTC than of PMC and of encapsulated
      FVPTC. Surprisingly, metastatic PTC and unencapsulated FVPTC also demonstrated
      more cleaved caspase-3 immunolabeled cells than the other types. In contrast,
      increased expression of bcl-2 protein was seen in normal thyroid areas,
      encapsulated FVPTC and PMC as compared to metastatic PTC. Metastatic PTC shows
      higher proliferation than other types of PTC but unexpectedly also higher
      apoptotic levels. Similar results were also seen with unencapsulated FVPTC, thus
      suggesting that unencapsulated FVPTC has a potential for adverse outcome. Bcl-2
      was immunolabeled in a low percentage of cells in WDT-UMP. CONCLUSIONS: The
      expression of the proliferative protein pHH3 together with the apoptotic marker
      cleaved caspase-3 may indicate an aggressive behaviour of PTC and loss of
      apoptosis inhibition by bcl-2 protein can further amplify the role of these
      proteins in tumor progression. Both cyclin D1 and bcl-2 could prove to be
      interesting markers of PTC precursor lesions. Automated/digital image
      quantification approach helps in refining the diagnostic accuracy.

PMID- 26863117
TI  - DIFFERENTIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HUMAN SP-B GENETIC VARIANTS ON LUNG INJURY CAUSED
      BY BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA AND THE EFFECT OF A CHEMICALLY MODIFIED CURCUMIN.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of nosocomial pneumonia frequently
      resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Surfactant protein B (SP
      B) gene expresses two proteins involved in lowering surface tension and host
      defense. Genotyping studies demonstrate a significant association between human
      SP-B genetic variants and ARDS. Curcumins have been shown to attenuate host
      inflammation in many sepsis models. Our hypothesis is that functional differences
      of SP-B variants and treatment with curcumin (CMC2.24) modulate lung injury in
      bacterial pneumonia. Humanized transgenic mice, expressing either SP-B T or C
      allele without mouse SP-B gene, were used. Bioluminescent labeled S. aureus Xen
      36 (50 MUL) was injected intratracheally to cause pneumonia. Infected mice
      received daily CMC2.24 (40 mg/kg) or vehicle alone by oral gavage. Dynamic
      changes of bacteria were monitored using in vivo imaging system. Histological,
      cellular, and molecular indices of lung injury were studied in infected mice 48 h
      after infection. In vivo imaging analysis revealed total flux (bacterial number)
      was higher in the lung of infected SP-B-C mice compared with infected SP-B-T mice
      (P < 0.05). Infected SP-B-C mice demonstrated increased mortality, lung injury,
      apoptosis, and NF-kappaB expression compared with infected SP-B-T mice. Compared
      with controls, CMC2.24 treatment significantly reduced the following: mortality,
      total bacterial flux and lung tissue apoptosis, inflammatory cells, NF-kappaB
      expression (P < 0.05), and MMPs-2, -9, -12 activities (P < 0.05). We conclude
      that mice with SP-B-C allele are more susceptible to S. aureus pneumonia than
      mice with SP-B-T allele, and that CMC2.24 attenuates lung injury thus reducing
      mortality.

PMID- 26863119
TI  - ISCHEMIC CONDITIONING PROTECTS THE MICROCIRCULATION, PRESERVES ORGAN FUNCTION,
      AND PROLONGS SURVIVAL IN SEPSIS.
AB  - Ischemic conditioning induces a series of cellular modifications that may prevent
      injury from further hypoxic episodes, but there are few data in sepsis. In this
      randomized controlled study, we evaluated the effects of ischemic conditioning on
      the microcirculation, organ function, and survival time in an ovine model of
      septic shock.Sepsis was induced in 14 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated adult
      sheep by injecting autologous feces into the abdominal cavity. Animals were then
      randomized to ischemic pre- and post-conditioning or no conditioning (both n =
      7). Remote ischemic conditioning was performed by inflating the balloon of a
      catheter in the aortic bifurcation for 2 min, followed by a 4-min deflation
      period. The procedure was performed four times before sepsis induction and 4
      hourly afterward. Animals were followed until death or for a maximum of 30 h.
      Hemodynamic, oxygenation, and microcirculatory variables were monitored. The
      conditioned group had higher mixed venous oxygen saturation from 8 h after
      randomization, higher cardiac index, and oxygen delivery from 16 h, and higher
      mean arterial pressure and lower lactate levels from 20 h. They also had greater
      renal blood flow, urine output, and creatinine clearance. Microcirculatory
      variables were better preserved in the conditioned than in the control group from
      6 h after randomization: the median proportion of perfused vessels was 91 (89
      93)% versus 89 (86-90)% (P = 0.024) and there was less heterogeneity. Oliguria,
      hypotension, and death occurred later in the conditioned than in the control
      group. In this sepsis model, remote ischemic pre- and post-conditioning therefore
      decreased organ dysfunction, preserved the microcirculation, and prolonged
      survival.

PMID- 26863120
TI  - Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) Outperforms Serum
      Creatinine in Detecting Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury, Experiments on
      Bilateral Nephrectomy and Bilateral Ureter Obstruction Mouse Models.
AB  - Serum neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (sNGAL), a promising acute
      kidney injury (AKI) biomarker produced by renal and non-renal tissues, might be
      affected by sepsis. We evaluated sNGAL in zero glomerular filtration rate models
      [bilateral ureter obstruction (BUO) and bilateral nephrectomy (BiNx)] with
      subsequent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in 6 to 8-week-old
      ICR mice. We found that sNGAL increased earlier than serum creatinine (Scr) in
      BiNx/BUO with and without CLP. The earliest time-point of increased sNGAL in
      BiNx+CLP was 1  h after surgery. Scr, but not sNGAL, was lower at 18  h after
      BiNx/BUO+CLP compared with BiNx/BUO alone. Compared with BUO, BiNx had higher,
      and equal sNGAL at 1 to 18  h and 36  h, respectively. Additionally, similar NGAL
      expression in internal organs (heart, lung, liver, and spleen) and survival rates
      indicated the comparable severity of BiNx and BUO. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 was
      increased and correlated with sNGAL in BiNx/BUO with and without sepsis. In
      summary, we demonstrated: sNGAL is an early AKI biomarker, which is not affected
      by sepsis; sNGAL is mainly produced by extrarenal sources as demonstrated by the
      comparable sNGAL in BiNx and BUO; the saturation of renal NGAL re-absorption in
      BUO is demonstrated by lower sNGAL in BUO at 1 to 18  h, but not at 36  h when
      compared with BiNx; and a correlation of sNGAL and IL-6 implied sNGAL is a good
      sepsis prognostic biomarker. Therefore, sNGAL is a more beneficial sepsis-AKI
      biomarker than Scr.

PMID- 26863118
TI  - The Shift of an Intestinal "Microbiome" to a "Pathobiome" Governs the Course and
      Outcome of Sepsis Following Surgical Injury.
AB  - Sepsis following surgical injury remains a growing and worrisome problem
      following both emergent and elective surgery. Although early resuscitation
      efforts and prompt antibiotic therapy have improved outcomes in the first 24 to
      48  h, late onset sepsis is now the most common cause of death in modern
      intensive care units. This time shift may be, in part, a result of prolonged
      exposure of the host to the stressors of critical illness which, over time, erode
      the health promoting intestinal microbiota and allow for virulent pathogens to
      predominate. Colonizing pathogens can then subvert the immune system and
      contribute to the deterioration of the host response. Here, we posit that novel
      approaches integrating the molecular, ecological, and evolutionary dynamics of
      the evolving gut microbiome/pathobiome during critical illness are needed to
      understand and prevent the late onset sepsis that develops following prolonged
      critical illness.

PMID- 26863121
TI  - Early Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy is Associated with Increased Ventilator
      Associated Pneumonia in Spinal Cord Injury Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Early trauma-induced coagulopathy may increase susceptibility to
      nosocomial infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, the
      relationship between trauma- induced coagulopathy and the development of
      ventilator-associated pneumonia in spinal cord injury patients has not been
      evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 300 spinal cord
      injury patients admitted to Level 1 trauma center. Standard coagulation studies
      were evaluated upon arrival, prior to fluid resuscitative efforts, and at 24  h
      after admission. Based on these studies, three groups of patients were
      identified: no coagulopathy, latent coagulopathy, and admission coagulopathy.
      Ventilator- associated pneumonia was identified utilizing Centers for Disease
      Control and Prevention criteria. Since we used the data in the trauma registry
      and did not have the information on FiO2 and PEEP, we elected to use the VAP
      terminology and not the VAE sequence. Demographic, injury, and clinical
      characteristics were compared among no coagulopathy, latent coagulopathy, and
      admission coagulopathy groups using chi-square test and ANOVA for categorical and
      continuous variables, respectively. A logistic regression was used to estimate
      odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between
      coagulopathy and both ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality. RESULTS: The
      incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 54.5% (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.76
      9.15) in spinal cord injury patients with admission coagulopathy, compared with
      the 17.5% in spinal cord injury patients with no coagulopathy. Mortality was
      significantly higher in spinal cord injury patients with admission coagulopathy
      than in spinal cord injury patients with no coagulopathy (OR 6.14, 95% CI 1.73
      21.73).After adjusting for age, race, injury mechanism, Injury Severity Score,
      base deficit at admission, the number of pRBC units transfused in the first 24 
      h, and hospital stay, only the association of ventilator-associated pneumonia
      among those with admission coagulopathy remained significant (OR 3.51, 95% CI
      1.48-8.32). Compared with those with no coagulopathy, patients with admission
      coagulopathy had a higher odds of death (4.10, 95% CI 1.53-11.02), though this
      association lost significance after adjustment (OR 3.56, 95% CI 0.90-14.12).
      There was no statistical difference in mortality for latent coagulopathy compared
      with no coagulopathy patients. CONCLUSION: Coagulopathy on admission in patients
      with spinal cord injury is associated with a statistically significant increase
      in ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence. Additional research is warranted to
      further characterize this association.

PMID- 26863122
TI  - PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF PLASMA TIGHT-JUNCTION PROTEINS FOR SEPSIS IN EMERGENCY
      DEPARTMENT: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies have illustrated that the breakdown of tight junction (TJ)
      contributed to an increase in vascular permeability in response to stimulation of
      inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, the release of TJ-associated proteins into
      the circulation was observed in many diseases. The present study was designed to
      investigate whether plasma levels of TJ-associated proteins could serve as
      predictors of severity and clinical outcome of sepsis. METHODS: In total, 51
      septic patients were enrolled. The peripheral blood samples were collected for
      each patient on emergency department arrival. Plasma levels of occludin (OCLN),
      claudins (CLDN)-5, and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and serum levels of procalcitonin
      (PCT) and lactate were measured. In addition, APACHE II score as well as SOFA
      score was calculated. The prognostic values of OCLN, CLDN-5, and ZO-1 were
      compared with the first 24-h maximum APACHE II score and SOFA score. RESULTS: The
      median levels of OCLN and ZO-1 were elevated with sepsis severity. The levels of
      plasma OCLN and ZO-1 were positively correlated with APACHE II score, SOFA score
      as well as lactate levels of the patients. The levels of ZO-1 revealed valuable
      diagnostic capacity to diagnose MODS, and the areas under the receiver-operating
      characteristic (AUC) curves of ZO-1 were similar to those of lactate levels, but
      better than those of PCT levels. The prognostic value for in-hospital mortality
      of ZO-1 was comparable to that of lactate levels, APACHE II score, and SOFA
      score, and superior to OCLN or PCT. CONCULSIONS: OCLN and ZO1 levels appear to be
      early prognostic markers in patients suffering from sepsis.

PMID- 26863123
TI  - Peptidomic Analysis of Rat Plasma: Proteolysis in Hemorrhagic Shock.
AB  - It has been previously shown that intestinal proteases translocate into the
      circulation during hemorrhagic shock and contribute to proteolysis in distal
      organs. However, consequences of this phenomenon have not previously been
      investigated using high-throughput approaches. Here, a shotgun label-free
      quantitative proteomic approach was utilized to compare the peptidome of plasma
      samples from healthy and hemorrhagic shock rats to verify the possible role of
      uncontrolled proteolytic activity in shock. Plasma was collected from rats after
      hemorrhagic shock (HS) consisting of 2-h hypovolemia followed by 2-h reperfusion,
      and from healthy control (CTRL) rats. A new two-step enrichment method was
      applied to selectively extract peptides and low molecular weight proteins from
      plasma, and directly analyze these samples by tandem mass spectrometry. One
      hundred twenty-six circulating peptides were identified in CTRL and 295 in HS
      animals. Ninety-six peptides were present in both conditions; of these, 57
      increased and 30 decreased in shock. In total, 256 peptides were increased or
      present only in HS confirming a general increase in proteolytic activity in
      shock. Analysis of the proteases that potentially generated the identified
      peptides suggests that the larger relative contribution to the proteolytic
      activity in shock is due to chymotryptic-like proteases. These results provide
      quantitative confirmation that extensive, system-wide proteolysis is part of the
      complex pathologic phenomena occurring in hemorrhagic shock. 

PMID- 26863124
TI  - Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase is Involved in Vascular Hyporeactivity and
      Multiple Organ Dysfunction Associated with Hemorrhagic Shock.
AB  - Severe hemorrhage can lead to global ischemia and hemorrhagic shock (HS),
      resulting in multiple organ failure (MOF) and death. Restoration of blood flow
      and re-oxygenation is associated with an exacerbation of tissue injury and
      inflammatory response. The neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has been
      implicated in vascular collapse and systemic inflammation of septic shock;
      however, the role of nNOS in HS is poorly understood. The aim of this study was
      to evaluate the role of nNOS in the MOF associated with HS.Rats were subjected to
      HS under anesthesia. Mean arterial pressure was reduced to 30  mmHg for 90  min,
      followed by resuscitation with shed blood. Rats were randomly treated with two
      chemically distinct nNOS inhibitors [ARL 17477 (1 mg/kg) and 7-nitroindazol (5
      mg/kg)] or vehicle upon resuscitation. Four hours later, parameters of organ
      injury and dysfunction were assessed.HS was associated with MOF development.
      Inhibition of nNOS activity at resuscitation protected rats against the MOF and
      vascular dysfunction. In addition, treatment of HS rats with nNOS inhibitors
      attenuated neutrophil infiltration into target organs and decreased the
      activation of NF-kappaB, iNOS expression, NO production, and nitrosylation of
      proteins. Furthermore, nNOS inhibition also reduced the levels of pro
      inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 in HS rats.In conclusion, two distinct
      inhibitors of nNOS activity reduced the MOF, vascular dysfunction, and the
      systemic inflammation associated with HS. Thus, nNOS inhibitors may be useful as
      an adjunct therapy before fluids and blood administration in HS patients to avoid
      the MOF associated with reperfusion injury during resuscitation.

PMID- 26863125
TI  - THE EPITHELIUM AS A TARGET IN SEPSIS.
AB  - Organ dysfunction induced by sepsis has been consistently associated with worse
      outcome and death. Regardless of the organ compromised, epithelial dysfunction is
      present throughout the body, affecting those organs that contain epithelia like
      the skin, lungs, liver, gut, and kidneys. Despite their obvious differences,
      sepsis seems to alter common features of all epithelia, such as barrier function
      and vectorial ion transport. Such alterations in the lung, the gut, and the
      kidney have direct implications that may explain the profound organ functional
      impairments in the absence of overt cell death. Epithelial injury in this context
      is not only an explanatory real pathophysiologic event, but also represents a
      source of biomarkers that have been explored to identify organ compromise
      earlier, predict outcome, and even to test novel therapeutic interventions such
      as blood purification. However, this remains largely experimental, and despite
      promising results, work is still required to better understand the response of
      the epithelial cells to sepsis, to define their role in adaptation to insults, to
      comprehend the interorgan cross-talk that occurs in these circumstances, and to
      exploit these aspects in pursuit of targeted therapies like blood purification,
      which may improve outcome for these patients in the future. 

PMID- 26863126
TI  - Polytrauma Increases Susceptibility to Pseudomonas Pneumonia in Mature Mice.
AB  - Pneumonia is the most common complication observed in patients with severe
      injuries. Although the average age of injured patients is 47 years, existing
      studies of the effect of injury on the susceptibility to infectious complications
      have focused on young animals, equivalent to a late adolescent human. We
      hypothesized that mature adult animals are more susceptible to infection after
      injury than younger counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we challenged 6 to 8
      month-old mature mice to a polytrauma injury followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      pneumonia and compared them to young (8-10-week-old) animals. We demonstrate that
      polytrauma injury increases mortality from pneumonia in mature animals (sham
      pneumonia 21% vs. polytrauma-pneumonia 62%) but not younger counterparts. After
      polytrauma, pneumonia in mature mice is associated with higher bacterial burden
      in lung, increased incidence of bacteremia, and elevated levels of bacteria in
      the blood, demonstrating that injury decreases the ability to control the
      infectious challenge. We further find that polytrauma did not induce elevations
      in circulating cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IL-6, KC, and IL-10) 24  h after
      injury. However, mature mice subjected to polytrauma demonstrated an exaggerated
      circulating inflammatory cytokine response to subsequent Pseudomonas pneumonia.
      Additionally, whereas prior injury increases LPS-stimulated IL-6 production by
      peripheral blood leukocytes from young (8-10-week-old) mice, injury does not
      prime IL-6 production by cell from mature adult mice. We conclude that in mature
      mice polytrauma results in increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas pneumonia
      while priming an exaggerated but ineffective inflammatory response.

PMID- 26863127
TI  - Can Early Aggressive Administration of Fresh Frozen Plasma Improve Outcomes in
      Patients with Severe Blunt Trauma?--A Report by the Japanese Association for the
      Surgery of Trauma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of a high ratio of fresh frozen
      plasma (FFP) to red blood cells (RBCs) within the first 6 and 24  h after
      admission on mortality in patients with severe, blunt trauma. METHODS: This
      retrospective observational study included 189 blunt trauma patients with an
      Injury Severity Score (ISS) >=16 requiring RBC transfusions within the first 24 
      h. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to
      calculate cut-off values of the FFP/RBC ratio for outcome. The patients were then
      divided into two groups according to the cut-off value. Patient survival was
      compared between groups using propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: The area
      under the ROC curve was 0.57, and the FFP/RBC ratio was 1.0 at maximum
      sensitivity (0.57) and specificity (0.67). All patients were then divided into
      two groups (FFP/RBC ratio >=1 or <1) and analyzed using PSM and inverse
      probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) was
      0.44, and the adjusted HR was 0.29. The HR was 0.38 by PSM and 0.41 by IPTW. The
      survival rate was significantly higher in patients with an FFP/RBC ratio >=1
      within the first 6  h. CONCLUSIONS: Severe blunt trauma patients transfused with
      an FFP/RBC ratio >=1 within the first 6  h had an HR of about 0.4. The
      transfusion of an FFP/RBC ratio >=1 within the first 6  h was associated with the
      outcomes of blunt trauma patients with ISS >=16 who need a transfusion within 24 
      h.

PMID- 26863128
TI  - Physical Isolation of Endospores from Environmental Samples by Targeted Lysis of
      Vegetative Cells.
AB  - Endospore formation is a survival strategy found among some bacteria from the
      phylum Firmicutes. During endospore formation, these bacteria enter a morpho
      physiological resting state that enhances survival under adverse environmental
      conditions. Even though endospore-forming Firmicutes are one of the most
      frequently enriched and isolated bacterial groups in culturing studies, they are
      often absent from diversity studies based on molecular methods. The resistance of
      the spore core is considered one of the factors limiting the recovery of DNA from
      endospores. We developed a method that takes advantage of the higher resistance
      of endospores to separate them from other cells in a complex microbial community
      using physical, enzymatic and chemical lysis methods. The endospore-only
      preparation thus obtained can be used for re-culturing or to perform downstream
      analysis such as tailored DNA extraction optimized for endospores and subsequent
      DNA sequencing. This method, applied to sediment samples, has allowed the
      enrichment of endospores and after sequencing, has revealed a large diversity of
      endospore-formers in freshwater lake sediments. We expect that the application of
      this method to other samples will yield a similar outcome. 

PMID- 26863129
TI  - Isolation of Infiltrating Leukocytes from Mouse Skin Using Enzymatic Digest and
      Gradient Separation.
AB  - Dissociating murine skin into a single cell suspension is essential for
      downstream cellular analysis such as the characterization of infiltrating immune
      cells in rodent models of skin inflammation. Here, we describe a protocol for the
      digestion of mouse skin in a nutrient-rich solution with collagenase D, followed
      by separation of hematopoietic cells using a discontinuous density gradient.
      Cells thus obtained can be used for in vitro studies, in vivo transfer, and other
      downstream cellular and molecular analyses including flow cytometry. This
      protocol is an effective and economical alternative to expensive mechanical
      dissociators, specialized separation columns, and harsher trypsin- and dispase
      based digestion methods, which may compromise cellular viability or density of
      surface proteins relevant for phenotypic characterization or cellular function.
      As shown here in our representative data, this protocol produced highly viable
      cells, contained specific immune cell subsets, and had no effect on integrity of
      common surface marker proteins used in flow cytometric analysis. 

PMID- 26863130
TI  - Target Fortification of Breast Milk: Predicting the Final Osmolality of the
      Feeds.
AB  - For preterm infants, it is common practice to add human milk fortifiers to native
      breast milk to enhance protein and calorie supply because the growth rates and
      nutritional requirements of preterm infants are considerably higher than those of
      term infants. However, macronutrient intake may still be inadequate because the
      composition of native breast milk has individual inter- and intra-sample
      variation. Target fortification (TFO) of breast milk is a new nutritional regime
      aiming to reduce such variations by individually measuring and adding deficient
      macronutrients. Added TFO components contribute to the final osmolality of milk
      feeds. It is important to predict the final osmolality of TFO breast milk to
      ensure current osmolality recommendations are followed to minimize feeding
      intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis. This study aims to develop and
      validate equations to predict the osmolality of TFO milk batches. To establish
      prediction models, the osmolalities of either native or supplemented breast milk
      with known amounts of fat, protein, and carbohydrates were analyzed. To validate
      prediction models, the osmolalities of each macronutrient and combinations of
      macronutrients were measured in an independent sample set. Additionally,
      osmolality was measured in TFO milk samples obtained from a previous clinical
      study and compared with predicted osmolality using the prediction equations.
      Following the addition of 1 g of carbohydrates (glucose polymer), 1 g of
      hydrolyzed protein, or 1 g of whey protein per 100 mL breast milk, the average
      increase in osmolality was 20, 38, and 4 mOsm/kg respectively. Adding fat
      decreased osmolality only marginally due to dilution effect. Measured and
      predicted osmolality of combinations of macronutrients as well as single
      macronutrient (R2 = 0.93) were highly correlated. Using clinical data (n = 696),
      the average difference between the measured and predicted osmolality was 3 +/- 11
      mOsm/kg and was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the prediction
      model can be utilized to estimate osmolality values after fortification. 

PMID- 26863131
TI  - Response to the Letter by Kosker et al. Entitled 'Choroidal Changes in Patients
      with Familial Mediterranean Fever'.

PMID- 26863132
TI  - Baculovirus IE2 Stimulates the Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in Insect and
      Mammalian Cells to Facilitate Its Proper Functioning.
AB  - Baculoviruses have gained popularity as pest control agents and for protein
      production in insect systems. These viruses are also becoming popular for gene
      expression, tissue engineering and gene therapy in mammalian systems. Baculovirus
      infection triggers a heat shock response, and this response is crucial for its
      successful infection of host insect cells. However, the viral protein(s) or
      factor(s) that trigger this response are not yet clear. Previously, we revealed
      that IE2-an early gene product of the baculovirus-could form unique nuclear
      bodies for the strong trans-activation of various promoters in mammalian cells.
      Here, we purified IE2 nuclear bodies from Vero E6 cells and investigated the
      associated proteins by using mass spectrometry. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were
      found to be one of the major IE2-associated proteins. Our experiments show that
      HSPs are greatly induced by IE2 and are crucial for the trans-activation function
      of IE2. Interestingly, blocking both heat shock protein expression and the
      proteasome pathway preserved the IE2 protein and its nuclear body structure, and
      revived its function. These observations reveal that HSPs do not function
      directly to assist the formation of the nuclear body structure, but may rather
      protect IE2 from proteasome degradation. Aside from functional studies in
      mammalian cells, we also show that HSPs were stimulated and required to determine
      IE2 protein levels, in insect cells infected with baculovirus. Upon inhibiting
      the expression of heat shock proteins, baculovirus IE2 was substantially
      suppressed, resulting in a significantly suppressed viral titer. Thus, we
      demonstrate a unique feature in that IE2 can function in both insect and non-host
      mammalian cells to stimulate HSPs, which may be associated with IE2 stabilization
      and lead to the protection of the its strong gene activation function in
      mammalian cells. On the other hand, during viral infection in insect cells, IE2
      could also strongly stimulate HSPs and ultimately affect viral replication. 

PMID- 26863133
TI  - Serial Change in Cervical Length for the Prediction of Emergency Cesarean Section
      in Placenta Previa.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate whether serial change in cervical length (CL) over time can
      be a predictor for emergency cesarean section (CS) in patients with placenta
      previa. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with placenta
      previa between January 2010 and November 2014. All women were offered serial
      measurement of CL by transvaginal ultrasound at 19 to 23 weeks (CL1), 24 to 28
      weeks (CL2), 29 to 31 weeks (CL3), and 32 to 34 weeks (CL4). We compared clinical
      characteristics, serial change in CL, and outcomes between the emergency CS group
      (case group) and elective CS group (control group). The predictive value of
      change in CL for emergency CS was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 93 women were
      evaluated; 31 had emergency CS due to massive vaginal bleeding. CL tended to
      decrease with advancing gestational age in each group. Until 29-31 weeks, CL
      showed no significant differences between the two groups, but after that, CL in
      the emergency CS group decreased abruptly, even though CL in the elective CS
      group continued to gradually decrease. On multivariate analysis to determine risk
      factors, only admissions for bleeding (odds ratio, 34.710; 95% CI, 5.239-229.973)
      and change in CL (odds ratio, 3.522; 95% CI, 1.210-10.253) were significantly
      associated with emergency CS. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic
      curve showed that change in CL could be the predictor of emergency CS (area under
      the curve 0.734, p < 0.001), with optimal cutoff for predicting emergency
      cesarean delivery of 6.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Previous admission for vaginal bleeding
      and change in CL are independent predictors of emergency CS in placenta previa.
      Women with change in CL more than 6 mm between the second and third trimester are
      at high risk of emergency CS in placenta previa. Single measurements of short CL
      at the second or third trimester do not seem to predict emergency CS.

PMID- 26863134
TI  - Assessing the efficacy of co-inoculation of wheat seedlings with the associative
      bacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa 1465 and Azospirillum brasilense Sp245.
AB  - Co-inoculation of associative bacteria, which have high nitrogen-fixing activity,
      tolerance for environmental conditions, and the ability to compete with the
      natural microflora, is used widely to enhance the growth and yields of
      agricultural plants. We evaluated the ability of 2 co-inoculated plant-growth
      promoting rhizobacteria, Paenibacillus polymyxa 1465 and Azospirillum brasilense
      Sp245, to colonize roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Saratovskaya 29')
      seedlings, and we assessed the morphometric parameters of wheat early in its
      development. Analysis by ELISA with polyclonal antibodies raised against the
      exopolysaccharide of P. polymyxa 1465 and the lipopolysaccharide of A. brasilense
      Sp245 demonstrated that the root-colonizing activity of A. brasilense was higher
      when the bacterium was co-inoculated with P. polymyxa than when it was inoculated
      singly. Immunofluorescence microscopy with Alexa Fluor 532-labeled antibodies
      revealed sites of attachment of co-inoculated P. polymyxa and A. brasilense and
      showed that the 2 bacteria colonized similar regions of the roots. Co-inoculation
      exerted a negative effect on wheat seedling development, inhibiting root length
      by 17.6%, total root weight by 11%, and total shoot weight by 12%. Under certain
      conditions, dual inoculation of wheat may prove ineffective, apparently owing to
      the competition between the rhizobacteria for colonization sites on the plant
      roots. The findings from this study may aid in developing techniques for mixed
      bacterial inoculation of cultivated plants. 

PMID- 26863135
TI  - HIV Infection and the Epidemiology of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) in
      South African Adults and Older Children Prior to the Introduction of a
      Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the commonest cause of bacteremic
      pneumonia among HIV-infected persons. As more countries with high HIV prevalence
      are implementing infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) programs, we aimed
      to describe the baseline clinical characteristics of adult invasive pneumococcal
      disease (IPD) in the pre-PCV era in South Africa in order to interpret potential
      indirect effects following vaccine use. METHODS: National, active, laboratory
      based surveillance for IPD was conducted in South Africa from 1 January 2003
      through 31 December 2008. At 25 enhanced surveillance (ES) hospital sites,
      clinical data, including HIV serostatus, were collected from IPD patients >= 5
      years of age. We compared the clinical characteristics of individuals with IPD in
      those HIV-infected and -uninfected using multivariable analysis. PCV was
      introduced into the routine South African Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)
      in 2009. RESULTS: In South Africa, from 2003-2008, 17 604 cases of IPD occurred
      amongst persons >= 5 years of age, with an average incidence of 7 cases per 100
      000 person-years. Against a national HIV-prevalence of 18%, 89% (4190/4734) of
      IPD patients from ES sites were HIV-infected. IPD incidence in HIV-infected
      individuals is 43 times higher than in HIV-uninfected persons (52 per 100 000 vs.
      1.2 per 100 000), with a peak in the HIV-infected elderly population of 237 per
      100 000 persons. Most HIV-infected individuals presented with bacteremia (74%, 3
      091/4 190). HIV-uninfected individuals were older; and had more chronic
      conditions (excluding HIV) than HIV-infected persons (39% (210/544) vs. 19%
      (790/4190), p<0.001). During the pre-PCV immunization era in South Africa, 71% of
      serotypes amongst HIV-infected persons were covered by PCV13 vs. 73% amongst HIV
      uninfected persons, p = 0.4, OR 0.9 (CI 0.7-1.1). CONCLUSION: Seventy to eighty
      five percent of adult IPD in the pre-PCV era were vaccine serotypes and 93% of
      cases had recognized risk factors (including HIV-infection) for pneumococcal
      vaccination. These data describe the epidemiology of IPD amongst HIV-infected and
      -uninfected adults during the pre-PCV era and provide a robust baseline to
      calculate the indirect effect of PCV in future studies.

PMID- 26863137
TI  - Prestroke Antiplatelet Agents in First-Time Ischemic Stroke Are Related to
      Subtypes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is not well known whether prestroke antiplatelet agents (PAs) are
      associated with the subtypes of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We screened patients in
      a hospital-based stroke registry. Patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of
      first-time ischemic stroke within 5 days of symptom onset were included. Ischemic
      stroke subtypes were classified in accordance with the Trial of ORG 10172 in
      Acute Stroke Treatment classification based on stroke mechanism: large-artery
      atherosclerosis (LA), cardioembolism (CE), small vessel occlusion (SVO), other
      determined (OC) or undetermined causes (UC). Multinomial logistic regression
      analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of PA on stroke subtypes before
      and after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Among 3,025 patients, 748 (24.7%)
      were taking antiplatelet agents prior to stroke. After propensity score matching,
      1,190 patients were ultimately included. The PA group was associated with strokes
      caused by SVO rather than LA in multinomial logistic regression of an unmatched
      dataset. However, multivariable analysis after propensity score matching
      demonstrated that PA use was associated with a higher probability of SVO and CE
      (OR 2.05, p < 0.001 and OR 1.62, p = 0.05, respectively) compared with LA.
      CONCLUSIONS: PAs were associated with specific index stroke subtypes.

PMID- 26863136
TI  - In Silico Analysis of the Structural and Biochemical Features of the NMD Factor
      UPF1 in Ustilago maydis.
AB  - The molecular mechanisms regulating the accuracy of gene expression are still not
      fully understood. Among these mechanisms, Nonsense-mediated Decay (NMD) is a
      quality control process that detects post-transcriptionally abnormal transcripts
      and leads them to degradation. The UPF1 protein lays at the heart of NMD as shown
      by several structural and functional features reported for this factor mainly for
      Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This process is highly conserved in
      eukaryotes but functional diversity can be observed in various species. Ustilago
      maydis is a basidiomycete and the best-known smut, which has become a model to
      study molecular and cellular eukaryotic mechanisms. In this study, we performed
      in silico analysis to investigate the structural and biochemical properties of
      the putative UPF1 homolog in Ustilago maydis. The putative homolog for UPF1 was
      recognized in the annotated genome for the basidiomycete, exhibiting 66% identity
      with its human counterpart at the protein level. The known structural and
      functional domains characteristic of UPF1 homologs were also found. Based on the
      crystal structures available for UPF1, we constructed different three-dimensional
      models for umUPF1 in order to analyze the secondary and tertiary structural
      features of this factor. Using these models, we studied the spatial arrangement
      of umUPF1 and its capability to interact with UPF2. Moreover, we identified the
      critical amino acids that mediate the interaction of umUPF1 with UPF2, ATP, RNA
      and with UPF1 itself. Mutating these amino acids in silico showed an important
      effect over the native structure. Finally, we performed molecular dynamic
      simulations for UPF1 proteins from H. sapiens and U. maydis and the results
      obtained show a similar behavior and physicochemical properties for the protein
      in both organisms. Overall, our results indicate that the putative UPF1
      identified in U. maydis shows a very similar sequence, structural organization,
      mechanical stability, physicochemical properties and spatial organization in
      comparison to the NMD factor depicted for Homo sapiens. These observations
      strongly support the notion that human and fungal UPF1 could perform equivalent
      biological activities. 

PMID- 26863138
TI  - Protein Expression Profiling of Giant Cell Tumors of Bone Treated with Denosumab.
AB  - Giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) are locally aggressive osteolytic bone tumors.
      Recently, some clinical trials have shown that denosumab is a novel and effective
      therapeutic option for aggressive and recurrent GCTB. This study was performed to
      investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of
      denosumab. Comparative proteomic analyses were performed using GCTB samples which
      were taken before and after denosumab treatment. Each expression profile was
      analyzed using the software program to further understand the affected biological
      network. One of identified proteins was further evaluated by gelatin zymography
      and an immunohistochemical analysis. We identified 13 consistently upregulated
      proteins and 19 consistently downregulated proteins in the pre- and post
      denosumab samples. Using these profiles, the software program identified
      molecular interactions between the differentially expressed proteins that were
      indirectly involved in the RANK/RANKL pathway and in several non-canonical
      subpathways including the Matrix metalloproteinase pathway. The data analysis
      also suggested that the identified proteins play a critical functional role in
      the osteolytic process of GCTB. Among the most downregulated proteins, the
      activity of MMP-9 was significantly decreased in the denosumab-treated samples,
      although the residual stromal cells were found to express MMP-9 by an
      immunohistochemical analysis. The expression level of MMP-9 in the primary GCTB
      samples was not correlated with any clinicopathological factors, including
      patient outcomes. Although the replacement of tumors by fibro-osseous tissue or
      the diminishment of osteoclast-like giant cells have been shown as therapeutic
      effects of denosumab, the residual tumor after denosumab treatment, which is
      composed of only stromal cells, might be capable of causing bone destruction;
      thus the therapeutic application of denosumab would be still necessary for these
      lesions. We believe that the protein expression patterns and the results of the
      network analysis will provide a better understanding of the effects of denosumab
      administration in patients with GCTB. 

PMID- 26863139
TI  - Sample Size Reassessment and Hypothesis Testing in Adaptive Survival Trials.
AB  - Mid-study design modifications are becoming increasingly accepted in confirmatory
      clinical trials, so long as appropriate methods are applied such that error rates
      are controlled. It is therefore unfortunate that the important case of time-to
      event endpoints is not easily handled by the standard theory. We analyze current
      methods that allow design modifications to be based on the full interim data,
      i.e., not only the observed event times but also secondary endpoint and safety
      data from patients who are yet to have an event. We show that the final test
      statistic may ignore a substantial subset of the observed event times. An
      alternative test incorporating all event times is found, where a conservative
      assumption must be made in order to guarantee type I error control. We examine
      the power of this approach using the example of a clinical trial comparing two
      cancer therapies. 

PMID- 26863140
TI  - Electrocardiogram ST-Segment Morphology Delineation Method Using Orthogonal
      Transformations.
AB  - Differentiation between ischaemic and non-ischaemic transient ST segment events
      of long term ambulatory electrocardiograms is a persisting weakness in present
      ischaemia detection systems. Traditional ST segment level measuring is not a
      sufficiently precise technique due to the single point of measurement and severe
      noise which is often present. We developed a robust noise resistant orthogonal
      transformation based delineation method, which allows tracing the shape of
      transient ST segment morphology changes from the entire ST segment in terms of
      diagnostic and morphologic feature-vector time series, and also allows further
      analysis. For these purposes, we developed a new Legendre Polynomials based
      Transformation (LPT) of ST segment. Its basis functions have similar shapes to
      typical transient changes of ST segment morphology categories during myocardial
      ischaemia (level, slope and scooping), thus providing direct insight into the
      types of time domain morphology changes through the LPT feature-vector space. We
      also generated new Karhunen and Lo eve Transformation (KLT) ST segment basis
      functions using a robust covariance matrix constructed from the ST segment
      pattern vectors derived from the Long Term ST Database (LTST DB). As for the
      delineation of significant transient ischaemic and non-ischaemic ST segment
      episodes, we present a study on the representation of transient ST segment
      morphology categories, and an evaluation study on the classification power of the
      KLT- and LPT-based feature vectors to classify between ischaemic and non
      ischaemic ST segment episodes of the LTST DB. Classification accuracy using the
      KLT and LPT feature vectors was 90% and 82%, respectively, when using the k
      Nearest Neighbors (k = 3) classifier and 10-fold cross-validation. New sets of
      feature-vector time series for both transformations were derived for the records
      of the LTST DB which is freely available on the PhysioNet website and were
      contributed to the LTST DB. The KLT and LPT present new possibilities for human
      expert diagnostics, and for automated ischaemia detection. 

PMID- 26863141
TI  - Inhibitory Control, but Not Prolonged Object-Related Experience Appears to Affect
      Physical Problem-Solving Performance of Pet Dogs.
AB  - Human infants develop an understanding of their physical environment through
      playful interactions with objects. Similar processes may influence also the
      performance of non-human animals in physical problem-solving tasks, but to date
      there is little empirical data to evaluate this hypothesis. In addition or
      alternatively to prior experiences, inhibitory control has been suggested as a
      factor underlying the considerable individual differences in performance reported
      for many species. Here we report a study in which we manipulated the extent of
      object-related experience for a cohort of dogs (Canis familiaris) of the breed
      Border Collie over a period of 18 months, and assessed their level of inhibitory
      control, prior to testing them in a series of four physical problem-solving
      tasks. We found no evidence that differences in object-related experience explain
      variability in performance in these tasks. It thus appears that dogs do not
      transfer knowledge about physical rules from one physical problem-solving task to
      another, but rather approach each task as a novel problem. Our results, however,
      suggest that individual performance in these tasks is influenced in a complex way
      by the subject's level of inhibitory control. Depending on the task, inhibitory
      control had a positive or a negative effect on performance and different aspects
      of inhibitory control turned out to be the best predictors of individual
      performance in the different tasks. Therefore, studying the interplay between
      inhibitory control and problem-solving performance will make an important
      contribution to our understanding of individual and species differences in
      physical problem-solving performance. 

PMID- 26863142
TI  - Strong Selection at MHC in Mexicans since Admixture.
AB  - Mexicans are a recent admixture of Amerindians, Europeans, and Africans. We
      performed local ancestry analysis of Mexican samples from two genome-wide
      association studies obtained from dbGaP, and discovered that at the MHC region
      Mexicans have excessive African ancestral alleles compared to the rest of the
      genome, which is the hallmark of recent selection for admixed samples. The
      estimated selection coefficients are 0.05 and 0.07 for two datasets, which put
      our finding among the strongest known selections observed in humans, namely,
      lactase selection in northern Europeans and sickle-cell trait in Africans. Using
      inaccurate Amerindian training samples was a major concern for the credibility of
      previously reported selection signals in Latinos. Taking advantage of the
      flexibility of our statistical model, we devised a model fitting technique that
      can learn Amerindian ancestral haplotype from the admixed samples, which allows
      us to infer local ancestries for Mexicans using only European and African
      training samples. The strong selection signal at the MHC remains without
      Amerindian training samples. Finally, we note that medical history studies
      suggest such a strong selection at MHC is plausible in Mexicans. 

PMID- 26863143
TI  - The Creative Stereotype Effect.
AB  - Because of its fundamental relevance to scientific innovation, artistic
      expression, and human ingenuity, creativity has long been the subject of
      systematic psychological investigation. Concomitantly, the far-reaching effects
      of stereotypes on various cognitive and social processes have been widely
      researched. Bridging these two literatures, we show in a series of two studies
      that stereotypes related to creativity can both enhance and diminish individuals'
      performance on a divergent thinking task. Specifically, Study 1 demonstrated that
      participants asked to take on a stereotypically uninhibited perspective performed
      significantly better on a divergent thinking task than those participants who
      took on a stereotypically inhibited perspective, and a control group. Relatedly,
      Study 2 showed that the same effect is found within-subjects, with divergent
      thinking significantly improving when participants invoke an uninhibited
      stereotype. Moreover, we demonstrate the efficacy of Latent Semantic Analysis as
      an objective measure of the originality of ideas, and discuss implications of our
      findings for the nature of creativity. Namely, that creativity may not be best
      described as a stable individual trait, but as a malleable product of context and
      perspective. 

PMID- 26863144
TI  - Fluctuating Minds: Spontaneous Psychophysical Variability during Mind-Wandering.
AB  - Mind-wandering is the occasional distraction we experience while performing a
      cognitive task. It arises without any external precedent, varies over time, and
      interferes with the processing of sensory information. Here, we asked whether the
      transition from the on-task state to mind-wandering is a gradual process or an
      abrupt event. We developed a new experimental approach, based on the continuous,
      online assessment of individual psychophysical performance. Probe questions were
      asked whenever response times (RTs) exceeded 2 standard deviations from the
      participant's average RT. Results showed that mind-wandering reports were
      generally preceded by slower RTs, as compared to trials preceding on-task
      reports. Mind-wandering episodes could be reliably predicted from the response
      time difference between the last and the second-to-last trials. Thus, mind
      wandering reports follow an abrupt increase in behavioral variability, lasting
      between 2.5 and 10 seconds. 

PMID- 26863145
TI  - Cost-Analysis of Seven Nosocomial Outbreaks in an Academic Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Nosocomial outbreaks, especially with (multi-)resistant
      microorganisms, are a major problem for health care institutions. They can cause
      morbidity and mortality for patients and controlling these costs substantial
      amounts of funds and resources. However, how much is unclear. This study sets out
      to provide a comparable overview of the costs of multiple outbreaks in a single
      academic hospital in the Netherlands. METHODS: Based on interviews with the
      involved staff, multiple databases and stored records from the Infection
      Prevention Division all actions undertaken, extra staff employment, use of
      resources, bed-occupancy rates, and other miscellaneous cost drivers during
      different outbreaks were scored and quantified into Euros. This led to total
      costs per outbreak and an estimated average cost per positive patient per
      outbreak day. RESULTS: Seven outbreaks that occurred between 2012 and 2014 in the
      hospital were evaluated. Total costs for the hospital ranged between ?10,778 and
      ?356,754. Costs per positive patient per outbreak day, ranged between ?10 and
      ?1,369 (95% CI: ?49-?1,042), with a mean of ?546 and a median of ?519. Majority
      of the costs (50%) were made because of closed beds. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis
      is the first to give a comparable overview of various outbreaks, caused by
      different microorganisms, in the same hospital and all analyzed with the same
      method. It shows a large variation within the average costs due to different
      factors (e.g. closure of wards, type of ward). All outbreaks however cost
      considerable amounts of efforts and money (up to ?356,754), including missed
      revenue and control measures.

PMID- 26863146
TI  - Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy for postural hyperkyphosis: A
      randomized clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a manual therapy and an exercise therapy
      program in improving postural hyperkyphosis among young adults. METHODS: Forty
      six women between the ages of 18 to 30 years with thoracic kyphosis diagnosed by
      flexicurve ruler were randomly assigned to either an exercise therapy or a manual
      therapy group. The exercise therapy program focused on stretching and
      strengthening exercises in 15 sessions over 5 weeks. The manual therapy group
      received 15 sessions of manual techniques including massage, mobilization, muscle
      energy and myofascial release. Kyphosis angle and back extensor muscle strength
      were measured with a motion analysis system and a dynamometer at the baseline and
      after treatment. The data were analyzed with paired and independent t-tests.
      RESULTS: After treatment, the angle of thoracic kyphosis was smaller and back
      extensor muscle strength was significantly greater in both the exercise and
      manual therapy groups (p < 0.001). We found no significant differences between
      groups in the changes in kyphosis angle or muscle strength after treatment (p >
      0.05). CONCLUSION: Manual therapy was as effective as exercise therapy in
      reducing kyphosis angle and increasing back extensor muscle strength in young
      women with postural hyperkyphosis.

PMID- 26863147
TI  - High-Field MRI Reveals a Drastic Increase of Hypoxia-Induced Microhemorrhages
      upon Tissue Reoxygenation in the Mouse Brain with Strong Predominance in the
      Olfactory Bulb.
AB  - Human pathophysiology of high altitude hypoxic brain injury is not well
      understood and research on the underlying mechanisms is hampered by the lack of
      well-characterized animal models. In this study, we explored the evolution of
      brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological methods in mice
      exposed to normobaric hypoxia at 8% oxygen for 48 hours followed by rapid
      reoxygenation and incubation for further 24 h under normoxic conditions. T2*-,
      diffusion-weighted and T2-relaxometry MRI was performed before exposure,
      immediately after 48 hours of hypoxia and 24 hours after reoxygenation. Cerebral
      microhemorrhages, previously described in humans suffering from severe high
      altitude cerebral edema, were also detected in mice upon hypoxia-reoxygenation
      with a strong region-specific clustering in the olfactory bulb, and to a lesser
      extent, in the basal ganglia and cerebral white matter. The number of
      microhemorrhages determined immediately after hypoxia was low, but strongly
      increased 24 hours upon onset of reoxygenation. Histologically verified
      microhemorrhages were exclusively located around cerebral microvessels with
      disrupted interendothelial tight junction protein ZO-1. In contrast, quantitative
      T2 and apparent-diffusion-coefficient values immediately after hypoxia and after
      24 hours of reoxygenation did not show any region-specific alteration, consistent
      with subtle multifocal but not with regional or global brain edema. 

PMID- 26863148
TI  - Optical Control of Living Cells Electrical Activity by Conjugated Polymers.
AB  - Hybrid interfaces between organic semiconductors and living tissues represent a
      new tool for in-vitro and in-vivo applications. In particular, conjugated
      polymers display several optimal properties as substrates for biological systems,
      such as good biocompatibility, excellent mechanical properties, cheap and easy
      processing technology, and possibility of deposition on light, thin and flexible
      substrates. These materials have been employed for cellular interfaces like
      neural probes, transistors for excitation and recording of neural activity,
      biosensors and actuators for drug release. Recent experiments have also
      demonstrated the possibility to use conjugated polymers for all-optical
      modulation of the electrical activity of cells. Several in-vitro study cases have
      been reported, including primary neuronal networks, astrocytes and secondary line
      cells. Moreover, signal photo-transduction mediated by organic polymers has been
      shown to restore light sensitivity in degenerated retinas, suggesting that these
      devices may be used for artificial retinal prosthesis in the future. All in all,
      light sensitive conjugated polymers represent a new approach for optical
      modulation of cellular activity. In this work, all the steps required to
      fabricate a bio-polymer interface for optical excitation of living cells are
      described. The function of the active interface is to transduce the light
      stimulus into a modulation of the cell membrane potential. As a study case,
      useful for in-vitro studies, a polythiophene thin film is used as the functional,
      light absorbing layer, and Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK-293) cells are employed as
      the biological component of the interface. Practical examples of successful
      control of the cell membrane potential upon stimulation with light pulses of
      different duration are provided. In particular, it is shown that both
      depolarizing and hyperpolarizing effects on the cell membrane can be achieved
      depending on the duration of the light stimulus. The reported protocol is of
      general validity and can be straightforwardly extended to other biological
      preparations. 

PMID- 26863149
TI  - Review of Eravacycline, a Novel Fluorocycline Antibacterial Agent.
AB  - Eravacycline is an investigational, synthetic fluorocycline antibacterial agent
      that is structurally similar to tigecycline with two modifications to the D-ring
      of its tetracycline core: a fluorine atom replaces the dimethylamine moiety at C
      7 and a pyrrolidinoacetamido group replaces the 2-tertiary-butyl glycylamido at C
      9. Like other tetracyclines, eravacycline inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
      through binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. Eravacycline demonstrates broad
      spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and
      anaerobic bacteria with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eravacycline is
      two- to fourfold more potent than tigecycline versus Gram-positive cocci and two-
      to eightfold more potent than tigecycline versus Gram-negative bacilli.
      Intravenous eravacycline demonstrates linear pharmacokinetics that have been
      described by a four-compartment model. Oral bioavailability of eravacycline is
      estimated at 28 % (range 26-32 %) and a single oral dose of 200 mg achieves a
      maximum plasma concentration (C max) and area under the plasma concentration-time
      curve from 0 to infinity (AUC0-infinity) of 0.23 +/- 0.04 mg/L and 3.34 +/- 1.11
      mg.h/L, respectively. A population pharmacokinetic study of intravenous (IV)
      eravacycline demonstrated a mean steady-state volume of distribution (V ss) of
      320 L or 4.2 L/kg, a mean terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2) of 48 h, and a
      mean total clearance (CL) of 13.5 L/h. In a neutropenic murine thigh infection
      model, the pharmacodynamic parameter that demonstrated the best correlation with
      antibacterial response was the ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time
      curve over 24 h to the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC0-24h/MIC). Several
      animal model studies including mouse systemic infection, thigh infection, lung
      infection, and pyelonephritis models have been published and demonstrated the in
      vivo efficacy of eravacycline. A phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy
      and safety of eravacycline in the treatment of community-acquired complicated
      intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) has been published as well, and phase III
      clinical trials in cIAI and complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) have been
      completed. The eravacycline phase III program, known as IGNITE (Investigating
      Gram-Negative Infections Treated with Eravacycline), investigated its safety and
      efficacy in cIAI (IGNITE 1) and cUTI (IGNITE 2). Eravacycline met the primary
      endpoint in IGNITE 1, while data analysis for IGNITE 2 is currently ongoing.
      Common adverse events reported in phase I-III studies included gastrointestinal
      effects such as nausea and vomiting. Eravacycline is a promising intravenous and
      oral fluorocycline that may offer an alternative treatment option for patients
      with serious infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant Gram
      negative pathogens.

PMID- 26863150
TI  - Au-Interaction of Slp1 Polymers and Monolayer from Lysinibacillus sphaericus JG
      B53 - QCM-D, ICP-MS and AFM as Tools for Biomolecule-metal Studies.
AB  - In this publication the gold sorption behavior of surface layer (S-layer)
      proteins (Slp1) of Lysinibacillus sphaericus JG-B53 is described. These
      biomolecules arrange in paracrystalline two-dimensional arrays on surfaces, bind
      metals, and are thus interesting for several biotechnical applications, such as
      biosorptive materials for the removal or recovery of different elements from the
      environment and industrial processes. The deposition of Au(0) nanoparticles on S
      layers, either by S-layer directed synthesis or adsorption of nanoparticles,
      opens new possibilities for diverse sensory applications. Although numerous
      studies have described the biosorptive properties of S-layers, a deeper
      understanding of protein-protein and protein-metal interaction still remains
      challenging. In the following study, inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP
      MS) was used for the detection of metal sorption by suspended S-layers. This was
      correlated to measurements of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation
      monitoring (QCM-D), which allows the online detection of proteinaceous monolayer
      formation and metal deposition, and thus, a more detailed understanding on metal
      binding. The ICP-MS results indicated that the binding of Au(III) to the
      suspended S-layer polymers is pH dependent. The maximum binding of Au(III) was
      obtained at pH 4.0. The QCM-D investigations enabled the detection of Au(III)
      sorption as well as the deposition of Au(0)-NPs in real-time during the in situ
      experiments. Further, this method allowed studying the influence of metal binding
      on the protein lattice stability of Slp1. Structural properties and protein layer
      stability could be visualized directly after QCM-D experiment using atomic force
      microscopy (AFM). In conclusion, the combination of these different methods
      provides a deeper understanding of metal binding by bacterial S-layer proteins in
      suspension or as monolayers on either bacterial cells or recrystallized surfaces.

PMID- 26863151
TI  - The work-based predictors of job engagement and job satisfaction experienced by
      community health professionals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Job engagement represents a critical resource for community-based
      health care agencies to achieve high levels of effectiveness. However, studies
      examining the organizational sources of job engagement among health care
      professionals have generally overlooked those workers based in community
      settings. PURPOSE: This study drew on the demand-control model, in addition to
      stressors that are more specific to community health services (e.g., unrewarding
      management practices), to identify conditions that are closely associated with
      the engagement experienced by a community health workforce. Job satisfaction was
      also included as a way of assessing how the predictors of job engagement differ
      from those associated with other job attitudes. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Health and
      allied health care professionals (n = 516) from two Australian community health
      services took part in the current investigation. Responses from the two
      organizations were pooled and analyzed using linear multiple regression.
      FINDINGS: The analyses revealed that three working conditions were predictive of
      both job engagement and job satisfaction (i.e., job control, quantitative
      demands, and unrewarding management practices). There was some evidence of
      differential effects with cognitive demands being associated with job engagement,
      but not job satisfaction. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results provide important
      insights into the working conditions that, if addressed, could play key roles in
      building a more engaged and satisfied community health workforce. Furthermore,
      working conditions like job control and management practices are amenable to
      change and thus represent important areas where community health services could
      enhance the energetic and motivational resources of their employees.

PMID- 26863153
TI  - Pediatric neurocritical care in the 21st century: from empiricism to evidence.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Approximately one in five children admitted to a pediatric ICU
      have a new central nervous system injury or a neurological complication of their
      critical illness. The spectrum of neurologic insults in children is diverse and
      clinical practice is largely empirical, as few randomized, controlled trials have
      been reported. This lack of data poses a substantial challenge to the practice of
      pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC). PNCC has emerged as a novel subspecialty,
      and its presence is expanding within tertiary care centers. This review
      highlights the recent advances in the field, with a focus on traumatic brain
      injury (TBI), cardiac arrest, and stroke as disease models. RECENT FINDINGS:
      Variable approaches to the structure of a PNCC service have been reported,
      comprising multidisciplinary teams from neurology, critical care, neurosurgery,
      neuroradiology, and anesthesia. Neurologic morbidity is substantial in critically
      ill children and the increased use of continuous electroencephalography
      monitoring has highlighted this burden. Therapeutic hypothermia has not proven
      effective for treatment of children with severe TBI or out-of-hospital cardiac
      arrest. However, results of studies of severe TBI suggest that multidisciplinary
      care in the ICU and adherence to guidelines for care can reduce mortality and
      improve outcome. SUMMARY: There is an unmet need for clinicians with expertise in
      the practice of brain-directed critical care for children. Although much of the
      practice of PNCC may remain empiric, a focus on the regionalization of care,
      creating defined training paths, practice within multidisciplinary teams,
      protocol-directed care, and improved measures of long-term outcome to quantify
      the impact of such care can provide evidence to direct the maturation of this
      field.

PMID- 26863152
TI  - Development and Delivery of a Physical Activity Intervention for People With
      Huntington Disease: Facilitating Translation to Clinical Practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We studied the development and delivery of a 14-week
      complex physical activity intervention for people with Huntington disease, where
      detailed information about the intervention was fully embedded in the trial
      design process. METHODS: Intervention Development: The intervention was developed
      through a series of focus groups. The findings from the focus groups informed the
      development of a logic model for the physical activity intervention that was
      broadly consistent with the framework of self-determination theory. Intervention
      Delivery: Key components underpinning the delivery of the intervention were
      implemented including a defined coach training program and intervention fidelity
      assessment methods. Training of coaches (physical therapists, occupational
      therapists, research nurses, and exercise trainers) was delivered via group and
      1:1 training sessions using a detailed coach's manual, and with ongoing support
      via video calls, and e-mail communication as needed. Detailed documentation was
      provided to determine costs of intervention development and coach training.
      RESULTS: Intervention delivery coaches at 8 sites across the United Kingdom
      participated in the face-to-face training. Self-report checklists completed by
      each of the coaches indicated that all components of the intervention were
      delivered in accordance with the protocol. Mean (standard deviation) intervention
      fidelity scores (n = 15), as measured using a purpose-developed rating scale, was
      11 (2.4) (out of 16 possible points). Coaches' perceptions of intervention
      fidelity were similarly high. The total cost of developing the intervention and
      providing training was L30,773 ($47,042 USD). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: An
      important consideration in promoting translation of clinical research into
      practice is the ability to convey the detailed components of how the intervention
      was delivered to facilitate replication if the results are favorable. This report
      presents an illustrative example of a physical activity intervention, including
      the development and the training required to deliver it. This approach has the
      potential to facilitate reproducibility, evidence synthesis, and implementation
      in clinical practice.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors
      (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A122).

PMID- 26863154
TI  - High molecular weight DNA assembly in vivo for synthetic biology applications.
AB  - DNA assembly is the key technology of the emerging interdisciplinary field of
      synthetic biology. While the assembly of smaller DNA fragments is usually
      performed in vitro, high molecular weight DNA molecules are assembled in vivo via
      homologous recombination in the host cell. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis
      and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are the main hosts used for DNA assembly in vivo.
      Progress in DNA assembly over the last few years has paved the way for the
      construction of whole genomes. This review provides an update on recent synthetic
      biology advances with particular emphasis on high molecular weight DNA assembly
      in vivo in E. coli, B. subtilis and S. cerevisiae. Special attention is paid to
      the assembly of whole genomes, such as those of the first synthetic cell,
      synthetic yeast and minimal genomes.

PMID- 26863155
TI  - Effect of Resveratrol-Based Nutritional Supplement on Choroidal Thickness: A
      Pilot Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The effect of an oral trans-resveratrol-based supplement (Longevinex(r))
      on choroidal thickness, measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT)
      enhanced depth imaging, was investigated in a prospective study. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: 34 young, healthy participants were randomly divided into two age- and
      gender-matched groups. They were then assigned in a randomized fashion to treat
      with either a trans-resveratrol-based group (Longevinex(r), Las Vegas) or
      placebo. All participants underwent ocular imaging with spectral domain (SD)-OCT
      (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg) at the baseline and then again 1
      h following treatment. The choroidal thickness was measured in a masked fashion
      at the fovea and at four additional points, located at 500 MUm and 1000 MUm nasal
      to the fovea and 500 MUm and 1000 MUm temporal to the fovea. RESULTS: In the
      resveratrol group, the foveal choroidal thickness at the baseline was 267.73 +/-
      84.19 MUm (mean +/- SD); it increased to 284.57 +/- 92.39 MUm 1 h after drug
      treatment (p = 0.033). The mean choroidal thickness was also significantly
      increased at each of the four extrafoveal points (all p < 0.05). In the control
      group, the mean baseline choroidal thickness at the fovea was 269.73 +/- 71.40
      MUm (mean +/- SD) and it was 268.43 +/- 70.15 MUm (mean +/- SD) 1 h after the
      placebo was administered (p = 0.183); there were also no significant differences
      in choroidal thickness at the four additional points (all p > 0.05) Conclusion: A
      significant increase in choroidal thickness following oral administration of a
      trans-resveratrol-based supplement was observed. There was no change in choroidal
      thickness in the placebo-treated control group. We speculate that the increased
      choroidal thickness is the result of choroidal vessel vasodilation.

PMID- 26863156
TI  - Spatiotemporal Mapping of Motility in Ex Vivo Preparations of the Intestines.
AB  - Multiple approaches have been used to record and evaluate gastrointestinal
      motility including: recording changes in muscle tension, intraluminal pressure,
      and membrane potential. All of these approaches depend on measurement of activity
      at one or multiple locations along the gut simultaneously which are then
      interpreted to provide a sense of overall motility patterns. Recently, the
      development of video recording and spatiotemporal mapping (STmap) techniques have
      made it possible to observe and analyze complex patterns in ex vivo whole
      segments of colon and intestine. Once recorded and digitized, video records can
      be converted to STmaps in which the luminal diameter is converted to grayscale or
      color [called diameter maps (Dmaps)]. STmaps can provide data on motility
      direction (i.e., stationary, peristaltic, antiperistaltic), velocity, duration,
      frequency and strength of contractile motility patterns. Advantages of this
      approach include: analysis of interaction or simultaneous development of
      different motility patterns in different regions of the same segment,
      visualization of motility pattern changes over time, and analysis of how activity
      in one region influences activity in another region. Video recordings can be
      replayed with different timescales and analysis parameters so that separate
      STmaps and motility patterns can be analyzed in more detail. This protocol
      specifically details the effects of intraluminal fluid distension and
      intraluminal stimuli that affect motility generation. The use of luminal receptor
      agonists and antagonists provides mechanistic information on how specific
      patterns are initiated and how one pattern can be converted into another pattern.
      The technique is limited by the ability to only measure motility that causes
      changes in luminal diameter, without providing data on intraluminal pressure
      changes or muscle tension, and by the generation of artifacts based upon
      experimental setup; although, analysis methods can account for these issues. When
      compared to previous techniques the video recording and STmap approach provides a
      more comprehensive understanding of gastrointestinal motility. 

PMID- 26863157
TI  - Enhanced X-ray absorption for micro-CT analysis of low density polymers.
AB  - X-ray microtomography (micro-CT), one of the most resourceful instruments for
      high resolution 3D analysis, can provide qualitative and quantitative accurate
      structural and compositional information for a broad range of materials. Yet its
      contribution to the field of biopolymeric materials science is often limited by
      low imaging contrast due to scarce X-ray attenuation features, particularly for
      sponges and foam-like structures. This limitation can be overcome to some extent
      by adjusting the working parameters of micro-CT equipment. However, such approach
      also facilitates noise and artefacts, and solving the signal-to-noise trade-off
      has been always problematic. Searching for alternatives turns one's attention
      towards the improvement of X-ray attenuation features. While several studies
      report the use of contrast agents for biological materials, studies to integrate
      multiple micro-CT approaches for biopolymers were not conducted so far. This
      method paper is thus aimed to serve as a platform for micro-CT analysis of low X
      ray absorptive polymers. Here, several contrast enhancing artifices were
      developed and trialled on gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol) biopolymer composites
      (GP). Accordingly, GP were modified with iodine, barium, silver-based chemicals
      and hexa(methyl disilazane) by two different methods, i.e. addition of high
      atomic number chemicals during materials synthesis and post-synthesis staining,
      respectively. Consequently, cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy emerged
      as complementary characterization, aimed to confirm the reproducibility of
      samples morphological features. The most versatile methods were barium chloride
      additive incorporation and iodine staining coupled with hexa(methyl disilazane)
      chemical drying. Both methods significantly improved the X-ray absorbance of our
      polymeric samples, providing better contrast of micro-CT tomograms.

PMID- 26863158
TI  - [Outcomes of Stage-Adapted Surgical Treatment of Pleural Empyema].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of pleural empyema should be carried out
      depending on the stage of the disease and the patient's symptoms. The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the outcomes of surgical pleural empyema treatment.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with pleural empyema
      treated surgically between January 2008 and December 2013. The primary endpoint
      of the study was inpatient lethality. Secondary endpoints included duration of
      inpatient stay, type of treatment (surgical/conservative), proof of pathogen and
      type, alteration and duration of antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: Of 359 patients,
      0.8 % (n = 3) had stage I empyema, 50.4 % (n = 181) had stage II and 48.7 % (n =
      175) had stage III. The most frequent causes (32.4 %) included acute pneumonia
      (parapneumonic pleural empyema), surgery (usually thoracic) in 18.0 % of cases
      and previous pneumonia (postpneumonic pleural empyema) in 15.4 %. Surgery was
      performed in 86 % of cases (operative procedures: open thoracotomy 85 %, VATS 15
      %). The average duration of inpatient stay was 20 days for stages II and III.
      Recovery following VATS was significantly shorter in stage II compared to
      thoracotomy (p = 0.022). Hospital lethality amounted to 7.0 % (25 patients). The
      lethality rate was 5.5 % (10/185) in stage II and 8.6 % (15/175) in stage III.
      Patients with confirmed pathogens had a significantly worse mortality rate across
      all stages (9.8 %) than patients with no confirmed pathogens (4.0 %, p = 0.034).
      Age, malignant underlying disease, multiple comorbidities, immunosuppression, a
      change in antibiotic regimens and sepsis were significant risk factors.
      CONCLUSION: The inpatient lethality of patients with pleural empyema correlates
      with the stage of the condition. Positive confirmation of pathogens, sepsis, a
      higher age, multiple comorbidities, malignant tumour disease, immunosuppression
      and a change of antibiotics are negative prognostic factors.

PMID- 26863159
TI  - A robust adaptive denoising framework for real-time artifact removal in scalp EEG
      measurements.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Non-invasive measurement of human neural activity based on the scalp
      electroencephalogram (EEG) allows for the development of biomedical devices that
      interface with the nervous system for scientific, diagnostic, therapeutic, or
      restorative purposes. However, EEG recordings are often considered as prone to
      physiological and non-physiological artifacts of different types and frequency
      characteristics. Among them, ocular artifacts and signal drifts represent major
      sources of EEG contamination, particularly in real-time closed-loop brain-machine
      interface (BMI) applications, which require effective handling of these artifacts
      across sessions and in natural settings. APPROACH: We extend the usage of a
      robust adaptive noise cancelling (ANC) scheme ([Formula: see text] filtering) for
      removal of eye blinks, eye motions, amplitude drifts and recording biases
      simultaneously. We also characterize the volume conduction, by estimating the
      signal propagation levels across all EEG scalp recording areas due to ocular
      artifact generators. We find that the amplitude and spatial distribution of
      ocular artifacts vary greatly depending on the electrode location. Therefore,
      fixed filtering parameters for all recording areas would naturally hinder the
      true overall performance of an ANC scheme for artifact removal. We treat each
      electrode as a separate sub-system to be filtered, and without the loss of
      generality, they are assumed to be uncorrelated and uncoupled. MAIN RESULTS: Our
      results show over 95-99.9% correlation between the raw and processed signals at
      non-ocular artifact regions, and depending on the contamination profile, 40-70%
      correlation when ocular artifacts are dominant. We also compare our results with
      the offline independent component analysis and artifact subspace reconstruction
      methods, and show that some local quantities are handled better by our sample
      adaptive real-time framework. Decoding performance is also compared with multi
      day experimental data from 2 subjects, totaling 19 sessions, with and without
      [Formula: see text] filtering of the raw data. SIGNIFICANCE: The proposed method
      allows real-time adaptive artifact removal for EEG-based closed-loop BMI
      applications and mobile EEG studies in general, thereby increasing the range of
      tasks that can be studied in action and context while reducing the need for
      discarding data due to artifacts. Significant increase in decoding performances
      also justify the effectiveness of the method to be used in real-time closed-loop
      BMI applications.

PMID- 26863160
TI  - Deep brain stimulation for bipolar disorder-review and outlook.
AB  - Research on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant psychiatric
      disorders has established preliminary efficacy signals for treatment-resistant
      depression. There are only few studies on DBS that included patients suffering
      from bipolar disorder. This article gives an overview of these studies concerning
      DBS targets, antidepressant efficacy, and the occurrence of manic/hypomanic
      symptoms under stimulation. First, promising results show that all patients
      experienced significant improvement in depressive symptomatology. In a single
      case, hypomanic symptoms occurred, but they could be resolved by adjusting
      stimulation parameters. Furthermore, this article highlights important clinical
      differences between unipolar and bipolar depression that have to be considered
      throughout the course of treatment.

PMID- 26863162
TI  - Abstracts of Scientific Papers and Posters Presented at the Annual Meeting of the
      Association of Academic Physiatrists.

PMID- 26863161
TI  - Theoretical investigations on the magnetocaloric and electrical properties of a
      perovskite manganite La(0.67)Ba(0.1)Ca(0.23)MnO3.
AB  - An investigation of the magnetic, magnetocaloric and electrical behavior of
      La(0.67)Ba(0.1)Ca(0.23)MnO3 is presented. The variation of magnetization (M) vs.
      temperature (T) under 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 T magnetic fields reveals a ferromagnetic
      paramagnetic transition. Magnetic entropy change, relative cooling power and
      specific heat for magnetic field variation were conducted using a
      phenomenological model. Moreover, the electrical resistivity is fitted with the
      phenomenological percolation model which is based on the phase segregation of
      ferromagnetic metallic clusters and paramagnetic insulating regions. The equation
      of the form DeltaS(P)(M)(T,H) = - alpha?(H)(0)[?(ln)(rho)/?(T)](H)(dH) relates
      the magnetic order to the transport behavior of our sample. The results show that
      the as obtained magnetic entropy change values are similar to those determined
      using data obtained from the investigation of the dependence of magnetization on
      the temperature and magnetic field.

PMID- 26863163
TI  - Strengthening prevention in primary care.

PMID- 26863164
TI  - The interface between primary health care and population health: challenges and
      opportunities for prevention.
AB  - Primary health care has the potential to contribute to population health at the
      individual and population levels. The '5As' (ask, assess, advise/agree, assist
      and arrange) provide a framework to realise this potential, especially for
      disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, not only by better organising
      multidisciplinary preventive interventions within primary health care, but also
      by linking these interventions with more intensive community and population
      programs and services, especially for patients with low health literacy. This
      requires changes to information systems to prompt and record preventive care,
      work with practices to engage a range of disciplines, including practice nurses,
      and development of effective linkages with other services in the local community.
      This has important implications for the newly established Primary Health Networks
      in supporting improvement within primary care, and creating linkages and
      partnerships with a range of organisations involved in delivering preventive
      interventions in the community. However, prevention in primary health care needs
      to be underpinned by funding systems that support multidisciplinary and
      preventive care for a population, rather than simply reactive, episode-based
      care. 

PMID- 26863165
TI  - How integrating primary care and public health could improve population health
      outcomes: a view from Liverpool, UK.
AB  - Although primary care is at the forefront of delivering healthcare to the
      population, its role in preventing poor health has varied throughout history.
      Faced with growing demand on healthcare services and a rise in noncommunicable
      diseases, some health systems are attempting to integrate healthcare delivery
      with broader population health and wellbeing interventions. Liverpool has a rich
      history of taking action to improve population health; this paper discusses a
      range of interventions that have taken place across the city. There is a renewed
      opportunity to systematise approaches to primary and secondary prevention,
      strengthened by the lead that general practitioners now have in commissioning
      health services and their accountability for improved population health outcomes
      through clinical commissioning groups. This is strongly articulated in the
      Healthy Liverpool program, a city-wide plan for health and care services. This
      paper suggests that four key enablers strengthen delivery of public health
      priorities through primary care: maximising opportunities to identify risk
      factors for preventable disease, fully exploiting the data collected in primary
      care to plan and design services, responding to community needs and assets
      through community engagement, and addressing wider determinants of health through
      strong partnerships. 

PMID- 26863166
TI  - The new Australian Primary Health Networks: how will they integrate public health
      and primary care?
AB  - On 1 July 2015, the Australian Government established 31 new Primary Health
      Networks (PHNs), following a review by its former Chief Medical Officer, John
      Horvath, of 61 Medicare Locals created under the previous Labor administration.
      The Horvath review recommended, among other things, that new, larger primary
      health organisations be established to reduce fragmentation of care by
      integrating and coordinating health services, supporting the role of general
      practice, and leveraging and administering health program funding. The two main
      objectives of the new PHNs, as stated on the Department of Health's website, are
      "increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients,
      particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and improving coordination of
      care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right
      time". Below are three viewpoints, commissioned for this primary health care
      themed issue of Public Health Research & Practice, from the Australian Government
      Department of Health, the Public Health Association of Australia and a Sydney
      based PHN. We asked the authors to focus particularly on how the newly
      established networks might help to integrate public health within the primary
      health care landscape. Our authors have pointed out the huge overlap between
      public health and primary care and looked at evidence showing the great benefits
      for health systems of collaboration between the two. Challenges ahead include a
      possible government focus on delivery of 'frontline' medical services, which may
      come at the expense of population health, and the complexity of dealing with all
      primary health care stakeholders, including health professionals, Local Health
      Districts, nongovernment organisations, research institutions and local
      communities. 

PMID- 26863167
TI  - A guide to scaling up population health interventions.
AB  - The 'how to' of scaling up public health interventions for maximum reach and
      outcomes is receiving greater attention; however, there remains a paucity of
      practical tools to guide those actively involved in scaling up processes in high
      income countries. To fill this gap, the New South Wales Ministry of Health
      developed Increasing the scale of population health interventions: a guide
      (2014). The guide was informed by a systematic review of scaling up models and
      methods, and a two-round Delphi process with a sample of senior policy makers,
      practitioners and researchers actively involved in scaling up processes. Although
      it is a practical guide to assist health policy makers, health practitioners and
      others responsible for scaling up effective population health interventions, it
      can also be used by researchers in the design of research studies that are
      potentially suitable for scaling up, particularly where research-practice
      collaborations are involved. The guide is divided into four steps: step 1,
      'scalability assessment', aims to determine if an intervention is scalable; step
      2, 'developing a scale up plan', aims to develop a practical and workable scaling
      up plan that can be used to convince stakeholders there is a compelling case for
      action. Step 3, 'preparing for scale up', aims to identify ways of securing
      resources needed for going to scale, operating at scale, and building a
      foundation of legitimacy and support to sustain the scaling up effort through the
      implementation stage; and step 4, 'scaling up the intervention', involves putting
      the plan developed in step 2 into place. Although the guide is written as though
      the user is starting from the point of assessing the scalability of an
      intervention, later steps can be used by those already involved in scaling up to
      review their implementation processes. The guide is not intended to be
      prescriptive. Its purpose is to help policy makers, practitioners, researchers
      and other decision makers decide on appropriate methodological and practical
      choices, and balance what is desirable with what is feasible. 

PMID- 26863168
TI  - Factors influencing reductions in smoking among Australian adolescents.
AB  - A continued increase in the proportion of adolescents who never smoke, as well as
      an understanding of factors that influence reductions in smoking among this
      susceptible population, is crucial. The World Health Organization Framework
      Convention on Tobacco Control provides an appropriate structure to briefly
      examine Australian and New South Wales policies and programs that are influencing
      reductions in smoking among adolescents in Australia. This paper provides an
      overview of price and recent tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, the
      evolution of smoke-free environment policies, changes to tobacco labelling and
      packaging, public education campaigns, and restrictions to curb tobacco
      advertising. It also discusses supplyreduction measures that limit adolescents'
      access to tobacco products. Consideration is given to emerging priorities to
      achieve continued declines in smoking by Australian adolescents. 

PMID- 26863169
TI  - Impact of medical consultation frequency on risk factors and medications 6 months
      after acute coronary syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Initiatives that support primary care to better enable delivery of
      optimal prevention services are of great importance. The purpose of this study
      was to examine the frequency of medical consultations by patients with acute
      coronary syndrome (ACS) in the 6 months after hospital discharge and to determine
      whether the frequency of visits was associated with differences in lifestyle,
      clinical measures and medication prescription. METHODS: We conducted a
      retrospective subgroup analysis of data collected in the Cooperative National
      Registry of Acute Coronary Care, Guideline Adherence and Clinical Events
      (CONCORDANCE), which is an ongoing (prospective) clinical initiative providing
      continuous real-time reporting on the clinical characteristics, management and
      outcomes of patients admitted to Australian hospitals with ACS. We compared
      clinical measures, medications, smoking status and receipt of cardiac
      rehabilitation with frequency of medical consultations 6 months after hospital
      discharge. RESULTS: Patients with ACS visited their general practitioner (GP) a
      mean of 4.4 (+/- 3.8) times and their cardiologist 1.2 (+/- 0.9) times in the 6
      month period after their index admission. Patients who saw a GP in the 6-month
      period had significantly higher rates of participation in cardiac rehabilitation,
      receipt of dietary advice and prescription of cardioprotective medications.
      Factors associated with increased frequency of GP visits were older age groups
      (oldest fourth vs youngest fourth incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.08; 95% CI 1.01,
      1.14), being female (male vs female IRR 0.83; 95% CI 0.80, 0.86), diagnosis of ST
      segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (STEMI vs non-STEMI IRR 1.08; 95%
      CI 1.04, 1.13; STEMI vs unstable angina IRR 1.01; 95% CI 0.95, 1.06), being a
      current smoker (IRR 1.09; 95% CI 1.05, 1.15), history of cardiovascular disease
      (IRR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01, 1.12), history of diabetes (IRR 1.25; 95% CI 1.21, 1.31),
      inpatient revascularisation (IRR 0.95; 95% CI 0.91, 0.99), receipt of cardiac
      rehabilitation referral (IRR 0.93; 95% CI 0.89, 0.97), and discharged on four or
      more out of five indicated medications (IRR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00, 1.08). CONCLUSION:
      The majority of ACS survivors in this study saw their GP frequently and their
      cardiologist at least once during the 6 months after index admission. Seizing
      these opportunities to engage, manage and support patients is important for
      strengthening prevention in primary care.

PMID- 26863170
TI  - Breast cancer recurrence following active treatment: determining its incidence in
      the NSW population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: It is important for consumers, clinicians and health service planners
      to know the risk of recurrence of primary breast cancer after initial treatment.
      At present, none of Australia's state or territory cancer registries routinely
      report this information. We aimed to determine the incidence of recurrence in New
      South Wales (NSW) clinical practice for the period 18 months to 6 years after
      diagnosis of primary breast cancer. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective cohort study using
      population-based linked health data. METHODS: We identified 2416 women in the 45
      and Up Study who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer between 2003
      and 2008 in NSW, and who had not had a recurrence 18 months after diagnosis. Unit
      level hospital, pharmacy and outpatient medical claims were used to identify
      treatment for recurrence. Incidence of recurrence was calculated using individual
      person-time at risk (18 months to 6 years postdiagnosis), with follow-up censored
      for death or end of study period (median follow-up 3 years). Time to recurrence
      was calculated, and Cox proportional regression was used to identify women's
      baseline and active treatment characteristics that were predictive of recurrence
      up to 6 years postdiagnosis. RESULTS: 217 women (9%) had a hospital, pharmacy or
      outpatient claim indicating breast cancer recurrence. Overall annual incidence of
      recurrence was 3.3%. Recurrence rates were significantly higher for women with
      node-positive (4.8% vs 2.5% annually; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.7; 95% confidence
      interval [95% CI] 1.3, 2.3) or hormone receptor-negative tumours (3.8% vs 3.1%
      annually; HR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.0, 1.7). Women with tumours >2 cm at diagnosis were
      more likely to experience recurrence than women with smaller/unknown tumours
      (4.8% vs 2.7% annually; HR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of
      routinely collected administrative health datasets can be used to determine
      recurrence rates, allowing future assessment of population-level changes over
      time and investigations of the real-world impact of specific treatments on
      outcomes.

PMID- 26863171
TI  - Variation in and factors associated with timing of low risk, pre-labour repeat
      caesarean sections in NSW, 2008-2011.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore variation in public hospital rates of early (37-38 weeks
      gestation) prelabour repeat caesarean section among low-risk women at and beyond
      term in New South Wales (NSW) between 2008 and 2011. IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY: A
      NSW Ministry of Health policy directive for public hospitals (PD2007_024),
      'Maternity - timing of elective or pre-labour caesarean section', requires that
      low-risk elective or prelabour caesarean section does not occur before 39
      completed weeks gestation. However, compliance with this policy has not been
      evaluated. STUDY TYPE: Population-based record linkage study Methods: Linked
      birth and hospital data for low-risk, prelabour repeat caesarean sections in NSW
      in 2008-2011 were analysed using multilevel regression modelling. Rates were
      adjusted for casemix and hospital factors. Low-risk pregnancies were defined as
      singleton live births at 37-42 weeks gestation among women without medical or
      obstetric complications and where the indication for caesarean section was
      'elective repeat caesarean section'. RESULTS: In 2008-2011, there were 15 163
      prelabour repeat caesarean sections among low-risk women in NSW. Overall, 34.7%
      of low-risk prelabour repeat caesarean sections occurred before 39 weeks
      gestation. Adjusted NSW public hospital rates of early (37-38 weeks gestation)
      low-risk prelabour repeat caesarean section varied widely (16.3-67.5%). Adjusting
      for casemix factors actually increased the between-hospital variation by 4.3%;
      adjusting for hospital factors reduced variation by 20.0%. Smoking, private
      healthcare, assisted reproductive technology use, higher parity, a noncaesarean
      uterine scar and delivering in a hospital with CPAP (continuous positive airway
      pressure) facilities were associated with higher odds of early delivery, although
      infants that were small for gestational age were associated with lower odds.
      Hospitals with higher rates of low-risk deliveries and higher propensity for
      vaginal birth after caesarean section had lower odds of early delivery.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest generally poor compliance with the policy
      directive that prelabour caesarean does not occur before 39 weeks gestation, with
      adjusted compliance rates ranging from 32.5% to 83.7%. Large between-hospital
      variation after adjustment suggests that nonmedical factors are related to timing
      of low-risk prelabour repeat caesarean sections. Further strategies are needed to
      improve adherence to this evidence based policy.

PMID- 26863172
TI  - Testing a health research instrument to develop a state-wide survey on maternity
      care.
AB  - Partnerships between researchers and end users are an important strategy for
      research uptake in policy and practice. This paper describes how collaboration
      between an academic research organisation (the Kolling Institute) and a
      government performance reporting agency (the New South Wales [NSW] Bureau of
      Health Information) contributed to the development of a new state-wide maternity
      care survey for NSW.

PMID- 26863173
TI  - Government to choose lead sites for mental health reform.

PMID- 26863175
TI  - Lifestyle modification program rolls out across Australia.

PMID- 26863174
TI  - My Health Record to deliver "new class" of data.

PMID- 26863176
TI  - Pyrrolic-nitrogen doped graphene: a metal-free electrocatalyst with high
      efficiency and selectivity for the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid: a
      computational study.
AB  - Searching for metal-free catalysts for the carbon dioxide reduction reaction
      (CO2RR) has been a key challenge in the electrosynthesis of fuels for CO2
      utilization. In this work, we investigated the potential of N-doped graphene as
      the electrocatalyst of CO2RR by means of comprehensive density functional theory
      (DFT) computations. The computations revealed that N-doping can modify the
      electronic properties of graphene for enhancing the electrochemical reduction of
      CO2 into CO and HCOOH, resulting in a low free energy barrier for the potential
      limiting step to form the key intermediate COOH as well as the strong adsorption
      energy of adsorbed COOH and the weak adsorption energy of CO or HCOOH. The
      highest catalytic activity toward CO2RR is shown by pyrrolic N-doped graphene due
      to its lowest overpotential of 0.24 V among all N-doped graphenes, and leads
      exclusively to HCOOH as the product. Therefore, our results demonstrated that N
      doped graphene holds great promise as an electrocatalyst for the CO2RR with high
      efficiency and selectivity by suitably tuning its N species. 

PMID- 26863177
TI  - A Novel Murine Model of Arteriovenous Fistula Failure: The Surgical Procedure in
      Detail.
AB  - The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) still suffers from a high number of failures
      caused by insufficient remodeling and intimal hyperplasia from which the exact
      pathophysiology remains unknown. In order to unravel the pathophysiology a murine
      model of AVF-failure was developed in which the configuration of the anastomosis
      resembles the preferred situation in the clinical setting. A model was described
      in which an AVF is created by connecting the venous end of the branch of the
      external jugular vein to the side of the common carotid artery using interrupted
      sutures. At a histological level, we observed progressive stenotic intimal
      lesions in the venous outflow tract that is also seen in failed human AVFs.
      Although this procedure can be technically challenging due to the small
      dimensions of the animal, we were able to achieve a surgical success rate of 97%
      after sufficient training. The key advantage of a murine model is the
      availability of transgenic animals. In view of the different proposed mechanisms
      that are responsible for AVF failure, disabling genes that might play a role in
      vascular remodeling can help us to unravel the complex pathophysiology of AVF
      failure. 

PMID- 26863178
TI  - C3 and 2D C3 Marfey's Methods for Amino Acid Analysis in Natural Products.
AB  - We validate the improved resolution and sensitivity of the C3 Marfey's method,
      including an ability to resolve all Ile isomers, against an array of amino acids
      commonly encountered in natural products and by comparison to an existing
      Marfey's method. We also describe an innovative 2D C3 Marfey's method as an
      analytical approach for determining the regiochemistry of enantiomeric amino acid
      residues in natural products. The C3 and 2D C3 Marfey's methods represent
      valuable tools for probing and defining the stereocomplexity of hydrolytically
      accessible amino acid residues in natural products. 

PMID- 26863181
TI  - Aging Precursor Solution in High Humidity Remarkably Promoted Grain Growth in
      Cu2ZnSnS4 Films.
AB  - Earth-abundant Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising material for thin film solar cells
      or solar water splitting cells. Generally, large grain size and vertical
      penetration are highly desirable microstructures to high-efficiency solar
      conversion devices. Up to date, some kinds of vacuum methods have been used to
      prepare large grain-sized CZTS, which are expensive and limit their applications
      on a large scale. It is still a key challenge to prepare large-grained and
      vertical-penetration CZTS by a low-cost solution method. In this study, we
      obtained vertical-penetration CZTS thin film with 1.3 MUm grain sizes by a faclie
      solution method. Different from previous studies, precursor solution was aged in
      high-humidity air before it was used to prepare CZTS films. The grain size
      prepared with aging precursor solution was one of the largest among the samples
      prepared by a solution method after sulfurizing. Moreover, the large-grained CZTS
      films were used as photocathodes for solar water splitting, which exhibited a
      much higher photocurrent than those of the samples without aging. To the best of
      our knowledge, this is the first demonstration to promote grain growth in CZTS by
      aging precursor solution in high-humidity air. This aging method can offer a
      reference to prepare other high-performance films. 

PMID- 26863182
TI  - Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion.
AB  - Behavioral assays are commonly used for the assessment of sensorimotor impairment
      in the central nervous system (CNS). The most sophisticated methods for
      quantifying locomotor deficits in rodents is to measure minute disturbances of
      unconstrained gait overground (e.g., manual BBB score or automated CatWalk).
      However, cortical inputs are not required for the generation of basic locomotion
      produced by the spinal central pattern generator (CPG). Thus, unconstrained
      walking tasks test locomotor deficits due to motor cortical impairment only
      indirectly. In this study, we propose a novel, precise foot-placement locomotor
      task that evaluates cortical inputs to the spinal CPG. An instrumented peg-way
      was used to impose symmetrical and asymmetrical locomotor tasks mimicking
      lateralized movement deficits. We demonstrate that shifts from equidistant inter
      stride lengths of 20% produce changes in the forelimb stance phase
      characteristics during locomotion with preferred stride length. Furthermore, we
      propose that the asymmetric walkway allows for measurements of behavioral
      outcomes produced by cortical control signals. These measures are relevant for
      the assessment of impairment after cortical damage. 

PMID- 26863183
TI  - Motion Control of Urea-Powered Biocompatible Hollow Microcapsules.
AB  - The quest for biocompatible microswimmers powered by compatible fuel and with
      full motion control over their self-propulsion is a long-standing challenge in
      the field of active matter and microrobotics. Here, we present an active hybrid
      microcapsule motor based on Janus hollow mesoporous silica microparticles powered
      by the biocatalytic decomposition of urea at physiological concentrations. The
      directional self-propelled motion lasts longer than 10 min with an average
      velocity of up to 5 body lengths per second. Additionally, we control the
      velocity of the micromotor by chemically inhibiting and reactivating the
      enzymatic activity of urease. The incorporation of magnetic material within the
      Janus structure provides remote magnetic control on the movement direction.
      Furthermore, the mesoporous/hollow structure can load both small molecules and
      larger particles up to hundreds of nanometers, making the hybrid micromotor an
      active and controllable drug delivery microsystem. 

PMID- 26863184
TI  - Associations of bisphenol A and polychlorinated biphenyls with spermatogenesis
      and steroidogenesis in two biological fluids from men attending an infertility
      clinic.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the testis, steroid hormones play an important role in
      spermatogenesis, the production of semen, and the maintenance of secondary sex
      characteristics and libido. They may also play a role as a target for substances
      called endocrine disruptors (EDs). As yet, however, no complex study has been
      conducted evaluating the relationships between EDs and the steroid spectrum in
      the plasma and seminal plasma. OBJECTIVES: To shed more light into mechanisms of
      EDs and the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on
      human spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. METHODS: We determined BPA and 11
      steroids in the plasma and seminal plasma of 191 men with different degrees of
      fertility, using a newly developed liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry
      method. Concurrently, plasma levels of 6 congeners of PCBs, gonadotropins,
      selenium, zinc and homocysteine were measured. Partial correlations adjusted for
      age, BMI and abstinence time were performed to evaluate relationships between
      these analytes. RESULTS: Seminal BPA, but not plasma BPA, was negatively
      associated with sperm concentration (r=-0.198; p=0.009), sperm count (r=-0.178;
      p=0.018) and morphology (r=-0.160; p=0.044). Divergent and sometimes opposing
      associations of steroids and BPA were found in both body fluids. The sum of PCB
      congeners was negatively associated with testosterone, free testosterone, the
      free androgen index and dihydrotestosterone in plasma. CONCLUSION: BPA may
      negatively contribute to the final state of sperm quality. Moreover, our data
      indicate that BPA influences human gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis at various
      steps. Environmental levels of PCBs negatively correlated with androgen levels,
      but surprisingly without negative effects on sperm quality.

PMID- 26863185
TI  - Synthesis of Quinoxaline Derivatives via Tandem Oxidative Azidation/Cyclization
      Reaction of N-Arylenamines.
AB  - A new method was developed for the synthesis of quinoxalines. This method employs
      N-arylenamines and TMSN3 as the starting materials and implements two oxidative C
      N bond-forming processes in a tandem pattern by using (diacetoxyiodo)benzene as
      the common oxidant. The present reaction conditions are mild and simple and thus
      are useful in practical synthesis. 

PMID- 26863186
TI  - A receptor heteromer mediates the male perception of female attractants in
      plants.
AB  - Sexual reproduction requires recognition between the male and female gametes. In
      flowering plants, the immobile sperms are delivered to the ovule-enclosed female
      gametophyte by guided pollen tube growth. Although the female gametophyte
      secreted peptides have been identified to be the chemotactic attractant to the
      pollen tube, the male receptor(s) is still unknown. Here we identify a cell
      surface receptor heteromer, MDIS1-MIK, on the pollen tube that perceives female
      attractant LURE1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. MDIS1, MIK1 and MIK2 are plasma
      membrane-localized receptor-like kinases with extracellular leucine-rich repeats
      and an intracellular kinase domain. LURE1 specifically binds the extracellular
      domains of MDIS1, MIK1 and MIK2, whereas mdis1 and mik1 mik2 mutant pollen tubes
      respond less sensitively to LURE1. Furthermore, LURE1 triggers dimerization of
      the receptors and activates the kinase activity of MIK1. Importantly,
      transformation of AtMDIS1 to the sister species Capsella rubella can partially
      break down the reproductive isolation barrier. Our findings reveal a new
      mechanism of the male perception of the female attracting signals.

PMID- 26863187
TI  - Visualization of a short-range Wnt gradient in the intestinal stem-cell niche.
AB  - Mammalian Wnt proteins are believed to act as short-range signals, yet have not
      been previously visualized in vivo. Self-renewal, proliferation and
      differentiation are coordinated along a putative Wnt gradient in the intestinal
      crypt. Wnt3 is produced specifically by Paneth cells. Here we have generated an
      epitope-tagged, functional Wnt3 knock-in allele. Wnt3 covers basolateral
      membranes of neighbouring stem cells. In intestinal organoids, Wnt3-transfer
      involves direct contact between Paneth cells and stem cells. Plasma membrane
      localization requires surface expression of Frizzled receptors, which in turn is
      regulated by the transmembrane E3 ligases Rnf43/Znrf3 and their antagonists Lgr4
      5/R-spondin. By manipulating Wnt3 secretion and by arresting stem-cell
      proliferation, we demonstrate that Wnt3 mainly travels away from its source in a
      cell-bound manner through cell division, and not through diffusion. We conclude
      that stem-cell membranes constitute a reservoir for Wnt proteins, while Frizzled
      receptor turnover and 'plasma membrane dilution' through cell division shape the
      epithelial Wnt3 gradient. 

PMID- 26863188
TI  - A pentanuclear iron catalyst designed for water oxidation.
AB  - Although the oxidation of water is efficiently catalysed by the oxygen-evolving
      complex in photosystem II (refs 1 and 2), it remains one of the main bottlenecks
      when aiming for synthetic chemical fuel production powered by sunlight or
      electricity. Consequently, the development of active and stable water oxidation
      catalysts is crucial, with heterogeneous systems considered more suitable for
      practical use and their homogeneous counterparts more suitable for targeted,
      molecular-level design guided by mechanistic understanding. Research into the
      mechanism of water oxidation has resulted in a range of synthetic molecular
      catalysts, yet there remains much interest in systems that use abundant,
      inexpensive and environmentally benign metals such as iron (the most abundant
      transition metal in the Earth's crust and found in natural and synthetic
      oxidation catalysts). Water oxidation catalysts based on mononuclear iron
      complexes have been explored, but they often deactivate rapidly and exhibit
      relatively low activities. Here we report a pentanuclear iron complex that
      efficiently and robustly catalyses water oxidation with a turnover frequency of
      1,900 per second, which is about three orders of magnitude larger than that of
      other iron-based catalysts. Electrochemical analysis confirms the redox
      flexibility of the system, characterized by six different oxidation states
      between Fe(II)5 and Fe(III)5; the Fe(III)5 state is active for oxidizing water.
      Quantum chemistry calculations indicate that the presence of adjacent active
      sites facilitates O-O bond formation with a reaction barrier of less than ten
      kilocalories per mole. Although the need for a high overpotential and the
      inability to operate in water-rich solutions limit the practicality of the
      present system, our findings clearly indicate that efficient water oxidation
      catalysts based on iron complexes can be created by ensuring that the system has
      redox flexibility and contains adjacent water-activation sites. 

PMID- 26863189
TI  - Structural basis for promiscuous PAM recognition in type I-E Cascade from E.
      coli.
AB  - Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and the cas
      (CRISPR-associated) operon form an RNA-based adaptive immune system against
      foreign genetic elements in prokaryotes. Type I accounts for 95% of CRISPR
      systems, and has been used to control gene expression and cell fate. During
      CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-guided interference, Cascade (CRISPR-associated complex for
      antiviral defence) facilitates the crRNA-guided invasion of double-stranded DNA
      for complementary base-pairing with the target DNA strand while displacing the
      non-target strand, forming an R-loop. Cas3, which has nuclease and helicase
      activities, is subsequently recruited to degrade two DNA strands. A protospacer
      adjacent motif (PAM) sequence flanking target DNA is crucial for self versus
      foreign discrimination. Here we present the 2.45 A crystal structure of
      Escherichia coli Cascade bound to a foreign double-stranded DNA target. The 5'
      ATG PAM is recognized in duplex form, from the minor groove side, by three
      structural features in the Cascade Cse1 subunit. The promiscuity inherent to
      minor groove DNA recognition rationalizes the observation that a single Cascade
      complex can respond to several distinct PAM sequences. Optimal PAM recognition
      coincides with wedge insertion, initiating directional target DNA strand
      unwinding to allow segmented base-pairing with crRNA. The non-target strand is
      guided along a parallel path 25 A apart, and the R-loop structure is further
      stabilized by locking this strand behind the Cse2 dimer. These observations
      provide the structural basis for understanding the PAM-dependent directional R
      loop formation process. 

PMID- 26863190
TI  - Moralistic gods, supernatural punishment and the expansion of human sociality.
AB  - Since the origins of agriculture, the scale of human cooperation and societal
      complexity has dramatically expanded. This fact challenges standard evolutionary
      explanations of prosociality because well-studied mechanisms of cooperation based
      on genetic relatedness, reciprocity and partner choice falter as people
      increasingly engage in fleeting transactions with genetically unrelated strangers
      in large anonymous groups. To explain this rapid expansion of prosociality,
      researchers have proposed several mechanisms. Here we focus on one key
      hypothesis: cognitive representations of gods as increasingly knowledgeable and
      punitive, and who sanction violators of interpersonal social norms, foster and
      sustain the expansion of cooperation, trust and fairness towards co-religionist
      strangers. We tested this hypothesis using extensive ethnographic interviews and
      two behavioural games designed to measure impartial rule-following among people
      (n = 591, observations = 35,400) from eight diverse communities from around the
      world: (1) inland Tanna, Vanuatu; (2) coastal Tanna, Vanuatu; (3) Yasawa, Fiji;
      (4) Lovu, Fiji; (5) Pesqueiro, Brazil; (6) Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius; (7) the
      Tyva Republic (Siberia), Russia; and (8) Hadzaland, Tanzania. Participants
      reported adherence to a wide array of world religious traditions including
      Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as notably diverse local traditions,
      including animism and ancestor worship. Holding a range of relevant variables
      constant, the higher participants rated their moralistic gods as punitive and
      knowledgeable about human thoughts and actions, the more coins they allocated to
      geographically distant co-religionist strangers relative to both themselves and
      local co-religionists. Our results support the hypothesis that beliefs in
      moralistic, punitive and knowing gods increase impartial behaviour towards
      distant co-religionists, and therefore can contribute to the expansion of
      prosociality. 

PMID- 26863191
TI  - Regeneration: Stem cells make the bowel nervous.

PMID- 26863192
TI  - Effector T-cell trafficking between the leptomeninges and the cerebrospinal
      fluid.
AB  - In multiple sclerosis, brain-reactive T cells invade the central nervous system
      (CNS) and induce a self-destructive inflammatory process. T-cell infiltrates are
      not only found within the parenchyma and the meninges, but also in the
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the entire CNS tissue. How the T cells
      reach the CSF, their functionality, and whether they traffic between the CSF and
      other CNS compartments remains hypothetical. Here we show that effector T cells
      enter the CSF from the leptomeninges during Lewis rat experimental autoimmune
      encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis. While moving through the
      three-dimensional leptomeningeal network of collagen fibres in a random Brownian
      walk, T cells were flushed from the surface by the flow of the CSF. The detached
      cells displayed significantly lower activation levels compared to T cells from
      the leptomeninges and CNS parenchyma. However, they did not represent a
      specialized non-pathogenic cellular sub-fraction, as their gene expression
      profile strongly resembled that of tissue-derived T cells and they fully retained
      their encephalitogenic potential. T-cell detachment from the leptomeninges was
      counteracted by integrins VLA-4 and LFA-1 binding to their respective ligands
      produced by resident macrophages. Chemokine signalling via CCR5/CXCR3 and
      antigenic stimulation of T cells in contact with the leptomeningeal macrophages
      enforced their adhesiveness. T cells floating in the CSF were able to reattach to
      the leptomeninges through steps reminiscent of vascular adhesion in CNS blood
      vessels, and invade the parenchyma. The molecular/cellular conditions for T-cell
      reattachment were the same as the requirements for detachment from the
      leptomeningeal milieu. Our data indicate that the leptomeninges represent a
      checkpoint at which activated T cells are licensed to enter the CNS parenchyma
      and non-activated T cells are preferentially released into the CSF, from where
      they can reach areas of antigen availability and tissue damage. 

PMID- 26863194
TI  - Anthropology: Hand of the gods in human civilization.

PMID- 26863193
TI  - Plankton networks driving carbon export in the oligotrophic ocean.
AB  - The biological carbon pump is the process by which CO2 is transformed to organic
      carbon via photosynthesis, exported through sinking particles, and finally
      sequestered in the deep ocean. While the intensity of the pump correlates with
      plankton community composition, the underlying ecosystem structure driving the
      process remains largely uncharacterized. Here we use environmental and
      metagenomic data gathered during the Tara Oceans expedition to improve our
      understanding of carbon export in the oligotrophic ocean. We show that specific
      plankton communities, from the surface and deep chlorophyll maximum, correlate
      with carbon export at 150 m and highlight unexpected taxa such as Radiolaria and
      alveolate parasites, as well as Synechococcus and their phages, as lineages most
      strongly associated with carbon export in the subtropical, nutrient-depleted,
      oligotrophic ocean. Additionally, we show that the relative abundance of a few
      bacterial and viral genes can predict a significant fraction of the variability
      in carbon export in these regions. 

PMID- 26863195
TI  - Polygenic evolution of a sugar specialization trade-off in yeast.
AB  - The evolution of novel traits can involve many mutations scattered throughout the
      genome. Detecting and validating such a suite of alleles, particularly if they
      arose long ago, remains a key challenge in evolutionary genetics. Here we dissect
      an evolutionary trade-off of unprecedented genetic complexity between long
      diverged species. When cultured in 1% glucose medium supplemented with galactose,
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but not S. bayanus or other Saccharomyces species,
      delayed commitment to galactose metabolism until glucose was exhausted. Promoters
      of seven galactose (GAL) metabolic genes from S. cerevisiae, when introduced
      together into S. bayanus, largely recapitulated the delay phenotype in 1% glucose
      galactose medium, and most had partial effects when tested in isolation.
      Variation in GAL coding regions also contributed to the delay when tested
      individually in 1% glucose-galactose medium. When combined, S. cerevisiae GAL
      coding regions gave rise to profound growth defects in the S. bayanus background.
      In medium containing 2.5% glucose supplemented with galactose, wild-type S.
      cerevisiae repressed GAL gene expression and had a robust growth advantage
      relative to S. bayanus; transgenesis of S. cerevisiae GAL promoter alleles or GAL
      coding regions was sufficient for partial reconstruction of these phenotypes. S.
      cerevisiae GAL genes thus encode a regulatory program of slow induction and avid
      repression, and a fitness detriment during the glucose-galactose transition but a
      benefit when glucose is in excess. Together, these results make clear that
      genetic mapping of complex phenotypes is within reach, even in deeply diverged
      species. 

PMID- 26863196
TI  - The dynamic N(1)-methyladenosine methylome in eukaryotic messenger RNA.
AB  - Gene expression can be regulated post-transcriptionally through dynamic and
      reversible RNA modifications. A recent noteworthy example is N(6)-methyladenosine
      (m(6)A), which affects messenger RNA (mRNA) localization, stability, translation
      and splicing. Here we report on a new mRNA modification, N(1)-methyladenosine
      (m(1)A), that occurs on thousands of different gene transcripts in eukaryotic
      cells, from yeast to mammals, at an estimated average transcript stoichiometry of
      20% in humans. Employing newly developed sequencing approaches, we show that
      m(1)A is enriched around the start codon upstream of the first splice site: it
      preferentially decorates more structured regions around canonical and alternative
      translation initiation sites, is dynamic in response to physiological conditions,
      and correlates positively with protein production. These unique features are
      highly conserved in mouse and human cells, strongly indicating a functional role
      for m(1)A in promoting translation of methylated mRNA. 

PMID- 26863197
TI  - Deriving human ENS lineages for cell therapy and drug discovery in Hirschsprung
      disease.
AB  - The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the largest component of the autonomic
      nervous system, with neuron numbers surpassing those present in the spinal cord.
      The ENS has been called the 'second brain' given its autonomy, remarkable
      neurotransmitter diversity and complex cytoarchitecture. Defects in ENS
      development are responsible for many human disorders including Hirschsprung
      disease (HSCR). HSCR is caused by the developmental failure of ENS progenitors to
      migrate into the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the distal colon. Human ENS
      development remains poorly understood owing to the lack of an easily accessible
      model system. Here we demonstrate the efficient derivation and isolation of ENS
      progenitors from human pluripotent stem (PS) cells, and their further
      differentiation into functional enteric neurons. ENS precursors derived in vitro
      are capable of targeted migration in the developing chick embryo and extensive
      colonization of the adult mouse colon. The in vivo engraftment and migration of
      human PS-cell-derived ENS precursors rescue disease-related mortality in HSCR
      mice (Ednrb(s-l/s-l)), although the mechanism of action remains unclear. Finally,
      EDNRB-null mutant ENS precursors enable modelling of HSCR-related migration
      defects, and the identification of pepstatin A as a candidate therapeutic target.
      Our study establishes the first, to our knowledge, human PS-cell-based platform
      for the study of human ENS development, and presents cell- and drug-based
      strategies for the treatment of HSCR. 

PMID- 26863198
TI  - Analysis of public oral toxicity data from REACH registrations 2008-2014.
AB  - The European Chemicals Agency, ECHA, made available a total of 13,832 oral
      toxicity studies for 8,568 substances up to December 2014. 75% of studies were
      from the retired OECD Test Guideline 401 (11% TG 420, 11% TG 423 and 1.5% TG
      425). Concordance across guidelines, evaluated by comparing LD50 values >= 2000
      or < 2000 mg/kg body weight from chemicals tested multiple times between
      different guidelines, was at least 75% and for their own repetition more than
      90%. In 2009, Bulgheroni et al. created a simple model for predicting acute oral
      toxicity using no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) from 28-day repeated
      dose toxicity studies in rats. This was reproduced here for 1,625 substances. In
      2014, Taylor et al. suggested no added value of the 90-day repeated dose oral
      toxicity test given the availability of a low 28-day study with some constraints.
      We confirm that the 28-day NOAEL is predictive (albeit imperfectly) of 90-day
      NOAELs, however, the suggested constraints did not affect predictivity. 1,059
      substances with acute oral toxicity data (268 positives, 791 negatives, all
      Klimisch score 1) were used for modeling: The Chemical Development Kit was used
      to generate 27 molecular descriptors and a similarity-informed multilayer
      perceptron showing 71% sensitivity and 72% specificity. Additionally, the k
      nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm indicated that similarity-based approaches
      alone may be poor predictors of acute oral toxicity, but can be used to inform
      the multilayer perceptron model, where this was the feature with highest
      information value. 

PMID- 26863199
TI  - What Makes Oxidized N-Acylanthranilamides Stable?
AB  - Oligoamides composed of anthranilic acid derivatives present a promising choice
      for mediating long-range charge transfer and controlling its directionality. Hole
      hopping, modulated by the anthranilamide (Aa) permanent dipoles, provides a
      plausible means for such rectified long-range charge transduction. All aliphatic
      and most aromatic amides, however, decompose upon oxidation, rendering them
      unacceptable for hole-hopping pathways. We, therefore, employ electrochemical and
      computational analysis to examine how to suppress oxidative degradation and
      stabilize the radical cations of N-acylated Aa derivatives. Our findings reveal
      two requirements for attaining long-lived radical cations of these aromatic
      amides: (1) keeping the reduction potentials for oxidizing the Aa residues under
      about 1.4 V vs SCE and (2) adding an electron-donating group para to the N
      terminal amide of the aromatic ring, which prevents the electron spin density of
      the radical cation from extending over the C-terminal amide. These findings
      provide essential information for the design of hole-transfer amides. 

PMID- 26863200
TI  - Hydrosulfide Adducts of Organo-Iridium Anticancer Complexes.
AB  - Novel half-sandwich hydrosulfidoiridium(III) complexes [(eta(5)
      Cp*)Ir(phen)(SH)]PF6 (1), [(eta(5)-Cp*)Ir(bpy)(SH)]PF6 (2), [(eta(5)
      Cp(biph))Ir(phen)(SH)]PF6 (3), and [(eta(5)-Cp(biph))Ir(bpy)(SH)]PF6 (4) were
      prepared from the chlorido complexes by dechlorination and treatment with excess
      NaSH.xH2O; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5
      pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, and Cp(biph) = 1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-5
      biphenylcyclopentadienyl. Complexes 1-4 were characterized by various techniques
      including electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy (delta(SH)
      ca. -2 ppm), and a single-crystal X-ray analysis. Complex [(eta(5)
      Cp*)Ir(phen)(SH)]BPh4 (1') shows a typical piano-stool geometry with Ir-S bond
      length of 2.388(2) A. Cp(biph) complexes 3 (IC50 = 0.98 MUM) and 4 (IC50 = 0.61
      MUM) showed significantly higher (p < 0.005) in vitro antiproliferative activity
      against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells, as compared with their Cp* analogues 1
      (IC50 = 49.5 MUM) and 2 (IC50 = 48.4 MUM), and potency similar to the anticancer
      drug cisplatin. The complexes were relatively stable in aqueous solution toward
      hydrolysis and reactions with reduced glutathione (GSH), 9-ethylguanine, or 9
      methyladenine. Interestingly, GSH was readily oxidized to glutathione disulfide
      in the presence of Cp(biph) complexes 3 and 4, as judged by (1)H NMR, perhaps
      indicative of a possible redox-linked mechanism of action. 

PMID- 26863201
TI  - Encoded Hydrogel Microparticles for Sensitive and Multiplex microRNA Detection
      Directly from Raw Cell Lysates.
AB  - In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising diagnostic markers
      because of their unique dysregulation patterns under various disease conditions
      and high stability in biological fluids. However, current methods of analyzing
      miRNA levels typically require RNA isolation, which is cumbersome and time
      consuming. To achieve high-throughput and accurate miRNA profiling, this study
      eliminates the need for purification steps by detecting miRNA directly from raw
      cellular lysate using nonfouling polyethylene glycol microparticles. In contrast
      to recent studies on direct miRNA measurements from cell lysate, our hydrogel
      based system provides high-confidence quantification with robust performance. The
      lysis buffer for the assay was optimized to maximize reaction and labeling
      efficiency, and this assay has a low limit of detection (<1000 cells) without
      target amplification. Additionally, the capability for multiplexing was
      demonstrated through analyzing the levels of three endogenous miRNAs in 3T3 cell
      lysate. This versatile platform holds great potential for rapid and reliable
      direct miRNA quantification in complex media, and can be further extended to
      single-cell analysis by exploiting the flexibility and scalability of our system.

PMID- 26863202
TI  - Three-Dimensional Versus Two-Dimensional Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To address the issue whether three dimensional (3D) offers
      real operative time advantages to the surgical procedure (primary endpoint) and
      significant reduction of surgeon's physical strain (secondary endpoint), we have
      retrospectively analyzed two consecutive series of laparoscopic right
      hemicolectomy (LRH) performed by a single experienced laparoscopic colorectal
      surgeon with two different imaging systems (two dimensional [2D] and 3D).
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since January 2014, 25 consecutive patients with right
      colon cancer underwent 3D LRH and other 25 consecutive ones received a 2D LRH by
      a single experienced surgeon. After the insertion of the access ports, the
      surgical procedure has been divided in component tasks and the execution times
      were compared. Upon completion of each procedure, the consultant surgeon was
      asked to complete a nonvalidated subjective questionnaire to evaluate quality of
      depth perception and surgical strain. RESULTS: The execution times for the entire
      procedure and the single tasks were not significantly different between the 2D
      and 3D groups, except for the second task "side-to-side ileotransverse
      anastomosis" (P < .05). The surgeon experienced better depth perception with the
      3D system and subjectively reported less strain using the 3D vision system rather
      than the 2D system, particularly during longer procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Three
      dimensional imaging seems not to influence the performance time of laparoscopic
      right colon cancer surgery when the surgeon is experienced in 2D laparoscopy,
      although the 3D system seems to offer better depth perception and to subjectively
      determine less physical strain compared to 2D vision. Further comparative studies
      are necessary to address the issue whether novice surgeons could benefit from a
      reduced learning curve using 3D vision and to verify with greater numbers if 3D,
      even with a similar operative time, can reduce perioperative complications.

PMID- 26863203
TI  - Partnering to advance early detection and prevention efforts for pancreatic
      cancer: the Florida Pancreas Collaborative.

PMID- 26863204
TI  - Self-Sustained Oscillatory Sliding Movement of Doublet Microtubules and Flagellar
      Bend Formation.
AB  - It is well established that the basis for flagellar and ciliary movements is ATP
      dependent sliding between adjacent doublet microtubules. However, the mechanism
      for converting microtubule sliding into flagellar and ciliary movements has long
      remained unresolved. The author has developed new sperm models that use bull
      spermatozoa divested of their plasma membrane and midpiece mitochondrial sheath
      by Triton X-100 and dithiothreitol. These models enable the observation of both
      the oscillatory sliding movement of activated doublet microtubules and flagellar
      bend formation in the presence of ATP. A long fiber of doublet microtubules
      extruded by synchronous sliding of the sperm flagella and a short fiber of
      doublet microtubules extruded by metachronal sliding exhibited spontaneous
      oscillatory movements and constructed a one beat cycle of flagellar bending by
      alternately actuating. The small sliding displacement generated by metachronal
      sliding formed helical bends, whereas the large displacement by synchronous
      sliding formed planar bends. Therefore, the resultant waveform is a half-funnel
      shape, which is similar to ciliary movements. 

PMID- 26863205
TI  - Movement Patterns and Residency of the Critically Endangered Horseshoe Crab
      Tachypleus tridentatus in a Semi-Enclosed Bay Determined Using Acoustic
      Telemetry.
AB  - The horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus is critically endangered in Japan due
      to rapidly decreasing numbers resulting from the loss of tidal flats and sandy
      beaches, and the deterioration of coastal environments. We monitored the year
      round migratory patterns and residency of this species in a coastal embayment at
      Tsuyazaki, Japan, using acoustic telemetry. Total 20 adult crabs (15 males and 5
      females) were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and tracked during two periods
      (2006-2008; n = 10 and 2007-2009; n = 10). Adult crabs were more active during
      periods of higher water temperatures and their activity peaked in July, during
      the spawning period. Water temperature appeared to be one of the key factors
      influencing the movement patterns for the species. Moreover, the crabs tended to
      be more active at night than in the day. The nocturnal activity pattern was
      clearly evident before and during the reproductive period (May-August). Tracking
      data also showed that one pair-bond was maintained for a maximum of 17 days after
      the pair-bonded female had spawned. Overall, 11 males (73% of 15 individuals)
      remained in the bay area over winter, whereas three females (60% of 5
      individuals) overwintered outside of the bay. Telemetry data showed that over 60%
      (13 of 20) of tagged crabs overwintered within the bay where there are sandy
      beaches, mudflats, and scattered seagrass beds. This year-round residence by
      adult T. tridentatus in the bay area identifies it as a critical habitat for the
      management of this species, regardless of life-stage. Not only is it a
      comprehensive management strategy that effectively reflects this species' habitat
      use patterns but also its implementation, such as the establishment of a
      protected area, would contribute to its conservation. 

PMID- 26863206
TI  - Transcriptome Analysis of Chemically-Induced Sensory Neuron Ablation in
      Zebrafish.
AB  - Peripheral glia are known to have a critical role in the initial response to axon
      damage and degeneration. However, little is known about the cellular responses of
      non-myelinating glia to nerve injury. In this study, we analyzed the
      transcriptomes of wild-type and mutant (lacking peripheral glia) zebrafish larvae
      that were treated with metronidazole. This treatment allowed us to conditionally
      and selectively ablate cranial sensory neurons whose axons are ensheathed only by
      non-myelinating glia. While transcripts representing over 27,000 genes were
      detected by RNAseq, only a small fraction (~1% of genes) were found to be
      differentially expressed in response to neuronal degeneration in either line at
      either 2 hrs or 5 hrs of metronidazole treatment. Analysis revealed that most
      expression changes (332 out of the total of 458 differentially expressed genes)
      occurred over a continuous period (from 2 to 5 hrs of metronidazole exposure),
      with a small number of genes showing changes limited to only the 2 hr (55 genes)
      or 5 hr (71 genes) time points. For genes with continuous alterations in
      expression, some of the most meaningful sets of enriched categories in the wild
      type line were those involving the inflammatory TNF-alpha and IL6 signaling
      pathways, oxidoreductase activities and response to stress. Intriguingly, these
      changes were not observed in the mutant line. Indeed, cluster analysis indicated
      that the effects of metronidazole treatment on gene expression was heavily
      influenced by the presence or absence of glia, indicating that the peripheral non
      myelinating glia play a significant role in the transcriptional response to
      sensory neuron degeneration. This is the first transcriptome study of
      metronidazole-induced neuronal death in zebrafish and the response of non
      myelinating glia to sensory neuron degeneration. We believe this study provides
      important insight into the mechanisms by which non-myelinating glia react to
      neuronal death and degeneration in sensory circuits. 

PMID- 26863207
TI  - Dietary Restriction Affects Neuronal Response Property and GABA Synthesis in the
      Primary Visual Cortex.
AB  - Previous studies have reported inconsistent effects of dietary restriction (DR)
      on cortical inhibition. To clarify this issue, we examined the response
      properties of neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) of DR and control groups
      of cats using in vivo extracellular single-unit recording techniques, and
      assessed the synthesis of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the V1 of cats from
      both groups using immunohistochemical and Western blot techniques. Our results
      showed that the response of V1 neurons to visual stimuli was significantly
      modified by DR, as indicated by an enhanced selectivity for stimulus orientations
      and motion directions, decreased visually-evoked response, lowered spontaneous
      activity and increased signal-to-noise ratio in DR cats relative to control cats.
      Further, it was shown that, accompanied with these changes of neuronal
      responsiveness, GABA immunoreactivity and the expression of a key GABA
      synthesizing enzyme GAD67 in the V1 were significantly increased by DR. These
      results demonstrate that DR may retard brain aging by increasing the
      intracortical inhibition effect and improve the function of visual cortical
      neurons in visual information processing. This DR-induced elevation of cortical
      inhibition may favor the brain in modulating energy expenditure based on food
      availability. 

PMID- 26863208
TI  - Ultrasonic Elastography Research Based on a Multicenter Study: Adding Strain
      Ratio after 5-Point Scoring Evaluation or Not.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to confirm whether strain ratio should be added
      after evaluation of lesions with 5-point elasticity scoring for differentiating
      benign and malignant breast lesions on ultrasonographic elastography(UE).
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2010 to March 2012, 1080 consecutive female
      patients with breast lesions were recruited into a multicenter retrospective
      study, which involved 8 centers across China. Each institutional ethic review
      board approved the study, and all the patients gave written informed consent. All
      the patients underwent the UE procedure and the strain ratios were calculated and
      the final diagnosis was made by histological findings. The sensitivity,
      specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV were calculated for each of the two evaluation
      systems and the areas under the ROC curve were compared. RESULTS: The strain
      ratios of benign lesions (mean, 2.6+/-2.0) and malignant lesions (mean,7.9+/-5.8)
      were significantly different (p <0.01). When the cutoff point was 3.01, strain
      ratio method had 79.8% sensitivity, 82.8% specificity, and 81.3% accuracy, while
      the 5-point scoring method had 93.1% sensitivity, 73.0% specificity, and 76.8%
      accuracy. The areas under the ROC curve with the strain ratio method and 5-point
      scoring method were 0.863 and 0.865, respectively(p>0.05). The strain ratio
      method shows better a diagnosis performance of the lesions with elasticity score
      3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Although the two UE methods have similar diagnostic
      performance, separate calculation of the strain ratios seems compulsory,
      especially for the large solid breast lesions and the lesions with elasticity
      score 3 and 4.

PMID- 26863209
TI  - Serotonin 2B Receptor Antagonism Prevents Heritable Pulmonary Arterial
      Hypertension.
AB  - Serotonergic anorexigens are the primary pharmacologic risk factor associated
      with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and the resulting PAH is clinically
      indistinguishable from the heritable form of disease, associated with BMPR2
      mutations. Both BMPR2 mutation and agonists to the serotonin receptor HTR2B have
      been shown to cause activation of SRC tyrosine kinase; conversely, antagonists to
      HTR2B inhibit SRC trafficking and downstream function. To test the hypothesis
      that a HTR2B antagonist can prevent BMRP2 mutation induced PAH by restricting
      aberrant SRC trafficking and downstream activity, we exposed BMPR2 mutant mice,
      which spontaneously develop PAH, to a HTR2B antagonist, SB204741, to block the
      SRC activation caused by BMPR2 mutation. SB204741 prevented the development of
      PAH in BMPR2 mutant mice, reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells to their
      lungs, and reduced muscularization of their blood vessels. By atomic force
      microscopy, we determined that BMPR2 mutant mice normally had a doubling of
      vessel stiffness, which was substantially normalized by HTR2B inhibition.
      SB204741 reduced SRC phosphorylation and downstream activity in BMPR2 mutant
      mice. Gene expression arrays indicate that the primary changes were in
      cytoskeletal and muscle contractility genes. These results were confirmed by gel
      contraction assays showing that HTR2B inhibition nearly normalizes the 400%
      increase in gel contraction normally seen in BMPR2 mutant smooth muscle cells.
      Heritable PAH results from increased SRC activation, cellular contraction, and
      vascular resistance, but antagonism of HTR2B prevents SRC phosphorylation,
      downstream activity, and PAH in BMPR2 mutant mice. 

PMID- 26863210
TI  - Continuous Collection of Adeno-Associated Virus from Producer Cell Medium
      Significantly Increases Total Viral Yield.
AB  - The ability to efficiently produce large amounts of high-titer recombinant adeno
      associated virus (AAV) is a prerequisite to the continued success of AAV as a
      gene therapy tool targeted toward large-animal preclinical studies or human
      clinical therapeutics. Current manufacturing procedures necessitate laborious and
      time-consuming purification procedures to obtain AAV particles of sufficient
      titer and purity for these demanding biomedical applications. The finding that
      AAV can be harvested and purified from producer cell medium may represent an
      efficient alternative to purifying AAV from cellular lysates. Here we sought to
      determine the maximum duration of time, and frequency within which AAV can be
      harvested from producer cell medium, in order to maximize the yield obtained from
      a single transfection preparation. Human embryonic kidney 293T cells were
      transfected with polyethylenimine to produce AAV2/5 expressing green fluorescent
      protein (GFP), and cellular medium was harvested every 2 days until a maximum
      duration of 19 days posttransfection. AAV2/5-GFP was released into producer cell
      medium at a steady state until 7 days posttransfection, at which time titers
      dropped dramatically. Harvesting medium every two days resulted in the maximum
      yield of AAV from a single preparation, and the cumulative yield of AAV harvested
      from the producer cell medium was 4-fold higher than the yield obtained from a
      traditional purification of AAV from cellular lysates. The AAV2/5 harvested from
      medium within the 7-day collection time-course mediated high levels of
      transduction in vivo, comparable to AAV2/5 harvested from cellular lysates. AAV
      purified from cell lysates showed increasing amounts of empty particles at 5 and
      7 days posttransfection, whereas AAV purified from cell medium did not show an
      increase in the amount of empty particles throughout the 7-day time course.
      Finally, we extended these findings to AAV2/9, demonstrating that a comparable
      ratio of AAV2/9 particles are also released for up to 7 days posttransfection. 

PMID- 26863211
TI  - Visualization of Content Release from Cell Surface-Attached Single HIV-1
      Particles Carrying an Extra-Viral Fluorescent pH-Sensor.
AB  - HIV-1 fusion leading to productive entry has long been thought to occur at the
      plasma membrane. However, our previous single virus imaging data imply that,
      after Env engagement of CD4 and coreceptors at the cell surface, the virus enters
      into and fuses with intracellular compartments. We were unable to reliably detect
      viral fusion at the plasma membrane. Here, we implement a novel virus labeling
      strategy that biases towards detection of virus fusion that occurs in a pH
      neutral environment-at the plasma membrane or, possibly, in early pH-neutral
      vesicles. Virus particles are co-labeled with an intra-viral content marker,
      which is released upon fusion, and an extra-viral pH sensor consisting of
      ecliptic pHluorin fused to the transmembrane domain of ICAM-1. This sensor fully
      quenches upon virus trafficking to a mildly acidic compartment, thus precluding
      subsequent detection of viral content release. As an interesting secondary
      observation, the incorporation of the pH-sensor revealed that HIV-1 particles
      occasionally shuttle between neutral and acidic compartments in target cells
      expressing CD4, suggesting a small fraction of viral particles is recycled to the
      plasma membrane and re-internalized. By imaging viruses bound to living cells, we
      found that HIV-1 content release in neutral-pH environment was a rare event
      (~0.4% particles). Surprisingly, viral content release was not significantly
      reduced by fusion inhibitors, implying that content release was due to
      spontaneous formation of viral membrane defects occurring at the cell surface. We
      did not measure a significant occurrence of HIV-1 fusion at neutral pH above this
      defect-mediated background loss of content, suggesting that the pH sensor may
      destabilize the membrane of the HIV-1 pseudovirus and, thus, preclude reliable
      detection of single virus fusion events at neutral pH. 

PMID- 26863212
TI  - Can Perceptuo-Motor Skills Assessment Outcomes in Young Table Tennis Players (7
      11 years) Predict Future Competition Participation and Performance? An
      Observational Prospective Study.
AB  - Forecasting future performance in youth table tennis players based on current
      performance is complex due to, among other things, differences between youth
      players in growth, development, maturity, context and table tennis experience.
      Talent development programmes might benefit from an assessment of underlying
      perceptuo-motor skills for table tennis, which is hypothesized to determine the
      players' potential concerning the perceptuo-motor domain. The Dutch perceptuo
      motor skills assessment intends to measure the perceptuo-motor potential for
      table tennis in youth players by assessing the underlying skills crucial for
      developing technical and tactical qualities. Untrained perceptuo-motor tasks are
      used as these are suggested to represent a player's future potential better than
      specific sport skills themselves as the latter depend on exposure to the sport
      itself. This study evaluated the value of the perceptuo-motor skills assessment
      for a talent developmental programme by evaluating its predictive validity for
      competition participation and performance in 48 young table tennis players (7-11
      years). Players were tested on their perceptuo-motor skills once during a
      regional talent day, and the subsequent competition results were recorded half
      yearly over a period of 2.5 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that test
      scores did not predict future competition participation (p >0.05). Yet, the
      Generalized Estimating Equations analysis, including the test items 'aiming at
      target', 'throwing a ball', and 'eye-hand coordination' in the best fitting
      model, revealed that the outcomes of the perceptuo-motor skills assessment were
      significant predictors for future competition results (R2 = 51%). Since the test
      age influences the perceptuo-motor skills assessment's outcome, another
      multivariable model was proposed including test age as a covariate (R2 = 53%).
      This evaluation demonstrates promising prospects for the perceptuo-motor skills
      assessment to be included in a talent development programme. Future studies are
      needed to clarify the predictive value in a larger sample of youth competition
      players over a longer period in time. 

PMID- 26863213
TI  - Choroidal Changes in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

PMID- 26863214
TI  - Predictive Factors for Subjective Improvement in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients
      with Nonsurgical Treatment: A 3-Year Prospective Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive factors for subjective improvement with
      nonsurgical treatment in consecutive patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with LSS were enrolled from 17 medical centres in
      Japan. We followed up 274 patients (151 men; mean age, 71 +/- 7.4 years) for 3
      years. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the
      predictive factors for subjective symptom improvement with nonsurgical treatment.
      RESULTS: In 30% of patients, conservative treatment led to a subjective
      improvement in the symptoms; in 70% of patients, the symptoms remained unchanged,
      worsened, or required surgical treatment. The multivariable analysis of
      predictive factors for subjective improvement with nonsurgical treatment showed
      that the absence of cauda equina symptoms (only radicular symptoms) had an odds
      ratio (OR) of 3.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50-7.31); absence of
      degenerative spondylolisthesis/scoliosis had an OR of 2.53 (95% CI: 1.13-5.65);
      <1-year duration of illness had an OR of 3.81 (95% CI: 1.46-9.98); and
      hypertension had an OR of 2.09 (95% CI: 0.92-4.78). CONCLUSIONS: The predictive
      factors for subjective symptom improvement with nonsurgical treatment in LSS
      patients were the presence of only radicular symptoms, absence of degenerative
      spondylolisthesis/scoliosis, and an illness duration of <1 year.

PMID- 26863215
TI  - Severe Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome due to
      Paternal Uniparental Disomy of 11p15.5 Managed with Sirolimus Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Almost half of the children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS)
      will develop hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). In the majority of BWS cases,
      HH will be transient; however, approximately in 5% of them, HH will be severe and
      often medically-unresponsive. Children with BWS due to paternal uniparental
      disomy (UPD) of chromosome 11p15 belong to this severe category and have
      traditionally required near-total pancreatectomy. The use of mTOR inhibitors had
      not been reported yet in this type of patients. CASE: A 1-month-old female with
      genetically confirmed BWS due to UPD of chromosome 11p15 was admitted for
      management of severe HH. Blood glucose concentrations were stabilised with high
      intravenous dextrose concentration, glucagon and octreotide infusions as she was
      proven to be diazoxide unresponsive. To avoid a subtotal pancreatectomy, an mTOR
      inhibitor - sirolimus - was introduced. The dose of sirolimus was optimised
      progressively and she was able to come off intravenous fluids and glucagon
      therapy. She has not presented any side effects and her growth is normal after 19
      months of therapy. CONCLUSION: This is the first case reported of BWS due to UPD
      of chromosome 11p15 where sirolimus treatment has been effective in stabilising
      the blood glucose concentrations and avoiding a near-total pancreatectomy without
      major side effects detected.

PMID- 26863216
TI  - Adult Asylum Seekers from the Middle East Including Syria in Central Europe: What
      Are Their Health Care Problems?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Forced displacement related to persecution and violent conflict has
      reached a new peak in recent years. The primary aim of this study is to provide
      an initial overview of the acute and chronic health care problems of asylum
      seekers from the Middle East, with special emphasis on asylum seekers from Syria.
      METHODS: Our retrospective data analysis comprised adult patients presenting to
      our emergency department between 01.11.2011 and 30.06.2014 with the official
      resident status of an "asylum seeker" or "refugee" from the Middle East. RESULTS:
      In total, 880 patients were included in the study. Of these, 625 (71.0%) were
      male and 255 (29.0%) female. The median age was 34 (range 16-84). 222 (25.2%) of
      our patients were from Syria. The most common reason for presentation was
      surgical (381, 43.3%), followed by medical (321, 36.5%) and psychiatric (137,
      15.6%). In patients with surgical presentations, trauma-related problems were
      most common (n = 196, 50.6%). Within the group of patients with medical
      presentation, acute infectious diseases were most common (n = 141, 43.9%),
      followed by neurological problems (n = 70, 21.8%) and gastrointestinal problems
      (n = 47, 14.6%). There were no differences between Syrian and non-Syrian refugees
      concerning surgical or medical admissions. The most common chronic disorder of
      unclear significance was chronic gastrointestinal problems (n = 132, 15%),
      followed by chronic musculoskeletal problems (n = 108, 12.3%) and chronic
      headaches (n = 78, 8.9%). Patients from Syria were significantly younger and more
      often suffered from a post-traumatic stress disorder than patients of other
      nationalities (p<0.0001, and p = 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Overall a
      remarkable number of our very young group of patients suffered from psychiatric
      disorders and unspecified somatic symptoms. Asylum seekers should be carefully
      evaluated when presenting to a medical facility and physicians should be aware of
      the high incidence of unspecified somatic symptoms in this patient population.In
      general, there is no major difference between asylum seekers from Syria when
      compared to other nationalities of asylum seekers from the Middle East.

PMID- 26863217
TI  - General Anesthesia for Dental Treatment in a Patient With Huntington's Chorea.
AB  - General dentists may be challenged with treating patients with neurodegenerative
      brain disorders. The primary goal in general anesthesia for these patients is to
      provide airway protection and a rapid and safe recovery. This article discusses
      factors that are of significant concern to the dentist-anesthesiologist team
      treating patients with Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative
      conditions. It includes a case report that describes the treatment of a patient
      with a neurodegenerative disease characterized by uncontrolled movements and
      which required general anesthesia. The safety of the used necessary medication is
      accentuated.

PMID- 26863218
TI  - Opioid Prescribing in Dentistry: Keys for Safe and Proper Usage.
AB  - Although dentists typically prescribe opioids for pain control in lower doses and
      for shorter periods of time than other healthcare providers, they need to be
      mindful of potential unintended consequences, such as dependency by the patients
      for whom they are prescribed and diversion of the unused pills to others,
      including drug dealers and substance abusers. Due to public health issues related
      to the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, dentists must be aware of which
      drugs are most commonly misused or abused; be able to identify individuals who
      may be at risk for prescription drug abuse; and be prepared to manage patients at
      risk in the dental setting. They should also be cognizant of alternatives or
      modified approaches to using opioids--including long-acting anesthetics, NSAIDs,
      and combining non-opioid drugs with differing mechanisms of action to enhance
      their ability to control pain due to an additive effect.

PMID- 26863219
TI  - A Review of Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) and
      Enamel Remineralization.
AB  - White-spot lesions are the earliest macroscopic evidence of enamel caries. In
      such a situation, the enamel surface layer stays intact during subsurface
      demineralization, but without treatment the subsurface loss will continue, and
      eventually the surface layer will collapse and lead to a cavity formation. By
      introducing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) at this
      stage the lesion can be reversed. CPP-ACP is a unique, naturally derived protein
      based remineralizing technology that is now used globally in chewing gums and
      topical creams. The aim of this review is to expound on the potential for
      reversal of demineralization through the use of products such as CPP-ACP, and to
      provide guidance to clinicians considering remineralization as a viable treatment
      option. 

PMID- 26863220
TI  - Digital Smile Design Meets the Dento-Facial Analyzer: Optimizing Esthetics While
      Preserving Tooth Structure.
AB  - This case of an adult male patient with missing maxillary lateral incisors who
      was unhappy with his smile focuses on implementation of the digital smile design
      (DSD) concept. Combined with the use of a dento-facial analyzer, DSD, which
      employs a series of extraoral photographs, allowed the clinician to
      preoperatively plan different approaches to the treatment and visualize the
      outcome of each one, as well as to effectively communicate critical tooth
      position references to the laboratory technician and the patient. The additive
      approach used in this case minimized tooth preparation while creating an esthetic
      smile. 

PMID- 26863221
TI  - Elimination of a "Gummy Smile" With Crown Lengthening and Lip Repositioning.
AB  - Excessive gingival display is considered unattractive by many patients. A
      combination of surgical approaches may be required to correct this problem.
      Clinical crown lengthening involves recontouring crestal bone levels and moving
      the gingival margin in an apical direction. Lip repositioning reduces gingival
      display by limiting upper lip movement when smiling. This article describes a
      case in which a combination of clinical crown lengthening and lip repositioning
      was used to correct excessive gingival display when smiling. 

PMID- 26863223
TI  - KEPLER Mission: development and overview.
AB  - The Kepler Mission is a space observatory launched in 2009 by NASA to monitor
      170,000 stars over a period of four years to determine the frequency of Earth
      size and larger planets in and near the habitable zone of Sun-like stars, the
      size and orbital distributions of these planets, and the types of stars they
      orbit. Kepler is the tenth in the series of NASA Discovery Program missions that
      are competitively-selected, PI-directed, medium-cost missions. The Mission
      concept and various instrument prototypes were developed at the Ames Research
      Center over a period of 18 years starting in 1983. The development of techniques
      to do the 10 ppm photometry required for Mission success took years of
      experimentation, several workshops, and the exploration of many 'blind alleys'
      before the construction of the flight instrument. Beginning in 1992 at the start
      of the NASA Discovery Program, the Kepler Mission concept was proposed five times
      before its acceptance for mission development in 2001. During that period, the
      concept evolved from a photometer in an L2 orbit that monitored 6000 stars in a
      50 sq deg field-of-view (FOV) to one that was in a heliocentric orbit that
      simultaneously monitored 170,000 stars with a 105 sq deg FOV. Analysis of the
      data to date has detected over 4600 planetary candidates which include several
      hundred Earth-size planetary candidates, over a thousand confirmed planets, and
      Earth-size planets in the habitable zone (HZ). These discoveries provide the
      information required for estimates of the frequency of planets in our galaxy. The
      Mission results show that most stars have planets, many of these planets are
      similar in size to the Earth, and that systems with several planets are common.
      Although planets in the HZ are common, many are substantially larger than Earth.

PMID- 26863222
TI  - Combining Amplitude Spectrum Area with Previous Shock Information Using Neural
      Networks Improves Prediction Performance of Defibrillation Outcome for Subsequent
      Shocks in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Quantitative ventricular fibrillation (VF) waveform analysis is a
      potentially powerful tool to optimize defibrillation. However, whether combining
      VF features with additional attributes that related to the previous shock could
      enhance the prediction performance for subsequent shocks is still uncertain.
      METHODS: A total of 528 defibrillation shocks from 199 patients experienced out
      of-hospital cardiac arrest were analyzed in this study. VF waveform was
      quantified using amplitude spectrum area (AMSA) from defibrillator's ECG
      recordings prior to each shock. Combinations of AMSA with previous shock index
      (PSI) or/and change of AMSA (DeltaAMSA) between successive shocks were exercised
      through a training dataset including 255shocks from 99patientswith neural
      networks. Performance of the combination methods were compared with AMSA based
      single feature prediction by area under receiver operating characteristic
      curve(AUC), sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive
      value (NPV) and prediction accuracy (PA) through a validation dataset that was
      consisted of 273 shocks from 100patients. RESULTS: A total of61 (61.0%) patients
      required subsequent shocks (N = 173) in the validation dataset. Combining AMSA
      with PSI and DeltaAMSA obtained highest AUC (0.904 vs. 0.819, p<0.001) among
      different combination approaches for subsequent shocks. Sensitivity (76.5% vs.
      35.3%, p<0.001), NPV (90.2% vs. 76.9%, p = 0.007) and PA (86.1% vs. 74.0%, p =
      0.005)were greatly improved compared with AMSA based single feature prediction
      with a threshold of 90% specificity. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study,
      combining AMSA with previous shock information using neural networks greatly
      improves prediction performance of defibrillation outcome for subsequent shocks.

PMID- 26863225
TI  - Qualities and Inequalities in Online Social Networks through the Lens of the
      Generalized Friendship Paradox.
AB  - The friendship paradox is the phenomenon that in social networks, people on
      average have fewer friends than their friends do. The generalized friendship
      paradox is an extension to attributes other than the number of friends. The
      friendship paradox and its generalized version have gathered recent attention due
      to the information they provide about network structure and local inequalities.
      In this paper, we propose several measures of nodal qualities which capture
      different aspects of their activities and influence in online social networks.
      Using these measures we analyse the prevalence of the generalized friendship
      paradox over Twitter and we report high levels of prevalence (up to over 90% of
      nodes). We contend that this prevalence of the friendship paradox and its
      generalized version arise because of the hierarchical nature of the connections
      in the network. This hierarchy is nested as opposed to being star-like. We
      conclude that these paradoxes are collective phenomena not created merely by a
      minority of well-connected or high-attribute nodes. Moreover, our results show
      that a large fraction of individuals can experience the generalized friendship
      paradox even in the absence of a significant correlation between degrees and
      attributes. 

PMID- 26863224
TI  - The Impact of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury on Liver Allografts from Deceased after
      Cardiac Death versus Deceased after Brain Death Donors.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The shortage of organs for transplantation has led to
      increased use of organs procured from donors after cardiac death (DCD). The
      effects of cardiac death on the liver remain poorly understood, however. Using
      livers obtained from DCD versus donors after brain death (DBD), we aimed to
      understand how ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury alters expression of pro
      inflammatory markers ceramides and influences graft leukocyte infiltration.
      METHODS: Hepatocyte inflammation, as assessed by ceramide expression, was
      evaluated in DCD (n = 13) and DBD (n = 10) livers. Allograft expression of
      inflammatory and cell death markers, and allograft leukocyte infiltration were
      evaluated from a contemporaneous independent cohort of DCD (n = 22) and DBD (n =
      13) livers. RESULTS: When examining the differences between transplant stages in
      each group, C18, C20, C24 ceramides showed significant difference in DBD (p<0.05)
      and C22 ceramide (p<0.05) were more pronounced for DCD. C18 ceramide is
      correlated to bilirubin, INR, and creatinine after transplant in DCD. Prior to
      transplantation, DCD livers have reduced leukocyte infiltration compared to DBD
      allografts. Following reperfusion, the neutrophil infiltration and platelet
      deposition was less prevalent in DCD grafts while cell death and recipients
      levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of DCD allografts had
      significantly increased. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that I/R injury generate
      necrosis in the absence of a strong inflammatory response in DCD livers with an
      appreciable effect on early graft function. The long-term consequences of
      increased inflammation in DBD and increased cell death in DCD allografts are
      unknown and warrant further investigation.

PMID- 26863226
TI  - Correction: Mutations of the Calcium Channel Gene cacophony Suppress Seizures in
      Drosophila.

PMID- 26863227
TI  - No Evidence of the Ego-Depletion Effect across Task Characteristics and
      Individual Differences: A Pre-Registered Study.
AB  - Ego-depletion, a psychological phenomenon in which participants are less able to
      engage in self-control after prior exertion of self-control, has become widely
      popular in the scientific community as well as in the media. However,
      considerable debate exists among researchers as to the nature of the ego
      depletion effect, and growing evidence suggests the effect may not be as strong
      or robust as the extant literature suggests. We examined the robustness of the
      ego-depletion effect and aimed to maximize the likelihood of detecting the effect
      by using one of the most widely used depletion tasks (video-viewing attention
      control task) and by considering task characteristics and individual differences
      that potentially moderate the effect. We also sought to make our research plan
      transparent by pre-registering our hypotheses, procedure, and planned analyses
      prior to data collection. Contrary to the ego-depletion hypothesis, participants
      in the depletion condition did not perform worse than control participants on the
      subsequent self-control task, even after considering moderator variables. These
      findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting ego-depletion is not a
      reliable phenomenon, though more research is needed that uses large sample sizes,
      considers moderator variables, and pre-registers prior to data collection. 

PMID- 26863228
TI  - Exacerbating the Tragedy of the Commons: Private Inefficient Outcomes and Peer
      Effect in Experimental Games with Fishing Communities.
AB  - Economic Experimental Games have shown that individuals make decisions that
      deviate down from the suboptimal Nash equilibrium. However, few studies have
      analyzed the case when deviation is above the Nash equilibrium. Extracting from
      above the Nash equilibrium is inefficient not only socially but also privately
      and it would exacerbate the tragedy of the commons. That would be the case of a
      race to the fish when stocks are becoming depleted or driver behavior on a highly
      congested road. The objective of this study is to analyze private inefficient
      extraction behavior in experimental games and to associate the type of player and
      the type of player group with such inefficient outcomes. To do this, we carried
      out economic experimental games with local coastal fishermen in Colombia, using a
      setting where the scarcity of the resource allows for an interior Nash
      equilibrium and inefficient over-extraction is possible. The state of the
      resource, the type of player and the composition of the group explain, in part,
      this inefficient behavior. 

PMID- 26863230
TI  - Correction: First-In-Class Small Molecule ONC201 Induces DR5 and Cell Death in
      Tumor but Not Normal Cells to Provide a Wide Therapeutic Index as an Anti-Cancer
      Agent.

PMID- 26863229
TI  - When Quality Beats Quantity: Decision Theory, Drug Discovery, and the
      Reproducibility Crisis.
AB  - A striking contrast runs through the last 60 years of biopharmaceutical
      discovery, research, and development. Huge scientific and technological gains
      should have increased the quality of academic science and raised industrial R&D
      efficiency. However, academia faces a "reproducibility crisis"; inflation
      adjusted industrial R&D costs per novel drug increased nearly 100 fold between
      1950 and 2010; and drugs are more likely to fail in clinical development today
      than in the 1970s. The contrast is explicable only if powerful headwinds reversed
      the gains and/or if many "gains" have proved illusory. However, discussions of
      reproducibility and R&D productivity rarely address this point explicitly. The
      main objectives of the primary research in this paper are: (a) to provide
      quantitatively and historically plausible explanations of the contrast; and (b)
      identify factors to which R&D efficiency is sensitive. We present a quantitative
      decision-theoretic model of the R&D process. The model represents therapeutic
      candidates (e.g., putative drug targets, molecules in a screening library, etc.)
      within a "measurement space", with candidates' positions determined by their
      performance on a variety of assays (e.g., binding affinity, toxicity, in vivo
      efficacy, etc.) whose results correlate to a greater or lesser degree. We apply
      decision rules to segment the space, and assess the probability of correct R&D
      decisions. We find that when searching for rare positives (e.g., candidates that
      will successfully complete clinical development), changes in the predictive
      validity of screening and disease models that many people working in drug
      discovery would regard as small and/or unknowable (i.e., an 0.1 absolute change
      in correlation coefficient between model output and clinical outcomes in man) can
      offset large (e.g., 10 fold, even 100 fold) changes in models' brute-force
      efficiency. We also show how validity and reproducibility correlate across a
      population of simulated screening and disease models. We hypothesize that
      screening and disease models with high predictive validity are more likely to
      yield good answers and good treatments, so tend to render themselves and their
      diseases academically and commercially redundant. Perhaps there has also been too
      much enthusiasm for reductionist molecular models which have insufficient
      predictive validity. Thus we hypothesize that the average predictive validity of
      the stock of academically and industrially "interesting" screening and disease
      models has declined over time, with even small falls able to offset large gains
      in scientific knowledge and brute-force efficiency. The rate of creation of valid
      screening and disease models may be the major constraint on R&D productivity. 

PMID- 26863231
TI  - An Integrative Approach for Understanding Diversity in the Punctelia rudecta
      Species Complex (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota).
AB  - High levels of cryptic diversity have been documented in lichenized fungi,
      especially in Parmeliaceae, and integrating various lines of evidence, including
      coalescent-based species delimitation approaches, help establish more robust
      species circumscriptions. In this study, we used an integrative taxonomic
      approach to delimit species in the lichen-forming fungal genus Punctelia
      (Parmeliaceae), with a particular focus on the cosmopolitan species P. rudecta.
      Nuclear, mitochondrial ribosomal DNA and protein-coding DNA sequences were
      analyzed in phylogenetic and coalescence-based frameworks. Additionally,
      morphological, ecological and geographical features of the sampled specimens were
      evaluated. Five major strongly supported monophyletic clades were recognized in
      the genus Punctelia, and each clade could be characterized by distinct patterns
      in medullary chemistry. Punctelia rudecta as currently circumscribed was shown to
      be polyphyletic. A variety of empirical species delimitation methods provide
      evidence for a minimum of four geographically isolated species within the nominal
      taxon Punctelia rudecta, including a newly described saxicolous species, P.
      guanchica, and three corticolous species. In order to facilitate reliable sample
      identification for biodiversity, conservation, and air quality bio-monitoring
      research, these three species have been epitypified, in addition to the
      description of a new species.

PMID- 26863233
TI  - Association of infant and young child feeding practices with under-nutrition:
      evidence from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood undernutrition remains a highly influential risk factor in
      terms of the global burden of disease. Increasing evidence links infant and young
      child feeding (IYCF) practices to undernutrition. However, the results are
      inconsistent, and more country-specific studies are needed. OBJECTIVES: To
      determine the associations between IYCF practices and nutritional outcomes among
      children aged 0-23 months using a nationally representative dataset. METHODS: The
      study used data from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, and the data
      were analysed for children aged 0-23.9 months who had corresponding data for the
      outcome variables of interest (n = 890). Multiple linear and logistic regressions
      were undertaken and adjusted for the complex design of the survey, controlling
      for child, maternal, household and community characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 890
      children included in the study, 83% received age-appropriate breastfeeding but
      only 48% were breastfed within 1 hour of birth. Exclusive breastfeeding under 6
      months of age was associated with a higher weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) and a
      lower probability of wasting, but the estimated effects were of borderline
      significance. A significant negative association was found between continued
      breastfeeding at 1 year and WAZ and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ). Timely
      introduction of complementary feeding in children aged 6-8 months was associated
      with a higher WAZ [effect size (ES) 0.6, P < 0.01] and higher WHZ (ES 0.6, P <
      0.05). Higher dietary diversity index (DDI) was associated with higher height-for
      age Z-score (ES 0.1, P < 0.05 for each DDI point). Children who achieved minimum
      meal frequency had a higher WAZ (ES 0.3, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first
      study to relate the wide ranges of IYCF indicators with child nutritional
      outcomes in Nepal, and it underscores the need to improve age-appropriate
      complementary feeding practices with a sustained focus on exclusive breastfeeding
      to reduce undernutrition in infants and young children.

PMID- 26863232
TI  - Identification and Validation of Reference Genes and Their Impact on Normalized
      Gene Expression Studies across Cultivated and Wild Cicer Species.
AB  - Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) is a preferred and reliable method for accurate
      quantification of gene expression to understand precise gene functions. A total
      of 25 candidate reference genes including traditional and new generation
      reference genes were selected and evaluated in a diverse set of chickpea samples.
      The samples used in this study included nine chickpea genotypes (Cicer spp.)
      comprising of cultivated and wild species, six abiotic stress treatments
      (drought, salinity, high vapor pressure deficit, abscisic acid, cold and heat
      shock), and five diverse tissues (leaf, root, flower, seedlings and seed). The
      geNorm, NormFinder and RefFinder algorithms used to identify stably expressed
      genes in four sample sets revealed stable expression of UCP and G6PD genes across
      genotypes, while TIP41 and CAC were highly stable under abiotic stress
      conditions. While PP2A and ABCT genes were ranked as best for different tissues,
      ABCT, UCP and CAC were most stable across all samples. This study demonstrated
      the usefulness of new generation reference genes for more accurate qPCR based
      gene expression quantification in cultivated as well as wild chickpea species.
      Validation of the best reference genes was carried out by studying their impact
      on normalization of aquaporin genes PIP1;4 and TIP3;1, in three contrasting
      chickpea genotypes under high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) treatment. The
      chickpea TIP3;1 gene got significantly up regulated under high VPD conditions
      with higher relative expression in the drought susceptible genotype, confirming
      the suitability of the selected reference genes for expression analysis. This is
      the first comprehensive study on the stability of the new generation reference
      genes for qPCR studies in chickpea across species, different tissues and abiotic
      stresses. 

PMID- 26863234
TI  - Combined whole-body vibration training and l-citrulline supplementation improves
      pressure wave reflection in obese postmenopausal women.
AB  - Postmenopausal women have increased wave reflection (augmentation pressure (AP)
      and index (AIx)) and reduced muscle function that predispose them to cardiac
      diseases and disability. Our aim was to examine the combined and independent
      effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) and l-citrulline supplementation
      on aortic hemodynamics and plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in
      postmenopausal women. Forty-one obese postmenopausal women were randomized to 3
      groups: l-citrulline, WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo for 8 weeks. Brachial
      and aortic systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, AP, AIx, AIx
      adjusted to 75 beats/min (AIx@75), and NOx were measured before and after 8
      weeks. All groups similarly decreased (P < 0.05) brachial and aortic pressures as
      well as AP, and similarly increased (P < 0.05) NOx levels. AIx and AIx@75
      decreased (P < 0.01) in the WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo groups, but not in
      the l-citrulline group. The improvement in AIx@75 (-10.5% +/- 8.8%, P < 0.05) in
      the WBVT+l-citrulline group was significant compared with the l-citrulline group.
      l-Citrulline supplementation and WBVT alone and combined decreased blood
      pressures. The combined intervention reduced AIx@75. This study supports the
      effectiveness of WBVT+l-citrulline as a potential intervention for prevention of
      hypertension-related cardiac diseases in obese postmenopausal women. 

PMID- 26863235
TI  - Whole-grain pasta reduces appetite and meal-induced thermogenesis acutely: a
      pilot study.
AB  - In epidemiological studies, the intake of foods rich in dietary fiber is
      associated with a reduced risk of developing overweight and type 2 diabetes. This
      work aims to identify acute strategies to regulate appetite and improve glucose
      control by using different pasta meals. Hence, 4 different isocaloric lunch
      meals, consisting of (i) refined-grain pasta (RG+T), (ii) whole-grain pasta
      (WG+T), (iii) lemon juice-supplemented refined-grain pasta (LRG+T), and (iv)
      refined-grain pasta with legumes (RG+L), were administered to 8 healthy
      participants in a crossover design. On the test days, participants underwent
      baseline measurements, including appetite sensation, blood sample, and resting
      energy expenditure (EE), after which the test lunch was served. Subjective
      appetite was assessed and a blood sample was taken each hour for 240 min, and
      postprandial EE was measured for 3 h. In repeated-measures analysis of covariance
      (ANCOVA), postprandial fullness (p = 0.001) increased and hunger (p = 0.038)
      decreased. WG+T had a lower EE than did both LGR+T (p = 0.02) and RG+L (p <
      0.001). Likewise, meal-induced thermogenesis was lower for WG+T compared with
      RG+L (58 +/- 81 kJ vs 248 +/- 188 kJ; p < 0.05). Plasma glucose (p = 0.001) was
      lower for RG+T, and triacylglycerols (p = 0.02) increased for LRG+T; however,
      insulin, C-peptide, and ghrelin were comparable in all other meals. In
      conclusion, our study indicates that acute consumption of whole-grain pasta may
      promote fullness and reduce hunger, lowering postprandial thermogenesis, and
      adding lemon juice to the pasta or legumes does not appear to affect appetite.
      However, none of pasta meal alterations improved the postprandial metabolic
      profile. 

PMID- 26863237
TI  - Quote ... unquote.

PMID- 26863236
TI  - Highly Strained Iron(II) Polypyridines: Exploiting the Quintet Manifold To Extend
      the Lifetime of MLCT Excited States.
AB  - Halogen substitution at the 6 and 6" positions of terpyridine (6,6"-Cl2-2,2:6',2"
      terpyridine = dctpy) is used to produce a room-temperature high-spin iron(II)
      complex [Fe(dctpy)2](BF4)2. Using UV-vis absorption, spectroelectrochemistry,
      transient absorption, and TD-DFT calculations, we present evidence that the
      quintet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state ((5)MLCT) can be accessed
      via visible light absorption and that the thermalized (5,7)MLCT is long-lived at
      16 ps, representing a > 100 fold increase compared to the (1,3)MLCT within
      species such as [Fe(bpy)3](2+). This result opens a new strategy for extending
      iron(II) MLCT lifetimes for potential use in photoredox processes. 

PMID- 26863238
TI  - The Fallopian Dilemma: African Bodies, Citizenship and Family Planning.
AB  - In the recent context of the European Union governmental activity-in particular
      in this time of crisis-immigration-related issues became of pivotal importance.
      Social healthcare programmes targeting deprived immigrant populations equate
      reducing social problems with guiding their conduct towards more responsible,
      healthier habits and life projects. Building upon a set of debates on governing
      the body and health under advanced liberalism, this paper, focusing on the
      Portuguese context and on family planning, suggests ideas towards a new research
      agenda on immigration and public health, claiming that social care interventions
      are inherently racialized. The insecurities, threats and overall concerns in a
      time of global crisis create a state of exception, which justifies the deployment
      of illiberal practices in order to secure collective well-being. In particular, I
      am interested in how the dominant discourses of the health and social care
      sectors influence [1] the ways in which "the right thing to do" is constructed
      and debated and the material effects of these decisions on immigrants lives; [2]
      the ongoing strategies, micronegotiations of power and truth between different
      actors; [3] the fading borders of the subject of medical knowledge, which becomes
      no longer to govern the body merely according to a medical logic, but rather to
      seek social well-being. 

PMID- 26863239
TI  - Depression in Racial and Ethnic Minorities: the Impact of Nativity and
      Discrimination.
AB  - This research examines factors associated with lifetime major depressive disorder
      in racial and ethnic minorities residing in the USA, with an emphasis on the
      impact of nativity, discrimination, and health lifestyle behaviors. The Healthy
      Migrant Effect and Health Lifestyle Theory were used to inform the design of this
      project. The use of these frameworks not only provides insightful results but
      also expands their application in mental health disparities research. Logistic
      regression models were implemented to examine risk factors associated with
      lifetime major depressive disorder, comparing immigrants to their American-born
      counterparts as well as to American-born Whites. Data were derived from the
      Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (n = 17,249). Support was found
      for the hypothesis that certain immigrants, specifically Asian and Afro
      Caribbean, have lower odds of depression as compared their non-immigrant
      counterparts. Although, Hispanic immigrants directionally had lower odds of
      depression, this finding was not statistically significant. Furthermore, engaging
      in excessive alcohol consumption was associated with higher rates of depression
      (odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, p < 0.001), and the effect of discrimination on
      depression was found to be significant, even when controlling for demographics.
      Of all racial and ethnic groups, foreign-born Afro-Caribbeans had the lowest rate
      of depression at 7 % followed by foreign-born Asians at 8 %.

PMID- 26863240
TI  - Differences in the Effects of the Great Recession on Health Outcomes among
      Minority Working-Age Adults.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We examined the effects of the Great Recession (December 2007-June
      2009) among vulnerable adults who may be at high risk of poor health and low
      access to health care. METHODS: Our primary outcomes of interest were self
      reported health status (fair/poor versus good/very good/excellent), and foregoing
      needed health care due to cost in the past 12 months. RESULTS: Racial and ethnic
      minorities, except Asians, experienced higher rates of poor/fair health and
      higher rates of forgone medical care than did White adults. Hispanic and AIAN
      adults experienced differential effects of the Great Recession, as compared to
      White adults. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how vulnerable populations react in
      times of economic flux will enable policy makers to identify strategies/policies
      to lessen the burden experienced by vulnerable adults.

PMID- 26863241
TI  - HIV-Related Mortality Among Adults (>= 18 years) of Various Hispanic or Latino
      Subgroups--United States, 2006-2010.
AB  - Hispanics or Latinos residing in the USA are disproportionately affected by HIV
      when compared to whites. Health outcomes for Hispanics or Latinos diagnosed with
      HIV infection may vary by Hispanic or Latino subgroup. We analyzed national
      mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics for the years 2006
      to 2010 to examine differences in HIV-related mortality among Hispanics or
      Latinos by sociodemographic factors and by Hispanic or Latino subgroup. After
      adjusting for age, HIV-related death rates per 100,000 population were highest
      among Hispanics or Latinos who were male (45.6, 95 % confidence interval [CI],
      44.4 to 46.9) compared to female (12.0, 95 % CI 11.4 to 12.6), or resided in the
      Northeast (75.1, 95 % CI 72.2 to 77.9) compared to other US regions at the time
      of death. The age-adjusted HIV-related death rate was highest among Puerto Ricans
      (100.9, 95 % CI 97.0 to 104.8) and lowest among Mexicans (16.9, 95 % CI 16.2 to
      17.6). Among all deaths, the proportion of HIV-related deaths was more than four
      times as high among Puerto Ricans (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.3, 95 % CI 4.1
      to 4.5) compared to Mexicans. To ensure better health outcomes for Hispanics or
      Latinos living with HIV in the USA, medical care and treatment programs should be
      adapted to address the needs of various Hispanic or Latino subgroups.

PMID- 26863242
TI  - Acceptability of a Rinse Screening Test for Diagnosing Head and Neck Squamous
      Cell Carcinoma Among Black Americans.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a debilitating and
      deadly disease. We evaluated an easy-to-administer and innovative rinse that
      assays soluble CD44 and total protein as HNSCC early detection markers. We
      examined whether the rinse was acceptable and whether the results would promote
      screening behavior. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study.
      METHODS: Participants (N = 150) from underserved, low-income Black American
      backgrounds completed assessments of satisfaction, intention to repeat test, and
      likely screening behavior after receiving results. Descriptive statistics, t
      tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted. RESULTS: The rinse was
      highly acceptable to participants and perceived to be acceptable among peers.
      Participants strongly agreed that they would perform the rinse as prescribed,
      engage in preventative behaviors if results indicated risk of cancer, and
      initiate treatment if they had a positive cancer finding. Employed participants
      slightly disliked the taste of the rinse but were more likely to schedule a
      follow-up appointment and engage in preventative behaviors based on the results.
      Those with health-care coverage (including public health insurance) reported that
      the test was harder to perform than those who were uninsured. CONCLUSION: An easy
      to-use rinse technique is acceptable and likely to promote screening behavior
      among Black Americans at risk for HNSCC. Given that many cancer screening
      modalities are considered unpleasant to undergo, this rinse holds promise for
      promoting screening behaviors and, thereby, may result in early detection of this
      potentially fatal disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID- 26863243
TI  - Erratum to: Acceptability of a Rinse Screening Test for Diagnosing Head and Neck
      Squamous Cell Carcinoma Among Black Americans.

PMID- 26863244
TI  - Racial Differences in Age-Related Variations of Testosterone Levels Among US
      Males: Potential Implications for Prostate Cancer and Personalized Medication.
AB  - AIM: The magnitude of the age-related declines in testosterone rather than levels
      measured at single point in time may be related to the genesis of prostate cancer
      (PCa). We examined age-related variations of testosterone levels among black and
      white males, which may provide important insights into racial disparities in PCa
      incidence and mortality. METHOD: We analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National
      Health and Nutritional Examination Survey to compare age-related variations in
      the testosterone levels of 355 black and 631 white males. RESULT: Overall,
      between the ages of 12 and 15, black males had lower testosterone levels than
      white males. Testosterone levels increased rapidly with age and reached higher
      and earlier peak levels in black males compared to white males at 20-30 years of
      age. After reaching a peak level, testosterone levels declined earlier in blacks
      than in whites. Further analyses showed that black males had considerably higher
      levels of testosterone compared to white males aged 20-39 years after adjusting
      for covariates, including age, body mass index, cigarette smoking, physical
      activity, and waist circumference; however, no statistically significant
      differences were observed between the groups at any other age. CONCLUSION: Our
      study revealed that testosterone levels in black males decrease substantially
      with increasing age compared to those in white males. This rapid drop in
      testosterone levels may contribute to racial disparities in PCa. Our findings
      also suggest that personalized medication for hormone replacement therapy may be
      necessary to avoid sudden drops in testosterone levels, particularly for black
      males.

PMID- 26863245
TI  - Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Knowledge and Attitudes, Preventative Health
      Behaviors, and Medical Mistrust Among a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Sample of
      College Women.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Medical mistrust is associated with disparities in a variety of
      health outcomes. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has the potential to
      decrease disparities in cervical cancer by preventing infection with the virus
      that causes these malignancies. No study has examined associations between
      medical mistrust and preventative health behaviors including the HPV vaccine
      among young minority women. METHODS: Self-reported racial/ethnic minority
      students completed a web-based survey in fall of 2011. Wilcoxon and Kruskal
      Wallis were used to test differences in medical mistrust scores by demographics
      and health behaviors. RESULTS: Medical mistrust varied significantly by race with
      Black women reporting the highest scores. Women with no regular health-care
      provider (HCP) or who had difficulty talking to their provider had higher
      mistrust. Higher medical mistrust was associated with a preference to receive HPV
      vaccine recommendation from a HCP of the same race or ethnicity among
      unvaccinated women. Black and Asian women who had not received the HPV vaccine
      had higher mistrust scores than vaccinated women. Perceived difficulty in talking
      to a HCP was associated with ever having a Pap smear. DISCUSSION: Awareness of
      medical mistrust and the influence on health behaviors may aid in increasing
      delivery of quality health services for racial and ethnic minority populations.
      Further research among different populations is needed to elucidate impacts of
      medical mistrust and provider communication on preventative health behaviors.

PMID- 26863246
TI  - Racial/Ethnic Minorities Ineligible for Direct Access Colonoscopy (DAC):
      Identifying Patients Who Fall Through the Cracks.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients ineligible for direct access colonoscopy (DAC) are typically
      referred for a pre-colonoscopy consultation with gastroenterology (GI). However,
      the referral from primary care to GI creates the potential for patients to drop
      out of treatment. The primary objective of the current study was to examine the
      proportion of participants deemed ineligible for DAC that (1) attended an
      appointment with GI and (2) completed a screening colonoscopy. The second aim of
      the study was to examine predictors of screening colonoscopy adherence. METHODS:
      Participants (N = 144) were average-risk patients who received a primary care
      referral for a screening colonoscopy and were deemed ineligible for DAC between
      2008 and 2012. Following the primary care visit, participants completed a
      questionnaire that assessed demographics and psychological factors. Medical chart
      review determined whether participants completed the screening colonoscopy via
      the GI referral. RESULTS: Of the 144 participants, only 19 (13 %) completed the
      screening colonoscopy via the GI referral. Multiple regression analyses revealed
      that decisional balance was the only unique predictor of screening colonoscopy
      adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients deemed ineligible for DAC are highly unlikely to
      complete a screening colonoscopy. Interventions are needed to increase screening
      colonoscopy adherence in this vulnerable population.

PMID- 26863247
TI  - Black: White Health Disparities in the United States and Chicago: 1990-2010.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In order to assess progress in eliminating health disparities, a
      Healthy People 2010 goal, both at the national level and in Chicago, Illinois, we
      examined whether disparities between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White
      persons widened, narrowed, or stayed the same between 1990 and 2010. METHODS: We
      examined 17 health status indicators. In order to determine whether a disparity
      widened, narrowed, or remained unchanged between 1990 and 2010, we examined the
      relative percentage difference in rates at both time points and at each location.
      We calculated P values to determine whether changes in relative percentage
      difference over time were statistically significant. RESULTS: Disparities between
      non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White populations widened for 8 of the 17
      health status indicators examined for the USA (6 significantly), whereas in
      Chicago the majority of disparities widened (9 of 17, 4 significantly). The
      mortality gap is responsible for more than 60,000 excess Black deaths per year in
      the USA. CONCLUSIONS: Despite substantial effort and funds aimed at meeting the
      Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating health disparities, minimal progress has
      been made.

PMID- 26863248
TI  - Motivation for Psychotherapy and Illness Beliefs in Turkish Immigrant Inpatients
      in Germany: Results of a Cultural Comparison Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Some immigrant populations, for instance, Turkish immigrants, suffer
      from worse mental health than the general population. Moreover, psychotherapeutic
      treatment does not work well in this group. This might be explained by lower
      motivation for psychotherapy and particular illness beliefs as important early
      predictors of treatment outcome. We investigate differences in these predictors
      between Turkish immigrant inpatients and inpatients without a migration
      background and evaluate whether particular illness beliefs have a negative impact
      on motivation for psychotherapy. METHOD: Turkish immigrant inpatients and
      inpatients without a migration background (N = 100), suffering from depressive
      disorder, somatoform disorder, and/or adjustment disorder, completed
      questionnaires assessing motivation for psychotherapy, depressive and somatic
      symptoms, illness perception, illness-related locus of control, and causal
      illness attributions. RESULTS: Despite a higher symptom burden, motivation for
      psychotherapy was lower in Turkish immigrant inpatients than in inpatients
      without a migration background (d = 0.54). This was fully explained by stronger
      beliefs in supernatural causes of illness and higher fatalistic-external illness
      related locus of control in the Turkish immigrant sample (mediation analysis; R
      (2) = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Turkish immigrants believe in supernatural or
      fatalistic causes of illness and fatalistic-external locus of control to a
      greater extent than German inpatients without a migration background. These
      beliefs reduce motivation for psychotherapy and need to be addressed in
      psychotherapeutic treatment in order to secure positive treatment outcomes.

PMID- 26863250
TI  - [Icelandic doctors can do much better - to halt unnecessary antimicrobial
      prescriptions[Editorial]].

PMID- 26863249
TI  - The Influence of Race on Overall Survival in Patients with Newly Diagnosed
      Bladder Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported significant lower incidence yet
      greater risk of death from bladder cancer (BCa) in African-Americans compared
      with Caucasians. In this study, the overall survival amongst African-Americans
      and Caucasians with BCa within the state of Florida is evaluated. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The Florida Cancer Data System and the Florida Agency for Health Care
      Administration data sets were linked on the basis of unique identifiers, which
      identified 28,786 patients (27,811 Caucasian and 975 African-Americans) with
      newly diagnosed BCa from January 1994-December 2009. Data in the database
      included race/ethnicity, age, smoking history, insurance status, treatment, tumor
      grade, tumor stage, and overall survival. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests
      were used to compare variables between African-Americans and Caucasians. Survival
      rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method while univariate effects were
      tested by the log-rank test, and multivariate effects were tested by Cox
      proportional-hazard regression model. P values less than 0.05 were considered
      statistically significant. RESULTS: Higher clinical stage bladder tumors
      including T3/4 disease (14.5 % vs. 8.0 %, p < 0.001), lymph node involvement (7.3
      % vs. 3.4 %, p < 0.001), and metastatic disease (5.3 % vs. 1.7 %, p < 0.001), as
      well as higher grade disease (60.2 % vs. 48 %, p < 0.001) were more commonly
      reported in African-Americans than in Caucasians with newly diagnosed BCa.
      African-Americans tended to be treated with more aggressive therapies (e.g.,
      radical cystectomy). After adjusting for all covariates, African-Americans
      actually had more favorable outcomes as related to overall survival (HR = 0.35,
      95 % CI, 0.12-0.98, p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Though African-Americans initially
      present with more aggressive BCa, African-Americans actually have an improved
      overall survival compared with Caucasians. Though contrary to previous reports,
      our results may signify a more complex relationship between race and BCa outcomes
      and thus warrants further attention.

PMID- 26863251
TI  - [Our biggest challenge ahead[Editorial]].

PMID- 26863252
TI  - [Outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection repairs in Iceland].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Acute type A aortic dissection is a life-threatening disease
      associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment is challenging and
      requires emergency surgery. This study presents for the first time the short- and
      long-term outcome of acute type A aortic dissection repairs in Iceland. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 45 patients (mean age 60.7 +/- 13.9 years,
      68.9% male) treated for type A aortic dissection at Landspitali University
      Hospital between 1992 and 2014. Data was gathered from medical records about
      known risk factors, presenting symptoms, type of procedure, complications and
      operative mortality. RESULTS: Out of 45 operations the majority (73.3%) was
      performed in the second half of the study period. Nearly all patients presented
      with chest pain and 46.7% were in shock on arrival. Malperfusion syndrome was
      apparent in 26.7% of cases. A variety of operative methods were used, including
      hypothermic circulatory arrest in 31.1% of the cases and one-third of patients
      needed aortic root replacement. Reoperation rate for postoperative bleeding was
      29.3% and perioperative stroke occurred in 14.6% of patients. The 30-day
      mortality rate was 22.2% (10 patients) and 5- and 10-year survival was 71.4 +/-
      8.2% and 65.4 +/- 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term outcomes of
      surgical repair for acute type A aortic dissection in Iceland is comparable to
      neighbouring countries, including 30-day mortality and long-term survival.
      Complications, however, are common, especially reoperations for bleeding.
      1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Landspitali University Hospital, 2Faculty
      of Medicine, University of Iceland. KEY WORDS: Aortic dissection type A, aortic
      aneurysm, open heart surgery, complications, operative mortality, survival.
      Correspondence: Arnar Geirsson, arnarge@landspitali.is.

PMID- 26863253
TI  - [Incidence of Bicycle injuries presenting to the Emergency Department in
      Reykjavik 2005-2010].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Bicycling has become increasingly popular in Iceland. Official
      registration of bicycle accidents is based on police reports. As minor accidents
      are often not reported to the police, these accidents may be underreported in
      police records. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of bicycle
      related accidents in patients seeking medical assistance at the Emergency
      Department (ED) at Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik (LUH), Iceland.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the ED at
      LUH, Iceland from January 2005 to December 2010. All medical files were reviewed
      and sex, age, year and month of accident/injury, helmet wearing, ICD-10
      diagnosis, severity of injury according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and
      the Injury Severity Score (ISS) recorded. The rate of hospital admission was
      examined with length of stay, Intensive Care Unit admission, use of medical
      imaging and operative treatment. RESULTS: A total of 3472 patients presented to
      the ED with bicycle related accidents , 68.3% men and 31.7% female. The average
      age of patients was 22,6 years (1-95 years). Most are injured during recreational
      activities (72.4%) and in residence areas (45,7%). Most injuries occurred during
      May-September (71.4%). Data on counterparty was missing in 74.9% of cases. The
      cause of accident was in 44.0% a low fall or jump. The upper extremity was
      injured in 47.1% cases. A majority of the patients (65.6%) had a mild injury
      (ISS<=3points) and 29.3% had a moderate injury (4-8 points). No fatalities were
      found during the study period. Use of helmets was only recorded in 14.2% of
      cases. In total 124 patients were admitted during the period where the mean time
      of admission was 5 days. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bicycle injuries increased
      during the study period but appears to have increased less than the number of
      bicyclists. Injuries are more frequent among males and the majority are of a
      young age. The accidents usually occur during the spring and summer. Most
      injuries are minor but 3.6% required admission. Department of Emergency Medicine,
      The National University Hospital of Iceland1, Icelandic Transportation Safety
      Board2, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland3 KEY WORDS: bicycle accident,
      emergency department, helmet, injury. Correspondence: Hjalti Mar Bjornsson,
      hjaltimb@landspitali.is.

PMID- 26863254
TI  - [The short-and long term effect of multidisciplinary obesity treatment on body
      mass index and mental health].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this treatment study was to evaluate both short- and
      long-term effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment. Long-term outcomes of
      patients receiving gastric bypass surgery in addition to behavioral obesity
      treatment were compared with those who did not undergo surgery. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The participants were 100 patients undergoing a four week inpatient
      obesity treatment at the Hospital in Neskaupsstadur (Fjordungsjukrahusid i
      Neskaupstad (FSN). After treatment was completed, 28 of these patients underwent
      further treatment, receiving gastric bypass surgery. All patients were followed
      for two years after completing the four week treatment. Body mass index (BMI),
      quality of life and symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured for all
      participants before and after treatment, and again using mailed questionnaires in
      a cross-sectional data collection in the summer of 2012. RESULTS: Participants
      achieved statistically significant weight loss (median 1,85 BMI points), improved
      their quality of life and mental health after four week obesity treatment, and
      long term results remained significant. Three years after the conclusion of
      treatment, statistically significant weight loss was still present for patients
      that had not undergone gastric bypass surgery (median 2.13 BMI points), but
      improvements in mental health and quality of life were no longer present among
      subjects who did not undergo surgery. Patients who underwent gastric bypass
      surgery achieved greater weight loss (median 13.12 BMI points) and longer lasting
      improvements in mental health and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Results show that
      the multidisciplinary obesity treatment is effective in reducing obesity and
      improving mental health and quality of life in the short term. With follow-up
      treatment, the weight loss is maintained for up to three years after treatment
      for all participants. The bypass surgery group lost more weight and showed more
      permanent improvements in mental health and quality of life. These results
      underline the necessity of providing long-term treatment in maintaining
      improvements when treating obesity. 1Municipal Service Centre for Midborg and
      Hlidar 2University of Iceland, 3National University Hospital of Iceland, 4East
      Coast Regional Hospital in Iceland, 5The Health Care Institution of South
      Iceland. KEY WORDS: obesity, short- and long term treatment outcomes, weight
      loss, quality of life, mental health, interdisciplinary treatment.
      Correspondence: Bjarni Kristinn Gunnarsson bjarnikris@gmail.com.

PMID- 26863255
TI  - Efficacy of oral Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 on microflora and antioxidant
      in mice.
AB  - This study aimed to examine whether Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521, a species
      of colonic microflora in humans, is involved in the intestinal tract of mice.
      This study was also conducted to determine the antioxidant activity of this
      species by evaluating different microbial populations and reactive oxygen species
      isolated from feces and intestinal contents for 28 days of oral administration.
      Microbial diversities were assessed through bacterial culture techniques, PCR
      DGGE, and real-time PCR. This study showed that the intake of B. bifidum ATCC
      29521 significantly (p < 0.05) improved the ecosystem of the intestinal tract of
      BALB/c mice by increasing the amount of probiotics (Lactobacillus intestinalis
      and Lactobacillus crispatus) and by reducing unwanted bacterial populations
      (Enterobacter, Escherichia coli). Antioxidative activities of incubated cell-free
      extracts were evaluated through various assays, including the scavenging ability
      of DPPH radical (64.5% and 67.54% (p < 0.05), respectively, at 21 days in
      nutrients and 28 days in MRS broth), superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical (85%
      and 61.5% (p < 0.05), respectively, at intestinal contents in nutrients and 21
      days in MRS broth). Total reducing power (231.5 MUmol/L (p < 0.05), 14 days in
      MRS broth) and mRNA level of genes related to oxidative stress were also
      determined. Results indicated that B. bifidum ATCC 29521 elicits a beneficial
      effect on murine gut microbiota and antioxidant activities compared with the
      control samples. This species can be considered as a potential bioresource
      antioxidant to promote health. Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 may also be
      used as a promising material in microbiological and food applications. 

PMID- 26863256
TI  - Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of
      Thin Glassy Films.
AB  - This report aims to fully describe the experimental technique of using
      ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg (CR-Tg) experiments. These
      measurements are simple high-throughput characterization experiments, which can
      determine the glass transition temperature (Tg), average dynamics, fragility and
      the expansion coefficient of the super-cooled liquid and glassy states for a
      variety of glassy materials. This technique allows for these parameters to be
      measured in a single experiment, while other methods must combine a variety of
      different techniques to investigate all of these properties. Measurements of
      dynamics close to Tg are particularly challenging. The advantage of cooling rate
      dependent Tg measurements over other methods which directly probe bulk and
      surface relaxation dynamics is that they are relatively quick and simple
      experiments, which do not utilize fluorophores or other complicated experimental
      techniques. Furthermore, this technique probes the average dynamics of
      technologically relevant thin films in temperature and relaxation time (taualpha)
      regimes relevant to the glass transition (taualpha > 100 sec). The limitation to
      using ellipsometry for cooling rate dependent Tg experiments is that it cannot
      probe relaxation times relevant to measurements of viscosity (taualpha << 1 sec).
      Other cooling rate dependent Tg measurement techniques, however, can extend the
      CR-Tg method to faster relaxation times. Furthermore, this technique can be used
      for any glassy system so long as the integrity of the film remains throughout the
      experiment. 

PMID- 26863257
TI  - Does Leveling the Upper Thoracic Spine Have Any Impact on Postoperative Clinical
      Shoulder Balance in Lenke 1 and 2 Patients?
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospective data. OBJECTIVE: To determine
      if surgically leveling the upper thoracic spine in patients with adolescent
      idiopathic scoliosis results in level shoulders postoperatively. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: Research has shown that preoperatively tilted proximal ribs and
      T1 tilt are more correlated with trapezial prominence than with clavicle angle.
      METHODS: Prospectively collected Lenke 1 and 2 cases from a single center were
      reviewed. Clinical shoulder imbalance was measured from 2-year postoperative
      clinical photos. Lateral shoulder imbalance was assessed utilizing clavicle
      angle. Medial imbalance was assessed with trapezial angle (TA), and trapezial
      area ratio (TAR). First rib angle, T1 tilt, and upper thoracic curve were
      measured from 2-year radiographs. Angular measurements were considered level if
      <= 3 degrees  of zero. TAR was considered level if <= 1 standard deviation of the
      natural log of the ratio. Upper thoracic Cobb at 2-years was categorized as at or
      below the mean value (<= 14 degrees ) versus above the mean. RESULTS: Eighty-four
      patients were identified. There was no significant difference in the percentage
      of patients with a level clavicle angle or TAR based on first rib being level, T1
      tilt being level, or upper thoracic Cobb being at/below versus above the mean (P
      < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with
      level TA based on first rib angle (P = 0.006), T1 tilt (P <= 0.001), and
      postoperative upper thoracic Cobb (P = 0.04). The odds ratios of having a level
      TA were 3.9 (1.4-10.6) if first rib was level, 5 (1.9-12.9) if T1 tilt was level,
      and 2.6 (1.0-6.3) if postoperative upper thoracic Cobb was <= 14 degrees .
      CONCLUSION: Leveling the upper thoracic spine does not guarantee clinically
      balanced shoulders or clavicles. Trapezial prominence was impacted by leveling T1
      and the first rib and by minimizing the upper thoracic curve. How to achieve
      laterally balanced shoulders postoperatively remains unclear. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      3.

PMID- 26863258
TI  - Impact of Gender on 30-Day Complications After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine if postoperative morbidity for patients undergoing spinal deformity
      surgery varies by sex. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Influence of sex has been
      investigated in other surgical procedures but has not yet been studied in adult
      spinal deformity surgery. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National
      Surgical Quality Improvement Program is a large multicenter clinical registry
      that prospectively collects preoperative risk factors, intraoperative variables,
      and 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality outcomes from about 400
      hospitals nationwide. Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to query the
      database for adults who underwent fusion for spinal deformity. Patients were
      separated into groups of male and female sex. Univariate analysis and
      multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the effect of sex on the
      incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Female sex was found
      to be a predictor of any complication[odds ratio (OR): 1.4, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.2-1.7, P < 0.0001], intra- or postoperative RBC transfusion (OR:
      1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.9, P < .0001), urinary tract infection (OR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.2
      3.3, P = 0.0046), and length of stay >5 days (OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5, P =
      0.0015). Male sex was associated with higher rate of pulmonary (2.9% vs. 2.0%, P
      = 0.0344) and cardiac complications (0.9% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.0497). However, male
      sex as an independent risk factor for pulmonary (OR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.1, P =
      0.0715) and cardiac complications (OR: 1.9, 95% CI 0.9-4.0, P = 0.1076) did not
      reach significance. CONCLUSION: Female sex was found to increase overall
      morbidity, particularly for urinary tract infection, transfusion, and length of
      stay >5 days. Male sex was associated with greater incidence of pulmonary and
      cardiac complications. Thus, sex and other patient characteristics highlighted
      must be considered as part of surgical risk planning and patient counseling.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26863259
TI  - Local Epiphyseal Growth Modulation for the Early Treatment of Progressive
      Scoliosis: Experimental Validation Using a Porcine Model.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study of a localized device for the control of the
      vertebral growth using an immature porcine model. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study
      was to experimentally evaluate a localized device acting on the epiphyseal growth
      plates without bridging the intervertebral disc of immature hybrid pigs over 3
      months of growth. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Based on current published
      literature, fusionless devices offer promising scoliosis treatment alternatives
      to conventional spinal instrumentation and fusion in the growing spine. Current
      compression-based devices achieve growth modulation while also compressing the
      intervertebral discs, increasing the risk of long-term disc degeneration.
      METHODS: An intravertebral staple acting on both the superior and inferior growth
      plates was inserted locally over T7-T9 of seven healthy immature pigs. Four age
      matched animals served as controls. Radiographs were acquired monthly to assess
      induced spinal curvature and vertebral wedging (inverse model). Global (spinal)
      and local (vertebral, discal) geometric changes were evaluated over 3-months
      follow-up. Final left/right vertebral height differences were also quantified.
      RESULTS: The only postoperative complication observed was one pig that had a
      persistent deep infection and was excluded from the study. No significant changes
      in spinal alignment were reported in control animals. Final induced Cobb angle
      was 25.0 degrees  +/- 4.2 degrees  measured over T7-T9, with no observable
      sagittal profile modification. Highest vertebral wedging occurred at T9 with 18.2
      degrees  +/- 2.7 degrees . Cumulative vertebral wedging over T7-T9 accounted for
      45.4 degrees , demonstrating evidence of reversed disc wedge phenomenon.
      Vertebral height was 3.9 +/- 1.0 mm shorter on the instrumented side suggesting
      full growth restraint. Local and regional induced deformities significantly
      differed from their control counterparts (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this animal
      model, the local epiphyseal device achieved significant localized growth
      modulation over as little as three instrumented levels, with explicit vertebral
      wedging exclusive of the intervertebral disc. By increasing the number of
      instrumented levels, one may achieve higher curvature control potentially
      providing a unique local correction method to correct spinal deformity without
      affecting the intervertebral disc. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

PMID- 26863260
TI  - Inhibition of p21-Activated Kinase 1 by IPA-3 Promotes Locomotor Recovery After
      Spinal Cord Injury in Mice.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-six male adult CD-1 mice were randomly divided into sham,
      spinal cord injury (SCI) + vehicle, and SCI + IPA-3 groups. Expression of matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, production of tumor necrosis factors (TNF)
      alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta, tissue edema, blood-spinal cord barrier
      penetrability, neural cell apoptosis, and neurological function recovery were
      measured. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of specific
      inhibition of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) by IPA-3 on SCI and the underlying
      mechanisms thereof. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: SCI is a devastating clinical
      condition that may result in long-lasting and deteriorating functional deficits.
      The major goal of SCI treatment is to limit the development of secondary injury.
      IPA-3, a PAK1 inhibitor, exhibited neuroprotection against secondary damage after
      traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: MMP-2, MMP-9,
      and cleaved caspase-3 expression were assessed by Western blot. Inflammatory
      cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (ELISA). The blood-spinal cord barrier disruption was measured by water
      content and Evans blue extravasation of the spinal cord. Neuronal apoptosis was
      evaluated by Nissl staining and Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl Transferase Mediated
      Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. The locomotor behavior of hind limb was
      evaluated by Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-injury.
      RESULTS: Compared with SCI + vehicle mice, IPA-3 treatment showed decreased p
      PAK1, MMP-2, MMP-9, cleaved caspase-3, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta expression.
      Moreover, inhibition of PAK1 by IPA-3 reduced spinal cord water content and Evans
      blue extravasation, increased neuronal survival, and reduced TUNEL-positive cells
      at 24 hours after SCI. Furthermore, IPA-3 improved spinal cord functional
      recovery 7 days after SCI. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of PAK1 by IPA-3 promoted
      recovery of neurological function, possibly by downregulating the expression of
      MMP-2, MMP-9, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta. Our data suggest that PAK1 may be a
      potential therapeutic target in patients with SCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.

PMID- 26863261
TI  - Predisposing Characteristics of Adjacent Segment Disease After Lumbar Fusion.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to
      determine medical, radiographic, and surgical risk factors for the development of
      adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:
      ASD is a recognized outcome of spinal fusion that leads to increased costs and
      debilitating symptoms for patients. However, a comprehensive understanding of
      risk factors for the development of this surgical outcome does not exist.
      METHODS: The medical records of patients who received their first lumbar fusion
      for any indication were retrospectively examined for preoperative medical
      comorbidities and medications, as well as surgical approach and perioperative
      complications. A blinded reviewer assessed radiographs for each patient to
      examine sagittal alignment after fusion. Multivariable logistic regression was
      used to model the risk of developing ASD on the basis of one or more predictors.
      RESULTS: A total of 137 patients fit the inclusion criteria; 9% required a follow
      up operation for degeneration at segments adjacent to the fusion. The ASD group
      had a mean follow-up of 21.1 months prior to revision surgery and an overall
      follow-up of 41.0 months. The average follow-up in the control group was 14.0
      months. Statistically significant independent predictors of developing ASD
      included antidepressant use [odds ratio (OR) = 5.4], diagnosis of degenerative
      scoliosis (OR = 34.2), fusion of L4-S1 (OR = 56.5), having no decompressions
      adjacent to the fusion, and low sacral slope (OR = 0.9). No patient who developed
      ASD received a decompression adjacent to the fusion such that an OR could not be
      generated for this independent predictor. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to
      use a combination of medical, surgical, and postoperative sagittal balance as
      risk factors for the development of adjacent segment disease after lumbar fusion.
      The awareness of these risk factors may allow for better patient selection and
      surgical technique to decrease the probability of acquiring this adverse outcome.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26863262
TI  - Inferior Outcome of Lumbar Disc Surgery in Women Due to Inferior Preoperative
      Status: A Prospective Study in 11,237 Patients.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of prospectively collected data in a national register.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to, in a nationwide perspective, evaluate
      whether there exist sex differences in outcome of lumbar disc herniation (LDH)
      surgery and whether the gender-specific referral pattern influence the outcome.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies infer that women are referred to LDH
      surgery with inferior clinical status than men. Whether the surgical outcome is
      different in men and women is debated. METHODS: We found in the validated Swedish
      National Spine Surgical Register, 11,237 patients aged 13 to 89 years who between
      years 2000 and 2010 were registered in SweSpine with LDH surgery and with both
      preoperative and 1 year postoperative data. The register includes data on sex,
      age, smoking habits, walking distance, consumption of analgesics, back and leg
      pain (Visual Analogue Scale; VAS), quality of life (EuroQol; EQ5D and Short Form
      36 Questionnaire; SF-36), and disability (Oswestry Disability Index; ODI). We
      evaluated sex discrepancies in response to surgery and 1 year postoperative
      outcome. RESULTS: All end point variables improved markedly with a similar rate
      in both men and women (all P < 0.001). As women preoperatively reported higher
      consumption of analgesics, more impaired walking distance, more back and leg
      pain, inferior quality of life and higher disability than men (all P < 0.001) and
      improvement by surgery was similar in both sex, women reported 1 year after
      surgery still higher consumption of analgesics, more impaired walking distance,
      more back and leg pain, inferior quality of life, and higher disability (all P <
      0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgery for LDH confers great improvements in both sex.
      Because women are scheduled for surgery with an inferior clinical status than men
      and the improvement is similar in both sex, the 1 year postoperative outcome is
      inferior in women than in men. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

PMID- 26863263
TI  - Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for the Identification of Arabidopsis Protein
      DNA Interactions In Vivo.
AB  - Intricate gene regulatory networks orchestrate biological processes and
      developmental transitions in plants. Selective transcriptional activation and
      silencing of genes mediate the response of plants to environmental signals and
      developmental cues. Therefore, insights into the mechanisms that control plant
      gene expression are essential to gain a deep understanding of how biological
      processes are regulated in plants. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)
      technique described here is a procedure to identify the DNA-binding sites of
      proteins in genes or genomic regions of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana.
      The interactions with DNA of proteins of interest such as transcription factors,
      chromatin proteins or posttranslationally modified versions of histones can be
      efficiently analyzed with the ChIP protocol. This method is based on the fixation
      of protein-DNA interactions in vivo, random fragmentation of chromatin,
      immunoprecipitation of protein-DNA complexes with specific antibodies, and
      quantification of the DNA associated with the protein of interest by PCR
      techniques. The use of this methodology in Arabidopsis has contributed
      significantly to unveil transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that control a
      variety of plant biological processes. This approach allowed the identification
      of the binding sites of the Arabidopsis chromatin protein EBS to regulatory
      regions of the master gene of flowering FT. The impact of this protein in the
      accumulation of particular histone marks in the genomic region of FT was also
      revealed through ChIP analysis. 

PMID- 26863264
TI  - Examination of Proteins Bound to Nascent DNA in Mammalian Cells Using BrdU-ChIP
      Slot-Western Technique.
AB  - Histone deacetylases 1 and 2 (HDAC1,2) localize to the sites of DNA replication.
      In the previous study, using a selective inhibitor and a genetic knockdown
      system, we showed novel functions for HDAC1,2 in replication fork progression and
      nascent chromatin maintenance in mammalian cells. Additionally, we used a BrdU
      ChIP-Slot-Western technique that combines chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of
      bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled DNA with slot blot and Western analyses to
      quantitatively measure proteins or histone modification associated with nascent
      DNA. Actively dividing cells were treated with HDAC1,2 selective inhibitor or
      transfected with siRNAs against Hdac1 and Hdac2 and then newly synthesized DNA
      was labeled with the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The BrdU labeling
      was done at a time point when there was no significant cell cycle arrest or
      apoptosis due to the loss of HDAC1,2 functions. Following labeling of cells with
      BrdU, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of histone acetylation marks or the
      chromatin-remodeler was performed with specific antibodies. BrdU-labeled input
      DNA and the immunoprecipitated (or ChIPed) DNA was then spotted onto a membrane
      using the slot blot technique and immobilized using UV. The amount of nascent DNA
      in each slot was then quantitatively assessed using Western analysis with an anti
      BrdU antibody. The effect of loss of HDAC1,2 functions on the levels of newly
      synthesized DNA-associated histone acetylation marks and chromatin remodeler was
      then determined by normalizing the BrdU-ChIP signal obtained from the treated
      samples to the control samples. 

PMID- 26863265
TI  - Outcomes of Two Trials of Oxygen-Saturation Targets in Preterm Infants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The safest ranges of oxygen saturation in preterm infants have been
      the subject of debate. METHODS: In two trials, conducted in Australia and the
      United Kingdom, infants born before 28 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to
      either a lower (85 to 89%) or a higher (91 to 95%) oxygen-saturation range.
      During enrollment, the oximeters were revised to correct a calibration-algorithm
      artifact. The primary outcome was death or disability at a corrected gestational
      age of 2 years; this outcome was evaluated among infants whose oxygen saturation
      was measured with any study oximeter in the Australian trial and those whose
      oxygen saturation was measured with a revised oximeter in the U.K. trial.
      RESULTS: After 1135 infants in Australia and 973 infants in the United Kingdom
      had been enrolled in the trial, an interim analysis showed increased mortality at
      a corrected gestational age of 36 weeks, and enrollment was stopped. Death or
      disability in the Australian trial (with all oximeters included) occurred in 247
      of 549 infants (45.0%) in the lower-target group versus 217 of 545 infants
      (39.8%) in the higher-target group (adjusted relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.27; P=0.10); death or disability in the U.K. trial (with
      only revised oximeters included) occurred in 185 of 366 infants (50.5%) in the
      lower-target group versus 164 of 357 infants (45.9%) in the higher-target group
      (adjusted relative risk, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.24; P=0.15). In post hoc
      combined, unadjusted analyses that included all oximeters, death or disability
      occurred in 492 of 1022 infants (48.1%) in the lower-target group versus 437 of
      1013 infants (43.1%) in the higher-target group (relative risk, 1.11; 95% CI,
      1.01 to 1.23; P=0.02), and death occurred in 222 of 1045 infants (21.2%) in the
      lower-target group versus 185 of 1045 infants (17.7%) in the higher-target group
      (relative risk, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.43; P=0.04). In the group in which
      revised oximeters were used, death or disability occurred in 287 of 580 infants
      (49.5%) in the lower-target group versus 248 of 563 infants (44.0%) in the higher
      target group (relative risk, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.27; P=0.07), and death
      occurred in 144 of 587 infants (24.5%) versus 99 of 586 infants (16.9%) (relative
      risk, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.82; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of an oxygen
      saturation target range of 85 to 89% versus 91 to 95% resulted in
      nonsignificantly higher rates of death or disability at 2 years in each trial but
      in significantly increased risks of this combined outcome and of death alone in
      post hoc combined analyses. (Funded by the Australian National Health and Medical
      Research Council and others; BOOST-II Current Controlled Trials number,
      ISRCTN00842661, and Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number,
      ACTRN12605000055606.).

PMID- 26863266
TI  - Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Erectile Dysfunction: A
      Nationwide Population-Based Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated
      with an increased risk of subsequent erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: We
      identified 1845 patients who received a diagnosis with IBD between 2000 and 2011
      from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. For the comparison
      cohort, we randomly extracted the data of 7380 patients matched by sex, age, and
      baseline year. Follow-up continued until the development of ED, withdrawal from
      the National Health Insurance program, or the end of 2011. The cumulative
      incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) for ED development were determined. RESULTS:
      After 12 years of follow-up, subsequent ED incidence rates in the IBD and
      comparison cohorts were 2.23 and 1.29 per 10,000 person-years, respectively
      (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.52; P <
      0.05). Compared with the non-IBD cohort without comorbidity, the risk of ED was
      higher in the IBD cohort with comorbidity (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.46, 95% CI,
      1.32-4.58). Patients with ulcerative colitis were 2.27-fold more likely to
      develop ED than were patients without IBD (95% CI, 1.22-4.20). Compared with
      patients without IBD who were aged <=49 years, patients with IBD aged >=65 years
      were 3.36-fold more likely to develop ED (95% CI, 1.42-7.96). CONCLUSIONS: We
      found that the patients with IBD had a 1.64-fold higher risk of developing ED
      than did the comparison group. Physicians should be aware of the link to ED when
      assessing patients with IBD.

PMID- 26863268
TI  - The effect of kinesio tape on neuromuscular activity of peroneus longus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Functional ankle instability is the result of sensorimotor or
      structural deficits. The commonly used kinesio tape (KT) is supposed to have a
      positive influence on sensorimotor functions. METHODS: Eight women and two men
      (mean +/- SD, age 24.4 +/- 3.3 years) with functional ankle instability with
      recurrent ankle sprains ran downhill on a treadmill (3.3 m/s and a negative slope
      of 5 degrees ). The first trial was without KT, the second with KT on the
      peroneus longus (PL) muscle. Neuromuscular activity was measured using surface
      electromyography for 15 seconds. Sensation of giving way was assessed with a
      visual analog scale (VAS). Comparisons were made between measurements with and
      without KT using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. The level of significance was set at
      P <= 0.05. RESULTS: None of the chosen parameters for preactivation, reflex
      activation, or total activation showed statistically significant differences
      between the two trials (P > 0.05). The mean values for the sensation of giving
      way were lower with KT (VAS, median 1.2, range 0-2.8) than without (VAS, median
      1.8, range 0-3.9), but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.102) or
      clinical relevance. CONCLUSION: KT in participants with functional ankle
      instability (FAI) seems to have no effect on the neuromuscular activity of PL and
      sensation of giving way during downhill running.

PMID- 26863269
TI  - Gold nanoparticles and bioconjugation: a pathway for proteomic applications.
AB  - In the last few years gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) became extremely interesting
      materials due to their enhanced optical, chemical and electrical properties. With
      the intention of taking advantage of those properties, the use of AuNPs has
      spread into a wide variety of areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, industry
      and medicine. More interestingly, their ability to form robust conjugates with
      biomolecules has given proteomics a new tool to improve aspects where the current
      methods to study proteins and their interactions in living cells cannot achieve
      the success required. In this review we present some of the current methods for
      AuNPs synthesis, the tailoring of their surface with ligands to improve stability
      and strategies to conjugate with biomolecules. Lastly, we also discuss their
      application in proteomic methods and recent developments in clinical diagnosis.

PMID- 26863267
TI  - Cytokine Networks and T-Cell Subsets in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
AB  - Pathogenesis of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as ulcerative
      colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), involve proinflammatory changes within the
      microbiota, chronic immune-mediated inflammatory responses, and epithelial
      dysfunction. Converging data from genome-wide association studies, mouse models
      of IBD, and clinical trials indicate that cytokines are key effectors of both
      normal homeostasis and chronic inflammation in the gut. Yet many questions remain
      concerning the role of specific cytokines in different IBDs within distinct
      regions of the gut, and regarding cellular mechanisms of action. In this article,
      we review current and emerging concepts concerning the role of cytokines in IBD
      with a focus on immune regulation, T cell subsets, and potential clinical
      applications. 

PMID- 26863270
TI  - Quantification of Cerebral Vascular Architecture using Two-photon Microscopy in a
      Mouse Model of HIV-induced Neuroinflammation.
AB  - Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) infection frequently results in HIV-1
      Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), and is characterized by a chronic
      neuroinflammatory state within the central nervous system (CNS), thought to be
      driven principally by virally-mediated activation of microglia and brain resident
      macrophages. HIV-1 infection is also accompanied by changes in cerebrovascular
      blood flow (CBF), raising the possibility that HIV-associated chronic
      neuroinflammation may lead to changes in CBF and/or in cerebral vascular
      architecture. To address this question, we have used a mouse model for HIV
      induced neuroinflammation, and we have tested whether long-term exposure to this
      inflammatory environment may damage brain vasculature and result in rarefaction
      of capillary networks. In this paper we describe a method to quantify changes in
      cortical capillary density in a mouse model of neuroinflammatory disease (HIV-1
      Tat transgenic mice). This generalizable approach employs in vivo two-photon
      imaging of cortical capillaries through a thin-skull cortical window, as well as
      ex vivo two-photon imaging of cortical capillaries in mouse brain sections. These
      procedures produce images and z-stack files of capillary networks, respectively,
      which can be then subjected to quantitative analysis in order to assess changes
      in cerebral vascular architecture. 

PMID- 26863271
TI  - Ultrastructural Changes and Corneal Wound Healing After SMILE and PRK Procedures.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare keratocyte activation, cellular morphologic changes and wound
      healing after SMILE and PRK procedures using transmission electron microscope
      (TEM). METHODS: In this study, 22 New Zealand white rabbits (10- to 15-week old)
      were used. The right eyes of all animals underwent SMILE procedure and the left
      eyes underwent PRK procedure. Cornea samples taken 1 day and 1 week
      postoperatively were examined using TEM. RESULTS: Using TEM 1 day after SMILE
      procedure, the organization of collagen fibers seemed to have been preserved
      without thermal alterations. Keratocyte activation was observed in the anterior
      stroma. Disrupted collagen arrangement and debris of cells are visible in the
      area of damage, and some phagocytic cells and a large number of secondary
      lysosomes are visible in those cells. At the perimeter zone of the interface,
      many coenocytes and collagen fragments could be found within the phagocytic cell.
      One week after SMILE procedure, potential lacuna could be discerned. A large part
      of the interface of the lenticule extracted had an appearance of clearly being
      adhered to some mucus secretions. One day after PRK procedure, an irregular
      epithelial surface was visible using TEM. Keratocytes had been activated and the
      rough endoplasmic reticulum in those cells had expanded. One week after PRK
      procedure, the epithelial surface still was irregular and keratinization of the
      epithelium was still visible in some areas. Corneal endothelium cells were mildly
      damaged and some vacuoles within the cytoplasm could be discerned. In the
      anterior stroma, some unhealthy activated keratocytes could still be observed.
      New collagen fibrils were found present near the activated keratocytes.
      CONCLUSION: Using TEM, keratocyte activation could still be observed after SMILE
      compared to after PRK procedure. Fewer cellular ultrastructural changes were seen
      after SMILE procedure. Unlike in PRK procedure, no damaged epithelium and
      endothelium were found after SMILE.

PMID- 26863274
TI  - Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
AB  - Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is characterized by acute, idiopathic
      hearing loss. The estimated incidence rate is 5-30 cases per 100,000 people per
      year. The causes of SSHL and the mechanisms underlying SSHL currently remain
      unknown. Based on several hypotheses such as a circulatory disturbance to the
      cochlea, viral infection, and autoimmune disease, pharmaco-therapeutic approaches
      have been applied to treat SSHL patients; however, the efficacy of the standard
      treatment, corticosteroid therapy, is still under debate. Exposure to intense
      sounds has been shown to cause permanent damage to the auditory system; however,
      exposure to a moderate level enriched acoustic environment after noise trauma may
      reduce hearing impairments. Several neuroimaging studies recently suggested that
      the onset of SSHL induced maladaptive cortical reorganization in the human
      auditory cortex, and that the degree of cortical reorganization in the acute SSHL
      phase negatively correlated with the recovery rate from hearing loss. This
      article reports the development of a novel neuro-rehabilitation approach for
      SSHL, "constraint-induced sound therapy (CIST)". The aim of the CIST protocol is
      to prevent or reduce maladaptive cortical reorganization by using an enriched
      acoustic environment. The canal of the intact ear of SSHL patients is plugged in
      order to motivate them to actively use the affected ear and thereby prevent
      progress of maladaptive cortical reorganization. The affected ear is also exposed
      to music via a headphone for 6 hr per day during hospitalization. The CIST
      protocol appears to be a safe, easy, inexpensive, and effective treatment for
      SSHL. 

PMID- 26863275
TI  - Reversible metal-induced emission and chromaticity switching in isostructural Ln
      MOFs.
AB  - Several new isostructural lanthanide metal-organic frameworks
      {[Ln3(L)4(OH)(H2O)2].DMAC}n (Ln = Tb (1), Gd (2), Eu (3), Gd0.81Tb0.10Eu0.09 (4)
      and Gd0.75Tb0.18Eu0.07 (5)) were designed and prepared. Excitingly, samples 1, 3,
      4 and 5 showed reversible Al(3+)-induced chromaticity switching as well as
      reversible Fe(3+)-induced emission switching. 

PMID- 26863276
TI  - Individual finger control of a modular prosthetic limb using high-density
      electrocorticography in a human subject.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We used native sensorimotor representations of fingers in a brain
      machine interface (BMI) to achieve immediate online control of individual
      prosthetic fingers. APPROACH: Using high gamma responses recorded with a high
      density electrocorticography (ECoG) array, we rapidly mapped the functional
      anatomy of cued finger movements. We used these cortical maps to select ECoG
      electrodes for a hierarchical linear discriminant analysis classification scheme
      to predict: (1) if any finger was moving, and, if so, (2) which digit was moving.
      To account for sensory feedback, we also mapped the spatiotemporal activation
      elicited by vibrotactile stimulation. Finally, we used this prediction framework
      to provide immediate online control over individual fingers of the Johns Hopkins
      University Applied Physics Laboratory modular prosthetic limb. MAIN RESULTS: The
      balanced classification accuracy for detection of movements during the online
      control session was 92% (chance: 50%). At the onset of movement, finger
      classification was 76% (chance: 20%), and 88% (chance: 25%) if the pinky and ring
      finger movements were coupled. Balanced accuracy of fully flexing the cued finger
      was 64%, and 77% had we combined pinky and ring commands. Offline decoding
      yielded a peak finger decoding accuracy of 96.5% (chance: 20%) when using an
      optimized selection of electrodes. Offline analysis demonstrated significant
      finger-specific activations throughout sensorimotor cortex. Activations either
      prior to movement onset or during sensory feedback led to discriminable finger
      control. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate the ability of ECoG-based BMIs to
      leverage the native functional anatomy of sensorimotor cortical populations to
      immediately control individual finger movements in real time.

PMID- 26863277
TI  - Androgen action in female reproductive physiology.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the last decade, it has been proven that androgens acting
      via the androgen receptor (AR) play an important role in the regulation of female
      reproductive function. However, the specific site of action and the precise
      pathways involved remain to be fully elucidated. This review aims to combine
      findings from emerging basic research to provide new insights into the roles of
      AR-mediated actions, and the mechanisms involved, in normal ovarian, uterine, and
      mammary gland function. RECENT FINDINGS: Our understanding of the specific roles
      of androgens in females has been hindered as females with complete androgen
      insensitivity cannot be generated by natural breeding, and interpretation of
      results from pharmacological studies has led to confusion as some androgens can
      be converted into estrogens, which can mediate actions via estrogen receptors.
      However, with the creation of global and cell-specific female AR knockout mouse
      models by Cre-LoxP technology, and the use of aromatizable and nonaromatizable
      androgens, novel roles for androgens in the regulation of female reproductive
      physiology have been revealed. SUMMARY: AR-mediated mechanisms play important
      roles in mediating normal ovarian, uterine, and mammary gland function and there
      is hope that further elucidation of the role of androgens in female reproductive
      physiology may translate into the development of novel, evidence-based, and
      targeted treatment for androgen-associated conditions.

PMID- 26863278
TI  - Triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio, glycemic control and
      cardiovascular risk in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides an update on the role of the
      triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (triglyceride/HDL-C) ratio
      in the setting of obesity-related insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
      mellitus. RECENT FINDINGS: Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are
      well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and are commonly
      associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C
      and presence of small, dense low-dense lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Mounting
      evidence suggests that the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio is a marker of insulin
      resistance, although this relationship might vary as a function of ethnicity and
      sex. The triglyceride/HDL-C ratio has also been shown to correlate with other
      atherogenic lipid measurements, such as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, remnant
      cholesterol and small dense LDL particles. Recent epidemiologic studies have
      shown that the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio associates with cardiovascular risk,
      mainly because of its association with insulin resistance. Finally,
      triglyceride/HDL-C can also be a marker of glycemic control, especially in obese
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. SUMMARY: The triglyceride/HDL-C
      integrates information on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, insulin resistance and
      glycemic control. Future studies may better define its specific clinical role.

PMID- 26863279
TI  - Editorial: collecting new external evidence for cholesterol management.

PMID- 26863280
TI  - Facile rhenium-peptide conjugate synthesis using a one-pot derived Re(CO)3
      reagent.
AB  - We have synthesized two Re(CO)3-modified lysine complexes (1 and 2), where the
      metal is attached to the amino acid at the Nepsilon position, via a one-pot
      Schiff base formation reaction. These compounds can be used in the solid phase
      synthesis of peptides, and to date we have produced four conjugate systems
      incorporating neurotensin, bombesin, leutenizing hormone releasing hormone, and a
      nuclear localization sequence. We observed uptake into human umbilical vascular
      endothelial cells as well as differential uptake depending on peptide sequence
      identity, as characterized by fluorescence and rhenium elemental analysis. 

PMID- 26863282
TI  - Exploring optical mechanotransduction in fluorescent liquid crystal elastomers.
AB  - Carbazole-based nematic liquid single crystal elastomers switch their
      fluorescence mechanically on demand enabling a fast optical mechanotransduction
      under ambient conditions. The identification of the key factors controlling such
      process is of utmost importance since it might lead to a significant improvement
      of the transducing abilities of these smart materials. In particular, variations
      in the length of the fluorophore flexible spacer translates in a distinct mutual
      interaction between both mesogenic and fluorogenic platforms, giving rise thereby
      to functional materials with a significantly different mechanofluorescent
      behaviour. 

PMID- 26863281
TI  - Familial Risk in Patients With Carcinoma of Unknown Primary.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) accounts for 3% to 5% of all
      cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Familial clustering of different
      cancer sites with CUP is unknown and may provide information regarding etiology,
      as well as elevated cancer risks in relatives. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the risk of
      cancer by site in first- and second-degree relatives and first cousins of
      individuals with CUP. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nested case-control
      study of patients who received a diagnosis of CUP between 1980 and 2010
      identified from the Utah Cancer Registry. Population controls with no CUP
      diagnosis were sex and age matched 10:1 to patients with CUP. Data about
      relatives were drawn from the Utah Population Database. MAIN OUTCOMES AND
      MEASURES: Familial aggregation of cancer risk in relatives of cases compared with
      controls using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: For the 4160 index patients
      (median [interquartile range] age, 72 [62-81] years; 47.6% male) who had received
      a diagnosis of CUP, first-degree relatives were at an elevated risk of CUP
      themselves (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35 [95% CI, 1.07-1.70]), as well as lung (HR,
      1.37 [95% CI, 1.22-1.54]), pancreatic (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.06-1.54]), myeloma
      (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.01-1.62]), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 1.16 [95% CI, >1.00
      1.35]) cancers compared with controls without CUP. When the analysis was
      restricted to relatives of cancer-free controls, additional increased risks for
      colon (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.06-1.33]) and bladder (HR, 1.18 [95% CI, >1.00-1.38])
      cancers were observed. Second-degree relatives of patients with CUP were at a
      slight increased risk of lung (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.03-1.26]), pancreatic (HR,
      1.17 [95% CI, 1.01-1.37]), breast (HR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.02-1.16]), melanoma (HR,
      1.09 [95% CI, >1.00-1.19]), and ovarian (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.02-1.39]) cancers.
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Relatives of patients with CUP are at increased risk
      of CUP and several other malignant neoplasms, including lung, pancreatic, and
      colon cancer. The present data may suggest sites of origin for CUP and provide
      cancer risk information for relatives of patients with CUP that can lead to
      effective intervention. Relatives of patients with CUP should be aware of the
      elevated risks for lung, pancreatic, and colon cancer and encouraged to modify
      risk factors and adhere to site-specific population cancer screening.

PMID- 26863283
TI  - Fabrication Process of Silicone-based Dielectric Elastomer Actuators.
AB  - This contribution demonstrates the fabrication process of dielectric elastomer
      transducers (DETs). DETs are stretchable capacitors consisting of an elastomeric
      dielectric membrane sandwiched between two compliant electrodes. The large
      actuation strains of these transducers when used as actuators (over 300% area
      strain) and their soft and compliant nature has been exploited for a wide range
      of applications, including electrically tunable optics, haptic feedback devices,
      wave-energy harvesting, deformable cell-culture devices, compliant grippers, and
      propulsion of a bio-inspired fish-like airship. In most cases, DETs are made with
      a commercial proprietary acrylic elastomer and with hand-applied electrodes of
      carbon powder or carbon grease. This combination leads to non-reproducible and
      slow actuators exhibiting viscoelastic creep and a short lifetime. We present
      here a complete process flow for the reproducible fabrication of DETs based on
      thin elastomeric silicone films, including casting of thin silicone membranes,
      membrane release and prestretching, patterning of robust compliant electrodes,
      assembly and testing. The membranes are cast on flexible polyethylene
      terephthalate (PET) substrates coated with a water-soluble sacrificial layer for
      ease of release. The electrodes consist of carbon black particles dispersed into
      a silicone matrix and patterned using a stamping technique, which leads to
      precisely-defined compliant electrodes that present a high adhesion to the
      dielectric membrane on which they are applied. 

PMID- 26863286
TI  - Mobile Ion Induced Slow Carrier Dynamics in Organic-Inorganic Perovskite
      CH3NH3PbBr3.
AB  - Here, we investigate photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved photoluminescence
      (TRPL) in CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite under continuous illumination, using optical and
      electro-optical techniques. Under continuous excitation at constant intensity, PL
      intensity and PL decay (carrier recombination) exhibit excitation intensity
      dependent reductions in the time scale of seconds to minutes. The enhanced
      nonradiative recombination is ascribed to light activated negative ions and their
      accumulation which exhibit a slow dynamics in a time scale of seconds to minutes.
      The observed result suggests that the organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite is a
      mixed electronic-ionic semiconductor. The key findings in this work suggest that
      ions are photoactivated or electro-activated and their accumulation at localized
      sites can result in a change of carrier dynamics. The findings are therefore
      useful for the understanding of instability of perovskite solar cells and shed
      light on the necessary strategies for performance improvement. 

PMID- 26863287
TI  - Implantation of Miniosmotic Pumps and Delivery of Tract Tracers to Study Brain
      Reorganization in Pathophysiological Conditions.
AB  - Pharmacological treatment in animal models of cerebral disease imposes the
      problem of repeated injection protocols that may induce stress in animals and
      result in impermanent tissue levels of the drug. Additionally, drug delivery to
      the brain is delicate due to the blood brain barrier (BBB), thus significantly
      reducing intracerebral concentrations of selective drugs after systemic
      administration. Therefore, a system that allows both constant drug delivery
      without peak levels and circumvention of the BBB is in order to achieve
      sufficiently high intracerebral concentrations of drugs that are impermeable to
      the BBB. In this context, miniosmotic pumps represent an ideal system for
      constant drug delivery at a fixed known rate that eludes the problem of daily
      injection stress in animals and that may also be used for direct brain delivery
      of drugs. Here, we describe a method for miniosmotic pump implantation and post
      operatory care that should be given to animals in order to successfully apply
      this technique. We embed the aforementioned experimental paradigm in standard
      procedures that are used for studying neuroplasticity within the brain of C57BL6
      mice. Thus, we exposed animals to 30 min brain infarct and implanted with
      miniosmotic pumps connected to the skull via a cannula in order to deliver a pro
      plasticity drug. Behavioral testing was done during 30 days of treatment. After
      removal the animals received injections of anterograde tract tracers to analyze
      neuronal plasticity in the chronic phase of recovery. Results indicated that
      neuroprotection by the delivered drug was accompanied with increase in motor
      fibers crossing the midline of the brain at target structures. The results affirm
      the value of these techniques for drug administration and brain plasticity
      studies in modern neuroscience. 

PMID- 26863288
TI  - Nanoparticles Self-Assembly Driven by High Affinity Repeat Protein Pairing.
AB  - Proteins are the most specific yet versatile biological self-assembling agents
      with a rich chemistry. Nevertheless, the design of new proteins with recognition
      capacities is still in its infancy and has seldom been exploited for the self
      assembly of functional inorganic nanoparticles. Here, we report on the protein
      directed assembly of gold nanoparticles using purpose-designed artificial repeat
      proteins having a rigid but modular 3D architecture. alphaRep protein pairs are
      selected for their high mutual affinity from a library of 10(9) variants. Their
      conjugation onto gold nanoparticles drives the massive colloidal assembly of free
      standing, one-particle thick films. When the average number of proteins per
      nanoparticle is lowered, the extent of self-assembly is limited to oligomeric
      particle clusters. Finally, we demonstrate that the aggregates are reversibly
      disassembled by an excess of one free protein. Our approach could be optimized
      for applications in biosensing, cell targeting, or functional nanomaterials
      engineering. 

PMID- 26863289
TI  - Continuous Flow Magnesiation or Zincation of Acrylonitriles, Acrylates, and
      Nitroolefins. Application to the Synthesis of Butenolides.
AB  - Scalable continuous flow procedures are reported for the metalation and
      downstream functionalization of beta-substituted acrylates. The flow conditions
      allow the metalation of acrylonitriles, acrylates, and nitroolefins at 0.25-2.50
      mmol/min conversion rates. Magnesiations can be performed with short residence
      times (1-20 min) and near-ambient temperature using TMPMgCl.LiCl. Further, high
      temperature zincation (<=90  degrees C) using TMPZnCl.LiCl is possible. This
      method allows a simple entry to 2(5H)-furanones by flow generation of magnesiated
      acrylates and a subsequent reaction with aldehydes. 

PMID- 26863290
TI  - Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites with Improved Stability for Tandem Solar Cells.
AB  - A semiconductor that can be processed on a large scale with a bandgap around 1.8
      eV could enable the manufacture of highly efficient low cost double-junction
      solar cells on crystalline Si. Solution-processable organic-inorganic halide
      perovskites have recently generated considerable excitement as absorbers in
      single-junction solar cells, and though it is possible to tune the bandgap of
      (CH3NH3)Pb(BrxI1-x)3 between 2.3 and 1.6 eV by controlling the halide
      concentration, optical instability due to photoinduced phase segregation limits
      the voltage that can be extracted from compositions with appropriate bandgaps for
      tandem applications. Moreover, these materials have been shown to suffer from
      thermal degradation at temperatures within the processing and operational window.
      By replacing the volatile methylammonium cation with cesium, it is possible to
      synthesize a mixed halide absorber material with improved optical and thermal
      stability, a stabilized photoconversion efficiency of 6.5%, and a bandgap of 1.9
      eV. 

PMID- 26863291
TI  - Crystallization-Dependent Luminescence Properties of Ce:LuPO4.
AB  - The luminescence properties of Ce:LuPO4 depend on both the Ce(3+) center and the
      host lattice. In this article, we studied the dependence of the luminescence
      properties of Ce:LuPO4 on both the doping concentration of Ce(3+) and the size
      and morphology of the LuPO4 matrix at micro- and nanosize regimes. The
      crystalline behavior of Ce:LuPO4, including its size and shape, was investigated
      via precursor transformation crystallization. On the basis of this
      crystallization approach, Ce:LuPO4 hollow nanospheres, nanorods, and regular
      tetrahedrons were obtained. For micro- and nanostructured Ce:LuPO4, the surface
      induced chemical bonding architecture can be effectively varied by controlling
      the size of the crystalline material and its geometry. Our experimental
      observations demonstrate that one-dimensional Ce:LuPO4 nanorods doped with 0.1
      mol % Ce(3+) possess the best performance among the as-prepared samples. The
      significant anisotropy of Ce:LuPO4 nanorods can result in a larger specific
      surface area and enhanced luminescence properties. Moreover, the improved
      luminescence property of Ce:LuPO4 nanostructures can also be optimized by
      increasing the preferential anisotropic chemical bonding architecture to regulate
      the 5d level of Ce(3+). Our work also shows that the photoluminescence emission
      intensity of Ce:LuPO4 nanorods is increased as the surface area normal to their
      axial direction increases. From the standpoint of crystallization, the
      luminescence properties of Ce(3+) in nano- and microsize matrixes can be well
      optimized by controlling the crystalline behavior of the host lattice under
      proper synthesis conditions. 

PMID- 26863292
TI  - Engagement in High-Risk Behaviors Among Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
      Compared to Healthy Same-Age Peers Surveyed in the National Longitudinal Study of
      Adolescent Health.
AB  - PURPOSE: This secondary data analysis compared smoking rates, alcohol
      consumption, and binge drinking, and examined risk factors for engaging in these
      behaviors among 90 young adult-aged childhood cancer survivors (CSS) with 15,490
      young adults in the general population. METHODS: The sample was drawn from the
      National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The sampling distribution of
      these healthy matched young adults was estimated through the use of
      bootstrapping, which involved randomly repeated for 10,000 samples of healthy
      controls. RESULTS: The findings of repeated sampling analysis revealed that CCS
      were more likely to smoke daily (34.5% vs. 20.6 healthy matched controls; p =
      0.03). The proportion of respondents who had any signs of alcohol abuse symptoms
      was 72.2% of CCS compared with 81.1% of matched controls (p = 0.16), while CCS
      with severe alcohol abuse was 51.1% compared with 59.1% of matched controls (p =
      0.28). Whether they engaged in binge drinking in the past 12 months was 43.3% for
      CCS and 46.4% for healthy respondents. Logistic regression analyses were
      performed to examine predictors of smoking, alcohol use, and binge drinking among
      CCS. Smoking was very strongly associated with optimism. An optimism score of one
      unit higher was associated with a 39% reduction in odds of smoking (odd ratio
      [OR] = 0.61, p < 0.0001). Black CSS were less likely to smoke (OR = 0.15, p <
      0.05). CCS in good health were more likely to binge drink (OR = 3.67, p < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Data generated from this secondary data analyses add to the evidence
      base about the engagement in high risk behaviors among young adult-aged CCS.
      These findings further emphasize the need for widespread, available effective
      theory-based screening guidelines and interventions.

PMID- 26863293
TI  - Analysis of Draize eye irritation testing and its prediction by mining publicly
      available 2008-2014 REACH data.
AB  - Public data from ECHA online dossiers on 9,801 substances encompassing 326,749
      experimental key studies and additional information on classification and
      labeling were made computable. Eye irritation hazard, for which the rabbit Draize
      eye test still represents the reference method, was analyzed. Dossiers contained
      9,782 Draize eye studies on 3,420 unique substances, indicating frequent
      retesting of substances. This allowed assessment of the test's reproducibility
      test based on all substances tested more than once. There was a 10% chance of a
      non-irritant evaluation given after a prior severe-irritant result as given by UN
      GHS classification criteria. The most reproducible outcomes were the results
      negative (94% reproducible) and severe eye irritant (73% reproducible). To
      evaluate whether other GHS categorizations predict eye irritation we built a
      dataset of 5,629 substances (1,931 'irritant' and 3,698 'non-irritant'). The two
      best decision trees with up to three other GHS classifications resulted in
      balanced accuracies of 68% and 73%, i.e., in the rank order of the Draize rabbit
      eye test itself, but both use inhalation toxicity data ("May cause respiratory
      irritation"), which is not typically available. Next, a dataset of 929 substances
      with at least one Draize study was mapped to PubChem to compute chemical
      similarity using 2D conformational fingerprints and Tanimoto similarity. Using a
      minimum similarity of 0.7 and simple classification by the closest chemical
      neighbor resulted in balanced accuracy from 73% over 737 substances to 100% at a
      threshold of 0.975 over 41 substances. This represents a strong support of read
      across and (Q)SAR approaches in this area. 

PMID- 26863294
TI  - Annual Surgeon Volume and Patient Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Totally
      Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repairs.
AB  - PURPOSE: Data on laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repairs
      (TEP-IHRs) suggest that approximately 250 operations are needed to gain mastery,
      but the annual volume required to maintain high-quality outcomes is unknown.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of every patient
      undergoing a TEP-IHR at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) from 1995 to 2011.
      Analysis focused on the annual volume of 21 staff surgeons and their specific
      patient outcomes broken up into three groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 1 surgeon)
      performed >30 repairs per year; Group 2 (G2) (n = 3 surgeons), 15-30 repairs; and
      Group 3 (G3) (n = 17), <15 repairs. RESULTS: In total, 1601 patients underwent
      2410 TEP-IHRs, with no significant patient demographic differences among groups.
      Greater annual surgeon volume (G1 > G2 > G3) was associated with improved
      outcomes as shown by the respective rates for intra- (1%, 2.6%, and 5.6%) and
      postoperative (13%, 27%, and 36%) complications, need for overnight stay (17%,
      23%, and 29%), and hernia recurrence (1%, 4%, and 4.3%) (all P < .05). Surgeons
      with greater annual operative volumes were more likely to operate on patients
      with bilateral and recurrent hernias. Surgeons performing at least 15 repairs per
      year (G1 and G2) showed improvements in quality metrics over time. CONCLUSIONS:
      Annual operative volumes of >30 repairs per year are associated with the highest
      quality outcomes for TEP-IHR. Operative volumes of at least 15 repairs per year
      are associated with improvements in quality metrics over time. Mentorship and
      operative assistance of low-volume TEP-IHR surgeons may be useful in improving
      patient outcomes.

PMID- 26863295
TI  - Hybrid Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery Transvaginal Nephrectomy
      in a Low-Resource Setting.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hybrid natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES((r));
      American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [Oak Brook, IL] and Society of
      American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons [Los Angeles, CA]) reduces the
      invasiveness of conventional laparoscopic surgery and overcomes the limitation of
      pure NOTES, especially in the absence of angulated instruments. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The patients were 66-, 69-, and 32-year-old women with complaints of
      recurrent flank pain and urinary tract infection due to an obstructed
      nonfunctioning kidney. Materials used were standard laparoscopic instruments and
      a 30 degrees  10-mm high-definition laparoscope. Under general anesthesia, each
      patient was placed in a lithotomy position with the affected side up at 45
      degrees . A Veress needle was initially inserted through the umbilicus and was
      later replaced with a 10-mm laparoscopic port, with an additional 5-mm port also
      inserted at the affected lower quadrant site. The patient was then positioned in
      a steep Trendelenburg position, and a 10-mm port was inserted through the
      posterior vaginal wall under direct vision from the abdominal cavity that was
      later used for the laparoscope. Nephrectomy proceeded despite noted severe
      adhesions, and the kidney was placed in the specimen retrieval bag. The vaginal
      port site was enlarged to 3 cm for extraction of the specimen. A Penrose drain
      was placed at the lower quadrant 5-mm trocar site. The vaginal wound was repaired
      using running 2-0 absorbable sutures. RESULTS: Three cases of transvaginal hybrid
      NOTES nephrectomy were successfully completed with a median operative time of 310
      minutes and mean estimated blood loss of 300 mL. Median renal dimensions were as
      follows: craniocaudal, 10.2 (range, 10.6-9) cm; laterolateral, 6.5 (range, 7-5.3)
      cm; and anteroposterior, 4.8 (range, 6.5-3.9) cm. The patients resumed regular
      diet as early as Day 1 postoperatively. The drain was removed prior to discharge.
      The mean date of discharge was Day 3 postoperatively. There were no noted
      surgical complications according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid NOTES transvaginal nephrectomy is a feasible and reproducible
      procedure in selected patients regardless of laterality for better cosmesis,
      reduced postoperative pain, and early recovery.

PMID- 26863296
TI  - Laparoscopic Subxiphoid Hernia Repair with Intracorporeal Suturing of Mesh to the
      Diaphragm as a Means to Decrease Recurrence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subxiphoid hernias are a rare complication of median sternotomy with
      an incidence of 1%-4.2%. Repair of subxiphoid hernias is technically demanding
      with recurrence rates of 42% and 30% following open and laparoscopic repairs,
      respectively. We present a novel approach to the laparoscopic repair of
      subxiphoid hernias with improved overlap and fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      novel technique for repairing subxiphoid hernias is described. The falciform
      ligament is dissected superiorly toward the diaphragm to allow proper subfascial
      positioning of the mesh with adequate overlap. Multiple nonabsorbable
      intracorporeal sutures are used to anchor the mesh to the diaphragm above the
      costal margins. Transfascial nonabsorbable sutures and tacks are used to fix the
      mesh to the anterior abdominal wall below the costal margin. RESULTS: We have
      used this method in 4 patients with a mean age of 60.5 years and a female to male
      ratio of 4:0. The average hernia defect size was 20.5 cm(2), and the average
      duration of operation was 93 minutes. There were no reported postoperative
      complications or evidence of recurrence at the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:
      Laparoscopic repair of subxiphoid hernias can be safely accomplished with mesh
      sutured to the diaphragm for improved overlap and fixation with the goal of
      reducing recurrence rates.

PMID- 26863297
TI  - Adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer: time to change the guidelines.

PMID- 26863298
TI  - Potential Impacts of Future Warming and Land Use Changes on Intra-Urban Heat
      Exposure in Houston, Texas.
AB  - Extreme heat events in the United States are projected to become more frequent
      and intense as a result of climate change. We investigated the individual and
      combined effects of land use and warming on the spatial and temporal distribution
      of daily minimum temperature (Tmin) and daily maximum heat index (HImax) during
      summer in Houston, Texas. Present-day (2010) and near-future (2040) parcel-level
      land use scenarios were embedded within 1-km resolution land surface model (LSM)
      simulations. For each land use scenario, LSM simulations were conducted for
      climatic scenarios representative of both the present-day and near-future
      periods. LSM simulations assuming present-day climate but 2040 land use patterns
      led to spatially heterogeneous temperature changes characterized by warmer
      conditions over most areas, with summer average increases of up to 1.5 degrees C
      (Tmin) and 7.3 degrees C (HImax) in some newly developed suburban areas compared
      to simulations using 2010 land use patterns. LSM simulations assuming present-day
      land use but a 1 degrees C temperature increase above the urban canopy
      (consistent with warming projections for 2040) yielded more spatially homogeneous
      metropolitan-wide average increases of about 1 degrees C (Tmin) and 2.5 degrees C
      (HImax), respectively. LSM simulations assuming both land use and warming for
      2040 led to summer average increases of up to 2.5 degrees C (Tmin) and 8.3
      degrees C (HImax), with the largest increases in areas projected to be converted
      to residential, industrial and mixed-use types. Our results suggest that
      urbanization and climate change may significantly increase the average number of
      summer days that exceed current threshold temperatures for initiating a heat
      advisory for metropolitan Houston, potentially increasing population exposure to
      extreme heat. 

PMID- 26863299
TI  - Colon Cancer Tumorigenesis Initiated by the H1047R Mutant PI3K.
AB  - The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is critical for multiple
      important cellular functions, and is one of the most commonly altered pathways in
      human cancers. We previously developed a mouse model in which colon cancers were
      initiated by a dominant active PI3K p110-p85 fusion protein. In that model, well
      differentiated mucinous adenocarcinomas developed within the colon and initiated
      through a non-canonical mechanism that is not dependent on WNT signaling. To
      assess the potential relevance of PI3K mutations in human cancers, we sought to
      determine if one of the common mutations in the human disease could also initiate
      similar colon cancers. Mice were generated expressing the Pik3caH1047R mutation,
      the analog of one of three human hotspot mutations in this gene. Mice expressing
      a constitutively active PI3K, as a result of this mutation, develop invasive
      adenocarcinomas strikingly similar to invasive adenocarcinomas found in human
      colon cancers. These tumors form without a polypoid intermediary and also lack
      nuclear CTNNB1 (beta-catenin), indicating a non-canonical mechanism of tumor
      initiation mediated by the PI3K pathway. These cancers are sensitive to dual
      PI3K/mTOR inhibition indicating dependence on the PI3K pathway. The tumor tissue
      remaining after treatment demonstrated reduction in cellular proliferation and
      inhibition of PI3K signaling. 

PMID- 26863300
TI  - Infant Mortality Risk and Paternity Certainty Are Associated with Postnatal
      Maternal Behavior toward Adult Male Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei
      beringei).
AB  - Sexually selected infanticide is an important source of infant mortality in many
      mammalian species. In species with long-term male-female associations, females
      may benefit from male protection against infanticidal outsiders. We tested
      whether mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) mothers in single and multi
      male groups monitored by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Karisoke Research Center
      actively facilitated interactions between their infants and a potentially
      protective male. We also evaluated the criteria mothers in multi-male groups used
      to choose a preferred male social partner. In single male groups, where
      infanticide risk and paternity certainty are high, females with infants <1 year
      old spent more time near and affiliated more with males than females without
      young infants. In multi-male groups, where infanticide rates and paternity
      certainty are lower, mothers with new infants exhibited few behavioral changes
      toward males. The sole notable change was that females with young infants
      proportionally increased their time near males they previously spent little time
      near when compared to males they had previously preferred, perhaps to encourage
      paternity uncertainty and deter aggression. Rank was a much better predictor of
      females' social partner choice than paternity. Older infants (2-3 years) in multi
      male groups mirrored their mothers' preferences for individual male social
      partners; 89% spent the most time in close proximity to the male their mother had
      spent the most time near when they were <1 year old. Observed discrepancies
      between female behavior in single and multi-male groups likely reflect different
      levels of postpartum intersexual conflict; in groups where paternity certainty
      and infanticide risk are both high, male-female interests align and females
      behave accordingly. This highlights the importance of considering individual and
      group-level variation when evaluating intersexual conflict across the
      reproductive cycle. 

PMID- 26863301
TI  - Disrupted Structural and Functional Connectivity in Prefrontal-Hippocampus
      Circuitry in First-Episode Medication-Naive Adolescent Depression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence implicates abnormalities in prefrontal-hippocampus neural
      circuitry in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigates the
      potential disruptions in prefrontal-hippocampus structural and functional
      connectivity, as well as their relationship in first-episode medication-naive
      adolescents with MDD in order to investigate the early stage of the illness
      without confounds of illness course and medication exposure. METHODS: Diffusion
      tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI)
      data were acquired from 26 first-episode medication-naive MDD adolescents and 31
      healthy controls (HC). Fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the fornix and the
      prefrontal-hippocampus functional connectivity was compared between MDD and HC
      groups. The correlation between the FA value of fornix and the strength of the
      functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region showing significant
      differences between the two groups was identified. RESULTS: Compared with the HC
      group, adolescent MDD group had significant lower FA values in the fornix, as
      well as decreased functional connectivity in four PFC regions. Significant
      negative correlations were observed between fornix FA values and functional
      connectivity from hippocampus to PFC within the HC group. There was no
      significant correlation between the fornix FA and the strength of functional
      connectivity within the adolescent MDD group. CONCLUSIONS: First-episode
      medication-naive adolescent MDD showed decreased structural and functional
      connectivity as well as deficits of the association between structural and
      functional connectivity shown in HC in the PFC-hippocampus neural circuitry.
      These findings suggest that abnormal PFC-hippocampus neural circuitry may present
      in the early onset of MDD and play an important role in the neuropathophysiology
      of MDD.

PMID- 26863302
TI  - Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Comparison of Solid-State and Submerged
      Fermentation of Penicillium expansum KACC 40815.
AB  - Penicillium spp. are known to harbor a wide array of secondary metabolites with
      cryptic bioactivities. However, the metabolomics of these species is not well
      understood in terms of different fermentation models and conditions. The present
      study involved metabolomics profiling and transcriptomic analysis of Penicillium
      expansum 40815 under solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation
      (SmF). Metabolite profiling was carried out using ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry with multivariate
      analysis, followed by transcriptomic analyses of differentially expressed genes.
      In principal component analysis, the metabolite profiling data was studied under
      different experimental sets, including SSF and SmF. The significantly different
      metabolites such as polyketide metabolites (agonodepside B, rotiorin,
      verrucosidin, and ochrephilone) and corresponding gene transcripts (polyketide
      synthase, aromatic prenyltransferase, and terpenoid synthase) were primarily
      detected under SmF conditions. In contrast, the meroterpenoid compounds
      (andrastin A and C) and their genes transcripts were exclusively detected under
      SSF conditions. We demonstrated that the metabolite production and its
      corresponding gene expression levels in P. expansum 40815 were significantly
      influenced by the varying growth parameters and the immediate environment. This
      study further provides a foundation to produce specific metabolites by regulating
      fermentation conditions. 

PMID- 26863303
TI  - EGL-20/Wnt and MAB-5/Hox Act Sequentially to Inhibit Anterior Migration of
      Neuroblasts in C. elegans.
AB  - Directed neuroblast and neuronal migration is important in the proper development
      of nervous systems. In C. elegans the bilateral Q neuroblasts QR (on the right)
      and QL (on the left) undergo an identical pattern of cell division and
      differentiation but migrate in opposite directions (QR and descendants anteriorly
      and QL and descendants posteriorly). EGL-20/Wnt, via canonical Wnt signaling,
      drives the expression of MAB-5/Hox in QL but not QR. MAB-5 acts as a determinant
      of posterior migration, and mab-5 and egl-20 mutants display anterior QL
      descendant migrations. Here we analyze the behaviors of QR and QL descendants as
      they begin their anterior and posterior migrations, and the effects of EGL-20 and
      MAB-5 on these behaviors. The anterior and posterior daughters of QR (QR.a/p)
      after the first division immediately polarize and begin anterior migration,
      whereas QL.a/p remain rounded and non-migratory. After ~1 hour, QL.a migrates
      posteriorly over QL.p. We find that in egl-20/Wnt, bar-1/beta-catenin, and mab
      5/Hox mutants, QL.a/p polarize and migrate anteriorly, indicating that these
      molecules normally inhibit anterior migration of QL.a/p. In egl-20/Wnt mutants,
      QL.a/p immediately polarize and begin migration, whereas in bar-1/beta-catenin
      and mab-5/Hox, the cells transiently retain a rounded, non-migratory morphology
      before anterior migration. Thus, EGL-20/Wnt mediates an acute inhibition of
      anterior migration independently of BAR-1/beta-catenin and MAB-5/Hox, and a
      later, possible transcriptional response mediated by BAR-1/beta-catenin and MAB
      5/Hox. In addition to inhibiting anterior migration, MAB-5/Hox also cell
      autonomously promotes posterior migration of QL.a (and QR.a in a mab-5 gain-of
      function). 

PMID- 26863304
TI  - Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon, Central
      Africa.
AB  - Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian
      parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has
      generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we
      explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species
      (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon
      (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found
      that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species),
      one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In
      duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we
      demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to
      Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid
      Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes
      captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these
      haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a
      potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from
      what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian
      parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline
      mosquitoes. 

PMID- 26863305
TI  - Long-Term Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serogroup 6 in a Region of
      Southern Europe with Special Reference to Serotype 6E.
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6E has recently been described, but its long
      term epidemiology is not well known. From 1981-2013, 704 serogroup 6 clinical
      isolates were obtained in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain. All invasive and one
      in four non-invasive isolates were included. Overall, 75, 97, 51 and 45 serotypes
      6A, 6B, 6C and 6E isolates, respectively, were detected. No serotype 6D isolates
      were identified. The prevalence of serotypes 6E and 6B, but not that of serotypes
      6A and 6C, declined after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
      Serotype 6E isolates showed the highest resistance rate. Most serotype 6E
      isolates were ST90. 

PMID- 26863306
TI  - Ten Years of Complete Remission of Pulmonary Metastasis after Post-Cystectomy
      Palliative Cisplatin-Gemcitabine Chemotherapy with Gefitinib for Muscle Invasive
      Bladder Cancer: A Case Report.
AB  - Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is considered one of the most lethal
      malignancies with high metastatic potential. Usually, metastatic bladder cancer
      carries worse prognosis with a median survival rate of approximately 6 months,
      which can be prolonged for up to 14 months with palliative systemic chemotherapy.
      We present the case of a 61-year-old male patient diagnosed with localized MIBC
      10 years ago. He underwent nerve-sparing radical cystectomy with ileal
      neobladder, but developed pulmonary metastatic disease 7 months postoperatively.
      Six cycles of gemcitabine/cisplatin combination chemotherapy with an addition of
      gefitinib as daily oral medication were administered within a randomized phase II
      clinical trial; this resulted in complete remission of the pulmonary metastases.
      Until now, the patient is still on gefitinib daily without any side effects.
      Although, the addition of gefitinib to standard systemic chemotherapy has not
      been shown to improve the survival in metastatic urothelial cancer, this case
      represents a very pleasant albeit uncommon long-term outcome.

PMID- 26863307
TI  - Long-Term Protection against Diphtheria in the Netherlands after 50 Years of
      Vaccination: Results from a Seroepidemiological Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) a
      population-based cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was performed in the
      Netherlands. We assessed diphtheria antitoxin levels in the general Dutch
      population and in low vaccination coverage (LVC) areas where a relatively high
      proportion of orthodox Protestants live who decline vaccination based on
      religious grounds. Results were compared with a nationwide seroepidemiological
      study performed 11 years earlier. METHODS: In 2006/2007 a national serum bank was
      established. Blood samples were tested for diphtheria antitoxin IgG
      concentrations using a multiplex immunoassay for 6383 participants from the
      national sample (NS) and 1518 participants from LVC municipalities. A cut-off
      above 0.01 international units per ml (IU/ml) was used as minimum protective
      level. RESULTS: In the NS 91% of the population had antibody levels above 0.01
      IU/ml compared to 88% in the 1995/1996 serosurvey (p<0.05). On average, 82% (vs.
      78% in the 1995/1996 serosurvey, p<0.05) of individuals from the NS born before
      introduction of diphtheria vaccination in the NIP and 46% (vs. 37% in the
      1995/1996 serosurvey, p = 0.11) of orthodox Protestants living in LVC areas had
      antibody levels above 0.01 IU/ml. Linear regression analysis among fully
      immunized individuals (six vaccinations) without evidence of revaccination
      indicated a continuous decline in antibodies in both serosurveys, but geometric
      mean antibodies remained well above 0.01 IU/ml in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS:
      The NIP provides long-term protection against diphtheria, although antibody
      levels decline after vaccination. As a result of natural waning immunity, a
      substantial proportion of individuals born before introduction of diphtheria
      vaccination in the NIP lack adequate levels of diphtheria antibodies.
      Susceptibility due to lack of vaccination is highest among strictly orthodox
      Protestants. The potential risk of spread of diphtheria within the geographically
      clustered orthodox Protestant community after introduction in the Netherlands has
      not disappeared, despite national long-term high vaccination coverage.

PMID- 26863308
TI  - Anorexia Nervosa and Its Associated Endocrinopathy in Young People.
AB  - Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a condition of severe undernutrition associated with
      adaptive changes in many endocrine axes. These changes include hypogonadotropic
      hypogonadism, acquired growth hormone resistance with low insulin-like growth
      factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, hypercortisolemia, altered secretion of adipokines and
      appetite-regulating hormones, and low bone mineral density (BMD). Bone health is
      impaired subsequent to a low body mass index, decreased lean mass, and the
      endocrine changes described above. In addition to low areal BMD, AN is
      characterized by a decrease in volumetric BMD, changes in bone geometry, and
      reductions in strength estimates, leading to an increased risk for fracture.
      Weight restoration is essential for restoration of normal endocrine function;
      however, hypercortisolemia, high peptide YY levels, and ghrelin dynamics may not
      completely normalize. In some patients, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism persists
      despite weight restoration. Weight gain and menstrual recovery are critical for
      improving bone health in AN; however, residual deficits may persist. Physiologic
      estrogen replacement using transdermal, but not oral, estrogen increases bone
      accrual in adolescents with AN, while bisphosphonates improve BMD in adults.
      Recombinant human IGF-1 and teriparatide have been used in a few studies as bone
      anabolic therapies. More data are necessary to determine the optimal therapeutic
      strategies for low BMD in AN. 

PMID- 26863309
TI  - The Utility of Core Needle Biopsy and Fine-Needle Aspiration in the Workup of
      Tumors of Suspected Mullerian Origin.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Core needle biopsy (CNB) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for tumors
      of suspected Mullerian origin may prevent unnecessary laparotomies and allow
      patients the benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. An assessment of the utility
      and limitations of CNB/FNA, with incorporation of current immunohistochemistry,
      is needed. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred nineteen female patients with CNB/FNA of the
      omentum, pelvis, abdomen, adnexa, ovary, uterus, and fallopian tube were
      identified. From these, 30 consecutive CNB/FNA with corresponding surgical
      resection were reviewed to assess diagnostic agreement and identify potential
      diagnostic pitfalls. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnosis overall was
      adenocarcinoma (96/219; 43.8%), most commonly adenocarcinoma of gynecologic
      origin (65/219; 30%). Nondiagnostic or unsatisfactory material was present in a
      minority of cases (10/219; 5%). In the 30 CNB/FNA cases examined for diagnostic
      agreement with surgical resection, 24 (80%) had exact or essential agreement with
      the final diagnosis. Of the 23 cases that were positive and/or suspicious on
      cytology, 18 (78%) had neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation treatment prior to
      surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of CNB/FNA for tumors of suspected
      Mullerian origin are diagnostic, correlate with the surgical resection, and
      contribute to management. A standard diagnostic algorithm is suggested.

PMID- 26863310
TI  - Electromagnetic Real Time Navigation in the Region of the Posterior Pelvic Ring:
      An Experimental In-Vitro Feasibility Study and Comparison of Image Guided
      Techniques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic tracking is a relatively new technique that allows
      real time navigation in the absence of radiation. The aim of this study was to
      prove the feasibility of this technique for the treatment of posterior pelvic
      ring fractures and to compare the results with established image guided
      procedures. METHODS: Tests were performed in pelvic specimens (Sawbones(r)) with
      standardized sacral fractures (Type Denis I or II). A gel matrix simulated the
      operative approach and a cover was used to disable visual control. The
      electromagnetic setup was performed by using a custom made carbon reference plate
      and a prototype stainless steel K-wire with an integrated sensor coil. Four
      different test series were performed: Group OCT: Optical navigation using
      preoperative CT-scans; group O3D: Optical navigation using intraoperative 3-D
      fluoroscopy; group Fluoro: Conventional 2-D-fluoroscopy; group EMT:
      Electromagnetic navigation combined with a preoperative Dyna-CT. Accuracy of
      screw placement was analyzed by standardized postoperative CT-scan for each
      specimen. Operation time and intraoperative radiation exposure for the surgeon
      was documented. All data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 20, 76 Chicago, IL,
      USA). Statistical significance was defined as p< 0.05. RESULTS: 160 iliosacral
      screws were placed (40 per group). EMT resulted in a significantly higher
      incidence of optimal screw placement (EMT: 36/40) compared to the groups Fluoro
      (30/40; p< 0.05) and OCT (31/40; p< 0.05). Results between EMT and O3D were
      comparable (O3D: 37/40; n.s.). Also, the operation time was comparable between
      groups EMT and O3D (EMT 7.62 min vs. O3D 7.98 min; n.s.), while the surgical time
      was significantly shorter compared to the Fluoro group (10.69 min; p< 0.001) and
      the OCT group (13.3 min; p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Electromagnetic guided iliosacral
      screw placement is a feasible procedure. In our experimental setup, this method
      was associated with improved accuracy of screw placement and shorter operation
      time when compared with the conventional fluoroscopy guided technique and
      compared to the optical navigation using preoperative CT-scans. Further studies
      are necessary to rule out drawbacks of this technique regarding ferromagnetic
      objects.

PMID- 26863311
TI  - gamma-Glutamyltransferase and Breast Cancer Risk Beyond Alcohol Consumption and
      Other Life Style Factors - A Pooled Cohort Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Elevated gamma-Glutamyltransferase serum levels are associated with
      increased risk of overall cancer incidence and several site-specific
      malignancies. In the present prospective study we report on the associations of
      serum gamma-Glutamyltransferase with the risk of breast cancer in a pooled
      population-based cohort considering established life style risk factors. METHODS:
      Two cohorts were included in the present study, i.e. the Vorarlberg (n = 97,268)
      and the Malmoe cohort (n = 9,790). Cox proportional hazards regression models
      were fitted to estimate HRs for risk of breast cancer. RESULTS: In multivariate
      analysis adjusted for age, body mass index and smoking status, women with gamma
      Glutamyltransferase levels in the top quartile were at significantly higher risk
      for breast cancer compared to women in the lowest quartile (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09
      to 1.35; p = 0.005). In the subgroup analysis of the Malmoe cohort, gamma
      Glutamyltransferase remained an independent risk factor for breast cancer when
      additionally considering alcohol intake. A statistically significant increase in
      risk was seen in women with gamma-Glutamyltransferase-levels in the top versus
      lowest quartile in a multivariate model adjusted for age, body mass index,
      smoking status, physical activity, parity, oral contraceptive-use and alcohol
      consumption (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.69, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our findings
      identified gamma-Glutamyltransferase as an independent risk factor for breast
      cancer beyond the consumption of alcohol and other life style risk factors.

PMID- 26863312
TI  - Preparing for Nontraditional Biothreats.
AB  - Biological threats consist of traditional, emerging, enhanced, and advanced
      threats, but current biodefense approaches focus almost entirely on a subset of
      traditional threats. There is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive,
      rational, and systematic plan to address and mitigate the broader risk space.
      Myriad possible strategies exist, but an ideal strategy will extend beyond a list
      of agents. This article proposes a functionality-based approach based on
      systematic identification of key functional elements, essentially focusing on
      mechanisms of what constitutes a threat: The key threat element is addressed
      directly instead of extensive characterization of ancillary details. Examples
      might include a potent toxin, long-term environmental stability, or a specific
      protein causing morbidity/mortality. By identifying the critical components
      leading to disease, limited time, efforts, and resources can be focused to
      address the greatest risks. Further, as future threats will likely contain
      critical aspects of known agents, this approach will potentially address a large
      area of uncharacterized risk space. Thus, focused research can buy down a large
      area of risk space while still addressing traditional threats and mission needs.
      Application of this strategy will move the field away from agent-based lists
      toward a more comprehensive hazard analysis and will position biodefense and
      health communities to prepare for the threats of the future. 

PMID- 26863313
TI  - Fluorescence Adherence Inhibition Assay: A Novel Functional Assessment of
      Blocking Virus Attachment by Vaccine-Induced Antibodies.
AB  - Neutralizing antibodies induced by vaccination or natural infection play a
      critically important role in protection against the viral diseases. In general,
      neutralization of the viral infection occurs via two major pathways: pre- and
      post-attachment modes, the first being the most important for such infections as
      influenza and polio, the latter being significant for filoviruses. Neutralizing
      capacity of antibodies is typically evaluated by virus neutralization assays that
      assess reduction of viral infectivity to the target cells in the presence of
      functional antibodies. Plaque reduction neutralization test, microneutralization
      and immunofluorescent assays are often used as gold standard virus neutralization
      assays. However, these methods are associated with several important
      prerequisites such as use of live virus requiring safety precautions, tedious
      evaluation procedure and long assessment time. Hence, there is a need for a
      robust, inexpensive high throughput functional assay that can be performed
      rapidly using inactivated virus, without extensive safety precautions. Herein, we
      report a novel high throughput Fluorescence Adherence Inhibition assay (fADI)
      using inactivated virus labeled with fluorescent secondary antibodies virus and
      Vero cells or erythrocytes as targets. It requires only few hours to assess pre
      attachment neutralizing capacity of donor sera. fADI assay was tested
      successfully on donors immunized with polio, yellow fever and influenza vaccines.
      To further simplify and improve the throughput of the assay, we have developed a
      mathematical approach for calculating the 50% titers from a single sample
      dilution, without the need to analyze multi-point titration curves. Assessment of
      pre- and post-vaccination human sera from subjects immunized with IPOL(r), YF
      VAX(r) and 2013-2014 Fluzone(r) vaccines demonstrated high efficiency of the
      assay. The results correlated very well with microneutralization assay performed
      independently by the FDA Center of Biologics Evaluation and Research, with plaque
      reduction neutralization test performed by Focus Diagnostics, and with
      hemaglutination inhibition assay performed in-house at Sanofi Pasteur. Taken
      together, fADI assay appears to be a useful high throughput functional
      immunoassay for assessment of antibody-related neutralization of the viral
      infections for which pre-attachment neutralization pathway is predominant, such
      as polio, influenza, yellow fever and dengue. 

PMID- 26863314
TI  - Are Participants Aware of the Type and Intensity of Transcranial Direct Current
      Stimulation?
AB  - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is commonly used to alter cortical
      excitability but no experimental study has yet determined whether human
      participants are able to distinguish between the different types (anodal,
      cathodal, and sham) of stimulation. If they can then they are not blind to
      experimental conditions. We determined whether participants could identify
      different types of stimulation (anodal, cathodal, and sham) and current strengths
      after experiencing the sensations of stimulation during current onset and offset
      (which are associated with the most intense sensations) in Experiment 1 and also
      with a prolonged period of stimulation in Experiment 2. We first familiarized
      participants with anodal, cathodal, and sham stimulation at both 1 and 2 mA over
      either primary motor or visual cortex while their sensitivity to small changes in
      visual stimuli was assessed. The different stimulation types were then applied
      for a short (Experiment 1) or extended (Experiment 2) period with participants
      indicating the type and strength of the stimulation on the basis of the evoked
      sensations. Participants were able to identify the intensity of stimulation with
      shorter, but not longer periods, of stimulation at better than chance levels but
      identification of the different stimulation types was at chance levels. This
      result suggests that even after exposing participants to stimulation, and
      ensuring they are fully aware of the existence of a sham condition, they are
      unable to identify the type of stimulation from transient changes in stimulation
      intensity or from more prolonged stimulation. Thus participants are able to
      identify intensity of stimulation but not the type of stimulation. 

PMID- 26863315
TI  - Pooled-Peptide Epitope Mapping Strategies Are Efficient and Highly Sensitive: An
      Evaluation of Methods for Identifying Human T Cell Epitope Specificities in Large
      Scale HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials.
AB  - The interferon gamma, enzyme-linked immunospot (IFN-gamma ELISpot) assay is
      widely used to identify viral antigen-specific T cells is frequently employed to
      quantify T cell responses in HIV vaccine studies. It can be used to define T cell
      epitope specificities using panels of peptide antigens, but with sample and cost
      constraints there is a critical need to improve the efficiency of epitope mapping
      for large and variable pathogens. We evaluated two epitope mapping strategies,
      based on group testing, for their ability to identify vaccine-induced T-cells
      from participants in the Step HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trial, and compared the
      findings to an approach of assaying each peptide individually. The group testing
      strategies reduced the number of assays required by >7-fold without significantly
      altering the accuracy of T-cell breadth estimates. Assays of small pools
      containing 7-30 peptides were highly sensitive and effective at detecting single
      positive peptides as well as summating responses to multiple peptides. Also,
      assays with a single 15-mer peptide, containing an identified epitope, did not
      always elicit a response providing validation that 15-mer peptides are not
      optimal antigens for detecting CD8+ T cells. Our findings further validate
      pooling-based epitope mapping strategies, which are critical for characterizing
      vaccine-induced T-cell responses and more broadly for informing iterative vaccine
      design. We also show ways to improve their application with computational
      peptide:MHC binding predictors that can accurately identify the optimal epitope
      within a 15-mer peptide and within a pool of 15-mer peptides. 

PMID- 26863316
TI  - Detection of a Tumor Suppressor Gene Variant Predisposing to Colorectal Cancer in
      an 18th Century Hungarian Mummy.
AB  - Mutations of the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are common and strongly
      associated with the development of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. While
      extensively studied in modern populations, reports on visceral tumors in ancient
      populations are scarce. To the best of our knowledge, genetic characterization of
      mutations associated with colorectal cancer in ancient specimens has not yet been
      described. In this study we have sequenced hotspots for mutations in the APC gene
      isolated from 18th century naturally preserved human Hungarian mummies. While
      wild type APC sequences were found in two mummies, we discovered the E1317Q
      missense mutation, known to be a colorectal cancer predisposing mutation, in a
      large intestine tissue of an 18th century mummy. Our data suggests that this
      genetic predisposition to cancer already existed in the pre-industrialization
      era. This study calls for similar investigations of ancient specimens from
      different periods and geographical locations to be conducted and shared for the
      purpose of obtaining a larger scale analysis that will shed light on past cancer
      epidemiology and on cancer evolution. 

PMID- 26863317
TI  - Coarse-resolution Ecology of Etiological Agent, Vector, and Reservoirs of
      Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Libya.
AB  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis ranks among the tropical diseases least known and most
      neglected in Libya. World Health Organization reports recognized associations of
      Phlebotomus papatasi, Psammomys obesus, and Meriones spp., with transmission of
      zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL; caused by Leishmania major) across Libya.
      Here, we map risk of ZCL infection based on occurrence records of L. major, P.
      papatasi, and four potential animal reservoirs (Meriones libycus, Meriones shawi,
      Psammomys obesus, and Gerbillus gerbillus). Ecological niche models identified
      limited risk areas for ZCL across the northern coast of the country; most species
      associated with ZCL transmission were confined to this same region, but some had
      ranges extending to central Libya. All ENM predictions were significant based on
      partial ROC tests. As a further evaluation of L. major ENM predictions, we
      compared predictions with 98 additional independent records provided by the
      Libyan National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); all of these records fell
      inside the belt predicted as suitable for ZCL. We tested ecological niche
      similarity among vector, parasite, and reservoir species and could not reject any
      null hypotheses of niche similarity. Finally, we tested among possible
      combinations of vector and reservoir that could predict all recent human ZCL
      cases reported by NCDC; only three combinations could anticipate the distribution
      of human cases across the country. 

PMID- 26863318
TI  - Correction: Characterization of the Drosophila Group Ortholog to the Amino
      Terminus of the Alpha-Thalassemia and Mental Retardation X-Linked (ATRX)
      Vertebrate Protein.

PMID- 26863320
TI  - Males Under-Estimate Academic Performance of Their Female Peers in Undergraduate
      Biology Classrooms.
AB  - Women who start college in one of the natural or physical sciences leave in
      greater proportions than their male peers. The reasons for this difference are
      complex, and one possible contributing factor is the social environment women
      experience in the classroom. Using social network analysis, we explore how gender
      influences the confidence that college-level biology students have in each
      other's mastery of biology. Results reveal that males are more likely than
      females to be named by peers as being knowledgeable about the course content.
      This effect increases as the term progresses, and persists even after controlling
      for class performance and outspokenness. The bias in nominations is specifically
      due to males over-nominating their male peers relative to their performance. The
      over-nomination of male peers is commensurate with an overestimation of male
      grades by 0.57 points on a 4 point grade scale, indicating a strong male bias
      among males when assessing their classmates. Females, in contrast, nominated
      equitably based on student performance rather than gender, suggesting they lacked
      gender biases in filling out these surveys. These trends persist across eleven
      surveys taken in three different iterations of the same Biology course. In every
      class, the most renowned students are always male. This favoring of males by
      peers could influence student self-confidence, and thus persistence in this STEM
      discipline. 

PMID- 26863319
TI  - Rearing Temperature Influences Adult Response to Changes in Mating Status.
AB  - Rearing environment can have an impact on adult behavior, but it is less clear
      how rearing environment influences adult behavior plasticity. Here we explore the
      effect of rearing temperature on adult mating behavior plasticity in the
      butterfly Bicyclus anynana, a species that has evolved two seasonal forms in
      response to seasonal changes in temperature. These seasonal forms differ in both
      morphology and behavior. Females are the choosy sex in cohorts reared at warm
      temperatures (WS butterflies), and males are the choosy sex in cohorts reared at
      cooler temperatures (DS butterflies). Rearing temperature also influences mating
      benefits and costs. In DS butterflies, mated females live longer than virgin
      females, and mated males live shorter than virgin males. No such benefits or
      costs to mating are present in WS butterflies. Given that choosiness and mating
      costs are rearing temperature dependent in B. anynana, we hypothesized that
      temperature may also impact male and female incentives to remate in the event
      that benefits and costs of second matings are similar to those of first matings.
      We first examined whether lifespan was affected by number of matings. We found
      that two matings did not significantly increase lifespan for either WS or DS
      butterflies relative to single matings. However, both sexes of WS but not DS
      butterflies experienced decreased longevity when mated to a non-virgin relative
      to a virgin. We next observed pairs of WS and DS butterflies and documented
      changes in mating behavior in response to changes in the mating status of their
      partner. WS but not DS butterflies changed their mating behavior in response to
      the mating status of their partner. These results suggest that rearing
      temperature influences adult mating behavior plasticity in B. anynana. This
      developmentally controlled behavioral plasticity may be adaptive, as lifespan
      depends on the partner's mating status in one seasonal form, but not in the
      other.

PMID- 26863321
TI  - Yoga for Adult Women with Chronic PTSD: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Yoga-the integrative practice of physical postures and movement,
      breath exercises, and mindfulness-may serve as a useful adjunctive component of
      trauma-focused treatment to build skills in tolerating and modulating physiologic
      and affective states that have become dysregulated by trauma exposure. A previous
      randomized controlled study was carried out among 60 women with chronic,
      treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated mental
      health problems stemming from prolonged or multiple trauma exposures. After 10
      sessions of yoga, participants exhibited statistically significant decreases in
      PTSD symptom severity and greater likelihood of loss of PTSD diagnosis,
      significant decreases in engagement in negative tension reduction activities
      (e.g., self-injury), and greater reductions in dissociative and depressive
      symptoms when compared with the control (a seminar in women's health). The
      current study is a long-term follow-up assessment of participants who completed
      this randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants from the randomized
      controlled trial were invited to participate in long-term follow-up assessments
      approximately 1.5 years after study completion to assess whether the initial
      intervention and/or yoga practice after treatment was associated with additional
      changes. Forty-nine women completed the long-term follow-up interviews.
      Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine whether treatment group
      status in the original study and frequency of yoga practice after the study
      predicted greater changes in symptoms and PTSD diagnosis. RESULTS: Group
      assignment in the original randomized study was not a significant predictor of
      longer-term outcomes. However, frequency of continuing yoga practice
      significantly predicted greater decreases in PTSD symptom severity and depression
      symptom severity, as well as a greater likelihood of a loss of PTSD diagnosis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Yoga appears to be a useful treatment modality; the greatest long
      term benefits are derived from more frequent yoga practice.

PMID- 26863322
TI  - Assessment of Overlap of Phylogenetic Transmission Clusters and Communities in
      Simple Sexual Contact Networks: Applications to HIV-1.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transmission patterns of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) could
      relate to the structure of the underlying sexual contact network, whose features
      are therefore of interest to clinicians. Conventionally, we represent sexual
      contacts in a population with a graph, that can reveal the existence of
      communities. Phylogenetic methods help infer the history of an epidemic and
      incidentally, may help detecting communities. In particular, phylogenetic
      analyses of HIV-1 epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM) have revealed
      the existence of large transmission clusters, possibly resulting from within
      community transmissions. Past studies have explored the association between
      contact networks and phylogenies, including transmission clusters, producing
      conflicting conclusions about whether network features significantly affect
      observed transmission history. As far as we know however, none of them thoroughly
      investigated the role of communities, defined with respect to the network graph,
      in the observation of clusters. METHODS: The present study investigates, through
      simulations, community detection from phylogenies. We simulate a large number of
      epidemics over both unweighted and weighted, undirected random interconnected
      islands networks, with islands corresponding to communities. We use weighting to
      modulate distance between islands. We translate each epidemic into a phylogeny,
      that lets us partition our samples of infected subjects into transmission
      clusters, based on several common definitions from the literature. We measure
      similarity between subjects' island membership indices and transmission cluster
      membership indices with the adjusted Rand index. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Analyses
      reveal modest mean correspondence between communities in graphs and phylogenetic
      transmission clusters. We conclude that common methods often have limited success
      in detecting contact network communities from phylogenies. The rarely-fulfilled
      requirement that network communities correspond to clades in the phylogeny is
      their main drawback. Understanding the link between transmission clusters and
      communities in sexual contact networks could help inform policymaking to curb HIV
      incidence in MSMs.

PMID- 26863323
TI  - Ghrelin, GLP-1, and leptin responses during exposure to moderate hypoxia.
AB  - Severe hypoxia has been indicated to cause acute changes in appetite-related
      hormones, which attenuate perceived appetite. However, the effects of moderate
      hypoxia on appetite-related hormonal regulation and perceived appetite have not
      been elucidated. Therefore, we examined the effects of moderate hypoxia on
      appetite-related hormonal regulation and perceived appetite. Eight healthy males
      (21.0 +/- 0.6 years; 173 +/- 2.3 cm; 70.6 +/- 5.0 kg; 23.4 +/- 1.1 kg/m(2))
      completed two experimental trials on separate days: a rest trial in normoxia
      (FiO2 = 20.9%) and a rest trial in hypoxia (FiO2 = 15.0%). The experimental
      trials were performed over 7 h in an environmental chamber. Blood samples and
      scores of subjective appetite were collected over 7 h. Standard meals were
      provided 1 h (745 kcal) and 4 h (731 kcal) after initiating exposure to hypoxia
      or normoxia within the chamber. Although each meal significantly reduced plasma
      active ghrelin concentrations (P < 0.05), the response did not differ
      significantly between the trials over 7 h. No significant differences in the area
      under the curves for plasma active ghrelin concentrations over 7 h were observed
      between the two trials. No significant differences were observed in glucagon-like
      peptide 1 or leptin concentrations over 7 h between the trials. The subjective
      feeling of hunger and fullness acutely changed in response to meal ingestions.
      However, these responses were not affected by exposure to moderate hypoxia. In
      conclusion, 7 h of exposure to moderate hypoxia did not change appetite-related
      hormonal responses or perceived appetite in healthy males. 

PMID- 26863325
TI  - Long-Term Potentiation: From CaMKII to AMPA Receptor Trafficking.
AB  - For more than 20 years, we have known that Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein
      kinase (CaMKII) activation is both necessary and sufficient for the induction of
      long-term potentiation (LTP). During this time, tremendous effort has been spent
      in attempting to understand how CaMKII activation gives rise to this phenomenon.
      Despite such efforts, there is much to be learned about the molecular mechanisms
      involved in LTP induction downstream of CaMKII activation. In this review, we
      highlight recent developments that have shaped our current thinking about the
      molecular mechanisms underlying LTP and discuss important questions that remain
      in the field. 

PMID- 26863324
TI  - The Role of PVH Circuits in Leptin Action and Energy Balance.
AB  - Although it has been known for more than a century that the brain controls
      overall energy balance and adiposity by regulating feeding behavior and energy
      expenditure, the roles for individual brain regions and neuronal subtypes were
      not fully understood until recently. This area of research is active, and as such
      our understanding of the central regulation of energy balance is continually
      being refined as new details emerge. Much of what we now know stems from the
      discoveries of leptin and the hypothalamic melanocortin system. Hypothalamic
      circuits play a crucial role in the control of feeding and energy expenditure,
      and within the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus (ARC) functions as a gateway for
      hormonal signals of energy balance, such as leptin. It is also well established
      that the ARC is a primary residence for hypothalamic melanocortinergic neurons.
      The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) receives direct melanocortin
      input, along with other integrated signals that affect energy balance, and
      mediates the majority of hypothalamic output to control both feeding and energy
      expenditure. Herein, we review in detail the structure and function of the ARC
      PVH circuit in mediating leptin signaling and in regulating energy balance. 

PMID- 26863326
TI  - Regulation of Renal Electrolyte Transport by WNK and SPAK-OSR1 Kinases.
AB  - The discovery of four genes responsible for pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, or
      familial hyperkalemic hypertension, which features arterial hypertension with
      hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis, unmasked a complex multiprotein system that
      regulates electrolyte transport in the distal nephron. Two of these genes encode
      the serine-threonine kinases WNK1 and WNK4. The other two genes [kelch-like 3
      (KLHL3) and cullin 3 (CUL3)] form a RING-type E3-ubiquitin ligase complex that
      modulates WNK1 and WNK4 abundance. WNKs regulate the activity of the Na(+):Cl(-)
      cotransporter (NCC), the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), the renal outer
      medullary potassium channel (ROMK), and other transport pathways. Interestingly,
      the modulation of NCC occurs via the phosphorylation by WNKs of other serine
      threonine kinases known as SPAK-OSR1. In contrast, the process of regulating the
      channels is independent of SPAK-OSR1. We present a review of the remarkable
      advances in this area in the past 10 years. 

PMID- 26863327
TI  - Vascular Growth Factors and Glomerular Disease.
AB  - The glomerulus is a highly specialized microvascular bed that filters blood to
      form primary urinary filtrate. It contains four cell types: fenestrated
      endothelial cells, specialized vascular support cells termed podocytes,
      perivascular mesangial cells, and parietal epithelial cells. Glomerular cell-cell
      communication is critical for the development and maintenance of the glomerular
      filtration barrier. VEGF, ANGPT, EGF, SEMA3A, TGF-beta, and CXCL12 signal in
      paracrine fashions between the podocytes, endothelium, and mesangium associated
      with the glomerular capillary bed to maintain filtration barrier function. In
      this review, we summarize the current understanding of these signaling pathways
      in the development and maintenance of the glomerulus and the progression of
      disease. 

PMID- 26863328
TI  - Introduction.

PMID- 26863329
TI  - A case series of dural venous sinus stenting in idiopathic intracranial
      hypertension: association of outcomes with optical coherence tomography.
AB  - : Purpose/Aim: Pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)
      is characterized by increased intracranial pressure of unknown etiology. A subset
      of patients has shown benefit from endovascular dural venous sinus stenting
      (DVSS). We sought to identify a population of IIH patients who underwent DVSS to
      assess outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to
      identify IIH patients with dural sinus stenosis treated with DVSS. Outcome
      measures included dural sinus pressure gradients, peripapillary retinal nerve
      fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using optical coherence tomography and improvement
      in symptoms. RESULTS: Seventeen patients underwent DVSS. Average pre- and post
      intervention pressure gradients were 23.06 and 1.18 mmHg, respectively (p <
      0.0001). Sixteen (94%) noted improvement in headache, fourteen (82%) had visual
      improvement and all (100%) patients had improved main symptom. Of 11 patients
      with optical coherence tomography, 8 showed decreased RNFL thickness and 3
      remained stable; furthermore, these 11 patients had improved vision with improved
      papilledema in 8, lack of pre-existing papilledema in 2 and stable, mild edema in
      1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our series of patients with dural sinus stenosis
      demonstrated improvement in vision and reduction in RNFL thickness. DVSS appears
      to be a useful treatment for IIH patients with dural sinus stenosis.

PMID- 26863330
TI  - Chrysin treatment improves diabetes and its complications in liver, brain, and
      pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
AB  - Chrysin (CH) is a natural flavonoid with pharmacological influences. The purpose
      of the current study was the assessment of possible protective effects of CH
      against oxidative damage in the serum, liver, brain, and pancreas of
      streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats. In the present study, the rats were
      divided into the following groups of 8 animals each: control, untreated diabetic,
      3 CH (20, 40, 80 mg/kg/day)-treated diabetic groups. To find out the modulations
      of cellular antioxidant defense systems, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and
      antioxidant enzymes including glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide
      dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in the serum,
      liver, brain, and pancreas. STZ caused an elevation of glucose, MDA, TG, TC, LDL
      C and with reduction of HDL-C, total protein, SOD, CAT, and GST in the serum,
      liver, brain, and pancreas (p < 0.01). The findings showed that the significant
      elevation in the glucose, MDA, TG, TC, LDL-C and reduction of HDL-C, total
      protein, SOD, CAT, and GST were ameliorated in the CH-treated diabetic groups
      versus to the untreated groups, in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.05). The
      current study offers that CH may be recovered diabetes and its complications by
      modification of oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26863332
TI  - Conducting Polymer-Based Catalysts.
AB  - Conducting polymers (CPs) have been widely applied as electrocatalysts and
      photocatalysts in energy-related systems, sensors, and environmental protection.
      This is mainly due to their promising catalytic activities, high conductivities,
      and unique electrochemical and optical properties. Furthermore, CPs can be
      cheaply and conveniently prepared in large scale via chemical or electrochemical
      approaches. In this Perspective, we review the recent advancements on the
      synthesis and applications of CP-based inherent and composite catalysts and CP
      derived heteroatom-doped carbon catalysts. The mechanisms of catalysis will be
      introduced, and the challenges of developing CP-based catalysts with practical
      importance will be discussed. 

PMID- 26863331
TI  - An Operant Intra-/Extra-dimensional Set-shift Task for Mice.
AB  - Alterations in executive control and cognitive flexibility, such as attentional
      set-shifting abilities, are core features of several neuropsychiatric diseases.
      The most widely used neuropsychological tests for the evaluation of attentional
      set-shifting in human subjects are the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the
      CANTAB Intra-/Extra-dimensional set shift task (ID/ED). These tasks have proven
      clinical relevance and have been modified and successfully adapted for research
      in animal models. However, currently available tasks for rodents present several
      limitations, mainly due to their manual-based testing procedures, which are
      hampering translational advances in psychiatric medicine. To overcome these
      limitations and to better mimic the original version in primates, we present the
      development of a novel operant-based two-chamber ID/ED "Operon" task for rodents.
      We demonstrated the effectiveness of this novel task to measure different facets
      of cognitive flexibility in mice including attentional set formation and
      shifting, and reversal learning. Moreover, we show the high flexibility of this
      task in which three different perceptual dimensions can be manipulated with a
      high number of stimuli cues for each dimension. This novel ID/ED Operon task can
      be an effective preclinical tool for drug testing and/or large genetic screening
      relevant to the study of executive dysfunction and cognitive symptoms found in
      psychiatric disorders. 

PMID- 26863333
TI  - Racial/Ethnic Differences in Labor Outcomes with Prostaglandin Vaginal Inserts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare labor outcomes across
      race/ethnicity in women undergoing prostaglandin labor induction. METHODS:
      Secondary analysis of misoprostol vaginal insert (MVI) trial, a double-blind,
      randomized, control trial of 1,308 patients comparing sustained release vaginal
      inserts containing dinoprostone 10 mg and misoprostol 50 mcg (MVI 50) or 100 mcg
      (MVI 100). RESULTS: Achievement of active labor and induction failures were
      similar across race/ethnicity. Cesareans were performed less frequently in whites
      (29 %) and Hispanics (24.5 %) compared to blacks (32.7 %) (adjusted odds ratio
      (aOR) 0.87, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.97, p = 0.03 and aOR 0.86, 95 %
      CI 0.44-0.97, p = 0.03, respectively). When compared to blacks, whites were less
      likely to undergo cesarean for non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing (aOR 0.41,
      95 % CI 0.25-0.66, p = 0.0003), as were Hispanics (aOR 0.38, 95 % CI 0.22-0.65, p
      = 0.0004). Postpartum hemorrhage occurred more frequently in Hispanics (8.8 %)
      versus blacks (4.1 %) and whites (OR 2.27, 95 % CI 0.23-0.82, p = 0.02 and OR
      3.69, 95 % CI 0.14-0.51, p < 0.0001, respectively). Birth weights of black
      infants were lower than whites (p < 0.0001) and Hispanics (p = 0.0003). Neonatal
      outcomes did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Differences in labor
      induction outcomes with prostaglandin labor induction exist based on
      race/ethnicity. Blacks delivered smaller babies, were more likely to undergo
      cesarean, and have cesareans performed for non-reassuring fetal heart tracing
      compared to other groups. Hispanics were more likely to experience postpartum
      hemorrhage compared to the other races.

PMID- 26863334
TI  - Racial-Sex Disparities--A Challenging Battle Against Cancer Mortality in the USA.
AB  - Decline in US cancer mortality has recently been reported, based on either pooled
      mortality of all cancer sites or age-adjusted mortality rates of specific sites.
      While the former could be dominated by a few cancer sites and would not reflect
      that of other sites, the latter used the US 2000 Population as reference for age
      standardization, which was lack of justification. This study aimed to examine US
      cancer mortality trend and disparities in sites, races, and sex. We studied
      cancer incidence-based mortality by race and sex from 1974 to 2008 of cervix,
      prostate, colon and rectum, lung, leukemia, liver, pancreas, and stomach in the
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We developed a model-based
      mortality rate and examined rate ratio of each calendar period to the first
      period within each race-sex group. Cancer mortality of cervix, colon and rectum,
      leukemia, and stomach declined in all groups. Prostate cancer increased first in
      all racial groups and decreased thereafter at different pace. Lung cancer
      declined among males of all races but increased among females. Liver cancer
      increased steadily fast among white and black females, doubled in whites and
      black males, and climbed slowly in other races. Pancreas cancer declined among
      black males and females, and changed little among others. Cancer mortality trend
      presents heterogeneity across sites, races, and sex. Recently observed mortality
      decline may not reflect every cancer site or group. More effort needs to focus on
      specific race-sex groups that had increasing lung and liver cancer mortality. 

PMID- 26863335
TI  - Racial Differences in Chronic Conditions and Sociodemographic Characteristics
      Among High-Utilizing Veterans.
AB  - PURPOSE: African-Americans are disproportionally represented among high-risk,
      high-utilizing patients. To inform program development for this vulnerable
      population, the current study describes racial variation in chronic conditions
      and sociodemographic characteristics among high-utilizing patients in the
      Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA). METHODS: We identified the 5 % most
      costly Veterans who used inpatient or outpatient care at the VA during fiscal
      year 2010 (N = 237,691) based on costs of inpatient and outpatient care, pharmacy
      services, and VA-sponsored contract care. Patient costs and characteristics were
      abstracted from VA outpatient and inpatient data files. Racial differences in
      sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, marital support, homelessness, and
      health insurance status) were assessed with chi-square tests. Racial differences
      in 32 chronic condition diagnoses were calculated as relative risk ratios.
      RESULTS: African-Americans represented 21 % of high-utilizing Veterans. African
      Americans had higher rates of homelessness (26 vs. 10 %, p < 0.001) and lower
      rates of supplemental health insurance (44 vs. 58 %, p < 0.001). The mean number
      of chronic conditions was similar across race. However, there were racial
      differences in the prevalence of specific chronic conditions, including a higher
      prevalence of HIV/AIDS (95 % confidence interval (CI) 4.86, 5.50) and
      schizophrenia (95 % CI 1.94, 2.07) and a lower prevalence of ischemic heart
      disease (95 % CI 0.57, 0.59) and bipolar disorder (95 % CI 0.78, 0.85) among
      African-American high-utilizing Veterans. CONCLUSION: Racial disparities among
      high-utilizing Veterans may differ from those found in the general population.
      Interventions should devote attention to social, environmental, and mental health
      issues in order to reduce racial disparities in this vulnerable population.

PMID- 26863336
TI  - The Relationship Between Education and Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing Among
      Urban African American Medicare Beneficiaries.
AB  - PURPOSE: We examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and
      prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cancer screening among older African American
      men. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from a sample of 485 community-dwelling
      African American men who participated in the Cancer Prevention and Treatment
      Demonstration Trial. The outcome was receipt of PSA screening within the past
      year. SES was measured using income and educational attainment. Sequential
      multivariate logistic regression models were performed to study whether health
      care access, patient-provider relationship, and cancer fatalism mediated the
      relationship between SES and PSA screening. RESULTS: Higher educational
      attainment was significantly associated with higher odds of PSA screening in the
      past year (odds ratio (OR) 2.08 for college graduate compared to less than high
      school graduate, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.03-4.24); income was not. Health
      care access and patient-provider communication did not alter the relationship
      between education and screening; however, beliefs regarding cancer fatalism
      partially mediated the observed relationship. CONCLUSION: Rates of prostate
      cancer screening among African American men vary by level of educational
      attainment; beliefs concerning cancer fatalism help explain this gradient.
      Understanding the determinants of cancer fatalism is a critical next step in
      building interventions that seek to ensure equitable access to prostate cancer
      screening.

PMID- 26863337
TI  - Differences in the Prevalence of Overweight Between 10-12-Year-old South Asian
      and Non-South Asian Children in Toronto, Ontario: Findings from Project BEAT.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of overweight
      among 10-12-year-old South Asian children in comparison to non-South Asian
      children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained data from 16 schools in
      Toronto, Ontario. The analysis included 734 children (260 South Asian and 475 non
      South Asian) aged 10-12 years. Height and weight were measured, and body mass
      index (BMI; kg/m(2)) was calculated according to age- and sex-specific cut points
      established by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). RESULTS: The
      prevalence of overweight was significantly higher among South Asian children when
      compared to non-South Asian children (36.9 vs. 23.0 %; p < 0.001). Unadjusted,
      South Asian children exhibited increased odds for being overweight (OR = 1.96; CI
      = 1.41-2.73; p < 0.001) compared to non-South Asian children and persisted after
      the adjustment for socio-demographic covariates but did not remain significant
      after the inclusion of physical activity and sedentary behaviour variables. The
      adjusted odds for being overweight was significantly higher among South Asian
      boys (but not girls) compared to their non-South Asian counterparts (OR = 2.45;
      CI = 1.32-4.55; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight differs by
      ethnic group and gender. South Asian boys have increased odds of being overweight
      compared to non-South Asian boys. Children of South Asian origin should receive
      focused attention in public health initiatives to reduce the risk of becoming
      overweight and the associated metabolic consequences.

PMID- 26863338
TI  - Race Attribution Modifies the Association Between Daily Discrimination and Major
      Depressive Disorder Among Blacks: the Role of Gender and Ethnicity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although the association between discrimination and depression among
      Blacks is well-known, we do not know if this effect is influenced by race
      attribution. In this current study, we investigated the effect modification of
      race attribution on the association between everyday discrimination and major
      depressive disorder (MDD) among Blacks in the United States, and whether this
      effect modification is influenced by the intersection of ethnicity and gender.
      METHODS: With a cross-sectional design, this study used data from the National
      Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001-2003. The study included a nationally
      representative sample of Blacks (n = 5,008), composed of 3,570 African Americans
      and 1,438 Caribbean Blacks. Everyday discrimination, two single-item measures of
      race attribution (race as the major barrier against upward social mobility, and
      race as the main cause for being discriminated against) and 12-month MDD were
      measured. In the first step, we fit logistic regressions to the pooled sample. In
      the next step, we ran regressions specific to the intersections of ethnicity and
      gender. Interaction between race attribution and discrimination were also entered
      into the models. RESULTS: Among Caribbean Black men, the belief that race is a
      major barrier against one's own upward social mobility modified the association
      between exposure to daily discrimination and MDD. In this group, the association
      between discrimination and MDD was weaker among those who believed that race is a
      major barrier against one's own upward social mobility. Race attribution did not
      modify the association between discrimination and MDD among African American men,
      African American women, and Caribbean Black women. The other measure of race
      attribution (race as the main cause of being discriminated against) did not
      modify the association between discrimination and MDD in any ethnicity by gender
      subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Among Caribbean Black men, the link between everyday
      discrimination and depression may depend on seeing race as the main barrier
      against upward social mobility. Among African American men and women, however,
      the link between discrimination and MDD does not depend on race attribution. Our
      results suggest that ethnicity, gender, and race attribution may alter the
      association between discrimination and risk of MDD among Blacks.

PMID- 26863339
TI  - Does Patient Race/Ethnicity Influence Physician Decision-Making for Diagnosis and
      Treatment of Childhood Disruptive Behavior Problems?
AB  - Race/ethnic disparities in utilization of children's mental health care have been
      well documented and are particularly concerning given the long-term risks of
      untreated mental health problems (Institute of Medicine, 2003; Kessler et al. Am
      J Psychiatry 152:10026-1032, 1995). Research investigating the higher rates of
      unmet need among race/ethnic minority youths has focused primarily on policy,
      fiscal, and individual child or family factors that can influence service access
      and use. Alternatively, this study examines provider behavior as a potential
      influence on race/ethnic disparities in mental health care. The goal of the study
      was to examine whether patient (family) race/ethnicity influences physician
      diagnostic and treatment decision-making for childhood disruptive behavior
      problems. The study utilized an internet-based video vignette with corresponding
      survey of 371 randomly selected physicians from across the USA representing
      specialties likely to treat these patients (pediatricians, family physicians,
      general and child psychiatrists). Participants viewed a video vignette in which
      only race/ethnicity of the mother randomly varied (non-Hispanic White, Hispanic,
      and African American) and then responded to questions about diagnosis and
      recommended treatments. Physicians assigned diagnoses such as oppositional
      defiant disorder (48 %) and attention deficit disorder (63 %) to the child, but
      there were no differences in diagnosis based on race/ethnicity. The majority of
      respondents recommended psychosocial treatment (98 %) and/or psychoactive
      medication treatment (60 %), but there were no significant differences based on
      race/ethnicity. Thus, in this study using mock patient stimuli and controlling
      for other factors, such as insurance coverage, we did not find major differences
      in physician diagnostic or treatment decision-making based on patient
      race/ethnicity.

PMID- 26863340
TI  - Possible Contribution of PTSD to Altered Cortisol Activity in Young Adult Obese
      African-American Women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: African-Americans have been found to experience increased rates of
      post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obesity, and flatter diurnal cortisol
      slopes compared to other demographic groups. Further exploration, however, is
      needed to understand how PTSD impacts diurnal cortisol activity in obese African
      American women. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship
      between salivary cortisol levels and PTSD in a sample of obese young adult
      African-American women and to examine how depression and insomnia influence the
      relationship. METHODS: Thirty-four young adult African-American women (mean age =
      24.0 years; mean BMI = 37.4 kg/m(2), 6/34 of the sample had a score of 40 or
      above on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) representing clinically significant PTSD)
      filled out questionnaires assessing PTSD, lifetime exposure to traumatic events,
      insomnia severity, and depression. A home-based assessment of salivary cortisol
      was provided upon awakening at 30 min and 1, 3, 6, and 12 h. RESULTS: There was a
      significant interaction between PTSD status and diurnal cortisol activity (p <
      0.04). There were trends for higher cortisol levels at awakening (p < 0.051) and
      30 min post-awakening (p < 0.059) with PTSD. The significance of the interaction
      between PTSD and cortisol was attenuated by co-varying for depression and
      insomnia (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PTSD, influenced by depression and insomnia
      symptoms, has an impact on diurnal cortisol activity in obese young adult African
      American women.

PMID- 26863341
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease: An Assessment of
      Obstetrician-Gynecologists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns.
AB  - BACKGROUND: African American and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected
      by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its many risk factors. Obstetrician
      gynecologists (OB/GYNs) play an integral role in well-woman care and have a
      unique opportunity to provide CVD counseling and screening to these at-risk and
      underserved groups. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether OB/GYN race/ethnicity and OB/GYN
      practices with increasing minority patient populations predicted differences in
      OB/GYNs' knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns relevant to racial/ethnic
      disparities in CVD. This study also sought to determine provider and patient
      related barriers to CVD care. METHOD: A questionnaire on CVD was mailed to 273
      members of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in March-July
      2013. RESULTS: African American and Hispanic OB/GYNs and OB/GYN practices with
      increasing minority patient populations were more knowledgeable of CVD
      disparities. These OB/GYNs reported greater concern for minority women's CVD risk
      relative to White OB/GYNs. Overall, OB/GYNs appear less knowledgeable and
      concerned with Hispanics' increased CVD risk relative to African Americans'. The
      most commonly reported provider and patient-related barriers to CVD care were
      time constraints, patient nonadherence to treatment recommendations, and
      inadequate training. CONCLUSION: It is likely that minority OB/GYNs and those
      with practices with increasing minority patient populations have greater exposure
      to women at risk for CVD. Dissemination of educational information regarding
      Hispanic women's CVD risk profile may improve OB/GYN knowledge, counseling, and
      screening. Increased training in CVD and multicultural competency during medical
      school and residency should help OB/GYNs overcome what they report as primary
      barriers to CVD care.

PMID- 26863342
TI  - Determinants of Low Health Literacy Among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders in
      California.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a marker for how patients obtain, comprehend,
      communicate, and apply complex health information. Few studies exist on
      determinants of low health literacy among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders.
      The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify key determinants of low
      health literacy in this population using the 2007 California Health Interview
      Survey, a population-based survey. METHODS: Low health literacy was defined as
      reporting either prescription bottle or written information from the doctor as
      being "somewhat difficult" or "very difficult" to understand, or reporting having
      a hard time understanding their doctor. Survey weighted univariate and
      multivariable regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 4045
      participants were included in the study, representing 3,156,711 Asian-American
      and Pacific Islander adults in California. Factors associated with low health
      literacy were being male, low socioeconomic status, limited English language
      proficiency, and being foreign born. CONCLUSION: Results of this study highlight
      the current burden of low health literacy among Asian-American and Pacific
      Islander population and the associated factors. Targeted public health efforts to
      improve health literacy are needed among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders.

PMID- 26863343
TI  - A Novel Microsurgical Model for Heterotopic, En Bloc Chest Wall, Thymus, and
      Heart Transplantation in Mice.
AB  - Exploration of novel strategies in organ transplantation to prolong allograft
      survival and minimizing the need for long-term maintenance immunosuppression must
      be pursued. Employing vascularized bone marrow transplantation and co
      transplantation of the thymus have shown promise in this regard in various animal
      models. Vascularized bone marrow transplantation allows for the uninterrupted
      transfer of donor bone marrow cells within the preserved donor microenvironment,
      and the incorporation of thymus tissue with vascularized bone marrow
      transplantation has shown to increase T-cell chimerism ultimately playing a
      supportive role in the induction of immune regulation. The combination of solid
      organ and vascularized composite allotransplantation can uniquely combine these
      strategies in the form of a novel transplant model. Murine models serve as an
      excellent paradigm to explore the mechanisms of acute and chronic rejection,
      chimerism, and tolerance induction, thus providing the foundation to propagate
      superior allograft survival strategies for larger animal models and future
      clinical application. Herein, we developed a novel heterotopic en bloc chest
      wall, thymus, and heart transplant model in mice using a cervical non-suture cuff
      technique. The experience in syngeneic and allogeneic transplant settings is
      described for future broader immunological investigations via an instructional
      manuscript and video supplement.

PMID- 26863344
TI  - BRAF analysis before surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma: correlation with
      clinicopathological features and prognosis in a single-institution prospective
      experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk stratification in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma
      (PTC) currently relies on postoperative parameters. Testing for BRAF mutations
      preoperatively may serve as a novel tool for identifying PTC patients at risk of
      persistence/recurrence after surgery. METHODS: The study involved 185 consecutive
      patients with a histological diagnosis of PTC and BRAF analysis performed on
      thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). We assessed BRAF status in FNAB
      specimens obtained before thyroidectomy for PTC, and examined its association
      with the clinicopathological characteristics identified postoperatively, and with
      outcome after a mean 55+/-15 months of follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred and
      fifteen of 185 (62%) PTCs carried a BRAF mutation. Univariate analysis showed
      that BRAF status correlated with the histological variant of PTC, cancer size,
      and stage at diagnosis, but not with gender, age, multifocality, or lymph node
      involvement. BRAF-mutated cases had a higher prevalence of persistent/recurrent
      disease by the end of the follow-up (11% vs. 8%), but this difference was not
      statistically significant. The Kaplan-Meier curve shows that among the patients
      with persistent/recurrent disease, BRAF-mutated patients needed a second
      treatment earlier than patients with BRAF wild-type, although the difference did
      not completely reach the statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      confirmed that preoperatively-identified BRAF mutation are associated with
      certain pathological features of PTC that correlate with prognosis. We speculate
      that it has a role in identifying PTCs that would generally be considered low
      risk but that may reveal an aggressive behavior during their follow-up.

PMID- 26863345
TI  - Osteocalcin as a potential risk biomarker for cardiovascular and metabolic
      diseases.
AB  - Clear evidence supports a role for circulating and locally-produced osteocalcin
      (OC) in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular (CV) lesions and CV risk, also in
      combination with metabolic changes, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
      Reduced plasma OC levels are associated with greater incidence of pathological CV
      changes, like arterial and valvular calcification, coronary and carotid
      atherosclerosis and increased carotid intima-media thickness. The actual
      relationship between OC levels and incidence of major CV events is, however,
      still unclear. Moreover, reduced circulating OC levels have been mostly
      associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or T2DM, indicating
      relevant OC actions on pancreatic beta-cells and insulin secretion and activity.
      Based on these observations, this review article will attempt to summarize the
      current evidence on the potential usefulness of circulating OC as a biomarker for
      CV and metabolic risk, also evaluating the currently open issues in this area of
      research. 

PMID- 26863346
TI  - An International Standard for holotranscobalamin (holoTC): international
      collaborative study to assign a holoTC value to the International Standard for
      vitamin B12 and serum folate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Investigation of possible B12 and folate deficiencies requires
      measurement of these vitamins in serum. There is evidence that holotranscobalamin
      (holoTC), the active portion of B12 available to cells, is a more specific marker
      of early B12 deficiency than total B12. The availability of immunoassays for
      holoTC prompted an international collaborative study to assign a holoTC value to
      the World Health Organization (WHO) 1st International Standard (IS) for vitamin
      B12 and serum folate, 03/178. METHODS: The IS, 03/178, and three serum samples
      with different holoTC levels were assayed by 12 laboratories in eight countries
      using manual and automated immunoassays for holoTC; one laboratory additionally
      performed an in-house assay. Fourteen sets of data were analysed. RESULTS:
      Overall, the IS, 03/178, and the three serum samples demonstrated assay linearity
      and parallelism. An overall geometric mean (GM) holoTC value of 106.8 pmol/L was
      obtained for 03/178, with an inter-laboratory geometric coefficient of variation
      (GCV) of 10.5%. There was a reduction in inter-laboratory variability when the
      holoTC levels in the serum samples were determined relative to the IS with an
      assigned holoTC value rather than to the assays' calibration. Accelerated
      degradation studies showed that 03/178 was sufficiently stable to serve as an IS
      for holoTC. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization
      endorsed the proposal to assign a holoTC value of 107 pmol/L to 03/178,
      corresponding to 0.107 pmol per ampoule, for use as the 1st IS for vitamin B12,
      serum folate, and holoTC.

PMID- 26863347
TI  - Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics as tools in cancer therapy.
AB  - Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics (PGx) are rapidly growing fields that aim
      to elucidate the genetic basis for the interindividual differences in drug
      response. PGx approaches have been applied to many anticancer drugs in an effort
      to identify relevant inherited or acquired genetic variations that may predict
      patient response to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. In this article, we
      discuss the advances in the field of cancer pharmacogenetics and
      pharmacogenomics, driven by the recent technological advances and new
      revolutionary massive sequencing technologies and their application to elucidate
      the genetic bases for interindividual drug response and the development of
      biomarkers able to personalize drug treatments. Specifically, we present recent
      progress in breast cancer molecular classifiers, cell-free circulating DNA as a
      prognostic and predictive biomarker in cancer, patient-derived tumor xenograft
      models, chronic lymphocytic leukemia genomic landscape, and current
      pharmacogenetic advances in colorectal cancer. This review is based on the
      lectures presented by the speakers of the symposium "Pharmacogenetics and
      Pharmacogenomics as Tools in Cancer Therapy" from the VII Conference of the
      Spanish Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Society (SEFF), held in Madrid
      (Spain) on April 21, 2015. 

PMID- 26863348
TI  - Neural Responses to Physical Characteristics of a High-velocity, Low-amplitude
      Spinal Manipulation: Effect of Thrust Direction.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Electrophysiological recordings were obtained from proprioceptors
      in deep lumbar paraspinal muscles of anesthetized cats during high-velocity low
      amplitude spinal manipulation (HVLA-SM). OBJECTIVE: To determine how thrust
      direction of an HVLA-SM affects neural input from back musculature. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: A clinician's ability to apply the thrust of an HVLA-SM in a
      specified direction is considered an important component of its optimal delivery.
      However, previous biomechanical studies indicate that the shear force component
      of the thrust vector is not actually transmitted to paraspinal tissues deep to
      the thoracolumbar fascia because the skin-fascia interface is frictionless.
      METHODS: Neural activity from muscle spindles in the multifidus and longissimus
      muscles was recorded from L6 dorsal rootlets in 18 anesthetized cats. After
      preload to the spinal tissues, HVLA-SMs (100-ms thrust duration) were applied
      through the intact skin overlying the L6 lamina. Thrusts were applied at angles
      oriented perpendicularly to the back and obliquely at 15 degrees  and 30 degrees 
      medialward or cranialward using a 6 * 6 Latin square design with three
      replicates. The normal force component was kept constant at 21.3 N. HVLA-SMs were
      preceded and followed by simulated spinal movement applied to the L6 vertebra.
      Changes in mean instantaneous discharge frequency (DeltaMIF) of muscle spindles
      were determined both during the thrust and spinal movement. RESULTS: DeltaMIFs
      during the HVLA-SM thrust were significantly greater in response to all thrust
      directions compared with the preload alone, but there was no difference in
      DeltaMIF for any of the thrust directions during the HVLA-SM. HVLA-SM decreased
      some of the responses to simulated spinal movement but thrust direction had no
      effect on these changes. CONCLUSION: The shear force component of an HVLA-SM's
      thrust vector is not transmitted to the underlying vertebra sufficient to
      activate muscle spindles of the attached muscles. Implications for clinical
      practice and clinical research are discussed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

PMID- 26863349
TI  - Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice.
AB  - Recording of the epidural electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) in
      small animals, like mice and rats, has been pivotal to study the homeodynamics
      and circuitry of sleep-wake regulation. In many laboratories, a cable-based sleep
      recording system is used to monitor the EEG and EMG in freely behaving mice in
      combination with computer software for automatic scoring of the vigilance states
      on the basis of power spectrum analysis of EEG data. A description of this system
      is detailed herein. Steel screws are implanted over the frontal cortical area and
      the parietal area of 1 hemisphere for monitoring EEG signals. In addition, EMG
      activity is monitored by the bilateral placement of wires in both neck muscles.
      Non-rapid eye movement (Non-REM; NREM) sleep is characterized by large, slow
      brain waves with delta activity below 4 Hz in the EEG, whereas a shift from low
      frequency delta activity to a rapid low-voltage EEG in the theta range between 6
      and 10 Hz can be observed at the transition from NREM to REM sleep. By contrast,
      wakefulness is identified by low- to moderate-voltage brain waves in the EEG
      trace and significant EMG activity. 

PMID- 26863350
TI  - A World Free of Polio--The Final Steps.

PMID- 26863351
TI  - Standardizing Patient Outcomes Measurement.

PMID- 26863352
TI  - Is Dementia in Decline? Historical Trends and Future Trajectories.

PMID- 26863353
TI  - Caplacizumab for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is caused by
      aggregation of platelets on ultralarge von Willebrand factor multimers. This
      microvascular thrombosis causes multiorgan ischemia with potentially life
      threatening complications. Daily plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapies
      induce remission, but mortality and morbidity due to microthrombosis remain high.
      METHODS: Caplacizumab, an anti-von Willebrand factor humanized single-variable
      domain immunoglobulin (Nanobody), inhibits the interaction between ultralarge von
      Willebrand factor multimers and platelets. In this phase 2, controlled study, we
      randomly assigned patients with acquired TTP to subcutaneous caplacizumab (10 mg
      daily) or placebo during plasma exchange and for 30 days afterward. The primary
      end point was the time to a response, defined as confirmed normalization of the
      platelet count. Major secondary end points included exacerbations and relapses.
      RESULTS: Seventy-five patients underwent randomization (36 were assigned to
      receive caplacizumab, and 39 to receive placebo). The time to a response was
      significantly reduced with caplacizumab as compared with placebo (39% reduction
      in median time, P=0.005). Three patients in the caplacizumab group had an
      exacerbation, as compared with 11 patients in the placebo group. Eight patients
      in the caplacizumab group had a relapse in the first month after stopping the
      study drug, of whom 7 had ADAMTS13 activity that remained below 10%, suggesting
      unresolved autoimmune activity. Bleeding-related adverse events, most of which
      were mild to moderate in severity, were more common with caplacizumab than with
      placebo (54% of patients vs. 38%). The frequencies of other adverse events were
      similar in the two groups. Two patients in the placebo group died, as compared
      with none in the caplacizumab group. CONCLUSIONS: Caplacizumab induced a faster
      resolution of the acute TTP episode than did placebo. The platelet-protective
      effect of caplacizumab was maintained during the treatment period. Caplacizumab
      was associated with an increased tendency toward bleeding, as compared with
      placebo. (Funded by Ablynx; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01151423.).

PMID- 26863354
TI  - Incidence of Dementia over Three Decades in the Framingham Heart Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dementia is expected to soar as the average life
      expectancy increases, but recent estimates suggest that the age-specific
      incidence of dementia is declining in high-income countries. Temporal trends are
      best derived through continuous monitoring of a population over a long period
      with the use of consistent diagnostic criteria. We describe temporal trends in
      the incidence of dementia over three decades among participants in the Framingham
      Heart Study. METHODS: Participants in the Framingham Heart Study have been under
      surveillance for incident dementia since 1975. In this analysis, which included
      5205 persons 60 years of age or older, we used Cox proportional-hazards models
      adjusted for age and sex to determine the 5-year incidence of dementia during
      each of four epochs. We also explored the interactions between epoch and age,
      sex, apolipoprotein E epsilon4 status, and educational level, and we examined the
      effects of these interactions, as well as the effects of vascular risk factors
      and cardiovascular disease, on temporal trends. RESULTS: The 5-year age- and sex
      adjusted cumulative hazard rates for dementia were 3.6 per 100 persons during the
      first epoch (late 1970s and early 1980s), 2.8 per 100 persons during the second
      epoch (late 1980s and early 1990s), 2.2 per 100 persons during the third epoch
      (late 1990s and early 2000s), and 2.0 per 100 persons during the fourth epoch
      (late 2000s and early 2010s). Relative to the incidence during the first epoch,
      the incidence declined by 22%, 38%, and 44% during the second, third, and fourth
      epochs, respectively. This risk reduction was observed only among persons who had
      at least a high school diploma (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.67
      to 0.88). The prevalence of most vascular risk factors (except obesity and
      diabetes) and the risk of dementia associated with stroke, atrial fibrillation,
      or heart failure have decreased over time, but none of these trends completely
      explain the decrease in the incidence of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Among
      participants in the Framingham Heart Study, the incidence of dementia has
      declined over the course of three decades. The factors contributing to this
      decline have not been completely identified. (Funded by the National Institutes
      of Health.).

PMID- 26863355
TI  - Adjunctive Dexamethasone in HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cryptococcal meningitis associated with human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) infection causes more than 600,000 deaths each year worldwide. Treatment
      has changed little in 20 years, and there are no imminent new anticryptococcal
      agents. The use of adjuvant glucocorticoids reduces mortality among patients with
      other forms of meningitis in some populations, but their use is untested in
      patients with cryptococcal meningitis. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized,
      placebo-controlled trial, we recruited adult patients with HIV-associated
      cryptococcal meningitis in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Uganda, and
      Malawi. All the patients received either dexamethasone or placebo for 6 weeks,
      along with combination antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and fluconazole.
      RESULTS: The trial was stopped for safety reasons after the enrollment of 451
      patients. Mortality was 47% in the dexamethasone group and 41% in the placebo
      group by 10 weeks (hazard ratio in the dexamethasone group, 1.11; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.47; P=0.45) and 57% and 49%, respectively, by 6 months
      (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.53; P=0.20). The percentage of patients
      with disability at 10 weeks was higher in the dexamethasone group than in the
      placebo group, with 13% versus 25% having a prespecified good outcome (odds
      ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.69; P<0.001). Clinical adverse events were more
      common in the dexamethasone group than in the placebo group (667 vs. 494 events,
      P=0.01), with more patients in the dexamethasone group having grade 3 or 4
      infection (48 vs. 25 patients, P=0.003), renal events (22 vs. 7, P=0.004), and
      cardiac events (8 vs. 0, P=0.004). Fungal clearance in cerebrospinal fluid was
      slower in the dexamethasone group. Results were consistent across Asian and
      African sites. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone did not reduce mortality among patients
      with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis and was associated with more adverse
      events and disability than was placebo. (Funded by the United Kingdom Department
      for International Development and others through the Joint Global Health Trials
      program; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN59144167.).

PMID- 26863356
TI  - Clonal Immunoglobulin against Lysolipids in the Origin of Myeloma.
AB  - Antigen-driven selection has been implicated in the pathogenesis of monoclonal
      gammopathies. Patients with Gaucher's disease have an increased risk of
      monoclonal gammopathies. Here we show that the clonal immunoglobulin in patients
      with Gaucher's disease and in mouse models of Gaucher's disease-associated
      gammopathy is reactive against lyso-glucosylceramide (LGL1), which is markedly
      elevated in these patients and mice. Clonal immunoglobulin in 33% of sporadic
      human monoclonal gammopathies is also specific for the lysolipids LGL1 and
      lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Substrate reduction ameliorates Gaucher's disease
      associated gammopathy in mice. Thus, long-term immune activation by lysolipids
      may underlie both Gaucher's disease-associated gammopathies and some sporadic
      monoclonal gammopathies. 

PMID- 26863357
TI  - CLINICAL PRACTICE. Urinary Tract Infections in Older Men.

PMID- 26863358
TI  - IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Madelung's Disease.

PMID- 26863359
TI  - CASE RECORDS of the MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. Case 4-2016. A 58-Year-Old
      Woman with a Skin Ulcer, Fever, and Lymphadenopathy.

PMID- 26863360
TI  - Von Willebrand Factor--A New Target for TTP Treatment?

PMID- 26863361
TI  - Cardiometabolic Risks and Obesity in the Young.

PMID- 26863362
TI  - Cardiometabolic Risks and Obesity in the Young.

PMID- 26863363
TI  - Cardiometabolic Risks and Obesity in the Young.

PMID- 26863364
TI  - Cardiometabolic Risks and Obesity in the Young.

PMID- 26863365
TI  - A Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker.

PMID- 26863366
TI  - A Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker.

PMID- 26863367
TI  - A Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker.

PMID- 26863368
TI  - Trends in Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26863369
TI  - Trends in Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26863370
TI  - Trends in Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26863371
TI  - Trends in Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26863372
TI  - Probable Hospital Cluster of H7N9 Influenza Infection.

PMID- 26863373
TI  - IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Scalp Necrosis Associated with Giant-Cell Arteritis.

PMID- 26863374
TI  - A single session of open kinetic chain movements emphasizing speed improves speed
      of movement and modifies postural control in stroke.
AB  - Little attention has been given to training speed of movement, even though
      functional activities require quick submaximal contractions. Closed kinetic chain
      (CKC) exercises are considered more functional; however, the best method for
      training speed is not known. A single bout of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises
      emphasizing speed was performed to determine whether movement velocity and muscle
      activation would improve in a single session and whether the improvements
      transfer to a physiological balance task. Eleven participants <1 year post-stroke
      performed an arm raise task before and after a single session of fast OKC
      exercises. Surface electromyography (EMG) from soleus (SOL), tibialis anterior
      (TA), biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles, peak velocity and
      average power were recorded during the OKC exercises. EMG from SOL, TA, BF and RF
      and center of pressure (COP) velocity were measured during arm raise task. At the
      end of the OKC exercises, velocity, power and TA, BF and RF EMG area increased.
      The arm acceleration and BF EMG area increased significantly during the arm
      raise. The improvements observed at the end of the OKC exercises transferred to
      the arm raise task. The improvements in balance were comparable to those
      previously seen after CKC exercises. 

PMID- 26863375
TI  - Human Platelet Lysate as a Replacement for Fetal Bovine Serum in Limbal Stem Cell
      Therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of human platelet lysate (HPL) as an alternative
      supplement for limbal explant culture. METHODS: Culture media were prepared using
      either 10% pooled HPL (PHPL), single donor HPL, or fetal bovine serum (FBS).
      Limbal tissues, obtained from the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, were cultured in each
      medium on plastic plates or on denuded amniotic membrane (AM). Immunofluorescence
      staining was performed for ABCG2, tumor protein p63alpha, and cytokeratin 3 (K3).
      Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used
      to evaluate the expression of ABCG2 and p63. Limbal explants grown in each medium
      were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to assess the proliferative capacity
      in each medium. Concentration of growth factors including epidermal growth factor
      (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta
      (TGF-beta), and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in HPL and PHPL was
      compared to that in human serum (HS). RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining on AM
      showed prominent expression of ABCG2, p63alpha but sparse expression of K3 in HPL
      and PHPL supplemented medium. Real time-PCR showed 1.7 fold higher expression of
      ABCG2 in PHPL supplemented medium (p = 0.03), and similar expression of p63 in
      HPL and PHPL supplemented medium compared to FBS medium. The proliferation assay
      showed that LSCs retained their proliferative potential in HPL supplemented
      medium. Higher concentration of growth factors were found in HPL, compared to HS.
      CONCLUSIONS: Human platelet lysate has higher concentration of grown factors and
      is effective in maintaining growth and stem cell phenotype of corneal limbal
      explant cultures.

PMID- 26863376
TI  - From microbes to fish the next revolution in food production.
AB  - Increasing global population and the consequent increase in demand for food are
      not a new story. Agroindustrial activities such as livestock help meet this
      demand. Aquaculture arose decades ago and revolutionized the agroindustrial
      activity as a significant food generator. However, like livestock, aquaculture is
      based on finite resources and has been accused of being unsustainable. Abandoning
      aquaculture is not an option considering the food, foreign exchange, and
      employment it generates, and therefore must be reinvented. Among the many
      alternatives suggested to make aquaculture more sustainable, microorganisms have
      been highlighted as a direct food source for cultured fish and crustaceans, a
      strategy that promises to revolutionize aquaculture by eliminating waste.
      Considering waste, as part of a cycle, it can increase stock densities and reduce
      emissions of contaminants and operational costs.

PMID- 26863377
TI  - Comments on "Efficacy of Stone Density on Noncontrast Computed Tomography in
      Predicting the Outcome of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Patients With
      Pancreatic Stones" by Ohyama et al.

PMID- 26863378
TI  - Reply to Xie S, Mai G. Comments on Comments on "Efficacy of Stone Density on
      Noncontrast Computed Tomography in Predicting the Outcome of Extracorporeal Shock
      Wave Lithotripsy for Patients With Pancreatic Stones" by Ohyama et al.

PMID- 26863379
TI  - Tertiary Lymphoid Tissue Occurs in the Porcine Pancreas.

PMID- 26863380
TI  - L-Carnitine Supplementation Improved Hepatic Steatosis After Pancreatectomy.

PMID- 26863381
TI  - A Case of Pancreatic Adenosquamous Carcinoma Obstructing the Common Bile and
      Pancreatic Ducts, Duodenum, and Gastric Outlet.

PMID- 26863383
TI  - Intestinal Lymphangiestasia With Hennekam Syndrome.

PMID- 26863382
TI  - Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic
      Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation.
AB  - Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are intimately involved in almost all
      biological processes and are linked to many human diseases. Therefore, there is a
      major effort to target PPIs in basic research and in the pharmaceutical industry.
      Protein-protein interfaces are usually large, flat, and often lack pockets,
      complicating the discovery of small molecules that target such sites. Alternative
      targeting approaches using antibodies have limitations due to poor oral
      bioavailability, low cell-permeability, and production inefficiency. Using
      peptides to target PPI interfaces has several advantages. Peptides have higher
      conformational flexibility, increased selectivity, and are generally inexpensive.
      However, peptides have their own limitations including poor stability and
      inefficiency crossing cell membranes. To overcome such limitations, peptide
      cyclization can be performed. Cyclization has been demonstrated to improve
      peptide selectivity, metabolic stability, and bioavailability. However,
      predicting the bioactive conformation of a cyclic peptide is not trivial. To
      overcome this challenge, one attractive approach it to screen a focused library
      to screen in which all backbone cyclic peptides have the same primary sequence,
      but differ in parameters that influence their conformation, such as ring size and
      position. We describe a detailed protocol for synthesizing a library of backbone
      cyclic peptides targeting specific parasite PPIs. Using a rational design
      approach, we developed peptides derived from the scaffold protein Leishmania
      receptor for activated C-kinase (LACK). We hypothesized that sequences in LACK
      that are conserved in parasites, but not in the mammalian host homolog, may
      represent interaction sites for proteins that are critical for the parasites'
      viability. The cyclic peptides were synthesized using microwave irradiation to
      reduce reaction times and increase efficiency. Developing a library of backbone
      cyclic peptides with different ring sizes facilitates a systematic screen for the
      most biological active conformation. This method provides a general, fast, and
      facile way to synthesize cyclic peptides. 

PMID- 26863385
TI  - Aberrance of Serum Zinc and Free Copper Level in Wilson Disease.

PMID- 26863384
TI  - Endoscopic Evaluation in Children With End-Stage Liver Disease-Associated Portal
      Hypertension Awaiting Liver Transplant.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Routine oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) pre-liver transplantation
      (LT) for evaluation and management of gastrointestinal (GI) pathology, in
      particular GI varices secondary to portal hypertension, is common practice in
      adult LT programmes. There is no universal consensus for this practice in
      children. We report our endoscopic experience in children with end-stage liver
      disease (ESLD) pre-LT. METHODS: Retrospective audit of LT database and review of
      OGD findings of patients who had undergone endoscopy preceding LT. RESULTS: Of 69
      patients with ESLD, 50 (72.4%) had pre-LT OGD, 37 of which were done electively,
      whereas the remaining 13 were event driven. Forty-eight (96%) patients who
      underwent OGD had abnormalities, in which 38 (76%) patients had varices and 23
      (46%) had portal hypertensive gastropathy. Eleven (22%) patients required
      therapeutic intervention at initial OGD either with endoscopic variceal band
      ligation or endoscopic sclerotherapy. Compared with the group who underwent
      elective OGDs, the group who had event-driven OGDs had a significantly higher
      requirement for endoscopic intervention (P < 0.0001), occurrence of rebleeding (P
      < 0.029) and requirement for repeat OGDs (P = 0.014). There was no significant
      difference in terms of patient (P = 0.2746) or graft survival (P = 0.3192)
      between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The role of pre-LT OGDs in patients with ESLD
      associated with portal hypertension is possibly limited to control of bleeding
      during episodes of GI bleed, where the aim would be to stabilize the patient
      until eventual LT. Multicentre prospective studies are required to provide more
      evidence on the use of routine endoscopy for pre-LT assessment in children.

PMID- 26863386
TI  - 2-Year-Old with a Limp and Suspected Non-Accidental Injury.

PMID- 26863388
TI  - MicroRNA indicators of follicular steroidogenesis.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can provide useful biomarkers of tissue function. The aim of
      the present study was to determine, in bovine follicles (n = 66; diameter 4-22
      mm), the relationship among several indices of steroidogenesis and levels of 15
      miRNAs previously identified to be associated with follicle development.
      Oestradiol levels, the oestradiol : progesterone (E : P) ratio and cytochrome
      P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) expression were strongly correlated
      with each other (rho > 0.8) and with LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR)
      expression (rho >= 0.6; P < 0.01). Levels of nine different miRNAs in the
      follicular wall were correlated (P < 0.01) with oestradiol, the E : P ratio and
      CYP19A1, with miR-873 showing the strongest correlation in each case (rho > 0.7).
      Analyses of follicular fluid miRNAs identified miR-202 as correlated with
      oestradiol, the E : P ratio and CYP19A1 (rho > 0.5; P < 0.01). When considering
      all follicle end-points together, we found that using a cut-off value of E : P =
      1 overestimated the number of oestrogen-inactive follicles, whereas using CYP19A1
      as a classifier provided a clearer separation of follicle samples based on
      oestrogen activity, in agreement with the E : P ratio, LHCGR expression and
      levels of miR-873 and miR-202. In conclusion, we identified miR-873 and miR-202
      as miRNAs whose levels in follicular tissues can be used as indicators of
      steroidogenic capacity in bovine. We showed that these or other gene expression
      parameters, in addition or alternatively to the E : P ratio, should be used to
      accurately classify follicles based on steroidogenic capacity.

PMID- 26863387
TI  - Inverting the Diagnostic Pyramid in Celiac Disease: HLA Typing for Screening
      Suspects of Celiac Disease.

PMID- 26863389
TI  - First principles modeling of Mo6S9 nanowires via condensation of Mo4S6 clusters
      and the effect of iodine doping on structural and electronic properties.
AB  - By employing first principles DFT calculations, we propose a new stable model for
      Mo6S9 nanowires (NWs) obtained by condensing tetrahedral Mo4S6 clusters rather
      than octahedral Mo6S8 clusters, which are known as magic clusters in the Mo-S
      polyhedral cluster family. The pristine NW is found to be metallic and its local
      structure and physical properties can be tuned by doping of iodine atoms. This
      doping increases the number of Mo-Mo bonds in the NW, thus, Mo4 tetrahedra are
      initially fused to the Mo6 octahedron, and then, to the Mo8 dodecahedron.
      Further, a close correlation among the Mo-Mo bonding in the local structure,
      mechanical and electronic properties, is observed from our study. Finally, the
      stability of the pristine and iodine doped Mo8S12-xIx NW structures obtained from
      condensation of Mo4 tetrahedra are found to be quite comparable with that of
      already reported Mo6S9-xIx NWs with Mo6 octahedra as building blocks. 

PMID- 26863391
TI  - A very peculiar family of N-heterocyclic phosphines: unusual structures and the
      unique reactivity of 1,3,2-diazaphospholenes.
AB  - This Perspective gives an account of the peculiar electronic and molecular
      structures of N-heterocyclic phosphines featuring either a single 1,3,2
      diazaphospholene (DAP) ring with an exocyclic P-substituent X or two DAP rings
      linked by a P-P bond (bis-diazaphospholenyls), respectively, and their impact on
      the chemical properties of these molecules. The bonding situation in simple DAPs
      is epitomized by strong hyperconjugation between endocyclic pi-type electrons and
      the exocyclic P-X bond. This interaction may induce a perceptible ionic
      polarization of the P-X bond which can persist even in the limit of a vanishing
      electronegativity gradient between P and X, and becomes visible in unusual
      geometric distortions of molecular structures and a unique chemical behaviour.
      Structural distortions are particularly evident in bond lengthening effects in P
      halogen and P-phosphino derivatives R2P-DAP (with R2P ? DAP) which span the whole
      range from covalent molecules to contact ion pairs with a close relation to
      frustrated Lewis-pairs. The most significant impact on the chemical properties is
      found for P-phosphino- and P-hydrogen derivatives where reactions at
      substantially accelerated rates or totally new reaction modes can be observed,
      and new stoichiometric and first catalytic processes exploiting these features
      are currently emerging. The recently discovered bis-diazaphospholenyls differ
      from the simple derivatives as their central bond remains unpolarised as a
      consequence of the symmetric molecular structure. The occurrence of low-energy P
      P bond homolysis that was nonetheless observed in one case is according to the
      results of thermochemical studies of P-P bond fission reactions attributable to
      the effects of steric congestion and induces chemical reactivity that can be
      considered complementary to that of the simple R2P-DAPs. Some concluding remarks
      will pay attention to a facet of DAP reactivity that has so far been widely
      neglected but is currently receiving increasing attention, namely well-defined
      ring-opening processes. 

PMID- 26863390
TI  - Motor control exercise for acute non-specific low back pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Motor control exercise (MCE) is used by healthcare professionals
      worldwide as a common treatment for low back pain (LBP). However, the
      effectiveness of this intervention for acute LBP remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To
      evaluate the effectiveness of MCE for patients with acute non-specific LBP.
      SEARCH METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), four other databases and two trial registers from
      their inception to April 2015, tracked citations and searched reference lists. We
      placed no limitations on language nor on publication status. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      We included only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effectiveness
      of MCE for patients with acute non-specific LBP. We considered trials comparing
      MCE versus no treatment, versus another type of treatment or added as a
      supplement to other interventions. Primary outcomes were pain intensity and
      disability. Secondary outcomes were function, quality of life and recurrence.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors screened for potentially
      eligible studies, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. A third independent
      review author resolved disagreements. We examined MCE in the following
      comparisons: (1) MCE versus spinal manipulative therapy; (2) MCE versus other
      exercises; and (3) MCE as a supplement to medical management. We used the GRADE
      (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach to
      assess the quality of evidence. For missing or unclear information, we contacted
      study authors. We considered the following follow-up intervals: short term (less
      than three months after randomisation); intermediate term (at least three months
      but within 12 months after randomisation); and long term (12 months or longer
      after randomisation). MAIN RESULTS: We included three trials in this review (n =
      197 participants). Study sample sizes ranged from 33 to 123 participants. Low
      quality evidence indicates no clinically important differences between MCE and
      spinal manipulative therapy for pain at short term and for disability at short
      term and long term. Low-quality evidence also suggests no clinically important
      differences between MCE and other forms of exercise for pain at short or
      intermediate term and for disability at intermediate term or long term follow-up.
      Moderate-quality evidence shows no clinically important differences between MCE
      and other forms of exercise for disability at short term follow-up. Finally, very
      low-quality evidence indicates that addition of MCE to medical management does
      not provide clinically important improvement for pain or disability at short term
      follow-up. For recurrence at one year, very low-quality evidence suggests that
      MCE and medical management decrease the risk of recurrence by 64% compared with
      medical management alone. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We identified only three small
      trials that also evaluated different comparisons; therefore, no firm conclusions
      can be drawn on the effectiveness of MCE for acute LBP. Evidence of very low to
      moderate quality indicates that MCE showed no benefit over spinal manipulative
      therapy, other forms of exercise or medical treatment in decreasing pain and
      disability among patients with acute and subacute low back pain. Whether MCE can
      prevent recurrences of LBP remains uncertain.

PMID- 26863392
TI  - A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous
      Methamphetamine Self-Administration.
AB  - Substance use disorders, particularly to methamphetamine, are devastating,
      relapsing diseases that disproportionally affect young people. There is a need
      for novel, effective and practical treatment strategies that are validated in
      animal models. Neuromodulation, including deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy,
      refers to the use of electricity to influence pathological neuronal activity and
      has shown promise for psychiatric disorders, including drug dependence. DBS in
      clinical practice involves the continuous delivery of stimulation into brain
      structures using an implantable pacemaker-like system that is programmed
      externally by a physician to alleviate symptoms. This treatment will be limited
      in methamphetamine users due to challenging psychosocial situations. Electrical
      treatments that can be delivered intermittently, non-invasively and remotely from
      the drug-use setting will be more realistic. This article describes the delivery
      of intracranial electrical stimulation that is temporally and spatially separate
      from the drug-use environment for the treatment of IV methamphetamine dependence.
      Methamphetamine dependence is rapidly developed in rodents using an operant
      paradigm of intravenous (IV) self-administration that incorporates a period of
      extended access to drug and demonstrates both escalation of use and high
      motivation to obtain drug. 

PMID- 26863393
TI  - Eu-doped ZnO-HfO2 hybrid nanocrystal-embedded low-loss glass-ceramic waveguides.
AB  - We report on the sol-gel fabrication, using a dip-coating technique, of low-loss
      Eu-doped 70SiO2 -[Formula: see text] HfO2-xZnO (x = 2, 5, 7 and 10 mol%) ternary
      glass-ceramic planar waveguides. Transmission electron microscopy and grazing
      incident x-ray diffraction experiments confirm the controlled growth of hybrid
      nanocrystals with an average size of 3 nm-25 nm, composed of ZnO encapsulated by
      a thin layer of nanocrystalline HfO2, with an increase of ZnO concentration from
      x = 2 mol% to 10 mol%  in the SiO2-HfO2 composite matrix. The effect of
      crystallization on the local environment of Eu ions, doped in the ZnO-HfO2 hybrid
      nanocrystal-embedded glass-ceramic matrix, is studied using photoluminescence
      spectra, wherein an intense mixed-valence state (divalent as well as trivalent)
      emission of Eu ions is observed. The existence of Eu(2+) and Eu(3+) in the SiO2
      HfO2-ZnO ternary matrix is confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
      Importantly, the Eu[Formula: see text]-doped ternary waveguides exhibit low
      propagation losses (0.3 +/- 0.2 dB cm(-1) at 632.8 nm) and optical transparency
      in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which makes ZnO-HfO2
      nanocrystal-embedded SiO2-HfO2-ZnO waveguides a viable candidate for the
      development of on-chip, active, integrated optical devices. 

PMID- 26863394
TI  - Liver transplantation today: still severe problems to solve!

PMID- 26863395
TI  - Oxidative addition of an aromatic ortho C-H bond of tetraphosphine to asymmetric
      diiridium(i) centres.
AB  - Reactions of a tetraphosphine, meso
      bis{[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenyl]phosphino}propane (dpmppp), with
      [IrCl(cod)]2 and CO (1 atm) or isocyanide (RNC) in the presence of NH4PF6 at 80
      100  degrees C in dichloromethane/acetonitrile/acetone and/or methanol mixed
      solvents afforded asymmetric diiridium(ii) complexes, [Ir2(H)(Cl)(MU-(dpmppp-H)
      kappaP(4)C)(CO)3]PF6 (1) and [Ir2(H)(MU-(dpmppp-H)-kappaP(4)C)(RNC)4)]-(PF6)2 (R
      = 2,6-xylyl (2), 2,4,6-mesityl (3); dpmppp-H = {PPh(o
      C6H4)CH2P(Ph)(CH2)3P(Ph)CH2PPh2}(-)). A similar reaction with (t)BuNC resulted in
      the formation of a mononuclear Ir(III) complex of [Ir(H)(dpmppp
      kappaP(3))((t)BuNC)2](PF6)2 (4). Complexes 1-3 were characterized by ESI mass
      spectrometry, (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses.
      They were found to consist of cis/trans-P,P asymmetric Ir(II)-Ir(II) bonded
      dinuclear structures derived from oxidative addition of an ortho C-H bond of
      dpmppp (Ir-Ir = 2.8044(2) A (1), 2.8569(2) A (2), and 2.8524(5) A (3)), resulting
      in a [IrPCCIr] intermetallic cyclometal-bridge and a terminal hydride. DFT
      calculations indicated the presence of Ir-Ir, Ir-H, and Ir-Cortho covalent bonds.
      Initial stages of the reactions with CO and XylNC at room temperature were
      investigated by (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy and found to contain a symmetrical
      Ir(I) dinuclear unit with dpmppp that was readily transformed into 1 and 2 upon
      heating. The Ir intermediate with XylNC, [Ir2(XylNC)4(MU-dpmppp)](PF6)2 (6), was
      isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations as an
      electron-deficient 32e(-) Ir species involving a Ir(I)->Ir(I) dative bond
      (2.7989(5) A). The reaction pathways from 6 to 2 were investigated by DFT
      calculations. The present study suggested that a novel oxidative addition of an
      ortho C-H bond proceeded on the cis/trans-P,P asymmetric diiridium(i) scaffold
      supported by the tetraphosphine, dpmppp, which was assumed to be facilitated by
      dimetal cooperation with switching Ir->Ir dative interactions. 

PMID- 26863396
TI  - Ultraviolet broadband light scattering for optically-trapped submicron-sized
      aerosol particles.
AB  - We describe a broadband light scattering setup for the characterization of size
      and refractive index of single submicron-to-micron sized aerosol particles.
      Individual particles are isolated in air by a quadruple Bessel beam optical trap
      or a counter-propagating optical tweezer. The use of very broadband radiation in
      the wavelength range from 320 to 700 nm covering the ultraviolet region allows to
      size submicron particles. We show that a broad wavelength range is required to
      determine the particle radius and the refractive index with an uncertainty of
      several nanometers and ~ 0.01, respectively. The smallest particle radius that
      can be accurately determined lies around 300 nm. Wavelength-dependent refractive
      index data over a broad range are obtained, including the ultraviolet region
      where corresponding data are rare. Four different applications are discussed: (1)
      the sizing of submicron polystyrene latex spheres, (2) the evaporation of binary
      glycerol water droplets, (3) hydration/dehydration cycling of aqueous potassium
      carbonate droplets, and (4) photochemical reactions of oleic acid droplets.

PMID- 26863397
TI  - A density functional theory protocol for the calculation of redox potentials of
      copper complexes.
AB  - A density functional theory (DFT) protocol for the calculation of redox
      potentials of copper complexes is developed based on 13 model copper complexes.
      The redox potentials are calculated in terms of Gibbs free energy change of the
      redox reaction at the theory level of CAM-B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)/SMD, with the overall
      Gibbs free energy change being partitioned into the Gibbs free energy change of
      the gas phase reaction and the Gibbs free energy change of solvation. In
      addition, the calculated Gibbs free energy change of solvation is corrected by a
      unified correction factor of -0.258 eV as the second-layer Gibbs free energy
      change of solvation and other interactions for each redox reaction. And an
      empirical Gibbs free energy change of solvation at -0.348 eV is applied to each
      water molecule if the number of inner-sphere water molecule changes during the
      redox reaction. Satisfactory agreements between the DFT calculated and
      experimental results are obtained, with a maximum absolute error at 0.197 V, a
      mean absolute error at 0.114 V and a standard deviation at 0.133 V. Finally, it
      is concluded that the accurate prediction of redox potentials is dependent on the
      accurate prediction of geometrical structures as well as on geometrical
      conservation during the redox reaction. 

PMID- 26863398
TI  - Minimally Invasive Versus Open Pancreatoduodenectomy: Systematic Review and Meta
      analysis of Comparative Cohort and Registry Studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to appraise and to evaluate the current evidence on
      minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) versus open pancreatoduodenectomy
      only in comparative cohort and registry studies. BACKGROUND: Outcomes after MIPD
      seem promising, but most data come from single-center, noncomparative series.
      METHODS: Comparative cohort and registry studies on MIPD versus open
      pancreatoduodenectomy published before August 23, 2015 were identified
      systematically and meta-analyses were performed. Primary endpoints were mortality
      and International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula grade B/C postoperative
      pancreatic fistula (POPF). RESULTS: After screening 2293 studies, 19 comparative
      cohort studies (1833 patients) with moderate methodological quality and 2
      original registry studies (19,996 patients) were included. For cohort studies,
      the median annual hospital MIPD volume was 14. Selection bias was present for
      cancer diagnosis. No differences were found in mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 1.1,
      95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6-1.9] or POPF [(OR) = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.8 to
      1.3]. Publication bias was present for POPF. MIPD was associated with prolonged
      operative times [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 74 minutes, 95% CI = 29-118],
      but lower intraoperative blood loss (WMD = -385 mL, 95% CI = -616 to -154), less
      delayed gastric emptying (OR = 0.6, 95% = CI 0.5-0.8), and shorter hospital stay
      (WMD = -3 days, 95% CI = -5 to -2). For registry studies, the median annual
      hospital MIPD volume was 2.5. Mortality after MIPD was increased in low-volume
      hospitals (7.5% vs 3.4%; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes after MIPD seem
      promising in comparative cohort studies, despite the presence of bias, whereas
      registry studies report higher mortality in low-volume centers. The introduction
      of MIPD should be closely monitored and probably done only within structured
      training programs in high-volume centers.

PMID- 26863401
TI  - A Failed Late-Stage Epimerization Thwarts an Approach to Ineleganolide.
AB  - Significant efforts were made to complete a synthesis of the complex
      norcembranoid ineleganolide via a seemingly attractive strategy involving late
      stage creation of the central seven-membered ring. While the two key
      enantioenriched building blocks were made via high-yielding sequences and their
      convergent union was efficient, the critical C4-C5 bond of this sterically
      congested natural product could never be forged. Several interesting examples of
      unexpected acid-base behavior and unanticipated proximity-induced reactivity
      accounted for most of the problems in the execution of the synthesis plan. 

PMID- 26863402
TI  - Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental
      Features In Vitro and In Vivo.
AB  - Understanding the genetic programs underlying neural development is an important
      goal of developmental and stem cell biology. In the amphibian blastula, cells
      from the roof of the blastocoel are pluripotent. These cells can be isolated, and
      programmed to generate various tissues through manipulation of genes expression
      or induction by morphogens. In this manuscript protocols are described for the
      use of Xenopus laevis blastocoel roof explants as an assay system to investigate
      key in vivo and in vitro features of early neural development. These protocols
      allow the investigation of fate acquisition, cell migration behaviors, and cell
      autonomous and non-autonomous properties. The blastocoel roof explants can be
      cultured in a serum-free defined medium and grafted into host embryos. This
      transplantation into an embryo allows the investigation of the long-term lineage
      commitment, the inductive properties, and the behavior of transplanted cells in
      vivo. These assays can be exploited to investigate molecular mechanisms, cellular
      processes and gene regulatory networks underlying neural development. In the
      context of regenerative medicine, these assays provide a means to generate neural
      derived cell types in vitro that could be used in drug screening. 

PMID- 26863403
TI  - Chemical Proteomics Reveals Ferrochelatase as a Common Off-target of Kinase
      Inhibitors.
AB  - Many protein kinases are valid drug targets in oncology because they are key
      components of signal transduction pathways. The number of clinical kinase
      inhibitors is on the rise, but these molecules often exhibit polypharmacology,
      potentially eliciting desired and toxic effects. Therefore, a comprehensive
      assessment of a compound's target space is desirable for a better understanding
      of its biological effects. The enzyme ferrochelatase (FECH) catalyzes the
      conversion of protoporphyrin IX into heme and was recently found to be an off
      target of the BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib, likely explaining the phototoxicity
      associated with this drug in melanoma patients. This raises the question of
      whether FECH binding is a more general feature of kinase inhibitors. To address
      this, we applied a chemical proteomics approach using kinobeads to evaluate 226
      clinical kinase inhibitors for their ability to bind FECH. Surprisingly, low or
      submicromolar FECH binding was detected for 29 of all compounds tested and
      isothermal dose response measurements confirmed target engagement in cells. We
      also show that Vemurafenib, Linsitinib, Neratinib, and MK-2461 reduce heme levels
      in K562 cells, verifying that drug binding leads to a loss of FECH activity.
      Further biochemical and docking experiments identified the protoporphyrin pocket
      in FECH as one major drug binding site. Since the genetic loss of FECH activity
      leads to photosensitivity in humans, our data strongly suggest that FECH
      inhibition by kinase inhibitors is the molecular mechanism triggering
      photosensitivity in patients. We therefore suggest that a FECH assay should
      generally be part of the preclinical molecular toxicology package for the
      development of kinase inhibitors.

PMID- 26863404
TI  - Modification of Titanium Substrates with Chimeric Peptides Comprising
      Antimicrobial and Titanium-Binding Motifs Connected by Linkers To Inhibit Biofilm
      Formation.
AB  - Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation are the primary causes of implant
      associated infection, which is difficult to eliminate and may induce failure in
      dental implants. Chimeric peptides with both binding and antimicrobial motifs may
      provide a promising alternative to inhibit biofilm formation on titanium
      surfaces. In this study, chimeric peptides were designed by connecting an
      antimicrobial motif (JH8194: KRLFRRWQWRMKKY) with a binding motif (minTBP-1:
      RKLPDA) directly or via flexible/rigid linkers to modify Ti surfaces. We
      evaluated the binding behavior of peptides using quartz crystal microbalance
      (QCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques and investigated the effect of
      the modification of titanium surfaces with these peptides on the bioactivity of
      Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) and Streptococcus sanguis (S. sanguis).
      Compared with the flexible linker (GGGGS), the rigid linker (PAPAP) significantly
      increased the adsorption of the chimeric peptide on titanium surfaces (p < 0.05).
      Concentration-dependent adsorption is consistent with a single Langmuir model,
      whereas time-dependent adsorption is in line with a two-domain Langmuir model.
      Additionally, the chimeric peptide with the rigid linker exhibited more effective
      antimicrobial ability than the peptide with the flexible linker. This finding was
      ascribed to the ability of the rigid linker to separate functional domains and
      reduce their interference to the maximum extent. Consequently, the performance of
      chimeric peptides with specific titanium-binding motifs and antimicrobial motifs
      against bacteria can be optimized by the proper selection of linkers. This
      rational design of chimeric peptides provides a promising alternative to inhibit
      the formation of biofilms on titanium surfaces with the potential to prevent peri
      implantitis and peri-implant mucositis. 

PMID- 26863406
TI  - T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells.
AB  - Recently, we have shown, contrary to what is described, that CD4(+) T cells, the
      paradigm of adaptive immune cells, capture bacteria from infected dendritic cells
      (DCs) by a process called transinfection. Here, we describe the analysis of the
      transinfection process, which occurs during the course of antigen presentation.
      This process was unveiled by using CD4(+) T cells from transgenic OTII mice,
      which bear a T cell receptor (TCR) specific for a peptide of ovoalbumin (OVAp),
      which therefore can form stable immune complexes with infected dendritic cells
      loaded with this specific OVAp. The dynamics of green fluorescent protein (GFP)
      expressing bacteria during DC-T cell transmission can be monitored by live-cell
      imaging and the quantification of bacterial transinfection can be performed by
      flow cytometry. In addition, transinfection can be quantified by a more sensitive
      method based in the use of gentamicin, a non-permeable aminoglycoside antibiotic
      killing extracellular bacteria but not intracellular ones. This classical method
      has been used previously in microbiology to study the efficiency of bacterial
      infections. We hereby explain the protocol of the complete process, from the
      isolation of the primary cells to the quantification of transinfection. 

PMID- 26863407
TI  - Alzheimer's Disease and Social Work Practice: Implications of Advances in
      Neurosciences for Social Workers.

PMID- 26863408
TI  - Merging Single-Atom-Dispersed Silver and Carbon Nitride to a Joint Electronic
      System via Copolymerization with Silver Tricyanomethanide.
AB  - Herein, we present an approach to create a hybrid between single-atom-dispersed
      silver and a carbon nitride polymer. Silver tricyanomethanide (AgTCM) is used as
      a reactive comonomer during templated carbon nitride synthesis to introduce both
      negative charges and silver atoms/ions to the system. The successful introduction
      of the extra electron density under the formation of a delocalized joint
      electronic system is proven by photoluminescence measurements, X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy investigations, and measurements of surface zeta
      potential. At the same time, the principal structure of the carbon nitride
      network is not disturbed, as shown by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. The synthesis
      also results in an improvement of the visible light absorption and the
      development of higher surface area in the final products. The atom-dispersed
      AgTCM-doped carbon nitride shows an enhanced performance in the selective
      hydrogenation of alkynes in comparison with the performance of other conventional
      Ag-based materials prepared by spray deposition and impregnation-reduction
      methods, here exemplified with 1-hexyne. 

PMID- 26863409
TI  - pK(a) Values of Titrable Amino Acids at the Water/Membrane Interface.
AB  - Peptides and proteins protonation equilibrium is strongly influenced by its
      surrounding media. Remarkably, until now, there have been no quantitative and
      systematic studies reporting the pK(a) shifts in the common titrable amino acids
      upon lipid membrane insertion. Here, we applied our recently developed CpHMD-L
      method to calculate the pK(a) values of titrable amino acid residues incorporated
      in Ala-based pentapeptides at the water/membrane interface. We observed that
      membrane insertion leads to desolvation and a clear stabilization of the neutral
      forms, and we quantified the increases/decreases of the pK(a) values in the
      anionic/cationic residues along the membrane normal. This work highlights the
      importance of properly modeling the protonation equilibrium in peptides and
      proteins interacting with membranes using molecular dynamics simulations.

PMID- 26863410
TI  - Transcriptome-wide mapping reveals reversible and dynamic N(1)-methyladenosine
      methylome.
AB  - N(1)-Methyladenosine (m(1)A) is a prevalent post-transcriptional RNA
      modification, yet little is known about its abundance, topology and dynamics in
      mRNA. Here, we show that m(1)A is prevalent in Homo sapiens mRNA, which shows an
      m(1)A/A ratio of ~0.02%. We develop the m(1)A-ID-seq technique, based on m(1)A
      immunoprecipitation and the inherent ability of m(1)A to stall reverse
      transcription, as a means for transcriptome-wide m(1)A profiling. m(1)A-ID-seq
      identifies 901 m(1)A peaks (from 600 genes) in mRNA and noncoding RNA and reveals
      a prominent feature, enrichment in the 5' untranslated region of mRNA
      transcripts, that is distinct from the pattern for N(6)-methyladenosine, the most
      abundant internal mammalian mRNA modification. Moreover, m(1)A in mRNA is
      reversible by ALKBH3, a known DNA/RNA demethylase. Lastly, we show that m(1)A
      methylation responds dynamically to stimuli, and we identify hundreds of stress
      induced m(1)A sites. Collectively, our approaches allow comprehensive analysis of
      m(1)A modification and provide tools for functional studies of potential
      epigenetic regulation via the reversible and dynamic m(1)A methylation. 

PMID- 26863411
TI  - Analysis of publically available skin sensitization data from REACH registrations
      2008-2014.
AB  - The public data on skin sensitization from REACH registrations already included
      19,111 studies on skin sensitization in December 2014, making it the largest
      repository of such data so far (1,470 substances with mouse LLNA, 2,787 with
      GPMT, 762 with both in vivo and in vitro and 139 with only in vitro data). 21%
      were classified as sensitizers. The extracted skin sensitization data was
      analyzed to identify relationships in skin sensitization guidelines, visualize
      structural relationships of sensitizers, and build models to predict
      sensitization. A chemical with molecular weight > 500 Da is generally considered
      non-sensitizing owing to low bioavailability, but 49 sensitizing chemicals with a
      molecular weight > 500 Da were found. A chemical similarity map was produced
      using PubChem's 2D Tanimoto similarity metric and Gephi force layout
      visualization. Nine clusters of chemicals were identified by Blondel's module
      recognition algorithm revealing wide module-dependent variation. Approximately
      31% of mapped chemicals are Michaell's acceptors but alone this does not imply
      skin sensitization. A simple sensitization model using molecular weight and five
      ToxTree structural alerts showed a balanced accuracy of 65.8% (specificity 80.4%,
      sensitivity 51.4%), demonstrating that structural alerts have information value.
      A simple variant of k-nearest neighbors outperformed the ToxTree approach even at
      75% similarity threshold (82% balanced accuracy at 0.95 threshold). At higher
      thresholds, the balanced accuracy increased. Lower similarity thresholds decrease
      sensitivity faster than specificity. This analysis scopes the landscape of
      chemical skin sensitization, demonstrating the value of large public datasets for
      health hazard prediction.

PMID- 26863413
TI  - Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclization/Nucleophilic Substitution of 1-(N-Sulfonylazetidin
      2-yl) Ynones into N-Sulfonylpyrrolin-4-ones.
AB  - Polysubstituted pyrrolin-4-ones have been efficiently synthesized from readily
      available 1-(N-sulfonylazetidin-2-yl) ynones via gold(I)-catalyzed
      cyclization/nucleophilic substitution in the presence of various nucleophiles,
      such as water, alcohols, or indoles. Additionally, 3-iodopyrrolin-4-one
      derivatives have also been obtained under the same reaction conditions upon
      addition of 1.2 equiv of N-iodosuccinimide. 

PMID- 26863412
TI  - Mercury Redox Chemistry in Waters of the Eastern Asian Seas: From Polluted Coast
      to Clean Open Ocean.
AB  - We performed incubation experiments using seawaters from representative marine
      environments of the eastern Asian seas to determine the mercury (Hg) available
      for photoreduction (Hgr(II)), to investigate the Hg redox reaction kinetics, and
      to explore the effect of environmental factors and water chemistry on the Hg
      redox chemistry. Results show that Hgr(II) accounted for a considerable fraction
      of total Hg (THg) (%Hgr(II)/THg: 24.90 +/- 10.55%, n = 27) and positively
      correlated with THg. Filtration decreased the Hgr(II) pool of waters with high
      suspended particulate matter (SPM). The positive linear relationships were found
      between pseudo-first order rate constants of gross Hg(II) photoreduction (kr) and
      gross Hg(0) photo-oxidation (ko) with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).
      Under the condition of PAR of 1 m mol m(-2) s(-1), the kr were significantly (p <
      0.05) lower than ko (kr/ko: 0.86 +/- 0.22). The Hg(0) dark oxidation were
      significantly higher than the Hg(II) dark reduction. The Hg(II) dark reduction
      was positively correlated to THg, and the anaerobic condition favored the Hg(II)
      dark reduction. Filtration significantly influenced the Hg photoredox chemistry
      of waters with high SPM. UVB radiation was important for both Hg(II)
      photoreduction and Hg(0) photo-oxidation, and the role of other wavebands in
      photoinduced transformations of Hg varied with the water chemistry. 

PMID- 26863414
TI  - Dietary Variation and Evolution of Gene Copy Number among Dog Breeds.
AB  - Prolonged human interactions and artificial selection have influenced the
      genotypic and phenotypic diversity among dog breeds. Because humans and dogs
      occupy diverse habitats, ecological contexts have likely contributed to breed
      specific positive selection. Prior to the advent of modern dog-feeding practices,
      there was likely substantial variation in dietary landscapes among disparate dog
      breeds. As such, we investigated one type of genetic variant, copy number
      variation, in three metabolic genes: glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR),
      phytanol-CoA 2-hydroxylase (PHYH), and pancreatic alpha-amylase 2B (AMY2B). These
      genes code for proteins that are responsible for metabolizing dietary products
      that originate from distinctly different food types: sugar, meat, and starch,
      respectively. After surveying copy number variation among dogs with diverse
      dietary histories, we found no correlation between diet and positive selection in
      either GCKR or PHYH. Although it has been previously demonstrated that dogs
      experienced a copy number increase in AMY2B relative to wolves during or after
      the dog domestication process, we demonstrate that positive selection continued
      to act on amylase copy number in dog breeds that consumed starch-rich diets in
      time periods after domestication. Furthermore, we found that introgression with
      wolves is not responsible for deterioration of positive selection on AMY2B among
      diverse dog breeds. Together, this supports the hypothesis that the amylase copy
      number expansion is found universally in dogs. 

PMID- 26863415
TI  - Survival of Patients with Primary Brain Tumors: Comparison of Two Statistical
      Approaches.
AB  - PURPOSE: We reviewed the survival time for patients with primary brain tumors
      undergoing treatment with stereotactic radiation methods at the Masaryk Memorial
      Cancer Institute Brno. We also identified risk factors and characteristics, and
      described their influence on survival time. METHODS: In summarizing survival
      data, there are two functions of principal interest, namely, the survival
      function and the hazard function. In practice, both of them can depend on some
      characteristics. We focused on nonparametric methods, propose a method based on
      kernel smoothing, and compared our estimates with the results of the Cox
      regression model. The hazard function is conditional to age and gross tumor
      volume and visualized as a color-coded surface. A multivariate Cox model was also
      designed. RESULTS: There were 88 patients with primary brain cancer, treated with
      stereotactic radiation. The median survival of our patient cohort was 47.8
      months. The estimate of the hazard function has two peaks (about 10 months and
      about 40 months). The survival time of patients was significantly different for
      various diagnoses (p?0.001), KI (p = 0.047) and stereotactic methods (p = 0.033).
      Patients with a greater GTV had higher risk of death. The suitable threshold for
      GTV is 20 cm3. Younger patients with a survival time of about 50 months had a
      higher risk of death. In the multivariate Cox regression model, the selected
      variables were age, GTV, sex, diagnosis, KI, location, and some of their
      interactions. CONCLUSION: Kernel methods give us the possibility to evaluate
      continuous risk variables and based on the results offer risk-prone patients a
      different treatment, and can be useful for verifying assumptions of the Cox model
      or for finding thresholds of continuous variables.

PMID- 26863416
TI  - Collective Decision-Making in Homing Pigeons: Larger Flocks Take Longer to Decide
      but Do Not Make Better Decisions.
AB  - Social animals routinely are challenged to make consensus decisions about
      movement directions and routes. However, the underlying mechanisms facilitating
      such decision-making processes are still poorly known. A prominent question is
      how group members participate in group decisions. We addressed this question by
      examining how flocks of homing pigeons (Columba livia) decide their homing
      direction. We released newly formed flocks varying in size and determined the
      time taken to choose a homing direction (decision-making period) and the accuracy
      of that choice. We found that the decision-making period increases exponentially
      with flock size, which is consistent with a participatory decision-making
      process. We additionally found that there is no effect of flock size on the
      accuracy of the decisions made, which does not match with current theory for
      democratic choices of flight directions. Our combined results are better
      explained by a participatory choice of leaders that subsequently undertake the
      flock directional decisions. However, this decision-making model would only
      entirely fit with our results if leaders were chosen based on traits other than
      their navigational experience. Our study provides rare empirical evidence
      elucidating decision-making processes in freely moving groups of animals. 

PMID- 26863417
TI  - The Impact of the Choice of Data Source in Record Linkage Studies Estimating
      Mortality in Venous Thromboembolism.
AB  - Linked electronic healthcare databases are increasingly being used in
      observational research. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact
      of the choice of data source in estimating mortality following VTE, with a
      secondary aim to investigate the influence of the denominator definition. We used
      the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to identify patients aged 18+
      with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Multiple cohorts were identified in order to
      assess how mortality rates differed with a range of data sources. For each of the
      cohorts, incidence rates per 1,000 person years (/1000py) and relative rates
      (RRs) of all-cause mortality were calculated. The lowest mortality rate was found
      when only primary care data were used for both the exposure (VTE) and the outcome
      (death) (108.4/1000py). The highest mortality rate was found for patients
      diagnosed in secondary care (237.2/1000py). When linked primary and secondary
      care data were included for eligible patients and for the overlapping period of
      data collection, a mortality rate of 173.2/1000py was found. Sensitivity analyses
      varying the denominator definition provided a range of results (140.6
      164.3/1000py). The relative rates of mortality by gender and age were comparable
      across all cohorts. Depending on the choice of data source, the population
      studied may be different. This may have substantial impact on the main findings,
      in particular on incidence rates of mortality following VTE. 

PMID- 26863418
TI  - Hydrophobic Interactions Are a Key to MDM2 Inhibition by Polyphenols as Revealed
      by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and MM/PBSA Free Energy Calculations.
AB  - p53, a tumor suppressor protein, has been proven to regulate the cell cycle,
      apoptosis, and DNA repair to prevent malignant transformation. MDM2 regulates
      activity of p53 and inhibits its binding to DNA. In the present study, we
      elucidated the MDM2 inhibition potential of polyphenols (Apigenin, Fisetin,
      Galangin and Luteolin) by MD simulation and MM/PBSA free energy calculations. All
      polyphenols bind to hydrophobic groove of MDM2 and the binding was found to be
      stable throughout MD simulation. Luteolin showed the highest negative binding
      free energy value of -173.80 kJ/mol followed by Fisetin with value of -172.25
      kJ/mol. It was found by free energy calculations, that hydrophobic interactions
      (vdW energy) have major contribution in binding free energy. 

PMID- 26863419
TI  - Low Cardiac Output Leads Hepatic Fibrosis in Right Heart Failure Model Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatic fibrosis progresses with right heart failure, and becomes
      cardiac cirrhosis in a severe case. Although its causal factor still remains
      unclear. Here we evaluated the progression of hepatic fibrosis using a pulmonary
      artery banding (PAB)-induced right heart failure model and investigated whether
      cardiac output (CO) is responsible for the progression of hepatic fibrosis.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Five-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats divided into the PAB and
      sham-operated control groups. After 4 weeks from operation, we measured CO by
      echocardiography, and hepatic fibrosis ratio by pathological examination using a
      color analyzer. In the PAB group, CO was significantly lower by 48% than that in
      the control group (78.2+/-27.6 and 150.1+/-31.2 ml/min, P<0.01). Hepatic fibrosis
      ratio and serum hyaluronic acid, an index of hepatic fibrosis, were significantly
      increased in the PAB group than those in the control group (7.8+/-1.7 and 1.0+/
      0.2%, P<0.01, 76.2+/-27.5 and 32.7+/-7.5 ng/ml, P<0.01). Notably, the degree of
      hepatic fibrosis significantly correlated a decrease in CO. Immunohistological
      analysis revealed that hepatic stellate cells were markedly activated in hypoxic
      areas, and HIF-1alpha positive hepatic cells were increased in the PAB group.
      Furthermore, by real-time PCR analyses, transcripts of profibrotic and fibrotic
      factors (TGF-beta1, CTGF, procollargen I, procollargen III, MMP 2, MMP 9, TIMP 1,
      TIMP 2) were significantly increased in the PAB group. In addition, western blot
      analyses revealed that the protein level of HIF-1alpha was significantly
      increased in the PAB group than that in the control group (2.31+/-0.84 and 1.0+/
      0.18 arbitrary units, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that low CO
      and tissue hypoxia were responsible for hepatic fibrosis in right failure heart
      model rats.

PMID- 26863420
TI  - Music for a Brighter World: Brightness Judgment Bias by Musical Emotion.
AB  - A prevalent conceptual metaphor is the association of the concepts of good and
      evil with brightness and darkness, respectively. Music cognition, like metaphor,
      is possibly embodied, yet no study has addressed the question whether musical
      emotion can modulate brightness judgment in a metaphor consistent fashion. In
      three separate experiments, participants judged the brightness of a grey square
      that was presented after a short excerpt of emotional music. The results of
      Experiment 1 showed that short musical excerpts are effective emotional primes
      that cross-modally influence brightness judgment of visual stimuli. Grey squares
      were consistently judged as brighter after listening to music with a positive
      valence, as compared to music with a negative valence. The results of Experiment
      2 revealed that the bias in brightness judgment does not require an active
      evaluation of the emotional content of the music. By applying a different
      experimental procedure in Experiment 3, we showed that this brightness judgment
      bias is indeed a robust effect. Altogether, our findings demonstrate a powerful
      role of musical emotion in biasing brightness judgment and that this bias is
      aligned with the metaphor viewpoint. 

PMID- 26863421
TI  - Organ-Preserving Surgical Treatment of a Horseshoe Kidney Occupied by a Large
      Renal Cell Carcinoma with Extensive Venous Invasion: A Case Report.
AB  - The horseshoe kidney is one of the most common congenital disorders affecting the
      urogenital system. Following a fusion of the lower kidney poles, which in turn
      lead to the formation of an isthmus, this anatomical variation is accompanied by
      other characteristic properties like an incomplete ascension, ventral rotation of
      the pelvices as well as atypical vascular supply. Even though renal carcinoids
      and Wilms tumors are more common in horseshoe kidneys, the incidence of renal
      cell carcinomas seems to be unaffected. Here we report the case of a locally
      advanced renal cell carcinoma with extensive venous invasion occurring in a
      horseshoe kidney and its complex surgical management. The whole primary tumor as
      well as a majority of venous tumor thrombi could be removed by a combination of
      2/3 nephrectomy and cavotomy with thrombectomy. During 1 year of follow-up, the
      patient neither suffered from a tumor relapse, nor did he require renal
      replacement therapy. Thus, we conclude that even in cases of RCC where advanced
      disease is associated with complex anatomical situations, organ-preserving
      surgical treatment should be pursued to achieve excellent functional and
      oncological results.

PMID- 26863422
TI  - Predicting the Risk of Recurrence Before the Start of Antithyroid Drug Therapy in
      Patients With Graves' Hyperthyroidism.
AB  - Genotyping increases the accuracy of a clinical score (based on pretreatment age,
      goiter size, FT4, TBII) for predicting recurrence of Graves' hyperthyroidism
      after a course of antithyroid drugs: a prospective study. 

PMID- 26863424
TI  - Circulating Retinoic Acid Levels and the Development of Metabolic Syndrome.
AB  - CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In this prospective study, we evaluated the association of
      retinoic acid (RA) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Chinese population.
      DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1042 nondiabetic adults from the population
      based Nutrition and Health of Aging Population were prospectively followed up for
      4 years. Serum RA concentrations was determined and its relationship with the
      MetS and its component was investigated. RESULTS: At baseline, higher RA levels
      were inversely associated with the presence of MetS (odds ratio 0.61; 95%
      confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.74, P < .001) after adjustment for age, gender,
      body mass index, the homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance
      (HOMA-IR), and other confounding factors. Subjects with lower RA levels had a
      progressively worse cardiometabolic risk profile at baseline. Serum RA levels
      were inversely associated with 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (P < .001), high
      sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = .015), and IL-6 (P = .020) and positively
      correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .038). Among 825
      subjects without MetS at baseline, 146 had developed it at 4 years. Serum RA by
      quartiles was inversely correlated with the incident MetS (adjusted hazard ratio
      0.67; 95% CI 0.48-0.81, P = .006). Apart from HOMA-IR (P < .001), the baseline RA
      level was the only independent predictor of the development of the MetS during
      the 4-year follow-up (odds ratio 0.53; 95% CI 0.40-0.69; P < .001) after
      adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: The serum
      RA level is inversely associated with the development of MetS independently of
      adiposity and insulin resistance.

PMID- 26863423
TI  - Sodium Intake and Osteoporosis. Findings From the Women's Health Initiative.
AB  - In this large, prospective, observational cohort study of postmenopausal women in
      the WHI, Cox proportional hazard regression models showed that sodium intake at
      or near recommended levels is not likely to impact bone metabolism. 

PMID- 26863425
TI  - Obesity, Metabolic Health, and History of Cytomegalovirus Infection in the
      General Population.
AB  - CONTEXT: Common community-acquired infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), may
      contribute to the development of obesity and metabolic dysfunction, but empirical
      evidence is scarce. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations between CMV, obesity,
      and metabolic characteristics in a large, general population-based sample of
      adults. DESIGN AND SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: This was an observational study in
      community dwelling adults from the general population, Understanding Society-the
      UK Household Longitudinal Study composed on 9517 men and women (age 52.4 +/- 16.4
      y; 55.3% female). MEASURES: CMV infection was measured IgG from serum. Obesity
      was defined as body mass index >=30 kg/m2. Based on blood pressure, high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and C-reactive
      protein, participants were classified as either Healthy (0 or 1 metabolic
      abnormality) or Unhealthy (>=2 metabolic abnormalities). RESULTS: A positive CMV
      test was recorded in 47.5% of the sample. There was no association between CMV
      and obesity. Of the individual metabolic risk factors, CMV was positively
      associated with glycated hemoglobin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In
      combination, only Unhealthy Nonobese participants had modestly increased odds of
      CMV (odds ratio compared with healthy normal-weight, 1.12; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.00-1.26) after adjusting for a range of variables. CMV was associated
      with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (odds ratio, 1.67; 95%
      CI, 1.07-2.60) independently of obesity, metabolic risk factors, and other
      covariates. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a weak but statistically significant
      association between CMV and metabolic dysfunction in nonobese adults. This
      relationship seems to be masked in the obese, possibly by the effects of excess
      adiposity on metabolism.

PMID- 26863426
TI  - C-Peptide Is a Sensitive Indicator for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in
      Subjects from Central Mexico.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is associated with elevated risk for
      developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A key component of MetS is the
      development of insulin resistance (IR). The homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)
      model can determine IR by using insulin or C-peptide concentrations; however, the
      efficiency of insulin and C-peptide to determine MetS has not been compared. The
      aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of C-peptide and insulin to
      determine MetS in Mexicans. METHODS: Anthropometrics, glucose, insulin, C
      peptide, triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins were determined in 156
      nonpregnant females and 114 males. Subjects were separated into normal or
      positive for MetS. IR was determined by the HOMA2 calculator using insulin or C
      peptide. Correlations were calculated using the Spearman correlation coefficient
      (rho). Differences between correlations were determined by calculating Steiger's
      Z. The sensitivity was determined by the area under receiver operating
      characteristics curve (AUC) analysis. RESULTS: Independent of the MetS definition
      [Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), or
      World Health Organization (WHO)], C-peptide and insulin were significantly higher
      in MetS subjects (P < 0.05). C-peptide and insulin correlated with all components
      of MetS; however, for waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and fasting plasma
      glucose, C-peptide correlated better than insulin (P < 0.05). Moreover, C-peptide
      (AUC = 0.72-0.78) was a better marker than insulin (AUC = 0.62-0.72) for MetS (P
      < 0.05). Finally, HOMA2-IR calculated with C-peptide (AUC = 0.80-0.84) was more
      accurate than HOMA2-IR calculated with insulin (AUC = 0.68-0.75, P < 0.05) at
      determining MetS. CONCLUSION: C-peptide is a strong indicator of MetS. Since C
      peptide has recently emerged as a biomolecule with significant importance for
      inflammatory diseases, monitoring C-peptide levels will aid clinicians in
      preventing MetS.

PMID- 26863427
TI  - Epimerase and Reductase Activities of Polyketide Synthase Ketoreductase Domains
      Utilize the Same Conserved Tyrosine and Serine Residues.
AB  - The role of the conserved active site tyrosine and serine residues in
      epimerization catalyzed by polyketide synthase ketoreductase (PKS KR) domains has
      been investigated. Both mutant and wild-type forms of epimerase-active KR
      domains, including the intrinsically redox-inactive EryKR3 degrees  and PicKR3
      degrees  as well as redox-inactive mutants of EryKR1, were incubated with [2
      (2)H]-(2R,3S)-2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoyl-SACP ([2-(2)H]-2) and 0.05 equiv of
      NADP(+) in the presence of the redox-active, epimerase-inactive EryKR6 domain.
      The residual epimerase activity of each mutant was determined by tandem
      equilibrium isotope exchange, in which the first-order, time-dependent washout of
      isotope from 2 was monitored by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
      with quantitation of the deuterium content of the diagnostic pantetheinate
      ejection fragment (4). Replacement of the active site Tyr or Ser residues, alone
      or together, significantly reduced the observed epimerase activity of each KR
      domain with minimal effect on substrate binding. Our results demonstrate that the
      epimerase and reductase activities of PKS KR domains share a common active site,
      with both reactions utilizing the same pair of Tyr and Ser residues. 

PMID- 26863428
TI  - Estimating the Relative Role of Various Subcategories of Food, Water, and Animal
      Contact Transmission of 28 Enteric Diseases in Canada.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Enteric illness represents a significant burden of illness in Canada
      and internationally. Building on previous research, an expert elicitation was
      undertaken to explore the routes of transmission for 28 pathogens involved in
      enteric illness in Canada. This article considers the subcategories of foodborne,
      waterborne, and animal contact transmission. METHODS: As part of an expert
      elicitation, 31 experts were asked to provide estimates of source attribution for
      subcategories of foodborne (n = 15), waterborne (n = 10), and animal contact (n =
      3) transmission. The results from an online survey were combined using triangular
      probability distributions, and median and 90% credible intervals were produced.
      The total proportion and estimated number of cases of enteric illness
      attributable to each type of food commodity, water source, and animal exposure
      route were calculated using results from the larger elicitation survey and from a
      recent Canadian foodborne burden of illness study (Thomas et al., 2013). RESULTS:
      Thirty experts provided foodborne subcategory estimates for 15/28 pathogens,
      waterborne subcategory estimates for 14/28 pathogens and animal contact
      subcategory estimates for 5/28. The elicitation identified raw produce,
      recreational water, and farm animal contact as important risk factors for enteric
      illness. These results also highlighted the complexity of transmission, with
      greater uncertainty for certain pathogens and routes of transmission.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first of its kind to explore subcategories of
      foodborne, waterborne, and animal contact transmission across such a range of
      enteric pathogens. Despite inherent uncertainty, these estimates present an
      important quantitative synthesis of the roles of foodborne commodities, water
      sources, and pathways of animal contact in the transmission of enteric illness in
      Canada.

PMID- 26863429
TI  - Systemic Analysis of Foodborne Disease Outbreak in Korea.
AB  - This study systemically analyzed data on the prevalence of foodborne pathogens
      and foodborne disease outbreaks to identify the priorities of foodborne infection
      risk management in Korea. Multiple correspondence analysis was applied to three
      variables: origin of food source, phase of food supply chain, and 12 pathogens
      using 358 cases from 76 original papers and official reports published in 1998
      2012. In addition, correspondence analysis of two variables--place and pathogen-
      was conducted based on epidemiological data of 2357 foodborne outbreaks in 2002
      2011 provided by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The results of this
      study revealed three distinct areas of food monitoring: (1) livestock-derived raw
      food contaminated with Campylobacter spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli,
      Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes; (2) multi-ingredient and ready-to
      eat food related to Staphylococcus aureus; and (3) water associated with
      norovirus. Our findings emphasize the need to track the sources and contamination
      pathways of foodborne pathogens for more effective risk management.

PMID- 26863430
TI  - Novel SLC19A3 Promoter Deletion and Allelic Silencing in Biotin-Thiamine
      Responsive Basal Ganglia Encephalopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biotin-thiamine responsive basal ganglia disease is a severe, but
      potentially treatable disorder caused by mutations in the SLC19A3 gene. Although
      the disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, patients with typical
      phenotypes carrying single heterozygous mutations have been reported. This makes
      the diagnosis uncertain and may delay treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: In two
      siblings with early-onset encephalopathy dystonia and epilepsy, whole-exome
      sequencing revealed a novel single heterozygous SLC19A3 mutation (c.337T>C).
      Although Sanger-sequencing and copy-number analysis revealed no other
      aberrations, RNA-sequencing in brain tissue suggested the second allele was
      silenced. Whole-genome sequencing resolved the genetic defect by revealing a
      novel 45,049 bp deletion in the 5'-UTR region of the gene abolishing the
      promoter. High dose thiamine and biotin therapy was started in the surviving
      sibling who remains stable. In another patient two novel compound heterozygous
      SLC19A3 mutations were found. He improved substantially on thiamine and biotin
      therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We show that large genomic deletions occur in the
      regulatory region of SLC19A3 and should be considered in genetic testing.
      Moreover, our study highlights the power of whole-genome sequencing as a
      diagnostic tool for rare genetic disorders across a wide spectrum of mutations
      including non-coding large genomic rearrangements.

PMID- 26863431
TI  - Azidobupramine, an Antidepressant-Derived Bifunctional Neurotransmitter
      Transporter Ligand Allowing Covalent Labeling and Attachment of Fluorophores.
AB  - The aim of this study was to design, synthesize and validate a multifunctional
      antidepressant probe that is modified at two distinct positions. The purpose of
      these modifications was to allow covalent linkage of the probe to interaction
      partners, and decoration of probe-target complexes with fluorescent reporter
      molecules. The strategy for the design of such a probe (i.e., azidobupramine) was
      guided by the need for the introduction of additional functional groups,
      conveying the required properties while keeping the additional moieties as small
      as possible. This should minimize the risk of changing antidepressant-like
      properties of the new probe azidobupramine. To control for this, we evaluated the
      binding parameters of azidobupramine to known target sites such as the
      transporters for serotonin (SERT), norepinephrine (NET), and dopamine (DAT). The
      binding affinities of azidobupramine to SERT, NET, and DAT were in the range of
      structurally related and clinically active antidepressants. Furthermore, we
      successfully visualized azidobupramine-SERT complexes not only in SERT-enriched
      protein material but also in living cells stably overexpressing SERT. To our
      knowledge, azidobupramine is the first structural analogue of a tricyclic
      antidepressant that can be covalently linked to target structures and further
      attached to reporter molecules while preserving antidepressant-like properties
      and avoiding radioactive isotopes. 

PMID- 26863432
TI  - In Vivo Validation of Simultaneous Non-Contrast Angiography and intraPlaque
      Hemorrhage (SNAP) Magnetic Resonance Angiography: An Intracranial Artery Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Simultaneous Non-contrast Angiography and intraPlaque hemorrhage
      (SNAP) technique was recently proposed for joint MRA and intraplaque hemorrhage
      (IPH) imaging. The purpose of this study is to validate SNAP's MRA performance in
      patients with suspected intracranial artery disease. METHODS: SNAP and time-of
      flight (TOF) techniques with matched field of view and resolution were applied on
      15 patients with suspected intracranial artery disease. Both techniques were
      evaluated based on their detection of luminal stenosis of bilateral middle
      cerebral arteries (MCA) and the delineation of smallest visible branches (SVB) of
      the MCA. Statistical analysis was conducted on the artery level. RESULTS: The
      SNAP MRA was found to provide similar stenosis detection performance when
      compared with TOF (Cohen's kappa 0.79; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.56-0.99). For
      the SVB comparison, SNAP was found to provide significantly better small artery
      delineation than TOF (p = 0.017). Inter-reader reproducibility for both
      measurements on SNAP was over 0.7. SNAP also detected IPH lesions on 13% of the
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: The SNAP technique's MRA performance was optimized and
      compared against TOF for intracranial artery atherosclerosis imaging and was
      found to provide comparable stenosis detection accuracy. Along with its IPH
      detection capability, SNAP holds the potential to become a first-line screening
      tool for high risk intracranial atherosclerosis disease evaluation.

PMID- 26863433
TI  - UK National Survey of Practice Patterns of Fluid Volume Management in
      Haemodialysis Patients: A Need for Evidence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fluid management in haemodialysis (HD) affects patient experience,
      morbidity and mortality. Standards for best practice are lacking. A national
      survey of the United Kingdom was undertaken to define prevalent practice.
      METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to all UK renal centres.
      RESULTS: Forty-five of 74 centres (173 dialysis units), serving 62% (n = 14,697)
      of UK HD population responded. Seventy-eight per cent had no agreed policy for
      managing fluid balance in patients on HD; 44% did not assess fluid status
      routinely. Clinical assessment was the norm; 27% used bio-impedance-based device.
      To achieve a target-weight, 53% reduced weight as far as tolerated. Twenty-two
      per cent measured residual renal function (RRF). Ninety-one per cent had no
      policy for fluid overload. Sixty-four per cent restricted salt and water. Ninety
      three per cent used diuretics in patients with RRF. Thirty-eight per cent felt
      management was adequate; 77% felt there was a need for better evidence. Ninety
      one per cent would participate in a study addressing this. CONCLUSION: There is
      an urgent need for establishing an evidence base on the optimal approaches to
      fluid management.

PMID- 26863434
TI  - Inter-Individual Differences in RNA Levels in Human Peripheral Blood.
AB  - Relatively little is known about the range of RNA levels in human blood. This
      report provides assessment of peripheral blood RNA level and its inter-individual
      differences in a group of 35 healthy humans consisting of 25 females and 10 males
      ranging in age from 50 to 89 years. In this group, the average total RNA level
      was 14.59 MUg/ml of blood, with no statistically significant difference between
      females and males. The individual RNA level ranged from 6.7 to 22.7 MUg/ml of
      blood. In healthy subjects, the repeated sampling of an individual's blood showed
      that RNA level, whether high or low, was stable. The inter-individual differences
      in RNA level in blood can be attributed to both, differences in cell number and
      the amount of RNA per cell. The 3.4-fold range of inter-individual differences in
      total RNA levels, documented herein, should be taken into account when evaluating
      the results of quantitative RT-PCR and/or RNA sequencing studies of human blood.
      Based on the presented results, a comprehensive assessment of gene expression in
      blood should involve determination of both the amount of mRNA per unit of total
      RNA (U / ng RNA) and the amount of mRNA per unit of blood (U / ml blood) to
      assure a thorough interpretation of physiological or pathological relevance of
      study results. 

PMID- 26863435
TI  - Correction: Selenium Supplementation in Fish: A Combined Chemical and
      Biomolecular Study to Understand Sel-Plex Assimilation and Impact on
      Selenoproteome Expression in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

PMID- 26863436
TI  - An Orally Active Allosteric GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Is Neuroprotective in Cellular
      and Rodent Models of Stroke.
AB  - Diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of stroke. Glucagon-like
      peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have been in clinical use for the treatment
      of diabetes and also been reported to be neuroprotective in ischemic stroke. The
      quinoxaline 6,7-dichloro-2-methylsulfonyl-3-N-tert- butylaminoquinoxaline (DMB)
      is an agonist and allosteric modulator of the GLP-1R with the potential to
      increase the affinity of GLP-1 for its receptor. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the neuroprotective effects of DMB on transient focal cerebral ischemia.
      In cultured cortical neurons, DMB activated the GLP-1R, leading to increased
      intracellular cAMP levels with an EC50 value about 100 fold that of exendin-4.
      Pretreatment of neurons with DMB protected against necrotic and apoptotic cell
      death was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The neuroprotective
      effects of DMB were blocked by GLP-1R knockdown with shRNA but not by GLP-1R
      antagonism. In C57BL/6 mice, DMB was orally administered 30 min prior to middle
      cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery. DMB markedly reduced the cerebral
      infarct size and neurological deficits caused by MCAO and reperfusion. The
      neuroprotective effects were mediated by activation of the GLP-1R through the
      cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway. DMB exhibited anti-apoptotic effects by
      modulating Bcl-2 family members. These results provide evidence that DMB, a small
      molecular GLP-1R agonist, attenuates transient focal cerebral ischemia injury and
      inhibits neuronal apoptosis induced by MCAO. Taken together, these data suggest
      that DMB is a potential neuroprotective agent against cerebral ischemia. 

PMID- 26863437
TI  - Song Perception by Professional Singers and Actors: An MEG Study.
AB  - The cortical correlates of speech and music perception are essentially
      overlapping, and the specific effects of different types of training on these
      networks remain unknown. We compared two groups of vocally trained professionals
      for music and speech, singers and actors, using recited and sung rhyme sequences
      from German art songs with semantic and/ or prosodic/melodic violations (i.e.
      violations of pitch) of the last word, in order to measure the evoked activation
      in a magnetoencephalographic (MEG) experiment. MEG data confirmed the existence
      of intertwined networks for the sung and spoken modality in an early time window
      after word violation. In essence for this early response, higher activity was
      measured after melodic/prosodic than semantic violations in predominantly right
      temporal areas. For singers as well as for actors, modality-specific effects were
      evident in predominantly left-temporal lateralized activity after semantic
      expectancy violations in the spoken modality, and right-dominant temporal
      activity in response to melodic violations in the sung modality. As an indication
      of a special group-dependent audiation process, higher neuronal activity for
      singers appeared in a late time window in right temporal and left parietal areas,
      both after the recited and the sung sequences. 

PMID- 26863438
TI  - Colony Failure Linked to Low Sperm Viability in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Queens
      and an Exploration of Potential Causative Factors.
AB  - Queen health is closely linked to colony performance in honey bees as a single
      queen is normally responsible for all egg laying and brood production within the
      colony. In the U. S. in recent years, queens have been failing at a high rate;
      with 50% or greater of queens replaced in colonies within 6 months when
      historically a queen might live one to two years. This high rate of queen failure
      coincides with the high mortality rates of colonies in the US, some years with
      >50% of colonies dying. In the current study, surveys of sperm viability in US
      queens were made to determine if sperm viability plays a role in queen or colony
      failure. Wide variation was observed in sperm viability from four sets of queens
      removed from colonies that beekeepers rated as in good health (n = 12; average
      viability = 92%), were replacing as part of normal management (n = 28; 57%), or
      where rated as failing (n = 18 and 19; 54% and 55%). Two additional paired set of
      queens showed a statistically significant difference in viability between
      colonies rated by the beekeeper as failing or in good health from the same
      apiaries. Queens removed from colonies rated in good health averaged high
      viability (ca. 85%) while those rated as failing or in poor health had
      significantly lower viability (ca. 50%). Thus low sperm viability was indicative
      of, or linked to, colony performance. To explore the source of low sperm
      viability, six commercial queen breeders were surveyed and wide variation in
      viability (range 60-90%) was documented between breeders. This variability could
      originate from the drones the queens mate with or temperature extremes that
      queens are exposed to during shipment. The role of shipping temperature as a
      possible explanation for low sperm viability was explored. We documented that
      during shipment queens are exposed to temperature spikes (<8 and > 40 degrees C)
      and these spikes can kill 50% or more of the sperm stored in queen spermathecae
      in live queens. Clearly low sperm viability is linked to colony performance and
      laboratory and field data provide evidence that temperature extremes are a
      potential causative factor. 

PMID- 26863439
TI  - The Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Membranous Web and Associated Nuclear Transport
      Machinery Limit Access of Pattern Recognition Receptors to Viral Replication
      Sites.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive-strand RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family
      and a major cause of liver disease worldwide. HCV replicates in the cytoplasm,
      and the synthesis of viral proteins induces extensive rearrangements of host cell
      membranes producing structures, collectively termed the membranous web (MW). The
      MW contains the sites of viral replication and assembly, and we have identified
      distinct membrane fractions derived from HCV-infected cells that contain
      replication and assembly complexes enriched for viral RNA and infectious virus,
      respectively. The complex membrane structure of the MW is thought to protect the
      viral genome limiting its interactions with cytoplasmic pattern recognition
      receptors (PRRs) and thereby preventing activation of cellular innate immune
      responses. Here we show that PRRs, including RIG-I and MDA5, and ribosomes are
      excluded from viral replication and assembly centers within the MW. Furthermore,
      we present evidence that components of the nuclear transport machinery regulate
      access of proteins to MW compartments. We show that the restricted assess of RIG
      I to the MW can be overcome by the addition of a nuclear localization signal
      sequence, and that expression of a NLS-RIG-I construct leads to increased immune
      activation and the inhibition of viral replication. 

PMID- 26863441
TI  - Correction: Overexpression of MEOX2 and TWIST1 is Associated with H3K27me3 Levels
      and Determines Lung Cancer Chemoresistance and Prognosis.

PMID- 26863440
TI  - In Vitro Study of Taenia solium Postoncospheral Form.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The transitional period between the oncosphere and the cysticercus of
      Taenia solium is the postoncospheral (PO) form, which has not yet been completely
      characterized. The aim of this work was to standardize a method to obtain T.
      solium PO forms by in vitro cultivation. We studied the morphology of the PO form
      and compared the expression of antigenic proteins among the PO form, oncosphere,
      and cysticerci stages. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: T. solium activated
      oncospheres were co-cultured with ten cell lines to obtain PO forms, which we
      studied at three stages of development--days 15, 30, and 60. A high percentage
      (32%) of PO forms was obtained using HCT-8 cells in comparison to the other cell
      lines. The morphology was observed by bright field, scanning, and transmission
      electron microscopy. Morphology of the PO form changed over time, with the six
      hooks commonly seen in the oncosphere stage disappearing in the PO forms, and
      vesicles and microtriches observed in the tegument. The PO forms grew as they
      aged, reaching a diameter of 2.5 mm at 60 days of culture. 15-30 day PO forms
      developed into mature cysticerci when inoculated into rats. Antigenic proteins
      expressed in the PO forms are also expressed by the oncosphere and cysticerci
      stages, with more cysticerci antigenic proteins expressed as the PO forms ages.
      CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report of an in vitro production
      method of T. solium PO forms. The changes observed in protein expression may be
      useful in identifying new targets for vaccine development. In vitro culture of PO
      form will aid in understanding the host-parasite relationship, since the
      structural changes of the developing PO forms may reflect the parasite's
      immunoprotective mechanisms. A wider application of this method could
      significantly reduce the use of animals, and thus the costs and time required for
      further experimental investigations.

PMID- 26863442
TI  - Expectancy of ergogenicity from sodium bicarbonate ingestion increases high
      intensity cycling capacity.
AB  - This study examined whether expectancy of ergogenicity of a commonly used
      nutritional supplement (sodium bicarbonate; NaHCO3) influenced subsequent high
      intensity cycling capacity. Eight recreationally active males (age, 21 +/- 1
      years; body mass, 75 +/- 8 kg; height, 178 +/- 4 cm; WPEAK = 205 +/- 22 W)
      performed a graded incremental test to assess peak power output (WPEAK), one
      familiarisation trial and two experimental trials. Experimental trials consisted
      of cycling at 100% WPEAK to volitional exhaustion (TLIM) 60 min after ingesting
      either a placebo (PLA: 0.1 g.kg(-1) sodium chloride (NaCl), 4 mL.kg(-1) tap
      water, and 1 mL.kg(-1) squash) or a sham placebo (SHAM: 0.1 g.kg(-1) NaCl, 4
      mL.kg(-1) carbonated water, and 1 mL.kg(-1) squash). SHAM aimed to replicate the
      previously reported symptoms of gut fullness (GF) and abdominal discomfort (AD)
      associated with NaHCO3 ingestion. Treatments were administered double blind and
      accompanied by written scripts designed to remain neutral (PLA) or induce
      expectancy of ergogenicity (SHAM). After SHAM mean TLIM increased by 9.5%
      compared to PLA (461 +/- 148 s versus 421 +/- 150 s; P = 0.048, d = 0.3). Ratings
      of GF and AD were mild but ~1 unit higher post-ingestion for SHAM. After 3 min
      TLIM overall ratings of perceived exertion were 1.4 +/- 1.3 units lower for SHAM
      compared to PLA (P = 0.020, d = 0.6). There were no differences between
      treatments for blood lactate, blood glucose, or heart rate. In summary,
      ergogenicity after NaHCO3 ingestion may be influenced by expectancy, which
      mediates perception of effort during subsequent exercise. The observed
      ergogenicity with SHAM did not affect our measures of cardiorespiratory
      physiology or metabolic flux.

PMID- 26863444
TI  - Overexpression of the CYP51A1 Gene and Repeated Elements are Associated with
      Differential Sensitivity to DMI Fungicides in Venturia inaequalis.
AB  - The involvement of overexpression of the CYP51A1 gene in Venturia inaequalis was
      investigated for isolates exhibiting differential sensitivity to the triazole
      demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides myclobutanil and difenoconazole.
      Relative expression (RE) of the CYP51A1 gene was significantly greater (P <
      0.0001) for isolates with resistance to both fungicides (MRDR phenotype) or with
      resistance to difenoconazole only (MSDR phenotype) compared with isolates that
      were resistant only to myclobutanil (MRDS phenotype) or sensitive to both
      fungicides (MSDS phenotype). An average of 9- and 13-fold increases in CYP51A1 RE
      were observed in isolates resistant to difenoconazole compared with isolates with
      MRDS and MSDS phenotypes, respectively. Linear regression analysis between
      isolate relative growth on myclobutanil-amended medium and log10 RE revealed that
      little to no variability in sensitivity to myclobutanil could be explained by
      CYP51A1 overexpression (R(2) = 0.078). To investigate CYP51A1 upstream anomalies
      associated with CYP51A1 overexpression or resistance to difenoconazole, Illumina
      sequencing was conducted for three isolates with resistance to difenoconazole and
      one baseline isolate. A repeated element, "EL 3,1,2", with the properties of a
      transcriptional enhancer was identified two to four times upstream of CYP51A1 in
      difenoconazole-resistant isolates but was not found in isolates with the MRDS
      phenotype. These results suggest that different mechanisms may govern resistance
      to different DMI fungicides in the triazole group. 

PMID- 26863443
TI  - National Economic Development Status May Affect the Association between Central
      Adiposity and Cognition in Older Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity is becoming a global problem, rather than one found only in
      developed countries. Although recent studies have suggested a detrimental effect
      of obesity on cognition, studies of the relationship between obesity and
      cognition among older adults have been limited to developed countries. We aimed
      to examine the associations between central obesity, as measured by waist
      circumference, and cognition level in adults aged 50 years and older in England
      and Indonesia. METHODS: We used linear regression models to analyse these
      associations and multiple imputation to manage missing data. The 2006 English
      Longitudinal Study of Ageing Wave 3 is the source of data from England, while
      data from Indonesia is sourced from the 2007 Indonesian Family Life Survey Wave
      4. FINDINGS: Centrally obese respondents had lower cognition levels than non
      centrally obese respondents in England. In contrast, central adiposity had a
      statistically significant positive association with cognition in Indonesia.
      Higher levels of education and higher economic status were associated with higher
      cognitive ability, while age was associated with lower cognition in both
      countries. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and smoking
      behaviour, both linked to higher risk of obesity, were negatively associated with
      cognitive ability among older adults in England, but they had no statistically
      significant association with cognition among Indonesians. INTERPRETATION: The
      contradictory findings on obesity and cognition in England and Indonesia not only
      create a puzzle, but they may also have different policy implications in these
      countries. Reducing the prevalence of obesity may be the main focus in England
      and other developed countries to maintain older adults' cognition. However,
      Indonesia and other developing countries should place more emphasis on education,
      in addition to continued efforts to tackle the double burden of malnutrition, in
      order to prevent cognitive impairment among older adults.

PMID- 26863445
TI  - Microbial Communities in Globodera pallida Females Raised in Potato Monoculture
      Soil.
AB  - Globodera spp. are under strict quarantine in many countries. Suppressiveness to
      cyst nematodes can evolve under monoculture of susceptible hosts. Females
      developing in potato monoculture soil infested with G. pallida populations
      Chavornay or Delmsen were examined for inherent microbial communities. In the
      greenhouse, nonheated and heat-treated (134 degrees C for 10 min) portions of
      this soil were placed in root observation chambers, planted with Solanum
      tuberosum 'Selma', and inoculated with G. pallida Pa3 Chavornay. At harvest in
      Delmsen soil, cysts had fewer eggs in nonheated than heat-treated soil. In
      denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis, bacterial and fungal
      fingerprints were characterized by a high variability between replicates;
      nonheated soils displayed more dominant bands than heated soils, indicating more
      bacterial and fungal populations. In amplicon pyrosequencing, females from
      nonheated portions frequently contained internal transcribed spacer sequences of
      the fungus Malassezia. Specific for the Chavornay and Delmsen population,
      ribosomal sequences of the bacteria Burkolderia and Ralstonia were abundant on
      eggs. In this first report of microbial communities in G. pallida raised in
      potato monoculture, candidate microorganisms perhaps associated with the health
      status of the eggs of G. pallida were identified. If pathologies on cyst
      nematodes can be ascertained, these organisms could improve the sustainability of
      production systems. 

PMID- 26863446
TI  - HER3 expression is correlated to distally located and low-grade colon cancer.
AB  - Background HER3 is a member of the human epidermal growth factor receptor complex
      (EGFR, HER2, HER3 and HER4). It has been investigated as a prognostic biomarker
      in colorectal cancer but is sparingly studied in colon cancer. HER3 can affect
      cellular proliferation, differentiation and migration in oncogenesis through
      ligand binding and activation of intracellular signal pathways. Recently, we
      found that expression of cell surface HER3 can be detected at a high extent in
      primary colorectal tumors, lymph node and liver metastases and that it correlated
      with poor prognosis. This large, explorative, retrospective study evaluates the
      prognostic value of HER3 in colon cancer and the association of HER3 to tumor
      location. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical detection with a monoclonal
      HER3 antibody in primary colon tumors of stage II and III, from 521 patients, was
      performed. Results HER3 was expressed at high levels in 67% of the colon tumors.
      High HER3 expression was associated with distal tumor location (p < 0.0001) and
      low-grade tumor (p < 0.0001). In the group of patients with distal colon cancer
      (230/521), HER3 expression correlated to shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (p =
      0.03) in the univariate analysis and in the multivariate analysis, a hazard ratio
      of 0.56 (95% CI 0.31-0.99) (p = 0.047) was observed. Conclusion In this
      explorative, retrospective study, high HER3 expression in colon cancer was
      associated to distal colon location and low-grade tumor. High HER3 expression was
      of prognostic value according to DFS in distal colon cancer in univariate and
      multivariate analysis. We could not find a significant value of HER3 expression
      with respect to overall survival (OS).

PMID- 26863447
TI  - Calcium Imaging of Neuronal Activity in Drosophila Can Identify Anticonvulsive
      Compounds.
AB  - Although there are now a number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available,
      approximately one-third of epilepsy patients respond poorly to drug intervention.
      The reasons for this are complex, but are probably reflective of the increasing
      number of identified mutations that predispose individuals to this disease. Thus,
      there is a clear requirement for the development of novel treatments to address
      this unmet clinical need. The existence of gene mutations that mimic a seizure
      like behaviour in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, offers the possibility
      to exploit the powerful genetics of this insect to identify novel cellular
      targets to facilitate design of more effective AEDs. In this study we use
      neuronal expression of GCaMP, a potent calcium reporter, to image neuronal
      activity using a non-invasive and rapid method. Expression in motoneurons in the
      isolated CNS of third instar larvae shows waves of calcium-activity that pass
      between segments of the ventral nerve cord. Time between calcium peaks, in the
      same neurons, between adjacent segments usually show a temporal separation of
      greater than 200 ms. Exposure to proconvulsants (picrotoxin or 4-aminopyridine)
      reduces separation to below 200 ms showing increased synchrony of activity across
      adjacent segments. Increased synchrony, characteristic of epilepsy, is similarly
      observed in genetic seizure mutants: bangsenseless1 (bss1) and paralyticK1270T
      (paraK1270T). Exposure of bss1 to clinically-used antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin
      or gabapentin) significantly reduces synchrony. In this study we use the measure
      of synchronicity to evaluate the effectiveness of known and novel anticonvulsive
      compounds (antipain, isethionate, etopiside rapamycin and dipyramidole) to reduce
      seizure-like CNS activity. We further show that such compounds also reduce the
      Drosophila voltage-gated persistent Na+ current (INaP) in an identified
      motoneuron (aCC). Our combined assays provide a rapid and reliable method to
      screen unknown compounds for potential to function as anticonvulsants. 

PMID- 26863448
TI  - The effects of motor rehabilitation training on clinical symptoms and serum BDNF
      levels in Parkinson's disease subjects.
AB  - Increasing evidence suggests that motor rehabilitation may delay Parkinson's
      disease (PD) progression. Moreover, parallel treatments in animals up-regulate
      brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thus, we investigated the effect of a
      motor rehabilitation protocol on PD symptoms and BDNF serum levels. Motor
      rehabilitation training consisted of a cycle of 20 days/month of physiotherapy
      divided in 3 daily sessions. Clinical data were collected at the beginning, at
      the end, and at 90 days follow-up. BDNF serum levels were detected by ELISA at 0,
      7, 14, 21, 30, and 90 days. The follow-up period had a duration of 60 days (T30
      T90). The results showed that at the end of the treatment (day 30), an
      improvement in extrapyramidal signs (UPDRS III; UPDRS III - Gait and Balance
      items), motor (6 Minute Walking Test), and daily living activities (UPDRS II; PDQ
      39) was observed. BDNF levels were increased at day 7 as compared with baseline.
      After that, no changes in BDNF were observed during the treatment and in the
      successive follow-up. This study demonstrates that motor rehabilitation training
      is able to ameliorate PD symptoms and to increase temporarily BDNF serum levels.
      The latter effect may potentially contribute to the therapeutic action. 

PMID- 26863449
TI  - Advanced Experimental Methods for Low-temperature Magnetotransport Measurement of
      Novel Materials.
AB  - Novel electronic materials are often produced for the first time by synthesis
      processes that yield bulk crystals (in contrast to single crystal thin film
      synthesis) for the purpose of exploratory materials research. Certain materials
      pose a challenge wherein the traditional bulk Hall bar device fabrication method
      is insufficient to produce a measureable device for sample transport measurement,
      principally because the single crystal size is too small to attach wire leads to
      the sample in a Hall bar configuration. This can be, for example, because the
      first batch of a new material synthesized yields very small single crystals or
      because flakes of samples of one to very few monolayers are desired. In order to
      enable rapid characterization of materials that may be carried out in parallel
      with improvements to their growth methodology, a method of device fabrication for
      very small samples has been devised to permit the characterization of novel
      materials as soon as a preliminary batch has been produced. A slight variation of
      this methodology is applicable to producing devices using exfoliated samples of
      two-dimensional materials such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and
      transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), as well as multilayer heterostructures
      of such materials. Here we present detailed protocols for the experimental device
      fabrication of fragments and flakes of novel materials with micron-sized
      dimensions onto substrate and subsequent measurement in a commercial
      superconducting magnet, dry helium close-cycle cryostat magnetotransport system
      at temperatures down to 0.300 K and magnetic fields up to 12 T. 

PMID- 26863450
TI  - Covalent Chemistry beyond Molecules.
AB  - Linking molecular building units by covalent bonds to make crystalline extended
      structures has given rise to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic
      frameworks (COFs), thus bringing the precision and versatility of covalent
      chemistry beyond discrete molecules to extended structures. The key advance in
      this regard has been the development of strategies to overcome the
      "crystallization problem", which is usually encountered when attempting to link
      molecular building units into covalent solids. Currently, numerous MOFs and COFs
      are made as crystalline materials in which the large size of the constituent
      units provides for open frameworks. The molecular units thus reticulated become
      part of a new environment where they have (a) lower degrees of freedom because
      they are fixed into position within the framework; (b) well-defined spatial
      arrangements where their properties are influenced by the intricacies of the
      pores; and (c) ordered patterns onto which functional groups can be covalently
      attached to produce chemical complexity. The notion of covalent chemistry beyond
      molecules is further strengthened by the fact that covalent reactions can be
      carried out on such frameworks, with full retention of their crystallinity and
      porosity. MOFs are exemplars of how this chemistry has led to porosity with
      designed metrics and functionality, chemically-rich sequences of information
      within their frameworks, and well-defined mesoscopic constructs in which nanoMOFs
      enclose inorganic nanocrystals and give them new levels of spatial definition,
      stability, and functionality. 

PMID- 26863451
TI  - Adapted Resistance Training Improves Strength in Eight Weeks in Individuals with
      Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Hip weakness is a common symptom affecting walking ability in people with
      multiple sclerosis (MS). It is known that resistance strength training (RST) can
      improve strength in individuals with MS, however; it remains unclear the duration
      of RST that is needed to make strength gains and how to adapt hip strengthening
      exercises for individuals of varying strength using only resistance bands. This
      paper describes the methodology to set up and implement an adapted resistance
      strength training program, using resistance bands, for individuals with MS.
      Directions for pre- and post-strength tests to evaluate efficacy of the strength
      training program are included. Safety features and detailed instructions outline
      the weekly program content and progression. Current evidence is presented showing
      that significant strength gains can be made within 8 weeks of starting a RST
      program. Evidence is also presented showing that resistance strength training can
      be successfully adapted for individuals with MS of varying strength with little
      equipment. 

PMID- 26863452
TI  - Histology-based prediction of lymph node metastases in early gastric cancer as
      decision guidance for endoscopic resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Selected cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) can be successfully
      treated by endoscopic therapy if the risk of concurrent lymph node metastases
      (LNM) is negligible. Criteria for endoscopic resection based on risk factor
      analyses for LNM have been established mainly in Asia. However, it is not clear
      to what extent these recommendations can be transferred to Western collectives.
      The aim of this study was to analyze predictors for LNM in EGC in a Western study
      population. METHODS: From our institutional archive, we selected all patients
      with gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy
      (1972 - 2005). Among 1970 patients 275 cases with EGC were identified. Clinical
      and pathological data were collected and logistic regression analyses performed.
      RESULTS: LNM were present in 36/275 (13.1%) patients. With deeper invasion
      proportion of LNM increased. At submucosa level (sm1), patients were almost five
      times more likely to have LNM than at mucosa levels.Multivariable logistic
      regression analysis revealed lymphovascular invasion, diffuse- and mixed-type,
      and invasion depth as significant independent histopathological predictors of
      LNM. In patients with intestinal type according to Lauren and no lymphovascular
      invasion, we found only one LNM-positive case out of 43 patients in the pT1b (sm1
      and sm2) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the recommendation of most
      guidelines that endoscopic resection is sufficient for pT1a ECG because of the
      low incidence of LNM in this group. However, there seems also a role for
      endoscopic therapy in cases of pT1b (sm1/2) EGC with intestinal type
      differentiation and no lymphovascular invasion.

PMID- 26863453
TI  - Effect of postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell cancer of the breast in a
      surveillance epidemiology and end results population-based study.
AB  - The therapeutic value of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for squamous cell cancer
      of the breast (SCCB) is unclear. This retrospective study used a population-based
      national registry to determine the impact of postoperative RT on survival of
      women with SCCB. The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database
      was used to identify females with SCCB who underwent primary surgical resection
      from 1973 to 2012. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression proportional
      hazard methods were used to determine the impact of RT following resection
      associated with cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). A total
      of 523 patients met the eligibility criteria. The median follow-up time was 55
      months, the 10-year CSS and OS rates were 65.6%, and 46.0%, respectively. A total
      of 167 patients (31.9%) received postoperative RT. Multivariate analysis
      indicated that advanced pT and pN stage, and no postoperative RT were
      independently associated with poor OS; advanced pT and pN stage were
      independently associated with poor CSS. Postoperative RT was significantly
      associated with improved 10-year OS (54.5% vs. 42.0%, P =.001), but had no effect
      on CSS (P =.217). Analysis of patients with different stages of SCCB indicated
      that RT was associated with improved CSS (P =.047) and OS (P <.001) in those with
      stage II cancer and improved OS in patients with stage pN0 cancer (P <.001).
      Postoperative RT improved the survival of SCCB patients, especially in those with
      stage II and stage pN0 cancer. 

PMID- 26863454
TI  - Metabolic vulnerabilities of MYC-induced cancer.

PMID- 26863455
TI  - OLA1 contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer by
      modulating the GSK3beta/snail/E-cadherin signaling.
AB  - Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1) belongs to the Obg family of P-loop NTPases, and may
      serve as a "molecular switch" regulating multiple cellular processes. Aberrant
      expression of OLA1 has been observed in several human malignancies. However, the
      role of OLA1 in cancer progression remains poorly understood. In this study, we
      used the Kaplan-Meier plotter search tool to show that increased expression of
      OLA1 mRNA was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in lung
      cancer patients. By immunohistochemical analysis we discovered that levels of
      OLA1 protein in lung cancer tissues were positively correlated with TNM stage and
      lymph node metastasis, but negatively correlated with the epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) marker E-cadherin. Knockdown of OLA1 in a lung adenocarcinoma
      cell line rendered the cells more resistant to TGF-beta-induced EMT and the
      accompanied repression of E-cadherin. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that
      OLA1 is a GSK3beta-interacting protein and inhibits GSK3beta activity by
      mediating its Ser9 phosphorylation. During EMT, OLA1 plays an important role in
      suppressing the GSK3beta-mediated degradation of Snail protein, which in turn
      promotes downregulation of E-cadherin. These data suggest that OLA1 contributes
      to EMT by modulating the GSK3beta/Snail/E-cadherin signaling, and its
      overexpression is associated with clinical progression and poor survival in lung
      cancer patients. 

PMID- 26863457
TI  - Ethnic Differences in Prevalence of Peripheral Artery Disease in Patients
      Undergoing Hemodialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis patients experience poor outcomes associated with the
      presence of atherosclerosis, particularly lower-extremity peripheral artery
      disease (PAD). Prevalence of PAD is known to vary between ethnic groups; however,
      no information on ethnic-specific PAD prevalence in a hemodialysis cohort is
      available. METHODS: Data from the Canadian Kidney Dialysis Cohort Study was used
      in a secondary analysis of 1293 adults starting hemodialysis in three major
      Canadian centres. PAD diagnosis was determined through structured interview and
      supplemented by clinical record. Ethnicity was self-reported. RESULTS: Overall
      PAD prevalence was 19.1 % with no significant difference between ethnic groups.
      Ethnic differences observed in diabetes prevalence in the full hemodialysis group
      were not present in the subset of PAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of
      PAD in patients undergoing hemodialysis is high, however we found no apparent
      ethnic differences in prevalence between ethnic groups.

PMID- 26863456
TI  - Acute stress enhances the expression of neuroprotection- and neurogenesis
      associated genes in the hippocampus of a mouse restraint model.
AB  - Stress arises from an external demand placed on an organism that triggers
      physiological, cognitive and behavioural responses in order to cope with that
      request. It is thus an adaptive response useful for the survival of an organism.
      The objective of this study was to identify and characterize global changes in
      gene expression in the hippocampus in response to acute stress stimuli, by
      employing a mouse model of short-term restraint stress. In our experimental
      design mice were subjected to a one time exposure of restraint stress and the
      regulation of gene expression in the hippocampus was examined 3, 12 and 24 hours
      thereafter. Microarray analysis revealed that mice which had undergone acute
      restraint stress differed from non-stressed controls in global hippocampal
      transcriptional responses. An up-regulation of transcripts contributing directly
      or indirectly to neurogenesis and neuronal protection including, Ttr, Rab6, Gh,
      Prl, Ndufb9 and Ndufa6, was observed. Systems level analyses revealed a
      significant enrichment for neurogenesis, neuron morphogenesis- and cognitive
      functions-related biological process terms and pathways. This work further
      supports the hypothesis that acute stress mediates a positive action on the
      hippocampus favouring the formation and the preservation of neurons, which will
      be discussed in the context of current data from the literature. 

PMID- 26863458
TI  - The Military Health Care System May Have the Potential to Prevent Health Care
      Disparities.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The existence of health disparities in military populations has
      become an important topic of research. However, to our knowledge, this is the
      first study to examine health disparities, as related to access to care and
      health status, among active duty soldiers and their families. Specifically, the
      purpose of this analysis was to evaluate whether health disparities exist in
      access to care and health outcomes of patient satisfaction, physical health
      status, and mental health status according to race, gender, and sponsor rank in
      the population of active duty soldiers and their family members. METHODS: In this
      cross-sectional study, active duty army soldiers and family members were
      recruited from either one particular army health clinic where they received their
      health care or from an adjacent shopping center frequented by eligible
      participants. Data were collected using validated measures to assess concepts of
      access to care and health status. Statistical analysis, including one-way
      analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to investigate differences in study
      outcome measures across four key demographic subgroups: race, gender, sponsor
      rank, and component (active soldier or family member). RESULTS: A total of 200
      participants completed the study questionnaires. The sample consisted of 45.5 %
      soldiers and 54.5 % family members, with 88.5 % reporting a sponsor rank in the
      category of junior or senior enlisted rank. Mean scores for access to care did
      not differ significantly for the groups race/ethnicity (p = 0.53), gender (p =
      0.14), and sponsor rank (p = 0.10). Furthermore, no significant differences were
      observed whether respondents were active soldiers or their family members (p =
      0.36). Similarly, there were no statistically significant subgroup
      (race/ethnicity, gender, sponsor rank, or component) differences in mean patient
      satisfaction, physical health, and mental health scores. DISCUSSION: In a health
      equity system of care such as the military health care system, active duty
      soldiers and their family members did not experience disparities in access to
      care or in important health outcomes of patient satisfaction, physical health
      status, or mental health status.

PMID- 26863459
TI  - Awareness of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Adolescent African American Males
      Who Have Sex with Males: a Pilot Study.
AB  - African American adolescent males who have sex with males (MSMs) have a high
      prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that has been directly linked
      to lack of access to primary care providers and reluctance to disclose their
      sexuality. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STD with more than
      40 different serotypes and can lead to anal/genital warts as well as oral and
      genital cancers. The HPV vaccine if taken prior to an adolescent becoming
      sexually active serves a prophylactic function. The HPV vaccine is approved by
      the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for girls and boys; however, HPV
      vaccination rates among adolescents within different minority and underserved
      communities have been disappointing even though these groups are
      disproportionately infected with the HPV virus and certain male-specific cancers.
      Little is known about the uptake of the vaccine among African American MSMs and
      thus the aim of this study. This qualitative study is based on the health belief
      model and assessed participants' level of awareness of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and
      HPV-related illnesses among 24 African American male adolescents between 16 and
      18 years old who self identify as MSMs. As part of a larger study, two focus
      groups were conducted for African American MSMs. Participants failed to
      understand their potential risk for HPV given the higher rates of STD infection
      experienced by MSMs. They expressed very little knowledge of the HPV vaccine and
      are also not aware of the complications of HPV virus infection. However, they
      were very eager to know more about the virus and the vaccine. This study
      demonstrates the need for the development of health communication intervention
      and more research targeting African American MSMs and also the need for policy
      change towards making the HPV vaccine routine for males especially adolescents at
      no cost.

PMID- 26863460
TI  - African-American Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Modern Treatment and Outcome
      Trends.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment patterns for
      African-American (AA) men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) using a national,
      population-based dataset. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the
      Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database 2004-2008. AA men aged >=40
      years with low-risk PCa were identified. For comparison, white men were selected
      using the same selection criteria. We reviewed all recorded treatment modalities.
      Definitive treatment (DT) was defined as undergoing radiotherapy or
      prostatectomy. RESULTS: Overall, 7246 AA men and 47,154 white men met the
      criteria. Most of the patients had PSA level between 4.1 and 6.9 ng/mL (56.2 %)
      and received DT (76 %). Black men were younger (mean age: 62(+/-8) vs. 65(+/-10)
      years), less likely to receive DT (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.71 [0.67-0.76]),
      and of those receiving DT, less likely to undergo prostatectomy (AOR, 0.58 [0.54
      0.62]). Patients receiving DT had lower crude cancer-specific and overall
      mortality (0.17 vs. 0.41 % and 2.9 vs. 7.8 %, p value < 0.001, respectively,
      among blacks). The difference in overall mortality was largest among >= 75 years
      (5.6 vs. 18.2 %). Across age groups, blacks had higher all-cause mortality (AOR,
      1.45 [1.13-1.87] and 1.56[1.31-1.86] for <65 and >= 65 years, respectively).
      CONCLUSION: Our study of a large modern cohort of men with low-risk PCa
      demonstrates significant lower receipt of DT, lower receipt of prostatectomy
      among those receiving DT, and lower survival for black men compared to their
      white counterparts. Older men were less likely to receive DT. Patients who
      received DT had better survival. The survival difference was most striking among
      the elderly.

PMID- 26863461
TI  - Racial/Ethnic Disparities in HPV Vaccine Uptake Among a Sample of College Women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the association between
      racial/ethnic status and uptake and completion of the HPV vaccine series in
      college women. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a large university in
      North Central Florida. Young women between 18 and 26 years of age who were
      currently enrolled in a college course comprised the study sample. Participants
      completed an anonymous online survey that assessed sociodemographic
      characteristics, sexual behaviors, gynecological healthcare utilization, and
      perception of risk to HPV-associated diseases. Multivariable analysis was
      conducted to determine the relationship between racial/ethnic status and HPV
      vaccination status. RESULTS: Of the 835 with complete data (51.0 % white, 16.5 %
      black, 13.8 % Hispanic, 8.3 % Asian, and 9.9 % other), 53 % had initiated
      (receipt of at least one dose) the three-dose HPV vaccine series. Of those who
      initiated, 70 % indicated that they had completed all three doses. In adjusted
      analysis, blacks were significantly less likely to report initiation [adjusted
      prevalence ratio (aPR) = 0.78; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.63, 0.97] and
      completion (aPR = 0.64; 95 % CI: 0.48, 0.84) of the three dose HPV vaccine as
      compared to whites. Although completion rates were lower in all other
      racial/ethnic groups as compared to whites, these rates did not reach statistical
      significance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with research from other
      types of settings and demonstrate lower initiation and completion rates of HPV
      vaccine among black women attending college as compared to their white
      counterparts. Additional research is needed to understand why black college women
      have low initiation and completion rates.

PMID- 26863462
TI  - Racial Differences in Satisfaction with VA Health Care: A Mixed Methods Pilot
      Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: As satisfied patients are more adherent and play a more active role
      in their own care, a better understanding of factors associated with patient
      satisfaction is important. PURPOSE: In response to a United States Veterans
      Administration (VA) Hospital Report Card that revealed lower levels of
      satisfaction with health care for African Americans compared to Whites, we
      conducted a mixed methods pilot study to obtain preliminary qualitative and
      quantitative information about possible underlying reasons for these racial
      differences. METHODS: We conducted telephone interviews with 30 African American
      and 31 White veterans with recent inpatient and/or outpatient health care visits
      at three urban VA Medical Centers. We coded the qualitative interviews in terms
      of identified themes within defined domains. We summarized racial differences
      using ordinal logistic regression for Likert scale outcomes and used random
      effects logistic regression to assess racial differences at the domain level.
      RESULTS: Compared to Whites, African Americans were younger (p < 0.001) and
      better educated (p = 0.04). Qualitatively, African Americans reported less
      satisfaction with trust/confidence in their VA providers and healthcare system
      and less satisfaction with patient-provider communication. Quantitatively,
      African Americans reported less satisfaction with outpatient care (odds ratio =
      0.28; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.10-0.82), but not inpatient care. At the
      domain level, African Americans were significantly less likely than Whites to
      express satisfaction themes in the domain of trust/confidence (odds ratio = 0.36;
      95 % CI 0.18-0.73). CONCLUSION: The current pilot study demonstrates racial
      differences in satisfaction with outpatient care and identifies some specific
      sources of dissatisfaction. Future research will include a large national cohort,
      including Hispanic veterans, in order to gain further insight into the sources of
      racial and ethnic differences in satisfaction with VA care and inform future
      interventions.

PMID- 26863463
TI  - Fruit and Vegetable Perceptions Among Caregivers of American Indian Toddlers and
      Community Stakeholders: a Qualitative Study.
AB  - American Indians experience higher rates of obesity than any other ethnic group
      living in the USA. This disparity begins to develop in early childhood, and the
      excess weight carried by American Indian children contributes to health
      conditions that can affect their quality of life by the time they enter
      preschool. These children consume less than recommended amounts of fruits and
      vegetables, a dietary pattern that may be related to the development of obesity
      and other health conditions. This qualitative study explored the fruit and
      vegetable intake of American Indian toddlers through use of the information
      motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model. Focus groups with caregivers of
      American Indian toddlers and interviews with stakeholders in American Indian
      communities were conducted to investigate perceptions of knowledge, motivational,
      and behavioral skills related to the fruit and vegetable intake of American
      Indian toddlers. Study participants communicated that peer support, food
      insecurities, cultural norms, self-efficacy, and skills to prepare fruits and
      vegetables impact their ability to provide fruits and vegetables to toddlers.
      Study participants expressed a desire to increase their knowledge regarding
      fruits and vegetables, including variety, benefits, and recommendations for
      consumption. Findings from this qualitative study provide essential insights into
      perceptions of fruits and vegetables among caregivers of American Indian toddlers
      and stakeholders in American Indian communities. Future research will utilize
      these findings to develop a culturally appropriate IMB-model-based fruit and
      vegetable-focused nutrition education program for American Indian families. 

PMID- 26863464
TI  - Moderating Effects of Health Literacy on Change in Physical Activity Among
      Latinas in a Randomized Trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Latinas report low rates of physical activity (PA) and are at risk
      for poor health outcomes. Language and literacy barriers impede access and
      utilization of PA-related resources. This study examined health literacy as a
      moderator on changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in 196
      Latinas enrolled in Seamos Saludables, a randomized-controlled trial of a 6-month
      culturally and linguistically adapted PA print intervention METHODS: Secondary
      analyses were conducted on demographics, acculturation and generation status, and
      health literacy (Newest Vital Sign). MVPA was determined by 7 day physical
      activity recall, assessed at baseline and 6 months. General linear models
      examined interaction effects between health literacy (HL), experimental condition
      (treatment vs. control), and generation status. RESULTS: Health literacy
      moderated change in MVPA from baseline to 6 months. The intervention effect was
      greater among first-generation Latinas with limited health literacy. DISCUSSION:
      Differences in health literacy level appear to influence MVPA outcomes. Formative
      research is recommended to ensure that materials are appropriate when developing
      print-based PA interventions, particularly among first-generation Latinas who are
      more likely to have limited health literacy.

PMID- 26863465
TI  - Teacher and Friend Social Support: Association with Body Weight in African
      American Adolescent Females.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the direct and indirect ecological
      influences of teacher and friend social support on body weight and diet behaviors
      in African-American adolescent females. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional
      research design, a convenience sample of 182 urban African-American adolescent
      females (12-17 years old) completed a 39-item questionnaire. The questionnaire
      assessed perceived teacher social support, friend social support, nutrition self
      efficacy, and diet behaviors (with internal reliability values of scale items:
      alpha = 0.74, 0.81, 0.77, and 0.69 respectively). Anthropometric assessments were
      conducted to measure height and weight to compute BMI. Majority of the
      participants were in middle or early high school (65 %) and were overweight or
      obese (57.7 %). Both teacher social support and friend social support
      demonstrated a positive, indirect influence on child weight status through
      nutrition self-efficacy and diet behaviors following two different and specific
      paths of influence. Diet behaviors, in turn, demonstrated a positive, direct
      effect on child weight status. In the structural model, teacher social support
      had the greatest effect on diet behaviors, demonstrating a direct, positive
      influence on diet behaviors (B = 0.421, p < 0.05), but its direct effect on
      nutrition self-efficacy was not significant. Friend social support demonstrated a
      positive, direct effect on nutrition self-efficacy (B = 0.227, p < 0.05), but its
      direct effect on diet behaviors was not statistically significant. The study's
      findings call for actively addressing the childhood obesity epidemic in the
      school environment by implementing health behavior change strategies at various
      social and ecological environmental levels.

PMID- 26863466
TI  - Minority Use of a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer
      Center and Non-specialty Hospitals in Two Florida Regions.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine cancer treatment disparities at a National Cancer Institute
      designated comprehensive cancer center (NCI-CCC) and non-specialty hospitals.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Florida hospital discharge datasets were used. ICD9-CM
      codes were used to define patients with female reproductive organ cancers (FROC),
      male reproductive organ cancers (MROC), and OTHER cancer diagnoses. A total of
      7462 NCI-CCC patients and 21,875 non-specialty hospital patients were included in
      the statistical analysis. Data analysis was conducted in SAS 9.2. RESULTS:
      Increases in age reduced the odds of receiving treatment at the NCI-CCC. Male
      patients were more likely than female patients to be treated at the NCI-CCC. Age
      adjusted odds of African American and Hispanic out/inpatients being treated at
      the NCI-CCC were significantly lower than those of White out/inpatients. Only
      patients with workers' compensation, charity, or other insurance had higher odds
      of being treated at the NCI-CCC. The odds of minority patients receiving
      outpatient treatment at the NCI-CCC declined after 2005. The odds of receiving
      inpatient treatment at the NCI-CCC significantly increased after 2006.
      CONCLUSIONS: More targeted outreach by the NCI-CCC is required. However, we
      expect the creation of local Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce the
      numbers of minority and older patients at the NCI-CCC. Coordinated quality care
      at ACOs implies a potential for retaining the patient market share held by non
      specialty hospitals and a potential for increased demand for ACO care by minority
      and older patients.

PMID- 26863467
TI  - Race and Ethnic Group Differences in Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder,
      Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Chronic Medical Conditions.
AB  - This study tested whether race and ethnic group differences exist for lifetime
      major depressive disorder and/or general anxiety disorder with one or more
      chronic medical conditions. Data from the National Survey of American Life, which
      included 3570 African American, 1438 Caribbean Black, and 891 non-Hispanic White
      adults were analyzed. Outcomes included at least one and multiple chronic medical
      conditions, from a list of 14 medical conditions (e.g., arthritis, cancer,
      diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, heart disease, etc.). Logistic regressions were
      fitted to data to determine how the association between major depressive
      disorder, general anxiety disorder, and one or more chronic medical conditions
      vary across race and ethnicity. Lifetime major depressive disorder (but not
      lifetime general anxiety disorder) was associated with at least one chronic
      medical condition among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks, but not non
      Hispanic Whites. Lifetime major depressive disorder was similarly associated with
      multiple chronic medical conditions among African Americans, Caribbean Blacks,
      and non-Hispanic Whites. For Caribbean Blacks, stronger associations were found
      between major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder with one or more
      chronic medical conditions compared to African Americans and non-Hispanic Whites.
      Findings suggest that race and ethnicity may shape the links between comorbid
      psychiatric disorders and chronic medical conditions. Mental health screening of
      individuals with chronic medical conditions in primary health-care settings may
      benefit from tailoring based on race and ethnicity. More research is needed to
      understand why associations between physical and mental health vary among race
      and ethnic groups. 

PMID- 26863468
TI  - The Implementation of an Innovative High School Mentoring Program Designed to
      Enhance Diversity and Provide a Pathway for Future Careers in Healthcare Related
      Fields.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the population of diverse applicants applying to medical
      school has increased over recent years (AAMC Diversity in Medical Education:
      Facts and Figures 2012); efforts persist to ensure the continuance of this
      increasing trend. Mentoring students at an early age may be an effective method
      by which to accomplish diversity within the applicant pool. Having a diverse
      physician population is more likely able to adequately address the healthcare
      needs of our diverse population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to
      initiate a pipeline program, called the Medical Student Mentorship Program
      (MSMP), designed to specifically target high school students from lower economic
      status, ethnic, or racial underrepresented populations. High school students were
      paired with medical students, who served as primary mentors to facilitate
      exposure to processes involved in preparing and training for careers in medicine
      and other healthcare-related fields as well as research. METHODS: Mentors were
      solicited from first and second year medical students at the University of
      Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix (UACOM-P). Two separate cohorts of mentees
      were selected based on an application process from a local high school for the
      school years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Anonymous mentee and mentor surveys were
      used to evaluate the success of the MSMP. RESULTS: A total of 16 pairs of mentees
      and mentors in the 2010-2011 (Group 1) and 2011-2012 (Group 2) studies
      participated in MSMP. High school students reported that they were more likely to
      apply to medical school after participating in the program. Mentees also reported
      that they received a significant amount of support, helpful information, and
      guidance from their medical student mentors. Overall, feedback from mentees and
      mentors was positive and they reported that their participation was rewarding.
      Mentees were contacted 2 to 3 years post MSMP participation as sophomores or
      juniors in college, and all reported that they were on a pre-healthcare career
      track. CONCLUSION: The MSMP may serve as an effective pipeline program to promote
      future diversity in college and graduate training programs for future careers in
      science and medicine.

PMID- 26863469
TI  - Erratum to: The Association Between Obesity and Weight Loss Intention Weaker
      Among Blacks and Men than Whites and Women.

PMID- 26863471
TI  - Renal Transplantation in a Patient With Unsuspected Inferior Vena Cava
      Obliteration.
AB  - Vena cava thrombosis can represent a surgical challenge in the context of kidney
      transplantation. Selection of venous drainage in this setting should provide
      adequate venous outflow and minimize the risk of thrombosis and subsequent graft
      failure. We report the case of an adult female patient who presented for a
      deceased donor kidney transplant with incidental finding of complete inferior
      vena cava (IVC) and obliteration. After exploration of the retroperitoneal space
      up to the level of the obliterated IVC, a collateral venous branch was identified
      at the confluence of the right and left iliac veins. This was utilized as the
      site of the renal vein venous anastomosis. The patient recovered with immediate
      graft function. Follow-up ultrasound demonstrated patent vasculature without
      evidence of thrombosis or outflow obstruction. This report offers a surgical
      alternative to proceed in the case of an adult with unsuspected caval system
      obliteration. 

PMID- 26863470
TI  - Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal
      Specimens.
AB  - Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (MFs) have been gaining increasing attention for their
      role in pathogenesis and their contributions to both wound healing and promotion
      of the tumor microenvironment. While there are currently many techniques for the
      isolation of MFs from gastrointestinal (GI) tissues, this protocol introduces a
      novel element of isolation of these stromal cells from frozen tissue. Freezing GI
      tissue specimens not only allows the researcher to acquire samples from worldwide
      collaborators, biobanks, and commercial vendors, it also permits the delayed
      processing of fresh samples. The described protocol will consistently yield
      characteristic spindle-shaped cells with the MF phenotype that express the
      markers CD90, alpha-SMA and vimentin. As these cells are derived from patient
      samples, the use of primary cells also confers the benefit of closely mimicking
      MFs from disease states-namely cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. This
      technique has been validated in gastric, small bowel, and colonic MF primary
      culture generation. Primary MF cultures can be used in a vast array of
      experiments over a number of passage and their purity assessed by both
      immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis. 

PMID- 26863472
TI  - Neurosarcoidosis Presenting as Aseptic Meningitis in an Immunosuppressed Renal
      Transplant Recipient.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a presumptive autoimmune disorder characterized by the
      presence of noncaseating granulomas and is usually treated successfully with
      immunosuppression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we describe the case of a 63-year
      old male renal transplant recipient with a remote history of pulmonary
      sarcoidosis on chronic immunosuppression who developed recurrent aseptic
      meningitis and underwent brain biopsy revealing a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis.
      CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the possibility of recurrence of sarcoidosis in
      the setting of maintenance immunosuppression, the need for heightened awareness
      of alternative sites of recurrence of autoimmune disease, and future studies to
      determine the underlying mechanism of recurrence in organ transplant recipients.

PMID- 26863473
TI  - Oxygenated Hypothermic Machine Perfusion After Static Cold Storage Improves
      Hepatobiliary Function of Extended Criteria Donor Livers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The mechanism through which oxygenated hypothermic machine perfusion
      (HMP) improves viability of human extended criteria donor (ECD) livers is not
      well known. Aim of this study was to examine the benefits of oxygenated HMP after
      static cold storage (SCS). METHODS: Eighteen ECD livers that were declined for
      transplantation underwent ex situ viability testing using normothermic (37 
      degrees C) machine perfusion (NMP) after traditional SCS (0  degrees C-4  degrees
      C) for 7 to 9 hours. In the intervention group (n = 6), livers underwent 2 hours
      of oxygenated HMP (at 12  degrees C) after SCS and before NMP. Twelve control
      livers underwent NMP without oxygenated HMP after SCS. RESULTS: During HMP,
      hepatic ATP content increased greater than 15-fold, and levels remained
      significantly higher during the first 4 hours of NMP in the HMP group, compared
      with controls. Cumulative bile production and biliary secretion of bilirubin and
      bicarbonate were significantly higher after HMP, compared with controls. In
      addition, the levels of lactate and glucose were less elevated after HMP compared
      with SCS preservation alone. In contrast, there were no differences in levels of
      hepatobiliary injury markers AST, ALT, LDH, and gamma-GT after 6 hours of NMP.
      Hepatic histology at baseline and after 6 hours of NMP revealed no differences in
      the amount of ischemic necrosis between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Two hours of
      oxygenated HMP after traditional SCS restores hepatic ATP levels and improves
      hepatobiliary function but does not reduce (preexisting) hepatobiliary injury in
      ECD livers.

PMID- 26863474
TI  - Predominant Tubular Interleukin-18 Expression in Polyomavirus-Associated
      Nephropathy.
AB  - Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) occurs in a significant percentage of
      renal transplant recipients, with BK virus reactivation as the main causative
      agent. PVAN leads to tubular damage and may result in allograft loss. In this
      study, we analyzed the antiviral immune response in PVAN. Transcription of the
      proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) was significantly higher in PVAN
      biopsies compared with T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) (1.42 +/- 0.20 and 0.69
      +/- 0.10, respectively; *P = 0.0021). Tubular expression of IL-18 was
      significantly increased in PVAN compared with TCMR (2.00 +/- 0.24 and 1.333 +/-
      0.13, respectively; *P = 0.028). In contrast, in TCMR, IL-18 was expressed
      predominantly by CD163-positive macrophages. These data suggest that the
      antiviral immune response in PVAN is partly coordinated by the tubular
      epithelium, whereas in TCMR, this may be controlled by inflammatory cells.

PMID- 26863475
TI  - Early Readmission After Kidney Transplantation: Examination of Discharge-Level
      Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early rehospitalization after kidney transplantation (KTx) is common
      and is considered a quality metric. Recipient and donor risk factors for early
      readmission after KTx are well studied. Little data exist on discharge-level
      factors associated with readmission. METHODS: We performed a single-center,
      retrospective cohort study between 2011 and 2015 of adult KTx recipients to
      examine readmission indication, risk factors, and opportunities for reduction.
      RESULTS: Of 462 KTxs, 145 (31.4%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.
      The primary reason for readmission was surgery-site specific in 30 cases (20.7%).
      Of 115 recipients with nonsurgical indications for readmission 25 (21.7%) were
      related to infection, 24 (20.9%) graft dysfunction, 25 (21.7%) gastrointestinal,
      25 (21.7%) metabolic, and 16 (13.9%) other reasons. On multivariate analysis
      significant independent predictors of early readmission were electrolyte
      abnormalities on the day of discharge (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% confidence
      interval [95% CI], 1.17-2.69), 3 or more comorbidities (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.04
      3.86), delayed graft function at the time of discharge (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.00
      2.70), and post-KTx hospitalization complication (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.10-2.61).
      Among 11.7% of patients, readmission may have been attenuated by addressing the
      medical issue before discharge from index hospitalization. In 28.3% of patients,
      readmission rates may have been reduced with continued management as an
      outpatient or provision of observational or same-day diagnostic resources.
      CONCLUSIONS: Specific discharge level factors correlate with readmission
      irrespective of comorbidities and transplant complications. These findings may
      have important implications on discharge practice by aiding to identify which KTx
      recipients could be targeted for enhanced care transitions. Overall, potential
      opportunities for readmission reduction exist on multiple process levels.

PMID- 26863476
TI  - Kidney Transplant Readmissions: It Takes a Village to Keep This Patient Out of
      the Hospital!

PMID- 26863477
TI  - A Cell Type Independent Binary Grading System Does Not Significantly Improve
      Endometrial Biopsy Interpretation.
AB  - The revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grading
      system is widely accepted as the standard in evaluating endometrial carcinoma on
      biopsy. Determination of tumor cell type [using the World Health Organization
      (WHO) diagnostic criteria] and grade (using FIGO) guides surgical approach.
      Several studies have highlighted discrepancies between biopsy and hysterectomy
      diagnosis. Recently, a binary grading system was proposed, yielding a low-risk
      and high-risk assessment but in a cell type independent (CTI) way. No study has
      assessed its utility in biopsy grading, a situation where this system may be
      particularly useful. Archived endometrial biopsies from 70 cases of endometrial
      carcinoma were graded by 3 independent observers using the WHO/FIGO and the CTI
      grading systems. The overall accuracy, interobserver agreement, and ease of use
      were assessed. This study found comparable substantial accuracy between the
      WHO/FIGO and CTI grading systems (kappa=0.71 vs. kappa=0.69), with the same
      setbacks in overgrading of 20.9% versus 25.6% of low-risk tumors. The CTI grading
      system was not superior to the WHO/FIGO grading system in accuracy of subtyping
      and grading and interobserver reproducibility. Although determination of cell
      type is difficult, it does not appear that the proposed CTI system confers any
      significant advantages over existing grading. 

PMID- 26863478
TI  - Multifocal FIGO Stage IA1 Squamous Carcinoma of the Cervix: Criteria for
      Identification, Staging, and its Good Clinical Outcome.
AB  - Multifocal squamous cervical carcinomas account for up to 25% of IA1 tumors
      identified on excisional biopsy, yet there are no uniformly accepted
      histopathologic criteria for defining and staging these lesions. Here, we use a
      strict case definition and meticulous specimen processing from colposcopist to
      pathologist to identify and follow-up 25 cases of multifocal IA1 cervical
      squamous carcinomas identified in excisional biopsies. We stage these tumors
      using the dimensions of the largest focus and a minimum of 2 mm between each foci
      to define multifocality. The cases are followed up for a median of 7 yr with no
      episodes of tumor recurrence or metastasis. We also show that the prevalence of
      residual preinvasive (20%) and invasive disease (5%) on repeat excision/surgery
      are comparable to data available for unifocal IA1 cases. Our study supports the
      hypothesis that multifocal lesions should be staged according to largest
      individual focus of invasion and we emphasize the importance of meticulous
      specimen handling to appropriately identify multifocal tumors. In addition, our
      analysis suggests that outcomes are comparable to unifocal lesions and supports
      the hypothesis that they may be managed in a similar manner. 

PMID- 26863479
TI  - Inter- and intratester reliability values of ultrasound imaging measurements of
      diaphragm movement in the thoracic and thoracolumbar curves in adolescent
      idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine intertester and intratester
      reliability of ultrasound measurements of bilateral diaphragm excursions in the
      thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal curves of 31 females with adolescent idiopathic
      scoliosis (AIS) (mean age = 14.1 +/- 1.8 years). METHOD: Subjects were tested
      during tidal breathing using real-time ultrasound imaging with a 3.5 MHz
      curvilinear transducer. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in
      intratester and intertester reliability values in bilateral diaphragmatic
      excursions measured at the thoracolumbar spinal curve, whereas significant
      differences were observed in measurements taken at the thoracic spinal curve (p <
      0.05). Overall, the intertester and intratester reliabilities of the thoracic and
      thoracolumbar curves in AIS ranged from 0.764 to 0.998. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest that ultrasound imaging is highly reliable between and within
      testers and is useful to precisely discriminate pathological diaphragm movement
      in idiopathic thoracic scoliosis and idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis.

PMID- 26863480
TI  - Current trends in endotoxin detection and analysis of endotoxin-protein
      interactions.
AB  - Endotoxin is a type of pyrogen that can be found in Gram-negative bacteria.
      Endotoxin can form a stable interaction with other biomolecules thus making its
      removal difficult especially during the production of biopharmaceutical drugs.
      The prevention of endotoxins from contaminating biopharmaceutical products is
      paramount as endotoxin contamination, even in small quantities, can result in
      fever, inflammation, sepsis, tissue damage and even lead to death. Highly
      sensitive and accurate detection of endotoxins are keys in the development of
      biopharmaceutical products derived from Gram-negative bacteria. It will
      facilitate the study of the intermolecular interaction of an endotoxin with other
      biomolecules, hence the selection of appropriate endotoxin removal strategies.
      Currently, most researchers rely on the conventional LAL-based endotoxin
      detection method. However, new methods have been and are being developed to
      overcome the problems associated with the LAL-based method. This review paper
      highlights the current research trends in endotoxin detection from conventional
      methods to newly developed biosensors. Additionally, it also provides an overview
      of the use of electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence
      resonance energy transfer (FRET) and docking programs in the endotoxin-protein
      analysis.

PMID- 26863482
TI  - Normative values for a video-force plate assessment of postural control in
      athletic children.
AB  - The objective of this study was to provide normative data for young athletes
      during the three stances of the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS)
      using an objective video-force plate system. Postural control was measured in 398
      athletes between 8 and 18 years of age during the three stances of the mBESS
      using a video-force plate rating system. Girls exhibited better postural control
      than boys during each stance of the mBESS. Age was not significantly associated
      with postural control. We provide normative data for a video-force plate
      assessment of postural stability in pediatric athletes during the three stances
      of the mBESS. 

PMID- 26863481
TI  - Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates in the PICU.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury is an independent risk factor for morbidity and
      mortality in critically ill children in the PICU. Neonates are a particularly
      vulnerable subgroup regarding acute kidney injury. The objectives were to define
      the prevalence of acute kidney injury to assess independent risk factors, for the
      development of acute kidney injury, and to determine the impact of acute kidney
      injury on outcomes in critically ill neonates without history of cardiac surgery.
      DESIGN: A retrospective study of neonates (<= 28 d old and >= 32 wk of
      gestational age) admitted to a tertiary PICU was conducted. Acute kidney injury
      was classified using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes definition.
      SETTING: PICU in a tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 80 neonates
      (62% male neonates) with a median gestational age of 38 weeks (interquartile
      range, 37-39 wk) were reviewed. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Acute kidney injury was found in 35% (n = 28) of neonates. Fourteen (50%) reached
      stage I, 8 (29%) stage II, and 6 (21%) stage III acute kidney injury. Younger age
      was associated with acute kidney injury (p = 0.016; odds ratio, 0.93; CI, 0.88
      0.98). In regression analysis adjusted for age and gender, bacteremia (p = 0.014;
      odds ratio, 5.4; CI, 1.4-20.4) and maximum sodium concentration (p = 0.02; odds
      ratio, 1.12; CI, 1.02-1.24) were associated with acute kidney injury. Mortality
      (p = 0.03) and length of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.001) were significantly
      higher in neonates with acute kidney injury compared with those without acute
      kidney injury. In an adjusted regression model, stages 2 and 3 combined were
      associated with increased mortality (p = 0.02; odds ratio, 5.64; CI, 1.33-23.8),
      length of ventilation (p = 0.016; beta, 12.2; CI, 2.39-22.0), and length of stay
      (p = 0.049; beta, 12.2; CI, 0.073-24.3). CONCLUSIONS: Acute kidney injury is
      common in neonates not requiring cardiac surgery and is associated with increased
      morbidity and mortality. Age, bacteremia, and maximum sodium concentration are
      independently associated with the development of acute kidney injury in this
      population.

PMID- 26863483
TI  - Single-leg postural stability deficits following anterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction in pediatric and adolescent athletes.
AB  - The objective of this study was to compare the postural stability of pediatric
      and adolescent athletes without anterior cruciate ligament injury with those who
      underwent anterior cruciate reconstruction (ACLR). Postural stability ratings
      derived from a video-force plate system during the three stances of the modified
      Balance Error Scoring System were collected from pediatric and adolescent
      athletes who underwent ACLR (N=24; mean 1.2 years after surgery) and from
      uninjured controls (N=479). The postural control rating was calculated as the
      mean of the displacement and variance of the torso and center of pressure data,
      normalized on a scale from 0 to 100. A higher rating indicates greater postural
      stability. Participants who underwent ACLR showed lower postural stability
      ratings during single-leg stance compared with uninjured controls (40.0 vs. 48.7;
      P=0.037). ACLR is associated with deficits in postural stability. 

PMID- 26863484
TI  - The Sweetest Thing: Regulation of Macronutrient Preference by FGF21.
AB  - Links between FGF21 and carbohydrate consumption have recently been described,
      with both genomic associations and elevated FGF21 levels in healthy subjects
      following sugar ingestion. In this issue, von Holstein-Rathlou et al. (2016) and
      Talukdar et al. (2016) demonstrate a mechanistic role for FGF21 in the regulation
      of macronutrient preference. 

PMID- 26863485
TI  - Mitochondrial Damage Induces Senescence with a Twisted Arm.
AB  - Cellular senescence is a damage response characterized by a stable cell-cycle
      arrest and an intense secretion of cytokines. In this issue of Cell Metabolism,
      Wiley et al. (2016) report that, in the case of mitochondrial damage, senescence
      occurs with an atypical secretory phenotype, in both adipose tissue and skin. 

PMID- 26863486
TI  - Regulatory T Cell Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes: A Step Closer to Success?
AB  - Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy has shown promises in experimental models of
      type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. Now, Bluestone et al. (2015)
      report in a phase 1, dose-escalation study that ex vivo-expanded autologous
      polyclonal Treg therapy is safe and well tolerated in adult patients with recent
      onset T1D. 

PMID- 26863487
TI  - HIF-1alpha Promotes Glutamine-Mediated Redox Homeostasis and Glycogen-Dependent
      Bioenergetics to Support Postimplantation Bone Cell Survival.
AB  - Cell-based therapy is a promising strategy in regenerative medicine, but the poor
      survival rate of the implanted cells remains a major challenge and limits
      clinical translation. We preconditioned periosteal cells to the hypoxic and
      ischemic environment of the bone defect site by deleting prolyl hydroxylase
      domain-containing protein 2 (PHD2), resulting in hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha
      (HIF-1alpha) stabilization. This strategy increased postimplantation cell
      survival and improved bone regeneration. The enhanced cell viability was
      angiogenesis independent but relied on combined changes in glutamine and glycogen
      metabolism. HIF-1alpha stabilization stimulated glutaminase-mediated glutathione
      synthesis, maintaining redox homeostasis at baseline and during oxidative or
      nutrient stress. Simultaneously, HIF-1alpha signaling increased glycogen storage,
      preventing an energy deficit during nutrient or oxygen deprivation.
      Pharmacological inhibition of PHD2 recapitulated the adaptations in glutamine and
      glycogen metabolism and, consequently, the beneficial effects on cell survival.
      Thus, targeting cellular metabolism is an appealing strategy for bone
      regeneration and cell-based therapy in general. 

PMID- 26863488
TI  - SnapShot: Stress and Disease.
AB  - Perturbation of an organism's homeostasis by stress can trigger biological or
      behavioral adaptation and accelerate onset and course of several diseases.
      Signaling triggered by norepinephrine or epinephrine (via adrenergic receptors)
      and cortisol (through glucocorticoid receptors) has profound effects on dampening
      immune responses, accelerating cancer progression and increasing the risk of
      cardiovascular, metabolic, and colonic diseases. To view this SnapShot, open or
      download the PDF. 

PMID- 26863489
TI  - Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological
      Inhibition of Kinesin-5.
AB  - Kinetochores are large protein-based structures that assemble on centromeres
      during cell division and link chromosomes to spindle microtubules. Proper
      distribution of the genetic material requires that sister kinetochores on every
      chromosome become bioriented by attaching to microtubules from opposite spindle
      poles before progressing into anaphase. However, erroneous, non-bioriented
      attachment states are common and cellular pathways exist to both detect and
      correct such attachments during cell division. The process by which improper
      kinetochore-microtubule interactions are destabilized is referred to as error
      correction. To study error correction in living cells, incorrect attachments are
      purposely generated via chemical inhibition of kinesin-5 motor, which leads to
      monopolar spindle assembly, and the transition from mal-orientation to
      biorientation is observed following drug washout. The large number of chromosomes
      in many model tissue culture cell types poses a challenge in observing individual
      error correction events. Drosophila S2 cells are better subjects for such studies
      as they possess as few as 4 pairs of chromosomes. However, small molecule kinesin
      5 inhibitors are ineffective against Drosophila kinesin-5 (Klp61F). Here we
      describe how to build a Drosophila cell line that effectively replaces Klp61F
      with human kinesin-5, which renders the cells sensitive to pharmacological
      inhibition of the motor and suitable for use in the cell-based error correction
      assay. 

PMID- 26863490
TI  - Bioluminescence Imaging of an Immunocompetent Animal Model for Glioblastoma.
AB  - In contrast to commonly reported human glioma xenograft animal models, GL261
      murine glioma xenografts recapitulate nearly all relevant clinical and
      histopathologic features of the human disease. When GL261 cells are implanted
      intracranially in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, the model has the added advantage of
      maintaining an intact immune microenvironment. Stable expression of luciferase in
      GL261 cells allows non-invasive cost effective bioluminescence monitoring of
      intracranial tumor growth. We have recently demonstrated that luciferase
      expression in GL261 cells does not affect the tumor growth properties, tumor cell
      immunomodulatory cytokine expression, infiltration of immune cells into the
      tumor, or overall survival of animals bearing the intracranial tumor. Therefore,
      it appears that the GL261 luciferase glioma model can be useful in the study of
      novel chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic modalities. Here we report the
      technique for generating stable luciferase expression in GL261 cells and how to
      study the in vitro and in vivo growth of the tumor cells by bioluminescence
      imaging. 

PMID- 26863491
TI  - Concurrent agostic and tetrel bonding interactions in lead(ii) complexes with an
      isonicotinohydrazide based ligand and several anions.
AB  - In this manuscript we report for the first time the concurrent agostic and tetrel
      bonding interactions involving the heaviest tetrel atom (Pb) in N'
      (phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)isonicotinohydrazide-PbX complexes (X = Cl, I,
      NCS, NO2). 

PMID- 26863492
TI  - Detection of nitroaromatics in the solid, solution, and vapor phases using
      silicon quantum dot sensors.
AB  - Silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) represent a well-known QD fluorophore that can emit
      throughout the visible spectrum depending on the interface structure and surface
      functional group. Detection of nitroaromatic compounds by monitoring the
      luminescence response of the sensor material (typically fluorescent polymers)
      currently forms the basis of new explosives sensing technologies. Freestanding
      silicon QDs may represent a benign alternative with a high degree of chemical and
      physical versatility. Here, we investigate dodecyl and amine-terminated Si-QD
      luminescence response to the presence of nitrobenzene and dinitrotoluene (DNT) in
      various solid, solution, and vapor forms. For dinitrotoluene vapor the 3sigma
      detection limit was 6 ppb for monomer-terminated QDs. For nitroaromatics
      dissolved in toluene the detection limit was on the order of 400 nM,
      corresponding to ~100 pg of material distributed over ~1 cm(2) on the sensor
      surface. Solid traces of nitroaromatics were also easily detectable via a simple
      'touch test'. The samples showed minimal interference effects from common
      contaminants such as water, ethanol, and acetonitrile. The sensor can be as
      simple and inexpensive as a small circle of filter paper dipped into a QD
      solution, with a single vial of QDs able to make hundreds of these sensors.
      Additionally, a trial fiber-optic sensor device was tested by applying the QDs to
      one end of a 2 * 2 fiber coupler and exposing them to controlled DNT vapor.
      Finally, the quenching mechanism was explored via luminescence dynamics
      measurements and is different for blue (amine) and red (dodecyl) fluorescent
      silicon QDs. 

PMID- 26863493
TI  - Well-aligned Nd-doped SnO2 nanorod layered arrays: preparation, characterization
      and enhanced alcohol-gas sensing performance.
AB  - Well-oriented neodymium doped SnO2 layered nanorod arrays were synthesized by a
      substrate-free hydrothermal route using sodium stannate and sodium hydroxide at
      210  degrees C. The morphology and phase structure of the Nd-doped SnO2
      nanoarrays were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction spectroscopy, scanning
      electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering
      spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the BET method. The results
      demonstrated that the Nd-doped SnO2 layered nanorod arrays showed a unique
      nanostructure combined together with double layered arrays of nanorods with a
      diameter of 12 nm and a length of several hundred nanometers. The Nd-doped
      layered SnO2 nanoarrays kept the crystal structure of the bulk SnO2 and possessed
      more surface defects caused by the Nd ions doped into the SnO2 lattice. The Nd
      dopant acts as a crystallite growth inhibitor to prevent the growth of SnO2
      nanorods. An investigation into the gas-sensing properties indicated that the
      optimized doping level of 3.0 at% Nd-doped SnO2 layered nanorod arrays exhibited
      an excellent sensing response toward alcohol at a lower temperature of 260 
      degrees C. The enhanced sensor performance was attributed to the higher specific
      surface area, multi-defect surface structure and the excellent catalytic
      properties of Nd dopant that is able to increase the amount of active sites on
      the surface of semiconducting oxides. The Nd-doped SnO2 nanoarray sensors were
      considered to be a promising candidate for trace alcohol detections in
      environmental gas monitoring. 

PMID- 26863494
TI  - Synthesis of a rhodium(i) germyl complex: a useful tool for C-H and C-F bond
      activation reactions.
AB  - The dihydrido germyl complex cis,fac-[Rh(GePh3)(H)2(PEt3)3] (2) was synthesized
      by an oxidative addition of HGePh3 at [Rh(H)(PEt3)3] (1). Treatment of 2 with
      neohexene generated the rhodium(i) germyl complex [Rh(GePh3)(PEt3)3] (3).
      Alternatively, treatment of the methyl complex [Rh(CH3)(PEt3)3] (4) with HGePh3
      furnished at room temperature also 3. Low-temperature NMR measurements revealed
      an initial formation of the oxidative addition product fac
      [Rh(GePh3)(H)(CH3)(PEt3)3] (5), which transforms into the intermediate complex
      [Rh(GePh3)(H)(CH3)(PEt3)2] (6) by dissociation of a triethylphosphine ligand. The
      reductive elimination of methane and coordination of PEt3 afforded the germyl
      complex 3. Treatment of 3 with CO gave the biscarbonyl complex
      [Rh(GePh3)(CO)2(PEt3)2] (7). The molecular structures of the complexes 2, 3 and 7
      were determined by X-ray crystallography. The germyl complex 3 reacted with
      2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine or pentafluorobenzene to furnish the C-H activation
      products [Rh(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)3] (8) and [Rh(C6F5)(PEt3)3] (9), respectively. The
      reaction of 3 with hexafluorobenzene or perfluorotoluene gave selectively the C-F
      activation products 9 and [Rh(4-C6F4CF3)(PEt3)3] (10). Treatment of 3 with
      pentafluoropyridine resulted in the formation of the C-F activation products 8
      and [Rh(2-C5NF4)(PEt3)3] (11) in a 1 : 10 ratio. The two isomeric activation
      compounds [Rh{(E)-CF[double bond, length as m-dash]CF(CF3)}(PEt3)3] (12) and
      [Rh{(Z)-CF[double bond, length as m-dash]CF(CF3)}(PEt3)3] (13) were obtained in a
      3 : 1 ratio by reaction of 3 with hexafluoropropene. On exposure to oxygen the
      highly air sensitive complex 12 reacts to yield the peroxido-bridged dirhodium
      complex [Rh{(E)-CF[double bond, length as m-dash]CF(CF3)}(MU-kappa(1):eta(2)
      O2)(PEt3)2]2 (14). The molecular structure of 14 was determined by X-ray
      crystallography. 

PMID- 26863495
TI  - Descemet Membrane Detachment in Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report a case series of 4 patients with Descemet membrane detachment
      (DMD) after undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery incisions.
      METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: DMD was noted at the secondary incision (n = 2) or
      at the main incision (n = 2). All the secondary incision and 1 main incision DMD
      were resolved with intraoperative maneuvers. Delay in recognizing DMD
      intraoperatively at the principal incision in 1 case led to inadvertent
      aspiration of a part of it and persistent postoperative corneal edema. This
      complication was handled with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty 1 month
      after initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: DMD can occur after femtosecond laser
      assisted cataract surgery, although it is a rare complication as it is in
      traditional phacoemulsification. The surgeon must be prepared to recognize it,
      manage it intraoperatively, and treat it postoperatively to reduce the risk of
      permanent damage to the eye.

PMID- 26863496
TI  - Corneal Patch Graft: A New Approach for Scleral Necrosis Secondary to Plaque
      Radiotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomical outcomes of corneal patch grafts in patients
      with progressive scleral necrosis secondary to plaque radiotherapy used for uveal
      malignant melanoma management. METHODS: In this case series, 4 patients with
      progressive scleral necrosis after Ru-106 plaque radiotherapy underwent corneal
      patch grafts with the anterior corneal button from Descemet stripping automated
      endothelial keratoplasty donor tissue to strengthen the sclera and to improve
      appearance of the eye. RESULTS: Ciliary body involvement was evident in all
      cases. All 4 patients had received radiation doses of 400 Gy or more to the tumor
      base. The mean time interval between plaque radiotherapy and scleral necrosis was
      24.5 +/- 7.5 months (range, 18-34 months). Successful results were achieved in
      all patients with tectonic graft. No patients experienced graft thinning,
      rejection, infection, or tumor recurrence in a mean follow-up of 28.5 +/- 7.9
      months (range, 20-39 months). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal patch graft by anterior
      corneal button from Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty donor
      tissue results in successful restoration of globe integrity and satisfactory
      cosmetic appearance in patients with scleral necrosis secondary to plaque
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 26863497
TI  - Successful Treatment of Acute Ocular-Involving Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Using
      Amniotic Membrane Suture Fixated to Custom Designed Symblepharon Rings.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe a novel technique using
      amniotic membrane suture-fixated onto custom-designed symblepharon rings in a
      patient with acute toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). METHODS: A 61-year-old man
      developed bilateral symblephara and severe ocular surface inflammation from
      Stevens-Johnson syndrome/TEN secondary to allopurinol. Eight days after
      admission, he was treated with placement of custom-designed symblepharon rings,
      designed by one of the authors (A.A.), covered with amniotic membrane. This
      method was used to allow for efficient placement of the membrane and to minimize
      operative time and perioperative risks due to his worsening systemic condition.
      RESULTS: On postoperative day 49, his visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye
      and 20/25 in the left eye. Both eyes were quiet with only small symblephara noted
      temporally. CONCLUSIONS: The use of amniotic membrane suture-fixated to custom
      designed symblepharon rings provides sufficient coverage of the ocular surface,
      leading to excellent visual and clinical outcomes by reducing inflammation and
      protecting the ocular surface from the cicatrizing sequelae associated with
      ocular-involving TEN. This novel technique is less invasive, more time efficient,
      and likely safe for even the most critically ill patients with significant risk
      for mortality, thus allowing any treating ophthalmologist to comfortably perform
      this important sight-saving procedure.

PMID- 26863498
TI  - An Adult Case of Fulminant Mumps Keratitis With Positive Viral RNA in Aqueous
      Humor Detected by RT-PCR.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report an adult case of mumps keratitis with mumps virus in aqueous
      humor and decreased corneal endothelial cell density. METHODS: Case report.
      RESULTS: A 60-year-old female with a 39 degrees C fever and bilateral parotid
      swelling diagnosed with mumps and treated for photophobia, pain, redness, and
      decreased vision in 1 eye, was referred to our hospital when her condition
      deteriorated despite receiving betamethasone phosphate instillation and
      antiglaucoma agents for elevated intraocular pressure (52 mm Hg) and iritis. Her
      right eye was normal, whereas her left eye showed 20/400 visual acuity, 21 mm Hg
      intraocular pressure, ciliary injection and edema, opacity, and Descemet folds in
      the entire cornea. Round white keratic precipitates were present on the posterior
      corneal surface, whereas anterior chamber cells could not be examined in detail
      because of corneal edema. Mumps virus was detected by reverse transcriptase
      polymerase chain reaction in an aqueous humor sample taken at the time of
      admission. Following diagnosis of keratitis, administration of 30 mg oral
      prednisolone daily and frequent instillation of betamethasone phosphate steadily
      improved her corneal edema and opacity. In her left eye, visual acuity recovered
      to 20/16 and keratitis was resolved at 4 weeks; however, corneal endothelial cell
      density was significantly decreased to less than 400 per square millimeter.
      CONCLUSIONS: Mumps keratitis may cause severe corneal endothelial cell loss.

PMID- 26863499
TI  - Polarimetric Interferometry for Assessment of Corneal Stromal Lamellae
      Orientation.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze corneal stromal lamellae orientation in normal subjects and
      patients with various corneal conditions using a polarimetric interferometer.
      METHODS: Thirty-two healthy control subjects (59 eyes) and 16 patients (22 eyes)
      with corneal conditions or postkeratoplasty were included in the study. All
      patients were imaged using the interferometer and slit lamp photography. The
      interferometer produces an orthogonal cross-like image of stromal lamellae by
      illuminating the cornea in phase-light polarization angle. Corneal haze was
      graded on a scale from 0 to 4. Interferometer cross-like images were graded on a
      scale from 0 to 5 by a masked observer. Keratometry, corneal central pachymetry,
      and optical densitometry were obtained with Scheimpflug corneal tomography.
      RESULTS: The cross-like image was observed in 31 of 32 healthy control subjects
      (58 of 59 eyes) and in 13 of 16 patients (19 of 22 eyes). The image was not
      detectable in 3 patients, 1 with total corneal neovascularization and scarring, 1
      with central leukoma, and 1 with failed deep lamellar keratoplasty. Corneal haze
      was the main factor obscuring the cross-like image (P < 0.05). Clarity of the
      images was influenced by older age, steeper keratometry, higher pachymetry, and
      optical density (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between the orientation of
      the keratometric axes and the orientation of the 2 arms of the cross-like image
      (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal stromal lamellae orientation can be efficiently
      assessed and displayed as a cross-like image by the polarimetric interferometer.
      Stromal lamellae orientation imaging may have potential implications in corneal
      diagnostics and surgery.

PMID- 26863500
TI  - Fungal Keratitis Caused by Exserohilum, An Emerging Pathogen.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, and
      prognosis of fungal keratitis caused by Exserohilum. METHODS: All culture-proven
      cases of keratomycosis caused by Exserohilum presented from January 2012 to
      December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed using a computerized database.
      RESULTS: Among 1542 cases of keratomycosis, 47 (3%) were due to Exserohilum. The
      mean age of presentation was 50.4 years. Males (n = 32; 68%) were more commonly
      affected than females (n = 15; 32%). A history of trauma was present in most of
      the cases (n = 38; 80.9%). The mean time of the first visit to the hospital was
      6.2 days after onset of symptoms. Most of the patients (n = 24; 72.3%) had
      central or paracentral ulcers. The infiltrate was confined to the superficial one
      third of the stroma in 39 patients (83%). Most of the patients (89.4%) responded
      well to topical treatment (natamycin 5% for ulcers <5 mm; voriconazole 1% was
      added for ulcers >5 mm or with hypopyon); 4 patients (8.5%) required therapeutic
      penetrating keratoplasty and 1 patient (2.1%) progressed to endophthalmitis,
      requiring evisceration. The mean best-corrected visual acuity in the medically
      treated patients improved from 0.89 (logMAR) at presentation to 0.77 at the
      completion of treatment (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: This study signifies the
      importance of this new emerging pathogen that was generally regarded as rare in
      the past. The infection seems to be more prevalent than previously thought,
      especially in hot and humid areas. Vision is likely to improve if the infection
      is diagnosed and appropriate topical treatment is started early.

PMID- 26863501
TI  - Epithelial Ingrowth Following Endothelial Keratoplasty.
AB  - PURPOSE: To present a large case series of epithelial ingrowth or implantation
      following endothelial keratoplasty (EK) with the purpose of identifying the
      common causes as well as the various clinical presentations. We aim to determine
      the typical clinical course and the most effective treatment for this rare but
      serious complication. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 13 patients who
      developed epithelial ingrowth or implantation post-EK. Slit lamp photographs were
      independently examined along with other diagnostic imaging and histopathology to
      confirm the diagnosis. Patient medical records including operative reports were
      reviewed to determine the number of surgeries that occurred before EK and details
      of surgical technique, for example, whether venting incisions were performed.
      Records from follow-up visits were reviewed to determine the natural progression
      and management of these cases. The literature was reviewed and a meta-analysis
      was performed. RESULTS: The patients were divided into 5 groups according to the
      type of epithelial presentation. Eight patients had involvement within the
      interface away from the visual axis. One patient had ingrowth in the interface
      within the visual axis, 2 had retrocorneal involvement, and 1 had anterior
      chamber involvement. One had both retrocorneal and anterior chamber involvement.
      Venting incisions were performed in 8 patients, but only 1 had ingrowth related
      to the venting incision. Nine patients were observed without evidence of
      significant progression. Four patients had surgical treatment to remove the
      epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial ingrowth or implantation occurs most commonly
      within the interface away from the visual axis and typically does not progress.
      The presentation of a homogeneous gray-white interface opacity is characteristic.
      Ingrowth can result from venting incisions, but rarely does. Other causes are
      eccentric trephination or loose donor or host epithelium being dragged into the
      eye at the time of surgery.

PMID- 26863502
TI  - Continuous Adductor Canal Blocks: Does Varying Local Anesthetic Delivery Method
      (Automatic Repeated Bolus Doses Versus Continuous Basal Infusion) Influence
      Cutaneous Analgesia and Quadriceps Femoris Strength? A Randomized, Double-Masked,
      Controlled, Split-Body Volunteer Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It remains unknown whether continuous or scheduled intermittent bolus
      local anesthetic administration is preferable for adductor canal perineural
      catheters. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that scheduled bolus
      administration is superior or noninferior to a continuous infusion on cutaneous
      knee sensation in volunteers. METHODS: Bilateral adductor canal catheters were
      inserted in 24 volunteers followed by ropivacaine 0.2% administration for 8
      hours. One limb of each subject was assigned randomly to a continuous infusion (8
      mL/h) or automated hourly boluses (8 mL/bolus), with the alternate treatment in
      the contralateral limb. The primary end point was the tolerance to electrical
      current applied through cutaneous electrodes in the distribution of the anterior
      branch of the medial femoral cutaneous nerve after 8 hours (noninferiority delta:
      -10 mA). Secondary end points included tolerance of electrical current and
      quadriceps femoris maximum voluntary isometric contraction strength at baseline,
      hourly for 14 hours, and again after 22 hours. RESULTS: The 2 administration
      techniques provided equivalent cutaneous analgesia at 8 hours because
      noninferiority was found in both directions, with estimated difference on
      tolerance to cutaneous current of -0.6 mA (95% confidence interval, -5.4 to 4.3).
      Equivalence also was found on all but 2 secondary time points. CONCLUSIONS: No
      evidence was found to support the hypothesis that changing the local anesthetic
      administration technique (continuous basal versus hourly bolus) when using an
      adductor canal perineural catheter at 8 mL/h decreases cutaneous sensation in the
      distribution of the anterior branch of the medial femoral cutaneous nerve.

PMID- 26863503
TI  - Non-aqueous Electrode Processing and Construction of Lithium-ion Coin Cells.
AB  - Research into new and improved materials to be utilized in lithium-ion batteries
      (LIB) necessitates an experimental counterpart to any computational analysis.
      Testing of lithium-ion batteries in an academic setting has taken on several
      forms, but at the most basic level lies the coin cell construction. In
      traditional LIB electrode preparation, a multi-phase slurry composed of active
      material, binder, and conductive additive is cast out onto a substrate. An
      electrode disc can then be punched from the dried sheet and used in the
      construction of a coin cell for electrochemical evaluation. Utilization of the
      potential of the active material in a battery is critically dependent on the
      microstructure of the electrode, as an appropriate distribution of the primary
      components are crucial to ensuring optimal electrical conductivity, porosity, and
      tortuosity, such that electrochemical and transport interaction is optimized.
      Processing steps ranging from the combination of dry powder, wet mixing, and
      drying can all critically affect multi-phase interactions that influence the
      microstructure formation. Electrochemical probing necessitates the construction
      of electrodes and coin cells with the utmost care and precision. This paper aims
      at providing a step-by-step guide of non-aqueous electrode processing and coin
      cell construction for lithium-ion batteries within an academic setting and with
      emphasis on deciphering the influence of drying and calendaring. 

PMID- 26863504
TI  - Targeting the glial-derived neurotrophic factor and related molecules for
      controlling normal and pathologic pain.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its family of ligands
      (GFLs) have several functions in the nervous system. As a survival factor for
      dopaminergic neurons, GDNF was used in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease.
      GFLs and their receptors are also potential targets for new pain-controlling
      drugs. Although molecules with analgesic activities in rodents mostly failed to
      be effective in translational studies, this potential should not be
      underestimated. AREAS COVERED: The circuitry, molecular, and cellular mechanisms
      by which GFLs control nociception and their intervention in inflammatory and
      neuropathic pain are considered first. The problems related to effective GDNF
      delivery to the brain and the possibility to target the GFL receptor complex
      rather than its ligands are then discussed, also considering the use of non
      peptidyl agonists. EXPERT OPINION: In nociceptive pathways, an ideal drug should
      either: i) target the release of endogenous GFLs from large dense-cored vesicles
      (LGVs) by acting, for example, onto the phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate
      [PtdIns(3)P] pool, which is sensitive to Ca(2+) modulation, or ii) target the GFL
      receptor complex. Besides XIB403, a tiol molecule that enhances GFRalpha family
      receptor signaling, existing drugs such as retinoic acid and amitriptyline should
      be considered for effective targeting of GDNF, at least in neuropathic pain. The
      approach of pain modeling in experimental animals is discussed.

PMID- 26863505
TI  - Highly Ordered Periodic Au/TiO2 Hetero-Nanostructures for Plasmon-Induced
      Enhancement of the Activity and Stability for Ethanol Electro-oxidation.
AB  - The catalytic electro-oxidation of ethanol is the essential technique for direct
      alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) in the area of alternative energy for the ability of
      converting the chemical energy of alcohol into the electric energy directly.
      Developing highly efficient and stable electrode materials with antipoisoning
      ability for ethanol electro-oxidation remains a challenge. A highly ordered
      periodic Au-nanoparticle (NP)-decorated bilayer TiO2 nanotube (BTNT)
      heteronanostructure was fabricated by a two-step anodic oxidation of Ti foil and
      the subsequent photoreduction of HAuCl4. The plasmon-induced charge separation on
      the heterointerface of Au/TiO2 electrode enhances the electrocatalytic activity
      and stability for the ethanol oxidation under visible light irradiation. The
      highly ordered periodic heterostructure on the electrode surface enhanced the
      light harvesting and led to the greater performance of ethanol electro-oxidation
      under irradiation compared with the ordinary Au NPs-decorated monolayer TiO2
      nanotube (MTNT). This novel Au/TiO2 electrode also performed a self-cleaning
      property under visible light attributed to the enhanced electro-oxidation of the
      adsorbed intermediates. This light-driven enhancement of the electrochemical
      performances provides a development strategy for the design and construction of
      DAFCs. 

PMID- 26863506
TI  - Patterned Taping: A High-Efficiency Soft Lithographic Method for Universal Thin
      Film Patterning.
AB  - As a universal lithographic technique for microscale/nanoscale film patterns, we
      develop a strategy for the use of soft lithographically patterned pressure
      sensitive tape (patterned tape) as a pattern-transporting stamp material.
      Patterning was successfully implemented through the selective detachment and/or
      attachment of various thin films, including organic and metallic layers demanding
      no subsequent physical, thermal, or chemical treatment, as this incurs the risk
      of the deformation of the thin film and the deterioration of its functionalities.
      Its features of universal adhesion and flexibility enable pressure-sensitive
      tapes to form patterns on a variety of surfaces: organic, polymeric, and
      inorganic surfaces as well as flat, curved, uneven, and flexible substrates.
      Moreover, the proposed technique boasts the unique and distinct advantages of
      short operation time, supreme patterning yield, and multilayer stacking
      capability, which suggest considerable potential for their application to
      advanced optoelectronic device fabrication. 

PMID- 26863507
TI  - Organohalide Perovskites for Solar Energy Conversion.
AB  - Lead-based organohalide perovskites have recently emerged as arguably the most
      promising of all next generation thin film solar cell technologies. Power
      conversion efficiencies have reached 20% in less than 5 years, and their
      application to other optoelectronic device platforms such as photodetectors and
      light emitting diodes is being increasingly reported. Organohalide perovskites
      can be solution processed or evaporated at low temperatures to form simple thin
      film photojunctions, thus delivering the potential for the holy grail of high
      efficiency, low embedded energy, and low cost photovoltaics. The initial device
      driven "perovskite fever" has more recently given way to efforts to better
      understand how these materials work in solar cells, and deeper elucidation of
      their structure-property relationships. In this Account, we focus on this element
      of organohalide perovskite chemistry and physics in particular examining critical
      electro-optical, morphological, and architectural phenomena. We first examine
      basic crystal and chemical structure, and how this impacts important solar-cell
      related properties such as the optical gap. We then turn to deeper electronic
      phenomena such as carrier mobilities, trap densities, and recombination dynamics,
      as well as examining ionic and dielectric properties and how these two types of
      physics impact each other. The issue of whether organohalide perovskites are
      predominantly nonexcitonic at room temperature is currently a matter of some
      debate, and we summarize the evidence for what appears to be the emerging field
      consensus: an exciton binding energy of order 10 meV. Having discussed the
      important basic chemistry and physics we turn to more device-related
      considerations including processing, morphology, architecture, thin film electro
      optics and interfacial energetics. These phenomena directly impact solar cell
      performance parameters such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current
      density, internal and external quantum efficiency, fill factor, and ultimately
      the all-important power conversion efficiency. Finally, we address the key
      challenges pertinent to actually delivering a new and viable solar cell
      technology. These include long-term cell stability, scaling to the module level,
      and the toxicity associated with lead. Organohalide perovskites not only offer
      exciting possibilities for next generation optoelectronics and photovoltaics, but
      are an intriguing class of material crossing the boundaries of molecular solids
      and banded inorganic semiconductors. This is a potential area of rich new
      chemistry, materials science, and physics. 

PMID- 26863511
TI  - 3D-RISM-MP2 Approach to Hydration Structure of Pt(II) and Pd(II) Complexes:
      Unusual H-Ahead Mode vs Usual O-Ahead One.
AB  - Solvation of transition metal complexes with water has been one of the
      fundamental topics in physical and coordination chemistry. In particular, Pt(II)
      complexes have recently attracted considerable interest for their relation to
      anticancer activity in cisplatin and its analogues, yet the interaction of the
      water molecule and the metal center has been obscured. The challenge from a
      theoretical perspective remains that both the microscopic solvation effect and
      the dynamical electron correlation (DEC) effect have to be treated simultaneously
      in a reasonable manner. In this work we derive the analytical gradient for the
      three-dimensional reference interaction site model Moller-Plesset second order
      (3D-RISM-MP2) free energy. On the basis of the three-regions 3D-RISM self
      consistent field (SCF) method recently proposed by us, we apply a new layer of
      the Z-vector method to the CP-RISM equation as well as point-charge approximation
      to the derivatives with respect to the density matrix elements in the RISM-CPHF
      equation to remarkably reduce the computational cost. This method is applied to
      study the interaction of H2O with the d(8) square planar transition metal
      complexes in aqueous solution, trans-[Pt(II)Cl2(NH3)(glycine)] (1a),
      [Pt(II)(NH3)4](2+) (1b), [Pt(II)(CN)4](2-) (1c), and their Pd(II) analogues 2a,
      2b, and 2c, respectively, to elucidate whether the usual H2O interaction through
      O atom (O-ahead mode) or unusual one through H atom (H-ahead mode) is stable in
      these complexes. We find that the interaction energy of the coordinating water
      and the transition metal complex changes little when switching from gas to
      aqueous phase, but the solvation free energy differs remarkably between the two
      interaction modes, thereby affecting the relative stability of the H-ahead and O
      ahead modes. Particularly, in contrast to the expectation that the O-ahead mode
      is preferred due to the presence of positive charges in 1b, the H-ahead mode is
      also found to be more stable. The O-ahead mode is found to be more stable than
      the H-ahead one only in 2b. The energy decomposition analysis (EDA) at the 3D
      RISM-MP2 level revealed that the O-ahead mode is stabilized by the electrostatic
      (ES) interaction, whereas the H-ahead one is mainly stabilized by the DEC effect.
      The ES interaction is also responsible for the difference between the Pd(II) and
      Pt(II) complexes; because the electrostatic potential is more negative along the
      z-axis in the Pt(II) complex than in the Pd(II) one, the O-ahead mode prefers the
      Pd(II) complexes, whereas the H-ahead becomes predominant in the Pt(II)
      complexes. 

PMID- 26863512
TI  - Dimer-mediated cation diffusion in the stoichiometric ionic conductor Li3N.
AB  - Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics has been used to model cation diffusion in
      stoichiometric Li3N over the temperature range 50 < T/K < 800. The resulting
      diffusion coefficients are in excellent agreement with the available experimental
      data. We present a detailed atomistic account of the diffusion process. Contrary
      to the conclusions drawn from previous studies, our calculations show that it is
      unnecessary to invoke the presence of a small concentration of intrinsic defects
      in order to initiate diffusion. The structure can be considered to consist of
      alternating layers of composition Li2N and Li. As the temperature increases an
      increasing number of cations leave the Li2N layers and migrate either to the
      interlayer space or to the Li layer. Those that move into the interlayer space
      form Li2 dimers with cations in the Li2N layers and those that move into the
      neighboring layer form dimers with cations therein. The two types of dimer are
      aligned parallel and perpendicular to [001], respectively and have lifetimes of
      ~3 ps. The vacancies so created facilitate rapid diffusion in the Li2N layers and
      the interlayer cation motion results in slower diffusion perpendicular to the
      layers. 

PMID- 26863513
TI  - The Value of Mentoring: An Interview with Rose Dobrof, DSW.

PMID- 26863514
TI  - Molecular Probe Optimization to Determine Cell Mortality in a Photosynthetic
      Organism (Microcystis aeruginosa) Using Flow Cytometry.
AB  - Microbial subpopulations in field and laboratory studies have been shown to
      display high heterogeneity in morphological and physiological parameters.
      Determining the real time state of a microbial cell goes beyond live or dead
      categories, as microbes can exist in a dormant state, whereby cell division and
      metabolic activities are reduced. Given the need for detection and quantification
      of microbes, flow cytometry (FCM) with molecular probes provides a rapid and
      accurate method to help determine overall population viability. By using SYTOX
      Green and SYTOX Orange in the model cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa to
      detect membrane integrity, we develop a transferable method for rapid indication
      of single cell mortality. The molecular probes used within this journal will be
      referred to as green or orange nucleic acid probes respectively (although there
      are other products with similar excitation and emission wavelengths that have a
      comparable modes of action, we specifically refer to the fore mentioned probes).
      Protocols using molecular probes vary between species, differing principally in
      concentration and incubation times. Following this protocol set out on
      M.aeruginosa the green nucleic acid probe was optimized at concentrations of 0.5
      uM after 30 min of incubation and the orange nucleic acid probe at 1 uM after 10
      min. In both probes concentrations less than the stated optimal led to an under
      reporting of cells with membrane damage. Conversely, 5 uM concentrations and
      higher in both probes exhibited a type of non-specific staining, whereby 'live'
      cells produced a target fluorescence, leading to an over representation of 'non
      viable' cell numbers. The positive controls (heat-killed) provided testable dead
      biomass, although the appropriateness of control generation remains subject to
      debate. By demonstrating a logical sequence of steps for optimizing the green and
      orange nucleic acid probes we demonstrate how to create a protocol that can be
      used to analyse cyanobacterial physiological state effectively. 

PMID- 26863515
TI  - Mutagenicity in a Molecule: Identification of Core Structural Features of
      Mutagenicity Using a Scaffold Analysis.
AB  - With advances in the development and application of Ames mutagenicity in silico
      prediction tools, the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) has amended
      its M7 guideline to reflect the use of such prediction models for the detection
      of mutagenic activity in early drug safety evaluation processes. Since current
      Ames mutagenicity prediction tools only focus on functional group alerts or side
      chain modifications of an analog series, these tools are unable to identify
      mutagenicity derived from core structures or specific scaffolds of a compound. In
      this study, a large collection of 6512 compounds are used to perform scaffold
      tree analysis. By relating different scaffolds on constructed scaffold trees with
      Ames mutagenicity, four major and one minor novel mutagenic groups of scaffold
      are identified. The recognized mutagenic groups of scaffold can serve as a guide
      for medicinal chemists to prevent the development of potentially mutagenic
      therapeutic agents in early drug design or development phases, by modifying the
      core structures of mutagenic compounds to form non-mutagenic compounds. In
      addition, five series of substructures are provided as recommendations, for
      direct modification of potentially mutagenic scaffolds to decrease associated
      mutagenic activities. 

PMID- 26863516
TI  - Supporting read-across using biological data.
AB  - Read-across, i.e. filling toxicological data gaps by relating to similar
      chemicals, for which test data are available, is usually done based on chemical
      similarity. Besides structure and physico-chemical properties, however,
      biological similarity based on biological data adds extra strength to this
      process. In the context of developing Good Read-Across Practice guidance, a
      number of case studies were evaluated to demonstrate the use of biological data
      to enrich read-across. In the simplest case, chemically similar substances also
      show similar test results in relevant in vitro assays. This is a well-established
      method for the read-across of e.g. genotoxicity assays. Larger datasets of
      biological and toxicological properties of hundreds and thousands of substances
      become increasingly available enabling big data approaches in read-across
      studies. Several case studies using various big data sources are described in
      this paper. An example is given for the US EPA's ToxCast dataset allowing read
      across for high quality uterotrophic assays for estrogenic endocrine disruption.
      Similarly, an example for REACH registration data enhancing read-across for acute
      toxicity studies is given. A different approach is taken using omics data to
      establish biological similarity: Examples are given for stem cell models in vitro
      and short-term repeated dose studies in rats in vivo to support read-across and
      category formation. These preliminary biological data-driven read-across studies
      highlight the road to the new generation of read-across approaches that can be
      applied in chemical safety assessment. 

PMID- 26863517
TI  - The Fraction of Cancer Attributable to Ways of Life, Infections, Occupation, and
      Environmental Agents in Brazil in 2020.
AB  - Many human cancers develop as a result of exposure to risk factors related to the
      environment and ways of life. The aim of this study was to estimate attributable
      fractions of 25 types of cancers resulting from exposure to modifiable risk
      factors in Brazil. The prevalence of exposure to selected risk factors among
      adults was obtained from population-based surveys conducted from 2000 to 2008.
      Risk estimates were based on data drawn from meta-analyses or large, high quality
      studies. Population-attributable fractions (PAF) for a combination of risk
      factors, as well as the number of preventable deaths and cancer cases, were
      calculated for 2020. The known preventable risk factors studied will account for
      34% of cancer cases among men and 35% among women in 2020, and for 46% and 39%
      deaths, respectively. The highest attributable fractions were estimated for
      tobacco smoking, infections, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, excess
      weight, reproductive factors, and physical inactivity. This is the first study to
      systematically estimate the fraction of cancer attributable to potentially
      modifiable risk factors in Brazil. Strategies for primary prevention of tobacco
      smoking and control of infection and the promotion of a healthy diet and physical
      activity should be the main priorities in policies for cancer prevention in the
      country. 

PMID- 26863518
TI  - Acetylbritannilactone Modulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling and
      Regulates Angiogenesis in Endothelial Cells.
AB  - The present study was conducted to determine the effects of 1-O
      acetylbritannilactone (ABL), a compound extracted from Inula britannica L., on
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and angiogenesis in
      endothelial cells (ECs). We showed that ABL promotes VEGF-induced cell
      proliferation, growth, migration, and tube formation in cultured human ECs.
      Furthermore, the modulatory effect of ABL on VEGF-induced Akt, MAPK p42/44, and
      p38 phosphorylation, as well as on upstream VEGFR-2 phosphorylation, were
      associated with VEGF-dependent Matrigel angiogenesis in vivo. In addition,
      animals treated with ABL (26 mg/kg/day) recovered blood flow significantly
      earlier than control animals, suggesting that ABL affects ischemia-mediated
      angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated that ABL
      strongly reduced the levels of VEGFR-2 on the cell surface, enhanced VEGFR-2
      endocytosis, which consistent with inhibited VE-cadherin, a negative regulator of
      VEGF signaling associated with VEGFR-2 complex formation, but did not alter VE
      cadherin or VEGFR-2 expression in ECs. Our results suggest that ABL may serve as
      a novel therapeutic intervention for various cardiovascular diseases, including
      chronic ischemia, by regulating VEGF signaling and modulating angiogenesis. 

PMID- 26863519
TI  - Recognition of Frequency Modulated Whistle-Like Sounds by a Bottlenose Dolphin
      (Tursiops truncatus) and Humans with Transformations in Amplitude, Duration and
      Frequency.
AB  - Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use the frequency contour of whistles
      produced by conspecifics for individual recognition. Here we tested a bottlenose
      dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) ability to recognize frequency modulated whistle
      like sounds using a three alternative matching-to-sample paradigm. The dolphin
      was first trained to select a specific object (object A) in response to a
      specific sound (sound A) for a total of three object-sound associations. The
      sounds were then transformed by amplitude, duration, or frequency transposition
      while still preserving the frequency contour of each sound. For comparison
      purposes, 30 human participants completed an identical task with the same sounds,
      objects, and training procedure. The dolphin's ability to correctly match objects
      to sounds was robust to changes in amplitude with only a minor decrement in
      performance for short durations. The dolphin failed to recognize sounds that were
      frequency transposed by plus or minus 1/2 octaves. Human participants
      demonstrated robust recognition with all acoustic transformations. The results
      indicate that this dolphin's acoustic recognition of whistle-like sounds was
      constrained by absolute pitch. Unlike human speech, which varies considerably in
      average frequency, signature whistles are relatively stable in frequency, which
      may have selected for a whistle recognition system invariant to frequency
      transposition. 

PMID- 26863520
TI  - Robot-Assisted Bladder Diverticulectomy with Concurrent Management of Bladder
      Outlet Obstruction.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Robot-assisted bladder diverticulectomy (RABD) through a technique
      for easier identification of diverticulum along with concomitant management of
      bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) utilizing a combination of transurethral
      prostatectomy (TUR-P) and photoselective vaporization of prostate (PVP) is
      presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2008 and 2015, 9 patients underwent
      RABD with concurrent treatment of BOO. Diverticula were identified by a technique
      of catheterizing the diverticulum and the bladder simultaneously and
      individually. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 62 +/- 9.8 and prostate volume was 70
      +/- 26 ml. Mean time for endourological procedure was 77 +/- 35, mean console and
      total operative times were 108 +/- 38 and 186 +/- 56 min, respectively. Mean
      estimated blood loss was 71 +/- 37 ml. All diverticula were excised and BOO
      treated successfully. Bladder irrigation was not necessary in any patient. Mean
      hospitalization and catheter removal time was 5 +/- 3 and 8 +/- 3 days,
      respectively. No complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: BOO is the main cause
      of acquired bladder diverticula and is largely due to benign prostatic
      hyperplasia. Concomitant performance of TUR-P and PVP along with RABD is feasible
      and safe. Individual catheterization of the diverticulum and bladder facilitates
      the identification of diverticulum even in the presence of multiple diverticula.

PMID- 26863522
TI  - Cobalt-Catalyzed Bis-alkynylation of Amides via Double C-H Bond Activation.
AB  - The first example of cobalt-catalyzed selective bis-alkynylation of amides via
      double C-H bond activation with the directing assistance of a removable bidentate
      auxiliary is reported. The developed alkynylation strategy is simple, efficient,
      and tolerant of various functional groups including ether, amine, halides, and
      heterocyclic motifs. The reaction can be scaled up under mild conditions. 

PMID- 26863521
TI  - Metabolomic Profiles of Body Mass Index in the Framingham Heart Study Reveal
      Distinct Cardiometabolic Phenotypes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although obesity and cardiometabolic traits commonly overlap,
      underlying pathways remain incompletely defined. The association of metabolite
      profiles across multiple cardiometabolic traits may lend insights into the
      interaction of obesity and metabolic health. We sought to investigate metabolic
      signatures of obesity and related cardiometabolic traits in the community using
      broad-based metabolomic profiling. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the
      association of 217 assayed metabolites and cross-sectional as well as
      longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic traits among 2,383 Framingham Offspring
      cohort participants. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with 69 of 217
      metabolites (P<0.00023 for all), including aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine) and
      branched chain amino acids (valine, isoleucine, leucine). Additional metabolic
      pathways associated with BMI included the citric acid cycle (isocitrate, alpha
      ketoglutarate, aconitate), the tryptophan pathway (kynurenine, kynurenic acid),
      and the urea cycle. There was considerable overlap in metabolite profiles between
      BMI, abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance [IR] and dyslipidemia, modest
      overlap of metabolite profiles between BMI and hyperglycemia, and little overlap
      with fasting glucose or elevated blood pressure. Metabolite profiles were
      associated with longitudinal changes in fasting glucose, but the involved
      metabolites (ornithine, 5-HIAA, aminoadipic acid, isoleucine, cotinine) were
      distinct from those associated with baseline glucose or other traits. Obesity
      status appeared to "modify" the association of 9 metabolites with IR. For
      example, bile acid metabolites were strongly associated with IR among obese but
      not lean individuals, whereas isoleucine had a stronger association with IR in
      lean individuals. CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale metabolite profiling study,
      body mass index was associated with a broad range of metabolic alterations.
      Metabolite profiling highlighted considerable overlap with abdominal adiposity,
      insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, but not with fasting glucose or blood
      pressure traits.

PMID- 26863523
TI  - Eyes on New Product Development.

PMID- 26863524
TI  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic low back pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic back pain is an important health problem. Non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to treat people with low back pain,
      especially people with acute back pain. Short term NSAID use is also recommended
      for pain relief in people with chronic back pain. Two types of NSAIDs are
      available and used to treat back pain: non-selective NSAIDs and selective COX-2
      NSAIDs. In 2008, a Cochrane review identified a small but significant effect from
      NSAIDs compared to placebo in people with chronic back pain. This is an update of
      the Cochrane review published in 2008 and focuses on people with chronic low back
      pain. OBJECTIVES: To determine if NSAIDs are more efficacious than various
      comparison treatments for non-specific chronic low back pain and if so, which
      type of NSAID is most efficacious. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE,
      EMBASE, PubMed and two clinical trials registry databases up to 24 June 2015 for
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English, German or Dutch. We
      also screened references cited in relevant reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA: We
      included RCTs (double-blind and single-blind) of NSAIDs used to treat people with
      chronic low back pain. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors
      independently screened trials for inclusion in this Cochrane review according to
      the inclusion criteria. One review author extracted the data, and a second review
      author checked the data. Two review authors independently evaluated the risk of
      bias of all included trials. If data were clinically homogeneous, we performed a
      meta-analysis and assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN
      RESULTS: We included 13 trials in this Cochrane review. Ten studies were at 'low'
      risk of bias. Six studies compared NSAIDs with placebo, and included 1354
      participants in total. There is low quality evidence that NSAIDs are more
      effective than placebo, with a mean difference in pain intensity score from
      baseline of -3.30 (95% CI -5.33 to -1.27) on a 0 to 100 visual analogue scale
      (VAS) with a median follow-up of 56 days (interquartile range (IQR) 13 to 91
      days). Four studies measured disability using the Roland Morris Disability
      Questionnaire. There is low quality evidence that NSAIDs are more effective than
      placebo on disability, with a mean difference from baseline of -0.85 (95% CI 
      1.30 to -0.40) on a scale from 0 to 24 with a median follow-up of 84 days (IQR 42
      to 105 days). All six placebo controlled studies also reported adverse events,
      and suggested that adverse events are not statistically significant more frequent
      in participants using NSAIDs compared to placebo (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.17).
      Due to the relatively small sample size and relatively short follow-up in most
      included trials, it is likely that the proportion of patients experiencing an
      adverse event is underestimated.Two studies compared different types of non
      selective NSAIDs, namely ibuprofen versus diclofenac and piroxicam versus
      indomethacin. The trials did not find any differences between these NSAID types,
      but both trials had small sample sizes. One trial reported no differences in pain
      intensity between treatment groups that used selective or non-selective NSAIDs.
      One other trial compared diflunisal with paracetamol and showed no difference in
      improvement from baseline on pain intensity score. One trial showed a better
      global improvement in favour of celecoxib versus tramadol.One included trial
      compared NSAIDs with 'home-based exercise'. Disability improved more in
      participants who did exercises versus participants receiving NSAIDs, but pain
      scores were similar. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Six of the 13 included RCTs showed
      that NSAIDs are more effective than placebo regarding pain intensity. NSAIDs are
      slightly more effective than placebo regarding disability. However, the magnitude
      of the effects is small, and the level of evidence was low. When we only included
      RCTs at low risk of bias, differences in effect between NSAIDs and placebo were
      reduced. We identified no difference in efficacy between different NSAID types,
      including selective versus non-selective NSAIDs. Due to inclusion of RCTs only,
      the relatively small sample sizes and relatively short follow-up in most included
      trials, we cannot make firm statements about the occurrence of adverse events or
      whether NSAIDs are safe for long-term use.

PMID- 26863525
TI  - Oxygen-Sensitive K+ Channels Modulate Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Secretion from
      Human Placental Trophoblast.
AB  - Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a key autocrine/paracrine regulator of
      placental syncytiotrophoblast, the transport epithelium of the human placenta.
      Syncytiotrophoblast hCG secretion is modulated by the partial pressure of oxygen
      (pO2), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and potassium (K+) channels. Here we test
      the hypothesis that K+ channels mediate the effects of pO2 and ROS on hCG
      secretion. Placental villous explants from normal term pregnancies were cultured
      for 6 days at 6% (normoxia), 21% (hyperoxia) or 1% (hypoxia) pO2. On days 3-5,
      explants were treated with 5mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or tetraethylammonium
      (TEA), blockers of pO2-sensitive voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels, or ROS (10
      1000MUM H2O2). hCG secretion and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, a marker of
      necrosis, were determined daily. At day 6, hCG and LDH were measured in tissue
      lysate and 86Rb (K+) efflux assessed to estimate syncytiotrophoblast K+
      permeability. hCG secretion and 86Rb efflux were significantly greater in
      explants maintained in 21% pO2 than normoxia. 4-AP/TEA inhibited hCG secretion to
      a greater extent at 21% than 6% and 1% pO2, and reduced 86Rb efflux at 21% but
      not 6% pO2. LDH release and tissue LDH/hCG were similar in 6%, 21% and 1% pO2 and
      unaffected by 4-AP/TEA. H2O2 stimulated 86Rb efflux and hCG secretion at normoxia
      but decreased 86Rb efflux, without affecting hCG secretion, at 21% pO2. 4-AP/TEA
      sensitive K+ channels participate in pO2-sensitive hCG secretion from
      syncytiotrophoblast. ROS effects on both hCG secretion and 86Rb efflux are pO2
      dependent but causal links between the two remain to be established. 

PMID- 26863527
TI  - Biochemical Comparison of Tpm1.1 (alpha) and Tpm2.2 (beta) Tropomyosins from
      Rabbit Skeletal Muscle.
AB  - Tpm1.1 (alpha) and Tpm2.2 (beta) tropomyosins (39 amino acid substitutions) were
      isolated from adult rabbit skeletal muscle without chemical modification of
      cysteine, with negligible phosphorylation as assessed by two-dimensional
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and characterized biochemically.
      Reconstituted skeletal thin filaments composed of Tpm2.2 produce ~30% less Ca(II)
      induced activation of the steady-state actomyosin-S1MgATPase rate than Tpm1.1
      does. This is observed at a high S1/actin ratio (6 MUM myosin-S1A1, 3 MUM thin
      filaments, pCa 4) and as a function of pCa (0.3 MUM myosin-S1A1, 25 MUM thin
      filaments). The two pCa versus MgATPase relationships are similar in terms of
      their steepness and midpoint. Isotype has a bearing on self-polymerization and
      interaction with troponin. Solutions (pH 7, ionic strength of ~30 mM) of Tpm2.2
      are more viscous than solutions of Tpm1.1, an observation explained by
      substitutions at the carboxy-terminal end of the molecule, including His276Asn
      and Met281Ile. Conversely, the enhancement of viscosity of Tpm1.1 by skeletal
      troponin is greater than that for Tpm2.2. Further, Tpm1.1 binds more strongly
      than Tpm2.2 to skeletal troponin-Sepharose, as evidenced by a later elution
      position in the salt gradient. Mixtures of tropomyosin and the amino-terminal
      CNBr fragment of troponin-T, CB1 (residues 1-151), were chromatographed on a size
      exclusion column in the presence of different concentrations of KCl. In 0.1 M
      salt, CB1 co-elutes with either isoform but is largely dissociated at 0.22 M. At
      intermediate salt concentrations, different degrees of complexation are observed,
      more extensive for Tpm1.1 than for Tpm2.2. Thus, the first reported variants of
      tropomyosin are distinct in their interactive and functional properties. The
      biochemical properties of Tpm2.2 are of particular relevance to the immature
      skeletal muscle thin filament. 

PMID- 26863526
TI  - Human Liver Infection in a Dish: Easy-To-Build 3D Liver Models for Studying
      Microbial Infection.
AB  - Human liver infection is a major cause of death worldwide, but fundamental
      studies on infectious diseases affecting humans have been hampered by the lack of
      robust experimental models that accurately reproduce pathogen-host interactions
      in an environment relevant for the human disease. In the case of liver infection,
      one consequence of this absence of relevant models is a lack of understanding of
      how pathogens cross the sinusoidal endothelial barrier and parenchyma. To fill
      that gap we elaborated human 3D liver in vitro models, composed of human liver
      sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and Huh-7 hepatoma cells as hepatocyte model,
      layered in a structure mimicking the hepatic sinusoid, which enable studies of
      key features of early steps of hepatic infection. Built with established cell
      lines and scaffold, these models provide a reproducible and easy-to-build cell
      culture approach of reduced complexity compared to animal models, while
      preserving higher physiological relevance compared to standard 2D systems. For
      proof-of-principle we challenged the models with two hepatotropic pathogens: the
      parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica and hepatitis B virus (HBV). We
      constructed four distinct setups dedicated to investigating specific aspects of
      hepatic invasion: 1) pathogen 3D migration towards hepatocytes, 2) hepatocyte
      barrier crossing, 3) LSEC and subsequent hepatocyte crossing, and 4)
      quantification of human hepatic virus replication (HBV). Our methods comprise
      automated quantification of E. histolytica migration and hepatic cells layer
      crossing in the 3D liver models. Moreover, replication of HBV virus occurs in our
      virus infection 3D liver model, indicating that routine in vitro assays using HBV
      or others viruses can be performed in this easy-to-build but more physiological
      hepatic environment. These results illustrate that our new 3D liver infection
      models are simple but effective, enabling new investigations on infectious
      disease mechanisms. The better understanding of these mechanisms in a human
      relevant environment could aid the discovery of drugs against pathogenic liver
      infection. 

PMID- 26863528
TI  - Three-dimensional modeling of flow and deformation in idealized mild and moderate
      arterial vessels.
AB  - Three-dimensional numerical calculations of mild and moderate stenosed blood
      vessels have been performed. Large eddy simulation through a dynamic subgrid
      scale Smagorinsky model is applied to model the transitional and turbulent
      pulsatile flow. For the compliant stenosed model, fluid-structure interaction is
      realized through a two-way coupling between the fluid flow and the deforming
      vessel through the change in the external diameter due to the increment of
      circumferential pressure via a novel moving boundary approach. Model predictions
      compare very well against measured and numerical data for the centerline
      velocities, thickness of the flow separation zones and radial wall displacements.

PMID- 26863529
TI  - Single-Molecule Stochastic Analysis of Channeling Enzyme Tryptophan Synthase.
AB  - The channeling enzyme tryptophan synthase provides a paradigmatic example of a
      chemical nanomachine. It possesses two active centers and, as a single molecule,
      catalyzes 13 different reaction steps with a complex pattern of allosteric
      regulation and with an intermediate product channeled from one active center to
      another. Here, the first single-molecule stochastic model of the enzyme is
      proposed and analyzed. All its transition rate constants were deduced from the
      experimental data available, and no fitting parameters were thus employed.
      Numerical simulations reveal strong correlations in the states of the active
      centers and the emergent synchronization of intramolecular processes in
      tryptophan synthase. 

PMID- 26863530
TI  - The stunted child with an overweight mother as a growing public health concern in
      resource-poor environments: a case study from Guatemala.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are emerging at alarming rates in low income
      women in many countries. Guatemala has the additional burden of a high prevalence
      of chronic under-nutrition (stunting) in children. AIM: The purpose of this paper
      is to explore the dual burden of infant and child (5-23 months) under-nutrition
      and maternal over-weight and obesity in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
      SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric measures were collected in 446 mother-infant
      dyads in a metropolitan population of mixed indigenous (Maya) and non-indigenous
      descent in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Children were identified as
      stunted based on a height for age <-2 below the WHO reference median and maternal
      overweight/obesity defined as a BMI >=25. Stunted children with an
      overweight/obese mother were compared to other children who were not stunted
      and/or who did not have an overweight/obese mother. RESULTS: The prevalences of
      stunting (38%) and maternal overweight/obesity (45%) were high, but just 17% of
      the mother and child pairs were dual burden. The socio-demographic
      characteristics of stunted children were not influenced by maternal overweight or
      obesity. CONCLUSION: Policies are needed to address under-nutrition as well as
      preventing obesity and obesity-related chronic disease risks of stunted children
      and their mothers.

PMID- 26863531
TI  - Perceiving Object Shape from Specular Highlight Deformation, Boundary Contour
      Deformation, and Active Haptic Manipulation.
AB  - It is well known that motion facilitates the visual perception of solid object
      shape, particularly when surface texture or other identifiable features (e.g.,
      corners) are present. Conventional models of structure-from-motion require the
      presence of texture or identifiable object features in order to recover 3-D
      structure. Is the facilitation in 3-D shape perception similar in magnitude when
      surface texture is absent? On any given trial in the current experiments,
      participants were presented with a single randomly-selected solid object (bell
      pepper or randomly-shaped "glaven") for 12 seconds and were required to indicate
      which of 12 (for bell peppers) or 8 (for glavens) simultaneously visible objects
      possessed the same shape. The initial single object's shape was defined either by
      boundary contours alone (i.e., presented as a silhouette), specular highlights
      alone, specular highlights combined with boundary contours, or texture. In
      addition, there was a haptic condition: in this condition, the participants
      haptically explored with both hands (but could not see) the initial single object
      for 12 seconds; they then performed the same shape-matching task used in the
      visual conditions. For both the visual and haptic conditions, motion (rotation in
      depth or active object manipulation) was present in half of the trials and was
      not present for the remaining trials. The effect of motion was quantitatively
      similar for all of the visual and haptic conditions-e.g., the participants'
      performance in Experiment 1 was 93.5 percent higher in the motion or active
      haptic manipulation conditions (when compared to the static conditions). The
      current results demonstrate that deforming specular highlights or boundary
      contours facilitate 3-D shape perception as much as the motion of objects that
      possess texture. The current results also indicate that the improvement with
      motion that occurs for haptics is similar in magnitude to that which occurs for
      vision. 

PMID- 26863532
TI  - Factors Affecting Diet Variation in the Pyrenean Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta
      pyrenaica): Conservation Implications.
AB  - The Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica) lives at one of the
      southernmost limits of the ptarmigan range. Their small population sizes and the
      impacts of global changes are limiting factors in the conservation of this
      threatened subspecies. An effective conservation policy requires precise basic
      knowledge of a species' food and habitat requirements, information that is
      practically non-existent for this Pyrenean population. Here, we describe the diet
      of a ptarmigan population in the Eastern Pyrenees, the environmental factors
      influencing its variability and the relationship between diet floristic
      composition and quality. Diet composition was determined by microhistological
      analysis of faeces and diet quality was estimated from free-urate faecal N
      content. Our results show that grouse diet is based mainly on arctic-alpine
      shrubs of the Ericaceae family, as well as dwarf willows (Salix spp.) and Dryas
      octopetala. The most frequently consumed plant species was Rhododendron
      ferrugineum, but its abundance in the diet was negatively related to the diet
      nitrogen content. Conversely, the abundance of Salix spp., grass leaves and
      arthropods increased the nitrogen content of the diet. Seasonality associated
      with snow-melting contributed the most to variability in the Pyrenean ptarmigan
      diet, differentiating winter from spring/summer diets. The latter was
      characterised by a high consumption of dwarf willows, flowers, arthropods and
      tender forb leaves. Geographic area and sex-age class influenced diet variability
      to a lesser extent. Current temperature increases in the Pyrenees due to global
      warming may reduce the persistence and surface area of snow-packs where preferred
      plants for rock ptarmigan usually grow, thus reducing food availability. The high
      consumption of Rh. ferrugineum characterised the diet of the Pyrenean population.
      Given the toxicity of this plant for most herbivores, its potential negative
      effect on Pyrenean ptarmigan populations should be evaluated. 

PMID- 26863533
TI  - Potentiation of DeltaF508- and G551D-CFTR-Mediated Cl- Current by Novel
      Hydroxypyrazolines.
AB  - The most common mutation of CFTR, affecting approximately 90% of CF patients, is
      a deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (F508del, DeltaF508). Misfolding of
      DeltaF508-CFTR impairs both its trafficking to the plasma membrane and its
      chloride channel activity. To identify small molecules that can restore channel
      activity of DeltaF508-CFTR, we synthesized and evaluated eighteen novel
      hydroxypyrazoline analogues as CFTR potentiators. To elucidate potentiation
      activities of hydroxypyrazolines for DeltaF508-CFTR, CFTR activity was measured
      using a halide-sensitive YFP assay, Ussing chamber assay and patch-clamp
      technique. Compounds 7p, 7q and 7r exhibited excellent potentiation with EC50
      value <10 MUM. Among the compounds, 7q (a novel CFTR potentiator, CP7q) showed
      the highest potentiation activity with EC50 values of 0.88 +/- 0.11 and 4.45 +/-
      0.31 MUM for wild-type and DeltaF508-CFTR, respectively. In addition, CP7q
      significantly potentiated chloride conductance of G551D-CFTR, a CFTR gating
      mutant; its maximal potentiation activity was 1.9 fold higher than the well-known
      CFTR potentiator genistein. Combination treatment with CP7q and VX-809, a
      corrector of DeltaF508-CFTR, significantly enhanced functional rescue of
      DeltaF508-CFTR compared with VX-809 alone. CP7q did not alter the cytosolic cAMP
      level and showed no cytotoxicity at the concentration showing maximum efficacy.
      The hydroxypyrazolines may be potential development candidates for drug therapy
      of cystic fibrosis. 

PMID- 26863534
TI  - Efficacy and Toxicity of High-Dose Colistin in Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative
      Bacilli Infections: A Comparative Study of a Matched Series.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Colistimethate sodium (CMS) is the commercialized form of colistin
      that is effective against multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli. Its main side
      effects are nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Pharmacodynamic dosages showed that
      they were infratherapeutic. Therefore, strategies with higher doses were
      proposed. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency and toxicity of
      higher-dose CMS by comparing two treatment strategies: high-dose CMS versus
      standard-dose CMS. METHODS: A prospective and comparative study of two matched
      groups was conducted. Fourty-six patients in each group were matched for age,
      severity and nature of infection. In the high-dose colistin group, CMS was
      administered at a loading dose of 9 MIU followed by a maintenance dose of 4.5
      MIU/12 h. In the second group, retrospectively analyzed, colistin was
      administered at 6 MIU/day. For each group, clinical results, bacteriological
      eradication and daily creatinine clearance were recorded. Primary outcome
      measures were clinical cure defined as disappearance of infectious signs and
      eradication of microorganisms in all the follow-up cultures. Secondary outcome
      measures were incidence of acute renal failure and mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-two
      patients were analyzed by matching. There was a higher cure rate in the high-dose
      group (63 vs. 41.3%, p = 0.04). No higher risk of nephrotoxicity was found by
      increasing daily doses of colistin (32.2 versus 26%, p = 0.64). Similarly, there
      was no significant difference in the time to onset of renal failure (8.32 vs. 11
      days, p = 1) or in the requirement of hemodialysis (26.6 vs. 41%, p = 1).
      CONCLUSION: The high-dose colistin regimen is more efficient, without significant
      renal or neurological toxicity.

PMID- 26863536
TI  - Breakdown of Inter-Hemispheric Connectivity Is Associated with Posttraumatic
      Symptomatology and Memory Impairment.
AB  - Altered brain anatomy in specific gray-matter regions has been shown in patients
      with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recently, white-matter tracts have
      become a focus of research in PTSD. The corpus callosum (CC) is the principal
      white-matter fiber bundle, crucial in relaying sensory, motor and cognitive
      information between hemispheres. Alterations in CC fibers have been reported in
      PTSD and might be assumed to underlie substantial behavioral and cognitive
      sequelae; however most diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in adult-onset PTSD
      failed to address the clinical correlates between imaging and PTSD symptoms
      severity, behavioral manifestation and cognitive functions. In the current study
      we examined (a) to what extent microstructural integrity of the CC is associated
      with memory performance and (b) whether imaging and cognitive parameters are
      associated with PTSD symptom severity. DTI data were obtained and fractional
      anisotropy (FA) values were computed for 16 patients and 14 controls. PTSD
      symptom severity was assessed by employing the clinician administered PTSD scale
      (CAPS) and memory was tested using a task probing item and associative memory for
      words and pictures. Significant correlations were found between PTSD symptoms
      severity, memory accuracy and reaction-time to CC FA values in the PTSD group.
      This study demonstrates meaningful clinical and cognitive correlates of
      microstructural connectivity. These results have implications for diagnostic
      tools and future studies aimed at identifying individuals at risk for PTSD. 

PMID- 26863535
TI  - Simvastatin Sodium Salt and Fluvastatin Interact with Human Gap Junction Gamma-3
      Protein.
AB  - Finding pleiomorphic targets for drugs allows new indications or warnings for
      treatment to be identified. As test of concept, we applied a new chemical
      genomics approach to uncover additional targets for the widely prescribed lipid
      lowering pro-drug simvastatin. We used mRNA extracted from internal mammary
      artery from patients undergoing coronary artery surgery to prepare a viral
      cardiovascular protein library, using T7 bacteriophage. We then studied
      interactions of clones of the bacteriophage, each expressing a different
      cardiovascular polypeptide, with surface-bound simvastatin in 96-well plates. To
      maximise likelihood of identifying meaningful interactions between simvastatin
      and vascular peptides, we used a validated photo-immobilisation method to apply a
      series of different chemical linkers to bind simvastatin so as to present
      multiple orientations of its constituent components to potential targets. Three
      rounds of biopanning identified consistent interaction with the clone expressing
      part of the gene GJC3, which maps to Homo sapiens chromosome 7, and codes for gap
      junction gamma-3 protein, also known as connexin 30.2/31.3 (mouse connexin Cx29).
      Further analysis indicated the binding site to be for the N-terminal domain
      putatively 'regulating' connexin hemichannel and gap junction pores. Using
      immunohistochemistry we found connexin 30.2/31.3 to be present in samples of
      artery similar to those used to prepare the bacteriophage library. Surface
      plasmon resonance revealed that a 25 amino acid synthetic peptide representing
      the discovered N-terminus did not interact with simvastatin lactone, but did bind
      to the hydrolysed HMG CoA inhibitor, simvastatin acid. This interaction was also
      seen for fluvastatin. The gap junction blockers carbenoxolone and flufenamic acid
      also interacted with the same peptide providing insight into potential site of
      binding. These findings raise key questions about the functional significance of
      GJC3 transcripts in the vasculature and other tissues, and this connexin's role
      in therapeutic and adverse effects of statins in a range of disease states. 

PMID- 26863538
TI  - Low Predictability of Colour Polymorphism in Introduced Guppy (Poecilia
      reticulata) Populations in Panama.
AB  - Colour polymorphism is a recurrent feature of natural populations, and its
      maintenance has been studied in a range of taxa in their native ranges. However,
      less is known about whether (and how) colour polymorphism is maintained when
      populations are removed from their native environments, as in the case of
      introduced species. We here address this issue by analyzing variation in colour
      patterns in recently-discovered introduced populations of the guppy (Poecilia
      reticulata) in Panama. Specifically, we use classic colour analysis to estimate
      variation in the number and the relative area of different colour spots across
      low predation sites in the introduced Panamanian range of the species. We then
      compare this variation to that found in the native range of the species under low
      and high predation regimes. We found aspects of the colour pattern that were
      both consistent and inconsistent with the classical paradigm of colour evolution
      in guppies. On one hand, the same colours that dominated in native populations
      (orange, iridescent and black) were also the most dominant in the introduced
      populations in Panama. On the other, there were no clear differences between
      either introduced-low and native low- and high predation populations. Our results
      are therefore only partially consistent with the traditional role of female
      preference in the absence of predators, and suggest that additional factors could
      influence colour patterns when populations are removed from their native
      environments. Future research on the interaction between female preference and
      environmental variability (e.g. multifarious selection), could help understand
      adaptive variation in this widely-introduced species, and the contexts under
      which variation in adaptive traits parallels (or not) variation in the native
      range. 

PMID- 26863539
TI  - Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Alters the Frequency, as well as the FcR and CLR
      Expression Profiles of Human Dendritic Cell Subsets.
AB  - Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces tolerance and shifts the Th2
      response towards a regulatory T-cell profile. The underlying mechanisms are not
      fully understood, but dendritic cells (DC) play a vital role as key regulators of
      T-cell responses. DCs interact with allergens via Fc receptors (FcRs) and via
      certain C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), including CD209/DC-SIGN, CD206/MR and
      Dectin-2/CLEC6A. In this study, the effect of AIT on the frequencies as well as
      the FcR and CLR expression profiles of human DC subsets was assessed. PBMC was
      isolated from peripheral blood from seven allergic donors before and after 8
      weeks and 1 year of subcutaneous AIT, as well as from six non-allergic
      individuals. Cells were stained with antibodies against DC subset-specific
      markers and a panel of FcRs and CLRs and analyzed by flow cytometry. After 1 year
      of AIT, the frequency of CD123+ DCs was increased and a larger proportion
      expressed FcepsilonRI. Furthermore, the expression of CD206 and Dectin-2 was
      reduced on CD141+ DCs after 1 year of treatment and CD206 as well as Dectin-1 was
      additionally down regulated in CD1c+ DCs. Interestingly, levels of DNGR1/CLEC9A
      on CD141+ DCs were increased by AIT, reaching levels similar to cells isolated
      from non-allergic controls. The modifications in phenotype and occurrence of
      specific DC subsets observed during AIT suggest an altered capacity of DC subsets
      to interact with allergens, which can be part of the mechanisms by which AIT
      induces allergen tolerance. 

PMID- 26863540
TI  - Greed and Fear in Network Reciprocity: Implications for Cooperation among
      Organizations.
AB  - Extensive interdisciplinary literatures have built on the seminal spatial
      dilemmas model, which depicts the evolution of cooperation on regular lattices,
      with strategies propagating locally by relative fitness. In this model agents may
      cooperate with neighbors, paying an individual cost to enhance their collective
      welfare, or they may exploit cooperative neighbors and diminish collective
      welfare. Recent research has extended the model in numerous ways, incorporating
      behavioral noise, implementing other network topologies or adaptive networks, and
      employing alternative dynamics of replication. Although the underlying dilemma
      arises from two distinct dimensions-the gains for exploiting cooperative partners
      (Greed) and the cost of cooperating with exploitative partners (Fear)-most work
      following from the spatial dilemmas model has argued or assumed that the dilemma
      can be represented with a single parameter: This research has typically examined
      Greed or Fear in isolation, or a composite such as the K-index of Cooperation or
      the ratio of the benefit to cost of cooperation. We challenge this claim on
      theoretical grounds-showing that embedding interaction in networks generally
      leads Greed and Fear to have divergent, interactive, and highly nonlinear effects
      on cooperation at the macro level, even when individuals respond identically to
      Greed and Fear. Using computational experiments, we characterize both dynamic
      local behavior and long run outcomes across regions of this space. We also
      simulate interventions to investigate changes of Greed and Fear over time,
      showing how model behavior changes asymmetrically as boundaries in payoff space
      are crossed, leading some interventions to have irreversible effects on
      cooperation. We then replicate our experiments on inter-organizational network
      data derived from links through shared directors among 2,400 large US
      corporations, thus demonstrating our findings for Greed and Fear on a naturally
      occurring network. In closing, we discuss implications of our main findings
      regarding Greed and Fear for the problem of cooperation on inter-organizational
      networks. 

PMID- 26863541
TI  - Viral Replication Protein Inhibits Cellular Cofilin Actin Depolymerization Factor
      to Regulate the Actin Network and Promote Viral Replicase Assembly.
AB  - RNA viruses exploit host cells by co-opting host factors and lipids and escaping
      host antiviral responses. Previous genome-wide screens with Tomato bushy stunt
      virus (TBSV) in the model host yeast have identified 18 cellular genes that are
      part of the actin network. In this paper, we show that the p33 viral replication
      factor interacts with the cellular cofilin (Cof1p), which is an actin
      depolymerization factor. Using temperature-sensitive (ts) Cof1p or actin (Act1p)
      mutants at a semi-permissive temperature, we find an increased level of TBSV RNA
      accumulation in yeast cells and elevated in vitro activity of the tombusvirus
      replicase. We show that the large p33 containing replication organelle-like
      structures are located in the close vicinity of actin patches in yeast cells or
      around actin cable hubs in infected plant cells. Therefore, the actin filaments
      could be involved in VRC assembly and the formation of large viral replication
      compartments containing many individual VRCs. Moreover, we show that the actin
      network affects the recruitment of viral and cellular components, including
      oxysterol binding proteins and VAP proteins to form membrane contact sites for
      efficient transfer of sterols to the sites of replication. Altogether, the
      emerging picture is that TBSV, via direct interaction between the p33 replication
      protein and Cof1p, controls cofilin activities to obstruct the dynamic actin
      network that leads to efficient subversion of cellular factors for pro-viral
      functions. In summary, the discovery that TBSV interacts with cellular cofilin
      and blocks the severing of existing filaments and the formation of new actin
      filaments in infected cells opens a new window to unravel the way by which
      viruses could subvert/co-opt cellular proteins and lipids. By regulating the
      functions of cofilin and the actin network, which are central nodes in cellular
      pathways, viruses could gain supremacy in subversion of cellular factors for pro
      viral functions. 

PMID- 26863543
TI  - Edesign: Primer and Enhanced Internal Probe Design Tool for Quantitative PCR
      Experiments and Genotyping Assays.
AB  - Analytical PCR experiments preferably use internal probes for monitoring the
      amplification reaction and specific detection of the amplicon. Such internal
      probes have to be designed in close context with the amplification primers, and
      may require additional considerations for the detection of genetic variations.
      Here we describe Edesign, a new online and stand-alone tool for designing sets of
      PCR primers together with an internal probe for conducting quantitative real-time
      PCR (qPCR) and genotypic experiments. Edesign can be used for selecting standard
      DNA oligonucleotides like for instance TaqMan probes, but has been further
      extended with new functions and enhanced design features for Eprobes. Eprobes,
      with their single thiazole orange-labelled nucleotide, allow for highly sensitive
      genotypic assays because of their higher DNA binding affinity as compared to
      standard DNA oligonucleotides. Using new thermodynamic parameters, Edesign
      considers unique features of Eprobes during primer and probe design for
      establishing qPCR experiments and genotyping by melting curve analysis.
      Additional functions in Edesign allow probe design for effective discrimination
      between wild-type sequences and genetic variations either using standard DNA
      oligonucleotides or Eprobes. Edesign can be freely accessed online at
      http://www.dnaform.com/edesign2/, and the source code is available for download.

PMID- 26863542
TI  - Comparative Transcriptomic Exploration Reveals Unique Molecular Adaptations of
      Neuropathogenic Trichobilharzia to Invade and Parasitize Its Avian Definitive
      Host.
AB  - To date, most molecular investigations of schistosomatids have focused
      principally on blood flukes (schistosomes) of humans. Despite the clinical
      importance of cercarial dermatitis in humans caused by Trichobilharzia regenti
      and the serious neuropathologic disease that this parasite causes in its
      permissive avian hosts and accidental mammalian hosts, almost nothing is known
      about the molecular aspects of how this fluke invades its hosts, migrates in host
      tissues and how it interacts with its hosts' immune system. Here, we explored
      selected aspects using a transcriptomic-bioinformatic approach. To do this, we
      sequenced, assembled and annotated the transcriptome representing two consecutive
      life stages (cercariae and schistosomula) of T. regenti involved in the first
      phases of infection of the avian host. We identified key biological and metabolic
      pathways specific to each of these two developmental stages and also undertook
      comparative analyses using data available for taxonomically related blood flukes
      of the genus Schistosoma. Detailed comparative analyses revealed the unique
      involvement of carbohydrate metabolism, translation and amino acid metabolism,
      and calcium in T. regenti cercariae during their invasion and in growth and
      development, as well as the roles of cell adhesion molecules, microaerobic
      metabolism (citrate cycle and oxidative phosphorylation), peptidases (cathepsins)
      and other histolytic and lysozomal proteins in schistosomula during their
      particular migration in neural tissues of the avian host. In conclusion, the
      present transcriptomic exploration provides new and significant insights into the
      molecular biology of T. regenti, which should underpin future genomic and
      proteomic investigations of T. regenti and, importantly, provides a useful
      starting point for a range of comparative studies of schistosomatids and other
      trematodes. 

PMID- 26863544
TI  - Developing a Referral Protocol for Community-Based Occupational Therapy Services
      in Taiwan: A Logistic Regression Analysis.
AB  - Because resources for long-term care services are limited, timely and appropriate
      referral for rehabilitation services is critical for optimizing clients'
      functions and successfully integrating them into the community. We investigated
      which client characteristics are most relevant in predicting Taiwan's community
      based occupational therapy (OT) service referral based on experts' beliefs. Data
      were collected in face-to-face interviews using the Multidimensional Assessment
      Instrument (MDAI). Community-dwelling participants (n = 221) >= 18 years old who
      reported disabilities in the previous National Survey of Long-term Care Needs in
      Taiwan were enrolled. The standard for referral was the judgment and agreement of
      two experienced occupational therapists who reviewed the results of the MDAI.
      Logistic regressions and Generalized Additive Models were used for analysis. Two
      predictive models were proposed, one using basic activities of daily living
      (BADLs) and one using instrumental ADLs (IADLs). Dementia, psychiatric disorders,
      cognitive impairment, joint range-of-motion limitations, fear of falling,
      behavioral or emotional problems, expressive deficits (in the BADL-based model),
      and limitations in IADLs or BADLs were significantly correlated with the need for
      referral. Both models showed high area under the curve (AUC) values on receiver
      operating curve testing (AUC = 0.977 and 0.972, respectively). The probability of
      being referred for community OT services was calculated using the referral
      algorithm. The referral protocol facilitated communication between healthcare
      professionals to make appropriate decisions for OT referrals. The methods and
      findings should be useful for developing referral protocols for other long-term
      care services. 

PMID- 26863545
TI  - ISART: A Generic Framework for Searching Books with Social Information.
AB  - Effective book search has been discussed for decades and is still future-proof in
      areas as diverse as computer science, informatics, e-commerce and even culture
      and arts. A variety of social information contents (e.g, ratings, tags and
      reviews) emerge with the huge number of books on the Web, but how they are
      utilized for searching and finding books is seldom investigated. Here we develop
      an Integrated Search And Recommendation Technology (IsArt), which breaks new
      ground by providing a generic framework for searching books with rich social
      information. IsArt comprises a search engine to rank books with book contents and
      professional metadata, a Generalized Content-based Filtering model to thereafter
      rerank books with user-generated social contents, and a learning-to-rank
      technique to finally combine a wide range of diverse reranking results.
      Experiments show that this technology permits embedding social information to
      promote book search effectiveness, and IsArt, by making use of it, has the best
      performance on CLEF/INEX Social Book Search Evaluation datasets of all 4 years
      (from 2011 to 2014), compared with some other state-of-the-art methods. 

PMID- 26863546
TI  - Asymmetric Catalysis Powered by Chiral Cyclopentadienyl Ligands.
AB  - Application of chiral derivatives of the versatile and ubiquitous
      cyclopentadienyl ligand has long remained an underdeveloped area in asymmetric
      catalysis. In this Perspective we highlight recent exciting results that
      demonstrate their enormous potential. In particular, we provide a comparative
      analysis of the available ligand families, an overview of their complexation
      chemistry, and an examination of their application in catalytic enantioselective
      reactions. We also discuss current limitations and speculate on the developments
      that are necessary to advance the field further. 

PMID- 26863547
TI  - Gene Expression Profiling of Infecting Microbes Using a Digital Bar-coding
      Platform.
AB  - For most mammalian pathogens, gene expression profiling studies have been limited
      by technical difficulties to accurately quantify pathogen gene transcripts from
      infected tissues. Pathogen RNA constitutes a tiny portion of the total RNA
      isolated from infected tissue samples. Both microarray and RNAseq technologies
      have difficulties in generating reliable reads for weakly expressed pathogen
      genes. Mutant pathogen strains with reduced in vivo proliferation pose an even
      bigger challenge. Here we describe an in vivo gene expression profiling protocol
      that is very fast, extremely sensitive and highly reproducible. We developed this
      protocol during our investigation of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans in a
      murine model of hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. Using this protocol, we
      have documented time courses of dynamically regulated C. albicans gene expression
      during kidney infection, and discovered unexpected features of gene expression
      responses to antifungal drug treatment in vivo. 

PMID- 26863548
TI  - Sample preparation protocol for bottom-up proteomic analysis of the secretome of
      the islets of Langerhans.
AB  - We evaluate a set of protocols for preparation of the secretome from murine
      islets of Langerhans for bottom-up proteomic analysis. Of the protocols
      evaluated, a filter-aided sample preparation based approach using sodium dodecyl
      sulfate as a detergent to solubilize proteins generated the most protein
      identifications. A total of 362 protein groups (average of 3.7 peptides/protein)
      were identified from the secretome using the SDS-FASP protocol; a combination of
      data from three protocols generated 413 protein group identifications. As
      expected, the identified proteins included insulin 1 and 2, somatostatin, and
      glucagon, the four main secreted components from islets. STRING network analysis
      classified the other proteins as being associated with extracellular exosomes,
      membrane-bounded vesicles, vesicles, and the extracellular region. 

PMID- 26863549
TI  - The Fight for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities:
      Acknowledging the Work and Celebrating the Life of Mr. Louis Stokes.
AB  - The elimination of health disparities based upon race and ethnicity is a long
      road. The Honorable Louis Stokes was an indefatigable champion of the underserved
      who worked to create a world where the vision of health equity would not be a
      catchphrase but a reality. 

PMID- 26863550
TI  - Life Expectancy Varies in Local Communities in Chicago: Racial and Spatial
      Disparities and Correlates.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Life expectancy in the USA reached a record high of 78.7 years in
      2010. However, the racial gap in life expectancy persists. National data, which
      are readily available, provide averages which mask important local-level
      differences. Local data are needed to identify the worst off groups, key to
      reducing disparities and pursuing health equity. METHODS: Using vital records
      data, we calculated life expectancy for the USA and Chicago by race/ethnicity and
      gender and for Chicago's 77 community areas. We also examined the correlation
      between life expectancy and (1) racial/ethnic composition of a community area and
      (2) median household income. RESULTS: In Chicago, the highest life expectancy was
      observed among Hispanics at 84.6 and the lowest life expectancy was observed
      among Blacks at 71.7-a difference of about 13 years. Life expectancy varied
      substantially across the 77 community areas of Chicago, from a low of 68.2 to a
      high of 83.3-a difference of 15 years. There were strong correlations between
      life expectancy and the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic distributions among the
      community areas. CONCLUSIONS: The examination of data at the local level provides
      invaluable insight into which communities are facing the greatest burden in terms
      of health and well-being. It is only through the examination of local-level data
      that we can understand the unique needs of these communities and begin to address
      them.

PMID- 26863551
TI  - Effects of Perceived Discrimination and Length of Residency on the Health of
      Foreign-Born Populations.
AB  - This study explores the relationship between chronic conditions, perceived
      discrimination, and length of residency among three racial groups of foreign-born
      respondents: Afro-Caribbean, Asian, and Latino Americans. Analysis utilized
      Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) merged data from the
      National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) and the National Survey of
      American Life (NSAL). Afro-Caribbean subgroups were more likely than Asian and
      Latino American subgroups to report perceived discrimination. Logistic regression
      analysis was conducted to determine which groups within the model were more
      likely to report chronic health conditions. Perceived discrimination was found to
      vary by race and was inversely associated with chronic respiratory conditions for
      Afro-Caribbeans. In general, years of US residency were associated with health
      across all chronic conditions where those in the USA longer were more likely to
      experience health-related problems. Perceived discrimination revealed mixed
      results.

PMID- 26863552
TI  - Mental Health Disparities Among Low-Income US Hispanic Residents of a US-Mexico
      Border Colonia.
AB  - Unregulated residential settlements along the US side of the US-Mexico border,
      often called "colonias", are mainly populated by low-income Mexican-origin
      Hispanics. Colonia residents face numerous social, environmental, economic and
      public health challenges. Despite this, the mental health of individuals living
      in colonias has remained largely understudied. Drawing from a survey (N = 98)
      conducted through a community-based participatory research project in one colonia
      suffering from numerous environmental and social challenges, this study analyzes
      residents' mental health outcomes and access to mental health care with a focus
      on intra-ethnic disparities based on environmental concerns, nativity, language
      acculturation, comorbidity, gender, health insurance, and stressful life events.
      Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression.
      More than one third of the residents have been diagnosed with a mental health
      condition and over half reported stress and excess worry. In terms of mental
      health care, 77 % of individuals diagnosed with a mental health problem have
      sought additional help mainly through a primary care provider despite the high
      levels of uninsured individuals. Comorbidity, being female, recent negative life
      events, and high levels of environmental concerns were significant predictors of
      negative mental health outcomes. This study contributes to the understanding of
      the complex health dynamics of the US Hispanic population. It also highlights the
      need for additional research and resources devoted to the mental health of low
      income minorities in isolated communities.

PMID- 26863553
TI  - Colorectal Cancer Screening among Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese Immigrants
      in Chicago.
AB  - Asian Americans are now the most rapidly growing minority group in the USA. Over
      60 % of Asian Americans in the USA are immigrants. Cancer has been the leading
      cause of death among Asian Americans since 1980. Understanding the barriers to
      screening is essential to reduce the unnecessary burden of cancer. Little is
      known about colorectal cancer screening behavior among foreign-born Asian
      Americans and how socio-demographic factors may influence the behavior. Even less
      is known about disaggregated Asian subgroups. Using data from the Chicago Asian
      Community Survey, a local health assessment survey of three Asian subgroups in
      Chicago, Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese, this study found that the colorectal
      cancer screening rate were much lower among foreign-born Asian Americans in
      Chicago (30 %) than the national rate for the general population (59 %).
      Furthermore, we studied disaggregated data to determine colorectal cancer
      screening differences between communities. Findings from this study provide a
      critical evidence base to inform future research and intervention designs.

PMID- 26863554
TI  - Gender and Ethnic Differences in the Association Between Obesity and Depression
      Among Black Adolescents.
AB  - AIM: This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and major
      depression disorder (MDD) in a nationally representative sample of Black
      adolescents in the USA. The study also tested the effects of ethnicity and gender
      as possible moderators. METHOD: Data came from the National Survey of American
      Life (NSAL)-Adolescents, a representative household mental health survey of Black
      adolescents in the USA. Participants consisted of 1170 Black adolescents (810
      African Americans and 360 Caribbean Blacks). Obesity was defined determined by
      the cutoff points based on the body mass index (BMI) appropriate for age and
      gender. Twelve-month MDD was measured using the World Mental Health Composite
      International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). In the first step, the association
      between obesity and MDD in the pooled sample, controlling for the main effects of
      gender and ethnicity. In the next steps, two interactions were tested: (1)
      obesity and ethnicity and (2) obesity and gender. RESULTS: Although any
      associations between obesity and MDD in the pooled sample of Blacks were not
      found, there was a significant interaction between ethnicity and obesity on MDD.
      Upon testing the associations across intersections of ethnicity and gender, a
      positive association was found among Caribbean Black females but not Caribbean
      Black males, African American males, or African American female. CONCLUSION: The
      link between BMI and MDD among Blacks depends on ethnicity and gender, and risk
      of comorbid depression among Black youth with obesity is highest among Caribbean
      Black females.

PMID- 26863555
TI  - Sociodemographic Correlates of Dietary Practices among Asian-Americans: Results
      from the California Health Interview Survey.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Studies show that Asian-American subgroups do not always meet dietary
      recommendations and are at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of
      our research is to illustrate the various sociodemographic correlates of dietary
      habits for six subgroups of Asian-Americans in California. DESIGN: The 2005
      California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was utilized. A total of 3772 Asian
      Americans were included in this study, with the largest subgroup being Chinese (n
      = 1280; N = 913,798). The outcome variable for this study was dietary behavior
      defined as consuming five or more fruits and vegetables per day (5-a-day),
      provided by CHIS. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were conducted
      accounting for complex survey design. RESULTS: Being a female (Chinese, Filipina,
      Korean, and Vietnamese), not being married (Chinese), not being a college
      graduate (Chinese), living in poverty (South Asian), and speaking only English
      language at home (Chinese and Japanese) were associated with higher odds of not
      meeting a 5-a-day requirement. CONCLUSION: Results highlighted several
      sociodemographic correlates to not meeting 5-a-day requirement among six Asian
      American subgroups. Targeted health promotion measures for such at-risk groups
      should be implemented to improve dietary practices.

PMID- 26863556
TI  - Maternal Health Status and Parenting Stress in Low-Income, Ethnic-Minority
      Mothers of Children with Conduct Disorder Problems: the Role of Daily Parenting
      Hassles.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Minimal attention has been given to understanding parenting stress
      among low-income, ethnically diverse mothers of children with conduct problems.
      Maternal health and parenting hassles may serve as important risk factors for
      parenting stress. This study examined whether parenting hassles mediated the
      relations between maternal physical and mental health and parenting stress in a
      sample of low-income, ethnically diverse mothers of children with behavioral
      problems. METHODS: The sample included 177 low-income black, Latina, and white
      mothers of kindergartners with behavior problems. Path analysis was employed to
      assess the associations between maternal mental and physical health and parenting
      stress, as well as the moderating role of parenting hassles in this cross
      sectional study. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, we found that parenting
      hassles mediated the relationship between social support and parenting stress as
      well as maternal health and parenting stress. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that
      promoting coping resources for daily parenting hassles and supporting the
      physical and mental health of minority mothers may have important implications
      for parenting children with high behavior problems.

PMID- 26863557
TI  - Risk of Gestational Diabetes Among South Asian Immigrants Living in New Jersey--a
      Retrospective Data Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify differences in distribution of risk factors,
      prevalence, and complications of gestational diabetes (GD) among South Asian (SA)
      immigrant women, separately for immigrants from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and
      Sri Lanka, relative to US-born non-Hispanic whites (NHW) living in New Jersey.
      METHOD: We used NJ birth certificate data linked to hospitalization data from
      1999 to 2002 (n = 327,069). We compared the distribution of risk factors among
      these groups using chi-squared test and calculated adjusted odds of GD for SA
      groups compared to NHW using logistic regression. Among women with GD, we further
      analyzed the odds of complications for SA groups relative to whites. RESULTS: Sri
      Lankans were more likely to be of advanced maternal age. Pakistanis and
      Bangladeshis were more likely to start prenatal care late. Bangladeshis had the
      highest adjusted odds of GD (aOR = 4.3; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 3.5-5.3),
      followed by Indians (aOR = 3.9; 95 % CI 3.7-4.2), Sri Lankans (aOR = 3.6; 95 % CI
      2.4-5.8), and Pakistanis (aOR = 3.4; 95 % CI 2.9-3.8) relative to NHW. Among
      women with GD, South Asian groups had lower odds of preterm birth and higher odds
      of having a small for gestational age infant than whites. DISCUSSION: This study
      provided evidence of disproportionate risk of GD among four SA groups living in
      NJ.

PMID- 26863559
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Adverse Drug Events: A Systematic Review of the
      Literature.
AB  - The 2014 National Action Plan for Adverse Drug Event Prevention has recognized
      adverse drug events (ADEs) as a national priority in order to facilitate a
      nationwide reduction in patient harms from these events. Throughout this effort,
      it will be integral to identify populations that may be at particular risk in
      order to improve care for these patients. We have undertaken a systematic review
      to evaluate the evidence regarding racial or ethnic disparities in ADEs with
      particular emphasis on anticoagulants, diabetes agents, and opioids due to the
      clinical significance and preventability of ADEs associated with these medication
      classes. From an initial search yielding 3302 studies, we identified 40 eligible
      studies. Twenty-seven of these included studies demonstrated the presence of a
      racial or ethnic disparity. There was no consistent evidence for racial or ethnic
      disparities in the eight studies of ADEs in general. Asians were most frequently
      determined to be at higher risk of anticoagulant-related ADEs, and black patients
      were most frequently determined to be at higher risk for diabetes agents-related
      ADEs. Whites were most frequently identified as at increased risk for opioid
      related ADEs. However, few of these studies were specifically designed to
      evaluate racial or ethnic disparities, lacking a standardized approach to
      racial/ethnic categorization as well as control for potential confounders. We
      suggest the need for targeted interventions to reduce ADEs in populations that
      may be at increased risk, and we suggest strategies for future research.

PMID- 26863558
TI  - Improving Exercise Adherence and Physical Measures in English-Speaking Latina
      Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data have established that lack of physical activity
      increases risk factors for chronic diseases. Data also suggests that physical
      activity participation is lowest in minority women, particularly Latinas, and
      that the nature of the exercise and attitudes toward exercise may influence
      exercise adherence. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of
      hypertrophy training (HT) or power training (PT) used concomitantly with
      evaluative conditioning (EC) or neutral conditioning (NC) on exercise adherence
      as well as in physical and psychosocial variables in Latina women. EC is a
      behavioral method using paired stimuli to develop and strengthen new associations
      in memory. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-one English-speaking Latina women (mean +/
      SD, age 36.8 +/- 15.9 years) were randomly assigned to standard HT or high-speed
      circuit PT and then further stratified to receive EC or NC. RESULTS: One hundred
      forty-two Latina women completed pre- and posttesting. For HT, EC produced
      significantly greater exercise time across the training period than NC. HT and PT
      both significantly improved all physical, functional, and psychosocial variables,
      with exception of leg extension and usual gait speed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EC
      can positively impact exercise adherence during HT in Latina women; while body
      composition, neuromuscular, and functional performances can be increased using HT
      and PT independent of psychological conditioning.

PMID- 26863560
TI  - A Primary Care-Based Early Childhood Nutrition Intervention: Evaluation of a
      Pilot Program Serving Low-Income Hispanic Women.
AB  - Nutrition in early childhood can significantly impact physical and mental health
      outcomes for children. However, research on broadly defined pre/postnatal
      nutrition interventions is sparse. The present study is a process and outcome
      evaluation of a primary care-based nutrition intervention targeting low-income
      Hispanic women. Pregnant women enrolled in the program were in their first
      trimester and received services through their 6-month well child check. The
      program provided vouchers for fruits and vegetables from the local farmers'
      market, nutrition classes, cooking classes, and lactation counseling. We
      conducted a prospective study of program participants (n = 32) and a comparable
      group of women for whom the program was not available (n = 29). Panel survey data
      measured maternal diet, exercise, stress, depression, social support, infant
      feeding practices, and demographics. Outcome measures obtained from medical
      records included pregnancy weight gain, infant weight at 6 and 12 months, and
      infant development at 9 months. Findings reveal that the program was not
      associated with infant weights. However, despite similar profiles at baseline,
      women in the intervention group were more likely than women in the comparison
      group to have significant improvements in diet, exercise, and depression (p <=
      .05). In addition, participants were more likely to breastfeed (p = .07) and
      their infants were more likely to pass the ages and stages developmental screen
      (p = .06) than women in the comparison group. The study was limited by a lack of
      random assignment and small samples. However, the breadth and size of the effects
      suggest pre/postnatal nutrition interventions integrated into primary care
      warrant additional investigation.

PMID- 26863561
TI  - Identity, Physical Space, and Stigma Among African American Men Living with HIV
      in Chicago and Seattle.
AB  - African American men have the highest rates of HIV in the USA, and research has
      shown that stigma, mistrust of health care, and other psychosocial factors
      interfere with optimal engagement in care with this population. In order to
      further understand reducing stigma and other psychosocial issues among African
      American men, we conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups with African
      American men in two metropolitan areas in the USA: Chicago and Seattle. We
      examined transcripts for relationships across variables of stigma, anonymity,
      self-identity, and space within the context of HIV. Our analysis pointed to
      similarities between experiences of stigma across the two cities and illustrated
      the relationships between space, isolation, and preferred anonymity related to
      living with HIV. The men in our study often preferred that their HIV-linked
      identities remain invisible and anonymous, associated with perceived and created
      isolation from physical community spaces. This article suggests that our health
      care and housing institutions may influence preferences for anonymity. We make
      recommendations in key areas to create safer spaces for African American men
      living with HIV and reduce feelings of stigma and isolation. 

PMID- 26863562
TI  - Race, Ethnicity, and Self-Rated Health Among Immigrants in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Previous work has not fully explored the role of race in the health
      of immigrants. We investigate race and ethnic differences in self-rated health
      (SRH) among immigrants, assess the degree to which socio-economic characteristics
      explain race and ethnic differences, and examine whether time in the USA affects
      racial and ethnic patterning of SRH among immigrants. METHODS: Data came from the
      2012 National Health Interview Survey (N = 16, 288). Using logistic regression,
      we examine race and ethnic differences in SRH controlling for socio-economic
      differences and length of time in the country. RESULTS: Hispanic and non-Hispanic
      Black immigrants were the most socio-economically disadvantaged. Asian immigrants
      were socio-economically similar to non-Hispanic White immigrants. Contrary to
      U.S. racial patterning, Black immigrants had lower odds of poor SRH than did non
      Hispanic White immigrants when socio-demographic factors were controlled. When
      length of stay in the USA was included in the model, there were no racial or
      ethnic differences in SRH. However, living in the USA for 15 years and longer was
      associated with increased odds of poor SRH for all immigrants. CONCLUSIONS:
      Findings have implications for research on racial and ethnic disparities in
      health. Black-White disparities that have received much policy attention do not
      play out when we examine self-assessed health among immigrants. The reasons why
      non-Hispanic Black immigrants have similar self-rated health than non-Hispanic
      White immigrants even though they face greater socio-economic disadvantage
      warrant further attention.

PMID- 26863563
TI  - Long-Term Reciprocal Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Number of
      Chronic Medical Conditions: Longitudinal Support for Black-White Health Paradox.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous research has identified a Black-White health paradox, which
      can be defined as less frequent depression despite a higher prevalence of chronic
      medical conditions among Blacks compared to Whites in the USA. Based on this
      paradox, we would expect weaker associations between chronic medical conditions
      and depression among Blacks than Whites. However, the literature on this topic is
      mostly cross-sectional and has provided findings that contradict the Black-White
      health paradox. The present longitudinal study extends prior research by
      assessing Black-White differences in reciprocal associations between number of
      chronic medical conditions and depressive symptoms over a 25-year period.
      METHODS: Data came from the Americans' Changing Lives Study that followed 1034
      surviving Black and White respondents for 25 years from 1986 to 2011. Chronic
      medical conditions were measured based on a count of self-reported physician
      diagnoses including hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease,
      stroke, cancer, and arthritis at baseline (1986) and follow-up (2011). Depressive
      symptoms were also measured at baseline and follow-up using a 10-item Center for
      Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Multi-group structural equation
      modeling was used to assess reciprocal associations between baseline and
      subsequent depressive symptoms and baseline and subsequent chronic medical
      conditions comparing Black and White respondents. RESULTS: Among White but not
      Black respondents, a higher number of chronic medical conditions at baseline
      predicted a greater increase in depressive symptoms over 25 years of follow-up.
      Among Whites but not Blacks, individuals with more depressive symptoms at
      baseline developed more chronic medical conditions over time. CONCLUSION:
      Findings documented Black-White differences in reciprocal associations between
      chronic medical conditions and depressive symptoms over time. Our study provides
      longitudinal evidence for the Black-White health paradox across mid and later
      life, as reciprocal associations between depression and chronic medical
      conditions were weaker for Blacks compared to Whites.

PMID- 26863564
TI  - Erratum to: Barriers and Facilitators to Recruitment to a Culturally Based
      Dietary Intervention Among Urban Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors.

PMID- 26863565
TI  - Genome-wide Mapping of Drug-DNA Interactions in Cells with COSMIC (Crosslinking
      of Small Molecules to Isolate Chromatin).
AB  - The genome is the target of some of the most effective chemotherapeutics, but
      most of these drugs lack DNA sequence specificity, which leads to dose-limiting
      toxicity and many adverse side effects. Targeting the genome with sequence
      specific small molecules may enable molecules with increased therapeutic index
      and fewer off-target effects. N-methylpyrrole/N-methylimidazole polyamides are
      molecules that can be rationally designed to target specific DNA sequences with
      exquisite precision. And unlike most natural transcription factors, polyamides
      can bind to methylated and chromatinized DNA without a loss in affinity. The
      sequence specificity of polyamides has been extensively studied in vitro with
      cognate site identification (CSI) and with traditional biochemical and
      biophysical approaches, but the study of polyamide binding to genomic targets in
      cells remains elusive. Here we report a method, the crosslinking of small
      molecules to isolate chromatin (COSMIC), that identifies polyamide binding sites
      across the genome. COSMIC is similar to chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), but
      differs in two important ways: (1) a photocrosslinker is employed to enable
      selective, temporally-controlled capture of polyamide binding events, and (2) the
      biotin affinity handle is used to purify polyamide-DNA conjugates under semi
      denaturing conditions to decrease DNA that is non-covalently bound. COSMIC is a
      general strategy that can be used to reveal the genome-wide binding events of
      polyamides and other genome-targeting chemotherapeutic agents. 

PMID- 26863566
TI  - The next generation of metastatic melanoma: uncovering the genetic variants for
      anti-BRAF therapy response.
AB  - Metastatic melanoma (MM) is a highly aggressive cancer with a median overall
      survival of 6-9 months, notwithstanding the numerous efforts in development of
      new therapeutic approaches. To this aim we tested the clinical applicability of
      the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine to simultaneously screen MM patients in
      order to individuate new or already known SNPs and mutations able to predict the
      duration of response to BRAF inhibitors. An Ampliseq Custom Panel, including 11
      crucial full length genes involved in melanoma carcinogenesis and therapy
      response pathways, was created and used to analyze 25 MM patients. We reported
      BRAFV600 and NRASQ61 mutations in 68% and 24% of samples, respectively. Moreover,
      we more frequently identified the following alterations related to BRAF status:
      PIK3CAI391M (44%) and KITD737N (36%) mutations, CTLA4T17A (52%), MC1RV60L (32%)
      and MITFS473A (60%) polymorphisms. Considering the progression free survival
      (PFS), statistical analyses showed that BRAFV600 patients without any of these
      more frequent alterations had a higher median PFS. Protein structure changes seem
      to be due to these variants by in silico analysis. In conclusion, a Next
      Generation Sequencing approach with custom panel may provide new information to
      evaluate tumor-specific therapeutic susceptibility and individual prognosis to
      improve the care of MM patients. 

PMID- 26863568
TI  - Characterization of long non-coding RNA-associated ceRNA network to reveal
      potential prognostic lncRNA biomarkers in human ovarian cancer.
AB  - Accumulating evidence has underscored the important roles of long non-coding RNAs
      (lncRNAs) acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in cancer initiation and
      progression. In this study, we used an integrative computational method to
      identify miRNA-mediated ceRNA crosstalk between lncRNAs and mRNAs, and
      constructed global and progression-related lncRNA-associated ceRNA networks
      (LCeNETs) in ovarian cancer (OvCa) based on "ceRNA hypothesis". The constructed
      LCeNETs exhibited small world, modular architecture and high functional
      specificity for OvCa. Known OvCa-related genes tended to be hubs and occurred
      preferentially in the functional modules. Ten lncRNA ceRNAs were identified as
      potential candidates associated with stage progression in OvCa using ceRNA
      network driven method. Finally, we developed a ten-lncRNA signature which
      classified patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with significantly
      different survival outcomes. Our study will provide novel insight for better
      understanding of ceRNA-mediated gene regulation in progression of OvCa and
      facilitate the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic lncRNA ceRNAs
      for OvCa. 

PMID- 26863567
TI  - Aptamers: A promising chemical antibody for cancer therapy.
AB  - Aptamers, also known as chemical antibodies, are single-stranded nucleic acid
      oligonucleotides which bind to their targets with high specificity and affinity.
      They are typically selected by repetitive in vitro process termed systematic
      evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Owing to their excellent
      properties compared to conventional antibodies, notably their smaller physical
      size and lower immunogenicity and toxicity, aptamers have recently emerged as a
      new class of agents to deliver therapeutic drugs to cancer cells by targeting
      specific cancer-associated hallmarks. Aptamers can also be structurally modified
      to make them more flexible in order to conjugate other agents such as nano
      materials and therapeutic RNA agents, thus extending their applications for
      cancer therapy. This review presents the current knowledge on the practical
      applications of aptamers in the treatment of a variety of cancers. 

PMID- 26863569
TI  - ADAM10-mediated release of heregulin confers resistance to trastuzumab by
      activating HER3.
AB  - Receptor tyrosine kinases of the HER-family are involved in the development and
      progression of multiple epithelial tumors, and have consequently become widely
      used targets for new anti-cancer therapies. Trastuzumab, an antibody against
      HER2, has shown potent growth inhibitory effects on HER2 overexpressing tumors,
      including gastro-esophageal cancer, however, resistance to this therapy is
      inevitable. Unfortunately, a paucity of data on the cellular mechanisms of
      resistance to targeted therapeutic agents exists in esophageal adenocarcinoma.
      Using primary established HER2-overexpressing cultures and patient-derived
      xenograft models, we now reveal a novel resistance mechanism to trastuzumab in
      esophageal cancer: In response to trastuzumab, both HER3 and the metalloprotease
      ADAM10 are simultaneously upregulated. The proteolytic activity of the latter
      then releases the HER3 ligand heregulin from the cell surface to activate HER3
      and confer resistance to trastuzumab by inducing compensatory growth factor
      receptor signaling. Blocking either HER3 or ADAM10 effectively reverts the
      acquired resistance to trastuzumab. Our data thus provide strategies to inhibit
      this signaling and circumvent resistance to trastuzumab. 

PMID- 26863570
TI  - Long noncoding RNA OR3A4 promotes metastasis and tumorigenicity in gastric
      cancer.
AB  - The contribution of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to metastasis of gastric cancer
      remains largely unknown. We used microarray analysis to identify lncRNAs
      differentially expressed between normal gastric tissues and gastric cancer
      tissues and validated these differences in quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR
      experiments. The expression levels of lncRNA olfactory receptor, family 3,
      subfamily A, member 4 (OR3A4) were significantly associated with lymphatic
      metastasis, the depth of cancer invasion, and distal metastasis in 130 paired
      gastric cancer tissues. The effects of OR3A4 were assessed by overexpressing and
      silencing OR3A4 in gastric cancer cells. OR3A4 promoted cancer cell growth,
      angiogenesis, metastasis, and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Global
      microarray analysis combined with RT-PCR, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull
      down analyses after OR3A4 transfection demonstrated that OR3A4 influenced
      biologic functions in gastric cancer cells via regulating the activation of
      PDLIM2, MACC1, NTN4, and GNB2L1. Our results reveal OR3A4 as an oncogenic lncRNA
      that promotes tumor progression, Therefore, lncRNAs might function as key
      regulatory hubs in gastric cancer progression. 

PMID- 26863571
TI  - Neonatal bisphenol A exposure induces meiotic arrest and apoptosis of
      spermatogenic cells.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial plasticizer, which is ubiquitously
      present in the environment and organisms. As an endocrine disruptor, BPA has
      caused significant concerns regarding its interference with reproductive
      function. However, little is known about the impact of BPA exposure on early
      testicular development. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      influence of neonatal BPA exposure on the first wave of spermatogenesis. Newborn
      male mice were subcutaneously injected with BPA (0.01, 0.1 and 5 mg/kg body
      weight) daily from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 21. Histological analysis of testes
      at PND 22 revealed that BPA-treated testes contained mostly spermatogonia and
      spermatocytes with markedly less round spermatids, indicating signs of meiotic
      arrest. Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay showed that BPA treatment
      significantly increased the number of apoptotic germ cells per tubule, which
      corroborated the observation of meiotic arrest. In addition, BPA caused abnormal
      proliferation of germ cells as revealed by Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
      (PCNA) immunohistochemical staining. Mechanistically, BPA-treated testes
      displayed a complete lack of BOULE expression, which is a conserved key regulator
      for spermatogenesis. Moreover, BPA significantly increased the expression of
      estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta in the developing testis. The present study
      demonstrated that neonatal BPA exposure disrupted meiosis progression during the
      first wave of spermatogenesis, which may be, at least in part, due to inhibition
      of BOULE expression and/or up-regulation of ERalpha/beta expression in BPA
      exposed developing testis. 

PMID- 26863572
TI  - Estrogen receptor beta as a prognostic factor in breast cancer patients: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) in early-stage
      breast cancer is unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to
      evaluate the prognostic value of ERbeta in early-stage breast cancer patients.
      METHOD: We searched Medline, Embase, and the Web of Science for studies published
      between 1990 and 2015 that assessed ERbeta status in breast cancer patients. A
      total of 25 studies comprising 9919 patients fitting our inclusion and exclusion
      criteria were included. The hazard ratios of ERbeta status were extracted for
      diseases free survival (DFS)/ ) and overall survival (OS). Random or fixed
      effects models were used when appropriate, and between-study heterogeneity was
      assessed. RESULTS: In the 20 studies that assessed ERbeta status using
      immunohistochemical (IHC) methods, we observed significantly improved DFS in
      patients positive for ERbeta-1 (HR=0.56, 95%CI 0.40-0.78, P=0.0007) and ERbeta-2
      (HR=0.67, 95%CI 0.45-1.00, P=0.05). Improved OS was associated with a positive
      status for pan-ERbeta (HR=0.60, 95%CI 0.45-0.80, P=0.0004) and ERbeta-2 (HR=0.44,
      95%CI 0.31-0.62, P<0.0001). In ERalpha-positive patients, ERbeta positivity was
      not associated with DFS (HR=0.77, 95%CI 0.46-1.27, P=0.31) or OS (HR=0.64, 95%CI
      0.37-1.11, P=0.11). In contrast, ERbeta expression was significantly associated
      with increased DFS (HR=0.37, 95%CI 0.14-0.93, P=0.03) or OS (HR=0.44, 95%CI 0.30
      0.65, P<0.0001) in ERalpha-negative patients. We did not observe an association
      between ERbeta mRNA levels and DFS and OS. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed
      that IHC ERbeta status, rather than mRNA levels, is a prognostic factor that is
      associated with DFS and OS in breast cancer patients. The prognostic value of
      ERbeta may be higher in ERalpha-negative patients than in ERalpha-positive
      patients.

PMID- 26863573
TI  - Classification of large circulating tumor cells isolated with ultra-high
      throughput microfluidic Vortex technology.
AB  - Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are emerging as rare but clinically significant
      non-invasive cellular biomarkers for cancer patient prognosis, treatment
      selection, and treatment monitoring. Current CTC isolation approaches, such as
      immunoaffinity, filtration, or size-based techniques, are often limited by
      throughput, purity, large output volumes, or inability to obtain viable cells for
      downstream analysis. For all technologies, traditional immunofluorescent staining
      alone has been employed to distinguish and confirm the presence of isolated CTCs
      among contaminating blood cells, although cells isolated by size may express
      vastly different phenotypes. Consequently, CTC definitions have been non-trivial,
      researcher-dependent, and evolving. Here we describe a complete set of objective
      criteria, leveraging well-established cytomorphological features of malignancy,
      by which we identify large CTCs. We apply the criteria to CTCs enriched from
      stage IV lung and breast cancer patient blood samples using the High Throughput
      Vortex Chip (Vortex HT), an improved microfluidic technology for the label-free,
      size-based enrichment and concentration of rare cells. We achieve improved
      capture efficiency (up to 83%), high speed of processing (8 mL/min of 10x diluted
      blood, or 800 MUL/min of whole blood), and high purity (avg. background of 28.8+/
      23.6 white blood cells per mL of whole blood). We show markedly improved
      performance of CTC capture (84% positive test rate) in comparison to previous
      Vortex designs and the current FDA-approved gold standard CellSearch assay. The
      results demonstrate the ability to quickly collect viable and pure populations of
      abnormal large circulating cells unbiased by molecular characteristics, which
      helps uncover further heterogeneity in these cells. 

PMID- 26863574
TI  - Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research.
AB  - Monitoring arthropod movement is often required to better understand associated
      population dynamics, dispersal patterns, host plant preferences, and other
      ecological interactions. Arthropods are usually tracked in nature by tagging them
      with a unique mark and then re-collecting them over time and space to determine
      their dispersal capabilities. In addition to actual physical tags, such as
      colored dust or paint, various types of proteins have proven very effective for
      marking arthropods for ecological research. Proteins can be administered
      internally and/or externally. The proteins can then be detected on recaptured
      arthropods with a protein-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
      Here we describe protocols for externally and internally tagging arthropods with
      protein. Two simple experimental examples are demonstrated: (1) an internal
      protein mark introduced to an insect by providing a protein-enriched diet and (2)
      an external protein mark topically applied to an insect using a medical
      nebulizer. We then relate a step-by-step guide of the sandwich and indirect ELISA
      methods used to detect protein marks on the insects. In this demonstration,
      various aspects of the acquisition and detection of protein markers on arthropods
      for mark-release-recapture, mark-capture, and self-mark-capture types of research
      are discussed, along with the various ways that the immunomarking procedure has
      been adapted to suit a wide variety of research objectives. 

PMID- 26863575
TI  - Prognostic Significance of Aquaporin 5 Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aquaporins are water channel proteins that play a major role in the
      movement of water in various human tissues. Recently, it has been found that
      aquaporins have influence in the carcinogenesis of human malignancies. We
      analyzed the prognostic impact of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in non-small lung cancer
      (NSCLC). METHODS: Seventy-six cases of NSCLC were studied, including 44 cases of
      adenocarcinoma (ADC) and 32 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC). Tissue
      microarray was constructed and immunohistochemical staining for AQP5 was
      performed. RESULTS: AQP5 was positive in 59.2% of the total enrolled NSCLCs
      (63.7% in ADC and 53.1% in SQCC). The difference in expression of AQP5 according
      to the histologic grade of the tumor was significant (p<.047), but not in a
      serial order. When ADC and SQCC were separately evaluated, no significant
      difference was observed according to the histologic grade of the tumor (p=.076 in
      ADC and p=.631 in SQCC). No difference was observed between AQP5 expression and
      other demographic data and tumor characteristics. Disease-free survival (DFS) was
      higher in AQP5 negative cases than positive cases in ADC (p=.047), but no
      significance was found in SQCC (p=.068). We were unable to find a significance
      between AQP5 overexpression and overall survival in either ADC (p=.210) or SQCC
      (p=.533). CONCLUSIONS: AQP5 expression is associated with DFS in ADC of the lung
      and tumor grade of NSCLC. The present study suggests that AQP5 can be a
      prognostic factor of NSCLC.

PMID- 26863576
TI  - Cardiac-protective effects and the possible mechanisms of alatamine during acute
      myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Alatamine is a constituent in the extract of a traditional herbal medicine
      Ramulus euonymi widely used for cardiac protection. However, its precise effects
      remain unclear. In the present study, we found that alatamine was able to reduce
      acute myocardial ischemia (AMI)-induced cardiac dysfunction in a rat model, as
      reflected by significantly restored electrocardiograms, M-mode echocardiograms,
      and left ventricular hemodynamics. Also, Nagar Olsen staining revealed that
      alatamine markedly reduced AMI-induced cardiac injury and cardiac myocyte
      apoptosis. TUNEL and caspase-3 activity assay showed that cardiac myocytes
      underwent significant apoptosis during AMI, and levels of LDH and CK-MB increased
      in the serum. However, such changes were significantly inhibited by pre
      administration of alatamine. Furthermore, such anti-apoptotic effects of
      alatamine was also confirmed in a cardiac myocyte model of isoproterenol (ISO)
      induced damage. Mechanistically, it was also found that alatamine improved the
      expression and activity of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase
      (SERCA), which were inhibited during AMI, promoting contractility and relaxation.
      Meanwhile, alatamine decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2 expressions both in vivo
      and in vitro, therefore inhibiting cardiac myocyte apoptosis and preventing
      cardiac dysfunction caused by AMI at the cellular level. The present study
      revealed the beneficial role of alatamine in cardiac protection and highlighted
      it as a potential therapeutic reagent for reduction of AMI-induced cardiac
      injury. 

PMID- 26863577
TI  - Macrocyclic and Other Non-Group 1 Gadolinium Contrast Agents Deposit Low Levels
      of Gadolinium in Brain and Bone Tissue: Preliminary Results From 9 Patients With
      Normal Renal Function.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether gadolinium (Gd) is
      deposited in brain and bone tissues in patients receiving only non-Group 1
      agents, either macrocyclic or linear protein interacting Gd-based contrast
      agents, with normal renal function. Group 1 agents are linear agents most
      associated with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis that the US Federal Drug
      Administration has defined as contraindicated in patients at risk for this
      disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was institutional review board
      approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant for
      retrospective review of records and also had signed autopsy consent authorizing
      use of decedent's tissue in research studies. Tissue samples were collected from
      9 decedents undergoing autopsy who had contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) with only single agent exposure to a non-Group 1 Gd-based contrast
      agent. Decedents with only noncontrast MRI or no MRI served as controls. Multiple
      brain areas, including globus pallidus and dentate nucleus, as well as bone and
      skin, were sampled and analyzed for Gd using inductively coupled plasma mass
      spectrometry. Gadolinium levels were compared between groups of decedents using
      the Mann-Whitney test and between brain and bone tissues of the same cases using
      the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Of the 9 decedents, 5 received
      gadoteridol (ProHance; Bracco Diagnostics, Princeton, NJ), 2 received gadobutrol
      (Gadovist; Bayer Healthcare, Whippany, NJ), and 1 each had gadobenate
      (MultiHance; Bracco Diagnostics) and gadoxetate (Eovist; Bayer Healthcare).
      Gadolinium was found with all agents in all brain areas sampled with highest
      levels in globus pallidus and dentate. Bone levels measured 23 times higher
      (median) than brain levels (P = 0.008 for bone vs globus pallidus) and showed a
      significant correlation (r = 0.81, P = 0.022). In controls, Gd levels in the
      brain were at or below limits of measurement and were significantly lower
      compared with study cases (P = 0.005 for globus pallidus). CONCLUSION: Gadolinium
      deposition in normal brain and bone tissue occurs with macrocyclic and linear
      protein interacting agents in patients with normal renal function. Deposition of
      Gd in cortical bone occurs at much higher levels compared with brain tissue and
      shows a notable correlation between the two. Thus, the bone may serve as a
      surrogate to estimate brain deposition if brain Gd were to become a useful
      clinical or research marker.

PMID- 26863578
TI  - Blind Compressed Sensing Enables 3-Dimensional Dynamic Free Breathing Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging of Lung Volumes and Diaphragm Motion.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to increase the spatial and temporal
      resolution of dynamic 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lung
      volumes and diaphragm motion. To achieve this goal, we evaluate the utility of
      the proposed blind compressed sensing (BCS) algorithm to recover data from highly
      undersampled measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the performance of
      the BCS scheme to recover dynamic data sets from retrospectively and
      prospectively undersampled measurements. We also compared its performance against
      that of view-sharing, the nuclear norm minimization scheme, and the l1 Fourier
      sparsity regularization scheme. Quantitative experiments were performed on a
      healthy subject using a fully sampled 2D data set with uniform radial sampling,
      which was retrospectively undersampled with 16 radial spokes per frame to
      correspond to an undersampling factor of 8. The images obtained from the 4
      reconstruction schemes were compared with the fully sampled data using mean
      square error and normalized high-frequency error metrics. The schemes were also
      compared using prospective 3D data acquired on a Siemens 3 T TIM TRIO MRI scanner
      on 8 healthy subjects during free breathing. Two expert cardiothoracic
      radiologists (R1 and R2) qualitatively evaluated the reconstructed 3D data sets
      using a 5-point scale (0-4) on the basis of spatial resolution, temporal
      resolution, and presence of aliasing artifacts. RESULTS: The BCS scheme gives
      better reconstructions (mean square error = 0.0232 and normalized high frequency
      = 0.133) than the other schemes in the 2D retrospective undersampling
      experiments, producing minimally distorted reconstructions up to an acceleration
      factor of 8 (16 radial spokes per frame). The prospective 3D experiments show
      that the BCS scheme provides visually improved reconstructions than the other
      schemes do. The BCS scheme provides improved qualitative scores over nuclear norm
      and l1 Fourier sparsity regularization schemes in the temporal blurring and
      spatial blurring categories. The qualitative scores for aliasing artifacts in the
      images reconstructed by nuclear norm scheme and BCS scheme are comparable.The
      comparisons of the tidal volume changes also show that the BCS scheme has less
      temporal blurring as compared with the nuclear norm minimization scheme and the
      l1 Fourier sparsity regularization scheme. The minute ventilation estimated by
      BCS for tidal breathing in supine position (4 L/min) and the measured supine
      inspiratory capacity (1.5 L) is in good correlation with the literature. The
      improved performance of BCS can be explained by its ability to efficiently adapt
      to the data, thus providing a richer representation of the signal. CONCLUSION:
      The feasibility of the BCS scheme was demonstrated for dynamic 3D free breathing
      MRI of lung volumes and diaphragm motion. A temporal resolution of ~500
      milliseconds, spatial resolution of 2.7 * 2.7 * 10 mm, with whole lung coverage
      (16 slices) was achieved using the BCS scheme.

PMID- 26863579
TI  - Prediction Model For Extensive Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Around Early-Stage
      Invasive Breast Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a risk factor for incomplete
      resection of breast cancer. Especially, extensive DCIS (E-DCIS) or extensive
      intraductal component often results in positive resection margins. Detecting DCIS
      around breast cancer before treatment may therefore alter surgery. The purpose of
      this study was to develop a prediction model for E-DCIS around early-stage
      invasive breast cancer, using clinicohistopathological and dynamic contrast
      enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and local excision were performed in 322 patients
      with 326 ductal carcinomas. Tumors were segmented from dynamic contrast-enhanced
      MRI, followed by 3-dimensional extension of the margins with 10 mm. Amount of
      fibroglandular tissue (FGT) and enhancement features in these extended margins
      were automatically extracted from the MRI scans. Clinicohistopathological
      features were also obtained. Principal component analysis and multivariable
      logistic regression were used to develop a prediction model for E-DCIS.
      Discrimination and calibration were assessed, and bootstrapping was applied for
      internal validation. RESULTS: Extensive DCIS occurred in 48 (14.7%) of 326
      tumors. Incomplete resection occurred in 56.3% of these E-DCIS-positive versus
      9.0% of E-DCIS-negative tumors (P < 0.001). Five components with eigenvalue
      exceeding 1 were identified; 2 were significantly associated with E-DCIS. The
      first, positively associated, component expressed early and overall enhancement
      in the 10-mm tissue margin surrounding the MRI-visible tumor. The second,
      positively associated, component expressed human epidermal growth factor receptor
      2 and amount of FGT around the MRI-visible tumor. The area under the curve value
      was 0.79 (0.76 after bootstrapping). CONCLUSIONS: Human epidermal growth factor
      receptor 2 status, early and overall enhancement in the 10-mm margin around the
      MRI-visible tumor, and amount of FGT in the 10 mm around the MRI-visible tumor
      were associated with E-DCIS.

PMID- 26863580
TI  - Comparison of Routine Brain Imaging at 3 T and 7 T.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare quantitative and semiquantitative
      parameters (signal-to-noise ratio [SNR], contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR], image
      quality, diagnostic confidence) from a standard brain magnetic resonance imaging
      examination encompassing common neurological disorders such as demyelinating
      disease, gliomas, cerebrovascular disease, and epilepsy, with comparable sequence
      protocols and acquisition times at 3 T and at 7 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten
      healthy volunteers and 4 subgroups of 40 patients in total underwent comparable
      magnetic resonance protocols with standard diffusion-weighted imaging, 2D and 3D
      turbo spin echo, 2D and 3D gradient echo and susceptibility-weighted imaging of
      the brain (10 sequences) at 3 T and 7 T. The subgroups comprised patients with
      either lesional (n = 5) or nonlesional (n = 4) epilepsy, intracerebral tumors (n
      = 11), demyelinating disease (n = 11) (relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
      [MS, n = 9], secondary progressive MS [n = 1], demyelinating disease not further
      specified [n = 1]), or chronic cerebrovascular disorders [n = 9]). For
      quantitative analysis, SNR and CNR were determined. For a semiquantitative
      assessment of the diagnostic confidence, a 10-point scale diagnostic confidence
      score (DCS) was applied. Two experienced radiologists with additional
      qualification in neuroradiology independently assessed, blinded to the field
      strength, 3 pathology-specific imaging criteria in each of the 4 disease groups
      and rated their diagnostic confidence. The overall image quality was
      semiquantitatively assessed using a 4-point scale taking into account whether
      diagnostic decision making was hampered by artifacts or not. RESULTS: Without
      correction for spatial resolution, SNR was higher at 3 T except in the T2 SPACE
      3D, DWI single shot, and DIR SPACE 3D sequences. The SNR corrected by the ratio
      of 3 T/7 T voxel sizes was higher at 7 T than at 3 T in 10 of 11 sequences (all
      except for T1 MP2RAGE 3D).In CNR, there was a wide variation between sequences
      and patient cohorts, but average CNR values were broadly similar at 3 T and 7
      T.DCS values for all 4 pathologic entities were higher at 7 T than at 3 T. The
      DCS was significantly higher at 7 T for diagnosis and exclusion of cortical
      lesions in vascular disease. A tendency to higher DCS at 7 T for cortical lesions
      in MS was observed, and for the depiction of a central vein and iron deposits
      within MS lesions. Despite motion artifacts, DCS values were higher at 7 T for
      the diagnosis and exclusion of hippocampal sclerosis in mesial temporal lobe
      epilepsy (improved detection of the hippocampal subunits). Interrater agreement
      was 69.7% at 3 T and 93.3% at 7 T. There was no significant difference in the
      overall image quality score between 3 T and 7 T taking into account whether
      diagnostic decision making was hampered by artifacts or not. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra
      high-field magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T compared with 3 T yielded an
      improved diagnostic confidence in the most frequently encountered neurologic
      disorders. Higher spatial resolution and contrast were identified as the main
      contributory factors.

PMID- 26863581
TI  - Ethanol-metabolizing activities and isozyme protein contents of alcohol and
      aldehyde dehydrogenases in human liver: phenotypic traits of the ADH1B*2 and
      ALDH2*2 variant gene alleles.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are
      principal enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ethanol. East Asian
      populations are unique in that they carry both a prevalent ADH1B*2 and a dominant
      negative ALDH2*2 allele. A systematic investigation of ethanol-metabolizing
      activities in normal livers correlated with the corresponding functional allelic
      variations and protein contents of the relevant isozymes in respective enzyme
      families has been lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To obtain a reasonable sample
      size encompassing all possible genetic allelotypes of the ADH1B and ALDH2, 141
      surgical liver specimens from adult Han Chinese were studied. Expression patterns
      and activities of ADH and ALDH were determined with stratification of the genetic
      phenotypes. Absolute protein contents as well as cellular localization of the
      activity and protein of ADH/ALDH isozymes were also investigated. RESULTS: The
      activities of ADH1B*1/*2 and ADH1B*2/*2 allelic phenotypes were 5-6-fold those of
      the ADH1B*1/*1, suggesting that ADH1B*2 allele-encoded subunits are dominant over
      expression of hepatic ADH activity. The activities of the ALDH2-active phenotype
      were 90% higher than those of the ALDH2-inactive phenotype. Sex and age did not
      significantly influence the hepatic ADH and ALDH activities with specified
      genetic phenotypes. The isozyme protein contents were as follows in decreasing
      order: ADH1, ADH2, ALDH1A1, ALDH2, and ADH3. Both ADH1, but not ADH2/3, and
      ALDH1A1/2 showed a preferential expression in perivenular hepatocytes.
      CONCLUSION: Functional correlations of ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*2 variant alleles in the
      liver provide a biochemical genetic basis suggesting their contribution toward
      variability in ethanol metabolism as well as susceptibility to alcoholism and
      alcohol-related diseases in East Asians.

PMID- 26863582
TI  - Patients suffering from rheumatic disease describing own experiences from
      participating in Basic Body Awareness Group Therapy: A qualitative pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rheumatic diseases have physical and psychological impact on
      patients' movement and function. Basic Body Awareness Therapy focuses on
      promoting more functional movement quality in daily life. The purpose of this
      study was to describe patient experiences from participating in Basic Body
      Awareness Group Therapy for inpatients with rheumatic disease. METHODS: A
      phenomenological design included data collection in two focus group interviews
      with seven patients. Giorgi's four-step phenomenological method was used for data
      analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged: (1) "Movement exploration-being
      guided in movement" described informants' exploration of bodily signals and
      movement habits; (2) "Movement awareness training in a relational perspective"
      informants described experiences from being in a group setting; (3) "Movement
      awareness-integration and insight" described informants' reflections on movement
      experiences; and (4) "Integrating and practicing new movement habits" informants
      described how they used their movement experiences in daily life. CONCLUSIONS:
      The study described perspectives in movement learning experienced by patients.
      The results support the view that contact with the body can help patients
      exploring and cultivating their own resources for a more functional movement
      quality. Descriptions of relational movement learning aspects can contribute to
      our understanding of physiotherapy group design.

PMID- 26863583
TI  - Good outcome of total hip replacement in patients with cerebral palsy: A
      comparison of 389 patients and 425,813 controls from the National Joint Registry
      for England and Wales.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: People with cerebral palsy (CP) often have painful
      deformed hips, but they are seldom treated with hip replacement as the surgery is
      considered to be high risk. However, few data are available on the outcome of hip
      replacement in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We linked Hospital Episode
      Statistics (HES) records to the National Joint Registry for England and Wales to
      identify 389 patients with CP who had undergone hip replacement. Their treatment
      and outcomes were compared with those of 425,813 patients who did not have CP.
      Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated to describe implant survivorship and the
      curves were compared using log-rank tests, with further stratification for age
      and implant type. Reasons for revision were quantified as patient-time incidence
      rates (PTIRs). Nationally collected patient-reported outcomes (PROMS) before and
      6 months after operation were compared if available. Cumulative mortality (Kaplan
      Meier) was estimated at 90 days and at 1, 3, and 5 years. RESULTS: The cumulative
      probability of revision at 5 years post-surgery was 6.4% (95% CI: 3.8-11) in the
      CP cohort as opposed to 2.9% (CI 2.9-3%) in the non-CP cohort (p < 0.001).
      Patient-reported outcomes showed that CP patients had worse pain and function
      preoperatively, but had equivalent postoperative improvement. The median
      improvement in Oxford hip score at 6 months was 23 (IQR: 14-28) in CP and it was
      21 (14-28) in non-CP patients. 91% of CP patients reported good or excellent
      satisfaction with their outcome. The cumulative probability of mortality for CP
      up to 7 years was similar to that in the controls after stratification for age
      and sex. INTERPRETATION: Hip replacement for cerebral palsy appears to be safe
      and effective, although implant revision rates are higher than those in patients
      without cerebral palsy.

PMID- 26863584
TI  - Lactoferrin Levels in Tears are Increased by the Topical Application of
      Diadenosine Tetraphosphate.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the topical
      application of diadenosine tetraphosphate on lactoferrin levels in rabbit tears.
      METHODS: Diadenosine tetraphosphate was topically instilled in a single-dose,
      tear samples were collected by micropipette and lactoferrin was measured by
      Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The concentration of
      lactoferrin in rabbit tears was significantly increased 1 h after diadenosine
      tetraphosphate application, remaining elevated for 3 h more. This effect was
      blocked by P2 receptors antagonists. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of
      diadenosine tetraphosphate stimulates the secretion of lactoferrin in rabbit
      tears through P2 receptor activation.

PMID- 26863585
TI  - Ankle Joint Angle and Lower Leg Musculotendinous Unit Responses to Cryotherapy.
AB  - Akehi, K, Long, BC, Warren, AJ, and Goad, CL. Ankle joint angle and lower leg
      musculotendinous unit responses to cryotherapy. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2482
      2492, 2016-The use of cold application has been debated for its influence on
      joint range of motion (ROM) and stiffness. The purpose of this study was to
      determine whether a 30-minute ice bag application to the plantarflexor muscles or
      ankle influences passive ankle dorsiflexion ROM and lower leg musculotendinous
      stiffness (MTS). Thirty-five recreationally active college-aged individuals with
      no history of lower leg injury 6 months before data collection volunteered. On
      each testing day, we measured maximum passive ankle dorsiflexion ROM ( degrees )
      and plantarflexor torque (N.m) on an isokinetic dynamometer to calculate the
      passive plantarflexor MTS (N.m per degree) at 4 joint angles before, during, and
      after a treatment. Surface electromyography amplitudes (MUV), and skin surface
      and ambient air temperature ( degrees C) were also measured. Subjects received an
      ice bag to the posterior lower leg, ankle joint, or nothing for 30 minutes in
      different days. Ice bag application to the lower leg and ankle did not influence
      passive ROM (F(12,396) = 0.67, p = 0.78). Passive torque increased after ice bag
      application to the lower leg (F(12,396) = 2.21, p = 0.011). Passive MTS at the
      initial joint angle increased after ice bag application to the lower leg
      (F(12,396) = 2.14, p = 0.014) but not at the other joint angles (p > 0.05).
      Surface electromyography amplitudes for gastrocnemius and soleus muscles
      increased after ice application to the lower leg (F(2,66) = 5.61, p = 0.006;
      F(12,396) = 3.60, p < 0.001). Ice bag application to the lower leg and ankle
      joint does not alter passive dorsiflexion ROM but increases passive ankle
      plantarflexor torque in addition to passive ankle plantarflexor MTS at the
      initial joint angle. 

PMID- 26863586
TI  - Efficacy of a Four-Week Uphill Sprint Training Intervention in Field Hockey
      Players.
AB  - Jakeman, JR, McMullan, J, and Babraj, JA. Efficacy of a four-week uphill sprint
      training intervention in field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2761
      2766, 2016-Current evidence increasingly suggests that very short, supramaximal
      bouts of exercise can have significant health and performance benefits. Most
      research conducted in the area, however, uses laboratory-based protocols, which
      can lack ecological validity. The purpose of this study was to examine the
      effects of a high-intensity sprint training program on hockey-related performance
      measures. Fourteen semiprofessional hockey players either completed a 4-week high
      intensity training (HIT) intervention, consisting of a total of 6 sessions of
      HIT, which progressively increased in volume (n = 7), or followed their normal
      training program (Con; n = 7). Straight-line sprint speed, with and without a
      hockey stick and ball, and slalom sprint speed, with and without a hockey stick
      and ball, were used as performance indicators. Maximal sprint speed over 22.9 m
      was also assessed. On completion of the 4-week intervention, straight-line sprint
      speed improved significantly in the HIT group (~3%), with no changes in
      performance for the Con group. Slalom sprint speed, both with and without a
      hockey ball, was not significantly different after the training program in either
      group. Maximal sprint speed improved significantly (12.1%) in the HIT group, but
      there was no significant performance change in the Con group. The findings of
      this study indicate that a short period of HIT can significantly improve hockey
      related performance measures and could be beneficial to athletes and coaches in
      field settings. 

PMID- 26863587
TI  - Exercise Training Alters the Bone Mineral Density of Hemodialysis Patients.
AB  - Marinho, SM, Moraes, C, Barbosa, JEdSM, Eduardo, JCC, Fouqe, D, Pelletier, S, and
      Mafra, D. Exercise training alters the bone mineral density of hemodialysis
      patients. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2918-2923, 2016-Patients with chronic
      kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD) frequently present low bone mineral
      density (BMD), and exercise may be useful for treating bone loss. This study
      aimed to assess the effects of an intradialytic resistance exercise training
      program (RETP) on BMD in HD patients. Twenty-one patients were enrolled into 2
      groups; 10 patients performed exercise (80.0% men; 46.9 +/- 12.1 years; 27.0 +/-
      3.4 kg.m) and 11 patients were in the control group (54.5% men; 50.5 +/- 11.5
      years; 24.1 +/- 8.7 kg.m). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure
      the BMD, lean mass, and body fat before and after the supervised RETP (performed
      with elastic bands and ankle cuffs in both lower limbs 3 times a week for 24
      weeks-72 sessions). In the exercise group, 30.0% of patients presented with
      osteopenia and 20.0% osteoporosis and in the control group, 45.5% osteopenia and
      36.4% osteoporosis. Only in the exercise group, the osteoporosis percentage was
      reduced to 10.0% and the femoral neck BMD and T-score improved from 0.89 +/- 0.1
      to 0.93 +/- 0.1 g.cm and from -1.3 +/- 0.8 to -1.0 +/- 0.8 g.cm (p <= 0.05),
      respectively, after the intervention. In contrast, these parameters were reduced
      in the control group. The results suggest that resistance exercise may be useful
      for improving the BMD in HD patients. In summary, 24 weeks of the supervised RETP
      played a role in improving the BMD of HD patients. 

PMID- 26863588
TI  - "History had taken such a large piece out of my life" - Neuroscientist refugees
      from Hamburg during National Socialism.
AB  - Approximately 9,000 physicians were uprooted for so-called "racial" or
      "political" reasons by the Nazi regime and 6,000 fled Germany. These refugees are
      often seen as survivors who contributed to a "brain drain" from Germany. About
      432 doctors (all specialties, private and academic) were dismissed from the major
      German city of Hamburg. Of these, 16 were Hamburg University faculty members
      dismissed from their government-supported positions for "racial" reasons, and, of
      these, five were neuroscientists. In a critical analysis, not comprehensively
      done previously, we will demonstrate that the brain drain did not equal a "brain
      gain." The annihilation of these five neuroscientists' careers under different
      but similar auspices, their shameful harassment and incarceration, financial
      expropriation by Nazi ransom techniques, forced migration, and roadblocks once
      reaching destination countries stalled and set back any hopes of research and
      quickly continuing once-promising careers. A major continuing challenge is
      finding ways to repair an open wound and obvious vacuum in the German
      neuroscience community created by the largely collective persecution of
      colleagues 80 years ago. 

PMID- 26863589
TI  - Characterisation of the solid electrolyte interface during
      lithiation/delithiation of germanium in an ionic liquid.
AB  - In this paper, we present investigations of the interface of electrodeposited Ge
      during lithiation/delithiation in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium
      bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide containing 0.5 M lithium
      bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI/[Py1,4]TFSI). Cyclic voltammetry (CV)
      and infrared spectroscopy were used to study the electrochemistry and the changes
      in the electrolyte during the Li intercalation/deintercalation processes. From
      infrared spectroscopic analysis, it was found that the TFSI(-) anion decomposes
      during the lithiation process, resulting in the formation of a solid-liquid
      interface (SEI) layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyse the
      composition of the SEI layer and the changes in the electrodeposited germanium.
      Furthermore, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to evaluate the changes in
      the SEI layer which showed that the SEI layer was inhomogenous and changed during
      the lithiation/delithiation processes. 

PMID- 26863590
TI  - High Throughput Danio Rerio Energy Expenditure Assay.
AB  - Zebrafish are an important model organism with inherent advantages that have the
      potential to make zebrafish a widely applied model for the study of energy
      homeostasis and obesity. The small size of zebrafish allows for assays on embryos
      to be conducted in a 96- or 384-well plate format, Morpholino and CRISPR based
      technologies promote ease of genetic manipulation, and drug treatment by bath
      application is viable. Moreover, zebrafish are ideal for forward genetic screens
      allowing for novel gene discovery. Given the relative novelty of zebrafish as a
      model for obesity, it is necessary to develop tools that fully exploit these
      benefits. Herein, we describe a method to measure energy expenditure in thousands
      of embryonic zebrafish simultaneously. We have developed a whole animal
      microplate platform in which we use 96-well plates to isolate individual fish and
      we assess cumulative NADH2 production using the commercially available cell
      culture viability reagent alamarBlue. In poikilotherms the relationship between
      NADH2 production and energy expenditure is tightly linked. This energy
      expenditure assay creates the potential to rapidly screen pharmacological or
      genetic manipulations that directly alter energy expenditure or alter the
      response to an applied drug (e.g. insulin sensitizers). 

PMID- 26863591
TI  - Using Tomoauto: A Protocol for High-throughput Automated Cryo-electron
      Tomography.
AB  - Cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) is a powerful three-dimensional (3-D) imaging
      technique for visualizing macromolecular complexes in their native context at a
      molecular level. The technique involves initially preserving the sample in its
      native state by rapidly freezing the specimen in vitreous ice, then collecting a
      series of micrographs from different angles at high magnification, and finally
      computationally reconstructing a 3-D density map. The frozen-hydrated specimen is
      extremely sensitive to the electron beam and so micrographs are collected at very
      low electron doses to limit the radiation damage. As a result, the raw cryo
      tomogram has a very low signal to noise ratio characterized by an intrinsically
      noisy image. To better visualize subjects of interest, conventional imaging
      analysis and sub-tomogram averaging in which sub-tomograms of the subject are
      extracted from the initial tomogram and aligned and averaged are utilized to
      improve both contrast and resolution. Large datasets of tilt-series are essential
      to understanding and resolving the complexes at different states, conditions, or
      mutations as well as obtaining a large enough collection of sub-tomograms for
      averaging and classification. Collecting and processing this data can be a major
      obstacle preventing further analysis. Here we describe a high-throughput cryo-ET
      protocol based on a computer-controlled 300kV cryo-electron microscope, a direct
      detection device (DDD) camera and a highly effective, semi-automated image
      processing pipeline software wrapper library tomoauto developed in-house. This
      protocol has been effectively utilized to visualize the intact type III secretion
      system (T3SS) in Shigella flexneri minicells. It can be applicable to any project
      suitable for cryo-ET. 

PMID- 26863592
TI  - Nonlinear analysis of right atrial electrograms predicts termination of
      persistent atrial fibrillation within the left atrium by catheter ablation.
AB  - The termination of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LS-pAF) can be
      achieved by stepwise catheter ablation (step-CA) within the left atrium (LA). Our
      study aims to applying complexity measures derived from nonlinear time series
      analysis in order to characterize LS-pAF in terms of organization and to identify
      patients in whom AF can be terminated from those in whom AF cannot be terminated
      by step-CA within the LA. A total of 33 consecutive patients (age 61  +/-  7
      years, sustained AF duration 19  +/-  11 months) with LS-pAF underwent step-CA.
      The organization of right bipolar electrograms before and during the ablation
      procedure was assessed using the coarse-grained correlation dimension. LS-pAF was
      terminated into sinus rhythm or atrial tachycardia in 22 patients during step-CA
      within the LA (left terminated patients-LT). In 11 patients the ablation
      procedure failed to terminate AF within LA (not left terminated patients-NLT).
      The statistical analysis of the estimated coarse-grained correlation dimension
      revealed that a higher right atrial (RA) organization before step-CA was
      associated to AF termination within the LA. During the ablation procedure, the
      level of RA organization displayed distinctive evolution between LT and NLT
      patients with a significant organization increase before AF termination for the
      LT patients. 

PMID- 26863594
TI  - Flower-like RuCu nanodendrites as catalysts for hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol
      with beta-cyclodextrin as promoters.
AB  - Flower-like ruthenium-copper (RuCu) nanodendrites were readily synthesized by
      RuCl3.xH2O and CuCl with oleylamine as the reducing agent, stabilizer and
      solvent. The nanodendrites contained various small particles and demonstrated
      efficient catalytic ability in the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol as a model
      reaction. Notably, by adding beta-cyclodextrin, the reaction rate can be greatly
      enhanced. 

PMID- 26863595
TI  - Transferability of different classical force fields for right and left handed
      alpha-helices constructed from enantiomeric amino acids.
AB  - Amino acids can form d and l enantiomers, of which the l enantiomer is abundant
      in nature. The naturally occurring l enantiomer has a greater preference for a
      right handed helical conformation, and the d enantiomer for a left handed helical
      conformation. The other conformations, that is, left handed helical conformations
      of the l enantiomers and right handed helical conformations of the d enantiomers,
      are not common. The energetic differences between left and right handed alpha
      helical peptide chains constructed from enantiomeric amino acids are investigated
      using quantum chemical calculations (using the M06/6-311g(d,p) level of theory).
      Further, the performances of commonly used biomolecular force fields (OPLS/AA,
      CHARMM27/CMAP and AMBER) to represent the different helical conformations (left
      and right handed) constructed from enantiomeric (D and L) amino acids are
      evaluated. 5- and 10-mer chains from d and l enantiomers of alanine, leucine,
      lysine, and glutamic acid, in right and left handed helical conformations, are
      considered in the study. Thus, in total, 32 alpha-helical polypeptides (4 amino
      acids * 4 conformations of 5-mer and 10-mer) are studied. Conclusions, with
      regards to the performance of the force fields, are derived keeping the quantum
      optimized geometry as the benchmark, and on the basis of phi and psi angle
      calculations, hydrogen bond analysis, and different long range helical order
      parameters.

PMID- 26863596
TI  - Randomized Vehicle-Controlled Study of Short Drug Incubation Aminolevulinic Acid
      Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratoses of the Face or Scalp.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) can be effective
      and well tolerated when applied over a broad area and for short drug incubation
      times. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of short-incubation time and application
      method on the safety and efficacy of ALA-PDT versus vehicle (VEH-PDT) in the
      treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face or scalp. METHODS:
      Aminolevulinic acid or VEH was applied to face or scalp as a broad area
      application for 1, 2, or 3 hours or as a spot application for 2 hours before blue
      light activation. An identical treatment was repeated at Week 8 if any AK lesions
      remained. RESULTS: Median AK clearance rate for ALA-treated subjects ranged from
      68% to 79% at Week 12, compared with 7% of the VEH-treated group (p < .0001).
      Complete clearance rate for ALA-treated subjects ranged from 17% (8/46) to 30%
      (14/47) at Week 12, compared with 2% (1/46) of the VEH-treated group (p = .0041).
      The safety profile seen in this study is consistent with previously reported side
      effects of the therapy. CONCLUSION: Short-incubation ALA-PDT was found to be
      superior to VEH-PDT for AK lesion clearance. A second treatment improves
      efficacy.

PMID- 26863597
TI  - Informed Consent, Use, and Storage of Digital Photography Among Mohs Surgeons in
      the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Digital photography is pervasive in dermatology. Potential uses
      include monitoring untreated disease, disease progression and treatment response,
      evaluating medical and cosmetic treatment, determining surgical sites, educating
      trainees and colleagues, and publishing reports in scientific journals. However,
      the nature of use, storage, and informed consent practices for digital
      photography among dermatologic surgeons has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE:
      This study used a comprehensive survey to elucidate these elements to better
      define standard practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was created on
      SurveyMonkey. An email with the survey link was sent to all members of the
      American College of Mohs Surgery listserv with 2 follow-up emails. RESULTS: One
      hundred fifty-eight Mohs surgeons responded to the survey. Respondents indicated
      a wide variety in the type of camera and storage modality used for patient
      photographs. There was a variety of opinions on how to conceal a patient's
      identity when using photographs for educational purposes, and what features of a
      photo make it identifiable. CONCLUSION: Dermatologic surgeons vary widely on
      practices of photo storage and opinions of identifiability. Dermatology as a
      specialty may consider generating a consensus statement on appropriate use and
      storage of digital photography in dermatology practice.

PMID- 26863598
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment of Forehead Lines: A
      Multicenter, Randomized, Dose-Ranging Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Various onabotulinumtoxinA doses are effective in treating forehead
      lines (FHL), with a trend toward lower doses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and
      safety of onabotulinumtoxinA dose-ranging treatment of FHL when the frontalis
      area and glabellar complex are treated together. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults
      with moderate-to-severe FHL received onabotulinumtoxinA 40 U (FHL, 20 U;
      glabellar lines [GL], 20 U), 30 U (FHL, 10 U; GL, 20 U), or placebo. Response was
      assessed at weeks 1, 2, day 30, and monthly to day 180. Coprimary efficacy end
      points were investigator- and subject-assessed Facial Wrinkle Scale scores of
      none or mild (day 30). Patient-reported outcomes, onset/duration of effect, and
      adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. RESULTS: Responder rates
      (investigator/subject, respectively) were 40-U group, 91.2%/89.5%; 30-U group,
      86.4%/81.4%; placebo, 1.7%/5.1%. OnabotulinumtoxinA resulted in significantly
      greater responder rates than placebo (p < .001). Adverse events were mild to
      moderate and similar between groups (most common AEs: nasopharyngitis [4.6%] and
      headache [4.0%]). CONCLUSION: Treatment of FHL with onabotulinumtoxinA 40 and 30
      U (in frontalis and glabellar complex muscles) was tolerable, effective, and
      sustained. Both doses significantly reduced FHL severity; however, the 40-U dose
      demonstrated a trend toward greater sustained benefit and longer duration of
      effect versus the 30-U dose, with similar AE rates.

PMID- 26863599
TI  - Defining the prognosis of chronic total occlusions during primary percutaneous
      coronary intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The influence of coexisting collateral circulation between chronic
      total occlusion (CTO) and infarct-related artery (IRA) in patients with acute ST
      segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. We aimed to
      investigate the impact of coexisting collateral circulation between CTO and IRA
      on early clinical outcomes in patients with acute STEMI. METHODS: A total of 1488
      consecutive acute STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary
      intervention were prospectively included in the study. After restoration of
      antegrade flow, the patients who had coexisting CTO and collateral supply from
      IRA were defined as the CTO-IRA-related (CIR) group (n=56). Patients with
      coexisting CTO but with no collateral supply from IRA were defined as the CTO-IRA
      unrelated (CIUR) group (n=104). Patients without coexisting CTO were defined as
      the non-CTO group (n=1328). RESULTS: Compared with the CIUR and non-CTO groups,
      the CIR group was significantly associated with higher Killip class of at least 2
      (P<0.001) at presentation, a lower rate of postprocedural thrombolysis in
      myocardial infarction 2/3 flow (P<0.001), and myocardial perfusion grade 3
      (P<0.001). Moreover, the CIR group had significantly higher in-hospital (P<0.001)
      and 30-day mortality (P<0.001). On multivariate regression analysis, the CIR
      group (odds ratio=15.96, 95% confidence interval=4.94-51.54; P<0.001) as well as
      age, post-PCI TIMI, Killip and NT-proBNP levels were independently associated
      with 30-day mortality. However, the CIUR group was not an independent predictor
      of early clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: After restoration of antegrade flow,
      coexisting CTO supplied by IRA collaterals has unfavourable effects on procedural
      success, enzymatic infarct size and postprocedural haemodynamic conditions. These
      collaterals are also independent predictors of 30-day mortality in acute STEMI
      patients.

PMID- 26863600
TI  - Establishment of Genome-edited Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines: From Targeting
      to Isolation.
AB  - Genome-editing of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides a genetically
      controlled and clinically relevant platform from which to understand human
      development and investigate the pathophysiology of disease. By employing site
      specific nucleases (SSNs) for genome editing, the rapid derivation of new hPSC
      lines harboring specific genetic alterations in an otherwise isogenic setting
      becomes possible. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like
      effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic
      repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 are the most commonly used SSNs. All of these nucleases
      function by introducing a double stranded DNA break at a specified site, thereby
      promoting precise gene editing at a genomic locus. SSN-meditated genome editing
      exploits two of the cell's endogenous DNA repair mechanisms, non-homologous end
      joining (NHEJ) and homology directed repair (HDR), to either introduce
      insertion/deletion mutations or alter the genome using a homologous repair
      template at the site of the double stranded break. Electroporation of hPSCs is an
      efficient means of transfecting SSNs and repair templates that incorporate
      transgenes such as fluorescent reporters and antibiotic resistance cassettes.
      After electroporation, it is possible to isolate only those hPSCs that
      incorporated the repair construct by selecting for antibiotic resistance.
      Mechanically separating hPSC colonies and confirming proper integration at the
      target site through genotyping allows for the isolation of correctly targeted and
      genetically homogeneous cell lines. The validity of this protocol is demonstrated
      here by using all three SSN platforms to incorporate EGFP and a puromycin
      resistance construct into the AAVS1 safe harbor locus in human pluripotent stem
      cells.

PMID- 26863602
TI  - Prevalence of colorectal adenomas in asymptomatic young adults: a window to early
      intervention?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of colorectal adenoma is increasing in the average-risk
      population. However, little research is available on colorectal adenoma in young
      adults under age 40. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and
      risk factors of colorectal adenoma in 20- to 39-year-old adults. METHODS: We
      evaluated 4286 asymptomatic young adults aged 20 to 39 years who underwent first
      colonoscopy screening as part of an employer-provided health wellness programme
      at the Health Promotion Centre of Samsung Changwon Hospital, Korea from January
      2011 to December 2013. Logistic regression modelling was used to identify risk
      factors for colorectal adenoma in asymptomatic young adults. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of colorectal adenoma and advanced adenoma was 11.6% (497/4286) and
      0.9% (39/4286), respectively. By age group, the prevalence of colorectal adenoma
      was 5.4% (33/608) in participants aged 20 to 29 years and 12.6% (464/3678) in
      participants aged 30 to 39. Colorectal adenoma was found in 13.1% (403/3072) of
      men and 7.7% (94/1214) of women. Increased risk of colorectal adenoma was
      associated with age over 30 years (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.64-3.42), current smoker
      status (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14-1.91), and alcohol consumption (OR, 1.29; 95% CI,
      1.03-1.63). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that even if the prevalence of
      colorectal adenoma was low in young adults aged 20 to 39, being over 30,
      cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption can affect young adults who have no
      other CRC risks.

PMID- 26863601
TI  - Influences of XDH genotype by gene-gene interactions with SUCLA2 for thiopurine
      induced leukopenia in Korean patients with Crohn's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The impact of genetic variation in the thiopurine S-methyltransferase
      (TPMT) gene on thiopurine-induced leukopenia has been well demonstrated. Although
      xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is the second major contributor to azathioprine
      breakdown, polymorphisms in XDH have rarely been studied in IBD patients. We aim
      to access association between XDH variants and thiopurine-induced leukopenia by
      gene-gene interaction in a Crohn's disease (CD) population. STUDY: A total of 964
      CD patients treated with thiopurines were recruited from a tertiary referral
      center. The association between four XDH variants (p.Gly172Arg, p.Asn1109Thr,
      p.Arg149Cys, and p.Thr910Lys) and thiopurine-induced leukopenia was analyzed in
      cases with early leukopenia (n = 66), late leukopenia (n = 264), and in controls
      without leukopenia (n = 632). Three non-synonymous SNPs, which we previously
      reported association with thiopurine-induced leukopenia, NUDT15 (p.Arg139Cys),
      SUCLA2 (p.Ser199Thr), and TPMT *3C were selected for epistasis analysis with the
      XDH variants. RESULTS: There was no significant association for two variants of
      XDH and thiopurine-induced leukopenia. In the epistasis analysis, only XDH
      (p.Asn1109Thr) * SUCLA2 (p.Ser199Thr) showed a statistically significant
      association with early leukopenia [odds ratio (OR) = 0.16; p = 0.03]. After
      genotype stratification, a positive association on the background of SUCLA2 wild
      type (199Ser) between the XDH (p.Asn1109Thr) and early leukopenia (OR = 4.39; p =
      0.01) was detected. CONCLUSION: Genes associated with thiopurine-induced
      leukopenia can act in a complex interactive manner. Further studies are warranted
      to explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of the combination of XDH
      (p.Asn1109Thr) and SUCLA2 (199Ser) on thiopurine-induced leukopenia.

PMID- 26863603
TI  - Quasi Two-Dimensional Dye-Sensitized In2O3 Phototransistors for Ultrahigh
      Responsivity and Photosensitivity Photodetector Applications.
AB  - We report the development of dye-sensitized thin-film phototransistors consisting
      of an ultrathin layer (<10 nm) of indium oxide (In2O3) the surface of which is
      functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer of the light absorbing organic dye
      D102. The resulting transistors exhibit a preferential color photoresponse
      centered in the wavelength region of ~500 nm with a maximum photosensitivity of
      ~10(6) and a responsivity value of up to 2 * 10(3) A/W. The high photoresponse is
      attributed to internal signal gain and more precisely to charge carriers
      generated upon photoexcitation of the D102 dye which lead to the generation of
      free electrons in the semiconducting layer and to the high photoresponse
      measured. Due to the small amount of absorption of visible photons, the hybrid
      In2O3/D102 bilayer channel appears transparent with an average optical
      transmission of >92% in the wavelength range 400-700 nm. Importantly, the
      phototransistors are processed from solution-phase at temperatures below 200 
      degrees C hence making the technology compatible with inexpensive and temperature
      sensitive flexible substrate materials such as plastic. 

PMID- 26863605
TI  - Further We Travel the Faster We Go.
AB  - The average travelling speed increases in a nontrivial manner with the travel
      distance. This leads to scaling-like relations on quite extended spatial scales,
      for all mobility modes taken together and also for a given mobility mode in part.
      We offer a wide range of experimental results, investigating and quantifying this
      universal effect and its measurable causes. The increasing travelling speed with
      the travel distance arises from the combined effects of: choosing the most
      appropriate travelling mode; the structure of the travel networks; the travel
      times lost in the main hubs, starting or target cities; and the speed limit of
      roads and vehicles. 

PMID- 26863604
TI  - PI(4)P Promotes Phosphorylation and Conformational Change of Smoothened through
      Interaction with Its C-terminal Tail.
AB  - In Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, binding of Hh to the Patched-Interference Hh (Ptc
      Ihog) receptor complex relieves Ptc inhibition on Smoothened (Smo). A
      longstanding question is how Ptc inhibits Smo and how such inhibition is relieved
      by Hh stimulation. In this study, we found that Hh elevates production of
      phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P). Increased levels of PI(4)P promote,
      whereas decreased levels of PI(4)P inhibit, Hh signaling activity. We further
      found that PI(4)P directly binds Smo through an arginine motif, which then
      triggers Smo phosphorylation and activation. Moreover, we identified the
      pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (Gprk2) as
      an essential component for enriching PI(4)P and facilitating Smo activation.
      PI(4)P also binds mouse Smo (mSmo) and promotes its phosphorylation and ciliary
      accumulation. Finally, Hh treatment increases the interaction between Smo and
      PI(4)P but decreases the interaction between Ptc and PI(4)P, indicating that, in
      addition to promoting PI(4)P production, Hh regulates the pool of PI(4)P
      associated with Ptc and Smo. 

PMID- 26863607
TI  - Respiratory Health - Exposure Measurements and Modeling in the Fragrance and
      Flavour Industry.
AB  - Although the flavor and fragrance industry is about 150 years old, the use of
      synthetic materials started more than 100 years ago, and the awareness of the
      respiratory hazard presented by some flavoring substances emerged only recently.
      In 2001, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
      identified for the first time inhalation exposure to flavoring substances in the
      workplace as a possible occupational hazard. As a consequence, manufacturers must
      comply with a variety of workplace safety requirements, and management has to
      ensure the improvement of health and safety of the employees exposed to hazardous
      volatile organic compounds. In this sensitive context, MANE opened its facilities
      to an intensive measuring campaign with the objective to better estimate the real
      level of hazardous respiratory exposure of workers. In this study, exposure to 27
      hazardous volatile substances were measured during several types of handling
      operations (weighing-mixing, packaging, reconditioning-transferring), 430
      measurement results were generated, and were exploited to propose an improved
      model derived from the well-known ECETOC-TRA model. The quantification of
      volatile substances in the working atmosphere involved three main steps:
      adsorption of the chemicals on a solid support, thermal desorption, followed by
      analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our approach was to examine
      experimental measures done in various manufacturing workplaces and to define
      correction factors to reflect more accurately working conditions and habits. Four
      correction factors were adjusted in the ECETOC-TRA to integrate important
      exposure variation factors: exposure duration, percentage of the substance in the
      composition, presence of collective protective equipment and wearing of personal
      protective equipment. Verification of the validity of the model is based on the
      comparison of the values obtained after adaptation of the ECETOC-TRA model,
      according to various exposure scenarios, with the experimental values measured
      under real conditions. After examination of the predicted results, 98% of the
      values obtained with the proposed new model were above the experimental values
      measured in real conditions. This must be compared with the results of the
      classical ECETOC-TRA system, which generates only 37% of overestimated values. As
      the values generated by the new model intended to help decision-makers of the
      industry to implement adapted protective action and information, and considering
      the high variability of the working environments, it was of the utmost importance
      to us not to underestimate the exposure level. The proposed correction factors
      have been designed to achieve this goal. We wish to propose the present method as
      an improved monitoring tool to improve respiratory health and safety in the
      flavor and fragrance manufacturing facilities. 

PMID- 26863608
TI  - Size and Sex-Dependent Shrinkage of Dutch Bees during One-and-a-Half Centuries of
      Land-Use Change.
AB  - Land-use change and global warming are important factors driving bee decline, but
      it is largely unknown whether these drivers have resulted in changes in the life
      history traits of bees. Recent studies have shown a stronger population decline
      of large- than small-bodied bee species, suggesting there may have been selective
      pressure on large, but not on small species to become smaller. Here we test this
      hypothesis by analyzing trends in bee body size of 18 Dutch species over a 147
      year period using specimens from entomological collections. Large-bodied female
      bees shrank significantly faster than small-bodied female bees (6.5% and 0.5%
      respectively between 1900 and 2010). Changes in temperature during the flight
      period of bees did not influence the size-dependent shrinkage of female bees.
      Male bees did not shrink significantly over the same time period. Our results
      could imply that under conditions of declining habitat quantity and quality it is
      advantageous for individuals to be smaller. The size and sex-dependent responses
      of bees point towards an evolutionary response but genetic studies are required
      to confirm this. The declining body size of the large bee species that currently
      dominate flower visitation of both wild plants and insect-pollinated crops may
      have negative consequences for pollination service delivery. 

PMID- 26863606
TI  - Toward Good Read-Across Practice (GRAP) guidance.
AB  - Grouping of substances and utilizing read-across of data within those groups
      represents an important data gap filling technique for chemical safety
      assessments. Categories/analogue groups are typically developed based on
      structural similarity and, increasingly often, also on mechanistic (biological)
      similarity. While read-across can play a key role in complying with legislations
      such as the European REACH regulation, the lack of consensus regarding the extent
      and type of evidence necessary to support it often hampers its successful
      application and acceptance by regulatory authorities. Despite a potentially broad
      user community, expertise is still concentrated across a handful of organizations
      and individuals. In order to facilitate the effective use of read-across, this
      document aims to summarize the state-of-the-art, summarizes insights learned from
      reviewing ECHA published decisions as far as the relative successes/pitfalls
      surrounding read-across under REACH and compile the relevant activities and
      guidance documents. Special emphasis is given to the available existing tools and
      approaches, an analysis of ECHA's published final decisions associated with all
      levels of compliance checks and testing proposals, the consideration and
      expression of uncertainty, the use of biological support data and the impact of
      the ECHA Read-Across Assessment Framework (RAAF) published in 2015. 

PMID- 26863609
TI  - Development and validation of a large, modular test meal with liquid and solid
      components for assessment of gastric motor and sensory function by non-invasive
      imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Current investigations of stomach function are based on small test
      meals that do not reliably induce symptoms and analysis techniques that rarely
      detect clinically relevant dysfunction. This study introduces the large
      'Nottingham Test Meal' (NTM) for assessment of gastric motor and sensory function
      by non-invasive imaging. METHODS: NTM comprises 400 mL liquid nutrient (0.75
      kcal/mL) and 12 solid agar-beads (0 kcal) with known breaking strength. Gastric
      fullness and dyspeptic sensations were documented by 100 mm visual analogue scale
      (VAS). Gastric emptying (GE) were measured in 24 healthy volunteers (HVs) by
      gastric scintigraphy (GS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The contribution
      of secretion to gastric volume was assessed. Parameters that describe GE were
      calculated from validated models. Inter-observer agreement and reproducibility
      were assessed. KEY RESULTS: NTM produced moderate fullness (VAS >=30) but no more
      than mild dyspeptic symptoms (VAS <30) in 24 HVs. Stable binding of meal
      components to labels in gastric conditions was confirmed. Distinct early and late
      phase GE were detected by both modalities. Liquid GE half-time was median 49 (95%
      CI: 36-62) min and 68 (57-71) min for GS and MRI, respectively. Differences
      between GS and MRI measurements were explained by the contribution of gastric
      secretion. Breaking strength for agar-beads was 0.8 N/m(2) such that median 25 (8
      50) % intact agar-beads and 65 (47-74) % solid material remained at 120 min on
      MRI and GS, respectively. Good reproducibility for liquid GE parameters was
      present and GE was not altered by agar-beads. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: The NTM
      provided an objective assessment of gastric motor and sensory function. The
      results were reproducible and liquid emptying was not affected by non-nutrient
      agar-beads. The method is potentially suitable for clinical practice.

PMID- 26863611
TI  - Survival after Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer in Relation to Prior Non
      Muscle Invasive Disease in Quebec.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess if there is a
      difference in survival after radical cystectomy (RC) when examined in relation to
      prior non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) disease vs. invasive cancer de
      novo at time of diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all
      patients who underwent RC within Quebec health insurance medical services
      database during the years (2000-2009). Overall survival (OS) outcome was assessed
      with Kaplan-Meier curves and hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for age and gender.
      RESULTS: A total of 2,671 subjects met the eligibility criteria. Among them,
      19.8% had presumed prior NMIBC that further progressed to invasive disease.
      Median survival after RC for patients with presumed prior NMIBC was 4.3 years as
      compared to patients with presumed invasive disease de novo 3.7 years (p = 0.007,
      Wilcoxon test). Patients with presumed NMIBC at the time of diagnosis had a 16%
      decrease in the risk of mortality after RC, when compared to patients with
      presumed invasive BC de novo (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.96 (p = 0.0166)).
      CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a slightly better prognosis, regarding OS after
      RC for patients with presumed NMIBC who progressed to invasive disease, when
      compared to patients with presumed invasive disease de novo at the time of
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26863610
TI  - All Roads Lead to Rome: Exploring Human Migration to the Eternal City through
      Biochemistry of Skeletons from Two Imperial-Era Cemeteries (1st-3rd c AD).
AB  - Migration within the Roman Empire occurred at multiple scales and was engaged in
      both voluntarily and involuntarily. Because of the lengthy tradition of classical
      studies, bioarchaeological analyses must be fully contextualized within the
      bounds of history, material culture, and epigraphy. In order to assess migration
      to Rome within an updated contextual framework, strontium isotope analysis was
      performed on 105 individuals from two cemeteries associated with Imperial Rome
      Casal Bertone and Castellaccio Europarco-and oxygen and carbon isotope analyses
      were performed on a subset of 55 individuals. Statistical analysis and
      comparisons with expected local ranges found several outliers who likely
      immigrated to Rome from elsewhere. Demographics of the immigrants show men and
      children migrated, and a comparison of carbon isotopes from teeth and bone
      samples suggests the immigrants may have significantly changed their diet. These
      data represent the first physical evidence of individual migrants to Imperial
      Rome. This case study demonstrates the importance of employing bioarchaeology to
      generate a deeper understanding of a complex ancient urban center. 

PMID- 26863612
TI  - Posterior Corneal Elevation after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction for
      Moderate and High Myopia.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the changes of posterior corneal elevation after small
      incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for moderate and high myopia. METHODS: In
      this prospective study, fifty consecutive eyes of thirty patients (10 male, 20
      female) who underwent SMILE for myopia and myopic astigmatism were included. Eyes
      were divided in two groups based on the preoperative spherical equivalent
      refraction: high myopia group (32 eyes, range -6.25D to -10.00D) and moderate
      myopia group (18 eyes, range -3.00D to -6.00D). Posterior corneal surfaces were
      measured by a Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam, Oculus Germany) preoperatively and 1
      month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively. Posterior central
      elevation (PCE) and posterior mean elevation (PME) at 17 predetermined points in
      the central-4mm area above the best-fit sphere were analyzed. RESULTS: No
      significant difference in the amount of posterior corneal elevation changes in
      the high myopia group was noted over time (P = 0.23 and P = 0.94 for PCE and PME,
      respectively). Similarly, the changes in the moderate myopia group before and
      after SMILE were not significant either (P = 0.34 and P = 0.40 for PCE and PME).
      A statistically significant correlation was found between the residual bed
      thickness and the shift of the PCE in the high myopia group at 12 months
      postoperatively (r = 0.53, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study
      suggest that the posterior corneal surface remain stable within one year after
      SMILE for both moderate and high myopia. The changes of PCE correlate to the
      residual bed thickness for high myopia. Long-term changes of posterior corneal
      surface need further investigation.

PMID- 26863613
TI  - CRYbetaA3/A1-Crystallin Knockout Develops Nuclear Cataract and Causes Impaired
      Lysosomal Cargo Clearance and Calpain Activation.
AB  - betaA3/A1-crystallin is an abundant structural protein of the lens that is very
      critical for lens function. Many different genetic mutations have been shown to
      associate with different types of cataracts in humans and in animal models.
      betaA3/A1-crystallin has four Greek key-motifs that organize into two crystallin
      domains. It shown to bind calcium with moderate affinity and has putative calcium
      binding site. Other than in the lens, betaA3/A1 is also expressed in retinal
      astrocytes, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and retinal ganglion cells.
      The function of betaA3/A1-crystallin in the retinal cell types is well studied;
      however, a clear understanding of the function of this protein in the lens has
      not yet been established. In the current study, we generated the betaA3/A1
      crystallin knockout (KO) mouse and explored the function of betaA3/A1-crystallin
      in lens development. Our results showed that betaA3-KO mice develop congenital
      nuclear cataract and exhibit persistent fetal vasculature condition. At the
      cellular level KO lenses show defective lysosomal clearance and accumulation of
      nuclei, mitochondria, and autophagic cargo in the outer cortical region of the
      lens. In addition, the calcium level and the expression and activity of calpain-3
      were increased in KO lenses. Taken together, these results suggest the lack of
      betaA3-crystallin function in lenses, alters calcium homeostasis which in turn
      causes lysosomal defects and calpain activation. These defects are responsible
      for the development of nuclear cataract in KO lenses. 

PMID- 26863614
TI  - Dominant-Negative Effects of Adult-Onset Huntingtin Mutations Alter the Division
      of Human Embryonic Stem Cells-Derived Neural Cells.
AB  - Mutations of the huntingtin protein (HTT) gene underlie both adult-onset and
      juvenile forms of Huntington's disease (HD). HTT modulates mitotic spindle
      orientation and cell fate in mouse cortical progenitors from the ventricular
      zone. Using human embryonic stem cells (hESC) characterized as carrying mutations
      associated with adult-onset disease during pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, we
      investigated the influence of human HTT and of an adult-onset HD mutation on
      mitotic spindle orientation in human neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from hESCs.
      The RNAi-mediated silencing of both HTT alleles in neural stem cells derived from
      hESCs disrupted spindle orientation and led to the mislocalization of dynein, the
      p150Glued subunit of dynactin and the large nuclear mitotic apparatus (NuMA)
      protein. We also investigated the effect of the adult-onset HD mutation on the
      role of HTT during spindle orientation in NSCs derived from HD-hESCs. By
      combining SNP-targeting allele-specific silencing and gain-of-function
      approaches, we showed that a 46-glutamine expansion in human HTT was sufficient
      for a dominant-negative effect on spindle orientation and changes in the
      distribution within the spindle pole and the cell cortex of dynein, p150Glued and
      NuMA in neural cells. Thus, neural derivatives of disease-specific human
      pluripotent stem cells constitute a relevant biological resource for exploring
      the impact of adult-onset HD mutations of the HTT gene on the division of neural
      progenitors, with potential applications in HD drug discovery targeting HTT
      dynein-p150Glued complex interactions. 

PMID- 26863615
TI  - Sustained Enhancement of Lateral Inhibitory Circuit Maintains Cross Modal
      Cortical Reorganization.
AB  - Deprivation of one modality can lead to the improvement of other intact
      modalities. We have previously reported that visual deprivation drives AMPA
      receptors into synapses from layer4 to 2/3 in the barrel cortex and sharpens
      functional whisker-barrel map at layer2/3 2 days after the beginning of visual
      deprivation. Enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission at layer4-2/3 synapses is
      transient and returns to the base line level a week after the beginning of visual
      deprivation. Here we found that sharpened whisker-barrel function is maintained
      at least for a week in visually deprived animals. While increased AMPA receptor
      mediated synaptic transmission at layer4-2/3 synapses dropped to the base line a
      week after the beginning of visual deprivation, lateral inhibitory synaptic
      transmission onto the neighboring barrel was kept strengthened for a week of
      visually deprived animals. Thus, transient strengthening of excitatory synapses
      at layer4-2/3 in the barrel cortex could trigger the enhancement of inhibitory
      inputs to neighboring barrel, and sustained lateral inhibition can maintain the
      sharpening of whisker-barrel map in visually deprived animals. 

PMID- 26863616
TI  - Lamellipodia and Membrane Blebs Drive Efficient Electrotactic Migration of Rat
      Walker Carcinosarcoma Cells WC 256.
AB  - The endogenous electric field (EF) may provide an important signal for
      directional cell migration during wound healing, embryonic development and cancer
      metastasis but the mechanism of cell electrotaxis is poorly understood.
      Additionally, there is no research addressing the question on the difference in
      electrotactic motility of cells representing various strategies of cell movement
      specifically blebbing vs. lamellipodial migration. In the current study we
      constructed a unique experimental model which allowed for the investigation of
      electrotactic movement of cells of the same origin but representing different
      modes of cell migration: weakly adherent, spontaneously blebbing (BC) and
      lamellipodia forming (LC) WC256 cells. We report that both BC and LC sublines
      show robust cathodal migration in a physiological EF (1-3 V/cm). The
      directionality of cell movement was completely reversible upon reversing the
      field polarity. However, the full reversal of cell direction after the change of
      EF polarity was much faster in the case of BC (10 minutes) than LC cells (30
      minutes). We also investigated the distinct requirements for Rac, Cdc42 and Rho
      pathways and intracellular Ca2+ in electrotaxis of WC256 sublines forming
      different types of cell protrusions. It was found that Rac1 is required for
      directional movement of LC to a much greater extent than for BC, but Cdc42 and
      RhoA are more crucial for BC than for LC cells. The inhibition of ROCK did not
      affect electrotaxis of LC in contrast to BC cells. The results also showed that
      intracellular Ca2+ is essential only for the electrotactic reaction of BC cells.
      Moreover, inhibition of MLCK and myosin II did not affect the electrotaxis of LC
      in contrast to BC cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that both
      lamellipodia and membrane blebs can efficiently drive electrotactic migration of
      WC 256 carcinosarcoma cells, however directional migration is mediated by
      different signalling pathways. 

PMID- 26863617
TI  - Population Based National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey among Adults (>15 Years)
      in Pakistan, 2010-2011.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)
      amongst the adult population in 2010-2011 in Pakistan. METHOD: A nationwide cross
      sectional survey with multistage cluster sampling was conducted among adults
      (>=15 years) in 95 clusters in 2010-2011. All consenting participants were
      screened for cough and by chest X-ray. Participants with presumptive TB submitted
      two sputum samples for smear microscopy, culture, and molecular testing if
      needed. The TB prevalence estimates were adjusted for missing data and the
      cluster design. RESULT: Of 131,329 eligible individuals, 105,913 (81%)
      participated in the survey, of whom 10,471 (9.9%) were eligible for sputum
      examination. We found 341 bacteriologically positive TB cases of whom 233 had
      sputum smear-positive TB. The adjusted prevalence estimates for smear and
      bacteriologically positive TB were 270/100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 217
      323), and 398/100,000 (95% CI 333-463), respectively. Only 61% of the diagnosed
      TB cases screened positive on symptoms (cough >2wks), whereas the other TB cases
      were detected based on X-ray abnormalities. The TB prevalence increased with age
      and was 1.8 times higher among men than women. The prevalence-to-notification
      ratio of smear-positive TB was 3.1 (95% CI 2.5-3.7), was higher among men than
      women, and increased with age. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that there is under
      detection and/or -notification of TB, especially among men and elderly. TB
      control should be strengthened specifically in these risk groups. X-ray
      examination should be combined with symptom screening to enhance case detection.

PMID- 26863618
TI  - High Spatial Resolution Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance at 7.0 Tesla in
      Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - First Experiences: Lesson Learned
      from 7.0 Tesla.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) provides valuable information
      in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) based on myocardial tissue
      differentiation and the detection of small morphological details. CMR at 7.0T
      improves spatial resolution versus today's clinical protocols. This capability is
      as yet untapped in HCM patients. We aimed to examine the feasibility of CMR at
      7.0T in HCM patients and to demonstrate its capability for the visualization of
      subtle morphological details. METHODS: We screened 131 patients with HCM. 13
      patients (9 males, 56 +/-31 years) and 13 healthy age- and gender-matched
      subjects (9 males, 55 +/-31years) underwent CMR at 7.0T and 3.0T (Siemens,
      Erlangen, Germany). For the assessment of cardiac function and morphology, 2D
      CINE imaging was performed (voxel size at 7.0T: (1.4x1.4x2.5) mm3 and
      (1.4x1.4x4.0) mm3; at 3.0T: (1.8x1.8x6.0) mm3). Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)
      was performed at 3.0T for detection of fibrosis. RESULTS: All scans were
      successful and evaluable. At 3.0T, quantification of the left ventricle (LV)
      showed similar results in short axis view vs. the biplane approach (LVEDV, LVESV,
      LVMASS, LVEF) (p = 0.286; p = 0.534; p = 0.155; p = 0.131). The LV-parameters
      obtained at 7.0T where in accordance with the 3.0T data (pLVEDV = 0.110; pLVESV =
      0.091; pLVMASS = 0.131; pLVEF = 0.182). LGE was detectable in 12/13 (92%) of the
      HCM patients. High spatial resolution CINE imaging at 7.0T revealed hyperintense
      regions, identifying myocardial crypts in 7/13 (54%) of the HCM patients. All
      crypts were located in the LGE-positive regions. The crypts were not detectable
      at 3.0T using a clinical protocol. CONCLUSIONS: CMR at 7.0T is feasible in
      patients with HCM. High spatial resolution gradient echo 2D CINE imaging at 7.0T
      allowed the detection of subtle morphological details in regions of extended
      hypertrophy and LGE.

PMID- 26863620
TI  - Rigorous Training of Dogs Leads to High Accuracy in Human Scent Matching-To
      Sample Performance.
AB  - Human scent identification is based on a matching-to-sample task in which trained
      dogs are required to compare a scent sample collected from an object found at a
      crime scene to that of a suspect. Based on dogs' greater olfactory ability to
      detect and process odours, this method has been used in forensic investigations
      to identify the odour of a suspect at a crime scene. The excellent reliability
      and reproducibility of the method largely depend on rigor in dog training. The
      present study describes the various steps of training that lead to high
      sensitivity scores, with dogs matching samples with 90% efficiency when the
      complexity of the scents presented during the task in the sample is similar to
      that presented in the in lineups, and specificity reaching a ceiling, with no
      false alarms in human scent matching-to-sample tasks. This high level of accuracy
      ensures reliable results in judicial human scent identification tests. Also, our
      data should convince law enforcement authorities to use these results as official
      forensic evidence when dogs are trained appropriately. 

PMID- 26863619
TI  - A Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the HJURP Gene Associated with
      Susceptibility to Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Chinese.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: HJURP (Holliday Junction-Recognizing Protein) plays dual roles in DNA
      repair and in accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis. We examined whether
      the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HJURP were associated with the risk
      of occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among chronic hepatitis B virus
      (HBV) carriers from well-known high-risk regions for HCC in China. METHODS:
      Twenty-four haplotype-tagging SNPs across HJURP were selected from HapMap data
      using the Haploview software. We genotyped these 24 SNPs using the using
      Sequenom's iPLEX assay in the Fusui population, consisting of 348 patients with
      HCC and 359 cancer-free controls, and further investigated the significantly
      associated SNP using the TaqMan assay in the Haimen population, consisting of 100
      cases and 103 controls. The genetic associations with the risk of HCC were
      analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: We observed an increased occurrence of
      HCC consistently associated with A/C or C/C genotypes of the non-synonymous SNP
      rs3771333 compared with the A/A genotype in both the Fusui and Haimen
      populations, with a pooled odds ratio 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.49; P
      = 1.9 * 10-4). Case-only analysis further indicated that carriers of the at-risk
      C allele were younger than those carrying the A/A genotype (P = 0.0016). In
      addition, the expression levels of HJURP in C allele carriers were lower than
      that in A/A genotype carriers (P = 0.0078 and 0.0010, for mRNA and protein
      levels, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that rs3771333 in HJURP
      may play a role in mediating the susceptibility to HCC among Chinese.

PMID- 26863621
TI  - Effect of Concentrated Fibroblast-Conditioned Media on In Vitro Maintenance of
      Rat Primary Hepatocyte.
AB  - The effects of concentrated fibroblast-conditioned media were tested to determine
      whether hepatocyte function can be maintained without direct contact between
      hepatocytes and fibroblasts. Primary rat hepatocytes cultured with a concentrated
      conditioned media of NIH-3T3 J2 cell line (final concentration of 55 mg/ml)
      showed significantly improved survival and functions (albumin and urea) compared
      to those of control groups. They also showed higher expression levels of mRNA,
      albumin and tyrosine aminotransferase compared to hepatocyte monoculture. The
      results suggest that culture with concentrated fibroblast-conditioned media could
      be an easy method for in vitro maintenance of primary hepatocytes. They also
      could be contribute to understand and analyze co-culture condition of hepatocyte
      with stroma cells. 

PMID- 26863622
TI  - The ER-Membrane Transport System Is Critical for Intercellular Trafficking of the
      NSm Movement Protein and Tomato Spotted Wilt Tospovirus.
AB  - Plant viruses move through plasmodesmata to infect new cells. The plant
      endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is interconnected among cells via the ER desmotubule
      in the plasmodesma across the cell wall, forming a continuous ER network
      throughout the entire plant. This ER continuity is unique to plants and has been
      postulated to serve as a platform for the intercellular trafficking of
      macromolecules. In the present study, the contribution of the plant ER membrane
      transport system to the intercellular trafficking of the NSm movement protein and
      Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) is investigated. We showed that TSWV NSm is
      physically associated with the ER membrane in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. An
      NSm-GFP fusion protein transiently expressed in single leaf cells was trafficked
      into neighboring cells. Mutations in NSm that impaired its association with the
      ER or caused its mis-localization to other subcellular sites inhibited cell-to
      cell trafficking. Pharmacological disruption of the ER network severely inhibited
      NSm-GFP trafficking but not GFP diffusion. In the Arabidopsis thaliana mutant
      rhd3 with an impaired ER network, NSm-GFP trafficking was significantly reduced,
      whereas GFP diffusion was not affected. We also showed that the ER-to-Golgi
      secretion pathway and the cytoskeleton transport systems were not involved in the
      intercellular trafficking of TSWV NSm. Importantly, TSWV cell-to-cell spread was
      delayed in the ER-defective rhd3 mutant, and this reduced viral infection was not
      due to reduced replication. On the basis of robust biochemical, cellular and
      genetic analysis, we established that the ER membrane transport system serves as
      an important direct route for intercellular trafficking of NSm and TSWV. 

PMID- 26863623
TI  - Climate and the Timing of Imported Cases as Determinants of the Dengue Outbreak
      in Guangzhou, 2014: Evidence from a Mathematical Model.
AB  - As the world's fastest spreading vector-borne disease, dengue was estimated to
      infect more than 390 million people in 2010, a 30-fold increase in the past half
      century. Although considered to be a non-endemic country, mainland China had
      55,114 reported dengue cases from 2005 to 2014, of which 47,056 occurred in 2014.
      Furthermore, 94% of the indigenous cases in this time period were reported in
      Guangdong Province, 83% of which were in Guangzhou City. In order to determine
      the possible determinants of the unprecedented outbreak in 2014, a population
      based deterministic model was developed to describe dengue transmission dynamics
      in Guangzhou. Regional sensitivity analysis (RSA) was adopted to calibrate the
      model and entomological surveillance data was used to validate the mosquito
      submodel. Different scenarios were created to investigate the roles of the timing
      of an imported case, climate, vertical transmission from mosquitoes to their
      offspring, and intervention. The results suggested that an early imported case
      was the most important factor in determining the 2014 outbreak characteristics.
      Precipitation and temperature can also change the transmission dynamics.
      Extraordinary high precipitation in May and August, 2014 appears to have
      increased vector abundance. Considering the relatively small number of cases in
      2013, the effect of vertical transmission was less important. The earlier and
      more frequent intervention in 2014 also appeared to be effective. If the
      intervention in 2014 was the same as that in 2013, the outbreak size may have
      been over an order of magnitude higher than the observed number of new cases in
      2014.The early date of the first imported and locally transmitted case was
      largely responsible for the outbreak in 2014, but it was influenced by
      intervention, climate and vertical transmission. Early detection and response to
      imported cases in the spring and early summer is crucial to avoid large outbreaks
      in the future. 

PMID- 26863624
TI  - Adsorption of Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles onto Hydroxyapatite Surfaces
      Differentially Alters Surfaces Properties and Adhesion of Human Osteoblast Cells.
AB  - Silicon (Si) is suggested to be an important/essential nutrient for bone and
      connective tissue health. Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si-HA) has silicate
      ions incorporated into its lattice structure and was developed to improve
      attachment to bone and increase new bone formation. Here we investigated the
      direct adsorption of silicate species onto an HA coated surface as a cost
      effective method of incorporating silicon on to HA surfaces for improved implant
      osseointegration, and determined changes in surface characteristics and
      osteoblast cell adhesion. Plasma-sprayed HA-coated stainless steel discs were
      incubated in silica dispersions of different concentrations (0-42 mM Si), at
      neutral pH for 12 h. Adsorbed Si was confirmed by XPS analysis and quantified by
      ICP-OES analysis following release from the HA surface. Changes in surface
      characteristics were determined by AFM and measurement of surface wettability.
      Osteoblast cell adhesion was determined by vinculin plaque staining. Maximum Si
      adsorption to the HA coated disc occurred after incubation in the 6 mM silica
      dispersion and decreased progressively with higher silica concentrations, while
      no adsorption was observed with dispersions below 6 mM Si. Comparison of the Si
      dispersions that produced the highest and lowest Si adsorption to the HA surface,
      by TEM-based analysis, revealed an abundance of small amorphous nanosilica
      species (NSP) of ~1.5 nm in diameter in the 6 mM Si dispersion, with much fewer
      and larger NSP in the 42 mM Si dispersions. 29Si-NMR confirmed that the NSPs in
      the 6 mM silica dispersion were polymeric and similar in composition to the
      larger NSPs in the 42 mM Si dispersion, suggesting that the latter were
      aggregates of the former. Amorphous NSP adsorbed from the 6 mM dispersion on to a
      HA-coated disc surface increased the surface's water contact angle by 53 degrees
      , whereas that adsorbed from the 42 mM dispersion decreased the contact angle by
      18 degrees , indicating increased and decreased hydrophobicity, respectively. AFM
      showed an increase in surface roughness of the 6 mM Si treated surface, which
      correlated well with an increase in number of vinculin plaques. These findings
      suggest that NSP of the right size (relative to charge) adsorb readily to the HA
      surface, changing the surface characteristics and, thus, improving osteoblast
      cell adhesion. This treatment provides a simple way to modify plasma-coated HA
      surfaces that may enable improved osseointegration of bone implants. 

PMID- 26863625
TI  - Retrospective Attention Gates Discrete Conscious Access to Past Sensory Stimuli.
AB  - Cueing attention after the disappearance of visual stimuli biases which items
      will be remembered best. This observation has historically been attributed to the
      influence of attention on memory as opposed to subjective visual experience. We
      recently challenged this view by showing that cueing attention after the stimulus
      can improve the perception of a single Gabor patch at threshold levels of
      contrast. Here, we test whether this retro-perception actually increases the
      frequency of consciously perceiving the stimulus, or simply allows for a more
      precise recall of its features. We used retro-cues in an orientation-matching
      task and performed mixture-model analysis to independently estimate the
      proportion of guesses and the precision of non-guess responses. We find that the
      improvements in performance conferred by retrospective attention are
      overwhelmingly determined by a reduction in the proportion of guesses, providing
      strong evidence that attracting attention to the target's location after its
      disappearance increases the likelihood of perceiving it consciously. 

PMID- 26863626
TI  - Reliability and Validity of an Interviewer-Administered Adaptation of the Youth
      Self-Report for Mental Health Screening of Vulnerable Young People in Ethiopia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the reliability and validity of the Youth Self-Report (YSR)
      as a screening tool for mental health problems among young people vulnerable to
      HIV in Ethiopia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional assessment of young people currently
      receiving social services. METHODS: Young people age 15-18 participated in a
      study where a translated and adapted version of the YSR was administered by
      trained nurses, followed by an assessment by Ethiopian psychiatrists. Internal
      reliability of YSR syndrome scales were assessed using Chronbach's alpha. Test
      retest reliability was assessed through repeating the YSR one month later. To
      assess validity, analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the YSR compared
      to the psychiatrist assessment was conducted. RESULTS: Across the eight syndrome
      scales, the YSR best measured the diagnosis of anxiety/depression and social
      problems among young women, and attention problems among young men. Among
      individual YSR syndrome scales, internal reliability ranged from unacceptable
      (Chronback's alpha = 0.11, rule-breaking behavior among young women) to good
      (alpha>=0.71, anxiety/depression among young women). Anxiety/depression scores of
      >=8.5 among young women also had good sensitivity (0.833) and specificity (0.754)
      to predict a true diagnosis. The YSR syndrome scales for social problems among
      young women and attention problems among young men also had fair consistency and
      validity measurements. Most YSR scores had significant positive correlations
      between baseline and post-one month administration. Measures of reliability and
      validity for most other YSR syndrome scales were fair to poor. CONCLUSIONS: The
      adapted, personally administered, Amharic version of the YSR has sufficient
      reliability and validity in identifying young vulnerable women with
      anxiety/depression and/or social problems, and young men with attention problems;
      which were the most common mental health disorders observed by psychiatrists
      among the migrant populations in this study. Further assessment of the
      applicability of the YSR among vulnerable young people for less common disorders
      in Ethiopia is needed.

PMID- 26863627
TI  - Dysphagia in Acute Stroke: Incidence, Burden and Impact on Clinical Outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reported frequency of post-stroke dysphagia in the literature is
      highly variable. In view of progress in stroke management, we aimed to assess the
      current burden of dysphagia in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We studied 570
      consecutive patients treated in a tertiary stroke center. Dysphagia was evaluated
      by using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). We investigated the relationship
      of dysphagia with pneumonia, length of hospital stay and discharge destination
      and compared rates of favourable clinical outcome and mortality at 3 months
      between dysphagic patients and those without dysphagia. RESULTS: Dysphagia was
      diagnosed in 118 of 570 (20.7%) patients and persisted in 60 (50.9%) at hospital
      discharge. Thirty-six (30.5%) patients needed nasogastric tube because of severe
      dysphagia. Stroke severity rather than infarct location was associated with
      dysphagia. Dysphagic patients suffered more frequently from pneumonia (23.1% vs.
      1.1%, p<0.001), stayed longer at monitored stroke unit beds (4.4+/-2.8 vs. 2.7+/
      2.4 days; p<0.001) and were less often discharged to home (19.5% vs. 63.7%, p =
      0.001) as compared to those without dysphagia. At 3 months, dysphagic patients
      less often had a favourable outcome (35.7% vs. 69.7%; p<0.001), less often lived
      at home (38.8% vs. 76.5%; p<0.001), and more often had died (13.6% vs. 1.6%;
      p<0.001). Multivariate analyses identified dysphagia to be an independent
      predictor of discharge destination and institutionalization at 3 months, while
      severe dysphagia requiring tube placement was strongly associated with mortality.
      CONCLUSION: Dysphagia still affects a substantial portion of stroke patients and
      may have a large impact on clinical outcome, mortality and institutionalization.

PMID- 26863629
TI  - miR-217 and CAGE form feedback loop and regulates the response to anti-cancer
      drugs through EGFR and HER2.
AB  - MicroRNA array analysis revealed that miR-217 expression was decreased in anti
      cancer drug-resistant Malme3MR cancer cells. CAGE, a cancer/testis antigen, was
      predicted as a target of miR-217. Luciferase activity and ChIP assays revealed a
      negative feedback relationship between CAGE and miR-217. miR-217 and CAGE
      oppositely regulated the response to anti-cancer drugs such as taxol, gefitinib
      and trastuzumab, an inhibitor of HER2. miR-217 negatively regulated the
      tumorigenic, metastatic, angiogenic, migration and invasion potential of cancer
      cells. The xenograft of Malme3MR cells showed an increased expression of
      pEGFRY845. CAGE and miR-217 inhibitor regulated the expression of pEGFRY845. CAGE
      showed interactions with EGFR and HER2 and regulated the in vivo sensitivity to
      trastuzumab. The down-regulation of EGFR or HER2 enhanced the sensitivity to anti
      cancer drugs. CAGE showed direct regulation of HER2 and was necessary for the
      interaction between EGFR and HER2 in Malme3MR cells. miR-217 inhibitor induced
      interactions of CAGE with EGFR and HER2 in Malme3M cells. The inhibition of EGFR
      by CAGE-binding GTGKT peptide enhanced the sensitivity to gefitinib and
      trastuzumab and prevented interactions of EGFR with CAGE and HER2. Our results
      show that miR-217-CAGE feedback loop serves as a target for overcoming resistance
      to various anti-cancer drugs, including EGFR and HER2 inhibitors. 

PMID- 26863628
TI  - Integrative radiogenomic analysis for multicentric radiophenotype in
      glioblastoma.
AB  - We postulated that multicentric glioblastoma (GBM) represents more invasiveness
      form than solitary GBM and has their own genomic characteristics. From May 2004
      to June 2010 we retrospectively identified 51 treatment-naive GBM patients with
      available clinical information from the Samsung Medical Center data registry.
      Multicentricity of the tumor was defined as the presence of multiple foci on the
      T1 contrast enhancement of MR images or having high signal for multiple lesions
      without contiguity of each other on the FLAIR image. Kaplan-Meier survival
      analysis demonstrated that multicentric GBM had worse prognosis than solitary GBM
      (median, 16.03 vs. 20.57 months, p < 0.05). Copy number variation (CNV) analysis
      revealed there was an increase in 11 regions, and a decrease in 17 regions, in
      the multicentric GBM. Gene expression profiling identified 738 genes to be
      increased and 623 genes to be decreased in the multicentric radiophenotype (p <
      0.001). Integration of the CNV and expression datasets identified twelve
      representative genes: CPM, LANCL2, LAMP1, GAS6, DCUN1D2, CDK4, AGAP2, TSPAN33,
      PDLIM1, CLDN12, and GTPBP10 having high correlation across CNV, gene expression
      and patient outcome. Network and enrichment analyses showed that the multicentric
      tumor had elevated fibrotic signaling pathways compared with a more proliferative
      and mitogenic signal in the solitary tumors. Noninvasive radiological imaging
      together with integrative radiogenomic analysis can provide an important tool in
      helping to advance personalized therapy for the more clinically aggressive subset
      of GBM. 

PMID- 26863630
TI  - EIF2S3Y suppresses the pluripotency state and promotes the proliferation of mouse
      embryonic stem cells.
AB  - Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, subunit 3, and structural gene Y
      linked (EIF2S3Y) is essential for spermatogenesis in mouse models. However, its
      effect on embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. In our observation,
      differentiated ES cells showed higher levels of EIF2S3Y. To further elucidate its
      role in ES cells, we utilized ES-derived EIF2S3Y-overexpressing cells and found
      that EIF2S3Y down-regulated the pluripotency state of ES cells, which might be
      explained by decreased histone methylation levels because of reduced levels of
      ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1). Moreover, EIF2S3Y-overexpressing cells showed
      an enhanced proliferation rate, which might be due to increased Cyclin A and
      Cyclin E levels. This study highlighted novel roles of EIF2S3Y in the
      pluripotency maintenance and proliferation control of ES cells, which would
      provide an efficient model to study germ cell generation as well as cancer
      development using ES cells, thus providing valuable target for clinical
      applications of ES cells. 

PMID- 26863631
TI  - Efficacy of continued cetuximab for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer
      after disease progression during first-line cetuximab-based chemotherapy: a
      retrospective cohort study.
AB  - This study assessed second-line continued use of cetuximab for treatment of
      unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after disease progression during
      first-line cetuximab-based therapy. Consecutive patients with wild-type KRAS exon
      2 and unresectable mCRC were retrospectively enrolled after disease progression
      during first-line cetuximab-based chemotherapy. Second-line continued cetuximab
      plus changed chemotherapy (cetuximab continuation group, n = 102) was compared
      with changed chemotherapy only (chemotherapy only group, n = 96) with respect to
      treatment efficacy and safety endpoints. NRAS and other KRAS genotypes were also
      detected as a post hoc analysis. The cetuximab continuation group showed better
      progression-free survival (median, 6.3 vs. 4.5 months, P = 0.004), overall
      survival (median, 17.3 vs. 14.0 months, P < 0.001) and disease control rate
      (70.6% vs. 53.1%, P = 0.011), and a potentially better overall response rate
      (18.6% vs. 9.4%, P = 0.062) than the chemotherapy only group. These benefits were
      seen mainly in patients with all RAS wild-type and exhibiting first-line early
      tumor shrinkage (ETS). For patients with other RAS mutations or who did not
      achieve first-line ETS, there was no difference between the two groups. These
      findings suggest that for patients with all RAS wild-type and unresectable mCRC
      who had disease progression during first-line cetuximab-based treatment, second
      line continued cetuximab is effective. Moreover, ETS during first-line cetuximab
      based treatment may be predictive of the efficacy of second-line continued
      cetuximab. 

PMID- 26863632
TI  - Oncogenic potential of histone-variant H2A.Z.1 and its regulatory role in cell
      cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in liver cancer.
AB  - H2A.Z is a highly conserved H2A variant, and two distinct H2A.Z isoforms, H2A.Z.1
      and H2A.Z.2, have been identified as products of two non-allelic genes, H2AFZ and
      H2AFV. H2A.Z has been reported to be overexpressed in breast, prostate and
      bladder cancers, but most studies did not clearly distinguish between isoforms.
      One recent study reported a unique role for the H2A.Z isoform H2A.Z.2 as a driver
      of malignant melanoma. Here we first report that H2A.Z.1 plays a pivotal role in
      the liver tumorigenesis by selectively regulating key molecules in cell cycle and
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). H2AFZ expression was significantly
      overexpressed in a large cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and
      high expression of H2AFZ was significantly associated with their poor prognosis.
      H2A.Z.1 overexpression was demonstrated in a subset of human HCC and cell lines.
      H2A.Z.1 knockdown suppressed HCC cell growth by transcriptional deregulation of
      cell cycle proteins and caused apoptotic cell death of HCC cells. We also
      observed that H2A.Z.1 knockdown reduced the metastatic potential of HCC cells by
      selectively modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulatory proteins such
      as E-cadherin and fibronectin. In addition, H2A.Z.1 knockdown reduced the in vivo
      tumor growth rate in a mouse xenograft model. In conclusion, our findings suggest
      the oncogenic potential of H2A.Z.1 in liver tumorigenesis and that it plays
      established role in accelerating cell cycle transition and EMT during
      hepatocarcinogenesis. This makes H2A.Z.1 a promising target in liver cancer
      therapy. 

PMID- 26863634
TI  - Large-scale profiling of signalling pathways reveals an asthma specific signature
      in bronchial smooth muscle cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) cells from asthmatic patients maintain
      in vitro a distinct hyper-reactive ("primed") phenotype, characterized by
      increased release of pro-inflammatory factors and mediators, as well as
      hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy. This "primed" phenotype helps to understand
      pathogenesis of asthma, as changes in BSM function are essential for
      manifestation of allergic and inflammatory responses and airway wall remodelling.
      OBJECTIVE: To identify signalling pathways in cultured primary BSMs of asthma
      patients and non-asthmatic subjects by genome wide profiling of differentially
      expressed mRNAs and activated intracellular signalling pathways (ISPs). METHODS:
      Transcriptome profiling by cap-analysis-of-gene-expression (CAGE), which permits
      selection of preferentially capped mRNAs most likely to be translated into
      proteins, was performed in human BSM cells from asthmatic (n=8) and non-asthmatic
      (n=6) subjects and OncoFinder tool were then exploited for identification of ISP
      deregulations. RESULTS: CAGE revealed >600 RNAs differentially expressed in
      asthma vs control cells (p<=0.005), with asthma samples showing a high degree of
      similarity among them. Comprehensive ISP activation analysis revealed that among
      269 pathways analysed, 145 (p<0.05) or 103 (p<0.01) are differentially active in
      asthma, with profiles that clearly characterize BSM cells of asthmatic
      individuals. Notably, we identified 7 clusters of coherently acting pathways
      functionally related to the disease, with ISPs down-regulated in asthma mostly
      targeting cell death-promoting pathways and up-regulated ones affecting cell
      growth and proliferation, inflammatory response, control of smooth muscle
      contraction and hypoxia-related signalization. CONCLUSIONS: These first-time
      results can now be exploited toward development of novel therapeutic strategies
      targeting ISP signatures linked to asthma pathophysiology.

PMID- 26863633
TI  - Examining plasma microRNA markers for colorectal cancer at different stages.
AB  - Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers; however, few
      miRNAs have been reproducible and can be used in clinical practice. In this
      study, we screened the levels of 754 miRNAs using TaqMan array in 50 individual
      plasma samples from 10 demographically matched healthy controls and 40 colorectal
      cancer (CRC) patients (10 each of stage I-IV) and identified 22 miRNAs associated
      with the presence of and stages of CRC. Then we performed the validation for 11
      miRNAs in an independent cohort including 187 CRC cases and 47 healthy controls.
      Comprehensive analyses showed that plasma miR-96 distinguished stage I-IV CRC
      from healthy controls with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.740; miR-203 separated
      stage III-IV CRC patients from stage I-II with an AUC of 0.757; and miR-141
      differentiated stage IV CRC from stage I-III patients with an AUC of 0.851.
      Survival analyses showed that plasma miR-96 and miR-200b were independent
      prognostic factors for overall survival. Thus, we propose four miRNAs (miR-96,
      miR-203, miR-141 and miR-200b) as clinically validated circulating biomarkers for
      CRC prognosis that warrant further evaluation for clinical utility. 

PMID- 26863636
TI  - The impact of ranitidine on monocyte responses in the context of solid tumors.
AB  - Monocytes and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been implicated on the
      regulation of tumor growth. Histamine is also important for regulating MDSC
      responses. Oral administration of the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine can
      inhibit breast tumor growth and metastasis. In the current study, we examined the
      impact of oral ranitidine treatment, at a clinically relevant dose, on multiple
      murine tumor models. The impact of ranitidine on monocyte responses and the role
      of CCR2 in ranitidine-induced tumor growth inhibition were also investigated.
      Oral ranitidine treatment did not reduce tumor growth in the B16-F10 melanoma,
      LLC1 lung cancer and EL4 thymoma models. However, it consistently reduced E0771
      primary tumor growth and metastasis in the 4T1 model. Ranitidine had no impact on
      E0771 tumor growth in mice deficient in CCR2, where monocyte recruitment to
      tumors was limited. Analysis of splenic monocytes also revealed an elevated ratio
      of H2 versus H1 expression from tumor-bearing compared with naive mice. More
      detailed examination of the role of ranitidine on monocyte development
      demonstrated a decrease in monocyte progenitor cells following ranitidine
      treatment. Taken together, these results reveal that H2 signaling may be a novel
      target to alter the monocyte population in breast tumor models, and that
      targeting H2 on monocytes via oral ranitidine treatment impacts effective tumor
      immunity. Ranitidine is widely used for control of gastrointestinal disorders.
      The potential role of ranitidine as an adjunct to immunotherapies for breast
      cancer and the potential impact of H2 antagonists on breast cancer outcomes
      should be considered. 

PMID- 26863635
TI  - Dynamics of cytotoxic T cell subsets during immunotherapy predicts outcome in
      acute myeloid leukemia.
AB  - Preventing relapse after chemotherapy remains a challenge in acute myeloid
      leukemia (AML). Eighty-four non-transplanted AML patients in first complete
      remission received relapse-preventive immunotherapy with histamine
      dihydrochloride and low-dose interleukin-2 in an international phase IV trial
      (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01347996). Blood samples were drawn during cycles of
      immunotherapy and analyzed for CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cell phenotypes in blood.
      During the first cycle of therapy, a re-distribution of cytotoxic T cells was
      observed comprising a reduction of T effector memory cells and a concomitant
      increase of T effector cells. The dynamics of T cell subtypes during
      immunotherapy prognosticated relapse and survival, in particular among older
      patients and remained significantly predictive of clinical outcome after
      correction for potential confounders. Presence of CD8+ T cells with specificity
      for leukemia-associated antigens identified patients with low relapse risk. Our
      results point to novel aspects of T cell-mediated immunosurveillance in AML and
      provide conceivable biomarkers in relapse-preventive immunotherapy. 

PMID- 26863637
TI  - Regression/eradication of gliomas in mice by a systemically-deliverable ATF5
      dominant-negative peptide.
AB  - Malignant gliomas have poor prognosis and urgently require new therapies.
      Activating Transcription Factor 5 (ATF5) is highly expressed in gliomas, and
      interference with its expression/function precipitates targeted glioma cell
      apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. We designed a novel deliverable truncated
      dominant-negative (d/n) form of ATF5 fused to a cell-penetrating domain (Pen-d/n
      ATF5-RP) that can be intraperitoneally/subcutaneously administered to mice
      harboring malignant gliomas generated; (1) by PDGF-B/sh-p53 retroviral
      transformation of endogenous neural progenitor cells; and (2) by human U87-MG
      xenografts. In vitro Pen-d/n-ATF5-RP entered into glioma cells and triggered
      massive apoptosis. In vivo, subcutaneously-administered Pen-d/n-ATF5-RP passed
      the blood brain barrier, entered normal brain and tumor cells, and then caused
      rapid selective tumor cell death. MRI verified elimination of retrovirus-induced
      gliomas within 8-21 days. Histopathology revealed growth-suppression of
      intracerebral human U87-MG cells xenografts. For endogenous PDGF-B gliomas, there
      was no recurrence or mortality at 6-12 months versus 66% mortality in controls at
      6 months. Necropsy and liver-kidney blood enzyme analysis revealed no adverse
      effects on brain or other tissues. Our findings thus identify Pen-d/n-ATF5-RP as
      a potential therapy for malignant gliomas. 

PMID- 26863638
TI  - Lovastatin lactone elicits human lung cancer cell apoptosis via a COX-2/PPARgamma
      dependent pathway.
AB  - Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors)
      are well-established agents to treat hyperlipidemic states. Experimental and
      epidemiological evidence further implies an anticancer effect of these
      substances. This study investigates the mechanism underlying human lung cancer
      cell death by lovastatin and the role of the prostaglandin (PG)-synthesizing
      enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in this process. In A549 and H358 lung carcinoma
      cells the lipophilic prodrug lovastatin lactone led to a concentration-dependent
      decrease of viability and induction of DNA fragmentation, whereas its HMG-CoA
      inhibitory, ring-open acid form was inactive in this respect. Apoptotic cell
      death by lovastatin was accompanied by high intracellular levels of the lactone
      form, by upregulation of COX-2 mRNA and protein, as well as by increased
      formation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma)
      activating PGD2 and 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-PGJ2. Cells were significantly less
      sensitive to lovastatin-induced apoptotic cell death, when the expression or
      activity of COX-2 was suppressed by siRNA or by the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398.
      Apoptosis by lovastatin was likewise reversed by the PPARgamma antagonist GW9662.
      Fluorescence microscopy analyses revealed a lovastatin-induced cytosol-to-nucleus
      translocation of PPARgamma that was inhibited by NS-398. Collectively, this study
      demonstrates COX-2 induction and subsequent COX-2-dependent activation of
      PPARgamma as a hitherto unknown mechanism by which lovastatin lactone induces
      human lung cancer cell death. 

PMID- 26863641
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26863639
TI  - The prognostic value of pretreatment CA-125 levels and CA-125 normalization in
      ovarian clear cell carcinoma: a two-academic-institute study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the clinical implications of
      pretreatment carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) levels and CA-125 normalization in
      patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC), and it provides useful
      information for the improvement of monitoring strategies for this lethal disease.
      METHODS: The medical records of patients with ovarian CCC who had undergone
      primary staging surgery or cytoreductive surgery followed by systemic
      chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. A range of clinico-pathological
      parameters were collected and examined. RESULTS: A total of 375 women were
      included in the analysis. FIGO stage (p < 0.001) was identified as the only
      significant prognostic factor for relapse. Residual tumor and advanced stage (p =
      0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) were identified as independent adverse factors
      for survival. The potential risk factors associated with elevated pretreatment CA
      125 levels included advanced-stage disease, positive residual tumors and negative
      endometriosis (p < 0.001, p = 0.001 and p <0.001, respectively). Pretreatment CA
      125 levels were not associated with relapse-free survival (RFS) or overall
      survival (OS) (p = 0.060 and p = 0.176, respectively). CA-125 normalization after
      chemotherapy exhibited a positive linear correlation with advanced stage (r =
      0.97, p = 0.001) and residual tumor (r = 0.81, p = 0.027) and a negative
      relationship with 5-year RFS (r = -0.97, p = 0.002) and 5-year OS (r = -0.97, p=
      0.001). Patients with CA-125 levels that normalized before cycle 2 of
      chemotherapy had a similar prognosis as patients whose CA-125 levels normalized
      prior to chemotherapy (RFS: p = 0.327; OS: p = 0.654). By contrast, patients with
      CA-125 levels that normalized after cycle 2 of chemotherapy or never normalized
      were significantly more likely to experience disease progression. CONCLUSIONS:
      Pretreatment CA-125 levels are not very useful for predicting clinical outcome.
      CA-125 levels following treatment are a valid indicator for treatment monitoring.
      CA-125 normalization after the completion of cycle 1 of chemotherapy represents a
      distinct inflection point for decreased RFS and OS.

PMID- 26863640
TI  - Combining complement fixation and luminol chemiluminescence for ultrasensitive
      detection of avian influenza A rH7N9.
AB  - The complement fixation test (CFT) is a serological test that can be used to
      detect the presence of either a specific antibody or antigen to diagnose
      infections. In a conventional CFT, the assay result is determined by observing
      the clarity of the reaction solution or the sediment of red cells by the naked
      eye. Although the assay conditions are thereafter simplified, the sensitivity of
      the assay would be sacrificed due to the limitation of bulk observation. Inspired
      by the forensic scientists to examine blood at the scene of the crime, we
      rationally argued that the luminol chemiluminescence (CL) reaction could be
      applied in the CFT to sense physiological complement-mediated haemolytic
      phenomena for sensitive protein detection. The combination of the CFT and the
      luminol CL system was demonstrated in detection of rH7N9, a recombinant avian
      influenza virus protein. The testing can be accomplished within 2.5 h and the
      linear detection range covers 0.25 fg mL(-1) to 25 ng mL(-1). The feasibility of
      the CL based CFT in assaying a real biopsy was successfully demonstrated by
      specifically detecting rH7N9 and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in human
      serum. This new type of protein detection approach inherits the beauty of
      complement-mediated assay, such as being fast, and no protein immobilization,
      blocking and washing. In addition, the participation of luminol CL enables us to
      quantitatively analyse the intensity of a haemeolysis process, ameliorating the
      limitation of bulk observation in traditional CFT. It is anticipated that the
      luminol CL-CFT assay would be particularly suitable for investigation of small
      molecules, toxins, and short peptides. 

PMID- 26863642
TI  - [The patient with intra-abdominal hypertension].
AB  - An intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) defined as a pathological increase in intra
      abdominal pressure (IAP) is commonly found on ICU admission or during the ICU
      stay. Several studies confirmed that an IAH is an independent predictor for
      mortality of critically ill patients. The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS)
      which is defined as a sustained IAP>20 mmHg (with or without an abdominal
      perfusion pressure [APP]<60mmHg) that is associated with new organ dysfunction or
      failure has a mortality of up to 60%. In general, an IAH may be induced by
      several intra-abdominal as well as extra-abdominal conditions. Reduced abdominal
      wall compliance, intra-abdominal pathologies (either of the peritoneal space or
      parenchymateous organs) may lead to an IAH. Most commonly, intra-abdominal
      infections and/or sepsis and severe trauma or burns are predisposing for an IAH.
      An early sign may be a decrease in urinary output. The effects of an increased
      IAP on cardiovascular function are well recognized and include negative effects
      on preload, afterload and contractility. However, all other compartments of the
      body may be affected by an IAH. Thus, by an increase of the respective
      compartment pressure, e.g. intracranial pressure, a poly-compartment syndrome may
      result. Adequate prevention, a forward-looking strategy, and objective techniques
      for measurement of IAP are required to avoid or early detect an IAH or ACS.
      Finally, an immediate and consequent interdisciplinary management using
      conservative, interventional and operative options are necessary to solve an IAH
      or ACS.

PMID- 26863643
TI  - [Management of acute pain therapy: guidelines, recommendations and current
      practice in german hospitals].
AB  - Organisational requirements and the education and training of stuff provide the
      basis for an adequate supply of quality in acute pain and should be the focus of
      efforts. Although organizational recommendations of the German guideline on
      "treatment of acute perioperative and post-traumatic pain" have been increasingly
      established in practice within the last few years, in many German hospitals there
      is still lagging far behind in the implementation of general supply conditions,
      such as regular pain measurement or the introduction of appropriate standardized
      treatment protocols for all areas of the hospital.As specialized care structures
      acute pain services have been implemented in 80% of the German hospitals, but
      only 45% of them meet quality criteria. Due to the heterogeneous realization of
      acute pain management in different hospitals, it comes apparent, that general
      guideline recommendations and binding definitions are required to achieve
      adequate supply conditions. 

PMID- 26863644
TI  - Dispersed Hydrogel Actuator for Modiolar Hugging Cochlear Implant Electrode
      Arrays.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cochlear implants are used in patients with profound deafness due to
      degeneration of hair cells inside the cochlea. As improvement for commercially
      available CIs with straight electrode arrays, it is desired that the electrode
      array hugs toward the nerve cells located at the central axis of the cochlea in
      order to reduce the stimulation distance. Therefore, we present a hydrogel-based
      actuated electrode shaft, which should bend itself when exposed to saline
      solution (simulating the intracochlear liquid perilymph). METHODS: In vitro tests
      with the electrode arrays were performed in a cochlea model. Different quantities
      and grain sizes of the hydrogel-building polymer (polyacrylamide) were used to
      study the self-bending effect. Furthermore, material interfaces between the
      components were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence
      microscopy, and an adapted tape test according to DIN EN ISO 2409. RESULTS: Self
      bending of the electrode array was observed in the cochlea model and a maximum
      number of 3.1 turns was achieved. No delamination between the components could be
      observed. CONCLUSION: After insertion, we expect that the electrode shaft moves
      into a patient individual perimodiolar position without losing its functionality
      because of a delamination of the components. SIGNIFICANCE: A modiolar hugging
      electrode design is presented, which may improve hearing restauration with
      cochlear implants due to an easier insertion technique and a patient
      individualized hugging to the modiolus.

PMID- 26863645
TI  - Steerable Catheters in Cardiology: Classifying Steerability and Assessing Future
      Challenges.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This review aims to provide a structured classification of the
      underlying steering mechanisms in steerable catheters and to assess their future
      challenges. METHODS: Existing, patented, and experimental designs of steerable
      catheters are classified with respect to their steerability. Subsequently, the
      classification is used as a tool for defining future requirements and challenges
      for steerable cardiac catheters. RESULTS: The results of the classification
      provide two categories of steering at a fundamental level: 1) Force generation in
      the tip and 2) force transmission to the tip. The former group consists of force
      generating steering mechanisms as a result of 1) electric, 2) thermal, and 3)
      magnetic actuation. The latter group comprises force transmitting steering
      mechanisms as the result of 4) hydraulic chamber actuation or 5) mechanic cable
      actuation. Each category can be further subdivided into multiple subcategories.
      Future requirements and challenges are found for steering and positioning
      capabilities, cardiac applications and safety, and miniaturization potential.
      CONCLUSION: A structured classification is presented which identifies the
      different steering mechanisms in steerable catheters. The classification proves
      to be a useful tool in determining future requirements and challenges, being
      invaluable for future application-driven design. SIGNIFICANCE: Using the applied
      classification as a tool for future design will not only provide insight into
      previously applied steering technology, it will identify new and unexplored
      options too. Additionally, insight into the requirements and challenges for
      catheter steering toward and inside the heart, will allow more dedicated systems,
      allowing intervention- and patient-specific instrument manipulation.

PMID- 26863646
TI  - Design and Evaluation of a Catheter Contact-Force Controller for Cardiac Ablation
      Therapy.
AB  - GOAL: Maintaining a constant contact force (CF) of an ablation catheter during
      cardiac catheter ablation therapy is clinically challenging due to inherent
      myocardial motion, often resulting in poor ablation of arrhythmogenic substrates.
      To enable a prescribed contact force to be applied during ablation, a catheter
      contact force controller (CCFC) was developed. METHODS: The system includes a
      hand-held device attached to a commercial catheter and steerable sheath. A
      compact linear motor assembly attaches to an ablation catheter and autonomously
      controls its relative position within the shaft of the steerable sheath. A closed
      loop control system is implemented within embedded electronics to enable real
      time catheter-tissue contact force control. To evaluate the performance of the
      CCFC, a linear motion phantom was used to impose a series of physiological CF
      profiles; lesion CF was controlled at prescribed levels ranging from 15 to 40 g.
      RESULTS: For a prescribed CF of 25 g, the CCFC was able to regulate the CF with a
      root mean squared error of 3.7 +/- 0.7 g. The ability of the CCFC to retract the
      catheter upon sudden changes in tissue motion, which may have caused tissue
      damage, was also demonstrated. Finally, the device was able to regulate the CF
      for a predetermined amount of time according to a force-time integral model.
      CONCLUSION: The developed CCFC is capable of regulating catheter-tissue CF in a
      laboratory setting that mimics clinical ablation therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Catheter
      tissue CF control promises to improve the precision and success of ablation
      lesion delivery.

PMID- 26863647
TI  - Spatio-Temporal Matching for Human Pose Estimation in Video.
AB  - Detection and tracking humans in videos have been long-standing problems in
      computer vision. Most successful approaches (e.g., deformable parts models)
      heavily rely on discriminative models to build appearance detectors for body
      joints and generative models to constrain possible body configurations (e.g.,
      trees). While these 2D models have been successfully applied to images (and with
      less success to videos), a major challenge is to generalize these models to cope
      with camera views. In order to achieve view-invariance, these 2D models typically
      require a large amount of training data across views that is difficult to gather
      and time-consuming to label. Unlike existing 2D models, this paper formulates the
      problem of human detection in videos as spatio-temporal matching (STM) between a
      3D motion capture model and trajectories in videos. Our algorithm estimates the
      camera view and selects a subset of tracked trajectories that matches the motion
      of the 3D model. The STM is efficiently solved with linear programming, and it is
      robust to tracking mismatches, occlusions and outliers. To the best of our
      knowledge this is the first paper that solves the correspondence between video
      and 3D motion capture data for human pose detection. Experiments on the CMU
      motion capture, Human3.6M, Berkeley MHAD and CMU MAD databases illustrate the
      benefits of our method over state-of-the-art approaches.

PMID- 26863650
TI  - High-Frame-Rate Echocardiography Using Coherent Compounding With Doppler-Based
      Motion-Compensation.
AB  - High-frame-rate ultrasonography based on coherent compounding of unfocused beams
      can potentially transform the assessment of cardiac function. As it requires
      successive waves to be combined coherently, this approach is sensitive to high
      velocity tissue motion. We investigated coherent compounding of tilted diverging
      waves, emitted from a 2.5 MHz clinical phased array transducer. To cope with high
      myocardial velocities, a triangle transmit sequence of diverging waves is
      proposed, combined with tissue Doppler imaging to perform motion compensation
      (MoCo). The compound sequence with integrated MoCo was adjusted from simulations
      and was tested in vitro and in vivo. Realistic myocardial velocities were
      analyzed in an in vitro spinning disk with anechoic cysts. While a 8 dB decrease
      (no motion versus high motion) was observed without MoCo, the contrast-to-noise
      ratio of the cysts was preserved with the MoCo approach. With this method, we
      could provide high-quality in vivo B-mode cardiac images with tissue Doppler at
      250 frames per second. Although the septum and the anterior mitral leaflet were
      poorly apparent without MoCo, they became well perceptible and well contrasted
      with MoCo. The septal and lateral mitral annulus velocities determined by tissue
      Doppler were concordant with those measured by pulsed-wave Doppler with a
      clinical scanner (r(2)=0.7,y=0.9 x+0.5,N=60) . To conclude, high-contrast echo
      cardiographic B-mode and tissue Doppler images can be obtained with diverging
      beams when motion compensation is integrated in the coherent compounding process.

PMID- 26863649
TI  - Automated Real-Time Conjunctival Microvasculature Image Stabilization.
AB  - The bulbar conjunctiva is a thin, vascularized membrane covering the sclera of
      the eye. Non-invasive imaging techniques have been utilized to assess the
      conjunctival vasculature as a means of studying microcirculatory hemodynamics.
      However, eye motion often confounds quantification of these hemodynamic
      properties. In the current study, we present a novel optical imaging system for
      automated stabilization of conjunctival microvasculature images by real-time eye
      motion tracking and realignment of the optical path. The ability of the system to
      stabilize conjunctival images acquired over time by reducing image displacements
      and maintaining the imaging area was demonstrated.

PMID- 26863651
TI  - Constrained Statistical Modelling of Knee Flexion From Multi-Pose Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging.
AB  - Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) through arthroscopy is one
      of the most common procedures in orthopaedics. It requires accurate alignment and
      drilling of the tibial and femoral tunnels through which the ligament graft is
      attached. Although commercial computer-assisted navigation systems exist to guide
      the placement of these tunnels, most of them are limited to a fixed pose without
      due consideration of dynamic factors involved in different knee flexion angles.
      This paper presents a new model for intraoperative guidance of arthroscopic ACL
      reconstruction with reduced error particularly in the ligament attachment area.
      The method uses 3D preoperative data at different flexion angles to build a
      subject-specific statistical model of knee pose. To circumvent the problem of
      limited training samples and ensure physically meaningful pose instantiation,
      homogeneous transformations between different poses and local-deformation finite
      element modelling are used to enlarge the training set. Subsequently, an
      anatomical geodesic flexion analysis is performed to extract the subject-specific
      flexion characteristics. The advantages of the method were also tested by
      detailed comparison to standard Principal Component Analysis (PCA), nonlinear PCA
      without training set enlargement, and other state-of-the-art articulated joint
      modelling methods. The method yielded sub-millimetre accuracy, demonstrating its
      potential clinical value.

PMID- 26863652
TI  - Multi-Instance Deep Learning: Discover Discriminative Local Anatomies for
      Bodypart Recognition.
AB  - In general image recognition problems, discriminative information often lies in
      local image patches. For example, most human identity information exists in the
      image patches containing human faces. The same situation stays in medical images
      as well. "Bodypart identity" of a transversal slice-which bodypart the slice
      comes from-is often indicated by local image information, e.g., a cardiac slice
      and an aorta arch slice are only differentiated by the mediastinum region. In
      this work, we design a multi-stage deep learning framework for image
      classification and apply it on bodypart recognition. Specifically, the proposed
      framework aims at: 1) discover the local regions that are discriminative and non
      informative to the image classification problem, and 2) learn a image-level
      classifier based on these local regions. We achieve these two tasks by the two
      stages of learning scheme, respectively. In the pre-train stage, a convolutional
      neural network (CNN) is learned in a multi-instance learning fashion to extract
      the most discriminative and and non-informative local patches from the training
      slices. In the boosting stage, the pre-learned CNN is further boosted by these
      local patches for image classification. The CNN learned by exploiting the
      discriminative local appearances becomes more accurate than those learned from
      global image context. The key hallmark of our method is that it automatically
      discovers the discriminative and non-informative local patches through multi
      instance deep learning. Thus, no manual annotation is required. Our method is
      validated on a synthetic dataset and a large scale CT dataset. It achieves better
      performances than state-of-the-art approaches, including the standard deep CNN.

PMID- 26863653
TI  - Feasibility of Swept Synthetic Aperture Ultrasound Imaging.
AB  - Ultrasound image quality is often inherently limited by the physical dimensions
      of the imaging transducer. We hypothesize that, by collecting synthetic aperture
      data sets over a range of aperture positions while precisely tracking the
      position and orientation of the transducer, we can synthesize large effective
      apertures to produce images with improved resolution and target detectability. We
      analyze the two largest limiting factors for coherent signal summation:
      aberration and mechanical uncertainty. Using an excised canine abdominal wall as
      a model phase screen, we experimentally observed an effective arrival time error
      ranging from 18.3 ns to 58 ns (root-mean-square error) across the swept
      positions. Through this clutter-generating tissue, we observed a 72.9%
      improvement in resolution with only a 3.75 dB increase in side lobe amplitude
      compared to the control case. We present a simulation model to study the effect
      of calibration and mechanical jitter errors on the synthesized point spread
      function. The relative effects of these errors in each imaging dimension are
      explored, showing the importance of orientation relative to the point spread
      function. We present a prototype device for performing swept synthetic aperture
      imaging using a conventional 1-D array transducer and ultrasound research
      scanner. Point target reconstruction error for a 44.2 degree sweep shows a
      reconstruction precision of 82.8 MUm and 17.8 MUm in the lateral and axial
      dimensions respectively, within the acceptable performance bounds of the
      simulation model. Improvements in resolution, contrast and contrast-to-noise
      ratio are demonstrated in vivo and in a fetal phantom.

PMID- 26863654
TI  - Locality Sensitive Deep Learning for Detection and Classification of Nuclei in
      Routine Colon Cancer Histology Images.
AB  - Detection and classification of cell nuclei in histopathology images of cancerous
      tissue stained with the standard hematoxylin and eosin stain is a challenging
      task due to cellular heterogeneity. Deep learning approaches have been shown to
      produce encouraging results on histopathology images in various studies. In this
      paper, we propose a Spatially Constrained Convolutional Neural Network (SC-CNN)
      to perform nucleus detection. SC-CNN regresses the likelihood of a pixel being
      the center of a nucleus, where high probability values are spatially constrained
      to locate in the vicinity of the centers of nuclei. For classification of nuclei,
      we propose a novel Neighboring Ensemble Predictor (NEP) coupled with CNN to more
      accurately predict the class label of detected cell nuclei. The proposed
      approaches for detection and classification do not require segmentation of
      nuclei. We have evaluated them on a large dataset of colorectal adenocarcinoma
      images, consisting of more than 20,000 annotated nuclei belonging to four
      different classes. Our results show that the joint detection and classification
      of the proposed SC-CNN and NEP produces the highest average F1 score as compared
      to other recently published approaches. Prospectively, the proposed methods could
      offer benefit to pathology practice in terms of quantitative analysis of tissue
      constituents in whole-slide images, and potentially lead to a better
      understanding of cancer.

PMID- 26863655
TI  - OSSI-PET: Open-Access Database of Simulated [(11)C]Raclopride Scans for the
      Inveon Preclinical PET Scanner: Application to the Optimization of Reconstruction
      Methods for Dynamic Studies.
AB  - A wide range of medical imaging applications benefits from the availability of
      realistic ground truth data. In the case of positron emission tomography (PET),
      ground truth data is crucial to validate processing algorithms and assessing
      their performances. The design of such ground truth data often relies on Monte
      Carlo simulation techniques. Since the creation of a large dataset is not trivial
      both in terms of computing time and realism, we propose the OSSI-PET database
      containing 350 simulated [(11)C]Raclopride dynamic scans for rats, created
      specifically for the Inveon pre-clinical PET scanner. The originality of this
      database lies on the availability of several groups of scans with controlled
      biological variations in the striata. Besides, each group consists of a large
      number of realizations (i.e., noise replicates). We present the construction
      methodology of this database using rat pharmacokinetic and anatomical models. A
      first application using the OSSI-PET database is presented. Several commonly used
      reconstruction techniques were compared in terms of image quality, accuracy and
      variability of the activity estimates and of the computed kinetic parameters. The
      results showed that OP-OSEM3D iterative reconstruction method outperformed the
      other tested methods. Analytical methods such as FBP2D and 3DRP also produced
      satisfactory results. However, FORE followed by OSEM2D reconstructions should be
      avoided. Beyond the illustration of the potential of the database, this
      application will help scientists to understand the different sources of noise and
      bias that can occur at the different steps in the processing and will be very
      useful for choosing appropriate reconstruction methods and parameters.

PMID- 26863656
TI  - Delay Estimation Using Instantaneous Frequency and Phase Difference--Simulation
      Study.
AB  - We propose a time-domain delay estimator that takes the slope of the best fit
      line crossing the origin in the instantaneous frequency-phase difference plane as
      the delay estimate. This formulation differs from existing phase-based estimators
      in two respects. First, we find the instantaneous frequency at all individual
      sample points, including large and abrupt spikes caused by destructive
      interference in the coherent scattering process. This differs from Loupas which
      finds a smoothed-out center frequency estimate within an observation window. We
      show that under high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the information from these
      spikes can be properly used. Second, we show that error ought to be considered as
      the deviation of the phase difference from the best fit line rather than
      deviation from the averaged phase difference. Without considering instantaneous
      frequency, phase-based estimators make the following two errors: samples with
      phase difference far away from the center frequency need not be errors as they
      naturally have large phase difference when their instantaneous frequency is
      large; samples with phase difference close to the center frequency may in fact be
      errors if their instantaneous frequency is large. We derive the Gauss-Markov
      least-squares best fit line and then propose an iterative variant that removes
      samples from the line-fitting process if its deviation from the best fit line is
      sufficiently large. The iterative version can reduce the effect of aliasing for
      larger delays and also further reduce the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the
      estimate. Simulation studies using various bandwidth, SNR, and delay parameters
      indicate that iterative phase least squares (PLS) begins to outperform
      correlation phase Loupas at between SNR of 30 dB (for larger bandwidths and
      larger delays) and 60 dB (for smaller bandwidths and smaller delays). As SNR
      increases, iterative PLS can reach a 30- to 50-dB increase in performance over
      correlation phase Loupas with respect to RMSE in the most favorable conditions.

PMID- 26863657
TI  - Frequency Comparison of [Formula: see text] Ion Optical Clocks at PTB and NPL via
      GPS PPP.
AB  - We used precise point positioning, a well-established GPS carrier-phase frequency
      transfer method to perform a direct remote comparison of two optical frequency
      standards based on single laser-cooled [Formula: see text] ions operated at the
      National Physical Laboratory (NPL), U.K. and the Physikalisch-Technische
      Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany. At both institutes, an active hydrogen maser serves
      as a flywheel oscillator which is connected to a GPS receiver as an external
      frequency reference and compared simultaneously to a realization of the
      unperturbed frequency of the (2)S1/2(F=0)-(2)D3/2(F=2) electric quadrupole
      transition in [Formula: see text] via an optical femtosecond frequency comb. To
      profit from long coherent GPS-link measurements, we extrapolate the fractional
      frequency difference over the various data gaps in the optical clock to maser
      comparisons which introduces maser noise to the frequency comparison but improves
      the uncertainty from the GPS-link instability. We determined the total
      statistical uncertainty consisting of the GPS-link uncertainty and the
      extrapolation uncertainties for several extrapolation schemes. Using the
      extrapolation scheme with the smallest combined uncertainty, we find a fractional
      frequency difference [Formula: see text] of -1.3*10(-15) with a combined
      uncertainty of 1.2*10(-15) for a total measurement time of 67 h. This result is
      consistent with an agreement of the frequencies realized by both optical clocks
      and with recent absolute frequency measurements against caesium fountain clocks
      within the corresponding uncertainties.

PMID- 26863658
TI  - Equivalent Circuit Models for Large Arrays of Curved and Flat Piezoelectric
      Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers.
AB  - Equivalent circuit models of large arrays of curved (spherical shape) and flat
      piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) have been developed
      for complex pMUT arrays design and analysis. The exact solutions for circuit
      parameters in the electromechanical domain, such as mechanical admittance, input
      electrical impedance, and electromechanical transformer ratio, were analytically
      derived. By utilizing the array solution methods previously established for the
      thickness-mode piezoelectric devices and capacitive micromachined ultrasonic
      transducers (cMUTs), the single pMUT circuit model can be extended to models for
      array structures. The array model includes both the self- and mutual-acoustic
      radiation impedances of individual transducers in the acoustic medium. Volumetric
      displacement, induced piezoelectric current, and pressure field can be derived
      with respect to the input voltage matrix, material, and geometrical properties of
      each individual transducer and the array structure. As such, the analytical
      models presented here can be used as a guideline for analyses and design
      evaluations of large arrays of curved and flat pMUTs efficiently and can be
      further generalized to evaluate other pMUT architectures in the form of single
      devices or arrays. 

PMID- 26863660
TI  - Local Rademacher Complexity for  Multi-Label Learning.
AB  - We analyze the local Rademacher complexity of empirical risk minimization-based
      multi-label learning algorithms, and in doing so propose a new algorithm for
      multi-label learning. Rather than using the trace norm to regularize the multi
      label predictor, we instead minimize the tail sum of the singular values of the
      predictor in multi-label learning. Benefiting from the use of the local
      Rademacher complexity, our algorithm, therefore, has a sharper generalization
      error bound. Compared with methods that minimize over all singular values,
      concentrating on the tail singular values results in better recovery of the low
      rank structure of the multi-label predictor, which plays an important role in
      exploiting label correlations. We propose a new conditional singular value
      thresholding algorithm to solve the resulting objective function. Moreover, a
      variance control strategy is employed to reduce the variance of variables in
      optimization. Empirical studies on real-world data sets validate our theoretical
      results and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for multi
      label learning.

PMID- 26863659
TI  - Bubble-Induced Color Doppler Feedback for Histotripsy Tissue Fractionation.
AB  - Histotripsy therapy produces cavitating bubble clouds to increasingly fractionate
      and eventually liquefy tissue using high-intensity ultrasound pulses. Following
      cavitation generated by each pulse, coherent motion of the cavitation residual
      nuclei can be detected using metrics formed from ultrasound color Doppler
      acquisitions. In this paper, three experiments were performed to investigate the
      characteristics of this motion as real-time feedback on histotripsy tissue
      fractionation. In the first experiment, bubble-induced color Doppler (BCD) and
      particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis monitored the residual cavitation
      nuclei in the treatment region in an agarose tissue phantom treated with two
      cycle histotripsy pulses at [Formula: see text] using a 500-kHz transducer. Both
      BCD and PIV results showed brief chaotic motion of the residual nuclei followed
      by coherent motion first moving away from the transducer and then rebounding
      back. Velocity measurements from both PIV and BCD agreed well, showing a
      monotonic increase in rebound time up to a saturation point for increased therapy
      dose. In a second experiment, a thin layer of red blood cells (RBC) was added to
      the phantom to allow quantification of the fractionation of the RBC layer to
      compare with BCD metrics. A strong linear correlation was observed between the
      fractionation level and the time to BCD peak rebound velocity over histotripsy
      treatment. Finally, the correlation between BCD feedback and histotripsy tissue
      fractionation was validated in ex vivo porcine liver evaluated histologically.
      BCD metrics showed strong linear correlation with fractionation progression,
      suggesting that BCD provides useful quantitative real-time feedback on
      histotripsy treatment progression. 

PMID- 26863661
TI  - Robust Multi-Focus Image Fusion Using Multi-Task Sparse Representation and
      Spatial Context.
AB  - We present a novel fusion method based on a multi-task robust sparse
      representation (MRSR) model and spatial context information to address the fusion
      of multi-focus gray-level images with misregistration. First, we present a robust
      sparse representation (RSR) model by replacing the conventional least-squared
      reconstruction error by a sparse reconstruction error. We then propose a multi
      task version of the RSR model, viz., the MRSR model. The latter is then applied
      to multi-focus image fusion by employing the detailed information regarding each
      image patch and its spatial neighbors to collaboratively determine both the
      focused and defocused regions in the input images. To achieve this, we formulate
      the problem of extracting details from multiple image patches as a joint multi
      task sparsity pursuit based on the MRSR model. Experimental results demonstrate
      that the suggested algorithm is competitive with the current state-of-the-art and
      superior to some approaches that use traditional sparse representation methods
      when input images are misregistered. 

PMID- 26863662
TI  - Filtering Chromatic Aberration for Wide Acceptance Angle Electrostatic Lenses II-
      Experimental Evaluation and Software-Based Imaging Energy Analyzer.
AB  - Here, the experimental results of the method of filtering the effect of chromatic
      aberration for wide acceptance angle electrostatic lens-based system are
      described. This method can eliminate the effect of chromatic aberration from the
      images of a measured spectral image sequence by determining and removing the
      effect of higher and lower kinetic energy electrons on each different energy
      image, which leads to significant improvement of image and spectral quality. The
      method is based on the numerical solution of a large system of linear equations
      and equivalent with a multivariate strongly nonlinear deconvolution method. A
      matrix whose elements describe the strongly nonlinear chromatic aberration
      related transmission function of the lens system acts on the vector of the
      ordered pixels of the distortion free spectral image sequence, and produces the
      vector of the ordered pixels of the measured spectral image sequence. Since the
      method can be applied not only on 2D real- and $k$ -space diffraction images, but
      also along a third dimension of the image sequence that is along the optical or
      in the 3D parameter space, the energy axis, it functions as a software-based
      imaging energy analyzer (SBIEA). It can also be applied in cases of light or
      other type of optics for different optical aberrations and distortions. In case
      of electron optics, the SBIEA method makes possible the spectral imaging without
      the application of any other energy filter. It is notable that this method also
      eliminates the disturbing background significantly in the present investigated
      case of reflection electron energy loss spectra. It eliminates the instrumental
      effects and makes possible to measure the real physical processes better.

PMID- 26863664
TI  - A 3D Steganalytic Algorithm and Steganalysis-Resistant Watermarking.
AB  - We propose a simple yet efficient steganalytic algorithm for watermarks embedded
      by two state-of-the-art 3D watermarking algorithms by Cho et al. The main
      observation is that while in a clean model the means/variances of Cho et al.'s
      normalized histogram bins are expected to follow a Gaussian distribution, in a
      marked model their distribution will be bimodal. The proposed algorithm estimates
      the number of bins through an exhaustive search and then the presence of a
      watermark is decided by a tailor made normality test or a t-test. We also propose
      a modification of Cho et al.'s watermarking algorithms with the watermark
      embedded by changing the histogram of the radial coordinates of the vertices.
      Rather than targeting a continuous statistics such as the mean or variance of the
      values in a bin, the proposed watermarking modifies a discrete statistic, which
      here is the height of the histogram bin, to achieve watermark embedding.
      Experimental results demonstrate that the modified algorithm offers not only
      better resistance against the steganalytic attack we developed, but also an
      improved robustness/capacity trade-off.

PMID- 26863663
TI  - Comprehensive Modeling and Visualization of Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology from
      CT Imaging and Computer Simulations.
AB  - In clinical cardiology, both anatomy and physiology are needed to diagnose
      cardiac pathologies. CT imaging and computer simulations provide valuable and
      complementary data for this purpose. However, it remains challenging to gain
      useful information from the large amount of high-dimensional diverse data. The
      current tools are not adequately integrated to visualize anatomic and physiologic
      data from a complete yet focused perspective. We introduce a new computer-aided
      diagnosis framework, which allows for comprehensive modeling and visualization of
      cardiac anatomy and physiology from CT imaging data and computer simulations,
      with a primary focus on ischemic heart disease. The following visual information
      is presented: (1) Anatomy from CT imaging: geometric modeling and visualization
      of cardiac anatomy, including four heart chambers, left and right ventricular
      outflow tracts, and coronary arteries; (2) Function from CT imaging: motion
      modeling, strain calculation, and visualization of four heart chambers; (3)
      Physiology from CT imaging: quantification and visualization of myocardial
      perfusion and contextual integration with coronary artery anatomy; (4) Physiology
      from computer simulation: computation and visualization of hemodynamics (e.g.,
      coronary blood velocity, pressure, shear stress, and fluid forces on the vessel
      wall). Substantially, feedback from cardiologists have confirmed the practical
      utility of integrating these features for the purpose of computer-aided diagnosis
      of ischemic heart disease.

PMID- 26863665
TI  - Manga Vectorization and Manipulation with Procedural Simple Screentone.
AB  - Manga are a popular artistic form around the world, and artists use simple line
      drawing and screentone to create all kinds of interesting productions.
      Vectorization is helpful to digitally reproduce these elements for proper content
      and intention delivery on electronic devices. Therefore, this study aims at
      transforming scanned Manga to a vector representation for interactive
      manipulation and real-time rendering with arbitrary resolution. Our system first
      decomposes the patch into rough Manga elements including possible borders and
      shading regions using adaptive binarization and screentone detector. We classify
      detected screentone into simple and complex patterns: our system extracts simple
      screentone properties for refining screentone borders, estimating lighting,
      compensating missing strokes inside screentone regions, and later resolution
      independently rendering with our procedural shaders. Our system treats the others
      as complex screentone areas and vectorizes them with our proposed line tracer
      which aims at locating boundaries of all shading regions and polishing all
      shading borders with the curve-based Gaussian refiner. A user can lay down simple
      scribbles to cluster Manga elements intuitively for the formation of semantic
      components, and our system vectorizes these components into shading meshes along
      with embedded Bezier curves as a unified foundation for consistent manipulation
      including pattern manipulation, deformation, and lighting addition. Our system
      can real-time and resolution independently render the shading regions with our
      procedural shaders and drawing borders with the curve-based shader. For Manga
      manipulation, the proposed vector representation can be not only magnified
      without artifacts but also deformed easily to generate interesting results.

PMID- 26863666
TI  - Deformable Model-Based Methods for Shape Control of a Haptic Jamming Surface.
AB  - Haptic Jamming, the approach of simultaneously controlling mechanical properties
      and surface deformation of a tactile display via particle jamming and pneumatics,
      shows promise as a tangible, shape-changing human-computer interface. Previous
      research introduced device design and described the force-displacement
      interactions for individual jamming cells. The work in this article analyzes the
      shape output capabilities of a multi-cell array. A spring-mass deformable body
      simulation combines models of the three actuation inputs of a Haptic Jamming
      surface: node pinning, chamber pressurization, and cell jamming. Surface
      measurements of a 12-cell prototype from a depth camera fit the mass and
      stiffness parameters to the device during pressurization tests and validate the
      accuracy of the model for various actuation sequences. The simulator is used to
      develop an algorithm that generates a sequence of actuation inputs for a Haptic
      Jamming array of any size in order to match a desired surface output shape. Data
      extracted from topographical maps and three-dimensional solid object models are
      used to evaluate the shape-matching algorithm and assess the utility of
      increasing array size and resolution. Results show that a discrete Laplace
      operator applied to the input is a suitable predictor of the correlation
      coefficient between the desired shape and the device output.

PMID- 26863667
TI  - Automatic Parametrization of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials With Chirp Modeling.
AB  - In this paper, an approach using polynomial phase chirp signals to model
      somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) is proposed. SEP waveforms are assumed as
      impulses undergoing group velocity dispersion while propagating along a multipath
      neural connection. Mathematical analysis of pulse dispersion resulting in chirp
      signals is performed. An automatic parameterization of SEPs is proposed using
      chirp models. A Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is used to optimize the
      model parameters. Features describing the latencies and amplitudes of SEPs are
      automatically derived. A rat model is then used to evaluate the automatic
      parameterization of SEPs in two experimental cases, i.e., anesthesia level and
      spinal cord injury (SCI). Experimental results show that chirp-based model
      parameters and the derived SEP features are significant in describing both
      anesthesia level and SCI changes. The proposed automatic optimization based
      approach for extracting chirp parameters offers potential for detailed SEP
      analysis in future studies. The method implementation in Matlab technical
      computing language is provided online.

PMID- 26863668
TI  - A General, Adaptive, Roadmap-Based Algorithm for Protein Motion Computation.
AB  - Precious information on protein function can be extracted from a detailed
      characterization of protein equilibrium dynamics. This remains elusive in wet and
      dry laboratories, as function-modulating transitions of a protein between
      functionally-relevant, thermodynamically-stable and meta-stable structural states
      often span disparate time scales. In this paper we propose a novel, robotics
      inspired algorithm that circumvents time-scale challenges by drawing analogies
      between protein motion and robot motion. The algorithm adapts the popular roadmap
      based framework in robot motion computation to handle the more complex protein
      conformation space and its underlying rugged energy surface. Given known
      structures representing stable and meta-stable states of a protein, the algorithm
      yields a time- and energy-prioritized list of transition paths between the
      structures, with each path represented as a series of conformations. The
      algorithm balances computational resources between a global search aimed at
      obtaining a global view of the network of protein conformations and their
      connectivity and a detailed local search focused on realizing such connections
      with physically-realistic models. Promising results are presented on a variety of
      proteins that demonstrate the general utility of the algorithm and its capability
      to improve the state of the art without employing system-specific insight.

PMID- 26863669
TI  - A Comparative Analysis Between k-Mers and Community Detection-Based Features for
      the Task of Protein Classification.
AB  - Machine learning algorithms are widely used to annotate biological sequences. Low
      dimensional informative feature vectors can be crucial for the performance of the
      algorithms. In prior work, we have proposed the use of a community detection
      approach to construct low dimensional feature sets for nucleotide sequence
      classification. Our approach used the Hamming distance between short nucleotide
      subsequences, called k-mers, to construct a network, and subsequently used
      community detection to identify groups of k -mers that appear frequently in a set
      of sequences. Whereas this approach worked well for nucleotide sequence
      classification, it could not be directly used for protein sequences, as the
      Hamming distance is not a good measure for comparing short protein k-mers. To
      address this limitation, we extended our prior approach by replacing the Hamming
      distance with substitution scores. Experimental results in different learning
      scenarios show that the features generated with the new approach are more
      informative than k-mers.

PMID- 26863671
TI  - Multiple Fingers - One Gestalt.
AB  - The Gestalt theory of perception offered principles by which distributed visual
      sensations are combined into a structured experience ("Gestalt"). We demonstrate
      conditions whereby haptic sensations at two fingertips are integrated in the
      perception of a single object. When virtual bumps were presented simultaneously
      to the right hand's thumb and index finger during lateral arm movements,
      participants reported perceiving a single bump. A discrimination task measured
      the bump's perceived location and perceptual reliability (assessed by
      differential thresholds) for four finger configurations, which varied in their
      adherence to the Gestalt principles of proximity (small versus large finger
      separation) and synchrony (virtual spring to link movements of the two fingers
      versus no spring). According to models of integration, reliability should
      increase with the degree to which multi-finger cues integrate into a unified
      percept. Differential thresholds were smaller in the virtual-spring condition
      (synchrony) than when fingers were unlinked. Additionally, in the condition with
      reduced synchrony, greater proximity led to lower differential thresholds. Thus,
      with greater adherence to Gestalt principles, thresholds approached values
      predicted for optimal integration. We conclude that the Gestalt principles of
      synchrony and proximity apply to haptic perception of surface properties and that
      these principles can interact to promote multi-finger integration.

PMID- 26863672
TI  - An Integrated Learning and Filtering Approach for Fault Diagnosis of a Class of
      Nonlinear Dynamical Systems.
AB  - This paper develops an integrated filtering and adaptive approximation-based
      approach for fault diagnosis of process and sensor faults in a class of
      continuous-time nonlinear systems with modeling uncertainties and measurement
      noise. The proposed approach integrates learning with filtering techniques to
      derive tight detection thresholds, which is accomplished in two ways: 1) by
      learning the modeling uncertainty through adaptive approximation methods and 2)
      by using filtering for dampening measurement noise. Upon the detection of a
      fault, two estimation models, one for process and the other for sensor faults,
      are initiated in order to identify the type of fault. Each estimation model
      utilizes learning to estimate the potential fault that has occurred, and adaptive
      isolation thresholds for each estimation model are designed. The fault type is
      deduced based on an exclusion-based logic, and fault detectability and
      identification conditions are rigorously derived, characterizing quantitatively
      the class of faults that can be detected and identified by the proposed scheme.
      Finally, simulation results are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
      proposed approach.

PMID- 26863670
TI  - Smart Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Spectrometer for BIA and BIVA
      Applications.
AB  - Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive and commonly used method
      for the assessment of body composition including body water. We designed a small,
      portable and wireless multi-frequency impedance spectrometer based on the 12 bit
      impedance network analyzer AD5933 and a precision wide-band constant current
      source for tetrapolar whole body impedance measurements. The impedance
      spectrometer communicates via Bluetooth with mobile devices (smart phone or
      tablet computer) that provide user interface for patient management and data
      visualization. The export of patient measurement results into a clinical research
      database facilitates the aggregation of bioelectrical impedance analysis and
      biolectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) data across multiple subjects
      and/or studies. The performance of the spectrometer was evaluated using a passive
      tissue equivalent circuit model as well as a comparison of body composition
      changes assessed with bioelectrical impedance and dual-energy X-ray
      absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy volunteers. Our results show an absolute error of
      1% for resistance and 5% for reactance measurements in the frequency range of 3
      kHz to 150 kHz. A linear regression of BIA and DXA fat mass estimations showed a
      strong correlation (r(2)=0.985) between measures with a maximum absolute error of
      6.5%. The simplicity of BIA measurements, a cost effective design and the simple
      visual representation of impedance data enables patients to compare and determine
      body composition during the time course of a specific treatment plan in a
      clinical or home environment.

PMID- 26863673
TI  - An Optimization-Based Method for Feature Ranking in Nonlinear Regression
      Problems.
AB  - In this paper, we consider the feature ranking problem, where, given a set of
      training instances, the task is to associate a score with the features in order
      to assess their relevance. Feature ranking is a very important tool for decision
      support systems, and may be used as an auxiliary step of feature selection to
      reduce the high dimensionality of real-world data. We focus on regression
      problems by assuming that the process underlying the generated data can be
      approximated by a continuous function (for instance, a feedforward neural
      network). We formally state the notion of relevance of a feature by introducing a
      minimum zero-norm inversion problem of a neural network, which is a nonsmooth,
      constrained optimization problem. We employ a concave approximation of the zero
      norm function, and we define a smooth, global optimization problem to be solved
      in order to assess the relevance of the features. We present the new feature
      ranking method based on the solution of instances of the global optimization
      problem depending on the available training data. Computational experiments on
      both artificial and real data sets are performed, and point out that the proposed
      feature ranking method is a valid alternative to existing methods in terms of
      effectiveness. The obtained results also show that the method is costly in terms
      of CPU time, and this may be a limitation in the solution of large-dimensional
      problems.

PMID- 26863675
TI  - Speeding Up Cellular Neural Network Processing Ability by Embodying Memristors.
AB  - Cellular neural networks (CNNs) are an efficient tool for image analysis and
      pattern recognition. Based on elementary cells connected to neighboring units,
      they are easy to install in hardware, carrying out massively parallel processes.
      This brief presents a new model of CNN with memory devices, which enhances
      further CNN performance. By introducing a memristive element in basic cells, we
      carry out different experiments, allowing the analysis of the functions
      traditionally carried out by the standard CNN. Without modifying the templates
      considered by the scientific literature, this simple variation originates a
      significant improvement in  ~ 30 % of performances in pattern recognition and
      image processing. These progresses were experimentally calculated on the time the
      system requires to reach a fixed point. Moreover, the different role that each
      parameter has in the developed method was also analyzed to better understand the
      complex processing ability of these systems.

PMID- 26863674
TI  - Model-Based Reinforcement Learning for Infinite-Horizon Approximate Optimal
      Tracking.
AB  - This brief paper provides an approximate online adaptive solution to the infinite
      horizon optimal tracking problem for control-affine continuous-time nonlinear
      systems with unknown drift dynamics. To relax the persistence of excitation
      condition, model-based reinforcement learning is implemented using a concurrent
      learning-based system identifier to simulate experience by evaluating the Bellman
      error over unexplored areas of the state space. Tracking of the desired
      trajectory and convergence of the developed policy to a neighborhood of the
      optimal policy are established via Lyapunov-based stability analysis. Simulation
      results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed technique.

PMID- 26863676
TI  - Multiscale Support Vector Learning With Projection Operator Wavelet Kernel for
      Nonlinear Dynamical System Identification.
AB  - A giant leap has been made in the past couple of decades with the introduction of
      kernel-based learning as a mainstay for designing effective nonlinear
      computational learning algorithms. In view of the geometric interpretation of
      conditional expectation and the ubiquity of multiscale characteristics in highly
      complex nonlinear dynamic systems [1]-[3], this paper presents a new orthogonal
      projection operator wavelet kernel, aiming at developing an efficient
      computational learning approach for nonlinear dynamical system identification. In
      the framework of multiresolution analysis, the proposed projection operator
      wavelet kernel can fulfill the multiscale, multidimensional learning to estimate
      complex dependencies. The special advantage of the projection operator wavelet
      kernel developed in this paper lies in the fact that it has a closed-form
      expression, which greatly facilitates its application in kernel learning. To the
      best of our knowledge, it is the first closed-form orthogonal projection wavelet
      kernel reported in the literature. It provides a link between grid-based wavelets
      and mesh-free kernel-based methods. Simulation studies for identifying the
      parallel models of two benchmark nonlinear dynamical systems confirm its
      superiority in model accuracy and sparsity.

PMID- 26863677
TI  - Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle Tracking Control Based on Adaptive Dynamic
      Programming.
AB  - In this paper, we propose a data-driven supplementary control approach with
      adaptive learning capability for air-breathing hypersonic vehicle tracking
      control based on action-dependent heuristic dynamic programming (ADHDP). The
      control action is generated by the combination of sliding mode control (SMC) and
      the ADHDP controller to track the desired velocity and the desired altitude. In
      particular, the ADHDP controller observes the differences between the actual
      velocity/altitude and the desired velocity/altitude, and then provides a
      supplementary control action accordingly. The ADHDP controller does not rely on
      the accurate mathematical model function and is data driven. Meanwhile, it is
      capable to adjust its parameters online over time under various working
      conditions, which is very suitable for hypersonic vehicle system with parameter
      uncertainties and disturbances. We verify the adaptive supplementary control
      approach versus the traditional SMC in the cruising flight, and provide three
      simulation studies to illustrate the improved performance with the proposed
      approach.

PMID- 26863678
TI  - An Adaptable Continuous Restricted Boltzmann Machine in VLSI for Fusing the
      Sensory Data of an Electronic Nose.
AB  - An embedded system capable of fusing sensory data is demanded for many portable
      or implantable microsystems. The continuous restricted Boltzmann machine (CRBM)
      is a probabilistic neural network not only capable of classifying data reliably
      but also amenable to very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) implementation. Although
      the embedded system based on the CRBM has been demonstrated with analog VLSI, the
      precision required by the learning algorithm is hardly achievable with analog
      circuits. Therefore, this paper investigates the feasibility of realizing the
      CRBM as a digital embedded system for fusing the sensory data of an electronic
      nose (eNose). The fusion here refers to data clustering and dimensional reduction
      that facilitates reliable classification. The capability of the CRBM to model
      different types of eNose data is first examined by MATLAB simulation. Afterward,
      the CRBM algorithm is customdesigned as a digital embedded system within an eNose
      microsystem. The functionality of the embedded CRBM system is then tested and
      discussed. With on-chip learning ability, the CRBM-embedded eNose is able to
      adapt its parameters in response to new data inputs or environmental changes.

PMID- 26863679
TI  - Scalable Algorithms for Multi-Instance Learning.
AB  - Multi-instance learning (MIL) has been widely applied to diverse applications
      involving complicated data objects, such as images and genes. However, most
      existing MIL algorithms can only handle small- or moderate-sized data. In order
      to deal with large-scale MIL problems, we propose MIL based on the vector of
      locally aggregated descriptors representation (miVLAD) and MIL based on the
      Fisher vector representation (miFV), two efficient and scalable MIL algorithms.
      They map the original MIL bags into new vector representations using their
      corresponding mapping functions. The new feature representations keep essential
      bag-level information, and at the same time lead to excellent MIL performances
      even when linear classifiers are used. Thanks to the low computational cost in
      the mapping step and the scalability of linear classifiers, miVLAD and miFV can
      handle large-scale MIL data efficiently and effectively. Experiments show that
      miVLAD and miFV not only achieve comparable accuracy rates with the state-of-the
      art MIL algorithms, but also have hundreds of times faster speed. Moreover, we
      can regard the new miVLAD and miFV representations as multiview data, which
      improves the accuracy rates in most cases. In addition, our algorithms perform
      well even when they are used without parameter tuning (i.e., adopting the default
      parameters), which is convenient for practical MIL applications.

PMID- 26863680
TI  - Max-Margin-Based Discriminative Feature Learning.
AB  - In this brief, we propose a new max-margin-based discriminative feature learning
      method. In particular, we aim at learning a low-dimensional feature
      representation, so as to maximize the global margin of the data and make the
      samples from the same class as close as possible. In order to enhance the
      robustness to noise, we leverage a regularization term to make the transformation
      matrix sparse in rows. In addition, we further learn and leverage the
      correlations among multiple categories for assisting in learning discriminative
      features. The experimental results demonstrate the power of the proposed method
      against the related state-of-the-art methods.

PMID- 26863681
TI  - Motion Artifact Suppression in Impedance Pneumography Signal for Portable
      Monitoring of Respiration: An Adaptive Approach.
AB  - The focus of this paper is motion artifact (MA) reduction from the impedance
      pneumography (IP) signal, which is widely used to monitor respiration. The
      amplitude of the MA that contaminates the IP signal is often much larger than the
      amplitude of the respiratory component of the signal. Moreover, the morphology
      and frequency composition of the artifacts may be very similar to that of the
      respiration, making it difficult to remove these artifacts. The proposed filter
      uses a regularization term to ensure that the pattern of the filtered signal is
      similar to that of respiration. It also ensures that the amplitude of the filter
      output is within the expected range of the IP signal by imposing an epsilon-tube
      on the filtered signal. The adaptive epsilon-tube filter is 100 times faster than
      the previously proposed nonadaptive version and achieves higher accuracies.
      Moreover, the experimental results, using several different performance measures,
      suggest that the proposed method outperforms popular MA reduction methods such as
      normalized least mean squares (NLMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) as well as
      independent component analysis (ICA). When used to extract the respiratory rate,
      the adaptive epsilon-tube achieves a mean error of 1.27 breaths per minute (BPM)
      compared to 4.72 and 4.63 BPM for the NLMS and RLS filters, respectively. When
      compared to the ICA algorithm, the proposed filter has an error of 1.06 BPM
      compared to 3.47 BPM for ICA. The statistical analyses indicate that all of the
      reported performance improvements are significant.

PMID- 26863682
TI  - Resource-Aware Mobile-Based Health Monitoring.
AB  - Monitoring heart diseases often requires frequent measurements of
      electrocardiogram (ECG) signals at different periods of the day, and at different
      situations (e.g., traveling, and exercising). This can only be implemented using
      mobile devices in order to cope with mobility of patients under monitoring, thus
      supporting continuous monitoring practices. However, these devices are energy
      aware, have limited computing resources (e.g., CPU speed and memory), and might
      lose network connectivity, which makes it very challenging to maintain a
      continuity of the monitoring episode. In this paper, we propose a mobile
      monitoring solution to cope with these challenges by compromising on the fly
      resources availability, battery level, and network intermittence. In order to
      solve this problem, first we divide the whole process into several subtasks such
      that each subtask can be executed sequentially either in the server or in the
      mobile or in parallel in both devices. Then, we developed a mathematical model
      that considers all the constraints and finds a dynamic programing solution to
      obtain the best execution path (i.e., which substep should be done where). The
      solution guarantees an optimum execution time, while considering device battery
      availability, execution and transmission time, and network availability. We
      conducted a series of experiments to evaluate our proposed approach using some
      key monitoring tasks starting from preprocessing to classification and
      prediction. The results we have obtained proved that our approach gives the best
      (lowest) running time for any combination of factors including processing speed,
      input size, and network bandwidth. Compared to several greedy but nonoptimal
      solutions, the execution time of our approach was at least 10 times faster and
      consumed 90% less energy.

PMID- 26863683
TI  - An Open Architecture to Support Social and Health Services in a Smart TV
      Environment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To design, implement, and test a solution to provide social and health
      services for the elderly at home based on smart TV technologies and access to all
      services. METHODS: The architecture proposed is based on an open software
      platform and standard personal computing hardware. This provides great
      flexibility to develop new applications over the underlying infrastructure or to
      integrate new devices, for instance to monitor a broad range of vital signs in
      those cases where home monitoring is required. RESULTS: An actual system as a
      proof-of-concept was designed, implemented, and deployed. Applications range from
      social network clients to vital signs monitoring; from interactive TV contests to
      conventional online care applications such as medication reminders or
      telemedicine. CONCLUSION: In both cases, the results have been very positive,
      confirming the initial perception of the TV as a convenient, easy-to-use
      technology to provide social and health care. The TV set is a much more familiar
      computing interface for most senior users, and as a consequence, smart TVs become
      a most convenient solution for the design and implementation of applications and
      services targeted to this user group. SIGNIFICANCE: This proposal has been tested
      in real setting with 62 senior people at their homes. Users included both
      individuals with experience using computers and others reluctant to them.

PMID- 26863684
TI  - Can Cluster-Boosted Regression Improve Prediction of Death and Length of Stay in
      the ICU?
AB  - Sharing of personal health information is subject to multiple constraints, which
      may dissuade some organizations from sharing their data. Summarized deidentified
      data, such as that derived from k-means cluster analysis, is subject to far fewer
      privacy-related constraints. In this paper, we examine the extent to which
      analysis of clustered patient types can match predictions made by analyzing the
      entire dataset at once. After reviewing relevant literature, and explaining how
      data are summarized in each cluster of similar patients, we compare the results
      of predicting death, and length of stay (LOS) in the ICU1ICU: Intensive care
      unit.

PMID- 26863685
TI  - Biased Multiobjective Optimization and Decomposition Algorithm.
AB  - The bias feature is a major factor that makes a multiobjective optimization
      problem (MOP) difficult for multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs). To
      deal with this problem feature, an algorithm should carefully balance between
      exploration and exploitation. The decomposition-based MOEA decomposes an MOP into
      a number of single objective subproblems and solves them in a collaborative
      manner. Single objective optimizers can be easily used in this algorithm
      framework. Covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) has proven to
      be able to strike good balance between the exploration and the exploitation of
      search space. This paper proposes a scheme to use both differential evolution
      (DE) and covariance matrix adaptation in the MOEA based on decomposition. In this
      scheme, single objective optimization problems are clustered into several groups.
      To reduce the computational overhead, only one subproblem from each group is
      selected to optimize by CMA-ES while other subproblems are optimized by DE. When
      an evolution strategy procedure meets some stopping criteria, it will be
      reinitialized and used for solving another subproblem in the same group. A set of
      new multiobjective test problems with bias features are constructed in this
      paper. Extensive experimental studies show that our proposed algorithm is
      suitable for dealing with problems with biases.

PMID- 26863686
TI  - NMF-Based Image Quality Assessment Using Extreme Learning Machine.
AB  - Numerous state-of-the-art perceptual image quality assessment (IQA) algorithms
      share a common two-stage process: distortion description followed by distortion
      effects pooling. As for the first stage, the distortion descriptors or
      measurements are expected to be effective representatives of human visual
      variations, while the second stage should well express the relationship among
      quality descriptors and the perceptual visual quality. However, most of the
      existing quality descriptors (e.g., luminance, contrast, and gradient) do not
      seem to be consistent with human perception, and the effects pooling is often
      done in ad-hoc ways. In this paper, we propose a novel full-reference IQA metric.
      It applies non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to measure image degradations
      by making use of the parts-based representation of NMF. On the other hand, a new
      machine learning technique [extreme learning machine (ELM)] is employed to
      address the limitations of the existing pooling techniques. Compared with neural
      networks and support vector regression, ELM can achieve higher learning accuracy
      with faster learning speed. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the
      proposed metric has better performance and lower computational complexity in
      comparison with the relevant state-of-the-art approaches.

PMID- 26863687
TI  - Long-Term Air Pollution and Traffic Noise Exposures and Mild Cognitive Impairment
      in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) describes the intermediate state
      between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Adverse effects of air pollution
      (AP) on cognitive functions have been proposed, but investigations of
      simultaneous exposure to noise are scarce. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the cross
      sectional associations of long-term exposure to AP and traffic noise with overall
      MCI and amnestic (aMCI) and nonamnestic (naMCI) MCI. METHODS: At the second
      examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study, cognitive
      assessment was completed in 4,086 participants who were 50-80 years old. Of
      these, 592 participants were diagnosed as having MCI (aMCI, n = 309; naMCI, n =
      283) according to previously published criteria using five neuropsychological
      subtests. We assessed long-term residential concentrations for size-fractioned
      particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides with land use regression, and for
      traffic noise [weighted 24-hr (LDEN) and night-time (LNIGHT) means]. Logistic
      regression models adjusted for individual risk factors were calculated to
      estimate the association of environmental exposures with MCI in single- and two
      exposure models. RESULTS: Most air pollutants and traffic noise were associated
      with overall MCI and aMCI. For example, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5
      and a 10 A-weighted decibel [dB(A)] increase in LDEN were associated with overall
      MCI as follows [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)]: 1.16 (1.05, 1.27) and 1.40
      (1.03, 1.91), respectively, and with aMCI as follows: 1.22 (1.08, 1.38) and 1.53
      (1.05, 2.24), respectively. In two-exposure models, AP and noise associations
      were attenuated [e.g., for aMCI, PM2.5 1.13 (0.98, 1.30) and LDEN 1.46 (1.11,
      1.92)]. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposures to air pollution and traffic noise were
      positively associated with MCI, mainly with the amnestic subtype. CITATION:
      Tzivian L, Dlugaj M, Winkler A, Weinmayr G, Hennig F, Fuks KB, Vossoughi M,
      Schikowski T, Weimar C, Erbel R, Jockel KH, Moebus S, Hoffmann B, on behalf of
      the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study Investigative Group. 2016. Long-term air pollution
      and traffic noise exposures and mild cognitive impairment in older adults: a
      cross-sectional analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. Environ Health
      Perspect 124:1361-1368; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509824.

PMID- 26863689
TI  - The Authors Reply.

PMID- 26863688
TI  - Associations of Residential Long-Term Air Pollution Exposures and Satellite
      Derived Greenness with Insulin Resistance in German Adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have identified associations between air
      pollution and green space access with type 2 diabetes in adults. However, it
      remains unclear to what extent associations with greenness are attributable to
      air pollution exposure. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate associations between
      long-term exposure to air pollution and satellite-derived greenness with insulin
      resistance in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 837 participants of two German
      birth cohorts (LISAplus and GINIplus) were included in the analysis. Generalized
      additive models were used to determine the association of individual satellite
      derived greenness defined by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI),
      long-term air pollution exposure estimated by land-use regression (LUR) models
      with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in 15-year-old adolescents. Models were
      adjusted for study area, cohort, socioeconomic, and individual characteristics
      such as body mass index, physical activity, and smoking. RESULTS: Increases of 2
      SDs in nitrogen dioxide (NO2; 8.9 MUg/m3) and particulate matter <= 10 MUm in
      diameter (PM10; 6.7 MUg/m3) were significantly associated with 11.4% (95% CI:
      4.4, 18.9) and 11.4% (95% CI: 0.4, 23.7) higher HOMA-IR. A 2-SD increase in NDVI
      in a 1,000-m buffer (0.2 units) was significantly associated with a lower HOMA-IR
      (-7.4%; 95% CI: -13.3, -1.1). Associations tended to be stronger in adolescents
      who spent more time outside and in those with lower socioeconomic status. In
      combined models including both air pollution and greenness, only NO2 remained
      significantly associated with HOMA-IR, whereas effect estimates for all other
      exposures attenuated after adjustment for NO2. CONCLUSIONS: NO2, often considered
      as a marker of traffic, was independently associated with insulin resistance. The
      observed association between higher greenness exposure and lower HOMA-IR in
      adolescents might thus be attributable mainly to the lower co-exposure to traffic
      related air pollution. CITATION: Thiering E, Markevych I, Bruske I, Fuertes E,
      Kratzsch J, Sugiri D, Hoffmann B, von Berg A, Bauer CP, Koletzko S, Berdel D,
      Heinrich J. 2016. Associations of residential long-term air pollution exposures
      and satellite-derived greenness with insulin resistance in German adolescents.
      Environ Health Perspect 124:1291-1298; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509967.

PMID- 26863690
TI  - Author response.

PMID- 26863691
TI  - In This Issue: Multilevel Effects.

PMID- 26863692
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26863693
TI  - MANY PLAYERS ROIL THE RESEARCH WATERS.

PMID- 26863695
TI  - Looking For Signs Of Substance Abuse.

PMID- 26863694
TI  - STEPS TO STAFF STABILITY PART ONE: HELP WANTED! ACHIEVE STAFF STABILITY WITH GOOD
      HIRES AND WELCOMES.

PMID- 26863696
TI  - DOJ Initiative Targets Employees For Misconduct.

PMID- 26863697
TI  - OIG To Scrutinize Therapy Group Assignments.

PMID- 26863698
TI  - Got Resilience?

PMID- 26863699
TI  - Impact of Incivility in Nursing.

PMID- 26863700
TI  - Neuropathic Pain Management: A Reference for the Clinical Nurse.
AB  - The International Association for the Study of Pain neuropathic pain guidelines
      are presented. Nursing considerations, including neuropathic pain assessment and
      medication efficacy, are reported to explain medications' primary mechanisms of
      action and provide a nursing reference for patient education.

PMID- 26863701
TI  - How Well Do Inexpensive, Portable Pulse Oximeter Values Agree with Arterial
      Oxygenation Saturation in Acutely Ill Patients?
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the level of agreement between a
      portable SpO2 device and the clinical gold standard SaO2 in intermediate care
      patients.

PMID- 26863702
TI  - Nursing Surveillance and Physiological Signs of Deterioration.
AB  - A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the impact of nursing
      surveillance on rapid deterioration. Data were collected on vital signs,
      recognition of mentation changes, and assessment of urinary output. Specific
      components of nursing surveillance that permit recognition of deteriorating
      patients remain unclear.

PMID- 26863703
TI  - Addressing Needs of Long-Term Care Facility Residents During Acute
      Hospitalization.
AB  - Patients who reside in long-term care facilities for extended periods of time
      offer many health care challenges. Recognition of early signs of illness, care
      transitions, and underutilization of community resources are common concerns.

PMID- 26863704
TI  - Maggot Debridement Therapy: Advancing to the Past in Wound Care.
AB  - Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is experiencing resurgence as an effective
      alternative to conventional mechanical debridement in nonhealing wounds,
      especially those with antibiotic-resistant organisms. MDT has antibiotic,
      antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Military use is on the rise.

PMID- 26863705
TI  - Pharmacotherapy of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Navigating Current and New
      Therapies.
AB  - The keys to optimal glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes are early
      diagnosis and interventions that include lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy.
      This review discusses therapeutic goals and current options for treatment of type
      2 diabetes.

PMID- 26863706
TI  - Assessing Oral Hygiene in Hospitalized Older Veterans.
AB  - Poor oral health for all older adults can result in higher risk for heart
      disease, stroke, diabetes, and oral cancer. Findings from this study indicated
      older veterans needed to improve their oral hygiene habits but barriers to oral
      hygiene performance prevented them from receiving and performing oral hygiene
      measures.

PMID- 26863707
TI  - Unveiling the Truth about Nurses' Personal Preparedness for Disaster Response: A
      Pilot Study.
AB  - Although nurses are essential caregivers in disaster response, many are not
      prepared personally to report to the workplace during disaster situations. An
      online disaster preparedness education intervention to support personal readiness
      is described in this pilot study.

PMID- 26863708
TI  - A Critical-Thinking Acronym for Diabetes Care.

PMID- 26863709
TI  - CCCTM Exam: Validating the Expertise of Care Coordination and Transition
      Management.

PMID- 26863710
TI  - Research Questions and Hypotheses.

PMID- 26863711
TI  - Do You Suffer from Meeting Inflation?.

PMID- 26863712
TI  - Cytotoxic chemotherapy administration in the community: A case study.

PMID- 26863713
TI  - Workplace, culture--how safe is your practice when giving medications?

PMID- 26863714
TI  - A constructivist grounded theory study of mental health clinicians' boundary
      maintenance.
AB  - This study sought to understand how mental health clinicians (MHC) establish and
      maintain the professional boundary in their everyday practice. The findings
      indicate the establishment and maintenance of the professional boundary and the
      continual process of engaging the client are inextricably linked. Furthermore the
      use of interpersonal and professional skills are necessary to establish and
      maintain the professional boundary on an ongoing basis. A basic social process of
      engaging clients emerged from the analysis and indicated that a broader
      understanding of establishing and maintaining boundaries within the mental health
      context was warranted.

PMID- 26863715
TI  - Bullying, relational aggression and nursing.

PMID- 26863716
TI  - Why teachers are giving a Gonski.

PMID- 26863717
TI  - Improving community nursing care services through the academic nursing centre
      model.

PMID- 26863718
TI  - Resource packs to facilitate exercise on dialysis.

PMID- 26863719
TI  - RDNS and Bowls Australia team up to provide health education.

PMID- 26863721
TI  - Primary healthcare nursing workforce development.

PMID- 26863720
TI  - The health of Australian nomads.

PMID- 26863722
TI  - Weenthunga--helping future generations to make healthy decisions.

PMID- 26863723
TI  - Supporting individuals receiving chemotherapy in their home.

PMID- 26863724
TI  - Raising awareness of the corneal donation program.

PMID- 26863725
TI  - Coffee and conversation: Creation of a wound clinic.

PMID- 26863726
TI  - Applying psychosocial theories for nursing students.

PMID- 26863728
TI  - A study into suicide attempt aftercare.

PMID- 26863727
TI  - Hepatitis B antenatal care in the community.

PMID- 26863730
TI  - Answer.

PMID- 26863729
TI  - Achieving health equity for people with disabilities: a call to action.

PMID- 26863731
TI  - Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Case of the Month. Diagnosis. Pregnancy tumor
      (Pyogenic granuloma).

PMID- 26863732
TI  - CAT OF THE MONTH. Critically Appraised Topics. No Relationship Between
      Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Premolar Extraction (UT CAT #2917).

PMID- 26863733
TI  - Changes in Children's Oral Health Status and Receipt of Preventive Dental Visits,
      United States, 2003-2011/2012.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Oral health represents the largest unmet health care need for
      children, and geographic variations in children's receipt of oral health services
      have been noted. However, children's oral health outcomes have not been
      systematically evaluated over time and across states. This study examined changes
      in parent-reported children's oral health status and receipt of preventive dental
      visits in 50 states and the District of Columbia. METHODS: We used data from the
      2003 and the 2011/2012 National Survey of Children's Health. National and state
      level estimates of the adjusted prevalence of oral health status and preventive
      dental visits were calculated and changes over time examined. Multivariable
      logistic regression was used to compare outcomes across all states and the
      District of Columbia for each survey year. RESULTS: The percentage of parents who
      reported that their children had excellent or very good oral health increased
      from 67.7% in 2003 to 71.9% in 2011/2012. Parents who reported that their
      children had preventive dental visits increased from 71.5% in 2003 to 77.0% in
      2011/2012. The prevalence of children with excellent or very good oral health
      status increased in 26 states, and the prevalence of children who received at
      least 1 preventive care dental visit increased in 45 states. In both years, there
      was more variation among states for preventive dental visits than for oral health
      status. CONCLUSIONS: State variation in oral health status and receipt of
      preventive dental services remained after adjusting for demographic
      characteristics. Understanding these differences is critical to addressing the
      most common chronic disease of childhood and achieving the oral health objectives
      of Healthy People 2020.

PMID- 26863734
TI  - 5 STRATEGIES FOR STIMULATING CASH FLOW IN 2016.

PMID- 26863735
TI  - [Structural Polymorphism of Genome Islands Encoding Resistance to Beta-Lactams in
      Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated at Hospitals of the Russian
      Federation].
AB  - Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are considered as a reservoir of mobile
      genetic elements and first of all of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec
      (SCCmec), defining staphylococci resistance to beta-lactams. Types II, IV, IVa,
      V, VII and VIII SCCmec were detected among 95 staphylococcal strains isolated in
      different regions of the Russian Federation. Subtypes C1a, C1b, C1c and C1 SCCmec
      were also identified (class B mec complex and two complexes of ccr1 and ccr2
      genes recombinases). Some other cassette types carrying A, C1 and C2 classes of
      the mec complexes in combination with various recombinase genes were detected.
      The S.epidermidis isolates mainly formed cassettes carrying mec complex B, while
      the S. haemolyticus isolates had cassettes carrying classes C1 and C2 mec
      complex. Out of 9 isolates of S. hominis 5 isolates carried a new type cassette:
      class A mec complex in combination with the complex of the recombinase ccr1
      genes. SCCmec was not identified in S. capitis and S. pasteuri. Their
      representatives carried either mec complex (1 isolate of S. pasteuri) or the
      recombinase complexes (2 isolates of S. capitis). The detected SCCmec variants in
      CoNS could be a source of emergence of new genetic lines of MRSA.

PMID- 26863736
TI  - [Investigation of Therapeutic Efficacy of Triazavirin Against Experimental Forest
      Spring Encephalitis on Albino Mice].
AB  - The comparative study of the therapeutic efficacy of Triazavirin against
      experimental Forest-Spring encephalitis on albino mice vs. the active drug
      Ribavirin(r) showed that in high doses (200-400 mg/kg) Triazavirin moderately
      protected the infected animals. A significant increase of the animal lifespan in
      the test groups (from 4.1 to 4.8 days) and a statistically (p <= 0.05) valid
      decrease of the virus accumulation in the target organ (the brain) were observed.

PMID- 26863737
TI  - [Assessment of Antitumor Effect of Submerged Culture of Ophiocordyceps sinensis
      and Cordyceps militaris].
AB  - Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris metabolites showed a high
      potential in the treatment of tumors as well as some other diseases. Antitumor
      properties of O. sinensis and C. militaris submerged mycelium were investigated.
      It was found that the O. sinensis dry biomass in a dose of 50 mg/kg administered
      once a day to the mice with subcutaneously inoculated P388 lympholeucosis lowered
      the tumor growth by 65% vs. 54% for the C. militaris dry biomass. The water
      extract of O. sinensis submerged culture however accelerated the growth of the
      P388 lympholeucosis tumor node in the mice almost two times, compared to the
      control. A greater caution in using this fungus as a source of biologically
      active substances is required since unwanted tumor-stimulating effects can arise.

PMID- 26863738
TI  - [Immunomodulator Intensification of Etioropic Therapy in Patients with Advanced
      Pulmonary Tuberculosis].
AB  - The study was aimed at possible increase of the therapy efficacy in patients with
      advanced tuberculosis by including immunomodulators to the treatment schemes. The
      data concerning 6034 patients with advanced tuberculosis, mainly fibrocavernous
      tuberculosis of the lungs, were analysed. Four groups of the patients were
      randomized. In group 1 the management of the patients included etiotropic therapy
      and some treatment and rehabilitation measures with the use of Cycloferon. The
      group 2 patients in addition to the etiotropic therapy and some treatment and
      rehabilitation measures were given Omega-3. In group 3 the management included
      the etiotropic therapy and some treatment and rehabilitation measures. In group 4
      the etioropic therapy was used alone. The analysis showed that 3419 patients had
      primary pulmonary tuberculosis, 340 patients had relapsing tuberculosis and 2275
      patients had long-term process. The etiotropic therapy efficacy was estimated
      after an intensive phase of not more than 3 months. In the cases with
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance and some other unfavourable factors it
      was estimated after a 5-month intensive phase. The results confirmed that
      inclusion of immunomodulators to the treatment schemes allowed to increase the
      therapy efficacy and the patients' adherence to the treatment, as well as to
      shorten the period of the bacteria carriage. Thus, the use of Cycloferon in the
      schemes of the treatment of the patients with fibrocavernous pulmonary
      tuberculosis allowed to shorten the period of the pathogen carriage (as well as
      the drug resistant forms) in 94.1 +/- 3.33% of the patients in spite of
      concomitant diseases. The effect of Cycloferon in such cases was likely due to
      both its direct immunoprotective action and the improvement of the general state
      of the patients and their higher adherence to the treatment.

PMID- 26863739
TI  - [Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of the Use of Hepatoprotectors in Management of Drug
      Associated Liver Injury Due to Hodgkin's Lymphoma Chemotherapy].
AB  - The data on the pharmacoeconomic research of the use of Remaxol in treatment of
      drug-associated liver injury due to the chemotherapy in cancer patients are
      presented. The costs-efficiency method was applied to two groups of the patients
      with drug-associated liver injury treated according to different schemes. The
      research showed economical benefits of the Remaxol use.

PMID- 26863740
TI  - [Selective Isolation of Rare Actinomycetes from Soil].
AB  - Many diverse methods for selective isolation of actinomycetes are used in
      discovery of organisms producing biologically active substances, as well as in
      ecological studies. Methods for isolation of rare actinomycetes from soil are
      reviewed.

PMID- 26863741
TI  - [Methodology of Screening New Antibiotics: Present Status and Prospects].
AB  - Due to extensive distribution of pathogen resistance to available pharmaceuticals
      and serious problems in the treatment of various infections and tumor diseases,
      the necessity of new antibiotics is urgent. The basic methodological approaches
      to chemical synthesis of antibiotics and screening of new antibiotics among
      natural products, mainly among microbial secondary metabolites, are considered in
      the review. Since the natural compounds are very much diverse, screening of such
      substances gives a good opportunity to discover antibiotics of various chemical
      structure and mechanism of action. Such an approach followed by chemical or
      biological transformation, is capable of providing the health care with new
      effective pharmaceuticals. The review is mainly concentrated on screening of
      natural products and methodological problems, such as: isolation of microbial
      producers from the habitats, cultivation of microorganisms producing appropriate
      substances, isolation and chemical characterization of microbial metabolites,
      identification of the biological activity of the metabolites. The main attention
      is paid to the problems of microbial secondary metabolism and design of new
      models for screening biologically active compounds. The last achievements in the
      field of antibiotics and most perspective approaches to future investigations are
      discussed. The main methodological approach to isolation and cultivation of the
      producers remains actual and needs constant improvement. The increase of the
      screening efficiency can be achieved by more rapid chemical identification of
      antibiotics and design of new screening models based on the biological activity
      detection.

PMID- 26863743
TI  - [Regulation of lymphocyte trafficking].

PMID- 26863742
TI  - [Secondary Metabolites from Marine Microorganisms. I. Secondary Metabolites from
      Marine Actinomycetes].
AB  - Review represents data on new active metabolites isolated from marine
      actinomycetes published in 2007 to 2014. Marine actinomycetes are an unlimited
      source of novel secondary metabolites with various biological activities. Among
      them there are antibiotics, anticancer compounds, inhibitors of biochemical
      processes.

PMID- 26863744
TI  - [Arrest peptides illuminate molecular autonomy in execution of the central
      dogma].

PMID- 26863745
TI  - [Cell dynamics research using multi-color beetle luciferases].

PMID- 26863746
TI  - [Structure and function of CRISPR-Cas9].

PMID- 26863747
TI  - [Regulation of autoimmunity and tumor immunity by immunoinhibitory co-receptor,
      PD-1].

PMID- 26863748
TI  - [Structure, dynamics and functions of the proteasome].

PMID- 26863749
TI  - [Intravital fluorescence imaging by two-photon microscopy].

PMID- 26863750
TI  - [Diversity of Mg2+ transporters involved in magnesium homeostasis].

PMID- 26863751
TI  - [Regulation of lipid metabolism by miRNAs and transcription factors].

PMID- 26863752
TI  - [Ribosome rescue systems in Escherichia coli].

PMID- 26863753
TI  - [BRCA1-interacting protein OLA1 functions in the maintenance of genome integrity
      by centrosome regulation].

PMID- 26863754
TI  - [Amelioration of neuronal injury by the expressional regulation of the
      glycosaminoglycan].

PMID- 26863755
TI  - [Toward functional identification of functionally unknown proteins in nucleotide
      metabolism].

PMID- 26863756
TI  - [Neutron Crystallography of the Complex Between Photosynthetic Pigment of
      Phycocyanobilin Synthesizing Enzyme and Substrate Biliverdin IXalpha].

PMID- 26863757
TI  - [Regulation of proteostasis capacity in the mitochondria].

PMID- 26863758
TI  - [Structures and functions of novel exopeptideses involved in peptide metabolism].

PMID- 26863759
TI  - [The role of histamine-releasing factor in allergic inflammation].

PMID- 26863760
TI  - [On the roles of NF-kappaB-inducing kinase in thymic T cell differentiation].

PMID- 26863761
TI  - [Formation and regulation of electronegative molecules as an endogenous antigen].

PMID- 26863763
TI  - [Cellular misfolded proteins transported to the cell surface by MHC class II
      molecules are targeted by autoantibodies].

PMID- 26863762
TI  - [EMC is essential for biosynthesis of rhodopsin and other multipass membrane
      proteins in Drosophila photoreceptors].

PMID- 26863764
TI  - [Quantitative analysis of lipids constructing plasma membrane microdomains by LC
      MS].

PMID- 26863765
TI  - [DYNAMICS AND MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION OF HETERO-HEXAMERIC TIP49a/b COMPLEXES
      WITH DS-DNA].
AB  - Evolutionary conserved TIP49a and TIP49b ATPases belong to the AAA+ superfamily
      of DNA-dependent ATPases that are involved in many cellular processes such as
      chromatin remodeling, regulation of transcription and cell division during
      mitosis, the maintenance of genome stability, snoRNP biogenesis, and participate
      in the formation of active form of telomerase. These proteins are involved in the
      complex networks of protein-protein interactions and, in spite of high structural
      similarity, in some cases, can perform opposite functions. Despite of the variety
      of their different activities, the exact mechanisms of action of TIP49a and
      TIP49b are still poorly understood. In this paper, by means of molecular docking
      approaches we first modeled the structures of hetero-hexameric TIP49 complexes
      with short ds-DNA fragments (20 base pairs with different GC content) within the
      central channel of hexameric ring. Using molecular dynamics simulations in the
      periodic water box (MD) we investigated conformational dynamics and mechanisms of
      DNA unwinding activity of these proteins. We shown that: a) the interaction
      between the positively charged protein loops and DNA within the central channel
      of protein ring leads to the partial unwinding of the DNA helix; b) DNA unwinding
      occurs only in the region within the protein ring, while the terminal parts of
      DNA outside the protein complex remain in its initial b-form conformation; c) the
      presence of ATP in the active sites of protein complex affects both the dynamics
      and the structure of DNA, leading to the breakage of some complementary bonds in
      AT-rich DNA sequences.

PMID- 26863766
TI  - [EXPRESSION OF THE LIGHT CHAINS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN NORMAL B-CELLS AND SOME B
      CELL LYMPHOMAS].
AB  - The quantitative method of determining the level of expression of immunoglobulin
      light chains on uncompensated data was suggested and used to examine disorders in
      light chain expression in various B-cell tumors. The average level of expression
      of the lambda isotype was 4 times higher than the level of expression of kappa
      isotype. The level of surface and cytoplasmic expression of LC IG varied within
      wide limits for different people, but there was a high degree of correlation
      between the levels of expression of kappa and lambda isotypes LC IG as well as
      between expression of the surface and cytoplasmic forms of each in isotype the
      same individual. In the majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas correlation
      between the expression of LC IG on the surface and in the cytoplasm of the cells
      was diminished. Expression of LC IG in CLL was significantly reduced on the
      surface of the cells and to a lesser extent--in the cytoplasm. In the case of
      marginal zone cell lymphoma, LC IG expression level was reduced on the surface of
      circulating cells and to a lesser extent--in the cytoplasm. In the case of mantle
      cell lymphoma and DLBCL, expression level of LC IG on the cell surface and in the
      cytoplasm was the same as in normal B-cells. However, in some cases DLBCL, no LC
      IG was expressed both on the surface and in the cytoplasm.

PMID- 26863767
TI  - [UROKINASE SYSTEM INVOLVES IN VASCULAR CELLS MIGRATION AND REGULATES THE GROWTH
      AND BRANCHING OF CAPILLARIES].
AB  - Urokinase system representing urokinase-type plasminogen activator (urokinase,
      uPA) and urokinase re- ceptor (uPAR) plays an important regulatory role in the
      vascular wall and has the ability to run a proteolytic cascade, degradation of
      extracellular matrix and activate intracellular signaling in vascular cells. In
      this work, we have firstly shown a fundamental mechanism of urokinase system
      dependent regulation of the trajectory of growth and branching of blood vessels
      what may be of particular importance in the growth of blood vessels in early
      embryogenesis and in adults during the repair/regeneration of tissues.

PMID- 26863768
TI  - [OXIDATIVE STRESS-PROMOTED RESPONSES IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL STEM CELLS AND LUNG
      EMBRYONIC FIBROBLASTS].
AB  - Human mesenchymal stem cells are an attractive cell source for tissue
      engineering. During transplantation they may be subjected to oxidative stress due
      to unfavorable cellular microenvironment, which is characterized by increased
      levels of reactive oxygen species. Recently, we have demonstrated that oxidative
      stress responses of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from endometrium
      (hMESCs) depend upon the oxidizer concentration. Besides, the duration of the
      H2O2-treatment duration. The effects of the high H2O2 doses on hMESCs and human
      lung embryonic fibroblasts were compared. In both cell types, H2O2-treatment for
      60 min was shown to promote the multiphase cell cycle arrest, as well as to the
      dose-dependent cell death that occurred equally from all phases of cell cycle.
      However, the cell death dynamics in hMESCs and fibroblasts were different.
      Interestingly, in both cell types, shortening of H2O2-treatment duration from 60
      to 10 min induced growth retardation, G1-phase accumulation and the cell size
      increase. Together, these findings allow us to suggest an induction of the
      premature senescence as a result of the short cell exposure to the high H2O2
      doses. Thus, regarding both human endometrial stem cells and human embryonic
      fibroblasts, shortening of oxidative stress duration induced by high H2O2 doses
      enables to avoid the cell death and to produce the features of the premature
      senescence.

PMID- 26863769
TI  - [THE MODEL OF NEUROVASCULAR UNIT IN VITRO CONSISTING OF THREE CELLS TYPES].
AB  - There are many ways to model blood brain barrier and neurovascular unit in vitro.
      All existing models have their disadvantages, advantages and some peculiarities
      of preparation and usage. We obtained the three-cells neurovascular unit model in
      vitro using progenitor cells isolated from the rat embryos brain (Wistar, 14-16
      d). After withdrawal of the progenitor cells the neurospheres were cultured with
      subsequent differentiation into astrocytes and neurons. Endothelial cells were
      isolated from embryonic brain too. During the differentiation of progenitor cells
      the astrocytes monolayer formation occurs after 7-9 d, neurons monolayer--after
      10-14 d, endothelial cells monolayer--after 7 d. Our protocol for simultaneous
      isolation and cultivation of neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells reduces
      the time needed to obtain neurovascular unit model in vitro, consisting of three
      cells types and reduce the number of animals used. It is also important to note
      the cerebral origin of all cell types, which is also an advantage of our model in
      vitro.

PMID- 26863770
TI  - [ENTRY OF FACULTATIVE PATHOGEN SERRATIA GRIMESII INTO HELA CELLS. ELECTRON
      MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS].
AB  - Facultative pathogens Serratia grimesii are able to invade eukaryotic cells where
      they have been found in vacuoles and free in the cytoplasm (Efremova et al.,
      2001; Bozhokina et al., 2011). However, efficiency of this invasion is low, and
      the mechanisms of the invasion related to the initial steps of the process are
      not known. In the present study, we have increased the invasion efficiency by
      incubation of HeLa cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) preceding the infection. In
      the NAC-pretreated cells, two modes of S. grimesii to enter HeLa cells were
      observed. In the most cases, the penetration of S. grimesii into the cell was
      consistent with the "zipper mechanism", involving specific interaction of
      bacterial invasin with a host cell surface receptor. However, in some cases,
      bacteria were trapped by membrane ruffling probably produced by injected
      bacterial proteins that trigger the bacterial uptake process, as described in the
      "trigger mechanism". Further elucidation of bacterial and cellular factors
      involved in the bacteria-host cell interaction should clarify whether two
      different mechanisms or a predominant one operate during S. grimesii invasion.

PMID- 26863771
TI  - [PLASMALEMMAL ION TRANSPORT IN POLLEN TUBES IS REGULATED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE].
AB  - Pollen tube growth is a key step in the life cycle of seed plants, which defines
      the success of sexual reproduction. One of the most important contributions to
      this process is made by ion transport through plasmalemma, which is tightly
      coordinated in time and space. Different classes of signaling molecules are
      involved in the regulation of transmembrane ion transport including reactive
      oxygen species as it has been recently demonstrated. Here, using subprotoplasts
      isolated from pollen tubes, we have demonstrated a connection between hydrogen
      peroxide, on one side, and two groups of targets on the plasma membrane, on the
      other side: nifedipine-sensitive Ca(2+)-permeable channels and transport systems
      controlling membrane potential. H2O2 interaction with these targets causes the
      increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and plasmalemma hyperpolarization. One
      of the consequences of target modification was acceleration of cell wall
      regeneration.

PMID- 26863772
TI  - [EFFECT OF FUCOIDANS ISOLATED FROM SEAWEEDS LAMINARIA DIGITATA AND FUCUS
      VESICULOSUS ON CELL LINES HELA G-63, ECV 304 AND PC 12].
AB  - The aim of the research was to investigate cytotoxicity of fucoidans on mammals
      cells. Three different samples of fucoidans were isolated from mechanically
      grounded brown algae Laminaria digitata and Fucus ve- siculosus. The sample F2
      that differed from the others by higher sulfatation level and suppression of HeLa
      G-63 line culture growth was taken for further study in cell lines HeLa G-63, ECV
      304 and PC 12. We have shown that fucoidan preparation F2 inhibits proliferation
      and induces cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner for all investigated
      cell lines. Neuroendocrine tumor rat cell line PC 12 appeared to be the most
      sensitive to fucoidan treatment whereas endothelial human cells ECV 304 were the
      least sensitive.

PMID- 26863774
TI  - [A DEVICE FOR THE VACUUM TREATMENT OF HISTOLOGICAL MATERIAL].
AB  - A device to carry out all types of vacuum infiltration in a wide temperature
      range. The device is easy to use and allows you to simultaneously conduct the
      infiltration of a large number of tissue samples. The main element of the device
      is a temperature-controlled cuvette, the temperature of which is set in the range
      of 23-65  degrees C. The design of the cell allows pumping air from the cell to
      the 50-100 mm Hg. In practice, histological methods are used to remove the vacuum
      infiltration of air from the tissue fixation (plant tissue), to accelerate the
      penetration of fasteners into the tissue. To carry out such a procedure,
      syringes, water pump and other hand-held devicesare used. Only vacuum
      infiltration allows a fill lyophilized tissue in paraffin. Efficiency of the
      described device is checked during the experiments at various fixing plant tissue
      and nervous tissue filling lyophilized in paraffin.

PMID- 26863773
TI  - [MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF NEUTROPHILS AND EOSINOPHILS GRANULES IN SAPPHIRE
      MINKS].
AB  - It has been established that sapphire minks have abnormality of subcellular
      structure of blood and bone marrow neutrophils and eosinophils. The abnormality
      consists in forming of abnormal "giant" granules. The si- ze and the number of
      abnormal granules significantly change during maturation of leucocytes in bone
      marrow. We have found differences between abnormal granules forming in
      neutrophils and eosinophils that depend on the maturing stage and the cells life
      cycle duration as well as morphofunctional features of these granulocytes.

PMID- 26863775
TI  - [Chronic Radiation Syndrome Among the Population of the Techa River Basin].
AB  - Presented in the article is the analysis of the cases of the chronic radiation
      syndrome (CRS) diagnosed among members of the population exposed for multiple
      years to radiation due to radioactive contamination of the Techa River. The
      results of the more than 60-year period of observations have allowed us to assess
      not only the clinical manifestations of CRS during the period of its formation,
      but also the efficiency of the restoration processes going on in the human body
      after chronic radiation exposure, as well as its remote effects. The article
      discusses the problems of CRS diagnostics and especially its course in the cases
      of a combined (internal and external) radiation exposure when the red bone marrow
      becomes a critical organ. The analysis of CRS cases in dynamics for the exposed
      population characterized by a significant heterogeneity in terms of age, the
      initial health status and other factors modifying the person's radiosensitivity,
      allows us to regard the initial stage of CRS as a stereotypic dysregulating
      pathology.

PMID- 26863776
TI  - [Medical and Dosimetric Register of the Siberian Group of Chemical Enterprises
      Personnel--the Basis for the Evaluation of Chronic, Radiation Exposure Effects].
AB  - The characteristic of medical and dosimetric register database of Siberian Group
      of Chemical Enterprises personnel is represented. This characteristic includes
      the description of the database structure, main sources of information,
      quantitative composition of the cohort under study, methods of evaluation of the
      external and internal irradiation doses, modern data on cancer incidence and
      reasons of death. The database is the basis for estimating the risk of the cancer
      and non-cancer effects after a long-term radiation exposure and dependence of
      "dose-response" at different levels: from population and group to cell and
      molecular. Now the database of register contains the information about more than
      66,500 employees at the Siberian Group of Chemical Enterprises, about 22,000 of
      whom were exposed to external irradiation and more than 7500 employees--to
      internal irradiation. The register is the information resource of a large
      biological material bank. Using this bank, the research of chronic radiation
      exposure genetic effects and markers of individual radio sensitivity is
      performed.

PMID- 26863777
TI  - [Retrospective Cytogenetic Dose Evaluation. II. Computer Data Processing in
      Persons Irradiated in Different Radiation Accidents].
AB  - The method for retrospective dose assessment based on the analysis of cell
      distribution by the number of dicentrics and unstable aberrations using a special
      computer program was earlier developed based on the data about the persons
      irradiated as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This
      method was applied for the same purpose for data processing of repeated
      cytogenetic studies of the patients exposed to gamma-, gamma-beta- or gamma
      neutron radiation in various situations. As a whole, this group was followed up
      in more distant periods (17-50 years) after exposure than Chernobyl patients (up
      to 25 years). The use for retrospective dose assessment of the multiple
      regression equations obtained for the Chernobyl cohort showed that the equation,
      which includes computer recovered estimate of the dose and the time elapsed after
      irradiation, was generally unsatisfactory (r = 0.069 at p = 0.599). Similar
      equations with recovered estimate of the dose and frequency of abnormal
      chromosomes in a distant period or with all three parameters as variables gave
      better results (r = 0.686 at p = 0.000000001 and r = 0.542 at p = 0.000008,
      respectively).

PMID- 26863778
TI  - [The Changes of Properties of Blood Peripheral Lymphocytes of Donors and Patients
      with Prostate Gland Cancer: Reaction of Lymphocytes on Irradiation in vitro].
AB  - The oxidative status (ROS), markers activation expression (CD69), proliferation
      activity (Ki67), proapoptotic antigen (CD95) have been investigated on healthy
      donors and patients with prostatic gland cancer in human blood lymphocytes. The
      lymphocyte reaction in vitro on gamma-irradiation at different doses (0.05-1.0
      Gy) has been determined too. It was shown that in these two types of individuals
      the ROS content does not differ and the reaction on irradiation is not different
      either. Essential is the difference between the marker expression in lymphocytes
      of healthy donors and patients with tumour: in individuals with cancer the
      content of lymphocytes with CD69+ phenotype (in non active situation) and CD95+
      increases, the expression of marker Ki67 decreases. The lymphocyte response to
      irradiation in healthy and tumour lymphocytes is distinguished. Irradiation at
      doses 0.05-10.0 Gy on tumour patients lymphocytes markers does not influence
      expression. In healthy donors' lymphocytes the expression of markers is changed
      considerably, the reaction depends on the marker type: expression of CD69 marker
      decreases (tendency); expression of Ki67 decreases too; it is unusual that the
      expression of CD95 changes--it decreases after irradiation at the doses of 0.05
      1.0 Gy, then increases with dose. So this work shows the changes in tumour
      patients' blood lymphocytes in comparison with healthy donors' lymphocytes. The
      possible mechanisms of the observed phenomenon are discussed.

PMID- 26863779
TI  - [Release of Extracellular DNA after Administration of Radioprotective Combination
      of alpha-Tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid].
AB  - Radioprotective and apoptotic activities of alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E)
      and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) have been studied in 180 Wistar male rats. Rats
      were administered a single oral dose with vitamin E, vitamin C or their
      combination at prophylactic doses before or after the single whole body exposure
      to irradiation at the doses of 2 or 8 Gy. The radioprotective effect was
      evaluated by the frequency of chromosomal aberrations at metaphase plates of the
      bone marrow cells, apoptotic--by the level of circulating low-molecular-weight
      DNA (ImwDNA) in the blood plasma of irradiated rats. Administration of the
      combination of vitamins E and C before and after the irradiation at the dose of 2
      Gy reduced the number of the cells with chromosomal aberrations thus providing
      the radioprotective effect, but separately administration of these vitamins did
      not show the significant radioprotective activity. Administration of the
      combination of vitamins E and C before irradiation with 8 Gy increased the lmwDNA
      in blood thus providing the apoptotic effect. So, synergy of radioprotective
      activities has been revealed in vitamins E and C action at prophylactic doses.
      Radioprotective effect of the combination of vitamins E and C can be associated
      with the apoptotic activity and can be explained by elimination of the least
      viable irradiated cells from the cell population.

PMID- 26863780
TI  - [Experimental Evaluation of Radioprotective Efficacy of Synthetic Genistein on
      Criteria of Glutathione System and Lipid Peroxidation in Erythrocytes of
      Peripheral Blood in Irradiated Rats].
AB  - The study was aimed to evaluate experimentally the radioprotective effectiveness
      of synthetic genistein in terms of the glutathione system and lipid peroxidation
      in erythrocytes of irradiated rats. The animals were exposed to single acute X
      ray irradiation at a dose of 6 Gy. Genistein was administered intraperitoneally
      at 200 mg/kg 1 hour before radiation exposure. The irradiation caused the
      initiation of lipid peroxidation in the background depletion of reduced
      glutathione. Decrease by 25% in the number of malondialdehyde in the rats treated
      with genistein was registered 5 min after irradiation compared with the control.
      It is established thatl day after irradiation the level of reduced glutathione in
      the rats treated with genistein was 26% higher. However, intraperitoneal
      administration of genistein did not cause statistically significant changes in
      the activity of glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, or glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase during the whole period of observation. The results
      suggest that the radioprotective effect of synthetic genistein is implemented,
      along with other mechanisms, by stimulating the glutathione system and reducing
      the severity of lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 26863781
TI  - [Blood DNA Radiosensitivity May Be Predictive Marker for Efficacy of Radiation
      Therapy in Glioma Tumorbearing Individuals].
AB  - Animal and clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the association between
      the blood DNA radiosensitivity, assessed by determining the original S-index ex
      vivo, and the response of gliomas to irradiation in vivo. Possible modifications
      of the latter after administration of iron-containing water (ICW) in rats were
      also explored. The study was performed on the rats with subcutaneously implanted
      experimental glioma-35. The tumors were locally X-irradiated with a single 15 Gy
      dose as a radiation therapy (RT). ICW (60-63 mg . Fe 2+/l) was administered as a
      drinking water for 3 days before treatment. The animals underwent blood sampling
      for analysis of the DNA concentration and leukocyte count. The DNA index was
      estimated 24 h after RT. The S-index was evaluated within 4 h before RT. The mean
      initial S-index in the blood samples of glioma-bearing rats was 0.73 +/- 0.05.
      Addition of ICW ex vivo resulted in a significantly increased S-index in a half
      of the samples. In general, the irradiated rats, which had been given
      pretreatment with ICW and demonstrated an ex vivo increase of the S-index to >
      1.0, showed the most marked inhibition of tumor progression and the smallest
      tumor volume 25 days after irradiation. They also exhibited the lowest rate of
      growth and the longest survival. Determination of the biochemical S-index and
      evaluation of its changes ex vivo caused by ICW may be predictive of the response
      of experimental glioma to irradiation with radiomodification. The S-index may
      serve as a predictive indicator in clinic of the efficient evaluation of RT in
      patients with glioma.

PMID- 26863782
TI  - [Early and Delayed Effects of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the
      Reproductive Function and Functional Status of the Offspring of Experimental
      Animals].
AB  - The aim of our experimental research was to study the impact of radio frequency
      electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) on the reproductive function of male and female
      mice of CBA in 2 models of exposure, as well as on the morphofunctional state of
      progeny of irradiated animals. It was found that RF EMF under conditions of
      repeated short-term exposures (within 5 days for 10 minutes at PES 1.2 mW/cm2)
      affects the course of pregnancy in female mice, the number of litters, fertility
      and preservation of offspring, morphometric characteristics of the offspring of
      experimental animals at different models of irradiation (exposure of animals to
      RF EMF prior to mating and during pregnancy).

PMID- 26863783
TI  - [About Dose-Effect Relationship in the Environment Radiation Protection].
AB  - One of the most important stages in the development of a methodology for the
      environment radiation protection is the assessment and justification of critical
      radiation exposure levels for ecosystem components. In this study application of
      the approach for critical dose level estimation is demonstrated on the example of
      the data about ionizing radiation effect on reproduction and survival of
      agricultural plants after acute and chronic exposures. Influence of the type of
      dose-effect relationship on the estimated values of the critical doses and dose
      rates is studied using three models (linear, logarithmic and logistic). The
      findings obtained do not provide any robust recommendations in favor of one of
      the three tested functions. The models of dose-effect relationship (threshold or
      non-threshold) and types of radiation-induced effects (stochastic and
      deterministic) are discussed from the viewpoint of developing a system for
      radiation protection of human and non-human biota.

PMID- 26863784
TI  - [Specific Features of Scots Pine Seeds Formation in the Remote Period after the
      Chernobyl NPP Accident].
AB  - The results of long-term (2007-2011) observations on the quality of seed progeny
      in Scots pine populations inhabiting the sites within the Bryansk region
      contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl NPP accident are presented. Formed
      under the chronic exposure seeds are characterized by a high interannual
      variability, which is largely determined by weather conditions.

PMID- 26863785
TI  - [The 62nd Session of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of
      Atomic Radiation].

PMID- 26863786
TI  - [Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation "Medical and
      Biological Problems of Toxicology and Radiobiology" (4-6 June 2015, St.
      Petersburg)].

PMID- 26863787
TI  - [On the 60th Birth Anniversary of Sergey Viktorovich Fesenko].

PMID- 26863788
TI  - [EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN WOMEN WITH AEROBIC
      VAGINITIS].
AB  - Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an alterarion of the normal lactobacillic flora
      accompanied by signs of inflammation, presence of mainly aerobic microorganisms
      from intestinal commensals or other aerobic pathogens. Clinical symptoms may vary
      by type and intensity and are marked by a high tendency for recurrence and
      chronification. Inflammation and ulcerations in AV could increase the risk of
      contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. The aim is to study
      some epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features of the aerobic
      vaginitis in patients of the specialized Obstetric and Gynecological Clinic in
      Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In a retrospective research 4687 vaginal smears have been
      gathered in Microbiological laboratory at "St. George" Hospital - Plovdiv. We
      used clinical, microbiological and statistical methods. Information processing is
      performed by variation, alternative, correlation and graphical analysis using
      specialized package SPSS v13.0. The overall prevalence rate of AV in the studied
      population is 11.77%. The levels of prevalence of AV in pregnant and non-pregnant
      women are respectively 13.08% and 4.34%. The highest frequency of AV is in the
      age group 21-30 years (32.3%). The results show a marked association between
      Escherichia coli and the cases of AV (p < 0.001). AV is a common cause of vaginal
      symptoms in patients of specialized ambulatory outpatient. One in ten women with
      vaginal complaints suffers from AV Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli
      are most often isolated aerobic microorganisms.

PMID- 26863789
TI  - [COLPOSCOPY ASSISTED LASER MICROSURGERY FOR CERVICAL PATHOLOGY].
AB  - AIM: A short presentation of the method--laser microsurgery and analysis of the
      achieved results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 631 laser procedures were done for 3
      years (2008- 2011) at Tokuda hospital outpatient department. These procedures
      were divided as follows: 607 laser vaporizations and 24 laser conisations.
      Indications for vaporizations were: CINI-114 patients, CIN II--26 patients, CIN
      III (without invasion of the cervical os) -26 patients and 422 patients were done
      laser vaporization for different reasons-papiloma, leucoplakia, atypical vessels
      and so on.... Indications for laser conisations were: CIN I- 2 patients, CIN II-
      2 patients, CIN III- 12 patients (all dysplasies entered the cervical os). After
      laser conisation, we take a sample of the cutting line in cervical channel, which
      in fact substitutes the curettage of the last one during standard cold knife
      conisation. Technically the laser procedures were done by CO2 laser LUMENIS,
      directed by, mounted on binocular colposcop Karl Zeiss and standard gas
      evacuation system, assembled with vaginal speculum. All patient were followed up
      for the period of 1 year-colposcopic exam and cytology (PAP smear). All
      procedures were recorded and the data base that is included in these records are:
      diagnosis, colposcopic picture and type of laser procedure. RESULTS: The follow
      up of 422 patients that underwent laser vaporizations for minor lesions show no
      complications and recidiv. Out of 185 patients vaporazied for CIN I- CIN III,
      only in one was found cervical dysplasia entering the CC during the follow up,
      which made it necessary to go for laser conisation (no further problems detected
      after it). 2 out of 24 laser conisations went under LHT because of dysplasia in
      the cutting edge (these patients were with finished reproduction plans) and one
      patient went for laser re-conisation(has no children)for the same reason.
      COMPLICATIONS: In 2 patients there was a heavy bleeding, which started within 6
      hours after the procedure. Laser coagulation was done, vaginal tamponade was
      placed for 24 hours and there was no bleeding after their removal. CONCLUSIONS:
      The results that we achieved with laser microsurgery, as also the results from
      other European centers allows us to recommend the laser vaporization/conisation
      as a save and sure method for the treatment of cervical dysplasias.

PMID- 26863790
TI  - [GLYCYRRHIZINIC ACID--AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF CONDYLOMATA
      ACUMINATA].
AB  - Condylomata acuminata are benign proliferations of skin and mucosa caused by the
      human papilloma virus infection (hereinafter referredto as HPV). It is one of the
      most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world, whose incidence rate has
      increased in the last three decades. Current treatment involves the physical
      destruction of the infected cells. The fact that there are many different types
      of treatment goes to show that none of them are uniformly effective or directly
      antiviral.

PMID- 26863791
TI  - [Pelvic exenteration--our experience].
AB  - Pelvic exenteration is an operative method for one-moment removal of pelvic
      organs, including reproductive tract, bladder and rectosidgmoid. It most common
      indicated in gynecologic oncology for treatment of locally advanced cancer or
      recidive with central location. Pelvic exenteration can be used for healing of
      patients with genital cancer. Frequency of serious complications can reach 50%,
      that emphasizes the need of careful discuss of risks and benefits with the
      patients who are indicated for that kind of operation. For the period 2004-2012
      common 46 exenterations are performed at FSHOG "St. Sofia", form which 9 are
      total (TE), 14 anterior (AE), 7 posterior (PE), 16 modified posterior
      exenterations (MPE). Average operative time is 459 min (237-620 min), depending
      on the type of operation. Average blood loss is 1200 ml (800-2500 ml). Report of
      the complications shows that eight patients have had 1-st degree complication.

PMID- 26863793
TI  - [THE GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS AS A SPECIFIC PREGNANCY STATE].
AB  - Pregnancy is a condition which result in a significant changes in the course of
      the metabolic processes in woman's body. The impairments in the carbohydrate
      metabolism, in particular Gestational Diabetes mellitus are the most frequent
      observed during pregnancy. Extremely important for the clinician is to knows the
      risk factors, which can predispose to the appearance of these disorders, and in
      time to explores the patients. This allows to avoid both early and late
      complications for the mother and her future child.

PMID- 26863792
TI  - [ASSOSSIATION BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT, HEAVY PHYSICAL WORK AND PREMATURITY: RESULTS
      OF CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN PLEVEN].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Many studies confirmed the lower risk of prematurity among working
      women and established a link between heavy physical work and the prematurity. The
      aim of the study is to establish the association between unemployment and the
      heavy physical work of the mother during pregnancy and the birth of a premature
      baby. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2011 case-control study of two groups of premature
      (58) and mature (192) children born in 2007 in the University Hospital "George
      Stransky"-Pleven was conducted. For the aim of the study documentary method and
      sociological interview were used. The survey data were processed with statistical
      software packages. The significance of the results, findings and conclusions
      determined at p < 0.05. Odds ratio (OR) was used for assessment the strength of
      the association. RESULTS: In this study we found: more than four times higher
      risk of giving birth to a premature baby for unemployed mothers (OR = 4.48; 95%
      CI = 2.56-7.83; P = 0.01); more than two times higher risk of premature child
      birth among mothers performing heavy physical work during pregnancy (OR = 2.40;
      95% CI = 1.03-6.19; P = 0.050) and the protective effect of having a job during
      pregnancy in association to the birth of a premature baby (OR = 0.26; 95% CI =
      0.15-0.45; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: We confirm our hypothesis that the
      unemployment and the heavy physical work during pregnancy increase the risk for
      birth of a premature baby.

PMID- 26863794
TI  - [OBESITY AND ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOGENESIS].
AB  - Endometrial cancer is one of the main cancers occurring in industrialized
      countries. According to the National Cancer Registry in Bulgaria, cancer of the
      uterine body occupies 8.6% from all cancers in women and ranks second in
      frequency. It is found that over weight and obesity are a major risk factor for
      the development of endometrial cancer and the mortality associated with it.
      Adipose tissue is seen as endocrine organ, synthesizing so called adipocytokine -
      leptin, adiponectin, vistafin, that play a key role in the carcinogenesis of
      endometrial cancer and can be used as new markers for establishing the potential
      risk of this disease. The link between obesity, insulin resistance and
      endometrial cancer that has been proven, determines it as a socially significant
      disease. All this makes it necessary to clarify and specify the role of obesity
      in endometrial carcinogenesis and the development of strategies for the
      prevention and early diagnosis.

PMID- 26863795
TI  - [BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA--WHAT DO WE KNOW TODAY?].
AB  - The survival of great number of extremely premature newborn babies is associated
      with increased risk of damage of the newborn lung and development of chronic lung
      disease/Broncopulmonary dysplasia. The lower the gestational age and weight, the
      greater the frequency of BPD. The disease leads to impairment of the normal
      alveolization and vascularization of the premature lung. There are new theories
      for the pathogenesis of BPD and new staging of the disease. These changes lead to
      new therapeutic strategies.

PMID- 26863796
TI  - [CASE REPORT OF FETAL ASCITES CAUSED BY PRENATAL PERFORATION OF BOWEL].
AB  - The detection of isolated ascites is a rare ultrasound finding. A precise
      examination should be undertaken in all cases fetal ascites. This include
      following a systematic protocol for diagnosis. The prognosis of the newborn in
      case of prenatal diagnosed ascites, depends on the etiology of the ascites. This
      is a case report of 40 years old pregnant women, at 34 weeks of gestation. During
      routine ultrasound examination at 33 weeks of gestation fetal ascites, has been
      diagnosed. The aim of our team was to examine the etiology of the ascites. We
      performed systematic diagnostic test and series of ultrasound examination, which
      helped us to diagnose fetal ascites, caused by bowel perforation. The good timing
      of delivery and postnatal surgical treatment were associated with good neonatal
      outcome. In cases of prenatal diagnosed ascites, the desirable good neonatal
      outcome requires multidisciplinary approach and team work of obstetric
      consultant, fetal medicine consultants, neonatologists and pediatric surgeons.
      However the parents should be counselled that not all of the associated anomalies
      could be diagnosed prenatally.

PMID- 26863797
TI  - [ACUTE ABDOMEN CAUSED BY COMPLICATED FIBROID IN PREGNANCY. CASE REPORT].
AB  - With the advancing maternal age the rate of fibroids in pregnancy is also
      growing. A small part of fibroids in pregnancy are complicated and in about 2.6%
      necessitate urgent surgical treatment. We present a clinical case of subserose
      fibroid at 20 gestational weeks complicated with acute abdomen treated urgently
      with normal continuation of pregnancy.

PMID- 26863798
TI  - [TREATMENT OF EXTREMELY PREMATURE NEWBORN INFANT WITH INO. CLINICAL CASE].
AB  - Prolonged inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) from birth in preterm neonates with BPD
      improves endogenous surfactant function as well as lung growth, angiogenesis, and
      alveologenesis. As a result there is a reduction in the frequency of the "new"
      form of BPD in neonates under 28 weeks of gestation and birth weight under 1000
      gr. Delivery of inhaled nitric oxide is a new method of prevention of chronic
      lung disease. According to a large number of randomized trials iNO in premature
      neonates reduces pulmonary morbidity and leads to a reduction of the mortality in
      this population of patients. This new therapy does not have serious side effects.
      We represent a clinical case of extremely premature newborn infant with BPD
      treated with iNO.

PMID- 26863799
TI  - [OVARIAN ANASTOMOSING HEMANGIOMA WITH STROMAL LUTEINIZATION: A CASE REPORT].
AB  - In 2009, Montgomery and Epstein coined the term "anastomosing hemangioma" for a
      newly described variant of capillary hemangioma with an unusual sinusoidal
      pattern, histologically mimicking angiosarcoma. The lesion was considered unique
      for genitourinary system with predilection to kidney but we found in the
      literature only 4 cases of this entity in ovaries. A 70-year-old woman presented
      with ultrasound visualized myometrial nodules and cystic formation of the right
      ovary, intraoperatively diagnosed as serous cystadenoma. Hysterectomy with
      bilateral adnexectomy was performed. The section of the ovary revealed a
      fortuitous finding in the cortex: circumscribed lesion, 7 mm in diameter, with
      mahogany brown, spongy appearance. Microscopic examination of H&E-stained slides
      manifested well-demarcated but un-encapsulated vascular proliferation, composed
      of tightly packed capillary-sized blood vessels with an anastomosing sinusoidal
      like architecture and tortuous "feeding" and "draining" vessels of medium
      caliber. Endothelial lining featured only mild cytologic atypia and lack of
      mitotic figures. The lesion was surrounded by luteinized ovarian stroma.
      Immunohistochemical examination with CD34 highlighted endothelial cells; SMA-
      supporting stromal cells. The anastomosing hemangioma of the ovary with stromal
      luteinisation was diagnosed as accidental finding. The authors discuss
      morphological characteristics of anastomosing hemangioma and the unusual for
      menopausal women but quite often combination between this lesion in the ovary and
      stromal luteinisation.

PMID- 26863800
TI  - [Protocol to induce abortion using Mifepristone and Misoprostol].

PMID- 26863801
TI  - [L-carnitine: properties and perspectives for use in sports practice].
AB  - The analysis of published data relating to the use in sports practice metabolic
      non-doping agent--L-carnitine. The review discusses some aspects of the mechanism
      of its action on the human body. The information is given about the role of
      carnitine in the energy processes, mechanisms of carnitine deficiency. On the
      basis of the literature is given scientific rationale for applying this
      metabolite in athletes, particularly with cardiovascular and immune disorders.

PMID- 26863802
TI  - [Effect of extrusion on the retention of amino acids and the nutritional value of
      the protein].
AB  - The data of the literature on the impact factors of the extrusion cooking on
      physical and chemical properties of food proteins, biological value and
      digestibility have been discussed. Extrusion cooking is a high temperature short
      time process, characterizing by a minimal loss of nutrients. and biologically
      active substances compared to other methods of heat treatment of food. Studies of
      the properties of protein-containing products, protein isolates and concentrates
      in the extrusion are examined in different ways: the inactivation of
      antinutritional factors; improvement in digestibility and availability; changes
      in the content and chemical modification of amino acids; Maillard reactions
      involving amino acids; mutual enrichment of protein mixtures during the composite
      food extrusion; formation of functional technological properties of the extruded
      protein products.

PMID- 26863803
TI  - [Effects of rutin on protective capacity in rats].
AB  - The purpose of the study was to determine effects of rutin dietary administration
      on the activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant status. The
      study has been carried out on 3 groups of male Wistar rats (n = 8 in each), with
      initial body weight 100-120 g. Animals of the control group (1st group) received
      standard semi-synthetic diet, the experimental groups--the same diet with rutin
      in the amount of 40 mg/kg b.w. (2nd group) or 400 mg/kg b.w. (3rd group). The
      duration of the experiment was 2 weeks. In rat liver the activity of quinone
      reductase (QR), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), glutathione-S
      transferase (GST), ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity of CYP1A1,
      methoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (MROD) activity of CYP1A2, tes- tosterone 6beta
      hydroxylase (6beta-TG) activity of CYP3A, total antioxidant activity (AOA) and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) content have been investigated. The expression of genes
      CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A has been measured by reverse transcription-polymerase
      chain reaction (RT-PCR). The stability of lysosome membranes was estimated by the
      change of unsedimentable activity of lysosomal enzymes--arylsulfatase, beta
      galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase. Rutin administration led to dose-dependent
      increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In rats of the 3rd group
      received high-rutin diet the activity of QR, HO-1, PON-1 and GST increased by 68,
      29, 17 and 22%, respectively, compared to the control (1st group); MDA level and
      AOA have not changed. Activity of EROD and MROD in liver microsomes of rats
      treated with rutin at a dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. (2nd group) increased by 33 and
      58%, respectively, with a moderate increase in mRNA level of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2.
      Increasing the dose of rutin up to 400 mg/kg b.w. (3rd group) resulted in the
      decrease of the degree of EROD and MROD activation by 18 and 15%, respectively,
      compared to the 2nd group. Rutin had no significant effect on the activity of
      6beta-TG and on the expression of CYP3A1 gene. Rutin dietary administration led
      to dose-dependent reduction of the unsedimentable activity of lysosomal enzymes,
      indicating the strengthening of the stability of lysosomal membranes. Thus, the
      obtained results showed that in healthy, intact rats high doses of rutin in the
      diet moderately but statistically significantly activate enzyme systems
      responsible for the protective and adaptive capacity of the organism.

PMID- 26863804
TI  - [Actual sanitary, epidemiological and hygienic aspects of a dietitian's
      activities in stationary medical institutions].
AB  - The article shows the relevance of the main areas of dietitians' training to
      sanitary and epidemiological and hygienic issues of organization of clinical
      nutrition in stationary medical institutions (MIs) at training and refresher
      courses on dietetics. The attention is focused on the new legislative, policy and
      regulatory instruments, sanitary and epidemiological and hygienic requirements,
      providing high quality, safety and efficacy of nutritional therapy in MIs. The
      role of dietitian in the organization of clinical nutrition is highlighted. There
      were set out rights and responsibilities of a dietitian as a representative of MI
      under inspections by Rospotrebnadzor bodies; the demands, put forward by these
      bodies to the tested object, and actions, taken by them.

PMID- 26863805
TI  - [Lead toxicity in its joint administration with the aluminium oxide nanoparticles
      to rats].
AB  - In this paper we studied the effect of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles (NPs)
      on the accumulation and biomarkers of toxic action of lead (Pb) when co
      administered to rats in subacute experiment. 36 Wistar rats with initial body
      weight 120-140 g were divided into 4 groups. Animal of group 1 (control group)
      were given distilled water by gavage. Rats in group 2 received Pb acetate
      solution in a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight (based on Pb), animal in the 3rd and
      4th groups additionally to this received suspension of Al2O3 NPs in doses of 1
      and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The experiment lasted 22 days. Body and
      organ weight, standard haematologic parameters, protein, creatinine, uric acid
      level, aminotransferase activity (ALT and AST) in serum, urinary 5-aminolevulinic
      acid (5-ALA) concentration were measured. Apoptosis of hepatocytes was studied by
      flow cytometry. Pb content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. It
      has been shown that the administration of Al2O3 NPs together with Pb resulted in
      a significant dose-dependent increase in the relative weight of the kidneys (0.88
      +/- 0.03% and 0.94 +/- 0.06% vs. 0.74 +/- 0.02% and 0.85 +/- 0.01% in control and
      group 1). The excretion of 5-ALA in the urine of animals treated with lead
      acetate significantly (p < 0.001) increased compared to the animals of group 1
      (0.80 +/- 0.08/umol/l); while any dependence of this parameter on the dose of
      Al2O3 NPs was absent (p > 0.05) (group 2: 4.54 +/- 0.56 umol/l; group 3: 7.34 +/-
      1.35 umol/l; group 4: 5.71 +/- 1.74 umol/l). The hemoglobin content was
      significantly reduced in animals of groups 2-4 (134.0 +/- 2.9; 133.6 +/- 1.8 and
      129.9 +/- 2.9 g/l) compared to the animals of the control group (144.6 +/- 1.5
      g/l), the dependence of this parameter on the dose of Al2O3 NPs was also absent.
      A marked and significant increase of the level of glucose has been noticed on the
      background of the Al2O3 and NPs (7.46 +/- 0.49 u 8.24 +/- 0.80 vs. 6.28 +/- 0.34
      mmol/l in group 2), and its level went beyond physiological norms in the 4th
      group and ANOVA indicated the influence of Al2O3 NPs administration. The toxic
      effects of lead on hematological parameters of blood on the background of the
      Al2O3 and NPs weren't weakened, and in the case of hematocrit even enhanced, as
      evidenced by one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05). When administered together
      with the Al2O3 Pd accumulated in increased amounts in the liver [up to 1.96 +/-
      0.25 (group 3) and 2.16 +/- 0.23 (group 4) vs. 1.17 +/- 0.19 (group 2) mg/kg] (p
      < 0.05). Thus, Al2O3 NPs possibly presented as a contaminant in food can enhance
      the bioavailability of lead and some indices of its toxic action.

PMID- 26863806
TI  - [Gender and age characteristics and the trends in prevalence of obesity in the
      adult population in Russia during the 1994-2012 period].
AB  - The analysis of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult age and sex
      groups of the Russian population in the dynamics of observation from 1994 to 2012
      was based on anthropometric measurements of weight and height in Russian
      Longitudinal Monitoring Survey. The mean values of body mass index (BMI) and the
      frequency of obesity (BMI > 30.0) of the entire population have been increased
      during the observation period. The analyzing the data by gender revealed a
      significant increase in the frequency of obesity mainly among men, especially in
      the period 2005-2012, whereas among women increased incidence of obesity was
      negligible. The most rapid increase in the frequency of overweight and obesity in
      men noted in the age period of 20-30 years, and further increase in frequency of
      overweight and obesity with age were negligible. The rate of overweight and
      obesity in women had almost linear increase in the age period of 20-60 years.
      Comparative analysis of the prevalence of obesity showed that the obtained values
      for the 2000-2012 period were close to those characteristic of the developed
      world in recent decades. The growth of obesity rate in the general adult
      population in 2000-2005 and the 2005-2012 was 0.4% per year. At the same time,
      men showed a significant acceleration of the growth rate of obesity in the period
      2005 to 2012 (0.61% per year) compared with the period 2000-2005 (0.44% per
      year). Increase in the frequency of obesity was observed in all regions in 2000
      to 2012. The data should be considered as a rationale for research into the
      causes of gender differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the
      first place to find differences in the peculiarities of dietary intake between
      men and women at different ages of life, leading to the development of overweight
      and obesity.

PMID- 26863807
TI  - [Monitoring the nutritional status of the residents of St. Petersburg].
AB  - The purpose of the study was to analyze the diet of the population of St.
      Petersburg from different social and age groups and justify organizational
      methodological ways to improve it. 1200 inhabitants 18 years old and over (674
      women, 526 men) were interviewed using questionnaires. One-third of St.
      Petersburg population did not adhere to the recommended 3-4 meals per day, taking
      meal 2 times per day or less (21.7%) or 5 times per day or more (11.3%). The
      young (18-29 years old) and socially active residents 1.5-2fold more likely than
      pensioners (13.8%) fed 2 times per day. Women 2.2 fold more frequently than men
      fed 5 times per day. Young people (20%) and socially active persons (24.4%)
      prefer not to have breakfast or take it 2-3 times per week compared with 9.6%
      pensioners. Supper as the main mealtimes called 27.8% women, that is 1.4 fold
      more likely than men. Thus, a great part of the population in the young and
      socially active adulthood violates proper diet, and women more often as compared
      to men. This can lead to disruption of the metabolic processes, increasing the
      risk of nutrition-related diseases, a decrease of efficiency and reduced life
      expectancy. This raises the feasibility of establishing of healthy eating offices
      based on health centers or clinics in St. Petersburg.

PMID- 26863808
TI  - [The content of selen in blood plasma in patients with acute Q-wave myocardial
      infarction].
AB  - The level of blood plasma selenium was analyzed by microfluorimetric method in in
      patients and out-patients with acute coronary syndrome with ST-elevation
      resulting in acute Q-wave myocardial infarction. 72 patients, 40-75 years old,
      with acute Q-wave myocardial infarction were followed during a month. The initial
      decreased concentration of blood plasma selenium was recorded in most patients in
      the acute period of the myocardial infarction: deficiency of the microelement (<
      90 mcg/l) was found in 30 subjects, the critical ranges (< 70 mcg/l) were stated
      in 33 patients. Just 2 patients had optimal concentration and 7 patients had a
      suboptimal one (90-114 mcg/l). Blood plasma level of the microelement increased
      in 2 weeks after myocardial infarction (in subacute stage) but it was still
      within deficient or critical levels. No difference was detected in selen
      concentration depending on gender, age, location on myocardial infarction,
      accompanying diseases, presence of some risk factors (smoking, alcohol abuse,
      hereditary predisposition to coronary artery disease). At the same time we
      revealed a significant Spearman rank correlation in patients with Q-wave
      myocardial infarction between basal level of blood serum selenium on the one
      hand, and electrocardiography indices (reflecting the rate of myocardial lesion
      and necrosis), echocardiography. data (which characterize myocardium reparation
      processes and remodeling), CPK (a prognostic marker of the myocardial necrosis),
      HDL-cholesterol (lipid profile index), blood potassium level and BMI on the
      other.

PMID- 26863809
TI  - [Sufficiency with water-soluble vitamins and state of bone in pregnant women].
AB  - Vitamin status and bone strength have been estimated in 91 pregnant women (29.3
      +/- 4.6 years old) from Moscow by non-invasive methods. Sufficiency with vitamins
      C, B2, B6 has been evaluated by morning urinary excretion of ascorbic acid,
      riboflavin and 4-piridoxic acid determined by visual titration and fluorimetric
      methods. The rate of bone resorption has been measured by the ratio of urinary
      calcium and creatinine, determined by complexometric titration and
      spectrophotometrically. The study of the bone strength has been conducted using
      an ultrasonic densitometer (the speed of the ultrasonic waves along the cortical
      layer). The lack of vitamin C was found in 20.4% .of the women surveyed, vitamin
      B2--in 27.4%. Vitamin B6 deficiency was detected most frequently (90%). Excretion
      of vitamins B2 and B6 in women in the third trimester of pregnancy was lower as
      compared with the women in the first and second trimester. In 53.3% of the women
      surveyed an increase in urinary excretion of calcium per creatinine has been
      observed. Excretion of group B vitamins (especially vitamin B6, 1.75 fold, p <
      0.05) in women taking vitamin supplements was higher compared to non-taking
      vitamins that indicates the better sufficiency of the organism with these
      vitamins. Among women who took vitamin complexes, inadequate supply with water
      soluble vitamins C, B2 and B6 was detected less frequently (the difference was
      significant for vitamin B2) than among women who did not intake vitamin complexes
      (in 11.9, 27.7 and 42.4% vs 16.1, 54.8 and 48.8 %). The rate of bone resorption
      (Ca/creatinine) in women taking vitamins was smaller (0.19 +/- 0.09 vs 0.24 +/-
      0.14, p > 0.05). Ca/creatinine ratio was within normal range in 40% of women who
      intake vitamins, while in women not taking vitamins--only in 22.2%; this value
      exceeded the upper limit of norm in the rest. The strength of bone was broken in
      women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, having worse supply of
      vitamins. The percentage of agreement of the results of osteopenia diagnosis
      assessment (ultrasound densitometry and urinary Ca/creatinine) was 42.2%. Thus,
      the conclusion has been confirmed that the evaluation of the status of bone is
      possible only basing on the results of determination of several parameters.

PMID- 26863810
TI  - [Efficiency of application of the enriched bakery products in children
      nutrition].
AB  - The results of the research devoted to an assessment of efficiency of application
      of the enriched bakery products in nutrition of school students have been
      presented. Composition and technology of the enriched bakery products have been
      developed. The influence of enrichers on the basis of proteins of whey, plasma of
      blood, hemoglobin, calcium and iodinated components and food fibers on the
      nutritive and energy value of bakery products has been defined. The consumption
      of 100 g of the enriched bakery products provides a significant amount of protein
      -12.5-23% of the recommended daily intake (RDI), to satisfy daily need of school
      students in calcium up to 13.4%, in iron--up to 20%, iodine--12.5% and food
      fibers--17.3%. When comparing blood hemoglobin content in school students after
      inclusion in a diet of the enriched bakery products, the lack of significant
      changes of this indicator in children with normal hemoglo- bin content has been
      determined that is the confirmation of safety of use of the products enriched
      with hem iron. At the same time, normalization of hemoglobin level in children
      (9.7%) with the initial threshold and lowered hemoglobin indicators is noted. The
      reliable increase in the content of hemoglobin in this group of children from 112
      +/- 3 to 131 +/- 6 g/l was established (p <= 0.05). Positive dynamics of the
      content of iodine in urine at school students with initial deficiency of iodine
      under administration of the bread enriched with iodine has been defined. Ioduria
      indicators authentically increased from 88 +/- 10 to 116 +/- 9 mkg/l (p <= 0.05).
      Before diet correction in 53 from 59 children surveyed in the Stavropol region, a
      mild lack of iodine has been revealed (iodine levels less than 100 mkg/l urine),
      while after bread intake--only in 7 (11.9%) students.

PMID- 26863811
TI  - [Dynamics of elements distribution in blood, depending on age, by example of
      Moscow Region residents].
AB  - Elemental status of a person determines the qualitative and quantitative content
      of chemical elements in the human body. This marker allows us to estimate the
      level of imbalance of chemical elements and therefore health risks. The method
      for simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of 67 elements in
      biomaterials has been proposed. The detailed elemental analysis of whole blood
      samples of 1711 healthy people (age range 0-100 years) of Moscow Region has been
      performed. A number of patterns of age-related changes of the element status
      conditionally healthy people has been estimated. Na content in the samples
      increased with the age of the person. Presumably, this result reflects the
      studied populations nutrition disorders associated with immoderate consumption of
      table salt. The maximum content of Ca was observed in blood samples of people age
      range 0-20 years (66-69 mg/kg), the Ca content in the blood samples of people age
      range 26-85 years was significantly lower (59-62 mg/kg). The maximum decrease of
      Ca was detected in blood samples of people age range of 85-100 years (57-59
      mg/kg). Thisreductionin the concentration of Ca, apparently due to age-related
      changes of Ca balance, correlates with decrease of bone mineral density and bone
      mass. Iron content decreased in the blood samples of people age range 10-100
      years from 480 to 390 mg/kg. Selenium content in blood of people age range 0-25
      years linearly increased, remained stable high in the blood of people age range
      25-55 years (0,13-0,136 mg/kg) and then gradually decreased. A graph of As
      content dependence from a person's age is a mirror image of the graph of Se
      content dependence from a person's age, which is evidence of the antagonistic
      effects of these elements. Graphic changes in the content of rare earth elements
      Eu and Ho reflect the unidirectional trend of these elements accumulation. The
      maximum content of these elements was observed in blood samples of people age
      range of 25-65 years. Perhaps a reduction of Eu and Ho in the age range 65-100
      years age reflects a downward trend in bone mineral density and decrease in bone
      mass, which correlates with the Ca content in the blood depending on the age of
      people. The data obtained showed a significant increase of U and V in the blood
      of people age range of 85-100 years. The compounds of vanadium and uranium
      normally relatively easily filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine.
      This result seems to demonstrate age-related deterioration in the functioning of
      the excretory system. A list of recommendations for nutrition correction of
      elemental imbalance of the observed population has been proposed.

PMID- 26863812
TI  - [Assessment of efficiency of use of the developed supplement containing selenium
      on laboratory animals].
AB  - The article presents the results of a study of the effectiveness of wheat flour
      containing selenium in organic form. The organic form of trace element was
      achieved by transformation of selenium in selenium-methionine (Se-Met) at
      germination of wheat grains, moistened with a solution of sodium selenite. To
      determine the effectiveness of selenium- containing supplements experimental
      investigations were carried out on Long white rats with initial body weight 50 +/
      2 g. The duration of the experiment was 30 days. The research model included
      four groups of animals: control group--animals were fed a complete vivarium diet;
      group 1--a model of selenium deficiency, which was achieved by feeding selenium
      deficient food (grain growh in the Chita region of the Trans-Baikal Territory
      Zabaikalsky Krai); group 2--animals were administered selenium supplement in the
      form of enriched flour (0.025 ug Se per 50 g body weight of the animal) on the
      background of selenium-deficient diet; group 3--animals were treated with a high
      dose of selenium in the form of a solution of sodium selenite intragastrically
      through a tube (0.15 ug Se per 50 g body weight). Selenium-containing additive on
      the background of selenium-deficient diet had a positive impact on the appearance
      and behavior of animals, the body weight gain per head after 10 days in group 2
      amounted to 47.9 g that was 4 fold larger than in rats of group 1. The study of
      selenium content showed that in the blood, liver, lungs and heart of rats treated
      with the additive on the background of selenium-deficient diet (group 2),
      selenium level did not differ from those in the control group and was within
      physiological norms. The experiment showed that selenium deficiency and rich in
      selenium rich diet has a significantly different effect on the studied parameters
      of oxidative-antioxidative status. The activity of blood glutathione peroxidase
      in animals of group 2 (did not differ from that in group 3) was almost 2 fold
      higher than in blood of control animals and was seven fold higher than that in
      blood of animals kept on selenium deficient diet (35.57 +/- 3.36 umol/g per 1
      min) A similar dependence was established when studying the activity of
      glutathione reductase. It has been revealed thatthe oxidative-antioxidative
      status of animals from experimental groups 1 and 3 was lower than from control
      group and group 2. Thus, blood antioxidant activity in animals receiving diet
      with selenium deficiency and high dose of this trace element, was less than in
      the control group by 43.1 and 25.4%, respectively. Liver MDA level in animals
      kept on a diet with selenium deficiency exceeded the value of this indicator in
      the group 2 more than 1.5 fold (110.5 +/- 10.70 vs. 72.5 +/- 4.30 nmol/mg). When
      using selenium-containing supplement, this parameter decreased to the control
      level. In blood plasma of the animals of group 2 total antioxidant activity
      increased by about five times as compared with the indicators of animals kept on
      selenium-deficient diet, and was 25% higher than in control. Thus, the
      introduction of a selenium supplements in the deficient diet contributes to the
      development of endogenous antioxidants that suppress lipid oxidation. High
      biological effectiveness of supplements containing organic form of selenium has
      been proved.

PMID- 26863813
TI  - [Andrey Valerievich Vasil'ev].

PMID- 26863814
TI  - [Minkail Magomed Gadzhievich Gapparov].

PMID- 26863815
TI  - [Fracture strength of elastic and conventional fibre-reinforced composite
      intraradicular posts--an in vitro pilot study].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate the
      reinforcing effect of different fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) posts and
      insertion techniques in premolar teeth when using minimal invasive post space
      preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two extracted and endodontically
      treated premolar teeth were used and divided into four groups (n = 8) depending
      on the post used (Group 1-4). 1: one single conventional post, 2: one main
      conventional and one collateral post, 3: one flexible post, 4: one main flexible
      and one collateral post. After cementation and core build-up the specimens were
      submitted to static fracture toughness test. Fracture thresholds and fracture
      patterns were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: The multi-post techniques (group 2
      and 4) showed statistically higher fracture resistance compared to group one.
      Regarding fracture patterns there was no statistically significant difference
      between the tested groups. CONCLUSION: The application of multiple posts seems to
      be beneficial regarding fracture resistance independent from the used FRC post.
      Fracture pattern was not influenced by the elasticity of the post.

PMID- 26863816
TI  - [The clinical application of zirconium-dioxide-ceramics. Case report].
AB  - Due to its outstanding physical, mechanical and esthetic properties, zirconium
      dioxide is one of the most popular non-metal denture, capable of surpassing PFM
      in most cases. The recent advances of CAD/CAM technology makes it a good
      alternitve. Here we show the usefulness of zirconium-dioxide in everyday dental
      practice through three case reports.

PMID- 26863817
TI  - [Branchiogen cyst at unusual age and in rare localization. A case report].
AB  - Branchiogen anomalies represent a heterogeneous group of developmental
      abnormalities, they arise from incomplete obliteration of branchial clefts and
      pouches during embriogenesis. Clinically they can present as a cyst, fistula or
      sinus. Second cleft lesions account for 95% of the branchial anomalies. Second
      branchial cleft cysts are usually located in the neck, along the anterior border
      of the stenocleidomastoid muscle, but they can be anywhere along the course of
      the second branchial fistula from the tonsillar fossa to the supraclavicular
      region. Their presence in the nasopharynx is extremely rare. Ultrasound, computed
      tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for diagnosis.
      Definitive treatment is surgical excision, these lesions do not regress
      spontaneously and often result recurrent infections. A 7 month old infant applied
      to a pediatrician with gastrointestinal viral infection. During examination a
      cystic mass was discovered in the right lateral nasopharyngeal wall, the lesion
      extended to the oropharynx. Marsupialisation was performed via transoral
      approach. In case of cystic lesion in the lateral epipharynx, branchial cleft
      cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

PMID- 26863818
TI  - [Complete dental care of patients suffering from localized aggressive
      periodontitis. Case report].
AB  - A 34 years old male patient was referred to our clinic for restorative dental
      treatment. During detailed consultation and dental examination a relatively rare
      form of periodontal disease had been diagnosed. Intraoral examination included
      recording of dental and periodontal status. Based on patient's dental history,
      measurements of probing pocket depths (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and
      also the X-ray findings, Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP) unknown by the
      patient was diagnosed. After patient's consent the comprehensive treatment plan
      covered the dental prevention, periodontal non-surgical and surgical therapy and
      rehabilitation. The treatment started with oral hygienic instruction, motivation
      then supra- and subgingival scaling and rootplaning. Later extraction and
      elective root canal treatment were performed, followed by open flap periodontal
      surgery combined with hemisection of two molars. After a full mouth conservative
      restorative therapy, function and esthetics were restored by fix dental
      prostheses. This case is a good example to underline the importance of
      periodontal examination during the dental screening and dental status recording
      for each patients showing up at dental clinics. Otherwise in many cases this
      asympthomatic disease can remain undetected.

PMID- 26863819
TI  - [Burning oral sensation: when is really BMS?].
AB  - The aims and purposes of this systematic review of the international literature
      are to discuss and clarify some considerations on Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS).
      Over the last 40 years, many researchers have addressed this disease clinically
      or experimentally. Thus, the etiology and pathogenesis of BMS remain unclear. We
      analyzed the etiopathogenesis of Burning Mouth Syndrome and of the burning oral
      sensation and currently, we could not find a consensus on the diagnosis and
      classification of BMS. Further studies are required to better understand the
      pathogenesis of BMS, and a "Gold Standard" classification is required because not
      every burning sensation in the mouth is BMS.

PMID- 26863820
TI  - Are We as Fat as We Can Get?

PMID- 26863821
TI  - Tobacco Use Trends among Mississippi Youth following the 1997 Settlement of
      Mississippi's Medicaid Lawsuit and Subsequent Tobacco Prevention Initiatives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mississippi has implemented several programs and policies to reduce
      youth tobacco. This study examines trends in youth tobacco use and compares
      current prevalence rates for cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e
      cigarettes. DESIGN/METHODS: The Youth Tobacco Survey is a self-administered
      survey of a multi-stage sample of public high school students. RESULTS: Cigarette
      and cigar smoking decreased from 1998 to 2014. However, current use of smokeless
      tobacco did not change and e-cigarette use has increased. Currently, there are no
      significant differences in the prevalence of cigarette, cigar, smokeless tobacco,
      or electronic cigarette use. CONCLUSION: The state has successfully decreased
      cigarette and cigar smoking. However, smokeless tobacco use has not changed and e
      cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular. Currently, Mississippi youth are at
      equal risk for cigarette, cigar, smokeless tobacco, or electronic cigarette use.
      Tobacco prevention efforts, clinician counseling, and policies should address
      each of these products rather than focus primarily on cigarettes.

PMID- 26863822
TI  - Is Vitamin D Deficiency Contributing to Mississippi's Persistent Black-White
      Disparity in Preterm Birth?

PMID- 26863823
TI  - My Immigration Story.

PMID- 26863824
TI  - MSMA PHYSICIAN Leadership ACADEMY Jonathan Jones, MD.

PMID- 26863825
TI  - Praise the Lord and Take Away their Ammunition!

PMID- 26863826
TI  - The Physician Abuse of Meaningful Use.

PMID- 26863827
TI  - Psychostimulants: Concerns over Long-Term Adverse Side Effects.
AB  - The personal rewards are substantial for the healthcare provider who can make
      teachers and parents happy. There are evolving, alternative methods of dealing
      with ADHD, but PS are relatively cheap and quick when they work (roughly 70% of
      the time) and readily accessible. We have no social or educational structures
      currently to deal with the extreme ADHD cases. In cases of less dramatic,
      attention problems, poor grades, where PS boost attention, physicians are
      unlikely to abandon their patients willingly, unless compelled to sacrifice short
      term goals over the unanswered questions about what is best in the long run. How
      can we know if it's the child and not the educational system that needs diagnosis
      and treatment? Psychiatric literature consistently suggests the prevalence of
      attention deficit in children is roughly 5% of the child population. Do 5% of our
      children need to take PS? This is where risks versus benefits enters the decision
      making process, and this is where this article aims to intentionally plant a
      healthy dose of scientific scrutiny. Ultimately, the doctor in charge makes a
      decision ... sometimes based on intangibles that cannot be legislated or defined
      by even the best scientific studies. It is not clear or scientifically
      established that the use of PS, especially in young, developing minds of
      children, is safe or meaningfully beneficial in the long run. There is much
      information in human and animal studies to question the wishful thinking that
      using mind altering drugs in children is the right thing to do. There are risks,
      and there are benefits. In this case, the risks are less obvious, cloaked in the
      inadequacy of our current state of knowledge, potentially threatening the quality
      of the lives we seek to enhance.

PMID- 26863828
TI  - Top Ten Facts You Need to Know About Clostridium difficile.

PMID- 26863829
TI  - A Rash Decision.

PMID- 26863831
TI  - E-CIGARETTES: In the News.

PMID- 26863830
TI  - FLUORIDE MYTHS DEBUNKED.

PMID- 26863832
TI  - Are we seeing an end to slow healthcare spending?

PMID- 26863833
TI  - Hospital cost-containment strategies that earn the respect of rating agencies.
AB  - To confirm that hospitals have the necessary structures and strategies in place
      to reduce costs and secure future market share, credit rating agencies analyze a
      variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria, including: Salaries and
      benefits, bad debt, age of plant and depreciation, and other line items that may
      point to inefficiencies in a hospital's expense structure. Cost-benefit analyses,
      strategic plans, and leadership qualities that show the long-term value of
      expense cuts, capital investments, and mergers and acquisitions. Cost-effective
      and clinically appropriate shifts in a hospital's outpatient-to-inpatient ratio.
      Liquidity and market share.

PMID- 26863834
TI  - Health care on demand: four telehealth priorities for 2016.
AB  - Consumers who are accustomed to on-demand, virtual services are looking for more
      convenient ways to access health care. Giving patients the opportunity to connect
      with physicians remotely can promote higher patient satisfaction and engagement.
      Telehealth options may have a high start-up cost, but that cost is likely well
      justified by the potential to enhance quality, outcomes, and customer attraction
      and satisfaction/retention over the long-term.

PMID- 26863835
TI  - Paving the way for Medicare reform.
AB  - Major changes set forth in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act are
      coming in 2019, but the time to prepare is now. The legislation includes three
      major changes: Pay-for-performance metrics. A two-track payment system.
      Consistent rate increases.

PMID- 26863836
TI  - Fast track to 340B.
AB  - Hospitals that are newly qualified for the 340B Drug Pricing Program may have an
      opportunity for fast-track approval to participate in the program. Three steps
      are required to seize this opportunity: Use data analytics to assess current and
      future percentages of Medicaid utilization and eligibility for federal SSI cash
      benefits. Determine the feasibility of early cost report filing. Prepare
      appropriate documentation and undertake the initial enrollment process.

PMID- 26863837
TI  - Integrating physical and behavioral health: a major step toward population health
      management.
AB  - Healthcare provider organizations have a choice of five basic approaches to
      integrating behavioral health services with primary care services, on a continuum
      from minimally integrated to fully integrated: Cultivation of improved
      communication and collaboration between the two disciplines. Establishment of
      primary care as the primary behavioral health caregiver. Co-location of primary
      care and behavioral health services. Integration of behavioral health with
      primary care only for chronic disease management. Total integration of primary
      care and behavioral health.

PMID- 26863838
TI  - Betting big on bundles.

PMID- 26863839
TI  - Harnessing the power of big data and data analysis to improve healthcare
      entities.

PMID- 26863840
TI  - Medicare claims data provide a perspective on trends in HAC rates.

PMID- 26863841
TI  - Send Me Your Doctor Stories.

PMID- 26863842
TI  - The Summer Food Service Program and the Ongoing Hunger Crisis in Mississippi.
AB  - Food insecurity is simply defined as uncertain access to adequate food. Nearly 50
      million Americans, 16 million of whom are children, are food insecure.
      Mississippi has 21% food insecure citizens, and has the most food insecure county
      in the nation. Our state's school system's National Breakfast and Lunch Programs
      help combat food insecurity, but a gap still exists. This gap widens during the
      summer. In this paper, we describe the Mississippi Summer Food Service Program.
      While the program has had success in our state, it still faces challenges.
      Organized action by physicians in Mississippi and the Mississippi State Medical
      Association could significantly increase participation in these programs that are
      vital to our state.

PMID- 26863844
TI  - Top Ten Facts You Need to Know: About Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

PMID- 26863843
TI  - The Weak Kid.

PMID- 26863845
TI  - An Interview with Daniel P. Edney, MD 148th MSMA President, 2015-2016.

PMID- 26863846
TI  - Mississippi Children and Pragmatic Politics.

PMID- 26863847
TI  - Segregation Then, Poverty Now: Disparities Forever?

PMID- 26863848
TI  - SOUTH MISSISSIPPI CHARITY HOSPITAL, LAUREL, 1920.

PMID- 26863849
TI  - LIMITING OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL EVALUATIONS UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
      ACT AND THE GENETIC INFORMATION NONDISCRIMINATION ACT.
AB  - Although medical care delivery by one's personal physician is the paradigmatic
      American healthcare arrangement, in the workplace setting, many Americans undergo
      medical evaluations to assess their fitness for duty or degree of impairment.
      This Article explores the complex and evolving legal status of occupational
      medical evaluations. Beginning with the legal and ethical frameworks of
      occupational medical practice, the Article then examines the effects of
      increasingly detailed legal regulation under the Americans with Disabilities Act
      and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act on employees, employers, and
      physicians.

PMID- 26863850
TI  - RECONCEPTUALIZING CONSENT FOR DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER HEALTH SERVICES.
AB  - The market for direct-to-consumer (DTC) health services continues to grow rapidly
      with former patients converting to customers for the opportunity to purchase
      varied diagnostic tests without the involvement of their clinician. For the first
      time a DTC genetic testing company is advertising health-related reports "that
      meet [Food and Drug Administration] standards for being clinically and
      scientifically valid." Ethicists and regulatory agencies alike have recognized
      the need for a more informed transaction in the DTC context, but how should we
      classify a commercial transaction for something normally protected by a duty of
      care? How can we assure informed agreements in an industry with terms and
      conditions as varied as the services performed? The doctrine of "informed
      consent" began as an ethical construct building on the promise of beneficence in
      the clinical relationship and elevating the principle of autonomy--but in the DTC
      context should we hold providers to legal standards of informed consent and
      associated medical malpractice liability, or contractual obligations where
      consumers would seek remedy for breach? This Article analyzes the fine balance
      that must be struck in an industry where companies are selling services for
      entertainment or non-medical purposes that possess the capacity to produce
      serious and disquieting medical information. It begins by reviewing current
      standards of consent in the clinical setting from both a legal and ethical
      perspective and then lays forth current standards for DTC consent using two
      currently controversial case studies: that of keepsake fetal ultrasound and
      genetic testing. DTC keepsake ultrasound and genetic testing providers attempt to
      de-medicalize the devices used for these procedures from their intended medical
      uses to non-medical uses. But while keepsake ultrasound is marketed as "intended
      for entertainment purposes only," it can provide medical information as an
      incidental finding. 23andMe currently purports to be the only DTC genetics
      service that "includes" reports that meet FDA qualifications, despite disclaimers
      of intent to "provide medical advice." The attempted de-medicalization of these
      devices, therefore, has not been fully transformative, and DTC providers should
      have more robust ethical and legal duties than the average goods and services
      seller. This Article delineates these responsibilities, beginning with ethical
      duties surrounding marketing, entering into, and providing DTC services. It then
      turns to the legal paradigms necessary to enable, or at least allow for, DTC
      providers to meet these ethical obligations. While it argues that contractual, as
      opposed to fiduciary, requirements are most appropriate and that waivers of
      liability will likely be upheld, it also advocates for a heightened expectation
      of disclosure during contracting.

PMID- 26863851
TI  - "SINCE I MUST PLEASE THOSE BELOW": HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS RESEARCH AND THE LAW.
AB  - The ethics of non-invasive scientific research on human skeletal remains are
      poorly articulated and lack a single, definitive analogue in western law. Laws
      governing invasive research on human fleshed remains, as well as bio-ethical
      principles established for research on living subjects, provide effective models
      for the establishment of ethical guidelines for non-invasive research on human
      skeletal remains. Specifically, non-invasive analysis of human remains is
      permissible provided that the analysis and collection of resulting data (1) are
      accomplished with respect for the dignity of the individual, (2) do not violate
      the last-known desire of the deceased, (3) do not adversely impact the right of
      the next of kin to perform a ceremonious and decent disposal of the remains, and
      (4) do not unduly or maliciously violate the privacy interests of the next of
      kin.

PMID- 26863852
TI  - THE HEALTH OF EBAY: THE IMPACT OF EBAY ON THE FUTURE OF TRIPS-LIKE PHARMACEUTICAL
      COMPULSORY LICENSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

PMID- 26863853
TI  - ANTI-AMEBIC ACTIVITY OF DIOSGENIN ON NAEGLERIA FOWLERI TROPHOZOITES.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of diosgenin against
      Naegleria fowleri trophozoites at the cellular and molecular levels. Diosgenin
      (100 MUg/ml; 241.2 MUM) had a 100% inhibitory effect on N. fowleri trophozoites
      (5 x 10(5) cell/ml). Scanning electron micrograph revealed diosgenin decreased
      the number of sucker-like apparatuses and food cup formation among N. fowleri
      trophozoites at 3 and 6 hours post-exposure, respectively. Diosgenin down
      regulated the nf cysteine protease gene expression of N. fowleri trophozoites at
      6 and 12 hours post-exposure. The toxicity to mammalian cells caused by diosgenin
      at therapeutic dose was less than amphotericin B, the current drug used to treat
      N. fowleri infections. Our findings suggest diosgenin has activity against the
      surface membrane and the nf cysteine pro tease of N. fowleri trophozoites.
      However, the other mechanisms of action of diosgenin against N. fowleri
      trophozoites require further exploration.

PMID- 26863854
TI  - HUMAN GIARDIASIS IN MALAYSIA: CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PRESENCE OF CLINICAL
      MANIFESTATION AND GIARDIA INTESTINALIS ASSEMBLAGE.
AB  - Clinical manifestations of giardiasis vary from asymptomatic infection to chronic
      diarrhea. A total of 611 stool samples from Aboriginal participants residing in
      Jelebu, Gerik and Temerloh States, Malaysia, ages 2 to 74 years were screened for
      Giardia intestinalis using microscopic examination and sequence analysis of a
      fragment of nested-PCR amplified triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene.
      Demographic data was collected through a structured questionnaire. tpi was
      successfully amplified from 98/110 samples microscopically positive for G.
      intestinalis, with 62 and 36 belonging to assemblage A and B, respectively. There
      is a significant correlation between assemblage A and symptomatic infection only
      in participants of < 15 years of age. In the other age group, host factors may
      have more effects on the presence of clinical signs and symptoms than G.
      intestinalis assemblage types.

PMID- 26863855
TI  - PREVALENCE OF DIENTAMOEBA FRAGILIS AMONG AN ORANG ASLI POPULATION IN RURAL
      MALAYSIA.
AB  - Dientamoeba fragilis is a trichomonad parasite that can infect the
      gastrointestinal tract of humans causing gastrointestinal disease. Little is
      known about its epidemiology. We evaluated the prevalence of D. fragilis by
      conducting a cross sectional study of an Orang Asli population in rural Malaysia.
      We examined stool samples from 150 participants for D. fragilis using Wheatley's
      trichrome stain and collected demographic data from each participant using a
      structured questionnaire. Five participants (3.3%) had D. fragilis in their
      stool; four of these were aged < 15 years; 3 were male and 2 were female. All
      participants with positive stool sample for D. fragilis were symptomatic; 3 had
      diarrhea and 2 had other gastrointestinal symptoms. D. fragilis is present in the
      study population. Further studies are needed to determine the virulence,
      pathogenicity and mode of transmission of D. fragilis in the study population.

PMID- 26863856
TI  - ABSENCE OF AEDES AEGYPTI (L.) ON AN ECOLOGICAL ISLAND: COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION?
AB  - Ovitrap surveillance was conducted in 2012 and 2006 in Malay and Aboriginal
      Villages on Carey Island. In each village, standard ovitraps were placed indoors
      and outdoors at randomly selected houses/locations. All L3 larvae recovered were
      identified up to species level. Results demonstrated that only larvae of Aedes
      albopictus were found in all the positive ovitraps placed indoors and outdoors.
      In 2012, a high ovitrap index (OI) of 66.7% indoor and 84.0% outdoor in the Malay
      Village; and 62.5% indoor and 88.0% outdoor in Aboriginal Village with an
      apparent absence of Aedes aegypti. In 2006, a 100% OI was recorded in all
      ovitraps set indoors and outdoors in both villages.

PMID- 26863858
TI  - MALACOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FULLY OPERATIONAL NAM THEUN 2 HYDROELECTRIC
      DAM PROJECT IN KHAMMOUANE PROVINCE, CENTRAL LAO PDR.
AB  - We conducted a malacological investigation in four districts of the Nam Theun 2
      (NT2) hydroelectric dam project area, Khammouane Province, central Lao PDR
      (Nakai, Gnommalath, Mahaxai and Xe Bang Fai), after the first and second years of
      full operation in March 2010 and November 2011 to determine health risks for
      humans. A total 10,863 snail specimens (10 families/23 species) from 57 sampling
      stations and 12,902 snail specimens (eight families/21 species) from 66 sampling
      stations were collected in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Neotricula aperta (gamma
      race), the intermediate host for Schistosoma mekongi, was found in large numbers
      (5,853 specimens) in 2010 in Nam Gnom (downstream) at Station 25 (Mueang
      Gnommalath: Gnommalath District) and in fewer numbers (170 specimens) at Station
      26 (Ban Thathod: Gnommalath District). In 2011, significantly fewer numbers (434
      specimens) of N. aperta were found at Station 25. No snails were found to be
      infected with S. mekongi; however, 3.6% and 0.45% of Bithynia (D.). s.
      goniomphalos specimens collected were found to be infected with Opisthorchis
      viverrini (human liver fluke) during 2010 and 2011, respectively. Pomacea
      canaliculata, the rice crop pest, the intermediate host of Angiostrongylus
      (Parastrongylus) cantonensis, was found in the greatest numbers during 2010 and
      2011; the prevalence increased significantly from 1.3% in 2010 to 53.3% in 2011.
      We also found seasonal variation in snail populations in terms of abundance and
      diversity. The snail fauna and risk for transmission of parasitic diseases need
      to be monitored continuously to evaluate the long-term impact of the dam project.

PMID- 26863857
TI  - SPECIES DIVERSITY AND SEASONALITY OF PHLEBOTOMINE SAND FLIES (DIPTERA:
      PSYCHODIDAE) IN SATUN PROVINCE, THAILAND.
AB  - Leishmaniasis is prevalent mainly in the southern provinces of Thailand where
      sand flies are considered to be an important vector. Sand flies were collected
      using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps in Satun Province from June
      2013 to July 2014. A total of 1,982 sand flies (1,228 females and 754 males) were
      collected. Only female sand flies were identified to the species level and were
      tested for Leishmania infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
      Morphological identification revealed 2 genera and 9 species: Phlebotomus
      stantoni, P. argentipes, Sergentomyia gemmea, S. indica, S. barraudi, S.
      iyengari, S. bailyi, S. perturbans, and S. silvatica. S. gemmea (57.2%) was the
      most abundant species. The diversity of sand flies was highest in Thung Wa
      District. The sand flies were most abundant late in the hot season and early in
      the rainy season (April to June). The highest number of sand flies was collected
      in June. Significant correlations between the number of female sand flies and
      rainfall and between S. gemmea and rainfall were found. Of the female sand flies
      tested, none were positive for Leishmania spp.

PMID- 26863859
TI  - EFFECT OF HIV PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAM ON HIV AND HCV TRANSMISSION AND
      HIV MORTALITY AT AN INDONESIAN NARCOTIC PRISON.
AB  - Validated data regarding HIV-transmission in prisons in developing countries is
      scarce. We examined sexual and injecting drug use behavior and HIV and HCV
      transmission in an Indonesian narcotic prison during the implementation of an HIV
      prevention and treatment program during 2004-2007 when the Banceuy Narcotic
      Prison in Indonesia conducted an HIV transmission prevention program to provide
      1) HIV education, 2) voluntary HIV testing and counseling, 3) condom supply, 4)
      prevention of rape and sexual violence, 5) antiretroviral treatment for HIV
      positive prisoners and 6) methadone maintenance treatment. During a first survey
      that was conducted between 2007 and 2009, new prisoners entered Banceuy Narcotics
      Prison were voluntary tested for HIV and HCV-infection after written informed
      consent was obtained. Information regarding sexual and injecting risk behavior
      and physical status were also recorded at admission to the prison. Participants
      who tested negative for both HIV and HCV during the first survey were included in
      a second survey conducted during 2008-2011. During both surveys, data on
      mortality among HIV-seropositive patients were also recorded. All HIV
      seropositive participants receive treatment for HIV. HIV/ AIDS-related deaths
      decreased: 43% in 2006, 18% in 2007, 9% in 2008 and 0% in 2009. No HIV and HCV
      seroconversion inside Banceuy Narcotic Prison were found after a median of 23
      months imprisonment (maximum follow-up: 38 months). Total of 484.8 person-years
      observation was done. Participants reported HIV transmission risk-behavior in
      Banceuy Prison during the second survey was low. After implementation of HIV
      prevention and treatment program, no new HIV or HCV cases were detected and HIV
      related mortality decreased.

PMID- 26863860
TI  - DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS AMONG URBAN THAI CHILDREN: A 10-YEAR REVIEW.
AB  - Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has become an increasing public health
      concern. We conducted this retrospective chart review to determine the risk
      factors, susceptibility patterns, and clinical outcomes of children with DR-TB
      treated at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok,
      Thailand. Susceptibility results were available for 78 of the 91 patients (85.7%)
      with positive cultures for M. tuberculosis. Sensitivity of tuberculin skin
      testing for overall culture-confirmed tuberculosis with a cut-off point of 10 mm
      for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected cases was 76.9%. Using a 5-mm
      induration cut-off-point for tuberculin skin testing for HIV-infected cases,
      sensitivity was only 14.3%. Resistance to at least one anti-tubercular drug was
      found in 22 cases (28.2%), with streptomycin resistance being the most common
      (21.7%), followed by isoniazid (11.5%), rifampicin (5.1%), and ethambutol (5.1%).
      Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was observed in 3 cases (3.8%). A history of previous
      TB treatment and bone and joint involvement were associated with a significantly
      higher percentage of DR-TB: 18.2% vs 1.8% (p = 0.0078) and 22.7 vs 1.8% (p =
      0.0018), respectively. Case fatality rates were 1.7% and 4.5% for drug
      susceptible and DR-TB, respectively. Due to the high rate of resistance,
      streptomycin is not recommended as first time treatment of childhood tuberculosis
      in Thailand.

PMID- 26863861
TI  - DETECTION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROAGGREGATIVE ESCHERICHIA COLI
      FROM DIARRHEAL PATIENTS IN TERTIARY HOSPITALS, SOUTHERN THAILAND.
AB  - Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a member of diarrheagenic E. coli,
      which plays an important role in human infections in developing countries.
      Investigations of EAEC in diarrheal patients at Hat-Yai and Pattani Hospitals,
      southern Thailand identified 5 EAEC strains, which were classified into
      serogroups, O44 and O127a. All 5 EAEC contained the global transcriptional
      regulator gene, aggR, and possessed fimbrial subunit genes, aggA and aafA, and
      EAEC-related toxin genes, astA and pet. PCR-based phylogenetic group assay
      revealed that the EAEC belonged to groups B1 and D. Low levels of clump formation
      were observed for all EAEC strains. Scanning electron microscopy showed an
      absence of fimbrial structure. DNA profiles generated by BOX- and ERIC2-PCR
      exhibited correspondingly identical patterns among all 5 EAEC strains, suggesting
      that they evolved from the same bacterial clone. Thus, there exists a low but
      still significant prevalence of EAEC-related diarrheal illnesses in the southern
      region of Thailand.

PMID- 26863862
TI  - EVALUATION OF RED BLOOD CELL INDICES RELATED DISORDERS AMONG ELIGIBLE BLOOD
      DONORS AT THE UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA (UPM).
AB  - Pre-donation screening declarations and hemoglobin (Hb) testing are measures used
      to determine the quality of donated blood. The copper sulphate (CuSo4) method
      used to screen for blood abnormalities can give inaccurate results if strict
      quality control is not applied. Blood donors who are carriers of thalassemia and
      those with mild iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are usually asymptomatic and
      frequently missed at blood donation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      red blood cell (RBC) indices related disorders among blood donors who were deemed
      qualified to donate blood after screening with CuSo4 method. One hundred fifty
      eight volunteer blood donors at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), who had
      passed the CuSo4 screening method, were recruited for this study. Their bloods
      specimens were examined with a complete blood count. Subjects with a low mean
      corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) level were examined further by checking a serum
      ferritin level, Hb quantification, and molecular analysis to examine for common
      RBC disorders. Fourteen point six percent of subjects had a low Hb level, two
      (1.3%) had IDA and four (2.5%) had thalassemia or some other hemoglobinopathy.
      Using a MCH level < 27 pg as a cut-off point, 58 subjects (36.7%) had suspected
      IDA, thalassemia or some other hemoglobinopathy. Eight point nine percent of
      subjects with a normal Hb level had thalassemia, and 3.8% had IDA. Malaysia has a
      high prevalence of thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies. Pre-donation
      accurate screening is crucial to protect the quality of blood transfusion
      products. Public education regarding RBC disorders especially among blood donors
      is important.

PMID- 26863863
TI  - POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AMONG INDONESIAN CHILDREN 5 YEARS AFTER THE
      TSUNAMI.
AB  - Children are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to
      experiencing or living in a disaster area. The factors that increase the
      likelihood of a child developing PTSD need further clarification. We studied the
      factors associated with PTSD among children who experienced the tsunami in
      Sumatra, Indonesia. We conducted a cross sectional study in 2 subdistricts of
      Sumatra 5 years after experiencing a tsunami. Children aged 7-13 years were
      enrolled using stratified cluster sampling. A tsunami-modified version of The
      PsySTART Rapid Triage System was used to question children about their tsunami
      specific traumatic experiences. Trauma symptoms were evaluated using the Trauma
      Symptom Checklist For Children (TSCC). The diagnosis of PTSD was made using the
      Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) and DSM-IV criteria. The data were analyzed with
      chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis with 95%
      confidence intervals (CI). A total of 262 children were enrolled in this study.
      The prevalence of PTSD in these children was 20.6%. On multivariate analysis,
      having experienced a delay in evacuation (PR = 4.5; 95% CI: 2.794-13.80; p <
      0.001) and being unable to escape (PR = 13.07; 95% CI: 5.884-64; p < 0.001) were
      significantly associated with PTSD 5 years after the tsunami. Children who
      experienced a traumatic event in which they were unable to escape or when there
      is a delay in evacuation are at risk of developing PTSD and need appropriate
      treatment.

PMID- 26863864
TI  - RISK FACTORS AND INCIDENCE OF FALLS AMONG FIFTH- AND SIXTH-GRADE CHILDREN IN
      SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the incidence of falls among children in South
      Korea, and the risk factors associated with these falls in order to develop
      preventive strategies. We studied 1,044 elementary school students in the fifth
      and sixth grades from Seoul, South Korea and evaluated the incidence of falls
      based on four surveys conducted in June, September, and December 2010 and
      February 2011. The surveys included the number of falls, the types of medical
      care received, and the potential factors associated with those falls. Risk
      factors related to the falls were examined using a generalized estimating
      equation method. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS, version 9.2. The
      overall incidence of falls was 376 per 1,000 person-years; and a total of 44
      children were hospitalized. Having a previous history of fall [odds ratio (OR) =
      1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.64] and attention deficit
      hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (OR = 3.63; 95% CI: 2.97-4.44) were risk factors
      associated with falls. Comparative analyses of the odds of having a single fall
      versus recurrent falls showed that ADHD (p < 0.001) and overweight/obesity (p =
      0.004) were significantly associated with risk of recurrent falls. These results
      suggest novel safety programs should be developed taking these risk factors into
      consideration in order to reduce the incidence of falls among children in South
      Korea.

PMID- 26863865
TI  - BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BANGKOK
      METROPOLITAN REGION.
AB  - Family factors influence children's eating behavior. However, there is little
      research on family correlates of children's breakfast behavior. This study
      investigated the breakfast consumption behaviors of school-aged children by
      surveying their parents. One thousand twelve parents of Grade 1-6 students in
      Bangkok Metropolitan region completed the questionnaire comprising the following
      topics: general information about parents, general information about school
      children, parents' knowledge of breakfast consumption, and breakfast consumption
      behavior in school children. The results indicated that parents did play a role
      in breakfast preparation. The earlier parents woke up, the higher the chance of
      children to have breakfast. Most parents (83%) had good knowledge about breakfast
      goodness. Just over three-quarters (79%) of students had a breakfast daily; with
      only 1% that never had breakfast daily. Frequency of breakfast consumption tended
      to decreases, as children growing up. The key barrier of breakfast consumption
      were lack of time, woke up late, and had no breakfast prepared at home. Without
      breakfast, the parents reported that their children expressed hunger, moodiness,
      and the inability to concentrate in class.

PMID- 26863866
TI  - USING THE DELPHI TECHNIQUE TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS FOR SOCIAL
      MARKETING COMMUNICATION TO REDUCE HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG YOUTH.
AB  - This study aimed to develop effectiveness indicators for social marketing
      communication to reduce health-risk behaviors among Thai youth by using the
      Delphi technique. The Delphi technique is a research approach used to gain
      consensus through a series of two or more rounds of questionnaire surveys where
      information and results are fed back to panel members between each round and it
      has been extensively used to generate many indicators relevant to health
      behaviors. The Delphi technique was conducted in 3 rounds by consulting a panel
      of 15 experts in the field of social marketing communication for public health
      campaigns in Thailand. We found forty-nine effectiveness indicators in eight core
      components reached consensus. These components were: 1) attitude about health
      risk behavior reduction, 2) subjective norms, 3) perceived behavioral control, 4)
      intention to reduce health-risk behaviors, 5) practices for reducing health-risk
      behaviors, 6) knowledge about the dangers and impact of health-risk behaviors, 7)
      campaign brand equity, and 8) communication networks. These effectiveness
      indicators could be applied by health promotion organizations for evaluating the
      effectiveness of social marketing communication to effectively reduce health-risk
      behaviors among youth.

PMID- 26863867
TI  - Progressive postresection program (pPRP) after pancreatic resection: study
      protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: At the time of initial diagnosis, only 15-20% of patients with
      pancreatic cancer present with a resectable disease. Patients with pancreatic
      cancer face a poor prognosis. Progression-free survival and overall survival
      rates are very limited, so it is important to develop concepts to improve the
      quality of life for their remaining lives. METHODS/DESIGN: The proposed trial is
      a randomized controlled intervention study. After pancreatic resection, the
      intervention group (cohort A, n = 30 patients) will take part in an intensified
      physiotherapy program consisting of endurance and muscle force exercises. The
      control group (cohort B, n = 30 patients) will take part in standard
      physiotherapy. Both groups will receive dietary counseling and, if necessary,
      substitution for endocrine/exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Quality of life
      will be evaluated using the Short Form-8 Health Survey and the European
      Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30/QLQ-PAN26
      questionnaires. DISCUSSION: The aim of this study is to investigate whether
      intensive physiotherapy improves the quality of life of patients after pancreatic
      resection. If the results for the intervention group are positive, a multicenter
      study should be performed with appropriate statistical power. The progressive
      postresection program includes a structured follow-up after pancreatic resection.
      In this study, all patients will undergo abdominal computed tomography for follow
      up 6 and 12 months postoperatively. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials
      Register DRKS00006786. Date of registration 1 October 2014.

PMID- 26863868
TI  - Leveraging workflow control patterns in the domain of clinical practice
      guidelines.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) include recommendations
      describing appropriate care for the management of patients with a specific
      clinical condition. A number of representation languages have been developed to
      support executable CPGs, with associated authoring/editing tools. Even with tool
      assistance, authoring of CPG models is a labor-intensive task. We aim at
      facilitating the early stages of CPG modeling task. In this context, we propose
      to support the authoring of CPG models based on a set of suitable procedural
      patterns described in an implementation-independent notation that can be then
      semi-automatically transformed into one of the alternative executable CPG
      languages. METHODS: We have started with the workflow control patterns which have
      been identified in the fields of workflow systems and business process
      management. We have analyzed the suitability of these patterns by means of a
      qualitative analysis of CPG texts. Following our analysis we have implemented a
      selection of workflow patterns in the Asbru and PROforma CPG languages. As
      implementation-independent notation for the description of patterns we have
      chosen BPMN 2.0. Finally, we have developed XSLT transformations to convert the
      BPMN 2.0 version of the patterns into the Asbru and PROforma languages. RESULTS:
      We showed that although a significant number of workflow control patterns are
      suitable to describe CPG procedural knowledge, not all of them are applicable in
      the context of CPGs due to their focus on single-patient care. Moreover, CPGs may
      require additional patterns not included in the set of workflow control patterns.
      We also showed that nearly all the CPG-suitable patterns can be conveniently
      implemented in the Asbru and PROforma languages. Finally, we demonstrated that
      individual patterns can be semi-automatically transformed from a process
      specification in BPMN 2.0 to executable implementations in these languages.
      CONCLUSIONS: We propose a pattern and transformation-based approach for the
      development of CPG models. Such an approach can form the basis of a valid
      framework for the authoring of CPG models. The identification of adequate
      patterns and the implementation of transformations to convert patterns from a
      process specification into different executable implementations are the first
      necessary steps for our approach.

PMID- 26863870
TI  - Explanations and information-giving: clinician strategies used in talking to
      parents of preterm infants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study is part of a larger research programme on neonatal brain
      imaging in the trial element of which parents were randomised to receive
      prognostic information based upon either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or
      ultrasound findings (ePrime study). The aim of this study was to investigate the
      strategies used by clinicians in communicating with parents following imaging at
      term age of the brain of preterm infants born before 33 weeks gestation, focusing
      on explanations and information-giving about prognosis  METHOD: Audio recordings
      of discussions between parents and clinicians were made following MRI and
      ultrasound assessment. Parents were given the scan result and the baby's
      predicted prognosis. A framework was developed based on preliminary analysis of
      the recordings and findings of other studies of information-giving in healthcare.
      Communication of scan results by the clinicians was further explored in
      qualitative analysis with 36 recordings using NVivo 10 and the specifically
      developed framework. Emerging themes and associated sub-themes were identified.
      RESULTS: The ways in which clinicians gave information and helped parents to
      understand were identified. Within the over-arching theme of clinician strategies
      a wide range of approaches were used to facilitate parental understanding. These
      included orienting, checking on previously acquired information, using analogies,
      explaining terminology, pacing the information, confirming understanding,
      inviting clarification, answering parents' questions and recapping at intervals.
      Ultimately four key themes were identified: 'Framing the information-giving',
      'What we are looking at', 'Presenting the numbers and explaining the risk' and
      'Appreciating the position of parents'. CONCLUSIONS: The interviews represent a
      multifaceted situation in which there is a tension between the need to explain
      and inform and the inherent complexity of neurological development, potential
      problems following preterm birth and the technology used to investigate and
      monitor these.

PMID- 26863872
TI  - Implementation of distress screening in an oncology setting.
AB  - The recommendations of numerous groups, such as the Institute of Medicine and the
      National Comprehensive Cancer Network, have resulted in the first regulatory
      standard on distress screening in oncology implemented in 2015 by the American
      College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This practice-changing standard
      promises to result in better quality cancer care, but presents unique challenges
      to many centers struggling to provide high-quality practical assessment and
      management of distress. The current paper reviews the history behind the CoC
      standard, identifies the most prevalent symptoms underlying distress, and
      discusses the importance of distress screening. We also review some commonly used
      instruments for assessing distress, and address barriers to implementation of
      screening and management. 

PMID- 26863869
TI  - On the role of ethylene, auxin and a GOLVEN-like peptide hormone in the
      regulation of peach ripening.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In melting flesh peaches, auxin is necessary for system-2 ethylene
      synthesis and a cross-talk between ethylene and auxin occurs during the ripening
      process. To elucidate this interaction at the transition from maturation to
      ripening and the accompanying switch from system-1 to system-2 ethylene
      biosynthesis, fruits of melting flesh and stony hard genotypes, the latter unable
      to produce system-2 ethylene because of insufficient amount of auxin at ripening,
      were treated with auxin, ethylene and with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), known to
      block ethylene receptors. The effects of the treatments on the different
      genotypes were monitored by hormone quantifications and transcription profiling.
      RESULTS: In melting flesh fruit, 1-MCP responses differed according to the
      ripening stage. Unexpectedly, 1-MCP induced genes also up-regulated by ripening,
      ethylene and auxin, as CTG134, similar to GOLVEN (GLV) peptides, and repressed
      genes also down-regulated by ripening, ethylene and auxin, as CTG85, a
      calcineurin B-like protein. The nature and transcriptional response of CTG134 led
      to discover a rise in free auxin in 1-MCP treated fruit. This increase was
      supported by the induced transcription of CTG475, an IAA-amino acid hydrolase. A
      melting flesh and a stony hard genotype, differing for their ability to
      synthetize auxin and ethylene amounts at ripening, were used to study the fine
      temporal regulation and auxin responsiveness of genes involved in the process.
      Transcriptional waves showed a tight interdependence between auxin and ethylene
      actions with the former possibly enhanced by the GLV CTG134. The expression of
      genes involved in the regulation of ripening, among which are several
      transcription factors, was similar in the two genotypes or could be rescued by
      auxin application in the stony hard. Only GLV CTG134 expression could not be
      rescued by exogenous auxin. CONCLUSIONS: 1-MCP treatment of peach fruit is
      ineffective in delaying ripening because it stimulates an increase in free auxin.
      As a consequence, a burst in ethylene production speeding up ripening occurs.
      Based on a network of gene transcriptional regulations, a model in which
      appropriate level of CTG134 peptide hormone might be necessary to allow the
      correct balance between auxin and ethylene for peach ripening to occur is
      proposed.

PMID- 26863871
TI  - The clock drawing test as a screening tool in mild cognitive impairment and very
      mild dementia: a new brief method of scoring and normative data in the elderly.
AB  - many studies sustained that the clock drawing test (CDT) was not able to
      accurately detect people with CDR = 0.5. Other researchers have promoted the use
      of scoring approaches with multiple scales that rate quantitative and qualitative
      features of the production. Nevertheless, these scoring systems are complex and
      time-consuming. We propose a new brief CDT' scoring system in order to find a
      good measure for mild cognitive decline which is at the same time easy to
      administer. we enrolled 719 subjects: n. 181 with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD);
      n. 200 with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and n. 338 healthy elderly
      subjects (C). our CDT-three-cluster scoring system demonstrated a good
      sensitivity and an excellent specificity to discriminate MCI subjects from normal
      elderly (76 and 84 %, respectively) and an excellent sensitivity and specificity
      to discriminate patients affected by mild Alzheimer disease (CDR: 1) from normal
      elderly (91 and 90 %, respectively). We found that CDT' score = 1.30 discriminate
      people with MCI, whereas a score = 4.38 discriminate AD patients. The three
      cluster-scoring-system demonstrated a good diagnostic accuracy, taking into
      account those error-items more predictive of cognitive decline: omission of
      numbers or hands, writing numbers or hands in a wrong position and writing
      numbers or hands in a different code. Our CDT' scoring system is very short and
      easy method which can be used also by non-specialist. 

PMID- 26863873
TI  - Cancer clinical trial enrollment of diverse and underserved patients within an
      urban safety net hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Enrollment rates onto cancer clinical trials are low and reflect a
      small subset of the population of which even fewer participants come from
      populations of racial or ethnic diversity or low socioeconomic status. There is a
      need to increase enrollment onto cancer clinical trials with a focus on
      recruitment of a diverse, underrepresented patient population. OBJECTIVE: To use
      the electronic medical record (EMR) to understand the eligibility and enrollment
      rates for all available cancer trials in the ambulatory care setting at an urban
      safety net hospital to identify specific strategies for enhanced accrual onto
      cancer clinical trials of diverse and underserved patients. METHODS: A clinical
      trial screening note was created for the EMR by the clinical trials office at an
      urban safety net hospital. 847 cancer clinical trial screening notes were
      extracted from the EMR between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. During that
      time, 99 cancer trials were registered for accrual, including clinical treatment,
      survey, data repository, imaging, and symptom management trials. Data on
      eligibility, enrollment status, and relationship to sociodemographic status were
      compared. LIMITATIONS: This is a single-institution and retrospective study.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that a formal process of tracking cancer
      clinical trial screens using an EMR can document baseline rates of institution
      specific accrual patterns and identify targeted strategies for increasing cancer
      clinical trial enrollment among a vulnerable patient population. Offering
      nontreatment trials may be an important and strategic method of engaging this
      vulnerable population in clinical research.

PMID- 26863874
TI  - Racial disparities in breast cancer diagnosis in Central Georgia in the United
      States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mortality rates in breast cancer are worse for African Americans than
      for whites. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of racial disparities in
      clinical staging in women diagnosed with breast cancer and understand whether
      such disparities exist in Central Georgia in the United States. METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed records from the Tumor Registry of the Medical Center
      Navicent Health in Macon, Georgia, of women who had been diagnosed with breast
      cancer during 2011-2013. The chi-square test was used to assess statistically
      significant differences between whites and African Americans. We also assessed
      the patients' health insurance status and age at diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of
      578 participants were identified. Statistically significant differences existed
      in the clinical stage between the races (?? = .0003). Whites were more often
      clinical stage I at diagnosis, whereas African Americans had a greater percentage
      of stages II, III, or IV. African Americans were more than twice as likely to be
      diagnosed at clinical stage IV than were their white counterparts. Statistical
      differences also existed with age at diagnosis (?? = .0066) and insurance
      coverage (?? = .0004). A greater percentage of white patients were aged 65 years
      or older at diagnosis, whereas a greater percentage of African American patients
      were aged 49 years or younger. A greater percentage of African Americans had
      Medicaid insurance, whereas a greater percentage of whites had private health
      insurance. LIMITATIONS: As a single-center study, it is difficult to generalize
      these results elsewhere. Furthermore, this study focused on association and not
      on causation. It is difficult to pinpoint why such disparities exist.
      CONCLUSIONS: The etiology of racial disparities between African American and
      white women with breast cancer seems to be multifaceted. Screening mammography
      remains an important tool for identifying breast cancer. Low socioeconomic and
      educational status as well as a lack of a primary care physician may play a role
      in these disparities. Other factors that may have a role include biological
      factors and possible mistrust of the health care system.

PMID- 26863875
TI  - Sexual health assessment and counseling: oncology nurses' perceptions, practices,
      and perceived barriers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer-related sexual dysfunction has a negative impact on patient
      quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To describe oncology nurses' perceptions, practices,
      and perceived barriers regarding sexual health assessment and counseling.
      METHODS: In 2005, a 31-item questionnaire was mailed to 56 oncology nurses
      employed at 6 regional cancer care centers in northern, central, and western
      Wisconsin. Questions captured demographic information about the nurses and
      information about attitudes, perceptions, and practice patterns regarding patient
      sexual health counseling, and the barriers to discussing sexuality with patients.
      RESULTS: Nearly 70% of mailed surveys were returned completed. Most of the
      respondents believed that sexual health concerns were important and that it was
      appropriate for nurses to discuss patient sexual concerns, but less than one
      third of the nurses said they had offered to discuss sexual concerns with
      patients in the previous 12 months. Few respondents reported feeling adequately
      knowledgeable about talking to patients about concerns about sexual health, and
      more than 90% thought that additional training in sexual health counseling would
      increase their confidence in addressing sexual health issues. LIMITATIONS: Study
      findings are limited by validity of the survey instrument and issues related to
      self-report. Sensitivity of the topic may have resulted in selection bias.
      CONCLUSIONS: Sexual health among patients with cancer was recognized as
      important, but was discussed infrequently. Additional training may improve the
      ability of oncology nurses to provide sexual health counseling to patients.

PMID- 26863876
TI  - The cag-pathogenicity island encoded CncR1 sRNA oppositely modulates Helicobacter
      pylori motility and adhesion to host cells.
AB  - Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are emerging as key post-transcriptional regulators
      in many bacteria. In the human pathobiont Helicobacter pylori a plethora of trans
      and cis-encoded sRNAs have been pinpointed by a global transcriptome study.
      However, only two have been studied in depth at the functional level. Here we
      report the characterization of CncR1, an abundant and conserved sRNA encoded by
      the virulence-associated cag pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) of H. pylori. Growth
      phase dependent transcription of CncR1 is directed by the PcagP promoter, which
      resulted to be a target of the essential transcriptional regulator HsrA (HP1043).
      We demonstrate that the 213 nt transcript arising from this promoter ends at an
      intrinsic terminator, few bases upstream of the annotated cagP open reading
      frame, establishing CncR1 as the predominant gene product encoded by the cagP
      (cag15) locus. Interestingly, the deletion of the locus resulted in the
      deregulation en masse of sigma(54)-dependent genes, linking CncR1 to flagellar
      functions. Accordingly, the enhanced motility recorded for cncR1 deletion mutants
      was complemented by ectopic reintroduction of the allele in trans. In silico
      prediction identified fliK, encoding a flagellar checkpoint protein, as likely
      regulatory target of CncR1. The interaction of CncR1 with the fliK mRNA was thus
      further investigated in vitro, demonstrating the formation of strand-specific
      interactions between the two RNA molecules. Accordingly, the full-length
      translational fusions of fliK with a lux reporter gene were induced in a cncR1
      deletion mutant in vivo. These data suggest the involvement of CncR1 in the post
      transcriptional modulation of H. pylori motility functions through down
      regulation of a critical flagellar checkpoint factor. Concurrently, the cncR1
      mutant revealed a decrease of transcript levels for several H. pylori adhesins,
      resulting in a phenotypically significant impairment of bacterial adhesion to a
      host gastric cell line. The data presented support a model in which the cag-PAI
      encoded CncR1 sRNA is able to oppositely modulate bacterial motility and adhesion
      to host cells.

PMID- 26863877
TI  - Moderate and intense exercise lifestyles attenuate the effects of aging on
      telomere length and the survival and composition of T cell subpopulations.
AB  - Studies indicate that exercise might delay human biological aging, but the
      effects of long-term exercise on T cell function are not well known. We tested
      the hypothesis that moderate or intense exercise lifestyle may attenuate the
      effects of aging on the telomere length and the survival and composition of T
      cell subpopulations. Elderly (65-85 years) with intense training lifestyle (IT, n
      = 15), moderate training lifestyle (MT, n = 16), and who never trained (NT, n =
      15) were studied. Although the three groups presented the age-associated
      contraction of the TCD4(+)/TCD8(+) naive compartments and expansion of the memory
      compartments, both training modalities were associated with lower proportion of
      terminally differentiated (CD45RA(+)CCR7(neg)) TCD4(+) and TCD8(+) cells,
      although among the latter cells, the reduction reached statistical significance
      only with IT. MT was associated with higher proportion of central memory TCD4(+)
      cells, while IT was associated with higher proportion of effector memory TCD8(+)
      cells. However, both training lifestyles were unable to modify the proportion of
      senescent (CD28(neg)) TCD8(+) cells. Telomeres were longer in T cells in both
      training groups; with IT, telomere length increased mainly in TCD8(+) cells,
      whereas with MT, a modest increase in telomere length was observed in both
      TCD8(+) and TCD4(+) cells. Reduced commitment to apoptosis of resting T cells, as
      assessed by caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression, was seen predominantly with IT.
      Measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and peripheral blood
      mononuclear cell (PBMC)'s supernatants did not show chronic low-grade
      inflammation in any of the groups. In conclusion, MT and IT lifestyles attenuated
      some of the effects of aging on the immune system. 

PMID- 26863879
TI  - Design and Synthesis of Some Novel Estrogen Receptor Modulators as Anti-Breast
      Cancer Agents: In Vitro & In Vivo Screening, Docking Analysis.
AB  - A series of novel coumarin-chalcone hybrids have been synthesized in good yields
      and evaluated for their in vitro & in vivo anticancer activity. Cytotoxicity
      study was done against MCF-7 and Zr-75-1 human cancer cell lines. All compounds
      exhibited significant antiproliferative properties on both cell lines. The most
      active ER modulators found in in vitro screening are subjected for in vivo
      screened using methyl nitrosourea (MNU) induced mammary carcinoma in female
      spraque dawley rats. The Glide XP docking was performed for designed scaffold to
      optimize its structural requirement for ER-alpha inhibition.

PMID- 26863878
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid lactate is associated with multiple sclerosis disease
      progression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Altered cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of lactate have been
      described in neurodegenerative diseases and related to mitochondrial dysfunction
      and neuronal degeneration. We investigated the relationship between CSF lactate
      levels, disease severity, and biomarkers associated with neuroaxonal damage in
      patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: One-hundred eighteen subjects
      with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were included, along with one
      hundred fifty seven matched controls. CSF levels of lactate, tau protein, and
      neurofilament light were detected at the time of diagnosis. Patients were
      followed-up for a mean of 5 years. Progression index (PI), multiple sclerosis
      severity scale (MSSS), and Bayesian risk estimate for multiple sclerosis (BREMS)
      were assessed as clinical measures of disease severity and progression.
      Differences between groups and correlation between CSF lactate, disease severity
      and CSF biomarkers of neuronal damage were explored. RESULTS: CSF lactate was
      higher in RRMS patients compared to controls. A negative correlation was found
      between lactate levels and disease duration. Patients with higher CSF lactate
      concentration had significantly higher PI, MSSS, and BREMS scores at long-term
      follow-up. Furthermore, CSF lactate correlated positively and significantly with
      CSF levels of both tau protein and neurofilament light protein. CONCLUSIONS:
      Measurement of CSF lactate may be helpful, in conjunction with other biomarkers
      of tissue damage, as an early predictor of disease severity in RRMS patients. A
      better understanding of the alterations of mitochondrial metabolic pathways
      associated to RRMS severity may pave the way to new therapeutic targets to
      contrast axonal damage and disease severity.

PMID- 26863880
TI  - Ethanolic Extract of Algerian Propolis and Galangin Decreased Murine Melanoma T.
AB  - Melanoma is the more dangerous skin cancer, and metastatic melanoma still carries
      poor prognosis. Despite recent therapeutic advances, prolonged survival remains
      rare and research is still required. Propolis extracts from many countries have
      attracted a great deal of attention for their biological properties. We here
      investigated the ability of an ethanolic extract of Algerian propolis (EEP) to
      control melanoma tumour growth when given to mice bearing B16F1melanoma tumour
      either as preventive or as therapeutic treatment. EEP given after tumour
      occurrence increased mice survival (+30%) and reduced tumour growth (-75%). This
      was associated with a decrease of the Mitotic Index (-75%) and of Ki-67 (-50%)
      expression. When given either before or both before and after tumour occurrence,
      EEP reduced tumour growth but without prolonging mice life. Isolation of B16F1
      melanoma cells from resected tumour showed that preventive and curative EEP
      treatments reduced invasiveness by 55% and 40% respectively compared to control.
      Galangin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in propolis, significantly reduced
      the number of melanoma cells in vitro and induced autophagy/apoptosis dose
      dependently. In conclusion, we showed that EEP reduced melanoma tumour
      progression/dissemination and could extend mice lifespan when used as therapeutic
      treatment. Then, EEP may help patients with melanoma when used as a complementary
      therapy to classical treatment for which autophagy is not contraindicated.

PMID- 26863881
TI  - 5' Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Modulators as Anticancer
      Agents.
AB  - In spite of tremendous advancement in the field of cancer therapy, it is still
      one of the leading causes of death worldwide. One of the newest targets in the
      field of cancer therapeutics is 5'Adenosine Mono Phosphate activated protein
      kinase (AMPK). In vitro and in vivo evidences suggest anti-cancer activity of
      AMPK. AMPK activation may promote catabolism while preventing the anabolic
      processes of cell. Thus it may modulate cellular protein and lipid metabolism and
      affect the growth and division of cell. Here we review the mechanisms of action
      of AMPK modulators as future anti-cancer agents.

PMID- 26863882
TI  - Cucurbitacin B Enhances the Anticancer Effect of Imatinib Mesylate Through
      Inhibition of MMP-2 Expression in MCF-7 and SW480 Tumor Cell Lines.
AB  - The combination of medicinal plant extracts with known chemotherapeutics offers
      significant potential for the development of novel therapies in cancer disease.
      Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is one of the most potent and widely used members of
      cucurbitacin family and it is known to have important effects on several diseases
      including cancer. To determine whether CuB can enhance chemosensitivity to
      imatinib mesylate (IM), in the present study, the combined effects of CuB with IM
      on MCF-7 and SW480 cells were investigated. The cells were treated with CuB alone
      or in combination with IM and the results showed that the combination treatment
      synergistically inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore,
      the combined effect of CuB and IM on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene
      expression, a member of MMP family which is responsible for the degradation of
      extracellular matrix was also evaluated. CuB increased the inhibitory effect of
      IM on MMP-2 expression synergistically in a dose dependent manner. The results
      suggest that CuB in combination with IM may serve as a potentially useful
      therapeutic strategy for patients with breast and colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26863883
TI  - Novel Therapeutic Strategies Against Cancer: Marine-derived Drugs May Be the
      Answer?
AB  - Marine ecosystem represents a wide and untapped reservoir of biologically active
      metabolites. Most of the sponges, seaweeds, crustaceans, fish species and their
      associated microorganisms have evolved chemical means in order to defend
      themselves against predation and to survive in the complex marine environment.
      Such chemical and biological adaptation produced many bioactive substances with
      beneficial effects on human health, including potential anticancer agents. With
      further exploration of sea and ocean environment, several marine bioactives have
      been identified with promising anticancer activity. More than one hundred novel
      bioactive compounds with antitumor activity and their synthetic derivative
      substances displayed in vitro cytotoxic property on neoplastic cell lines and are
      currently gaining great attention for further evaluations and in vivo
      applications. This review highlights novel marine molecules and compounds which
      have been able to inhibit different cancer species in the recent years and aims
      to describe research on new natural antineoplastic agents obtained from sea
      world.

PMID- 26863884
TI  - Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-cancer Activities of &#946;-elemene: Targeting
      Hallmarks of Cancer.
AB  - Increasing knowledge on the hallmark characteristics of cancer and tumor
      pharmacology has promoted the introduction of phytochemicals, such as traditional
      Chinese medicine (TCM) in cancer therapy, which modulate numerous molecular
      targets and exert anticancer activities. beta-elemene, an active and non-toxic
      compound isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Rhizoma Zedoariae, has been
      explored as a potent anti-cancer agent against multiple cancers in extensive
      clinical trials and experimental research in vivo and in vitro. beta-elemene
      exerts therapeutic potential via modulation of core hallmark capabilities of
      cancer by suppressing proliferative signaling, such as MAPK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR
      pathway, inducing cell death, up-regulating growth suppressors, deactivating
      invasion and metastasis and interacting replicative immortality and attenuating
      angiogenesis. Recent studies have significantly improved our understanding of
      anti-cancer activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of this Chinese
      medicine. This review presents these novel findings regarding the unique
      properties of beta-elemene as an agent for cancer treatment, with an emphasis on
      multi-targeting biological and molecular regulation.

PMID- 26863885
TI  - Caffeine improves muscular performance in elite Brazilian Jiu-jitsu athletes.
AB  - Scientific information about the effects of caffeine intake on combat sport
      performance is scarce and controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate
      the effectiveness of caffeine to improve Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ)-specific
      muscular performance. Fourteen male and elite BJJ athletes (29.2 +/- 3.3 years;
      71.3 +/- 9.1 kg) participated in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled
      and crossover experiment. In two different sessions, BJJ athletes ingested 3 mg
      kg(-1) of caffeine or a placebo. After 60 min, they performed a handgrip maximal
      force test, a countermovement jump, a maximal static lift test and bench-press
      tests consisting of one-repetition maximum, power-load, and repetitions to
      failure. In comparison to the placebo, the ingestion of the caffeine increased:
      hand grip force in both hands (50.9 +/- 2.9 vs. 53.3 +/- 3.1 kg; respectively p <
      .05), countermovement jump height (40.6 +/- 2.6 vs. 41.7 +/- 3.1 cm; p = .02),
      and time recorded in the maximal static lift test (54.4 +/- 13.4 vs. 59.2 +/-
      11.9 s; p < .01).The caffeine also increased the one-repetition maximum (90.5 +/-
      7.7 vs. 93.3 +/- 7.5 kg; p = .02), maximal power obtained during the power-load
      test (750.5 +/- 154.7 vs. 826.9 +/- 163.7 W; p < .01) and mean power during the
      bench-press exercise test to failure (280.2 +/- 52.5 vs. 312.2 +/- 78.3 W; p =
      .04). In conclusion, the pre-exercise ingestion of 3 mg kg(-1) of caffeine
      increased dynamic and isometric muscular force, power, and endurance strength in
      elite BJJ athletes. Thus, caffeine might be an effective ergogenic aid to improve
      physical performance in BJJ. 

PMID- 26863886
TI  - Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and breast cancer risk: a nationwide cohort
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The association between thyroid disease and breast cancer risk remains
      unclear. We, therefore examined the association between hypothyroidism,
      hyperthyroidism and breast cancer risk. DESIGN: This was a population-based
      cohort study. METHODS: Using nationwide registries, we identified all women in
      Denmark with a first-time hospital diagnosis of hypothyroidism or
      hyperthyroidism, 1978-2013. We estimated the excess risk of breast cancer among
      patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism compared with the expected risk
      in the general population, using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) as a
      measure of risk ratio. Breast cancer diagnoses in the first 12 months following
      diagnosis of thyroid disease were excluded from the calculations to avoid
      diagnostic work-up bias. RESULTS: We included 61, 873 women diagnosed with
      hypothyroidism and 80, 343 women diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Median follow-up
      time was 4.9 years (interquartile range (IQR): 1.8-9.5 years) for hypothyroidism
      and 7.4 years (IQR: 3.1-13.5 years) for hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was
      associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk compared with the general
      population (SIR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16), which persisted beyond 5 years of
      follow-up (SIR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.19). In comparison, hypothyroidism was
      associated with a slightly lower risk of breast cancer (SIR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88
      1.00). Stratification by cancer stage at diagnosis, estrogen receptor status,
      age, comorbidity, history of alcohol-related disease and clinical diagnoses of
      obesity produced little change in cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increased
      risk of breast cancer in women with hyperthyroidism and a slightly decreased risk
      in women with hypothyroidism indicating an association between thyroid function
      level and breast cancer risk.

PMID- 26863887
TI  - Occupational exposure to mould and microbial metabolites during onion sorting-
      insights into an overlooked workplace.
AB  - Manual sorting of onions is known to be associated with a bioaerosol exposure.
      The study aimed to gain an initial indication as to what extent manual sorting of
      onions is also associated with mycotoxin exposure. Twelve representative samples
      of outer onion skins from different onion origins were sampled and analyzed with
      a multimycotoxin method comprising 40 mycotoxins using a single extraction step
      followed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and triple
      quadrupole mass spectrometry. Six of the 12 samples were positive for mycotoxins.
      In those samples, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and B2 were observed in
      quantitatively detectable amounts of 3940 ng/g for fumonisin B1 and in the range
      of 126-587 ng/g for deoxynivalenol and 55-554 ng/g for fumonisin B2. Although the
      results point to a lower risk due to mycotoxins, the risk should not be
      completely neglected and has to be considered in the risk assessment. 

PMID- 26863888
TI  - Impact of pharmacists as immunizers on influenza vaccination coverage in Nova
      Scotia, Canada.
AB  - Immunization coverage in Canada has continued to fall below national goals. The
      addition of pharmacists as immunizers may increase immunization coverage. This
      study aimed to compare estimated influenza vaccine coverage before and after
      pharmacists began administering publicly funded influenza immunizations in Nova
      Scotia, Canada. Vaccination coverage rates and recipient demographics for the
      influenza vaccination seasons 2010-2011 to 2012-2013 were compared with the 2013
      2014 season, the first year pharmacists provided immunizations. In 2013-2014, the
      vaccination coverage rate for those >=5 years of age increased 6%, from 36% in
      2012-2013 to 42% (p<0.001). Pharmacists administered over 78,000 influenza
      vaccinations, nearly 9% of the province's population over the age of five.
      Influenza vaccine coverage rates for those >=65 increased by 9.8% (p<0.001) in
      2013-2014 compared to 2012-2013. Influenza vaccination coverage in Nova Scotia
      increased in 2013-2014 compared to previous years with a universal influenza
      program. Various factors may have contributed to the increased coverage,
      including the addition of pharmacists as immunizers and media coverage of
      influenza related fatalities. Future research will be necessary to fully
      determine the impact of pharmacists as immunizers.

PMID- 26863889
TI  - Use of Polyvinyl Alcohol as a Solubility Enhancing Polymer for Poorly Water
      Soluble Drug Delivery (Part 2).
AB  - The KinetiSol(r) Dispersing (KSD) technology has enabled the investigation into
      the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) as a concentration enhancing polymer for
      amorphous solid dispersions. Our previous study revealed that the 88% hydrolyzed
      grade of PVAL was optimal for itraconazole (ITZ) amorphous compositions with
      regard to solid-state properties, non-sink dissolution performance, and
      bioavailability enhancement. The current study investigates the influence of
      molecular weight for the 88% hydrolyzed grades of PVAL on the properties of KSD
      processed ITZ:PVAL amorphous dispersions. Specifically, molecular weights in the
      processable range of 4 to 18 mPa . s were evaluated and the 4-88 grade provided
      the highest AUC dissolution profile. Amorphous dispersions at 10, 20, 30, 40, and
      50% ITZ drug loads in PVAL 4-88 were also compared by dissolution performance.
      Analytical tools of diffusion-ordered spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy were employed to understand the interaction between drug and
      polymer. Finally, results from a 30-month stability test of a 30% drug loaded
      ITZ:PVAL 4-88 composition shows that stable amorphous dispersions can be
      achieved. Thus, this newly enabled polymer carrier can be considered a viable
      option for pharmaceutical formulation development for solubility enhancement. 

PMID- 26863890
TI  - Investigation of Possible Maillard Reaction Between Acyclovir and Dextrose upon
      Dilution Prior to Parenteral Administration.
AB  - In this study the stability of parenteral acyclovir (ACV) when diluted in
      dextrose (DEX) as large volume intravenous fluid preparation (LVIF) was evaluated
      and the possible Maillard reaction adducts were monitored in the recommended
      infusion time. Different physicochemical methods were used to evaluate the
      Maillard reaction of dextrose with ACV to track the reaction in real infusion
      condition. Other large volume intravenous fluids were checked regarding the
      diluted drug stability profile. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier
      transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mass data proved the reaction of
      glucose with dextrose. A Maillard-specific high performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC) method was used to track the reaction in real infusion condition in vitro.
      The nucleophilic reaction occurred in diluted parenteral preparations of
      acyclovir in 5% dextrose solutions. The best diluent solution was also selected
      as sodium chloride and introduced based on drug stability and also its adsorption
      onto different infusion sets (PVC or non PVC) to provide an acceptable
      administration protocol in clinical practices. Although, the Maillard reaction
      was proved and successfully tracked in diluted solutions, and the level of drug
      loss when diluted in dextrose was reported to be between 0.27 up to 1.03% of the
      initial content. There was no drug adsorption to common infusion sets. The best
      diluent for parenteral acyclovir is sodium chloride large volume intravenous
      fluid.

PMID- 26863891
TI  - 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometric Determination of the Partition
      Coefficients of Flutamide and Nilutamide (Antiprostate Cancer Drugs) in a Lipid
      Nano-Emulsion and Prediction of Its Encapsulation Efficiency for the Drugs.
AB  - To design a useful lipid drug carrier having a high encapsulation efficiency
      (EE%) for the antiprostate cancer drugs flutamide (FT) and nilutamide (NT), a
      lipid nano-emulsion (LNE) was prepared with soybean oil (SO), phosphatidylcholine
      (PC), and sodium palmitate, and the partition coefficients (K ps) of the drugs
      for the LNE were determined by 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry.
      The 19F NMR signal of the trifluoromethyl group of both drugs showed a downfield
      shift from an internal standard (trifluoroethanol) and broadening according to
      the increase in the lipid concentration due to their interaction with LNE
      particles. The difference in the chemical shift (Deltadelta) of each drug caused
      by the addition of LNE was measured under different amounts of LNE, and the K p
      values were calculated from the Deltadelta values. The results showed that FT has
      higher lipophilicity than NT. The total lipid concentration (SO + PC) required to
      encapsulate each drug into LNE with an EE% of more than 95% was calculated from
      the K p values as 93.3 and 189.9 mmol/L for FT and NT, respectively. For an LNE
      prepared with the total lipid concentration of 215 mmol/L, the predicted EE%
      values were 98 and 96% for FT and NT, respectively, while the experimental EE%
      values determined by a centrifugation method were approximately 99% for both
      drugs. Thus, the 19F NMR spectrometric method is a useful technique to obtain the
      K p values of fluorinated drugs and thereby predict the theoretical lipid
      concentrations and prepare LNEs with high EE% values.

PMID- 26863892
TI  - Inferior alveolar nerve hemangioma.
AB  - A 14-year-old male presented with lower lip numbness and a slowly enlarging
      mandibular mass. Computed tomography demonstrated an expansile lesion centered in
      the marrow space of the left mandibular body, extending along the course of the
      inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), and expanding the mental foramen. Preoperative
      diagnosis was consistent with an IAN schwannoma. Surgical planning was performed
      using PROPLAN CMF software. The lesion was approached via a sagittal split
      osteotomy and excised en bloc with the IAN. Final pathology demonstrated a
      capillary hemangioma originating from the inferior alveolar nerve. Based on a
      detailed PubMed search, this is the first capillary hemangioma of the inferior
      alveolar nerve reported in the literature. Laryngoscope, 126:2168-2170, 2016.

PMID- 26863893
TI  - Efficacy of three different pulpotomy agents in primary molars: a randomized
      control trial.
AB  - AIM: To compare the clinical and radiographic efficacy of BiodentineTM ,
      ProRoot(r) White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) and TempophoreTM as pulpotomy
      medicaments in the treatment of carious primary molars. METHODOLOGY: A parallel
      design, randomized controlled trial was developed. Patients above 3 years of age
      with carious primary teeth with vital pulps without spontaneous pain or history
      of swelling were included. Fifty-eight patients (82 teeth) with a mean age of
      4.79 +/- 1.23 years were included. The teeth were randomized, blinded and
      allocated to one of the three groups (BiodentineTM , ProRoot(r) WMTA or
      TempophoreTM ) for pulpotomy treatment. All teeth were followed up clinically and
      radiographically (after 6, 12 and 18 months) by two blinded calibrated
      investigators. A generalized estimating equation (GEE), Wald chi-square test and
      an intention-to-treat analysis (ITT) with 'last carried forward' approach were
      performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences v 21.0 (IBM Corp.,
      Armonk, NK, USA). RESULTS: Forty-six patients and 69 teeth were available for
      follow-up after 18 months. Clinical success (radiographic success in parenthesis)
      was 95.24% (94.4%), 100% (90.9%) and 95.65% (82.4%) in the BiodentineTM ,
      ProRoot(r) WMTA and TempophoreTM groups, respectively, but the difference was not
      significant. Pulp canal obliteration was significantly different amongst the
      experimental groups as the BiodentineTM group exhibited significantly more pulp
      canal obliteration when compared to the ProRoot(r) WMTA group at 6 months (P =
      0.008) and 18 months (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: After 18-month follow-up, there
      was no significant difference between BiodentineTM in comparison with ProRoot(r)
      WMTA or TempophoreTM .

PMID- 26863895
TI  - Nonenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the calf arteries at 3 Tesla:
      intraindividual comparison of 3D flow-dependent subtractive MRA and 2D flow
      independent non-subtractive MRA.
AB  - PURPOSE: To prospectively compare 3D flow-dependent subtractive MRA vs. 2D flow
      independent non-subtractive MRA for assessment of the calf arteries at 3 Tesla.
      METHODS: Forty-two patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease underwent
      nonenhanced MRA of calf arteries at 3 Tesla with 3D flow-dependent subtractive
      MRA (fast spin echo sequence; 3D-FSE-MRA) and 2D flow-independent non-subtractive
      MRA (balanced steady-state-free-precession sequence; 2D-bSSFP-MRA). Moreover, all
      patients underwent contrast-enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) as standard-of-reference. Two
      readers performed a per-segment evaluation for image quality (4 = excellent to 0
      = non-diagnostic) and severity of stenosis. RESULTS: Image quality scores of 2D
      bSSFP-MRA were significantly higher compared to 3D-FSE-MRA (medians across
      readers: 4 vs. 3; p < 0.0001) with lower rates of non-diagnostic vessel segments
      on 2D-bSSFP-MRA (reader 1: <1 % vs. 15 %; reader 2: 1 % vs. 29 %; p < 0.05).
      Diagnostic performance of 2D-bSSFP-MRA and 3D-FSE-MRA across readers showed
      sensitivities of 89 % (214/240) vs. 70 % (168/240), p = 0.0153; specificities: 91
      % (840/926) vs. 63 % (585/926), p < 0.0001; and diagnostic accuracies of 90 %
      (1054/1166) vs. 65 % (753/1166), p < 0.0001. CONCLUSION: 2D flow-independent non
      subtractive MRA (2D-bSSFP-MRA) is a robust nonenhanced MRA technique for
      assessment of the calf arteries at 3 Tesla with significantly higher image
      quality and diagnostic accuracy compared to 3D flow-dependent subtractive MRA (3D
      FSE-MRA). KEY POINTS: * 2D flow-independent non-subtractive MRA (2D-bSSFP-MRA) is
      a robust NE-MRA technique at 3T * 2D-bSSFP-MRA outperforms 3D flow-dependent
      subtractive MRA (3D-FSE-MRA) as NE-MRA of calf arteries * 2D-bSSFP-MRA is a
      promising alternative to CE-MRA for calf PAOD evaluation.

PMID- 26863894
TI  - Athletes at High Altitude.
AB  - CONTEXT: Athletes at different skill levels perform strenuous physical activity
      at high altitude for a variety of reasons. Multiple team and endurance events are
      held at high altitude and may place athletes at increased risk for developing
      acute high altitude illness (AHAI). Training at high altitude has been a routine
      part of preparation for some of the high level athletes for a long time. There is
      a general belief that altitude training improves athletic performance for
      competitive and recreational athletes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A review of relevant
      publications between 1980 and 2015 was completed using PubMed and Google Scholar.
      STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. RESULTS: AHAI is a
      relatively uncommon and potentially serious condition among travelers to
      altitudes above 2500 m. The broad term AHAI includes several syndromes such as
      acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high
      altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Athletes may be at higher risk for developing
      AHAI due to faster ascent and more vigorous exertion compared with nonathletes.
      Evidence regarding the effects of altitude training on athletic performance is
      weak. The natural live high, train low altitude training strategy may provide the
      best protocol for enhancing endurance performance in elite and subelite athletes.
      High altitude sports are generally safe for recreational athletes, but they
      should be aware of their individual risks. CONCLUSION: Individualized and
      appropriate acclimatization is an essential component of injury and illness
      prevention.

PMID- 26863897
TI  - Quantitative coronary CT angiography: absolute lumen sizing rather than %stenosis
      predicts hemodynamically relevant stenosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the most accurate quantitative coronary stenosis parameter
      by CTA for prediction of functional significant coronary stenosis resulting in
      coronary revascularization. METHODS: 160 consecutive patients were prospectively
      examined with CTA. Proximal coronary stenosis was quantified by minimal lumen
      area (MLA) and minimal lumen diameter (MLD), %area and %diameter stenosis. Lesion
      length (LL) was measured. The reference standard was invasive coronary
      angiography (ICA) (>70 % stenosis, FFR <0.8). RESULTS: 210 coronary segments were
      included (59 % positive). MLA of <=1.8 mm2 was identified as the optimal cut-off
      (c = 0.97, p < 0.001; 95 % CI 0.94-0.99) (sensitivity 90.9 %, specificity 89.3 %)
      for prediction of functional-relevant stenosis (for MLA >2.1 mm2 sensitivity was
      100 %). The optimal cut-off for MLD was 1.2 mm (c = 0.92; p < 0.001; 95 % CI 0.88
      95) (sensitivity 90.9, specificity 85.2) while %area and %diameter stenosis were
      less accurate (c = 0.89; 95 % CI 0.84-93, c = 0.87; 95 % CI 0.82-92,
      respectively, with thresholds at 73 % and 61 % stenosis). Accuracy for LL was c =
      0.74 (95 % CI 0.67-81), and for LL/MLA and LL/MLD ratio c = 0.90 and c = 0.84.
      CONCLUSIONS: MLA <=1.8 mm2 and MLD <=1.2 mm are the most accurate cut-offs for
      prediction of haemodynamically significant stenosis by ICA, with a higher
      accuracy than relative % stenosis. KEY POINTS: * Quantitative coronary CT
      angiography is accurate for prediction of functional relevant stenosis. *
      Absolute lumen area and diameter rather than %stenosis predict functional
      relevance. * Lumen area <1.8 mm 2 and diameter <1.2 mm are the most accurate cut
      offs. * Quantitative parameters are helpful for decision-making in terms of
      patient management.

PMID- 26863898
TI  - An in vitro study on disinfection of titanium surfaces.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of
      different methods used for the decontamination of titanium surfaces previously
      infected with a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. aureus
      biofilms were grown on three different titanium surfaces (n = 114); polished,
      sandblasted large-grit acid-etched (SLA) and SLActive. The experimental groups
      were divided into six different disinfection modalities as follows: (i) rinsing
      with phosphate-buffered saline, (ii) rinsing with chlorhexidine digluconate 0.2%
      (CHX), (iii) application of photodynamic therapy (PDT), (iv) use of cotton
      pellet, (v) use of titanium brush (TiB) and (vi) the use of TiB and PDT. The
      decontamination effect of each modality was evaluated by microbial culture
      analysis and by scanning electron microscopy imaging. Two-way analysis of
      variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni's post hoc comparisons were used to compare mean
      differences between colony-forming units per millilitre (CFU/ml) values, surfaces
      and treatments (P < 0.025). RESULTS: This study demonstrated that the combination
      protocol (TiB and PDT) was the most effective in reducing S. aureus (P < 0.025)
      on polished (2.0 * 103  CFU/Disc) and SLA surface (6.9 * 103  CFU/Disc). On the
      SLActive surface, the combination treatment was not significantly different to
      the TiB group (1.0 * 105 CFU/Disc) or the PDT group (2.0 * 105 CFU/Disc).
      CONCLUSION: The combined technique of TiB and PDT was shown to be an efficient
      method in reducing the number of S. aureus in both polished and rough titanium
      surfaces. These findings prompt further investigations in titanium
      decontamination techniques with a combination of TiB and PDT within a natural
      microcosm bacterial environment.

PMID- 26863896
TI  - Intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging for breast lesions: comparison and
      correlation with pharmacokinetic evaluation from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR
      imaging.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare diagnostic performance for breast lesions by quantitative
      parameters derived from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and dynamic contrast
      enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore whether
      correlations exist between these parameters. METHODS: IVIM and DCE MRI were
      performed on a 1.5-T MRI scanner in patients with suspicious breast lesions.
      Thirty-six breast cancers and 23 benign lesions were included in the study.
      Quantitative parameters from IVIM (D, f and D*) and DCE MRI (Ktrans, Kep, Ve and
      Vp) were calculated and compared between malignant and benign lesions. Spearman
      correlation test was used to evaluate correlations between them. RESULTS: D, f,
      D* from IVIM and Ktrans, Kep, Vp from DCE MRI were statistically different
      between breast cancers and benign lesions (p < 0.05, respectively) and D
      demonstrated the largest area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve
      (AUC = 0.917) and had the highest specificity (83 %). The f value was moderately
      statistically correlated with Vp (r = 0.692) and had a poor correlation with
      Ktrans (r = 0.456). CONCLUSIONS: IVIM MRI is useful in the differentiation of
      breast lesions. Significant correlations were found between perfusion-related
      parameters from IVIM and DCE MRI. IVIM may be a useful adjunctive tool to
      standard MRI in diagnosing breast cancer. KEY POINTS: * IVIM provided diffusion
      as well as perfusion information * IVIM could help differential diagnosis of
      breast lesions * Correlations were found between perfusion-related parameters
      from IVIM and DCE MRI.

PMID- 26863899
TI  - Can "true bifurcation lesion" actually be regarded as an independent risk factor
      of acute side branch occlusion after main vessel stenting?: A retrospective
      analysis of 1,200 consecutive bifurcation lesions in a single center.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: True bifurcation lesion (TBL) is conventionally considered as a risk
      factor for acute side branch (SB) occlusion when using a single-stent strategy to
      treat bifurcation lesions. The impact of TBLs on acute SB occlusion after main
      vessel (MV) stenting was investigated. METHODS: A total of 1,170 consecutive
      patients with 1,200 bifurcation lesions undergoing one-stent or provisional two
      stent techniques were studied. The TBLs were divided into two groups depending on
      their Medina classification. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was
      performed to identify independent predictors of acute SB occlusion. According to
      the median diameter of stenosis (DS) in the MV and the SB after pre-dilatation,
      the TBL group was divided into three subgroups: subgroup I (DS of both the MV and
      the SB <their respective medians), subgroup II (DS of one of the MV or the SB
      >=its respective median), and subgroup III (DS of both the MV and the SB >=their
      respective medians). The incidences of SB occlusion in these three subgroups were
      compared. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TBL
      occurrence was not independently predictive of SB occlusion. Based on subgroup
      analysis, the incidence of SB occlusion in subgroup I (7.4%) was significantly
      lower than that in subgroup II (13.0%) and subgroup III (22.0%) (P = 0.025).
      However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of SB occlusion
      between TBL subgroup I (7.4%) and the non-TBL group (5.1%) (P = 0.53).
      CONCLUSIONS: TBL occurrence cannot be regarded as an independent predictor of
      acute SB occlusion after MV stenting.

PMID- 26863900
TI  - Dosing regimens, FVIII levels and estimated haemostatic protection with special
      focus on rFVIIIFc.
AB  - AIM: To use Pharmacokinetic (PK) simulations to illustrate potential differences
      in clinical outcomes between prophylaxis with conventional recombinant factor
      VIII (rFVIII) and rFVIIIFc, an extended half-life rFVIII covalently fused to the
      Fc domain of human IgG1. METHODS: Population PK estimates from 180 (rFVIIIFc) and
      46 (rFVIII) severe haemophilia A patients were used to simulate FVIII activity
      over time at various rFVIIIFc dosing regimens compared to rFVIII 30 IU kg(-1)
      three times weekly in a typical adult patient. RESULTS: rFVIII dosed 3x30 IU kg(
      1) weekly gave trough levels of 2.7, 2.8 and 0.7 IU dL(-1) , and time spent below
      1, 3 and 5 IU dL(-1) of 0.2/1.2/2.3 days week(-1) . rFVIIIFc 2 x 45 IU kg(-1)
      gave higher troughs (4.4 and 1.7 IU dL(-1) ) and shorter time spent below 1, 3
      and 5 IU dL(-1) (0/0.6/1.3 days week(-1) ), with same total factor consumption.
      rFVIIIFc 2 x 30 IU kg(-1) gave similar troughs (3.0 and 1.2 IU kg(-1) ) and time
      spent below 1, 3 and 5 IU dL(-1) (0/1.0/2.1 days week(-1) ), despite total factor
      consumption being reduced by one-third. The same dose and interval of rFVIIIFc (3
      x 30 IU kg(-1) ) gave substantially higher troughs (7.8, 8.5 and 3.3 IU dL(-1) )
      and markedly shorter time spent below 1, 3 and 5 IU dL(-1) (0/0/0.4 days week(-1)
      ). CONCLUSION: The lower clearance of rFVIIIFc compared to conventional rFVIII
      gives rFVIIIFc the potential of improved bleed prevention and reduced injection
      frequency at similar factor consumption. Although additional clinical data are
      required to confirm the conclusions, the simulations clearly show the potential
      of rFVIIIFc of increased flexibility to tailor treatment to the individual
      patient, and to advance the standard of care in haemophilia.

PMID- 26863902
TI  - Molecular biology and genetics of embryonic eyelid development.
AB  - The embryology of the eyelid is a complex process that includes interactions
      between the surface ectoderm and mesenchymal tissues. In the mouse and human, the
      eyelids form and fuse before birth; they open prenatally in the human and
      postnatally in the mouse. In the mouse, cell migration is stimulated by different
      growth factors such as FGF10, TGF-alpha, Activin B, and HB-EGF. These growth
      factors modulate downstream BMP4 signaling, the ERK cascade, and JNK/c-JUN.
      Several mechanisms, such as the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, may inhibit
      and regulate eyelid fusion. Eyelid opening, on the other hand, is driven by the
      BMP/Smad signaling system. Several human genetic disorders result from
      dysregulation of the above molecular pathways.

PMID- 26863901
TI  - Membrane tubule formation by banana-shaped proteins with or without transient
      network structure.
AB  - In living cells, membrane morphology is regulated by various proteins. Many
      membrane reshaping proteins contain a Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain, which
      consists of a banana-shaped rod. The BAR domain bends the biomembrane along the
      rod axis and the features of this anisotropic bending have recently been studied.
      Here, we report on the role of the BAR protein rods in inducing membrane
      tubulation, using large-scale coarse-grained simulations. We reveal that a small
      spontaneous side curvature perpendicular to the rod can drastically alter the
      tubulation dynamics at high protein density, whereas no significant difference is
      obtained at low density. A percolated network is intermediately formed depending
      on the side curvature. This network suppresses tubule protrusion, leading to the
      slow formation of fewer tubules. Thus, the side curvature, which is generated by
      protein-protein and membrane-protein interactions, plays a significant role in
      tubulation dynamics. We also find that positive surface tensions and the vesicle
      membrane curvature can stabilize this network structure by suppressing the
      tubulation. 

PMID- 26863903
TI  - Fabrication and design of metal nano-accordion structures using atomic layer
      deposition and interference lithography.
AB  - Metal nanostructures have attractive electrical and thermal properties as well as
      structural stability, and are important for applications in flexible conductors.
      In this study, we have developed a method to fabricate and control novel complex
      platinum nanostructures with accordion-like profile using atomic layer deposition
      on lithographically patterned polymer templates. The template removal process
      results in unique structural transformation of the nanostructure profile, which
      has been studied and modeled. Using different template duty cycles and aspect
      ratios, we have demonstrated a wide variety of cross-sectional profiles from wavy
      geometry to pipe array patterns. These complex thin metal nanostructures can find
      applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, photonics and nanofluidics. 

PMID- 26863904
TI  - Sonography of the chest using linear-array versus sector transducers: Correlation
      with auscultation, chest radiography, and computed tomography.
AB  - PURPOSE: The primary purpose of our study was to compare the efficacies of two
      sonographic (US) probes, a high-frequency linear-array probe and a lower
      frequency phased-array sector probe in the diagnosis of basic thoracic
      pathologies. The secondary purpose was to compare the diagnostic performance of
      thoracic US with auscultation and chest radiography (CXR) using thoracic CT as a
      gold standard. METHODS: In total, 55 consecutive patients scheduled for thoracic
      CT were enrolled in this prospective study. Four pathologic entities were
      evaluated: pneumothorax, pleural effusion, consolidation, and interstitial
      syndrome. A portable US scanner was used with a 5-10-MHz linear-array probe and a
      1-5-MHz phased-array sector probe. The first probe used was chosen randomly. US,
      CXR, and auscultation results were compared with the CT results. RESULTS: The
      linear-array probe had the highest performance in the identification of
      pneumothorax (83% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 99% diagnostic accuracy) and
      pleural effusion (100% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and 98% diagnostic
      accuracy); the sector probe had the highest performance in the identification of
      consolidation (89% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 95% diagnostic accuracy)
      and interstitial syndrome (94% sensitivity, 93% specificity, and 94% diagnostic
      accuracy). For all pathologies, the performance of US was superior to those of
      CXR and auscultation. CONCLUSIONS: The linear probe is superior to the sector
      probe for identifying pleural pathologies, whereas the sector probe is superior
      to the linear probe for identifying parenchymal pathologies. Thoracic US has
      better diagnostic performance than CXR and auscultation for the diagnosis of
      common pathologic conditions of the chest. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J
      Clin Ultrasound 44:383-389, 2016.

PMID- 26863905
TI  - Characterization of dermatopathology fellowship applicants: a 5-year single
      institution experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although much data have been documented on the characteristics of
      medical school applicants for dermatology and pathology residency programs in the
      United States and select medical and surgical fellowship applicants through the
      National Residency Matching Program, little is known about the dermatopathology
      applicant demographics. METHODS: We examined a 5-year pool of dermatopathology
      fellowship applicants from a single institution (University of Arkansas for
      Medical Sciences) and compiled background profile data of the applicants to
      characterize an 'average dermatopathology fellow' applicant. RESULTS: A total of
      229 applicants over a 5-year period were included in the assessment. The majority
      were of pathology background with medical school and residency training based in
      the southern United States. One-third of the applicants had original research
      publications, case reports or had given an oral or poster presentation in the
      field of dermatopathology. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding the average applicant
      statistics for a dermatopathology fellowship will allow prospective applicants to
      evaluate their own applications for strengths and weaknesses. This will also
      provide institutions information regarding anticipated statistics for a
      competitive applicant pool.

PMID- 26863906
TI  - Infantile Hemangiomas in Twins: A Prospective Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Twins have a higher-than-expected risk of infantile hemangiomas
      (IHs), but the exact reasons for this association are not clear. Comparing
      concordant and discordant twin pairs might help elucidate these factors and yield
      more information about IH risk factors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of
      twin pairs from 12 pediatric dermatology centers in the United States, Canada,
      Argentina, and Spain was conducted. Information regarding maternal pregnancy
      history, family history of vascular birthmarks, zygosity (if known), and
      pregnancy-related information was collected. Information regarding twins (N = 202
      sets) included birthweight, gestational age (GA), presence or absence of IHs,
      numbers and subtypes of IHs, presence of other birthmarks, and other medical
      morbidities. RESULTS: Two hundred two sets of twins were enrolled. Concordance
      for IH was present in 37% of twin pairs. Concordance for IH was inversely related
      to gestational age (GA), present in 42% of GA of 32 weeks or less, 36% of GA of
      33 to 36 weeks, and 32% of GA of 37 weeks or more. Twins of GA of 34 weeks or
      less were more than two and a half times as likely to be concordant as those of
      GA of 35 weeks or more (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) =
      1.42-4.99; p < 0.01). In discordant twins, lower birthweight conferred a high
      risk of IH; of the 64 sets of twins with 10% or greater difference in weight, the
      smaller twin had IH in 62.5% (n = 40) of cases, versus 37.5% (n = 24) of cases in
      which the higher-birthweight twin was affected. Zygosity was reported in 188 twin
      sets (93%). Of these, 78% were dizygotic and 22% monozygotic. There was no
      statistically significant difference in rates of concordance between monozygotic
      twins (43%, 18/42) and dizygotic twins (36%, 52/146) (p = 0.50). In multivariate
      analysis comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins, adjusting for effects of
      birthweight and sex, the likelihood of concordance for monozygotic was not
      appreciably higher than that for dizygotic twins (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.52-2.49).
      Female sex also influenced concordance, confirming the effects of female sex on
      IH risk. The female-to-male ratio was 1.7:1 in the entire cohort and 1.9:1 in
      those with IH. Of the 61 concordant twin sets with known sex of both twins, 41%
      were female/female, 43% were female/male, and 16% were male/male. CONCLUSIONS:
      These findings suggest that the origin of IHs is multifactorial and that
      predisposing factors such as birthweight, sex, and GA may interact with one
      another such that a threshold is reached for clinical expression.

PMID- 26863909
TI  - Diet enriched with the Amazon fruit acai (Euterpe oleracea) prevents
      electrophysiological deficits and oxidative stress induced by methyl-mercury in
      the rat retina.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The protective effect of a diet supplemented by the Amazonian fruit
      Euterpe oleracea (EO) against methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in rat retina was
      studied using electroretinography (ERG) and biochemical evaluation of oxidative
      stress. METHOD: Wistar rats were submitted to conventional diet or EO-enriched
      diet for 28 days. After that, each group received saline solution or 5 mg/kg/day
      of MeHg for 7 days. Full-field single flash, flash and flicker ERGs were
      evaluated in the following groups: control, EO, MeHg, and EO+MeHg. The amplitudes
      of the a-wave, b-wave, photopic negative response from rod and/or cone were
      measured by ERGs as well as the amplitudes and phases of the fundamental
      component of the sine-wave flicker ERG. Lipid peroxidation was determined by
      thiobarbituric acid reactive species. RESULTS: All ERG components had decreased
      amplitudes in the MeHg group when compared with controls. EO-enriched food had no
      effect on the non-intoxicated animals. The intoxicated animals and those that
      received the supplemented diet presented significant amplitude reductions of the
      cone b-wave and of the fundamental flicker component when compared with non
      intoxicated control. The protective effect of the diet on scotopic conditions was
      only observed for bright flashes eliciting a mixed rod and cone response. There
      was a significant increase of lipid peroxidation in the retina from animals
      exposed to MeHg and EO-supplemented diet was able to prevent MeHg-induced
      oxidative stress in retinal tissue. CONCLUSION: These findings open up
      perspectives for the use of diets supplemented with EO as a protective strategy
      against visual damage induced by MeHg.

PMID- 26863910
TI  - Assembling Quasi-enantiomeric Octahedral Complexes of Different Metals via Quasi
      racemate Crystallization.
AB  - Aiming at a general methodology for binary co-assembly of complexes of different
      metals through quasiracemate crystallization, the hexadentate ligand 1 comprised
      of the chiral bipyrrolidine core and two bipyridine peripheral arms is
      introduced. Ligand 1 was found to bind in a fully diastereoselective and uniform
      mode around Zn(II), Fe(II) and Cd(II) giving coordinatively inert octahedral
      "chiral-at-metal" complexes with the Delta4Lambda2/Lambda4 Delta2 wrapping mode.
      Equimolar mixtures of quasienantiomeric pairs of these complexes exhibited a
      clear tendency to pack as quasiracemates as was revealed from the
      crystallographic structures of [(R,R)-1-Zn](PF6)2/[(S,S)-1-Fe](PF6)2 and [(R,R)-1
      Zn](PF6)2/[(S,S)-1-Cd](PF6)2, in an isomorphous fashion to that of the racemic
      compound [rac-1-Zn](PF6)2 in space group C2/c.

PMID- 26863911
TI  - Tofla virus: A newly identified Nairovirus of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
      group isolated from ticks in Japan.
AB  - Ixodid ticks transmit several important viral pathogens. We isolated a new virus
      (Tofla virus: TFLV) from Heamaphysalis flava and Heamaphysalis formsensis in
      Japan. The full-genome sequences revealed that TFLV belonged to the genus
      Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae. Phylogenetic analyses and neutralization tests
      suggested that TFLV is closely related to the Hazara virus and that it is
      classified into the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever group. TFLV caused lethal
      infection in IFNAR KO mice. The TFLV-infected mice exhibited a gastrointestinal
      disorder, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography images showed a
      significant uptake of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose in the intestinal tract. TFLV was
      able to infect and propagate in cultured cells of African green monkey-derived
      Vero E6 cells and human-derived SK-N-SH, T98-G and HEK-293 cells. Although TFLV
      infections in humans and animals are currently unknown, our findings may provide
      clues to understand the potential infectivity and to develop of pre-emptive
      countermeasures against this new tick-borne Nairovirus. 

PMID- 26863912
TI  - Updating Biodiversity Studies in Loricate Protists: The Case of the Tintinnids
      (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea).
AB  - Species determination is crucial in biodiversity research. In tintinnids,
      identification is based almost exclusively on the lorica, despite its frequent
      intraspecific variability and interspecific similarity. We suggest updated
      procedures for identification and, depending on the aim of the study, further
      steps to obtain morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Our goal is to
      help improving the collection of information (e.g. species re-/descriptions and
      DNA barcodes) that is essential for generating a natural tintinnid classification
      and a reliable reference for environmental surveys. These suggestions are broadly
      useful for protistologists because they exemplify data integration,
      quality/effort compromise, and the need for scientific collaborations.

PMID- 26863913
TI  - Review of Various Herbal Supplements as Complementary Treatments for Oral Cancer.
AB  - In the United States, nearly 44,000 people are diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal
      cancer annually. The life expectancy for those who are diagnosed have a survival
      rate of 57% after five years. Among them, oral cancer can be classified as benign
      or malignant tumors and is diagnosed at several stages in the development:
      premalignant conditions, premalignant lesions, and malignant cancer. The early
      signs of oral cancer often go unnoticed by the individual and are often
      discovered during routine dental examinations. Early detection and treatment may
      help to increase patient survival rates. The most widely used treatments for oral
      cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy-alone or in combination.
      Preclinical and clinical evidence for the use of green tea, raspberry, asparagus,
      and cannabis extracts is discussed in this review. Diet changes, supplementation
      with antioxidants, high-dose vitamin C therapy, and cannabinoid use have been
      suggested to decrease cancer cell replication and increase chance of remission.
      Early detection and lifestyle changes, including the use of dietary supplements
      in at-risk populations, are critical steps in preventing and successfully
      treating oral cancer. The main evidence for supplement use is currently in cancer
      prevention rather than treatment. Further research, determination, and mechanism
      of action for bioactive compounds such as epigallocatechin, epicatechin-3
      gallate, and Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate, through in vitro, in vivo, and
      clinical trials need to be completed to support the use of natural products and
      their effectiveness in preventative care and supporting therapeutic approaches.

PMID- 26863914
TI  - Incus footplate assembly: Indication and surgical outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To review surgical findings and hearing outcomes of incus
      footplate assembly (IFA) for the patients with conductive hearing loss due to
      missing stapes superstructure with a mobile stapes footplate. STUDY DESIGN:
      Retrospective case review and survey. METHODS: Pre- and postoperative audiometric
      data and intraoperative findings were reviewed. Postoperative air-bone gap (ABG)
      and ABG closure (postoperative air-conduction threshold-preoperative bone
      conduction threshold) were analyzed. RESULTS: The causes of missing stapes
      superstructure and conductive hearing loss were congenital ossicular anomaly (n =
      5), chronic otitis media (n = 2), and congenital cholesteatoma (n = 1). The
      prosthesis was designed to fit between the medial side of the incus and stapes
      footplate and had a mean length of 3.6 +/- 0.5 mm. The mean pre- and
      postoperative ABG were 38.3 +/- 4.8 and 13.3 +/- 10.0 dB, respectively. The
      postoperative ABG at frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 kHz were
      20.0 +/- 15.4, 16.9 +/- 11.9, 16.3 +/- 10.3, 10.6 +/- 7.3, 12.9 +/- 14.0, and
      23.1 +/- 16.2 dB, respectively. The mean ABG closure was 9.5 dB (range, -1.3~35.8
      dB). Seven cases obtained the best results (mean ABG closure <=10 dB). In the
      remaining patient, the mean ABG closure was 9.5 dB until 6 months after surgery,
      but was 35.8 dB 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: IFA seems to be a reasonable
      surgical option in patients with missing the stapes superstructure, but with a
      mobile footplate in which the long process of incus is preserved. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2569-2573, 2016.

PMID- 26863916
TI  - Futile CPR is tantamount to assault.

PMID- 26863915
TI  - Paediatric and adult soft tissue sarcomas with NTRK1 gene fusions: a subset of
      spindle cell sarcomas unified by a prominent myopericytic/haemangiopericytic
      pattern.
AB  - Neoplasms with a myopericytomatous pattern represent a morphological spectrum of
      lesions encompassing myopericytoma of the skin and soft tissue, angioleiomyoma,
      myofibromatosis/infantile haemangiopericytoma and putative neoplasms reported as
      malignant myopericytoma. Lack of reproducible phenotypic and genetic features of
      malignant myopericytic neoplasms have prevented the establishment of myopericytic
      sarcoma as an acceptable diagnostic category. Following detection of a LMNA-NTRK1
      gene fusion in an index case of paediatric haemangiopericytoma-like sarcoma by
      combined whole-genome and RNA sequencing, we identified three additional sarcomas
      harbouring NTRK1 gene fusions, termed 'spindle cell sarcoma, NOS with
      myo/haemangiopericytic growth pattern'. The patients were two children aged 11
      months and 2 years and two adults aged 51 and 80 years. While the tumours of the
      adults were strikingly myopericytoma-like, but with clear-cut atypical features,
      the paediatric cases were more akin to infantile
      myofibromatosis/haemangiopericytoma. All cases contained numerous thick-walled
      dysplastic-like vessels with segmental or diffuse nodular myxohyaline myo-intimal
      proliferations of smooth muscle actin-positive cells, occasionally associated
      with thrombosis. Immunohistochemistry showed variable expression of smooth muscle
      actin and CD34, but other mesenchymal markers, including STAT6, were negative.
      This study showed a novel variant of myo/haemangiopericytic sarcoma with
      recurrent NTRK1 gene fusions. Given the recent introduction of a novel
      therapeutic approach targeting NTRK fusion-positive neoplasms, recognition of
      this rare but likely under-reported sarcoma variant is strongly encouraged.

PMID- 26863917
TI  - Multimodality Imaging Strategies for the Assessment of Aortic Stenosis: Viewpoint
      of the Heart Valve Clinic International Database (HAVEC) Group.
AB  - Aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvular heart disease. In aortic stenosis,
      therapeutic decision essentially depends on symptomatic status, stenosis
      severity, and status of left ventricular systolic function. Surgical aortic valve
      replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation is the sole effective
      therapy in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis, whereas the
      management of asymptomatic patients remains controversial and is mainly based on
      individual risk stratification. Imaging is fundamental for the initial diagnostic
      work-up, follow-up, and selection of the optimal timing and type of intervention.
      The present review provides specific recommendations for utilization of
      multimodality imaging to optimize risk stratification and therapeutic decision
      making processes in aortic stenosis. 

PMID- 26863918
TI  - Redesigning Care for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by
      Cardiogenic Shock: The "Shock Team".

PMID- 26863919
TI  - Pharmacological treatment of HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension.
AB  - Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but severe disease that results
      from chronic obstruction of small pulmonary arteries, leading to right
      ventricular failure and, ultimately, death. One established risk factor for the
      development of PAH is HIV infection. The presence of PAH is an independent risk
      factor for mortality in HIV-infected patients. This article will focus on HIV
      associated PAH (HIV-PAH) with special considerations to the available treatments.
      With the approval of the soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat, a new
      drug class has become available in addition to the already existing prostanoids,
      endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
      Guidelines for the treatment of idiopathic PAH and guidelines for antiretroviral
      therapy should be followed for the treatment of HIV-PAH. 

PMID- 26863920
TI  - Progression of nonmotor symptoms in subgroups of patients with non-dopamine
      deficient Parkinsonism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ten to fifteen percent of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients recruited
      to clinical trials have scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit, whose
      presence represents a heterogeneous patient population. METHODS: A cohort of 41
      patients with parkinsonism and scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit at
      baseline, were subdivided into groups according to their final clinical diagnoses
      and nigrostriatal dopamine function assessed after 2 years of study. At follow
      up, 23 patients had clinically probable PD or unclassified parkinsonism with
      normal nigrostriatal dopamine imaging ("true" scans without evidence of
      dopaminergic deficit), nine were diagnosed with another tremulous condition, five
      had psychogenic parkinsonism, and four had phenoconverted to PD with reduced
      nigrostriatal dopamine function. We analyzed nonmotor symptoms at baseline and
      follow-up in subgroups of patients with scans without evidence of dopaminergic
      deficit in comparison with a random sample of 62 PD patients and 195 healthy
      controls (HCs). All patients were enrolled in the Parkinson's Progressive
      Marker's Initiative. RESULTS: Patients who had true scans without evidence of
      dopaminergic deficit had more severe rapid eye movement sleep disorder,
      depression, anxiety, and autonomic dysfunction than HCs in addition to more
      frequent depressive symptoms and worse cardiovascular dysfunction than patients
      with PD (P = 0.038, P = 0.047, respectively). Patients with true scans without
      evidence of dopaminergic deficit had normal olfaction that was significantly
      better than that of patients with PD (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of the cohort
      with scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit revealed that all patients
      shared similar nonmotor features irrespective of their final clinical diagnoses.
      Follow-up of subject groups showed stable nonmotor symptoms over 2 years of
      study. CONCLUSIONS: At an early symptomatic stage, patients with scans without
      evidence of dopaminergic deficit and long-standing parkinsonism exhibit nonmotor
      features that differ from those of patients with PD on mood and cardiovascular
      and olfactory function, but remain similar to patients with scans without
      evidence of dopaminergic deficit with alternative final diagnoses.

PMID- 26863921
TI  - Structural characterization of the N-linked pentasaccharide decorating
      glycoproteins of the halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii.
AB  - N-Glycosylation is a post-translational modification performed in all three
      domains of life. In the halophilic archaea Haloferax volcanii, glycoproteins such
      as the S-layer glycoprotein are modified by an N-linked pentasaccharide assembled
      by a series of Agl (archaeal glycosylation) proteins. In the present study, mass
      spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to define
      the structure of this glycan attached to at least four of the seven putative S
      layer glycoprotein N-glycosylation sites, namely Asn-13, Asn-83, Asn-274 and Asn
      279. Such approaches detected a trisaccharide corresponding to glucuronic acid
      (GlcA)-beta1,4-GlcA-beta1,4-glucose-beta1-Asn, a tetrasaccharide corresponding to
      methyl-O-4-GlcA-beta-1,4-galacturonic acid-alpha1,4-GlcA-beta1,4-glucose-beta1
      Asn, and a pentasaccharide corresponding to hexose-1,2-[methyl-O-4-]GlcA-beta-1,4
      galacturonic acid-alpha1,4-GlcA-beta1,4-glucose-beta1-Asn, with previous MS and
      radiolabeling experiments showing the hexose at the non-reducing end of the
      pentasaccharide to be mannose. The present analysis thus corrects the earlier
      assignment of the penultimate sugar as a methyl ester of a hexuronic acid,
      instead revealing this sugar to be a methylated GlcA. The assignments made here
      are in good agreement with what was already known of the Hfx. volcanii N
      glycosylation pathway from previous genetic and biochemical efforts while
      providing new insight into the process.

PMID- 26863924
TI  - Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Mediated the Enhancement of Osteogenesis of Human
      Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induced by Extracorporeal Shockwave.
AB  - Extracorporeal shockwave (ESW) has been shown of great potential in promoting the
      osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), but it is unknown
      whether this osteogenic promotion effect can also be achieved in other MSCs
      (i.e., tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)).
      In the current study, we aimed not only to compare the osteogenic effects of
      BMSCs induced by ESW to those of TDSCs and ADSCs; but also to investigate the
      underlying mechanisms. We show here that ESW (0.16 mj/mm(2)) significantly
      promoted the osteogenic differentiation in all the tested types of MSCs,
      accompanied with the downregulation of miR-138, but the activation of FAK,
      ERK1/2, and RUNX2. The enhancement of osteogenesis in these MSCs was consistently
      abolished when the cells were pretreated with one of the following conditions:
      overexpression of miR-138, FAK knockdown using specific siRNA, and U0126,
      implying that all of these elements are indispensable for mediating the effect of
      ESW. Moreover, our study provides converging genetic and molecular evidence that
      the miR-138-FAK-ERK1/2-RUNX2 machinery can be generally activated in ESW
      preconditioned MSCs, suggesting that ESW may be a promising therapeutic strategy
      for the enhancement of osteogenesis of MSCs, regardless of their origins. 

PMID- 26863923
TI  - Drugging Membrane Protein Interactions.
AB  - The majority of therapeutics target membrane proteins, accessible on the surface
      of cells, to alter cellular signaling. Cells use membrane proteins to transduce
      signals into cells, transport ions and molecules, bind cells to a surface or
      substrate, and catalyze reactions. Newly devised technologies allow us to drug
      conventionally "undruggable" regions of membrane proteins, enabling modulation of
      protein-protein, protein-lipid, and protein-nucleic acid interactions. In this
      review, we survey the state of the art of high-throughput screening and rational
      design in drug discovery, and we evaluate the advances in biological
      understanding and technological capacity that will drive pharmacotherapy forward
      against unorthodox membrane protein targets.

PMID- 26863925
TI  - Cranio-facial remodeling in domestic dogs is associated with changes in larynx
      position.
AB  - The hyo-laryngeal complex is a multi-segmented structure integrating the oral and
      pharyngeal cavities and thus a variety of critical functions related to airway
      control, feeding, and vocal communication. Currently, we lack a complete
      understanding of how the hyoid complex, and the functions it mediates, can also
      be affected by changes in surrounding cranio-facial dimensions. Here, we explore
      these relationships in a breed of domestic dog, the Portuguese Water Dog, which
      is characterized by strong cranio-facial variation. We used radiographic images
      of the upper body and head of 55 adult males and 51 adult females to obtain
      detailed measures of cranio-facial variation and hyoid anatomy. Principal
      components analysis revealed multiple orthogonal dimensions of cranio-facial
      variation, some of which were associated with significant differences in larynx
      position: the larynx occupied a more descended position in individuals with
      shorter, broader faces than in those with longer, narrower faces. We then tested
      the possibility that caudal displacement of the larynx in brachycephalic
      individuals might reflect a degree of tongue crowding resulting from facial
      shortening and reduction of oral and pharyngeal spaces. A cadaver sample was used
      to obtain detailed measurements of constituent bones of the hyoid skeleton and of
      the tongue body, and their relationships to cranio-facial size and shape and
      overall body size supported the tongue-crowding hypothesis. Considering the
      presence of descended larynges in numerous mammalian taxa, our findings establish
      an important precedent for the possibility that laryngeal descent can be
      initiated, and even sustained, in part in response to remodeling of the face and
      cranium for selective pressures unrelated to vocal production. These integrated
      changes could also have been involved in hominin evolution, where the different
      laryngeal positions in modern humans compared with nonhuman primates have been
      traditionally linked to the evolution of speech but which are likely to be
      multifactorial.

PMID- 26863927
TI  - Investigational ErbB-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of breast
      cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: ErbB2 overexpression and/or gene amplification is present in 20% of
      all breast cancers and characterizes an aggressive form of this disease. Despite
      the availability of several active drugs that have yielded substantial survival
      improvements, most patients with ErbB2-positive metastatic disease will develop
      tumor progression, either because of primary or acquired resistance. Therefore,
      research has focused on drugs that can more efficiently interfere with ErbB2 and
      with other members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family. AREAS COVERED:
      This review focuses on those investigational drugs that inhibit ErbB2 tyrosine
      kinase activity (TKIs) for treating breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION: ErbB-targeting
      TKIs show encouraging activity in patients with ErbB-positive tumors that are
      resistant to conventional ErbB-therapies (mostly trastuzumab), confirming pre
      clinical observations. Efficient interference with the ErbB-network signaling
      implies also a potential use in ErbB2-normal tumors, where the phenotype is
      sustained by ErbB-aberrant signaling. Finally, early data suggests that ErbB
      targeting TKIs could be active in treating patients with activating ErbB2
      mutations. Ongoing and future research efforts should elucidate what is,
      according to the peculiarities of these compounds, their positioning in the
      treatment of women with breast cancer.

PMID- 26863926
TI  - Health behaviours and fear of cancer recurrence in 10 969 colorectal cancer (CRC)
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine whether fear of cancer recurrence (FCR)
      was related to two important health behaviours (physical activity and smoking) in
      a large sample of colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Ten thousand nine hundred
      sixty nine patients, diagnosed in 2010-11, and in remission in 2013, completed
      the 'Living with and Beyond Colorectal Cancer' survey. The survey included
      purpose-designed questions on fear of recurrence ('I have fear about my cancer
      coming back'), demographics, treatment and health variables. Physical activity
      (PA) was recorded as number of days per week doing at least 30 min of brisk
      activity, and smoking status was reported. RESULTS: Fifty per cent of respondents
      reported fear of their cancer returning. More women than men ((Odds Ratio; (OR)
      1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46, 1.71)) more younger than older patients
      (OR 2.53; CI 2.33, 2.74) and slightly more patients from deprived areas (OR 1.14,
      1.05, 1.23) reported FCR. Independently of demographics and treatment, compared
      with those meeting the PA guidelines, those who were doing only 'some' (OR 1.22;
      CI 1.11, 1.35) or 'no' PA (OR 1.28; CI 1.15, 1.42) reported higher FCR. Compared
      with non-smokers, more current smokers reported fear (OR 1.34, CI 1.10, 1.58) and
      slightly more ex-smokers (OR 1.11; CI 1.04, 1.21). CONCLUSIONS: This cross
      sectional study provided novel data showing that colorectal cancer survivors with
      poorer health behaviours (those with lower activity levels and those who smoked)
      were more likely to experience FCR. Future research should replicate findings
      using detailed measures of fear, objective measures of health behaviours and
      identify directions of associations. (c) 2016 The Authors. Psycho-Oncology
      Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26863928
TI  - Synthetic Control of the Excited-State Dynamics and Circularly Polarized
      Luminescence of Fluorescent "Push-Pull" Tetrathia[9]helicenes.
AB  - A series of fluorescent "push-pull" tetrathia[9]helicenes based on quinoxaline
      (acceptor) fused with tetrathia[9]helicene (donor) derivatives was synthesized
      for control of the excited-state dynamics and circularly polarized luminescence
      (CPL) properties. In this work, introduction of a quinoxaline onto the
      tetrathia[9]helicene skeleton induced the "push-pull" character, which was
      enhanced by further introduction of an electron-releasing Me2 N group or an
      electron-withdrawing NC group onto the quinoxaline unit (denoted as Me2 N-QTTH
      and NC-QTTH, respectively). These trends were successfully discussed in terms of
      by electrochemical measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
      As a consequence, significant enhancements in the fluorescence quantum yields
      (PhiFL ) were achieved. In particular, the maximum PhiFL of Me2 N-QTTH was 0.43
      in benzene (NC-QTTH: PhiFL =0.30), which is more than 20 times larger than that
      of a pristine tetrathia[9]helicene (denoted as TTH; PhiFL =0.02). These
      enhancements were also explained by kinetic discussion of the excited-state
      dynamics such as fluorescence and intersystem crossing (ISC) pathways. Such
      significant enhancements of the PhiFL values thus enabled us to show the
      excellent CPL properties. The value of anisotropy factor gCPL (normalized
      difference in emission of right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized
      light) was estimated to be 3.0 * 10(-3) for NC-QTTH.

PMID- 26863922
TI  - The Lymphatic System in Disease Processes and Cancer Progression.
AB  - Advances in our understanding of the structure and function of the lymphatic
      system have made it possible to identify its role in a variety of disease
      processes. Because it is involved not only in fluid homeostasis but also in
      immune cell trafficking, the lymphatic system can mediate and ultimately alter
      immune responses. Our rapidly increasing knowledge of the molecular control of
      the lymphatic system will inevitably lead to new and effective therapies for
      patients with lymphatic dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the molecular and
      physiological control of lymphatic vessel function and explore how the lymphatic
      system contributes to many disease processes, including cancer and lymphedema.

PMID- 26863930
TI  - Right-Left Differences in Knee Extension Stiffness for the Normal Rat Knee: In
      Vitro Measurements Using a New Testing Apparatus.
AB  - Knee stiffness following joint injury or immobilization is a common clinical
      problem, and the rat has been used as a model for studies related to joint
      stiffness and limitation of motion. Knee stiffness measurements have been
      reported for the anesthetized rat, but it is difficult to separate the
      contributions of muscular and ligamentous restraints to the recorded values. in
      vitro testing of isolated rat knees devoid of musculature allows measurement of
      joint structural properties alone. In order to measure the effects of therapeutic
      or surgical interventions designed to alter joint stiffness, the opposite
      extremity is often used as a control. However, right-left stiffness differences
      for the normal rat knee have not been reported in the literature. If stiffness
      changes observed for a treatment group are within the normal right-left
      variation, validity of the results could be questioned. The objectives of this
      study were to utilize a new testing apparatus to measure right-left stiffness
      differences during knee extension in a population of normal rat knees and to
      document repeatability of the stiffness measurements on successive testing days.
      Moment versus rotation curves were recorded for 15 right-left pairs of normal rat
      knees on three consecutive days, with overnight specimen storage in a
      refrigerator. Each knee was subjected to ten loading-unloading cycles, with the
      last loading curve used for analysis. Angular rotation (AR), defined here as the
      change in flexion-extension angle from a specified applied joint moment, is
      commonly used as a measure of overall joint stiffness. For these tests, ARs were
      measured from the recorded test curves with a maximum applied extension moment of
      100 g cm. Mean rotations for testing days 2 and 3 were 0.81-1.25 deg lower (p <
      0.001) than for day 1, but were not significantly different from each other. For
      each testing day, mean rotations for right knees were 1.12-1.30 deg greater (p <
      0.001) than left knees. These right-left stiffness differences should be
      considered when interpreting the results of knee treatment studies designed to
      alter knee stiffness when using the opposite extremity as a control.

PMID- 26863929
TI  - Review of the Evidence from Epidemiology, Toxicology, and Lung Bioavailability on
      the Carcinogenicity of Inhaled Iron Oxide Particulates.
AB  - Since the iron-age and throughout the industrial age, humans have been exposed to
      iron oxides. Here, we review the evidence from epidemiology, toxicology, and lung
      bioavailability as to whether iron oxides are likely to act as human lung
      carcinogens. Current evidence suggests that observed lung tumors in rats result
      from a generic particle overload effect and local inflammation that is rat
      specific under the dosing conditions of intratracheal instillation. This mode of
      action therefore, is not relevant to human exposure. However, there are emerging
      differences seen in vitro, in cell uptake and cell bioavailability between "bulk"
      iron oxides and "nano" iron oxides. "Bulk" particulates, as defined here, are
      those where greater than 70% are >100 nm in diameter. Similarly, "nano" iron
      oxides are defined in this context as particulates where the majority, usually
      >95% for pure engineered forms of primary particulates (not agglomerates), fall
      in the range 1-100 nm in diameter. From the weight of scientific evidence, "bulk"
      iron oxides are not genotoxic/mutagenic. Recent evidence for "nano" iron oxide is
      conflicting regarding genotoxic potential, albeit genotoxicity was not observed
      in an in vivo acute oral dose study, and "nano" iron oxides are considered safe
      and are being investigated for biomedical uses; there is no specific in vivo
      genotoxicity study on "nano" iron oxides via inhalation. Some evidence is
      available that suggests, hypothetically due to the larger surface area of "nano"
      iron oxide particulates, that toxicity could be exerted via the generation of
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. However, the potential for ROS
      generation as a basis for explaining rodent tumorigenicity is only apparent if
      free iron from intracellular "nano" scale iron oxide becomes bioavailable at
      significant levels inside the cell. This would not be expected from "bulk" iron
      oxide particulates. Furthermore, human epidemiological evidence from a number of
      studies suggests that iron oxide is not a human carcinogen, and therefore, based
      upon the complete weight of evidence, we conclude that "bulk" iron oxides are not
      human carcinogens. 

PMID- 26863931
TI  - Gene expression analyses of vitellogenin, choriogenin and estrogen receptor
      subtypes in the livers of male medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to equine
      estrogens.
AB  - In the present study, we investigated transcriptional profiles of estrogen
      responsive genes, such as vitellogenins (Vtg1 and Vtg2), choriogenins (ChgL and
      ChgH) and estrogen receptor subtypes (ERalpha, ERbeta1, and ERbeta2), in the
      liver of male medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) that were exposed to six equine
      estrogens (1-300 ng l(-1) ) for 3 days. Our quantitative reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses revealed that the expression levels
      of hepatic Vtg, Chg and ERalpha genes in male medaka responded to various types
      and concentrations of equine estrogens. The estrogenic potentials of the tested
      chemicals were in the order of equilin > 17beta-estradiol > equilenin > 17beta
      dihydroequilin > 17beta-dihydroequilenin > 17alpha-dihydroequilin > 17alpha
      dihydroequilenin, showing the higher estrogenic potential of equilin than that of
      17beta-estradiol. Our results also showed that the estrogenicities of 17beta
      dihydroequilin and 17beta-dihydroequilenin were more potent than that of 17alpha
      dihydroequilin and 17alpha-dihydroequilenin. Furthermore, in gene expression
      analyses of hepatic ER subtypes, observations were made to note that 17beta
      estradiol and equilin induced ERalpha transcription in male medaka, and the
      ERalpha transcription level had significantly positive correlations with the
      expression of Vtg and Chg genes. In contrast, in the same 17beta-estradiol and
      equilin treatment groups, it was shown that the transcription levels of hepatic
      ERbeta1 and/or ERbeta2 had significantly negative correlations with the
      expression of Vtg and Chg genes. These results suggested some potential
      involvement of the ER subtypes in the regulation of Vtg and Chg gene expressions
      in the liver. This is the first report describing the comprehensive analyses of
      in vivo estrogenicity of the equine estrogens in male medaka. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26863932
TI  - Serum paraoxonase level and paraoxonase polymorphism in patients with acromegaly.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acromegalic patients have increased cardiometabolic risk factors due
      to an elevation of growth hormone (GH) levels. Human serum paraoxonase (PON), a
      high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related enzyme, is one of the major bioscavengers
      and decreases the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a key regulator in
      the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated a potential
      relationship between serum PON levels or PON polymorphisms and acromegaly.
      METHODS: A total of 48 acromegalic patients and 44 healthy controls were included
      in this study. Serum GH levels, insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and lipid
      profiles were measured. Serum PON levels, as well as PON 1 L55M and Q192R gene
      polymorphisms, were examined. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in
      terms of age, gender, presence of diabetes, serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C,
      or triglyceride levels between the case and control groups (P > 0.05). A
      statistically significant difference was found in serum PON levels between the
      cases and controls (P = 0.007). The median serum PON level was 101 +/- 63.36 U/l
      in the case group and 63 +/- 60.50 U/l in the control group. There was a
      significant correlation between serum PON levels and IGF-1 levels (P = 0.004, r =
      0.319); however, no significant differences were found in PON1 L55M and PON Q192R
      polymorphisms between the patients and controls (P = 0.607 and P = 0.308,
      respectively). In addition, no significant differences were found in serum PON
      levels in acromegalic patients who were and were not in remission (P = 0.385),
      nor between those with PON1 L55M and Q192R polymorphisms (P = 0.161 and P =
      0.336, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum PON levels were detected in
      acromegalic patients, independently of their remission status. This suggests
      protective effects for cardiometabolic risk parameters.

PMID- 26863933
TI  - Exogenous citrate impairs glucose tolerance and promotes visceral adipose tissue
      inflammation in mice.
AB  - Overweight and obesity have become epidemic worldwide and are linked to sedentary
      lifestyle and the consumption of processed foods and drinks. Citrate is a
      metabolite that plays central roles in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In
      addition, citrate is the additive most commonly used by the food industry, and
      therefore is highly consumed. Extracellular citrate can freely enter the cells
      via the constitutively expressed plasma membrane citrate transporter. Within the
      cytosol, citrate is readily metabolised by ATP-citrate lyase into acetyl-CoA -
      the metabolic precursor of endogenously produced lipids and cholesterol. We
      therefore hypothesised that the citrate ingested from processed foods and drinks
      could contribute to increased postprandial fat production and weight gain. To
      test our hypothesis, we administered citrate to mice through their drinking water
      with or without sucrose and monitored their weight gain and other metabolic
      parameters. Our results showed that mice receiving citrate or citrate+sucrose did
      not show increased weight gain or an increase in the weight of the liver,
      skeletal muscles or adipose tissues (AT). Moreover, the plasma lipid profiles
      (TAG, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL) were similar across all groups. However,
      the group receiving citrate+sucrose showed augmented fasting glycaemia, glucose
      intolerance and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL
      1beta, IL-6 and IL-10) in their AT. Therefore, our results suggest that citrate
      consumption contributes to increased AT inflammation and altered glucose
      metabolism, which is indicative of initial insulin resistance. Thus, citrate
      consumption could be a previously unknown causative agent for the complications
      associated with obesity. 

PMID- 26863934
TI  - Toward Scalable Fabrication of Hierarchical Silica Capsules with Integrated Micro
      , Meso-, and Macropores.
AB  - Hierarchical porous structures are ubiquitous in biological organisms and
      inorganic systems. Although such structures have been replicated, designed, and
      fabricated, they are often inferior to naturally occurring analogues. Apart from
      the complexity and multiple functionalities developed by the biological systems,
      the controllable and scalable production of hierarchically porous structures and
      building blocks remains a technological challenge. Herein, a facile and scalable
      approach is developed to fabricate hierarchical hollow spheres with integrated
      micro-, meso-, and macropores ranging from 1 nm to 100 MUm (spanning five orders
      of magnitude). (Macro)molecules, micro-rods (which play a key role for the
      creation of robust capsules), and emulsion droplets have been successfully
      employed as multiple length scale templates, allowing the creation of
      hierarchical porous macrospheres. Thanks to their specific mechanical strength,
      these hierarchical porous spheres could be incorporated and assembled as higher
      level building blocks in various novel materials. 

PMID- 26863935
TI  - The Total Synthesis of (+/-)-Naupliolide: A Tetracyclic Sesquiterpene Lactone.
AB  - The first total synthesis of (+/-)-naupliolide has been achieved. The synthetic
      method includes a Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of an allyl alcohol,
      diastereoselective cleavage of a benzylidene acetal group, radical cyclization of
      an aldehyde with a cyclopropane ring, and construction of an eight-membered ring
      by ring-closing metathesis. 

PMID- 26863936
TI  - Transcontinental dispersal, ecological opportunity and origins of an adaptive
      radiation in the Neotropical catfish genus Hypostomus (Siluriformes:
      Loricariidae).
AB  - Ecological opportunity is often proposed as a driver of accelerated
      diversification, but evidence has been largely derived from either contemporary
      island radiations or the fossil record. Here, we investigate the potential
      influence of ecological opportunity on a transcontinental radiation of South
      American freshwater fishes. We generate a species-dense, time-calibrated
      molecular phylogeny for the suckermouth armored catfish subfamily Hypostominae,
      with a focus on the species-rich and geographically widespread genus Hypostomus.
      We use the resulting chronogram to estimate ancestral geographical ranges, infer
      historical rates of cladogenesis and diversification in habitat and body size and
      shape, and test the hypothesis that invasions of previously unoccupied river
      drainages accelerated evolution and contributed to adaptive radiation. Both the
      subfamily Hypostominae and the included genus Hypostomus originated in the
      Amazon/Orinoco ecoregion. Hypostomus subsequently dispersed throughout tropical
      South America east of the Andes Mountains. Consequent to invasion of the
      peripheral, low-diversity Parana River basin in southeastern Brazil approximately
      12.5 Mya, Parana lineages of Hypostomus, experienced increased rates of
      cladogenesis and ecological and morphological diversification. Contemporary
      lineages of Parana Hypostomus are less species rich but more phenotypically
      diverse than their congeners elsewhere. Accelerated speciation and morphological
      diversification rates within Parana basin Hypostomus are consistent with adaptive
      radiation. The geographical remoteness of the Parana River basin, its recent
      history of marine incursion, and its continuing exclusion of many species that
      are widespread in other tropical South American rivers suggest that ecological
      opportunity played an important role in facilitating the observed accelerations
      in diversification.

PMID- 26863937
TI  - The ring residue proline 8 is crucial for the thermal stability of the lasso
      peptide caulosegnin II.
AB  - Lasso peptides are fascinating natural products with a unique structural fold
      that can exhibit tremendous thermal stability. Here, we investigate factors
      responsible for the thermal stability of caulosegnin II. By employing X-ray
      crystallography, mutational analysis and molecular dynamics simulations, the ring
      residue proline 8 was proven to be crucial for thermal stability. 

PMID- 26863938
TI  - Washout rate in rat brain irradiated by a (11)C beam after acetazolamide loading
      using a small single-ring OpenPET prototype.
AB  - In dose verification techniques of particle therapies based on in-beam positron
      emission tomography (PET), the causes of washout of positron emitters by
      physiological effects should be clarified to correct washout for accurate
      verification. As well, the quantitative washout rate has a potential usefulness
      as a diagnostic index which should be explored. Therefore, we measured washout
      rates of rat brain after vasodilator acetazolamide loading to investigate the
      possible effects of blood flow on washout. Six rat brains were irradiated by a
      radioisotope (11)C beam and time activity curves on the whole brains were
      obtained with a small single-ring OpenPET prototype. Then, washout rates were
      calculated with the Mizuno model, where two washout rates (k 2m and k 2s ) were
      assumed, and a two-compartment model including efflux from tissue to blood (k 2)
      and influx (k 3) and efflux (k 4) between the two tissue compartments. Before the
      irradiations, we used laser-Doppler flowmetry to confirm that acetazolamide
      increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) of a rat. We compared means of k 2m , k 2s
      and k 2, k 3 and k 4 without acetazolamide loading (Rest) and with acetazolamide
      loading (ACZ). For all k values, ACZ values were lower than Rest values. In other
      words, though CBF increased, washout rates were decreased. This may be attributed
      to the implanted (11)C reacting to form (11)CO2. Because acetazolamide increased
      the concentration of CO2 in brain, suppressed diffusion of (11)CO2 and
      decomposition of (11)CO2 into ions were prevented. 

PMID- 26863939
TI  - A novel solid state photocatalyst for living radical polymerization under UV
      irradiation.
AB  - This study presents the development of a novel solid state photocatalyst for the
      photoinduced controlled radical polymerization of methacrylates under mild UV
      irradiation (lambdamax ~ 365 nm) in the absence of conventional photoinitiators,
      metal-catalysts or dye sensitizers. The photocatalyst design was based on our
      previous finding that organic amines can act in a synergistic photochemical
      reaction with thiocarbonylthio compounds to afford well controlled
      polymethacrylates under UV irradiation. Therefore, in the current contribution an
      amine-rich polymer was covalently grafted onto a solid substrate, thus creating a
      heterogeneous catalyst that would allow for facile removal, recovery and
      recyclability when employed for such photopolymerization reactions. Importantly,
      the polymethacrylates synthesized using the solid state photocatalyst (ssPC) show
      similarly excellent chemical and structural integrity as those catalysed by free
      amines. Moreover, the ssPC could be readily recovered and re-used, with multiple
      cycles of polymerization showing minimal effect on the integrity of the catalyst.
      Finally, the ssPC was employed in various photo-"click" reactions, permitting
      high yielding conjugations under photochemical control. 

PMID- 26863940
TI  - The plant hopper Issus coleoptratus can detoxify phloem sap saponins including
      the degradation of the terpene core.
AB  - Issus coleoptratus is a small plant hopper which mainly feeds on the phloem sap
      from ivy. Although all parts of ivy are poisonous as the plant contains saponins,
      especially hederasaponins, I. coleoptratus can cope with the poison. In contrast
      to other animals like the stick insect Carausius morosus which accumulates
      saponins in its body, I. coleoptratus can degrade and disintegrate not only the
      saponins but even the genines, i.e. the triterpene core of the substances. This
      is perhaps made possible by a specialised midgut and/or the salivary glands. When
      the glands and the gut are dissected and added to saponins in solution, the
      saponins, including the genines, are degraded ex vivo. 

PMID- 26863942
TI  - Analysis of Dog Adoption Success and Failure Using Surveys With Vignettes.
AB  - Adoption success of dogs who serve as companion animals was analyzed via surveys
      with vignettes. The researchers administered surveys with vignettes to animal
      shelter employees, veterinarians, and other animal-care professionals in Eastern
      North Carolina. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify
      variables that were perceived to influence adoption success. Dog size,
      personality, behavior, and level of obedience training were found to be
      significant perceived influencers of adoption success. Prospective caregiver
      characteristics such as gender and level of activity were shown to be perceived
      as significant. Guidance on the practical use of the logistic regression model is
      provided, and limitations of the study are described. 

PMID- 26863941
TI  - Prickle isoforms control the direction of tissue polarity by microtubule
      independent and dependent mechanisms.
AB  - Planar cell polarity signaling directs the polarization of cells within the plane
      of many epithelia. While these tissues exhibit asymmetric localization of a set
      of core module proteins, in Drosophila, more than one mechanism links the
      direction of core module polarization to the tissue axes. One signaling system
      establishes a polarity bias in the parallel, apical microtubules upon which
      vesicles containing core proteins traffic. Swapping expression of the
      differentially expressed Prickle isoforms, Prickle and Spiny-legs, reverses the
      direction of core module polarization. Studies in the proximal wing and the
      anterior abdomen indicated that this results from their differential control of
      microtubule polarity. Prickle and Spiny-legs also control the direction of
      polarization in the distal wing (D-wing) and the posterior abdomen (P-abd). We
      report here that this occurs without affecting microtubule polarity in these
      tissues. The direction of polarity in the D-wing is therefore likely determined
      by a novel mechanism independent of microtubule polarity. In the P-abd, Prickle
      and Spiny-legs interpret at least two directional cues through a microtubule
      polarity-independent mechanism. 

PMID- 26863943
TI  - Benefits of sharing.

PMID- 26863944
TI  - A good precedent.

PMID- 26863945
TI  - Outside the bubble.

PMID- 26863946
TI  - Change the system to halt harassment.

PMID- 26863958
TI  - Tasmanian bushfires threaten iconic ancient forests.

PMID- 26863959
TI  - How should science funders deal with sexual harassers?

PMID- 26863960
TI  - High stakes as Japanese space observatory prepares for launch.

PMID- 26863961
TI  - Biotech giant publishes failures to confirm high-profile science.

PMID- 26863962
TI  - US panel greenlights creation of male 'three-person' embryos.

PMID- 26863963
TI  - Proving Zika link to birth defects poses huge challenge.

PMID- 26863964
TI  - Corrections.

PMID- 26863965
TI  - The chips are down for Moore's law.

PMID- 26863966
TI  - Does it take too long to publish research?

PMID- 26863967
TI  - Emissions reduction: Scrutinize CO2 removal methods.

PMID- 26863972
TI  - Climate change: Metrics needed to track adaptation.

PMID- 26863968
TI  - Global warming: Shareholders must vote for climate-change mitigation.

PMID- 26863973
TI  - Social sciences: IPBES disciplinary gaps still gaping.

PMID- 26863974
TI  - European Union: More to fisheries than catch limits.

PMID- 26863975
TI  - Surgical techniques: When brain bullets met crowdfunding.

PMID- 26863976
TI  - Plasma physics: Compact coupling for a two-stage accelerator.

PMID- 26863977
TI  - Ebola: Sequencing on the ground.

PMID- 26863978
TI  - Crystallography: Resolution beyond the diffraction limit.

PMID- 26863979
TI  - Astrophysics: Exoplanets hidden in the gaps.

PMID- 26863981
TI  - New geological and palaeontological age constraint for the gorilla-human lineage
      split.
AB  - The palaeobiological record of 12 million to 7 million years ago (Ma) is crucial
      to the elucidation of African ape and human origins, but few fossil assemblages
      of this period have been reported from sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 1970s, the
      Chorora Formation, Ethiopia, has been widely considered to contain ~10.5 million
      year (Myr) old mammalian fossils. More recently, Chororapithecus abyssinicus, a
      probable primitive member of the gorilla clade, was discovered from the
      formation. Here we report new field observations and geochemical,
      magnetostratigraphic and radioisotopic results that securely place the Chorora
      Formation sediments to between ~9 and ~7 Ma. The C. abyssinicus fossils are ~8.0
      Myr old, forming a revised age constraint of the human-gorilla split. Other
      Chorora fossils range in age from ~8.5 to 7 Ma and comprise the first sub-Saharan
      mammalian assemblage that spans this period. These fossils suggest indigenous
      African evolution of multiple mammalian lineages/groups between 10 and 7 Ma,
      including a possible ancestral-descendent relationship between the ~9.8 Myr old
      Nakalipithecus nakayamai and C. abyssinicus. The new chronology and fossils
      suggest that faunal provinciality between eastern Africa and Eurasia had
      intensified by ~9 Ma, with decreased faunal interchange thereafter. The Chorora
      evidence supports the hypothesis of in situ African evolution of the Gorilla-Pan
      human clade, and is concordant with the deeper divergence estimates of humans and
      great apes based on lower mutation rates of ~0.5 * 10(-9) per site per year (refs
      13 - 15).

PMID- 26863980
TI  - Macromolecular diffractive imaging using imperfect crystals.
AB  - The three-dimensional structures of macromolecules and their complexes are mainly
      elucidated by X-ray protein crystallography. A major limitation of this method is
      access to high-quality crystals, which is necessary to ensure X-ray diffraction
      extends to sufficiently large scattering angles and hence yields information of
      sufficiently high resolution with which to solve the crystal structure. The
      observation that crystals with reduced unit-cell volumes and tighter
      macromolecular packing often produce higher-resolution Bragg peaks suggests that
      crystallographic resolution for some macromolecules may be limited not by their
      heterogeneity, but by a deviation of strict positional ordering of the
      crystalline lattice. Such displacements of molecules from the ideal lattice give
      rise to a continuous diffraction pattern that is equal to the incoherent sum of
      diffraction from rigid individual molecular complexes aligned along several
      discrete crystallographic orientations and that, consequently, contains more
      information than Bragg peaks alone. Although such continuous diffraction patterns
      have long been observed--and are of interest as a source of information about the
      dynamics of proteins--they have not been used for structure determination. Here
      we show for crystals of the integral membrane protein complex photosystem II that
      lattice disorder increases the information content and the resolution of the
      diffraction pattern well beyond the 4.5-angstrom limit of measurable Bragg peaks,
      which allows us to phase the pattern directly. Using the molecular envelope
      conventionally determined at 4.5 angstroms as a constraint, we obtain a static
      image of the photosystem II dimer at a resolution of 3.5 angstroms. This result
      shows that continuous diffraction can be used to overcome what have long been
      supposed to be the resolution limits of macromolecular crystallography, using a
      method that exploits commonly encountered imperfect crystals and enables model
      free phasing.

PMID- 26863982
TI  - Hoxb5 marks long-term haematopoietic stem cells and reveals a homogenous
      perivascular niche.
AB  - Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are arguably the most extensively characterized
      tissue stem cells. Since the identification of HSCs by prospective isolation,
      complex multi-parameter flow cytometric isolation of phenotypic subsets has
      facilitated studies on many aspects of HSC biology, including self-renewal,
      differentiation, ageing, niche, and diversity. Here we demonstrate by unbiased
      multi-step screening, identification of a single gene, homeobox B5 (Hoxb5, also
      known as Hox-2.1), with expression in the bone marrow that is limited to long
      term (LT)-HSCs in mice. Using a mouse single-colour tri-mCherry reporter driven
      by endogenous Hoxb5 regulation, we show that only the Hoxb5(+) HSCs exhibit long
      term reconstitution capacity after transplantation in primary transplant
      recipients and, notably, in secondary recipients. Only 7-35% of various
      previously defined immunophenotypic HSCs are LT-HSCs. Finally, by in situ imaging
      of mouse bone marrow, we show that >94% of LT-HSCs (Hoxb5(+)) are directly
      attached to VE-cadherin(+) cells, implicating the perivascular space as a near
      homogenous location of LT-HSCs. 

PMID- 26863983
TI  - Structure- and function-based design of Plasmodium-selective proteasome
      inhibitors.
AB  - The proteasome is a multi-component protease complex responsible for regulating
      key processes such as the cell cycle and antigen presentation. Compounds that
      target the proteasome are potentially valuable tools for the treatment of
      pathogens that depend on proteasome function for survival and replication. In
      particular, proteasome inhibitors have been shown to be toxic for the malaria
      parasite Plasmodium falciparum at all stages of its life cycle. Most compounds
      that have been tested against the parasite also inhibit the mammalian proteasome,
      resulting in toxicity that precludes their use as therapeutic agents. Therefore,
      better definition of the substrate specificity and structural properties of the
      Plasmodium proteasome could enable the development of compounds with sufficient
      selectivity to allow their use as anti-malarial agents. To accomplish this goal,
      here we use a substrate profiling method to uncover differences in the
      specificities of the human and P. falciparum proteasome. We design inhibitors
      based on amino-acid preferences specific to the parasite proteasome, and find
      that they preferentially inhibit the beta2-subunit. We determine the structure of
      the P. falciparum 20S proteasome bound to the inhibitor using cryo-electron
      microscopy and single-particle analysis, to a resolution of 3.6 A. These data
      reveal the unusually open P. falciparum beta2 active site and provide valuable
      information about active-site architecture that can be used to further refine
      inhibitor design. Furthermore, consistent with the recent finding that the
      proteasome is important for stress pathways associated with resistance of
      artemisinin family anti-malarials, we observe growth inhibition synergism with
      low doses of this beta2-selective inhibitor in artemisinin-sensitive and 
      resistant parasites. Finally, we demonstrate that a parasite-selective inhibitor
      could be used to attenuate parasite growth in vivo without appreciable toxicity
      to the host. Thus, the Plasmodium proteasome is a chemically tractable target
      that could be exploited by next-generation anti-malarial agents. 

PMID- 26863986
TI  - Interrater Reliability of mHealth App Rating Measures: Analysis of Top Depression
      and Smoking Cessation Apps.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are over 165,000 mHealth apps currently available to patients,
      but few have undergone an external quality review. Furthermore, no standardized
      review method exists, and little has been done to examine the consistency of the
      evaluation systems themselves. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine which measures
      for evaluating the quality of mHealth apps have the greatest interrater
      reliability. METHODS: We identified 22 measures for evaluating the quality of
      apps from the literature. A panel of 6 reviewers reviewed the top 10 depression
      apps and 10 smoking cessation apps from the Apple iTunes App Store on these
      measures. Krippendorff's alpha was calculated for each of the measures and
      reported by app category and in aggregate. RESULTS: The measure for
      interactiveness and feedback was found to have the greatest overall interrater
      reliability (alpha=.69). Presence of password protection (alpha=.65), whether the
      app was uploaded by a health care agency (alpha=.63), the number of consumer
      ratings (alpha=.59), and several other measures had moderate interrater
      reliability (alphas>.5). There was the least agreement over whether apps had
      errors or performance issues (alpha=.15), stated advertising policies
      (alpha=.16), and were easy to use (alpha=.18). There were substantial differences
      in the interrater reliabilities of a number of measures when they were applied to
      depression versus smoking apps. CONCLUSIONS: We found wide variation in the
      interrater reliability of measures used to evaluate apps, and some measures are
      more robust across categories of apps than others. The measures with the highest
      degree of interrater reliability tended to be those that involved the least rater
      discretion. Clinical quality measures such as effectiveness, ease of use, and
      performance had relatively poor interrater reliability. Subsequent research is
      needed to determine consistent means for evaluating the performance of apps.
      Patients and clinicians should consider conducting their own assessments of apps,
      in conjunction with evaluating information from reviews.

PMID- 26863985
TI  - Microbial extracellular electron transfer and its relevance to iron corrosion.
AB  - Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is a microbial metabolism that enables
      efficient electron transfer between microbial cells and extracellular solid
      materials. Microorganisms harbouring EET abilities have received considerable
      attention for their various biotechnological applications, including bioleaching
      and bioelectrochemical systems. On the other hand, recent research revealed that
      microbial EET potentially induces corrosion of iron structures. It has been well
      known that corrosion of iron occurring under anoxic conditions is mostly caused
      by microbial activities, which is termed as microbiologically influenced
      corrosion (MIC). Among diverse MIC mechanisms, microbial EET activity that
      enhances corrosion via direct uptake of electrons from metallic iron,
      specifically termed as electrical MIC (EMIC), has been regarded as one of the
      major causative factors. The EMIC-inducing microorganisms initially identified
      were certain sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea isolated from
      marine environments. Subsequently, abilities to induce EMIC were also
      demonstrated in diverse anaerobic microorganisms in freshwater environments and
      oil fields, including acetogenic bacteria and nitrate-reducing bacteria.
      Abilities of EET and EMIC are now regarded as microbial traits more widespread
      among diverse microbial clades than was thought previously. In this review, basic
      understandings of microbial EET and recent progresses in the EMIC research are
      introduced.

PMID- 26863987
TI  - Urinary incontinence symptoms and impact on quality of life in patients seeking
      outpatient physical therapy services.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and types of
      urinary incontinence (UI) in patients seeking outpatient physical therapy for
      neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.
      PATIENTS: A convenience sample of patients that positively responded to a UI
      screening question was included in this study. METHODS: Data were collected for
      age, sex, and primary treatment condition classified into one of the following
      (i.e., urinary dysfunction, fecal dysfunction, pelvic pain, spine, neurological
      disorders, or extremity disorders); UI type (i.e., mixed, urge, stress, or
      insensible); UI symptom severity; and quality of life (QoL) impact. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Frequency of UI type, symptom severity, health-related quality of life
      (HRQoL) impact, and pad use were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: The
      mean age of the sample (n = 599) was 49.8 years (SD = 18.5) and 94.7% were
      female. The urinary dysfunction group comprised 44.2% of the total sample,
      followed by the spine group with 25.7% and pelvic pain with 17.2%. The urinary
      dysfunction group scored significantly higher on UI symptom severity and impact
      on QoL compared to the pelvic pain and spine groups, but not compared to the
      extremity disorders, fecal dysfunction, or neurological disorder group.
      CONCLUSION: These preliminary data indicate that UI is a condition afflicting
      many individuals who present to outpatient physical therapy beyond those seeking
      care for UI. We recommend using a simple screening measure for UI and its impact
      on HRQoL as part of a routine initial evaluation in outpatient physical therapy
      settings.

PMID- 26863988
TI  - Myosin di-phosphorylation and peripheral actin bundle formation as initial events
      during endothelial barrier disruption.
AB  - The phosphorylation of the 20-kD myosin light chain (MLC) and actin filament
      formation play a key role in endothelial barrier disruption. MLC is either mono-
      or di-phosphorylated (pMLC and ppMLC) at T18 or S19. The present study
      investigated whether there are any distinct roles of pMLC and ppMLC in barrier
      disruption induced by thrombin. Thrombin induced a modest bi-phasic increase in
      pMLC and a robust mono-phasic increase in ppMLC. pMLC localized in the
      perinuclear cytoplasm during the initial phase, while ppMLC localized in the cell
      periphery, where actin bundles were formed. Later, the actin bundles were
      rearranged into stress fibers, where pMLC co-localized. Rho-kinase inhibitors
      inhibited thrombin-induced barrier disruption and peripheral localization of
      ppMLC and actin bundles. The double, but not single, mutation of phosphorylation
      sites abolished the formation of peripheral actin bundles and the barrier
      disruption, indicating that mono-phosphorylation of MLC at either T18 or S19 is
      functionally sufficient for barrier disruption. Namely, the peripheral
      localization, but not the degree of phosphorylation, is suggested to be essential
      for the functional effect of ppMLC. These results suggest that MLC
      phosphorylation and actin bundle formation in cell periphery are initial events
      during barrier disruption. 

PMID- 26863992
TI  - Temporary Charge Carrier Separation Dominates the Photoluminescence Decay
      Dynamics of Colloidal CdSe Nanoplatelets.
AB  - Luminescent colloidal CdSe nanoplatelets with atomically defined thicknesses have
      recently been developed, and their potential for various applications has been
      shown. To understand their special properties, experiments have until now focused
      on the relatively short time scales of at most a few nanoseconds. Here, we
      measure the photoluminescence decay dynamics of colloidal nanoplatelets on time
      scales up to tens of microseconds. The excited state dynamics are found to be
      dominated by the slow (~MUs) dynamics of temporary exciton storage in a charge
      separated state, previously overlooked. We study the processes of charge carrier
      separation and exciton recovery in pure CdSe nanoplatelets as well as in core
      crown and core-shell CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets with high ensemble quantum yields of
      50%, and discuss the implications. Our work highlights the importance of
      reversible charge carrier trapping and experiments over a wide range of time
      scales for the understanding of colloidal nanoemitters in general and
      nanoplatelets in particular. 

PMID- 26863993
TI  - Sponge cell reaggregation: Cellular structure and morphogenetic potencies of
      multicellular aggregates.
AB  - Sponges (phylum Porifera) are one of the most ancient extant multicellular
      animals and can provide valuable insights into origin and early evolution of
      Metazoa. High plasticity of cell differentiations and anatomical structure is
      characteristic feature of sponges. Present study deals with sponge cell
      reaggregation after dissociation as the most outstanding case of sponge
      plasticity. Dynamic of cell reaggregation and structure of multicellular
      aggregates of three demosponge species (Halichondria panicea (Pallas, 1766),
      Haliclona aquaeductus (Sshmidt, 1862), and Halisarca dujardinii Johnston, 1842)
      were studied. Sponge tissue dissociation was performed mechanically. Resulting
      cell suspensions were cultured at 8-10 degrees C for at least 5 days. Structure
      of multicellular aggregates was studied by light, transmission and scanning
      electron microscopy. Studied species share common stages of cell reaggregation
      primary multicellular aggregates, early-stage primmorphs and primmorphs, but the
      rate of reaggregation varies considerably among species. Only cells of H.
      dujardinii are able to reconstruct functional and viable sponge after primmorphs
      formation. Sponge reconstruction in this species occurs due to active cell
      locomotion. Development of H. aquaeductus and H. panicea cells ceases at the
      stages of early primmorphs and primmorphs, respectively. Development of
      aggregates of these species is most likely arrested due to immobility of the
      majority of cells inside them. However, the inability of certain sponge species
      to reconstruct functional and viable individuals during cell reaggregation may be
      not a permanent species-specific characteristic, but depends on various factors,
      including the stage of the life cycle and experimental conditions.

PMID- 26863994
TI  - C15039. Activation Methods of Carbonaceous Materials Obtained from Agricultural
      Waste. A Review.
AB  - Activated carbons belong to the most widely used adsorbent materials. The utility
      of these materials mainly depends on their chemical surface and porous structure.
      The method of activation and the nature of the used precursor greatly influence
      the pore structure and surface functional groups of the activated carbon.
      Therefore, the main objective of current investigations is to develop or modify
      the activation method in an optimal manner using appropriate precursors. This
      review compiles the results of various studies on the synthesis of activated
      carbons from agricultural waste. Various activation methods, such as physical,
      chemical, physicochemical, and microwave activation, are discussed. The effects
      of carbonization and activation parameters, such as temperature, activating
      agent, and residence time, towards the properties of the activated carbon are
      reviewed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26863991
TI  - L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the anorectic effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) in rodents.
      METHODS: We investigated the effects of L-Arg on food intake, and the role of the
      anorectic gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), the
      G-protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A) and the vagus nerve
      in mediating these effects in rodents. RESULTS: Oral gavage of L-Arg reduced food
      intake in rodents, and chronically reduced cumulative food intake in diet-induced
      obese mice. Lack of the GPRC6A in mice and subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation
      in rats did not influence these anorectic effects. L-Arg stimulated GLP-1 and PYY
      release in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacological blockade of GLP-1 and PYY receptors
      did not influence the anorectic effect of L-Arg. L-Arg-mediated PYY release
      modulated net ion transport across the gut mucosa. Intracerebroventricular
      (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of L-Arg suppressed food
      intake in rats. CONCLUSIONS: L-Arg reduced food intake and stimulated gut hormone
      release in rodents. The anorectic effect of L-Arg is unlikely to be mediated by
      GLP-1 and PYY, does not require GPRC6A signalling and is not mediated via the
      vagus. I.c.v. and i.p. administration of L-Arg suppressed food intake in rats,
      suggesting that L-Arg may act on the brain to influence food intake. Further work
      is required to determine the mechanisms by which L-Arg suppresses food intake and
      its utility in the treatment of obesity.

PMID- 26863995
TI  - Lipopolysaccharide markedly changes glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function
      in the longissimus muscle of pigs.
AB  - Most previous studies on the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in pigs focused
      on the body's immune response, and few reports paid attention to body metabolism
      changes. To better understand the glucose metabolism changes in skeletal muscle
      following LPS challenge and to clarify the possible mechanism, 12 growing pigs
      were employed. Animals were treated with either 2 ml of saline or 15 ug/kg BW
      LPS, and samples were collected 6 h later. The glycolysis status and
      mitochondrial function in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs were
      analyzed. The results showed that serum lactate content and NADH content in LD
      muscle significantly increased compared with the control group. Most glycolysis
      related genes expression, as well as hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactic
      dehydrogenase activity, in LD muscle was significantly higher compared with the
      control group. Mitochondrial complexes I and IV significantly increased, while
      mitochondrial ATP concentration markedly decreased. Significantly increased
      calcium content in the mitochondria was observed, and endoplasm reticulum (ER)
      stress has been demonstrated in the present study. The results showed that LPS
      treatment markedly changes glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in the
      LD muscle of pigs, and increased calcium content induced by ER stress was
      possibly involved. The results provide new clues for clarifying metabolic
      diseases in muscle induced by LPS. 

PMID- 26863996
TI  - Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in elderly subjects with amnestic
      mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date, very little is known about the nature of sarcopenia in
      subjects with cognitive impairment. The aims of this study were firstly to
      clarify the prevalence of sarcopenia at various stages of cognitive impairment,
      and secondly to examine factors related to sarcopenia in men and women with
      cognitive impairment. METHOD: The subjects were 418 outpatients (normal
      cognition; NC: 35, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; aMCI: 40, Alzheimer
      disease; AD: 343) who attended the Memory Clinic at the National Center for
      Geriatrics and Gerontology of Japan during the period from October 2010 to July
      2014. Cognitive status, vitality, depressive mood, body mass index, hand grip
      strength, timed up and go test, skeletal muscle mass and serum levels of 25
      hydroxyvitamin D, albumin and creatinine were assessed. Sarcopenia was defined as
      the presence of both poor muscle function (low physical performance or low muscle
      strength) and low muscle mass. We performed the univariate and multivariate
      logistic regression analyses to explore factors associated with sarcopenia.
      RESULTS: The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 21.1% (NC = 8.6%, aMCI = 12.5%,
      AD = 23.3%). In both sexes, factors associated with sarcopenia were age (P <
      .01), body mass index (P < .001) and vitality (P < .05). In women, serum level of
      25-hydroxyvitamin D was associated with sarcopenia (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Low
      vitality could be a dementia-specific risk factor for sarcopenia. Prevention of
      sarcopenia in patients with cognitive impairment should be approached from
      physical and psychologic points of view.

PMID- 26863997
TI  - Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Duchenne
      Muscular Dystrophy.
AB  - This study investigated clinical and family characteristics associated with
      health-related quality of life in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
      Families of 176 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were identified and mailed
      questionnaires via the Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry. Multiple linear
      regressions analyses were used to examine the relationship between clinical and
      family characteristics and child-self and parent-proxy reported health-related
      quality of life. Greater fatigue and use of wheelchairs were consistently
      associated with worse health-related quality of life independent of other
      factors. Higher household income and parent having a postsecondary degree were
      associated with better health-related quality of life in some of the measures. A
      greater clinical focus on and efforts to reduce fatigue could lead to improvement
      of health-related quality of life in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy population.
      This study also sets the ground for longitudinal studies where changes in health
      related quality of life can be monitored over time.

PMID- 26863998
TI  - A Pilot Study of Obesogenic Eating Behaviors in Children With Migraine.
AB  - We studied associations between migraine severity and obesogenic eating behaviors
      in children with a prospective cross-sectional, clinic-based study. Migraine
      severity was quantified using the PedMIDAS tool and attack frequency. Eating
      behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and the
      Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Food intake was assessed using a Food
      Intake Questionnaire. Statistical tests of association between eating behavior,
      food intake, and adiposity with migraine severity were performed. Sixty children
      (mean age = 10.9 years, standard deviation = 3.1; 26 males) were recruited. There
      was a positive correlation between the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire
      desire to drink subscale and PedMIDAS scores (r = 0.41, P = .01). Attack
      frequency was associated with higher intake of high fat or sugar content food and
      drink (r = 0.27, P = .04). No association between migraine severity and adiposity
      was found. Suggestion that migraine severity in children is associated with
      certain obesogenic eating behaviors requires further large study investigation.

PMID- 26863999
TI  - Whole Exome Sequencing in Pediatric Neurology Patients: Clinical Implications and
      Estimated Cost Analysis.
AB  - Genetic heterogeneity in neurologic disorders has been an obstacle to phenotype
      based diagnostic testing. The authors hypothesized that information compiled via
      whole exome sequencing will improve clinical diagnosis and management of
      pediatric neurology patients. The authors performed a retrospective chart review
      of patients evaluated in the University of Michigan Pediatric Neurology clinic
      between 6/2011 and 6/2015. The authors recorded previous diagnostic testing,
      indications for whole exome sequencing, and whole exome sequencing results. Whole
      exome sequencing was recommended for 135 patients and obtained in 53 patients.
      Insurance barriers often precluded whole exome sequencing. The most common
      indication for whole exome sequencing was neurodevelopmental disorders. Whole
      exome sequencing improved the presumptive diagnostic rate in the patient cohort
      from 25% to 48%. Clinical implications included family planning, medication
      selection, and systemic investigation. Compared to current second tier testing,
      whole exome sequencing can result in lower long-term charges and more timely
      diagnosis. Overcoming barriers related to whole exome sequencing insurance
      authorization could allow for more efficient and fruitful diagnostic neurological
      evaluations.

PMID- 26864000
TI  - Alp7/TACC-Alp14/TOG generates long-lived, fast-growing MTs by an unconventional
      mechanism.
AB  - Alp14 is a TOG-family microtubule polymerase from S. pombe that tracks plus ends
      and accelerates their growth. To interrogate its mechanism, we reconstituted
      dynamically unstable single isoform S. pombe microtubules with full length
      Alp14/TOG and Alp7, the TACC-family binding partner of Alp14. We find that Alp14
      can drive microtubule plus end growth at GTP-tubulin concentrations at least 10
      fold below the usual critical concentration, at the expense of increased
      catastrophe. This reveals Alp14 to be a highly unusual enzyme that biases the
      equilibrium for the reaction that it catalyses. Alp7/TACC enhances the
      effectiveness of Alp14, by increasing its occupancy. Consistent with this, we
      show in live cells that Alp7 deletion produces very similar MT dynamics defects
      to Alp14 deletion. The ability of Alp7/14 to accelerate and bias GTP-tubulin
      exchange at microtubule plus ends allows it to generate long-lived, fast-growing
      microtubules at very low cellular free tubulin concentrations. 

PMID- 26864001
TI  - Changes in ectocervical surface area in women throughout pregnancy compared to
      non-pregnant and postpartum states.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate changes in the surface area
      of the ectocervix (CA) in women during pregnancy and compare this to postpartum
      and non-pregnant states. METHODS: CA was evaluated in 210 normal nulliparous
      women divided into groups from early to late gestation, 40 postpartum women, and
      25 non-pregnant women. CA in cm(2) was estimated from analysis of images taken
      with an endoscope of the cervical face and an mm scale. An mm scale was also used
      to determine fornix length and fornix area computed. RESULTS: The face, fornix,
      and total areas of the CA of non-pregnant and postpartum groups are significantly
      smaller (p < 0.001) than these areas in groups during pregnancy. Generally, the
      CA of the face, fornix, and total area are also less in early pregnancy compared
      with late gestation (p < 0.01 to <0.001). Total CA correlates with gestational
      age (r = 0.196, p < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: (1) During pregnancy, CA slowly and
      progressively increases to >75% area compared with CA of non-pregnant patients
      and then reverts back to low CA postpartum. (2) Increases in CA during pregnancy
      occur in both the face and fornix areas. (3) Increases in CA reflect enlargement
      in cervical volume and remodeling during pregnancy.

PMID- 26864002
TI  - A randomised controlled trial of intrathecal blockade versus peripheral nerve
      blockade for day-case knee arthroscopy.
AB  - We allocated 100 patients scheduled for day-case knee arthroscopy to unilateral
      spinal anaesthesia with 40 mg intrathecal hyperbaric prilocaine or to ultrasound
      guided femoral-sciatic nerve blockade with 25 ml mepivacaine 2%, 50 participants
      each. The median (IQR [range]) time to walk was 285 (240-330 [160-515]) min after
      intrathecal anaesthesia vs 328 (280-362 [150-435]) min after peripheral nerve
      blockade, p = 0.007. The median (IQR [range]) time to home discharge was 310 (260
      350 [160-520]) min after intrathecal anaesthesia vs 335 (290-395 [190-440]) min
      after peripheral nerve blockade, p = 0.016. There was no difference in time from
      anaesthetic preparation to readiness for surgery.

PMID- 26864003
TI  - Deferred cord clamping at caesarean section--yet another use for
      videolaryngoscopy.

PMID- 26864004
TI  - The isolated forearm technique in non-paralysed patients.

PMID- 26864005
TI  - The isolated forearm technique in non-paralysed patients - a reply.

PMID- 26864006
TI  - Obstetric tracheal intubation guidelines and cricoid pressure.

PMID- 26864007
TI  - Obstetric tracheal intubation guidelines and cricoid pressure--a reply.

PMID- 26864008
TI  - Anaesthetic rooms and patient anxiety.

PMID- 26864009
TI  - More on the risks of inconsistent drug packaging and ampoule labelling.

PMID- 26864010
TI  - Prefilled insulin syringes.

PMID- 26864011
TI  - The effect of blowing a whistle on the cross-sectional area of the internal
      jugular vein.

PMID- 26864013
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26864012
TI  - SORT maneuver for nasogastric tube insertion.

PMID- 26864014
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26864015
TI  - Nonphotochemical Chlorophyll Fluorescence Quenching: Mechanism and Effectiveness
      in Protecting Plants from Photodamage.
AB  - We review the mechanism underlying nonphotochemical chlorophyll fluorescence
      quenching (NPQ) and its role in protecting plants against photoinhibition. This
      review includes an introduction to this phenomenon, a brief history of major
      milestones in our understanding of NPQ, definitions, and a discussion of
      quantitative measurements of NPQ We discuss the current knowledge and unknown
      aspects in the NPQ scenario, including the following: DeltapH, the proton
      gradient (trigger); light-harvesting complex II (LHCII), PSII light harvesting
      antenna (site); and changes in the antenna induced by DeltapH (change), which
      lead to the creation of the quencher We conclude that the minimum requirements
      for NPQ in vivo are DeltapH, LHCII complexes, and the PsbS protein. We highlight
      the most important unknown in the NPQ scenario, the mechanism by which PsbS acts
      upon the LHCII antenna. Finally, we describe a novel, emerging technology for
      assessing the photoprotective "power" of NPQ and the important findings obtained
      through this technology.

PMID- 26864016
TI  - Homodimerization of Ehd1 Is Required to Induce Flowering in Rice.
AB  - In plants, flowering time is elaborately controlled by various environment
      factors. Ultimately, florigens such as FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) or FT-like
      molecules induce flowering. In rice (Oryza sativa), Early heading date 1 (Ehd1)
      is a major inducer of florigen gene expression. Although Ehd1 is highly
      homologous to the type-B response regulator (RR) family in the cytokinin
      signaling pathway, its precise molecular mechanism is not well understood. In
      this study, we showed that the C-terminal portion of the protein containing the
      GARP DNA-binding (G) domain can promote flowering when overexpressed. We also
      observed that the N-terminal portion of Ehd1, carrying the receiver (R) domain,
      delays flowering by inhibiting endogenous Ehd1 activity. Ehd1 protein forms a
      homomer via a 16-amino acid region in the inter domain between R and G. From the
      site-directed mutagenesis analyses, we demonstrated that phosphorylation of the
      Asp-63 residue within the R domain induces the homomerization of Ehd1, which is
      crucial for Ehd1 activity. A type-A RR, OsRR1, physically interacts with Ehd1 to
      form a heterodimer. In addition, OsRR1-overexpressing plants show a late
      flowering phenotype. Based on these observations, we conclude that OsRR1 inhibits
      Ehd1 activity by binding to form an inactive complex.

PMID- 26864018
TI  - Designing disordered materials using DNA-coated colloids of bacteriophage fd and
      gold.
AB  - DNA has emerged as an exciting binding agent for programmable colloidal self
      assembly. Its popularity derives from its unique properties: it provides highly
      specific short-ranged interactions and at the same time it acts as a steric
      stabilizer against non-specific van der Waals and Coulomb interactions. Because
      complementary DNA strands are linked only via hydrogen bonds, DNA-mediated
      binding is thermally reversible: it provides an effective attraction that can be
      switched off by raising the temperature only by a few degrees. In this article we
      introduce a new binary system made of DNA-functionalized filamentous fd viruses
      of ~880 nm length with an aspect ratio of ~100, and 50 nm gold nanoparticles
      (gold NPs) coated with the complementary DNA strands. When quenching mixtures
      below the melt temperature Tm, at which the attraction is switched on, we observe
      aggregation. Conversely, above Tm the system melts into a homogenous particulate
      'gas'. We present the aggregation behavior of three different gold NP to virus
      ratios and compare them to a gel made solely of gold NPs. In particular, we have
      investigated the aggregate structures as a function of cooling rate and determine
      how they evolve as function of time for given quench depths, employing
      fluorescence microscopy. Structural information was extracted in the form of an
      effective structure factor and chord length distributions. Rapid cooling rates
      lead to open aggregates, while slower controlled cooling rates closer to
      equilibrium DNA hybridization lead to more fine-stranded gels. Despite the
      different structures we find that for both cooling rates the quench into the two
      phase region leads to initial spinodal decomposition, which becomes arrested.
      Surprisingly, although the fine-stranded gel is disordered, the overall structure
      and the corresponding length scale distributions in the system are remarkably
      reproducible. Such highly porous systems can be developed into new functional
      materials. 

PMID- 26864017
TI  - Oligonucleotide-Mediated Genome Editing Provides Precision and Function to
      Engineered Nucleases and Antibiotics in Plants.
AB  - Here, we report a form of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis for precision
      genome editing in plants that uses single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssODNs) to
      precisely and efficiently generate genome edits at DNA strand lesions made by DNA
      double strand break reagents. Employing a transgene model in Arabidopsis
      (Arabidopsis thaliana), we obtained a high frequency of precise targeted genome
      edits when ssODNs were introduced into protoplasts that were pretreated with the
      glycopeptide antibiotic phleomycin, a nonspecific DNA double strand breaker.
      Simultaneous delivery of ssODN and a site-specific DNA double strand breaker,
      either transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) or clustered,
      regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), resulted in a
      much greater targeted genome-editing frequency compared with treatment with DNA
      double strand-breaking reagents alone. Using this site-specific approach, we
      applied the combination of ssODN and CRISPR/Cas9 to develop an herbicide
      tolerance trait in flax (Linum usitatissimum) by precisely editing the 5'
      ENOLPYRUVYLSHIKIMATE-3-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE (EPSPS) genes. EPSPS edits occurred at
      sufficient frequency that we could regenerate whole plants from edited
      protoplasts without employing selection. These plants were subsequently
      determined to be tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate in greenhouse spray tests.
      Progeny (C1) of these plants showed the expected Mendelian segregation of EPSPS
      edits. Our findings show the enormous potential of using a genome-editing
      platform for precise, reliable trait development in crop plants.

PMID- 26864019
TI  - Variations in schools' commitment to health and implementation of health
      improvement activities: a cross-sectional study of secondary schools in Wales.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interventions to improve young people's health are most commonly
      delivered via schools. While young people attending the lowest socioeconomic
      status (SES) schools report poorer health profiles, no previous studies have
      examined whether there is an 'inverse care law' in school health improvement
      activity (i.e., whether schools in more affluent areas deliver more health
      improvement). Nor have other factors that may explain variations, such as
      leadership of health improvement activities, been examined at a population level.
      This paper examines variability in delivery of health improvement actions among
      secondary schools in Wales, and whether variability is linked to organisational
      commitment to health, socioeconomic status and school size. METHODS: Of the 82
      schools participating in the 2013/14 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
      (HBSC) survey in Wales, 67 completed a questionnaire on school health improvement
      delivery structures and health improvement actions within their school.
      Correlational analyses explore associations of delivery of health improvement
      activity among schools in Wales with organisational commitment to health,
      socioeconomic context and school size. RESULTS: There is substantial variability
      among schools in organisational commitment to health, with pupil emotional health
      identified as a priority by 52 % of schools, and physical health by 43 %.
      Approximately half (49 %) report written action plans for pupil health. Based on
      composite measures, the quantity of school health improvement activity was
      greater in less affluent schools and schools reporting greater commitment to
      health. There was a consistent though non-significant trend toward more health
      improvement activity in larger schools. In multivariate analysis deprivation (OR
      = 1.06; 95 % CI = 1.01 to 1.12) and organisational commitment to health were
      significant independent predictors of the quantity of health improvement (OR =
      1.60; 95 % CI = 1.15 to 2.22). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of an 'inverse
      care law' in school health, with some evidence of more comprehensive, multi-level
      health improvement activity in more deprived schools. This large-scale,
      quantitative analysis supports previous smaller scale, qualitative
      studies/process evaluations that suggest that senior management team commitment
      to delivering health improvement, and formulating and reviewing progress against
      written action plans, are important for facilitating the delivery of
      comprehensive interventions.

PMID- 26864020
TI  - Revisiting chromatin binding of the Arabidopsis UV-B photoreceptor UVR8.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plants perceive UV-B through the UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8)
      photoreceptor and UVR8 activation leads to changes in gene expression such as
      those associated with UV-B acclimation and stress tolerance. Albeit functionally
      unrelated, UVR8 shows some homology with RCC1 (Regulator of Chromatin
      Condensation 1) proteins from non-plant organisms at the sequence level. These
      proteins act as guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Ran GTPases and bind
      chromatin via histones. Subsequent to the revelation of this sequence homology,
      evidence was presented showing that UVR8 activity involves interaction with
      chromatin at the loci of some target genes through histone binding. This
      suggested a UVR8 mode-of-action intimately and directly linked with gene
      transcription. However, several aspects of UVR8 chromatin association remained
      undefined, namely the impact of UV-B on the process and how UVR8 chromatin
      association related to the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5),
      which is important for UV-B signalling and has overlapping chromatin targets.
      Therefore, we have investigated UVR8 chromatin association in further detail.
      RESULTS: Unlike the claims of previous studies, our chromatin immunoprecipitation
      (ChIP) experiments do not confirm UVR8 chromatin association. In contrast to
      human RCC1, recombinant UVR8 also does not bind nucleosomes in vitro. Moreover,
      fusion of a VP16 activation domain to UVR8 did not alter expression of proposed
      UVR8 target genes in transient gene expression assays. Finally, comparison of the
      Drosophila DmRCC1 and the Arabidopsis UVR8 crystal structures revealed that
      critical histone- and DNA-interaction residues apparent in DmRCC1 are not
      conserved in UVR8. CONCLUSION: This has led us to conclude that the cellular
      activity of UVR8 likely does not involve its specific binding to chromatin at
      target genes.

PMID- 26864021
TI  - The influence of inhaled multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the autonomic nervous
      system.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heart rate and cardiovascular function are regulated by the autonomic
      nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker reflects the activity of
      autonomic nervous system. The prognostic significance of HRV in cardiovascular
      disease has been reported in clinical and epidemiological studies. The present
      study focused on the influence of inhaled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
      on autonomic nervous system by HRV analysis. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats
      were pre-implanted with a telemetry device and kept in the individual cages for
      recovery. At week four after device implantation, rats were exposed to MWCNTs for
      5 h at a concentration of 5 mg/m(3). The real-time EKGs were recorded by a
      telemetry system at pre-exposure, during exposure, 1 day and 7 days post
      exposure. HRV was measured by root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD);
      the standard deviation of inter-beat (RR) interval (SDNN); the percentage of
      successive RR interval differences greater than 5 ms (pNN5) and 10 ms (pNN10);
      low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). RESULTS: Exposure to MWCNTs increased
      the percentage of differences between adjacent R-R intervals over 10 ms (pNN10)
      (p < 0.01), RMSSD (p < 0.01), LF (p < 0.05) and HF (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:
      Inhalation of MWCNTs significantly alters the balance between sympathetic and
      parasympathetic nervous system. Whether such transient alterations in autonomic
      nervous performance would alter cardiovascular function and raise the risk of
      cardiovascular events in people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions
      warrants further study.

PMID- 26864022
TI  - Reduction in resource use with the misoprostol vaginal insert vs the dinoprostone
      vaginal insert for labour induction: a model-based analysis from a United Kingdom
      healthcare perspective.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In view of the increasing pressure on the UK's maternity units, new
      methods of labour induction are required to alleviate the burden on the National
      Health Service, while maintaining the quality of care for women during delivery.
      A model was developed to evaluate the resource use associated with misoprostol
      vaginal inserts (MVIs) and dinoprostone vaginal inserts (DVIs) for the induction
      of labour at term. METHODS: The one-year Markov model estimated clinical outcomes
      in a hypothetical cohort of 1397 pregnant women (parous and nulliparous) induced
      with either MVI or DVI at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. Efficacy and safety
      data were based on published and unpublished results from a phase III, double
      blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Resource use was modelled using
      data from labour induction during antenatal admission to patient discharge from
      Southmead Hospital. The model's sensitivity to key parameters was explored in
      deterministic multi-way and scenario-based analyses. RESULTS: Over one year, the
      model results indicated MVI use could lead to a reduction of 10,201 h (28.9%) in
      the time to vaginal delivery, and an increase of 121% and 52% in the proportion
      of women achieving vaginal delivery at 12 and 24 h, respectively, compared with
      DVI use. Inducing women with the MVI could lead to a 25.2% reduction in the
      number of midwife shifts spent managing labour induction and 451 fewer hospital
      bed days. These resource utilisation reductions may equate to a potential 27.4%
      increase in birthing capacity at Southmead Hospital, when using the MVI instead
      of the DVI. CONCLUSIONS: Resource use, in addition to clinical considerations,
      should be considered when making decisions about labour induction methods. Our
      model analysis suggests the MVI is an effective method for labour induction, and
      could lead to a considerable reduction in resource use compared with the DVI,
      thereby alleviating the increasing burden of labour induction in UK hospitals.

PMID- 26864024
TI  - Intestinal spirochaetes (Brachyspira species) in pheasants in Great Britain.

PMID- 26864023
TI  - Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), vectors of Leishmania protozoa,
      at an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit in the municipality of Nisia Floresta,
      Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sand flies are insect vectors of protozoa from the genus Leishmania,
      causative parasites of visceral and American tegumentary leishmaniases. The
      present study discusses the bioecological aspects of sand fly species,
      transmitters of Leishmania protozoa, in different ecotopes of an Atlantic Forest
      Conservation Unit located in the metropolitan region of Natal, Rio Grande do
      Norte state, Brazil. METHODS: Two monthly captures were made in 1 year, using CDC
      light traps, in two anthropized and two preserved environments. RESULTS: A total
      of 2936 sand flies belonging to the following ten species were captured:
      Evandromyia walkeri, Evandromyia evandroi, Psychodopygus wellcomei, Sciopemyia
      sordellii, Psathyromyia brasiliensis, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Evandromyia lenti,
      Psathyromyia shannoni, Nyssomyia whitmani and Nyssomyia intermedia. The most
      common species was E. walkeri (77.6%), followed by E. evandroi (17.5%). Forest
      was the site with the greatest abundance (32.4%), followed by bamboo grove
      (26.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Sand flies were generally more abundant in the rainy season
      and L. longipalpis, a vector species of Leishmania infantum, was adapted to
      anthropized environments. It was confirmed that P. wellcomei, a vector of
      Leishmania braziliensis in Amazonia, is a species associated with more preserved
      environments, and occurs only in the rainy season.

PMID- 26864025
TI  - Veterinary treatment strategies for clinical mastitis in dairy cows in Sweden.
AB  - To evaluate if Swedish veterinary guidelines on use of antimicrobials in cases of
      clinical mastitis in dairy cows have been adopted by veterinary practitioners,
      their treatment strategies were evaluated in a cross-sectional study using a web
      based questionnaire. Another aim was to study if the strategies differed among
      veterinarians due to year and country of exam, sex, region, numbers of mastitis
      cases per month, and postgraduate training in herd health using multivariable
      logistic regression models. In total, 267 of 741 (36 per cent) veterinarians
      contacted answered the questionnaire satisfactorily. Most considered
      bacteriological diagnostics important, but many veterinarians made treatment
      decisions without collecting information on antimicrobial susceptibility.
      Moreover, few veterinarians used measuring tape to assess bodyweight before
      dosing parenteral antimicrobials. Year of exam and postgraduate training were the
      veterinary demographic factors associated with most treatment routines. The
      questions associated with most demographic factors were if antimicrobial
      treatment is affected by knowledge on earlier udder pathogens in the herd, and
      how often NSAID and follow-up of treatment using milk somatic cell count are
      used. Overall, the veterinarians followed the Swedish guidelines rather well, but
      discrepancies in need for improvement were found. 

PMID- 26864027
TI  - Comparison of commercial type 1 and type 2 PRRSV vaccines against heterologous
      dual challenge.
AB  - This study was to compare the effect of vaccination of pigs with either type 1 or
      type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) against
      heterologous dual challenge of both genotypes. Pigs were administered type 1
      (UNISTRAIN PRRS) or type 2 (Fostera PRRS) PRRSV vaccine at 28 days of age and
      inoculated intranasally with both genotypes at 63 days of age. Vaccination of
      pigs with type 1 PRRSV was able to reduce the levels of type 1 but not type 2
      PRRSV viraemia, whereas vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV was able to reduce
      the levels of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV viraemia against a dual challenge.
      Vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV significantly reduced lung lesions after
      dual challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV. Vaccination
      of pigs with type 2 PRRSV induced higher numbers of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV
      specific interferon-gamma secreting cells compared with vaccination of pigs with
      type 1 PRRSV after dual challenge. The results of this study demonstrated that
      vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV is efficacious in protecting growing pigs
      from respiratory disease after heterologous dual type 1 and type 2 PRRSV
      challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV.

PMID- 26864026
TI  - Absence of circulation of Pestivirus between wild and domestic ruminants in
      southern Spain.
AB  - Ruminant pestiviruses (family Flaviviridae) affect both wild and domestic
      ruminants worldwide, causing reproductive disorders and severe economic losses.
      Wild (n=1442) and domestic (n=373) ruminants from southern Spain were tested for
      the presence of antibodies to pestiviruses. Seropositivity was detected by both
      ELISA and virus neutralisation test in 1/892 (0.1 per cent) red deer, 29/125
      (23.2 per cent) cattle and 17/157 (10.8 per cent) sheep. Pestivirus-specific
      antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV)
      genotypes 1, 4 and 5 were detected. Significantly higher antibody titres to BDV-4
      compared with BVDV-NADL were found in one cattle farm. Results indicate that wild
      ruminants may act as spillover hosts from domestic ruminants, and therefore they
      do not represent a risk for domestic ruminants in southern Spain. The wide
      distribution of pestiviruses among sheep and cattle suggests that transmission
      between these species may occur. 

PMID- 26864028
TI  - Synergism between two amphenicol of antibiotics, florfenicol and thiamphenicol,
      against Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - Synergistic effects between the same class of antibiotics are rarely reported. In
      the current study, two amphenicols, namely florfenicol and thiamphenicol,
      exhibited both in vitro and in vivo synergism against clinical isolates
      ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom chickens, cattle and pigs. Checkerboard assays on
      21S. aureusisolates showed that in 80 per cent of methicillin-susceptibleS.
      aureus(MSSA) and 82 per cent of methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) isolates
      tested, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of florfenicol could be
      reduced by 75 per cent (1/4 MIC) or more (up to 1/16 MIC) when combined with 1/2
      MIC of thiamphenicol to exhibit antimicrobial activity comparable to the
      respective drugs at original strength (1*MIC). A synergistic effect (fractional
      inhibitory concentration index <=0.5 or >=2-log10decrease in colony-forming
      unit/ml in time-kill study) was evident against 30 per cent of MSSA and 45 per
      cent of MRSA strains tested. A study in mice revealed that the
      florfenicol/thiamphenicol combination at reduced dosages provided sufficient
      protection againstS. aureuschallenge. The possible mechanism warrants further
      study but likely includes the facilitated uptake of thiamphenicol via florfenicol
      action, and this facilitation was not limited to amphenicol class. The present
      study may offer new strategy for combination therapy and provide potential
      alternatives for effective treatment againstS. aureusinfections. 

PMID- 26864029
TI  - Oral Immunization of Mice with Live Pneumocystis murina Protects against
      Pneumocystis Pneumonia.
AB  - Pneumocystis pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in
      immunocompromised patients, particularly those infected with HIV. In this study,
      we evaluated the potential of oral immunization with live Pneumocystis to elicit
      protection against respiratory infection with Pneumocystis murina. C57BL/6 mice
      vaccinated with live P. murina using a prime-boost vaccination strategy were
      protected from a subsequent lung challenge with P. murina at 2, 7, 14, and 28 d
      postinfection even after CD4(+) T cell depletion. Specifically, vaccinated
      immunocompetent mice had significantly faster clearance than unvaccinated
      immunocompetent mice and unvaccinated CD4-depleted mice remained persistently
      infected with P. murina. Vaccination also increased numbers of CD4(+) T cells,
      CD8(+) T cells, CD19(+) B cells, and CD11b(+) macrophages in the lungs following
      respiratory infection. In addition, levels of lung, serum, and fecal P. murina
      specific IgG and IgA were increased in vaccinated animals. Furthermore,
      administration of serum from vaccinated mice significantly reduced Pneumocystis
      lung burden in infected animals compared with control serum. We also found that
      the diversity of the intestinal microbial community was altered by oral
      immunization with P. murina. To our knowledge, our data demonstrate for the first
      time that an oral vaccination strategy prevents Pneumocystis infection. 

PMID- 26864030
TI  - Regulatory T Cells in Melanoma Revisited by a Computational Clustering of FOXP3+
      T Cell Subpopulations.
AB  - CD4(+) T cells that express the transcription factor FOXP3 (FOXP3(+) T cells) are
      commonly regarded as immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). FOXP3(+) T
      cells are reported to be increased in tumor-bearing patients or animals and are
      considered to suppress antitumor immunity, but the evidence is often
      contradictory. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that FOXP3 is induced
      by antigenic stimulation and that some non-Treg FOXP3(+) T cells, especially
      memory-phenotype FOXP3(low) cells, produce proinflammatory cytokines.
      Accordingly, the subclassification of FOXP3(+) T cells is fundamental for
      revealing the significance of FOXP3(+) T cells in tumor immunity, but the
      arbitrariness and complexity of manual gating have complicated the issue. In this
      article, we report a computational method to automatically identify and classify
      FOXP3(+) T cells into subsets using clustering algorithms. By analyzing flow
      cytometric data of melanoma patients, the proposed method showed that the
      FOXP3(+) subpopulation that had relatively high FOXP3, CD45RO, and CD25
      expressions was increased in melanoma patients, whereas manual gating did not
      produce significant results on the FOXP3(+) subpopulations. Interestingly, the
      computationally identified FOXP3(+) subpopulation included not only classical
      FOXP3(high) Tregs, but also memory-phenotype FOXP3(low) cells by manual gating.
      Furthermore, the proposed method successfully analyzed an independent data set,
      showing that the same FOXP3(+) subpopulation was increased in melanoma patients,
      validating the method. Collectively, the proposed method successfully captured an
      important feature of melanoma without relying on the existing criteria of
      FOXP3(+) T cells, revealing a hidden association between the T cell profile and
      melanoma, and providing new insights into FOXP3(+) T cells and Tregs. 

PMID- 26864031
TI  - Mucosal Humoral Immune Response to SIVmac239?nef Vaccination and Vaginal
      Challenge.
AB  - Live attenuated vaccines such as SIV with a deleted nef gene have provided the
      most robust protection against subsequent vaginal challenge with wild-type (WT)
      SIV in the SIV-rhesus macaque model of HIV-1 transmission to women. Hence,
      identifying correlates of this protection could enable design of an effective HIV
      1 vaccine. One such prechallenge correlate of protection from vaginal challenge
      has recently been identified as a system with three components: 1) IgG Abs
      reacting with the viral envelope glycoprotein trimeric gp41; 2) produced by
      plasma cells in the submucosa and ectopic tertiary lymphoid follicles in the
      ectocervix and vagina; and 3) concentrated on the path of virus entry by the
      neonatal FcR in the overlying epithelium. We now examine the mucosal production
      of the Ab component of this system after vaginal challenge. We show that vaginal
      challenge immediately elicits striking increases in plasma cells not only in the
      female reproductive tract but also at other mucosal sites, and that these
      increases correlate with low but persistent replication at mucosal sites. We
      describe vaginal ectopic follicles that are structurally and functionally
      organized similar to follicles in secondary lymphoid organs, and we provide
      inferential evidence for a key role of the female reproductive tract epithelium
      in facilitating Ab production, affinity maturation, and class switch
      recombination. Vaccination thus accesses an epithelial-immune system axis in the
      female reproductive tract to respond to exposure to mucosal pathogens. Designing
      strategies to mimic this system could advance development of an effective HIV-1
      vaccine. 

PMID- 26864032
TI  - Annexin A2 Limits Neutrophil Transendothelial Migration by Organizing the Spatial
      Distribution of ICAM-1.
AB  - ICAM-1 is required for firm adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium. However,
      how the spatial organization of endothelial ICAM-1 regulates leukocyte adhesion
      is not well understood. In this study, we identified the calcium-effector protein
      annexin A2 as a novel binding partner for ICAM-1. ICAM-1 clustering promotes the
      ICAM-1-annexin A2 interaction and induces translocation of ICAM-1 into caveolin-1
      rich membrane domains. Depletion of endothelial annexin A2 using RNA interference
      enhances ICAM-1 membrane mobility and prevents the translocation of ICAM-1 into
      caveolin-1-rich membrane domains. Surprisingly, this results in increased
      neutrophil adhesion and transendothelial migration under flow conditions and
      reduced crawling time, velocity, and lateral migration distance of neutrophils on
      the endothelium. In conclusion, our data show that annexin A2 limits neutrophil
      transendothelial migration by organizing the spatial distribution of ICAM-1. 

PMID- 26864033
TI  - A Novel Vaccination Strategy Mediating the Induction of Lung-Resident Memory CD8
      T Cells Confers Heterosubtypic Immunity against Future Pandemic Influenza Virus.
AB  - The currently used vaccine strategy to combat influenza A virus (IAV) aims to
      provide highly specific immunity to circulating seasonal IAV strains. However,
      the outbreak of 2009 influenza pandemic highlights the danger in this strategy.
      In this study, we tested the hypothesis that universal vaccination that offers
      broader but weaker protection would result in cross protective T cell responses
      after primary IAV infection, which would subsequently provide protective immunity
      against future pandemic strains. Specifically, we used tandem repeat
      extracellular domain of M2 (M2e) epitopes on virus-like particles (M2e5x VLP)
      that induced heterosubtypic immunity by eliciting Abs to a conserved M2e epitope.
      M2e5x VLP was found to be superior to strain-specific current split vaccine in
      conferring heterosubtypic cross protection and in equipping the host with cross
      protective lung-resident nucleoprotein-specific memory CD8(+) T cell responses to
      a subsequent secondary infection with a new pandemic potential strain. Immune
      correlates for subsequent heterosubtypic immunity by M2e5x VLP vaccination were
      found to be virus-specific CD8(+) T cells secreting IFN-gamma and expressing lung
      resident memory phenotypic markers CD69(+) and CD103(+) as well as M2e Abs.
      Hence, vaccination with M2e5x VLP may be developable as a new strategy to combat
      future pandemic outbreaks. 

PMID- 26864035
TI  - Development by Genetic Immunization of Monovalent Antibodies (Nanobodies)
      Behaving as Antagonists of the Human ChemR23 Receptor.
AB  - The generation of Abs that recognize the native conformation of G protein-coupled
      receptors can be a challenging task because, like most multimembrane-spanning
      proteins, they are extremely difficult to purify as native protein. By combining
      genetic immunization, phage display, and biopanning, we identified two functional
      monovalent Abs (nanobodies) targeting ChemR23. The two nanobodies (CA4910 and
      CA5183) were highly specific for the human receptor and bind ChemR23 with
      moderate affinity. Binding studies also showed that they share a common binding
      site that overlaps with that of chemerin, the natural ligand of ChemR23.
      Consistent with these results, we found that the nanobodies were able to
      antagonize chemerin-induced intracellular calcium increase. The inhibition was
      partial when chemerin was used as agonist and complete when the chemerin(149-157)
      nonapeptide was used as agonist. Engineering of a bivalent CA4910 nanobody
      resulted in a relatively modest increase in affinity but a marked enhancement of
      efficacy as an antagonist of chemerin induced intracellular calcium mobilization
      and a much higher potency against the chemerin(149-157) nonapeptide-induced
      response. We also demonstrated that the fluorescently labeled nanobodies detect
      ChemR23 on the surface of human primary cell populations as efficiently as a
      reference mouse mAb and that the bivalent CA4910 nanobody behaves as an efficient
      antagonist of chemerin-induced chemotaxis of human primary cells. Thus, these
      nanobodies constitute new tools to study the role of the chemerin/ChemR23 system
      in physiological and pathological conditions. 

PMID- 26864036
TI  - Effect of Overproduction of Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2 on Cos7 Cells:
      Induction of Senescent-like Morphology and Oncotic Cell Death.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The maintenance of mitochondrial membrane potential is essential for
      cell growth and survival. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 plays the most
      important roles in uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation and decreasing
      mitochondrial O2- production by regulating the mitochondrial membrane potential.
      We propose that mouse UCP2 has two glycine-rich motifs, motif 1: EGIRGLWKG (170
      178) and a known Walker A-like motif 2: EGPRAFYKG (264-272). These motifs seem to
      be important for the function of UCP2. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the biological
      effects of overproduced-UCP2 and its physiological consequence in Cos7 cells.
      METHOD: We introduced several amino acid changes in the motif 1. The expression
      vectors of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused UCP2 and mutant UCP2 were
      constructed and expressed in Cos7 cells. RESULT: The UCP2-GFP-expressed cells
      significantly down-regulated the mitochondrial membrane potentials and induced
      the enlarged cell shapes. Next we generated the stably UCP2-GFP-expressed Cos7
      cells by selection with the antibiotic Genecitin (G418). Within the first few
      weeks following G418-selection, the stably UCP2-GFP-expressed cells could not
      divide well and gradually manifested the irregular and enlarged senescent-like
      cell morphology. The UCP2/K177E- or UCP2/G174L-expressed cells did not induce the
      enlarged cell shapes. Hence, UCP2/K177E and UCP2/G174L produced the functional
      incompetence of the glycine-rich motif 1. The senescent-like cells significantly
      decreased the mitochondrial membrane potentials and finally died nearly one
      month. CONCLUSION: Overproduction of UCP2 irreversibly reduces the mitochondrial
      membrane potentials and induces the senescent-like morphology and finally oncotic
      cell death in Cos7 cells. These changes seem to occur from the irreversible
      metabolic changes following total loss of cellular ATP.

PMID- 26864034
TI  - Low-Affinity Memory CD8+ T Cells Mediate Robust Heterologous Immunity.
AB  - Heterologous immunity is recognized as a significant barrier to transplant
      tolerance. Whereas it has been established that pathogen-elicited memory T cells
      can have high or low affinity for cross-reactive allogeneic peptide-MHC, the role
      of TCR affinity during heterologous immunity has not been explored. We
      established a model with which to investigate the impact of TCR-priming affinity
      on memory T cell populations following a graft rechallenge. In contrast to high
      affinity priming, low-affinity priming elicited fully differentiated memory T
      cells with a CD45RB(hi) status. High CD45RB status enabled robust secondary
      responses in vivo, as demonstrated by faster graft rejection kinetics and greater
      proliferative responses. CD45RB blockade prolonged graft survival in low affinity
      primed mice, but not in high affinity-primed mice. Mechanistically, low affinity
      primed memory CD8(+) T cells produced more IL-2 and significantly upregulated IL
      2Ralpha expression during rechallenge. We found that CD45RB(hi) status was also a
      stable marker of priming affinity within polyclonal CD8(+) T cell populations.
      Following high-affinity rechallenge, low affinity-primed CD45RB(hi) cells became
      CD45RB(lo), demonstrating that CD45RB status acts as an affinity-based
      differentiation switch on CD8(+) T cells. Thus, these data establish a novel
      mechanism by which CD45 isoforms tune low affinity-primed memory CD8(+) T cells
      to become potent secondary effectors following heterologous rechallenge. These
      findings have direct implications for allogeneic heterologous immunity by
      demonstrating that despite a lower precursor frequency, low-affinity priming is
      sufficient to generate memory cells that mediate potent secondary responses
      against a cross-reactive graft challenge. 

PMID- 26864038
TI  - The Origins of Aging: Evidence that Aging is an Adaptive Phenotype.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aging can be defined as the time-related decline in biological
      functions which ultimately results in organismal death. Beyond the stage of
      reproductive maturity as fertility declines, cell and tissue functions come under
      reduced selection pressure since organismal survival is considered no longer an
      evolutionary priority. Repair mechanisms become less robust and the resulting
      stochastic accumulation of tissue and genomic damage is believed to underlie the
      aging process. The objective of this review is to challenge this construct and to
      present evidence that aging represents a species-specific adaptive developmental
      program. METHODS: Through a review of published data, the cellular aging programs
      of both single cell and multicellular organisms are described. Since all
      organisms live in communities (ecosystems) of diverse species, the role of multi
      level selection is discussed within this context and a proposal is advanced that
      aging represents an adaptive phenotype. RESULTS: Single cell organisms evolved an
      aging phenotype in which the primary feature was replicative arrest prior to cell
      death. The evolution of multicellularity represented the emergence of a new level
      of biological organization. Multicellularity required cell-cell cooperation as
      well as a division of labor. In simple multicellular organisms aging was rooted
      in an age-related decline in stem cell function (renewal and differentiation). In
      complex multicellular organisms cellular aging/ death programs (senescence,
      autophagy, apoptosis) were used as a form of cell "altruistic" suicide carried
      out for the benefit of the whole organism (morphogenesis, tissue repair and
      maintenance). Organisms do not live in isolation. Species occupy ecological
      niches and communities of diverse species comprise an ecosystem. Ecosystems are
      highly regulated and structured biological organizations. The effective
      functioning and productivity of an ecosystem is determined by its biological
      diversity and relative species densities. Multilevel selection acts to balance
      optimal functioning of both the whole ecosystem and its compositional
      species/organisms. CONCLUSIONS: Organismal aging and death programs are adaptive;
      these programs provide a mechanism for regulating species population densities
      within the constraints imposed by the ecosystem organization. A unique feature of
      humans has been the development of a second inheritance system, culture. Through
      cultural practices, humans have expanded our ecological niche to be global in
      size. Our technology enriched urban ecosystem is very different from natural
      ecosystems. Our future evolution, including aging and lifespan, will be
      determined by our unique urban ecosystem through geneculture co-evolution.

PMID- 26864037
TI  - Subclinical Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Heart Rate Variability Across Life Cycle.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate association between plasma
      vitamin B12 and heart rate variability in clusters of population of various ages
      across life cycle. METHODS: 47 healthy children from an ongoing pregnancy and
      birth cohort, 32 young adults and 47 healthy elderly subjects were recruited
      following inclusion and exclusion criteria. All subjects underwent plasma vitamin
      B12, anthropometry and heart rate variability (HRV). RESULTS: The prevalence of
      vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/l) across age groups were 51.1 % for children,
      56.2 % for young adults and 61.7 % for the elderly group respectively. There was
      large variability in vitamin B12 status across the age groups. Frequency
      distribution of low frequency (LF) absolute units HRV in the elderly was skewed,
      whereas in children and young adult group there was wide distribution of LF HRV.
      Association between Log LF absolute units HRV and plasma vitamin B12 across
      groups were tested using curve fit models. In children a linear curve estimation
      best fitted and explained 9.3 % of the association (n=47, .=0.003, P=0.03,
      R2=0.09). There was no association between log LF absolute units HRV and plasma
      vitamin B12 in the young adult group. In the elderly group a power curve fit
      model best fitted and explained 8.9 % of the association. Inspection of the power
      curve fit model demonstrated a curvilinear pattern; there was a linear
      association in the elderly with vitamin B12 levels less than 200 pmol/l. However,
      elderly with vitamin B12 values >200 pmol/l demonstrated saturation (plateauing)
      of log LF HRV. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated varied pattern of responses
      between vitamin B12 status and LF power of HRV across age groups. Thus, it is
      important to consider these associations before planning supplementation of
      vitamin B12.

PMID- 26864039
TI  - Cardiac fiber tracking using adaptive particle filtering based on tensor rotation
      invariant in MRI.
AB  - Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is a non-invasive method currently
      available for cardiac fiber tracking. However, accurate and efficient cardiac
      fiber tracking is still a challenge. This paper presents a probabilistic cardiac
      fiber tracking method based on particle filtering. In this framework, an adaptive
      sampling technique is presented to describe the posterior distribution of fiber
      orientations by adjusting the number and status of particles according to the
      fractional anisotropy of diffusion. An observation model is then proposed to
      update the weight of particles by rotating diffusion tensor from the primary
      eigenvector to a given fiber orientation while keeping the shape of the tensor
      invariant. The results on human cardiac dMRI show that the proposed method is
      robust to noise and outperforms conventional streamline and particle filtering
      techniques. 

PMID- 26864041
TI  - The effect of statins on the outcome of Clostridium difficile infection in
      hospitalized patients.
AB  - Several studies have shown an association between exposure to statins and
      favorable clinical outcomes for various types of infections. We aimed to assess
      the impact of statin use on mortality, disease severity and complications among
      hospitalized patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Data were
      analyzed from a retrospectively collected database of 499 patients diagnosed with
      CDI during 2009-2014. We compared infection outcomes between 178 statin (36 %)
      users and 321 (64 %) non-users. On multivariate analysis, we found that statin
      use did not have a significant impact on 30-day mortality (OR = 1.54; 95 % CI,
      0.85-2.79; p = 0.15) or any significant effect on CDI severity and complication.
      Concomitant statin use has no significant impact on short-term mortality or
      effect on CDI severity and complications among hospitalized patients with CDI.
      However, patients in the statin group were older and had higher Charlson score
      compared with the non-statin group. Whether these factors affected a possible
      impact of statins on the disease course remains to be investigated. KEY MESSAGES:
      * Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of infectious nosocomial
      diarrhea among hospitalized adult patients in the developed countries. * There is
      an increasing morbidity and mortality of CDI patients due to the emergence of new
      strains of high virulence. * Recent studies demonstrated that prior statin use
      has protective and ameliorating effects on morbidity and mortality among CDI
      patients. * Our study showed that concomitant statin use has no significant
      impact on short-term mortality, CDI severity and its complications.

PMID- 26864040
TI  - Influenza 2014-2015 among pregnant Japanese women: primiparous vs multiparous
      women.
AB  - This study was performed to determine whether multiparous pregnant women are
      prone to influenza. A questionnaire survey was conducted at 19 centres located
      throughout Japan, targeting all 6,694 postpartum women within 7 days after birth
      before leaving the hospital. All women gave birth during the study period between
      March 1, 2015, and July 31, 2015. Data regarding vaccination and influenza
      infection in or after October 2014, age, previous experience of childbirth, and
      number and ages of cohabitants were collected. Seventy-eight percent (n = 51,97)
      of women given questionnaires responded. Of these, 2,661 (51 %) and 364 (7.0 %)
      women reported having been vaccinated and having contracted influenza
      respectively. Multiparous women had a higher risk of influenza regardless of
      vaccination status (8.9 % [121/1362] vs 5.7 % [74/1299], relative risk [95 %
      confidence interval], 1.80 [1.36 to 2.38] for vaccinated and 9.3 % [112/1198] vs
      4.3 % [57/1328], 2.18 [1.60 to 2.97] for unvaccinated women) compared to
      primiparous women. The risk of influenza increased with increasing number of
      cohabitants: 4.8 % (100/2089), 7.5 %, (121/1618), 9.0 %, (71/785), and 10.4 %
      (58/557) for women with 1, 2, 3, and >=4 cohabitants respectively. Family size is
      a risk factor for influenza infection in pregnancy. 

PMID- 26864042
TI  - Antibiotics usage in infants during the first 18 months of life in Benin: a
      population-based cohort study.
AB  - Data centered on antibiotics usage and their determinants in African pediatric
      populations are limited. In order to define the determinants of antibiotics
      prescriptions (ABPr), we analyzed the data of a birth cohort in Benin. From 2007
      to 2009, 538 infants were followed from birth to 18 months in three different
      health centers. The following determinants were assessed: infants' clinical
      findings at consultations, mothers' and children's characteristics at birth, and
      health parameters recorded at scheduled follow-up of general health parameters.
      Multilevel logistic models were performed for analysis. Among the 4394
      consultations, fever represented 53.7 % of consultations, 64.1 % of which were
      non-malarial fevers. Antibiotics were prescribed during 44.2 % of the
      consultations and the proportion of ABPr differed significantly among health
      centers (p < 10(-3)). Nearly 40 % of ABPr were related to children without fever.
      During the first semester of life, the percentage of ABPr was twice lower than
      after (27.4 vs. 54.7, p < 10(-3)). Respiratory and enteric symptoms were
      positively associated with ABPr (p < 10(-3)). Malaria was significantly
      associated with a lower ABPr after the first semester [odds ratio (OR) = 0.55, 95
      % confidence interval (CI) = 0.44-0.67, p < 10(-3)]. No maternal and child at
      birth characteristics were associated with ABPr. ABPr was positively associated
      with a low breastfeeding score (p < 10(-3)). Studies on the rational use of
      antibiotics in this population should give priority to children more than 6
      months of age, without malaria, and with respiratory and/or enteric symptoms. Our
      data also advocate for studies specifically designed to assess and improve
      healthcare providers' compliance to guidelines on antibiotics usage.

PMID- 26864043
TI  - High positive predictive value of Gram stain on catheter-drawn blood samples for
      the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection in intensive care
      neonates.
AB  - Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remain a leading cause of
      healthcare-associated infections in preterm infants. Rapid and accurate methods
      for the diagnosis of CRBSIs are needed in order to implement timely and
      appropriate treatment. A retrospective study was conducted during a 7-year period
      (2005-2012) in the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospital Erasme
      to assess the value of Gram stain on catheter-drawn blood samples (CDBS) to
      predict CRBSIs. Both peripheral samples and CDBS were obtained from neonates with
      clinically suspected CRBSI. Gram stain, automated culture and quantitative
      cultures on blood agar plates were performed for each sample. The paired
      quantitative blood culture was used as the standard to define CRBSI. Out of 397
      episodes of suspected CRBSIs, 35 were confirmed by a positive ratio of
      quantitative culture (>5) or a colony count of CDBS culture >100 colony-forming
      units (CFU)/mL. All but two of the 30 patients who had a CDBS with a positive
      Gram stain were confirmed as having a CRBSI. Seven patients who had a CDBS with a
      negative Gram stain were diagnosed as CRBSI. The sensitivity, specificity,
      positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Gram stain on CDBS
      were 80, 99.4, 93.3 and 98.1 %, respectively. Gram staining on CDBS is a viable
      method for rapidly (<1 h) detecting CRBSI without catheter withdrawal. 

PMID- 26864044
TI  - Comparative study of all Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis strains isolated
      from food and food animals in Greece from 2008 to 2010 with clinical isolates.
AB  - The aim of the present work was to study the epidemiology of Salmonella enterica
      serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) in Greece, comparing all the food and food
      animal isolates during a 3-year period with clinical isolates. Submission of the
      generated data to the PulseNet Europe database was carried out in order to study
      the population structure of this particular serovar and indicate possible
      connections with European strains. One hundred and sixty-eight (168) S.
      Enteritidis strains of human, animal, and food origin, isolated during the period
      2008-2010 in Greece, were studied. Strains were characterized by phenotypic
      (antibiotic resistance) and molecular [pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)
      and multilocus sequence typing (MLST)] methods. PFGE revealed 39 XbaI, 48 BlnI,
      and 80 XbaI-BlnI distinct pulsotypes, suggesting several clones circulating
      through the food chain and multiple sources of transmission. Submission to the
      PulseNet Europe database indicated that PFGE profile SENTXB.0001, the most common
      PFGE profile in Europe, was also predominant in Greece (33.3 %). MLST showed that
      all the strains studied shared the same sequence type (ST11), representing the
      most common ST in Europe. High rates of resistance to nalidixic acid were
      observed among human and poultry isolates (~25 %), indicating the potential
      fluoroquinolone treatment failure. Our data suggest that strains originating from
      multiple reservoirs circulated in Greece through the food chain during the study
      period. Predominant profiles in Greece were common to PulseNet Europe profiles,
      indicating similarities between the S. Enteritidis populations in Greece and
      Europe.

PMID- 26864045
TI  - Bilateral practice improves dominant leg performance in long jump.
AB  - Benefits of bilateral practice both for the non-dominant and for the dominant
      body side have been shown in several studies. Thereby, most of the studies
      included movement tasks of the upper extremity or investigated sports games in
      which the ability of acting bilaterally is an essential basis for success and,
      thus, a bilateral practice is reasonable anyway. Individual unilaterally
      performed sports including movement tasks of the lower extremity are rarely
      investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to test if contralateral
      transfer due to bilateral practice can be found in an unilaterally performed
      sport including the lower extremity. We trained and tested 61 adolescent athletes
      in long jump to compare the jumping performance of the dominant leg after a 12
      week practice period between two groups: a bilateral practice group that
      practiced specific long jump exercises with both the dominant and non-dominant
      leg and an unilateral practice group that practiced specific long jump exercises
      only with the dominant leg. Results showed a superior effect of bilateral
      practice compared to unilateral practice regarding the jumping performance of the
      dominant leg. The performance increase at post-test and retention-test for the
      dominant limb was significantly higher for the bilateral practice group (pre-to
      post: 5.2%, pre-to-retention: 7.4%) compared to the unilateral practice group
      (pre-to-post: 3.4%, pre-to-retention: 4.5%). Thus, bilateral practice should be
      established in the early practice programmes of track and field athletes to
      improve the performance of the dominant take-off leg. 

PMID- 26864046
TI  - A novel homozygous MYO7A mutation involved in a Venezuelan population with high
      frequency of USHER1B.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macanao's population in Venezuela has perhaps the greatest incidence
      of USH1B known in Latin America (79 cases per 100,000 population); however, until
      now no mutation in the MYO7A gene had been reported for this population.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the entire coding region of
      the MYO7A gene by direct sequencing of PCR products obtained from patients
      clinically diagnosed with USH1B. RESULTS: A novel mutation named c.6079_6081del
      was detected on exon 45 of the MYO7A gene, causing the loss of a single histidine
      amino acid at codon 2027 (p.H2027del) located within the second FERM domain of
      the human protein myosin VIIA. Three patients with clinical diagnosis of USH1B
      were detected positive in homozygosis for the c.6079_6081del mutation; whereas
      six people from the same affected family were heterozygotes and three other
      family members were negative. CONCLUSION: We suggest that this new mutation named
      c.6079_6081del (p.H2027del) is the main cause of deaf-blindness found in this
      family clinically diagnosed as USH1B. Additional studies should be performed on
      this population to determine whether the c.6079_6081del mutation is the main
      cause of USH1B for the rest of the population.

PMID- 26864047
TI  - Clinical and pathophysiological issues associated with type 1 autoimmune
      pancreatitis.
AB  - In 1995, Yoshida and colleagues proposed the concept of 'autoimmune pancreatitis'
      (AIP). Recently, it is accepted that the existence of two subtypes of AIP-type 1,
      which involves immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) as the pancreatic manifestation of IgG4
      related disease (IgG4-RD), and type 2, which is characterized by granulocytic
      epithelial lesions. Type 2 AIP is thought to be rare in Japan. In 2011, the
      International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) for autoimmune pancreatitis
      was proposed. In Japan, the clinical diagnostic criteria of AIP 2011 was proposed
      by the Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) and the Research Committee of Intractable
      Diseases of the Pancreas. The JPS 2011 is based on ICDC and a simplified
      checklist of items to diagnose type 1 AIP. Although recent progress in type 1 AIP
      has resolved clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and pathogenesis, many
      clinical and basic issues still remain unclear. Here, we provide an overview of
      the recent clinical and basic issues associated with type 1 AIP. 

PMID- 26864048
TI  - Setup accuracy for prone and supine whole breast irradiation.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) based setup accuracy
      and margins for prone and supine whole breast irradiation (WBI). METHODS: Setup
      accuracy was evaluated on 3559 CBCT scans of 242 patients treated with WBI and
      uncertainty margins were calculated using the van Herk formula. Uni- and
      multivariate analysis on individual margins was performed for age, body mass
      index (BMI) and cup size. RESULTS: The population-based margin in vertical (VE),
      lateral (LA) and longitudinal (LO) directions was 10.4/9.4/9.4 mm for the 103
      supine and 10.5/22.4/13.7 mm for the 139 prone treated patients, being
      significantly (p < 0.01) different for the LA and LO directions. Multivariate
      analysis identified a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between BMI and the LO
      margin in supine position and the VE/LA margin in prone position. CONCLUSION: In
      this series, setup accuracy is significantly worse in prone compared to supine
      position for the LA and LO directions. However, without proper image-guidance,
      uncertainty margins of about 1 cm are also necessary for supine WBI. For patients
      with a higher BMI, larger margins are required.

PMID- 26864049
TI  - Towards clinical implementation of ultrafast combined kV-MV CBCT for IGRT of lung
      cancer : Evaluation of registration accuracy based on phantom study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Combined kV-MV cone-beam CT (CBCT) is a promising approach to accelerate
      imaging for patients with lung tumors treated with deep inspiration breath-hold.
      During a single breath-hold (15 s), a 3D kV-MV CBCT can be acquired, thus
      minimizing motion artifacts and increasing patient comfort. Prior to clinical
      implementation, positioning accuracy was evaluated and compared to clinically
      established imaging techniques. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An inhomogeneous thorax
      phantom with four tumor-mimicking inlays was imaged in 10 predefined positions
      and registered to a planning CT. Novel kV-MV CBCT imaging (90 degrees  arc) was
      compared to clinically established kV-chest CBCT (360 degrees ) as well as
      nonclinical kV-CBCT and low-dose MV-CBCT (each 180 degrees ). Manual
      registration, automatic registration provided by the manufacturer and an
      additional in-house developed manufacturer-independent framework based on the
      MATLAB registration toolkit were applied. RESULTS: Systematic setup error was
      reduced to 0.05 mm by high-precision phantom positioning with optical tracking.
      Stochastic mean displacement errors were 0.5 +/- 0.3 mm in right-left, 0.4  +/-
      0.4 mm in anteroposterior and 0.0 +/- 0.4 mm in craniocaudal directions for kV-MV
      CBCT with manual registration (maximum errors of no more than 1.4 mm). Clinical
      kV-chest CBCT resulted in mean errors of 0.2 mm (other modalities: 0.4-0.8 mm).
      Similar results were achieved with both automatic registration methods.
      CONCLUSION: The comparison study of repositioning accuracy between novel kV-MV
      CBCT and clinically established volume imaging demonstrated that registration
      accuracy is maintained below 1 mm. Since imaging time is reduced to one breath
      hold, kV-MV CBCT is ideal for image guidance, e.g., in lung stereotactic ablative
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 26864051
TI  - Effect of Eisenia foetida Extract against Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury in
      Rats.
AB  - Kidney injury is a deleterious side effect accompanied by therapeutic uses of
      cisplatin as an antineoplastic agent. However, no therapeutic option is available
      against this complication. This study was designed to evaluate the protective
      role of a glycoprotein extract obtained from Eisenia foetida against cisplatin
      induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were treated with cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg,
      intraperitoneally, i.p.) and Eisenia foetida extract (300 and 500 mg/kg, i.p.
      and/or oral). Serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were
      significantly elevated in cisplatin-treated rats. A significant amount of lipid
      peroxidation was detected in drug-treated animals. Furthermore, kidney
      histopathological findings revealed acute tubular necrosis and hyaline cast
      formation caused by cisplatin. Eisenia foetida extract administration (300 and
      500 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced serum BUN and creatinine and lipid
      peroxidation in kidney tissue. Moreover, cisplatin-induced histopathological
      lesions were alleviated by Eisenia foetida extract. This investigation concluded
      that Eisenia foetida extract ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. This
      protection might be mediated by preventing cisplatin-induced oxidative stress.

PMID- 26864050
TI  - DC generation from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic
      myeloid leukemia: Influence of interferons on DC yield and functional properties.
AB  - In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), standard treatment consists of modern tyrosine
      kinase inhibitors (TKI). Nevertheless, there is evidence that immune responses
      against leukemia-associated antigens (LAA) may play an important role in disease
      control. Dendritic cell (DC)- based immunotherapy is able to induce T cell
      responses against LAA and might therefore pose an interesting therapeutic option
      in CML, especially in the setting of minimal residual disease (MRD). GMP
      production of DC for clinical vaccination remains a time- and cost- intensive
      procedure and standardized DC generation is warranted. We asked whether
      maturation-induction with IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha has an influence on functional
      properties of DC derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in CML
      patients. Monocyte-derived DC from healthy donors and from patients with CML were
      analyzed after maturation-induction with our TNF-alpha-containing standard
      cytokine cocktail with or without addition of IFN-alpha and/or IFN-gamma. Our
      results confirm that the addition of IFN-gamma leads to enhanced IL-12 secretion
      in healthy donors. In contrast, in CML patients, IFN-gamma was not able to
      increase IL-12 secretion, possibly due to a higher degree of cell adherence and
      lower cell yield during the cell culture. Our data suggest, that- in contrast to
      healthy donors-, additional interferons are not beneficial for maturation
      induction during large-scale DC production in patients with CML.

PMID- 26864052
TI  - Evaluative ratings and attention across the life span: emotional arousal and
      gender.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the evolution of emotional processing over
      the whole adult life span as a function of stimulus arousal and participants'
      gender. To this end, self-reported affective evaluation and attentional capture
      prompted by pleasant and unpleasant pictures varying in arousal were measured in
      a large sample of participants (n = 211) balanced by gender and equally spread
      across seven decades from 20 to 90 years. Results showed age differences only for
      affective evaluation of pleasant stimuli, with opposite patterns depending on
      stimulus arousal. As age increased, low-arousing pleasant cues (e.g. images of
      babies) were experienced as more pleasant and arousing by both males and females,
      whereas high-arousing stimuli (e.g. erotic images) were experienced as less
      pleasant only by females. In contrast, emotional pictures (both pleasant and
      unpleasant) were effective at capturing attention in a similar way across
      participants, regardless of age and gender. Taken together, these findings
      suggest that specific emotional cues prompt different subjective responses across
      different age groups, while basic mechanisms involved in attentional engagement
      towards both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli are preserved in healthy ageing.

PMID- 26864053
TI  - HIV risk behavior and internalizing/externalizing psychopathology among
      adolescents in court-ordered treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The confluence of drug use behaviors, sexual risk, and
      psychopathology may complicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention
      intervention for adolescents engaging in substance use and criminal behavior.
      However, few studies have examined these risk associations. OBJECTIVE: This study
      identified HIV risk behavior subgroups among adolescents in court-ordered
      substance abuse treatment and examined linkages with dimensions of internalizing
      and externalizing psychopathology. METHODS: Internalizing and externalizing
      behaviors were assessed with the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI).
      Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups on the basis of involvement
      in substance use proximal to sex, number of partners, and consistency of condom
      use. RESULTS: Participants (n = 301) were identified as demonstrating high,
      medium, or low levels of sexual risk behavior. Greater externalizing
      psychopathology distinguished the high risk class from the medium risk class and
      from the low risk class. CONCLUSION: Detained youth with particularly serious
      oppositional-defiant behavioral characteristics, substance use, and sex risk
      behavior likely require intensive interventions that address the multiple
      systemic factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of this
      pattern.

PMID- 26864055
TI  - Novel investigational vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor
      antagonists for psoriasis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Affecting 1 million people in the UK, psoriasis is a commonly
      diagnosed inflammatory disease arising from autoimmune processes that are
      triggered by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. The
      pathophysiology of psoriasis has been widely studied and there is evidence that
      angiogenesis is a key component. AREAS COVERED: In this review the role of
      vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), as a key angiogenic mediator in
      psoriasis pathogenesis is discussed. VEGF is found in higher levels in plaques,
      normal skin and plasma of patients with psoriasis. The level of VEGF also
      fluctuates in accordance with disease activity and in response to conventional
      treatments. There are several VEGF inhibitors currently licenced for use;
      primarily in the fields of oncology and there are case reports of patients being
      treated with these therapies for metastatic cancer who have demonstrated
      significant improvement in their psoriasis. VEGF inhibitory agents have suggested
      promising utility for the treatment of psoriasis following animal studies. EXPERT
      OPINION: VEGF may represent a novel treatment target in psoriasis. However, VEGF
      inhibitors can cause significant side effects such as hypertension and left
      ventricular dysfunction. The risks of treatment must be carefully evaluated
      before VEGF inhibitors are trialled or advocated for psoriasis.

PMID- 26864054
TI  - Imaging genomics in cancer research: limitations and promises.
AB  - Recently, radiogenomics or imaging genomics has emerged as a novel high
      throughput method of associating imaging features with genomic data.
      Radiogenomics has the potential to provide comprehensive intratumour, intertumour
      and peritumour information non-invasively. This review article summarizes the
      current state of radiogenomic research in tumour characterization, discusses some
      of its limitations and promises and projects its future directions. Semi
      radiogenomic studies that relate specific gene expressions to imaging features
      will also be briefly reviewed. 

PMID- 26864057
TI  - Does core stability exercise improve lumbopelvic stability (through endurance
      tests) more than general exercise in chronic low back pain? A quasi-randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim was to compare core stability and general exercises (GEs)
      in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients based on lumbopelvic stability (LPS)
      assessment through three endurance core stability tests. There is a controversy
      about preference of core stability exercise (CSE) over other types of exercise
      for chronic LBP. Studies which have compared these exercises used other outcomes
      than those related to LPS. As it is claimed that CSE enhances back stability,
      endurance tests for LPS were used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 16-session CSE
      program and a GE program with the same duration were conducted for two groups of
      participants. Frequency of interventions for both groups was three times a week.
      Forty-three people (aged 18-60 years) with chronic non-specific LBP were
      alternately allocated to core stability (n = 22) or GE group (n = 21) when
      admitted. The primary outcomes were three endurance core stability tests
      including: (1) trunk flexor; (2) trunk extensor; and (3) side bridge tests.
      Secondary outcomes were disability and pain. Measurements were taken at baseline
      and the end of the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, test times
      increased and disability and pain decreased within groups. There was no
      significant difference between two groups in increasing test times (p = 0.23 to p
      = 0.36) or decreasing disability (p = 0.16) and pain (p = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: CSE
      is not more effective than GE for improving endurance core stability tests and
      reducing disability and pain in chronic non-specific LBP patients.

PMID- 26864056
TI  - Piloting a new approach in primary care to identify, assess and support carers of
      people with terminal illnesses: a feasibility study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: General practices in the United Kingdom are encouraged to have a
      protocol for the identification of carers and a mechanism for social care
      referral. However, a minority of carers are identified and those caring for
      someone with a terminal illness often cope until the situation becomes
      overwhelming. Earlier identification could enable more timely support. The aim of
      this project was to model and pilot a systematic approach to identify, assess and
      support carers of people with supportive and palliative care needs in primary
      care. METHOD: The intervention was modelled on the Medical Research Council
      complex intervention framework with a preliminary theoretical phase, which has
      been reported elsewhere. In this study, which lasted 12 months, four general
      practices were recruited. Each practice identified a 'carer liaison' person to
      take the lead in identifying carers, followed by assessment and support using a
      toolkit modelled from the earlier phase. Qualitative evaluation interviews were
      conducted with carers who had received the intervention and the carer liaisons
      and general practitioners in the pilot practices. A stakeholder event was held to
      disseminate and deliberate the findings. RESULTS: The practices' populations
      ranged from 5840 to 10832 patients and across the four practices, 83 carers were
      identified. Thirty six carers were identified from practice registers (disease -
      16; palliative care - 9; carer - 11; advanced care plan - 12), whilst 28 were
      identified opportunistically by practice staff at appointments or at home. Seven
      carers self-identified. Overall, 81 carers received the carer pack and 25
      returned the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) form. Eleven carers
      received a follow up call from the practice to discuss support and 12 were also
      referred/signposted for support. Qualitative interviews suggest carers valued
      connection with their practices but the paperwork in the toolkit was onerous.
      CONCLUSION: This approach to identifying and supporting carers was acceptable,
      but success was dependent on engagement within the whole practice. Carers did not
      tend to self-identify, nor ask for help. Practices need to proactively identify
      carers using existing opportunities, resources and computer systems, and also
      adopt a public health approach to raise carer awareness and perceived support
      within their communities.

PMID- 26864059
TI  - [Hairy roots culture as a source of valuable biopharmaceuticals].
AB  - Plants have been exploited as a source of medicinal substances for years.
      Nowadays, achievements of modern science, including molecular biotechnology,
      allow their huge potential to be utilized. They have become a promising platform
      for the production of valuable compounds such as biopharmaceuticals. Among the
      various plant systems used for this purpose, hairy root cultures are also applied
      for the production of recombinant proteins and secondary metabolites. For this
      purpose plant cells of selected species are genetically transformed using
      different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes carrying the desired genes. The
      next steps of this process include stable and efficient expression of these
      genes. Hairy root cultures exhibit a number of features which make them
      attractive compared to various pro- and eukaryotic cell systems including other
      plant models. Their main advantages are: relatively low production costs, ease of
      scale-up, production of compounds typical for eukaryotic cells with post
      translational modifications, biological safety, and in many cases there is no
      need for complex purification techniques of the final product. Several compounds
      that are successfully obtained using this production strategy are valuable
      pharmaceuticals. This group includes selected cytokines, vaccine antigens and
      antibodies. 

PMID- 26864058
TI  - Biodistribution and toxicity of radio-labeled few layer graphene in mice after
      intratracheal instillation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The potential human health risks from graphene inhalation exposure
      have attracted substantial scientific interest as a result of the numerous
      exciting potential commercial applications of graphene. However, the long-term
      distribution of graphene in organisms after inhalation is unknown, largely as a
      result of challenges associated with accurate graphene quantification. METHODS:
      Carbon-14 labeled FLG was used to quantify the in vivo distribution of FLG in
      mice after oral gavage or intratracheal instillation for up to 3 or 28 days after
      exposure, respectively. RESULTS: Intratracheally instilled FLG was mainly
      retained in the lung with 47% remaining after 4 weeks. Exposure to non-labeled
      FLG resulted in dose-dependent acute lung injury and pulmonary edema, but these
      effects were alleviated with time despite the continued presence of FLG in the
      lungs. One percent and 0.18% of the intratracheally instilled FLG was present in
      the liver and spleen, respectively, after 14 days by passing through the air
      blood barrier, a finding supported by the results of oral gavage experiments
      which did not show detectable absorption through the gastrointestinal tract. In
      addition, 46.2% of the intratracheally instilled FLG was excreted through the
      feces 28 d after exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative measurements revealed the
      elimination mechanism for FLG and its biodistribution for two exposure pathways.
      Graphene persistence in the lung only caused transient pulmonary effects. The in
      vivo distribution, elimination, and toxicity results provided here measured using
      a robust quantitative method support the human health risk assessment of
      graphene.

PMID- 26864060
TI  - Disease duration and age influence CARD15 expression in Crohn's disease.
AB  - One of the susceptibility genes in Crohn's disease (CD) is CARD15. Our study
      examined the relationship between peripheral CARD15 expression and phenotype and
      duration of CD, treatment methods and inflammatory indices. Sixty patients with
      CD and 30 healthy volunteers as controls were enrolled in the study. Total RNA
      was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with E.Z.N.A. Total
      RNA Kit (Omega Bio-tek) then quantitative real-time PCR was performed on the ABI
      Prism 7900 HT Real-Time PCR System. CARD15 gene expression in PBMCs in CD was
      significantly higher than in the control group. The highest level of gene
      expression was found in CD patients in the fourth decade of life. The mRNA level
      of the CARD15 gene was higher in patients with disease duration between 12 and 60
      months. A positive correlation was found between erythrocyte sedimentation rate
      (ESR) and gene expression level. Gene expression increased with increasing level
      of C-reactive protein and ESR, but it was not statistically significant. CARD15
      expression significantly decreased in CD patients treated with anti-TNFalpha
      agents compared to azathioprine or steroid treatment groups. Expression of the
      CARD15 gene in Crohn>s disease is higher than in healthy individuals. Disease
      duration and age of patients seem to be the most important factors influencing
      CARD15 expression. 

PMID- 26864061
TI  - [MAVS protein and its interactions with hepatitis A, B and C viruses].
AB  - Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) transmits activation signal of
      type I interferon (IFN) gene transcription in the molecular intracellular
      pathway, which depends on the protein encoded by retinoic acid inducible gene I
      (RIG-I) or melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 (MDA-5). MAVS, as a
      signal molecule, performs an essential function in the development of an
      antiviral immune response. The molecule of MAVS consists of two domains: the N
      terminal domain and the C-terminal domain. The N-terminal end of MAVS contains
      the caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD). CARD is responsible for
      MAVS interaction with RIG-I and MDA-5, which act as cytosolic sensors detecting
      foreign viral genetic material in the host cell. After binding to viral RNA, RIG
      I or MDA-5 activates MAVS and transmits the signal of IFN type I gene expression.
      The C-terminal transmembrane domain (TM) of MAVS anchors the protein to the outer
      mitochondrial membrane. In this paper interactions between MAVS and hepatitis
      virus type A (HAV), type B (HBV) and type C (HCV) are presented. Mechanisms of
      indirect activation of MAVS by viral DNA and RNA, as well as the strategies of
      HAV, HBV and HCV for blocking of the intracellular signaling pathway at the level
      of MAVS, are described. 

PMID- 26864062
TI  - [Immune checkpoint-targeted cancer immunotherapies].
AB  - Tumor cells may express on their surface various characteristic antigens that can
      induce antitumor immunity. However, cancer in human body may induce an
      immunosuppressive microenvironment that limits immune response to its antigens.
      For many years scientists have tried to develop an immunotherapy which would
      induce a potent antitumor immune response and lead to an elimination of the
      disease. One of the most promising immunotherapies is blockade of immune
      checkpoints, i.e. a group of costimulatory molecules negatively regulating the
      immune system. Their blockade would overcome immune tolerance in the tumor
      microenvironment and amplify antitumor immunity. What's more, immune checkpoint
      blockade may turn out even more profitable, as some of immune checkpoints and
      their ligands are expressed on tumor surface and on tumor infiltrating
      lymphocytes, contributing to the immunosuppressive cancer microenvironment. Phase
      III clinical trials have confirmed efficacy of an anti-CTLA-4 antibody
      ipilimumab, thereby leading to its acceptance for the treatment of advanced
      melanoma. Thanks to promising results of the phase I clinical trials, a
      breakthrough therapy designation and an early approval for the treatment have
      been granted to anti-PD-1 antibodies - nivolumab (for the treatment of advanced
      melanoma and advanced non-small cell lung cancer) and pembrolizumab (for the
      treatment of advanced melanoma) and, in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer,
      an anti-PD-L1 antibody - MPDL3280A as well. Other immune checkpoints, such as LAG
      3, TIM-3, BTLA, B7-H3 and B7-H4, are also under early evaluation.

PMID- 26864063
TI  - [The latest recommendations on the use of new oral anticoagulants in routine
      practice].
AB  - The use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has become a
      breakthrough in anticoagulant treatment and it is expected to rise significantly
      in upcoming years. The use of conventional anticoagulants have several
      limitations: subcutaneous administration of heparin, or close monitoring of INR
      during application of vitamin K antagonists. In the last decade, target-specific
      oral anticoagulants (TSOAC) including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban
      have been marketed for prophylaxis and treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to
      understand the potential uses, side effects, and management of these agents in
      routine practice. NOACs have major pharmacologic advantages, including a rapid
      onset and offset of action, fewer drug interactions than conventional
      anticoagulants, and predictable pharmacokinetics. These agents are gaining
      popularity among both physicians and patients because of their easiness of
      administration and the eliminating the requirement for regular coagulation
      monitoring. In this review, we focus on discussing practical recommendations for
      the use of NOACs and the risks and benefits of incorporating them into routine
      practice. 

PMID- 26864064
TI  - Inflammation markers are associated with metabolic syndrome and ventricular
      arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a major role in the development and progression of
      atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). Inflammation markers,
      including white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin
      6 (IL-6), are widely used for cardiovascular risk prediction. The aim of the
      study was to establish factors associated with WBC, CRP and IL-6 in patients with
      CAD. Two functional polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes participating in
      adenosine metabolism were analyzed (C34T AMPD1, G22A ADA). METHODS: Plasma
      concentrations of IL-6 were measured using high-sensitivity ELISA kits, and the
      nephelometric method was used for high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) measurement in
      167 CAD patients. RESULTS: Presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its
      components, presence of heart failure, severity of CAD symptoms, severe past
      ventricular arrhythmia (sustained ventricular tachycardia [sVT] or ventricular
      fibrillation [VF]), lower left ventricle ejection fraction, higher left ventricle
      mass index, higher end-diastolic volume and higher number of smoking pack-years
      were significantly associated with higher WBC, CRP and IL-6. Strong associations
      with arrhythmia were observed for IL-6 (median 3.90 vs 1.89 pg/mL, p<0.00001) and
      CRP concentration (6.32 vs 1.47 mg/L, p=0.00009), while MS was associated most
      strongly with IL-6. CRP and IL-6 were independent markers discriminating patients
      with sVT or VF. There were no associations between AMPD1 or ADA genotypes and
      inflammation markers. CONCLUSIONS: WBC, CRP and IL-6 are strongly associated with
      components of the metabolic syndrome. Their strong association with life
      threatening ventricular arrhythmia emphasizes the proarrhythmic role of
      inflammation in the increased cardiovascular risk of CAD patients.

PMID- 26864065
TI  - [The importance of ADAM family proteins in malignant tumors].
AB  - Increasing numbers of reports about the role of adamalysins (ADAM) in malignant
      tumors are being published. To date, more than 30 representatives of this group,
      out of which about 20 occur in humans, have been described. The ADAM family is a
      homogeneous group of proteins which regulate, from the stage of embryogenesis, a
      series of processes such as cell migration, adhesion, and cell fusion. Half of
      them have proteolytic activity and are involved in the degradation of the
      extracellular matrix and the disintegration of certain protein complexes, thereby
      regulating the bioavailability of various growth factors. Many of these functions
      have a direct role in the processes of carcinogenesis and promoting the growth of
      tumor, which affect some signaling pathways, including those related to insulin
      like growth factors (IGF1, IGF2), vascular growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis
      factor alpha (TNFalpha) and the EGFR/HER pathway. Another branch of studies is
      the evaluation of the possibility of using members of ADAM family proteins in the
      diagnosis, especially in breast, colon and non- small cell lung cancer. The
      detection of concentrations of adamalysin in serum, urine and pleural aspirates
      might contribute to the development of methods of early diagnosis of cancer and
      monitoring the therapy. However, both the role of adamalysins in the development
      and progression of tumors and their importance as a diagnostic and predictive
      further research still need to be checked on large groups of patients.

PMID- 26864066
TI  - Effect of methylprednisolone, hyaluronic acid and pioglitazone on histological
      remodeling of temporomandibular joint cartilage in rabbits affected by drug
      induced osteoarthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to assess the anti-degenerative effects
      of pioglitazone and to compare these effects with those of methylprednisolone and
      hyaluronic acid on drug-induced osteoarthritis in rabbits' temporomandibular
      joint cartilage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 40
      Californian white rabbits. Degenerative changes were induced by intra-articular
      injections of papain. Subsequently, all of the animals were randomly assigned to
      one of four groups: 1) a control group that received no medications; 2) a group
      treated with 4 intra-articular injections of 2 mg (0.2 ml) of hyaluronic acid at
      weekly intervals; 3) a group treated with 4 intra-articular injections of 2 mg
      (0.1 ml) of methylprednisolone at weekly intervals; 4) a group administered
      pioglitazone orally in daily doses of 2 mg/kg of body weight. Four weeks after
      the beginning of drug administration, the rabbits were sacrificed. Sagittal
      sections of the intra-articular cartilage (discs) and mandibular condyles were
      stained with hematoxylin and eosin by the PAS technique and with van Gieson's
      solution. Histologic examinations, as well as cartilage thickness and number of
      cell layers measurements, were performed. RESULTS: Histologic assessment in cases
      of arthritis-associated pathologies revealed that changes occurred most
      frequently in the control group and least frequently in the pioglitazone group.
      There were no differences in the histological structures of the intra-articular
      discs. Cartilage thickness measurements demonstrated the thinnest cartilage in
      group 2 and the thickest in group 3. Analysis of cell layer numbers showed the
      most numerous layers in the pioglitazone group and the least in the control
      group. CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone and hyaluronic acid showed anti-degenerative
      properties compared to methylprednisolone in an animal model.

PMID- 26864067
TI  - 786T/c endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism and coronary
      collateral circulation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In this study, we investigated the association between -786T/C
      polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide (NOS3) gene in which thymidine is
      replaced by a cytosine at nucleotide -786 (rs 2070744) and coronary collateral
      circulation (CCC) in patients with stable coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: 286 patients having a critical stenosis (> 95%) in at least one major
      epicardial coronary vessel were included in the study. CCC was defined according
      to the Rentrop classification (R). Patients with R0-1 CCC were included in the
      poor CCC group and subjects with R2-3 CCC were assigned to the good CCC group.
      The polymerase chain reaction method was used for genotyping. 152 patients with
      poor CCC and 134 patients with good CCC were examined. RESULTS: The frequency of
      cytosine-cytosine (CC) and thymidine-cytosine (TC) genotypes and allele C were
      higher in the poor CCC group, but the difference did not reach statistical
      significance. In the dominant model, the frequency of CC+TC vs. thymidine
      thymidine (TT) genotypes was significantly higher in the poor CCC group (67.1%
      vs. 54.5%, respectively; chi2=4.78; p=0.02). In multivariate regression analysis,
      the dominant model for -786T/C polymorphism of the NOS3 gene remained as an
      independent correlate of poor CCC. DISCUSSION: -786T/C polymorphism of the NOS3
      gene (rs 2070744) may be associated with poor angiogenesis and the development of
      CCC in stable coronary artery disease.

PMID- 26864068
TI  - Clinical Experience With n-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate in Performing Lateral Neck
      Dissection for Metastatic Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - Background Chyle leakage following lateral neck dissection (LND) is rare, but can
      induce metabolic disturbances, delay wound healing, and prolong hospitalization.
      n-Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) has been used to achieve hemostasis and seal
      tissues in several surgical settings. We here assessed whether application of
      NBCA to the thoracic duct area is effective in sealing chyle leakage. Methods The
      medical records of 163 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with unilateral
      LND between March 2011 and September 2012 were reviewed. NBCA was applied to 84
      patients and not applied to 79. Drainage volume, duration of hospital stay, and
      incidence of complications were compared between the 2 groups. Results The 2
      groups were not different with regard to age, body weight, gender, primary tumor
      histology, and number of lateral neck nodes harvested. Mean hospital stay was
      significantly shorter (4.3 +/- 1.8 vs 5.7 +/- 3.0 days, P < .001), median total
      drainage volume was significantly smaller (270 mL; range: 97-931 mL vs 328 mL;
      range: 113-2636 mL; P < .001), and rate of chyle leakage was significantly lower
      (0% vs 6.3%, P = .025) in the NBCA than in the non-NBCA group. Conclusion NBCA
      application to the dissected area of the thoracic duct posterior to its angle of
      junction with the internal jugular and subclavian veins could be safe and
      effective in reducing surgical complications related to chyle leakage after LND. 

PMID- 26864069
TI  - Painless, gradually enlarging, subcutaneous lesion of the eyelid.

PMID- 26864070
TI  - Effect of temperature and relative humidity on the development times and survival
      of Synopsyllus fonquerniei and Xenopsylla cheopis, the flea vectors of plague in
      Madagascar.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plague, a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, is found in Asia, the
      Americas but mainly in Africa, with the island of Madagascar reporting almost one
      third of human cases worldwide. In the highlands of Madagascar, plague is
      transmitted predominantly by two flea species which coexist on the island, but
      differ in their distribution. The endemic flea, Synopsyllus fonquerniei,
      dominates flea communities on rats caught outdoors, while the cosmopolitan flea,
      Xenopsylla cheopis, is found mostly on rats caught in houses. Additionally S.
      fonquerniei seems restricted to areas above 800 m. Climatic constraints on the
      development of the two main vectors of plague could explain the differences in
      their distribution and the seasonal changes in their abundance. Here we present
      the first study on effects of temperature and relative humidity on the immature
      stages of both vector species. METHODS: We examined the two species' temperature
      and humidity requirements under experimental conditions at five different
      temperatures and two relative humidities. By employing multivariate and survival
      analysis we established the impact of temperature and relative humidity on
      development times and survival for both species. Using degree-day analysis we
      then predicted the average developmental threshold for larvae to reach pupation
      and for pupae to complete development under each treatment. This analysis was
      undertaken separately for the two relative humidities and for the two species.
      RESULTS: Development times and time to death differed significantly, with the
      endemic S. fonquerniei taking on average 1.79 times longer to complete
      development and having a shorter time to death than X. cheopis under adverse
      conditions with high temperature and low humidity. Temperature had a significant
      effect on the development times of flea larvae and pupae. While humidity did not
      affect the development times of either species, it did influence the time of
      death of S. fonquerniei. Using degree-day analysis we estimated an average
      developmental threshold of 9  degrees C for S. fonquerniei, and 12.5  degrees C
      for X. cheopis. CONCLUSIONS: While many vector-borne diseases are limited to
      warm, low-lying regions, plague in Madagascar is unusual in being most prevalent
      in the cool, highland regions of the country. Our results point towards the
      possibility that this is because the endemic flea vector, S. fonquerniei, is
      better adapted to cool temperatures than the exotic flea vector, X. cheopis.
      Future warming caused by climate change might reduce the area suitable for S.
      fonquerniei and may thus reduce the incidence of plague in Madagascar.

PMID- 26864071
TI  - Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risk factors in special
      education teachers and teacher's aides.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have become
      increasingly common among health-related professionals. Special education
      personnel who serve students with disabilities often experience physical strains;
      however, WMSDs have been overlooked in this population. The objectives of this
      study were to investigate the work-related ergonomics-associated factors in this
      population and to evaluate their correlation with the WMSDs prevalence. METHODS:
      A questionnaire with three domains, namely demographics, prevalence of work
      related musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic factors, designed by our
      research team was delivered to educators who work in special education schools.
      RESULTS: Approximately 86 % of the 388 special education school teachers and
      teacher's aides in this study experienced musculoskeletal disorders. The lower
      back, shoulder, and wrist were the three most affected regions. A logistic
      regression analysis revealed that the participants' background factors, namely
      >5.5 years of experience (odds ratio [OR] = 4.090, 95 % CI: 1.350-12.390),
      students with multiple disorders (OR = 2.412, 95 % CI: 1.100-5.287), and other
      work-related ergonomic factors (assistance in diaper changing and others duties),
      were strongly associated with the prevalence of WMSD. Nap habit (OR = 0.442, 95 %
      CI: 0.230-0.851) and having teaching partners in the same class (OR = 0.486, 95 %
      CI: 0.250-0.945) resulted in low possibility of acquiring WMSDs. The use of
      supportive devices was associated with a low WMSD prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The
      present study revealed an association between WMSDs and specific job features
      among teachers and teacher's aides in special education schools. Future efforts
      should emphasize examining safe student-handling ergonomics, formulating policies
      regarding student-teacher ratio, incorporating mandatory break times at the
      workplaces, and promoting personal health for preventing work-related injuries.

PMID- 26864072
TI  - Integrative modeling of multi-omics data to identify cancer drivers and infer
      patient-specific gene activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High throughput technologies have been used to profile genes in
      multiple different dimensions, such as genetic variation, copy number, gene and
      protein expression, epigenetics, metabolomics. Computational analyses often treat
      these different data types as independent, leading to an explosion in the number
      of features making studies under-powered and more importantly do not provide a
      comprehensive view of the gene's state. We sought to infer gene activity by
      integrating different dimensions using biological knowledge of oncogenes and
      tumor suppressors. RESULTS: This paper proposes an integrative model of oncogene
      and tumor suppressor activity in cells which is used to identify cancer drivers
      and compute patient-specific gene activity scores. We have developed a Fuzzy
      Logic Modeling (FLM) framework to incorporate biological knowledge with multi
      omics data such as somatic mutation, gene expression and copy number
      measurements. The advantage of using a fuzzy logic approach is to abstract
      meaningful biological rules from low-level numerical data. Biological knowledge
      is often qualitative, thus combining it with quantitative numerical measurements
      may leverage new biological insights about a gene's state. We show that the
      oncogenic and altered tumor suppressing state of a gene can be better
      characterized by integrating different molecular measurements with biological
      knowledge than by each data type alone. We validate the gene activity score using
      data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and drug sensitivity data for five
      compounds: BYL719 (PIK3CA inhibitor), PLX4720 (BRAF inhibitor), AZD6244 (MEK
      inhibitor), Erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor), and Nutlin-3 (MDM2 inhibitor). The
      integrative score improves prediction of drug sensitivity for the known drug
      targets of these compounds compared to each data type alone. The gene activity
      scores are also used to cluster colorectal cancer cell lines. Two subtypes of
      CRCs were found and potential cancer drivers and therapeutic targets for each of
      the subtypes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a fuzzy logic based
      approach to infer gene activity in cancer by integrating numerical data with
      descriptive biological knowledge. We compute general patient-specific gene-level
      scores useful to determine the oncogenic or tumor suppressor status of cancer
      gene drivers and to cluster or classify patients.

PMID- 26864073
TI  - Sleeping in on pancreatic cancer pain: Schwann cell secreted IL-6 pushes snooze
      on the pain alarm.

PMID- 26864074
TI  - Exploring psychiatry through images and objects.

PMID- 26864076
TI  - Alpha-synuclein: relating metals to structure, function and inhibition.
AB  - Alpha-synuclein has long been studied due to its involvement in the progression
      of Parkinson's disease (PD), a common neurodegenerative disorder, although a
      consensus on the exact function of this protein is elusive. This protein shows
      remarkable structural plasticity and this property is important for both correct
      cellular function and pathological progression of PD. Formation of intracellular
      oligomeric species within the substantia nigra correlates with disease
      progression and it has been proposed that formation of a partially folded
      intermediate is key to the initiation of the fibrillisation process. Many factors
      can influence changes in the structure of alpha-synuclein such as disease
      mutations and interaction with metals and neurotransmitters. High concentrations
      of both dopamine and metals are present in the substantia nigra making this an
      ideal location for both the structural alteration of alpha-synuclein and the
      production of toxic oxygen species. The recent proposal that alpha-synuclein is a
      ferrireductase is important as it can possibly catalyse the formation of such
      reactive species and as a result exacerbate neurodegeneration. 

PMID- 26864075
TI  - Aptamers in analytics.
AB  - Nucleic acid aptamers are promising alternatives to antibodies in analytics. They
      are generally obtained through an iterative SELEX protocol that enriches a
      population of synthetic oligonucleotides to a subset that can recognize the
      chosen target molecule specifically and avidly. A wide range of targets is
      recognized by aptamers. Once identified and optimized for performance, aptamers
      can be reproducibly synthesized and offer other key features, like small size,
      low cost, sensitivity, specificity, rapid response, stability, and reusability.
      This makes them excellent options for sensory units in a variety of analytical
      platforms including those with electrochemical, optical, and mass sensitive
      transduction detection. Many novel sensing strategies have been developed by
      rational design to take advantage of the tendency of aptamers to undergo
      conformational changes upon target/analyte binding and employing the principles
      of base complementarity that can drive the nucleic acid structure. Despite their
      many advantages over antibodies, surprisingly few aptamers have yet been
      integrated into commercially available analytical devices. In this review, we
      discuss how to select and engineer aptamers for their identified application(s),
      some of the challenges faced in developing aptamers for analytics and many
      examples of their reported successful performance as sensors in a variety of
      analytical platforms. 

PMID- 26864077
TI  - Sequential processing of mannose-containing glycans by two alpha-mannosidases
      from Solitalea canadensis.
AB  - Two putative alpha-mannosidase genes isolated from the rather unexplored soil
      bacterium Solitalea canadensis were cloned and biochemically characterised. Both
      recombinant enzymes were highly selective in releasing alpha-linked mannose but
      no other sugars. The alpha-mannosidases were designated Sca2/3Man2693 and
      Sca6Man4191, and showed the following biochemical properties: the temperature
      optimum for both enzymes was 37  degrees C, and their pH optima lay at 5.0 and
      5.5, respectively. The activity of Sca2/3Man2693 was found to be dependent on
      Ca(2+) ions, whereas Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) ions almost completely inhibited both
      alpha-mannosidases. Specificity screens with various substrates revealed that
      Sca2/3Man2693 could release both alpha1-2- and alpha1-3-linked mannose, whereas
      Sca6Man4191 only released alpha1-6-linked mannose. The combined enzymatic action
      of both recombinant alpha-mannosidases allowed the sequential degradation of high
      mannose-type N-glycans. The facile expression and purification procedures in
      combination with strict substrate specificities make alpha-mannosidases from S.
      canadensis promising candidates for bioanalytical applications. 

PMID- 26864079
TI  - Squamous Cell Cancer of Unknown Primary and Primary Breast Cancer in an HIV
      Infected Woman: The Importance of Cancer Screening for People Living with
      HIV/AIDS.
AB  - People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are surviving longer, with an increased risk
      of cancer. Cancer screening strategies in PLWHA are lacking. We describe the case
      of a woman with a history of AIDS, who had a nondetectable viral load on
      treatment. She is an activist, promoting HIV care, but had not undergone routine
      screening for breast, cervical, or colonic neoplasia. She presented with a left
      groin mass, which on biopsy proved to be a p16 immuno-histochemical positive
      squamous cell carcinoma. Anal and cervicovaginal examinations did not show
      invasive cancer, although high-resolution anoscopy identified high-grade anal
      dysplasia. A mammogram followed by magnetic resonance imaging showed invasive
      ductal carcinoma. Her breast cancer was treated with lumpectomy, adjuvant
      brachytherapy and chemotherapy. The left groin tumor was treated with chemo
      radiation. Herein, we also review medical literature concerning anal, cervical,
      breast, colorectal, and lung cancer screening for PLWHA, which is important for
      our aging population of PLWHA.

PMID- 26864080
TI  - Dynamics of intramolecular spin exchange interaction of a nitronyl nitroxide
      diradical in solution and on surfaces.
AB  - In this paper we report the study of the dynamics of a thermally modulated
      intramolecular spin exchange interaction of a novel diradical nitronyl nitroxide
      substituted disulfide in solution and when it is grafted on a gold surface. The
      structure of this diradical was designed to have flexible chains leading to
      intramolecular collisions and hence spin exchange interaction, and with an
      appropriate binding group to be grafted on the gold surface to study its behavior
      on the surface. In solution, this diradical shows a strong spin exchange
      interaction between both radicals which is modulated by temperature, but also
      gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with this diradical permit
      investigation of such a phenomenon in surface-grafted radicals. The spin-labelled
      AuNP synthesis was optimized to obtain high coverage of spin labels to lead to
      high spin exchange interaction. The obtained AuNPs were studied by Electron
      Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), UV-Vis, and IR spectroscopies, HR-TEM microscopy,
      Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and
      Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). This inorganic-organic hybrid material also
      showed dipolar interactions between its radicals which were confirmed by the
      appearance in the EPR spectra of an |Deltams| = 2 transition at half-field. This
      signal gives direct evidence of the presence of a high-spin state and permitted
      us to study the nature of the magnetic coupling between the spins which was found
      to be antiferromagnetic. Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) of these radicals on
      the Au (111) substrate were also prepared and studied by contact angle, X-Ray
      Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
      (ToF-SIMS), Cyclic Voltammetry and EPR. The magnetic as well as the
      electrochemical properties of the hybrid surfaces were studied and compared with
      the properties of this diradical in solution. Analogies between the properties of
      AuNPs with high coverage of radicals and those of SAM were observed. 

PMID- 26864078
TI  - The expanding role of metformin in cancer: an update on antitumor mechanisms and
      clinical development.
AB  - Metformin has been used for nearly a century to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.
      Epidemiologic studies first identified the association between metformin and
      reduced risk of several cancers. The anticancer mechanisms of metformin involve
      both indirect or insulin-dependent pathways and direct or insulin-independent
      pathways. Preclinical studies have demonstrated metformin's broad anticancer
      activity across a spectrum of malignancies. Prospective clinical trials involving
      metformin in the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer now number in the
      hundreds. We provide an update on the anticancer mechanisms of metformin and
      review the results thus far available from prospective clinical trials
      investigating metformin's efficacy in cancer.

PMID- 26864081
TI  - Structural analysis of HyFlex EDM instruments.
AB  - AIM: To compare the phase transformation behaviour, the microstructure, the nano
      hardness and the surface chemistry of electro-discharge machined HyFlex EDM
      instruments with conventionally manufactured HyFlex CM. METHODOLOGY: New and
      laboratory used HyFlex EDM were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
      differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nano-hardness and modulus of elasticity
      were also investigated using a maximum load of 20 mN with a minimum of 40
      significant indentations for each sample. Raman spectroscopy and field emission
      scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were used to assess the surface chemistry
      of HyFlex EDM. HyFlex CM were subjected to the same investigations and used as a
      comparison. Nano-indentation data were statistically analysed using the Student's
      t-test. RESULTS: XRD analysis on HyFlex EDM revealed the presence of martensite
      and rhombohedral R-phase, while a mixture of martensite and austenite structure
      was identified in HyFlex CM. DSC analysis also disclosed higher austenite finish
      (Af) temperatures for electro-discharge machining (EDM) instruments. Significant
      differences in nano-hardness and modulus of elasticity were found between EDM and
      CM files (P < 0.05). FE-SEM and EDS analyses confirmed that both new EDM and CM
      files were covered by an oxide layer. Micro-Raman spectroscopy assessed the
      presence of rutile-TiO2 . CONCLUSIONS: HyFlex EDM revealed peculiar structural
      properties, such as increased phase transformation temperatures and hardness.
      Present results corroborated previous findings and shed light on the enhanced
      mechanical behaviour of these instruments.

PMID- 26864082
TI  - A scalable synthesis of N-doped Si nanoparticles for high-performance Li-ion
      batteries.
AB  - N-doped Si nanoparticles were prepared synchronously by nitridation of Mg2Si. The
      existence of nitrogen doping can be demonstrated by the XPS spectrum and EELS
      energy-filtered images. When the N-doped Si nanoparticles were used as an anode
      for Li-ion batteries, a high reversible capacity of 2595 mA h g(-1) at 0.36 A g(
      1) after 40 cycles, and 805 mA h g(-1) at 3.6 A g(-1) after 800 cycles could be
      obtained. 

PMID- 26864083
TI  - Pneumatically actuated microvalve circuits for programmable automation of
      chemical and biochemical analysis.
AB  - Programmable microfluidic platforms (PMPs) are enabling significant advances in
      the utility of microfluidics for chemical and biochemical analysis. Traditional
      microfluidic devices are analogous to application-specific devices--a new device
      is needed to implement each new chemical or biochemical assay. PMPs are analogous
      to digital electronic processors--all that is needed to implement a new assay is
      a change in the order of operations conducted by the device. In this review, we
      introduce PMPs based on normally-closed microvalves. We discuss recent
      applications of PMPs in diverse fields including genetic analysis, antibody-based
      biomarker analysis, and chemical analysis in planetary exploration. Prospects,
      challenges, and future concepts for this emerging technology will also be
      presented.

PMID- 26864084
TI  - An Ultra-wideband and Polarization-independent Metasurface for RCS Reduction.
AB  - In this paper, an ultra-wideband and polarization-independent metasurface for
      radar cross section (RCS) reduction is proposed. The unit cell of the metasurface
      operates in a linear cross-polarization scheme in a broad band. The phase and
      amplitude of cross-polarized reflection can be separately controlled by its
      geometry and rotation angle. Based on the diffuse reflection theory, a 3-bit
      coding metasurface is designed to reduce the RCS in an ultra-wide band. The
      wideband property of the metasurface benefits from the wideband cross
      polarization conversion and flexible phase modulation. In addition, the
      polarization-independent feature of the metasurface is achieved by tailoring the
      rotation angle of each element. Both the simulated and measured results
      demonstrate that the proposed metasurface can reduce the RCS significantly in an
      ultra-wide frequency band for both normal and oblique incidences, which makes it
      promising in the applications such as electromagnetic cloaking. 

PMID- 26864085
TI  - The ALSFRS as an outcome measure in therapeutic trials and its relationship to
      symptom onset.
AB  - The reduction in ALS Functional Rating Score (ALSFRS) from reported symptom onset
      to diagnosis is used to estimate rate of disease progression. ALSFRS decline may
      be non-linear or distorted by drop-outs in therapeutic trials, reducing the
      reliability of change in slope as an outcome measure. The PRO-ACT database
      uniquely allows such measures to be explored using historical data from negative
      therapeutic trials. The decline of functional scores was analysed in 18 pooled
      trials, comparing rates of decline based on symptom onset with rates calculated
      between interval assessments. Strategies to mitigate the effects of trial drop
      out were considered. Results showed that progression rate calculated by symptom
      onset underestimated the subsequent rate of disability accumulation, although it
      predicted survival more accurately than four-month interval estimates of
      deltaALSFRS or deltaFVC. Individual ALSFRS and FVC progression within a typical
      trial duration were linear. No simple solution to correct for trial drop-out was
      identified, but imputation using deltaALSFRS appeared least disruptive. In
      conclusion, there is a trade-off between the drive to recruit trial participants
      soon after symptom onset, and reduced reliability of the ALSFRS-derived
      progression rate at enrolment. The need for objective markers of disease activity
      as an alternative to survival-based end-points is clear and pressing.

PMID- 26864086
TI  - A dilation-driven vortex flow in sheared granular materials explains a rheometric
      anomaly.
AB  - Granular flows occur widely in nature and industry, yet a continuum description
      that captures their important features is yet not at hand. Recent experiments on
      granular materials sheared in a cylindrical Couette device revealed a puzzling
      anomaly, wherein all components of the stress rise nearly exponentially with
      depth. Here we show, using particle dynamics simulations and imaging experiments,
      that the stress anomaly arises from a remarkable vortex flow. For the entire
      range of fill heights explored, we observe a single toroidal vortex that spans
      the entire Couette cell and whose sense is opposite to the uppermost Taylor
      vortex in a fluid. We show that the vortex is driven by a combination of shear
      induced dilation, a phenomenon that has no analogue in fluids, and gravity flow.
      Dilatancy is an important feature of granular mechanics, but not adequately
      incorporated in existing models. 

PMID- 26864087
TI  - Quantitatively resolving multivalent interactions on a macroscopic scale using
      force spectroscopy.
AB  - Multivalent interactions remain difficult to be characterized and consequently
      controlled, particularly on a macroscopic scale. Using force-induced remnant
      magnetization spectroscopy (FIRMS), we have resolved the single-, double-, and
      triple-biotin-streptavidin interactions, multivalent DNA interactions and CXCL12
      CXCR4 interactions on millimetre-scale surfaces. Our results establish FIRMS as a
      viable method for systematic resolution and controlled formation of multivalent
      interactions. 

PMID- 26864088
TI  - On the assessment of spatial resolution of PET systems with iterative image
      reconstruction.
AB  - Spatial resolution is an important metric for performance characterization in PET
      systems. Measuring spatial resolution is straightforward with a linear
      reconstruction algorithm, such as filtered backprojection, and can be performed
      by reconstructing a point source scan and calculating the full-width-at-half
      maximum (FWHM) along the principal directions. With the widespread adoption of
      iterative reconstruction methods, it is desirable to quantify the spatial
      resolution using an iterative reconstruction algorithm. However, the task can be
      difficult because the reconstruction algorithms are nonlinear and the non
      negativity constraint can artificially enhance the apparent spatial resolution if
      a point source image is reconstructed without any background. Thus, it was
      recommended that a background should be added to the point source data before
      reconstruction for resolution measurement. However, there has been no detailed
      study on the effect of the point source contrast on the measured spatial
      resolution. Here we use point source scans from a preclinical PET scanner to
      investigate the relationship between measured spatial resolution and the point
      source contrast. We also evaluate whether the reconstruction of an isolated point
      source is predictive of the ability of the system to resolve two adjacent point
      sources. Our results indicate that when the point source contrast is below a
      certain threshold, the measured FWHM remains stable. Once the contrast is above
      the threshold, the measured FWHM monotonically decreases with increasing point
      source contrast. In addition, the measured FWHM also monotonically decreases with
      iteration number for maximum likelihood estimate. Therefore, when measuring
      system resolution with an iterative reconstruction algorithm, we recommend using
      a low-contrast point source and a fixed number of iterations. 

PMID- 26864089
TI  - Identification and Functional Prediction of Large Intergenic Noncoding RNAs
      (lincRNAs) in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
AB  - Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized in recent years as key
      regulators of diverse cellular processes. Genome-wide large-scale projects have
      uncovered thousands of lncRNAs in many model organisms. Large intergenic
      noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are lncRNAs that are transcribed from intergenic
      regions of genomes. To date, no lincRNAs in non-model teleost fish have been
      reported. In this report, we present the first reference catalog of 9674 rainbow
      trout lincRNAs based on analysis of RNA-Seq data from 15 tissues. Systematic
      analysis revealed that lincRNAs in rainbow trout share many characteristics with
      those in other mammalian species. They are shorter and lower in exon number and
      expression level compared with protein-coding genes. They show tissue-specific
      expression pattern and are typically co-expressed with their neighboring genes.
      Co-expression network analysis suggested that many lincRNAs are associated with
      immune response, muscle differentiation, and neural development. The study
      provides an opportunity for future experimental and computational studies to
      uncover the functions of lincRNAs in rainbow trout. 

PMID- 26864090
TI  - Specificity vs versatility: A fine balance for novel targeted molecular imaging
      radiotracers.

PMID- 26864091
TI  - Caffeine does not significantly reduce the sensitivity of vasodilator stress MPI:
      Rebuttal.

PMID- 26864092
TI  - Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
      With Statin Therapy: 20-Year Follow-Up of West of Scotland Coronary Prevention
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extended follow-up of statin-based low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol lowering trials improves the understanding of statin safety and
      efficacy. Examining cumulative cardiovascular events (total burden of disease)
      gives a better appreciation of the clinical value of statins. This article
      evaluates the long-term impact of therapy on mortality and cumulative morbidity
      in a high-risk cohort of men. METHODS AND RESULTS: The West of Scotland Coronary
      Prevention Study was a primary prevention trial in 45- to 64-year-old men with
      high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A total of 6595 men were randomized to
      receive pravastatin 40 mg once daily or placebo for an average of 4.9 years.
      Subsequent linkage to electronic health records permitted analysis of major
      incident events over 20 years. Post trial statin use was recorded for 5 years
      after the trial but not for the last 10 years. Men allocated to pravastatin had
      reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.80
      0.94; P=0.0007), attributable mainly to a 21% decrease in cardiovascular death
      (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.90; P=0.0004). There was no
      difference in noncardiovascular or cancer death rates between groups. Cumulative
      hospitalization event rates were lower in the statin-treated arm: by 18% for any
      coronary event (P=0.002), by 24% for myocardial infarction (P=0.01), and by 35%
      for heart failure (P=0.002). There were no significant differences between groups
      in hospitalization for noncardiovascular causes. CONCLUSION: Statin treatment for
      5 years was associated with a legacy benefit, with improved survival and a
      substantial reduction in cardiovascular disease outcomes over a 20-year period,
      supporting the wider adoption of primary prevention strategies.

PMID- 26864093
TI  - Percutaneous Lymphatic Embolization of Abnormal Pulmonary Lymphatic Flow as
      Treatment of Plastic Bronchitis in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plastic bronchitis is a potentially fatal disorder occurring in
      children with single-ventricle physiology, and other diseases, as well, such as
      asthma. In this study, we report findings of abnormal pulmonary lymphatic flow,
      demonstrated by MRI lymphatic imaging, in patients with plastic bronchitis and
      percutaneous lymphatic intervention as a treatment for these patients. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: This is a retrospective case series of 18 patients with surgically
      corrected congenital heart disease and plastic bronchitis who presented for
      lymphatic imaging and intervention. Lymphatic imaging included heavy T2-weighted
      MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiogram. All patients
      underwent bilateral intranodal lymphangiogram, and most patients underwent
      percutaneous lymphatic intervention. In 16 of 18 patients, MRI or lymphangiogram
      or both demonstrated retrograde lymphatic flow from the thoracic duct toward lung
      parenchyma. Intranodal lymphangiogram and thoracic duct catheterization was
      successful in all patients. Seventeen of 18 patients underwent either lymphatic
      embolization procedures or thoracic duct stenting with covered stents to exclude
      retrograde flow into the lungs. One of the 2 patients who did not have retrograde
      lymphatic flow did not undergo a lymphatic interventional procedure. A total of
      15 of 17(88%) patients who underwent an intervention had significant symptomatic
      improvement at a median follow-up of 315 days (range, 45-770 days). The most
      common complication observed was nonspecific transient abdominal pain and
      transient hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated abnormal
      pulmonary lymphatic perfusion in most patients with plastic bronchitis.
      Interruption of the lymphatic flow resulted in significant improvement of
      symptoms in these patients and, in some cases, at least temporary resolution of
      cast formation.

PMID- 26864094
TI  - Hierarchical emergence of sequence sensitivity in the songbird auditory
      forebrain.
AB  - Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata var. domestica) generate more complex
      sequences in their songs than zebra finches. Because of this, we chose this
      species to explore the signal processing of sound sequence in the primary
      auditory forebrain area, field L, and in a secondary area, the caudomedial
      nidopallium (NCM). We simultaneously recorded activity from multiple single units
      in urethane-anesthetized birds. We successfully replicated the results of a
      previous study in awake zebra finches examining stimulus-specific habituation of
      NCM neurons to conspecific songs. Then, we used an oddball paradigm and compared
      the neural response to deviant sounds that were presented infrequently, with the
      response to standard sounds, which were presented frequently. In a single sound
      oddball task, two different song elements were assigned for the deviant and
      standard sounds. The response bias to deviant elements was larger in NCM than in
      field L. In a triplet sequence oddball task, two triplet sequences containing
      elements ABC and ACB were assigned as the deviant and standard. Only neurons in
      NCM that displayed broad-shaped spike waveforms had sensitivity to the difference
      in element order. Our results suggest the hierarchical processing of complex
      sound sequences in the songbird auditory forebrain. 

PMID- 26864095
TI  - Emollient efficacy and acceptability in the treatment of eczematous dry skin: A
      double-blind, randomised comparison of two UK-marketed products.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the moisturising efficacy and
      acceptability of physical characteristics of two commonly prescribed emollients
      licenced in the UK, Doublebase Dayleve gel (DELP) and Diprobase cream (DIPC).
      METHODS: The study was a double-blind, concurrent bi-lateral comparison in female
      eczema subjects with dry skin. RESULTS: In Part 1, comparing the area under the
      curve (AUC) change from baseline corneometer readings over 24 h following single
      applications of the emollients to the volar forearms of 34 subjects, the AUC for
      DELP was more than three times that seen for DIPC (p < 0.0001). In Part 2,
      comparing the same outcome measured over 5 days of twice daily applications to
      the lower legs in 36 subjects, the AUC for DELP was approximately five times that
      for DIPC (p < 0.0001). 69% of subjects "Like Slightly" or "Like Strongly" DELP
      compared to 33% for DIPC (p = 0.025). 72% indicated they would use DELP again
      compared to 33% for DIPC (p = 0.033). 75% of subjects preferred DELP, 17%
      preferred DIPC and 8% expressed no preference (p = 0.0004).

PMID- 26864097
TI  - Notification that new names of prokaryotes, new combinations and new taxonomic
      opinions have appeared in volume 65, part 10, of the IJSEM.
AB  - This listing of names of prokaryotes published in a previous issue of the IJSEM
      is provided as a service to bacteriology to assist in the recognition of new
      names and new combinations. This procedure was proposed by the Judicial
      Commission [Minute 11(ii), Int J Syst Bacteriol 41 (1991), p. 185]. The names
      given herein are listed according to the Rules of priority (i.e. page number and
      order of valid publication of names in the original articles).ijsem000745-t01. 

PMID- 26864096
TI  - Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: What we have Learned in the Last 25 Years? (A
      Comparative Literature Review).
AB  - We performed a comparative literature review, to elucidate the major features of
      the Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy (TCM) collected in last 25 years. TCM is
      characterized by left- or biventricular apical ballooning with a clinical
      presentation, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and biomarker profils similar
      to those seen in acute myocardial infarction. Epidemiological studies have shown
      that TCM is more common in postmenopausal women; however exact figures are not
      available. The underlying aetiology is still largely undetermined. Elevated
      catecholamine levels, lack of estrogen, disturbed myocardial fatty acid
      metabolism and plaque rupture with spontaneous thrombolysis are potentially
      discussed mechanisms responsible for inducing a prolonged stunned myocardium.
      Strong emotional or physical stress is the most frequently described trigger in
      the literature. Therapy recommendations include appropriate antiplatelet
      treatment, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. The abnormal kinetics usually
      resolve or improve within a month and carry a favorable prognosis in most cases.
      However, all the suspected complications of an acute myocardial infarction,
      including cardiogenic shock or lethal arrhythmias, may still occur.

PMID- 26864098
TI  - The promotional effect of surface defects on the catalytic performance of
      supported nickel-based catalysts.
AB  - Controlling the metal-support interactions, as well as the nature of support
      materials, is of vital importance for enhancing the catalytic performance of
      supported metal catalysts. In the present work, supported nickel nanocatalysts
      with abundant surface defects (e.g. oxygen vacancies, Ti(3+) species) were
      directly synthesized via a facile single-source Ni-Ti layered double hydroxide
      precursor route, and their catalytic performance in the liquid phase selective
      hydrogenation of chloronitrobenzenes to chloroanilines was investigated. A series
      of characterization techniques including XRD, TEM, STEM, PL, XPS, H2-TPR and H2
      chemisorption clearly demonstrated that the resultant Ni nanoparticles were
      uniformly dispersed on the surface of the Ni-Ti mixed metal oxide support formed
      in situ, thereby leading to strong metal-support interactions and the formation
      of a large amount of surface oxygen vacancies and Ti(3+) species. Compared with
      that prepared using a conventional impregnation method, the as-formed Ni-based
      nanocatalysts exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic performance with a high
      chloroaniline yield of 99.0% under mild reaction conditions (i.e. a low hydrogen
      pressure of 0.2 MPa). Such an unprecedented catalytic efficiency was mainly
      attributed to the promotional effect of surface defects. Furthermore, the present
      Ni-based nanocatalysts could be reused five times without serious aggregation of
      active species and remarkable activity loss, indicative of high stability. 

PMID- 26864099
TI  - Optical Dark Rogue Wave.
AB  - Photonics enables to develop simple lab experiments that mimic water rogue wave
      generation phenomena, as well as relativistic gravitational effects such as event
      horizons, gravitational lensing and Hawking radiation. The basis for analog
      gravity experiments is light propagation through an effective moving medium
      obtained via the nonlinear response of the material. So far, analogue gravity
      kinematics was reproduced in scalar optical wave propagation test models.
      Multimode and spatiotemporal nonlinear interactions exhibit a rich spectrum of
      excitations, which may substantially expand the range of rogue wave phenomena,
      and lead to novel space-time analogies, for example with multi-particle
      interactions. By injecting two colliding and modulated pumps with orthogonal
      states of polarization in a randomly birefringent telecommunication optical
      fiber, we provide the first experimental demonstration of an optical dark rogue
      wave. We also introduce the concept of multi-component analog gravity, whereby
      localized spatiotemporal horizons are associated with the dark rogue wave
      solution of the two-component nonlinear Schrodinger system. 

PMID- 26864100
TI  - Antibodies as leading tools to unlock the therapeutic potential in human disease.

PMID- 26864102
TI  - Fostering of advanced mutualism with gut microbiota by Immunoglobulin A.
AB  - Immunoglobulin A (IgA), the most abundantly secreted antibody isotype in mammals,
      not only provides direct immune protection to neonates via maternal milk but also
      helps program the infant immune system by regulating the microbiota. IgA
      continues to maintain dynamic interactions with the gut microbiota throughout
      life and this influences immune system homeostasis as well as other physiological
      processes. The secretory IgA produced independently of T-cell selection are
      commonly referred to as natural or innate antibodies. Our studies have shown that
      innate-IgA, while effective at excluding microorganisms from the gut, does not
      promote mutualism with the microbiota in the same way as adaptive-IgA that is
      selected in T cell-dependent germinal center reactions. Adaptive-IgA fosters more
      advanced mutualism with the microbiota than innate-IgA by selecting and
      diversifying beneficial microbial communities. In this review, we suggest that
      the diversified microbiota resulting from adaptive-IgA pressure was pivotal in
      promoting ecological adaptability and speciation potential of mammals. 

PMID- 26864101
TI  - Regulation of germinal center B-cell differentiation.
AB  - Germinal centers (GC) are the main sites where antigen-activated B-cell clones
      expand and undergo immunoglobulin gene hypermutation and selection. Iterations of
      this process will lead to affinity maturation, replicating Darwinian evolution on
      the cellular level. GC B-cell selection can lead to four different outcomes:
      further expansion and evolution, apoptosis (non-selection), or output from the GC
      with differentiation into memory B cells or plasma cells. T-helper cells in GC
      have been shown to have a central role in regulating B-cell selection by sensing
      the density of major histocompatibility complex (MHC):peptide antigen complexes.
      Antigen is provided on follicular dendritic cells in the form of immune complex.
      Antibody on these immune complexes regulates antigen accessibility by shielding
      antigen from B-cell receptor access. Replacement of antibody on immune complexes
      by antibody generated from GC-derived plasma cell output will gradually reduce
      the availability of antigen. This antibody feedback can lead to a situation where
      a slow rise in selection stringency caused by a changing environment leads to
      directional evolution toward higher affinity antibody.

PMID- 26864104
TI  - Discovery and bio-optimization of human antibody therapeutics using the
      XenoMouse(r) transgenic mouse platform.
AB  - Since the late 1990s, the use of transgenic animal platforms has transformed the
      discovery of fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. The first approved
      therapy derived from a transgenic platform--the epidermal growth factor receptor
      antagonist panitumumab to treat advanced colorectal cancer--was developed using
      XenoMouse((r)) technology. Since its approval in 2006, the science of discovering
      and developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies derived from the XenoMouse((r))
      platform has advanced considerably. The emerging array of antibody therapeutics
      developed using transgenic technologies is expected to include antibodies and
      antibody fragments with novel mechanisms of action and extreme potencies. In
      addition to these impressive functional properties, these antibodies will be
      designed to have superior biophysical properties that enable highly efficient
      large-scale manufacturing methods. Achieving these new heights in antibody drug
      discovery will ultimately bring better medicines to patients. Here, we review
      best practices for the discovery and bio-optimization of monoclonal antibodies
      that fit functional design goals and meet high manufacturing standards.

PMID- 26864103
TI  - Manipulation of the glycan-specific natural antibody repertoire for
      immunotherapy.
AB  - Natural immunoglobulin derived from innate-like B lymphocytes plays important
      roles in the suppression of inflammatory responses and represents a promising
      therapeutic target in a growing number of allergic and autoimmune diseases. These
      antibodies are commonly autoreactive and incorporate evolutionarily conserved
      specificities, including certain glycan-specific antibodies. Despite this
      conservation, exposure to bacterial polysaccharides during innate-like B
      lymphocyte development, through either natural exposure or immunization, induces
      significant changes in clonal representation within the glycan-reactive B cell
      pool. Glycan-reactive natural antibodies (NAbs) have been reported to play
      protective and pathogenic roles in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. An
      understanding of the composition and functions of a healthy glycan-reactive NAb
      repertoire is therefore paramount. A more thorough understanding of NAb
      repertoire development holds promise for the design of both biological
      diagnostics and therapies. In this article, we review the development and
      functions of NAbs and examine three glycan specificities, represented in the
      innate-like B cell pool, to illustrate the complex roles environmental antigens
      play in NAb repertoire development. We also discuss the implications of increased
      clonal plasticity of the innate-like B cell repertoire during neonatal and
      perinatal periods, and the prospect of targeting B cell development with
      interventional therapies and correct defects in this important arm of the
      adaptive immune system. 

PMID- 26864105
TI  - Stable long-term cultures of self-renewing B cells and their applications.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies are essential therapeutics and diagnostics in a large
      number of diseases. Moreover, they are essential tools in all sectors of life
      sciences. Although the great majority of monoclonal antibodies currently in use
      are of mouse origin, the use of human B cells to generate monoclonal antibodies
      is increasing as new techniques to tap the human B cell repertoire are rapidly
      emerging. Cloned lines of immortalized human B cells are ideal sources of
      monoclonal antibodies. In this review, we summarize our studies to the regulation
      of the replicative life span, differentiation, and maturation of B cells that led
      to the development of a platform that uses immortalization of human B cells by in
      vitro genetic modification for antibody development. We describe a number of
      human antibodies that were isolated using this platform and the application of
      the technique in other species. We also discuss the use of immortalized B cells
      as antigen-presenting cells for the discovery of tumor neoantigens. 

PMID- 26864106
TI  - Targeting plasma cells: are we any closer to a panacea for diseases of antibody
      secreting cells?
AB  - Antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) are critical for a functional and effective
      adaptive immune system. In a number of illnesses, however, these same cells
      contribute to the underlying disease state leading to significant morbidity and
      mortality. While therapeutic targeting of antibody-secreting cells has progressed
      significantly over the last two decades, many of these conditions remain major
      health problems. In this review, we will discuss current and potential
      therapeutic targeting of ASCs in the context of the known biology of these cells.

PMID- 26864107
TI  - Monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 in hematological malignancies and beyond.
AB  - CD38 is a multifunctional cell surface protein that has receptor as well as
      enzyme functions. The protein is generally expressed at low levels on various
      hematological and solid tissues, while plasma cells express particularly high
      levels of CD38. The protein is also expressed in a subset of hematological
      tumors, and shows especially broad and high expression levels in plasma cell
      tumors such as multiple myeloma (MM). Together, this triggered the development of
      various therapeutic CD38 antibodies, including daratumumab, isatuximab, and
      MOR202. Daratumumab binds a unique CD38 epitope and showed strong anti-tumor
      activity in preclinical models. The antibody engages diverse mechanisms of
      action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular
      cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, programmed cell death,
      modulation of enzymatic activity, and immunomodulatory activity. CD38-targeting
      antibodies have a favorable toxicity profile in patients, and early clinical data
      show a marked activity in MM, while studies in other hematological malignancies
      are ongoing. Daratumumab has single agent activity and a limited toxicity
      profile, allowing favorable combination therapies with existing as well as
      emerging therapies, which are currently evaluated in the clinic. Finally, CD38
      antibodies may have a role in the treatment of diseases beyond hematological
      malignancies, including solid tumors and antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. 

PMID- 26864109
TI  - Sweeping antibody as a novel therapeutic antibody modality capable of eliminating
      soluble antigens from circulation.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies have become a general modality in therapeutic development,
      and a variety of monoclonal antibodies targeting soluble antigens have been
      developed. However, even with infinite binding affinity to an antigen, a
      conventional antibody can bind to the antigen only once and results in an
      increase in total plasma antigen concentration in vivo. This antibody-mediated
      antigen accumulation generally occurs because the clearance from circulation of
      an antibody-antigen complex is much slower than that of a free antigen. This
      limitation has recently been overcome by sweeping antibodies, which are capable
      of actively eliminating soluble antigens from circulation. A sweeping antibody
      incorporates two antibody engineering technologies: one is variable region
      engineering to enable the antibody to bind to an antigen in plasma and dissociate
      from the antigen in endosome (after which the antigen undergoes lysosomal
      degradation), and the other is constant region engineering to increase the
      cellular uptake of the antibody-antigen complex into endosome. By enhancing the
      elimination of soluble antigens from circulation, sweeping antibodies can
      therapeutically target soluble antigens that conventional antibodies cannot. This
      review discusses the features, engineering technologies, advantages, and
      applications of sweeping antibodies that target soluble antigens. 

PMID- 26864108
TI  - Engineered IgG1-Fc--one fragment to bind them all.
AB  - The crystallizable fragment (Fc) of the immunoglobulin class G (IgG) is a very
      attractive scaffold for the design of novel therapeutics due to its quality of
      uniting all essential antibody functions. This article reviews the
      functionalization of this homodimeric glycoprotein by diversification of
      structural loops of CH3 domains for the design of Fcabs, i.e. antigen-binding Fc
      proteins. It reports the design of libraries for the selection of nanomolar
      binders with wildtype-like in vivo half-life and correlation of Fc receptor
      binding and ADCC. The in vitro and preclinical biological activity of selected
      Fcabs is compared with that of clinically approved antibodies. Recently, the
      great potential of the scaffold for the development of therapeutics for clinical
      use has been shown when the HER2-binding Fcab FS102 entered clinical phase I.
      Furthermore, methods for the engineering of biophysical properties of Fcabs
      applicable to proteins in general are presented as well as the different
      approaches in the design of heterodimeric Fc-based scaffolds used in the
      generation of bispecific monoclonal antibodies. Finally, this work critically
      analyzes and compares the various efforts in the design of highly diverse and
      functional libraries that have been made in the engineering of IgG1-Fc and
      structurally similar scaffolds. 

PMID- 26864110
TI  - Immunogenicity of therapeutic recombinant immunotoxins.
AB  - Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are chimeric proteins designed to treat cancer.
      They are made up of an Fv or Fab that targets an antigen on a cancer cell fused
      to a 38-kDa portion of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38). Because PE38 is a bacterial
      protein, it is highly immunogenic in patients with solid tumors that have normal
      immune systems, but much less immunogenic in patients with hematologic
      malignancies where the immune system is suppressed. RITs have shown efficacy in
      refractory hairy cell leukemia and in some children with acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia, but have been much less effective in solid tumors, because neutralizing
      antibodies develop and prevent additional treatment cycles. In this paper we will
      (i) review data from clinical trials describing the immunogenicity of PE38 in
      different patient populations; (ii) review results from clinical trials using
      different immunosuppressive drugs; and (iii) describe our efforts to make new
      less-immunogenic RITs by identifying and removing T- and B-cell epitopes to hide
      the RIT from the immune system. 

PMID- 26864111
TI  - Engineered hapten-binding antibody derivatives for modulation of pharmacokinetic
      properties of small molecules and targeted payload delivery.
AB  - Hapten-binding antibodies have for more than 50 years played a pivotal role in
      immunology, paving the way to antibody generation (as haptens are very important
      and robust immunogens), to antibody characterization (as the first structures
      generated more than 40 years ago were those of hapten binders), and enabled and
      expanded antibody engineering technologies. The latter field of engineered
      antibodies evolved over many years and many steps resulting in recombinant
      humanized or human-derived antibody derivatives in multiple formats. Today,
      hapten-binding antibodies are applied not only as reagents and tools (where they
      still play an important part) but evolved also to engineered targeting and
      pretargeting vehicles for disease diagnosis and therapy. Here we describe recent
      applications of hapten-binding antibodies and of engineered mono- and bispecific
      hapten-binding antibody derivatives. We have designed and applied these molecules
      for the modulation of the pharmacokinetic properties of small compounds or
      peptides. They are also integrated as additional binding entities into bispecific
      antibody formats. Here they serve as non-covalent or covalent coupling modules to
      haptenylated compounds, to enable targeted payload delivery to disease tissues or
      cells.

PMID- 26864112
TI  - Immunocytokines and bispecific antibodies: two complementary strategies for the
      selective activation of immune cells at the tumor site.
AB  - The activation of the immune system for a selective removal of tumor cells
      represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of metastatic malignancies,
      which cannot be cured by existing methodologies. In this review, we examine the
      design and therapeutic potential of immunocytokines and bispecific antibodies,
      two classes of bifunctional products which can selectively activate the immune
      system at the tumor site. Certain protein engineering aspects, such as the choice
      of the antibody format, are common to both classes of therapeutic agents and can
      have a profound impact on tumor homing performance in vivo of individual
      products. However, immunocytokines and bispecific antibodies display different
      mechanisms of action. Future research activities will reveal whether an additive
      of even synergistic benefit can be obtained from the judicious combination of
      these two types of biopharmaceutical agents.

PMID- 26864113
TI  - Harnessing T cells to fight cancer with BiTE(r) antibody constructs--past
      developments and future directions.
AB  - Bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE((r))) antibody constructs represent a novel
      immunotherapy that bridges cytotoxic T cells to tumor cells, thereby inducing
      target cell-dependent polyclonal T-cell activation and proliferation, and leading
      to apoptosis of bound tumor cells. Anti-CD19 BiTE((r)) blinatumomab has
      demonstrated clinical activity in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative relapsed
      or refractory (r/r) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) eventually resulting in
      conditional approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014. This drug
      is currently further developed in pediatric and Ph(+) r/r, as well as in minimal
      residual disease-positive ALL, and might also offer clinical benefit for patients
      with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially for those with aggressive forms like
      diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Another BiTE((r)) antibody construct in hemato
      oncology designated AMG 330 targets CD33 on acute myeloid leukemia blast cells.
      After showing promising ex vivo activity, this drug candidate has recently
      entered phase 1 clinical development, and has further indicated potential for
      combination with checkpoint inhibitors. In solid tumor indications, three
      BiTE((r)) antibody constructs have been tested in phase 1 studies so far: anti
      EpCAM BiTE((r)) AMG 110, anti-CEA BiTE((r)) MEDI-565/AMG 211, and anti-PSMA
      BiTE((r)) BAY2010112/AMG 212. Pertinent questions comprise how to maximize
      BiTE((r)) penetration and T-cell infiltration of the tumor while simultaneously
      minimizing any adverse events, which is currently explored by a continuous
      intravenous infusion approach. Thus, BiTE((r)) antibody constructs will hopefully
      provide new treatment options for patients in several indications with high unmet
      medical need.

PMID- 26864114
TI  - Developing genetic tools to exploit Chaetomium thermophilum for biochemical
      analyses of eukaryotic macromolecular assemblies.
AB  - We describe a method to genetically manipulate Chaetomium thermophilum, a
      eukaryotic thermophile, along with various biochemical applications. The
      transformation method depends on a thermostable endogenous selection marker
      operating at high temperatures combined with chromosomal integration of target
      genes. Our technique allows exploiting eukaryotic thermophiles as source for
      purifying thermostable native macromolecular complexes with an emphasis on the
      nuclear pore complex, holding great potential for applications in basic science
      and biotechnology. 

PMID- 26864115
TI  - Sexual and reproductive health of young people with disability in Ethiopia: a
      study on knowledge, attitude and practice: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As is common in developing countries, in Ethiopia young people with
      disabilities (YPWD) are more likely than the general population to be illiterate,
      unemployed and impoverished. They often lack equal access to information and
      education for reasons ranging from barriers regarding physical access to services
      to varied special learning needs. Very little is known about knowledge, attitude
      and practice (KAP) of YPWD regarding sexual and reproductive health (SRH) related
      issues. We, therefore, aimed to assess the KAP of 426 YPWD in Addis Ababa,
      Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012. Data were
      collected by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire covering socio
      demographic information, as well as information on KAP regarding SRH. RESULTS:
      Only 64.6% of YPWD were aware of SRH services. Radio and TV were mentioned as the
      main sources of information by 62.2% of the participants. 77.9% had never had a
      discussion about SRH topics with their parents. Even though 96.7% of the
      respondents had heard about HIV, 88% had poor knowledge about ways of preventing
      HIV. Perception of the risk of getting infected with HIV was found to be
      generally low in YPWD; only 21.6% believed that they were at risk of acquiring
      HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Our study, in general, demonstrated that there is a lack of
      comprehensive knowledge, appropriate practice and favorable attitude of YPWD
      regarding different SRH-related issues. Our findings thus clearly indicate the
      need for strategies and programs to raise SRH-related awareness and to help YPWD
      to develop the appropriate skills and attitudes needed for a healthy reproductive
      life.

PMID- 26864117
TI  - Population and phylogenomic decomposition via genotyping-by-sequencing in
      Australian Pelargonium.
AB  - Species delimitation has seen a paradigm shift as increasing accessibility of
      genomic-scale data enables separation of lineages with convergent morphological
      traits and the merging of recently diverged ecotypes that have distinguishing
      characteristics. We inferred the process of lineage formation among Australian
      species in the widespread and highly variable genus Pelargonium by combining
      phylogenomic and population genomic analyses along with breeding system studies
      and character analysis. Phylogenomic analysis and population genetic clustering
      supported seven of the eight currently described species but provided little
      evidence for differences in genetic structure within the most widely distributed
      group that containing P. australe. In contrast, morphometric analysis detected
      three deep lineages within Australian Pelargonium; with P. australe consisting of
      five previously unrecognized entities occupying separate geographic ranges. The
      genomic approach enabled elucidation of parallel evolution in some traits
      formerly used to delineate species, as well as identification of ecotypic
      morphological differentiation within recognized species. Highly variable
      morphology and trait convergence each contribute to the discordance between
      phylogenomic relationships and morphological taxonomy. Data suggest that genetic
      divergence among species within the Australian Pelargonium may result from
      allopatric speciation while morphological differentiation within and among
      species may be more strongly driven by environmental differences.

PMID- 26864116
TI  - Illuminating necrosis: From mechanistic exploration to preclinical application
      using fluorescence molecular imaging with indocyanine green.
AB  - Tissue necrosis commonly accompanies the development of a wide range of serious
      diseases. Therefore, highly sensitive detection and precise boundary delineation
      of necrotic tissue via effective imaging techniques are crucial for clinical
      treatments; however, no imaging modalities have achieved satisfactory results to
      date. Although fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) shows potential in this
      regard, no effective necrosis-avid fluorescent probe has been developed for
      clinical applications. Here, we demonstrate that indocyanine green (ICG) can
      achieve high avidity of necrotic tissue owing to its interaction with lipoprotein
      (LP) and phospholipids. The mechanism was explored at the cellular and molecular
      levels through a series of in vitro studies. Detection of necrotic tissue and
      real-time image-guided surgery were successfully achieved in different organs of
      different animal models with the help of FMI using in house-designed imaging
      devices. The results indicated that necrotic tissue with a 0.6 mm diameter could
      be effectively detected with precise boundary definition. We believe that the new
      discovery and the associated imaging techniques will improve personalized and
      precise surgery in the near future. 

PMID- 26864120
TI  - Triggering Gel Formation and Luminescence through Donor-Acceptor Interactions in
      a C3 -Symmetric Tris(pyrene) System.
AB  - Straightforward modulation of the gelation, absorption and luminescent properties
      of a tris(pyrene) organogelator containing a C3 -symmetric benzene-1,3,5
      tricarboxamide central unit functionalized by three 3,3'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine
      fragments is achieved through donor-acceptor interactions in the presence of
      tetracyanoquinodimethane.

PMID- 26864118
TI  - Patient satisfaction with a teleradiology service in general practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accessibility to secondary health services is not always easy for
      patients who live at a great distance of hospital. In these circumstances,
      transferring diagnostic tools and treatment options to primary care could prove
      beneficial for patients. To do so, the quality of medical care and the costs and
      benefits of the approach need to be assessed. However, the patient perspective is
      equally important, offering important insights. METHODS: In a cross-sectional
      study we investigate the satisfaction of patients toward a new teleradiology
      facility offered a general practice on Ameland, an island in the Netherlands. A
      questionnaire was created based on the Dutch version of the Patient Satisfaction
      Questionnaire III and completed by all patients after receiving an x-ray in
      primary care between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2009. Those who received more than
      one x-ray in that period were included only once. The technical and interpersonal
      skills of doctors were rated out the sum score of the questionnaire namely 25 and
      30, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the
      differences between the means of the satisfaction subscales and the patient
      characteristics. RESULTS: The response proportion was after reminder 65% (381/587
      patients). Satisfaction with the technical skills of the doctor providing the
      teleradiology service was 22.4 +/- 3.7, while satisfaction with the interpersonal
      skills of the doctor during the diagnostic phase was 26.8 +/- 3.8. Island
      residents, the elderly, and those with no history of trauma were more satisfied
      with the technical and interpersonal aspects of the consultation than non
      residents, younger patients, and those with a history of trauma. CONCLUSION:
      Patients in the island community of Ameland experienced high levels of
      satisfaction with the teleradiology service offered in primary care.

PMID- 26864121
TI  - Potential role of systemic thrombolysis in acute submassive intermediate risk
      pulmonary embolism: review and future perspectives.
AB  - Submassive (intermediate risk) pulmonary embolism (PE) continues to be a
      significantly morbid disease process that remains unrecognized, inadequately risk
      stratified and suboptimally treated. Appropriate early clinical and imaging-based
      risk stratification represents the cornerstone for adequate therapeutic decision
      making, particularly for the selection of candidates who may benefit the most
      from systemic thrombolysis. The relevance of estimating clinical prognostic
      scores, in combination with imaging data, for accurate assessment of right
      ventricular function and laboratory biomarkers, indicative of myocardial injury
      for identification of normotensive patients at intermediate risk for an adverse
      short-term outcome are emphasized in this review. Recent clinical trials have
      demonstrated improvement in hemodynamics and mortality with the use of systemic
      thrombolysis among intermediate risk patients; however, it came at the cost of a
      significantly increased risk of major bleeding. Catheter-based therapies have
      garnered considerable clinical interest in recent years; of particular note is
      the ultrasound accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis which has emerged as a
      novel and attractive alternative therapeutic modality with an increasing number
      of single center studies and ongoing randomized trials. Our review focuses on the
      major trials and studies involved in submassive PE in the recent literature
      including the role of thrombolytic therapy. We include major trials with
      reasonable sample size and extensive review of the potential side effects, such
      as major bleeding. 

PMID- 26864122
TI  - Alkaline-Earth-Catalysed Cross-Dehydrocoupling of Amines and Hydrosilanes:
      Reactivity Trends, Scope and Mechanism.
AB  - Alkaline-earth (Ae=Ca, Sr, Ba) complexes are shown to catalyse the chemoselective
      cross-dehydrocoupling (CDC) of amines and hydrosilanes. Key trends were
      delineated in the benchmark couplings of Ph3 SiH with pyrrolidine or tBuNH2 .
      Ae{E(SiMe3)2}2 ?(THF)x (E=N, CH; x=2-3) are more efficient than
      {N^N}Ae{E(SiMe3)2}?(THF)n (E=N, CH; n=1-2) complexes (where {N^N}(-) ={ArN(o
      C6H4)C(H)=NAr}(-) with Ar=2,6-iPr2 -C6H3) bearing an iminoanilide ligand, and
      alkyl precatalysts are better than amido analogues. Turnover frequencies (TOFs)
      increase in the order Ca<Sr<Ba. Ba{CH(SiMe3)2}2 ?(THF)3 displays the best
      performance (TOF up to 3600 h(-1)). The substrate scope (>30 products) includes
      diamines and di(hydrosilane)s. Kinetic analysis of the Ba-promoted CDC of
      pyrrolidine and Ph3SiH shows that 1) the kinetic law is rate=k[Ba](1) [amine](0)
      [hydrosilane](1), 2) electron-withdrawing p-substituents on the arylhydrosilane
      improve the reaction rate and 3) a maximal kinetic isotopic effect (kSiH/kSiD
      =4.7) is seen for Ph3SiX (X=H, D). DFT calculations identified the prevailing
      mechanism; instead of an inaccessible sigma-bond-breaking metathesis pathway, the
      CDC appears to follow a stepwise reaction path with N-Si bond-forming
      nucleophilic attack of the catalytically competent Ba pyrrolide onto the incoming
      silane, followed by rate limiting hydrogen-atom transfer to barium. The
      participation of a Ba silyl species is prevented energetically. The reactivity
      trend Ca<Sr<Ba results from greater accessibility of the metal centre and
      decreasing Ae-Namide bond strength upon descending Group 2.

PMID- 26864123
TI  - Green fluorescent protein as a scaffold for high efficiency production of
      functional bacteriotoxic proteins in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The availability of simple, robust, and cost-effective methods for the large
      scale production of bacteriotoxic peptides such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)
      is essential for basic and pharmaceutical research. However, the production of
      bacteriotoxic proteins has been difficult due to a high degree of toxicity in
      bacteria and proteolytic degradation. In this study, we inserted AMPs into the
      Green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a loop region and expressed them as insoluble
      proteins in high yield, circumventing the inherent toxicity of AMP production in
      Escherichia coli. The AMPs inserted were released by cyanogen bromide and
      purified by chromatography. We showed that highly potent AMPs such as Protegrin
      1, PMAP-36, Buforin-2, and Bactridin-1 are produced in high yields and produced
      AMPs showed similar activities compared to chemically synthesized AMPs. We
      increased the yield more than two-fold by inserting three copies of Protegrin-1
      in the GFP scaffold. The immunogold electron micrographs showed that the
      expressed Protegrin-1 in the GFP scaffold forms large and small size aggregates
      in the core region of the inclusion body and become entirely nonfunctional,
      therefore not influencing the proliferation of E. coli. Our novel method will be
      applicable for diverse bacteriotoxic peptides which can be exploited in
      biomedical and pharmaceutical researches. 

PMID- 26864124
TI  - LEADER 5: prevalence and cardiometabolic impact of obesity in cardiovascular high
      risk patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: baseline global data from the LEADER
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on obesity are needed, particularly in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and high cardiovascular (CV) risk. We used
      the baseline data of liraglutide effect and action in diabetes: evaluation of CV
      outcome results-A long term Evaluation (LEADER) (a clinical trial to assess the
      CV safety of liraglutide) to investigate: (i) prevalence of overweight and
      obesity; (ii) relationship of the major cardiometabolic risk factors with
      anthropometric measures of adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and waist
      circumference (WC)]; and (iii) cardiometabolic treatment intensity in relation to
      BMI and WC. METHODS: LEADER enrolled two distinct populations of high-risk
      patients with T2DM in 32 countries: (1) aged >=50 years with prior CV disease;
      (2) aged >=60 years with one or more CV risk factors. Associations of metabolic
      variables, demographic variables and treatment intensity with anthropometric
      measurements (BMI and WC) were explored using regression models
      (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01179048). RESULTS: Mean BMI was 32.5 +/- 6.3
      kg/m(2) and only 9.1 % had BMI <25 kg/m(2). The prevalence of healthy WC was also
      extremely low (6.4 % according to International Joint Interim Statement for the
      Harmonization of the Metabolic Syndrome criteria). Obesity was associated with
      being younger, female, previous smoker, Caucasian, American, with shorter
      diabetes duration, uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), antihypertensive agents,
      insulin plus oral antihyperglycaemic treatment, higher levels of triglycerides
      and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight
      and obesity are prevalent in high CV risk patients with T2DM. BMI and WC are
      related to the major cardiometabolic risk factors. Furthermore, treatment
      intensity, such as insulin, statins or oral antihypertensive drugs, is higher in
      those who are overweight or obese; while BP and lipid control in these patients
      are remarkably suboptimal. LEADER confers a unique opportunity to explore the
      longitudinal effect of weight on CV risk factors and hard endpoints.

PMID- 26864125
TI  - An online tool for obesity intervention and public health.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Though the United States of America (U.S.A.) obesity rate shows signs
      of leveling off, rates remain high. Poor nutrition contributes to the development
      of obesity, and physical inactivity is an important cause of numerous diseases
      and directly linked to obesity. Efforts to improve diet, increase physical
      activity and pursue other behavioral changes seem imperative. However, the
      effective management of intervention strategies for large number of participants
      are challenging because services in primary, secondary, and tertiary cares are
      often under-resourced, relatively uncoordinated with other parts of the health
      system. It is thus necessary to have accompanying intervention strategies that
      can be carried out at population level. In this paper, we describe an online
      intervention tool designed for the Obesity Prevention Tailored for Health II
      project to help achieve such goals. RESULTS: The first part of the online tool
      locates healthy food stores and recreational programs within a specified distance
      of a participant's home or a place of interest. The food environments include
      fruit & vegetable stores, farmers' markets and grocery stores, and the companying
      popup window shows the street address and contact information of each store. The
      parks and recreational programs are displayed on names of park or recreational
      program, types of program available, and city each amenity belongs to. The tool
      also provides spatial coverage of vegetation greenness, air pollution and of
      historical traffic accidents involving active travel. The second part of the tool
      provides optimized travel options for reaching various amenities. By
      incorporating bicycling, walking and public transit into the trip planner, this
      online tool helps increase active transport and reduce dependence on automobiles.
      It promotes transportation that encourages safety awareness, physical activity,
      health, recreation, and resource conservation. CONCLUSIONS: We developed the
      first Google-based online intervention tool that assists obese and overweight
      participants in finding food and recreational amenities around locations of
      interest and identifying optimized routes that fit their personal preferences.
      This tool can also serve general public and policy makers for education, disease
      prevention and health promotion.

PMID- 26864126
TI  - Tempest in a teapot: A systematic review of HPV vaccination and risk compensation
      research.
AB  - There has been some concern among parents and in the media that vaccinating
      children against human papillomavirus could be seen as giving children permission
      to engage in risky sexual behaviors (also known as sexual disinhibition). Several
      studies have found this concern to be unfounded but there have been no attempts
      to synthesize the relevant studies in order to assess if there is evidence of
      sexual disinhibition. The aim of this study was to synthesize recent literature
      examining sexual behaviors and biological outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted
      infections) post-HPV vaccination. We reviewed literature from January 1, 2008
      June 30, 2015 using PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase with the following search terms:
      [(sex behavior OR sex behavior OR sexual) AND (human papillomavirus OR HPV) AND
      (vaccines OR vaccine OR vaccination)] followed by a cited reference search. We
      included studies that examined biological outcomes and reported behaviors post
      vaccination in both males and females. Studies were reviewed by title and
      abstract and relevant studies were examined as full-text articles. We identified
      2,503 articles and 20 were eventually included in the review. None of the studies
      of sexual behaviors and/or biological outcomes found evidence of riskier
      behaviors or higher rates of STIs after HPV vaccination. Instead, the studies
      found that vaccinated compared to unvaccinated individuals were less likely to
      report vaginal intercourse without a condom (OR = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.4-0.6) and non
      use of contraception (OR = 0.27; 95%CI = 0.15-0.48) and unvaccinated participants
      had higher rates of Chlamydia (OR = 2.3; 95%CI = 1.06-5.00). These results should
      be reassuring to parents and health care providers.

PMID- 26864127
TI  - Effects of vitamin D2-fortified bread v. supplementation with vitamin D2 or D3 on
      serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D metabolites: an 8-week randomised-controlled trial in
      young adult Finnish women.
AB  - There is a need for food-based solutions for preventing vitamin D deficiency.
      Vitamin D3 (D3) is mainly used in fortified food products, although the
      production of vitamin D2 (D2) is more cost-effective, and thus may hold
      opportunities. We investigated the bioavailability of D2 from UV-irradiated yeast
      present in bread in an 8-week randomised-controlled trial in healthy 20-37-year
      old women (n 33) in Helsinki (60 degrees N) during winter (February-April) 2014.
      Four study groups were given different study products (placebo pill and regular
      bread=0 ug D2 or D3/d; D2 supplement and regular bread=25 ug D2/d; D3 supplement
      and regular bread=25 ug D3/d; and placebo pill and D2-biofortified bread=25 ug
      D2/d). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (S-25(OH)D2) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (S
      25(OH)D3) concentrations were measured at baseline, midpoint and end point. The
      mean baseline total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25(OH)D=S-25(OH)D2+S-25(OH)D3)
      concentration was 65.1 nmol/l. In repeated-measures ANCOVA (adjusted for baseline
      S-25(OH)D as total/D2/D3), D2-bread did not affect total S-25(OH)D (P=0.707) or S
      25(OH)D3 (P=0.490), but increased S-25(OH)D2 compared with placebo (P<0.001).
      However, the D2 supplement was more effective than bread in increasing S-25(OH)D2
      (P<0.001). Both D2 and D3 supplementation increased total S-25(OH)D compared with
      placebo (P=0.030 and P=0.001, respectively), but D2 supplementation resulted in
      lower S-25(OH)D3 (P<0.001). Thus, D2 from UV-irradiated yeast in bread was not
      bioavailable in humans. Our results support the evidence that D2 is less potent
      in increasing total S-25(OH)D concentrations than D3, also indicating a decrease
      in the percentage contribution of S-25(OH)D3 to the total vitamin D pool. 

PMID- 26864128
TI  - Experimental models for contamination of titanium surfaces and disinfection
      protocols.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this pilot study was to describe an in vitro model of peri
      implantitis microcosm for contamination of titanium surfaces and an in vivo model
      for evaluating different disinfection strategies of titanium surfaces. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Biofilms were grown in vitro for 30 days on sandblasted large-grit
      acid-etched (SLA) Ti discs (n = 69) in a constant depth film fermentor (CDFF)
      associated with peri-implantitis conditions. Four Swedish loop rabbits were
      randomly allocated in three test groups (T1 , T2 , T3 ) and one control group
      (C). In group C, two sterile SLA Ti discs were implanted/fixed in each tibia. In
      the test groups (to evaluate the potential of different surface disinfection
      techniques), one sterile and three previously disinfected SLA Ti discs were
      placed following different disinfection protocols: group T1 : the discs were
      treated with a titanium brush - TiB; group T2 : the discs were treated with the
      combination of TiB and photodynamic therapy; and group T3 : the discs were
      treated with TiB and 1%NaOCl plus 0.2%CHX. Tensile strength test and qualitative
      histological analysis were performed on all 16 discs after 4 weeks of healing.
      RESULTS: Thirty days following CDFF emulating peri-implantitis microcosm, all SLA
      Ti discs had a mean total viable aerobes and facultative anaerobes count of 8.06
      log10  CFU/biofilm and anaerobes 8.32 log10  CFU/biofilm. Before
      implantation/fixation on the tibia, differences of log10  CFU/biofilm counts
      between control and test groups after post hoc adjustment were highly significant
      (P < 0.001). In the in vivo analysis, group C exhibited the highest tensile
      strength (67.60 N [25.64-127.02]) and the histological sections revealed the
      presence of dense mature bone in direct contact with the disc surface. The
      analysis at the test groups showed that T2 presented with the highest tensile
      strength in comparison with the other two test groups. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro
      model used in this study provides a valuable and reproducible tool for evaluating
      the in vitro dynamics of the peri-implantitis microcosm biofilm and for
      contaminating in a reproducible manner titanium surfaces. At the same time, the
      in vivo model used in this study provides a standardised mode of evaluating
      disinfection modalities of previously infected titanium surfaces.

PMID- 26864129
TI  - In vivo monitoring of local pH values in a live rat brain based on the design of
      a specific electroactive molecule for H(+).
AB  - pH plays an important role in the biochemical, ion-regulatory, or electrical
      machinery of nerve and glial cells, and is considered to be related to a number
      of degenerative diseases. Herein, we first develop a two-channel electrochemical
      ratiometric biosensor for local pH determination in a live rat brain, and report
      the accurate pH values in the different regions of live brains upon global
      cerebral ischemia. 

PMID- 26864130
TI  - DNACPR: Venn's perverse view.

PMID- 26864131
TI  - A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III study of pazopanib in
      patients with soft tissue sarcoma: results from the Japanese subgroup.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This analysis of the Japanese subpopulation of the PALETTE Phase III,
      randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated efficacy and safety of
      pazopanib in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma after failure of
      standard chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to
      receive either pazopanib 800 mg once daily or placebo, with no subsequent cross
      over. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Secondary endpoints
      included overall survival and overall response rate. Efficacy analysis was by
      intent-to-treat. Safety was also investigated. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients
      received either pazopanib (n = 31) or placebo (n = 16). Median progression-free
      survival was 7.0 weeks (95% confidence interval: 4.0-11.7) for placebo and 24.7
      weeks (95% confidence interval: 8.6-28.1) for pazopanib (hazard ratio = 0.41 [95%
      confidence interval: 0.19-0.90]; P = 0.002). Median overall survival was 14.9
      months (95% confidence interval: 6.8-not calculable) for placebo and 15.4 months
      (95% confidence interval: 7.9-28.8) for pazopanib (hazard ratio = 0.87 [95%
      confidence interval: 0.41-1.83]; P = 0.687). More patients receiving pazopanib
      experienced best response of stable disease versus placebo. Adverse events were
      similar to the global population; those leading to dose reduction were more
      common and mean daily dose was lower in the Japanese population versus the global
      population (45 vs. 32% and 624.4 vs. 700.4 mg, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The
      efficacy and safety of pazopanib observed in the Japanese subpopulation of
      PALETTE were similar to those in the global population. Pazopanib is a new
      treatment option for Japanese patients with metastatic non-adipocytic soft tissue
      sarcoma after chemotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00753688; GSK
      study ID: VEG110727; http://www.gsk-clinicalstudyregister.com/study/VEG110727#ps.

PMID- 26864132
TI  - Repeat biopsy of primary disease negatively affects the outcome of patients with
      nasopharyngeal cancer treated with definitive intensity-modified radiotherapy: a
      cohort analysis of 795 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pretreatment repeat biopsy of nasopharynx is
      associated with an impaired outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in an
      intensity-modified radiotherapy era. METHODS: We performed a retrospective data
      review of the association between pretreatment nasopharyngeal biopsy and outcomes
      for all nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated at our center between January
      2007 and December 2011. Of the 720 patients enrolled, 693 (96.3%) were diagnosed
      after initial biopsy and 27 (3.7%) after repeat biopsy. Five-year cancer-specific
      survival, disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival for the two
      groups were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the
      effects of repeat biopsy on the outcome. RESULTS: Five-year estimated cancer
      specific survival (75.9 vs. 88.5%, P= 0.045) and disease-free survival (63.3 vs.
      77.1%, P= 0.041) were significantly poorer in the repeat biopsy group than the
      initial biopsy group. After adjustment for other prognostic factors (age, gender,
      T and N stage), pretreatment biopsy remained independently associated with poorer
      both 5-year cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival. The hazard ratios
      for cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival in the repeat biopsy group
      were 2.73 (95% confidence interval 1.09-6.82) and 2.22 (95% confidence interval
      1.12-4.37) compared with the initial biopsy group (reference), respectively. The
      repeat biopsy group also had a higher risk of distant failure compared with the
      initial biopsy group (hazard ratio 2.82, 95% confidence interval 1.22-6.51, P=
      0.015). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment repeat biopsy of nasopharynx has a detrimental
      effect on survivals of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, which may be partly due
      to an increased frequency of distant metastasis.

PMID- 26864133
TI  - Pediatric rheumatology consultant workforce in Australia and New Zealand: the
      current state of play and challenges for the future.
AB  - AIM: There have been no formal assessments of current levels of the pediatric
      rheumatology workforce in Australia and New Zealand. Despite this it is felt that
      we fall well behind international guidelines placing children and adolescents
      with rheumatic diseases at risk of suboptimal care. Overcoming this shortfall in
      specialist pediatric rheumatology care requires documentation and recognition of
      the shortfall and a commitment from the health system to support improvements to
      supplement the current specialist workforce. The purpose of this survey was to
      assess the current state of play of the pediatric rheumatology workforce in
      Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: The Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group
      (APRG) conducted a survey, which examined the current pediatric rheumatology
      workforce in Australia and New Zealand. The survey was sent via email link to a
      survey hosted by ZoomerangTM to 49 physicians known to treat patients with
      pediatric rheumatic diseases and they were asked to forward the survey to any
      others who they knew saw children with rheumatic disease. RESULTS: Currently
      there is a shortfall in the pediatric rheumatology workforce of 68% based on
      minimum requirements and a shortfall of 225% based on an ideal scenario.
      CONCLUSION: Currently in Australia and New Zealand we fail to provide the level
      of care to children with pediatric rheumatic diseases comparable to other
      developed health economies worldwide. The current deficiency requires an increase
      in resource allocation to clinical service and speciality training to overcome
      this disparity and ensure children in Australia and New Zealand receive
      internationally recognized standards of care.

PMID- 26864134
TI  - Insights into the naturally acquired immune response to Plasmodium vivax malaria.
AB  - Plasmodium vivax is the most geographically widespread of the malaria parasites
      causing human disease, yet it is comparatively understudied compared with
      Plasmodium falciparum. In this article we review what is known about naturally
      acquired immunity to P. vivax, and importantly, how this differs to that acquired
      against P. falciparum. Immunity to clinical P. vivax infection is acquired more
      quickly than to P. falciparum, and evidence suggests humans in endemic areas also
      have a greater capacity to mount a successful immunological memory response to
      this pathogen. Both of these factors give promise to the idea of a successful P.
      vivax vaccine. We review what is known about both the cellular and humoral immune
      response, including the role of cytokines, antibodies, immunoregulation, immune
      memory and immune dysfunction. Furthermore, we discuss where the future lies in
      terms of advancing our understanding of naturally acquired immunity to P. vivax,
      through the use of well-designed longitudinal epidemiological studies and modern
      tools available to immunologists. 

PMID- 26864135
TI  - Immune activation and induction of memory: lessons learned from controlled human
      malaria infection with Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - Controlled human malaria infections (CHMIs) are a powerful tool to assess the
      efficacy of drugs and/or vaccine candidates, but also to study anti-malarial
      immune responses at well-defined time points after infection. In this review, we
      discuss the insights that CHMI trials have provided into early immune activation
      and regulation during acute infection, and the capacity to induce and maintain
      immunological memory. Importantly, these studies show that a single infection is
      sufficient to induce long-lasting parasite-specific T- and B-cell memory
      responses, and suggest that blood-stage induced regulatory responses can limit
      inflammation both in ongoing and potentially future infections. As future
      perspective of investigation in CHMIs, we discuss the role of innate cell
      subsets, the interplay between innate and adaptive immune activation and the
      potential modulation of these responses after natural pre-exposure. 

PMID- 26864136
TI  - Immunomics: a 21st century approach to vaccine development for complex pathogens.
AB  - Immunomics is a relatively new field of research which integrates the disciplines
      of immunology, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics to
      characterize the host-pathogen interface. Herein, we discuss how rapid advances
      in molecular immunology, sophisticated tools and molecular databases are
      facilitating in-depth exploration of the immunome. In our opinion, an immunomics
      based approach presides over traditional antigen and vaccine discovery methods
      that have proved ineffective for highly complex pathogens such as the causative
      agents of malaria, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis that have evolved genetic and
      immunological host-parasite adaptations over time. By using an integrative
      multidisciplinary approach, immunomics offers enormous potential to advance 21st
      century antigen discovery and rational vaccine design against complex pathogens
      such as the Plasmodium parasite. 

PMID- 26864137
TI  - Decreased hepatic contents of coenzyme A molecular species in mice after
      subchronic mild social defeat stress.
AB  - Social stress may precipitate psychiatric disorders such as depression, which is
      related to the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity and type 2
      diabetes. We have evaluated the effects of social stress on central and
      peripheral metabolism using a model of depression in mice. In the present study,
      we focused on coenzyme A (CoA) molecular species [i.e. non-esterified CoA
      (CoASH), acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA] which play important roles in numerous
      metabolic pathways, and we analyzed changes in expression of these molecules in
      the hypothalamus and liver of adult male mice (C57BL/6J) subjected to 10 days of
      subchronic mild social defeat stress (sCSDS) with ICR mice as aggressors. Mice (n
      = 12) exposed to showed hyperphagia- and polydipsia-like symptoms and increased
      body weight gain compared with control mice which were not affected by exposure
      to ICR mice (n = 12). To elucidate the underlying metabolic features in the sCSDS
      model, acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and CoASH tissue levels were analyzed using the
      acyl-CoA cycling method. The levels of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA, which decreases
      feeding behavior, were not influenced by sCSDS. However, sCSDS reduced levels of
      acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and total CoA (sum of the three CoA molecular species) in
      the liver. Hence, hyperphagia-like symptoms in sCSDS mice evidently occurred
      independently of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA, but might consequently lead to down
      regulation of hepatic CoA via altered expression of nudix hydrolase 7. Future
      studies should investigate the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the down
      regulation of liver CoA pools in sCSDS mice. 

PMID- 26864138
TI  - Role of Sirolimus in Advanced Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma.
AB  - Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is an infiltrative vascular tumor that
      classically presents in infancy. Management typically focuses on treating
      Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP), a disorder of severe and at times life
      threatening platelet trapping. However, the morbidity of KHE extends beyond KMP.
      The infiltrative nature of the tumor can lead to long-term disability and often
      makes complete surgical resection impossible. We report the case of a 10-year-old
      boy with a KHE of his right distal thigh who was unable to walk without
      assistance due to fibrotic change and right knee contracture. He had no
      laboratory evidence of KMP at the time of representation. Rapamycin was started
      in hopes of reducing the tumor burden. Within 2 months of therapy, fibrotic areas
      softened, his contracture nearly resolved, and there was marked improvement in
      his mobility. Rapamycin has been previously reported to be effective in managing
      cases of KHE complicated by KMP. Our report emphasizes the role for rapamycin in
      the treatment of KHE in the absence of KMP through the inhibition of
      vasculogenesis and fibrotic pathways. 

PMID- 26864140
TI  - Transcranial direct current stimulation associated with gait training in
      Parkinson's disease: A pilot randomized clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial
      direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cueing gait training (CGT) on
      functional mobility in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A pilot
      double-blind controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 22 patients
      with PD assigned to the experimental (anodal tDCS plus CGT) and control group
      (sham tDCS plus CGT). The primary outcome (functional mobility) was assessed by
      10-m walk test, cadence, stride length, and Timed Up and Go test. Motor
      impairment, bradykinesia, balance, and quality of life were analyzed as secondary
      outcomes. Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were observed when
      assessing outcome data. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated similar gains in all
      outcome measures, except for the stride length. The number of participants who
      showed MCID was similar between groups. CONCLUSION: The CGT provided many
      benefits to functional mobility, motor impairment, bradykinesia, balance, and
      quality of life. However, these effect magnitudes were not influenced by
      stimulation, but tDCS seems to prolong the effects of cueing therapy on
      functional mobility.

PMID- 26864139
TI  - Sex differences in risk and heritability estimates on primary knee osteoarthritis
      leading to total knee arthroplasty: a nationwide population based follow up study
      in Danish twins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis is a highly age and sex associated
      complex disease. Little is known about the causes behind this age and sex
      associated increase, or if genetic and environmental factors impacts differently
      by gender. Our study examined the risk and heritability of primary knee
      osteoarthritis leading to total knee arthroplasty and whether these differences
      were attributable to sex and age differences in heritability. METHODS: All twins
      of known zygosity from The Danish Twin Register alive in 1997 were examined in a
      nationwide population based follow-up study collecting information on all twins
      recorded in The Danish Knee Arthroplasty from 1997 to follow-up in 2010. Our main
      outcomes were the cumulative incidence, probandwise concordance rates,
      heritability, within pair correlations in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs
      and the genetic and environmental influence estimated in models taking into
      account that individuals may not have had a total knee arthroplasty at follow up.
      RESULTS: 92,748 twins were eligible for analyses and 576 twins had a record of
      primary knee osteoarthritis in The Danish Knee Arthroplasty Register at follow-up
      comprising 358 female and 218 male twin cases. The risk increased particular
      after the age of 50 years displaying significant sex differences in the elderly.
      In the sex stratified analyses a discrete genetic component was found in females,
      but in males no genetic component could be detected. In both genders common and
      unique environmental factors were highly significant. In the sex-adjusted
      analysis an additive genetic component of 18 % (0; 62), a shared environmental
      component of 61 % (25; 97) and an individual environmental component of 21 % (6;
      36) accounted for the variation in liability to primary total knee arthroplasty.
      CONCLUSION: The risk of primary total knee arthroplasty increases significantly
      after the age of 50 years, in particular in females, displaying significant sex
      differences in the elderly. After sex-adjustment 82 % of the variation in
      liability to primary total knee arthroplasty was attributable to common and
      unique environmental factors; the remaining 18 % of this variation was
      attributable to additive genetic factors indicating a pivotal impact of
      environmental factors on this disease.

PMID- 26864141
TI  - A retrospective observational study for the outcomes of women presenting to a
      colposcopy clinic with a high-grade Pap smear - Implications for a 'see and
      treat' approach to management.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The current Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
      guidelines discourage the use of 'see and treat' colposcopic management due to
      concerns regarding over-treatment. However, this approach has been shown to have
      benefits in several studies, including cost savings, elimination of loss to
      follow up and decreased patient anxiety. AIMS: To provide Australian data on
      treatment outcomes for women presenting with a high-grade Pap smear to a large
      metropolitan colposcopy unit and to determine whether a 'see and treat' approach
      would meet specified standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of
      women referred to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital colposcopy unit with a high
      grade smear. Patient data, colposcopy findings, treatment and pathology results
      were collated and analysed to determine treatment outcomes using the current
      'biopsy and treat' approach. The feasibility of 'see and treat' was assessed by
      determining which women with high-grade colposcopy findings had high-grade
      disease confirmed on biopsy or excisional specimens. RESULTS: One hundred and
      thirty-seven women underwent either excisional or ablative treatment. Of those
      undergoing excisional procedures, 81.3% had high-grade dysplasia or invasive
      cancer, 11.6% had CIN1 and 7.1% had no dysplasia on histopathology. One hundred
      and twenty-one with high-grade colposcopy findings had histopathology results
      available. Using a 'see and treat' approach, 92.6% would have had confirmed
      dysplasia of any grade, while 91.7% had confirmed high-grade dysplasia.
      CONCLUSIONS: 'See and treat' colposcopy is feasible in the Australian setting
      when applied to selected patients with high-grade cytology and high-grade
      colposcopic findings.

PMID- 26864142
TI  - Confluent fibrosis and fibroblast foci in fibrotic non-specific interstitial
      pneumonia.
AB  - AIMS: The separation of fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (FNSIP) and
      usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is important for patient treatment and
      prognosis, but is sometimes a difficult diagnostic problem. Most authors believe
      that fibroblast foci are rare in NSIP, and that the finding of multiple
      fibroblast foci suggests a diagnosis of UIP. Similarly, architectural distortion
      is viewed as favouring a diagnosis of UIP. This study aims to assess these
      criteria for their diagnostic utility. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report eight
      patients with a high-resolution computed tomography diagnosis of FNSIP, and a
      picture of fibrotic NSIP on biopsy, but in whom, in all cases, fibrosis focally
      widened the walls to the point of confluence, producing architectural distortion
      in the form of variably sized, sometimes quite large, blocks of fibrosis, but not
      honeycombing. Fibroblast foci varied from four to nine per section, and point
      counting morphometry showed that the areas containing large blocks of confluent
      fibrosis were geographically strongly associated with fibroblast foci, whereas
      fibroblast foci were rare away from the confluent fibrosis. Follow-up imaging
      studies (mean interval 19.5 months; range 2-42 months) in six patients revealed
      stable or improved disease in four and worsening disease in two. No case had or
      developed radiological honeycombing, and there were no other imaging findings to
      suggest a diagnosis of UIP. CONCLUSIONS: Otherwise typical FNSIP cases can show
      architectural distortion caused by confluence or marked expansion of fibrotic
      alveolar walls. These areas tend to be associated with fibroblast foci. These
      findings do not imply a poor prognosis, and should not be confused with UIP.

PMID- 26864144
TI  - C15043. Chemical Constituents of Plants from the Genus Phlegmariurus.
AB  - Phlegmariurus is a genus of ca. 200 species in the family Huperziaceae, mainly
      distributing in tropical and subtropical Asia, with 23 species being endemic to
      South China [1]. The whole plants of several species of Phlegmariurus genus have
      been used in traditional Chinese medicine. For example, P. phlegmaria (L.) Holub
      was used for the treatment of rheumatic pain, arthritis, traumatic injury, sore
      throat, edema and urticaria [2]. Since huperzine A, a potent, reversible and
      selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a promising drug for the treatment
      of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease was discovered from Huperzia serrata (Thunb.
      Ex Murray) Trev. (Huperziaceae), numerous efforts on the isolation of new potent
      alkaloids from H. serrata and related plants have been carried out by many
      research groups, which led to the isolation of a series of plant constituents,
      especially lycopodium alkaloids with diverse structures of many unusual skeletons
      of interest from biogenetic and biological points of view and challenging targets
      for total synthesis [3-8]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights
      reserved.

PMID- 26864143
TI  - Mapping forests in monsoon Asia with ALOS PALSAR 50-m mosaic images and MODIS
      imagery in 2010.
AB  - Extensive forest changes have occurred in monsoon Asia, substantially affecting
      climate, carbon cycle and biodiversity. Accurate forest cover maps at fine
      spatial resolutions are required to qualify and quantify these effects. In this
      study, an algorithm was developed to map forests in 2010, with the use of
      structure and biomass information from the Advanced Land Observation System
      (ALOS) Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) mosaic dataset and
      the phenological information from MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
      (MOD13Q1 and MOD09A1) products. Our forest map (PALSARMOD50 m F/NF) was assessed
      through randomly selected ground truth samples from high spatial resolution
      images and had an overall accuracy of 95%. Total area of forests in monsoon Asia
      in 2010 was estimated to be ~6.3 * 10(6 )km(2). The distribution of evergreen and
      deciduous forests agreed reasonably well with the median Normalized Difference
      Vegetation Index (NDVI) in winter. PALSARMOD50 m F/NF map showed good spatial and
      areal agreements with selected forest maps generated by the Japan Aerospace
      Exploration Agency (JAXA F/NF), European Space Agency (ESA F/NF), Boston
      University (MCD12Q1 F/NF), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO FRA), and
      University of Maryland (Landsat forests), but relatively large differences and
      uncertainties in tropical forests and evergreen and deciduous forests. 

PMID- 26864145
TI  - Technical mentorship during robot-assisted surgery: a cognitive analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate cognitive and mental workload assessments, which may
      play a critical role in defining successful mentorship. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      The 'Mind Maps' project aimed at evaluating cognitive function with regard to
      surgeon's expertise and trainee's skills. The study included electroencephalogram
      (EEG) recordings of a mentor observing trainee surgeons in 20 procedures
      involving extended lymph node dissection (eLND) or urethrovesical anastomosis
      (UVA), with simultaneous assessment of trainees using the National Aeronautics
      and Space Administration Task Load index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire. We also
      compared the brain activity of the mentor during this study with his own brain
      activity while actually performing the same surgical steps from previous
      procedures populated in the 'Mind Maps' project. RESULTS: During eLND and UVA,
      when the mentor thought the trainee's mental demand and effort were low based on
      his NASA-TLX questionnaire (not satisfied with his performance), his EEG-based
      mental workload increased (reflecting more concern and attention). The mentor was
      mentally engaged and concerned while he was engrossed in observing the surgery.
      This was further supported by the finding that there was no significant
      difference in the mental demands and workload between observing and operating for
      the expert surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: This study objectively evaluated the cognitive
      engagement of a surgical mentor teaching technical skills during surgery. The
      study provides a deeper understanding of how surgical teaching actually works and
      opens new horizons for assessment and teaching of surgery. Further research is
      needed to study the feasibility of this novel concept in assessment and guidance
      of surgical performance.

PMID- 26864146
TI  - Bone-anchored hearing aid and skin graft removal with subsequent cochlear
      implantation.
AB  - We describe a novel technique of scalp flap rearrangement for cochlear implant
      (CI) candidates who have previously undergone ipsilateral bone-anchored hearing
      aid (BAHA) placement. One patient with single-sided deafness (SSD) underwent
      removal of a BAHA with subsequent scalp rearrangement for coverage of the implant
      site. After adequate healing of the scalp rotational flap, he underwent
      uncomplicated cochlear implantation without soft tissue complications. With
      increasing utilization of CIs in SSD, there will be more patients undergoing
      cochlear implantation who have previously had a BAHA. We present a novel method
      for accomplishing this goal while minimizing the risk of soft tissue
      complications. Laryngoscope, 126:2601-2604, 2016.

PMID- 26864147
TI  - In Situ Mitigation of Subsurface and Peripheral Focused Ion Beam Damage via
      Simultaneous Pulsed Laser Heating.
AB  - Focused helium and neon ion (He(+)/Ne(+)) beam processing has recently been used
      to push resolution limits of direct-write nanoscale synthesis. The ubiquitous
      insertion of focused He(+)/Ne(+) beams as the next-generation nanofabrication
      tool-of-choice is currently limited by deleterious subsurface and peripheral
      damage induced by the energetic ions in the underlying substrate. The in situ
      mitigation of subsurface damage induced by He(+)/Ne(+) ion exposures in silicon
      via a synchronized infrared pulsed laser-assisted process is demonstrated. The
      pulsed laser assist provides highly localized in situ photothermal energy which
      reduces the implantation and defect concentration by greater than 90%. The laser
      assisted exposure process is also shown to reduce peripheral defects in He(+)
      patterned graphene, which makes this process an attractive candidate for direct
      write patterning of 2D materials. These results offer a necessary solution for
      the applicability of high-resolution direct-write nanoscale material processing
      via focused ion beams.

PMID- 26864148
TI  - Modelling energy efficiency of an integrated anaerobic digestion and
      photodegradation of distillery effluent using response surface methodology.
AB  - Anaerobic digestion (AD) is efficient in organic load removal and bioenergy
      recovery when applied in treating distillery effluent; however, it is ineffective
      in colour reduction. In contrast, ultraviolet (UV) photodegradation post
      treatment for the AD-treated distillery effluent is effective in colour reduction
      but has high energy requirement. The effects of operating parameters on bioenergy
      production and energy demand of photodegradation were modelled using response
      surface methodology (RSM) with a view of developing a sustainable process in
      which the biological step could supply energy to the energy-intensive
      photodegradation step. The organic loading rate (OLRAD) and hydraulic retention
      time (HRTAD) of the initial biological step were the variables investigated. It
      was found that the initial biological step removed about 90% of COD and only
      about 50% colour while photodegradation post-treatment removed 98% of the
      remaining colour. Maximum bioenergy production of 180.5 kWh/m(3) was achieved.
      Energy demand of the UV lamp was lowest at low OLRAD irrespective of HRTAD, with
      values ranging between 87 and 496 kWh/m(3). The bioenergy produced formed 93% of
      the UV lamp energy demand when the system was operated at OLRAD of 3 kg COD/m(3)
      d and HRT of 20 days. The presumed carbon dioxide emission reduction when
      electricity from bioenergy was used to power the UV lamp was 28.8 kg CO2 e/m(3),
      which could reduce carbon emission by 31% compared to when electricity from the
      grid was used, leading to environmental conservation. 

PMID- 26864149
TI  - Rosmarinic acid inhibits some metabolic enzymes including glutathione S
      transferase, lactoperoxidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and
      carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes.
AB  - Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenol contained in many aromatic plants
      with promising biological activities. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are
      widespread and intensively studied metalloenzymes present in higher vertebrates.
      Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3.1.1.7) is intimately associated with the
      normal neurotransmission by catalysing the hydrolysis of acetylcholine to acetate
      and choline and acts in combination with butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to remove
      acetylcholine from the synaptic cleft. Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is an enzyme
      involved in fighting pathogenic microorganisms, whereas glutathione S
      transferases (GSTs) are dimeric proteins present both in prokaryotic and in
      eukaryotic organisms and involved in cellular detoxification mechanisms. In the
      present study, the inhibition effects of rosmarinic acid on tumour-associated
      carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoenzymes, AChE, BChE, LPO and GST enzymes were
      evaluated. Rosmarinic acid inhibited these enzymes with Kis in the range between
      micromolar to picomolar. The best inhibitory effect of rosmarinic acid was
      observed against both AChE and BChE. 

PMID- 26864150
TI  - Description of the Halophile Euplotes qatarensis nov. spec. (Ciliophora,
      Spirotrichea, Euplotida) Isolated from the Hypersaline Khor Al-Adaid Lagoon in
      Qatar.
AB  - The morphology, ontogenesis, and phylogenetic relationships of a halophile
      euplotid ciliates, Euplotes qatarensis nov. spec., isolated from the Khor Al
      Adaid Lagoon in Qatar were investigated based on live observation as well as
      protargol- and silver nitrate-impregnated methods. The new species is
      characterised by a combination of features: the halophile habitat, a cell size of
      50-65 * 33-40 MUm, seven dorsal ridges, 10 commonly sized frontoventral cirri,
      two widely spaced marginal cirri, 10 dorsolateral kineties, and a double
      silverline pattern. The morphogenesis is similar to that of its congeners: (i)
      the oral primordium develops hypoapokinetally and the parental oral apparatus is
      retained; (ii) the frontoventral-transverse field of five streaks gives rise to
      the frontal, ventral, and transverse cirri, but not to the cirri I/1 and the
      marginal cirri; (iii) the dorsal somatic ciliature develops by intrakinetal
      proliferation of basal bodies in two anlagen per kinety that are just anterior
      and posterior to the future division furrow; (iv) the caudal cirri are formed by
      the two rightmost dorsolateral kineties. The SSU rDNA sequence of E. qatarensis
      branches with full support in the Euplotopsis elegans-Euplotes nobilii
      Euplotopsis raikovi clade. The closest related publicly available SSU rDNA
      sequence is the one of E. nobilii, with which E. qatarensis has 93.4% sequence
      similarity. Euplotes parawoodruffi Song & Bradbury, 1997 is transferred to the
      genus Euplotoides based on the absence of frontoventral cirrus VI/3.

PMID- 26864151
TI  - Mechanistic investigation of the on-surface enzymatic digestion (oSED) protein
      adsorption detection method using targeted mass spectrometry.
AB  - This study describes our efforts to study some of the mechanistic aspects of the
      earlier established on-surface enzymatic digestion (oSED) method. In a multitude
      of application areas, it has become important to be able to fully characterize
      and understand selective protein adsorption to biomaterial surfaces for various
      applications, including biomedicine (implants), nanotechnology (microchip
      surfaces and sensors) and materials sciences. Herein, the investigation of the
      mechanistic aspects was based on microdialysis catheter tubes that were flushed
      with controlled protein solutions mimicking the extracellular fluid of the brain.
      The protein adsorption properties were monitored using high-resolution liquid
      chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a targeted method. The
      temporally resolved results show that most proteins stay adsorbed onto the
      surface during the entire digestion process and are only cut away piece by piece,
      whereas smaller proteins and peptides seem to desorb rather easily from the
      surface. This information will simplify the interpretation of data generated
      using the oSED method and can also be used for the characterization of the
      physicochemical properties controlling the adsorption of individual proteins to
      specific surfaces. 

PMID- 26864154
TI  - Delayed Presentation of Aortic Injury by a Thoracic Pedicle Screw.
AB  - Delayed presentation of a thoracic aortic injury is an extremely rare
      complication after spine surgery. We report a case of delayed presentation of a
      thoracic aortic injury with a vertebral pedicle screw after posterior spinal
      surgery without periaortic hematoma, hemorrhage or pseudoaneurysm formation and
      review the relevant literature.

PMID- 26864152
TI  - Years of life that could be saved from prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes premature death and loss of
      life expectancy worldwide. Its primary and secondary prevention can result in a
      significant number of years of life saved. AIM: To assess how many years of life
      are lost after HCC diagnosis. METHODS: Data from 5346 patients with first HCC
      diagnosis were used to estimate lifespan and number of years of life lost after
      tumour onset, using a semi-parametric extrapolation having as reference an age-,
      sex- and year-of-onset-matched population derived from national life tables.
      RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2014, HCC lead to an average of 11.5 years-of-life lost
      for each patient. The youngest age-quartile group (18-61 years) had the highest
      number of years-of-life lost, representing approximately 41% of the overall
      benefit obtainable from prevention. Advancements in HCC management have
      progressively reduced the number of years-of-life lost from 12.6 years in 1986
      1999, to 10.7 in 2000-2006 and 7.4 years in 2007-2014. Currently, an HCC
      diagnosis when a single tumour <2 cm results in 3.7 years-of-life lost while the
      diagnosis when a single tumour >= 2 cm or 2/3 nodules still within the Milan
      criteria, results in 5.0 years-of-life lost, representing the loss of only
      approximately 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively, of the entire lifespan from birth.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence results in the loss of a
      considerable number of years-of-life, especially for younger patients. In recent
      years, the increased possibility of effectively treating this tumour has improved
      life expectancy, thus reducing years-of-life lost.

PMID- 26864153
TI  - A phase 3b study of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin in treatment-naive and treatment
      experienced Korean patients chronically infected with genotype 2 hepatitis C
      virus.
AB  - In Korea, patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are typically
      treated with pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin, but interferons are
      contraindicated in many patients and are often poorly tolerated, particularly by
      the elderly and those with advanced liver disease. No interferon-free treatment
      regimens are approved in Korea. Sofosbuvir is an oral nucleotide analog inhibitor
      of the HCV nonstructural 5B RNA polymerase. It is approved in the USA, European
      Union and Japan for treating a number of HCV genotypes, including genotype 2.
      Genotype 2 has a seroprevalence of 38-46% in Korea. This single-arm, phase 3b
      study (NCT02021643) examined the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin
      (12-week duration) in chronic genotype 2 HCV-infected treatment-naive and
      treatment-experienced Korean patients with and without cirrhosis. The proportion
      of patients with sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment
      discontinuation (SVR12) was 97% (125/129), with 96% (101/105) of treatment-naive
      and 100% (24/24) of treatment-experienced patients achieving SVR12. Two patients
      experienced virologic failure (n = 1, on-treatment failure; n = 1, relapse). No
      patient discontinued study treatment due to an adverse event (AE). The most
      common treatment-emergent AEs were headache (18%, 23/129) and pruritus (15%,
      19/129). Few patients had grade 3 AEs (5%, 6/129) or grade 3 laboratory
      abnormalities (12%, 15/129). No grade 4 AE was reported. These data suggest that
      12 weeks of treatment with the all-oral, interferon-free regimen of sofosbuvir
      plus ribavirin is effective and well tolerated in Korean patients with chronic
      genotype 2 HCV infection. 

PMID- 26864155
TI  - Solubility parameter-based screening methods for early-stage formulation
      development of itraconazole amorphous solid dispersions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This article uses conventional and newly extended solubility
      parameter (delta) methods to identify polymeric materials capable of forming
      amorphous dispersions with itraconazole (itz). METHODS: Combinations of itz and
      Soluplus, Eudragit E PO (EPO), Kollidon 17PF (17PF) or Kollidon VA64 (VA64) were
      prepared as amorphous solid dispersions using quench cooling and hot melt
      extrusion. Storage stability was evaluated under a range of conditions using
      differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. KEY FINDINGS: The
      rank order of itz miscibility with polymers using both conventional and novel
      delta-based approaches was 17PF > VA64 > Soluplus > EPO, and the application of
      the Flory-Huggins lattice model to itz-excipient binary systems corroborated the
      findings. The solid-state characterisation analyses of the formulations
      manufactured by melt extrusion correlated well with pre-formulation screening.
      Long-term storage studies showed that the physical stability of 17PF/vitamin E
      TPGS-itz was poor compared with Soluplus and VA64 formulations, and for EPO/itz
      systems variation in stability may be observed depending on the preparation
      method. CONCLUSION: Results have demonstrated that although delta-based screening
      may be useful in predicting the initial state of amorphous solid dispersions,
      assessment of the physical behaviour of the formulations at relevant temperatures
      may be more appropriate for the successful development of commercially acceptable
      amorphous drug products.

PMID- 26864156
TI  - Reduction in radiation doses from paediatric CT scans in Great Britain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although CT scans provide great medical benefits, concerns have been
      raised about the magnitude of possible associated cancer risk, particularly in
      children who are more sensitive to radiation than adults. Unnecessary high doses
      during CT examinations can also be delivered to children, if the scan parameters
      are not adjusted for patient age and size. We conducted the first survey to
      directly assess the trends in CT scan parameters and doses for paediatric CT
      scans performed in Great Britain between 1978 and 2008. METHODS: We retrieved
      1073 CT film sets from 36 hospitals. The patients were 0-19 years old, and CT
      scans were conducted between 1978 and 2008. We extracted scan parameters from
      each film including tube current-time product [milliampere seconds (mAs)], tube
      potential [peak kilovoltage (kVp)] and manufacturer and model of the CT scanner.
      We estimated the mean mAs for head and trunk (chest and abdomen/pelvis) scans,
      according to patient age (0-4, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19 years) and scan year (<1990,
      1990-1994, 1995-1999 and >=2000), and then derived the volumetric CT dose index
      and estimated organ doses. RESULTS: For head CT scans, mean mAs decreased by
      about 47% on average from before 1990 to after 2000, with the decrease starting
      around 1990. The mean mAs for head CTs did not vary with age before 1990, whereas
      slightly lower mAs values were used for younger patients after 1990. Similar
      declines in mAs were observed for trunk CTs: a 46% decline on an average from
      before 1990 to after 2000. Although mean mAs for trunk CTs did not vary with age
      before 1990, the value varied markedly by age, from 63 mAs for age 0-4 years
      compared with 315 mAs for those aged >15 years after 2000. No material changes in
      kVp were found. Estimated brain-absorbed dose from head CT scans decreased from
      62 mGy before 1990 to approximately 30 mGy after 2000. For chest CT scans, the
      lung dose to children aged 0-4 years decreased from 28 mGy before 1990 to 4 mGy
      after 2000. CONCLUSION: We found that mAs for head and trunk CTs was
      approximately halved starting around 1990, and age-specific mAs was generally
      used for paediatric scans after this date. These changes will have substantially
      reduced the radiation exposure to children from CT scans in Great Britain.
      ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The study shows that mAs and major organ doses for
      paediatric CT scans in Great Britain began to decrease around 1990.

PMID- 26864157
TI  - The Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty, Sensory Sensitivities, and
      Anxiety in Autistic and Typically Developing Children.
AB  - Guided by a recent theory that proposes fundamental differences in how autistic
      individuals deal with uncertainty, we investigated the extent to which the
      cognitive construct 'intolerance of uncertainty' and anxiety were related to
      parental reports of sensory sensitivities in 64 autistic and 85 typically
      developing children aged 6-14 years. Intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety
      explained approximately half the variance in autistic children's sensory
      sensitivities, but only around a fifth of the variance in typical children's
      sensory sensitivities. In children with autism only, intolerance of uncertainty
      remained a significant predictor of children's sensory sensitivities once the
      effects of anxiety were adjusted for. Our results suggest intolerance of
      uncertainty is a relevant construct to sensory sensitivities in children with and
      without autism.

PMID- 26864158
TI  - An Evaluation of a Parent Implemented In Situ Pedestrian Safety Skills
      Intervention for Individuals with Autism.
AB  - This study evaluated an in situ pedestrian safety skills intervention for three
      individuals with autism , as implemented by their parents. Specifically, this
      study examined the utility of behavioral skills training (BST) in helping parents
      implement most-to-least prompting procedures in training their children to use
      pedestrian safety skills in community settings. A multiple baseline design across
      participants was used to assess parent implementation of in situ pedestrian
      safety skills training as well as the correct use of safety skills independently
      by the participating individuals with autism. Results indicated that parents
      implemented in situ, most-to-least prompting procedures with high levels of
      accuracy across street locations during intervention and fading of BST. All child
      participants significantly improved their pedestrian safety skills during
      intervention across all natural street settings. For all three participants, the
      acquired skills were maintained above baseline levels at 1-month follow-up.

PMID- 26864159
TI  - Evidence of Reduced Global Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
AB  - Frith's original notion of 'weak central coherence' suggested that increased
      local processing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) resulted from reduced global
      processing. More recent accounts have emphasised superior local perception and
      suggested intact global integration. However, tasks often place local and global
      processing in direct trade-off, making it difficult to determine whether group
      differences reflect reduced global processing, increased local processing, or
      both. We present two measures of global integration in which poor performance
      could not reflect increased local processing. ASD participants were slower to
      identify fragmented figures and less sensitive to global geometric impossibility
      than IQ-matched controls. These findings suggest that reduced global integration
      comprises one important facet of weak central coherence in ASD.

PMID- 26864160
TI  - Infant Development in Fragile X Syndrome: Cross-Syndrome Comparisons.
AB  - This study examined the developmental profile of male infants with fragile X
      syndrome (FXS) and its divergence from typical development and development of
      infants at high risk for autism associated with familial recurrence (ASIBs).
      Participants included 174 boys ranging in age from 5 to 28 months. Cross
      sectional profiles on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning indicated infants with
      FXS could be differentiated from typically developing infants and ASIBs by 6
      months of age. Infants with FXS displayed a trend of lower developmental skills
      with increasing age that was unique from the typically developing and ASIB
      groups. Findings suggest infants with FXS present with more significant,
      pervasive and early emerging delays than previously reported with potentially
      etiologically distinct developmental profiles.

PMID- 26864162
TI  - Six-month outcomes of the XINSORB bioresorbable sirolimus-eluting scaffold in
      treating single de novo lesions in human coronary artery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate short-term outcomes of the XINSORB
      bioresorbable sirolimus-eluting scaffold in human coronary artery. BACKGROUND:
      Bioresorbable scaffolds are considered to be the fourth milestone in percutaneous
      coronary intervention. METHODS: Thirty patients with symptomatic ischemic
      coronary disease were enrolled and treated with the XINSORB scaffolds that were
      3.0 * 12, 15, and 18 mm in size. The primary angiographic endpoint was late
      luminal loss (LLL), whereas the primary clinical endpoint was major adverse
      cardiac events (MACEs) at the 6 month follow-up. In a subset of 19 patients,
      intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were
      performed at follow-up. RESULTS: The success rates of the procedure and the
      device were both 100%. Twenty-seven patients received angiographic follow-up. All
      patients were clinically assessed. Neither MACEs nor stent thrombus-related
      events were recorded. The percentage of diameter stenosis at follow-up was
      similar to that at postprocedure. In-scaffold and periscaffold LLL were 0.17 +/-
      0.12 and 0.13 +/- 0.24 mm, respectively. No in-stent restenosis was detected.
      IVUS showed that the mean areas of the lumen, scaffold, and neointima at follow
      up were 6.27 +/- 0.69, 6.48 +/- 0.70, and 0.20 +/- 0.09 mm(2) , while in-device
      stenosis was 3.1 +/- 1.3%. OCT showed that 97.9% of the struts presented a
      preserved box, while 2.1% had an open box after 6 months. A total of 95.9% of the
      struts were covered by neointima. CONCLUSIONS: This first-in-human study
      demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of the XINSORB scaffold in treating
      single de novo coronary lesions.

PMID- 26864163
TI  - Is the use of maternal healthcare among prospective mothers higher in households
      that have experienced maternal death? Evidence from India.
AB  - Essential maternity care services include providing antenatal, delivery and
      postnatal care in a continuum to avert excess maternal deaths. This study
      assesses whether there is any significant difference in the utilization of
      maternal healthcare services between women from households that experienced any
      maternal death and women from households that did not experience any maternal
      death. Data from India's District Level Households and Facility Survey, 2007-08
      were used. A sample of 321 women (unweighted) aged 15-49 years residing in
      households that had experienced maternal death, and 217 737 women (unweighted) of
      the same age group living in households that did not experience any maternal
      death were found eligible for the analysis. Results indicate that women belonging
      to households that experienced maternal deaths were less likely to opt for full
      antenatal care [odds ratio (OR): 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-0.88]
      and postnatal care (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.61-0.91) compared with women from
      households that did not experience any maternal death. Conversely, women
      belonging to households experiencing maternal deaths were more likely to utilize
      skilled birth attendants (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.03-1.73) for their last delivery.
      This study hopes to draw the attention of program and policy makers to improve
      the reach of antenatal and postnatal care services, which are considered to be a
      supply side barrier compared with institutional delivery even by households that
      have reported maternal death. 

PMID- 26864164
TI  - Friendship Award: J. S. Siegel and P. J. Stang / International Science and
      Technology Cooperation Award: P. J. Stang / Gay-Lussac Humboldt Prize: M.
      Antonietti and S. Schlemmer.

PMID- 26864161
TI  - Serum microRNAs as novel biomarkers for primary sclerosing cholangitis and
      cholangiocarcinoma.
AB  - The diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is difficult due to the
      lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers, as is the early diagnosis of
      cholangiocarcinoma (CC), a complication of PSC. The aim of this study was to
      identify specific serum miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for PSC and CC. The
      levels of 667 miRNAs were evaluated in 90 human serum samples (30 PSC, 30 CC and
      30 control subjects) to identify disease-associated candidate miRNAs (discovery
      phase). The deregulated miRNAs were validated in an independent cohort of 140
      samples [40 PSC, 40 CC, 20 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 40 controls].
      Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were established and only miRNAs
      with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.70 were considered useful as biomarkers.
      In the discovery phase we identified the following: 21 miRNAs expressed
      differentially in PSC, 33 in CC and 26 in both in comparison to control subjects
      as well as 24 miRNAs expressed differentially between PSC and CC. After the
      validation phase, miR-200c was found to be expressed differentially in PSC versus
      controls, whereas miR-483-5p and miR-194 showed deregulated expression in CC
      compared with controls. We also demonstrate a difference in the expression of miR
      222 and miR-483-5p in CC versus PSC. Combination of these specific miRNAs further
      improved the specificity and accuracy of diagnosis. This study provides a basis
      for the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PSC and CC.

PMID- 26864166
TI  - Nazarov cyclization of divinyl ketones bearing an ester group at the beta
      position: a remarkable effect of alpha-substitution and alkene geometry on
      regioselectivity.
AB  - The Nazarov cyclization of divinyl ketones with an ester at the beta-position was
      examined with particular reference to where the cyclic double bond forms. We
      observed unprecedented regioselectivity, dictated by the subtle substitution
      patterns at the alpha-position and alkene geometry of alpha,beta and mostly, this
      selectivity is regardless of substitutions at alpha'- and beta'-positions. The
      major implications of these observations are an aromatic group at the alpha
      position with E-olefin geometry provides a cyclopentenone in which the double
      bond is not in conjugation with an ester, whereas Z-olefin provides a
      cyclopentenone in which the double bond is in conjugation with an ester; and
      divinyl ketones bearing an ester group at the beta-position and an alkyl group at
      the alpha-position with E-olefin geometry provide a cyclopentenone in which the
      double bond is in conjugation with the ester. 

PMID- 26864165
TI  - Efficacy of a Required Preoperative Weight Loss Program for Patients Undergoing
      Bariatric Surgery.
AB  - The efficacy of mandatory medically supervised preoperative weight loss (MPWL)
      prior to bariatric surgery continues to be a controversial topic. The purpose of
      this observational study was to assess the efficacy of a MPWL program in a single
      institution, which mandated at least 10% excess body weight loss before surgery,
      by comparing outcomes of patients undergoing primary bariatric surgery with and
      without a compulsory preoperative weight loss regimen. We analyzed our database
      of 757 patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery between March 2008 and
      January 2015. Patients were placed into two cohorts based on their participation
      in a MPWL program requiring at least 10% excess weight loss (EWL) prior to
      surgery. Patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery for
      weight loss, comorbidity resolution, and the occurrences of hospital
      readmissions. A total of 717 patients met the inclusion criteria of whom 465
      underwent surgery without a preoperative weight loss requirement and 252
      participated in the MPWL program. One year after surgery, 67.1% of non
      participants and 62.5% of MPWL participants showed a resolution of at least one
      of five associated comorbidities (p = 0.45). Non-participants showed an average
      of 58.6% EWL, while MPWL participants showed 59.1% EWL at 1 year postoperatively
      (p = 0.84). Readmission rates, excluding those which were ulcer-related, at 30
      days (3.4 vs. 6.40%, p = 0.11) and 90 days (9.9 vs. 7.5%, p = 0.29)
      postoperatively were not significantly different between the non-participants and
      MPWL patients, respectively. A mandatory preoperative weight loss program prior
      to bariatric surgery did not result in significantly greater %EWL or comorbidity
      resolution 1 year after surgery compared to patients not required to lose weight
      preoperatively. Additionally, the program did not result in significantly lower
      30- or 90-day readmission rates for these patients. The value of a MPWL program
      must be weighed against the potential loss of bariatric surgery candidates.
      Patients who fail to lose 10% excess weight preoperatively are thus ineligible
      for a procedure from which they would otherwise benefit. Our data suggest these
      patients will have similar positive outcomes.

PMID- 26864167
TI  - Impact of gender on decisions to participate in faecal immunochemical test-based
      colorectal cancer screening: a qualitative study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) are increasingly being used in
      population-based colorectal cancer-screening programmes. Uptake of FIT is lower
      in men than women; however, the reasons for this are not well understood. We
      aimed to explore gender differences in influences on decisions to participate in
      FIT screening. METHODS: This is a qualitative study using in-depth face-to-face
      interviews of four groups of screening invitees (male and female screening users
      and male and female screening non-users), purposively sampled from the database
      of a population-based FIT screening programme. Recruitment continued until
      saturation was reached. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.
      Thematic analysis using the framework approach was employed with the theoretical
      domains framework guiding analysis. RESULTS: Forty-seven screening invitees were
      interviewed. Six theoretical domains influenced screening uptake: 'environmental
      context and resources', 'beliefs about capabilities', 'beliefs about
      consequences', 'emotions', 'social influences' and 'knowledge'. Male non-users
      were often fatalistic, less knowledgeable and misinformed about cancer and FIT
      screening compared with other groups. Female non-users expressed negative
      attitudes, beliefs and emotions towards FIT screening, cancer, social influences
      and the medical profession and were over-confident about their health.
      CONCLUSIONS: Negative attitudes and emotions to screening dominated non-user
      decision-making but differed by gender. Opportunities to improve uptake in men
      and women exist. Greater national discussions on the benefits of FIT screening,
      and development of screening materials tackling negative attitudes and beliefs
      while recognising male/female differences, may improve screening uptake.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864168
TI  - Augmentation of the Inotropic Effects of Dopamine Following Linezolid
      Administration in an Infant.
AB  - Although generally safe and effective, one of the unique properties of linezolid
      is its weak inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase. As such, it may interact with
      other medications that act through the adrenergic or serotonergic systems,
      including selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors and vasoactive agents. We
      present a 3-month-old infant who was being treated with dopamine to maintain mean
      arterial pressure during mechanical ventilation following viral-induced
      respiratory failure. Hypertension and tachycardia developed during the
      administration of linezolid on two separate occasions. The physiology of
      catecholamine metabolism is reviewed including the role of the monoamine oxidase
      system. The potential interaction between linezolid and vasoactive agents such as
      dopamine is discussed. 

PMID- 26864169
TI  - Neural probe combining microelectrodes and a droplet-based microdialysis
      collection system for high temporal resolution sampling.
AB  - We propose a novel neural probe which combines microfluidic channels with
      recording and stimulation electrodes. The developed microfabrication approach
      enables the concentration of every active element such as electrodes and the
      sampling inlet in close proximity on the same surface. As a first approach, full
      functional validation is presented in this work (in vivo testing will be
      presented in the next study). Electrical characterization by impedance
      spectroscopy is performed in order to assess the electrode properties. An
      advanced experimental setup enabling the validation of the fluidic functions of
      the neural probe is also presented. It allowed the achievement of a high temporal
      resolution (170 ms) during sampling as a result of the integration of a T
      junction droplet generator inside the probe. The droplets reached a volume of
      0.84 nL and are separated by a non-aqueous phase (perfluoromethyldecalin, PFD).
      This probe represents an innovative tool for neuroscientists as it can be
      implanted in precise brain structures while combining electrical stimulation with
      sampling at a high temporal resolution. 

PMID- 26864170
TI  - Co-functionalized organic/inorganic hybrid ZnO nanorods as electron transporting
      layers for inverted organic solar cells.
AB  - In an unprecedented attempt, we present an interesting approach of coupling
      solution processed ZnO planar nanorods (NRs) by an organic small molecule (SM)
      with a strong electron withdrawing cyano moiety and the carboxylic group as
      binding sites by a facile co-functionalization approach. Direct functionalization
      by SMs (SM-ZnO NRs) leads to higher aggregation owing to the weaker solubility of
      SMs in solutions of ZnO NRs dispersed in chlorobenzene (CB). A prior addition of
      organic 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)acetic acid (MEA) over ZnO NRs not only inhibits
      aggregation of SMs over ZnO NRs, but also provides enough sites for the SM to
      strongly couple with the ZnO NRs to yield transparent SM-MEA-ZnO NRs hybrids that
      exhibited excellent capability as electron transporting layers (ETLs) in inverted
      organic solar cells (iOSCs) of P3HT:PC60BM bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) photoactive
      layers. A strongly coupled SM-MEA-ZnO NR hybrid reduces the series resistance by
      enhancing the interfacial area and tunes the energy level alignment at the
      interface between the (indium-doped tin oxide, ITO) cathode and BHJ photoactive
      layers. A significant enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) was
      achieved for iOSCs comprising ETLs of SM-MEA-ZnO NRs (3.64%) advancing from 0.9%
      for pristine ZnO NRs, while the iOSCs of aggregated SM-ZnO NRs ETL exhibited a
      much lower PCE of 2.6%, thus demonstrating the potential of the co
      functionalization approach. The superiority of the co-functionalized SM-MEA-ZnO
      NRs ETL is also evident from the highest PCE of 7.38% obtained for the iOSCs
      comprising BHJ of PTB7-Th:PC60BM compared with extremely poor 0.05% for non
      functionalized ZnO NRs. 

PMID- 26864171
TI  - Evaluation of the Aptima((r)) HIV-1 Quant Dx assay for HIV-1 RNA viral load
      detection and quantitation in plasma of HIV-1-infected individuals: A comparison
      with Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay.
AB  - The Hologic Aptima((r)) HIV-1 Quant Dx assay (Aptima HIV) is a real-time
      transcription-mediated amplification method CE-approved for use in diagnosis and
      monitoring of HIV-1 infection. The analytical performance of this new assay was
      compared to the FDA-approved Abbott RealTime HIV-1 (RealTime). The evaluation was
      performed using 220 clinical plasma samples, the WHO 3rd HIV-1 International
      Standard, and the QCMD HIV-1 RNA EQA. Concordance on qualitative results,
      correlation between quantitative results, accuracy, and reproducibility of viral
      load data were analyzed. The ability to measure HIV-1 subtypes was assessed on
      the second WHO International Reference Preparation Panel for HIV-1 Subtypes. With
      clinical samples, inter-assay agreement for qualitative results was high (91.8%)
      with Cohen's kappa statistic equal to 0.836. For samples with quantitative
      results in both assays (n = 93), Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was
      0.980 (P < 0.0001) and mean differences of measurement, conducted according to
      Bland-Altman method, was low (0.115 log10  copies/ml). The Aptima HIV quantified
      the WHO 3rd HIV-1 International Standard diluted from 2000 to 31 cp/ml (5,700-88
      IU/ml) at expected values with excellent linearity (R(2)  > 0.970) and showed
      higher sensitivity compared to RealTime being able to detect HIV-1 RNA in 10 out
      of 10 replicates containing down to 7 cp/ml (20 IU/ml). Reproducibility was very
      high, even at low HIV-1 RNA values. The Aptima HIV was able to detect and
      accurately quantify all the main HIV-1 subtypes in both reference panels and
      clinical samples. Besides excellent performance, Aptima HIV shows full
      automation, ease of use, and improved workflow compared to RealTime. J. Med.
      Virol. 88:1535-1544, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26864172
TI  - Localization and Classification of Paddy Field Pests using a Saliency Map and
      Deep Convolutional Neural Network.
AB  - We present a pipeline for the visual localization and classification of
      agricultural pest insects by computing a saliency map and applying deep
      convolutional neural network (DCNN) learning. First, we used a global contrast
      region-based approach to compute a saliency map for localizing pest insect
      objects. Bounding squares containing targets were then extracted, resized to a
      fixed size, and used to construct a large standard database called Pest ID. This
      database was then utilized for self-learning of local image features which were,
      in turn, used for classification by DCNN. DCNN learning optimized the critical
      parameters, including size, number and convolutional stride of local receptive
      fields, dropout ratio and the final loss function. To demonstrate the practical
      utility of using DCNN, we explored different architectures by shrinking depth and
      width, and found effective sizes that can act as alternatives for practical
      applications. On the test set of paddy field images, our architectures achieved a
      mean Accuracy Precision (mAP) of 0.951, a significant improvement over previous
      methods. 

PMID- 26864173
TI  - The transformation of polyoxometalates in the formation of intercluster compound
      [Ag41(alpha-SiW(10)O37)((t)BuC=C)27(CH3CN)3][beta-SiW(12)O40].
AB  - We report a unique intercluster compound comprising a Ag41 cage encapsulating a
      divacant [alpha-SiW(10)O37](10-) anion and a complete [beta-SiW(12)O40](4-) anion
      as a counteranion. Two electro-redox centers associated with the inner and outer
      POM anions show interesting electrochemical behaviours, because the stable Ag41
      cage acts as an electron transfer mediator.

PMID- 26864174
TI  - Redesigning Care for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by
      Cardiogenic Shock-Reply.

PMID- 26864175
TI  - Zika Virus Infection in a Massachusetts Resident After Travel to Costa Rica: A
      Case Report.

PMID- 26864176
TI  - Building children's nursing for Africa.

PMID- 26864177
TI  - Training nurses to reduce child mortality.

PMID- 26864178
TI  - Children's rights education: An imperative for health professionals.
AB  - The South African government has put in place a range of laws, policies and
      programmes that are designed to give effect to children's rights and support
      children's survival, health and optimal development. These rights do not just
      exist on paper. They have the potential to transform professional practice and
      improve the quality of care across a range of health care services. A child
      rights' approach requires nurses to act in the best interest of children, respect
      their evolving capacities, think more holistically about a child's well-being and
      work with others to address the broader social determinants of health--such as
      access to food, water and sanitation. This article draws on lessons learned from
      a short course in children's rights and child law for health professionals
      offered by the Children's Institute, University of Cape Town from 2011-2014. It
      encourages nurses to reflect critically on their current practice and to take
      action to improve a child's well-being. It also advocates for the inclusion of
      children's rights to be at the heart of education and training, professional
      codes of conduct and standards of care.

PMID- 26864179
TI  - Improving the quality of nursing documentation: An action research project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Documentation is an important function of professional nursing
      practise. In spite of numerous improvement efforts globally, inadequate
      documentation continues to be reported as nurse authors investigate barriers and
      challenges. OBJECTIVES: The project aimed to improve nurses' documentation of
      their patient assessments at the CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda in order to
      enhance the quality of nursing practise. METHOD: An action research methodology,
      using repeated cycles of planning, intervention, reflection and modification, was
      used to establish best practise approaches in this context for improving nurses'
      efficacy in documenting assessments in the patient record. The researchers
      gathered data from chart audits, literature reviews and key informant interviews.
      Through analysis and critical reflection, these data informed three cycles of
      systems and practise modifications to improve the quality of documentation.
      RESULTS: The initial cycle revealed that staff training alone was insufficient to
      achieve the project goal. To achieve improved documentation, broader changes were
      necessary, including building a critical mass of competent staff, redesigned
      orientation and continuing education, documentation form redesign, changes in
      nurse skill mix, and continuous leadership support. CONCLUSION: Improving nursing
      documentation involved complex challenges in this setting and demanded multiple
      approaches. Evidence-based practise was the foundation of changes in systems
      required to produce visible improvement in practise. The involved role of
      leadership in these efforts was very important.

PMID- 26864180
TI  - Journal club: Integrating research awareness into postgraduate nurse training.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence-based nursing requires nurses to maintain an awareness of
      recently published research findings to integrate into their clinical practice.
      In the South African setting keeping up with recent literature has additional
      challenges, including the diversity of nurses' home language, geographically
      foreign origins of published work, and limited economic resources. Students
      enrolled in a postgraduate programme came from various paediatric settings and
      displayed limited awareness of nursing literature as an evidence base for
      practice. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to design and introduce a journal club as
      an educational strategy into the postgraduate programmes in children's nursing at
      the University of Cape Town (UCT), and then to refine the way it is used to best
      serve programme outcomes and facilitate student learning whilst still being an
      enjoyable activity. METHOD: An action research methodology using successive
      cycles of 'assess-plan-act-observe' was used to design, implement and refine the
      structure of a journal club within the postgraduate diploma programme over four
      academic years. Six educators actively tracked and reflected on journal club
      sessions, and then analysed findings during and after each annual cycle to plan
      improvement and increasing programme alignment. RESULTS: Considerable refinement
      of the intervention included changing how it was structured, the preparation
      required by both students and educators, the article selection process and the
      intervention's alignment with other learning activities in the programme.
      CONCLUSION: Journal club facilitated an increase in student awareness and reading
      of nursing literature, offering the opportunity to consider application of
      published research to current nursing practice. Another benefit was enabling
      students to become familiar with the specialised and technical language of
      research, children's nursing and the critical care of children and neonates, by
      speaking about these in peer settings.

PMID- 26864181
TI  - Knowledge, attitudes and practices of neonatal staff concerning neonatal pain
      management.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonatal pain management has received increasing attention over the
      past four decades. Research into the effects of neonatal pain emphasises the
      professional, ethical and moral obligations of staff to manage pain for positive
      patient outcomes. However, evaluation studies continuously report evidence of
      inadequate neonate pain management and a gap between theory and practice.
      OBJECTIVE: This study reviewed current practice in neonatal pain management to
      describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses and doctors regarding
      pain management for neonates in two academic hospitals. METHOD: A non
      experimental, prospective quantitative survey, the modified Infant Pain
      Questionnaire, was used to collect data from 150 nurses and doctors working in
      the neonatal wards of two academic hospitals in central Gauteng. RESULTS: The
      response rate was 35.33% (n=53), most respondents being professional nurses
      (88.68%; n=47) working in neonatal intensive care units (80.77%; n=42); 24
      (45.28%) had less than 5 years' and 29 respondents 6 or more years' working
      experience in neonatal care. A review of pain management in the study setting
      indicated a preference for pharmacological interventions to relieve moderate to
      severe pain. An association (p<0.05) was found between pain ratings on 5
      procedures and frequency of administration of pharmacological pain management.
      Two-thirds of respondents (64%) reported that there were no pain management
      guidelines in the neonatal wards in which they worked. CONCLUSION: The
      interventions to manage moderate neonatal pain are in line with international
      guidelines. However, neonatal pain management may not occur systematically based
      on prior assessment of neonatal pain, choice of most appropriate intervention and
      evaluation. This study recommends implementation of a guideline to standardise
      practice and ensure consistent and adequate pain management in neonates.

PMID- 26864184
TI  - Hexadecapolar colloids.
AB  - Outermost occupied electron shells of chemical elements can have symmetries
      resembling that of monopoles, dipoles, quadrupoles and octupoles corresponding to
      filled s-, p-, d- and f-orbitals. Theoretically, elements with hexadecapolar
      outer shells could also exist, but none of the known elements have filled g
      orbitals. On the other hand, the research paradigm of 'colloidal atoms' displays
      complexity of particle behaviour exceeding that of atomic counterparts, which is
      driven by DNA functionalization, geometric shape and topology and weak external
      stimuli. Here we describe elastic hexadecapoles formed by polymer microspheres
      dispersed in a liquid crystal, a nematic fluid of orientationally ordered
      molecular rods. Because of conically degenerate boundary conditions, the solid
      microspheres locally perturb the alignment of the nematic host, inducing
      hexadecapolar distortions that drive anisotropic colloidal interactions. We
      uncover physical underpinnings of formation of colloidal elastic hexadecapoles
      and describe the ensuing bonding inaccessible to elastic dipoles, quadrupoles and
      other nematic colloids studied previously. 

PMID- 26864185
TI  - Cardiac varix of the left ventricle causing outflow tract obstruction.

PMID- 26864183
TI  - Motion correction in MRI of the brain.
AB  - Subject motion in MRI is a relevant problem in the daily clinical routine as well
      as in scientific studies. Since the beginning of clinical use of MRI, many
      research groups have developed methods to suppress or correct motion artefacts.
      This review focuses on rigid body motion correction of head and brain MRI and its
      application in diagnosis and research. It explains the sources and types of
      motion and related artefacts, classifies and describes existing techniques for
      motion detection, compensation and correction and lists established and
      experimental approaches. Retrospective motion correction modifies the MR image
      data during the reconstruction, while prospective motion correction performs an
      adaptive update of the data acquisition. Differences, benefits and drawbacks of
      different motion correction methods are discussed. 

PMID- 26864187
TI  - Peripheral pulmonary artery stenoses in the setting of Moyamoya.

PMID- 26864186
TI  - EACVI/EHRA Expert Consensus Document on the role of multi-modality imaging for
      the evaluation of patients with atrial fibrillation.
AB  - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder. Evaluation of
      patients with AF requires an electrocardiogram, but imaging techniques should be
      considered for defining management and driving treatment. The present document is
      an expert consensus from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging
      (EACVI) and the European Heart Rhythm Association. The clinical value of
      echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), computed tomography (CT), and
      nuclear imaging in AF patients are challenged. Left atrial (LA) volume and strain
      in echocardiography as well as assessment of LA fibrosis in CMR are discussed.
      The value of CT, especially in planning interventions, is highlighted. Fourteen
      consensus statements have been reached. These may serve as a guide for both
      imagers and electrophysiologists for best selecting the imaging technique and for
      best interpreting its results in AF patients. 

PMID- 26864188
TI  - Anomalous papillary muscle insertion in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26864189
TI  - Combined thrombin and autologous blood for repair of lumbar durotomy.
AB  - Lumbar durotomy can be intended or unintended and can result in persistent
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Several methods are used to manage this
      complication including bed rest and CSF diversion. In this study, we theorize
      that the use of thrombin-soaked gel foam together with autologous blood laid on
      the sutured dural tear can prevent persistent CSF leak. A retrospective review of
      the records of patients who underwent lumbar surgery and had an unintended dural
      tear with CSF leak, comparing the outcome of patients who were submitted to
      thrombin-soaked gel foam together with autologous blood (group A) to patients
      treated by subfacial drain, tight bandage, and bed rest (group B). A total of
      1371 patients had lumbar surgery, of whom 131 had dural tear. Group A included 62
      patients, while group B included 69 patients. 8.1 % of group A patients had CSF
      leak as compared to 17.4 % of group B patients at postoperative day 14. The
      incidence of postoperative CSF leak and duration of postoperative hospital stay
      were statistically lower in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). Combining
      thrombin and autologous blood for repair of lumbar durotomy is an effective and a
      relatively cheap way to decrease CSF leak in the early postoperative period as
      well as decreasing postoperative hospital stay. It also resulted in decreased
      complications rate in the late postoperative period. 

PMID- 26864191
TI  - Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra) for Schnitzler syndrome.
AB  - Schnitzler syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disease, which is defined by the
      presence of two major criteria: chronic urticaria and monoclonal immunoglobulin M
      (IgM) or immunoglobulin G gammopathy, in combination with at least two additional
      minor criteria: recurrent fever, leukocytosis and/or elevated C-reactive protein
      (CRP), objective signs of abnormal bone remodelling and a neutrophilic infiltrate
      in skin biopsy. We report on a 68-year-old female patient with a 10-year medical
      history of chronic urticaria, recurrent fever, severe arthralgia and increased
      CRP. Over the years, multiple diagnostic investigations were performed without
      conclusive findings, and therapeutic attempts with anti-histamines and several
      immunosuppressive agents had failed. The decision to initiate monotherapy with
      interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist was based on immunohistochemical
      detection of the abundance of IL-1beta positive cells in the patient's skin
      biopsy. After starting treatment with anakinra, disappearance of symptoms could
      be observed within 24 h. Discontinuation of the treatment resulted in a rapid
      relapse of the symptoms. Finally, already after the initiation of therapy with
      anakinra, the suspected diagnosis of Schnitzler syndrome could be confirmed by
      detection of IgM-gammopathy that was initially absent. 

PMID- 26864190
TI  - [Human papillomavirus and squamous cell cancer of the head and neck region :
      Prognostic, therapeutic and prophylactic implications].
AB  - Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are responsible for approximately half of all
      oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) and incidence rates of HPV
      associated OPSCC continue to increase substantially. The defined viral
      carcinogenesis permits development of specific diagnostic, therapeutic, and
      prophylactic approaches. Laboratory identification of HPV-associated OPSCC may be
      achieved by p16(INK4a) immunohistochemistry combined with HPV DNA detection by
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using tumor tissue. Patients with HPV-associated
      OPSCC have a relatively good prognosis; therefore, the HPV status plays an
      important role in patient guidance. Due to the relatively favorable prognosis,
      ongoing studies are evaluating whether less rigorous therapy for HPV-positive
      patients results in equally good cure rates. The criteria for patient selection
      are, however, still uncertain. Particularly markers for detection of HPV-positive
      patients with a high risk of treatment failure are lacking. Besides tumor stage
      and comorbidities, distinct genomic, epigenetic, and immunologic alterations are
      prognostically relevant for HPV-associated OPSCC, and might be of predictive
      value. Furthermore, the characteristic molecular alterations suggest the
      possibility of novel vigilant and specific therapy approaches. These may be
      inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which is
      frequently activated in HPV-associated OPSCC, and immunotherapeutic methods, e.
      g., therapeutic vaccination. Although prophylactic HPV vaccinations may also
      prevent development of HPV-associated OPSCC, foreseeable effects on OPSCC
      incidence will be low, given the low vaccination rates in Germany. This
      highlights the fact that interdisciplinary research networks should enhance the
      necessary activities related to HPV-associated OPSCC. 

PMID- 26864192
TI  - Pre-procedural ultrasonography and marking for neuraxial anesthesia: an
      observational study.

PMID- 26864193
TI  - Intraperitoneal ketorolac for post-cholecystectomy pain: a double-blind
      randomized-controlled trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: Ketorolac is a parenterally active nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
      with localized anti-inflammatory properties. We examine the postoperative
      analgesic efficacy of locally administered intraperitoneal (IP) ketorolac
      compared with intravenous (IV) ketorolac during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
      METHODS: With institutional ethics approval, 120 patients undergoing elective
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to receive intraoperative 1) IP
      ketorolac 30 mg + intravenous saline (IP group), 2) intraperitoneal saline + IV
      ketorolac 30 mg (IV group), or 3) intraperitoneal saline + intravenous saline
      (Control group) under standardized anesthesia. The primary and secondary outcomes
      were postoperative fentanyl requirements in the postanesthesia care unit and the
      time to first analgesic request, respectively. Other outcomes examined included
      abdominal pain (at rest and with coughing), shoulder pain, nausea, vomiting, and
      any other postoperative complications. RESULTS: On average, patients receiving IP
      ketorolac required less (mean difference, 29 MUg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2
      to 56; P = 0.04) fentanyl than patients in the Control group but a similar (mean
      difference, 16 MUg; 95% CI, 12 to 43; P = 0.27) amount compared to patients in
      the IV group. There was an increase in the median (interquartile range [IQR])
      time to first request in the IP group (43[30-52] min) compared with the Control
      group (35 [27-49]min; P = 0.04) but no difference between the IP group compared
      with the IV group (47 [40-75] min; P = 0.22). Shoulder pain and resting pain were
      reduced with IP and IV ketorolac compared with Control, but there was no
      difference between the IP and IV groups. No differences were observed in any
      other outcomes, side effects, or complications attributable to opioids or
      ketorolac at any time points. CONCLUSION: This study did not demonstrate any
      advantage for the off-label topical intraperitoneal administration of ketorolac
      in this surgical population. Intraperitoneal and IV ketorolac showed comparable
      analgesic efficacy following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PMID- 26864194
TI  - Monitoring recovery from rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block using
      acceleromyography at the trapezius versus the adductor pollicis muscle: an
      observational trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: Positioning for surgery can restrict access to the patient's hand,
      thereby limiting assessment of the response at the adductor pollicis muscle to
      ulnar nerve stimulation. We evaluated a novel site to assess neuromuscular block
      by stimulating the accessory nerve and measuring the acceleromyographic response
      at the trapezius muscle. METHODS: In this prospective non-blinded observational
      study, we assessed neuromuscular transmission in anesthetized adult female
      patients undergoing elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery. We performed the
      assessment by simultaneous recording acceleromyographic responses with the TOF
      Watch((r)) SX monitor at both the right adductor pollicis and left trapezius
      muscles. The neuromuscular block was achieved using rocuronium 0.3 mg.kg(-1), and
      the repeatability, time course, and limits of agreement (Bland-Altman) of
      responses were compared at the two recording sites. The primary endpoint was the
      90% train-of-four (TOF) recovery time with other endpoints included the onset
      time of the block, maximum T1 depression, time to 25% T1 recovery, and recovery
      time course of the T1 response and TOF ratio. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were
      enrolled with responses obtained from 27 subjects. The variability of baseline
      responses recorded at the trapezius muscle was larger than that recorded at the
      adductor pollicis muscle, as determined by their mean (SD) repeatability
      coefficients [twitch height T1, 6.1 (1.9)% and 4.2 (1.6)%, respectively; P =
      0.001; TOF ratio, 6.2 (2.1)% and 4.3 (1.7)%, respectively; P = 0.001]. The
      recorded responses showed relatively narrow limits of agreement. The onset time
      of the block was 0.3 min earlier at the trapezius muscle than at the adductor
      pollicis muscle [2.3 (0.8) min and 2.6 (0.7) min, respectively; P = 0.007], with
      limits of agreement ranging from 1.6 min earlier to 1.0 min later. The time to
      25% T1 recovery was 1.8 min earlier at the trapezius muscle than at the adductor
      pollicis muscle [18.2 (5.7) min and 20.0 (5.2) min, respectively; P = 0.039],
      with limits of agreement ranging from 11.1 min earlier to 7.5 min later.
      Additionally, the time to achieve 90% TOF ratio was 4.4 min earlier at the
      trapezius muscle than at the adductor pollicis muscle [32.6 (7.9) min and 37
      (9.1) min, respectively; P = 0.004], with limits of agreement ranging from 18.4
      min earlier to 9.7 min later. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that recording evoked
      acceleromyographic responses at the trapezius muscle is an acceptable alternative
      when monitoring from the adductor pollicis muscle is compromised. Nevertheless,
      we caution that recording a 90% TOF response at the trapezius muscle may
      overestimate functional recovery from the neuromuscular blockade. This trial was
      registered at ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01849198.

PMID- 26864195
TI  - The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase CRL4 Regulates Proliferation and Progression Through
      Meiosis in Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis.
AB  - The Cullin-RING E3s are multisubunit ubiquitin ligases composed of a scaffold
      protein known as Cullin, a RING finger protein that regulates diverse cellular
      pathways; however, their contribution to male gonad development, especially the
      spermatogenesis of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), is not well
      understood. We identified five evolutionarily conserved Cullins from the
      transcriptome and genome ofE. sinensis that are potentially involved in
      regulating male gonad development. The aim of the current study was to determine
      the mechanisms of Cullin4's effects on spermatogenesis. We observed that Cullin4,
      p53, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen had a specific expression and
      localization in primary spermatocytes. We also investigated the accumulation of
      Cullin substrates by treatment with inhibitor of NEDD8-activating enzyme MLN4924
      in vitro. Cell cycle inhibitors p27 and p21 accumulated significantly after 24
      and 36 h, respectively. We speculated that p53-mediated spontaneous germ cell
      apoptosis acts as a quality control mechanism to eliminate defective germ cells
      and that the Cullin4 complex maintains p53, p21, and p27 homeostasis in primary
      spermatocytes to regulate spermatogenesis ofE. sinensis Given its widespread
      evolutionary conservation, Cullin4 may regulate germ line development similarly
      in other organisms. 

PMID- 26864196
TI  - A Dual Role for Melatonin in Medaka Ovulation: Ensuring Prostaglandin Synthesis
      and Actin Cytoskeleton Rearrangement in Follicular Cells.
AB  - Understanding the direct effects of melatonin on vertebrate ovulation remains a
      challenge. The present study provides the first characterization of the role of
      melatonin in ovulation using the teleost medaka. The melatonin receptor
      antagonist luzindole inhibited in vitro follicle ovulation. In the preovulatory
      follicles, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1a and hydroxyindole-O
      methyltransferase 2, the enzymes responsible for melatonin synthesis, were
      expressed in the granulosa cells throughout the 24 h spawning cycle. The
      granulosa cells of the follicle also expressed the melatonin receptor 1a-a. An in
      vitro characterization study using medaka OLHNI-2 cells revealed that melatonin
      and luzindole act as an agonist and an antagonist, respectively, of the melatonin
      receptor. The intracellular cAMP levels in these cells were reduced after
      melatonin treatment. The expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 group 4a
      (Pla2g4a), the enzyme producing arachidonic acid (cyclooxygenase-2 substrate),
      was inhibited in the granulosa cells in luzindole-treated follicles. Follicular
      prostaglandin E2 levels and in vitro follicle ovulation were suppressed in
      follicles isolated at 12 h prior to ovulation and incubated with the Pla2g4a
      inhibitor AACOCF3. The G-actin:F-actin ratios in follicular cells increased with
      approaching ovulation, but this increase was suppressed after luzindole
      treatment. The phosphorylation of moesin, an ezrin-radixin-moesin protein, was
      inhibited in the follicular cells in luzindole-treated follicles. These results
      indicate a dual role for melatonin in medaka ovulation: melatonin ensures
      prostaglandin E2 synthesis throughout the spawning cycle and induces actin
      cytoskeleton rearrangement in the follicular cells at ovulation.

PMID- 26864197
TI  - Changes in MicroRNA Expression During Maturation of the Bovine Corpus Luteum:
      Regulation of Luteal Cell Proliferation and Function by MicroRNA-34a.
AB  - The corpus luteum (CL) develops from the remnants of the ovulatory follicle and
      produces progesterone, required for maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. The
      differentiation of granulosal and thecal cells into luteal cells is accompanied
      by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of cells. As the CL matures, growth ceases and in
      ruminants, the tissue acquires the ability to undergo regression in response to
      prostaglandin F2alpha. The regulators of this transition are poorly understood.
      MicroRNA, which are posttranscriptional regulators of tissue development and
      function, are expressed in the CL. However, the pattern of their expression and
      their function during the transition from developing to functional CL is not
      known. The objectives of this study were to profile the expression of miRNA in
      developing versus mature bovine CL and determine effects of miRNA on bovine
      luteal cell survival and function. Knockdown of Drosha in midcycle (MC) luteal
      cells decreased progesterone and increased luteal cell apoptosis in the presence
      or absence of proinflammatory cytokines. Microarray analysis demonstrated that a
      greater number of miRNA were expressed in MC compared to D4 CL. Ingenuity pathway
      analysis (IPA) predicted that D4-specific miRNA regulate pathways related to
      carbohydrate metabolism, while MC-specific miRNA regulate pathways related to
      cell cycle and apoptosis signaling. Both predictions are consistent with a switch
      in the CL from a growing phase to a maintenance phase. One of the MC specific
      miRNA, miR-34a, was selected for further analysis. Increased concentrations of
      miR-34a in MC luteal cells resulted in decreased luteal cell proliferation,
      increased progesterone production, and inhibition of Notch1 and YY1 translation,
      but had no effect on luteal cell apoptosis. In conclusion, these data support a
      role for miRNA in general, and miR-34a in particular, in luteal formation and
      function. 

PMID- 26864198
TI  - Trace Elements in Ovaries: Measurement and Physiology.
AB  - Traditionally, research in the field of trace element biology and human and
      animal health has largely depended on epidemiological methods to demonstrate
      involvement in biological processes. These studies were typically followed by
      trace element supplementation trials or attempts at identification of the
      biochemical pathways involved. With the discovery of biological molecules that
      contain the trace elements, such as matrix metalloproteinases containing zinc
      (Zn), cytochrome P450 enzymes containing iron (Fe), and selenoproteins containing
      selenium (Se), much of the current research focuses on these molecules, and,
      hence, only indirectly on trace elements themselves. This review focuses largely
      on two synchrotron-based x-ray techniques: X-ray absorption spectroscopy and x
      ray fluorescence imaging that can be used to identify the in situ speciation and
      distribution of trace elements in tissues, using our recent studies of bovine
      ovaries, where the distribution of Fe, Se, Zn, and bromine were determined. It
      also discusses the value of other techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma
      mass spectrometry, used to garner information about the concentrations and
      elemental state of the trace elements. These applications to measure trace
      elemental distributions in bovine ovaries at high resolutions provide new
      insights into possible roles for trace elements in the ovary. 

PMID- 26864199
TI  - The effect of hypohydration on endothelial function in young healthy adults.
AB  - PURPOSE: Hypohydration has been suggested as a predisposing factor for several
      pathologies including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While CVD are the leading
      cause of death worldwide, no study has investigated whether acute hypohydration
      affects endothelial function and cardiovascular function. METHODS: Ten young,
      healthy males participated in this crossover study (age: 24.3 +/- 2.3 year;
      weight: 80.8 +/- 5.3 kg; BMI: 24.3 +/- 0.4 kg m-2). Each subject completed two
      measurements of endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in
      euhydrated and hypohydrated state separated by 24 h. Following baseline
      assessment of hydration status and FMD, the subjects completed 100 min of low
      intensity intermittent walking exercise to achieve hypohydration of -2 % of
      individual body mass. For the rest of the day, a standardized, low water content
      diet was provided. The following morning, hydration markers and endothelial
      function were recorded. RESULTS: Hypohydration by -1.9 +/- 0.1 % of body mass
      resulted in decreased plasma volume by -3.5 +/- 1.8 % and increased plasma
      osmolality by 9 +/- 2 mmol kg-1 (P < 0.001). FMD as a response to hypohydration
      decreased by -26.8 +/- 3.9 % (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The data suggested that a
      small degree of hypohydration induced by moderate exercise and fluid restriction
      significantly impaired endothelial function.

PMID- 26864201
TI  - Helicity is the only integral invariant of volume-preserving transformations.
AB  - We prove that any regular integral invariant of volume-preserving transformations
      is equivalent to the helicity. Specifically, given a functional I defined on
      exact divergence-free vector fields of class C(1) on a compact 3-manifold that is
      associated with a well-behaved integral kernel, we prove that I is invariant
      under arbitrary volume-preserving diffeomorphisms if and only if it is a function
      of the helicity.

PMID- 26864200
TI  - Dynamic secretion during meiotic reentry integrates the function of the oocyte
      and cumulus cells.
AB  - The differentiation of the female gamete into a developmentally competent oocyte
      relies on the protected environment of the ovarian follicle. The oocyte plays a
      key role in establishing this microenvironment by releasing paracrine factors
      that control the functions of surrounding somatic cells. Growth differentiation
      factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are secreted during
      follicle growth and play pivotal roles in this local regulation. The current view
      is that the function of these secreted factors declines in the periovulatory
      period when the oocyte reenters the meiotic cell cycle. Here, we provide evidence
      that oocyte reentry into meiosis is instead associated with a shift in the
      pattern of secretion with a new set of bioactive molecules synthesized before
      ovulation. Using interleukin 7 (IL7) as a prototypic secreted factor, we show
      that its secretion is dependent on activation of mRNA translation in synchrony
      with the cell cycle and that its translation is under the control of somatic
      cells. IL7 is part of a local feedback loop with the soma because it regulates
      cumulus cell replication. Similar conclusions are reached when IL7 secretion is
      measured in human follicular fluid during in vitro fertilization cycles. IL7
      concentration in the follicular fluid correlates with the oocyte ability to reach
      the MII stage of maturation. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis
      that a new set of local factors is secreted by the oocyte during ovulation. These
      dynamic secretions are likely critical for promoting the final stages of
      maturation and oocyte developmental competence. 

PMID- 26864204
TI  - Understanding conductivity in molecular switches: a real space approach in
      octaphyrins.
AB  - In recent years, expanded porphyrins have emerged as a promising class of pi
      conjugated molecules that display unique electronic, optical and conformational
      properties. Several expanded porphyrins can switch between planar and twisted
      conformations, which have different photophysical properties. Such a change of
      topology involves a Huckel-Mobius aromaticity switch in a single molecule and it
      can be induced by solvent, pH and metallation. These features make expanded
      porphyrins suitable for the development of a novel type of molecular switches for
      molecular electronic devices. Octaphyrins consisting of eight pyrrole rings,
      exhibit twisted-Huckel, Mobius and Huckel pi-conjugation topologies depending on
      the oxidation and protonation state, with distinct electronic structures and
      aromaticity. Our working hypothesis is that a significant change in the
      conductance of expanded porphyrins will be observed after the topology switching.
      Despite the potential of Huckel-Mobius systems as conductance switches, the
      relationship between the conductance and the molecular topology is not yet
      understood. We have explored the performance of local descriptors of conductivity
      in simple molecules, as well as the relationship with conductance. Since these
      indexes provide a qualitative measure of delocalization and conductance in the
      probe molecules, we have carried out a local analysis of electrical conductance
      changes as a function of the pi-conjugation in two examples. In one of them, the
      locality of the electronic changes ensures the ability of these indexes to
      describe the conductance as local. Moreover, it enables to identify which
      conformational switch would be more efficient from an electronic device
      perspective. However, we also show that it is not always possible to reduce
      conductance changes to one bond, and in those molecules where a deep
      rearrangement occurs far from the structural perturbation, local measures show a
      limited efficiency. This is a first step for the description of the connection
      between the molecular structure and conductance in molecular switches.

PMID- 26864205
TI  - Health Habits of Employees in a Large Medical Center: Time Trends and Impact of a
      Worksite Wellness Facility.
AB  - Worksite health interventions are not novel but their effect remains subject of
      debate. We examined employer-based wellness program to determine health habits
      trends, and compare prevalence estimates to national data. We conducted serial
      surveys (1996 and 2007-10) to employees of a large medical center that included
      questions measuring outcomes, including obesity, regular exercise, cardiovascular
      activity, and smoking status. Logistic regression models were estimated to
      compare data by membership across years, considering p-values <= 0.01 as
      statistically significant. 3,206 employees responded (Response rates 59-68%).
      Obesity prevalence increased over time in members and nonmembers of the wellness
      facility, consistent with national trends. Members had a lower prevalence of
      cigarette smoking compared to nonmembers (overall year-adjusted odds ratio 0.66,
      P < 0.001). Further, employees had a lower prevalence of cigarette smoking (9.7
      vs. 17.3% in 2010, P < 0.001) compared with national data. Wellness facility
      membership was associated with increased regular exercise and cardiovascular
      exercise (P < 0.001) compared to nonmembers. In summary, working in a medical
      center was associated with a decreased prevalence of cigarette smoking, but not
      with lower prevalence of obesity. Worksite wellness facility membership was
      associated with increased exercise and decreased cigarette smoking. Employer
      based interventions may be effective in improving some health behaviors.

PMID- 26864206
TI  - New Insights on the Impact of Statin Therapy in the Susceptibility to
      Hypovitaminosis D Through Serum Lipidome Profiling.
AB  - Hypovitaminosis D is a worldwide clinical problem, affecting populations in
      numerous ways. Several factors seem to affect vitamin D metabolism, including the
      suggestion that therapy with the lipid lowering HMG-CoA inhibitors might modulate
      vitamin D levels. However, the relationship between statins intake and serum
      levels of vitamin D is still controversial. The present work aimed to add new
      insights on the association between statins therapy, and more specifically the
      generation of statins, and the lipid profile in a population of 106 subjects
      treated with these HMG-CoA inhibitors. Data showed that despite a higher
      prevalence of hipovitaminosis D in subjects treated with statins, there is no
      association between statin generation, total and LDL cholesterol and vitamin D
      levels. Moreover, second generation statins, the most common treatment of
      hypercholesterolemia in the studied population, promoted the remodelling of serum
      fatty acids that was characterized by the increase of arachidonic acid (AA)
      relative levels without affecting eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels. Among
      statin treated subjects, vitamin D levels did not affect serum fatty acid
      profile. The statin-related increased ratio AA/EPA suggests a pro- inflammatory
      status, whose long-term impact should be better clarified in the future.

PMID- 26864202
TI  - Genomic characterization of sarcomatoid transformation in clear cell renal cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - The presence of sarcomatoid features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)
      confers a poor prognosis and is of unknown pathogenesis. We performed exome
      sequencing of matched normal-carcinomatous-sarcomatoid specimens from 21
      subjects. Two tumors had hypermutation consistent with mismatch repair
      deficiency. In the remainder, sarcomatoid and carcinomatous elements shared 42%
      of somatic single-nucleotide variants (SSNVs). Sarcomatoid elements had a higher
      overall SSNV burden (mean 90 vs. 63 SSNVs, P = 4.0 * 10(-4)), increased frequency
      of nonsynonymous SSNVs in Pan-Cancer genes (mean 1.4 vs. 0.26, P = 0.002), and
      increased frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) across the genome (median 913
      vs. 460 Mb in LOH, P < 0.05), with significant recurrent LOH on chromosomes 1p,
      9, 10, 14, 17p, 18, and 22. The most frequent SSNVs shared by carcinomatous and
      sarcomatoid elements were in known ccRCC genes including von Hippel-Lindau tumor
      suppressor (VHL), polybromo 1 (PBRM1), SET domain containing 2 (SETD2),
      phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Most interestingly, sarcomatoid elements
      acquired biallelic tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutations in 32% of tumors (P = 5.47
      * 10(-17)); TP53 mutations were absent in carcinomatous elements in
      nonhypermutated tumors and rare in previously studied ccRCCs. Mutations in known
      cancer drivers AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) and BRCA1 associated
      protein 1 (BAP1) were significantly mutated in sarcomatoid elements and were
      mutually exclusive with TP53 and each other. These findings provide evidence that
      sarcomatoid elements arise from dedifferentiation of carcinomatous ccRCCs and
      implicate specific genes in this process. These findings have implications for
      the treatment of patients with these poor-prognosis cancers. 

PMID- 26864203
TI  - Multiplexed barcoded CRISPR-Cas9 screening enabled by CombiGEM.
AB  - The orchestrated action of genes controls complex biological phenotypes, yet the
      systematic discovery of gene and drug combinations that modulate these phenotypes
      in human cells is labor intensive and challenging to scale. Here, we created a
      platform for the massively parallel screening of barcoded combinatorial gene
      perturbations in human cells and translated these hits into effective drug
      combinations. This technology leverages the simplicity of the CRISPR-Cas9 system
      for multiplexed targeting of specific genomic loci and the versatility of
      combinatorial genetics en masse (CombiGEM) to rapidly assemble barcoded
      combinatorial genetic libraries that can be tracked with high-throughput
      sequencing. We applied CombiGEM-CRISPR to create a library of 23,409 barcoded
      dual guide-RNA (gRNA) combinations and then perform a high-throughput pooled
      screen to identify gene pairs that inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth when they
      were targeted. We validated the growth-inhibiting effects of specific gene sets,
      including epigenetic regulators KDM4C/BRD4 and KDM6B/BRD4, via individual assays
      with CRISPR-Cas-based knockouts and RNA-interference-based knockdowns. We also
      tested small-molecule drug pairs directed against our pairwise hits and showed
      that they exerted synergistic antiproliferative effects against ovarian cancer
      cells. We envision that the CombiGEM-CRISPR platform will be applicable to a
      broad range of biological settings and will accelerate the systematic
      identification of genetic combinations and their translation into novel drug
      combinations that modulate complex human disease phenotypes. 

PMID- 26864207
TI  - A randomized, 5-arm dose finding study with a mite allergoid SCIT in allergic
      rhinoconjunctivitis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The safety and tolerability of a mite allergoid subcutaneous allergen
      immunotherapy (SCIT) product was previously established. The aim of this study
      (EudraCT number: 2011-000393-61) was to find the optimally safe and effective
      allergoid dose by evaluating several dosages in patients with house dust mite
      (HDM)-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) using a titrated nasal
      provocation test (TNPT). METHODS: In total, 290 adult ARC patients (148 females;
      142 males) with established HDM allergy and with a positive TNPT were randomized
      to receive placebo or mite allergoid SCIT 6667, 20 000, 50 000 or 100 000 AUeq/ml
      for 12 months. Patients were updosed weekly, followed by monthly maintenance
      dosing. The primary study endpoint comprised the clinical response to TNPT after
      12 months of treatment. Secondary endpoints included response to TNPT after 6
      months, PNIF measurements, symptom and medication scores during the last 8 weeks
      of treatment, serum immunoglobulins and safety assessments. RESULTS: After 12
      months, a dose-response was observed showing statistically significant
      improvements in the TNPT with SCIT concentrations of >=20 000 AUeq/ml, while no
      significantly different outcomes were reached after 6 months. Specific serum IgG
      and IgG4 levels were dose dependently increased. In the highest dose group, more
      treatment-emergent adverse events were observed compared with the lower dose
      groups. CONCLUSION: In this mite allergoid SCIT dose finding study in HDM-induced
      ARC, concentrations of >=20 000 AUeq/ml showed both immunological effects and
      clinical efficacy in the TNPT compared with placebo. The risk-benefit ratio
      favours 20 000 AUeq/ml and 50 000 AUeq/ml strengths for further clinical
      development.

PMID- 26864208
TI  - Digital Sorting of Pure Cell Populations Enables Unambiguous Genetic Analysis of
      Heterogeneous Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tumors by Next Generation
      Sequencing.
AB  - Precision medicine in oncology requires an accurate characterization of a tumor
      molecular profile for patient stratification. Though targeted deep sequencing is
      an effective tool to detect the presence of somatic sequence variants, a
      significant number of patient specimens do not meet the requirements needed for
      routine clinical application. Analysis is hindered by contamination of normal
      cells and inherent tumor heterogeneity, compounded with challenges of dealing
      with minute amounts of tissue and DNA damages common in formalin-fixed paraffin
      embedded (FFPE) specimens. Here we present an innovative workflow using
      DEPArrayTM system, a microchip-based digital sorter to achieve 100%-pure,
      homogenous subpopulations of cells from FFPE samples. Cells are distinguished by
      fluorescently labeled antibodies and DNA content. The ability to address tumor
      heterogeneity enables unambiguous determination of true-positive sequence
      variants, loss-of-heterozygosity as well as copy number variants. The proposed
      strategy overcomes the inherent trade-offs made between sensitivity and
      specificity in detecting genetic variants from a mixed population, thus rescuing
      for analysis even the smaller clinical samples with low tumor cellularity. 

PMID- 26864209
TI  - A chloroplast-localized protein LESION AND LAMINA BENDING affects defence and
      growth responses in rice.
AB  - Understanding how plants allocate their resources to growth or defence is of long
      term importance to the development of new and improved varieties of different
      crops. Using molecular genetics, plant physiology, hormone analysis and Next
      Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based transcript profiling, we have isolated and
      characterized the rice (Oryza sativa) LESION AND LAMINA BENDING (LLB) gene that
      encodes a chloroplast-targeted putative leucine carboxyl methyltransferase. Loss
      of LLB function results in reduced growth and yield, hypersensitive response (HR)
      like lesions, accumulation of the antimicrobial compounds momilactones and
      phytocassanes, and constitutive expression of pathogenesis-related genes.
      Consistent with these defence-associated responses, llb shows enhanced resistance
      to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
      oryzae). The lesion and resistance phenotypes are likely to be caused by the over
      accumulation of jasmonates (JAs) in the llb mutant including the JA precursor 12
      oxo-phytodienoic acid. Additionally, llb shows an increased lamina inclination
      and enhanced early seedling growth due to elevated brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis
      and/or signalling. These findings show that LLB functions in the chloroplast to
      either directly or indirectly repress both JA- and BR-mediated responses,
      revealing a possible mechanism for controlling how plants allocate resources for
      defence and growth.

PMID- 26864212
TI  - Unveiling the "Three-Finger Pharmacophore" Required for p53-MDM2 Inhibition by
      Saturation-Transfer Difference (STD) NMR Initial Growth-Rates Approach.
AB  - Inhibitors of the p53-MDM2 protein-protein interaction are emerging as a new and
      validated approach to treating cancer. Herein, we describe the synthesis and
      inhibitory evaluation of a series of isoquinolin-1-one analogues, and highlight
      the utility of an initial growth-rates saturation-transfer difference (STD) NMR
      approach supported by protein-ligand docking to investigate p53-MDM2 inhibition.
      The approach is illustrated by the study of compound 1, providing key insights
      into the binding mode of this kind of MDM2 ligands and, more importantly, readily
      unveiling the previously proposed three-finger pharmacophore requirement for p53
      MDM2 inhibition. 

PMID- 26864210
TI  - A Phase I Clinical, Pharmacokinetic, and Pharmacodynamic Study of Weekly or Every
      Three Week Ixabepilone and Daily Sunitinib in Patients with Advanced Solid
      Tumors.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, MTD, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and
      early clinical activity of ixabepilone given either weekly or every 3 weeks in
      combination with daily sunitinib in patients with advanced solid tumors.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eligible patients received either weekly (schedule A) or
      every 3 weeks (schedule B) ixabepilone at escalating doses (schedule A: 7.5, 15,
      or 20 mg/m(2); schedule B: 20, 30, or 40 mg/m(2)), and oral sunitinib (37.5 mg
      daily), starting on day 8 of cycle 1. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were
      assessed during cycle 1. RESULTS: The ixabepilone and sunitinib combination was
      fairly well tolerated. DLTs were observed in 3 subjects (1 in schedule 3A and 2
      in schedule 3B). The most common grade 3-4 hematologic and nonhematologic adverse
      events were leukopenia and fatigue, respectively. Four patients (3 in schedule A)
      achieved a partial response, while 13 patients had stable disease. Nine of 17
      heavily pretreated colorectal cancer patients had clinical benefit.
      Coadministration of sunitinib with ixabepilone on a weekly (but not every 3 week)
      schedule was associated with a significant increase in the half-life and a
      significant decrease in the clearance of ixabepilone. Correlative studies
      demonstrated a significant association between higher baseline plasma angiogenic
      activity (PAA) and clinical benefit in schedule A patients. Weekly, but not every
      3 weeks, ixabepilone led to a significant decrease in PAA postbaseline.
      CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of ixabepilone with sunitinib has acceptable
      toxicity and encouraging clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients,
      particularly in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res;
      22(13); 3209-17. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26864211
TI  - CD44+ Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Suppress T-Cell-Mediated
      Immunity by Selective Constitutive and Inducible Expression of PD-L1.
AB  - PURPOSE: Human tumors consist of heterogeneous populations of cells with distinct
      marker expression and functional properties. In squamous cell carcinoma of the
      head and neck (SCCHN), CD44 is a well-characterized marker of a resilient
      subpopulation of cells associated with increased tumorigenesis, radioresistance,
      and chemoresistance. Evidence indicates that these cells have an
      immunosuppressive phenotype; however, mechanisms have been elusive. EXPERIMENTAL
      DESIGN: Using primary human SCCHN tumor samples and patient-derived xenografts,
      we examined the phenotypes of subsets of tumor cells and investigated mechanisms
      regulating their immunogenicity. RESULTS: CD44(+) cells in primary human SCCHN
      were found to have an epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype and were less
      immunogenic than CD44(-) cells when cultured with autologous CD8(+) tumor
      infiltrating T cells. Selective expression of the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD
      L1) was observed on CD44(+) cells compared with CD44(-) cells and was associated
      with constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 on CD44(+) cells. Importantly,
      inhibition of STAT3 decreased expression of PD-L1 on CD44(+) cells. IFNgamma
      treatment preferentially induced even further PD-L1 expression on CD44(+) cells
      and was associated with enhanced IFNgamma receptor expression and phosphorylation
      of STAT1. Finally, the decreased immunogenicity of CD44(+) cells was partially
      reversed by antibody blockade of the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor,
      indicating that the differences in PD-L1 expression between CD44(+) and CD44(-)
      cells are biologically and clinically relevant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide
      a mechanism by which long-lived CD44(+) tumor-initiating cells can selectively
      evade host immune responses and provide rationale for targeting the PD-1 pathway
      in the adjuvant therapy setting of SCCHN. Clin Cancer Res; 22(14); 3571-81.
      (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26864215
TI  - The effects of advanced age on primary total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis
      and systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment when nonsurgical
      treatments fail, but it is associated with risk of complications which may be
      increased in advanced age. The purpose of this study was to quantify age-related
      differences in perioperative morbidity and mortality after total knee
      arthroplasty through systematic review of existing literature. METHODS: PubMed,
      the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov, were
      queried for relevant studies that compared primary total knee arthroplasty
      outcomes of mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
      pulmonary embolism (PE) and functional status, of geriatric patients (>75 years
      old) with a younger control group (<65 years old). Pertinent journals and
      reference lists were hand searched. Eligibility criteria included all articles
      except case reports, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. Two authors
      independently extracted data from each paper. Article quality was assessed using
      the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included. Geriatric
      patients had higher rates of mortality, MI, DVT, and length of stay in older
      compared to younger patients, however the absolute magnitude of these increases
      were small. The increase in mortality may have reflected decreased life
      expectancy in the geriatric populations as opposed to mortality specifically due
      perioperative risk. There were no differences in PE incidence and improvement in
      pain and functional status was equal in older and younger patients. Existing
      studies were limited by non-randomized patient selection, as well as variation in
      definitions and methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Existing data supports offering primary
      total knee arthroplasty to select geriatric patients, although the risk of
      complications may be increased. Much of the data was of poor quality. Future
      prospective studies are needed to better identify risks and benefits of total
      knee arthroplasty so that patients and surgeons can make informed decisions.

PMID- 26864216
TI  - Characterization of a newly isolated strain Pseudomonas sp. C27 for sulfide
      oxidation: Reaction kinetics and stoichiometry.
AB  - Sulfide biooxidation by the novel sulfide-oxidizing bacteria Pseudomonas sp. C27,
      which could perform autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification in mixotrophic
      medium, was studied in batch and continuous systems. Pseudomonas sp. C27 was able
      to oxidize sulfide at concentrations as high as 17.66 mM. Sulfide biooxidation
      occurred in two distinct stages, one resulting in the formation of sulfur with
      nitrate reduction to nitrite, followed by thiosulfate formation with nitrite
      reduction to N2. The composition of end-products was greatly impacted by the
      ratio of sulfide to nitrate initial concentrations. At a ratio of 0.23,
      thiosulfate represented 100% of the reaction products, while only 30% with a
      ratio of 1.17. In the continuous bioreactor, complete removal of sulfide was
      observed at sulfide concentration as high as 9.38 mM. Overall sulfide removal
      efficiency decreased continuously upon further increases in influent sulfide
      concentrations. Based on the experimental data kinetic parameter values were
      determined. The value of maximum specific growth rate, half saturation constant,
      decay coefficient, maintenance coefficient and yield were to be 0.11 h(-1), 0.68
      mM sulfide, 0.11 h(-1), 0.21 mg sulfide/mg biomass h and 0.43 mg biomass/mg
      sulfide, respectively, which were close to or comparable with those reported in
      literature by other researches. 

PMID- 26864218
TI  - Synthesis and Applications of Silyl 2-Methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfinates in
      Preparative Silylation and GC-Derivatization Reactions of Polyols and
      Carbohydrates.
AB  - Trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, and triisopropylsilyl 2
      methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfinates were prepared through (CuOTf)2?C6H6-catalyzed sila
      ene reactions of the corresponding methallylsilanes with SO2 at 50  degrees C.
      Sterically hindered, epimerizable, and base-sensitive alcohols gave the
      corresponding silyl ethers in high yields and purities at room temperature and
      under neutral conditions. As the byproducts of the silylation reaction (SO2
      +isobutylene) are volatile, the workup was simplified to solvent evaporation. The
      developed method can be employed for the chemo- and regioselective semiprotection
      of polyols and glycosides and for the silylation of unstable aldols. The high
      reactivity of the developed reagents is shown by the synthesis of sterically
      hindered per-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose, the X-ray
      crystallographic analysis of which is the first for a per-O-silylated
      hexopyranose. The per-O-silylation of polyols, hydroxy carboxylic acids, and
      carbohydrates with trimethylsilyl 2-methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfinate was coupled with
      the GC analysis of nonvolatile polyhydroxy compounds both qualitatively and
      quantitatively.

PMID- 26864219
TI  - Which diagnostic findings in disorders with excessive daytime sleepiness are
      really helpful? A retrospective study.
AB  - Due to extensive clinical and electrophysiological overlaps, the correct
      diagnosis of disorders with excessive daytime sleepiness is often challenging.
      The aim of this study was to provide diagnostic measures that help discriminating
      such disorders, and to identify parameters, which don't. In this single-center
      study, we retrospectively identified consecutive treatment-naive patients who
      suffered from excessive daytime sleepiness, and analyzed clinical and
      electrophysiological measures in those patients in whom a doubtless final
      diagnosis could be made. Of 588 patients, 287 reported subjective excessive
      daytime sleepiness. Obstructive sleep apnea is the only disorder that could be
      identified by polysomnography alone. The diagnosis of insufficient sleep syndrome
      relies on actigraphy as patients underestimate their sleep need and the disorder
      shares several clinical and electrophysiological properties with both narcolepsy
      type 1 and idiopathic hypersomnia. Sleep stage sequencing on MSLT appears helpful
      to discriminate between insufficient sleep syndrome and narcolepsy. Sleep inertia
      is a strong indicator for idiopathic hypersomnia. There are no distinctive
      electrophysiological findings for the diagnosis of restless legs syndrome.
      Altogether, EDS disorders are common in neurological sleep laboratories, but
      usually cannot be diagnosed based on PSG and MSLT findings alone. The diagnostic
      value of actigraphy recordings can hardly be overestimated.

PMID- 26864221
TI  - [Editorial].

PMID- 26864222
TI  - [Violent crime by youth and adolescents].

PMID- 26864223
TI  - [Suicide and suicide tendencies in adolescent detainees].
AB  - Following accidents, suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescence.
      This stage of life has the most suicide attempts of all age groups. In addition
      to mentally ill juveniles, adolescent delinquents represent a high-risk group for
      suicidal behavior and completed suicide. In particular, the population of
      detainees, an extreme form of juvenile delinquency, have a 16- to 18-fold higher
      risk of suicidal behavior and suicide compared to the general population. Because
      the composition of juvenile detainees differs greatly from that of detained
      adults, age-specific scientific approaches and prevention programs are needed.
      This task cannot be addressed by juvenile detention staff alone, but rather
      demands close cooperation between adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, prison
      medical staff, legal experts and prison officers to use the opportunity for
      suicide prevention in juvenile detention facilities.

PMID- 26864220
TI  - Genome-guided Investigation of Antibiotic Substances produced by
      Allosalinactinospora lopnorensis CA15-2(T) from Lop Nor region, China.
AB  - Microbial secondary metabolites are valuable resources for novel drug discovery.
      In particular, actinomycetes expressed a range of antibiotics against a spectrum
      of bacteria. In genus level, strain Allosalinactinospora lopnorensis CA15-2(T) is
      the first new actinomycete isolated from the Lop Nor region, China. Antimicrobial
      assays revealed that the strain could inhibit the growth of certain types of
      bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus,
      highlighting its clinical significance. Here we report the 5,894,259 base pairs
      genome of the strain, containing 5,662 predicted genes, and 832 of them cannot be
      detected by sequence similarity-based methods, suggesting the new species may
      carry a novel gene pool. Furthermore, our genome-mining investigation reveals
      that A. lopnorensis CA15-2(T) contains 17 gene clusters coding for known or novel
      secondary metabolites. Meanwhile, at least six secondary metabolites were
      disclosed from ethyl acetate (EA) extract of the fermentation broth of the strain
      by high-resolution UPLC-MS. Compared with reported clusters of other species,
      many new genes were found in clusters, and the physical chromosomal location and
      order of genes in the clusters are distinct. This study presents evidence in
      support of A. lopnorensis CA15-2(T) as a potent natural products source for drug
      discovery. 

PMID- 26864224
TI  - [Power to the children? - Machiavellianism in children and adolescents].
AB  - The desire for power and social dominance plays a significant role in the
      development of social aggression. Although the construct of Machiavellianism
      reflects these aspects well, it has hardly been recognized in Germany. In this
      review article the construct of Machiavellianism will be presented. Previous
      research on the relationship between Machiavellianism and particularly aggressive
      behavior in children and adolescents are critically discussed and implications
      for future studies are derived.

PMID- 26864225
TI  - ["Tit for Tat?" The development of prosocial behavior and its relationship to
      externalizing and internalizing problems].
AB  - Supporting other human beings is a fundamental aspect of human societies. Such so
      called prosocial behavior is expressed in helping others, cooperating and sharing
      with them. This article gives an overview both of the development of prosocial
      behavior across childhood and of the relationship between prosociality and
      externalizing and internalizing problems. Especially externalizing problems are
      negatively associated with prosocial behavior, whereas the relationships with
      prosocial behavior are more heterogeneous for internalizing problems. Studies
      investigating developmental trajectories demonstrate that prosocial behavior and
      externalizing problems are not opposite ends of a continuum. Rather, they are two
      independent dimensions that may also co-occur in development. The same applies to
      internalizing problems, which can co-occur with pronounced prosociality as well
      as with low prosociality.

PMID- 26864226
TI  - [Placement of children and adolescents following seclusion and restraint actions
      a study on family-court approvals of minors in youth welfare, child and
      adolescent psychiatry and jail according to Para. 1631 German Civil Code].
AB  - According to German law (Para. 1631b German Civil Code), the placement of
      children and adolescents following seclusion and restraint actions must be
      approved by a family court. We analyzed the family court data of a court district
      in Berlin (Tempelhof-Kreuzberg) concerning cases of "placement of minors" between
      2008 and 2011. A total of 474 such procedures were discovered. After data
      clearing and correction of cases (e. g., because of emergency interventions of
      the youth welfare system taking children into custody according to Para. 42,
      German Civil Code VIII), 376 cases remained. Of these 376 procedures in the years
      2008 to 2011, 127 cases concerned children and adolescents according to Para.
      1631b German Civil Code, and 249 procedures were settled either by dismissal,
      withdrawal or by repealing the initial decision to place the child with restrain
      or seclusion by means of an interim order or by filing an appeal against the
      final decision. Of the 127 procedures, 68 concerned girls, who were on average
      slightly younger than boys (14.5 years vs. 15.1 years). In two thirds of the
      procedures, the children and adolescents were German citizens. The majority of
      youths involved were living at home at the time of the procedure, but in 15 % of
      the case the youths were homeless. Most of the adolescents were treated with
      restraint in child and adolescent psychiatry. The most frequently quoted reasons
      for seclusion were substance abuse, suicide risk and running away from home/being
      homeless.

PMID- 26864227
TI  - [Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in family law proceedings.
      Empirical analyses from psychological expert assessment].
AB  - Objective: This study examined the frequency and distribution of mental health
      problems in children and adolescents who had previously been psychologically
      evaluated in family law proceedings. Method: The data stem from psychological
      evaluations (N=298) conducted between 2008 and 2012 at an evaluation institute in
      Bremen, Germany. The reports included were analyzed for indications of mental
      health problems by means of a content analysis. The total sample consisted of 496
      children and adolescents. Results: At least one mental health problem (according
      to ICD-F) was found in 39.5% of the children and adolescents. The comorbidity
      rate was 38.7%. Developmental deficits appeared in 12.3%, emotional or conduct
      problems in 22.8% of the sample. Furthermore, 11.5% were reported as having been
      victims of violence. Frequency distributions of mental health problems with
      respect to the juridical issues in question are given. Conclusions: These results
      provide a first empirical overview of mental health problems in psychologically
      evaluated children and adolescents. Our findings highlight the need for future
      studies to further examine mental health problems of children and adolescents in
      family court proceedings with respect to the juridical issues in question.

PMID- 26864228
TI  - [Psychosocial disadvantages in incarcerated girls and boys].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Longitudinal studies found that criminal behavior in juveniles often
      concurs with neighborhood disadvantage and family dysfunction, especially in
      girls. In this study we assessed the psychosocial background in incarcerated
      juveniles and analyzed the data for each gender separately. METHOD: The
      Multidimensional Clinical Screening Inventory for delinquent juveniles (MCSI) was
      used to assess school history, psychiatric history, family background, abuse and
      neglect and motive for crime. The sample consisted of 294 juveniles (46 females
      and 248 males). RESULTS: Innerfamilial abuse/neglect was reported by 91% (girls)
      and 79% (boys). 76% (girls) and 88% (boys) reported school-problems. 57% (girls)
      and 29% (boys) reported to have recieved psychiatric pretreatment. In girls we
      found significantly higher prevalence rates for parental divorce, incarceration
      of mother, abuse/neglect and psychiatric pretreatment. Significantly more girls
      reported a co-occurrence of school-problems and experiences of separation and
      loss and abuse (65.2% vs. 46.4%, chi2=5.51, df=1, p<.05). CONCLUSION:
      Incarcerated juveniles, especially females, are and have been exposed to multiple
      psychosocial burdens. Therefore it is necessary to implement prevention programs
      for psychosocially stressed families. Forensic intervention in and after
      detention has to include a family centered approach.

PMID- 26864229
TI  - [Reports. Joint statement by the Societies of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and
      the professional associations DGKJP, BAG KJPP, BKJPP].

PMID- 26864234
TI  - The future of iPS cells in advancing regenerative medicine.
AB  - Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have great potential in regenerative
      medicine, including cell replacement therapies and disease modelling in vitro.
      However, with this potential comes several challenges, including clinical safety,
      reprogramming and differentiation efficiency, and compromised functionality of
      differentiated cell types after transplantation. Many of these issues arise from
      imprecise control of cell fate. With large-scale sequencing and genome-editing
      technologies we can now precisely manipulate the genome, which has expanded our
      knowledge of functional cell types and cell identity. These technologies may
      improve our efforts in generating iPS-derived therapeutic cells and in
      development of therapies for human diseases. 

PMID- 26864235
TI  - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat respiratory distress in
      newborns in low- and middle-income countries.
AB  - Severe respiratory distress is a serious complication common to the three major
      causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity (prematurity, intra-partum-related
      hypoxia and infections). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 20% of
      babies presenting with severe respiratory distress die.Continuous positive airway
      pressure (CPAP), is an effective intervention for respiratory distress in
      newborns and widely used in high-income countries. Following the development of
      simple, safe and relatively inexpensive CPAP devices, there is potential for
      large-scale implementation in the developing world.In this article, we describe
      existing CPAP systems and present a review of the current literature examining
      the effectiveness of CPAP compared to standard care (oxygen) in newborns with
      respiratory distress. We also discuss the evidence gap which needs to be
      addressed prior to its integration into health systems in LMICs.

PMID- 26864237
TI  - Horizontal mucosal thickness at implant sites as it correlates with the integrity
      and thickness of the buccal bone plate.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To histologically assess the association between the horizontal
      mucosal thickness (MT) at implant sites with the integrity and thickness of the
      buccal bone plate in a canine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-piece titanium
      implants were placed at chronic-type lateral ridge defects. The resulting
      vestibular dehiscence-type defects (vertical dimensions of 2-8 mm) were left
      untreated. After a submerged healing period of 2 and 8 weeks (n = 6 fox hounds
      each), dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometrical analyses [e.g. MT,
      bone thickness (BT) and residual defect length]. RESULTS: Linear regression
      revealed significant associations between vestibular MT and BT values after 2 (R2
      = 0.22, B = -0.37, P < 0.0001) and 8 weeks (R2  = 0.37, B = -0.45, P < 0.001) of
      healing. CONCLUSION: The present analysis has pointed to an inverse relationship
      between horizontal MT and BT values at the vestibular aspect of submerged
      titanium implants. MT was most pronounced in the absence of a buccal bone plate.

PMID- 26864238
TI  - Histologic Examination of an Assemblage of Psittacosaurus (Dinosauria:
      Ceratopsia) Juveniles From the Yixian Formation (Liaoning, China).
AB  - Psittacosaurus is one of the most abundant dinosaurs known, which allows for
      extensive study of its growth and form. Previous studies have evaluated growth
      trajectories of Psittacosaurus using bone histology. However, we present the
      first study of Psittacosaurus comparative juvenile histology and describe the
      histology of Psittacosaurus within its first year of life based on multiple
      sections taken from an exquisite monospecific assemblage of juveniles from the
      Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China. Specimens studied had femur lengths ranging
      from 30 to 36 mm. The five juveniles examined all have similar histologic
      patterns in the midshaft and epiphyseal regions showing that there is limited
      plasticity in bone development in juvenile Psittacosaurus and that all of the
      specimens in the assemblage were likely the same age. The microstructure patterns
      are compatible with the hypothesis that Psittacosaurus was precocial and that
      these juveniles were neonates. Based on comparisons with other juvenile
      ornithischians, juvenile Psittacosaurus had a growth rate similar to Orodromeus,
      slower than that of Maiasaura, Dysalotosaurus, or hadrosaurs consistent with
      small body size. Our results support previous studies that demonstrated that the
      orientation of vascular canals is likely not solely reflective of growth rate,
      but is also affected by underlying biomechanical, structural processes. The
      number of studies done on theropod and sauropodomorph histology dwarfs those of
      ornithischians. More studies of ornithischian histology are necessary in order to
      better establish phylogenetic trends in microstructure and to learn more about
      growth in this important clade.

PMID- 26864236
TI  - Skin collagen fluorophore LW-1 versus skin fluorescence as markers for the long
      term progression of subclinical macrovascular disease in type 1 diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Skin collagen Long Wavelength Fluorescence (LWF) is widely used as a
      surrogate marker for accumulation of advanced glycation end-products. Here we
      determined the relationship of LWF with glycemia, skin fluorescence, and the
      progression of complications during EDIC in 216 participants from the DCCT.
      METHODS: LW-1 and collagen-linked fluorescence (CLF) were measured by either High
      Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (LW-1) or
      total fluorescence of collagenase digests (CLF) in insoluble skin collagen
      extracted from skin biopsies obtained at the end of the DCCT (1993). Skin
      intrinsic fluorescence (SIF) was noninvasively measured on volar forearm skin at
      EDIC year 16 by the SCOUT DS instrument. RESULTS: LW-1 levels significantly
      increased with age and diabetes duration (P < 0.0001) and significantly decreased
      by intensive vs. conventional glycemic therapy in both the primary (P < 0.0001)
      and secondary (P < 0.037) DCCT cohorts. Levels were associated with 13-16 year
      progression risk of retinopathy (>3 sustained microaneurysms, P = 0.0004) and
      albumin excretion rate (P = 0.0038), the latter despite adjustment for HbA1c.
      Comparative analysis for all three fluorescent measures for future risk of
      subclinical macrovascular disease revealed the following significant (P < 0.05)
      associations after adjusting for age, diabetes duration and HbA1c: coronary
      artery calcium with SIF and CLF; intima-media thickness with SIF and LW-1; and
      left ventricular mass with LW-1 and CLF. CONCLUSIONS: LW-1 is a novel risk marker
      that is robustly and independently associated with the future progression of
      microvascular disease, intima-media thickness and left ventricular mass in type 1
      diabetes. Trial registration NCT00360815 and NCT00360893 at clinicaltrials.gov.

PMID- 26864239
TI  - Message on a bottle: are alcohol warning labels about cancer appropriate?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although most Australians are unaware of the risk, there is strong
      evidence for a direct link between alcohol consumption and many types of cancer.
      Warning labels on alcohol products have been proposed as a cost-effective
      strategy to inform the community of this health risk. We aimed to identify how
      Australians might respond to such an approach. METHODS: We conducted a national
      online survey canvassing responses to four separate cancer warning messages on
      labels. The graphically presented messages were informed by qualitative data from
      a series of focus groups among self-identified 'light-to-moderate' drinkers. For
      each label, participants were asked their level of agreement with impact
      statements about raising awareness, prompting conversation, influencing drinking
      behaviour and educating others about cancer risk. We analysed responses according
      to demographic and other factors, including self-reported drinking behaviour
      (using the 3-item Alcohol Use Disorder Test - AUDIT-C - scores). RESULTS:
      Approximately 1600 participants completed the survey, which was open to all
      Australian adults over a period of 1 month in 2014. Overall, the labels were well
      received, with the majority (>70 %) agreeing all labels could raise awareness and
      prompt conversations about the cancer risk associated with alcohol. Around 50 %
      or less agreed that the labels could influence drinking behaviour, but larger
      proportions agreed that the labels would prompt them to discuss the issue with
      family and friends. Although sex, AUDIT-C score and age were significantly
      associated with agreement on bivariate analysis, multivariate analyses
      demonstrated that being inclined to act upon warning label recommendations in
      general was the most important predictor of agreement with all of the impact
      statements. Having a low AUDIT-C score also predicted agreement that the labels
      might prompt behaviour change in friends. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that
      providing detailed warnings about cancer risk on alcohol products is a viable
      means of increasing public awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol
      consumption. Further research is needed to explore the ability of such warnings
      to influence behavioural intentions and actual drinking behaviour.

PMID- 26864240
TI  - A case report on allopurinol induced crystalline maculopathy.

PMID- 26864241
TI  - Decreased exposure of atorvastatin in diabetic rats partly due to induction of
      hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2.
AB  - 1. Atorvastatin is frequently prescribed for lowering blood cholesterol and for
      prevention of events associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin in diabetic rats.
      2. Diabetes was induced in rats by combination of high-fat diet and low-dose
      streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin following oral
      (10 mg/kg) and intravenous (2 mg/kg) administrations to rats were measured by LC
      MS. Metabolism and uptake of atorvastatin in primary hepatocytes of experimental
      rats were assessed. Protein expressions and activities of hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2
      were further investigated. 3. Clearances of atorvastatin in diabetic rats
      following oral and intravenous administrations were remarkably increased, leading
      to marked decreases in area-under-the-plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). The
      estimated oral and systematic clearances of atorvastatin in diabetic rats were
      4.5-fold and 2.0-fold of control rats, respectively. Metabolism and uptake of
      atorvastatin in primary hepatocytes isolated from diabetic rats were
      significantly increased, which were consistent with the up-regulated protein
      expressions and activities of hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2. 4. All these results
      demonstrated that the plasma exposure of atorvastatin was significantly decreased
      in diabetic rats, which was partly due to the up-regulated activities and
      expressions of both hepatic Cyp3a and Oatp2. 

PMID- 26864242
TI  - Resuscitation is futile in terminally ill patients.

PMID- 26864243
TI  - AN ODORANT-BINDING PROTEIN INVOLVED IN PERCEPTION OF HOST PLANT ODORANTS IN
      LOCUST Locusta migratoria.
AB  - Locusts, Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), are extremely destructive
      agricultural pests, but very little is known of their molecular aspects of
      perception to host plant odorants including related odorant-binding proteins
      (OBPs), though several OBPs have been identified in locust. To elucidate the
      function of LmigOBP1, the first OBP identified from locust, RNA interference was
      employed in this study to silence LmigOBP1, which was achieved by injection of
      dsRNA targeting LmigOBP1 into the hemolymph of male nymphs. Compared with
      LmigOBP1 normal nymphs, LmigOBP1 knockdown nymphs significantly decreased food
      (maize leaf, Zea mays) consumption and electro-antennography responses to five
      maize leaf volatiles, ((Z)-3-hexenol, linalool, nonanal, decanal, and (Z)-3
      hexenyl acetate). These suggest that LmigOBP1 is involved in perception of host
      plant odorants. 

PMID- 26864244
TI  - An information-theoretic approach for the evaluation of surrogate endpoints based
      on causal inference.
AB  - In this work a new metric of surrogacy, the so-called individual causal
      association (ICA), is introduced using information-theoretic concepts and a
      causal inference model for a binary surrogate and true endpoint. The ICA has a
      simple and appealing interpretation in terms of uncertainty reduction and, in
      some scenarios, it seems to provide a more coherent assessment of the validity of
      a surrogate than existing measures. The identifiability issues are tackled using
      a two-step procedure. In the first step, the region of the parametric space of
      the distribution of the potential outcomes, compatible with the data at hand, is
      geometrically characterized. Further, in a second step, a Monte Carlo approach is
      proposed to study the behavior of the ICA on the previous region. The method is
      illustrated using data from the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study. A
      newly developed and user-friendly R package Surrogate is provided to carry out
      the evaluation exercise.

PMID- 26864245
TI  - Determination of Labeled Fatty Acids Content in Milk Products, Infant Formula,
      and Adult/Pediatric Nutritional Formula by Capillary Gas Chromatography:
      Collaborative Study, Final Action 2012.13.
AB  - A collaborative study was conducted on AOAC First Action Method 2012.13
      "Determination of Labeled Fatty Acids Content in Milk Products and Infant Formula
      by Capillary Gas Chromatography," which is based on an initial International
      Organization for Standardization (ISO)-International Dairy Federation (IDF) New
      Work Item that has been moved forward to ISO 16958:2015|IDF 231:2015 in November
      2015. It was decided to merge the two activities after the agreement signed
      between ISO and AOAC in June 2012 to develop common standards and to avoid
      duplicate work. The collaborative study was performed after having provided
      highly satisfactory single-laboratory validation results [Golay, P.A., & Dong, Y.
      (2015) J. AOAC Int. 98, 1679-1696] that exceeded the performance criteria defined
      in AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR((r))) 2012.011 (September
      29, 2012) on 12 products selected by the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula
      (SPIFAN). After a qualification period of 1 month, 18 laboratories participated
      in the fatty acids analysis of 12 different samples in duplicate. Six samples
      were selected to meet AOAC SPIFAN requirements (i.e., infant formula and adult
      nutritionals in powder and liquid formats), and the other Six samples were
      selected to meet ISO-IDF requirements (i.e., dairy products such as milk powder,
      liquid milk, cream, butter, infant formula with milk, and cheese). The fatty
      acids were analyzed directly in all samples without preliminary fat extraction,
      except in one sample (cheese). Powdered samples were analyzed after dissolution
      (i.e., reconstitution) in water, whereas liquid samples (or extracted fat) were
      analyzed directly. After addition of the internal standards solution [C11:0 fatty
      acid methyl ester (FAME) and C13:0 triacylglycerols (TAG)] to the samples, fatty
      acids attached to lipids were transformed into FAMEs by direct
      transesterification using methanolic sodium methoxide. FAMEs were separated using
      highly polar capillary GLC and were identified by comparison with the retention
      times of pure analytical standards. Quantification of fatty acids was done
      relative to C11:0 FAME as internal standard and to instrument response factors
      (determined separately using calibration standards mixture). The performance of
      the method (i.e., transesterification) was monitored in all samples using the
      second internal standard, C13:0 TAG. RSDR values were summarized separately for
      labeled fatty acids in SPIFAN materials and ISO-IDF materials due to different
      expression of results. This method was applied to representative dairy, infant
      formula, and adult/pediatric nutritional products and demonstrated global
      acceptable reproducibility precision for all fatty acids analyzed (i.e., 46
      individuals and/or groups) for these categories of products. 

PMID- 26864246
TI  - Response to: 'A dose-response relationship between severity of disc degeneration
      and intervertebral disc height in the lumbosacral spine'-authors' reply.

PMID- 26864247
TI  - Improved analyses of single cases: Dynamic multilevel analysis.
AB  - This project identifies some difficulties when analyzing single-case data and
      showcases a new method, dynamic multilevel analysis (DMA). We re-analyze a
      published, meta-analysis of single-case interventions for participants with
      autism. Analytic difficulties include missing data, nested data, baseline trends,
      time periods, recency effects, many hypotheses' false positives, interactions
      among explanatory variables, indirect effects (including false negatives), and
      sampling errors. Furthermore, non-overlapping analyses can yield contested
      results, overvalue data near overlap boundaries, lose statistical power, and lack
      estimates of explained variance or unexplained residuals. To address these
      difficulties, DMA integrates several methods, including multilevel and time
      series analyses. DMA re-analysis not only showed robust intervention effects, but
      also time-, outcome-, and intervention component-specific effects. Moreover, DMA
      informs the suitability of time hypotheses or meta-analysis, and DMA's components
      can be used separately, notably its time-series analyses for small samples (e.g.,
      one participant). Hence, DMA can help researchers analyze single-case data more
      accurately.

PMID- 26864248
TI  - Usual interstitial pneumonia in asbestos-exposed cohorts - concurrent idiopathic
      pulmonary fibrosis or atypical asbestosis?
AB  - AIMS: To determine whether usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern fibrosis is
      seen in asbestosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The occurrence of UIP pattern fibrosis
      was studied in four asbestos cohorts systematically referred following postmortem
      to the UK Pneumoconiosis Unit, Cardiff. The combined exposed workforce comprised
      >25 000 persons. Over the 17-year period, 233 subjects were identified; 210 had
      degrees of interstitial fibrosis with a fibrotic non-specific interstitial
      pneumonia pattern and subpleural accentuation, and three showed UIP pattern
      fibrosis. All three of these cases showed grade 4 fibrosis (honeycombing) with no
      asbestos fibre dose-response correlation. A Poisson distribution of probability
      analysis indicated that the observed cases of UIP in this workforce could be
      wholly accounted for by the prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in
      the population. CONCLUSIONS: UIP pattern fibrosis is rarely observed in asbestos
      exposed subjects, and shows no dose-response correlation with asbestos fibres on
      mineral analysis; this points to an alternative disease, such as IPF. The results
      indicate that UIP pattern fibrosis should not be regarded as genuine asbestosis,
      irrespective of the status of asbestos biomarkers, and this impacts upon the
      postmortem handling of asbestos-related deaths.

PMID- 26864249
TI  - An Electroactive, Tunable, and Frequency Selective Surface Utilizing Highly
      Stretchable Dielectric Elastomer Actuators Based on Functionally Antagonistic
      Aperture Control.
AB  - An active, frequency selective surface utilizing a silver-nanowire-coated
      dielectric elastomer with a butterfly-shaped aperture pattern is realized by
      properly exploiting the electroactive control of two antagonistic functions
      (stretching vs compression) on a patterned dielectric elastomer actuator. 

PMID- 26864251
TI  - High cystatin C levels predict undesirable outcome for diabetic foot ulcerations.
AB  - We investigated the relationship between serum cystatin C levels and the
      prognosis of diabetic foot ulcerations (DFU). A population-based cohort study
      involving 1018 patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted. These patients
      recruited and divided into two groups: nondiabetic foot ulcer group (NDF, n =
      865, 85.5%) and diabetic foot ulcer group (DFU, n = 147, 14.5%).After a 1-year
      follow-up, DFUs were grouped into healing (n = 110, 74.8%) and nonhealing (n =
      37, 25.2%) group based on the clinical prognosis. Compared with the healing
      group, the nonhealing group were older, had long diabetic duration and had
      significantly increased serum cystatin C concentrations in DFU (p < 0.01). After
      adjustments for age, diabetes duration, renal function and infection control,
      multiple logistical regression analysis revealed that cystatin C remained
      associated increased risk of undesirable DFU outcome (OR = 7.279, 95% CI: 1.299
      40.784, p < 0.05). When divided into quartiles according to cystatin C levels,
      the healing rate of Quartile 4 was significantly lower (57.9%) compared with
      other groups (p < 0.01). The odd is ratio (OR) analysis showed that the risk of
      undesirable DFU outcome in Quartile 4 was significantly higher (OR = 4.554, 95%
      CI: 3.14-5.12, p < 0.05) compared with that in Quartile 1. We concluded that
      there was a strong and independent association between serum cystatin C and
      diabetic foot ulceration prognosis, cystatin C > 1.35 mg/L predicts more than
      sixfold increased risk of incurable foot ulceration.

PMID- 26864250
TI  - W-box and G-box elements play important roles in early senescence of rice flag
      leaf.
AB  - Plant cis-elements play important roles in global regulation of gene expression.
      Based on microarray data from rice flag leaves during early senescence, we
      identified W-box and G-box cis-elements as positive regulators of senescence in
      the important rice variety Minghui 63. Both cis-elements were bound by leaf
      senescence-specific proteins in vitro and influenced senescence in vivo.
      Furthermore, combination of the two elements drove enhanced expression during
      leaf senescence, and copy numbers of the cis-elements significantly affected the
      levels of expression. The W-box is the cognate cis-element for WRKY proteins,
      while the G-box is the cognate cis-element for bZIP, bHLH and NAC proteins.
      Consistent with this, WRKY, bZIP, bHLH and NAC family members were
      overrepresented among transcription factor genes up-regulated according during
      senescence. Crosstalk between ABA, CTK, BR, auxin, GA and JA during senescence
      was uncovered by comparing expression patterns of senescence up-regulated
      transcription factors. Together, our results indicate that hormone-mediated
      signaling could converge on leaf senescence at the transcriptional level through
      W-box and G-box elements. Considering that there are very few documented early
      senescence-related cis-elements, our results significantly contribute to
      understanding the regulation of flag leaf senescence and provide prioritized
      targets for stay-green trait improvement. 

PMID- 26864252
TI  - Snoring intensity and excessive daytime sleepiness in subjects without
      obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are major
      obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms. Snorers with apnea/hypopnea index < 5 are
      designated "simple snorers" and do not meet OSA criteria. This study aimed to
      explore a possible association between snoring intensity and EDS defined as
      Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores >= 11 in non-OSA subjects. STUDY DESIGN:
      Prospective cohort study. METHODS: From a total of 2,225 subjects who underwent
      polysomnography (PSG), 307 simple snorers qualified for the study and were
      assessed for snoring intensity and ESS score. The correlation between PSG-based
      snoring intensity measurements and ESS score was evaluated. A prediction model
      for EDS was derived using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Subjects
      with EDS tended to be male and of heavier body habitus. Although both genders
      exhibited similar snoring intensities, men had higher ESS scores than women. A
      strong linear correlation was demonstrated between the maximal snoring intensity
      and the ESS score. Maximal snoring sound and male gender were shown to be
      predictors of EDS, with odds ratios of 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.63
      2.26, P < .001) and 3.70 (95% CI: 1.29-12.5, P = .01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      In a population of non-OSA subjects referred to a PSG study, snoring intensity
      was associated with EDS in both men and women. A positive linear correlation was
      observed between snoring intensities and ESS scores. Additional studies are
      needed to further consolidate the evidence regarding the implications of simple
      snoring for public health. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 126:1696-1701,
      2016.

PMID- 26864253
TI  - Lingual Thyroid Ectopia: Diagnostic SPECT/CT Imaging and Radioactive Iodine
      Treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lingual thyroid is a rare abnormality of thyroid development that is
      usually treated conservatively with levothyroxine replacement. Rarely, it becomes
      large enough to cause obstructive symptoms in the oral cavity, requiring
      definitive treatment. PATIENT FINDINGS: This study reports on three patients with
      lingual thyroid treated with radioactive iodine-131 ((131)I) with successful
      radioablation of their ectopic thyroid tissues. Measurement of 24-hour
      radioactive iodine uptake within thyroidal tissues and hybrid single-photon
      emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging using either iodine-123
      or technetium-99m pertechnetate scans were performed in all patients
      demonstrating the location and size of lingual thyroid and absence of an
      orthotopic thyroid gland. SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to describe
      nonsurgical management of obstructive lingual thyroid tissue with (131)I therapy
      for lingual thyroid radioablation. Patients were prepared with a low-iodine diet
      and levothyroxine withdrawal prior to radioablation for optimizing (131)I uptake
      in ectopic thyroid tissues. Hybrid single-photon emission computed
      tomography/computed tomography measurement of anatomic size of lingual thyroid
      tissue and radioactive iodine uptake guided the selection of therapeutic doses,
      resulting in administration of 10.7, 17.5, and 15.4 mCi of (131)I, respectively.
      There were no post-therapy complications, and clinical follow-up demonstrated
      resolution of obstructive oropharyngeal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic lingual
      thyroid tissue is rarely associated with obstructive oropharyngeal symptoms due
      to progressive enlargement. Radioiodine therapy with (131)I is an effective
      treatment modality for ablation of ectopic thyroid tissue as an alternative to
      surgery.

PMID- 26864254
TI  - The effect of educational program on stress, anxiety and depression of the
      mothers of neonates having colostomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: One of the problems that mothers of neonates having colostomy face is
      their disability in caring colostomy at home. This article is going to
      demonstrate the impact of educational program for these mothers on their sense of
      empowerment in caring their neonates. METHODS: This clinical trial was performed
      in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to evaluate the level of stress,
      anxiety and depression of mothers of neonates having colostomy before and after
      the educational program. In this program, 42 mothers were divided into two
      groups: experimental group (21 mothers who went under educational plan) and
      control group (21 mothers who only received the routine care). The levels of
      stress, anxiety and depression in all mothers were evaluated before and after the
      educational program with DASS 21 questionnaire. RESULTS: The results showed that
      educational program in the NICU for experimental groups made them independent and
      also empowered to care better for their babies. In addition, their depression,
      anxiety and stress levels were decreased. CONCLUSION: Since the educational
      program led to a decrease in the levels of stress, anxiety and depression in
      mothers, this program is recommended to mothers of neonates having colostomy.

PMID- 26864255
TI  - Regioselective deprotection of the monosaccharide-bearing thiocyanomethyl group
      at the anomeric position monitored by reversed-phase HPLC method.
AB  - In the current work, the investigation and development of a chemo-enzymatic
      approach for the synthesis of neo-glycoproteins have been studied. This strategy
      is based on the regioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of peracetylated
      monosaccharide, functionalized at the anomeric position (C1) as 1-thio-(S
      cyanomethyl) group, a precursor of the 2- iminomethoxyethyl thioglycosides-linker
      for protein glycosylation, catalyzed by immobilized enzymes to obtain selectively
      monodeprotected compounds. The use of this activation in C1 is the most
      frequently used strategy for glycoprotein preparation. The selected biocatalysts
      are the lipase from Candida rugosa and the acetyl xylan esterase from Bacillus
      pumilus. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) method
      for monitoring the regioselective deprotection reaction has been developed. The
      developed HPLC method was used as a fingerprint to follow the hydrolysis of
      substrate 1 to substrate 1a and to determine its purity and yield. Moreover, the
      obtained compound was further purified by flash chromatography. The obtained
      compound 1a was further characterized using (1) H, (13) C NMR, correlation
      spectroscopy (COSY) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation. The resulting
      product can be used as an intermediate for the preparation of di- and more
      complex oligosaccharides aimed at protein conjugation. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26864256
TI  - Tumor metabolism, cancer cell transporters, and microenvironmental resistance.
AB  - Cancer cells reprogram their metabolic machineries to enter into permanent
      glycolytic pathways. The full reason for such reprogramming takes place is
      unclear. However, this metabolic switch is not made in vain for the lactate that
      is generated and exported outside cells is reused by other cells. This results in
      the generation of a pH gradient between the low extracellular pH that is acidic
      (pHe) and the higher cytosolic alkaline or near neutral pH (pHi) environments
      that are tightly regulated by the overexpression of several pumps and ion
      channels (e.g. NHE-1, MCT-1, V-ATPase, CA9, and CA12). The generation of this
      unique pH gradient serves as a determining factor in defining "tumor fitness".
      Tumor fitness is the capacity of the tumor to invade and metastasize due to its
      ability to reduce the efficiency of the immune system and confer resistance to
      chemotherapy. In this article, we highlight the importance of tumor
      microenvironment in mediating the failure of chemotherapeutic agents. 

PMID- 26864258
TI  - C15049. Taraxerol 4-Methoxybenzoate, an in vitro Inhibitor of Photosynthesis
      Isolated from Pavonia multiflora A. St-Hil. (Malvaceae).
AB  - A phytochemical study of Pavonia multiflora A. St.-Hil. (Malvaceae) led to the
      isolation through chromatographic techniques of ten secondary metabolites:
      vanillic acid (1), ferulic acid (2), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (3), p-coumaric acid
      (4), loliolide (5), vomifoliol (6), 4,5-dihydroblumenol A (7), 3-oxo-alpha-ionol
      (9), blumenol C (10), and taraxerol 4-methoxybenzoate (8), the latter being a
      novel metabolite. Their structures were identified by 1 H- and 13 C-NMR, using
      one- and two-dimensional techniques, and X-ray crystallography. In this work, we
      report the effect of compounds 5 and 8 on several photosynthetic activities in an
      attempt to search for new compounds as potential herbicide agents that affect
      photosynthesis. Both compounds inhibited the electron flow from H2 O to
      methylviologen; therefore, they act as Hill-reaction inhibitors. Using
      polarographic techniques and studies of the fluorescence of chlorophyll a, the
      interaction sites of these compounds were located at photosystem II. This article
      is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864257
TI  - Host adaptation and unexpected symbiont partners enable reef-building corals to
      tolerate extreme temperatures.
AB  - Understanding the potential for coral adaptation to warming seas is complicated
      by interactions between symbiotic partners that define stress responses and the
      difficulties of tracking selection in natural populations. To overcome these
      challenges, we characterized the contribution of both animal host and symbiotic
      algae to thermal tolerance in corals that have already experienced considerable
      warming on par with end-of-century projections for most coral reefs. Thermal
      responses in Platygyra daedalea corals from the hot Persian Gulf where summer
      temperatures reach 36 degrees C were compared with conspecifics from the milder
      Sea of Oman. Persian Gulf corals had higher rates of survival at elevated
      temperatures (33 and 36 degrees C) in both the nonsymbiotic larval stage (32-49%
      higher) and the symbiotic adult life stage (51% higher). Additionally, Persian
      Gulf hosts had fixed greater potential to mitigate oxidative stress (31-49%
      higher) and their Symbiodinium partners had better retention of photosynthetic
      performance under elevated temperature (up to 161% higher). Superior thermal
      tolerance of Persian Gulf vs. Sea of Oman corals was maintained after 6-month
      acclimatization to a common ambient environment and was underpinned by genetic
      divergence in both the coral host and symbiotic algae. In P. daedalea host
      samples, genomewide SNP variation clustered into two discrete groups
      corresponding with Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman sites. Symbiodinium within host
      tissues predominantly belonged to ITS2 rDNA type C3 in the Persian Gulf and type
      D1a in the Sea of Oman contradicting patterns of Symbiodinium thermal tolerance
      from other regions. Our findings provide evidence that genetic adaptation of both
      host and Symbiodinium has enabled corals to cope with extreme temperatures in the
      Persian Gulf. Thus, the persistence of coral populations under continued warming
      will likely be determined by evolutionary rates in both, rather than single,
      symbiotic partners.

PMID- 26864259
TI  - Multimethod, multistate Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach for use in
      regional monitoring of wolves.
AB  - In many cases, the first step in large-carnivore management is to obtain
      objective, reliable, and cost-effective estimates of population parameters
      through procedures that are reproducible over time. However, monitoring predators
      over large areas is difficult, and the data have a high level of uncertainty. We
      devised a practical multimethod and multistate modeling approach based on
      Bayesian hierarchical-site-occupancy models that combined multiple survey methods
      to estimate different population states for use in monitoring large predators at
      a regional scale. We used wolves (Canis lupus) as our model species and generated
      reliable estimates of the number of sites with wolf reproduction (presence of
      pups). We used 2 wolf data sets from Spain (Western Galicia in 2013 and Asturias
      in 2004) to test the approach. Based on howling surveys, the naive estimation
      (i.e., estimate based only on observations) of the number of sites with
      reproduction was 9 and 25 sites in Western Galicia and Asturias, respectively.
      Our model showed 33.4 (SD 9.6) and 34.4 (3.9) sites with wolf reproduction,
      respectively. The number of occupied sites with wolf reproduction was 0.67 (SD
      0.19) and 0.76 (0.11), respectively. This approach can be used to design more
      cost-effective monitoring programs (i.e., to define the sampling effort needed
      per site). Our approach should inspire well-coordinated surveys across multiple
      administrative borders and populations and lead to improved decision making for
      management of large carnivores on a landscape level. The use of this Bayesian
      framework provides a simple way to visualize the degree of uncertainty around
      population-parameter estimates and thus provides managers and stakeholders an
      intuitive approach to interpreting monitoring results. Our approach can be widely
      applied to large spatial scales in wildlife monitoring where detection
      probabilities differ between population states and where several methods are
      being used to estimate different population parameters.

PMID- 26864261
TI  - Pure white-light and colour-tuning of Eu(3+)-Gd(3+)-containing metallopolymer.
AB  - Direct white-light (CIE coordinate of x = 0.333, y = 0.335, CCT of 5455 K and CRI
      of 82) with a high luminous efficiency (18.4%) was achieved in the first example
      of Eu(3+)-Gd(3+)-containing metallopolymer Poly(2-co-NVK-co-4), which also showed
      tunable purplish-blue to white to yellow-green photoluminescence.

PMID- 26864260
TI  - Defining a stem cell hierarchy in the intestine: markers, caveats and
      controversies.
AB  - The past decade has appreciated rapid advance in identifying the once elusive
      intestinal stem cell (ISC) populations that fuel the continual renewal of the
      epithelial layer. This advance was largely driven by identification of novel stem
      cell marker genes, revealing the existence of quiescent, slowly- and active
      cycling ISC populations. However, a critical barrier for translating this
      knowledge to human health and disease remains elucidating the functional
      interplay between diverse stem cell populations. Currently, the precise
      hierarchical and regulatory relationships between these ISC populations are under
      intense scrutiny. The classical theory of a linear hierarchy, where quiescent and
      slowly-cycling stem cells self-renew but replenish an active-cycling population,
      is well established in other rapidly renewing tissues such as the haematopoietic
      system. Efforts to definitively establish a similar stem cell hierarchy within
      the intestinal epithelium have yielded conflicting results, been difficult to
      interpret, and suggest non-conventional alternatives to a linear hierarchy. While
      these new and potentially paradigm-shifting discoveries are intriguing, the field
      will require development of a number of critical tools, including highly specific
      stem cell marker genes along with more rigorous experimental methodologies, to
      delineate the complex cellular relationships within this dynamic organ system.

PMID- 26864262
TI  - Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis: Practice Within the
      Children's Oncology Group.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Children's Oncology Group (COG) has endorsed a clinical practice
      guideline (CPG) for acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)
      prophylaxis in children with cancer. This project aims to describe current acute
      CINV prophylaxis practice at COG sites and the gap between this practice and CPG
      recommendations. PROCEDURE: Two surveys were developed. The first survey, sent to
      94 cancer control and supportive care responsible individuals (CCL RIs) at 94 COG
      institutions, asked if the institution had a standardized approach to practice
      and focused on antiemetic agent choice. The second survey, sent to 54 pharmacists
      at COG sites where the CCL RI indicated that there was a standardized approach to
      CINV prophylaxis practice, focused on antiemetic dosing. Survey results were
      described and analyzed for consistency with the CPG recommendations. RESULTS:
      Among the 69 respondents to the first survey, 54 (78%) stated that their
      institutions have a standardized approach to CINV prophylaxis practice. However,
      antiemetic choice varied widely among respondents. Results from the 36
      respondents to the second survey also demonstrated significant antiemetic dosing
      practice variability. Frequent sources of deviation from CPG recommendations were
      as follows: antiemetic choice when corticosteroids are contraindicated,
      dexamethasone dosing, aprepitant use in children less than 12 years, and
      aprepitant use in the presence of a known or suspected drug interaction.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is a great diversity in the CINV prophylaxis provided to
      children with cancer at COG sites. Concerted strategies are required to improve
      awareness of the current CINV prophylaxis CPG and to facilitate CPG-consistent
      CINV prophylaxis.

PMID- 26864266
TI  - High-mobility group box protein 1 promotes the survival of myeloid-derived
      suppressor cells by inducing autophagy.
AB  - Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are immune-suppressive cells that are elevated
      in most individuals with cancer, where their accumulation and suppressive
      activity are driven by inflammation. As myeloid-derived suppressor cells inhibit
      anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor progression, we are determining how their
      viability is regulated. Previous studies have established that the damage
      associated molecular pattern molecule high-mobility group box protein 1 drives
      myeloid-derived suppressor cell accumulation and suppressive potency and is
      ubiquitously present in the tumor microenvironment. As high-mobility group box
      protein 1 also facilitates tumor cell survival by inducing autophagy, we sought
      to determine if high-mobility group box protein 1 regulates myeloid-derived
      suppressor cell survival through induction of autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy
      increased the quantity of apoptotic myeloid-derived suppressor cells,
      demonstrating that autophagy extends the survival and increases the viability of
      myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Inhibition of high-mobility group box protein 1
      similarly increased the level of apoptotic myeloid-derived suppressor cells and
      reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cell autophagy, demonstrating that in addition
      to inducing the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, high-mobility
      group box protein 1 sustains myeloid-derived suppressor cell viability.
      Circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells have a default autophagic phenotype,
      and tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells are more autophagic,
      consistent with the concept that inflammatory and hypoxic conditions within the
      microenvironment of solid tumors contribute to tumor progression by enhancing
      immune-suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Overall, these results
      demonstrate that in addition to previously recognized protumor effects, high
      mobility group box protein 1 contributes to tumor progression by increasing
      myeloid-derived suppressor cell viability by driving them into a proautophagic
      state.

PMID- 26864268
TI  - Decision-making for non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome: Hong Kong
      Chinese women's preferences for individual vs relational autonomy.
AB  - Individual autonomy in antenatal screening is internationally recognized and
      supported. Policy and practice guidelines in various countries place emphasis on
      the woman's right to make her own decision and are related to concepts such as
      self-determination, independence, and self-sufficiency. In contrast, the dominant
      perspective in Chinese medical ethics suggests that the family is pivotal in
      making medical decisions, hence providing support for relational autonomy. This
      study explored Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women's preferences for individual vs
      relational autonomy for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down syndrome. A
      qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured interviews with 36 women
      who had undertaken NIPT in Hong Kong. The findings show that most Hong Kong
      Chinese women valued aspects of both relational and individual autonomy in
      decision-making for NIPT. Women expected support from doctors as experts on the
      topic and wanted to involve their husband in decision-making while retaining
      control over the outcome. Somewhat surprisingly, the findings do not provide
      support for the involvement of family members in decision-making for NIPT. The
      adequacy of current interpretations of autonomy in prenatal testing policies as
      an individual approach needs discussion, where policy developers need to find a
      balance between individual and relational approaches.

PMID- 26864267
TI  - IL-36gamma is secreted in microparticles and exosomes by lung macrophages in
      response to bacteria and bacterial components.
AB  - Interleukin-36 is a family of novel interleukin-1-like proinflammatory cytokines
      that are highly expressed in epithelial tissues and several myeloid-derived cell
      types. Like those of classic interleukin-1 cytokines, the secretion mechanisms of
      interleukin-36 are not well understood. Interleukin-36gamma secretion in dermal
      epithelial cells requires adenosine 5'-triphosphate, which suggests a
      nonclassical mechanism of secretion. In this study, murine pulmonary macrophages
      and human alveolar macrophages were treated with recombinant pathogen-associated
      molecular patterns (intact bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae or Streptococcus
      pneumoniae). Cell lysates were analyzed for messenger ribonucleic acid by
      quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and conditioned medium was
      analyzed for interleukin-36gamma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with or
      without sonication. In addition, conditioned medium was ultracentrifuged at
      25,000 g and 100,000 g, to isolate microparticles and exosomes, respectively, and
      interleukin-36gamma protein was assessed in each fraction by Western blot
      analysis. Interleukin-36gamma mRNA was induced in both murine and human lung
      macrophages by a variety of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, as well as
      heat-killed and live Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and
      induction occurred in a myeloid differentiation response gene 88-dependent
      manner. Secretion of interleukin-36gamma protein was enhanced by adenosine 5'
      triphosphate. Furthermore, extracellular interleukin-36gamma protein detection
      was markedly enhanced by sonication to disrupt membrane-bound structures.
      Interleukin-36gamma protein was detected by Western blot in microparticles and
      exosome fractions isolated by ultracentrifugation. Interleukin-36gamma was
      induced and secreted from lung macrophages in response to Gram-negative and 
      positive bacterial stimulation. The results suggest that interleukin-36gamma is
      secreted in a non-Golgi-dependent manner by lung macrophages in response to Gram
      positive and -negative bacterial challenge.

PMID- 26864269
TI  - A Latent Class Analysis of Smokeless Tobacco Use in the United States.
AB  - While there has been an escalating trend in the number of smokeless tobacco uses,
      mainly snuff, in the United States, it is unclear whether smokeless tobacco users
      are a homogenous class. The present investigation examines this question and
      identifies subtypes of smokeless tobacco users in order to better understand the
      characteristics of these individuals and guide appropriate intervention. Data on
      smokeless tobacco users (N = 2504) derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey
      on Alcohol and Related Conditions was employed. A range of antisocial behaviors,
      from reflecting non-violent deviant acts, irresponsibility, and a disengaged
      lifestyle, to aggression and violence were used to estimate the number of
      subtypes of smokeless tobacco users using latent class analysis. Four latent
      classes emerged: Normative Class (50.2 %), Deviant Class (21.9 %), Disengaging
      Class (17.2 %), and Antisocial Class (10.5 %). Logistic regression shows that
      major depression, alcohol use disorder, and marijuana use disorder were
      associated with Deviant Class (OR's from 2.0 to 10.5). The same array of
      psychiatric disorders and general anxiety disorder were associated with greater
      odds of membership in the Disengaging Class (OR's from 2.6 to 7.4).
      Aforementioned psychiatric disorders and illicit drug use disorder were
      associated with the Antisocial Class (OR's from 3.8 to 38.1). Findings indicate
      that smokeless tobacco users are a heterogeneous population that may benefit from
      differential intervention strategies.

PMID- 26864270
TI  - Correlates and outcomes related to periprocedural myocardial injury during
      percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: Results from a
      prospective, single center PCI registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in percutaneous coronary intervention
      (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO). Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI)
      post CTO PCI is not uncommon, but true incidence and implications of PMI are not
      well understood. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate risk factors for PMI
      post CTO PCI and its implications for the 1-year clinical outcome of a Chinese
      population. METHODS: Baseline characteristics, procedure features, and major
      adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year were assessed in 629 consecutive patients
      who underwent CTO PCI. PMI was diagnosed as an elevation of creatine kinase MB
      >=3 times ULN 12-24 hr post procedure. Multivariate analysis was performed to
      determine the correlates of PMI and MACE at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: In total,
      PMI was detected in 115 patients (18.3%). Compared with patients without PMI,
      those with PMI had a higher percentage of previous coronary artery bypass
      grafting (CABG), right coronary occlusion and side branch occlusion, and
      technical success was lower in the PMI group (90.4% vs. 96.7%, P = 0.003). One
      year MACE-free survival was reduced in the PMI group (87.8% vs. 95.9%, P =
      0.001). The final TIMI flow 0-1 (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.06-4.87, P = 0.02), side branch
      occlusion (OR 2.67, 95%CI 1.19-7.11, P = 0.009), retrograde PCI (OR 1.35, 95%CI
      1.10-2.74, P = 0.04), and history of prior CABG (OR 2.41, 95%CI 1.38-5.91, P =
      0.01) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PMI. CONCLUSIONS: In
      this unique Chinese cohort, PMI post CTO PCI was associated with several clinical
      and angiographic factors and exerts an adverse effect on 1-year clinical
      outcomes.

PMID- 26864271
TI  - beta-Defensins: Work in Progress.
AB  - Defensins are a group of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found in different living
      organisms, and are involved in the first line of defense in the innate immune
      response against pathogens. The increase in the resistance of bacteria to
      conventional antibiotics and the need for new antibiotics has stimulated interest
      in the use of AMPs as new therapeutic agents. The inducible nature of human
      defensin genes suggests that it is possible to increase the endogenous production
      by utilizing small molecules of various origins to enhance, even selectively, the
      expression of these peptides. In the light of their role in immunomodulation,
      angiogenesis, wound healing, inflammation and cancer, as well as their
      antimicrobial activity, it is possible induce their expression or create analogs
      with increased specific activity or various degrees of selectivity, or obtain
      human defensins with genetic engineering to optimize the potency and safety in
      order to reduce cytotoxicity and potential proinflammatory activity and
      susceptibility to protease and salt. Restoring the balance between
      immunostimulating and immunosuppressive molecules may be an important strategy to
      correct expression defects in specific diseases. 

PMID- 26864272
TI  - Crystal Structure of CYP106A2 in Substrate-Free and Substrate-Bound Form.
AB  - CYP106A2 from Bacillus megaterium ATCC 13368 is known as a bacterial steroid
      hydroxylase that is also capable of hydroxylating a variety of terpenoids. To
      analyze the substrate specificity of this enzyme further, different resin acids
      of the abietane and pimarane types were tested with regard to binding and
      conversion. Product formation could be shown for all tested substrates.
      Spectroscopic studies revealed type I binding spectra for isopimaric acid, but
      dehydroabietic acid did not induce a high-spin shift of the enzyme.
      Interestingly, binding of abietic acid resulted in a type II difference spectrum
      typical for nitrogenous inhibitors. Co-crystallization of CYP106A2 with abietic
      acid and structure determination revealed bending of the heme cofactor when
      abietic acid was bound in the active site. Quantum chemical calculations strongly
      suggest that this heme distortion is the cause of the unusual spectroscopic
      characteristics.

PMID- 26864274
TI  - Rapid and efficient synthesis of alpha(1-2)mannobiosides.
AB  - alpha(1,2)mannobiosides with different substituents at the reducing end have been
      synthesized by a common strategy using benzoyls as the permanent protecting
      groups and an acetyl as the orthogonal protecting group at position C2 of the
      glycosyl acceptor. The new synthetic strategy has been performed remarkably
      reducing the number of purification steps, the time of synthesis (less than 72
      hours) and improving the overall yield at least three times with respect to the
      best procedure described in the literature at the moment. Additionally, this
      protecting group strategy is compatible with the presence of azido groups and the
      use of Cu catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) also called "click
      chemistry" for conjugating the alpha(1-2)mannobiosides to different scaffolds for
      the preparation of mannosyl multivalent systems. 

PMID- 26864275
TI  - CoNVaDING: Single Exon Variation Detection in Targeted NGS Data.
AB  - We have developed a tool for detecting single exon copy-number variations (CNVs)
      in targeted next-generation sequencing data: CoNVaDING (Copy Number Variation
      Detection In Next-generation sequencing Gene panels). CoNVaDING includes a
      stringent quality control (QC) metric, that excludes or flags low-quality exons.
      Since this QC shows exactly which exons can be reliably analyzed and which exons
      are in need of an alternative analysis method, CoNVaDING is not only useful for
      CNV detection in a research setting, but also in clinical diagnostics. During the
      validation phase, CoNVaDING detected all known CNVs in high-quality targets in
      320 samples analyzed, giving 100% sensitivity and 99.998% specificity for 308,574
      exons. CoNVaDING outperforms existing tools by exhibiting a higher sensitivity
      and specificity and by precisely identifying low-quality samples and regions. 

PMID- 26864276
TI  - SNRFCB: sub-network based random forest classifier for predicting chemotherapy
      benefit on survival for cancer treatment.
AB  - Adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) should be individualized to provide potential
      survival benefit and avoid potential harm to cancer patients. Our goal was to
      establish a computational approach for making personalized estimates of the
      survival benefit from adjuvant CTX. We developed Sub-Network based Random Forest
      classifier for predicting Chemotherapy Benefit (SNRFCB) based gene expression
      datasets of lung cancer. The SNRFCB approach was then validated in independent
      test cohorts for identifying chemotherapy responder cohorts and chemotherapy non
      responder cohorts. SNRFCB involved the pre-selection of gene sub-network
      signatures based on the mutations and on protein-protein interaction data as well
      as the application of the random forest algorithm to gene expression datasets.
      Adjuvant CTX was significantly associated with the prolonged overall survival of
      lung cancer patients in the chemotherapy responder group (P = 0.008), but it was
      not beneficial to patients in the chemotherapy non-responder group (P = 0.657).
      Adjuvant CTX was significantly associated with the prolonged overall survival of
      lung cancer squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) subtype patients in the chemotherapy
      responder cohorts (P = 0.024), but it was not beneficial to patients in the
      chemotherapy non-responder cohorts (P = 0.383). SNRFCB improved prediction
      performance as compared to the machine learning method, support vector machine
      (SVM). To test the general applicability of the predictive model, we further
      applied the SNRFCB approach to human breast cancer datasets and also observed
      superior performance. SNRFCB could provide recurrent probability for individual
      patients and identify which patients may benefit from adjuvant CTX in clinical
      trials. 

PMID- 26864273
TI  - The role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in autoimmunity and implications for
      therapy.
AB  - Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) mediates B cell signaling and is also present in
      innate immune cells but not T cells. BTK propagates B cell receptor (BCR)
      responses to antigen-engagement as well as to stimulation via CD40, toll-like
      receptors (TLRs), Fc receptors (FCRs) and chemokine receptors. Importantly, BTK
      can modulate signaling, acting as a "rheostat" rather than an "on-off" switch;
      thus, overexpression leads to autoimmunity while decreased levels improve
      autoimmune disease outcomes. Autoreactive B cells depend upon BTK for survival to
      a greater degree than normal B cells, reflected as loss of autoantibodies with
      maintenance of total antibody levels when BTK is absent. This review describes
      contributions of BTK to immune tolerance, including studies testing BTK
      inhibitors for treatment of autoimmune diseases. 

PMID- 26864278
TI  - Synthesis of Capped A(II)B(VI) Nanoparticles for Fluorescent Biomarkers.
AB  - The conditions for growing CdS nanoparticles suitable for the visualization of
      biological tissues were theoretically studied and experimentally checked. The
      optimal ranges for pH values and precursors' concentrations were determined. The
      applicability of the mercaptoethanol-capped nanoparticles for in vitro
      luminescence visualization of several cellular forms in histological specimens of
      human placenta has been proven. 

PMID- 26864277
TI  - Systematic Exploration of Biotransformation Reactions of Amine-Containing
      Micropollutants in Activated Sludge.
AB  - The main removal process for polar organic micropollutants during activated
      sludge treatment is biotransformation, which often leads to the formation of
      stable transformation products (TPs). Because the analysis of TPs is challenging,
      the use of pathway prediction systems can help by generating a list of suspected
      TPs. To complete and refine pathway prediction, comprehensive biotransformation
      studies for compounds exhibiting pertinent functional groups under
      environmentally relevant conditions are needed. Because many polar organic
      micropollutants present in wastewater contain one or several amine functional
      groups, we systematically explored amine biotransformation by conducting
      experiments with 19 compounds that contained 25 structurally diverse primary,
      secondary, and tertiary amine moieties. The identification of 144 TP candidates
      and the structure elucidation of 101 of these resulted in a comprehensive view on
      initial amine biotransformation reactions. The reactions with the highest
      relevance were N-oxidation, N-dealkylation, N-acetylation, and N-succinylation.
      Whereas many of the observed reactions were similar to those known for the
      mammalian metabolism of amine-containing xenobiotics, some N-acylation reactions
      were not previously described. In general, different reactions at the amine
      functional group occurred in parallel. Finally, recommendations on how these
      findings can be implemented to improve microbial pathway prediction of amine
      containing micropollutants are given. 

PMID- 26864279
TI  - Amorphous mixed-metal hydroxide nanostructures for advanced water oxidation
      catalysts.
AB  - The design of highly efficient, durable, and earth-abundant catalysts for the
      oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial in order to promote energy conversion
      and storage processes. Here, we synthesize amorphous mixed-metal (Ni-Fe)
      hydroxide nanostructures with a homogeneous distribution of Ni/Fe as well as a
      tunable Ni/Fe ratio by a simple, facile, green and low-cost electrochemical
      technique, and we demonstrate that the synthesized amorphous nanomaterials
      possess ultrahigh activity and super long-term cycle stability in the OER
      process. The amorphous Ni0.71Fe0.29(OH)x nanostructure affords a current density
      of 10 mA cm(-2) at an overpotential of a mere 0.296 V and a small Tafel slope of
      58 mV dec(-1), while no deactivation is detected in the CV testing even up to 30
      000 cycles, which suggests the promising application of these amorphous
      nanomaterials in electrochemical oxidation. Meanwhile, the distinct catalytic
      activities among these amorphous Ni-Fe hydroxide nanostructures prompts us to
      take notice of the composition of the alloy hydroxides/oxides when studying their
      catalytic properties, which opens an avenue for the rational design and
      controllable preparation of such amorphous nanomaterials as advanced OER
      electrocatalysts. 

PMID- 26864280
TI  - The protective effects of intranasal administration of IL-12 given before
      influenza virus infection and the negative effects of IL-12 treatment given after
      viral infection.
AB  - To investigate whether the administration of IL-12 is effective against influenza
      virus infection, mice were intranasally administered IL-12 for three consecutive
      days and then infected with a non-lethal dose of the influenza virus. The IL-12
      treated mice were more resistant to the virus than control mice with respect to
      the remission of body weight loss, virus burden, pro-inflammatory cytokine
      production, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs. The number of NK
      cells and the level of NK cell cytotoxicity significantly increased in the lungs
      of the mice treated with IL-12 before infection compared to that observed in
      control mice, leading to promptly eliminate the viral-infected cells.
      Unexpectedly, all of mice that received IL-12 treatment after being infected with
      a non-lethal dose of the virus died as a result of their high virus burden and
      pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the lungs. One possibility of the
      mechanisms was considered to be activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cell
      (MDSC), which has immune suppressive function, in the lungs. Thus, IL-12
      treatment has opposite effects depending on whether it is administered before or
      after infection. These results demonstrate the potential risks of immune
      modulating therapies such as administration of exogenous cytokine or
      neutralization of cytokine. J. Med. Virol. 88:1487-1496, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26864282
TI  - Static and Dynamic Magnetization of Gradient FeNi Alloy Nanowire.
AB  - FeNi binary nanowires with gradient composition are fabricated by the
      electrodeposition method. The energy dispersive spec-trometer line-sweep results
      show that the composition changes gradually along the wire axis. The gradient
      FeNi nanowires exhibit polycrystalline and crystal twinning at different areas
      along the nanowire axis, with a textured face-centered cubic structure. The
      static and dynamic magnetization properties are characterized by a hysteresis
      loop and ferromagnetic reso-nance with pumping frequencies from 12- 40 GHz. The
      linear dispersion of the pumping frequency vs: the resonance field has been
      observed with the applied bias field higher than the saturation field,
      corresponding to the hysteresis loop. The field-sweep linewidths decrease with
      increasing pumping frequency, and the frequency-sweep linewidths stay nearly
      constant at the unsaturated region. The linewidth is a Gilbert type at the
      saturated state, with damping of 0.035 +/- 0.003. Compared with the damping of
      the homogeneous composition FeNi nanowire (a = 0.044 +/- 0.005), the gradient
      FeNi nanowire may have less eddy current damping, which could make it an
      alternative candidate for spintronics and microstrip antennas. 

PMID- 26864283
TI  - Ir-Cu nanoframes: one-pot synthesis and efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen
      evolution reaction.
AB  - Herein, we achieved successful synthesis of uniform Ir-Cu nanoframes with highly
      open structures by a facile one-pot strategy. The key to obtain alloy nanoframes
      was the careful control over the reduction and galvanic replacement reactions
      between different metals. The as-prepared Ir-Cu was proved to be an effective
      template for constructing trimetallic nanoframes. Furthermore, these highly open
      nanostructures exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen
      evolution reaction in alkaline media. 

PMID- 26864284
TI  - Fabrication and Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of MoS2/S-Doped g-C3N4
      Heterojunction Film.
AB  - We report on a novel MoS2/S-doped g-C3N4 heterojunction film with high visible
      light photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. The heterojunction films are
      prepared by CVD growth of S-doped g-C3N4 film on indium-tin oxide (ITO) glass
      substrates, with subsequent deposition of a low bandgap, 1.69 eV, visible-light
      response MoS2 layer by hydrothermal synthesis. Adding thiourea into melamine as
      the coprecursor not only facilitates the growth of g-C3N4 films but also
      introduces S dopants into the films, which significantly improves the PEC
      performance. The fabricated MoS2/S-doped g-C3N4 heterojunction film offers an
      enhanced anodic photocurrent of as high as ~1.2 * 10(-4) A/cm(2) at an applied
      potential of +0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl under the visible light irradiation. The enhanced
      PEC performance of MoS2/S-doped g-C3N4 film is believed due to the improved light
      absorption and the efficient charge separation of the photogenerated charge at
      the MoS2/S-doped g-C3N4 interface. The convenient preparation of carbon nitride
      based heterojunction films in this work can be widely used to design new
      heterojunction photoelectrodes or photocatalysts with high performance for H2
      evolution. 

PMID- 26864285
TI  - Electronic Resources About Infant Growth for Parents and Pediatric Trainees
      Overestimate Normal Growth.

PMID- 26864287
TI  - Personalization, self-advocacy and inclusion: An evaluation of parent-initiated
      supported living schemes for people with intellectual and developmental
      disabilities in the Netherlands.
AB  - This study focused on parent-initiated supported living schemes in the South of
      the Netherlands and the ability of these living schemes to enhance participation,
      choice, autonomy and self-advocacy for people with intellectual or developmental
      disabilities through personalized planning, support and care. Based on in-depth
      interviews with tenants, parents and caregivers, findings included that parent
      initiated supported housing schemes made steps towards stimulating self-advocacy
      and autonomy for tenants. However, overprotective and paternalistic attitudes
      expressed by a significant number of parents, as well as structural constraints
      affecting the living schemes, created obstacles to tenants' personal development.
      The study calls for consideration of interdependence as a model for the
      relationship of parents and adult offspring with disabilities. The benefits and
      tensions inherent within this relationship must be taken into consideration
      during inclusive community building. 

PMID- 26864286
TI  - Number of Diverticulitis Episodes Before Resection and Factors Associated With
      Earlier Interventions.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Despite professional recommendations to delay elective colon
      resection for patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis, early surgery (after <3
      preceding episodes) appears to be common. Several factors have been suggested to
      contribute to early surgery, including increasing numbers of younger patients, a
      lower threshold to operate laparoscopically, and growing recognition of
      "smoldering" (or nonrecovering) diverticulitis episodes. However, the relevance
      of these factors in early surgery has not been well tested, and most prior
      studies have focused on hospitalizations, missing outpatient events and making it
      difficult to assess guideline adherence in earlier interventions. OBJECTIVE: To
      describe patterns of episodes of diverticulitis before surgery and factors
      associated with earlier interventions using inpatient, outpatient, and antibiotic
      prescription claims. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This investigation was a
      nationwide retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2012.
      The dates of the analysis were July 2014 to May 2015. Participants were
      immunocompetent adult patients (age range, 18-64 years) with incident,
      uncomplicated diverticulitis. EXPOSURE: Elective colectomy for diverticulitis.
      MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Inpatient, outpatient, and antibiotic prescription
      claims for diverticulitis captured in the MarketScan (Truven Health Analytics)
      databases. RESULTS: Of 87 461 immunocompetent patients having at least 1 claim
      for diverticulitis, 6.4% (n = 5604) underwent a resection. The final study cohort
      comprised 3054 nonimmunocompromised patients who underwent elective resection for
      uncomplicated diverticulitis, of whom 55.6% (n = 1699) were male. Before elective
      surgery, they had a mean (SD) of 1.0 (0.9) inpatient claims, 1.5 (1.5) outpatient
      claims, and 0.5 (1.2) antibiotic prescription claims related to diverticulitis.
      Resection occurred after fewer than 3 episodes in 94.9% (2897 of 3054) of
      patients if counting inpatient claims only, in 80.5% (2459 of 3054) if counting
      inpatient and outpatient claims only, and in 56.3% (1720 of 3054) if counting all
      types of claims. Based on all types of claims, patients having surgery after
      fewer than 3 episodes were of similar mean age compared with patients having
      delayed surgery (both 47.7 years, P = .91), were less likely to undergo
      laparoscopy (65.1% [1120 of 1720] vs 70.8% [944 of 1334], P = .001), and had more
      time between the last 2 episodes preceding surgery (157 vs 96 days, P < .001).
      Patients with health maintenance organization or capitated insurance plans had
      lower rates of early surgery (50.1% [247 of 493] vs 57.4% [1429 of 2490], P =
      .01) than those with other insurance plan types. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: After
      considering all types of diverticulitis claims, 56.3% (1720 of 3054) of elective
      resections for uncomplicated diverticulitis occurred after fewer than 3 episodes.
      Earlier surgery was not explained by younger age, laparoscopy, time between the
      last 2 episodes preceding surgery, or financial risk-bearing for patients. In
      delivering value-added surgical care, factors driving early, elective resection
      for diverticulitis need to be determined.

PMID- 26864289
TI  - Realizing both selective adsorption and efficient regeneration using adsorbents
      with photo-regulated molecular gates.
AB  - A new generation of smart adsorbents was designed by grafting photo-responsive
      molecules onto the pore entrances of mesoporous silica. These molecules act as
      the gates of the mesopores, which are reversibly closed/opened upon light
      irradiation. Our smart adsorbents thus realize both selective adsorption and
      efficient desorption, which is highly expected for adsorption but impossible for
      traditional adsorbents with fixed pore entrances. 

PMID- 26864288
TI  - Label-free proteomic analysis of the hydrophobic membrane protein complement in
      articular chondrocytes: a technique for identification of membrane biomarkers.
AB  - CONTEXT: There is insufficient knowledge about the chondrocyte membranome and its
      molecular composition. OBJECTIVE: To develop a Triton X-114 based separation
      technique using nanoLC-MS/MS combined with shotgun proteomics to identify
      chondrocyte membrane proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articular chondrocytes from
      equine metacarpophalangeal joints were separated into hydrophobic and hydrophilic
      fractions; trypsin-digested proteins were analysed by nanoLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: A
      total of 315 proteins were identified. The phase extraction method yielded a high
      proportion of membrane proteins (56%) including CD276, S100-A6 and three VDAC
      isoforms. DISCUSSION: Defining the chondrocyte membranome is likely to reveal new
      biomarker targets for conventional and biological drug discovery.

PMID- 26864292
TI  - Discrimination Against People With Dermatologic Diseases.

PMID- 26864293
TI  - Biopsy--What's in the Name?

PMID- 26864294
TI  - The Evolution of Laser Technology in Dermatology.

PMID- 26864295
TI  - Crazy in Love.

PMID- 26864296
TI  - Endoscopic resection of rectal granular-cell tumor using elastic band ligation.
AB  - Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a rare neoplasm that develops in the gut's
      submucosal layer. We report the case of a male with a history of surgically
      excised colon neoplasm where a rectal polyp was identified during a follow-up
      endoscopy. The lesion, eventually identified as a GCT, was endoscopically removed
      by band ligation-assisted mucosectomy. This may be the second report of a
      colorectal GCT successfully managed using band ligation, and the first one on a
      rectal GCT excised with this technique.

PMID- 26864297
TI  - Synchronous second primary cancers in patients with squamous esophageal cancer:
      clinical features and survival outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Unexpected diagnosis of synchronous second primary cancers (SPC)
      complicates physicians' decision-making because clinical details of squamous
      esophageal cancer (EC) patients with SPC have been limited. We evaluated clinical
      features and treatment outcomes of patients with synchronous SPC detected during
      the initial staging of squamous EC. METHODS: We identified a total of 317
      consecutive patients diagnosed with squamous EC. Relevant clinical and cancer
      specific information were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: EC patients with
      synchronous SPC were identified in 21 patients (6.6%). There were significant
      differences in median age (70 years vs. 63 years, p = 0.01), serum albumin level
      (3.3 g/dL vs. 3.9 g/dL, p < 0.01) and body mass index (20.4 kg/m(2) vs. 22.8
      kg/m(2), p = 0.01) between EC patients with and without SPC. Head and neck, lung
      and gastric cancers accounted for 18.2%, 22.7%, and 18.2% of SPC, respectively.
      Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) detected four cases
      (18.2%) of SPC that were missed on CT. Management plans were altered in 13 of 21
      patients (61.9%) with detected SPC. Curative esophagectomy was attempted in 28.6%
      of EC patients with SPC (vs. 59.1% of patients without SPC; p = 0.006). EC
      patients with SPC had significantly lower 5-year survival than patients without
      SPC (10.6% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous SPC were found in 6.6%
      of squamous EC patients, and PET-CT contributed substantially to the detection of
      synchronous SPC. EC patients with SPC had poor survival due to challenges of
      providing stage-appropriate treatment.

PMID- 26864299
TI  - Microscopic polyangiitis with crescentic glomerulonephritis initially presenting
      as acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 26864298
TI  - The role of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio to leverage the differential diagnosis of
      familial Mediterranean fever attack and acute appendicitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive
      disorder characterized by attacks of fever and diffuse abdominal pain. The
      primary concern with this presentation is to distinguish it from acute
      appendicitis promptly. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the role of neutrophil
      lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to leverage the differential diagnosis of acute FMF attack
      with histologically proven appendicitis. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with
      histologically confirmed acute appendicitis and 88 patients with acute attack of
      FMF were included in the study. NLR, C-reactive protein and other hematologic
      parameters were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Neutrophil to lymphocyte
      ratio was significantly higher in patients with acute appendicitis compared to
      the FMF attack group (8.24 +/- 6.31 vs. 4.16 +/- 2.44, p = 0.007). The
      performance of NLR in diagnosing acute appendicitis with receiver operating
      characteristic analysis with a cut-off value of 4.03 were; 78% sensitivity, 62%
      specificity, and area under the curve 0.760 (95% confidence interval, 0.655 to
      0.8655; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that NLR, the simple and
      readily available inflammatory marker may have a useful role in distinguishing
      acute FMF attack from acute appendicitis.

PMID- 26864300
TI  - Structural complexity of simple Fe2O3 at high pressures and temperatures.
AB  - Although chemically very simple, Fe2O3 is known to undergo a series of enigmatic
      structural, electronic and magnetic transformations at high pressures and high
      temperatures. So far, these transformations have neither been correctly described
      nor understood because of the lack of structural data. Here we report a
      systematic investigation of the behaviour of Fe2O3 at pressures over 100 GPa and
      temperatures above 2,500 K employing single crystal X-ray diffraction and
      synchrotron Mossbauer source spectroscopy. Crystal chemical analysis of
      structures presented here and known Fe(II, III) oxides shows their fundamental
      relationships and that they can be described by the homologous series
      nFeO.mFe2O3. Decomposition of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 observed at pressures above 60 GPa
      and temperatures of 2,000 K leads to crystallization of unusual Fe5O7 and Fe25O32
      phases with release of oxygen. Our findings suggest that mixed-valence iron
      oxides may play a significant role in oxygen cycling between earth reservoirs. 

PMID- 26864301
TI  - Combination of non-ablative fractional photothermolysis and 0.1% tacrolimus
      ointment is efficacious for treating idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The efficacy of fractional photothermolysis and topical use of
      calcineurin inhibitors as treatments of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH)
      have been reported. Data on combination treatments are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To
      evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1550-nm ytterbium/erbium fiber laser combined
      with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment as a treatment of IGH. METHODS: In each patient
      with IGH, two lesions were assigned as a treatment group, whilst two lesions on
      another side were chosen as control. Four treatments by fractional 1550-nm
      ytterbium/erbium fiber laser were delivered every four weeks combined with a
      twice daily topical application of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. Lesional skin color
      was measured by colorimeter. Digital and dermoscopic digital photographs were
      taken and evaluated by three dermatologists. RESULTS: A total of 120 lesions were
      treated. Combination treatment normalized the relative lightness index of IGH
      which reached statistical significant compared with the control at week 12, after
      three sessions of laser treatment (p = 0.026). Physicians' assessment score
      revealed that 91.67% of the lesions on treatment side showed an improvement.
      Swelling and redness were the most common side effects which spontaneously
      resolved. CONCLUSION: Fractional 1550-nm ytterbium/erbium fiber laser combined
      with topical 0.1% tacrolimus ointment was effective for IGH.

PMID- 26864302
TI  - Magnetic susceptibility of actinide(iii) cations: an experimental and theoretical
      study.
AB  - In a previous paper, the influence of radioactive decay (alpha and beta(-)) on
      magnetic susceptibility measurements by the Evans method has been demonstrated by
      the study of two americium isotopes. To characterize more accurately this
      phenomenon and particularly its influence on the Curie law, a new study has been
      performed on two uranium isotopes ((238)U and (233)U) and on tritiated water
      ((3)H2O). The results on the influence of alpha emissions have established a
      relationship between changes in the temperature dependence and the radioactivity
      in solution. Regarding the beta(-) emissions, less influence was observed while
      no temperature dependence linked to this kind of radioactive emission could be
      identified. Once magnetic susceptibility measurements of actinide(iii) cations
      were corrected from radioactivity effects, methods of quantum chemistry have been
      used on free ions and aquo complexes to calculate the electronic structure
      explaining the magnetic properties of Pu(iii), Am(iii) and Cm(iii). The ligand
      field effect on the magnetic behavior (the Curie constant and temperature
      independent susceptibilities) was analyzed by considering different solvation
      environments. 

PMID- 26864303
TI  - Basics of PD-1 in self-tolerance, infection, and cancer immunity.
AB  - Successful cancer treatment requires understanding host immune response against
      tumor cells. PD-1 belongs to the CD28 superfamily of receptors that work as
      "checkpoints" of immune activation. PD-1 maintains immune self-tolerance to
      prevent autoimmunity and controls T-cell reaction during infection to prevent
      excessive tissue damage. Tumor cells that arise from normal tissue acquire
      mutations that can be targeted by lymphocytes. Accumulating lines of evidence
      suggest that tumor cells evade host immune attack by expressing physiological PD
      1 ligands and stimulating PD-1 on the lymphocytes. Based on this idea,
      researchers have successfully demonstrated that systemic administration of
      monoclonal antibodies that inhibit the binding of PD-1 to the ligands reactivated
      T cells and augmented the anti-cancer immune response. In this review, I
      summarize the basics of T-cell biology and its regulation by PD-1 and discuss the
      current understanding and questions about this multifaceted molecule. 

PMID- 26864304
TI  - The Tactile Window to Consciousness is Characterized by Frequency-Specific
      Integration and Segregation of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex.
AB  - We recently proposed that besides levels of local cortical excitability, also
      distinct pre-stimulus network states (windows to consciousness) determine whether
      a near-threshold stimulus will be consciously perceived. In the present
      magnetoencephalography study, we scrutinised these pre-stimulus network states
      with a focus on the primary somatosensory cortex. For this purpose participants
      performed a simple near-threshold tactile detection task. Confirming previous
      studies, we found reduced alpha and beta power in the somatosensory region
      contralateral to stimulation prior to correct stimulus detection as compared to
      undetected stimuli, and stronger event-related responses following successful
      stimulus detection. As expected, using graph theoretical measures, we also
      observed modulated pre-stimulus network level integration. Specifically, the
      right primary somatosensory cortex contralateral to stimulation showed an
      increased integration in the theta band, and additionally, a decreased
      integration in the beta band. Overall, these results underline the importance of
      network states for enabling conscious perception. Moreover, they indicate that
      also a reduction of irrelevant functional connections contributes to the window
      to consciousness by tuning pre-stimulus pathways of information flow. 

PMID- 26864305
TI  - MicroRNA-223 controls the expression of histone deacetylase 2: a novel axis in
      COPD.
AB  - Reduced activity of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) has been described in patients
      with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the mechanisms resulting
      in decreased expression of this important epigenetic modifier remain unknown.
      Here, we employed several in vitro experiments to address the role of microRNAs
      (miRNAs) on the regulation of HDAC2 in endothelial cells. Manipulation of miRNA
      levels in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) was achieved by using
      electroporation with anti-miRNAs and miRNA mimics. Target prediction software
      identified miR-223 as a potential repressor of HDAC2. In subsequent stimulation
      experiments using inflammatory cytokines known to be increased in patients with
      COPD, miR-223 was found to be significantly induced. Functional analysis
      demonstrated that overexpression of miR-223 decreased HDAC2 expression and
      activity in HPAEC. Conversely, HDAC2 expression and activity was preserved in
      anti-miR-223-treated cells. Direct miRNA-target interaction was confirmed by
      reporter gene assay. In a next step, reduced expression of HDAC2 was found to
      increase the levels of the chemokine fractalkine (CX3CL1). In vivo studies
      confirmed elevated expression levels of miR-223 in mice exposed to cigarette
      smoke and in emphysematous lung tissue from LPS-treated mice. Moreover, a
      significant inverse correlation of miR-223 and HDAC2 expression was found in two
      independent cohorts of COPD patients. These data emphasize that miR-223, the most
      prevalent miRNA in COPD, controls expression and activity of HDAC2 in pulmonary
      cells, which, in turn, might alter the expression profile of chemokines. This
      pathway provides a novel pathogenic link between dysregulated miRNA expression
      and epigenetic activity in COPD. KEY MESSAGES: Histone deacetylase 2 is directly
      targeted by miR-223. Levels of miR-223 are induced by interleukin-1beta and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha. miR-223 controls the expression of fractalkine by
      targeting histone deacetylase 2. miR-223 levels are increased in COPD mouse
      models. miR-223 levels inversely correlate with HDAC2 expression in COPD
      patients.

PMID- 26864307
TI  - Patient rated outcomes study into the surgical interventions available for the
      rheumatoid hand and wrist.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A multitude of surgical interventions are recognised for the
      treatment of the rheumatoid hand and wrist, however there seems to be a distinct
      lack of patient rated outcome measures (PROMs) studies reporting on the efficacy
      of these procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the PROMs related to
      hand and wrist surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A single surgeon series identified 94 patients (133 hands) with RA who
      had undergone one of eight surgical procedures (Swanson's arthroplasty, finger
      joint or wrist arthrodesis, carpal tunnel decompression, posterior interosseous
      nerve denervation, RA nodule excision, synovectomy/tenosynovectomy and tendon
      repair/release) with a mean follow-up period of 3 years. The primary outcome
      measures were the same for all patients and comprised the validated modified
      score for the assessment and quantification of chronic rheumatoid affections of
      the hand (M-SACRAH) and a separate satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Highly
      significant improvements in both function and pain scores are reported across the
      cohort as a whole following hand surgery, with this pattern replicated within all
      of the operative subgroups. In keeping with these favourable results very high
      levels of overall satisfaction were reported with 93 % of patients reporting
      themselves to be very or fairly satisfied with their procedure. CONCLUSIONS:
      Overall, patient reported outcomes in functional, stiffness and pain domains of
      the M-SACRAH questionnaire appear very favourable across the range of surgical
      procedures that can be performed in the rheumatoid hand. We believe this data
      supports the use of all the procedures explored, and will be helpful in patient
      guidance.

PMID- 26864306
TI  - Far-infrared promotes burn wound healing by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome caused
      by enhanced autophagy.
AB  - Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in burn wound progression is
      crucial to providing appropriate diagnoses and designing therapeutic regimens for
      burn patients. When inflammation becomes unregulated, recurrent, or excessive, it
      interferes with burn wound healing. Autophagy, which is a homeostatic and
      catabolic degradation process, was found to protect against ischemic injury,
      inflammatory diseases, and apoptosis in some cases. In the present study, we
      investigated whether far-infrared (FIR) could ameliorate burn wound progression
      and promote wound healing both in vitro and in a rat model of deep second-degree
      burn. We found that FIR induced autophagy in differentiated THP-1 cells (human
      monocytic cells differentiated to macrophages). Furthermore, FIR inhibited both
      the NLRP3 inflammasome and the production of IL-1beta in lipopolysaccharide
      activated THP-1 macrophages. In addition, FIR induced the ubiquitination of ASC,
      which is the adaptor protein of the inflammasome, by increasing tumor necrosis
      factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), which is a ubiquitin E3 ligase.
      Furthermore, the exposure to FIR then promoted the delivery of inflammasome to
      autophagosomes for degradation. In a rat burn model, FIR ameliorated burn-induced
      epidermal thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and loss of distinct
      collagen fibers. Moreover, FIR enhanced autophagy and suppressed the activity of
      the NLRP3 inflammasome in the rat skin tissue of the burn model. Based on these
      results, we suggest that FIR-regulated autophagy and inflammasomes will be
      important for the discovery of novel therapeutics to promote the healing of burn
      wounds. KEY MESSAGES: Far-infrared (FIR) induced autophagy in THP-1 macrophages.
      FIR suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome through the activation of autophagy. FIR
      induced the ubiquitination of ASC by increasing TRAF6. FIR ameliorated burn wound
      progression and promoted wound healing in a rat burn model.

PMID- 26864309
TI  - Task-Specific Balance Training Improves the Sensory Organisation of Balance
      Control in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomised
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - Sensory organisation of balance control is compromised in children with
      developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A randomised controlled trial
      involving 88 children with DCD was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a task
      specific balance training (functional-movement training, FMT) programme in
      improving balance deficits in a DCD population. The DCD participants were
      randomly assigned to either a FMT group or a control group. The FMT group
      received two training sessions/ week for 3 months. Measurements of the
      participants' sensory organisation (somatosensory, vestibular and visual ratios),
      balance and motor proficiency (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, MABC
      scores) and center of pressure sway velocity (Unilateral Stance Test, UST scores)
      were taken at baseline, immediately after FMT and 3 months after FMT. The FMT
      group showed greater improvements than the controls in somatosensory ratio at 3
      and 6 months (all P < 0.001), but the within-group changes were not significant
      (P > 0.05). The results of both the MABC and the UST also indicated that the
      balance performance of the FMT group was significantly better than that of the
      control group at 3 and 6 months (all P < 0.05). Task-specific balance training
      was found to marginally improve the somatosensory function and somewhat improve
      the balance performance of children with DCD. 

PMID- 26864308
TI  - IL-33 mediates reactive eosinophilopoiesis in response to airborne allergen
      exposure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exposure to aeroallergens induces eosinophilic airway inflammation in
      patients with asthma and allergic airway diseases. The circulating number of
      eosinophils in peripheral blood is relatively small, leading us to hypothesize
      that bone marrow needs to be engaged quickly to meet the demands of the tissues.
      METHODS: To investigate the communication between the lungs and bone marrow, we
      used acute allergen exposure and airway inflammation models in mice. Gene
      deficient mice and cytokine reporter mice as well as in vitro cell culture models
      were used to dissect the mechanisms. RESULTS: Naive BALB/c mice produced
      increased numbers of eosinophil precursors and mature eosinophils in the bone
      marrow when their airways were exposed to a common fungal allergen, Alternaria
      alternata. Expression of IL-5 and IL-33 increased rapidly in the lungs, but not
      in the bone marrow. Sera from allergen-exposed mice promoted eosinophilopoiesis
      in bone marrow cells from naive mice, which was blocked by anti-IL-5 antibody.
      Mice deficient in the IL-33 receptor ST2 (i.e., Il1rl1(-/-) mice) were unable to
      increase their serum levels of IL-5 and allergen-induced eosinophilopoiesis in
      the bone marrow after allergen exposure. Finally, group 2 innate lymphoid cells
      (ILC2s) in the lungs showed robust expression of IL-5 after Alternaria exposure.
      CONCLUSIONS: These finding suggests that lung IL-33, through innate activation of
      ILC2s and their production of IL-5, plays a key role in promoting acute reactive
      eosinophilopoiesis in the bone marrow when naive animals are exposed to airborne
      allergens. Therefore, bone marrow eosinophilopoiesis may be affected by
      atmospheric environmental conditions.

PMID- 26864310
TI  - Association between personality traits and future choice of specialisation among
      Swedish doctors: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medical students' choice of their future specialty is influenced by
      several factors, including working conditions and type of patient relations. The
      aim of this study was to investigate the association between the choice of
      specialty and personality traits. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional
      questionnaire-based study of 399 alumni from Karolinska Institutet Medical School
      who were assumed to undergo specialty training at the time of the survey in 2013.
      The Big Five Inventory was used to assess the personality traits extraversion,
      agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. Medical
      specialties were categorised as primary care, psychiatry, internal medicine and
      surgical and hospital service specialties. Adjustments were made for demographic
      factors and the method of selection for medical school admission. RESULTS: The
      response rate was 72% (n=289, of which 262 were in training to become
      specialists). Among these, surgeons scored lower in agreeableness than physicians
      in primary care, internal medicine and hospital services. Psychiatrists and
      hospital service physicians showed lower conscientiousness compared with
      surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: We found distinctive differences in personality traits
      between medical specialties even after adjusting for other potential explanatory
      variables. Since there are differences between specialties, for example, surgeons
      and psychiatrists, this supports previous findings that personality may affect
      medical students' specialty choice also in a Swedish setting.

PMID- 26864311
TI  - Passive Targeting of Cyclophosphamide-Loaded Carbonate Apatite Nanoparticles to
      Liver Impedes Breast Tumor Growth in a Syngeneic Model.
AB  - Despite being widely used for treating cancer, chemotherapy is accompanied by
      numerous adverse effects as a result of systemic distribution and nonspecific
      interactions of the drugs with healthy tissues, eventually leading to therapeutic
      inefficacy and chemoresistance. Cyclophosphamide (Cyp) as one of the
      chemotherapeutic pro-drugs is activated in liver and used to treat breast cancer
      in high dose and in combination with other drugs. In an attempt to reduce the off
      target effects and enhance the therapeutic efficacy, pH-sensitive carbonate
      apatite nanoparticles that had predominantly and size-dependently been localized
      in liver following intravenous administration, were employed to electrostatically
      immobilize Cyp and purposely deliver it to the liver for activation. Cyp-loaded
      particles formed by simple 30 min incubation at 37oC of the DMEM (pH 7.4) medium
      containing CaCl2 and Cyp, enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity at different degrees
      depending on the cell types. The size of the particles could be tightly
      controlled by the amount of CaCl2 required to prepare the particles and thus the
      bio-distribution pattern inside different organs of the body. Unlike the small
      particles (~ 200 nm), the large size particles (~ 600 nm) which were more
      efficiently accumulated in liver, significantly reduced the tumor volume
      following intravenous injection in 4T1-induced murine breast cancer model at a
      very low dose (0.17 mg/Kg) of the drug initially added for complex formation,
      thus shedding light on the potential applications of the Cyp-loaded nano
      formulations in the treatment of breast cancer.

PMID- 26864312
TI  - Targeting Inflammatory Bowel Diseases by Nanocarriers Loaded with Small and
      Biopharmaceutical Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.
AB  - Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising strategy toward inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD) treatment. Nano-sized drug delivery systems exhibit an increased
      accumulation in inflamed tissues due to their nanometer size and present the
      ability to overcome the challenging inflamed colonic barriers (i.e. thick mucus
      layer, disrupted epithelium, altered colonic transit time). Moreover,
      nanocarriers are able to increase the amount of drug present at the colonic site
      decreasing their associated systemic side effects and increasing their efficacy.
      This review aims to analyze the nanoparticulate systems that have been evaluated
      for IBD treatment based on (i) the strategy followed towards an increased colonic
      accumulation and/or permeation, (ii) the small or biopharmaceutical
      antiinflammatory drug encapsulated within the nanocarriers and (iii) the
      polymer(s) used for their preparation, highlighting the profits and the drawbacks
      of each of the candidates based on reported results.

PMID- 26864313
TI  - Rapid Preparation of Silsesquioxane-Based Ionic Liquids.
AB  - Three new hybrid ionic liquids (ILs) based on cage silsesquioxane (SQ) were
      rapidly prepared in high yields from octa(mercaptopropyl)silsesquioxane and 1
      allyl-3-methylimidazolium salts (Br(-), BF4(-), PF6(-)) through the photochemical
      thiol-ene reaction. These SQ-based ILs exhibited low glass transition
      temperatures and good thermal stability. The unique amphiphilic nature of these
      hybrid ILs cause them to self-assemble into perfect vesicles with "yolk-shell"
      structures, in which cages formed the "yolk" due to their aggregation and outer
      anions formed the "shell".

PMID- 26864314
TI  - Satellite gravity gradient grids for geophysics.
AB  - The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite
      aimed at determining the Earth's mean gravity field. GOCE delivered gravity
      gradients containing directional information, which are complicated to use
      because of their error characteristics and because they are given in a rotating
      instrument frame indirectly related to the Earth. We compute gravity gradients in
      grids at 225 km and 255 km altitude above the reference ellipsoid corresponding
      to the GOCE nominal and lower orbit phases respectively, and find that the grids
      may contain additional high-frequency content compared with GOCE-based global
      models. We discuss the gradient sensitivity for crustal depth slices using a 3D
      lithospheric model of the North-East Atlantic region, which shows that the depth
      sensitivity differs from gradient to gradient. In addition, the relative signal
      power for the individual gradient component changes comparing the 225 km and 255
      km grids, implying that using all components at different heights reduces
      parameter uncertainties in geophysical modelling. Furthermore, since gravity
      gradients contain complementary information to gravity, we foresee the use of the
      grids in a wide range of applications from lithospheric modelling to studies on
      dynamic topography, and glacial isostatic adjustment, to bedrock geometry
      determination under ice sheets. 

PMID- 26864315
TI  - Corrigendum to "Identification of a pentatricopeptide repeat RNA editing factor
      in Physcomitrella patens chloroplasts" [FEBS Lett. 588 (2014) 4060-4064].

PMID- 26864316
TI  - Corrigendum to "Subunit unbinding mechanics of dimeric wheat germ agglutinin
      (WGA) studied by atomic force microscopy" [FEBS Lett. 588 (2014) 4472-4477].

PMID- 26864319
TI  - Different Susceptibility of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and BNP Precursor
      (proBNP) to Cleavage by Neprilysin: The N-Terminal Part Does Matter.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Protease neprilysin is known to be responsible for the degradation of
      natriuretic peptides. A recent heart failure (HF) drug, LCZ696 (Entresto(TM)),
      that combines a neprilysin inhibitor and an angiotensin II receptor inhibitor was
      suggested to augment circulating B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations,
      making the results of BNP measurements diagnostically ambiguous. Because the main
      form of measured BNP in HF patients is represented by its uncleaved precursor,
      proBNP, it is important to know the susceptibility of proBNP to cleavage by
      neprilysin. METHODS: BNP 1-32 and nonglycosylated and glycosylated forms of
      proBNP 1-108 were incubated with neprilysin for different time periods. BNP
      immunoreactivity was analyzed using 2 sandwich immunoassays: one utilizing
      monoclonal antibody (mAb) KY-BNP-II (epitope 14-21) as capture with mAb 50E1
      (epitope 26-32) for detection and a single-epitope sandwich BNP (SES-BNP)
      immunoassay specific to the epitope 11-17. Mass-spectrometry was applied to
      determine the sites of BNP cleavage. RESULTS: In contrast to BNP, both forms of
      proBNP were resistant to degradation by neprilysin. The SES-BNP assay was much
      less susceptible to the BNP cleavage by neprilysin compared with the immunoassay
      utilizing antibodies specific to the region 14-21, comprising the site Arg17
      Ile18, known as the site of BNP cleavage by neprilysin. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest that modulation of neprilysin activity by specific inhibitors
      may not greatly influence the circulating concentrations of immunoreactive BNP,
      mostly represented in HF by proBNP, which is not susceptible to neprilysin. The
      different susceptibility of the BNP regions to neprilysin-dependent degradation
      highlights the importance of the choice of epitopes for reliable BNP
      immunodetection.

PMID- 26864320
TI  - One-Pot Synthesis of CoSex -rGO Composite Powders by Spray Pyrolysis and Their
      Application as Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.
AB  - A simple one-pot synthesis of metal selenide/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)
      composite powders for application as anode materials in sodium-ion batteries was
      developed. The detailed mechanism of formation of the CoSe(x)-rGO composite
      powders that were selected as the first target material in the spray pyrolysis
      process was studied. The crumple-structured CoSe(x)-rGO composite powders
      prepared by spray pyrolysis at 800  degrees C had a crystal structure consisting
      mainly of Co0.85 Se with a minor phase of CoSe2. The bare CoSe(x) powders
      prepared for comparison had a spherical shape and hollow structure. The discharge
      capacities of the CoSe(x)-rGO composite and bare CoSe(x) powders in the 50th
      cycle at a constant current density of 0.3 A g(-1) were 420 and 215 mA h g(-1),
      respectively, and their capacity retentions measured from the second cycle were
      80 and 46%, respectively. The high structural stability of the CoSe(x)-rGO
      composite powders for repeated sodium-ion charge and discharge processes resulted
      in superior sodium-ion storage properties compared to those of the bare CoSe(x)
      powders.

PMID- 26864318
TI  - PERK Integrates Oncogenic Signaling and Cell Survival During Cancer Development.
AB  - Unfolded protein responses (UPR), consisting of three major transducers PERK,
      IRE1, and ATF6, occur in the midst of a variety of intracellular and
      extracellular challenges that perturb protein folding in the endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER). ER stress occurs and is thought to be a contributing factor to a
      number of human diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and
      various metabolic syndromes. In the context of neoplastic growth, oncogenic
      stress resulting from dysregulation of oncogenes such as c-Myc, Braf(V600E) , and
      HRAS(G12V) trigger the UPR as an adaptive strategy for cancer cell survival. PERK
      is an ER resident type I protein kinase harboring both pro-apoptotic and pro
      survival capabilities. PERK, as a coordinator through its downstream substrates,
      reprograms cancer gene expression to facilitate survival in response to oncogenes
      and microenvironmental challenges, such as hypoxia, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
      Herein, we discuss how PERK kinase engages in tumor initiation, transformation,
      adaption microenvironmental stress, chemoresistance and potential opportunities,
      and potential opportunities for PERK targeted therapy. J. Cell. Physiol. 231:
      2088-2096, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26864321
TI  - How providers influence the implementation of provider-initiated HIV testing and
      counseling in Botswana: a qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the motivations and perspectives of providers in
      following guidance and evidence-based policies can contribute to the evidence on
      how to better implement and deliver care, particularly in resource-constrained
      settings. This study explored how providers' attitudes and behaviors influenced
      the implementation of an intervention, provider-initiated HIV testing and
      counseling, in primary health care settings in Botswana. METHODS: Using a
      grounded-theory approach, we purposively selected and interviewed 45 providers in
      15 facilities in 3 districts and inductively analyzed data for themes and
      patterns. RESULTS: We found that nurses across facilities and districts were
      largely resistant to offering and delivering provider-initiated testing and
      counseling for HIV (PITC) for three reasons: (1) they felt they were overworked
      and had no time, (2) they felt it was not their job, and (3) they were afraid to
      counsel patients, particularly fearing a positive HIV test. These factors were
      largely related to health system constraints that affected the capacity of
      providers to do their job. An important underlying themes emerged: nurses and lay
      counselors were unsatisfied with pay and career prospects, which made them
      unmotivated to work in general. Variations were seen by urban and rural areas:
      nurses in urban areas felt generally overworked and PITC was seen as contributing
      to the workload. While nurses in rural areas did not feel overworked, they felt
      that PITC was not their job and they were unmotivated because of general
      unhappiness with their rural posts. CONCLUSIONS: The attitudes and behaviors of
      providers and barriers they faced played a critical role in whether and how PITC
      was being implemented in Botswana. Provider factors should be considered in the
      improvement of existing PITC programs and design of new ones. Addressing
      constraints faced by providers can do more to improve supply of human resources
      than merely recruiting more providers.

PMID- 26864322
TI  - Complex clinical and microbiological effects on Legionnaires' disease outcone; A
      retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Legionnaires' disease (LD) is associated with high mortality rates
      and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Use of the rapid urinary
      antigen test (UAT) has been linked to improved outcome. We examined the
      association between the method of diagnosis (UAT or culture) and various clinical
      and microbiological characteristics and outcome of LD. METHODS: Consecutive
      patients with pneumonia and confirmation of Legionella infection by a positive
      UAT and/or a positive culture admitted between the years 2006-2012 to a
      university hospital were retrospectively studied. Isolated L. pneumophila strains
      were subject to serogrouping, immunological subtyping and sequence-based typing.
      Variables associated with 30-day all-cause mortality were analyzed using logistic
      regression as well as cox regression. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were eligible
      for mortality analyses (LD study group), of whom 15.5 % have died. Diagnosis
      based on positive L. pneumophila UAT as compared to positive culture (OR = 0.18,
      95 % CI 0.03-0.98, p = 0.05) and administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy
      within 2 hospitalization days as compared to delayed therapy (OR = 0.16, 95 % CI
      0.03-0.90, p = 0.04) were independently associated with reduced mortality. When
      controlling for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, the method of diagnosis
      became non-significant. Survival analyses showed a significantly increased death
      risk for patients admitted to ICU compared to others (HR 12.90, 95 % CI 2.78
      59.86, p = 0.001) and reduced risk for patients receiving appropriate antibiotic
      therapy within the first two admissions days compared to delayed therapy (HR
      0.13, 95 % CI 0.04-0.05, p = 0.001). Legionella cultures were positive in 35
      patients (including 29 patients from the LD study group), of whom 65.7 % were
      intubated and 37.1 % have died. Sequence type (ST) ST1 accounted for 50.0 % of
      the typed cases and ST1, OLDA/Oxford was the leading phenon (53.8 %). Mortality
      rate among patients in the LD study group infected with ST1 was 18.2 % compared
      to 42.9 % for non-ST1 genotypes (OR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.05-1.91, p = 0.23).
      CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the importance of early administration of
      appropriate antibiotic therapy and at the same time highlights the complex
      associations of different diagnostic approaches with LD outcome. Infection with
      ST1 was not associated with increased mortality. Genotype effects on outcome
      mandate examination in larger cohorts.

PMID- 26864325
TI  - The Recognition of STEMI by Paramedics and the Effect of Computer inTerpretation
      (RESPECT): a randomised crossover feasibility study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The appropriate management of patients with ST-segment elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI) depends on accurate interpretation of the 12-lead
      ECG by paramedics. Computer interpretation messages on ECGs are often provided,
      but the effect they exert on paramedics' decision-making is not known. The
      objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using an online
      assessment tool, and collect pilot data, for a definitive trial to determine the
      effect of computer interpretation messages on paramedics' diagnosis of STEMI.
      METHODS: The Recognition of STEMI by Paramedics and the Effect of Computer
      inTerpretation (RESPECT) feasibility study was a randomised crossover trial using
      a bespoke, web-based assessment tool. Participants were randomly allocated 12 of
      48 ECGs, with an equal mix of correct and incorrect computer interpretation
      messages, and STEMI and STEMI-mimics. The nature of the responses required a
      cross-classified multi-level model. RESULTS: 254 paramedics consented into the
      study, 205 completing the first phase and 150 completing phase two. The adjusted
      OR for a correct paramedic interpretation, when the computer interpretation was
      correct (true positive for STEMI or true negative for STEMI-mimic), was 1.80 (95%
      CI 0.84 to 4.91) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.81) when the computer interpretation
      was incorrect (false positive for STEMI or false negative for STEMI-mimic). The
      intraclass correlation coefficient for correct computer interpretations was 0.33
      for participants and 0.17 for ECGs, and for incorrect computer interpretations,
      0.06 for participants and 0.01 for ECGs. CONCLUSIONS: Determining the effect of
      computer interpretation messages using a web-based assessment tool is feasible,
      but the design needs to take clustered data into account. Pilot data suggest that
      computer messages influence paramedic interpretation, improving accuracy when
      correct and worsening accuracy when incorrect.

PMID- 26864324
TI  - Anti-tumoral, anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic efficacy of a tetravalent
      bispecific antibody (TAvi6) targeting VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2.
AB  - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A blockade has been validated
      clinically as a treatment for human cancers. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is a key
      regulator of blood vessel remodeling and maturation. In tumors, Ang-2 is up
      regulated and an unfavorable prognostic factor. Recent data demonstrated that Ang
      2 inhibition mediates anti-tumoral effects. We generated a tetravalent bispecific
      antibody (Ang-2-VEGF-TAvi6) targeting VEGF-A with 2 arms based on bevacizumab
      (Avastin(r)), and targeting Ang-2 with 2 arms based on a novel anti-Ang-2
      antibody (LC06). The two Ang-2-targeting single-chain variable fragments are
      disulfide-stabilized and fused to the C-terminus of the heavy chain of
      bevacizumab. Treatment with Ang-2-VEGF-A-TAvi6 led to a complete abrogation of
      angiogenesis in the cornea micropocket assay. Metastatic spread and tumor growth
      of subcutaneous, orthotopic and anti-VEGF-A resistant tumors were also
      efficiently inhibited. These data further establish Ang-2-VEGF bispecific
      antibodies as a promising anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic and anti-tumor agent
      for the treatment of cancer. 

PMID- 26864323
TI  - Inflammation increases NOTCH1 activity via MMP9 and is counteracted by
      Eicosapentaenoic Acid-free fatty acid in colon cancer cells.
AB  - Aberrant NOTCH1 signalling is critically involved in multiple models of
      colorectal cancer (CRC) and a prominent role of NOTCH1 activity during
      inflammation has emerged. Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), a crucial
      event promoting malignant transformation, is regulated by inflammation and
      Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) plays an important role in this process.
      Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, was shown to
      prevent colonic tumors in different settings. We recently found that an extra
      pure formulation of EPA as Free Fatty Acid (EPA-FFA) protects from colon cancer
      development in a mouse model of Colitis-Associated Cancer (CAC) through
      modulation of NOTCH1 signalling. In this study, we exposed colon cancer cells to
      an inflammatory stimulus represented by a cytokine-enriched Conditioned Medium
      (CM), obtained from THP1-differentiated macrophages. We found, for the first
      time, that CM strongly up-regulated NOTCH1 signalling and EMT markers, leading to
      increased invasiveness. Importantly, NOTCH1 signalling was dependent on MMP9
      activity, upon CM exposure. We show that a non-cytotoxic pre-treatment with EPA
      FFA antagonizes the effect of inflammation on NOTCH1 signalling, with reduction
      of MMP9 activity and invasiveness. In conclusion, our data suggest that, in CRC
      cells, inflammation induces NOTCH1 activity through MMP9 up-regulation and that
      this mechanism can be counteracted by EPA-FFA. 

PMID- 26864326
TI  - Predicting admission at triage: are nurses better than a simple objective score?
AB  - AIM: We compared two methods of predicting hospital admission from ED triage:
      probabilities estimated by triage nurses and probabilities calculated by the
      Glasgow Admission Prediction Score (GAPS). METHODS: In this single-centre
      prospective study, triage nurses estimated the probability of admission using a
      100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), and GAPS was generated automatically from
      triage data. We compared calibration using rank sum tests, discrimination using
      area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) and accuracy with
      McNemar's test. RESULTS: Of 1829 attendances, 745 (40.7%) were admitted, not
      significantly different from GAPS' prediction of 750 (41.0%, p=0.678). In
      contrast, the nurses' mean VAS predicted 865 admissions (47.3%), overestimating
      by 6.6% (p<0.0001). GAPS discriminated between admission and discharge as well as
      nurses, its AUC 0.876 compared with 0.875 for VAS (p=0.93). As a binary
      predictor, its accuracy was 80.6%, again comparable with VAS (79.0%), p=0.18. In
      the minority of attendances, when nurses felt at least 95% certain of the
      outcome, VAS' accuracy was excellent, at 92.4%. However, in the remaining
      majority, GAPS significantly outperformed VAS on calibration (+1.2% vs +9.2%,
      p<0.0001), discrimination (AUC 0.810 vs 0.759, p=0.001) and accuracy (75.1% vs
      68.9%, p=0.0009). When we used GAPS, but 'over-ruled' it when clinical certainty
      was >=95%, this significantly outperformed either method, with AUC 0.891 (0.877
      0.907) and accuracy 82.5% (80.7%-84.2%). CONCLUSIONS: GAPS, a simple clinical
      score, is a better predictor of admission than triage nurses, unless the nurse is
      sure about the outcome, in which case their clinical judgement should be
      respected.

PMID- 26864327
TI  - Prehospital management and identification of sepsis by emergency medical
      services: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify studies describing the accuracy of prehospital sepsis
      identification and to summarise results of studies of prehospital management of
      patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: We conducted a
      systematic review to retrieve studies that evaluated the prehospital
      identification or treatment of patients with sepsis by emergency medical services
      (EMS). Two authors extracted data describing the study characteristics, incidence
      of sepsis among EMS-transported patients, criteria used to identify sepsis and
      specific treatments provided to patients with sepsis. When possible, we
      calculated the sensitivity and specificity of EMS provider diagnosis of sepsis.
      RESULTS: Our search identified no randomised controlled trials and 16 cohort
      studies. Eight studies described the identification of sepsis, seven described
      prehospital management or treatment of sepsis and one described both. The most
      common approach to the identification of sepsis involved applying systemic
      inflammatory response syndrome criteria or a combination of vital signs, which
      had sensitivity ranging from 0.43 to 0.86 when used alone or combined with
      provider impression. Only four studies collected information required to
      calculate specificity (0.47-0.87). Meta-analysis was not performed owing to
      significant heterogeneity and an overall low quality of evidence. A few studies
      described prehospital sepsis treatment-most commonly intravenous fluid
      resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that identification of sepsis
      in the prehospital setting by EMS providers is carried out with varied success,
      depending on the strategy used; however, high-quality studies are lacking.
      Relying on provider impression alone had poor sensitivity, but some moderate
      quality evidence supporting structured screening for sepsis with vital signs
      criteria demonstrated modest sensitivity and specificity. Additional research to
      improve diagnostic accuracy and explore improvements in EMS management is needed.

PMID- 26864328
TI  - SIBLING CONFLICTS IN FULL- AND HALF-SIBLING HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UK.
AB  - Sibling relations are by nature ambivalent with high levels of both altruistic
      helping and competition. Higher relatedness is often assumed to reduce the
      occurrence of conflicts between siblings, but evidence of this has been scarce
      and mixed. Siblings typically compete over resources and parental attention, and
      parental constellations vary with sibship types. Since full-siblings compete over
      the same two biological parents, while half-siblings have only one shared
      biological parent and often a higher number of parents overall, it is
      hypothesized that conflicts are more common between full- than half-siblings.
      This study tested this assumption using the British Millennium Cohort Study
      (n=7527 children at age 11). Conflicts were measured as children's reports of how
      much siblings picked on and hurt each other. Households with full-siblings only,
      maternal half-siblings only, and both full- and maternal half-siblings were
      compared. The results show that children who were living with only their full
      siblings were more likely to experience sibling conflicts compared with children
      living with their maternal half-siblings only. This was the case also after
      controlling for several potentially confounding variables. The results suggest
      that differential access to parental resources of available biological and step
      parents may explain the higher amount of sibling conflict between full- compared
      with maternal half-siblings.

PMID- 26864329
TI  - Peri-implant bone adaptations to overloading in rat tibiae: experimental
      investigations and numerical predictions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: (i) To assess the effects of mechanical overloading on implant
      integration in rat tibiae, and (ii) to numerically predict peri-implant bone
      adaptation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcutaneous titanium implants were
      simultaneously placed into both tibiae of rats (n = 40). After 2 weeks of
      integration, the implants of the right tibiae were stimulated daily for 4 weeks
      with loads up to 5N (corresponding to peak equivalent strains of 3300 +/- 500
      MUepsilon). The effects of stimulation were assessed by ex vivo mechanical tests
      and quantification of bone mineral density (BMD) in selected regions of interests
      (ROIs). Specimen-specific finite element models were generated and processed
      through an iterative algorithm to mimic bone adaptation. RESULTS: Bilateral
      implantation provoked an unstable integration that worsened when mild (2-4N)
      external loads were applied. In contrast, a stimulation at 5N tended to
      "counterbalance" the harmful effects of daily activity and, if applied to well
      integrated specimens, significantly augmented the implants' resistance to failure
      (force: +73% P < 0.01, displacement: +50% P < 0.01 and energy: +153% P < 0.01).
      Specimen-specific numerical predictions were in close agreement with the
      experimental findings. Both local and overall BMD variations, as well as the
      implants' lateral stability, were predicted with small errors (0.14 gHA/cm3 and
      0.64%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The rats' daily activity detrimentally affects
      implant integration. Conversely, external stimulations of large magnitudes
      counterbalance this effect and definitively improve integration. These changes
      can be predicted using the proposed numerical approach.

PMID- 26864330
TI  - Comparison of the Morphology and Histomorphometry of Spermatogenic Cyst of Three
      Sharks Species With Diametric Testes.
AB  - Characterization of the reproductive anatomy of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates,
      rays, and sawfish) offers unique insights into the evolution of reproductive
      traits in animals due to their phylogenetic position at the base of the
      vertebrate tree of life. Yet, despite advances in our understanding of male
      elasmobranch reproductive physiology and testes histology, very little is known
      about how testes histomorphometrics varies with male maturation. In this study,
      we characterize and contrast testes morphology and histomorphology of males at
      different maturation stages in three shark species with diametric testes
      development: Prionaceglauca, Rhizoprionodon lalandii, and Mustelus canis. All
      stages of spermatogenesis were observed in P. glauca and R. lalandii, while for
      M. canis, only males at early stages of maturation were examined and therefore
      all the spermatogenesis cells lineage were not present. The number of Sertoli
      cells increased with cell development by six times in R. lalandii and roughly
      four times in P. glauca, and were statistically different among stages of
      spermatogenesis cysts in both species. Statistical differences in cyst diameter
      and Sertoli cell numbers were observed between P. glauca and R. lalandii. The
      increase of spermatocyte II cell diameter described for R. Lalandii in this study
      was not usual to elasmobranch species as compared, for example, to P. glauca.
      This information proves the importance of studying the testicular development and
      the process of spermatogenesis is necessary for understanding the reproductive
      biology of the species, including life cycles and history, variation of
      reproductive morphology. Anat Rec, 299:759-768, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26864331
TI  - Risk of end-stage renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a
      nationwide population-based study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of end-stage renal
      disease (ESRD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. METHODS: A cohort
      with SLE and non-SLE groups from Taiwan's longitudinal Health Insurance Database
      year 2000 (LHID2000) was developed. The SLE group was made up of those who were
      newly diagnosed with SLE in 2000. The non-SLE group with other medical illnesses
      was made up of those who did not have SLE from 1996 until 2008 and that were also
      matched 1 : 1 with the SLE group by sex, age and initial diagnosis date (index
      date); 1196 (1058 women and 138 men) individuals in the SLE group were included
      in this study. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2008, 61 (2.55%) individuals (SLE, n =
      58 [4.85%]; non-SLE, n = 3 [0.25%]) had incident ESRD requiring renal replacement
      therapy. The incidence rates of ESRD were 612.8 and 29.3 cases per 100 000
      patient-years in the SLE and non-SLE groups, respectively. The incidence of ESRD
      requiring renal replacement therapy occurred more frequently in male SLE (1157.0;
      95% CI 502.4-1811.6) than female SLE cases (545.8; 95% CI 388.1-703.5) per 100
      000 person-years (P < 0.001). During the 8-year follow-up, after adjustment for
      age, sex, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, the hazard ratio (HR) for
      ESRD requiring renal replacement therapy was 18.2 times higher (95% CI: 5.7-58.2,
      P < 0.001) in the SLE group than in the non-SLE group. CONCLUSIONS: ESRD is more
      common in SLE than non-SLE patients in this insurance database. Due to the lack
      of data on initial renal function and the renal parameters, the odds ratios do
      not represent the risk of ESRD in SLE patients compared to the general
      population, but only to those with non-SLE chronic illnesses.

PMID- 26864332
TI  - In vitro and in vivo characterisation of the metabolism and disposition of
      suvorexant in humans.
AB  - 1. Suvorexant (MK-4305, Belsomra(r)) is a first-in-class dual orexin receptor
      antagonist approved in the USA and Japan for the treatment of insomnia. The
      current studies describe suvorexant's absorption, disposition and potential for
      CYP-mediated drug interactions in humans. 2. Following single oral administration
      of [(14)C]suvorexant to healthy human subjects, 90% of the radioactivity was
      recovered (66% in faeces, 23% in urine), primarily as oxidative metabolites. 3.
      In plasma, suvorexant and M9 were predominant, accounting for 30 and 37% of the
      total radioactivity, respectively. Metabolite M17 became more prominent
      (approaching 10%) following multiple daily doses of unlabelled suvorexant. M9 and
      M17 are not expected to contribute to the pharmacological activity of suvorexant
      due to reduced orexin receptor binding affinity and limited brain penetration. 4.
      CYP3A was determined to be the predominant enzyme mediating suvorexant oxidation.
      In vitro, suvorexant demonstrated reversible inhibition of CYP3A4 and 2C19 (IC50
      ~ 4-5 MUM), and weak time-dependent inhibition of CYP3A4 (KI = 12 MUM, kinact =
      0.14 min(-1)). Suvorexant was also a weak inducer of CYP3A4, 1A2 and 2B6. Given
      the low plasma concentrations at clinical doses, suvorexant was not anticipated
      to cause significant drug interactions via inhibition and/or induction of major
      CYPs in vivo. 

PMID- 26864333
TI  - Cost-effectiveness analysis of rapid diagnostic tests for G6PD deficiency in
      patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of primaquine (PQ) for radical treatment of Plasmodium vivax
      in carriers of G6PD deficiency (G6PDd) constitutes the main factor associated
      with severe haemolysis in G6PDd. The current study aimed to estimate the
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) to
      detect G6PDd in male patients with P. vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, in
      comparison with the routine indicated by the Programme for Malaria Control, which
      does not include this evaluation. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis of
      estimated RDT use was carried out for the Brazilian Amazon for the year 2013,
      considering the perspective of the Brazilian Public Health System. Using decision
      trees, estimates were compared for two different RDT strategies for G6PDd in male
      individuals infected with P. vivax before being prescribed PQ, with the routine
      indicated in Brazil, which does not include prior diagnosis of G6PDd. The first
      strategy considered the combined use of RDT BinaxNOW((r)) G6PD (BX-G6PD) in
      municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants and the routine programme (RP)
      for the other municipalities. Operational limitations related to the required
      temperature control and venous blood collection currently restrict the use of RDT
      BX-G6PD in small municipalities. The second strategy considered the use of the
      RDT CareStartTM G6PD (CS-G6PD) in 100 % of the municipalities. The analysis was
      carried out for the outcomes: "adequately diagnosed case" and "hospitalization
      avoided". RESULTS: For the outcome "adequately diagnosed case", comparing the RDT
      strategies based on RDT with the routine control programme (RP), the CS-G6PD
      strategy was the most cost-effective, with BX-G6PD extendedly dominating (the
      ICER of BX-G6PD compared with RP was higher than the ICER of CS-G6PD compared
      with RP). CS-G6PD dominated the other strategies for the "hospitalization
      avoided" outcome. CONCLUSION: The CS-G6PD strategy is cost-effective for
      adequately diagnosing cases and avoiding hospitalization. This information can
      help in decision-making, both in incorporating prior diagnosis in the use of PQ
      and to promote greater safety among G6PD deficient individuals in the Brazilian
      Amazon P. vivax endemic areas.

PMID- 26864334
TI  - A flexible ratio regression approach for zero-truncated capture-recapture counts.
AB  - Capture-recapture methods are used to estimate the size of a population of
      interest which is only partially observed. In such studies, each member of the
      population carries a count of the number of times it has been identified during
      the observational period. In real-life applications, only positive counts are
      recorded, and we get a truncated at zero-observed distribution. We need to use
      the truncated count distribution to estimate the number of unobserved units. We
      consider ratios of neighboring count probabilities, estimated by ratios of
      observed frequencies, regardless of whether we have a zero-truncated or an
      untruncated distribution. Rocchetti et al. (2011) have shown that, for densities
      in the Katz family, these ratios can be modeled by a regression approach, and
      Rocchetti et al. (2014) have specialized the approach to the beta-binomial
      distribution. Once the regression model has been estimated, the unobserved
      frequency of zero counts can be simply derived. The guiding principle is that it
      is often easier to find an appropriate regression model than a proper model for
      the count distribution. However, a full analysis of the connection between the
      regression model and the associated count distribution has been missing. In this
      manuscript, we fill the gap and show that the regression model approach leads,
      under general conditions, to a valid count distribution; we also consider a wider
      class of regression models, based on fractional polynomials. The proposed
      approach is illustrated by analyzing various empirical applications, and by means
      of a simulation study.

PMID- 26864335
TI  - Three-dimensional printing of MRI-visible phantoms and MR image-guided therapy
      simulation.
AB  - PURPOSE: To demonstrate the use of anatomic MRI-visible three-dimensional (3D)
      printed phantoms and to assess process accuracy and material MR signal
      properties. METHODS: A cervical spine model was generated from computed
      tomography (CT) data and 3D-printed using an MR signal-generating material.
      Printed phantom accuracy and signal characteristics were assessed using 120 kVp
      CT and 3 Tesla (T) MR imaging. The MR relaxation rates and diffusion coefficient
      of the fabricated phantom were measured and 1 H spectra were acquired to provide
      insight into the nature of the proton signal. Finally, T2 -weighted imaging was
      performed during cryoablation of the model. RESULTS: The printed model produced a
      CT signal of 102 +/- 8 Hounsfield unit, and an MR signal roughly 1/3rd that of
      saline in short echo time/short repetition time GRE MRI (456 +/- 36 versus 1526
      +/- 121 arbitrary signal units). Compared with the model designed from the in
      vivo CT scan, the printed model differed by 0.13 +/- 0.11 mm in CT, and 0.62 +/-
      0.28 mm in MR. The printed material had T2 ~32 ms, T2*~7 ms, T1 ~193 ms, and a
      very small diffusion coefficient less than olive oil. MRI monitoring of the
      cryoablation demonstrated iceball formation similar to an in vivo procedure.
      CONCLUSION: Current 3D printing technology can be used to print anatomically
      accurate phantoms that can be imaged by both CT and MRI. Such models can be used
      to simulate MRI-guided interventions such as cryosurgeries. Future development of
      the proposed technique can potentially lead to printed models that depict
      different tissues and anatomical structures with different MR signal
      characteristics. Magn Reson Med 77:613-622, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society
      for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26864336
TI  - What is positive youth development and how might it reduce substance use and
      violence? A systematic review and synthesis of theoretical literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preventing adolescent substance use and youth violence are public
      health priorities. Positive youth development interventions are widely deployed
      often with the aim of preventing both. However, the theorised mechanisms by which
      PYD is intended to reduce substance use and violence are not clear and existing
      evaluated interventions are under-theorised. Using innovative methods, we
      systematically searched for and synthesised published theoretical literature
      describing what is meant by positive youth development and how it might reduce
      substance use and violence, as part of a broader systematic review examining
      process and outcomes of PYD interventions. METHODS: We searched 19 electronic
      databases, review topic websites, and contacted experts between October 2013 and
      January 2014. We included studies written in English, published since 1985 that
      reported a theory of change for positive youth development focused on prevention
      of smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use or violence in out-of-school settings.
      Studies were independently coded and quality-assessed by two reviewers. RESULTS:
      We identified 16 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Our synthesis suggests
      that positive youth development aims to provide youth with affective
      relationships and diverse experiences which enable their development of
      intentional self-regulation and multiple positive assets. These in turn buffer
      against or compensate for involvement in substance use and violence. Existing
      literature is not clear on how intentional self-regulation is developed and which
      specific positive assets buffer against substance use or violence. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our synthesis provides: an example of a rigorous systematic synthesis of theory
      literature innovatively applying methods of qualitative synthesis to theoretical
      literature; a clearer understanding of how PYD might reduce substance use and
      violence to inform future interventions and empirical evaluations.

PMID- 26864337
TI  - Anti-HIV-1 integrase compounds from Dioscorea bulbifera and molecular docking
      study.
AB  - CONTEXT: Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae) has been used in a traditional
      Thai longevity medicine preparation. Isolation of inhibitors from natural
      products is a potential source for continuous development of new HIV-1 integrase
      (IN) inhibitors. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to isolate the
      compounds and evaluate their anti-HIV-1 IN activity, as well as to predict the
      potential interactions of the compounds with an IN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      ethyl acetate and water fractions (1-100 MUg/mL) of Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils
      were isolated and tested for their anti-HIV-1 IN activity using the multiplate
      integration assay (MIA). The interactions of the active compounds with IN were
      investigated using a molecular docking method. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The ethyl
      acetate and water fractions of Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils afforded seven
      compounds. Among these, allantoin (1), 2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl (2), and
      5,7,4'-trihydroxy-2-styrylchromone (5) were isolated for the first time from this
      plant. Myricetin (4) exhibited the most potent activity with an IC50 value of
      3.15 MUM, followed by 2,4,6,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (3, IC50
      value= 14.20 MUM), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6, IC50 value = 19.39
      MUM) and quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (7, IC50 value = 21.80 MUM).
      Potential interactions of the active compounds (3, 4, 6, and 7) with the IN
      active site were additionally investigated. Compound 4 showed the best binding
      affinity to IN and formed strong interactions with various amino acid residues.
      These compounds interacted with Asp64, Thr66, His67, Glu92, Asp116, Gln148,
      Glu152, Asn155, and Lys159, which are involved in both the 3'-processing and
      strand transfer reactions of IN. In particular, galloyl, catechol, and sugar
      moieties were successful inhibitors for HIV-1 IN.

PMID- 26864338
TI  - Age-sex-specific ranges of platelet count and all-cause mortality: prospective
      findings from the MOLI-SANI study.

PMID- 26864339
TI  - Analysis of Jak2 signaling reveals resistance of mouse embryonic hematopoietic
      stem cells to myeloproliferative disease mutation.
AB  - The regulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) emergence during development
      provides important information about the basic mechanisms of blood stem cell
      generation, expansion, and migration. We set out to investigate the role that
      cytokine signaling pathways play in these early processes and show here that the
      2 cytokines interleukin 3 and thrombopoietin have the ability to expand
      hematopoietic stem and progenitor numbers by regulating their survival and
      proliferation. For this, they differentially use the Janus kinase (Jak2) and
      phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pi3k) signaling pathways, with Jak2 mainly
      relaying the proproliferation signaling, whereas Pi3k mediates the survival
      signal. Furthermore, using Jak2-deficient embryos, we demonstrate that Jak2 is
      crucially required for the function of the first HSCs, whereas progenitors are
      less dependent on Jak2. The JAK2V617F mutation, which renders JAK2 constitutively
      active and has been linked to myeloproliferative neoplasms, was recently shown to
      compromise adult HSC function, negatively affecting their repopulation and self
      renewal ability, partly through the accumulation of JAK2V617F-induced DNA damage.
      We report here that nascent HSCs are resistant to the JAK2V617F mutation and show
      no decrease in repopulation or self-renewal and no increase in DNA damage, even
      in the presence of 2 mutant copies. More importantly, this unique property of
      embryonic HSCs is stably maintained through >=1 round of successive
      transplantations. In summary, our dissection of cytokine signaling in embryonic
      HSCs has uncovered unique properties of these cells that are of clinical
      importance.

PMID- 26864340
TI  - Polygenic mutations in the cytotoxicity pathway increase susceptibility to
      develop HLH immunopathology in mice.
AB  - Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory
      disease. Inherited forms of HLH are caused by biallelic mutations in several
      effectors of granule-dependent lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. A small
      proportion of patients with a so-called "secondary" form of HLH, which develops
      in the aftermath of infection, autoimmunity, or cancer, carry a monoallelic
      mutation in one or more HLH-associated genes. Although this observation suggests
      that HLH may have a polygenic mode of inheritance, the latter is very difficult
      to prove in humans. In order to determine whether the accumulation of partial
      genetic defects in lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity can contribute to the
      development of HLH, we generated mice that were doubly or triply heterozygous for
      mutations in HLH-associated genes, those coding for perforin, Rab27a, and
      syntaxin-11. We found that the accumulation of monoallelic mutations did indeed
      increase the risk of developing HLH immunopathology after lymphocytic
      choriomeningitis virus infection. In mechanistic terms, the accumulation of
      heterozygous mutations in the two degranulation genes Rab27a and syntaxin-11,
      impaired the dynamics and secretion of cytotoxic granules at the immune synapse
      of T lymphocytes. In addition, the accumulation of heterozygous mutations within
      the three genes impaired natural killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity in vivo. The
      genetic defects can be ranked in terms of the severity of the resulting HLH
      manifestations. Our results form the basis of a polygenic model of the occurrence
      of secondary HLH.

PMID- 26864342
TI  - Highly selective capture of nucleosides with boronic acid functionalized polymer
      brushes prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization.
AB  - The nucleoside or modified nucleoside level in biological fluids reflects the
      pathological or physiological state of the body. Boronate affinity absorbents are
      widely used to selectively extract nucleosides from complex samples. In this
      work, a novel functionalized absorbent was synthesized by attaching 4
      mercaptophenylboronic acid to gold nanoparticles on modified attapulgite. The
      surface of the attapulgite was modified by poly(acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl
      ammonium chloride) by atom transfer radical polymerization, creating many polymer
      brushes on the surface. The resultant material exhibited superior binding
      capacity (30.83 mg/g) for adenosine and was able to capture cis-diol nucleosides
      from 1000-fold interferences. Finally, to demonstrate its potential for
      biomolecule extraction, this boronate affinity material was used to
      preconcentrate nucleosides from human urine and plasma. 

PMID- 26864343
TI  - Removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) from Aqueous Solutions by Raw Crab Shell: A
      Comparative Study.
AB  - Removals of Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from water using crab (Clistocoeloma sinensis)
      shell particles as biosorbent have been compared in this study. Uptake
      equilibriums for two ions well described by Langmuir isotherm revealed that crab
      shell possessed higher uptake capacity for Pb(II) (709 mg/g) than that for Zn(II)
      (117 mg/g). Kinetics data for the uptake of the two metals were successfully
      modeled using the pseudo-second-order model, where the initial uptake rate of
      Pb(II) was much faster than that of Zn(II). Dubinin-Radushkevick modeling and
      thermodynamic parameters hinted at different uptake mechanisms of Pb(II) and
      Zn(II) removal by crab shell, attested by FTIR, XRD, FESEM analysis. Pb(II) ion
      was removed mainly through the chemical reaction, while the uptake of Zn(II) ion
      onto crab shell was attributed to the chelation and coordination interactions.
      The polluted river water and laboratory wastewater both satisfied the standards
      for drinking and irrigation/fishery water, respectively, after being treated with
      crab shell particles. 

PMID- 26864344
TI  - Severe eye damage in infants with microcephaly is presumed to be due to Zika
      virus.

PMID- 26864341
TI  - Normal ABL1 is a tumor suppressor and therapeutic target in human and mouse
      leukemias expressing oncogenic ABL1 kinases.
AB  - Leukemias expressing constitutively activated mutants of ABL1 tyrosine kinase
      (BCR-ABL1, TEL-ABL1, NUP214-ABL1) usually contain at least 1 normal ABL1 allele.
      Because oncogenic and normal ABL1 kinases may exert opposite effects on cell
      behavior, we examined the role of normal ABL1 in leukemias induced by oncogenic
      ABL1 kinases. BCR-ABL1-Abl1(-/-) cells generated highly aggressive chronic
      myeloid leukemia (CML)-blast phase-like disease in mice compared with less
      malignant CML-chronic phase-like disease from BCR-ABL1-Abl1(+/+) cells.
      Additionally, loss of ABL1 stimulated proliferation and expansion of BCR-ABL1
      murine leukemia stem cells, arrested myeloid differentiation, inhibited genotoxic
      stress-induced apoptosis, and facilitated accumulation of chromosomal
      aberrations. Conversely, allosteric stimulation of ABL1 kinase activity enhanced
      the antileukemia effect of ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib and
      ponatinib) in human and murine leukemias expressing BCR-ABL1, TEL-ABL1, and
      NUP214-ABL1. Therefore, we postulate that normal ABL1 kinase behaves like a tumor
      suppressor and therapeutic target in leukemias expressing oncogenic forms of the
      kinase.

PMID- 26864345
TI  - De novo construction of a "Gene-space" for diploid plant genome rich in
      repetitive sequences by an iterative Process of Extraction and Assembly of NGS
      reads (iPEA protocol) with limited computing resources.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The continuing increase in size and quality of the "short reads" raw
      data is a significant help for the quality of the assembly obtained through
      various bioinformatics tools. However, building a reference genome sequence for
      most plant species remains a significant challenge due to the large number of
      repeated sequences which are problematic for a whole-genome quality de novo
      assembly. Furthermore, for most SNP identification approaches in plant genetics
      and breeding, only the "Gene-space" regions including the promoter, exon and
      intron sequences are considered. RESULTS: We developed the iPea protocol to
      produce a de novo Gene-space assembly by reconstructing, in an iterative way, the
      non-coding sequence flanking the Unigene cDNA sequence through addition of next
      generation DNA-seq data. The approach was elaborated with the large diploid
      genome of pea (Pisum sativum L.), rich in repetitive sequences. The final Gene
      space assembly included 35,400 contigs (97 Mb), covering 88 % of the 40,227
      contigs (53.1 Mb) of the PsCam_low-copy Unigen set. Its accuracy was validated by
      the results of the built GenoPea 13.2 K SNP Array. CONCLUSION: The iPEA protocol
      allows the reconstruction of a Gene-space based from RNA-Seq and DNA-seq data
      with limited computing resources.

PMID- 26864346
TI  - Comparison of Doctors' and Breast Cancer Patients' Perceptions of Docetaxel,
      Epirubicin, and Cyclophosphamide (TEC) Toxicity.
AB  - In Spain, around 26,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year,
      representing nearly 30% of all cancers in women. The aim this study was to
      compare the perceptions of nonhematologic toxicities after administration of a
      docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TEC) regimen between breast cancer
      patients and oncologists. Furthermore, the relationship between such adverse
      events and quality of life (QOL) was evaluated. Cross-sectional study carried out
      among 92 breast cancer patients who received TEC as neoadjuvant or adjuvant
      treatment. The main nonhematologic toxicities experienced by breast cancer
      patients treated with the TEC regimen were asthenia, nausea, dysgeusia,
      arthralgia, headache, and myalgia. Patients were less likely to be affected by
      vomiting and peripheral neuropathy. Oncologists seemed to show greater interest
      in toxicities, such as asthenia, nausea, and diarrhea. Vomiting was the toxicity
      with the most substantial degree of agreement between oncologist and patient.
      Toxicities with greater disagreement were dysgeusia, arthralgia, myalgia,
      asthenia, and headache. Asthenia, dysgeusia, loss of appetite, skin allergies,
      peripheral edema, abdominal pain, and myalgia were found to significantly affect
      the QOL. Tolerability and QOL were more favorable in patients treated with
      pegfilgrastim compared with filgrastim. Oncologists tend to underestimate
      toxicities experienced by breast cancer patients treated with the TEC regimen.
      The establishment of a protocol to record these toxicities may reduce that
      problem. 

PMID- 26864348
TI  - Histamine Receptor Expression in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Dogs.
AB  - Histamine is an important mediator of many physiological processes including
      gastrointestinal function that acts via four different histamine receptors (H1R
      to H4R). Elevated histamine levels and increased HR messenger ribonucleic acid
      (mRNA) have been shown in humans with gastrointestinal disorders such as
      irritable bowel syndrome or allergic intestinal diseases. As there is limited
      knowledge concerning the distribution of histamine receptors (HR) in dogs, one
      aim of this study was to investigate the expression of histamine 1 receptor
      (H1R), histamine 2 receptor (H2R) and histamine 4 receptor (H4R) in the canine
      gastrointestinal tract at protein level using immunohistochemistry. Histamine 1
      receptor, H2R and H4R were widely expressed throughout the canine
      gastrointestinal tract including epithelial, mesenchymal, neuronal and immune
      cells. In addition, in situ hybridisation was established for detecting canine
      H4R mRNA. Results showed H4R mRNA to be present in enterocytes, lamina propria
      immune cells and submucosal plexus in the duodenum and colon of nearly all
      investigated animals. The results elucidate the importance of HR in the canine
      gut and represent the basis for investigating their possible impact on canine
      inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders.

PMID- 26864350
TI  - Risk analysis for confined space entries: Critical analysis of four tools applied
      to three risk scenarios.
AB  - Investigation reports of fatal confined space accidents nearly always point to a
      problem of identifying or underestimating risks. This paper compares 4 different
      risk analysis tools developed for confined spaces by applying them to 3 hazardous
      scenarios. The tools were namely 1. a checklist without risk estimation (Tool A),
      2. a checklist with a risk scale (Tool B), 3. a risk calculation without a formal
      hazard identification stage (Tool C), and 4. a questionnaire followed by a risk
      matrix (Tool D). Each tool's structure and practical application were studied.
      Tools A and B gave crude results comparable to those of more analytic tools in
      less time. Their main limitations were lack of contextual information for the
      identified hazards and greater dependency on the user's expertise and ability to
      tackle hazards of different nature. Tools C and D utilized more systematic
      approaches than tools A and B by supporting risk reduction based on the
      description of the risk factors. Tool D is distinctive because of 1. its
      comprehensive structure with respect to the steps suggested in risk management,
      2. its dynamic approach to hazard identification, and 3. its use of data
      resulting from the risk analysis. 

PMID- 26864347
TI  - 5-hydroxymethylcytosine loss is associated with poor prognosis for patients with
      WHO grade II diffuse astrocytomas.
AB  - Currently, the reliable prognostic biomarkers for WHO grade II diffuse
      astrocytomas (DA) are still limited. We investigated the relations between the
      level of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), an oxidated production of 5
      methylcytosine (5mC) by the ten eleven translocated (TET) enzymes, and
      clinicopathological features of glioma patients. With an identified anti-5hmC
      antibody, we performed immunohistochemistry in 287 glioma cases. We detected that
      5hmC variably reduced in most gliomas and 5hmC reduction was closely associated
      with higher pathological grades and shortened survival of glioma patients. In
      multivariate analysis, 5hmC had no independent prognostic value in the entire
      patient cohort. However, multivariate analysis within subtypes of gliomas
      revealed that 5hmC was still a prognostic marker confined to DA. In addition, we
      detected that IDH1 mutation by DNA sequencing was associated with favorable
      survival within DA. Lastly, we detected that the combination of 5hmC/KI67 was a
      useful prognostic marker for restratification of DA. 

PMID- 26864349
TI  - Prognostic value of albumin in patients with head and neck cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Albumin is an indicator of nutritional status and has been
      investigated as a predictor of cancer survival and perioperative outcomes. This
      study investigated the prognostic value of preoperative serum albumin in surgical
      patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort
      study. METHODS: A chart review was performed of patients who underwent HNC
      resection over a 6-year period at a single institution. Statistical analyses
      including Cox proportional hazards models, Pearson's correlation, and logistic
      regression were used to identify relationships between preoperative serum albumin
      and postoperative outcomes. Albumin was analyzed as a continuous variable.
      RESULTS: A total of 604 patients were studied representing all cancer types.
      There was no association between albumin and pneumonia, flap complications, or
      length of stay. Albumin was found to have statistically significant inverse
      associations with overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.685, P < .001) and
      postoperative wound infection (HR = 0.455, P = .001). In multivariate analysis of
      OS, albumin did not achieve significance as an independent predictor (HR = 0.78,
      P = .064), whereas hemoglobin, age, and cancer stage remained significant. In a
      subgroup of 280 patients with upper aerodigestive squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA),
      albumin maintained significance in multivariate analysis of OS (HR = 0.74, P =
      .046). When controlling for preoperative radiotherapy, salvage surgery, and
      cancer stage in multivariate analysis, albumin was a significant predictor of
      wound infection (OR = 0.55, P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HNC, lower
      preoperative serum albumin is associated with an increased rate of wound
      infection and poorer OS. The effect on OS is most pronounced in patients with
      upper aerodigestive SCCA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 126:1567-1571,
      2016.

PMID- 26864351
TI  - Induction of labor in twin gestation: lessons from a population based study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The route of delivery and the role of induction of labor in twin
      gestations are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy
      of induction of labor in twin gestations. METHODS: This retrospective population
      based cohort study included 4605 twin gestations divided into following groups:
      1) spontaneous parturition (n = 2937, 63.78%); 2) induction of labor (n = 653,
      14.2%) and 3) elective cesarean delivery (n = 1015, 22.04%). RESULTS: The rate of
      vaginal delivery in the labor induction group was 81% (529/653). In comparison to
      the other study groups, induction of labor in twins was independently associated
      with a 77% reduction in the risk of cesarean delivery (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.18-0.31)
      and a 78% reduction in the risk of postpartum death for the second twin (OR 0.22;
      95% CI 0.05-0.94). The rate of nulliparity, term delivery and labor dystocia was
      higher in the induction of labor group (p < 0.001 in all comparisons).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that induction of labor in twin gestation is
      successful and is independently associated with substantial reduction in the risk
      of cesarean delivery and postpartum death of the second twin.

PMID- 26864352
TI  - Aripiprazole once-monthly long-acting injectable for the treatment of
      schizophrenia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Patient non-adherence increases the risk for relapse and the long
      term care of schizophrenia. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics can
      decrease this risk by ensuring adherence. An extended formulation, aripiprazole
      400 mg once-monthly (AOM 400) LAI (AOM LAI), received regulatory approval in the
      year 2013 for the treatment of schizophrenia. AOM LAI is the first dopamine D2
      partial agonist available in a long-acting formulation for the treatment of
      schizophrenia. AREAS COVERED: This review covers data on the efficacy and
      tolerability/safety of AOM LAI. AOM LAI is a lyophilized powder of aripiprazole,
      with an elimination half-life of 29.9 - 46.5 days, allowing for a 4-week
      injection interval. Antipsychotic efficacy was documented in a 12-week double
      blind trial (n = 340) and in two maintenance-of-effect trials: a 38-week trial (n
      = 662) and a 52-week trial (n = 403). The side effect profile is similar to that
      of oral aripiprazole. Adverse events (>=5% and at least twice that for placebo)
      were typically mild or moderate and did not lead to discontinuation: increased
      weight, akathisia, injection site pain and sedation. The 400 mg dose is tolerated
      by >90% of patients. Injection does not require additional training of health
      personnel or post-injection observation. EXPERT OPINION: AOM LAI is an
      efficacious and well-tolerated antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia.

PMID- 26864353
TI  - Determination and validation of chikusetsusaponin IVa in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS
      and its application to pharmacokinetic study.
AB  - A novel, sensitive and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometric method for the quantification of chikusetsusaponin IVa (CHS-IVa) in
      rat plasma was established and validated. Plasma samples were pre-treated by
      precipitation of protein with acetonitrile and chromatographed on a Waters
      Symmetry C18 analytical column (4.6 * 50 mm, i.d., 3.5 MUm) using a mobile phase
      consisting of methanol and water containing 0.05% formic acid (55:45, v/v) at a
      flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The deprotonated molecular ions [M - H](-) were employed
      in electrospray negative ionization mode and selected reaction monitoring
      transitions were performed for detection. The calibration curves exhibited good
      linearity (r > 0.99) over the range of 0.5-1000 ng/mL for CHS-IVa. The recoveries
      of CHS-IVa were >92.5% and exhibited no severe matrix effect. This method was
      successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study of CHS-IVa in rats. For oral
      administration, the plasma concentrations of CHS-IVa increased to a peak value at
      0.35 +/- 0.14 h, followed by a gradual decrease to the lower limit of
      quantitation in 24 h. For intravenous administration, the plasma concentrations
      of CHS-IVa decreased quickly (t1/2 , 1.59 +/- 0.25 h). The absolute
      bioavailability of CHS-IVa in rats was 8.63%. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26864354
TI  - Ethics, research and HIV: lessons learned- a workshop report.
AB  - Assessing risk for transmission of a blood-borne pathogen requires the use of the
      hazard and risk model. Infection control is a system that uses a number of
      individual processes to eliminate or reduce the probability of a hazard
      occurring. Strategies employed to reduce risk should be rehearsed, used
      routinely, audited, reviewed, and the results shared. Continuing dental education
      has improved dental healthcare worker willingness to treat people living with
      HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and has decreased negative attitudes and staff fears. Providing
      care for PLWHA during undergraduate dental school or dental hygiene programme is
      also associated with a greater willingness to treat. Whether by identifying
      suspect oral lesions or offering rapid screening tests in the dental setting for
      HIV, the dental team can play an important role in linkage to confirmatory
      diagnosis and care with the goal of reducing to zero the number of undiagnosed
      cases. 

PMID- 26864355
TI  - Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide concentration is associated with choline,
      phospholipids, and methyl metabolism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma concentrations of the gut bacteria choline metabolite
      trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are associated with atherosclerosis. However, the
      determinants of TMAO in humans require additional assessment. OBJECTIVE: We
      examined cardiometabolic risk factors and pathways associated with TMAO
      concentrations in humans. DESIGN: A total of 283 individuals (mean +/- SD age:
      66.7 +/- 9.0 y) were included in this observational study. Plasma concentrations
      of trimethylamine, TMAO, choline, lipids, phospholipids, and methyl metabolites
      were measured. RESULTS: Study participants were divided into 4 groups by median
      concentrations of TMAO and choline (4.36 and 9.7 MUmol/L, respectively). Compared
      with the group with TMAO and choline concentrations that were less than the
      median (n = 82), the group with TMAO and choline concentrations that were at
      least the median (n = 83) was older and had lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
      cholesterol, phospholipids, and methylation potential, higher creatinine,
      betaine, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and higher
      percentages of men and subjects with diabetes. The difference in plasma TMAO
      concentrations between men and women (7.3 +/- 10.0 compared with 5.4 +/- 5.6
      MUmol/L, respectively) was NS after adjustment for age and creatinine (P =
      0.455). The TMAO:trimethylamine ratio was higher in men (P < 0.001). Diabetes was
      associated with significantly higher plasma TMAO concentration (8.6 +/- 12.2
      compared with 5.4 +/- 5.2 MUmol/L) even after adjustments. Sex and diabetes
      showed an interactive effect on trimethylamine concentrations (P = 0.010) but not
      on TMAO concentrations (P = 0.950). Positive determinants of TMAO in a stepwise
      regression model that applied to the whole group were SAH, trimethylamine,
      choline, and female sex, whereas plasma phosphatidylcholine was a negative
      determinant. CONCLUSIONS: High TMAO and choline concentrations are associated
      with an advanced cardiometabolic risk profile. Diabetes is related to higher
      plasma TMAO concentrations but also to alterations in interrelated pathways such
      as lipids, phospholipids, and methylation. Elevated plasma TMAO concentrations
      likely reflect a specific metabolic pattern characterized by low HDL and
      phospholipids in addition to hypomethylation. This trial was registered at
      clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02586181 and NCT02588898.

PMID- 26864356
TI  - Whey protein, amino acids, and vitamin D supplementation with physical activity
      increases fat-free mass and strength, functionality, and quality of life and
      decreases inflammation in sarcopenic elderly.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interventions to attenuate the adverse effects of age-related loss of
      skeletal muscle and function include increased physical activity and nutritional
      supplementation. OBJECTIVE: This study tested the hypothesis that nutritional
      supplementation with whey protein (22 g), essential amino acids (10.9 g,
      including 4 g leucine), and vitamin D [2.5 MUg (100 IU)] concurrent with regular,
      controlled physical activity would increase fat-free mass, strength, physical
      function, and quality of life, and reduce the risk of malnutrition in sarcopenic
      elderly persons. DESIGN: A total of 130 sarcopenic elderly people (53 men and 77
      women; mean age: 80.3 y) participated in a 12-wk randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled supplementation trial. All participants concurrently took part
      in a controlled physical activity program. We examined body composition with dual
      energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle strength with a handgrip dynamometer, and
      blood biochemical indexes of nutritional and health status, and evaluated global
      nutritional status, physical function, and quality of life before and after the
      12 wk of intervention. RESULTS: Compared with physical activity and placebo,
      supplementation plus physical activity increased fat-free mass (1.7-kg gain, P <
      0.001), relative skeletal muscle mass (P = 0.009), android distribution of fat (P
      = 0.021), handgrip strength (P = 0.001), standardized summary scores for physical
      components (P = 0.030), activities of daily living (P = 0.001), mini nutritional
      assessment (P = 0.003), and insulin-like growth factor I (P = 0.002), and lowered
      C-reactive protein (P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with whey protein,
      essential amino acids, and vitamin D, in conjunction with age-appropriate
      exercise, not only boosts fat-free mass and strength but also enhances other
      aspects that contribute to well-being in sarcopenic elderly. This trial was
      registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02402608.

PMID- 26864357
TI  - Methodologic quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews on the Mediterranean
      diet and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several systematic reviews/meta-analyses published within the past 10
      y have examined the associations of Mediterranean-style diets (MedSDs) on
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, these reviews have not been evaluated
      for satisfying contemporary methodologic quality standards. OBJECTIVE: This study
      evaluated the quality of recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses on MedSD and CVD
      risk outcomes by using an established methodologic quality scale. The relation
      between review quality and impact per publication value of the journal in which
      the article had been published was also evaluated. DESIGN: To assess compliance
      with current standards, we applied a modified version of the Assessment of
      Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTARMedSD) quality scale to systematic
      reviews/meta-analyses retrieved from electronic databases that had met our
      selection criteria: 1) used systematic or meta-analytic procedures to review the
      literature, 2) examined MedSD trials, and 3) had MedSD interventions
      independently or combined with other interventions. RESULTS: Reviews completely
      satisfied from 8% to 75% of the AMSTARMedSD items (mean +/- SD: 31.2% +/- 19.4%),
      with those published in higher-impact journals having greater quality scores. At
      a minimum, 60% of the 24 reviews did not disclose full search details or apply
      appropriate statistical methods to combine study findings. Only 5 of the reviews
      included participant or study characteristics in their analyses, and none
      evaluated MedSD diet characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that
      current meta-analyses/systematic reviews evaluating the effect of MedSD on CVD
      risk do not fully comply with contemporary methodologic quality standards. As a
      result, there are more research questions to answer to enhance our understanding
      of how MedSD affects CVD risk or how these effects may be modified by the
      participant or MedSD characteristics. To clarify the associations between MedSD
      and CVD risk, future meta-analyses and systematic reviews should not only follow
      methodologic quality standards but also include more statistical modeling results
      when data allow.

PMID- 26864358
TI  - Best (but oft-forgotten) practices: expressing and interpreting associations and
      effect sizes in clinical outcome assessments.
AB  - This article reviews methods used to facilitate the interpretation and evaluation
      of group-level differences in clinical outcome assessments. These methods
      complement and supplement tests of statistical significance. Examples, including
      studies in nutrition, are used to illustrate the application of the
      interpretation methods for group-level comparisons from experimental or
      observational studies. In addition, specific pitfalls of evaluating change in
      meta-analysis studies are described. A set of recommendations is provided. This
      review is intended as an introduction for the novice and as a refresher for the
      experienced researcher. 

PMID- 26864359
TI  - Common genetic architecture underlying young children's food fussiness and liking
      for vegetables and fruit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Food fussiness (FF) is common in early childhood and is often
      associated with the rejection of nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables and
      fruit. FF and liking for vegetables and fruit are likely all heritable
      phenotypes; the genetic influence underlying FF may explain the observed genetic
      influence on liking for vegetables and fruit. Twin analyses make it possible to
      get a broad-based estimate of the extent of the shared genetic influence that
      underlies these traits. OBJECTIVE: We quantified the extent of the shared genetic
      influence that underlies FF and liking for vegetables and fruit in early
      childhood with the use of a twin design. DESIGN: Data were from the Gemini
      cohort, which is a population-based sample of twins born in England and Wales in
      2007. Parents of 3-y-old twins (n= 1330 pairs) completed questionnaire measures
      of their children's food preferences (liking for vegetables and fruit) and the FF
      scale from the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Multivariate
      quantitative genetic modeling was used to estimate common genetic influences that
      underlie FF and liking for vegetables and fruit. RESULTS: Genetic correlations
      were significant and moderate to large in size between FF and liking for both
      vegetables (-0.65) and fruit (-0.43), which indicated that a substantial
      proportion of the genes that influence FF also influence liking. Common genes
      that underlie FF and liking for vegetables and fruit largely explained the
      observed phenotypic correlations between them (68-70%). CONCLUSIONS: FF and
      liking for fruit and vegetables in young children share a large proportion of
      common genetic factors. The genetic influence on FF may determine why fussy
      children typically reject fruit and vegetables.

PMID- 26864361
TI  - Calcium intake and mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease:
      the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Calcium intake may be important for bone health, but its effects on
      other outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, remain
      unclear. Recent reports of adverse cardiovascular effects of supplemental calcium
      have raised concerns. OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations of supplemental,
      dietary, and total calcium intakes with all-cause, CVD-specific, and cancer
      specific mortality in a large, prospective cohort. DESIGN: A total of 132,823
      participants in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, who were
      followed from baseline (1992 or 1993) through 2012 for mortality outcomes, were
      included in the analysis. Dietary and supplemental calcium information was first
      collected at baseline and updated in 1999 and 2003. Multivariable-adjusted Cox
      proportional hazards models with cumulative updating of exposures were used to
      calculate RRs and 95% CIs for associations between calcium intake and mortality.
      RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 17.5 y, 43,186 deaths occurred. For men,
      supplemental calcium intake was overall not associated with mortality outcomes (P
      trend > 0.05 for all), but men who were taking >=1000 mg supplemental calcium/d
      had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.33), which
      was primarily attributed to borderline statistically significant higher risk of
      CVD-specific mortality (RR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.51). For women, supplemental
      calcium was inversely associated with mortality from all causes [RR (95% CI):
      0.90 (0.87, 0.94), 0.84 (0.80, 0.88), and 0.93 (0.87, 0.99) for intakes of 0.1 to
      <500, 500 to <1000, and >=1000 mg/d, respectively; P-trend < 0.01]. Total calcium
      intake was inversely associated with mortality in women (P-trend < 0.01) but not
      in men; dietary calcium was not associated with all-cause mortality in either
      sex. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, associations of calcium intake and mortality
      varied by sex. For women, total and supplemental calcium intakes are associated
      with lower mortality, whereas for men, supplemental calcium intake >=1000 mg/d
      may be associated with higher all-cause and CVD-specific mortality.

PMID- 26864360
TI  - Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: pandemic?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been described as being pandemic, but serum
      25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] distribution data for the European Union are of
      very variable quality. The NIH-led international Vitamin D Standardization
      Program (VDSP) has developed protocols for standardizing existing 25(OH)D values
      from national health/nutrition surveys. OBJECTIVE: This study applied VDSP
      protocols to serum 25(OH)D data from representative childhood/teenage and
      adult/older adult European populations, representing a sizable geographical
      footprint, to better quantify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Europe.
      DESIGN: The VDSP protocols were applied in 14 population studies [reanalysis of
      subsets of serum 25(OH)D in 11 studies and complete analysis of all samples from
      3 studies that had not previously measured it] by using certified liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on biobanked sera. These data were
      combined with standardized serum 25(OH)D data from 4 previously standardized
      studies (for a total n= 55,844). Prevalence estimates of vitamin D deficiency
      [using various serum 25(OH)D thresholds] were generated on the basis of
      standardized 25(OH)D data. RESULTS: An overall pooled estimate, irrespective of
      age group, ethnic mix, and latitude of study populations, showed that 13.0% of
      the 55,844 European individuals had serum 25(OH)D concentrations <30 nmol/L on
      average in the year, with 17.7% and 8.3% in those sampled during the extended
      winter (October-March) and summer (April-November) periods, respectively.
      According to an alternate suggested definition of vitamin D deficiency (<50
      nmol/L), the prevalence was 40.4%. Dark-skinned ethnic subgroups had much higher
      (3- to 71-fold) prevalence of serum 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L than did white
      populations. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is evident throughout the European
      population at prevalence rates that are concerning and that require action from a
      public health perspective. What direction these strategies take will depend on
      European policy but should aim to ensure vitamin D intakes that are protective
      against vitamin D deficiency in the majority of the European population.

PMID- 26864362
TI  - Higher-protein diets improve indexes of sleep in energy-restricted overweight and
      obese adults: results from 2 randomized controlled trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited and inconsistent research findings exist about the effect of
      dietary protein intake on indexes of sleep. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effect of
      protein intake during dietary energy restriction on indexes of sleep in
      overweight and obese adults in 2 randomized, controlled feeding studies. DESIGN:
      For study 1, 14 participants [3 men and 11 women; mean +/- SE age: 56 +/- 3 y;
      body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 30.9 +/- 0.6] consumed energy-restricted diets
      (a 750-kcal/d deficit) with either beef and pork (BP; n = 5) or soy and legume
      (SL; n = 9) as the main protein sources for 3 consecutive 4-wk periods with 10%
      (control), 20%, or 30% of total energy from protein (random order). At baseline
      and the end of each period, the global sleep score (GSS) was assessed with the
      use of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. For study 2, 44
      participants (12 men and 32 women; age: 52 +/- 1 y; BMI: 31.4 +/- 0.5) consumed a
      3-wk baseline energy-balance diet with 0.8 g protein . kg baseline body mass(-1)
      . d(-1). Then, study 2 subjects consumed either a normal-protein [NP (control); n
      = 23] or a high-protein (HP; n = 21) (0.8 compared with 1.5 g . kg(-1) . d(-1),
      respectively) energy-restricted diet (a 750-kcal/d deficit) for 16 wk. The PSQI
      was administered during baseline week 3 and intervention weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16.
      GSSs ranged from 0 to 21 arbitrary units (au), with a higher value representing a
      worse GSS during the preceding month. RESULTS: In study 1, we showed that a
      higher protein quantity improved GSSs independent of the protein source. The GSS
      was higher (P < 0.05) when 10% (6.0 +/- 0.4 au) compared with 20% (5.0 +/- 0.4
      au) protein was consumed, with 30% protein (5.4 +/- 0.6 au) intermediate. In
      study 2, at baseline, the GSS was not different between NP (5.2 +/- 0.5 au) and
      HP (5.4 +/- 0.5 au) groups. Over time, the GSS was unchanged for the NP group and
      improved for the HP group (P-group-by-time interaction < 0.05). After
      intervention (week 16), GSSs for NP and HP groups were 5.9 +/- 0.5 and 4.0 +/-
      0.6 au, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The consumption of a greater
      proportion of energy from protein while dieting may improve sleep in overweight
      and obese adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01005563
      (study 1) and NCT01692860 (study 2).

PMID- 26864363
TI  - Prospective association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and mortality:
      modulation by antioxidant supplementation in the SU.VI.MAX randomized controlled
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is a central mechanism involved in
      cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, 4
      leading causes of mortality. Diet is a major source of pro- and anti-inflammatory
      bioactive compounds. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was designed to
      estimate the overall inflammatory potential of the diet. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was
      to study the prospective association between the DII and mortality, as well as
      assess whether antioxidant supplementation could modulate this association.
      DESIGN: The Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants study was a
      randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which participants received
      low-dose antioxidants or a placebo from 1994 to 2002. In this observational
      prospective analysis, 8089 participants (mean +/- SD age at baseline: 49.0 +/-
      6.3 y) were followed between 1994 and 2007 (median: 12.4 y). The DII was
      calculated from repeated 24-h dietary records; higher scores correspond to more
      proinflammatory diets. A total of 207 deaths occurred during follow-up, including
      123 due to cancer and 41 due to cardiovascular events. Multivariate Cox
      proportional hazards models were computed. RESULTS: Sex-specific tertiles of the
      DII were positively associated with cardiovascular + cancer mortality (HR for
      tertile 3 compared with tertile 1 = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.32; P-trend = 0.05) and
      specific cancer mortality (HR for tertile 3 compared with tertile 1 = 1.83; 95%
      CI: 1.12, 2.99; P-trend = 0.02). The corresponding P value was 0.07 for all-cause
      mortality. The DII was statistically significantly associated with increased all
      cause mortality in the placebo group (HR for tertile 3 compared with tertile 1 =
      2.10; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.84; P-trend = 0.02) but not in the antioxidant-supplemented
      group (P-trend = 0.8; P-interaction = 0.098). CONCLUSION: These results suggest
      that a proinflammatory diet is associated with increased all-cause and cancer
      mortality and antioxidants may counteract some of the proinflammatory effects of
      the diet. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00272428.

PMID- 26864364
TI  - Associations of erythrocyte fatty acid patterns with insulin resistance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Synergistic or additive effects or both on cardiometabolic risk may
      be missed by examining individual fatty acids (FAs). A pattern analysis may be a
      more useful approach. In addition, it remains unclear whether erythrocyte FA
      composition relates to insulin resistance among Hispanics/Latinos. OBJECTIVE: We
      derived erythrocyte FA patterns for a Puerto Rican cohort and examined their
      association with diet and insulin resistance in cross-sectional and prospective
      analyses. DESIGN: At baseline, principal components analysis was used to derive
      factor patterns with the use of 24 erythrocyte FAs from 1157 participants of the
      Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (aged 45-75 y). Dietary intake was assessed with
      a validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The homeostasis model
      assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated at baseline and at the
      2-y follow-up. Relations between FA patterns and HOMA-IR were analyzed in a
      sample of 922 participants with available data. RESULTS: Five FA patterns were
      derived, differentiated by 1) relatively high de novo lipogenesis (DNL) FAs and
      low n-6 (omega-6) FAs, 2) high very-long-chain saturated FAs, 3) high n-3 (omega
      3) FAs, 4) high linoleic acid and low arachidonic acid, and 5) high trans FAs.
      The DNL pattern was positively correlated with sugar and inversely with n-6 and
      monounsaturated FA intakes. Only the DNL pattern was positively related to
      baseline HOMA-IR [adjusted geometric means (95% CIs) for quartiles 1 and 4: 1.72
      (1.58, 1.87) and 2.20 (2.02, 2.39); P-trend < 0.0001]. Similar associations were
      observed at 2 y, after adjustment for baseline status [quartiles 1 and 4 means
      (95% CIs): 1.61 (1.48, 1.76) and 1.84 (1.69, 2.00); P-trend = 0.02]. These
      results remained consistent after the exclusion of participants with diabetes (n
      = 485). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that upregulated DNL associated with a
      diet high in sugar and relatively low in unsaturated FAs may adversely affect
      insulin sensitivity in a Hispanic/Latino cohort.

PMID- 26864366
TI  - Association of body mass index and survival in pediatric leukemia: a meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic in children and adolescents. Adult
      cohort studies have reported an association between higher body mass index (BMI)
      and increased leukemia-related mortality; whether a similar effect exists in
      childhood leukemia remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis
      to determine whether a higher BMI at diagnosis of pediatric acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with worse event
      free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse
      (CIR). DESIGN: We searched 4 electronic databases from inception through March
      2015 without language restriction and included studies in pediatric ALL or AML (0
      21 y of age) reporting BMI as a predictor of survival or relapse. Higher BMI,
      defined as obese (>=95%) or overweight/obese (>=85%), was compared with lower BMI
      [nonoverweight/obese (<85%)]. Summary risk estimates for EFS, OS, and CIR (ALL
      only) were calculated with random- or fixed-effects models according to tests for
      between-study heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of 4690 reports identified, 107 full-text
      articles were evaluated, with 2 additional articles identified via review of
      citations; 11 articles were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. In ALL,
      we observed poorer EFS in children with a higher BMI (RR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.20,
      1.51) than in those at a lower BMI. A higher BMI was associated with
      significantly increased mortality (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.58) and a
      statistically nonsignificant trend toward greater risk of relapse (RR: 1.17; 95%
      CI: 0.99, 1.38) compared with a lower BMI. In AML, a higher BMI was significantly
      associated with poorer EFS and OS (RR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.60 and RR: 1.56; 95%
      CI: 1.32, 1.86, respectively) than was a lower BMI. CONCLUSION: Higher BMI at
      diagnosis is associated with poorer survival in children with pediatric ALL or
      AML.

PMID- 26864365
TI  - The causal role of breakfast in energy balance and health: a randomized
      controlled trial in obese adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The causal nature of associations between breakfast and health remain
      unclear in obese individuals. OBJECTIVE: We sought to conduct a randomized
      controlled trial to examine causal links between breakfast habits and components
      of energy balance in free-living obese humans. DESIGN: The Bath Breakfast Project
      is a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures at baseline and follow-up
      among a cohort in South West England aged 21-60 y with dual-energy X-ray
      absorptiometry-derived fat mass indexes of >=13 kg/m(2) for women (n = 15) and
      >=9 kg/m(2) for men (n = 8). Components of energy balance (resting metabolic
      rate, physical activity thermogenesis, diet-induced thermogenesis, and energy
      intake) were measured under free-living conditions with random allocation to
      daily breakfast (>=700 kcal before 1100) or extended fasting (0 kcal until 1200)
      for 6 wk, with baseline and follow-up measures of health markers (e.g.,
      hematology/adipose biopsies). RESULTS: Breakfast resulted in greater physical
      activity thermogenesis during the morning than when fasting during that period
      (difference: 188 kcal/d; 95% CI: 40, 335) but without any consistent effect on 24
      h physical activity thermogenesis (difference: 272 kcal/d; 95% CI: -254, 798).
      Energy intake was not significantly greater with breakfast than fasting
      (difference: 338 kcal/d; 95% CI: -313, 988). Body mass increased across both
      groups over time but with no treatment effects on body composition or any change
      in resting metabolic rate (stable within 8 kcal/d). Metabolic/cardiovascular
      health also did not respond to treatments, except for a reduced insulinemic
      response to an oral-glucose-tolerance test over time with daily breakfast
      relative to an increase with daily fasting (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In obese
      adults, daily breakfast leads to greater physical activity during the morning,
      whereas morning fasting results in partial dietary compensation (i.e., greater
      energy intake) later in the day. There were no differences between groups in
      weight change and most health outcomes, but insulin sensitivity increased with
      breakfast relative to fasting. This trial was registered at www.isrctn.org as
      ISRCTN31521726.

PMID- 26864367
TI  - Effects of community-based sales of micronutrient powders on morbidity episodes
      in preschool children in Western Kenya.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the use of micronutrient powders (MNPs) is considered the
      preferred approach for childhood anemia control, concerns about iron-related
      morbidity from clinical trials have challenged programmatic scale-up. OBJECTIVE:
      We aimed to measure the effects of community-based sales of MNPs on diarrhea-,
      fever-, cough-, and malaria-morbidity episodes in children 6-35 mo of age.
      DESIGN: We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in rural Western Kenya where 60
      villages were randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. MNPs
      (containing iron, vitamin A, zinc, and 11 other micronutrients) and other health
      products (e.g., insecticide-treated bednets, soap, and water disinfectant) were
      marketed in 30 intervention villages from June 2007 to March 2008. Household
      visits every 2 wk were used to monitor self-reported MNP use and morbidity
      (illness episodes in the previous 24 h and hospitalizations in the previous 2 wk)
      in both groups. Iron, vitamin A, anemia, malaria, and anthropometric measures
      were assessed at baseline and at 12 mo of follow-up. Data were analyzed by intent
      to-treat analyses. RESULTS: Of 1062 children enrolled in the study, 1038 children
      (97.7%) were followed (a total of 14,204 surveillance visits). Mean MNP intake in
      intervention villages was 0.9 sachets/wk. Children in intervention villages,
      compared with children in control villages, had ~60% fewer hospitalizations for
      diarrhea (0.9% compared with 2.4%, respectively; P = 0.03) and 70% fewer
      hospitalizations for fever (1.8% compared with 5.3%, respectively; P = 0.003) but
      no significant differences in hospitalizations for respiratory illness (1.1%
      compared with 2.2%, respectively; P = 0.11) or malaria (3.1% compared with 2.9%,
      respectively; P = 0.82). There were no differences between groups in the numbers
      of episodes of diarrhea, cough, or fever. CONCLUSIONS: MNP use in Western Kenya
      through market-based community sales was not associated with increased infectious
      morbidity in young children and was associated with decreased hospitalizations
      for diarrhea and fever. An integrated distribution of MNPs with other health
      interventions should be explored further in settings with a high child
      malnutrition and infection burden. This trial was registered at
      clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01088958.

PMID- 26864368
TI  - Including whey protein and whey permeate in ready-to-use supplementary food
      improves recovery rates in children with moderate acute malnutrition: a
      randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The utility of dairy ingredients in the supplementary foods used in
      the treatment of childhood moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) remains unsettled.
      OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effectiveness of a peanut-based ready-to-use
      supplementary food (RUSF) with soy protein compared with a novel RUSF containing
      dairy ingredients in the form of whey permeate and whey protein concentrate in
      the treatment of children with MAM. DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, double
      blind clinical effectiveness trial involving rural Malawian and Mozambican
      children 6-59 mo of age with MAM treated with either soy RUSF or a novel whey
      RUSF treatment of ~75 kcal . kg(-1) . d(-1) for up to 12 wk. RESULTS: The
      proportion of children that recovered from MAM was significantly higher in the
      group that received whey RUSF (960 of 1144; 83.9%) than in the group that
      received soy RUSF (874 of 1086; 80.5%; P < 0.04; risk difference 3.4%, 95% CI:
      0.3%, 6.6%). Children who consumed whey RUSF also demonstrated better growth
      markers, with a higher mean midupper arm circumference (MUAC) at the time of
      discharge (P < 0.009), greater MUAC gain during the course of treatment (P <
      0.003), higher mean weight-for-height z score at discharge (P < 0.008), and
      greater weight gain (P < 0.05). No significant differences were identified in
      length gain or time to recovery between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This study
      highlights the importance of milk protein in the treatment of MAM, because the
      use of a novel whey RUSF resulted in higher recovery rates and improved growth
      than did soy RUSF, although the whey RUSF supplement provided less total protein
      and energy than the soy RUSF. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as
      NCT01790048.

PMID- 26864369
TI  - Associations of egg and cholesterol intakes with carotid intima-media thickness
      and risk of incident coronary artery disease according to apolipoprotein E
      phenotype in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In general populations, the effects of dietary cholesterol on blood
      cholesterol concentrations are modest. However, the relation is stronger in those
      with an E4 allele in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). There is little
      information on the association between cholesterol intake and the risk of
      coronary artery disease (CAD) among those with the ApoE4 phenotype. OBJECTIVE: We
      investigated the associations of intakes of cholesterol and eggs, a major source
      of dietary cholesterol, with carotid intima-media thickness and the risk of
      incident CAD in middle-aged and older men from eastern Finland. DESIGN: The study
      included 1032 men aged 42-60 y in 1984-1989 at the baseline examinations of the
      prospective, population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.
      Data on common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) were available for
      846 men. Dietary intakes were assessed with 4-d food records. Associations with
      incident CAD and baseline CCA-IMT were analyzed by using Cox regression and
      ANCOVA, respectively. RESULTS: The ApoE4 phenotype was found in 32.5% of the men.
      During the average follow-up of 20.8 y, 230 CAD events occurred. Egg or
      cholesterol intakes were not associated with the risk of CAD. Each 1 additional
      egg (55 g)/d was associated with a multivariable-adjusted HR of 1.17 (95% CI:
      0.85, 1.61) in the ApoE4 noncarriers and an HR of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.72) in
      the ApoE4 carriers (P-interaction = 0.34). Each 100-mg/d higher cholesterol
      intake was associated with an HR of 1.04 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.22) in the ApoE4
      noncarriers and an HR of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.25) in the ApoE4 carriers (P
      interaction = 0.81). Egg or cholesterol intakes were also not associated with
      increased CCA-IMT. CONCLUSION: Egg or cholesterol intakes were not associated
      with increased CAD risk, even in ApoE4 carriers (i.e., in highly susceptible
      individuals).

PMID- 26864370
TI  - Dietary energy requirements in relatively healthy maintenance hemodialysis
      patients estimated from long-term metabolic studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies that examined dietary energy requirements (DERs) of patients
      undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) have shown mixed results. Many studies
      reported normal DERs, but some described increased energy needs. DERs in MHD
      patients have been estimated primarily from indirect calorimetry and from
      nitrogen balance studies. The present study measured DERs in MHD patients on the
      basis of their dietary energy intake and changes in body composition. OBJECTIVE:
      This study assessed DERs in MHD patients who received a constant energy intake
      while changes in their body composition were measured. DESIGN: Seven male and 6
      female sedentary, clinically stable MHD patients received a constant mean (+/-SD)
      energy intake for 92.2 +/- 7.9 d while residing in a metabolic research ward.
      Changes in fat and fat-free mass, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry,
      were converted to calorie equivalents and added to energy intake to calculate
      energy requirements. RESULTS: The average DER was 31 +/- 3 kcal . kg(-1) . d(-1)
      calculated from energy intake and change in fat and fat-free calories, which was
      28 +/- 197 kcal/d over the 92 d of the study. DERs of MHD patients correlated
      strongly with their body weight (r = 0.81, P = 0.002) and less closely with their
      measured resting energy expenditure expressed as kcal/d (r = 0.69, P = 0.01).
      Although the average observed DER in MHD patients was similar to published
      estimated values for normal sedentary individuals of similar age and sex, there
      was wide variability in DER among individual patients (range: 26-36 kcal . kg(-1)
      . d(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Average DERs of sedentary, clinically stable patients
      receiving MHD are similar to those of sedentary normal individuals. Our data do
      not support the theory that MHD patients have increased DERs. Due to the high
      variability in DERs, careful monitoring of the nutritional status of individual
      MHD patients is essential. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as
      NCT02194114.

PMID- 26864372
TI  - Using citizen science data to identify the sensitivity of species to human land
      use.
AB  - Conservation practitioners must contend with an increasing array of threats that
      affect biodiversity. Citizen scientists can provide timely and expansive
      information for addressing these threats across large scales, but their data may
      contain sampling biases. We used randomization procedures to account for possible
      sampling biases in opportunistically reported citizen science data to identify
      species' sensitivities to human land use. We analyzed 21,044 records of 143
      native reptile and amphibian species reported to the Carolina Herp Atlas from
      North Carolina and South Carolina between 1 January 1990 and 12 July 2014.
      Sensitive species significantly associated with natural landscapes were 3.4 times
      more likely to be legally protected or treated as of conservation concern by
      state resource agencies than less sensitive species significantly associated with
      human-dominated landscapes. Many of the species significantly associated with
      natural landscapes occurred primarily in habitats that had been nearly eradicated
      or otherwise altered in the Carolinas, including isolated wetlands, longleaf pine
      savannas, and Appalachian forests. Rare species with few reports were more likely
      to be associated with natural landscapes and 3.2 times more likely to be legally
      protected or treated as of conservation concern than species with at least 20
      reported occurrences. Our results suggest that opportunistically reported citizen
      science data can be used to identify sensitive species and that species currently
      restricted primarily to natural landscapes are likely at greatest risk of decline
      from future losses of natural habitat. Our approach demonstrates the usefulness
      of citizen science data in prioritizing conservation and in helping practitioners
      address species declines and extinctions at large extents.

PMID- 26864371
TI  - Concord grape juice, cognitive function, and driving performance: a 12-wk,
      placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial in mothers of preteen children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Daily consumption of Concord grape juice (CGJ) over 3-4 mo has been
      shown to improve memory function in adults with mild cognitive impairment and
      reduce blood pressure in hypertensive adults. These benefits likely result from
      the high concentration of polyphenols in CGJ. Increased stress can impair
      cognitive function and elevate blood pressure. Thus, we examined the potential
      beneficial effect of CGJ in individuals with somewhat stressful and demanding
      lifestyles. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the effects of the daily consumption
      of CGJ for 12 wk on cognitive function, driving performance, and blood pressure
      in healthy, middle-aged working mothers. DESIGN: Twenty-five healthy mothers
      (aged 40-50 y) of preteen children who were employed for >=30 h/wk consumed 12
      ounces (355 mL) of either CGJ (containing 777 mg total polyphenols) or an energy
      , taste-, and appearance-matched placebo daily for 12 wk according to a
      randomized crossover design with a 4-wk washout. Verbal and spatial memory,
      executive function, attention, blood pressure, and mood were assessed at baseline
      and at 6 and 12 wk. Immediately after the cognitive battery, a subsample of 17
      women completed a driving performance assessment at the University of Leeds
      Driving Simulator. The 25-min driving task required participants to match the
      speed and direction of a lead vehicle. RESULTS: Significant improvements in
      immediate spatial memory and driving performance were observed after CGJ relative
      to placebo. There was evidence of an enduring effect of CGJ such that
      participants who received CGJ in arm 1 maintained better performance in the
      placebo arm. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive benefits associated with the long-term
      consumption of flavonoid-rich grape juice are not exclusive to adults with mild
      cognitive impairment. Moreover, these cognitive benefits are apparent in complex
      everyday tasks such as driving. Effects may persist beyond the cessation of
      flavonoid consumption, and future studies should carefully consider the length of
      washout within crossover designs. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov
      as NCT01411631.

PMID- 26864373
TI  - C15066. Composition and chemical variability of Ivoirian Polyalthia oliveri leaf
      oil.
AB  - The chemical composition of 45 essential oil samples isolated from the leaves of
      Polyalthia oliveri harvested in three Ivoirian forests was investigated by GC-FID
      (Retention Indices measured on two columns of different polarities), and by 13 C
      NMR, following a method developed in our laboratory. In total, 41 components were
      identified. The content of the main components varied drastically from sample to
      sample: (E)-beta-caryophyllene (1.2-50.8%), alpha-humulene (0.6-47.7%),
      isoguaiene (0-27.9%), allo-aromadendrene (0-24.7%), germacrene B (0-18.3%), delta
      cadinene (0.4-19.3%) and beta-selinene (0.2-18.5%). The analysis of six oil
      samples selected in function of their chromatographic profiles is reported in
      detail. The 45 oil compositions were submitted to hierarchical cluster and
      principal components analysis, which allowed the distinction of three groups
      within the oil samples. The compositions of the oils from group I (15 samples)
      and II (12 samples) were dominated by (E)-beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene,
      respectively. Oil samples of group III (18 samples) needed to be partitioned into
      four sub-groups III.1-III.4 whose compositions were dominated by allo
      aromadenrene, iso-guaiene, germacrene B and delta-cadinene, respectively. This
      article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864375
TI  - Segmental Chromosomal Aberrations in Localized Neuroblastoma Can be Detected in
      Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Samples and Are Associated With
      Recurrence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses of frozen
      tumors have shown strong associations between the pattern of chromosomal
      aberrations and outcome in patients with advanced-stage neuroblastoma. New
      platforms for analyzing chromosomal aberrations using formalin-fixed paraffin
      embedded (FFPE) tissue have recently been developed. We sought to determine
      whether chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) using FFPE tumors is feasible and
      if segmental chromosomal aberrations were prognostic of recurrence in localized
      neuroblastoma. METHODS: Patients with MYCN nonamplified International
      Neuroblastoma Staging System stage 1 and 2 disease who recurred were identified.
      CMA was performed with diagnostic FFPE samples using OncoScanTM FFPE Express 2.0.
      The prognostic significance of chromosomal pattern was validated in 105 patients
      with available CGH results. RESULTS: In 26 evaluable patients, 11 recurred
      locally, nine had metastatic relapse, and six remained progression free >3 years
      from diagnosis. No chromosomal aberrations were identified in four tumors.
      Numerical chromosomal aberrations (NCAs) without segmental chromosomal aberration
      (SCA) were identified in 11 patients: six progressed locally, two had metastatic
      progression and 3 remained progression-free. Eleven patients had SCAs: four
      progressed locally, six developed metastatic progression and one remained
      progression-free. Five or more SCAs were only detected in tumors from patients
      who developed metastases (P = 0.0004). In the validation cohort, SCAs were
      associated with inferior event-free survival (EFS) compared to NCA (5-year EFS
      68% +/- 8.3% vs. 91% +/- 3.6%, respectively; P = 0.0083). CONCLUSIONS: It is
      feasible to evaluate chromosomal aberrations using FFPE neuroblastoma tissue. SCA
      is associated with inferior EFS in localized neuroblastoma patients, and multiple
      SCAs may be predictive of metastatic relapse.

PMID- 26864376
TI  - Influence of distal extension of false lumen on adverse aortic events after TEVAR
      in patients with acute type B aortic dissection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical outcomes influenced by distal extension of
      false lumen in acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD) patients following thoracic
      endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From April 2002 to January 2013, 264
      TBAD patients treated with TEVAR were retrospectively enrolled. The IIIa group
      exhibited a distal false lumen above the diaphragm (n = 70), and the IIIb group
      exhibited a distal false lumen under the diaphragm (n = 194). The morphological
      characteristics and adverse events (30-day and >30 days) were recorded and
      evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups
      regarding the demographics, comorbidity profiles, or initial feature of computed
      tomography angiography. The incidence of true lumen compression and branch
      involvement were significantly increased in the IIIb group compared with the IIIa
      group (8.6% vs. 25.3%, respectively; 15.7% vs. 36.1%, respectively, both P <
      0.05). The 30-day mortality rate was 1.0% (2/194) in the IIIb group, whereas the
      IIIa group was zero. The incidence of early adverse events, the 5-year cumulative
      freedom from adverse events, and the 5-year cumulative freedom from all-cause
      mortality rate were not significantly different between the IIIa and IIIb groups
      (2.9% vs. 6.7%, 81.4%, and 80.4%, and 95.7% vs. 93.8%, respectively, all P >
      0.05). Log-rank tests also indicated there was no significant difference.
      CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the IIIa and IIIb groups
      in the 5-year morality and adverse aortic events following TEVAR. The distal
      extension of false lumen prior to TEVAR does not influence the long-term morality
      and adverse aortic events in acute TBAD.

PMID- 26864374
TI  - Bioelectric signalling via potassium channels: a mechanism for craniofacial
      dysmorphogenesis in KCNJ2-associated Andersen-Tawil Syndrome.
AB  - KEY POINTS: Xenopus laevis craniofacial development is a good system for the
      study of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS)-associated craniofacial anomalies (CFAs)
      because (1) Kcnj2 is expressed in the nascent face; (2) molecular-genetic and
      biophysical techniques are available for the study of ion-dependent signalling
      during craniofacial morphogenesis; (3) as in humans, expression of variant Kcnj2
      forms in embryos causes a muscle phenotype; and (4) variant forms of Kcnj2 found
      in human patients, when injected into frog embryos, cause CFAs in the same cell
      lineages. Forced expression of WT or variant Kcnj2 changes the normal pattern of
      Vmem (resting potential) regionalization found in the ectoderm of neurulating
      embryos, and changes the normal pattern of expression of ten different genetic
      regulators of craniofacial development, including markers of cranial neural crest
      and of placodes. Expression of other potassium channels and two different light
      activated channels, all of which have an effect on Vmem , causes CFAs like those
      induced by injection of Kcnj2 variants. In contrast, expression of Slc9A (NHE3),
      an electroneutral ion channel, and of GlyR, an inactive Cl(-) channel, do not
      cause CFAs, demonstrating that correct craniofacial development depends on a
      pattern of bioelectric states, not on ion- or channel-specific signalling. Using
      optogenetics to control both the location and the timing of ion flux in
      developing embryos, we show that affecting Vmem of the ectoderm and no other cell
      layers is sufficient to cause CFAs, but only during early neurula stages. Changes
      in Vmem induced late in neurulation do not affect craniofacial development. We
      interpret these data as strong evidence, consistent with our hypothesis, that ATS
      associated CFAs are caused by the effect of variant Kcnj2 on the Vmem of
      ectodermal cells of the developing face. We predict that the critical time is
      early during neurulation, and the critical cells are the ectodermal cranial
      neural crest and placode lineages. This points to the potential utility of
      extant, ion flux-modifying drugs as treatments to prevent CFAs associated with
      channelopathies such as ATS. ABSTRACT: Variants in potassium channel KCNJ2 cause
      Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS); the induced craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) are
      entirely unexplained. We show that KCNJ2 is expressed in Xenopus and mouse during
      the earliest stages of craniofacial development. Misexpression in Xenopus of
      KCNJ2 carrying ATS-associated mutations causes CFAs in the same structures
      affected in humans, changes the normal pattern of membrane voltage potential
      regionalization in the developing face and disrupts expression of important
      craniofacial patterning genes, revealing the endogenous control of craniofacial
      patterning by bioelectric cell states. By altering cells' resting potentials
      using other ion translocators, we show that a change in ectodermal voltage, not
      tied to a specific protein or ion, is sufficient to cause CFAs. By adapting
      optogenetics for use in non-neural cells in embryos, we show that developmentally
      patterned K(+) flux is required for correct regionalization of the resting
      potentials and for establishment of endogenous early gene expression domains in
      the anterior ectoderm, and that variants in KCNJ2 disrupt this regionalization,
      leading to the CFAs seen in ATS patients.

PMID- 26864377
TI  - Exogenous tannase improves feeding value of a diet containing field beans (Vicia
      faba) when fed to broilers.
AB  - A total of 72 male Ross 308 broilers were used in a study to investigate the
      effect of dietary tannase on apparent metabolisable energy (AME), coefficients of
      dry matter retention (DMR) and nitrogen retention (NR) and fat digestibility (FD)
      of a diet containing 300 g/kg field beans (Vicia faba). Growth performance
      variables and gastrointestinal tract development were also measured. Two
      treatments were used in this study: control (C) and C + 3400 tannase units (TU)
      per kg feed. Diets were formulated to be nutritionally adequate with the
      exception that the AME was lower than recommended (12.65 vs 12.97 MJ/kg,
      respectively). Inclusion of tannase increased AME by 0.4 MJ/kg DM. Tannase
      supplementation improved dietary DMR, NR and FD by 2.8%, 3.2% and 6.5%,
      respectively. Birds given tannase had 4.4% reduction in feed intake and 2.6%
      improvement in gain to feed ratio (P < 0.05). Compared to control diet, birds
      given tannase had reduced relative to body weight (%BW) proventriculus and
      gizzard and pancreas weights, 3.29% vs 3.09% and 0.47% vs 0.44%, respectively.
      The mechanisms of action of the studied enzyme require further elucidation. 

PMID- 26864378
TI  - Correctors Rescue CFTR Mutations in Nucleotide-Binding Domain 1 (NBD1) by
      Modulating Proteostasis.
AB  - We evaluated whether small molecule correctors could rescue four nucleotide
      binding domain 1 (NBD1) mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane
      conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (A455E, S492F, DeltaI507, and R560T). We first
      transfected Cos-7 cells (green monkey kidney cells) with A455E, S492F, DeltaI507,
      or R560T and created HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney cells) cell lines stably
      expressing these CFTR mutations. The mutants showed lowered protein expression,
      instability at physiological temperature, and rapid degradation. After treatment
      with correctors CFFT-002, CFFT-003, C3, C4, and/or C18, the combination of C18+C4
      showed the most correction and resulted in increased CFTR residing in the plasma
      membrane. We found a profound decrease in binding of CFTR to histone deacetylases
      (HDAC) 6 and 7 and heat shock proteins (Hsps) 27 and 40. Silencing Hsp27 or 40
      rescued the mutants, but no additional amount of CFTR was rescued when both
      proteins were knocked down simultaneously. Thus, CFTR mutations in NBD1 can be
      rescued by a combination of correctors, and the treatment alters the interaction
      between mutated CFTR and the endoplasmic reticulum machinery. 

PMID- 26864379
TI  - The Association Between Postnatal Depression, Acculturation and Mother-Infant
      Bond Among Eritrean Asylum Seekers in Israel.
AB  - We examined the association between postnatal depression (PND), acculturation and
      mother-infant bond among 38 Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel, who were within 6
      months of delivery. Participants completed a survey in their native language. A
      high rate of women (81.6 %) met the clinical threshold for PND on the Edinburgh
      Postnatal Depression Scale. Higher severity of PND (partial r = -.64, p < .001),
      higher identification with Israeli culture (partial r = -.45, p = .02), and lower
      quality of romantic relationship were associated with impaired mother-infant bond
      (partial r = .58, p = .002). Findings highlight the need to establish services to
      screen and treat PND among this vulnerable population in the receiving countries.

PMID- 26864381
TI  - Dry needling for headaches presenting active trigger points.

PMID- 26864380
TI  - Awareness of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity and Chronic Infection in the
      Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).
AB  - Few population-based studies have assessed awareness of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
      seropositivity and chronic infection. We report awareness of HCV seropositivity
      and chronic infection and correlates of awareness in a multi-city (Bronx, Miami,
      Chicago, and San Diego) community-dwelling population sample of United States
      (US) Hispanics/Latinos recruited during 2008-2011. Included were 260 HCV
      seropositive participants, among whom 190 had chronic HCV. Among those with
      chronic HCV, 46 % had been told by a doctor that they had liver disease and 32 %
      had been told that they had HCV-related liver disease. Among those with chronic
      HCV who also lacked health insurance (37 % of those with chronic HCV), only 8 %
      had been told that they had HCV-related liver disease. As compared with the
      uninsured, those with insurance were over five times more likely to be aware of
      having HCV-related liver disease (44 %). Sex, age, education, city of residence,
      and birthplace were not associated with HCV awareness. Less than half of
      Hispanics/Latinos were aware of their HCV chronic infection. Lack of health
      insurance may be an important barrier to HCV awareness in this population.

PMID- 26864382
TI  - Identification of a founder BRCA1 mutation in the Moroccan population.
AB  - Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer among women in Morocco. However,
      the role of the most prevalent BC-predisposing genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, has been
      largely unexplored. To help define the role of BRCA1 in BC in Morocco, we
      characterized the first potential BRCA1 founder mutation in this population.
      Genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in BC high-risk families identified mutation
      BRCA1 c.5309G>T, p.(Gly1770Val) or G1770V in five independent families from
      Morocco, suggesting a founder effect. To confirm this hypothesis, haplotype
      construction was performed using seven intragenic and flanking BRCA1
      microsatellite markers. Clinical data were also compiled. Clinical data from
      carriers of mutation G1770V correspond to data from carriers of BRCA1 pathogenic
      mutations. Microsatellite analysis showed a common haplotype for the five
      families in a region comprising 1.54 Mb, confirming G1770V as the first specific
      founder BRCA1 mutation in the Moroccan population. Our findings contribute to a
      better understanding of BC genetics in the Moroccan population. Nevertheless,
      comprehensive studies of mutation G1770V in large series of BC patients from
      Morocco are needed to assess the real prevalence of this mutation and to improve
      genetic testing and risk assessment in this population.

PMID- 26864383
TI  - Discovery of a frameshift mutation in podocalyxin-like (PODXL) gene, coding for a
      neural adhesion molecule, as causal for autosomal-recessive juvenile
      Parkinsonism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mutations in known genes for inherited forms of Parkinson's disease
      (PD) account for <30% of familial PD (FPD) implying that more causal gene(s)
      remain to be identified. We attempted to discover the putative causal variant in
      an Indian family with autosomal-recessive juvenile Parkinsonism (ARJP), tested
      negative for mutations in PARK2, PINK1 and DJ1. METHODS: Whole exomes of two
      affected siblings were sequenced. Variants prioritised were screened for
      segregation with disease in the family by targeted sequencing. Gene thus
      identified was screened for index/additional exonic mutations, if any, in an
      independent PD cohort by PCR sequencing. Variants observed were functionally
      validated in differentiated PC12 cells. RESULTS: A novel homozygous frameshift
      mutation, c.89_90insGTCGCCCC in exon 1 of podocalyxin-like gene (PODXL, 7q32-33),
      resulting in loss of protein, segregated with disease in the family. Mutant
      allele was absent in 186 healthy controls screened by PCR sequencing and in
      control exomes available in the laboratory and public databases. Screening of
      additional 212 sporadic and 68 FPD cases identified three novel heterozygous
      missense variants namely c.1285C>A, c.1118G>A and c.881G>A in three unrelated
      cases. Significant differences in neurite branching and length (p<0.0001) were
      observed in PC12 cells with wild-type and mutant constructs. CONCLUSIONS: Based
      on the genetic and functional evidence in this study and literature support on
      the role of PODXL in neural development, a novel frameshift mutation in PODXL
      seems to be the likely cause of ARJP in this family. This is the first report
      suggesting the possible role of a neurodevelopmental pathway in PD aetiology.

PMID- 26864384
TI  - Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of amides by carbon-nitrogen
      cleavage: general strategy for amide N-C bond activation.
AB  - The first palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of amides with
      boronic acids for the synthesis of ketones by sterically-controlled N-C bond
      activation is reported. The transformation is characterized by operational
      simplicity using bench-stable, commercial reagents and catalysts, and a broad
      substrate scope, including substrates with electron-donating and withdrawing
      groups on both coupling partners, steric-hindrance, heterocycles, halides, esters
      and ketones. The scope and limitations are presented in the synthesis of >60
      functionalized ketones. Mechanistic studies provide insight into the catalytic
      cycle of the cross-coupling, including the first experimental evidence for Pd
      insertion into the amide N-C bond. The synthetic utility is showcased by a gram
      scale cross-coupling and cross-coupling at room temperature. Most importantly,
      this process provides a blueprint for the development of a plethora of metal
      catalyzed reactions of typically inert amide bonds via acyl-metal intermediates.
      A unified strategy for amide bond activation to enable metal insertion into N-C
      amide bond is outlined (). 

PMID- 26864386
TI  - Comparison of cyclic fatigue resistance between different NiTi instruments with
      4% taper.
AB  - The aim of this study was to make a comparison between the cyclic fatigue (CF)
      resistance of F360, twisted files (TF), FlexMaster (FM) and RaCE instruments with
      4% taper. A total of 40 instruments were evaluated 8 mm from the tip. A stainless
      steel block with a simulated canal of 1.5 mm diameter, and a 60 degrees  angle of
      curvature was tested using CF testing. One-way ANOVA and posthoc Tukey's test (P
      < 0.05) were used. The F 360 files showed the highest CF resistance while the TF
      files had greater CF resistance than the FM and RaCE (P < 0.05). There was no
      significant difference between the FM and RaCE (P > 0.05). F360 instruments with
      a double S cross-section had the highest CF resistance among the group. The TF
      led the NiTi rotary files to be more resistant to fatigue than the FM and RaCE
      instruments.

PMID- 26864385
TI  - Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks for Ratiometric Oxygen Sensing in Live Cells.
AB  - We report the design of a phosphorescence/fluorescence dual-emissive nanoscale
      metal-organic framework (NMOF), R-UiO, as an intracellular oxygen (O2) sensor. R
      UiO contains a Pt(II)-porphyrin ligand as an O2-sensitive probe and a Rhodamine-B
      isothiocyanate ligand as an O2-insensitive reference probe. It exhibits good
      crystallinity, high stability, and excellent ratiometric luminescence response to
      O2 partial pressure. In vitro experiments confirmed the applicability of R-UiO as
      an intracellular O2 biosensor. This work is the first report of a NMOF-based
      intracellular oxygen sensor and should inspire the design of ratiometric NMOF
      sensors for other important analytes in biological systems. 

PMID- 26864387
TI  - An updated evolutionary study of Flaviviridae NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent
      RNA polymerase reveals novel invariable motifs as potential pharmacological
      targets.
AB  - The rate of Flaviviridae family virus infections worldwide has increased
      dramatically in the last few years. In addition, infections caused by arthropod
      vector viruses including Hepatitis C, West Nile, Dengue fever, Yellow fever and
      Japanese encephalitis are emerging throughout the world. Based on a recent taxon
      update, the Flaviviridae family comprises four main genera; Flavivirus,
      Hepacivirus, Pestivirus and a recent genus Pegivirus. Although the new scientific
      classification plays a key role in providing useful information about the
      relationships between viruses, many new documented viruses remain unclassified.
      Furthermore, based on the different results of several studies the classification
      is unclear. In an effort to provide more insights into the classification of
      viruses, a holistic evolutionary study of the two viral enzymes NS3 helicase and
      NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been conducted in this study. These
      two viral enzymes are very crucial for the inhibition of viruses due to the fact
      that they are involved in the survival, proliferation and transmission of
      viruses. The main goal of this study is the presentation of two novel updated
      phylogenetic trees of the enzymes NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRp as a reliable
      phylogeny "map" to correlate the information of the closely related viruses and
      identify new possible targets for the Flaviviridae family virus inhibition.
      Despite the earliest trials for drugs against Flaviviridae related viruses, no
      antiviral drug vaccine has been available to date. Therefore there is an urgent
      need for research towards the development of efficient antiviral agents.

PMID- 26864388
TI  - The potential of SNP-based PCR-RFLP capillary electrophoresis analysis to
      authenticate and detect admixtures of Mediterranean olive oils.
AB  - Authentication and traceability of extra virgin olive oil is a challenging
      research task due to the complexity of fraudulent practices. In this context, the
      monovarietal olive oils of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected
      Geographical Indication (PGI) require new tests and cutting edge analytical
      technologies to detect mislabeling and misleading origin. Toward this direction,
      DNA-based technologies could serve as a complementary to the analytical
      techniques assay. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are ideal molecular markers
      since they require short PCR analytical targets which are a prerequisite for
      forensic applications in olive oil sector. In the present study, a small number
      of polymorphic SNPs were used with an SNP-based PCR-RFLP capillary
      electrophoresis platform to discriminate six out of 13 monovarietal olive oils of
      Mediterranean origin from three different countries, Greece, Tunisia, and
      Lebanon. Moreover, the high sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis in
      combination with the DNA extraction protocol lowered the limit of detection to
      10% in an admixture of Tsounati in a Koroneiki olive oil matrix.

PMID- 26864389
TI  - Strong plasmon coupling in self-assembled superparamagnetic nanoshell chains.
AB  - Construction of ordered patterns of plasmonic nanoparticles is greatly important
      for nanophotonics relevant applications. We have reported a facile and low-cost
      magnetic field induced self-assembly approach to construct plasmonic
      superparamagnetic nanoshell (SN) chains up to several hundred micrometers in a
      few seconds in a large area without templates or other assistance processes.
      Experimental and theoretical investigations of the near- and far-field optical
      properties indicate that the super- and sub-radiant modes of the SN chains
      continuously redshift with the increase of SN number and the Fano resonance
      emerges in the infinite double- and triple-line SN chains. Strong plasmon
      coupling effects in the SN chains result in great electric field enhancements at
      visible and infrared wavelengths, which indicates that these chain structures
      potentially can be used as a common substrate for both surface enhanced Raman
      scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) application.
      This fabrication method also offers a general strategy alternative to top-down
      processing that enables the construction of nanostructures for metamaterials,
      electromagnetic energy transport, and optical waveguide. 

PMID- 26864390
TI  - Technique of Hill's Gastropexy Combined with Sleeve Gastrectomy for Patients with
      Morbid Obesity and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or Hiatal Hernia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Observational studies based on quality-of-life and endoscopy relate
      sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while some
      functional studies have demonstrated a decrease in esophageal exposure to gastric
      acid after SG. Currently, it is recommended to treat hiatal hernia along with the
      SG. However, as the sleeve gastrectomy involves the resection of the fundus, it
      is not possible to add a traditional fundoplication to the closure of the hiatus.
      METHODS: Based on the classic works of Hill et al., and more recent studies by
      Swanstrom and Aye, our group has incorporated a modified Hill's gastropexy to the
      sleeve gastrectomy for patients with pathologic GERD and/or huge hiatal hernia
      submitted to weight loss surgery. RESULTS: A 28-year-old male patient, 43 kg/m(2)
      BMI, with a small hiatal hernia and pathologic GERD was scheduled for sleeve
      gastrectomy. After complete fundus and left crus dissection, the phrenoesophageal
      membrane was opened and the distal esophagus dissected. The hiatus was closed
      with interrupted sutures. The sleeve was completed over a 42-French bougie. The
      preaortic fascia was dissected at the root of the crura and three interrupted
      sutures placed approximating the gastroesophageal junction to the aforementioned
      fascia. At 6 months from the operation, weight loss has been satisfactory and the
      patient does not complaint GERD. Barium swallow demonstrates absence of
      gastroesophageal reflux, pHmetry and manometry have normalized, and endoscopy
      shows no esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: Gastropexy to the preaortic fascia is a
      possible antireflux technique to combine with SG.

PMID- 26864391
TI  - Fast and accurate Monte Carlo sampling of first-passage times from Wiener
      diffusion models.
AB  - We present a new, fast approach for drawing boundary crossing samples from Wiener
      diffusion models. Diffusion models are widely applied to model choices and
      reaction times in two-choice decisions. Samples from these models can be used to
      simulate the choices and reaction times they predict. These samples, in turn, can
      be utilized to adjust the models' parameters to match observed behavior from
      humans and other animals. Usually, such samples are drawn by simulating a
      stochastic differential equation in discrete time steps, which is slow and leads
      to biases in the reaction time estimates. Our method, instead, facilitates known
      expressions for first-passage time densities, which results in unbiased, exact
      samples and a hundred to thousand-fold speed increase in typical situations. In
      its most basic form it is restricted to diffusion models with symmetric
      boundaries and non-leaky accumulation, but our approach can be extended to also
      handle asymmetric boundaries or to approximate leaky accumulation. 

PMID- 26864392
TI  - Rational design and synthesis of a porous, task-specific polycarbazole for
      efficient CO2 capture.
AB  - We present a rational design and synthesis of a novel porous pyridine
      functionalized polycarbazole for efficient CO2 capture based on the density
      functional theory calculations. The task-specific polymer, generated through a
      one-step FeCl3-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction, exhibits a superior CO2
      uptake at 1.0 bar and 273 K (5.57 mmol g(-1)). 

PMID- 26864393
TI  - Sequentially Different AB Diblock and ABA Triblock Copolymers as P3HT:PCBM
      Interfacial Compatibilizers for Bulk-Heterojunction Photovoltaics.
AB  - The P3HT:PCBM (P3HT = poly(3-hexylthiophene, PCBM = phenyl-C61-butyric acid
      methyl ester) bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells using
      the AB diblock and ABA triblock copolymers (A = polystyrene derivative with donor
      acceptor units (PTCNE) and B = P3HT) as compatibilizers were fabricated. Under
      the optimized blend ratio of the block copolymer, the power conversion efficiency
      (PCE) was enhanced. This PCE enhancement was clearly related to the increased
      short-circuit current (J(sc)) and fill factor (FF). The incident photon to
      current efficiency (IPCE) measurement suggested that the P3HT crystallinity was
      improved upon addition of the block copolymers. The increased P3HT crystallinity
      was consistent with the increased photovoltaic parameters, such as J(sc), FF, and
      consequently the PCE. The surface energies of these block copolymers suggested
      their thermodynamically stable location at the interface of P3HT:PCBM, showing
      the efficient compatibilizing performance, resulting in enlarging and fixing the
      interfacial area and suppressing the recombination of the generated carriers.
      Grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS) results confirmed the superior
      compatibilizing performance of the ABA triblock copolymer when compared to the AB
      diblock copolymer by the fact that, after blending the ABA triblock copolymer in
      the P3HT:PCBM system, the enhanced crystallinity of matrix P3HT was observed in
      the excluded areas of the less-aggregated PCBM domains, changing the P3HT
      crystalline domain orientation from "edge-on" to "isotropic". This is, to the
      best of our knowledge, the first sequential effect (AB vs ABA) of the block
      copolymers on the compatibilizing performances based on BHJ OPV device systems.

PMID- 26864394
TI  - The one-pot multienzyme (OPME) synthesis of human blood group H antigens and a
      human milk oligosaccharide (HMOS) with highly active Thermosynechococcus
      elongates alpha1-2-fucosyltransferase.
AB  - A novel alpha1-2-fucosyltransferase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1
      (Te2FT) with high fucosyltransferase activity and low donor hydrolysis activity
      was discovered and characterized. It was used in an efficient one-pot multienzyme
      (OPME) fucosylation system for the high-yield synthesis of human blood group H
      antigens containing beta1-3-linked galactosides and an important human milk
      oligosaccharide (HMOS) lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP I) on preparative and gram
      scales. LNFP I was shown to be selectively consumed by Bifidobacterium longum
      subsp. infantis but not Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and is a potential
      prebiotic.

PMID- 26864399
TI  - Moon: Yoshida Hodaka.

PMID- 26864396
TI  - Insertable cardiac monitors in the diagnosis of syncope and the detection of
      atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Insertable or implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) continuously
      monitor the heart rhythm and record irregularities over 3 years, enabling the
      diagnosis of infrequent rhythm abnormalities associated with syncope and stroke.
      The enhanced recognition capabilities of recent ICM models are able to accurately
      detect atrial fibrillation (AF) and have led to new applications of ICMs for the
      detection and monitoring of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on a systematic
      literature search, two indications were identified for ICMs for which
      considerable evidence, including randomized studies, exists: diagnosing the
      underlying cardiac cause of unexplained recurrent syncope and detecting AF in
      patients after cryptogenic stroke (CS). Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      were identified that compared the effectiveness of ICMs in diagnosing patients
      with unexplained syncope (n = 556) to standard of care. A meta-analysis was
      conducted in order to generate an overall effect size and confidence interval of
      the diagnostic yield of ICMs versus conventional monitoring. In the indication
      CS, one RCT and five observational studies were included in order to assess the
      performance of ICMs in diagnosing patients with AF (n = 1129). Based on these
      studies, there is strong evidence that ICMs provide a higher diagnostic yield for
      detecting arrhythmias in patients with unexplained syncope and for detection of
      AF in patients after CS compared to conventional monitoring. CONCLUSIONS:
      Prolonged monitoring with ICMs is an effective tool for diagnosing the underlying
      cardiac cause of unexplained syncope and for detecting AF in patients with CS. In
      all RCTs, ICMs have a superior diagnostic yield compared to conventional
      monitoring.

PMID- 26864395
TI  - Association of Patient Age at Gastric Bypass Surgery With Long-term All-Cause and
      Cause-Specific Mortality.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Bariatric surgery is effective in reducing all-cause and cause
      specific long-term mortality. Whether the long-term mortality benefit of surgery
      applies to all ages at which surgery is performed is not known. OBJECTIVE: To
      examine whether gastric bypass surgery is equally effective in reducing mortality
      in groups undergoing surgery at different ages. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: All-cause and cause-specific mortality rates and hazard ratios
      (HRs) were estimated from a retrospective cohort within 4 categories defined by
      age at surgery: younger than 35 years, 35 through 44 years, 45 through 54 years,
      and 55 through 74 years. Mean follow-up was 7.2 years. Patients undergoing
      gastric bypass surgery seen at a private surgical practice from January 1, 1984,
      through December 31, 2002, were studied. Data analysis was performed from June
      12, 2013, to September 6, 2015. A cohort of 7925 patients undergoing gastric
      bypass surgery and 7925 group-matched, severely obese individuals who did not
      undergo surgery were identified through driver license records. Matching criteria
      included year of surgery to year of driver license application, sex, 5-year age
      groups, and 3 body mass index categories. INTERVENTION: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
      surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: All-cause and cause-specific mortality
      compared between those undergoing and not undergoing gastric bypass surgery using
      HRs. RESULTS: Among the 7925 patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery, the
      mean (SD) age at surgery was 39.5 (10.5) years, and the mean (SD) presurgical
      body mass index was 45.3 (7.4). Compared with 7925 matched individuals not
      undergoing surgery, adjusted all-cause mortality after gastric bypass surgery was
      significantly lower for patients 35 through 44 years old (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38
      0.77), 45 through 54 years old (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30-0.62), and 55 through 74
      years old (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.79; P < .003 for all) but was not lower for
      those younger than 35 years (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.82-1.81; P = .34). The lack of
      mortality benefit in those undergoing gastric bypass surgery at ages younger than
      35 years primarily derived from a significantly higher number of externally
      caused deaths (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.27-5.07; P = .009), particularly among women
      (HR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.4-6.7; P = .005). Patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery
      had a significantly lower age-related increase in mortality than severely obese
      individuals not undergoing surgery (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Gastric
      bypass surgery was associated with improved long-term survival for all patients
      undergoing surgery at ages older than 35 years, with externally caused deaths
      only elevated in younger women. Gastric bypass surgery is protective against
      mortality even for older patients and also reduces the age-related increase in
      mortality observed in severely obese individuals not undergoing surgery.

PMID- 26864406
TI  - Machine Learning and the Profession of Medicine.

PMID- 26864407
TI  - A PIECE OF MY MIND. Can I Eat Yet?

PMID- 26864408
TI  - Improving Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing: Another Nudge in the Right
      Direction.

PMID- 26864409
TI  - Learning From the Past to Improve VA Health Care.

PMID- 26864410
TI  - Effect of Behavioral Interventions on Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing Among
      Primary Care Practices: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Interventions based on behavioral science might reduce inappropriate
      antibiotic prescribing. OBJECTIVE: To assess effects of behavioral interventions
      and rates of inappropriate (not guideline-concordant) antibiotic prescribing
      during ambulatory visits for acute respiratory tract infections. DESIGN, SETTING,
      AND PARTICIPANTS: Cluster randomized clinical trial conducted among 47 primary
      care practices in Boston and Los Angeles. Participants were 248 enrolled
      clinicians randomized to receive 0, 1, 2, or 3 interventions for 18 months. All
      clinicians received education on antibiotic prescribing guidelines on enrollment.
      Interventions began between November 1, 2011, and October 1, 2012. Follow-up for
      the latest-starting sites ended on April 1, 2014. Adult patients with
      comorbidities and concomitant infections were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Three
      behavioral interventions, implemented alone or in combination: suggested
      alternatives presented electronic order sets suggesting nonantibiotic treatments;
      accountable justification prompted clinicians to enter free-text justifications
      for prescribing antibiotics into patients' electronic health records; peer
      comparison sent emails to clinicians that compared their antibiotic prescribing
      rates with those of "top performers" (those with the lowest inappropriate
      prescribing rates). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Antibiotic prescribing rates for
      visits with antibiotic-inappropriate diagnoses (nonspecific upper respiratory
      tract infections, acute bronchitis, and influenza) from 18 months preintervention
      to 18 months afterward, adjusting each intervention's effects for co-occurring
      interventions and preintervention trends, with random effects for practices and
      clinicians. RESULTS: There were 14,753 visits (mean patient age, 47 years; 69%
      women) for antibiotic-inappropriate acute respiratory tract infections during the
      baseline period and 16,959 visits (mean patient age, 48 years; 67% women) during
      the intervention period. Mean antibiotic prescribing rates decreased from 24.1%
      at intervention start to 13.1% at intervention month 18 (absolute difference, 
      11.0%) for control practices; from 22.1% to 6.1% (absolute difference, -16.0%)
      for suggested alternatives (difference in differences, -5.0% [95% CI, -7.8% to
      0.1%]; P = .66 for differences in trajectories); from 23.2% to 5.2% (absolute
      difference, -18.1%) for accountable justification (difference in differences, 
      7.0% [95% CI, -9.1% to -2.9%]; P < .001); and from 19.9% to 3.7% (absolute
      difference, -16.3%) for peer comparison (difference in differences, -5.2% [95%
      CI, -6.9% to -1.6%]; P < .001). There were no statistically significant
      interactions (neither synergy nor interference) between interventions.
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among primary care practices, the use of accountable
      justification and peer comparison as behavioral interventions resulted in lower
      rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract
      infections. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01454947.

PMID- 26864412
TI  - Association of Admission to Veterans Affairs Hospitals vs Non-Veterans Affairs
      Hospitals With Mortality and Readmission Rates Among Older Men Hospitalized With
      Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, or Pneumonia.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Little contemporary information is available about comparative
      performance between Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA hospitals, particularly
      related to mortality and readmission rates, 2 important outcomes of care.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare mortality and readmission rates among men in VA
      and non-VA hospitals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis
      involving male Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 years or older
      hospitalized between 2010 and 2013 in VA and non-VA acute care hospitals for
      acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), or pneumonia using the
      Medicare Standard Analytic Files and Enrollment Database together with VA
      administrative claims data. To avoid confounding geographic effects with health
      care system effects, we studied VA and non-VA hospitals within the same
      metropolitan statistical area (MSA). EXPOSURES: Hospitalization in a VA or non-VA
      hospital in MSAs that contained at least 1 VA and non-VA hospital. MAIN OUTCOMES
      AND MEASURES: For each condition, 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates and
      risk-standardized readmission rates for VA and non-VA hospitals. Mean aggregated
      within-MSA differences in mortality and readmission rates were also assessed.
      RESULTS: We studied 104 VA and 1513 non-VA hospitals, with each condition-outcome
      analysis cohort for VA and non-VA hospitals containing at least 7900 patients
      (men; >=65 years), in 92 MSAs. Mortality rates were lower in VA hospitals than
      non-VA hospitals for AMI (13.5% vs 13.7%, P = .02; -0.2 percentage-point
      difference) and HF (11.4% vs 11.9%, P = .008; -0.5 percentage-point difference),
      but higher for pneumonia (12.6% vs 12.2%, P = .045; 0.4 percentage-point
      difference). In contrast, readmission rates were higher in VA hospitals for all 3
      conditions (AMI, 17.8% vs 17.2%, 0.6 percentage-point difference; HF, 24.7% vs
      23.5%, 1.2 percentage-point difference; pneumonia, 19.4% vs 18.7%, 0.7 percentage
      point difference, all P < .001). In within-MSA comparisons, VA hospitals had
      lower mortality rates for AMI (percentage-point difference, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.40
      to -0.04) and HF (-0.63; 95% CI, -0.95 to -0.31), and mortality rates for
      pneumonia were not significantly different (-0.03; 95% CI, -0.46 to 0.40);
      however, VA hospitals had higher readmission rates for AMI (0.62; 95% CI, 0.48 to
      0.75), HF (0.97; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.34), or pneumonia (0.66; 95% CI, 0.41 to
      0.91). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among older men with AMI, HF, or pneumonia,
      hospitalization at VA hospitals, compared with hospitalization at non-VA
      hospitals, was associated with lower 30-day risk-standardized all-cause mortality
      rates for AMI and HF, and higher 30-day risk-standardized all-cause readmission
      rates for all 3 conditions, both nationally and within similar geographic areas,
      although absolute differences between these outcomes at VA and non-VA hospitals
      were small.

PMID- 26864413
TI  - Antibiotic Therapy for Adults Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Antibiotic therapy is the cornerstone of medical management for
      community-acquired pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between 3 key
      aspects of antibiotic therapy (optimal time to antibiotic initiation, initial
      antibiotic selection, and criteria for the transition from intravenous to oral
      therapy) and short-term mortality in adults hospitalized with community-acquired
      pneumonia. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Bibliographic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the
      Cochrane Collaboration were searched for studies of adults hospitalized with
      radiographically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia published from January 1,
      1995, until November 5, 2015. FINDINGS: Twenty studies (17 observational and 3
      randomized trials) met eligibility criteria. Among 8 observational studies
      identified, the 4 largest (study populations of 2878 to 1,170,022) found that
      antibiotic initiation within 4 to 8 hours of hospital arrival was associated with
      relative reductions of 5% to 43% in mortality; the 4 smallest studies (study
      populations of 451 to 2076) found no associations between the timing of
      antibiotic initiation and mortality. One cluster randomized trial (n = 1737)
      demonstrated noninferiority of beta-lactam monotherapy (n = 506) vs beta-lactam
      plus macrolide combination therapy (n = 566), with an absolute adjusted
      difference of 2.5% (90% CI, -0.6% to 5.2%) in 90-day mortality favoring beta
      lactam monotherapy. A second randomized trial (n = 580) failed to demonstrate
      noninferiority of beta-lactam monotherapy vs beta-lactam plus macrolide
      combination therapy, with an absolute difference of 7.6% (1-sided 90% CI upper
      limit, 13.0%) in attainment of clinical stability on hospital day 7 favoring beta
      lactam plus macrolide combination therapy. Six of 8 observational studies (study
      populations of 1188 to 24,780) found that beta-lactam plus macrolide combination
      therapy was associated with relative reductions of 26% to 68% in short-term
      mortality and all 3 observational studies (study populations of 2068 to 24,780)
      reported that fluoroquinolone monotherapy was associated with relative reductions
      of 30% to 43% in mortality compared with beta-lactam monotherapy. One randomized
      trial (n = 302) reported significantly reduced hospital length of stay (absolute
      difference, 1.9 days; 95% CI, 0.6 to 3.2 days), but no differences in treatment
      failure when objective clinical criteria were used to decide when to transition
      patients from intravenous to oral therapy. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In adults
      hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, antibiotic therapy consisting of
      beta-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy or fluoroquinolone monotherapy
      initiated within 4 to 8 hours of hospital arrival was associated with lower
      adjusted short-term mortality, supported predominantly by low-quality
      observational studies. One randomized trial supports the use of objective
      clinical criteria to guide the transition from intravenous to oral antibiotic
      therapy.

PMID- 26864414
TI  - Changing the "Working While Sick" Culture: Promoting Fitness for Duty in Health
      Care.

PMID- 26864415
TI  - HbA1c in the Evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus.

PMID- 26864411
TI  - Effect of a Task-Oriented Rehabilitation Program on Upper Extremity Recovery
      Following Motor Stroke: The ICARE Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Clinical trials suggest that higher doses of task-oriented training
      are superior to current clinical practice for patients with stroke with upper
      extremity motor deficits. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a structured,
      task-oriented motor training program vs usual and customary occupational therapy
      (UCC) during stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Phase 3,
      pragmatic, single-blind randomized trial among 361 participants with moderate
      motor impairment recruited from 7 US hospitals over 44 months, treated in the
      outpatient setting from June 2009 to March 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Structured, task
      oriented upper extremity training (Accelerated Skill Acquisition Program [ASAP];
      n = 119); dose-equivalent occupational therapy (DEUCC; n = 120); or monitoring
      only occupational therapy (UCC; n = 122). The DEUCC group was prescribed 30 one
      hour sessions over 10 weeks; the UCC group was only monitored, without
      specification of dose. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was 12
      month change in log-transformed Wolf Motor Function Test time score (WMFT,
      consisting of a mean of 15 timed arm movements and hand dexterity tasks).
      Secondary outcomes were change in WMFT time score (minimal clinically important
      difference [MCID] = 19 seconds) and proportion of patients improving >=25 points
      on the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) hand function score (MCID = 17.8 points).
      RESULTS: Among the 361 randomized patients (mean age, 60.7 years; 56% men; 42%
      African American; mean time since stroke onset, 46 days), 304 (84%) completed the
      12-month primary outcome assessment; in intention-to-treat analysis, mean group
      change scores (log WMFT, baseline to 12 months) were, for the ASAP group, 2.2 to
      1.4 (difference, 0.82); DEUCC group, 2.0 to 1.2 (difference, 0.84); and UCC
      group, 2.1 to 1.4 (difference, 0.75), with no significant between-group
      differences (ASAP vs DEUCC: 0.14; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.33; P = .16; ASAP vs UCC: 
      0.01; 95% CI, -0.22 to 0.21; P = .94; and DEUCC vs UCC: -0.14; 95% CI, -0.32 to
      0.05; P = .15). Secondary outcomes for the ASAP group were WMFT change score, 
      8.8 seconds, and improved SIS, 73%; DEUCC group, WMFT, -8.1 seconds, and SIS,
      72%; and UCC group, WMFT, -7.2 seconds, and SIS, 69%, with no significant
      pairwise between-group differences (ASAP vs DEUCC: WMFT, 1.8 seconds; 95% CI, 
      0.8 to 4.5 seconds; P = .18; improved SIS, 1%; 95% CI, -12% to 13%; P = .54; ASAP
      vs UCC: WMFT, -0.6 seconds, 95% CI, -3.8 to 2.6 seconds; P = .72; improved SIS,
      4%; 95% CI, -9% to 16%; P = .48; and DEUCC vs UCC: WMFT, -2.1 seconds; 95% CI, 
      4.5 to 0.3 seconds; P = .08; improved SIS, 3%; 95% CI, -9% to 15%; P = .22). A
      total of 168 serious adverse events occurred in 109 participants, resulting in 8
      patients withdrawing from the study. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients
      with motor stroke and primarily moderate upper extremity impairment, use of a
      structured, task-oriented rehabilitation program did not significantly improve
      motor function or recovery beyond either an equivalent or a lower dose of UCC
      upper extremity rehabilitation. These findings do not support superiority of this
      program among patients with motor stroke and primarily moderate upper extremity
      impairment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00871715.

PMID- 26864416
TI  - Major Causes of Injury Death and the Life Expectancy Gap Between the United
      States and Other High-Income Countries.

PMID- 26864417
TI  - Blood Pressure Control and Recurrence of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

PMID- 26864418
TI  - Blood Pressure Control and Recurrence of Intracerebral Hemorrhage--Reply.

PMID- 26864419
TI  - Value of Personalized Medicine.

PMID- 26864420
TI  - Value of Personalized Medicine.

PMID- 26864421
TI  - Value of Personalized Medicine--Reply.

PMID- 26864423
TI  - Misstated Terminology.

PMID- 26864425
TI  - The Highlands of Medicine.

PMID- 26864426
TI  - JAMA PATIENT PAGE. Pneumonia.

PMID- 26864427
TI  - Keratinizing desquamative squamous metaplasia in the kidney of a patient with
      complex spinal cord injury.
AB  - CONTEXT: Keratinizing desquamative squamous metaplasia (KDSM) of the upper
      urinary tract was previously thought, but never proven, to represent a
      premalignant condition. However, no clear guidelines exist regarding the long
      term management and follow up once this rare diagnosis has been made. FINDINGS:
      Patients with spinal cord injury often develop a range of risk factors for
      malignancy of the urinary tract. We present the first reported case of KDSM in
      the kidney of a 44-year-old man with spinal cord injury whose complex urological
      history includes previous augmentation cystoplasty, recurrent calculi, infections
      and indwelling catheters. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recent literature has suggested a
      move away from the previous mainstay of treatment with radical surgery towards
      nephron-sparing endoscopic and radiological surveillance. This case highlights
      the complexity of preserving renal function in a spinal cord injured patient with
      KDSM of the kidney.

PMID- 26864428
TI  - Microbially assisted recording of the Earth's magnetic field in sediment.
AB  - Sediments continuously record variations of the Earth's magnetic field and thus
      provide an important archive for studying the geodynamo. The recording process
      occurs as magnetic grains partially align with the geomagnetic field during and
      after sediment deposition, generating a depositional remanent magnetization (DRM)
      or post-DRM (PDRM). (P)DRM acquisition mechanisms have been investigated for over
      50 years, yet many aspects remain unclear. A key issue concerns the controversial
      role of bioturbation, that is, the mechanical disturbance of sediment by benthic
      organisms, during PDRM acquisition. A recent theory on bioturbation-driven PDRM
      appears to solve many inconsistencies between laboratory experiments and
      palaeomagnetic records, yet it lacks experimental proof. Here we fill this gap by
      documenting the important role of bioturbation-induced rotational diffusion for
      (P)DRM acquisition, including the control exerted on the recorded inclination and
      intensity, as determined by the equilibrium between aligning and perturbing
      torques acting on magnetic particles. 

PMID- 26864430
TI  - Hirschsprung disease with debut in adult age as acute intestinal obstruction:
      case report.
AB  - Hirschsprung's disease is characterized by absence of ganglion cells in
      submucosal and myenteric plexus of distal bowel. Most cases become manifest
      during the neonatal period, but in rare instances, this disease is initially
      diagnosed in adult age. It usually presents as severe constipation with colonic
      dilatation proximal to the aganglionic segment. The treatment is surgical,
      removing the aganglionic segment and restoring continuity of digestive tract. The
      disease rarely presents as an acute intestinal obstruction. We report a case not
      previously diagnosed, which presented as a massive colonic dilatation with a
      maximum diameter of 44 cm, with imminent risk of drilling that forced to perform
      an emergency surgery. We include a review of existing literature.

PMID- 26864429
TI  - Microbial communities affecting albumen photography heritage: a methodological
      survey.
AB  - This study is one of the few investigations which analyze albumen prints, perhaps
      the most important photographic heritage of the late 19(th) and early 20(th)
      centuries. The chemical composition of photographic samples was assessed using
      Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. These two non
      invasive techniques revealed the complex nature of albumen prints, which are
      composed of a mixture of proteins, cellulose and salts. Microbial sampling was
      performed using cellulose nitrate membranes which also permitted the trapped
      microflora to be observed with a scanning electron microscope. Microbial analysis
      was performed using the combination of culture-dependent (cultivation in
      different media, including one 3% NaCl) and culture-independent (bacterial and
      fungal cloning and sequencing) approaches. The isolated microorganisms were
      screened for their lipolytic, proteolytic, cellulolytic, catalase and peroxidase
      activities. The combination of the culture-dependent and -independent techniques
      together with enzymatic assays revealed a substantial microbial diversity with
      several deteriogen microorganisms from the genera Bacillus, Kocuria, Streptomyces
      and Geobacillus and the fungal strains Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bjerkandera
      adusta, Pleurotus pulmonarius and Trichothecium roseum. 

PMID- 26864431
TI  - Staying in Shape: the Impact of Cell Shape on Bacterial Survival in Diverse
      Environments.
AB  - Bacteria display an abundance of cellular forms and can change shape during their
      life cycle. Many plausible models regarding the functional significance of cell
      morphology have emerged. A greater understanding of the genetic programs
      underpinning morphological variation in diverse bacterial groups, combined with
      assays of bacteria under conditions that mimic their varied natural environments,
      from flowing freshwater streams to diverse human body sites, provides new
      opportunities to probe the functional significance of cell shape. Here we explore
      shape diversity among bacteria, at the levels of cell geometry, size, and surface
      appendages (both placement and number), as it relates to survival in diverse
      environments. Cell shape in most bacteria is determined by the cell wall. A major
      challenge in this field has been deconvoluting the effects of differences in the
      chemical properties of the cell wall and the resulting cell shape perturbations
      on observed fitness changes. Still, such studies have begun to reveal the
      selective pressures that drive the diverse forms (or cell wall compositions)
      observed in mammalian pathogens and bacteria more generally, including efficient
      adherence to biotic and abiotic surfaces, survival under low-nutrient or
      stressful conditions, evasion of mammalian complement deposition, efficient
      dispersal through mucous barriers and tissues, and efficient nutrient
      acquisition. 

PMID- 26864434
TI  - High-resolution isotope measurements resolve rapid ecohydrological dynamics at
      the soil-plant interface.
AB  - Plants rely primarily on rainfall infiltrating their root zones - a supply that
      is inherently variable, and fluctuations are predicted to increase on most of the
      Earth's surface. Yet, interrelationships between water availability and plant use
      on short timescales are difficult to quantify and remain poorly understood. To
      overcome previous methodological limitations, we coupled high-resolution in situ
      observations of stable isotopes in soil and transpiration water. We applied the
      approach along with Bayesian mixing modeling to track the fate of (2) H-labeled
      rain pulses following drought through soil and plants of deciduous tree
      ecosystems. We resolve how rainwater infiltrates the root zones in a
      nonequilibrium process and show that tree species differ in their ability to
      quickly acquire the newly available source. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
      adjusted root uptake to vertical water availability patterns under drought, but
      readjustment toward the rewetted topsoil was delayed. By contrast, European beech
      (Fagus sylvatica) readily utilized water from all soil depths independent of
      water depletion, enabling faster uptake of rainwater. Our results demonstrate
      that species-specific plasticity and responses to water supply fluctuations on
      short timescales can now be identified and must be considered to predict
      vegetation functional dynamics and water cycling under current and future
      climatic conditions.

PMID- 26864433
TI  - Mammalian cells lacking either the cotranslational or posttranslocational
      oligosaccharyltransferase complex display substrate-dependent defects in
      asparagine linked glycosylation.
AB  - Asparagine linked glycosylation of proteins is an essential protein modification
      reaction in most eukaryotic organisms. Metazoan organisms express two
      oligosaccharyltransferase complexes that are composed of a catalytic subunit
      (STT3A or STT3B) assembled with a shared set of accessory subunits and one to two
      complex specific subunits. siRNA mediated knockdowns of STT3A and STT3B in HeLa
      cells have shown that the two OST complexes have partially non-overlapping roles
      in N-linked glycosylation. However, incomplete siRNA mediated depletion of STT3A
      or STT3B reduces the impact of OST complex loss, thereby complicating the
      interpretation of experimental results. Here, we have used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene
      editing technology to create viable HEK293 derived cells lines that are deficient
      for a single catalytic subunit (STT3A or STT3B) or two STT3B-specific accessory
      subunits (MagT1 and TUSC3). Analysis of protein glycosylation in the STT3A, STT3B
      and MagT1/TUSC3 null cell lines revealed that these cell lines are superior tools
      for investigating the in vivo role and substrate preferences of the STT3A and
      STT3B complexes. 

PMID- 26864437
TI  - Asymmetric, Three-Component, One-Pot Synthesis of Spiropyrazolones and 2,5
      Chromenediones from Aldol Condensation/NHC-Catalyzed Annulation Reactions.
AB  - A novel one-pot, three-component diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of
      spiropyrazolones has been developed involving the aldol condensation of an enal
      to generate alpha,beta-unsaturated pyrazolones, which react with a second
      equivalent of enal through an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed [3+2]
      annulation. The desired spirocyclopentane pyrazolones are obtained in moderate to
      good yields and good to excellent stereoselectivities. Alternatively, starting
      from cyclic 1,3-diketones, 2,5-chromenediones are available through [2+4]
      annulation. 

PMID- 26864436
TI  - Decoration of intramyocellular lipid droplets with PLIN5 modulates fasting
      induced insulin resistance and lipotoxicity in humans.
AB  - AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In contrast to insulin-resistant individuals, insulin-sensitive
      athletes possess high intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL), good mitochondrial
      function and high perilipin 5 (PLIN5) levels, suggesting a role for PLIN5 in
      benign IMCL storage. We hypothesised a role for PLIN5 in modulating fasting
      mediated insulin resistance. METHODS: Twelve men were fasted for 60 h, before and
      after which muscle biopsies were taken and stained for lipid droplets (LDs),
      PLIN5 and laminin. Confocal microscopy images were analysed for LD size, number,
      PLIN5 association and subcellular distribution. RESULTS: Fasting elevated IMCL
      content 2.8-fold and reduced insulin sensitivity (by 55%). Individuals with the
      most prominent increase in IMCL showed the least reduction in insulin sensitivity
      (r = 0.657; p = 0.028) and mitochondrial function (r = 0.896; p = 0.006). During
      fasting, PLIN5 gene expression or PLIN5 protein content in muscle homogenates was
      unaffected, microscopy analyses revealed that the fraction of PLIN5 associated
      with LDs (PLIN5+) increased significantly (+26%) upon fasting, suggesting PLIN5
      redistribution. The significant increase in LD number (+23%) and size (+23%) upon
      fasting was entirely accounted for by PLIN5+ LDs, not by LDs devoid of PLIN5.
      Also the association between IMCL storage capacity and insulin resistance and
      mitochondrial dysfunction was only apparent for PLIN5+ LDs.
      CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Fasting results in subcellular redistribution of
      PLIN5 and promotes the capacity to store excess fat in larger and more numerous
      PLIN5-decorated LDs. This associates with blunting of fasting-induced insulin
      resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting a role for PLIN5 in the
      modulation of fasting-mediated lipotoxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: trialregister.nl
      NTR 2042.

PMID- 26864438
TI  - Knowledge and Attitudes About Oral Cancer Among Dental Students After Bologna
      Plan Implementation.
AB  - Oral cancer is the most common of head and neck tumours. Dentists have an
      important role in the most effective prevention measures: controlling
      aetiological factors and early detection. Dental curriculum has suffered changes
      in their structures and contents during Bologna process. The aim of this study is
      to explore oral cancer knowledge and attitudes among dental students of Granada
      after the implementation of the Bologna plan. A cross-sectional study was carried
      out in the School of Dentistry of the University of Granada. A questionnaire was
      delivered to dental students in the fourth and fifth years (of study) to assess
      knowledge and attitudes about oral cancer area. 79.3 % related that they examined
      the oral mucosa from their patients regularly. Almost the whole sample (95.9 %)
      said that they would advise their patients about risk factors for oral cancer
      when they graduated. Tobacco followed by alcohol was the main oral cancer risk
      factor identified (94.2 and 72.7 %, respectively). 96.7 % of the sample would
      like to receive more information about this subject. Fourth year students had
      taught self-examination for early detection of oral cancer more frequently than
      fifth year students (42.5 versus 22.9 %, respectively). The results of this study
      revealed that dental students had good attitudes in the area of oral cancer. On
      the other hand, it highlights the need for an improvement of the teaching program
      regarding risk factors for oral cancer and performing routine oral examination.

PMID- 26864439
TI  - Quality of life in functional rhinoplasty: rhinoplasty outcomes evaluation German
      version (ROE-D).
AB  - The aim of this study was to validate a German version of the rhinoplasty
      outcomes evaluation (ROE) questionnaire. A prospective study was conducted and a
      German translated ROE (ROE-D) questionnaire administered to 100 patients
      preoperatively, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The translation was performed
      according to internationally accepted guidelines. To validate this instrument, we
      evaluated its reliability, validity and sensitivity. ROE-D was completed by 54
      patients after 6 months and by 69 patients 1 year after functional rhinoplasty.
      Cronbach's alpha indicated good internal consistency. Reliability was tested with
      a split-half-reliability, showing significant correlation. Discrimination
      validity was demonstrated by a comparison with healthy controls. Sensitivity to
      change showed medium to large effects. ROE-D is a reliable, validated and
      sensitive German instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in
      patients after rhinoplasty. The ROE-D focuses mainly on the aesthetic aspects of
      the rhinoplasty surgery. 

PMID- 26864441
TI  - Male Breast Cancer Has Limited Effect on Survivor's Perceptions of Their Own
      Masculinity.
AB  - The purpose of the current study was to describe male breast cancer in
      Johannesburg, South Africa, and assess whether male breast cancer patients'
      perception of their own masculinity was affected by having a cancer commonly seen
      in women. A retrospective file review was carried out at two hospitals, one
      private and one government, of male breast cancer patients from 2007 to 2012
      followed by a telephone survey of patients identified during review. Of
      approximately 3,000 breast cancer patients seen in the 5 years reviewed, 23 cases
      of male breast cancer were identified. Most were diagnosed with invasive ductal
      carcinoma ( n = 19, 83%). Stage at presentation was from stages 0 to 3 (Stage 0 [
      n = 2, 9%], Stage 1 [ n = 3, 13%], Stage 2 [ n = 12, 52%], Stage 3 [ n = 6, 26%])
      and no patients were metastatic at presentation. The telephonic survey was
      completed by 18 patients (78%). Nearly all ( n = 17/18) shared their diagnosis
      with family and close friends. Two thirds of patients delayed presentation and
      government hospital patients were more likely to present later than private
      sector hospital patients. Although most male breast cancer patients sampled did
      not perceive the breast cancer diagnosis as affecting their masculinity, Black
      men and those treated in government hospitals were less likely to be aware of
      male breast cancer, and were more likely to have their perception of their own
      masculinity affected.

PMID- 26864440
TI  - Reviewing the Assumptions About Men's Mental Health: An Exploration of the Gender
      Binary.
AB  - Many researchers take for granted that men's mental health can be explained in
      the same terms as women's or can be gauged using the same measures. Women tend to
      have higher rates of internalizing disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety), while
      men experience more externalizing symptoms (i.e., violence, substance abuse).
      These patterns are often attributed to gender differences in socialization
      (including the acquisition of expectations associated with traditional gender
      roles), help seeking, coping, and socioeconomic status. However, measurement bias
      (inadequate survey assessment of men's experiences) and clinician bias
      (practitioner's subconscious tendency to overlook male distress) may lead to
      underestimates of the prevalence of depression and anxiety among men. Continuing
      to focus on gender differences in mental health may obscure significant within
      gender group differences in men's symptomatology. In order to better understand
      men's lived experiences and their psychological well-being, it is crucial for
      scholars to focus exclusively on men's mental health.

PMID- 26864442
TI  - Myristoylation increases the CD8+T-cell response to a GFP prototype antigen
      delivered by modified vaccinia virus Ankara.
AB  - Activation of CD8(+)T-cells is an essential part of immune responses elicited by
      recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). Strategies to enhance T-cell
      responses to antigens may be particularly necessary for broadly protective
      immunization against influenza A virus infections or for candidate vaccines
      targeting chronic infections and cancer. Here, we tested recombinant MVAs that
      targeted a model antigen, GFP, to different localizations in infected cells. In
      vitro characterization demonstrated that GFP accumulated in the nucleus (MVA-nls
      GFP), associated with cellular membranes (MVA-myr-GFP) or was equally distributed
      throughout the cell (MVA-GFP). On vaccination, we found significantly higher
      levels of GFP-specific CD8(+)T-cells in MVA-myr-GFP-vaccinated BALB/c mice than
      in those immunized with MVA-GFP or MVA-nls-GFP. Thus, myristoyl modification may
      be a useful strategy to enhance CD8(+)T-cell responses to MVA-delivered target
      antigens.

PMID- 26864443
TI  - Oxidative elemental cycling under the low O2 Eoarchean atmosphere.
AB  - The Great Oxidation Event signals the first large-scale oxygenation of the
      atmosphere roughly 2.4 Gyr ago. Geochemical signals diagnostic of oxidative
      weathering, however, extend as far back as 3.3-2.9 Gyr ago. 3.8-3.7 Gyr old rocks
      from Isua, Greenland stand as a deep time outpost, recording information on
      Earth's earliest surface chemistry and the low oxygen primordial biosphere. Here
      we find fractionated Cr isotopes, relative to the igneous silicate Earth
      reservoir, in metamorphosed banded iron formations (BIFs) from Isua that indicate
      oxidative Cr cycling 3.8-3.7 Gyr ago. Elevated U/Th ratios in these BIFs relative
      to the contemporary crust, also signal oxidative mobilization of U. We suggest
      that reactive oxygen species were present in the Eoarchean surface environment,
      under a very low oxygen atmosphere, inducing oxidative elemental cycling during
      the deposition of the Isua BIFs and possibly supporting early aerobic biology. 

PMID- 26864444
TI  - Editorial: Endothelium: A Target for Therapeutic Intervention.

PMID- 26864445
TI  - Editorial: Vascular Calcification, Cardiovascular Risk and microRNAs.
AB  - Vascular calcification, both in the coronary and in the peripheral arteries, is
      associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, agents that prevent
      vascular calcification (e.g. estrogens or calcimimetic agents) might have neutral
      or detrimental effects on CV events. Moreover, statins and antihypertensive
      agents do not appear to modify vascular calcification, despite their established
      benefits on CV disease prevention. On the other hand, recent data suggest that
      microRNAs play a role in the regulation of vascular calcification. It is
      therefore possible that modulation of the expression of microRNAs might represent
      a useful strategy for preventing or delaying the progression of this process. 

PMID- 26864446
TI  - Supramolecular Organization of Dye Molecules in Zeolite L Channels: Synthesis,
      Properties, and Composite Materials.
AB  - Sequential insertion of different dyes into the 1D channels of zeolite L (ZL)
      leads to supramolecular sandwich structures and allows the formation of
      sophisticated antenna composites for light harvesting, transport, and trapping.
      The synthesis and properties of dye molecules, host materials, composites, and
      composites embedded in polymer matrices, including two- and three-color antenna
      systems, are described. Perylene diimide (PDI) dyes are an important class of
      chromophores and are of great interest for the synthesis of artificial antenna
      systems. They are especially well suited to advancing our understanding of the
      structure-transport relationship in ZL because their core fits tightly through
      the 12-ring channel opening. The substituents at both ends of the PDIs can be
      varied to a large extent without influencing their electronic absorption and
      fluorescence spectra. The intercalation/insertion of 17 PDIs, 2 terrylenes, and 1
      quaterrylene into ZL are compared and their interactions with the inner surface
      of the ZL nanochannels discussed. ZL crystals of about 500 nm in size have been
      used because they meet the criteria that must be respected for the preparation of
      antenna composites for light harvesting, transport, and trapping. The
      photostability of dyes is considerably improved by inserting them into the ZL
      channels because the guests are protected by being confined. Plugging the channel
      entrances, so that the guests cannot escape into the environment is a
      prerequisite for achieving long-term stability of composites embedded in an
      organic matrix. Successful methods to achieve this goal are described. Finally,
      the embedding of dye-ZL composites in polymer matrices, while maintaining optical
      transparency, is reported. These results facilitate the rational design of
      advanced dye-zeolite composite materials and provide powerful tools for further
      developing and understanding artificial antenna systems, which are among the most
      fascinating subjects of current photochemistry and photophysics.

PMID- 26864447
TI  - Dynamic Histone Acetylation of H3K4me3 Nucleosome Regulates MCL1 Pre-mRNA
      Splicing.
AB  - Pre-mRNA splicing is a cotranscriptional process affected by the chromatin
      architecture along the body of coding genes. Recruited to the pre-mRNA by
      splicing factors, histone deacetylases (HDACs) and K-acetyltransferases (KATs)
      catalyze dynamic histone acetylation along the gene. In colon carcinoma HCT 116
      cells, HDAC inhibition specifically increased KAT2B occupancy as well as H3 and
      H4 acetylation of the H3K4 trimethylated (H3K4me3) nucleosome positioned over
      alternative exon 2 of the MCL1 gene, an event paralleled with the exclusion of
      exon 2. These results were reproduced in MDA-MB-231, but not in MCF7 breast
      adenocarcinoma cells. These later cells have much higher levels of demethylase
      KDM5B than either HCT 116 or MDA-MB-231 cells. We show that H3K4me3 steady-state
      levels and H3K4me3 occupancy at the end of exon 1 and over exon 2 of the MCL1
      gene were lower in MCF7 than in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, in MCF7 cells,
      there was minimal effect of HDAC inhibition on H3/H4 acetylation and H3K4me3
      levels along the MCL1 gene and no change in pre-mRNA splicing choice. These
      results show that, upon HDAC inhibition, the H3K4me3 mark plays a critical role
      in the exclusion of exon 2 from the MCL1 pre-mRNA. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2196
      2204, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26864449
TI  - Metabolic disruption identified in the Huntington's disease transgenic sheep
      model.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited, progressive
      neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion within exon 1 of HTT,
      encoding huntingtin. There are no therapies that can delay the progression of
      this devastating disease. One feature of HD that may play a critical role in its
      pathogenesis is metabolic disruption. Consequently, we undertook a comparative
      study of metabolites in our transgenic sheep model of HD (OVT73). This model does
      not display overt symptoms of HD but has circadian rhythm alterations and
      molecular changes characteristic of the early phase disease. Quantitative
      metabolite profiles were generated from the motor cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum
      and liver tissue of 5 year old transgenic sheep and matched controls by gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry. Differentially abundant metabolites were
      evident in the cerebellum and liver. There was striking tissue-specificity, with
      predominantly amino acids affected in the transgenic cerebellum and fatty acids
      in the transgenic liver, which together may indicate a hyper-metabolic state.
      Furthermore, there were more strong pair-wise correlations of metabolite
      abundance in transgenic than in wild-type cerebellum and liver, suggesting
      altered metabolic constraints. Together these differences indicate a metabolic
      disruption in the sheep model of HD and could provide insight into the
      presymptomatic human disease. 

PMID- 26864451
TI  - Changing trends in the incidence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: seven
      decades of experience at King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The occurrence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is reportedly
      higher in India than in some other parts of the world, and our centre has seen a
      four-fold increase in its occurrence across seven decades. METHODS: This paper
      reports a retrospective archival analysis of 701 juvenile nasopharyngeal
      angiofibroma cases from 1958 to 2013, and considers probable environmental
      factors in an Indian context that may affect its biology and the global
      distribution, as reported in the literature. RESULTS: A continuously progressive
      increase in occurrence was evident, but the rapid rise observed in the current
      decade was alarming. The world map of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
      incidence does not reflect true global distribution given the paucity of
      reporting. Our centre has dealt with approximately 400 cases in the last 24
      years. CONCLUSION: With the alarming increase in juvenile nasopharyngeal
      angiofibroma incidence, there is a need for a registry to define its
      epidemiology. The world literature needs to reflect the status of juvenile
      nasopharyngeal angiofibroma incidence in the third world as well. Environmental
      factors known for hormone disruptive actions may influence its occurrence. Such
      aspects need to be considered to plan specific prevention policies.

PMID- 26864450
TI  - Transgenic mice recapitulate the phenotypic heterogeneity of genetic prion
      diseases without developing prion infectivity: Role of intracellular PrP
      retention in neurotoxicity.
AB  - Genetic prion diseases are degenerative brain disorders caused by mutations in
      the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP). Different PrP mutations cause
      different diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Gerstmann
      Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome and fatal familial insomnia (FFI). The reason
      for this variability is not known. It has been suggested that prion strains with
      unique self-replicating and neurotoxic properties emerge spontaneously in
      individuals carrying PrP mutations, dictating the phenotypic expression of
      disease. We generated transgenic mice expressing the FFI mutation, and found that
      they developed a fatal neurological illness highly reminiscent of FFI, and
      different from those of similarly generated mice modeling genetic CJD and GSS.
      Thus transgenic mice recapitulate the phenotypic differences seen in humans. The
      mutant PrPs expressed in these mice are misfolded but unable to self-replicate.
      They accumulate in different compartments of the neuronal secretory pathway,
      impairing the membrane delivery of ion channels essential for neuronal function.
      Our results indicate that conversion of mutant PrP into an infectious isoform is
      not required for pathogenesis, and suggest that the phenotypic variability may be
      due to different effects of mutant PrP on intracellular transport.

PMID- 26864452
TI  - Structuring successful collaboration: a longitudinal social network analysis of a
      translational research network.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2012 and 2013, we conducted a social network survey of a new
      translational research network (TRN) designed to deliver better care to cancer
      patients. Results of these two surveys showed that silos of researchers and
      clinicians existed before the TRN was established but that the network had
      mediated collaborative relationships. This paper reports on a third social
      network survey of the TRN and focusses on the structure of the collaborative
      arrangements among members. METHODS: Members of the TRN were invited to complete
      an on-line, whole network survey in May 2015. The survey asked respondents to
      identify personal impacts, outputs and wider outcomes attributable to their TRN
      membership. The final question asked respondents to select the name of TRN
      members with whom they had collaborated either formally or informally. For each
      member nominated, they were asked to say whether they had known this person
      before joining the TRN. RESULTS: Response rate was 70 %. Over 4 years, the TRN
      has grown in size from 68 to 244 members. Relationships within and across the TRN
      have become more collaborative and interactive, with 1658 collaborative ties
      between members and over 40 % of ties with people unknown to participants before
      they joined the TRN. This points to a well-functioning network which has retained
      its focus on the original goals of the TRN and has fostered collaboration between
      researchers, clinicians, managers, consumers and TRN operational staff. This
      survey shows that the TRN's impact goes beyond outcomes from formal TRN-funded
      projects. About one third of respondents could list projects not directly funded
      by the TRN but which are attributed to TRN membership. Examples of practice
      change brought about through the TRN were given by 77 % of respondents. A
      substantial risk factor for the future is the high levels of dependency on key or
      central TRN participants. CONCLUSIONS: The structure of the TRN with its active
      central actors and brokers has been able to foster collaboration on
      implementation initiatives that result in practice change. The role of a social
      professional network in driving this collaboration is shown.

PMID- 26864453
TI  - A diversity of peri-implant mucosal thickness by site.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine peri-implant mucosal
      thickness at different sites of peri-implant crevice around 70 implants placed in
      35 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The peri-implant mucosal thickness was defined
      as distance of the peri-implant mucosal margin and the coronal edge of
      bone/implant contact and measured using the cast models and dental radiography.
      RESULTS: The overall mean peri-implant mucosal thickness was 3.6 +/- 1.4 mm,
      wherein maxillary anterior implants, maxillary posterior implants and mandibular
      posterior implants had significantly different dimensions of median thickness of
      4.25, 3.75 and 3.0 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the mesial and distal sites of
      those positioned implants measured unevenness in the thickness especially in the
      maxillary posterior region with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The
      proposed methodology to evaluate peri-implant mucosal thickness measured with a
      big variation from overall 3.6 mm with a big variation from 1.6 to 7.0 mm in
      healthy volunteers. And significant difference was found in the depth among the
      three regions and, statistically, dispersion of individual peri-implant mucosal
      thickness resulted in lack of consistency. Although dental implants have been
      well developed, predictable and prevailing prosthetics, onset of peri-implantitis
      might be inevitable in some cases. Therefore, establishment of a standardized
      dimensional diagnosis of peri-implant tissues followed by pathologic
      ascertainment could be taken into account for the prevention or curing of peri
      implantitis.

PMID- 26864454
TI  - Prevalence and course of sexual relationship difficulties in recovered and non
      recovered patients with borderline personality disorder over 16 years of
      prospective follow-up.
AB  - Although borderline patients experience a wide range of sexual problems,
      including promiscuity, there is less evidence documenting their sexual
      relationship difficulties. This study had two aims. The first was to examine the
      prevalence of these difficulties (i.e. avoidance of sex and being symptomatic
      after sex) over 16 years of prospective follow-up among recovered and non
      recovered patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The second was to
      determine time-to-remission, recurrence and new onset of these sexual
      relationship difficulties. The sexual relationship difficulties of 290 patients
      meeting both DIB-R and DSM-III-R criteria for BPD were assessed at baseline using
      the Abuse History Interview and reassessed every two years over eight waves of
      prospective follow-up. The prevalence of sexual relationship difficulties
      declined significantly over time for both groups of patients, while remaining
      significantly more common among non-recovered patients. By 16-year follow-up,
      over 95% of each group achieved remission for both types of difficulties.
      Recurrences of avoidance of sex were significantly more common in non-recovered
      patients. Non-recovered patients had higher rates of new onsets compared to
      recovered patients for each type of sexual relationship difficulty. Taken
      together, the results suggest that sexual relationship difficulties are not
      chronic for those with BPD regardless of recovery status. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864455
TI  - Current Experimental Methods for Characterizing Protein-Protein Interactions.
AB  - Protein molecules often interact with other partner protein molecules in order to
      execute their vital functions in living organisms. Characterization of protein
      protein interactions thus plays a central role in understanding the molecular
      mechanism of relevant protein molecules, elucidating the cellular processes and
      pathways relevant to health or disease for drug discovery, and charting large
      scale interaction networks in systems biology research. A whole spectrum of
      methods, based on biophysical, biochemical, or genetic principles, have been
      developed to detect the time, space, and functional relevance of protein-protein
      interactions at various degrees of affinity and specificity. This article
      presents an overview of these experimental methods, outlining the principles,
      strengths and limitations, and recent developments of each type of method. 

PMID- 26864456
TI  - Efficacy of oseltamivir-peramivir combination therapy compared to oseltamivir
      monotherapy for Influenza A (H7N9) infection: a retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since the novel H7N9 avian influenza outbreak occurred in China in
      2013, neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) such as oseltamivir and peramivir have been
      used as first-line drugs to treat the influenza virus infection. This study aimed
      to compare the efficacy of oseltamivir-peramivir combination therapy versus
      oseltamivir monotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective study of 82 H7N9 confirmed
      patients was conducted by reviewing medical charts at the First Affiliated
      Hospital of ZheJiang University in China from April 1, 2013 to Feb 28, 2014. The
      patients' clinical information was collected systematically, and we compared the
      virology and clinical data between oseltamivir monotherapy group (43 patients)
      and oseltamivir-peramivir combination group (39 patients). RESULTS: The median
      duration from NAIs administration to H7N9 virus-negative in oseltamivir
      monotherapy group and oseltamivir-peramivir combination group was 6.50 and 7.00
      days (p >0.05), respectively. The median decline of Day 2 to Day 0 (initiation of
      NAIs therapy) viral load was 0.00 and 0.69 log10 copies/MUl (p >0.05)
      respectively in the monotherapy vs. combination therapy groups. The incidence of
      new Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome during NAI administration was 63.89 and
      77.78 % (p >0.05); while the mortality rates were 25.58 and 43.59 % (p >0.05) in
      the oseltamivir group vs. oseltamivir-peramivir group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      suggest that in adults with H7N9 virus infection, the use of oseltamivir
      peramivir combination therapy was not superior to oseltamivir monotherapy.

PMID- 26864457
TI  - Comorbidities and inpatient mortality for pemphigus in the U.S.A.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality associated with pemphigus and its
      treatments have not been fully described. Previous studies have found conflicting
      results about certain comorbidities and were limited by small sample sizes.
      OBJECTIVES: To determine the morbidity and mortality from pemphigus and its
      treatments in the U.S.A. METHODS: We examined a cross-sectional cohort of 87 039
      711 hospitalized patients in the U.S.A. to determine the inpatient comorbidities
      and mortality of pemphigus. RESULTS: In multivariate survey logistic regression
      models adjusting for age, sex and race/ethnicity, pemphigus and its treatments
      were associated with 39 of 122 comorbidities examined. The disorders most
      strongly associated with pemphigus were Cushing syndrome [adjusted odds ratio
      (OR) 17.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.41-122.90], adrenal insufficiency
      (4.08, 1.71-9.73), myasthenia gravis (6.92, 2.55-18.79), mucositis (17.19, 7.73
      38.22), herpes infection (7.98, 3.62-17.62), fungal infections (4.03, 3.60-4.52),
      insomnia (18.02, 2.46-131.88) and hidradenitis (5.34, 1.33-21.43). Among
      malignancies, only leukaemia (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.08-2.24) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      (1.52, 1.15-2.03) were associated with pemphigus, but not any solid organ
      malignancies. Patients with a secondary diagnosis of pemphigus had higher
      inpatient mortality (3.20%, 95% CI 2.71-3.69) than those with a primary (1.60%,
      1.29-1.91) or no (1.78%, 1.78-1.78) diagnosis of pemphigus (P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Pemphigus is associated with increased inpatient mortality, likely
      through its association with numerous comorbid health conditions. Patients with
      pemphigus require improved access to dermatological care and increased screening
      for the myriad of comorbidities.

PMID- 26864458
TI  - The Impact of Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness on Outcomes of
      Cryoballoon-Based Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence from previous studies indicates increased epicardial fat
      volume, measured using computerized tomography, is significantly associated with
      recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation. This association
      is most frequently linked to pro-inflammatory cytokine release from epicardial
      fat tissue. However, there is little data regarding the role of
      echocardiographically measured epicardial fat thickness (EFT) on catheter
      ablation outcomes. We aimed to investigate the predictive value of
      echocardiographically measured EFT on AF recurrence after cryoballoon-based
      catheter ablation. METHODS: A total of 234 patients (51.3% male; mean age, 54.0
      +/- 10.9 years; 81.2% paroxysmal AF) with symptomatic AF underwent an initial
      cryoablation procedure. EFT was measured from the parasternal long-axis view at
      end-systole. A 3-month postablation blanking period was observed. RESULTS: At a
      median follow-up of 20 (IQR: 13-24) months, 45 patients (19.2%) had developed AF
      recurrence. EFT thickness was significantly higher among patients with AF
      recurrence (7.79 +/- 2.0 vs. 5.79 +/- 1.38, P < 0.001) and was positively
      correlated with hs-CRP levels (r = 0.381, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression
      analysis showed EFT (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.10-1.66, P = 0.004), left atrial
      diameter, and early AF recurrence were independent predictors of AF recurrence.
      Using a cutoff level of 6.92, preprocedural EFT predicted AF recurrence during
      follow-up with a sensitivity of 71.1% and specificity of 78.3% (AUC: 0.79; 95%
      CI: 0.71-0.87, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Echocardiographically measured EFT
      independently predicted the AF recurrence after cryoablation and was also
      positively correlated with hs-CRP as an indicator for systemic inflammation.
      Thus, the association of echocardiographically measured EFT with AF recurrence
      may be linked to systemic inflammation.

PMID- 26864459
TI  - Mild cold effects on hunger, food intake, satiety and skin temperature in humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mild cold exposure increases energy expenditure and can influence
      energy balance, but at the same time it does not increase appetite and energy
      intake. OBJECTIVE: To quantify dermal insulative cold response, we assessed
      thermal comfort and skin temperatures changes by infrared thermography. METHODS:
      We exposed healthy volunteers to either a single episode of environmental mild
      cold or thermoneutrality. We measured hunger sensation and actual free food
      intake. After a thermoneutral overnight stay, five males and five females were
      exposed to either 18 degrees C (mild cold) or 24 degrees C (thermoneutrality) for
      2.5 h. Metabolic rate, vital signs, skin temperature, blood biochemistry, cold
      and hunger scores were measured at baseline and for every 30 min during the
      temperature intervention. This was followed by an ad libitum meal to obtain the
      actual desired energy intake after cold exposure. RESULTS: We could replicate the
      cold-induced increase in REE. But no differences were detected in hunger, food
      intake, or satiety after mild cold exposure compared with thermoneutrality. After
      long-term cold exposure, high cold sensation scores were reported, which were
      negatively correlated with thermogenesis. Skin temperature in the sternal area
      was tightly correlated with the increase in energy expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: It
      is concluded that short-term mild cold exposure increases energy expenditure
      without changes in food intake. Mild cold exposure resulted in significant
      thermal discomfort, which was negatively correlated with the increase in energy
      expenditure. Moreover, there is a great between-subject variability in cold
      response. These data provide further insights on cold exposure as an anti-obesity
      measure.

PMID- 26864460
TI  - Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity and standardisation of hydro-methanol
      extract of underground tuber of Dioscorea alata.
AB  - Context The underground edible tuber of Dioscorea alata L. (Dioscoreaceae) is a
      functional food with high nutritive value and therapeutic potential. The tuber is
      known to possess anti-inflammatory properties in traditional medicine. Objective
      The present study explores the anti-inflammatory activity and standardisation of
      D. alata tuber hydromethanol extract. Materials and methods Hydromethanol extract
      (70%) of D. alata tuber was chemically characterised using HPLC and GC-MS
      techniques. Murine lymphocytes were cultured for 48 h with six different
      concentrations (0-80 MUg/mL) of the extract. The expression of nitric oxide (NO),
      TNF-alpha, COX-1, COX-2, and PGE2 were evaluated using colorimetric and ELISA
      methods. Results Dioscorea alata extract inhibited the expression of NO and TNF
      alpha with an IC50 value of 134.51 +/- 6.75 and 113.30 +/- 7.44 MUg/mL,
      respectively. The IC50 values for inhibition of total COX, COX-1, COX-2
      activities and PGE2 level were 41.96 +/- 3.07, 141.41 +/- 8.99, 32.50 +/- 1.69,
      and 186.34 +/- 15.36 MUg/mL, respectively. Inhibition of PGE2 level and COX-2
      activity was positively correlated (R(2) = 0.9393). Gallic acid (GA), 4-hydroxy
      benzoic acid (4HBA), syringic acid (SYA), p-coumaric acid (PCA), and myricetin
      (MY) were identified and quantified using HPLC. GC-MS analysis revealed the
      presence of 13 different phytocompounds such as hexadecanoic acid, methyl
      stearate, cinnamyl cinnamate, and squalene. Conclusion The D. alata extract
      significantly down-regulated the pro-inflammatory signals in a gradual manner
      compared with control (0 MUg/mL). Different bioactive phytocompounds individually
      possessing anti-inflammatory activities contributed to the overall bioactivity of
      the D. alata tuber extract. 

PMID- 26864461
TI  - Malaria in children of Tshimbulu (Western Kasai, Democratic Republic of the
      Congo): epidemiological data and accuracy of diagnostic assays applied in a
      limited resource setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The literature data on malaria in Western Kasai, DRC, are limited and
      inadequate. A recent molecular survey there has detected Plasmodium ovale and
      Plasmodium malariae as mixed infections with Plasmodium falciparum. In Tshimbulu,
      Western Kasai, during a humanitarian initiative designed to provide children with
      free preventive screening and to reduce the local high malaria death rate,
      accurate species identification was performed, in order to collect unambiguous
      epidemiological data and to evaluate the reliability of locally applied
      diagnostics. METHODS: Finger pricks provided fresh blood for microscopic analysis
      (MA), for rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and for molecular diagnostics (MD). MA and
      RDT were first performed by the local team and then a re-interpretation of the
      results (on the same slides and on RDT's taken pictures) was conducted in Italy,
      where MD were performed. RESULTS: The analysis was conducted on 306 children; RDT
      found 80.9 % as P. falciparum-positive (37.4 % as two-band positive, P.
      falciparum single infection). MA identified a further four children as positive
      to P. falciparum and six co-infections with P. ovale. The second RDT evaluation
      confirmed a similar infection rate (78.2 %) but interpreted as two-band positive
      a significantly higher share of tests (56.8 %). MA confirmed 80.0 % of the
      children as malaria positive and, in addition to P. falciparum, identified P.
      malariae (13.8 %), P. vivax (3.4 %) and P. ovale (2.4 %), and detected Babesia
      microti in 19 smears. MD confirmed all of the species found (Babesia microti
      included), classified as mono-infection with P. falciparum a rate of spots
      comparable to MA revision, and identified all P. ovale as Plasmodium ovale
      wallikeri. The RDT used locally proved 93.1 % sensitive and 92.1 % specific for
      P. falciparum. CONCLUSIONS: The malaria prevalence among the children and the
      presence of four Plasmodium species, highlighted in this study, identified a
      sanitary issue which proved to be more alarming than expected, as it was worsened
      by the unpredictable presence of P. vivax and Babesia microti (never before
      reported in DRC). Each diagnostic tool showed its point of weakness. Therefore,
      the most correct approach is by the combined use of different, locally available,
      diagnostic tools.

PMID- 26864462
TI  - Separation of three phenolic high-molecular-weight compounds from the crude
      extract of Terminalia Chebula Retz. by ultrasound-assisted extraction and high
      speed counter-current chromatography.
AB  - This study presents an efficient strategy for separation of three phenolic
      compounds with high molecular weight from the crude extract of Terminalia chebula
      Retz. by ultrasound-assisted extraction and high-speed counter-current
      chromatography. The ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were optimized by
      response surface methodology and the results showed the target compounds could be
      well enriched under the optimized extraction conditions. Then the crude extract
      was directly separated by high-speed counter-current chromatography without any
      pretreatment using n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:7:0.5:3, v/v/v/v) as
      the solvent system. In 180 min, 13 mg of A, 18 mg of B, and 9 mg of C were
      obtained from 200 mg of crude sample. Their structures were identified as
      Chebulagic acid (A, 954 Da), Chebulinic acid (B, 956 Da), and Ellagic acid (C) by
      (1) H NMR spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26864463
TI  - The Timing of Breast Irradiation in Two-Stage Expander/Implant Breast
      Reconstruction.
AB  - Certain patients who initiate expander/implant (E/I) reconstruction following
      mastectomy may require radiation therapy (XRT). XRT may be delivered during the
      tissue expander (TE) expansion process or after exchange for a permanent implant
      (PI). We studied a series of women treated with E/I reconstruction and XRT to
      determine whether there is a difference in complication rates between those who
      had XRT to the TE versus PI. All two-stage E/I reconstructions at our institution
      from April 2005 to January 2013 were reviewed to identify patients who underwent
      XRT after TE placement. Our database was queried for reconstructive details,
      oncologic treatment, and complications. Statistical analyses were performed to
      establish significance of complication rate differences. Fifty-two patients
      underwent XRT after TE placement, 42 of which had XRT to the TE and 11 of which
      had XRT to the PI. The major complication rates (complications requiring emergent
      reoperation/readmission) were 27% versus 0% (p = 0.05) for XRT to the TE versus
      XRT to the PI, but there were no significant differences in minor complication
      rates (outpatient complications). Specifically, the rates of Grade 3/4 capsular
      contracture were similar between the two groups, 27% for the XRT to the TE group
      and 36% for the XRT to the PI group. Radiation of the PI versus radiation of the
      TE did not result in significant differences in overall surgical complication
      rates but had fewer major complications and no implant failures. Other factors
      must also be considered, such as patient preference, risk of cancer reoccurrence,
      and cosmesis. It is essential for a patient to have a team of a plastic surgeon
      and radiation, surgical, and medical oncologists working together to achieve each
      patient's goals. 

PMID- 26864464
TI  - Simultaneous development of sarcoidosis and cutaneous vasculitis in a patient
      with refractory Crohn's disease during infliximab therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Paradoxical inflammations during anti-TNF-alpha therapy are defined
      as adverse effects such as psoriasiform skin lesions, uveitis and sarcoidosis
      like granulomas induced by immune reactions, not by infectious agents. Here, we
      report a very rare case of the simultaneous development of sarcoidosis and
      cutaneous vasculitis in a patient with refractory Crohn's disease during
      infliximab therapy and both of which resolved spontaneously without the cessation
      of infliximab. CASE PRESENTATION: In September 2000, 23-year old Japanese male
      was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Prednisolone in combination with mesalazine
      was introduced at first and succeeded for almost one year. In June 2002, since
      his gastrointestinal symptoms relapsed and were refractory, infliximab (IFX)
      therapy 5 mg/kg was introduced. In February 2011, because he had repeated
      arthralgia almost every intravenous IFX administration, IFX was increased to 10
      mg/kg under the diagnosis of a secondary failure of IFX. In December 2012, he
      complained of slight dry cough and an itchy eruption on both lower limbs, and he
      was referred to our hospital due to the appearance of bilateral hilar
      lymphadenopathy on chest X-ray examination. Chest computed tomogram revealed
      bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and fine reticulonodular shadows on the bilateral
      upper lungs. Serum calcium, angiotensin-converting enzyme and soluble interleukin
      2 receptor levels were not elevated, but the titer of antinuclear antibody was
      considerably elevated. Mycobacterium infection was carefully excluded. Trans
      bronchial lung biopsy showed non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas compatible
      with sarcoidosis. The skin biopsy of the right limb was diagnosed as
      leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient was diagnosed as having a series of
      paradoxical inflammations during anti-TNF-alpha therapy. Since his paradoxical
      inflammations were not severe and opportunistic infections were excluded, IFX was
      cautiously continued for refractory Crohn's disease. Nine months later, not only
      his intrathoracic lesions but also his cutaneous lesions had spontaneously
      resolved. CONCLUSION: Physicians caring for patients with anti-TNF-alpha therapy
      should know that, based on a careful exclusion of infectious agents and
      thoughtful assessment of the patient's possible risks and benefits, paradoxical
      inflammations can be resolved without the cessation of anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

PMID- 26864465
TI  - Allopatric divergence of Stuckenia filiformis (Potamogetonaceae) on the Qinghai
      Tibet Plateau and its comparative phylogeography with S. pectinata in China.
AB  - In the aquatic genus Stuckenia, the wide geographic range of S. pectinata and S.
      filiformis make them suited for examination of topographic and climatic effects
      on plant evolution. Using nuclear ITS sequence and ten chloroplast sequences, we
      conducted comparative phylogeographical analyses to investigate their
      distribution regions and hybrid zones in China, and compare their
      phylogeographical patterns and demographical histories. These two species were
      allopatric in China. S. filiformis occurred only on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
      (QTP), whereas S. pectinata occupied a wide range of habitats. These two species
      formed hybrid zones on the northeastern edge of QTP. Most of the genetic variance
      of S. filiformis was between the southern and eastern groups on the QTP, showing
      a significant phylogeographic structure. The geographical isolations caused by
      the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains and the Tanggula Mountains promoted intraspecific
      diversification of alpine plants on the QTP. This study revealed the lack of
      phylogeographic structure in S. pectinata, due to the continued gene flow among
      its distribution regions. The ecological niche modeling showed that the
      distribution ranges of these two herbaceous species did not contract too much
      during the glacial period. 

PMID- 26864466
TI  - In vivo knockdown of basal forebrain p75 neurotrophin receptor stimulates choline
      acetyltransferase activity in the mature hippocampus.
AB  - This study seeks to determine whether knockdown of basal forebrain p75
      neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR) ) expression elicits increased hippocampal
      choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in mature animals. Antisense (AS)
      oligonucleotides (oligos) targeting p75(NTR) were infused into the medial septal
      area of mature rats continuously for 4 weeks. In all rats, the cannula outlet was
      placed equidistant between the left and the right sides of the vertical diagonal
      band of Broca. We tested phosphorothioate (PS), morpholino (Mo), and gapmer
      (mixed PS/RNA) oligos. Gapmer AS infusions of 7.5 and 22 MUg/day decreased septal
      p75(NTR) mRNA by 34% and 48%, respectively. The same infusions increased
      hippocampal ChAT activity by 41% and 55%. Increased hippocampal ChAT activity
      correlated strongly with septal p75(NTR) downregulation in individual rats.
      Infusions of PS and Mo AS oligos did not downregulate p75(NTR) mRNA or stimulate
      ChAT activity. These results demonstrate that p75(NTR) can dynamically regulate
      hippocampal ChAT activity in the mature CNS. They also reveal the different
      efficacies of three diverse AS oligo chemistries when infused intracerebrally.
      Among the three types, gapmer oligos worked best.

PMID- 26864467
TI  - In response to Natural history and management of fanconi anemia patients with
      head and neck cancer: A 10-year follow-up.

PMID- 26864468
TI  - Using established forums to improve difficult doctor-patient relationships.

PMID- 26864469
TI  - Can venous ProBNP levels predict placenta accreta?
AB  - AIM: Placenta previa (PP) is a potential life-threatening pregnancy complication.
      Pro-brain natriuretic peptide (ProBNP), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac form of CK
      (CK-MB) and Troponin I are circulatory biomarkers related to cardiac functions.
      We aimed to determine whether these biomarkers are related to PP and placenta
      accreta. METHODS: In this case-control study, fifty-four pregnant women who
      attended our tertiary care center for perinatology with the diagnosis of PP
      totalis, and of them, 14 patients with placenta accreta were recruited as the
      study groups. Forty-six uncomplicated control patients who were matched for age,
      BMI were also included. Maternal venous ProBNP, CK, CK-MB and Troponin I levels
      were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: Obstetric history
      characteristics were comparable among groups, generally. CK and CK-MB levels were
      similar among three groups. Troponin I levels in the previa and accreta groups
      were significantly higher than the controls. ProBNP levels in the accreta group
      were significantly higher than other two groups. The multivariate regression
      model revealed that ProBNP could predict placental adhesion anomalies.
      CONCLUSIONS: Troponin I and ProBNP levels in PP cases were higher than controls
      and ProBNP could predict placenta accreta.

PMID- 26864470
TI  - A simple, step-by-step dissection protocol for the rapid isolation of mouse
      dorsal root ganglia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cell bodies of sensory neurons, which transmit information from
      the external environment to the spinal cord, can be found at all levels of the
      spinal column in paired structures called dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Rodent DRG
      neurons have long been studied in the laboratory to improve understanding of
      sensory nerve development and function, and have been instrumental in determining
      mechanisms underlying pain and neurodegeneration in disorders of the peripheral
      nervous system. Here, we describe a simple, step-by-step protocol for the swift
      isolation of mouse DRG, which can be enzymatically dissociated to produce fully
      differentiated primary neuronal cultures, or processed for downstream analyses,
      such as immunohistochemistry or RNA profiling. FINDINGS: After dissecting out the
      spinal column, from the base of the skull to the level of the femurs, it can be
      cut down the mid-line and the spinal cord and meninges removed, before extracting
      the DRG and detaching unwanted axons. This protocol allows the easy and rapid
      isolation of DRG with minimal practice and dissection experience. The process is
      both faster and less technically challenging than extracting the ganglia from the
      in situ column after performing a dorsal laminectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This approach
      reduces the time required to collect DRG, thereby improving efficiency,
      permitting less opportunity for tissue deterioration, and, ultimately, increasing
      the chances of generating healthy primary DRG cultures or high quality,
      reproducible experiments using DRG tissue.

PMID- 26864471
TI  - Pesticide residue determination in vegetables from western China applying gas
      chromatography with mass spectrometry.
AB  - In this study,an effort has been made to evaluate the pesticide residues in
      vegetables from western China. Fifty-one pesticides, including organophosphorus,
      organochlorine, carbamate and pyrethroid, were detected in 369 commonly used
      vegetables by GC-MS. Concentrations of organophosphorus pesticides were detected
      ranging from 0.0008 to 18.8200 mg/kg, among which organophosphorus pesticide
      concentrations exceeded their maximum residue levels (MRLs) in five samples.
      Carbamate and organochlorine pesticides were determined to have concentrations in
      the range of 0.0012-0.7928 mg/kg. The residual concentrations of carbamate
      pesticides in six samples and organochlorine pesticides in four samples exceeded
      their MRLs. The residual concentrations of five pyrethroid pesticides were within
      the range of 0.0016-6.0827 mg/kg and the pyrethroid residues in two samples
      exceeded their MRLs. The results revealed that pesticide residues in 70.73% of
      the vegetables samples were not detected, while in the rest of vegetables there
      were one or more pesticide residues and some even exceeded their MRLs, which
      would threaten the health of consumers. Our work provides significant information
      for the food safety regulations to control the excessive use of some pesticides
      on those kinds of vegetables from western China. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26864472
TI  - The utility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, calcaneal quantitative
      ultrasound, and fracture risk indices (FRAX(r) and Osteoporosis Risk Assessment
      Instrument) for the identification of women with distal forearm or hip fractures:
      A pilot study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered the "gold standard"
      in predicting osteoporotic fractures. Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS)
      variables are also known to predict fractures. Fracture risk assessment tools may
      also guide us for the detection of individuals at high risk for fractures. The
      aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the utility of DXA bone mineral
      density (BMD), calcaneal QUS parameters, FRAX(r) (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool),
      and Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI) for the discrimination of
      women with distal forearm or hip fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case
      control study included 20 women with a distal forearm fracture and 18 women with
      a hip fracture as cases and 76 age-matched women served as controls. BMD at the
      spine, proximal femur, and radius was measured using DXA and acoustic parameters
      of bone were obtained using a calcaneal QUS device. FRAX(r) 10-year probability
      of fracture and ORAI scores were also calculated in all participants. Receiver
      operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess fracture
      discriminatory power of all the tools. RESULTS: While all DXA BMD, and QUS
      variables and FRAX(r) fracture probabilities demonstrated significant areas under
      the ROC curves for the discrimination of hip-fractured women and those without,
      only 33% radius BMD, broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and FRAX(r) major
      osteoporotic fracture probability calculated without BMD showed significant
      discriminatory power for distal forearm fractures. CONCLUSIONS: It can be
      concluded that QUS variables, particularly BUA, and FRAX(r) major osteoporotic
      fracture probability without BMD are good candidates for the identification of
      both hip and distal forearm fractures.

PMID- 26864473
TI  - Will the UK's new alcohol guidelines change hearts, minds--and livers?

PMID- 26864432
TI  - The Genomes of Three Uneven Siblings: Footprints of the Lifestyles of Three
      Trichoderma Species.
AB  - The genus Trichoderma contains fungi with high relevance for humans, with
      applications in enzyme production for plant cell wall degradation and use in
      biocontrol. Here, we provide a broad, comprehensive overview of the genomic
      content of these species for "hot topic" research aspects, including CAZymes,
      transport, transcription factors, and development, along with a detailed analysis
      and annotation of less-studied topics, such as signal transduction, genome
      integrity, chromatin, photobiology, or lipid, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolism in
      T. reesei, T. atroviride, and T. virens, and we open up new perspectives to those
      topics discussed previously. In total, we covered more than 2,000 of the
      predicted 9,000 to 11,000 genes of each Trichoderma species discussed, which is
      >20% of the respective gene content. Additionally, we considered available
      transcriptome data for the annotated genes. Highlights of our analyses include
      overall carbohydrate cleavage preferences due to the different genomic contents
      and regulation of the respective genes. We found light regulation of many sulfur
      metabolic genes. Additionally, a new Golgi 1,2-mannosidase likely involved in N
      linked glycosylation was detected, as were indications for the ability of
      Trichoderma spp. to generate hybrid galactose-containing N-linked glycans. The
      genomic inventory of effector proteins revealed numerous compounds unique to
      Trichoderma, and these warrant further investigation. We found interesting
      expansions in the Trichoderma genus in several signaling pathways, such as G
      protein-coupled receptors, RAS GTPases, and casein kinases. A particularly
      interesting feature absolutely unique to T. atroviride is the duplication of the
      alternative sulfur amino acid synthesis pathway.

PMID- 26864474
TI  - Perseveration of craving: effects of stimuli conditioned to drugs of abuse versus
      conventional reinforcers differing in demand.
AB  - Associative learning is essential for establishing appropriate responses to cause
      effect relationships and effective behavioral adjustments to environmental
      changes. However, learned associations also promote maladaptive behavior such as
      uncontrollable drug seeking in addicts exposed to drug-associated stimuli. Here,
      we sought to identify behavioral characteristics that distinguish reward seeking
      produced by environmental stimuli conditioned to highly potent but non-addictive
      conventional reinforcers from reward seeking induced by stimuli conditioned to
      addictive drugs. Rats were trained to associate discriminative (i.e. contextual)
      stimuli (S+ ) with availability of cocaine, ethanol, palatable sweet solutions or
      water during dehydration. Following extinction, response-reinstating effects of
      re-exposure to these stimuli were established in terms of magnitude and
      perseveration. Initially, the S+ produced strong reinstatement irrespective of
      association with conventional or drug reward. However, with repeated testing, S+ 
      induced reward seeking decreased to extinction levels when motivated by the sweet
      solutions but perseverated when motivated by cocaine or ethanol. In rats placed
      on water restriction to induce a motivational constraint, the S+ supported
      perseverating reinstatement identical to that produced by an S+ conditioned to
      cocaine. The findings suggest that behavior guided by associations between
      environmental stimuli and drugs of abuse is characterized by perseverating,
      apparently highly extinction-resistant reward seeking, whereas behavior
      controlled by stimuli associated with conventional reward extinguishes rapidly in
      the absence of primary reinforcement. Reward seeking elicited by stimuli
      associated with natural reward can, however, become perseverative during
      physiological deprivation states. Possibly, perseverating drug seeking engages
      mechanisms overlapping with those that have evolved to promote alleviation of
      physiological deprivation to secure survival.

PMID- 26864475
TI  - Evaluating the efficacy of restoration plantings through DNA barcoding of
      frugivorous bird diets.
AB  - Frugivores are critical components of restoration programs because they are seed
      dispersers. Thus, knowledge about bird-plant trophic relationships is essential
      in the evaluation of the efficacy of restoration processes. Traditionally, the
      diet of frugivores is characterized by microscopically identifying plant residues
      in droppings, which is time-consuming, requires botanical knowledge, and cannot
      be used for fragments lacking detectable morphological characteristics (e.g.,
      fragmented seeds and skins). We examined whether DNA barcoding can be used as a
      universal tool to rapidly characterize the diet of a frugivorous bird, Eurasian
      blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). We used the DNA barcoding results to assess
      restoration efforts and monitor the diversity of potentially dispersed plants in
      a protected area in northern Italy. We collected 642 Eurasian Blackcap droppings
      at the restored site during the autumn migration over 3 years. Intact seeds and
      fragmented plant material were analyzed at 2 plastidial barcode loci (rbcL and
      trnH-psbA), and the resulting plant identifications were validated by comparison
      with a reference molecular data set of local flora. At least 17 plant species,
      including 7 of the 11 newly transplanted taxa, were found. Our results
      demonstrate the potential for DNA barcoding to be used to monitor the
      effectiveness of restoration plantings and to obtain information about fruit
      consumption and dispersal of invasive or unexpected plant species. Such an
      approach provides valuable information that could be used to study local plant
      biodiversity and to survey its evolution over time.

PMID- 26864477
TI  - C15271. The Chemical Diversity of Lantana camara: Analyses of Essential Oil
      Samples from Cuba, Nepal, and Yemen.
AB  - The aerial parts of Lantana camara L. were collected from three different
      geographical locations: Artemisa (Cuba), Biratnagar (Nepal), and Sana'a (Yemen).
      The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas
      chromatography - mass spectrometry. A cluster analysis of 39 L. camara essential
      oil compositions revealed eight major chemotypes: beta-caryophyllene, germacrene
      D, ar-curcumene/zingiberene, gamma-curcumen-15-al/epi-beta-bisabolol, (E)
      nerolidol, davanone, eugenol/alloaromadendrene, and carvone. The sample from Cuba
      falls into the group dominated by (E)-nerolidol, the sample from Nepal is a
      davanone chemotype, and the sample from Yemen belongs to the beta-caryophyllene
      chemotype. The chemical composition of L. camara oil plays a role in the
      biological activity; the beta-caryophyllene and (E)-nerolidol chemotypes showed
      antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. This article is protected by copyright.
      All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864476
TI  - Electrical synapses and the development of inhibitory circuits in the thalamus.
AB  - KEY POINTS: The thalamus is a structure critical for information processing and
      transfer to the cortex. Thalamic reticular neurons are inhibitory cells
      interconnected by electrical synapses, most of which require the gap junction
      protein connexin36 (Cx36). We investigated whether electrical synapses play a
      role in the maturation of thalamic networks by studying neurons in mice with and
      without Cx36. When Cx36 was deleted, inhibitory synapses were more numerous,
      although both divergent inhibitory connectivity and dendritic complexity were
      reduced. Surprisingly, we observed non-Cx36-dependent electrical synapses with
      unusual biophysical properties interconnecting some reticular neurons in mice
      lacking Cx36. The results of the present study suggest an important role for Cx36
      dependent electrical synapses in the development of thalamic circuits. ABSTRACT:
      Neurons within the mature thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) powerfully inhibit
      ventrobasal (VB) thalamic relay neurons via GABAergic synapses. TRN neurons are
      also coupled to one another by electrical synapses that depend strongly on the
      gap junction protein connexin36 (Cx36). Electrical synapses in the TRN precede
      the postnatal development of TRN-to-VB inhibition. We investigated how the
      deletion of Cx36 affects the maturation of TRN and VB neurons, electrical
      coupling and GABAergic synapses by studying wild-type (WT) and Cx36 knockout (KO)
      mice. The incidence and strength of electrical coupling in TRN was sharply
      reduced, but not abolished, in KO mice. Surprisingly, electrical synapses between
      Cx36-KO neurons had faster voltage-dependent decay kinetics and conductance
      asymmetry (rectification) than did electrical synapses between WT neurons. The
      properties of TRN-mediated inhibition in VB also depended on the Cx36 genotype.
      Deletion of Cx36 increased the frequency and shifted the amplitude distributions
      of miniature IPSCs, whereas the paired-pulse ratio of evoked IPSCs was
      unaffected, suggesting that the absence of Cx36 led to an increase in GABAergic
      synaptic contacts. VB neurons from Cx36-KO mice also tended to have simpler
      dendritic trees and fewer divergent inputs from the TRN compared to WT cells. The
      findings obtained in the present study suggest that proper development of
      thalamic inhibitory circuitry, neuronal morphology, TRN cell function and
      electrical coupling requires Cx36. In the absence of Cx36, some TRN neurons
      express asymmetric electrical coupling mediated by other unidentified connexin
      subtypes.

PMID- 26864478
TI  - Biosensitive element in the form of immobilized luminescent photobacteria for
      detecting ecotoxicants in aqueous flow-through systems.
AB  - We demonstrated the possibility of long-term and efficient application of a
      biosensitive element (BE) in the form of Photobacterium phosphoreum photobacteria
      immobilized in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cryogel for detecting various
      ecotoxicants (Zn(2) (+) , Cu(2) (+) , Hg(2) (+) , Pb(2) (+) , 2,4
      dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,6-dimethylphenol, pentachlorophenol, coumaphos,
      malathion, chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion) in flow-through media. The range of
      detectable concentrations of ecotoxicants was determined at 1 * 10(-8) to 1 * 10(
      4) M for heavy metal ions and at 1 * 10(-8) to 1 * 10(-5) M for phenol
      derivatives and organophosphorus pesticides. Immobilized cells of photobacteria
      quantitatively reacted with these ecotoxicants; cell sensitivity exhibited no
      flow rate dependence in the range from 45 to 180 mL/h. At a constant
      concentration of ecotoxicant in the flow, the bioluminescence quenching profile
      of immobilized cells demonstrated an integral response. The BE could remain in a
      flow-through medium for at least 10 days while retaining 95% of luminescent
      activity in the absence of ecotoxicants. The BE tested in this work was
      demonstrated to have a long shelf life (> 60 weeks) at -80 degrees C without
      changes in the baseline level of bioluminescence. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26864479
TI  - Automated Functional Imaging by 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Reveals High
      Incidence of Abnormal Longitudinal Strain in a Cohort of Pediatric Oncology
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Automated functional imaging (AFI) was introduced to two-dimensional
      speckle-tracking echocardiography to facilitate strain assessment in the clinical
      settings. In patients treated with cardiotoxic anthracyclines, AFI may be helpful
      in the detection of early myocardial injury when left ventricular ejection
      fraction (LVEF) remains normal. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed feasibility
      of AFI in 143 echocardiograms on 102 subjects aged 0.4-22 years (mean 12.3)
      obtained over a 12-month period. We computed a Z-score for apical four-chamber
      longitudinal strain using published normal data to assess for abnormal strain in
      patients with and without previous exposure to anthracyclines. RESULTS: AFI was
      feasible in 95.1% of echocardiograms, with low inter- and intraobserver
      variability. There was a statistically significant association between abnormal
      longitudinal strain Z-score (SZ < -2.0) and depressed LVEF (<55%, P < 0.001).
      However, 46% of echocardiograms with normal LVEF had abnormal SZ; half of which
      had no prior anthracycline exposure. The correlation between SZ and LVEF was
      strongest in subjects exposed to anthracyclines (r(2) = 0.12, P < 0.01).
      Increasing age was associated with decreasing SZ. Total cumulative dose, after
      adjusting for age, was inversely associated with SZ (r(2) = 0.42, P < 0.001).
      Time from last dose of anthracycline had no significant association with SZ.
      CONCLUSIONS: AFI is highly feasible in the clinical settings. The observed high
      prevalence of abnormal longitudinal strain in our cohort emphasizes the
      importance of obtaining baseline measurements prior to anthracycline treatment.
      The effects of anthracycline on longitudinal strain may be dose and age
      dependent, with younger children less likely to show abnormalities.

PMID- 26864480
TI  - Effect of Renal Reconstruction on Renal Function After Partial Nephrectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional losses near 20% are seen in the operated
      kidney during partial nephrectomy. Resected healthy margins are small and
      ischemia time limited in the modern era. We hypothesize that reconstruction
      following tumor resection is modifiable and a significant cause of renal function
      injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review of Medline and Scopus was
      performed for all available dates focusing on partial nephrectomy, renal
      function, and renal reconstruction. An additional review was performed evaluating
      recent advances in biomarkers of acute kidney injury. RESULTS: Serum creatinine
      is of limited value in measuring renal preservation during partial nephrectomy.
      Stimulated glomerular filtration rate can estimate renal reserve, but is more
      difficult to measure. CT-based three-dimensional measurements provide the ability
      to isolate ipsilateral functional loss. Newer urinary biomarkers of acute kidney
      injury such as kidney injury molecule-1 and cell cycle markers are emerging and
      might help to quantify renal function loss in real time. Most prior research has
      focused on ischemia and enucleation. However, despite minimizing both,
      significant renal function losses are still seen. Four retrospective controlled
      studies were found comparing cortical renorrhaphy to omission of cortical
      renorrhaphy. Three of the four found a statistical benefit to nonrenorrhaphy with
      the range of volume or functional loss in those three being 3.8% to 11.5% vs
      15.6% to 20.4%. Urine leaks and bleeding complications were similar to reported
      rates for both groups. CONCLUSION: Studies evaluating renal function preservation
      after partial nephrectomy should control for reconstructive injury in addition to
      ischemia time and resected healthy margin. Cortical renorrhaphy is associated
      with renal volume and functional loss on retrospective studies, which might be
      especially relevant in the setting of chronic kidney disease or solitary kidney.
      Newer biomarkers of renal injury should be used when studying predictors of renal
      injury.

PMID- 26864481
TI  - Biomedical Applications of DNA-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles.
AB  - Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are useful for diagnostic and biomedical applications,
      mainly because of their ease in preparation and conjugation, biocompatibility,
      and size-dependent optical properties. However, bare AuNPs do not possess
      specificity for targets. AuNPs conjugated with DNA aptamers offer specificity for
      various analytes, such as proteins and small molecules/ions. Although DNA
      aptamers themselves have therapeutic and target-recognizing properties, they are
      susceptible to degradation in vivo. When DNA aptamers are conjugated to AuNPs,
      their stability and cell uptake efficiency both increase, making aptamer-AuNPs
      suitable for biomedical applications. Additionally, drugs can be efficiently
      conjugated with DNA aptamer-AuNPs to further enhance their therapeutic
      efficiency. This review focuses on the applications of DNA aptamer-based AuNPs in
      several biomedical areas, including anticoagulation, anticancer, antibacterial,
      and antiviral applications.

PMID- 26864482
TI  - Cytogenetic confirmation of a positive NIPT result: evidence-based choice between
      chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis depending on chromosome aberration.
AB  - It has been shown that in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) there is a small
      chance of a false-positive or false-negative result. This is partly due to the
      fact that the fetal cell-free DNA present in maternal plasma is derived from the
      cytotrophoblast of chorionic villi (CV), which is not always representative for
      the fetal karyotype due to chromosomal mosaicism. Therefore, a positive NIPT
      result should always be confirmed with invasive testing, preferably
      amniocentesis, in order to investigate the fetal karyotype. However, since this
      invasive test can only be safely performed after 15.5 weeks of gestation while
      NIPT can be done from the 10(th) week of gestation, this potentially means an
      unacceptable long waiting time for the prospective parents to receive a
      definitive result. Based on our experience with cytogenetic investigations in CV
      and the literature, we determined whether CV sampling may be appropriate for
      confirmation of an abnormal NIPT result. 

PMID- 26864483
TI  - T-cell internal antigen 1 counteracts somatic RNA degradation during early
      Xenopus embryogenesis.
AB  - In Xenopus laevis, maternal transcripts that localize to the vegetal cortex of
      the oocyte are specifically inherited by prospective germ cells during cleavage
      stages. While a large fraction of maternal transcripts is degraded during the
      maternal to zygotic transition (MZT), transcripts associated with the germ-line
      are stable. A sequence in the dead end 1 3'UTR mediates vegetal localization in
      the oocyte as well as miR mediated clearance in somatic cells and germ cell
      specific stabilization during the MZT in embryos. We could identify Tia1 to co
      precipitate with known components of vegetal localization RNPs in X. laevis
      oocytes. Tia1 interacts and co-localizes with various localization elements from
      vegetally localizing RNAs. In X. laevis embryos, ectopic expression of Tia1
      counteracts somatic degradation of dnd1 localization element reporter RNAs and it
      can synergize with Dnd1 protein in reporter RNA stabilization. Ectopic Tia1 also
      protects several endogenous localizing and germ cell specific mRNAs from somatic
      degradation. Thus, proteins that protect germ-line transcripts from miR mediated
      decay during the MZT in embryos might bind these RNAs already in the oocyte. 

PMID- 26864484
TI  - Ras-Related Nuclear Protein is required for late developmental stages of retinal
      cells in zebrafish eyes.
AB  - Ras-related nuclear protein (Ran) is involved in cell division by regulating
      nucleocytoplasmic transport and modulating the assembly of tubulin. However, its
      function in embryonic development is unclear. We used zebrafish to study the
      roles of Ran in eye development. The ran transcripts were restrictedly expressed
      in head and eyes after the pharyngula stage. The microphthalmos, in which no
      ordered layers with differentiated retinal cells were detected, was observed in
      the ran-deficient embryos. They exhibited faster decline cyclinD1-expressed
      cells, suggesting that cell cycle regulation in retinae was defective. The
      apoptotic signals in the retinae of ran-deficient embryos remained low at early
      (24 hpf) stage. Early eye field specification markers, rx1 and pax6, were only
      slightly affected, and markers for establishing axon migration, fgf8 and pax2,
      were normally expressed, suggesting Ran is not required in the early stages of
      eye development. However, the early optic nerve differentiation marker p57kip2
      was not expressed at middle (48 hpf) and late (72 hpf) stages. We also observed a
      decrease in the retinal neuron proteins HuC and Neurolin. The proneural gene
      ath5, which first determines the cell fate of the developing ganglion cell layer,
      was undetectable. Furthermore, we found that Ran was associated with ADP
      ribosylation factor-like protein 6-interacting protein 1 (Arl6ip1), which plays a
      role in retinal development, suggesting that Ran associates with Arl6ip1 to
      regulate retinal development. Therefore, while the effects of Ran are minimal
      during early specification of the eye field, Ran is required for proliferation
      and differentiation of retinal cells at later developmental stages. 

PMID- 26864485
TI  - Chicken primordial germ cell motility in response to stem cell factor sensing.
AB  - Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) are destined to migrate a long distance from
      their extra embryonic region via the vascular system to the gonadal ridges where
      they form the germ cells. Although PGC migration is crucial for a genetic
      continuation to the next generation, the factors and mechanisms that control
      their migration remain largely unknown. In the present study the chemotactic
      effect of stem cell factor (SCF) was examined on chicken blood circulating PGCs
      (cPGC), employing 3D chemotaxis slides and time-lapsed imaging analyses as an in
      vitro study model. Upon in vitro exposure to an SCF gradient, 77.1% (54 out of
      70) of cPGCs showed a clear response, of which 48.1% (26 out of 54) polarized
      with the consecutive formation of a persistent membrane protrusion and
      significant directional migration towards the gradient and the others showed
      transient membrane protrusions. In contrast, the controls and apparently SCF
      unresponsive cPGCs and c-kit-negative red blood cells (RBCs) showed only
      cytoplasmic cycling with random formations of membrane blebbing and no
      directional migration. Significant (p < 0.05) differences between the SCF-treated
      and control cPGCs and RBCs were found in the migration parameters of
      eccentricity, accumulated and Euclidean distances, and migration velocity. The
      SCF-treated PGCs also revealed a chemotactic response, as judged by their
      significant displacement of center of mass and Rayleigh test. Complete inhibition
      of all the SCF-induced responses in PGCs was found following pretreatment of the
      cPGCs with 10 uM of the c-kit inhibitor, STI57l, prior to SCF exposure. In
      addition, cPGCs were found to be positive for c-kit expression using a polyclonal
      goat anti-mouse c-kit primary antibody, suggesting that the cPGCs were capable of
      SCF sensing and the potential involvement of SCF/c-kit in the chemotactic
      migration. Therefore, SCF is suggested to function as a chemoattractant in the
      migration of chicken cPGC.

PMID- 26864486
TI  - Angiogenesis and hyperbaric oxygen in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.
AB  - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is increasingly applied in different areas of
      medical practice. The oxy-hyperbarism effects are not well understood in cancer
      malignancy. One unique feature of cancer is the presence of hypoxic regions that
      are insensitive to conventional therapies. It is possible to alter the hypoxic
      state and produce reactive oxygen species for better treatment outcome by HBOT.
      In the present study, we determined the effects of HBOT on angiogenesis, a
      signature of cancer progression, by using the chick chorioallantoic membrane
      (CAM) in vivo assay. CAMs were exposed to 2.0 ATA (atmospheres absolute) for 30
      min of hyperbaric oxygen on the 6(th) and 7(th) days of incubation (ED6, ED7). On
      the 10-11(th) day of incubation, CAMs were excised from eggs, fixed and analysed
      using APERIO ImageScope software. HBOT outcomes were evaluated quantifying the
      volumetric area occupied by blood vessels and calculating the number of blood
      vessel ramifications. Results indicated that CAMs treated at ED6 and ED7 had a
      significantly higher CAM vascularization and an increased number of blood vessel
      ramifications (+82% higher for ED6) compared to untreated CAMs
      (ED6=63.3&PlusMinus;2.5 and ED7=57.7&PlusMinus;5.5 vs. CTRL=34.7&PlusMinus;2.5).
      Thus, HBOT induces an angiogenic response in treated CAMs through a classic
      sprouting mechanism.

PMID- 26864487
TI  - Visualization of primordial germ cells in the fertilized pelagic eggs of the
      barfin flounder Verasper moseri.
AB  - Primordial germ cells (PGCs) appear during early embryogenesis and differentiate
      into gametes through oogenesis or spermatogenesis. Teleost PGCs can be visualized
      by injecting RNA transcribed from the fusion product of a fluorescent protein
      gene attached to the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of zebrafish nanos3 (zf
      nos3). Although this method has been widely applied to teleost PGCs, the
      visualization of PGCs in pelagic species that have eggs with a hard chorion is
      more problematic due to the technical difficulty of microinjection into their
      eggs. In this study, we developed a reliable method for microinjection of
      fertilized eggs in a pelagic species, the barfin flounder. Using a microneedle
      with a constriction "brake", we were able to introduce gfp-nos3 3'UTR mRNA into
      embryos and to determine the origin and migration route of PGCs. We also isolated
      the barfin flounder nos3 (bf-nos3) gene to compare its 3'UTR sequence with that
      of zebrafish. The 3'UTR of the bf-nos3 sequence was longer than that of zf-nos3.
      However, PGCs were also visualized after injection of gfp-bf-nos3 3'UTR mRNA both
      in zebrafish and barfin flounder. These results suggest that the function of nos3
      is conserved between these species regardless of the sequence differences. The
      method developed here for labeling PGCs with gfp-nos3 mRNA will provide a means
      to study PGC development in the embryos of a wide range of marine fish species. 

PMID- 26864489
TI  - iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of adaptive response in the regenerating limb of
      the Cynops orientalis newt.
AB  - The newt has the powerful capacity to regenerate lost limbs following amputation,
      and represents an excellent model organism to study regenerative processes.
      However, the molecular basis of the adaptive response in the regenerating limb of
      the Chinese fire-bellied newt Cynops orientalis immediately after amputation
      remains unclear. To better understand the adaptive response immediately after
      limb amputation at the protein level, we used isobaric tags for relative and
      absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) coupled with LC-MS/MS methods to analyze changes in
      the proteome of the regenerating newt limb that occurred 2 h and 8 h after
      amputation. We identified 152 proteins with more than 1.5-fold change in
      expression compared to control. GO annotation analysis classified these proteins
      into several categories such as signaling, Ca(2+) binding and translocation,
      transcription and translation, immune response, cell death, cytoskeleton,
      metabolism, etc. Further ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) showed that several
      signaling pathways were significantly changed at 2 h and 8 h after amputation,
      including EIF2 signaling, acute phase response signaling, tight junction
      signaling and calcium signaling, suggesting these pathways may be closely related
      to the adaptive response immediately after limb amputation. This work provides
      novel insights into understanding the molecular processes related to newt limb
      regeneration immediately after amputation, and a basis for further study of
      regenerative medicine. 

PMID- 26864488
TI  - Expression of Sox genes in tooth development.
AB  - Members of the Sox gene family play roles in many biological processes including
      organogenesis. We carried out comparative in situ hybridization analysis of
      seventeen sox genes (Sox1-14, 17, 18, 21) during murine odontogenesis from the
      epithelial thickening to the cytodifferentiation stages. Localized expression of
      five Sox genes (Sox6, 9, 13, 14 and 21) was observed in tooth bud epithelium.
      Sox13 showed restricted expression in the primary enamel knots. At the early bell
      stage, three Sox genes (Sox8, 11, 17 and 21) were expressed in pre-ameloblasts,
      whereas two others (Sox5 and 18) showed expression in odontoblasts. Sox genes
      thus showed a dynamic spatio-temporal expression during tooth development. 

PMID- 26864490
TI  - External ear microRNA expression profiles during mouse development.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of approximately 22 nucleotide regulatory non
      coding RNAs that play several roles in diverse biological processes. Recent
      reports suggest that embryonic development in mammals is accompanied by dynamic
      changes in miRNA expression; however, there is no information regarding the role
      of miRNAs in the development of the external ear. The aim of this study was to
      determine the stage-specific expression of miRNAs during mouse external ear
      development in order to identify potentially implicated miRNAs along with their
      possible targets. miRNA expression profiles from fetal mice pinnae and back skin
      tissues at 13.5 dpc and 14.5 dpc were obtained using an Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA
      3.0 array. Biological triplicates for both tissues, each collected from a litter
      averaging 16 fetuses, were analyzed. The results were analyzed with Affymetrix's
      Transcriptome Analysis Console software to identify differentially expressed
      miRNAs. We observed differential expression of 40 miRNAs including some predicted
      to target genes implicated in external ear development, such as mmu-miR-10a, an
      miRNA known to modulate Hoxa1 mRNA levels, and mmu-miR-200c and mmu-miR-205. To
      our knowledge, this is the first miRNA expression profiling study of external ear
      development in mammals. These data could set the basis to understand the
      implications of miRNAs in normal external ear development. 

PMID- 26864491
TI  - CILP1 is dynamically expressed in the developing musculoskeletal system of the
      trout.
AB  - An in situ screen for genes expressed in the skeletal muscle of eyed-stage trout
      embryos led to the identification of a transcript encoding a polypeptide related
      to CILP1, a secreted glycoprotein present in the extracellular matrix. In situ
      hybridisation in developing trout embryos revealed that CILP1 expression was
      initially detected in fast muscle progenitors of the early somite. Later, CILP1
      expression was down-regulated medio-laterally in differentiating fast muscle
      cells, to become finally restricted to the undifferentiated muscle progenitors
      forming the dermomyotome-like epithelium at the surface of the embryonic myotome.
      At the completion of somitogenesis, CILP1 expression was concentrated in the
      myoseptal/tendon cells that develop between adjacent myotomes but was excluded
      from the skeletogenic cells of the vertebral axis to which the most medial
      myoseptal/tendon cells attach. Overall, our work shows that muscle cells and
      myoseptal/tendon cells contribute dynamically and cooperatively to the production
      of CILP1 during ontogeny of the trout musculoskeletal system. 

PMID- 26864492
TI  - Developmental expression of the N-myc downstream regulated gene (Ndrg) family
      during Xenopus tropicalis embryogenesis.
AB  - The N-myc downstream regulated gene (Ndrg) family consists of four main members
      Ndrg1, 2, 3, and 4. The Ndrg genes are involved in many vital biological events
      including development. However, comprehensive expression patterns of this gene
      family during vertebrate embryogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed
      the Ndrg family from the evolutionary perspective and examined the expression
      patterns of the Ndrg genes during Xenopus tropicalis embryogenesis. Different
      Ndrg family members of vertebrates are separated into different homology clusters
      which can be further classified into two groups and each Ndrg family member is
      well conserved during evolution. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of
      Ndrg1, 2, 3 and 4 are different during early Xenopus tropicalis development.
      Ndrg1, 2 and 4 are maternally expressed genes while Ndrg3 is a zygotically
      expressed gene. The Ndrg genes are differentially expressed in the developing
      central nervous system, the developing sensory organs, and the developing
      excretory organs. Moreover, they also show other specific expression domains. Our
      results indicate that the Ndrg genes exhibit specific expression patterns and may
      play different roles during vertebrate embryogenesis. 

PMID- 26864493
TI  - The last bastion of collegiality: the peer-review process in the era of open
      access.

PMID- 26864494
TI  - Canities subita: sudden blanching of the hair in history and literature.

PMID- 26864495
TI  - Efficient one-pot synthesis of 1-arylcycloprop-2-ene-1-carboxamides.
AB  - An expeditious and cost-efficient method for synthesis of 1-arylcycloprop-2-ene-1
      carboxamides was developed. This one-pot protocol involving coupling of amines
      with acyl chlorides, generated upon treatment of cyclopenylcarboxylic acids with
      oxalyl chloride, is applicable for the preparation of sensitive products with a
      reactive, unsubstituted strained double bond. 

PMID- 26864496
TI  - Metal-Organic Frameworks Stabilize Solution-Inaccessible Cobalt Catalysts for
      Highly Efficient Broad-Scope Organic Transformations.
AB  - New and active earth-abundant metal catalysts are critically needed to replace
      precious metal-based catalysts for sustainable production of commodity and fine
      chemicals. We report here the design of highly robust, active, and reusable
      cobalt-bipyridine- and cobalt-phenanthroline-based metal-organic framework (MOF)
      catalysts for alkene hydrogenation and hydroboration, aldehyde/ketone
      hydroboration, and arene C-H borylation. In alkene hydrogenation, the MOF
      catalysts tolerated a variety of functional groups and displayed unprecedentedly
      high turnover numbers of ~2.5 * 10(6) and turnover frequencies of ~1.1 * 10(5) h(
      1). Structural, computational, and spectroscopic studies show that site isolation
      of the highly reactive (bpy)Co(THF)2 species in the MOFs prevents intermolecular
      deactivation and stabilizes solution-inaccessible catalysts for broad-scope
      organic transformations. Computational, spectroscopic, and kinetic evidence
      further support a hitherto unknown (bpy(*-))Co(I)(THF)2 ground state that
      coordinates to alkene and dihydrogen and then undergoing sigma-complex-assisted
      metathesis to form (bpy)Co(alkyl)(H). Reductive elimination of alkane followed by
      alkene binding completes the catalytic cycle. MOFs thus provide a novel platform
      for discovering new base-metal molecular catalysts and exhibit enormous potential
      in sustainable chemical catalysis. 

PMID- 26864497
TI  - Hyperspectral imaging of nanoparticles in biological samples: Simultaneous
      visualization and elemental identification.
AB  - While engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are increasingly incorporated into
      industrial processes and consumer products, the potential biological effects and
      health outcomes of exposure remain unknown. Novel advanced direct visualization
      techniques that require less time, cost, and resource investment than electron
      microscopy (EM) are needed for identifying and locating ENMs in biological
      samples. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combines spectrophotometry and imaging,
      using advanced optics and algorithms to capture a spectrum from 400 to 1000 nm at
      each pixel in an enhanced dark-field microscopic (EDFM) image. HSI-EDFM can be
      used to confirm the identity of the materials of interest in a sample and
      generate an image "mapping" their presence and location in a sample.
      Hyperspectral mapping is particularly important for biological samples, where ENM
      morphology is visually indistinct from surrounding tissue structures. While use
      of HSI (without mapping) is increasing, no studies to date have compared results
      from hyperspectral mapping with conventional methods. Thus, the objective of this
      study was to utilize EDFM-HSI to locate, identify, and map metal oxide ENMs in ex
      vivo histological porcine skin tissues, a toxicological model of cutaneous
      exposure, and compare findings with those of Raman spectroscopy (RS), energy
      dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
      Results demonstrate that EDFM-HSI mapping is capable of locating and identifying
      ENMs in tissue, as confirmed by conventional methods. This study serves as
      initial confirmation of EDFM-HSI mapping as a novel and higher throughput
      technique for ENM identification in biological samples, and serves as the basis
      for further protocol development utilizing EDFM-HSI for semiquantitation of ENMs.

PMID- 26864498
TI  - Silver nanoparticle film induced photoluminescence enhancement of near-infrared
      emitting PbS and PbS/CdS core/shell quantum dots: observation of different
      enhancement mechanisms.
AB  - The photoluminescence (PL) enhancement of a Ag nanoparticle and near-infrared
      quantum dots (QD) plasmon/fluorophore system was investigated. Different
      enhancement mechanisms were obtained by tuning surface plasmon resonance of the
      Ag film and PL of the QDs. A maximum enhancement factor of 2.8 was achieved. 

PMID- 26864500
TI  - Hierarchical TiO2/C nanocomposite monoliths with a robust scaffolding
      architecture, mesopore-macropore network and TiO2-C heterostructure for high
      performance lithium ion batteries.
AB  - Engineering hierarchical structures of electrode materials is a powerful strategy
      for optimizing the electrochemical performance of an anode material for lithium
      ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we report the fabrication of hierarchical TiO2/C
      nanocomposite monoliths by mediated mineralization and carbonization using
      bacterial cellulose (BC) as a scaffolding template as well as a carbon source.
      TiO2/C has a robust scaffolding architecture, a mesopore-macropore network and
      TiO2-C heterostructure. TiO2/C-500, obtained by calcination at 500  degrees C in
      nitrogen, contains an anatase TiO2-C heterostructure with a specific surface area
      of 66.5 m(2) g(-1). When evaluated as an anode material at 0.5 C, TiO2/C-500
      exhibits a high and reversible lithium storage capacity of 188 mA h g(-1), an
      excellent initial capacity of 283 mA h g(-1), a long cycle life with a 94%
      coulombic efficiency preserved after 200 cycles, and a very low charge transfer
      resistance. The superior electrochemical performance of TiO2/C-500 is attributed
      to the synergistic effect of high electrical conductivity, anatase TiO2-C
      heterostructure, mesopore-macropore network and robust scaffolding architecture.
      The current material strategy affords a general approach for the design of
      complex inorganic nanocomposites with structural stability, and tunable and
      interconnected hierarchical porosity that may lead to the next generation of
      electrochemical supercapacitors with high energy efficiency and superior power
      density. 

PMID- 26864499
TI  - Evaluation of agarose gel electrophoresis for characterization of silver
      nanoparticles in industrial products.
AB  - Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) has been used extensively for characterization
      of pure nanomaterials or mixtures of pure nanomaterials. We have evaluated the
      use of AGE for characterization of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in an industrial
      product (described as strong antiseptic). Influence of different stabilizing
      agents (PEG, SDS, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate), buffers (TBE and Tris
      Glycine), and functionalizing agents (mercaptosuccinic acid (TMA) and proteins)
      has been investigated for the characterization of AgNPs in the industrial product
      using different sizes-AgNPs standards. The use of 1% SDS, 0.1% TMA, and Tris
      Glycine in gel, electrophoresis buffer and loading buffer led to the different
      sizes-AgNPs standards moved according to their size/charge ratio (obtaining a
      linear relationship between apparent mobility and mean diameter). After using SDS
      and TMA, the behavior of the AgNPs in the industrial product (containing a casein
      matrix) was completely different, being not possible their size characterization.
      However we demonstrated that AGE with LA-ICP-MS detection is an alternative
      method to confirm the protein corona formation between the industrial product and
      two proteins (BSA and transferrin) maintaining NPs-protein binding (what is not
      possible using SDS-PAGE). 

PMID- 26864501
TI  - Self-induced synthesis of phase-junction TiO2 with a tailored rutile to anatase
      ratio below phase transition temperature.
AB  - The surface phase junction of nanocrystalline TiO2 plays an essential role in
      governing its photocatalytic activity. Thus, facile and simple methods for
      preparing phase-junction TiO2 photocatalysts are highly desired. In this work, we
      show that phase-junction TiO2 is directly synthesized from Ti foil by using a
      simple calcination method with hydrothermal solution as the precursor below the
      phase transition temperature. Moreover, the ratio of rutile to anatase in the
      TiO2 samples could be readily tuned by changing the ratio of weight of Ti foil to
      HCl, which is used as the hydrothermal precursor, as confirmed by the X-ray
      diffraction analysis. In the photocatalytic reaction by the TiO2 nanocomposite, a
      synergistic effect between the two phases within a certain range of the ratio is
      clearly observed. The results suggest that an appropriate ratio of anatase to
      rutile in the TiO2 nanocomposite can create more efficient solid-solid interfaces
      upon calcination, thereby facilitating interparticle charge transfer in the
      photocatalysis. 

PMID- 26864502
TI  - Improved chemical and mechanical stability of peptoid nanosheets by photo
      crosslinking the hydrophobic core.
AB  - Peptoid nanosheets can be broadly functionalized for a variety of applications.
      However, they are susceptible to degradation when exposed to chemical or
      mechanical stress. To improve their strength, photolabile monomers were
      introduced in order to crosslink the nanosheet interior. Photo-crosslinking
      produced a more robust material that can survive sonication, lyophilization, and
      other biochemical manipulations. 

PMID- 26864503
TI  - Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfide on Graphene-Carbon Nanotube Hybrids as Highly Active
      Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Catalysts.
AB  - In this study, we report on the deposition of amorphous molybdenum sulfide (MoSx,
      with x ~ 3) on a high specific surface area conductive support of Graphene-Carbon
      Nanotube hybrids (GCNT) as the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) catalysts. We
      found that the high surface area GCNT electrode could support the deposition of
      MoSx at much higher loadings compared with simple porous carbon paper or flat
      graphite paper. The morphological study showed that MoSx was successfully
      deposited on and was in good contact with the GCNT support. Other physical
      characterization techniques suggested the amorphous nature of the deposited MoSx.
      With a typical catalyst loading of 3 mg cm(-2), an overpotential of 141 mV was
      required to obtain a current density of 10 mA cm(-2). A Tafel slope of 41 mV
      decade(-1) was demonstrated. Both measures placed the MoSx-deposited GCNT
      electrode among the best performing molybdenum sulfide-based HER catalysts
      reported to date. The electrode showed a good stability with only a 25 mV
      increase in overpotential required for a current density of 10 mA cm(-2), after
      undergoing 500 potential sweeps with vigorous bubbling present. The current
      density obtained at -0.5 V vs SHE (Standard Hydrogen Electrode potential)
      decreased less than 10% after the stability test. The deposition of MoSx on high
      specific surface area conductive electrodes demonstrated to be an efficient
      method to maximize the catalytic performance toward HER. 

PMID- 26864504
TI  - Physician-Assisted Death for Patients With Mental Disorders-Reasons for Concern.

PMID- 26864505
TI  - Endovascular treatment of large and wide aortic neck: case report and literature
      review.
AB  - Large (24-34 mm) and wide (>=35 mm) aortic necks are a contraindication to
      endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). A 63-year-old man, unfit for conventional
      surgery, presented a 79 mm abdominal aortic aneurysm with 36.5 mm aortic neck and
      a 62 mm right common iliac artery aneurysm. He was treated endovascularly with
      standard commercially available stent-graft using the so-called 'funnel
      technique'; by placing a thoracic stent-graft inside a bifurcated device to
      achieve proximal sealing. The completion angiography and the 6 months follow-up
      with computed tomography showed no stent-graft migration, limb occlusion or
      endoleak. The literature review reported 179 cases of large aortic neck managed
      with EVAR, all cases treated with standard devices. Conversely a wide aortic neck
      was reported in 9; in 2 cases were employed custom-made devices and in 7 standard
      stent-graft. The use of EVAR with commercially available stent-grafts is feasible
      and it represents an option especially in non-elective setting.

PMID- 26864506
TI  - The Stomatological Complications of Diamond-Blackfan Anemia: A Case Report.
AB  - Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare heterogeneous genetic disease
      characterized by severe anemia, reduction or absence of erythroid progenitors,
      and pro-apoptoptic hematopoiesis, which culminates in bone marrow failure. The
      disease generally manifests in infancy, as craniofacial, cardiac, genitourinary,
      and upper limb congenital anomalies. Therapy with corticoids is the treatment of
      choice, while blood transfusion is adopted during diagnosis and as a chronic
      approach if the patient does not respond to corticoids. This case report
      describes DBA in a patient that presented with lesions on the oral mucosa caused
      by secondary neutropenia. The stomatologist plays an important role in a
      transdisciplinary team and must remain attentive to the general health conditions
      of patients, since some oral lesions may be associated with systemic events. 

PMID- 26864507
TI  - Transient Hypothyroidism after Radioiodine for Graves' Disease: Challenges in
      Interpreting Thyroid Function Tests.
AB  - Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is often managed
      with radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. With current dosing schemes, the vast
      majority of patients develop permanent post-RAI hypothyroidism and are placed on
      life-long levothyroxine therapy. This hypothyroidism typically occurs within the
      first 3 to 6 months after RAI therapy is administered. Indeed, patients are
      typically told to expect life-long thyroid hormone replacement therapy to be
      required within this timeframe and many providers expect this post-RAI
      hypothyroidism to be complete and permanent. There is, however, a small subset of
      patients in whom a transient post-RAI hypothyroidism develops which, initially,
      presents exactly as the typical permanent hypothyroidism. In some cases the
      transient hypothyroidism leads to a period of euthyroidism of variable duration
      eventually progressing to permanent hypothyroidism. In others, persistent
      hyperthyroidism requires a second dose of RAI. Failure to appreciate and
      recognize the possibility of transient post-RAI hypothyroidism can delay optimal
      and appropriate treatment of the patient. We herein describe five cases of
      transient post-RAI hypothyroidism which highlight this unusual sequence of
      events. Increased awareness of this possible outcome after RAI for Graves'
      disease will help in the timely management of patients. 

PMID- 26864508
TI  - Oral Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Two Case Reports.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are known as chronic inflammatory disorders of
      the digestive tract, represented mainly by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative
      colitis (UC). Among the main oral manifestations of IBD are cobblestoning of the
      oral mucosa, labial swellings with vertical fissures, pyostomatitis vegetans,
      angular cheilitis, perioral erythema, and glossitis. In this sense, understanding
      these nosological entities by dentists would help reach early and differential
      diagnosis. Thus, two case reports are presented and discussed based on
      theoretical references obtained by a literature review. The first case report
      refers to an adult patient whose IBD diagnosis was established after
      stomatological assessment. The second case was a patient with CD diagnosed in
      childhood with characteristic oral lesions. 

PMID- 26864509
TI  - Web Camera Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Impact on Nursing Workflow.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are using web camera
      systems to allow virtual visitation of the infant by family members. Generally,
      families appreciate the web camera and utilize this service. However, no one has
      looked into the change on nursing workload after implementation of a web camera.
      OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the perception of nurses and their
      workflow and identify determinants that may disrupt or facilitate the use of a
      commercially available camera service. Our primary goal was to see if the camera
      system interferes with the nursing care. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective,
      questionnaire-based study conducted between March and September 2014. Parents
      were offered the camera service and signed a consent form before use. Parents who
      refused the camera were the group designated as "off camera." There were two
      infant groups; one cared for using the cameras and the other not. The camera
      service was used continuously during the study period, except during procedures,
      baby care, and feedings. Demographic information on nursing staff and neonates
      was collected weekly. Questionnaires were placed at each bedside for nurses to
      complete on each shift for each infant once weekly. The questionnaires for
      infants off-camera did not have questions regarding the camera. However, the rest
      of the questions were similar regarding time spent interacting with family
      members, face to face, or on the phone. Data on time spent manipulating the
      camera per shift were also obtained. RESULTS: Surveys for 623 on-camera and 130
      off-camera infants were completed by 42 nursing staff. Findings showed that
      caring for multiple infants while using the web camera increased nurses' workload
      and stress, which they perceived as having an adverse effect on the ability to
      provide quality care. Family decisions not to utilize the camera service were
      mainly cultural, and noted among Mennonite, Amish, and Hmong families. Some
      families residing close to the hospital also preferred visiting the baby
      personally rather than using the camera service. CONCLUSION: Parents and nurses
      perceived web cameras as beneficial in the NICU setting. However, nurses spent
      significant time manipulating cameras and addressing parental concerns over the
      phone, causing disruption in their workflow, which had the potential to decrease
      quality of care for infants. To compensate for these disruptions, we recommend
      increasing awareness of the potential issues with both cameras and families and
      providing multiple training sessions to nursing staff before systems are
      implemented.

PMID- 26864510
TI  - Discovery and enantiocontrol of axially chiral urazoles via organocatalytic
      tyrosine click reaction.
AB  - Axially chiral compounds play an important role in areas such as asymmetric
      catalysis. The tyrosine click-like reaction is an efficient approach for
      synthesis of urazoles with potential applications in pharmaceutical and
      asymmetric catalysis. Here we discover a class of urazole with axial chirality by
      restricted rotation around an N-Ar bond. By using bifunctional organocatalyst, we
      successfully develop an organocatalytic asymmetric tyrosine click-like reaction
      in high yields with excellent enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions.
      The excellent remote enantiocontrol of the strategy originates from the efficient
      discrimination of the two reactive sites in the triazoledione and transferring
      the stereochemical information of the catalyst into the axial chirality of
      urazoles at the remote position far from the reactive site. 

PMID- 26864511
TI  - Beyond organic chemistry: aromaticity in atomic clusters.
AB  - We describe joint experimental and theoretical studies carried out
      collaboratively in the authors' labs for understanding the structures and
      chemical bonding of novel atomic clusters, which exhibit aromaticity. The concept
      of aromaticity was first discovered to be useful in understanding the square
      planar unit of Al4 in a series of MAl4(-) bimetallic clusters that led to
      discoveries of aromaticity in many metal cluster systems, including transition
      metals and similar cluster motifs in solid compounds. The concept of aromaticity
      has been found to be particularly powerful in understanding the stability and
      bonding in planar boron clusters, many of which have been shown to be analogous
      to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in their pi bonding. Stimulated by the
      multiple aromaticity in planar boron clusters, a design principle has been
      proposed for stable metal-cerntered aromatic molecular wheels of the general
      formula, M@Bn(k-). A series of such borometallic aromatic wheel complexes have
      been produced in supersonic cluster beams and characterized experimentally and
      theoretically, including Ta@B10(-) and Nb@B10(-), which exhibit the highest
      coordination number in two dimensions.

PMID- 26864512
TI  - Analyzing the Release of Copeptin from the Heart in Acute Myocardial Infarction
      Using a Transcoronary Gradient Model.
AB  - Copeptin is the C-terminal end of pre-provasopressin released equimolar to
      vasopressin into circulation and recently discussed as promising cardiovascular
      biomarker amendatory to established markers such as troponins. Vasopressin is a
      cytokine synthesized in the hypothalamus. A direct release of copeptin from the
      heart into the circulation is implied by data from a rat model showing a cardiac
      origin in hearts put under cardiovascular wall stress. Therefore, evaluation of a
      potential release of copeptin from the human heart in acute myocardial infarction
      (AMI) has been done. 

PMID- 26864515
TI  - An Algorithmic Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of the Thrombotic
      Microangiopathies.

PMID- 26864513
TI  - Changes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in German Primary Care Prior to
      (2006) and After (2010, 2014) Launch of New Drugs.
AB  - AIMS: The aim was to analyze the changes in a German type 2 diabetes population
      prior to (2006) and after (2010, 2014) launch of new drugs. METHODS: Patients
      with T2DM in 2006, 2010, and 2014 were recruited for the study. Demographic data
      included age, gender, and health insurance type (private/statutory). Drug
      prescription, mean costs per patient, HbA1c levels, macrovascular complications,
      and time before first insulin prescription were analyzed. RESULTS: In all, 64
      098, 77 219, and 85 004 T2DM patients were included for 2006, 2010, and 2014,
      respectively. The mean age (65.9-66.9 years), proportion of men (50.8%-53.8%),
      and proportion of patients with private health insurance (6.6%-7.2%) differed
      significantly for each of the 3 years. There was a 1.25-fold increase in the
      total costs per patient, linked with an increase in the costs associated with the
      use of new drugs and a decrease in those associated with the use of old drugs,
      respectively. HbA1c levels were slightly better regulated in 2014 than in 2006
      and 2010. The share of macrovascular complications decreased significantly over
      time, dropping from 27.4% in 2006 to 24.6% in 2014. The mean duration before
      first insulin treatment increased from 1225 days in 2006 to 1406 days in 2014.
      CONCLUSIONS: The new drugs analyzed in this study had positive effects on HbA1c
      levels, macrovascular complications, and mean time before first insulin
      treatment.

PMID- 26864516
TI  - Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP):
      A Single-Center Experience from 2008 to 2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome after
      transplantation of deceased allografts in donor/recipient pairs aged >=65 years
      enrolled in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In
      this retrospective cohort study we evaluated data from 89 patients transplanted
      under the ESP protocol from 2008 to 2013. Outcome parameters included graft and
      patient survival, rate of biopsy-proven acute rejections (BPAR), peri- and post
      operative complications, tumor development, development of donor-specific
      antibodies (DSA), and the prognostic role of preimplantation biopsies. RESULTS:
      One-year patient and allograft survival rates were 92.1% and 84.3%, respectively.
      During follow-up, 23 (26%) patients died; the major cause of death was sepsis,
      followed by cardiovascular events and malignancies. BPAR episodes were frequent
      within the first year (~33%) and overall were less common in patients treated
      with tacrolimus. Post-transplant malignancies were seen in 15 (17%) patients.
      During follow-up, 16 (18%) patients developed DSA; patients with delayed graft
      function (DGF) were more likely to develop DSA (p=0.029). A higher
      preimplantation biopsy score was associated with DGF but did not predict later
      graft outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight increased risks in ESP
      transplant candidates and the importance of careful surveillance of this patient
      group.

PMID- 26864517
TI  - Assessment of the latest NGS enrichment capture methods in clinical context.
AB  - Enrichment capture methods for NGS are widely used, however, they evolve rapidly
      and it is necessary to periodically measure their strengths and weaknesses before
      transfer to diagnostic services. We assessed two recently released custom DNA
      solution-capture enrichment methods for NGS, namely Illumina NRCCE and Agilent
      SureSelect(QXT), against a reference method NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Choice on a
      similar gene panel, sharing 678 kb and 110 genes. Two Illumina MiSeq runs of 12
      samples each have been performed, for each of the three methods, using the same
      24 patients (affected with sensorineural disorders). Technical outcomes have been
      computed and compared, including depth and evenness of coverage, enrichment in
      targeted regions, performance in GC-rich regions and ability to generate
      consistent variant datasets. While we show that the three methods resulted in
      suitable datasets for standard DNA variant discovery, we describe significant
      differences between the results for the above parameters. NimbleGen offered the
      best depth of coverage and evenness, while NRCCE showed the highest on target
      levels but high duplicate rates. SureSelect(QXT) showed an overall quality close
      to that of NimbleGen. The new methods exhibit reduced preparation time but behave
      differently. These findings will guide laboratories in their choice of library
      enrichment approach. 

PMID- 26864518
TI  - Bacteriophage cell lysis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli for top-down
      proteomic identification of Shiga toxins 1 & 2 using matrix-assisted laser
      desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
AB  - RATIONAL: Analysis of bacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization
      time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) often relies upon sample
      preparation methods that result in cell lysis, e.g. bead-beating. However, Shiga
      toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can undergo bacteriophage-induced cell
      lysis triggered by antibiotic exposure that may allow greater selectivity of the
      proteins extracted. METHODS: We have developed a sample preparation method for
      selective extraction of bacteriophage-encoded proteins and specifically Shiga
      toxins 1 and 2 (Stx1 & 2) expressed from STEC strains induced by DNA-damaging
      antibiotics. STEC strains were cultured overnight on agar supplemented with
      ciprofloxacin, mitomycin-C or an iron chelator to induce the bacteriophage lytic
      cycle with concomitant expression and release of Stx1 and/or Stx2. Sample
      preparation relied exclusively on bacteriophage lysis for release Stx into the
      extraction solution. RESULTS: Three clinical STEC strains were analyzed by matrix
      assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry
      (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS) and top-down proteomics analysis: E. coli O157:H7 strain
      EDL933, E. coli O91:H21 strain B2F1 and E. coli O26:H11 strain ECRC #05.2217. The
      B-subunit of Stx1a of EDL933 was detected and identified even though it was ~100
      fold less abundant than the B-subunit of Stx2a that had been identified
      previously for this strain. Two bacteriophage-encoded proteins were also
      identified: L0117 and L0136. The B-subunits of Stx2d of strain B2F1 and Stx1a of
      strain ECRC #05.2217 were also detected and identified. CONCLUSIONS:
      Bacteriophage lysis appeared to enhance the detection sensitivity of Stx for
      these STEC strains compared to previous work using mechanical lysis.
      Detection/identification of other bacteriophage-encoded proteins (beyond Stx)
      tends to support the hypothesis of Stx release by bacteriophage cell lysis.

PMID- 26864519
TI  - Polyalanine - a practical polypeptide mass calibration standard for matrix
      assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass
      spectrometry in positive and negative mode.
AB  - RATIONALE: Mass calibration in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass
      spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is currently obtained using mixtures of individual
      peptides. This procedure has several drawbacks, including laborious preparation,
      limited shelf life and unequal calibration mass spacing. Polyalanine, a simple to
      prepare polydisperse molar mass standard, alleviates these problems. METHODS:
      Polyalanine is prepared by the typical protocols for biological sample analytics.
      RESULTS: Polyalanine is the first polymeric standard providing abundant signals
      in both, positive and negative polarity mode with the typical matrices DHB and
      HCCA. CONCLUSIONS: Facile MS as well as MS/MS calibration is thus enabled for the
      first time in both polarity modes by employing this polydisperse standard.

PMID- 26864520
TI  - Measurement of oxygen isotope ratios ((18)O/(16)O) of aqueous O2 in small samples
      by gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
AB  - RATIONALE: Oxygen isotope fractionation of molecular O2 is an important process
      for the study of aerobic metabolism, photosynthesis, and formation of reactive
      oxygen species. The latter is of particular interest for investigating the
      mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, such as the oxygenation of organic
      pollutants, which is an important detoxification mechanism. METHODS: We developed
      a simple method to measure the delta(18) O values of dissolved O2 in small
      samples using automated split injection for gas chromatography coupled to isotope
      ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). After creating a N2 headspace, the dissolved
      O2 partitions from aqueous solution to the headspace, from which it can be
      injected into the gas chromatograph. RESULTS: In aqueous samples of 10 mL and in
      diluted air samples, we quantified the delta(18) O values at O2 concentrations of
      16 MUM and 86 MUM, respectively. The chromatographic separation of O2 and N2 with
      a molecular sieve column made it possible to use N2 as the headspace gas for the
      extraction of dissolved O2 from water. We were therefore able to apply a rigorous
      delta(18) O blank correction for the quantification of (18) O/(16) O ratios in 20
      nmol of injected O2 . CONCLUSIONS: The successful quantification of (18) O
      kinetic isotope effects associated with enzymatic and chemical reduction of
      dissolved O2 illustrates how the proposed method can be applied for studying
      enzymatic O2 activation mechanisms in a variety of (bio)chemical processes.

PMID- 26864521
TI  - An online method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in electronic
      cigarette aerosol based on proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry.
AB  - RATIONALE: Due to the recent rapid increase in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette)
      use worldwide, there is a strong scientific but also practical interest in
      analyzing e-cigarette aerosols. Most studies to date have used standardized but
      time-consuming offline technologies. Here a proof-of-concept for a fast online
      quantification setup based on proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS)
      is presented. METHODS: The combination of a novel sampling interface with a time
      of-flight PTR-MS instrument specially designed for three scenarios is introduced:
      (i) mainstream aerosol analysis (aerosol that the user inhales prior to
      exhalation), and analysis of exhaled breath following (ii) mouth-hold (no
      inhalation) and (iii) inhalation of e-cigarette aerosols. A double-stage dilution
      setup allows the various concentration ranges in these scenarios to be accessed.
      RESULTS: First, the instrument is calibrated for the three principal constituents
      of the e-cigarettes' liquids, namely propylene glycol, vegetable glycerol and
      nicotine. With the double-stage dilution the instrument's dynamic range was
      easily adapted to cover the concentration ranges obtained in the three scenarios:
      20-1100 ppmv for the mainstream aerosol characterisation; 4-300 ppmv for the
      mouth-hold; and 2 ppbv to 20 ppmv for the inhalation experiment. CONCLUSIONS: It
      is demonstrated that the novel setup enables fast, high time resolution e
      cigarette studies with online quantification. This enables the analysis and
      understanding of any puff-by-puff variations in e-cigarette aerosols. Large-scale
      studies involving a high number of volunteers will benefit from considerably
      higher sample throughput and shorter data processing times.

PMID- 26864522
TI  - Removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate from protein and peptide samples with cross
      linked [Os(dmebpy)2 Cl](+/2+) -derivatized acrylamide and vinylimidazole
      copolymer.
AB  - RATIONALE: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is widely used for the solubilization and
      denaturation of proteins, but it interferes with liquid chromatography/mass
      spectrometry (LC/MS), suppressing protein signals or forming adduct ions. A quick
      and effective clean-up technique of SDS is essential for MS analysis of proteins.
      Ion-exchange spin columns are commonly used for SDS removal in protein samples.
      METHODS: A bulk sample of insoluble, cross-linked [Os(dimethylbipyridine)2
      Cl](+/2+) -derivatized poly(acrylamide)-poly(vinylimidazole) copolymer was
      synthesized and broken into small particles. The polymer was activated by washing
      with 1:1 ACN/water 50 mM triethylammonium phosphate 0.05% TFA, 0.1% TFA ACN and
      then 0.1% TFA water. Under acidic aqueous conditions, SDS adsorbs on the
      activated surfaces of the Os-complexed copolymer particles, but not the proteins
      and peptides in the same mixtures. Thus, the copolymer can be used to remove SDS
      from protein and peptide samples. The copolymer-adsorbed SDS is removed by
      washing with 0.1% TFA ACN, permitting re-use of the copolymer. RESULTS: Standard
      myoglobin and some practical protein samples from a biochemistry lab spiked with
      different concentrations of SDS were successfully cleaned up using this Os
      copolymer for LC/MS analyses. Up to 0.2% (w/v %) of SDS can be successfully
      removed from those protein samples. CONCLUSIONS: This Os-complexed copolymer
      provides a new alternative for quick cleanup of SDS from protein samples, and can
      serve as a new class of metal complex based anion exchanger for protein
      purification.

PMID- 26864523
TI  - Dissociation of trivalent metal ion (Al(3+), Ga(3+), In(3+) and Rh(3+))--peptide
      complexes under electron capture dissociation conditions.
AB  - RATIONALE: The electron capture dissociation (ECD) of proteins/peptides is
      affected by the nature of charge carrier. It has been reported that transition
      metal ions could tune the ECD pathway of peptides. To further explore the charge
      carrier effect of metal ions, ECD of peptides adducted with trivalent transition
      metal ions, including group IIIB (Al(3+), Ga(3+), and In(3+) ) and Rh(3+), were
      investigated and compared with that of the lanthanide ion (Ln(3+)). METHODS:
      Bradykinin-derived peptides were used as model peptides to probe the dissociation
      pathways. The ECD experiments were performed on a Bruker APEX III 4.7T Fourier
      transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. RESULTS: Typical c
      /z-ions with and without metal ions were observed in the ECD of peptides adducted
      with Group IIIB metal ions as charge carriers. Connection of non-metalated c-ions
      and metalated z-ions at the position of the serine residue indicated that serine
      is one of the binding sites of the metal ion on the model peptides. Typical slow
      heating ions, including metalated a-/b-ions and non-metalated y-ions, were
      generated in ECD of Rh(3+) -adducted peptides. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      experimental results, it is proposed that (i) for Group IIIB metal ion-peptide
      complexes, the incoming electron is captured by the proton in the salt-bridge
      structures of precursor ions; (ii) for Rh(3+) -peptide complexes, the incoming
      electron is captured by the metal ion due to the formation of charge-solvated
      precursor ions formed through arginine residue-metal coordination. Our results
      indicate that the heterogeneity of precursor ions plays an important role for the
      ECD of metalated peptides.

PMID- 26864524
TI  - Impact of tissue surface properties on the desorption electrospray ionization
      imaging of organic acids in grapevine stem.
AB  - RATIONALE: Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) imaging is a fast analytical
      technique used to assess spatially resolved biological processes over unmodified
      sample surfaces. Although DESI profiling experiments have demonstrated that the
      properties of the sample surface significantly affect the outcomes of DESI
      analyses, the potential implications of these phenomena in imaging applications
      have not yet been explored extensively. METHODS: The distribution of endogenous
      and exogenous organic acids in pith and out pith region of grapevine stems was
      investigated by using DESI imaging, ion chromatography and direct infusion
      methods. Several common normalization strategies to account for the surface
      effect, including TIC normalization, addition of the internal standard in the
      spray solvent and deposition of the standard over the sample surface, were
      critically evaluated. RESULTS: DESI imaging results show that, in our case, the
      measured distributions of these small organic acids are not consistent with their
      'true' localizations within the tissues. Furthermore, our results indicate that
      the common normalization strategies are not able to completely compensate for the
      observed surface effect. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the tissue surface properties
      across the tissue sample can greatly affect the semi-quantitative detection of
      organic acids. Attention should be paid when interpreting DESI imaging results
      and an independent analytical validation step is important in untargeted DESI
      imaging investigations.

PMID- 26864525
TI  - Covalent adducts of melphalan with free amino acids and a model peptide studied
      by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - RATIONALE: Melphalan is a frequently used chemotherapeutical agent for the
      treatment of myeloma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and sarcoma of soft tissue. A
      good knowledge of the reactivity of the drug toward the different amino acids,
      e.g. covalent adduct formation, is crucial for the understanding of its activity
      and side effects during cancer treatment. METHODS: The reactivity of melphalan
      and sites of adduct formation were studied by in vitro incubation of melphalan
      with free amino acids and glutathione as a model peptide. The formed covalent
      adducts were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem
      mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) using a triple-quadrupole instrument. Accurate
      mass measurements for the confirmation of characteristic product ions were
      performed on a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The
      incubation of melphalan with different classes of amino acids resulted in the
      formation of adducts on the amino and carboxyl termini, as well as adduct
      formation in the reactive side chains of Cys, Met, Tyr, His, Lys, Asp and Glu.
      All these melphalan adducts could be identified by their characteristic collision
      induced dissociation (CID) product ion patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The present study
      demonstrates the reactivity of melphalan towards the functional groups of amino
      acids. The different alkylation site products show distinctive fragmentation
      patterns, which enable a fast identification of the different melphalan adducts.
      This study is a first important step towards a better understanding of the adduct
      formation in more complex molecules, e.g. peptides and proteins.

PMID- 26864526
TI  - Differentiating samples and experimental protocols by direct comparison of tandem
      mass spectra.
AB  - RATIONALE: Peptide tandem mass spectra can be analyzed by a number of means. They
      can be compared against predicted spectra of peptides derived from genome
      sequences, compared against previously acquired and identified spectra, or -
      sometimes - sequenced de novo. We recently introduced another method which
      compares spectra between liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
      (LC/MS/MS) datasets to determine the shared spectral content, and demonstrated
      how this can be applied in a molecular phylogenetic study using sera from human
      and non-human primates. We will here explore if such a method have other,
      serendipitous uses. METHODS: We used the existing compareMS2 algorithm without
      modification on a diverse set of experiments. RESULTS: First we conducted a small
      phylogenetic study, using (mammalian) bone samples to study old material, and
      human pathogens aiming to distinguish clinically important strains. Although not
      as straightforward as primate sera analysis, the method shows significant promise
      for all these applications. We also used the algorithm to compare 24 different
      protocols for extraction of proteins from muscle tissue. The results provided
      useful information in comparing protocols. Finally, we applied compareMS2 aiming
      for quality control of two traceable protein reference standards (troponin) used
      in clinical chemistry assays, by analysing the effect of storage conditions.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results illustrate a broad applicability of the metric based on
      shared tandem mass spectra between LC/MS/MS datasets for analysing protein
      digests in different types of experiments. There is no reason to assume that our
      instance of this method is optimal in any of these situations, as it makes
      limited or no use of accurate mass and chromatographic retention time. We propose
      that with further improvement and refinement, this type of analysis can be
      applied as a simple but informative first step in many pipelines for bottom-up
      tandem mass spectrometry data analysis in proteomics and other fields, comparing
      or analysing large numbers of samples or datasets.

PMID- 26864527
TI  - A hybrid strategy using global analysis of oxidized fatty acids and bioconversion
      by Bacillus circulans.
AB  - RATIONALE: Targeted oxidized fatty acid analysis has been widely used to
      understand the roles of fatty acids in the development of diseases. However,
      because of the extensive structural diversity of fatty acids, it is considered
      that unknown lipid metabolites will remain undetected. Here, to discover and
      identify unknown lipid metabolites in biological samples, a global analytical
      system and a method of synthesizing lipid standards were investigated. METHODS:
      Oxidized fatty acids in mouse lung tissues were extracted using mixed-mode spin
      columns. Separation was achieved via ultra-high-performance liquid
      chromatography, mass spectrometric (MS) analysis was conducted in full scan mode
      using a Q Exactive Plus instrument equipped with an electrospray ionization
      probe, and structure analysis was carried out by high-resolution data-dependent
      tandem mass spectrometry (dd-MS(2)). In addition, lipid standards, which are not
      commercially available, were synthesized by bioconversion using Bacillus
      circulans. RESULTS: Oxidized fatty acids in mouse lung tissues were analyzed by
      high-resolution accurate-mass analysis, and multiple unknown molecules were
      discovered and tentatively identified using high-resolution dd-MS(2). Among these
      molecules, 21-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (21-HDoHE) and 22-HDoHE, which are not
      commercially available, were synthesized by bioconversion. By comparing the exact
      masses, retention times, and characteristic fragment ions of the synthesized
      standards, 21-HDoHE and 22-HDoHE were definitively identified in the mouse lung
      tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our strategy of global analysis and bioconversion can be
      used for the discovery and identification of unknown lipid molecules.

PMID- 26864528
TI  - Differentiation of cyclic tertiary amine cathinone derivatives by product ion
      electron ionization mass spectrometry.
AB  - RATIONALE: A number of synthetic cathinones (aminoketones, 'bath salts') are
      tertiary amines containing a cyclic amino group, most commonly pyrrolidine. These
      totally synthetic compounds can be prepared in a number of regioisomeric designer
      modifications and many of these can yield isomeric major fragment ions in
      electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS). METHODS: A series of regioisomeric
      cyclic tertiary amines were prepared and evaluated in EI-MS and MS/MS product ion
      experiments. The cyclic amines azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine and azepane
      were incorporated into a series of aminoketones related to the cathinone
      derivative drug of abuse known as MDPV. Deuterium labeling in both the cyclic
      amine and alkyl side chain allowed for the confirmation of the structure for the
      major product ions formed from the EI-MS iminium cation base peaks. RESULTS:
      These iminium cation base peaks show characteristic product ion spectra which
      allow differentiation of the ring and side-chain portions of the structure. The
      small alkyl side chains favor ring fragmentation in the formation of the major
      product ions. The higher side-chain homologues appear to promote product ion
      formation by side-chain fragmentation. Both side-chain and ring fragmentation
      yield a mixture of product ions in the piperidine and azepane series.
      CONCLUSIONS: Product ion fragmentation provides useful data for differentiation
      of cyclic tertiary amine iminium cations from cathinone derivative drugs of
      abuse. Regioisomeric iminium cations of equal mass yield characteristic product
      ions for the alkyl side-chain homologues of azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperidine
      and azepane cyclic amines.

PMID- 26864529
TI  - A simple heated-capillary modification improves the analysis of non-covalent
      complexes by Z-spray electrospray ionization.
AB  - RATIONALE: The observation of intact non-covalent complexes by electrospray
      ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) hinges on the ability to minimize in-source
      activation processes that take place during analyte desolvation. We explored the
      merits of replacing the sampling cone of a standard Z-spray source with a heated
      capillary that makes the desolvation process slower and more gradual. We employed
      well-characterized protein-RNA, RNA-RNA, and DNA-DNA assemblies to compare the
      alternative configurations. METHODS: Mass analysis evaluated the integrity of the
      complexes, whereas traveling wave ion mobility experiments assessed the stability
      of biomolecular structure. Analyses were performed back-to-back on the same
      samples on a Synapt G2 HDMS equipped with either the standard sampling cone or
      the heated-capillary apparatus. In each configuration, the source/capillary
      temperature was varied in controlled fashion, while keeping all other desolvation
      parameters constant to monitor the in-source dissociation of selected DNA
      duplexes. Ion mobility data were obtained from the same precursor by using the
      alternative configurations under the same settings. RESULTS: Monitoring the
      percentage of associated complex demonstrated that the heated capillary provided
      softer desolvation that was more conducive to the detection of intact non
      covalent interactions. This configuration failed to produce complete dissociation
      of 14 bp and 24 bp duplexes, even when the source/capillary temperature was
      increased well above their solution melting points. Analyzed by IMS-MS, a
      selected construct displayed just one conformation with the heated capillary, but
      two with the standard sampling cone. CONCLUSIONS: The heated capillary minimizes
      in-source activation processes that can lead to unintended dissociation of
      complexes and perturbation of biomolecular structure, which rely on the integrity
      of non-covalent interactions. This effect can be attributed to the attenuation of
      the supersonic expansion typical of the Z-spray geometry and the greater ability
      to control the energy imparted to the system. This hardware modification will be
      expected to benefit the analysis of biomolecular structure performed on this
      particular instrumental platform.

PMID- 26864530
TI  - Improved removal of volatile organic compounds for laser-based spectroscopy of
      water isotopes.
AB  - RATIONALE: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as methanol and ethanol in
      water extracted from plants cause spectral interference in isotope ratio infrared
      spectroscopy (IRIS). This contamination degrades the accuracy of measurements,
      limiting the use of IRIS. In response, this study presents a new decontamination
      method of VOCs for enhanced IRIS measurements. METHODS: The isotopic compositions
      of water from laboratory-made and field-collected plant samples pre- and post
      treatment were analyzed using IRIS. Traditional treatment methods of activated
      charcoal and commercial pre-combustion systems (MCM) were compared with our new
      treatment method that implements solid-phase extraction (SPE). The absolute
      concentrations of contaminants pre- and post-treatment were determined using (1)H
      and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance to assess the effectiveness of the different
      treatments. RESULTS: SPE removes an average of 86.7% and 78.8% ethanol and
      methanol, respectively, significantly reducing spectral interference. SPE reduces
      errors to within instrumental noise for both ethanol and methanol at
      concentrations found in nature (<3.0% and 0.08%, respectively). Activated
      charcoal minimally affected alcohol concentrations. MCM significantly worsened
      ethanol-contaminated water isotope measurements by producing primary alcohol
      oxidation products such as formic acid, another compound that interferes with
      IRIS absorption. CONCLUSIONS: SPE is an effective, low-cost method for
      eliminating errors in ethanol-contaminated samples. For samples where methanol is
      prevalent, combining SPE and MCM is more effective than the use of SPE alone.
      Hence, SPE treatment alone or in conjunction with MCM is recommended as an
      effective pre-analysis purification method for water extracted from plants.

PMID- 26864531
TI  - The jasmonate-responsive AaMYC2 transcription factor positively regulates
      artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua.
AB  - The plant Artemisia annua is well known due to the production of artemisinin, a
      sesquiterpene lactone that is widely used in malaria treatment. Phytohormones
      play important roles in plant secondary metabolism, such as jasmonic acid (JA),
      which can induce artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua. Nevertheless, the JA
      inducing mechanism remains poorly understood. The expression of gene AaMYC2 was
      rapidly induced by JA and AaMYC2 binds the G-box-like motifs within the promoters
      of gene CYP71AV1 and DBR2, which are key structural genes in the artemisinin
      biosynthetic pathway. Overexpression of AaMYC2 in A. annua significantly
      activated the transcript levels of CYP71AV1 and DBR2, which resulted in an
      increased artemisinin content. By contrast, artemisinin content was reduced in
      the RNAi transgenic A. annua plants in which the expression of AaMYC2 was
      suppressed. Meanwhile, the RNAi transgenic A. annua plants showed lower
      sensitivity to methyl jasmonate treatment than the wild-type plants. These
      results demonstrate that AaMYC2 is a positive regulator of artemisinin
      biosynthesis and is of great value in genetic engineering of A. annua for
      increased artemisinin production.

PMID- 26864533
TI  - Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma in a patient under anticoagulant agents
      presenting as upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
AB  - We present the case of a 44-year-old woman with past history of repeated
      miscarriage and Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to primary myelofibrosis. Because
      of this she was under treatment with oral anticoagulant agents. The patient was
      admitted in hospital as she presented with gastrointestinal bleeding (melena),
      asthenia and progressive anemia. In an initial upper endoscopy an extrinsic
      duodenal compression associated with an ulcer on the posterior face of the first
      portion of duodenum and upper duodenal knee was observed. In the following days a
      huge spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma due to anticoagulation was diagnosed by
      computed tomography. This was treated with a percutaneous drainage and withdrawal
      of the antithrombotic drugs. The evolution of the patient was initially
      satisfactory but she suffered subclavian and jugular vein thrombosis, and
      reintroduction of anticoagulant agents at the lowest therapeutic doses was
      required.

PMID- 26864532
TI  - Regulation of UVR8 photoreceptor dimer/monomer photo-equilibrium in Arabidopsis
      plants grown under photoperiodic conditions.
AB  - The UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) photoreceptor specifically mediates
      photomorphogenic responses to UV-B. Photoreception induces dissociation of
      dimeric UVR8 into monomers to initiate responses. However, the regulation of
      dimer/monomer status in plants growing under photoperiodic conditions has not
      been examined. Here we show that UVR8 establishes a dimer/monomer photo
      equilibrium in plants growing in diurnal photoperiods in both controlled
      environments and natural daylight. The photo-equilibrium is determined by the
      relative rates of photoreception and dark-reversion to the dimer. Experiments
      with mutants in REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 1 (RUP1) and RUP2 show that
      these proteins are crucial in regulating the photo-equilibrium because they
      promote reversion to the dimer. In plants growing in daylight, the UVR8 photo
      equilibrium is most strongly correlated with low ambient fluence rates of UV-B
      (up to 1.5 MUmol m(-2) s(-1) ), rather than higher fluence rates or the amount of
      photosynthetically active radiation. In addition, the rate of reversion of
      monomer to dimer is reduced at lower temperatures, promoting an increase in the
      relative level of monomer at approximately 8-10  degrees C. Thus, UVR8 does not
      behave like a simple UV-B switch under photoperiodic growth conditions but
      establishes a dimer/monomer photo-equilibrium that is regulated by UV-B and also
      influenced by temperature.

PMID- 26864535
TI  - Erratum to: One-Dimensional Haemodynamic Modeling and Wave Dynamics in the Entire
      Adult Circulation.

PMID- 26864534
TI  - Post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse: comorbidity in UK military
      personnel.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the prevalence of comorbid probable post-traumatic stress
      disorder and alcohol misuse in a UK military cohort study and to determine the
      level of co-occurrence between these disorders; further aims were to investigate
      the association between alcohol misuse and the different PTSD symptom clusters,
      and to assess what factors are associated with probable PTSD in participants with
      alcohol misuse. METHODS: Data from 9984 participants of Phase 2 of the health and
      well-being survey of serving and ex-serving members of the UK Armed Forces were
      assessed for probable PTSD and alcohol misuse using the PTSD checklist (PCL-C)
      and the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), respectively. RESULTS:
      1.8 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.5-2.1] of the sample met the criteria for
      both PTSD and alcohol misuse. All three symptom clusters of PTSD were
      significantly associated with alcohol misuse, with similar odds ranging from 2.46
      to 2.85. Factors associated with probable PTSD in individuals reporting alcohol
      misuse were age [ages 30-34 (years): OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.15-5.49; ages 40-44
      years: OR 2.77, 95 % CI 1.18-6.47], officer rank (OR 0.36, 95 % CI 0.16-0.85),
      being in a combat role in parent unit (OR 1.99, 95 % CI 1.20-3.31) and common
      mental disorder (CMD) (OR 21.56, 95 % CI 12.00-38.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study
      provides strong evidence that PTSD and alcohol misuse are often co-occurring. CMD
      was highly associated with probable PTSD in individuals with alcohol misuse.

PMID- 26864536
TI  - Delivery of Exenatide and Insulin Using Mucoadhesive Intestinal Devices.
AB  - A major disadvantage associated with current diabetes therapy is dependence on
      injectables for long-term disease management. In addition to insulin, incretin
      hormone replacement therapies including exenatide have added a new class of drugs
      for Type-2 diabetes. Although efficacious, patient compliance with current
      diabetic therapy is poor due to requirement of injections, inability to cross the
      intestinal epithelium and instability in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we
      report the efficacy of a mucoadhesive device in providing therapeutic
      concentrations of insulin and exenatide via oral administration. Devices were
      prepared with a blend of FDA-approved polymers, carbopol, pectin and sodium
      carboxymethylcellulose, and were tested for drug carrying capability, in vitro
      release, Caco-2 permeability, and in vivo efficacy for insulin and exenatide.
      Results suggested that mucoadhesive devices successfully provided controlled
      release of FITC-insulin, released significant amounts of drug, while providing
      noteworthy enhancement of drug transport across Caco-2 monolayers without
      compromising monolayer integrity. In-vivo administration of the devices provided
      significant enhancement of drug absorption with 13- and 80-fold enhancement of
      relative bioavailability for insulin and exenatide compared to intestinal
      injections with significant increase in half-lives, thus resulting in prolonged
      blood glucose reduction. This study validates the efficacy of mucoadhesive
      devices in promoting oral peptide delivery to improve patient compliance and dose
      adherence.

PMID- 26864537
TI  - A Universal Delivery System for Percutaneous Heart Valve Implantation.
AB  - Transcatheter heart valve implantation is an emerging technology and an
      alternative to surgical valve replacement. Most existing systems consist of
      valves sewn into balloon-expandable stents with a delivery catheter functioning
      with the specific valve only. The aim of this study was to develop a universally
      applicable delivery system (DS) for plane stents, valves sewn into both balloon
      expandable and self-expandable stents and feasible for use with different access
      routes. A DS was designed and manufactured in five different diameters. The
      requirements were derived from the implants, the implantation technique and the
      cardiovascular geometry of the experimental sheep. The combination of a self
      expandable Nitinol stent and a jugular access point represented the major
      challenge as both flexibility and rigidity of the DS were required. To fulfill
      these contradicting mechanical properties the sheaths were comprised of a soft
      outer polymer tube with a stainless steel coiled spring inside. Tissue-engineered
      and pericardial pulmonary valves were implanted. Also polymeric and balloon
      expandable stents were delivered to various positions in the vascular system. The
      initial success rate was 70.5%. After refinement of the DS, a success rate of
      83.3% was achieved with the remaining failed implantations resulting from
      inadequate sizes of the prostheses.

PMID- 26864538
TI  - Biofidelity Evaluation of a Prototype Hybrid III 6 Year-Old ATD Lower Extremity.
AB  - Incomplete instrumentation and a lack of biofidelity in the extremities of the 6
      year-old anthropomorphic test device (ATD) pose challenges when studying regions
      of the body known to interact with the vehicle interior. This study sought to
      compare a prototype Hybrid III 6 year-old ATD leg (ATD-LE), with a more
      biofidelic ankle and tibia load cell, to previously collected child volunteer
      data and to the current Hybrid III 6 year-old ATD (HIII). Anthropometry, range of
      motion (ROM), and stiffness measurements were taken, along with a dynamic
      evaluation of the ATD-LE using knee-bolster airbag (KBA) test scenarios.
      Anthropometry values were similar in eight of twelve measurements. Total ankle
      ROM was improved in the ATD-LE with no bumper compared to the HIII. The highest
      tibia moments and tibia index values were recorded in KBA scenarios when the toes
      were positioned in contact with the dashboard prior to airbag deployment, forcing
      the ankle into axial loading and dorsiflexion. While improvements in the
      biofidelity of the ATD-LE are still necessary, the results of this study are
      encouraging. Continued advancement of the 6 year-old ATD ankle is necessary to
      provide a tool to directly study the behavior of the leg during a motor vehicle
      crash.

PMID- 26864539
TI  - Petrol exposure and DNA integrity of peripheral lymphocytes.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the effect of petrol exposure on DNA integrity in
      peripheral blood lymphocytes among petrol attendants and a non-exposed comparison
      population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 101 fuel station
      employees and 50 office-based non-exposed workers in Durban, South Africa.
      Participants were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Genomic DNA was
      extracted from peripheral lymphocytes for the benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)
      DNA adduct assay (ELISA), and DNA damage was determined using the comet assay and
      reported as percentage tail DNA. RESULTS: The exposed (n = 101) and non-exposed
      participants (n = 50) varied with regard to age, housing, smoking, and proximity
      to industry and petrol stations. Among the exposed, the mean duration of
      employment in the fuel industry was 5.8 years (SD = 4.6), and among those pumping
      fuel (n = 75), the mean metric tons of petrol pumped in the past 12 months per
      worker was 199.2 (SD = 88.9). The mean percentage tail DNA varied significantly
      between exposed and non-exposed groups: 23.8 % (SD = 13.3) and 8.1 % (SD = 1.8)
      (p < 0.01), respectively. A significant difference existed between the groups for
      BPDE-DNA adducts: 30.0 ng/ml (SD = 12.7) and 18.1 ng/ml (SD = 18.2) (p < 0.0001),
      respectively. Regression models, adjusting for cigarette smoking, age, and sex,
      showed a 16.5 greater percentage tail DNA among the exposed compared to non
      exposed (95 % CI 11.8-21.1 %), while the exposed group had a 12.9 ng/ml greater
      increase in BPDE-DNA adducts has compared to the unexposed (95 % CI 7.2-18.7
      ng/ml). Cigarette smoking resulted in almost a 3.5 % increase in percentage tail
      DNA. CONCLUSION: Our study adds to the literature that long-term, low-dose
      exposure to vehicular fuels is likely to result in altered DNA integrity and
      genotoxicity among petrol attendants. These results strengthen the case that
      these workers must be afforded appropriate protection to prevent serious adverse
      outcomes.

PMID- 26864541
TI  - A Parametric Computational Study of the Impact of Non-circular Configurations on
      Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Leaflet Deformations and Stresses: Possible
      Implications for Transcatheter Heart Valves.
AB  - Although generally manufactured as circular devices with symmetric leaflets,
      transcatheter heart valves can become non-circular post-implantation, the impact
      of which on the long-term durability of the device is unclear. We investigated
      the effects of five non-circular (EllipMajor, EllipMinor, D-Shape, TriVertex,
      TriSides) annular configurations on valve leaflet stresses and valve leaflet
      deformations through finite element analysis. The highest in-plane principal
      stresses and strains were observed under an elliptical configuration with an
      aspect ratio of 1.25 where one of the commissures was on the minor axis of the
      ellipse. In this elliptical configuration (EllipMinor), the maximum principal
      stress increased 218% and the maximum principal strain increased 80% as compared
      with those in the circular configuration, and occurred along the free edge of the
      leaflet whose commissures were not on the minor axis (i.e., the "stretched"
      leaflet). The D-Shape configuration was similar to this elliptical configuration,
      with the degree to which the leaflets were stretched or sagging being less than
      the EllipMinor configuration. The TriVertex and TriSides configurations had
      similar leaflet deformation patterns in all three leaflets and similar to the
      Circular configuration. In the D-Shape, TriVertex, and TriSides configurations,
      the maximum principal stress was located near the commissures similar to the
      Circular configuration. In the EllipMinor and EllipMajor configurations, the
      maximum principal stress occurred near the center of the free edge of the
      "stretched" leaflets. These results further affirm recommendations by the
      International Standards Organization (ISO) that pre-clinical testing should
      consider non-circular configurations for transcatheter valve durability testing.

PMID- 26864540
TI  - Chemotyping the distribution of vitamin D metabolites in human serum.
AB  - Most studies examining the relationships between vitamin D and disease or health
      focus on the main 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) metabolite, thus potentially
      overlooking contributions and dynamic effects of other vitamin D metabolites, the
      crucial roles of several of which have been previously demonstrated. The ideal
      assay would determine all relevant high and low-abundant vitamin D species
      simultaneously. We describe a sensitive quantitative assay for determining the
      chemotypes of vitamin D metabolites from serum after derivatisation and ultra
      high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass
      spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). We performed a validation according to the 'FDA
      Guidance for Industry Bioanalytical Method Validation'. The proof-of-concept of
      the method was then demonstrated by following the metabolite concentrations in
      patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) during the course of a vitamin D
      supplementation study. The new quantitative profiling assay provided highly
      sensitive, precise and accurate chemotypes of the vitamin D metabolic process
      rather than the usually determined 25(OH)D3 concentrations. 

PMID- 26864542
TI  - Stereopositional Outcome in the Packing of Dissimilar Aromatics in Designed beta
      Hairpins.
AB  - A popular strategy in the de novo design of stable beta-sheet structures for
      various biomedical applications is the incorporation of aromatic pairs at the non
      hydrogen-bonding (NHB) position. However, it is important to explicitly
      understand how aryl pair packing at the NHB region is coordinated with backbone
      structural rearrangements, and to delineate the benefits and drawbacks associated
      with stereopositional choice of dissimilar aromatic pairs. Here, we probe the
      consequences of flipped Trp/Tyr pairs by using engineered permutants at the NHB
      position of dodecapeptide beta-hairpins, proximal and distal to the turn.
      Extensive conformational analysis of these peptides using NMR and CD spectroscopy
      reveal that a classic Edge-to-Face and Face-to-Edge geometry at the proximal and
      distal aromatic pairs, respectively, in YW-WY, is the most stabilizing. Such a
      preferred packing geometry in YW-WY results in a highly twisted beta-sheet
      backbone, with Trp always providing a 'Face' orientation to its dissimilar
      aromatic partner Tyr. Flipping the proximal and/or distal aromatic pair distorts
      the ideal T-shaped geometry, and results in alternate aryl arrangements that can
      adversely affect strand twist and beta-sheet stability. Our study reveals the
      existence of a strong stereopositional influence on the packing of dissimilar
      aromatic pairs. Our findings highlight the importance of modeling physical
      interaction forces while designing protein and peptide structures for functional
      applications. 

PMID- 26864545
TI  - Fulfilment of administrative and professional organisational obligations and
      nurses' customer-oriented behaviours.
AB  - AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the perceived
      quality of organisational exchange and nurses' customer-oriented behaviours.
      BACKGROUND: Hospitals face increasing competitive market conditions. Registered
      nurses interact closely with patients and therefore play an important front
      office role towards patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted.
      Registered nurses (n = 151) of a Belgian hospital received a questionnaire to
      assess the fulfilment of administrative and professional organisational
      obligations and their customer-oriented behaviours. RESULTS: We found a positive
      relationship between psychological contract fulfilment and nurses' customer
      oriented behaviours. More precisely administrative and professional psychological
      contract fulfilment relates significantly to nurses' service delivery and
      external representation. In case of internal influence only administrative
      psychological contract fulfilment was significantly related. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses'
      perceptions of the fulfilment of administrative and professional obligations are
      important to their customer-oriented behaviours. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
      MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers must be aware of the impact of fulfilling both
      administrative and professional obligations of registered nurses in order to
      optimise their customer-oriented behaviours.

PMID- 26864543
TI  - The safety and tolerability of vortioxetine: Analysis of data from randomized
      placebo-controlled trials and open-label extension studies.
AB  - The safety and tolerability of vortioxetine in adults with major depressive
      disorder was assessed. Tolerability was based on the nature, incidence and
      severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) during acute (6/8) week
      treatment in 11 randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled short-term studies in
      major depressive disorder: six with an active reference. Symptoms following
      discontinuation were assessed through the Discontinuation-Emergent Signs and
      Symptoms checklist in three studies. Long-term (?52 weeks) tolerability was
      evaluated in five open-label extension studies. Patients (n =5701) were acutely
      treated with either placebo (n=1817), vortioxetine (5-20mg/day; n=3018),
      venlafaxine XR (225mg/day; n=113) or duloxetine (60mg/day; n=753). The withdrawal
      rate due to TEAEs during treatment with vortioxetine (5-20mg/day) was 4.5-7.8%,
      compared with placebo (3.6%), venlafaxine XR (14.2%) or duloxetine (8.8%). Common
      TEAEs (incidence ?5% and >2 * placebo) with vortioxetine (5-20mg/day) were nausea
      (20.9-31.2%) and vomiting (2.9-6.5%). For vortioxetine (5-20mg/day), the
      incidence of TEAEs associated with insomnia was 2.0-5.1% versus 4.0% for placebo,
      and with sexual dysfunction 1.6-1.8% versus 1.0% for placebo. Discontinuation
      symptoms as assessed by the mean Discontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms
      total score after abrupt discontinuation were comparable to placebo in the first
      and second week. Vortioxetine had no effect relative to placebo on clinical
      laboratory parameters, body weight, heart rate or blood pressure. Vortioxetine
      showed no clinically relevant effect on ECG parameters, including the QTcF
      interval. In long-term treatment, no new types of TEAEs were seen; the mean
      weight gain was 0.7-0.8kg. Thus, vortioxetine (5-20mg/day) appears safe and
      generally well tolerated in the treatment of major depressive disorder. 

PMID- 26864547
TI  - StatNet Electroencephalogram: A Fast and Reliable Option to Diagnose
      Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in Emergency Setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The StatNet electrode set is a system that can be applied by a non
      electroencephalogram (EEG) technologist after minimal training. The primary
      objectives of this study are to assess the quality and reliability of the StatNet
      recordings in comparison to the conventional EEG. METHODS: Over 10 months, 19
      patients with suspected nonconvulsive status epilepticus were included from
      university hospital emergency settings. Each patient received a StatNet EEG by a
      trained epilepsy fellow and a conventional EEG by registered technologists. We
      compared the studies in a blinded fashion, for the timeframe from EEG order to
      the setup time, start of acquisition, amount of artifact, and detection of
      abnormalities. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney two-sample t test was used for
      comparisons. The kappa score was used to assess reliability. RESULTS: Mean age of
      patients was 61+/-16.3 (25-93) years. The inter-observer agreement for detection
      of abnormal findings was 0.83 for StatNet and 0.75 for conventional EEG.
      Nonconvulsive status epilepticus was detected in 10% (2/19) in both studies. The
      delay from the time of EEG requisition to acquisition was shorter in the StatNet
      (22.4+/-2.5 minutes) than the conventional EEG (217.7+/-44.6 minutes; p<0.0001).
      The setup time was also shorter in the StatNet (9.9+/-0.8 minutes) compared with
      the conventional EEG (17.8+/-0.8 minutes; p<0.0001). There was no difference in
      the percentage of artifact duration between the two studies (p=0.89). CONCLUSION:
      This study demonstrates that StatNet EEG is a practical and reliable tool in the
      emergency setting, which reduces the delay of testing compared with conventional
      EEG, without significant compromise of study quality.

PMID- 26864546
TI  - Small interfering RNA pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in
      its insect vector.
AB  - Plant reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, tospoviruses, and tenuiviruses are transmitted
      by insect vectors in a persistent-propagative manner. How such persistent
      infection of plant viruses in insect vectors is established and maintained
      remains poorly understood. In this study, we used rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), a
      plant reovirus, and its main vector leafhopper Recilia dorsalis as a virus-insect
      system to determine how the small interference (siRNA) pathway modulates
      persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector. We showed that a
      conserved siRNA antiviral response was triggered by the persistent replication of
      RGDV in cultured leafhopper cells and in intact insects, by appearance of virus
      specific siRNAs, primarily 21-nt long, and the increased expression of siRNA
      pathway core components Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2. Silencing of Dicer-2 using RNA
      interference strongly suppressed production of virus-specific siRNAs, promoted
      viral accumulation, and caused cytopathological changes in vitro and in vivo.
      When the viral accumulation level rose above a certain threshold of viral genome
      copy (1.32 * 10(14) copies/MUg insect RNA), the infection of the leafhopper by
      RGDV was lethal rather than persistent. Taken together, our results revealed a
      new finding that the siRNA pathway in insect vector can modulate persistent
      infection of plant viruses. 

PMID- 26864548
TI  - ERp57 as a novel cellular factor controlling prion protein biosynthesis:
      Therapeutic potential of protein disulfide isomerases.
AB  - Disturbance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteostasis is observed in Prion
      related disorders (PrDs). The protein disulfide isomerase ERp57 is a stress
      responsive ER chaperone up-regulated in the brain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
      patients. However, the actual role of ERp57 in prion protein (PrP) biogenesis and
      the ER stress response remained poorly defined. We have recently addressed this
      question using gain- and loss-of-function approaches in vitro and animal models,
      observing that ERp57 regulates steady-state levels of PrP. Our results revealed
      that ERp57 modulates the biosynthesis and maturation of PrP but, surprisingly,
      does not contribute to the global cellular reaction against ER stress in neurons.
      Here we discuss the relevance of ERp57 as a possible therapeutic target in PrDs
      and other protein misfolding disorders. 

PMID- 26864549
TI  - Biological Properties of Plant-Derived Alkylresorcinols: Mini-Review.
AB  - Alkylresorcinols are compounds which belong to the family of phenolic lipids, and
      are usually found in numerous biological species. In the particular case of
      higher plants, alkylresorcinols have been found in various counterparts with
      chains of thirteen to twenty-seven carbon atoms containing several saturations.
      Due to the demonstrated antimicrobial properties of many naturally occurring
      members of the alkylresorcinols family, it is possible to conclude that these
      compounds act as defensive agents in plants. Previous studies led to the
      isolation and identification of 5-alkylresorcinols that cleave DNA. Additionally,
      in the literature, there are several other biological effects attributed to some
      resorcinol derivatives, namely, cytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative,
      antileishmanial and antioxidant properties. This mini-review intends to outline
      the biological activities of the most relevant alkylresorcinols isolated from
      plants and to propose future directions for subsequent studies regarding the
      effective biological effects of this class of compounds. 

PMID- 26864550
TI  - Cadmium-containing Quantum Dots: Current Perspectives on Their Application as
      Nanomedicine and Toxicity Concerns.
AB  - With unique optical properties and versatile surface chemistry, cadmium
      containing quantum dots (Cd-QDs) have attracted extensive attention for drug
      delivery in the field of biomedicine. However, Cd-QDs applications are currently
      restricted in cells and small animals due to their uncertain biological fate and
      potential toxicity. Consequently, the long-term fate of Cd-QDs and their
      interaction with biological systems need to be explored for the development of
      the clinical applications of Cd-QDs as nanomedicines. This review succinctly
      described recent progress in functionalized Cd-QDs for the design as
      multifunctional drug delivery system and advanced findings on the interactions of
      Cd-QDs with biological systems at the level of living systems, cells and
      biomacromolecules. This knowledge could provide suggestions to improve the
      delivery performance and biocompatibility of Cd-QDs as well as better understand
      the potential side effects of Cd-QDs in in vivo applications. In addition,
      attention was laid on exploring the similarities and discrepancy of their
      toxicological results at the three levels to comprehensively interpret the
      potential carcinogenicity of Cd-QDs and deeply understand the associated
      mechanism. 

PMID- 26864551
TI  - Novel Drugs Targeting the c-Ring of the F1FO-ATP Synthase.
AB  - Increasing evidence highlights the role of the ATP synthase/hydrolase, also known
      as F1FO-complex, as key molecular and enzymatic switch between cell life and
      death, thus increasing the enzyme attractiveness as drug target in pharmacology.
      Being inhibition of ATP production usually linked to antiproliferative
      properties, drugs targeting the enzyme complex have been mainly considered to
      fight pathogen parasites and cancer. In recent years, a number of natural
      macrolides, produced by bacterial fermentation and structurally related to the
      classical enzyme inhibitor oligomycin, have been shown to bind to the membrane
      embedded FO sector and to inhibit the enzyme complex by an oligomycin-like
      mechanism, namely by interacting with the c-ring. Other than natural macrolide
      antibiotics, which display variegated inhibition power on different F1FO
      complexes, synthetic compounds from the diarylquinoline and organotin families
      also target the c-ring and strongly inhibit the enzyme. Bioinformatic insights
      address drug design to target FO subunits. Additionally, the possible modulation
      of the drug inhibition power, by amino acid substitutions or post-translational
      modifications of c-subunits, adds further interest to the target. The present
      survey on compounds targeting the c-ring and bi-directionally blocking the
      transmembrane proton flux which drives ATP synthesis/hydrolysis, discloses new
      therapeutic options to fight cancer and infections sustained by therapeutically
      recalcitrant microorganisms. Additionally, c-ring targeting compounds may
      constitute new tools to eradicate undesired biofilms and to address at the
      molecular level the therapy of mammalian diseases linked to mitochondrial
      dysfunctions. In summary, studies on the only partially known molecular
      interactions within the c-ring of the F1FO-complex may renew hope to counteract
      mammalian diseases. 

PMID- 26864552
TI  - Synthesis and Biological Activities of Oxadiazole Derivatives: A Review.
AB  - Recently, there has been wide interest in compounds containing the oxadiazole
      scaffold because of their unique chemical structure and their broad spectrum of
      biological properties. This review provides readers with an overview of the main
      synthetic methodologies for oxadiazoles and of their broad spectrum of
      pharmacological activities such as, anti-microbial, anti-fungal activity,
      antiviral, anti-tubercular, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, anti-angiogenic,
      anti-proliferative, analgesic, anti-oedema and in alzheimer activity, which were
      reported over the past years. 

PMID- 26864553
TI  - Bioactive Compounds in Some Culinary Aromatic Herbs and Their Effects on Human
      Health.
AB  - Culinary herbs are herbaceous (leafy) plants that add flavour and colour to all
      types of meals. There is a wide variety of herbs that are used for culinary
      purposes worldwide, which are also recognized for their beneficial health
      effects, and thus have also been used in folk medicine. Besides their nutritional
      value herbs are rich in many phytochemical components with bioactive effects,
      thus improving human health. The aim of the present work was to make a general
      overview of some of these herbs, including their gastronomic usage, their
      chemical composition in bioactive components and their reported health effects.
      This work showed that the health effects are very diverse and differ according to
      the herb in question. However, some of the most frequently citted biological
      activities include antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects. 

PMID- 26864555
TI  - Natural Products with Antiangiogenic and Antivasculogenic Mimicry Activity.
AB  - Angiogenesis is indispensible for tumor growth and metastasis. Antiangiogenic
      therapy is now a validated major strategy in cancer clinic; several small
      molecule angiogenic inhibitors have been successfully translated into clinic for
      multiple cancer indications. In the past decade, many natural products with
      potent antiangiogenic activity were explored and the underlying molecular
      mechanisms were revealed. One important mechanism is the inhibition of one or
      several steps in VEGF/VFGFR signaling pathway. Other factors (bFGF, HIF-1alpha,
      NF-kappaB etc.) capable of regulating angiogenesis, are also down-regulated by
      some natural products. Moreover, some of the antiangiogenic natural products also
      significantly inhibit vasculogenic mimicry (VM), another important vessel
      recruitment avenue in cancer, by regulating the key signaling of VM formation
      including VE-cadherin, EphA2, and Nodal signaling. In this mini-review, we
      summarized the natural products with suppressive effect on tumor angiogenesis and
      VM according to their diverse molecular mechanisms, and discussed the major
      direction of future research in this field.

PMID- 26864556
TI  - Cyclic movement frequency is associated with muscle typology in athletes.
AB  - There is a continuing research interest in the muscle fiber type composition
      (MFTC) of athletes. Recently, muscle carnosine quantification by proton magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy (1 H-MRS) was developed as a new non-invasive method to
      estimate MFTC. This cross-sectional study aims to better understand estimated
      MFTC in relation to (a) different disciplines within one sport; (b) cyclic sport
      exercise characteristics; (c) within-athlete variability; and (d) athlete level.
      A total of 111 elite athletes (74 runners, 7 triathletes, 11 swimmers, 14
      cyclists and 5 kayakers) and 188 controls were recruited to measure muscle
      carnosine in gastrocnemius and deltoid muscle by 1 H-MRS. Within sport
      disciplines, athletes were divided into subgroups (sprint-, intermediate-, and
      endurance-type). The controls were used as reference population to allow
      expression of the athletes' data as Z-scores. Within different sports, endurance
      type athletes systematically showed the lowest Z-score compared to sprint-type
      athletes, with intermediate-type athletes always situated in between. Across the
      different sports disciplines, carnosine content showed the strongest significant
      correlation with cyclic movement frequency (R = 0.86, P = 0.001). Both within and
      between different cyclic sports, estimated MFTC was divergent between sprint- and
      endurance-type athletes. Cyclic movement frequency, rather than exercise duration
      came out as the most determining factor for the optimal estimated MFTC in elite
      athletes.

PMID- 26864557
TI  - Description and prediction of the income status of borderline patients over 10  
      years of prospective follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research shows that individuals suffering from borderline personality
      disorder are economically disadvantaged, but longitudinal data is lacking. AIM:
      This study examined the income of borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients
      and axis II comparison subjects over 10 years of follow-up and assessed
      predictors of income among BPD patients. METHOD: Data on income was obtained for
      264 BPD patients and 63 axis II comparison subjects at 6-year follow-up and for
      surviving patients at five follow-up waves. Baseline and time-varying predictors
      of income were assessed using information from interviews and self-report
      measures. RESULTS: Regardless of diagnosis, a greater proportion of people
      shifted into the higher income groups over time. Being in a higher income group
      was more likely to happen and happened more rapidly for axis II comparison
      subjects than for BPD patients. Results regarding the BPD patients indicated that
      childhood emotional, verbal and/or physical abuse were associated with a greater
      likelihood of being in a lower income group, whereas years of education and a
      higher IQ were associated with a greater likelihood of being in a higher income
      group. CONCLUSION: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients show enduring
      lowered economic functioning. Their economic functioning seems to be negatively
      affected by childhood emotional, verbal and/or physical abuse but positively
      affected by years of education and IQ. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864558
TI  - Design and Synthesis of Highly Active Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor
      (PPAR) beta/delta Inverse Agonists with Prolonged Cellular Activity.
AB  - Based on 3-(((4-(hexylamino)-2-methoxyphenyl)amino)sulfonyl)-2
      thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester (ST247, compound 2), a recently described
      peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)beta/delta-selective inverse
      agonist, we designed and synthesized a series of structurally related ligands.
      The structural modifications presented herein ultimately resulted in a series of
      ligands that display increased cellular activity relative to 2. Moreover, with
      methyl 3-(N-(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-4-(hexylamino)phenyl)sulfamoyl)thiophene-2
      carboxylate (PT-S264, compound 9 u), biologically relevant plasma concentrations
      in mice were achieved. The compounds presented in this study will provide useful
      novel tools for future investigations addressing the role of PPARbeta/delta in
      physiological and pathophysiological processes.

PMID- 26864560
TI  - Abstracts of the 21st Congress of the Spanish Society for Surgical Research
      Madrid, Spain October 2015.

PMID- 26864559
TI  - Association of oesophageal radiation dose volume metrics, neutropenia and acute
      radiation oesophagitis in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for non-small cell
      lung cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The relationship between oesophageal radiation dose volume metrics
      and dysphagia in patients having chemoradiation (CRT) for non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC) is well established. There is also some evidence that neutropenia
      is a factor contributing to the severity of oesophagitis. We retrospectively
      analysed acute radiation oesophagitis (ARO) rates and severity in patients with
      NSCLC who received concurrent chemotherapy and high dose radiation therapy (CRT).
      We investigated if there was an association between grade of ARO, neutropenia and
      radiation dose volume metrics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with NSCLC having
      concurrent CRT who had RT dose and toxicity data available were eligible.
      Exclusion criteria included previous thoracic RT, treatment interruptions and non
      standard dose regimens. RT dosimetrics included maximum and mean oesophageal
      dose, oesophagus dose volume and length data. RESULTS: Fifty four patients were
      eligible for analysis. 42 (78 %) patients received 60 Gy. Forty four (81 %)
      patients received carboplatin based chemotherapy. Forty eight (89 %) patients
      experienced ARO >= grade 1 (95 % CI: 78 % to 95 %). ARO grade was associated with
      mean dose (rs = 0.27, p = 0.049), V20 (rs = 0.31, p = 0.024) and whole
      oesophageal circumference receiving 20 Gy (rs = 0.32 p = 0.019). In patients who
      received these doses, V20 (n = 51, rs = 0.36, p = 0.011), V35 (n = 43, rs = 0.34,
      p = 0.027) and V60 (n = 25, rs = 0.59, P = 0.002) were associated with RO grade.
      Eleven of 25 (44 %) patients with ARO >= grade 2 also had >= grade 2 acute
      neutropenia compared with 5 of 29 (17 %) patients with RO grade 0 or 1 (p =
      0.035). CONCLUSION: In addition to oesophageal dose-volume metrics, neutropenia
      may also be a risk factor for higher grades of ARO.

PMID- 26864561
TI  - Asymmetric Parachute-Like Tricuspid Valve with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation in
      an Adult Patient.

PMID- 26864554
TI  - Phytochemicals for the Management of Melanoma.
AB  - Melanoma claims approximately 80% of skin cancer-related deaths. Its life
      threatening nature is primarily due to a propensity to metastasize. The prognosis
      for melanoma patients with distal metastasis is bleak, with median survival of
      six months even with the latest available treatments. The most commonly mutated
      oncogenes in melanoma are BRAF and NRAS accounting approximately 60% and 20% of
      cases, respectively. In malignant melanoma, accumulating evidence suggests that
      multiple signaling pathways are constitutively activated and play an important
      role in cell proliferation, cell survival, epithelial to mesenchymal transition,
      metastasis and resistance to therapeutic regimens. Phytochemicals are gaining
      considerable attention because of their low toxicity, low cost, and public
      acceptance as dietary supplements. Cell culture and animals studies have
      elucidated several cellular and molecular mechanisms by which phytochemicals act
      in the prevention and treatment of metastatic melanoma. Several promising
      phytochemicals, such as, fisetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol,
      curcumin, proanthocyanidins, silymarin, apigenin, capsaicin, genistein, indole-3
      carbinol, and luteolin are gaining considerable attention and found in a variety
      of fresh fruits, vegetables, roots, and herbs. In this review, we will discuss
      the preventive potential, therapeutic effects, bioavailability and structure
      activity relationship of these selected phytochemicals for the management of
      melanoma. 

PMID- 26864562
TI  - Development and virucidal activity of a novel alcohol-based hand disinfectant
      supplemented with urea and citric acid.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hand disinfectants are important for the prevention of virus
      transmission in the health care system and environment. The development of broad
      antiviral spectrum hand disinfectants with activity against enveloped and non
      enveloped viruses is limited due to a small number of permissible active
      ingredients able to inactivate viruses. METHODS: A new hand disinfectant was
      developed based upon 69.39 % w/w ethanol and 3.69 % w/w 2-propanol. Different
      amounts of citric acid and urea were added in order to create a virucidal claim
      against poliovirus (PV), adenovirus type 5 (AdV) and polyomavirus SV40 (SV40) as
      non-enveloped test viruses in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) as soil
      load. The exposure time was fixed to 60 s. RESULTS: With the addition of 2.0 %
      citric acid and 2.0 % urea an activity against the three test viruses was
      achieved demonstrating a four log10 reduction of viral titers. Furthermore, this
      formulation was able to inactivate PV, AdV, SV40 and murine norovirus (MNV) in
      quantitative suspension assays according to German and European Guidelines within
      60 s creating a virucidal claim. For inactivation of vaccinia virus and bovine
      viral diarrhea virus 15 s exposure time were needed to demonstrate a 4 log10
      reduction resulting in a claim against enveloped viruses. Additionally, it is the
      first hand disinfectant passing a carrier test with AdV and MNV. CONCLUSIONS: In
      conclusion, this new formulation with a low alcohol content, citric acid and urea
      is capable of inactivating all enveloped and non-enveloped viruses as indicated
      in current guidelines and thereby contributing as valuable addition to the hand
      disinfection portfolio.

PMID- 26864563
TI  - HPLC-DAD phenolic profile, cytotoxic and anti-kinetoplastidae activity of Melissa
      officinalis.
AB  - Context Melissa officinalis subsp. inodora Bornm. (Lamiaceae) has been used since
      ancient times in folk medicine against various diseases, but it has not been
      investigated against protozoa. Objective To evaluate the activities of M.
      officinalis against Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma
      cruzi as well as its cytotoxicity in fibroblast cell line. Materials and methods
      The fresh leaves were chopped into 1 cm(2) pieces, washed and macerated with
      99.9% of ethanol for 72 h at room temperature. Antiparasitic activity of M.
      officinalis was accessed by direct counting of cells after serial dilution, while
      the cytotoxicity of M. officinalis was evaluated in fibroblast cell line
      (NCTC929) by measuring the reduction of resazurin. The test duration was 24 h.
      High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to characterise the
      extract. Results The extract at concentrations of 250 and 125 MUg/mL inhibited
      80.39 and 54.27% of promastigote (LC50  value = 105.78 MUg/mL) form of L.
      infantum, 80.59 and 68.61% of L. brasiliensis (LC50 value  = 110.69 MUg/mL) and
      against epimastigote (LC50 value  = 245.23 MUg/mL) forms of T. cruzi with an
      inhibition of 54.45 and 22.26%, respectively, was observed. The maximum toxicity
      was noted at 500 MUg/mL with 95.41% (LC50  value = 141.01 MUg/mL). The HPLC
      analysis identified caffeic acid and rutin as the major compounds. Discussion The
      inhibition of the parasites is considered clinically relevant (< 500 MUg/mL).
      Rutin and caffeic acids may be responsible for the antiprotozoal effect of the
      extract. Conclusion The ethanol extract of M. officinalis can be considered a
      potential alternative source of natural products with antileishmania and
      antitrypanosoma activities. 

PMID- 26864564
TI  - Novel immunoassay and rapid immunoaffinity chromatography method for the
      detection and selective extraction of naringin in Citrus aurantium.
AB  - In this work, a novel monoclonal antibody specific for naringin was prepared and
      characterized. Subsequently, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay for naringin was developed, with an effective range from 4.8 to 156 ng/mL
      naringin. Next, an immunoaffinity column was obtained by coupling anti-naringin
      monoclonal antibodies to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and a rapid immunoaffinity
      chromatography assay for naringin was developed. The immunoaffinity column was
      used to separate naringin from Citrus aurantium. The results showed that 1 g of
      the dry Sepharose 4B can couple 10 mg of immunoglobulin G. And the immunoaffinity
      column can efficiently and specifically capture approximately 250 MUg of naringin
      without cross reacting with its structurally similar compounds. Moreover, our
      results indicate that the application of immunoaffinity chromatography can
      simplify the pretreatment and the isolation process greatly compared to
      conventional methods, providing a potential method for extracting the target
      component from structurally similar compounds in natural products. 

PMID- 26864566
TI  - Longitudinal trends in global obesity research and collaboration: a review using
      bibliometric metadata.
AB  - The goal of this study was to understand research trends and collaboration
      patterns together with scholarly impact within the domain of global obesity
      research. We developed and analysed bibliographic affiliation data collected from
      117,340 research articles indexed in Scopus database on the topic of obesity and
      published from 1993-2012. We found steady growth and an exponential increase of
      publication numbers. Research output in global obesity research roughly doubled
      each 5 years, with almost 80% of the publications and authors from the second
      decade (2003-2012). The highest publication output was from the USA - 42% of
      publications had at least one author from the USA. Many US institutions also
      ranked highly in terms of research output and collaboration. Fifteen of the top
      20 institutions in terms of publication output were from the USA; however,
      several European and Japanese research institutions ranked more highly in terms
      of average citations per paper. The majority of obesity research and
      collaboration has been confined to developed countries although developing
      countries have showed higher growth in recent times, e.g. the publication ratio
      between 2003-2012 and 1993-2002 for developing regions was much higher than that
      of developed regions (9:1 vs. 4:1). We also identified around 42 broad
      disciplines from authors' affiliation data, and these showed strong collaboration
      between them. Overall, this study provides one of the most comprehensive
      longitudinal bibliometric analyses of obesity research. This should help in
      understanding research trends, spatial density, collaboration patterns and the
      complex multi-disciplinary nature of research in the obesity domain. 

PMID- 26864565
TI  - Equity in children's dental caries before and after cessation of community water
      fluoridation: differential impact by dental insurance status and geographic
      material deprivation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: One of the main arguments made in favor of community water
      fluoridation is that it is equitable in its impact on dental caries (i.e., helps
      to offset inequities in dental caries). Although an equitable effect of
      fluoridation has been demonstrated in cross-sectional studies, it has not been
      studied in the context of cessation of community water fluoridation (CWF). The
      objective of this study was to compare the socio-economic patterns of children's
      dental caries (tooth decay) in Calgary, Canada, in 2009/10 when CWF was in place,
      and in 2013/14, after it had been discontinued. METHODS: We analyzed data from
      population-based samples of schoolchildren (grade 2) in 2009/10 and 2013/14. Data
      on dental caries (decayed, missing, and filled primary and permanent teeth) were
      gathered via open mouth exams conducted in schools by registered dental
      hygienists. We examined the association between dental caries and 1)
      presence/absence of dental insurance and 2) small area index of material
      deprivation, using Poisson (zero-inflated) and logistic regression, for both time
      points separately. For small-area material deprivation at each time point, we
      also computed the concentration index of inequality for each outcome variable.
      RESULTS: Statistically significant inequities by dental insurance status and by
      small area material deprivation were more apparent in 2013/14 than in 2009/10.
      CONCLUSIONS: Results are consistent with increasing inequities in dental caries
      following cessation of CWF. However, further research is needed to 1) confirm the
      effects in a study that includes a comparison community, and 2) explore possible
      alternative reasons for the findings, including changes in treatment and
      preventive programming.

PMID- 26864568
TI  - Extension of recovery time from fatigue by repeated rest with short-term sleep
      during continuous fatigue load: Development of chronic fatigue model.
AB  - Homeostasis is known to be involved in maintaining the optimal internal
      environment, helping to achieve the best performance of biological functions. At
      the same time, a deviation from optimal conditions often attenuates the
      performance of biological functions, and such restricted performance could be
      considered as individual fatigue, including physical and mental fatigue. The
      present study seeks to develop an animal model of chronic or subacute fatigue in
      which the recovery time is extended through the gradual disruption of
      homeostasis. We show that repeated short-term rest periods with certain lengths
      of sleep during continuous fatigue loading extend recovery from spontaneous
      nighttime activity but not physical performance in comparison with a continuous
      fatigue-loading procedure. Furthermore, the immobility time in a forced swimming
      test was extended by repeated short-term rests. These results suggest that
      repeated short-term rest with certain lengths of sleep during continuous fatigue
      loading is able to extend the recovery from mental fatigue but not from physical
      fatigue and that this effect might occur via the disruption of a homeostatic
      mechanism that is involved in restoring the optimal internal environment.

PMID- 26864567
TI  - Mitochondrial Dynamics Tracking with Two-Photon Phosphorescent Terpyridyl
      Iridium(III) Complexes.
AB  - Mitochondrial dynamics, including fission and fusion, control the morphology and
      function of mitochondria, and disruption of mitochondrial dynamics leads to
      Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, metabolic diseases, and cancers.
      Currently, many types of commercial mitochondria probes are available, but high
      excitation energy and low photo-stability render them unsuitable for tracking
      mitochondrial dynamics in living cells. Therefore, mitochondrial targeting agents
      that exhibit superior anti-photo-bleaching ability, deep tissue penetration and
      intrinsically high three-dimensional resolutions are urgently needed. Two-photon
      excited compounds that use low-energy near-infrared excitation lasers have
      emerged as non-invasive tools for cell imaging. In this work, terpyridyl
      cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes (Ir1-Ir3) are demonstrated as one- and two
      photon phosphorescent probes for real-time imaging and tracking of mitochondrial
      morphology changes in living cells. 

PMID- 26864569
TI  - In response to Immunohistochemical localization of OCT2 in the cochlea of various
      species.

PMID- 26864570
TI  - PTSD REMISSION AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TREATMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ANTERIOR
      CINGULATE CORTEX THINNING AND VOLUME REDUCTION.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brain structures underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have
      been a focus of imaging studies, but associations between treatment outcome and
      alterations in brain structures remain largely unexamined. We longitudinally
      examined the relation of structural changes in the rostral anterior cingulate
      cortex (rACC), a previously identified key region in the PTSD fear network, to
      outcome of prolonged exposure (PE) treatment. METHOD: The sample included 78
      adults (53 women): 41 patients with PTSD and 37 trauma-exposed healthy volunteers
      (TE-HCs). Patients underwent a 10-week course of PE treatment and completed pre-
      and posttreatment assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural
      scans. TE-HCs also underwent assessment and MRI at baseline and 10 weeks later.
      PE remitters (n = 11), nonremitters (n = 14), and TE-HCs, were compared at
      baseline on demographic and clinical characteristics and ACC structure.
      Remitters, nonremitters, and TE-HCs were compared for pre- to posttreatment
      clinical and structural ACC change, controlling for potential confounding
      variables. RESULTS: There were no baseline differences in structure between PTSD
      and TE-HCs or remitters and nonremitters. Following treatment, PTSD remitters
      exhibited cortical thinning and volume decrease in the left rACC compared with
      PTSD nonremitters and TE-HCs. CONCLUSIONS: These results, while in need of
      replication, suggest that PE treatment for PTSD, by extinguishing maladaptive
      trauma associations, may promote synaptic plasticity and structure change in
      rACC. Future research should explore possible underlying mechanisms.

PMID- 26864571
TI  - Corticosteroids in treatment of aspiration-related acute respiratory distress
      syndrome: results of a retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute stroke patients suffering from aspiration may present with
      acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There is still a lack of convincing
      data about the efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of aspiration-related
      ARDS. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical impact of corticosteroids on
      aspiration-related ARDS. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2014, we conducted a
      retrospective study among acute stroke patients diagnosed with aspiration-related
      ARDS. The data analyzed included demographic characteristics, clinical
      manifestations, laboratory examinations, chest imaging, and hospital discharge
      status. RESULTS: Seventy-three acute stroke patients were diagnosed with
      aspiration-related ARDS. The hospital mortality rate was 39.7%. Corticosteroids
      were administered in 47 patients (64.4%). The mean dosage was 1.14 (standard
      deviation [SD] 0.47) mg/kg daily of methylprednisolone (or an equivalent) by
      intravenous infusion for a period of 7.3 (SD 3.8) days. Ground glass opacities in
      chest computed tomography images were resolved when corticosteroids were
      administered. The admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score (odds
      ratio [OR] 5.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-10.64) and Acute Physiology
      and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.12-3.56) were
      associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality, while albumin (OR 0.81,
      95% CI 0.64-0.92) and corticosteroids therapy (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35-0.70) were
      associated with a decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose and short-term
      corticosteroid therapy may have an impact on survival in aspiration-related ARDS.
      The presence of ground glass opacities on the chest computed tomography,
      performed to rule out aspiration-related ARDS, could be translated into an
      increased possibility of positive response to corticosteroid therapy.

PMID- 26864572
TI  - Higher nurse to patient ratio is linked to reduced risk of inpatient death.

PMID- 26864574
TI  - When the face says it all: dysmorphology in identifying syndromic causes of
      epilepsy.
AB  - Identifying the underlying cause of epilepsy often helps in choosing the
      appropriate management, suggests the long-term prognosis and clarifies the risk
      of the same condition in relatives. Epilepsy has many causes and a small but
      significant proportion of affected people have an identifiable genetic cause.
      Here, we discuss the role of genetic testing in adults with epilepsy, focusing on
      dysmorphic features noticeable on physical examination that might provide a
      strong clue to a specific genetic syndrome. We give illustrative examples of
      recognisable facial 'gestalt'. An astute clinician can recognise such clues and
      significantly shorten the process of making the underlying diagnosis in their
      patient. 

PMID- 26864575
TI  - Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

PMID- 26864573
TI  - Intraperitoneally infused human mesenchymal stem cells form aggregates with mouse
      immune cells and attach to peritoneal organs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSC) have shown beneficial effects
      in many models of disease in part by modulating excessive inflammatory and immune
      responses. Frequently the beneficial effects of MSC persist long after their
      disappearance from host tissues, suggesting that MSC interact with intermediate
      cells in the host that relay or amplify their effects. The cells have usually
      been injected intravenously, but beneficial effects have also been reported with
      intraperitoneal (IP) injection of MSC. However the fate of IP injection of MSC
      has not been examined. METHODS: The fate of the human MSC injected IP into immune
      competent mice was studied. In vivo imaging was used to track green fluorescent
      protein-labeled MSC in the peritoneal cavity. In addition, their retention in
      peritoneal tissues was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction for human
      GAPDH mRNA. To describe the effects of human MSC on the immune system of the
      peritoneum, the peritoneal lavage, omentum, lymph nodes and mesenteric tissues
      were collected. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the immune cell populations,
      while cytokine/chemokine production was measured by real-time polymerase chain
      reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Challenge with lipopolysaccharide
      at 3 days after the administration of MSC was used to evaluate the
      preconditioning of the immune system. RESULTS: Within 20 min, single MSC were no
      longer detected in peritoneal lavage fluid. Instead they were recovered as
      aggregates of varying size that contained mouse macrophages and a few B220+
      lymphocytes. After 1 day, most of the aggregates containing live MSC were
      attached to sites throughout the peritoneal cavity including the omentum and
      mesentery. Less than 0.05 % of the live injected cells were detected in the
      spleen and jejunal lymph nodes. In all locations, MSC colocalized with mouse
      macrophages and B220+ lymphocytes. Attachment to the omentum and mesentery was
      accompanied by the recruitment of immune cells and changes in the production of a
      series of mouse cytokines. A similar increase in mouse cytokines in the
      peritoneum was seen after IP injections of human fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: IP
      injected human MSC rapidly formed aggregates with mouse macrophages and B220+
      lymphocytes and attached to the walls of the peritoneal cavity. The formation of
      the aggregates probably limits access of the cells to the systemic circulation.

PMID- 26864576
TI  - The significance and the necessity of routinely performing lung ultrasound in the
      neonatal intensive care units.
AB  - Various lung diseases are the most common conditions and the leading cause of
      hospital admission and death in newborns. Historically, the diagnosis and
      differential diagnosis of lung diseases primarily relied on conventional chest X
      ray and computed tomography (CT) scans, however, chest X-ray and CT scans suffer
      from obvious limitations, while lung ultrasound has many kinds of advantages for
      the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lung diseases. The significance and
      the necessity of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal lung diseases will
      be introduced in this paper. 

PMID- 26864577
TI  - Implicit learning deficits among adults with developmental dyslexia.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate implicit learning processes among
      adults with developmental dyslexia (DD) using a visual linguistic artificial
      grammar learning (AGL) task. Specifically, it was designed to explore whether the
      intact learning reported in previous studies would also occur under conditions
      including minimal training and instructions that do not reveal the grammatical
      nature of the strings. Twenty-nine (14 DD and 15 typical development (TD)) adults
      were presented with letter sequences in the training phase and were asked to
      classify the test strings for their grammaticality. The results of the d'
      measures in the implicit task indicated that learning had occurred for both
      groups, as the proportion of hits exceeded the proportion of false alarms.
      However, a significant difference was found between the groups in their learning
      measures, as TD readers performed significantly better than individuals with DD,
      supporting the assumption of a deficit in implicit sequential learning processes
      among individuals with DD. In order to examine whether the deficit found in the
      first experiment was indeed due to a deficit in implicit processes, a second
      experiment was designed in which explicit instructions were given during an AGL
      task. Results of the explicit task strengthen the assumption that the deficit is
      indeed specific to implicit sequential processes, as no difference between the
      groups was found when participants were aware of the existence of the grammar
      underlying the strings. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

PMID- 26864578
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26864579
TI  - Development of skills-based competencies for forensic nurse examiners providing
      elder abuse care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: As a critical step in advancing a comprehensive response to elder
      abuse built on existing forensic nursing-led hospital-based programmes, we
      developed a list of skills-based competencies for use in an Elder Abuse Nurse
      Examiner curriculum. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Programme leaders of 30 hospital
      based forensic nursing-led sexual assault and domestic violence treatment
      centres. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: 149 verbatim recommendations for
      components of an elder abuse response were identified from a systematic scoping
      review. In 2 online Delphi consensus survey rounds, these components of care were
      evaluated by an expert panel for their overall importance to the elder abuse
      intervention under development and for their appropriateness to the scope of
      practice of an elder abuse nurse examiner. The components retained after
      evaluation were translated into skills-based competencies using Bloom's Taxonomy
      of Learning and, using the Nominal Group Technique, were subsequently reviewed
      and revised by a subset of members of the expert panel in a consensus meeting.
      RESULTS: Of the 148 recommendations evaluated, 119 were rated as important and
      achieved consensus or high level of agreement. Of these, 101 were determined to
      be within the scope of practice of an Elder Abuse Nurse Examiner and were
      translated into skills-based competencies. Following review and revision by
      meeting experts, 47 final competencies were organised by content into 5
      metacompetencies: documentation, legal and legislative issues; interview with
      older adult, caregiver and other relevant contacts; assessment; medical and
      forensic examination; and case summary, discharge plan and follow-up care.
      CONCLUSIONS: We determined the skills-based competencies of importance to
      training forensic nurse examiners to respond to elder abuse in the context of a
      hospital-based intervention. These findings may have implications for violence
      and abuse treatment programmes with a forensic nursing component that are
      considering the provision of a dedicated response to the abuse of older women and
      men.

PMID- 26864581
TI  - PPARdelta agonist GW0742 ameliorates Abeta1-42-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity
      in mice.
AB  - Amyloid-beta deposition is thought to be associated with memory deficits,
      neuroinflammation, apoptotic responses, and progressive neuronal death manifested
      in Alzheimer's disease. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta
      (PPARdelta) is a transcription factor with potent anti-inflammatory effect. In
      the current study, the effect of GW0742, a selective PPARdelta agonist, on Abeta1
      42-induced neurotoxicity was investigated in the hippocampus of mice. Intra
      hippocampal infusion of aggregated Abeta1-42 oligomer (410pmol/mouse) remarkably
      damaged learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze tests,
      accompanied by decreased expression of PPARdelta in the hippocampus as confirmed
      by Western blot. Intra-hippocampal infusion of GW0742 (1.06 mM/mouse)
      significantly improved Abeta1-42-induced memory deficits in mice, reversed Abeta1
      42-induced hippocampal PPARdelta down-regulation and repressed Abeta1-42
      triggered neuroinflammatory and apoptotic responses, indicated by decreased
      nuclear NF-kappaB p65, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta as well as a decrease in cleaved
      caspase-3 and increased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the hippocampus. These results
      suggest that PPARdelta activation ameliorates Abeta1-42-induced hippocampal
      neurotoxicity, and it might play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26864580
TI  - The Human Microbiome during Bacterial Vaginosis.
AB  - Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most commonly reported microbiological syndrome
      among women of childbearing age. BV is characterized by a shift in the vaginal
      flora from the dominant Lactobacillus to a polymicrobial flora. BV has been
      associated with a wide array of health issues, including preterm births, pelvic
      inflammatory disease, increased susceptibility to HIV infection, and other
      chronic health problems. A number of potential microbial pathogens, singly and in
      combinations, have been implicated in the disease process. The list of possible
      agents continues to expand and includes members of a number of genera, including
      Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Peptostreptococcus, Mobiluncus, Sneathia,
      Leptotrichia, Mycoplasma, and BV-associated bacterium 1 (BVAB1) to BVAB3. Efforts
      to characterize BV using epidemiological, microscopic, microbiological culture,
      and sequenced-based methods have all failed to reveal an etiology that can be
      consistently documented in all women with BV. A careful analysis of the available
      data suggests that what we term BV is, in fact, a set of common clinical signs
      and symptoms that can be provoked by a plethora of bacterial species with
      proinflammatory characteristics, coupled to an immune response driven by
      variability in host immune function. 

PMID- 26864584
TI  - A High-Grade Chondrosarcoma of Calcaneum Mimicking as a Benign Pathology: Delayed
      Diagnosis and Management.
AB  - This case is presented to highlight a rare case of chondrosarcoma of calcaneum in
      a young adult mimicking as a benign pathology and to highlight the diagnosis and
      early management of such cases to prevent complications and even death.
      Chondrosarcoma constitutes less than 10% of all primary malignancies of bone and
      occurs mostly in proximal locations such as pelvis, proximal femur, and proximal
      humerus. We present a case of high-grade chondrosarcoma at a very rare site,
      calcaneum of a 40-year-old male that was mimicking as a benign pathology. This
      case report highlights the importance of proper clinical examination, evaluation,
      and suspicion for benign occurring lesions to prevent complications related to a
      delay in diagnosis. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case study.

PMID- 26864583
TI  - Cardiac Protective Effects of Moringa oleifera Seeds in Spontaneous Hypertensive
      Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension is characterized by a maintained high blood pressure
      leading to cardiac complications such as left ventricular hypertrophy and
      fibrosis and an increased risk of heart failure and myocardial infarction. This
      study investigated the cardiac effects of oral administration of Moringa oleifera
      (MOI) seed powder in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: SHR received
      food containing MOI seed powder (750mg/d, 8 weeks) or normal food. In vivo
      measurement of hemodynamic parameters by telemetry and cardiac structure and
      function analysis by echocardiography were performed. Histological studies were
      performed to determine fibrosis and protein expression. RESULTS: MOI treatment
      did not modify blood pressure in SHR but reduced nocturnal heart rate and
      improved cardiac diastolic function (reduction of isovolumetric relaxation time
      and deceleration time of the E wave, increase of ejection volume and cardiac
      output compared to nontreated SHR). Left ventricular anterior wall thickness,
      interseptal thickness on diastole, and relative wall thickness were reduced after
      MOI treatment. Furthermore, we found a significant reduction of fibrosis in the
      left ventricle of MOI-treated SHR. This antihypertrophic and antifibrotic effect
      of MOI was associated with increased expression of peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and delta, reduced cardiac triglyceride level,
      and enhanced plasmatic prostacyclins. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a beneficial
      effect of MOI on the cardiac structure and function in SHR associated with an
      upregulation of PPAR-alpha and delta signaling. This study thus provides
      scientific rational support for the empirical use of MOI in the traditional
      Malagasy medicine against cardiac diseases associated with blood pressure
      overload.

PMID- 26864582
TI  - Increase of kisspeptin-positive cells in the hypothalamus of a rat model of
      polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - Kisspeptin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide, is expressed in the arcuate nucleus
      (ARC) that is considered as the center of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      (GnRH)-pulse generator. We hypothesized that kisspeptin expressed in the ARC is
      implicated in the disturbance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis observed
      in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the
      hormonal profiles, luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse, and ARC kisspeptin
      immunoreactivity in a PCOS rat model using the anti-progestin RU486. We found an
      alteration of the LH pulse, including a trend towards an increased mean LH
      concentration and area under the curve, and a significant upregulation of the
      mean LH pulse amplitude. Additionally, a higher number of kisspeptin-positive
      cells was observed in the ARC of RU486-treated rats than in the ARC of intact
      rats. These results suggest the possible involvement of hypothalamic kisspeptin
      in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and therefore, in PCOS pathophysiology.

PMID- 26864585
TI  - Endoscopic management of a gastric leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
      using the over-the-scope-clip (Ovesco(r)) system.
AB  - Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is currently used for the management of morbid
      obesity. Gastric fistula is the primary life-threatening complication, and its
      resolution continues to be a strong challenge for surgeons. Multiple treatment
      options are available, ranging from conservative therapy to endoscopic use of
      clips or stents, and even surgical reoperation involving total gastrectomy or
      conversion to a different bariatric technique. The applicability of each
      individual option will depend on the type of fistula and the patient clinical
      status. A clinical case is reported of a 29-year-old male patient with a body
      mass index at 49% who following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy had a delayed
      gastric fistula that failed to respond to conservative management but was
      successfully treated using the over-the-scope clip (Ovesco(r)) system.

PMID- 26864586
TI  - [Chronic low back pain : Comparison of mobilization and core stability
      exercises].
AB  - BACKGROUND: For the treatment of chronic low back pain (cLBP), both core
      stability and mobilization exercises were introduced. The aim of this prospective
      randomized clinical pilot study was to compare the efficacy of mobilization and
      core stability exercises with regard to objective and subjective outcome measures
      in patients with cLBP. METHOD: After a per-protocol analysis, the data of 27
      patients with cLBP, who were randomly allocated to one of the two groups, were
      analyzed. The intervention group (GM) performed mobilization exercises using the
      BALLance-Methode(r), the control group (GS) carried out core stability exercises
      for 4 weeks, and continued the exercises for an additional 4 weeks at home.
      Flexibility, strength endurance of the core stabilizing muscles, pain-induced
      disability, and pain avoidance behavior were the objective and subjective
      outcomes that were measured before, 4 weeks after, and 8 weeks after the onset of
      the intervention. The significance of differences within and between groups was
      analyzed. RESULTS: During the observation period, only in the GS patients could
      maintain the prone-plank position and the side-plank position improvements over
      time (p < 0.001), with significant differences compared with the GM (p < 0.05).
      Within both groups significant improvements in the subjective outcome measures
      were found (p < 0.05). Therefore, no significant differences existed between the
      groups. CONCLUSION: With regard to their daily complaints, patients with cLBP can
      be treated using standardized mobilization exercises in addition to core
      stability exercises.

PMID- 26864587
TI  - Quantifying population declines based on presence-only records for red-list
      assessments.
AB  - Accurate trend estimates are necessary for understanding which species are
      declining and which are most in need of conservation action. Imperfect species
      detection may result in unreliable trend estimates because this may lead to the
      overestimation of declines. Because many management decisions are based on
      population trend estimates, such biases could have severe consequences for
      conservation policy. We used an occupancy-modeling framework to estimate
      detectability and calculate nationwide population trends for 14 Swiss amphibian
      species both accounting for and ignoring imperfect detection. Through the
      application of International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List criteria
      to the different trend estimates, we assessed whether ignoring imperfect
      detection could affect conservation policy. Imperfect detection occurred for all
      species and detection varied substantially among species, which led to the
      overestimation of population declines when detectability was ignored.
      Consequently, accounting for imperfect detection lowered the red-list risk
      category for 5 of the 14 species assessed. We demonstrate that failing to
      consider species detectability can have serious consequences for species
      management and that occupancy modeling provides a flexible framework to account
      for observation bias and improve assessments of conservation status. A problem
      inherent to most historical records is that they contain presence-only data from
      which only relative declines can be estimated. A move toward the routine
      recording of nonobservation and absence data is essential if conservation
      practitioners are to move beyond this toward accurate population trend
      estimation.

PMID- 26864591
TI  - Editorial Comment for Yuan et al.

PMID- 26864590
TI  - DeltaNp63alpha attenuates tumor aggressiveness by suppressing miR-205/ZEB1
      mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Cervical cancer is one of the most common female cancers worldwide. Although the
      therapeutic outcomes of patients with early-stage cervical cancer have been
      significantly improved in the past decades, tumor metastasis and recurrence
      remain the major causes of cervical cancer-related deaths. In cervical squamous
      cell carcinoma (SCC), the aberrant activation of epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT), a crucial process in invasion and metastasis of epithelial
      cancer, could promote lymph nodal metastasis and recurrence, and predicts poor
      prognosis. In this study, we show that the expression levels of EMT markers, beta
      catenin and Vimentin, are associated with the p63 isoform DeltaNp63alpha in SCC
      by using immunohistochemistry staining and analysis. Compared to the control SiHa
      cells (SiHa-NC), the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin are upregulated,
      while Vimentin and ZEB1 are downregulated in the constructed SiHa cell line with
      stable DeltaNp63alpha overexpression (SiHa-DeltaNp63alpha). Besides, the
      migration and invasion abilities are also suppressed in SiHa-DeltaNp63alpha cells
      with a typical epithelial morphology with cobblestone-like shape, suggesting that
      DeltaNp63alpha is a vital EMT repressor in SCC cells. In addition, the
      involvement of miR-205/ZEB1 axis in the inhibition effect of DeltaNp63alpha on
      EMT program is revealed by a miRNA array and confirmed by the subsequent
      transfection of the miR-205 mimic and antagomir. Moreover, SCC patients with low
      DeltaNp63alpha expression and high EMT level show more frequent metastasis and
      recurrence as well as reduced overall survival. Therefore, EMT program and its
      vital repressor DeltaNp63alpha could be used as biomarkers for tumor metastasis
      and recurrence in cervical cancer. 

PMID- 26864592
TI  - Vismodegib and Physeal Closure in a Pediatric Patient.

PMID- 26864589
TI  - Cancer stem cells, metabolism, and therapeutic significance.
AB  - Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have attracted much attention of the research community
      in the recent years. Due to their highly tumorigenic and drug-resistant
      properties, CSCs represent important targets for developing novel anticancer
      agents and therapeutic strategies. CSCs were first described in hematopoietic
      malignancies and subsequently identified in various types of solid tumors
      including brain, breast, lung, colon, melanoma, and ovarian cancer. CSCs possess
      special biological properties including long-term self-renewal capacity, multi
      lineage differentiation, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy. As such, CSCs are considered as a major source of residual disease
      after therapy leading to disease occurrence. Thus, it is very important to
      understand the cellular survival mechanisms specific to CSCs and accordingly
      develop effective therapeutic approaches to eliminate this subpopulation of
      cancer cells in order to improve the treatment outcome of cancer patients.
      Possible therapeutic strategies against CSCs include targeting the self-renewal
      pathways of CSCs, interrupting the interaction between CSCs and their
      microenvironment, and exploiting the unique metabolic properties of CSCs. In this
      review article, we will provide an overview of the biological characteristics of
      CSCs, with a particular focus on their metabolic properties and potential
      therapeutic strategies to eliminate CSCs. 

PMID- 26864593
TI  - Dynamical Dimension to the Hofmeister Series: Insights from First-Principles
      Simulations.
AB  - A systematic characterization of the competing kosmotropic and chaotropic effects
      of a series of divalent salts on the aqueous H-bonding structure by means of
      first-principles molecular dynamics simulations is presented. The structural
      properties are quantified by means of experimental and computed (1) H NMR
      chemical shifts, whereby the local environments of cations and anions can be
      discriminated. Complementary to the well-established structural features, a
      dynamical aspect is added to the concept of kosmotropes and chaotropes. The H
      bond dynamics, quantified in terms of the H-bonding autocorrelation functions,
      shows a good correlation with the structural kosmotropic and chaotropic
      modifications, which are commonly referred to as the Hofmeister series. The
      considerably enhanced (reduced) fluctuations of the H-bonding network in the
      hydration shells around the anions (cations) are a complementary dynamical
      dimension to the concept of kosmotropic/chaotropic behavior of solvated ions. 

PMID- 26864595
TI  - Offline: Health--the Chinese dream.

PMID- 26864594
TI  - The use of brief post-surgical low frequency electrical stimulation to enhance
      nerve regeneration in clinical practice.
AB  - Despite efforts to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, there has been little
      progress in improving clinical outcomes. Recently, a method of brief post
      surgical low frequency electrical stimulation of surgically repaired nerves has
      been developed. It was shown to accelerate axon outgrowth across the repair site
      and it hastened target reinnervation. In this brief review, we describe the
      mechanistic insights and functional impacts of the post-surgical electrical
      stimulation that have been gained through animal studies. Brain-derived
      neurotrophic factor, cyclic AMP and regeneration-associated genes play a vital
      role in expediting the outgrowth of axons across the injury site. The method of
      stimulation has also been shown to be effective in patients with severe
      compressive neuropathy as well as those with digital nerve laceration. Its
      clinical feasibility and positive impact open the door of further clinical
      translation in other peripheral nerve injuries.

PMID- 26864596
TI  - Triggering the approach of an arene or heteroarene towards an aldehyde via Lewis
      acid-aldehyde communication.
AB  - The present work reports a combined experimental/computational study of the Lewis
      acid promoted hydroxyalkylation reaction involving aldehyde and arene/heteroarene
      and reveals a mechanism in which the rate determining aldehyde to alcohol
      formation via a four-member cyclic transition state (TS) involves a transfer of
      hydrogen from arene/heteroarene C-H to aldehyde oxygen with the breaking of the C
      H bond and formation of C-C and O-H bonds. The effect of different Sn(iv)
      derivatives on the hydroxyalkylation reaction from different in situ NMR and
      computational studies reveals that although the exergonic formation of the
      intermediate and its gained electrophilicity at the carbonyl carbon drive the
      reaction in SnCl4 compared to other Sn(iv) derivatives, the overall reaction is
      low yielding because of its stable intermediate. With respect to different
      aldehydes, LA promoted hydroxylation was found to be more feasible for an
      electron withdrawing aldehyde compared to electron rich aldehyde because of lower
      stability, enhanced electrophilicity gained at the aldehyde center, and a lower
      activation barrier between its intermediate and TS in the former as compared to
      the latter. The relative stability of the LA-aldehyde adduct decreases in the
      order SnCl4 > AlCl3 > InCl3 > BF3 > ZnCl2 > TiCl4 > SiCl4, while the activation
      barrier (DeltaG(#)) between intermediate and transition states increases in the
      order AlCl3 < SnCl4 < InCl3 < BF3 < TiCl4 < ZnCl2 < SiCl4. On the other hand, the
      activation barriers in the case of different arenes/heteroarenes are in the order
      of indole < furan < anisole < thiophene < toluene < benzene < chlorobenzene <
      cyanobenzene, which suggests a facile reaction in the case of indole and the most
      difficult reaction in the case of cyanobenzene. The ease of formation of the
      corresponding diaryl methyl carbocation from the alcohol-LA intermediate is
      responsible for the determination of the undesired product and is found to be
      more viable in the case of strong LAs like AlCl3, InCl3 and SnCl4 because they
      have negative free energy of formation (DeltaG) for alcohol to the corresponding
      diaryl methyl carbocation. 

PMID- 26864598
TI  - Two novel TSHR gene mutations (p.R528C and c.392+4del4) associated with
      congenital hypothyroidism.
AB  - Inactivating mutations of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) gene are responsible
      for non-goitrogenic congenital hypothyroidism (CHNG). This study aimed to
      investigate mutations in the TSHR gene in 20 children with CHNG. Genomic DNA was
      extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and was used for mutation screening by
      direct sequencing. Analyses of the TSHR gene revealed two novel variants in a 2
      year-old boy with thyroid hypoplasia: a missense mutation c.1582C>T (p.R528C) and
      a splice-site deletion c.392+4del4. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that
      both variants are capable of causing disease. Family members of the patient with
      two mutations and normal controls were also recruited and investigated. Germline
      mutations from the proband's family were consistent with an autosomal recessive
      inheritance pattern. These findings indicate that two novel inactivating
      mutations (p.R528C and c.392+4del4) in the TSHR gene can cause CHNG. 

PMID- 26864597
TI  - Activity Variation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium under Nanosilver Exposure by
      Controlling of Different Sulfide Sources.
AB  - Due to the particular activation and inhibition behavior of silver nanoparticles
      (AgNPs) on microbes at various concentrations, it's crucial to exploit the
      special concentration effect in environment. Here, we studied the viability
      variation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P. chrysosporium) under exposure to
      citrate-coated AgNPs (Citrate-AgNPs) in the presence of different sulfide sources
      (an inorganic sulfide, NaHS and an organic sulfide, thioacetamide (TAA)). The
      results indicated that both NaHS and TAA can promote activation of P.
      chrysosporium by Citrate-AgNPs at a higher concentration, which was initial at
      toxic level. Treatment with various concentrations of Citrate-AgNPs (0-9 mg/L)
      demonstrated a maximum activation concentration (MAC) at 3 mg/L. With the
      increase in sulfide concentration, MAC transferred to higher concentration
      significantly, indicating the obvious "toxicity to activation" transformation at
      a higher concentration. Ag(+) testing exhibited that variations in sulfide
      induced Ag(+) concentration (3-7 MUg/L Ag(+)) accounted for the "toxicity to
      activation" transformation. In addition, the similar results were observed on
      antibacterial application using Escherichia coli as the model species. Based on
      the research results, the application of this transformation in improving
      antibacterial activity was proposed. Therefore, the antibacterial activity of
      AgNPs can be controlled, even at concentration, via adjusting for the sulfide
      concentration. 

PMID- 26864601
TI  - Periodontal Conditions of Abutments and Non-Abutments in Removable Partial
      Dentures over 7 Years of Use.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the periodontal conditions and integrity of abutment and non
      abutment teeth of patients evaluated 7 years after insertion of the removable
      partial denture (RPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients (17 women, 5
      men) were assessed at the moment of denture insertion and 7 years later. The
      following items were verified in each assessment: bleeding on probing (BP),
      probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and mobility (M), comparing direct
      and indirect abutment teeth, and the teeth not involved in the denture design.
      Tooth integrity was also evaluated and classified as intact when no caries or
      fractures were observed. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to reveal statistical
      significance between the groups (p = 0.05) as well as the Bonferrroni-corrected
      Mann-Whitney test for post hoc comparison. The Wilcoxon test was used for
      evaluation within the group over time. Fisher's exact test was applied to cross
      data about abutment integrity. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences
      were found for GR (baseline, p < 0.001; 7 years, p < 0.001) and PD (baseline, p =
      0.001; 7 years = 0.004) between the three groups at baseline and after 7 years of
      follow-up. Mean BP and M values increased from initial assessment to after 7
      years of RPD use in every group, but no statistically significant difference was
      found between the groups. For abutment integrity, a statistically significant
      difference (p = 0.028) was observed, and the direct abutment exhibited more
      (33.3%) caries and fractures. CONCLUSION: RPDs generated more periodontal damage
      to direct abutments, since higher gingival recession probing depth indexes, and
      presence of caries and fractures were observed in comparison to indirect
      abutments and non-abutments.

PMID- 26864599
TI  - Tackling amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's disease with A2V variants of Amyloid
      beta.
AB  - We developed a novel therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) exploiting
      the properties of a natural variant of Amyloid-beta (Abeta) carrying the A2V
      substitution, which protects heterozygous carriers from AD by its ability to
      interact with wild-type Abeta, hindering conformational changes and assembly
      thereof. As prototypic compound we designed a six-mer mutated peptide (Abeta1
      6A2V), linked to the HIV-related TAT protein, which is widely used for brain
      delivery and cell membrane penetration of drugs. The resulting molecule [Abeta1
      6A2VTAT(D)] revealed strong anti-amyloidogenic effects in vitro and protected
      human neuroblastoma cells from Abeta toxicity. Preclinical studies in AD mouse
      models showed that short-term treatment with Abeta1-6A2VTAT(D) inhibits Abeta
      aggregation and cerebral amyloid deposition, but a long treatment schedule
      unexpectedly increases amyloid burden, although preventing cognitive
      deterioration. Our data support the view that the AbetaA2V-based strategy can be
      successfully used for the development of treatments for AD, as suggested by the
      natural protection against the disease in human A2V heterozygous carriers. The
      undesirable outcome of the prolonged treatment with Abeta1-6A2VTAT(D) was likely
      due to the TAT intrinsic attitude to increase Abeta production, avidly bind
      amyloid and boost its seeding activity, warning against the use of the TAT
      carrier in the design of AD therapeutics. 

PMID- 26864603
TI  - Brain atrophy in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

PMID- 26864604
TI  - Ammonium-crown ether supramolecular cation-templated assembly of an unprecedented
      heterobicluster-metal coordination polymer with enhanced NLO properties.
AB  - An ammonium-crown ether host-guest supramolecular cation-templated synthetic
      methodology has been developed to construct a structurally unprecedented
      heterobicluster-metal coordination polymer (HCM-CP 1) based on tetranuclear
      clusters [WS4Cu3](+) with different connection environments, pentanuclear
      clusters [WS4Cu4](2+), and Cu(+) building metal ions. HCM-CP 1 exhibits enhanced
      NLO properties, which may be ascribed to the incorporation of diverse building
      cluster components.

PMID- 26864602
TI  - Synergistic infection of two viruses MCMV and SCMV increases the accumulations of
      both MCMV and MCMV-derived siRNAs in maize.
AB  - The co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic
      virus (SCMV) can cause maize lethal necrosis. However, the mechanism underlying
      the synergistic interaction between these two viruses remains elusive. In this
      study, we found that the co-infection of MCMV and SCMV increased the accumulation
      of MCMV. Moreover, the profiles of virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) from MCMV and
      SCMV in single- and co-infected maize plants were obtained by high-throughput
      sequencing. Our data showed that synergistic infection of MCMV and SCMV increased
      remarkably the accumulation of vsiRNAs from MCMV, which were mainly 22 and 21
      nucleotides in length. The single-nucleotide resolution maps of vsiRNAs revealed
      that vsiRNAs were almost continuously but heterogeneously distributed throughout
      MCMV and SCMV genomic RNAs, respectively. Moreover, we predicted and annotated
      dozens of host transcript genes targeted by vsiRNAs. Our results also showed that
      maize DCLs and several AGOs RNAs were differentially accumulated in maize plants
      with different treatments (mock, single or double inoculations), which were
      associated with the accumulation of vsiRNAs. Our findings suggested possible
      roles of vsiRNAs in the synergistic interaction of MCMV and SCMV in maize plants.

PMID- 26864605
TI  - A review of estuarine fish research in South America: what has been achieved and
      what is the future for sustainability and conservation?
AB  - Estuarine fish research in South America began in the early 20th Century, but it
      is only within the last 40 years that detailed studies have been undertaken. This
      review firstly summarizes research results from South American estuaries by
      geographic area, starting with the temperate south-east, then the temperate-sub
      tropical transition zone in Brazil, then the semi-arid and tropical estuaries of
      north and north-east Brazil including the Amazon complex, then the north and
      Caribbean coasts and finally down the Pacific coast of the continent. They
      include almost all types of estuarine systems, from large open systems (e.g. the
      temperate Rio de La Plata and tropical Amazon) to extensive coastal lakes (e.g.
      the temperate Patos Lagoon and tropical Cienega Grande de Santa Marta). They
      encompass a broad range of climatic and vegetation types, from saltmarsh systems
      in the south-east and fjords in the south-west to both arid and humid tropical
      systems, dominated by mangroves in the north. Their tidal regimes range from
      microtidal (e.g. Mar Chiquita, Argentina) through mesotidal (e.g. Goiana, Brazil)
      to macrotidal in the Amazon complex where they can exceed 7 m. The review uses
      where possible the recent standardization of estuarine fish categories and
      guilds, but the ways that fishes use tropical South American systems may
      necessitate further refinements of the categories and guilds, particularly in
      relation to freshwater fishes, notably the Siluriformes, which dominate many
      north and north-east South American systems. The extent to which South American
      studies contribute to discussions and paradigms of connectivity and estuarine
      dependence is summarized, but work on these topics has only just begun. The
      anthropogenic issue of pollution, particularly in relation to heavy metals and
      fishes and fisheries in estuaries is more advanced, but the possible effects of
      climate change have barely been addressed. Studies around conservation and
      management are briefly reviewed and the extent to which key factors are being
      addressed is examined. Although there have been major advances in knowledge of
      estuarine fishes in South America, information is patchy, with most data from
      relatively few systems in Argentina and Brazil. 

PMID- 26864606
TI  - Palladium-catalyzed paraformaldehyde insertion: a three-component synthesis of
      benzofurans.
AB  - An efficient procedure for 2-aroylbenzofuran preparation from 2-bromophenols,
      phenacyl bromides and paraformaldehyde is described. The cheap and stable
      paraformaldehyde served as the carbon source via an in situ formylation reaction.

PMID- 26864607
TI  - Stability of nicotinate and dodecyl sulfate in a Lewis acidic ionic liquid for
      aluminum electroplating and characterization of their degradation products.
AB  - Plating bath additives are essential for optimization of the morphology of
      electroplated layers. The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM)
      chloride plus 1.5 mol equivalents of AlCl3 has great potential for electroplating
      of aluminum. In this study, the chemical and electrochemical stability of the
      additives EMIM-nicotinate and sodium dodecyl sulfate and their effect on the
      stability of EMIM was investigated and analyzed. Nicotinate and its
      electrochemical decomposition product beta-picoline could be detected and we show
      with a single HPLC-UV-MS method that EMIM is not affected by the decomposition of
      this additive. An adapted standard HPLC-UV-MS method together with GC-MS and ion
      chromatography was used to analyze the decomposition products of SDS and possible
      realkylation products of EMIM. Several volatile medium and short chain-length
      alkanes as well as sulfate ions have been found as decomposition products of SDS.
      Alkenium ions formed as intermediates during the decomposition of SDS realkylate
      EMIM to produce mono- up to pentasubstituted alkyl-imidazoles. A reaction pathway
      involving Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements and Friedel-Crafts alkylations has been
      suggested to account for the formation of the detected products. 

PMID- 26864608
TI  - Alleviation of proton toxicity by nitrate uptake specifically depends on nitrate
      transporter 1.1 in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Protons in acid soil are highly rhizotoxic to plants, but the mechanism of
      tolerance of plants to protons is largely unknown. Nitrate uptake by root cells
      is accompanied by the uptake of protons. Therefore, nitrate uptake transporters
      (NRTs) may be involved in plant tolerance to proton toxicity. We investigated the
      root nitrate uptake response to proton stress in Arabidopsis and its association
      with proton tolerance using NRT-related mutants and pharmacological methods. Lack
      of NRT1.1 in knockout nrt1.1 mutants led to impaired proton tolerance in nitrate
      sufficient growth medium, whereas no difference was seen between wild-type plants
      and NRT1.2-, NRT2.1-, NRT2.2-, and NRT2.4-null mutants. Another nrt1.1 point
      mutant, which is defective in nitrate uptake but has a normal nitrate-sensing
      function, also had impaired proton tolerance compared with the wild-type plant.
      Furthermore, proton stress induced NRT1.1-mediated nitrate uptake. These results
      indicate that NRT1.1-conferred proton tolerance depends on nitrate uptake
      activity. In addition, the rooting medium was alkalified by wild-type plants, but
      not by knockout nrt1.1 mutants, and in pH-buffered medium, there were no
      differences in proton tolerance between wild-type plants and knockout nrt1.1
      mutants. We conclude that NRT1.1-mediated nitrate uptake plays a crucial role in
      plant proton tolerance by alkalifying the rhizosphere.

PMID- 26864609
TI  - A Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework Thermometer with Intrinsic Dual Emission
      from Organic Lumophores.
AB  - A new mixed-ligand metal-organic framework (MOF), ZnATZ-BTB, has been constructed
      as a luminescent ratiometric thermometer by making use of the intrinsic dual
      emission at cryogenic temperatures. Its twofold interpenetrated network promotes
      the Dexter energy transfer (DET) between the mixed organic lumophores. The
      temperature-dependent luminescent behavior arises from the thermal equilibrium
      between two separated excited states coupled by DET, which is confirmed by
      Boltzmann distribution fitting. The small excited-state energy gap allows ZnATZ
      BTB to measure and visualize cryogenic temperatures (30-130 K) with significantly
      high relative sensitivity (up to 5.29% K(-1) at 30 K). Moreover, it is the first
      example of a ratiometric MOF thermometer the dual emitting sources of which are
      widely applicable mixed organic ligands, opening up new opportunities for
      designing such devices.

PMID- 26864610
TI  - The clinical dilemma and management of red cell autoantibodies.

PMID- 26864611
TI  - Optoelectronic Properties of Solution Grown ZnO n-p or p-n Core-Shell Nanowire
      Arrays.
AB  - Sb doped ZnO nanowires grown using the low-temperature hydrothermal method have
      the longest reported p-type stability of over 18 months. Using this growth
      system, bulk homojunction films of core-shell ZnO nanowires were synthesized with
      either n or p-type cores and the oppositely doped shell. Extensive transmission
      electron microscopy (TEM) characterization showed that the nanowires remain
      single crystalline, and the previously reported signs of doping remain intact.
      The electronic properties of these films were measured, and ultraviolet
      photodetection was observed. This growth technique could serve as the basis for
      other optoelectronic devices based on ZnO such as light emitting diodes and
      photovoltaics. 

PMID- 26864612
TI  - Extreme genetic diversity in asexual grass thrips populations.
AB  - The continuous generation of genetic variation has been proposed as one of the
      main factors explaining the maintenance of sexual reproduction in nature.
      However, populations of asexual individuals may attain high levels of genetic
      diversity through within-lineage diversification, replicate transitions to
      asexuality from sexual ancestors and migration. How these mechanisms affect
      genetic variation in populations of closely related sexual and asexual taxa can
      therefore provide insights into the role of genetic diversity for the maintenance
      of sexual reproduction. Here, we evaluate patterns of intra- and interpopulation
      genetic diversity in sexual and asexual populations of Aptinothrips rufus grass
      thrips. Asexual A. rufus populations are found throughout the world, whereas
      sexual populations appear to be confined to few locations in the Mediterranean
      region. We found that asexual A. rufus populations are characterized by extremely
      high levels of genetic diversity, both in comparison with their sexual relatives
      and in comparison with other asexual species. Migration is extensive among
      asexual populations over large geographic distances, whereas close sexual
      populations are strongly isolated from each other. The combination of extensive
      migration with replicate evolution of asexual lineages, and a past demographic
      expansion in at least one of them, generated high local clone diversities in A.
      rufus. These high clone diversities in asexual populations may mimic certain
      benefits conferred by sex via genetic diversity and could help explain the
      extreme success of asexual A. rufus populations.

PMID- 26864614
TI  - Influence of Skeletal and Local Bone Density on Dental Implant Stability in
      Patients with Osteoporosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is a major skeletal disease affecting
      millions of people worldwide. Recent studies claim that patients with
      osteoporosis do not have a higher risk of early implant failure compared to non
      osteoporotic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of skeletal
      osteoporosis and local bone density on initial dental implant stability.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients were recruited and were assigned
      (based on a Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan) to either the osteoporosis
      (Opr), osteopenia (Opn), or control (C) group. Forty nine of the 73 patients
      received dental implants and had implant stability measured by means of resonance
      frequency analysis (RFA) at implant placement and at prosthetic abutment
      placement. On the computerized tomography scans, the cortical thickness and the
      bone density (Hounsfield Units) at the sites of implant placement were measured.
      RESULTS: At implant placement, primary stability was on average lower in group
      Opr (63.3 +/- 10.3 ISQ) than in group Opn (65.3 +/- 7.5 implant stability qutient
      (ISQ)), and group C (66.7 +/- 8.7 ISQ). At abutment placement, a similar trend
      was observed: group Opr (66.4 +/- 9.5 ISQ) scored lower than group Opn (70.7 +/-
      7.8 ISQ), while the highest average was for group C (72.2 +/- 7.2 ISQ). The
      difference between groups Opr and C was significant. Implant length and diameter
      did not have a significant effect on implant stability as measured with RFA. A
      significant correlation was found between local bone density and implant
      stability for all regions of interest. CONCLUSIONS: Implant stability seems to be
      influenced by both local and skeletal bone densities. The lower stability scores
      in patient with skeletal osteoporosis reinforce the recommendations that safe
      protocols and longer healing times could be recommended when treating those
      patients with dental implants.

PMID- 26864613
TI  - Discriminant musculo-skeletal leg characteristics between sprint and endurance
      elite Caucasian runners.
AB  - Excellence in either sprinting or endurance running requires specific musculo
      skeletal characteristics of the legs. This study aims to investigate the
      morphology of the leg of sprinters and endurance runners of Caucasian ethnicity.
      Eight male sprinters and 11 male endurance runners volunteered to participate in
      this cross-sectional study. They underwent magnetic resonance imaging and after
      data collection, digital reconstruction was done to calculate muscle volumes and
      bone lengths. Sprinters have a higher total upper leg volume compared to
      endurance runners (7340 vs 6265 cm3 ). Specifically, the rectus femoris, vastus
      lateralis, and hamstrings showed significantly higher muscle volumes in the
      sprint group. For the lower leg, only a higher muscle volume was found in the
      gastrocnemius lateralis for the sprinters. No differences were found in muscle
      volume distribution, center of mass in the different muscles, or relative bone
      lengths. There was a significant positive correlation between ratio
      hamstrings/quadriceps volume and best running performance in the sprint group.
      Sprinters and endurance runners of Caucasian ethnicity showed the greatest
      distinctions in muscle volumes, rather than in muscle distributions or skeletal
      measures. Sprinters show higher volumes in mainly the proximal and lateral leg
      muscles than endurance runners.

PMID- 26864616
TI  - Mussel-inspired one-pot synthesis of transition metal and nitrogen co-doped
      carbon (M/N-C) as efficient oxygen catalysts for Zn-air batteries.
AB  - Transition metal and nitrogen co-doping into carbon is an effective approach to
      promote the catalytic activities towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
      and/or oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the resultant electrocatalysts, M/N-C.
      The preparation of such catalysts, however, is often complicated and in low
      yield. Herein we report a robust approach for easy synthesis of M/N-C hybrids in
      high yield, which includes a mussel-inspired polymerization reaction at room
      temperature and a subsequent carbonization process. With the introduction of
      selected transition metal salts into an aqueous solution of dopamine (DA), the
      obtained mixture self-polymerizes to form metal-containing polydopamine (M-PDA)
      composites, e.g. Co-PDA, Ni-PDA and Fe-PDA. Upon carbonization at elevated
      temperatures, these metal-containing composites were converted into M/N-C, i.e.
      Co-PDA-C, Ni-PDA-C and Fe-PDA-C, respectively, whose morphologies, chemical
      compositions, and electrochemical performances were fully studied. Enhanced ORR
      activities were found in all the obtained hybrids, with Co-PDA-C standing out as
      the most promising catalyst with excellent stability and catalytic activities
      towards both ORR and OER. This was further proven in Zn-air batteries (ZnABs) in
      terms of discharge voltage stability and cycling performance. At a discharge
      charge current density of 2 mA cm(-2) and 1 h per cycle, the Co-PDA-C based ZnABs
      were able to steadily cycle up to 500 cycles with only a small increase in the
      discharge-charge voltage gap which notably outperformed Pt/C; at a discharge
      current density of 5 mA cm(-2), the battery continuously discharged for more than
      540 h with the discharge voltage above 1 V and a voltage drop rate of merely 0.37
      mV h(-1). With the simplicity and scalability of the synthetic approach and
      remarkable battery performances, the Co-PDA-C hybrid catalyst is anticipated to
      play an important role in practical ZnABs. 

PMID- 26864615
TI  - Silodosin inhibits prostate cancer cell growth via ELK1 inactivation and enhances
      the cytotoxic activity of gemcitabine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biological significance of ELK1, a transcriptional factor whose
      phosphorylation is necessary for c-fos proto-oncogene activation, in prostate
      cancer remains far from fully understood. In this study, we aim to investigate
      the role of ELK1 in tumor growth as well as the efficacy of a selective alpha1A
      adrenergic blocker, silodosin, in ELK1 activity in prostate cancer cells.
      METHODS: We first immunohistochemically determined the levels of phospho-ELK1 (p
      ELK1) expression in radical prostatectomy specimens. We then assessed the effects
      of ELK1 knockdown via short hairpin RNA and silodosin on cell proliferation,
      migration, and invasion in prostate cancer lines. RESULTS: The levels of p-ELK1
      expression were significantly higher in carcinoma than in benign (P < 0.001) or
      high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) (P = 0.002) as well as in
      HGPIN than in benign (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests revealed that
      moderate-strong positivity of p-ELK1 in carcinomas tended to correlate with
      biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (P = 0.098). In PC3 and DU145
      expressing ELK1 (mRNA/protein) but no androgen receptor (AR), ELK1 silencing
      resulted in considerable decreases in the expression of c-fos as well as in cell
      migration/invasion and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression, but not in cell
      viability. Silodosin treatment reduced the expression/activity of ELK1 in these
      cells as well as the viability of AR-positive LNCaP and C4-2 cells and the
      migration of both AR-positive and AR-negative cells, but not the viability of AR
      negative or ELK1-negative cells. Interestingly, silodosin significantly increased
      sensitivity to gemcitabine, but not to cisplatin or docetaxel, even in AR
      negative cells. CONCLUSIONS: ELK1 is likely to be activated in prostate cancer
      cells and promote tumor progression. Furthermore, silodosin that inactivates ELK1
      in prostate cancer cells not only inhibits their growth but also enhances the
      cytotoxic activity of gemcitabine. Thus, ELK1 inhibition has the potential of
      being a therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.

PMID- 26864617
TI  - Epidemiology of Surgical Site Infection in a Community Hospital Network.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of complex surgical site infection (SSI)
      following commonly performed surgical procedures in community hospitals and to
      characterize trends of SSI prevalence rates over time for MRSA and other common
      pathogens METHODS: We prospectively collected SSI data at 29 community hospitals
      in the southeastern United States from 2008 through 2012. We determined the
      overall prevalence rates of SSI for commonly performed procedures during this 5
      year study period. For each year of the study, we then calculated prevalence
      rates of SSI stratified by causative organism. We created log-binomial regression
      models to analyze trends of SSI prevalence over time for all pathogens combined
      and specifically for MRSA. RESULTS: A total of 3,988 complex SSIs occurred
      following 532,694 procedures (prevalence rate, 0.7 infections per 100
      procedures). SSIs occurred most frequently after small bowel surgery, peripheral
      vascular bypass surgery, and colon surgery. Staphylococcus aureus was the most
      common pathogen. The prevalence rate of SSI decreased from 0.76 infections per
      100 procedures in 2008 to 0.69 infections per 100 procedures in 2012 (prevalence
      rate ratio [PRR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.00). A more
      substantial decrease in MRSA SSI (PRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.89) was largely
      responsible for this overall trend. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MRSA SSI
      decreased from 2008 to 2012 in our network of community hospitals. This decrease
      in MRSA SSI prevalence led to an overall decrease in SSI prevalence over the
      study period.

PMID- 26864618
TI  - Recent Trends in the Prevalence of Marijuana Use and Associated Disorders in the
      United States.

PMID- 26864619
TI  - Oxidative stress and antioxidative systems: recipes for successful data
      collection and interpretation.
AB  - Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are common to many fundamental
      responses of plants. Enormous and ever-growing interest has focused on this
      research area, leading to an extensive literature that documents the tremendous
      progress made in recent years. As in other areas of plant biology, advances have
      been greatly facilitated by developments in genomics-dependent technologies and
      the application of interdisciplinary techniques that generate information at
      multiple levels. At the same time, advances in understanding ROS are
      fundamentally reliant on the use of biochemical and cell biology techniques that
      are specific to the study of oxidative stress. It is therefore timely to revisit
      these approaches with the aim of providing a guide to convenient methods and
      assisting interested researchers in avoiding potential pitfalls. Our critical
      overview of currently popular methodologies includes a detailed discussion of
      approaches used to generate oxidative stress, measurements of ROS themselves,
      determination of major antioxidant metabolites, assays of antioxidative enzymes
      and marker transcripts for oxidative stress. We consider the applicability of
      metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics approaches and discuss markers such
      as damage to DNA and RNA. Our discussion of current methodologies is firmly
      anchored to future technological developments within this popular research field.

PMID- 26864620
TI  - Hydrochlorothiazide Induced Lichen Planus in the Emergency Department.
AB  - Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory disease that involves
      papulosquamous eruption of the skin, scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. This
      uncommon condition has a higher prevalence in African Americans and females.
      Women accounts for 50% of cutaneous LP (CLP) and 60% to 75% of oral LP (OLP)
      cases. Diagnosis is centered around clinical presentation. Patient evaluation
      requires a comprehensive physical examination to identify any potential sites of
      involvement. LP is usually described by the "Six P's": planar, purple, polygonal,
      pruritic, papules, and plaques. Drug-induced LP, or lichenoid drug reactions, is
      uncommon and usually indiscernible from other forms of LP. Lichenoid drug
      reactions exhibit parakeratosis, dermal infiltrates of eosinophils, or
      perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates affecting the reticular dermis. An extended
      time interval between the initiation of drug to the onset of symptoms usually
      does not exclude potential diagnosis of a lichenoid drug reaction. We describe a
      case of hydrochlorothiazide-induced LP without prolonged exposure to sunlight
      diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). In this case, a pharmacist-conducted
      medication reconciliation played an integral role in accurately recognizing this
      adverse drug reaction. Our case report adds to the limited available literature
      on the topic, most of which originated more than 30 years ago.

PMID- 26864621
TI  - Salvage Treatment of Mucormycosis Post-Liver Transplant With Posaconazole During
      Sirolimus Maintenance Immunosuppression.
AB  - We describe the first successful case of posaconazole salvage therapy for
      mucormycosis with concomitant sirolimus (SRL) maintenance immunosuppression
      following liver transplantation, despite black box drug interaction following
      intolerance to first-line tacrolimus and amphotericin due to nephrotoxicity and
      neurotoxicity. This case describes a 55-year-old female who developed
      rhinocerebral mucormycosis 108 days after liver transplantation. After 3 months
      of posaconazole therapy, the patient remains free of disease at 3 years
      posttransplant. This case report illustrates successful resolution of
      mucormycosis without SRL toxicity to resolve nephrotoxicity of long-term
      amphotericin on top of already nephrotoxic immunosuppression. With higher
      bioavailability of recently FDA-approved posaconazole delayed release tablets,
      this azole may be a therapeutic option for transplant patients who need to remain
      on CYP3A4-metabolized immunosuppressive agents.

PMID- 26864622
TI  - Liver innate immune cells and insulin resistance: the multiple facets of Kupffer
      cells.
AB  - Obesity, which affects 600 million adults worldwide, is a major risk factor for
      type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance. Current therapies for these
      metabolic disorders include weight management by lifestyle intervention or
      bariatric surgery and pharmacological treatment with the aim of regulating blood
      glucose. Probably because of their short-term effectiveness, these therapies have
      not been able to stop the rapidly rising prevalence of T2D over the past decades,
      highlighting an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. The role of
      immune cells, such as macrophages, in insulin resistance has been extensively
      studied. Major advances have been made to elucidate the role of adipose tissue
      macrophages in these pathogeneses. Recently, anti-inflammatory drugs have been
      suggested as an alternative treatment for T2D, and clinical trials of these
      agents are currently ongoing. In addition, results of previous clinical trials
      using antibodies against inflammatory cytokines, which showed modest effects, are
      now being rigorously re-evaluated. However, it is still unclear how liver
      macrophages [termed Kupffer cells (KCs)], which constitute the major source of
      macrophages in the body, contribute to the development of insulin resistance. In
      this review, we will discuss the present understanding of the role of liver
      immune cells in the development of insulin resistance. We will particularly focus
      on KCs, which could represent an attractive target for the treatment of metabolic
      diseases.

PMID- 26864623
TI  - LKB1 kinase-dependent and -independent defects disrupt polarity and adhesion
      signaling to drive collagen remodeling during invasion.
AB  - LKB1 is a serine/threonine kinase and a commonly mutated gene in lung
      adenocarcinoma. The majority of LKB1 mutations are truncations that disrupt its
      kinase activity and remove its C-terminal domain (CTD). Because LKB1 inactivation
      drives cancer metastasis in mice and leads to aberrant cell invasion in vitro, we
      sought to determine how compromised LKB1 function affects lung cancer cell
      polarity and invasion. Using three-dimensional models, we show that LKB1 kinase
      activity is essential for focal adhesion kinase-mediated cell adhesion and
      subsequent collagen remodeling but not cell polarity. Instead, cell polarity is
      overseen by the kinase-independent function of its CTD and more specifically its
      farnesylation. This occurs through a mesenchymal-amoeboid morphological switch
      that signals through the Rho-GTPase RhoA. These data suggest that a combination
      of kinase-dependent and -independent defects by LKB1 inactivation creates a
      uniquely invasive cell with aberrant polarity and adhesion signaling that drives
      invasion into the microenvironment. 

PMID- 26864624
TI  - RCC1-dependent activation of Ran accelerates cell cycle and DNA repair,
      inhibiting DNA damage-induced cell senescence.
AB  - The coordination of cell cycle progression with the repair of DNA damage supports
      the genomic integrity of dividing cells. The function of many factors involved in
      DNA damage response (DDR) and the cell cycle depends on their Ran GTPase
      regulated nuclear-cytoplasmic transport (NCT). The loading of Ran with GTP, which
      is mediated by RCC1, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ran, is critical
      for NCT activity. However, the role of RCC1 or Ran?GTP in promoting cell
      proliferation or DDR is not clear. We show that RCC1 overexpression in normal
      cells increased cellular Ran?GTP levels and accelerated the cell cycle and DNA
      damage repair. As a result, normal cells overexpressing RCC1 evaded DNA damage
      induced cell cycle arrest and senescence, mimicking colorectal carcinoma cells
      with high endogenous RCC1 levels. The RCC1-induced inhibition of senescence
      required Ran and exportin 1 and involved the activation of importin beta
      dependent nuclear import of 53BP1, a large NCT cargo. Our results indicate that
      changes in the activity of the Ran?GTP-regulated NCT modulate the rate of the
      cell cycle and the efficiency of DNA repair. Through the essential role of RCC1
      in regulation of cellular Ran?GTP levels and NCT, RCC1 expression enables the
      proliferation of cells that sustain DNA damage. 

PMID- 26864626
TI  - Structure and function of outer dynein arm intermediate and light chain complex.
AB  - The outer dynein arm (ODA) is a molecular complex that drives the beating motion
      of cilia/flagella. Chlamydomonas ODA is composed of three heavy chains (HCs), two
      ICs, and 11 light chains (LCs). Although the three-dimensional (3D) structure of
      the whole ODA complex has been investigated, the 3D configurations of the ICs and
      LCs are largely unknown. Here we identified the 3D positions of the two ICs and
      three LCs using cryo-electron tomography and structural labeling. We found that
      these ICs and LCs were all localized at the root of the outer-inner dynein (OID)
      linker, designated the ODA-Beak complex. Of interest, the coiled-coil domain of
      IC2 extended from the ODA-Beak to the outer surface of ODA. Furthermore, we
      investigated the molecular mechanisms of how the OID linker transmits signals to
      the ODA-Beak, by manipulating the interaction within the OID linker using a
      chemically induced dimerization system. We showed that the cross-linking of the
      OID linker strongly suppresses flagellar motility in vivo. These results suggest
      that the ICs and LCs of the ODA form the ODA-Beak, which may be involved in
      mechanosignaling from the OID linker to the HCs.

PMID- 26864625
TI  - Confined diffusion of transmembrane proteins and lipids induced by the same actin
      meshwork lining the plasma membrane.
AB  - The mechanisms by which the diffusion rate in the plasma membrane (PM) is
      regulated remain unresolved, despite their importance in spatially regulating the
      reaction rates in the PM. Proposed models include entrapment in nanoscale
      noncontiguous domains found in PtK2 cells, slow diffusion due to crowding, and
      actin-induced compartmentalization. Here, by applying single-particle tracking at
      high time resolutions, mainly to the PtK2-cell PM, we found confined diffusion
      plus hop movements (termed "hop diffusion") for both a nonraft phospholipid and a
      transmembrane protein, transferrin receptor, and equal compartment sizes for
      these two molecules in all five of the cell lines used here (actual sizes were
      cell dependent), even after treatment with actin-modulating drugs. The cross
      section size and the cytoplasmic domain size both affected the hop frequency.
      Electron tomography identified the actin-based membrane skeleton (MSK) located
      within 8.8 nm from the PM cytoplasmic surface of PtK2 cells and demonstrated that
      the MSK mesh size was the same as the compartment size for PM molecular
      diffusion. The extracellular matrix and extracellular domains of membrane
      proteins were not involved in hop diffusion. These results support a model of
      anchored TM-protein pickets lining actin-based MSK as a major mechanism for
      regulating diffusion. 

PMID- 26864627
TI  - Microbial sphingomyelinase induces RhoA-mediated reorganization of the apical
      brush border membrane and is protective against invasion.
AB  - The apical brush border membrane (BBM) of intestinal epithelial cells forms a
      highly structured and dynamic environmental interface that serves to regulate
      cellular physiology and block invasion by intestinal microbes and their products.
      How the BBM dynamically responds to pathogenic and commensal bacterial signals
      can define intestinal homeostasis and immune function. We previously found that
      in model intestinal epithelium, the conversion of apical membrane sphingomyelin
      to ceramide by exogenous bacterial sphingomyelinase (SMase) protected against the
      endocytosis and toxicity of cholera toxin. Here we elucidate a mechanism of
      action by showing that SMase induces a dramatic, reversible, RhoA-dependent
      alteration of the apical cortical F-actin network. Accumulation of apical
      membrane ceramide is necessary and sufficient to induce the actin phenotype, and
      this coincides with altered membrane structure and augmented innate immune
      function as evidenced by resistance to invasion by Salmonella.

PMID- 26864628
TI  - Two distinct myosin II populations coordinate ovulatory contraction of the
      myoepithelial sheath in the Caenorhabditis elegans somatic gonad.
AB  - The myoepithelial sheath in the somatic gonad of the nematode Caenorhabditis
      elegans has nonstriated contractile actomyosin networks that produce highly
      coordinated contractility for ovulation of mature oocytes. Two myosin heavy
      chains are expressed in the myoepithelial sheath, which are also expressed in the
      body-wall striated muscle. The troponin/tropomyosin system is also present and
      essential for ovulation. Therefore, although the myoepithelial sheath has smooth
      muscle-like contractile apparatuses, it has a striated muscle-like regulatory
      mechanism through troponin/tropomyosin. Here we report that the myoepithelial
      sheath has a distinct myosin population containing nonmuscle myosin II isoforms,
      which is regulated by phosphorylation and essential for ovulation. MLC-4, a
      nonmuscle myosin regulatory light chain, localizes to small punctate structures
      and does not colocalize with large, needle-like myosin filaments containing MYO
      3, a striated-muscle myosin isoform. RNA interference of MLC-4, as well as of its
      upstream regulators, LET-502 (Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase) and MEL
      11 (a myosin-binding subunit of myosin phosphatase), impairs ovulation.
      Expression of a phosphomimetic MLC-4 mutant mimicking a constitutively active
      state also impairs ovulation. A striated-muscle myosin (UNC-54) appears to
      provide partially compensatory contractility. Thus the results indicate that the
      two spatially distinct myosin II populations coordinately regulate ovulatory
      contraction of the myoepithelial sheath.

PMID- 26864630
TI  - Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Cutaneous T
      cell Lymphoma.

PMID- 26864629
TI  - Phosphoinositide kinase signaling controls ER-PM cross-talk.
AB  - Membrane lipid dynamics must be precisely regulated for normal cellular function,
      and disruptions in lipid homeostasis are linked to the progression of several
      diseases. However, little is known about the sensory mechanisms for detecting
      membrane composition and how lipid metabolism is regulated in response to
      membrane stress. We find that phosphoinositide (PI) kinase signaling controls a
      conserved PDK-TORC2-Akt signaling cascade as part of a homeostasis network that
      allows the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to modulate essential responses, including
      Ca(2+)-regulated lipid biogenesis, upon plasma membrane (PM) stress. Furthermore,
      loss of ER-PM junctions impairs this protective response, leading to PM integrity
      defects upon heat stress. Thus PI kinase-mediated ER-PM cross-talk comprises a
      regulatory system that ensures cellular integrity under membrane stress
      conditions. 

PMID- 26864632
TI  - Fundamental aspects in surface self-assembly: theoretical implications of
      molecular polarity and shape.
AB  - We investigate fundamental aspects of structure formation in molecular self
      assembly, by examining the emergence of order upon adsorption of a series of
      model molecules. It is known that strongly polar diatomic molecules form three
      dimensional crystals in the absence of a substrate. This tendency can be
      disrupted upon assembly on a solid surface, and various other types of order may
      arise. Depending on the relative strength of the interactions, disordered phases,
      two-dimensional crystals commensurate to the surface, and unmodified crystals
      were observed upon adsorption of simple dipoles in the present work. Introduction
      of steric features, in the form of a longer backbone or substituents external to
      the polar pair, led to even richer phase diagrams. The formation of two
      dimensional phases with nematic (parallel) or antiparallel alignment was
      accomplished by altering the polarity of the end groups on needle-like molecules,
      whereas embedded charged groups made two-dimensional structure unstable for even
      very long molecules. These molecules preferred to align in long, often desorbed,
      molecular wires. The wealth of phases observed here parallel the results of
      experimental systematic or incidental studies of the relationships between
      molecular interactions and self-assembled patterns, and provide some insight into
      the molecular handles that self-assembly researchers can wield to guide the
      process towards a desired structural outcome. 

PMID- 26864631
TI  - Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the conformational state of cancer mutant
      of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 tyrosine kinase domain.
AB  - Tyrosine kinases are key enzymes that play critical roles in growth signaling,
      the abnormal activation of which is associated with various human cancers.
      Activation of tyrosine kinases is mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation in the
      activation-loop, which transforms the catalytic domain to the active state
      conformation. Cancer mutations are supposed to transform the conformation of the
      catalytic domain into the active-form independent of the phosphorylation state of
      the activation-loop. Here, we report structural and biophysical analyses of
      cancer mutations of the tyrosine kinase domain of fibroblast growth factor
      receptor 1 (FGFR1). Based on the nuclear magnetic resonance analyses,
      phosphorylation of the activation-loop exhibited cooperative structural
      transition in the activation-loop, C-helix and P-loop regions, whereas cancer
      mutations induced structural transformation at either one or two of these
      regions. 

PMID- 26864633
TI  - Increasing the information rates of optical communications via coded modulation:
      a study of transceiver performance.
AB  - Optical fibre underpins the global communications infrastructure and has
      experienced an astonishing evolution over the past four decades, with current
      commercial systems transmitting data rates in excess of 10 Tb/s over a single
      fibre core. The continuation of this dramatic growth in throughput has become
      constrained due to a power dependent nonlinear distortion arising from a
      phenomenon known as the Kerr effect. The mitigation of fibre nonlinearities is an
      area of intense research. However, even in the absence of nonlinear distortion,
      the practical limit on the transmission throughput of a single fibre core is
      dominated by the finite signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) afforded by current state-of
      the-art coherent optical transceivers. Therefore, the key to maximising the
      number of information bits that can be reliably transmitted over a fibre channel
      hinges on the simultaneous optimisation of the modulation format and code rate,
      based on the SNR achieved at the receiver. In this work, we use an information
      theoretic approach based on the mutual information and the generalised mutual
      information to characterise a state-of-the-art dual polarisation m-ary quadrature
      amplitude modulation transceiver and subsequently apply this methodology to a 15
      carrier super-channel to achieve the highest throughput (1.125 Tb/s) ever
      recorded using a single coherent receiver. 

PMID- 26864634
TI  - Risk Factors for Silent Lacunar Infarction in Patients with Transient Ischemic
      Attack.
AB  - BACKGROUND Lacunar infarctions represent 25% of ischemic strokes. Lacunar stroke
      and transient ischemic attack (TIA) share a number of symptoms. This study aimed
      to assess the potential risk factors for lacunar infarction in patients with TIA.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study performed at the Beijing
      Military General Hospital in patients with TIA admitted between March 2010 and
      December 2011. Patients were grouped according to lacunar vs. no lacunar
      infarction. All patients were diagnosed using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on
      brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain angiography (computed tomography
      and MRI) was used to measure intracranial stenosis. Carotid artery stenosis was
      measured by ultrasound. RESULTS Patients with TIA and lacunar infarction (n=298)
      were older than those without lacunar infarction (n=157) (69.4+/-10.0 vs. 58.9+/
      9.0 years, P<0.001) and showed a higher frequency of males (51.7% vs. 41.4%,
      P=0.037), hypertension (75.3% vs. 45.9%, P<0.001), diabetes (32.6% vs. 21.0%,
      P=0.010), hyperlipidemia (53.4% vs. 29.3%, P<0.001), carotid stenosis (73.2% vs.
      40.1%, P<0.001), and intracranial stenosis (55.6% vs. 31.9%, P<0.001), but a
      lower frequency of alcohol drinking (8.1% vs. 14.0%, P=0.045). Lacunar infarction
      mostly involved the anterior circulation (62.8%). Multivariate analysis showed
      that age (odds ratio (OR)=1.085, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.054-1.117,
      P<0.001), hypertension (OR=1.738, 95%CI: 1.041-2.903, P=0.035), hyperlipidemia
      (OR=2.169, 95%CI: 1.307-3.601, P=0.003), and carotid stenosis (OR=1.878, 95%CI:
      1.099-3.206, P=0.021) were independently associated with lacunar infarction.
      CONCLUSIONS Age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and carotid stenosis were
      independently associated with silent lacunar infarction in patients with TIA. 

PMID- 26864635
TI  - Advanced intermediate temperature sodium-nickel chloride batteries with ultra
      high energy density.
AB  - Sodium-metal halide batteries have been considered as one of the more attractive
      technologies for stationary electrical energy storage, however, they are not used
      for broader applications despite their relatively well-known redox system. One of
      the roadblocks hindering market penetration is the high-operating temperature.
      Here we demonstrate that planar sodium-nickel chloride batteries can be operated
      at an intermediate temperature of 190  degrees C with ultra-high energy density.
      A specific energy density of 350 Wh kg(-1), higher than that of conventional
      tubular sodium-nickel chloride batteries (280  degrees C), is obtained for planar
      sodium-nickel chloride batteries operated at 190  degrees C over a long-term cell
      test (1,000 cycles), and it attributed to the slower particle growth of the
      cathode materials at the lower operating temperature. Results reported here
      demonstrate that planar sodium-nickel chloride batteries operated at an
      intermediate temperature could greatly benefit this traditional energy storage
      technology by improving battery energy density, cycle life and reducing material
      costs. 

PMID- 26864637
TI  - C15065. Chemical Constituents of Plants from the Genus Ixora.
AB  - Ixora is a genus of ca. 400 species in the family Rubiaceae, mainly distributing
      in tropical Asia, Africa and Oceania, with 19 species being endemic to South
      China [1]. The plants of the genus usually have small beautiful flowers, being
      easily cultured as common roadside and garden trees. The leaves, flowers, stems
      and roots of several species have been used in traditional medicine to treat
      various ailments. For example, the leaves and stems of I. coccinea are widely
      used in traditional Sudanese and Ayurvedic medicinal systems for the treatment of
      diarrhea, fever, headache, skin diseases, eye trouble, wounds, sores and ulcers
      [2]. The flowers and leaves of I. javanica are used as a sedative stomachic
      tonic, intestinal antiseptic and as astringent. Externally the flower parts are
      used to heal sores and chronic ulcers [3]. This article is protected by
      copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864636
TI  - A Trans-omics Mathematical Analysis Reveals Novel Functions of the Ornithine
      Metabolic Pathway in Cancer Stem Cells.
AB  - Bioinformatics and computational modelling are expected to offer innovative
      approaches in human medical science. In the present study, we performed
      computational analyses and made predictions using transcriptome and metabolome
      datasets obtained from fluorescence-based visualisations of chemotherapy
      resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the human oesophagus. This approach
      revealed an uncharacterized role for the ornithine metabolic pathway in the
      survival of chemotherapy-resistant CSCs. The present study fastens this rationale
      for further characterisation that may lead to the discovery of innovative drugs
      against robust CSCs. 

PMID- 26864638
TI  - Natural fatty acid synthase inhibitors as potent therapeutic agents for cancers:
      A review.
AB  - Context Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is the only mammalian enzyme to catalyse the
      synthesis of fatty acid. The expression level of FAS is related to cancer
      progression, aggressiveness and metastasis. In recent years, research on natural
      FAS inhibitors with significant bioactivities and low side effects has
      increasingly become a new trend. Herein, we present recent research progress on
      natural fatty acid synthase inhibitors as potent therapeutic agents. Objective
      This paper is a mini overview of the typical natural FAS inhibitors and their
      possible mechanism of action in the past 10 years (2004-2014). Method The
      information was collected and compiled through major databases including Web of
      Science, PubMed, and CNKI. Results Many natural products induce cancer cells
      apoptosis by inhibiting FAS expression, with fewer side effects than synthetic
      inhibitors. Conclusion Natural FAS inhibitors are widely distributed in plants
      (especially in herbs and foods). Some natural products (mainly phenolics)
      possessing potent biological activities and stable structures are available as
      lead compounds to synthesise promising FAS inhibitors. 

PMID- 26864639
TI  - An Enantioselective Assembly of Dihydropyranones through an NHC/LiCl-Mediated in
      situ Activation of alpha,beta-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids.
AB  - A straightforward N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/LiCl-mediated synthesis of
      dihydropyranones from alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids and 1,3-dicarbonyl
      compounds was realized through the in situ activation strategy. The key
      advantages of this protocol include ready availability and high stability of
      starting materials, good yields, and excellent enantioselectivity. 

PMID- 26864640
TI  - MicroRNA-21 induces 5-fluorouracil resistance in human pancreatic cancer cells by
      regulating PTEN and PDCD4.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer patients are often resistant to chemotherapy treatment, which
      results in poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to delineate the
      mechanism by which miR-21 induces drug resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in
      human pancreatic cancer cells (PATU8988 and PANC-1). We report that PATU8988
      cells resistant to 5-FU express high levels of miR-21 in comparison to sensitive
      primary PATU8988 cells. Suppression of miR-21 expression in 5-Fu-resistant
      PATU8988 cells can alleviate its 5-FU resistance. Meanwhile, lentiviral vector
      mediated overexpression of miR-21 not only conferred resistance to 5-FU but also
      promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of PATU8988 and PANC-1 cells. The
      proresistance effects of miR-21 were attributed to the attenuated expression of
      tumor suppressor genes, including PTEN and PDCD4. Overexpression of PTEN and
      PDCD4 antagonized miR-21-induced resistance to 5-FU and migration activity. Our
      work demonstrates that miR-21 can confer drug resistance to 5-FU in pancreatic
      cancer cells by regulating the expression of tumor suppressor genes, as the
      target genes of miR-21, PTEN and PDCD4 can rescue 5-FU sensitivity and the
      phenotypic characteristics disrupted by miR-21. 

PMID- 26864641
TI  - Proline and lysine residues provide modulatory switches in amyloid formation:
      Insights from prion protein.
AB  - Amyloidogenic proteins have an increased propensity to reorganize into the highly
      structured, beta sheet rich structures that characterize amyloid. The probability
      of attaining these highly structured assemblies is influenced by multiple
      factors, including amino acid composition and environmental conditions.
      Evolutionary selection for amino acid sequences that prevent amyloid formation
      could further modulate amyloid-forming propensity. Indeed, we have recently
      identified specific proline and lysine residues, contained within a highly
      conserved central region of prion protein (PrP), that impede PrP amyloid
      formation in vitro. These prolines are mutated in certain forms of the human
      familial genetic disease, Gerstmann-Straussler-Schneiker (GSS) syndrome. Here, I
      discuss the influence of these proline and lysine residues on PrP amyloid
      formation and how such anti-amyloidogenic primary amino acid sequences might be
      modulated to influence protein amyloidogenicity. 

PMID- 26864642
TI  - Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain Measures Independently Predict Chronic
      Heart Failure Mortality.
AB  - The assessment of right ventricular (RV) function still remains a challenge. Two
      dimensional (2D) speckle tracking has recently been proposed to evaluate right
      ventricular function by analyzing myocardial deformation. The aim of this study
      was to evaluate the role of 2D systolic strain measures of RV in predicting
      mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We enrolled 332
      outpatients in a stable clinical condition and in conventional therapy. A right
      ventricular-focused four-chamber view was analyzed by 2D speckle tracking to
      evaluate the global longitudinal strain of RV (RV-GLS) and the strain of RV free
      wall (RV-fwLS). During a mean follow-up of 36 +/- 26 months, 64 patients died.
      Both RV-GLS and RV-fwLS were associated with all-cause mortality in univariate
      (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.10-1.23; P < 0.001; C-index: 0.72; and HR: 1.10; 95% CI:
      1.06-1.15; P < 0.001; C-index: 0.68, respectively) as well as multivariate
      analysis (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.05-1.21; P:0.001; C-index: 0.85; and HR: 1.07; 95%
      CI: 1.02-1.12; P:0.004; C-index: 0.84, respectively). In conclusion, our findings
      demonstrate the role of RV 2D strain measures to independently predict mortality.
      These data highlight the clinical usefulness of this echocardiographic approach
      in the daily management of HF outpatients. 

PMID- 26864643
TI  - A Focus on Chromatin Proteomics.

PMID- 26864644
TI  - LASIK surgery of granular corneal dystrophy type 2 patients leads to accumulation
      and differential proteolytic processing of transforming growth factor beta
      induced protein (TGFBIp).
AB  - More than 60 mutations in transforming growth factor beta-induced protein
      (TGFBIp) have been reported in humans causing a variety of phenotypic protein
      aggregates in the cornea, commonly termed corneal dystrophies. One mutation,
      generating an arginine to histidine amino acid substitution at position 124 in
      mature TGFBIp leads to granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (GCD2). Homozygous GCD2
      cases develop massive protein accumulation early in life whereas heterozygous
      GCD2 cases become affected much later and generally with a much less severe
      outcome. However, if heterozygous GCD2 patients undergo laser-assisted in situ
      keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery protein accumulation is accelerated and they
      develop massive protein accumulations a few years after surgery. Here, we present
      the protein profile of aggregate-containing corneal tissue from GCD2 patients
      with a history of LASIK surgery using LC-MS/MS. Label-free quantification of
      corneal extracellular matrix proteins showed accumulation of TGFBIp. This was
      supported by 2DE and immunoblotting against TGFBIp that revealed the accumulation
      of full-length TGFBIp. In addition, a high molecular weight TGFBIp complex was
      more apparent in GCD2 patients after LASIK surgery, which may be important for
      the disease progression. Lastly, 2DE also revealed differential processing
      between GCD2 patients with a history of LASIK surgery when compared to healthy
      individuals. 

PMID- 26864648
TI  - Food groups consumed by infants and toddlers in urban areas of China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Food consumption patterns of young children in China are not well
      known. OBJECTIVE: Characterised food groups consumed by infants and young
      children in urban China using data from the Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth
      (MING) study. DESIGN: One 24-h dietary recall was completed for 1,350 infants and
      young children (436 infants aged 6-11 months and 914 young children aged 12-35
      months), who were recruited from maternal and child care centres in eight cities
      via face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. All foods, beverages and
      supplements reported were assigned to one of 64 food groups categorised into the
      following: milk and milk products, grains, vegetables, fruits, protein foods and
      desserts/sweets. The percentage of infants and young children consuming foods
      from specific food groups was calculated, regardless of the amount consumed.
      RESULTS: Less than half of infants consumed breast milk (47%), whereas 59% of
      infants consumed infant formula and 53-75% of young children consumed growing-up
      (fortified) milk. Rice was the number one grain food consumed after 6 months (up
      to 88%) and the consumption of infant cereal was low. About 50% of infants did
      not consume any fruits or vegetables, and 38% of young children did not consume
      any fruits on the day of the recall. Only 40% of all children consumed dark green
      leafy vegetables and even fewer consumed deep yellow vegetables. Eggs and pork
      were the most commonly consumed protein foods. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide
      important insight for developing detailed food consumption guidelines for this
      population group. Mothers of infants should be encouraged to continue
      breastfeeding after the first 6 months. Parents should be advised to offer a wide
      variety of vegetables and fruits daily, particularly dark green leafy and deep
      yellow vegetables and colourful fruits. The consumption of fortified infant
      cereal should be advocated to improve the iron intake of Chinese infants.

PMID- 26864650
TI  - Recasting a traditional laboratory practical as a "Design-your-own protocol" to
      teach a universal research skill.
AB  - Laboratory-based practical classes are a common feature of life science teaching,
      during which students learn how to perform experiments and generate/interpret
      data. Practical classes are typically instructional, concentrating on providing
      topic- and technique-specific skills, however to produce research-capable
      graduates it is also important to develop generic practical skills. To provide an
      opportunity for students to develop the skills needed to create bespoke protocols
      for experimental benchwork, a traditional practical was repurposed. Students were
      given a list of available resources and an experimental goal, and directed to
      create a bench protocol to achieve the aim (measuring the iron in hemoglobin). In
      a series of teaching events students received feedback from staff, and peers
      prototyped the protocols, before protocols were finally implemented. Graduates
      highlighted this exercise as one of the most important of their degrees,
      primarily because of the clear relevance of the skills acquired to professional
      practice. The exercise exemplifies a range of pedagogic principles, but arguably
      its most important innovation is that it repurposed a pre-existing practical.
      This had the benefits of automatically providing scaffolding to direct the
      students' thought processes, while retaining the advantages of a "discovery
      learning" exercise, and allowing facile adoption of the approach across the
      sector. (c) 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular
      Biology, 44(4):377-380, 2016.

PMID- 26864649
TI  - Circulating anti-mullerian hormone as predictor of ovarian response to clomiphene
      citrate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of high circulating AMH on the outcome of
      CC ovulation induction in women with PCOS. METHODS: This prospective cohort
      observational study included 81 anovulatory women with PCOS who underwent 213
      cycles of CC ovarian stimulation. Serum AMH concentrations were measured on cycle
      day 3 before the commencement of CC in the first cycle, which were compared
      between responders and CC-resistant anovulation (CRA). Logistic regression
      analysis was applied to study the value of serum AMH for the prediction of
      ovarian responsiveness to CC stimulation. The receiver-operating characteristic
      (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating AMH. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum AMH levels. RESULTS: Women who ovulated after CC therapy
      had a significantly lower AMH compared with the CRA (5.34 +/- 1.97 vs.7.81 +/-
      3.49, P < 0.001). There was a significant gradient increase of serum AMH levels
      with the increasing dose of CC required to achieve ovulation (P < 0.05). In
      multivariate logistic regression analysis, AMH was an independent predictor of
      ovulation induction by CC in PCOS patients. ROC curve analysis showed AMH to be a
      useful predictor of ovulation induction by CC in PCOS patients, having 92 %
      specificity and 65 % sensitivity when the threshold AMH concentration was 7.77
      ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Serum AMH may be clinically useful to predict which PCOS women
      are more likely to respond to CC treatment and thus to direct the selection of
      protocols of ovulation induction.

PMID- 26864651
TI  - Inhibition of Growth and Metastasis of Colon Cancer by Delivering 5-Fluorouracil
      loaded Pluronic P85 Copolymer Micelles.
AB  - Hepatic metastasis is the leading cause of mortality of colon cancer, which is
      still lack of an effective therapy. A new delivery system, pluronic P85 block
      copolymers, conveying chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) for inhibiting
      growth and metastasis of colon cancer was designed and developed. In this study,
      we demonstrated that 5-Fu produce strong pesticide effect at lower doses in the
      present of pluronic P85 compared with control groups. The migration and invasion
      of HCT116 cells and RKO cells were examined and the results showed that migration
      and invasion capacities of HCT116 cells and RKO cells were reduced by
      administering 5-Fu/P85 copolymer micelles in vitro and in vivo which indicating
      an effectively activity. Interestingly, the content of CD133 + CXCR4+ cells in
      HCT116 cancer cells and RKO cells treated by 5-Fu/P85 copolymer micelles was
      decreased. Importantly, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CD133 +
      CXCR4+ cells, which was strongly associated with liver metastasis of colon
      cancer, was also suppressed by giving 5-Fu/P85 copolymer micelles. The results
      indicated that 5-Fu/P85 copolymer micelles could inhibit the growth and
      metastasis of colon cancer, which could be attributed to the decrease of the
      content of CD133 + CXCR4+ cells and suppression of EMT of CD133 + CXCR4+ cells. 

PMID- 26864653
TI  - Radiomics-based differentiation of lung disease models generated by polluted air
      based on X-ray computed tomography data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung diseases (resulting from air pollution) require a widely
      accessible method for risk estimation and early diagnosis to ensure proper and
      responsive treatment. Radiomics-based fractal dimension analysis of X-ray
      computed tomography attenuation patterns in chest voxels of mice exposed to
      different air polluting agents was performed to model early stages of disease and
      establish differential diagnosis. METHODS: To model different types of air
      pollution, BALBc/ByJ mouse groups were exposed to cigarette smoke combined with
      ozone, sulphur dioxide gas and a control group was established. Two weeks after
      exposure, the frequency distributions of image voxel attenuation data were
      evaluated. Specific cut-off ranges were defined to group voxels by attenuation.
      Cut-off ranges were binarized and their spatial pattern was associated with
      calculated fractal dimension, then abstracted by the fractal dimension -- cut-off
      range mathematical function. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis (KW) and Mann-Whitney
      post hoc (MWph) tests were used. RESULTS: Each cut-off range versus fractal
      dimension function plot was found to contain two distinctive Gaussian curves. The
      ratios of the Gaussian curve parameters are considerably significant and are
      statistically distinguishable within the three exposure groups. CONCLUSIONS: A
      new radiomics evaluation method was established based on analysis of the fractal
      dimension of chest X-ray computed tomography data segments. The specific
      attenuation patterns calculated utilizing our method may diagnose and monitor
      certain lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
      asthma, tuberculosis or lung carcinomas.

PMID- 26864652
TI  - Risk estimates of mortality attributed to low concentrations of ambient fine
      particulate matter in the Canadian community health survey cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the shape of the relationship between long-term
      exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and health
      risks is critical for health impact and risk assessment. Studies evaluating the
      health risks of exposure to low concentrations of PM2.5 are limited. Further,
      many existing studies lack individual-level information on potentially important
      behavioural confounding factors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was
      conducted among a subset of participants in a cohort that linked respondents of
      the Canadian Community Health Survey to mortality (n = 299,500) with satellite
      derived ambient PM2.5 estimates. Participants enrolled between 2000 and 2008 were
      followed to date of death or December 31, 2011. Cox proportional hazards models
      were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality attributed to PM2.5
      exposure, adjusted for individual-level and contextual covariates, including
      smoking behaviour and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Approximately 26,300 non
      accidental deaths, of which 32.5 % were due to circulatory disease and 9.1 % were
      due to respiratory disease, occurred during the follow-up period. Ambient PM2.5
      exposures were relatively low (mean = 6.3 MUg/m(3)), yet each 10 MUg/m(3)
      increase in exposure was associated with increased risks of non-accidental (HR =
      1.26; 95 % CI: 1.19-1.34), circulatory disease (HR = 1.19; 95 % CI: 1.07-1.31),
      and respiratory disease mortality (HR = 1.52; 95 % CI: 1.26-1.84) in fully
      adjusted models. Higher hazard ratios were observed for respiratory mortality
      among respondents who never smoked (HR = 1.97; 95 % CI: 1.24-3.13 vs. HR = 1.45;
      95 % CI: 1.17-1.79 for ever smokers), and among obese (BMI >= 30) respondents (HR
      = 1.76; 95 % CI: 1.15-2.69 vs. HR = 1.41; 95 % CI: 1.04-1.91 for normal weight
      respondents), though differences between groups were not statistically
      significant. A threshold analysis for non-accidental mortality estimated a
      threshold concentration of 0 MUg/m(3) (+95 % CI = 4.5 MUg/m(3)). CONCLUSIONS:
      Increased risks of non-accidental, circulatory, and respiratory mortality were
      observed even at very low concentrations of ambient PM2.5. HRs were generally
      greater than most literature values, and adjusting for behavioural covariates
      served to reduce HR estimates slightly.

PMID- 26864656
TI  - In reference to Immunohistochemical localization of OCT2 in the cochlea of
      various species.

PMID- 26864655
TI  - BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION AND THERAPEUTIC EXPOSURE FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER:
      A NONINFERIORITY TRIAL OF TREATMENT DELIVERED IN PERSON VERSUS HOME-BASED
      TELEHEALTH.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Combat veterans returning to society with impairing mental health
      conditions such as PTSD and major depression (MD) report significant barriers to
      care related to aspects of traditional psychotherapy service delivery (e.g.,
      stigma, travel time, and cost). Hence, alternate treatment delivery methods are
      needed. Home-based telehealth (HBT) is one such option; however, this delivery
      mode has not been compared to in person, clinic-based care for PTSD in adequately
      powered trials. The present study was designed to compare relative noninferiority
      of evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD and MD, specifically Behavioral
      Activation and Therapeutic Exposure (BA-TE), when delivered via HBT versus in
      person, in clinic delivery. METHOD: A repeated measures (i.e., baseline,
      posttreatment, 3-, 6-month follow-up) randomized controlled design powered for
      noninferiority analyses was used to compare PTSD and MD symptom improvement in
      response to BA-TE delivered via HBT versus in person, in clinic conditions.
      Participants were 232 veterans diagnosed with full criteria or predefined
      subthreshold PTSD. RESULTS: PTSD and MD symptom improvement following BA-TE
      delivered by HBT was comparable to that of BA-TE delivered in person at
      posttreatment and at 3- and 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based
      psychotherapy for PTSD and depression can be safely and effectively delivered via
      HBT with clinical outcomes paralleling those of clinic-based care delivered in
      person. HBT, thereby, addresses barriers to care related to both logistics and
      stigma.

PMID- 26864654
TI  - Calmodulin activity regulates group I metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated
      signal transduction and synaptic depression.
AB  - Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR), including mGluR1 and mGluR 5
      (mGluR1/5), are coupled to Gq and modulate activity-dependent synaptic
      plasticity. Direct activation of mGluR1/5 causes protein translation-dependent
      long-term depression (LTD). Although it has been established that intracellular
      Ca(2+) and the Gq-regulated signaling molecules are required for mGluR1/5 LTD,
      whether and how Ca(2+) regulates Gq signaling and upregulation of protein
      expression remain unknown. Through pharmacological inhibition, we tested the
      function of the Ca(2+) sensor calmodulin (CaM) in intracellular signaling
      triggered by the activation of mGluR1/5. CaM inhibitor N-[4-aminobutyl]-5-chloro
      2-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride (W13) suppressed the mGluR1/5-stimulated
      activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p70-S6
      kinase 1 (S6K1) in hippocampal neurons. W13 also blocked the mGluR1/5 agonist
      induced synaptic depression in hippocampal slices and in anesthetized mice.
      Consistent with the function of CaM, inhibiting the downstream targets Ca(2+)
      /CaM-dependent protein kinases (CaMK) blocked ERK1/2 and S6K1 activation.
      Furthermore, disruption of the CaM-CaMK-ERK1/2 signaling cascade suppressed the
      mGluR1/5-stimulated upregulation of Arc expression. Altogether, our data suggest
      CaM as a new Gq signaling component for coupling Ca(2+) and protein upregulation
      and regulating mGluR1/5-mediated synaptic modification.

PMID- 26864657
TI  - Expression of cytokine and apoptosis-related genes in bovine peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells stimulated with Brucella abortus recombinant proteins.
AB  - Brucellosis is a clinically and economically important disease. Therefore,
      eradication programs of the disease have been implemented in several countries.
      One hurdle in these programs is the detection of infected animals at the early
      stage. Although the protein antigens as diagnostic antigens have recently
      received attention, the exact mechanisms at the beginning of immune responses are
      not yet known. Therefore, genes encoding five B. abortus cellular proteins were
      cloned and the expressed recombinant proteins were purified. The expression of
      several cytokine genes (IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p40, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and
      iNOS) was analyzed in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (bPBMC) after
      stimulation with the recombinant proteins. Three apoptosis-related genes, Bax,
      Bcl-2, and TLR4, were also included in the analysis to find out the adverse
      effects of the proteins to the cells. Each protein induced different patterns of
      cytokine expression depending on the stimulation time and antigen dose.
      Expression of IL-6, IL-12p40, and IFN-gamma was induced with all of the proteins
      while IL-1beta, IL-4, TNF-alpha, and iNOS gene expression was not. Expression of
      apoptosis-related genes was not altered except TLR4. These results suggest that
      the cellular antigens of B. abortus induce both humoral and cellular immunity via
      the production of IL-6, IL-12p40, and IFN-gamma in bPBMC without exerting any
      adverse effects on the cells.

PMID- 26864658
TI  - Research to Publication e-learning.

PMID- 26864659
TI  - Does Lean healthcare improve patient satisfaction? A mixed-method investigation
      into primary care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lean healthcare is claimed to contribute to improved patient
      satisfaction, but there is limited evidence to support this notion. This study
      investigates how primary-care centres working with Lean define and improve value
      from the patient's perspective, and how the application of Lean healthcare
      influences patient satisfaction. METHODS: This paper contains two qualitative
      case studies and a quantitative study based on results from the Swedish National
      Patient Survey. Through the case studies, we investigated how primary-care
      organisations realised the principle of defining and improving value from the
      patient's perspective. In the quantitative study, we compared results from the
      patient satisfaction survey for 23 primary-care centres working with Lean with a
      control group of 23 care centres not working with Lean. We also analysed changes
      in patient satisfaction over time. RESULTS: Our case studies reveal that Lean
      healthcare implementations primarily target efficiency and little attention is
      paid to the patient's perspective. The quantitative study shows no significantly
      better results in patient satisfaction for primary-care centres working with Lean
      healthcare compared with those not working with Lean. Further, care centres
      working with Lean show no significant improvements in patient satisfaction over
      time. CONCLUSIONS: Lean healthcare implementations seem to have a limited impact
      on improving patient satisfaction. Care providers need to pay more attention to
      integrating the patient's perspective in the application of Lean healthcare.
      Value needs to be defined and value streams need to be improved based on both the
      knowledge and clinical expertise of care providers, and the preferences and needs
      of patients.

PMID- 26864661
TI  - Tolerogenic responses of CD206+, CD83+, FOXP3+, and CTLA-4 to sericin/polyvinyl
      alcohol/glycerin scaffolds relevant to IL-33 and HSP60 activity.
AB  - Silk sericin-releasing (sericin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/glycerin) scaffolds have
      been designed for wound dressing applications using different fabrication
      techniques that influence scaffold antigenicity. The immunological tolerance of
      scaffolds depends on the balance of immunogenic and tolerogenic responses
      modulated by dendritic cells (DCs). An in vivo skin implantation model was used
      to compare the tolerogenic effect of sericin/PVA/glycerin scaffolds prepared by
      freeze-drying versus salt-leaching techniques, using an Allevyn(r) scaffold as a
      control. Immunohistochemical and histopathological studies were performed to
      evaluate tolerogenic DCs (CD206+), immunogenic DCs (CD83+), regulatory T-cells
      (FOXP3+ and CTLA-4), a proinflammatory cytokine (interleukin 33: IL-33), a stress
      marker (heat shock protein 60; HSP60), histopathological changes and related
      inflammatory cells. It was found that both sericin/PVA/glycerin scaffolds were
      tolerogenic and induced early activated Treg functions, while the Allevyn(r)
      scaffold was immunogenic. However, the tolerance of the freeze-dried
      sericin/PVA/glycerin scaffolds was not as consistent as the salt-leached
      sericin/PVA/glycerin scaffolds, indicated by the low level of CTLA-4 expression.
      This was probably due to molecular cross-linking and the morphological and
      mechanical properties of the freeze-drying technique, which would enhance the
      immune response. Severe inflammatory responses (including mast cell degranulation
      and foreign body giant cell accumulation) and histopathological changes
      (including fat infiltration and fibrosis formation) were mainly found with the
      Allevyn(r) scaffold, presumably from its architecture and chemical composition,
      especially polyurethane. The up-regulation of IL-33 and HSP60 with the Allevyn(r)
      scaffold was correlated with the inflammatory and pathological levels. Our
      findings suggested that salt-leached sericin/PVA/glycerin scaffolds were
      tolerogenic, induced a low inflammatory response and were appropriate for wound
      dressing applications. 

PMID- 26864660
TI  - How to Define the Latent Reservoir: Tools of the Trade.
AB  - HIV is a devastating worldwide epidemic that has had substantial social and
      economic impacts throughout the globe. Due to the presence of a small pool of
      latently infected cells that persists during antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is
      not curable. Because of the high cost of ART and the lack of reliable
      accessibility across the globe, life-long ART is unfortunately not a feasible
      solution for the epidemic. Therefore, new strategies need to be developed and
      implemented to address HIV-1 infection. Several approaches toward this end are
      currently under investigation (Ebina et al. in Sci Rep 3:2510, 2013; Archin et
      al. in Nature 487:482-5, 2012; Elliott et al. in PLoS Pathog 10:e1004473, 2014;
      Rasmussen et al. in Lancet HIV 1:e13-e21, 2014; Tebas et al. in N Engl J Med
      370:901-10, 2014; Archin et al. in Nat Rev Microbiol 12:750-64, 2014; Barton et
      al. in PLoS One 9:e102684, 2014; Sogaard et al. in PLoS Pathog 11:e1005142,
      2015). Initial studies have proven promising, but have highlighted the need for
      sensitive and accurate assays to detect changes in very low concentrations of
      virus to allow confident interpretation of the success of curative approaches.
      This review will focus on assays that are currently available and the advantages
      and limitations of each. 

PMID- 26864662
TI  - On prenatal diagnosis and the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy in
      France: a clinical ethics study of unknown moral territories.
AB  - This article presents a part of the results of an empirical study conducted at a
      Parisian hospital between 2011 and 2014. It aimed at understanding the women and
      couples' motivations to terminate or not a pregnancy once a prenatal diagnosis
      has revealed a genetically related disease in the embryo or fetus. The article
      first presents the social and legal context of the study, the methodology used
      and the pathologies that were encountered. Then, it examines the results of the
      interviews conducted with 5 women alone and 23 couples explaining their reasons
      for deciding to terminate or not the pregnancy. Finally, it explores the
      patients' views about the doctor's involvement in the decision-making process.
      The findings reveal the reasons they formulate when they ponder whether to
      terminate or not the pregnancy. It highlights the process of their deliberation,
      their hierarchisation of arguments and concerns. They also show how patients,
      though often consumed in sorrow, claim to be the legitimate decision-makers,
      especially women, in a social and legal context in which the rejection of
      eugenics is viewed as an undisputable principle. 

PMID- 26864663
TI  - Influence of delayed cholecystectomy after acute gallstone pancreatitis on
      recurrence. Consequences of lack of resources.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis is often a relapsing condition, particularly
      when its triggering factor persists. Our goal is to determine the recurrence rate
      of acute biliary pancreatitis after an initial episode, and the time to relapse,
      as well as to identify the risk factors for recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We
      included all patients admitted for a first acute gallstone pancreatitis event
      during four years. Primary endpoints included readmission for recurrence and time
      to relapse. RESULTS: We included 296 patients admitted on a total of 386
      occasions. The incidence of acute biliary pancreatitis in our setting is
      17.5/100,000 population/year. In all, 19.6% of pancreatitis were severe (22.6% of
      severe acute pancreatitis for first episodes versus 3.6% for recurring
      pancreatitis), with an overall mortality of 4.4%. Overall recurrence rate was
      15.5%, with a median time to relapse of 82 days. In total, 14.2% of patients
      relapsed after an acute pancreatitis event without cholecystectomy or endoscopic
      retrograde cholangio-pancreatography. Severe acute pancreatitis recur in 7.2% of
      patients, whereas mild cases do so in 16.3%, this being the only risk factor for
      recurrence thus far identified. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted for pancreatitis
      should undergo cholecystectomy as soon as possible or be guaranteed priority on
      the waiting list. Otherwise, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography with
      sphincterotomy may be an alternative to surgery for selected patients.

PMID- 26864664
TI  - Stress urinary incontinence is highly prevalent in recreationally active women
      attending gyms or exercise classes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to determine the
      prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in recreationally active women
      attending gyms or exercise classes. METHODS: Data were collected on the frequency
      and severity of incontinence and the prevalence of SUI risk factors; screening
      for PFM dysfunction in a fitness appraisal; symptom modification strategies;
      knowledge of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises and the Pelvic Floor First (PFF)
      initiative. Three hundred and sixty-one women aged 18-83 who attended exercise
      classes or gyms in Western Australia were surveyed. RESULTS: Nearly half (49.3 %)
      of participants reported SUI, the majority of whom slight or moderate leakage.
      Ninety-six per cent reported at least one SUI risk factor, with the mean being
      2.7 (SD = 1.4). Almost all women surveyed had heard of PFM exercises (97.2 %),
      but only 15.2 % of participants were screened for PFM dysfunction in a fitness
      appraisal. Forty-three per cent reported that a fitness instructor cued PFM
      activation during a workout. Less than 1 in 10 (9.7 %) of the women surveyed had
      heard about the PFF initiative. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence is common in
      women attending gyms or exercise classes, but is rarely screened for. More
      education is required to encourage fitness leaders to screen exercise
      participants and to provide PFM-'friendly" modifications.

PMID- 26864666
TI  - Evaluation of the local carcinogenic potential of mesh used in the treatment of
      female stress urinary incontinence.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the carcinogenic potential of implanted
      synthetic mesh midurethral slings in the treatment of female stress urinary
      incontinence. METHODS: We identified female patients undergoing implantation of
      mesh materials for stress urinary incontinence at our institution from 1 January
      2002 to 31 December 2012. This was accomplished by querying the medical records
      for CPT code 57288 ("sling operation for stress incontinence") and a subsequent
      chart review to identify patients who underwent synthetic mesh sling placement.
      Medical records were then evaluated for the documentation of bladder, urethral,
      vaginal, cervical, uterine or ovarian cancers via the International
      Classification of Disease (ninth edition) coding. A chart review of patients with
      a cancer diagnosis was performed for verification of the diagnosis and evaluation
      of the temporal relationship with sling placement. RESULTS: During the study
      period, 2,474 patients underwent polypropylene midurethral sling placement. The
      median age was 57 years (IQR 47, 69) and the median follow-up was 60 months (IQR
      23.3, 94.9). Overall, 51 patients also had a cancer diagnosis (8 bladder cancers,
      7 vaginal malignancies, 8 ovarian carcinomas, 26 endometrial cancers, 2 cervical
      malignancies); however, only 2 cancers (0.08 %, 2 out of 2,474) developed
      following sling placement (a vaginal melanoma 3 years after sling placement and
      an ovarian tumor 1 year after sling placement). No cases of sarcoma formation,
      bladder, urethral or squamous cell carcinomas were identified. CONCLUSIONS: With
      a median follow-up of 5 years after synthetic midurethral sling placement,
      development of pelvic malignancy was rare (0.08 %) and unlikely to be secondary
      to foreign body reaction from the implanted material.

PMID- 26864665
TI  - Endopelvic free anchor minisling technique for stress urinary incontinence
      treatment: 10 years of experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We present our 10-year experience in treating stress
      urinary incontinence (SUI) using a new minisling technique based on a tension
      free vaginal tape band designed by our group. The major advantage of this tape is
      the use of minibelt polypropylene inserted through a single retropubic incision
      without the use of needles-the Endopelvic Free Anchor (EFA)-based on its location
      at the midurethra with a U shape. For insertion, each branch is placed using a
      simple Pean clamp from the vagina with perforation of the endopelvic fascia to
      achieve a retropubic insertion. METHODS: From May 2001 to May 2011, we surgically
      treated 166 women with primary first- or second-degree SUI due to urethral
      hypermobility without genital prolapse. All were evaluated according to our study
      protocol, which included clinical and urodynamic evaluation before and 12 months
      after surgery. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 5 (1-11) years, 152 patients
      (91.6 %) were fully cured both from urodynamic and subjective points of view. Six
      patients (3.6 %) had significant improvement, and eight (4.8 %) were identified
      as technique failure. Complications included one bladder perforation (0.6 %), two
      cases of postoperative urinary retention (1.24 %), two of retropubic hematoma
      (1.24 %), and one of de novo urgency (0.6 %). No reinterventions were necessary,
      and there were no major bleeding complications, no chronic pain or de novo
      dyspareunia, and no voiding difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: EFA is a viable, safe, and
      effective technique for treating UI due to urethral hypermobility.

PMID- 26864667
TI  - Spontaneous coronary artery dissection and its association with heritable
      connective tissue disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an under-recognised
      but important cause of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. We sought
      to determine the role of medical and molecular genetic screening for connective
      tissue disorders in patients with SCAD. METHODS: We performed a single-centre
      retrospective descriptive analysis of patients with spontaneous coronary artery
      disease who had undergone medical genetics evaluation 1984-2014 (n=116). The
      presence or absence of traits suggestive of heritable connective tissue disease
      was extracted. Genetic testing for connective tissue disorders and/or
      aortopathies, if performed, is also reported. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients (mean
      age 44.2 years, 94.8% women and 41.4% with non-coronary fibromuscular dysplasia
      (FMD)), 59 patients underwent genetic testing, of whom 3 (5.1%) received a
      diagnosis of connective tissue disorder: a 50-year-old man with Marfan syndrome;
      a 43-year-old woman with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and FMD; and a 45-year
      old woman with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. An additional 12 patients (20.3%)
      had variants of unknown significance, none of which was thought to be a definite
      disease-causing mutation based on in silico analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Only a
      minority of patients with SCAD who undergo genetic evaluation have a likely
      pathogenic mutation identified on gene panel testing. Even fewer exhibit clinical
      features of connective tissue disorder. These findings underscore the need for
      further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of SCAD.

PMID- 26864668
TI  - Coronary anatomy as related to bicuspid aortic valve morphology.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Variable coronary anatomy has been described in patients with bicuspid
      aortic valves (BAVs). This was never specified to BAV morphology, and prognostic
      relevance of coronary vessel dominance in this patient group is unclear. The
      purpose of this study was to evaluate valve morphology in relation to coronary
      artery anatomy and outcome in patients with isolated BAV and with associated
      aortic coarctation (CoA). METHODS: Coronary anatomy was evaluated in 186 patients
      with BAV (141 men (79%), 51+/-14 years) by CT and invasive coronary angiography.
      Correlation of coronary anatomy was made with BAV morphology and coronary events.
      RESULTS: Strictly bicuspid valves (without raphe) with left-right cusp fusion
      (type 1B) had more left dominant coronary systems compared with BAVs with left
      right cusp fusion with a raphe (type 1A) (48% vs. 26%, p=0.047) and showed more
      separate ostia (28% vs. 9%, p=0.016). Type 1B BAVs had more coronary artery
      disease than patients with type 1A BAV (36% vs. 19%, p=0.047). More left
      dominance was seen in BAV patients with CoA than in patients without (65% vs.
      24%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of a left dominant coronary artery
      system and separate ostia was significantly related to BAVs with left-right
      fusion without a raphe (type 1B). These patients more often had significant
      coronary artery disease. In patients with BAV and CoA, left dominancy is more
      common.

PMID- 26864670
TI  - Inflammatory biomarkers in atrial fibrillation: are they linked to future
      outcomes?

PMID- 26864669
TI  - A new electronic screening tool for identifying risk of familial
      hypercholesterolaemia in general practice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of a new electronic screening tool (TARB
      Ex) in detecting general practice patients at potential risk of familial
      hypercholesterolaemia (FH). METHODS: Medical records for all active patients seen
      between 2012 and 2014 (n=3708) at a large general practice in Perth, Western
      Australia were retrospectively screened for potential FH risk using TARB-Ex.
      Electronic extracts of medical records for patients identified with potential FH
      risk (defined as Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria (DLCNC) score >=5) through
      TARB-Ex were reviewed by a general practitioner (GP) and lipid specialist. High
      risk patients were recalled for clinical assessment to determine phenotypic FH
      diagnosis. Performance was evaluated against a manual record review by a GP in
      the subset of 360 patients with high blood cholesterol (cholesterol >=7 mmol/L or
      low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >=4.0 mmol/L). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients
      with DLCNC score >=5 were identified through electronic screening compared with
      22 through GP manual review. Sensitivity was 95.5% (95% CI 77.2% to 99.9%),
      specificity was 96.7% (95% CI 94.3% to 98.3%), negative predictive accuracy was
      99.7% (95% CI 98.3% to 100%) and positive predictive accuracy was 65.6% (95% CI
      46.9% to 8%). Electronic screening was completed in 10 min compared with 60 h for
      GP manual review. 10 of 32 patients (31%) were considered high risk and recalled
      for clinical assessment. Six of seven patients (86%) who attended clinical
      assessment were diagnosed with phenotypic FH on examination. CONCLUSIONS: TARB-Ex
      screening is a time-effective and cost-effective method of systematically
      identifying potential FH risk patients from general practice records for clinical
      follow-up.

PMID- 26864671
TI  - Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with myocardial infarction and
      secondary mitral regurgitation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) is negatively related to the
      prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Renin-angiotensin system
      inhibitors (RASI) may favourably affect left ventricular remodelling and reduce
      afterload and thereby improve prognosis of secondary MR. The aim of this study
      was to investigate if use of RASI improves prognosis of patients with MI with
      secondary MR. METHODS: A total of 953 patients with MI were enrolled in this
      study. Long-term prognosis was compared between patients with MI with no/mild MR
      (n=657), moderate MR (n=196) and severe MR (n=100). Patients with MI with
      significant (>=moderate) secondary MR were further divided into those treated
      with and without RASI. Survival and cardiac-event (all-cause death and congestive
      heart failure)-free survival were compared. RESULTS: Long-term survival was
      significantly associated with severity of MR (log-rank, p<0.0001). In patients
      with significant MR (n=296), RASI was used in 130 patients (44%) and not used in
      166 patients (56%). Ejection fraction (47.3+/-12.2 vs 46.6+/-13.4%, p=NS) and
      E/e' (18.4+/-8.1 vs 16.5+/-7.0, p=NS) were similar between the two groups. Kaplan
      Meier curves for cardiac-event-free survival demonstrated that use of RASI was
      associated with better survival (p=0.006) as well as event-free survival
      (p=0.02). By univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, age
      (HR 1.046, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.091, p=0.039) and RASI (HR 0.480, 95% CI 0.231 to
      0.995), p=0.048) were independent predictors of cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS:
      Secondary MR affects prognosis in patients with MI. Use of RASI may be associated
      with better long-term prognosis in patients with MI with significant MR.

PMID- 26864672
TI  - Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and coronary heart disease in individuals
      between 40 and 50 years.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) has decreased in general
      but not among younger middle-aged adults. We performed a cohort study of the
      association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) at the age of 40 and
      risk of MI before the age of 50 years. METHODS: All individuals in Sweden were
      included in the year of their 40th birthday, if it occurred between 1998 and
      2010. National registers were used to categorise neighbourhood SES into high,
      middle and low, and to retrieve information on incident MI and coronary heart
      disease (CHD). Cox regression models, adjusted for marital status, education
      level, immigrant status and region of residence, provided an estimate of the HRs
      and 95% CIs for MI or CHD. RESULTS: Out of 587 933 men and 563 719 women,
      incident MI occurred in 2877 (0.48%) men and 932 (0.17%) women; and CHD occurred
      in 4400 (0.74%) men and 1756 (0.31%) women during a mean follow-up of 5.5 years.
      Using individuals living in middle-SES neighbourhoods as referents, living in
      high-SES neighbourhoods was associated with lower risk of MI in both sexes (HR
      (95% CI): men: 0.72 (0.64 to 0.82), women: 0.66 (0.53 to 0.81)); living in low
      SES neighbourhoods was associated with a higher risk of MI (HR (95% CI): men:
      1.31 (1.20 to 1.44), women: 1.28 (1.08 to 1.50)). Similar risk estimates for CHD
      were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest an increased risk of MI
      and CHD among residents from low-SES neighbourhoods and a lower risk in those
      from high-SES neighbourhoods compared with residents in middle-SES
      neighbourhoods.

PMID- 26864673
TI  - Therapeutic hypothermia in ST elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic
      review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to gain a better understanding of the efficacy and
      safety of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in patients with acute ST elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI) through an analysis of randomised controlled trials
      (RCTs). BACKGROUND: Several RCTs have suggested a positive outcome with the use
      of TH in the prevention of myocardial injury in the setting of an acute STEMI.
      However, there are currently no clinical trials that have conclusively shown any
      significant benefit. METHODS: Electronic databases were used to identify RCTs of
      TH in the patient population with STEMI. The primary efficacy end point was major
      adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Secondary efficacy end points included all
      cause mortality, infarct size, new myocardial infarction and heart
      failure/pulmonary oedema (HF/PO). All-bleeding, ventricular arrhythmias and
      bradycardias were recorded as the safety end points. RESULTS: Six RCTs were
      included in this meta-analysis, enrolling a total of 819 patients. There was no
      significant benefit from TH in preventing MACE (OR, 01.04; 95% CI 0.37 to 2.89),
      all-cause mortality (OR, 1.48; 95% CI 0.68 to 3.19), new myocardial infarction
      (OR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.20 to 4.94), HF/PO (OR, 0.52; 95% CI 0.15 to 1.77) or infarct
      size (standard difference of the mean (SDM), -0.1; 95% CI -0.23 to 0.04).
      However, a significant reduction of infarct size was observed with TH utilisation
      in anterior wall myocardial infarction (SDM, -0.23; 95% CI -0.45 to -0.02). There
      was no significant difference seen for the safety end points all-bleeding (OR
      1.32; 95% CI 0.77 to 2.24), ventricular arrhythmias (OR, 0.85; 95% CI 0.54 to
      1.36) or bradycardias (OR, 1.16; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Although TH
      appears to be safe in patients with STEMI, meta-analysis of published RCTs
      indicates that benefit is limited to reduction of infarct size in patients with
      anterior wall involvement with no demonstrable effect on all-cause mortality,
      recurrent myocardial infarction or HF/PO.

PMID- 26864676
TI  - Use of an Electronic Medical Record to Assess Patient-Reported Morbidity
      Following Ureteroscopy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: With the extensive documentation afforded by our
      electronic medical record (EMR), we observed an unusually high number of patient
      initiated encounters following ureteroscopy (URS). We sought to quantify and
      categorize patient encounters following URS to determine if we could identify
      avoidable common problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following IRB approval, we
      reviewed the records of 298 consecutive patients with stones who underwent 314
      URS procedures between July 2013 and November 2014. Patient demographics, stone
      characteristics and operative details, as well as telephone encounters, secure
      online patient-initiated (MyChart) messages, and emergency department (ED) visits
      following URS were extracted from our EMR (Epic, Verona, WI). We performed
      univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analysis to identify factors predictive
      of postoperative patient encounters and compared URS patients to a group of 56
      patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) for number
      and type of encounters. RESULTS: We identified 443 encounters generated by 201
      URS patients, including 334 telephone calls, 71 MyChart messages, and 38 ED
      visits. Among these encounters, 352 (79%) were medically related (pain comprised
      45%) and the remainder involved scheduling issues. By UVA age, bilateral versus
      unilateral URS, stone location (both kidney and ureter), ureteral access sheath
      size, and total number of stones predicted a postoperative encounter. By MVA,
      only younger age and larger UAS size were independent predictors. When compared
      with TURBT patients, URS patients had a 2.5-fold higher risk of having a pain
      related postoperative encounter (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.08-7.04, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS:
      Among patients undergoing URS for stones, two-thirds made unprompted contact with
      a healthcare provider and 80% of contacts involved postoperative pain, a finding
      that is distinct from another endoscopic procedure that does not involve upper
      tract manipulation. Patients do not perceive URS as the benign procedure doctors
      do.

PMID- 26864677
TI  - Cell-based strategies for vascular regeneration.
AB  - Vascular regeneration is known to play an essential role in the repair of injured
      tissues mainly through accelerating the repair of vascular injury caused by
      vascular diseases, as well as the recovery of ischemic tissues. However, the
      clinical vascular regeneration is still challenging. Cell-based therapy is
      thought to be a promising strategy for vascular regeneration, since various cells
      have been identified to exert important influences on the process of vascular
      regeneration such as the enhanced endothelium formation on the surface of
      vascular grafts, and the induction of vessel-like network formation in the
      ischemic tissues. Here are a vast number of diverse cell-based strategies that
      have been extensively studied in vascular regeneration. These strategies can be
      further classified into three main categories, including cell transplantation,
      construction of tissue-engineered grafts, and surface modification of scaffolds.
      Cells used in these strategies mainly refer to terminally differentiated vascular
      cells, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, and unipotent stem cells.
      The aim of this review is to summarize the reported research advances on the
      application of various cells for vascular regeneration, yielding insights into
      future clinical treatment for injured tissue/organ.

PMID- 26864674
TI  - Using electronic health records to predict costs and outcomes in stable coronary
      artery disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To use electronic health records (EHR) to predict lifetime costs and
      health outcomes of patients with stable coronary artery disease (stable-CAD)
      stratified by their risk of future cardiovascular events, and to evaluate the
      cost-effectiveness of treatments targeted at these populations. METHODS: The
      analysis was based on 94 966 patients with stable-CAD in England between 2001 and
      2010, identified in four prospectively collected, linked EHR sources. Markov
      modelling was used to estimate lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years
      (QALYs) stratified by baseline cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: For the lowest risk
      tenth of patients with stable-CAD, predicted discounted remaining lifetime
      healthcare costs and QALYs were L62 210 (95% CI L33 724 to L90 043) and 12.0 (95%
      CI 11.5 to 12.5) years, respectively. For the highest risk tenth of the
      population, the equivalent costs and QALYs were L35 549 (95% CI L31 679 to L39
      615) and 2.9 (95% CI 2.6 to 3.1) years, respectively. A new treatment with a
      hazard reduction of 20% for myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular
      disease death and no side-effects would be cost-effective if priced below L72 per
      year for the lowest risk patients and L646 per year for the highest risk
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Existing EHRs may be used to estimate lifetime healthcare
      costs and outcomes of patients with stable-CAD. The stable-CAD model developed in
      this study lends itself to informing decisions about commissioning, pricing and
      reimbursement. At current prices, to be cost-effective some established as well
      as future stable-CAD treatments may require stratification by patient risk.

PMID- 26864678
TI  - AC Conduction and Time-Temperature Superposition Scaling in a Reduced Graphene
      Oxide-Zinc Sulfide Nanocomposite.
AB  - We report, herein, the results of an in depth study and concomitant analysis of
      the AC conduction [sigma'(omega): f=20 Hz to 2 MHz] mechanism in a reduced
      graphene oxide-zinc sulfide (RGO-ZnS) composite. The magnitude of the real part
      of the complex impedance decreases with increase in both frequency and
      temperature, whereas the imaginary part shows an asymptotic maximum that shifts
      to higher frequencies with increasing temperature. On the other hand, the
      conductivity isotherm reveals a frequency-independent conductivity at lower
      frequencies subsequent to a dispersive conductivity at higher frequencies, which
      follows a power law [sigma'(omega)?omega(s) ] within a temperature range of 297
      to 393 K. Temperature-independent frequency exponent 's' indicates the occurrence
      of phonon-assisted simple quantum tunnelling of electrons between the defects
      present in RGO. Finally, this sample follows the "time-temperature superposition
      principle", as confirmed from the universal scaling of conductivity isotherms.
      These outcomes not only pave the way for increasing our elemental understanding
      of the transport mechanism in the RGO system, but will also motivate the
      investigation of the transport mechanism in other order-disorder systems.

PMID- 26864679
TI  - Femtosecond laser for cavity preparation in enamel and dentin: ablation
      efficiency related factors.
AB  - To study the effects of laser fluence (laser energy density), scanning line
      spacing and ablation depth on the efficiency of a femtosecond laser for three
      dimensional ablation of enamel and dentin. A diode-pumped, thin-disk femtosecond
      laser (wavelength 1025 nm, pulse width 400 fs) was used for the ablation of
      enamel and dentin. The laser spot was guided in a series of overlapping parallel
      lines on enamel and dentin surfaces to form a three-dimensional cavity. The depth
      and volume of the ablated cavity was then measured under a 3D measurement
      microscope to determine the ablation efficiency. Different values of fluence,
      scanning line spacing and ablation depth were used to assess the effects of each
      variable on ablation efficiency. Ablation efficiencies for enamel and dentin were
      maximized at different laser fluences and number of scanning lines and decreased
      with increases in laser fluence or with increases in scanning line spacing beyond
      spot diameter or with increases in ablation depth. Laser fluence, scanning line
      spacing and ablation depth all significantly affected femtosecond laser ablation
      efficiency. Use of a reasonable control for each of these parameters will improve
      future clinical application. 

PMID- 26864680
TI  - Persistence in eye movement during visual search.
AB  - As any cognitive task, visual search involves a number of underlying processes
      that cannot be directly observed and measured. In this way, the movement of the
      eyes certainly represents the most explicit and closest connection we can get to
      the inner mechanisms governing this cognitive activity. Here we show that the
      process of eye movement during visual search, consisting of sequences of
      fixations intercalated by saccades, exhibits distinctive persistent behaviors.
      Initially, by focusing on saccadic directions and intersaccadic angles, we
      disclose that the probability distributions of these measures show a clear
      preference of participants towards a reading-like mechanism (geometrical
      persistence), whose features and potential advantages for searching/foraging are
      discussed. We then perform a Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA)
      over the time series of jump magnitudes in the eye trajectory and find that it
      exhibits a typical multifractal behavior arising from the sequential combination
      of saccades and fixations. By inspecting the time series composed of only
      fixational movements, our results reveal instead a monofractal behavior with a
      Hurst exponent , which indicates the presence of long-range power-law positive
      correlations (statistical persistence). We expect that our methodological
      approach can be adopted as a way to understand persistence and strategy-planning
      during visual search. 

PMID- 26864681
TI  - Lipophosphoramidate-based bipolar amphiphiles: their syntheses and transfection
      properties.
AB  - Six new cationic bolaamphiphiles (also called bipolar amphiphiles, bolaform
      amphiphiles, or bolalipids) were readily prepared by a thiol-ene click reaction
      that engaged a mercapto-alcohol (mercapto-ethanol or mercapto-hexanol) and a
      cationic based lipophosphoramidate. The cationic lipophosphoramidates contain two
      lipid chains that end in an alkene group and a selected cationic polar head group
      (trimethylammonium, dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium, or methylimidazolium). These
      compounds were formulated in water (with or without DOPE as a colipid) to produce
      supramolecular aggregates. These aggregates, before (i.e. bolasomes) and after
      (i.e. bolaplexes) mixing with plasmid DNA (pDNA) at various charge ratios, were
      characterized with regard to their sizes and zeta potentials. In the case of
      bolasomes, the suspensions were unstable since precipitation occurred after only
      a few hours at room temperature. On the other hand, bolaplex formulations
      exhibited clearly a better colloidal stability. Then, the gene delivery
      properties of the cationic bolasomes were investigated using two human-derived
      epithelial cell lines (A549 and 16HBE). Compared to the commercially available
      lipofection reagent (Lipofectamine), most of the cationic bolaamphiphiles were
      able to efficiently transfect these cells when they were formulated with DOPE in
      a 1 : 1 molar ratio. We report herein that bolaamphiphiles possessing a
      trimethylammonium or a dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium head group were the most
      efficient in terms of transfection efficiency while exhibiting no significant
      cytotoxicity. 

PMID- 26864682
TI  - Long-term follow-up ultrasonography after lobectomy in papillary thyroid
      microcarcinoma patients: A single-center study.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of tumor recurrence and to
      determine the appropriate interval of follow-up ultrasonography (US) in papillary
      thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients who underwent lobectomy. METHODS: Between
      January and December 2006, 137 patients underwent a lobectomy for the treatment
      of PTMC and at least one postoperative US follow-up examination. The
      postoperative follow-up US was performed by a single radiologist for all
      patients. Based on the follow-up US and histopathological results, tumor
      recurrence and nodal metastasis were determined. RESULTS: In the 137 patients,
      the following diagnoses were made after lobectomy: intraglandular PTMC (n = 104),
      focally perithyroidal PTMC invasion within surgical margins (n = 18), nodal
      metastasis to the ipsilateral level VI node (n = 20), and satellite PTMC (n = 7).
      The patients showed differences in the number of post-operative follow-up US
      sessions and in the intervals of those sessions. Of the 137 patients, 135 (98.5%)
      exhibited no tumor recurrence on the follow-up US, whereas 2 (1.5%) exhibited
      tumor recurrence in the remnant thyroid gland. In these two patients with tumor
      recurrence, suspicious thyroid nodules were detected at the 96- and 90-month
      follow-up US, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the PTMC tumor recurrence
      rate was low, indicating that early post-lobectomy follow-up US in short
      intervals is not beneficial for detecting PTMC recurrence.

PMID- 26864684
TI  - Corrigendum to "In vivo single-molecule imaging of bacterial DNA replication,
      transcription, and repair" [FEBS Lett. 588 (19) (2014) 3585-3594].

PMID- 26864686
TI  - Two-bit memory and quantized storage phenomenon in conventional MOS structures
      with double-stacked Pt-NCs in an HfAlO matrix.
AB  - A two-bit memory and quantized storage phenomenon are observed at room
      temperature for a device based on the traditional MOS structure with double
      stacked Pt-nanocrystals (Pt-NCs). A 2.68 and 1.72 V flat band voltage shift
      (memory window) has been obtained when applying a +/-7 V programming/erasing
      voltage to the structures with double-stacked Pt-NCs. The memory windows of 2.40
      and 1.44 V can be retained after stress for 10(5) seconds, which correspond to
      89.55% and 83.72% stored charges reserved. The quantized charge storage
      phenomenon characterized by current-voltage (J-V) hysteresis curves was detected
      at room temperature. The shrinkage of the memory window results from the
      decreasing tunneling probability, which strongly depends on the number of stacks.
      The traps, de-traps and quantum confinement effects of Pt-NCs may contribute to
      the improvement of dielectric characteristics and the two-bit memory behavior.
      The multi-bit memory and quantized storage behavior observed in the Pt-NCs stacks
      structure at room temperature might provide a feasible method for realizing the
      multi-bit storage in non-volatile flash memory devices. 

PMID- 26864683
TI  - The repair Schwann cell and its function in regenerating nerves.
AB  - Nerve injury triggers the conversion of myelin and non-myelin (Remak) Schwann
      cells to a cell phenotype specialized to promote repair. Distal to damage, these
      repair Schwann cells provide the necessary signals and spatial cues for the
      survival of injured neurons, axonal regeneration and target reinnervation. The
      conversion to repair Schwann cells involves de-differentiation together with
      alternative differentiation, or activation, a combination that is typical of cell
      type conversions often referred to as (direct or lineage) reprogramming. Thus,
      injury-induced Schwann cell reprogramming involves down-regulation of myelin
      genes combined with activation of a set of repair-supportive features, including
      up-regulation of trophic factors, elevation of cytokines as part of the innate
      immune response, myelin clearance by activation of myelin autophagy in Schwann
      cells and macrophage recruitment, and the formation of regeneration tracks,
      Bungner's bands, for directing axons to their targets. This repair programme is
      controlled transcriptionally by mechanisms involving the transcription factor c
      Jun, which is rapidly up-regulated in Schwann cells after injury. In the absence
      of c-Jun, damage results in the formation of a dysfunctional repair cell,
      neuronal death and failure of functional recovery. c-Jun, although not required
      for Schwann cell development, is therefore central to the reprogramming of myelin
      and non-myelin (Remak) Schwann cells to repair cells after injury. In future, the
      signalling that specifies this cell requires further analysis so that
      pharmacological tools that boost and maintain the repair Schwann cell phenotype
      can be developed.

PMID- 26864687
TI  - Gene regulatory network inference using fused LASSO on multiple data sets.
AB  - Devising computational methods to accurately reconstruct gene regulatory networks
      given gene expression data is key to systems biology applications. Here we
      propose a method for reconstructing gene regulatory networks by simultaneous
      consideration of data sets from different perturbation experiments and
      corresponding controls. The method imposes three biologically meaningful
      constraints: (1) expression levels of each gene should be explained by the
      expression levels of a small number of transcription factor coding genes, (2)
      networks inferred from different data sets should be similar with respect to the
      type and number of regulatory interactions, and (3) relationships between genes
      which exhibit similar differential behavior over the considered perturbations
      should be favored. We demonstrate that these constraints can be transformed in a
      fused LASSO formulation for the proposed method. The comparative analysis on
      transcriptomics time-series data from prokaryotic species, Escherichia coli and
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as a eukaryotic species, mouse, demonstrated
      that the proposed method has the advantages of the most recent approaches for
      regulatory network inference, while obtaining better performance and assigning
      higher scores to the true regulatory links. The study indicates that the
      combination of sparse regression techniques with other biologically meaningful
      constraints is a promising framework for gene regulatory network reconstructions.

PMID- 26864688
TI  - Academic Achievement of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students in an ASL/English
      Bilingual Program.
AB  - There has been a scarcity of studies exploring the influence of students'
      American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency on their academic achievement in
      ASL/English bilingual programs. The aim of this study was to determine the
      effects of ASL proficiency on reading comprehension skills and academic
      achievement of 85 deaf or hard-of-hearing signing students. Two subgroups,
      differing in ASL proficiency, were compared on the Northwest Evaluation
      Association Measures of Academic Progress and the reading comprehension subtest
      of the Stanford Achievement Test, 10th edition. Findings suggested that students
      highly proficient in ASL outperformed their less proficient peers in nationally
      standardized measures of reading comprehension, English language use, and
      mathematics. Moreover, a regression model consisting of 5 predictors including
      variables regarding education, hearing devices, and secondary disabilities as
      well as ASL proficiency and home language showed that ASL proficiency was the
      single variable significantly predicting results on all outcome measures. This
      study calls for a paradigm shift in thinking about deaf education by focusing on
      characteristics shared among successful deaf signing readers, specifically ASL
      fluency.

PMID- 26864689
TI  - Longitudinal Receptive American Sign Language Skills Across a Diverse Deaf
      Student Body.
AB  - This article presents results of a longitudinal study of receptive American Sign
      Language (ASL) skills for a large portion of the student body at a residential
      school for the deaf across four consecutive years. Scores were analyzed by age,
      gender, parental hearing status, years attending the residential school, and
      presence of a disability (i.e., deaf with a disability). Years 1 through 4
      included the ASL Receptive Skills Test (ASL-RST); Years 2 through 4 also included
      the Receptive Test of ASL (RT-ASL). Student performance for both measures
      positively correlated with age; deaf students with deaf parents scored higher
      than their same-age peers with hearing parents in some instances but not others;
      and those with a documented disability tended to score lower than their peers
      without disabilities. These results provide longitudinal findings across a
      diverse segment of the deaf/hard of hearing residential school population.

PMID- 26864690
TI  - Assessing and Mapping the Availability of the Female Condom in the Philadelphia
      Metropolitan Area.
AB  - This study assessed and mapped the availability of the female condom in relation
      to the male condom and HIV prevalence in the Philadelphia metropolitan area,
      which has a high density of HIV. One percent of the 1228 service providers
      contacted sold/provided the female condom and 77 % sold/provided the male condom.
      The lack of availability of the female condom suggests this product will have no
      public health impact on reducing HIV and that interventions that promote use of
      the female condom are not sustainable in this high-risk area. Our findings may
      help policy makers increase female condom availability in this area.

PMID- 26864691
TI  - A Systematic Review of Health Literacy Interventions for People Living with HIV.
AB  - Health literacy significantly impacts health-related outcomes among people living
      with HIV. Our aim was to systematically review current literature on health
      literacy interventions for people living with HIV. The authors conducted a
      thorough literature search following the PRISMA statement and the AMSTAR
      checklist as a guide, and found six studies that met inclusion/exclusion
      criteria. The majority of these interventions were designed to improve HIV
      treatment adherence as well as HIV knowledge and treatment-related skills, with
      one study focusing on e-Health literacy. Several of the studies demonstrated
      trends toward improvement in medication adherence, but most did not achieve
      statistical significance primarily due to methodological limitations. Significant
      improvements in knowledge, behavioral skills, and e-Health literacy were found
      following interventions (p = 0.001-0.05). Health literacy interventions have the
      potential to promote HIV-related knowledge, behavioral skills, and self
      management practices. More research is needed to assess the efficacy of
      interventions to promote a variety of self-management practices.

PMID- 26864693
TI  - Downregulation of miR-384-5p attenuates rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in
      dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells through inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.
AB  - Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of
      Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in this process
      involved in PD remains poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that miR-384-5p
      plays an important role for cell survival in response to different insults, but
      the role of miR-384-5p in PD-associated neurotoxicity remains unknown. In this
      study, we investigated the role of miR-384-5p in an in vitro model of PD using
      dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells treated with rotenone. We found that miR-384-5p was
      persistently induced by rotenone in neurons. Also, the inhibition of miR-384-5p
      significantly suppressed rotenone-induced neurotoxicity, while overexpression of
      miR-384-5p aggravated rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. Through bioinformatics and
      dual-luciferase reporter assay, miR-384-5p was found to directly target the 3'
      untranslated region of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), the master regulator
      of ER stress sensors. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting
      analysis showed that miR-384-5p negatively regulated the expression of GRP78.
      Inhibition of miR-384-5p remarkably suppressed rotenone-evoked ER stress, which
      was evident by a reduction in the phosphorylation of activating transcription
      factor 4 (ATF4) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1alpha). The downstream
      target genes of ER stress including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous
      protein (CHOP) and X box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1) were also decreased by the miR
      384-5p inhibitor. In contrast, overexpression of miR-384-5p enhanced ER stress
      signaling. In addition, knockdown of GRP78 significantly abrogated the inhibitory
      effect of miR-384-5p inhibitors on cell apoptosis and ER stress signaling.
      Moreover, we observed a significant increase of miR-384-5p expression in primary
      neurons induced by rotenone. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-384-5p
      mediated ER stress by negatively regulating GRP78 and that miR-384-5p inhibition
      might be a novel and promising approach for the treatment of PD.

PMID- 26864692
TI  - Interpersonal Mechanisms Contributing to the Association Between HIV-Related
      Internalized Stigma and Medication Adherence.
AB  - Previous research suggests that people living with HIV (PLWH) sometimes
      internalize HIV-related stigma existing in the community and experience feelings
      of inferiority and shame due to their HIV status, which can have negative
      consequences for treatment adherence. PLWH's interpersonal concerns about how
      their HIV status may affect the security of their existing relationships may help
      explain how internalized stigma affects adherence behaviors. In a cross-sectional
      study conducted between March 2013 and January 2015 in Birmingham, AL, 180 PLWH
      recruited from an outpatient HIV clinic completed previously validated measures
      of internalized stigma, attachment styles, and concern about being seen while
      taking HIV medication. Participants also self-reported their HIV medication
      adherence. Higher levels of HIV-related internalized stigma, attachment-related
      anxiety (i.e., fear of abandonment by relationship partners), and concerns about
      being seen by others while taking HIV medication were all associated with worse
      medication adherence. The effect of HIV-related internalized stigma on medication
      adherence was mediated by attachment-related anxiety and by concerns about being
      seen by others while taking HIV medication. Given that medication adherence is
      vitally important for PLWH to achieve long-term positive health outcomes,
      understanding interpersonal factors affecting medication adherence is crucial.
      Interventions aimed at improving HIV treatment adherence should address
      interpersonal factors as well as intrapersonal factors.

PMID- 26864694
TI  - Analysis of phosphorylation of the myosin-targeting subunit of myosin light chain
      phosphatase by Phos-tag SDS-PAGE.
AB  - Phosphorylation of the myosin-targeting subunit 1 of myosin light chain
      phosphatase (MYPT1) plays an important role in the regulation of smooth muscle
      contraction, and several sites of phosphorylation by different protein Ser/Thr
      kinases have been identified. Furthermore, in some instances, phosphorylation at
      specific sites affects phosphorylation at neighboring sites, with functional
      consequences. Characterization of the complex phosphorylation of MYPT1 in tissue
      samples at rest and in response to contractile and relaxant stimuli is,
      therefore, challenging. We have exploited Phos-tag SDS-PAGE in combination with
      Western blotting using antibodies to MYPT1, including phosphospecific antibodies,
      to separate multiple phosphorylated MYPT1 species and quantify MYPT1
      phosphorylation stoichiometry using purified, full-length recombinant MYPT1
      phosphorylated by Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) and cAMP-dependent
      protein kinase (PKA). This approach confirmed that phosphorylation of MYPT1 by
      ROCK occurs at Thr(697)and Thr(855), PKA phosphorylates these two sites and the
      neighboring Ser(696)and Ser(854), and prior phosphorylation at Thr(697)and
      Thr(855)by ROCK precludes phosphorylation at Ser(696)and Ser(854)by PKA.
      Furthermore, phosphorylation at Thr(697)and Thr(855)by ROCK exposes two other
      sites of phosphorylation by PKA. Treatment of Triton-skinned rat caudal arterial
      smooth muscle strips with the membrane-impermeant phosphatase inhibitor
      microcystin or treatment of intact tissue with the membrane-permeant phosphatase
      inhibitor calyculin A induced slow, sustained contractions that correlated with
      phosphorylation of MYPT1 at 7 to >=10 sites. Phos-tag SDS-PAGE thus provides a
      suitable and convenient method for analysis of the complex, multisite MYPT1
      phosphorylation events involved in the regulation of myosin light chain
      phosphatase activity and smooth muscle contraction.

PMID- 26864695
TI  - Comparison of the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and the modified Glasgow
      Prognostic Score (mGPS) in evaluating the prognosis of patients with operable and
      inoperable non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score
      (mGPS) are shown to be reliable prognostic indexes in patients with operable and
      inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Considering the difference between
      the two indexes lies in whether hypoalbuminemia without an elevated C-reactive
      protein (CRP) is associated with worse survival, this study aims to evaluate the
      prognostic performance of hypoalbuminemia in patients without an elevated CRP and
      to compare the prognostic value of GPS and mGPS in patients with operable and
      inoperable NSCLC. METHODS: The data of 2988 patients were retrospectively
      collected from the Shanghai Health Information Network. Univariate and
      multivariate Cox regression was performed to investigate the prognostic effect of
      albumin, CRP, GPS and mGPS. Restricted cubic spline was also performed to
      evaluate the relationship between albumin and hazard ratio. Kaplan-Meier survival
      curves were estimated and compared using the log-rank test. Additional
      discriminative ability of GPS and of mGPS was evaluated using the area under the
      curve and Harrell's concordance index. RESULTS: Hypoalbuminemia was associated
      with worse survival in both operable and inoperable patients without an elevated
      CRP. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve of hypoalbuminemic patients without an
      elevated CRP was more close to the curve of patients with an elevated CRP and a
      normal albumin than to the curve of patients with neither of these abnormalities.
      Multivariate analysis, AUC and C-index all indicated that GPS had a higher
      prognostic value than mGPS. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoalbuminemia was associated with
      worse survival in patients with or without an elevated CRP. GPS was superior to
      mGPS in predicting survival in operable and inoperable NSCLC patients.

PMID- 26864697
TI  - Conservation of the freshwater fauna of Patagonia: an alert to the urgent need
      for integrative management and sustainable development.

PMID- 26864696
TI  - Controlled release of a heterogeneous human placental matrix from PLGA
      microparticles to modulate angiogenesis.
AB  - A significant hurdle limiting musculoskeletal tissue regeneration is the
      inability to develop effective vascular networks to support cellular development
      within engineered constructs. Due to the inherent complexity of angiogenesis,
      where multiple biochemical pathways induce and control vessel formation, our
      laboratory has taken an alternate approach using a matrix material containing
      angiogenic and osteogenic proteins derived from human placental tissues. Single
      bolus administrations of the human placental matrix (hPM) have been shown to
      initiate angiogenesis but vascular networks deteriorated over time.
      Controlled/sustained delivery was therefore hypothesized to stabilize and extend
      network formation. To test this hypothesis, hPM was encapsulated in degradable
      poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles to extend the release period.
      Microparticle preparation including loading, size, encapsulation efficiency, and
      release profile was optimized for hPM. The angiogenic cellular response to the
      hPM/PLGA-loaded microparticles was assessed in 3D alginate hydrogel matrices
      seeded with primary human endothelial cells. Results show an average
      microparticle diameter of 91.82 +/- 2.92 MUm, with an encapsulation efficiency of
      75%, and a release profile extending over 30 days. Three-dimensional angiogenic
      assays with hPM-loaded PLGA microparticles showed initial stimulation of
      angiogenic tubules after 14 days and further defined network formations after 21
      days of culture. Although additional optimization is necessary, these studies
      confirm the effectiveness of a novel controlled multi-protein release approach to
      induce and maintain capillary networks within alginate tissue scaffolds.

PMID- 26864698
TI  - Visualization of cerebrospinal fluid flow in syringomyelia through noninvasive
      magnetic resonance imaging with a time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time
      SLIP).
AB  - CONTEXT: We report a case of syringomyelia assessed by magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) with a time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP), which is a non
      contrast MRI technique that uses the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an intrinsic
      tracer, thus removing the need to administer a contrast agent. Time-SLIP permits
      investigation of flow movement for over 3 seconds without any limitations
      associated with the cardiac phase, and it is a clinically accessible method for
      flow analysis. FINDINGS: We investigated an 85-year-old male experiencing
      progressive gait disturbance, with leg numbness and muscle weakness. Conventional
      MRI revealed syringomyelia from C7 to T12, with multiple webs of cavities. We
      then applied the Time-SLIP approach to characterize CSF flow in the syringomyelic
      cavities. Time-SLIP detected several unique CSF flow patterns that could not be
      observed by conventional imaging. The basic CSF flow pattern in the subarachnoid
      space was pulsatile and was harmonious with the heartbeat. Several unique flow
      patterns, such as bubbles, jumping, and fast flow, were observed within
      syringomyelic cavities by Time-SLIP imaging. These patterns likely reflect the
      complex flow paths through the septum and/or webs of cavities.
      CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Time-SLIP permits observation of CSF motion over a
      long period of time and detects patterns of flow velocity and direction. Thus,
      this novel approach to CSF flow analysis can be used to gain a more extensive
      understanding of spinal disease pathology and to optimize surgical access in the
      treatment of spinal lesions. Additionally, Time-SLIP has broad applicability in
      the field of spinal research.

PMID- 26864700
TI  - Thromboelastometry profiles in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy for acute
      ischaemic stroke.

PMID- 26864699
TI  - Electroextraction and electromembrane extraction: Advances in hyphenation to
      analytical techniques.
AB  - Electroextraction (EE) and electromembrane extraction (EME) are sample
      preparation techniques that both require an electric field that is applied over a
      liquid-liquid system, which enables the migration of charged analytes.
      Furthermore, both techniques are often used to pre-concentrate analytes prior to
      analysis. In this review an overview is provided of the body of literature
      spanning April 2012-November 2015 concerning EE and EME, focused on hyphenation
      to analytical techniques. First, the theoretical aspects of concentration
      enhancement in EE and EME are discussed to explain extraction recovery and
      enrichment factor. Next, overviews are provided of the techniques based on their
      hyphenation to LC, GC, CE, and direct detection. These overviews cover the
      compounds and matrices, experimental aspects (i.e. donor volume, acceptor volume,
      extraction time, extraction voltage, and separation time) and the analytical
      aspects (i.e. limit of detection, enrichment factor, and extraction recovery).
      Techniques that were either hyphenated online to analytical techniques or show
      high potential with respect to online hyphenation are highlighted. Finally, the
      potential future directions of EE and EME are discussed.

PMID- 26864701
TI  - Electrospun Nanofibers from a Tricyanofuran-Based Molecular Switch for
      Colorimetric Recognition of Ammonia Gas.
AB  - A chromophore based on tricyanofuran (TCF) with a hydrazone (H) recognition
      moiety was developed. Its molecular-switching performance is reversible and has
      differential sensitivity towards aqueous ammonia at comparable concentrations.
      Nanofibers were fabricated from the TCF-H chromophore by electrospinning. The
      film fabricated from these nanofibers functions as a solid-state optical
      chemosensor for probing ammonia vapor. Recognition of ammonia vapor occurs by
      proton transfer from the hydrazone fragment of the chromophore to the ammonia
      nitrogen atom and is facilitated by the strongly electron withdrawing TCF
      fragment. The TCF-H chromophore was added to a solution of poly(acrylic acid),
      which was electrospun to obtain a nanofibrous sensor device. The morphology of
      the nanofibrous sensor was determined by SEM, which showed that nanofibers with a
      diameter range of 200-450 nm formed a nonwoven mat. The resultant nanofibrous
      sensor showed very good sensitivity in ammonia-vapor detection. Furthermore, very
      good reversibility and short response time were also observed.

PMID- 26864703
TI  - Multinary I-III-VI2 and I2-II-IV-VI4 Semiconductor Nanostructures for
      Photocatalytic Applications.
AB  - Semiconductor nanostructures that can effectively serve as light-responsive
      photocatalysts have been of considerable interest over the past decade. This is
      because their use in light-induced photocatalysis can potentially address some of
      the most serious environmental and energy-related concerns facing the world
      today. One important application is photocatalytic hydrogen production from water
      under solar radiation. It is regarded as a clean and sustainable approach to
      hydrogen fuel generation because it makes use of renewable resources (i.e.,
      sunlight and water), does not involve fossil fuel consumption, and does not
      result in environmental pollution or greenhouse gas emission. Another notable
      application is the photocatalytic degradation of nonbiodegradable dyes, which
      offers an effective way of ridding industrial wastewater of toxic organic
      pollutants prior to its release into the environment. Metal oxide semiconductors
      (e.g., TiO2) are the most widely studied class of semiconductor photocatalysts.
      Their nanostructured forms have been reported to efficiently generate hydrogen
      from water and effectively degrade organic dyes under ultraviolet-light
      irradiation. However, the wide band gap characteristic of most metal oxides
      precludes absorption of light in the visible region, which makes up a
      considerable portion of the solar radiation spectrum. Meanwhile, nanostructures
      of cadmium chalcogenide semiconductors (e.g., CdS), with their relatively narrow
      band gap that can be easily adjusted through size control and alloying, have
      displayed immense potential as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts, but the
      intrinsic toxicity of cadmium poses potential risks to human health and the
      environment. In developing new nanostructured semiconductors for light-driven
      photocatalysis, it is important to choose a semiconducting material that has a
      high absorption coefficient over a wide spectral range and is safe for use in
      real-world settings. Among the most promising candidates are the multinary
      chalcogenide semiconductors (MCSs), which include the ternary I-III-VI2
      semiconductors (e.g., AgGaS2, CuInS2, and CuInSe2) and the quaternary I2-II-IV
      VI4 semiconductors (e.g., Cu2ZnGeS4, Cu2ZnSnS4, and Ag2ZnSnS4). These inorganic
      compounds consist of environmentally benign elemental components, exhibit
      excellent light-harvesting properties, and possess band gap energies that are
      well-suited for solar photon absorption. Moreover, the band structures of these
      materials can be conveniently modified through alloying to boost their ability to
      harvest visible photons. In this Account, we provide a summary of recent research
      on the use of ternary I-III-VI2 and quaternary I2-II-IV-VI4 semiconductor
      nanostructures for light-induced photocatalytic applications, with focus on
      hydrogen production and organic dye degradation. We include a review of the
      solution-based methods that have been employed to prepare multinary chalcogenide
      semiconductor nanostructures of varying compositions, sizes, shapes, and crystal
      structures, which are factors that are known to have significant influence on the
      photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalysts. The enhancement of
      photocatalytic performance through creation of hybrid nanoscale architectures is
      also presented. Lastly, views on the current challenges and future directions are
      discussed in the concluding section. 

PMID- 26864704
TI  - Dipping in Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Correlates With Overnight Urinary
      Excretion of Catecholamines and Sodium.
AB  - Nondipping blood pressure (BP) is associated with increased morbidity and
      mortality. This study examines the relationship of "dipping" in 24-hour
      ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) with awake and sleeping urinary norepinephrine
      (NE) and epinephrine (EPI), and that of urinary NE and EPI with urinary sodium
      (UNa). Fifty nondippers and 65 dippers were included in the present study.
      Collected data included age, sex, body mass index, history of hypertension,
      current antihypertensive treatment, ABPM data, and NE, EPI, and UNa values.
      Hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the night-to-day ratio (NDR) of
      systolic BP as a dependent variable showed that the composite term of the NDRs of
      urinary NE and EPI was a significant predictor for dipping. Results also show a
      differential role of NE and EPI in circadian UNa excretion in dippers and
      nondippers. These results indicate that the sympathetic nervous system is
      involved in the regulation of circadian BP variations and UNa excretion.

PMID- 26864705
TI  - Interference of functional monomers with polymerization efficiency of adhesives.
AB  - The degree of conversion (DC) of camphorquinone/amine-based adhesives is affected
      by acidic functional monomers as a result of inactivation of the amine co
      initiator through an acid-base reaction. During bonding, functional monomers of
      self-etch adhesives chemically interact with hydroxyapatite (HAp). Here, we
      tested in how far the latter interaction of functional monomers with HAp
      counteracts the expected reduction in DC of camphorquinone/amine-based adhesives.
      The DC of three experimental adhesive formulations, containing either of the two
      functional monomers [10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) or 4
      methacryloxyethyl trimellitic acid anhydride (4-META)] or no functional monomer
      (no-FM; control), was measured with and without HAp powder added to the adhesive
      formulations. Both the variables 'functional monomer' and 'HAp' were found to be
      significant, with the functional monomer reducing the DC and HAp counteracting
      this effect. It is concluded that the functional monomers 10-MDP and 4-META
      interfere with the polymerization efficiency of adhesives. This interference is
      less prominent in the presence of HAp, which would clinically correspond to when
      these two functional monomers of the adhesive simultaneously interact with HAp in
      tooth tissue. 

PMID- 26864706
TI  - Behavioural response to combined insecticide and temperature stress in natural
      populations of Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - Insecticide resistance evolves extremely rapidly, providing an illuminating model
      for the study of adaptation. With climate change reshaping species distribution,
      pest and disease vector control needs rethinking to include the effects of
      environmental variation and insect stress physiology. Here, we assessed how both
      long-term adaptation of populations to temperature and immediate temperature
      variation affect the genetic architecture of DDT insecticide response in
      Drosophila melanogaster. Mortality assays and behavioural assays based on
      continuous activity monitoring were used to assess the interaction between DDT
      and temperature on three field-derived populations from climate extremes (Raleigh
      for warm temperate, Tasmania for cold oceanic and Queensland for hot tropical).
      The Raleigh population showed the highest mortality to DDT, whereas the
      Queensland population, epicentre for derived alleles of the resistance gene
      Cyp6g1, showed the lowest. Interaction between insecticide and temperature
      strongly affected mortality, particularly for the Tasmanian population. Activity
      profiles analysed using self-organizing maps show that the insecticide promoted
      an early response, whereas elevated temperature promoted a later response. These
      distinctive early or later activity phases revealed similar responses to
      temperature and DDT dose alone but with more or less genetic variance depending
      on the population. This change in genetic variance among populations suggests
      that selection particularly depleted genetic variance for DDT response in the
      Queensland population. Finally, despite similar (co)variation between traits in
      benign conditions, the genetic responses across population differed under
      stressful conditions. This showed how stress-responsive genetic variation only
      reveals itself in specific conditions and thereby escapes potential trade-offs in
      benign environments.

PMID- 26864707
TI  - Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Reduced-Dose Docetaxel Followed by Radical
      Prostatectomy for Patients With Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A
      Single-Center Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To assess safety, pathologic response rate, and long-term oncologic
      outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using
      reduced-dose docetaxel without androgen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer
      (PCa) patients of intermediate- and high-risk groups. METHODS: Forty-four
      patients with PCa (PSA > 10 ng/ml, Gleason score 7 or more, or clinical stage
      cT2c or more) were included with a median follow-up of 11.4 years after RP. One
      group (NCT/RP) received neoadjuvant treatment 3-weekly with docetaxel (36 mg/m(2)
      for up to six cycles, 21 patients), the other (control) group (RP, 23 patients)
      received RP only. RESULTS: Toxicities were mild with grade 3 events not exceeding
      10%. A statistically significant reduction of PSA > 50% post-chemotherapy was
      observed in 52.4% cases. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 90% in the NCT/RP
      group and 60.9% in the RP group (P = 0.042). The biochemical recurrence-free
      survival was 68.5% in the NCT/RP and 37.7% in the RP groups; overall survival was
      75.5% and 54.6%, respectively (both P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of
      neoadjuvant chemotherapy before RP in a selected regimen and dose represents a
      safe strategy and results in benefits in CSS. Given the limitations of the study,
      this concept should be evaluated in large, prospective, controlled studies.
      Prostate 76: 1345-1352, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26864708
TI  - Ultrasensitive 1D field-effect phototransistors: CH3NH3PbI3 nanowire sensitized
      individual carbon nanotubes.
AB  - Field-effect phototransistors were fabricated based on individual carbon
      nanotubes (CNTs) sensitized by CH3NH3PbI3 nanowires (MAPbI3NWs). These devices
      represent light responsivities of R = 7.7 * 10(5) A W(-1) under low-lighting
      conditions in the nW mm(-2) range, unprecedented among CNT-based photodetectors.
      At high incident power (~1 mW mm(-2)), light soaking results in a negative
      photocurrent, turning the device insulating. We interpret the phenomenon as a
      result of efficient free photoexcited charge generation and charge transfer of
      photoexcited holes from the perovskite to the carbon nanotube. The charge
      transfer improves conductance by increasing the number of carriers, but leaves
      electrons behind. At high illumination intensity their random electrostatic
      potential quenches mobility in the nanotube. 

PMID- 26864710
TI  - Multidrug-Resistant Organism Colonization in a High-Risk Pediatric Patient
      Population.

PMID- 26864709
TI  - Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide of Patients With Psychiatric Disorders in the
      Netherlands 2011 to 2014.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS) of psychiatric patients is
      increasing in some jurisdictions such as Belgium and the Netherlands. However,
      little is known about the practice, and it remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To
      describe the characteristics of patients receiving EAS for psychiatric conditions
      and how the practice is regulated in the Netherlands. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: This investigation reviewed psychiatric EAS case summaries made
      available online by the Dutch regional euthanasia review committees as of June 1,
      2015. Two senior psychiatrists used directed content analysis to review and code
      the reports. In total, 66 cases from 2011 to 2014 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOMES
      AND MEASURES: Clinical and social characteristics of patients, physician review
      process of the patients' requests, and the euthanasia review committees'
      assessments of the physicians' actions. RESULTS: Of the 66 cases reviewed, 70% (n
      = 46) were women. In total, 32% (n = 21) were 70 years or older, 44% (n = 29)
      were 50 to 70 years old, and 24% (n = 16) were 30 to 50 years old. Most had
      chronic, severe conditions, with histories of attempted suicides and psychiatric
      hospitalizations. Most had personality disorders and were described as socially
      isolated or lonely. Depressive disorders were the primary psychiatric issue in
      55% (n = 36) of cases. Other conditions represented were psychotic, posttraumatic
      stress or anxiety, somatoform, neurocognitive, and eating disorders, as well as
      prolonged grief and autism. Comorbidities with functional impairments were
      common. Forty-one percent (n = 27) of physicians performing EAS were
      psychiatrists. Twenty-seven percent (n = 18) of patients received the procedure
      from physicians new to them, 14 of whom were physicians from the End-of-Life
      Clinic, a mobile euthanasia clinic. Consultation with other physicians was
      extensive, but 11% (n = 7) of cases had no independent psychiatric input, and 24%
      (n = 16) of cases involved disagreement among consultants. The euthanasia review
      committees found that one case failed to meet legal due care criteria.
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Persons receiving EAS for psychiatric disorders in the
      Netherlands are mostly women and of diverse ages, with complex and chronic
      psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial histories. The granting of their EAS
      requests appears to involve considerable physician judgment, usually involving
      multiple physicians who do not always agree (sometimes without independent
      psychiatric input), but the euthanasia review committees generally defer to the
      judgments of the physicians performing the EAS.

PMID- 26864711
TI  - Host-parasite interactions and the immunobiology of cestodes.

PMID- 26864713
TI  - Murder and psychosis: Neuropsychological profiles of homicide offenders with
      schizophrenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive dysfunction, a core feature of schizophrenia, is
      thought to contribute to the impulsive violent aggression manifested by some
      individuals with schizophrenia, but not enough is known about how homicidal
      individuals with schizophrenia perform on neuropsychological measures. AIMS: The
      primary aim of our study was to describe the neuropsychological profiles of
      homicide offenders with schizophrenia. Supplementary analyses compared the
      criminal, psychiatric and neuropsychological features of schizophrenic homicide
      offenders with and without God/Satan/demon-themed psychotic symptoms. METHODS:
      Twenty-five men and women diagnosed with schizophrenia who had killed another
      person - 21 convicted of first-degree murder and 4 found not guilty by reason of
      insanity - completed neuropsychological testing during forensic evaluations.
      RESULTS: The sample was characterised by extensive neurocognitive impairments,
      involving executive dysfunction (60%), memory dysfunction (68%) and attentional
      dysfunction (50%), although those with God/Satan/demon-themed psychotic symptoms
      performed better than those with nonreligious psychotic content. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings indicate that impaired cognition may play an important role in the
      commission of homicide by individuals with schizophrenia. A subgroup with
      God/Satan/demon delusions seem sufficiently less impaired that they might be able
      to engage in metacognitive treatment approaches, aimed at changing their
      relationship to their psychotic symptoms, thus reducing the perception of power
      and omnipotence of hallucinated voices and increasing their safety. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864714
TI  - Injuries Reported and Recorded for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Who Live
      with Paid Support in Scotland: a Comparison with Scottish Adults in the General
      Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Providers of supported living services to adults with intellectual
      disabilities (IDs) in the United Kingdom have procedures in place to monitor
      injuries; this provides opportunity to learn about the injuries being reported
      and recorded. The aim was to determine the incidence, causes and types of
      injuries experienced by 593 adults with intellectual disabilities who live with
      paid support in a 12-month period. METHOD: Injury data, collected via a standard
      electronic injury monitoring system, were compared with data collected for a
      matched sample of the general population in the same year. RESULTS: The adults
      with intellectual disabilities experienced a higher rate of injury. Falls were
      the commonest cause of injury for both samples, but significantly more so for the
      adults with intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The higher rate of injuries,
      particularly minor injuries, being reported suggests a culture of injury
      reporting and recording within these supported living services. Electronic injury
      monitoring is recommended for organizations providing supported living services
      for adults with intellectual disabilities.

PMID- 26864715
TI  - Barrier Function and Natural Moisturizing Factor Levels After Cumula-tive
      Exposure to Short-chain Aliphatic Alcohols and Detergents: Results of Occlusion
      modified Tandem Repeated Irritation Test.
AB  - Alcohol-based disinfectants and detergents are common workplace factors for
      irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Though occlusion and water are relevant co
      exposures, the tandem effects of occlusion and sequential exposure to alcohols
      and detergents have not been studied. We therefore investigated the combined
      effects of occlusion with water and repeated exposure to n-propanol and/or sodium
      lauryl sulphate (SLS) in an occlusion-modified tandem irritation test. The
      outcomes included visual scoring, measurement of erythema, transepidermal water
      loss, capacitance and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels. Occlusion
      abrogated the skin barrier function and significantly enhanced the irritant
      induced barrier damaging effects. The NMF levels of all irritant-exposed fields
      decreased significantly compared with the non-exposed fields; occlusion enhanced
      the decrease in NMF. Although SLS exerted more pronounced effects on the measured
      parameters, the barrier function impairment and NMF decrease after exposure to n
      propanol in workplace-relevant concentrations, found in the study, confirm the
      significance of short-chain aliphatic alcohols for occupational ICD.

PMID- 26864716
TI  - Predictions of the physicochemical properties of amino acid side chain analogs
      using molecular simulation.
AB  - A candidate drug compound is released for clinical trails (in vivo activity) only
      if its physicochemical properties meet desirable bioavailability and partitioning
      criteria. Amino acid side chain analogs play vital role in the functionalities of
      protein and peptides and as such are important in drug discovery. We demonstrate
      here that the predictions of solvation free energies in water, in 1-octanol, and
      self-solvation free energies computed using force field-based expanded ensemble
      molecular dynamics simulation provide good accuracy compared to existing
      empirical and semi-empirical methods. These solvation free energies are then, as
      shown here, used for the prediction of a wide range of physicochemical properties
      important in the assessment of bioavailability and partitioning of compounds. In
      particular, we consider here the vapor pressure, the solubility in both water and
      1-octanol, and the air-water, air-octanol, and octanol-water partition
      coefficients of amino acid side chain analogs computed from the solvation free
      energies. The calculated solvation free energies using different force fields are
      compared against each other and with available experimental data. The protocol
      here can also be used for a newly designed drug and other molecules where force
      field parameters and charges are obtained from density functional theory. 

PMID- 26864718
TI  - Iron deficiency anemia in newly diagnosed celiac disease in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) in children may occur with a wide spectrum of
      clinical manifestations: anemia is the most frequent extraintestinal
      manifestation, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the common presentation. In our
      study we aimed to assess IDA condition in a large cohort of pediatric patients
      with newly diagnosed CD. METHODS: Our study includes a cohort of 518 children
      (340 females and 178 males), 6 months-18 years old, joined between January 1990
      and January 2013. We have analyzed hematological parameters and iron balance:
      serum iron, serum ferritin and serum transferrin levels. The diagnosis of IDA was
      considered on the basis of hemoglobin levels below -2SD, associated with serum
      iron and ferritin reduction, serum transferrin increase; all compared with the
      normal reference values for age. RESULTS: Of all patients, 156 patients (30.1%)
      had anemia, including 103 females (19.8%) and 53 males (10.2%); of these, 112
      (21.62%) had IDA (in 18 cases associated with alpha- or beta-thalassemia trait),
      22 were thalassemic trait without iron deficiency and the remaining 19 suffered
      from other forms of anemia. One hundred fifteen patients (22.20%) with low
      ferritin levels but normal hemoglobin levels were considered as preanemic iron
      deficient patients. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that iron depletion and IDA
      represent a frequent finding at the diagnosis of CD. This significant relation
      existing between CD and iron deficiency should be considered by pediatricians at
      the diagnosis of CD in order to treat the patients.

PMID- 26864717
TI  - A Mendelian randomization study of testosterone and cognition in men.
AB  - Testosterone replacement for older men is increasingly common, with some
      observations suggesting a protective effect on cognitive function. We examined
      the association of endogenous testosterone with cognitive function among older
      men in a Mendelian randomization study using a separate-sample instrumental
      variable (SSIV) analysis estimator to minimize confounding and reverse causality.
      A genetic score predicting testosterone was developed in 289 young Chinese men
      from Hong Kong, based on selected testosterone-related single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (rs10046, rs1008805 and rs1256031). The association of genetically
      predicted testosterone with delayed 10-word recall score and Mini-Mental State
      Examination (MMSE) score was assessed at baseline and follow-up using generalized
      estimating equation among 4,212 older Chinese men from the Guangzhou Biobank
      Cohort Study. Predicted testosterone was not associated with delayed 10-word
      recall score (-0.02 per nmol/L testosterone, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.06
      0.02) or MMSE score (0.06, 95% CI -0.002-0.12). These estimates were similar
      after additional adjustment for age, education, smoking, use of alcohol, body
      mass index and the Framingham score. Our findings do not corroborate observed
      protective effects of testosterone on cognitive function among older men. 

PMID- 26864719
TI  - Body experiences and psychopathology in idiopathic central precocious and early
      puberty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Idiopathic central precocious (PP) and early puberty (EP) are
      frequently associated with psychopathological problems. The aim of this study was
      to evaluate the quality of body experiences and psychological aspects in girls
      with PP and EP, as well as the impact of these conditions on their families and
      the subjects' vulnerability. METHODS: Subjects with PP or EP, aged 7-15 years,
      were evaluated through the administration of a self-report questionnaire
      (Children's Depression Inventory, CDI), along with a projective test (Human
      Figure Drawing Test, HFDT). Their parents filled in a questionnaire about their
      child's behavior (Child Behavior Checklist 4-18, CBCL). RESULTS: Twenty-nine
      girls with PP or EP were compared to 55 age-matched healthy girls. The 13.8% of
      subjects with EP or PP presented depressive traits, and the 48.3% reported
      suicidal thoughts at the CDI (vs. CONTROLS: P<0.05). At the HFDT, a lower
      psychological maturity and a more negative self-image, that determine a
      vulnerability to psychopathology and mental suffering, were observed in those
      subjects with a past EP or PP, who entered in adolescence. CONCLUSION: EP and PP
      are complex conditions, which combine somatic symptoms with negative
      psychological sequelae, including an increased risk for depression and a
      distorted body perception. The use of projective tests for the assessment of body
      perception might help the clinician come to a deeper understanding of the
      therapeutic needs of girls with PP or EP.

PMID- 26864720
TI  - A child presenting with primary gingivostomatitis and eczema herpeticum.

PMID- 26864721
TI  - Diagnosis of type C esophageal atresia despite the "successful" positioning of a
      nasogastric tube.

PMID- 26864723
TI  - Atlas Toolkit: Fast registration of 3D morphological datasets in the absence of
      landmarks.
AB  - Image registration is a gateway technology for Developmental Systems Biology,
      enabling computational analysis of related datasets within a shared coordinate
      system. Many registration tools rely on landmarks to ensure that datasets are
      correctly aligned; yet suitable landmarks are not present in many datasets. Atlas
      Toolkit is a Fiji/ImageJ plugin collection offering elastic group-wise
      registration of 3D morphological datasets, guided by segmentation of the
      interesting morphology. We demonstrate the method by combinatorial mapping of
      cell signalling events in the developing eyes of chick embryos, and use the
      integrated datasets to predictively enumerate Gene Regulatory Network states. 

PMID- 26864722
TI  - Multimodal stimulus coding by a gustatory sensory neuron in Drosophila larvae.
AB  - Accurate perception of taste information is crucial for animal survival. In adult
      Drosophila, gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) perceive chemical stimuli of one
      specific gustatory modality associated with a stereotyped behavioural response,
      such as aversion or attraction. We show that GRNs of Drosophila larvae employ a
      surprisingly different mode of gustatory information coding. Using a novel method
      for calcium imaging in the larval gustatory system, we identify a multimodal GRN
      that responds to chemicals of different taste modalities with opposing valence,
      such as sweet sucrose and bitter denatonium, reliant on different sensory
      receptors. This multimodal neuron is essential for bitter compound avoidance, and
      its artificial activation is sufficient to mediate aversion. However, the neuron
      is also essential for the integration of taste blends. Our findings support a
      model for taste coding in larvae, in which distinct receptor proteins mediate
      different responses within the same, multimodal GRN. 

PMID- 26864724
TI  - C15078. Essential oil composition of Phagnalon sordidum (L.) from Corsica,
      chemical variability and antimicrobial activity.
AB  - The chemical composition of Phagnalon sordidum (L.) essential oil was
      investigated for the first time using gas chromatography and chromatography-mass
      spectrometry. Seventy-six compounds, which accounted for 87.9% of the total
      amount, were identified in a collective essential oil of P. sordidum from
      Corsica. The main essential oil components were (E)-beta-caryophyllene (14.4%),
      beta-pinene (11.0%), thymol (9.0%), and hexadecanoic acid (5.3%). The chemical
      compositions of essential oils from 19 Corsican locations were investigated. The
      study of the chemical variability using statistical analysis allowed identifying
      direct correlation between the three populations of P. sordidum widespread in
      Corsica and the essential oil compositions they produce. The in vitro
      antimicrobial activity of P. sordidum essential oil was evaluated and exhibited a
      notable activity on a large panel of clinically significant microorganisms. This
      article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864725
TI  - Targeting NOTCH1 in T-ALL: Starving the dragon.

PMID- 26864726
TI  - Combretum lanceolatum flowers ethanol extract inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis:
      an in vivo mechanism study.
AB  - Context Ethnopharmacological studies have demonstrated that plants of the
      Combretum genus presented antidiabetic activity, including Combretum lanceolatum
      Pohl ex Eichler (Combretaceae). Objective This study investigated the hepatic
      mechanisms of action of C. lanceolatum flowers ethanol extract (ClEtOH) related
      to its antihyperglycaemic effect in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Materials and
      methods Male Wistar rats were divided into normal (N) and diabetic control (DC)
      rats treated with vehicle (water); diabetic rats treated with 500 mg/kg metformin
      (DMet) or 500 mg/kg ClEtOH (DT500). After 21 d of treatment, hepatic glucose and
      urea production were investigated through in situ perfused liver with l
      glutamine. Changes in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) levels and in
      the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and
      insulin-signalling intermediates were also investigated. Results Similar to DMet,
      DT500 rats showed a reduction in the rates of hepatic production of glucose (46%)
      and urea (22%) in comparison with DC. This reduction was accompanied by a
      reduction in the PEPCK levels in liver of DT500 (28%) and DMet (43%) when
      compared with DC. AMPK phosphorylation levels were higher in the liver of DT500
      (17%) and DMet (16%) rats. The basal AKT phosphorylation levels were increased in
      liver of DT500 rats, without differences in the insulin-stimulated AKT
      phosphorylation and in the insulin receptor levels between DC and DT500 rats.
      Discussion and conclusion The antidiabetic activity of ClEtOH can be attributed,
      at least in part, to inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, probably due to the
      activation of both AMPK and AKT effectors and reduction in the PEPCK levels. 

PMID- 26864727
TI  - Kinetics of postdiagnosis platelet count with overall survival of pancreatic
      cancer: a counting process approach.
AB  - The association between long-term variation of postdiagnosis platelets and
      survival of pancreatic cancer (PC) has never been discussed by using dynamic
      survival analysis method. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 311
      histologically confirmed PC patients identified from a mega population-based
      electronic inpatients database from 2012 to 2013 in China. Counting process
      approach was applied to restructure the original survival data, the association
      between post-diagnosis platelet count and overall survival (OS) of PC was
      evaluated by multiple failure-time Cox proportional hazards model. After counting
      process adjustment, multiple failure-time Cox proportional hazards model revealed
      that, regardless of the treatment modalities PC patients received, postdiagnosis
      thrombocytopenia was prominently associated with OS, compared with PC patients
      with normally ranged platelet count, the HRs ranged from 2.04 (95% CI: 1.14-3.67)
      to 10.82 (95% CI: 2.63-44.54), and this inverse association was robust based on
      further sensitivity analysis. On the contrary, the association between
      thrombocytosis and OS of PC tended to be inconclusive. Our findings suggested
      that postdiagnosis thrombocytopenia was associated with significantly compromised
      survival among PC patients from this large retrospective cohort. Underlying
      mechanisms behind this association should be further investigated.

PMID- 26864728
TI  - Randomized clinical trial of prehabilitation before planned liver resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with low fitness as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise
      testing (CPET) have higher mortality and morbidity after surgery. Preoperative
      exercise intervention, or prehabilitation, has been suggested as a method to
      improve CPET values and outcomes. This trial sought to assess the capacity of a 4
      week supervised exercise programme to improve fitness before liver resection for
      colorectal liver metastasis. METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial
      assessing the effect of a 4-week (12 sessions) high-intensity cycle, interval
      training programme in patients undergoing elective liver resection for colorectal
      liver metastases. The primary endpoint was oxygen uptake at the anaerobic
      threshold. Secondary endpoints included other CPET values and preoperative
      quality of life (QoL) assessed using the SF-36(r). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients
      were randomized (20 to prehabilitation, 18 to standard care), and 35 (25 men and
      10 women) completed both preoperative assessments and were analysed. The median
      age was 62 (i.q.r. 54-69) years, and there were no differences in baseline
      characteristics between the two groups. Prehabilitation led to improvements in
      preoperative oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (+1.5 (95 per cent c.i. 0.2 to
      2.9) ml per kg per min) and peak exercise (+2.0 (0.0 to 4.0) ml per kg per min).
      The oxygen pulse (oxygen uptake per heart beat) at the anaerobic threshold
      improved (+0.9 (0.0 to 1.8) ml/beat), and a higher peak work rate (+13 (4 to 22)
      W) was achieved. This was associated with improved preoperative QoL, with the
      overall SF-36(r) score increasing by 11 (95 per cent c.i. 1 to 21) (P = 0.028)
      and the overall SF-36(r) mental health score by 11 (1 to 22) (P = 0.037).
      CONCLUSION: A 4-week prehabilitation programme can deliver improvements in CPET
      scores and QoL before liver resection. This may impact on perioperative outcome.
      REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01523353 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

PMID- 26864730
TI  - Rapid Swelling of Infarcted Myocardium Soon after Primary Percutaneous Coronary
      Intervention: A Sign of Critical Reperfusion Hemorrhage.

PMID- 26864731
TI  - Amine-bis(phenolate) Iron(III)-Catalyzed Formal Hydroamination of Olefins.
AB  - A practical synthesis of highly functionalized amines by the formal
      hydroamination reaction of alkenes with nitroarenes catalyzed by an air stable
      amine-bis(phenolate) iron(III) complex is reported. The reaction uses an easily
      handled silane, low catalyst loadings, and mild reaction conditions. A wide range
      of substrates are transformed with synthetically useful yields (21 examples). 

PMID- 26864729
TI  - Bloodstream infections in patients with liver cirrhosis.
AB  - Bloodstream infections are a serious complication in patients with liver
      cirrhosis. Dysregulated intestinal bacterial translocation is the predominant
      pathophysiological mechanism of infections in this setting. For this reason
      enteric Gram-negative bacteria are commonly encountered as the first etiological
      cause of infection. However, through the years, the improvement in the management
      of cirrhosis, the recourse to invasive procedures and the global spread of
      multidrug resistant pathogens have importantly changed the current epidemiology.
      Bloodstream infections in cirrhotic patients are characterized by high mortality
      rate and complications including metastatic infections, infective endocarditis,
      and endotipsitis (or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt-related
      infection). For this reason early identification of patients at risk for
      mortality and appropriated therapeutic management is mandatory. Liver cirrhosis
      can significantly change the pharmacokinetic behavior of antimicrobials. In fact
      hypoproteinaemia, ascitis and third space expansion and impairment of renal
      function can be translated in an unpredictable drug exposure. 

PMID- 26864734
TI  - Multifunctionalized CMCht/PAMAM Dendrimer Nanoparticles Modulate the Cellular
      Uptake by Astrocytes and Oligodendrocytes in Primary Cultures of Glial Cells.

PMID- 26864732
TI  - Perspectives on heterococcolith geochemical proxies based on high-resolution X
      ray fluorescence mapping.
AB  - Heterococcoliths are micron-scale calcite platelets produced by coccolithophores.
      They have been the most abundant and continuous fossil record over the last 215
      million years (Myr), offering great potential for geochemical studies, although
      the heterococcolith fossil record remains underutilised in this domain. We have
      mapped heterococcoliths' composition using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) with a 100-nm
      resolution beam to decipher element distributions in heterococcoliths and to
      investigate the potential development of geochemical proxies for
      palaeoceanography. The study presents two Middle Jurassic Watznaueria britannica
      heterococcoliths from Cabo Mondego, Portugal. XRF analysis was performed with a
      17 keV incident energy beam at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility ID22NI
      beamline to study elements from Sr down to S. Ca, Sr and Mn are distributed
      following the heterococcolith crystalline arrangement. Cl, Br and S display an
      homogeneous distribution, whereas K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Rb are concentrated at the
      edges and in the central area of the heterococcoliths. Distributions of K, Fe,
      Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb and to a lesser extent V and Cr are highly influenced by clay
      contamination and peripheral diagenetic overgrowth. Mn is related to diagenetic
      Mn-rich CaCO3 overgrowth on top of or between heterococcoliths shields. Cl and Br
      are likely to be present in heterococcoliths inside interstitial nano-domains. We
      assume that the cytoplasm [Cl(-) ] and [Br(-) ] are mediated and constant during
      heterococcolithogenesis. Assuming a linear correlation between cytoplasm [Cl(-) ]
      and sea water [Cl(-) ], heterococcolith Cl may have potential as a salinity
      proxy. As S is incorporated into heterococcoliths by sulphated polysaccharides,
      our study suggests a role for such polysaccharides in heterococcolithogenesis for
      at least 170 Myr. The low Sr/Ca in the W. britannica specimens studied here may
      either highlight an unusual cellular physiology of Mesozoic coccolithophores or
      result from low growth rates in oligotrophic environments.

PMID- 26864735
TI  - Probing electron-phonon excitations in molecular junctions by quantum
      interference.
AB  - Electron-phonon coupling is a fundamental inelastic interaction in condensed
      matter and in molecules. Here we probe phonon excitations using quantum
      interference in electron transport occurring in short chains of anthraquinone
      based molecular junctions. By studying the dependence of molecular junction's
      conductance as a function of bias voltage and temperature, we show that inelastic
      scattering of electrons by phonons can be detected as features in conductance
      resulting from quenching of quantum interference. Our results are in agreement
      with density functional theory calculations and are well described by a generic
      two-site model in the framework of non-equilibrium Green's functions formalism.
      The importance of the observed inelastic contribution to the current opens up new
      ways for exploring coherent electron transport through molecular devices. 

PMID- 26864736
TI  - The effect of acupuncture on postoperative nausea and vomiting after pediatric
      tonsillectomy: A meta-analysis and systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed
      pediatric surgical procedures worldwide. The complications of this procedure
      include postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain; therefore, both the
      treatment and prevention of PONV are important. Classical antiemetics include
      drug therapies such as ondansetron, which are undesirable because they often
      carry a high cost and several side effects. Therefore, in this study we aimed to
      evaluate the antiemetic effect of acupuncture after pediatric tonsillectomy.
      METHODS: We searched for eligible articles that reported on the antiemetic
      effects of acupuncture after tonsillectomy using the three databases, MEDLINE,
      Embase, and Cochrane, through July 2015. We included full-length original
      articles with adequate data for evaluating the antiemetic effects on pediatric
      tonsillectomy in the form of a relative ratio. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was
      used to assess the quality of case control and cohort studies, and the Cochrane
      risk of bias tool was employed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS:
      The search identified 415 publications. After screening, we selected eight
      articles for review (4 RCTs, 3 prospective cohorts, and 1 pilot study). A meta
      analysis of acupuncture in pediatric tonsillectomy revealed that the number of
      patients with PONV was significantly reduced with acupuncture compared to the
      control group, with a risk ratio of 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.63-0.94, P <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: When acupuncture at PC6 (neiguan) was used to prevent PONV
      after pediatric tonsillectomy, the risk ratio was significantly lower compared to
      that of conventional drug therapy. Although further randomized controlled trials
      are needed, acupuncture at PC6 is considered an economic and effective treatment
      for emesis after pediatric tonsillectomy. Laryngoscope, 126:1761-1767, 2016.

PMID- 26864737
TI  - Combined ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction and polyethylenimine
      mediated plasmid DNA delivery to the rat retina: enhanced efficiency and
      accelerated expression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gene therapy has potential in the treatment of refractory retinal
      diseases. It is important to develop an effective delivery system in the retina.
      The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)
      targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD)-mediated polyethylenimine (PEI) to the
      rat retina. METHODS: Gene transfer was examined by injecting PEI/plasmid DNA
      (pDNA) with or without microbubbles (MBs) into the subretinal space of rats that
      were then exposed to US. We investigated enhanced green fluorescent protein
      (eGFP) expression on flat fundus oculi and performed quantitative analysis.
      Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe tissue damage. RESULTS: UTMD
      significantly enhanced PEI/pDNA transfection efficiency safely by increasing both
      the transgene expression per cell and the percentage of transfected cells of the
      retina. PEI/pDNA combined with UTMD significantly increased the number of DNA
      gene copies and the mRNA level in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neural
      retina, respectively, compared to PEI/pDNA alone. CONCLUSIONS: The present study
      demonstrates that enhanced and accelerated pDNA expression can be achieved in the
      retina/RPE cells in vivo by UTMD physical techniques combined with a PEI chemical
      vector. Our study provides useful information for further in vivo retinal gene
      therapy work. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864738
TI  - Elevated blood lead and cadmium levels associated with chronic infections among
      non-smokers in a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Experimental animal studies, in vitro experiments, and clinical
      assessments have shown that metal toxicity can impair immune responses. We
      analyzed data from a United States representative National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore associations between chronic infections
      and elevated blood concentrations of lead and cadmium among non-smoking NHANES
      participants. METHODS: NHANES data from 1999 to 2012 were examined and weighted
      to represent the United States population. Multivariable logistic regression was
      used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI)
      for heavy metal associations with seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori,
      Toxoplasma gondii, and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. RESULTS: Available 2
      year survey cycles for infection seroprevalence varied by pathogen, from 1 to 7
      cycles. Available sample size, disease seroprevalence, and participant age range
      also varied by pathogen of interest. After controlling for demographic
      characteristics and general health condition, an elevated blood lead level above
      the survey population median was significantly associated with seropositivity for
      all three pathogens (AORs = 1.2-1.5). In addition, an elevated blood cadmium
      level above the median was significantly associated with HBV (AOR = 1.5; 95 % CI
      = 1.2-2.0) and H. pylori (AOR = 1.5; 95 % CI = 1.2-1.7) seropositivity. Age
      specific analyses for H. pylori and T. gondii indicated stronger associations
      among children under 13 years of age, particularly for lead exposure and H.
      pylori seropositivity, and weaker associations among those over 35 years of age.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of this cross-sectional human health survey suggest that
      the immunological effects of lead and cadmium toxicity may be associated with an
      increased susceptibility to chronic infections.

PMID- 26864739
TI  - Failure to thrive as presentation in a patient with 22q11.2 microdeletion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of chromosome 22q11, including deletions and
      translocations, have been described in association with different birth defects
      and malformations occurring in many combinations and degrees of severity. CASE
      PRESENTATION: We describe the case of an 8 month-old infant with no dysmorphic
      signs who showed progressive postnatal growth failure and no chronic systemic
      diseases. We found a 22q11.2 microdeletion, inherited from the mother, suggesting
      the diagnosis of DiGeorge syndrome. The patient had an isolated growth hormone
      (GH) deficiency and a significant increase in linear growth during the first and
      the second year of GH therapy, and a recovery of weight was shown. CONCLUSIONS:
      Sometimes, in infants with growth failure a genetic analysis is strongly
      suggested, since chromosomal abnormalities may be present.

PMID- 26864740
TI  - Interlinkage among cardio-metabolic disease markers in an urban poor setting in
      Nairobi, Kenya.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The main cardio-metabolic diseases - mostly cardiovascular diseases
      such as stroke and ischemic heart disease - share common clinical markers such as
      raised blood pressure and blood glucose. The pathways of development of many of
      these conditions are also interlinked. In this regard, a higher level of co
      occurrence of the main cardio-metabolic disease markers is expected. Evidence
      about the patterns of occurrence of cardio-metabolic markers and their
      interlinkage in the sub-Saharan African setting is inadequate. OBJECTIVE: The
      goal of the study was to describe the interlinkage among common cardio-metabolic
      disease markers in an African setting. DESIGN: We used data collected in a cross
      sectional study from 5,190 study participants as part of cardiovascular disease
      risk assessment in the urban slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Five commonly used clinical
      markers of cardio-metabolic conditions were considered in this analysis. These
      markers were waist circumference, blood pressure, random blood glucose, total
      blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Patterns of these markers were
      described using means, standard deviations, and proportions. The associations
      between the markers were determined using odds ratios. RESULTS: The weighted
      prevalence of central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia,
      and hypertriglyceridemia were 12.3%, 7.0%, 2.5%, 10.3%, and 17.3%, respectively.
      Women had a higher prevalence of central obesity and hypercholesterolemia as
      compared to men. Blood glucose was strongly associated with central obesity,
      blood pressure, and triglyceride levels, whereas the association between blood
      glucose and total blood cholesterol was not statistically significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that most of the common cardio-metabolic markers
      are interlinked, suggesting a higher probability of comorbidity due to cardio
      metabolic conditions and thus the need for integrated approaches.

PMID- 26864741
TI  - Dual contraceptive method use in HIV-serodiscordant Kenyan couples.
AB  - BACKGROUND: World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend dual
      contraceptive method use with condoms and another contraceptive to reduce both
      incidence of HIV/sexually transmitted infection transmission and unintended
      pregnancies. This qualitative study assessed the barriers to and motivations for
      dual contraceptive use in Kenyan HIV-serodiscordant couples. METHODS: HIV
      serodiscordant couples in Nairobi, Kenya, were recruited from two longitudinal
      cohorts. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted using a
      semistructured questionnaire. Twelve male and 12 female members of serodiscordant
      couples and 10 women with incident pregnancies during the cohort studies were
      included. RESULTS: Few couples reported using dual contraceptive methods, with
      men reporting more condom use than women. No HIV-seropositive men or HIV
      seronegative women reported using non-condom contraception. Men and women agreed
      that men play a dominant role in decisions to use both condoms and contraception
      in HIV-serodiscordant couples. Participants reported that perceptions of side
      effects, male partner preference, and reproductive desire were critical factors
      in contraceptive decisions. Both men and women saw dual contraceptive method use
      as redundant and a sign of possible unfaithfulness. Many participants actively
      desired pregnancy, but few were able to accurately define monthly fertility
      windows. CONCLUSIONS: Dual contraceptive method use was low in these HIV
      serodiscordant couples, with some couples finding it unnecessary while using
      condoms, and others being more focused on conceiving a child. Biomedical HIV
      prevention, including male circumcision, pre-exposure prophylaxis or
      antiretroviral therapy to reduce HIV transmission, may be more acceptable
      strategies to promote safer sexual relations among HIV-serodiscordant couples and
      safer conception when desired.

PMID- 26864742
TI  - The first metatarsophalangeal joint in gout: a systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this review was to qualitatively synthesise studies that
      have investigated characteristics of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (1(st)
      MTP) in gout and to undertake a meta-analysis to estimate the average prevalence
      of acute 1(st) MTP arthritis across studies in people with gout. METHODS: Studies
      published in English were included if they involved participants who had a
      diagnosis of gout and presented original findings relating to the following
      outcome measures associated with the 1(st) MTP: epidemiology; clinical features;
      structural and functional characteristics; and microscopic and imaging features.
      RESULTS: Forty-five studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. 1(st) MTP
      pain was a prominent feature in people with gout. People with 1(st) MTP gout
      reported walking- and general-disability. Structural and functional
      characteristics of 1(st) MTP gout included hallux valgus, osteoarthritis, and
      restricted joint motion. Successful crystal aspiration ranged from 81 to 91 % and
      positive crystal identification via microscopy ranged from 83 to 93 % in patients
      with a history of 1(st) MTP gout. Imaging features were common at the 1(st) MTP
      including the double contour sign, tophi and erosions. Eleven studies involving
      2,325 participants were included in the meta-analysis, providing an estimate of
      the average prevalence of acute 1(st) MTP arthritis across studies of 73 % (95 %
      prediction interval 40-92 %; range 48-97 %; I(2) = 93 %). CONCLUSIONS: 1(st) MTP
      acute arthritis is highly prevalent in people with gout and has a substantial
      impact on patient-reported pain and disability. Gout affects the structure and
      function of the 1(st) MTP. Microscopic and imaging studies have demonstrated
      crystal deposition and joint damage at the 1(st) MTP in people with gout.

PMID- 26864744
TI  - Experimental caprine neosporosis: the influence of gestational stage on the
      outcome of infection.
AB  - Here, we assessed outcome of experimental infection by Neospora caninum in goats
      intravenously inoculated with 10(6) tachyzoites of the Nc-Spain7 isolate at 40
      (G1), 90 (G2) and 120 (G3) days of gestation. Infected goats had fever between 5
      and 9 days post inoculation (dpi); all were seropositive at the time of
      abortion/birth. Foetal death occurred in G1 from 10 to 21 dpi (n = 7) and in G2
      from 27 to 35 dpi (n = 4). Goats in G2 also had seropositive stillbirth (n = 1)
      and healthy kids (n = 2). G3 goats (n = 7) had 3 seropositive and 3 seronegative
      weak kids, and 2 seronegative healthy kids. Parasite DNA detection in placentomes
      was 100% in G2, 85.7% in G3 and in G1 was detected only in placentomes from the
      goats with foetal losses from 17 dpi (100%). Parasites were detected in
      foetal/kid brain (>85.7%) and liver (>= 50%) of G2 and G3, and in G1 after 17 dpi
      (100%). The highest parasite loads were detected in the placentomes of G1 from 17
      dpi and G2, and in foetal tissues of G1 from 17 dpi and G3. Multifocal necrotic
      lesions were observed in the placentas of the three groups, but they were larger
      and more frequent in G1 and G2. Similar lesions were observed in foetal tissues,
      but they were more frequent in G3. These findings suggest that, as observed in
      cattle and sheep, the clinical consequences of N. caninum in pregnant goats are
      dependent in part on the time of gestation when animals were infected.

PMID- 26864743
TI  - Effect of Schistosoma mansoni Infection on Innate and HIV-1-Specific T-Cell
      Immune Responses in HIV-1-Infected Ugandan Fisher Folk.
AB  - In Uganda, fisher folk have HIV prevalence rates, about four times higher than
      the national average, and are often coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni. We
      hypothesized that innate immune responses and HIV-specific Th1 immune responses
      might be downmodulated in HIV/S. mansoni-coinfected individuals compared with
      HIV+/S. mansoni-negative individuals. We stimulated whole blood with innate
      receptor agonists and analyzed supernatant cytokines by Luminex. We evaluated HIV
      specific responses by intracellular cytokine staining for IFN-gamma, IL-2, and
      TNF-alpha. We found that the plasma viral load and CD4 count were similar between
      the HIV+SM+ and HIV+SM- individuals. In addition, the TNF-alpha response to the
      imidazoquinoline compound CL097 and beta-1, 3-glucan (curdlan), was significantly
      higher in HIV/S. mansoni-coinfected individuals compared with HIV only-infected
      individuals. The frequency of HIV-specific IFN-gamma+IL-2-TNF-alpha- CD8 T cells
      and IFN-gamma+IL-2-TNF-alpha+ CD4 T cells was significantly higher in HIV/S.
      mansoni-coinfected individuals compared with HIV only-infected individuals. These
      findings do not support the hypothesis that S. mansoni downmodulates innate or
      HIV-specific Th1 responses in HIV/S. mansoni-coinfected individuals.

PMID- 26864745
TI  - Treat to Target in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: With the expanding armamentarium in IBD the current treatment
      targets can be reached. By optimally using our drugs we can avoid long-term
      complications in IBD. For this the therapeutic strategy has to be changed from a
      clinically driven approach to a target-driven strategy. Currently mucosal
      healing, normalization of biomarkers, histological healing, and healing on
      abdominal imaging are proposed targets. Correct phenotyping of the patient before
      initiation of therapy is mandatory. Once treatment is initiated a continuous re
      evaluation with consequent adaptation of the treatment when goals are not (yet)
      reached is needed. Both escalation and de-escalation should be considered. Drug
      levels can be used as a guidance to reach these targets.

PMID- 26864746
TI  - Preliminary Evidence of Decreased Disease-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life
      in Asymptomatic Stone Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Kidney stone patients have lower health-related quality of life
      (HRQOL) than nonstone formers. Among active stone patients (those with stones),
      those with symptoms have lower HRQOL than those without. However, little is known
      about whether asymptomatic stones affect patients' HRQOL. METHODS: A sample of
      asymptomatic stone formers was assembled by identifying patients who reported no
      symptoms on the disease-specific Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life (WiSQoL)
      questionnaire (n=351). Of these, 107 were identified (M:F 61:46; 53+/-17 years;
      BMI 29.5+/-7.6). Patients were mostly recurrent (78%), and 42% thought they had
      stones at the time of the WiSQoL questionnaire. Patients' WisQoL responses were
      compared by self-reported stone status (yes/no), actual stone status (yes/no,
      corroborated from imaging and medical records), age, gender, and duration of
      stones. RESULTS: Of patients reporting stones at the time of the questionnaire
      (42% of sample), 37 (82%) were correct about it. Of patients who reported not
      having stones (49% of sample), 29 (55%) were correct. WiSQoL results were lower
      (worse HRQOL) among patients with stones versus those without, regardless of
      whether they knew their actual stone status. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic patients
      with current stones, whether they are aware of them or not, may have lower HRQOL.
      These results suggest that (a) some patients may not be fully aware of their
      stone-related symptoms or are better able to handle them than others, and (b) due
      to the potential impact on HRQOL, some patients may benefit from definitive
      knowledge of their stone status as this may inform decision-making for subsequent
      stone management.

PMID- 26864748
TI  - Permanent mesh has "limited utility" for vaginal prolapse repair, review finds.

PMID- 26864747
TI  - Evaluation of the Viabilities and Stabilities of Pathogenic Mold and Yeast
      Species Using Three Different Preservation Methods Over a 12-Year Period Along
      with a Review of Published Reports.
AB  - Serious mycological work requires a reliable source of cultures that are
      maintained under safe long-term storage. In this study, 1186 clinical fungal
      isolates consisting of molds (20 species in 11 genera) and yeasts (21 species in
      seven genera) maintained in water, under mineral oil at room temperature and
      cryopreserved at -80  degrees C for periods ranging from 1 to 12 years, were
      evaluated for their viabilities and stabilities. The strains were subcultured
      onto either Sabouraud dextrose agar or potato dextrose agar to determine the
      viabilities and purities. The stabilities of the dermatophytes were investigated
      using urease test medium, the Trichophyton agar test and morphological
      examination. The stabilities of yeasts were evaluated by microscopic morphology
      and by determining the antifungal susceptibilities of random samples of yeasts (n
      = 120). Additionally, 365 strains (dermatophytes, n = 115; yeasts, n = 250) were
      further characterized by "matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of
      flight mass spectrometry." After 12 years of preservation, the survival rates
      with the three different preservation techniques, i.e., in water, under mineral
      oil and by freezing, were assessed as 94.7, 82.0 and 97.4 %, respectively.
      Viability was generally unrelated to the duration of storage. More stable and
      consistent growth was achieved after storage in water and freezing compared with
      mineral oil preservation. Our results demonstrate that the procedure for
      maintaining fungal cultures in water is a simple and inexpensive method, next to
      cryopreservation, and that both can be reliably used for the long-term
      preservation of most fungal isolates. 

PMID- 26864750
TI  - Comparative Investigation of the Ionicity of Aprotic and Protic Ionic Liquids in
      Molecular Solvents by using Conductometry and NMR Spectroscopy.
AB  - Electrical conductivity (sigma), viscosity (eta), and self-diffusion coefficient
      (D) measurements of binary mixtures of aprotic and protic imidazolium-based ionic
      liquids with water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethylene glycol were measured from
      293.15 to 323.15 K. The temperature dependence study reveals typical Arrhenius
      behavior. The ionicities of aprotic ionic liquids were observed to be higher than
      those of protic ionic liquids in these solvents. The aprotic ionic liquid, 1
      butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmIm][BF4 ], displays 100 %
      ionicity in both water and ethylene glycol. The protic ionic liquids in both
      water and ethylene glycol are classed as good ionic candidates, whereas in DMSO
      they are classed as having a poor ionic nature. The solvation dynamics of the
      ionic species of the ionic liquids are illustrated on the basis of the (1) H NMR
      chemical shifts of the ionic liquids. The self-diffusion coefficients D of the
      cation and anion of [HmIm][CH3 COO] in D2 O and in [D6 ]DMSO are determined by
      using (1) H nuclei with pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26864749
TI  - Broadband perfect light trapping in the thinnest monolayer graphene-MoS2
      photovoltaic cell: the new application of spectrum-splitting structure.
AB  - The light absorption of a monolayer graphene-molybdenum disulfide photovoltaic
      (GM-PV) cell in a wedge-shaped microcavity with a spectrum-splitting structure is
      investigated theoretically. The GM-PV cell, which is three times thinner than the
      traditional photovoltaic cell, exhibits up to 98% light absorptance in a wide
      wavelength range. This rate exceeds the fundamental limit of nanophotonic light
      trapping in solar cells. The effects of defect layer thickness, GM-PV cell
      position in the microcavity, incident angle, and lens aberration on the light
      absorptance of the GM-PV cell are explored. Despite these effects, the GM-PV cell
      can still achieve at least 90% light absorptance with the current technology. Our
      proposal provides different methods to design light-trapping structures and apply
      spectrum-splitting systems. 

PMID- 26864751
TI  - Alternative interpretations for decreasing voltage with increasing charge in
      ferroelectric capacitors.
AB  - Recent claim on the direct observation of a negative capacitance (NC) effect from
      a single layer epitaxial Pb(Zr0.2,Ti0.8)O3 (PZT) thin film was carefully
      reexamined, and alternative interpretations that can explain the experimental
      results without invoking the NC effect are provided. Any actual ferroelectric
      capacitor has an interfacial layer, and experiment always measures the sum of
      voltages across the interface layer and the ferroelectric layer. The main
      observation of decreasing ferroelectric capacitor voltage (VF) for increasing
      ferroelectric capacitor charge (QF), claimed to be the direct evidence for the NC
      effect, could be alternatively interpreted by either the sudden increase in the
      positive capacitance of a ferroelectric capacitor or decrease in the voltage
      across the interfacial layer due to resistance degradation. The experimental time
      transient VF and QF could be precisely simulated by these alternative models that
      fundamentally assumes the reverse domain nucleation and growth. Supplementary
      experiments using an epitaxial BaTiO3 film supported this claim. This, however,
      does not necessarily mean that the realization of the NC effect within the
      ferroelectric layer is impractical under appropriate conditions. Rather, the
      circuit suggested by Khan et al. may not be useful to observe the NC effect
      directly. 

PMID- 26864752
TI  - Prenatal detection of 5q14.3 duplication including MEF2C and brain phenotype.
AB  - The 5q14.3 duplication is a rare condition comprising speech and developmental
      delay, microcephaly, and mild ventriculomegaly. The region 5q14.3 contains
      several genes but the predominant role for the onset of the neurodevelopmental
      phenotype has been attributed to MEF2C. We describe the prenatal identification
      of 5q14.3 duplication, including MEF2C, in a monochorionic twin pregnancy with
      corpus callosum anomalies, confirmed by autopsy. To the best of our knowledge,
      this cerebral finding has been observed for the first time in 5q14.3 duplication
      patients, possibly widening the neurological picture of this scarcely known
      syndrome. A pathogenetic role of MEF2C overexpression in brain development may be
      assumed, but further studies are needed.

PMID- 26864753
TI  - Extending the corrole ring conjugation: preparation of beta,beta'-fused 2,3
      [1',2'-b]pyrazinocorroles.
AB  - A novel method for the preparation of corroles with beta-fused pyrazino rings was
      developed, exploiting a one-pot reaction of 2,3-diaminocorroles (or 2,3,17,18
      tetraaminocorroles) with different diones; a variety of pi-extended corroles were
      obtained in moderate yields as copper complexes, which can then be demetallated
      to give the corresponding free base in good yields. 

PMID- 26864754
TI  - Whisker-related afferents in superior colliculus.
AB  - Rodents use their whiskers to explore the environment, and the superior
      colliculus is part of the neural circuits that process this sensorimotor
      information. Cells in the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus
      integrate trigeminotectal afferents from trigeminal complex and corticotectal
      afferents from barrel cortex. Using histological methods in mice, we found that
      trigeminotectal and corticotectal synapses overlap somewhat as they innervate the
      lower and upper portions of the intermediate granular layer, respectively. Using
      electrophysiological recordings and optogenetics in anesthetized mice in vivo, we
      showed that, similar to rats, whisker deflections produce two successive
      responses that are driven by trigeminotectal and corticotectal afferents. We then
      employed in vivo and slice experiments to characterize the response properties of
      these afferents. In vivo, corticotectal responses triggered by electrical
      stimulation of the barrel cortex evoke activity in the superior colliculus that
      increases with stimulus intensity and depresses with increasing frequency. In
      slices from adult mice, optogenetic activation of channelrhodopsin-expressing
      trigeminotectal and corticotectal fibers revealed that cells in the intermediate
      layers receive more efficacious trigeminotectal, than corticotectal, synaptic
      inputs. Moreover, the efficacy of trigeminotectal inputs depresses more strongly
      with increasing frequency than that of corticotectal inputs. The intermediate
      layers of superior colliculus appear to be tuned to process strong but infrequent
      trigeminal inputs and weak but more persistent cortical inputs, which explains
      features of sensory responsiveness, such as the robust rapid sensory adaptation
      of whisker responses in the superior colliculus.

PMID- 26864755
TI  - Sensorimotor recalibration during split-belt walking: task-specific and
      multisensory?
AB  - Motor adaptations not only recalibrate movement execution but also can lead to
      altered movement perception in multiple sensory domains. Vazquez, Statton,
      Busgang, and Bastian (J Neurophysiol 114: 3255-3267, 2015) recently showed that
      split-belt walking affects perception of leg speed during walking, but not
      perceptions of leg position during standing and walking or perception of contact
      force during stepping. Considering their findings within the broader scope of
      sensorimotor recalibration in other tasks, we suggest that sensorimotor
      recalibrations are task specific and can be multisensory.

PMID- 26864757
TI  - Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation of primary somatosensory
      cortex on vibrotactile detection and discrimination.
AB  - Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) of primary somatosensory
      cortex (S1) has been shown to enhance tactile spatial acuity, but there is little
      information as to the underlying neuronal mechanisms. We examined vibrotactile
      perception on the distal phalanx of the middle finger before, during, and after
      contralateral S1 tDCS [a-, cathodal (c)-, and sham (s)-tDCS]. The experiments
      tested our shift-gain hypothesis, which predicted that a-tDCS would decrease
      vibrotactile detection and discrimination thresholds (leftward shift of the
      stimulus-response function with increased gain/slope) relative to s-tDCS, whereas
      c-tDCS would have the opposite effects (relative to s-tDCS). The results showed
      that weak a-tDCS (1 mA, 20 min) led to a reduction in both vibrotactile detection
      and discrimination thresholds to 73-76% of baseline during the application of the
      stimulation in subjects categorized as responders. These effects persisted after
      the end of a-tDCS but were absent 30 min later. Most, but not all, subjects
      showed a decrease in threshold (8/12 for detection; 9/12 for discrimination).
      Intersubject variability was explained by a ceiling effect in the discrimination
      task. c-tDCS had no significant effect on either detection or discrimination
      threshold. Taken together, our results supported our shift-gain hypothesis for a
      tDCS but not c-tDCS. 

PMID- 26864756
TI  - Ca2+ removal by the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase influences the contribution of
      mitochondria to activity-dependent Ca2+ dynamics in Aplysia neuroendocrine cells.
AB  - After Ca(2+) influx, mitochondria can sequester Ca(2+) and subsequently release
      it back into the cytosol. This form of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR)
      prolongs Ca(2+) signaling and can potentially mediate activity-dependent
      plasticity. As Ca(2+) is required for its subsequent release, Ca(2+) removal
      systems, like the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA), could impact CICR. Here
      we examine such a role for the PMCA in the bag cell neurons of Aplysia
      californica CICR is triggered in these neurons during an afterdischarge and is
      implicated in sustaining membrane excitability and peptide secretion. Somatic
      Ca(2+) was measured from fura-PE3-loaded cultured bag cell neurons recorded under
      whole cell voltage clamp. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) influx was elicited with a 5-Hz, 1
      min train, which mimics the fast phase of the afterdischarge. PMCA inhibition
      with carboxyeosin or extracellular alkalization augmented the effectiveness of
      Ca(2+) influx in eliciting mitochondrial CICR. A Ca(2+) compartment model
      recapitulated these findings and indicated that disrupting PMCA-dependent Ca(2+)
      removal increases CICR by enhancing mitochondrial Ca(2+) loading. Indeed,
      carboxyeosin augmented train-evoked mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. Consistent with
      their role on Ca(2+) dynamics, cell labeling revealed that the PMCA and
      mitochondria overlap with Ca(2+) entry sites. Finally, PMCA-dependent Ca(2+)
      extrusion did not impact endoplasmic reticulum-dependent Ca(2+) removal or
      release, despite the organelle residing near Ca(2+) entry sites. Our results
      demonstrate that Ca(2+) removal by the PMCA influences the propensity for
      stimulus-evoked CICR by adjusting the amount of Ca(2+) available for
      mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. This study highlights a mechanism by which the PMCA
      could impact activity-dependent plasticity in the bag cell neurons.

PMID- 26864758
TI  - Response reliability observed with voltage-sensitive dye imaging of cortical
      layer 2/3: the probability of activation hypothesis.
AB  - A central assertion in the study of neural processing is that our perception of
      the environment directly reflects the activity of our sensory neurons. This
      assertion reinforces the intuition that the strength of a sensory input directly
      modulates the amount of neural activity observed in response to that sensory
      feature: an increase in the strength of the input yields a graded increase in the
      amount of neural activity. However, cortical activity across a range of sensory
      pathways can be sparse, with individual neurons having remarkably low firing
      rates, often exhibiting suprathreshold activity on only a fraction of
      experimental trials. To compensate for this observed apparent unreliability, it
      is assumed that instead the local population of neurons, although not explicitly
      measured, does reliably represent the strength of the sensory input. This
      assumption, however, is largely untested. In this study, using wide-field voltage
      sensitive dye (VSD) imaging of the somatosensory cortex in the anesthetized rat,
      we show that whisker deflection velocity, or stimulus strength, is not encoded by
      the magnitude of the population response at the level of cortex. Instead,
      modulation of whisker deflection velocity affects the likelihood of the cortical
      response, impacting the magnitude, rate of change, and spatial extent of the
      cortical response. An ideal observer analysis of the cortical response points to
      a probabilistic code based on repeated sampling across cortical columns and/or
      time, which we refer to as the probability of activation hypothesis. This
      hypothesis motivates a range of testable predictions for both future
      electrophysiological and future behavioral studies.

PMID- 26864759
TI  - Neuronal responses to tactile stimuli and tactile sensations evoked by
      microstimulation in the human thalamic principal somatic sensory nucleus (ventral
      caudal).
AB  - The normal organization and plasticity of the cutaneous core of the thalamic
      principal somatosensory nucleus (ventral caudal, Vc) have been studied by single
      neuron recordings and microstimulation in patients undergoing awake stereotactic
      operations for essential tremor (ET) without apparent somatic sensory abnormality
      and in patients with dystonia or chronic pain secondary to major nervous system
      injury. In patients with ET, most Vc neurons responded to one of the four
      stimuli, each of which optimally activates one mechanoreceptor type. Sensations
      evoked by microstimulation were similar to those evoked by the optimal stimulus
      only among rapidly adapting neurons. In patients with ET, Vc was highly segmented
      somatotopically, and vibration, movement, pressure, and sharp sensations were
      usually evoked by microstimulation at separate sites in Vc. In patients with
      conditions including spinal cord transection, amputation, or dystonia, RFs were
      mismatched with projected fields more commonly than in patients with ET. The
      representation of the border of the anesthetic area (e.g., stump) or of the
      dystonic limb was much larger than that of the same part of the body in patients
      with ET. This review describes the organization and reorganization of human Vc
      neuronal activity in nervous system injury and dystonia and then proposes basic
      mechanisms.

PMID- 26864761
TI  - Associative plasticity in the human motor cortex is enhanced by concurrently
      targeting separate muscle representations with excitatory and inhibitory
      protocols.
AB  - Paired associative stimulation (PAS) induces changes in the excitability of human
      sensorimotor cortex that outlast the procedure. PAS typically involves repeatedly
      pairing stimulation of a peripheral nerve that innervates an intrinsic hand
      muscle with transcranial magnetic stimulation over the representation of that
      muscle in the primary motor cortex. Depending on the timing of the stimuli
      (interstimulus interval of 25 or 10 ms), PAS leads to either an increase (PAS25)
      or a decrease (PAS10) in excitability. Both protocols, however, have been
      associated with an increase in excitability of nearby muscle representations not
      specifically targeted by PAS. Based on these spillover effects, we hypothesized
      that an additive, excitability-enhancing effect of PAS25 applied to one muscle
      representation may be produced by simultaneously applying PAS25 or PAS10 to a
      nearby representation. In different experiments prototypical PAS25 targeting the
      left thumb representation [abductor pollicis brevis (APB)] was combined with
      either PAS25 or PAS10 applied to the left little finger representation [abductor
      digiti minimi (ADM)] or, in a control experiment, with PAS10 also targeting the
      APB. In an additional control experiment PAS10 targeted both representations. The
      plasticity effects were quantified by measuring the amplitude of motor evoked
      potentials (MEPs) recorded before and after PAS. As expected, prototypical PAS25
      was associated with an increase in MEP amplitude in the APB muscle. This effect
      was enhanced when PAS also targeted the ADM representation but only when a
      different interstimulus timing (PAS10) was used. These results suggest that PAS
      induced plasticity is modified by concurrently targeting separate motor cortical
      representations with excitatory and inhibitory protocols. 

PMID- 26864760
TI  - Frontal and motor cortex contributions to response inhibition: evidence from
      electrocorticography.
AB  - Changes in the environment require rapid modification or inhibition of ongoing
      behavior. We used the stop-signal paradigm and intracranial recordings to
      investigate response preparation, inhibition, and monitoring of task-relevant
      information. Electrocorticographic data were recorded in eight patients with
      electrodes covering frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex, and time-frequency
      analysis was used to examine power differences in the beta (13-30 Hz) and high
      gamma bands (60-180 Hz). Over motor cortex, beta power decreased, and high-gamma
      power increased during motor preparation for both go trials (Go) and unsuccessful
      stops (US). For successful stops (SS), beta increased, and high-gamma was
      reduced, indexing the cancellation of the prepared response. In the middle
      frontal gyrus (MFG), stop signals elicited a transient high-gamma increase. The
      MFG response occurred before the estimated stop-signal reaction time but did not
      distinguish between SS and US trials, likely signaling attention to the salient
      stop stimulus. A postresponse high-gamma increase in MFG was stronger for US
      compared with SS and absent in Go, supporting a role in behavior monitoring.
      These results provide evidence for differential contributions of frontal
      subregions to response inhibition, including motor preparation and inhibitory
      control in motor cortex and cognitive control and action evaluation in lateral
      prefrontal cortex. 

PMID- 26864762
TI  - Visual ecology and potassium conductances of insect photoreceptors.
AB  - Voltage-activated potassium channels (Kv channels) in the microvillar
      photoreceptors of arthropods are responsible for repolarization and regulation of
      photoreceptor signaling bandwidth. On the basis of analyzing Kv channels in
      dipteran flies, it was suggested that diurnal, rapidly flying insects
      predominantly express sustained K(+) conductances, whereas crepuscular and
      nocturnally active animals exhibit strongly inactivating Kv conductances. The
      latter was suggested to function for minimizing cellular energy consumption. In
      this study we further explore the evolutionary adaptations of the photoreceptor
      channelome to visual ecology and behavior by comparing K(+) conductances in 15
      phylogenetically diverse insects, using patch-clamp recordings from dissociated
      ommatidia. We show that rapid diurnal flyers such as the blowfly (Calliphora
      vicina) and the honeybee (Apis mellifera) express relatively large
      noninactivating Kv conductances, conforming to the earlier hypothesis in Diptera.
      Nocturnal and/or slow-moving species do not in general exhibit stronger Kv
      conductance inactivation in the physiological membrane voltage range, but the
      photoreceptors in species that are known to rely more on vision behaviorally had
      higher densities of sustained Kv conductances than photoreceptors of less
      visually guided species. No statistically significant trends related to visual
      performance could be identified for the rapidly inactivating Kv conductances.
      Counterintuitively, strong negative correlations were observed between
      photoreceptor capacitance and specific membrane conductance for both sustained
      and inactivating fractions of Kv conductance, suggesting insignificant
      evolutionary pressure to offset negative effects of high capacitance on membrane
      filtering with increased conductance. 

PMID- 26864763
TI  - Nicotine inhibits potassium currents in Aplysia bag cell neurons.
AB  - Acetylcholine and the archetypal cholinergic agonist, nicotine, are typically
      associated with the opening of ionotropic receptors. In the bag cell neurons,
      which govern the reproductive behavior of the marine snail, Aplysia californica,
      there are two cholinergic responses: a relatively large acetylcholine-induced
      current and a relatively small nicotine-induced current. Both currents are
      readily apparent at resting membrane potential and result from the opening of
      distinct ionotropic receptors. We now report a separate current response elicited
      by applying nicotine to cultured bag cell neurons under whole cell voltage-clamp.
      This current was ostensibly inward, best resolved at depolarized voltages,
      presented a noncooperative dose-response with a half-maximal concentration near
      1.5 mM, and associated with a decrease in membrane conductance. The unique
      nicotine-evoked response was not altered by intracellular perfusion with the G
      protein blocker GDPbetaS or exposure to classical nicotinic antagonists but was
      occluded by replacing intracellular K(+) with Cs(+) Consistent with an underlying
      mechanism of direct inhibition of one or more K(+) channels, nicotine was found
      to rapidly reduce the fast-inactivating A-type K(+) current as well as both
      components of the delayed-rectifier K(+) current. Finally, nicotine increased bag
      cell neuron excitability, which manifested as reduction in spike threshold,
      greater action potential height and width, and markedly more spiking to
      continuous depolarizing current injection. In contrast to conventional transient
      activation of nicotinic ionotropic receptors, block of K(+) channels could
      represent a nonstandard means for nicotine to profoundly alter the electrical
      properties of neurons over prolonged periods of time.

PMID- 26864764
TI  - Arm posture-dependent changes in corticospinal excitability are largely spinal in
      origin.
AB  - Biceps brachii motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from cortical stimulation are
      influenced by arm posture. We used subcortical stimulation of corticospinal axons
      to determine whether this postural effect is spinal in origin. While seated at
      rest, 12 subjects assumed several static arm postures, which varied in upper-arm
      (shoulder flexed, shoulder abducted, arm hanging to side) and forearm orientation
      (pronated, neutral, supinated). Transcranial magnetic stimulation over the
      contralateral motor cortex elicited MEPs in resting biceps and triceps brachii,
      and electrical stimulation of corticospinal tract axons at the cervicomedullary
      junction elicited cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials (CMEPs). MEPs and
      CMEPs were normalized to the maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax).
      Responses in biceps were influenced by upper-arm and forearm orientation. For
      upper-arm orientation, biceps CMEPs were 68% smaller (P= 0.001), and biceps MEPs
      31% smaller (P= 0.012), with the arm hanging to the side compared with when the
      shoulder was flexed. For forearm orientation, both biceps CMEPs and MEPs were 34%
      smaller (both P< 0.046) in pronation compared with supination. Responses in
      triceps were influenced by upper-arm, but not forearm, orientation. Triceps CMEPs
      were 46% smaller (P= 0.007) with the arm hanging to the side compared with when
      the shoulder was flexed. Triceps MEPs and biceps and triceps MEP/CMEP ratios were
      unaffected by arm posture. The novel finding is that arm posture-dependent
      changes in corticospinal excitability in humans are largely spinal in origin. An
      interplay of multiple reflex inputs to motoneurons likely explains the results.

PMID- 26864765
TI  - Classification of odorants across layers in locust olfactory pathway.
AB  - Olfactory processing takes place across multiple layers of neurons from the
      transduction of odorants in the periphery, to odor quality processing, learning,
      and decision making in higher olfactory structures. In insects, projection
      neurons (PNs) in the antennal lobe send odor information to the Kenyon cells
      (KCs) of the mushroom bodies and lateral horn neurons (LHNs). To examine the odor
      information content in different structures of the insect brain, antennal lobe,
      mushroom bodies and lateral horn, we designed a model of the olfactory network
      based on electrophysiological recordings made in vivo in the locust. We found
      that populations of all types (PNs, LHNs, and KCs) had lower odor classification
      error rates than individual cells of any given type. This improvement was
      quantitatively different from that observed using uniform populations of
      identical neurons compared with spatially structured population of neurons tuned
      to different odor features. This result, therefore, reflects an emergent network
      property. Odor classification improved with increasing stimulus duration: for
      similar odorants, KC and LHN ensembles reached optimal discrimination within the
      first 300-500 ms of the odor response. Performance improvement with time was much
      greater for a population of cells than for individual neurons. We conclude that,
      for PNs, LHNs, and KCs, ensemble responses are always much more informative than
      single-cell responses, despite the accumulation of noise along with odor
      information.

PMID- 26864767
TI  - Precaution for volume conduction in rodent cortical electroencephalography using
      high-density polyimide-based microelectrode arrays on the skull.
AB  - In humans, significant progress has been made to link spatial changes in
      electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral density, connectivity strength, and phase
      amplitude modulation to neurological, physiological, and psychological
      correlates. In contrast, standard rodent EEG techniques employ only few
      electrodes, which results in poor spatial resolution. Recently, a technique was
      developed to overcome this limitation in mice. This technique was based on a
      polyimide-based microelectrode (PBM) array applied on the mouse skull,
      maintaining a significant number of electrodes with consistent contact, electrode
      impedance, and mechanical stability. The present study built on this technique by
      extending it to rats. Therefore, a similar PBM array, but adapted to rats, was
      designed and fabricated. In addition, this array was connected to a wireless EEG
      headstage, allowing recording in untethered, freely moving rats. The advantage of
      a high-density array relies on the assumption that the signal recorded from the
      different electrodes is generated from distinct sources, i.e., not volume
      conducted. Therefore, the utility and validity of the array were evaluated by
      determining the level of synchrony between channels due to true synchrony or
      volume conduction during basal vigilance states and following a subanesthetic
      dose of ketamine. Although the PBM array allowed recording with high signal
      quality, under both drug and drug-free conditions, high synchronization existed
      due to volume conduction between the electrodes even in the higher spectral
      frequency range. Discrimination existed only between frontally and
      centrally/distally grouped electrode pairs. Therefore, caution should be used in
      interpreting spatial data obtained from high-density PBM arrays in rodents. 

PMID- 26864768
TI  - Locomotor sequence learning in visually guided walking.
AB  - Voluntary limb modifications must be integrated with basic walking patterns
      during visually guided walking. In this study we tested whether voluntary gait
      modifications can become more automatic with practice. We challenged walking
      control by presenting visual stepping targets that instructed subjects to modify
      step length from one trial to the next. Our sequence learning paradigm is derived
      from the serial reaction-time (SRT) task that has been used in upper limb
      studies. Both random and ordered sequences of step lengths were used to measure
      sequence-specific and sequence-nonspecific learning during walking. In addition,
      we determined how age (i.e., healthy young adults vs. children) and biomechanical
      factors (i.e., walking speed) affected the rate and magnitude of locomotor
      sequence learning. The results showed that healthy young adults (age 24 +/- 5
      yr,n= 20) could learn a specific sequence of step lengths over 300 training
      steps. Younger children (age 6-10 yr,n= 8) had lower baseline performance, but
      their magnitude and rate of sequence learning were the same compared with those
      of older children (11-16 yr,n= 10) and healthy adults. In addition, learning
      capacity may be more limited at faster walking speeds. To our knowledge, this is
      the first study to demonstrate that spatial sequence learning can be integrated
      with a highly automatic task such as walking. These findings suggest that adults
      and children use implicit knowledge about the sequence to plan and execute leg
      movement during visually guided walking. 

PMID- 26864766
TI  - Long-latency reflexes of elbow and shoulder muscles suggest reciprocal excitation
      of flexors, reciprocal excitation of extensors, and reciprocal inhibition between
      flexors and extensors.
AB  - Postural corrections of the upper limb are required in tasks ranging from
      handling an umbrella in the changing wind to securing a wriggling baby. One
      complication in this process is the mechanical interaction between the different
      segments of the arm where torque applied at one joint induces motion at multiple
      joints. Previous studies have shown the long-latency reflexes of shoulder muscles
      (50-100 ms after a limb perturbation) account for these mechanical interactions
      by integrating information about motion of both the shoulder and elbow. It is
      less clear whether long-latency reflexes of elbow muscles exhibit a similar
      capability and what is the relation between the responses of shoulder and elbow
      muscles. The present study utilized joint-based loads tailored to the subjects'
      arm dynamics to induce well-controlled displacements of their shoulder and elbow.
      Our results demonstrate that the long-latency reflexes of shoulder and elbow
      muscles integrate motion from both joints: the shoulder and elbow flexors respond
      to extension at both joints, whereas the shoulder and elbow extensors respond to
      flexion at both joints. This general pattern accounts for the inherent flexion
      extension coupling of the two joints arising from the arm's intersegmental
      dynamics and is consistent with spindle-based reciprocal excitation of shoulder
      and elbow flexors, reciprocal excitation of shoulder and elbow extensors, and
      across-joint inhibition between the flexors and extensors. 

PMID- 26864769
TI  - Neural control of visual search by frontal eye field: chronometry of neural
      events and race model processes.
AB  - We investigated the chronometry of neural processes in frontal eye fields of
      macaques performing double-step saccade visual search in which a conspicuous
      target changes location in the array on a random fraction of trials. Durations of
      computational processes producing a saccade to original and final target
      locations (GO1 and GO2, respectively) are derived from response times (RT) on
      different types of trials. In these data, GO2 tended to be faster than GO1,
      demonstrating that inhibition of the initial saccade did not delay production of
      the compensated saccade. Here, we measured the dynamics of visual, visuomovement,
      and movement neuron activity in relation to these processes by examining trials
      when neurons instantiated either process. First, we verified that saccades were
      initiated when the discharge rate of movement neurons reached a threshold that
      was invariant across RT and trial type. Second, the time when visual and
      visuomovement neurons selected the target and when movement neuron activity began
      to accumulate were not significantly different across trial type. Third, the
      interval from the beginning of accumulation to threshold of movement-related
      activity was significantly shorter when instantiating the GO2 relative to the GO1
      process. Differences observed between monkeys are discussed. Fourth, random
      variation of RT was accounted for to some extent by random variation in both the
      onset and duration of selective activity of each neuron type but mostly by
      variation of movement neuron accumulation duration. These findings offer new
      insights into the sources of control of target selection and saccade production
      in dynamic environments. 

PMID- 26864771
TI  - Electroencephalographic detection of respiratory-related cortical activity in
      humans: from event-related approaches to continuous connectivity evaluation.
AB  - The presence of a respiratory-related cortical activity during tidal breathing is
      abnormal and a hallmark of respiratory difficulties, but its detection requires
      superior discrimination and temporal resolution. The aim of this study was to
      validate a computational method using EEG covariance (or connectivity) matrices
      to detect a change in brain activity related to breathing. In 17 healthy
      subjects, EEG was recorded during resting unloaded breathing (RB), voluntary
      sniffs, and breathing against an inspiratory threshold load (ITL). EEG were
      analyzed by the specially developed covariance-based classifier, event-related
      potentials, and time-frequency (T-F) distributions. Nine subjects repeated the
      protocol. The classifier could accurately detect ITL and sniffs compared with the
      reference period of RB. For ITL, EEG-based detection was superior to airflow
      based detection (P < 0.05). A coincident improvement in EEG-airflow correlation
      in ITL compared with RB (P < 0.05) confirmed that EEG detection relates to
      breathing. Premotor potential incidence was significantly higher before
      inspiration in sniffs and ITL compared with RB (P < 0.05), but T-F distributions
      revealed a significant difference between sniffs and RB only (P < 0.05).
      Intraclass correlation values ranged from poor (-0.2) to excellent (1.0). Thus,
      as for conventional event-related potential analysis, the covariance-based
      classifier can accurately predict a change in brain state related to a change in
      respiratory state, and given its capacity for near "real-time" detection, it is
      suitable to monitor the respiratory state in respiratory and critically ill
      patients in the development of a brain-ventilator interface. 

PMID- 26864770
TI  - Roles of specific Kv channel types in repolarization of the action potential in
      genetically identified subclasses of pyramidal neurons in mouse neocortex.
AB  - The action potential (AP) is a fundamental feature of excitable cells that serves
      as the basis for long-distance signaling in the nervous system. There is
      considerable diversity in the appearance of APs and the underlying repolarization
      mechanisms in different neuronal types (reviewed in Bean BP. Nat Rev Neurosci 8:
      451-465, 2007), including among pyramidal cell subtypes. In the present work, we
      used specific pharmacological blockers to test for contributions of Kv1, Kv2, or
      Kv4 channels to repolarization of single APs in two genetically defined
      subpopulations of pyramidal cells in layer 5 of mouse somatosensory cortex (etv1
      and glt) as well as pyramidal cells from layer 2/3. These three subtypes differ
      in AP properties (Groh A, Meyer HS, Schmidt EF, Heintz N, Sakmann B, Krieger P.
      Cereb Cortex 20: 826-836, 2010; Guan D, Armstrong WE, Foehring RC. J Neurophysiol
      113: 2014-2032, 2015) as well as laminar position, morphology, and projection
      targets. We asked what the roles of Kv1, Kv2, and Kv4 channels are in AP
      repolarization and whether the underlying mechanisms are pyramidal cell subtype
      dependent. We found that Kv4 channels are critically involved in repolarizing
      neocortical pyramidal cells. There are also pyramidal cell subtype-specific
      differences in the role for Kv1 channels. Only Kv4 channels were involved in
      repolarizing the narrow APs of glt cells. In contrast, in etv1 cells and layer
      2/3 cells, the broader APs are partially repolarized by Kv1 channels in addition
      to Kv4 channels. Consistent with their activation in the subthreshold range, Kv1
      channels also regulate AP voltage threshold in all pyramidal cell subtypes.

PMID- 26864772
TI  - Association between serum nitric oxide metabolites and thyroid hormones in a
      general population: Tehran Thyroid Study.
AB  - Nitric oxide participates in the regulation of thyroid function. AIMS: The
      purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between
      serum nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and free thyroxine (free T4), anti-thyroid
      peroxidase (anti-TPO), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. METHODS:
      Study subjects were adults, aged >=20 years, who participated in the Tehran
      Thyroid Study (TTS). In a cross-sectional study, in the third phase of TTS, serum
      NOx concentrations were measured in 1974 adult participants; pregnant women and
      subjects who had chronic diarrhea, cancer, weight loss, and hospitalization
      within the past 3 months were excluded, as were those taking medicines that
      affect thyroid function; the remaining 1771 subjects were grouped according to
      tertiles of free T4, anti-TPO, and TSH. Spearman's correlation coefficients and
      multivariable linear regression analysis were used to determine the relationship
      between serum NOx levels and free T4, anti-TPO, and TSH. RESULTS: Serum NOx
      levels were negatively correlated with free T4 in men (r = -0.083; p = 0.029). An
      inverse association between the third tertile of free T4 and NOx levels was found
      in both non-adjusted (beta = -0.095, p = 0.031) and multivariable-adjusted (beta
      = -0.094, p = 0.039) analyses, only in men. After multivariable adjustment, the
      third tertile of anti-TPO was significantly associated with NOx levels in women
      (beta = -0.067, p = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the result, serum NOx
      concentration was found to be associated with free T4 in men and anti-TPO in
      women.

PMID- 26864773
TI  - Fragile X mental retardation protein controls ion channel expression and
      activity.
AB  - Fragile X-associated disorders are a family of genetic conditions resulting from
      the partial or complete loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP).
      Among these disorders is fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited
      intellectual disability and autism. FMRP is an RNA-binding protein involved in
      the control of local translation, which has pleiotropic effects, in particular on
      synaptic function. Analysis of the brain FMRP transcriptome has revealed hundreds
      of potential mRNA targets encoding postsynaptic and presynaptic proteins,
      including a number of ion channels. FMRP has been confirmed to bind voltage-gated
      potassium channels (Kv 3.1 and Kv 4.2) mRNAs and regulates their expression in
      somatodendritic compartments of neurons. Recent studies have uncovered a number
      of additional roles for FMRP besides RNA regulation. FMRP was shown to directly
      interact with, and modulate, a number of ion channel complexes. The sodium
      activated potassium (Slack) channel was the first ion channel shown to directly
      interact with FMRP; this interaction alters the single-channel properties of the
      Slack channel. FMRP was also shown to interact with the auxiliary beta4 subunit
      of the calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel; this interaction increases
      calcium-dependent activation of the BK channel. More recently, FMRP was shown to
      directly interact with the voltage-gated calcium channel, Cav 2.2, and reduce its
      trafficking to the plasma membrane. Studies performed on animal models of fragile
      X syndrome have revealed links between modifications of ion channel activity and
      changes in neuronal excitability, suggesting that these modifications could
      contribute to the phenotypes observed in patients with fragile X-associated
      disorders.

PMID- 26864774
TI  - Attenuation of cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking by URB597 through
      cannabinoid CB1 receptor in rats.
AB  - RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid system is composed of endocannabinoids (such as
      anandamide), their target receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors, CB1Rs and CB2Rs), the
      enzymes that degrade them (fatty-acid-amide-hydrolase (FAAH) for anandamide), and
      an endocannabinoid transporter. FAAH inhibition has been recently identified as
      having a critical involvement in behaviors related to nicotine addiction and has
      been shown to reduce the effect of nicotine on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system
      via CB1R and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Thus,
      inhibition of FAAH may represent a novel strategy for smoking cessation, but its
      mechanism of action on relapse to nicotine seeking is still unknown. OBJECTIVE:
      The study aims to explore the mechanism of action of the inhibitor of FAAH
      activity, URB597, on relapse to nicotine seeking by evaluating the effect of the
      CB1R, CB2R, and PPARalpha antagonists on the attenuating effect of URB597 on cue
      induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. RESULTS: URB597 reduced cue
      induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking, an effect that was reversed by the
      CB1R antagonist rimonabant, but not by the CB2R or PPARalpha antagonists AM630
      and MK886, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that URB597 reduces
      cue-induced reinstatement in rats through a CB1 receptor-dependent mechanism, and
      not via CB2R or PPARalpha. Since FAAH inhibition represent a novel and promising
      strategy for tobacco smoking cessation, dissecting how it produces its action may
      lead to a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying
      nicotine addiction.

PMID- 26864776
TI  - A survey of 0 + 5 vascular surgery residency candidates: Perceptions of an
      applicant pool.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Applications to integrated (0 + 5) vascular surgery residencies have
      increased, while total applications have stayed relatively constant. This survey
      sought to document the perceptions of 0 + 5 vascular surgery applicants. METHODS:
      Academic faculty conducted interviews for 0 + 5 residency match at an academic
      medical center in preparation for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
      Main Residency Match. Applicant pool (n = 20) perceptions were determined with
      surveys. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. RESULTS: Nineteen
      interviewees (26.3% female: 73.7% male), age (26.8 +/- 2.6 years) responded (95%
      response rate). Of 19 respondents, 68% became interested in vascular surgery in
      their third year with 53% becoming aware of 0 + 5 programs in their third year.
      All respondents identified a vascular surgery attending at their institution as
      significant mentors. Forty-seven percent identified their mentor during their
      third year of medical school. All respondents felt that 0 + 5 training would
      prepare them adequately for the workforce and board certification exams. Almost
      all (89%) had plans to seek jobs immediately upon completion of residency.
      CONCLUSION: Applicants remained positive about their planned training and career
      paths. Attending vascular surgeons were identified as the strongest mentors, yet
      most students decided only in their third and fourth years to pursue 0 + 5
      residencies. Educational debt remains a concern, and there may be consideration
      for a concerted effort to recruit potential candidates sooner.

PMID- 26864777
TI  - Novel device, a temporary guidewire fixator.
AB  - A novel device for distal fixation of a guidewire was tested in regards to
      deployment and retrieval, deposition in the blood stream and force of fixation in
      a pig model. Eleven pigs were subjected to full anaesthesia and heparinized to
      active clotting time 250-350 s. Uninterrupted blood flow during 4 h deposition
      was assessed by angiography and inspected for thrombus deposition upon retrieval.
      The force of fixation was investigated up to the level of loss of fixation
      (displacement force). The device was successfully deployed and retrieved in over
      40 cases. In one case, an alternative method for bailout retrieval was used.
      Deposition for 4 h was performed, and uninterrupted blood flow was verified by
      angiography. No instances of arterial occlusion or thrombosis were detected. The
      median dislocation force was 7.6 N. No arterial rupture or dissection was
      detected following the loss of fixation. As a conclusion, the device was
      considered safe and functional in this animal test model.

PMID- 26864778
TI  - The effect of sequence on the ionization of guanine in DNA.
AB  - The accurate estimation of the ionization energies and understanding the nature
      of the ionized states of the nucleic acid bases (NABs) are crucial to the
      understanding of the DNA damage mechanism. The vertical ionization energy (VIE)
      of guanine is the lowest among the NABs and the ionization energies are strongly
      affected by the environment, such as solvation and characteristics of nearby
      NABs. Therefore, we investigate the sequence dependence of the VIEs of guanine in
      B-DNA. We use the equation of motion coupled cluster method for the estimation of
      ionization potential with single and double excitations (EOM-IP-CCSD) and density
      functional theory with dispersion corrected omegaB97x-D for the estimation of
      VIEs. A significant amount of non-additivity or cooperativity, directly
      proportional to charge delocalization, is noticed in the change in VIE due to the
      interaction with the nearby NABs. While the change in VIE due to base pairing
      originates predominantly from charge-dipole interactions, stacking between base
      pairs is a more complicated balance of dispersion and charge-dipole interactions
      as well as stabilization due to the delocalization of the positive charge. The
      long range interactions are however dominated by 1/r(3) distance dependence which
      shows the major role played by charge-dipole interactions. The extent of
      localization of positive holes on guanine is also estimated for various
      sequences. 

PMID- 26864779
TI  - Novel electronic ferroelectricity in an organic charge-order insulator
      investigated with terahertz-pump optical-probe spectroscopy.
AB  - In electronic-type ferroelectrics, where dipole moments produced by the
      variations of electron configurations are aligned, the polarization is expected
      to be rapidly controlled by electric fields. Such a feature can be used for high
      speed electric-switching and memory devices. Electronic-type ferroelectrics
      include charge degrees of freedom, so that they are sometimes conductive,
      complicating dielectric measurements. This makes difficult the exploration of
      electronic-type ferroelectrics and the understanding of their ferroelectric
      nature. Here, we show unambiguous evidence for electronic ferroelectricity in the
      charge-order (CO) phase of a prototypical ET-based molecular compound, alpha
      (ET)2I3 (ET:bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene), using a terahertz pulse as an
      external electric field. Terahertz-pump second-harmonic-generation(SHG)-probe and
      optical-reflectivity-probe spectroscopy reveal that the ferroelectric
      polarization originates from intermolecular charge transfers and is inclined 27
      degrees  from the horizontal CO stripe. These features are qualitatively
      reproduced by the density-functional-theory calculation. After sub-picosecond
      polarization modulation by terahertz fields, prominent oscillations appear in the
      reflectivity but not in the SHG-probe results, suggesting that the CO is coupled
      with molecular displacements, while the ferroelectricity is electronic in nature.
      The results presented here demonstrate that terahertz-pump optical-probe
      spectroscopy is a powerful tool not only for rapidly controlling polarizations,
      but also for clarifying the mechanisms of ferroelectricity. 

PMID- 26864780
TI  - Coordinate-based (ALE) meta-analysis of brain activation in patients with
      fibromyalgia.
AB  - There are an increasing number of neuroimaging studies that allow a better
      understanding of symptoms, neural correlates and associated conditions of
      fibromyalgia. However, the results of these studies are difficult to compare, as
      they include a heterogeneous group of patients, use different stimulation
      paradigms, tasks, and the statistical evaluation of neuroimaging data shows high
      variability. Therefore, this meta-analytic approach aimed at evaluating potential
      alterations in neuronal brain activity or structure related to pain processing in
      fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients, using quantitative coordinate-based
      "activation likelihood estimation" (ALE) meta-analysis. 37 FMS papers met the
      inclusion criteria for an ALE analysis (1,264 subjects, 274 activation foci). A
      pooled ALE analysis of different modalities of neuroimaging and additional
      analyses according functional and structural changes indicated differences
      between FMS patients and controls in the insula, amygdala, anterior/mid cingulate
      cortex, superior temporal gyrus, the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex,
      and lingual gyrus. Our analysis showed consistent results across FMS studies with
      potential abnormalities especially in pain-related brain areas. Given that
      similar alterations have already been demonstrated in patients with other chronic
      pain conditions and the lack of adequate control groups of chronic pain subjects
      in most FMS studies, it is not clear however, whether these findings are
      associated with chronic pain in general or are unique features of patients with
      FMS. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1749-1758, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26864781
TI  - Ictal motor sequences: Lateralization and localization values.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the lateralization and localization values of ictal motor
      sequences in the setting of focal epilepsy ending with a secondarily generalized
      motor seizure. METHODS: Retrospectively, the ictal motor sequences were analyzed
      in patients with focal epilepsy ending with a secondarily generalized motor
      seizure by three readers blinded to all clinical and electrographic data. One
      representative seizure per patient was selected. Prevalence, positive predictive
      value (PPV), and Fleiss Kappa for the following motor signs were calculated:
      version, unilateral limb tonic posturing, unilateral limb clonic seizure, figure
      of-4, M2e, hand dystonia, clonic asymmetric ending, and Todd's paralysis.
      Sequences of signs with a PPV >= 80% were then analyzed to determine their
      lateralization and localization values. RESULTS: A total of 47 seizures were
      studied. The "reliable" motor signs with a robust lateralizing value (PPV > 80%)
      were version, unilateral tonic posturing, M2e, unilateral clonic seizure,
      asymmetric clonic ending, and Todd's paralysis. Figure-of-4 and hand dystonia had
      a relatively low PPV, and therefore were not included in the following sequence
      analysis, which included only 38 patients with two or more motor signs of high
      PPV. Multiple combinations of temporal progression of motor signs were seen in
      these 38 patients, with version being the most common initial motor sign (29 of
      38 patients) usually followed by M2e (15 of 29 patients), and/or a focal tonic
      seizure (7 of 29 patients). Accurate lateralization of the epileptogenic zone
      (EZ) with a PPV of 100% can be predicted when two or more reliable motor signs
      point to the same side. However, the various sequences of reliable motor signs
      did not differentiate between temporal and extratemporal epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE:
      The presence of reliable ictal motor signs in focal epilepsy is extremely
      valuable in lateralizing the EZ, but not in determining the localization of the
      EZ. This is especially useful when epilepsy surgery is indicated.

PMID- 26864782
TI  - Spatio-temporal variation in the preservation of ancient faunal remains.
AB  - Palaeodemographic studies of animals using frequency distributions of radiocarbon
      dates are increasingly used in studies of Quaternary extinction but are
      complicated by taphonomic bias, or the loss of material through time. Current
      taphonomic models are based on the temporal frequency distributions of sediments,
      but bone is potentially lost at greater rates because not all sedimentary
      contexts preserve bone. We test the hypotheses that (i) the loss of bone over
      time is greater than that of sediment and (ii) this rate of loss varies
      geographically at large scales. We compiled radiocarbon dates on Pleistocene-aged
      bone from eastern Beringia (EB), the contiguous United States (CUSA) and South
      America (SA), from which we developed models of taphonomic loss. We find that
      bone is lost at greater rates than terrestrial sediment in general, but only for
      CUSA and SA. Bone in EB is lost at approximately the same rate as terrestrial
      sediments, which demonstrates the excellent preservation environments of arctic
      regions, presumably due to preservative effects of permafrost. These differences
      between bone and sediment preservation as well as between arctic and non-arctic
      regions should be taken into account by any research addressing past faunal
      population dynamics based on temporal frequency distributions. 

PMID- 26864783
TI  - Using ancient DNA and coalescent-based methods to infer extinction.
AB  - DNA sequences extracted from preserved remains can add considerable resolution to
      inference of past population dynamics. For example, coalescent-based methods have
      been used to correlate declines in some arctic megafauna populations with habitat
      fragmentation during the last ice age. These methods, however, often fail to
      detect population declines preceding extinction, most likely owing to a
      combination of sparse sampling, uninformative genetic markers, and models that
      cannot account for the increasingly structured nature of populations as habitats
      decline. As ancient DNA research expands to include full-genome analyses, these
      data will provide greater resolution of the genomic consequences of environmental
      change and the genetic signatures of extinction. 

PMID- 26864784
TI  - Functionally relevant responses to human facial expressions of emotion in the
      domestic horse (Equus caballus).
AB  - Whether non-human animals can recognize human signals, including emotions, has
      both scientific and applied importance, and is particularly relevant for
      domesticated species. This study presents the first evidence of horses' abilities
      to spontaneously discriminate between positive (happy) and negative (angry) human
      facial expressions in photographs. Our results showed that the angry faces
      induced responses indicative of a functional understanding of the stimuli: horses
      displayed a left-gaze bias (a lateralization generally associated with stimuli
      perceived as negative) and a quicker increase in heart rate (HR) towards these
      photographs. Such lateralized responses towards human emotion have previously
      only been documented in dogs, and effects of facial expressions on HR have not
      been shown in any heterospecific studies. Alongside the insights that these
      findings provide into interspecific communication, they raise interesting
      questions about the generality and adaptiveness of emotional expression and
      perception across species.

PMID- 26864785
TI  - Evidence of female sex pheromones and characterization of the cuticular lipids of
      unfed, adult male versus female blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis.
AB  - Copulation in Ixodes scapularis involves physical contact between the male and
      female (on or off the host), male mounting of the female, insertion/maintenance
      of the male chelicerae in the female genital pore (initiates spermatophore
      production), and the transfer of the spermatophore by the male into the female
      genital pore. Bioassays determined that male mounting behavior/chelicerae
      insertion required direct contact with the female likely requiring non-volatile
      chemical cues with no evidence of a female volatile sex pheromone to attract
      males. Unfed virgin adult females and replete mated adult females elicited the
      highest rates of male chelicerae insertion with part fed virgin adult females
      exhibiting a much lower response. Whole body surface hexane extracts of unfed
      virgin adult females and males, separately analyzed by GC-MS, identified a number
      of novel tick surface associated compounds: fatty alcohols (1-hexadecanol and 1
      heptanol), a fatty amide (erucylamid), aromatic hydrocarbons, a short chain
      alkene (1-heptene), and a carboxylic acid ester (5beta-androstane). These
      compounds are discussed in terms of their potential role in female-male
      communication. The two most abundant fatty acid esters found were butyl palmitate
      and butyl stearate present in ratios that were sex specific. Only 6 n-saturated
      hydrocarbons were identified in I. scapularis ranging from 10 to 18 carbons. 

PMID- 26864786
TI  - Considering Age Variation When Coining Drugs as High versus Low Hepatic
      Extraction Ratio.
AB  - The hepatic extraction ratio (EH) is commonly considered an "inherent attribute"
      of drug. It determines the main physiological and biological elements of the
      system (patient attributes) that are most significant in interindividual
      variability of clearance. The EH consists of three age-dependent parameters:
      fraction of unbound drug in blood (fu.B), hepatic intrinsic clearance of unbound
      drug (CLu.int,H), and hepatic blood flow (QH). When the age-effects on these
      elements are not proportional, a given drug may shift from so-called high
      extraction status to low extraction. To demonstrate the impact of age-related
      changes on fu.B, CLu int,H, and QH, the EH of midazolam and two hypothetical
      drugs with 10-fold higher and 10-fold lower CLu.int,H than midazolam were
      investigated in pediatrics based on known ontogeny functions. The EH was
      simulated using Simcyp software, version 14. This was then complemented by a
      comprehensive literature survey to identify the commonly applied covariates in
      pediatric population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) studies. Midazolam EH decreased from
      0.6 in adults to 0.02 at birth, making its clearance much more susceptible to
      changes in CLu.int,H and fu.B than in adults and reducing the impact of QH on
      clearance. The drug with 10-fold higher CLu.int,H was categorized as high
      extraction from 4 days old onward whereas the drug with 10-fold lower CLu.int,H
      remained low extraction from birth to adulthood. Approximately 50% of collected
      PopPK studies (n = 120) did not consider interaction between age and other
      covariates. Interaction between covariates and age should be considered as part
      of studies involving younger pediatric patients. The EH cannot be considered an
      inherent drug property without considering the effect of age.

PMID- 26864787
TI  - Hydrological cycle effects on the aquatic community in a Neotropical stream of
      the Andean piedmont during the 2007-2010 ENSO events.
AB  - The seasonal and interannual changes in the fish, macroinvertebrates and
      phycoperiphyton assemblages of the Guarino River were examined in relation to the
      physical and chemical environmental changes associated with the hydrological
      cycle and the El Nino-Nina/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) between 2007 and 2010.
      Four samplings (in dry and rainy seasons) were performed per year. Environmental
      variables (temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, oxygen, total nitrogen,
      orthophosphate, depth and flow rate) were measured. The temporal patterns of the
      taxonomic compositions for the three assemblages and the functional composition
      of fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages with respect to environmental variables
      were examined through canonical discriminant analysis, multidimensional scaling
      and multiple correlations. The presence and abundance of fishes,
      macroinvertebrates and algae species were regulated by environmental variables
      associated with extreme hydrological events, which derived from the natural
      torrential regimen of the basin and larger-scale phenomena, such as El Nino and
      La Nina. Fish abundance and richness were significantly correlated with algal
      density and pH, the macroinvertebrate density was negatively related to the flow
      rate and the richness was positively correlated with algal density. The algae
      richness was positively correlated with pH and negatively correlated with the
      flow rate and nitrogen. The algal density was positively correlated with pH and
      temperature and negatively correlated with river flow. The phycoperiphyton
      assemblage exhibited more direct responses in its density and richness to the
      hydrological changes (r(2) = 0.743 and 0.800, respectively). In functional terms,
      the El Nino phenomenon was defined by a greater abundance of omnivorous and
      insectivorous fishes, as well as filter feeders, scrapers and macroinvertebrate
      predators. During La Nina, a greater abundance of benthic fishes (both
      detritivorous and insectivorous) and shredder and collector-gatherer
      macroinvertebrates was observed. Differentiated responses recorded in the
      community were based on adaptive strategies for the local hydrological regime
      that enable fast recovery under conditions such as ENSO phenomena. Composition
      changes according to adaptations to different hydrological scenarios and the
      predominance of generalists' trophic guilds and species with plasticity in their
      habits and their ranges of environmental tolerance were found, supporting the
      habitat templet model. 

PMID- 26864788
TI  - Expansion of a SNaPshot assay to a 55-SNP multiplex: Assay enhancements,
      validation, and power in forensic science.
AB  - A previously developed multiplex assay with 44 individual identification SNPs was
      expanded to a 55plex assay. Fifty-four highly informative SNPs and an amelogenin
      sex marker were amplified in one PCR reaction and then detected with two SNaPshot
      reactions using CE. PCR primers for four loci, 28 single-base extension primers,
      and the reaction conditions were altered to improve the robustness of the method.
      A detailed approach for allele calling was developed to guide analysis of the
      electropherogram. One hundred and eighty unrelated individuals and 100 father
      child-mother trios of the Han population in Hebei, China were analyzed. No
      mutation was found in the SNP loci. The combined mean match probability and
      cumulative probability of exclusion were 1.327 * 10(-22) and 0.999932,
      respectively. Analysis of the 54 SNPs and 26 STRs (included in the AmpFLSTR
      Identifiler and Investigator HDplex kits) showed no significant linkage
      disequilibriums. Our research shows that the expanded SNP multiplex assay is an
      easily performed and valuable method to supplement STR analysis. 

PMID- 26864789
TI  - Use of the FLOTAC technique to diagnosing parasites of the urinary tract of dogs.
AB  - Among the nematodes that infect the urinary tract of dogs, the Dioctophyma renale
      and Capillaria plica are those more frequently reported. For a long time,
      sedimentation was the only method used to detect eggs of these parasites in
      urine. The aim of this study was to analyze urine samples (n = 54) of dogs,
      obtained by bladder catheterization or cystocentesis, by using a modified FLOTAC
      technique. Animals were divided into two groups, i.e., with (n = 20) and without
      (n = 34) suspicion of urinary disease. The overall positivity herein observed was
      3.8 % (2/54), being all animals (10 %; 2/20) from the group with suspicion of
      urinary disease. In the first positive sample, a single egg of D. renale was
      detected, whereas in the second sample two trematode-like eggs were observed.
      This is the first short survey employed to detect eggs of parasites that inhabit
      the urinary tract of dogs using a modified FLOTAC technique; in addition, for the
      first time, eggs of D. renale have been detected using this tool.

PMID- 26864790
TI  - Identification of repellent odorants to the body louse, Pediculus humanus
      corporis, in clove essential oil.
AB  - The control of body lice is an important issue for human health and welfare
      because lice act as vectors of disease such as typhus, relapsing fever, and
      trench fever. Body lice exhibit avoidance behavior to some essential oils,
      including clove essential oil. Therefore, odorants containing clove essential oil
      components may potentially be useful in the development of repellents to body
      lice. However, such odorants that induce avoidance behavior in body lice have not
      yet been identified from clove essential oil. Here, we established an analysis
      method to evaluate the avoidance behavior of body lice to specific odorants. The
      behavioral analysis of the body lice in response to clove essential oil and its
      constituents revealed that eugenol, a major component of clove essential oil, has
      strong repellent effect on body lice, whereas the other components failed to
      induce obvious avoidance behavior. A comparison of the repellent effects of
      eugenol with those of other structurally related odorants revealed possible
      moieties that are important for the avoidance effects to body lice. The repellent
      effect of eugenol to body lice was enhanced by combining it with the other major
      component of clove essential oil, beta-caryophyllene. We conclude that a
      synthetic blend of eugenol and beta-caryophyllene is the most effective repellent
      to body lice. This finding will be valuable as the potential use of eugenol as
      body lice repellent. 

PMID- 26864791
TI  - Exploitation of the Ornithine Effect Enhances Characterization of Stapled and
      Cyclic Peptides.
AB  - A method to facilitate the characterization of stapled or cyclic peptides is
      reported via an arginine-selective derivatization strategy coupled with MS/MS
      analysis. Arginine residues are converted to ornithine residues through a
      deguanidination reaction that installs a highly selectively cleavable site in
      peptides. Upon activation by CID or UVPD, the ornithine residue cyclizes to
      promote cleavage of the adjacent amide bond. This Arg-specific process offers a
      unique strategy for site-selective ring opening of stapled and cyclic peptides.
      Upon activation of each derivatized peptide, site-specific backbone cleavage at
      the ornithine residue results in two complementary products: the lactam ring
      containing portion of the peptide and the amine-containing portion. The
      deguanidination process not only provides a specific marker site that initiates
      fragmentation of the peptide but also offers a means to unlock the staple and
      differentiate isobaric stapled peptides.

PMID- 26864792
TI  - Negative Ion In-Source Decay Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass
      Spectrometry for Sequencing Acidic Peptides.
AB  - Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) in-source decay was studied
      in the negative ion mode on deprotonated peptides to determine its usefulness for
      obtaining extensive sequence information for acidic peptides. Eight biological
      acidic peptides, ranging in size from 11 to 33 residues, were studied by negative
      ion mode ISD (nISD). The matrices 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2-aminobenzoic acid,
      2-aminobenzamide, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, 5-amino-1-naphthol, 3-aminoquinoline,
      and 9-aminoacridine were used with each peptide. Optimal fragmentation was
      produced with 1,5-diaminonphthalene (DAN), and extensive sequence informative
      fragmentation was observed for every peptide except hirudin(54-65). Cleavage at
      the N-Calpha bond of the peptide backbone, producing c' and z' ions, was dominant
      for all peptides. Cleavage of the N-Calpha bond N-terminal to proline residues
      was not observed. The formation of c and z ions is also found in electron
      transfer dissociation (ETD), electron capture dissociation (ECD), and positive
      ion mode ISD, which are considered to be radical-driven techniques. Oxidized
      insulin chain A, which has four highly acidic oxidized cysteine residues, had
      less extensive fragmentation. This peptide also exhibited the only charged
      localized fragmentation, with more pronounced product ion formation adjacent to
      the highly acidic residues. In addition, spectra were obtained by positive ion
      mode ISD for each protonated peptide; more sequence informative fragmentation was
      observed via nISD for all peptides. Three of the peptides studied had no product
      ion formation in ISD, but extensive sequence informative fragmentation was found
      in their nISD spectra. The results of this study indicate that nISD can be used
      to readily obtain sequence information for acidic peptides.

PMID- 26864793
TI  - Fundamentals of Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry Part II: Fluid Dynamics.
AB  - Trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) is a new high resolution (R up to ~300)
      separation technique that utilizes an electric field to hold ions stationary
      against a moving gas. Recently, an analytical model for TIMS was derived and, in
      part, experimentally verified. A central, but not yet fully explored, component
      of the model involves the fluid dynamics at work. The present study characterizes
      the fluid dynamics in TIMS using simulations and ion mobility experiments.
      Results indicate that subsonic laminar flow develops in the analyzer, with
      pressure-dependent gas velocities between ~120 and 170 m/s measured at the
      position of ion elution. One of the key philosophical questions addressed is: how
      can mobility be measured in a dynamic system wherein the gas is expanding and its
      velocity is changing? We noted previously that the analytically useful work is
      primarily done on ions as they traverse the electric field gradient plateau in
      the analyzer. In the present work, we show that the position-dependent change in
      gas velocity on the plateau is balanced by a change in pressure and temperature,
      ultimately resulting in near position-independent drag force. That the drag
      force, and related variables, are nearly constant allows for the use of
      relatively simple equations to describe TIMS behavior. Nonetheless, we derive a
      more comprehensive model, which accounts for the spatial dependence of the flow
      variables. Experimental resolving power trends were found to be in close
      agreement with the theoretical dependence of the drag force, thus validating
      another principal component of TIMS theory.

PMID- 26864794
TI  - Strenuous exercise induces a hyperreactive rebalanced haemostatic state that is
      more pronounced in men.
AB  - Physical exercise is recommended for a healthy lifestyle. Strenuous exercise,
      however, may trigger the haemostatic system, increasing the risk of vascular
      thrombotic events and the incidence of primary cardiac arrest. Our goal was to
      study the effects of strenuous exercise on risk factors of cardiovascular
      disease. Blood was collected from 92 healthy volunteers who participated in the
      amateur version of the pro-tour Amstel Gold cycling race, before and directly
      after the race. Thrombin generation showed a shortening of the lag time and time
      to peak and an increase of the velocity index. Interestingly, the endogenous
      thrombin potential measured in plasma decreased due to reduced prothrombin
      conversion. Platelet reactivity increased and this effect was stronger in men
      than in women. Lower fibrinogen and higher D-dimer levels after exercise
      indicated higher fibrin formation. On the other hand, fibrinolysis was also
      elevated as indicated by a shortening of the clot lysis time. Exercise activated
      the endothelium (von Willebrand factor (VWF) and active VWF levels were elevated)
      and the immune system (concentrations IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, RANTES and PDGF
      increased). Additionally, an increased cardiac troponin T level was measured post
      exercise. Strenuous exercise induces a temporary hyperreactive state in the body
      with enhanced pro- and anticoagulant responses. As strenuous exercise has a more
      pronounced effect on platelet function in male subjects, this gives a possible
      explanation for the higher incidence of sudden cardiac death during exercise
      compared to women. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as
      NCT02048462.

PMID- 26864795
TI  - Protective role of silent information regulator 1 against hepatic ischemia:
      effects on oxidative stress injury, inflammatory response, and MAPKs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have verified that silent information regulator 1
      (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase, protects against ischemia reperfusion
      (IR) injury (IRI) in some organs. In this study, we examined whether SIRT1 could
      protect against hepatic IRI and explored the potential mechanisms. RESEARCH
      DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined whether SIRT1 could protect against hepatic IRI
      in vivo and in vitro using hepatic-specific SIRT1(-/-) mice, SIRT1 siRNA
      transfected hepatocytes and SIRT1(+/+) hepatocytes. RESULTS: The expression and
      activity of SIRT1 were significantly reduced during reperfusion compared with
      that observed in the control group. Hepatic-specific SIRT1(-/-) mice exhibited
      significant increase of hepatic damage markers and augment of oxidative stress
      and inflammatory response compared with control mice. In vitro studies
      demonstrated similar results. Furthermore, SIRT1 upregulation protects against
      hepatic IRI, through the overexpression of p-JNK, p-p38MAPK, and p-ERK. The
      protection of SIRT1 can be effectively reversed by the inhibitors of p38MAPK,
      JNK, and ERK. CONCLUSION: The activation of SIRT1 significantly inhibits the
      oxidative stress and inflammatory response during hepatic IRI, which can be
      developed as a novel method to protect against hepatic IRI.

PMID- 26864796
TI  - Insertion Reactions of Neutral Phosphidozirconocene Complexes as a Convenient
      Entry into Frustrated Lewis Pair Territory.
AB  - Neutral phosphidozirconocene complexes [Cp2Zr(PR2)Me] (Cp=cyclopentadienyl; 1a:
      R=cyclohexyl (Cy); 1b: R=mesityl (Mes); 1c: R=tBu) undergo insertion into the Zr
      P bond by non-enolisable carbonyl building blocks (O=CR'R''), such as
      benzophenone, aldehydes, paraformaldehyde or CO2, to give [Cp2Zr(OCR'R''PR2)Me]
      (3-7). Depending on the steric bulk around P, complexes 3-7 react with B(C6F5)3
      to give O-bridged cationic zirconocene dimers that display typical frustrated
      Lewis pair (FLP)/ambiphilic ligand behaviour. Thus, the reaction of {[Cp2Zr(MU
      OCHPhPCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3]}2 (10a) with chalcone results in 1,4 addition of the
      Zr(+)/P FLP, whereas the reaction of {[Cp2Zr(MU-OCHFcPCy2)][MeB(C6F5)3]}2 (11a;
      Fc=(C5H4)CpFe) with [Pd(eta(3)C3H5)Cl]2 yields the unique Zr-Fe-Pd trimetallic
      complex 13a, which has been characterised by XRD analysis.

PMID- 26864797
TI  - Pollinator-mediated assemblage processes in California wildflowers.
AB  - Community assembly is the result of multiple ecological and evolutionary forces
      that influence species coexistence. For flowering plants, pollinators are often
      essential for plant reproduction and establishment, and pollinator-mediated
      interactions may influence plant community composition. Here, we use null models
      and community phylogenetic analyses of co-occurrence patterns to determine the
      role of pollinator-mediated processes in structuring plant communities dominated
      by congeners. We surveyed three species-rich genera (Limnanthes, Mimulus and
      Clarkia) with centres of diversity in the Sierra Nevada of California. Each genus
      contains species that co-flower and share pollinators, and each has a robust
      phylogeny. Within each genus, we surveyed 44-48 communities at three spatial
      scales, measured floral and vegetative traits and tested for segregation or
      aggregation of: (i) species, (ii) floral traits (which are likely to be
      influenced by pollinators), and (iii) vegetative traits (which are likely
      affected by other environmental factors). We detected both aggregation and
      segregation of floral traits that were uncorrelated with vegetative trait
      patterns; we infer that pollinators have shaped the community assembly although
      the mechanisms may be varied (competition, facilitation, or filtering). We also
      found that mating system differences may play an important role in allowing
      species co-occurrence. Together, it appears that pollinators influence community
      assemblage in these three clades.

PMID- 26864798
TI  - Explaining the geographic spread of emerging epidemics: a framework for comparing
      viral phylogenies and environmental landscape data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Phylogenetic analysis is now an important tool in the study of viral
      outbreaks. It can reconstruct epidemic history when surveillance epidemiology
      data are sparse, and can indicate transmission linkages among infections that may
      not otherwise be evident. However, a remaining challenge is to develop an
      analytical framework that can test hypotheses about the effect of environmental
      variables on pathogen spatial spread. Recent phylogeographic approaches can
      reconstruct the history of virus dispersal from sampled viral genomes and infer
      the locations of ancestral infections. Such methods provide a unique source of
      spatio-temporal information, and are exploited here. RESULTS: We present and
      apply a new statistical framework that combines genomic and geographic data to
      test the impact of environmental variables on the mode and tempo of pathogen
      dispersal during emerging epidemics. First, the spatial history of an emerging
      pathogen is estimated using standard phylogeographic methods. The inferred
      dispersal path for each phylogenetic lineage is then assigned a "weight" using
      environmental data (e.g. altitude, land cover). Next, tests measure the
      association between each environmental variable and lineage movement. A
      randomisation procedure is used to assess statistical confidence and we validate
      this approach using simulated data. We apply our new framework to a set of gene
      sequences from an epidemic of rabies virus in North American raccoons. We test
      the impact of six different environmental variables on this epidemic and
      demonstrate that elevation is associated with a slower rabies spread in a natural
      population. CONCLUSION: This study shows that it is possible to integrate genomic
      and environmental data in order to test hypotheses concerning the mode and tempo
      of virus dispersal during emerging epidemics.

PMID- 26864799
TI  - Functional and structural characterization of domain truncated violaxanthin de
      epoxidase.
AB  - Photosynthetic organisms need protection against excessive light. By using non
      photochemical quenching, where the excess light is converted into heat, the
      organism can survive at higher light intensities. This process is partly
      initiated by the formation of zeaxanthin, which is achieved by the de-epoxidation
      of violaxanthin and antheraxanthin to zeaxanthin. This reaction is catalyzed by
      violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE). VDE consists of three domains of which the
      central lipocalin-like domain has been the most characterized. By truncating the
      domains surrounding the lipocalin-like domain, we show that VDE activity is
      possible without the C-terminal domain but not without the N-terminal domain. The
      N-terminal domain shows no VDE activity by itself but when separately expressed
      domains are mixed, VDE activity is possible. This shows that these domains can be
      folded separately and could therefore be studied separately. An increase of the
      hydrodynamic radius of wild-type VDE was observed when pH was lowered toward the
      pH required for activity, consistent with a pH-dependent oligomerization. The C
      terminally truncated VDE did not show such an oligomerization, was relatively
      more active at higher pH but did not alter the KM for ascorbate. Circular
      dichroism measurements revealed the presence of alpha-helical structure in both
      the N- and C-terminal domains. By measuring the initial formation of the product,
      VDE was found to convert a large number of violaxanthin molecules to
      antheraxanthin before producing any zeaxanthin, favoring a model where
      violaxanthin is bound non-symmetrically in VDE. 

PMID- 26864800
TI  - Cross-resistance to prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone selected by
      either herbicide in Lolium rigidum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Weeds can be a greater constraint to crop production than animal
      pests and pathogens. Pre-emergence herbicides are crucial in many cropping
      systems to control weeds that have evolved resistance to selective post-emergence
      herbicides. In this study we assessed the potential to evolve resistance to the
      pre-emergence herbicides prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor or pyroxasulfone in 50
      individual field Lolium rigidum populations collected in a random survey in
      Western Australia prior to commercialisation of these pre-emergence herbicides.
      RESULTS: This study shows for the first time that in randomly collected L.
      rigidum field populations the selection with either prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor
      or pyroxasulfone can result in concomitant evolution of resistance to both
      prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone after three generations.
      CONCLUSIONS: In the major weed L. rigidum, traits conferring resistance to new
      herbicides can be present before herbicide commercialisation. Proactive and
      multidisciplinary research (evolutionary ecology, modelling and molecular
      biology) is required to detect and analyse resistant populations before they can
      appear in the field. Several studies show that evolved cross-resistance in weeds
      is complex and often unpredictable. Thus, long-term management of cross-resistant
      weeds must be achieved through heterogeneity of selection by effective chemical,
      cultural and physical weed control strategies that can delay herbicide resistance
      evolution. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26864801
TI  - Advantages of magnifying narrow-band imaging for diagnosing colorectal cancer
      coexisting with sessile serrated adenoma/polyp.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the present study, we investigated the advantages of
      narrow-band imaging (NBI) for efficient diagnosis of sessile serrated
      adenoma/polyp (SSA/P). The main objective of this study was to analyze the
      characteristic features of cancer coexisting with serrated lesion by carrying out
      NBI. METHODS: We evaluated 264 non-malignant serrated lesions by using three
      modalities (conventional white light colonoscopy, magnifying chromoendoscopy, and
      magnifying NBI). Of the evaluated cancer cases with serrated lesions, 37
      fulfilled the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: In diagnosing non-malignant SSA/P, an
      expanded crypt opening (ECO) under magnifying NBI is a useful sign. One hundred
      and twenty-five lesions (87%) of observed ECO were, at the same time, detected to
      have type II open pit pattern, which is known to be a valuable indicator when
      using magnifying chromoendoscopy. ECO had high sensitivity of 80% for identifying
      SSA/P, with 62% specificity and 83% positive predictive value (PPV). In detecting
      the cancer with SSA/P, irregular vessels under magnifying NBI were frequently
      observed with 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity, 86% PPV and 100% negative
      predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on irregular vessels in serrated lesions
      might be useful for identification of cancer with SSA/P. This is an advantage of
      carrying out magnifying NBI in addition to being used simultaneously with other
      modalities by switching, and observations can be made by using wash-in water
      alone. We can carry out advanced examinations for selected lesions with irregular
      vessels. To confirm cancerous demarcation and invasion depth, a combination of
      all three aforementioned modalities should be done.

PMID- 26864803
TI  - Effect of a Clostridium difficile Infection Prevention Initiative in Veterans
      Affairs Acute Care Facilities.
AB  - Rates of clinically confirmed hospital-onset healthcare facility-associated
      Clostridium difficile infections from July 1, 2012, through March 31, 2015, in
      127 acute care Veterans Affairs facilities were evaluated. Quarterly pooled
      national standardized infection ratios decreased 15% from baseline by the final
      quarter of the analysis period (P=.01, linear regression). Infect Control Hosp
      Epidemiol 2016;37:720-722.

PMID- 26864802
TI  - Is increased hepatitis C virus case-finding combined with current or 8-week to 12
      week direct-acting antiviral therapy cost-effective in UK prisons? A prevention
      benefit analysis.
AB  - Prisoners have a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), but case-finding may
      not have been cost-effective because treatment often exceeded average prison stay
      combined with a lack of continuity of care. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of
      increased HCV case-finding and treatment in UK prisons using short-course
      therapies. A dynamic HCV transmission model assesses the cost-effectiveness of
      doubling HCV case-finding (achieved through introducing opt-out HCV testing in UK
      pilot prisons) and increasing treatment in UK prisons compared to status quo
      voluntary risk-based testing (6% prison entrants/year), using currently
      recommended therapies (8-24 weeks) or interferon (IFN)-free direct-acting
      antivirals (DAAs; 8-12 weeks, 95% sustained virological response, L3300/week).
      Costs (British pounds, L) and health utilities (quality-adjusted life years) were
      used to calculate mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). We assumed
      56% referral and 2.5%/25% of referred people who inject drugs (PWID)/ex-PWID
      treated within 2 months of diagnosis in prison. PWID and ex-PWID or non-PWID are
      in prison an average 4 and 8 months, respectively. Doubling prison testing rates
      with existing treatments produces a mean ICER of L19,850/quality-adjusted life
      years gained compared to current testing/treatment and is 45% likely to be cost
      effective under a L20,000 willingness-to-pay threshold. Switching to 8-week to 12
      week IFN-free DAAs in prisons could increase cost-effectiveness (ICER
      L15,090/quality-adjusted life years gained). Excluding prevention benefit
      decreases cost-effectiveness. If >10% referred PWID are treated in prison (2.5%
      base case), either treatment could be highly cost-effective (ICER<L13,000). HCV
      case-finding and IFN-free DAAs could be highly cost-effective if DAA cost is 10%
      lower or with 8 weeks' duration. CONCLUSIONS: Increased HCV testing in UK prisons
      (such as through opt-out testing) is borderline cost-effective compared to status
      quo voluntary risk-based testing under a L20,000 willingness to pay with current
      treatments but likely to be cost-effective if short-course IFN-free DAAs are used
      and could be highly cost-effective if PWID treatment rates were increased.
      (Hepatology 2016;63:1796-1808).

PMID- 26864804
TI  - Restrict the Recruitment of Involuntarily Committed Patients for Psychiatric
      Research.

PMID- 26864805
TI  - Laser fabrication of crystalline silicon nanoresonators from an amorphous film
      for low-loss all-dielectric nanophotonics.
AB  - The concept of high refractive index subwavelength dielectric nanoresonators,
      supporting electric and magnetic optical resonance, is a promising platform for
      waveguiding, sensing, and nonlinear nanophotonic devices. However, high
      concentration of defects in the nanoresonators diminishes their resonant
      properties, which are crucially dependent on their internal losses. Therefore, it
      seems to be inevitable to use initially crystalline materials for fabrication of
      the nanoresonators. Here, we show that the fabrication of crystalline (low-loss)
      resonant silicon nanoparticles by femtosecond laser ablation of amorphous (high
      loss) silicon thin films is possible. We apply two conceptually different
      approaches: recently proposed laser-induced transfer and a novel laser writing
      technique for large-scale fabrication of the crystalline nanoparticles. The
      crystallinity of the fabricated nanoparticles is proven by Raman spectroscopy and
      electron transmission microscopy, whereas optical resonant properties of the
      nanoparticles are studied using dark-field optical spectroscopy and full-wave
      electromagnetic simulations. 

PMID- 26864806
TI  - Impaired executive function in 14- to 16-year-old boys with conduct disorder is
      related to recidivism: A prospective longitudinal study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested a relationship between cognitive
      impairment and recidivism, but most have adopted a retrospective design. AIM: The
      aim of this study was to test for any relationship between impaired executive
      function in adolescents with conduct disorder and subsequent recidivism up to 3
      years later. METHOD: In this prospective cohort study, 221 male adolescents with
      conduct disorder, admitted to a juvenile justice assessment centre for the first
      time, were interviewed about their offence, age, onset of delinquency and family
      history. They completed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Keio version) (KWCST)
      and the Iowa gambling task. Scores were compared between those who subsequently
      re-offended and those who did not. RESULTS: Seventy-six (34%) participants re
      offended. There was no direct difference between groups in executive function,
      but there were age differences both in executive function and in recidivism.
      Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the variables, which
      were independently associated with recidivism, were younger age, change in the
      person who brought up the child, and fewer (<=4) categories achieved on the
      KWCST. Recidivists were about twice as likely as single offenders to have
      achieved four categories or less on the KWCST (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence
      interval 1.1-4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired executive function appears to predispose
      to recidivism among young first-time male offenders with conduct disorder. Our
      findings also suggest that further precise assessments of environmental stress on
      developing neurocognitive function could clarify the background of antisocial
      behaviour. (c) 2016 The Authors. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Published
      by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26864807
TI  - Study of silver nanoparticles synthesized by acidophilic strain of Actinobacteria
      isolated from the of Picea sitchensis forest soil.
AB  - AIMS: In the present work the acidophilic actinobacteria strain was used as a
      novel reducing agent for the cheap, green and single-step synthesis of
      nanostructure silver particles. Structural, morphological and optical properties
      of the synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized by spectroscopy, dynamic
      light scattering and electron microscopy approach. The antimicrobial activity of
      silver nanoparticles against clinical strains such as Staphylococcus aureus,
      Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella infantis alone and in combination
      with antibiotics were studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: The crystalline and stable
      biosynthesized silver nanoparticles ranged in size from 4 to 45 nm and were
      mostly spherical in shape being characterized evolving several analytical
      techniques. The bioAgNPs inhibited growth of most bacterial strains. The highest
      antimicrobial activity was observed against Ps. aeruginosa (10 mm), followed by
      Staph. aureus, B. subtilis and Pr. mirabilis (all 8 mm). The lower activity was
      noticed for E. coli and Kl. pneumoniae (6 and 2 mm, respectively). Moreover, the
      synergistic effect of bio(AgNPs) with various commercially available antibiotics
      was also evaluated. The most significant results were observed for bio(AgNPs)
      combined with tetracycline, kanamycin, ampicillin and neomycin, followed by
      streptomycin and gentamycin against E. coli, Salm. infantis and Kl. pneumoniae.
      The most resistant bacteria to commercial antibiotics was Pr. mirabilis.
      CONCLUSION: The Streptacidiphilus sp. strain CGG11n isolated from acidic soil can
      be used to efficiently synthesize the bioactive nanoparticles using inexpensive
      substances in an eco-friendly and nontoxic manner. The present work provides
      helpful insight into the development of new antimicrobial agents with the
      synergistic enhancement of the antibacterial mechanism against pathogenic micro
      organisms. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The synthesized silver
      bionanoparticles from Streptacidiphilus sp. strain CGG11n possess potent
      inhibitory effect that offers valuable contribution to pharmaceutical
      associations.

PMID- 26864808
TI  - 'You're looking for different parts in a jigsaw': foetal MRI (magnetic resonance
      imaging) as an emerging technology in professional practice.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was first introduced into clinical practice
      during the 1980s. Originally used as a diagnostic tool to take pictures of the
      brain, spine, and joints, it is now used to visualise a range of organs and soft
      tissue around the body. Developments in clinical applications of the technology
      are rapid and it is often viewed as the 'gold standard' in many areas of
      medicine. However, most existing sociological work on MRI tends to focus on the
      profession of radiology, little is known about the impact of MRI on a broader
      range of clinical practice. This article focuses on MRI use in pregnancy, a
      relatively new application of the technology. Drawing on empirical research with
      a range of health professionals (from radiologists to pathologists) in the North
      of England, this article asks: how do different types of health professionals
      engage with the technology and to what end? It will argue that MRI use in
      pregnancy offers an increasingly important piece of the diagnostic jigsaw, often
      acting as a bridging technology between medical specialties. The implications of
      this will be explored in the context of broader sociological debates on the
      'visualisation' of medicine and its impact on professionals.

PMID- 26864810
TI  - Frequent Occurrence of Aplasia Cutis Congenita in Bullous Dermolysis of the
      Newborn.
AB  - Bullous dermolysis of the newborn (BDN) is a subtype of dystrophic epidermolysis
      bullosa characterized by rapid improvement in skin fragility within the first
      months of life, associated with typical immunofluorescence and ultrastructural
      features. Inheritance can be autosomal dominant or recessive. We report here 4
      cases of BDN, 2 of which presented with aplasia cutis congenita of the lower
      extremities. All patients improved rapidly and blister formation ceased by the
      third month of life in 3 cases. In these patients only residual milia, nail
      dystrophies and atrophic scarring at sites of aplasia cutis were visible by one
      year. Family history indicated dominant inheritance in 2 cases, confirmed by
      identification of COL7A1 mutation. Molecular analysis also revealed recessive
      inheritance in the 2 sporadic cases. A literature search identified several
      patients with BDN born with skin defects localized to the lower extremities. In
      conclusion, these findings indicate that aplasia cutis congenita is not an
      infrequent manifestation of BDN. 

PMID- 26864811
TI  - Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in rats progressively decreases the proportion of fat
      calories selected from a palatable cafeteria diet.
AB  - Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) decreases caloric intake in both human
      patients and rodent models. In long-term intake tests, rats decrease their
      preference for fat and/or sugar after RYGB, and patients may have similar changes
      in food selection. Here we evaluated the impact of RYGB on intake during a
      "cafeteria"-style presentation of foods to assess if rats would lower the
      percentage of calories taken from fat and/or sugar after RYGB in a more complex
      dietary context. Male Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent either RYGB or sham
      surgery (Sham) were presurgically and postsurgically given 8-days free access to
      four semisolid foods representative of different fat and sugar levels along with
      standard chow and water. Compared with Sham rats, RYGB rats took proportionally
      fewer calories from fat and more calories from carbohydrates; the latter was not
      attributable to an increase in sugar intake. The proportion of calories taken
      from protein after RYGB also increased slightly. Importantly, these postsurgical
      macronutrient caloric intake changes in the RYGB rats were progressive, making it
      unlikely that the surgery had an immediate impact on the hedonic evaluation of
      the foods and strongly suggesting that learning is influencing the food choices.
      Indeed, despite these dietary shifts, RYGB, as well as Sham, rats continued to
      select the majority of their calories from the high-fat/high-sugar option.
      Apparently after RYGB, rats can progressively regulate their intake and selection
      of complex foods to achieve a seemingly healthier macronutrient dietary
      composition.

PMID- 26864812
TI  - Ablation of eNOS does not promote adipose tissue inflammation.
AB  - Adipose tissue (AT) inflammation is a hallmark characteristic of obesity and an
      important determinant of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease;
      therefore, a better understanding of factors regulating AT inflammation is
      critical. It is well established that reduced vascular endothelial nitric oxide
      (NO) bioavailability promotes arterial inflammation; however, the role of NO in
      modulating inflammation in AT remains disputed. In the present study, 10-wk-old
      C57BL6 wild-type and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) knockout male mice
      were randomized to either a control diet (10% kcal from fat) or a Western diet
      (44.9% kcal from fat, 17% sucrose, and 1% cholesterol) for 18 wk (n= 7 or
      8/group). In wild-type mice, Western diet-induced obesity led to increased
      visceral white AT expression of inflammatory genes (e.g., MCP1, TNF-alpha, and
      CCL5 mRNAs) and markers of macrophage infiltration (e.g., CD68, ITGAM, EMR1,
      CD11C mRNAs, and Mac-2 protein), as well as reduced markers of mitochondrial
      content (e.g., OXPHOS complex I and IV protein). Unexpectedly, these effects of
      Western diet on visceral white AT were not accompanied by decreases in eNOS
      phosphorylation at Ser-1177 or increases in eNOS phosphorylation at Thr-495. Also
      counter to expectations, eNOS knockout mice, independent of the diet, were leaner
      and did not exhibit greater white or brown AT inflammation compared with wild
      type mice. Collectively, these findings do not support the hypothesis that
      reduced NO production from eNOS contributes to obesity-related AT inflammation. 

PMID- 26864813
TI  - Janus kinase inhibition prevents cancer- and myocardial infarction-mediated
      diaphragm muscle weakness in mice.
AB  - Respiratory dysfunction is prevalent in critically ill patients and can lead to
      adverse clinical outcomes, including respiratory failure and increased mortality.
      Respiratory muscles, which normally sustain respiration through inspiratory
      muscle contractions, become weakened during critical illness, and recent studies
      suggest that respiratory muscle weakness is related to systemic inflammation.
      Here, we investigate the pathophysiological role of the inflammatory JAK1/3
      signaling pathway in diaphragm weakness in two distinct experimental models of
      critical illness. In the first experiment, mice received subcutaneous injections
      of PBS or C26 cancer cells and were fed chow formulated with or without the
      JAK1/3 inhibitor R548 for 26 days. Diaphragm specific force was significantly
      reduced in tumor-bearing mice receiving standard chow; however, treatment with
      the JAK1/3 inhibitor completely prevented diaphragm weakness. Diaphragm cross
      sectional area was diminished by ~25% in tumor-bearing mice but was similar to
      healthy mice in tumor-bearing animals treated with R548. In the second study,
      mice received sham surgery or coronary artery ligation, leading to myocardial
      infarction (MI), and were treated with R548 or vehicle 1 h postsurgery, and once
      daily for 3 days. Diaphragm specific force was comparable between sham
      surgery/vehicle, sham surgery/R548 and MI/R548 groups, but significantly
      decreased in the MI/vehicle group. Markers of oxidative damage and activated
      caspase-3, mechanisms previously identified to reduce muscle contractility, were
      not elevated in diaphragm extracts. These experiments implicate JAK1/3 signaling
      in cancer- and MI-mediated diaphragm weakness in mice, and provide a compelling
      case for further investigation. 

PMID- 26864814
TI  - Mirror-symmetry protected non-TRIM surface state in the weak topological
      insulator Bi2TeI.
AB  - Strong topological insulators (TIs) support topological surfaces states on any
      crystal surface. In contrast, a weak, time-reversal-symmetry-driven TI with at
      least one non-zero v1, v2, v3 Z2 index should host spin-locked topological
      surface states on the surfaces that are not parallel to the crystal plane with
      Miller indices (v1 v2 v3). On the other hand, mirror symmetry can protect an even
      number of topological states on the surfaces that are perpendicular to a mirror
      plane. Various symmetries in a bulk material with a band inversion can
      independently preordain distinct crystal planes for realization of topological
      states. Here we demonstrate the first instance of coexistence of both phenomena
      in the weak 3D TI Bi2TeI which (v1 v2 v3) surface hosts a gapless spin-split
      surface state protected by the crystal mirror-symmetry. The observed topological
      state has an even number of crossing points in (r-M)the directions of the 2D
      Brillouin zone due to a non-TRIM bulk-band inversion. Our findings shed light on
      hitherto uncharted features of the electronic structure of weak topological
      insulators and open up new vistas for applications of these materials in
      spintronics.

PMID- 26864815
TI  - An integrated platform for large-scale data collection and precise perturbation
      of live Drosophila embryos.
AB  - Understanding the fundamental principles governing embryogenesis is a key goal of
      developmental biology. Direct observation of embryogenesis via in vivo live
      imaging is vital to understanding embryogenesis; yet, tedious sample preparation
      makes it difficult to acquire large-scale imaging data that is often required to
      overcome experimental and biological noises for quantitative studies.
      Furthermore, it is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, to incorporate
      environmental perturbation for understanding developmental responses to external
      stimuli. To address this issue, we have developed a method for high-throughput
      imaging of live embryos, delivering precise environmental perturbations, and
      unbiased data extraction. This platform includes an optimized microfluidic device
      specifically for live embryos and also for precise perturbations in the
      microenvironment of the developing embryos. In addition, we developed software
      for simple, yet accurate, automated segmentation of fluorescent images, and
      automated data extraction. Using a quantitative assessment we find that embryos
      develop normally within the microfluidic device. Finally, we show an application
      of the high-throughput assay for monitoring developmental responses to external
      stimuli: anoxia-induced developmental arrest in Drosophila embryos. With slight
      modifications, the method developed in this work can be applied to many other
      models of development and other stimulus-response behaviors during development. 

PMID- 26864816
TI  - Ficus recemosa bark extract attenuates diabetic complications and oxidative
      stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
AB  - Context Ficus recemosa Linn. (Moraceae) has been reported as a natural folk
      medicine with diverse pathological activities such as antioxidant, antidiabetic,
      renoprotective and cardioprotective. Objective The present study evaluates the
      preventive effect of standardised ethanol extract of F. racemosa stem bark
      (EEFSB) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Materials
      and methods Animals were rendered diabetic by one time administration of STZ (45
      mg kg(-1), i.v.) and, after 7 d, diabetic rats were randomised into four groups
      of eight rats each. EEFSB (200 and 400 mg kg(-1)) was administered to diabetic
      rats once daily for 8 weeks. Furthermore, the presence of phytochemicals was
      evaluated by HPTLC. Results Treatment with EEFSB markedly restores the blood
      glucose and lipid level (p < 0.001), also reduced creatinine kinase (p < 0.001),
      lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (p < 0.001), creatinine (p
      < 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.001), collagen (p < 0.05) and albumin (p <
      0.001) levels. Reduced level of sodium (p < 0.001), creatinine (p < 0.001),
      albumin (p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (p < 0.01) in heart and kidney tissue
      along with enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (p < 0.001) and reduced
      glutathione (p < 0.001). Moreover, left ventricular hypertrophic index and
      cardiac hypertrophic index were markedly reduced by EEFSB treatment. Conclusion
      The findings of this study provided strong scientific evidence for the
      traditional use of F. racemosa and postulate protective effects against diabetes
      and its complications such as DC and DN. 

PMID- 26864818
TI  - C15082. Phytochemical Variations and Enhanced Efficiency of Antioxidant and
      Antimicrobial Ingredients in Salvia officinalis as Inoculated with Different
      Rhizobacteria.
AB  - Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites to improve their performance
      upon exposure to pathogens, pests, herbivores or environmental stresses.
      Secondary metabolism in plants is, therefore, highly regulated by presence of
      biotic or abiotic elicitors in the environment. The present research was
      undertaken to characterize plant growth promoting attributes of four plant growth
      promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) including two Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf Ap1, Pf
      Ap18) and two P. putida (Pp Ap9, Pp Ap14) strains and to determine their role
      (individually or in consortium) on growth of Salvia officialis and biosynthesis
      of secondary metabolites such as essential oils (EOs), total phenolics and
      flavonoids. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the extracts and EOs
      obtained from the inoculated plants were also investigated. The PGPR inoculum was
      applied to soil, cuttings and foliage. Results indicated that different PGPR
      strains varied in their efficiency for production of auxin, siderophore, 1
      Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, and phosphate solubilization. All
      singly inoculated plants had significantly higher shoot and root biomass, leaf
      phosphorus content, essential oils (EOs) yield, total phenolics and flavonoids
      content compared to uninoculated control plants. The major constituents of EOs,
      cis-thujene, camphor and 1,8-cineol, increased following inoculation with
      reference PGPRs. Although the extract from all inoculated plants had improved
      antioxidant activity, it was remarkable for the Pf Ap18 strain, which had the
      lowest IC50 value across treatments. Antibacterial assay of various EOs and their
      major constituents against pathogenic bacteria showed that the highest activity
      was observed against Staphylococcus aureus using EOs of Pp Ap14 source. Based on
      our findings, we suggest that individual inoculation with effective PGPR strains
      can substantially improve plant growth and secondary metabolism in S. officinals
      plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864819
TI  - Activation of MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling during NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis in
      female A/J mice.
AB  - The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is
      activated by several growth factors and mitogens, and upregulation has been noted
      in many human cancers, including examples in the lung. In this study, to study
      the association of ERK1/2 activation with mutation of Kras encoding an upstream
      activator of ERK1/2 in lung premalignant lesions, we immunohistochemically
      examined expression of phosphorylated forms of ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and MAP/ERK
      kinase 1/2 (pMEK1/2) proteins and correlation between ERK activation and mutation
      of Kras encoding an upstream activator of ERK1/2, in a mouse lung carcinogenesis
      model. Female 7-week-old A/J mice were administered a single dose of 4
      (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), then maintained without
      additional treatment until sacrifice at week 52. Histopathologically,
      adenocarcinomas, adenomas and hyperplasias were observed in the lung. pMEK1/2 was
      expressed mostly in the cell cytoplasm in all three. In contrast, pERK1/2
      positive cells were also relatively rare in any histological types as compared
      with level of pMEK1/2 expression. However, pERK1/2-positive cells in
      adenocarcinoma were still markedly more common than in hyperplasias and adenomas
      (~5-fold, ~4-fold; P < 0.01). Activating mutations of Kras gene at codons 12, 13
      and 61 were detected in the majority of adenomas and adenocarcinomas, but without
      any significant relation to pERK1/2 expression. These results suggest that
      activation of ERK1/2 plays a key role in malignant transformation during lung
      carcinogenesis featuring Kras mutaion. Activation of ERK1/2 in lung premalignant
      lesions was little regardless of the mutation of Kras, and ERK1/2 activation in
      NNK-induced mouse lung carcinogenesis may be regulated not only by Kras mutation
      but also other signaling pathway or regulatory factor.

PMID- 26864820
TI  - Propensity score-matched outcomes analysis of the liver-first approach for
      synchronous colorectal liver metastases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Liver resection before primary cancer resection is a novel strategy
      advocated for selected patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases
      (sCRLM). This study measured outcomes in patients with sCRLM following a liver
      first or classical approach, and used a validated propensity score. METHODS:
      Clinical, pathological and follow-up data were collected prospectively from
      consecutive patients undergoing hepatic resection for sCRLM at a single centre
      (2004-2014). Cumulative disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival
      (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by means of Kaplan-Meier
      analysis. Survival differences were analysed in the whole cohort and in subgroups
      matched according to Basingstoke Predictive Index (BPI). RESULTS: Of 582
      patients, 98 had a liver-first and 467 a classical approach to treatment; 17
      patients undergoing simultaneous bowel and liver resection were excluded. The
      median (i.q.r.) BPI was significantly higher in the liver-first compared with the
      classical group: 8.5 (5-10) versus 8 (4-9) (P = 0.030). Median follow-up was 34
      months. The 5-year DFS rate was lower in the liver-first group than in the
      classical group (23 versus 45.6 per cent; P = 0.001), but there was no difference
      in 5-year CSS (51 versus 53.8 per cent; P = 0.379) or OS (44 versus 49.6 per
      cent; P = 0.305). After matching for preoperative BPI, there was no difference in
      5-year DFS (37 versus 41.2 per cent for liver-first versus classical approach; P
      = 0.083), CSS (51 versus 53.2 per cent; P = 0.616) or OS (47 versus 49.1 per
      cent; P = 0.846) rates. CONCLUSION: Patients with sCRLM selected for a liver
      first approach had more oncologically advanced disease and a poorer prognosis.
      They had inferior cumulative DFS than those undergoing a classical approach, a
      difference negated by matching preoperative BPI.

PMID- 26864821
TI  - Editor's Selection: This Month's Highlighted Articles: Vitamins and diabetes.

PMID- 26864823
TI  - Synthesis and Thermal Responses of Polygonal Poly(ethylene glycol) Analogues.
AB  - As a new type of topological poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) analogue, a series of
      polygonal PEGs with digonal to hexagonal structures were developed. Polygonal
      PEGs with structures between the digonal and tetragonal types showed molecular
      level dispersion in water at 20  degrees C, whereas the pentagonal and hexagonal
      PEGs aggregated, which is suggestive of enhanced hydrophobicity by ring
      expansion. Heating induced conformational changes in the polygonal PEGs and
      increased their hydrophobicity. Among the polygonal PEGs, only the trigonal and
      hexagonal PEGs showed a distinct thermal response to form and increase the size
      of the aggregates, respectively. Given that tetragonal and pentagonal PEGs only
      marginally responded to heat treatment, the thermal responses are likely due to a
      topological effect. At low temperatures, the larger polygonal PEGs are more
      restricted despite the expanded rings. The trigonal PEG showed the largest change
      in mobility, whereas the tetragonal PEG exhibited the smallest change. Hence, the
      topology of the polygonal PEGs influences the intramolecular packing and the
      local dynamics. 

PMID- 26864825
TI  - Vestibular pathology in children with enlarged vestibular aqueduct.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To establish the prevalence of abnormal vestibular test
      findings in children with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) and determine if
      these findings correlate with clinical symptoms, radiographic findings (EVA size
      and laterality), audiometric findings, and genetic testing in these patients.
      STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. METHODS: Patients 3 to 12 years of age with
      hearing loss and imaging findings consistent with EVA treated at our tertiary
      care institution were sequentially enrolled from 2009 to 2011. The following six
      outcome measurements were analyzed: audiometric findings, EVA laterality,
      temporal bone measurements, genetic testing, vestibular testing (cervical-evoked
      myogenic potentials, posturography, rotational chair, and calorics), and
      vestibular symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with EVA (mean age 9.2 years,
      48% female) were enrolled in and completed the study. Vertigo was reported in six
      patients. Twenty-four of 27 (89%) had at least one abnormal vestibular test
      result. Midpoint and operculum size correlated with directional preponderance (P
      = .042 and P = .032, respectively). Also, high-frequency pure tone average
      (HFPTA) correlated with unilateral weakness (P = .002). Walking at a later age
      correlated with abnormal posturography results. There was no correlation between
      EVA laterality and vestibular test findings. CONCLUSION: We found a high rate of
      vestibular pathology in children with EVA; however, the prevalence of abnormal
      vestibular test findings in this patient population was not correlated with
      vestibular symptoms. Enlarged vestibular aqueduct size, HFPTA, and walking at a
      later age were correlated with abnormal vestibular test findings. In view of
      these results, it may be prudent to consider vestibular testing in children with
      these clinical characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b. Laryngoscope, 126:2344
      2350, 2016.

PMID- 26864824
TI  - ATP-containing vesicles in stria vascular marginal cell cytoplasms in neonatal
      rat cochlea are lysosomes.
AB  - We confirmed that ATP is released from cochlear marginal cells in the stria
      vascular but the cell organelle in which ATP stores was not identified until now.
      Thus, we studied the ATP-containing cell organelles and suggest that these are
      lysosomes. Primary cultures of marginal cells of Sprague-Dawley rats aged 1-3
      days was established. Vesicles within marginal cells stained with markers were
      identified under confocal laser scanning microscope and transmission electron
      microscope (TEM). Then ATP release from marginal cells was measured after glycyl
      L-phenylalanine-beta- naphthylamide (GPN) treatment using a bioluminescent assay.
      Quinacrine-stained granules within marginal cells were labeled with LysoTracker,
      a lysosome tracer, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1(LAMP1), but not
      labeled with the mitochondrial tracer MitoTracker. Furthermore, LysoTracker
      labelled puncta showed accumulation of Mant-ATP, an ATP analog. Treatment with
      200 MUM GPN quenched fluorescently labeled puncta after incubation with
      LysoTracker or quinacrine, but not MitoTracker. Quinacrine-labeled organelles
      observed by TEM were lysosomes, and an average 27.7 percent increase in ATP
      luminescence was observed in marginal cells extracellular fluid after GPN
      treatment. ATP-containing vesicles in cochlear marginal cells of the stria
      vascular from neonatal rats are likely lysosomes. ATP release from marginal cells
      may be via Ca(2+)-dependent lysosomal exocytosis. 

PMID- 26864826
TI  - Transfer of Perceptual Expertise: The Case of Simplified and Traditional Chinese
      Character Recognition.
AB  - Expertise in Chinese character recognition is marked by reduced holistic
      processing (HP), which depends mainly on writing rather than reading experience.
      Here we show that, while simplified and traditional Chinese readers demonstrated
      a similar level of HP when processing characters shared between the simplified
      and traditional scripts, simplified Chinese readers were less holistic than
      traditional Chinese readers in perceiving simplified characters; this effect
      depended mainly on their writing rather than reading performance. However, the
      two groups did not differ in HP of traditional characters, regardless of their
      difference in reading and writing performances. Our image analysis showed high
      visual similarity between the two character types, with a larger variance among
      simplified characters; this may allow simplified Chinese readers to interpolate
      and generalize their skills to traditional characters. Thus, transfer of
      perceptual expertise may be constrained by both the similarity in feature and the
      difference in exemplar variance between the categories.

PMID- 26864827
TI  - Coexisting anxiety disorders alter associations with physical disorders in the
      elderly: A Taiwan cross-sectional nationwide study.
AB  - AIM: We used population-based analyses to explore whether anxiety disorders are
      associated with certain physical illnesses, as previous studies have suggested,
      and whether a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders would influence
      physical illnesses in the elderly. METHODS: Using the National Health Insurance
      Research Database, we included subjects aged over 60 years. The study included
      954 subjects with anxiety disorders (as defined by the ICD-9-CM) and 4770 control
      subjects without anxiety disorders. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the
      risks of physical illnesses in both groups. RESULTS: Subjects with anxiety
      disorders had higher OR for cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.33-2.80),
      cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.07), peptic ulcer (OR = 3.41), and hyperlipidemia
      (OR = 2.99). Furthermore, a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders may
      further increase the OR of the aforementioned physical illnesses, except for
      peripheral vascular disorder, when compared to those without anxiety disorders.
      CONCLUSION: Elderly subjects with more anxiety disorders may be associated with
      vascular and metabolic problems. Clinicians should carefully assess the physical
      illnesses of elderly patients with anxiety disorders.

PMID- 26864828
TI  - It's Greek to me: Domain specific relationships between intellectual helplessness
      and academic performance.
AB  - In a study of the domain specificity of intellectual learned helplessness, we
      collected data from 376 students in 14 classrooms. We measured feelings of
      intellectual helplessness for mathematics and language skills, anxiety about
      performance in each of these domains, and general working memory. Multilevel
      modeling analyses found that feelings of helplessness in language skills were
      negatively related to grades in language but were unrelated to grades in
      mathematics. Similarly, feelings of helplessness in mathematics were negatively
      related to grades in mathematics but were unrelated to grades in language.
      Controlling for anxiety or working memory did not change these relationships, nor
      did they vary across the age of students. The results support conceptualizations
      in which learned helplessness has a domain specific component.

PMID- 26864829
TI  - Shared Experiences--Good and Bad.

PMID- 26864830
TI  - Treatment of Fifth Metatarsal Fractures in Adults.

PMID- 26864831
TI  - A Rare Case of Glomus Tumor of the Great Toe: An Analysis of Behavior at This
      Rare Site.
AB  - Glomus tumor, originally known as an angioneuromyoma, is a benign neoplasm
      arising from specialized structures called glomus bodies, involved in
      thermoregulation. Although it has been reported at a number of sites in the body,
      this rare tumor is most commonly seen in the subungual areas of the digits of the
      hand. Only a handful of lesions have been reported in the toes. Because most foot
      conditions are treated by podiatrists and dermatologists, orthopaedic surgeons
      are generally unaccustomed to making early diagnoses. The purpose of this case
      report is to alert the attending surgeon regarding the possibility of glomus
      tumor as a cause of chronic toe pain. Also it has been observed that the behavior
      of this tumor varies with the site of occurrence-whether digital or extradigital.
      So we have extensively reviewed all similar reports in the literature to analyze
      the behavior of this tumor at this unusual location, apart from comparing it with
      the more common finger variety, to ensure it possibly is not a misclassification
      like the chemodectomas that were earlier thought to be glomus tumors. LEVELS OF
      EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV: Case Study.

PMID- 26864832
TI  - Exposure to whole-body vibration in open-cast mines in the Barents region.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure and evaluate whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure
      among drivers of mining vehicles in the Barents region. STUDY DESIGN: In the
      period from November 2012 to August 2014, this cross-sectional study was carried
      out at 3 mines in Finland, Norway and Sweden as part of the MineHealth project.
      METHODS: Measurements of WBV were conducted on the surface of the driver's seat
      during normal work in accordance with international standards. Personal data on
      daily exposure times were collected by a questionnaire. RESULTS: Measurements
      were conducted on 95 different mining vehicles both as root mean square (RMS)
      value and vibration dose value (VDV) representing different manufacturers, models
      and capacities. Of the 453 miners who answered the questionnaire, 232 indicated
      that they were exposed to WBV during their working day. The results show that the
      mean daily exposure time varies between 1.9 and 6.7 h for different vehicles. The
      calculated mean A(8) could be found in an interval between 0.2 and 1.0 m/s(2) and
      the corresponding 8-h VDV fell between 7 and 17 m/s(1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure
      to WBV among operators of mining vehicles may be a serious health and safety
      problem in the mines studied. The employers ought, therefore, take active steps
      to reduce exposure in accordance with the European vibration directive. Moreover,
      since some groups of drivers are exposed to vibration that is close to or exceeds
      the exposure limit values, the employer should take immediate action to reduce
      exposure below these values.

PMID- 26864835
TI  - His Name Was Aylan.

PMID- 26864833
TI  - Impact of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure on the risk of
      influenza-like-illness: a time-series analysis in Beijing, China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Air pollution in Beijing, especially PM2.5, has received increasing
      attention in the past years. Although exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to many
      health issues, few studies have quantified the impact of PM2.5 on the risk of
      influenza-like illness (ILI). The aim of our study is to investigate the
      association between daily PM2.5 and ILI risk in Beijing, by means of a
      generalized additive model. METHODS: Daily PM2.5, meteorological factors, and
      influenza-like illness (ILI) counts during January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014
      were retrieved. An inverse Gaussian generalized additive model with log link
      function was used to flexibly model the nonlinear relationship between the PM2.5
      (single- and multiday lagged exposure) and ILI risk, adjusted for the weather
      conditions, seasonal and year trends. We also assessed if the effect of PM2.5
      differs during flu season versus non-flu season by including the interaction term
      between PM2.5 and flu season in the model. Furthermore, a stratified analysis by
      age groups was conducted to investigate how the effect of PM2.5 differs across
      age groups. RESULTS: Our findings suggested a strong positive relationships
      between PM2.5 and ILI risk at the flu season (October-April) (p-value < 0.001),
      after adjusting for the effects of ambient daily temperature and humidity, month
      and year; whereas no significant association was identified at the non-flu season
      (May-September) (p-value = 0.174). A short term delayed effect of PM2.5 was also
      identified with 2-day moving average (current day to the previous day) of PM2.5
      yielding the best predictive power. Furthermore, PM2.5 was strongly associated
      with ILI risk across all age groups (p-value < 0.001) at the flu season, but the
      effect was the most pronounced among adults (age 25-59), followed by young adults
      (age 15-24), school children (age 5-14) and the elderly (age 60+) and the effect
      of PM2.5 was the least pronounced for children under 5 years of age (age < 5).
      CONCLUSIONS: Ambient PM2.5 concentrations were significantly associated with ILI
      risk in Beijing at the flu season and the effect of PM2.5 differed across age
      groups, in Beijing, China.

PMID- 26864836
TI  - The Relationship Between Exercise Intensity and Sleep Quality in People
      Hospitalised Due to Affective Disorders: A Pilot Study.
AB  - Individuals with mental illness experience poorer sleep quality compared to the
      general population. Exercise may improve sleep quality through a reduction in
      arousal, however the association between perceived exercise intensity and sleep
      quality for this population is largely unknown. Forty inpatient mental health
      consumers reported perceived exertion prior to, and immediately following, a
      morning session of combined aerobic and strengthening exercise. Self-reported
      sleep quality was reported immediately upon waking the day following the acute
      exercise session. Pearson's correlations examined the relationship between
      exercise intensity and sleep quality. A significant negative correlation was
      observed between post-exercise exertion and sleep quality (r = -0.32, p = 0.045).
      A reduction in arousal may explain the observed effects for people with anxiety
      disorders.

PMID- 26864837
TI  - Model Development of Mothering by Women with Bipolar Illness.
AB  - A sensitive, secure, and consistent relationship with their mother is critical
      for young children. There is a dearth of knowledge about the quality of mothering
      of young children by women with bipolar disorder. These mothers are frequently
      challenged, unable to provide consistency, and are at risk for loss of child
      custody. The model described in this article reflects a critical analysis of
      conceptual and empirical literature regarding mothering quality, resourcefulness,
      disorder severity, medication adherence, social supports, and child-rearing
      beliefs. The model can provide a conceptual framework for research, direct the
      selection of research instruments, and hypothesize the relationships among
      constructs.

PMID- 26864838
TI  - Boredom in the Workplace: Reasons, Impact, and Solutions.
AB  - Boredom in the workplace is not uncommon, and has been discussed widely in the
      academic literature in relation to the associated costs to individuals and
      organizations. Boredom can give rise to errors, adverse patient events, and
      decreased productivity-costly and unnecessary outcomes for consumers, employees,
      and organizations alike. As a function of boredom, individuals may feel over
      worked or under-employed, and become distracted, stressed, or disillusioned.
      Staff who are bored also are less likely to engage with or focus on their work.
      In this article, we consider the nature of boredom and also the reasons why
      employees, including mental health nurses, become bored in the workplace. We also
      discuss the role that can be taken by employees and employers to recognise and
      address the problem of boredom and we consider how best to develop sustainable
      workplaces that are characterised by engaged employees who provide the best
      possible service in healthcare settings.

PMID- 26864834
TI  - Urinary chitinase 3-like protein 1 for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury: a
      prospective cohort study in adult critically ill patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently and adversely affects
      patient and kidney outcomes, especially when its severity increases from stage 1
      to stages 2 or 3. Early interventions may counteract such deterioration, but this
      requires early detection. Our aim was to evaluate whether the novel renal damage
      biomarker urinary chitinase 3-like protein 1 (UCHI3L1) can detect AKI stage >= 2
      more early than serum creatinine and urine output, using the respective Kidney
      Disease | Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria for definition and
      classification of AKI, and compare this to urinary neutrophil gelatinase
      associated lipocalin (UNGAL). METHODS: This was a translational single-center,
      prospective cohort study at the 22-bed surgical and 14-bed medical intensive care
      units (ICU) of Ghent University Hospital. We enrolled 181 severely ill adult
      patients who did not yet have AKI stage >= 2 based on the KDIGO criteria at time
      of enrollment. The concentration of creatinine (serum, urine) and CHI3L1 (serum,
      urine) was measured at least daily, and urine output hourly, in the period from
      enrollment till ICU discharge with a maximum of 7 ICU-days. The concentration of
      UNGAL was measured at enrollment. The primary endpoint was the development of AKI
      stage >= 2 within 12 h after enrollment. RESULTS: After enrollment, 21 (12%)
      patients developed AKI stage >= 2 within the next 7 days, with 6 (3%) of them
      reaching this condition within the first 12 h. The enrollment concentration of
      UCHI3L1 predicted the occurrence of AKI stage >= 2 within the next 12 h with a
      good AUC-ROC of 0.792 (95% CI: 0.726-0.849). This performance was similar to that
      of UNGAL (AUC-ROC of 0.748 (95% CI: 0.678-0.810)). Also, the samples collected in
      the 24-h time frame preceding diagnosis of the 1(st) episode of AKI stage >= 2
      had a 2.0 times higher (95% CI: 1.3-3.1) estimated marginal mean of UCHI3L1 than
      controls. We further found that increasing UCHI3L1 concentrations were associated
      with increasing AKI severity. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study we found that
      UCHI3L1 was a good biomarker for prediction of AKI stage >= 2 in adult ICU
      patients.

PMID- 26864839
TI  - Exploring the Lived Experience of Difficult Sleep and Good Sleep Among
      Psychiatric Inpatients.
AB  - The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychiatric inpatients'
      reflections on their experiences with sleep throughout their lives. Fourteen
      patients in an acute care behavioral health unit agreed to participate in this
      study. Participants met individually with a researcher to reflect on times in
      their lives when they experienced good sleep; times when they had difficulty
      sleeping; and times when difficult sleep was resolved. The major findings of the
      study indicated that feeling alone with life problems triggered difficult sleep;
      while feelings of belonging and purpose were associated with good sleep.

PMID- 26864840
TI  - Being a Parent to a Young Adult with Mental Illness in Transition to Adulthood.
AB  - Parents of young adults with mental illness may face a continued demand for
      support, even though their children have reached the age of majority. The aim of
      this study was to explore relatives' experiences of parenting a young adult with
      mental illness in transition to adulthood. Individual interviews were conducted
      and analysed according to Grounded Theory. The results showed that relatives
      experienced powerlessness and a sense of inescapable duty with limited
      possibilities to be relieved. With a family nursing approach, relatives can be
      supported and, when the young adults' needs of care are met, they can be relieved
      from their burden of responsibility.

PMID- 26864841
TI  - Depression and Diabetes in a Primarily African American Female Population.
AB  - Depression is one of the most serious mental health comorbidities associated with
      diabetes. In this pilot study, we describe the associations identified via a
      cross-sectional survey among demographic variables, depression, self-efficacy,
      and glycemic control in a primarily minority population (mean age = 57.9 years; n
      = 30) with diabetes mellitus. Descriptive, bivariate, and correlation analyses
      were conducted. A significant inverse relationship was detected between
      depression and self-efficacy; however the relationship between depression and A1C
      was not significant. The implications of these findings include the need for
      interventions that regularly screen for depression and self-efficacy in persons
      diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, especially in the earlier years of diagnosis.

PMID- 26864842
TI  - Experiences of Older Men Living Alone: A Qualitative Study.
AB  - More and more old people live alone, and living alone is reported to be a key
      risk factor for experiencing loneliness and developing poor health. The purpose
      of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of living alone for
      older men. Systematic text condensation and hermeneutic interpretation were used
      in analysis of the data. Four themes emerged: lonely at times, missing and
      longing for a shared life, keeping active, and some kind of freedom. The findings
      revealed that inner and outer resources come into play and have influence on the
      processes of managing and solving the situation of living alone. The findings are
      in accordance with theoretical perspectives on loneliness, aloneness, and
      solitude. The findings offer nurses in any clinical context valuable information
      to allow them to address the core emotional and potential mental health issues
      old men face in coping with the situation of living alone.

PMID- 26864843
TI  - Culture Change? A Secular Shift.

PMID- 26864844
TI  - Diagnostic Sedition: Re-Considering the Ascension and Hegemony of Contemporary
      Psychiatric Diagnosis.

PMID- 26864845
TI  - Non-Specialist Health Worker Interventions for the Care of Mental, Neurological,
      and Substance-Abuse Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

PMID- 26864848
TI  - The Perils of Integrating Wellness and Safety and Health and the Possibility of a
      Worker-Oriented Alternative.
AB  - Integration of workplace wellness with safety and health has gained momentum on
      the initiative of the state allied with a segment of large employers and some
      health and safety professionals. Integration has a dual potential: to
      fundamentally reshape occupational health in ways that profoundly benefit
      workers, or to serve neoliberal corporate goals. A focus on the workplace and the
      ways work and health interact broaden the definition of a work-related injury or
      illness and emphasize and challenge the employer decisions that create hazards
      and determine risk. However, the implementation of integration is taking place in
      a context of corporate dominance and the aggressive pursuit of a neoliberal
      agenda. Consequently, in practice, integration efforts have emphasized individual
      worker responsibility for health and fail to actually integrate wellness with
      safety and health in a meaningful way. Can an alternative be envisioned and
      pursued that realizes the promise of integration for workers? 

PMID- 26864852
TI  - Understanding the Ureter: Challenges and Opportunities.
AB  - The ureter is possibly the least studied and most poorly understood organ of the
      urinary tract. The pathophysiologic basis underlying the use of alpha-blockers to
      improve ureteral stone passage or to treat ureteral stent symptoms is poorly
      understood. This, in part, may explain why clinical studies of medical expulsive
      therapy for ureteral stone passage are fraught with conflicting data. Methods to
      study human ureter in vivo are few and challenging. The findings of many of the
      ureteral studies are from observational in vitro studies and were evaluated in
      other animal species that may not be applicable in human beings. There are few
      mechanistic studies evaluating the underlying molecular pathophysiologic
      mechanisms of human ureter. This is critical to our understanding and treatment
      of stent symptoms, including the development of a patient friendly ureteral stent
      and for the pharmacologic modulation of ureteral activity. The following is an
      overview of some of the observational and mechanistic ureteral studies evaluating
      the pharmacologic and stent effects, including potential areas for further
      research. 

PMID- 26864853
TI  - Is deep neuromuscular blockade beneficial in laparoscopic surgery? Yes, probably.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Deep neuromuscular blockade during laparoscopic surgery may provide
      some clinical benefit. We present the 'Pro-' argument in this paired position
      paper. METHODS: We reviewed recent evidence from a basic database of references
      which we agreed on with the 'Con-' side, and present this in narrative form. We
      have shared our analysis and text with the authors of the 'Con-' side of these
      paired position papers during the preparation of the manuscripts. RESULTS: There
      are a few low risk of bias studies indicating that use of deep neuromuscular
      blockade improve surgical conditions and improve patient outcomes such as post
      operative pain in laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: Our interpretation of recent
      findings is that there is reason to believe that there may be some patient
      benefit of deep neuromuscular blockade in this context, and more detailed study
      is needed.

PMID- 26864851
TI  - A randomised controlled trial of a lifestyle behavioural intervention for
      patients with low back pain, who are overweight or obese: study protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a highly prevalent condition with a significant
      global burden. Management of lifestyle factors such as overweight and obesity may
      improve low back pain patient outcomes. Currently there are no randomised
      controlled trials that have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of
      lifestyle behavioural interventions in managing low back pain. The aim of this
      trial is to determine if a telephone-based lifestyle behavioural intervention is
      effective in reducing pain intensity in overweight or obese patients with low
      back pain, compared to usual care. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial
      will be conducted with patients waiting for an outpatient consultation with an
      orthopaedic surgeon at a public tertiary referral hospital within New South
      Wales, Australia for chronic low back pain. Patients will be randomly allocated
      in a 1:1 ratio to receive a lifestyle behavioural intervention (intervention
      group) or continue with usual care (control group). After baseline data
      collection, patients in the intervention group will receive a clinical
      consultation followed by a 6-month telephone-based lifestyle behavioural
      intervention (10 individually tailored sessions over a 6-month period) and
      patients in the control group will continue with usual care. Participants will be
      followed for 26 weeks and asked to undertake three self-reported questionnaires
      at baseline (pre-randomisation), week 6 and 26 post randomisation to collect
      primary and secondary outcome data. The study requires a sample of 80
      participants per group to detect a 1.5 point difference in pain intensity
      (primary outcome) 26 weeks post randomisation. The primary outcome, pain
      intensity, will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale. DISCUSSION: The
      study will provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of a lifestyle
      behavioural intervention in reducing pain intensity in overweight or obese
      patients with low back pain and inform management of these patients. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry,
      ACTRN12615000478516 , Registered 14/05/2015.

PMID- 26864854
TI  - Microglial priming through the lung-brain axis: the role of air pollution-induced
      circulating factors.
AB  - Air pollution is implicated in neurodegenerative disease risk and progression and
      in microglial activation, but the mechanisms are unknown. In this study,
      microglia remained activated 24 h after ozone (O3) exposure in rats, suggesting a
      persistent signal from lung to brain. Ex vivo analysis of serum from O3-treated
      rats revealed an augmented microglial proinflammatory response and beta-amyloid
      42 (Abeta42) neurotoxicity independent of traditional circulating cytokines,
      where macrophage-1 antigen-mediated microglia proinflammatory priming. Aged mice
      exhibited reduced pulmonary immune profiles and the most pronounced
      neuroinflammation and microglial activation in response to mixed vehicle
      emissions. Consistent with this premise, cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36)(-/
      ) mice exhibited impaired pulmonary immune responses concurrent with augmented
      neuroinflammation and microglial activation in response to O3 Further, aging glia
      were more sensitive to the proinflammatory effects of O3 serum. Together, these
      findings outline the lung-brain axis, where air pollutant exposures result in
      circulating, cytokine-independent signals present in serum that elevate the brain
      proinflammatory milieu, which is linked to the pulmonary response and is further
      augmented with age.-Mumaw, C. L., Levesque, S., McGraw, C., Robertson, S., Lucas,
      S., Stafflinger, J. E., Campen, M. J., Hall, P., Norenberg, J. P., Anderson, T.,
      Lund, A. K., McDonald, J. D., Ottens, A. K., Block, M. L. Microglial priming
      through the lung-brain axis: the role of air pollution-induced circulating
      factors.

PMID- 26864857
TI  - Hydrophilic Domains Enhance Nanobubble Stability.
AB  - Highly stable nanoscale gas states at solid/liquid interfaces, referred to as
      nanobubbles, have been widely studied for over a decade. In this study,
      nanobubbles generated on a hydrophobic Teflon amorphous fluoroplastic thin film
      in the presence and absence of hydrophilic carbon domains are investigated by
      peak force quantitative nanomechanics. On the hydrophobic surface without
      hydrophilic domains, a small number of nanobubbles are generated and then rapidly
      decrease in size. On the hydrophobic surface with hydrophilic domains, the
      hydrophilic domains have a significant effect on the generation and stability of
      nanobubbles, with bubbles remaining on the surface for up to three days.

PMID- 26864855
TI  - The Alpha-defensin Test for Periprosthetic Joint Infections Is Not Affected by
      Prior Antibiotic Administration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that the administration of
      antibiotics to patients before performing diagnostic testing for periprosthetic
      joint infection (PJI) can interfere with the accuracy of test results. Although a
      single-institution study has suggested that alpha-defensin maintains its
      concentration and sensitivity even after antibiotic treatment, this has not yet
      been demonstrated in a larger multiinstitutional study. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1)
      For the evaluation of PJI, is prior antibiotic administration associated with
      decreased alpha-defensin levels? (2) When prior antibiotics are given, is alpha
      defensin a better screening test for PJI than the traditional tests (erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], fluid white blood cells,
      fluid polymorphonuclear cells [PMNs], and fluid culture)? METHODS: This
      retrospective study included data from 106 hip and knee arthroplasties with
      Musculoskeletal Infection Society-defined PJI from four centers. Of the 106
      patients in this study, 30 (28%) were treated with antibiotics for PJI before
      diagnostic workup (ABX group), and 76 (72%) were not treated before the
      diagnostic workup (NO-ABX group). There were no differences in age, sex, joint,
      culture-negative rate, or bacteriology between groups. The patients in the ABX
      group had antibiotics initiated by physicians who commenced care before
      assessment for PJI by the treating surgeon's service. We compared the alpha
      defensin levels and sensitivity between the ABX and NO-ABX groups. Additionally,
      the sensitivity of the alpha-defensin test was compared to that of traditional
      tests for PJI among patients on antibiotics. RESULTS: The administration of
      antibiotics before performing the alpha-defensin test for PJI was not associated
      with a decreased median alpha-defensin level (ABX group, median 4.2 [range, 1.79
      12.8 S/CO] versus NO-ABX, median 4.9 [range, 0.5-16.8 S/CO], difference of
      medians: 0.68 S/CO [95% confidence interval {CI}, -0.98 to 1.26], p = 0.451).
      Furthermore, the alpha-defensin test had a higher sensitivity (100%; 95% CI,
      88.4%-100.0%) in diagnosing PJI among patients on antibiotics when compared with
      the ESR (69.0% [95% CI, 49.17%-84.72%], p = 0.001), the CRP (79.3% [95% CI, 60.3%
      92.0%], p = 0.009), the fluid PMN% (79.3% [95% CI, 60.3%-92.0%), p = 0.009), and
      fluid culture (70.0% [95% CI, 50.6%-85.3%], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The alpha
      defensin test maintains its concentration and sensitivity for PJI even in the
      setting of antibiotic administration. Furthermore, among patients with PJI on
      antibiotics, the alpha-defensin tests demonstrated a higher sensitivity in
      detecting PJI when compared with the ESR, CRP, fluid PMN%, and fluid culture. The
      high sensitivity of the alpha-defensin test, even in the setting of prior
      antibiotic treatment, provides excellent utility as a screening test for PJI.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.

PMID- 26864856
TI  - A genome-wide search for epigenetically [corrected] regulated genes in zebra
      finch using MethylCap-seq and RNA-seq.
AB  - Learning and memory formation are known to require dynamic CpG (de)methylation
      and gene expression changes. Here, we aimed at establishing a genome-wide DNA
      methylation map of the zebra finch genome, a model organism in neuroscience, as
      well as identifying putatively epigenetically regulated genes. RNA- and MethylCap
      seq experiments were performed on two zebra finch cell lines in presence or
      absence of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced demethylation. First, the MethylCap-seq
      methodology was validated in zebra finch by comparison with RRBS-generated data.
      To assess the influence of (variable) methylation on gene expression, RNA-seq
      experiments were performed as well. Comparison of RNA-seq and MethylCap-seq
      results showed that at least 357 of the 3,457 AZA-upregulated genes are
      putatively regulated by methylation in the promoter region, for which a pathway
      analysis showed remarkable enrichment for neurological networks. A subset of
      genes was validated using Exon Arrays, quantitative RT-PCR and CpG pyrosequencing
      on bisulfite-treated samples. To our knowledge, this study provides the first
      genome-wide DNA methylation map of the zebra finch genome as well as a
      comprehensive set of genes of which transcription is under putative methylation
      control. 

PMID- 26864858
TI  - Multimodal Dispersion of Nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Size
      Distribution with 9 Size Measurement Methods.
AB  - PURPOSE: Evaluation of particle size distribution (PSD) of multimodal dispersion
      of nanoparticles is a difficult task due to inherent limitations of size
      measurement methods. The present work reports the evaluation of PSD of a
      dispersion of poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles decorated with dextran
      known as multimodal and developed as nanomedecine. METHODS: The nine methods used
      were classified as batch particle i.e. Static Light Scattering (SLS) and Dynamic
      Light Scattering (DLS), single particle i.e. Electron Microscopy (EM), Atomic
      Force Microscopy (AFM), Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS) and Nanoparticle
      Tracking Analysis (NTA) and separative particle i.e. Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow
      Fractionation coupled with DLS (AsFlFFF) size measurement methods. RESULTS: The
      multimodal dispersion was identified using AFM, TRPS and NTA and results were
      consistent with those provided with the method based on a separation step prior
      to on-line size measurements. None of the light scattering batch methods could
      reveal the complexity of the PSD of the dispersion. CONCLUSIONS: Difference
      between PSD obtained from all size measurement methods tested suggested that
      study of the PSD of multimodal dispersion required to analyze samples by at least
      one of the single size particle measurement method or a method that uses a
      separation step prior PSD measurement.

PMID- 26864861
TI  - Counter-ion distribution around flexible polyelectrolytes having different
      molecular architecture.
AB  - We explore the monovalent counter-ion distribution around flexible highly-charged
      polyelectrolytes with different molecular architectures (linear chains, stars,
      and unknotted and trefoil rings) using molecular dynamics simulations that
      include an explicit solvent that interacts with the polyelectrolyte. In
      particular, we find that the molecular topology influences the fraction of
      counter-ions transiently associating with the polyelectrolyte on a scale of the
      order of the chain segments, forming a "condensed" counter-ion interfacial layer.
      As with the hydrogen bonding of water to proteins and other polymers, the
      persistence time of these interfacial "bound" counter-ions is relatively short,
      O(1 ps), and we characterize the fluctuations in the number of the counter-ions
      populating the interfacial layer. We also find that the counter-ions are
      distributed in a non-uniform fashion on the polyelectrolyte backbone, forming
      dynamical clusters whose form and average size is sensitive to molecular
      architecture. In addition, we find that the residual bound counter-ions, not
      located in either the interfacial layer or the bulk solution, form a diffuse
      ionic cloud around the polyelectrolyte due to the uncompensated polyelectrolyte
      charge along the backbone. Generally charge valence strongly influences the
      extent of the diffuse counter-ion cloud, but in the case of monovalent counter
      ions, we find that the size of the diffuse counter-ion cloud nearly coincides
      with the polyelectrolyte radius of gyration, independent of molecular topology. 

PMID- 26864859
TI  - Simultaneous resonant x-ray diffraction measurement of polarization inversion and
      lattice strain in polycrystalline ferroelectrics.
AB  - Structure-property relationships in ferroelectrics extend over several length
      scales from the individual unit cell to the macroscopic device, and with dynamics
      spanning a broad temporal domain. Characterizing the multi-scale structural
      origin of electric field-induced polarization reversal and strain in
      ferroelectrics is an ongoing challenge that so far has obscured its fundamental
      behaviour. By utilizing small intensity differences between Friedel pairs due to
      resonant scattering, we demonstrate a time-resolved X-ray diffraction technique
      for directly and simultaneously measuring both lattice strain and, for the first
      time, polarization reversal during in-situ electrical perturbation. This
      technique is demonstrated for BaTiO3-BiZn0.5Ti0.5O3 (BT-BZT) polycrystalline
      ferroelectrics, a prototypical lead-free piezoelectric with an ambiguous
      switching mechanism. This combines the benefits of spectroscopic and diffraction
      based measurements into a single and robust technique with time resolution down
      to the ns scale, opening a new door to in-situ structure-property
      characterization that probes the full extent of the ferroelectric behaviour. 

PMID- 26864862
TI  - XELOX vs. FOLFOX in metastatic colorectal cancer: An updated meta-analysis.
AB  - This meta-analysis aims to evaluate chemotherapy with XELOX (capecitabine plus
      oxaliplatin) versus FOLFOX (fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin) as a treatment for
      metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in terms of efficacy and safety. Only
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing XELOX versus FOLFOX were included.
      A total of 4,363 patients from eight RCTs were available for analysis. Pooled
      analysis revealed that there were no statistical differences between both arms in
      OS, and ORR. XELOX arm had a higher incidence of thrombocytopenia, hand-foot
      syndrome, and diarrhea, whereas neutropenia had a higher incidence in the FOLFOX
      group. For mCRC, the effect of XELOX is similar to FOLFOX.

PMID- 26864863
TI  - Antidepressants are addictive and increase the risk of relapse.

PMID- 26864865
TI  - Elevated interleukin-1beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells contributes to
      the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases, especially of Hashimoto
      thyroiditis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To explore the relationship between IL-1beta expression and
      two common autoimmune thyroid diseases: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and Graves'
      disease (GD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: qRT-PCR, Quantiglo ELISA, and flow cytometry
      were used to evaluate the expression levels of IL-1beta in serum, peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and thyroid tissue samples from patients with HT
      or GD. Local infiltration of monocytes was assessed by immunohistochemical study
      of patients' thyroid tissue samples. RESULTS: Although no significant differences
      in IL-1beta levels were found between samples of serum from patients with HT or
      GD and normal controls, we found that IL-1beta mRNA and protein levels in PBMCs
      of HT patients were significantly higher than those of patients with GD, which
      were in turn higher than the level in normal controls. In addition, IL-1beta mRNA
      was also increased in thyroid gland tissue from patients with HT compared to
      those with GD, and this was accompanied by increased local infiltration of
      monocytes into thyroid tissues. Correlation analysis of the clinical samples
      validated the association of high IL-1beta levels with the pathogenesis of HT.
      CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that IL-1beta may be an active etiologic factor in
      the pathogenesis of HT and thus present a new target for novel diagnostics and
      treatment.

PMID- 26864864
TI  - Emerging roles for vascular smooth muscle cell exosomes in calcification and
      coagulation.
AB  - Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic conversion from a contractile to
      'synthetic' state contributes to vascular pathologies including restenosis,
      atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. We have recently found that the
      secretion of exosomes is a feature of 'synthetic' VSMCs and that exosomes are
      novel players in vascular repair processes as well as pathological vascular
      thrombosis and calcification. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors as
      well as mineral imbalance stimulate exosome secretion by VSMCs, most likely by
      the activation of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (SMPD3) and cytoskeletal
      remodelling. Calcium stress induces dramatic changes in VSMC exosome composition
      and accumulation of phosphatidylserine (PS), annexin A6 and matrix
      metalloproteinase-2, which converts exosomes into a nidus for calcification. In
      addition, by presenting PS, VSMC exosomes can also provide the catalytic surface
      for the activation of coagulation factors. Recent data showing that VSMC exosomes
      are loaded with proteins and miRNA regulating cell adhesion and migration
      highlight VSMC exosomes as potentially important communication messengers in
      vascular repair. Thus, the identification of signalling pathways regulating VSMC
      exosome secretion, including activation of SMPD3 and cytoskeletal rearrangements,
      opens up novel avenues for a deeper understanding of vascular remodelling
      processes.

PMID- 26864867
TI  - Development of an analytical method to quantify PBDEs, OH-BDEs, HBCDs, 2,4,6-TBP,
      EH-TBB, and BEH-TEBP in human serum.
AB  - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) flame retardants (FRs) were phased-out in
      the mid-2000s (penta- and octaBDE) and 2013 (decaBDE); however, their
      hydroxylated metabolites (OH-BDEs) are still commonly detected in human serum.
      Today, novel FRs such as Firemaster(r) 550, a mixture that contains two
      brominated compounds, EH-TBB and BEH-TEBP are used as replacements for PBDEs in
      some applications, and there is a need to develop a comprehensive analytical
      method to assess exposure to both legacy PBDEs and novel FRs. This study
      developed a solid-phase extraction (SPE)-based method to analyze PBDEs, OH-BDEs,
      2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP), hexabromocylcododecane isomers (HBCDs), EH-TBB, and
      BEH-TEBP in human serum. Briefly, serum proteins were first denatured with formic
      acid, and then the target analytes were isolated using a SPE column. Finally, the
      extract was cleaned and fractioned using a silica SPE column. Method performance
      was assessed by spiking fetal bovine serum with 1-2 ng of the target analytes,
      and method accuracy was quantified by comparison to a serum Standard Reference
      Material (SRM). The developed method showed good recovery and accuracy for all
      target analytes with the exception of the very low and very high molecular weight
      PBDE congeners. Using this method, 43 serum samples collected from the Healthy
      Pregnancy, Healthy Baby Study (HPHB) cohort in Durham, NC, USA were analyzed for
      FRs. A novel finding was the ubiquitous detection of 2,4,6-TBP, at levels greater
      than the individual PBDE congeners. Furthermore, 2,4,6-TBP was positively
      correlated with PBDEs, suggesting that they may have a similar source of
      exposure, or that 2,4,6-TBP may result from metabolism of PBDEs in vivo. 

PMID- 26864869
TI  - Novel Function of Serine Protease HTRA1 in Inhibiting Adipogenic Differentiation
      of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via MAP Kinase-Mediated MMP Upregulation.
AB  - Adipogenesis is the process by which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) develop into
      lipid-laden adipocytes. Being the dominant cell type within adipose tissue,
      adipocytes play a central role in regulating circulating fatty acid levels, which
      is considered to be of critical importance in maintaining insulin sensitivity.
      High temperature requirement protease A1 (HTRA1) is a newly recognized regulator
      of MSC differentiation, although its role as a mediator of adipogenesis has not
      yet been defined. The aim of this work was therefore to evaluate HTRA1's
      influence on human MSC (hMSC) adipogenesis and to establish a potential mode of
      action. We report that the addition of exogenous HTRA1 to hMSCs undergoing
      adipogenesis suppressed their ability to develop into lipid laden adipocytes.
      These effects were demonstrated as being reliant on both its protease and PDZ
      domain, and were mediated through the actions of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and
      matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The relevance of such findings with regards to
      HTRA1's potential influence on adipocyte function in vivo is made evident by the
      fact that HTRA1 and MMP-13 were readily identifiable within crown-like structures
      present in visceral adipose tissue samples from insulin resistant obese human
      subjects. These data therefore implicate HTRA1 as a negative regulator of MSC
      adipogenesis and are suggestive of its potential involvement in adipose tissue
      remodeling under pathological conditions. Stem Cells 2016;34:1601-1614.

PMID- 26864868
TI  - Potential diagnostic value of serum/pleural fluid IL-31 levels for tuberculous
      pleural effusion.
AB  - The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of IL-31 levels in the
      pleural fluid and plasma to differentially diagnose tuberculous and malignant
      pleural effusion. We enrolled 91 cases, including tuberculous pleural effusion
      (TPE, n = 50), malignant pleural effusion (MPE, n = 41), other cases including
      pneumonia with pleural fluid, pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy people as
      controls. Whole blood was stimulated with the M. tuberculosis-specific antigens
      and plasma was collected. The multiplex bead-based cytokine immunoassay was
      employed to measure the levels of various cytokines. IL-31 was found to be the
      most prominent cytokine (P < 0.0001), and with an optimal cut-off value of 67.5
      pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TPE were 86% and
      100%, respectively. Furthermore, the tuberculosis-specific IL-31 levels in the
      plasma of TPE patients were higher than that of MPE patients (P = 0.0002). At an
      optimal cut-off value of 23.9 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity for the
      diagnosis of TPE were 92.9% and 85.7%, respectively. Ultimately, the combination
      of pleural fluid with the plasma tuberculosis-specific IL-31 levels improved the
      sensitivity and specificity to 94.0% and 95.1%, respectively. Thus, we identified
      a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of TPE for clinical application.

PMID- 26864870
TI  - Parental anxiety in childhood epilepsy: A systematic review.
AB  - The aim was to systematically review studies that have focused on symptoms of
      anxiety reported by parents of children (0-18 years) with epilepsy. PubMed was
      used to identify relevant studies. Selected studies were reviewed with respect to
      prevalence of above threshold scores and comparisons with controls on
      standardized measures of anxiety. Studies are also reported with respect to
      factors associated with parental anxiety, impact on child outcomes, and
      comparisons with studies that have included equivalent measures of symptoms of
      depression. Fifteen studies that met inclusion criteria were identified. None of
      the studies were population based. The percentage of parents scoring above
      cutoffs on standardized measures of anxiety was 9-58%. In comparison with parents
      of healthy controls, parents of children with epilepsy had higher mean scores in
      two of three studies where this was measured. Possible correlates of parental
      anxiety in childhood epilepsy that were considered varied widely across studies.
      Factors such as seizure frequency and use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been
      associated with parental anxiety in some but not all studies. With respect to
      child outcome, increased parental anxiety has been associated with lower quality
      of life and lower scores on adaptive behavior domains. Symptoms of anxiety are
      common among parents of children with epilepsy. There is a need for more
      systematic, representative studies to identify the prevalence of clinically
      significant anxiety and track the course of symptoms. Such studies will help to
      identify more clearly factors associated with parental anxiety and impact of
      symptoms on child and parent outcomes. Intervention studies are needed to
      evaluate approaches that target a reduction in symptoms and the potential impact
      on parental and child functioning. Furthermore, there is a need to evaluate the
      impact of antiepileptic therapies and interventions that focus on child
      neurobehavioral comorbidities on parental anxiety. 

PMID- 26864871
TI  - Factorial Validity and Invariance Assessment of a Short Version of the Recalled
      Childhood Gender Identity/Role Questionnaire.
AB  - Recalled childhood gender role/identity is a construct that is related to sexual
      orientation, abuse, and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to
      assess the factorial validity of a short version of Zucker et al.'s (2006)
      "Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire" using confirmatory
      factor analysis and to test the stability of the factor structure across groups
      (measurement invariance). Six items of the questionnaire were completed online by
      1929 participants from a variety of gender identity and sexual orientation
      groups. Models of the six items loading onto one factor had poor fit for the
      data. Items were removed for having a large proportion of error variance. Among
      birth-assigned females, a five-item model had good fit for the data, but there
      was evidence for differences in scale's factor structure across gender identity,
      age, level of education, and country groups. Among birth-assigned males, the
      resulting four-item model did not account for all of the relationship between
      variables, and modeling for this resulted in a model that was almost saturated.
      This model also had evidence of measurement variance across gender identity and
      sexual orientation groups. The models had good reliability and factor score
      determinacy. These findings suggest that results of previous studies that have
      assessed recalled childhood gender role/identity may have been susceptible to
      construct bias due to measurement variance across these groups. Future studies
      should assess measurement invariance between groups they are comparing, and if it
      is not found the issue can be addressed by removing variant indicators and/or
      applying a partial invariance model.

PMID- 26864872
TI  - Interplay between aromaticity and strain in double group transfer reactions to
      1,2-benzyne.
AB  - Density Functional Theory calculations are used to explore the double hydrogen
      atom transfer from different alkanes to 1,2-benzyne. State-of-the-art
      calculations including the Activation Strain Model of reactivity, Energy
      Decomposition Analysis, and Valence Bond methods, reveal the origins of the
      relatively low activation barriers computed for these processes compared to the
      analogous reaction involving acetylene. In addition, the interplay between the in
      plane aromaticity of the corresponding transition states and the variation of the
      pi-aromaticity associated with the benzyne moiety as well as their influence on
      the barrier heights of the transformations are analyzed in detail.

PMID- 26864873
TI  - Responses of fish assemblages of sandy beaches to different anthropogenic and
      hydrodynamic influences.
AB  - This study tested whether some attributes of the diversity, communities and
      populations of surf-zone fish assemblages varied with different hydrodynamic and
      anthropogenic influences at four Guanabara Bay sandy beaches: Dentro (sheltered
      with limited human access), Fora (exposed with limited human access), Urca
      (sheltered with unlimited human access) and Vermelha (exposed with unlimited
      human access), between autumn 2011 and summer 2012. Twenty-nine species and 1613
      individuals were recorded from 76 trawls. The 10 most abundant species accounted
      for 94.5% of the total number, but only four species (Diplodus argenteus,
      Harengula clupeola, Sardinella brasiliensis and Sphoeroides greeleyi) were
      recorded at all four beaches, revealing a high level of species substitution.
      Fish assemblages differed not only for diversity attributes, but also at
      community and population levels, with lower values of the Shannon-Wiener index,
      richness and total fish abundance and biomass at Vermelha beach, and higher
      densities of Trachinotus carolinus, Atherinella brasiliensis and S. greeleyi
      related to beaches with high anthropogenic influence. The findings reveal that
      fish assemblages of Dentro, Fora, Urca and Vermelha beaches differed not only in
      response to hydrodynamic influences, but also due to the effects of different
      degrees of human interference (i.e. presence of solid residues, population
      density and fishing impacts), emphasizing the importance of the sheltered and
      less anthropogenically affected beaches, as spawning, nursery and growth areas. 

PMID- 26864874
TI  - Confined-Volume Effect on the Thermal Properties of Encapsulated Phase Change
      Materials for Thermal Energy Storage.
AB  - We have encapsulated the heat exchange material, n-docosane, into polyurethane
      capsules of different sizes. Decreasing the size of the capsules leads to changes
      of the crystallinity of phase-change material as well as melting/crystallization
      temperature. The novelty of the paper includes 1) protection of the
      nanostructured energy-enriched materials against environment during storage and
      controlled release of the encapsulated energy on demand and 2) study of the
      structure and surface-to-volume properties of the energy-enriched materials
      dispersed in capsules of different sizes. The stability of energy nanomaterials,
      influence of capsule diameter on their energy capacity, homogeneity and operation
      lifetime are investigated.

PMID- 26864875
TI  - Survival in primary antiphospholipid syndrome. A single-centre cohort study.
AB  - The vascular mortality of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) ranges from 1.4 % to
      5.5 %, but its predictors are poorly known. It was the study objective to
      evaluate the impact of baseline lupus anticoagulant assays, IgG anticardiolipin
      (aCL), plasma fibrinogen (FNG) and von Willebrand factor (VWF), platelets (PLT)
      and of genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T, of
      prothrombin G20210A and of paraoxonase-1 Q192R on survival in primary APS (PAPS).
      Cohort study on 77 thrombotic PAPS and 33 asymptomatic carriers of aPL (PCaPL)
      seen from 1989 to 2015 and persistently positive for aPL as per annual review. At
      baseline all participants were tested twice for the ratios of kaolin clotting
      time (KCTr), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTTr), dilute Russell viper
      venom time (DRVVTr), IgG aCL, FNG, VWF and once for PLT. All thrombotic PAPS were
      on warfarin with regular INR monitoring. During follow-up 11 PAPS deceased (D
      PAPS) of recurrent thrombosis mostly arterial, despite adequate anticoagulation
      yielding an overall vascular mortality of 10 %. D-PAPS had the strongest baseline
      aPTTr and DRVVTr and the highest mean baseline IgG aCL, FNG, VWF and PLT. Cox
      proportional hazards model identified baseline DRVVTr and FNG as main predictors
      of mortality with adjusted hazard ratios of 5.75 (95 % confidence interval [CI]:
      1.5, 22.4) and of 1.03 (95 %CI: 1.01, 1.04), respectively. In conclusion, plasma
      DRVVTr and FNG are strongly associated with the risk of vascular death in PAPS;
      while FNG lowering agents exist further research should be directed at
      therapeutic strategies able to dampen aPL production.

PMID- 26864876
TI  - Rewritable Optical Storage with a Spiropyran Doped Liquid Crystal Polymer Film.
AB  - Rewritable optical storage has been obtained in a spiropyran doped liquid crystal
      polymer films. Pictures can be recorded on films upon irradiation with UV light
      passing through a grayscale mask and they can be rapidly erased using visible
      light. Films present improved photosensitivity and optical contrast, good
      resistance to photofatigue, and high spatial resolution. These photochromic films
      work as a multifunctional, dynamic photosensitive material with a real-time image
      recording feature. 

PMID- 26864877
TI  - Biological synthesis of Au nanoparticles using liquefied mash of cassava starch
      and their functionalization for enhanced hydrolysis of xylan by recombinant
      xylanase.
AB  - Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have shown the potential for a variety of applications
      due to their unique physical and chemical properties. In this study, a facile and
      affordable method for the synthesis of AuNPs via the liquefied mash of cassava
      starch has been described and the functionalized AuNPs by L-cysteine improved
      activity of recombinant xylanase was demonstrated. UV-Vis absorption
      spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurements
      were performed to characterize the AuNPs and monitor their synthesis. The
      presence of Au was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and
      the X-ray diffraction patterns showed that Au nanocrystals were face-centered
      cubic. The C=O stretching vibration in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum of
      AuNPs suggested that the hemiacetal C-OH of sugar molecules performed the
      reduction of Au3+ to Au0. The presence of C and O in the EDX spectrum and the
      negative zeta potential of AuNPs suggested that the biomolecules present in
      liquefied cassava mash were responsible for the stabilization of AuNPs. The
      surface of AuNPs was easily functionalized by L-cysteine, which improved the
      stability of AuNPs. Moreover, cysteine-functionalized AuNPs could significantly
      improve recombinant xylanase efficiency and stability.

PMID- 26864878
TI  - Serotonin modulates Arabidopsis root growth via changes in reactive oxygen
      species and jasmonic acid-ethylene signaling.
AB  - Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is a bioactive indoleamine with neurotransmitter
      function in vertebrates, which represents an emerging signaling molecule in
      plants, playing key roles in the development and defense. In this study, the role
      of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and jasmonic acid (JA)-ethylene (Et) signaling
      in root developmental alterations induced by serotonin was investigated. An
      Arabidopsis thaliana mutant defective at the RADICAL-INDUCED CELL DEATH1 (RCD1)
      locus was resistant to paraquat-induced ROS accumulation in primary roots and
      showed decreased inhibition or root growth in response to serotonin. A suite of
      JA- and Et-related mutants including coronatine insensitive1, jasmonic acid
      resistant1 (jar1), etr1, ein2 and ein3 showed tolerance to serotonin in the
      inhibition of primary root growth and ROS redistribution within the root tip when
      compared with wild-type (WT) seedlings. Competence assays between serotonin and
      AgNO3 , a well-known blocker of Et action, showed that primary root growth in
      medium supplemented with serotonin was normalized by AgNO3 , whereas roots of
      eto3, an Et overproducer mutant, were oversensitive to serotonin. Comparison of
      ROS levels in WT, etr1, jar1 and rcd1 primary root tips using the ROS-specific
      probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and confocal imaging showed that
      serotonin inhibition of primary root growth likely occurs independently of its
      conversion into melatonin. Our results provide compelling evidence that serotonin
      affects ROS distribution in roots, involving RCD1 and components of the JA-Et
      signaling pathways. 

PMID- 26864879
TI  - Altered behavioral and neural responsiveness to counterfactual gains in the
      elderly.
AB  - Counterfactual information processing refers to the consideration of events that
      did not occur in comparison to those actually experienced, in order to determine
      optimal actions, and can be formulated as computational learning signals,
      referred to as fictive prediction errors. Decision making and the neural
      circuitry for counterfactual processing are altered in healthy elderly adults.
      This experiment investigated age differences in neural systems for decision
      making with knowledge of counterfactual outcomes. Two groups of healthy adult
      participants, young (N = 30; ages 19-30 years) and elderly (N = 19; ages 65-80
      years), were scanned with fMRI during 240 trials of a strategic sequential
      investment task in which a particular strategy of differentially weighting
      counterfactual gains and losses during valuation is associated with more optimal
      performance. Elderly participants earned significantly less than young adults,
      differently weighted counterfactual consequences and exploited task knowledge,
      and exhibited altered activity in a fronto-striatal circuit while making choices,
      compared to young adults. The degree to which task knowledge was exploited was
      positively correlated with modulation of neural activity by expected value in the
      vmPFC for young adults, but not in the elderly. These findings demonstrate that
      elderly participants' poor task performance may be related to different
      counterfactual processing.

PMID- 26864880
TI  - Combining electrostatic powder with an insecticide: effect on stored-product
      beetles and on the commodity.
AB  - BACKROUND: The opportunity to reduce the amount of pirimiphos-methyl applied to
      grain by formulating it in an electrostatic powder was investigated. The
      insecticidal efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl in EC formulation or formulated using
      electrostatic powder (EP) as an inert carrier was investigated against Sitophilus
      oryzae (L.), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and
      Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Furthermore, the adhesive properties of EP
      to rice, corn and wheat, together with the effect on bulk density and bread- and
      pasta-making properties, were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that
      pirimiphos-methyl formulated with EP provided better efficacy against adults when
      compared with EC formulation for O. surinamensis and T. confusum, but there was
      no difference for R. dominica. Progeny production was consistently lower in grain
      treated with the EP formulation than in grain treated with the EC. Tests showed
      that EP adhered to the kernels for longer on hard wheat than on maize or rice. In
      most commodities, EP did not alter the bulk density. Finally, the addition of EP
      did not affect flour- and bread-making properties, nor the pasta-making
      properties. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that an EP
      could be used to reduce the amount of pirimiphos-methyl applied to grain for
      effective pest control, with no detrimental effects on grain quality. (c) 2016
      Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26864881
TI  - Parasail: SIMD C library for global, semi-global, and local pairwise sequence
      alignments.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sequence alignment algorithms are a key component of many
      bioinformatics applications. Though various fast Smith-Waterman local sequence
      alignment implementations have been developed for x86 CPUs, most are embedded
      into larger database search tools. In addition, fast implementations of Needleman
      Wunsch global sequence alignment and its semi-global variants are not as
      widespread. This article presents the first software library for local, global,
      and semi-global pairwise intra-sequence alignments and improves the performance
      of previous intra-sequence implementations. RESULTS: A faster intra-sequence
      local pairwise alignment implementation is described and benchmarked, including
      new global and semi-global variants. Using a 375 residue query sequence a speed
      of 136 billion cell updates per second (GCUPS) was achieved on a dual Intel Xeon
      E5-2670 24-core processor system, the highest reported for an implementation
      based on Farrar's 'striped' approach. Rognes's SWIPE optimal database search
      application is still generally the fastest available at 1.2 to at best 2.4 times
      faster than Parasail for sequences shorter than 500 amino acids. However,
      Parasail was faster for longer sequences. For global alignments, Parasail's
      prefix scan implementation is generally the fastest, faster even than Farrar's
      'striped' approach, however the opal library is faster for single-threaded
      applications. The software library is designed for 64 bit Linux, OS X, or Windows
      on processors with SSE2, SSE41, or AVX2. Source code is available from
      https://github.com/jeffdaily/parasail under the Battelle BSD-style license.
      CONCLUSIONS: Applications that require optimal alignment scores could benefit
      from the improved performance. For the first time, SIMD global, semi-global, and
      local alignments are available in a stand-alone C library.

PMID- 26864882
TI  - Endoscopic diagnosis of colorectal serrated lesions: Current status and future
      perspectives based on the results of a questionnaire survey.
AB  - Serrated lesions, especially sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/P) are
      considered one of the most important precursors of colorectal cancers. However,
      it is still difficult to endoscopically differentiate SSA/P from hyperplastic
      polyps. In the present review, we mainly focus on the current status and future
      perspectives of endoscopic diagnosis of colorectal serrated lesions based on the
      results of a questionnaire survey and report from the Endoscopic Forum Japan
      (EFJ) 2015 held in Tokyo in August 2015. The proposed diagnostic strategy
      recommended for colorectal serrated lesions is as follows. (i) For detection, use
      of an updated image-enhanced endoscopy system including autofluorescence imaging
      (AFI) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) may be promising. (ii) For differential
      diagnosis (hyperplastic polyp or SSA/P) of diminutive, small and large serrated
      lesions, NBI with magnification and magnifying chromoendoscopy using both
      indigocarmine and crystal violet should be applied, respectively. (iii) For
      differential diagnosis of SSA/P (with or without cytological dysplasia),
      magnifying chromoendoscopy, endocytoscopy and updated AFI system modalities might
      be promising. 

PMID- 26864883
TI  - In Situ Potentiometry and Ellipsometry: A Promising Tool to Study Biofouling of
      Potentiometric Sensors.
AB  - In situ potentiometry and null ellipsometry was combined and used as a tool to
      follow the kinetics of biofouling of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). The study
      was performed using custom-made solid-contact K(+)-ISEs consisting of a gold
      surface with immobilized 6-(ferrocenyl)hexanethiol as ion-to-electron transducer
      that was coated with a potassium-selective plasticized polymer membrane. The
      electrode potential and the ellipsometric signal (corresponding to the amount of
      adsorbed protein) were recorded simultaneously during adsorption of bovine serum
      albumin (BSA) at the surface of the K(+)-ISEs. This in situ method may become
      useful in developing sensors with minimized biofouling. 

PMID- 26864884
TI  - New modalities to deliver surfactant in premature infants: a systematic review
      and meta-analysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: Surfactant is the principle treatment of respiratory distress syndrome,
      but the ideal method of its administration remains controversial. The intubation,
      surfactant administration and extubation (InSurE) method is proven to work but is
      invasive. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy and
      safety of the modalities of surfactant administration. METHODS: We searched
      MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL (inception to December 2015) for randomized trials
      comparing new modalities with InSurE method. The primary outcome was mortality
      and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). RESULTS: We screened 1837
      citations and identified five unique trials were included; all were of unclear
      risk of bias. Four trials (400 infants) compared endotracheal catheters with
      InSurE, and one trial (70 infants) compared laryngeal masks (LMA) with InSurE.
      There was no significant difference between using endotracheal catheters compared
      with InSurE regarding infant mortality (risk ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.57-1.94, 4
      trials, 400 patients, p 0.87, I(2) 0%) or BPD (risk ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.43-1.21,
      4 trials, 400 patients, p 0.22, I(2) 0%). Adverse events were under-reported.
      CONCLUSION: The use of endotracheal catheters may provide comparable results to
      the InSurE method. There is limited evidence on the comparative efficacy of LMA.

PMID- 26864885
TI  - Acute Presentation of Tender Papules and Plaques in a Patient With Leukemia.

PMID- 26864886
TI  - Longitudinal study of premorbid adjustment in 22q11.2 deletion (velocardiofacial)
      syndrome and association with psychosis.
AB  - Velocardiofacial syndrome, also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), is
      associated with an increased risk of major psychiatric disorders, including
      schizophrenia. The emergence of psychotic symptoms in individuals with
      schizophrenia in the general population is often preceded by a premorbid period
      of poor or worsening social and/or academic functioning. Our current study
      evaluated premorbid adjustment (via the Cannon-Spoor Premorbid Adjustment Scale
      [PAS]) and psychotic symptoms (via the Structured Interview for Prodromal
      Symptoms and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for
      School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version) in youth with 22q11DS (N = 96),
      unaffected siblings (N = 40), and community controls (N = 50). The PAS scores
      indicated greater maladjustment during all developmental periods in individuals
      with 22q11DS compared to the controls. Many participants with 22q11DS had
      chronically poor (n = 33) or deteriorating (n = 6) PAS scores. In 22q11DS,
      chronically poor PAS trajectories and poor childhood and early adolescence
      academic domain and total PAS scores significantly increased the risk of
      prodromal symptoms or overt psychosis. Taking into account the catechol-O
      methyltransferase (COMT) genotype, the best predictor of (prodromal) psychosis
      was the early adolescence academic domain score, which yielded higher sensitivity
      and specificity in the subgroup of youth with 22q11DS and the high-activity
      (valine) allele. PAS scores may help identify individuals at higher risk for
      psychosis.

PMID- 26864887
TI  - Microfluidics-mediated assembly of functional nanoparticles for cancer-related
      pharmaceutical applications.
AB  - The controlled synthesis of functional nanoparticles with tunable structures and
      properties has been extensively investigated for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
      Among a variety of methods for fabrication of nanoparticles, microfluidics-based
      synthesis enables enhanced mixing and precise fluidic modulation inside
      microchannels, thus allowing for the flow-mediated production of nanoparticles in
      a controllable manner. This review focuses on recent advances of using
      microfluidic devices for the synthesis of drug-loaded nanoparticles with specific
      characteristics (such as size, composite, surface modification, structure and
      rigidity) for enhanced cancer treatment and diagnosis as well as to investigate
      the bio-nanoparticle interaction. The discussion on microfluidics-based synthesis
      may shed light on the rational design of functional nanoparticles for cancer
      related pharmaceutical applications. 

PMID- 26864888
TI  - Psychologically informed practice (PIP) for staff working with offenders with
      personality disorder: A pragmatic exploratory trial in approved premises.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rates of reoffending and recall are high among released male
      prisoners with personality disorder. There is a need for innovative intervention
      to reduce offending and increase staff confidence in working with such men. AIM:
      The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention
      consisting of training and consultation termed 'psychologically informed
      practice', within community-based 'approved premises' for offenders. METHOD: A
      pragmatic exploratory trial was used to compare two premises in a South London
      borough licenced under criminal justice legislation to provide supervised
      accommodation for selected released prisoners. One used the PIP intervention for
      12 months while the other (comparison group) functioned in a similar way but
      without this intervention. Outcome measures included staff attitudes and offender
      behaviours. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed only for the
      intervention group. Compared with baseline measures, significantly higher levels
      of knowledge and understanding of personality disorder as well as a greater sense
      of personal accomplishment were observed in staff who have been trained and
      supported in psychologically informed practice. Significantly lower rates of
      warnings and recalls to prison were observed only for the intervention group at 6
      months following initial staff training. CONCLUSION: Psychologically informed
      practice appears to be sufficiently advantageous for staff and offenders, and the
      trial feasible, which is a full-scale multi-centre trial, seems warranted.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26864889
TI  - Age-Associated Pathology in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).
AB  - The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is one of the most extensively used nonhuman
      primate models for human diseases. This article presents a literature review
      focusing on major organ systems and age-associated conditions in humans and
      primates, combined with information from the Wisconsin National Primate Research
      Center Electronic Health Record database to highlight and contrast age-associated
      lesions in geriatric rhesus macaques with younger cohorts. Rhesus macaques are
      excellent models for age-associated conditions, including diabetes,
      osteoarthritis, endometriosis, visual accommodation, hypertension, osteoporosis,
      and amyloidosis. Adenocarcinoma of the large intestine (ileocecocolic junction,
      cecum, and colon) is the most common spontaneous neoplasm in the rhesus macaque.
      A combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies is required to truly
      define mechanisms of maturation, aging, and the pathology of age-associated
      conditions in macaques and thus humans. The rhesus macaque is and will continue
      to be an appropriate and valuable model for investigation of the mechanisms and
      treatment of age-associated diseases. 

PMID- 26864891
TI  - Pathology of Mouse Models of Accelerated Aging.
AB  - Progeroid mouse models display phenotypes in multiple organ systems that suggest
      premature aging and resemble features of natural aging of both mice and humans.
      The prospect of a significant increase in the global elderly population within
      the next decades has led to the emergence of "geroscience," which aims at
      elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in aging. Progeroid mouse models
      are frequently used in geroscience as they provide insight into the molecular
      mechanisms that are involved in the highly complex process of natural aging. This
      review provides an overview of the most commonly reported nonneoplastic
      macroscopic and microscopic pathologic findings in progeroid mouse models (eg,
      osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc
      degeneration, kyphosis, sarcopenia, cutaneous atrophy, wound healing, hair loss,
      alopecia, lymphoid atrophy, cataract, corneal endothelial dystrophy, retinal
      degenerative diseases, and vascular remodeling). Furthermore, several
      shortcomings in pathologic analysis and descriptions of these models are
      discussed. Progeroid mouse models are valuable models for aging, but thorough
      knowledge of both the mouse strain background and the progeria-related phenotype
      is required to guide interpretation and translation of the pathology data. 

PMID- 26864892
TI  - Species-dependent hydrodynamics of flagellum-tethered bacteria in early biofilm
      development.
AB  - Monotrichous bacteria on surfaces exhibit complex spinning movements. Such
      spinning motility is often a part of the surface detachment launch sequence of
      these cells. To understand the impact of spinning motility on bacterial surface
      interactions, we develop a hydrodynamic model of a surface-bound bacterium, which
      reproduces behaviours that we observe in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella
      oneidensis and Vibrio cholerae, and provides a detailed dictionary for connecting
      observed spinning behaviour to bacteria-surface interactions. Our findings
      indicate that the fraction of the flagellar filament adhered to the surface, the
      rotation torque of this appendage, the flexibility of the flagellar hook and the
      shape of the bacterial cell dictate the likelihood that a microbe will detach and
      the optimum orientation that it should have during detachment. These findings are
      important for understanding species-specific reversible attachment, the key
      transition event between the planktonic and biofilm lifestyle for motile, rod
      shaped organisms. 

PMID- 26864894
TI  - Correction to 'Single passage in mouse organs enhances the survival and spread of
      Salmonella enterica'.

PMID- 26864893
TI  - From the primordial soup to self-driving cars: standards and their role in
      natural and technological innovation.
AB  - Standards are specifications to which the elements of a technology must conform.
      Here, we apply this notion to the biochemical 'technologies' of nature, where
      objects like DNA and proteins, as well as processes like the regulation of gene
      activity are highly standardized. We introduce the concept of standards with
      multiple examples, ranging from the ancient genetic material RNA, to Palaeolithic
      stone axes, and digital electronics, and we discuss common ways in which
      standards emerge in nature and technology. We then focus on the question of how
      standards can facilitate technological and biological innovation. Innovation
      enhancing standards include those of proteins and digital electronics. They share
      common features, such as that few standardized building blocks can be combined
      through standard interfaces to create myriad useful objects or processes. We
      argue that such features will also characterize the most innovation-enhancing
      standards of future technologies. 

PMID- 26864895
TI  - Families dealing with the uncertainty of genetic disorders: the case of
      Neurofibromatosis Type 1.
AB  - Some scholars contend that genetic medicine is transforming the experience of
      illness and the social category of the family - bringing future risks into the
      present, and potentially strengthening familial biological bonds in light of
      these shared genetic risks. However, research has shown that genetic information
      is interpreted and acted upon through a rich repertoire of adaptable social,
      cultural and familial factors which pre-exist and interact with biomedical
      knowledge. This paper reports research into families living with
      Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a highly uncertain condition the manifestation of
      which can vary considerably also within the same family and, for this reason, has
      been defined as a 'condition without parameters'. These characteristics make NF1
      a particularly informative condition for the examination of family dynamics
      around genetic information. The study and the methodology are based on the
      exploration of family networks and allow us to investigate the interrelation of
      individual and familial constructions of the uncertainty of NF1. This also allows
      both theoretical and policy claims to be made about the danger of reductionist
      thinking about the transformative potential of genetic technologies.

PMID- 26864897
TI  - Implementation of Web-based Education for Patients with Chronic Skin Disease.

PMID- 26864896
TI  - Multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of six major bacterial pathogens
      of rice.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay for
      rapid, sensitive and simultaneous detection of six important rice pathogens:
      Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, X. oryzae pv. oryzicola, Pseudomonas fuscovaginae,
      Burkholderia glumae, Burkholderia gladioli and Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Specific primers were designed through a bioinformatics
      pipeline. Sensitivity of detection was established using both traditional PCR and
      quantitative real-time PCR on isolated DNA and on bacterial cells both in vitro
      and in simulated diseased seeds and the parameters were optimized for an mPCR
      assay. A total of 150 bacterial strains were tested for specificity. The mPCR
      assay accurately predicted the presence of pathogens among 44 symptomatic and
      asymptomatic rice seed, sheath and leaf samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      confirmed that this mPCR assay is a rapid, reliable and simple tool for the
      simultaneous detection of six important rice bacterial pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE
      AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report of a method allowing
      simultaneous detection of six major rice pathogens. The ability to use crude
      extracts from plants without bacterial isolation or DNA extraction enhances the
      value of this mPCR technology for rapid detection and
      aetiological/epidemiological studies.

PMID- 26864898
TI  - Revascularisation plus supervised exercise is superior to supervised exercise
      alone for the treatment of intermittent claudication.

PMID- 26864899
TI  - The combination of maternal early pregnancy characteristics and current antenatal
      blood pressure measurement from 28 weeks' gestation improves the prediction of
      women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

PMID- 26864900
TI  - Drug-eluting stents and drug-eluting balloons are the best strategies to treat
      coronary in-stent restenosis.

PMID- 26864903
TI  - Cytotoxic activity and chemical constituents of Anthemis mirheydari.
AB  - Context The genus Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) comprises about 195 species which are
      widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Objective
      Anthemis mirheydari Iranshar, an endemic plant from Iran, was investigated for
      its cytotoxic properties and chemical constituents. Materials and methods The
      whole parts of the plant (320 g) were extracted by dichloromethane and methanol
      for four days, successively. The cytotoxic activity of both dichloromethane and
      methanol extracts were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric methods against three human cancer cell
      lines including LS180, MCF-7 and MOLT-4. Different concentrations (10-100 MUg/mL)
      of the plant extracts were tested to obtain IC50 values. The dichloromethane
      extract of A. mirheydari was subjected to silica gel-column and thin layer
      chromatography for purification of its chemical constituents and the isolated
      compounds were further tested against MOLT-4 cells. The structures of the pure
      compounds were elucidated using different spectral data including nuclear
      magnetic resonance and electron impact mass spectra. Results The IC50 values of
      the dichloromethane extract were 30.8 +/- 6.7, 25.2 +/- 6.5 and 8.6 +/- 1.1
      MUg/mL (means +/- standard error) for the above-mentioned cell lines,
      respectively. Two triterpenoids, taraxasterol (1) and pseudotaraxasterol (2), one
      sterol, beta-sitosterol (3) and one coumarin, 7-methoxycoumarin (4) were isolated
      from the extract. The IC50 of the mixture of compounds 1 and 2 as well as
      compounds 3 and 4 were higher (>100 MUM) than that reported for the
      dichloromethane extract against MOLT-4 cells. Conclusion The dichloromethane
      extract was the most active one among the tested material. 

PMID- 26864905
TI  - C15083. Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Potential of Essential Oils from
      Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze Cultivated in Tunisia.
AB  - In Tunisia, Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze is an exotic tree, which was introduced
      many years ago and planted as ornamental street, garden, and park tree. The
      present work reported, for the first time, the chemical composition and evaluates
      the allelopathic effect of the hydrodistilled essential oils of the different
      parts of this tree, viz., roots, stems, leaves, flowers and pods gathered in the
      area of Sousse, a coastal region, in the East of Tunisia. In total, 86 compounds
      representing 89.9-94.9% of the whole oil composition, were identified in these
      oils by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. The root essential oil was clearly
      distinguished for its high content in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (beta
      caryophyllene, 1 (44); 24.1% and germacrene D, 2 (53); 20.0%), while those
      obtained from pods, leaves, stems and flowers were dominated by non-terpene
      hydrocarbons. The most important ones were n-tetradecane (41, 16.3%, pod oil),
      1.7-dimethylnaphthalene (43, 15.6%, leaf oil), and n-octadecane (77, 13.1%, stem
      oil). The leaf oil was rich in the apocarotene (E)-beta-ionone (4 (54); 33.8%),
      and the oil obtained from flowers was characterized by hexahydrofarnesyl acetone
      (5 (81); 19.9%) and methyl hexadecanoate (83, 10.2%). Principal component and
      hierarchical cluster analyses separated the five essential oils into 3 groups and
      2 subgroups, each characterized by the major oil constituents. Contact tests
      showed that the germination of lettuce seeds was totally inhibited by the root
      essential oil tested at 1 mg/ml. The inhibitory effect on the shoot and root
      elongation varied from -1.6 to -32.4%, and from -2.5 to -64.4%, respectively.
      This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID- 26864904
TI  - Real-time kinetics of electrogenic Na(+) transport by rhodopsin from the marine
      flavobacterium Dokdonia sp. PRO95.
AB  - Discovery of the light-driven sodium-motive pump Na(+)-rhodopsin (NaR) has
      initiated studies of the molecular mechanism of this novel membrane-linked energy
      transducer. In this paper, we investigated the photocycle of NaR from the marine
      flavobacterium Dokdonia sp. PRO95 and identified electrogenic and Na(+)-dependent
      steps of this cycle. We found that the NaR photocycle is composed of at least
      four steps: NaR519 + hv -> K585 -> (L450<->M495) -> O585 -> NaR519. The third
      step is the only step that depends on the Na(+) concentration inside right-side
      out NaR-containing proteoliposomes, indicating that this step is coupled with
      Na(+) binding to NaR. For steps 2, 3, and 4, the values of the rate constants are
      4*10(4) s(-1), 4.7 * 10(3) M(-1) s(-1), and 150 s(-1), respectively. These steps
      contributed 15, 15, and 70% of the total membrane electric potential (Deltapsi ~
      200 mV) generated by a single turnover of NaR incorporated into liposomes and
      attached to phospholipid-impregnated collodion film. On the basis of these
      observations, a mechanism of light-driven Na(+) pumping by NaR is suggested. 

PMID- 26864906
TI  - Identification of a new HLA-B allele, HLA-B*15:300, in a Chinese individual.
AB  - HLA-B*15:300 differs from B*15:01:01:01 by one nucleotide exchange at position
      540(G > C) with an amino exchange. 

PMID- 26864902
TI  - hCLE/C14orf166, a cellular protein required for viral replication, is
      incorporated into influenza virus particles.
AB  - The influenza A virus polymerase associates with a number of cellular
      transcription-related factors, including the RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). We
      previously described that the cellular protein hCLE/C14orf166 interacts with and
      stimulates influenza virus polymerase as well as RNAP II activities. Here we show
      that, despite the considerable cellular shut-off observed in infected cells,
      which includes RNAP II degradation, hCLE protein levels increase throughout
      infection in a virus replication-dependent manner. Human and avian influenza
      viruses of various subtypes increase hCLE levels, but other RNA or DNA viruses do
      not. hCLE colocalises and interacts with viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNP) in the
      nucleus, as well as in the cytoplasm late in infection. Furthermore, biochemical
      analysis of purified virus particles and immunoelectron microscopy of infected
      cells show hCLE in virions, in close association with viral vRNP. These findings
      indicate that hCLE, a cellular protein important for viral replication, is one of
      the very few examples of transcription factors that are incorporated into
      particles of an RNA-containing virus. 

PMID- 26864907
TI  - Spatial location of indomethacin associated with unimeric amphiphilic carrier
      macromolecules as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - A combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques including, proton
      NMR, relaxation analysis, two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy,
      and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, has been used to demonstrate the spatial
      location of indomethacin within a unimolecular micelle. Understanding the
      location of drugs within carrier molecules using such NMR techniques can
      facilitate rational carrier design. In addition, this information provides
      insight to encapsulation efficiency of different drugs to determine the most
      efficient system for a particular bioactive. This study demonstrates that drugs
      loaded by the unimolecular amphiphile under investigation are not necessarily
      encapsulated but reside or localize to the periphery or interfacial region of the
      carrier molecule. The results have further implications as to the features of the
      unimolecular carrier that contribute to drug loading. In addition, evidence of
      drug retention associated with the unimolecular surfactant is possible in organic
      media, as well as in an aqueous environment. Such findings have implications for
      rational carrier design to correlate the carrier features to the drug of interest
      and indicate the strong retention capabilities of the unimolecular micelle for
      delivery applications. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26864908
TI  - Chronic senolytic treatment alleviates established vasomotor dysfunction in aged
      or atherosclerotic mice.
AB  - While reports suggest a single dose of senolytics may improve vasomotor function,
      the structural and functional impact of long-term senolytic treatment is unknown.
      To determine whether long-term senolytic treatment improves vasomotor function,
      vascular stiffness, and intimal plaque size and composition in aged or
      hypercholesterolemic mice with established disease. Senolytic treatment
      (intermittent treatment with Dasatinib + Quercetin via oral gavage) resulted in
      significant reductions in senescent cell markers (TAF(+) cells) in the medial
      layer of aorta from aged and hypercholesterolemic mice, but not in intimal
      atherosclerotic plaques. While senolytic treatment significantly improved
      vasomotor function (isolated organ chamber baths) in both groups of mice, this
      was due to increases in nitric oxide bioavailability in aged mice and increases
      in sensitivity to NO donors in hypercholesterolemic mice. Genetic clearance of
      senescent cells in aged normocholesterolemic INK-ATTAC mice phenocopied changes
      elicited by D+Q. Senolytics tended to reduce aortic calcification (alizarin red)
      and osteogenic signaling (qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry) in aged mice, but both
      were significantly reduced by senolytic treatment in hypercholesterolemic mice.
      Intimal plaque fibrosis (picrosirius red) was not changed appreciably by chronic
      senolytic treatment. This is the first study to demonstrate that chronic
      clearance of senescent cells improves established vascular phenotypes associated
      with aging and chronic hypercholesterolemia, and may be a viable therapeutic
      intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

PMID- 26864909
TI  - Parathyroid gland angiography with indocyanine green fluorescence to predict
      parathyroid function after thyroid surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypoparathyroidism remains the most common complication
      following thyroidectomy. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the use of
      intraoperative parathyroid gland angiography in predicting normal parathyroid
      gland function after thyroid surgery. METHODS: Angiography with the fluorescent
      dye indocyanine green (ICG) was performed in patients undergoing total
      thyroidectomy, to visualize vascularization of identified parathyroid glands.
      RESULTS: Some 36 patients underwent ICG angiography during thyroidectomy. All
      patients received standard calcium and vitamin D supplementation. At least one
      well vascularized parathyroid gland was demonstrated by ICG angiography in 30
      patients. All 30 patients had parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in the normal
      range on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 10, and only one patient exhibited
      asymptomatic hypocalcaemia on POD 1. Mean(s.d.) PTH and calcium levels in these
      patients were 3.3(1.4) pmol/l and 2.27(0.10) mmol/l respectively on POD 1, and
      4.0(1.6) pmol/l and 2.32(0.08) mmol/l on POD 10. Two of the six patients in whom
      no well vascularized parathyroid gland could be demonstrated developed transient
      hypoparathyroidism. None of the 36 patients presented symptomatic hypocalcaemia,
      and none received treatment for hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSION: PTH levels on POD
      1 were normal in all patients who had at least one well vascularized parathyroid
      gland demonstrated during surgery by ICG angiography, and none required treatment
      for hypoparathyroidism.

PMID- 26864910
TI  - Structure-Triggered High Quantum Yield Luminescence and Switchable Dielectric
      Properties in Manganese(II) Based Hybrid Compounds.
AB  - Two new manganese(II) based organic-inorganic hybrid compounds, C11H21Cl3MnN2 (1)
      and C11H22Cl4MnN2 (2), with prominent photoluminescence and dielectric properties
      were synthesized by solvent modulation. Compound 1 with novel trigonal
      bipyramidal geometry exhibits bright red luminescence with a lifetime of 2.47 ms
      and high quantum yield of 35.8 %. Compound 2 with tetrahedral geometry displays
      intense long-lived (1.54 ms) green light emission with higher quantum yield of
      92.3 %, accompanied by reversible solid-state phase transition at 170 K and a
      distinct switchable dielectric property. The better performance of 2 results from
      the structure, including a discrete organic cation moiety and inorganic metal
      anion framework, which gives the cations large freedom of motion.

PMID- 26864911
TI  - Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination
      from textiles.
AB  - The goals of this study were to determine the concentrations of perfluorooctane
      sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in textiles and to determine
      PFOS and PFOA contamination in textile washing water. Quantification analysis was
      performed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass
      spectrometry. Analysis of 32 textile samples by methanol extraction revealed that
      the average concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 0.18 ug m(-2) (0.02 to 0.61 ug
      m(-2)) and 2.74 ug m(-2) (0.31 to 14.14 ug m(-2)), respectively. Although the
      average concentration of PFOS found in textile samples was below European Union
      (EU) Commission regulations (<1 ug m(-2)), the average concentration of PFOA was
      2.74 ug m(-2), and 68.75% of textile samples had PFOA concentrations exceeding 1
      ug m(-2). Thus, based on these results, the concentration of PFOA in products
      should also be regulated. Experiments on PFOS and PFOA leaching into washing
      water were conducted. The maximum concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were measured
      after the first washing; the concentrations gradually decreased with each
      subsequent washing. PFOS and PFOA migrated from textiles and were released into
      the environment, with disappearance percentages of 29.8% for PFOS and 99% for
      PFOA. The data presented in this study showed that textiles could be a
      significant direct and indirect source of PFOS and PFOA exposure for both humans
      and the environment.

PMID- 26864913
TI  - Coronary artery disease: Can aminothiols be distinguished from reactive oxygen
      species?

PMID- 26864912
TI  - Assessment, treatment, and prognostic implications of CAD in patients undergoing
      TAVI.
AB  - Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in patients with severe aortic stenosis
      undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), but its clinical
      relevance is controversial. At present, the optimal means of defining CAD in
      patients undergoing TAVI with respect to its prognostic implications and the
      assessment of myocardial ischaemia is not known. For this reason, the best
      treatment options are a matter for debate, and current guidelines do not
      recommend revascularization. As the indications for TAVI expand, the lack of any
      rigorous means of guiding coronary revascularization might negatively affect the
      clinical outcomes of future patients. In this Review, we summarize the methods of
      assessing CAD in TAVI populations, and the data on the safety and efficacy of
      percutaneous coronary intervention in patients undergoing TAVI. We discuss the
      putative effects of aortic stenosis on the functional assessment of CAD using
      pressure or flow wires or by noninvasive stress testing. We propose that a new,
      well-validated method of assessing CAD as a cause of myocardial ischaemia--which
      distinguishes it from myocardial infarction, previous revascularization, or non
      flow-limiting disease--in patients with severe aortic stenosis is needed to guide
      revascularization in the current era of TAVI.

PMID- 26864914
TI  - Heart failure: Ketone bodies as fuel in heart failure.

PMID- 26864915
TI  - Risk factors: Negative risk markers for CVD.

PMID- 26864916
TI  - Progranulin suppresses titanium particle induced inflammatory osteolysis by
      targeting TNFalpha signaling.
AB  - Aseptic loosening is a major complication of prosthetic joint surgery,
      characterized by chronic inflammation, pain, and osteolysis surrounding the bone
      implant interface. Progranulin (PGRN) is known to have anti-inflammatory action
      by binding to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) receptors and antagonizing TNFalpha.
      Here we report that titanium particles significantly induced PGRN expression in
      RAW264.7 cells and also in a mouse air-pouch model of inflammation. PGRN
      deficiency enhanced, whereas administration of recombinant PGRN effectively
      inhibited, titanium particle-induced inflammation in an air pouch model. In
      addition, PGRN also significantly inhibited titanium particle-induced
      osteoclastogenesis and calvarial osteolysis in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo.
      Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the inhibition of PGRN on titanium particle
      induced-inflammation is primarily via neutralizing the titanium particle
      activated TNFalpha/NF-kappaB signaling pathway and this is evidenced by the
      suppression of particle-induced IkappaB phosphorylation, NF-kappaB p65 nuclear
      translocation, and activity of the NF-kappaB-specific reporter gene.
      Collectively, these findings not only demonstrate that PGRN plays an important
      role in inhibiting titanium particle-induced inflammation, but also provide a
      potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of wear debris-induced
      inflammation and osteolysis. 

PMID- 26864918
TI  - Evolution of postirradiated sudden deafness in nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors
      during the past two decades.
AB  - OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The beneficial effect of intensity-modulated radiotherapy
      (IMRT) on reducing the prevalence of postirradiated sudden deafness (PISD) in
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors has never been mentioned. This study
      investigated the evolution of PISD in NPC survivors during the past two decades.
      STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Of the 3,206 NPC patients who
      underwent radiotherapy during the past two decades, 32 patients (34 ears) had
      PISD. Twenty-nine patients (30 ears) received two-dimensional radiotherapy (2DRT)
      and were assigned to group A, whereas three patients (4 ears) undergoing IMRT
      were assigned to group B. An inner ear test battery including audiometry,
      vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test, and caloric test was performed
      for comparison between the two groups. RESULTS: Group B (0.2%) showed
      significantly lower prevalence of PISD than group A (2%). Percentages of abnormal
      pursuit, saccade, and optokinetic nystagmus test results revealed nonsignificant
      difference between groups A and B. Likewise, both groups did not differ
      significantly in the percentages of abnormal pure tone average, cervical VEMP
      test, and caloric test. However, significant hearing improvement after treatment
      was identified in group B (P < 0.01) but not in group A (P > 0.05), probably
      because mean radiation dosage to the cochela of group B (35.0 +/- 0.4 gray units
      [Gy]) was less than group A (50 +/- 3 Gy). CONCLUSION: Compared to 2DRT, both
      radiation dosages to the cochlea and radiation damage to tissues surrounding the
      inner ear are lessened by IMRT. Therefore, NPC survivors who received IMRT have a
      low prevalence of PISD, with significant hearing improvement after treatment.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2016-2021, 2016.

PMID- 26864917
TI  - Discovery of Novel Allosteric Eg5 Inhibitors Through Structure-Based Virtual
      Screening.
AB  - Mitotic kinesin Eg5 is an attractive anticancer drug target. Discovery of Eg5
      inhibitors has been focused on targeting the 'monastrol-binding site'. However,
      acquired drug resistance has been reported for such inhibitors. Therefore,
      identifying new Eg5 inhibitors which function through a different mechanism(s)
      could complement current drug candidates and improve drug efficacy. In this
      study, we explored a novel allosteric site of Eg5 and identified new Eg5
      inhibitors through structure-based virtual screening. Experiments with the
      saturation-transfer difference NMR demonstrated that the identified Eg5 inhibitor
      SRI35566 binds directly to Eg5 without involving microtubules. Moreover, SRI35566
      and its two analogs significantly induced monopolar spindle formation in
      colorectal cancer HCT116 cells and suppressed cancer cell viability and colony
      formation. Together, our findings reveal a new allosteric regulation mechanism of
      Eg5 and a novel drug targeting site for cancer therapy.

PMID- 26864919
TI  - Effects of Manipulation on Attributions of Causation, Free Will, and Moral
      Responsibility.
AB  - If someone brings about an outcome without intending to, is she causally and
      morally responsible for it? What if she acts intentionally, but as the result of
      manipulation by another agent? Previous research has shown that an agent's mental
      states can affect attributions of causal and moral responsibility to that agent,
      but little is known about what effect one agent's mental states can have on
      attributions to another agent. In Experiment 1, we replicate findings that
      manipulation lowers attributions of responsibility to manipulated agents.
      Experiments 2-7 isolate which features of manipulation drive this effect, a
      crucial issue for both philosophical debates about free will and attributions of
      responsibility in situations involving social influence more generally. Our
      results suggest that "bypassing" a manipulated agent's mental states generates
      the greatest reduction in responsibility, and we explain our results in terms of
      the effects that one agent's mental states can have on the counterfactual
      relations between another agent and an outcome.

PMID- 26864920
TI  - Different mechanisms of risperidone result in improved interpersonal trust,
      social engagement and cooperative behavior in patients with schizophrenia
      compared to trifluoperazine.
AB  - AIM: Atypical antipsychotic treatment (e.g. risperidone) has been found to
      improve social functioning more than standard antipsychotic treatment. However,
      it is unclear which specific social behaviors are implicated in this improvement.
      The current study employed an interactive puzzle game to examine how social
      behaviors contribute to the improvement of social functioning by comparing
      patients receiving risperidone with those receiving trifluoperazine. METHODS:
      Scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, executive functioning, and
      social functioning were obtained from 24 patients with schizophrenia receiving
      either risperidone (n = 12) or trifluoperazine (n = 12), before their social
      behavior was measured in the interactive Tangrams Game. Immediately after the
      Tangrams Game, participants filled in two questionnaires measuring their
      interpersonal trust and rejection toward their game partner. RESULTS: Patients
      receiving risperidone showed more social engagement, cooperative behavior and
      interpersonal trust toward their game partners than those receiving
      trifluoperazine. Additional multivariate analysis of variance revealed that lower
      affiliative behavior was a function of positive symptoms; interpersonal trust had
      an impact on social engagement but executive functioning did not explain lower
      interpersonal trust or social disengagement. CONCLUSION: Improvement of social
      competence by risperidone might be related to the enhancement of both social
      behaviors and interpersonal trust as well as better symptom resolution.

PMID- 26864922
TI  - New Resources--Reviews and Podcasts.

PMID- 26864921
TI  - Looks and linguistics: Impression formation in online exchange marketplaces.
AB  - This study advances theories of impression formation by focusing on two factors
      that generate emotional responses: physical attractiveness and positive word use.
      Although considerable research on impression formation exists, most studies
      consider factors in isolation and neglect possible interactions. Our theory
      introduces competing mechanisms regarding possible interaction effects, and we
      empirically test them in an online marketplace. Results from the analysis of 729
      loan requests from a leading online peer-to-peer lending market suggest that
      physical attractiveness and positive word use work together to influence the
      likelihood of acquiring resources and establish an important boundary condition
      to the general "beauty is good" effect.

PMID- 26864923
TI  - Growing Into the Nutrition Education Profession.

PMID- 26864925
TI  - Advancing the Field: Language and Training for Inclusion of LGBT Communities in
      Nutrition Programming.

PMID- 26864926
TI  - E-Cigarettes May Lead to Youth Tobacco Use: Evidence Mounts.

PMID- 26864924
TI  - Validation of Interviewer-Assisted Recall for Measuring Minutes of Moderate to
      Vigorous Physical Activity in Elementary School Children, Grades 3 and 5.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the validity of interviewer-administered recall for measuring
      moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in third- and fifth-grade children
      who reported physical activity (PA) only or both PA and diet, using a short (same
      day recall in the afternoon) or long (previous-day recall in the morning)
      retention interval. METHODS: Randomly selected children (n = 95) wore an
      accelerometer 1 day in school. Interviews occurred in the afternoon of the day on
      which the accelerometer was worn or on the next morning. Assignment to interview
      content was random. Spearman correlations were calculated between MVPA interview
      and MVPA accelerometer minutes. RESULTS: The MVPA interview minutes were
      positively associated with the MVPA accelerometer minutes when the interview
      focused on PA only (r = .34; P = .02) but not when children recalled PA and diet
      (r = .12; P = .40). The MVPA interview minutes for the previous day was
      associated with the MVPA accelerometer minutes (r = .33; P = .02), but not for
      the same day (r = .17; P = .26). CONCLUSIONS: A recall interview method that
      focuses solely on PA is a promising approach to assessing children's school-day
      PA.

PMID- 26864927
TI  - Deep Sequencing of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Reveals Driver Mutations and New
      Targets.

PMID- 26864929
TI  - Bovine Leukemia Virus Possibly Linked to Breast Cancer.

PMID- 26864931
TI  - American Cancer Society Changes Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines To Reflect
      Analysis of Benefits and Harms.

PMID- 26864932
TI  - Patient preferences and access to text messaging for health care reminders in a
      safety-net setting.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Text messaging may be an effective method for providing health care
      reminders to patients. We aimed to understand patient access to and preferences
      for receiving health-related reminders via text message among patients receiving
      care in safety-net hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted face-to-face
      surveys with 793 patients seeking care in three hospital emergency departments at
      a large safety-net institution and determined clinical and demographic predictors
      of preferences for text messaging for health care reminders. RESULTS: 95% of
      respondents reported having daily access to text messaging. Text messaging was
      preferred over e-mail, phone, and letters for communication. 78% of respondents
      wanted to receive appointment reminders, 56% wanted expiring insurance reminders,
      and 36% wanted reminders to take their medications. We found no clinical
      predictors but did find some demographic predictors-including age, ethnicity,
      insurance status, and income-of wanting text message reminders. DISCUSSION: In
      our convenience sample of safety-net patients, text messaging is an accessible,
      acceptable, and patient-preferred modality for receiving health care reminders.
      Text messaging may be a promising patient-centered approach for providing health
      care and insurance reminders to patients seeking care at safety-net institutions.

PMID- 26864933
TI  - Tobacco smoking-associated genome-wide DNA methylation changes in the EPIC study.
AB  - AIM: Epigenetic changes may occur in response to environmental stressors, and an
      altered epigenome pattern may represent a stable signature of environmental
      exposure. MATERIALS & METHODS: Here, we examined the potential of DNA methylation
      changes in 910 prediagnostic peripheral blood samples as a marker of exposure to
      tobacco smoke in a large multinational cohort. RESULTS: We identified 748 CpG
      sites that were differentially methylated between smokers and nonsmokers, among
      which we identified novel regionally clustered CpGs associated with active
      smoking. Importantly, we found a marked reversibility of methylation changes
      after smoking cessation, although specific genes remained differentially
      methylated up to 22 years after cessation. CONCLUSION: Our study has
      comprehensively cataloged the smoking-associated DNA methylation alterations and
      showed that these alterations are reversible after smoking cessation.

PMID- 26864934
TI  - ANGPTL8/Betatrophin R59W variant is associated with higher glucose level in non
      diabetic Arabs living in Kuwaits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: ANGPTL8 (betatrophin) has been recently identified as a regulator of
      lipid metabolism through its interaction with ANGPTL3. A sequence variant in
      ANGPTL8 has been shown to associate with lower level of Low Density Lipoprotein
      (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). The objective of this study is to
      identify sequence variants in ANGPTL8 gene in Arabs and investigate their
      association with ANGPTL8 plasma level and clinical parameters. METHODS: A cross
      sectional study was designed to examine the level of ANGPTL8 in 283 non-diabetic
      Arabs, and to identify its sequence variants using Sanger sequencing and their
      association with various clinical parameters. RESULTS: Using Sanger sequencing,
      we sequenced the full ANGPTL8 gene in 283 Arabs identifying two single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) Rs.892066 and Rs.2278426 in the coding region. Our data
      shows for the first time that Arabs with the heterozygote form of (c.194C > T
      Rs.2278426) had higher level of Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) compared to the CC
      homozygotes. LDL and HDL level in these subjects did not show significant
      difference between the two subgroups. Circulation level of ANGPTL8 did not vary
      between the two forms. No significant changes were observed between the various
      forms of Rs.892066 variant and FBG, LDL or HDL. CONCLUSION: Our data shows for
      the first time that heterozygote form of ANGPTL8 Rs.2278426 variant was
      associated with higher FBG level in Arabs highlighting the importance of these
      variants in controlling the function of betatrophin.

PMID- 26864935
TI  - Impact of Bevacizumab on parenchymal damage and functional recovery of the liver
      in patients with colorectal liver metastases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the safety of the anti-VEGF antibody
      bevacizumab in patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastases
      (CLM). This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of bevacizumab on parenchymal
      damage and functional recovery in patients undergoing resection for CLM. METHODS:
      The Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies
      on preoperative chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab prior to resection of
      CLM. Studies that reported histological and/or clinical outcomes were eligible
      for inclusion. Meta-analyses were performed using a random effects model.
      RESULTS: A total of 18 studies with a total sample size of 2430 patients (1050
      patients with bevacizumab) were found. Meta-analyses showed a significant
      reduction in sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) (Odds ratio 0.50 [95%
      confidence interval 0.37, 0.67]; p < 0.001; I(2) = 0%) and hepatic fibrosis (0.61
      [0.4, 0.86]; p = 0.004; I(2) = 7%) after preoperative chemotherapy with
      bevacizumab. The reduced incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure in patients
      with bevacizumab treatment just failed to reach statistical significance (0.61
      [0.34, 1.07]; p = 0.08 I(2) = 6%). While there was no difference in perioperative
      morbidity and mortality, the incidence of wound complications was significantly
      increased in patients who received bevacizumab (1.81 [1.12, 2.91]; p = 0.02 I(2)
      = 4%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of bevacizumab with cytotoxic chemotherapy is
      safe but increases the incidence of wound complications after resection of CLM.
      The reduction of SOS and hepatic fibrosis warrant further investigation and may
      explain the inverse association of bevacizumab administration and posthepatectomy
      liver failure.

PMID- 26864936
TI  - Tgf-beta, Notch, and HGF weave a tangled web of kidney repair.

PMID- 26864938
TI  - FGF23 from bench to bedside.
AB  - There is a strong association between elevated circulating fibroblast growth
      factor-23 (FGF23) levels and adverse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) of all stages. Initially discovered as a regulator of phosphate and
      vitamin D homeostasis, FGF23 has now been implicated in several
      pathophysiological mechanisms that may negatively impact the cardiovascular and
      renal systems. FGF23 is purported to have direct (off-target) effects in the
      myocardium, as well as canonical effects on FGF receptor/alpha-klotho receptor
      complexes in the kidney to activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,
      modulate soluble alpha-klotho levels, and increase sodium retention, to cause
      left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Conversely, FGF23 could be an innocent
      bystander produced in response to chronic inflammation or other processes
      associated with CKD that cause LVH and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Further
      exploration of these complex mechanisms is needed before modulation of FGF23 can
      become a legitimate clinical target in CKD.

PMID- 26864937
TI  - Augmentation of angiotensinogen expression in the proximal tubule by
      intracellular angiotensin II via AT1a/MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways.
AB  - Long-term angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion significantly increases ANG II levels
      in the kidney through two major mechanisms: AT1 receptor-mediated augmentation of
      angiotensinogen (AGT) expression and uptake of circulating ANG II by the proximal
      tubules. However, it is not known whether intracellular ANG II stimulates AGT
      expression in the proximal tubule. In the present study, we overexpressed an
      intracellular cyan fluorescent ANG II fusion protein (Ad-sglt2-ECFP/ANG II)
      selectively in the proximal tubule of rats and mice using the sodium and glucose
      cotransporter 2 (sglt2) promoter. AGT mRNA and protein expression in the renal
      cortex and 24-h urinary AGT excretion were determined 4 wk following
      overexpression of ECFP/ANG II in the proximal tubule. Systolic blood pressure was
      significantly increased with a small antinatriuretic effect in rats and mice with
      proximal tubule-selective expression of ECFP/ANG II (P < 0.01). AGT mRNA and
      protein expression in the cortex were increased by >1.5-fold and 61 +/- 16% (P <
      0.05), whereas urinary AGT excretion was increased from 48.7 +/- 5.7 (n = 13) to
      102 +/- 13.5 (n = 13) ng/24 h (P < 0.05). However, plasma AGT, renin activity,
      and ANG II levels remained unaltered by ECFP/ANG II. The increased AGT mRNA and
      protein expressions in the cortex by ECFP/ANG II were blocked in AT1a-knockout
      (KO) mice. Studies in cultured mouse proximal tubule cells demonstrated
      involvement of AT1a receptor/MAP kinases/NF-kB signaling pathways. These results
      indicate that intracellular ANG II stimulates AGT expression in the proximal
      tubules, leading to increased AGT formation and secretion into the tubular fluid,
      which contributes to ANG II-dependent hypertension.

PMID- 26864939
TI  - Inflammatory reaction to fish oil coated polypropylene mesh used for laparoscopic
      incisional hernia repair: a case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polypropylene meshes are widely used in hernia repairs. Hernia meshes
      have been developed incorporating coatings of active agents. One commercially
      available mesh has a fish oil coating which is promoted as having anti
      inflammatory properties. We report a case, a symptomatic foreign body granuloma
      reaction associated with a fish oil coated polypropylene mesh, which required
      eventual mesh explantation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year old lady with previous
      peptic ulcer disease underwent a laparoscopic intraperitoneal placement of mesh
      for incisional hernia utilising a fish oil coated polypropylene mesh. The patient
      presented 3 months after the procedure complaining of dyspepsia and pain at the
      operative site. There was no discharge. The patient was managed conservatively.
      She presented 10 months post-operatively with progressively worsening symptoms
      and a hard palpable mass in the epigastrium. Abdominal laparoscopy revealed dense
      adhesive disease around the mesh with exudates. Adhesiolysis, mesh explantation
      and a partial gastrectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a
      foreign body granuloma formation to the mesh. CONCLUSION: In-vivo studies looking
      at intraperitoneal mesh placement with fish oil coatings including data on
      surgical outcomes such as fistula and adhesive characteristics are scarce in the
      literature. Further monitoring and studies are required to investigate the safety
      and efficacy profile of this mesh type in in-vivo models.

PMID- 26864940
TI  - Healthcare resource use and costs associated with renal impairment in US patients
      with bone metastases from solid tumors.
AB  - Introduction During cancer progression, more than half of patients develop renal
      insufficiency, including chronic kidney disease. The primary and secondary
      objectives of this study were to estimate healthcare resource use and costs,
      respectively, associated with renal impairment in patients with bone metastases
      from solid tumors in the United States. Methods and materials This was a
      retrospective, observational cohort study conducted using administrative claims
      data for individuals with solid tumors and bone metastases. Control patients were
      matched to renal impairment patients using propensity scores (ratio up to 3:1)
      based on demographics, clinical characteristics, and baseline costs. Average per
      patient per-year healthcare resource utilization and costs (total costs and cost
      components; 2013 dollars) were reported. Results In total, 2616 renal impairment
      patients were matched to 7211 control patients. Renal impairment patients had
      greater healthcare resource use compared with controls, including a greater mean
      number of hospital admissions (4.4 versus 2.1), longer average stay per hospital
      admission (7.4 versus 6.5 days), as well as greater mean number of physician
      office visits (22.9 versus 18.8), emergency department visits (3.1 versus 2.0),
      and hospital-based outpatient visits (18.8 versus 16.0) compared with control
      patients. Total costs were > $50,000 higher among renal impairment patients
      ($142,267 versus $88,839; P < 0.001), with hospital costs accounting for $72,557
      for renal impairment patients, and $27,858 for control patients ( P < 0.001).
      Conclusion The healthcare resource use and costs associated with renal impairment
      in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors is high; efforts to reduce
      renal impairment in this population, including the potential avoidance of
      nephrotoxic agents, are warranted.

PMID- 26864941
TI  - Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Boron on Different Bacteria.
AB  - Boron (B) compounds are used in many fields ranging from medicine to industry. In
      this study, boric acid (BA) and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) were
      evaluated for their antibacterial effects and antibiofilm capacities on selected
      strains of clinical and type cultures that are of veterinary concern
      (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 19570, Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Brucella melitensis Rev1 and field isolates of Vibrio
      anguillarum, Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
      Lactococcus garvieae, and Brucella abortus). Also, the inhibition of biofilm was
      monitored by scanning electron microscopy. The lowest MIC values of BA and DOT
      were measured, by broth method using microdilution, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      ATCC 27853, and were 0.385 and 0.644 mg/ml, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus
      was the most resistant to both BA and DOT. Using the microplate method, we
      observed that the strongest positivities for biofilm production were presented by
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and also a clinical isolate of Lactococcus
      garviea. Lower values in the MIC scores for both B compounds were tested by
      measuring the inhibitory effect on biofilm production. We found that all the
      bacterial strains inhibited biofilm formation with the exception of the
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains for BA only and an isolate of Lactococcus garviea
      for DOT only. Such effects by BA and DOT are worth discussing in order to find
      novel approaches for different functions in medicine and industry using the
      bacteria tested. 

PMID- 26864942
TI  - What is an evidence map? A systematic review of published evidence maps and their
      definitions, methods, and products.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The need for systematic methods for reviewing evidence is
      continuously increasing. Evidence mapping is one emerging method. There are no
      authoritative recommendations for what constitutes an evidence map or what
      methods should be used, and anecdotal evidence suggests heterogeneity in both.
      Our objectives are to identify published evidence maps and to compare and
      contrast the presented definitions of evidence mapping, the domains used to
      classify data in evidence maps, and the form the evidence map takes. METHODS: We
      conducted a systematic review of publications that presented results with a
      process termed "evidence mapping" or included a figure called an "evidence map."
      We identified publications from searches of ten databases through 8/21/2015,
      reference mining, and consulting topic experts. We abstracted the research
      question, the unit of analysis, the search methods and search period covered, and
      the country of origin. Data were narratively synthesized. RESULTS: Thirty-nine
      publications met inclusion criteria. Published evidence maps varied in their
      definition and the form of the evidence map. Of the 31 definitions provided, 67 %
      described the purpose as identification of gaps and 58 % referenced a stakeholder
      engagement process or user-friendly product. All evidence maps explicitly used a
      systematic approach to evidence synthesis. Twenty-six publications referred to a
      figure or table explicitly called an "evidence map," eight referred to an online
      database as the evidence map, and five stated they used a mapping methodology but
      did not present a visual depiction of the evidence. CONCLUSIONS: The principal
      conclusion of our evaluation of studies that call themselves "evidence maps" is
      that the implied definition of what constitutes an evidence map is a systematic
      search of a broad field to identify gaps in knowledge and/or future research
      needs that presents results in a user-friendly format, often a visual figure or
      graph, or a searchable database. Foundational work is needed to better
      standardize the methods and products of an evidence map so that researchers and
      policymakers will know what to expect of this new type of evidence review.
      SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Although an a priori protocol was developed, no
      registration was completed; this review did not fit the PROSPERO format.

PMID- 26864943
TI  - Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds in Low-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Glycol.
AB  - We used static DFT calculations to analyze, in detail, the intramolecular
      hydrogen bonds formed in low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) with two
      to five repeat subunits. Both red-shifted O-H???O and blue-shifting C-H???O
      hydrogen bonds, which control the structural flexibility of PEG, were detected.
      To estimate the strength of these hydrogen bonds, the quantum theory of atoms in
      molecules was used. Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations were used to
      mimic the structural rearrangements and hydrogen-bond breaking/formation in the
      PEG molecule at 300 K. The time evolution of the H???O bond length and valence
      angles of the formed hydrogen bonds were fully analyzed. The characteristic
      hydrogen-bonding patterns of low-molecular-weight PEG were described with an
      estimation of their lifetime. The theoretical results obtained, in particular the
      presence of weak C-H???O hydrogen bonds, could serve as an explanation of the PEG
      structural stability in the experimental investigation. 

PMID- 26864944
TI  - Enhancer RNA-driven looping enhances the transcription of the long noncoding RNA
      DHRS4-AS1, a controller of the DHRS4 gene cluster.
AB  - The human DHRS4 gene cluster consists of DHRS4 and two immediately downstream
      homologous genes, DHRS4L2 and DHRS4L1, generated by evolutionarily gene
      duplication events. We previously demonstrated that a head-to-head natural
      antisense transcript (NAT) of DHRS4, denoted DHRS4-AS1, regulates all three genes
      of the DHRS4 gene cluster. However, it is puzzling that DHRS4L2 and DHRS4L1 did
      not evolve their own specific NATs to regulate themselves, as it seems both have
      retained sequences highly homologous to DHRS4-AS1. In a search of the DHRS4-AS1
      region for nearby enhancers, we identified an enhancer located 13.8 kb downstream
      of the DHRS4-AS1 transcriptional start site. We further showed, by using a
      chromosome conformation capture (3C) assay, that this enhancer is capable of
      physically interacting with the DHRS4-AS1 promoter through chromosomal looping.
      The enhancer produced an eRNA, termed AS1eRNA, that enhanced DHRS4-AS1
      transcription by mediating the spatial interactions of the enhancer and DHRS4-AS1
      promoter in cooperation with RNA polymerase II and p300/CBP. Moreover, the
      distributions of activating acetyl-H3 and H3K4me3 modifications were found to be
      greater at the DHRS4-AS1 promoter than at the homologous duplicated regions. We
      propose that AS1eRNA-driven DNA looping and activating histone modifications
      promote the expression of DHRS4-AS1 to economically control the DHRS4 gene
      cluster. 

PMID- 26864945
TI  - Anticancer efficacy of a nitric oxide-modified derivative of bifendate against
      multidrug-resistant cancer cells.
AB  - The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) not only actively transports a wide
      range of cytotoxic drugs across drug transporters but is also a complex
      interaction between a number of important cellular signalling pathways. Nitric
      oxide donors appear to be a new class of anticancer therapeutics for satisfying
      all the above conditions. Previously, we reported furoxan-based nitric oxide
      releasing compounds that exhibited selective antitumour activity in vitro and in
      vivo. Herein, we demonstrate that bifendate (DDB)-nitric oxide, a synthetic
      furoxan-based nitric oxide-releasing derivative of bifendate, effectively
      inhibits the both sensitive and MDR tumour cell viability at a comparatively low
      concentration. Interestingly, the potency of DDB-nitric oxide is the independent
      of inhibition of the functions and expressions of three major ABC transporters.
      The mechanism of DDB-nitric oxide appears to be in two modes of actions by
      inducing mitochondrial tyrosine nitration and apoptosis, as well as by down
      regulating HIF-1alpha expression and protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal
      regulated kinases (ERK), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in MDR
      cells. Moreover, the addition of a typical nitric oxide scavenger significantly
      attenuated all the effects of DDB-nitric oxide, indicating that the cytotoxicity
      of DDB-nitric oxide is as a result of higher levels of nitric oxide release in
      MDR cancer cells. Given that acquired MDR to nitric oxide donors is reportedly
      difficult to achieve and genetically unstable, compound like DDB-nitric oxide may
      be a new type of therapeutic agent for the treatment of MDR tumours.

PMID- 26864946
TI  - Use of whole-genome sequencing to trace, control and characterize the regional
      expansion of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing ST15 Klebsiella
      pneumoniae.
AB  - The study describes the transmission of a CTX-M-15-producing ST15 Klebsiella
      pneumoniae between patients treated in a single center and the subsequent inter
      institutional spread by patient referral occurring between May 2012 and September
      2013. A suspected epidemiological link between clinical K. pneumoniae isolates
      was supported by patient contact tracing and genomic phylogenetic analysis from
      May to November 2012. By May 2013, a patient treated in three institutions in two
      cities was involved in an expanding cluster caused by this high-risk clone
      (HiRiC) (local expansion, CTX-M-15 producing, and containing hypervirulence
      factors). A clone-specific multiplex PCR was developed for patient screening by
      which another patient was identified in September 2013. Genomic phylogenetic
      analysis including published ST15 genomes revealed a close homology with isolates
      previously found in the USA. Environmental contamination and lack of consistent
      patient screening were identified as being responsible for the clone
      dissemination. The investigation addresses the advantages of whole-genome
      sequencing in the early detection of HiRiC with a high propensity of nosocomial
      transmission and prolonged circulation in the regional patient population. Our
      study suggests the necessity for inter-institutional/regional collaboration for
      infection/outbreak management of K. pneumoniae HiRiCs. 

PMID- 26864948
TI  - Endovascular Interventional Cardiology: 2015 in Review.
AB  - Minimally invasive interventional procedures have become an appealing option for
      patients with endovascular disease historically referred to surgery. This article
      reviews the major advancements and trials published in 2015.

PMID- 26864947
TI  - Changes of sperm quality and hormone receptors in the rat testis after exposure
      to methamphetamine.
AB  - Methamphetamine (METH) is known to damage neurons and induce psychosis. It can
      also induce apoptosis in seminiferous tubules and affect sperm quality. The
      present study was carried out to investigate the effect of a rat model of METH
      addiction on sperm quality and expression of progesterone receptors (PR) and
      estrogen receptors (ER) in the testis. Sperm quality parameters including sperm
      motility, sperm morphology and sperm concentration were examined. Protein and
      gene expressions PR, ERalpha and ERbeta were studied using immunohistochemistry
      and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The
      percentages of normal sperm motility and normal sperm morphology were
      significantly decreased in animals receiving METH, especially in escalating dose
      (ED METH) and escalating dose-binge (ED-binge METH) groups when compared with
      control. In addition, sperm concentrations in ED METH and ED-binge METH groups
      were numerically decreased. PR, ERalpha and ERbeta immunoreactive cells were
      significantly decreased in spermatogonia, spermatogenic cells and especially in
      Sertoli cells in all METH-treated groups. Furthermore, messenger RNA expression
      of PR, ERalpha and ERbeta were also significantly decreased in all METH-treated
      animals. These results indicate that METH can induce abnormal sperm quality.
      These changes of sperm quality may relate to the reduction of PR, ERalpha and
      ERbeta expressions in male germ cells and Sertoli cells which are essential for
      spermatogenesis and development of sperm. 

PMID- 26864949
TI  - Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 2015 in Review.
AB  - In order to keep the interventional community up-to-date with the overwhelming
      amount of new data, we have selected where we believe to be the most important
      publications in percutaneous coronary intervention from January 1, 2015 to mid
      November 2015. We hope that this will serve as an important overview of 2015, and
      ongoing reference for future years.

PMID- 26864950
TI  - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: 2015 in Review.
AB  - Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an attractive option
      for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who are either at high
      risk or extreme risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). This article
      summarizes the major advances in TAVR that were published or reported in 2015.

PMID- 26864951
TI  - Long Coronary Lesions Treated With Thin Strut Bioresorbable Polymer Drug Eluting
      Stent: Experience From Multicentre Randomized CENTURY II Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess performance of new, bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting
      stent (BP-SES), in patients with long coronary lesions (LL) and to compare it to
      permanent polymer everolimus-eluting stent (PP-EES). BACKGROUND: LL have been
      associated with worse clinical outcomes in percutaneous coronary interventions
      (PCI). The impact of lesion length on the outcomes of drug eluting stent (DES)
      implantations is not as clear. METHODS: In the frame of a randomized, multicentre
      CENTURY II study, out of 1119 patients enrolled, 182 patients had LL (defined as
      >=25 mm), and were assigned randomly to treatment with BP-SES (101) or PP-EES
      (81). Primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF, composite of cardiac
      death, target vessel related myocardial infarction [MI], and target lesion
      revascularization [TLR]) at 9 months. All data were 100% monitored and adverse
      events were adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee. RESULTS: The
      baseline patient and lesion characteristics were similar in the 2 study arms. At
      9-months, the rates of cardiac death (2.0% vs 1.2%; P = 0.70), MI (3.0% vs 4.9%;
      P = 0.49) and clinically driven TLR (2.0% vs 3.7%; P = 0.48) and TLF (6.9% vs
      8.6%; P = 0.67) were similar for BP-SES and PP-EES, respectively. There was no
      stent thrombosis (ST) in BP-SES group up to 9 months, while 1 case (1.2%) of ST
      was recorded in PP-EES group (P = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LL showed
      similar clinical outcomes when treated with Ultimaster BP-SES and Xience PP-EES.

PMID- 26864953
TI  - A Comparison of Intravascular Imaging Modalities for Detection of Stent Struts in
      Acute Coronary Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular
      ultrasound (IVUS) to assess the struts of implanted stents in patients with acute
      coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A totle of 10,756 stent struts were analyzed
      with OCT in 42 patients of ACS. Of them, both of IVUS and OCT imaging were
      performed in 33 patients. Appearance of stent struts was classified as well
      apposed, buried, malapposed, and nondetectable, and the number of stent struts
      were counted by OCT and IVUS was compared. RESULTS: Most of stent struts were
      well apposed (78.1%, 8,407/10,756). However, malapposed struts were 5.6%
      (607/10,756), and 14.1% (1,514/10,756) of stent struts were buried by thrombus.
      The nondetectable struts were 2.11% (228/10,756) in ACS. 94.7% (216/228) of
      nondetectable stent struts were associated with red thrombus, and plaque prolapse
      was in 5.3% (12/228). The number of stent struts counted by OCT were larger than
      that of IVUS. The mean number of stent struts at the proximal and distal stent
      edges were 24 +/- 6.57 in OCT, the stent struts IVUS counted were 20 +/- 4.18 (P
      < 0.0001). Although the frequency of malapposed struts were similar 4.6%
      (376/8,248) in OCT versus 4.8% (369/7,674) in IVUS (P = 0.788). Stent struts were
      often buried by thrombus in ACS 15.2% (1,252/8,248) in OCT versus 9.7%
      (747/7,674) in IVUS; P = 0.006. The nondetectable struts were fewer in IVUS than
      OCT 0.2% (16/7,674) in IVUS versus 2.2% (187/8,248) in OCT; P < 0.0001.
      CONCLUSION: Stent struts are frequently buried and nondetectable due to thrombi
      burden in ACS patients. Adequate thrombus removal and proper selection of the
      imaging device is warranted in ACS.

PMID- 26864952
TI  - Circulating Endothelial Cells and Endothelial Function Predict Major Adverse
      Cardiac Events and Early Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With ST
      Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are
      mobilized from the bone marrow and increase in the early phase after ST-elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic
      significance of CECs and indices of endothelial dysfunction in patients with
      STEMI. In 78 patients with acute STEMI, characterization of CD34+/VEGFR2+CECs,
      and indices of endothelial damage/dysfunction such as brachial artery flow
      mediated dilatation (FMD) were determined. Blood samples for CECs assessment and
      quantification were obtained within 24 hours of admission and FMD was assessed
      during the index hospitalization. At 30 days follow up, the primary composite end
      point of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) consisting of all-cause mortality,
      recurrent nonfatal MI, or heart failure and the secondary endpoint of early
      adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling were analyzed. The 17 patients (22%) who
      developed MACE had significantly higher CEC level (P = 0.004), von Willebrand
      factor (vWF) level (P = 0.028), and significantly lower FMD (P = 0.006) compared
      to the remaining patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that CECs level
      and LV ejection fraction were independent predictors of MACE. The areas under the
      receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for CEC level, FMD, and the
      logistic model with both markers were 0.73, 0.75, and 0.82, respectively, for
      prediction of the MACE. The 16 patients who developed the secondary endpoint had
      significantly higher CEC level compared to remaining patients (P = 0.038). In
      conclusion, increased circulating endothelial cells and endothelial dysfunction
      predicted the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events and adverse cardiac
      remodeling in patients with STEMI.

PMID- 26864954
TI  - Structure and flow of dense suspensions of protein fractal aggregates in
      comparison with microgels.
AB  - Solutions of the globular whey protein beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) were heated
      at different protein concentrations leading to the formation of polydisperse
      fractal aggregates with different average sizes. The structure of the solutions
      was analyzed with light scattering as a function of the protein concentration.
      The osmotic compressibility and the dynamic correlation length decreased with
      increasing concentration and became independent of the aggregate size in dense
      suspensions. The results obtained for different aggregate sizes could be
      superimposed after normalizing the concentration with the overlap concentration.
      Dense suspensions of fractal protein aggregates are strongly interpenetrated and
      can be visualized as an ensemble of fractal 'blobs'. The viscosity of the heated
      beta-lg solutions increased extremely sharply above 80 g L(-1) and diverged at 98
      g L(-1), mainly due to the sharply increasing aggregate size. At a fixed
      aggregate size, the viscosity increased initially exponentially with increasing
      concentration and then diverged. The increase was stronger when the aggregates
      were larger, but the dependence of the viscosity on the aggregate size was weaker
      than that of the osmotic compressibility and the dynamic correlation length. The
      concentration dependence of the viscosity of solutions of fractal beta-lg
      aggregates is much stronger than that of homogeneous beta-lg microgels. The
      behavior of fractal aggregates formed by whey protein isolates was similar. 

PMID- 26864955
TI  - Authors' reply to Gotzsche and Hamilton.

PMID- 26864958
TI  - Research Gaps in the Use of Dairy Ingredients in Food Aid Products.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nutritional interventions to help prevent stunting, particularly in
      the first 1000 days from conception to 2 years of a child's life, are a major
      focus of numerous food aid organizations worldwide. Dairy ingredients can play an
      important role in enhancing the nutritional value and effectiveness of food
      products used in food aid. OBJECTIVE: This article addresses gaps in research on
      malnutrition from both a broad perspective and specific to dairy ingredients.
      METHODOLOGY: Narrative review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: From a broad perspective,
      there is a need for gaining a consensus by the research community and funders of
      research on best practices for protocol development, outcomes measured, and
      reporting of study outcomes. Identification of biomarkers and rapid screening
      methods and consistent application of their use would expedite future research. A
      better understanding of nutritional requirements for malnourished populations,
      including the effects of energy deficits and disease on those requirements, is
      needed. More specific to dairy ingredients, a key research question is: Does
      dairy protein or the package of nutrients provided by dairy ingredients have a
      unique impact on growth, and if so, how? Also, data on the optimal levels of
      dairy ingredients based on the effective cost of treatment are needed,
      particularly in the treatment and prevention of moderate acute malnutrition and
      during pregnancy.

PMID- 26864957
TI  - Optimizing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods for Protein Quality, Cost, and
      Acceptability.
AB  - This article describes current research on the development of alternative ready
      to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.
      An innovative and versatile linear programming tool has been developed to
      facilitate the creation of therapeutic formulas that are determined acceptable on
      multiple levels: costs, ingredient acceptability, availability and stability,
      nutrient requirements, and personal preferences. The formulas are analyzed for
      ease of production by Washington University team members and for organoleptic
      properties acceptability to target populations. In the future, RUTF products that
      are cost-effective, acceptable, sustainable, and widely available will become a
      reality. 

PMID- 26864959
TI  - Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods: Developing
      Product Standards.
AB  - The purpose of this commentary is to describe the current regulatory environment
      for the multitude of ready-to-use supplementary foods and ready-to-use
      therapeutic foods used in international feeding programs for undernourished and
      malnourished children. A perspective on the role of standards, their desirable
      scope, benefits and limitations as well as possible future developments of
      products in these categories also is provided. 

PMID- 26864956
TI  - The role of Orai-STIM calcium channels in melanocytes and melanoma.
AB  - Calcium signalling within normal and cancer cells regulates many important
      cellular functions such as migration, proliferation, differentiation and cytokine
      secretion. Store operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) via the Ca(2+) release activated
      Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels, which are composed of the plasma membrane based Orai
      channels and the endoplasmic reticulum stromal interaction molecules (STIMs), is
      a major Ca(2+) entry route in many cell types. Orai and STIM have been implicated
      in the growth and metastasis of multiple cancers; however, while their
      involvement in cancer is presently indisputable, how Orai-STIM-controlled Ca(2+)
      signals affect malignant transformation, tumour growth and invasion is not fully
      understood. Here, we review recent studies linking Orai-STIM Ca(2+) channels with
      cancer, with a particular focus on melanoma. We highlight and examine key
      molecular players and the signalling pathways regulated by Orai and STIM in
      normal and malignant cells, we expose discrepancies, and we reflect on the
      potential of Orai-STIMs as anticancer drug targets. Finally, we discuss the
      functional implications of future discoveries in the field of Ca(2+) signalling.

PMID- 26864961
TI  - Microcephaly in Brazil: how to interpret reported numbers?

PMID- 26864960
TI  - Obesity and hypercholesterolemia in patients with prolactinomas: Could DHEA-S and
      growth hormone be the missing link?
AB  - PURPOSE: Increasing evidence exists that hyperprolactinemia alters metabolic
      profile. The mechanism of this effect is unknown. We aimed to investigate the
      differences between the metabolic profile of patients with prolactinomas and
      nonfunctional pituitary adenomas and to evaluate the impact of other pituitary
      hormones on their metabolic profile. METHODS: Our retrospective study included 86
      consecutive patients with prolactinomas and nonfunctional adenomas (29
      prolactinomas and 57 adenomas). Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum
      prolactin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I),
      adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, urinary free cortisol,
      triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
      dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone in men, triglycerides,
      total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL (Low-density
      lipoprotein) cholesterol, alanine-transaminase, aspartate-transaminase, fasting
      glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were obtained for all patients. Regression
      analyses were performed on log-transformed data. RESULTS: After adjustment for
      age, gender, and tumor size, prolactinomas were associated with higher BMI (OR
      5.61, 95%CI 1.70-9.51, p = 0.005), LDL cholesterol (OR 3.60, 95%CI 1.35-5.93, p =
      0.015), DHEA-S (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.23-3.72, p = 0.026), and lower GH levels (OR
      0.43, 95%CI 0.03-0.84, p = 0.037). In a linear multivariate regression, the
      association between DHEA-S, GH, and prolactin remained significant even after
      adjustment for BMI. GH and IGF-I were associated with BMI and LDL cholesterol,
      but the association diminished after adjustment for serum prolactin. CONCLUSIONS:
      Prevalence of obesity is four times higher in patients with prolactinomas than in
      patients with nonfunctional adenomas. Higher DHEA-S and lower GH levels in
      patients with prolactinomas may have an important role in prolactin-induced
      metabolic effects. Further studies are needed.

PMID- 26864962
TI  - A crucial time for public health preparedness: Zika virus and the 2016 Olympics,
      Umrah, and Hajj.

PMID- 26864963
TI  - Graphitic carbon nitride "reloaded": emerging applications beyond
      (photo)catalysis.
AB  - Despite being one of the oldest materials described in the chemical literature,
      graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has just recently experienced a renaissance as
      a highly active photocatalyst, and the metal-free polymer was shown to be able to
      generate hydrogen under visible light. The semiconductor nature of g-C3N4 has
      triggered tremendous endeavors on its structural manipulation for enhanced
      photo(electro)chemical performance, aiming at an affordable clean energy future.
      While pursuing the stem of g-C3N4 related catalysis (photocatalysis,
      electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis), a number of emerging intrinsic
      properties of g-C3N4 are certainly interesting, but less well covered, and we
      believe that these novel applications outside of conventional catalysis can be
      favorably exploited as well. Thanks to the general efforts devoted to the
      exploration and enrichment of g-C3N4 based chemistry, the boundaries of this area
      have been possibly pushed far beyond what people could imagine in the beginning.
      This review strives to cover the achievements of g-C3N4 related materials in
      these unconventional application fields for depicting the broader future of these
      metal-free and fully stable semiconductors. This review starts with the general
      protocols to engineer g-C3N4 micro/nanostructures for practical use, and then
      discusses the newly disclosed applications in sensing, bioimaging, novel solar
      energy exploitation including photocatalytic coenzyme regeneration, templating,
      and carbon nitride based devices. Finally, we attempt an outlook on possible
      further developments in g-C3N4 based research. 

PMID- 26864965
TI  - A Role for RE-1-Silencing Transcription Factor in Embryonic Stem Cells Cardiac
      Lineage Specification.
AB  - During development, lineage specification is controlled by several signaling
      pathways involving various transcription factors (TFs). Here, we studied the RE-1
      silencing transcription factor (REST) and identified an important role of this TF
      in cardiac differentiation. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) to model
      development, we found that REST knockout cells lost the ability to differentiate
      into the cardiac lineage. Detailed analysis of specific lineage markers
      expression showed selective downregulation of endoderm markers in REST-null
      cells, thus contributing to a loss of cardiogenic signals. REST regulates cardiac
      differentiation of ESCs by negatively regulating the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling
      pathway and positively regulating the cardiogenic TF Gata4. We propose here a new
      role for REST in cell fate specification besides its well-known repressive role
      of neuronal differentiation.

PMID- 26864964
TI  - Novel motif in calcineurin catalytic subunit is required for septal localization
      of calcineurin in Aspergillus fumigatus.
AB  - Calcineurin heterodimer, comprised of the catalytic (CnaA) and regulatory (CnaB)
      subunits, localizes at the hyphal tips and septa to direct growth, septation, and
      disease in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Here we discovered a novel
      motif (FMDVF) required for this critical CnaA septal localization, including
      residues Phe368, Asp370 and Phe372 overlapping the cyclosporine A-cyclophilin A
      binding domain, CnaB-binding helix and the FK506-FKBP12-binding pocket. Mutations
      in adjacent residues Asn367, Trp374, and Ser375 confer FK506 resistance without
      impacting CnaA septal localization. Modeling A. fumigatus CnaA confirmed that the
      FMDVF motif forms a bridge between the two known substrate-binding motifs, PxIxIT
      and LxVP, and concurrent mutations (F368A D370A; F368A F372A) in the FMDVF motif
      disrupt CnaA-substrate interaction at the septum. 

PMID- 26864966
TI  - Time course, outcome and management of adverse drug reactions associated with
      metformin from patient's perspective: a prospective, observational cohort study
      in the Netherlands.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to gather information about frequency, latency
      time, outcome and management of frequently occurring adverse drug reactions
      (ADRs) related to the use of metformin in daily practice. METHODS: A prospective,
      observational cohort study was performed. A total of 2490 first-time metformin
      users were recruited through pharmacies in the Netherlands between February 1,
      2008, and April 1, 2012. Patients were invited to complete six web-based
      questionnaires at 2-week, 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month
      intervals after starting treatment with metformin. Information was gathered about
      patient characteristics, ADRs and drug use. RESULTS: The occurrence of at least
      one possible ADR related to the use of metformin was reported by 34.5 % of the
      patients. A higher proportion of females reported the occurrence of an ADR (39.6
      %) compared to the proportion in males (30.9 %). Some patients (11.4 %) stopped
      using metformin within 1 year after start. More than half of the patients (50.8
      %) undertook no action regarding metformin after the occurrence of ADRs. A high
      number of patients (77.7 %) recovered or were still recovering from ADRs despite
      continuation of metformin. Most ADRs occurred shortly after the beginning of the
      treatment, with a median latency time of 1-6 days. The study revealed some ADR
      specific differences in occurrence rate, latency time, management and outcome.
      CONCLUSION: This study successfully obtained information about frequency, latency
      time, outcome and management of frequently occurring ADRs related to the use of
      metformin in daily practise.

PMID- 26864967
TI  - Possible isomers in ligand protected Ag11 cluster ions identified by ion mobility
      mass spectrometry and fragmented by surface induced dissociation.
AB  - This communication reports the identification of gas phase isomers in monolayer
      protected silver clusters. Two different isomers of Ag11(SG)7(-) (SG-gulathione
      thiolate) with different drift times have been detected using combined
      electrospray ionization (ESI) and ion mobility (IM) mass spectrometry (MS).
      Surface induced dissociation (SID) of the 3(-) charge state of such clusters
      shows charge stripping to give the 1(-) charged ion with some sodium attachment,
      in addition to fragmentation. SID and collision induced dissociation (CID) for
      Ag11(SG)7(-) suggest different pathways being accessed with each method. SID was
      introduced for the first time for the study of monolayer-protected clusters. 

PMID- 26864968
TI  - Ultra-high-throughput Production of III-V/Si Wafer for Electronic and Photonic
      Applications.
AB  - Si-based integrated circuits have been intensively developed over the past
      several decades through ultimate device scaling. However, the Si technology has
      reached the physical limitations of the scaling. These limitations have fuelled
      the search for alternative active materials (for transistors) and the
      introduction of optical interconnects (called "Si photonics"). A series of
      attempts to circumvent the Si technology limits are based on the use of III-V
      compound semiconductor due to their superior benefits, such as high electron
      mobility and direct bandgap. To use their physical properties on a Si platform,
      the formation of high-quality III-V films on the Si (III-V/Si) is the basic
      technology ; however, implementing this technology using a high-throughput
      process is not easy. Here, we report new concepts for an ultra-high-throughput
      heterogeneous integration of high-quality III-V films on the Si using the wafer
      bonding and epitaxial lift off (ELO) technique. We describe the ultra-fast ELO
      and also the re-use of the III-V donor wafer after III-V/Si formation. These
      approaches provide an ultra-high-throughput fabrication of III-V/Si substrates
      with a high-quality film, which leads to a dramatic cost reduction. As proof-of
      concept devices, this paper demonstrates GaAs-based high electron mobility
      transistors (HEMTs), solar cells, and hetero-junction phototransistors on Si
      substrates. 

PMID- 26864969
TI  - Polymeric check valve with an elevated pedestal for precise cracking pressure in
      a glaucoma drainage device.
AB  - This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a polymeric
      micro check valve for a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) featuring the precise
      regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and effective aqueous humor turnover
      (AHT). The pedestal, slightly elevated by selective coating of a parylene C film,
      induces pre-stress in the thin valve membrane, which enhances the predictability
      of the cracking pressure of the GDD. The proposed GDD comprises a cannula and a
      normally closed polymeric micro check valve, which are made of PDMS, a
      biocompatible polymer, with three layers: top (cover), intermediate (thin valve
      membrane), and bottom (base plate). A feedback channel, located between the top
      and intermediate layers, prevents reverse flow by feeding the pressure of the
      outlet channel back to the thin valve membrane. To achieve a precise cracking
      pressure and sufficient drainage of humor for humans, the thicknesses of the
      valve membrane and parylene C film are designed to be 58 MUm and 1 MUm,
      respectively, which are confirmed using a COMSOL simulation. The experimental
      results show that the cracking pressure of the fabricated GDD lies within the
      range of normal IOP (1.33-2.67 kPa). The forward flow rate (drainage rate), 4.3
      +/- 0.9 MUL/min at 2.5 kPa, is adequate to accommodate the rate of AHT in a
      normal human eye (2.4 +/- 0.6 MUL/min). The reverse flow was not observed when a
      hydrostatic pressure of up to 4 kPa was applied to the outlet and the feedback
      channel. 

PMID- 26864970
TI  - A concentration gradient generator on a paper-based microfluidic chip coupled
      with cell culture microarray for high-throughput drug screening.
AB  - Inspired by the paper platforms for 3-D cell culture, a paper-based microfluidic
      device containing drug concentration gradient was designed and constructed for
      investigating cell response to drugs based on high throughput analysis. This drug
      gradient generator was applied to generate concentration gradients of doxorubicin
      (DOX) as the model drug. HeLa cells encapsulated in collagen hydrogel were
      incubated in the device reservoirs to evaluate the cell viability based on the
      controlled release of DOX spatially. It was demonstrated that drug diffusion
      through the paper fibers created a gradient of drug concentration, which
      influenced cell viability. This drug screening platform has a great opportunity
      to be applied for drug discovery and diagnostic studies with simultaneous and
      parallel tests of drugs under various gradient concentrations. 

PMID- 26864971
TI  - Patients' expectations and experiences of epilepsy surgery--A population-based
      long-term qualitative study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective and population-based longitudinal study
      was to explore patients' expectations before surgery and their experiences both
      short and long term after epilepsy surgery. METHODS: A national sample of adult
      patients answered open-ended questions preoperatively, 2 years after surgery and
      at a cross-sectional long-term follow-up (mean 13 years, standard deviation [SD]
      1.85). The answers were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Eighty
      patients participated in the study. Before surgery, patients experienced a belief
      in a "normal" life; they hoped for reduction of seizures and medication, a richer
      social life, and more self-confidence. However, they also experienced anxiety of
      the unknown. They were afraid of the operation, of continued seizures, and of
      complications. At both postoperative follow-ups patients experienced increased
      independence. They had symptom reduction, felt relief from worries and fears, and
      felt that they had a new life. However, some patients experienced that the
      operation had changed their life to the worse due to both psychological and
      neurologic adverse effects, regardless of whether they had obtained seizure
      freedom or improvement. SIGNIFICANCE: Positive experiences of epilepsy surgery
      dominated, both in the short and long term. However, attention must be paid to
      negative expectations before and negative experiences after surgery in order to
      provide individual support and information. This should increase the possibility
      for patients to have realistic hopes before surgery and to find coping strategies
      in the new life situation after surgery.

PMID- 26864973
TI  - Biomechanics in vascular biology and cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26864972
TI  - Model parameters for simulation of physiological lipids.
AB  - Coarse grain simulation of proteins in their physiological membrane environment
      can offer insight across timescales, but requires a comprehensive force field.
      Parameters are explored for multicomponent bilayers composed of unsaturated
      lipids DOPC and DOPE, mixed-chain saturation POPC and POPE, and anionic lipids
      found in bacteria: POPG and cardiolipin. A nonbond representation obtained from
      multiscale force matching is adapted for these lipids and combined with an
      improved bonding description of cholesterol. Equilibrating the area per lipid
      yields robust bilayer simulations and properties for common lipid mixtures with
      the exception of pure DOPE, which has a known tendency to form nonlamellar phase.
      The models maintain consistency with an existing lipid-protein interaction model,
      making the force field of general utility for studying membrane proteins in
      physiologically representative bilayers.

PMID- 26864975
TI  - Environmental disturbances and fishes in the Amazon.

PMID- 26864976
TI  - Highly Efficient Catalysis of Retro-Claisen Reactions: From a Quinone Derivative
      to Functionalized Imidazolium Salts.
AB  - A new and efficient method for the preparation of several imidazolium salts
      containing an ester group in the C4 position of the aromatic ring through a retro
      Claisen reaction pathway between a quinone derivative and several alcohols is
      described. This new organic transformation proceeds in the absence of a catalyst,
      but it is greatly catalyzed by different Lewis acids, especially with AgOAc at a
      very low catalyst loading and in very short reaction times. The process takes
      place by the nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl groups by the alcohol
      functionality, thus promoting a double C-C bond cleavage and C-H and C-O bond
      formation. This reaction represents the first example of this type between a
      quinone derivative and alcohols. 

PMID- 26864974
TI  - Epidemiology of sport-related spinal cord injuries: A systematic review.
AB  - CONTEXT: Despite the recognition of sports as a significant contributor in the
      etiology of spinal cord injury (SCI), no studies have systematically explored the
      epidemiology of SCI caused by sports. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to give a
      systematic overview of the epidemiology of sport-related spinal cord injury
      around the world. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to identify
      published literature reporting the epidemiology of SCI caused by sports. The
      literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and
      Sportdiscus with date limits 1980 through to July 2015. Data from 54 studies
      covering 25 countries was extracted and collated. RESULTS: Important findings
      include identification of 6 countries in which sports accounts for over 13% of
      SCI (highest to lowest: Russia, Fiji, New Zealand, Iceland, France and Canada);
      individual sports with high risk for SCI (diving, skiing, rugby, and horseback
      riding); and the most common level of injury for various sports (almost entirely
      cervical for hockey, skiing, diving and American football, while over half of
      horseback riding and snowboarding injuries are thoracic or lumbosacral).
      CONCLUSION: This paper identifies countries and sports with higher rates of sport
      related SCIs where implementation of prevention programs and reporting systems to
      track SCI epidemiology may be helpful, and highlights gaps in our current
      knowledge for further investigation. The comparison of SCI occurrence for each
      sport across countries, as well as examination of the specific characteristics of
      SCI incurred for individual sports will assist in directing efforts for
      prevention.

PMID- 26864977
TI  - Hb Agenogi [beta90(F6)Glu->Lys (GAG>AAG) HBB: c.271G>A)] in a Pregnant Thai
      Woman.
AB  - Hb Agenogi [beta90(F6)Glu->Lys (GAG>AAG) HBB: c.271G>A)] is a very rare beta
      globin chain variant. We report for the first time this hemoglobinopathy in a
      pregnant 20-year-old Thai woman. She was seen by an obstetrician at her 14th week
      of gestation. She was pale and had an inflammatory lesion of her lower left leg.
      The hemoglobin (Hb) analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and
      low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC) showed a peak of abnormal Hb at the C
      window. On capillary electrophoresis (CE), the abnormal Hb peak was observed at
      electrophoretic zone 4 that corresponded to the Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A) peak. Direct
      DNA sequencing revealed a GAG>AAG mutation at codon 90 of the beta-globin gene.
      Thus, even though Hb Agenogi is very rare, it can be found in Thai people. The
      knowledge and understanding of this hemoglobinopathy will be used to assist in
      diagnosis, management and counseling for patients. 

PMID- 26864978
TI  - Redox-Switchable Surface Wrinkling on Polyaniline Film.
AB  - Here the redox-driven switch between the wrinkled and dewrinkled states on poly
      aniline (PANI) film is reported. This switch is derived from the reversible
      transition in different intrinsic redox states of polyaniline (e.g., between
      emeraldine salt (ES) and leucoemeraldine base (LEB) or between ES and
      pernigraniline base (PB)) that are involved in the redox reaction, coupled with
      the corresponding volume expansion/shrinkage. Interestingly, the as-wrinkled ES
      film becomes deswollen and dewrinkled when reduced to the LEB state or oxidized
      to the PB state. Conversely, oxidation of the LEB film or reduction of the PB
      film into the swollen ES film leads to the reoccurrence of surface wrinkling.
      Furthermore, the reducibility of the dewrinkled LEB film and the oxidizability of
      the dewrinkled PB film are well utilized respectively to yield various wrinkled
      PANI-based composite films. 

PMID- 26864979
TI  - BEST TEST with MEDIOCRE RESULTS (at best!): a "call to arms" to correct clinician
      knowledge deficits in transfusion medicine.

PMID- 26864980
TI  - Consider the source: the importance of including all transfused products and
      exposures in red blood cell alloimmunization research.

PMID- 26864981
TI  - Frequent fliers in the reference laboratory.

PMID- 26864982
TI  - Transfusion medicine illustrated. A complicated case of plasma exchange.

PMID- 26864985
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26864986
TI  - Life and treatment goals of patients with advanced, incurable cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Goals of care conversations have been suggested as a strategy for
      helping patients with advanced cancer manage the uncertainty and distress
      associated with end-of-life care. However, knowledge deficits about patient goals
      limit the utility of such conversations. We described the life and treatment
      goals of patients with incurable cancers, including goal values and expectancies.
      We examined the associations between paramount goals and patient prognosis,
      performance status, and psychological adjustment. METHODS: Patients with advanced
      lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, or melanoma (N = 84) completed measures of
      prognosis for 12-month survival, hope, optimism, depression, and anxiety.
      Oncologists provided patient performance status and prognosis for 12-month
      survival. We conducted interviews with a subset of patients (N = 63), eliciting
      life and treatment goals, values, and expectancies. RESULTS: Patient life goals
      resembled goals among healthy populations; whereas, treatment goals were
      perceived as separate and more important. Cure and fight cancer emerged as the
      most important goals. Patients who valued cure the most had worse performance
      status (M = 1.46 vs. 0.78) and more depressive symptoms (M = 6.30 vs. 3.50).
      Patients who valued fight cancer the most had worse self-prognosis (M = 69.23 %
      vs. 86.11 %), fewer treatment goals (M = 2.08 vs. 3.16), and lower optimism (M =
      15.00 vs. 18.32). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced cancer perceive treatment
      goals as separate from and more important than life goals. They hold optimistic
      expectancies for achieving their goals and for survival. Valuing cure highly may
      put patients at risk for experiencing psychological maladjustment.

PMID- 26864984
TI  - Wnt Signaling Inhibition Deprives Small Intestinal Stem Cells of Clonogenic
      Capacity.
AB  - The Wnt pathway plays a crucial role in self-renewal and differentiation of cells
      in the adult gut. In the present study, we revealed the functional consequences
      of inhibition of canonical Wnt signaling in the intestinal epithelium. The study
      was based on generation of a novel transgenic mouse strain enabling inducible
      expression of an N-terminally truncated variant of nuclear Wnt effector T cell
      factor 4 (TCF4). The TCF4 variant acting as a dominant negative (dn) version of
      wild-type (wt) TCF4 protein decreased transcription of beta-catenin-TCF4
      responsive genes. Interestingly, suppression of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling
      affected asymmetric division of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) rather than
      proliferation. ISCs expressing the transgene underwent several rounds of division
      but lost their clonogenic potential and migrated out of the crypt. Expression
      profiling of crypt cells revealed that besides ISC-specific markers, the dnTCF4
      production downregulated expression levels of epithelial genes produced in other
      crypt cells including markers of Paneth cells. Additionally, in Apc conditional
      knockout mice, dnTCF activation efficiently suppressed growth of Apc-deficient
      tumors. In summary, the generated mouse strain represents a convenient tool to
      study cell-autonomous inhibition of beta-catenin-Tcf-mediated transcription.

PMID- 26864987
TI  - Extending health insurance in Ghana: effects of the National Health Insurance
      Scheme on maternity care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is considerable interest in exploring the potential of social
      health insurance in Africa where a number of countries are currently
      experimenting with different approaches. Since these schemes have been introduced
      recently and are continuously evolving, it is important to evaluate their
      effectiveness in the enhancement of health care utilization and reduction of out
      of-pocket expenses for potential policy suggestions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate
      how the National Health Insurance Schemes (NHIS) in Ghana affects the utilization
      of maternal health care services and medical out-of-pocket expenses. METHODS: We
      used nationally-representative household data from the Ghana Demographic and
      Health Survey (GDHS). We analyzed the 2014 GDHS focusing on four outcome
      variables, i.e. antenatal check up, delivery in a health facility, delivery
      assisted by a trained person and out-of-pocket expenditure. We estimated probit
      and bivariate probit models to take into account the issue of self selection into
      the health insurance schemes. RESULTS: The results suggest that, also taking into
      account the issue of self selection into the health insurance schemes, the NHIS
      enrollment positively affects the probability of formal antenatal check-ups
      before delivery, the probability of delivery in an institution and the
      probability of being assisted during delivery by a trained person. On the
      contrary, we find that, once the issue of self-selection is taken into account,
      the NHIS enrollment does not have a significant effect on out-of-pocket
      expenditure at the extensive margin. CONCLUSION: Since a greater utilization of
      health-care services has a strong positive effect on the current and future
      health status of women and their children, the health-care authorities in Ghana
      should make every effort to extend this coverage. In particular, since the
      results of the first step of the bivariate probit regressions suggest that the
      educational attainment of women is a strong determinant of enrollment, and those
      with low education and unable to read are less likely to enroll, information on
      the NHIS should be disseminated in ways that reach those with little or no
      education. Moreover, the availability of government health facilities in a region
      is associated with higher likelihood of enrollment in the NHIS. Accordingly,
      extending geographical access is an important strategy for expanding NHIS
      membership and improving access to health-care.

PMID- 26864988
TI  - Laccase Inhibition by Arsenite/Arsenate: Determination of Inhibition Mechanism
      and Preliminary Application to a Self-Powered Biosensor.
AB  - The reversible inhibition of laccase by arsenite (As(3+)) and arsenate (As(5+))
      is reported for the first time. Oxygen-reducing laccase bioelectrodes were found
      to be inhibited by both arsenic species for direct electron-transfer
      bioelectrodes (using anthracene functionalities for enzymatic orientation) and
      for mediated electron-transfer bioelectrodes [using 2,2'-azino-bis(3
      ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as an electron mediator]. Both
      arsenic species were determined to behave via a mixed inhibition model (behaving
      closely to that of uncompetitive inhibitors) when evaluated
      spectrophotometrically using ABTS as the electron donor. Finally, laccase
      bioelectrodes were employed within an enzymatic fuel cell, yielding a self
      powered biosensor for arsenite and arsenate. This conceptual self-powered arsenic
      biosensor demonstrated limits of detection (LODs) of 13 MUM for arsenite and 132
      MUM for arsenate. Further, this device possessed sensitivities of 0.91 +/- 0.07
      mV/mM for arsenite and 0.98 +/- 0.02 mV/mM for arsenate. 

PMID- 26864991
TI  - The Ethics of Allocating Uterine Transplants.
AB  - In September 2014, a healthy male child was born in Sweden following a successful
      uterine transplantation (UTx). The event brought hope to many women without
      functional uteruses around the world. Having a child with a transplanted uterus
      is now possible, and as knowledge of the procedure proliferates and interest in
      UTx grows, it is important to begin thinking about how a scarce supply of
      uteruses will be allocated. This article represents a first discussion of the
      range of factors that must be considered in answering the allocation question.
      The primary issues addressed are (1) the motivation to seek treatment, (2)
      allocation by age, (3) child-rearing capacity, and (4) the amount of infertility
      treatment required. A set of eligibility and ranking criteria are presented.
      These criteria are not exhaustive but are intended to spark discussion about how
      uteruses can be allocated in a just manner. 

PMID- 26864989
TI  - Cross-resistance to fluconazole induced by exposure to the agricultural azole
      tetraconazole: an environmental resistance school?
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the influence of tetraconazole and malathion,
      both used in agricultural activities, on resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole
      and voriconazole in Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019. The susceptibility to
      tetraconazole, malathion, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole, through
      broth microdilution. Then, 12 independent replicates, were separated and exposed
      to four treatment groups, each one containing three replicates: G1:
      tetraconazole; G2: malathion; G3: fluconazole (positive control); G4: negative
      control. Replicates from G1, G2 and G3, were exposed to weekly increasing
      concentrations of tetraconazole, malathion and fluconazole, respectively, ranging
      from MIC/2 to 32 * MIC, throughout 7 weeks. The exposure to tetraconazole, but
      not malathion, decreased susceptibility to clinical azoles, especially
      fluconazole. The tetraconazole-induced fluconazole resistance is partially
      mediated by the increased activity of ATP-dependent efflux pumps, considering the
      increase in antifungal susceptibility after the addition of the efflux pump
      inhibitor, promethazine, and the increase in rhodamine 6G efflux and CDR gene
      expression in the G1 replicates. Moreover, MDR expression was only detected in G1
      and G3 replicates, suggesting that MDR pumps are also involved in tetraconazole
      induced fluconazole resistance. It is noteworthy that tetraconazole and
      fluconazole-treated replicates behaved similarly, therefore, resistance to azoles
      of clinical use may be a consequence of using azoles in farming activities. 

PMID- 26864990
TI  - Cost of Inpatient Care of Patients With Pemphigus in the United States:
      Translating Dollars and Cents Into Improved Patient Care.

PMID- 26864992
TI  - A non-destructive n-doping method for graphene with precise control of electronic
      properties via atomic layer deposition.
AB  - Graphene applications require high precision control of the Fermi level and
      carrier concentration via a nondestructive doping method. Here, we develop an
      effective n-doping technique using atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO thin
      films on graphene through a reactive molecular layer. This ALD doping method is
      nondestructive, simple, and precise. The ZnO thin films on graphene are uniform,
      conformal, of good quality with a low density of pinholes, and finely tunable in
      thickness with 1 A resolution. We demonstrate graphene transistor control in
      terms of the Dirac point, carrier density, and doping state as a function of the
      ZnO thickness. Moreover, ZnO functions as an effective thin-film barrier against
      air-borne water and oxygen on the graphene, resulting in extraordinary stability
      in air for graphene devices. ZnO ALD was also applied to other two-dimensional
      materials including MoS2 and WSe2, which substantially enhanced electron
      mobility. 

PMID- 26864993
TI  - Experimental investigation of the biomechanics of urethral tissues and
      structures.
AB  - NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Prostheses for
      treatment of urinary incontinence elicit complications associated with an
      inadequate mechanical action. This investigation aimed to define a procedure
      addressed to urethral mechanical characterization. Experimental tests are the
      basis for constitutive formulation, with a view to numerical modelling for
      investigation of the interaction between the tissues and a prosthesis. What is
      the main finding and its importance? Horse urethra, selected for its
      histomorphometric similarity to human urethra, was characterized by integrated
      histological analysis and mechanical tests on the biological tissue and
      structure, leading to constitutive formulation. A non-linear, anisotropic and
      time-dependent response was found, representing a valid basis for development of
      a numerical model to interpret the functional behaviour of the urethra. Urinary
      dysfunction can lead to incontinence, with an impact on the quality of life.
      Severe dysfunction can be overcome surgically by the use of an artificial urinary
      sphincter. Nonetheless, several complications may result from inappropriate
      functioning of the prosthesis, in many instances resulting from an unsuitable
      mechanical action of the device on the urethral tissues. Computational models
      allow investigation of the mechanical interaction between biological tissues and
      biomedical devices, representing a potential support for surgical practice and
      prosthesis design. The development of such computational tools requires
      experimental data on the mechanics of biological tissues and structures, which
      are rarely reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to provide a
      procedure for the mechanical characterization of urethral tissues and structures.
      The experimental protocol included the morphometric and histological analysis of
      urethral tissues, the mechanical characterization of the response of tissues to
      tensile and stress-relaxation tests and evaluation of the behaviour of urethral
      structures by inflation tests. Results from the preliminary experiments were
      processed, adopting specific model formulations, and also providing the
      definition of parameters that characterize the elastic and viscous behaviour of
      the tissues. Different experimental protocols, leading to a comprehensive set of
      experimental data, allow for a reciprocal assessment of reliability of the
      investigation approach.

PMID- 26864995
TI  - Linguistic profiles of children with CI as compared with children with hearing or
      specific language impairment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The spoken language difficulties of children with moderate or severe
      to profound hearing loss are mainly related to limited auditory speech
      perception. However, degraded or filtered auditory input as evidenced in children
      with cochlear implants (CIs) may result in less efficient or slower language
      processing as well. To provide insight into the underlying nature of the spoken
      language difficulties in children with CIs, linguistic profiles of children with
      CIs are compared with those of hard-of-hearing (HoH) children with conventional
      hearing aids and children with specific language impairment (SLI). AIMS: To
      examine differences in linguistic abilities and profiles of children with CIs as
      compared with HoH children and children with SLI, and whether the spoken language
      difficulties of children with CIs mainly lie in limited auditory perception or in
      language processing problems. METHODS & PROCEDURE: Differences in linguistic
      abilities and differential linguistic profiles of 47 children with CI, 66 HoH
      children with moderate to severe hearing loss, and 127 children with SLI are
      compared, divided into two age cohorts. Standardized Dutch tests were
      administered. Factor analyses and cluster analyses were conducted to find
      homogeneous linguistic profiles of the children. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: The children
      with CIs were outperformed by their HoH peers and peers with SLI on most
      linguistic abilities. Concerning the linguistic profiles, the largest group of
      children with CIs and HoH children shared similar profiles. The profiles observed
      for most of the children with SLI were different from those of their peers with
      hearing loss in both age cohorts. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest
      that the underlying nature of spoken language problems in most children with CIs
      manifests in limited auditory perception instead of language processing
      difficulties. However, there appears to be a subgroup of children with CIs whose
      linguistic profiles resemble those of children with SLI.

PMID- 26864996
TI  - Shared Care Contributions to Self-Care and Quality of Life in Chronic Cardiac
      Patients.
AB  - Shared care is an interpersonal interaction system composed of communication,
      decision making, and reciprocity; it is used by patients and family caregivers
      (care dyads) to exchange social support. This study's purpose was to describe the
      contributions of shared care to outcomes for individuals with cardiac disease. A
      secondary data analysis was used to answer the following questions. What is the
      association between elements of shared care and patient outcomes? Do dyad
      perceptions of shared care differentially contribute to patient outcomes?
      Participants in this study were 93 individuals with a cardiac disease and 93
      family caregivers. Composite index structured equation modeling was the analytic
      tool. Caregiver communication and reciprocity were related to patient mental
      quality of life. Patient communication and reciprocity were related to their own
      mental and physical quality of life and self-care confidence. Findings from this
      study contribute a better understanding of how care dyads are integral to patient
      outcomes.

PMID- 26864994
TI  - 'Coz football is what we all have': masculinities, practice, performance and
      effervescence in a gender-sensitised weight-loss and healthy living programme for
      men.
AB  - In this paper we use a social practice approach to explore men's experience of
      Football Fans in Training (FFIT), a group-based weight management programme for
      men that harnesses men's symbolic attachment to professional football clubs to
      engage them in lifestyle change. FFIT is delivered by community coaches in clubs'
      stadia and is gender-sensitised in relation to context, content and style of
      delivery. Using a 'toolkit' of concepts from the work of Bourdieu, Goffman and
      Durkheim we analysed data from 13 focus group discussions with participants, and
      fieldwork notes from programme observations to investigate the appeal and success
      of FFIT, and how it worked to support change. Our analysis builds on our work on
      the importance of shared symbolic commitment to the football club and being with
      'men like me' to understand how the interaction context facilitated
      'effervescent' experiences. These experiences encouraged men to make changes to
      their diet and physical activity, talk about them, practice performing them and
      implement them in their lives. Thus a social practice approach illuminated the
      social processes through which lifestyle change was achieved, and we argue that
      it can deepen and enrich both intervention design and evaluation.

PMID- 26864997
TI  - Psycho-educational programmes led by experienced nurses may improve the coping
      abilities of implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

PMID- 26864998
TI  - Glial Cells are Involved in Itch Processing.
AB  - Recent discoveries in itch neurophysiology include itch-selective neuronal
      pathways, the clinically relevant non-histaminergic pathway, and elucidation of
      the notable similarities and differences between itch and pain. Potential
      involvement of glial cells in itch processing and the possibility of glial
      modulation of chronic itch have recently been identified, similarly to the
      established glial modulation of pain processing. This review outlines the
      similarities and differences between itch and pain, and how different types of
      central and peripheral glial cells may be differentially involved in the
      development of chronic itch akin to their more investigated role in chronic pain.
      Improvements are needed in the management of chronic itch, and future basic and
      interventional studies on glial activity modulation would both enhance our
      understanding of mechanisms underlying the chronification of itch and provide
      novel opportunities for the prevention or treatment of this debilitating and
      common condition. 

PMID- 26865000
TI  - Histological and transcriptome analyses of testes from Duroc and Meishan boars.
AB  - Meishan boars are known for their early sexual maturity. However, they exhibit a
      significantly smaller testicular size and a reduced proportion of Sertoli cells
      and daily sperm production compared with Duroc boars. The testes of Duroc and
      Meishan boars at 20, 75 and 270 days of age were used for histological and
      transcriptome analyses. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to observe
      histological structure of the testes in Duroc and Meishan boars at different
      ages. Although spermatogenesis occurred prior to 75 days in Meishan boars, the
      number of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in Meishan boars were less than in
      Duroc boars at adulthood. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules of the testes
      differed significantly during the initiation of development of the seminiferous
      tubules between the two breeds. We obtained differentially expressed functional
      genes and analysed seven pathways involved in male sexual maturity and
      spermatogenesis using RNA-seq. We also detected four main alternative splicing
      events and many single nucleotide polymorphisms from testes. Eight functionally
      important genes were validated by qPCR, and Neurotrophin 3 was subjected to
      quantification and cellular localization analysis. Our study provides the first
      transcriptome evidence for the differences in sexual function development between
      Meishan and Duroc boars. 

PMID- 26865002
TI  - Does sympathetic overactivation feature all hypertensives? Differences of
      sympathovagal balance according to night/day blood pressure ratio in patients
      with essential hypertension.
AB  - When evaluating the 'night/day BP ratio', both hypertensives and normotensives
      can be arbitrarily classified into four groups: extreme dippers (ratio ?0.8),
      dippers (0.8<ratio ?0.9), mild dippers (0.9<ratio?1.0) and reverse dippers (ratio
      ?1.0). Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have poorer prognoses compared with
      the physiological dipper profile, but the prognostic relevance of the extreme
      dipper profile remains uncertain. The evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV),
      obtained by 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, is the most frequently used noninvasive
      form of assessment of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Reverse and
      mild dipper hypertensives have reduced HRV, indicating an overactivation of the
      sympathetic nervous system (SNS); however, the HRV behavior in extreme dippers is
      still controversial. The goal of this study was to compare HRV indexes of extreme
      vs. reverse dipper essential hypertensives measured on the basis of time domains.
      We enrolled 125 hypertensive subjects, divided in 4 quartiles according to
      day/night blood pressure (BP) ratios. The upper and lower quartiles (31 subjects
      per quartile) were compared; 30 normotensive subjects were enrolled as a control
      group. Time domain HRV parameters of the three groups revealed a higher degree of
      sympathetic activation in the lower quartile (reverse dipper) vs. the upper
      quartile (extreme) and normotensive controls. HRV parameters related to
      parasympathetic tone did not show any significant variations among the three
      groups. Contrary to common belief, not all hypertensives have SNS overactivation.

PMID- 26865003
TI  - Is labor-onset hypertension a novel category among hypertensive disorders of
      pregnancy associated with adverse events in high-risk subjects? Lights and
      shadows.

PMID- 26865001
TI  - Molecular mechanisms of flavonoids in melanin synthesis and the potential for the
      prevention and treatment of melanoma.
AB  - Flavonoids are becoming popular nutraceuticals. Different flavonoids show similar
      or distinct biological effects on different tissues or cell types, which may
      limit or define their usefulness in cancer prevention and/or treatment
      application. This review focuses on a few selected flavonoids and discusses their
      functions in normal and transformed pigment cells, including cyanidin, apigenin,
      genistein, fisetin, EGCG, luteolin, baicalein, quercetin and kaempferol.
      Flavonoids exhibit melanogenic or anti-melanogenic effects mainly via
      transcriptional factor MiTF and/or the melanogenesis enzymes tyrosinase, DCT or
      TYRP-1. To identify a direct target has been a challenge as most studies were not
      able to discriminate whether the effect(s) of the flavonoid were from direct
      targeting or represented indirect effects. Flavonoids exhibit an anti-melanoma
      effect via inhibiting cell proliferation and invasion and inducing apoptosis. The
      mechanisms are also multi-fold, via ROS-scavenging, immune-modulation, cell cycle
      regulation and epigenetic modification including DNA methylation and histone
      deacetylation. In summary, although many flavonoid compounds are extremely
      promising nutraceuticals, their detailed molecular mechanism and their multi
      target (simultaneously targeting multiple molecules) nature warrant further
      investigation before advancement to translational studies or clinical trials.

PMID- 26865004
TI  - Waist circumference compared with other obesity parameters as determinants of
      coronary artery disease in essential hypertension: a 6-year follow-up study.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the predictive role of body mass index (BMI), waist
      circumference (WC) and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for the incidence of coronary
      artery disease (CAD) in a cohort of essential hypertensive patients. We followed
      up 2266 essential hypertensive individuals (mean age, 57.8 years; males, 1083;
      office blood pressure (BP), 143/89 mm Hg) who were free of cardiovascular disease
      for a mean period of 6 years. All subjects had at least one annual visit and, at
      baseline, underwent blood sampling and a complete echocardiographic study to
      determine the left ventricular (LV) mass index. CAD was defined as a history of
      myocardial infarction or significant coronary artery stenosis that was revealed
      by angiography or a coronary revascularization procedure. The incidence of CAD
      throughout the follow-up period was 2.33%. Hypertensive individuals who developed
      CAD (n=53) had a greater baseline WC (101.1+/-11.7 vs. 96.4+/-12 cm, P=0.005),
      WHR (0.94+/-0.07 vs. 0.89+/-0.08 cm, P<0.0001) and LV mass index (117+/-26.8 vs.
      103.3+/-27 g m(-)(2), P<0.0001) compared with those without CAD at follow-up
      (n=2213), whereas no difference was observed compared with the baseline office BP
      and BMI values (P=NS for all). Using a multivariate Cox regression model, WC
      (hazard ratio (HR) 1.037, P=0.002) and LV mass index (HR 1.010, P=0.044) were
      found to be independent predictors of CAD. In essential hypertensive patients, WC
      could predict the future development of CAD, whereas BMI and WHR showed no
      independent prognostic value. These findings suggest that WC constitutes an easy
      clinical tool to assess risk in hypertension among individuals with obesity. 

PMID- 26865005
TI  - SETD1A induced miRNA network suppresses the p53 gene expression module.

PMID- 26865006
TI  - Mannosylation Allows for Synergic (CD44/C-Type Lectin) Uptake of Hyaluronic Acid
      Nanoparticles in Dendritic Cells, but Only upon Correct Ligand Presentation.
AB  - The selective targeting of dendritic cells (DCs) can lead to more efficacious
      vaccines. Here, materials have been designed for a synergic DC targeting:
      interacting with CD44 through the use of hyaluronic acid (HA), and with mannose
      binding lectins (typical DC pattern recognition receptors) through HA
      mannosylation. Negatively charged, HA-displaying nanoparticles are produced via
      polyelectrolyte complexation of (mannosylated) HA and high- or low- molecular
      weight chitosan (CS, 36 and 656 kDa). Using CS36, HA is better exposed and the
      particles have a higher affinity for HA receptors; this means a higher number of
      receptors clustered around each particle and, due to the rather limited CD44
      availability, an overall lower uptake per cell. Employing Langerhans-like XS106
      cells, all particles show negligible toxicity or inflammatory activation. The
      cellular uptake kinetics are qualitatively similar to other leukocytic models and
      thus considered to be CD44-dominated; the uptake increases with increasing HA
      mannosylation and with the use of adjuvants (LPS, mannan) for CS36/HA but not for
      CS656//HA particles; this indicates that the interactions with mannose-binding
      receptors requires a correct ligand presentation, and only in that case can they
      be enhanced by appropriate adjuvants. In summary, mannose-binding receptors can
      be used to enhance the internalization of HA-based carriers, although this
      positive synergy depends on the mode of ligand presentation. 

PMID- 26865007
TI  - Comparison of mandibular stability after SSRO with surgery-first approach versus
      conventional ortho-first approach.
AB  - METHODS: Postoperative mandibular stability in the surgery-first (SF) approach
      and ortho-first (OF) approach in orthognathic surgery was retrospectively
      assessed using the lateral cephalo X-P in 38 patients with skeletal Angle Class
      III malocclusion who underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO). RESULTS:
      The postoperative mandibular relapse of the two groups observed from T1 (2 weeks
      after the surgery) to T2 (for the OF group, a year after surgery; for the SF
      group, the day orthodontic treatment was completed) was compared. The mean (SD)
      horizontal relapse at pogonion was 0.86 (0.92) mm in the forward direction in the
      SF group and 0.90 (1.09) mm in the forward direction in the OF group. No
      significant difference was found in the amount of horizontal movement between the
      two groups. On the other hand, the mean (SD) vertical relapse at pogonion was
      1.59 (2.91) mm in the downward direction in the SF group and 0.14 (1.30) mm in
      the upward direction in the OF group, showing a significant difference in the
      amount of movement between the two groups. The degree of completion of the
      occlusion at T2 in the SF group was compared with that in the OF group by
      measuring OB, OJ, L1-occlusal plane angle, and interincisal angle. No significant
      difference was found between the two groups and the post-treatment occlusion was
      clinically favourable. CONCLUSION: Although the SF approach has several
      advantages for patients, the method of operation and fixation should be selected
      carefully to maintain postoperative mandibular stability.

PMID- 26865008
TI  - Reactions of a Ruthenium Complex with Substituted N-Propargyl Pyrroles.
AB  - In an investigation into the chemical reactions of N-propargyl pyrroles 1 a-c,
      containing aldehyde, keto, and ester groups on the pyrrole ring, with [Ru]-Cl
      ([Ru]=Cp(PPh3 )2 Ru; Cp=C5 H5 ), an aldehyde group in the pyrrole ring is found
      to play a crucial role in stimulating the cyclization reaction. The reaction of 1
      a, containing an aldehyde group, with [Ru]-Cl in the presence of NH4 PF6 yields
      the vinylidene complex 2 a, which further reacts with allyl amine to give the
      carbene complex 6 a with a pyrrolizine group. However, if 1 a is first reacted
      with allyl amine to yield the iminenyne 8 a, then the reaction of 8 a with [Ru]
      Cl in the presence of NH4 PF6 yields the ruthenium complex 9 a, containing a
      cationic pyrrolopyrazinium group, which has been fully characterized by XRD
      analysis. These results can be adequately explained by coordination of the triple
      bond of the propargyl group to the ruthenium metal center first, followed by two
      processes, that is, formation of a vinylidene intermediate or direct nucleophilic
      attack. Additionally, the deprotonation of 2 a by R4 NOH yields the neutral
      acetylide complex 3 a. In the presence of NH4 PF6 , the attempted alkylation of 3
      a resulted in the formation the Fischer-type amino-carbene complex 5 a as a
      result of the presence of NH3, which served as a nucleophile. With KPF6, the
      alkylation of 3 a with ethyl and benzyl bromoacetates afforded the disubstituted
      vinylidene complexes 10 a and 11 a, containing ester groups, which underwent
      deprotonation reactions to give the furyl complexes 12 a and 13 a, respectively.
      For 13 a, containing an O-benzyl group, subsequent 1,3-migration of the benzyl
      group was observed to yield product 14 a with a lactone unit. Similar reactivity
      was not observed for the corresponding N-propargyl pyrroles 1 b and 1 c, which
      contained keto and ester groups, respectively, on the pyrrole ring.

PMID- 26865009
TI  - Intramyocellular lipids and their dynamics assessed by 1 H magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy.
AB  - This report provides an overview on the present knowledge on intramyocellular
      lipids (IMCL) and their dynamics in the course of interventions with physical
      activity of variable type and intensity in different population groups, as
      accessible by examinations using non-invasive volume-selective 1 H magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy (1 H MRS). IMCL serve as energy source in skeletal muscle
      for fat oxidation in the mitochondria and became intensively studied after
      discovery of their relation with insulin sensitivity. While baseline levels of
      IMCL concentration have been shown to be mainly dependent on the metabolic status
      (insulin sensitivity), on the level of training and on fibre composition in the
      muscles, studies applying different physical activity protocols revealed the
      dynamic of their depletion and replenishment. From the findings in human studies,
      it can be concluded that IMCL levels are potentially useful markers for
      monitoring metabolic adaptation of skeletal muscle to sportive activities and
      training.

PMID- 26865010
TI  - Microcystin release and Microcystis cell damage mechanism by alum treatment with
      long-term and large dose as in-lake treatment.
AB  - Most of our previous studies reported aluminum causes no cell damage or lysis,
      and no subsequent toxin release in conventional treatment of drinking water or in
      the laboratory, on the contrary, we investigated the effect of long-term and
      large-dose alum treatment, because the environmental conditions in lakes and
      treatment plants are widely different. The microcosm experiments were designed to
      simulate the effect of adding alum under the similar conditions of common lakes
      and reservoirs, and the bottle experiments were conducted to examine the budget
      or dynamics of microcystin after adding alum. In precipitate analyses, we also
      confirm the release and dynamics of microcystin and the damage mechanisms of
      Microcystis cells under alum treatment. In microcosms treated with alum alone,
      the extracellular microcystin-LR (MC-LR) concentration increased to approximately
      82% in 7 days. Similar results were obtained in bottle experiments. By plotting
      the concentration of released microcystin over time, we inferred that the
      extracellular MC-LR concentration exponentially rose toward an asymptotic
      maximum. Moreover, in scanning electron microscope images, some cells exhibited
      torn membranes with miniscule traces of aluminum hydroxide coating. We conclude
      that alum treatment, particularly at maximum dosage administered over long
      periods, seriously damages Microcystis cells and induces microcystin release.
      Therefore, long-term application of large alum doses is not recommended as an in
      lake treatment. 

PMID- 26865011
TI  - Majorana bound states from exceptional points in non-topological superconductors.
AB  - Recent experimental efforts towards the detection of Majorana bound states have
      focused on creating the conditions for topological superconductivity. Here we
      demonstrate an alternative route, which achieves fully localised zero-energy
      Majorana bound states when a topologically trivial superconductor is strongly
      coupled to a helical normal region. Such a junction can be experimentally
      realised by e.g. proximitizing a finite section of a nanowire with spin-orbit
      coupling, and combining electrostatic depletion and a Zeeman field to drive the
      non-proximitized (normal) portion into a helical phase. Majorana zero modes
      emerge in such an open system without fine-tuning as a result of charge
      conjugation symmetry, and can be ultimately linked to the existence of
      'exceptional points' (EPs) in parameter space, where two quasibound Andreev
      levels bifurcate into two quasibound Majorana zero modes. After the EP, one of
      the latter becomes non-decaying as the junction approaches perfect Andreev
      reflection, thus resulting in a Majorana dark state (MDS) localised at the NS
      junction. We show that MDSs exhibit the full range of properties associated to
      conventional closed-system Majorana bound states (zero-energy, self-conjugation,
      4pi-Josephson effect and non-Abelian braiding statistics), while not requiring
      topological superconductivity. 

PMID- 26865012
TI  - Health services utilization of people having and not having a regular doctor in
      Canada.
AB  - Canada having a universal health insurance plan that provides hospital and
      physician benefits offers a natural experiment of whether continuity of care
      actually provides lower or higher utilization of services. The question we are
      evaluating is whether Canadians, who have a regular physician, use more health
      resources than those who do not have one? Using two statistical methods,
      including propensity score matching and zero-inflated negative binomial
      regression, we analyzed data from the 2010 and 2007/2008 Canadian Community
      Health Surveys separately to document differences between people self-reportedly
      having and not having a regular doctor in the utilization of general
      practitioner, specialist, and hospital services. The results showed, consistently
      for all two statistical methods and two datasets used, that people reportedly
      having a regular doctor used more healthcare services than a matched group of
      people who was self-reportedly not having a regular doctor. For specialist and
      hospital utilization, the statistically significant differences were in the
      likelihood if the service was used but not in the number of specialist visits or
      hospital nights among users. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26865013
TI  - Practical guide to the Idea, Development and Exploration stages of the IDEAL
      Framework and Recommendations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evaluation of new surgical procedures is a complex process challenged
      by evolution of technique, operator learning curves, the possibility of variable
      procedural quality, and strong treatment preferences among patients and
      clinicians. Preliminary studies that address these issues are needed to prepare
      for a successful randomized trial. The IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration,
      Assessment and Long-term follow-up) Framework and Recommendations provide an
      integrated step-by-step evaluation pathway that can help investigators achieve
      this. METHODS: A practical guide was developed for investigators evaluating new
      surgical interventions in the earlier phases before a randomized trial
      (corresponding to stages 1, 2a and 2b of the IDEAL Framework). The examples and
      practical tips included were chosen and agreed upon by consensus among authors
      with experience either in designing and conducting IDEAL format studies, or in
      helping others to design such studies. They address the most common challenges
      encountered by authors attempting to follow the IDEAL Recommendations. RESULTS: A
      decision aid has been created to help identify the IDEAL stage of an innovation
      from literature reports, with advice on how to design and report the IDEAL study
      formats discussed, along with the ethical and scientific rationale for specific
      recommendations. CONCLUSION: The guide helps readers and researchers to
      understand and implement the IDEAL Framework and Recommendations to improve the
      quality of evidence supporting surgical innovation.

PMID- 26865014
TI  - Reward: A separate sweet circuit.

PMID- 26865017
TI  - Synaptogenesis: A synaptic bridge.

PMID- 26865019
TI  - Mechanisms and functions of GABA co-release.
AB  - The 'one neuron, one neurotransmitter' doctrine states that synaptic
      communication between two neurons occurs through the release of a single chemical
      transmitter. However, recent findings suggest that neurons that communicate using
      more than one classical neurotransmitter are prevalent throughout the adult
      mammalian CNS. In particular, several populations of neurons previously thought
      to release only glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine or histamine also release the
      major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Here, we review these findings and
      discuss the implications of GABA co-release for synaptic transmission and
      plasticity. 

PMID- 26865020
TI  - Dopamine reward prediction-error signalling: a two-component response.
AB  - Environmental stimuli and objects, including rewards, are often processed
      sequentially in the brain. Recent work suggests that the phasic dopamine reward
      prediction-error response follows a similar sequential pattern. An initial brief,
      unselective and highly sensitive increase in activity unspecifically detects a
      wide range of environmental stimuli, then quickly evolves into the main response
      component, which reflects subjective reward value and utility. This temporal
      evolution allows the dopamine reward prediction-error signal to optimally combine
      speed and accuracy. 

PMID- 26865023
TI  - Effects of three permeases on arginine utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Arginine plays an important role in cellular function and metabolism. Arginine
      uptake mainly occurs through three amino acid permeases, Alp1p, Gap1p and Can1p,
      which act as both transporters and receptors for amino acid utilization. In this
      study, seven mutants were constructed with different combinations of permease
      deficiencies that inhibit arginine utilization. Their effects on arginine
      metabolism were measured. The three amino acid permeases were also individually
      overexpressed in wild-type (WT), Deltaalp1Deltagap1Deltacan1 and Deltanpr1
      strains. The growth and arginine utilization of Deltacan1, Deltagap1Deltacan1 and
      Deltaalp1Deltagap1Deltacan1 mutants were suppressed in YNB medium when arginine
      was the sole nitrogen source. Meanwhile, overexpression of Alp1p and Can1p
      enhanced growth and arginine utilization in WT, Deltaalp1Deltagap1Deltacan1 and
      Deltanpr1. Besides, overexpression of Can1p caused a 26.7% increase in OD600 and
      29.3% increase in arginine utilization compared to that of Alp1p in
      Deltaalp1Deltagap1Deltacan1. Transcription analysis showed that the effects of
      three amino acid permeases on the arginine utilization and the regulation of
      related genes, were tightly related to their individual characteristics. However,
      their overall effects were different for different combinations of mutants. The
      results presented here suggest some possible synergistic effects of different
      amino acid permeases on regulation of amino acid utilization and metabolism. 

PMID- 26865022
TI  - Anterior hippocampus: the anatomy of perception, imagination and episodic memory.
AB  - The brain creates a model of the world around us. We can use this representation
      to perceive and comprehend what we see at any given moment, but also to vividly
      re-experience scenes from our past and imagine future (or even fanciful)
      scenarios. Recent work has shown that these cognitive functions--perception,
      imagination and recall of scenes and events--all engage the anterior hippocampus.
      In this Opinion article, we capitalize on new findings from functional
      neuroimaging to propose a model that links high-level cognitive functions to
      specific structures within the anterior hippocampus.

PMID- 26865024
TI  - Post-translational processing targets functionally diverse proteins in Mycoplasma
      hyopneumoniae.
AB  - Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a genome-reduced, cell wall-less, bacterial pathogen
      with a predicted coding capacity of less than 700 proteins and is one of the
      smallest self-replicating pathogens. The cell surface of M. hyopneumoniae is
      extensively modified by processing events that target the P97 and P102 adhesin
      families. Here, we present analyses of the proteome of M. hyopneumoniae-type
      strain J using protein-centric approaches (one- and two-dimensional GeLC-MS/MS)
      that enabled us to focus on global processing events in this species. While these
      approaches only identified 52% of the predicted proteome (347 proteins), our
      analyses identified 35 surface-associated proteins with widely divergent
      functions that were targets of unusual endoproteolytic processing events,
      including cell adhesins, lipoproteins and proteins with canonical functions in
      the cytosol that moonlight on the cell surface. Affinity chromatography assays
      that separately used heparin, fibronectin, actin and host epithelial cell surface
      proteins as bait recovered cleavage products derived from these processed
      proteins, suggesting these fragments interact directly with the bait proteins and
      display previously unrecognized adhesive functions. We hypothesize that protein
      processing is underestimated as a post-translational modification in genome
      reduced bacteria and prokaryotes more broadly, and represents an important
      mechanism for creating cell surface protein diversity. 

PMID- 26865026
TI  - Engaging Graduate-Level Distance Learners in Research: A Collaborative
      Investigation of Rural Aging.
AB  - Online educational programs pose challenges to nonresidential graduate students
      for whom research is a key professional development experience. In this article,
      the authors share their pedagogical approach to engaging graduate-level online
      distance learners in research. Five students enrolled in an online master's
      degree program participated in a directed research course designed to facilitate
      a semester-long, collaborative, hands-on research experience in gerontology. As
      such, students recruited participants and conducted phone interviews for a
      multisite study examining aging in place in rural areas. Several strategies were
      used to facilitate student engagement and learning, including: regular meetings
      with faculty mentors, creation of a research team across institutions,
      interactive training, and technological tools to aid in communication. The
      authors discuss the process of implementing the project, challenges that arose,
      strategies for dealing with these issues, and a pedagogical framework that could
      be used to guide future endeavors of this type. 

PMID- 26865027
TI  - Pediatric-onset necrobiosis lipoidica.

PMID- 26865034
TI  - Swallowing outcomes following primary surgical resection and primary free flap
      reconstruction for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas: A systematic
      review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Dysphagia is still a treatment-related morbidity, despite
      advances in treatment modalities for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell
      carcinoma. This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of swallowing
      outcomes of patients with oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated
      with primary surgery with primary free flap reconstruction, with or without
      adjuvant therapy, for patients undergoing treatment with curative intent. STUDY
      DESIGN: A comprehensive search strategy was undertaken across MEDLINE, CINAHL,
      Embase, and Scopus. Gray literature was sought through Cochrane Central Register
      of Controlled Trials, MedNar, and ProQuest. METHODS: Studies included patients
      with oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary
      surgery with primary free flap reconstruction. Swallowing function was the
      primary outcome, evaluated at 6 months or later following surgery. Methodological
      quality and data extraction was conducted as per the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta
      Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument and standardized data
      extraction tool. RESULTS: Fifteen articles comprising eight cohort studies and
      seven case series were included. Postoperative radiotherapy and oropharyngeal
      resections were demonstrated to be associated with increased dysphagia.
      CONCLUSION: Advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage and use of adjuvant radiotherapy
      has been shown to have negative impacts on swallowing function. The majority of
      patients were able to have gastrostomy tubes removed at 6 months following
      curative therapy. Larger flap mass for the reconstruction of oral and
      oropharyngeal defects appeared to improve swallowing outcomes. A protocol for the
      identification of patients at high and low risk of developing dysphagia is
      proposed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A. Laryngoscope, 126:1572-1580, 2016.

PMID- 26865035
TI  - Experimental animal model for analyzing immunobiological responses following
      vaccination with formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus.
AB  - Formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) vaccine was developed
      in the 1960s. However, this vaccine does not prevent infection in RSV-naive
      recipients and has the paradoxical effect of increasing the severity of RSV
      illness following natural infection, which has been a major obstacle to
      developing RSV vaccines. Several experimental animal models for determining the
      cause of the severe symptoms in FI-RSV recipients have been developed. In the
      present study, cotton rats immunized with FI-RSV were challenged with RSV and
      histopathological findings and recovery of infectious virus were studied. Copy
      numbers of mRNA of Th1 and Th2 cytokines were measured in lung tissues to gain
      better understanding of their immune responses. Infiltration of inflammatory
      cells and prominent interstitial pneumonitis were observed in the FI-RSV group,
      as was induction of mRNA of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and RANTES.
      Rats immunized with recombinant measles virus expressing the RSV F protein
      (MVAIK/RSV/F) and those treated with anti-RSV mAb (palivizumab) showed very mild
      interstitial pneumonitis. Amounts of mRNA of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and IL-4 were
      higher in the MVAIK/RSV/F group. Administration of palivizumab before RSV
      challenge decreased the severity of interstitial pneumonitis in the FI-RSV group.
      FI-RSV induced skewed Th2 responses, resulting in severe inflammatory responses.

PMID- 26865037
TI  - Investigating factors influencing the adoption of e-Health in developing
      countries: A patient's perspective.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate factors that influence the
      adoption and use of e-Health applications in Bangladesh from citizens'
      (patients') perspectives by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) to
      include privacy and trust. METHODS: A structured questionnaire survey was used to
      collect data from more than 350 participants in various private and public
      hospitals in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The data were analyzed using
      the partial least-squares (PLS) method, a statistical analysis technique based on
      structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: The study determined that perceived
      ease of use and perceived usefulness and trust (p < 0.05) were significant
      factors influencing the intention to adopt e-Health. Privacy (p > 0.05) was
      identified as a less significant factor in the context of e-Health in Bangladesh.
      The findings also revealed that gender was strongly associated with the adoption
      and use of e-Health services. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study
      contribute to the development of strategies and policies to enhance e-Health
      services in Bangladesh. Furthermore, as a result of the generic approach used in
      this study, the acceptance model developed can be easily modified to investigate
      the adoption of e-Health in other developing countries.

PMID- 26865038
TI  - A new approach to road accident rescue.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article develops and validates a new methodology and tool for
      rescue assistance in traffic accidents, with the aim of improving its efficiency
      and safety in the evacuation of people, reducing the number of victims in road
      accidents. METHOD: Different tests supported by professionals and experts have
      been designed under different circumstances and with different categories of
      damaged vehicles coming from real accidents and simulated trapped victims in
      order to calibrate and refine the proposed methodology and tool. RESULTS: To
      validate this new approach, a tool called App_Rescue has been developed. This
      tool is based on the use of a computer system that allows an efficient access to
      the technical information of the vehicle and sanitary information of the common
      passengers. The time spent during rescue using the standard protocol and the
      proposed method was compared. CONCLUSION: This rescue assistance system allows us
      to make vital information accessible in posttrauma care services, improving the
      effectiveness of interventions by the emergency services, reducing the rescue
      time and therefore minimizing the consequences involved and the number of
      victims. This could often mean saving lives. In the different simulated rescue
      operations, the rescue time has been reduced an average of 14%.

PMID- 26865025
TI  - Transcriptomic identification of starfish neuropeptide precursors yields new
      insights into neuropeptide evolution.
AB  - Neuropeptides are evolutionarily ancient mediators of neuronal signalling in
      nervous systems. With recent advances in genomics/transcriptomics, an
      increasingly wide range of species has become accessible for molecular analysis.
      The deuterostomian invertebrates are of particular interest in this regard
      because they occupy an 'intermediate' position in animal phylogeny, bridging the
      gap between the well-studied model protostomian invertebrates (e.g. Drosophila
      melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans) and the vertebrates. Here we have
      identified 40 neuropeptide precursors in the starfish Asterias rubens, a
      deuterostomian invertebrate from the phylum Echinodermata. Importantly, these
      include kisspeptin-type and melanin-concentrating hormone-type precursors, which
      are the first to be discovered in a non-chordate species. Starfish tachykinin
      type, somatostatin-type, pigment-dispersing factor-type and corticotropin
      releasing hormone-type precursors are the first to be discovered in the
      echinoderm/ambulacrarian clade of the animal kingdom. Other precursors identified
      include vasopressin/oxytocin-type, gonadotropin-releasing hormone-type,
      thyrotropin-releasing hormone-type, calcitonin-type, cholecystokinin/gastrin
      type, orexin-type, luqin-type, pedal peptide/orcokinin-type, glycoprotein hormone
      type, bursicon-type, relaxin-type and insulin-like growth factor-type precursors.
      This is the most comprehensive identification of neuropeptide precursor proteins
      in an echinoderm to date, yielding new insights into the evolution of
      neuropeptide signalling systems. Furthermore, these data provide a basis for
      experimental analysis of neuropeptide function in the unique context of the
      decentralized, pentaradial echinoderm bauplan. 

PMID- 26865039
TI  - Effects of Home-Based Tai Chi and Lower Extremity Training and Self-Practice on
      Falls and Functional Outcomes in Older Fallers from the Emergency Department-A
      Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of guided home-based tai chi chuan (TCC) and
      lower extremity training (LET) and of levels of self-practice on falls and
      functional outcomes in older fallers. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.
      SETTING: Taipei, Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 60 and older who had fall
      related emergency department visits at least 6 months before participating in the
      study and ambulated independently at baseline (N = 456). INTERVENTION: Six months
      of TCC or LET. MEASUREMENTS: Four types of fall measures (falls, time to first
      fall, fallers, recurrent fallers) and six functional measures (handgrip strength,
      balance, mobility, fear of falling, depression, cognitive function). RESULTS: The
      TCC group was significantly less likely than the LET group to experience any
      falls during the 6-month intervention (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.30, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) = 0.15-0.60), and the effects remained significant after
      12 months of follow-up (IRR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14-0.71). These effects remained
      significant for injurious falls during the 6-month intervention (IRR = 0.33, 95%
      CI = 0.16-0.68) and the entire 18-month study (IRR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.83).
      Similar results were obtained when another two fall measures (time to first fall,
      number of fallers) were used. Moreover, participants who independently practiced
      TCC or LET seven times per week or more were significantly less likely to
      experience injurious falls during the 6-month intervention (IRR = 0.41, 95% CI =
      0.20-0.83) and the 18-month study (IRR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21-0.87) than their
      counterparts, had a significantly longer time to first injurious fall, and were
      significantly less likely to have an injurious fall during the 6-month
      intervention. Cognitive function improved to a greater extent in the TCC group
      than in the LET group over the 18-month study. CONCLUSION: Home-based TCC may
      reduce the incidence of falls and injurious falls more than conventional LET in
      older fallers, and the effects may last for at least 1 year.

PMID- 26865040
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26865041
TI  - Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation in the lingual area of the
      mandibular body versus osteochondroma at the mandibular condyle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is benign
      and usually occurs in the small tubular bones of the hands and feet, but it is
      extremely rare in the oral and maxillofacial region. METHODS: The present study
      compares a case of BPOP occurring in the lingual area of the right mandibular
      body with a representative case of osteochondroma occurring in the left
      mandibular condyle using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: BPOP showed no
      continuity to the cortical bone of the mandible on X-ray and was histologically
      composed of immature cartilage and bone tissues, whereas osteochondroma showed
      overgrowth of hypertrophic chondrocytes accompanied by mature bone with
      endochondral ossification. Although BPOP showed no features of cellular atypia or
      malignant transformation, it expressed more osteogenic proteins, including BMP-2,
      BMP-4, RUNX2, OC, AP, OPG, RANKL, CTGF, and bFGF, than osteochondroma.
      Furthermore, the perichondral spindle cells and marrow osteoblasts/fibroblasts of
      BPOP showed stronger immunoreaction of PCNA, p53, beta-catenin, BCL2, pAKT,
      survivin, 14-3-3, CEA, EMA, pan-K, and S-100 than the tumor cells of
      osteochondroma. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it was presumed that similar to embryonal
      osteochondroid tissue, BPOP might be activated by osteogenic and oncogenic
      signaling and that this increased signaling may explain the rapid growth and high
      recurrence of BPOP.

PMID- 26865044
TI  - Structures of Trichloromethyl Thiocyanate, CCl3 SCN, in Gaseous and Crystalline
      State.
AB  - Trichloromethyl thiocyanate, CCl3 SCN, was structurally studied in both the gas
      and crystal phases by means of gas electron diffraction (GED) and single-crystal
      X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Both experimental studies and quantum
      chemical calculations indicate a staggered orientation of the CCl3 group relative
      to the SCN group. This conclusion is supported by the similarity of the C-SCN
      bond length to that of the anti-structure of CH2 ClSCN (Berrueta Martinez et al.
      Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015, 17, 15805-15812). Bond lengths and angles are
      similar for gas and crystal CCl3 SCN structures; however, the crystal structure
      presents different intermolecular interactions. These include halogen and
      chalcogen type interactions, the geometry of which was studied. Characteristic C
      Y???N angles (Y=Cl or S) close to 180 degrees  provide evidence for typical sigma
      hole interactions along the halogen/chalcogen-carbon bond in N???Cl and N???S,
      intermolecular units.

PMID- 26865042
TI  - Lack of association between polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene and risk of cancer:
      evidence from meta-analyses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 genes have the potential to affect the
      individual capacity to convert pre-carcinogens into carcinogens. With these
      comprehensive meta-analyses, we aimed to provide a quantitative assessment of the
      association between the published genetic association studies on CYP1A2 single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of cancer. METHODS: We searched
      MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS bibliographic online databases and
      databases of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). After data extraction, we
      calculated Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the
      association between the retrieved CYP1A2 SNPs and cancer. Random effect model was
      used to calculate the pooled ORs. Begg and Egger tests, one-way sensitivity
      analysis were performed, when appropriate. We conducted stratified analyses by
      study design, sample size, ethnicity and tumour site. RESULTS: Seventy case
      control studies and one GWA study detailing on six different SNPs were included.
      Among the 71 included studies, 42 were population-based case-control studies, 28
      hospital-based case-control studies and one genome-wide association study,
      including total of 47,413 cancer cases and 58,546 controls. The meta-analysis of
      62 studies on rs762551, reported an OR of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.96-1.12) for overall
      cancer (P for heterogeneity < 0.01; I(2) = 50.4%). When stratifying for tumour
      site, an OR of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-1.01; P for heterogeneity = 0.23, I(2) = 28.5%)
      was reported for bladder cancer for those homozygous mutant of rs762551. An OR of
      0.79 (95% CI, 0.65-0.95; P for heterogeneity = 0.09, I(2) = 58.1%) was obtained
      for the bladder cancer from the hospital-based studies and on Caucasians.
      CONCLUSIONS: This large meta-analysis suggests no significant effect of the
      investigated CYP1A2 SNPs on cancer overall risk under various genetic models.
      However, when stratifying according to the tumour site, our results showed a
      borderline not significant OR of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-1.01) for bladder cancer for
      those homozygous mutant of rs762551. Due to the limitations of our meta-analyses,
      the results should be interpreted with attention and need to be further confirmed
      by high-quality studies, for all the potential CYP1A2 SNPs.

PMID- 26865043
TI  - Comparison of the influence of ticagrelor and clopidogrel on inflammatory
      biomarkers and vascular endothelial function for patients with ST-segment
      elevation myocardial infarction receiving emergency percutaneous coronary
      intervention: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO, Eur J Prev
      Cardiol 22(6):734-42, 2015) trial shows that, in patients who have an acute
      coronary syndrome, treatment with ticagrelor as compared with clopidogrel
      significantly reduced the rate of death, but the reason is still uncertain. Both
      inflammation and vascular endothelian cell dysfunction play important roles in
      the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaques, but whether ticagrelor has
      superior anti-inflammatory effect and can improve vascular endothelial cell
      function to a great extent is unknown. METHODS/DESIGN: Patients with STEMI who
      are scheduled to undergo emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will
      be randomly assigned to receive a loading dose of ticagrelor 180 mg as the
      treatment group or clopidogrel 600 mg as the control group. After PCI, the
      treatment group will be treated with ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily while the
      control group will be treated with clopidogrel 75 mg once daily. The vascular
      endothelial function will be tested by circulating endothelial cells, and levels
      of inflammation will be tested by CD40 ligand (CD40L), high sensitivity C
      reactive protein (hsCRP) and P-selectin. The estimated enrollment sample size
      will be 350 patients, including 175 in the treatment group and 175 in the control
      group. DISCUSSION: This study will compare the influence of ticagrelor and
      clopidogrel on inflammatory biomarkers and vascular endothelial function firstly
      for STEMI patients receiving emergency PCI and will provide evidence to identify
      whether ticagrelor inhibits inflammation and improves vascular endothelial cell
      function to a greater extent than clopidogrel or not. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This
      trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02123004) on 20
      April 2014.

PMID- 26865045
TI  - Crystal structure and functional implications of the tandem-type universal stress
      protein UspE from Escherichia coli.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The universal stress proteins (USP) family member UspE is a tandem
      type USP that consists of two Usp domains. The UspE expression levels of the
      Escherichia coli (E. coli) become elevated in response to oxidative stress and
      DNA damaging agents, including exposure to mitomycin C, cadmium, and hydrogen
      peroxide. It has been shown that UspA family members are survival factors during
      cellular growth arrest. The structures and functions of the UspA family members
      control the growth of E. coli in animal hosts. While several UspA family members
      have known structures, the structure of E. coli UspE remains to be elucidated.
      RESULTS: To understand the biochemical function of UspE, we have determined the
      crystal structure of E. coli UspE at 3.2 A resolution. The asymmetric unit
      contains two protomers related by a non-crystallographic symmetry, and each
      protomer contains two tandem Usp domains. The crystal structure shows that UspE
      is folded into a fan-shaped structure similar to that of the tandem-type Usp
      protein PMI1202 from Proteus mirabilis, and it has a hydrophobic cavity that
      binds its ligand. Structural analysis revealed that E. coli UspE has two metal
      ion binding sites, and isothermal titration calorimetry suggested the presence of
      two Cd(2+) binding sites with a Kd value of 38.3-242.7 MUM. Structural analysis
      suggested that E. coli UspE has two Cd(2+) binding sites (Site I: His117, His
      119; Site II: His193, His244). CONCLUSION: The results show that the UspE
      structure has a hydrophobic pocket. This pocket is strongly bound to an
      unidentified ligand. Combined with a previous study, the ligand is probably
      related to an intermediate in lipid A biosynthesis. Subsequently, sequence
      analysis found that UspE has an ATP binding motif (Gly(269)- X2-Gly(272)-X9
      Gly(282)-Asn) in its C-terminal domain, which was confirmed by in vitro ATPase
      activity monitored using Kinase-Glo(r) Luminescent Kinase Assay. However, the
      residues constituting this motif were disordered in the crystal structure,
      reflecting their intrinsic flexibility. ITC experiments revealed that the UspE
      probably has two Cd(2+) binding sites. The His117, His 119, His193, and His244
      residues within the beta-barrel domain are necessary for Cd(2+) binding to UspE
      protein. As mentioned above, USPs are associated with several functions, such as
      cadmium binding, ATPase function, and involvement in lipid A biosynthesis by some
      unknown way.

PMID- 26865046
TI  - Circulating memory T follicular helper subsets, Tfh2 and Tfh17, participate in
      the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
AB  - Circulating memory T follicular helper subsets, Tfh2 and Tfh17 are found to be
      aberrantly regulated in many autoimmune diseases. However, their roles in the
      pathogenesis of GBS are still unclear. This study examined the phenotype,
      distribution, clinical relevance and potential function of Tfh2 and Tfh17 in 36
      GBS patients (including 24 AMAN and 12 AIDP patients). We found that the absolute
      counts of total memory Tfh cells were significantly increased in AMAN, while no
      significant difference in AIDP compared with HC. Furthermore, the levels of the
      three subsets of memory Tfh cells, Tfh1, Tfh2 and Tfh17, were differentially
      altered in AMAN. The absolute counts of Tfh1, Tfh2 and Tfh17 were all increased
      to a higher level in AMAN. The ratio of (Tfh2+Tfh17)/Tfh1 and the percentages of
      ICOS(+) cells in Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells were greater in AMAN when compared to AIDP
      and HC, and the former had a positive correlation with the severity of both AMAN
      and AIDP. Conversely, the percentages of PD1(+) cells in Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells
      were lower in AMAN than in HC. Therefore, circulating memory Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells
      might promote the autoantibody-related immune response and serve as useful
      markers to evaluate the progression of AMAN. 

PMID- 26865048
TI  - The herpes zoster subunit vaccine.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Herpes zoster (HZ) causes severe pain and rash in older people and
      may be complicated by prolonged pain (postherpetic neuralgia; PHN). AREAS
      COVERED: HZ results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
      infection, often associated with age related or other causes of decreased T cell
      immunity. A concentrated live attenuated vaccine boosts this immunity and
      provides partial protection against HZ, but this decreases with age and declines
      over 5-8 years. The new HZ subunit (HZ/su or Shingrix) vaccine combines a key
      surface VZV glycoprotein (E) with T cell boosting adjuvant (AS01B). It is highly
      efficacious in protection (97%) against HZ in immunocompetent subjects, with no
      decline in advancing age and protection maintained for >3 years. Phase I-II
      trials showed safety and similar immunogenicity in severely immunocompromised
      patients. Local injection site pain and swelling can be severe in a minority
      (9.5%) but is transient (2 days). EXPERT OPINION: The HZ/su vaccine appears very
      promising in immunocompetent patients in the ZoE-50 controlled trial. The
      unblinding of the current ZoE-50 trial and publication of results from the
      accompanying ZoE-70 trial will reveal more about its mechanism of action and its
      efficacy against PHN, particularly in subjects >70 years. Phase III trial results
      in immunocompromised patients are eagerly awaited.

PMID- 26865047
TI  - Association of adiponectin gene polymorphisms and additional gene-gene
      interaction with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Chinese Han population.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the association between the single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) of the adiponectin gene and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD) as well as the impact of the interaction of multiple SNPs on NAFLD risk,
      based on a Chinese population study. METHODS: A total of 612 subjects (411 male,
      201 female) were selected, including 302 NAFLD patients and 310 controls. Three
      SNPs were selected for genotyping in the case-control study: rs266729, rs822393,
      and rs1501299. A logistic regression model was used to examine the interaction
      between the SNPs and NAFLD. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (95
      % CI) were calculated. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR)
      was employed to analyze the interaction among SNPs. RESULTS: Logistic analysis
      showed a significant association between genotypes of variants in rs266729 and
      rs822393 and increased NAFLD risk. The carriers of the homozygous mutant of two
      SNP polymorphisms revealed increased NAFLD risk compared to those with wild-type
      homozygotes; ORs (95 % CI) were 1.31 (1.14-1.81) (p = 0.001) and 1.18 (1.05-1.71)
      (p = 0.005), respectively. There was a significant two-locus model (p = 0.0010)
      involving rs266729 and rs822393, indicating a potential gene-gene interaction
      between rs266729 and rs822393. Overall, the two-locus models had a cross
      validation consistency of 10 and testing accuracy of 62.17 %. Subjects with the
      CG or GG and CT or TT genotype have the highest NAFLD risk compared to subjects
      with the CC-CC genotype; the OR (95 % CI) was 2.52 (1.31-3.82), p < 0.001, after
      covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support an important association
      of the rs266729 (-11377 G/C) and rs822393 (-4522 C/T) polymorphism with increased
      risk of NAFLD. The interaction analysis showed a combined effect of rs266729 and
      rs822393 on NAFLD.

PMID- 26865049
TI  - Mycobacterium phlei cell wall-nucleic acid complex in the treatment of nonmuscle
      invasive bladder cancer unresponsive to bacillus Calmette-Guerin.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Current guidelines recommend cystectomy in patients with high risk
      NMIBC who fail to respond to BCG. However due to the significant morbidity and
      mortality of the procedure, many are not candidates or refuse it. No new
      treatments for this indication have been approved by the US FDA since 1998. AREAS
      COVERED: A cell wall-nucleic acid complex (MCNA) from M. phlei has been
      investigated for possible application in patients with BCG refractory NMIBC. The
      development of this biological from the original studies is reviewed, together
      with the clinical trials leading to a submission to the FDA. Its efficacy and
      safety are presented together with comparative analysis of alternative
      treatments, most of which are used off-label. In addition, new combinations of
      standard therapies are described as well as single agents exhibiting activity
      against these tumors. EXPERT OPINION: MCNA has shown activity against high risk
      BCG refractory bladder cancer and offers an alternative to current treatments.
      The clinical experience remains limited and the optimal therapeutic regimen
      (dose, frequency) have not been firmly established. Patients and clinicians would
      welcome the introduction of a compound that may delay or prevent the risks and
      negative impact in quality of life of cystectomy and urinary diversion.

PMID- 26865050
TI  - Composition and dynamics of the respiratory tract microbiome in intubated
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a major contributor to
      respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. LRTI also
      occurs during mechanical ventilation, increasing the morbidity and mortality of
      intubated patients. We sought to understand the dynamics of respiratory tract
      microbiota following intubation and the relationship between microbial community
      structure and infection. RESULTS: We enrolled a cohort of 15 subjects with
      respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation from the
      medical intensive care unit at an academic medical center. Oropharyngeal (OP) and
      deep endotracheal (ET) secretions were sampled within 24 h of intubation and
      every 48-72 h thereafter. Bacterial community profiling was carried out by
      purifying DNA, PCR amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences, deep
      sequencing, and bioinformatic community analysis. We compared enrolled subjects
      to a cohort of healthy subjects who had lower respiratory tract sampling by
      bronchoscopy. In contrast to the diverse upper respiratory tract and lower
      respiratory tract microbiota found in healthy controls, critically ill subjects
      had lower initial diversity at both sites. Diversity further diminished over time
      on the ventilator. In several subjects, the bacterial community was dominated by
      a single taxon over multiple time points. The clinical diagnosis of LRTI
      ascertained by chart review correlated with low community diversity and dominance
      of a single taxon. Dominant taxa matched clinical bacterial cultures where
      cultures were obtained and positive. In several cases, dominant taxa included
      bacteria not detected by culture, including Ureaplasma parvum and Enterococcus
      faecalis. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal analysis of respiratory tract microbiota in
      critically ill patients provides insight into the pathogenesis and diagnosis of
      LRTI. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of endotracheal aspirate samples holds promise for
      expanded pathogen identification.

PMID- 26865053
TI  - Erratum to: Potential of carbon nanotubes in algal biotechnology.

PMID- 26865051
TI  - Functional TRPV2 and TRPV4 channels in human cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cells.
AB  - The cellular physiology and biology of human cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cells
      has not been extensively characterized and remains an area of active research.
      This study investigates the functional expression of transient receptor potential
      vanilloid (TRPV) and possible roles for this ion channel in regulating
      proliferation and migration of human cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cells. We found
      that genes coding for TRPV2 and TRPV4 channels and their proteins are
      significantly expressed in human c-kit(+) cardiac stem cells. Probenecid, an
      activator of TRPV2, induced an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(2+) i ), an
      effect that may be attenuated or abolished by the TRPV2 blocker ruthenium red.
      The TRPV4 channel activator 4alpha-phorbol 12-13-dicaprinate induced Ca(2+) i
      oscillations, which can be inhibited by the TRPV4 blocker RN-1734. The alteration
      of Ca(2+) i by probenecid or 4alpha-phorbol 12-13-dicprinate was dramatically
      inhibited in cells infected with TRPV2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or TRPV4 shRNA.
      Silencing TRPV2, but not TRPV4, significantly reduced cell proliferation by
      arresting cells at the G0/G1 boundary of the cell cycle. Cell migration was
      reduced by silencing TRPV2 or TRPV4. Western blot revealed that silencing TRPV2
      decreased expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, pERK1/2 and pAkt, whereas silencing
      TRPV4 only reduced pAkt expression. Our results demonstrate for the first time
      that functional TRPV2 and TRPV4 channels are abundantly expressed in human
      cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cells. TRPV2 channels, but not TRPV4 channels,
      participate in regulating cell cycle progression; moreover, both TRPV2 and TRPV4
      are involved in migration of human cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cells.

PMID- 26865054
TI  - Deformation and internal stress in a red blood cell as it is driven through a
      slit by an incoming flow.
AB  - To understand the deformation and internal stress of a red blood cell when it is
      pushed through a slit by an incoming flow, we conduct a numerical investigation
      by combining a fluid-cell interaction model based on boundary-integral equations
      with a multiscale structural model of the cell membrane that takes into account
      the detailed molecular architecture of this biological system. Our results
      confirm the existence of cell 'infolding', during which part of the membrane is
      inwardly bent to form a concave region. The time histories and distributions of
      area deformation, shear deformation, and contact pressure during and after the
      translocation are examined. Most interestingly, it is found that in the recovery
      phase after the translocation significant dissociation pressure may develop
      between the cytoskeleton and the lipid bilayer. The magnitude of this pressure is
      closely related to the locations of the dimple elements during the transit. Large
      dissociation pressure in certain cases suggests the possibility of mechanically
      induced structural remodeling and structural damage such as vesiculation. With
      quantitative knowledge about the stability of intra-protein, inter-protein and
      protein-to-lipid linkages under dynamic loads, it will be possible to achieve
      numerical prediction of these processes. 

PMID- 26865052
TI  - ITF2357 transactivates Id3 and regulate TGFbeta/BMP7 signaling pathways to
      attenuate corneal fibrosis.
AB  - Corneal fibrosis is often seen in patients with ocular trauma and infection that
      compromises corneal transparency resulting in vision loss. Treatment strategies
      including NSAIDs, steroids, MMC and corneal transplants have shown tremendous
      success but with several side effects and cellular toxicity. Histone deacetylase
      inhibitors (HDACi) have been shown to inhibit corneal fibrosis via TGFbeta
      signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated safety, efficacy and mechanism
      of action of a HDACi, ITF2357 in TGFbeta-stimulated in vitro primary human cornea
      stromal fibroblasts (pHCSFs) and in vivo in a photorefractive keratectomy-treated
      rabbit model of corneal fibrosis. We found that in vivo ITF2357 decreased
      collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, integrin alphaVbeta3 expression with a
      reduction in corneal haze. In addition, ITF2357 reduced myofibroblast formation,
      suppressed phosphorylation of Smad proteins in TGFbeta pathway and inhibited key
      responsive protein, P4HA1 involved in pro-collagen synthesis. Treatment of pHCSFs
      with ITF2357 activated BMP7 levels and expressed all the members of inhibitor of
      differentiation proteins (Id1-Id4), however, it failed to rescue TGFbeta-driven
      transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in the presence of siRNA
      specific to Id3. We conclude that ITF2357 is a potential anti-fibrotic drug that
      exerts its action via activation of Id3, a downstream target of TGFbeta/BMP7
      signaling pathways. 

PMID- 26865055
TI  - Resection of colorectal liver metastases in the elderly-Is it justified?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Liver resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM)
      may necessitate large metabolic and physiologic reserve. As the population ages,
      resection of CRLM is increasingly required in the elderly. We assessed the safety
      and efficacy of these operations. METHODS: Between February 2010 and 2015, 174
      patients underwent liver resection of CRLM. Fifty-four and 120 patients were over
      and under the age of 70 at the time of surgery, respectively (mean ages: 76 +/- 4
      and 56.5 +/- 9 years). Patient and tumor characteristics, perioperative, and long
      term outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Elderly patients had increased rates of IHD
      (18.5% versus 6.6%, P = 0.0002), COPD (9.2% versus 4.1%, P = 0.01), and DM (30%
      versus 14%, P = 0.02). Operative time was shorter in elderly patients (222 +/-
      109 versus 261 +/- 110 min; P = 0.04). Intraoperative blood loss was comparable.
      The rate of minor postoperative complications was similar between groups, but
      elderly patients had higher rate of major complications (11.1% versus 2.5%, P <
      0.0001). One elderly patient died following surgery (1.8%). Length of hospital
      stay was similar between groups. No difference in 3-year survival was
      demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Although associated with a small increase in
      postoperative morbidity and mortality, liver resection may be performed safely
      and effectively in carefully selected elderly patients. J. Surg. Oncol.
      2016;113:485-488. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26865056
TI  - Organ-specific antibodies in LADA patients for the prediction of insulin
      dependence.
AB  - AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to define the frequency of
      organ-specific and non-organ-specific autoantibodies in a cohort of Latent
      Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) patients and to test whether multiple
      antibodies positivity could be a predictor of early insulin dependence. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: We enrolled 210 LADA and 210 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D)
      patients. In all subjects anti-islet antigen-2 (IA-2Ab), anti-thyroperoxidase
      (TPOAb), anti-zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8Ab), anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-parietal cell
      (APCA), anti-smooth muscle (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA), anti-liver kidney
      microsomes (LKM), and anti-reticulin (ARA) circulating antibodies were assessed.
      RESULTS: The frequency of TPOAb, ZnT8Ab, APCA, and IA-2Ab positivity was,
      respectively, detected in 40.0%, 32.4%, 24.7%, and 9.5% of LADA patients, whereas
      their frequency was significantly lower in T2D patients (11.4%, 1.9%, 9.5%, and
      0.0%, respectively, p < 0.001). The frequency of ANA was the same in both groups
      whereas the frequency of ASMA, ARA, AMA, and LKM was very low (range 0.0-3.3%).
      The presence of TPOAb associated with ZnT8Ab, IA-2Ab, or APCA allows one to
      predict the progression of disease with a high specificity but low sensibility.
      CONCLUSIONS: LADA patients show an increased frequency of organ- and non-organ
      specific antibodies. Consequently, a screening is worthwhile in these patients.
      The simultaneous presence of TPOAb with ZnT8, IA-2Ab, or APCA may help
      differentiate clinical phenotypes and predict faster insulin dependence in LADA
      patients.

PMID- 26865058
TI  - Copper-catalyzed oxidative carbon-heteroatom bond formation: a recent update.
AB  - This review updates recent advances in Cu-catalyzed (anaerobic) oxidative carbon
      heteroatom bond formation on sp(3)- and sp(2)-C-H bonds as well as alkenes,
      classified according to the types of stoichiometric oxidants. 

PMID- 26865057
TI  - Combined use of nitrification inhibitor and struvite crystallization to reduce
      the NH3 and N2O emissions during composting.
AB  - Struvite crystallization (SCP) is combined with a nitrification inhibitor
      (dicyandiamide, DCD) to mitigate the NH3 and N2O emission during composting. The
      MgO and H3PO4 were added at a rate of 15% (mole/mole) of initial nitrogen, and
      the DCD was added at rates of 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10% (w/w) of initial
      nitrogen respectively. Results showed that the combination use of SCP and DCD was
      phytotoxin free. The SCP could significantly reduce NH3 losses by 45-53%, but not
      the DCD. The DCD significantly inhibits nitrification when the content was higher
      than 50mgkg(-1), and that could reduce the N2O emission by 76.1-77.6%. The DCD
      degraded fast during the thermophilic phase, as the nitrification will be
      inhibited by the high temperature and high free ammonia content in this stage,
      the DCD was suggested to be applied in the maturing periods by 2.5% of initial
      nitrogen. 

PMID- 26865059
TI  - Amyloid properties of the leader peptide of variant B cystatin C: implications
      for Alzheimer and macular degeneration.
AB  - Variant B (VB) of cystatin C has a mutation in its signal peptide (A25T), which
      interferes with its processing leading to reduced secretion and partial retention
      in the vicinity of the mitochondria. There are genetic evidences of the
      association of VB with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular
      degeneration (AMD). Here, we investigated aggregation and amyloid propensities of
      unprocessed VB combining computational and in vitro studies. Aggregation
      predictors revealed the presence of four aggregation-prone regions, with a strong
      one at the level of the signal peptide, which indeed formed toxic aggregates and
      mature amyloid fibrils in solution. In light of these results, we propose for the
      first time the role of the signal peptide in pathogenesis of AD and AMD. 

PMID- 26865061
TI  - Qualitative research and The BMJ.

PMID- 26865060
TI  - The Antiaging Gene Klotho Regulates Proliferation and Differentiation of Adipose
      Derived Stem Cells.
AB  - Klotho was originally discovered as an aging-suppressor gene. The purpose of this
      study was to investigate whether secreted Klotho (SKL) affects the proliferation
      and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). RT-PCR and Western
      blot analysis showed that short-form Klotho was expressed in mouse ADSCs. The
      Klotho gene mutation KL(-/-) significantly decreased proliferation of ADSCs and
      expression of pluripotent transcription factors (Nanog, Sox-2, and Oct-4) in
      mice. The adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs was also decreased in KL(-/-) mice.
      Incubation with Klotho-deficient medium decreased ADSC proliferation, pluripotent
      transcription factor levels, and adipogenic differentiation, which is similar to
      what was found in KL(-/-) mice. These results indicate that Klotho deficiency
      suppresses ADSC proliferation and differentiation. Interestingly, treatment with
      recombinant SKL protein rescued the Klotho deficiency-induced impairment in ADSC
      proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. SKL also regulated ADSCs'
      differentiation to other cell lineages (osteoblasts, myofibroblasts), indicating
      that SKL maintains stemness of ADSCs. It is intriguing that overexpression of SKL
      significantly increased PPAR-gamma expression and lipid formation in ADSCs
      following adipogenic induction, indicating enhanced adipogenic differentiation.
      Overexpression of SKL inhibited expression of TGFbeta1 and its downstream
      signaling mediator Smad2/3. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that SKL
      is essential to the maintenance of normal proliferation and differentiation in
      ADSCs. Klotho regulates adipogenic differentiation in ADSCs, likely via
      inhibition of TGFbeta1 and activation of PPAR-gamma. Stem Cells 2016;34:1615
      1625.

PMID- 26865064
TI  - Increased nuchal translucency and pregnancy outcome: a retrospective study of
      1063 consecutive singleton pregnancies in a single referral institution.

PMID- 26865063
TI  - Comment on "Ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy: prenatal diagnosis and
      pathology".

PMID- 26865062
TI  - Strain-transcending immune response generated by chimeras of the malaria vaccine
      candidate merozoite surface protein 2.
AB  - MSP2 is an intrinsically disordered protein that is abundant on the merozoite
      surface and essential to the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Naturally-acquired
      antibody responses to MSP2 are biased towards dimorphic sequences within the
      central variable region of MSP2 and have been linked to naturally-acquired
      protection from malaria. In a phase IIb study, an MSP2-containing vaccine induced
      an immune response that reduced parasitemias in a strain-specific manner. A
      subsequent phase I study of a vaccine that contained both dimorphic forms of MSP2
      induced antibodies that exhibited functional activity in vitro. We have assessed
      the contribution of the conserved and variable regions of MSP2 to the generation
      of a strain-transcending antibody response by generating MSP2 chimeras that
      included conserved and variable regions of the 3D7 and FC27 alleles. Robust anti
      MSP2 antibody responses targeting both conserved and variable regions were
      generated in mice, although the fine specificity and the balance of responses to
      these regions differed amongst the constructs tested. We observed significant
      differences in antibody subclass distribution in the responses to these chimeras.
      Our results suggest that chimeric MSP2 antigens can elicit a broad immune
      response suitable for protection against different strains of P. falciparum. 

PMID- 26865066
TI  - Progression of gray matter atrophy in seizure-free patients with temporal lobe
      epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the presence and progression of gray matter (GM)
      reduction in seizure-free patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: We
      enrolled 39 consecutive TLE patients, seizure-free for at least 2 years--20 with
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs of hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS), 19 with
      normal MRI (TLE-NL), and 74 healthy controls. For longitudinal analysis, we
      included individuals who had a second MRI with minimum interval of 18 months: 21
      patients (10 TLE-HS, 11 TLE-NL) and 11 controls. Three-dimensional (3D) T1 
      weighted images acquired in 3 Tesla MRI were analyzed with voxel-based
      morphometry (VBM). The images of patients with right-sided interictal
      epileptogenic zone (EZ) were right-left flipped, as well as a comparable
      proportion of controls. Cross-sectional analysis: The patients' images from each
      group were compared to controls to investigate differences in GM volumes.
      Longitudinal analysis: The first and second images were compared in each group to
      look for decreased GM volume. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analysis: Patients with
      TLE-HS had diffuse GM atrophy, including hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus,
      insula, frontal, and occipital lobes ipsilateral to EZ, bilateral thalamus and
      contralateral orbitofrontal gyrus, and caudate. In contrast, TLE-NL group did not
      present significant differences compared to controls. Longitudinal analysis: TLE
      HS presented progressive GM reduction in ipsilateral insula and occipital lobe,
      contralateral motor area, and bilateral temporal and frontal lobes. TLE-NL had GM
      progression in ipsilateral hypothalamus and parietal lobe, contralateral
      cerebellum, and bilateral temporal lobe. Controls did not show changes in GM
      volume between MRIs. SIGNIFICANCE: Diffuse extrahippocampal GM atrophy is present
      in seizure-free patients with TLE-HS. In addition, there is progressive GM
      atrophy in patients with and without HS. These results demonstrate that not only
      ongoing seizures are involved in the progression of GM atrophy. An underlying
      pathologic mechanism could be responsible for progressive brain volume loss in
      TLE patients even in seizure-free periods.

PMID- 26865065
TI  - Associations of sex steroid hormones with mortality in women with breast cancer.
AB  - Epidemiological studies have demonstrated associations between circulating levels
      of sex steroid hormones and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
      However, data on associations with breast cancer survival are limited. We
      measured levels of estradiol, estrone, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding
      globulin (SHBG), in serum collected on average 30 months after diagnosis from 358
      postmenopausal women diagnosed with stage I-IIIA breast cancer between 1995 and
      1998 who participated in a multiethnic, prospective cohort study. Women were
      followed through December, 2012. We evaluated associations between log
      transformed analytes and breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality fitting
      multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Over a median of 14.5 years of
      follow-up, 102 deaths occurred; 43 of these were due to breast cancer. In models
      adjusted for ethnicity/study site, age, body mass index, and tumor stage,
      increased levels of log-transformed SHBG were associated with reduced risk of
      both breast cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio, HR 0.48; 95 % confidence
      interval, CI 0.26-0.89) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.64, 95 % CI 0.43-0.97).
      There were no associations between levels of estradiol, estrone, or testosterone
      for either endpoint. In subgroup analyses, after correction for multiple testing,
      increased estrone was significantly associated with reduced risk for breast
      cancer-specific mortality among participants with ER-negative tumors (HR 0.16, 95
      % CI 0.05-0.63) but not among participants with ER-positive tumors. Increased
      serum levels of SHBG were associated with decreased risk of breast cancer
      specific and all-cause mortality in women with breast cancer. These results
      should be confirmed in larger breast cancer survivor cohorts. 

PMID- 26865068
TI  - Unusual Case of Left Bronchial Compression by Aneurysmal Pulmonary Arteries in a
      Child With Atrial Septal Defect.
AB  - We report an uncommon case of large ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD)
      with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, with associated aneurysmal
      dilatation of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) leading to compression of the left
      main bronchus and collapse of the entire left lung in a 15-month-old female
      child. The patient was managed by surgical closure of the ASD, translocation of
      the right PA anterior to the aorta with PA aneurysmorrhaphy. Left bronchial
      compression was relieved with complete lung expansion on the third postoperative
      day. 

PMID- 26865067
TI  - Integration of Hybrid and Single Ventricle Rehabilitation Techniques to Treat a
      Neonate After Iatrogenic Mitral Injury.
AB  - Neonatal critical aortic stenosis is life threatening and requires intervention
      shortly after birth. Early percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty is generally
      considered to be an effective way to obtain reliable prograde flow. We describe
      the integrated use of hybrid, open surgical, and single ventricle rehabilitation
      techniques to successfully treat a neonate with borderline left-sided cardiac
      structures, who sustained a complication from balloon aortic valvuloplasty. 

PMID- 26865069
TI  - Totally Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection With Obliterated Vertical Vein.
AB  - A rare variant of totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection with obliterated
      infradiaphragmatic vertical vein is described. A 20-day-old male child weighing
      2.2 kg was admitted with cyanosis and tachypnea. Pulmonary venous return was
      found to be entirely through a tortuous pulmonary-to-systemic venous collateral
      channel, as the descending vertical vein ended blindly. 

PMID- 26865070
TI  - Contrasting Patterns of Evolutionary Diversification in the Olfactory Repertoires
      of Reptile and Bird Genomes.
AB  - Olfactory receptors (ORs) are membrane proteins that mediate the detection of
      odorants in the environment, and are the largest vertebrate gene family.
      Comparative studies of mammalian genomes indicate that OR repertoires vary
      widely, even between closely related lineages, as a consequence of frequent OR
      gains and losses. Several studies also suggest that mammalian OR repertoires are
      influenced by life history traits. Sauropsida is a diverse group of vertebrates
      group that is the sister group to mammals, and includes birds, testudines,
      squamates, and crocodilians, and represents a natural system to explore
      predictions derived from mammalian studies. In this study, we analyzed olfactory
      receptor (OR) repertoire variation among several representative species and found
      that the number of intact OR genes in sauropsid genomes analyzed ranged over an
      order of magnitude, from 108 in the green anole to over 1,000 in turtles. Our
      results suggest that different sauropsid lineages have highly divergent OR
      repertoire composition that derive from lineage-specific combinations of gene
      expansions, losses, and retentions of ancestral OR genes. These differences also
      suggest that varying degrees of adaption related to life history have shaped the
      unique OR repertoires observed across sauropsid lineages. 

PMID- 26865072
TI  - A low rate of multiple maternity for pregnant male northern pipefish Syngnathus
      fuscus.
AB  - Microsatellite parentage analysis was applied to 22 broods of the northern
      pipefish Syngnathus fuscus for the first time. The majority of males mated
      singly, 23% of males mated with two females, and no males mated with more than
      two females. The arrangement of embryos within the brood pouch of multiply mated
      males reflects a previously undocumented fill pattern where full-sib groups are
      segregated within the pouch by both right and left sides as well as anterior and
      posterior ends. 

PMID- 26865073
TI  - Molecular Epidemiological Characterization and Health Burden of Thalassemias in
      the Chaoshan Region, People's Republic of China.
AB  - Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent inherited disease in southern China.
      However, there have been only a few epidemiological studies of thalassemia in the
      Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China (PRC). A total
      of 6231 unrelated subjects in two main geographical cities of the Chaoshan region
      was analyzed for thalassemia. Seven hundred and thirty-six cases of suspected
      thalassemia carriers with microcytosis [mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <82.0 fL]
      were found by complete blood cell (CBC) count, and were tested by reverse dot
      blot gene chip to reveal a total of 331 mutant chromosomes, including 278 alpha
      thalassemia (alpha-thal) alleles and 53 beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) alleles. The
      most common alpha-thal mutations were the Southeast Asian (- -(SEA)), followed by
      the -alpha(3.7) (rightward) and -alpha(4.2) (leftward) deletions. The two most
      common beta-thal mutations were HBB: c.316-197C>T and HBB: c.126_129delCTTT,
      accounting for 69.81% of the beta-thal defects in the studied individuals. In
      addition, a rare mutation, Cap +1 (A>C) (HBB: c.-50A>C) was described for the
      first time in the Chaoshan region. Our results gave a heterozygote frequency of
      5.31% for common alpha- and beta-thal in the Chaoshan region, and also indicated
      a higher prevalence of thalassemia with a heterozygote frequency of 6.29% in
      Chaozhou, followed by Shantou (3.37%). This study provided a detailed prevalence
      and molecular characterization of thalassemia in the Chaoshan region, and will be
      valuable for developing a strategy for prevention of thalassemia and reducing
      excessive health care costs in this area. 

PMID- 26865071
TI  - Conservation, Duplication, and Divergence of Five Opsin Genes in Insect
      Evolution.
AB  - Opsin proteins covalently bind to small molecular chromophores and each protein
      chromophore complex is sensitive to particular wavelengths of light. Multiple
      opsins with different wavelength absorbance peaks are required for color vision.
      Comparing opsin responses is challenging at low light levels, explaining why
      color vision is often lost in nocturnal species. Here, we investigated opsin
      evolution in 27 phylogenetically diverse insect species including several
      transitions between photic niches (nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular). We find
      widespread conservation of five distinct opsin genes, more than commonly
      considered. These comprise one c-opsin plus four r-opsins (long wavelength
      sensitive or LWS, blue sensitive, ultra violet [UV] sensitive and the often
      overlooked Rh7 gene). Several recent opsin gene duplications are also detected.
      The diversity of opsin genes is consistent with color vision in diurnal,
      crepuscular, and nocturnal insects. Tests for positive selection in relation to
      photic niche reveal evidence for adaptive evolution in UV-sensitive opsins in day
      flying insects in general, and in LWS opsins of day-flying Lepidoptera
      specifically. 

PMID- 26865074
TI  - C-reactive protein increases with gestational age during pregnancy among Chinese
      women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) in relation
      to gestational weeks during pregnancy among Chinese women. METHODS: From a
      randomized control trial of prenatal supplementation with folic acid, iron-folic
      acid, and multiple micronutrients in China, we examined 834 pregnant women with
      CRP measured initially between 5 and 20 weeks and at follow-up between 28 and 32
      weeks gestation. We calculated and plotted CRP geometric means by gestational
      weeks. The same analysis was repeated for women who had normal pregnancies (624
      women) by excluding women with stillbirth, preterm, small for gestational age,
      body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2) or >30 kg/m(2) at enrollment, and hypertension or
      anemia during pregnancy. RESULTS: We observed a significant positive trend
      between log-transformed CRP and gestational age from 5 to 20 weeks and from 28 to
      32 weeks both in the full sample and in the subset of women who had normal
      pregnancies. CRP geometric mean was 0.81 mg/l at 5-7 weeks of gestation, 2.85
      mg/l at 19-20 weeks of gestation, and 3.89 mg/l at 32 weeks of gestation. A
      similar increasing trend in the CRP median or percentage of elevated CRP were
      also observed. CONCLUSION: We concluded that CRP increased with gestational age
      among healthy Chinese women who delivered healthy infants. Am. J. Hum. Biol.
      28:574-579, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26865075
TI  - Reconstruction of body height from the skeleton: Testing a dozen different
      methods for consistency of their results.
AB  - SUMMARY: There are a number of methods of physical anthropology available to
      reconstruct living stature from skeletal remains. Some methods use dimensions of
      just a few bones, together with regression equations (mathematical, see Table 1:
      1-7), while other methods require the whole skeleton and simply add the heights
      of specific skeletal components (anatomical, see Table 1: 8-11). This study
      investigates the consistency that mathematical and anatomical methods can provide
      in the determination of stature from skeletal remains. A significant difference
      was found between average heights of the same 20 individuals determined from
      seven mathematical and four anatomical methods (paired t-test, p < 0.001, df =
      19). Mathematical methods provided taller height estimates than anatomical
      methods; the average difference was 47 mm. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated
      significant differences in the heights determined by all methods (p < 0.0001).
      Analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the heights determined
      by various mathematical methods (p < 0.03), whereas there were no significant
      differences in the heights amongst various anatomical methods (p < 0.77). When
      simple proportions of the length of the long bones to stature are used for
      reconstruction (see Table 1: 12), a bias is shown by mathematical methods to
      overestimate statures of short individuals and underestimate statures of taller
      individuals. To reduce this bias of linear regressions, we suggest that alternate
      methods, such as reduced major axis or organic correlation, should be employed
      (see Table 1: 13-15).

PMID- 26865076
TI  - Modeling the isothermal inactivation curves of Listeria innocua CECT 910 in a
      vegetable beverage under low-temperature treatments and different pH levels.
AB  - Thermal inactivation kinetics of Listeria innocua CECT 910 inoculated in a
      vegetable beverage at three pH conditions (4.25, 4.75, and 5.20), four levels of
      temperature (50, 55, 60, 65C), and different treatment times (0-75 min) were
      obtained. Survival curves did not follow a log-linear relationship and
      consequently were fitted to various mathematical models: Weibull, Geeraerd, Cerf
      with shoulder, and the modified Gompertz equation. Results indicated that the
      best model for the treatment conditions was the modified Gompertz equation, which
      provides the best goodness-of-fit and the lowest Akaike information criterion
      value. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the most influential factors affecting
      the final microbial load were temperature and time in the case of the higher
      temperature level (65C) and time in the case of the lower temperature level
      (50C). 

PMID- 26865077
TI  - Physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional quality of fresh-cut "Rojo Brillante"
      persimmon affected by maturity stage and antibrowning agents.
AB  - To prevent enzymatic browning of fresh-cut 'Rojo Brillante' persimmon, different
      combinations of ascorbic acid (AA) and citric acid (CA) with calcium chloride
      (CaCl2) were tested in fruit harvested at two maturity stages (MS1 and MS2).
      Color, firmness, sensory quality, total vitamin C, radical scavenging activity,
      total phenolic content, and carotenoids were evaluated over nine days of storage
      at 5 C. Antibrowning dips reduced enzymatic browning if compared with the control
      samples. Selecting fruits with good firmness and the addition of 10 g/l CaCl2
      help prevent loss of firmness of fresh-cut "Rojo Brillante" persimmons treated
      with acidic solutions as antibrowning agents to control enzymatic browning. The
      limit of marketability of the persimmon fruit processed at MS1 was significantly
      reduced by the burst of the disorder known as "flesh browning," and only the
      samples treated with 10 g/l CA + 10 g/l CaCl2 maintained a limit of marketability
      close to seven days. At MS2, all the antibrowning solutions allowed a limit of
      marketability of seven storage days at 5 C. Nutritional quality was not affected
      by either antibrowning dips or cutting processes, but MS at harvest was.

PMID- 26865078
TI  - A Thermo- and Mechanoresponsive Cyano-Substituted Oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)
      Derivative with Five Emissive States.
AB  - Multiresponsive materials that display predefined photoluminescence color changes
      upon exposure to different stimuli are attractive candidates for advanced sensing
      schemes. Herein, we report a cyano-substituted oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (cyano
      OPV) derivative that forms five different solvent-free solid-state molecular
      assemblies, luminescence properties of which change upon thermal and mechanical
      stimulation. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis suggested that tolyl groups
      introduced at the termini of solubilizing side-chains of the cyano-OPV play a
      pivotal role in its solid-state arrangement. Viewed more broadly, this report
      shows that the introduction of competing intermolecular interactions into excimer
      forming chromophores is a promising design strategy for multicolored thermo- and
      mechanoresponsive luminescent materials. 

PMID- 26865079
TI  - Comprehensive description of blood microbiome from healthy donors assessed by 16S
      targeted metagenomic sequencing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that the blood of healthy humans is not
      as sterile as previously supposed. The objective of this study was to provide a
      comprehensive description of the microbiome present in different fractions of the
      blood of healthy individuals. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted
      in 30 healthy blood donors to the French national blood collection center
      (Etablissement Francais du Sang). We have set up a 16S rDNA quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction assay as well as a 16S targeted metagenomics sequencing
      pipeline specifically designed to analyze the blood microbiome, which we have
      used on whole blood as well as on different blood fractions (buffy coat [BC], red
      blood cells [RBCs], and plasma). RESULTS: Most of the blood bacterial DNA is
      located in the BC (93.74%), and RBCs contain more bacterial DNA (6.23%) than the
      plasma (0.03%). The distribution of 16S DNA is different for each fraction and
      spreads over a relatively broad range among donors. At the phylum level, blood
      fractions contain bacterial DNA mostly from the Proteobacteria phylum (more than
      80%) but also from Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. At deeper
      taxonomic levels, there are striking differences between the bacterial profiles
      of the different blood fractions. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that a diversified
      microbiome exists in healthy blood. This microbiome has most likely an important
      physiologic role and could be implicated in certain transfusion-transmitted
      bacterial infections. In this regard, the amount of 16S bacterial DNA or the
      microbiome profile could be monitored to improve the safety of the blood supply.

PMID- 26865080
TI  - A novel subset of enteric neurons revealed by ptf1a:GFP in the developing
      zebrafish enteric nervous system.
AB  - The enteric nervous system, the largest division of the peripheral nervous
      system, is derived from vagal neural crest cells that invade and populate the
      entire length of the gut to form diverse neuronal subtypes. Here, we identify a
      novel population of neurons within the enteric nervous system of zebrafish larvae
      that express the transgenic marker ptf1a:GFP within the midgut. Genetic lineage
      analysis reveals that enteric ptf1a:GFP(+) cells are derived from the neural
      crest and that most ptf1a:GFP(+) neurons express the neurotransmitter 5HT,
      demonstrating that they are serotonergic. This transgenic line, Tg(ptf1a:GFP),
      provides a novel neuronal marker for a subpopulation of neurons within the
      enteric nervous system, and highlights the possibility that Ptf1a may act as an
      important transcription factor for enteric neuron development.

PMID- 26865081
TI  - Susceptibility profile and epidemiological cut-off values of Cryptococcus
      neoformans species complex from Argentina.
AB  - Epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) based on minimal inhibitory concentration
      (MIC) distribution have been recently proposed for some antifungal
      drug/Cryptococcus neoformans combinations. However, these ECVs vary according to
      the species studied, being serotypes and the geographical origin of strains,
      variables to be considered. The aims were to define the wild-type (WT) population
      of the C. neoformans species complex (C. neoformans) isolated from patients
      living in Argentina, and to propose ECVs for six antifungal drugs. A total of 707
      unique C. neoformans isolates obtained from HIV patients suffering cryptococcal
      meningitis were studied. The MIC of amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole,
      itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole was determined according to the EDef
      7.2 (EUCAST) reference document. The MIC distribution, MIC50 , MIC90 and ECV for
      each of these drugs were calculated. The highest ECV, which included >=95% of the
      WT population modelled, was observed for flucytosine and fluconazole (32 MUg ml(
      1) each). For amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole, the
      ECVs were: 0.5, 0.5, 0.5 and 0.06 MUg ml(-1) respectively. The ECVs determined in
      this study may aid in identifying the C. neoformans strains circulating in
      Argentina with decreased susceptibility to the antifungal drugs tested. 

PMID- 26865082
TI  - A Cognitive-Affective Scale for Hurricane Risk Perception.
AB  - The aim of this study was to develop a reliable and valid measure of hurricane
      risk perception. The utility of such a measure lies in the need to understand how
      people make decisions when facing an evacuation order. This study included
      participants located within a 15-mile buffer of the Gulf and southeast Atlantic
      U.S. coasts. The study was executed as a three-wave panel with mail surveys in
      2010-2012 (T0 baseline N = 629, 56%; T1 retention N = 427, 75%; T2 retention N =
      350, 89%). An inventory based on the psychometric model was developed to
      discriminate cognitive and affective perceptions of hurricane risk, and included
      open-ended responses to solicit additional concepts in the T0 survey. Analysis of
      the T0 data modified the inventory and this revised item set was fielded at T1
      and then replicated at T2 . The resulting scales were assessed for validity
      against existing measures for perception of hurricane risk, dispositional
      optimism, and locus of control. A measure of evacuation expectation was also
      examined as a dependent variable, which was significantly predicted by the new
      measures. The resulting scale was found to be reliable, stable, and largely valid
      against the comparison measures. Despite limitations involving sample size, bias,
      and the strength of some reliabilities, it was concluded that the measure has
      potential to inform approaches to hurricane preparedness efforts and advance
      planning for evacuation messages, and that the measure has good promise to
      generalize to other contexts in natural hazards as well as other domains of risk.

PMID- 26865083
TI  - Does continuous wound infiltration enhance baseline intravenous multimodal
      analgesia after posterior spinal fusion surgery? A randomized, double-blinded,
      placebo-controlled study.
AB  - PURPOSE: There has been a growing interest in continuous local anaesthetic wound
      infiltration as a non-opioid technique for postoperative pain relief. The impact
      of this modality on baseline analgesia after spinal fusion surgery has however
      been inconclusive. We tested whether continuous wound infiltration with
      ropivacaine can enhance postoperative analgesia compared to a baseline
      intravenous multimodal analgesia protocol after spinal fusion surgery. METHODS:
      In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, a multiholed 19
      gauge catheter was placed at the end of the surgical procedure through the wound
      to permit the continuous administration (8 ml/h) of ropivacaine 0.2 %
      (ropivacaine group; n = 19 patients) or saline (control group; n = 20 patients)
      during the first 48 postoperative hours (H48). Both groups received
      intraoperative low-dose ketamine, a combination of acetaminophen, non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drug, and nefopam over the same postoperative period, and
      morphine delivered by a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. RESULTS:
      Morphine consumption was comparable between the two groups both at H48, 38 mg
      (26:52) (median, 25th:75th percentile) (control group) versus 43 mg (19:74)
      (ropivacaine group), and at H24, 18 mg (16:22) versus 22 mg (9:35) respectively.
      Pain scores at rest and during mobilization, quality of postoperative sleep, and
      morphine-related side effects were comparable between the two groups at H24 and
      H48. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that no additional analgesia was provided
      with continuous wound infiltration of ropivacaine compared to a baseline
      intravenous multimodal analgesia protocol after spinal fusion surgery. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01743794.

PMID- 26865084
TI  - Reduced antioxidant capacity and increased subclinical inflammation markers in
      prepubescent obese children and their relationship with nutritional markers and
      metabolic parameters.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There are associations between some inflammatory and oxidative markers
      and obesity in adults, but whether prepubescent children of different weights
      also have such markers has not been studied. We investigated multiple
      inflammatory markers and levels of erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant enzymes in
      prepubescent children of different weights. METHODS: Children aged 2-11 years
      were divided into three groups: 80 were underweight, 90 were obese but otherwise
      healthy, and 80 were healthy age- and sex-matched children of normal-weight. We
      analyzed inflammatory markers and the total oxidant status, total antioxidant
      status (TAS), and total thiol level were also determined, and the oxidative
      stress index was calculated as an indicator of the degree of oxidative stress.
      RESULTS: The obese group exhibited higher levels of fasting glucose, insulin,
      total cholesterol, triglycerides, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin
      resistance (HOMA-IR), and the homeostatic model assessment of beta-cell function
      (HOMA-beta), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, and neutrophil/lymphocyte
      ratio (NLR), as well as lower TAS and total thiol levels than the other two
      groups (all P < 0.001). Moreover, TAS and total thiols were negatively correlated
      with age in the obese group (r = -0.212, P = 0.001; r = -0.231, P < 0.001,
      respectively). CRP levels in plasma were positively correlated with the body mass
      index (BMI), insulin and glucose levels, HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta, WBC and neutrophil
      counts, and the NLR, and were negatively correlated with TAS and total thiol
      levels in the overall studied population. DISCUSSION: The coexistence of
      increased obesity-related subclinical inflammation and decreased antioxidant
      capacity can be observed even in prepubescence, and may eventually increase the
      risk of long-term vascular damage.

PMID- 26865087
TI  - Histologic Evidence of Melanocytes Isolated to the Nail Matrix.

PMID- 26865086
TI  - 68Gallium-DOTATATE PET in meningioma: A reliable predictor of tumor growth rate?
AB  - BACKGROUND: DOTATATE-based radionuclides have added new options in the diagnosis
      and treatment of meningiomas; however, a reliable predictor of tumor growth has
      still not been established. METHODS: We analyzed 64 meningiomas imaged with
      (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET. Tumor growth rates were calculated by volumetric analysis of
      sequential MRI scans. Maximums of standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were
      correlated with tumor growth and covariates. RESULTS: World Health Organization
      (WHO) grades I and II meningiomas showed a correlation of SUVmax and tumor growth
      rate (meningiomas limited to the intracranial compartment: r = 0.757, P < .001,
      and transosseous growing meningiomas: r = 0.819, P = .024). SUVmax was
      significantly higher and the slope of the linear regression significantly steeper
      in transosseous compared with intracranial meningiomas (both P < .001). The
      association remained significant in multivariate analysis, and the prediction of
      tumor growth rate was independent of WHO grade. Anaplastic meningiomas showed no
      significant correlation of SUVmax and tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: (68)Ga-DOTATATE
      PET is a reliable predictor of tumor growth in WHO grades I and II meningiomas
      and provides additional information to conventional cross-sectional imaging
      modalities. Hence, (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET can assist in selecting the time point for
      treatment initiation. Furthermore, meningiomas with fast tumor growth and
      transosseous expansion elicit the highest DOTATATE binding; therefore, they might
      be especially suited for DOTATATE-based therapy.

PMID- 26865088
TI  - General life satisfaction predicts dementia in community living older adults: a
      prospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low life satisfaction predicts adverse outcomes, and may predict
      dementia. The objectives were: (1) to determine if life satisfaction predicts
      dementia over a five year period in those with normal cognition at baseline; and
      (2) to determine if different aspects of life satisfaction differentially predict
      dementia. METHODS: Secondary analysis of an existing population-based cohort
      study with initial assessment in 1991 and follow-up five years later. Initially,
      1,751 adults age 65+ living in the community were sampled from a representative
      sampling frame. Of these, 1,024 were alive and had complete data at time 2, of
      whom 96 were diagnosed with dementia. Life satisfaction was measured using the
      Terrible-Delightful scale, which measures overall life satisfaction on a 7-point
      scale, as well as various aspects of life satisfaction (e.g. friendships,
      finances, etc.) Dementia was diagnosed by clinical examination using DSM-IIIR
      criteria. Logistic regression models were constructed for the outcome of dementia
      at time 2, and adjusted for age, gender, education, and comorbidities. RESULTS:
      Overall life satisfaction predicted dementia five years later, at time 2. The
      unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR; 95% confidence interval) for dementia at time 2 was
      0.72 (0.55, 0.95) per point. The adjusted OR for dementia was 0.70 (0.51, 0.96).
      No individual item on the life satisfaction scale predicted dementia. However,
      the competing risk of mortality was very high for some items. CONCLUSION: A
      global single-item measure of life satisfaction predicts dementia over a five
      year period in older adults without cognitive impairment.

PMID- 26865085
TI  - The Second Brain: Is the Gut Microbiota a Link Between Obesity and Central
      Nervous System Disorders?
AB  - The gut-brain axis is a bi-directional integrated system composed by immune,
      endocrine, and neuronal components by which the gap between the gut microbiota
      and the brain is significantly impacted. An increasing number of different gut
      microbial species are now postulated to regulate brain function in health and
      disease. The westernized diet is hypothesized to be the cause of the current
      obesity levels in many countries, a major socio-economical health problem.
      Experimental and epidemiological evidence suggest that the gut microbiota is
      responsible for significant immunologic, neuronal, and endocrine changes that
      lead to obesity. We hypothesize that the gut microbiota, and changes associated
      with diet, affect the gut-brain axis and may possibly contribute to the
      development of mental illness. In this review, we discuss the links between diet,
      gut dysbiosis, obesity, and immunologic and neurologic diseases that impact brain
      function and behavior. 

PMID- 26865089
TI  - Wnt5a inhibited human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo invasion: implications for
      early placentation and preeclampsia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Wnt5a and Wnt signaling play potential roles in human placental and
      fetal development. The objective of this study is to explore the role of Wnt5a in
      the invasion of the human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo and the probable
      mechanism of early placentation and preeclampsia in which Wnt5a is involved.
      METHODS: Human first trimester villous tissues from normal pregnancies and third
      trimester placentas from pregnancies with or without preeclampsia (PE) were used
      in the detection of the expression and subcellular location of Wnt5a. The human
      trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo was treated with 0-400 ng/ml recombinant Wnt5a
      to investigate the role of Wnt5a in human trophoblast invasion. RESULTS: Human
      first trimester villous is accompanied by the decreased expression of Wnt5a
      compared with term placenta. Upregulated Wnt5a was detected in PE placenta
      compared with the normal control. Wnt5a inhibited the migration and invasion of
      HTR8/SVneo cells with decreased integrin beta1, alpha5 and N-cadherin. Moreover,
      Wnt5a downregulated beta-catenin in HTR8/SVneo cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings
      strongly suggest that Wnt5a inhibits the invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. Decreased
      Wnt5a facilitates early placentation, whereas increased Wnt5a contributes to the
      pathogenesis of PE with insufficient trophoblast invasion. Aberrant Wnt5a may
      function by impairing Wnt non-canonical/beta-catenin signaling pathway in
      trophoblasts.

PMID- 26865090
TI  - Abscisic acid promotes proteasome-mediated degradation of the transcription
      coactivator NPR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Proteasome-mediated turnover of the transcription coactivator NPR1 is pivotal for
      efficient activation of the broad-spectrum plant immune responses known as
      localized acquired resistance (LAR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in
      adjacent and systemic tissues, respectively, and requires the CUL3-based E3
      ligase and its adaptor proteins, NPR3 and NPR4, which are receptors for the
      signaling molecule salicylic acid (SA). It has been shown that SA prevents NPR1
      turnover under non-inducing and LAR/SAR-inducing conditions, but how cellular
      NPR1 homeostasis is maintained remains unclear. Here, we show that the
      phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and SA antagonistically influence cellular NPR1
      protein levels. ABA promotes NPR1 degradation via the CUL3(NPR) (3/) (NPR) (4)
      complex-mediated proteasome pathway, whereas SA may protect NPR1 from ABA
      promoted degradation through phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that
      the timing and strength of SA and ABA signaling are critical in modulating NPR1
      accumulation and target gene expression. Perturbing ABA or SA signaling in
      adjacent tissues alters the temporal dynamic pattern of NPR1 accumulation and
      target gene transcription. Finally, we show that sequential SA and ABA treatment
      leads to dynamic changes in NPR1 protein levels and target gene expression. Our
      results revealed a tight correlation between sequential SA and ABA signaling and
      dynamic changes in NPR1 protein levels and NPR1-dependent transcription in plant
      immune responses. 

PMID- 26865091
TI  - Hydrophilic GO/Fe3O4/Au/PEG nanocomposites for highly selective enrichment of
      glycopeptides.
AB  - GO/Fe3O4/Au/PEG nanocomposites were synthesized via bonding gold nanoparticles on
      magnetic graphene oxide using polyethylenimine as the reducing and immobilizing
      reagent, followed by thiol-terminal polyethylene glycol immobilization. With the
      use of this nanocomposite, 255 glycopeptides, mapped to 127 different
      glycoproteins, were identified from human serum, demonstrating its great
      potential for glycosylation analysis. 

PMID- 26865093
TI  - Hope is a four-letter word: riding the emotional rollercoaster of illness
      management.
AB  - In this autoethnography, I explore the process and emotional experience of trying
      a new drug to improve my quality of life. In so doing, I synthesise personal
      history with extant research on chronic illness by analysing ways in which my
      experiences reflect and reject social norms. I also incorporate perspectives from
      research on aspirations and attainment, and the mental health consequences of
      cyclical disappointment. By weaving together lessons from each of these
      literatures, I articulate an integrative psychosocial understanding of the micro
      level processes and experiences involved in illness management as well as the
      ways that experiences of illness management may require integration of varied
      sociological insights concerning health. In closing, I draw out theoretical
      implications for understanding the integration and variation of insights from
      many areas of health research in the lived experiences of people with chronic
      conditions. A Virtual Abstract of this article can be seen at:
      https://youtu.be/5aoaWGItDgM.

PMID- 26865094
TI  - A Systematic Cell-Based Analysis of Localization of Predicted Drosophila
      Peroxisomal Proteins.
AB  - Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles found in almost all eukaryotic cells.
      They perform specialized biochemical functions that vary with organism, tissue or
      cell type. Mutations in human genes required for the assembly of peroxisomes
      result in a spectrum of diseases called the peroxisome biogenesis disorders. A
      previous sequence-based comparison of the predicted proteome of Drosophila
      melanogaster (the fruit fly) to human proteins identified 82 potential homologues
      of proteins involved in peroxisomal biogenesis, homeostasis or metabolism.
      However, the subcellular localization of these proteins relative to the
      peroxisome was not determined. Accordingly, we tested systematically the
      localization and selected functions of epitope-tagged proteins in Drosophila
      Schneider 2 cells to determine the subcellular localization of 82 potential
      Drosophila peroxisomal protein homologues. Excluding the Pex proteins, 34
      proteins localized primarily to the peroxisome, 8 showed dual localization to the
      peroxisome and other structures, and 26 localized exclusively to organelles other
      than the peroxisome. Drosophila is a well-developed laboratory animal often used
      for discovery of gene pathways, including those linked to human disease. Our work
      establishes a basic understanding of peroxisome protein localization in
      Drosophila. This will facilitate use of Drosophila as a genetically tractable,
      multicellular model system for studying key aspects of human peroxisome disease. 

PMID- 26865095
TI  - Cutaneous Manifestations of Thymoma-associated Multi-organ Autoimmunity: A Fatal
      Sign.

PMID- 26865097
TI  - Selective binding modes and allosteric inhibitory effects of lupane triterpenes
      on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B.
AB  - Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been recognized as a promising
      therapeutic target for treating obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers for over a
      decade. Previous drug design has focused on inhibitors targeting the active site
      of PTP1B. However, this has not been successful because the active site is
      positively charged and conserved among the protein tyrosine phosphatases.
      Therefore, it is important to develop PTP1B inhibitors with alternative
      inhibitory strategies. Using computational studies including molecular docking,
      molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations, we found
      that lupane triterpenes selectively inhibited PTP1B by targeting its more
      hydrophobic and less conserved allosteric site. These findings were verified
      using two enzymatic assays. Furthermore, the cell culture studies showed that
      lupeol and betulinic acid inhibited the PTP1B activity stimulated by TNFalpha in
      neurons. Our study indicates that lupane triterpenes are selective PTP1B
      allosteric inhibitors with significant potential for treating those diseases with
      elevated PTP1B activity. 

PMID- 26865099
TI  - Physicians' attitudes towards androgen replacement therapy for male and female
      sexual dysfunction.
AB  - Androgen deficiency syndrome is a commonly diagnosed condition. The aim of this
      study was to investigate common clinical practices of specialists in the field of
      sexual medicine regarding androgen replacement treatment for men and women.
      Attendees of the 16th Annual Congress of the European Society of Sexual Medicine
      held in January 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey, were asked to participate in a survey
      during the congress days. A 24-item self-report, closed-question questionnaire
      was distributed. Three sections were accessed: sociodemographic data,
      professional background and personal practice patterns regarding androgen
      substitution in men and women. A total of 133 physicians (mean age 47 years;
      range 25-79) completed the survey. Responses were inconsistent regarding the lab
      tests used for primary evaluation of male androgen deficiency. The majority of
      participants (62%) recommended testosterone replacement therapy for symptomatic
      men with testosterone levels <8 nmol l(-1) (231 ng dl(-1)). Similarly, most
      physicians (88%) recognized a correlation between libido and testosterone levels
      in women. Only 42% and 53% reported they would prescribe testosterone to women
      with low libido, premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively. This survey
      showed discrepancies among physicians regarding testosterone replacement therapy
      for men and women.

PMID- 26865098
TI  - Lessons learned from cancer prevention studies with nutrients and non-nutritive
      dietary constituents.
AB  - Epidemiological studies have observed the association between dietary patterns
      and the risk of certain types of cancer. Extensive studies have been conducted on
      the cancer preventive activities of constituents from food and beverages. While
      laboratory research has shown impressive and promising results, such promising
      cancer preventive activities have not been demonstrated in many human
      intervention trials. This article analyzes the major differences between these
      different types of studies and the limitations of these studies. Animal and cell
      line studies usually use optimal conditions in order to demonstrate the
      hypothesized effects, sometimes without considering the human relevance. On the
      other hand, some clinical trials were designed without a good understanding of
      the biochemical and pharmacological properties of the agents used. Lessons
      learned from these studies will be illustrated using vitamin E, beta-carotene and
      selenium as examples for nutrients, and green tea polyphenols as an example for
      non-nutritive dietary constituents. From the lessons learned, we believe that
      more interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of laboratory and human
      studies would effectively advance the field of cancer prevention.

PMID- 26865100
TI  - Erectile dysfunction in patients with plaque psoriasis: the relation of
      depression and cardiovascular factors.
AB  - Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and seems to be associated with
      erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a predictor of future cardiovascular disease. It
      is important to identify ED early and investigate cardiovascular problems in
      psoriasis patients. The sample consisted of 191 psoriasis patients and 191
      healthy men. One hundred and one of 191 (52.9%) patients with psoriasis were
      indicative of ED, compared with 40.3% in control group, reflecting an age
      adjusted odds ratio of 1.965 in favor of the psoriasis group. A univariate
      analysis in the psoriasis group indicated that age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia,
      diabetes mellitus and depressive symptoms were the risk factors for ED. The
      multivariate logistic regression model indicated that increasing age,
      hypertension, hyperlipidemia and depressive symptoms were independent risk
      factors for ED in psoriasis. The more severe depressive symptoms increased the
      risk of ED and especially moderate-severe ED. The diagnosis of ED may help
      prevent emotional and physical discomfort in men and aid in identifying
      reversible cardiovascular risk factors. Screening of ED may become a part of
      routine care in the management of psoriasis patients. 

PMID- 26865101
TI  - Premature ejaculation results from partners' mismatch: development and validation
      of index of intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time.
AB  - Mismatch of partners in premature ejaculation (PE) regarding intra-vaginal
      ejaculation latency time (IELT) is usually neglected. Here we proposed the
      concept and evaluated the use of index of IELT (IIELT) as an objective diagnostic
      tool for PE. Data from 103 self-reporting PE patients and 59 normal controls were
      collected. The expected IELTs of both the male and female partners were provided
      by each participating couple in two questionnaires. IIELT=stopwatch IELT/(1/2 the
      male's expected IELT+1/2 the female's expected IELT). The stopwatch IELTs were
      1.74+/-1.4 min (PE group) and 14.45+/-11.0 min (control group), P<0.05. The
      expected IELTs were 15.65+/-8.7 min (men) and 14.16+/-6.9 min (women) in the PE
      group, and 21.3+/-16.1 min (men) and 20.04+/-13.47 min (women) in the control
      group, P<0.05. The calculated IIELTs were 0.14+/-0.12 (PE group) and 0.83+/-0.60
      (control group), P<0.05. The best cut-off point was 0.658, the Youden index was
      0.652, sensitivity was 0.991, specificity was 0.661, positive predictive
      probability was 83.46% and negative predictive probability was 97.6%. We
      concluded that IIELT was an integrated measurement of the couples' sexual
      equilibrium and demonstrated that it provided a simple and objective screening
      indicator for diagnosing self-reported PE. 

PMID- 26865102
TI  - Sexual quality of life is impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
AB  - Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients often have altered quality of life. Few data
      are available about sexual impairment (SI) in CHC. From 2011 to 2013, we included
      consecutive CHC outpatients. Exclusion criteria were: antiviral therapy, co
      infection, age <18 or >75, transplantation, alcohol consumption, Eastern
      Cooperative Oncology Group >1. Non-CHC subjects were healthy blood donors. Sexual
      questionnaires for men and women were adapted from the International Index of
      Erectile Function and Female Sexual Function Index, respectively, and concerned
      the past 30 days. Two hundred eighty-one patients were compared with 1086 blood
      donors. SI was more frequent in CHC patients. Men with CHC had worse desire,
      confidence, erections, climax and satisfaction (P<0.001). Women with CHC had
      worse desire, arousal, climax, satisfaction, lubrication and comfort (P<0.001).
      In multivariate analysis, factors associated with SI in men were CHC (odds ratio
      (OR)=4.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.46-8.06), age (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.03
      1.09), no intercourse (OR=8.74, 95% CI 4.65-16.04) and unemployment (OR=2.14, 95%
      CI 1.16-3.95). Factors associated with a worse global sexual life in women were
      CHC (OR=7.96, 95% CI 4.07-15.58) and no intercourse (OR=21.39, 95% CI 11.03
      41.48). The study results were corroborated by propensity score-matching
      analysis. Sexual life is impaired in men and women with CHC. In clinical
      practice, sexual quality of life should be evaluated and treated. 

PMID- 26865103
TI  - Risk factors associated with sexual dysfunction in Brazilian postmenopausal
      women.
AB  - Sexual function represents an important component of health and life quality. The
      objective of this study was to assess female sexual function in postmenopausal
      women and to identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction among this
      population. From August to December 2013 a cross-sectional study was carried out
      with 111 postmenopausal, sexually active women aged 45-65 years. A semi
      structured questionnaire made up of itemized questions was applied to identify
      demographic variables, socio-economic and clinical issues. Participants were
      requested to fill out the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Menopause
      Rating Scale. Among the studied group, 70.3% of the women presented sexual
      dysfunction (FSFI?26.6). The affected domains were desire and arousal (P<0.01).
      Multiple regression analysis revealed that the main risk factors associated with
      postmenopausal sexual dysfunction were: marital status (prevalence ratio (PR)
      1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.39; P<0.01), urogenital dysfunction (PR
      1.08; 95% CI 1.03-1.12; P<0.00), bladder surgery (PR 1.35; 95% CI 1.09-1.66;
      P<0.01) and sexual abuse (PR 1.45; 95% CI 1.21-1.72; P<0.00). Our results show a
      high female sexual dysfunction among postmenopausal women. Sexual dysfunction was
      associated with multiple factors such as: socio-demographic factors, biological
      factors (urogenital dysfunctions, bladder surgery), psychological matters and
      sexual abuse. 

PMID- 26865104
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract
      symptoms in Russian Federation men: analysis from a national population-based
      multicenter study.
AB  - An analysis of prevalence and associated common risk factors of ED and lower
      urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was performed in Russian Federation by cross
      sectional multicenter survey. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)
      score and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) were used for data
      collection in 1225 men between 20 and 77 years interviewed in six regions of
      Russian Federation. In addition, each participant's social, demographic,
      lifestyle, sexual and medical history was taken with special emphasis on risk
      factors for ED. Upon the basis of IIEF erectile domain score interpretation, ED
      was found in 530 (48.9%) men, consisting of mild and mild to moderate, moderate
      and severe ED in 375 (34.6%), 78 (7.2%) and 77 (7.1%) respondents, respectively.
      According to IPSS assessment, LUTSs were present in 649 (59.9%) responders;
      inclusive 370 (34.2%), 216 (19.9%) and 63 (5.8%) men with mild, moderate and
      severe LUTS, respectively. Men with both ED and LUTS shared common co-morbidities
      and lifestyle risk factors with age-adjusted odds ratio between 1.2 and 5.2. In
      logistic regression model (R(2)=0.361), the strongest associated with ED factor
      found was IPSS symptom score, followed by hypertension, IPSS-related quality of
      life, age, diabetes mellitus, obesity and unmotivated fatigue. 

PMID- 26865106
TI  - Consensus Planning Toward a Community-Based Approach to Promote Physical Activity
      in Youth with Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - AIMS: To engage researchers and knowledge-users in six Ontario communities in
      knowledge translation initiatives to identify community-informed elements to
      guide the development of an optimal physical activity program for youth with
      cerebral palsy (CP) and to support research efforts. METHODS: The project
      included three iterative steps, i.e., an environmental scan of five communities,
      six regional planning meetings, and a member-checking survey, followed by a
      Delphi survey to reach consensus on the elements deemed most important. RESULTS:
      Twenty-four elements were identified to include in programs promoting physical
      activity in youth with CP, which were organized in five categories: raise
      awareness of the options and opportunities (n = 4); pique interest and motivate
      youth to become and stay active (n = 9); ensure community programs are ready for
      youth with a disability (n = 2); be fit, fit in, and finding the best fit (n =
      5); and explore the layers of physical activity and how they interact (n = 4).
      CONCLUSIONS: The 24 elements established characterize the key concepts that
      families and community stakeholders value when developing physical activity
      programs for youth with CP. When incorporated into clinical practice, each of the
      elements may be used to evaluate key aspects of outcome for individuals with CP.

PMID- 26865107
TI  - Spirometric reference equations for Swedish adults.
AB  - New spirometric reference equations for Swedish adults are required. Three
      different older sets of reference equations clinically used in Sweden have
      various drawbacks and the recently published 'The Global Lung Function 2012 (GLI)
      equations' have been shown not to be adequate for Swedish normal, healthy non
      smokers. We have recently concluded that a piecewise linear model presented by
      Lubinski and Golczewski accurately describes the distribution of spirometric
      variables in a large Swedish random population sample. This piecewise linear
      model also offers the important advantage of implementing easily physiologically
      interpretable coefficients. The present study aimed at presenting piecewise
      linear reference equations for Swedish adults based on a random population sample
      of 6685 individuals aged 25-75 years. Predicted normal values by the piecewise
      linear reference equations and lower limit normal (LLN) were compared with the
      three reference equations frequently used clinically in Sweden and the GLI
      equations. We found predicted normal values according to the present piecewise
      linear reference equations close to 100% predicted normal as expected, whereas
      the other equations either overestimated or underestimated normal subjects.
      Concerning LLN, the present equations, i.e. 1.645 * RSD, showed the least
      deviation from the expected 5% and, e.g., the GLI equations systematically
      identified too few subjects below LLN. We conclude that the present piecewise
      linear reference equations, based on a relatively large general population
      sample, ought to be considered for clinical use in Sweden. Application of 1.645 *
      RSD below predicted value gave an acceptably accurate LLN.

PMID- 26865108
TI  - Control of Conformation and Chirality of Nonplanar pi-Conjugated Diporphyrins
      Using Substituents and Axial Ligands.
AB  - Nonplanar conformations of pyrazine-fused Zn(II) diporphyrins could be controlled
      by the choice of the meso-aryl substituents and an axial ligand on the central
      metals. Zn(II) diporphyrins bearing sterically demanding meso-aryl groups with
      ortho-substituents led to a twisted chiral D2 conformation, while an achiral C2h
      form was preferred in the case of aryl groups without ortho-substituents. Helical
      chirality induction on Zn(II) diporphyrins in the twisted conformation was
      achieved by controlling their handedness of the molecular twist through
      coordination of optically active 1-phenethylamine. 

PMID- 26865105
TI  - Modular Assembly Approach to Engineer Geometrically Precise Cardiovascular
      Tissue.
AB  - This modular assembly approach to microfabricate functional cardiovascular tissue
      composites enables quantitative assessment of the effects of microarchitecture on
      cellular function. Cardiac and endothelial modules are micromolded separately,
      designed to direct cardiomyocyte alignment and anisotropic contraction or
      vascular network formation. Assembled cardiovascular tissue composites contract
      synchronously, facilitating the use of this tissue-engineering platform to study
      structure-function relationships in the heart. 

PMID- 26865109
TI  - Inflammation: A20-NEMO interaction prevents autoinflammation.

PMID- 26865110
TI  - Degradation of the long-resistant pharmaceutical compounds carbamazepine and
      diatrizoate using mixed microbial culture.
AB  - The microbial degradation of two recalcitrant pharmaceutical compounds,
      carbamazepine (CBZ) and diatrizoate (DTZ), was studied in laboratory batch
      experiments. We used a defined mixed microbial culture comprising four distinct
      microbial species that were previously known to have high decomposition capacity
      toward recalcitrant substances. Biological decomposition in liquid phase cultures
      for either CBZ or DTZ, or in a combination of the two, was conducted for 12 days.
      DTZ and CBZ were degraded by 43.2% and 60%, respectively from an initial
      concentration of 100 ug L(-1). When degradation was assessed using a mixture of
      the two compounds, the initial degradation rates of CBZ and DTZ were lower than
      those observed in the single-compound study. However, the final cumulative
      removal efficiency was very similar. The extent of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
      removal was correlated with the degradation of the pharmaceuticals.

PMID- 26865112
TI  - 7-(Benzofuran-2-yl)-7-deazadeoxyguanosine as a fluorescence turn-ON probe for
      single-strand DNA binding protein.
AB  - 7-(Benzofuran-2-yl)-7-deazadeoxyguanosine ((BF)dG) was synthesized and
      incorporated into an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN). The single-stranded ODN
      containing (BF)dG shows 91-fold fluorescence enhancement upon binding of single
      strand DNA binding protein. 

PMID- 26865113
TI  - Identification of Palmitoylated Transitional Endoplasmic Reticulum ATPase by
      Proteomic Technique and Pan Antipalmitoylation Antibody.
AB  - Protein palmitoylation plays a significant role in a wide range of biological
      processes such as cell signal transduction, metabolism, apoptosis, and
      carcinogenesis. For high-throughput analysis of protein palmitoylation,
      approaches based on the acyl-biotin exchange or metabolic labeling of
      azide/alkynyl-palmitate analogs are commonly used. No palmitoylation antibody has
      been reported. Here, the palmitoylated proteome of human colon cancer cell lines
      SW480 was analyzed via a TS-6B-based method. In total, 151 putative palmitoylated
      sites on 92 proteins, including 100 novel sites, were identified. Except for 3
      known palmitoylated transmembrane proteins, ATP1A1, ZDHHC5, and PLP2, some
      important proteins including kinases, ion channels, receptors, and cytoskeletal
      proteins were also identified, such as CLIC1, PGK1, PPIA, FKBP4, exportin-2, etc.
      More importantly, the pan antipalmitoylation antibody was developed and verified
      for the first time. Our homemade pan antipalmitoylation antiserum could
      differentiate well protein palmitoylation from mouse brain membrane fraction and
      SW480 cells, which affords a new technique for analyzing protein palmitoylation
      by detecting the palmitic acid moiety directly. Furthermore, the candidate
      protein transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase (VCP) identified in SW480 cells
      was validated to be palmitoylated by Western blotting with anti-VCP antibody and
      the homemade pan antipalmitoylation antibody.

PMID- 26865111
TI  - Temporal retinal transcriptome and systems biology analysis identifies key
      pathways and hub genes in Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis.
AB  - Bacterial endophthalmitis remains a devastating inflammatory condition associated
      with permanent vision loss. Hence, assessing the host response in this disease
      may provide new targets for intervention. Using a mouse model of Staphylococcus
      aureus (SA) endophthalmitis and performing retinal transcriptome analysis, we
      discovered progressive changes in the expression of 1,234 genes. Gene ontology
      (GO) and pathway analyses revealed the major pathways impacted in endophthalmitis
      includes: metabolism, inflammatory/immune, antimicrobial, cell trafficking, and
      lipid biosynthesis. Among the immune/inflammation pathways, JAK/Stat and IL-17A
      signaling were the most significantly affected. Interactive network-based
      analyses identified 13 focus hub genes (IL-6, IL-1beta, CXCL2, STAT3, NUPR1, Jun,
      CSF1, CYR61, CEBPB, IGF-1, EGFR1, SPP1, and TGM2) within these important
      pathways. The expression of hub genes confirmed by qRT-PCR, ELISA (IL-6, IL
      1beta, and CXCL2), and Western blot or immunostaining (CEBP, STAT3, NUPR1, and
      IGF1) showed strong correlation with transcriptome data. Since TLR2 plays an
      important role in SA endophthalmitis, counter regulation analysis of TLR2 ligand
      pretreated retina or the use of retinas from TLR2 knockout mice showed the down
      regulation of inflammatory regulatory genes. Collectively, our study provides,
      for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomic response and
      identifies key pathways regulating retinal innate responses in staphylococcal
      endophthalmitis. 

PMID- 26865114
TI  - Population-based cohort study of the management and survival of patients with
      early-stage oesophageal adenocarcinoma in England.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Until recently, oesophagectomy was the treatment of choice for early
      oesophageal cancer. Endoscopic treatment has been introduced relatively recently.
      This observational national database study aimed to describe how endoscopic
      therapy has been introduced in England and to examine the safety of this
      approach. METHODS: A population-based cohort study was undertaken of patients
      diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma between October 2007 and June 2009
      using three linked national databases. Patients with early-stage disease (T1
      tumours with no evidence of spread) were identified, along with the primary
      treatment modality where treatment intent was curative. Short-term outcomes after
      treatment and 5-year survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 5192 patients diagnosed
      with oesophageal adenocarcinoma, 306 (5.9 per cent) were considered to have early
      stage disease before any treatment, of whom 239 (79.9 per cent of 299 patients
      with data on treatment intent) were managed with curative intent. Of 175 patients
      who had an oesophagectomy, 114 (65.1 (95 per cent c.i. 57.6 to 72.7) per cent)
      survived for 5 years. Among these, 47 (30.3 per cent of 155 patients with tissue
      results available) had their disease upstaged after pathological staging; this
      occurred more often in patients who did not have staging endoscopic
      ultrasonography before surgery. Of 41 patients who had an endoscopic resection,
      27 (66 (95 per cent c.i. 49 to 80) per cent) survived for 5 years. Repeat
      endoscopic therapy was required by 23 (56 per cent) of these 41 patients.
      CONCLUSION: Between 2007 and 2009, oesophagectomy remained the initial treatment
      of choice (73.2 per cent) among patients with early-stage oesophageal cancer
      treated with curative intent; one in five patients were managed endoscopically,
      and this treatment was more common in elderly patients. Although the groups had
      different patient characteristics, 5-year survival rates were similar.

PMID- 26865115
TI  - Cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells have impaired ability to activate
      vitamin D.

PMID- 26865116
TI  - Multifunctional flexible free-standing titanate nanobelt membranes as efficient
      sorbents for the removal of radioactive (90)Sr(2+) and (137)Cs(+) ions and oils.
AB  - For the increasing attention focused on saving endangered environments, there is
      a growing need for developing membrane materials able to perform complex
      functions such as removing radioactive pollutants and oil spills from water. A
      major challenge is the scalable fabrication of membranes with good mechanical and
      thermal stability, superior resistance to radiation, and excellent recyclability.
      In this study, we constructed a multifunctional flexible free-standing sodium
      titanate nanobelt (Na-TNB) membrane that was assembled as advanced radiation
      tainted water treatment and oil uptake. We compared the adsorption behavior of
      (137)Cs(+) and (90)Sr(2+) on Na-TNB membranes under various environmental
      conditions. The maximum adsorption coefficient value (Kd) for Sr(2+) reaches
      10(7) mL g(-1). The structural collapse of the exchange materials were confirmed
      by XRD, FTIR and XPS spectroscopy as well as Raman analysis. The adsorption
      mechanism of Na-TNB membrane is clarified by forming a stable solid with the
      radioactive cations permanently trapped inside. Besides, the engineered
      multilayer membrane is exceptionally capable in selectively and rapidly adsorbing
      oils up to 23 times the adsorbent weight when coated with a thin layer of
      hydrophobic molecules. This multifunctional membrane has exceptional potential as
      a suitable material for next generation water treatment and separation
      technologies. 

PMID- 26865117
TI  - Clinical and genetic features of lysinuric protein intolerance in Japan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare autosomal recessive
      disorder affecting the transport of cationic amino acid caused by mutations in
      solute carrier family 7 amino acid transporter light chain, y+ L system, member 7
      (SLC7A7). This disorder occurs worldwide, especially in Finland and Japan, where
      founder effect mutations have been reported. Detailed features of the clinical
      symptoms and mutation types in Japanese LPI, however, remain unclear to date.
      METHODS: An epidemiological nationwide survey of LPI patients was carried out via
      mail to all domestic university and general hospitals in Japan. Next, the
      clinical information for each LPI patient was obtained, in the form of a
      questionnaire, from the attending physicians who replied to the letters. RESULTS:
      We received answered questionnaires for 43 LPI patients in 19 hospitals. We
      selected 35 patients who were genetically diagnosed with LPI. The most common
      clinical manifestations were with protein aversion, ferritinemia, increased serum
      lactate dehydrogenase, and hyperammonemia. The most frequent SLC7A7 mutation in
      Japanese LPI patients is p.R410*, which is a founder effect mutation in northern
      Japan. In total, nine types of mutation were detected in this survey, six of
      which (p.R410*, p.S238F, c.1630delC, p.S489P, c.1673delG, and IVS3-IVS5del9.7 kb)
      have not been reported in other countries. CONCLUSION: The clinical and genetic
      features of 35 Japanese patients with LPI were characterized, and no correlation
      between genotype and phenotype was observed. The importance of early diagnosis
      for better prognosis of LPI is emphasized.

PMID- 26865118
TI  - A mosaic Lauralean flower from the Early Cretaceous of Myanmar.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The floral history of early angiosperms is far from
      complete. The fossil discussed here has the potential to expand our knowledge of
      timing, reproductive biology, and paleobiogeography in early angiosperms.
      METHODS: Cutting-edge methodologies in CT scanning in conjunction with tomography
      software have opened new possibilities for discovering details in amber-preserved
      fossils that were inaccessible for meaningful study in the past. KEY RESULTS: The
      fossil is small and complex, cupulate, with numerous stamens and a suite of
      characters distributed in the modern families of Laurales. The most parsimonious
      placement of the fossil based on morphology is as a sister taxon of
      Atherospermataceae + Gomortega (Gomortegaceae). CONCLUSIONS: This fossil taxon, a
      Laurasian Lauralean from the mid-Cretaceous, is an important example of fossil
      Laurales with implications for biogeography and timing in the radiation and
      extinction in this group.

PMID- 26865119
TI  - New frontiers in the three-dimensional visualization of plant structure and
      function.

PMID- 26865120
TI  - Flower-visitor selection on floral integration in three contrasting populations
      of Lonicera implexa.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Geographic differences in flower visitor assemblages might
      lead to among-population differences in the magnitude and pattern of floral
      integration. However, the role of current pollinator visitation in shaping the
      magnitude and pattern of floral trait correlations is still controversial.
      METHODS: We used individual-level data on floral morphology, flower visitation,
      and fitness to assess if floral integration (at flower and floral-module level)
      and the covariance structure of floral traits varied among three populations of
      Lonicera implexa differing in the importance of long-tongue (hawk moths) and
      short-tongue (bees and small beetles) pollinators; and to assess whether this
      variation was related to the selection pressures exerted by flower visitors. KEY
      RESULTS: Short-tongue pollinators preferentially visited plants with floral
      traits that enhanced flower accessibility; consequently, there was directional
      selection for accessibility (integration at floral-module level) in the
      populations where they dominated or codominated. In the population with both
      short- and long-tongue pollinators, disruptive selection on corolla width and
      directional selection against whole-flower integration was also found. Dominance
      by long-tongue pollinators (hawk moths) resulted in disruptive selection on whole
      flower integration. Overall, the conflicting selection pressures that were found
      matched among-population differences in covariance structure: populations with
      short-tongue pollinators showed correlations between corolla-tube width and other
      floral traits that were absent in the population pollinated primarily by hawk
      moths. CONCLUSIONS: Conflicting selection on floral integration mediated by
      floral visitors can occur even in nearby populations of a species with restricted
      floral morphology.

PMID- 26865121
TI  - A global perspective on Campanulaceae: Biogeographic, genomic, and floral
      evolution.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The Campanulaceae are a diverse clade of flowering plants
      encompassing more than 2300 species in myriad habitats from tropical rainforests
      to arctic tundra. A robust, multigene phylogeny, including all major lineages, is
      presented to provide a broad, evolutionary perspective of this cosmopolitan
      clade. METHODS: We used a phylogenetic framework, in combination with divergence
      dating, ancestral range estimation, chromosome modeling, and morphological
      character reconstruction analyses to infer phylogenetic placement and timing of
      major biogeographic, genomic, and morphological changes in the history of the
      group and provide insights into the diversification of this clade across six
      continents. KEY RESULTS: Ancestral range estimation supports an out-of-Africa
      diversification following the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Chromosomal
      modeling, with corroboration from the distribution of synonymous substitutions
      among gene duplicates, provides evidence for as many as 20 genome-wide
      duplication events before large radiations. Morphological reconstructions support
      the hypothesis that switches in floral symmetry and anther dehiscence were
      important in the evolution of secondary pollen presentation mechanisms.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a broad, phylogenetic perspective on the
      evolution of the Campanulaceae clade. The remarkable habitat diversity and
      cosmopolitan distribution of this lineage appears to be the result of a complex
      history of genome duplications and numerous long-distance dispersal events. We
      failed to find evidence for an ancestral polyploidy event for this clade, and our
      analyses indicate an ancestral base number of nine for the group. This study will
      serve as a framework for future studies in diverse areas of research in
      Campanulaceae.

PMID- 26865122
TI  - Fruits and wood of Parinari from the early Miocene of Panama and the fossil
      record of Chrysobalanaceae.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Chrysobalanaceae are woody plants with over 500 species in
      20 genera. They are among the most common trees in tropical forests, but a sparse
      fossil record has limited our ability to test evolutionary and biogeographic
      hypotheses, and several previous reports of Chrysobalanaceae megafossils are
      doubtful. METHODS: We prepared fossil endocarps and wood collected from the lower
      Miocene beds along the Panama Canal using the cellulose acetate peel technique
      and examined them using light microscopy. We compared the fossil endocarps with
      previously published fossils and with fruits from herbarium specimens. We
      compared the fossil wood with photographs and descriptions of extant species. KEY
      RESULTS: Parinari endocarps can be distinguished from other genera within
      Chrysobalanaceae by a suite of features, i.e., thick wall, a secondary septum,
      seminal cavities lined with dense, woolly trichomes, and two ovate to lingulate
      basal germination plugs. Fossil endocarps from the Cucaracha, Culebra, and La
      Boca Formations confirm that Parinari was present in the neotropics by the early
      Miocene. CONCLUSIONS: The earliest unequivocal evidence of crown-group
      Chrysobalanaceae is late Oligocene-early Miocene, and the genus Parinari was
      distinct by at least 19 million years ago. Parinari and other Chrysobalanaceae
      likely reached the neotropics via long-distance dispersal rather than vicariance.
      The presence of Parinari in the Cucaracha flora supports the interpretation of a
      riparian, moist tropical forest environment. Parinari was probably a canopy
      dominant tree in the Cucaracha forest and took advantage of the local megafauna
      for seed dispersal.

PMID- 26865123
TI  - Root development and structure in seedlings of Ginkgo biloba.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The popular, highly recognizable, well-known gymnosperm,
      Ginkgo biloba, was studied to document selected developmental features, which are
      little known in its primary root system from root tips to cotyledonary node
      following seed germination. METHODS: Using seedlings grown in soil, vermiculite,
      or a mixture, we examined sections at various distances from the root cap to
      capture a developmental sequence of anatomical structures by using standard
      brightfield, epifluorescence, and confocal microscopic techniques. KEY RESULTS:
      The vascular cylinder is usually a diarch stele, although modified diarchy and
      triarchy are found. Between exarch protoxylem poles, metaxylem usually develops
      into a complete disc, except near the transition region, which has irregularly
      arranged tracheary cells. The disc of primary xylem undergoes secondary growth on
      its metaxylem flanks with many tracheids added radially within a few weeks.
      Production of fibers in secondary phloem also accompanies secondary growth. In
      the cortex, endodermis produces Casparian bands early in development and
      continues into the upper transition region. Phi cells with phi-thickenings (bands
      of lignified walls) of a layer of inner cortex are often evident before
      endodermis, and then adjoining, additional layers of cortex develop phi cells;
      phi cells do not occur in the upper transition region or stem. An exodermis is
      produced early in root development and is continuous into the transition region
      and cotyledonary node. CONCLUSIONS: Seedling root axes of Ginkgo biloba are more
      complex than the literature suggests, and our findings contribute to our
      knowledge of root structure of this ancient gymnosperm.

PMID- 26865124
TI  - Lilies at the limit: Variation in plant-pollinator interactions across an
      elevational range.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Many studies assume climatic factors are paramount in
      determining species' distributions, however, biotic interactions may also play a
      role. For example, pollinators may limit species' ranges if floral abundance or
      floral attractiveness is reduced at range margins, thus causing lower pollinator
      visitation and reduced reproductive output. METHODS: To test if pollinators
      influence the altitudinal distribution of Erythronium montanum (Liliaceae) at
      Mount Rainier National Park, we asked whether (1) seed production in this species
      relies on pollinators, (2) seed production and pollen limitation is greatest at
      range limits, and (3) pollinator visitation rates (either overall or by
      individual taxonomic groups) reflect patterns of seed production and pollen
      limitation. RESULTS: From this three-year study, we established that this plant
      does rely on pollinators for fruit set and we found that pollen limitation
      trended toward being higher at the upper range limit in some years, but not
      consistently year to year. Insect visitation rates did not mirror spatial
      patterns of pollen limitation, but annually variable pollinator composition
      suggested differential importance of some pollinator taxonomic groups
      (specifically, bumblebees may be better pollinators than syrphid flies).
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results suggest that while pollinators are critical
      for the reproductive success of this high mountain wildflower, plant-pollinator
      interactions do not obviously drive the distribution of this species.
      Nonetheless, high spatio-temporal variability in range-wide plant-pollinator
      dynamics may complicate responses to climate change.

PMID- 26865125
TI  - Does total intravenous anesthesia provide significant blood loss reduction
      compared to inhalational anesthesia during endoscopic sinus surgery?

PMID- 26865126
TI  - Legionella thermalis sp. nov., isolated from hot spring water in Tokyo, Japan.
AB  - Strain L-47(T) of a novel bacterial species belonging to the genus Legionella was
      isolated from a sample of hot spring water from Tokyo, Japan. The 16S rRNA gene
      sequences (1477 bp) of this strain (accession number AB899895) had less than
      95.0% identity with other Legionella species. The dominant fatty acids of strain
      L-47(T) were a15:0 (29.6%) and the major ubiquinone was Q-12 (71.1%). It had a
      guanine-plus-cytosine content of 41.5 mol%. The taxonomic description of
      Legionella thermalis sp. nov. is proposed to be type strain L-47(T) (JCM 30970(T)
      = KCTC 42799(T)).

PMID- 26865128
TI  - Improving procedural performance through warm-up and mental imagery.

PMID- 26865129
TI  - Limitations of body mass index as an obesity measure of perioperative risk.

PMID- 26865127
TI  - Rationally combining anti-VEGF therapy with checkpoint inhibitors in
      hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease with rising incidence in the
      world. For advanced HCC, sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is the only systemic
      therapy with proven survival benefits. Sorafenib is a pan-VEGF receptor
      inhibitor, and thus many studies have focused its antivascular effects. But VEGF
      also acts as an immunosuppressive molecule. VEGF can inhibit maturation of
      dendritic cells, promote immune suppressive cell infiltration and enhance immune
      checkpoint molecules expression. On the other hand, potent VEGF inhibition may
      increase tumor hypoxia, which could hinder antitumor immunity or immunotherapy.
      Thus, achieving synergy when combining anti-VEGF therapy with immunotherapy may
      require proper polarization of the tumor microenvironment by dose titration or
      combination with other immunomodulating agents. 

PMID- 26865130
TI  - Emergence delirium or pain after anaesthesia--how to distinguish between the two
      in young children: a retrospective analysis of observational studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early postoperative negative behaviour in preschool children after
      general anaesthesia is a common problem. The distinction between emergence
      delirium (ED) and pain is difficult, but management differs between the two. The
      aim of the current analysis was to identify individual observational variables
      that can be used to diagnose ED and allow distinction from postoperative pain.
      METHODS: This retrospective analysis of data from three previous prospective
      observational studies included children undergoing general anaesthesia for
      elective adeno-tonsillectomy, sub-umbilical surgery, and MRI scanning. Two
      trained observers simultaneously applied the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry,
      Consolability Scale; the Children's Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Scale; the
      Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale or the Paediatric Anaesthesia
      Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. Data from each domain of the scales were
      available at awakening and at five, 10, and 15 min after anaesthesia. Each
      patient was analysed over time, and subsequently, each evaluation was considered
      as a single event. The descriptive behaviour items overlapping in the assessed
      scales were identified as dichotomous variable ('true/false') and then were
      applied for each evaluation. RESULTS: Children (n=512) were assessed for a total
      of 2048 evaluations. Most children (69%) displayed at least one episode of ED
      and/or pain. Almost 15% of children demonstrated both ED and pain. Children with
      ED showed 'no eye contact' and 'no awareness of surroundings'. Children with pain
      displayed 'abnormal facial expression', 'crying', and 'inconsolability'.
      CONCLUSIONS: 'No eye contact' and 'no awareness of surroundings' identifies ED.
      'Abnormal facial expression', 'crying', and 'inconsolability' indicate acute pain
      in children in the early postoperative period.

PMID- 26865132
TI  - A new method for determining the insertion depth of tracheal tubes in children: a
      pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Choosing the correct insertion depth of tracheal tubes is crucial for
      successful airway management in paediatrics. Currently used formulas are based on
      patient characteristics such as age, body weight and height. The aim of the study
      is to devise and evaluate more suitable body surface area based diagrams for
      predicting the correct tracheal insertion depth. METHODS: Calculated insertion
      depth according to currently used formulas, primary insertion depth and insertion
      depth corrected by chest radiography ('gold standard') were collected from 237
      children. Age, body weight, height and body surface area were noted. Body surface
      area based diagrams were devised and prospectively evaluated in another set of
      123 paediatric patients. RESULTS: Tracheal tube position according to currently
      used formulas had to be corrected in 37% of all intubations. New body surface
      area based diagrams were created. In 20.3%, depth of the tracheal tube had to be
      corrected according to the new body surface area based diagrams. CONCLUSIONS: The
      body surface area based diagrams may be a reliable tool for predicting the
      correct tracheal insertion depth in children.

PMID- 26865131
TI  - Dexmedetomidine post-treatment induces neuroprotection via activation of
      extracellular signal-regulated kinase in rats with subarachnoid haemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine, a sedative agent, provides neuroprotection when
      administered during or before brain ischaemia. This study was designed to
      determine whether dexmedetomidine post-treatment induces neuroprotection against
      subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and the mechanisms for this effect. METHODS:
      Subarachnoid haemorrhage was induced by endovascular perforation to the junction
      of the right middle and anterior cerebral arteries in adult rats. Dexmedetomidine
      was applied immediately or 2 h after onset of SAH. Neurological outcome was
      evaluated 2 days after SAH. Right frontal cortex area 1 was harvested 24 h after
      SAH for western blotting. RESULTS: Subarachnoid haemorrhage reduced neurological
      scores and increased brain oedema and blood-brain barrier permeability. These
      effects were attenuated by dexmedetomidine post-treatment. Neuroprotection by
      dexmedetomidine was abolished by PD98095, an inhibitor of extracellular signal
      regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Phospho-ERK, the activated form of ERK, was
      increased by dexmedetomidine; this activation was inhibited by PD98095.
      CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine post-treatment provides neuroprotection against SAH.
      This effect appears to be mediated by ERK.

PMID- 26865133
TI  - Comparison of tissue distribution, phrenic nerve involvement, and epidural spread
      in standard- vs low-volume ultrasound-guided interscalene plexus block using
      contrast magnetic resonance imaging: a randomized, controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ultrasound guidance allows for the use of much lower volumes of local
      anaesthetics for nerve blocks, which may be associated with less aberrant spread
      and fewer complications. This randomized, controlled study used contrast magnetic
      resonance imaging to view the differential-volume local anaesthetic distribution,
      and compared analgesic efficacy and respiratory impairment. METHODS: Thirty
      patients undergoing shoulder surgery were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided
      interscalene block by a single, blinded operator with injection of ropivacaine
      0.75% (either 20 or 5 ml) plus the contrast dye gadopentetate dimeglumine,
      followed by magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcome was epidural spread.
      Secondary outcomes were central non-epidural spread, contralateral epidural
      spread, spread to the phrenic nerve, spirometry, ultrasound investigation of the
      diaphragm, block duration, pain scores during the first 24 h, time to first
      analgesic consumption, and total analgesic consumption. RESULTS: All blocks
      provided fast onset and adequate intra- and postoperative analgesia, with no
      significant differences in pain scores at any time point. Epidural spread
      occurred in two subjects of each group (13.3%); however, spread to the
      intervertebral foramen and phrenic nerve and extensive i.m. local anaesthetic
      deposition were significantly more frequent in the 20 ml group. Diaphragmatic
      paralysis occurred twice as frequently (n=8 vs 4), and changes from baseline peak
      respiratory flow rate were larger [Delta=-2.66 (1.99 sd) vs -1.69 (2.0 sd) l min(
      1)] in the 20 ml group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that interscalene
      block is associated with epidural spread irrespective of injection volume;
      however, less central (foraminal) and aberrant spread after low-volume injection
      may be associated with a more favourable risk profile. CLINICAL TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the European Medicines Agency (Eudra
      CT number 2013-004219-36) and with the US National Institutes' of Health registry
      and results base, clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT02175069).

PMID- 26865134
TI  - Suitability of a preserved human cadaver model for the simulation of facemask
      ventilation, direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation: a laboratory
      investigation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Using fresh or formalin-embalmed cadavers has not been generally
      accepted for the purposes of teaching airway management. We investigated whether
      cadavers 'preserved according Thiel's embalming method' (PATEM) are suitable for
      the simulation of facemask ventilation and tracheal intubation by direct
      laryngoscopy. METHODS: This observational cluster sampling, controlled simulation
      study, included eight PATEM cadavers and eight manikins in two clusters. Twenty
      experienced anaesthetists were randomly assigned to execute 80 facemask
      ventilations and 80 tracheal intubations in both groups. The ease of facemask
      ventilation was the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoint was the composite
      outcomes of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. RESULTS: The success rate at
      the first attempt at mask ventilation was 74% (59/80 attempts) on cadavers and
      41% (33/80 attempts) on manikins (P<0.0001). Twenty one subjects received an oral
      airway in both groups and succeeded in facemask ventilation 20 times on cadavers
      and four times on manikins (P=0.004). Two-handed technique mask ventilation was
      required 24 times on manikins and once on cadavers (P=0.0016). In one attempt on
      a manikin the mask ventilation was impossible. Poor laryngeal view (Cormack
      Lehane grade 3) occurred 14 times among cadavers (17.5%) and once in manikins
      (1.25%) (P=0.007), whereas difficulties in tracheal intubation were encountered
      16 times in cadavers (20%) vs 17 times in manikins (21.25%) (P=0.84). In a
      subjective evaluation the participants preferred the cadaver model over the
      manikins (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: PATEM cadavers were better suited for facemask
      ventilation and provided a more realistic environment for laryngoscopy and
      tracheal intubation than the studied manikins.

PMID- 26865135
TI  - Evidence for nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) but not u (MOP), delta (DOP) or kappa
      (KOP) opioid receptor mRNA in whole human blood.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While it is well known that opioids depress the immune system, the
      site(s) of action for this depression is highly controversial. Immune modulation
      could occur directly at the immune cell or centrally via the hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal axis. In a number of studies using individual enriched immune
      cell populations we have failed to detect classical u (MOP), delta (DOP) and
      kappa (KOP) receptors. The non-classical nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor
      (NOP) is expressed on all cells examined thus far. Our hypothesis was that immune
      cells do not express classical opioid receptors and that using whole blood would
      definitively answer this question. METHODS: Whole blood (containing all immune
      cell types) was incubated with opioids (morphine and fentanyl) commonly
      encountered in anaesthesia and with agents mimicking sepsis [lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS) and peptidoglycan G (PepG)]. Opioid receptor mRNA expression was assessed
      by endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with gel visualisation and
      quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Classical MOP, DOP, and KOP receptors were not
      detected in any of the samples tested either at rest or when challenged with
      opioids, LPS or PepG. Commercial primers for DOP did not perform well in
      quantitative PCR, so the absence of expression was confirmed using a traditional
      gel-based approach. NOP receptors were detected in all samples; expression was
      unaffected by opioids and reduced by LPS/PepG combinations. CONCLUSIONS:
      Classical opioid receptors are not expressed on circulating immune cells.

PMID- 26865136
TI  - Limits of agreement may have large confidence intervals.

PMID- 26865137
TI  - Schneider regimen vs a volatile inhalation anaesthetic (desflurane) for
      laparoscopic adrenalectomy and additional considerations for delivery of
      anaesthesia.

PMID- 26865138
TI  - Reply from the authors. Schneider regimen vs a volatile inhalation anaesthetic
      (desflurane) for laparoscopic adrenalectomy and additional considerations for
      delivery of anaesthesia.

PMID- 26865139
TI  - Is one acceleromyographically measured train-of-four ratio sufficient after
      sugammadex to identify residual curarization in postoperative, awake patients?

PMID- 26865140
TI  - Sugammadex and residual neuromuscular block: what is acceptable normal practice?

PMID- 26865141
TI  - Hidden universality of residual neuromuscular block.

PMID- 26865142
TI  - Managing malaria in the intensive care unit.

PMID- 26865143
TI  - Salt at fault?

PMID- 26865144
TI  - Intraoperative ventilation: improving physiology, or preventing harm?

PMID- 26865145
TI  - Reply from the authors. Individualized ventilatory strategy: ameliorate lung
      injury while preserving physiology.

PMID- 26865152
TI  - Anesthesia Exposure and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: A Prospective
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations between anesthesia and dementia or
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk using prospectively collected data. DESIGN: Cohort
      study. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling members of the Adult Changes in Thought
      cohort aged 65 and older and free of dementia at baseline (N = 3,988).
      MEASUREMENTS: Participants self-reported all prior surgical procedures with
      general or neuraxial (spinal or epidural) anesthesia at baseline and reported new
      procedures every 2 years. People undergoing high-risk surgery with general
      anesthesia, other surgery with general anesthesia, and other surgery with
      neuraxial anesthesia exposures were compared with those with no surgery and no
      anesthesia. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios
      (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dementia and AD associated with time
      varying lifetime and recent (past 5 years) anesthesia exposures. RESULTS: At
      baseline, 254 (6%) people reported never having anesthesia; 248 (6%) had had one
      or more high-risk surgeries with general anesthesia, 3,363 (84%) had had one or
      more other surgeries with general anesthesia, and 123 (3%) had had one or more
      surgeries with neuraxial anesthesia. High-risk surgery with general anesthesia
      was not associated with greater risk of dementia (HR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.58-1.28)
      or AD (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.61-1.49) than no history of anesthesia. People with
      any history of other surgery with general anesthesia had a lower risk of dementia
      (HR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.46-0.85) and AD (HR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.46-0.93) than
      people with no history of anesthesia. There was no association between recent
      anesthesia exposure and dementia or AD. CONCLUSION: Anesthesia exposure was not
      associated with of dementia or AD in older adults.

PMID- 26865153
TI  - Glycosylated haemoglobin assessment in diabetic patients with acute coronary
      syndromes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS)
      advocate for maintaining adequate long-term glycaemic control in diabetic
      patients. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement is commonly used to
      monitor long-term glycaemic control in diabetes. AIMS: To evaluate the frequency
      and clinical predictors of in-hospital HbA1c measurement in diabetic patients
      presenting with ACS and the relationship between HbA1c assessment and mortality
      following discharge. METHODS: This registry-based cohort study included 1743
      diabetic patients from 33 representative hospitals across Australia with a final
      diagnosis of ACS. Independent predictors of HbA1c assessment were evaluated using
      a multivariable logistic generalised estimating equations analysis. The
      association between HbA1c assessment and mortality following discharge was
      evaluated using Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: Seven hundred and
      fourteen (41%) patients had HbA1c assessment during admission. Frequency of
      assessment varied markedly between hospitals (7.7-87.6%). HbA1c assessment was
      significantly more frequent in hospitals with catheterisation laboratories.
      Frequency of assessment was not associated with location of hospital (rural vs
      urban) or hospital capacity. Independent clinical predictors of HbA1c assessment
      across participating hospitals were younger age, ST-Elevation Myocardial
      Infarction, cardiac catheterisation and coronary artery bypass surgery during
      admission. HbA1c assessment was associated with higher rates of coronary
      catheterisation, revascularisation and receipt of evidence-based medicines but
      not with mortality during 6 months following discharge (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95%
      confidence interval, 0.19-1.18). CONCLUSION: Frequency of HbA1c assessment varies
      markedly between hospitals, and most diabetic patients admitted for ACS in
      Australia do not receive assessment of pre-admission glycaemic control. HbA1c
      assessment was associated with better evidence driven medical care.

PMID- 26865154
TI  - A comparison between the MoCA and the MMSE visuoexecutive sub-tests in detecting
      abnormalities in TIA/stroke patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Executive dysfunction predicts stroke risk, dementia, and mortality.
      The Montreal cognitive assessment detects more visuoexecutive dysfunction than
      the mini-mental state examination but it is unclear which of the individual
      Montreal cognitive assessment visuoexecutive items contribute to the better
      performance of the Montreal cognitive assessment. We therefore determined the
      relative performance of the Montreal cognitive assessment visuoexecutive sub
      tests versus the mini-mental state examination pentagon copying in patients with
      stroke and transient ischemic attack. METHODS: Mini-mental state examination and
      Montreal cognitive assessment were administered to a prospective, population
      based cohort of stroke, and transient ischemic attack patients from the Oxford
      Vascular Study at six month or five-year follow-up between November 2007 and June
      2009. We compared the proportion of participants with incorrect Montreal
      cognitive assessment visuoexecutive tasks and sub-tasks but correct mini-mental
      state examination pentagon copying versus the proportion with incorrect MMSE
      pentagon copying but correct visuoexecutive Montreal cognitive assessment sub
      test and individual sub-test items. RESULTS: Among 412 patients assessed with the
      mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment, the Montreal
      cognitive assessment detected more visuoexecutive dysfunction than the mini
      mental state examination (OR 11.4, 95% CI 8.2-15.8, p < 0.001). The likelihood of
      incorrect mini-mental state examination pentagon copying increased as the numbers
      of correct MoCA visuoexecutive responses decreased: 2/106 (1.9%) and 9/10 (90.0%)
      incorrect mini-mental state examination pentagon copying for 5/5 and 0/5 correct
      Montreal cognitive assessment visuoexecutive tasks, respectively (p for trend
      0.005). Each Montreal cognitive assessment visuoexecutive sub-task, including
      trails (39.6%), cube copying (49.5%), and clock drawing (59.0%), detected more
      patients with visuoexecutive dysfunction than the mini-mental state examination
      pentagon copying (20.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: All three of the Montreal
      cognitive assessment visuoexecutive sub-tests detected more abnormalities than
      the mini-mental state examination pentagon copying and thus contributed to the
      over 10-fold superiority of Montreal cognitive assessment over the mini-mental
      state examination for detection of visuoexecutive dysfunction.

PMID- 26865155
TI  - Pre-hospital delays in ischemic stroke patients in a Malaysian tertiary hospital.

PMID- 26865156
TI  - Introducing @microbleeds: A pilot Twitter space for cerebral microbleeds
      research.

PMID- 26865157
TI  - Epidemiology of ischemic strokes in elderly.

PMID- 26865158
TI  - Research ethics committees in the regulation of clinical research: comparison of
      Finland to England, Canada, and the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to compare common features and variation in
      the work of research ethics committees (RECs) in Finland to three other countries
      - England, Canada, the United States of America (USA) - in the late 2000s.
      METHODS: Several approaches and data sources were used, including semi- or
      unstructured interviews of experts, documents, previous reports, presentations in
      meetings and observations. A theoretical framework was created and data from
      various sources synthesized. RESULTS: In Finland, RECs were regulated by a
      medical research law, whereas in the other countries many related laws and rules
      guided RECs; drug trials had specific additional rules. In England and the USA,
      there was a REC control body. In all countries, members were voluntary and
      included lay-persons, and payment arrangements varied. Patient protection was the
      main ethics criteria, but other criteria (research advancement, availability of
      results, payments, detailed fulfilment of legislation) varied. In all countries,
      RECs had been given administrative duties. Variations by country included the
      mandate, practical arrangements, handling of multi-site research, explicitness of
      proportionate handlings, judging scientific quality, time-limits for decisions,
      following of projects, role in institute protection, handling conflicts of
      interests, handling of projects without informed consent, and quality assurance
      research. The division of work between REC members and secretariats varied in
      checking of formalities. In England, quality assurance of REC work was thorough,
      fairly thorough in the USA, and not performed in Finland. CONCLUSIONS: The work
      of RECs in the four countries varied notably. Various deficiencies in the system
      require action, for which international comparison can provide useful insights.

PMID- 26865159
TI  - Phenotypic and Neuropathological Characterization of Fetal Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
      Deficiency.
AB  - To distinguish pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (PDH) from other antenatal
      neurometabolic disorders thereby improving prenatal diagnosis, we describe
      imaging findings, clinical phenotype, and brain lesions in fetuses from 3
      families with molecular characterization of this condition. Neuropathological
      analysis was performed in 4 autopsy cases from 3 unrelated families with
      subsequent biochemical and molecular confirmation of PDH complex deficiency. In 2
      families there were mutations in the PDHA1 gene; in the third family there was a
      mutation in the PDHB gene. All fetuses displayed characteristic craniofacial
      dysmorphism of varying severity, absence of visceral lesions, and associated
      encephaloclastic and developmental supra- and infratentorial lesions.
      Neurodevelopmental abnormalities included microcephaly, migration abnormalities
      (pachygyria, polymicrogyria, periventricular nodular heterotopias), and
      cerebellar and brainstem hypoplasia with hypoplastic dentate nuclei and pyramidal
      tracts. Associated clastic lesions included asymmetric leukomalacia, reactive
      gliosis, large pseudocysts of germinolysis, and basal ganglia calcifications. The
      diagnosis of PDH deficiency should be suspected antenatally with the presence of
      clastic and neurodevelopmental lesions and a relatively characteristic
      craniofacial dysmorphism. Postmortem examination is essential for excluding other
      closely related entities, thereby allowing for biochemical and molecular
      confirmation. 

PMID- 26865160
TI  - High-mobility capacitively-induced two-dimensional electrons in a lateral
      superlattice potential.
AB  - In the presence of a lateral periodic potential modulation, two-dimensional
      electrons may exhibit interesting phenomena, such as a graphene-like energy
      momentum dispersion, Bloch oscillations, or the Hofstadter butterfly band
      structure. To create a sufficiently strong potential modulation using
      conventional semiconductor heterostructures, aggressive device processing is
      often required, unfortunately resulting in strong disorder that masks the sought
      after effects. Here, we report a novel fabrication process flow for imposing a
      strong lateral potential modulation onto a capacitively induced two-dimensional
      electron system, while preserving the host material quality. Using this process
      flow, the electron density in a patterned Si/SiGe heterostructure can be tuned
      over a wide range, from 4.4 * 10(10) cm(-2) to 1.8 * 10(11) cm(-2), with a peak
      mobility of 6.4 * 10(5) cm(2)/V.s. The wide density tunability and high electron
      mobility allow us to observe sequential emergence of commensurability
      oscillations as the density, the mobility, and in turn the mean free path,
      increase. Magnetic-field-periodic quantum oscillations associated with various
      closed orbits also emerge sequentially with increasing density. We show that,
      from the density dependence of the quantum oscillations, one can directly extract
      the steepness of the imposed superlattice potential. This result is then compared
      to a conventional lateral superlattice model potential. 

PMID- 26865161
TI  - Capecitabine in the routine first-line treatment of elderly patients with
      advanced colorectal cancer--results from a non-interventional observation study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate feasibility,
      efficacy results and toxicity observations of capecitabine in routine first line
      treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with particular regard
      of elderly patients (>75 years of age). METHODS: Patients with colorectal cancer
      receiving capecitabine as part of their first-line treatment were recorded until
      detection of disease progression or up to a maximum of 12 cycles on standardized
      evaluation forms. Additional information on long-term outcomes, progression-free
      survival, and overall survival were retrieved at two follow-up time points.
      Obtained data were analyzed with regard to age up to 75 and >75 years of age.
      There were no specific requirements for patient selection and conduct of therapy,
      corresponding to the non-interventional nature of the study. RESULTS: In total,
      1249 evaluable patients were enrolled in Germany. The median age of the study
      population was 74 years (range: 21-99). Capecitabine-based combination was
      administered in 56% of patients in the overall population. The median treatment
      duration was about 5 months. Severe toxicities occurred rarely without any
      difference regarding age groups. The most common hematological toxicity was
      anemia. Gastrointestinal side effects and hand-food-syndrome (HFS) were the most
      frequent non-hematologic toxicities. Overall response rate (ORR) was
      significantly higher in the patient group <=75 years compared to patients >75
      years of age (38 vs. 32%, p=0.019). Median progression free survival (PFS 9.7 vs.
      8.2 months, p=0.00021) and overall survival (OS 31.0 vs. 22.6 months, p<0.0001)
      was decreased in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: Efficacy and tolerability of
      capecitabine treatment either as single drug or in various combination regimens,
      as proven in randomized studies, could be confirmed in a clinical routine
      setting. Patients older than 75 years may derive a relevant benefit by first line
      capecitabine-based treatment with good tolerability.

PMID- 26865162
TI  - Acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with advanced cancer (CanACT): study
      protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: One-third of people with cancer experience psychological distress and
      may suppress distressing thoughts, emotions, and concerns, leading to further
      problems. Conventional psychological treatments reduce distress by problem
      solving, but in advanced cancer, when ill health is progressive and death may be
      approaching, physical and psychological difficulties are complex and have no
      simple solutions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages acknowledgement
      and acceptance of mental experiences, increasing people's ability to work with
      problems that cannot be solved. Previous pilot work in advanced cancer confirms
      that distress can be associated with an avoidance of experiencing uncomfortable
      thoughts and emotions. METHODS/DESIGN: This feasibility randomised controlled
      trial of Acceptance Commitment Therapy aims to establish parameters for a larger
      trial. Fifty-four participants with advanced cancer will be randomly allocated to
      up to eight sessions (each 1 hour) of Acceptance Commitment Therapy or a talking
      control. Participants will be recruited from those attending outpatient services
      and hospice day care at three specialist palliative care units in North and East
      London, United Kingdom. The primary outcome is a measure of functioning in four
      areas of life (physical, social/family, emotional, and general activity) using
      the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapies--General questionnaire at 3 months
      after randomisation. Secondary outcomes are (i) acceptance using the Acceptance
      and Action Questionnaire; (ii) psychological distress using the Kessler
      Psychological Distress Scale; (iii) physical functioning using a timed walk and
      sit-to-stand test; and (iv) quality of life measures including the Euroqol-5
      Dimensions and ICECAP Supportive Care measures. Qualitative data will be
      collected at 3 months to explore the participants' experiences of the trial and
      therapy. Data will be collected on the costs of care. DISCUSSION: Data generated
      on the recruitment, retention, and experience of the interventions and the
      usefulness of the outcome measures will inform the adaptations required and
      whether changes in function are consistent with existing data when planning for a
      sufficiently powered randomised controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ISRCTN13841211 (registered 22 July 2015).

PMID- 26865163
TI  - Hepatitis C virus NS3-4A inhibits the peroxisomal MAVS-dependent antiviral
      signalling response.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the cause of one of the most prevalent viral
      infections worldwide. Upon infection, the HCV genome activates the RIG-I-MAVS
      signalling pathway leading to the production of direct antiviral effectors which
      prevent important steps in viral propagation. MAVS localizes at peroxisomes and
      mitochondria and coordinate the activation of an effective antiviral response:
      peroxisomal MAVS is responsible for a rapid but short-termed antiviral response,
      while the mitochondrial MAVS is associated with the activation of a stable
      response with delayed kinetics. The HCV NS3-4A protease was shown to specifically
      cleave the mitochondrial MAVS, inhibiting the downstream response. In this study,
      we have analysed whether HCV NS3-4A is also able to cleave the peroxisomal MAVS
      and whether this would have any effect on the cellular antiviral response. We
      show that NS3-4A is indeed able to specifically cleave this protein and release
      it into the cytosol, a mechanism that seems to occur at a similar kinetic rate as
      the cleavage of the mitochondrial MAVS. Under these conditions, RIG-I-like
      receptor (RLR) signalling from peroxisomes is blocked and antiviral gene
      expression is inhibited. Our results also show that NS3-4A is able to localize at
      peroxisomes in the absence of MAVS. However, mutation studies have shown that
      this localization pattern is preferred in the presence of a fully cleavable MAVS.
      These findings present evidence of a viral evasion strategy that disrupts RLR
      signalling on peroxisomes and provide an excellent example of how a single viral
      evasion strategy can block innate immune signalling from different organelles. 

PMID- 26865166
TI  - Does the development of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury affect the
      prognosis after living donor liver transplantation?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI)
      have been discussed as complications following living donor liver transplantation
      (LDLT). The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships among CKD, AKI,
      and the prognosis after LDLT. METHODS: This study included 118 patients who
      underwent LDLT in our department. A low eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) ) was regarded
      to indicate CKD. AKI 1 and AKI 2 were characterized by an increase in the serum
      creatinine level of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/dL, respectively, within one wk after LDLT. We
      investigated the risk factors for and the relevance of CKD and AKI on the
      prognosis. RESULTS: AKI 1 was associated with sepsis and intra-operative bleeding
      (p = 0.0032, p = 0.001). AKI 2 was associated with sepsis and hepatitis C
      infection (p < 0.001, p = 0.027). A pre-operative eGFR of 60-89 and diabetes were
      the risk factors for the development of CKD in POY 2 (p = 0.018, p = 0.002). AKI
      2, sepsis, and diabetes were the risk factors for the patient death within one yr
      after LDLT (p = 0.010, p = 0.002, p = 0.022). AKI 2 and sepsis were the risk
      factors for death within two yr after LDLT (p = 0.005, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS:
      Recognizing the risk factors and careful management for preventing both AKI and
      CKD may improve the prognosis of patients following LDLT.

PMID- 26865164
TI  - tRNA-Derived Small Non-Coding RNAs in Response to Ischemia Inhibit Angiogenesis.
AB  - Ischemic injuries will lead to necrotic tissue damage, and post-ischemia
      angiogenesis plays critical roles in blood flow restoration and tissue recovery.
      Recently, several types of small RNAs have been reported to be involved in this
      process. In this study, we first generated a rat brain ischemic model to
      investigate the involvement of new types of small RNAs in ischemia. We utilized
      deep sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to demonstrate that the level of
      small RNA fragments derived from tRNAs strikingly increased in the ischemic rat
      brain. Among these sequences, tRNA(Val)- and tRNA(Gly)-derived small RNAs account
      for the most abundant segments. The up-regulation of tRNA(Val)- and tRNA(Gly)
      derived fragments was verified through northern blot and quantitative PCR
      analyses. The levels of these two fragments also increased in a mouse hindlimb
      ischemia model and cellular hypoxia model. Importantly, up-regulation of the
      tRNA(Val)- and tRNA(Gly)-derived fragments in endothelial cells inhibited cell
      proliferation, migration and tube formation. Furthermore, we showed that these
      small RNAs are generated by angiogenin cleavage. Our results indicate that tRNA
      derived fragments are involved in tissue ischemia, and we demonstrate for the
      first time that tRNA(Val)- and tRNA(Gly)-derived fragments inhibit angiogenesis
      by modulating the function of endothelial cells. 

PMID- 26865167
TI  - Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in NICU - Indian Experience.

PMID- 26865168
TI  - Application of Flow Cytometry in the Evaluation of Primary Immunodeficiencies.
AB  - Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDDs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited
      disorders of the immune system. Currently more than 250 different PIDDs with a
      known genetic defect have been recognized. The diagnosis of many of these
      disorders is supported strongly by a wide variety of flow cytometry applications.
      Flow cytometry offers a rapid and sensitive tool for diagnosis and classification
      of PIDDs. It is applicable in the initial workup and subsequent management of
      several primary immunodeficiency diseases. As our understanding of the
      pathogenesis and management of these diseases increases, the majority of these
      tests can be easily established in the diagnostic laboratory. Thus, the focus of
      this article is on the application of flow cytometry in the diagnosis and/or
      evaluation of PIDDs. 

PMID- 26865169
TI  - Nutritional Status of Rural Bengali Adolescent Boys of Tripura: Author's Reply.

PMID- 26865170
TI  - Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Ulcerative Colitis.

PMID- 26865171
TI  - Nutritional Status of Rural Bengali Adolescent Boys of Tripura: Correspondence.

PMID- 26865172
TI  - Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
AB  - Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is the most common symptomatic phagocytic
      defect. It is caused by mutations in genes encoding protein subunits of the
      nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase complex. CGD is
      characterized by a defective intracellular killing of phagocytosed organisms due
      to a defective oxidative burst in the neutrophils and macrophages. It is
      inherited in either X-linked recessive or autosomal recessive pattern.
      Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus species are the most common organisms
      reported. Infections with Burkholderia, Serratia, and Nocardia warrant a screen
      for CGD. Suppurative lymphadenitis, cutaneous abscesses, pneumonia and diarrhea
      constitute the most common problems in children with CGD. A small percentage of
      children develop autoimmune manifestations (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic
      lupus erythematosus, colitis, autoimmune hepatitis) and warrant
      immunosuppression. X-linked carriers of CGD are at an increased risk of
      developing autoimmune diseases. Nitroblue-tetrazolium dye reduction test and
      dihydro-rhodamine assay by flow cytometry are the screening tests for this
      disorder. While most children do well on long term antibiotic and antifungal
      prophylaxis, those with severe forms warrant hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
      The role of regular interferon-gamma injections is debatable. Evidence for white
      cell transfusions is sparse, and gene therapy is under trial.This current review
      highlights various aspects and studies in CGD. X-linked form of CGD has been
      noted to carry a poorer prognosis compared to autosomal recessive variants.
      However, recent evidence suggests that outcome in CGD is determined by the amount
      of residual NADPH oxidase activity irrespective of mode of inheritance. 

PMID- 26865173
TI  - Psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH-scale).
AB  - BACKGROUND: In recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that the absence
      of mental disorder is not the same as the presence of positive mental health
      (PMH). With the PMH-scale we propose a short, unidimensional scale for the
      assessment of positive mental health. The scale consists of 9 Likert-type items.
      METHODS: The psychometric properties of the PMH-scale were tested in a series of
      six studies using samples from student (n = 5406), patient (n = 1547) and general
      (n = 3204) populations. Factorial structure and measurement equivalence were
      tested with the measurement invariance testing. The factor models were analysed
      with the maximum likelihood procedure. Internal consistency was examined using
      Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, convergent and divergent validity was
      examined by Pearson correlation. Sensitivity to (therapeutic) change was examined
      with the t-test. RESULTS: Results confirmed unidimensionality, scalar invariance
      across samples and over time, high internal consistency, good retest-reliability,
      good convergent and discriminant validity as well as sensitivity to therapeutic
      change. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the PMH-Scale indeed measures a
      single concept and allows us to compare scores over groups and over time. The PMH
      scale thus is a brief and easy to interpret instrument for measuring PMH across a
      large variety of relevant groups.

PMID- 26865174
TI  - Racial disparities in esophageal cancer survival after surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Esophageal cancer (EC) black patients have higher mortality rates
      than Whites. The lower rate of surgery in Blacks may explain the survival
      difference. We explored the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database to
      determine the impact of surgery on mortality in Blacks and Whites EC. METHODS:
      All cases of pathologically proven local and locoregional adenocarcinoma and
      squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus from 1973 to 2011 were identified
      (13,678 White, 2,894 Black patients). Cervical esophageal cancer was excluded.
      Age, sex, diagnosis year, stage, cancer-directed surgery, radiation, and vital
      status were analyzed according to self-reported race. RESULTS: Blacks had higher
      1-year mortality, adjusted for age, sex, stage, year of diagnosis, histology, and
      therapy [adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj ): 1.24 (95% CI 1.16-1.32)]. Undergoing
      surgery was an independent predictor of improved survival overall (HRadj 0.30,
      95% CI 0.27-0.33). Black patients treated surgically experienced significantly
      lower survival than Whites, but the difference was not observed in those who did
      not undergo surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgery appears to reduce mortality
      overall, early survival is worse for Blacks. Investigation into racial
      disparities in health care access and delivery, and to skilled esophageal
      surgeons is warranted to improve survival for all patients, particularly Blacks.
      J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:659-664. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26865175
TI  - Controlled wettability based on reversible micro-cracking on a shape memory
      polymer surface.
AB  - Wettability modification on a polymer surface is of immense importance for
      flexible electronics and biomedical applications. Herein, controlled wettability
      of a styrene-based shape memory polymer has been realized by introducing micro
      cracks on the polymer surface for the first time. The cracks were purposely
      prepared by thin metal film constrained deformation on the polymer. After the
      removal of the metallic film, wettability was dramatically enhanced by showing a
      remarkable reduction in the contact angle with water droplets from 85 degrees  to
      25 degrees . Subsequent systematic characterization techniques like XPS and SEM
      revealed that such observation could be attributed to the increased density of
      hydrophilic groups and the roughened surface. In addition, by controlling the
      temperature for annealing the treated polymer, the surface could be switched
      reversely to water-repellent. Therefore, this paper offers a smart tactic to
      manipulate the surface wettability of a shape memory polymer freely. The features
      of the controlled wettability surface such as high tenability, high stability and
      easy fabrication are promising for microfluidic switching and molecule/cell
      capture-release. 

PMID- 26865176
TI  - Alkaloids from Oxytropis ochrocephala and antiproliferative activity of
      sophoridine derivatives against cancer cell lines.
AB  - Ten alkaloids (1-10), with sophoridine (1) as the most abundant component, were
      obtained from the whole plants of Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge. Furthermore,
      eight new sophoridine derivatives (11-16, 20, 21), with modification on the C-14
      position of 1 were synthesized. All compounds (1-16, 20, 21) were evaluated for
      antiproliferative activity against five human tumor cell lines. Among them, the
      newly synthesized derivative 20 exhibited the best inhibitory activity against
      the tested cell lines. Its activity was increased by more than fourfold as
      compared with parent compound 1. 

PMID- 26865178
TI  - Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome recurrence
      after kidney transplantation associated with complement factor H mutations: a
      case report with a 5-year follow-up.

PMID- 26865177
TI  - FGF-23 levels are associated with vascular calcification, but not with
      atherosclerosis, in hemodialysis patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: High fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) levels are associated with
      mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease. The
      aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between
      plasma FGF-23 levels and coronary artery calcification and carotid artery intima
      media thickness (CA-IMT) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: In this cross
      sectional study, plasma intact FGF-23 levels were measured in 229 patients who
      underwent coronary artery calcification scores (CACs) determined by multi-slice
      computerized tomography and CA-IMT assessed by using high-resolution color
      Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: Median FGF-23 was 53.5 pg/ml (IQR 30.8-249.5).
      Median CACs was 98 (IQR 0-531), and the frequency of patients with severe
      calcification (CACs > 400) was 28.8%; 27.5% of cases had no calcification. Mean
      CA-IMT was 0.78 +/- 0.20 mm, and the presence of carotid plaques was 51% with a
      mean length 2.1 mm. FGF-23 level was positively correlated with serum calcium (r
      = 0.337, p < 0.001), phosphate (r = 0.397, p < 0.001) and CACs (r = 0.218, p =
      0.001). Neither CA-IMT nor the presence of carotid artery plaques correlated with
      FGF-23 levels. In adjusted ordinal regression analysis, FGF-23 level was an
      independent predictor for severe CACs together with age, gender, presence of
      diabetes, time on dialysis and CA-IMT (model r(2) = 0.44, p < 0.001). As a novel
      finding, the mean CACs was markedly higher in patients with FGF-23 level above
      median regardless of phosphate levels (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In HD patients,
      plasma FGF-23 level is superior to phosphate in the prediction of coronary artery
      calcification. However, FGF-23 is not associated with carotid artery
      atherosclerosis in HD patients.

PMID- 26865180
TI  - Sex effect on insulin secretion and mitochondrial function in pancreatic beta
      cells of elderly Wistar rats.
AB  - AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Glucose tolerance progressively declines with age, and there is
      a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the elderly people. Previous studies have
      reported the sex differences in risk for type 2 diabetes, especially in the
      elderly people, whereas reasons for these sex differences remain poorly
      understood. This study aims to evaluate the effect of sex on glucose-stimulated
      insulin secretion and mitochondrial function in pancreatic beta cells of Wistar
      rats. METHODS: 3-month-old and 18-month-old Wistar rats of both sexes were used.
      Insulin secretion of islets was analyzed by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
      and islet perifusion assays; ATP content and oxygen consumption rate of islets
      were determined to evaluate the mitochondrial function. RESULTS: Insulin
      secretion of islets under high glucose conditions declined significantly with age
      in both sexes. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of elderly female groups was
      markedly higher than that of male groups under high glucose conditions.
      Importantly, islets from elderly female groups showed higher mitochondrial
      function compared with male counterparts, evidenced by higher ATP content and
      oxygen consumption rate under high glucose conditions. It was also noted that
      mitochondrial biogenesis of islets from elderly female rats was significant
      higher compared with male rats. There were notable increases in expression of
      genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis in islets from elderly female rats
      compared with male rats. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a sex dimorphism in
      the age-associated impairment of pancreatic beta cell function in elderly rats,
      while the potential mechanism may be related to the sexual differences in
      mitochondrial biogenesis and function.

PMID- 26865181
TI  - Supramolecular aggregation of Ni(salen) with (C6F5)2Hg and [o-C6F4Hg]3.
AB  - As part of our ongoing interest in the supramolecular chemistry of fluorinated
      organomercurials, we have investigated the interaction of
      bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury ((C6F5)2Hg), and trimeric (perfluoro-o
      phenylene)mercury ([o-C6F4Hg]3), with nickel(II) N,N'
      bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine) (Ni(salen)). While solution studies monitored
      by UV-VIS spectroscopy suggest that Ni(salen) interacts with the trinuclear
      mercury complex in solution, the 1 : 1 adduct (Ni(salen)-(C6F5)2Hg) and the 1 : 1
      adducts Ni(salen)-[o-C6F4Hg]3 and [Ni(salen)-[o-C6F4Hg]3-THF-H2O] can be obtained
      by slow evaporation of solutions containing the two building blocks. While arene
      fluoroarene and hydrogen bonding interactions, as well as interactions between
      mercury and the salen ligand are the predominant forces responsible for the
      formation of these adducts, Ni(salen)-[o-C6F4Hg]3 and [Ni(salen)-[o-C6F4Hg]3-THF
      H2O] also display short Ni-Hg separations consistent with the presence of
      metallophilic interactions. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses
      of the Ni-Hg interactions in these adducts finds that these interactions are
      dominated by electrostatic and dispersion forces, despite featuring non
      negligible covalent contributions.

PMID- 26865179
TI  - Artesunate attenuates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis by
      regulating the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-7 and uterine
      sensitization-associated gene-1 in rats.
AB  - PURPOSE: Kidney fibrosis is the most common final stage of progressive renal
      disease. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) has been shown to be important in
      both preservation of kidney function and resistance to injury. Recently, it has
      been realized that uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1) functions as
      a kidney-specific BMP antagonist. Because of the reported anti-fibrotic effects
      of artesunate (Art), this study was designed to investigate the effects of Art on
      renal fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats and to explore the
      underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly
      divided into five groups: Sham group, UUO group, low-dose Art-treated (Art-L),
      middle-dose Art-treated (Art-M), and high-dose Art-treated (Art-H) groups. The
      UUO rat model was established by ligating the left ureter. Fourteen days later,
      interstitial collagen deposition, expression of USAG-1, BMP-7, E-cadherin, alpha
      smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), fibronectin (FN), collagen I, as well as the
      inflammatory infiltration levels in the kidneys were assessed. RESULTS: Art
      treatment significantly attenuated the deposition of interstitial collagens in
      the UUO rats' kidneys and exhibited the ability to improve renal function,
      followed by the up-regulated expression of BMP-7 and E-cadherin and the down
      regulated expression of USAG-1 and alpha-SMA. In addition, increased macrophages
      infiltration in the kidneys of the UUO rats were also attenuated by the
      administration of Art. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Art is able to
      improve the renal function decline and renal fibrosis induced by UUO, which may
      be associated with the up-regulation of BMP-7 and down-regulation of USAG-1.
      Accordingly, Art may become a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for
      chronic kidney diseases.

PMID- 26865183
TI  - The Pharmacology of Indomethacin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over 50 years ago, indomethacin emerged as an extremely potent non
      steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) during a massive effort to find
      effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. The 1960s saw acetic acid
      derivatives developed into indomethacin, diclofenac, and sulindac, and propionic
      derivatives into ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Indomethacin was likely the
      most potent of these compounds and one of the earliest to enter clinical trials.
      It is not surprising that indomethacin was among the first of the NSAID
      medications to be used in treatment of migraine and for headaches that eventually
      became known as "indomethacin-responsive" headache disorders. Potential
      pharmacokinetic and bio-mechanistic differences between indomethacin and other
      NSAIDs are of great clinical and research interest to explain this observation.
      METHODS/RESULTS: The present article summarizes pharmacologic properties of
      indomethacin, including pharmacokinetics with particular attention to its
      distribution into the central nervous system, adverse effects, drug interactions,
      and mechanisms of action. Data are emphasized where differences in biomechanisms
      are found between indomethacin and other NSAIDs. The use of indomethacin in
      pregnant and lactating women is reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: NSAIDs easily enter the
      brain, but their high protein binding limits absolute amount of entry. All work
      similarly as either nonselective or selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, but
      indomethacin may have more potent vasoconstrictive activity and unique direct
      neuronal or nitric oxide-dependent inhibitory pathway activity.

PMID- 26865182
TI  - Calcium and Magnesium Ions Are Membrane-Active against Stationary-Phase
      Staphylococcus aureus with High Specificity.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is notorious for its ability to acquire
      antibiotic-resistance, and antibiotic-resistant S. aureus has become a wide
      spread cause of high mortality rate. Novel antimicrobials capable of eradicating
      S. aureus cells including antibiotic-resistant ones are thus highly desired.
      Membrane-active bactericides and species-specific antimicrobials are two
      promising sources of novel anti-infective agents for fighting against bacterial
      antibiotic-resistance. We herein show that Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), two alkaline-earth
      metal ions physiologically essential for diverse living organisms, both disrupt
      model S. aureus membranes and kill stationary-phase S. aureus cells, indicative
      of membrane-activity. In contrast to S. aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus
      subtilis exhibit unaffected survival after similar treatment with these two
      cations, indicative of species-specific activity against S. aureus. Moreover,
      neither Ca(2+) nor Mg(2+) lyses mouse red blood cells, indicative of hemo
      compatibility. This works suggests that Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) may have implications
      in targeted eradication of S. aureus pathogen including the antibiotic-resistant
      ones. 

PMID- 26865184
TI  - Lgr5 Marks Neural Crest Derived Multipotent Oral Stromal Stem Cells.
AB  - It has been suggested that multipotent stem cells with neural crest (NC) origin
      persist into adulthood in oral mucosa. However their exact localization and role
      in normal homeostasis is unknown. In this study, we discovered that Lgr5 is
      expressed in NC cells during embryonic development, which give rise to the
      dormant stem cells in the adult tongue and oral mucosa. Those Lgr5 positive oral
      stromal stem cells display properties of NC stem cells including clonal growth
      and multipotent differentiation. RNA sequencing revealed that adult Lgr5+ oral
      stromal stem cells express high number of neural crest related markers like Sox9,
      Twist1, Snai1, Myc, Ets1, Crabp1, Epha2, and Itgb1. Using lineage-tracing
      experiments, we show that these cells persist more than a year in the ventral
      tongue and some areas of the oral mucosa and give rise to stromal progeny. In
      vivo transplantation demonstrated that these cells reconstitute the stroma. Our
      studies show for the first time that Lgr5 is expressed in the NC cells at
      embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) and is maintained during embryonic development and
      postnataly in the stroma of the ventral tongue, and some areas of the oral mucosa
      and that Lgr5+ cells participate in the maintenance of the stroma.

PMID- 26865185
TI  - Three-dimensional ultrasonographic depiction of fetal brain blood vessels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the fetal cerebral
      vasculature by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and Doppler technologies in
      normal fetuses and to describe a systematic method for analysis of volume data
      sets. METHODS: 3D volumes of the fetal brain were acquired prospectively in 25
      patients between 12.3 and 36.3 weeks' gestation. Volumes were acquired with high
      definition Doppler flow. The feasibility of identifying the fetal cerebral blood
      vessels and venous sinuses was analyzed. RESULTS: A step-by-step systematic
      approach to identify the cerebral vasculature from ultrasonographic volume data
      sets was developed. The volumes were rotated into a standard anatomic orientation
      in the multiplanar display, and then, by systematic navigation, the vessels were
      demonstrated. Arteries of the circle of Willis, basilar artery, pericallosal
      artery, and internal carotid arteries were demonstrated in more than half of the
      fetuses. Tiny vessels such as those that supply the cerebellum and those that
      branch from the pericallosal artery were demonstrated in less than 50% of the
      volumes. CONCLUSIONS: The essential fetal cerebral vessels can be visualized by
      3D volume analysis. Systematic analysis enables identification of the fetal brain
      arteries, veins, and sinuses and provides knowledge about anatomical variations
      and the diversity of human anatomy. (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26865187
TI  - Patients in trials of antidepressants are not typical of those in everyday
      practice.

PMID- 26865186
TI  - Profile of retigabine-induced neuronal apoptosis in the developing rat brain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute neonatal exposure to some, but not all, anticonvulsant drugs
      induces a profound increase in neuronal apoptosis in rats. Phenobarbital and
      phenytoin induce apoptosis at a therapeutically relevant dose range, lamotrigine
      and carbamazepine do so only at supratherapeutic doses or in polytherapy, and
      valproate does so even at subtherapeutic doses. Levetiracetam is devoid of pro
      apoptotic effects. Retigabine, a new-generation drug, acts uniquely by enhancing
      the M-type potassium current. Because its safety profile in developing animals is
      unstudied, we sought to determine if retigabine would induce apoptosis. METHODS:
      Postnatal day (P) 7 rat pups were treated with retigabine (5-30 mg/kg), vehicle
      (saline), or comparator drugs (phenobarbital, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, or
      carbamazepine). Cell death was assessed using amino-cupric-silver staining. A
      separate group of animals was treated repeatedly (three times over 24 h) with
      retigabine (15 mg/kg) or vehicle. To establish a pharmacokinetic profile for
      retigabine, we measured plasma and brain levels after drug treatment. RESULTS:
      Consistent with prior studies from our group and others, we found phenobarbital
      induced cell death throughout thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and several
      neocortical areas. By contrast, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine
      were found to have no appreciable apoptotic effect on the aforementioned
      structures. Acute (single) exposure to retigabine, even at doses of 30 mg/kg, was
      also without effect on apoptosis. However, repeated (three times) exposure to
      retigabine triggered apoptosis in a subset of brain areas. The half-life of
      retigabine in plasma was 2.5 h, with appreciable concentrations reached in the
      brain within 1 h of administration. SIGNIFICANCE: These data demonstrate that
      retigabine, like many other anticonvulsant drugs, is capable of triggering
      neuronal apoptosis in the developing rat brain. Unlike other drugs, repeated
      dosing of retigabine was necessary to induce this effect. This may be due to its
      shorter half-life as compared to other drugs, such as phenobarbital.

PMID- 26865188
TI  - Total hip arthroplasty via the anterior approach: tips and tricks for primary and
      revision surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: Described for the first time in the 1950s, the direct anterior approach
      to the hip has been gaining in popularity over the last decade following the
      trend of minimally invasive surgery. This paper provides an overview of the
      approach and its indications and various uses and focuses on its utility in the
      revision setting. A detailed overview of the technique including tips and tricks
      as well as an explanation of common errors are included. METHOD: Graphic and
      clinical study of the approach, indications and feasibility. RESULTS: The
      reported benefits of the direct anterior technique include enhanced post
      operative recovery and respect for all the innervation and vascularization
      territories. It has been shown to be safe and effective in revision settings, to
      decrease the occurrence of heterotopic ossification, to enhance the accuracy of
      acetabular cup positioning, and to improve post-operative rehabilitation while
      having comparable outcomes in terms of loosening or component failure.
      Additionally, thromboembolic events have been shown to be decreased compared to
      other approaches. The most common reported complications in the revision setting
      is intra-operative fracture. The decision of a surgeon to transition to this
      approach, however, comes with a learning curve and potentially detrimental
      complications if done improperly. DISCUSSION: In addition to its appeal in the
      primary setting, the approach could possibly be a solution to decrease the
      morbidity associated with revision surgery through its use of a fresh tissue
      plane not previously traumatized with the primary approach.

PMID- 26865189
TI  - Binding interactions of the peripheral stalk subunit isoforms from human V
      ATPase.
AB  - The mammalian peripheral stalk subunits of the vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPases (V
      ATPases) possess several isoforms (C1, C2, E1, E2, G1, G2, G3, a1, a2, a3, and
      a4), which may play significant role in regulating ATPase assembly and
      disassembly in different tissues. To better understand the structure and function
      of V-ATPase, we expressed and purified several isoforms of the human V-ATPase
      peripheral stalk: E1G1, E1G2, E1G3, E2G1, E2G2, E2G3, C1, C2, H, a1NT, and a2NT.
      Here, we investigated and characterized the isoforms of the peripheral stalk
      region of human V-ATPase with respect to their affinity and kinetics in different
      combination. We found that different isoforms interacted in a similar manner with
      the isoforms of other subunits. The differences in binding affinities among
      isoforms were minor from our in vitro studies. However, such minor differences
      from the binding interaction among isoforms might provide valuable information
      for the future structural-functional studies of this holoenzyme. 

PMID- 26865190
TI  - Molecular Analysis of the Polymeric Glutenins with Gliadin-Like Characteristics
      That Were Produced by Acid Dispersion of Wheat Gluten.
AB  - We had earlier shown that the dispersion of wheat gluten in acetic acid solution
      conferred gliadin-like characteristics to the polymeric glutenins. To elucidate
      the molecular behavior of its polymeric glutenins, the characteristics of gluten
      powder prepared from dispersions with various types of acid were investigated in
      this study. Mixograph measurements showed that the acid-treated gluten powders,
      regardless of the type of acid, had dough properties markedly weakened in both
      resistance and elasticity properties, as though gliadin was supplemented. The
      polymeric glutenins extracted with 70% ethanol increased greatly in all acid
      treated gluten powders. Size exclusion HPLC and SDS-PAGE indicated that the
      behavior of polymeric glutenins due to acid treatment was attributed to their
      subunit composition rich in high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) and
      not their molecular size. The gluten prepared with the addition of NaCl in acid
      dispersion had properties similar to those of the control gluten. The results
      suggest that ionic repulsion induced by acid dispersion made the polymeric
      glutenins rich in HMW-GS disaggregate, and therefore, act like gliadins. 

PMID- 26865191
TI  - Verification of gamma-Amino-Butyric Acid (GABA) Signaling System Components in
      Periodontal Ligament Cells In Vivo and In Vitro.
AB  - CNS key neurotransmitter gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and its signaling
      components are likewise detectable in non-neuronal tissues displaying inter alia
      immunomodulatory functions. This study aimed at identifying potential glutamate
      decarboxylase (GAD)65 and GABA receptor expression in periodontal ligament (PDL)
      cells in vivo and in vitro, with particular regard to inflammation and mechanical
      loading. Gene expression was analyzed in human PDL cells at rest or in response
      to IL-1beta (5 ng/ml) or TNFalpha (5 ng/ml) challenge via qRT-PCR. Western blot
      determined constitutive receptor expression, and confocal laser scanning
      fluorescence microscopy visualized expression changes induced by inflammation.
      ELISA quantified GAD65 release. Immunocytochemistry was performed for GABA
      component detection in vitro on mechanically loaded PDL cells, and in vivo on rat
      upper jaw biopsies with mechanically induced root resorptions. Statistical
      significance was set at p < 0.05. GABAB1, GABAB2, GABAA1, and GABAA3 were
      ubiquitously expressed both on gene and protein level. GABAA2 and GAD65 were
      undetectable in resting cells, but induced by inflammation. GABAB1 exhibited the
      highest basal gene expression (6.97 % +/- 0.16). IL-1beta markedly increased
      GABAB2 on a transcriptional (57.28-fold +/- 12.40) and protein level seen via
      fluorescence microscopy. TNFalpha-stimulated PDL cells released GAD65 (3.68 pg/ml
      +/- 0.17 after 24 h, 5.77 pg/ml +/- 0.65 after 48 h). Immunocytochemistry
      revealed GAD65 expression in mechanically loaded PDL cells. In vivo, GABA
      components were varyingly expressed in an inflammatory periodontal environment.
      PDL cells differentially express GABA signaling components and secrete GAD65.
      Inflammation and mechanical loading regulate these neurotransmitter molecules,
      which are also detectable in vivo and are potentially involved in periodontal
      pathophysiology.

PMID- 26865192
TI  - Multicenter impact analysis of a model for predicting recurrent early-onset
      preeclampsia: A before-after study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the impact of using a prediction model
      for recurrent preeclampsia to customize antenatal care in subsequent pregnancies.
      METHODS: We compared care consumption, pregnancy outcomes, and self-reported
      health state of two risk-based subgroups, and compared these to a reference group
      receiving standard care. RESULTS: We included a total of 311 women from 12
      hospitals. Compared to standard care, recurrence-risk guided care did not lead to
      different outcomes or self-perceived health. CONCLUSION: Our study exemplifies
      that recurrence-risk-based stratification of antenatal care in former
      preeclampsia patients is feasible; it does not lead to worse pregnancy outcomes.

PMID- 26865193
TI  - Improving Treatment of Uncomplicated Diverticulitis: The Old Appendicitis.

PMID- 26865194
TI  - A Breathing Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework with Reversible Loss of
      Crystallinity by Correlated Nanodomain Formation.
AB  - The isoreticular analogue of the metal-organic framework UiO-66(Zr), synthesized
      with the flexible trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid as linker, shows a
      peculiar breathing behavior by reversibly losing long-range crystalline order
      upon evacuation. The underlying flexibility is attributed to a concerted
      conformational contraction of up to two thirds of the linkers, which breaks the
      local lattice symmetry. X-ray scattering data are described well by a nanodomain
      model in which differently oriented tetragonal-type distortions propagate over
      about 7-10 unit cells.

PMID- 26865195
TI  - Effect of Renal and Hepatic Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics of Cabozantinib.
AB  - Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of
      patients with progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. Two clinical
      pharmacology studies were conducted to characterize single-dose pharmacokinetics
      (PK) of cabozantinib in renally or hepatically impaired subjects. Study 1
      enrolled 10 subjects, each with mild or moderate impairment of renal function; 12
      healthy subjects were matched to the moderate group for age, sex, and body mass
      index (BMI). Study 2 enrolled 8 males each with mild or moderate hepatic
      impairment; 10 healthy males were matched to the moderate group for age, BMI, and
      ethnicity. All subjects received one 60 mg cabozantinib oral capsule dose
      followed by PK sampling over 21 days. Plasma concentration and protein binding
      were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and equilibrium
      dialysis, respectively. PK parameters were computed using noncompartmental
      methods. Geometric least squared mean (LSM) ratios for plasma cabozantinib AUC0
      infinity for impaired to normal organ function cohorts were (1) approximately 30%
      and 6% higher in subjects with mild and moderate renal impairment, respectively,
      and (2) approximately 81% and 63% higher in subjects with mild and moderate
      hepatic impairment, respectively. The percentage of unbound drug was slightly
      higher in both moderately impaired cohorts. No deaths or discontinuations due to
      adverse events occurred in either study. Cabozantinib should be used with caution
      in subjects with mild or moderate renal impairment. Subjects with mild or
      moderate hepatic impairment administered cabozantinib should be monitored closely
      for potential treatment-emergent drug toxicity that may necessitate a dose hold
      or reduction.

PMID- 26865197
TI  - Urate-Lowering Drugs and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: The Emerging Role
      of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition.

PMID- 26865199
TI  - Allopurinol and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults With Hypertension.
AB  - Allopurinol lowers blood pressure in adolescents and has other vasoprotective
      effects. Whether similar benefits occur in older individuals remains unclear. We
      hypothesized that allopurinol is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes
      in older adults with hypertension. Data from the United Kingdom Clinical Research
      Practice Datalink were used. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazard models were
      applied to estimate hazard ratios for stroke and cardiac events (defined as
      myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome) associated with allopurinol use
      over a 10-year period in adults aged >65 years with hypertension. A propensity
      matched design was used to reduce potential for confounding. Allopurinol exposure
      was a time-dependent variable and was defined as any exposure and then as high
      (>=300 mg daily) or low-dose exposure. A total of 2032 allopurinol-exposed
      patients and 2032 matched nonexposed patients were studied. Allopurinol use was
      associated with a significantly lower risk of both stroke (hazard ratio, 0.50;
      95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.80) and cardiac events (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95%
      confidence interval, 0.43-0.87) than nonexposed control patients. In exposed
      patients, high-dose treatment with allopurinol (n=1052) was associated with a
      significantly lower risk of both stroke (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence
      interval, 0.36-0.94) and cardiac events (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence
      interval, 0.46-0.93) than low-dose treatment (n=980). Allopurinol use is
      associated with lower rates of stroke and cardiac events in older adults with
      hypertension, particularly at higher doses. Prospective clinical trials are
      needed to evaluate whether allopurinol improves cardiovascular outcomes in adults
      with hypertension. 

PMID- 26865198
TI  - Medication Adherence and the Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality and Hospitalization
      Among Patients With Newly Prescribed Antihypertensive Medications.
AB  - The importance of adherence to antihypertensive treatments for the prevention of
      cardiovascular disease has not been well elucidated. This study evaluated the
      effect of antihypertensive medication adherence on specific cardiovascular
      disease mortality (ischemic heart disease [IHD], cerebral hemorrhage, and
      cerebral infarction). Our study used data from a 3% sample cohort that was
      randomly extracted from enrollees of Korean National Health Insurance. Study
      subjects were aged >=20 years, were diagnosed with hypertension, and started
      newly prescribed antihypertensive medication in 2003 to 2004. Adherence to
      antihypertensive medication was estimated as the cumulative medication adherence.
      Subjects were divided into good (cumulative medication adherence, >=80%),
      intermediate (cumulative medication adherence, 50%-80%), and poor (cumulative
      medication adherence, <50%) adherence groups. We used time-dependent Cox
      proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between medication
      adherence and health outcomes. Among 33 728 eligible subjects, 670 (1.99%) died
      of coronary heart disease or stroke during follow-up. Patients with poor
      medication adherence had worse mortality from IHD (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95%
      confidence interval, 1.16-2.31; P for trend=0.005), cerebral hemorrhage (hazard
      ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.77; P for trend=0.004), and cerebral
      infarction (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.96; P for
      trend=0.003) than those with good adherence. The estimated hazard ratios of
      hospitalization for cardiovascular disease were consistent with the mortality end
      point. Poor medication adherence was associated with higher mortality and a
      greater risk of hospitalization for specific cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing
      the importance of a monitoring system and strategies to improve medication
      adherence in clinical practice. 

PMID- 26865201
TI  - Renal Resistive Index Predicts Postoperative Blood Pressure Outcome in Primary
      Aldosteronism.
AB  - The renal resistive index (RI) calculated by Doppler ultrasonography has been
      reported to be correlated with renal structural changes and outcomes in patients
      with essential hypertension or renal disease. However, little is known about this
      index in primary aldosteronism. In this prospective study, we examined the
      utility of this index to predict blood pressure (BP) outcome after adrenalectomy
      in patients with primary aldosteronism. We studied 94 patients with
      histopathologically proven aldosteronoma who underwent surgery. Parameters on
      renal function, including renal flow indices, were examined and followed up for
      12 months postoperatively. The renal RI of the main, hilum, and interlobar
      arteries was significantly higher in patients with aldosteronoma compared with
      100 control patients. BP, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urinary
      albumin excretion significantly decreased after adrenalectomy. The resistive
      indices of all compartment arteries were significantly reduced 1 month after
      adrenalectomy and remained stable for 12 months. Patients whose interlobar RI was
      in the highest tertile at baseline had higher systolic BP after adrenalectomy
      than those whose RI was in the lowest tertile. Logistic regression analysis
      demonstrated that the RI of the interlobar and hilum arteries could be an
      independent predictive marker for intractable hypertension (systolic BP >=140 mm
      Hg, increased BP, taking >=3 antihypertensive agents, or increased number of
      agents) even after adrenalectomy. Therefore, in patients with aldosteronoma, the
      renal RI indicates partially reversible renal hemodynamics and renal structural
      damages that would influence postoperative BP outcome. 

PMID- 26865202
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26865203
TI  - An observational study of direct oral anticoagulant awareness indicating
      inadequate recognition with potential for patient harm.
AB  - Essentials Ignorance of direct oral anticoagulants' effects on coagulation tests
      may be a safety issue. An electronic questionnaire was sent to prescribers in NHS
      Grampian with 143 respondents. We found widespread evidence of inappropriate
      interpretation of the clinical scenarios given. The study suggests potential for
      patient harm due to lack of knowledge and education is required. SUMMARY:
      Background Lack of awareness of the nature of the direct oral anticoagulants
      (DOACs) combined with the poor correlation between routine coagulation test
      prolongation and the activity of these drugs represents a potential for patient
      harm. Objectives To establish the level of awareness of the different DOACs, and
      to assess whether prescribers were able to recognize the state of anticoagulation
      in a hypothetical patient. Methods and results An electronic questionnaire was
      sent by email to prescribers in our health board. Among 143 respondents, we found
      significant differences in awareness of the currently licensed drugs. Of the
      respondents, 88%, 80% and 50%, respectively, recognized rivaroxaban, dabigatran,
      and apixaban. When provided with a routine clinical situation, only 13.5%, 17.5%
      and 16.8%, respectively, recognized that the hypothetical patient was
      anticoagulated, and only 55-58% recognized that it was unsafe to proceed with an
      invasive procedure. Conclusion These results indicate a significant risk for
      patient harm related to lack of knowledge about this new group of frequently used
      drugs, and indicate that additional education and training on this subject are
      required.

PMID- 26865205
TI  - Cumulative Response to Sequences of Terror Attacks Varying in Frequency and
      Trajectory.
AB  - There is a paucity of research examining public response to the cumulative
      effects of multiple related extreme events over time. We investigated the
      separate and combined effects of frequency and trajectory of terrorist attacks. A
      scenario simulation of a series of gas station bombings in Southern California
      was developed to evaluate respondents' affect, risk perception, and intended
      avoidance behavior using a 3 (frequency; low vs. medium vs. high) by 3
      (trajectory; increasing vs. constant vs. decreasing) factorial design. For each
      of the nine conditions, three videos were created to simulate news broadcasts
      documenting the attacks over a three-week period. A total of 275 respondents were
      included in the analysis. Results from analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) indicate
      that trajectory of the sequential attacks (increasing or decreasing in frequency)
      predicts negative affect, risk perception, and avoidance behavior. In contrast,
      frequency predicts neither negative affect, positive affect, risk perception, nor
      intended avoidance behavior. Results from structural equation modeling (SEM)
      further indicate that the effect of negative affect on behavioral intention is
      mediated by risk perception and the effect of trajectory on risk perception is
      partially mediated by negative affect. In addition, both ANCOVAs and SEM model
      results suggest that (1) females experience less positive affect and perceive
      more risk than males, (2) respondents with higher income perceive more risk, and
      (3) younger respondents are more likely to modify their behavior to avoid the
      risk of future attacks.

PMID- 26865200
TI  - Patterns and Correlates of Baseline Thiazide-Type Diuretic Prescription in the
      Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial.
AB  - Thiazides and thiazide-type diuretics are recommended as first-line agents for
      the treatment of hypertension, but contemporary information on their use in
      clinical practice is lacking. We examined patterns and correlates of thiazide
      prescription in a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from participants
      enrolled in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). We examined
      baseline prescription of thiazides in 7582 participants receiving at least 1
      antihypertensive medication by subgroup, and used log-binomial regression to
      calculate adjusted prevalence ratios for thiazide prescription (versus no
      thiazide). Forty-three percent of all participants were prescribed a thiazide at
      baseline, but among participants prescribed a single agent, the proportion was
      only 16%. The prevalence of thiazide prescription differed significantly by
      demographic factors, with younger participants, women, and blacks all having
      higher adjusted prevalence of thiazide prescription than other corresponding
      subgroups. Participants in the lowest category of kidney function (estimated
      glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2) were half as likely to be
      prescribed a thiazide as participants with preserved kidney function. In
      conclusion, among persons with hypertension and heightened cardiovascular risk,
      we found that thiazide prescription varied significantly by demographics and
      kidney disease status, despite limited evidence about relative differences in
      effectiveness. 

PMID- 26865204
TI  - Pulmonary fungal infections in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: is it the
      time to revise the radiological diagnostic criteria?
AB  - The definition of pulmonary fungal infections (PFI) according to the EORTC-MSG
      criteria may lack diagnostic sensitivity due to the possible presentation of PFI
      with different radiological pictures. We evaluated the hypothesis to apply less
      restrictive radiological criteria to define PFI in patients with acute myeloid
      leukaemia (AML) submitted to chemotherapy. Overall, 73 consecutive episodes of
      pulmonary infiltrates associated to positive serum galactomannan test or fungal
      isolation or galactomannan detection from respiratory specimens were considered.
      CT scans acquired at the onset of symptoms (time-0) and within 4 weeks (time-1)
      were analysed to identify specific (group A) or aspecific radiological signs
      (group B). Pulmonary infiltrates fulfilled the EORTC-MSG criteria in 49 patients
      (group A), whereas in 24 patients (group B) they did not reach the criteria due
      to aspecific CT findings at time-0. Eleven of 21 (52.4%) patients of the group B
      evaluable for the evolution of the radiological findings fulfilled EORTC-MSG
      criteria at time-1. All the analysed clinical and mycological characteristics,
      response to antifungal therapy and survival were comparable in the two groups.
      Our study seems to confirm the possibility to extend the radiological suspicion
      of PFI to less restrictive chest CT findings when supported by microbiological
      criteria in high-risk haematological patients. 

PMID- 26865206
TI  - Melanoma Gene Expression Markers for Surveillance of Epidermolysis Bullosa Nevi
      Malignant Transformation.

PMID- 26865207
TI  - Time trends in socio-economic inequalities in stunting prevalence: analyses of
      repeated national surveys - CORRIGENDUM.

PMID- 26865209
TI  - Assessment of pelvic organ prolapse: a review.

PMID- 26865210
TI  - A broadening temperature sensitivity range with a core-shell YbEr@YbNd double
      ratiometric optical nanothermometer.
AB  - The chemical architecture of lanthanide doped core-shell up-converting
      nanoparticles can be engineered to purposely design the properties of luminescent
      nanomaterials, which are typically inaccessible to their homogeneous
      counterparts. Such an approach allowed to shift the up-conversion excitation
      wavelength from ~980 to the more relevant ~808 nm or enable Tb or Eu up
      conversion emission, which was previously impossible to obtain or inefficient.
      Here, we address the issue of limited temperature sensitivity range of optical
      lanthanide based nano-thermometers. By covering Yb-Er co-doped core nanoparticles
      with the Yb-Nd co-doped shell, we have intentionally combined temperature
      dependent Er up-conversion together with temperature dependent Nd -> Yb energy
      transfer, and thus have expanded the temperature response range DeltaT of a
      single nanoparticle based optical nano-thermometer under single ~808 nm
      wavelength photo-excitation from around DeltaT = 150 K to over DeltaT = 300 K
      (150-450 K). Such engineered nanocrystals are suitable for remote optical
      temperature measurements in technology and biotechnology at the sub-micron scale.

PMID- 26865208
TI  - Our first decade of experience in deep brain stimulation of the brainstem:
      elucidating the mechanism of action of stimulation of the ventrolateral pontine
      tegmentum.
AB  - The region of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) has been proposed as
      a novel target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat levodopa resistant
      symptoms in motor disorders. Recently, the anatomical organization of the
      brainstem has been revised and four new distinct structures have been represented
      in the ventrolateral pontine tegmentum area in which the PPTg was previously
      identified. Given this anatomical reassessment, and considering the increasing of
      our experience, in this paper we revisit the value of DBS applied to that area.
      The reappraisal of clinical outcomes in the light of this revisitation may also
      help to understand the consequences of DBS applied to structures located in the
      ventrolateral pontine tegmentum, apart from the PPTg. The implantation of 39
      leads in 32 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD, 27 patients) and
      progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, four patients) allowed us to reach two major
      conclusions. The first is that the results of the advancement of our technique in
      brainstem DBS matches the revision of brainstem anatomy. The second is that
      anatomical and functional aspects of our findings may help to explain how DBS
      acts when applied in the brainstem and to identify the differences when it is
      applied either in the brainstem or in the subthalamic nucleus. Finally, in this
      paper we discuss how the loss of neurons in brainstem nuclei occurring in both PD
      and PSP, the results of intraoperative recording of somatosensory evoked
      potentials, and the improvement of postural control during DBS point toward the
      potential role of ascending sensory pathways and/or other structures in mediating
      the effects of DBS applied in the ventrolateral pontine tegmentum region.

PMID- 26865212
TI  - PHASES and the natural history of unruptured aneurysms: science or pseudoscience?

PMID- 26865211
TI  - Increased level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the skin of
      Japanese obese males: measured by quantitative skin blotting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A state of chronic inflammation, characterized by an increased level
      of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), is often found in the obese
      population. The negative effects of elevated TNF-alpha are not limited to
      systemic metabolism. It also reportedly affects skin integrity. Recently, the
      relationship between obesity and skin fragility was reported; however, there has
      been little insight into how the level of TNF-alpha in the skin in situ is
      related to the severity of obesity. In this study, we aimed to measure the level
      of TNF-alpha on the skin and to find the relationship between obesity and the
      level of TNF-alpha detected on the skin. METHODS: We used a novel, non-invasive
      method called quantitative skin blotting. Fifty-nine healthy (but some were
      classified as being overweight or obese) Japanese males were enrolled as
      subjects. The levels of TNF-alpha detected on the abdominal and thigh skin along
      with the body composition were measured, followed by a correlation analysis.
      RESULTS: Significant positive correlations were found between the levels of TNF
      alpha detected on the skin and the severity of obesity such as body mass index
      (BMI), body fat weight and visceral fat rating. CONCLUSION: We found that high
      levels of TNF-alpha were detected on the skin of Japanese obese males, which
      implied the higher TNF-alpha in the skin. The elevation of skin TNF-alpha may be
      one factor related to skin fragility that is often found in obese individuals.

PMID- 26865213
TI  - Science and scepticism: Drug information, young men and counterpublic health.
AB  - It is perhaps no surprise that young people can be sceptical of the drug-related
      information they receive in school-based health education, health promotion and
      the media. Significant societal anxiety surrounds young people's drug
      consumption, so it is tempting to approach this scepticism as a problem to be
      solved. In this article, we look closely at a group of young Australian men (n =
      25), all of whom hold deeply sceptical views about the drug information they
      received in schools, social marketing campaigns and public speech generally. We
      do not approach their scepticism as a problem to be solved in itself, however.
      Instead, we analyse its origins and how it relates to the way knowledge is
      constructed in drug education, health promotion and media accounts of drug use.
      To conceptualise this scepticism, we draw on Irwin and Michael's analysis of the
      changing relationship between science and society, Warner's theorisation of
      publics and counterpublics, and Race's related notion of 'counterpublic health'.
      The article organises the data into three key themes: scepticism about the
      accuracy of the claims made about drug risks and dangers, scepticism about
      representations of drug users, and scepticism about the motivations behind the
      health messages and drug policy in general. We then draw these different aspects
      of scepticism together to argue that the young men can be seen to constitute a
      health 'counterpublic', and we consider the implications of this approach,
      arguing for what has been described as a more diplomatic engagement between
      science and publics.

PMID- 26865214
TI  - The body mechanical: Building a caring community, crafting a functioning body.
AB  - When Hansen's disease became treatable in Taiwan in the mid-20th century, a group
      of Hansen's disease patients lost their sick role despite still having lingering
      symptoms that continued to evolve. While sociologists have explored in-depth
      situations in which the social role of the sick is ambiguous, few studies have
      investigated body experiences under liminality that requires sick people to find
      a new sick role. Living with lingering symptoms in a post-Hansen's disease world,
      the Hansen's disease patients I have studied face the conundrum of having to find
      an alternative sick role. Ethnographic fieldwork demonstrates how patients
      develop a specific set of body techniques that shape and are shaped by their
      membership in a patient community. Exploring the reinforcing projects of re
      embodiment and sociality around Hansen's disease, I argue that patients are able
      both to legitimate each other's feelings of sickness and to use those feelings to
      manage their illness and, as such, to collectively acquire an alternative sick
      role. Adding to existing discussions of active patients, this article identifies
      the body mechanical as a way of practicing active patienthood organized around
      fixing, trials, mending and functionality.

PMID- 26865215
TI  - Lipoxin A4 exerts protective effects against experimental acute liver failure by
      inhibiting the NF-kappaB pathway.
AB  - Although rare, acute liver failure (ALF) is associated with high levels of
      mortality, warranting the development of novel therapies. Nuclear factor-kappaB
      (NF-kappaB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)
      play roles in ALF. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) has been shown to alleviate inflammation in
      non-hepatic tissues. In the present study, we explored whether LXA4 exerted
      hepatoprotective effects in a rat model of ALF. A rat model of ALF was generated
      by intraperitoneal injections of D-galactosamine (300 mg/kg) and
      lipopolysaccharide (50 ug/kg). Animals were randomly assigned to: control group
      (no ALF); model group (ALF); and the groups treated with a low dose (0.5 ug/kg),
      medium dose (1 ug/kg), and high dose (2 ug/kg) of LXA4 (all with ALF); and
      pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)-treated group (ALF and 100 mg/kg PDTC, an
      inhibitor of NF-kappaB). Liver histology was measured using H&E staining, serum
      levels by ELISA, and liver mRNA expression was measured by RT-PCR for the
      detection of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6. Liver cell
      apoptosis (as measured using the TUNEL method and examining caspase-3 activity),
      and Kupffer cell NF-kappaB activity [using an electrophoretic mobility shift
      assay (EMSA)] were examined. Serum levels of transaminases, TNF-alpha and
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) were substantially higher in the model group compared to
      controls. In the model group, significant increases in TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA
      expression, TUNEL-positive cells, and caspase-3 activity in the liver tissue were
      noted. LXA4 improved liver pathology and significantly decreased the indicators
      of inflammatory response and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. High-dose LXA4
      provided better protection than PDTC. LXA4 administration significantly decreased
      NF-kappaB expression in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. These results indicated
      that LXA4 inhibited NF-kappaB activation, reduced the secretion of pro
      inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited apoptosis of liver cells, thereby exerting
      protective effects against ALF.

PMID- 26865216
TI  - Identification of candidate genes involved in Witches' broom disease resistance
      in a segregating mapping population of Theobroma cacao L. in Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Witches' broom disease (WBD) caused by the fungus Moniliophthora
      perniciosa is responsible for considerable economic losses for cacao producers.
      One of the ways to combat WBD is to plant resistant cultivars. Resistance may be
      governed by a few genetic factors, mainly found in wild germplasm. RESULTS: We
      developed a dense genetic linkage map with a length of 852.8 cM that contains
      3,526 SNPs and is based on the MP01 mapping population, which counts 459 trees
      from a cross between the resistant 'TSH 1188' and the tolerant 'CCN 51' at the
      Mars Center for Cocoa Science in Barro Preto, Bahia, Brazil. Seven quantitative
      trait loci (QTL) that are associated with WBD were identified on five different
      chromosomes using a multi-trait QTL analysis for outbreeders. Phasing of the
      haplotypes at the major QTL region on chromosome IX on a diversity panel of
      genotypes clearly indicates that the major resistance locus comes from a well
      known source of WBD resistance, the clone 'SCAVINA 6'. Various potential
      candidate genes identified within all QTL may be involved in different steps
      leading to disease resistance. Preliminary expression data indicate that at least
      three of these candidate genes may play a role during the first 12 h after
      infection, with clear differences between 'CCN 51' and 'TSH 1188'. CONCLUSIONS:
      We combined the information from a large mapping population with very distinct
      parents that segregate for WBD, a dense set of mapped markers, rigorous
      phenotyping capabilities and the availability of a sequenced genome to identify
      several genomic regions that are involved in WBD resistance. We also identified a
      novel source of resistance that most likely comes from the 'CCN 51' parent.
      Thanks to the large population size of the MP01 population, we were able to pick
      up QTL and markers with relatively small effects that can contribute to the
      creation and selection of more tolerant/resistant plant material.

PMID- 26865218
TI  - Quercetin mitigates valinomycin-induced cellular stress via stress-induced
      metabolism and cell uptake.
AB  - SCOPE: Intestinal cells are constantly exposed to luminal toxins. In this study,
      we investigated the effect of cellular stress caused by valinomycin, which is
      structurally and functionally similar to the bacterial toxin cereulide, on
      quercetin metabolism and cellular localization in undifferentiated cells. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: Coadministration of quercetin and valinomycin (50 MUM quercetin/0.05
      MUM valinomycin) reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species content and
      increased cell viability (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
      bromide) of Caco-2 cells compared to valinomycin-only (0.05 MUM) treatment.
      Quercertin was effectively metabolized into methyl, glucuronide, and sulfate
      conjugates, which were mostly secreted into to the culture medium. Three
      different O-methylated quercetin isomers were detected. Two were exported from
      the cells and one remained intracellularly. Further, valinomycin caused an
      increase in the intracellular accumulation of O-methylated quercetin metabolites
      compared to cells treated only with quercetin. In valinomycin-untreated cells,
      quercetin and O-methylated quercetin metabolite were localized in the cell
      membrane, whereas valinomycin treatment resulted in their uptake by the cells.
      CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the change in metabolism, localization,
      and accumulation of O-methylated quercetin metabolites in undifferentiated Caco-2
      cells as a response during stress caused by valinomycin. These results indicate a
      potential cellular stress response mechanism in undifferentiated Caco-2 cells,
      which adds novel insights into the mechanisms of flavonoid cellular bioactivity.

PMID- 26865217
TI  - Genomic study of the Ket: a Paleo-Eskimo-related ethnic group with significant
      ancient North Eurasian ancestry.
AB  - The Kets, an ethnic group in the Yenisei River basin, Russia, are considered the
      last nomadic hunter-gatherers of Siberia, and Ket language has no transparent
      affiliation with any language family. We investigated connections between the
      Kets and Siberian and North American populations, with emphasis on the Mal'ta and
      Paleo-Eskimo ancient genomes, using original data from 46 unrelated samples of
      Kets and 42 samples of their neighboring ethnic groups (Uralic-speaking
      Nganasans, Enets, and Selkups). We genotyped over 130,000 autosomal SNPs,
      identified mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal haplogroups, and performed high
      coverage genome sequencing of two Ket individuals. We established that Nganasans,
      Kets, Selkups, and Yukaghirs form a cluster of populations most closely related
      to Paleo-Eskimos in Siberia (not considering indigenous populations of Chukotka
      and Kamchatka). Kets are closely related to modern Selkups and to some Bronze and
      Iron Age populations of the Altai region, with all these groups sharing a high
      degree of Mal'ta ancestry. Implications of these findings for the linguistic
      hypothesis uniting Ket and Na-Dene languages into a language macrofamily are
      discussed. 

PMID- 26865220
TI  - Current Rehabilitation Practices for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Focus and
      Gaps.
AB  - AIMS: To describe the focus of therapy practices in occupational and physical
      therapy for school-aged children with cerebral palsy, and better understand
      whether it is congruent with recommended practices. METHODS: A Canada-wide Web
      based survey was completed by 62 occupational and 61 physical therapists to
      identify problems, assessments, and treatment interventions for two case-based
      scenarios. Data were coded using the International Classification of Functioning,
      Disability and Health (ICF) definitions for "body functions and structure,"
      "activity and participation," and "environment." RESULTS: Physical therapists, in
      comparison to occupational therapists, were more likely to select interventions
      classed in the "body functions and structure" category (34-42% and 18-20%,
      respectively). Both professions focused on "activity and participation" (34-61%)
      when identifying problems, assessing, and intervening; attention, however, was
      mainly directed towards task-oriented activities such as activities of daily
      living and mobility. Participation in leisure or community-based activities
      received less attention (2-15%). The environment received limited attention for
      problems and assessments (4-25%), though it was an important focus of
      intervention (19-37%). CONCLUSIONS: While body functions and structure are well
      addressed, other ICF elements, specifically participation, are poorly integrated
      into practice. The emerging focus on the environment in therapy intervention, by
      modifying the context rather than changing aspects of the child, is consistent
      with current approaches and evidence. Knowledge translation implementation
      initiatives are recommended to bridge identified gaps.

PMID- 26865219
TI  - Rural-to-urban migration and risk of hypertension: longitudinal results of the
      PERU MIGRANT study.
AB  - Urbanization can be detrimental to health in populations due to changes in
      dietary and physical activity patterns. The aim of this study was to determine
      the effect of migration on the incidence of hypertension. Participants of the
      PERU MIGRANT study, that is, rural, urban and rural-to-urban migrants, were re
      evaluated after 5 years after baseline assessment. The outcome was incidence of
      hypertension; and the exposures were study group and other well-known risk
      factors. Incidence rates, relative risks (RRs) and population attributable
      fractions (PAFs) were calculated. At baseline, 201 (20.4%), 589 (59.5%) and 199
      (20.1%) participants were rural, rural-to-urban migrant and urban subjects,
      respectively. Overall mean age was 47.9 (s.d.+/-12.0) years, and 522 (52.9%) were
      female. Hypertension prevalence at baseline was 16.0% (95% confidence interval
      (CI) 13.7-18.3), being more common in urban group; whereas pre-hypertension was
      more prevalent in rural participants (P<0.001). Follow-up rate at 5 years was
      94%, 895 participants were re-assessed and 33 (3.3%) deaths were recorded.
      Overall incidence of hypertension was 1.73 (95%CI 1.36-2.20) per 100 person
      years. In multivariable model and compared with the urban group, rural group had
      a greater risk of developing hypertension (RR 3.58; 95%CI 1.42-9.06). PAFs showed
      high waist circumference as the leading risk factor for the hypertension
      development in rural (19.1%), migrant (27.9%) and urban (45.8%) participants.
      Subjects from rural areas are at higher risk of developing hypertension relative
      to rural-urban migrant or urban groups. Central obesity was the leading risk
      factor for hypertension incidence in the three population groups.

PMID- 26865222
TI  - Severe hyperkalemia presenting with wide-complex tachycardia in a puppy with
      acute kidney injury secondary to leptospirosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of hyperkalemia coinciding with wide-complex
      tachycardia (WCT) in a dog with acute kidney injury secondary to leptospirosis
      infection. CASE SUMMARY: An 11-week-old Golden Retriever-Standard Poodle cross
      puppy was referred for acute kidney injury and hepatopathy. WCT coinciding with
      marked hyperkalemia was identified on presentation. Tachycardia persisted until
      resolution of hyperkalemia. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To our knowledge,
      this is the first report of severe hyperkalemia presenting with WCT in a dog.
      Hyperkalemia should be considered a differential for WCT in dogs.

PMID- 26865221
TI  - Gold Nanoparticles Doped with (199) Au Atoms and Their Use for Targeted Cancer
      Imaging by SPECT.
AB  - Gold nanoparticles have been labeled with various radionuclides and extensively
      explored for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the context of
      cancer diagnosis. The stability of most radiolabels, however, still needs to be
      improved for accurate detection of cancer biomarkers and thereby monitoring of
      tumor progression and metastasis. Here, the first synthesis of Au nanoparticles
      doped with (199)Au atoms for targeted SPECT tumor imaging in a mouse triple
      negative breast cancer (TNBC) model is reported. By directly incorporating
      (199)Au atoms into the crystal lattice of each Au nanoparticle, the stability of
      the radiolabel can be ensured. The synthetic procedure also allows for a precise
      control over both the radiochemistry and particle size. When conjugated with D
      Ala1-peptide T-amide, the Au nanoparticles doped with (199)Au atoms can serve as
      a C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5)-targeted nanoprobe for the sensitive and
      specific detection of both TNBC and its metastasis in a mouse tumor model.

PMID- 26865223
TI  - Solution and Solid-State Analysis of Binding of 13-Substituted Berberine
      Analogues to Human Telomeric G-quadruplexes.
AB  - The interaction between 13-phenylalkyl and 13-diphenylalkyl berberine derivatives
      (NAX) and human telomeric DNA G4 structures has been investigated by both
      spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. NAX042 and NAX053 are the best
      compounds improving the performance of the natural precursor berberine. This
      finding is in agreement with the X-ray diffraction result for the NAX053-Tel12
      adduct, showing the ligand which interacts via pi-stacking, sandwiched at the
      interface of two symmetry-related quadruplex units, with its benzhydryl group
      contributing to the overall stability of the adduct by means of additional pi
      stacking interactions with the DNA residues. The berberine derivatives were also
      investigated for their cytotoxic activity towards a panel of human cancer cell
      lines. Compounds NAX042 and NAX053 affect the viability of cancer cell lines in a
      dose-dependent manner. 

PMID- 26865224
TI  - CKIP-1 acts as a colonic tumor suppressor by repressing oncogenic Smurf1
      synthesis and promoting Smurf1 autodegradation.

PMID- 26865225
TI  - Functional proteomics identifies miRNAs to target a p27/Myc/phospho-Rb signature
      in breast and ovarian cancer.

PMID- 26865226
TI  - Small-molecule inhibitors targeting the DNA-binding domain of STAT3 suppress
      tumor growth, metastasis and STAT3 target gene expression in vivo.

PMID- 26865227
TI  - BAX inhibitor-1 enhances cancer metastasis by altering glucose metabolism and
      activating the sodium-hydrogen exchanger: the alteration of mitochondrial
      function.

PMID- 26865229
TI  - Exploring structural phase transitions of ion crystals.
AB  - Phase transitions have been a research focus in many-body physics over past
      decades. Cold ions, under strong Coulomb repulsion, provide a repealing paradigm
      of exploring phase transitions in stable confinement by electromagnetic field. We
      demonstrate various conformations of up to sixteen laser-cooled (40)Ca(+) ion
      crystals in a home-built surface-electrode trap, where besides the usually
      mentioned structural phase transition from the linear to the zigzag, two
      additional phase transitions to more complicated two-dimensional configurations
      are identified. The experimental observation agrees well with the numerical
      simulation. Heating due to micromotion of the ions is analysed by comparison of
      the numerical simulation with the experimental observation. Our investigation
      implies very rich and complicated many-body behaviour in the trapped-ion systems
      and provides effective mechanism for further exploring quantum phase transitions
      and quantum information processing with ultracold trapped ions. 

PMID- 26865228
TI  - Urinary inorganic arsenic concentrations and semen quality of male partners of
      subfertile couples in Tokyo.
AB  - Inorganic arsenic (iAs) has been known as a testicular toxicant in experimental
      rodents. Possible association between iAs exposure and semen quality (semen
      volume, sperm concentration, and sperm motility) was explored in male partners of
      couples (n = 42) who visited a gynecology clinic in Tokyo for infertility
      consultation. Semen parameters were measured according to WHO guideline at the
      clinic, and urinary iAs and methylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid
      concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-hydride generation-ICP
      mass spectrometry. Biological attributes, dietary habits, and exposure levels to
      other chemicals with known effects on semen parameters were taken into
      consideration as covariates. Multiple regression analyses and logistic regression
      analyses did not find iAs exposure as significant contributor to semen
      parameters. Lower exposure level of subjects (estimated to be 0.5 MUg kg(-1) day(
      1)) was considered a reason of the absence of adverse effects on semen
      parameters, which were seen in rodents dosed with 4-7.5 mg kg(-1).

PMID- 26865230
TI  - Demodex castoris sp. nov. (Acari: Demodecidae) parasitizing Castor fiber
      (Rodentia), and other parasitic arthropods associated with Castor spp.
AB  - A new species of demodecid mite, Demodex castoris sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata:
      Demodecidae), is described based on adult stages from the skin of the nasal
      region of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758, collected in Poland.
      This is the first detection of a representative demodecid mite in rodents of the
      suborder Castorimorpha and also represents the first detection of a skin mite in
      Eurasian beavers. The new species is a small skin mite (average 173 um in length)
      characterized by sexual dimorphism related to body proportions. D. castoris sp.
      nov. was observed in 4 out of 6 beavers examined (66.6%), with a mean intensity
      of 10.8 and an intensity range of 2-23 ind. host(-1). This paper also contains a
      checklist of parasitic arthropods known from Castor spp.

PMID- 26865231
TI  - Infection and transmission heterogeneity of a multi-host pathogen
      (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) within an amphibian community.
AB  - The majority of parasites infect multiple hosts. As the outcome of the infection
      is different in each of them, most studies of wildlife disease focus on the few
      species that suffer the most severe consequences. However, the role that each
      host plays in the persistence and transmission of infection can be crucial to
      understanding the spread of a parasite and the risk it poses to the community.
      Current theory predicts that certain host species can modulate the infection in
      other species by amplifying or diluting both infection prevalence and infection
      intensity, both of which have implications for disease risk within those
      communities. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causal agent of
      the disease chytridiomycosis, has caused global amphibian population declines and
      extinctions. However, not all infected species are affected equally, and thus Bd
      is a good example of a multi-host pathogen that must ultimately be studied with a
      community approach. To test whether the common midwife toad Alytes obstetricans
      is a reservoir and possible amplifier of infection of other species, we used
      experimental approaches in captive and wild populations to determine the effect
      of common midwife toad larvae on infection of other amphibian species found in
      the Penalara Massif, Spain. We observed that the most widely and heavily infected
      species, the common midwife toad, may be amplifying the infection loads in other
      species, all of which have different degrees of susceptibility to Bd infection.
      Our results have important implications for performing mitigation actions focused
      on potential 'amplifier' hosts and for better understanding the mechanisms of Bd
      transmission. 

PMID- 26865232
TI  - Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) strain with genetic properties
      associated with low pathogenicity at Finnish fish farms.
AB  - Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a contagious viral disease of fish that
      causes economic losses in aquaculture worldwide. In Finland, IPN virus (IPNV) has
      been isolated since 1987 from adult fish showing no signs of clinical disease at
      fish farms located in the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. The inland area of
      Finland, however, remained free of IPN until 2012, when fish on several rainbow
      trout farms were diagnosed IPNV-positive. The fish mortalities detected at the
      farms were low, but clinical signs and histopathological changes typical for IPNV
      infection were seen in juvenile salmonids. IPNV was isolated at high water
      temperatures up to 22 degrees C. In 2013 and 2014, IPNV detections continued at
      inland farms, indicating that infections have spread. The aim of this study was
      to describe the epidemiology of the outbreak and to characterise the Finnish
      inland IPNV isolates using histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic
      approaches. In order to determine the epidemiological origin of the inland IPNV
      infections, the partial viral capsid protein (VP2) gene sequences of the inland
      IPNV isolates were compared with the sequences of the isolates from the coastal
      farms. Based on the genetic analysis, the inland isolates belong to IPNV
      Genogroup 2 (Serotype A3/Ab), and the origin of the isolates appears to be one or
      several coastal fish farms. 

PMID- 26865233
TI  - Evaluation of marine bacteriocinogenic enterococci strains with inhibitory
      activity against fish-pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.
AB  - Use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics may provide an alternative to the
      use of antibiotics in aquaculture. LAB strains isolated from wild fish viscera
      and skin were evaluated for bacteriocin production and safety aspects (lack of
      antibiotic resistance, production of virulence factors). 16S rRNA gene sequences
      revealed the presence of Enterococcus faecium (13 isolates) and Lactococcus
      lactis (3 isolates) from fish samples. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses
      of the 13 enterococci isolates showed that they were all clustered, with greater
      than 95% similarity. However, RAPD analysis revealed significant molecular
      diversity between enterococci strains. Six enterococci strains were chosen and
      evaluated for their antibacterial activities. These strains produced a
      bacteriocin-like substance and exhibited a broad spectrum of inhibition against
      pathogenic bacteria isolated from diseased fish, including Streptococcus
      parauberis, Vagococcus spp., and Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, and in particular
      against the Gram-negative bacteria Flavobacterium frigidarium, Vibrio
      pectenicida, V. penaeicida, and Photobacterium damselae. The inhibition activity
      towards bacterial indicator strains was at a maximum when bacteria were grown at
      37 degrees C. However, bacteriocin production was observed at 15 degrees C after
      12 h of incubation. Only structural genes of enterocins A and B were detected by
      PCR in the 6 enterococci strains, suggesting the production of these enterocins.
      In addition, these strains did not harbor any virulence factors or any
      significant antibiotic resistance, and they tolerated bile. Our results suggest
      that enterococci are an important part of the bacterial flora of fish and that
      some strains have the potential to be used as probiotics. 

PMID- 26865234
TI  - Prevalence of the pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in freshwater crayfish populations
      in Croatia.
AB  - The Oomycete Aphanomyces astaci is an obligate crayfish parasite that co-evolved
      with American crayfish species, and they therefore generally live in a balanced
      relationship. On the contrary, European native crayfish are highly susceptible to
      A. astaci, and infestation with it causes development of the lethal disease
      termed crayfish plague. Until now, 5 A. astaci strains have been described from
      the freshwater crayfish present in Europe. In this study we aimed to investigate
      the occurrence of the pathogen A. astaci in Croatian native and non-native
      crayfish populations, as well as to genotype established strains using
      microsatellite markers and obtain information on the pathogen's epidemiology. Our
      results showed that the pathogen is widespread in both native and non-native
      crayfish populations. Agent level, when positive, in non-native crayfish was
      generally low; in native species it was higher. Genotyping from microsatellites
      proved the presence of the B (Ps) strain in non-native species (Pacifastacus
      leniusculus), while the A (As) strain was detected from viable native species
      (Astacus astacus and Austropotamobius torrentium) that are distributed in areas
      lacking non-native crayfish. The genotype from A. torrentium differed from a
      typical A (As) by 1 allele. Strain B (Ps) was identified in native Astacus
      leptodactylus from the population that co-occurs with P. leniuscuslus.
      Interestingly, in 1 A. leptodactylus population both A (As) and B (Ps) strains
      were present. 

PMID- 26865235
TI  - Bonamia ostreae in the New Zealand oyster Ostrea chilensis: a new host and
      geographic record for this haplosporidian parasite.
AB  - Previous reports of the haplosporidian parasite Bonamia ostreae have been
      restricted to the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, and both eastern and
      western North America. This species is reported for the first time in New Zealand
      infecting the flat oyster Ostrea chilensis. Histological examination of 149 adult
      oysters identified 119 (79.9%) infected with Bonamia microcells. Bonamia generic
      PCR of several oysters followed by DNA sequencing of a 300 bp portion of the 18S
      rDNA gene produced a 100% match with that of B. ostreae. All DNA-sequenced
      products also produced a B. ostreae PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism
      (PCR-RFLP) profile. Bonamia species-specific PCRs further detected single
      infections of B. exitiosa (2.7%), B. ostreae (40.3%), and concurrent infections
      (53.7%) with these 2 Bonamia species identifying overall a Bonamia prevalence of
      96.6%. Detailed histological inspection revealed 2 microcell types. An infection
      identified by PCR as B. ostreae histologically presented small microcells (mean
      +/- SE diameter = 1.28 +/- 0.16 um, range = 0.9-2 um, n = 60) commonly with
      eccentric nuclei. A B. exitiosa infection exhibited larger microcells (mean +/-
      SE diameter = 2.12 +/- 0.27 um, range = 1.5-4 um, n = 60) with more concentric
      nuclei. Concurrent infections of both Bonamia species, as identified by PCR,
      exhibited both types of microcells. DNA barcoding of the B. ostreae-infected
      oyster host confirmed the identification as O. chilensis. A suite of other
      parasites that accompany O. chilensis are reported here for the first time in
      mixed infection with B. ostreae including apicomplexan X (76.5%), Microsporidium
      rapuae (0.7%) and Bucephalus longicornutus (30.2%). 

PMID- 26865236
TI  - Identification and characterization of ostreid herpesvirus 1 associated with
      massive mortalities of Scapharca broughtonii broodstocks in China.
AB  - In the early summer of 2012 and 2013, mass mortalities of blood ark shell
      (Scapharca [Anadara] broughtonii), broodstocks were reported in several
      hatcheries on the coast of northern China. Clinical signs including slow
      response, gaping valves and pale visceral mass were observed in diseased
      individuals. In response to these reported mortalities, 238 samples were
      collected from hatcheries at 6 sites. Microscopic changes including lysed
      connective tissue, dilation of the digestive tubules, eosinophilic inclusion
      bodies, nuclear chromatin margination and pyknosis were found in affected
      animals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed herpes-like viral
      particles within the connective tissue of the mantle. Quantative PCR (qPCR) and
      nested PCR (nPCR) analysis using primers specific for ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV
      1) indicated significant higher prevalence of OsHV-1 DNA in cases associated with
      mass mortalities than those without mass mortalities (p = 0.0012 for qPCR, p <
      0.0001 for nPCR). qPCR also indicated that samples associated with mass
      mortalities carried high viral DNA loads, while the loads in apparently healthy
      samples were significantly lower (t = 3.15, df = 92, p = 0.002). Sequence
      analysis of the C2/C6 region of nPCR products revealed 5 newly described
      variants, which were closely related to each other. Phylogenetic analysis of the
      5 virus variants and 48 virus variants reported in previous studies identified 2
      main phylogenetic groups, and the 5 virus variants identified here were allocated
      to a separate subclade. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mass
      mortalities of bivalve broodstocks associated with OsHV-1 infection. 

PMID- 26865237
TI  - Microbial transcriptome profiling of black band disease in a Faviid coral during
      a seasonal disease peak.
AB  - The etiology of black band disease (BBD), a persistent, globally distributed
      coral disease characterized by a dark microbial mat, is still unclear. A
      metatranscriptomics approach was used to unravel the roles of the major mat
      constituents in the disease process. By comparing the transcriptomes of the mat
      constituents with those of the surface microbiota of diseased and healthy corals,
      we showed a shift in bacterial composition and function in BBD-affected corals.
      mRNA reads of Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla were prominent in
      the BBD mat. Cyanobacterial adenosylhomocysteinase, involved in cyanotoxin
      production, was the most transcribed gene in the band consortium. Pathogenic and
      non-pathogenic forms of Vibrio spp., mainly transcribing the thiamine ABC
      transporter, were abundant and highly active in both the band and surface
      tissues. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was the primary producer of sulfide in the
      band. Members of the Bacilli class expressed high levels of rhodanese, an enzyme
      responsible for cyanide and sulfide detoxification. These results offer a first
      look at the varied functions of the microbiota in the disease mat and surrounding
      coral surface and enabled us to develop an improved functional model for this
      disease. 

PMID- 26865238
TI  - Breast milk nutrient content and infancy growth.
AB  - AIM: Benefits of human breast milk (HM) in avoiding rapid infancy weight gain and
      later obesity could relate to its nutrient content. We tested the hypothesis that
      differential HM total calorie content (TCC) or macronutrient contents may be
      associated with infancy growth. METHODS: HM hindmilk samples were collected at
      ages 4-8 weeks from 614 mothers participating in a representative birth cohort,
      with repeated infancy anthropometry. HM triglyceride (fat), lipid analytes and
      lactose (carbohydrate) were measured by (1) H-NMR, and protein content by the
      Dumas method. TCC and %macronutrients were determined. RESULTS: In 614 HM
      samples, fat content was as follows: [median(IQR)]: 2.6 (1.7-3.6) g/100 mL,
      carbohydrate: 8.6 (8.2-8.8) g/100 mL, protein: 1.2 (1.1-1.2) g/100 mL; TCC: 61.8
      (53.7-71.3) kcal/100 mL. HM of mothers exclusively breast feeding vs. mixed
      feeding was more calorific with higher %fat, lower %carbohydrate and lower
      %protein. Higher HM TCC was associated with lower 12-months body mass index
      (BMI)/adiposity, and lower 3-12 months gains in weight/BMI. HM %fat was inversely
      related to 3-12 months gains in weight, BMI and adiposity, whereas %carbohydrate
      was positively related to these measures. HM %protein was positively related to
      12-months BMI. CONCLUSION: HM analysis showed wide variation in %macronutrients.
      Although data on milk intakes were unavailable, our findings suggest functional
      relevance of HM milk composition to infant growth.

PMID- 26865239
TI  - Highly bendable bilayer-type photo-actuators comprising of reduced graphene oxide
      dispersed in hydrogels.
AB  - To avoid the problem of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) restacking in aqueous
      solution, the preparation of light-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)
      incorporating rGO (PNIPAm/rGO) was achieved by the chemical reduction of GO
      dispersed in the hydrogel matrix. Due to the enhanced photothermal efficiency of
      the rGO, the prepared PNIPAm/rGO underwent large volume reductions in response to
      irradiation by visible light of modest intensity. With respect to potential
      applications, bilayer-type photo-actuators comprising a PNIPAm/rGO active layer
      and poly(acrylamide) passive layer were fabricated; these achieved a full bending
      motion upon visible-light exposure. Adjusting the swelling ratio of each layer in
      the initial state yielded bidirectional photo-actuators that showed the active
      motion of turning inside out. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the fabricated
      actuation system would exhibit controlled bending motion in response to solar
      radiation. 

PMID- 26865240
TI  - Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome increases source-confusion errors: A pilot
      study.
AB  - We explored external source monitoring (i.e., discrimination between memories of
      two externally derived sources) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
      syndrome (OSAS). Our specific aim was to ascertain whether, relative to controls,
      patients exhibit more source-confusion errors when there are similarities between
      two external memory sources. We recruited 22 patients with OSAS and 22 controls
      matched for sex, age, and education. The experimental procedure we used came in
      three phases. First, participants viewed a target film. Second, they were shown a
      mixed set of photographs, some taken from the film (target photographs), others
      not (photographs taken from other films not viewed by participants; lures). Lures
      differed either conceptually or perceptually from the target film. Third, the
      following day, participants were shown a set of photographs and urged to
      determine whether the photographs were taken from the target film or whether they
      were images they had seen for the first time in Phase 2. Patients correctly
      attributed the same number of target photographs to the target film as controls.
      By contrast, they incorrectly attributed more lures to the target film than
      controls did, especially when the lures were semantically similar to the film
      (perceptual lures). Both perceptual and conceptual source-confusion errors were
      significantly correlated with oxygen desaturation during sleep. Results suggest
      that the higher number of source-confusion errors observed in patients with OSAS
      was linked to an impaired ability to recollect specific perceptual details of the
      study items and that hypoxia is the main contributing factor to this deficit.

PMID- 26865241
TI  - Efficacy of rituximab therapy against intractable steroid-resistant nephrotic
      syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some cases of childhood steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS)
      are intractable. We examined the cases of three patients with SRNS resistant to
      various treatment, but who achieved complete remission after being treated with
      rituximab (RTX) followed by methylprednisolone pulse (MP) therapy. METHODS: A
      retrospective chart review of all new-onset SRNS in the period from January 1997
      to December 2013 was performed. Three of the 13 patients who received
      conventional treatment continued to have NS for >6 months, despite also being
      treated with immunosuppressants and receiving frequent albumin treatment. In
      addition, two of the patients received plasma exchange therapy, but it was
      ineffective. Therefore, RTX was used once a week for 4 weeks, followed by several
      courses of MP therapy. RESULTS: Two of the three intractable SRNS patients
      achieved complete remission after treatment with RTX followed by MP therapy, and
      the remaining patient achieved incomplete remission after the first round of this
      treatment. That patient subsequently achieved complete remission after the second
      round of the treatment. RTX did not cause any serious side-effects, and all three
      patients had normal renal function at the final observation. CONCLUSIONS:
      Complete remission was achieved in all 13 SRNS patients. RTX followed by MP
      therapy might be effective against SRNS refractory to conventional treatments and
      requiring frequent albumin treatment. Prospective clinical study examining the
      effectiveness and safety of this approach is required.

PMID- 26865242
TI  - Dizziness and death: An imbalance in mortality.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine if dizziness is an independent risk factor
      for mortality among adults in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      analysis using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). METHODS: Adult
      respondents in the 2008 NHIS were evaluated. Demographic information (gender,
      race, ethnicity, education level), prevalence of dizziness, mortality rates, and
      leading causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes,
      cerebrovascular disease) were collected and analyzed. The association between
      dizziness and subsequent mortality was determined adjusting for demographic and
      other disease factors. RESULTS: Among 213.6 +/- 3.5 million adult Americans, 23.8
      +/- 0.7 million reported dizziness in the past 12 months (11.1% +/- 0.3%; mean
      age, 45.9 +/- 0.2 years; 51.7% +/- 0.5% female). The mortality rate among the
      group without dizziness in the preceding 12 months was 2.6% +/- 0.1%, compared to
      the dizzy group at 9.0% +/- 0.7%. After adjusting for gender and age, there was a
      statistically significant association between dizziness and mortality (odds ratio
      [OR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-2.8). After adjusting for all
      covariates including age, ethnicity, race, gender, diabetes, cardiovascular,
      cerebrovascular disease, cancer, and grade level, dizziness remained an
      independent predictor of increased mortality (adjusted OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.36
      2.18). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 11% of adult Americans reported dizziness or
      balance problems in the preceding 12 months. Adults with dizziness have a greater
      mortality rate than nondizzy adults. Even after adjusting for covariates, there
      was a significant association between dizziness and mortality. Screening for
      dizziness as a risk factor for mortality may be warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b
      Laryngoscope, 126:2134-2136, 2016.

PMID- 26865245
TI  - The epidemiology of in-hospital cardiac arrests in Australia and New Zealand.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCA) in Australia
      and New Zealand (ANZ) has not been systematically assessed. AIM: To conduct a
      systematic review of the frequency, characteristics and outcomes of adult IHCA in
      ANZ. METHODS: Medline search for studies published in 1964-2014 using MeSH terms
      'arrest AND hospital AND Australia', 'arrest AND hospital AND New Zealand',
      'inpatient AND arrest AND Australia' and 'inpatient AND arrest AND New Zealand'.
      RESULTS: We screened 934 studies, analysed 50 and included 30. Frequency of IHCA
      ranged from 1.31 to 6.11 per 1000 admissions in 4 population studies and 0.58 to
      4.59 per 1000 in 16 cohort studies. The frequency was 4.11 versus 1.32 per 1000
      admissions in hospitals with rapid response system (RRS) compared with those
      without (odds ratio: 0.32; 95% confidence interval 0.28-0.37; P < 0.001). On
      aggregate, the initial cardiac rhythm was ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in
      31.4% (range 19.0-48.8%) in 10 studies reporting such data. On aggregate, IHCA
      were witnessed in 80.2% cases (three studies) and monitored patients in 53.4%
      cases (four studies). Details of life support were poorly documented. On
      aggregate, return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 46.0% of patients.
      Overall, 74.6% (range 59.4-77.5%) died in-hospital but survival was higher among
      monitored or younger patients, in those with a shockable rhythm, or during
      working hours. CONCLUSION: IHCA are uncommon in ANZ and three quarters die in
      hospital. However, their frequency varies markedly across institutions and may be
      affected by the presence of RRS. Where reported, the long-term outcomes survivors
      appear to have acceptable neurological outcomes.

PMID- 26865244
TI  - Cortical bone histomorphology of known-age skeletons from the Kirsten collection,
      Stellenbosch university, South Africa.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Normal human bone tissue changes predictably as adults get older, but
      substantial variability in pattern and pace remains unexplained. Information is
      needed regarding the characteristics of histological variables across diverse
      human populations. METHODS: Undecalcified thin sections from mid-thoracic ribs of
      213 skeletons (138 M, 75 F, 17-82 years, mean age 48 years), are used to explore
      the efficacy of an established age-at-death estimation method and methodological
      approach (Cho et al.: J Forensic Sci 47 (2002) 12-18) and expand on it. The ribs
      are an age-balanced sample taken from skeletonized cadavers collected from 1967
      to 1999 in South Africa, each with recorded sex, age, cause of death and
      government-defined population group (129 "Colored," 49 "Black," 35 "White").
      RESULTS: The Ethnicity Unknown equation performs better than those developed for
      European-Americans and African-Americans, in terms of accuracy and bias. A new
      equation based solely on the study sample does not improve accuracy. Osteon
      population densities (OPD) show predicted values, yet secondary osteon areas
      (On.Ar) are smaller than expected for non-Black subgroups. Relative cortical area
      (Ct.Ar/Tt.Ar) is low among non-Whites. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this highly
      diverse sample show that population-specific equations do not increase estimate
      precision. While within the published range of error for the method (+/-24.44
      years), results demonstrate a systematic under-aging of young adults and over
      aging of older adults. The regression approach is inappropriate. The field needs
      fresh approaches to statistical treatment and to factors behind cortical bone
      remodeling.

PMID- 26865246
TI  - Self-sacrifice Template Formation of Hollow Hetero-Ni7S6/Co3S4 Nanoboxes with
      Intriguing Pseudo-capacitance for High-performance Electrochemical Capacitors.
AB  - Herein, we report a simple yet efficient self-sacrifice template protocol to
      smartly fabricate hollow hetero-Ni7S6/Co3S4 nanoboxes (Ni-Co-S NBs). Uniform
      nickel cobalt carbonate nanocubes are first synthesized as the precursor via
      solvothermal strategy, and subsequently chemically sulfidized into hollow heter
      Ni-Co-S NBs through anion-exchange process. When evaluated as electrode for
      electrochemical capacitors (ECs), the resultant hetero-Ni-Co-S NBs visually
      exhibit attractive pesudo-capacitance in KOH just after continuously cyclic
      voltammetry (CV) scanning for 100 cycles. New insights into the underlying energy
      storage mechanism of the hollow hetero-Ni-Co-S electrode, based on
      physicochemical characterizations and electrochemical evaluation, are first put
      forward that the electrochemically induced phase transformation gradually occurrs
      during CV sweep from the hetero-Ni-Co-S to bi-component-active NiOOH and CoOOH,
      which are the intrinsic charge-storage phases for the appealing Faradaic
      capacitance (~677 F g(-1) at 4 A g(-1)) of hollow Ni-Co-S NBs at high rates after
      cycling. When further coupled with negative activated carbon (AC), the AC//hetero
      Ni-Co-S asymmetric device with extended electrochemical window of 1.5 V
      demonstrates high specific energy density of ~31 Wh kg(-1). Of significance, we
      strongly envision that hollow design concept and new findings here hold great
      promise for enriching synthetic methodologies, and electrochemistry of complex
      metal sulfides for next-generation ECs. 

PMID- 26865247
TI  - Bioresorbable drug-eluting scaffolds for treatment of vascular disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Theoretical advantages of fully bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) stem
      from transient vessel support without rigid caging. Therefore, it could reduce
      long-term adverse events associated with the presence of foreign materials. AREAS
      COVERED: This article will provide an overview of: drug-eluting BRS for various
      applications in the treatment of vascular disease; The mechanisms of active agent
      release from such scaffolds; currently available drug-eluting BRS and their
      future applications are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION: The current BRS have been
      developed in order to achieve optimal vascular patency while providing long-term
      safety. The clinical efficacy and safety of BRS in coronary treatment have been
      reported as equal to that of the current metallic drug eluting stents in simple
      lesions. The application of BRS can potentially be expanded to other vascular
      beds. The research in bioengineering for the appropriate materials should not
      only focus on biocompatibility but also should be tailored according to the sites
      of implantation, which may require different strength and supporting period. The
      ultimate goal in this field is to develop a biocompatible device that provides
      equivalent and complementary therapy to other devices, and is able to disappear
      when the mechanical support and drug delivery are no longer required.

PMID- 26865248
TI  - HDAC9 exacerbates endothelial injury in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury.
AB  - Histone deacetylase (HDAC) 9, a member of class II HDACs, regulates a wide
      variety of normal and abnormal physiological functions, which is usually
      expressed at high levels in the brain and skeletal muscle. Although studies have
      highlighted the importance of HDAC-mediated epigenetic processes in the
      development of ischaemic stroke and very recent genome-wide association studies
      have identified a variant in HDAC9 associated with large-vessel ischemic stroke,
      the molecular events by which HDAC9 induces cerebral injury keep unclear. In this
      study, we found that HDAC9 was up-regulated in the ischaemic cerebral hemisphere
      after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and in vivo gene
      silencing of HDAC9 by recombinated lentivirus infection in the brain reduced
      cerebral injury in experimental stroke. We further demonstrated that HDAC9
      contributed to oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced brain microvessel endothelial
      cell dysfunction as demonstrated by the increased inflammatory responses,
      cellular apoptosis and endothelial cell permeability dysfunction accompanied by
      reduced expression of tight-junction proteins. We further found that HDAC9
      suppressed autophagy, which was associated with endothelial dysfunction. This
      study for the first time provides direct evidence that HDAC9 contributes to
      endothelial cell injury and demonstrates that HDAC9 is one of critical components
      of a signal transduction pathway that links cerebral injury to epigenetic
      modification in the brain.

PMID- 26865250
TI  - Moral judgment modulates neural responses to the perception of other's pain: an
      ERP study.
AB  - Morality and empathy are both crucial in building human society. Yet the
      relationship between them has been merely explored. The present study revealed
      how the morality influenced empathy for pain by comparing the ERPs elicited by
      pictures showing the targets' in pain primed by different moral information about
      the targets. We found that when the target was a moral one or a neutral one, the
      painful pictures elicited significantly larger amplitude in N2 than the non
      painful pictures, but when the target was an immoral one, the difference between
      the amplitudes of N2 component elicited by painful and non-painful pictures
      became insignificant. We proposed that this effect was induced by the decreased
      affective arousal when observing an immoral person in pain. The reduced neural
      response towards the immoral one's pain can keep us alert when we face the
      potentially dangerous people thereby increasing our chance of survival. SLORTEA
      results showed the source of this difference in N2 localized in the ventral
      medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC)
      areas. 

PMID- 26865249
TI  - miRNA Deregulation in Cancer Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment.
AB  - miRNAs are a key component of the noncoding RNA family. The underlying mechanisms
      involved in the interplay between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells
      involve highly dynamic factors such as hypoxia and cell types such as cancer
      associated fibroblasts and macrophages. Although miRNA levels are known to be
      altered in cancer cells, recent evidence suggests a critical role for the tumor
      microenvironment in regulating miRNA biogenesis, methylation, and transcriptional
      changes. Here, we discuss the complex protumorigenic symbiotic role between tumor
      cells, the tumor microenvironment, and miRNA deregulation. SIGNIFICANCE: miRNAs
      play a central role in cell signaling and homeostasis. In this article, we
      provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms involved in the deregulation of
      miRNAs in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment and discuss therapeutic
      intervention strategies to overcome this deregulation.

PMID- 26865251
TI  - A multiple case study of intersectoral public health networks: experiences and
      benefits of using research.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Network partnerships between public health and third sector
      organisations are being used to address the complexities of population level
      social determinants of health and health equity. An understanding of how these
      networks use research and knowledge is crucial to effective network design and
      outcome evaluation. There is, however, a gap in the literature regarding how
      public health networks use research and knowledge. The purpose of this paper is
      to report on the qualitative findings from a larger study that explored (1) the
      experiences of public health networks with using research and knowledge, and (2)
      the perceived benefits of using research and knowledge. METHODS: A multiple case
      study approach framed this study. Focus group data were collected from
      participants through a purposive sample of four public health networks. Data were
      analyzed using Framework Analysis and Nvivo software supported data management.
      Each network had the opportunity to participate in data interpretation. RESULTS:
      All networks used published research studies and other types of knowledge to
      accomplish their work, although in each network research and knowledge played
      different but complementary roles. Neither research nor other types of knowledge
      were privileged, and an approach that blended varied knowledge types was
      typically used. Network experiences with research and knowledge produced
      individual and collective benefits. A novel finding was that research and
      knowledge were both important in shaping network function. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study shifts the focus in the current literature from public health departments
      to the community setting where public health collaborates with a broader spectrum
      of actors to ameliorate health inequities. Both formal research and informal
      knowledge were found to be important for collaborative public health networks.
      Examining the benefits of research and knowledge use within public health
      networks may help us to better understand the relationships among process (the
      collaborative use of research and knowledge), structure (networks) and outcomes
      (benefits).

PMID- 26865252
TI  - Best allogeneic transplantation approach for AML patients in first CR: is delayed
      unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation better than immediate unrelated cord
      blood transplantation?

PMID- 26865253
TI  - Chemotherapy with BCNU in recurrent glioma: Analysis of clinical outcome and side
      effects in chemotherapy-naive patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date, standardized strategies for the treatment of recurrent
      glioma are lacking. Chemotherapy with the alkylating agent BCNU (1,3-bis (2
      chloroethyl)-1-nitroso-urea) is a therapeutic option even though its efficacy and
      safety, particularly the risk of pulmonary fibrosis, remains controversial. To
      address these issues, we performed a retrospective analysis on clinical outcome
      and side effects of BCNU-based chemotherapy in recurrent glioma. METHODS:
      Survival data of 34 mostly chemotherapy-naive glioblastoma patients treated with
      BCNU at 1st relapse were compared to 29 untreated control patients, employing a
      multiple Cox regression model which considered known prognostic factors including
      MGMT promoter hypermethylation. Additionally, medical records of 163 patients
      treated with BCNU for recurrent glioma WHO grade II to IV were retrospectively
      evaluated for BCNU-related side effects classified according to the National
      Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 2.0.
      RESULTS: In recurrent glioblastoma, multiple regression survival analysis
      revealed a significant benefit of BCNU-based chemotherapy on survival after
      relapse (p = 0.02; HR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.26-0.89) independent of known clinical
      and molecular prognostic factors. Exploratory analyses suggested that survival
      benefit was most pronounced in MGMT-hypermethylated, BCNU-treated patients.
      Moreover, BCNU was well tolerated by 46% of the 163 patients analyzed for side
      effects; otherwise, predominantly mild side effects occurred (CTCAE I/II; 45%).
      Severe side effects CTCAE III/IV were observed in 9% of patients including severe
      hematotoxicity, thromboembolism, intracranial hemorrhage and injection site
      reaction requiring surgical intervention. One patient presented with a clinically
      apparent pulmonary fibrosis CTCAE IV requiring temporary mechanical ventilation.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, BCNU was rarely associated with severe side effects,
      particularly pulmonary toxicity, and, in case of recurrent glioblastoma, even
      conferred a favorable outcome. Therefore BCNU appears to be an appropriate
      alternative to other nitrosoureas although the efficacy against newer drugs needs
      further evaluation.

PMID- 26865255
TI  - Influence of pre-harvest calcium, potassium and triazole application on the
      proteome of apple at harvest.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Braeburn browning disorder is a storage disease characterised by
      flesh browning and lens-shaped cavities. The incidence of this postharvest
      disorder is known to be affected by pre-harvest application of fertilisers and
      triazole-based fungicides. Recent work has shown that calcium and potassium
      reduced the incidence of Braeburn browning disorder, while triazoles had the
      opposite effect. This study addresses the hypothesis of an early proteomic
      imprint in the apple fruit at harvest induced by the pre-harvest factors applied.
      If so, this could be used for an early screening of apple fruit at harvest for
      their postharvest susceptibility to flesh browning. RESULTS: Calcium and triazole
      had significant effects, while potassium did not. One hundred and thirty protein
      families were identified, of which 29 were significantly altered after calcium
      and 63 after triazole treatment. Up-regulation of important antioxidant enzymes
      was correlated with calcium fertilisation, while triazole induced alterations in
      the levels of respiration and ethylene biosynthesis related proteins. CONCLUSION:
      Pre-harvest fertiliser and fungicide application had considerable effects on the
      apple proteome at harvest. These changes, together with the applied storage
      conditions will determine whether or not BBD develops. (c) 2016 Society of
      Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26865256
TI  - Catalytically driven assembly of trisegmented metallic nanorods and polystyrene
      tracer particles.
AB  - Trisegmented Au-Ru-Au and Ru-Au-Ru nanorods catalyze the decomposition of
      hydrogen peroxide, pumping fluid along their axis as "pullers" and "pushers"
      respectively. Numerical simulations and experiments with passive tracer particles
      show that catalytically generated hydrodynamic and electrostatic forces both
      contribute to pairwise and collective particle assembly. 

PMID- 26865254
TI  - Task sharing for the care of severe mental disorders in a low-income country
      (TaSCS): study protocol for a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Task sharing mental health care through integration into primary
      health care (PHC) is advocated as a means of narrowing the treatment gap for
      mental disorders in low-income countries. However, the effectiveness,
      acceptability, feasibility and sustainability of this service model for people
      with a severe mental disorder (SMD) have not been evaluated in a low-income
      country. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial will be
      carried out in a predominantly rural area of Ethiopia. A sample of 324 people
      with SMD (diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder
      or major depressive disorder) with an ongoing need for mental health care will be
      recruited from 1) participants in a population-based cohort study and 2) people
      attending a psychiatric nurse-led out-patient clinic. The intervention is a task
      sharing model of locally delivered mental health care for people with SMD
      integrated into PHC delivered over 18 months. Participants in the active control
      arm will receive the established and effective model of specialist mental health
      care delivered by psychiatric nurses at an out-patient clinic within a centrally
      located general hospital. The hypothesis is that people with SMD who receive
      mental health care integrated into PHC will have a non-inferior clinical outcome,
      defined as a mean symptom score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, expanded
      version, of no more than six points higher, compared to participants who receive
      the psychiatric nurse-led service, after 12 months. The primary outcome is change
      in symptom severity. Secondary outcomes are functional status, relapse, service
      use costs, service satisfaction, drop-out and medication adherence, nutritional
      status, physical health care, quality of care, medication side effects, stigma,
      adverse events and cost-effectiveness. Sustainability and cost-effectiveness will
      be further evaluated at 18 months. Randomisation will be stratified by health
      centre catchment area using random permuted blocks. The outcome assessors and
      investigators will be masked to allocation status. DISCUSSION: Evidence about the
      effectiveness of task sharing mental health care for people with SMD in a rural,
      low-income African country will inform the World Health Organisation's mental
      health Gap Action Programme to scale-up mental health care globally. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: NCT02308956 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Date of registration: 3 December
      2014.

PMID- 26865257
TI  - Herbal medicine use behaviour in Australian adults who experience anxiety: a
      descriptive study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health condition in
      Australia. In addition, there are many people who experience problematic anxiety
      symptoms who do not receive an anxiety disorder diagnosis but require treatment.
      As herbal medicine use is popular in Australia, and little is known about how
      adults experiencing anxiety are using these medicines, this study aimed to
      identify how Australian adults who experience anxiety are using herbal medicines.
      METHODS: An online cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using
      purposive convenience sampling to recruit Australian adults who have experienced
      anxiety symptoms and have used herbal medicines (N = 400). Descriptive
      statistics, chi-square test of contingency, analysis of variance, and simple
      logistic regression was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Eighty two percent of
      participants experienced anxiety symptoms in the previous 12 months, with 47%
      reporting having previously been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. In addition,
      72.8% had used herbal medicines specifically for anxiety symptoms in their
      lifetime, while 55.3% had used prescribed pharmaceuticals, with 27.5% having used
      herbal medicines concurrently with prescribed pharmaceuticals. The Internet and
      family and friends were the most frequently used sources of information about
      herbal medicines. Forty eight percent of participants did not disclose their
      herbal medicine use to their doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal medicines are being used
      by adults with anxiety and are commonly self-prescribed for anxiety symptoms.
      Health practitioners who are experts in herbal medicine prescribing are consulted
      infrequently. In addition, herbal medicine use is often not disclosed to health
      practitioners. These behaviours are concerning as people may not be receiving the
      most suitable treatments, and their use of herbal medicines may even be
      dangerous. It is critical we develop a better understanding of why people are
      using these medicines, and how we can develop improved health literacy to help
      with treatment decision making to ensure people receive optimal care.

PMID- 26865258
TI  - Dyadic Dynamics in a Randomized Weight Loss Intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite health and economic burdens associated with overweight and
      obesity, long-term weight loss intervention efforts have been largely
      unsuccessful. Observations that weight status tends to cluster in social groups,
      and findings showing "ripple" effects of weight change within social clusters,
      raise questions about the impact of social relationships on weight loss. PURPOSE:
      Through a reanalysis of data from a randomized weight loss intervention, this
      study compared dyadic dynamics in intervention participants and in-home partners.
      METHODS: Over the course of 18 months, data was collected from 201 pairs enrolled
      in either behavioral weight loss treatment (BWL) or treatment including partners
      and providing items to facilitate healthy choices at home (BWL + H). Using a
      dyadic growth curve model, covariance between baseline BMI, BMI change
      trajectories, and starting BMI and BMI trajectory for both the self and the other
      were examined. RESULTS: There were strong indicators of dependence in the data.
      Baseline BMI was positively correlated for both treatment groups. In the BWL + H
      condition, BMI change trajectories were positively correlated. In the BWL
      condition, this reversed: Change trajectories were negatively correlated.
      Additionally, partner BMI and primary participant BMI change were positively
      correlated, indicating that a heavier partner at baseline related to less weight
      loss. CONCLUSIONS: Social relationships exert a significant influence on weight
      loss outcomes. Depending on the intervention group, these influences may help
      (BWL + H) or hinder (BWL). It may be that home intervention changed social
      support and interaction in important ways and that these effects could be
      effectively harnessed to implement more effective interventions (NCT00200330).

PMID- 26865259
TI  - Pre-Operative Cognitive Functioning and Inflammatory and Neuroendocrine Responses
      to Cardiac Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cognitive functioning is linked to cardiac mortality and morbidity,
      but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. PURPOSE: To examine
      the relationship between pre-operative cognitive functioning and post-operative
      inflammatory and neuroendocrine responses in patients undergoing coronary artery
      bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: One-hundred ninety-three outpatients were
      screened to assess their cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive
      Assessment (MoCA) on average 30 days prior to CABG surgery and provided blood
      samples for the measurement of interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP)
      and saliva samples for the measurement of diurnal cortisol. Participants were
      followed-up 4-8 days following surgery for the repeat measurement of IL-6 and CRP
      and 60 days after surgery for the measurement of diurnal salivary cortisol.
      RESULTS: Patients with low cognitive function (MoCA < 26) prior to surgery
      reached higher IL-6 concentrations in the days after surgery (beta = -0.212, p =
      0.021) and had greater cortisol output across the day 2 months after surgery
      (beta = -0.179, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Low cognitive functioning is associated
      with a more negative pattern of biological response to surgery, indicative of
      poorer physical recovery. These pathways may contribute to the links between
      cognitive function and cardiovascular pathology.

PMID- 26865262
TI  - Photolytic properties of cobalamins: a theoretical perspective.
AB  - This Perspective Article highlights recent theoretical developments, and
      summarizes the current understanding of the photolytic properties of cobalamins
      from a computational point of view. The primary focus is on two alkyl cobalamins,
      methylcobalamin (MeCbl) and adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), as well as two non-alkyl
      cobalamins, cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) and hydroxocobalamin (HOCbl). Photolysis of
      alkyl cobalamins involves low-lying singlet excited states where
      photodissociation of the Co-C bond leads to formation of singlet-born
      alkyl/cob(ii)alamin radical pairs (RPs). Potential energy surfaces (PESs)
      associated with cobalamin low-lying excited states as functions of both axial
      bonds, provide the most reliable tool for initial analysis of their photochemical
      and photophysical properties. Due to the complexity, and size limitations
      associated with the cobalamins, the primary method for calculating ground state
      properties is density functional theory (DFT), while time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT)
      is used for electronically excited states. For alkyl cobalamins, energy pathways
      on the lowest singlet surface, connecting metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT)
      and ligand field (LF) minima, can be associated with photo-homolysis of the Co-C
      bond observed experimentally. Additionally, energy pathways between minima and
      seams associated with crossing of S1/S0 surfaces, are the most efficient for
      internal conversion (IC) to the ground state. Depending on the specific
      cobalamin, such IC may involve simultaneous elongation of both axial bonds
      (CNCbl), or detachment of axial base followed by corrin ring distortion (MeCbl).
      The possibility of intersystem crossing, and the formation of triplet RPs is also
      discussed based on Landau-Zener theory. 

PMID- 26865261
TI  - Toxicities and early outcomes in a phase 1 trial of photodynamic therapy for
      premalignant and early stage head and neck tumors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Management of early superficial lesions in the head and neck remains
      complex. We performed a phase 1 trial for high-grade premalignant and early
      superficial lesions of the head and neck using photodynamic therapy (PDT) with
      Levulan (ALA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five subjects with high grade
      dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or microinvasive (?1.5mm depth) squamous cell
      carcinoma were enrolled. Cohorts of 3-6 patients were given escalating
      intraoperative light doses of 50-200J/cm(2) 4-6h after oral administration of
      60mg/kg ALA. Light at 629-635nm was delivered in a continuous (unfractionated) or
      fractionated (two-part) schema. RESULTS: PDT was delivered to 30/35 subjects,
      with 29 evaluable. There was one death possibly due to the treatment. The regimen
      was otherwise tolerable, with a 52% rate of grade 3 mucositis which healed within
      several weeks. Other toxicities were generally grade 1 or 2, including
      odynophagia (one grade 4), voice alteration (one grade 3), and photosensitivity
      reactions. One patient developed grade 5 sepsis. With a median follow-up of
      42months, 10 patients (34%) developed local recurrence; 4 of these received
      50J/cm(2) and two each received 100, 150, and 200J/cm(2). Ten (34%) patients
      developed recurrence adjacent to the treated field. There was a 69% complete
      response rate at 3months. CONCLUSIONS: ALA-PDT is well tolerated. Maximum
      Tolerated Dose appears to be higher than the highest dose used in this study.
      Longer followup is required to analyze effect of light dose on local recurrence.
      High marginal recurrence rates suggest use of larger treatment fields.

PMID- 26865264
TI  - Editorial: Gun Violence--Risk, Consequences, and Prevention.

PMID- 26865263
TI  - New insights into the mechanism of substrates trafficking in
      Glyoxylate/Hydroxypyruvate reductases.
AB  - Glyoxylate accumulation within cells is highly toxic. In humans, it is associated
      with hyperoxaluria type 2 (PH2) leading to renal failure. The glyoxylate content
      within cells is regulated by the NADPH/NADH dependent glyoxylate/hydroxypyruvate
      reductases (GRHPR). These are highly conserved enzymes with a dual activity as
      they are able to reduce glyoxylate to glycolate and to convert hydroxypyruvate
      into D-glycerate. Despite the determination of high-resolution X-ray structures,
      the substrate recognition mode of this class of enzymes remains unclear. We
      determined the structure at 2.0 A resolution of a thermostable GRHPR from Archaea
      as a ternary complex in the presence of D-glycerate and NADPH. This shows a
      binding mode conserved between human and archeal enzymes. We also determined the
      first structure of GRHPR in presence of glyoxylate at 1.40 A resolution. This
      revealed the pivotal role of Leu53 and Trp138 in substrate trafficking. These
      residues act as gatekeepers at the entrance of a tunnel connecting the active
      site to protein surface. Taken together, these results allowed us to propose a
      general model for GRHPR mode of action. 

PMID- 26865266
TI  - Ancient Disease, Modern Epidemiology: A Century of Progress in Understanding and
      Fighting Tuberculosis.
AB  - A century's worth of efforts to better understand the epidemiology of
      tuberculosis (TB) and to develop new vaccines, drugs, preventive interventions,
      and case-finding approaches have provided important insights and helped to
      advance the field of epidemiology as a whole. Wade Hampton Frost developed
      methods for cohort analysis that formed the early basis for adjustment of
      confounding variables. The streptomycin trial in the United Kingdom in the 1940s
      introduced random allocation for participants to either the treatment or control
      group, ensuring blinded treatment assignment and comparable treatment groups,
      which is now a key element in randomized clinical trials. Research into the
      bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine demonstrated the importance of comparative
      analyses, potential difficulties in generalizability to populations not under
      study, and the role of meta-analysis for discrepant data-approaches now strongly
      recommended prior to implementing any novel public health intervention. George
      Comstock's work on preventive therapy for TB demonstrated the use of
      epidemiologic methods to evaluate interventions on a population level. Finally,
      studies from the Consortium to Respond Effectively to the AIDS/TB Epidemic
      focused on the evaluation of real-world effectiveness and of targeting of high
      risk subpopulations. In this article, we discuss how TB research in each of these
      domains has helped to advance epidemiologic thinking and methodology over the
      past 100 years. 

PMID- 26865265
TI  - Sex-Based Differences in Rates, Causes, and Predictors of Death Among Injection
      Drug Users in Vancouver, Canada.
AB  - In the present study, we sought to identify rates, causes, and predictors of
      death among male and female injection drug users (IDUs) in Vancouver, British
      Columbia, Canada, during a period of expanded public health interventions. Data
      from prospective cohorts of IDUs in Vancouver were linked to the provincial
      database of vital statistics to ascertain rates and causes of death between 1996
      and 2011. Mortality rates were analyzed using Poisson regression and indirect
      standardization. Predictors of mortality were identified using multivariable Cox
      regression models stratified by sex. Among the 2,317 participants, 794 (34.3%) of
      whom were women, there were 483 deaths during follow-up, with a rate of 32.1 (95%
      confidence interval (CI): 29.3, 35.0) deaths per 1,000 person-years. Standardized
      mortality ratios were 7.28 (95% CI: 6.50, 8.14) for men and 15.56 (95% CI: 13.31,
      18.07) for women. During the study period, mortality rates related to infection
      with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) declined among men but remained stable
      among women. In multivariable analyses, HIV seropositivity was independently
      associated with mortality in both sexes (all P < 0.05). The excess mortality
      burden among IDUs in our cohorts was primarily attributable to HIV infection;
      compared with men, women remained at higher risk of HIV-related mortality,
      indicating a need for sex-specific interventions to reduce mortality among female
      IDUs in this setting. 

PMID- 26865267
TI  - High Content Imaging of Early Morphological Signatures Predicts Long Term
      Mineralization Capacity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells upon Osteogenic
      Induction.
AB  - Human bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, often referred
      to as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), represent an attractive cell source for many
      regenerative medicine applications due to their potential for multi-lineage
      differentiation, immunomodulation, and paracrine factor secretion. A major
      complication for current MSC-based therapies is the lack of well-defined
      characterization methods that can robustly predict how they will perform in a
      particular in vitro or in vivo setting. Significant advances have been made with
      identifying molecular markers of MSC quality and potency using multivariate
      genomic and proteomic approaches, and more recently with advanced techniques
      incorporating high content imaging to assess high-dimensional single cell
      morphological data. We sought to expand upon current methods of high dimensional
      morphological analysis by investigating whether short term cell and nuclear
      morphological profiles of MSCs from multiple donors (at multiple passages)
      correlated with long term mineralization upon osteogenic induction. Using the
      combined power of automated high content imaging followed by automated image
      analysis, we demonstrated that MSC morphology after 3 days was highly correlated
      with 35 day mineralization and comparable to other methods of MSC osteogenesis
      assessment (such as alkaline phosphatase activity). We then expanded on this
      initial morphological characterization and identified morphological features that
      were highly predictive of mineralization capacities (>90% accuracy) of MSCs from
      additional donors and different manufacturing techniques using linear
      discriminant analysis. Together, this work thoroughly demonstrates the predictive
      power of MSC morphology for mineralization capacity and motivates further studies
      into MSC morphology as a predictive marker for additional in vitro and in vivo
      responses.

PMID- 26865269
TI  - A novel Flt3-deficient HIS mouse model with selective enhancement of human DC
      development.
AB  - Humanized mice harboring human immune systems (HIS) represent a platform to study
      immune responses against pathogens and to screen vaccine candidates and novel
      immunotherapeutics. Innate and adaptive immune responses are suboptimal in HIS
      mice, possibly due to poor reconstitution of human antigen-presenting cells,
      including dendritic cells (DCs). DC homeostasis is regulated by cytokine
      availability, and Flt3-ligand (Flt3L) is one factor that conditions this process.
      Mouse myelopoiesis is essentially normal in most current HIS models. As such,
      developing mouse myeloid cells may limit human DC reconstitution by reducing
      available Flt3L and by cellular competition for specific "niches." To address
      these issues, we created a novel HIS model that compromises host myeloid cell
      development via deficiency in the receptor tyrosine kinase Flk2/Flt3. In Balb/c
      Rag2(-/-) Il2rg(-/-) Flt3(-/-) (BRGF) recipients, human conventional DCs and
      plasmacytoid DCs develop from hCD34(+) precursors and can be specifically boosted
      with exogenous Flt3L. Human DCs that develop in this context normally respond to
      TLR stimulation, and improved human DC homeostasis is associated with increased
      numbers of human NK and T cells. This new HIS-DC model should provide a means to
      dissect human DC differentiation and represents a novel platform to screen immune
      adjuvants and DC targeting therapies.

PMID- 26865268
TI  - LncRNA NONRATT021972 siRNA attenuates P2X7 receptor expression and inflammatory
      cytokine production induced by combined high glucose and free fatty acids in PC12
      cells.
AB  - Diabetic neuropathy (DNP) is a frequent chronic complication of diabetes mellitus
      with potentially life-threatening outcomes. High glucose and elevated free fatty
      acids (FFAs) have been recently recognized as major causes of nervous system
      damage in diabetes. Our previous study has indicated extracellular stimuli, such
      as high glucose and/or FFA stress, may activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein
      kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and induce a p38 MAPK-dependent sensitization of
      the P2X7 receptor and release of inflammatory factors in PC12 cells, while the
      mechanisms underlying remain to be elucidated. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play
      important roles in diverse biological processes, including activation of a series
      of pathway signalings. Here, we showed combined high D-glucose and FFAs (HGHF)
      induced an increment of lncRNA-NONRATT021972 (NONCODE ID, nc021972) in PC12
      cells. Nc021972 small interference RNA (siRNA) alleviated HGHF-induced activation
      of p38 MAPK, expression of the P2X7 receptor, and [Ca(2+)]i increment upon P2X7
      receptor activation. Further experiments showed that there existed a crosstalk
      between nc021972 and the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Inhibition of p38 MAPK
      signaling decreased nc021972-induced expression of the P2X7 receptor and
      [Ca(2+)]i increment upon P2X7 receptor activation. Also, nc021972 siRNA inhibited
      HGHF-induced PC12 release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 and rescued decreased cell
      viability mediated by the P2X7 receptor. Therefore, inhibition of nc021972 may
      serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetes complicated with nervous
      inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 26865270
TI  - Tumor cell-derived secretory factor downregulates Semaphorin-3a in osteoblasts by
      activating mammalian target of rapamycin pathway.
AB  - We found that conditioned medium derived from Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells down
      regulated Semaphorin3a (Sema3a) mRNA expression and increased the activity of
      mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1
      cells. Furthermore, mTORC1 inhibition with rapamycin counteracted the effect of
      conditioned media on Sema3a mRNA expression. These results suggest that tumor
      cells decrease Sema3a mRNA expression in osteoblast in an mTORC1-dependent
      manner. 

PMID- 26865272
TI  - Distribution of toxic chemicals in particles of various sizes from mainstream
      cigarette smoke.
AB  - To accurately estimate the risk of inhaling cigarette smoke containing toxic
      chemicals, it is important that the distribution of these chemicals is accurately
      measured in cigarette smoke aerosol particles of various sizes. In this study, a
      single-channel smoking machine was directly coupled to an electrical low-pressure
      impactor. The particles of mainstream cigarette smoke were collected using 12
      polyester films, and the particulate matter (PM) was characterized. Nicotine,
      tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs, including NNN, NAT, NAB, and NNK),
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, including benzo(a)pyrene (BaP),
      benzo(a)anthracene, and chrysene), and heavy metals (including Cr, As, Cd, and
      Pb) present in the particles of different sizes were analyzed by GC, HPLC-MS/MS,
      GC/MS, or ICP-MS, respectively. The results demonstrated that the nicotine,
      TSNAs, PAHs, and heavy metals in mainstream cigarette smoke were dispersed over a
      particle size ranging from 0.1 MUm to 2.0 MUm, and the concentration of these
      toxic chemicals initially increased and then decreased the particle size grew.
      The distribution of nicotine was uniform for the PM in the size ranges of less
      than 0.1 MUm, 0.1-1.0 MUm, and 1.0-2.0 MUm, TSNAs and heavy metals in particles
      of less 0.1 MUm were more abundant, and PAHs in fine particles were also more
      abundant. 

PMID- 26865273
TI  - Analysis of a Rapid Evolutionary Radiation Using Ultraconserved Elements:
      Evidence for a Bias in Some Multispecies Coalescent Methods.
AB  - Rapid evolutionary radiations are expected to require large amounts of sequence
      data to resolve. To resolve these types of relationships many systematists
      believe that it will be necessary to collect data by next-generation sequencing
      (NGS) and use multispecies coalescent ("species tree") methods. Ultraconserved
      element (UCE) sequence capture is becoming a popular method to leverage the high
      throughput of NGS to address problems in vertebrate phylogenetics. Here we
      examine the performance of UCE data for gallopheasants (true pheasants and
      allies), a clade that underwent a rapid radiation 10-15 Ma. Relationships among
      gallopheasant genera have been difficult to establish. We used this rapid
      radiation to assess the performance of species tree methods, using ~600 kilobases
      of DNA sequence data from ~1500 UCEs. We also integrated information from
      traditional markers (nuclear intron data from 15 loci and three mitochondrial
      gene regions). Species tree methods exhibited troubling behavior. Two methods
      [Maximum Pseudolikelihood for Estimating Species Trees (MP-EST) and Accurate
      Species TRee ALgorithm (ASTRAL)] appeared to perform optimally when the set of
      input gene trees was limited to the most variable UCEs, though ASTRAL appeared to
      be more robust than MP-EST to input trees generated using less variable UCEs. In
      contrast, the rooted triplet consensus method implemented in Triplec performed
      better when the largest set of input gene trees was used. We also found that all
      three species tree methods exhibited a surprising degree of dependence on the
      program used to estimate input gene trees, suggesting that the details of
      likelihood calculations (e.g., numerical optimization) are important for loci
      with limited phylogenetic information. As an alternative to summary species tree
      methods we explored the performance of SuperMatrix Rooted Triple - Maximum
      Likelihood (SMRT-ML), a concatenation method that is consistent even when gene
      trees exhibit topological differences due to the multispecies coalescent. We
      found that SMRT-ML performed well for UCE data. Our results suggest that UCE data
      have excellent prospects for the resolution of difficult evolutionary radiations,
      though specific attention may need to be given to the details of the methods used
      to estimate species trees.

PMID- 26865271
TI  - Multisite tyrosine phosphorylation of the N-terminus of Mint1/X11alpha by Src
      kinase regulates the trafficking of amyloid precursor protein.
AB  - Mint/X11 is one of the four neuronal trafficking adaptors that interact with
      amyloid precursor protein (APP) and are linked with its cleavage to generate beta
      amyloid peptide, a key player in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. How APP
      switches between adaptors at different stages of the secretory pathway is poorly
      understood. Here, we show that tyrosine phosphorylation of Mint1 regulates the
      destination of APP. A canonical SH2-binding motif ((202) YEEI) was identified in
      the N-terminus of Mint1 that is phosphorylated on tyrosine by C-Src and recruits
      the active kinase for sequential phosphorylation of further tyrosines (Y191 and
      Y187). A single Y202F mutation in the Mint1 N-terminus inhibits C-Src binding and
      tyrosine phosphorylation. Previous studies observed that co-expression of wild
      type Mint1 and APP causes accumulation of APP in the trans-Golgi.
      Unphosphorylatable Mint1 (Y202F) or pharmacological inhibition of Src reduced the
      accumulation of APP in the trans-Golgi of heterologous cells. A similar result
      was observed in cultured rat hippocampal neurons where Mint1(Y202F) permitted the
      trafficking of APP to more distal neurites than the wild-type protein. These data
      underline the importance of the tyrosine phosphorylation of Mint1 as a critical
      switch for determining the destination of APP. The regulation of amyloid
      precursor protein (APP) trafficking is poorly understood. We have discovered that
      the APP adapter, Mint1, is phosphorylated by C-Src kinase. Mint1 causes APP
      accumulation in the trans-Golgi network, whereas inhibition of Src or mutation of
      Mint1-Y202 permits APP recycling. The phosphorylation status of Mint1 could
      impact on the pathological trafficking of APP in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26865274
TI  - Inferring Bounded Evolution in Phenotypic Characters from Phylogenetic
      Comparative Data.
AB  - Our understanding of phenotypic evolution over macroevolutionary timescales
      largely relies on the use of stochastic models for the evolution of continuous
      traits over phylogenies. The two most widely used models, Brownian motion and the
      Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process, differ in that the latter includes constraints
      on the variance that a trait can attain in a clade. The OU model explicitly
      models adaptive evolution toward a trait optimum and has thus been widely used to
      demonstrate the existence of stabilizing selection on a trait. Here we introduce
      a new model for the evolution of continuous characters on phylogenies: Brownian
      motion between two reflective bounds, or Bounded Brownian Motion (BBM). This
      process also models evolutionary constraints, but of a very different kind. We
      provide analytical expressions for the likelihood of BBM and present a method to
      calculate the likelihood numerically, as well as the associated R code. Numerical
      simulations show that BBM achieves good performance: parameter estimation is
      generally accurate but more importantly BBM can be very easily discriminated from
      both BM and OU. We then analyze climatic niche evolution in diprotodonts and find
      that BBM best fits this empirical data set, suggesting that the climatic niches
      of diprotodonts are bounded by the climate available in Australia and the
      neighboring islands but probably evolved with little additional constraints. We
      conclude that BBM is a valuable addition to the macroevolutionary toolbox, which
      should enable researchers to elucidate whether the phenotypic traits they study
      are evolving under hard constraints between bounds.

PMID- 26865275
TI  - Bats (Chiroptera: Noctilionoidea) Challenge a Recent Origin of Extant Neotropical
      Diversity.
AB  - The mechanisms underlying the high extant biodiversity in the Neotropics have
      been controversial since the 19th century. Support for the influence of period
      specific changes on diversification often rests on detecting more speciation
      events during a particular period. The timing of speciation events may reflect
      the influence of incomplete taxon sampling, protracted speciation, and null
      processes of lineage accumulation. Here we assess the influence of these factors
      on the timing of speciation with new multilocus data for New World noctilionoid
      bats (Chiroptera: Noctilionoidea). Biogeographic analyses revealed the importance
      of the Neotropics in noctilionoid diversification, and the critical role of
      dispersal. We detected no shift in speciation rate associated with the Quaternary
      or pre-Quaternary periods, and instead found an increase in speciation linked to
      the evolution of the subfamily Stenodermatinae (~18 Ma). Simulations modeling
      constant speciation and extinction rates for the phylogeny systematically showed
      more speciation events in the Quaternary. Since recording more divergence events
      in the Quaternary can result from lineage accumulation, the age of extant sister
      species cannot be interpreted as supporting higher speciation rates during this
      period. Instead, analyzing the factors that influence speciation requires
      modeling lineage-specific traits and environmental, spatial, and ecological
      drivers of speciation.

PMID- 26865278
TI  - Shared clonal cytogenetic abnormalities in aberrant mast cells and leukemic
      myeloid blasts detected by single nucleotide polymorphism microarray-based whole
      genome scanning.
AB  - Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by a clonal proliferation of aberrant
      mast cells within extracutaneous sites. In a subset of SM cases, a second
      associated hematologic non-mast cell disease (AHNMD) is also present, usually of
      myeloid origin. Polymerase chain reaction and targeted fluorescence in situ
      hybridization studies have provided evidence that, in at least some cases, the
      aberrant mast cells are related clonally to the neoplastic cells of the AHNMD. In
      this work, a single nucleotide polymorphism microarray (SNP-A) was used to
      characterize the cytogenetics of the aberrant mast cells from a patient with
      acute myeloid leukemia and concomitant mast cell leukemia associated with a KIT
      D816A mutation. The results demonstrate the presence of shared cytogenetic
      abnormalities between the mast cells and myeloid blasts, as well as additional
      abnormalities within mast cells (copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity) not
      detectable by routine karyotypic analysis. To our knowledge, this work represents
      the first application of SNP-A whole-genome scanning to the detection of shared
      cytogenetic abnormalities between the two components of a case of SM-AHNMD. The
      findings provide additional evidence of a frequent clonal link between aberrant
      mast cells and cells of myeloid AHNMDs, and also highlight the importance of
      direct sequencing for identifying uncommon activating KIT mutations.

PMID- 26865277
TI  - Integrated genomic profiling identifies microRNA-92a regulation of IQGAP2 in
      locally advanced rectal cancer.
AB  - Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is treated with chemoradiation prior to
      surgical excision, leaving residual tumors altered or completely absent.
      Integrating layers of genomic profiling might identify regulatory pathways
      relevant to rectal tumorigenesis and inform therapeutic decisions and further
      research. We utilized formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pre-treatment LARC
      biopsies (n=138) and compared copy number, mRNA, and miRNA expression with
      matched normal rectal mucosa. An integrative model was used to predict regulatory
      interactions to explain gene expression changes. These predictions were evaluated
      in vitro using multiple colorectal cancer cell lines. The Cancer Genome Atlas
      (TCGA) was also used as an external cohort to validate our genomic profiling and
      predictions. We found differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs that characterize
      LARC. Our integrative model predicted the upregulation of miR-92a, miR-182, and
      miR-221 expression to be associated with downregulation of their target genes
      after adjusting for the effect of copy number alterations. Cell line studies
      using miR-92a mimics and inhibitors demonstrate that miR-92a expression regulates
      IQGAP2 expression. We show that endogenous miR-92a expression is inversely
      associated with endogenous KLF4 expression in multiple cell lines, and that this
      relationship is also present in rectal cancers of TCGA. Our integrative model
      predicted regulators of gene expression change in LARC using pre-treatment FFPE
      tissues. Our methodology implicated multiple regulatory interactions, some of
      which are corroborated by independent lines of study, while others indicate new
      opportunities for investigation.

PMID- 26865279
TI  - Better approach needed to detect and treat military personnel with adverse
      effects from mefloquine.

PMID- 26865280
TI  - Expanding Our Understanding of Age-Related Mortality After Gastric Bypass
      Surgery.

PMID- 26865281
TI  - Oxytocin as a protective agent in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic drug with serious side effects
      such as ototoxicity which is characterized by irreversible, bilateral,
      progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Oxytocin, which is a well-known hormone
      secreting during pregnancy, has antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect. Our
      study aims to test and compare the effect of intratympanic (IT) and
      intraperitoneal (IP) oxytocin on cisplatin ototoxicity with DPOAE. METHODS: A
      total of 24 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1
      received 0.1-0.3 ml IT saline + IP saline solutions for 4 days (n = 6), Group 2
      received cumulative dose of 20 mg/kg IP cisplatin divided into two equal doses in
      first and second days of experiment + 0.1-0.3 ml IT saline for 4 days, Group 3
      received same dose of cisplatin as Group 2 + 0.1-0.3 ml IT oxytocin for 4 days,
      and Group 4 received same dose of cisplatin as Groups 2 and 3 + IP oxytocin with
      dose of 1 mg/kg. DPOAE was performed prior to procedure and at the end of the
      experiment on day 5. RESULTS: Group 2 showed severe ototoxic effect of cisplatin
      according to DPOAE result (p < 0.05). When compared with Group 2, DPOAE amplitude
      reductions were smaller in Group 3 (3.2, 3.8, 4.5, 6.3 and 7.6 kHz) (p < 0.05)
      and Group 4 which is statistically significant in 5.4, 6.3 and 7.6 kHz (p <
      0.05). When Group 3 and Group 4 were compared, reductions were smaller in 2.7 and
      3.2 kHz in Group 3 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed the
      protective effect of IT and IP oxytocin on cisplatin ototoxicity. We suggest
      oxytocin in cisplatin ototoxicity, especially via IT route even with high-dose
      cisplatin.

PMID- 26865282
TI  - Building an Inclusive Culture in the Chemistry Department at Imperial College.
AB  - One of the main aims of any department is to appoint the very best chemists and
      to support them to reach their full potential. Success in this aim cannot look
      like a male to female ratio of professors of 20:1. In this Guest Editorial, T.
      Welton, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London,
      describes the processes introduced that led to the Chemistry Department at
      Imperial achieving a gold Athena SWAN award.

PMID- 26865284
TI  - Coronary or thoracic artery calcium score in provoked and unprovoked pulmonary
      embolism: a case-control study.
AB  - Essentials Patients with unprovoked pulmonary embolism (PE) are at increased risk
      of arterial thromboembolism. Coronary and thoracic aorta calcium were evaluated
      in patients with and without (unprovoked) PE. No association was found between
      (unprovoked) PE and coronary or aortic calcification. Assessment of both calcium
      scores on computed tomography pulmonary angiography was highly reproducible.
      SUMMARY: Objective To evaluate the potential association between (unprovoked)
      pulmonary embolism (PE) and the presence and extent of coronary artery calcium
      (CAC) and thoracic aorta calcium (TAC). Methods CAC and TAC derived from computed
      tomography pulmonary angiography of 100 patients with PE were compared to that of
      100 patients in whom PE was ruled out. Results Intraobserver and interobserver
      agreements for both TAC and CAC were excellent (intraclass correlation > 0.95 for
      both). In patients with PE vs. patients without PE, no significant differences
      were found in the presence of CAC or TAC (CAC 64% vs. 67%, odds ratio [OR] 1.0,
      95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.6; TAC 46% vs. 59%, OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.80-2.1).
      Mean CAC and TAC scores were significantly lower in patients with PE than in
      patients without PE (CAC 3.4 vs. 4.9, absolute difference 1.5, 95% CI 0.2-2.8;
      TAC 1.1 vs. 1.8, absolute difference 0.9, 95% CI 0.2-1.2). No significant
      differences were found in the presence of CAC or TAC or in mean CAC and TAC
      scores between patients with unprovoked PE vs. patients with provoked PE, or
      between patients with unprovoked PE vs. no PE. Conclusion No significant
      differences were found between the extent of CAC and TAC in patients with
      unprovoked PE compared to those with provoked PE or without PE. The observed
      difference in the extend of CAC and TAC between patients with and without PE was
      dependent on prevalent cardiovascular risk factors.

PMID- 26865285
TI  - Good outcome after liver transplantation for ALD without a 6 months abstinence
      rule prior to transplantation including post-transplant CDT monitoring for
      alcohol relapse assessment - a retrospective study.
AB  - Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the second most common indication for liver
      transplantation (LT). The utility of fixed intervals of abstinence prior to
      listing is still a matter of discussion. Furthermore, post-LT long-term
      observation is challenging, and biomarkers as carbohydrate-deficient transferrin
      (CDT) may help to identify alcohol relapse. We retrospectively analyzed data from
      patients receiving LT for ALD from 1996 to 2012. A defined period of alcohol
      abstinence prior to listing was not a precondition, and abstinence was evaluated
      using structured psychological interviews. A total of 382 patients received LT
      for ALD as main (n = 290) or secondary (n = 92) indication; median follow-up was
      73 months (0-213). One- and five-year patient survival and graft survival rates
      were 82% and 69%, and 80% and 67%, respectively. A total of 62 patients (16%)
      experienced alcohol relapse. Alcohol relapse did not have a statistically
      significant effect on patient survival (P = 0.10). Post-transplant CDT
      measurements showed a sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 85%, respectively.
      In conclusion, this large single-center analysis showed good post-transplant long
      term results in patients with ALD when applying structured psychological
      interviews before listing. Relapse rates were lower than those reported in the
      literature despite using a strict definition of alcohol relapse. Furthermore,
      post-LT CDT measurement proved to be a useful supplementary tool for detecting
      alcohol relapse. 

PMID- 26865283
TI  - Safety Concerns Surrounding Quinolone Use in Children.
AB  - Fluoroquinolones are highly effective antibiotics with many desirable
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties including high bioavailability,
      large volume of distribution, and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.
      Despite their attractive profile as anti-infective agents, their use in children
      is limited, primarily due to safety concerns. In this review we highlight the
      pharmacological properties of fluoroquinolones and describe their current use in
      pediatrics. In addition, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the safety data
      associated with fluoroquinolone use in children. Although permanent or
      destructive arthropathy remains a significant concern, currently available data
      demonstrate that arthralgia and arthropathy are relatively uncommon in children
      and resolve following cessation of fluoroquinolone exposure without resulting in
      long-term sequelae. The concern for safety and risk of adverse events associated
      with pediatric fluoroquinolone use is likely driving the limited prescribing of
      this drug class in pediatrics. However, in adults, fluoroquinolones are the most
      commonly prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, resulting in the development of
      drug-resistant bacteria that can be challenging to treat effectively. The
      consequence of misuse and overuse of fluoroquinolones leading to drug resistance
      is a greater, but frequently overlooked, safety concern that applies to both
      children and adults and one that should be considered at the point of
      prescribing.

PMID- 26865286
TI  - Effect of alpha-Hederin on IL-2 and IL-17 mRNA and miRNA-133a Levels in Lungs of
      Ovalbumin-Sensitized Male Rats.
AB  - alpha-hederin, a saponin that is a major constituent of English Ivy (Hedera
      helix) is effective in the treatment of asthma. In the present study, the effect
      of alpha-hederin on lung tissue pathology and the levels of the inflammatory
      mediators; IL-2 mRNA, IL-17 mRNA, and MicroRNAs (miRNA)-133a was evaluated in a
      rat ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized model of asthma. Rats were divided randomly into
      control (C), OVA-sensitized (S), OVA-sensitized pretreated with the antioxidant,
      thymoquinone (3 mg/kg, S + TQ) or OVA-sensitized pretreated with alpha-hederin
      (0.02 mg/kg, S + AH) groups. Levels of IL-2 and IL-17 mRNA were higher in the OVA
      sensitized group than controls while the level of miRNA-133a gene expression was
      lower. IL-2 mRNA and miRNA-133a gene expression in the S + TQ group was higher
      than in the control and OVA-sensitized groups while the level of IL-17 mRNA in
      the S + TQ group was lower than in the OVA-sensitized group. Pretreatment with
      alpha-hederin decreased IL-17 mRNA levels and increased miRNA-133a gene
      expression compared with OVA-sensitized animals. All pathological changes in
      pretreated groups were lower than the OVA-sensitized group. These results showed
      a beneficial effect of alpha-hederin in OVA-sensitized rats, suggesting that
      alpha-hederin affects the IL-2 and IL-17 secretion pathways, altering miRNA-133a
      expression.

PMID- 26865287
TI  - Companion Versus Comparison: Examining Seeking Social Companionship or Social
      Comparison as Characteristics That Differentiate Happy and Unhappy People.
AB  - Which friend do you want to spend time with-a happy friend who performs better
      than you or an unhappy friend who performs worse than you? The present research
      demonstrates that in such conflicting situations, when the desires for
      companionship and comparison are pitted against each other, one's level of
      happiness plays an important role in one's choice. Using hypothetical scenarios,
      we found that compared with unhappy people, happy people expected that spending
      time with a happy, superior friend would be more pleasant than spending time with
      an unhappy, inferior friend (Studies 1B through 2) and were more willing to
      socialize with a happy, superior friend than with an unhappy, inferior friend
      (Studies 1B through 2). Moreover, this pattern was not explained by self-esteem
      (Study 2) or the similarity-attraction hypothesis (Study 3). The present findings
      suggest that happy people place more value on companionship than on comparison. 

PMID- 26865288
TI  - The Costs of Suppressing Negative Emotions and Amplifying Positive Emotions
      During Parental Caregiving.
AB  - How do parents feel when they regulate their emotional expressions in ways that
      are incongruent with their genuine feelings? In an experimental study, parents
      reported experiencing lower authenticity, emotional well-being, relationship
      quality, and responsiveness to their children's needs when they recalled
      caregiving experiences in which they suppressed negative emotions and amplified
      positive emotions, relative to a control condition. In a 10-day daily experience
      study, parents tended to use both regulation strategies simultaneously. In
      addition, assessing their unique effects indicated that positive emotion
      amplification, but not negative emotion suppression, had an indirect effect on
      parental outcomes via authenticity, with negative emotion suppression no longer
      being costly. This indirect effect was dampened when accounting for care
      difficulty. In both studies, effects were independent of a child's mood. The
      current results suggest that parents' attempts to suppress negative and amplify
      positive emotions during child care can detract from their well-being and high
      quality parent-child bonds. 

PMID- 26865289
TI  - Third-Party Cooperation: How Reducing Material Involvement Enhances Contributions
      to the Public Good.
AB  - Decisions to cooperate are often delegated to a third party. We examined whether
      cooperation differs when decisions are made for a third party compared with
      ourselves and specified which motives are important for third-party cooperation.
      Participants played multiple rounds of a public goods game (PGG). In Study 1, we
      varied personal involvement from high to low; participants played for themselves
      (Self), for themselves and a third party (Shared), and solely for a third party
      (Third Party). Participants contributed most when personal involvement was lowest
      (i.e., Third Party) and least when personal involvement was high (i.e., Self).
      Study 2 explored if social motives underlie third-party cooperation by comparing
      cooperation with social (human) and non-social (computer) group members. Reducing
      personal involvement in the PGG (i.e., Third Party) increased cooperation in
      social contexts compared with non-social contexts, indicating enhanced collective
      interest. Increased cooperation for a third party may result from taking the
      other's perspective, thereby increasing social norm preferences. 

PMID- 26865290
TI  - Changing US Attributes After CS-US Pairings Changes CS-Attribute-Assessments:
      Evidence for CS-US Associations in Attribute Conditioning.
AB  - Attribute Conditioning (AC) refers to people's changed assessments of stimuli's
      (CSs) attributes due to repeated pairing with stimuli (USs) possessing these
      attributes; for example, when an athletic person (US) is paired with a neutral
      person (CS), the neutral person is judged to be more athletic after the pairing.
      We hypothesize that this AC effect is due to CSs' associations with USs rather
      than direct associations with attributes. Three experiments test this hypothesis
      by changing US attributes after CS-US pairings. Experiments 1 and 2 conditioned
      athleticism by pairing neutral men (CSs) with athletic and non-athletic USs. Post
      conditioning, USs' athleticism was reversed, which systematically influenced
      participants' assessment of CS athleticism. Experiment 3 conditioned athleticism
      and changed USs' musicality after CS-US pairings. This post-conditioning change
      affected musicality assessments of CSs but did not influence athleticism
      assessments. The results indicate that AC effects are based on an associative CS
      US-attribute structure.

PMID- 26865291
TI  - Narcissists of a Feather Flock Together: Narcissism and the Similarity of
      Friends.
AB  - Who is willing to expose himself or herself to narcissists on a long-term basis?
      Studies that address the interactions of narcissists focus mainly on their
      interactions with strangers. Hence, the aim of the present study was to
      investigate the extent to which two best friends' similarity in narcissism would
      influence their similarities in other personality profiles. A total of 290 best
      friends' dyads filled out measurements of the whole Dark Triad as well as the Big
      Five. For each personality domain, profile similarity and its dependence on the
      similarity in the Dark Triad were determined. Results showed that the friends'
      similarity in narcissism significantly predicted similarity in all Big Five
      domains. For the general Big Five similarity as well as extraversion, the effect
      of narcissism similarity was stronger for male than female or mixed friends.
      Similarity in psychopathy and Machiavellianism significantly predicted all
      domains except for openness and extraversion, respectively. 

PMID- 26865292
TI  - The Scope of Our Affective Influences: When and How Naturally Occurring Positive,
      Negative, and Neutral Affects Alter Judgment.
AB  - To determine how naturally arising affect alters judgment, we examined whether
      (a) affective states exert a specific, rather than a general, influence on
      valenced-specific judgments; (b) neutral affect is associated with increased
      neutral judgments, independent of positive, negative, and ambivalent affects, and
      whether neutral judgments are associated with behavioral disengagement; and (c)
      the informational value of naturally arising states may be difficult to alter via
      salience and relevance manipulations. The results support several conclusions:
      (a) Affective states exerted a judgment-specific effect-positive affect was most
      strongly associated with positive judgments, negative affect with negative
      judgments, and neutral affect with neutral judgments. (b) Neutral affect
      influenced judgments, taking into account positive, negative, and ambivalent
      affects; and neutral judgments predicted behavioral disengagement. (c) With the
      exception of negative affect, naturally arising affective states typically
      influenced judgments regardless of their salience and relevance. 

PMID- 26865293
TI  - Costs of Care for Hospitalization for Pemphigus in the United States.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disorder associated with
      significant morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the inpatient
      burden of pemphigus. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of and risk factors
      for hospitalization with pemphigus and cost of care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: The 2002-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample provided by the
      Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from the Agency for Healthcare Research
      and Quality was analyzed. A total of 87 039 711 children and adults (mean [SD]
      age, 57.7 [0.98] years for those with a primary diagnosis of pemphigus; 70.6
      [0.32] years for those with a secondary diagnosis of pemphigus; and 47.9 [0.19]
      years for those without a diagnosis of pemphigus) were studied. Data analysis was
      performed from June 1 to August 30, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
      Hospitalization rates, length of stay, and cost of care. RESULTS: There were 1185
      and 5221 patients admitted with a primary or secondary diagnosis of pemphigus,
      respectively; when factoring in weights that generalize the sample to the entire
      hospitalized US cohort, these admissions represented weighted frequencies of 5647
      and 24 880, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models with
      stepwise selection, increasing age (adjusted odds ratios [95% CIs]: 18-39 years:
      5.53 [4.28-7.14], P < .001; 40-59 years: 10.98 [8.46-14.24], P < .001; 60-79
      years: 7.54 [5.75-9.89], P < .001; >=80 years: 7.57 [5.71-10.04], P < .001),
      female sex (1.10 [1.01-1.20], P = .047), nonwhite race/ethnicity (black: 1.94
      [1.75-2.14], P < .001; Hispanic: 4.10 [3.74-4.48], P < .001; Asian: 3.16 [2.68
      3.73], P < .001; Native American: 2.11 [1.45-3.08], P < .001), lower household
      income (quartile 2: 1.19 [1.07-1.32], P < .001), being insured with Medicare
      (1.56 [1.41-1.74], P < .001) or Medicaid (1.55 [1.39-1.73], P < .001), number of
      chronic conditions (2-5: 2.36 [2.10-2.65], P < .001; >=6: 1.47 [1.29-1.69], P <
      .001), hospital location in a metropolitan area (not metropolitan or
      micropolitan: 0.60 [0.49-0.72], P < .001), and summer season (1.12 [1.02-1.23], P
      = .02) were all associated with hospitalization for pemphigus. The total
      inflation-adjusted cost of care for patients with a primary inpatient diagnosis
      of pemphigus was $74 466 305, with a mean (SD) annual cost of $14 520.93
      ($913.22). The inflation-adjusted cost of care for patients with a primary
      diagnosis of pemphigus increased significantly from 2002 to 2012 (analysis of
      variance, P < .001). In particular, length of stay was higher in racial/ethnic
      minorities compared with whites (survey linear regression, log beta [95% CI]:
      black: 0.076 [0.075-0.076]; Hispanic: 0.021 [0.021-0.022]; Asian: 0.037 [0.036
      0.039]; Native American: 0.010 [0.0076-0.013]), lower quartile household income
      (quartile 1: 0.024 [0.023-0.024]; quartile 2: 0.0029 [0.0022-0.0035]), and those
      without private insurance (Medicare: 0.12 [0.12-0.12]; Medicaid: 0.082 [0.081
      0.083]; no charge: 0.051 [0.047-0.055]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: There is a
      significant inpatient burden for pemphigus in the United States. Moreover, there
      appear to be racial/ethnic and health care disparities with respect to pemphigus,
      such that poor, nonwhite, and/or uninsured or underinsured patients have higher
      odds of hospitalization.

PMID- 26865294
TI  - Breakfast frequency among adolescents: associations with measures of family
      functioning.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate (i) associations between adolescents' frequency of
      breakfast and family functioning (close relations to parents, quality of family
      communication and family support) and (ii) if any observed associations between
      breakfast frequency and family functioning vary by sociodemographic factors.
      DESIGN: School-based cross-sectional study. Students completed a web-based
      questionnaire. Associations were estimated by multilevel multivariate logistic
      regression. SETTING: Danish arm of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
      study, 2014. SUBJECTS: Adolescents aged 13 and 15 years (n 3054) from a random
      sample of forty-one schools. RESULTS: Nearly one-quarter of the adolescents had
      low breakfast frequency. Low breakfast frequency was associated with low family
      functioning measured by three dimensions. The OR (95 % CI) of low breakfast
      frequency was 1.81 (1.40, 2.33) for adolescents who reported no close relations
      to parents, 2.28 (1.61, 3.22) for adolescents who reported low level of quality
      of family communication and 2.09 (1.39, 3.15) for adolescents who reported low
      level of family support. Joint effect analyses suggested that the odds of low
      breakfast frequency among adolescents with low family functioning compared with
      high family functioning were highest among adolescents being girls, immigrants
      and living in other than a traditional family structure. CONCLUSIONS: Low
      breakfast frequency was associated with low family functioning measured by close
      relations to parents, quality of family communication and family support.
      Further, analyses suggested that the associations were more pronounced among
      girls, immigrants and adolescents from other family structure than traditional.
      The study highlights the importance of the family setting in promoting regular
      breakfast frequency among adolescents.

PMID- 26865295
TI  - Ecological traps: current evidence and future directions.
AB  - Ecological traps, which occur when animals mistakenly prefer habitats where their
      fitness is lower than in other available habitats following rapid environmental
      change, have important conservation and management implications. Empirical
      research has focused largely on assessing the behavioural effects of traps, by
      studying a small number of geographically close habitat patches. Traps, however,
      have also been defined in terms of their population-level effects (i.e. as
      preferred habitats of sufficiently low quality to cause population declines), and
      this is the scale most relevant for management. We systematically review the
      ecological traps literature to (i) describe the geographical and taxonomic
      distribution of efforts to study traps, (ii) examine how different traps vary in
      the strength of their effects on preference and fitness, (iii) evaluate the
      robustness of methods being used to identify traps, and (iv) determine whether
      the information required to assess the population-level consequences of traps has
      been considered. We use our results to discuss key knowledge gaps, propose
      improved methods to study traps, and highlight fruitful avenues for future
      research. 

PMID- 26865296
TI  - Interspecific shared collective decision-making in two forensically important
      species.
AB  - To date, the study of collective behaviour has mainly focused on intraspecific
      situations: the collective decision-making of mixed-species groups involving
      interspecific aggregation-segregation has received little attention. Here, we
      show that, in both conspecific and heterospecific groups, the larvae of two
      species (Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vomitoria, calliphorid carrion-feeding
      flies) were able to make a collective choice. In all groups, the choice was made
      within a few minutes and persisted throughout the period of the experiment. The
      monitoring of a focal individual within a group showed that these aggregations
      were governed by attractive and retentive effects of the group. Furthermore, the
      similarity observed between the conspecific and heterospecific groups suggested
      the existence of shared aggregation signals. The group size was found to have a
      stronger influence than the species of necrophagous larvae. These results should
      be viewed in relation to the well-known correlation between group size and heat
      generation. This study provides the first experimental examination of the
      dynamics of collective decision-making in mixed-species groups of invertebrates,
      contributing to our understanding of the cooperation-competition phenomenon in
      animal social groups. 

PMID- 26865297
TI  - Transcontinental latitudinal variation in song performance and complexity in
      house wrens (Troglodytes aedon).
AB  - There is growing interest in latitudinal effects on animal behaviour and life
      history. One recent focus is on birdsong, which is hypothesized to be more
      elaborated or complex in the north temperate zone compared with the tropics.
      Current evidence is mixed and based on cross-species comparisons, or single
      species with restricted distributions. We circumvent these limitations using a
      transcontinental sample of 358 songs from house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) at 281
      locations spanning more than 100 degrees  of latitude (52 degrees  N-55 degrees 
      S) across the Americas. We found a significant latitudinal gradient in several
      basic elements of song performance and complexity between north temperate and
      tropical populations. Furthermore, we document convergence in song patterns
      between populations at higher latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
      Effects were strongest for the number of elements in a song, and the rate of
      element production, both increasing towards the poles, with similar but weaker
      effects for other song dimensions (e.g. number of unique elements, trills and
      trill rate). We consider possible causes related to variable habitats and
      morphology, concluding that the shorter breeding seasons at higher latitudes in
      both hemispheres may favour greater song elaboration to mediate territory
      competition and mate choice. 

PMID- 26865298
TI  - Prey size diversity hinders biomass trophic transfer and predator size diversity
      promotes it in planktonic communities.
AB  - Body size exerts multiple effects on plankton food-web interactions. However, the
      influence of size structure on trophic transfer remains poorly quantified in the
      field. Here, we examine how the size diversity of prey (nano-microplankton) and
      predators (mesozooplankton) influence trophic transfer efficiency (using biomass
      ratio as a proxy) in natural marine ecosystems. Our results support previous
      studies on single trophic levels: transfer efficiency decreases with increasing
      prey size diversity and is enhanced with greater predator size diversity. We
      further show that communities with low nano-microplankton size diversity and high
      mesozooplankton size diversity tend to occur in warmer environments with low
      nutrient concentrations, thus promoting trophic transfer to higher trophic levels
      in those conditions. Moreover, we reveal an interactive effect of predator and
      prey size diversities: the positive effect of predator size diversity becomes
      influential when prey size diversity is high. Mechanistically, the negative
      effect of prey size diversity on trophic transfer may be explained by unicellular
      size-based metabolic constraints as well as trade-offs between growth and
      predation avoidance with size, whereas increasing predator size diversity may
      enhance diet niche partitioning and thus promote trophic transfer. These findings
      provide insights into size-based theories of ecosystem functioning, with
      implications for ecosystem predictive models. 

PMID- 26865299
TI  - Bacterial predator-prey dynamics in microscale patchy landscapes.
AB  - Soil is a microenvironment with a fragmented (patchy) spatial structure in which
      many bacterial species interact. Here, we explore the interaction between the
      predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and its prey Escherichia coli in
      microfabricated landscapes. We ask how fragmentation influences the prey dynamics
      at the microscale and compare two landscape geometries: a patchy landscape and a
      continuous landscape. By following the dynamics of prey populations with high
      spatial and temporal resolution for many generations, we found that the variation
      in predation rates was twice as large in the patchy landscape and the dynamics
      was correlated over shorter length scales. We also found that while the prey
      population in the continuous landscape was almost entirely driven to extinction,
      a significant part of the prey population in the fragmented landscape persisted
      over time. We observed significant surface-associated growth, especially in the
      fragmented landscape and we surmise that this sub-population is more resistant to
      predation. Our results thus show that microscale fragmentation can significantly
      influence bacterial interactions. 

PMID- 26865300
TI  - A computational approach to studying ageing at the individual level.
AB  - The ageing process is actively regulated throughout an organism's life, but
      studying the rate of ageing in individuals is difficult with conventional
      methods. Consequently, ageing studies typically make biological inference based
      on population mortality rates, which often do not accurately reflect the
      probabilities of death at the individual level. To study the relationship between
      individual and population mortality rates, we integrated in vivo switch
      experiments with in silico stochastic simulations to elucidate how carefully
      designed experiments allow key aspects of individual ageing to be deduced from
      group mortality measurements. As our case study, we used the recent report
      demonstrating that pheromones of the opposite sex decrease lifespan in Drosophila
      melanogaster by reversibly increasing population mortality rates. We showed that
      the population mortality reversal following pheromone removal was almost surely
      occurring in individuals, albeit more slowly than suggested by population
      measures. Furthermore, heterogeneity among individuals due to the inherent
      stochasticity of behavioural interactions skewed population mortality rates in
      middle-age away from the individual-level trajectories of which they are
      comprised. This article exemplifies how computational models function as
      important predictive tools for designing wet-laboratory experiments to use
      population mortality rates to understand how genetic and environmental
      manipulations affect ageing in the individual. 

PMID- 26865301
TI  - What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul?
AB  - During the Pleistocene, Australia and New Guinea supported a rich assemblage of
      large vertebrates. Why these animals disappeared has been debated for more than a
      century and remains controversial. Previous synthetic reviews of this problem
      have typically focused heavily on particular types of evidence, such as the
      dating of extinction and human arrival, and have frequently ignored uncertainties
      and biases that can lead to misinterpretation of this evidence. Here, we review
      diverse evidence bearing on this issue and conclude that, although many knowledge
      gaps remain, multiple independent lines of evidence point to direct human impact
      as the most likely cause of extinction. 

PMID- 26865302
TI  - Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, superoxide dismutase and glutathione as stress
      response indicators in three corals under short-term hyposalinity stress.
AB  - Corals are among the most active producers of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP),
      a key molecule in marine sulfur cycling, yet the specific physiological role of
      DMSP in corals remains elusive. Here, we examine the oxidative stress response of
      three coral species (Acropora millepora, Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora
      damicornis) and explore the antioxidant role of DMSP and its breakdown products
      under short-term hyposalinity stress. Symbiont photosynthetic activity declined
      with hyposalinity exposure in all three reef-building corals. This corresponded
      with the upregulation of superoxide dismutase and glutathione in the animal host
      of all three species. For the symbiont component, there were differences in
      antioxidant regulation, demonstrating differential responses to oxidative stress
      between the Symbiodinium subclades. Of the three coral species investigated, only
      A. millepora provided any evidence of the role of DMSP in the oxidative stress
      response. Our study reveals variability in antioxidant regulation in corals and
      highlights the influence life-history traits, and the subcladal differences can
      have on coral physiology. Our data expand on the emerging understanding of the
      role of DMSP in coral stress regulation and emphasizes the importance of
      exploring both the host and symbiont responses for defining the threshold of the
      coral holobiont to hyposalinity stress. 

PMID- 26865303
TI  - Niche-tracking migrants and niche-switching residents: evolution of climatic
      niches in New World warblers (Parulidae).
AB  - Differences in life-history traits between tropical and temperate lineages are
      often attributed to differences in their climatic niche dynamics. For example,
      the more frequent appearance of migratory behaviour in temperate-breeding species
      than in species originally breeding in the tropics is believed to have resulted
      partly from tropical climatic stability and niche conservatism constraining
      tropical species from shifting their ranges. However, little is known about the
      patterns and processes underlying climatic niche evolution in migrant and
      resident animals. We evaluated the evolution of overlap in climatic niches
      between seasons and its relationship to migratory behaviour in the Parulidae, a
      family of New World passerine birds. We used ordination methods to measure
      seasonal niche overlap and niche breadth of 54 resident and 49 migrant species
      and used phylogenetic comparative methods to assess patterns of climatic niche
      evolution. We found that despite travelling thousands of kilometres, migrants
      tracked climatic conditions across the year to a greater extent than tropical
      residents. Migrant species had wider niches than resident species, although
      residents as a group occupied a wider climatic space and niches of migrants and
      residents overlapped extensively. Neither breeding latitude nor migratory
      distance explained variation among species in climatic niche overlap between
      seasons. Our findings support the notion that tropical species have narrower
      niches than temperate-breeders, but does not necessarily constrain their ability
      to shift or expand their geographical ranges and become migratory. Overall, the
      tropics may have been historically less likely to experience the suite of
      components that generate strong selection pressures for the evolution of
      migratory behaviour. 

PMID- 26865304
TI  - Synergistic interactions of ecosystem services: florivorous pest control boosts
      crop yield increase through insect pollination.
AB  - Insect pollination and pest control are pivotal functions sustaining global food
      production. However, they have mostly been studied in isolation and how they
      interactively shape crop yield remains largely unexplored. Using controlled field
      experiments, we found strong synergistic effects of insect pollination and
      simulated pest control on yield quantity and quality. Their joint effect
      increased yield by 23%, with synergistic effects contributing 10%, while their
      single contributions were 7% and 6%, respectively. The potential economic benefit
      for a farmer from the synergistic effects (12%) was 1.8 times greater than their
      individual contributions (7% each). We show that the principal underlying
      mechanism was a pronounced pest-induced reduction in flower lifetime, resulting
      in a strong reduction in the number of pollinator visits a flower receives during
      its lifetime. Our findings highlight the importance of non-additive interactions
      among ecosystem services (ES) when valuating, mapping or predicting them and
      reveal fundamental implications for ecosystem management and policy aimed at
      maximizing ES for sustainable agriculture. 

PMID- 26865305
TI  - Pharmacological evidence is consistent with a prominent role of spatial memory in
      complex navigation.
AB  - The ability to learn about the spatial environment plays an important role in
      navigation, migration, dispersal, and foraging. However, our understanding of
      both the role of cognition in the development of navigation strategies and the
      mechanisms underlying these strategies is limited. We tested the hypothesis that
      complex navigation is facilitated by spatial memory in a population of Chrysemys
      picta that navigate with extreme precision (+/-3.5 m) using specific routes that
      must be learned prior to age three. We used scopolamine, a muscarinic
      acetylcholine receptor antagonist, to manipulate the cognitive spatial abilities
      of free-living turtles during naturally occurring overland movements. Experienced
      adults treated with scopolamine diverted markedly from their precise navigation
      routes. Naive juveniles lacking experience (and memory) were not affected by
      scopolamine, and thereby served as controls for perceptual or non-spatial
      cognitive processes associated with navigation. Further, neither adult nor
      juvenile movement was affected by methylscopolamine, a form of scopolamine that
      does not cross the blood-brain barrier, a control for the peripheral effects of
      scopolamine. Together, these results are consistent with a role of spatial
      cognition in complex navigation and highlight a cellular mechanism that might
      underlie spatial cognition. Overall, our findings expand our understanding of the
      development of complex cognitive abilities of vertebrates and the neurological
      mechanisms of navigation. 

PMID- 26865306
TI  - Interactions among ecosystem stressors and their importance in conservation.
AB  - Interactions between multiple ecosystem stressors are expected to jeopardize
      biological processes, functions and biodiversity. The scientific community has
      declared stressor interactions-notably synergies-a key issue for conservation and
      management. Here, we review ecological literature over the past four decades to
      evaluate trends in the reporting of ecological interactions (synergies,
      antagonisms and additive effects) and highlight the implications and importance
      to conservation. Despite increasing popularity, and ever-finer terminologies, we
      find that synergies are (still) not the most prevalent type of interaction, and
      that conservation practitioners need to appreciate and manage for all interaction
      outcomes, including antagonistic and additive effects. However, it will not be
      possible to identify the effect of every interaction on every organism's
      physiology and every ecosystem function because the number of stressors, and
      their potential interactions, are growing rapidly. Predicting the type of
      interactions may be possible in the near-future, using meta-analyses,
      conservation-oriented experiments and adaptive monitoring. Pending a general
      framework for predicting interactions, conservation management should enact
      interventions that are robust to uncertainty in interaction type and that
      continue to bolster biological resilience in a stressful world. 

PMID- 26865307
TI  - Touch sensation by pectoral fins of the catfish Pimelodus pictus.
AB  - Mechanosensation is fundamental to many tetrapod limb functions, yet it remains
      largely uninvestigated in the paired fins of fishes, limb homologues. Here we
      examine whether membranous fins may function as passive structures for touch
      sensation. We investigate the pectoral fins of the pictus catfish (Pimelodus
      pictus), a species that lives in close association with the benthic substrate and
      whose fins are positioned near its ventral margin. Kinematic analysis shows that
      the pectoral fins are held partially protracted during routine forward swimming
      and do not appear to generate propulsive force. Immunohistochemistry reveals that
      the fins are highly innervated, and we observe putative mechanoreceptors at nerve
      fibre endings. To test for the ability to sense mechanical perturbations,
      activity of fin ray nerve fibres was recorded in response to touch and bend
      stimulation. Both pressure and light surface brushing generated afferent nerve
      activity. Fin ray nerves also respond to bending of the rays. These data
      demonstrate for the first time that membranous fins can function as passive
      mechanosensors. We suggest that touch-sensitive fins may be widespread in fishes
      that maintain a close association with the bottom substrate. 

PMID- 26865309
TI  - Flexible, transparent and exceptionally high power output nanogenerators based on
      ultrathin ZnO nanoflakes.
AB  - Novel nanogenerator structures composed of ZnO nanoflakes of less than 10 nm
      thickness were fabricated using a novel method involving a facile synthetic route
      and a rational design. The fabricated nanogenerators exhibited a short-circuit
      current density of 67 MUA cm(-2), a peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of 110 V,
      and an overall output power density exceeding 1.2 mW cm(-2), and to the best of
      our knowledge, these are the best values that have been reported so far in the
      literature on ZnO-based nanogenerators. We demonstrated that our nanogenerator
      design could instantaneously power 20 commercial green light-emitting diodes
      without any additional energy storage processes. Both the facile synthetic route
      for the ZnO nanoflakes and the straightforward device fabrication process present
      great scaling potential in order to power mobile and personal electronics that
      can be used in smart wearable systems, transparent and flexible devices,
      implantable telemetric energy receivers, electronic emergency equipment, and
      other self-powered nano/micro devices. 

PMID- 26865308
TI  - The effect of disease on the evolution of females and the genetic basis of sex in
      populations with cytoplasmic male sterility.
AB  - The evolution of separate males and females is an important evolutionary
      transition that has occurred multiple times in flowering plants. While empirical
      studies have stressed the potential importance of natural enemies and organismal
      interactions in the evolution of separate sexes, there has been no treatment of
      natural enemies in the theoretical literature. We investigated the effects of
      disease on the evolution of females in gynodioecious populations composed of
      females and hermaphrodites, where sex is determined by the interaction of
      cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and nuclear restorer genes. When females are
      significantly more resistant than hermaphrodites, disease drives an increase in
      the frequency of females and sex determination becomes nuclear, creating the pre
      conditions for the evolution of separate males and females. However, when females
      are only moderately more resistant, disease drives changes in the frequency of
      CMS and restorer alleles, but has little effect on the frequency of females. We
      discuss our results in the context of the evolution of mating systems and cyto
      nuclear epistasis. 

PMID- 26865310
TI  - Physical and mechanical properties of Tunisian women hair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mechanical analysis of human hair may provide the dermatologists with
      several markers of considerable diagnostic importance. The aim of this study was
      to analyse the physical and mechanical properties of Tunisian women's hair.
      METHODS: Surface characteristics were determined with scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties were studied using the Miniature Tensile
      Tester Model 675 (MTT675), and the Fibre Dimensional Analysis Unit Model 765
      (FDAS765) of Dia-Stron, UK, was used to measure the cross-sectional area.
      RESULTS: The cross-sectional area, stress at break, strain at break, elastic
      modulus and total work were 4643.21 +/- 817 MUm(2) , 201 +/- 11.26 MPa, 47.3 +/-
      3.6%, 3.1 +/- 0.16 GPa, and 9 +/- 2.2 mJ, respectively. The effects of the
      factors 'hair curliness' and 'age' on the physical and mechanical properties were
      studied. The cross-sectional area and the break load are influenced by the
      factors 'age' and 'curl type', whereas Young's modulus shows a significant
      dependency only on the age. CONCLUSION: Tunisian women hair presented good
      mechanical properties as shown by a greater breaking stress and higher breaking
      strain. Both curl type and age are important factors to consider when evaluating
      the behaviour of hair.

PMID- 26865311
TI  - A simplified approach for molecular classification of glioblastomas (GBMs):
      experience from a tertiary care center in India.
AB  - This study aims to establish a simplified molecular classification of
      glioblastomas (GBMs) based on molecular genetic alterations. GBM cases (n-114)
      were evaluated for IDH-1 and TP53 mutation by Sanger sequencing, PDGFRA and EGFR
      amplification by FISH, NF1 and YKL40 expression by qRT-PCR. Subsequently they
      were classified into four subgroups: classical like (CL), proneural like (PN),
      mesenchymal like (MES) and neural like (NEU). CL subtype was most frequent (39
      %), followed by PN (32 %) and MES (20 %) subtypes. PN subtype had significantly
      younger age at presentation and longest survival (median PFS-82.5 weeks; 1 and 2
      years OS-90.6 and 71.3 %). Other three subgroups had equally poor prognosis and
      hence, clubbed together as non-proneural (Non-PN) (median PFS-39 weeks; 1 and 2
      years OS-66 and 0 %). Hence, we recommended this relatively easy method of
      subclassifying GBMs into PN and Non-PN which are statistically different in
      prognosis (both OS and PFS on uni and multivariate analysis). Although evaluation
      of six molecular alterations for identifying these two subgroups is still
      cumbersome, we propose segregation of PN subtype alone based on assessment of
      IDH1, TP53 and PDGFRA status, which is relatively easy and may be amenable to
      routine practice. 

PMID- 26865312
TI  - Triazine-Based Sequence-Defined Polymers with Side-Chain Diversity and Backbone
      Backbone Interaction Motifs.
AB  - Sequence control in polymers, well-known in nature, encodes structure and
      functionality. Here we introduce a new architecture, based on the nucleophilic
      aromatic substitution chemistry of cyanuric chloride, that creates a new class of
      sequence-defined polymers dubbed TZPs. Proof of concept is demonstrated with two
      synthesized hexamers, having neutral and ionizable side chains. Molecular
      dynamics simulations show backbone-backbone interactions, including H-bonding
      motifs and pi-pi interactions. This architecture is arguably biomimetic while
      differing from sequence-defined polymers having peptide bonds. The synthetic
      methodology supports the structural diversity of side chains known in peptides,
      as well as backbone-backbone hydrogen-bonding motifs, and will thus enable new
      macromolecules and materials with useful functions. 

PMID- 26865314
TI  - AMPK and SREBP-1c mediate the anti-adipogenic effect of beta
      hydroxyisovalerylshikonin.
AB  - beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin (beta-HIVS), which is a natural naphthoquinone
      compound, is one of the main chemicals isolated from a therapeutic plant,
      Lithospermum erythrorhizon. In the present study, we demonstrated that beta-HIVS
      inhibited the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells through AMP-activated protein kinase
      (AMPK)-mediated modulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)
      1c. The anti-adipogenic effect of beta-HIVS was accompanied by the increased
      phosphorylation of AMPK and precursor SREBP-1c. In beta-HIVS-treated 3T3-L1
      cells, AMPK was activated and phosphorylated precursor SREBP-1c, preventing the
      cleavage of precursor SREBP-1c to mature SREBP-1c. Expression of the fat-forming
      enzymes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)1, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and stearoyl
      CoA desaturase (SCD)1, which are transcribed by mature SREBP-1c, were
      downregulated, resulting in reduced intracellular fat accumulation. The anti
      adipogenic effect of beta-HIVS was significantly attenuated by AMPK knockdown.
      Knockdown of AMPK using siRNA decreased the phosphorylation of precursor SREBP-1c
      and increased the levels of mature SREBP. The levels of the fat-forming enzymes,
      ACC1, FAS and SCD1, as well as intracellular fat accumulation were also
      significantly increased by AMPK knockdown. These results suggest that beta-HIVS
      activated AMPK, which was followed by the downregulation of mature SREBP-1c and
      fat-forming enzymes, leading to the inhibition of adipogenesis.

PMID- 26865315
TI  - Redox mediated synthesis of hierarchical Bi2O3/MnO2 nanoflowers: a non-enzymatic
      hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor.
AB  - Uniform hierarchical Bi2O3/MnO2 nanoflowers (BM NFs) are fabricated via a
      reaction strategy by combining redox reaction and hydrothermal treatment. This
      wet chemical method reports for the first time a one pot synthesis of Bi2O3/MnO2
      nanoflowers via a thermodynamically allowed galvanic reaction between Bi(0) and
      KMnO4 in aqueous solution under modified hydrothermal (MHT) conditions. The
      Bi2O3/MnO2 NF composites are then applied as a catalyst for electrochemical
      hydrogen peroxide detection. Exceedingly high H2O2 detection sensitivity (0.914
      MUA MUM(-1) cm(-2)) lies in a wide linear range of 0.2-290 MUM and the detection
      limit goes down to 0.05 MUM (S/N = 3) for non-enzymatic detection of H2O2 in
      solution. This prototype sensor demonstrates an admirable analytical performance
      considering its long-term stability, good reproducibility and acceptable
      selectivity against common interfering species. The employment of the stable
      nanocomposite for real sample analysis makes it a deliverable for H2O2 sensing. 

PMID- 26865313
TI  - The Differential Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and BDNF among Bipolar Spectrum
      Disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation and neurodegeneration
      underlies bipolar disorder. To investigate biological markers of cytokines and
      brain-derived neurotrophic factor between bipolar I, bipolar II, and other
      specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania may support the
      association with inflammatory dysregulation and bipolar disorder and, more
      specifically, provide evidence for other specified bipolar disorder with short
      duration hypomania patients were similar to bipolar II disorder patients from a
      biological marker perspective. METHODS: We enrolled patients with bipolar I
      disorder (n=234), bipolar II disorder (n=260), other specified bipolar disorder
      with short duration hypomania (n=243), and healthy controls (n=140). Their
      clinical symptoms were rated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Young
      Mania Rating Scale. Inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C
      reactive protein, transforming growth factor-beta1, and interleukin-8) and brain
      derived neurotrophic factor levels were measured in each group. Multivariate
      analysis of covariance and linear regression controlled for possible confounders
      were used to compare cytokine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels among
      the groups. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of covariance adjusted for age and sex
      and a main effect of diagnosis was significant (P<.001). Three of the 5 measured
      biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta1, and
      interleukin-8) were significantly (P=.006, .01, and <.001) higher in all bipolar
      disorder patients than in controls. Moreover, covarying for multiple associated
      confounders showed that bipolar I disorder patients had significantly higher IL-8
      levels than did bipolar II disorder and other specified bipolar disorder with
      short duration hypomania patients in multivariate analysis of covariance (P=.03)
      and linear regression (P=.02) analyses. Biomarkers differences between bipolar II
      disorder and other specified bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania
      patients were nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: The immunological disturbance along the
      bipolar spectrum was most severe in bipolar I disorder patients. Other specified
      bipolar disorder with short duration hypomania patients and bipolar II disorder
      patients did not differ in these biological markers.

PMID- 26865316
TI  - Learning (from) the errors of a systems biology model.
AB  - Mathematical modelling is a labour intensive process involving several iterations
      of testing on real data and manual model modifications. In biology, the domain
      knowledge guiding model development is in many cases itself incomplete and
      uncertain. A major problem in this context is that biological systems are open.
      Missed or unknown external influences as well as erroneous interactions in the
      model could thus lead to severely misleading results. Here we introduce the
      dynamic elastic-net, a data driven mathematical method which automatically
      detects such model errors in ordinary differential equation (ODE) models. We
      demonstrate for real and simulated data, how the dynamic elastic-net approach can
      be used to automatically (i) reconstruct the error signal, (ii) identify the
      target variables of model error, and (iii) reconstruct the true system state even
      for incomplete or preliminary models. Our work provides a systematic
      computational method facilitating modelling of open biological systems under
      uncertain knowledge. 

PMID- 26865317
TI  - Bioinspired Interfacial Materials with Enhanced Drop Mobility: From Fundamentals
      to Multifunctional Applications.
AB  - The development of bioinspired interfacial materials with enhanced drop mobility
      that mimic the innate functionalities of nature will have a significant impact on
      the energy, environment and global healthcare. Despite extensive progress, state
      of the art interfacial materials have not reached the level of maturity
      sufficient for industrial applications in terms of scalability, stability, and
      reliability. These are complicated by their operating environments and lack of
      facile approaches to control the local structural texture and chemical
      composition at multiple length scales. The recent advances in the fundamental
      understanding are reviewed, as well as practical applications of bioinspired
      interfacial materials, with an emphasis on the drop bouncing and coalescence
      induced jumping behaviors. Perspectives on how to catalyze new discoveries and to
      foster technological adoption to move this exciting area forward are also
      suggested. 

PMID- 26865318
TI  - Associations between informal care, disease, and risk factors: A Spanish country
      wide population-based study.
AB  - This population-based study using 2011-2012 Spanish National Health Survey data
      aimed to measure the impact of disease, health-related habits, and risk factors
      associated with informal caregiving. We included and matched self-reported
      informal caregivers [ICs] with controls (1:4) from the same survey. For each
      outcome, we analyzed associations between ICs and controls using linear
      regression or logistic regression models. ICs had 3.4 per cent more depression
      (OR: 1.33, 95 per cent confidence intervals [CI]:1.06, 1.68). ICs had lower
      social support (95 per cent CI: 1.64, 3.28), they did more housework alone
      (OR:3.6, 95 per cent CI:2.65, 4.89), and had greater stress (95 per cent CI:0.13,
      0.83). Women ICs caring alone had more anxiety than other groups. We found no
      statistical association between caregivers and worse health-related habits or
      increased risk factors (less physical activity, smoking, drinking, and
      cholesterol). Our results provide evidence that health-care professionals and
      organizations should recognize the importance of caring for those who care. 

PMID- 26865319
TI  - An overview about the medical use of antifungals in Portugal in the last years.
AB  - Despite the introduction of new antifungal agents, the frequency of invasive and
      mucocutaneous fungal infections as well as resistance to antifungal drugs
      continues to increase. Over 300 million persons are infected annually with fungi.
      Resistance to antimicrobials is one of today's major health threats. Can the
      possible causes of fungal antimicrobial resistance be understood and prevented to
      minimize risks to public health. We provide an overview of antifungal drug use in
      European countries, particularly Portugal. We reviewed prescriptions for and over
      the-counter sales (OTC) of azoles in Portuguese pharmacies and in alternative
      shops. We conclude that in Portugal, azole antifungal sales, as well as medical
      prescribed azoles are very high. The Portuguese population consumes more
      antifungal drugs per capita than others in Europe. 

PMID- 26865320
TI  - Misconceptions about Ebola virus disease among lay people in Guinea: Lessons for
      community education.
AB  - To characterize the perception of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea, we
      administered, from November 2014 to February 2015, a questionnaire to a
      convenience sample of 200 lay people in Conakry and a group of 8 physicians. We
      found widespread misconceptions among lay people, including that praying to God
      can protect against EVD, that traditional healers are more competent than
      physicians in treating EVD, that people get infected through physical proximity
      without contact, that the Ebola epidemic is the result of Western bioterrorism
      experiments, that Western medical staff disseminated the virus, and that the
      purpose of quarantine measures is to hasten the death of Ebola patients. Major
      educational interventions, sensitive to local cultural beliefs, are needed to
      overcome the misconceptions about Ebola in Guinea. 

PMID- 26865321
TI  - High-Dose Sedation and Analgesia During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A
      Focus on the Adjunctive Use of Ketamine.
AB  - Use of ketamine in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
      has rarely been reported, and the optimal dosing strategy remains unclear. A
      patient admitted with hypoxic respiratory failure required ECMO in addition to
      continuous infusion of low-dose ketamine following titration of opioid and
      sedative medications to high doses. After initiation of ketamine, infusion rates
      of opioids and/or sedatives were maintained or decreased. Recorded Richmond
      Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores were -4 to -5 and documented pain scores
      were 0. No adverse effects were reported while receiving low-dose ketamine. This
      case illustrates that use of low-dose ketamine infusion may be a useful
      adjunctive agent in patients receiving ECMO and high-dose opioid and sedative
      medications. 

PMID- 26865322
TI  - Image-Reversal Soft Lithography: Fabrication of Ultrasensitive Biomolecular
      Detectors.
AB  - Image-reversal soft lithography enables the straightforward fabrication of high
      performance biosensors without requiringhigh-resolution photolitography. 

PMID- 26865324
TI  - Using Evidence-Based Design to Improve Pharmacy Department Efficiency.
AB  - Using a case study of a pharmacy department rebuild in the South West of England,
      this article examines the use of evidence-based design to improve the efficiency
      and staff well-being with a new design. This article compares three designs, the
      current design, an anecdotal design, and an evidence-based design, to identify
      how evidence-based design can improve efficiency and staff well-being by reducing
      walking time and distance. Data were collected from the existing building and
      used to measure the efficiency of the department in its current state. These data
      were then mapped onto an anecdotal design, produced by architects from interviews
      and workshops with the end users, and an evidence-based design, produced by
      highlighting functions with high adjacencies. This changed the view on the
      working processes within the department, shifting away from a focus on the
      existing robotic dispensing system. Using evidence-based design was found to
      decrease the walking time and distance for staff by 24%, as opposed to the
      anecdotal design, which increased these parameters by 9%, and is predicted to
      save the department 248 min across 2 days in staff time spent walking. 

PMID- 26865323
TI  - Transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic changes in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves
      after the onset of illumination.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Light plays an important role in plant growth and development. In
      this study, the impact of light on physiology of 20-d-old Arabidopsis leaves was
      examined through transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analysis. Since the
      energy-generating electron transport chains in chloroplasts and mitochondria are
      encoded by both nuclear and organellar genomes, sequencing total RNA after
      removal of ribosomal RNAs provides essential information on transcription of
      organellar genomes. The changes in the levels of ADP, ATP, NADP(+), NADPH and 41
      metabolites upon illumination were also quantified. RESULTS: Upon illumination,
      while the transcription of the genes encoded by the plastid genome did not change
      significantly, the transcription of nuclear genes encoding different functional
      complexes in the photosystem are differentially regulated whereas members of the
      same complex are co-regulated with each other. The abundance of mRNAs and
      proteins encoded by all three genomes are, however, not always positively
      correlated. One such example is the negative correlation between mRNA and protein
      abundances of the photosystem components, which reflects the importance of post
      transcriptional regulation in plant physiology. CONCLUSION: This study provides
      systems-wide datasets which allow plant researchers to examine the changes in
      leaf transcriptomes, proteomes and key metabolites upon illumination and to
      determine whether there are any correlations between changes in transcript and
      protein abundances of a particular gene or pathway upon illumination. The
      integration of data of the organelles and the photosystems, Calvin-Benson cycle,
      carbohydrate metabolism, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and respiratory
      chain, thereby provides a more complete picture to the changes in plant
      physiology upon illumination than has been attained to date.

PMID- 26865325
TI  - Effect of Instrument Lubricants on the Surface Degree of Conversion and
      Crosslinking Density of Nanocomposites.
AB  - PURPOSE: The surface degree of conversion and crosslink density of composites
      should not be affected by the use of instrument lubricants in order to provide
      long-lasting tooth restorations. This study aimed to analyze the effect of
      instrument lubricants on the degree of conversion and crosslink density of
      nanocomposites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples (N = 10) were fabricated according
      to the composites (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA; and IPS Empress
      Direct, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein and lubricants used (Adper
      Single Bond 2 and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose bonding agent adhesive systems, 3M
      ESPE; 70% ethanol, absolute ethanol, and no lubricant). Single composite
      increments were inserted into a Teflon mold using the same dental instrument. The
      composite surface was then modeled using a brush wiped with each adhesive system
      and a spatula wiped with each ethanol. The control group was fabricated with no
      additional modeling. The surface degree of conversion and crosslink density were
      measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the hardness decrease
      test, respectively. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and the
      Tukey's test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Filtek Z350 XT showed statistically similar
      degree of conversion regardless of the lubricant used, whereas the use of
      adhesive systems and 70% ethanol decreased the degree of conversion for IPS
      Empress Direct. Only Scotchbond Multi-Purpose bonding agent decreased crosslink
      density for Filtek Z350 XT, whereas both adhesive systems decreased crosslink
      density for IPS Empress Direct. CONCLUSION: Filtek Z350 XT appeared to be less
      sensitive to the effects of lubricants, and absolute ethanol did not affect the
      degree of conversion and crosslink density of the nanocomposites tested. CLINICAL
      SIGNIFICANCE: Although the use of lubricants may be recommended to minimize the
      stickiness of dental instruments and composite resin, dentists should choose
      materials that do not have a negative effect on the surface properties of
      composites. Only the use of absolute ethanol safely maintains the surface
      integrity of nanocomposites in comparison with adhesive system and 70% ethanol.

PMID- 26865326
TI  - Phylogenetic Characterization Genome Segment 2 of Bluetongue Virus Strains
      Belonging to Serotypes 5, 7 and 24 Isolated for the First Time in China During
      2012 to 2014.
AB  - Bluetongue is endemic in China, and Bluetongue virus (BTV) strains belonging to
      eight different serotypes (BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-3, BTV-4, BTV-9, BTV-12, BTV-15 and
      BTV-16) had been isolated between 1996 and 1997. However, there has been a long
      pause in investigating the epidemiology of BTV infection since then. During 2012
      2014, eight BTV strains belonging to serotypes 5, 7 and 24 were isolated for the
      first time in Yunnan and Guangdong provinces from the blood of sentinel animals.
      Phylogenetic analyses of genome segment 2 of these Chinese BTV strains grouped
      them into nucleotypes E, F and A, respectively, along with the reference strains
      of the same serotype. For each serotype, Chinese strains cluster together closely
      to form a China's sublineage. In addition, these strains were most closely
      related to strains from Africa, indicating that they may share a recent common
      ancestry with African strains. To our knowledge, this is the first time that BTV
      5, BTV-7 and BTV-24 strains have been isolated in South-East Asia. These data
      will be beneficial for understanding the BTV epidemiology and improving
      diagnostic assays and control measures against bluetongue in China and its
      neighbouring countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

PMID- 26865328
TI  - Characterization of arsenite tolerant Halomonas sp. Alang-4, originated from
      heavy metal polluted shore of Gulf of Cambay.
AB  - Arsenite [As(III)]-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from heavy metal contaminated
      shore of Gulf of Cambay at Alang, India. The most efficient bacterial strain
      Alang-4 could tolerate up to 15 mM arsenite [As(III)] and 200 mM of arsenate
      [As(V)]. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence was 99% identical to the 16S rRNA genes of
      genus Halomonas (Accession no. HQ659187). Arsenite oxidase enzyme localized on
      membrane helped in conversion of As(III) to As(V). Arsenite transporter genes
      (arsB, acr3(1) and acr3(2)) assisted in extrusion of arsenite from Halomonas sp.
      Alang-4. Generation of ROS in response to arsenite stress was alleviated by
      higher activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and
      glutathione S-transferase enzymes. Down-regulation in the specific activities of
      nearly all dehydrogenases of carbon assimilatory pathway viz., glucose-6
      phosphate, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, isocitrate and malate dehydrogenases,
      was observed in presence of As(III), whereas, the specific activities of
      phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase and isocitrate lyase
      enzymes were found to increase two times in As(III) treated cells. The results
      suggest that in addition to efficient ars operon, alternative pathways of carbon
      utilization exist in the marine bacterium Halomonas sp. Alang-4 to overcome the
      toxic effects of arsenite on its dehydrogenase enzymes.

PMID- 26865327
TI  - Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor of abdominal aortic aneurysm
      in a Chinese Han population.
AB  - The associations between hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy), methylenetetrahydrofolate
      reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remain
      controversial, with only few studies focused on these associations within the
      Chinese population. We performed subgroup and interaction analyses in a Chinese
      Han population to investigate these associations. In all, 155 AAA patients and
      310 control subjects were evaluated for serum total homocysteine levels and MTHFR
      C677T polymorphisms. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate
      the aforementioned associations. Interaction and stratified analyses were
      conducted according to age, sex, smoking status, drinking status, and chronic
      disease histories. The multiple logistic analyses showed a significant
      association between HHcy and AAA but no significant association between MTHFR
      C677T polymorphism and AAA. The interaction analysis showed that age and
      peripheral arterial disease played an interactive role in the association between
      HHcy and AAA, while drinking status played an interactive role in the association
      between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and AAA. In conclusion, HHcy is an independent
      risk factor of AAA in a Chinese Han population, especially in the elderly and
      peripheral arterial disease subgroups. Longitudinal studies and clinical trials
      aimed to reduce homocysteine levels are warranted to assess the causal nature of
      these relationships. 

PMID- 26865331
TI  - The use of a gas chromatography-sensor system combined with advanced statistical
      methods, towards the diagnosis of urological malignancies.
AB  - Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers. Serum prostate-specific
      antigen (PSA) is used to aid the selection of men undergoing biopsies. Its use
      remains controversial. We propose a GC-sensor algorithm system for classifying
      urine samples from patients with urological symptoms. This pilot study includes
      155 men presenting to urology clinics, 58 were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 24
      with bladder cancer and 73 with haematuria and or poor stream, without cancer.
      Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to assess the discrimination
      achieved, while linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine
      (SVM) were used as statistical models for sample classification. Leave-one-out
      cross-validation (LOOCV), repeated 10-fold cross-validation (10FoldCV), repeated
      double cross-validation (DoubleCV) and Monte Carlo permutations were applied to
      assess performance. Significant separation was found between prostate cancer and
      control samples, bladder cancer and controls and between bladder and prostate
      cancer samples. For prostate cancer diagnosis, the GC/SVM system classified
      samples with 95% sensitivity and 96% specificity after LOOCV. For bladder cancer
      diagnosis, the SVM reported 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity after LOOCV,
      while the DoubleCV reported 87% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with SVM showing
      78% and 98% sensitivity between prostate and bladder cancer samples. Evaluation
      of the results of the Monte Carlo permutation of class labels obtained chance
      like accuracy values around 50% suggesting the observed results for bladder
      cancer and prostate cancer detection are not due to over fitting. The results of
      the pilot study presented here indicate that the GC system is able to
      successfully identify patterns that allow classification of urine samples from
      patients with urological cancers. An accurate diagnosis based on urine samples
      would reduce the number of negative prostate biopsies performed, and the
      frequency of surveillance cystoscopy for bladder cancer patients. Larger cohort
      studies are planned to investigate the potential of this system. Future work may
      lead to non-invasive breath analyses for diagnosing urological conditions. 

PMID- 26865329
TI  - Functional role of positively selected amino acid substitutions in mammalian
      rhodopsin evolution.
AB  - Visual rhodopsins are membrane proteins that function as light photoreceptors in
      the vertebrate retina. Specific amino acids have been positively selected in
      visual pigments during mammal evolution, which, as products of adaptive
      selection, would be at the base of important functional innovations. We have
      analyzed the top candidates for positive selection at the specific amino acids
      and the corresponding reverse changes (F13M, Q225R and A346S) in order to unravel
      the structural and functional consequences of these important sites in rhodopsin
      evolution. We have constructed, expressed and immunopurified the corresponding
      mutated pigments and analyzed their molecular phenotypes. We find that position
      13 is very important for the folding of the receptor and also for proper protein
      glycosylation. Position 225 appears to be important for the function of the
      protein affecting the G-protein activation process, and position 346 would also
      regulate functionality of the receptor by enhancing G-protein activation and
      presumably affecting protein phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase. Our results
      represent a link between the evolutionary analysis, which pinpoints the specific
      amino acid positions in the adaptive process, and the structural and functional
      analysis, closer to the phenotype, making biochemical sense of specific selected
      genetic sequences in rhodopsin evolution. 

PMID- 26865333
TI  - Visible light-induced intramolecular dearomative cyclization of alpha-bromo-N
      benzyl-alkylamides: efficient construction of 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes.
AB  - An efficient intramolecular dearomative cyclization via visible light-induced
      photoredox catalysis allows for a highly regioselective dearomative cyclization
      of alpha-bromo-N-benzyl-alkylamides to construct 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes in the
      presence of an iridium catalyst. 

PMID- 26865332
TI  - A comparison of 4-Fr with 5-Fr endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage catheters: A
      randomized, controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) is useful
      for collecting samples for pancreatic juice cytology and for treating leakage of
      pancreatic juice and occlusive pancreatitis, placement of the ENPD catheter is
      associated with complications such as post-endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). We investigated whether an ENPD
      catheter with a smaller diameter could reduce the incidence of complications.
      METHODS: Patients requiring placement of an ENPD catheter (n = 254) were enrolled
      and randomly assigned to one of two catheter-size groups: the 4-Fr group or the 5
      Fr group. The incidence of PEP, cholangitis, and spontaneous catheter
      displacement and the suitability of pancreatic juice cytology samples were
      compared between groups. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses were
      conducted on factors associated with PEP. RESULTS: The incidence of PEP was
      significantly lower in the 4-Fr group compared with the 5-Fr group (4.1% vs
      12.4%, respectively; P = 0.021). The rate of cholangitis and spontaneous catheter
      displacement and the suitability of pancreatic juice cytology samples did not
      differ between groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of PEP was
      3.7 times higher when using a 5-Fr catheter than when using a 4-Fr catheter (P =
      0.019). In addition, the risk of PEP was 4.1 times higher in patients with an
      intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm than in those without (P = 0.0049) and
      4.6 times higher in patients aged <65 than in those aged >=65 (P = 0.0033).
      CONCLUSIONS: A 4-Fr catheter is as useful as a 5-Fr catheter and is associated
      with a significantly lower incidence of PEP.

PMID- 26865335
TI  - Microscopic versus endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma:
      analysis of surgical safety in 221 consecutive patients.

PMID- 26865336
TI  - Antimicrobial activity of lactobacillus strains against uropathogens.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of lactobacillus probiotics has been proposed as an
      alternative to prophylactic antibiotics for preventing urinary tract infection
      (UTI) in the era of antibiotic resistance. In this study, the antimicrobial
      activity of lactobacillus strains against uropathogens, was evaluated and
      compared with that of antibiotics. METHODS: To evaluate inhibitory activities of
      lactobacilli against uropathogens, six lactobacillus strains (L. gasseri, L.
      rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. acidophilus) and four
      representative uropathogens of infantile UTI (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
      [ESBL](-) Escherichia coli, ESBL(+) E. coli, Proteus vulgaris, Enterococcus
      fecalis) were selected. Lactobacillus strain in vitro inhibition of each
      uropathogen was evaluated on MRS agar well diffusion assay and compared with that
      of commercial antibiotic discs. RESULTS: Average inhibitory zone for each of the
      six lactobacillus strains against the four uropathogens showed slightly different
      but consistent inhibition (inhibitory zone diameter, 10.5-20.0 mm). This was
      different to that of the antibiotic discs, which had a wider range of inhibition
      (inhibitory zone diameter, <6.0-27.5 mm) depending on the uropathogen resistance
      pattern. The inhibitory zone of the six lactobacillus strains was between that of
      sensitive and resistant antibiotics (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus
      strains had similar moderate antimicrobial activities against uropathogens.
      Further research is needed to ascertain the strains with the best probiotic
      potential.

PMID- 26865334
TI  - Iron stimulates plasma-activated medium-induced A549 cell injury.
AB  - Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma is applicable to living cells and has
      emerged as a novel technology for cancer therapy. Plasma has recently been shown
      to affect cells not only by direct irradiation, but also by indirect treatments
      with previously prepared plasma-activated medium (PAM). Iron is an indispensable
      element but is also potentially toxic because it generates the hydroxyl radical
      (*OH) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the Fenton reaction. The
      aim of the present study was to demonstrate the contribution of iron to PAM
      induced A549 adenocarcinoma cell apoptosis. We detected the generation of *OH and
      elevation of intracellular ferrous ions in PAM-treated cells and found that they
      were inhibited by iron chelator. The elevations observed in ferrous ions may have
      been due to their release from the intracellular iron store, ferritin. Hydroxyl
      radical-induced DNA injury was followed by the activation of poly(ADP-ribose)
      polymerase-1, depletion of NAD(+) and ATP, and elevations in intracellular
      Ca(2+). The sensitivities of normal cells such as smooth muscle cells and
      keratinocytes to PAM were less than that of A549 cells. These results
      demonstrated that H2O2 in PAM and/or *OH generated in the presence of iron ions
      disturbed the mitochondrial-nuclear network in cancer cells. 

PMID- 26865337
TI  - Pediatric oncologists' coping strategies for dealing with patient death.
AB  - This research examined pediatric oncologists coping strategies when their
      patients died of cancer. Twenty-one pediatric oncologists at 2 Canadian pediatric
      academic hospitals were interviewed about their coping strategies when patients
      died or were in the process of dying. The grounded theory method of data
      collection and data analysis were used. Line-by-line coding was used to establish
      codes and themes and constant comparison was used to establish relations among
      emerging codes and themes. Pediatric oncologists used engagement coping
      strategies with primary and secondary responses including emotional regulation
      (social support and religion), problem solving (supporting families at end of
      life), cognitive restructuring (making a difference and research), and
      distraction (breaks, physical activity, hobbies and entertainment, spending time
      with own children). They also used disengagement coping strategies that included
      voluntary avoidance (compartmentalization and withdrawing from families at end of
      life). Given the chronic nature of patient death in pediatric oncology and the
      emotionally difficult nature of this work, medical institutions such as hospitals
      have a responsibility to assist pediatric oncologists in coping with this
      challenging aspect of their work. Future research is needed to evaluate how best
      to implement these changes on the institutional level to help oncologists cope
      with patient death and the effect of using these strategies on their quality of
      life. 

PMID- 26865338
TI  - The effects of anterior palatoplasty on floppy eyelid syndrome patients with
      obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the effects of anterior palatoplasty on the
      presence and stage of floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) among patients diagnosed with
      mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) according to the apnea-hypopnea
      index (AHI). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled trial. METHODS: Those patients
      whose AHI scores were between 5 and 30 according to full-night polysomnography
      were included in the study. The patients in whom anterior palatoplasty was
      performed were included in the study group, whereas those refusing surgery
      comprised the control group. All patients were evaluated for the presence of FES.
      The sleep studies were repeated after the third postoperative month, and the
      results were statistically compared. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included in
      the study. Thirty-five patients who were treated with anterior palatoplasty
      comprised the study group, and 27 patients were included in the control group. In
      the surgically treated group, 60% (n = 21) had FES, whereas 55.5% (n = 15) of the
      control group had FES (P = .798). In the surgically treated group, the FES ratio
      decreased to 25.7% (n = 9) after the third postoperative month (P = .007). In
      surgically successful cases, the preoperative-postoperative oxygen desaturation
      index and preoperative-postoperative lowest oxygen saturation values were 11.755%
      +/- 9.037% and 6.77% +/- 5.362% (P = .04), and 86.1% +/- 3.89% and 87.8% +/-
      2.85%, respectively (P = .124). These values were 12.166% +/- 5.767% and 14.780%
      +/- 9.924% (P = .385), and 86.13% +/- 4.18% and 85.26% +/- 4.26%, respectively (P
      = .579), in patients who underwent unsuccessful surgery. CONCLUSIONS: FES
      presence and stages were decreased following successful anterior palatoplasty
      surgery. This effect may have resulted from the correction of tissue hypoxia,
      which is common in the pathophysiology of both OSA and FES. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b
      Laryngoscope, 126:2171-2175, 2016.

PMID- 26865339
TI  - The Plant Polyester Cutin: Biosynthesis, Structure, and Biological Roles.
AB  - Cutin, a polyester composed mostly of oxygenated fatty acids, serves as the
      framework of the plant cuticle. The same types of cutin monomers occur across
      most plant lineages, although some evolutionary trends are evident. Additionally,
      cutins from some species have monomer profiles that are characteristic of the
      related polymer suberin. Compositional differences likely have profound
      structural consequences, but little is known about cutin's molecular organization
      and architectural heterogeneity. Its biological importance is suggested by the
      wide variety of associated mutants and gene-silencing lines that show a
      disruption of cuticular integrity, giving rise to numerous physiological and
      developmental abnormalities. Mapping and characterization of these mutants, along
      with suppression of gene paralogs through RNA interference, have revealed much of
      the biosynthetic pathway and several regulatory factors; however, the mechanisms
      of cutin polymerization and its interactions with other cuticle and cell wall
      components are only now beginning to be resolved.

PMID- 26865340
TI  - The Costs of Photorespiration to Food Production Now and in the Future.
AB  - Photorespiration is essential for C3 plants but operates at the massive expense
      of fixed carbon dioxide and energy. Photorespiration is initiated when the
      initial enzyme of photosynthesis, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase
      (Rubisco), reacts with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide and produces a toxic
      compound that is then recycled by photorespiration. Photorespiration can be
      modeled at the canopy and regional scales to determine its cost under current and
      future atmospheres. A regional-scale model reveals that photorespiration
      currently decreases US soybean and wheat yields by 36% and 20%, respectively, and
      a 5% decrease in the losses due to photorespiration would be worth approximately
      $500 million annually in the United States. Furthermore, photorespiration will
      continue to impact yield under future climates despite increases in carbon
      dioxide, with models suggesting a 12-55% improvement in gross photosynthesis in
      the absence of photorespiration, even under climate change scenarios predicting
      the largest increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. Although
      photorespiration is tied to other important metabolic functions, the benefit of
      improving its efficiency appears to outweigh any potential secondary
      disadvantages.

PMID- 26865342
TI  - Long-term exposure to triphenylphosphate alters hormone balance and HPG, HPI, and
      HPT gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
AB  - With the global decline in the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the demand
      for alternative flame retardants, such as triphenylphosphate (TPP), has increased
      substantially. Triphenylphosphate is now detected in various environments
      including aquatic ecosystems worldwide. However, studies on the toxicological
      consequences of chronic TPP exposure on aquatic organisms are scarce. The
      zebrafish model was used to investigate the effects of long-term TPP exposure on
      the endocrine system. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 5 ug/L, 50 ug/L, or 500
      ug/L TPP for 120 d, and hormonal and transcriptional responses were measured
      along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary
      interrenal (HPI) axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis.
      Exposure to TPP significantly increased plasma 17beta-estradiol, but decreased 11
      ketotestosterone in both sexes. Gene expression data support these changes. In
      the HPI axis, plasma cortisol and proopiomelanocortin (pomc) and
      mineralocorticoid receptor transcripts increased in females, but in males
      cortisol decreased whereas pomc increased (p < 0.05). Thyroxine and
      triiodothyronine increased, and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (trhr2)
      and trh expression were affected only in females (p < 0.05). In summary, long
      term exposure to TPP enhanced estrogenicity in both males and females,
      potentially through influencing the HPG axis, but modulated the HPI, and HPT axes
      differently by sex, suggesting that both genomic and nongenomic responses might
      be involved. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2288-2296. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26865347
TI  - Assessing the protection of the nanomaterial workforce.
AB  - Responsible development of any technology, including nanotechnology, requires
      protecting workers, the first people to be exposed to the products of the
      technology. In the case of nanotechnology, this is difficult to achieve because
      in spite of early evidence raising health and safety concerns, there are
      uncertainties about hazards and risks. The global response to these concerns has
      been the issuance by authoritative agencies of precautionary guidance to strictly
      control exposures to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). This commentary summarizes
      discussions at the "Symposium on the Health Protection of Nanomaterial Workers"
      held in Rome (25 and 26 February 2015). There scientists and practitioners from
      11 countries took stock of what is known about hazards and risks resulting from
      exposure to ENMs, confirmed that uncertainties still exist, and deliberated on
      what it would take to conduct a global assessment of how well workers are being
      protected from potentially harmful exposures.

PMID- 26865348
TI  - Nutritional consequences of folivory in a small-bodied lemur (Lepilemur
      leucopus): Effects of season and reproduction on nutrient balancing.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Small-bodied folivores are rare because processing leaves often
      requires extensive gut adaptations and lengthy retention times for fiber
      fermentation. However, the <1 kg nocturnal white-footed sportive lemurs
      (Lepilemur leucopus) persist on a leaf-based diet. We investigated how extrinsic
      (i.e., seasonality in temperature and food availability) and intrinsic factors
      (i.e., reproductive state) influence nutrient intake and explored how nutrient
      and energy needs are met in this species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted
      full night focal follows across all seasons and analyzed nutrients in all items
      eaten by adults of both sexes to investigate nutrient intake and nutritional
      priorities in L. leucopus. We estimated digestible protein content, as this is a
      biologically more meaningful measure than crude protein. RESULTS: Protein intake
      was constant across seasons, while non-protein energy and dry matter intake
      increased from the hot wet to the cold dry season. Males and females did not
      differ in their nutrient or apparent energy intake irrespective of female
      reproductive state. DISCUSSION: We conclude that these animals prioritize protein
      over non-protein energy intake as dietary protein is in limited supply, and that
      thermoregulation poses higher energetic costs than reproduction in this species.
      While protein intake did not differ across female reproductive states, the
      relative protein content of the diet was highest during the lactation period,
      indicating that the balance of non-protein to protein intake may be more
      important than absolute intake. Dry matter intake was high compared to other
      folivorous primates, indicating that L. leucopus follows an intake rather than an
      efficiency strategy to meet its energy requirements. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:197
      207, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26865341
TI  - The Conservation and Function of RNA Secondary Structure in Plants.
AB  - RNA transcripts fold into secondary structures via intricate patterns of base
      pairing. These secondary structures impart catalytic, ligand binding, and
      scaffolding functions to a wide array of RNAs, forming a critical node of
      biological regulation. Among their many functions, RNA structural elements
      modulate epigenetic marks, alter mRNA stability and translation, regulate
      alternative splicing, transduce signals, and scaffold large macromolecular
      complexes. Thus, the study of RNA secondary structure is critical to
      understanding the function and regulation of RNA transcripts. Here, we review the
      origins, form, and function of RNA secondary structure, focusing on plants. We
      then provide an overview of methods for probing secondary structure, from
      physical methods such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance
      (NMR) imaging to chemical and nuclease probing methods. Combining these latter
      methods with high-throughput sequencing has enabled them to scale across whole
      transcriptomes, yielding tremendous new insights into the form and function of
      RNA secondary structure.

PMID- 26865349
TI  - A retrospective comparison of infliximab versus adalimumab as induction and
      maintenance therapy for Crohn disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Australia, infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are available for
      the treatment of moderate-severe Crohn disease (CD) refractory to conventional
      therapies, with minimal local data comparing their efficacy. AIM: The aim of this
      study was to compare clinical and biochemical outcomes at 3 and 12 months between
      patients receiving induction and maintenance therapy with IFX versus ADA.
      METHODS: Retrospective single-centre audit of all patients commenced on IFX or
      ADA as their first anti-tumour necrosis factor agent between July 2007 and May
      2012. Clinical and biochemical parameters were compared pre-commencement, 3 and
      12 months post-commencement. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients was included in the
      study; 63 IFX-treated and 18 ADA-treated. Significant Crohn disease activity
      index (CDAI) reductions were noted within both groups at 3 months (P < 0.001) and
      12 months (P < 0.001). Similarly, significant reductions were noted in steroid
      doses within groups at 3 months (P < 0.05) and 12 months (P < 0.05), with notable
      reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) at 3 months within groups (P < 0.05).
      Adverse events occurred in 14.3% of IFX and 11.1% of ADA patients. Comparing IFX
      with ADA, no difference was shown between groups in CDAI reductions at 3 months
      (P = 0.94) and 12 months (P = 0.95), steroid dosing at 3 months (P = 0.23) and 12
      months (P = 0.81), and CRP reduction at 3 months (P = 0.33) and 12 months (P =
      0.62). Fistula-related admissions were significantly reduced in IFX patients
      (100% reduction post-IFX vs 66.7% post-ADA) (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Clinical and
      biochemical outcomes were similar in patients treated with IFX or ADA as
      induction and maintenance therapy for CD. However, significant reductions were
      noted in admissions relating to fistulising disease in IFX patients.

PMID- 26865350
TI  - Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind Study of the Safety and Efficacy of 1%D-3
      Hydroxybutyrate eye drops for Dry Eye Disease.
AB  - In a previous study, we demonstrated that topical D-beta-hydroxybutyrate
      ameliorates corneal epithelial erosion and superficial punctate keratopathy in a
      rat model of dry eye disease. In the current investigation, we performed a
      prospective, randomized, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to
      assess the safety and efficacy of 1% D-3-hydroxybutyrate eye drops in patients
      with dry eye disease. A total of 65 patients were randomly assigned to either the
      placebo group or the 1% D-3-hydroxybutyrate group, and the treatments were
      administered 6 times a day for 4 weeks. We then evaluated corneal fluorescein
      staining, corneal and conjunctival rose Bengal staining, tear film break-up time
      (BUT), Schirmer score, and subjective symptoms. At both 2 and 4 weeks, the
      corneal rose Bengal score was significantly better in the 1% D-3-hydroxybutyrate
      group than in the placebo group. Among patients with an initial Schirmer score of
      <=5 mm, the corneal fluorescein staining score was significantly better in the 1%
      D-3-hydroxybutyrate group than in the placebo group at two weeks. Mild ocular
      symptoms occurred in both groups, and these spontaneously resolved. The present
      study suggested that 1% D-3-hydroxybutyrate eye drops are safe and effective in
      treating ocular surface disorders in patients with tear-deficient dry eye
      disease. 

PMID- 26865352
TI  - A safety evaluation of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of gastrointestinal
      stromal tumor.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: For the last 15 years, imatinib mesylate has been the first line
      treatment of choice for advanced (metastatic) GIST. AREAS COVERED: This review
      describes key efficacy data on imatinib for the treatment of GIST, and focuses on
      safety and tolerability of imatinib, with emphasis on common adverse events
      management and long term toxicity profile. EXPERT OPINION: Imatinib has been the
      standard of care for metastatic GIST and probably will continue to be so for the
      next few years. Still, despite dramatic responses initially, imatinib drug
      resistance continues to be the major factor for treatment discontinuation. The
      toxicity profile of imatinib has been well characterized, and although the
      majority of patients experience an adverse event during treatment with imatinib,
      these side effects are usually mild and manageable, with the majority of patients
      continuing treatment uninterruptedly. Early concerns regarding imatinib related
      cardiotoxicity in GIST have not been confirmed in large prospective randomized
      trials, with reports indicating a low incidence of approximately 0.2%-0.4%.
      Future strategies for treatment of imatinib resistant GIST will probably include
      novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors, combination therapies or immunotherapy.

PMID- 26865351
TI  - Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Polymerization of Acrylamide for Gel
      Electrophoresis (TIPPAGE) of Proteins and Structural Identification by Mass
      Spectrometry.
AB  - Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) coupled with mass spectrometry has been
      well established for separating, identifying and quantifying protein mixtures
      from cell lines, tissues or other biological samples. The copolymerization
      process of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide is the key to mastering this powerful
      technique. In general, this is a vinyl addition reaction initiated by free
      radical-generating reagents such as ammonium persulfate (APS) and
      tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) under basic pH and degassing experimental
      condition. We report herein a photocatalytic polymerization approach that is
      based on photo-generated hydroxyl radicals with nanoparticles of titanium
      dioxide. It was shown that the polymerization process is greatly accelerated in
      acidic condition when ultraviolet light shots on the gel solution containing TiO2
      nanoparticles without degassing. This feature makes it very useful in preparing
      Triton X-100 acid urea (TAU) gel that has been developed for separating basic
      proteins such as histones and variants in acidic experimental condition.
      Additionally, the presence of titanium dioxide in the gel not only improves
      mechanistic property of gels but also changes the migration pattern of different
      proteins that have different affinities to titanium dioxide. 

PMID- 26865353
TI  - Pathologic mandibular fracture after biting crab shells following ramal bone
      graft.
AB  - The mandibular ramus is considered an appropriate choice for reconstruction of
      maxillofacial defects because of sufficient amounts of material and fewer donor
      site complications. Although bone harvesting from the mandibular ramus has many
      advantages, in rare cases it can result in pathologic fracture of the mandible.
      Here, we present a case of 59-year-old man who suffered a pathologic mandible
      fracture related to biting hard foods, such as crab shells, after a sinus bone
      lifting with ramal bone graft procedure performed 2 weeks prior. He underwent
      closed reduction by intermaxillary fixation with an arch bar over the course of 4
      weeks. Three months later, the patients had a stable occlusion with normal mouth
      opening and sensation. To prevent this complication, the osteotomy should be
      performed in such a way that it is not too vertical during ramal bone harvesting.
      Furthermore, we wish to emphasize the importance of patients being instructed to
      avoid chewing hard foods for at least 4 weeks after ramal bone harvesting. 

PMID- 26865354
TI  - Enhancement of umami taste of hydrolyzed protein from wheat gluten by beta
      cyclodextrin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Wheat gluten was hydrolyzed by Flavourzyme and Neutrase at pH 7.0 and
      50  degrees C for 8 h with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) employed in the reaction.
      The hydrolysates were enzyme deactivated, cooled and centrifuged at 1500 * g for
      15 min. RESULTS: Sensory and chemical characterization of wheat gluten
      hydrolysates WGH-1 (reaction conducted without beta-CD), WGH-2 (reaction
      conducted with beta-CD) and WGH-3 (beta-CD added to WGH-1) was performed. WGH-2
      revealed enhanced umami taste and higher hydrolyzing degree, total free amino
      acid amount, protein yield and umami taste amino acid (Glu + Asp) amount. High
      performance liquid chromatography showed that the proportion of molecular weight
      180-500 Da in WGH-2 was 11.5% higher than that in WGH-1. Further research
      indicated that beta-CD had multiple effects on the hydrolysis. It could not only
      increase the solubility of wheat gluten but also form inclusion complexes with
      resultants. This can both promote the hydrolysis and protect oligopeptides from
      degradation. CONCLUSION: beta-CD was found to have the ability to increase the
      umami taste of enzyme-hydrolyzed vegetable protein from wheat gluten. The reasons
      analyzed were that beta-CD could take part in the hydrolysis process by improving
      the solubility of wheat gluten and form inclusion complexes with resultants. (c)
      2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26865355
TI  - Intratumor heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a review for the
      practicing pathologist.
AB  - Intertumor heterogeneity, defined as the spectrum of morphological differences
      found in similar tumors in different patients, is a well-known event for
      pathologists. However, recent molecular studies have pointed to intratumor
      heterogeneity as one of the most important issues in human neoplasia in the next
      years. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is an example of an intrinsically
      heterogeneous neoplasm, and some of the most salient advances in the knowledge of
      intratumor heterogeneity have been developed on it. This review intends to
      analyze this phenomenon in this tumor from the practicing pathologist's point of
      view. A careful study of the surgical specimen and an exhaustive tumor sampling
      are mandatory to keep relevant information. Currently accepted protocols designed
      for renal tumor sampling may be insufficient. As a result, a different approach
      to tumor sampling is advisable to ascertain that intratumor heterogeneity, if
      present, will be well represented in the selected material. 

PMID- 26865357
TI  - Barriers to Eating Traditional Foods Vary by Age Group in Ecuador With
      Biodiversity Loss as a Key Issue.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To document the perceptions of indigenous peoples for the sustainable
      management of natural resources against malnutrition. DESIGN: Initially 4 and
      then 12 interviews were conducted with 4 different age groups. SETTING: Eight
      rural villages in Guasaganda, central Ecuador, were studied in 2011-2012.
      PARTICIPANTS: A total of 75 people (22 children, 18 adolescents, 20 adults, and
      15 elders). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Benefits, severity, susceptibility, barriers,
      cues to action, and self-efficacy of eating traditional foods. ANALYSIS:
      Qualitative content analysis was completed using NVivo software. Initial analysis
      was inductive, followed by a content analysis directed by the Health Belief
      Model. Coding was completed independently by 2 researchers and kappa statistics
      (kappa >= 0.65) were used to evaluate agreement. RESULTS: Healthy perceptions
      toward traditional foods existed and differed by age. Local young people ate
      traditional foods for their health benefits and good taste; adults cultivated
      traditional foods that had an economic benefit. Traditional knowledge used for
      consumption and cultivation of traditional foods was present but needs to be
      disseminated. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Nutrition education in schools is
      needed that supports traditional knowledge in younger groups and prevents dietary
      changes toward unhealthy eating. Increased production of traditional food is
      needed to address current economic realities.

PMID- 26865356
TI  - Children's school-breakfast reports and school-lunch reports (in 24-h dietary
      recalls): conventional and reporting-error-sensitive measures show inconsistent
      accuracy results for retention interval and breakfast location.
AB  - Validation-study data were analysed to investigate retention interval (RI) and
      prompt effects on the accuracy of fourth-grade children's reports of school
      breakfast and school-lunch (in 24-h recalls), and the accuracy of school
      breakfast reports by breakfast location (classroom; cafeteria). Randomly selected
      fourth-grade children at ten schools in four districts were observed eating
      school-provided breakfast and lunch, and were interviewed under one of eight
      conditions created by crossing two RIs ('short'--prior-24-hour recall obtained in
      the afternoon and 'long'--previous-day recall obtained in the morning) with four
      prompts ('forward'--distant to recent, 'meal name'--breakfast, etc., 'open'--no
      instructions, and 'reverse'--recent to distant). Each condition had sixty
      children (half were girls). Of 480 children, 355 and 409 reported meals
      satisfying criteria for reports of school-breakfast and school-lunch,
      respectively. For breakfast and lunch separately, a conventional measure--report
      rate--and reporting-error-sensitive measures--correspondence rate and inflation
      ratio--were calculated for energy per meal-reporting child. Correspondence rate
      and inflation ratio--but not report rate--showed better accuracy for school
      breakfast and school-lunch reports with the short RI than with the long RI; this
      pattern was not found for some prompts for each sex. Correspondence rate and
      inflation ratio showed better school-breakfast report accuracy for the classroom
      than for cafeteria location for each prompt, but report rate showed the opposite.
      For each RI, correspondence rate and inflation ratio showed better accuracy for
      lunch than for breakfast, but report rate showed the opposite. When choosing RI
      and prompts for recalls, researchers and practitioners should select a short RI
      to maximise accuracy. Recommendations for prompt selections are less clear. As
      report rates distort validation-study accuracy conclusions, reporting-error
      sensitive measures are recommended.

PMID- 26865359
TI  - Ultrafast double-quantum NMR spectroscopy with optimized sensitivity for the
      analysis of mixtures.
AB  - Ultrafast (UF) 2D NMR enables the acquisition of 2D spectra within a single-scan.
      This methodology has become a powerful analytical tool, used in a large array of
      applications. However, UF NMR spectroscopy still suffers from the need to
      compromise between sensitivity, spectral width and resolution. With the commonly
      used UF-COSY pulse sequence, resolution issues are compounded by the presence of
      strong auto-correlation signals, particularly in the case of samples with high
      dynamic ranges. The recently proposed concept of UF Double Quantum Spectroscopy
      (DQS) allows a better peak separation as it provides a lower spectral peak
      density. This paper presents the detailed investigation of this new NMR tool in
      an analytical chemistry context. Theoretical calculations and numerical
      simulations are used to characterize the modulation of peak intensities as a
      function of pulse-sequence parameters, and thus enable a significant enhancement
      of the sensitivity. The analytical comparison of UF-COSY and UF-DQS shows similar
      performances, however the ultrafast implementation of the DQS approach is found
      to have some sensitivity advantages over its conventional counterpart. The
      analytical performance of the pulse sequence is illustrated by the quantification
      of taurine in complex mixtures (homemade and commercial energy drinks). The
      results demonstrate the high potential of this experiment, which forms a valuable
      alternative to UF-COSY spectra when the latter are characterized by strong
      overlaps and high dynamic ranges. 

PMID- 26865358
TI  - Perceived Social Support From Friends and Parents for Eating Behavior and Diet
      Quality Among Low-Income, Urban, Minority Youth.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evidence of associations between social support and dietary intake
      among adolescents is mixed. This study examines relationships between social
      support for healthy and unhealthy eating from friends and parents, and
      associations with diet quality. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of survey data.
      SETTING: Baltimore, MD. PARTICIPANTS: 296 youth aged 9-15 years, 53% female, 91%
      African American, participating in the B'More Healthy Communities for Kids study.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Primary dependent variable: diet quality measured using
      Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI) overall score, calculated from the Block Kids
      Food Frequency Questionnaire. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Social support from parents
      and friends for healthy eating (4 questions analyzed as a scale) and unhealthy
      eating (3 questions analyzed individually), age, gender, race, and household
      income, reported via questionnaire. ANALYSIS: Adjusted multiple linear
      regressions (alpha, P < .05). RESULTS: Friend and parent support for healthy
      eating did not have statistically significant relationships with overall HEI
      scores. Youth who reported their parents offering high-fat foods or sweets more
      frequently had lower overall HEI scores (beta = -1.65; SE = 0.52; 95% confidence
      interval, -2.66 to -0.63). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results are novel
      and demonstrate the need for additional studies examining support for unhealthy
      eating. These preliminary findings may be relevant to researchers as they develop
      family-based nutrition interventions.

PMID- 26865360
TI  - Current advances in ligand design for inorganic positron emission tomography
      tracers 68Ga, 64Cu, 89Zr and 44Sc.
AB  - A key part of the development of metal based Positron Emission Tomography probes
      is the chelation of the radiometal. In this review the recent developments in the
      chelation of four positron emitting radiometals, 68Ga, 64Cu, 89Zr and 44Sc, are
      explored. The factors that effect the chelation of each radio metal and the ideal
      ligand system will be discussed with regards to high in vivo stability,
      complexation conditions, conjugation to targeting motifs and complexation
      kinetics. A series of cyclic, cross-bridged and acyclic ligands will be
      discussed, such as CP256 which forms stable complexes with 68Ga under mild
      conditions and PCB-TE2A which has been shown to form a highly stable complex with
      64Cu. 89Zr and 44Sc have seen significant development in recent years with a
      number of chelates being applied to each metal - eight coordinate di-macrocyclic
      terephthalamide ligands were found to rapidly produce more stable complexes with
      89Zr than the widely used DFO.

PMID- 26865362
TI  - The spiral of distrust: (Non-)cooperation in a repeated trust game is predicted
      by anger and individual differences in negative reciprocity orientation.
AB  - This study investigated state anger and individual differences in negative
      reciprocity orientation as predictors of individuals' willingness to cooperate
      with strangers. In order to observe real behaviour, we used a trust game that was
      played over six periods. In the trust game, a first player (sender) determines
      how much of a certain endowment she/he wants to share with a second player
      (trustee), who then can give something back. We varied whether participants
      received feedback [feedback (yes, no)] about the trustee's behavioural decision
      (amount sent back). Supporting our hypotheses, the results suggest that feedback
      compared with no feedback about the trustee's behaviour increased anger.
      Specifically, information about low back transfers triggered anger and non
      cooperation in return. Importantly, participants with a strong negative
      reciprocity orientation reported higher levels of anger and were less willing to
      cooperate with the trustee compared with those with low negative reciprocity
      orientation. Moreover, even when anger was low, individuals with a strong
      negative reciprocity orientation were less willing to cooperate compared with
      those with a low negative reciprocity orientation. Thus, negative reciprocity
      orientation seems to arouse a spiral of distrust. Theoretical and practical
      implications of these findings are discussed.

PMID- 26865363
TI  - Open data 5 years on: a case series of 12 freedom of information requests for
      regulatory data to the European Medicines Agency.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical trial (and other) data from the European Medicines Agency
      (EMA) offers the best available opportunity to address the extensive reporting
      bias in pharmaceutical trial literature. Data are requested via freedom of
      information requests, but 5 years on, little is known about how the system is
      working. METHODS: Case series of 12 requests for regulatory data (clinical study
      reports and other regulatory data) relating to 29 different compounds. We logged
      start and end dates for correspondence with and data releases from the EMA, the
      need for additional correspondence and appeal of initial negative decisions, and
      inspected data releases for redaction. We measured: time from initial request to
      first substantive response from the EMA, to final decision from the EMA (in case
      of appeal), to initial receipt of documents, and to completion of request; number
      of data transmission batches generated; number of pages received for each
      request; average number of pages per batch over time (for releases in multiple
      batches); judgment as to whether the request was satisfied. RESULTS: We found
      great variability in time to receive an initial decision from the EMA (1 to 13
      weeks). Additional correspondence with the EMA was necessary in 10 of 12
      requests. Four of 12 were initially refused but 3 of 4 were allowed on appeal
      after 3 to 33 additional weeks. One request was denied despite appeal. Time to
      final decision was 1 to 43 weeks. We received data for 11 of 12 requests in 98
      batches. While two requests remain outstanding as at June 2015 the remaining nine
      requests took a median 43 weeks to completion (range: 17 to 186 weeks). Despite
      redaction in 10 of 11 releases (mainly of researcher and participant identifying
      information), 8 requested were wholly satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: The EMA is the only
      regulator in the world that is routinely releasing original clinical trial data,
      but release can take considerable time to occur and often only after a lengthy
      correspondence. Given its importance for research and significance for
      transparency we suggest ways in which the process could be made more efficient.

PMID- 26865361
TI  - Stem/progenitor cells in endogenous repairing responses: new toolbox for the
      treatment of acute lung injury.
AB  - The repair of organs and tissues has stepped into a prospective era of
      regenerative medicine. However, basic research and clinical practice in the lung
      regeneration remains crawling. Owing to the complicated three dimensional
      structures and above 40 types of pulmonary cells, the regeneration of lung
      tissues becomes a great challenge. Compelling evidence has showed that distinct
      populations of intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary stem/progenitor cells can
      regenerate epithelia as well as endothelia in various parts of the respiratory
      tract. Recently, the discovery of human lung stem cells and their relevant
      studies has opened the door of hope again, which might put us on the path to
      repair our injured body parts, lungs on demand. Herein, we emphasized the role of
      endogenous and exogenous stem/progenitor cells in lungs as well as artificial
      tissue repair for the injured lungs, which constitute a marvelous toolbox for the
      treatment of acute lung injury. Finally, we further discussed the potential
      problems in the pulmonary remodeling and regeneration. 

PMID- 26865364
TI  - Protective effect of Sheng-Mai Yin, a traditional Chinese preparation, against
      doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sheng-Mai Yin (SMY), a modern Chinese formula based on Traditional
      Chinese Medicine theory, has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases in
      Eastern Asia. Our study focuses on the cardioprotection of SMY against
      doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac toxicity in vivo. METHODS: Rats were injected
      with DOX (2.5 mg/kg) in six injections over a 2-week period. SMY was
      administrated intragastrically at the dose of 8.35, 16.7 and 33.4 g/kg, or 16.7
      g/kg only twice a day concurrently with DOX for the 2-weeks. A series of assays
      were performed to detect the effects of SMY on: (i) heart weight index (HWI) and
      left ventricular mass index (LVMI); (ii) cardiac function; (iii) heart tissue
      morphology; (iv) the contents of carboxy terminal propeptide of procollagen typeI
      (PICP), amino terminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PSHNP), transforming
      growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), monocyte
      chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interferon gamma (INF-gamma) and interleukin 6
      (IL-6) by ELISA; (v) the mRNA levels of TGF-beta1 and toll-like receptor-2
      (TLR2); and (vi) protein level of TGF-beta1. RESULTS: Rats treated with SMY
      displayed the reductions of BNP and CK-MB increased by DOX in a dose-dependent
      manner. Moderate dose of SMY exhibited the correction for the increased HWI,
      LVMI, and the injured cardiac function, as well as the collagen accumulation. In
      addition, cardioprotection of SMY against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity was
      demonstrated by the reduction of myocardial fibrosis, characterized by the
      suppression of PICP, PSHNP and TGF-beta1, as well as the anti-inflammation and
      the regulation for cardiac immune microenvironment, characterized by the
      inhibition of TLR2, MCP-1, INF-gamma and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: SMY may protect heart
      function through the restriction of myocardial fibrosis induced by DOX, which
      suggests the potentially therapeutic effect of SMY on DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26865366
TI  - Basic FGF or VEGF gene therapy corrects insufficiency in the intrinsic healing
      capacity of tendons.
AB  - Tendon injury during limb motion is common. Damaged tendons heal poorly and
      frequently undergo unpredictable ruptures or impaired motion due to insufficient
      innate healing capacity. By basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene therapy via adeno-associated viral type-2
      (AAV2) vector to produce supernormal amount of bFGF or VEGF intrinsically in the
      tendon, we effectively corrected the insufficiency of the tendon healing
      capacity. This therapeutic approach (1) resulted in substantial amelioration of
      the low growth factor activity with significant increases in bFGF or VEGF from
      weeks 4 to 6 in the treated tendons (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), (2) significantly
      promoted production of type I collagen and other extracellular molecules (p <
      0.01) and accelerated cellular proliferation, and (3) significantly increased
      tendon strength by 68-91% from week 2 after AAV2-bFGF treatment and by 82-210%
      from week 3 after AAV2-VEGF compared with that of the controls (p < 0.05 or p <
      0.01). Moreover, the transgene expression dissipated after healing was complete.
      These findings show that the gene transfers provide an optimistic solution to the
      insufficiencies of the intrinsic healing capacity of the tendon and offers an
      effective therapeutic possibility for patients with tendon disunion.

PMID- 26865367
TI  - A Novel Test for Detecting SNP-SNP Interactions in Case-Only Trio Studies.
AB  - Epistasis plays a significant role in the genetic architecture of many complex
      phenotypes in model organisms. To date, there have been very few interactions
      replicated in human studies due in part to the multiple-hypothesis burden
      implicit in genome-wide tests of epistasis. Therefore, it is of paramount
      importance to develop the most powerful tests possible for detecting
      interactions. In this work we develop a new SNP-SNP interaction test for use in
      case-only trio studies called the trio correlation (TC) test. The TC test
      computes the expected joint distribution of marker pairs in offspring conditional
      on parental genotypes. This distribution is then incorporated into a standard 1
      d.f. correlation test of interaction. We show via extensive simulations under a
      variety of disease models that our test substantially outperforms existing tests
      of interaction in case-only trio studies. We also demonstrate a bias in a
      previous case-only trio interaction test and identify its origin. Finally, we
      show that a previously proposed permutation scheme in trio studies mitigates the
      known biases of case-only tests in the presence of population stratification. We
      conclude that the TC test shows improved power to identify interactions in
      existing, as well as emerging, trio association studies. The method is publicly
      available at www.github.com/BrunildaBalliu/TrioEpi.

PMID- 26865369
TI  - Embryonic Stem Cells Cultured in Microfluidic Chambers Take Control of Their Fate
      by Producing Endogenous Signals Including LIF.
AB  - It is important to understand the role played by endogenous signals in shaping
      stem cell fate decisions to develop better culture systems and to improve
      understanding of development processes. In this study, we describe the behavior
      of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) inside microfluidic chambers
      (microchambers) operated under conditions of minimal perfusion. mESCs inside
      microchambers formed colonies and expressed markers of pluripotency in the
      absence of feeders or pluripotency-inducing signals such as leukemia inhibitory
      factor (LIF), while mESCs in standard cultureware differentiated rapidly. In a
      series of experiments, we demonstrate that remarkable differences in stem cell
      phenotype are due to endogenous production of LIF and other growth factors
      brought upon by cultivation in confines of a microchamber in the absence of
      perfusion (dilution). At the protein level, mESCs produced ~140 times more LIF
      inside microchambers than under standard culture conditions. In addition, we
      demonstrate that pluripotent phenotype of stem cells could be degraded by
      increasing the height (volume) of the microchamber. Furthermore, we show that
      inhibition of LIF in microchambers, via the JAK/STAT3 pathway, leads to
      preferential differentiation into mesoderm that is driven by bone morphogenetic
      protein (BMP)-4. Collectively, we demonstrate for the first time that it is
      possible to design a cell culture system where stem cell fate is controlled
      solely by the endogenous signals. Our study may help shift the paradigm of stem
      cell cultivation away from relying on expensive exogenous molecules such as
      growth factors and toward designing culture chambers for harnessing endogenous
      signals. Stem Cells 2016;34:1501-1512.

PMID- 26865368
TI  - Kel1p Mediates Yeast Cell Fusion Through a Fus2p- and Cdc42p-Dependent Mechanism.
AB  - Cell fusion is ubiquitous among eukaryotes. Although little is known about the
      molecular mechanism, several proteins required for cell fusion in the yeast
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been identified. Fus2p, a key regulator of cell
      fusion, localizes to the shmoo tip in a highly regulated manner. C-terminal
      truncations of Fus2p cause mislocalization and fusion defects, which are
      suppressed by overexpression of Kel1p, a kelch-domain protein of unknown function
      previously implicated in cell fusion. We hypothesize that Fus2p mislocalization
      is caused by auto-inhibition, which is alleviated by Kel1p overexpression.
      Previous work showed that Fus2p localization is mediated by both Fus1p- and actin
      dependent pathways. We show that the C-terminal mutations mainly affect the actin
      dependent pathway. Suppression of the Fus2p localization defect by Kel1p is
      dependent upon Fus1p, showing that suppression does not bypass the normal
      pathway. Kel1p and a homolog, Kel2p, are required for efficient Fus2p
      localization, acting through the actin-dependent pathway. Although Kel1p
      overexpression can weakly suppress the mating defect of a FUS2 deletion, the
      magnitude of suppression is allele specific. Therefore, Kel1p augments, but does
      not bypass, Fus2p function. Fus2p mediates cell fusion by binding activated
      Cdc42p Although Kel1p overexpression suppresses a Cdc42p mutant that is defective
      for Fus2p binding, cell fusion remains dependent upon Fus2p These data suggest
      that Fus2p, Cdc42p, and Kel1p form a ternary complex, which is stabilized by
      Kel1p Supporting this hypothesis, Kel1p interacts with two domains of Fus2p,
      partially dependent on Cdc42p We conclude that Kel1p enhances the activity of
      Fus2p/Cdc42p in cell fusion.

PMID- 26865370
TI  - Designing Standardized and Optimized Surveys to Assess Invertebrate Biodiversity
      in Tropical Irrigated Rice Using Structured Inventory and Species Richness
      Models.
AB  - Insect pest management depends on simple, rapid, and reliable sampling methods
      that should also be standardized and optimized. We tested structured inventory,
      community characterization, and sampling optimization approaches on the
      invertebrate fauna of Philippine irrigated rice, undisrupted by pesticides, using
      seven field methods and species richness models. Canopy and floodwater
      invertebrates were intensively and repetitively sampled from 600 quadrats (~0.1
      m(2) planar area) over dry and wet cropping seasons in one field at the
      International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. In the canopy, pooled
      counts from D-Vac and plant dissections (PD) on the same rice hills ("absolute
      methodology") were compared with three other methods (i.e., FARMCOP, Blower-Vac,
      sweep-net), while, in the floodwater, the area collector ("absolute methodology")
      was compared with three other methods (i.e., FARMCOP, Blower-Vac, strainer-net).
      Overall, 25 and 50% of the observed richness of canopy and floodwater taxa,
      respectively, were caught by all four methods. Estimated inventory completeness
      for the canopy and floodwater averaged 82 and 98%, respectively, after all
      methods were pooled. To maximize observed richness, optimization results for the
      canopy recommended allocating the highest sampling effort to D-Vac and PD,
      followed by the Blower-Vac, whereas the area collector should be assigned the
      highest sampling effort in the floodwater, followed by the strainer-net or Blower
      Vac. Our results suggest that structured inventory and species richness models
      are useful tools for setting optimization criteria and stopping rules for
      sampling crop-invertebrate assemblages based on inventory completeness and for
      enabling more informative biodiversity comparisons. 

PMID- 26865374
TI  - Monte Carlo Simulations of Glu-242 in Cytochrome c Oxidase.
AB  - Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of conformational changes and protonation of Glu
      242, a key residue that shuttles protons in cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), are
      reported. Previous studies suggest that this residue may play a role of the valve
      of the enzyme proton pump. Here we examine how sensitive the results of
      simulations are to the computational method used. We applied both molecular
      mechanic (MM) and hybrid quantum mechanic:molecular mechanic (QM:MM) methods and
      find that the results are qualitatively different. The results indicate that the
      mechanism for proton gating in CcO is still an open issue. 

PMID- 26865365
TI  - The human HSP70 family of chaperones: where do we stand?
AB  - The 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family of molecular chaperones represents
      one of the most ubiquitous classes of chaperones and is highly conserved in all
      organisms. Members of the HSP70 family control all aspects of cellular
      proteostasis such as nascent protein chain folding, protein import into
      organelles, recovering of proteins from aggregation, and assembly of multi
      protein complexes. These chaperones augment organismal survival and longevity in
      the face of proteotoxic stress by enhancing cell viability and facilitating
      protein damage repair. Extracellular HSP70s have a number of cytoprotective and
      immunomodulatory functions, the latter either in the context of facilitating the
      cross-presentation of immunogenic peptides via major histocompatibility complex
      (MHC) antigens or in the context of acting as "chaperokines" or stimulators of
      innate immune responses. Studies have linked the expression of HSP70s to several
      types of carcinoma, with Hsp70 expression being associated with therapeutic
      resistance, metastasis, and poor clinical outcome. In malignantly transformed
      cells, HSP70s protect cells from the proteotoxic stress associated with
      abnormally rapid proliferation, suppress cellular senescence, and confer
      resistance to stress-induced apoptosis including protection against cytostatic
      drugs and radiation therapy. All of the cellular activities of HSP70s depend on
      their adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP)-regulated ability to interact with exposed
      hydrophobic surfaces of proteins. ATP hydrolysis and adenosine diphosphate
      (ADP)/ATP exchange are key events for substrate binding and Hsp70 release during
      folding of nascent polypeptides. Several proteins that bind to distinct
      subdomains of Hsp70 and consequently modulate the activity of the chaperone have
      been identified as HSP70 co-chaperones. This review focuses on the regulation,
      function, and relevance of the molecular Hsp70 chaperone machinery to disease and
      its potential as a therapeutic target.

PMID- 26865376
TI  - Overexpression of ACC gene from oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi enhanced the
      lipid accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with increased levels of glycerol
      3-phosphate substrates.
AB  - The conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) is
      the rate-limiting step in fatty acid biosynthesis. In this study, a gene coding
      for ACC was isolated and characterized from an oleaginous yeast, Lipomyces
      starkeyi. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of L. starkeyi acetyl-CoA
      carboxylase gene (LsACC1) showed that the expression levels were upregulated with
      the fast accumulation of lipids. The LsACC1 was co-overexpressed with the
      glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GPD1), which regulates lipids
      biosynthesis by supplying another substrates glycerol 3-phosphate for storage
      lipid assembly, in the non-oleaginous yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further,
      the S. cerevisiae acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ScACC1) was transferred with GPD1 and
      its function was analyzed in comparison with LsACC1. The results showed that
      overexpressed LsACC1 and GPD1 resulted in a 63% increase in S. cerevisiae. This
      study gives new data in understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the
      regulation of fatty acids and lipid biosynthesis in yeasts. 

PMID- 26865377
TI  - The effect of fluctuating maskers on speech understanding of high-performing
      cochlear implant users.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated whether the poorer baseline performance of
      cochlear implant (CI) users or the technical and/or physiological properties of
      CI stimulation are responsible for the absence of masking release. DESIGN: This
      study measured speech reception thresholds (SRTs) in continuous and modulated
      noise as a function of signal to noise ratio (SNR). STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 24
      subjects participated: 12 normal-hearing (NH) listeners and 12 subjects provided
      with recent MED-EL CI systems. RESULTS: The mean SRT of CI users in continuous
      noise was -3.0 +/- 1.5 dB SNR (mean +/- SEM), while the normal-hearing group
      reached -5.9 +/- 0.8 dB SNR. In modulated noise, the difference across groups
      increased considerably. For CI users, the mean SRT worsened to -1.4 +/- 2.3 dB
      SNR, while it improved for normal-hearing listeners to -18.9 +/- 3.8 dB SNR.
      CONCLUSIONS: The detrimental effect of fluctuating maskers on SRTs in CI users
      shown by prior studies was confirmed by the current study. Concluding, the
      absence of masking release is mainly caused by the technical and/or physiological
      properties of CI stimulation, not just the poorer baseline performance of many CI
      users compared to normal-hearing subjects. Speech understanding in modulated
      noise was more robust in CI users who had a relatively large electrical dynamic
      range.

PMID- 26865379
TI  - Secrets of Endometrial Receptivity: Some Are Hidden in Uterine Secretome.
AB  - PROBLEM: Endometrium, the innermost mucosal layer of the uterus, serves as a
      lodge for the embryo in eutherian mammals. The endometrium is constituted of
      various cell types, and each cell type executes specific functions to facilitate
      embryo implantation and development. It is well established that the endometrium,
      despite being non-permissive to the embryo for the major period of a menstrual
      cycle, is irreplaceable in the scheme of events essential for procreation.
      However, the embryo, before initiating physical contact with the endometrium,
      encounters the uterine cavity that remains bathed in uterine fluid. Uterine fluid
      is an admixture of endometrial secretions, plasma transudates, and oviductal
      fluid. Uterine fluid components are believed to play important roles in
      immunosuppression and embryo development during peri-implantation period. Uterine
      fluid is also involved in defense against pathogens, sperm migration, and
      lubrication of endometrium. The advent of high-throughput functional genomics
      tools has created enormous opportunities to investigate the uterine fluid for its
      protein repertoire and modulation during the receptive phase of an endometrial
      cycle in animals and humans. Towards this, few investigations have been conducted
      in recent years. The data obtained using non-targetted functional genomics
      approaches need to be assimilated with the existing information on specific
      components of uterine fluid. METHOD: This review compiles existing information on
      the composition of uterine fluid and its significance in endometrial functions
      and dysfunctions. RESULT: Collectively, investigations based on targetted and non
      targetted approaches have revealed the presence of several cytokines, growth
      factors, ions, carbohydrates, and steroids, in human uterine fluid. CONCLUSION:
      Detailed investigations of human uterine fluid, especially directed towards the
      elucidation of functional relevance of different proteins in uterine fluid, will
      help identify novel markers of endometrial receptivity and also gain significant
      insights into the mechanisms underlying unexplained infertility, recurrent
      pregnancy losses, and other endometrial pathologies.

PMID- 26865380
TI  - Improving Surgical Research by Involving Stakeholders.

PMID- 26865378
TI  - Noninvasive Monitoring of the Mitochondrial Function in Mesenchymal Stromal
      Cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: Mitochondria are a gatekeeper of cell survival and mitochondrial
      function can be used to monitor cell stress. Here we validate a pathway-specific
      reporter gene to noninvasively image the mitochondrial function of stem cells.
      PROCEDURES: We constructed a mitochondrial sensor with the firefly luciferase
      (Fluc) reporter gene driven by the NQO1 enzyme promoter. The sensor was
      introduced in stem cells and validated in vitro and in vivo, in a mouse model of
      myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR). RESULTS: The sensor activity showed an
      inverse relationship with mitochondrial function (R (2) = -0.975, p = 0.025) and
      showed specificity and sensitivity for mitochondrial dysfunction. In vivo, NQO1
      Fluc activity was significantly higher in IR animals vs. controls, indicative of
      mitochondrial dysfunction, and was corroborated by ex vivo luminometry.
      CONCLUSIONS: Reporter gene imaging allows assessment of the biology of
      transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), providing important information
      that can be used to improve the phenotype and survival of transplanted stem
      cells.

PMID- 26865381
TI  - Chemically Stable Covalent Organic Framework (COF)-Polybenzimidazole Hybrid
      Membranes: Enhanced Gas Separation through Pore Modulation.
AB  - Highly flexible, TpPa-1@PBI-BuI and TpBD@PBI-BuI hybrid membranes based on
      chemically stable covalent organic frameworks (COFs) could be obtained with the
      polymer. The loading obtained was substantially higher (50 %) than generally
      observed with MOFs. These hybrid membranes show an exciting enhancement in
      permeability (about sevenfold) with appreciable separation factors for CO2/N2 and
      CO2/CH4. Further, we found that with COF pore modulation, the gas permeability
      can be systematically enhanced.

PMID- 26865383
TI  - Distribution of the two-sample t-test statistic following blinded sample size re
      estimation.
AB  - We consider the blinded sample size re-estimation based on the simple one-sample
      variance estimator at an interim analysis. We characterize the exact distribution
      of the standard two-sample t-test statistic at the final analysis. We describe a
      simulation algorithm for the evaluation of the probability of rejecting the null
      hypothesis at given treatment effect. We compare the blinded sample size re
      estimation method with two unblinded methods with respect to the empirical type I
      error, the empirical power, and the empirical distribution of the standard
      deviation estimator and final sample size. We characterize the type I error
      inflation across the range of standardized non-inferiority margin for non
      inferiority trials, and derive the adjusted significance level to ensure type I
      error control for given sample size of the internal pilot study. We show that the
      adjusted significance level increases as the sample size of the internal pilot
      study increases. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26865382
TI  - Race-Specific Pharmacodynamic Model of Propofol-Induced Loss of Consciousness.
AB  - We present a race-specific model of propofol-induced loss of consciousness that
      is based on pharmacodynamic data collected and adapted from the peer-reviewed
      literature. In the proposed race-specific model that includes EC05 and EC95
      concentrations, the median (EC50) (and where available 95%CI) propofol
      concentrations at the effect site compartment for propofol-induced loss of
      consciousness for whites, Chinese, blacks, and Indians are 2.8 (2.7-2.9), 2.2
      (2.2-2.3), 2.0, and 1.9 MUg/mL, respectively.

PMID- 26865384
TI  - Ultrapure Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Molecules: Efficient HOMO
      LUMO Separation by the Multiple Resonance Effect.
AB  - Ultrapure blue-fluorescent molecules based on thermally activated delayed
      fluorescence are developed. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices employing
      the new emitters exhibit a deep blue emission at 467 nm with a full-width at half
      maximum of 28 nm, CIE coordinates of (0.12, 0.13), and an internal quantum
      efficiency of ~100%, which represent record-setting performance for blue OLED
      devices. 

PMID- 26865375
TI  - Converging roles of ion channels, calcium, metabolic stress, and activity pattern
      of Substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in health and Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Dopamine-releasing neurons within the Substantia nigra (SN DA) are particularly
      vulnerable to degeneration compared to other dopaminergic neurons. The age
      dependent, progressive loss of these neurons is a pathological hallmark of
      Parkinson's disease (PD), as the resulting loss of striatal dopamine causes its
      major movement-related symptoms. SN DA neurons release dopamine from their axonal
      terminals within the dorsal striatum, and also from their cell bodies and
      dendrites within the midbrain in a calcium- and activity-dependent manner. Their
      intrinsically generated and metabolically challenging activity is created and
      modulated by the orchestrated function of different ion channels and dopamine D2
      autoreceptors. Here, we review increasing evidence that the mechanisms that
      control activity patterns and calcium homeostasis of SN DA neurons are not only
      crucial for their dopamine release within a physiological range but also modulate
      their mitochondrial and lysosomal activity, their metabolic stress levels, and
      their vulnerability to degeneration in PD. Indeed, impaired calcium homeostasis,
      lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic stress in SN DA neurons
      represent central converging trigger factors for idiopathic and familial PD. We
      summarize double-edged roles of ion channels, activity patterns, calcium
      homeostasis, and related feedback/feed-forward signaling mechanisms in SN DA
      neurons for maintaining and modulating their physiological function, but also for
      contributing to their vulnerability in PD-paradigms. We focus on the emerging
      roles of maintained neuronal activity and calcium homeostasis within a
      physiological bandwidth, and its modulation by PD-triggers, as well as on
      bidirectional functions of voltage-gated L-type calcium channels and
      metabolically gated ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channels, and their probable
      interplay in health and PD. We propose that SN DA neurons possess several
      feedback and feed-forward mechanisms to protect and adapt their activity-pattern
      and calcium-homeostasis within a physiological bandwidth, and that PD-trigger
      factors can narrow this bandwidth. We summarize roles of ion channels in this
      view, and findings documenting that both, reduced as well as elevated activity
      and associated calcium-levels can trigger SN DA degeneration. This article is
      part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.

PMID- 26865385
TI  - An avian-only Filippov model incorporating culling of both susceptible and
      infected birds in combating avian influenza.
AB  - Depopulation of birds has always been an effective method not only to control the
      transmission of avian influenza in bird populations but also to eliminate
      influenza viruses. We introduce a Filippov avian-only model with culling of
      susceptible and/or infected birds. For each susceptible threshold level [Formula:
      see text], we derive the phase portrait for the dynamical system as we vary the
      infected threshold level [Formula: see text], focusing on the existence of
      endemic states; the endemic states are represented by real equilibria,
      pseudoequilibria and pseudo-attractors. We show generically that all solutions of
      this model will approach one of the endemic states. Our results suggest that the
      spread of avian influenza in bird populations is tolerable if the trajectories
      converge to the equilibrium point that lies in the region below the threshold
      level [Formula: see text] or if they converge to one of the pseudoequilibria or a
      pseudo-attractor on the surface of discontinuity. However, we have to cull birds
      whenever the solution of this model converges to an equilibrium point that lies
      in the region above the threshold level [Formula: see text] in order to control
      the outbreak. Hence a good threshold policy is required to combat bird flu
      successfully and to prevent overkilling birds.

PMID- 26865386
TI  - Core Competencies in Geriatric Dentistry Fellowship Programs: a Delphi Study.
AB  - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The healthcare workforce is challenged with preparing for the
      increasing number of older persons and complexities of their healthcare needs.
      Fellowship trained geriatric dentists are charged with the task of addressing the
      dental needs of this vastly growing cohort.The purpose of this study is to
      formulate a set of competencies for Geriatric Dental Fellowship Training
      Programs. METHODS: The Delphi technique-a series of three rounds of anonymous
      questionnaires to obtain the opinions of experts without bringing them together.
      RESULTS: In Round 1, we proposed 45 competencies based on findings in previous
      literature. In Round 2, there were 19 respondents whose edits narrowed our list
      to 39 competencies proposed by the participants. In Round 3, based on group
      consensus we formulated a final list of 42 competencies. CONCLUSION: Utilizing
      the Delphi process, a panel of geriatric dental experts identified a set of core
      competencies for curriculums in dental fellowship programs.

PMID- 26865387
TI  - Downregulation of IDH2 exacerbates H2O2-mediated cell death and hypertrophy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Reactive oxygen species-mediated cell death contributes to the
      pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and myocardial dysfunction. We recently
      showed that mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2)
      functions as an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic protein by supplying NADPH to
      antioxidant systems. METHODS: In the present study, we demonstrated that H2O2
      induced apoptosis and hypertrophy of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts was markedly
      exacerbated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for IDH2. RESULTS:
      Attenuated IDH2 expression resulted in the modulation of cellular and
      mitochondrial redox status, mitochondrial function, and cellular oxidative
      damage. MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, efficiently suppressed
      increased caspase-3 activity, increased cell size, and depletion of cellular GSH
      levels in IDH2 siRNA-transfected cells that were treated with H2O2. DISCUSSION:
      These results indicated that the disruption of cellular redox balance might be
      responsible for the enhanced H2O2-induced apoptosis and hypertrophy of cultured
      cardiomyocytes by the attenuated IDH2 expression.

PMID- 26865389
TI  - California doctor convicted of murder in overdose deaths is sentenced to 30
      years.

PMID- 26865388
TI  - Intrafamily and Interfamilial Phenotype Variation and Immature Immunity in
      Patients With Netherton Syndrome and Finnish SPINK5 Founder Mutation.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Netherton syndrome (NS) is a rare and severe genodermatosis caused by
      SPINK5 mutations leading to the loss of lymphoepithelial Kazal-type-related
      inhibitor (LEKTI). Netherton syndrome is characterized by neonatal scaling
      erythroderma, a bamboolike hair defect, a substantial skin barrier defect, and a
      profound atopic diathesis. Netherton syndrome has been proposed to be a primary
      immunodeficiency syndrome because of the high frequency of infections. The
      precise mechanisms underlying the disease are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To
      study the association of the SPINK5 mutation with the NS phenotype and the extent
      of immunologic deficiencies in NS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Relevant
      tissue samples and follow-up data from 11 patients with NS from 7 families,
      including 3 multiplex families, were collected, constituting all known patients
      with NS in Finland. Another patient with NS from a neighboring country was
      included. Data were collected from August 10, 2011, to February 20, 2015. SPINK5
      mutations were sequenced, and thorough clinical evaluation and histopathologic
      and immunohistochemical evaluations of skin samples were performed. The function
      of natural killer cells, lymphocyte phenotype, and serum immunoglobulin subclass
      levels were evaluated. Data analysis was conducted from October 19, 2011, to
      February 20, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The nature of SPINK5 mutations and
      their correlation with phenotypes in Finnish patients with NS, intrafamilial
      phenotype variations, and the type of immunologic defects in NS were evaluated.
      RESULTS: Among the 11 Finnish patients with NS (8 male [73%]; 3 female [27%];
      mean [SD] age, 30.1 [9.1] years), a Finnish founder mutation c.652C>T (p.Arg218*)
      in SPINK5 was identified in 10 patients from 6 families who all originated from
      the same region. Eight patients were homozygotes for this mutation and 2 siblings
      were compound heterozygotes with a splice site mutation c.1220 + 1G>C (IVS13 + 1
      G>C). Phenotypes were comparable, but some intrafamilial and interfamilial
      variations were noted. Compound heterozygous patients had a milder phenotype and
      showed residual LEKTI expression. A previously unreported c.1772delT
      (p.Leu591Glnfs124*) mutation was found in 1 patient with a phenotype similar to
      the patients homozygous for the founder mutation. The patient from the
      neighboring country had a distinct phenotype and different mutations.
      Immunologically, natural killer cells had an immature phenotype and impaired
      cytotoxicity and degranulation, levels of memory B cells were reduced, and serum
      IgG4 levels were elevated. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment has been
      beneficial in 1 patient with NS. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This report discloses
      a prevalent SPINK5 founder mutation in Finland and illustrates NS phenotype
      variability. Our results also point to a possible role of immature immunity in
      the frequent infections seen in NS.

PMID- 26865390
TI  - Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase 1 studies
      evaluating BTH1677, a 1, 3-1,6 beta glucan pathogen associated molecular pattern,
      in healthy volunteer subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: BTH1677 is a beta glucan pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP)
      currently being investigated as a novel cancer therapy. Here, the initial safety
      and pharmacokinetic (PK) results of BTH1677 in healthy subjects are reported.
      SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In the Phase 1a single-dosing study, subjects were
      randomized (3:1 per cohort) to a single intravenous (i.v.) infusion of BTH1677 at
      0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 6 mg/kg or placebo, respectively. In the Phase 1b multi-dosing
      study, subjects were randomized (3:1 per cohort) to 7 daily i.v. infusions of
      BTH1677 at 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg or placebo, respectively. Safety and PK non
      compartmental analyses were performed. RESULTS: Thirty-six subjects (N = 24 Phase
      1a; N = 12 Phase 1b) were randomized to treatment. No deaths or serious adverse
      events occurred in either study. Mild or moderate adverse events (AEs) occurred
      in 67% of BTH1677-treated subjects in both studies. Treatment-related AEs
      (occurring in >=10% of subjects) included dyspnea, flushing, headache, nausea,
      paraesthesia, and rash in Phase 1a and conjunctivitis and headache in Phase 1b.
      BTH1677 serum concentration was linear with dose. Clearance, serum elimination
      half-life (t1/2) and volume of distribution (Vss) were BTH1677 dose-independent.
      In Phase 1b, area under the curve, t1/2, and Vss values were larger at steady
      state on days 6-30 versus day 0. CONCLUSIONS: BTH1677 was well tolerated after
      single doses up to 6 mg/kg and after 7 daily doses up to 4 mg/kg.

PMID- 26865391
TI  - Comparison of different anthropometric measures in the adult population in Serbia
      as indicators of obesity: data from the National Health Survey 2013.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to compare different indicators of obesity in
      the Serbian adult population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. A stratified, two
      stage, national-representative random sampling approach was used for the
      selection of the survey sample. Data sources were questionnaires created
      according to the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. Measurements of
      weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were performed using standard
      procedures. Anthropometric measures included BMI, WC and waist-to-height ratio
      (WHtR). SETTING: Data for the study were obtained from the 2013 National Health
      Survey, performed in line with the EUROSTAT recommendations for performance of
      the European Health Interview Survey. SUBJECTS: Adults aged >=20 years. RESULTS:
      According to BMI, out of the whole studied population (12 460 adults of both
      sexes) 2.4 % were underweight, 36.4 % overweight and 22.4 % obese. Using WC and
      WHtR as measures of adiposity showed that 22.5 % and 42.8 % of participants were
      overweight and 39.8 % and 25.3 % were obese, respectively. Men and women differed
      significantly in all variables observed. Overweight was more frequent in men and
      obesity in women regardless of adiposity measure used. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of
      strong correlations between BMI, WC and WHtR, substantial discrepancies between
      these three measures in the assessment of overweight and obesity were found,
      especially in some age groups. Which of these anthropometric measures should be
      used, or whether two or all three of them should be applied, depends on their
      associations with cardiovascular or some other disease of interest.

PMID- 26865393
TI  - Tuning the surface electronic structure of a Pt3Ti(111) electro catalyst.
AB  - Increasing the efficiency and stability of bimetallic electro catalysts is
      particularly important for future clean energy technologies. However, the
      relationship between the surface termination of these alloys and their catalytic
      activity is poorly understood. Therefore, we report on fundamental UHV-SPM, LEED,
      and DFT calculations of the Pt3Ti(111) single crystal surface. Using voltage
      dependent imaging the surface termination of Pt3Ti(111) was studied with atomic
      resolution. Combining these images with simulated STM maps based on ab initio DFT
      calculations allowed us to identify the three upper layers of the Pt3Ti(111)
      single crystal and their influence upon the surface electronic structure. Our
      results show that small changes in the composition of the second and third atomic
      layer are of significant influence upon the surface electronic structure of the
      Pt3Ti electro catalyst. Furthermore, we provide relevant insights into the
      dependence of the surface termination on the preparation conditions. 

PMID- 26865392
TI  - Health resource utilisation associated with skeletal-related events in patients
      with bone metastases secondary to solid tumours: regional comparisons in an
      observational study.
AB  - Skeletal-related events (SREs) including spinal cord compression, pathologic
      fracture, and radiation or surgery to bone, occur frequently due to bone
      metastases in advanced cancer. This analysis of a multicentre, observational
      study was designed to describe cross-regional differences in health resource
      utilisation (HRU) of SREs in Western Europe and the US. Patients with bone
      metastases due to breast, lung or prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma who had
      experienced a SRE within the past 97 days were enrolled. Investigators recorded
      HRU associated with SREs, including hospitalisation and length of stay (LOS),
      outpatient visits, procedures and bisphosphonate use. This subanalysis includes
      668 patients with solid tumours (US, n = 190 with 354 SREs; EU, n = 478 with 893
      SREs). The rate of SREs associated with hospitalisation(s) was higher in the EU
      vs. the US (30% vs. 15%, P < 0.001) and LOS was longer in the EU [mean (SD)
      days/SRE: 19.87 (17.31) vs. 10.61 (9.39)]. However, the US was associated with
      higher rate of SREs with outpatient visits than the EU (88% vs. 74%, P < 0.0001)
      and more procedures [mean (SD)/SRE: 11.26 (7.94) vs. 6.91 (6.48)].
      Bisphosphonates were less often used in the EU (65% vs. 76% of US, P = 0.0033).
      In patients experiencing SREs due to bone metastases, HRU patterns reflect
      regional diversity with a substantial burden in both regions.

PMID- 26865394
TI  - Nitric oxide-induced autophagy and the activation of activated protein kinase
      pathway protect against apoptosis in human dental pulp cells.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO)-induced autophagy in human
      dental pulp cells (HDPCs) and the involvement of AMP-activated protein kinase
      (AMPK) pathway. METHODOLOGY: The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic
      effect of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in HDPCs. Apoptosis was
      detected by means of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end
      labelling (TUNEL) assay, and apoptosis- or autophagy-related signal molecules
      were observed by Western blot analysis. Acidic autophagolysosomal vacuoles were
      stained with acridine orange to detect autophagy in the presence of 3
      methyladenine (3MA) used to inhibit autophagy. To explore the mechanism
      underlying autophagy and its protective role against apoptosis, compound C, the
      chemical AMPK inhibitor, was used. Statistical analysis was performed using
      Student's t-test or analysis of variance (anova) followed by the Student-Newman
      Keuls test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: SNP decreased viability of the HDPCs in a dose-
      and time-dependent manner. Exposing the HDPCs to SNP increased the levels of p62
      and LC3-II, the typical markers of autophagy, and increased the number of acidic
      autophagolysosomal vacuoles, indicating the appearance of autophagy as detected
      by acridine orange staining (P < 0.05). Pre-treatment with 3MA decreased cell
      viability but increased cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3,
      apoptosis indicators, in the SNP-treated HDPCs (P < 0.05). SNP activated AMPK/ULK
      signalling, whilst the inhibition of AMPK by compound C enhanced apoptotic cell
      death induced by SNP in the HDPCs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NO induced autophagy
      with AMPK activation, which plays a role in the survival of HDPCs against NO
      induced apoptosis.

PMID- 26865395
TI  - The Involvement of the Anterolateral Ligament in Rotational Control of the Knee.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rotational control of the knee is crucial for knee stability. The
      anterolateral ligament (ALL) has been identified as a potentially important
      structure involved in rotational control of the knee. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The
      purpose of this study was to determine, utilizing a navigation system, the
      involvement of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the iliotibial band (ITB),
      and the ALL in tibial internal rotational control of the knee. The hypothesis was
      that the ALL would be involved in rotational control of the knee at varying
      degrees of knee flexion. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS:
      Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were tested in internal rotation at 20
      degrees  and 90 degrees  of flexion and then subsequently tested using a
      simulated pivot-shift test consisting of coupled axial rotation at 30 degrees  of
      flexion. Serial sectioning of the ACL, ALL, and ITB was performed. On the
      contralateral knee, sectioning was performed in the reverse order. Measurements
      were collected using a surgical navigation system before and after each
      sectioning. RESULTS: After ACL sectioning, an incision of the ALL induced a
      significant increase in internal rotation (+19.2% [P = .0002] at 20 degrees ;
      +21.8% [P = .0029] at 90 degrees ) and in coupled axial rotation (+43.0%; P =
      .0035) compared with the intact knee as well as a significant increase in
      internal rotation at 90 degrees  (+13.4%; P = .009) and in coupled axial rotation
      (+30.8%; P = .0124) compared with the ACL-deficient knee. After ITB sectioning,
      an additional ALL section caused a significant increase in internal rotation
      (+39.0% [P = .002] at 20 degrees ; +63.0% [P = .0147] at 90 degrees ) and in
      coupled axial rotation (+59.7%; P = .0003) compared with the intact knee as well
      as a significant increase in internal rotation at 90 degrees  (+14.8%; P = .0067)
      in comparison to the ITB-deficient knee. CONCLUSION: The ALL is involved in
      rotational control of the knee at varying degrees of knee flexion and during a
      simulated pivot shift. Concomitant to an ACL or ITB transection, sectioning the
      ALL further increased rotational laxity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This laboratory
      study demonstrated that the ALL provides rotational control of the knee in
      combination with the ACL and/or ITB.

PMID- 26865396
TI  - Reversibility of Supraspinatus Muscle Atrophy in Tendon-Bone Healing After
      Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date, there are few reports of the definite reversibility of
      rotator cuff muscle atrophy after repair. PURPOSE: To evaluate the reversibility
      of rotator cuff muscle atrophy after successful arthroscopic repair. STUDY
      DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Included in this study were
      47 patients (mean age, 61.2 +/- 7.3 years; range, 49-73 years) who underwent
      arthroscopic rotator cuff repair as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      preoperatively and at 6-month and last follow-up. Patients who had confirmed
      rotator cuff healing (grades 1-3 according to the Sugaya classification) on both
      series of postoperative MRI were enrolled in the study. The mean time from the
      onset of symptoms to surgery was 24.7 +/- 25.6 months (range, 3-120 months). The
      minimum follow-up was 2 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 41.8 +/- 14.4
      months. Serial changes in the supraspinatus muscle area on the most matching MRI
      scans (sagittal-oblique view) were evaluated. The area was measured by 2
      independent observers. RESULTS: Both independent observers reported no
      significant difference in the area of the supraspinatus muscle between the
      preoperative time point and 6-month follow-up (observer 1: P = .135; observer 2:
      P = .189). However, there was a significant difference between the 6-month and
      last follow-up (mean, 41.8 months; observers 1 and 2: P < .001). The serial
      changes in the area preoperatively and at 6-month and last follow-up were 419.41
      +/- 122.97 mm(2), 431.76 +/- 104.27 mm(2), and 466.73 +/- 121.42 mm(2),
      respectively (observer 1), and 421.01 +/- 116.61 mm(2), 432.56 +/- 100.78 mm(2),
      and 469.84 +/- 113.80 mm(2), respectively (observer 2). The intraclass
      correlation coefficient between the 2 observers was 0.988. At final follow-up,
      the area increase on the medial and lateral aspects of the sagittal-oblique view
      compared with preoperatively was 13.9% (P < .001) and 11.3% (P < .001),
      respectively. Fatty infiltration did not change from preoperatively to 6-month
      follow-up (P > .999) or from 6-month to final follow-up (P = .077). CONCLUSION:
      After successful arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, there was a slight (11.3%
      13.9%) increase in muscle volume from preoperatively to final follow-up, as seen
      on serial MRI. Fatty infiltration according to the Goutallier grade was not
      reversed (P = .077). Some reversibility of supraspinatus muscle atrophy may exist
      in tendon-bone healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; further follow-up
      is needed to better elucidate this result.

PMID- 26865397
TI  - Arthroscopic Implant-Free Bone Grafting for Shoulder Instability With Glenoid
      Bone Loss: Clinical and Radiological Outcome at a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic anteroinferior shoulder dislocations with concomitant
      glenoid bone loss show high recurrence rates. The open J-bone graft technique for
      implant-less anatomic restoration of bony glenoid structure has previously been
      described, whereas results of arthroscopic techniques are currently not
      available. PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical and radiological outcome after
      arthroscopic anatomic reconstruction of the glenoid for recurrent anteroinferior
      glenohumeral instability. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
      METHODS: Fifteen shoulders of 14 patients with recurrent anteroinferior shoulder
      instability were prospectively followed after glenoid reconstruction with a
      modified arthroscopic, implant-free J-bone graft. Preoperatively, the instability
      severity index score was documented. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2
      years using the Rowe score and the Constant score. Subjective outcome was
      assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the subjective shoulder
      value for sports (SSVS); satisfaction with procedure outcome was also rated.
      Range of motion was recorded. Incidence of recurrent instability, defined as
      dislocation, subluxation, or persistent apprehensiveness, was documented. Pre-
      and postoperative (1 day and 3, 12, and 24 months) computed tomographic images
      were used to evaluate glenoid bone loss, reconstruction of the glenoid, and graft
      remodeling. RESULTS: All preoperative scores (Rowe score: 57.6 +/- 14.4; Constant
      score: 70.9 +/- 8.9; VAS: 4.4 +/- 2.6; SSVS: 31.4% +/- 19.5%) were significantly
      (P <= .02) improved at final follow-up (Rowe score: 98.6 +/- 1.5; Constant score:
      96.3 +/- 3.9; VAS: 0.2 +/- 0.6; SSVS: 95.6% +/- 3.8%). The preoperative glenoid
      area (82.1% +/- 4.5%) was significantly increased immediately after surgery to
      99.2% +/- 6.6% (P < .001). After a physiological remodeling process, the glenoid
      area remained significantly increased at the latest follow-up (89.5 +/- 3.2%, P <
      .001). J-bone grafting successfully restored glenoid concavity by significantly
      increasing concavity extent and depth from preoperative (19.8 +/- 2.1 and 0.9 +/-
      0.6 mm, respectively) to postoperative (24.0 +/- 2.1 and 2.1 +/- 0.8 mm,
      respectively) (P < .001). There were no recurrent instabilities. One traumatic
      graft fracture occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The arthroscopic
      J-bone graft technique permits minimally invasive reconstruction of
      anteroinferior glenoid defects and provided excellent early clinical outcome
      without recurrent instability in posttraumatic shoulder dislocations. A
      physiological remodeling process leads to restoration of a more natural glenoid
      anatomy.

PMID- 26865399
TI  - Addition of low concentrations of an ionic liquid to a base oil reduces friction
      over multiple length scales: a combined nano- and macrotribology investigation.
AB  - The efficacy of ionic liquids (ILs) as lubricant additives to a model base oil
      has been probed at the nanoscale and macroscale as a function of IL concentration
      using the same materials. Silica surfaces lubricated with mixtures of the IL
      trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate and
      hexadecane are probed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) (nanoscale) and ball-on
      disc tribometer (macroscale). At both length scales the pure IL is a much more
      effective lubricant than hexadecane. At the nanoscale, 2.0 mol% IL (and above) in
      hexadecane lubricates the silica as well as the pure IL due to the formation of a
      robust IL boundary layer that separates the sliding surfaces. At the macroscale
      the lubrication is highly load dependent; at low loads all the mixtures lubricate
      as effectively as the pure IL, whereas at higher loads rather high concentrations
      are required to provide IL like lubrication. Wear is also pronounced at high
      loads, for all cases except the pure IL, and a tribofilm is formed. Together, the
      nano- and macroscales results reveal that the IL is an effective lubricant
      additive - it reduces friction - in both the boundary regime at the nanoscale and
      mixed regime at the macroscale. 

PMID- 26865400
TI  - Pyrone Diels-Alder Routes to Indolines and Hydroindolines: Syntheses of
      Gracilamine, Mesembrine, and Delta(7) -Mesembrenone.
AB  - Although the Diels-Alder reaction has long been utilized for the preparation of
      numerous heterocycles, opportunities to extend its power remain. Herein, we
      detail a simple, modular, and robust approach that combines various amines
      regioselectively with 4,6-dichloropyrone to create substrates which, under
      appropriate conditions, can directly deliver varied indolines and hydroindolines
      through [4+2] cycloadditions with substitution patterns difficult to access
      otherwise. As an initial demonstration of the power of the strategy, several
      different natural products have been obtained either formally or by direct total
      synthesis, with efforts toward one of these-the complex amaryllidaceae alkaloid
      gracilamine-affording the shortest route to date in terms of linear step count. 

PMID- 26865398
TI  - Physiological Dysregulation, Frailty, and Risk of Mortality Among Older Adults.
AB  - This study examines whether frailty is associated with mortality independently of
      physiological dysregulation (PD) and, if so, which is the more accurate predictor
      of survival. Data come from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study.
      We use Cox proportional hazard models to test the associations between PD,
      frailty, and 4- to 5-year survival. We use Harrell's concordance index to compare
      predictive accuracy of the models. Both PD and frailty are significantly,
      positively, and independently correlated with mortality: Worse PD scores and
      being frail are associated with a higher risk of dying. The overall PD score is a
      more accurate predictor of survival than frailty, although model prediction
      improves when both measures are included. PD and frailty independently predict
      mortality, suggesting that the two measures may be capturing different aspects of
      the same construct and that both may be important for identifying individuals at
      risk for adverse health outcomes.

PMID- 26865401
TI  - Ginsenoside Rg1 exerts a protective effect against Abeta25-35-induced toxicity in
      primary cultured rat cortical neurons through the NF-kappaB/NO pathway.
AB  - Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is a multipotent triterpene saponin extracted from ginseng,
      and has been proven to act as a nootropic agent against various types of
      neurological damage. The present study was designed to investigate the
      neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanisms of Rg1 on apoptosis induced
      by beta-amyloid peptide 25-35 (Abeta25-35) in primary cultured cortical neurons.
      The primary neurons were preincubated with 20 uM Rg1 for 24 h and exposed to 10
      uM Abeta25-35 for 72 h. In the present study, we found that Rg1 prevented nuclear
      factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB) nuclear
      translocation and IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation in primary cultured cortical
      neurons after Abeta25-35 exposure by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species
      (ROS); ROS was measured using DCFDA and examined using a fluorescence microscope.
      In addition, Rg1 successfully suppressed Abeta25-35-inducible nitric oxide
      synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in a NF-kappaB
      dependent manner; the suppression of NO was clearly illustrated by the NO
      production assay. Pretreatment of the cells with Rg1 elevated the proportion of
      Bcl-2/Bax, lessened the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytoplasm
      and then blocked mitochondrial apoptotic cascades after Abeta25-35 insult by
      lowering NO generation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Rg1 rescues
      primary cultured cortical neurons from Abeta25-35-induced cell apoptosis through
      the downregulation of the NF-kappaB/NO signaling pathway.

PMID- 26865402
TI  - The role of H2O in the electron transfer-activation of substrates using SmI2:
      insights from DFT.
AB  - The first detailed theoretical study on the synthetically important electron
      transfer (ET) reductant SmI2-H2O has been conducted in the context of the
      activation of important alkyliodide, ketone, lactone and ester substrates,
      processes of importance in cross-coupling. Our studies give major insights into
      the nature of the reagent and suggest that; (i) H2O has a high affinity for
      Sm(ii) and displaces iodine from the metal center; (ii) SmI2-H2O has 6-7
      molecules of H2O directly bound to the metal center; (iii) binding of H2O to
      Sm(II) promotes coordination of the substrate to Sm(II) and subsequent ET; (iv)
      resultant ketyl radicals are stabilized by hydrogen-bonding to H2O. The findings
      add greatly to the understanding of SmI2-H2O and the role of H2O in ET processes,
      and will facilitate the design of new processes initiated by reductive ET.

PMID- 26865403
TI  - Comprehensive behavioral analysis of RNG105 (Caprin1) heterozygous mice: Reduced
      social interaction and attenuated response to novelty.
AB  - RNG105 (also known as Caprin1) is a major RNA-binding protein in neuronal RNA
      granules, and is responsible for mRNA transport to dendrites and neuronal network
      formation. A recent study reported that a heterozygous mutation in the Rng105
      gene was found in an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patient, but it remains
      unclear whether there is a causal relation between RNG105 deficiency and ASD.
      Here, we subjected Rng105(+/-) mice to a comprehensive behavioral test battery,
      and revealed the influence of RNG105 deficiency on mouse behavior. Rng105(+/-)
      mice exhibited a reduced sociality in a home cage and a weak preference for
      social novelty. Consistently, the Rng105(+/-) mice also showed a weak preference
      for novel objects and novel place patterns. Furthermore, although the Rng105(+/-)
      mice exhibited normal memory acquisition, they tended to have relative difficulty
      in reversal learning in the spatial reference tasks. These findings suggest that
      the RNG105 heterozygous knockout leads to a reduction in sociality, response to
      novelty and flexibility in learning, which are implicated in ASD-like behavior. 

PMID- 26865404
TI  - Effect of 2'-O-methyl/thiophosphonoacetate-modified antisense oligonucleotides on
      huntingtin expression in patient-derived cells.
AB  - Optimizing oligonucleotides as therapeutics will require exploring how chemistry
      can be used to enhance their effects inside cells. To achieve this goal it will
      be necessary to fully explore chemical space around the native DNA/RNA framework
      to define the potential of diverse chemical modifications. In this report we
      examine the potential of thiophosphonoacetate (thioPACE)-modified 2'-O-methyl
      oligoribonucleotides as inhibitors of human huntingtin (HTT) expression.
      Inhibition occurred, but was less than with analogous locked nucleic acid (LNA)
      substituted oligomers lacking the thioPACE modification. These data suggest that
      thioPACE oligonucleotides have the potential to control gene expression inside
      cells. However, advantages relative to other modifications were not demonstrated.
      Additional modifications are likely to be necessary to fully explore any
      potential advantages of thioPACE substitutions. 

PMID- 26865405
TI  - In Vivo Zinc Finger Nuclease-mediated Targeted Integration of a Glucose-6
      phosphatase Transgene Promotes Survival in Mice With Glycogen Storage Disease
      Type IA.
AB  - Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia) is caused by glucose-6-phosphatase
      (G6Pase) deficiency in association with severe, life-threatening hypoglycemia
      that necessitates lifelong dietary therapy. Here we show that use of a zinc
      finger nuclease (ZFN) targeted to the ROSA26 safe harbor locus and a ROSA26
      targeting vector containing a G6PC donor transgene, both delivered with adeno
      associated virus (AAV) vectors, markedly improved survival of G6Pase knockout
      (G6Pase-KO) mice compared with mice receiving the donor vector alone (P < 0.04).
      Furthermore, transgene integration has been confirmed by sequencing in the
      majority of the mice treated with both vectors. Targeted alleles were 4.6-fold
      more common in livers of mice with GSD Ia, as compared with normal littermates,
      at 8 months following vector administration (P < 0.02). This suggests a selective
      advantage for vector-transduced hepatocytes following ZFN-mediated integration of
      the G6Pase vector. A short-term experiment also showed that 3-month-old mice
      receiving the ZFN had significantly-improved biochemical correction, in
      comparison with mice that received the donor vector alone. These data suggest
      that the use of ZFNs to drive integration of G6Pase at a safe harbor locus might
      improve vector persistence and efficacy, and lower mortality in GSD Ia. 

PMID- 26865406
TI  - Multiple sclerosis in families: risk factors beyond known genetic polymorphisms.
AB  - Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central
      nervous system that predominantly affects young adults. The genetic contributions
      to this multifactorial disease were underscored by genome wide association
      studies and independent replication studies. A weighted genetic risk score (wGRS)
      was recently established using the identified MS risk loci in order to predict MS
      outcome including clinical and paraclinical features. Here, we present the
      results on a family with several affected siblings including a monozygotic
      triplet. The individuals were genotyped for 57 non-MHC risk loci as well as the
      HLA DRB1*1501 tagging SNP rs3135388 with subsequent calculation of the wGRS.
      Additionally, SNP array based analyses for aberrant chromosomal regions were
      performed for all individuals. 

PMID- 26865407
TI  - Intranasal Pharmacokinetic Data for Triptans Such as Sumatriptan and Zolmitriptan
      Can Render Area Under the Curve (AUC) Predictions for the Oral Route: Strategy
      Development and Application.
AB  - Limited pharmacokinetic sampling strategy may be useful for predicting the area
      under the curve (AUC) for triptans and may have clinical utility as a prospective
      tool for prediction. Using appropriate intranasal pharmacokinetic data, a Cmax
      vs. AUC relationship was established by linear regression models for sumatriptan
      and zolmitriptan. The predictions of the AUC values were performed using
      published mean/median Cmax data and appropriate regression lines. The quotient of
      observed and predicted values rendered fold-difference calculation. The mean
      absolute error (MAE), mean positive error (MPE), mean negative error (MNE), root
      mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient (r), and the goodness of the
      AUC fold prediction were used to evaluate the two triptans. Also, data from the
      mean concentration profiles at time points of 1 hour (sumatriptan) and 3 hours
      (zolmitriptan) were used for the AUC prediction. The Cmax vs. AUC models
      displayed excellent correlation for both sumatriptan (r = .9997; P < .001) and
      zolmitriptan (r = .9999; P < .001). Irrespective of the two triptans, the
      majority of the predicted AUCs (83%-85%) were within 0.76-1.25-fold difference
      using the regression model. The prediction of AUC values for sumatriptan or
      zolmitriptan using the concentration data that reflected the Tmax occurrence were
      in the proximity of the reported values. In summary, the Cmax vs. AUC models
      exhibited strong correlations for sumatriptan and zolmitriptan. The usefulness of
      the prediction of the AUC values was established by a rigorous statistical
      approach. 

PMID- 26865408
TI  - Erratum to: Effects of Strength Training Using Unstable Surfaces on Strength,
      Power and Balance Performance Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta
      analysis.

PMID- 26865409
TI  - An update on sputum MicroRNAs in lung cancer diagnosis.
AB  - Lung cancer is one of the leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. It is
      well known that genetic damages could result in lung tumor genesis. Despite years
      of research, the survival rate of the patients has not been markedly improved.
      According to lack of high sensitivity and specificity in diagnostic tests, just
      about 15-20% of lung cancer cases are discovered prior to progression of the
      disease. In last decade, sputum biomarkers have been developed for early
      detection/diagnosis of lung cancer. MicroRNAs are a class of small endogenous
      noncoding RNAs, which act as post-transcriptional regulators. Some specific
      miRNAs can have multifunctions in lung development and their aberrant expression
      could induce lung tumor genesis. The differences in miRNAs between the normal and
      cancerous lung lead to emerging of a novel type of biomarkers, which can be
      helpful in screening of high risk individuals, diagnosis of lung cancer as well
      as its therapy.

PMID- 26865411
TI  - Environmental Presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Aggregation
      Points at the Wildlife/Livestock Interface.
AB  - The members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) cause tuberculosis
      (TB). Infection is transmitted within and between livestock and wildlife
      populations, thus hampering TB control. Indirect transmission might be
      facilitated if MTC bacteria persist in the environment long enough to represent a
      risk of exposure to different species sharing the same habitat. We have, for the
      first time, addressed the relationship between environmental MTC persistence and
      the use of water resources in two TB endemic areas in southern Spain with the
      objective of identifying the presence of environmental MTC and its driving
      factors at ungulates' water aggregation points. Camera-trap monitoring and MTC
      diagnosis (using a new MTC complex-specific PCR technique) were carried out at
      watering sites. Overall, 55.8% of the water points tested positive for MTC in mud
      samples on the shore, while 8.9% of them were positive in the case of water
      samples. A higher percentage of MTC-positive samples was found at those
      waterholes where cachectic animals were identified using camera-trap monitoring,
      and at the smallest waterholes. Our results help to understand the role of
      indirect routes of cross-species TB transmission and highlight the importance of
      certain environmental features in maintaining infection in multihost systems.
      This will help to better target actions and implement control strategies for TB
      at the wildlife/livestock interface.

PMID- 26865412
TI  - Immunomodulatory drugs inhibit TLR4-induced type-1 interferon production
      independently of Cereblon via suppression of the TRIF/IRF3 pathway.
AB  - Thalidomide and its derivatives, collectively referred to as immunomodulatory
      drugs (IMiDs), are effective inhibitors of inflammation and are known to inhibit
      TLR-induced TNFalpha production. The identification of Cereblon as the receptor
      for these compounds has led to a rapid advancement in our understanding of IMiD
      properties; however, there remain no studies addressing the role of Cereblon in
      mediating the suppressive effect of IMiDs on TLR responses. Here, we developed
      Cereblon-deficient mice using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. TLR-induced cytokine
      responses were unaffected by Cereblon deficiency in vivo Moreover, IMiD treatment
      inhibited cytokine production even in the absence of Cereblon. The IMiD-induced
      suppression of cytokine production therefore occurs independently of Cereblon in
      mice. Further investigation revealed that IMiDs are potent inhibitors of TLR
      induced type-1 interferon production via suppression of the TRIF/IRF3 pathway.
      These data suggest that IMiDs may prove effective in the treatment of disorders
      characterized by the ectopic production of type-1 interferon. Significantly,
      these properties are mediated separately from thalidomide's teratogenic receptor,
      Cereblon. Thus, certain therapeutic properties of Thalidomide can be separated
      from its harmful side effects.

PMID- 26865413
TI  - Detecting and modelling delayed density-dependence in abundance time series of a
      small mammal (Didelphis aurita).
AB  - We study the population size time series of a Neotropical small mammal with the
      intent of detecting and modelling population regulation processes generated by
      density-dependent factors and their possible delayed effects. The application of
      analysis tools based on principles of statistical generality are nowadays a
      common practice for describing these phenomena, but, in general, they are more
      capable of generating clear diagnosis rather than granting valuable modelling.
      For this reason, in our approach, we detect the principal temporal structures on
      the bases of different correlation measures, and from these results we build an
      ad-hoc minimalist autoregressive model that incorporates the main drivers of the
      dynamics. Surprisingly our model is capable of reproducing very well the time
      patterns of the empirical series and, for the first time, clearly outlines the
      importance of the time of attaining sexual maturity as a central temporal scale
      for the dynamics of this species. In fact, an important advantage of this
      analysis scheme is that all the model parameters are directly biologically
      interpretable and potentially measurable, allowing a consistency check between
      model outputs and independent measurements. 

PMID- 26865414
TI  - Prion infection impairs lysosomal degradation capacity by interfering with rab7
      membrane attachment in neuronal cells.
AB  - Prions are proteinaceous infectious particles which cause fatal neurodegenerative
      disorders in humans and animals. They consist of a mostly beta-sheeted aggregated
      isoform (PrP(Sc)) of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)). Prions replicate
      autocatalytically in neurons and other cell types by inducing conformational
      conversion of PrP(c) into PrP(Sc). Within neurons, PrP(Sc) accumulates at the
      plasma membrane and in vesicles of the endocytic pathway. To better understand
      the mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction and death it is critical to know
      the impact of PrP(Sc) accumulation on cellular pathways. We have investigated the
      effects of prion infection on endo-lysosomal transport. Our study demonstrates
      that prion infection interferes with rab7 membrane association. Consequently,
      lysosomal maturation and degradation are impaired. Our findings indicate a
      mechanism induced by prion infection that supports stable prion replication. We
      suggest modulation of endo-lysosomal vesicle trafficking and enhancement of
      lysosomal maturation as novel targets for the treatment of prion diseases. 

PMID- 26865415
TI  - Pharmacodynamic Actions of a Long-Acting PTH Analog (LA-PTH) in
      Thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) Rats and Normal Monkeys.
AB  - Hypoparathyroidism is a disease of chronic hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due
      to a deficiency of parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH and analogs of the hormone are
      of interest as potential therapies. Accordingly, we examined the pharmacological
      properties of a long-acting PTH analog, [Ala(1,3,12,18,22) , Gln(10) ,Arg(11)
      ,Trp(14) ,Lys(26) ]-PTH(1-14)/PTHrP(15-36) (LA-PTH) in thyroparathyroidectomized
      (TPTX) rats, a model of HP, as well as in normal monkeys. In TPTX rats, a single
      intravenous administration of LA-PTH at a dose of 0.9 nmol/kg increased serum
      calcium (sCa) and decreased serum phosphate (sPi) to near-normal levels for
      longer than 48 hours, whereas PTH(1-34) and PTH(1-84), each injected at a dose 80
      fold higher than that used for LA-PTH, increased sCa and decreased sPi only
      modestly and transiently (<6 hours). LA-PTH also exhibited enhanced and prolonged
      efficacy versus PTH(1-34) and PTH(1-84) for elevating sCa when administered
      subcutaneously (s.c.) into monkeys. Daily s.c. administration of LA-PTH (1.8
      nmol/kg) into TPTX rats for 28 days elevated sCa to near normal levels without
      causing hypercalciuria or increasing bone resorption markers, a desirable goal in
      the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. The results are supportive of further study
      of long-acting PTH analogs as potential therapies for patients with
      hypoparathyroidism. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

PMID- 26865416
TI  - Climbing With a Head-Mounted Display: Dual-Task Costs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We explored the dual-task costs of climbers performing a visual
      communication task using a head-mounted display (HMD) while simultaneously
      climbing along a vertical surface. BACKGROUND: Climbing is affected by secondary
      auditory cognitive tasks, and climbing impairs later recall of secondary task
      information; the effects of visually presented tasks are less clear. Given that
      HMDs are projected to be adopted into emergency response work, questions are
      raised about the effects of HMD use during climbing or other physical tasks.
      METHOD: Climbers performed five conditions-a climbing-only condition, two dual
      task climbing conditions (words presented on the HMD with and without auditory
      warnings while climbing), and two seated control conditions (words presented on
      the HMD with and without auditory warnings)-in a repeated-measures design. Motion
      data were also collected to examine participant motion around word presentation.
      RESULTS: We found a decrease in both climbing performance and word recall under
      dual-task conditions, paralleling results found in previous research using
      auditory tasks. Participants slowed around word presentations on the HMD.
      Additional comparisons to previous research indicate that physical tasks may be
      more detrimental to word recall than are seated tasks and that visual stimuli
      might hinder climbing performance more than do audible stimuli. CONCLUSION:
      Complex physical activity, like climbing, is disruptive to memory rehearsal and
      later recall, and cognitive tasks disrupt physical performance. APPLICATION:
      Avoiding cognitive HMD tasks requiring later recall during complex physical
      activity is advisable. However, these systems may be developed to provide
      intelligent assistance, or memory augmentation, in these settings.

PMID- 26865418
TI  - Limited long-term outcome of single-session soft palate interstitial
      radiofrequency surgery for habitual snoring in tertiary care academic referral
      centre: Our experience on 77 patients.

PMID- 26865417
TI  - Protective efficacy of the chimeric Staphylococcus aureus vaccine candidate IC in
      sepsis and pneumonia models.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus causes serious sepsis and necrotic pneumonia worldwide. Due
      to the spread of multidrug-resistant strains, developing an effective vaccine is
      the most promising method for combating S. aureus infection. In this study, based
      on the immune-dominant areas of the iron surface determinant B (IsdB) and
      clumping factor A (ClfA), we designed the novel chimeric vaccine IsdB151
      277ClfA33-213 (IC). IC formulated with the AlPO4 adjuvant induced higher
      protection in an S. aureus sepsis model compared with the single components alone
      and showed broad immune protection against several clinical S. aureus isolates.
      Immunisation with IC induced strong antibody responses. The protective effect of
      antibodies was demonstrated through the opsonophagocytic assay (OPA) and passive
      immunisation experiment. Moreover, this new chimeric vaccine induced Th1/Th17
      skewed cellular immune responses based on cytokine profiles and CD4(+) T cell
      stimulation tests. Neutralisation of IL-17A alone (but not IFN-gamma) resulted in
      a significant decrease in vaccine immune protection. Finally, we found that IC
      showed protective efficacy in a pneumonia model. Taken together, these data
      provide evidence that IC is a potentially promising vaccine candidate for
      combating S. aureus sepsis and pneumonia. 

PMID- 26865420
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging reveals the complementary effects of decongestant and
      Breathe Right Nasal Strips on internal nasal anatomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: This magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of 26 subjects
      with nasal congestion was performed to assess in the complete nasal passage both
      the anatomical effect of the marketed Breathe Right Nasal Strip (BRNS) relative
      to placebo and the potential adjunctive effect of using a decongestant in
      combination with the BRNS. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, crossover study. METHODS:
      The study consisted of two parts, the first involving application of either the
      BRNS or the placebo strip in a randomized, crossover design with evaluator
      blinding, and repeated MRI scanning; and the second a sequential process of
      decongestant administration, MRI scanning, application of the BRNS, and repeated
      MRI. The same anatomical MRI protocol was used throughout. Nasal patency was
      assessed in the whole nasal passage and eight subregions (by inferior-superior,
      anterior-posterior division). Numerical response scores representing subjective
      nasal congestion were also obtained. RESULTS: Results demonstrate significant
      anatomical enlargement with the BRNS relative to placebo (P < .001), as well as
      an additive effect of using a decongestant in combination with the BRNS; both
      supported by a strong and significant negative correlation with the subjective
      nasal response measures of nasal congestion (r = -0.98, P = .002). Furthermore,
      analysis of the nasal subregions indicates that this adjunctive effect arises
      from a partially localized action of the complementary products: the BRNS acting
      primarily anteriorly in the nose and the decongestant mainly posteriorly.
      CONCLUSIONS: The BRNS alone significantly increases nasal patency and alleviates
      perceived nasal congestion, and additional relief of symptoms can be obtained
      with simultaneous use of a decongestant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b. Laryngoscope,
      126:2205-2211, 2016.

PMID- 26865419
TI  - Multikinase inhibitor regorafenib inhibits the growth and metastasis of colon
      cancer with abundant stroma.
AB  - Interaction between tumor cells and stromal cells plays an important role in the
      growth and metastasis of colon cancer. We previously found that carcinoma
      associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressed platelet-derived growth factor receptor
      beta (PDGFR-beta) and that PDGFR targeted therapy using imatinib or nilotinib
      inhibited stromal reaction. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
      migrate to tumor stroma and differentiate into CAFs. A novel oral multikinase
      inhibitor regorafenib inhibits receptor tyrosine kinases expressed on stromal
      cells (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1-3, TIE2, PDGFR-beta, and
      fibroblast growth factors) and tumor cells (c-KIT, RET, and BRAF). These
      molecules are involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and
      stromal activation. Therefore, we examined whether regorafenib impaired the tumor
      promoting effect of CAFs/MSCs. KM12SM human colon cancer cells alone or KM12SM
      cells with MSCs were transplanted into the cecal wall of nude mice. Co
      implantation of KM12SM cells with MSCs into the cecal wall of nude mice produced
      tumors with abundant stromal component and promoted tumor growth and lymph node
      metastasis. Single treatment with regorafenib inhibited tumor growth and
      metastasis by inhibiting both tumor cells and stromal reaction. This tumor
      inhibitory effect of regorafenib was more obvious in tumors developed by co
      implanting KM12SM cells with MSCs. Our data suggested that targeting of the tumor
      microenvironment with regorafenib affected tumor cell-MSC interaction, which in
      turn inhibited the growth and metastasis of colon cancer. 

PMID- 26865421
TI  - Birth Outcomes, Intervention Frequency, and the Disappearing Midwife-Potential
      Hazards of Central Fetal Monitoring: A Single Center Review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Many birth units use central fetal monitoring (CFM) under the
      assumption that greater surveillance improves perinatal outcomes. The unexpected
      loss of the CFM system at a tertiary unit provided a unique opportunity to
      evaluate outcomes and staff attitudes toward CFM. METHODS: This retrospective
      cohort study compared patient data from 2,855 electronically monitored women
      delivering over a 12-month period, where CFM was available for the first 6 months
      but unavailable for the following 6 months. Primary outcomes relating to neonatal
      morbidity and secondary outcomes relating to intrapartum interventions were
      examined. Additionally, birth unit staff members were surveyed about aspects of
      care related to CFM. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in perinatal
      outcomes between the cohorts. While unadjusted analysis suggested a lower
      spontaneous vaginal birth rate (55.4% vs 60.3%) and a higher cesarean delivery
      rate (25.1% vs 22.0%, p = 0.026), together with higher epidural (53.0% vs 49.2%,
      p = 0.04) and fetal blood sampling (11.8% vs 9.4%, p = 0.03) rates in the
      presence of CFM, these differences were lost when adjusted for prostaglandin
      ripening. Over half of the staff (56.0% of midwives, 54.0% of obstetricians)
      reported spending more time with the laboring woman in the period without CFM.
      CONCLUSIONS: This single institution's experience indicates that in birth units
      staffed for one-to-one care in labor, central fetal monitoring does not appear to
      be associated with either a benefit on perinatal outcomes or an increase in
      cesarean delivery and other interventions. However, it is associated with a
      reduction in the time a midwife spends with the laboring woman.

PMID- 26865422
TI  - Studies of Hematopoietic Cell Differentiation with a Ratiometric and Reversible
      Sensor of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species.
AB  - AIMS: Chronic elevations in cellular redox state are known to result in the onset
      of various pathological conditions, but transient increases in reactive oxygen
      species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are necessary for signal
      transduction and various physiological functions. There is a distinct lack of
      reversible fluorescent tools that can aid in studying and unraveling the roles of
      ROS/RNS in physiology and pathology by monitoring the variations in cellular ROS
      levels over time. In this work, we report the development of ratiometric
      fluorescent sensors that reversibly respond to changes in mitochondrial redox
      state. RESULTS: Photophysical studies of the developed flavin-rhodamine redox
      sensors, flavin-rhodamine redox sensor 1 (FRR1) and flavin-rhodamine redox sensor
      2 (FRR2), confirmed the reversible response of the probes upon reduction and re
      oxidation over more than five cycles. The ratiometric output of FRR1 and FRR2
      remained unaltered in the presence of other possible cellular interferants
      (metals and pH). Microscopy studies indicated clear mitochondrial localization of
      both probes, and FRR2 was shown to report the time-dependent increase of
      mitochondrial ROS levels after lipopolysaccharide stimulation in macrophages.
      Moreover, it was used to study the variations in mitochondrial redox state in
      mouse hematopoietic cells at different stages of embryonic development and
      maturation. INNOVATION: This study provides the first ratiometric and reversible
      probes for ROS, targeted to the mitochondria, which reveal variations in
      mitochondrial ROS levels at different stages of embryonic and adult blood cell
      production. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that with their ratiometric and
      reversible outputs, FRR1 and FRR2 are valuable tools for the future study of
      oxidative stress and its implications in physiology and pathology. Antioxid.
      Redox Signal. 24, 667-679.

PMID- 26865423
TI  - Clinical neuroprediction: Amygdala reactivity predicts depressive symptoms 2
      years later.
AB  - Depression is linked to increased amygdala activation to neutral and negatively
      valenced facial expressions. Amygdala activation may be predictive of changes in
      depressive symptoms over time. However, most studies in this area have focused on
      small, predominantly female and homogenous clinical samples. Studies are needed
      to examine how amygdala reactivity relates to the course of depressive symptoms
      dimensionally, prospectively and in populations diverse in gender, race and
      socioeconomic status. A total of 156 men from predominately low-income
      backgrounds completed an fMRI task where they viewed emotional facial
      expressions. Left and right amygdala reactivity to neutral, but not angry or
      fearful, facial expressions relative to a non-face baseline at age 20 predicted
      greater depressive symptoms 2 years later, controlling for age 20 depressive
      symptoms. Heightened bilateral amygdala reactivity to neutral facial expressions
      predicted increases in depressive symptoms 2 years later in a large community
      sample. Neutral facial expressions are affectively ambiguous and a tendency to
      interpret these stimuli negatively may reflect to cognitive biases that lead to
      increases in depressive symptoms over time. Individual differences in amygdala
      reactivity to neutral facial expressions appear to identify those at most risk
      for a more problematic course of depressive symptoms across time.

PMID- 26865424
TI  - Neural correlates of prosocial peer influence on public goods game donations
      during adolescence.
AB  - A unique feature of adolescent social re-orientation is heightened sensitivity to
      peer influence when taking risks. However, positive peer influence effects are
      not yet well understood. The present fMRI study tested a novel hypothesis, by
      examining neural correlates of prosocial peer influence on donation decisions in
      adolescence. Participants (age 12-16 years; N = 61) made decisions in anonymous
      groups about the allocation of tokens between themselves and the group in a
      public goods game. Two spectator groups of same-age peers-in fact youth actors
      were allegedly online during some of the decisions. The task had a within
      subjects design with three conditions: (1) EVALUATION: spectators evaluated
      decisions with likes for large donations to the group, (2) Spectator: spectators
      were present but no evaluative feedback was displayed and (3) Alone: no
      spectators nor feedback. Results showed that prosocial behavior increased in the
      presence of peers, and even more when participants received evaluative feedback
      from peers. Peer presence resulted in enhanced activity in several social brain
      regions including medial prefrontal cortex, temporal parietal junction (TPJ),
      precuneus and superior temporal sulcus. TPJ activity correlated with donations,
      which suggests similar networks for prosocial behavior and sensitivity to peers.
      These findings highlight the importance of peers in fostering prosocial
      development throughout adolescence.

PMID- 26865426
TI  - A novel C8orf37 splice mutation and genotype-phenotype correlation for cone-rod
      dystrophy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To identify the disease-causing mutation in a consanguineous family
      of Morrocan origin with syndromic autosomal recessive (ar) cone-rod dystrophy
      (CRD) in two patients and describe genotype-phenotype correlations. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Genome-wide homozygosity mapping and direct sequencing of C8orf37,
      located in a homozygous interval, was performed in the family. mRNA analysis
      revealed the effect of the newly identified splice-site mutation. For a
      comparative analysis phenotypic and genetic data of C8orf37 mutations were
      extracted from published cases. RESULTS: The new splice-site mutation c.155+2T>C
      identified in the family results in a skipping of 82 bp. The CRD phenotypes of
      our patients were consistent with previous reports. Non-ocular findings in our
      patients and two previously described patients were postaxial polydactyly present
      at birth. Both families with additional postaxial polydactyly had splice site
      mutations affecting intron 1 of C8orf37, one at the slice donor and one at the
      splice acceptor site. CONCLUSIONS: This report extends the genotypic spectrum of
      C8orf37-associated retinal dystrophies and demonstrates for the first time a
      genotype-phenotype correlation between an arCRD-polydactyly-association and
      truncating germline mutations affecting the N-terminal region of the protein.
      Furthermore, our findings underline the ciliary function of C8orf37 protein.

PMID- 26865425
TI  - Anxiety and social deficits have distinct relationships with amygdala function in
      autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - Current neural models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders
      suggest hyperactivation of amygdala in anxiety, but hypoactivation of amygdala in
      ASD. The objectives of this study were to (i) test the hypothesis that amygdala
      activity measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) represents a
      hybrid signal of opposing social functions and anxiety symptoms, and (ii)
      determine whether longstanding findings of decreased amygdala activation in ASD
      apply only to those individuals with ASD and low levels of anxiety. During fMRI
      scanning, 81 youth with ASD and 67 non-ASD control participants completed a face
      recognition paradigm that elicits robust amygdala activation. Only individuals
      with ASD and low anxiety levels (a subsample of 28 participants) showed decreased
      amygdala activation relative to controls. In the ASD group, anxiety symptoms were
      positively correlated with amygdala activity across the full ASD group, whereas
      core ASD symptoms (including social deficits) were negatively correlated. Results
      indicate that hypoactivation of amygdala in ASD, a suggestive finding first
      reported nearly 20 years ago, can be masked by comorbid anxiety-thus bringing
      enhanced clarity to this line of work. Amygdala activity represents a hybrid
      signal of emotion and social processes that cannot be reduced to either alone.

PMID- 26865429
TI  - Risky sexual behaviors among sexually active first-year students matriculating at
      a historically Black college: Is a positive self-image an instigator?
AB  - A sample of 498 sexually active first-year students matriculating at a
      historically Black college in North Carolina was used to determine correlates of
      risky sexual behaviors. In an Ordinary Least Squares regression, the self-esteem
      element "I take a positive attitude toward myself" (B = 1.12, p = .05), non
      condom use because of partner issues (B = .53, p = .05) and being drunk or high
      (B = 1.20, p = .001), oral sex (B = 1.74, p = .001), anal sex (B = .61, p = .04),
      and bisexuality (B = .85, p = .03) all increased the number of these behaviors.
      Higher scores on the condom usage scale (B = -.38, p = .002) were found to
      decrease the number of risky sexual behaviors. Illicit drug use was an
      underpinning of the surprisingly positive relationship between positive self
      image and risky sexual behaviors. It was concluded that school-based social
      workers, mental health care professionals, and community-based prevention
      providers can play a critical role in the training of peer facilitators,
      development, and supervision of peer-driven risk-reduction programs to address
      the complex interplay among self-esteem, sex, and substances.

PMID- 26865430
TI  - Effect of Adopters' Lifestyles and Animal-Care Knowledge on Their Expectations
      Prior to Companion-Animal Guardianship.
AB  - Human expectations can greatly affect the human-companion animal relationship,
      sometimes putting nonhuman animals at risk for relinquishment. At 20 animal
      shelters in Southern Ontario, Canada, potential adopters (N = 234) completed a
      questionnaire regarding their lifestyle, companion animal-care knowledge, and
      preadoption expectations of their adopted companion animals. Linear mixed models
      were used to assess the associations of adopters' lifestyles and companion animal
      care knowledge with their expectations for animal behavior, the human-companion
      animal relationship, and the effort required in companion-animal guardianship.
      Dog adopters had higher expectations than cat adopters for their companion
      animal's behavior (p < .001), the human-companion animal relationship (p < .001),
      and the effort required in companion-animal guardianship (p < .001). Adopters'
      human relationship statuses were also associated with expectations for the human
      companion animal relationship (p = .002). As adopters' companion animal-care
      knowledge increased, so did their expectations for the effort required in
      companion-animal guardianship (p < .001). An understanding of adopters'
      expectations prior to adoption will help animal shelters better match, educate,
      and prepare adopters for their lives with companion animals.

PMID- 26865431
TI  - Seasonal forecasting of lightning and thunderstorm activity in tropical and
      temperate regions of the world.
AB  - Thunderstorms are convective systems characterised by the occurrence of
      lightning. Lightning and thunderstorm activity has been increasingly studied in
      recent years in relation to the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and various
      other large-scale modes of atmospheric and oceanic variability. Large-scale modes
      of variability can sometimes be predictable several months in advance, suggesting
      potential for seasonal forecasting of lightning and thunderstorm activity in
      various regions throughout the world. To investigate this possibility, seasonal
      lightning activity in the world's tropical and temperate regions is examined here
      in relation to numerous different large-scale modes of variability. Of the seven
      modes of variability examined, ENSO has the strongest relationship with lightning
      activity during each individual season, with relatively little relationship for
      the other modes of variability. A measure of ENSO variability (the NINO3.4 index)
      is significantly correlated to local lightning activity at 53% of locations for
      one or more seasons throughout the year. Variations in atmospheric parameters
      commonly associated with thunderstorm activity are found to provide a plausible
      physical explanation for the variations in lightning activity associated with
      ENSO. It is demonstrated that there is potential for accurately predicting
      lightning and thunderstorm activity several months in advance in various regions
      throughout the world. 

PMID- 26865433
TI  - User perception on various designs of tongue scrapers: an observational survey.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the participants' preference and
      perception of effectiveness with respect to nine commercially available tongue
      scrapers. As secondary aim, perception of discomfort and suspected sharpness were
      assessed. In addition, the first impression of the design of the various tongue
      scrapers was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational survey
      without blinding to the products. At first impression, participants were given
      nine tongue scrapers and were asked to immediately use all, and to point out
      which of the scrapers they preferred most. Subsequently, a 14-day familiarization
      period followed. At the follow-up appointment, all participants received a
      questionnaire which used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate their
      perception of the various scrapers used. Questions regarding the perceived
      efficacy, discomfort and pain were posed. Data were analysed statistically by
      anova. T-tests were used for 'post hoc' analysis and Bonferroni corrections were
      used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: In total, 50 participants completed the
      assessment. The primary parameter 'efficacy' showed scores that ranged from 4.09
      to 6.43 (P < 0.001) for the nine tongue scrapers. The secondary parameters
      'sharpness' (range from 3.31 to 6.26) and 'discomfort' (range from 5.67 to 8.33)
      showed significant differences as well (P < 0.001). A significant negative
      correlation (R = -0.850; P = 0.004) between the perceived sharpness and
      discomfort was observed. CONCLUSION: The perception of effectiveness varied among
      the various tongue-cleaning device designs. No single feature stood out as being
      specifically related to perception of effectiveness. Sharpness and comfort were
      negatively correlated. Comfort and effectiveness were positively correlated. The
      results from this study indicated that participants found TS6 and TS8 to be the
      most comfortable and the most effective. However, TS8 scored higher for inducing
      a higher gag reflex.

PMID- 26865432
TI  - Integration of lipidomics and transcriptomics unravels aberrant lipid metabolism
      and defines cholesteryl oleate as potential biomarker of prostate cancer.
AB  - In-depth delineation of lipid metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa) is significant
      to open new insights into prostate tumorigenesis and progression, and provide
      potential biomarkers with greater accuracy for improved diagnosis. Here, we
      performed lipidomics and transcriptomics in paired prostate cancer tumor (PCT)
      and adjacent nontumor (ANT) tissues, followed by external validation of biomarker
      candidates. We identified major dysregulated pathways involving lipogenesis,
      lipid uptake and phospholipids remodeling, correlated with widespread lipid
      accumulation and lipid compositional reprogramming in PCa. Specifically,
      cholesteryl esters (CEs) were most prominently accumulated in PCa, and
      significantly associated with cancer progression and metastasis. We showed that
      overexpressed scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) may contribute to CEs
      accumulation. In discovery set, CEs robustly differentiated PCa from nontumor
      (area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC), 0.90-0.94).
      In validation set, CEs potently distinguished PCa and non-malignance (AUC, 0.84
      0.91), and discriminated PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (AUC, 0.90
      0.96), superior to serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (AUC = 0.83).
      Cholesteryl oleate showed highest AUCs in distinguishing PCa from non-malignance
      or BPH (AUC = 0.91 and 0.96). Collectively, our results unravel the major lipid
      metabolic aberrations in PCa and imply the potential role of CEs, particularly,
      cholesteryl oleate, as molecular biomarker for PCa detection. 

PMID- 26865434
TI  - Infrared videoangiographic assessment of cochlear nerve vasculature during middle
      fossa surgery.

PMID- 26865435
TI  - The adenomatoid odontogenic tumour: an update of selected issues.
AB  - The aim of this update was to present the recent notable progress within
      remaining questions relating to the adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (AOT).
      Selected issues that were studied included the following: (i) AOT history and
      terminology, (ii) the so-called peripheral AOT, (iii) AOT and the gubernaculum
      dentis and (iv) the so-called adenomatoid odontogenic cyst (AOC). The earliest
      irrefutable European case of AOT was described in 1915 by Harbitz as 'cystic
      adamantoma'. Recently, Ide et al. have traced two Japanese cases with irrefutable
      proof described by Nakayama in 1903. The so-called peripheral (gingival) variant
      of AOT seems to cover a dual pathogenesis, both an 'erupted intraosseous' and an
      'extraosseous' (gingival) one. In 1992, we theorized that the generally unnoticed
      gubernaculum dentis (cord and canal) seems to be involved in the development of
      AOT. Ide et al. have concluded that the dental lamina in the gubernacular cord
      seems to be an embryonic source of the vast majority of AOTs. The suggestion by
      Marx and Stern to change the nomenclature of AOT to adenomatoid odontogenic cyst
      (AOC) is critically discussed. The present authors agree on the background of the
      work of several groups of researchers and WHO/IARC classifications that the
      biology of the follicular variant of AOT is already fully explained and does not
      make room for any change in diagnostic terms. Further, there is no reason to
      change terminology in this case where improvements or conditions to better
      clinical management are not an issue. 

PMID- 26865436
TI  - Cherry picking into the digital age!

PMID- 26865437
TI  - In bifurcation PCI, as in everyday life, the consequences of kissing may not
      always be the same.

PMID- 26865438
TI  - Expanding options for retrograde recanalisation of right coronary artery chronic
      total occlusions.

PMID- 26865439
TI  - Prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy: a potential mitigator of the adverse effects
      of local haemodynamic shear stress in high-risk coronary regions?

PMID- 26865440
TI  - Novel retrograde approach for percutaneous treatment of chronic total occlusions
      of the right coronary artery using ipsilateral collateral connections: a European
      centre experience.
AB  - AIMS: A systematic description of the percutaneous treatment of chronic total
      occlusions (CTOs) of the right coronary artery (RCA) using ipsilateral collateral
      connections (CCs) for the retrograde approach has never been carried out. Our aim
      was to investigate this issue systematically. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on the
      experiences of a European high-volume CTO centre: 1) a generalised scheme of the
      varying anatomic courses of ipsilateral CCs bridging CTOs of the RCA was
      developed; 2) important stepwise technical advice for the ipsilateral retrograde
      approach was formulated; and 3) a supportive clinical case series was assessed.
      Of a total of 158 patients with CTOs of the RCA, 30% (n=47) revealed ipsilateral
      CCs of the RCA. Five different types (A-E) of ipsilateral CCs were assessed. The
      retrograde ipsilateral approach was attempted in nine patients, and was completed
      successfully in 89% (8/9 patients). Median left ventricular ejection fraction was
      56% (interquartile range [IQR]: 50-60%) and mean J-CTO score was 2.9 (standard
      error of mean [SEM]: +/-0.3). Median procedural duration time was 150 min (IQR
      117-160 min), with a median applied amount of contrast of 360 ml (IQR 270-400
      ml). No relevant complications, such as acute renal failure or severe bleedings,
      occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous treatment of CTOs of the RCA using
      ipsilateral CCs for the retrograde approach might provide a novel treatment
      alternative for patients with CTOs of the RCA in specific clinical situations.

PMID- 26865442
TI  - Prediction of the true fractional flow reserve of left main coronary artery
      stenosis with concomitant downstream stenoses: in vitro and in vivo experiments.
AB  - AIMS: The functional impact of downstream coronary stenoses on left main coronary
      artery (LMCA) stenosis has not been fully elucidated. This study therefore aimed
      to use in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess two novel equations that
      predict the true fractional flow reserve (FFR) of a left main coronary artery
      (LMCA) stenosis with concomitant downstream stenoses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two
      novel equations were derived. One equation predicts the true fractional flow
      reserve (FFR) of an LMCA stenosis with a downstream stenosis (Equation A), and
      the other predicts the true FFR of an LMCA stenosis with downstream stenoses in
      both the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries (Equation B). The
      equations were validated in both in vitro and in vivo models of the coronary
      circulation. The agreements between the apparent FFR (FFRapp), the predicted FFR
      (FFRpred) and the true FFR (FFRtrue) were assessed by Passing-Bablok regression
      analysis. Passing-Bablok regression analysis revealed that there were fixed
      proportional errors between FFRapp-m and FFRtrue-m, though a very small fixed
      error and no proportional errors between FFRpred-m and FFRtrue-m. The absolute
      differences between FFRpred and FFRtrue were significantly lower as compared to
      those between FFRapp and FFRtrue in all experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Two novel
      equations which predict the true FFR of LMCA stenosis were demonstrated to be
      correct. The study also revealed that the functional impact of downstream
      stenoses on the LMCA stenosis became stronger when the downstream stenoses became
      more severe.

PMID- 26865441
TI  - Efficacy of kissing balloon inflation after provisional stenting in bifurcation
      lesions guided by intravascular ultrasound: short and midterm results of the J
      REVERSE registry.
AB  - AIMS: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of the kissing balloon technique
      (KBT) in the provisional stenting of bifurcation lesions guided by intravascular
      ultrasound. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the J-REVERSE registry, 300 non-left main
      bifurcation lesions in 299 patients were divided into two groups, KBT (n=163) and
      non-KBT (n=137). Patient and lesion characteristics were similar except for a
      higher prevalence of diabetic patients in the non-KBT group. The major adverse
      cardiac events (MACE) incidence at nine-month follow-up, including target lesion
      revascularisation, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and death, was 6.3%
      in the KBT group versus 9.1% in the non-KBT group (p=0.47). Regardless of more SB
      dissection (10.5% vs. 1.5%, p=0.001), the KBT group obtained a greater luminal
      volume in the proximal main vessel (MV) (7.8+/-2.3 vs. 7.0+/-2.0 mm3/mm,
      p=0.006), maintained larger minimal lumen diameter at follow-up (2.73+/-0.43 vs.
      2.63+/-0.39 mm, p=0.04), and demonstrated less binary side branch (SB) restenosis
      (9.7% vs. 21.0%, p=0.0004), which was beneficial for both true and non-true
      bifurcation lesions. Multivariate analysis showed the efficacy of KBT on SB
      restenosis (OR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.62, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Although the KBT
      increased SB dissection, it provided greater luminal gain in the proximal MV and
      SB with a similar MACE rate to non-KBT treatment up to nine-month follow-up.

PMID- 26865443
TI  - Long-term outcome of FFR-guided PCI for stable coronary artery disease in daily
      clinical practice: a propensity score-matched landmark analysis.
AB  - AIMS: Our aim was to investigate the strength of fractional flow reserve (FFR)
      guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery
      disease (CAD) in daily practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: For this study, 3,512
      patients with stable CAD and at least one 50-89% coronary stenosis were
      identified; those patients thought to require PCI (n=1,716) were selected. Of
      these, 962 (56%) were treated based on angiography (XA) alone, whereas 754
      patients (44%) had an FFR-guided treatment. In the latter group, 321 patients
      (43%) were reallocated to another treatment, predominantly medical treatment.
      After propensity score matching, the number of indicated lesions was 957 in the
      XA-guided group and 947 in the FFR-guided group. FFR guidance resulted in PCI
      deferral in 462 lesions (48.8%). In a seven-day landmark analysis, the rate of
      periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) was less than half in the FFR-guided
      group (p>0.05). For the eight-day to four-year follow-up period, FFR guidance
      resulted in a significantly lower rate of the combined endpoint of death/MI
      (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63) and MI-driven target lesion revascularisation (HR 0.35).
      CONCLUSIONS: This large, retrospective study shows that performing FFR has a
      significant impact on therapeutic strategy and demonstrates the favourable long
      term outcome of FFR-guided PCI in an "all-comers" population of patients with
      stable CAD in daily clinical practice.

PMID- 26865444
TI  - STENTYS Self-Apposing sirolimus-eluting stent in ST-segment elevation myocardial
      infarction: results from the randomised APPOSITION IV trial.
AB  - AIMS: We sought to investigate the impact of the self-apposing, sirolimus-eluting
      STENTYS stent on midterm and long-term stent apposition and strut coverage
      compared with a zotarolimus-eluting balloon-expandable stent in ST-segment
      elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous
      coronary intervention (PPCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: In the APPOSITION IV trial,
      152 STEMI patients were randomised (3:2) to the self-apposing, sirolimus-eluting
      STENTYS stent or a commercially available zotarolimus-eluting balloon-expandable
      stent at 12 sites in five countries with angiographic follow-up and optical
      coherence tomography at four or nine months. At four months, a lower percentage
      of malapposed stent struts was observed in the STENTYS group (N=21; Nstruts=501)
      compared with controls (N=26; Nstruts=326; 0.07% vs. 1.16%; p=0.002) with
      significantly more covered struts, using a 20 um cut-off (94.32% vs. 89.09%;
      p=0.003). At nine months, the primary endpoint (percentage malapposed stent
      struts) was similar in both groups (STENTYS, N=40; Nstruts=566; control, N=21;
      Nstruts=292), showing complete apposition (p=0.55) and near total (>96%) coverage
      (p=0.58). CONCLUSIONS: In STEMI patients undergoing PPCI, the self-apposing,
      sirolimus-eluting STENTYS stent was equivalent to a conventional drug-eluting
      balloon-expandable stent with respect to late stent strut apposition and coverage
      at nine months. However, stent strut apposition and coverage at four months were
      significantly better in the STENTYS group.

PMID- 26865445
TI  - Impact of bivalirudin on post-procedural epicardial blood flow, risk of stent
      thrombosis and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention.
AB  - AIMS: We aimed to assess the association of bivalirudin with post-procedural
      Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow, acute (<=24 hours) and 30-day
      stent thrombosis (ST), and one-year mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study
      included 11,623 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The
      primary outcomes were post-procedural TIMI flow grade <=2 and definite acute ST.
      In groups treated with bivalirudin (n=3,135), abciximab plus unfractionated
      heparin (UFH; n=3,539) and UFH alone (n=4,949), post-procedural TIMI was <=2 in
      5.2%, 3.2% and 3.2% of patients, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.96 [95%
      confidence interval] 1.47-2.56 for bivalirudin versus abciximab plus UFH and
      OR=1.56 [1.20-2.04] for bivalirudin versus UFH). Definite acute ST occurred in
      two patients (0.06%) treated with bivalirudin, two patients (0.06%) treated with
      abciximab plus UFH, and seven patients (0.14%) treated with UFH (p=0.47).
      Bivalirudin was not associated with increased risk of 30-day ST (hazard ratio
      [HR]=1.20 [0.59-2.43] versus abciximab plus UHF, and HR=0.93 [0.48-1.82] versus
      UFH) or one-year mortality (HR=0.95 [0.70-1.28] versus abciximab plus UHF, and
      HR=1.05 [0.78-1.41] versus UFH). CONCLUSIONS: Bivalirudin was associated with
      higher risk of suboptimal post-PCI TIMI flow but not with increased risk of acute
      or 30-day definite ST or one-year mortality compared with abciximab plus UFH or
      UFH alone.

PMID- 26865446
TI  - Patency of coronary side branches covered by an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable
      vascular scaffold: clinical outcomes and computed tomography scan follow-up.
AB  - AIMS: The behaviour of side branches (SBs) covered by a bioresorbable vascular
      scaffold (BVS) is not well known. This study analysed the rate of side branch
      occlusion (SBO) immediately after BVS implantation, its clinical impact,
      predictors of SBO and the fate of such SBs at follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: We
      assessed 140 patients with 346 jeopardised SBs divided into three groups: small
      (<1 mm, n=181), intermediate (1-2 mm, n=102) and large (>2 mm, n=63). SBO was
      defined as a TIMI flow 0 or 1. Computed tomography was scheduled at six months
      for patients with jailed SBs >1 mm. Immediate occlusion occurred in 31 (9%) SBs:
      22 (12%) small, 8 (8%) intermediate and one (1.6%) large, while post-procedural
      SBO was 5.5%. In-hospital events included one thrombosis (0.7%) and eight non-Q
      wave myocardial infarctions (6%). After 17+/-3 months, one patient died (0.7%)
      and six patients needed repeat revascularisation (4%). Re-evaluation showed no
      late SBO at 7+/-3 months. Predictors of SBO were: small SBs (OR 2.06, 95% CI:
      1.08-4.63; p<0.05) and stenosis >50% at the origin (OR 17.22, 95% CI: 7.79-38.10;
      p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SBO and its clinical impact were low when
      SBs >1 mm were covered. These favourable results were maintained at midterm.

PMID- 26865447
TI  - In vitro evaluation of valve-in-valve combinations using a SAPIEN XT valve
      implanted within PERIMOUNT and Magna Ease pericardial bioprostheses.
AB  - AIMS: Implantation of a transcatheter heart valve to treat valve failure is an
      attractive option which is being used more frequently. Despite large clinical
      experience there is a paucity of in vitro data to support this treatment. Our aim
      was to provide in vitro performance data on the SAPIEN XT transcatheter heart
      valve implanted within two types of pericardial surgical heart valve. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: A SAPIEN XT was implanted within multiple sizes, i.e., 21, 23, 25 of
      Magna Ease and explanted calcified PERIMOUNT valves. Each combination underwent
      in vitro testing according to the ISO 5840 guidance. Combinations were evaluated
      for embolisation and acute and long-term haemodynamic performance. All
      combinations met the ISO 5840 minimum requirements for effective orifice area
      (EOA) and regurgitant fraction at the initiation of the study, after 20 million
      and 200 million cycles. EOA was above 1.4 cm2 for all valve combinations with
      Magna Ease and above 1.22 cm2 with PERIMOUNT combinations. Regurgitant fraction
      was <=7% for SAPIEN XT-Magna Ease combinations and was <=10% for SAPIEN XT
      PERIMOUNT combinations, which also met the ISO requirements. No embolisation was
      observed. The largest migration was 1.2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro tests
      demonstrate excellent haemodynamic performance and durability in the six VIV
      combinations which are commonly seen in clinical practice.

PMID- 26865448
TI  - A creative transcatheter approach to correct complex recurring mitral
      regurgitation after previous surgical repair.
AB  - AIMS: Leaflet perforations are usually not treated by interventional therapy. In
      our case we describe a clinical scenario after previous surgical repair of mitral
      regurgitation combining several treatment strategies for correction. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Under general anaesthesia, and using echocardiographic as well as
      fluoroscopic guidance, a transseptal approach was carried out and two MitraClips
      were implanted at the level of A2/P2. At completion echocardiography, a new large
      regurgitation jet was observed in the centre of the anterior mitral leaflet. We
      decided to proceed with the implantation of an 8 mm AMPLATZER ASD septal occluder
      device (AMPLATZER Septal Occluder; St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) to seal
      the defect. This was accomplished and final echo showed remaining trivial
      regurgitation from the coaptation area, while the perforation was completely
      sealed. The patient was discharged in a clinically improved condition. Pre
      discharge transthoracic echocardiography showed the two MitraClips as well as the
      Amplatzer device in a stable correct position with trivial residual mitral
      regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: The harmonisation of two diametral techniques for the
      treatment of recurring mitral regurgitation was effective in correcting the
      underlying problem. This approach may serve as an addition to the armamentarium
      of physicians treating patients with structural heart valve defects.

PMID- 26865449
TI  - Current decision making and short-term outcome in patients with degenerative
      aortic stenosis: the Pooled-RotterdAm-Milano-Toulouse In Collaboration Aortic
      Stenosis survey.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of this study was to provide a real-world snapshot of contemporary
      Heart Team decision making on patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and the
      consequent short-term clinical outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was an
      international multicentre prospective registry encompassing 390 patients with
      symptomatic severe AS who were prospectively enrolled. Clinical endpoints and the
      decisive arguments to opt for surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement,
      or medical therapy were recorded separately. The mean age was 76.4+/-11.6 years,
      55% were male and the STS score was 2.9% (IQR 1.6-6.9). The local Heart Teams
      considered 43%, 25% and 23% to be at low, intermediate and high operative risk
      with a calculated STS score of 2.18+/-1.72, 5.08+/-2.76 and 13.15+/-9.43,
      respectively. Overall, 7% were deemed inoperable. Ninety-four percent of patients
      at low operative risk were sent for SAVR whereas 64% and 92% of intermediate and
      high-risk patients underwent TAVI. Only 6% of patients did not receive any kind
      of aortic valve replacement. Overall, 30-day all-cause mortality was 2.8%. TAVI
      was associated with more major vascular complications, need for permanent
      pacemakers and post-procedural aortic regurgitation. SAVR had more life
      threatening bleedings and new-onset atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: The
      PRAGMATIC AS survey offers a snapshot of the contemporary management of patients
      with symptomatic severe AS. Multidisciplinary Heart Teams select an optimal
      strategy based on age, frailty and comorbidities. Nearly half of all patients are
      sent for TAVI. Only a small minority of patients will not receive valve
      replacement therapy.

PMID- 26865450
TI  - Real-world multicentre experience with the Direct Flow Medical repositionable and
      retrievable transcatheter aortic valve implantation system for the treatment of
      high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis.
AB  - AIMS: Our aim was to assess the performance of the Direct Flow Medical (DFM)
      repositionable and retrievable transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
      system in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      One hundred and five consecutive high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis
      undergoing TAVI with the DFM prosthesis were enrolled in six high-volume TAVI
      centres in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The "inner
      curve" technique was systematically used in all patients. The primary endpoint
      was all-cause mortality at 30 days of clinical follow-up. Secondary endpoints for
      the same time frame were: (i) VARC-2-defined patient safety; and (ii) VARC-2
      defined device success. The primary endpoint of all-cause mortality at 30 days
      was met in 1.9% (two patients). The VARC-2-defined device success rate was 98.1%.
      The combined patient safety endpoint was met in 88.6%. Residual moderate aortic
      regurgitation was observed in 1.9% (two patients). Permanent pacemaker
      implantation due to post-procedural persistent advanced atrioventricular block
      was performed in 9.5% (10 patients). CONCLUSIONS: In a multicentre, real-world
      clinical setting of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, a
      repositionable and retrievable TAVI system was effective and safe in the short
      term follow-up.

PMID- 26865451
TI  - Edwards SAPIEN 3 implanted in a failing aortic bioprosthesis: first report.

PMID- 26865452
TI  - Tools and Techniques - Statistical. Estimating cumulative incidences in the
      presence of right-censoring and competing risks: an introduction with
      illustrations from the COACH study.

PMID- 26865453
TI  - How should I treat a chronic total occlusion of a saphenous vein graft?
      Successful retrograde revascularisation.

PMID- 26865454
TI  - A Critical Role of miR-144 in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Proliferation and
      Invasion.
AB  - MicroRNAs are endogenous noncoding RNAs that play important roles in a wide
      variety of biologic processes such as apoptosis, development, aging, and
      tumorigenesis. The B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) transcriptional repressor has emerged
      as a critical therapeutic target in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), but
      the mechanisms regulating BCL6 are still unclear. In the current study, we
      screened the microRNA expression profiles in DLBCL specimens and cell lines by
      qRT-PCR and found that the expression of miR-144 was significantly downregulated
      in DLBCL tissues and cell lines and negatively correlated with BCL6 expression.
      We further demonstrated that BCL6 was the direct target gene of miR-144, and miR
      144 suppressed the expression of BCL6 via binding the 3'untranslated region of
      BCL6 mRNA. Biologically, forced expression of miR-144 significantly attenuated
      cell proliferation and invasion of OCI-Ly3 cells in vitro, and the tumor
      suppressor effect of miR-144 was also confirmed using a xenograft mouse model in
      vivo Taken together, our results reveal that miR-144 regulates BCL6 in DLBCL and
      provide a rationale for developing strategies that target miR-144 as a
      therapeutic intervention for DLBCL.

PMID- 26865455
TI  - Anti-PD-1 Inhibitor-Related Pneumonitis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - The recent approval of two PD-1 inhibitors for the treatment of non-small cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC) has rapidly led to the widespread use of these agents in
      oncology practices. Pneumonitis has been recognized as a potentially life
      threatening adverse event among NSCLC patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors;
      however, the detailed clinical and radiographic manifestations of this entity
      remain to be described. We report on two cases of anti-PD-1 pneumonitis in
      advanced NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab after its FDA approval. Both
      patients presented with ground-glass and reticular opacities and consolidations
      in a peripheral distribution on CT, demonstrating a radiographic pattern of
      cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Consolidations were extensive and rapidly
      developed within 8 weeks of therapy in both cases. Both patients were treated
      with corticosteroids with subsequent improvement of respiratory symptoms and
      radiographic findings. One patient experienced recurrent pneumonitis after
      completing corticosteroid taper, or a "pneumonitis flare," in the absence of
      nivolumab retreatment, with subsequent improvement upon corticosteroid
      readministration. With the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a
      growing number of tumor types, awareness of the radiographic and clinical
      manifestations of PD-1 inhibitor-related pneumonitis will be critical for the
      prompt diagnosis and management of this potentially serious adverse event.

PMID- 26865457
TI  - Magnetofluorescent micelles incorporating Dy(III)-DOTA as potential bimodal
      agents for optical and high field magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Dysprosium(iii) was coordinated to four 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10
      tetraacetic acid (DOTA) bisamide derivatives functionalized with amphiphilic p
      dodecylaniline and p-tetradecylaniline in a differing cis- and trans-orientation.
      The complexes were assembled into mono-disperse micelles having size distribution
      maxima ranging from 10 to 15 nm and the magnetic and optical properties of the
      micelles were examined in detail. The micelles show characteristic Dy(iii)
      emission with quantum yields reaching 0.8%. The transverse relaxivity r2 per
      Dy(iii) ion at 500 MHz and 310 K reaches maximum values of ca. 20 s(-1) mM(-1)
      which is a large increase when compared to a value of 0.8 s(-1) mM(-1) observed
      for Dy(III)-DTPA. The micelles were stable in water when incubated at 37  degrees
      C for 1 week and showed no relaxivity decrease when measured in the presence of
      4% (w/v) human serum albumin. The efficient T2 relaxation, especially at strong
      magnetic fields, is sustained by the high magnetic moment of the dysprosium(iii)
      ion, the coordination of water molecules and long rotational correlation times. 

PMID- 26865458
TI  - Personality expression in Chinese language use.
AB  - To date, little research has investigated personality expressions in languages
      other than English. Given that the Chinese language has the largest number of
      native speakers in the world, it is vitally important to examine the associations
      between personality and Chinese language use. In this research, we analysed
      Chinese microblogs and identified word categories and factorial structures
      associated with personality traits. We also compared our results with previous
      findings in English and showed that linguistic expression of personality has both
      universal- and language-specific aspects. Expression of personality via content
      words is more likely to be consistent across languages than expression via
      function words. This makes an important step towards uncovering universal
      patterns of personality expression in language.

PMID- 26865456
TI  - NK Cell-Mediated Antitumor Effects of a Folate-Conjugated Immunoglobulin Are
      Enhanced by Cytokines.
AB  - Optimally effective antitumor therapies would not only activate immune effector
      cells but also engage them at the tumor. Folate conjugated to immunoglobulin (F
      IgG) could direct innate immune cells with Fc receptors to folate receptor
      expressing cancer cells. F-IgG bound to human KB and HeLa cells, as well as
      murine L1210JF, a folate receptor (FR)-overexpressing cancer cell line, as
      determined by flow cytometry. Recognition of F-IgG by natural killer (NK) cell Fc
      receptors led to phosphorylation of the ERK transcription factor and increased NK
      cell expression of CD69. Lysis of KB tumor cells by NK cells increased by about 5
      fold after treatment with F-IgG, an effect synergistically enhanced by treatment
      with IL2, IL12, IL15, or IL21 (P< 0.001). F-IgG also enhanced the lysis of
      chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by autologous NK cells. NK cells significantly
      increased production of IFNgamma, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES in response to F-IgG
      coated KB target cells in the presence of the NK cell-activating cytokine IL12,
      and these coculture supernatants induced significant T-cell chemotaxis (P<
      0.001). F-IgG-coated targets also stimulated FcR-mediated monocyte effector
      functions. Studies in a murine leukemia model confirmed the intratumoral
      localization and antitumor activity of F-IgG, as well as enhancement of its
      effects by IL12 (P =0.05). The antitumor effect of this combination was dependent
      on NK cells and led to decreased tumor cell proliferation in vivo Thus, F-IgG can
      induce an immune response against FR-positive tumor cells that is mediated by NK
      cells and can be augmented by cytokine therapy.

PMID- 26865459
TI  - Scavenger receptor B1, the HDL receptor, is expressed abundantly in liver
      sinusoidal endothelial cells.
AB  - Cholesterol from peripheral tissue, carried by HDL, is metabolized in the liver
      after uptake by the HDL receptor, SR-B1. Hepatocytes have long been considered
      the only liver cells expressing SR-B1; however, in this study we describe two
      disparate immunofluorescence (IF) experiments that suggest otherwise. Using high
      resolution confocal microscopy employing ultrathin (120 nm) sections of mouse
      liver, improving z-axis resolution, we identified the liver sinusoidal
      endothelial cells (LSEC), marked by FcgammaRIIb, as the cell within the liver
      expressing abundant SR-B1. In contrast, the hepatocyte, identified with beta
      catenin, expressed considerably weaker levels, although optical resolution of SR
      B1 was inadequate. Thus, we moved to a different IF strategy, first separating
      dissociated liver cells by gradient centrifugation into two portions, hepatocytes
      (parenchymal cells) and LSEC (non-parenchymal cells). Characterizing both
      portions for the cellular expression of SR-B1 by flow cytometry, we found that
      LSEC expressed considerable amounts of SR-B1 while in hepatocytes SR-B1
      expression was barely perceptible. Assessing mRNA of SR-B1 by real time PCR we
      found messenger expression in LSEC to be about 5 times higher than in
      hepatocytes. 

PMID- 26865460
TI  - Serially Transplanted Nonpericytic CD146(-) Adipose Stromal/Stem Cells in Silk
      Bioscaffolds Regenerate Adipose Tissue In Vivo.
AB  - Progenitors derived from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of white adipose
      tissue (WAT) possess the ability to form clonal populations and differentiate
      along multiple lineage pathways. However, the literature continues to vacillate
      between defining adipocyte progenitors as "stromal" or "stem" cells. Recent
      studies have demonstrated that a nonpericytic subpopulation of adipose stromal
      cells, which possess the phenotype, CD45(-) /CD31(-) /CD146(-) /CD34(+) , are
      mesenchymal, and suggest this may be an endogenous progenitor subpopulation
      within adipose tissue. We hypothesized that an adipose progenitor could be sorted
      based on the expression of CD146, CD34, and/or CD29 and when implanted in vivo
      these cells can persist, proliferate, and regenerate a functional fat pad over
      serial transplants. SVF cells and culture expanded adipose stromal/stem cells
      (ASC) ubiquitously expressing the green fluorescent protein transgene (GFP-Tg)
      were fractionated by flow cytometry. Both freshly isolated SVF and culture
      expanded ASC were seeded in three-dimensional silk scaffolds, implanted
      subcutaneously in wild-type hosts, and serially transplanted. Six-week WAT
      constructs were removed and evaluated for the presence of GFP-Tg adipocytes and
      stem cells. Flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and confocal
      microscopy demonstrated GFP-Tg cell persistence, proliferation, and expansion,
      respectively. Glycerol secretion and glucose uptake assays revealed GFP-Tg
      adipose was metabolically functional. Constructs seeded with GFP-Tg SVF cells or
      GFP-Tg ASC exhibited higher SVF yields from digested tissue, and higher construct
      weights, compared to nonseeded controls. Constructs derived from CD146(-) CD34(+)
      -enriched GFP-Tg ASC populations exhibited higher hemoglobin saturation, and
      higher frequency of GFP-Tg cells than unsorted or CD29(+) GFP-Tg ASC
      counterparts. These data demonstrated successful serial transplantation of
      nonpericytic adipose-derived progenitors that can reconstitute adipose tissue as
      a solid organ. These findings have the potential to provide new insights
      regarding the stem cell identity of adipose progenitor cells.

PMID- 26865463
TI  - What Is the Best Method to Fit Time-Resolved Data? A Comparison of the Residual
      Minimization and the Maximum Likelihood Techniques As Applied to Experimental
      Time-Correlated, Single-Photon Counting Data.
AB  - The need for measuring fluorescence lifetimes of species in subdiffraction
      limited volumes in, for example, stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy,
      entails the dual challenge of probing a small number of fluorophores and fitting
      the concomitant sparse data set to the appropriate excited-state decay function.
      This need has stimulated a further investigation into the relative merits of two
      fitting techniques commonly referred to as "residual minimization" (RM) and
      "maximum likelihood" (ML). Fluorescence decays of the well-characterized
      standard, rose bengal in methanol at room temperature (530 +/- 10 ps), were
      acquired in a set of five experiments in which the total number of "photon
      counts" was approximately 20, 200, 1000, 3000, and 6000 and there were about 2
      200 counts at the maxima of the respective decays. Each set of experiments was
      repeated 50 times to generate the appropriate statistics. Each of the 250 data
      sets was analyzed by ML and two different RM methods (differing in the weighting
      of residuals) using in-house routines and compared with a frequently used
      commercial RM routine. Convolution with a real instrument response function was
      always included in the fitting. While RM using Pearson's weighting of residuals
      can recover the correct mean result with a total number of counts of 1000 or
      more, ML distinguishes itself by yielding, in all cases, the same mean lifetime
      within 2% of the accepted value. For 200 total counts and greater, ML always
      provides a standard deviation of <10% of the mean lifetime, and even at 20 total
      counts there is only 20% error in the mean lifetime. The robustness of ML
      advocates its use for sparse data sets such as those acquired in some
      subdiffraction-limited microscopies, such as STED, and, more importantly,
      provides greater motivation for exploiting the time-resolved capacities of this
      technique to acquire and analyze fluorescence lifetime data. 

PMID- 26865462
TI  - Combined toxicity of heavy metal mixtures in liver cells.
AB  - With rapid industrialization, China is now facing great challenges in heavy metal
      contamination in the environment. Human exposure to heavy metals through air,
      water and food commonly involves a mixture consisting of multiple heavy metals.
      In this study, eight common heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni) that
      cause environmental contamination were selected to investigate the combined
      toxicity of different heavy metal mixtures in HL7702 cells. Toxicity (24 h LC50 )
      of each individual metal on the cells ranked Hg > Cr = Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Mn >
      Pb; toxicity of the different mixtures ranked: M5 > M3PbHgCd > M5+Mn > M5+Cu >
      M2CdNi > M4A > M8-Mn > M8 > M5+Zn > M4B > M8-Cr > M8-Zn > M8-Cu > M8-Pb > M8-Cd >
      M8-Hg > M8-Ni > M3PbHgNi > M3CuZnMn. The cytotoxicity data of individual metals
      were successfully used to build the additive models of two- to eight-component
      metal mixtures. The comparison between additive model and combination model or
      partly additive model was useful to evaluate the combined effects in mixture.
      Synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects of the toxicity were observed in
      different mixtures. These results suggest that the combined effects should be
      considered in the risk assessment of heavy metal co-exposure, and more
      comprehensive investigations on the combined effects of different heavy metal
      mixtures are needed in the future. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26865461
TI  - Recent Advances on the Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Hypoxia-Mediated
      Signaling.
AB  - G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins mainly involved in
      signal transmission; however, they play a role also in several pathophysiological
      conditions. Chemically heterogeneous molecules like peptides, hormones, lipids,
      and neurotransmitters activate second messengers and induce several biological
      responses by binding to these seven transmembrane receptors, which are coupled to
      heterotrimeric G proteins. Recently, additional molecular mechanisms have been
      involved in GPCR-mediated signaling, leading to an intricate network of
      transduction pathways. In this regard, it should be mentioned that diverse GPCR
      family members contribute to the adaptive cell responses to low oxygen tension,
      which is a distinguishing feature of several illnesses like neoplastic and
      cardiovascular diseases. For instance, the G protein estrogen receptor, namely G
      protein estrogen receptor (GPER)/GPR30, has been shown to contribute to relevant
      biological effects induced by hypoxia via the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)
      1alpha in diverse cell contexts, including cancer. Likewise, GPER has been found
      to modulate the biological outcome of hypoxic/ischemic stress in both
      cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Here, we describe the role exerted by
      GPCR-mediated signaling in low oxygen conditions, discussing, in particular, the
      involvement of GPER by a hypoxic microenvironment. 

PMID- 26865464
TI  - Regulatory mechanisms, expression levels and proliferation effects of the FUS
      DDIT3 fusion oncogene in liposarcoma.
AB  - Fusion oncogenes are among the most common types of oncogene in human cancers.
      The gene rearrangements result in new combinations of regulatory elements and
      functional protein domains. Here we studied a subgroup of sarcomas and leukaemias
      characterized by the FET (FUS, EWSR1, TAF15) family of fusion oncogenes,
      including FUS-DDIT3 in myxoid liposarcoma (MLS). We investigated the regulatory
      mechanisms, expression levels and effects of FUS-DDIT3 in detail. FUS-DDIT3
      showed a lower expression than normal FUS at both the mRNA and protein levels,
      and single-cell analysis revealed a lack of correlation between FUS-DDIT3 and FUS
      expression. FUS-DDIT3 transcription was regulated by the FUS promotor, while its
      mRNA stability depended on the DDIT3 sequence. FUS-DDIT3 protein stability was
      regulated by protein interactions through the FUS part, rather than the leucine
      zipper containing DDIT3 part. In addition, in vitro as well as in vivo FUS-DDIT3
      protein expression data displayed highly variable expression levels between
      individual MLS cells. Combined mRNA and protein analyses at the single-cell level
      showed that FUS-DDIT3 protein expression was inversely correlated to the
      expression of cell proliferation-associated genes. We concluded that FUS-DDIT3 is
      uniquely regulated at the transcriptional as well as the post-translational level
      and that its expression level is important for MLS tumour development. The FET
      fusion oncogenes are potentially powerful drug targets and detailed knowledge
      about their regulation and functions may help in the development of novel
      treatments.

PMID- 26865467
TI  - Effect of Asthma Call-back Survey methodology changes on work-related asthma
      estimates, 19 states, 2007-2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Asthma Call-back Survey methodology has been changed recently, as a
      new sampling design, weights calculation (2011-2012), and revised work-related
      asthma (WRA) section (2012) were implemented. To assess the effect of these
      changes on the WRA and possible WRA estimates among ever-employed adults with
      current asthma, we analyzed 2007-2012 data for 37 505 ever-employed adults (>=18
      years) collected from 19 US states (representing an estimated 10 million adults
      each year). METHODS: Using data from landline telephone (LLP) households, we
      calculated estimates applying poststratification weights (2007-2010) and "raking"
      weights (2011-2012). Also, using data from LLP/cellular telephone (CP) households
      combined, we calculated estimates applying "raking" weights (2012). RESULTS:
      Based on LLP household data, the WRA estimates ranged from 7.8% to 9.7% during
      2007-2010, was 9.1% in 2011 and 15.4% in 2012. Possible WRA estimates ranged from
      35.1% to 38.1% during 2007-2010, was 38.1% in 2011 and 39.8% in 2012. Using the
      2012 LLP/CP household data, the WRA and possible WRA estimates were 15.4% and
      38.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of "raking" weights did not
      substantially change the WRA or possible WRA estimates among ever-employed adults
      with current asthma. The WRA and possible WRA estimates based on LLP and LLP/CP
      samples in 2012 were comparable, as CP users are younger and less likely to have
      WRA. The substantial upward shift in the 2012 WRA estimates likely was associated
      with the revision to the WRA section.

PMID- 26865469
TI  - List of new names and new combinations previously effectively, but not validly,
      published.

PMID- 26865468
TI  - Accurate Extraction of Nanometer Distances in Multimers by Pulse EPR.
AB  - Pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is gaining increasing importance in
      structural biology. The PELDOR (pulsed electron-electron double resonance) method
      allows extracting distance information on the nanometer scale. Here, we
      demonstrate the efficient extraction of distances from multimeric systems such as
      membrane-embedded ion channels where data analysis is commonly hindered by multi
      spin effects. 

PMID- 26865471
TI  - The Impact of Medicare Part D on Emergency Department Visits.
AB  - The Medicare Part D program introduced prescription drug coverage for seniors in
      2006. We examine the impact of this program on the use of emergency department
      (ED) care. Using a difference-in-differences model, we find declines in the
      number of ED visits for non-emergency care but not for emergency care, suggesting
      that Part D may have led to better management of health and reduced unnecessary
      use of EDs. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26865470
TI  - Mechanism of Developmental Effects in Rats Caused by an N-Phenylimide Herbicide:
      Transient Fetal Anemia and Sequelae during Mid-to-Late Gestation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rat developmental toxicity including embryolethality and
      teratogenicity (mainly ventricular septal defects [VSDs] and wavy ribs) was
      produced by an N-phenylimide herbicide that inhibits protoporphyrinogen oxidase
      (PPO) common to chlorophyll and heme biosynthesis. Major characteristics of the
      developmental toxicity included species difference between rats and rabbits,
      compound-specific difference among structurally similar herbicides, and sensitive
      period. Protoporphyrin accumulation in treated fetuses closely correlated with
      the major characteristics. Iron deposits in erythroblastic mitochondria and
      degeneration of erythroblasts were observed in treated rat fetuses. In this study
      we investigated fetal anemia and subsequent developmental effects in rats, and
      inhibition of PPO in rats, rabbits, and humans by the herbicides in vitro.
      METHODS: Fetuses were treated on gestational day (GD) 12 and removed on GDs 13
      through 20. All litters were examined externally. One half of litters were
      examined for blood and skeletal development, and the other half for
      interventricular foramen closure. Effects on PPO were determined in mitochondria
      from embryos and adult livers. RESULTS: Fetal anemia in rats was evident on GDs
      13 through 16. Subsequently, enlarged heart, delayed closure of the foramen,
      reduced serum protein, and retarded rib ossification were observed. In vitro PPO
      inhibition exhibited species- and compound-specific differences corresponding to
      the developmental toxicity. CONCLUSION: We propose that developmental toxicity
      results from PPO inhibition in primitive erythroblasts, causing transient fetal
      anemia followed by death. Compensatory enlargement of the fetal heart results in
      failure of interventricular foramen closure and VSD. Reduced serum protein leads
      to delayed ossification and wavy ribs.

PMID- 26865472
TI  - Dose-Dependent Flux of Buprenorphine Following Transdermal Administration in
      Healthy Subjects.
AB  - Buprenorphine transdermal delivery system (BTDS) applied once every 7 days is
      indicated for the management of pain that is severe enough to require daily,
      around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment
      options are inadequate. The 7-day flux of buprenorphine from BTDS to systemic
      circulation was investigated in a phase 1, 2-period crossover study with 3
      randomized groups of healthy subjects receiving BTDS containing buprenorphine 5,
      10, or 20 mg for 7 days preceded or followed by intravenous buprenorphine
      infusion (25 MUg/h for 24 hours). Residual and absolute bioavailability methods
      were used to estimate 7-day flux of buprenorphine. Following BTDS administration,
      mean area under the curve of buprenorphine increased proportionally (12.6, 24.3,
      and 51.1 ng/[mL . h]), maximum mean plasma concentration rose with increasing
      dose (176, 191, and 471 pg/mL), and absolute bioavailability was 14% to 16%. Mean
      residual amount of buprenorphine in the BTDS after 7-day application was 4.50,
      8.57, and 17.1 mg. Flux of buprenorphine was approximately 5, 10, and 20 MUg/h
      for BTDS containing 5, 10, and 20 mg buprenorphine, respectively. BTDS was safe
      and well tolerated following a single 7-day application in healthy subjects. The
      results of this study demonstrated dose-dependent flux of buprenorphine delivered
      via transdermal system.

PMID- 26865473
TI  - Stable -ESiMe3 Complexes of Cu(I) and Ag(I) (E=S, Se) with NHCs: Synthons in
      Ternary Nanocluster Assembly.
AB  - As a part of efforts to prepare new "metallachalcogenolate" precursors and
      develop their chemistry for the formation of ternary mixed-metal chalcogenide
      nanoclusters, two sets of thermally stable, N-heterocyclic carbene metal
      chalcogenolate complexes of the general formula [(IPr)Ag-ESiMe3] (IPr=1,3-bis(2,6
      diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; E=S, 1; Se, 2) and [(iPr2-bimy)Cu
      ESiMe3]2 (iPr2-bimy=1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene; E=S, 4; Se, 5) are
      reported. These are prepared from the reaction between the corresponding carbene
      metal acetate, [(IPr)AgOAc] and [(iPr-bimy)CuOAc] respectively, and E(SiMe3 )2 at
      low temperature. The reaction of [(IPr)Ag-ESiMe3] 1 with mercury(II) acetate
      affords the heterometallic complex [{(IPr)AgS}2Hg] 3 containing two (IPr)Ag-S(-)
      fragments bonded to a central Hg(II), representing a mixed mercury-silver sulfide
      complex. The reaction of [(iPr2-bimy)Cu-SSiMe3]2, which contains a smaller N
      heterocyclic-carbene, with mercuric(II) acetate affords the high nuclearity
      cluster, [(iPr2-bimy)6Cu10S8Hg3]6. The new N-heterocyclic carbene metal
      chalcogenolate complexes 1, 2, 4, 5 and the ternary mixed-metal chalcogenolate
      complex 3 and cluster 6 have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy
      ((1)H and (13)C), elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

PMID- 26865474
TI  - Redesigning Care for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by
      Cardiogenic Shock: The "Shock Team".

PMID- 26865475
TI  - Plantar subcutaneous sarcoidosis - a rare form of skin sarcoidosis: unusual
      plantar aponeurosis location of sarcoidosis as primary manifestation of
      asymptomatic systemic disease.

PMID- 26865476
TI  - Zika Virus Infection and the Eye.

PMID- 26865477
TI  - Intermittent PQ prolongation between two premature ventricular complexes: what is
      the mechanism?

PMID- 26865478
TI  - Intestinal congestion and right ventricular dysfunction: a link with appetite
      loss, inflammation, and cachexia in chronic heart failure.
AB  - AIMS: Mechanisms leading to cachexia in heart failure (HF) are not fully
      understood. We evaluated signs of intestinal congestion in patients with chronic
      HF and their relationship with cachexia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 165
      prospectively enrolled outpatients with left ventricular ejection fraction <=40%,
      29 (18%) were cachectic. Among echocardiographic parameters, the combination of
      right ventricular dysfunction and elevated right atrial pressure (RAP) provided
      the best discrimination between cachectic and non-cachectic patients [area under
      the curve 0.892, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.832-0.936]. Cachectic patients,
      compared with non-cachectic, had higher prevalence of postprandial fullness,
      appetite loss, and abdominal discomfort. Abdominal ultrasound showed a larger
      bowel wall thickness (BWT) in the entire colon and terminal ileum in cachectic
      than in non-cachectic patients. Bowel wall thickness correlated positively with
      gastrointestinal symptoms, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, RAP, and truncal
      fat-free mass, the latter serving as a marker of the fluid content. Logistic
      regression analysis showed that BWT was associated with cachexia, even after
      adjusting for cardiac function, inflammation, and stages of HF (odds ratio 1.4,
      95% CI: 1.0-1.8; P-value = 0.03). Among the cardiac parameters, only RAP remained
      significantly associated with cachexia after multivariable adjustment.
      CONCLUSION: Cardiac cachexia was associated with intestinal congestion
      irrespective of HF stage and cardiac function. Gastrointestinal discomfort,
      appetite loss, and pro-inflammatory activation provide probable mechanisms, by
      which intestinal congestion may trigger cardiac cachexia. However, our results
      are preliminary and larger studies are needed to clarify the intrinsic nature of
      this relationship.

PMID- 26865479
TI  - Reduced sulfentrazone phytotoxicity through increased adsorption and anionic
      species in biochar-amended soils.
AB  - Burning straw in the field is a common agricultural practice. The effects of
      adding biochar derived from rice straw to soils on the phytotoxicity of
      sulfentrazone to Oryza sativa L. were observed. Overall, when 1 % biochar was
      added to three different soils, the phytotoxicity of sulfentrazone to O. sativa
      L. decreased, and the concentration that inhibits growth by 50 % (IC50) increased
      by 1.4 to 7.6 times. To illuminate the influencing mechanisms, the changes in
      sulfentrazone adsorption to the soil, the soil pH, and the bioavailable
      sulfentrazone extracted from the soil solution using hollow fiber-based liquid
      phase microextraction were studied. The Freundlich constant (K f ) of
      sulfentrazone to the soil increased 1.5 to 25 times relative to the K f in the
      three unamended soils, and the soil pH increased by 0.36 to 1.36 units resulted
      in a fraction of dissociated sulfentrazone increased by 10.2-17.4 %. In addition,
      the average concentrations of sulfentrazone in the three unamended soil solutions
      were 1.3-6.1 times relative to those in the three biochar-amended soil solutions.
      These results suggest that the sulfentrazone adsorption and soil pH increased
      when soils were amended with biochar, which decreased the bioavailable
      concentrations and reduced its phytotoxicity to O. sativa L. 

PMID- 26865480
TI  - The effect of U speciation in cultivation solution on the uptake of U by variant
      Sedum alfredii.
AB  - In the present study, five plant species were screened for uranium uptake using a
      hydroponic experimental set-up. The effect of the U concentration, pH, as well as
      the presence of carbonates, phosphates, and organic acids (lactic acid, malic
      acid, citric acid) on the uptake of U by variant S. alfredii (V S. alfredii) and
      wild S. alfredii (W S. alfredii) were investigated. Results showed that V S.
      alfredii exhibited higher U content in the roots than the other four plants and
      with the increase of U concentration in the solution, the U uptake by V S.
      alfredii and W S. alfredii increased. The results also showed that different U
      speciation in different cultivation solution took an important role on the uptake
      of U in variant Sedum alfredii: at pH 6.5, U hydrolysis species (UO2)3(OH)5 (+)is
      predominant and the U concentrations in V S. alfredii roots reached a maximum
      value (3.7 * 10(4) mg/kg). U complexation with carbonates, phosphates, and some
      organic acids in the solution resulted in a decrease in the U content in the
      roots except for lactic acid. Our researches highlight the correlations between U
      speciation and the uptake on V S. Alfredii, which will be helpful for improved
      removal of U from the groundwater using phytoremediation method. 

PMID- 26865481
TI  - Coupling of bio-PRB and enclosed in-well aeration system for remediation of
      nitrobenzene and aniline in groundwater.
AB  - A laboratory-scale bio-permeable reactive barrier (bio-PRB) was constructed and
      combined with enclosed in-well aeration system to treat nitrobenzene (NB) and
      aniline (AN) in groundwater. Batch-style experiments were first conducted to
      evaluate the effectiveness of NB and AN degradation, using suspension (free
      cells) of degrading consortium and immobilized consortium by a mixture of perlite
      and peat. The NB and AN were completely degraded in <3 days using immobilized
      consortium, while 3-5 days were required using free cells. The O2 supply
      efficiency of an enclosed in-well aeration system was assessed in a box filled
      with perlite and peat. Dissolved O2 (DO) concentrations increased to 8-12 mg L(
      1) in 12 h for sampling ports within 12 cm of the aeration well. A diffusion
      coefficient as 33.5 cm(2) s(-1) was obtained. The DO concentration was >4 mg L(
      1) when the aeration system was applied into the bio-PRB system. The NB and AN
      were effectively removed when the aeration system was functional in the bio-PRB.
      The removal efficiency decreased when the aeration system malfunctioned for 20
      days, thus indicating that DO was an important factor for the degradation of NB
      and AN. The regain of NB and AN removal after the malfunction indicates the
      robustness of degradation consortium. No original organics and new formed by
      products were observed in the effluent. The results indicate that NB and AN in
      groundwater can be completely mineralized in a bio-PRB equipped with enclosed in
      well aeration system and filled with perlite and peat attached with degrading
      consortium. 

PMID- 26865482
TI  - Antibiotic concentration and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in two shallow urban
      lakes after stormwater event.
AB  - Stormwater runoff is generally characterized as non-point source pollution. In
      the present study, antibiotic concentration and antibiotic susceptibilities of
      cultivable heterotrophic bacteria were investigated in two small shallow urban
      lakes before and after strong storm event. Several antibiotics, lactose
      fermenting bacteria and cultivable heterotrophic bacteria concentrations
      increased in surface water and/or surface sediment of two small urban lakes (Lake
      Xuanwu and Wulongtan) after strong storm event. In general, the frequencies of
      bacteria showing resistance to nine antibiotics increased after storm event.
      Based on the 16S rRNA genes of 50 randomly selected isolates from each water
      sample of two lakes, Aeromonas and Bacillus were dominant genera in samples from
      two lakes, while genera Proteus and Lysinibacillus were the third abundant genera
      in Lake Xuanwu and Wulongtu, respectively. Presences of nine antibiotic
      resistance genes (ARGs) in the 100 isolates were detected and most of these
      isolates harbored at least two ARGs with different functions. The detection
      frequency of ARGs in Gram-negative isolates was higher than that in Gram-positive
      isolates. The most prevalent integron in 100 isolates was int(II) (n = 28),
      followed by int(I) (n = 17) and int(III) (n = 17). Our results indicate that
      strong storm events potentially contribute to the transfer of ARGs and antibiotic
      resistant bacteria from land-sewer system to the urban Lakes. 

PMID- 26865483
TI  - Distribution and diversity of biosurfactant-producing bacteria in a wastewater
      treatment plant.
AB  - The distribution and diversity of culturable biosurfactant-producing bacteria
      were investigated in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using the Shannon and
      Simpson's indices. Twenty wastewater samples were analysed, and from 667 isolates
      obtained, 32 were classified as biosurfactant producers as they reduced the
      surface tension of the culture medium (71.1 mN/m), with the lowest value of 32.1
      mN/m observed. Certain isolates also formed stable emulsions with diesel,
      kerosene and mineral oils. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) analysis classified the
      biosurfactant producers into the Aeromonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae,
      Gordoniaceae and the Pseudomonadaceae families. In addition, numerous isolates
      carried the surfactin 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase (sfp),
      rhamnosyltransferase subunit B (rhlB) and bacillomycin C (bamC) genes involved in
      the biosynthesis of surfactin, rhamnolipid and bacillomycin, respectively. While,
      biosurfactant-producing bacteria were found at all sampling points in the WWTP,
      the Simpson's diversity (1 - D) and the Shannon-Weaver (H) indices revealed an
      increase in bacterial diversity in the influent samples (0.8356 and 2.08),
      followed by the effluent (0.8 and 1.6094) and then the biological trickling
      filter (0.7901 and 1.6770) samples. Numerous biosurfactant-producing bacteria
      belonging to diverse genera are thus present throughout a WWTP. 

PMID- 26865484
TI  - Optimized treatment conditions for textile wastewater reuse using photocatalytic
      processes under UV and visible light sources.
AB  - In this study, photo-Fenton systems using visible light sources with iron and
      ferrioxalate were tested for the DOC degradation and decolorization of textile
      wastewater. Textile wastewaters originated after the dyeing stage of dark-colored
      tissue in the textile industry, and the optimization of treatment processes was
      studied to produce water suitable for reuse. Dissolved organic carbon,
      absorbance, turbidity, anionic concentrations, carboxylic acids, and preliminary
      cost analysis were performed for the proposed treatments. Conventional photo
      Fenton process achieved near 99 % DOC degradation rates and complete absorbance
      removal, and no carboxylic acids were found as products of degradation.
      Ferrioxalate photo-Fenton system achieved 82 % of DOC degradation and showed
      complete absorbance removal, and oxalic acid has been detected through HPLC
      analysis in the treated sample. In contrast, photo-peroxidation with UV light was
      proved effective only for absorbance removal, with DOC degradation efficiency
      near 50 %. Treated wastewater was compared with reclaimed water and had a similar
      quality, indicating that these processes can be effectively applied for textile
      wastewater reuse. The results of the preliminary cost analysis indicated costs of
      0.91 to 1.07 US$ m-3 for the conventional and ferrioxalate photo-Fenton systems,
      respectively. Graphical Abstract ?.

PMID- 26865485
TI  - Physiological basis of differential zinc and copper tolerance of Verbascum
      populations from metal-contaminated and uncontaminated areas.
AB  - Metal contamination represents a strong selective pressure favoring tolerant
      genotypes and leading to differentiation between plant populations. We
      investigated the adaptive capacity of early-colonizer species of Verbascum
      recently exposed to Zn- and Cu-contaminated soils (10-20 years). Two Verbascum
      thapsus L. populations from uncontaminated sites (NMET1, NMET2), one V. thapsus
      from a zinc-contaminated site (MET1), and a Verbascum lychnitis population from
      an open-cast copper mine (MET2) were exposed to elevated Zn or Cu in hydroponic
      culture under glasshouse conditions. MET populations showed considerably higher
      tolerance to both Zn and Cu than NMET populations as assessed by measurements of
      growth and net photosynthesis, yet they accumulated higher tissue Zn
      concentrations in the shoot. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration increased with Zn
      and Cu treatment in the NMET populations, which was correlated to stomatal
      closure, decrease of net photosynthesis, and nutritional imbalance, indicative of
      interference with xylem loading and divalent-cation homeostasis. At the cellular
      level, the sensitivity of NMET2 to Zn and Cu was reflected in significant metal
      induced ROS accumulation and ion leakage from roots as well as strong induction
      of peroxidase activity (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), while Zn had no significant effect on
      ABA concentration and POD activity in MET1. Interestingly, MET2 had
      constitutively higher root ABA concentration and POD activity. We propose that
      ABA distribution between shoots and roots could represent an adaptive mechanism
      for maintaining low ABA levels and unaffected stomatal conductance. The results
      show that metal tolerance can occur in Verbascum populations after relatively
      short time of exposure to metal-contaminated soil, indicating their potential use
      for phytostabilization.

PMID- 26865486
TI  - Effects of the addition of iron and aluminum salt on phosphorus adsorption in
      wetland sediment.
AB  - Adsorption and removal of phosphorus (P) in wetland sediment from aqueous
      solutions were investigated by using four kinds of iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al)
      salt (FeCl3, AlCl3, poly FeCl3, and poly AlCl3). Under optimal temperature of 25 
      degrees C, P concentration of 50 mg/L, and mole concentration ratio of 4:1
      (Fe(3+)/PO4 (3-) or Al(3+)/PO4 (3-)), the P sorption capacities of wetland
      sediments by FeCl3, poly FeCl3, AlCl3, and poly AlCl3treatments were 296.03,
      371.41, 276.3, and 357.85 MUg/g, respectively, and were enhanced by 83.36,
      158.74, 63.63, and 145.18 MUg/g, respectively. The P sorption capacities based on
      different additives were in the order of poly FeCl3 > poly AlCl3 > FeCl3 > AlCl3.
      The EPC0 values, K values, and maximum adsorption capacities indicated that poly
      FeCl3 was good reagent to restore P pollution in aqueous solution by wetland
      sediment in the consideration of both P treatment efficiency and potential
      environmental impact. These findings, obviously, are useful basis to develop new
      effective methods for P removal in waters. 

PMID- 26865487
TI  - Cd immobilization in a contaminated rice paddy by inorganic stabilizers of
      calcium hydroxide and silicon slag and by organic stabilizer of biochar.
AB  - A field experiment was conducted in a Cd-contaminated rice paddy field to
      evaluate the effect of inorganic and organic metal stabilizers on Cd mobility and
      rice uptake. A dose of inorganic stabilizer of calcium hydroxide (CH), silicon
      slag (SS), and wheat straw biochar (BC) was amended respectively to topsoil
      before rice transplanting. Rice production was managed with the same water regime
      and fertilization practices consistently between treatments including a control
      without amendment. Samples of topsoil and rice plant were collected at rice
      harvest to analyze the Cd mobility and uptake by rice. Without affecting rice
      grain yield, the stabilizers significantly decreased CaCl2-extractable Cd in a
      range of 44 to 75 % compared to the control, corresponding to soil pH changes
      under the different treatments. Accordingly, Cd concentrations both in rice
      tissue and in rice grain were very significantly decreased under these
      treatments. The decrease in rice Cd uptake was correlated to the decrease in
      extractable Cd, which was again correlated to soil pH change under the different
      treatments, indicating a prevalent role of liming effect by the amendments. While
      applied at a large amount in a single year, organic stabilizer of BC decreased Cd
      extractability by up to 43 % and Cd rice uptake by up to 61 %, being the most
      effective on Cd immobilization. However, the long-term effect on soil health and
      potential tradeoff effects with different stabilizers deserve further field
      monitoring studies. 

PMID- 26865489
TI  - Hydrothermal electrocatalytic oxidation for the treatment of herbicides
      wastewater.
AB  - A hydrothermal electrocatalytic oxidation (HTECO) method is adopted to treat the
      biorefractory and toxic 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicides
      wastewater on nano-Pt/Ti electrode in the existence of H2O2. Comparisons for the
      removal of 2,4-D and total organic carbon (TOC) have been carried out between
      HTECO with individual electrochemical oxidation (EO) and hydrothermal catalytic
      oxidation (HTCO), showing that high mineralization efficiency was obtained in
      HTECO process. The possible factors resulting in the high removal efficiency in
      HTECO process have been studied by investigating the properties of the electrode
      and solution in hydrothermal condition, the amount of active radicals, the decay
      kinetic, and evolution of main intermediates of 2,4-D. Thus, an enhanced
      mechanism for HTECO method for the treatment of herbicides wastewater has been
      obtained. 

PMID- 26865488
TI  - Microcystin-tolerant Rhizobium protects plants and improves nitrogen assimilation
      in Vicia faba irrigated with microcystin-containing waters.
AB  - Irrigation of crops with microcystins (MCs)-containing waters-due to
      cyanobacterial blooms-affects plant productivity and could be a way for these
      potent toxins entering the food chain. This study was performed to establish
      whether MC-tolerant rhizobia could benefit growth, nodulation, and nitrogen
      metabolism of faba bean plants irrigated with MC-containing waters. For that,
      three different rhizobial strains-with different sensitivity toward MCs-were
      used: RhOF96 (most MC-sensitive strain), RhOF125 (most MC-tolerant strain), or
      Vicz1.1 (reference strain). As a control, plants grown without rhizobia and
      fertilized by NH4NO3 were included in the study. MC exposure decreased roots (30
      37 %) and shoots (up to 15 %) dry weights in un-inoculated plants, whereas
      inoculation with rhizobia protects plants toward the toxic effects of MCs.
      Nodulation and nitrogen content were significantly impaired by MCs, with the
      exception of plants inoculated with the most tolerant strain RhOF125. In order to
      deep into the effect of inoculation on nitrogen metabolism, the nitrogen
      assimilatory enzymes (glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT))
      were investigated: Fertilized plants showed decreased levels (15-30 %) of these
      enzymes, both in shoots and roots. By contrast, inoculated plants retained the
      levels of these enzymes in shoots and roots, as well as the levels of NADH-GOGAT
      activity in nodules. We conclude that the microcystin-tolerant Rhizobium protects
      faba bean plants and improves nitrogen assimilation when grown in the presence of
      MCs. 

PMID- 26865490
TI  - Phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil employing Crotalaria pallida
      Aiton.
AB  - The purpose of the study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potentiality of a
      herb named Crotalaria pallida which are abundantly grown on crude oil
      contaminated soil of oil field situated at upper Assam, India, so that this plant
      could be used to remediate hydrocarbon from contaminated soil. To evaluate the
      potentiality of the plant, a pot culture experiment was conducted taking 3 kg of
      rice field soil mixed with crude oil at a concentration of 10,000 (10 g/kg),
      20,000 (20 g/kg), 30,000 (30 g/kg), 40,000 (40 g/kg), 50,000 (50 g/kg), 60,000
      (60 g/kg), 70,000 (70 g/kg), 80,000 (80 g/kg), 90,000 (90 g/kg), and 100,000 (100
      g/kg) ppm. Ten numbers of healthy seeds of C. pallida were sown in three pots of
      each concentration for germination, and after 15 days of germination, single
      healthy seedling in each pot was kept for the study. A control setup was also
      maintained without adding crude oil. The duration of the experiment was fixed for
      6 months. The results showed that uptake of hydrocarbon by the plants was
      increased with increasing the concentration of crude oil in the soil up to 60,000
      ppm. After that, uptake of hydrocarbon by the plants was found to be lower with
      increasing doses of crude oil concentration. Uptake of hydrocarbon by the shoot
      was found to be maximum, i.e., 35,018 ppm in 60,000 ppm concentration.
      Dissipation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) from the soil was also gradually
      increased with increasing concentration of crude oil in the soil up to 60,000
      ppm. Maximum dissipation, i.e., 78.66 %, occurred in 60,000 ppm concentration of
      crude oil-mixed soil. The plant could not survive in 100,000 ppm concentration of
      crude oil-mixed soil. The results also demonstrated that there was a reduction in
      plant shoot and root biomass with an increase of crude oil concentration.
      Furthermore, results revealed that the shoot biomass was higher than root biomass
      in all the treatments. 

PMID- 26865491
TI  - Volcano-related materials in concretes: a comprehensive review.
AB  - Massive volcano-related materials (VRMs) erupted from volcanoes bring the impacts
      to natural environment and humanity health worldwide, which include generally
      volcanic ash (VA), volcanic pumice (VP), volcanic tuff (VT), etc. Considering the
      pozzolanic activities and mechanical characters of these materials, civil
      engineers propose to use them in low carbon/cement and environment-friendly
      concrete industries as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) or
      artificial/natural aggregates. The utilization of VRMs in concretes has attracted
      increasing and pressing attentions from research community. Through a literature
      review, this paper presents comprehensively the properties of VRMs and VRM
      concretes (VRMCs), including the physical and chemical properties of raw VRMs and
      VRMCs, and the fresh, microstructural and mechanical properties of VRMCs.
      Besides, considering environmental impacts and the development of long-term
      properties, the durability and stability properties of VRMCs also are summarized
      in this paper. The former focuses on the resistance properties of VRMCs when
      subjected to aggressive environmental impacts such as chloride, sulfate,
      seawater, and freezing-thawing. The latter mainly includes the fatigue, creep,
      heat-insulating, and expansion properties of VRMCs. This study will be helpful to
      promote the sustainability in concrete industries, protect natural environment,
      and reduce the impacts of volcano disaster. Based on this review, some main
      conclusions are discussed and important recommendations regarding future research
      on the application of VRMs in concrete industries are provided. 

PMID- 26865492
TI  - Characterization of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and relationships among
      PARAFAC components and water quality parameters in Heilongjiang, China.
AB  - Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is an important optically active
      substance that can transports nutrients and pollutants from terrestrial to
      aquatic systems. Additionally, it is used as a measure of water quality. To
      investigate the source and composition of CDOM, we used chemical and fluorescent
      analyses to characterize CDOM in Heilongjiang. The composition of CDOM can be
      investigated by excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and parallel factor
      analysis (PARAFAC). PARAFAC identified four individual components that were
      attributed to microbial humic-like (C1) and terrestrial humic-like (C2-4) in
      water samples collected from the Heilongjiang River. The relationships between
      the maximum fluorescence intensities of the four PARAFAC components and the water
      quality parameters indicate that the dynamic of the four components is related to
      nutrients in the Heilongjiang River. The relationships between the fluorescence
      component C3 and the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) indicates that component C3
      makes a great contribution to BOD5 and it can be used as a carbon source for
      microbes in the Heilongjiang River. Furthermore, the relationships between
      component C3, the particulate organic carbon (POC), and the chemical oxygen
      demand (CODMn) show that component C3 and POC make great contributions to BOD5
      and CODMn. The use of these indexes along with PARAFAC results would be of help
      to characterize the co-variation between the CDOM and water quality parameters in
      the Heilongjiang River. 

PMID- 26865493
TI  - Pollution by Urticaceae pollen-influence of selected air pollutants and
      meteorological parameters.
AB  - The goal of this study was to analyze the influence of pollutants (concentrations
      of NO2, SO2, and soot in the air) and meteorological parameters (air temperature,
      humidity, wind speed, air pressure, cloud index) on Urticaceae pollen type
      emission measured in the region of Subotica, Serbia. The concentrations of the
      air pollutants, Urticaceae pollen, and meteorological parameters were measured
      over a 5-year period (2009-2013), followed by a statistical analysis of the
      values obtained. For most of the years examined, the concentration of NO2
      correlates significantly with the concentration of Urticaceae pollen type. It was
      also established that air temperature, humidity, wind speed, atmospheric
      pressure, and cloud index have an influence on Urticaceae pollen type emission,
      while SO2 and soot do not contribute. 

PMID- 26865494
TI  - Health reform in Finland: current proposals and unresolved challenges.
AB  - The Finnish health care system is widely respected for its pilot role in creating
      primary-care-led health systems. In the early 1990s, however, a severe economic
      downturn in Finland reduced public funding and weakened the Finnish system's
      deeply decentralized model of health care administration. Recent Bank of Finland
      projections forecasting several decades of slow economic growth, combined with
      the impact of an aging population, appear to make major reform of the existing
      public system inevitable. Over the last several years, political attention has
      focused mostly on administrative consolidation inside the public sector,
      particularly integration of health and social services. Current proposals call
      for a reformed health sector governance structure based on a new meso-level
      configuration of public administration. In addition, Finland's national
      government has proposed replacing the current multi-channel public funding
      structure (which includes health insurance subsidies for occupational health
      services) with a single-channel public funding structure. This commentary
      examines several key issues involved in reforming the delivery structure of the
      Finnish health care system. It also explores possible alternative strategies to
      reform current funding arrangements. The article concludes with a brief
      discussion of implications from this Finnish experience for the wider health
      reform debate. 

PMID- 26865495
TI  - Increased Protein Stability and Decreased Protein Turnover in the Caenorhabditis
      elegans Ins/IGF-1 daf-2 Mutant.
AB  - In Caenorhabditis elegans, cellular proteostasis is likely essential for
      longevity. Autophagy has been shown to be essential for lifespan extension of daf
      2 insulin/IGF mutants. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that daf-2 mutants
      achieve this phenotype by increasing protein turnover. However, such a mechanism
      would exert a substantial energy cost. By using classical 35S pulse-chase
      labeling, we observed that protein synthesis and degradation rates are decreased
      in young adults of the daf-2 insulin/IGF mutants. Although reduction of protein
      turnover may be energetically favorable, it may lead to accumulation and
      aggregation of damaged proteins. As this has been shown not to be the case in daf
      2 mutants, another mechanism must exist to maintain proteostasis in this strain.
      We observed that proteins isolated from daf-2 mutants are more soluble in acidic
      conditions due to increased levels of trehalose. This suggests that trehalose may
      decrease the potential for protein aggregation and increases proteostasis in the
      daf-2 mutants. We postulate that daf-2 mutants save energy by decreasing protein
      turnover rates and instead stabilize their proteome by trehalose.

PMID- 26865497
TI  - Life experiences of caregivers of women with gynaecological cancer: a mixed
      methods systematic review.
AB  - Family caregivers play a key role in meeting care needs of cancer patients. The
      aim of this review was to systematically examine life experiences of family
      caregivers of women with gynaecological cancer. A mixed-methods systematic review
      based on a retrospective review of the research on the topic was conducted. The
      review was limited to articles in English published between 1985 and 2014. The
      literature search was performed in CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed and ScienceDirect. A
      total of 16 full-text articles published in national and international journals
      were reviewed: 10 quantitative studies, 5 qualitative studies and 1 both
      qualitative and quantitative study. Of all caregivers with gynaecological cancer,
      59% were partners, 27% were sons or daughters and 14% were brothers or sisters,
      mothers and friends. The qualitative research on caregivers' experiences revealed
      three themes: 'emotional devastation', 'change' and 'coping'. The family
      caregivers of women with gynaecological cancer had difficulty in areas examined,
      but the studies investigating caregivers' needs were limited to certain subjects
      and they were not solution-oriented. It is recommended that qualitative and
      quantitative studies including the solutions regarding family caregivers of women
      with gynaecological cancer should be integrated.

PMID- 26865498
TI  - Suppressed blinking behavior of CdSe/CdS QDs by polymer coating.
AB  - Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are very important fluorescent nanocrystals with
      excellent optical properties. However, QDs, at the single-particle level, show
      severe fluorescence intermittency (or blinking) on a wide time scale from
      milliseconds to minutes, which limits certain optical and biological
      applications. Generally, blinking behavior of QDs strongly depends on their
      surface state and surrounding environment. Therefore, current blinking
      suppression approaches are mostly focused on the introduction of an inorganic
      shell and organic small molecule compounds. In this study, we described a "bottom
      up" approach for the synthesis of CdSe/CdS/polymer core/shell/shell QDs via the
      in situ one-pot polymerization approach in order to control the blinking behavior
      of QDs. Three monomers (dithiothreitol (DTT), phenylenediamine (PDA), and
      hexamethylenediamine (HDA)) were respectively used to polymerize with
      hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP), and then the polyphosphazene polymers were
      obtained with cyclotriphosphazene as the basic macromolecular backbone. By
      regulating the molar ratios of the activated comonomers, we can control the
      blinking behavior of CdSe/CdS/polymer QDs. Under the optimal conditions, the
      percentage of "non-blinking" CdSe/CdS/polymer QDs (the "on time" fraction > 99%
      of the overall observation time) was up to 78%. The suppression mechanism was
      attributed to the efficient passivation of QD surface traps by the sulfhydryl or
      phenyl groups in the polyphosphazene polymers. 

PMID- 26865496
TI  - Antihypertensive Use and the Effect of a Physical Activity Intervention in the
      Prevention of Major Mobility Disability Among Older Adults: The LIFE Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This subgroup analysis of the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence
      for Elders trial evaluates the impact of a long-term physical activity (PA)
      intervention on rates of major mobility disability (MMD) among older adults
      according to their antihypertensive medication use. METHODS: Lifestyle
      Intervention and Independence for Elders study participants were randomized to
      center-based PA or health education for a median of 2.7 years. Participants were
      sedentary men and women aged 70-89 years with objectively measured physical
      limitations. This analysis evaluated rates of MMD and persistent MMD among 1,633
      participants, according to antihypertensive medication use. Participants were
      designated as either (i) an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor user
      (ACEi+), (ii) a user of other antihypertensives not including ACEi (ACEi-), or
      (iii) nonusers of antihypertensive medications (AHT-). Interactions were explored
      between antihypertensive use and randomized arm. RESULTS: Interaction terms for
      MMD (p = .214) and persistent MMD (p = .180) did not reach statistical
      significance. For MMD, PA displayed marginal effects among ACEi+ (hazard ratio
      [HR] = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57, 1.02) and ACEi- (HR = 0.76; 95%
      CI = 0.60, 0.97) but not AHT- (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 0.75, 1.87). For persistent
      MMD, the effect of PA was greatest among ACEi+ (HR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.39, 0.84)
      when compared to ACEi- (HR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.55, 1.06) or AHT- (HR = 1.18; 95%
      CI = 0.59, 2.36). CONCLUSIONS: The effects of long-term PA on the incidence of
      MMD and persistent MMD were similar among three subgroups of older adults
      stratified by their antihypertensive medication use. However, though statistical
      interactions did not reach significance, several findings may warrant future
      study in other cohorts given the post hoc nature of this study.

PMID- 26865499
TI  - Micro-computed tomography analysis of post space preparation in root canals
      filled with carrier-based thermoplasticized gutta-percha.
AB  - AIM: To determine whether post space preparation deviated from the root canal
      preparation in canals filled with Thermafil, GuttaCore or warm vertically
      compacted gutta-percha. METHODOLOGY: Forty-two extracted human permanent
      maxillary lateral incisors were decoronated, and their root canals instrumented
      using a standardized protocol. Samples were divided into three groups and filled
      with Thermafil (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Johnson City, TN, USA),
      GuttaCore (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties) or warm vertically compacted gutta
      percha, before post space preparation was performed with a GT Post drill
      (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties). Teeth were scanned using micro-computed
      tomography after root filling and again after post space preparation. Scans were
      examined for number of samples with post space deviation, linear deviation of
      post space preparation and minimum root thickness before and after post space
      preparation. Parametric data were analysed with one-way analysis of variance
      (anova) or one-tailed paired Student's t-tests, whilst nonparametric data were
      analysed with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Deviation occurred in eight of forty
      two teeth (19%), seven of fourteen from the Thermafil group (50%), one of
      fourteen from the GuttaCore group (7%), and none from the gutta-percha group.
      Deviation occurred significantly more often in the Thermafil group than in each
      of the other two groups (P < 0.05). Linear deviation of post space preparation
      was greater in the Thermafil group than in both of the other groups and was
      significantly greater than that of the gutta-percha group (P < 0.05). Minimum
      root thickness before post space preparation was significantly greater than it
      was after post space preparation for all groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The
      differences between the Thermafil, GuttaCore and gutta-percha groups in the
      number of samples with post space deviation and in linear deviation of post space
      preparation were associated with the presence or absence of a carrier as well as
      the different carrier materials.

PMID- 26865500
TI  - Spin-orbit coupling effects on electronic structures in stanene nanoribbons.
AB  - The electronic structures and magnetic properties of stanene nanoribbons (SnNRs)
      were studied using first-principle calculations, considering the spin-orbit
      coupling (SOC) effects and edge passivation. The results show that all considered
      armchair SnNRs are nonmagnetic semiconductors with gap values as a periodic
      oscillation function of ribbon width. The zigzag SnNRs present the
      antiferromagnetic ground states with opposite spin order between the two edges,
      and the gaps decrease as the ribbon widths increase. The influences of dangling
      bonds are obvious on the ferromagnetic moments of zigzag SnNRs. The SOC effects
      can open the band gap values of stanene sheets and zigzag SnNRs, but reduce the
      band gap of armchair SnNRs, which indicates that stanene nanostructures may be
      applied in the fields of spinelectronics and quantum spin Hall. 

PMID- 26865501
TI  - Two GPs face charges of manslaughter over death of boy in 2012.

PMID- 26865502
TI  - New Twists and Turns for Actinide Chemistry: Organometallic Infinite Coordination
      Polymers of Thorium Diazide.
AB  - Two organometallic 1D infinite coordination polymers and two organometallic
      monometallic complexes of thorium diazide have been synthesized and
      characterized. Steric control of these self-assembled arrays, which are dense in
      thorium and nitrogen, has also been demonstrated: infinite chains can be
      circumvented by using steric bulk either at the metallocene or with a donor
      ligand in the wedge. 

PMID- 26865504
TI  - Transition metal (Rh and Fe) complexes and main-group (Se and B) adducts with
      N,N'-diphosphanyl NHC ligands: a study of stereoelectronic properties.
AB  - Attempts to evaluate experimentally the donor characteristics of the N,N'-bis(di
      tert-butylphosphanyl)-imidazole-2-ylidene (PC(NHC)P) hybrid ligand are described.
      Thus, reactions of PC(NHC)P with [Rh(MU-Cl)(COD)]2 and [Rh(MU-Cl)(CO)2]2 led to
      the formation of the mononuclear and dinuclear complexes,
      [Rh(PC(NHC)P,kappaP,kappaC(NHC))2]Cl (PC(NHC)P-RhCl) and
      [Rh(CO)(PC(NHC),kappaP,kappaC(NHC),kappaN)]2 (PC(NHC)-RhCO), respectively, the
      latter resulting after in situ cleavage of one (t-Bu)2P-Nimid bond of PC(NHC)P.
      With ligands acting as a P,C-chelate, a straightforward evaluation of the Tolman
      electronic parameter (TEP) of the C(NHC) donor is problematical; the viability of
      dangling P- and bound C(NHC)-donors (i.e.kappaC(NHC)) has been observed in the
      trinuclear Fe(ii) chain complex [Fe3Cl2(MU-Cl)4(THF)2(PC(NHC)P,kappaC(NHC))2]
      (PC(NHC)P-Fe), obtained by the reaction of PC(NHC)P with [Fe4Cl8(THF)6] and,
      recently, established on Cr(II), Co(II) and Au(I) centres. Evaluation of the pi
      accepting properties of the PC(NHC)P (and the related Dipp-PC(NHC)) was based on
      the (77)Se NMR chemical shifts of the corresponding NHC-Se adducts, PC(NHC)P-Se
      (and Dipp-PC(NHC)-Se), which were prepared from the free PC(NHC)P (and Dipp
      PC(NHC)) and Se. The pi-acidity of PC(NHC)P is found to be higher than that of
      Dipp-PC(NHC) but lower than that of SIPr. The donor ability of the C(NHC) in
      PC(NHC)P was explored by its reaction with the Lewis acids
      tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C6F5)3) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)boroxine
      ([(C6F5)BO]3), which resulted in stable donor-acceptor adducts with no FLP
      reactivity. The steric properties of PC(NHC)P and Dipp-PC(NHC) are conformation
      dependent, with the percent buried volume (%Vbur) of PC(NHC)P in the structurally
      characterised conformer calculated at 67.6, the largest value currently reported
      for NHC ligands.

PMID- 26865503
TI  - Effects of ketanserin on experimental colitis in mice and macrophage function.
AB  - Ketanserin is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)-2A receptor (5-HT2AR)
      antagonist. Studies have suggested that ketanserin exerts anti-inflammatory
      effects independent of the baroreflex; however, the mechanisms involved remain
      unclear. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of
      ketanserin in colitis and the possible underlying mechanisms. The expression of 5
      HT2AR was assessed in the colon tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD) and in mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. The
      therapeutic potential of ketanserin was investigated in the mice with colitis. In
      the colon tissue samples from the patients with IBD, a high expression level of 5
      HT2AR was observed. Treatment with ketanserin attenuated the progression of
      experimental colitis in the mice, as indicated by body weight assessment, colon
      length, histological scores and cytokine release. The colonic macrophages from
      the ketanserin-treated mice with colitis exhibited a decreased production of
      inflammatory cytokines, with M2 polarization and impaired migration. The
      knockdown of 5-HT2AR using siRNA partly abolished the inhibitory effects of
      ketanserin on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bone marrow derived
      macrophages (BMDMs), thus demonstrating that the inhibitory effects of ketanserin
      on the production of inflammatory cytokines are partly dependent on 5-HT2AR.
      Ketanserin also inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in
      BMDMs. In conclusion, the findings of the present study demonstrate that
      ketanserin alleviates colitis. Its anti-inflammatory effects may be due to the
      promotion of the anti-inflammatory function of macrophages through 5-HT2AR/NF
      kappaB.

PMID- 26865507
TI  - 1D/2D Carbon Nanomaterial-Polymer Dielectric Composites with High Permittivity
      for Power Energy Storage Applications.
AB  - With the development of flexible electronic devices and large-scale energy
      storage technologies, functional polymer-matrix nanocomposites with high
      permittivity (high-k) are attracting more attention due to their ease of
      processing, flexibility, and low cost. The percolation effect is often used to
      explain the high-k characteristic of polymer composites when the conducting
      functional fillers are dispersed into polymers, which gives the polymer composite
      excellent flexibility due to the very low loading of fillers. Carbon nanotubes
      (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNs), as one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional
      (2D) carbon nanomaterials respectively, have great potential for realizing
      flexible high-k dielectric nanocomposites. They are becoming more attractive for
      many fields, owing to their unique and excellent advantages. The progress in
      dielectric fields by using 1D/2D carbon nanomaterials as functional fillers in
      polymer composites is introduced, and the methods and mechanisms for improving
      dielectric properties, breakdown strength and energy storage density of their
      dielectric nanocomposites are examined. Achieving a uniform dispersion state of
      carbon nanomaterials and preventing the development of conductive networks in
      their polymer composites are the two main issues that still need to be solved in
      dielectric fields for power energy storage. Recent findings, current problems,
      and future perspectives are summarized. 

PMID- 26865506
TI  - Pectic polysaccharides are attacked by hydroxyl radicals in ripening fruit:
      evidence from a fluorescent fingerprinting method.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many fruits soften during ripening, which is important
      commercially and in rendering the fruit attractive to seed-dispersing animals.
      Cell-wall polysaccharide hydrolases may contribute to softening, but sometimes
      appear to be absent. An alternative hypothesis is that hydroxyl radicals ((*)OH)
      non-enzymically cleave wall polysaccharides. We evaluated this hypothesis by
      using a new fluorescent labelling procedure to 'fingerprint' (*)OH-attacked
      polysaccharides. METHODS: We tagged fruit polysaccharides with 2-(isopropylamino)
      acridone (pAMAC) groups to detect (a) any mid-chain glycosulose residues formed
      in vivo during (*)OH action and (b) the conventional reducing termini. The pAMAC
      labelled pectins were digested with Driselase, and the products resolved by high
      voltage electrophoresis and high-pressure liquid chromatography. KEY RESULTS:
      Strawberry, pear, mango, banana, apple, avocado, Arbutus unedo, plum and
      nectarine pectins all yielded several pAMAC-labelled products. GalA-pAMAC
      (monomeric galacturonate, labelled with pAMAC at carbon-1) was produced in all
      species, usually increasing during fruit softening. The six true fruits also gave
      pAMAC.UA-GalA disaccharides (where pAMAC.UA is an unspecified uronate, labelled
      at a position other than carbon-1), with yields increasing during softening.
      Among false fruits, apple and strawberry gave little pAMAC.UA-GalA; pear produced
      it transiently. CONCLUSIONS: GalA-pAMAC arises from pectic reducing termini,
      formed by any of three proposed chain-cleaving agents ((*)OH,
      endopolygalacturonase and pectate lyase), any of which could cause its ripening
      related increase. In contrast, pAMAC.UA-GalA conjugates are diagnostic of mid
      chain oxidation of pectins by (*)OH. The evidence shows that (*)OH radicals do
      indeed attack fruit cell wall polysaccharides non-enzymically during softening in
      vivo. This applies much more prominently to drupes and berries (true fruits) than
      to false fruits (swollen receptacles). (*)OH radical attack on polysaccharides is
      thus predominantly a feature of ovary-wall tissue.

PMID- 26865505
TI  - Intrinsic and membrane-facilitated alpha-synuclein oligomerization revealed by
      label-free detection through solid-state nanopores.
AB  - alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) is an abundant cytosolic protein involved in the
      release of neurotransmitters in presynaptic terminal and its aberrant aggregation
      is found to be associated with Parkinson's disease. Recent study suggests that
      the oligomers formed at the initial oligomerization stage may be the root cause
      of cytotoxicity. While characterizing this stage is challenging due to the
      inherent difficulties in studying heterogeneous and transient systems by
      conventional biochemical technology. Here we use solid-state nanopores to study
      the time-dependent kinetics of alpha-Syn oligomerization through a label-free and
      single molecule approach. A tween 20 coating method is developed to inhibit non
      specific adsorption between alpha-Syn and nanopore surface to ensure successful
      and continuous detection of alpha-Syn translocation. We identify four types of
      oligomers formed in oligomerization stage and find an underlying consumption
      mechanism that the formation of large oligomers consumes small oligomers.
      Furthermore, the effect of lipid membrane on oligomerization of alpha-Syn is also
      investigated and the results show that 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-L
      serine] (DOPS) small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) dramatically enhances the
      aggregation rate of alpha-Syn while do not alter the aggregation pathway. 

PMID- 26865508
TI  - Lung function gain in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary
      dysplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine whether the development of lung
      function, during the first 2 years of life, is different in preterm infants who
      suffered or did not suffer from Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We also
      assessed the role of nutritional status and growth in that development. METHODS:
      Lung function tests were performed in 71 preterm infants at two time points: 6
      months of corrected age and 1 year after. FVC, FEV0.5, FEF75 , and FEF25-75 were
      obtained from maximal expiratory volume curves by means of the raised volume
      rapid thoraco-abdominal compression technique. RESULTS: When comparing lung
      function measurements, we found that FVC (P = 0.033) FEV0.5 (P = 0.044), FEF75 (P
      = 0.014), and FEF25-75 (P = 0.036) were significantly lower in BPD infants. We
      did not find any catch-up of lung function during the study time, in neither the
      whole group of children nor within the BPD or non-BPD groups. The increase in
      lung function was directly proportional to the increase in weight and length. The
      multivariate analysis showed that the increase in z-score of FVC (P = 0.043),
      FEV0.5 (P = 0.015), and FEF75 (P = 0.042), was related with the height velocity
      during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Infants who suffered from BPD have lower
      lung function (FVC, FEV0.5 , FEF75 , and FEF25-75 ), than those non-BPD, at two
      different time points 1 year apart. During the study period, there was no lung
      function catch-up in either BPD or non-BPD infants. The increase in length is
      closely associated to the increase in lung function. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;
      51:936-942. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26865509
TI  - Dihydroartemisinin prevents liver fibrosis in bile duct ligated rats by inducing
      hepatic stellate cell apoptosis through modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
AB  - As a frequent event following chronic insult, liver fibrosis triggers wound
      healing reactions, with extracellular matrix components accumulated in the liver.
      During liver fibrogenesis, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the
      pivotal event. Fibrosis regression can feasibly be treated through
      pharmacological induction of HSC apoptosis. Herein we showed that
      dihydroartemisinin (DHA) improved liver histological architecture, decreased
      hepatic enzyme levels, and inhibited HSCs activation in the fibrotic rat liver.
      DHA also induced apoptosis of HSCs in such liver, as demonstrated by reduced
      distribution of alpha-SMA-positive cells and the presence of high number of
      cleaved-caspase-3-positive cells in vivo, as well as by down-regulation of Bcl-2
      and up-regulation of Bax. In addition, in vitro experiments showed that DHA
      significantly inhibited HSC proliferation and led to dramatic morphological
      alterations in HSCs. we found that DHA disrupted mitochondrial functions and led
      to activation of caspase cascades in HSCs. Mechanistic investigations revealed
      that DHA induced HSC apoptosis through disrupting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase
      (PI3K)/Akt pathway and that PI3K specific inhibitor LY294002 mimicked the pro
      apoptotic effect of DHA. DHA is a promising candidate for the prevention and
      treatment of liver fibrosis.

PMID- 26865510
TI  - Pre-pregnancy maternal obesity and the risk of preterm preeclampsia in the
      American primigravida.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of preterm preeclampsia in primiparous women by
      pre-pregnancy obesity class. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of primiparous
      women with singleton gestations was performed for deliveries from January 2003 to
      April 2014. Cases were stratified by delivery occurring either at >= 37 weeks or
      < 37 weeks. Pre-pregnancy maternal obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI)
      >= 30 kg/m(2) . World Health Organization criteria were used to define BMI class
      of obesity. Multinomial logistic regression modeling estimated the association
      between term and preterm preeclampsia and pre-pregnancy obesity. RESULTS: Of
      28,361 women with complete pre-pregnancy BMI data, 2,588 women (9.1%) had a
      diagnosis of preeclampsia. Women who developed preeclampsia prior to 37 weeks (n
      = 784) were more likely to be women with obesity compared to women who developed
      preeclampsia after 37 weeks (33.1% vs. 25.3%, P = 0.0001). Compared to normal
      weight women without preeclampsia, the risk of preterm preeclampsia increased
      proportionally with pre-pregnancy obesity class, with women with a BMI >= 40
      kg/m(2) having the greatest risk (RR 5.23, 95% CI: 3.86-7.09, P <0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: The risk of preterm preeclampsia increased significantly as the
      severity of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity increased. Reduction in maternal pre
      pregnancy BMI may be protective in mitigating such risk.

PMID- 26865511
TI  - Results from a phase 1 study of nusinersen (ISIS-SMN(Rx)) in children with spinal
      muscular atrophy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary
      clinical efficacy of intrathecal nusinersen (previously ISIS-SMNRx), an antisense
      oligonucleotide designed to alter splicing of SMN2 mRNA, in patients with
      childhood spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS: Nusinersen was delivered by
      intrathecal injection to medically stable patients with type 2 and type 3 SMA
      aged 2-14 years in an open-label phase 1 study and its long-term extension. Four
      ascending single-dose levels (1, 3, 6, and 9 mg) were examined in cohorts of 6-10
      participants. Participants were monitored for safety and tolerability, and CSF
      and plasma pharmacokinetics were measured. Exploratory efficacy endpoints
      included the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) and Pediatric
      Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: A total of 28 participants enrolled in the
      study (n = 6 in first 3 dose cohorts; n = 10 in the 9-mg cohort). Intrathecal
      nusinersen was well-tolerated with no safety/tolerability concerns identified.
      Plasma and CSF drug levels were dose-dependent, consistent with preclinical data.
      Extended pharmacokinetics indicated a prolonged CSF drug half-life of 4-6 months
      after initial clearance. A significant increase in HFMSE scores was observed at
      the 9-mg dose at 3 months postdose (3.1 points; p = 0.016), which was further
      increased 9-14 months postdose (5.8 points; p = 0.008) during the extension
      study. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study support continued development of
      nusinersen for treatment of SMA. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides
      Class IV evidence that in children with SMA, intrathecal nusinersen is not
      associated with safety or tolerability concerns.

PMID- 26865512
TI  - Urinary LRRK2 phosphorylation predicts parkinsonian phenotypes in G2019S LRRK2
      carriers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test whether phosphorylated Ser-1292 LRRK2 levels in urine exosomes
      predicts LRRK2 mutation carriers (LRRK2+) and noncarriers (LRRK2-) with Parkinson
      disease (PD+) and without Parkinson disease (PD-). METHODS: LRRK2 protein was
      purified from urinary exosomes collected from participants in 2 independent
      cohorts. The first cohort included 14 men (LRRK2+/PD+, n = 7; LRRK2-/PD+, n = 4;
      LRRK2-/PD-, n = 3). The second cohort included 62 men (LRRK2-/PD-, n = 16;
      LRRK2+/PD-, n = 16; LRRK2+/PD+, n = 14; LRRK2-/PD+, n = 16). The ratio of Ser(P)
      1292 LRRK2 to total LRRK2 was compared between LRRK2+/PD+ and LRRK2- in the first
      cohort and between LRRK2 G2019S carriers with and without PD in the second
      cohort. RESULTS: LRRK2+/PD+ had higher ratios of Ser(P)-1292 LRRK2 to total LRRK2
      than LRRK2-/PD- (4.8-fold, p < 0.001) and LRRK2-/PD+ (4.6-fold, p < 0.001). Among
      mutation carriers, those with PD had higher Ser(P)-1292 LRRK2 to total LRRK2 than
      those without PD (2.2-fold, p < 0.001). Ser(P)-1292 LRRK2 levels predicted
      symptomatic from asymptomatic carriers with an area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve of 0.844. CONCLUSION: Elevated ratio of phosphorylated Ser
      1292 LRRK2 to total LRRK2 in urine exosomes predicted LRRK2 mutation status and
      PD risk among LRRK2 mutation carriers. Future studies may explore whether
      interventions that reduce this ratio may also reduce PD risk.

PMID- 26865513
TI  - STXBP1 encephalopathy: A neurodevelopmental disorder including epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To give a comprehensive overview of the phenotypic and genetic
      spectrum of STXBP1 encephalopathy (STXBP1-E) by systematically reviewing newly
      diagnosed and previously reported patients. METHODS: We recruited newly diagnosed
      patients with STXBP1 mutations through an international network of clinicians and
      geneticists. Furthermore, we performed a systematic literature search to review
      the phenotypes of all previously reported patients. RESULTS: We describe the
      phenotypic features of 147 patients with STXBP1-E including 45 previously
      unreported patients with 33 novel STXBP1 mutations. All patients have
      intellectual disability (ID), which is mostly severe to profound (88%). Ninety
      five percent of patients have epilepsy. While one-third of patients presented
      with Ohtahara syndrome (21%) or West syndrome (9.5%), the majority has a
      nonsyndromic early-onset epilepsy and encephalopathy (53%) with epileptic spasms
      or tonic seizures as main seizure type. We found no correlation between severity
      of seizures and severity of ID or between mutation type and seizure
      characteristics or cognitive outcome. Neurologic comorbidities including autistic
      features and movement disorders are frequent. We also report 2 previously
      unreported adult patients with prominent extrapyramidal features. CONCLUSION: De
      novo STXBP1 mutations are among the most frequent causes of epilepsy and
      encephalopathy. Most patients have severe to profound ID with little correlation
      among seizure onset, seizure severity, and the degree of ID. Accordingly, we
      hypothesize that seizure severity and ID present 2 independent dimensions of the
      STXBP1-E phenotype. STXBP1-E may be conceptualized as a complex
      neurodevelopmental disorder rather than a primary epileptic encephalopathy.

PMID- 26865515
TI  - Biomarkers for the progression of Parkinson disease.

PMID- 26865514
TI  - Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of dichlorphenamide in periodic paralysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the short-term and long-term effects of dichlorphenamide
      (DCP) on attack frequency and quality of life in hyperkalemic (HYP) and
      hypokalemic (HOP) periodic paralysis. METHODS: Two multicenter randomized, double
      blind, placebo-controlled trials lasted 9 weeks (Class I evidence), followed by a
      1-year extension phase in which all participants received DCP. Forty-four HOP and
      21 HYP participants participated. The primary outcome variable was the average
      number of attacks per week over the final 8 weeks of the double-blind phase.
      RESULTS: The median attack rate was lower in HOP participants on DCP than in
      participants on placebo (0.3 vs 2.4, p = 0.02). The 9-week mean change in the
      Physical Component Summary score of the Short Form-36 was also better in HOP
      participants receiving DCP (treatment effect = 7.29 points, 95% confidence
      interval 2.26 to 12.32, p = 0.006). The median attack rate was also lower in HYP
      participants on DCP (0.9 vs 4.8) than in participants on placebo, but the
      difference in median attack rate was not significant (p = 0.10). There were no
      significant effects of DCP on muscle strength or muscle mass in either trial. The
      most common adverse events in both trials were paresthesia (47% DCP vs 14%
      placebo, both trials combined) and confusion (19% DCP vs 7% placebo, both trials
      combined). CONCLUSIONS: DCP is effective in reducing the attack frequency, is
      safe, and improves quality of life in HOP periodic paralysis. CLASSIFICATION OF
      EVIDENCE: These studies provide Class I evidence that DCP significantly reduces
      attack frequency in HOP but lacked the precision to support either efficacy or
      lack of efficacy of DCP in HYP.

PMID- 26865520
TI  - Urinary LRRK2 phosphorylation: Penetrating the thicket of Parkinson disease?

PMID- 26865519
TI  - Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2
      decades later.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether poor cardiovascular (CV) fitness and exaggerated
      exercise blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were associated with worse brain
      morphology in later life. METHODS: Framingham Offspring participants (n = 1,094,
      53.9% female) free from dementia and CV disease (CVD) underwent an exercise
      treadmill test at a mean age of 40 +/- 9 years. A second treadmill test and MRI
      scans of the brain were administered 2 decades later at mean age of 58 +/- 8
      years. RESULTS: Poor CV fitness and greater diastolic BP and HR response to
      exercise at baseline were associated with a smaller total cerebral brain volume
      (TCBV) almost 2 decades later (all p < 0.05) in multivariable adjusted models;
      the effect of 1 SD lower fitness was equivalent to approximately 1 additional
      year of brain aging in individuals free of CVD. In participants with
      prehypertension or hypertension at baseline, exercise systolic BP was also
      associated with smaller TCBV (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that
      lower CV fitness and exaggerated exercise BP and HR responses in middle-aged
      adults are associated with smaller brain volume nearly 2 decades later. Promotion
      of midlife CV fitness may be an important step towards ensuring healthy brain
      aging.

PMID- 26865518
TI  - Age at onset and Parkinson disease phenotype.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical phenotype and characteristics of Parkinson disease
      (PD) at different ages at onset in recently diagnosed patients with untreated PD.
      METHODS: We have analyzed baseline data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers
      Initiative database. Four hundred twenty-two patients with a diagnosis of PD
      confirmed by DaTSCAN imaging were divided into 4 groups according to age at onset
      (onset younger than 50 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and 70 years or older)
      and investigated for differences in side, type and localization of symptoms,
      occurrence/severity of motor and nonmotor features, nigrostriatal function, and
      CSF biomarkers. RESULTS: Older age at onset was associated with a more severe
      motor and nonmotor phenotype, a greater dopaminergic dysfunction on DaTSCAN, and
      reduction of CSF alpha-synuclein and total tau. The most common presentation was
      the combination of 2 or 3 motor symptoms (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and
      rigidity) with rigidity being more common in the young-onset group. In about 80%
      of the patients with localized onset, the arm was the most affected part of the
      body, with no difference across subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the presentation
      of PD symptoms is similar across age subgroups, the severity of motor and
      nonmotor features, the impairment of striatal binding, and the levels of CSF
      biomarkers increase with age at onset. The variability of imaging and nonimaging
      biomarkers in patients with PD at different ages could hamper the results of
      future clinical trials.

PMID- 26865521
TI  - Spinal muscular atrophy: A preliminary result toward new therapy.

PMID- 26865522
TI  - A newly approved drug for a rare group of diseases: Dichlorphenamide for periodic
      paralysis.

PMID- 26865517
TI  - Long-term safety and efficacy of teriflunomide: Nine-year follow-up of the
      randomized TEMSO study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report safety and efficacy outcomes from up to 9 years of treatment
      with teriflunomide in an extension (NCT00803049) of the pivotal phase 3
      Teriflunomide Multiple Sclerosis Oral (TEMSO) trial (NCT00134563). METHODS: A
      total of 742 patients entered the extension. Teriflunomide-treated patients
      continued the original dose; those previously receiving placebo were randomized
      1:1 to teriflunomide 14 mg or 7 mg. RESULTS: By June 2013, median (maximum)
      teriflunomide exposure exceeded 190 (325) weeks per patient; 468 patients (63%)
      remained on treatment. Teriflunomide was well-tolerated with continued exposure.
      The most common adverse events (AEs) matched those in the core study. In
      extension year 1, first AEs of transient liver enzyme increases or reversible
      hair thinning were generally attributable to patients switching from placebo to
      teriflunomide. Approximately 11% of patients discontinued treatment owing to AEs.
      Twenty percent of patients experienced serious AEs. There were 3 deaths unrelated
      to teriflunomide. Soon after the extension started, annualized relapse rates and
      gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesion counts fell in patients switching from placebo to
      teriflunomide, remaining low thereafter. Disability remained stable in all
      treatment groups (median Expanded Disability Status Scale score <=2.5;
      probability of 12-week disability progression <=0.48). CONCLUSIONS: In the TEMSO
      extension, safety observations were consistent with the core trial, with no new
      or unexpected AEs in patients receiving teriflunomide for up to 9 years. Disease
      activity decreased in patients switching from placebo and remained low in
      patients continuing on teriflunomide. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study
      provides Class III evidence that long-term treatment with teriflunomide is well
      tolerated and efficacy of teriflunomide is maintained long-term.

PMID- 26865516
TI  - Standardized EEG interpretation accurately predicts prognosis after cardiac
      arrest.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify reliable predictors of outcome in comatose patients after
      cardiac arrest using a single routine EEG and standardized interpretation
      according to the terminology proposed by the American Clinical Neurophysiology
      Society. METHODS: In this cohort study, 4 EEG specialists, blinded to outcome,
      evaluated prospectively recorded EEGs in the Target Temperature Management trial
      (TTM trial) that randomized patients to 33 degrees C vs 36 degrees C. Routine EEG
      was performed in patients still comatose after rewarming. EEGs were classified
      into highly malignant (suppression, suppression with periodic discharges, burst
      suppression), malignant (periodic or rhythmic patterns, pathological or
      nonreactive background), and benign EEG (absence of malignant features). Poor
      outcome was defined as best Cerebral Performance Category score 3-5 until 180
      days. RESULTS: Eight TTM sites randomized 202 patients. EEGs were recorded in 103
      patients at a median 77 hours after cardiac arrest; 37% had a highly malignant
      EEG and all had a poor outcome (specificity 100%, sensitivity 50%). Any malignant
      EEG feature had a low specificity to predict poor prognosis (48%) but if 2
      malignant EEG features were present specificity increased to 96% (p < 0.001).
      Specificity and sensitivity were not significantly affected by targeted
      temperature or sedation. A benign EEG was found in 1% of the patients with a poor
      outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Highly malignant EEG after rewarming reliably predicted
      poor outcome in half of patients without false predictions. An isolated finding
      of a single malignant feature did not predict poor outcome whereas a benign EEG
      was highly predictive of a good outcome.

PMID- 26865525
TI  - EEG and cardiac arrest: Divining prognosis at the bedside.

PMID- 26865524
TI  - Holmes tremor: Clinical description, lesion localization, and treatment in a
      series of 29 cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, etiology, findings from
      neuroimaging, and treatment results in a series of 29 patients with Holmes tremor
      (HT). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed based on review of medical
      records and videos of patients with HT diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 16 women
      and 13 men were included. The mean age at the moment of CNS insult was 33.9 +/-
      20.1 years (range 8-76 years). The most common causes were vascular (48.3%),
      ischemic, or hemorrhagic. Traumatic brain injury only represented 17.24%; other
      causes represented 34.5%. The median latency from lesion to tremor onset was 2
      months (range 7 days-228 months). The most common symptoms/signs associated with
      HT were hemiparesis (62%), ataxia (51.7%), hypoesthesia (27.58%), dystonia
      (24.1%), cranial nerve involvement (24.1%), and dysarthria (24.1%). Other
      symptoms/signs were vertical gaze disorders (6.8%), bradykinesia/rigidity (6.8%),
      myoclonus (3.4%), and seizures (3.4%). Most of the patients had lesions involving
      more than one area. MRI showed lesions in thalamus or midbrain or cerebellum in
      82.7% of the patients. Levodopa treatment was effective in 13 out of 24 treated
      patients (54.16%) and in 3 patients unilateral thalamotomy provided excellent
      results. CONCLUSIONS: The most common causes of HT in our series were vascular
      lesions. The most common lesion topography was mesencephalic, thalamic, or both.
      Treatment with levodopa and thalamic stereotactic lesional surgery seems to be
      effective.

PMID- 26865523
TI  - Recommendations for observational studies of comorbidity in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To reach consensus about the most relevant comorbidities to study in
      multiple sclerosis (MS) with respect to incidence, prevalence, and effect on
      outcomes; review datasets that may support studies of comorbidity in MS; and
      identify MS outcomes that should be prioritized in such studies. METHODS: We held
      an international workshop to meet these objectives, informed by a systematic
      review of the incidence and prevalence of comorbidity in MS, and an international
      survey regarding research priorities for comorbidity. RESULTS: We recommend
      establishing age- and sex-specific incidence and prevalence estimates for 5
      comorbidities (depression, anxiety, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes);
      evaluating the effect of 7 comorbidities (depression, anxiety, hypertension,
      diabetes, hyperlipidemia, chronic lung disease, and autoimmune diseases) on
      disability, quality of life, brain atrophy and other imaging parameters, health
      care utilization, employment, and mortality, including age, sex, race/ethnicity,
      socioeconomic status, and disease duration as potential confounders; harmonizing
      study designs across jurisdictions; and conducting such studies worldwide.
      Ultimately, clinical trials of treating comorbidity in MS are needed. CONCLUSION:
      Our recommendations will help address knowledge gaps regarding the incidence,
      prevalence, and effect of comorbidity on outcomes in MS.

PMID- 26865527
TI  - Concurrent Hypoparathyroidism Is Associated With Impaired Physical Function and
      Quality of Life in Hypothyroidism.
AB  - Total thyroidectomy causes postsurgical hypothyroidism (HypoT). Besides HypoT, as
      a complication patients may also develop hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT). The aim of
      this study was to assess quality of life (QoL), muscle function, and postural
      stability in patients with postsurgical hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism
      (HypoT+PT) as compared to patients with postsurgical HypoT and healthy controls.
      Age- and gender-matched patients on treatment for HypoT+PT and HypoT were
      recruited from our outpatient clinic. Matched healthy controls were recruited
      from the general background population. Compared with controls, HypoT was
      associated with a significantly lower mental summary score, whereas patients with
      HypoT+PT had a significantly lower physical summary score (Short Form 36 Health
      Survey questionnaire version 2). Moreover, the physical component score was
      significantly lower in patients with HypoT+PT compared with HypoT. WHO-5 well
      being index was significantly lower in both groups of patients compared with
      controls, but did not differ between groups of patients. Compared with controls,
      muscle strength and maximal force production was significantly reduced in
      HypoT+PT, but not in HypoT. In HypoT+PT, the time spent on the Timed Up & Go test
      and the Repeated Chair Stands test were significantly longer than in the HypoT
      group and the control group. Postsurgical HypoT+PT is associated with a more
      severe impairment of QoL, in particular regarding physical functioning, than
      HypoT. HypoT+PT patients are also hampered by impaired muscle function. Studies
      on how to improve well-being and muscle function in HypoT+PT patients are
      warranted. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

PMID- 26865526
TI  - Rapid Urine LAM Testing Improves Diagnosis of Expectorated Smear-Negative
      Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an HIV-endemic Region.
AB  - We sought to determine if urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) would improve diagnosis
      of pulmonary TB. We enrolled consecutive adults presenting with >=2 TB-related
      symptoms, obtained one induced sputum sample for smear microscopy (AFB) and
      mycobacterial culture, and performed urine LAM testing (Determine(TM) TB LAM,
      Alere). We used culture-confirmed pulmonary TB as the gold standard, and compared
      accuracy with area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). Among
      90 participants, 82 of 88 tested (93%) were HIV-infected with a median CD4
      168/mm(3) (IQR 89-256/mm(3)). Diagnostic sensitivities of urine LAM and sputum
      AFB were 42.1% (95% CI 29.1-55.9%) and 21.1% (95% CI 11.4-33.9%), and increased
      to 52.6% (95% CI 39.0-66.0%) when combined. Sensitivity of LAM increased
      significantly among participants with a lower Karnofsky Performance score,
      anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and higher C-reactive protein. Combining LAM with AFB
      had an AUROC = 0.68 (95% CI 0.59-0.77), significantly better than AFB alone
      (AUROC=0.58; 95% CI 0.51-0.64). The combination of LAM and AFB was significantly
      better than AFB alone among patients with Karnofsky Performance score <=90,
      hemoglobin <=10 g/dL, albumin <=25 g/L, C-reactive protein >=25 mg/L, or CD4
      <200/mm(3). Urine LAM testing may be most beneficial among patients with
      functional impairment, elevated inflammatory markers, or greater
      immunosuppression. 

PMID- 26865529
TI  - Blind sac closure: a safe and effective management option for the chronically
      discharging ear.

PMID- 26865528
TI  - Evolution of short inverted repeat in cupressophytes, transfer of accD to nucleus
      in Sciadopitys verticillata and phylogenetic position of Sciadopityaceae.
AB  - Sciadopitys verticillata is an evergreen conifer and an economically valuable
      tree used in construction, which is the only member of the family
      Sciadopityaceae. Acquisition of the S. verticillata chloroplast (cp) genome will
      be useful for understanding the evolutionary mechanism of conifers and
      phylogenetic relationships among gymnosperm. In this study, we have first
      reported the complete chloroplast genome of S. verticillata. The total genome is
      138,284 bp in length, consisting of 118 unique genes. The S. verticillata cp
      genome has lost one copy of the canonical inverted repeats and shown distinctive
      genomic structure comparing with other cupressophytes. Fifty-three simple
      sequence repeat loci and 18 forward tandem repeats were identified in the S.
      verticillata cp genome. According to the rearrangement of cupressophyte cp
      genome, we proposed one mechanism for the formation of inverted repeat: tandem
      repeat occured first, then rearrangement divided the tandem repeat into inverted
      repeats located at different regions. Phylogenetic estimates inferred from 59
      gene sequences and cpDNA organizations have both shown that S. verticillata was
      sister to the clade consisting of Cupressaceae, Taxaceae, and Cephalotaxaceae.
      Moreover, accD gene was found to be lost in the S. verticillata cp genome, and a
      nucleus copy was identified from two transcriptome data. 

PMID- 26865531
TI  - Reduction of hip joint reaction force via medio-lateral foot center of pressure
      manipulation in bilateral hip osteoarthritis patients.
AB  - Loading/excessive loading of the hip joint has been linked to onset and
      progression of hip osteoarthritis. Footwear-generated biomechanical manipulation
      in the frontal plane has been previously shown in a cohort of healthy subjects to
      cause a specific gait adaption when the foot center of pressure trajectory was
      shifted medially, which thereby significantly reduced hip joint reaction force.
      The objective of the present study was to validate these results in a cohort of
      female bilateral hip osteoarthritis patients. Sixteen patients underwent gait
      analysis while using a footworn biomechanical device, allowing controlled foot
      center of pressure manipulation, in three para-sagittal configurations: medial,
      lateral, and neutral. Hip osteoarthritis patients exhibited similar results to
      those observed in healthy subjects in that a medial center of pressure led to an
      increase in inter-maleolar distance while step width (i.e., distance between
      right and left foot center of pressure) remained constant. This adaptation, which
      we speculate subjects adopt to maintain base of support, was associated with
      significantly greater hip abduction, significantly decreased hip adduction
      moment, and significantly reduced joint reaction force compared to the neutral
      and lateral configurations. Recommendations for treatment of hip osteoarthritis
      emphasize reduction of loads on the pathological joint(s) during daily activities
      and especially in gait. Our results show that a medially deviated center of
      pressure causes a reduction in hip joint reaction force. The present study does
      not prove, but rather suggests, clinical significance, and further investigation
      is required to assess clinical implications. (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research
      Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1762-1771, 2016.

PMID- 26865530
TI  - Wound-healing factors can prime head and neck cancer cells to increase their
      tumor-forming capacity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We investigated whether exposing a wound-healing-sensitive
      cell line to human wound fluid (HWF) could prime the cells to increase their
      tumor-forming ability in nude mice and, if so, whether this ability can be
      inhibited by pharmacological substances. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental animal model.
      METHODS: Take rate was measured in BALB/c nude mice after pretreatment of the
      cells with HWF using human serum and fetal bovine serum as controls. Inhibition
      of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) with S3I-201
      tocilizumab, and of interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R) with tocilizumab was performed.
      RESULTS: Preincubation with HWF resulted in a significant increase in take rate
      compared to controls. The increase in take rate could be decreased by both STAT3
      and IL6R inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that head and neck
      squamous cell cancer cells might be stimulated to increase their tumor-forming
      ability both close to a surgical wound and at more distant locations, as a
      consequence of the wound-healing response. The work also suggests new treatment
      modalities aimed at decreasing these stimulatory effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA
      Laryngoscope, 126:E213-E217, 2016.

PMID- 26865532
TI  - Mammalian Autophagy: How Does It Work?
AB  - Autophagy is a conserved intracellular pathway that delivers cytoplasmic contents
      to lysosomes for degradation via double-membrane autophagosomes. Autophagy
      substrates include organelles such as mitochondria, aggregate-prone proteins that
      cause neurodegeneration and various pathogens. Thus, this pathway appears to be
      relevant to the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, and its modulation may have
      therapeutic value. Here, we focus on the cell and molecular biology of mammalian
      autophagy and review the key proteins that regulate the process by discussing
      their roles and how these may be modulated by posttranslational modifications. We
      consider the membrane-trafficking events that impact autophagy and the questions
      relating to the sources of autophagosome membrane(s). Finally, we discuss data
      from structural studies and some of the insights these have provided. 

PMID- 26865533
TI  - Necroptosis and Inflammation.
AB  - Necroptosis is a regulated form of necrosis, with the dying cell rupturing and
      releasing intracellular components that can trigger an innate immune response.
      Toll-like receptor 3 and 4 agonists, tumor necrosis factor, certain viral
      infections, or the T cell receptor can trigger necroptosis if the activity of the
      protease caspase-8 is compromised. Necroptosis signaling is modulated by the
      kinase RIPK1 and requires the kinase RIPK3 and the pseudokinase MLKL. Either
      RIPK3 deficiency or RIPK1 inhibition confers resistance in various animal disease
      models, suggesting that inflammation caused by necroptosis contributes to tissue
      damage and that inhibitors of these kinases could have therapeutic potential.
      Recent studies have revealed unexpected complexity in the regulation of cell
      death programs by RIPK1 and RIPK3 with the possibility that necroptosis is but
      one mechanism by which these kinases promote inflammation. 

PMID- 26865535
TI  - Comparison of alogliptin and glipizide for composite endpoint of glycated
      haemoglobin reduction, no hypoglycaemia and no weight gain in type 2 diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - This was a post hoc analysis of a 2-year, double-blind study of 2639 patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled on metformin
      monotherapy, which assessed achievement of a composite endpoint of sustained
      glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction (<=7.0% at week 104 or >=0.5% decrease
      from baseline) with no weight gain and no hypoglycaemic events with alogliptin
      12.5 and 25 mg daily or glipizide (<=20 mg daily), each added to metformin. With
      an HbA1c target of <=7.0%, 24.2 and 26.9% of patients treated with alogliptin
      12.5 and 25 mg, respectively, achieved the composite endpoint versus 10.7% of
      patients treated with glipizide (both p < 0.001). With a criterion of >=0.5%
      decrease in HbA1c, the composite endpoint was reached in 22.5, 25.2 and 10.4% of
      patients treated with alogliptin 12.5 mg, alogliptin 25 mg and glipizide,
      respectively. Odds ratios for achieving the composite endpoint favoured
      alogliptin in the primary analysis set and in all subgroups of patients. Patients
      with T2DM failing metformin monotherapy were more likely to achieve sustained
      glycaemic control with no hypoglycaemia or weight gain at 2 years with alogliptin
      than with glipizide.

PMID- 26865536
TI  - Differences between diploma and baccalaureate dental hygiene education in British
      Columbia: a qualitative perspective.
AB  - : The British Columbia Ministry of Health in Canada approved a new registration
      category for dental hygienists in 2012. This category included four abilities
      that registrants were required to demonstrate at a 4th-year baccalaureate degree
      level. OBJECTIVE: To identify the differences, if any, between diploma and
      bachelor's degree education with regard to the 4 legislated abilities focused on
      the process of care for clients with complex needs and/or disabling conditions
      including client safety, referrals and interprofessional collaboration. METHODS:
      Registrants who had entered practice with a diploma and then gained a
      baccalaureate degree were invited to participate in an online survey including
      closed- and open-ended questions. The study was a mixed-method design where the
      qualitative data were nested concurrently in the open-ended questions; the data
      were analysed through thematic analysis using grounded theory methods. RESULTS
      AND DISCUSSION: Respondents (n = 123; 51%) indicated their client care had
      improved with baccalaureate education due to increased knowledge, increased
      understanding and increased abilities to make judgements with a particular
      emphasis on evidence-based decisions. These more advanced abilities provided them
      with increased confidence for taking action particularly in interprofessional
      contexts and increased the quality of their decision-making thus leading to
      better care for clients. CONCLUSION: Respondents described their dental hygiene
      services as generally being of a higher standard and specifically in the 4
      legislated abilities as a direct result of baccalaureate education.

PMID- 26865538
TI  - Physiological responses during exposure to carbon dioxide and bioeffluents at
      levels typically occurring indoors.
AB  - Twenty-five subjects were exposed to different levels of carbon dioxide (CO2 )
      and bioeffluents. The ventilation rate was set high enough to create a reference
      condition of 500 ppm CO2 with subjects present; additional CO2 was then added to
      supply air to reach levels of 1000 or 3000 ppm, or the ventilation rate was
      reduced to allow metabolically generated CO2 to reach the same two levels
      (bioeffluents increased as well). Heart rate, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2
      (ETCO2 ), oxygen saturation of blood (SPO2 ), respiration rate, nasal peak flow,
      and forced expiration were monitored, and the levels of salivary alpha-amylase
      and cortisol were analyzed. The subjects performed a number of mental tasks
      during exposures and assessed their levels of comfort and the intensity of their
      acute health symptoms. During exposure to CO2 at 3000 ppm, when CO2 was added or
      ventilation was restricted, ETCO2 increased more and heart rate decreased less
      than the changes that occurred in the reference condition. Exposure to
      bioeffluents, when metabolically generated CO2 was at 3000 ppm, significantly
      increased diastolic blood pressure and salivary alpha-amylase level compared with
      pre-exposure levels, and reduced the performance of a cue-utilization test: These
      effects may suggest higher arousal/stress. A model is proposed describing how
      mental performance is affected by exposure to bioeffluents.

PMID- 26865537
TI  - Patterns of regional and distant metastasis in esthesioneuroblastoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To define the incidence and risk factors of metastatic
      disease and the effectiveness of salvage therapy in esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB).
      STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 57 patients presenting from 1979 through
      2009. METHODS: Cumulative incidence of neck failure, distant failure, and
      survival were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Overall survival
      for all patients was 85% at 5 years and 75% at 10 years. Overall survival was
      negatively impacted by intracranial tumor extension (P < 0.001), positive
      resection margins (P = 0.05), and neck metastases (P = 0.017). Neck lymph nodes
      were not routinely electively irradiated during this time period. Nodal
      metastases developed in 17% of patients at a median time of 60 months. Kadish
      stage was not associated with a risk of nodal metastasis (P = 0.78). After
      treatment for nodal recurrence, locoregional control was achieved in 78% of
      patients. Of patients developing nodal recurrence, more than half developed
      distant metastases. The cumulative incidence of distant metastasis was 39% at a
      median time of 40 months. Patients who presented with Kadish stage C or D had a
      significantly increased risk of distant failure (P < 0.001). In patients
      developing nodal (P = 0.017) or distant metastasis (P = 0.001), the probability
      of survival was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Regional and distant
      metastases in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma occur in a delayed fashion and
      negatively impact survival. Neck nodal recurrence may be a harbinger of distant
      metastases. At the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, we
      now treat the majority of ENB patients with elective nodal irradiation. However,
      the chief obstacle to long-term cure is distant metastases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
      Laryngoscope, 126:1556-1561, 2016.

PMID- 26865539
TI  - Effect of perceived organizational support on suicidal ideation of young
      employees: The mediator role of self-esteem.
AB  - This study aimed to explore the relationships among perceived organizational
      support, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation of young employees. A total of 447
      unmarried employees completed the survey of perceived organizational support,
      Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and suicide ideation scale. The results revealed
      that perceived organizational support, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation were
      significantly correlated with each other. Stepwise regression analysis and path
      analysis both indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the effect of
      perceived organizational support on suicidal ideation.

PMID- 26865540
TI  - When seconds count: A study of communication variables in the opening segment of
      emergency calls.
AB  - The opening sequence of an emergency call influences the efficiency of the
      ambulance dispatch time. The greeting sequences in 105 calls to a South African
      emergency service were analysed. Initial results suggested the advantage of a
      specific two-part opening sequence. An on-site experiment aimed at improving call
      efficiency was conducted during one shift (1100 calls). Results indicated reduced
      conversational repairs and a significant reduction of 4 seconds in mean call
      length. Implications for systems and training are derived.

PMID- 26865541
TI  - Gene Targeting to the Uteroplacental Circulation of Pregnant Guinea Pigs.
AB  - Our study aimed to target adenoviral gene therapy to the uteroplacental
      circulation of pregnant guinea pigs in order to develop a novel therapy for fetal
      growth restriction. Four methods of delivery of an adenovirus encoding beta
      galactosidase (Ad.LacZ) were evaluated: intravascular injection using phosphate
      buffered saline (PBS) into (1) uterine artery (UtA) or (2) internal iliac artery
      or external administration in (3) PBS or (4) pluronic F-127 gel (Sigma Aldrich).
      Postmortem examination was performed 4 to 7 days after gene transfer. Tissue
      transduction was assessed by X-gal histochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay. External vascular application of the adenovirus vector in combination with
      pluronic gel had 91.7% success rate in terms of administration (85% maternal
      survival) and gave the best results for maternal/fetal survival and local
      transduction efficiency without any spread to maternal or fetal tissues. This
      study suggests an optimal method of gene delivery to the UtAs of a small rodent
      for preclinical studies.

PMID- 26865542
TI  - Enhancing Adenoviral-Mediated Gene Transfer and Expression to Endometrial Cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to screen a panel of modified adenoviral gene transfer
      vectors to identify those which can sustain high gene expression in human
      endometrial cells. METHODS: Normal endometrial stromal cell cultures were
      established from endometrial lining of hysterectomy specimens performed for
      benign gynecologic indications. Human endometrial stromal cells were transfected
      by modified adenoviruses expressing luciferase reporter gene. Luciferase activity
      mediated by each virus was expressed as a percentage of adenovirus serotype 5
      (Ad5-CMV-luc) activity. The 2-tailed Student t test was used to compare data.
      RESULTS: At a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 pfu/cell, of the
      transductionally modified adenoviruses, adenovirus-RGD (Ad-RGD-luc) mediated
      highest level of endometrial cell transduction with transgene expression around 4
      times higher when compared to Ad5 (P < .001). Of the transcriptionally targeted
      adenoviruses, adenovirus under secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor promoter
      (Ad-SLPI-luc) and adenovirus under heparanase promoter (Ad-heparanase-luc)
      mediated luciferase activation were 5.8- and 4.3-folds higher than Ad5-CMV-luc,
      respectively (P = .02 and .03, respectively). At MOI of 50 pfu/cell, Ad-RGD-luc
      and AD-SLPI-luc mediated significantly higher gene transfer efficiency compared
      to Ad5-CMV-luc (P values < .001, for each virus). Ad-heparanase-luc achieved
      higher gene activity, but difference was not significant (P = .1). Ad-SLPI-luc,
      at low viral dose (10 pfu/ cell), mediated gene expression effect comparable to
      Ad5-CMV-luc at a high dose (50 pfu/cell), with no significant difference.
      CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that when compared to the wild-type adenovirus, Ad-RGD
      luc, Ad-SLPI-luc, and Ad-heparanase-luc mediate higher reporter gene activity in
      endometrial cells and can work as effective gene transfer vectors in gene therapy
      applications to the endometrium.

PMID- 26865544
TI  - The Presence of Endometrioma Does Not Impair Time-Lapse Morphokinetic Parameters
      and Quality of Embryos: A Study On Sibling Oocytes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To see whether the oocytes retrieved from an ovary with an
      endometrioma would develop into embryos with aberrant timings of cleavage as
      assessed using time-lapse monitoring (TLM) and poorer morphologic quality
      compared with sibling oocytes from the contralateral ovary with no endometrioma
      in the same patient after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. METHODS: This was an
      observational prospective study at an in vitro fertilization (IVF) center of a
      private hospital. It included analysis and comparison of 128 embryos (69 embryos
      developed from the ovary with endometrioma and 59 embryos from the contralateral
      ovary without endometrioma serving as controls from a total of 20 women with
      infertility). Morphology of the embryo was assessed twice (days 3 and 5), again
      by capturing images with the TLM system. Morphokinetic parameters of embryos and
      clinical pregnancy rates were recorded separately from ovaries with and without
      endometrioma and were the primary outcomes of the study. Secondary outcomes
      included number of retrieved oocytes, number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes,
      fertilization rates, and conventional morphological classification of embryos.
      RESULTS: There were no differences in terms of the following time-lapse
      morphokinetic parameters of embryos. The mean numbers of oocytes and MII oocytes
      collected from the ovary with the endometrioma were similar to those collected
      from the contralateral ovary without endometrioma. Fertilization rates and the
      percentage of embryos with top morphologic quality were also similar.
      CONCLUSIONS: According to the morphokinetic parameters, this study further
      strengthens the notion that removal of endometriomas before IVF is not a
      necessity in terms of better oocyte quality and development.

PMID- 26865543
TI  - Aberrant HOXA10 Methylation in Patients With Common Gynecologic Disorders:
      Implications for Reproductive Outcomes.
AB  - HomeoboxA10 (HOXA10) is a transcription factor that is crucial for the
      development and patterning of the uterus during embryogenesis. In the adult
      endometrium, HOXA10 expression is regulated by steroid hormones and embryonic
      signals. Expression of sufficient HOXA10 messenger RNA is essential to
      endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Aberrant methylation is believed
      to alter the expression of HOXA10. Methylation of this gene may be associated
      with decreased fertility, implantation defects, and/or reproductive wastage seen
      in certain disease states that affect the female reproductive tract. This study
      describes the differences in methylation patterns of HOXA10 gene in uterine
      myomas, endometriosis, uterine septum, Asherman syndrome, or uterine polyps of
      women undergoing hysteroscopic surgery. In the endometrium of uteri with polyps,
      submucosal myomas, and intramural myomas, there were CpG sites within the HOXA10
      gene that were highly methylated compared to controls. The HOXA10 gene in women
      with endometriosis was hypomethylated compared to controls. DNA methylation may
      be a common molecular mechanism that results in reproductive dysfunction seen in
      gynecologic disease. 

PMID- 26865546
TI  - An Environmentally Sensitive Fluorescent Dye as a Multidimensional Probe of
      Amyloid Formation.
AB  - We have explored amyloid formation using poly(amino acid) model systems in which
      differences in peptide secondary structure and hydrophobicity can be introduced
      in a controlled manner. We show that an environmentally sensitive fluorescent
      dye, dapoxyl, is able to identify beta-sheet structure and hydrophobic surfaces,
      structural features likely to be related to toxicity, as a result of changes in
      its excitation and emission profiles and its relative quantum yield. These
      results show that dapoxyl is a multidimensional probe of the time dependence of
      amyloid aggregation, which provides information about the presence and nature of
      metastable aggregation intermediates that is inaccessible to the conventional
      probes that rely on changes in quantum yield alone. 

PMID- 26865549
TI  - miR-21 promotes fibrosis in an acute cardiac allograft transplantation model.
AB  - AIMS: Cardiac transplantation is the only curative therapy for end-stage heart
      failure. Fibrosis is one of the major causes for impaired function of cardiac
      allografts. MicroRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, play a critical role in
      the development of cardiovascular disease, but the role of microRNAs in cardiac
      allograft failure is not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: To uncover a role
      of microRNAs during cardiac graft fibrosis, we generated global microRNA profiles
      in allogeneic (BALB/c in C57BL/6N) and isogeneic (C57BL/6N in C57BL/6N) murine
      hearts after transplantation. miR-21 together with cardiac fibrosis was increased
      in cardiac allografts compared with isografts. Likewise, patients with cardiac
      rejection after heart transplantation showed increased cardiac miR-21 levels. miR
      21 was induced upon treatment with IL-6 in a monocyte cell line. Overexpression
      of miR-21 in this monocyte cell line activated a fibrotic gene programme and
      promoted monocyte-to-fibrocyte transition together with activation of chemokine
      (C-C) motif ligand 2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) via the phosphatase and
      tensin homologue/activator protein 1 regulatory axis. In vivo, both genetic and
      pharmacological inhibition of miR-21 successfully reduced fibrosis and fibrocyte
      accumulation in cardiac allografts. CONCLUSION: Thus, inhibition of miR-21 is a
      novel strategy to target fibrosis development in cardiac allografts.

PMID- 26865545
TI  - Concise Review: Mechanisms Behind Apoptotic Cell-Based Therapies Against
      Transplant Rejection and Graft versus Host Disease.
AB  - The main limitations to the success of transplantation are the antigraft response
      developed by the recipient immune system, and the adverse side effects of chronic
      immunosuppression. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) triggered by donor-derived T
      lymphocytes against the recipient tissues is another serious obstacle in the
      field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Several laboratories have
      tested the possibility of promoting antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance for therapy
      of graft rejection, GVHD, and autoimmune disorders, by developing methodologies
      that mimic the mechanisms by which the immune system maintains peripheral
      tolerance in the steady state. It has been long recognized that the silent
      clearance of cells undergoing apoptosis exerts potent immune-regulatory effects
      and provides apoptotic cell-derived Ags to those Ag-presenting cells (APCs) that
      internalize them, in particular macrophages and dendritic cells. Therefore, in
      situ-targeting of recipient APCs by systemic administration of leukocytes in
      early apoptosis and bearing donor Ags represents a relatively simple approach to
      control the antidonor response against allografts. Here, we review the mechanisms
      by which apoptotic cells are silently cleared by phagocytes, and how such
      phenomenon leads to down-regulation of the innate and adaptive immunity. We
      discuss the evolution of apoptotic cell-based therapies from murine models of
      organ/tissue transplantation and GVHD, to clinical trials. We make emphasis on
      potential limitations and areas of concern of apoptotic cell-based therapies, and
      on how other immune-suppressive therapies used in the clinics or tested
      experimentally likely also function through the silent clearance of apoptotic
      cells by the immune system. Stem Cells 2016;34:1142-1150.

PMID- 26865550
TI  - Three-Year Pre-Post Analysis of EBP Integration in a Magnet-Designated Community
      Hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adoption of evidence-based practices (EBP) by registered nurses (RNs)
      and nurse leaders continues to be a challenge. Although multiple strategies and
      substantial resources are being invested to advance nursing practice based on
      evidence, little is known about the long-term impact of these interventions.
      AIMS: This study was undertaken to assess nurse leaders' and clinical RNs'
      beliefs to use EBP, perceptions about organizational readiness for EBP, and
      frequency of implementing EBP following implementation of multifaceted
      interventions to achieve and maintain Magnet designation. METHODS: This
      retrospective descriptive study compared data from two previously administered
      online surveys (2008 and 2012) at a mid-Atlantic Magnet-designated community
      hospital. RESULTS: Clinical RNs' self-reported attitudes toward EBP were more
      positive (2008: M = 53.85, standard error of the mean [SEM] = 0.65; 2012: M =
      57.07,SEM = 0.58), as well as their perceptions of organizational readiness
      (2008: M = 50.72, SEM = 1.20; 2012: M = 81.09, SEM = 0.98), between the two
      survey years. Contrarily, although nurse leader scores were significantly higher
      for beliefs (2008: M = 61.15, SEM = 1.23; 2012: M = 60.60., SEM = 0.96),
      readiness (2008: M = 61.28, SEM = 2.16; 2012: M = 85.18, SEM = 1.64), and
      implementation (2008: M = 21.35, SEM = 1.72; 2012: M = 19.08, SEM = 1.43) little
      change was observed in the nurse leader scores between the two survey years
      compared with clinical RNs. DISCUSSION: Results from this study suggest that the
      multifaceted interventions have had a positive impact on clinical RNs' beliefs
      and readiness for EBP, but not for nurse leaders. Albeit low, self-reported
      implementation of EBP by RNs and nurse leaders has been sustained, but has not
      improved. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Leaders must see their role as not only
      facilitators of EBP but also as active participants practicing EBP. Actively
      engaging leaders in EBP by serving on interprofessional EBP teams and role
      modeling these behaviors to staff is critical to EBP implementation. Realistic
      expectations of RNs for EBP implementation and clear and accessible resources may
      enhance RNs' willingness to implement. Going forward, it may be necessary to
      differentiate the expectations of RNs in EBP implementation by clarifying
      expectations in the process of identification and analysis of evidence from use
      of EBP in clinical practice.

PMID- 26865552
TI  - Notification of changes in taxonomic opinion previously published outside the
      IJSEM.

PMID- 26865553
TI  - Dermal myxopapillary ependymal rest in an adult.

PMID- 26865559
TI  - Unsafe and understudied: the US gun problem.

PMID- 26865554
TI  - Ocular Findings in Infants With Microcephaly Associated With Presumed Zika Virus
      Congenital Infection in Salvador, Brazil.
AB  - Importance: The Zika virus (ZIKV) has rapidly reached epidemic proportions,
      especially in northeastern Brazil, and has rapidly spread to other parts of the
      Americas. A recent increase in the prevalence of microcephaly in newborn infants
      and vision-threatening findings in these infants is likely associated with the
      rapid spread of ZIKV. Objective: To evaluate the ocular findings in infants with
      microcephaly associated with presumed intrauterine ZIKV infection in Salvador,
      Bahia, Brazil. Design, Setting, and Participants: Case series at a tertiary
      hospital. Twenty-nine infants with microcephaly (defined by a cephalic
      circumference of <=32 cm) with a presumed diagnosis of congenital ZIKV were
      recruited through an active search and referrals from other hospitals and health
      unities. The study was conducted between December 1 and December 21, 2015.
      Interventions: All infants and mothers underwent systemic and ophthalmic
      examinations from December 1 through December 21, 2015, in the Roberto Santos
      General Hospital, Salvador, Brazil. Anterior segment and retinal, choroidal, and
      optic nerve abnormalities were documented using a wide-field digital imaging
      system. The differential diagnosis included toxoplasmosis, rubella,
      cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency
      virus, which were ruled out through serologic and clinical examinations. Main
      Outcomes and Measures: Ocular abnormalities associated with ZIKV. Results: Twenty
      three of 29 mothers (79.3%) reported suspected ZIKV infection signs and symptoms
      during pregnancy, 18 in the first trimester, 4 in the second trimester, and 1 in
      the third trimester. Of the 29 infants (58 eyes) examined (18 [62.1%] female),
      ocular abnormalities were present in 17 eyes (29.3%) of 10 children (34.5%).
      Bilateral findings were found in 7 of 10 patients presenting with ocular lesions,
      the most common of which were focal pigment mottling of the retina and
      chorioretinal atrophy in 11 of the 17 eyes with abnormalities (64.7%), followed
      by optic nerve abnormalities in 8 eyes (47.1%), bilateral iris coloboma in 1
      patient (2 eyes [11.8%]), and lens subluxation in 1 eye (5.9%). Conclusions and
      Relevance: Congenital infection due to presumed ZIKV exposure is associated with
      vision-threatening findings, which include bilateral macular and perimacular
      lesions as well as optic nerve abnormalities in most cases.

PMID- 26865560
TI  - Performance of High Flow Rate Personal Respirable Samplers When Challenged with
      Mineral Aerosols of Different Particle Size Distributions.
AB  - It is thought that the performance of respirable samplers may vary when exposed
      to dust aerosols with different particle sizes and wind speeds. This study
      investigated the performance of the GK 4.16 (RASCAL), GK 2.69, PPI 8, and FSP 10,
      high flow rate personal samplers when exposed to aerosols of mineral dust in a
      wind tunnel at two different wind speeds (1 and 2 m s(-1)) and orientations
      (towards and side-on to the source of emission). The mass median aerodynamic
      diameter of four aerosolized test dusts ranged from 8 to 25 um with geometric
      standard deviations from 1.6 to 2 um. The performance of each sampler type was
      compared with that of the SIMPEDS (Higgins-Dewell design) sampler. There was
      slight evidence to suggest that the performance of the FSP 10 is affected by the
      direction of the inlet relative to the air flow, although this was not
      significant when most respirable dust concentrations were compared, possibly due
      to the variability of paired dust concentration results. The GK 2.69, RASCAL, and
      PPI 8 samplers had similar performances, although the results when side-on to the
      emission source were generally slightly lower than the SIMPEDS. Despite slight
      differences between respirable dust concentrations the respirable crystalline
      silica values were not significantly different from the SIMPEDS. The GK family of
      cyclones obtained most precise results and more closely matched the SIMPEDS. A
      comparison with dust concentration results from previous calm air chamber studies
      (where wind speeds were < 0.4 m s(-1)) found that the relative performance
      between samplers was similar to those observed in this work indicating consistent
      performance relative to the SIMPEDS in both calm and moving air. 

PMID- 26865561
TI  - Multiscale Self-Assembly of Silicon Quantum Dots into an Anisotropic Three
      Dimensional Random Network.
AB  - Multiscale self-assembly is ubiquitous in nature but its deliberate use to
      synthesize multifunctional three-dimensional materials remains rare, partly due
      to the notoriously difficult problem of controlling topology from atomic to
      macroscopic scales to obtain intended material properties. Here, we propose a
      simple, modular, noncolloidal methodology that is based on exploiting
      universality in stochastic growth dynamics and driving the growth process under
      far-from-equilibrium conditions toward a preplanned structure. As proof of
      principle, we demonstrate a confined-but-connected solid structure, comprising an
      anisotropic random network of silicon quantum-dots that hierarchically self
      assembles from the atomic to the microscopic scales. First, quantum-dots form to
      subsequently interconnect without inflating their diameters to form a random
      network, and this network then grows in a preferential direction to form
      undulated and branching nanowire-like structures. This specific topology
      simultaneously achieves two scale-dependent features, which were previously
      thought to be mutually exclusive: good electrical conduction on the microscale
      and a bandgap tunable over a range of energies on the nanoscale. 

PMID- 26865563
TI  - Erratum for the Research Article: "Complex effects of inhibiting hepatic
      apolipoprotein B100 synthesis in humans" by G. Reyes-Soffer, B. Moon, A.
      Hernandez-Ono, M. Dionizovick-Dimanovski, J. Jimenez, J. Obunike, T. Thomas, C.
      Ngai, N. Fontanez, D. S. Donovan, W. Karmally, S. Holleran, R. Ramakrishnan, R.
      S. Mittleman, H. N. Ginsberg.

PMID- 26865562
TI  - Monitoring Early-Stage Nanoparticle Assembly in Microdroplets by Optical
      Spectroscopy and SERS.
AB  - Microfluidic microdroplets have increasingly found application in biomolecular
      sensing as well as nanomaterials growth. More recently the synthesis of plasmonic
      nanostructures in microdroplets has led to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
      (SERS)-based sensing applications. However, the study of nanoassembly in
      microdroplets has previously been hindered by the lack of on-chip
      characterization tools, particularly at early timescales. Enabled by a refractive
      index matching microdroplet formulation, dark-field spectroscopy is exploited to
      directly track the formation of nanometer-spaced gold nanoparticle assemblies in
      microdroplets. Measurements in flow provide millisecond time resolution through
      the assembly process, allowing identification of a regime where dimer formation
      dominates the dark-field scattering and SERS. Furthermore, it is shown that small
      numbers of nanoparticles can be isolated in microdroplets, paving the way for
      simple high-yield assembly, isolation, and sorting of few nanoparticle
      structures.

PMID- 26865564
TI  - Are Accurins the cure for Aurora kinase inhibitors?
AB  - A nanoparticle formulation of an Aurora B inhibitor increases antitumor efficacy
      and reduces toxicity, which may be a precedent for the use of this technology
      with other small molecules (Ashton et al., this issue). 

PMID- 26865551
TI  - The Next Generation of Platinum Drugs: Targeted Pt(II) Agents, Nanoparticle
      Delivery, and Pt(IV) Prodrugs.
AB  - The platinum drugs, cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, prevail in the
      treatment of cancer, but new platinum agents have been very slow to enter the
      clinic. Recently, however, there has been a surge of activity, based on a great
      deal of mechanistic information, aimed at developing nonclassical platinum
      complexes that operate via mechanisms of action distinct from those of the
      approved drugs. The use of nanodelivery devices has also grown, and many
      different strategies have been explored to incorporate platinum warheads into
      nanomedicine constructs. In this Review, we discuss these efforts to create the
      next generation of platinum anticancer drugs. The introduction provides the
      reader with a brief overview of the use, development, and mechanism of action of
      the approved platinum drugs to provide the context in which more recent research
      has flourished. We then describe approaches that explore nonclassical
      platinum(II) complexes with trans geometry or with a monofunctional coordination
      mode, polynuclear platinum(II) compounds, platinum(IV) prodrugs, dual-threat
      agents, and photoactivatable platinum(IV) complexes. Nanoparticles designed to
      deliver platinum(IV) complexes will also be discussed, including carbon
      nanotubes, carbon nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, upconversion
      nanoparticles, and polymeric micelles. Additional nanoformulations, including
      supramolecular self-assembled structures, proteins, peptides, metal-organic
      frameworks, and coordination polymers, will then be described. Finally, the
      significant clinical progress made by nanoparticle formulations of platinum(II)
      agents will be reviewed. We anticipate that such a synthesis of disparate
      research efforts will not only help to generate new drug development ideas and
      strategies, but also will reflect our optimism that the next generation of
      approved platinum cancer drugs is about to arrive. 

PMID- 26865565
TI  - Aurora kinase inhibitor nanoparticles target tumors with favorable therapeutic
      index in vivo.
AB  - Efforts to apply nanotechnology in cancer have focused almost exclusively on the
      delivery of cytotoxic drugs to improve therapeutic index. There has been little
      consideration of molecularly targeted agents, in particular kinase inhibitors,
      which can also present considerable therapeutic index limitations. We describe
      the development of Accurin polymeric nanoparticles that encapsulate the clinical
      candidate AZD2811, an Aurora B kinase inhibitor, using an ion pairing approach.
      Accurins increase biodistribution to tumor sites and provide extended release of
      encapsulated drug payloads. AZD2811 nanoparticles containing pharmaceutically
      acceptable organic acids as ion pairing agents displayed continuous drug release
      for more than 1 week in vitro and a corresponding extended pharmacodynamic
      reduction of tumor phosphorylated histone H3 levels in vivo for up to 96 hours
      after a single administration. A specific AZD2811 nanoparticle formulation
      profile showed accumulation and retention in tumors with minimal impact on bone
      marrow pathology, and resulted in lower toxicity and increased efficacy in
      multiple tumor models at half the dose intensity of AZD1152, a water-soluble
      prodrug of AZD2811. These studies demonstrate that AZD2811 can be formulated in
      nanoparticles using ion pairing agents to give improved efficacy and tolerability
      in preclinical models with less frequent dosing. Accurins specifically, and
      nanotechnology in general, can increase the therapeutic index of molecularly
      targeted agents, including kinase inhibitors targeting cell cycle and oncogenic
      signal transduction pathways, which have to date proved toxic in humans. 

PMID- 26865568
TI  - Self-reported suicide attempts and exposure to different types of violence and
      neglect during childhood: Findings from a young adult population survey in
      Latvia.
AB  - AIMS: Suicide rates in Latvia are among the highest in the EU. Among 18-25 year
      old young adults, it is the second leading cause of death. This study
      investigates the prevalence of self-reported suicide attempts in young adults and
      examines its association with neglect or violence of a physical, emotional or
      sexual nature. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 1259 young adults 18
      25 years of age, selected by targeted quota sampling from secondary and
      vocational schools. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported suicide attempts was
      6.1%. Physical and emotional adverse experiences showed clear associations with
      attempted suicide. Although prevalence of reported physical neglect was higher
      than for physical violence (27.0% versus 16.3%, respectively) the latter posed a
      higher risk for attempted suicide (OR = 4.0; 95% CI, 2.4-6.6). Conversely,
      emotional violence had a higher prevalence than emotional neglect (31.5% vs.
      23.6%, respectively), but neglect showed a stronger association with attempted
      suicide (OR = 4.4; 95% CI, 2.6-7.3). CONCLUSIONS THE HIGH OR FOR ATTEMPTED
      SUICIDE ASSOCIATED WITH EMOTIONAL NEGLECT, TOGETHER WITH FINDINGS THAT EMOTIONAL
      VIOLENCE HAD THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE, AND THAT EMOTIONAL NEGLECT AND EMOTIONAL
      VIOLENCE SHOWED THE HIGHEST POPULATION ATTRIBUTABLE RISK FRACTION POPAR% OF 468
      AND 404, RESPECTIVELY, SUGGESTED THAT EMOTIONAL FACTORS MERIT SPECIAL ATTENTION
      IN FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN LATVIA THE
      TARGETED QUOTA SAMPLING METHOD FROM FIVE CITIES REPRESENTING ALL REGIONS OF
      LATVIA AND 438% OF ITS POPULATION, ENSURE NATIONAL RELEVANCE OF OUR FINDINGS FOR
      POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT BY LEGISLATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
      INSTITUTIONS.

PMID- 26865567
TI  - The stress regulator FKBP51 drives chronic pain by modulating spinal
      glucocorticoid signaling.
AB  - Polymorphisms in FKBP51 are associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders
      and influence the severity of pain symptoms experienced after trauma. We report
      that FKBP51 (FK506 binding protein 51) is crucial for the full development and
      maintenance of long-term pain states. Indeed, FKBP51 knockout mice, as well as
      mice in which silencing of FKBP51 is restricted to the spinal cord, showed
      reduced hypersensitivity in several persistent pain models in rodents. FKBP51
      deletion did not compromise the detection of acute painful stimuli, a critical
      protective mechanism. Moreover, the intrathecal administration of the specific
      FKBP51 inhibitor SAFit2 reduced the severity of an established pain state,
      confirming the crucial role of spinal FKBP51 in nociceptive processing. Finally,
      glucocorticoid signaling, which is known to modulate persistent pain states in
      rodents, was impaired in FKBP51 knockout mice. This finding suggested that FKBP51
      regulates chronic pain by modulation of glucocorticoid signaling. Thus, FKBP51 is
      a central mediator of chronic pain, likely in humans as well as rodents, and is a
      new pharmacologically tractable target for the treatment of long-term pain
      states. 

PMID- 26865569
TI  - 'We are all a little mad in one or other particular'. The presentation of madness
      in the novels of Muriel Spark.
AB  - This paper examines the presentation of madness in the novels of the great
      Scottish writer, Muriel Spark (1918-2006). In her work, there is a large cast of
      mad characters as well as a succession of psychiatrists and psychoanalysts. Spark
      suggests several explanations as to the origins of madness. We see mental
      disturbance conceived in terms of the supernatural, the religious and the Gothic.
      She also depicts insanity as a form of personality defect, eccentricity or mental
      enfeeblement. She drew on Romantic notions of the madman as a seer and speaker of
      truth. In her portrayal of psychiatrists, both the pill-prescribers and the
      psychoanalysts, Spark is frequently sceptical of the two: medication can erase
      positive qualities in an individual, and analysts can spout meaningless
      gibberish.

PMID- 26865566
TI  - Filaggrin inhibits generation of CD1a neolipid antigens by house dust mite
      derived phospholipase.
AB  - Atopic dermatitis is a common pruritic skin disease in which barrier dysfunction
      and cutaneous inflammation contribute to pathogenesis. Mechanisms underlying the
      associated inflammation are not fully understood, and although Langerhans cells
      expressing the nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) family member
      CD1a are known to be enriched within lesions, their role in clinical disease
      pathogenesis has not been studied. We observed that house dust mite (HDM)
      allergen generates neolipid antigens presented by CD1a to T cells in the blood
      and skin lesions of affected individuals. HDM-responsive CD1a-reactive T cells
      increased in frequency after birth in individuals with atopic dermatitis and
      showed rapid effector function, consistent with antigen-driven maturation. In HDM
      challenged human skin, we observed phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in vivo. CD1a
      reactive T cell activation was dependent on HDM-derived PLA2, and such cells
      infiltrated the skin after allergen challenge. Moreover, we observed that the
      skin barrier protein filaggrin, insufficiency of which is associated with atopic
      skin disease, inhibited PLA2 activity and decreased CD1a-reactive PLA2-generated
      neolipid-specific T cell activity from skin and blood. The most widely used
      classification schemes of hypersensitivity suggest that nonpeptide stimulants of
      T cells act as haptens that modify peptides or proteins; however, our results
      show that HDM proteins may also generate neolipid antigens that directly activate
      T cells. These data define PLA2 inhibition as a function of filaggrin, supporting
      PLA2 inhibition as a therapeutic approach. 

PMID- 26865570
TI  - Reply to Mannacio et al.

PMID- 26865571
TI  - Individualized strategy for clopidogrel suspension in patients undergoing
      coronary surgery: is it the best choice?

PMID- 26865573
TI  - The Mind Matters: Psychology as an Overlooked Variable Within Physiology Studies.

PMID- 26865574
TI  - Discovery of Nitric Oxide and Translation to Clinical Application.

PMID- 26865575
TI  - Sex as a Biological Variable: Now What?!

PMID- 26865572
TI  - An open letter to The BMJ editors on qualitative research.

PMID- 26865577
TI  - If worst comes to horrible - sealing an iatrogenic coronary perforation with a
      polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent in a patient with aspirin intolerance.
AB  - This report outlines the long-term outcome after successful sealing of a coronary
      perforation with a covered stent in a patient with aspirin allergy.

PMID- 26865576
TI  - Physiology in Perspective: Pursuing the Enchanted Loom of Motor Control.

PMID- 26865578
TI  - The anti-inflammatory effects of baicalin through suppression of NLRP3
      inflammasome pathway in LPS-challenged piglet mononuclear phagocytes.
AB  - In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of baicalin on LPS
      induced NLRP3 inflammatory pathway were investigated in piglet mononuclear
      phagocytes (control, LPS stimulation, LPS stimulation + 12.5 ug/ml baicalin, LPS
      stimulation + 25 ug/ml baicalin, LPS stimulation + 50 ug/ml baicalin and LPS
      stimulation + 100 ug/ml baicalin). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS),
      the secretion levels of IL-1beta, IL-18 and TNF-alpha, mRNA expression levels of
      IL-1beta, IL-18, TNF-alpha and NLRP3, as well as the protein levels of cleaved
      caspase-1 p20 were significantly increased after LPS-challengein vitro However,
      LPS stimulation did not influence apoptosis-associated speck-like protein and
      caspase-1 mRNA levels, which are also components of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
      Baicalin at 50 ug/ml and 100 ug/ml could inhibit the production of ROS, TNF
      alpha, IL-1beta and IL-18, and down-regulate mRNA expression of IL-1beta, IL-18,
      TNF-alpha and NLRP3, as well as expression of cleaved caspase-1 p20. These
      results showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of baicalin occurred via the
      regulation of the release of ROS and mRNA expression of NLRP3. The anti
      inflammatory activity of baicalin could be related to the suppression of NLRP3
      inflammasome pathway under LPS stimulation.

PMID- 26865579
TI  - Medication to reduce breast cancer risk: why is uptake low?

PMID- 26865580
TI  - PARP inhibitor receives FDA breakthrough therapy designation in castration
      resistant prostate cancer: beyond germline BRCA mutations.

PMID- 26865581
TI  - Detection of Explosives Using Differential Laser-Induced Perturbation
      Spectroscopy with a Raman-based Probe.
AB  - Explosives detection is carried out with a novel spectral analysis technique
      referred to as differential laser-induced perturbation spectroscopy (DLIPS) on
      thin films of TNT, RDX, HMX, and PETN. The utility of Raman spectroscopy for
      detection of explosives is enhanced by inducing deep ultraviolet laser
      perturbation on molecular structures in combination with a differential Raman
      sensing scheme. Principal components analysis (PCA) is used to quantify the DLIPS
      method as benchmarked against a traditional Raman scattering probe, and the
      related photo-induced effects on the molecular structure of the targeted
      explosives are discussed in detail. Finally, unique detection is observed with
      TNT samples deposited on commonly available background substrates of nylon and
      polyester. Overall, the data support DLIPS as a noninvasive method that is
      promising for screening explosives in real-world environments and backgrounds. 

PMID- 26865582
TI  - Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for the Measurement of Spatial
      Structures and Fuel Distribution in Flames.
AB  - Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is used for the mapping of local
      structures (i.e., reactants and products zones) and for the determination of fuel
      distribution by means of the local equivalence ratio phi in laminar, premixed air
      hydrocarbon flames. The determination of laser threshold energy to induce
      breakdown in the different zones of flames is employed for the identification and
      demarcation of the local structures of a premixed laminar flame, while
      complementary results about fuel concentration were obtained from measurements of
      the cyanogen (CN) band Beta(2)Sigma(+)--Chi(2)Sigma(+), (Deltaupsilon = 0) at
      388.3 nm and the ratio of the atomic lines of hydrogen (Halpha) and oxygen
      (O(I)), Halpha/O. The combination of these LIBS-based methods provides a
      relatively simple to use, rapid, and accurate tool for online and in situ
      combustion diagnostics, providing valuable information about the fuel
      distribution and the spatial variations of the local structures of a flame. 

PMID- 26865583
TI  - EJE PRIZE 2015: How does insulin resistance arise, and how does it cause disease?
      Human genetic lessons.
AB  - Insulin orchestrates physiological responses to ingested nutrients; however,
      although it elicits widely ramifying metabolic and trophic responses from diverse
      tissues, 'insulin resistance (IR)', a pandemic metabolic derangement commonly
      associated with obesity, is usually defined solely by blunting of insulin's
      hypoglycaemic effect. Recent study of monogenic forms of IR has established that
      biochemical subphenotypes of IR exist, clustering into those caused by primary
      disorders of adipose tissue and those caused by primary defects in proximal
      insulin signalling. IR is often first recognised by virtue of its associated
      disorders including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia (DL), fatty liver and
      polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Although these clinically observed associations
      are confirmed by cross-sectional and longitudinal population-based studies,
      causal relationships among these phenomena have been more difficult to establish.
      Single gene IR is important to recognise in order to optimise clinical management
      and also permits testing of causal relationships among components of the IR
      syndrome using the principle of Mendelian randomisation. Thus, where a precisely
      defined genetic defect is identified that directly produces one component of the
      syndrome, then phenomena that are causally linked to that component should be
      seen. Where this is not the case, then a simple causal link is refuted. This
      article summarises known forms of monogenic severe IR and considers the lessons
      to be learned about the pathogenic mechanisms both upstream from common IR and
      those downstream linking it to disorders such as DL, fatty liver, PCOS and
      cancer. 

PMID- 26865584
TI  - Adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated 19-carbon steroids are the dominant androgens in
      classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively characterize androgens and androgen precursors in
      classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) and to gain insights into the
      mechanisms of their formation. DESIGN: Serum samples were obtained from 38
      patients (19 men) with classic 21OHD, aged 3-59, and 38 sex- and age-matched
      controls; 3 patients with 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency; 4 patients with adrenal
      insufficiency; and 16 patients (8 men) undergoing adrenal vein sampling. Paraffin
      embedded normal (n = 5) and 21OHD adrenal tissues (n = 3) were used for
      immunohistochemical studies. METHODS: We measured 11 steroids in all sera by
      liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Immunofluroescence localized
      3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD3B2) and cytochrome b5 (CYB5A)
      within the normal and 21OHD adrenals. RESULTS: Four 11-oxygenated 19-carbon
      (11oxC19) steroids were significantly higher in male and female 21OHD patients
      than in controls: 11beta-hydroxyandrostenedione, 11-ketoandrostenedione 11beta
      hydroxytestosterone, and 11-ketotestosterone (3-4-fold, P < 0.0001). For 21OHD
      patients, testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone were positively correlated in
      females, but inversely correlated in males. All 11oxC19 steroids were higher in
      the adrenal vein than in the inferior vena cava samples from men and women and
      rose with cosyntropin stimulation. Only trace amounts of 11oxC19 steroids were
      found in the sera of patients with 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency and adrenal
      insufficiency, confirming their adrenal origin. HSD3B2 and CYB5A
      immunoreactivities were sharply segregated in the normal adrenal glands, whereas
      areas of overlapping expression were identified in the 21OHD adrenals.
      CONCLUSIONS: All four 11oxC19 steroids are elevated in both men and women with
      classic 21OHD. Our data suggest that 11oxC19 steroids are specific biomarkers of
      adrenal-derived androgen excess.

PMID- 26865585
TI  - Diffuse parathyroid hormone expression in parathyroid tumors argues against
      important functional tumor subclones.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Primary hyperparathyroidism is usually characterized by a monoclonal
      parathyroid tumor secreting excess parathyroid hormone (PTH). The main regulator
      of PTH secretion is calcium and the calcium-PTH set point is shifted in
      parathyroid tumor cells. We sought to investigate the relationship between tumor
      PTH and PTH mRNA expression and clinical presentation as well as the regulatory
      factors including phosphate, vitamin D, and fibroblast growth factor 23. DESIGN:
      A total of 154 parathyroid tumors were analyzed by PTH immunohistochemistry and
      chromogenic in situ hybridization of PTH mRNA. A subset of samples (n = 34) was
      analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Low tumor PTH mRNA level was
      significantly associated with low tumor PTH immunoreactivity (P = 0.026), but the
      two did not correlate with regard to histological distribution within individual
      tumors. Tumors displaying reduced PTH mRNA levels as compared with normal rim
      were significantly larger (P = 0.013) and showed higher expression of the calcium
      sensing receptor (CASR) (P = 0.046). Weaker tumor PTH mRNA level was
      significantly associated with higher concentration of circulating 25
      hydroxyvitamin D (P = 0.005). No significant correlation was seen between PTH
      immunoreactivity and patient biochemistry. Tumor weight was strongly associated
      with circulatory concentrations of calcium and PTH. CONCLUSIONS: No areas with
      apparently higher PTH expression were identified, perhaps suggesting that hyper
      functioning parathyroid tumor subclones should be rare. Circulating 25
      hydroxyvitamin D levels may influence tumor PTH expression in vivo. If PTH
      immunoreactivity reflects the tumor calcium-PTH set point, our data imply that
      the main determinant of disease severity should be tumor weight.

PMID- 26865586
TI  - Relation of Plasma Fibrinogen Level With the Presence, Severity, and Complexity
      of Coronary Artery Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Relation of plasma fibrinogen levels with extent, severity, and
      complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable angina
      pectoris (SAP) has not been adequately investigated. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate whether plasma fibrinogen level is associated with coronary complexity,
      severity, and extent assessed by SYNTAX (Synergy between percutaneous coronary
      intervention with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery) score (SS). METHODS: We enrolled 134
      consecutive patients with SAP who underwent coronary angiography. Baseline serum
      fibrinogen levels were measured, and SS was calculated from the study population.
      The patients were classified into 3 groups by tertiles of SS (SS, control group =
      0; intermediate group < 22; and high group >= 22). RESULTS: Plasma fibrinogen
      levels demonstrated a stepwise increase from control group to high SS group.
      There was a strong correlation between fibrinogen and the SS ( r = .535, P <
      .001). Area under the receivers operating characteristic curve of fibrinogen was
      0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.82; < .001) for predicting a high SS.
      Fibrinogen value higher than 411 mg/dL has a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity
      of 64% in prediction of high SS. In multivariate analyses, plasma fibrinogen was
      observed to be an independent predictor for high SS in patients with stable CAD
      (odds ratio [OR] 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Plasma
      fibrinogen is a readily measurable systemic inflammatory marker and is
      independently associated coronary severity and complexity in patients with CAD.

PMID- 26865587
TI  - Obesity and Breast Cancer: Molecular Interconnections and Potential Clinical
      Applications.
AB  - Obesity is an important risk factor for breast cancer (BC) in postmenopausal
      women; interlinked molecular mechanisms might be involved in the pathogenesis.
      Increased levels of estrogens due to aromatization of the adipose tissue,
      inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and
      prostaglandin E2, insulin resistance and hyperactivation of insulin-like growth
      factors pathways, adipokines, and oxidative stress are all abnormally regulated
      in obese women and contribute to cancerogenesis. These molecular factors
      interfere with intracellular signaling in the mitogen-activated protein kinase
      and phosphatydilinositol-3-phosphate/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)
      pathways, which regulate the progression of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and
      protein synthesis. In this context, structural defects of typical genes related
      to both BC and obesity, such as leptin, leptin receptor, serum
      paraoxonase/arylesterase 1, the fat mass and obesity-associated gene and
      melanocortin receptor 4, have been associated with a high or low risk of BC
      development. The early detection of these gene alterations might be useful as
      risk predictors in obese women, and targeting these pathways involved in the BC
      pathogenesis in obese women is a potential therapeutic tool. In particular, mTOR
      pathway deregulation concurs in both obesity and BC, and inhibition of this might
      disrupt the molecular interlinks in a similar manner to that of metformin, which
      exerts definite anticancer activity and is currently used as an antidiabetic drug
      with a weight-reducing property. The identification of both genetic and
      pharmacological implications on the prevention and management of BC is the
      ultimate aim of these studies. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Obese women are at risk
      of breast cancer, but clinicians lack concrete tools for the prevention or early
      diagnosis of this risk. The present study, starting from the biology and the
      molecular defects characterizing both obesity and breast cancer, analyzed the
      potential molecules and genetic defects whose early identification could
      delineate a risk profile. Three steps are proposed that are potentially
      achievable in the clinical assessment of obese women, namely the evaluation of
      altered levels of serum molecules, the identification of genetic polymorphisms,
      and the study of the transcriptomic profile of premalignant lesions. Finally, the
      therapeutic implications of this molecular assessment were evaluated.

PMID- 26865588
TI  - Occupational Therapy for Adults With Cancer: Why It Matters.
AB  - Adults with cancer may be at risk for limitations in functional status and
      quality of life (QOL). Occupational therapy is a supportive service with the
      specific mission to help people functionally engage in life as safely and
      independently as possible with the primary goal of improving QOL. Unfortunately,
      for people with cancer, occupational therapy remains underused. The overall
      purpose of this review is to provide an understanding of what occupational
      therapy is and its relevance to patients with cancer, highlight the reasons to
      refer, and, last, provide general advice on how to access services.

PMID- 26865589
TI  - Predictive and Prognostic Role of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Early Breast
      Cancer According to Disease Subtypes: Sensitivity Analysis of Randomized Trials
      in Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer
      (BC) is still an issue for clinical research. Toward this end, a sensitivity
      analysis of neoadjuvant and adjuvant randomized clinical trials was performed
      according to disease subtypes. METHODS: Pathological complete responses (pCRs)
      after neoadjuvant treatment according to the presence or absence of lymphocyte
      predominant BC (LPBC) were extracted and cumulated as odds ratios (ORs) by
      adopting a random-effects model by subtype. Overall survival hazard ratios as a
      function of 10% incremental values of stromal TILs (sTILs) in adjuvant trials
      were extracted. The interaction test was adopted to determine the differential
      effect according to the subtype. RESULTS: Eight trials (5,514 patients) were
      identified. With regard to neoadjuvant setting (4 studies), a significant
      interaction (p < .0001) according to LPBC was found. The presence of LPBC was
      associated with a 29.5% increase in pCR rate compared with non-LPBC (p < .0001).
      The pCR rate was significantly higher in patients with LPBC in triple-negative BC
      (TNBC) and HER2-positive BC settings, with an absolute difference of 15.7% (95%
      confidence interval [CI], 4.9%-26.2%) and 33.3% (95% CI, 23.6%-42.7%),
      respectively. With respect to the adjuvant setting (4 studies), a significant
      interaction (p < .0001) according to sTILs was found. A survival benefit was more
      likely to be determined for HER2-positive BC (p = .025) and TNBC (p < .0001),
      with no statistically significant difference for estrogen receptor-positive/HER2
      negative disease. CONCLUSION: Despite the retrospective nature of this analysis,
      the presence of TILs may represent a robust predictive and prognostic marker for
      BC, particularly for TNBC and HER2-positive disease.

PMID- 26865590
TI  - Impact of a Patient Blood Management Program and an Outpatient Anemia Management
      Protocol on Red Cell Transfusions in Oncology Inpatients and Outpatients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient blood management (PBM) programs are associated with reduced
      transfusion usage, reduced hospital costs, and improved patient outcomes. The
      application of PBM principles in patients with malignant disease might achieve
      similar results. However, this population presents unique challenges. The aim of
      the present study was to investigate the impact of a PBM program on blood usage
      and patient outcomes in cancer patients, particularly in the setting of
      restricted use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed of patients admitted
      with a primary diagnosis of malignancy treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center as
      inpatients or outpatients, or both, from January 2008 through July 2013. RESULTS:
      The proportion of inpatients and outpatients receiving ESAs decreased from 2.9%
      in 2008 to 1.1% in 2013 (p < .001). During the same period, an increase occurred
      in the mean dose of intravenous (IV) iron from 447 mg (95% confidence interval
      [CI], 337-556) to 588 mg (95% CI, 458-718). The mean red blood cell (RBC) units
      transfused per inpatient and outpatient episode decreased from 0.067 to 0.038
      unit (p < .001). In inpatients, significant increases occurred in the proportion
      of single-unit RBC transfusions (p < .001) and patients infused with IV iron (p =
      .02), and significant decreases in the mean pretransfusion hemoglobin (p = .02)
      and RBC transfusion rate (p = .04). In-hospital mortality and length of stay did
      not change significantly during this period. CONCLUSION: Despite the decreased
      use of ESA therapy, the implementation of a PBM program and outpatient anemia
      management protocol in cancer patients at our medical center was associated with
      significant reductions in RBC usage.

PMID- 26865591
TI  - The Clinical and Economic Impacts of Skeletal-Related Events Among Medicare
      Enrollees With Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Approximately 40% of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer
      experience one or more skeletal-related events (SREs), defined as a pathological
      fracture, spinal cord compression, or surgery or radiotherapy to the bone.
      Accurate assessment of their effect on survival, health care resource utilization
      (HCRU), and cost may elucidate the value of interventions to prevent SREs.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Men older than age 65 years with prostate cancer and bone
      metastasis diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 were identified from linked
      Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare records. Hazard ratios (HRs)
      and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk for death associated with SREs
      were calculated by using Cox regression. HCRU and costs (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
      were evaluated in a propensity score-matched cohort by using Poisson regression
      and Kaplan-Meier sample average estimators, respectively. RESULTS: Among 3,297
      men with prostate cancer metastatic to bone, 40% experienced >=1 SRE (median
      follow-up, 19 months). Compared with men who remained SRE-free, men with >=1 SRE
      had a twofold higher risk for death (HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 2.09-2.51). Pathological
      fracture was associated with the highest risk for death (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.38
      3.23). Among men with >=1 SRE, emergency department visits were twice as frequent
      (95% CI, 1.77-2.28) and hospitalizations were nearly four times as frequent (95%
      CI, 3.20-4.40). The attributable cost of >=1 SRE was $21,191 (>=1 SRE: $72,454
      [95% CI, $67,362-$76,958]; SRE-free: $51,263 [95% CI, $45,439-$56,100]).
      CONCLUSION: Among men with prostate cancer metastatic to bone, experiencing >=1
      SRE is associated with poorer survival, increased HCRU, and increased costs.
      These negative effects emphasize the importance of SRE prevention in this
      population.

PMID- 26865592
TI  - Evaluation of the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of an Oral,
      Inactivated Whole-Cell Shigella flexneri 2a Vaccine in Healthy Adult Subjects.
AB  - Shigella causes high morbidity and mortality worldwide, but there is no licensed
      vaccine for shigellosis yet. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a
      formalin-inactivated whole-cell Shigella flexneri2a vaccine, Sf2aWC, given orally
      to adult volunteers. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 82 subjects
      were randomized to receive three doses of vaccine in dose escalation (2.6 +/- 0.8
      * 10(8), * 10(9), * 10(10), and * 10(11)vaccine particles/ml). Vaccine safety was
      actively monitored, and antigen-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses
      were determined in serum, antibody in lymphocyte supernatant (ALS), and fecal
      samples. Cytokines were measured in the serum. Sf2aWC was well tolerated and
      generally safe at all four dose levels. The vaccine resulted in a dose-dependent
      immune response. At the highest dose, the vaccine induced robust responses to
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in both serum and ALS samples. The highest magnitude and
      frequency of responses occurred after the first dose in almost all samples but
      was delayed for IgG in serum. Fifty percent of the vaccinees had a >4-fold
      increase in anti-LPS fecal antibody titers. Responses to invasion plasmid
      antigens (Ipa) were low. The levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-2, gamma
      interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-10 were
      increased, and IL-8 was decreased immediately after first dose, but these changes
      were very transient. This phase I trial demonstrated that the Sf2aWC vaccine, a
      relatively simple vaccine concept, was safe and immunogenic. The vaccine elicited
      immune responses which were comparable to those induced by a live, attenuated
      Shigella vaccine that was protective in prior human challenge studies.

PMID- 26865593
TI  - Coexistent Malnutrition Is Associated with Perturbations in Systemic and Antigen
      Specific Cytokine Responses in Latent Tuberculosis Infection.
AB  - Malnutrition, as defined by low body mass index (BMI), is a major risk factor for
      the development of active tuberculosis (TB), although the biological basis
      underlying this susceptibility remains poorly characterized. To verify whether
      malnutrition affects the systemic and antigen-specific cytokine levels in
      individuals with latent TB (LTB), we examined circulating and TB antigen
      stimulated levels of cytokines in individuals with LTB and low BMI (LBMI) and
      compared them with those in individuals with LTB and normal BMI (NBMI).
      Coexistent LBMI with LTB was characterized by diminished circulating levels of
      type 1 (gamma interferon [IFN-gamma] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF
      alpha]), type 2 (interleukin-4 [IL-4]), type 17 (IL-22), and other
      proinflammatory (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) cytokines but elevated levels of
      other type 2 (IL-5 and IL-13) and regulatory (IL-10 and transforming growth
      factor beta [TGF-beta]) cytokines. In addition, LBMI with LTB was associated with
      diminished TB antigen-induced IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta
      levels. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between BMI values
      and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels and a significant negative correlation between
      BMI values and IL-2, IL-10, and TGF-beta levels in individuals with LTB.
      Therefore, our data reveal that latent TB with a coexistent low BMI is
      characterized by diminished protective cytokine responses and heightened
      regulatory cytokine responses, providing a potential biological mechanism for the
      increased risk of developing active TB. 

PMID- 26865594
TI  - Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Alternate Booster Schedules of
      Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed in Humans.
AB  - Protective antigen (PA)-specific antibody and cell-mediated immune (CMI)
      responses to annual and alternate booster schedules of anthrax vaccine adsorbed
      (AVA; BioThrax) were characterized in humans over 43 months. Study participants
      received 1 of 6 vaccination schedules: a 3-dose intramuscular (IM) priming series
      (0, 1, and 6 months) with a single booster at 42 months (4-IM); 3-dose IM priming
      with boosters at 18 and 42 months (5-IM); 3-dose IM priming with boosters at 12,
      18, 30, and 42 months (7-IM); the 1970 licensed priming series of 6 doses (0,
      0.5, 1, 6, 12, and 18 months) and two annual boosters (30 and 42 months)
      administered either subcutaneously (SQ) (8-SQ) or IM (8-IM); or saline placebo
      control at all eight time points. Antibody response profiles included serum anti
      PA IgG levels, subclass distributions, avidity, and lethal toxin neutralization
      activity (TNA). CMI profiles included frequencies of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)
      and interleukin 4 (IL-4)-secreting cells and memory B cells (MBCs), lymphocyte
      stimulation indices (SI), and induction of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-1beta,
      and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA. All active schedules elicited
      high-avidity PA-specific IgG, TNA, MBCs, and T cell responses with a mixed Th1
      Th2 profile and Th2 dominance. Anti-PA IgG and TNA were highly correlated (e.g.,
      month 7,r(2)= 0.86,P< 0.0001, log10 transformed) and declined in the absence of
      boosters. Boosters administered IM generated the highest antibody responses.
      Increasing time intervals between boosters generated antibody responses that were
      faster than and superior to those obtained with the final month 42 vaccination.
      CMI responses to the 3-dose IM priming remained elevated up to 43 months. (This
      study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no.
      NCT00119067.).

PMID- 26865595
TI  - Cellular Immune Responses in Humans Induced by Two Serogroup B Meningococcal
      Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccines Given Separately and in Combination.
AB  - MenBvac and MeNZB are safe and efficacious outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines
      against serogroup B meningococcal disease. Antibody responses have previously
      been investigated in a clinical trial with these two OMV vaccines given
      separately (25 MUg/dose) or in combination (12.5 and 12.5 MUg/dose) in three
      doses administered at 6-week intervals. Here, we report the results from
      analyzing cellular immune responses against MenBvac and MeNZB OMVs in terms of
      antigen-specific CD4(+)T cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines. The
      proliferative CD4(+)T cell responses to the combined vaccine were of the same
      magnitude as the homologous responses observed for each individual vaccine. The
      results also showed cross-reactivity in the sense that both vaccine groups
      receiving separate vaccines responded to both homologous and heterologous OMV
      antigen when assayed for antigen-specific cellular proliferation. In addition, a
      multiplex bead array assay was used to analyze the presence of Th1 and Th2
      cytokines in cell culture supernatants. The results showed that gamma interferon,
      interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10 responses could be detected as a result of
      vaccination with both the MenBvac and the MeNZB vaccines given separately, as
      well as when given in combination. With respect to cross-reactivity, the cytokine
      results paralleled the observations made for proliferation. In conclusion, the
      results demonstrate that cross-reactive cellular immune responses involving both
      Th1 and Th2 cytokines can be induced to the same extent by different tailor-made
      OMV vaccines given either separately or in combination with half the dose of each
      vaccine. 

PMID- 26865596
TI  - Potent In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of Plantibody Specific for Porphyromonas
      gingivalis FimA.
AB  - Fimbrial protein fimbrillin (FimA), a major structural subunit of Porphyromonas
      gingivalis, has been suggested as a vaccine candidate to control P. gingivalis
      induced periodontal disease. Previously, cDNAs encoding IgG monoclonal antibodies
      (MAbs) against purified FimA from P. gingivalis 2561 have been cloned, and the
      MAbs have been produced in rice cell suspension. Here we examined the biological
      activities of the plant-produced MAb specific for FimA (anti-FimA plantibody) of
      P. gingivalis in vitro and in vivo. The anti-FimA plantibody recognized
      oligomeric/polymeric forms of native FimA in immunoblot analysis and showed high
      affinity for native FimA (KD = 0.11 nM). Binding of P. gingivalis (10(8) cells)
      to 2 mg of saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads was reduced by 53.8% in the
      presence of 1 MUg/ml plantibody. Anti-FimA plantibody (10 MUg/ml) reduced
      invasion of periodontal ligament cells by P. gingivalis (multiplicity of
      infection, 100) by 68.3%. Intracellular killing of P. gingivalis opsonized with
      the anti-FimA plantibody by mouse macrophages was significantly increased (77.1%)
      compared to killing of bacterial cells with irrelevant IgG (36.7%). In a mouse
      subcutaneous chamber model, the number of recoverable P. gingivalis cells from
      the chamber fluid was significantly reduced when the numbers of bacterial cells
      opsonized with anti-FimA plantibody were compared with the numbers of bacterial
      cells with irrelevant IgG, 66.7% and 37.1%, respectively. These in vitro and in
      vivo effects of anti-FimA plantibody were comparable to those of the parental
      MAb. Further studies with P. gingivalis strains with different types of fimbriae
      are needed to investigate the usefulness of anti-FimA plantibody for passive
      immunization to control P. gingivalis-induced periodontal disease.

PMID- 26865598
TI  - Response to: 'Painful knee but not hand osteoarthritis is an independent
      predictor of mortality over 23 years follow-up of a population-based cohort of
      middle-aged women' by Gao et al.

PMID- 26865597
TI  - Toll-Like Receptor Activation by Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens from
      Lipid A Mutants of Salmonella enterica Serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis.
AB  - Invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease is a neglected disease with high
      mortality in children and HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa, caused
      primarily by Africa-specific strains of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium
      and Enteritidis. A vaccine using GMMA (generalized modules for membrane antigens)
      fromS.Typhimurium andS.Enteritidis containing lipid A modifications to reduce
      potential in vivo reactogenicity is under development. GMMA with penta-acylated
      lipid A showed the greatest reduction in the level of cytokine release from human
      peripheral blood monocytes from that for GMMA with wild-type lipid A. Deletion of
      the lipid A modification genes msbB and pagP was required to achieve pure penta
      acylation. Interestingly, DeltamsbBDelta pagP GMMA from S. Enteritidis had a
      slightly higher stimulatory potential than those from S. Typhimurium, a finding
      consistent with the higher lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content and Toll-like
      receptor 2 (TLR2) stimulatory potential of the former. Also, TLR5 ligand
      flagellin was found in Salmonella GMMA. No relevant contribution to the
      stimulatory potential of GMMA was detected even when the flagellin protein FliC
      from S. Typhimurium was added at a concentration as high as 10% of total protein,
      suggesting that flagellin impurities are not a major factor for GMMA-mediated
      immune stimulation. Overall, the stimulatory potential of S. Typhimurium and S.
      Enteritidis DeltamsbB DeltapagP GMMA was close to that of Shigella sonnei GMMA,
      which are currently in phase I clinical trials.

PMID- 26865599
TI  - Predictive validity of the ASAS classification criteria for axial and peripheral
      spondyloarthritis after follow-up in the ASAS cohort: a final analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the predictive validity of the Assessment of
      SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) spondyloarthritis (SpA)
      classification criteria. METHODS: 22 centres (N=909 patients) from the initial 29
      ASAS centres (N=975) participated in the ASAS-cohort follow-up study. Patients
      had either chronic (>3 months) back pain of unknown origin and age of onset below
      45 years (N=658) or peripheral arthritis and/or enthesitis and/or dactylitis
      (N=251). At follow-up, information was obtained at a clinic visit or by
      telephone. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the baseline classification by
      the ASAS criteria was calculated using rheumatologist's diagnosis at follow-up as
      external standard. RESULTS: In total, 564 patients were assessed at follow-up
      (345 visits; 219 telephone) with a mean follow-up of 4.4 years (range: 1.9; 6.8)
      and 70.2% received a SpA diagnosis by the rheumatologist. 335 patients fulfilled
      the axial SpA (axSpA) or peripheral SpA (pSpA) criteria at baseline and of these,
      309 were diagnosed SpA after follow-up (PPV SpA criteria: 92.2%). The PPV of the
      axSpA and pSpA criteria was 93.3% and 89.5%, respectively. The PPV for the
      'clinical arm only' was 88.0% and for the 'clinical arm'+/-'imaging arm' 96.0%,
      for the 'imaging arm only' 86.2% and for the 'imaging arm'+/-'clinical arm'
      94.7%. A series of sensitivity analyses yielded similar results (range: 85.1
      98.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The PPV of the axSpA and pSpA criteria to forecast an
      expert's diagnosis of 'SpA' after more than 4 years is excellent. The 'imaging
      arm' and 'clinical arm' of the axSpA criteria have similar predictive validity
      and are truly complementary.

PMID- 26865600
TI  - Antibodies to native and citrullinated RA33 (hnRNP A2/B1) challenge
      citrullination as the inciting principle underlying loss of tolerance in
      rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are the hallmark of
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Protein citrullination is believed to drive
      autoantigen selection in RA. Nonetheless, several autoantigens in RA are targeted
      as native (unmodified) proteins. Here, the study of hnRNP A2/B1 (RA33) provides a
      framework to understand the humoral response to native and citrullinated
      autoantigens in RA. METHODS: RA synovial fluid (SF) cells were analysed by
      immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. RA33 was cloned from RASF cells and splice
      variants expressed as recombinant proteins. Antibodies against native and
      citrullinated RA33 were characterised by ELISA, immunoblotting and
      immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: RA33 is citrullinated in the rheumatoid joint and
      targeted either as a citrullinated or native protein in distinct patient subsets
      with RA. A novel splice variant (hnRNP B1b) previously associated with disease
      initiation in experimental arthritis was identified in the RA joint and acts as
      the major target of the anti-RA33 response. Antibodies exclusively targeting
      citrullinated RA33 were positively associated with disease duration and erosive
      disease. In contrast, anti-(native) RA33 antibodies were detected almost
      exclusively in early RA and identified patients with low radiographic erosion
      scores. Finally, a unique subset of double-reactive patients demonstrated
      intermediate severity, but rapid disease progression, suggesting a transitional
      disease phase in the evolution of an anti-native protein antibody to ACPA
      response in RA. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that native and citrullinated
      proteins targeted by autoantibodies in RA may be part of a single antibody system
      and challenge the paradigm of citrullination as the unifying principle underlying
      loss of tolerance in RA.

PMID- 26865601
TI  - Sustained improvements in MRI outcomes with abatacept following the withdrawal of
      all treatments in patients with early, progressive rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess structural damage progression with subcutaneous abatacept
      (ABA) in the Assessing Very Early Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment (AVERT) trial
      following abrupt withdrawal of all rheumatoid arthritis (RA) medication in
      patients achieving Disease Activity Score (DAS)-defined remission or low disease
      activity. METHODS: Patients with early, active RA were randomised to ABA plus
      methotrexate (ABA/MTX) 125 mg/week, ABA 125 mg/week or MTX for 12 months. All RA
      treatments were withdrawn after 12 months in patients with DAS28 (C reactive
      protein (CRP)) <3.2. Adjusted mean changes from baseline in MRI-based synovitis,
      osteitis and erosion were calculated for the intention-to-treat population.
      RESULTS: 351 patients were randomised and treated: ABA/MTX (n=119), ABA (n=116)
      or MTX (n=116). Synovitis and osteitis improved, and progression of erosion was
      statistically less with ABA/MTX versus MTX at month 12 (-2.35 vs -0.68, -2.58 vs 
      0.68, 0.19 vs 1.53, respectively; p<0.01 for each) and month 18 (-1.34 vs -0.49 
      2.03 vs 0.34, 0.13 vs 2.0, respectively; p<0.01 for erosion); ABA benefits were
      numerically intermediate to those for ABA/MTX and MTX. CONCLUSIONS: Structural
      benefits with ABA/MTX or ABA may be maintained 6 months after withdrawal of all
      treatments in patients who have achieved remission or low disease activity. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01142726; Results.

PMID- 26865602
TI  - Effect of Prayer on Intensity of Migraine Headache: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Migraine is a common form of headache that affects patients
      quality of life negatively. In addition to pharmacologic treatment, there are a
      variety of nonpharmacologic treatments for migraine headache. In present study,
      we examined the effect of prayer on intensity of migraine pain. METHODS: In a
      prospective, randomized, controlled trial from October 2013 to June 2014, this
      study has been conducted in Kerman, Iran. We randomly assigned 92 patients in 2
      groups to receive either 40 mg of propranolol twice a day for 2 month (group "A")
      or 40 mg of propranolol twice a day for 2 months with prayer (group "B"). At the
      beginning of study and 3 months after intervention, patients' pain was measured
      using the visual analogue scale. RESULTS: At the beginning of study and before
      intervention, the mean score of pain in patients in groups A and B were 5.7 +/-
      1.6 and 6.5 +/- 1.9, respectively. According to results of independent t test,
      mean score of pain intensity at the beginning of study were similar between
      patients in 2 groups (P > .05). Three month after intervention, mean score of
      pain intensity decreased in patients in both groups. At this time, the mean
      scores of pain intensity were 5.4 +/- 1.1 and 4.2 +/- 2.3 in patients in groups A
      and B, respectively. This difference between groups was statistically significant
      (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that prayer can be used as a
      nonpharmacologic pain coping strategy in addition to pharmacologic intervention
      for this group of patients.

PMID- 26865603
TI  - End-of-life care in oxygen-dependent ILD compared with lung cancer: a national
      population-based study.
AB  - RATIONALE: Advanced fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) is often
      progressive and associated with a high burden of symptoms and poor prognosis.
      Little is known about the symptom prevalence and access to palliative care
      services at end of life (EOL). OBJECTIVES: Compare prevalence of symptoms and
      palliative treatments between patients dying with oxygen-dependent ILD and
      patients dying of lung cancer. METHODS: Nationwide registry-based cohort study of
      patients with oxygen-dependent ILD and patients with lung cancer who died between
      1 January 2011 and 14 October 2013. Prevalence of symptoms and treatments during
      the last seven days of life were compared using data in Swedish Registry of
      Palliative Care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 285 patients with ILD and 10 822
      with lung cancer were included. In ILD, death was more likely to be 'unexpected'
      (15% vs 4%), less likely to occur in a palliative care setting (17% vs 40%) and
      EOL discussions with the patients (41% vs 59%) were less common than in lung
      cancer. Patients with ILD suffered more from breathlessness (75% vs 42%) while
      patients with lung cancer had more pain (51% vs 73%) (p<0.005 for all
      comparisons). Patients with ILD had more unrelieved breathlessness, pain and
      anxiety. The survival time from initiation of oxygen therapy in ILD was a median
      8.4 months (IQR 3.4-19.2 months). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ILD receive poorer
      access to specialist EOL care services and experience more breathlessness than
      patients with lung cancer. This study highlights the need of better EOL care in
      oxygen-dependent ILD.

PMID- 26865604
TI  - Does Correlated Firing Underlie Attention Deployment in Frontal Cortex?

PMID- 26865605
TI  - Studying Mesodiencephalic Dopaminergic Neuron Development In Vivo to Improve Stem
      Cell Therapy in Parkinson's Disease.

PMID- 26865606
TI  - Distinct Mechanisms for Distractor Suppression and Target Facilitation.
AB  - It is well established that preparatory attention improves processing of task
      relevant stimuli. Although it is often more important to ignore task-irrelevant
      stimuli, comparatively little is known about preparatory attentional mechanisms
      for inhibiting expected distractions. Here, we establish that distractor
      inhibition is not under the same top-down control as target facilitation. Using a
      variant of the Posner paradigm, participants were cued to either the location of
      a target stimulus, the location of a distractor, or were provided no predictive
      information. In Experiment 1, we found that participants were able to use target
      relevant cues to facilitate target processing in both blocked and flexible
      conditions, but distractor cueing was only effective in the blocked version of
      the task. In Experiment 2, we replicate these findings in a larger sample and
      leveraged the additional statistical power to perform individual differences
      analyses to tease apart potential underlying mechanisms. We found no evidence for
      a correlation between these two types of benefit, suggesting that flexible target
      cueing and distractor suppression depend on distinct cognitive mechanisms. In
      Experiment 3, we use EEG to show that preparatory distractor suppression is
      associated with a diminished P1, but we found no evidence to suggest that this
      effect was mediated by top-down control of oscillatory activity in the alpha band
      (8-12 Hz). We conclude that flexible top-down mechanisms of cognitive control are
      specialized for target-related attention, whereas distractor suppression only
      emerges when the predictive information can be derived directly from experience.
      This is consistent with a predictive coding model of expectation suppression.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: If you were told to ignore a white bear, you might find
      it quite difficult. Holding something in working memory is thought to
      automatically facilitate feature processing, even if doing so is detrimental to
      the current task. Despite this paradox, it is often assumed that distractor
      suppression is controlled via similar top-down mechanisms of attention that
      prepare brain areas for target enhancement. In particular, low-frequency
      oscillations in visual cortex appear especially well suited for gating task
      irrelevant information. We describe the results of a series of studies exploring
      distractor suppression and challenge this popular notion. We draw on behavioral
      and EEG evidence to show that selective distractor suppression operates via an
      alternative mechanism, such as expectation suppression within a predictive coding
      framework.

PMID- 26865607
TI  - Age-Related Changes in Frontal Network Structural and Functional Connectivity in
      Relation to Bimanual Movement Control.
AB  - Changes in both brain structure and neurophysiological function regulating
      homotopic as well as heterotopic interhemispheric interactions (IHIs) are assumed
      to be responsible for the bimanual performance deficits in older adults. However,
      how the structural and functional networks regulating bimanual performance
      decline in older adults, as well as the interplay between brain structure and
      function remain largely unclear. Using a dual-site transcranial magnetic
      stimulation paradigm, we examined the age-related changes in the interhemispheric
      effects from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal premotor cortex onto
      the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) during the preparation of a complex
      bimanual coordination task in human. Structural properties of these interactions
      were assessed with diffusion-based fiber tractography. Compared with young
      adults, older adults showed performance declines in the more difficult bimanual
      conditions, less optimal brain white matter (WM) microstructure, and a decreased
      ability to regulate the interaction between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and
      M1. Importantly, we found that WM microstructure, neurophysiological function,
      and bimanual performance were interrelated in older adults, whereas only the task
      related changes in IHI predicted bimanual performance in young adults. These
      results reflect unique interactions between structure and function in the aging
      brain, such that declines in WM microstructural organization likely lead to
      dysfunctional regulation of IHI, ultimately accounting for bimanual performance
      deficits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The structural and functional changes in the
      aging brain are associated with a decline in movement control, compromising
      functional independence. We used MRI and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques
      to investigate white matter microstructural organization and neurophysiological
      function in the aging brain, in relation to bimanual movement control. We found
      that less optimal brain microstructural organization and task-related modulations
      in neurophysiological function resulted in poor bimanual performance in older
      adults. By interrelating brain structure, neurophysiological function, and
      behavior, the current study provides a comprehensive picture of biological
      alterations in the aging brain that underlie declines in bimanual performance.

PMID- 26865608
TI  - QRFP and Its Receptors Regulate Locomotor Activity and Sleep in Zebrafish.
AB  - The hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating sleep, but few
      hypothalamic sleep-promoting signaling pathways have been identified. Here we
      demonstrate a role for the neuropeptide QRFP (also known as P518 and 26RFa) and
      its receptors in regulating sleep in zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate. We show
      that QRFP is expressed in ~10 hypothalamic neurons in zebrafish larvae, which
      project to the hypothalamus, hindbrain, and spinal cord, including regions that
      express the two zebrafish QRFP receptor paralogs. We find that the overexpression
      of QRFP inhibits locomotor activity during the day, whereas mutation of qrfp or
      its receptors results in increased locomotor activity and decreased sleep during
      the day. Despite the restriction of these phenotypes to the day, the circadian
      clock does not regulate qrfp expression, and entrained circadian rhythms are not
      required for QRFP-induced rest. Instead, we find that QRFP overexpression
      decreases locomotor activity largely in a light-specific manner. Our results
      suggest that QRFP signaling plays an important role in promoting sleep and may
      underlie some aspects of hypothalamic sleep control. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The
      hypothalamus is thought to play a key role in regulating sleep in vertebrate
      animals, but few sleep-promoting signaling pathways that function in the
      hypothalamus have been identified. Here we use the zebrafish, a diurnal
      vertebrate, to functionally and anatomically characterize the neuropeptide QRFP.
      We show that QRFP is exclusively expressed in a small number of neurons in the
      larval zebrafish hypothalamus that project widely in the brain. We also show that
      QRFP overexpression reduces locomotor activity, whereas animals that lack QRFP
      signaling are more active and sleep less. These results suggest that QRFP
      signaling participates in the hypothalamic regulation of sleep.

PMID- 26865609
TI  - Interdigitated Color- and Disparity-Selective Columns within Human Visual
      Cortical Areas V2 and V3.
AB  - In nonhuman primates (NHPs), secondary visual cortex (V2) is composed of
      repeating columnar stripes, which are evident in histological variations of
      cytochrome oxidase (CO) levels. Distinctive "thin" and "thick" stripes of dark CO
      staining reportedly respond selectively to stimulus variations in color and
      binocular disparity, respectively. Here, we first tested whether similar color
      selective or disparity-selective stripes exist in human V2. If so, available
      evidence predicts that such stripes should (1) radiate "outward" from the V1-V2
      border, (2) interdigitate, (3) differ from each other in both thickness and
      length, (4) be spaced ~3.5-4 mm apart (center-to-center), and, perhaps, (5) have
      segregated functional connections. Second, we tested whether analogous segregated
      columns exist in a "next-higher" tier area, V3. To answer these questions, we
      used high-resolution fMRI (1 * 1 * 1 mm(3)) at high field (7 T), presenting color
      selective or disparity-selective stimuli, plus extensive signal averaging across
      multiple scan sessions and cortical surface-based analysis. All hypotheses were
      confirmed. V2 stripes and V3 columns were reliably localized in all subjects. The
      two stripe/column types were largely interdigitated (e.g., nonoverlapping) in
      both V2 and V3. Color-selective stripes differed from disparity-selective stripes
      in both width (thickness) and length. Analysis of resting-state functional
      connections (eyes closed) showed a stronger correlation between functionally
      alike (compared with functionally unlike) stripes/columns in V2 and V3. These
      results revealed a fine-scale segregation of color-selective or disparity
      selective streams within human areas V2 and V3. Together with prior evidence from
      NHPs, this suggests that two parallel processing streams extend from visual
      subcortical regions through V1, V2, and V3. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In current
      textbooks and reviews, diagrams of cortical visual processing highlight two
      distinct neural-processing streams within the first and second cortical areas in
      monkeys. Two major streams consist of segregated cortical columns that are
      selectively activated by either color or ocular interactions. Because such
      cortical columns are so small, they were not revealed previously by conventional
      imaging techniques in humans. Here we demonstrate that such segregated columnar
      systems exist in humans. We find that, in humans, color versus binocular
      disparity columns extend one full area further, into the third visual area. Our
      approach can be extended to reveal and study additional types of columns in human
      cortex, perhaps including columns underlying more cognitive functions.

PMID- 26865610
TI  - Altered Trafficking and Processing of GALC Mutants Correlates with Globoid Cell
      Leukodystrophy Severity.
AB  - Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD, Krabbe disease) is due to autosomal recessive
      mutations in the lysosomal enzyme galactosylceramidase (GALC). Many GLD patients
      develop infantile-onset of progressive neurologic deterioration and death by 2
      years of age, whereas others have a later-onset, milder disease. Cord blood
      transplant slows disease progression much more effectively when performed
      presymptomatically, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. Current
      diagnosis is based on reduced GALC activity, DNA sequence, and clinical
      examination. However, presymptomatic diagnosis is hampered by imperfect genotype
      GALC activity-phenotype correlations. In addition, three polymorphisms in the
      GALC gene are variably associated with disease mutations and have unknown effects
      on GALC activity and disease outcome. Here, we study mutations that cause
      infantile or later-onset GLD, and show that GALC activity is significantly lower
      in infantile versus later-onset mutants when measured in the lysosomal fraction,
      but not in whole-cell lysates. In parallel, infantile-onset mutant GALCs showed
      reduced trafficking to lysosomes and processing than later-onset mutant GALCs.
      Finally, the cis-polymorphisms also affected trafficking to the lysosome and
      processing of GALC. These differences potentially explain why the activity of
      different mutations appears similar in whole-cell extracts from lymphocytes, and
      suggest that measure of GALC activity in lysosomes may better predict the onset
      and severity of disease for a given GLD genotype. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Globoid
      cell leukodystrophy (GLD, Krabbe disease) is diagnosed by measuring
      galactosylceramidase (GALC) activity and DNA analysis. However, genotype and
      phenotype often do not correlate due to considerable clinical variability, even
      for the same mutation, for unknown reasons. We find that altered trafficking to
      the lysosome and processing of GALC correlates with GLD severity and is modulated
      by cis-polymorphisms. Current diagnosis of GLD is based on GALC activity of total
      cell lysates from blood, which does not discriminate whether the activity comes
      from the lysosome or other subcellular organelles. Measurement of GALC activity
      in lysosomes may predict which infants are at high risk for the infantile
      phenotype while distinguishing other children who will develop later-onset
      phenotypes without onset of symptoms for years.

PMID- 26865611
TI  - Aerobic Glycolysis in the Frontal Cortex Correlates with Memory Performance in
      Wild-Type Mice But Not the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Cerebral Amyloidosis.
AB  - Aerobic glycolysis and lactate production in the brain plays a key role in
      memory, yet the role of this metabolism in the cognitive decline associated with
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains poorly understood. Here we examined the
      relationship between cerebral lactate levels and memory performance in an APP/PS1
      mouse model of AD, which progressively accumulates amyloid-beta. In vivo (1)H
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed an age-dependent decline in lactate
      levels within the frontal cortex of control mice, whereas lactate levels remained
      unaltered in APP/PS1 mice from 3 to 12 months of age. Analysis of hippocampal
      interstitial fluid by in vivo microdialysis revealed a significant elevation in
      lactate levels in APP/PS1 mice relative to control mice at 12 months of age. An
      age-dependent decline in the levels of key aerobic glycolysis enzymes and a
      concomitant increase in lactate transporter expression was detected in control
      mice. Increased expression of lactate-producing enzymes correlated with improved
      memory in control mice. Interestingly, in APP/PS1 mice the opposite effect was
      detected. In these mice, increased expression of lactate producing enzymes
      correlated with poorer memory performance. Immunofluorescent staining revealed
      localization of the aerobic glycolysis enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and
      lactate dehydrogenase A within cortical and hippocampal neurons in control mice,
      as well as within astrocytes surrounding amyloid plaques in APP/PS1 mice. These
      observations collectively indicate that production of lactate, via aerobic
      glycolysis, is beneficial for memory function during normal aging. However,
      elevated lactate levels in APP/PS1 mice indicate perturbed lactate processing, a
      factor that may contribute to cognitive decline in AD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT:
      Lactate has recently emerged as a key metabolite necessary for memory
      consolidation. Lactate is the end product of aerobic glycolysis, a unique form of
      metabolism that occurs within certain regions of the brain. Here we detected an
      age-dependent decline in the expression of aerobic glycolysis enzymes and a
      concomitant decrease in lactate levels within the frontal cortex of wild-type
      mice. Improved memory performance in wild-type mice correlated with elevated
      expression of aerobic glycolysis enzymes. Surprisingly, lactate levels remained
      elevated with age and increased aerobic glycolysis enzyme expression correlated
      with poorer memory performance in APP/PS1 mice. These findings suggest that while
      lactate production is beneficial for memory in the healthy aging brain, it might
      be detrimental in an Alzheimer's disease context.

PMID- 26865612
TI  - Opposing Roles of Cholinergic and GABAergic Activity in the Insular Cortex and
      Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis during Novel Recognition and Familiar Taste
      Memory Retrieval.
AB  - Acetylcholine (ACh) is thought to facilitate cortical plasticity during memory
      formation and its release is regulated by the nucleus basalis magnocellularis
      (NBM). Questions remain regarding which neuronal circuits and neurotransmitters
      trigger activation or suppression of cortical cholinergic activity. During novel,
      but not familiar, taste consumption, there is a significant increase in ACh
      release in the insular cortex (IC), a highly relevant structure for taste
      learning. Here, we evaluate how GABA inhibition modulates cholinergic
      transmission and its involvement during taste novelty processing and familiar
      taste memory retrieval. Using saccharin as a taste stimulus in a taste preference
      paradigm, we examined the effects of injecting the GABAA receptor agonist
      muscimol or the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline into the IC or NBM during
      learning or retrieval of an appetitive taste memory on taste preference in male
      Sprague Dawley rats. GABAA receptor agonism and antagonism had opposite effects
      on cortical ACh levels in novel taste presentation versus familiar taste
      recognition and ACh levels were associated with the propensity to acquire or
      retrieve a taste memory. These results indicate that the pattern of cortical
      cholinergic and GABAergic neuroactivity during novel taste exposure is the
      opposite of that which occurs during familiar taste recognition and these
      differing neurotransmitter system states may enable different behavioral
      consequences. Divergences in ACh and GABA levels may produce differential
      alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neural processes within the cortex
      during acquisition and retrieval. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: During learning and
      recall, several brain structures act together. This work demonstrates
      interactions between cortical cholinergic and GABAergic systems during taste
      learning and memory retrieval. We found that the neuroactivity pattern during
      novel taste exposure is opposite that which occurs during familiar taste
      recognition. GABAA receptors must be inactive during novel tasting to enable new
      memory formation, but must be active and inhibiting acetylcholine release in the
      cortex to allow memory retrieval. These findings indicate that GABA inhibition
      modulates cholinergic transmission and that cholinergic-GABAergic system
      interactions are important during the transition from novel to familiar memory.

PMID- 26865613
TI  - Cell-Surface and Secreted Isoforms of CSF-1 Exert Opposing Roles in Macrophage
      Mediated Neural Damage in Cx32-Deficient Mice.
AB  - Previous studies in myelin-mutant mouse models of the inherited and incurable
      nerve disorder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy, have demonstrated that low
      grade secondary inflammation implicating phagocytosing macrophages amplifies
      demyelination, Schwann cell dedifferentiation and perturbation of axons. The
      cytokine colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) acts as an important regulator of
      these macrophage-related disease mechanisms, as genetic and pharmacologic
      approaches to block the CSF-1/CSF-1R signaling result in a significant
      alleviation of pathological alterations in mutant peripheral nerves. In mouse
      models of CMT1A and CMT1X, as well as in human biopsies, CSF-1 is predominantly
      expressed by endoneurial fibroblasts, which are closely associated with
      macrophages, suggesting local stimulatory mechanisms. Here we investigated the
      impact of cell-surface and secreted isoforms of CSF-1 on macrophage-related
      disease in connexin32-deficient (Cx32def) mice, a mouse model of CMT1X. Our
      present observations suggest that the secreted proteoglycan isoform (spCSF-1) is
      predominantly expressed by fibroblasts, whereas the membrane-spanning cell
      surface isoform (csCSF-1) is expressed by macrophages. Using crossbreeding
      approaches to selectively restore or overexpress distinct isoforms in CSF-1
      deficient (osteopetrotic) Cx32def mice, we demonstrate that both isoforms equally
      regulate macrophage numbers dose-dependently. However, spCSF-1 mediates
      macrophage activation and macrophage-related neural damage, whereas csCSF-1
      inhibits macrophage activation and attenuates neuropathy. These results further
      corroborate the important role of secondary inflammation in mouse models of CMT1
      and might identify specific targets for therapeutic approaches to modulate innate
      immune reactions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Mouse models of Charcot-Marie-Tooth
      neuropathy have indicated that low-grade secondary inflammation involving
      phagocytosing macrophages amplifies demyelination, Schwann cell
      dedifferentiation, and perturbation of axons. The recruitment and pathogenic
      activation of detrimental macrophages is regulated by CSF-1, a cytokine that is
      mostly expressed by fibroblasts in the diseased nerve and exists in three
      isoforms. We show that the cell-surface and secreted isoforms of CSF-1 have
      opposing effects on macrophage activation and disease progression in a mouse
      model of CMT1X. These insights into opposing functions of disease-modulating
      cytokine isoforms might enable the development of specific therapeutic
      approaches.

PMID- 26865615
TI  - Shawn, the Drosophila Homolog of SLC25A39/40, Is a Mitochondrial Carrier That
      Promotes Neuronal Survival.
AB  - Mitochondria play an important role in the regulation of neurotransmission, and
      mitochondrial impairment is a key event in neurodegeneration. Cells rely on
      mitochondrial carrier proteins of the SLC25 family to shuttle ions, cofactors,
      and metabolites necessary for enzymatic reactions. Mutations in these carriers
      often result in rare but severe pathologies in the brain, and some of the genes,
      including SLC25A39 and SLC25A40, reside in susceptibility loci of severe forms of
      epilepsy. However, the role of most of these carriers has not been investigated
      in neurons in vivo. We identified shawn, the Drosophila homolog of SLC25A39 and
      SLC25A40, in a genetic screen to identify genes involved in neuronal function.
      Shawn localizes to mitochondria, and missense mutations result in an accumulation
      of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurodegeneration.
      Shawn regulates metal homeostasis, and we found in shawn mutants increased levels
      of manganese, calcium, and mitochondrial free iron. Mitochondrial mutants often
      cannot maintain synaptic transmission under demanding conditions, but shawn
      mutants do, and they also do not display endocytic defects. In contrast, shawn
      mutants harbor a significant increase in neurotransmitter release. Our work
      provides the first functional annotation of these essential mitochondrial
      carriers in the nervous system, and the results suggest that metal imbalances and
      mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to defects in synaptic transmission and
      neuronal survival. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We describe for the first time the
      role of the mitochondrial carrier Shawn/SLC25A39/SLC25A40 in the nervous system.
      In humans, these genes reside in susceptibility loci for epilepsy, and, in flies,
      we observe neuronal defects related to mitochondrial dysfunction and metal
      homeostasis defects. Interestingly, shawn mutants also harbor increased
      neurotransmitter release and neurodegeneration. Our data suggest a connection
      between maintaining a correct metal balance and mitochondrial function to
      regulate neuronal survival and neurotransmitter release.

PMID- 26865614
TI  - Temporal Asymmetry in Dark-Bright Processing Initiates Propagating Activity
      across Primary Visual Cortex.
AB  - Differences between visual pathways representing darks and lights have been shown
      to affect spatial resolution and detection timing. Both psychophysical and
      physiological studies suggest an underlying retinal origin with amplification in
      primary visual cortex (V1). Here we show that temporal asymmetries in the
      processing of darks and lights create motion in terms of propagating activity
      across V1. Exploiting the high spatiotemporal resolution of voltage-sensitive dye
      imaging, we captured population responses to abrupt local changes of luminance in
      cat V1. For stimulation we used two neighboring small squares presented on either
      bright or dark backgrounds. When a single square changed from dark to bright or
      vice versa, we found coherent population activity emerging at the respective
      retinal input locations. However, faster rising and decay times were obtained for
      the bright to dark than the dark to bright changes. When the two squares changed
      luminance simultaneously in opposite polarities, we detected a propagating wave
      front of activity that originated at the cortical location representing the
      darkened square and rapidly expanded toward the region representing the
      brightened location. Thus, simultaneous input led to sequential activation across
      cortical retinotopy. Importantly, this effect was independent of the squares'
      contrast with the background. We suggest imbalance in dark-bright processing as a
      driving force in the generation of wave-like activity. Such propagation may
      convey motion signals and influence perception of shape whenever abrupt shifts in
      visual objects or gaze cause counterchange of luminance at high-contrast borders.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: An elementary process in vision is the detection of darks
      and lights through the retina via ON and OFF channels. Psychophysical and
      physiological studies suggest that differences between these channels affect
      spatial resolution and detection thresholds. Here we show that temporal
      asymmetries in the processing of darks and lights create motion signals across
      visual cortex. Using two neighboring squares, which simultaneously counterchanged
      luminance, we discovered propagating activity that was strictly drawn out from
      cortical regions representing the darkened location. Thus, a synchronous stimulus
      event translated into sequential wave-like brain activation. Such propagation may
      convey motion signals accessible in higher brain areas, whenever abrupt shifts in
      visual objects or gaze cause counterchange of luminance at high-contrast borders.

PMID- 26865616
TI  - Abeta40 Reduces P-Glycoprotein at the Blood-Brain Barrier through the Ubiquitin
      Proteasome Pathway.
AB  - Failure to clear amyloid-beta (Abeta) from the brain is in part responsible for
      Abeta brain accumulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A critical protein for
      clearing Abeta across the blood-brain barrier is the efflux transporter P
      glycoprotein (P-gp) in the luminal plasma membrane of the brain capillary
      endothelium. P-gp is reduced at the blood-brain barrier in AD, which has been
      shown to be associated with Abeta brain accumulation. However, the mechanism
      responsible for P-gp reduction in AD is not well understood. Here we focused on
      identifying critical mechanistic steps involved in reducing P-gp in AD. We
      exposed isolated rat brain capillaries to 100 nm Abeta40, Abeta40, aggregated
      Abeta40, and Abeta42. We observed that only Abeta40 triggered reduction of P-gp
      protein expression and transport activity levels; this occurred in a dose- and
      time-dependent manner. To identify the steps involved in Abeta-mediated P-gp
      reduction, we inhibited protein ubiquitination, protein trafficking, and the
      ubiquitin-proteasome system, and monitored P-gp protein expression, transport
      activity, and P-gp-ubiquitin levels. Thus, exposing brain capillaries to Abeta40
      triggers ubiquitination, internalization, and proteasomal degradation of P-gp.
      These findings may provide potential therapeutic targets within the blood-brain
      barrier to limit P-gp degradation in AD and improve Abeta brain clearance.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The mechanism reducing blood-brain barrier P-glycoprotein
      (P-gp) in Alzheimer's disease is poorly understood. In the present study, we
      focused on defining this mechanism. We demonstrate that Abeta40 drives P-gp
      ubiquitination, internalization, and proteasome-dependent degradation, reducing P
      gp protein expression and transport activity in isolated brain capillaries. These
      findings may provide potential therapeutic avenues within the blood-brain barrier
      to limit P-gp degradation in Alzheimer's disease and improve Abeta brain
      clearance.

PMID- 26865618
TI  - Frontostriatal White Matter Integrity Predicts Development of Delay of
      Gratification: A Longitudinal Study.
AB  - The ability to delay gratification increases considerably across development.
      Here, we test the hypothesis that this impulse control capacity is driven by
      increased maturation of frontostriatal circuitry using a fiber-tracking approach
      combined with longitudinal imaging. In total, 192 healthy volunteers between 8
      and 26 years underwent diffusion tensor imaging scanning and completed a delay
      discounting task twice, separated by a 2-year interval. We investigated dynamic
      associations between frontostriatal white matter (WM) integrity and delay of
      gratification skills. Moreover, we examined the predictive value of
      frontostriatal WM integrity for future delay of gratification skills. Results
      showed that delay discounting increases with age in a quadratic fashion, with
      greatest patience during late adolescence. Data also indicated nonlinear
      development of frontostriatal WM, with relative fast development during childhood
      and early adulthood and--on average--little change during mid-adolescence.
      Furthermore, the positive association between age and delay discounting was
      further increased in individuals with higher WM integrity of the frontostriatal
      tracts. Predictive analysis showed that frontostriatal WM development explained
      unique variance in current and future delay of gratification skills. This study
      adds to a descriptive relation between WM integrity and delay of gratification by
      showing that maturation of frontostriatal connectivity predicts changes in delay
      of gratification skills. These findings have implications for studies examining
      deviances in impulse control by showing that the developmental path between
      striatum and prefrontal cortex may be an important predictor for when development
      goes astray. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: During the transition from childhood to
      adulthood, individuals generally show increased patience and become better in
      delaying gratification. The exact neural correlates of delay of gratification,
      however, remain poorly understood. By measuring both frontostriatal white matter
      (WM) integrity and delay of gratification skills at two time points, we were able
      to provide links for our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this
      type of impulse regulation capacity. We demonstrate that the ability to delay
      gratification improves between childhood and young adulthood and this improvement
      is predicted by the integrity of frontostriatal WM connections. This study adds
      to a descriptive relation between WM quality and delay of gratification by
      showing that maturation of frontostriatal connectivity predicts improvements in
      delay of gratification skills.

PMID- 26865617
TI  - Amiloride-Insensitive Salt Taste Is Mediated by Two Populations of Type III Taste
      Cells with Distinct Transduction Mechanisms.
AB  - Responses in the amiloride-insensitive (AI) pathway, one of the two pathways
      mediating salty taste in mammals, are modulated by the size of the anion of a
      salt. This "anion effect" has been hypothesized to result from inhibitory
      transepithelial potentials (TPs) generated across the lingual epithelium as
      cations permeate through tight junctions and leave their larger and less
      permeable anions behind (Ye et al., 1991). We tested directly the necessity of
      TPs for the anion effect by measuring responses to NaCl and Na-gluconate (small
      and large anion sodium salts, respectively) in isolated taste cells from mouse
      circumvallate papillae. Using calcium imaging, we identified AI salt-responsive
      type III taste cells and demonstrated that they compose a subpopulation of acid
      responsive taste cells. Even in the absence of TPs, many (66%) AI salt-responsive
      type III taste cells still exhibited the anion effect, demonstrating that some
      component of the transduction machinery for salty taste in type III cells is
      sensitive to anion size. We hypothesized that osmotic responses could explain why
      a minority of type III cells (34%) had AI salt responses but lacked anion
      sensitivity. All AI type III cells had osmotic responses to cellobiose, which
      were significantly modulated by extracellular sodium concentration, suggesting
      the presence of a sodium-conducting osmotically sensitive ion channel. However,
      these responses were significantly larger in AI type III cells that did not
      exhibit the anion effect. These findings indicate that multiple mechanisms could
      underlie AI salt responses in type III taste cells, one of which may contribute
      to the anion effect. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding the mechanisms
      underlying salty taste will help inform strategies to combat the health problems
      associated with NaCl overconsumption by humans. Of the two pathways underlying
      salty taste in mammals, the amiloride-insensitive (AI) pathway is the least
      understood. Using calcium imaging of isolated mouse taste cells, we identify two
      separate populations of AI salt-responsive type III taste cells distinguished by
      their sensitivity to anion size and show that these cells compose subpopulations
      of acid-responsive taste cells. We also find evidence that a sodium-conducting
      osmotically sensitive mechanism contributes to salt responses in type III taste
      cells. Our data not only provide new insights into the transduction mechanisms of
      AI salt taste but also have important implications for general theories of taste
      encoding.

PMID- 26865619
TI  - beta-Amyloid Deposition Is Associated with Decreased Right Prefrontal Activation
      during Task Switching among Cognitively Normal Elderly.
AB  - The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides, a pathological hallmark of
      Alzheimer's disease (AD), has been associated with functional alterations, often
      in an episodic memory system with a particular emphasis on medial temporal lobe
      function. The topography of Abeta deposition, however, largely overlaps with
      frontoparietal control (FPC) regions implicated in cognitive control that has
      been shown to be impaired in early mild AD. To understand the neural mechanism
      underlying early changes in cognitive control with AD, we examined the impact of
      Abeta deposition on task-evoked FPC activation using functional magnetic
      resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans. Forty-three young and 62 cognitively normal
      older adults underwent an fMRI session during an executive contextual task in
      which task difficulty varied: single (either letter case or vowel/consonant
      judgment task) vs dual (switching between letter case and vowel/consonant
      decisions) task. Older subjects additionally completed (18)F-florbetaben positron
      emission tomography scans and were classified as either amyloid positive (Abeta+)
      or negative (Abeta-). Consistent with previous reports, age-related increases in
      brain activity were found in FPC regions commonly identified across groups. For
      both task conditions, Abeta-related increases in brain activity were found
      compared with baseline activity. For higher cognitive control load, however,
      Abeta+ elderly showed reduced task-switching activation in the right inferior
      frontal cortex. Our findings suggest that with Abeta deposition, brain activation
      in the cognitive control region reaches a maximum with lower control demand and
      decreases with higher control demand, which may underlie early impairment in
      cognitive control with AD progression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The accumulation
      of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides, a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease,
      spatially overlaps with frontoparietal control (FPC) regions implicated in
      cognitive control, but the impact of Abeta deposition on FPC regions is largely
      unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging with a task-switching task,
      we found Abeta-related increases in FPC regions compared with baseline activity.
      For higher cognitive control load, however, Abeta-related hypoactivity was found
      in the right inferior frontal cortex, a region highly implicated in cognitive
      control. The findings suggest that with Abeta deposition, task-related brain
      activity may reach a plateau early and undergo downstream pathways of neural
      dysfunction, which may relate to the early impairment of cognitive control seen
      in the progression of Abeta pathology.

PMID- 26865620
TI  - Inactivation of the Dorsal Premotor Area Disrupts Internally Generated, But Not
      Visually Guided, Sequential Movements.
AB  - As skill on a sequence of movements is acquired through practice, each movement
      in the sequence becomes seamlessly associated with another. To study the neural
      basis of acquired skills, we trained two monkeys (Cebus apella) to perform two
      sequential reaching tasks. In one task, sequential movements were instructed by
      visual cues, whereas in the other task, movements were generated from memory
      after extended practice. Then, we examined neural activity in the dorsal premotor
      area (PMd) and the effects of its local inactivation during performance of each
      task. Comparable numbers of neurons in the PMd were active during the two tasks.
      However, inactivation of the PMd had a marked effect only on the performance of
      sequential movements that were guided by memory. These results emphasize the
      importance of the PMd in the internal generation of sequential movements, perhaps
      through maintaining arbitrary motor-motor associations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT:
      The dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) has long been thought to be a critical node in
      the cortical networks responsible for visually guided reaching. Here we show that
      PMd neurons are active during both visually guided and internally generated
      sequential movements. In addition, we found that local inactivation of the PMd
      has a marked effect only on the performance of sequential movements that were
      internally generated. These observations suggest that, although the PMd may
      participate in the generation of visually guided sequences, it is more important
      for the generation of internally guided sequences.

PMID- 26865622
TI  - Multifaceted Contributions by Different Regions of the Orbitofrontal and Medial
      Prefrontal Cortex to Probabilistic Reversal Learning.
AB  - Different subregions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) contribute to the ability to
      respond flexibly to changes in reward contingencies, with the medial versus
      orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) subregions contributing differentially to processes
      such as set-shifting and reversal learning. To date, the manner in which these
      regions may facilitate reversal learning in situations involving reward
      uncertainty remains relatively unexplored. We investigated the involvement of
      five distinct regions of the rat OFC (lateral and medial) and medial PFC
      (prelimbic, infralimbic, and anterior cingulate) on probabilistic reversal
      learning wherein "correct" versus "incorrect" responses were rewarded on 80% and
      20% of trials, respectively. Contingencies were reversed repeatedly within a
      session. In well trained rats, inactivation of the medial or lateral OFC induced
      dissociable impairments in performance (indexed by fewer reversals completed)
      when outcomes were probabilistic, but not when they were assured. Medial OFC
      inactivation impaired probabilistic learning during the first discrimination,
      increased perseverative responding and reduced sensitivity to positive and
      negative feedback, suggestive of a deficit in incorporating information about
      previous action outcomes to guide subsequent behavior. Lateral OFC inactivation
      preferentially impaired performance during reversal phases. In contrast,
      prelimbic inactivation caused an apparent improvement in performance by
      increasing the number of reversals completed. This was associated with enhanced
      sensitivity to recently rewarded actions and reduced sensitivity to negative
      feedback. Infralimbic inactivation had no effect, whereas the anterior cingulate
      appeared to play a permissive role in this form of reversal learning. These
      results clarify the dissociable contributions of different regions of the frontal
      lobes to probabilistic learning. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The ability to adjust
      behavior in response to changes involving uncertain or probabilistic reward
      contingencies is an essential survival skill that is impaired in a variety of
      psychiatric disorders. It is well established that different forms of cognitive
      flexibility are mediated by anatomically distinct regions of the frontal lobes
      when reinforcement contingencies are assured, however, less is known about the
      contribution of these regions to probabilistic reinforcement learning. Here we
      show that different regions of the orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex
      make distinct contributions to probabilistic reversal learning. These findings
      provide novel information about the complex interplay between frontal lobe
      regions in mediating these processes and accordingly provide insight into
      possible pathophysiology that underlies impairments in cognitive flexibility
      observed in mental illnesses.

PMID- 26865621
TI  - Mind the Gap: Two Dissociable Mechanisms of Temporal Processing in the Auditory
      System.
AB  - High temporal acuity of auditory processing underlies perception of speech and
      other rapidly varying sounds. A common measure of auditory temporal acuity in
      humans is the threshold for detection of brief gaps in noise. Gap-detection
      deficits, observed in developmental disorders, are considered evidence for
      "sluggish" auditory processing. Here we show, in a mouse model of gap-detection
      deficits, that auditory brain sensitivity to brief gaps in noise can be impaired
      even without a general loss of central auditory temporal acuity. Extracellular
      recordings in three different subdivisions of the auditory thalamus in
      anesthetized mice revealed a stimulus-specific, subdivision-specific deficit in
      thalamic sensitivity to brief gaps in noise in experimental animals relative to
      controls. Neural responses to brief gaps in noise were reduced, but responses to
      other rapidly changing stimuli unaffected, in lemniscal and nonlemniscal (but not
      polysensory) subdivisions of the medial geniculate body. Through experiments and
      modeling, we demonstrate that the observed deficits in thalamic sensitivity to
      brief gaps in noise arise from reduced neural population activity following noise
      offsets, but not onsets. These results reveal dissociable sound-onset-sensitive
      and sound-offset-sensitive channels underlying auditory temporal processing, and
      suggest that gap-detection deficits can arise from specific impairment of the
      sound-offset-sensitive channel. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The experimental and
      modeling results reported here suggest a new hypothesis regarding the mechanisms
      of temporal processing in the auditory system. Using a mouse model of auditory
      temporal processing deficits, we demonstrate the existence of specific
      abnormalities in auditory thalamic activity following sound offsets, but not
      sound onsets. These results reveal dissociable sound-onset-sensitive and sound
      offset-sensitive mechanisms underlying auditory processing of temporally varying
      sounds. Furthermore, the findings suggest that auditory temporal processing
      deficits, such as impairments in gap-in-noise detection, could arise from reduced
      brain sensitivity to sound offsets alone.

PMID- 26865623
TI  - miR-124 Regulates the Phase of Drosophila Circadian Locomotor Behavior.
AB  - Animals use circadian rhythms to anticipate daily environmental changes.
      Circadian clocks have a profound effect on behavior. In Drosophila, for example,
      brain pacemaker neurons dictate that flies are mostly active at dawn and dusk.
      miRNAs are small, regulatory RNAs (~22 nt) that play important roles in
      posttranscriptional regulation. Here, we identify miR-124 as an important
      regulator of Drosophila circadian locomotor rhythms. Under constant darkness,
      flies lacking miR-124 (miR-124(KO)) have a dramatically advanced circadian
      behavior phase. However, whereas a phase defect is usually caused by a change in
      the period of the circadian pacemaker, this is not the case in miR-124(KO) flies.
      Moreover, the phase of the circadian pacemaker in the clock neurons that control
      rhythmic locomotion is not altered either. Therefore, miR-124 modulates the
      output of circadian clock neurons rather than controlling their molecular
      pacemaker. Circadian phase is also advanced under temperature cycles, but a
      light/dark cycle partially corrects the defects in miR-124(KO) flies. Indeed, miR
      124(KO) shows a normal evening phase under the latter conditions, but morning
      behavioral activity is suppressed. In summary, miR-124 controls diurnal activity
      and determines the phase of circadian locomotor behavior without affecting
      circadian pacemaker function. It thus provides a potent entry point to elucidate
      the mechanisms by which the phase of circadian behavior is determined.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In animals, molecular circadian clocks control the timing
      of behavioral activities to optimize them with the day/night cycle. This is
      critical for their fitness and survival. The mechanisms by which the phase of
      circadian behaviors is determined downstream of the molecular pacemakers are not
      yet well understood. Recent studies indicate that miRNAs are important regulators
      of circadian outputs. We found that miR-124 shapes diurnal behavioral activity
      and has a striking impact on the phase of circadian locomotor behavior.
      Surprisingly, the period and phase of the neural circadian pacemakers driving
      locomotor rhythms are unaffected. Therefore, miR-124 is a critical modulator of
      the circadian output pathways that control circadian behavioral rhythms.

PMID- 26865625
TI  - Astrocytic GAP43 Induced by the TLR4/NF-kappaB/STAT3 Axis Attenuates Astrogliosis
      Mediated Microglial Activation and Neurotoxicity.
AB  - Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a protein kinase C (PKC)-activated
      phosphoprotein, is often implicated in axonal plasticity and regeneration. In
      this study, we found that GAP43 can be induced by the endotoxin
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat brain astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. The
      LPS-induced astrocytic GAP43 expression was mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 and
      nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)- and interleukin-6/signal transducer and
      activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent transcriptional activation. The
      overexpression of the PKC phosphorylation-mimicking GAP43(S41D) (constitutive
      active GAP43) in astrocytes mimicked LPS-induced process arborization and
      elongation, while application of a NF-kappaB inhibitory peptide TAT-NBD or
      GAP43(S41A) (dominant-negative GAP43) or knockdown of GAP43 all inhibited
      astrogliosis responses. Moreover, GAP43 knockdown aggravated astrogliosis-induced
      microglial activation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We also show
      that astrogliosis-conditioned medium from GAP43 knock-down astrocytes inhibited
      GAP43 phosphorylation and axonal growth, and increased neuronal damage in
      cultured rat cortical neurons. These proneurotoxic effects of astrocytic GAP43
      knockdown were accompanied by attenuated glutamate uptake and expression of the
      glutamate transporter excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) in LPS-treated
      astrocytes. The regulation of EAAT2 expression involves actin polymerization
      dependent activation of the transcriptional coactivator megakaryoblastic leukemia
      1 (MKL1), which targets the serum response elements in the promoter of rat Slc1a2
      gene encoding EAAT2. In sum, the present study suggests that astrocytic GAP43
      mediates glial plasticity during astrogliosis, and provides beneficial effects
      for neuronal plasticity and survival and attenuation of microglial activation.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Astrogliosis is a complex state in which injury
      stimulated astrocytes exert both protective and harmful effects on neuronal
      survival and plasticity. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that
      growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a well known growth cone protein that
      promotes axonal regeneration, can be induced in rat brain astrocytes by the
      proinflammatory endotoxin lipopolysaccharide via both nuclear factor-kappaB and
      signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated transcriptional
      activation. Importantly, LPS-induced GAP43 mediates plastic changes of astrocytes
      while attenuating astrogliosis-induced microglial activation and neurotoxicity.
      Hence, astrocytic GAP43 upregulation may serve to indicate beneficial
      astrogliosis after CNS injury.

PMID- 26865626
TI  - Evidence That the Laminar Fate of LGE/CGE-Derived Neocortical Interneurons Is
      Dependent on Their Progenitor Domains.
AB  - Neocortical interneurons show tremendous diversity in terms of their
      neurochemical marker expressions, morphology, electrophysiological properties,
      and laminar fate. Allocation of interneurons to their appropriate regions and
      layers in the neocortex is thought to play important roles for the emergence of
      higher functions of the neocortex. Neocortical interneurons mainly originate from
      the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) and the caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE).
      The diversity and the laminar fate of MGE-derived interneurons depend on the
      location of their birth and birthdate, respectively. However, this relationship
      does not hold for CGE-derived interneurons. Here, using the method of in utero
      electroporation, which causes arbitrary occurrence of labeled progenitor domains,
      we tracked all descendants of the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE)/CGE
      progenitors in mice. We provide evidence that neocortical interneurons with
      distinct laminar fate originate from distinct progenitor domains within the
      LGE/CGE. We find layer I interneurons are predominantly labeled in a set of
      animals, whereas other upper layer neurons are predominantly labeled in another
      set. We also find distinct subcortical structures labeled between the two sets.
      Further, interneurons labeled in layer I show distinct neurochemical properties
      from those in other layers. Together, these results suggest that the laminar fate
      of LGE/CGE-derived interneurons depends on their spatial origin. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: Diverse types of neocortical interneurons have distinct laminar fate,
      neurochemical marker expression, morphology, and electrophysiological properties.
      Although the specifications and laminar fate of medial ganglionic eminence
      derived neocortical interneurons depend on their location of embryonic origin and
      birthdate, no similar causality of lateral/caudal ganglionic eminence (LGE/CGE)
      derived neocortical interneurons is known. Here, we performed in utero
      electroporation on mouse LGE/CGE and found two groups of animals, one with
      preferential labeling of layer I and the other with preferential labeling of
      other layers. Interneurons labeled in these two groups show distinct
      neurochemical properties and morphologies and are associated with labeling of
      distinct subcortical structures. These findings suggest that the laminar fate of
      LGE/CGE-derived neocortical interneurons depends on their spatial origin.

PMID- 26865624
TI  - Human Superior Temporal Gyrus Organization of Spectrotemporal Modulation Tuning
      Derived from Speech Stimuli.
AB  - The human superior temporal gyrus (STG) is critical for speech perception, yet
      the organization of spectrotemporal processing of speech within the STG is not
      well understood. Here, to characterize the spatial organization of
      spectrotemporal processing of speech across human STG, we use high-density
      cortical surface field potential recordings while participants listened to
      natural continuous speech. While synthetic broad-band stimuli did not yield
      sustained activation of the STG, spectrotemporal receptive fields could be
      reconstructed from vigorous responses to speech stimuli. We find that the human
      STG displays a robust anterior-posterior spatial distribution of spectrotemporal
      tuning in which the posterior STG is tuned for temporally fast varying speech
      sounds that have relatively constant energy across the frequency axis (low
      spectral modulation) while the anterior STG is tuned for temporally slow varying
      speech sounds that have a high degree of spectral variation across the frequency
      axis (high spectral modulation). This work illustrates organization of
      spectrotemporal processing in the human STG, and illuminates processing of
      ethologically relevant speech signals in a region of the brain specialized for
      speech perception. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Considerable evidence has implicated
      the human superior temporal gyrus (STG) in speech processing. However, the gross
      organization of spectrotemporal processing of speech within the STG is not well
      characterized. Here we use natural speech stimuli and advanced receptive field
      characterization methods to show that spectrotemporal features within speech are
      well organized along the posterior-to-anterior axis of the human STG. These
      findings demonstrate robust functional organization based on spectrotemporal
      modulation content, and illustrate that much of the encoded information in the
      STG represents the physical acoustic properties of speech stimuli.

PMID- 26865627
TI  - Cholinergic Neurons in the Basal Forebrain Promote Wakefulness by Actions on
      Neighboring Non-Cholinergic Neurons: An Opto-Dialysis Study.
AB  - Understanding the control of sleep-wake states by the basal forebrain (BF) poses
      a challenge due to the intermingled presence of cholinergic, GABAergic, and
      glutamatergic neurons. All three BF neuronal subtypes project to the cortex and
      are implicated in cortical arousal and sleep-wake control. Thus, nonspecific
      stimulation or inhibition studies do not reveal the roles of these different
      neuronal types. Recent studies using optogenetics have shown that "selective"
      stimulation of BF cholinergic neurons increases transitions between NREM sleep
      and wakefulness, implicating cholinergic projections to cortex in wake promotion.
      However, the interpretation of these optogenetic experiments is complicated by
      interactions that may occur within the BF. For instance, a recent in vitro study
      from our group found that cholinergic neurons strongly excite neighboring
      GABAergic neurons, including the subset of cortically projecting neurons, which
      contain the calcium-binding protein, parvalbumin (PV) (Yang et al., 2014). Thus,
      the wake-promoting effect of "selective" optogenetic stimulation of BF
      cholinergic neurons could be mediated by local excitation of GABA/PV or other non
      cholinergic BF neurons. In this study, using a newly designed opto-dialysis probe
      to couple selective optical stimulation with simultaneous in vivo microdialysis,
      we demonstrated that optical stimulation of cholinergic neurons locally increased
      acetylcholine levels and increased wakefulness in mice. Surprisingly, the
      enhanced wakefulness caused by cholinergic stimulation was abolished by
      simultaneous reverse microdialysis of cholinergic receptor antagonists into BF.
      Thus, our data suggest that the wake-promoting effect of cholinergic stimulation
      requires local release of acetylcholine in the basal forebrain and activation of
      cortically projecting, non-cholinergic neurons, including the GABAergic/PV
      neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Optogenetics is a revolutionary tool to assess
      the roles of particular groups of neurons in behavioral functions, such as
      control of sleep and wakefulness. However, the interpretation of optogenetic
      experiments requires knowledge of the effects of stimulation on local
      neurotransmitter levels and effects on neighboring neurons. Here, using a novel
      "opto-dialysis" probe to couple optogenetics and in vivo microdialysis, we report
      that optical stimulation of basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons in mice
      increases local acetylcholine levels and wakefulness. Reverse microdialysis of
      cholinergic antagonists within BF prevents the wake-promoting effect. This
      important result challenges the prevailing dictum that BF cholinergic projections
      to cortex directly control wakefulness and illustrates the utility of "opto
      dialysis" for dissecting the complex brain circuitry underlying behavior.

PMID- 26865628
TI  - Increased Synchrony and Bursting of Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus Fusiform Cells
      Correlate with Tinnitus.
AB  - Tinnitus, the perception of phantom sounds, is thought to arise from increased
      neural synchrony, which facilitates perceptual binding and creates salient
      sensory features in the absence of physical stimuli. In the auditory cortex,
      increased spontaneous cross-unit synchrony and single-unit bursting are de facto
      physiological correlates of tinnitus. However, it is unknown whether neurons in
      the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), the putative tinnitus-induction site, exhibit
      increased synchrony. Using a temporary-threshold shift model and gap-prepulse
      inhibition of the acoustic startle to assess tinnitus, we recorded spontaneous
      activity from fusiform cells, the principle neurons of the DCN, in normal
      hearing, tinnitus, and non-tinnitus guinea pigs. Synchrony and bursting, as well
      as spontaneous firing rate (SFR), correlated with behavioral evidence of
      tinnitus, and increased synchrony and bursting were associated with SFR
      elevation. The presence of increased synchrony and bursting in DCN fusiform cells
      suggests that a neural code for phantom sounds emerges in this brainstem location
      and likely contributes to the formation of the tinnitus percept. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: Tinnitus, a phantom auditory percept, is encoded by pathological
      changes in the neural synchrony code of perceptual processing. Increased cross
      unit synchrony and bursting have been linked to tinnitus in several higher
      auditory stations but not in fusiform cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN),
      key brainstem neurons in tinnitus generation. Here, we demonstrate increased
      synchrony and bursting of fusiform cell spontaneous firing, which correlate with
      frequency-specific behavioral measures of tinnitus. Thus, the neural
      representation of tinnitus emerges early in auditory processing and likely drives
      its pathophysiology in higher structures.

PMID- 26865629
TI  - Human Neuropeptide S Receptor Is Activated via a Galphaq Protein-biased Signaling
      Cascade by a Human Neuropeptide S Analog Lacking the C-terminal 10 Residues.
AB  - Human neuropeptide S (NPS) and its cognate receptor regulate important biological
      functions in the brain and have emerged as a future therapeutic target for
      treatment of a variety of neurological and psychiatric diseases. The human NPS
      (hNPS) receptor has been shown to dually couple to Galphas- and Galphaq-dependent
      signaling pathways. The human NPS analog hNPS-(1-10), lacking 10 residues from
      the C terminus, has been shown to stimulate Ca(2+)mobilization in a manner
      comparable with full-length hNPSin vitrobut seems to fail to induce biological
      activityin vivo Here, results derived from a number of cell-based functional
      assays, including intracellular cAMP-response element (CRE)-driven luciferase
      activity, Ca(2+)mobilization, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, show that hNPS-(1-10)
      preferentially activates Galphaq-dependent Ca(2+)mobilization while exhibiting
      less activity in triggering Galphas-dependent CRE-driven luciferase activity. We
      further demonstrate that both Galphaq- and Galphas-coupled signaling pathways
      contribute to full-length hNPS-mediated activation of ERK1/2, whereas hNPS-(1-10)
      promoted ERK1/2 activation is completely inhibited by the Galphaqinhibitor UBO
      QIC but not by the PKA inhibitor H89. Moreover, the results of Ala-scanning
      mutagenesis of hNPS-(1-13) indicated that residues Lys(11)and Lys(12)are
      structurally crucial for the hNPS receptor to couple to Galphas-dependent
      signaling. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that hNPS-(1-10) is a biased
      agonist favoring Galphaq-dependent signaling. It may represent a valuable
      chemical probe for further investigation of the therapeutic potential of human
      NPS receptor-directed signalingin vivo. 

PMID- 26865630
TI  - Distinct Activation Mechanisms of NF-kappaB Regulator Inhibitor of NF-kappaB
      Kinase (IKK) by Isoforms of the Cell Death Regulator Cellular FLICE-like
      Inhibitory Protein (cFLIP).
AB  - The viral FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) protein from Kaposi sarcoma
      associated herpesvirus activates the NF-kappaB pathway by forming a stable
      complex with a central region (amino acids 150-272) of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB
      kinase (IKK) gamma subunits, thereby activating IKK. Cellular FLIP (cFLIP) forms
      are also known to activate the NF-kappaB pathway via IKK activation. Here we
      demonstrate that cFLIPL, cFLIPS, and their proteolytic product p22-FLIP all
      require the C-terminal region of NEMO/IKKgamma (amino acids 272-419) and its
      ubiquitin binding function for activation of the IKK kinase (or kinase complex),
      but none form a stable complex with IKKgamma. Our results further reveal that
      cFLIPLrequires the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex and the kinase TAK1
      for activation of the IKK kinase. Similarly, cFLIPSand p22-FLIP also require TAK1
      but do not require LUBAC. In contrast, these isoforms are both components of
      complexes that incorporate Fas-associated death domain and RIP1, which appear
      essential for kinase activation. This conservation of IKK activation among the
      cFLIP family using different mechanisms suggests that the mechanism plays a
      critical role in their function. 

PMID- 26865631
TI  - A Highly Conserved Salt Bridge Stabilizes the Kinked Conformation of beta2,3
      Sheet Essential for Channel Function of P2X4 Receptors.
AB  - Significant progress has been made in understanding the roles of crucial
      residues/motifs in the channel function of P2X receptors during the pre-structure
      era. The recent structural determination of P2X receptors allows us to reevaluate
      the role of those residues/motifs. Residues Arg-309 and Asp-85 (rat P2X4
      numbering) are highly conserved throughout the P2X family and were involved in
      loss-of-function polymorphism in human P2X receptors. Previous studies proposed
      that they participated in direct ATP binding. However, the crystal structure of
      P2X demonstrated that those two residues form an intersubunit salt bridge located
      far away from the ATP-binding site. Therefore, it is necessary to reevaluate the
      role of this salt bridge in P2X receptors. Here, we suggest the crucial role of
      this structural element both in protein stability and in channel gating rather
      than direct ATP interaction and channel assembly. Combining mutagenesis, charge
      swap, and disulfide cross-linking, we revealed the stringent requirement of this
      salt bridge in normal P2X4 channel function. This salt bridge may contribute to
      stabilizing the bending conformation of the beta2,3-sheet that is structurally
      coupled with this salt bridge and the alpha2-helix. Strongly kinked beta2,3 is
      essential for domain-domain interactions between head domain, dorsal fin domain,
      right flipper domain, and loop beta7,8 in P2X4 receptors. Disulfide cross-linking
      with directions opposing or along the bending angle of the beta2,3-sheet toward
      the alpha2-helix led to loss-of-function and gain-of-function of P2X4 receptors,
      respectively. Further insertion of amino acids with bulky side chains into the
      linker between the beta2,3-sheet or the conformational change of the alpha2
      helix, interfering with the kinked conformation of beta2,3, led to loss-of
      function of P2X4 receptors. All these findings provided new insights in
      understanding the contribution of the salt bridge between Asp-85 and Arg-309 and
      its structurally coupled beta2,3-sheet to the function of P2X receptors. 

PMID- 26865632
TI  - Formation and Reversibility of BiP Protein Cysteine Oxidation Facilitate Cell
      Survival during and post Oxidative Stress.
AB  - Redox fluctuations within cells can be detrimental to cell function. To gain
      insight into how cells normally buffer against redox changes to maintain cell
      function, we have focused on elucidating the signaling pathways that serve to
      sense and respond to oxidative redox stress within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
      using yeast as a model system. Previously, we have shown that a cysteine in the
      molecular chaperone BiP, a Hsp70 molecular chaperone within the ER, is
      susceptible to oxidation by peroxide during ER-derived oxidative stress, forming
      a sulfenic acid (-SOH) moiety. Here, we demonstrate that this same conserved BiP
      cysteine is susceptible also to glutathione modification (-SSG). Glutathionylated
      BiP is detected both as a consequence of enhanced levels of cellular peroxide and
      also as a by-product of increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Similar
      to sulfenylation, we observe glutathionylation decouples BiP ATPase and peptide
      binding activities, turning BiP from an ATP-dependent foldase into an ATP
      independent holdase. We show glutathionylation enhances cell proliferation during
      oxidative stress, which we suggest relates to modified BiP's increased ability to
      limit polypeptide aggregation. We propose the susceptibility of BiP to
      modification with glutathione may serve also to prevent irreversible oxidation of
      BiP by peroxide. 

PMID- 26865633
TI  - Regulation of Ligand and Shear Stress-induced Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1)
      Signaling by the Integrin Pathway.
AB  - Mechanical loading of the skeleton, as achieved during daily movement and
      exercise, preserves bone mass and stimulates bone formation, whereas skeletal
      unloading from prolonged immobilization leads to bone loss. A functional
      interplay between the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), a major
      player in skeletal development, and integrins, mechanosensors, is thought to
      regulate the anabolic response of osteogenic cells to mechanical load. The
      mechanistic basis for this cross-talk is unclear. Here we report that integrin
      signaling regulates activation of IGF1R and downstream targets in response to
      both IGF1 and a mechanical stimulus. In addition, integrins potentiate
      responsiveness of IGF1R to IGF1 and mechanical forces. We demonstrate that
      integrin-associated kinases, Rous sarcoma oncogene (SRC) and focal adhesion
      kinase (FAK), display distinct actions on IGF1 signaling; FAK regulates IGF1R
      activation and its downstream effectors, AKT and ERK, whereas SRC controls
      signaling downstream of IGF1R. These findings linked to our observation that IGF1
      assembles the formation of a heterocomplex between IGF1R and integrin beta3
      subunit indicate that the regulation of IGF1 signaling by integrins proceeds by
      direct receptor-receptor interaction as a possible means to translate
      biomechanical forces into osteoanabolic signals. 

PMID- 26865634
TI  - A Protein-derived Oxygen Is the Source of the Amide Oxygen of Nitrile Hydratases.
AB  - Nitrile hydratase metalloenzymes are unique and important biocatalysts that are
      used industrially to produce high value amides from their corresponding nitriles.
      After more than three decades since their discovery, the mechanism of this class
      of enzymes is becoming clear with evidence from multiple recent studies that the
      cysteine-derived sulfenato ligand of the active site metal serves as the
      nucleophile that initially attacks the nitrile. Herein we describe the first
      direct evidence from solution phase catalysis that the source of the product
      carboxamido oxygen is the protein. Using(18)O-labeled water under single turnover
      conditions and native high resolution protein mass spectrometry, we show that the
      incorporation of labeled oxygen into both product and protein is turnover
      dependent and that only a single oxygen is exchanged into the protein even under
      multiple turnover conditions, lending significant support to proposals that the
      post-translationally modified sulfenato group serves as the nucleophile to
      initiate hydration of nitriles. 

PMID- 26865635
TI  - Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Plays Protective Roles against High Fat Diet (HFD)
      induced Hepatic Steatosis and the Subsequent Lipotoxicity via Direct
      Transcriptional Regulation of Socs3 Gene Expression.
AB  - Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor
      regulating the expression of genes involved in xenobiotic response. Recent
      studies have suggested that AhR plays essential roles not only in xenobiotic
      detoxification but also energy metabolism. Thus, in this study, we studied the
      roles of AhR in lipid metabolism. Under high fat diet (HFD) challenge, liver
      specific AhR knock-out (AhR LKO) mice exhibited severe steatosis, inflammation,
      and injury in the liver. Gene expression analysis and biochemical study revealed
      thatde novolipogenesis activity was significantly increased in AhR LKO mice. In
      contrast, induction of suppressor of cytokine signal 3 (Socs3) expression by HFD
      was attenuated in the livers of AhR LKO mice. Rescue of theSocs3gene in the liver
      of AhR LKO mice cancelled the HFD-induced hepatic lipotoxicities. Promoter
      analysis established Socs3 as novel transcriptional target of AhR. These results
      indicated that AhR plays a protective role against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis
      and the subsequent lipotoxicity effects, such as inflammation, and that the
      mechanism of protection involves the direct transcriptional regulation
      ofSocs3expression by AhR. 

PMID- 26865638
TI  - Porsche Design's Shisha 2 hits the Lebanese market.

PMID- 26865637
TI  - Hexokinase 2 Is an Intracellular Glucose Sensor of Yeast Cells That Maintains the
      Structure and Activity of Mig1 Protein Repressor Complex.
AB  - Hexokinase 2 (Hxk2) fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaeis a bi-functional enzyme, being
      both a catalyst in the cytosol and an important regulator of the glucose
      repression signal in the nucleus. Despite considerable recent progress, little is
      known about the regulatory mechanism that controls nuclear Hxk2 association with
      theSUC2promoter chromatin and how this association is necessary forSUC2gene
      repression. Our data indicate that in theSUC2promoter context, Hxk2 functions
      through a variety of structurally unrelated factors, mainly the DNA-binding Mig1
      and Mig2 repressors and the regulatory Snf1 and Reg1 factors. Hxk2 sustains the
      repressor complex architecture maintaining transcriptional repression at
      theSUC2gene. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we discovered that the
      Hxk2 in its open configuration, at low glucose conditions, leaves the repressor
      complex that induces its dissociation and promotesSUC2gene expression. In high
      glucose conditions, Hxk2 adopts a close conformation that promotes Hxk2 binding
      to the Mig1 protein and the reassembly of theSUC2repressor complex. Additional
      findings highlight the possibility that Hxk2 constitutes an intracellular glucose
      sensor that operates by changing its conformation in response to cytoplasmic
      glucose levels that regulate its interaction with Mig1 and thus its recruitment
      to the repressor complex of theSUC2promoter. Thus, our data indicate that Hxk2 is
      more intimately involved in gene regulation than previously thought. 

PMID- 26865639
TI  - A model for chronic, intrahypothalamic thyroid hormone administration in rats.
AB  - In addition to the direct effects of thyroid hormone (TH) on peripheral organs,
      recent work showed metabolic effects of TH on the liver and brown adipose tissue
      via neural pathways originating in the hypothalamic paraventricular and
      ventromedial nucleus (PVN and VMH). So far, these experiments focused on short
      term administration of TH. The aim of this study is to develop a technique for
      chronic and nucleus-specific intrahypothalamic administration of the biologically
      active TH tri-iodothyronine (T3). We used beeswax pellets loaded with an amount
      of T3 based on in vitro experiments showing stable T3 release (~5 nmol l(-1)) for
      32 days. Upon stereotactic bilateral implantation, T3 concentrations were
      increased 90-fold in the PVN region and 50-fold in the VMH region after placing
      T3-containing pellets in the rat PVN or VMH for 28 days respectively. Increased
      local T3 concentrations were reflected by selectively increased mRNA expression
      of the T3-responsive genes Dio3 and Hr in the PVN or in the VMH. After placement
      of T3-containing pellets in the PVN, Tshb mRNA was significantly decreased in the
      pituitary, without altered Trh mRNA in the PVN region. Plasma T3 and T4
      concentrations decreased without altered plasma TSH. We observed no changes in
      pituitary Tshb mRNA, plasma TSH, or plasma TH in rats after placement of T3
      containing pellets in the VMH. We developed a method to selectively and
      chronically deliver T3 to specific hypothalamic nuclei. This will enable future
      studies on the chronic effects of intrahypothalamic T3 on energy metabolism via
      the PVN or VMH.

PMID- 26865640
TI  - Angiogenesis in melanoma: an update with a focus on current targeted therapies.
AB  - Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in melanoma metastasis and progression. In
      recent years, numerous studies have investigated the prognostic and clinical
      significance of this phenomenon, and the development of molecular techniques has
      enabled us to achieve a better understanding of angiogenesis in melanoma. Herein,
      we review the current state of knowledge regarding angiogenesis in melanoma,
      including the pathophysiological, histological and immunohistochemical aspects of
      this phenomenon. We also review the molecular pathways involved in angiogenesis
      and the interplay between different components that might be manipulated in the
      future development of efficient targeted therapies. Recently developed targeted
      antiangiogenic therapies in clinical trials and included in the treatment of
      advanced-stage melanoma are also reviewed. 

PMID- 26865636
TI  - Structural Insights into the Carbohydrate Binding Ability of an alpha-(1->2)
      Branching Sucrase from Glycoside Hydrolase Family 70.
AB  - The alpha-(1->2) branching sucrase DeltaN123-GBD-CD2 is a transglucosylase
      belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) that catalyzes the transfer ofd
      glucosyl units from sucroseto dextrans or gluco-oligosaccharides via the
      formation of alpha-(1->2) glucosidic linkages. The first structures of DeltaN123
      GBD-CD2 in complex withd-glucose, isomaltosyl, or isomaltotriosyl residues were
      solved. The glucose complex revealed three glucose-binding sites in the catalytic
      gorge and six additional binding sites at the surface of domains B, IV, and V.
      Soaking with isomaltotriose or gluco-oligosaccharides led to structures in which
      isomaltosyl or isomaltotriosyl residues were found in glucan binding pockets
      located in domain V. One aromatic residue is systematically identified at the
      bottom of these pockets in stacking interaction with one glucosyl moiety. The
      carbohydrate is also maintained by a network of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals
      interactions. The sequence of these binding pockets is conserved and repeatedly
      present in domain V of several GH70 glucansucrases known to bind alpha-glucans.
      These findings provide the first structural evidence of the molecular interaction
      occurring between isomalto-oligosaccharides and domain V of the GH70 enzymes. 

PMID- 26865641
TI  - Brains-Computers-Machines: Neural Engineering in Science Classrooms.

PMID- 26865642
TI  - Examining Gender Differences in Written Assessment Tasks in Biology: A Case Study
      of Evolutionary Explanations.
AB  - Understanding sources of performance bias in science assessment provides
      important insights into whether science curricula and/or assessments are valid
      representations of student abilities. Research investigating assessment bias due
      to factors such as instrument structure, participant characteristics, and item
      types are well documented across a variety of disciplines. However, the
      relationships among these factors are unclear for tasks evaluating understanding
      through performance on scientific practices, such as explanation. Using item
      response theory (Rasch analysis), we evaluated differences in performance by
      gender on a constructed-response (CR) assessment about natural selection
      (ACORNS). Three isomorphic item strands of the instrument were administered to a
      sample of undergraduate biology majors and nonmajors (Group 1: n = 662 [female =
      51.6%]; G2: n = 184 [female = 55.9%]; G3: n = 642 [female = 55.1%]). Overall, our
      results identify relationships between item features and performance by gender;
      however, the effect is small in the majority of cases, suggesting that males and
      females tend to incorporate similar concepts into their CR explanations. These
      results highlight the importance of examining gender effects on performance in
      written assessment tasks in biology. 

PMID- 26865643
TI  - Increasing the Use of Student-Centered Pedagogies from Moderate to High Improves
      Student Learning and Attitudes about Biology.
AB  - Student-centered strategies are being incorporated into undergraduate classrooms
      in response to a call for reform. We tested whether teaching in an extensively
      student-centered manner (many active-learning pedagogies, consistent formative
      assessment, cooperative groups; the Extensive section) was more effective than
      teaching in a moderately student-centered manner (fewer active-learning
      pedagogies, less formative assessment, without groups; the Moderate section) in a
      large-enrollment course. One instructor taught both sections of Biology 101
      during the same quarter, covering the same material. Students in the Extensive
      section had significantly higher mean scores on course exams. They also scored
      significantly higher on a content postassessment when accounting for
      preassessment score and student demographics. Item response theory analysis
      supported these results. Students in the Extensive section had greater changes in
      postinstruction abilities compared with students in the Moderate section.
      Finally, students in the Extensive section exhibited a statistically greater
      expert shift in their views about biology and learning biology. We suggest our
      results are explained by the greater number of active-learning pedagogies
      experienced by students in cooperative groups, the consistent use of formative
      assessment, and the frequent use of explicit metacognition in the Extensive
      section. 

PMID- 26865644
TI  - Prenatal Choline Supplementation Diminishes Early-Life Iron Deficiency-Induced
      Reprogramming of Molecular Networks Associated with Behavioral Abnormalities in
      the Adult Rat Hippocampus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early-life iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency worldwide.
      Maternal iron deficiency increases the risk of schizophrenia and autism in the
      offspring. Postnatal iron deficiency in young children results in cognitive and
      socioemotional abnormalities in adulthood despite iron treatment. The rat model
      of diet-induced fetal-neonatal iron deficiency recapitulates the observed
      neurobehavioral deficits. OBJECTIVES: We sought to establish molecular
      underpinnings for the persistent psychopathologic effects of early-life iron
      deficiency by determining whether it permanently reprograms the hippocampal
      transcriptome. We also assessed the effects of maternal dietary choline
      supplementation on the offspring's hippocampal transcriptome to identify pathways
      through which choline mitigates the emergence of long-term cognitive deficits.
      METHODS: Male rat pups were made iron deficient (ID) by providing pregnant and
      nursing dams an ID diet (4 g Fe/kg) from gestational day (G) 2 through postnatal
      day (PND) 7 and an iron-sufficient (IS) diet (200 g Fe/kg) thereafter. Control
      pups were provided IS diet throughout. Choline (5 g/kg) was given to half the
      pregnant dams in each group from G11 to G18. PND65 hippocampal transcriptomes
      were assayed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and analyzed with the use of
      knowledge-based Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction
      was performed to validate a subset of altered genes. RESULTS: Formerly ID rats
      had altered hippocampal expression of 619 from >10,000 gene loci sequenced by
      NGS, many of which map onto molecular networks implicated in psychological
      disorders, including anxiety, autism, and schizophrenia. There were significant
      interactions between iron status and prenatal choline treatment in influencing
      gene expression. Choline supplementation reduced the effects of iron deficiency,
      including those on gene networks associated with autism and schizophrenia.
      CONCLUSIONS: Fetal-neonatal iron deficiency reprograms molecular networks
      associated with the pathogenesis of neurologic and psychological disorders in
      adult rats. The positive response to prenatal choline represents a potential
      adjunctive therapeutic supplement to the high-risk group.

PMID- 26865645
TI  - L-Glutamine Enhances Tight Junction Integrity by Activating CaMK Kinase 2-AMP
      Activated Protein Kinase Signaling in Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The tight junctions (TJs) are essential for maintenance of the
      intestinal mucosal barrier integrity. Results of our recent work show that
      dietary l-glutamine (Gln) supplementation enhances the protein abundance of TJ
      proteins in the small intestine of piglets. However, the underlying mechanisms
      remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to test the
      hypothesis that Gln regulates TJ integrity through calcium/calmodulin-dependent
      kinase 2 (CaMKK2)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling which, in turn,
      contributes to improved intestinal mucosal barrier function. METHODS: Jejunal
      enterocytes isolated from a newborn pig were cultured in the presence of 0-2.0
      mmol Gln/L for indicated time points. Cell proliferation, monolayer
      transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), paracellular permeability,
      expression and distribution of TJ proteins, and phosphorylated AMPK were
      determined. RESULTS: Compared with 0 mmol Gln/L, 2.0 mmol Gln/L enhanced (P <
      0.05) cell growth (by 31.9% at 48 h and 11.1% at 60 h). Cells treated with 2 mmol
      Gln/L increased TEER by 32.2% at 60 h, and decreased (P < 0.05) TJ permeability
      by 20.3-40.0% at 36-60 h. In addition, 2.0 mmol Gln/L increased (P < 0.05) the
      abundance of transmembrane proteins, such as occludin, claudin-4, junction
      adhesion molecule (JAM)-A, and the plaque proteins zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2,
      and ZO-3 by 1.8-6 times. In contrast, 0.5 mmol Gln/L had a moderate effect on TJ
      protein abundance (20.2-70.5%; P < 0.05) of occludin, claudin-3, claudin-4, JAM
      A, and ZO-1. 2.0 mmol Gln/L treatment led to a greater distribution of claudin-1,
      claudin-4, and ZO-1 at plasma membranes compared with 0 mmol Gln/L. This effect
      of Gln was mediated by the activation of CaMKK2-AMPK signaling, because either
      depletion of calcium from the medium or the presence of an inhibitor of CaMKK2
      abrogated the effect of Gln on epithelial integrity. CONCLUSION: Our findings
      indicate that activation of CaMKK2-AMPK signaling by Gln is associated with
      improved intestinal mucosal barrier function through enhancing the abundance of
      TJ proteins and altering their intracellular localization in intestinal porcine
      epithelial cells.

PMID- 26865647
TI  - L-Citrulline Supplementation Enhances Fetal Growth and Protein Synthesis in Rats
      with Intrauterine Growth Restriction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results from either maternal
      undernutrition or impaired placental blood flow, exposing offspring to increased
      perinatal mortality and a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular
      disease during adulthood. l-Citrulline is a precursor of l-arginine and nitric
      oxide (NO), which regulates placental blood flow. Moreover, l-citrulline
      stimulates protein synthesis in other models of undernutrition. OBJECTIVE: The
      aim of the study was to determine whether l-citrulline supplementation would
      enhance fetal growth in a model of IUGR induced by maternal dietary protein
      restriction. METHODS: Pregnant rats were fed either a control (20% protein) or a
      low-protein (LP; 4% protein) diet. LP dams were randomly allocated to drink tap
      water either as such or supplemented with l-citrulline (2 g . kg(-1) . d(-1)), an
      isonitrogenous amount of l-arginine, or nonessential l-amino acids (NEAAs). On
      day 21 of gestation, dams received a 2-h infusion of l-[1-(13)C]-valine until
      fetuses were extracted by cesarean delivery. Isotope enrichments were measured in
      free amino acids and fetal muscle, liver, and placenta protein by GC-mass
      spectrometry. RESULTS: Fetal weight was ~29% lower in the LP group (3.82 +/- 0.06
      g) than in the control group (5.41 +/- 0.10 g) (P < 0.001). Regardless of
      supplementation, fetal weight remained below that of control fetuses. Yet,
      compared with the LP group, l-citrulline and l-arginine equally increased fetal
      weight to 4.15 +/- 0.08 g (P < 0.05) and 4.13 +/- 0.1 g (P < 0.05 compared with
      LP), respectively, whereas NEAA did not (4.05 +/- 0.05 g; P = 0.07). Fetal muscle
      protein fractional synthesis rate was 35% lower in the LP fetuses (41% +/- 11%/d)
      than in the control (61% +/- 13%/d) fetuses (P < 0.001) and was normalized by l
      citrulline (56% +/- 4%/d; P < 0.05 compared with LP, NS compared with control)
      and not by other supplements. Urinary nitrite and nitrate excretion was lower in
      the LP group (6.4 +/- 0.8 MUmol/d) than in the control group (17.9 +/- 1.1
      MUmol/d; P < 0.001) and increased in response to l-citrulline or l-arginine (12.1
      +/- 2.2 and 10.6 +/- 0.9 MUmol/d; P < 0.05), whereas they did not in the LP +
      NEAA group. CONCLUSION: l-Citrulline increases fetal growth in a model of IUGR,
      and the effect may be mediated by enhanced fetal muscle protein synthesis and/or
      increased NO production.

PMID- 26865648
TI  - Effect of Ultraviolet Light-Exposed Mushrooms on Vitamin D Status: Liquid
      Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Reanalysis of Biobanked Sera from a
      Randomized Controlled Trial and a Systematic Review plus Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on the response of serum total
      25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in healthy participants consuming UV light-exposed
      edible mushrooms are limited and mixed. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to undertake
      a systematic review and meta-analysis of responses of serum 25(OH)D [and serum 25
      hydroxyergocalciferol, 25(OH)D2, and serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25(OH)D3,
      if available] to consumption of UV-exposed mushrooms by healthy participants.
      Biobanked sera from one RCT (originally analyzed by immunoassay) were reanalyzed
      by LC-MS/MS to generate serum 25(OH)D2 and serum 25(OH)D3 data. METHODS: Ovid
      MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for RCTs of UV-exposed
      mushrooms and data on serum 25(OH)D. Studies were screened for eligibility, and
      relevant data were extracted. Serum 25(OH)D data were re-analyzed by ANOVA and
      paired t tests. RESULTS: Our structured search yielded 6 RCTs meeting our
      inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of all 6 RCTs showed serum 25(OH)D was not
      significantly increased (P = 0.12) by UV-exposed mushrooms, but there was high
      heterogeneity (I(2) = 87%). Including only the 3 European-based RCTs [mean
      baseline 25(OH)D, 38.6 nmol/L], serum 25(OH)D was increased significantly by UV
      exposed mushrooms [weighted mean difference (WMD): 15.2 nmol/L; 95% CI: 1.5, 28.8
      nmol/L, P = 0.03, I(2) = 88%], whereas there was no significant effect in the 3
      US-based RCTs [P = 0.83; mean baseline 25(OH)D: 81.5 nmol/L]. Analysis of serum
      25(OH)D2 and serum 25(OH)D3 (n = 5 RCTs) revealed a statistically significant
      increase (WMD: 20.6 nmol/L; 95% CI: 8.0, 33.3 nmol/L, P = 0.001, I(2 =) 99%) and
      decrease (WMD: -13.3 nmol/L; 95% CI: -15.8, -10.7 nmol/L, P < 0.00001, I(2) = 0%)
      after supplementation with UV-exposed mushrooms. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of UV
      exposed mushrooms may increase serum 25(OH)D when baseline vitamin D status is
      low via an increase in 25(OH)D2 (24.2 nmol/L) and despite a concomitant but
      relatively smaller reduction in 25(OH)D3 (-12.6 nmol/L). When baseline vitamin D
      status is high, the mean increase in 25(OH)D2 (18.3 nmol/L) and a relatively
      similar reduction in 25(OH)D3 (-13.6 nmol/L) may explain the lack of effect on
      serum 25(OH)D.

PMID- 26865649
TI  - Protein Concentration in Milk Formula, Growth, and Later Risk of Obesity: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Protein intake may influence important health outcomes in later life.
      OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate current evidence on the
      effects of infant formulas and follow-on formulas with different protein
      concentrations on infants' and children's growth, body composition, and later
      risk of overweight and obesity. METHODS: In this systematic review, we searched
      electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) up
      until November 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eligible studies had
      to include children aged 0-3 y who represented the general population and were
      fed cow milk-based infant formulas with variations in protein concentration.
      Control groups received lower-protein cow milk-based formulas (as defined by the
      authors). The primary outcomes were growth, overweight, obesity, and adiposity.
      Various time points for outcomes assessment were accepted for inclusion. If
      possible, a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twelve RCTs met our inclusion
      criteria. Different formula protein concentrations did not affect linear growth
      other than a transient effect on mean length at 3 mo observed in a meta-analysis
      of 4 studies (mean difference, - 0.27 cm; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.02). Lower mean
      weight and weight z scores obtained from the infants fed lower-protein formulas
      were observed only from 6 to 12 mo of age. Data from one large RCT showed that
      consumption of a lower-protein infant formula may reduce body mass index at 12 mo
      of age and later (12 mo, 24 mo, and 6y) and the risk of obesity at 6 y. Effects
      on body composition remained unclear. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence is
      insufficient for assessing the effects of reducing the protein concentration in
      infant formulas on long-term outcomes, but, if confirmed, this could be a
      promising intervention for reducing the risk of overweight and obesity in
      children. In view of the limited available evidence, more studies replicating
      effects on long-term health outcomes are needed.

PMID- 26865646
TI  - Intake of Total and Subgroups of Fat Minimally Affect the Associations between
      Selected Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the PPARgamma Pathway and Changes in
      Anthropometry among European Adults from Cohorts of the DiOGenes Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
      (PPARgamma) pathway is central in adipogenesis, it remains unknown whether it
      influences change in body weight (BW) and whether dietary fat has a modifying
      effect on the association. OBJECTIVES: We examined whether 27 single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) within 4 genes in the PPARgamma pathway are associated with
      the OR of being a BW gainer or with annual changes in anthropometry and whether
      intake of total fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, or saturated fat
      has a modifying effect on these associations. METHODS: A case-noncase study
      included 11,048 men and women from cohorts in the European Diet, Obesity and
      Genes study; 5552 were cases, defined as individuals with the greatest BW gain
      during follow-up, and 6548 were randomly selected, including 5496 noncases. We
      selected 4 genes [CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB),
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2, PPARgamma gene (PPARG), and sterol
      regulatory element binding transcription factor 1] according to evidence about
      biologic plausibility for interactions with dietary fat in weight regulation.
      Diet was assessed at baseline, and anthropometry was followed for 7 y. RESULTS:
      The ORs for being a BW gainer for the 27 genetic variants ranged from 0.87 (95%
      CI: 0.79, 1.03) to 1.12 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.22) per additional minor allele.
      Uncorrected, CEBPB rs4253449 had a significant interaction with the intake of
      total fat and subgroups of fat. The OR for being a BW gainer for each additional
      rs4253449 minor allele per 100 kcal higher total fat intake was 1.07 (95% CI:
      1.02, 1.12; P = 0.008), and similar associations were found for subgroups of fat.
      CONCLUSIONS: Among European men and women, the influence of dietary fat on
      associations between SNPs in the PPARgamma pathway and anthropometry is likely to
      be absent or marginal. The observed interaction between rs4253449 and dietary fat
      needs confirmation.

PMID- 26865650
TI  - Breakfast-Skipping and Selecting Low-Nutritional-Quality Foods for Breakfast Are
      Common among Low-Income Urban Children, Regardless of Food Security Status.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Universal access to the School Breakfast Program (SBP) is intended to
      help low-income and food-insecure students overcome barriers to eating breakfast.
      However, SBP participation is often still low despite universal access. Further
      information is needed with regard to these children's breakfast behaviors, and in
      particular breakfast behaviors among youth from food-insecure families, to inform
      effective breakfast interventions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to
      examine breakfast behaviors among a large sample of urban students with universal
      access to the SBP and to identify differences in breakfast behaviors among
      children from food-secure compared with food-insecure households. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional study of 821 fourth- through sixth-grade students and their
      parents from 16 schools was conducted. Students reported the foods/drinks
      selected and location of obtaining food/drink on the morning of data collection,
      parents reported household food security status using the 6-item Food Security
      Survey Module, and the school district provided SBP participation data during the
      fall semester of 2013. Multivariable linear regression models accounting for
      school-level clustering were used to examine differences in breakfast behaviors
      across 3 levels of household food security: food secure, low food secure, and
      very low food secure. RESULTS: Students participated in the SBP 31.2% of possible
      days, with 13% never participating in the SBP. One-fifth (19.4%) of students
      purchased something from a corner store for breakfast, and 16.9% skipped
      breakfast. Forty-six percent of students were food insecure; few differences in
      breakfast behaviors were observed across levels of food security. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite universal access to the SBP, participation in the SBP is low. Breakfast
      skipping and selection of foods of low nutritional quality in the morning are
      common, regardless of household food security status. Additional novel
      implementation of the SBP and addressing students' breakfast preferences may be
      necessary to further reduce barriers to students obtaining a free, healthful
      breakfast. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01924130.

PMID- 26865651
TI  - The Circulating Concentration and 24-h Urine Excretion of Magnesium Dose- and
      Time-Dependently Respond to Oral Magnesium Supplementation in a Meta-Analysis of
      Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate determination of Mg status is important for improving
      nutritional assessment and clinical risk stratification. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to
      quantify the overall responsiveness of Mg biomarkers to oral Mg supplementation
      among adults without severe diseases and their dose- and time responses using
      available data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: We identified
      48 Mg supplementation trials (n = 2131) through searches of MEDLINE and the
      Cochrane Library up to November 2014. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to
      estimate weighted mean differences of biomarker concentrations between
      intervention and placebo groups. Restricted cubic splines were used to determine
      the dose- and time responses of Mg biomarkers to supplementation. RESULTS: Among
      the 35 biomarkers assessed, serum, plasma, and urine Mg were most commonly
      measured. Elemental Mg supplementation doses ranged from 197 to 994 mg/d. Trials
      ranged from 3 wk to 5 y (median: 12 wk). Mg supplementation significantly
      elevated circulating Mg by 0.04 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.02, 0.06) and 24-h urine Mg
      excretion by 1.52 mmol/24 h (95% CI: 1.20, 1.83) as compared to placebo.
      Circulating Mg concentrations and 24-h urine Mg excretion responded to Mg
      supplementation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, gradually reaching a steady
      state at doses of 300 mg/d and 400 mg/d, or after ~20 wk and 40 wk, respectively
      (all P-nonlinearity <= 0.001). The higher the circulating Mg concentration at
      baseline, the lower the responsiveness of circulating Mg to supplementation, and
      the higher the urinary excretion (all P-linearity < 0.05). In addition, RBC Mg,
      fecal Mg, and urine calcium were significantly more elevated by Mg
      supplementation than by placebo (all P-values < 0.05), but there is insufficient
      evidence to determine their responses to increasing Mg doses. CONCLUSIONS: This
      meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrated significant dose- and time responses of
      circulating Mg concentration and 24-h urine Mg excretion to oral Mg
      supplementation.

PMID- 26865652
TI  - Dietary Broccoli Lessens Development of Fatty Liver and Liver Cancer in Mice
      Given Diethylnitrosamine and Fed a Western or Control Diet.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The high-fat and high-sugar Westernized diet that is popular
      worldwide is associated with increased body fat accumulation, which has been
      related to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Without
      treatment, NAFLD may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer with a
      high mortality rate. The consumption of broccoli in the United States has greatly
      increased in the last 2 decades. Epidemiologic studies show that incorporating
      brassica vegetables into the daily diet lowers the risk of several cancers,
      although, to our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate HCC prevention
      through dietary broccoli. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the impact of dietary
      broccoli on hepatic lipid metabolism and the progression of NAFLD to HCC. Our
      hypothesis was that broccoli decreases both hepatic lipidosis and the development
      of HCC in a mouse model of Western diet-enhanced liver cancer. METHODS: Adult 5
      wk-old male B6C3F1 mice received a control diet (AIN-93M) or a Western diet (high
      in lard and sucrose, 19% and 31%, wt:wt, respectively), with or without freeze
      dried broccoli (10%, wt:wt). Starting the following week, mice were treated once
      per week with diethylnitrosamine (DEN; 45 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally at
      ages 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 wk). Hepatic gene expression, lipidosis, and tumor
      outcomes were analyzed 6 mo later, when mice were 9 mo old. RESULTS: Mice
      receiving broccoli exhibited lower hepatic triglycerides (P < 0.001) and NAFLD
      scores (P < 0.0001), decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.0001),
      suppressed activation of hepatic CD68(+) macrophages (P < 0.0001), and slowed
      initiation and progression of hepatic neoplasm. Hepatic Cd36 was downregulated by
      broccoli feeding (P = 0.006), whereas microsomal triglyceride transfer protein
      was upregulated (P = 0.045), supporting the finding that dietary broccoli
      decreased hepatic triglycerides. CONCLUSION: Long-term consumption of whole
      broccoli countered both NAFLD development enhanced by a Western diet and hepatic
      tumorigenesis induced by DEN in male B6C3F1 mice.

PMID- 26865653
TI  - Behavioral and Neural Markers of Flexible Attention over Working Memory in Aging.
AB  - Working memory (WM) declines as we age and, because of its fundamental role in
      higher order cognition, this can have highly deleterious effects in daily life.
      We investigated whether older individuals benefit from flexible orienting of
      attention within WM to mitigate cognitive decline. We measured
      magnetoencephalography (MEG) in older adults performing a WM precision task with
      cues during the maintenance period that retroactively predicted the location of
      the relevant items for performance (retro-cues). WM performance of older adults
      significantly benefitted from retro-cues. Whereas WM maintenance declined with
      age, retro-cues conferred strong attentional benefits. A model-based analysis
      revealed an increase in the probability of recalling the target, a lowered
      probability of retrieving incorrect items or guessing, and an improvement in
      memory precision. MEG recordings showed that retro-cues induced a transient
      lateralization of alpha (8-14 Hz) and beta (15-30 Hz) oscillatory power.
      Interestingly, shorter durations of alpha/beta lateralization following retro
      cues predicted larger cueing benefits, reinforcing recent ideas about the dynamic
      nature of access to WM representations. Our results suggest that older adults
      retain flexible control over WM, but individual differences in control correspond
      to differences in neural dynamics, possibly reflecting the degree of preservation
      of control in healthy aging. 

PMID- 26865655
TI  - A Validated Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method for the Determination of
      Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, Elvitegravir and Cobicistat in
      Pharmaceutical Dosage Form.
AB  - A new simple, rapid stability indicating assay method has been developed and
      validated for the determination of emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate,
      elvitegravir and cobicistat using reverse-phase high-performance liquid
      chromatography in their pharmaceutical dosage form. The chromatographic
      separation was performed on an ODS column (250 * 4.6 mm, 5 um) using mobile phase
      A (potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, pH adjusted to 2.5) and mobile phase B
      (acetonitrile) in the ratio of 55:45% v/v at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The
      analytes were detected at 250 nm. The method was found to be linear in the
      concentration range of 2-12 ug/mL for EMT, 3-18 ug/mL for TNDF, 1.5-9 ug/mL for
      ELV and COB, with the coefficient value (R(2)) of >0.9990. The accuracy was
      measured via recovery studies and found to be acceptable, and the percentage
      recoveries were found in the range of 99.93-100.08 +/- 0.5%. Forced degradation
      studies were also conducted, and the drugs were subjected to various stress
      conditions such as acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis, oxidative, photolytic and
      thermal degradation. The proposed method was successfully validated and applied
      for the quantitative estimation of these drugs in both bulk and tablet dosage
      forms.

PMID- 26865654
TI  - Welding, a risk factor of lung cancer: the ICARE study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between lung cancer and occupational
      exposure to welding activity in ICARE, a population-based case-control study.
      METHODS: Analyses were restricted to men (2276 cases, 2780 controls). Welding
      exposure was assessed through detailed questionnaires, including lifelong
      occupational history. ORs were computed using unconditional logistic regression,
      adjusted for lifelong cigarette smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos.
      RESULTS: Among the regular welders, welding was associated with a risk of lung
      cancer (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5), which increased with the duration (OR=2.0,
      95% CI 1.0 to 3.9 when duration >10 years), and was maximum 10-20 years since
      last welding. The risk was more pronounced in case of gas welding (OR=2.0, 95% CI
      1.2 to 3.3), when the workpiece was covered by paint, grease, or other substances
      (OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.4) and when it was cleaned with chemical substances
      before welding. No statistically significant increase in lung cancer risk was
      observed among occasional welders. CONCLUSIONS: Although these results should be
      confirmed, we showed that type of welding and mode of workpiece preparation are
      important determinants of the lung cancer risk in regular welders.

PMID- 26865656
TI  - Determination of Five Major 8-Prenylflavones in Leaves of Epimedium by Solid
      Phase Extraction Coupled with Capillary Electrophoresis.
AB  - A simple, accurate and reproducible method which is based on the capillary
      electrophoresis, coupled with solid-phase extraction, has been developed for
      simultaneous determination of multiple 8-prenylflavones from Chinese Herba
      Epimedii. In this study, the author has mainly illustrated the experimental
      process and research results of five major components including epimedin C,
      icariin, diphylloside A, epimedoside A and icarisoside A that have been extracted
      and identified from Herba Epimedii for the first time. Experimental conditions
      have been optimized to achieve the best separation efficiency for the following
      factors: the buffer pH, buffer concentration and applied voltage. The experiment
      can be conducted through two separable stages: the first stage is to obtain the
      crude extracts through the solid-phase extraction; and the second stage is to
      further separate five major components by using the capillary electrophoresis.
      The separation of the five components and the analysis of the experiment are
      relatively fast and can be completed within 20 min. The concentration ranges of
      the construction of standard curves of five major 8-prenylflavones are 32.0
      395.0, 23.4-292.0, 42.1-526.0, 18.8-233.5 and 29.7-371.0 ug mL(-1) respectively,
      which have showed acceptable linearity with a correlation coefficient, r >=
      0.999. The coefficient varies within 2.0% for both intra- and inter-days tests.
      The recoveries of five components range from 92.3 to 104.1%. The relative
      standard deviations of recoveries of five components range from 1.2 and 2.8%.
      This new method will facilitate the extraction and expedite the determination of
      medical components from Herba Epimedii. 

PMID- 26865657
TI  - Multimodal Assessment of Body Pain in Orofacial Pain Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: . Patients with complaints of orofacial pain (OFP) often have other
      body pain, yet many do not report these to their providers. Uncontrolled pain at
      any location may impact the successful management of an OFP complaint. The
      objective of this study was to determine the number of pain regions throughout
      the body, and the underreporting of pain, in patients who presented to a tertiary
      military OFP clinic. DESIGN:  A retrospective chart review was conducted on 423
      consecutive new patients. Patients were given three assessment opportunities to
      report their pain on a whole-body pain map: 1) prior to evaluation (Pt1), 2)
      following an explanatory statement by their provider on the relationship between
      pain and prognosis (Pt2), and 3) during directed pain inquiry of specific body
      regions (Pro). The pain map was divided into nine anatomical regions that were
      assessed for the presence of pain after Pt1, Pt2, and Pro. RESULTS:  Initially,
      60.5% of patients did not report all pain locations (Pt1). Following the
      explanatory statement (Pt2), 30.5% still did not report all pain. Following the
      completion of all assessment methods, the most commonly reported number of pain
      regions was five (17.0%), and 91.5% of patients reported multiple pain regions.
      CONCLUSIONS:  Most patients had multiple pain complaints outside the chief
      complaint, yet the majority did not report these until multiple forms of
      assessment were utilized. These data encourage the use of a pain map, a verbal
      pain explanation, and directed pain questioning to more accurately capture pain
      location and facilitate multidisciplinary care.

PMID- 26865658
TI  - Do Genetic Factors Modify the Relationship Between Obesity and
      Hypertriglyceridemia? Findings From the GLACIER and the MDC Studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major risk factor for dyslipidemia, but this
      relationship is highly variable. Recently published data from 2 Danish cohorts
      suggest that genetic factors may underlie some of this variability. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: We tested whether established triglyceride-associated loci modify the
      relationship of body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride concentrations in 2
      Swedish cohorts (the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions and Complex Traits Involved in
      Elevated Disease Risk [GLACIER Study; N=4312] and the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study
      [N=5352]). The genetic loci were amalgamated into a weighted genetic risk score
      (WGRSTG) by summing the triglyceride-elevating alleles (weighted by their
      established marginal effects) for all loci. Both BMI and the WGRSTG were strongly
      associated with triglyceride concentrations in GLACIER, with each additional BMI
      unit (kg/m(2)) associated with 2.8% (P=8.4*10(-84)) higher triglyceride
      concentration and each additional WGRSTG unit with 2% (P=7.6*10(-48)) higher
      triglyceride concentration. Each unit of the WGRSTG was associated with 1.5%
      higher triglyceride concentrations in normal weight and 2.4% higher
      concentrations in overweight/obese participants (Pinteraction=0.056). Meta
      analyses of results from the Swedish cohorts yielded a statistically significant
      WGRSTG*BMI interaction effect (Pinteraction=6.0*10(-4)), which was strengthened
      by including data from the Danish cohorts (Pinteraction=6.5*10(-7)). In the meta
      analysis of the Swedish cohorts, nominal evidence of a 3-way interaction
      (WGRSTG*BMI*sex) was observed (Pinteraction=0.03), where the WGRSTG*BMI
      interaction was only statistically significant in females. Using protein-protein
      interaction network analyses, we identified molecular interactions and pathways
      elucidating the metabolic relationships between BMI and triglyceride-associated
      loci. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that body fatness accentuates
      the effects of genetic susceptibility variants in hypertriglyceridemia, effects
      that are most evident in females.

PMID- 26865659
TI  - In vivo quantification of gentamicin released from an implant coating.
AB  - Drug-releasing implants are gaining increasing interest. The present study
      reports a detailed physicochemical analysis of a polymeric coating based on
      poly(D,L-lactide) and the incorporated gentamicin combined with an in vitro and
      in vivo study of the gentamicin release. Differential scanning calorimeter,
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography and high
      performance liquid chromatography showed no effect of the gamma sterilisation on
      the coating components or an interaction of the polymer and the gentamicin.
      Microbiological analysis revealed an inhibition of bacterial growth on the
      implant surface. For the in vivo study, gentamicin-coated wires were implanted
      into the tibiae of rats and harvested at different time points up to day 42. To
      monitor the release in vivo, gentamicin was quantified in serum, bone, endosteum,
      kidney, and on the explanted wires. Gentamicin was detectable over a time period
      of 42 days in the endosteum, up to seven days in the kidney, up to 4 h in the
      bone and at the end of the experiment on one of eight wires. The locally released
      gentamicin caused no histological changes of the kidney. Microbiologically active
      concentrations of released gentamicin were found in the endosteum up to 4 h after
      implantation. The combination of different methods supports the individual
      results, where quantification is complemented by visualisation or antimicrobial
      activity. This work demonstrates that the coating procedure results in no
      substantial alteration of the incorporated drug and that the in vitro burst
      release occurs also in vivo.

PMID- 26865660
TI  - Performance and Limitations of Phosphate Quantification: Guidelines for Plant
      Biologists.
AB  - Phosphate (Pi) is a macronutrient that is essential for plant life. Several
      regulatory components involved in Pi homeostasis have been identified, revealing
      a very high complexity at the cellular and subcellular levels. Determining the Pi
      content in plants is crucial to understanding this regulation, and short real
      time(33)Pi uptake imaging experiments have shown Pi movement to be highly
      dynamic. Furthermore, gene modulation by Pi is finely controlled by localization
      of this ion at the tissue as well as the cellular and subcellular levels.
      Deciphering these regulations requires access to and quantification of the Pi
      pool in the various plant compartments. This review presents the different
      techniques available to measure, visualize and trace Pi in plants, with a
      discussion of the future prospects. 

PMID- 26865661
TI  - Combining -Omics to Unravel the Impact of Copper Nutrition on Alfalfa (Medicago
      sativa) Stem Metabolism.
AB  - Copper can be found in the environment at concentrations ranging from a shortage
      up to the threshold of toxicity for plants, with optimal growth conditions
      situated in between. The plant stem plays a central role in transferring and
      distributing minerals, water and other solutes throughout the plant. In this
      study, alfalfa is exposed to different levels of copper availability, from
      deficiency to slight excess, and the impact on the metabolism of the stem is
      assessed by a non-targeted proteomics study and by the expression analysis of key
      genes controlling plant stem development. Under copper deficiency, the plant stem
      accumulates specific copper chaperones, the expression of genes involved in stem
      development is decreased and the concentrations of zinc and molybdenum are
      increased in comparison with the optimum copper level. At the optimal copper
      level, the expression of cell wall-related genes increases and proteins playing a
      role in cell wall deposition and in methionine metabolism accumulate, whereas
      copper excess imposes a reduction in the concentration of iron in the stem and a
      reduced abundance of ferritins. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis
      suggests a role for the apoplasm as a copper storage site in the case of copper
      toxicity. 

PMID- 26865662
TI  - Transient increase of fractional anisotropy in reversible vasogenic edema.
AB  - Brain vasogenic edema, involving disruption of the blood-brain barrier, is a
      common pathological condition in several neurological diseases, with a
      heterogeneous prognosis. It is sometimes reversible, as in posterior reversible
      encephalopathy syndrome, but often irreversible and our current clinical tools
      are insufficient to reveal its reversibility. Here, we show that increased
      fractional anisotropy in magnetic resonance imaging is associated with the
      reversibility of vasogenic edema. Spontaneously, hypertensive rats-stroke prone
      demonstrated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome-like acute
      encephalopathy in response to high-dose cyclosporine A treatment; the
      deteriorating neurological symptoms and worsening scores in behavioral tests,
      which were seen in acute phase, dissappered after recovery by cessation of
      cyclosporine A. In the acute phase of encephalopathy, the fractional anisotropy
      and apparent diffusion coefficient increased in areas with IgG leakage. This
      increase of fractional anisotropy occurred in the absence of demyelination: fluid
      leakage into the myelinated space increased the axial, but not the radial,
      diffusivity, resulting in the increased fractional anisotropy. This increased
      fractional anisotropy returned to pre-encephalopathy values in the recovery
      phase. Our results highlight the importance of the fractional anisotropy increase
      as a marker for the reversibility of brain edema, which can delineate the brain
      areas for which recovery is possible.

PMID- 26865664
TI  - Colorimetric Evaluation of the Viability of the Microalga Dunaliella Salina as a
      Test Tool for Nanomaterial Toxicity.
AB  - A diagnostic test system was developed to determine the toxicity of nanomaterials
      to the saltwater microalga Dunaliella salina through evaluation of cell death and
      changes in the culture growth rate at various toxicant concentrations, providing
      LC50 and other toxicological metrics. The viability of cells was shown to
      decrease with decreasing chlorophyll absorption of red light by damaged cells.
      This correlation was confirmed by independent fluorescence microscopic
      measurements of live and dead cells in the population. Two standard colorless
      pollutants, hydrogen peroxide and formaldehyde, were used to validate the
      colorimetric method. The method's performance is exemplified with three Ag
      containing preparations (Ag nitrate, Ag proteinate, and 20-nm Ag nanoparticles)
      and with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) mixed with colloidal 15-nm Au and
      20-nm Ag nanoparticles. The toxicity of the Ag-containing preparations to D.
      salina decreased in the order Ag nitrate >= Ag proteinate ? colloidal Ag. The
      toxicity of colloidal Au-CTAB mixtures was found to depend mostly on the content
      of free CTAB. The toxicity of colloidal Ag increased substantially in the
      presence of CTAB. The results suggest that our D. salina-based colorimetric test
      system can be used for simple and rapid preliminary screening of the toxicity of
      different nanomaterials.

PMID- 26865663
TI  - Tungsten Promotes Sex-Specific Adipogenesis in the Bone by Altering
      Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Resident Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.
AB  - Tungsten is a naturally occurring metal that increasingly is being incorporated
      into industrial goods and medical devices, and is recognized as an emerging
      contaminant. Tungsten preferentially and rapidly accumulates in murine bone in a
      concentration-dependent manner; however the effect of tungsten deposition on bone
      biology is unknown. Other metals alter bone homeostasis by targeting bone marrow
      derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) differentiation, thus, we investigated the
      effects of tungsten on MSCsin vitroandin vivoIn vitro, tungsten shifted the
      balance of MSC differentiation by enhancing rosiglitazone-induced adipogenesis,
      which correlated with an increase in adipocyte content in the bone of tungsten
      exposed, young, male mice. Conversely, tungsten inhibited osteogenesis of MSCsin
      vitro; however, we found no evidence that tungsten inhibited osteogenesisin vivo
      Interestingly, two factors known to influence adipogenesis are sex and age of
      mice. Both female and older mice have enhanced adipogenesis. We extended our
      study and exposed young female and adult (9-month) male and female mice to
      tungsten for 4 weeks. Although tungsten accumulated to a similar extent in young
      female mice, it did not promote adipogenesis. Interestingly, tungsten did not
      accumulate in the bone of older mice; it was undetectable in adult male mice, and
      just above the limit of detect in adult female mice. Surprisingly, tungsten
      enhanced adipogenesis in adult female mice. In summary, we found that tungsten
      alters bone homeostasis by altering differentiation of MSCs, which could have
      significant implications for bone quality, but is highly dependent upon sex and
      age. 

PMID- 26865665
TI  - NAD+ Supplementation Attenuates Methylmercury Dopaminergic and Mitochondrial
      Toxicity in Caenorhabditis Elegans.
AB  - Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic contaminant of our fish supply that has been
      linked to dopaminergic (DAergic) dysfunction that characterizes Parkinson's
      disease. We have previously shown that MeHg causes both morphological and
      behavioral changes in the Caenorhabditis elegans DAergic neurons that are
      associated with oxidative stress. We were therefore interested in whether the
      redox sensitive cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) may be
      affected by MeHg and whether supplementation of NAD( + )may prevent MeHg-induced
      toxicities. Worms treated with MeHg showed depletion in cellular NAD( + )levels,
      which was prevented by NAD( + )supplementation prior to MeHg treatment. NAD( +
      )supplementation also prevented DAergic neurodegeneration and deficits in DAergic
      dependent behavior upon MeHg exposure. In a mutant worm line that cannot
      synthesize NAD( + )from nicotinamide, MeHg lethality and DAergic behavioral
      deficits were more sensitive to MeHg than wildtype worms, demonstrating the
      importance of NAD( + )in MeHg toxicity. In wildtype worms, NAD( +
      )supplementation provided protection from MeHg-induced oxidative stress and
      mitochondrial dysfunction. These data show the importance of NAD( + )levels in
      the response to MeHg exposure. NAD( + )supplementation may be beneficial for MeHg
      induced toxicities and preventing cellular damage involved in Parkinson's
      disease.

PMID- 26865666
TI  - Subacute Cardiovascular Toxicity of the Marine Phycotoxin Azaspiracid-1 in Rats.
AB  - Azaspiracids (AZAs) are marine toxins produced by Azadinium spinosum that get
      accumulated in filter feeding shellfish through the food-web. The first
      intoxication was described in The Netherlands in 1990, and since then several
      episodes have been reported worldwide. Azaspiracid-1, AZA-2, and AZA-3 presence
      in shellfish is regulated by food safety authorities of several countries to
      protect human health. Azaspiracids have been related to widespread organ damage,
      tumorogenic properties and acute heart rhythm alterations in vivo but the
      mechanism of action remains unknown. Azaspiracid toxicity kinetics in vivo and in
      vitro suggests accumulative effects. We studied subacute cardiotoxicity in vivo
      after repeated exposure to AZA-1 by evaluation of the ECG, arterial blood
      pressure, plasmatic heart damage biomarkers, and myocardium structure and
      ultrastructure. Our results showed that four administrations of AZA-1 along 15
      days caused functional signs of heart failure and structural heart alterations in
      rats at doses ranging from 1 to 55 ug/kg. Azaspiracid-1 altered arterial blood
      pressure, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 plasma levels, heart collagen
      deposition, and ultrastructure of the myocardium. Overall, these data indicate
      that repeated exposure to low amounts of AZA-1 causes cardiotoxicity, at doses
      that do not induce signs of other organic system toxicity. Remarkably, human
      exposure to AZAs considering current regulatory limits of these toxins may be
      dangerously close to clearly cardiotoxic doses in rats. These findings should be
      considered when human risk is estimated particularly in high cardiovascular risk
      subpopulations.

PMID- 26865667
TI  - Dose- and Time-Dependent Transcriptional Response of Ishikawa Cells Exposed to
      Genistein.
AB  - To further define the utility of the Ishikawa cells as a reliable in vitro model
      to determine the potential estrogenic activity of chemicals of interest,
      transcriptional changes induced by genistein (GES) in Ishikawa cells at various
      doses (10 pM, 1 nM, 100 nM, and 10 MUM) and time points (8, 24, and 48 h) were
      identified using a comprehensive microarray approach. Trend analysis indicated
      that the expression of 5342 unique genes was modified by GES in a dose- and time
      dependent manner (P <= 0.0001). However, the majority of gene expression changes
      induced in Ishikawa cells were elicited by the highest dose of GES evaluated (10
      MUM). The GES' estrogenic activity was identified by comparing the Ishikawa
      cells' response to GES versus 17 alpha-ethynyl estradiol (EE, at equipotent
      doses, ie, 10 MUM vs 1 MUM, respectively) and was defined by changes in the
      expression of 284 unique genes elicited by GES and EE in the same direction,
      although the magnitude of the change for some genes was different. Further,
      comparing the response of the Ishikawa cells exposed to high doses of GES and EE
      versus the response of the juvenile rat uterus exposed to EE, we identified 66
      unique genes which were up- or down regulated in a similar manner in vivo as well
      as in vitro Genistein elicits changes in multiple molecular pathways affecting
      various biological processes particularly associated with cell organization and
      biogenesis, regulation of translation, cell proliferation, and intracellular
      transport; processes also affected by estrogen exposure in the uterus of the rat.
      These results indicate that Ishikawa cells are capable of generating a
      biologically relevant estrogenic response and offer an in vitro model to assess
      this mode of action.

PMID- 26865668
TI  - Estimating Margin of Exposure to Thyroid Peroxidase Inhibitors Using High
      Throughput in vitro Data, High-Throughput Exposure Modeling, and Physiologically
      Based Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling.
AB  - Some pharmaceuticals and environmental chemicals bind the thyroid peroxidase
      (TPO) enzyme and disrupt thyroid hormone production. The potential for TPO
      inhibition is a function of both the binding affinity and concentration of the
      chemical within the thyroid gland. The former can be determined through in vitro
      assays, and the latter is influenced by pharmacokinetic properties, along with
      environmental exposure levels. In this study, a physiologically based
      pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was integrated with a pharmacodynamic (PD) model to
      establish internal doses capable of inhibiting TPO in relation to external
      exposure levels predicted through exposure modeling. The PBPK/PD model was
      evaluated using published serum or thyroid gland chemical concentrations or
      circulating thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormone levels measured in
      rats and humans. After evaluation, the model was used to estimate human
      equivalent intake doses resulting in reduction of T4 and T3 levels by 10% (ED10)
      for 6 chemicals of varying TPO-inhibiting potencies. These chemicals were
      methimazole, 6-propylthiouracil, resorcinol, benzophenone-2, 2
      mercaptobenzothiazole, and triclosan. Margin of exposure values were estimated
      for these chemicals using the ED10 and predicted population exposure levels for
      females of child-bearing age. The modeling approach presented here revealed that
      examining hazard or exposure alone when prioritizing chemicals for risk
      assessment may be insufficient, and that consideration of pharmacokinetic
      properties is warranted. This approach also provides a mechanism for integrating
      in vitro data, pharmacokinetic properties, and exposure levels predicted through
      high-throughput means when interpreting adverse outcome pathways based on
      biological responses.

PMID- 26865669
TI  - Moving Toward Integrating Gene Expression Profiling Into High-Throughput Testing:
      A Gene Expression Biomarker Accurately Predicts Estrogen Receptor alpha
      Modulation in a Microarray Compendium.
AB  - Microarray profiling of chemical-induced effects is being increasingly used in
      medium- and high-throughput formats. Computational methods are described here to
      identify molecular targets from whole-genome microarray data using as an example
      the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), often modulated by potential endocrine
      disrupting chemicals. ERalpha biomarker genes were identified by their consistent
      expression after exposure to 7 structurally diverse ERalpha agonists and 3
      ERalpha antagonists in ERalpha-positive MCF-7 cells. Most of the biomarker genes
      were shown to be directly regulated by ERalpha as determined by ESR1 gene
      knockdown using siRNA as well as through chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled
      with DNA sequencing analysis of ERalpha-DNA interactions. The biomarker was
      evaluated as a predictive tool using the fold-change rank-based Running Fisher
      algorithm by comparison to annotated gene expression datasets from experiments
      using MCF-7 cells, including those evaluating the transcriptional effects of
      hormones and chemicals. Using 141 comparisons from chemical- and hormone-treated
      cells, the biomarker gave a balanced accuracy for prediction of ERalpha
      activation or suppression of 94% and 93%, respectively. The biomarker was able to
      correctly classify 18 out of 21 (86%) ER reference chemicals including "very
      weak" agonists. Importantly, the biomarker predictions accurately replicated
      predictions based on 18 in vitro high-throughput screening assays that queried
      different steps in ERalpha signaling. For 114 chemicals, the balanced accuracies
      were 95% and 98% for activation or suppression, respectively. These results
      demonstrate that the ERalpha gene expression biomarker can accurately identify
      ERalpha modulators in large collections of microarray data derived from MCF-7
      cells.

PMID- 26865670
TI  - MCPIP1 Regulates Alveolar Macrophage Apoptosis and Pulmonary Fibroblast
      Activation After in vitro Exposure to Silica.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Silicosis is a fatal and fibrotic pulmonary disease caused by the
      inhalation of silica. After arriving at the alveoli, silica is ingested by
      alveolar macrophages (AMOs), in which monocyte chemotactic protein-induced
      protein 1 (MCPIP1) plays an essential role in controlling macrophage-mediated
      inflammatory responses. However, the mechanism of action of MCPIP1 in silicosis
      is poorly understood. METHODS: Primary rat AMOs were isolated and treated with
      SiO2 (50 ug/cm(2)). MCPIP1 and AMO activation/apoptosis markers were detected by
      immunoblotting. MCPIP1 was down-regulated using siRNA in AMOs. The effects of
      AMOs on fibroblast activation and migration were evaluated using a gel
      contraction assay, a scratch assay, and a nested collagen matrix migration model.
      RESULTS: After exposure to SiO2, MCPIP1 was significantly increased in rat AMOs.
      Activation and apoptosis markers in AMOs were up-regulated after exposure to SiO2
      Following siRNA-mediated silencing of MCPIP1 mRNA, the markers of AMO activation
      and apoptosis were significantly decreased. Rat pulmonary fibroblasts (PFBs)
      cultured in conditional medium from AMOs treated with MCPIP1 siRNA and SiO2
      showed significantly less activation and migration compared with those cultured
      in conditional medium from AMOs treated with control siRNA and SiO2 CONCLUSION:
      Our data suggest a vital role for MCPIP1 in AMO apoptosis and PFB
      activation/migration induced by SiO2.

PMID- 26865678
TI  - The Application of Noninvasive Headspace Analysis to Media Fill Inspection.
AB  - The results of a proof-of-principle study demonstrating a new analytical
      technique for detecting microbial growth directly in pharmaceutical containers
      are described. This analytical technique, laser-based headspace analysis, uses
      tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy to nondestructively determine gas
      concentrations in the headspace of a media-filled pharmaceutical container. For
      detecting microbial growth, the levels of headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide are
      measured. Once aerobic microorganisms begin to divide after the lag phase and
      enter the exponential growth phase, there will be significant consumption of
      oxygen and concomitant production of carbon dioxide in the sealed container.
      Laser-based headspace analysis can accurately measure these changes in the
      headspace gas composition. The carbon dioxide and oxygen measurement data for the
      representative microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida
      albicans, and Aspergillus brasiliensis were modeled using the Baranyi-Roberts
      equation. The mathematical modeling allowed quantitative comparisons to be made
      between the data from the different microorganisms as well as to the known growth
      curves based on microbial count. Because laser-based headspace analysis is
      noninvasive and can be automated to analyze the headspace of pharmaceutical
      containers at inspection speeds of several hundred containers per minute on-line,
      some potential new applications are enabled. These include replacing the current
      manual human visual inspection with an automated analytical inspection machine to
      determine microbial contamination of media fill and pharmaceutical drug product
      vials. LAY ABSTRACT: A novel analytical technique has been demonstrated for
      detecting microbial growth in media-filled pharmaceutical containers. This
      analytical technique, laser-based headspace analysis, uses tunable diode laser
      absorption spectroscopy to determine gas concentrations in the headspace of a
      pharmaceutical container. For detecting microbial growth, the levels of headspace
      oxygen and carbon dioxide are measured. The study shows that once aerobic
      microorganisms begin to grow after the lag phase and enter the exponential growth
      phase there will be a significant consumption of oxygen in the sealed container
      as well as a corresponding production of carbon dioxide. Headspace analysis can
      accurately measure and monitor these changes in the headspace gas composition and
      could therefore be used to detect contaminated pharmaceutical containers. Because
      the technique can be automated to analyze hundreds of containers a minute on
      line, there are opportunities for implementing a headspace inspection machine to
      perform automated inspection of media fills used to validate aseptic filling
      operations.

PMID- 26865679
TI  - New Processes for Freeze-Drying in Dual-Chamber Systems.
AB  - Dual-chamber systems can offer self-administration and home care use for
      lyophilized biologics. Only a few products have been launched in dual-chamber
      systems so far-presumably due to dual-chamber systems' complex and costly drug
      product manufacturing process. Within this paper, two improved processes (both
      based on tray filling technology) for freeze-drying pharmaceuticals in dual
      chamber systems are described. Challenges with regards to heat transfer were
      tackled by (1) performing the freeze-drying step in a needle-down orientation in
      combination with an aluminum block, or (2) freeze-drying the drug product
      "externally" in a metal cartridge with subsequent filling of the lyophilized cake
      into the dual-chamber system. Metal-mediated heat transfer was shown to be
      efficient in both cases and batch (unit-to-unit) homogeneity with regards to
      sublimation rate was increased. It was difficult to influence ice crystal size
      using different methods when in use with an aluminum block due to its heat
      capacity. Using such a metal carrier implies a large heat capacity leading to
      relatively small ice crystals. Compared to the established process, drying times
      were reduced by half using the new processes. The drying time was, however,
      longer for syringes compared to vials due to the syringe design (long and slim).
      The differences in drying times were less pronounced for aggressive drying
      cycles. The proposed processes may help to considerably decrease investment costs
      into dual-chamber system fill-finish equipment. LAY ABSTRACT: Dual-chamber
      syringes offer self-administration and home care use for freeze-dried
      pharmaceuticals. Only a few products have been launched in dual-chamber syringes
      so far-presumably due to their complex and costly drug product manufacturing
      process. In this paper two improved processes for freeze-drying pharmaceuticals
      in dual-chamber syringes are described. The major challenge of freeze-drying is
      to transfer heat through a vacuum. The proposed processes cope with this
      challenge by (1) freeze-drying the drug product in the syringe in an orientation
      in which the product is closest to the heat source, or (2) freeze-drying the drug
      product outside the syringe in a metal tube. The latter requires filling the
      freeze-dried product subsequently into the dual-chamber syringe. Both processes
      were very efficient and promised to achieve similar freeze-drying conditions for
      all dual-chamber syringes within one production run. The proposed processes may
      help to considerably decrease investment costs into dual-chamber syringe fill
      finish equipment.

PMID- 26865671
TI  - In Utero and Lactational TCDD Exposure Increases Susceptibility to Lower Urinary
      Tract Dysfunction in Adulthood.
AB  - Benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and changes in the ratio of
      circulating testosterone and estradiol often occur concurrently in aging men and
      can lead to lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction. To explore the possibility of
      a fetal basis for the development of LUT dysfunction in adulthood, Tg(CMV
      cre);Nkx3-1(+/-);Pten(fl/+) mice, which are genetically predisposed to prostate
      neoplasia, were exposedin uteroand during lactation to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo
      p-dioxin (TCDD, 1 MUg/kg po) or corn oil vehicle (5 ml/kg) after a single
      maternal dose on 13 days post coitus, and subsequently were aged without further
      manipulation, or at 8 weeks of age were exposed to exogenous 17 beta-estradiol
      (2.5 mg) and testosterone (25 mg) (T+E2) via slow release subcutaneous
      implants.In uteroand lactational (IUL) TCDD exposure in the absence of exogenous
      hormone treatment reduced voiding pressure in adult mice, but otherwise had
      little effect on mouse LUT anatomy or function. By comparison, IUL TCDD exposure
      followed by exogenous hormone treatment increased relative kidney, bladder,
      dorsolateral prostate, and seminal vesicle weights, hydronephrosis incidence, and
      prostate epithelial cell proliferation, thickened prostate periductal smooth
      muscle, and altered prostate and bladder collagen fiber distribution. We propose
      a 2-hit model whereby IUL TCDD exposure sensitizes mice to exogenous-hormone
      induced urinary tract dysfunction later in life. 

PMID- 26865680
TI  - Roflumilast Increases Bacterial Load and Dissemination in a Model of
      Pseudomononas Aeruginosa Airway Infection.
AB  - Exacerbations present a major clinical problem in many patients suffering from
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Roflumilast, an inhibitor of
      phosphodiesterase 4, has shown beneficial effects in several clinical trials and
      is currently widely used to prevent exacerbations in severe COPD. Roflumilast has
      anti-inflammatory properties that may interfere with potentially important host
      defense functions, including cytotoxic properties of neutrophils at sites of
      inflammation. Since chronic bacterial infection is prevalent in severe COPD,
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa being a major pathogen, we hypothesized that this drug
      could impair host defense against P. aeruginosa. In this study, mice were
      pretreated with vehicle alone or roflumilast at doses of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg,
      followed by instillation of P. aeruginosa in the airways. Bacterial load and
      dissemination, as well as inflammatory markers and immune cells, present in the
      airways were monitored. Roflumilast increased mortality, bacterial load, and
      dissemination in mice infected with P. aeruginosa. In addition, roflumilast
      treated mice had significantly lower numbers of neutrophils in the bronchi, but
      not in the lung tissue airways, compared with untreated mice. Several
      proinflammatory cytokines decreased in roflumilast-treated mice but in neither
      the neutrophil-recruiting chemokine KC nor IL-6. These findings show that
      roflumilast treatment impairs host defense against P. aeruginosa in the airways,
      which may indicate that patients suffering from chronic bacterial infection of
      the airways could benefit from withholding of treatment with roflumilast. 

PMID- 26865681
TI  - Evaluation of Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel Assay for Detection of
      Multiple Diarrheal Pathogens in Fecal Samples in Vietnam.
AB  - Diarrheal disease is a complex syndrome that remains a leading cause of global
      childhood morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of enteric pathogens in a timely
      and precise manner is important for making treatment decisions and informing
      public health policy, but accurate diagnosis is a major challenge in
      industrializing countries. Multiplex molecular diagnostic techniques may
      represent a significant improvement over classical approaches. We evaluated the
      Luminex xTAG gastrointestinal pathogen panel (GPP) assay for the detection of
      common enteric bacterial and viral pathogens in Vietnam. Microbiological culture
      and real-time PCR were used as gold standards. The tests were performed on 479
      stool samples collected from people admitted to the hospital for diarrheal
      disease throughout Vietnam. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the
      xTAG GPP for the seven principal diarrheal etiologies. The sensitivity and
      specificity for the xTAG GPP were >88% for Shigellaspp.,Campylobacterspp.,
      rotavirus, norovirus genotype 1/2 (GI/GII), and adenovirus compared to those of
      microbiological culture and/or real-time PCR. However, the specificity was low
      (~60%) for Salmonella species. Additionally, a number of important pathogens that
      are not identified in routine hospital procedures in this setting, such as
      Cryptosporidiumspp. and Clostridium difficile, were detected with the GPP. The
      use of the Luminex xTAG GPP for the detection of enteric pathogens in settings,
      like Vietnam, would dramatically improve the diagnostic accuracy and capacity of
      hospital laboratories, allowing for timely and appropriate therapy decisions and
      a wider understanding of the epidemiology of pathogens associated with severe
      diarrheal disease in low-resource settings.

PMID- 26865682
TI  - Performance of the New Aptima HCV Quant Dx Assay in Comparison to the Cobas
      TaqMan HCV2 Test for Use with the High Pure System in Detection and
      Quantification of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Plasma or Serum.
AB  - Quantitating the level of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is the standard of care for
      monitoring HCV-infected patients during treatment. The performances of
      commercially available assays differ for precision, limit of detection, and limit
      of quantitation (LOQ). Here, we compare the performance of the Hologic Aptima HCV
      Quant Dx assay (Aptima) to that of the Roche Cobas TaqMan HCV test, version 2.0,
      using the High Pure system (HPS/CTM), considered a reference assay since it has
      been used in trials defining clinical decision points in patient care. The
      assays' performance characteristics were assessed using HCV RNA reference panels
      and plasma/serum from chronically HCV-infected patients. The agreement between
      the assays for the 3 reference panels was good, with a difference in quantitation
      values of <0.5 log. High concordance was demonstrated between the assays for 245
      clinical samples (kappa = 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.720 to 0.881);
      however, Aptima detected and/or quantitated 20 samples that HPS/CTM did not
      detect, while Aptima did not detect 1 sample that was quantitated by HPS/CTM. For
      the 165 samples quantitated by both assays, the values were highly correlated (R=
      0.98;P< 0.0001). The linearity of quantitation from concentrations of 1.4 to 6
      log was excellent for both assays for all HCV genotypes (GT) tested (GT 1a, 1b,
      2b, and 3a) (R(2)> 0.99). The assays had similar levels of total and intra-assay
      variability across all genotypes at concentrations from 1,000 to 25 IU/ml. Aptima
      had a greater analytical sensitivity, quantitating more than 50% of replicates at
      25-IU/ml target. Aptima showed performance characteristics comparable to those of
      HPS/CTM and increased sensitivity, making it suitable for use as a clinical
      diagnostic tool on the fully automated Panther platform. 

PMID- 26865684
TI  - Inactivating Zaire Ebolavirus in Whole-Blood Thin Smears Used for Malaria
      Diagnosis.
AB  - Malaria is an important mimic or coinfection in potential Ebolavirus disease
      patients. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the 100% methanol-inactivating Zaire
      Ebolavirus Makona variant for malaria thin-smear preparation. We determined that
      100% methanol completely inactivated the virus after 15 min. 

PMID- 26865683
TI  - Multiplex Antibody Detection for Noninvasive Genus-Level Diagnosis of Prosthetic
      Joint Infection.
AB  - We developed and evaluated a multiplex antibody detection-based immunoassay for
      the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Sixteen protein antigens
      from three Staphylococcusspecies (Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus
      epidermidis, and Staphylococcus lugdunensis) (8 antigens),Streptococcus
      agalactiae(4 antigens), and Propionibacterium acnes(4 antigens) were selected by
      comparative immune proteomics using serum samples from PJI cases versus controls.
      A bead-based multiplex immunoassay that measured serum IgG against purified,
      recombinant forms of each of the 16 antigens was developed. We conducted a
      prospective study to evaluate the performance of the assay. A PJI was defined by
      the presence of a sinus tract and/or positive intraoperative sample cultures (at
      least one sample yielding a virulent organism or at least two samples yielding
      the same organism). A total of 455 consecutive patients undergoing revision or
      resection arthroplasty (hip, 66.3%; knee, 29.7%; shoulder, 4%) at two French
      reference centers for the management of PJI were included: 176 patients (38.7%)
      were infected and 279 (61.3%) were not. About 60% of the infections involved at
      least one of the species targeted by the assay. The sensitivity/specificity
      values were 72.3%/80.7% for targeted staphylococci, 75%/92.6% forS. agalactiae,
      and 38.5%/84.8% forP. acnes The assay was more sensitive for infections occurring
      >3 months after arthroplasty and for patients with an elevated C-reactive protein
      (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). However, it detected 64.3% and
      58.3% of targeted staphylococcal infections associated with normal CRP and ESR
      values, respectively. This new multiplex immunoassay approach is a novel
      noninvasive tool to evaluate patients suspected of having PJIs and provides
      information complementary to that from inflammatory marker values.

PMID- 26865685
TI  - Analytical and Clinical Evaluation of the Epistem Genedrive Assay for Detection
      of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - The Epistem Genedrive assay rapidly detects the Mycobacterium tuberculosis omplex
      from sputum and is currently available for clinical use. However, the analytical
      and clinical performance of this test has not been fully evaluated. The
      analytical limit of detection (LOD) of the Genedrive PCR amplification was tested
      with genomic DNA; the performance of the complete (sample processing plus
      amplification) system was tested by spiking M. tuberculosismc(2)6030 cells into
      distilled water andM. tuberculosis-negative sputum. Specificity was tested using
      common respiratory pathogens and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. A clinical
      evaluation enrolled adults with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, obtained three
      sputum samples from each participant, and compared the accuracy of the Gene drive
      to that of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay using M. tuberculosiscultures as the reference
      standard. The Genedrive assay had an LOD of 1 pg/MUl (100 genomic DNA
      copies/reaction). The LODs of the system were 2.5 * 10(4)CFU/ml and 2.5 *
      10(5)CFU/ml for cells spiked into water and sputum, respectively. False
      positiverpoBprobe signals were observed in 3/32 (9.4%) of the negative controls
      and also in few samples containing Mycobacterium abscessus,Mycobacterium
      gordonae, o rMycobacterium thermoresistibile In the clinical study, among 336
      analyzed participants, the overall sensitivities for the tuberculosis case
      detection of Gene drive, Xpert, and smear microscopy were 45.4% (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 35.2% to 55.8%), 91.8% (95% CI, 84.4% to 96.4%), and 77.3% (95%
      CI, 67.7% to 85.2%), respectively. The sensitivities of Gene drive and Xpert for
      the detection of smear-microscopy-negative tuberculosis were 0% (95% CI, 0% to
      15.4%) and 68.2% (95% CI, 45.1% to 86.1%), respectively. The Genedrive assay did
      not meet performance standards recommended by the World Health Organization for a
      smear microscopy replacement tuberculosis test. Epistem is working on
      modifications to improve the assay.

PMID- 26865686
TI  - Comparative Detection and Quantification of Arcobacter butzleri in Stools from
      Diarrheic and Nondiarrheic People in Southwestern Alberta, Canada.
AB  - Arcobacter butzleri has been linked to enteric disease in humans, but its
      pathogenicity and epidemiology remain poorly understood. The lack of suitable
      detection methods is a major limitation. Using comparative genome analysis, we
      developed PCR primers for direct detection and quantification ofA. butzleri DNA
      in microbiologically complex matrices. These primers, along with existing
      molecular and culture-based methods, were used to detectA. butzleri and enteric
      pathogens in stools of diarrheic and nondiarrheic people (n= 1,596) living in
      southwestern Alberta, Canada, from May to November 2008. In addition,
      quantitative PCR was used to compare A. butzleridensities in diarrheic and
      nondiarrheic stools.Arcobacter butzleriwas detected more often by PCR (59.6%)
      than by isolation methods (0.8%). Comparison by PCR-based detection found no
      difference in the prevalence ofA. butzleri between diarrheic (56.7%) and
      nondiarrheic (45.5%) individuals. Rates of detection in diarrheic stools peaked
      in June (71.1%) and October (68.7%), but there was no statistically significant
      correlation between the presence ofA. butzleri and patient age, sex, or place of
      habitation. Densities ofA. butzleriDNA in diarrheic stools (1.6 +/- 0.59 log10
      copies mg(-1)) were higher (P= 0.007) than in nondiarrheic stools (1.3 +/- 0.63
      log10copies mg(-1)). Of the 892 diarrheic samples that were positive for A.
      butzleri, 74.1% were not positive for other bacterial and/or viral pathogens. The
      current study supports previous work suggesting that A. butzleri pathogenicity is
      strain specific and/or dependent on other factors, such as the level of host
      resistance.

PMID- 26865687
TI  - Emergence of a Multidrug-Resistant Shiga Toxin-Producing Enterotoxigenic
      Escherichia coli Lineage in Diseased Swine in Japan.
AB  - EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) and Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) are
      important causes of diarrhea and edema disease in swine. The majority of swine
      pathogenicE. colistrains belong to a limited range of O serogroups, including O8,
      O138, O139, O141, O147, O149, and O157, which are the most frequently reported
      strains worldwide. However, the circumstances of ETEC and STEC infections in
      Japan remain unknown; there have been few reports on the prevalence or
      characterization of swine-pathogenicE. coli In the present study, we determined
      the O serogroups of 967E. coliisolates collected between 1991 and 2014 from
      diseased swine in Japan, and we found that O139, O149, O116, and OSB9 (O
      serogroup ofShigella boydiitype 9) were the predominant serogroups. We further
      analyzed these four O serogroups using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE),
      multilocus sequence typing, and virulence factor profiling. Most of the O139 and
      O149 strains formed serogroup-specific PFGE clusters (clusters I and II,
      respectively), whereas the O116 and OSB9 strains were grouped together in the
      same cluster (cluster III). All of the cluster III strains belonged to a single
      sequence type (ST88) and carried genes encoding both enterotoxin and Shiga toxin.
      This PFGE cluster III/ST88 lineage exhibited a high level of multidrug resistance
      (to a median of 10 antimicrobials). Notably, these bacteria were resistant to
      fluoroquinolones. Thus, this lineage should be considered a significant risk to
      animal production due to the toxigenicity and antimicrobial resistance of these
      bacteria. 

PMID- 26865688
TI  - Evaluation of GenoFlow DR-MTB Array Test for Detection of Rifampin and Isoniazid
      Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the GenoFlow DR-MTB array test (DiagCor
      Bioscience, Hong Kong) on 70 cultured isolates and 50 sputum specimens. The
      GenoFlow array test showed good sensitivity and specificity compared to the
      phenotypic Bactec 460TB. This array accurately detected mutations inrpoB,katG,
      andinhAassociated with resistance to rifampin and isoniazid.

PMID- 26865689
TI  - Mycobacterium and Aerobic Actinomycete Culture: Are Two Medium Types and Extended
      Incubation Times Necessary?
AB  - Mycobacterial cultures are historically performed using a liquid medium and a
      solid agar medium with an incubation period of up to 60 days. We performed a
      retrospective analysis of 21,494 mycobacterial and aerobic actinomycetes cultures
      performed over 10 months to determine whether two medium types remain necessary
      and to investigate whether culture incubation length can be shortened. Specimens
      were cultured using Bactec MGIT liquid medium and Middlebrook 7H11/S7H11 solid
      medium with incubation periods of 42 and 60 days, respectively. Time-to
      positivity and the identity of isolates recovered from each medium were
      evaluated. A total of 1,205/21,494 cultures (6%) were positive on at least one
      medium. Of the 1,353 isolates recovered, 1,110 (82%) were nontuberculous
      mycobacteria, 145 (11%) were aerobic actinomycetes, and 98 (7%) wereMycobacterium
      tuberculosiscomplex. Assessing medium types, 1,121 isolates were recovered from
      solid medium cultures, 922 isolates were recovered from liquid medium cultures,
      and 690 isolates were recovered on both media. Liquid cultures were positive an
      average of 10 days before solid cultures when the two medium types were positive
      (P< 0.0001). Isolates detected on solid medium after 6 weeks of incubation
      included 65 (5%) nontuberculous mycobacteria, 4 (0.3%) aerobic actinomycetes, and
      2 (0.2%) isolates from theM. tuberculosiscomplex. Medical chart review suggested
      that most of these later-growing isolates were insignificant, as the diagnosis
      was already known, or they were considered colonizers/contaminants. This study
      reaffirms the need for both liquid medium and solid medium for mycobacterial and
      aerobic actinomycetes culture and demonstrates that solid medium incubation times
      may be reduced to 6 weeks without significantly impacting sensitivity. 

PMID- 26865690
TI  - The Past, Present, and (Possible) Future of Serologic Testing for Lyme Disease.
AB  - Lyme disease prevails as the most commonly transmitted tick-borne infection in
      the United States, and serologic evaluation for antibodies to Borrelia
      burgdorferi remains the recommended modality for diagnosis. This review presents
      a brief historical perspective on the evolution of serologic assays for Lyme
      disease and provides a summary of the performance characteristics for the
      currently recommended two-tiered testing algorithm (TTTA). Additionally, a
      recently proposed alternative to the traditional TTTA is discussed, and novel
      methodologies, including immuno-PCR and metabolic profiling for Lyme disease, are
      outlined.

PMID- 26865691
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of the Novel bioNexia Legionella Test with the BinaxNOW
      Legionella Card Assay and the Sofia Legionella FIA Assay for Detection of
      Legionella pneumophila (Serogroup 1) Antigen in Urine Samples.
AB  - A new immunochromatographic test (bioNexiaLegionella; bioMerieux) for the
      detection ofLegionella pneumophilaurinary antigen was evaluated in 255 urine
      samples. The results were compared with those obtained by the BinaxNOW and
      SofiaLegionellatests. The novel test compared well with those currently in use. 

PMID- 26865692
TI  - Development of a Highly Specific IgM Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for
      Bartonella henselae Using Refined N-Lauroyl-Sarcosine-Insoluble Proteins for
      Serodiagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease.
AB  - The conventional anti-Bartonella henselaeIgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      (IgM-ELISA) methods for diagnosing cat scratch disease (CSD) remain poor in both
      sensitivity and specificity. We sought to develop an IgM-ELISA with improved
      accuracy in the serodiagnosis of CSD by exploring the antigens that are most
      suitable for an ELISA. We prepared 5 different protein antigens: antigen I
      (sonicatedB. henselaewhole-cell antigen), antigen II (N-lauroyl-sarcosine
      insoluble antigen), antigen III (processed sarcosine-soluble antigen), and
      antigen IV and antigen V (sarcosine-insoluble and sarcosine-soluble antigens
      refined by DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow ion-exchange chromatography). The IgM
      antibodies in the sera of 47 patients with clinically suspected CSD (24 definite,
      23 suspected) and of 85 healthy individuals were examined by ELISAs using the 5
      antigens, and the results were compared with those of an IgM indirect fluorescent
      antibody assay (IgM-IFA). In a reference panel, which consisted of 5 positive and
      5 negative sera, antigen I and antigen III failed to distinguish between the two
      statuses, whereas the other three antigens succeeded in distinguishing between
      them. When the cutoff value was set at the 98th percentile of the ELISA index for
      healthy individuals, the sensitivity of IgM-IFA for the 24 cases of definite CSD
      was 54%, whereas the sensitivities of the IgM-ELISAs with antigen II, IV, and V
      were 75%, 83%, and 75%, respectively. The sensitivities of these three IgM-ELISAs
      for all 47 of the clinically suspected cases were 49%, 64%, and 51%,
      respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity of IgM-IFA was 28%. These results
      indicate that the refined sarcosine-insoluble proteins (antigen IV), which
      possessed the highest specificity among the 5 antigens, are the most appropriate
      for developing an IgM-ELISA for the highly specific serodiagnosis of CSD. 

PMID- 26865694
TI  - Identification of Low-Level Vancomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in the
      Era of Informatics.
AB  - Vancomycin-intermediateStaphylococcus aureus(VISA) and heteroresistant VISA
      (hVISA) are pathogens for which accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing
      (AST) would rule out standard treatment with vancomycin. Unfortunately, AST for
      vancomycin is relatively slow and standard methods are unable to reliably detect
      VISA and hVISA. An article in this issue (C. A. Mather, B. J. Werth, S.
      Sivagnanam, D. J. SenGupta, and S. M. Butler-Wu, J Clin Microbiol 54:883-890,
      2016, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02428-15) describes a rapid whole-cell
      matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight proxy susceptibility
      method that highlights current innovations and challenges with rapid AST,
      VISA/hVISA identification, and clinical bioinformatics. 

PMID- 26865693
TI  - Antemortem Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Nasal Brush Collections
      and Rectal Biopsy Specimens from White-Tailed Deer by Real-Time Quaking-Induced
      Conversion.
AB  - Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of
      cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has
      since spread to cervids in 23 states, two Canadian provinces, and the Republic of
      Korea. The expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive
      diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation
      of its spread; this is especially true in cases of relocation/reintroduction of
      farmed or free-ranging deer and elk or surveillance studies of private or
      protected herds, where depopulation is contraindicated. This study sought to
      evaluate the sensitivity of the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC)
      assay by using recto-anal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsy
      specimens and nasal brush samples collected antemortem from farmed white-tailed
      deer (n= 409). Antemortem findings were then compared to results from ante- and
      postmortem samples (RAMALT, brainstem, and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes)
      evaluated by using the current gold standardin vitroassay, immunohistochemistry
      (IHC) analysis. We hypothesized that the sensitivity of RT-QuIC would be
      comparable to IHC analysis in antemortem tissues and would correlate with both
      the genotype and the stage of clinical disease. Our results showed that RAMALT
      testing by RT-QuIC assay had the highest sensitivity (69.8%) compared to that of
      postmortem testing, with a specificity of >93.9%. These data suggest that RT
      QuIC, like IHC analysis, is an effective assay for detection of PrP(CWD)in rectal
      biopsy specimens and other antemortem samples and, with further research to
      identify more sensitive tissues, bodily fluids, or experimental conditions, has
      potential for large-scale and rapid automated testing for CWD diagnosis. 

PMID- 26865695
TI  - Are adolescent orphans more likely to be HIV-positive? A pooled data analyses
      across 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite extensive resources and numerous programmes directed towards
      orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence of their disadvantage is surprisingly
      limited. While initial research suggests that orphans are at greater risk of
      being HIV-positive, the evidence is limited in geographic scope. METHODS: To
      rigorously test disparities in HIV prevalence related to orphanhood and parental
      HIV status in sub-Saharan Africa, we used Demographic and Health Survey data from
      19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted pooled multilevel logistic
      regression on adolescents aged 15-17 years with HIV test results (N=22 837 girls
      and 20 452 boys). RESULTS: Regardless of their gender, orphans who lost their
      mother, lost both parents or had an HIV-infected mother were two to three times
      more likely to test positive for HIV infection (ORs 1.87-3.17). The loss of a
      father was also associated with HIV infection risk for females, but of slightly
      lower magnitude (OR 1.63). CONCLUSIONS: To better inform interventions, future
      research is needed to quantify the relative contribution of perinatally-acquired
      and sexually-acquired infections, and to investigate the specific mechanisms that
      may account for disparities in the latter. In the meantime, programmes serving
      HIV-infect adults as well as those serving orphaned and vulnerable children
      should invest in family-based HIV testing in order to identify adolescents in
      need of treatment.

PMID- 26865696
TI  - A HAND2 Loss-of-Function Mutation Causes Familial Ventricular Septal Defect and
      Pulmonary Stenosis.
AB  - Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common developmental abnormality, and
      is the leading noninfectious cause of mortality in neonates. Increasing evidence
      demonstrates that genetic defects play an important role in the pathogenesis of
      CHD. However, CHD exhibits substantial heterogeneity, and the genetic
      determinants for CHD remain unknown in the overwhelming majority of cases. In the
      current study, the coding exons and flanking introns of the HAND2 gene, which
      encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor essential for normal
      cardiovascular development, were sequenced in 192 unrelated patients with CHD,
      and a novel heterozygous mutation, p.S65I, was identified in a patient with
      congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD). Genetic analysis of the index
      patient's pedigree revealed that the mutation was present in all seven affected
      family members available, but absent in the 13 unaffected family members
      examined. Besides, in addition to VSD, five of the proband's close relatives also
      had pulmonary stenosis (PS), and the proband's son also had double outlet right
      ventricle (DORV). The missense mutation, which altered an evolutionarily
      conserved amino acid, was absent in 300 unrelated, ethnically matched healthy
      individuals. Biological analyses using a dual-luciferase reporter assay system
      showed that the mutant HAND2 was associated with significantly diminished
      transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the mutation abolished the synergistic
      activation between HAND2 and GATA4, as well as NKX2.5-two other cardiac core
      transcriptional factors that have been causally linked to CHD. These findings
      indicate that HAND2 loss-of-function mutation contributes to human CHD, perhaps
      via its interaction with GATA4 and NKX2.5.

PMID- 26865698
TI  - Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)-Based Karyotyping Reveals Rapid
      Evolution of Centromeric and Subtelomeric Repeats in Common Bean (Phaseolus
      vulgaris) and Relatives.
AB  - Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based karyotyping is a powerful
      cytogenetics tool to study chromosome organization, behavior, and chromosome
      evolution. Here, we developed a FISH-based karyotyping system using a probe
      mixture comprised of centromeric and subtelomeric satellite repeats, 5S rDNA, and
      chromosome-specific BAC clones in common bean, which enables one to unambiguously
      distinguish all 11 chromosome pairs. Furthermore, we applied the karyotyping
      system to several wild relatives and landraces of common bean from two distinct
      gene pools, as well as other related Phaseolus species, to investigate repeat
      evolution in the genus Phaseolus Comparison of karyotype maps within common bean
      indicates that chromosomal distribution of the centromeric and subtelomeric
      satellite repeats is stable, whereas the copy number of the repeats was variable,
      indicating rapid amplification/reduction of the repeats in specific genomic
      regions. In Phaseolus species that diverged approximately 2-4 million yr ago,
      copy numbers of centromeric repeats were largely reduced or diverged, and
      chromosomal distributions have changed, suggesting rapid evolution of centromeric
      repeats. We also detected variation in the distribution pattern of subtelomeric
      repeats in Phaseolus species. The FISH-based karyotyping system revealed that
      satellite repeats are actively and rapidly evolving, forming genomic features
      unique to individual common bean accessions and Phaseolus species.

PMID- 26865697
TI  - High Throughput Analyses of Budding Yeast ARSs Reveal New DNA Elements Capable of
      Conferring Centromere-Independent Plasmid Propagation.
AB  - The ability of plasmids to propagate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been
      instrumental in defining eukaryotic chromosomal control elements. Stable
      propagation demands both plasmid replication, which requires a chromosomal
      replication origin (i.e., an ARS), and plasmid distribution to dividing cells,
      which requires either a chromosomal centromere for segregation or a plasmid
      partitioning element. While our knowledge of yeast ARSs and centromeres is
      relatively advanced, we know less about chromosomal regions that can function as
      plasmid partitioning elements. The Rap1 protein-binding site (RAP1) present in
      transcriptional silencers and telomeres of budding yeast is a known plasmid
      partitioning element that functions to anchor a plasmid to the inner nuclear
      membrane (INM), which in turn facilitates plasmid distribution to daughter cells.
      This Rap1-dependent INM-anchoring also has an important chromosomal role in
      higher-order chromosomal structures that enhance transcriptional silencing and
      telomere stability. Thus, plasmid partitioning can reflect fundamental features
      of chromosome structure and biology, yet a systematic screen for plasmid
      partitioning elements has not been reported. Here, we couple deep sequencing with
      competitive growth experiments of a plasmid library containing thousands of short
      ARS fragments to identify new plasmid partitioning elements. Competitive growth
      experiments were performed with libraries that differed only in terms of the
      presence or absence of a centromere. Comparisons of the behavior of ARS fragments
      in the two experiments allowed us to identify sequences that were likely to drive
      plasmid partitioning. In addition to the silencer RAP1 site, we identified 74 new
      putative plasmid-partitioning motifs predicted to act as binding sites for DNA
      binding proteins enriched for roles in negative regulation of gene expression and
      G2/M-phase associated biology. These data expand our knowledge of chromosomal
      elements that may function in plasmid partitioning and suggest underlying
      biological roles shared by such elements.

PMID- 26865699
TI  - A Genetic Map for the Only Self-Fertilizing Vertebrate.
AB  - The mangrove killifish Kryptolebias marmoratus, and its close relative
      Kryptolebias hermaphroditus, are the only vertebrate species known to reproduce
      by self-fertilization due to functional ovotestis development. To improve our
      understanding of their genomes, we constructed a genetic map. First, a single F1
      fish was made by artificial fertilization between K. marmoratus and K.
      hermaphroditus strains. F2 progeny were then obtained by self-fertilization of
      the F1 fish. We used RAD-seq to query genomic DNAs from the two parental strains,
      the F1 individual and 49 F2 progeny. Results identified 9904 polymorphic RAD-tags
      (DNA markers) that mapped to 24 linkage groups, corresponding to the haploid
      chromosome number of these species. The total length of the map was 1248 cM,
      indicating that about one recombination occurred for each of the 24 homologous
      chromosome pairs in each meiosis. Markers were not evenly distributed along the
      chromosomes: in all chromosomes, many markers (> 8% of the total markers for each
      chromosome) mapped to chromosome tips. Centromeres suppress recombination, and
      this uneven distribution is probably due to the species' acrocentric chromosomes.
      Mapped marker sequences were compared to genomic sequences of medaka and
      platyfish, the next most closely related species with sequenced genomes that are
      anchored to genetic maps. Results showed that each mangrove killifish chromosome
      corresponds to a single chromosome of both platyfish and medaka, suggesting
      strong conservation of chromosomes over 100 million years of evolution. Our
      genetic map provides a framework for the K. marmoratus/K. hermaphroditus genome
      sequence and an important resource for understanding the biology of
      hermaphroditism.

PMID- 26865700
TI  - Efficient Software for Multi-marker, Region-Based Analysis of GWAS Data.
AB  - Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have associated many single variants with
      complex disease, yet the better part of heritable complex disease risk remains
      unexplained. Analytical tools designed to work under specific population genetic
      models are needed. Rare variants are increasingly shown to be important in human
      complex disease, but most existing GWAS data do not cover rare variants. Explicit
      population genetic models predict that genes contributing to complex traits and
      experiencing recurrent, unconditionally deleterious, mutation will harbor
      multiple rare, causative mutations of subtle effect. It is difficult to identify
      genes harboring rare variants of large effect that contribute to complex disease
      risk via the single marker association tests typically used in GWAS. Gene/region
      based association tests may have the power detect associations by combining
      information from multiple markers, but have yielded limited success in practice.
      This is partially because many methods have not been widely applied. Here, we
      empirically demonstrate the utility of a procedure based on the rank truncated
      product (RTP) method, filtered to reduce the effects of linkage disequilibrium.
      We apply the procedure to the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) data
      set, and uncover previously unidentified associations, some of which have been
      replicated in much larger studies. We show that, in the absence of significant
      rare variant coverage, RTP based methods still have the power to detect
      associated genes. We recommend that RTP-based methods be applied to all existing
      GWAS data to maximize the usefulness of those data. For this, we provide
      efficient software implementing our procedure.

PMID- 26865702
TI  - Mid-facial deformity secondary to a traumatic haemorrhage in a maxillary cyst.
AB  - Serious symptoms caused by intra-cystic bleeding are very rare. We describe a
      case of a maxillary cyst presenting with mid-facial deformity in a Japanese
      woman. She underwent bilateral Caldwell-Luc procedure 21 years earlier and
      suffered left cheek trauma 4 years earlier. She presented soon after the trauma
      complaining of left mid-facial deformity, and computed tomography showed a
      trilocular cystic lesion in the left maxilla. We performed facial osteotomy
      concurrent with cyst enucleation with lateral rhinotomy. Serosanguineous fluid
      filled the cyst cavity just below the face; however, additional cyst cavities
      contained straw-coloured fluid. She showed no signs of recurrence at the end of a
      20-month follow-up, and her postoperative appearance was excellent.
      Histopathological examination showed that all cyst walls were lined by ciliated
      columnar epithelium, which was consistent with surgical ciliated cyst. We
      consider that the increased intra-cystic pressure caused by traumatic haemorrhage
      induced expansion of the pre-existing surgical ciliated cyst. 

PMID- 26865701
TI  - The Stress Granule RNA-Binding Protein TIAR-1 Protects Female Germ Cells from
      Heat Shock in Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - In response to stressful conditions, eukaryotic cells launch an arsenal of
      regulatory programs to protect the proteome. One major protective response
      involves the arrest of protein translation and the formation of stress granules,
      cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein complexes containing the conserved RNA-binding
      proteins TIA-1 and TIAR. The stress granule response is thought to preserve mRNA
      for translation when conditions improve. For cells of the germline-the immortal
      cell lineage required for sexual reproduction-protection from stress is
      critically important for perpetuation of the species, yet how stress granule
      regulatory mechanisms are deployed in animal reproduction is incompletely
      understood. Here, we show that the stress granule protein TIAR-1 protects the
      Caenorhabditis elegans germline from the adverse effects of heat shock. Animals
      containing strong loss-of-function mutations in tiar-1 exhibit significantly
      reduced fertility compared to the wild type following heat shock. Analysis of a
      heat-shock protein promoter indicates that tiar-1 mutants display an impaired
      heat-shock response. We observed that TIAR-1 was associated with granules in the
      gonad core and oocytes during several stressful conditions. Both gonad core and
      oocyte granules are dynamic structures that depend on translation; protein
      synthesis inhibitors altered their formation. Nonetheless, tiar-1 was required
      for the formation of gonad core granules only. Interestingly, the gonad core
      granules did not seem to be needed for the germ cells to develop viable embryos
      after heat shock. This suggests that TIAR-1 is able to protect the germline from
      heat stress independently of these structures.

PMID- 26865704
TI  - Congenital prepubic sinus.

PMID- 26865703
TI  - 2016 Classification Criteria for Macrophage Activation Syndrome Complicating
      Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A European League Against
      Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology/Paediatric Rheumatology International
      Trials Organisation Collaborative Initiative.
AB  - To develop criteria for the classification of macrophage activation syndrome
      (MAS) in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). A multistep
      process, based on a combination of expert consensus and analysis of real patient
      data, was conducted. A panel of 28 experts was first asked to classify 428
      patient profiles as having or not having MAS, based on clinical and laboratory
      features at the time of disease onset. The 428 profiles comprised 161 patients
      with systemic JIA-associated MAS and 267 patients with a condition that could
      potentially be confused with MAS (active systemic JIA without evidence of MAS, or
      systemic infection). Next, the ability of candidate criteria to classify
      individual patients as having MAS or not having MAS was assessed by evaluating
      the agreement between the classification yielded using the criteria and the
      consensus classification of the experts. The final criteria were selected in a
      consensus conference. Experts achieved consensus on the classification of 391 of
      the 428 patient profiles (91.4%). A total of 982 candidate criteria were tested
      statistically. The 37 best-performing criteria and 8 criteria obtained from the
      literature were evaluated at the consensus conference. During the conference, 82%
      consensus among experts was reached on the final MAS classification criteria. In
      validation analyses, these criteria had a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity
      of 0.99. Agreement between the classification (MAS or not MAS) obtained using the
      criteria and the original diagnosis made by the treating physician was high
      (kappa=0.76). We have developed a set of classification criteria for MAS
      complicating systemic JIA and provided preliminary evidence of its validity. Use
      of these criteria will potentially improve understanding of MAS in systemic JIA
      and enhance efforts to discover effective therapies, by ensuring appropriate
      patient enrollment in studies.

PMID- 26865705
TI  - Excellent outcome of minimal residual disease-defined low-risk patients is
      sustained with more than 10 years follow-up: results of UK paediatric acute
      lymphoblastic leukaemia trials 1997-2003.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Minimal residual disease (MRD) is defined as the presence of sub
      microscopic levels of leukaemia. Measurement of MRD from bone marrow at the end
      of induction chemotherapy (day 28) for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
      (ALL) can highlight a large group of patients (>40%) with an excellent (>90%)
      short-term event-free survival (EFS). However, follow-up in recent published
      trials is relatively short, raising concerns about using this result to infer the
      safety of further therapy reduction in the future. METHODS: We examined MRD data
      on 225 patients treated on one of three UKALL trials between 1997 and 2003 to
      assess the long-term (>10 years follow-up) outcome of those patients who had low
      risk MRD (<0.01%) at day 28. RESULTS: Our pilot data define a cohort of 53% of
      children with MRD <0.01% at day 28 who have an EFS of 91% and long-term overall
      survival of 97%. Of 120 patients with day-28 MRD <0.01% and extended follow-up,
      there was one death due to treatment-related toxicity, one infectious death while
      in complete remission, and four relapse deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The excellent
      outcome for childhood ALL in patients with MRD <0.01% after induction
      chemotherapy is sustained for more than 10 years from diagnosis. This supports
      the potential exploration of further reduction of therapy in this group, in an
      attempt to reduce treatment-related mortality and late effects.

PMID- 26865706
TI  - Lymphatic Dissemination of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus after Penile
      Inoculation.
AB  - The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is primarily transmitted by heterosexual
      contact, and approximately equal numbers of men and women worldwide are infected
      with the virus. Understanding the biology of HIV acquisition and dissemination in
      men exposed to the virus by insertive penile intercourse is likely to help with
      the rational design of vaccines that can limit or prevent HIV transmission. To
      characterize the target cells and dissemination pathways involved in establishing
      systemic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, we necropsied male rhesus
      macaques at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after penile SIV inoculation and quantified the
      levels of unspliced SIV RNA and spliced SIV RNA in tissue lysates and the number
      of SIV RNA-positive cells in tissue sections. We found that penile (glans,
      foreskin, coronal sulcus) T cells and, to a lesser extent, macrophages and
      dendritic cells are primary targets of infection and that SIV rapidly reaches the
      regional lymph nodes. At 7 days after inoculation, SIV had disseminated to the
      blood, systemic lymph nodes, and mucosal lymphoid tissues. Further, at 7 days
      postinoculation (p.i.), spliced SIV RNA levels were the highest in the genital
      lymph nodes, indicating that this is the site where the infection is initially
      amplified. By 14 days p.i., spliced SIV RNA levels were high in all tissues, but
      they were the highest in the gastrointestinal tract, indicating that the primary
      site of virus replication had shifted from the genital lymph nodes to the gut.
      The stepwise pattern of virus replication and dissemination described here
      suggests that vaccine-elicited immune responses in the genital lymph nodes could
      help prevent infection after penile SIV challenge. IMPORTANCE: To be the most
      effective, vaccines should produce antiviral immune responses in the anatomic
      sites of virus replication. Thus, understanding the path taken by HIV from the
      mucosal surfaces, which are the site of virus exposure, to the deeper tissues
      where the virus replicates will provide insight into where AIDS vaccines should
      produce immunity to be the most effective. In this study, we determined that, by
      day 7 after penile inoculation, SIV has moved first to the inguinal lymph nodes
      and replicates to high levels. Although the virus is widely disseminated to other
      tissues by day 7, replication is largely limited to the inguinal lymph nodes. The
      step-by-step movement of SIV from penile mucosal surfaces to the draining lymph
      nodes may allow an HIV vaccine that produces immunity in these lymph nodes to
      block HIV from establishing an infection in an exposed person.

PMID- 26865708
TI  - Distinct Entry Mechanisms for Nonenveloped and Quasi-Enveloped Hepatitis E
      Viruses.
AB  - The hepatitis E virus (HEV) sheds into feces as nonenveloped virions but
      circulates in the blood in a membrane-associated, quasi-enveloped form (eHEV).
      Since the eHEV virions lack viral proteins on the surface, we investigated the
      entry mechanism for eHEV. We found that compared to nonenveloped HEV virions,
      eHEV attachment to the cell was much less efficient, requiring a longer
      inoculation time to reach its maximal infectivity. A survey of cellular
      internalization pathways identified clathrin-mediated endocytosis as the main
      route for eHEV entry. Unlike nonenveloped HEV virions, eHEV entry requires Rab5
      and Rab7, small GTPases involved in endosomal trafficking, and blocking endosomal
      acidification abrogated eHEV infectivity. However, low pH alone was not
      sufficient for eHEV uncoating, suggesting that additional steps are required for
      entry. Supporting this concept, eHEV infectivity was substantially reduced in
      cells depleted of Niemann-Pick disease type C1, a lysosomal protein required for
      cholesterol extraction from lipid, or in cells treated with an inhibitor of
      lysosomal acid lipase. These data support a model in which the quasi-envelope is
      degraded within the lysosome prior to virus uncoating, a potentially novel
      mechanism for virus entry. IMPORTANCE: The recent discovery of quasi-enveloped
      viruses has shifted the paradigm of virus-host interactions. The impact of quasi
      envelopment in the virus life cycle and pathogenesis is largely unknown. HEV is a
      highly relevant model to study these questions. HEV circulates as quasi-enveloped
      virions in the blood that are hidden from neutralizing antibodies. eHEV particles
      most likely are responsible for the cell-to-cell spread of the virus. Given the
      increasing concerns about persistent HEV infection and its potential for
      transmission via the blood supply, understanding how eHEV infects cells is
      important for understanding its pathogenesis and developing therapies. Our data
      provide evidence that eHEV uses a potentially novel mechanism for cellular entry.
      Several steps critical to eHEV entry were identified and may provide a basis for
      developing treatments for hepatitis E. Because quasi-enveloped viruses resemble
      exosomes, these data also may provide insights into the exosome-mediated
      intercellular communications.

PMID- 26865707
TI  - Inhibition of Innate Immune Responses Is Key to Pathogenesis by Arenaviruses.
AB  - Mammalian arenaviruses are zoonotic viruses that cause asymptomatic, persistent
      infections in their rodent hosts but can lead to severe and lethal hemorrhagic
      fever with bleeding and multiorgan failure in human patients. Lassa virus (LASV),
      for example, is endemic in several West African countries, where it is
      responsible for an estimated 500,000 infections and 5,000 deaths annually. There
      are currently no FDA-licensed therapeutics or vaccines available to combat
      arenavirus infection. A hallmark of arenavirus infection (e.g., LASV) is general
      immunosuppression that contributes to high viremia. Here, we discuss the early
      host immune responses to arenavirus infection and the recently discovered
      molecular mechanisms that enable pathogenic viruses to suppress host immune
      recognition and to contribute to the high degree of virulence. We also directly
      compare the innate immune evasion mechanisms between arenaviruses and other
      hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg, Dengue, and
      hantaviruses. A better understanding of the immunosuppression and immune evasion
      strategies of these deadly viruses may guide the development of novel
      preventative and therapeutic options. 

PMID- 26865709
TI  - Impact of Heparan Sulfate Binding on Transduction of Retina by Recombinant Adeno
      Associated Virus Vectors.
AB  - Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) currently are being developed to efficiently
      transduce the retina following noninvasive, intravitreal (Ivt) injection.
      However, a major barrier encountered by intravitreally delivered AAVs is the
      inner limiting membrane (ILM), a basement membrane rich in heparan sulfate (HS)
      proteoglycan. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of HS binding on
      retinal transduction by Ivt-delivered AAVs. The heparin affinities of AAV2-based
      tyrosine-to-phenylalanine (Y-F) and threonine-to-valine (T-V) capsid mutants,
      designed to avoid proteasomal degradation during cellular trafficking, were
      established. In addition, the impact of grafting HS binding residues onto AAV1,
      AAV5, and AAV8(Y733F) as well as ablation of HS binding by AAV2-based vectors on
      retinal transduction was investigated. Finally, the potential relationship
      between thermal stability of AAV2-based capsids and Ivt-mediated transduction was
      explored. The results show that the Y-F and T-V AAV2 capsid mutants bind heparin
      but with slightly reduced affinity relative to that of AAV2. The grafting of HS
      binding increased Ivt transduction by AAV1 but not by AAV5 or AAV8(Y733F). The
      substitution of any canonical HS binding residues ablated Ivt-mediated
      transduction by AAV2-based vectors. However, these same HS variant vectors
      displayed efficient retinal transduction when delivered subretinally. Notably, a
      variant devoid of canonical HS binding residues, AAV2(4pMut)DeltaHS, was
      remarkably efficient at transducing photoreceptors. The disparate AAV phenotypes
      indicate that HS binding, while critical for AAV2-based vectors, is not the sole
      determinant for transduction via the Ivt route. Finally, Y-F and T-V mutations
      alter capsid stability, with a potential relationship existing between stability
      and improvements in retinal transduction by Ivt injection. IMPORTANCE: AAV has
      emerged as the vector of choice for gene delivery to the retina, with attention
      focused on developing vectors that can mediate transduction following
      noninvasive, intravitreal injection. HS binding has been postulated to play a
      role in intravitreally mediated transduction of retina. Our evaluation of the HS
      binding of AAV2-based variants and other AAV serotype vectors and the correlation
      of this property with transduction points to HS affinity as a factor controlling
      retinal transduction following Ivt delivery. However, HS binding is not the only
      requirement for improved Ivt-mediated transduction. We show that AAV2-based
      vectors lacking heparin binding transduce retina by subretinal injection and
      display a remarkable ability to transduce photoreceptors, indicating that other
      receptors are involved in this phenotype.

PMID- 26865711
TI  - Hepatitis B Virus Infection of a Mouse Hepatic Cell Line Reconstituted with Human
      Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) enters hepatocytes via its receptor, human sodium
      taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (hNTCP). So far, HBV infection has been
      achieved only in human hepatic cells reconstituted with hNTCP and not in cells of
      mouse origin. Here, the first mouse liver cell line (AML12) which gains
      susceptibility to HBV upon hNTCP expression is described. Thus, HBV infection of
      receptor-expressing mouse hepatocytes does not principally require a human
      cofactor but can be triggered by endogenous murine determinants. 

PMID- 26865710
TI  - SUN2 Overexpression Deforms Nuclear Shape and Inhibits HIV.
AB  - In a previous screen of putative interferon-stimulated genes, SUN2 was shown to
      inhibit HIV-1 infection in an uncharacterized manner. SUN2 is an inner nuclear
      membrane protein belonging to the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton
      complex. We have analyzed here the role of SUN2 in HIV infection. We report that
      in contrast to what was initially thought, SUN2 is not induced by type I
      interferon, and that SUN2 silencing does not modulate HIV infection. However,
      SUN2 overexpression in cell lines and in primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells
      inhibits the replication of HIV but not murine leukemia virus or chikungunya
      virus. We identified HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains that are unaffected by SUN2,
      suggesting that the effect is specific to particular viral components or
      cofactors. Intriguingly, SUN2 overexpression induces a multilobular flower-like
      nuclear shape that does not impact cell viability and is similar to that of cells
      isolated from patients with HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia or with
      progeria. Nuclear shape changes and HIV inhibition both mapped to the
      nucleoplasmic domain of SUN2 that interacts with the nuclear lamina. This block
      to HIV replication occurs between reverse transcription and nuclear entry, and
      passaging experiments selected for a single-amino-acid change in capsid (CA) that
      leads to resistance to overexpressed SUN2. Furthermore, using chemical inhibition
      or silencing of cyclophilin A (CypA), as well as CA mutant viruses, we implicated
      CypA in the SUN2-imposed block to HIV infection. Our results demonstrate that
      SUN2 overexpression perturbs both nuclear shape and early events of HIV
      infection. IMPORTANCE: Cells encode proteins that interfere with viral
      replication, a number of which have been identified in overexpression screens.
      SUN2 is a nuclear membrane protein that was shown to inhibit HIV infection in
      such a screen, but how it blocked HIV infection was not known. We show that SUN2
      overexpression blocks the infection of certain strains of HIV before nuclear
      entry. Mutation of the viral capsid protein yielded SUN2-resistant HIV.
      Additionally, the inhibition of HIV infection by SUN2 involves cyclophilin A, a
      protein that binds the HIV capsid and directs subsequent steps of infection. We
      also found that SUN2 overexpression substantially changes the shape of the cell's
      nucleus, resulting in many flower-like nuclei. Both HIV inhibition and
      deformation of nuclear shape required the domain of SUN2 that interacts with the
      nuclear lamina. Our results demonstrate that SUN2 interferes with HIV infection
      and highlight novel links between nuclear shape and viral infection.

PMID- 26865712
TI  - Two Novel DNAs That Enhance Symptoms and Overcome CMD2 Resistance to Cassava
      Mosaic Disease.
AB  - Cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs) cause cassava mosaic disease (CMD) across
      Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Like all members of the geminivirus family,
      CMBs have small, circular single-stranded DNA genomes. We report here the
      discovery of two novel DNA sequences, designated SEGS-1 and SEGS-2
      (forsequencesenhancinggeminivirussymptoms), that enhance symptoms and break
      resistance to CMD. The SEGS are characterized by GC-rich regions and the absence
      of long open reading frames. Both SEGS enhanced CMD symptoms in cassava (Manihot
      esculentaCrantz) when coinoculated withAfrican cassava mosaic virus(ACMV),East
      African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus(EACMCV), orEast African cassava mosaic
      virus-Uganda(EACMV-UG). SEGS-1 also overcame resistance of a cassava landrace
      carrying the CMD2 resistance locus when coinoculated with EACMV-UG. Episomal
      forms of both SEGS were detected in CMB-infected cassava but not in healthy
      cassava. SEGS-2 episomes were also found in virions and whiteflies. SEGS-1 has no
      homology to geminiviruses or their associated satellites, but the cassava genome
      contains a sequence that is 99% identical to full-length SEGS-1. The cassava
      genome also includes three sequences with 84 to 89% identity to SEGS-2 that
      together encompass all of SEGS-2 except for a 52-bp region, which includes the
      episomal junction and a 26-bp sequence related to alphasatellite replication
      origins. These results suggest that SEGS-1 is derived from the cassava genome and
      facilitates CMB infection as an integrated copy and/or an episome, while SEGS-2
      was originally from the cassava genome but now is encapsidated into virions and
      transmitted as an episome by whiteflies. IMPORTANCE: Cassava is a major crop in
      the developing world, with its production in Africa being second only to maize.
      CMD is one of the most important diseases of cassava and a serious constraint to
      production across Africa. CMD2 is a major CMD resistance locus that has been
      deployed in many cassava cultivars through large-scale breeding programs. In
      recent years, severe, atypical CMD symptoms have been observed occasionally on
      resistant cultivars, some of which carry the CMD2 locus, in African fields. In
      this report, we identified and characterized two DNA sequences, SEGS-1 and SEGS
      2, which produce similar symptoms when coinoculated with cassava mosaic
      begomoviruses onto a susceptible cultivar or a CMD2-resistant landrace. The
      ability of SEGS-1 to overcome CMD2 resistance and the transmission of SEGS-2 by
      whiteflies has major implications for the long-term durability of CMD2 resistance
      and underscore the need for alternative sources of resistance in cassava.

PMID- 26865713
TI  - Transient CD4+ T Cell Depletion Results in Delayed Development of Functional
      Vaccine-Elicited Antibody Responses.
AB  - We have recently demonstrated that CD4(+)T cell help is required at the time of
      adenovirus (Ad) vector immunization for the development of functional CD8(+)T
      cell responses, but the temporal requirement for CD4(+)T cell help for the
      induction of antibody responses remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that
      induction of antibody responses in C57BL/6 mice can occur at a time displaced
      from the time of Ad vector immunization by depletion of CD4(+)T cells. Transient
      depletion of CD4(+)T cells at the time of immunization delays the development of
      antigen-specific antibody responses but does not permanently impair their
      development or induce tolerance against the transgene. Upon CD4(+)T cell
      recovery, transgene-specific serum IgG antibody titers develop and reach a
      concentration equivalent to that in undepleted control animals. These delayed
      antibody responses exhibit no functional defects with regard to isotype,
      functional avidity, expansion after boosting immunization, or the capacity to
      neutralize a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Env-expressing pseudovirus. The
      development of this delayed transgene-specific antibody response is temporally
      linked to the expansion of de novo antigen-specific CD4(+)T cell responses, which
      develop after transient depletion of CD4(+)T cells. These data demonstrate that
      functional vaccine-elicited antibody responses can be induced even if CD4(+)T
      cell help is provided at a time markedly separated from the time of vaccination.
      IMPORTANCE: CD4(+)T cells have a critical role in providing positive help signals
      to B cells, which promote robust antibody responses. The paradigm is that helper
      signals must be provided immediately upon antigen exposure, and their absence
      results in tolerance against the antigen. Here we demonstrate that, in contrast
      to the current model that the absence of CD4(+)T cell help at priming results in
      long-term antibody nonresponsiveness, antibody responses can be induced by
      adenovirus vector immunization or alum-adjuvanted protein immunization even if
      CD4(+)T cell help is not provided until >1 month after immunization. These data
      demonstrate that the time when CD4(+)T cell help signals must be provided is more
      dynamic and flexible than previously appreciated. These data suggest that
      augmentation of CD4(+)T cell helper function even after the time of vaccination
      can enhance vaccine-elicited antibody responses and thereby potentially enhance
      the immunogenicity of vaccines in immunocompromised individuals.

PMID- 26865714
TI  - Role of TSPAN9 in Alphavirus Entry and Early Endosomes.
AB  - Alphaviruses are small enveloped RNA viruses that infect cells via clathrin
      mediated endocytosis and low-pH-triggered fusion in the early endosome. Using a
      small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen in human cells, we previously identified
      TSPAN9 as a host factor that promotes infection by the alphaviruses Sindbis virus
      (SINV), Semliki Forest virus (SFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Depletion of
      TSPAN9 specifically decreases SFV membrane fusion in endosomes. TSPAN9 is a
      member of the tetraspanin family of multipass membrane proteins, but its cellular
      function is currently unknown. Here we used U-2 OS cells stably overexpressing
      TSPAN9 to show that TSPAN9 is localized at the plasma membrane and in early and
      late endosomes. Internalized SFV particles colocalized with TSPAN9 in vesicles
      early during infection. Depletion of TSPAN9 led to reductions in the amounts of
      the late endosomal proteins LAMP1 and CD63 and an increase in the amount of
      LAMP2. However, TSPAN9 depletion did not alter the delivery of SFV to early
      endosomes or change their pH or protease activity. Comparative studies showed
      that TSPAN9 depletion strongly inhibited infection by several viruses that fuse
      in early endosomes (SFV, SINV, CHIKV, and vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV]),
      while viruses that fuse in the late endosome (recombinant VSV-Lassa and VSV
      Junin), including an SFV point mutant with a lower pH threshold for fusion (SFV
      E2 T12I), were relatively resistant. Our data suggest that TSPAN9 modulates the
      early endosome compartment to make it more permissive for membrane fusion of
      early-penetrating viruses. IMPORTANCE: Alphaviruses are spread by mosquitoes and
      can cause serious human diseases such as arthritis and encephalitis. Recent
      outbreaks of CHIKV infection are responsible for millions of cases of acute
      illness and long-term complications. There are no vaccines or antiviral
      treatments for these important human pathogens. Alphaviruses infect host cells by
      utilizing the endocytic machinery of the cell and fusing their membrane with that
      of the endosome. Although the mechanism of virus-membrane fusion is well studied,
      we still know relatively little about the host cell proteins that are involved in
      alphavirus entry. Here we characterized the role of the host membrane protein
      TSPAN9 in alphavirus infection. TSPAN9 was localized to early endosomes
      containing internalized alphavirus, and depletion of TSPAN9 inhibited virus
      fusion with the early endosome membrane. In contrast, infection of viruses that
      enter through the late endosome was relatively resistant to TSPAN9 depletion,
      suggesting an important role for TSPAN9 in the early endosome.

PMID- 26865715
TI  - Sequence Diversity, Intersubgroup Relationships, and Origins of the Mouse
      Leukemia Gammaretroviruses of Laboratory and Wild Mice.
AB  - Mouse leukemia viruses (MLVs) are found in the common inbred strains of
      laboratory mice and in the house mouse subspecies ofMus musculus Receptor usage
      and envelope (env) sequence variation define three MLV host range subgroups in
      laboratory mice: ecotropic, polytropic, and xenotropic MLVs (E-, P-, and X-MLVs,
      respectively). These exogenous MLVs derive from endogenous retroviruses (ERVs)
      that were acquired by the wild mouse progenitors of laboratory mice about 1
      million years ago. We analyzed the genomes of seven MLVs isolated from Eurasian
      and American wild mice and three previously sequenced MLVs to describe their
      relationships and identify their possible ERV progenitors. The phylogenetic tree
      based on the receptor-determining regions ofenvproduced expected host range
      clusters, but these clusters are not maintained in trees generated from other
      virus regions. Colinear alignments of the viral genomes identified segmental
      homologies to ERVs of different host range subgroups. Six MLVs show close
      relationships to a small xenotropic ERV subgroup largely confined to the inbred
      mouse Y chromosome.envvariations define three E-MLV subtypes, one of which
      carries duplications of various sizes, sequences, and locations in the proline
      rich region ofenv Outside theenvregion, all E-MLVs are related to different
      nonecotropic MLVs. These results document the diversity in gammaretroviruses
      isolated from globally distributedMussubspecies, provide insight into their
      origins and relationships, and indicate that recombination has had an important
      role in the evolution of these mutagenic and pathogenic agents. IMPORTANCE:
      Laboratory mice carry mouse leukemia viruses (MLVs) of three host range groups
      which were acquired from their wild mouse progenitors. We sequenced the complete
      genomes of seven infectious MLVs isolated from geographically separated Eurasian
      and American wild mice and compared them with endogenous germ line retroviruses
      (ERVs) acquired early in house mouse evolution. We did this because the
      laboratory mouse viruses derive directly from specific ERVs or arise by
      recombination between different ERVs. The six distinctively different wild mouse
      viruses appear to be recombinants, often involving different host range
      subgroups, and most are related to a distinctive, largely Y-chromosome-linked MLV
      ERV subtype. MLVs with ecotropic host ranges show the greatest variability with
      extensive inter- and intrasubtype envelope differences and with homologies to
      other host range subgroups outside the envelope. The sequence diversity among
      these wild mouse isolates helps define their relationships and origins and
      emphasizes the importance of recombination in their evolution.

PMID- 26865716
TI  - MicroRNA-Detargeted Mengovirus for Oncolytic Virotherapy.
AB  - Mengovirus, a member of thePicornaviridaefamily, has a broad cell tropism and can
      cause encephalitis and myocarditis in multiple mammalian species. Attenuation has
      been achieved by shortening the polycytidine tract in the 5' noncoding region
      (NCR). A poly(C)-truncated strain of mengovirus, vMC24, resulted in significant
      tumor regression in immunocompetent BALB/c mice bearing syngeneic MPC-11
      plasmacytomas, but the associated toxicities were unacceptable. To enhance its
      safety profile, microRNA target sequences complementary to miR-124 or miR-125
      (enriched in nervous tissue), miR-133 and miR-208 (enriched in cardiac tissue),
      or miR-142 (control; enriched in hematopoietic tissues) were inserted into the
      vMC24NCRs. The microRNA-detargeted viruses showed reduced replication and cell
      killing specifically in cells expressing the cognate microRNAs, but certain
      insertions additionally were associated with nonspecific suppression of viral
      fitnessin vivo. In vivotoxicity testing confirmed that miR-124 targets within the
      5' NCR suppressed virus replication in the central nervous system while miR-133
      and miR-208 targets in the 3' NCR suppressed viral replication in cardiac tissue.
      A dual-detargeted virus named vMC24-NC, with miR-124 targets in the 5' NCR and
      miR-133 plus miR-208 targets in the 3' NCR, showed the suppression of replication
      in both nervous and cardiac tissues but retained full oncolytic potency when
      administered by intratumoral (10(6)50% tissue culture infectious doses [TCID50])
      or intravenous (10(7)to 10(8)TCID50) injection into BALB/c mice bearing MPC-11
      plasmacytomas. Overall survival of vMC24-NC-treated tumor-bearing mice was
      significantly improved compared to that of nontreated mice. MicroRNA-detargeted
      mengoviruses offer a promising oncolytic virotherapy platform that merits further
      development for clinical translation. IMPORTANCE: The clinical potential of
      oncolytic virotherapy for cancer treatment has been well demonstrated, justifying
      the continued development of novel oncolytic viruses with enhanced potency. Here,
      we introduce mengovirus as a novel oncolytic agent. Mengovirus is appealing as an
      oncolytic virotherapy platform because of its small size, simple genome
      structure, rapid replication cycle, and broad cell/species tropism. However,
      mengovirus can cause encephalomyelitis and myocarditis. It can be partially
      attenuated by shortening the poly(C) tract in the 5' NCR but remains capable of
      damaging cardiac and nervous tissue. Here, we further enhanced the safety profile
      of a poly(C)-truncated mengovirus by incorporating muscle- and neuron-specific
      microRNA target sequences into the viral genome. This dual-detargeted virus has
      reduced pathogenesis but retained potent oncolytic activity. Our data show that
      microRNA targeting can be used to further increase the safety of an attenuated
      mengovirus, providing a basis for its development as an oncolytic platform.

PMID- 26865717
TI  - Inhibition of the FACT Complex Reduces Transcription from the Human
      Cytomegalovirus Major Immediate Early Promoter in Models of Lytic and Latent
      Replication.
AB  - The successful colonization of the majority of the population by human
      cytomegalovirus is a direct result of the virus's ability to establish and, more
      specifically, reactivate from latency. The underlying cellular factors involved
      in viral reactivation remain unknown. Here, we show that the host
      complexfacilitateschromatintranscription (FACT) binds to the major immediate
      early promoter (MIEP) and that inhibition of this complex reduces MIEP
      transactivation, thus inhibiting viral reactivation. 

PMID- 26865718
TI  - Digging through the Obstruction: Insight into the Epithelial Cell Response to
      Respiratory Virus Infection in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
AB  - Respiratory virus infections are common but generally self-limiting infections in
      healthy individuals. Although early clinical studies reported low detection
      rates, the development of molecular diagnostic techniques by PCR has led to an
      increased recognition that respiratory virus infections are associated with
      morbidity and acute exacerbations of chronic lung diseases, such as cystic
      fibrosis (CF). The airway epithelium is the first barrier encountered by
      respiratory viruses following inhalation and the primary site of respiratory
      viral replication. Here, we describe how the airway epithelial response to
      respiratory viral infections contributes to disease progression in patients with
      CF and other chronic lung diseases, including the role respiratory viral
      infections play in bacterial acquisition in the CF patient lung. 

PMID- 26865720
TI  - The Autographa californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus ac54 Gene Is Crucial for
      Localization of the Major Capsid Protein VP39 at the Site of Nucleocapsid
      Assembly.
AB  - Baculovirus DNAs are synthesized and inserted into preformed capsids to form
      nucleocapsids at a site in the infected cell nucleus, termed the virogenic
      stroma. Nucleocapsid assembly ofAutographa californicamultiple
      nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) requires the major capsid protein VP39 and nine
      minor capsid proteins, including VP1054. However, how VP1054 participates in
      nucleocapsid assembly remains elusive. In this study, the VP1054-encoding gene
      (ac54) was deleted to generate theac54-knockout AcMNPV (vAc54KO). In vAc54KO
      transfected cells, nucleocapsid assembly was disrupted, leading to the formation
      of abnormally elongated capsid structures. Interestingly, unlike cells
      transfected with AcMNPV mutants lacking other minor capsid proteins, in which
      capsid structures were distributed within the virogenic stroma,ac54ablation
      resulted in a distinctive location of capsid structures and VP39 at the periphery
      of the nucleus. The altered distribution pattern of capsid structures was also
      observed in cells transfected with AcMNPV lacking BV/ODV-C42 or in cytochalasind
      treated AcMNPV-infected cells. BV/ODV-C42, along with PP78/83, has been shown to
      promote nuclear filamentous actin (F-actin) formation, which is another requisite
      for nucleocapsid assembly. Immunofluorescence using phalloidin indicated that the
      formation and distribution of nuclear F-actin were not affected byac54deletion.
      However, immunoelectron microscopy revealed that BV/ODV-C42, PP78/83, and 38K
      failed to integrate into capsid structures in the absence of VP1054, and
      immunoprecipitation further demonstrated that in transient expression assays,
      VP1054 interacted with BV/ODV-C42 and VP80 but not VP39. Our findings suggest
      that VP1054 plays an important role in the transport of capsid proteins to the
      nucleocapsid assembly site prior to the process of nucleocapsid assembly.
      IMPORTANCE: Baculoviruses are large DNA viruses whose replication occurs within
      the host nucleus. The localization of capsids into the capsid assembly site
      requires virus-induced nuclear F-actin; the inhibition of nuclear F-actin
      formation results in the retention of capsid structures at the periphery of the
      nucleus. In this paper, we note that the minor capsid protein VP1054 is essential
      for the localization of capsid structures, the major capsid protein VP39, and the
      minor capsid protein 38K into the capsid assembly site. Moreover, VP1054 is
      crucial for correct targeting of the nuclear F-actin factors BV/ODV-C42 and
      PP78/83 for capsid maturation. However, the formation and distribution of nuclear
      F-actin are not affected by the lack of VP1054. We further reveal that VP1054
      interacts with BV/ODV-C42 and a capsid transport-related protein, VP80. Taken
      together, our findings suggest that VP1054 plays a unique role in the pathway(s)
      for transport of capsid proteins.

PMID- 26865719
TI  - Potential To Streamline Heterologous DNA Prime and NYVAC/Protein Boost HIV
      Vaccine Regimens in Rhesus Macaques by Employing Improved Antigens.
AB  - In a follow-up to the modest efficacy observed in the RV144 trial, researchers in
      the HIV vaccine field seek to substantiate and extend the results by evaluating
      other poxvirus vectors and combinations with DNA and protein vaccines. Earlier
      clinical trials (EuroVacc trials 01 to 03) evaluated the immunogenicity of HIV-1
      clade C GagPolNef and gp120 antigens delivered via the poxviral vector NYVAC.
      These showed that a vaccination regimen including DNA-C priming prior to a NYVAC
      C boost considerably enhanced vaccine-elicited immune responses compared to those
      with NYVAC-C alone. Moreover, responses were improved by using three as opposed
      to two DNA-C primes. In the present study, we assessed in nonhuman primates
      whether such vaccination regimens can be streamlined further by using fewer and
      accelerated immunizations and employing a novel generation of improved DNA-C and
      NYVAC-C vaccine candidates designed for higher expression levels and more
      balanced immune responses. Three different DNA-C prime/NYVAC-C+ protein boost
      vaccination regimens were tested in rhesus macaques. All regimens elicited
      vigorous and well-balanced CD8(+)and CD4(+)T cell responses that were broad and
      polyfunctional. Very high IgG binding titers, substantial antibody-dependent
      cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and modest antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus
      inhibition (ADCVI), but very low neutralization activity, were measured after the
      final immunizations. Overall, immune responses elicited in all three groups were
      very similar and of greater magnitude, breadth, and quality than those of earlier
      EuroVacc vaccines. In conclusion, these findings indicate that vaccination
      schemes can be simplified by using improved antigens and regimens. This may offer
      a more practical and affordable means to elicit potentially protective immune
      responses upon vaccination, especially in resource-constrained settings.
      IMPORTANCE: Within the EuroVacc clinical trials, we previously assessed the
      immunogenicity of HIV clade C antigens delivered in a DNA prime/NYVAC boost
      regimen. The trials showed that the DNA prime crucially improved the responses,
      and three DNA primes with a NYVAC boost appeared to be optimal. Nevertheless, T
      cell responses were primarily directed toward Env, and humoral responses were
      modest. The aim of this study was to assess improved antigens for the capacity to
      elicit more potent and balanced responses in rhesus macaques, even with various
      simpler immunization regimens. Our results showed that the novel antigens in fact
      elicited larger numbers of T cells with a polyfunctional profile and a good Env
      GagPolNef balance, as well as high-titer and Fc-functional antibody responses.
      Finally, comparison of the different schedules indicates that a simpler regimen
      of only two DNA primes and one NYVAC boost in combination with protein may be
      very efficient, thus showing that the novel antigens allow for easier
      immunization protocols.

PMID- 26865721
TI  - The RNA- and TRIM25-Binding Domains of Influenza Virus NS1 Protein Are Essential
      for Suppression of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Interleukin-1beta Secretion.
AB  - Inflammasomes are cytosolic multimolecular protein complexes that stimulate the
      activation of caspase-1 and the release of mature forms of interleukin-1beta (IL
      1beta) and IL-18. We previously demonstrated that the influenza A virus M2
      protein stimulates IL-1beta secretion following activation of the nucleotide
      binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing
      3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. The nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of influenza virus
      inhibits caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta secretion. However, the precise
      mechanism by which NS1 inhibits IL-1beta secretion remains unknown. Here, we
      showed that J774A.1 macrophages stably expressing the NS1 protein inhibited IL
      1beta secretion after infection with recombinant influenza virus lacking the NS1
      gene. Coimmunoprecipitation assay revealed that the NS1 protein interacts with
      NLRP3. Importantly, the NS1 protein inhibited the NLRP3/ASC-induced single-speck
      formation required for full activation of inflammasomes. The NS1 protein of other
      influenza virus strains, including a recent pandemic strain, also inhibited
      inflammasome-mediated IL-1beta secretion. The NS1 RNA-binding domain (basic
      residues 38 and 41) and TRIM25-binding domain (acidic residues 96 and 97) were
      required for suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1beta secretion. These
      results shed light on a mechanism by which the NS1 protein of influenza virus
      suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1beta secretion. IMPORTANCE: Innate
      immune sensing of influenza virus via pattern recognition receptors not only
      plays a key role in generating type I interferons but also triggers inflammatory
      responses. We previously demonstrated that the influenza A virus M2 protein
      activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to the secretion of interleukin-1beta
      (IL-1beta) and IL-18 following the activation of caspase-1. Although the
      nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of influenza virus inhibits IL-1beta secretion, the
      precise mechanism by which it achieves this remains to be defined. Here, we
      demonstrate that the NS1 protein interacts with NLRP3 to suppress NLRP3
      inflammasome activation. J774A.1 macrophages stably expressing the NS1 protein
      suppressed NLRP3-mediated IL-1beta secretion. The NS1 RNA-binding domain (basic
      residues 38 and 41) and TRIM25-binding domain (acidic residues 96 and 97) are
      important for suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1beta secretion.
      These results will facilitate the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

PMID- 26865722
TI  - The Low-pH Resistance of Neuraminidase Is Essential for the Replication of
      Influenza A Virus in Duck Intestine following Infection via the Oral Route.
AB  - Influenza A viruses are known to primarily replicate in duck intestine following
      infection via the oral route, but the specific role of neuraminidase (NA) for the
      intestinal tropism of influenza A viruses has been unclear. A reassortant virus
      (Dk78/Eng62N2) did not propagate in ducks infected via the oral route. To
      generate variant viruses that grow well in ducks via the oral route, we isolated
      viruses that effectively replicate in intestinal mucosal cells by passaging
      Dk78/Eng62N2 in duck via rectal-route infection. This procedure led to the
      isolation of a variant virus from the duck intestine. This virus was propagated
      using embryonated chicken eggs and inoculated into a duck via the oral route,
      which led to the isolation of Dk-rec6 from the duck intestine. Experimental
      infections with mutant viruses generated by using reverse genetics indicated that
      the paired mutation of residues 356 and 431 in NA was necessary for the viral
      replication in duck intestine. The NA assay revealed that the activity of
      Dk78/Eng62N2 almost disappeared after pH 3 treatment, whereas that of Dk-rec6 was
      maintained. Furthermore, to identify the amino acid residues associated with the
      low-pH resistance, we measured the activities of mutant NA proteins transiently
      expressed in 293 cells after pH 3 treatment. All mutant NA proteins that
      possessed proline at position 431 showed higher activities than NA proteins that
      possessed glutamine at this position. These findings indicate that the low-pH
      resistance of NA plays an important role in the ability of influenza A virus to
      replicate in duck intestine. IMPORTANCE: Neuraminidase (NA) activity facilitates
      the release of viruses from cells and, as such, is important for the replicative
      efficiency of influenza A virus. Ducks are believed to serve as the principal
      natural reservoir for influenza A virus; however, the key properties of NA for
      viral infection in duck are not well understood. In this study, we identify amino
      acid residues in NA that contribute to viral replication in ducks via the natural
      route of infection and demonstrate that maintenance of NA activity under low-pH
      conditions is associated with the biological properties of the virus. These
      findings provide insights into the mechanisms of replication of influenza A virus
      in ducks.

PMID- 26865723
TI  - Effects of an In-Frame Deletion of the 6k Gene Locus from the Genome of Ross
      River Virus.
AB  - The alphaviral6kgene region encodes the two structural proteins 6K protein and,
      due to a ribosomal frameshift event, the transframe protein (TF). Here, we
      characterized the role of the6kproteins in the arthritogenic alphavirus Ross
      River virus (RRV) in infected cells and in mice, using a novel6kin-frame deletion
      mutant. Comprehensive microscopic analysis revealed that the6kproteins were
      predominantly localized at the endoplasmic reticulum of RRV-infected cells. RRV
      virions that lack the6kproteins 6K and TF [RRV-(Delta6K)] were more vulnerable to
      changes in pH, and the corresponding virus had increased sensitivity to a higher
      temperature. While the6kdeletion did not reduce RRV particle production in BHK-21
      cells, it affected virion release from the host cell. Subsequentin vivostudies
      demonstrated that RRV-(Delta6K) caused a milder disease than wild-type virus,
      with viral titers being reduced in infected mice. Immunization of mice with RRV
      (Delta6K) resulted in a reduced viral load and accelerated viral elimination upon
      secondary infection with wild-type RRV or another alphavirus, chikungunya virus
      (CHIKV). Our results show that the6kproteins may contribute to alphaviral disease
      manifestations and suggest that manipulation of the6kgene may be a potential
      strategy to facilitate viral vaccine development. IMPORTANCE: Arthritogenic
      alphaviruses, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Ross River virus (RRV), cause
      epidemics of debilitating rheumatic disease in areas where they are endemic and
      can emerge in new regions worldwide. RRV is of considerable medical significance
      in Australia, where it is the leading cause of arboviral disease. The mechanisms
      by which alphaviruses persist and cause disease in the host are ill defined. This
      paper describes the phenotypic properties of an RRV6kdeletion mutant. The absence
      of the6kgene reduced virion release from infected cells and also reduced the
      severity of disease and viral titers in infected mice. Immunization with the
      mutant virus protected mice against viremia not only upon exposure to RRV but
      also upon challenge with CHIKV. These findings could lead to the development of
      safer and more immunogenic alphavirus vectors for vaccine delivery.

PMID- 26865724
TI  - Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Degradation of Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector B
      Leads to Hepatic Lipid Dysregulation.
AB  - Individuals chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) commonly exhibit
      hepatic intracellular lipid accumulation, termed steatosis. HCV infection
      perturbs host lipid metabolism through both cellular and virus-induced
      mechanisms, with the viral core protein playing an important role in steatosis
      development. We have recently identified a liver protein, the cell death-inducing
      DFFA-like effector B (CIDEB), as an HCV entry host dependence factor that is
      downregulated by HCV infection in a cell culture model. In this study, we
      investigated the biological significance and molecular mechanism of this
      downregulation. HCV infection in a mouse model downregulated CIDEB in the liver
      tissue, and knockout of the CIDEB gene in a hepatoma cell line results in
      multiple aspects of lipid dysregulation that can contribute to hepatic steatosis,
      including reduced triglyceride secretion, lower lipidation of very-low-density
      lipoproteins, and increased lipid droplet (LD) stability. The potential link
      between CIDEB downregulation and steatosis is further supported by the
      requirement of the HCV core and its LD localization for CIDEB downregulation,
      which utilize a proteolytic cleavage event that is independent of the cellular
      proteasomal degradation of CIDEB. IMPORTANCE: Our data demonstrate that HCV
      infection of human hepatocytesin vitroandin vivoresults in CIDEB downregulation
      via a proteolytic cleavage event. Reduction of CIDEB protein levels by HCV or
      gene editing, in turn, leads to multiple aspects of lipid dysregulation,
      including LD stabilization. Consequently, CIDEB downregulation may contribute to
      HCV-induced hepatic steatosis.

PMID- 26865725
TI  - Porcine Sapelovirus Uses alpha2,3-Linked Sialic Acid on GD1a Ganglioside as a
      Receptor.
AB  - The receptor(s) for porcine sapelovirus (PSV), which causes diarrhea, pneumonia,
      polioencephalomyelitis, and reproductive disorders in pigs, remains largely
      unknown. Given the precedent for other picornaviruses which use terminal sialic
      acids (SAs) as receptors, we examined the role of SAs in PSV binding and
      infection. Using a variety of approaches, including treating cells with a
      carbohydrate-destroying chemical (NaIO4), mono- or oligosaccharides (N
      acetylneuraminic acid, galactose, and 6'-sialyllactose), linkage-specific
      sialidases (neuraminidase and sialidase S), lectins (Maakia amurensislectin
      andSambucus nigralectin), proteases (trypsin and chymotrypsin), and
      glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors (dl-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3
      morpholino-1-propanol and phospholipase C), we demonstrated that PSV could
      recognize alpha2,3-linked SA on glycolipids as a receptor. On the other hand,
      PSVs had no binding affinity for synthetic histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs),
      suggesting that PSVs could not use HBGAs as receptors. Depletion of cell surface
      glycolipids followed by reconstitution studies indicated that GD1a ganglioside,
      but not other gangliosides, could restore PSV binding and infection, further
      confirming alpha2,3-linked SA on GD1a as a PSV receptor. Our results could
      provide significant information on the understanding of the life cycle of
      sapelovirus and other picornaviruses. For the broader community in the area of
      pathogens and pathogenesis, these findings and insights could contribute to the
      development of affordable, useful, and efficient drugs for anti-sapelovirus
      therapy. IMPORTANCE: The porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is known to cause enteritis,
      pneumonia, polioencephalomyelitis, and reproductive disorders in pigs. However,
      the receptor(s) that the PSV utilizes to enter host cells remains largely
      unknown. Using a variety of approaches, we showed that alpha2,3-linked terminal
      sialic acid (SA) on the cell surface GD1a ganglioside could be used for PSV
      binding and infection as a receptor. On the other hand, histo-blood group
      antigens also present in the cell surface carbohydrates could not be utilized as
      PSV receptors for binding and infection. These findings should contribute to the
      understanding of the sapelovirus life cycle and to the development of affordable,
      useful and efficient drugs for anti-sapelovirus therapy.

PMID- 26865731
TI  - A partial loss-of-function mutation in an Arabidopsis RNA polymerase III subunit
      leads to pleiotropic defects.
AB  - Plants employ five DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols) in transcription. One of
      these polymerases, Pol III, has previously been reported to transcribe 5S rRNA,
      tRNAs, and a number of small RNAs. However, in-depth functional analysis is
      complicated by the fact that knockout mutations in Pol subunits are typically
      lethal. Here, we report the characterization of the first known viable Pol III
      subunit mutant,nrpc7-1 This mutant was originally isolated from a forward genetic
      screen designed to identify enhancers of the autoimmune mutantsnc1, which
      contains a gain-of-function mutation in a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat
      (NLR) immune receptor-encoding gene. Thenrpc7-1mutation occurs in an intron-exon
      splice site and results in intron retention in someNRPC7transcripts. There is a
      global disruption in RNA equilibrium innrpc7-1, exemplified by the altered
      expression of a number of RNA molecules, some of which are not reported to be
      transcribed by Pol III. There are developmental defects associated with the
      mutation, as homozygous mutant plants are dwarf, have stunted roots and siliques,
      and possess serrated leaves. These defects are possibly due to altered small RNA
      stability or activity. Additionally, thenrpc7-1mutation confers anNLR-specific
      alternative splicing defect that correlates with enhanced disease resistance,
      highlighting the importance of alternative splicing in regulating NLR activity.
      Altogether, these results reveal novel roles for Pol III in maintaining RNA
      homeostasis, adjusting the expression of a diverse suite of genes, and indirectly
      modulating gene splicing. Future analyses using thenrpc7-1mutant will be
      instrumental in examining other unknown Pol III functions. 

PMID- 26865732
TI  - Genome-Wide Association Study in Arabidopsis thaliana of Natural Variation in
      Seed Oil Melting Point: A Widespread Adaptive Trait in Plants.
AB  - Seed oil melting point is an adaptive, quantitative trait determined by the
      relative proportions of the fatty acids that compose the oil. Micro- and macro
      evolutionary evidence suggests selection has changed the melting point of seed
      oils to covary with germination temperatures because of a trade-off between total
      energy stores and the rate of energy acquisition during germination under
      competition. The seed oil compositions of 391 natural accessions of Arabidopsis
      thaliana, grown under common-garden conditions, were used to assess whether seed
      oil melting point within a species varied with germination temperature. In
      support of the adaptive explanation, long-term monthly spring and fall field
      temperatures of the accession collection sites significantly predicted their seed
      oil melting points. In addition, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was
      performed to determine which genes were most likely responsible for the natural
      variation in seed oil melting point. The GWAS found a single highly significant
      association within the coding region of FAD2, which encodes a fatty acid
      desaturase central to the oil biosynthesis pathway. In a separate analysis of 15
      a priori oil synthesis candidate genes, 2 (FAD2 and FATB) were located near
      significant SNPs associated with seed oil melting point. These results comport
      with others' molecular work showing that lines with alterations in these genes
      affect seed oil melting point as expected. Our results suggest natural selection
      has acted on a small number of loci to alter a quantitative trait in response to
      local environmental conditions.

PMID- 26865733
TI  - Regional Genetic Structure and Environmental Variables Influence our Conservation
      Approach for Feather Heads (Ptilotus macrocephalus).
AB  - Continued alterations to the Australian environment compromise the long-term
      viability of many plant species. We investigate the population genetics of
      Ptilotus macrocephalus, a perennial herb that occurs in 2 nationally endangered
      communities on the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion (VVP), Australia, to answer
      key questions regarding regional differentiation and to guide conservation
      strategies. We evaluate genetic structure and diversity within and among 17 P.
      macrocephalus populations from 3 regions of southeastern Australia using 17
      microsatellite markers developed de novo. Genetic structure was present in P.
      macrocephalus between the 3 regions but not at the population level.
      Environmental factors, namely temperature and precipitation, significantly
      explained differentiation between the North region and the other 2 regions
      indicating isolation by environment. Within regions, genetic structure currently
      shows a high level of gene flow and genetic variation. Our results suggest that
      within-region gene flow does not reflect current habitat fragmentation in
      southeastern Australia whereas temperature and precipitation are likely to be
      responsible for the differentiation detected among regions. Climate change may
      severely impact P. macrocephalus on the VVP and test its evolutionary resilience.
      We suggest taking a proactive conservation approach to improve long-term
      viability by sourcing material for restoration to assist gene flow to the VVP
      region to promote an increased adaptive capacity.

PMID- 26865734
TI  - Broadly tunable, low timing jitter, high repetition rate optoelectronic comb
      generator.
AB  - We investigate the low timing jitter properties of a tunable single-pass
      optoelectronic frequency comb generator. The scheme is flexible in that both the
      repetition rate and center frequency can be continuously tuned. When operated
      with 10 GHz comb spacing, the integrated residual pulse-to-pulse timing jitter is
      11.35 fs (1 Hz to 10 MHz) with no feedback stabilization. The corresponding phase
      noise at 1 Hz offset from the photodetected 10 GHz carrier is -100 dBc/Hz.

PMID- 26865735
TI  - Local error estimates for adaptive simulation of the Reaction-Diffusion Master
      Equation via operator splitting.
AB  - The efficiency of exact simulation methods for the reaction-diffusion master
      equation (RDME) is severely limited by the large number of diffusion events if
      the mesh is fine or if diffusion constants are large. Furthermore, inherent
      properties of exact kinetic-Monte Carlo simulation methods limit the efficiency
      of parallel implementations. Several approximate and hybrid methods have appeared
      that enable more efficient simulation of the RDME. A common feature to most of
      them is that they rely on splitting the system into its reaction and diffusion
      parts and updating them sequentially over a discrete timestep. This use of
      operator splitting enables more efficient simulation but it comes at the price of
      a temporal discretization error that depends on the size of the timestep. So far,
      existing methods have not attempted to estimate or control this error in a
      systematic manner. This makes the solvers hard to use for practitioners since
      they must guess an appropriate timestep. It also makes the solvers potentially
      less efficient than if the timesteps are adapted to control the error. Here, we
      derive estimates of the local error and propose a strategy to adaptively select
      the timestep when the RDME is simulated via a first order operator splitting.
      While the strategy is general and applicable to a wide range of approximate and
      hybrid methods, we exemplify it here by extending a previously published
      approximate method, the Diffusive Finite-State Projection (DFSP) method, to
      incorporate temporal adaptivity.

PMID- 26865736
TI  - Local reaction kinetics by imaging.
AB  - In the present contribution we present an overview of our recent studies using
      the "kinetics by imaging" approach for CO oxidation on heterogeneous model
      systems. The method is based on the correlation of the PEEM image intensity with
      catalytic activity: scaled down to the MUm-sized surface regions, such
      correlation allows simultaneous local kinetic measurements on differently
      oriented individual domains of a polycrystalline metal-foil, including the
      construction of local kinetic phase diagrams. This allows spatially- and
      component-resolved kinetic studies and, e.g., a direct comparison of inherent
      catalytic properties of Pt(hkl)- and Pd(hkl)-domains or supported MUm-sized Pd
      powder agglomerates, studies of the local catalytic ignition and the role of
      defects and grain boundaries in the local reaction kinetics.

PMID- 26865737
TI  - Nobel prize, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Lessons for Ayurveda?

PMID- 26865738
TI  - Therapeutic potential of Polyalthia cerasoides stem bark extracts against
      oxidative stress and nociception.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polyalthia cerasoides is a medicinal plant known for its
      ethnopharmacological importance. Despite this, investigation related to its
      therapeutic benefit is still unexplored. AIM: To evaluate the stem bark extracts
      of Polyalthia cerasoides for pharmacological activities relating to inflammation,
      nociception and oxidative stress using in vivo and in vitro models. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Pet ether, ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions of the stem bark were
      evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in
      rats. Anti-nociceptive activity in mice was assessed using thermally and
      chemically induced analgesic models. The free radical quenching potential of the
      extracts was initially analyzed using the in vitro DPPH photometric assay,
      Hydroxyl radical scavenging and Lipid Peroxidation assays. Then modulatory effect
      of the extracts on in vivo antioxidant system was evaluated by carbon
      tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity and subsequent measurements of antioxidant
      enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Peroxidase from the liver
      homogenate. RESULTS: Among the tested fractions, ethyl acetate extract had
      substantially inhibited the inflammation by 68.5% that was induced by
      subcutaneous carrageenan injection whereas pet ether and chloroform extract
      showed only minimal inhibitory effect. Investigation of the anti-nociceptive
      activity revealed that the ethyl acetate fractions had significantly repressed
      the algesia in both the analgesic experimental models. In vitro and in vivo
      individual antioxidant assays demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction has
      strong free radical quenching potential which also restores the endogenous
      hepatic enzymes. CONCLUSION: The ethyl acetate fraction enriched with flavinoids
      and steroids from Polyalthia cerasoides stem bark has potent bioactivity to
      combat inflammation, ROS and pain. This needs further characterization for
      potential therapeutic applications.

PMID- 26865739
TI  - Cardioprotective role of methanolic extract of bark of Terminalia arjuna against
      in-vitro model of myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to investigate the cardio protective
      role of chronic oral administration of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna
      bark in in-vitro myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury and the induction of
      HSP72. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats, divided into three groups, and were
      administered with the methanolic extract of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna
      (TAME) by oral gavage (6.75 and 9.75 mg/kg: 6 days/week for 12 weeks). Control
      and TAME extract treated rat hearts were subjected to in-vitro global ischemic
      reperfusion injury (5 min perfusion, 9 min noflow and 12 min reperfusion).
      RESULTS: Oxidative stress in MIRI was evidenced by, raised levels of myocardial
      TBARS and depletion of endogenous myocardial antioxidants GSH, SOD and catalase.
      Western blot analysis showed a single band corresponding to 72 kDa in homogenates
      of hearts from rat treated with both the doses. In the methanolic extract of the
      bark powder of Terminalia arjuna treatment groups, both the doses had better
      recovery of myocardial function, with significant reduction in TBARS, and rise in
      SOD, GSH, catalase were observed. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study
      suggest that the methanolic extract of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna in
      rat induces myocardial HSP72 and augments myocardial endogenous antioxidants,
      without causing any cellular injury and offers better cardioprotection against
      oxidative stress associated with myocardial IR injury.

PMID- 26865740
TI  - Role of quassinoids as potential antimalarial agents: An in silico approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malaria is an infection caused by mosquitoes in human beings which
      can be dangerous if untreated. A well known plant product, quassinoids are known
      to have antimalarial activity. These bioactive phytochemicals belong to the
      triterpene family. Quassinoids are used in the present study to act against
      malarial dihydrofolate reductase (Pf-DHFR), a potential antimalarial target.
      Nevertheless, visama jvara (~malaria) has been treated with the bark of Cinchona
      since a long time. AIM: The aim of the present experiment is to perform the
      protein-ligand docking for Pf- DHFR and Quassinoids and study their binding
      affinities. SETTING AND DESIGN: The software used for the present study is the
      discovery studio (Accelrys 2.1), Protein Data Bank (PDB), and Chemsketch.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protein for the present study was imported from
      protein data bank with the PDB Id, 4dpd and was prepared for docking. The ligands
      used for the study are the quassinoids. They were drawn using chemsketch and the
      3D structures were generated. The docking was done subsequently. STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS USED: Molecular modeling technique was used for the protein-ligand
      docking analysis. RESULTS: The docking results showed that the Quassinoids
      Model_1 showed the highest dock score of 40.728. CONCLUSION: The present study
      proves the promising potential of quassinoids as novel drugs against malaria. The
      dock results conclude that the quassinoids can be adopted as an alternative drug
      against malaria.

PMID- 26865741
TI  - Evaluation of the estrogenic activity of Indian medicinal plants in immature
      rats.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to evaluate the estrogenic activity
      of four Indian medicinal plants Saraca indica (Si), Symplocos racemosa (Sr),
      Cyperus rotundus (Cr), Terminalia arjuna (Ta), a marketed preparation of Si
      (Asokarista) and a combination of Si + Sr using an experimental model of
      estrogenicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval of the institutional animal
      ethics committee, 22 day old female rats (n = 54) were randomly allocated to 9
      groups - Group 1 and Group 2: Vehicle controls, Group 3: Ethinyl estradiol, Group
      4: Si (270 mg/kg), Group 5: Sr (270 mg/kg), Group 6: Cr (540 mg/kg), Group 7: Ta
      (270 mg/kg), Group 8: Ashokarishta (4 ml/kg), Group 9: Si + Sr (135 mg/kg).
      Variables studied were: Body weight, uterine weight, relative uterine weight,
      presence of vaginal opening, histomorphology of the uterus and total uterine
      glycogen content. Parametric data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the
      categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square test. RESULTS: All animals in the
      ethinyl estradiol group showed a significant change in all the variables. None of
      the individual test drugs, neither the marketed preparation produced change in
      any of the variables. The plant drug combination also did not produce a change in
      any of the variables studied except in histomorphology wherein it caused a slight
      increase in the height of the luminal epithelium of the uterus (P < 0.05 vs.
      Group 1). CONCLUSION: The plant drugs Si, Sr, Cr, Ta and Asokarista did not
      demonstrate estrogenic activity in the immature rat model. The plant drug
      combination Si + Sr showed questionable estrogenic activity which needs to be
      evaluated in further studies.

PMID- 26865742
TI  - Shelf-life evaluation of Kamsaharitaki avaleha and its granules: A preliminary
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Saviryata-avadhi (shelf life) of different Ayurvedic dosage forms is
      described in Sarngadharasamhita. Though the concepts have a strong background, we
      seek to re-evaluate the age old concepts by following current norms. An attempt
      has been made in the present study to evaluate shelf-life of Kamsaharitaki
      avaleha and its granules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Raw materials were procured from
      Pharmacy, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar and utilized after proper
      authentication in pharmacognosy lab. The avaleha and its granules were prepared
      in the departmental laboratory following classical guidelines and subjected to
      accelerated stability studies. RESULTS: Both the products were found to be free
      from microbial contamination. Heavy metals were within the prescribed limit.
      Changes in physico-chemical profiles at different intervals are insignificant. On
      extrapolation of the observations, the shelf life of avaleha was found to be18
      months and 27 months to the granules. CONCLUSION: Stability of granules was found
      to be comparatively higher than the avaleha. This observation may be exclusive to
      Kamsaharitaki avaleha. Studies on other avalehas and their granules need to be
      carried out to confirm this preliminary observation.

PMID- 26865743
TI  - Comparative Anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of Navina (fresh) and Purana (old)
      Guggulu.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Guggulu (Commiphora wightii [Arn.] Bhandari) is a well-known anti
      hyperlipidaemic drug. Guggulsterones are active components of this drug which are
      responsible for this effect. The activity of Guggulu may depend upon its nature,
      fresh samples are recommended for their brhmana (body mass increasing) effect;
      while lekhana (scarificant) effect is attributed to the old one. The comparative
      Anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of fresh and old samples has not been reported till
      date. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Freshly collected and one year old samples of
      Guggulu were processed in gomutra. Patients who satisfied inclusion criteria of
      Hyperlipidaemia were randomly distributed into two groups and the drug was
      administrated in a dose of 1 g with luke warm water twice a day for eight weeks.
      RESULTS: Significant improvement was found in the symptoms of Medoroga and Lipid
      profile with treatment in both the groups. Fresh sample of Guggulu proved to have
      a better effect in lowering serum cholesterol (5.76%), triglyceride (17.17%), and
      very low density lipoprotein VLDL (18.36%) levels while old sample of Guggulu
      provided mild effect in lowering serum triglyceride (13.64%), VLDL (11.07%) and
      non-significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol (0.94%). Old sample of Guggulu
      also provided significant decreases in body weight (7.69%) and BMI (7.82%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Old Guggulu showed better effect on body weight, BMI and cardinal
      symptoms along with significant lipid lowering effect whereas fresh Guggulu
      showed better result on lipid profile.

PMID- 26865744
TI  - Antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities of standardized Silajatu (Shilajit) in
      experimental animals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Silajatu (Shilajit; SJ) is claimed in traditional Indian medical
      practice to be useful in the treatment of nervous disorders, epilepsy and as
      antistress. AIM: To investigate whether SJ possesses antiepileptic and
      antipsychotic activities in rodents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isonicotinyl
      hydrazine (INH), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), apomorphine, phenytoin, diazepam,
      haloperidol and other chemicals of analytical grade were procured from standard
      companies. The antiepileptic activity of SJ was assessed using maximal electro
      shock (MES)-induced seizures in rats, INH and PTZ-induced seizures in mice. The
      antipsychotic effect of SJ was evaluated using apomorphine-induced climbing and
      stereotyped behaviours respectively, in mice and rats. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: SJ
      (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was given orally once daily for 15 days in all the rodent
      models. On the test day, SJ was administered 1 h prior to electric shock or
      chemical inducers (INH/PTZ/apomorphine) in experimental animals; the animals were
      then observed for different phases of seizures and psychotic behaviours. In
      addition, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the brain of rats and mice
      was estimated in seizure models. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were expressed as
      mean +/- standard error of mean. Statistical comparisons were performed by one
      way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-test using Graph Pad Prism version 5.0, USA. A
      P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: SJ pretreatment
      significantly inhibited the seizures induced by MES, INH and PTZ in a dose
      dependent manner. Further, SJ augmented brain GABA levels to normal, decreased by
      INH and PTZ in mice brain. SJ pretreatment also significantly inhibited the
      climbing and stereotyped behaviours induced by apomorphine. The present data
      seems to confirm the antiepileptic activity of SJ which may be because of
      enhancing the GABAergic system. The antipsychotic activity observed may be due to
      anti-dopaminergic and/or GABA-mimetic actions.

PMID- 26865745
TI  - Wound healing potential of Pancavalkala formulations in a postfistulectomy wound.
AB  - Sushruta mentioned sixty measures for management of wounds. Panchavalkal is the
      combination of five herbs having properties like Shodhana (cleaning) and Ropana
      (healing) of wounds. Individual drugs and in combination have Kashaya rasa
      (astringent) dominant and useful in the management of Vrana (wounds) as well as
      Shotha (inflammations). A 35 years old male patient consulted in Shalya OPD with
      complaints like discharge per anum, induration and intermittent pain at perianal
      region since last five years. On inspection external opening was observed at
      anterior portion 1 O' clock position which was four centimeter away from anal
      verge. That case was diagnosed as Bhagandara (fistula-in-ano) and was treated
      with partial fistulectomy and application of Guggulu based Ksharasutra in the
      remaining tract. The big fistulectomy wound was treated with local application of
      Panchavalkal ointment daily and simultaneous change of Ksharasutra. The wound was
      assessed daily for pain, swelling, discharge, size, and shape. The wound healed
      completely within two and half month with normal scar having good tissue
      strength. This case demonstrated that post fistulectomy wound can be treated with
      Panchavalkal ointment. 

PMID- 26865746
TI  - Thai traditional massage: Issues causing possible adverse effects.
AB  - Thai traditional massage is a widely used massage technique in Thailand and is
      presently accepted by local Thai Ministry of Public Health. The technique is
      promoted but not well accepted internationally. There is a concern about the
      effectiveness as well as safety of this local wisdom. After a recent episode of
      concurrent acute heart attack and Thai traditional massage in a patient, the
      issue of possible adverse effects of Thai traditional massage is being widely
      discussed. 

PMID- 26865747
TI  - Efficacy of local application of an Unani formulation in acne vulgaris.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Buthur-i-Labaniyya (Acne vulgaris) is affecting up to
      80% of adolescents and many adults at different stages of life. It is one of the
      commonest skin disorders which appears on cheeks and nose as white eruptions that
      seems like solidified milk drops. These eruptions are treated by drugs having
      properties of tajfif wa tahlil (desiccant and resolving), as mentioned by Ibne
      Sina. Daood Antaki in his book Tazkira Oolulalbab recommends the local
      application of a paste of Shoniz (nigella sativa), Naushadar (ammonium chloride)
      and Bura Armani mixed with Sirka (vinegar) for effective treatment of Acne
      vulgaris. METHODS: The study was observational self comparison before and after
      treatment, conducted in the OPD of the hospital which is part of the National
      Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore. The duration of study was one year. 40
      Female patients with combination of comedones, papules, pustules and nodules were
      recruited for this purpose. The test drug, Shoniz, Bura Armani, Naushadar powder,
      mixed with sirka were applied locally for one month with taqlil-i-ghidha tadabir
      (low calorie index diet). All subjects were assessed on the basis of changes in
      subjective and objective parameters. RESULTS: The response of test drugs was
      statistically highly significant (P < 0.01) by using ANOVA repeated measure test,
      there was also relief in subjective parameters. Subjects reported a reduction of
      82.6%, 80.9%, 66.6% in tenderness, itching and irritation respectively.
      INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: The present study reveals that the test drug
      formulation is safe and effective in treating Acne vulgaris if used along with
      low calorie index diet. No side effects of drugs were reported, therefore the
      trial formulation can be recommended to manage Acne vulgaris of mild to severe
      degree as a therapy.

PMID- 26865748
TI  - Drivers of the composition and diversity of carabid functional traits in UK
      coniferous plantations.
AB  - Functional diversity (FD) is increasingly used as a metric to evaluate the impact
      of forest management strategies on ecosystem functioning. Management
      interventions that aim to maximise FD require knowledge of multiple environmental
      drivers of FD, which have not been studied to date in temperate coniferous
      production forests. We quantified the relative importance of abiotic (forest
      management) and biotic (ground vegetation community) drivers of carabid FD and
      trait distribution in 44 coniferous plantation forest stands across the UK.
      Carabid FD declined with canopy cover and carabid body length correlated
      negatively with the percentage of open semi-natural area surrounding a plot. We
      conclude that forest management could enhance carabid FD through initiatives that
      emulate natural disturbance regimes through gap creation. We found that neither
      functional nor taxonomic metrics of vegetation diversity correlated with carabid
      FD, suggesting that restoration of plant communities, a major goal of forest
      restoration efforts, will not necessarily enhance carabid FD in coniferous
      plantations.

PMID- 26865749
TI  - Neonatal mass screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
AB  - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH)due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is
      an inherited autosomal recessive disorder. Its incidence is 1 in 10,000 to 20,000
      worldwide. This disease shows phenotypic differences, and it is divided into
      three forms i.e., the salt wasting (SW), simple virilizing (SV), and nonclassic
      (NC) forms. The most severe form of SW manifests in the first months of life with
      life-threatening adrenal insufficiency, leading to death. To prevent death by
      adrenal insufficiency in neonates with the SW form and wrong gender assignment of
      46,XX female patients with SW and SV, neonatal mass screening of 21-OHD is
      performed in several countries including Japan. However, the positive predictive
      value (PPV) remains low, especially in preterm infants. To reduce the false
      positive rate and increase the PPV, liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass
      spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as a second-tier test may be useful. In this review, the
      current knowledge on neonatal mass screening of 21-OHD is summarized. 

PMID- 26865750
TI  - Current concepts in perinatal mineral metabolism.
AB  - The serum levels of calcium (Ca) and phosphate are maintained higher in the fetus
      than in the pregnant mother, especially in late gestation, to meet the demands of
      fetal bone development. In order to maintain this fetal stage-specific mineral
      homeostasis, the placenta plays a critical role through active transcellular
      mineral transport. Although the molecular mechanism of transplacental Ca
      transport has been well studied, little is known about the transport mechanism of
      phosphate and magnesium. Maternal mineral homeostasis is also altered during
      pregnancy to supply minerals to the fetus. In the lactating mother, osteocytic
      osteolysis is suggested to be involved in the supply of minerals to the baby. The
      levels of some calcitropic and phosphotropic (Ca- and phosphate-regulating,
      respectively) hormones in the fetus are also different from those in the adult.
      The PTH level in the fetus is lower than that in the mother and nonpregnant
      adult. It is suggested, however, that low fetal PTH plays an important role in
      fetal mineral metabolism. The concentration of PTHrP in the fetus is much higher
      than that of PTH and plays a critical role in perinatal Ca homeostasis.
      Uncovering the molecular mechanisms for fetal stage-specific mineral metabolism
      will lead to better management of perinatal patients with mineral abnormalities. 

PMID- 26865751
TI  - A novel mutation of the THRB gene in a Japanese family with resistance to thyroid
      hormone.

PMID- 26865752
TI  - Expanding horizons in medical physics: Standardization to visualization and
      quantitative assessment based personalized treatments.

PMID- 26865753
TI  - Inter-departmental dosimetry audits - development of methods and lessons learned.
AB  - External dosimetry audits give confidence in the safe and accurate delivery of
      radiotherapy. In the United Kingdom, such audits have been performed for almost
      30 years. From the start, they included clinically relevant conditions, as well
      as reference machine output. Recently, national audits have tested new or complex
      techniques, but these methods are then used in regional audits by a peer-to-peer
      approach. This local approach builds up the radiotherapy community, facilitates
      communication, and brings synergy to medical physics. 

PMID- 26865754
TI  - Dosimetric comparison of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity
      modulated radiotherapy, and helical tomotherapy for lung stereotactic body
      radiotherapy.
AB  - To compare the treatment plans generated with three-dimensional conformal
      radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and helical
      tomotherapy (HT) for stereotactic body radiotherapy of lung, twenty patients with
      medically inoperable (early nonsmall cell lung cancer) were retrospectively
      reviewed for dosimetric evaluation of treatment delivery techniques (3DCRT, IMRT,
      and HT). A dose of 6 Gy per fraction in 8 fractions was prescribed to deliver 95%
      of the prescription dose to 95% volume of planning target volume (PTV). Plan
      quality was assessed using conformity index (CI) and homogeneity index (HI).
      Doses to critical organs were assessed. Mean CI with 3DCRT, IMRT, and HT was 1.19
      (standard deviation [SD] 0.13), 1.18 (SD 0.11), and 1.08 (SD 0.04), respectively.
      Mean HI with 3DCRT, IMRT, and HT was 1.14 (SD 0.05), 1.08 (SD 0.02), and 1.07 (SD
      0.04), respectively. Mean R50% values for 3DCRT, IMRT, and HT was 8.5 (SD 0.35),
      7.04 (SD 0.45), and 5.43 (SD 0.29), respectively. D2cm was found superior with
      IMRT and HT. Significant sparing of critical organs can be achieved with highly
      conformal techniques (IMRT and HT) without compromising the PTV conformity and
      homogeneity. 

PMID- 26865755
TI  - Evaluation of external beam hardening filters on image quality of computed
      tomography and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography.
AB  - This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of external metal filters on the
      image quality of computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission computed
      tomography (SPECT)/CT images. Images of Jaszack phantom filled with water and
      containing iodine contrast filled syringes were acquired using CT (120 kV, 2.5
      mA) component of SPECT/CT system, ensuring fixation of filter on X-ray
      collimator. Different thickness of filters of Al and Cu (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4
      mm) and filter combinations Cu 1 mm, Cu 2 mm, Cu 3 mm each in combination with Al
      (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm), respectively, were used. All image sets were
      visually analyzed for streak artifacts and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was
      derived. Similar acquisition was done using Philips CT quality control (QC)
      phantom and CNR were calculated for its lexan, perspex, and teflon inserts.
      Attenuation corrected SPECT/CT images of Jaszack phantom filled with 444-555 MBq
      (12-15 mCi) of (99m)Tc were obtained by applying attenuation correction map
      generated by hardened X-ray beam for different filter combination, on SPECT data.
      Uniformity, root mean square (rms) and contrast were calculated in all image
      sets. Less streak artifacts at iodine water interface were observed in images
      acquired using external filters as compared to those without a filter. CNR for
      syringes, spheres, and inserts of Philips CT QC phantom was almost similar to Al
      2 mm, Al 3 mm, and without the use of filters. CNR decreased with increasing
      copper thickness and other filter combinations. Uniformity and rms were lower,
      and value of contrast was higher for SPECT/CT images when CT was acquired with Al
      2 mm and 3 mm filter than for images acquired without a filter. The study
      suggests that for Infinia Hawkeye 4, SPECT/CT system, Al 2 mm, and 3 mm are the
      optimum filters for improving image quality of SPECT/CT images of Jaszack or
      Philips CT QC phantom keeping other parameters of CT constant. 

PMID- 26865756
TI  - The dosimetric impact of different photon beam energy on RapidArc radiotherapy
      planning for cervix carcinoma.
AB  - The main purpose of this study is to know the effect of three different photon
      energies viz., 6, 10, and 15 mega voltage (MV) on RapidArc (RA) planning for deep
      seated cervix tumor and to develop clinically acceptable RA plans with suitable
      photon energy. RA plans were generated for 6, 10, and 15 MV photon energies for
      twenty patients reported with cervix carcinoma. RA plans were evaluated in terms
      of planning target volume (PTV) coverage, dose to organs at risk (OARs),
      conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gradient measure, external volume
      index of dose distribution produced, total number of monitor units (MUs),
      nontumor integral dose (ID), and low dose volume of normal tissue. A two-sample
      paired t-test was performed to compare the dosimetric parameters of RA plans.
      Irrespective of photon energy used for RA planning, plans were dosimetrically
      similar in terms of PTV coverage, OARs sparing, CI and HI. The numbers of MUs
      were 13.4 +/- 1.4% and 18.2 +/- 1.5% higher and IDs were 2.7 +/- 0.8% and 3.7 +/-
      0.9% higher in 6 MV plans in comparison to that in the 10 and 15 MV plans,
      respectively. V1Gy, V2Gy, V3Gy, and V4Gy were higher in 6 MV plans in comparison
      to that in 10 and 15 MV plans. Based on this study, 6 MV photon beam is a good
      choice for RA planning in case of cervix carcinoma, as it does not deliver
      additional exposure to patients caused by photoneutrons produced in high energy
      beams. 

PMID- 26865757
TI  - Dose and linear energy transfer distributions of primary and secondary particles
      in carbon ion radiation therapy: A Monte Carlo simulation study in water.
AB  - The factors influencing carbon ion therapy can be predicted from accurate
      knowledge about the production of secondary particles from the interaction of
      carbon ions in water/tissue-like materials, and subsequently the interaction of
      the secondary particles in the same materials. The secondary particles may have
      linear energy transfer (LET) values that potentially increase the relative
      biological effectiveness of the beam. Our primary objective in this study was to
      classify and quantify the secondary particles produced, their dose averaged LETs,
      and their dose contributions in the absorbing material. A 1 mm diameter carbon
      ion pencil beam with energies per nucleon of 155, 262, and 369 MeV was used in a
      geometry and tracking 4 Monte Carlo simulation to interact in a 27 L water
      phantom containing 3000 rectangular detector voxels. The dose-averaged LET and
      the dose contributions of primary and secondary particles were calculated from
      the simulation. The results of the simulations show that the secondary particles
      that contributed a major dose component had LETs <100 keV/um. The secondary
      particles with LETs >600 keV/um contributed only <0.3% of the dose. 

PMID- 26865758
TI  - Use of image guided radiation therapy techniques and imaging dose measurement at
      Indian hospitals: A survey.
AB  - A national survey was conducted to obtain information about the use of image
      guided radiotherapy (IGRT) techniques and IGRT dose measurement methods being
      followed at Indian radiotherapy centers. A questionnaire containing parameters
      relevant to use of IGRT was prepared to collect the information pertaining to (i)
      availability and type of IGRT delivery system, (ii) frequency of image
      acquisition protocol and utilization of these images for different purpose, and
      (iii) imaging dose measurement. The questionnaire was circulated to 75 hospitals
      in the country having IGRT facility, and responses of 51 centers were received.
      Survey results showed that among surveyed hospitals, 86% centers have IGRT
      facility, 78% centers have kilo voltage three-dimensional volumetric imaging. 75%
      of hospitals in our study do not perform computed tomography dose index
      measurements and 89% of centers do not perform patient dose measurements.
      Moreover, only 29% physicists believe IGRT dose is additional radiation burden to
      patient. This study has brought into focus the need to design a national protocol
      for IGRT dose measurement and development of indigenous tools to perform IGRT
      dose measurements. 

PMID- 26865759
TI  - Impact of dose rate on accuracy of intensity modulated radiation therapy plan
      delivery using the pretreatment portal dosimetry quality assurance and setting up
      the workflow at hospital levels.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the impact of dose rate on accuracy of
      intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan delivery by comparing the gamma
      agreement between the calculated and measured portal doses by pretreatment
      quality assurance (QA) using electronic portal imaging device dosimetry and
      creating a workflow for the pretreatment IMRT QA at hospital levels. As the
      improvement in gamma agreement leads to increase in the quality of IMRT treatment
      delivery, gamma evaluation was carried out for the calculated and the measured
      portal images for the criteria of 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance-to
      agreement (DTA). Three gamma parameters: Maximum gamma, average gamma, and
      percentage of the field area with a gamma value>1.0 were analyzed. Three gamma
      index parameters were evaluated for 40 IMRT plans (315 IMRT fields) which were
      calculated for 400 monitor units (MU)/min dose rate and maximum multileaf
      collimator (MLC) speed of 2.5 cm/s. Gamma parameters for all 315 fields are
      within acceptable limits set at our center. Further, to improve the gamma
      results, we set an action level for this study using the mean and standard
      deviation (SD) values from the 315 fields studied. Forty out of 315 IMRT fields
      showed low gamma agreement (gamma parameters>2 SD as per action level of the
      study). The parameters were recalculated and reanalyzed for the dose rates of
      300, 400 and 500 MU/min. Lowering the dose rate helped in getting an enhanced
      gamma agreement between the calculated and measured portal doses of complicated
      fields. This may be attributed to the less complex motion of MLC over time and
      the MU of the field/segment. An IMRT QA work flow was prepared which will help in
      improving the quality of IMRT delivery. 

PMID- 26865760
TI  - Setup error analysis in helical tomotherapy based image-guided radiation therapy
      treatments.
AB  - The adequacy of setup margins for various sites in patients treated with helical
      tomotherapy was investigated. A total of 102 patients were investigated. The
      breakdown of the patients were as follows: Twenty-five patients each in brain,
      head and neck (H and N), and pelvis, while 12 patients in lung and 15 in
      craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Patients were immobilized on the institutional
      protocol. Altogether 2686 megavoltage computed tomography images were analyzed
      with 672, 747, 622, 333, and 312 fractions, respectively, from brain, H and N,
      pelvis, lung, and CSI. Overall systematic and random errors were calculated in
      three translational and three rotational directions. Setup margins were evaluated
      using van Herk formula. The calculated margins were compared with the margins in
      the clinical use for various directions and sites. We found that the clinical
      isotropic margin of 3 mm was adequate for brain patients. However, in the
      longitudinal direction it was found to be out of margin by 0.7 mm. In H and N,
      the calculated margins were well within the isotropic margin of 5 mm which is in
      clinical use. In pelvis, the calculated margin was within the limits, 8.3 mm
      versus 10 mm only in longitudinal direction, however, in vertical and lateral
      directions the calculated margins were out of clinical margins 11 mm versus 10
      mm, and 8.7 mm versus 7.0, mm respectively. In lung, all the calculated margins
      were well within the margins used clinically. In CSI, the variation was found in
      the middle spine in the longitudinal direction. The clinical margins used in our
      hospital are adequate enough for sites H and N, lung, and brain, however, for CSI
      and pelvis the margins were found to be out of clinical margins. 

PMID- 26865762
TI  - In response to Swamidas and Kirisits.

PMID- 26865761
TI  - Derivative based sensitivity analysis of gamma index.
AB  - Originally developed as a tool for patient-specific quality assurance in advanced
      treatment delivery methods to compare between measured and calculated dose
      distributions, the gamma index (gamma) concept was later extended to compare
      between any two dose distributions. It takes into effect both the dose difference
      (DD) and distance-to-agreement (DTA) measurements in the comparison. Its strength
      lies in its capability to give a quantitative value for the analysis, unlike
      other methods. For every point on the reference curve, if there is at least one
      point in the evaluated curve that satisfies the pass criteria (e.g., deltaDD =
      1%, deltaDTA = 1 mm), the point is included in the quantitative score as "pass."
      Gamma analysis does not account for the gradient of the evaluated curve - it
      looks at only the minimum gamma value, and if it is <1, then the point passes, no
      matter what the gradient of evaluated curve is. In this work, an attempt has been
      made to present a derivative-based method for the identification of dose
      gradient. A mathematically derived reference profile (RP) representing the
      penumbral region of 6 MV 10 cm * 10 cm field was generated from an error
      function. A general test profile (GTP) was created from this RP by introducing 1
      mm distance error and 1% dose error at each point. This was considered as the
      first of the two evaluated curves. By its nature, this curve is a smooth curve
      and would satisfy the pass criteria for all points in it. The second evaluated
      profile was generated as a sawtooth test profile (STTP) which again would satisfy
      the pass criteria for every point on the RP. However, being a sawtooth curve, it
      is not a smooth one and would be obviously poor when compared with the smooth
      profile. Considering the smooth GTP as an acceptable profile when it passed the
      gamma pass criteria (1% DD and 1 mm DTA) against the RP, the first and second
      order derivatives of the DDs (deltaD', deltaD") between these two curves were
      derived and used as the boundary values for evaluating the STTP against the RP.
      Even though the STTP passed the simple gamma pass criteria, it was found failing
      at many locations when the derivatives were used as the boundary values. The
      proposed derivative-based method can identify a noisy curve and can prove to be a
      useful tool for improving the sensitivity of the gamma index. 

PMID- 26865763
TI  - Reply to the comment of S. VanDyk and K. Narayan on the editorial "IMRT, IGRT and
      other high technology become standard in external beam radiotherapy: But is image
      guided brachytherapy for cervical cancer too expensive?" J Med Phys 2015;40:1-4.

PMID- 26865764
TI  - Dynamic and static asana practices.

PMID- 26865765
TI  - Understanding Vrikshasana using body mounted sensors: A statistical approach.
AB  - AIM: A scheme for understanding how the human body organizes postural movements
      while performing Vrikshasana is developed in the format of this paper. SETTINGS
      AND DESIGN: The structural characteristics of the body and the geometry of the
      muscular actions are incorporated into a graphical representation of the human
      movement mechanics in the frontal plane. A series of neural organizational
      hypotheses enables us to understand the mechanics behind the hip and ankle
      strategy: (1) Body sway in the mediolateral direction; and (2) influence of hip
      and ankle to correct instabilities caused in body while performing Vrikshasana.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A methodological study on 10 participants was performed by
      mounting four inertial measurement units on the surface of the trapezius,
      thoracolumbar fascia, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius muscles. The kinematic
      accelerations of three mutually exclusive trials were recorded for a period of 30
      s. RESULTS: The results of every trial were processed using two different
      approaches namely statistical signal processing (variance and cross-correlation).
      Conclusions obtained from both these studies were in favor of the initial
      hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study enabled us to understand the role of hip
      abductors and adductors, and ankle extensions and flexions in correcting the
      posture while performing Vrikshasana.

PMID- 26865766
TI  - Effect of uninostril yoga breathing on brain hemodynamics: A functional near
      infrared spectroscopy study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To measure the effect of the right and left nostril yoga breathing on
      frontal hemodynamic responses in 32 right handed healthy male subjects within the
      age range of 18-35 years (23.75 +/- 4.14 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each
      subject practiced right nostril yoga breathing (RNYB), left nostril yoga
      breathing (LNYB) or breath awareness (BA) (as control) for 10 min at the same
      time of the day for three consecutive days, respectively. The sequence of
      intervention was assigned randomly. The frontal hemodynamic response in terms of
      changes in the oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb), deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb),
      and total hemoglobin (totalHb or blood volume) concentration was tapped for 5 min
      before (pre) and 10 min during the breathing practices using a 16 channel
      functional near-infrared system (FNIR100-ACK-W, BIOPAC Systems, Inc., U.S.A.).
      Average of the eight channels on each side (right and left frontals) was obtained
      for the two sessions (pre and during). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 10.0
      through paired and independent samples t-test. RESULTS: Within group comparison
      showed that during RNYB, oxyHb levels increased significantly in the left
      prefrontal cortex (PFC) as compared to the baseline (P = 0.026). LNYB showed a
      trend towards significance for reduction in oxyHb in the right hemisphere (P =
      0.057). Whereas BA caused significant reduction in deoxyHb (P = 0.023) in the
      left hemisphere. Between groups comparison revealed that oxyHb and blood volume
      in the left PFC increased significantly during RNYB as compared to BA (oxyHb: P
      =0.012; TotalHb: P =0.017) and LNYB (oxyHb: P =0.024; totalHb: P =0.034).
      CONCLUSION: RNYB increased oxygenation and blood volume in the left PFC as
      compared to BA and LNYB. This supports the relationship between nasal cycle and
      ultradian rhythm of cerebral dominance and suggests a possible application of
      uninostril yoga breathing in the management of psychopathological states which
      show lateralized cerebral dysfunctions.

PMID- 26865767
TI  - Improvements in well-being and vagal tone following a yogic breathing-based life
      skills workshop in young adults: Two open-trial pilot studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) has been demonstrated in
      a number of prior studies, little is known about the effects of SKY taught as
      part of the Your Enlightened Side (YES+) workshop designed for college students
      and other young adults. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the effects of YES+, a
      yogic breathing-based life skills workshop, on multiple measures of well-being
      and physiological stress response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two nonrandomized open
      trial pilot studies were conducted with a total of 74 young adults (age 25.4 +/-
      6.6 years; 55% female). Study 1 collected a variety of self-report questionnaires
      at baseline, postworkshop, and 1-month follow-up. Study 2 collected self-report
      questionnaires in addition to electrocardiography with a stationary cycling
      challenge at baseline and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Study 1: Improvements in
      self-reported depression (P's <= 0.010), perceived stress (P's <= 0.002), life
      satisfaction (P's <= 0.002), social connectedness (P's <= 0.004), and gratitude
      (P's <= 0.090) were observed at postworkshop and 1-month after workshop relative
      to baseline. Study 2: Improvements in self-reported emotion regulation were
      observed at 1-month follow-up relative to baseline (P = 0.019). Positive and
      Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form positive affect increased (P = 0.021),
      while fatigue and sadness decreased (P's <= 0.005). During the stationary cycling
      challenge, rate to recovery of electrocardiography inter-beat interval also
      increased from baseline to 1-month follow-up (P = 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest that a life skills workshop integrating yogic breathing
      techniques may provide self-empowering tools for enhancing well-being in young
      adults. Future research is indicated to further explore these effects,
      particularly in regards to vagal tone and other aspects of stress physiology.

PMID- 26865768
TI  - Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college
      athletes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With clearer evidence of its benefits, coaches, and athletes may
      better see that yoga has a role in optimizing performance. AIMS: To determine the
      impact of yoga on male college athletes (N = 26). METHODS: Over a 10-week period,
      a yoga group (YG) of athletes (n = 14) took part in biweekly yoga sessions; while
      a nonyoga group (NYG) of athletes (n = 12) took part in no additional yoga
      activity. Performance measures were obtained immediately before and after this
      period. Measurements of flexibility and balance, included: Sit-reach (SR),
      shoulder flexibility (SF), and stork stand (SS); dynamic measurements consisted
      of joint angles (JA) measured during the performance of three distinct yoga
      positions (downward dog [DD]; right foot lunge [RFL]; chair [C]). RESULTS:
      Significant gains were observed in the YG for flexibility (SR, P = 0.01; SF, P =
      0.03), and balance (SS, P = 0.05). No significant differences were observed in
      the NYG for flexibility and balance. Significantly, greater JA were observed in
      the YG for: RFL (dorsiflexion, l-ankle; P = 0.04), DD (extension, r-knee, P =
      0.04; r-hip; P = 0.01; flexion, r-shoulder; P = 0.01) and C (flexion, r-knee; P =
      0.01). Significant JA differences were observed in the NYG for: DD (flexion, r
      knee, P = 0.01: r-hip, P = 0.05; r-shoulder, P = 0.03) and C (flexion r-knee, P =
      0.01; extension, r-shoulder; P = 0.05). A between group comparison revealed the
      significant differences for: RFL (l-ankle; P = 0.01), DD (r-knee, P = 0.01; r
      hip; P = 0.01), and C (r-shoulder, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a
      regular yoga practice may increase the flexibility and balance as well as whole
      body measures of male college athletes and therefore, may enhance athletic
      performances that require these characteristics.

PMID- 26865769
TI  - Effect of integrated Yoga module on positive and negative emotions in Home Guards
      in Bengaluru: A wait list randomized control trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The beneficial aspect of positive emotions on the process of learning
      and the harmful affect of negative emotions on coping with stress and health are
      well-documented through studies. The Home Guards (HGs) are working in a very
      stressful situation during election, managing traffic and other crowded places.
      It is quite essential in present day circumstances that they have to manage their
      emotions and cope up with different stressful situations. OBJECTIVE: To study the
      efficacy of integrated Yoga module (IYM) on emotions (positive and negative
      affect [PA and NA]) of HGs. METHODS: A total of 148 HGs both males and females
      who qualified the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into
      Yoga group (YG) and control groups (CG). The YG had supervised practice sessions
      (by trained experts) for 1 h daily, 6 days a week for 8 weeks along with their
      regular routine work whereas CG performing their routine work. Positive affect
      negative affect scale (PANAS) was assessed before and after 8 weeks using a
      modified version of PANAS. RESULTS: PA in YG had significantly increased (P <
      0.05) whereas it had decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in CG. Other positive
      effect in YG had significantly increased (P < 0.001), whereas it had decreased
      significantly (P < 0.001) in CG. NA in YG had significantly decreased (P <
      0.001), whereas it had significantly increased (P < 0.001) in CG. Other NA in YG
      had significantly decreased (P < 0.001), whereas it had significantly increased
      (P < 0.01) in CG. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that IYM can be useful for
      HGs to improve the PA and to decrease NA score. Moreover, IYM is cost-effective
      and helps HGs for coping up with emotions in stressful situations.

PMID- 26865770
TI  - Effects of Yogasanas on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is commonly encountered by postmenopausal women. There
      is an increased need for a low cost and efficient treatment alternative to
      address this population. AIMS: To study the effects of integrated yoga on bone
      mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. SETTINGS AND
      DESIGNS: Experimental pre-post study conducted in a community setting. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: 30 females in the age group of 45-62 years suffering from
      postmenopausal osteoporosis with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) score
      of <=-2.5 underwent a 6 months fully supervised yoga session. All the
      participants completed the study. Pretraining and posttraining BMD was
      calculated. OUTCOME MEASURE: DEXA score at the lumbar spine. STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS: The study was statistically analyzed using paired t-test to see the
      significance of pretraining and posttraining effects of a yoga session. RESULTS:
      Improvement in T-score of DEXA scan of -2.55 +/- 0.25 at posttraining as compared
      to a pretraining score of -2.69 +/- 0.17. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated yoga is a safe
      mode of physical activity which includes weight bearing as well as not weight
      bearing asanas, Pranayama, and suryanamaskar, all of which helps induce
      improvement in BMD in postmenopausal osteoporotic females.

PMID- 26865771
TI  - Development of normative data of electro photonic imaging technique for healthy
      population in India: A normative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electro photonic imaging (EPI) technique is growing as a novel
      technique of health assessment and is being utilized in the fields of alternative
      medicine, conventional practices, psycho-physiology, psychology, and
      consciousness studies. The existing EPI norms are based mostly on European (EU)
      population. In order to enhance the practice and research through EPI in India,
      there is a need for developing norms for the healthy Indian population.
      OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to establish the normative data of EPI
      for the healthy Indian population, to aid in the accuracy of EPI measurements and
      interpretations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1297 volunteers were assessed
      once, who represented different parts of India during December 2013 to December
      2014. Among them, 880 volunteers were reported to be healthy (age mean +/-
      standard deviation [SD], 33.55 +/- 10.92), with 584 males (age mean +/- SD, 33.54
      +/- 10.86) and 296 females (age mean +/- SD, 33.56 +/- 11.00). In this study
      activation coefficient (stress level), integral area (IA) (general health), and
      integral entropy (disorderliness in energy) parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: As
      the data were not normally distributed, quartile based statistics was used for
      setting the norms. The 25(th) and 75(th) percentiles were calculated and they
      were further verified using a bootstrap procedure. Uniquely, the results showed a
      clear difference in IA parameters under both with filter (physiological) and
      without filter (psycho-physiological) conditions between the Indian and the EU
      population. Though other parameters were found almost similar to the EU
      population, inter quartile ranges were narrower in the Indian population as
      compared to the EU values. Similar trends were observed in the subgroup analyzes:
      That is, male versus female genders and age ranges 18-40 versus 40-60.
      CONCLUSION: As compared to EU population, Indian population had different range
      of Integral Area values and narrower range for values of other variables. EPI
      Studies in India should also adjust for factors such as age and gender.

PMID- 26865772
TI  - Effect of Integrated Yoga (IY) on psychological states and CD4 counts of HIV-1
      infected patients: A randomized controlled pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals frequently
      suffer from anxiety and depression. Depression has been associated with rapid
      decline in CD4 counts and worsened treatment outcomes in HIV-infected patients.
      Yoga has been used to reduce psychopathology and improve immunity. AIM: To study
      the effect of 1-month integrated yoga (IY) intervention on anxiety, depression,
      and CD4 counts in patients suffering from HIV-1 infection. METHODS: Forty four
      HIV-1 infected individuals from two HIV rehabilitation centers of Manipur State
      of India were randomized into two groups: Yoga (n = 22; 12 males) and control (n
      = 22; 14 males). Yoga group received IY intervention, which included physical
      postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama), relaxation techniques, and
      meditation. IY sessions were given 60 min/day, 6 days a week for 1 month. Control
      group followed daily routine during this period. All patients were on anti
      retroviral therapy (ART) and dosages were kept stable during the study. There was
      no significant difference in age, gender, education, CD4 counts, and ART status
      between the two groups. Hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to assess
      anxiety and depression, CD4 counts were measured by flow cytometry before and
      after intervention. Analysis of variance - repeated measures was applied to
      analyze the data using SPSS version 10. RESULTS: Within group comparison showed a
      significant reduction in depression scores (F [1, 21] =4.19, P < 0.05) and non
      significant reduction in anxiety scores along with non significant increment in
      CD4 counts in the yoga group. In the control group, there was a non-significant
      increase in anxiety and depression scores and reduction in CD4 counts. Between
      group comparison revealed a significant reduction in depression scores (F [1, 21]
      =5.64, P < 0.05) and significant increase in CD4 counts (F [1, 21] =5.35, P <
      0.05) in the yoga group as compared to the control. CONCLUSION: One month
      practice of IY may reduce depression and improve immunity in HIV-1 infected
      adults.

PMID- 26865773
TI  - Impact of short-term practice of yoga on heart rate variability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Yoga is a science that facilitates homeostasis, an ancient way of
      life intended to improve the quality of life of an individual. Practice of yoga
      is proposed to alter the autonomic nervous system and affect the cardiovascular
      functioning. This study was intended to assess the influence of short-term
      practice of yoga for a month on heart rate variability (HRV). MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Totally, 40 healthy male volunteers in the age group of 30-60 years
      willing to practice yoga for a month were included in the study. HRV was assessed
      using HRV device (RMS Vagus, India). Preinterventional assessment of HRV was done
      in these subjects. Practice of yoga that included a set of physical postures
      (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) were
      performed for an hour daily for 1 month under the guidance of a certified yoga
      instructor. Postinterventional assessment of HRV was done. The values were
      expressed in median and their interquartile range, and statistical analysis was
      done to compare the changes using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. RESULTS: Thirty-two
      of 40 subjects recruited for yoga practice completed the study protocol. Analysis
      of HRV revealed that in time domain parameters, SDNN increased from 33.60 (31.41
      44.82) to 42.11 (34.43-57.51), RMSSD increased from 22.00 (16.00-33.80) to 25.6
      (17.0-34.8), and PNN50 increased from 2.45 (0.80-15.38) to 7.35 (1.40-18.57)
      after intervention. In the frequency domain parameters, the low-frequency (LF)
      power spectrum reduced from 39.30 (25.1-46.25) to 30.40 (22.75-40.62) and LF/high
      frequency ratio was reduced from 2.62 (1.91-4.07) to 2.28 (1.4-3.07) after 1
      month practice of yoga. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
      CONCLUSION: Autonomic balance tilts toward parasympathetic predominance after 1
      month practice of yoga.

PMID- 26865774
TI  - Yoga and mental health: A dialogue between ancient wisdom and modern psychology.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many yoga texts make reference to the importance of mental health and
      the use of specific techniques in the treatment of mental disorders. Different
      concepts utilized in modern psychology may not come with contemporary ideas,
      instead, they seem to share a common root with ancient wisdom. AIMS: The goal of
      this perspective article is to correlate modern techniques used in psychology and
      psychiatry with yogic practices, in the treatment of mental disorders. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The current article presented a dialogue between the yogic approach
      for the treatment of mental disorder and concepts used in modern psychology, such
      as meta-cognition, disidentification, deconditioning and interoceptive exposure.
      CONCLUSIONS: Contemplative research found out that modern interventions in
      psychology might not come from modern concepts after all, but share great
      similarity with ancient yogic knowledge, giving us the opportunity to integrate
      the psychological wisdom of both East and West.

PMID- 26865775
TI  - Effect of Sudarshan Kriya (meditation) on gamma, alpha, and theta rhythm during
      working memory task.
AB  - AIMS: The present study focuses on analyzing the effects of Sudarshan Kriya yoga
      (SKY) on brain signals during a working memory (WM) task. To envision the
      significant effects of SKY on WM capacity (WMC), we chose a control group for
      contriving a cogent comparison that could be corroborated using statistical
      tests. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 25 subjects were taken in the study, of
      which 10 were allotted to a control group and 15 to an experimental group.
      Electroencephalograph was taken during a WM task, which was an automated
      operation span test before and after SKY with 90 days intervals. No SKY was given
      to the control group. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: t-test and one-way ANOVA were
      applied. RESULTS: SKY promoted the efficient use of energy and power spectral
      density (PSD) for different brain rhythms in the desired locations as depicted by
      the gamma (F8 channel), alpha, and theta 2 (F7 and FC5) bands. It was found that
      gamma PSD reduced for both phases of memory in the experimental group. Alpha
      energy increased during the retrieval phase in the experimental group after SKY.
      Theta 1 rhythm was not affected by SKY, but theta 2 had shown left hemispheric
      activation. Theta rhythm was associated with memory consolidation. CONCLUSIONS:
      SKY had shown minimized energy losses while performing the task. SKY can improve
      WMC by changing the brain rhythms such that energy is utilized efficiently in
      performing the task.

PMID- 26865776
TI  - Examining the energy cost and intensity level of prenatal yoga.
AB  - CONTEXT: A popular form of pregnancy physical activity (PA) is prenatal yoga.
      However, little is known about the intensity and energy cost of this practice.
      AIMS: To examine the energy cost and intensity level of prenatal yoga. METHODS:
      Pregnant women in a prenatal yoga class (n = 19) wore a Sense Wear Armband during
      eleven 60 min classes each, and self-reported demographic variables, height and
      weight, prepregnancy weight, and PA behaviors and beliefs. Sense Wear Armband
      data included kilocalories, metabolic equivalent (MET) values, and time spent in
      various intensities. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were utilized to
      describe energy expenditure and intensity. RESULTS: Energy expenditure averaged
      109 +/- 8 kcals, and the average MET value was 1.5 +/- 0.02. On average, 93% and
      7% of classes were sedentary and moderate intensity PA, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Time spent in a prenatal yoga class was considered to be primarily a
      sedentary activity. Future research should utilize larger samples, practice type,
      and skill level to increase generalizability.

PMID- 26865777
TI  - Effects of multisensory yoga on behavior in a male child with Apert and Asperger
      syndrome.
AB  - This case focused on a 7-year-old boy with Apert and Asperger's syndrome who
      attended 8, 45 min multisensory yoga sessions, twice a week, during 4-week camp.
      Results from the pre- and post-tests on Treatment and Research Institute for
      Autism Social Skills Assessment showed improvements in the total score changes
      from 19 to 7 for disruptive behaviors. Sparks Target Behavior Checklist scores
      changed from eight to one showing progression in ability to stay on task. Yoga
      Pose Rating Scale displayed the transformation in total scores from 80 = emerging
      to 115 = consistency in pose performance. The field notes revealed the positive
      development in expressive emotions, social engagement, and decline in looking
      around. Outside class parent and school behavioral specialist reported the
      improved ability to self-regulate stress using lion's breath and super brain.
      These findings indicate an improvement in behaviors that influenced the physical
      performance, emotional expression, and social interaction after yoga training for
      this child. 

PMID- 26865778
TI  - Yoga in 42 African American women's memoirs reveal hidden tradition of health.

PMID- 26865779
TI  - University-based online yoga education: A pilot study of students' experience.

PMID- 26865781
TI  - Witnessing consciousness.

PMID- 26865780
TI  - Unsubstantiated conclusions from improper statistical design and analysis of a
      randomized controlled trial.

PMID- 26865782
TI  - Complications in Cosmetic Surgery: A Time to Reflect and Review and not Sweep
      Them Under the Carpet.

PMID- 26865783
TI  - Complications Associated With Medial Thigh Lift: A Comprehensive Literature
      Review.
AB  - Medial contouring of the thigh is frequently requested to improve appearance and
      function of medial thigh deformities, following massive weight loss or aging
      process. This surgical procedure can be associated with a significant rate of
      complications. Our aim was to consider the complications and outcomes according
      to the performed technique, through a wide and comprehensive review of the
      literature. A search on PubMed/Medline was performed using "medial thighplasty",
      "medial thigh lifting" and "technique" as key words. As inclusion criteria, we
      selected the clinical studies describing techniques of medial thighplasty. We
      excluded the papers in which complications related to medial thighplasty were not
      specified. We also excluded literature-review articles. We found 16 studies from
      1988 to 2015. Overall, 447 patients were treated. Different techniques were
      applied. Complications were observed in 191/447 patients (42.72%). The most
      frequent complications were wound dehiscence(18.34%) and seroma (8.05%). No major
      complications, such as thromboembolism and sepsis, were observed. Minor
      complications occurred in a high percent of patients, regardless of the performed
      surgical procedure. Patients should be informed about the possible occurrence of
      wound dehiscence and seroma, as common complications associated with this
      surgical procedure. 

PMID- 26865785
TI  - A Study of Hair Follicular Transplantation as a Treatment Option for Vitiligo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Repigmentation of vitiligo is closely related to hair follicles.
      Hence, replenishing melanocytes in vitiliginous patches utilizing
      undifferentiated stem cells of the hair follicles using follicular unit
      transplantation (FUT) is a possible treatment option. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: To
      study the efficacy of FUT in cases of segmental/stabilized vitiligo as a
      treatment option for leukotrichia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with 63
      lesions of stable vitiligo over nonglabrous areas were treated with follicular
      unit grafts. Reduction in the size of vitiligo patches as well as improvement in
      the associated leukotrichia were evaluated using subjective and objective
      assessments. RESULTS: Of the 63 patches, good to excellent response was seen in
      39 (61.9%), fair in 16 (25.4%), and poor in eight (12.7%) lesions. No
      repigmentation was seen in two (4.8%) lesions. The mean improvement seen was
      61.17%. Excellent color match was observed in 44 lesions (69.8%). Repigmentation
      of the depigmented hairs occurred in 11 out of 46 patients with associated
      leukotrichia. CONCLUSION: FUT is a safe and effective method for treating
      localized and segmental vitiligo, especially on hairy parts of the skin. Though
      labor intensive, it was found to be associated with a quick patient recovery
      time, very low morbidity, and good color match.

PMID- 26865784
TI  - Managing Complications of Fillers: Rare and Not-So-Rare.
AB  - Fillers belong to the most frequently used beautifying products. They are
      generally well tolerated, but any one of them may occasionally produce adverse
      side effects. Adverse effects usually last as long as the filler is in the skin,
      which means that short-lived fillers have short-term side effects and permanent
      fillers may induce life-long adverse effects. The main goal is to prevent them,
      however, this is not always possible. Utmost care has to be given to the
      prevention of infections and the injection technique has to be perfect. Treatment
      of adverse effects is often with hyaluronidase or steroid injections and in some
      cases together with 5-fluorouracil plus allopurinol orally. Histological
      examination of biopsy specimens often helps to identify the responsible filler
      allowing a specific treatment to be adapted. 

PMID- 26865786
TI  - Aesthetic reconstruction of the upper antihelix in external ear with banner pull
      through flap.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We can use pre auricular and post auricular skin as a pull through
      flap for upper antihelix defects reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a
      prospective case-series study, which was done in the Department of Plastic and
      Reconstructive Surgery Ward. In this study, 15 patients (3 women, 12 men),
      ranging from 45 to 72 years old (mean, 58 years) underwent operation with pull
      through banner flap for reconstruction of upper antihelix (7 cases) and
      triangular fossa with superior and inferior crura (5cases) caused by BCC or SCC
      excision. Reconstruction of upper antihelix defects up to 20 * 30 mm with post
      auricle pull through flap and reconstruction of triangular fossa up to 20 * 20 mm
      with pre auricle pull through flap were done. RESULTS: Our study showed that pull
      through flap with superior pedicle from post auricular and preauricular area was
      an effective method for reconstruction of upper ear antihelix defects.
      CONCLUSION: We advocate that the pull through flap with superior pedicle from
      post auricle and pre auricle is an excellent choice for reconstruction of upper
      antihelix ear reconstruction in both crura and triangular fossa.

PMID- 26865787
TI  - Treatment of Postinflammatory Pigmentation Due to Acne with Q-Switched Neodymium
      Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet In 78 Indian Cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common sequela seen in
      the Indian population following affliction by acne. It is psychologically
      extremely disturbing for the patients and can severely affect the quality of
      life. Very few therapeutic modalities have proved to be really efficacious in
      this condition. AIMS: The aim was to review our experience with 1,064-nm Q
      switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QSNY) laser in the treatment of
      PIH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with postacne
      hyperpigmentation were included in the study. They were treated with six sessions
      at two weekly intervals using a 1,064-nm QSNY laser. Patient and physician scores
      were assessed at 1 month and 3 months after the last treatment. Clinical
      photographs also were reviewed to determine the efficacy. Adverse effects were
      noted. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the patients reported significant improvement
      in hyperpigmentation as compared to the baseline. The majority of the adverse
      events were limited to mild, brief erythema. CONCLUSION: The 1,064-nm QSNY laser
      is an effective modality for the treatment of PIH caused by acne.

PMID- 26865788
TI  - Novel treatment of Hori's nevus: A combination of fractional nonablative 2,940-nm
      Er:YAG and low-fluence 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a combination laser therapy to treat Hori's nevus.
      DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A Singapore-based clinic. PARTICIPANTS:
      Five female patients, aged 30-46 years, with bilateral malar Hori's nevus.
      MEASUREMENTS: Photographs were taken before treatment and 1 month after laser
      treatment was completed. These were graded by three independent physicians. The
      patients were also asked to grade their treatment response subjectively. They
      were followed up for a total of 3 months after laser treatment to monitor
      recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The fractional nonablative 2,940-nm Er:YAG
      laser with a fluence of 0.7 J/cm(2), spot size 12 mm, and frequency 15 Hz was
      used to perform a full-face single-pass treatment. Subsequently, a second pass
      and third pass over Hori's nevi were done bilaterally till the clinical endpoint
      of skin whitening. The 1,064-nm Q-switched (QS) Nd:YAG at a fluence of 2.0
      J/cm(2), frequency 2 Hz, and 4-mm spot size was used to deliver multiple passes
      over Hori's nevus till erythema with mild petechiae appeared. We repeated the
      treatment once a week for 3 more consecutive weeks. RESULTS: All five patients
      had above 80% improvement in their pigmentation and two (skin type III) achieved
      complete 100% clearance. Based on the patients' subjective assessments, all five
      of them expressed satisfaction and felt that their pigmentation had improved.
      There were no complications noted. CONCLUSION: The fractional nonablative 2940 nm
      Er:YAG laser and Q-switched 1064nm laser Nd:YAG combination is an effective and
      safe treatment for Hori's nevus.

PMID- 26865789
TI  - Novel Low Fluence Combination Laser Treatment of Solar Lentigines in Type III
      Asian Skin.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a novel low fluence combination laser technique [Erbium
      doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Erb:YAG) and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum
      garnet (Nd:YAG)] to effectively treat solar lentigines in type III Asian skin in
      a single session. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A Singapore-based clinic.
      PARTICIPANTS: Five patients (all females) were enrolled into the study. The ages
      ranged 35-60 years; all patients had Fitzpatrick skin type III. MEASUREMENTS:
      Photographs were taken at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. These were reviewed
      by two independent physicians who were blinded to the study. Changes in pigment
      severity were assessed by a 5-point scale (1: Aggravation of pigment, 2: No
      change, 3: 25-50% improvement, 4: 51-75% improvement, and 5: 76-100%
      improvement). RESULTS: All patients received a single treatment session. At 1
      month follow-up, a reduction in pigment was observed in all patients. Both
      physicians' reports were independently agreeable. All patients scored 5, having
      >90% improvement in pigment severity. No hypopigmentation, postinflammatory
      hyperpigmentation (PIH), or recurrence was seen. CONCLUSION: Low fluence
      combination laser is effective and safe for clearance of solar lentigines in type
      III Asian skin.

PMID- 26865790
TI  - Lasers for Lentigines, from Q-Switched to Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet
      Micropeel, is There a Need to Reinvent the Wheel?

PMID- 26865791
TI  - Why Do Females Use Botulinum Toxin Injections?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin (BT) use for enhancing the facial features has become
      a commonly accepted form of aesthetic intervention. This study conducted a self
      report survey of female BT users in order to explore the motivating factors in
      its use (cost-benefit analysis). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional
      exploratory pilot study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-report questionnaires were
      administered to 41 consecutive clients attending an independent medical practice
      for BT injections for cosmetic purposes. All the participants were females and
      represented a range of age groups from the 20s to above 60s. Items in the
      nonstandardized questionnaire elicited questions relating to the reasons for and
      against BT use. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive analysis was used rather
      than inferential statistics, and involved ranking the responses according to the
      most likely reasons for using BT and disadvantages of its use. RESULTS: In
      general, the primary motivating factor for BT use was to improve self-esteem, and
      the greatest disadvantage involved financial costs associated with the procedure.
      CONCLUSIONS: The main findings of this study suggest that females who use BT for
      aesthetic purposes are motivated by personal psychological gains (intrapersonal
      attributes) rather than social gains (interpersonal factors). In other words,
      they do not believe that having BT will equate to being treated any better by
      other people but would rather provide them with confidence and satisfaction
      regarding their self-image.

PMID- 26865792
TI  - Complications of skin biopsy.
AB  - Skin biopsy is the most commonly performed procedure by the dermatologist. Though
      it is a safe and easy procedure yet complications may arise. Post operative
      complications like wound infection and bleeding may occur. It is essential to
      keep the potential complications of skin biopsy in mind and be meticulous in the
      technique, for better patient outcomes. 

PMID- 26865793
TI  - Chondroid Syringoma of the Philtral Dimple.
AB  - A chondroid syringoma (CS) is an exceedingly rare mixed tumor of the skin. These
      tumors are relatively common in the head and neck area. Occurrence of these
      tumors in the philtrum is rare, with only two documented cases in English
      literature to the best of our knowledge. This paper presents a case of CS of the
      philtral dimple with aesthetically excellent philtrum reconstruction. 

PMID- 26865794
TI  - Successful Treatment of Recalcitrant Bowen's Disease of the Lower Back Using a
      Bimodal Approach.

PMID- 26865795
TI  - An Uncommon Complication of Hair Transplant: A Crack in the "Slit".

PMID- 26865796
TI  - Erratum: Successful Treatment of Tattoo-Induced Pseudolymphoma with Sequential
      Ablative Fractional Resurfacing Followed by Q-Switched Nd: YAG 532 nm Laser.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 226 in vol. 6, PMID: 24470721.]. 

PMID- 26865797
TI  - Customized Orbital Decompression Surgery Combined with Eyelid Surgery or
      Strabismus Surgery in Mild to Moderate Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of customized orbital decompression
      surgery combined with eyelid surgery or strabismus surgery for mild to moderate
      thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive
      subjects who were treated surgically for proptosis with disfigurement or diplopia
      after medical therapy from September 2009 to July 2012 were included in the
      analysis. Customized orbital decompression surgery with correction of eyelid
      retraction and extraocular movement disorders was simultaneously performed. The
      patients had a minimum preoperative period of 3 months of stable range of ocular
      motility and eyelid position. All patients had inactive TAO and were euthyroid at
      the time of operation. Preoperative and postoperative examinations, including
      vision, margin reflex distance, Hertel exophthalmometry, ocular motility, visual
      fields, Goldmann perimetry, and subject assessment of the procedure, were
      performed in all patients. Data were analyzed using paired t-test (PASW
      Statistics ver. 18.0). RESULTS: Forty-nine decompressions were performed on 27
      subjects (16 females, 11 males; mean age, 36.6 +/- 11.6 years). Twenty-two
      patients underwent bilateral operations; five required only unilateral orbital
      decompression. An average proptosis of 15.6 +/- 2.2 mm (p = 0.00) was achieved,
      with a mean preoperative Hertel measurement of 17.6 +/- 2.2 mm. Ocular motility
      was corrected through recession of the extraocular muscle in three cases, and no
      new-onset diplopia or aggravated diplopia was noted. The binocular single vision
      field increased in all patients. Eyelid retraction correction surgery was
      simultaneously performed in the same surgical session in 10 of 49 cases, and
      strabismus and eyelid retraction surgery were performed in the same surgical
      session in two cases. Margin reflex distance decreased from a preoperative
      average of 4.3 +/- 0.8 to 3.8 +/- 0.5 mm postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The
      customized orbital decompression procedure decreased proptosis and improved
      diplopia, in a range comparable to those achieved through more stepwise
      techniques, and had favorable cosmetic results when combined with eyelid surgery
      or strabismus surgery for mild to moderate TAO.

PMID- 26865798
TI  - Periorbital Lipogranuloma after Facial Autologous Fat Injection and Its Treatment
      Outcomes.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate periorbital lipogranuloma cases that developed after
      autologous fat injection and to determine various treatment outcomes from these
      cases. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 27 patients who presented with
      periocular mass (final diagnosis of lipogranuloma) and had history of facial
      autologous fat injection. The collected data included information on patient sex,
      age, clinical presentation, number and site of fat injections, interval between
      injections, duration from injection to symptom onset, fat harvesting site, use of
      cryopreservation, and treatment outcome. RESULTS: The most common presenting
      symptom was palpable mass (92.6%), followed by blepharoptosis and eyelid edema.
      The mean time from injection to symptom onset was 13.6 +/- 29.2 months (range, 2
      to 153 months). Patients were managed by intralesional triamcinolone injection
      (six patients) and surgical excision (three patients); 18 patients were followed
      without treatment. Among the six patients who underwent intralesional
      triamcinolone injection, five showed complete resolution, and one showed partial
      resolution. Among the 18 patients who were followed without management, three
      showed spontaneous resolution over a 5-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS:
      Lipogranuloma can develop in the eyelid after autologous fat injection into the
      face. Both surgical excision and intralesional triamcinolone injection yield
      relatively good outcomes. Simple observation can be a good option because
      spontaneous resolution can occur in a subset of patients.

PMID- 26865799
TI  - Changes in Fundus Autofluorescence after Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
      According to the Type of Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-related Macular
      Degeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the changes of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in patients
      with age-related macular degeneration before and after intravitreal injection of
      anti-vascular endothelial growth factor according to the type of choroidal
      neovascularization (CNV) and to evaluate the correlation of FAF with spectral
      domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) parameters and vision. METHODS: This
      was a retrospective study. Twenty-one treatment-naive patients with neovascular
      age-related macular degeneration were included. Study eyes were divided into two
      groups according to the type of CNV. Fourteen eyes were type 1 CNV and seven eyes
      were type 2 CNV. All eyes underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination,
      including an assessment of best-corrected visual acuity, SD-OCT, fluorescein
      angiography, and FAF imaging, before and 3 months after intravitreal anti
      vascular endothelial growth factor injection. Gray scales of FAF image for CNV
      areas, delineated as in fluorescein angiography, were analyzed using the ImageJ
      program, which were adjusted by comparison with normal background areas.
      Correlation of changes in FAF with changes in SD-OCT parameters, including CNV
      thickness, photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction disruption length,
      external limiting membrane disruption length, central macular thickness,
      subretinal fluid, and intraretinal fluid were analyzed. RESULTS: Eyes with both
      type 1 and type 2 CNV showed reduced FAF before treatment. The mean gray scales
      (%) of type 1 and type 2 CNV were 52.20% and 42.55%, respectively. The background
      values were 106.72 and 96.86. After treatment, the mean gray scales (%) of type 1
      CNV and type 2 CNV were changed to 57.61% (p = 0.005) and 57.93% (p = 0.008),
      respectively. After treatment, CNV thickness, central macular thickness, and
      inner and outer segment junction disruption length were decreased while FAF
      increased. CONCLUSIONS: FAF was noted to be reduced in eyes with newly diagnosed
      wet age-related macular degeneration, but increased after anti-vascular
      endothelial growth factor therapy regardless of CNV lesion type.

PMID- 26865800
TI  - Effect of Posterior Subtenon Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection on Diabetic
      Macular Edema Refractory to Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide
      injection on refractory diabetic macular edema (DME) after intravitreal
      bevacizumab (IVB) injection failure. METHODS: Patients with DME and central
      subfield thickness (CST) >300 um who did not respond to IVB injections were
      retrospectively included. Specifically, we enrolled patients who were diagnosed
      with refractory DME and who experienced an increase in CST after 1 to 2 IVB
      injections or no decrease after >=3 consecutive IVB injections. One clinician
      injected 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide into the posterior subtenon space. All
      patients received ophthalmic examinations at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months
      post-baseline. Examinations included Snellen visual acuity, intraocular pressure,
      and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 34
      patients were included. The average baseline CST was 476 um. The average CST
      decreased to 368 um at 2 months, 374 um at 4 months, and 427 um at 6 months (p <
      0.001 for all results, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The average intraocular
      pressure increased from 15.50 to 16.92 mmHg at 2 months but decreased to 16.30
      mmHg at 4 months and 15.65 mmHg at 6 months. Logarithm of the minimum angle of
      resolution visual acuity improved from 0.56 to 0.50 at 2 months (p = 0.023), 0.50
      at 4 months (p = 0.083), and 0.48 at 6 months (p = 0.133, Wilcoxon signed-rank
      test). No complications were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior subtenon
      triamcinolone acetonide is an effective and safe treatment for reducing CST in
      DME refractory to IVB.

PMID- 26865801
TI  - Macular Choroidal Thickness and Volume Measured by Swept-source Optical Coherence
      Tomography in Healthy Korean Children.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the thickness and volume of the choroid in healthy Korean
      children using swept-source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: We examined 80
      eyes of 40 healthy children and teenagers (<18 years) using swept-source optical
      coherence tomography with a tunable long-wavelength laser source. A volumetric
      macular scan protocol using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid
      was used to construct a choroidal thickness map. We also examined 44 eyes of 35
      healthy adult volunteers (>=18 years) and compared adult measurements with the
      findings in children. RESULTS: The mean age of the children and teenagers was
      9.47 +/- 3.80 (4 to 17) vs. 55.04 +/- 12.63 years (36 to 70 years) in the adult
      group (p < 0.001, Student's t-test). Regarding the Early Treatment Diabetic
      Retinopathy Study subfields, the inner temporal subfield was the thickest (247.96
      um). The inner and outer nasal choroid were thinner (p = 0.004, p = 0.002,
      respectively) than the surrounding areas. The mean choroidal volumes of the inner
      and outer nasal areas were smaller (p = 0.004, p = 0.003, respectively) than
      those of all the other areas in each circle. Among the nine subfields, all areas
      in the children, except the outer nasal subfield, were thicker than those in
      adults (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that age, axial length, and
      refractive error correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (p < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall macular choroidal thickness and volume in children and
      teenagers were significantly greater than in adults. The nasal choroid was
      significantly thinner than the surrounding areas. The pediatric subfoveal choroid
      is prone to thinning with increasing age, axial length, and refractive error.
      These differences should be considered when choroidal thickness is evaluated in
      children with chorioretinal diseases.

PMID- 26865802
TI  - Comparison of the Progression of High- and Low-tension Glaucoma as Determined by
      Two Different Criteria.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the progression of medically treated primary
      open angle glaucoma according to the baseline intraocular pressure (IOP).
      METHODS: This study included a total of 345 eyes from 345 patients (mean follow
      up period, 4.5 years). Eyes were classified into either conventional normal
      tension glaucoma (cNTG, <=21 mmHg) or conventional high-tension glaucoma (cHTG,
      >21 mmHg) groups according to the conventional cut-off value of the IOP.
      Additionally, the median IOP (15 mmHg) was used to create two other groups
      (median NTG [mNTG] <=15 mmHg and median HTG [mHTG] >15 mmHg). Using these values,
      306, 39, 153, and 192 eyes were assigned to the cNTG, cHTG, mNTG, and mHTG
      groups, respectively. Glaucoma progression was determined either by optic
      disc/retinal nerve fiber layer photographs or serial visual field data. RESULTS:
      Mean reduction of IOP after medical treatment and of central corneal thickness
      was lower in the cNTG group, while the prevalence of disc hemorrhage and baseline
      visual field mean deviation did not differ between the cNTG and cHTG groups. A
      mean reduction in the IOP was observed after medical treatment, and central
      corneal thickness was lower in the mNTG group; disc hemorrhage was more frequent
      in the mNTG than in the mHTG group. Among the 345 analyzed eyes, 100 (29%) showed
      progression during the follow-up period. In the cHTG group, a higher baseline IOP
      (hazard ratio, 1.147; p = 0.024) was associated with glaucoma progression. Disc
      hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 15.533; p < 0.001) was also strongly associated with
      progression in the mNTG group. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline IOP was a significant risk
      factor for glaucoma progression in cHTG patients (10% of our total participants),
      while disc hemorrhage showed the strongest association with progression in the
      mNTG group, indicating that a cut-off value other than the conventional 21 mmHg
      is required to define true low-tension glaucoma in populations where NTG
      predominates among all glaucoma patients.

PMID- 26865803
TI  - Comparison of Postoperative Exodrift after First Unilateral and Second
      Contralateral Lateral Rectus Recession in Recurrent Exotropia.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare postoperative exodrift of the first unilateral lateral rectus
      (ULR) muscle recession with the exodrift of the second contralateral ULR muscle
      recession in patients with recurrent small-angle exotropia (XT). METHODS: We
      evaluated the results of a second ULR muscle recession in 19 patients with
      recurrent XT with deviation angles under 25 prism diopter (PD), following a first
      procedure of ULR muscle recession for small-angle XT. Recession of the lateral
      rectus muscle ranged from 8 to 9 mm. The postoperative motor alignment and degree
      of exodrift were investigated after the first ULR muscle recession and the second
      ULR muscle recession in the same patients. RESULTS: Observed differences in
      postoperative ocular alignment between the first ULR muscle recession and the
      second ULR muscle recession were statistically significant at follow-up periods
      of six months (7.84 +/- 4.43 vs. 3.89 +/- 3.47 PD), one year (9.58 +/- 4.97 vs.
      5.21 +/- 4.94 PD), and at a final follow-up (21.11 +/- 2.98 vs. 7.52 +/- 4.06 PD)
      after surgery (p = 0.006, 0.013, and 0.000). Postoperative exodrift was
      statistically different between the first and second ULR muscle recessions at
      three to six months (2.89 +/-3.75 vs. 0.63 +/- 3.45 PD) and one year to final
      follow-up (11.52 +/- 5.50 vs. 2.32 +/- 3.53 PD) (p = 0.034 and 0.000). All of the
      first ULR muscle recession patients showed XT with deviation angles of more than
      15 PD at the final follow-up. Regardless, the surgical success rate (<8 PD) after
      the second ULR recession was 63.16% (12 patients) among the total amount of
      patients with recurrent XT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that changes in
      exodrift after a second ULR muscle recession are less than changes after the
      first URL muscle recession among patients with recurrent XT. A second ULR muscle
      recession may be a useful surgery for small-angle XT patients with deviation
      angles of 25 PD or less after a first ULR muscle recession.

PMID- 26865804
TI  - Higher Order Aberration and Astigmatism in Children with Hyperopic Amblyopia.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in corneal higher-order aberration (HOA)
      during amblyopia treatment and the correlation between HOA and astigmatism in
      hyperopic amblyopia children. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 72
      eyes from 72 patients ranging in age from 38 to 161 months were included.
      Patients were divided into two groups based on the degree of astigmatism. Corneal
      HOA was measured using a KR-1W aberrometer at the initial visit and at 3-, 6-,
      and 12-month follow-ups. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the
      association between HOA and astigmatism. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were
      enrolled in this study, 37 of which were classified as belonging to the higher
      astigmatism group, while 35 were assigned to the lower astigmatism group. There
      was a statistically significant difference in success rate between the higher and
      lower astigmatism groups. In both groups, all corneal HOAs were significantly
      reduced during amblyopia treatment. When comparing the two groups, a significant
      difference in coma HOA at the 12-month follow-up was detected (p = 0.043). In the
      Pearson correlation test, coma HOA at the 12-month follow-up demonstrated a
      statistically significant correlation with astigmatism and a stronger correlation
      with astigmatism in the higher astigmatism group than in the lower astigmatism
      group (coefficient values, 0.383 and 0.284 as well as p = 0.021 and p = 0.038,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: HOA, particularly coma HOA, correlated with
      astigmatism and could exert effects in cases involving hyperopic amblyopia.

PMID- 26865805
TI  - The Stabilization of Postoperative Exo-drift in Intermittent Exotropia after
      Surgical Treatment.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term clinical course of intermittent exotropia
      after surgical treatment to determine whether and when postoperative exo-drift
      stabilizes, and the required postsurgery follow-up duration in cases of
      intermittent exotropia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records
      of patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgical
      treatment between January 1992 and January 2006 at Yeungnam University Hospital
      and postoperatively performed regular follow-up examinations for up to 7 years.
      We also analyzed the difference in exo-drift stabilization, according to surgical
      procedure. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study. Thirty
      one patients underwent lateral rectus recession and medial rectus resection (R&R)
      and 70 patients underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR). The
      postoperative angles of deviation increased significantly during the initial 36
      months, but no subsequent significant changes were observed for up to 84 months.
      Follow-ups for 7 years revealed that more than 50% of the total amount of exo
      drift was observed within the first postoperative year. In addition, the angles
      of deviation at 1 year correlated with those at 7 years postoperatively (Pearson
      correlation coefficient r = 0.517, p < 0.001). No significant exo-drift was
      observed after 36 months in patients who underwent BLR, whereas after 18 months
      in patients who underwent R&R. CONCLUSIONS: The minimum postoperative follow-up
      required after surgical treatment to ensure stable results is 36 months. In
      particular, careful follow-up is necessary during the first postoperative year to
      detect rapid exo-drift. Patients who underwent BLR required a longer follow-up
      than those who underwent R&R to ensure stable postoperative alignment.

PMID- 26865807
TI  - Brown-McLean Syndrome in a Patient with Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome.

PMID- 26865806
TI  - Effect of Nitric Oxide on the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase and Its
      Association with Migration of Cultured Trabecular Meshwork Cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on the migration
      of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and its association with expression of matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMPs). METHODS: Primary human TM cells treated with 1 or 10
      uM S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) and examined for changes in adherence.
      TM cells were seeded onto transwell culture inserts, and changes in their
      migratory activity were quantified. Reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction was performed to determine the relative changes in mRNA expression of
      MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). RESULTS: Treatment with
      SNAP did not significantly suppress TM cell adhesion or migration (p > 0.05).
      Treatment of TM cells with 10 uM SNAP decreased expression of MMP-2 and increased
      expression of membrane type MMP-1 and TIMP-2. Treatment with interleukin-1alpha
      triggered MMP-3 expression but did not exert significant effects on MMP-3
      activation in response to SNAP. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that NO revealed
      no significant effect on the migration of TM cells because NO decreased MMP-2 and
      increased TIMP-2 expression. Although expression of certain MMPs and TIMPs change
      in response to NO donors, NO may modulate trabecular outflow by changing the
      cellular production of extracellular matrix without having a significant effect
      on the migration of TM cells.

PMID- 26865808
TI  - Comment on: Choroidal Blood Flow Change in Eyes with High Myopia.

PMID- 26865809
TI  - Optic Fracture of the Preloaded Intraocular Lens during Insertion.

PMID- 26865810
TI  - Bietti Crystalline Retinopathy Confirmed by Mutation of CYP4V2 Gene in a Korean
      Patient.

PMID- 26865811
TI  - "We are Arabs:" The Embodiment of Virginity Through Arab and Arab American
      Women's Lived Experiences.
AB  - Virginity is part of our existence in the world as embodied sexual subjects.
      While many meanings are associated with virginity, in most of the Arab world
      virginity relates to the presence of a hymen and extends to encompass the honor
      of the Arab community, and virginity loss commonly relate to first vaginal
      intercourse. This study explored the meanings of virginity from the perspectives
      of Arab and Arab American women. A qualitative phenomenological approach,
      informed by the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, was used to conduct in-depth
      interviews with ten women. We identified one over-arching theme Virginity as
      Identity, and two major themes Embodiment of Virginity and "We are Arabs." To
      reach an embodied virginity, participants went through a disembodied virginity
      process, reflecting society's perceptions and values of virginity related to
      anatomical presence of a hymen and society's honor. "We are Arabs" describes the
      ways women identified with the Arab ethnic identity as a shared overall
      identification, but differed from one lived experience to another, and influenced
      how participants embodied virginity. Our participants provided a better
      understanding of the diverse meanings of virginity that move beyond the binary of
      virginity and virginity loss, and into a spectrum of embodied meanings. Findings
      suggest the need for future research around sexuality in Arab Americans with
      attention to socio-political contexts in order to understand the nature and
      context of sexual initiation and its impact on sexual behaviors and well-being.

PMID- 26865813
TI  - New record and redescription of Calanopia thompsoni A. Scott, 1909 (Copepoda,
      Calanoida, Pontellidae) from the Red Sea, with notes on the taxonomic status of
      C. parathompsoni Gaudy, 1969 and a key to species.
AB  - During a plankton sampling programme around Al-Wajh area, Saudi Arabian coast of
      the northern Red Sea, a copepod Calanopia thompsoni A. Scott, 1909 (Calanoida:
      Pontellidae) was reported for the first time in the Red Sea. Both sexes are fully
      redescribed and compared to previous descriptions as well as the closely related
      species, Calanopia parathompsoni. The zoogeographical distribution of the species
      confirms that it is of Indo-Pacific origin. A dichotomous key for the
      identification of males and females of the species of Calanopia is included. 

PMID- 26865812
TI  - On the uncertainty beneath the name Oithona similis Claus, 1866 (Copepoda,
      Cyclopoida).
AB  - The marine cyclopoid Oithona similis sensu lato Claus, 1866, is considered to be
      one of the most abundant and ubiquitous copepods in the world. However, its
      minimal original diagnosis and the unclear connection with its (subjective)
      senior synonym Oithona helgolandica Claus, 1863, may have caused frequent
      misidentification of the species. Consequently, it seems possible that several
      closely related but distinct forms are being named Oithona similis or Oithona
      helgolandica without explicit and accurate discrimination. Here the current
      situation concerning the correct assignment of the two species is revised, the
      morphological characters commonly used to identify and distinguish each species
      are summarized, and the nomenclatural implications of indiscriminately using
      these names in current taxonomic and ecological practice is considered. It is not
      intended to upset a long-accepted name in its accustomed meaning but certainly
      the opposite. "In pursuit of the maximum stability compatible with taxonomic
      freedom" (International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature), we consider that
      reassessment of the diagnostic characters of Oithona similis sensu stricto cannot
      be postponed much longer. While a consensus on taxonomy and nomenclatural matters
      can be attained, we strongly recommend specifically reporting the authority upon
      which the identification of either Oithona similis s.l. or Oithona helgolandica
      s.l. has been accomplished. 

PMID- 26865814
TI  - New records of Protura (Entognatha, Arthropoda) from Romania, with an
      identification key to the Romanian species.
AB  - The Romanian Protura were studied based on 175 specimens collected from Romania,
      along with bibliographic data. The main publication on the Romanian proturans was
      written by M.A. Ionescu (1951), who described 13 species mainly from soil and
      forest litter from 15 collecting points. The current paper represents the first
      study at a national level. Faunal data on Protura were obtained from 22 sites,
      mostly from forests of the Romanian Carpathians and also from a peri-urban area
      of Bucharest, which had not been studied before. As a result, the Romanian
      Protura fauna now consists of 27 known taxa in 6 genera and 4 families. Of the 27
      taxa, 15 species are new records for Romanian fauna. An identification key to the
      Romanian Protura species is provided. 

PMID- 26865815
TI  - Nylanderia deceptrix sp. n., a new species of obligately socially parasitic
      formicine ant (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).
AB  - Obligately socially parasitic ants are social parasites that typically lack the
      sterile worker caste, and depend on the host species for survival and brood care.
      The genus Nylanderia has over 130 described species and subspecies, none of
      which, until this study, were known social parasites. Here we describe the first
      social parasite known in the genus, Nylanderia deceptrix. Aspects of the biology
      of the host species, Nylanderia parvula (Mayr 1870), and Nylanderia deceptrix are
      examined. The data from both the host and the parasite species are combined to
      better understand the host-parasite relationship. 

PMID- 26865816
TI  - A taxonomy review of Oreoderus Burmeister, 1842 from China with a geometric
      morphometric evaluation (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Valgini).
AB  - The species of the genus Oreoderus are morphologically similar, and can be
      challenging to distinguish without dissecting the male genitalia. In this study,
      the Oreoderus species from China are reviewed. Three new species of Oreoderus are
      described: Oreoderus dasystibialis Li & Yang, sp. n., Oreoderus brevitarsus Li &
      Yang, sp. n. and Oreoderus oblongus Li & Yang, sp. n. A key of the male Oreoderus
      and a distribution map are provided. Oreoderus coomani Paulian, 1961 was found as
      a new record in China. The first description of the female of Oreoderus arrowi
      Ricchiardi, 2001 is provided. Oreoderus humeralis Gestro, 1891, Oreoderus
      quadricarinatus Arrow, 1944, Oreoderus crassipes Arrow, 1944, and Oreoderus
      momeitensis Arrow, 1910 are excluded from the Chinese fauna. Furthermore, we
      utilize geometric morphometric approaches (GM) to analyze the shape variation of
      four characters (pronotum, elytra, protibia and aedeagus) in Oreoderus. The
      morphological variations of Oreoderus and the taxonomic value of each character
      are discussed. The combined analysis of geometric morphometrics and comparative
      morphology support recognition of the three new species. 

PMID- 26865817
TI  - Revision of the subgenus Orthoscymnus Canepari of Scymnus Kugelann (Coleoptera,
      Coccinellidae), with descriptions of four new species.
AB  - The subgenus Orthoscymnus Canepari, 1997 of Scymnus Kugelann, 1794 is herein
      revised. Seven species of the Orthoscymnus fauna are recognized, of which four
      species, Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) jilongicus sp. n., Scymnus (Orthoscymnus)
      paradoxus sp. n., Scymnus (Orthoscymnus) crispatus sp. n. and Scymnus
      (Orthoscymnus) duomaculatus sp. n., are described as new to science. Scymnus
      (Orthoscymnus) rhododendri Canepari is recorded from China for the first time.
      Scymnus (Pullus) robustibasalis Yu is transferred to the subgenus Orthoscymnus
      (comb. n.). All species are diagnosed, described and illustrated, and
      distributions are provided for each species. A key to the species is included. 

PMID- 26865818
TI  - Further contributions to the longhorn beetle (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) fauna of
      New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.
AB  - Sixteen species of Cerambycidae are newly recorded for New Brunswick, Canada;
      Arhopalus obsoletus (Randall), Atimia confusa confusa (Say), Callidium frigidum
      Casey, Phymatodes amoenus (Say), Phymatodes testaceus (Linnaeus), Neoclytus
      mucronatus mucronatus (Fabricius), Xylotrechus aceris Fisher, Xylotrechus
      sagittatus sagittatus (Germar), Tylonotus bimaculatus Haldeman, Lepturges
      angulatus (LeConte), Lepturges symmetricus (Haldeman), Urgleptes querci (Fitch),
      Oplosia nubila (LeConte), Eupogonius subarmatus (LeConte), Monochamus
      carolinensis (Olivier), and Pogonocherus parvulus LeConte. Urgleptes signatus
      (LeConte) and Urgleptes querci are newly recorded from Nova Scotia. All but two
      specimens were collected in 12-funnel Lindgren traps. Xylotrechus aceris,
      Tylonotus bimaculatus, Lepturges angulatus, Lepturges symmetricus, Urgleptes
      signatus (NS), and Pogonocherus parvulus were detected exclusively in traps
      deployed in the forest canopy, and most individuals of Oplosia nubila and
      Monochamus carolinensis were captured in canopy traps. Arhopalus obsoletus,
      Atimia confusa confusa, Callidium frigidum, Phymatodes testaceus, and Xylotrechus
      sagittatus sagittatus were captured almost exclusively in traps near (1 m above)
      the forest floor. These results highlight the importance of sampling both the
      understory and upper canopy when using traps for surveying diversity of
      Cerambycidae. 

PMID- 26865819
TI  - Two new species of spotted Hypancistrus from the Rio Negro drainage
      (Loricariidae, Hypostominae).
AB  - Two new species, Hypancistrus phantasma and Hypancistrus margaritatus, are
      described based on material from the Rio Negro drainage. Both species are
      distinguished from congeners by unique color patterns. Hypancistrus phantasma is
      described from the Rio Uaupes and differs from congeners by having a tan body
      with small dark spots (vs. dark with light spots or with saddles or stripes).
      Hypancistrus margaritatus is described from the Takutu River and differs from
      congeners by having densely-packed light spots on a dark brown background, with
      spots about the size of the nasal aperture (vs. sparse light spots either smaller
      or larger than the nasal aperture, or brown to black spots, saddles, or stripes).

PMID- 26865820
TI  - Dataset of Passerine bird communities in a Mediterranean high mountain (Sierra
      Nevada, Spain).
AB  - In this data paper, a dataset of passerine bird communities is described in
      Sierra Nevada, a Mediterranean high mountain located in southern Spain. The
      dataset includes occurrence data from bird surveys conducted in four
      representative ecosystem types of Sierra Nevada from 2008 to 2015. For each
      visit, bird species numbers as well as distance to the transect line were
      recorded. A total of 27847 occurrence records were compiled with accompanying
      measurements on distance to the transect and animal counts. All records are of
      species in the order Passeriformes. Records of 16 different families and 44
      genera were collected. Some of the taxa in the dataset are included in the
      European Red List. This dataset belongs to the Sierra Nevada Global-Change
      Observatory (OBSNEV), a long-term research project designed to compile socio
      ecological information on the major ecosystem types in order to identify the
      impacts of global change in this area. 

PMID- 26865821
TI  - Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Better Method for Diagnosing Chronic Schistosoma
      mansoni Infections.
AB  - For more effective diagnosis of the acute and chronic stages of Schistosoma
      mansoni infection in humans, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was
      compared with the Kato-Katz method. A total of 150 stool samples were collected
      from inpatient and outpatient clinics at the Department of Tropical Medicine,
      Minia University Hospital, Egypt. Three groups of patients, 50 with acute
      intestinal schistosomiasis, 70 with chronic intestinal schistosomiasis and 30
      normal healthy controls were studied. Stool samples were analyzed by PCR and the
      Kato-Katz method. The mean number of eggs per gram of feces was 4.6 when
      estimated by the Kato-Katz method in positive stool samples from acute
      schistosomiasis cases but only 1.7 in chronic cases. In acute intestinal
      schistosomiasis, 15 and 45 out of 50 cases were positive by Kato-Katz and PCR,
      respectively. In the chronic intestinal schistosomiasis cases, 6 and 68 out of 70
      cases were positive by the Kato-Katz and PCR methods, respectively. We conclude
      that PCR appears to be an effective diagnostic technique for S. mansoni
      infection, especially where a low worm burden exists, such as in chronic cases. 

PMID- 26865822
TI  - Cyclospora Infection among School Children in Kathmandu, Nepal: Prevalence and
      Associated Risk Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The intestinal coccidian protozoa Cyclospora cayetanensis has emerged
      as an important cause of parasitic diarrhea among children living in developing
      countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cyclospora among the
      school children of Kathmandu with reference to various associated risk factors.
      METHODOLOGY: A total of five hundred and seven stool samples from students
      between the age of 3-14 years, studying in 13 different schools in Kathmandu were
      collected during the study period (May-November, 2014) and processed at the
      Public Health Research Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal. A
      modified acid fast staining technique (Kinyoun's method) was used to detect
      oocyst of Cyclospora from the formal-ether concentrated stool samples. RESULTS:
      Cyclospora was detected in 3.94% (20/507) of the stool samples examined. The
      prevalence was found to be highest among the students in the 3-5 year age group
      i.e. 10.15% (13/128), peaking during the rainy season (June-August). The
      detection rate was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) among children
      presenting with diarrheal symptoms, household keeping livestock and consumers of
      raw vegetables/fruits, showing a prevalence of 10.57% (11/104), 10.11% (9/89) and
      7.25% (14/193) respectively. CONCLUSION: Consumption of untreated drinking water,
      fresh produce (raw fruits/vegetables) without proper washing and the presence of
      livestock at home were found to be predisposing factors for higher susceptibility
      of infection due to Cyclospora. This finding confirms the existence of a public
      health issue with potentially serious consequences whereby children can be
      infected through exposure to oocysts in contaminated food and water and get ill
      as a result.

PMID- 26865823
TI  - Questing Amblyomma mixtum and Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (Acari: Ixodidae) Infected
      with Candidatus "Rickettsia amblyommii" from the Natural Environment in Panama
      Canal Basin, Panama.
AB  - This work emphasizes the detection of Candidatus "Rickettsia amblyommii" in
      questing Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and Amblyomma mixtum. From February 2009 to
      December 2012, questing ticks were collected from the vegetation and leaf-litter
      of four protected forests and two grassy areas around the Panama Canal basin. DNA
      was extracted from Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma naponense, Amblyomma
      oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma pecarium, Amblyomma tapirellum, Haemaphysalis
      juxtakochi, and unidentified immature Amblyomma. Specific primers of citrate
      synthase gene gltA were used to detect and identify the rickettsiae. Amplicons
      with the expected band size were purified and sequenced. DNA of C. "R.
      amblyommii" was found in A. mixtum, H. juxtakochi and Amblyomma immatures. To our
      knowledge, these finding represent the first report of C. "R. amblyommii" in free
      living ticks in the wilderness of Central America. 

PMID- 26865824
TI  - Occupational Stress among Textile Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
AB  - CONTEXT: In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scientific studies on
      occupational health are scarce. The present study aims at estimating the level of
      occupational stress, as well as associated factors, in a textile company.
      METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey among textile workers in DRC. Data
      (N = 192 subjects) were collected through a self-questionnaire validated for the
      assessment of stress (Karasek and Siegrist's scale); supplemented by a medical
      examination. Frequencies and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for descriptive
      analyses. Adjusted ORs were calculated through a logistic regression model to
      investigate associations between socio-demographic and organisational variables
      and stress. RESULTS: Our study highlighted a high level of stress among
      individuals: 28% of them were suffering from stress, according to Karasek, and
      22%, when applying Siegrist's model. A 14%-isostrain was calculated when
      considering all workers. A statistically significant association was observed
      between stress and age, seniority and perceived non-adaptation to work,
      considering both approaches. Furthermore, when job strain was determined
      according to Karasek, it was related to the worker status, the poor perception of
      organisation and alcohol consumption, while stress estimated by applying
      Siegrist's model showed an association with education level and the occurrence of
      cardiac symptoms. CONCLUSION: The present study provides of stress among
      individuals through both models. Several socio-professional factors are
      associated with stress, which determines populations at risk. The results
      revealed that both stress models offer complementary information, thus increasing
      the probability to model workers' health more exactly and to make recommendations
      on prevention and management.

PMID- 26865825
TI  - NS1' Protein Expression in the JaOArS982 Strain of Japanese Encephalitis Virus
      Does Not Enhance Virulence in Mice.
AB  - Using a mouse model, we previously demonstrated that subcutaneous infection with
      the JaTH160 strain of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes significantly
      higher virulence and stronger virus propagation in the brain compared with that
      of the JaOArS982 strain. We also showed that the JaTH160 strain, but not
      JaOArS982, expresses the NS1' protein and that NS1' enhances JEV production in
      avian cells and embryonated chicken eggs. In this study, we examined whether NS1'
      expression affects virulence in mice infected with the JaOArS982 and JaTH160
      strains using the corresponding recombinant viruses S982-IC and JaTH-IC.
      Expression of the NS1' protein in S982-IC diminished the mortality in mice,
      whereas S982-IC viruses without NS1' caused 40-60% mortality. However, the viral
      loads in the brains of these mice were not significantly different despite the
      dvariation in NS1' expression. JaTH-IC viruses depleted of the NS1' protein
      exhibited high mortality levels, similar to those of the virus expressing NS1'.
      Previous studies showed that the NS1' protein plays a role in the enhanced
      virulence of the JEV SA14 strain in mice. However, our current data suggest that
      NS1' protein expression in S982-IC reduces, rather than enhances, the mortality
      in mice. Thus, the effect of NS1' on pathogenicity in vivo may vary among virus
      strains. Our data also suggest that the reduced mortality resulting from NS1'
      expression in S982-IC is not simply due to viral replication in the brains.
      Further investigation is needed to uncover the mechanism by which NS1' affects
      pathogenicity in JEV-infected animals. 

PMID- 26865826
TI  - "Ten Minimum Requirement": A Management Tool to Improve Quality of Healthcare
      Services in Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).
AB  - In Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), the mortality rate among children
      under 5 years of age is high (131 per 1000 live births in 2003), partly as a
      consequence of poor basic services provided by district hospitals. A simplified
      management tool, "Ten MR (Minimum Requirement)", was developed in Lao PDR. The
      tool assured the quality of health services including the processes of planning,
      implementing, self-monitoring, supervision, reporting and evaluation. The tool
      focused on ten basic services, integrating stakeholders from district hospitals
      and governing agencies. Each district hospital develops feasible annual
      activities, assigning responsibility to people based on a consensus between
      hospital staff and local governing agencies. Hospitals can self-monitor their
      activities on a monthly basis. Supervisory visits to district hospitals by local
      governing agencies improved activities and communication between staff.
      Visualization of progress promoted the sharing of achievements between staff and
      highlighted activities in need of more work. In 2004, district hospitals in
      Vientiane and Oudomxay provinces initiated the application of the tool. These
      district hospitals included primary care hospitals for outpatients, emergency
      care and in-patients, with a capacity of 10-20 beds, providing care for a
      population of between 30,000 and 80,000 people. The Ministry of Health recognized
      the effectiveness of Ten MR and implemented the expansion of the tool to all
      district hospitals in Lao PDR from 2011. Ten MR benefits district hospitals and
      governing agencies. Ten MR focuses on the daily routine work, enhancing team work
      and communication among all stakeholders. 

PMID- 26865827
TI  - Lessons from the Field Count more than Ever: The New Era of Global Health.
AB  - For many years, Japan has been silent on the achievements of Japan's Overseas
      Development Assistance program including the health improvement of foreign
      countries. Japan's contribution to global health communities through G8 process
      including Hashimoto Initiative is steadfast. On the other hand, in the field
      activity level, experts involved in ODA have not disclosed their achievements.
      However, the article by Wada et al., which describes the contents of TEN MR
      (Minimum Requirement), shed light on Japan's silent ODA community by disclosing
      Japan's achievements in global health by drawing lessons that may be applicable
      to other countries. Our future challenge in the global health will be how to
      synthesize actions that reflect the lessons learnt from the field and which show
      scientific evidence using established methods. 

PMID- 26865828
TI  - Point-of-Admission Serum Electrolyte Profile of Children less than Five Years Old
      with Dehydration due to Acute Diarrhoea.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Fluid, electrolytes and acid base disturbances are
      responsible for most deaths due to acute diarrhoea. The aim of this study is to
      describe the point-of-admission serum electrolyte profile of children with
      dehydration due to acute diarrhoea. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the
      serum electrolyte levels of 185 children with dehydration due to acute diarrhoea
      were assessed at the point of admission at the Diarrhoea Treatment and Training
      Unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The age of the study
      population ranged from 29 days to 59 months. RESULTS: Out of a total of 185
      subjects, 30 (16.2%), 114 (61.6%), and 41 (22.2%) had severe, moderate and mild
      dehydration, respectively. In addition, hyponatraemic dehydration was the most
      common type of dehydration, accounting for 60.5% of cases. Metabolic acidosis and
      hypokalaemia occurred in 59.5% and 44.3% of cases, respectively. Only the serum
      bicarbonate level was significantly affected by degree of dehydration (p =
      0.001). Age of more than 12 months and presence of vomiting were significantly
      associated with hyponatraemia (p = 0.005 & p = 0.02), while age of less than or
      equal 12 months and absence of vomiting were associated with metabolic acidosis
      (p = 0.04 & p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The degree of dehydration appears to be a good
      predictor of the occurrence of metabolic acidosis while age is a risk factor for
      hyponatraemia and metabolic acidosis.

PMID- 26865829
TI  - Identification of Essential Containers for Aedes Larval Breeding to Control
      Dengue in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
AB  - Dengue fever (DF), one of the most important emerging arboviral diseases, is
      transmitted through the bite of container breeding mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and
      Aedes albopictus. A household entomological survey was conducted in Dhaka from
      August through October 2000 to inspect water-holding containers in indoor,
      outdoor, and rooftop locations for Aedes larvae. The objective of this study was
      to determine mosquito productivity of each container type and to identify some
      risk factors of households infested with Aedes larvae. Of 9,222 households
      inspected, 1,306 (14.2%) were positive for Aedes larvae. Of 38,777 wet containers
      examined, 2,272 (5.8%) were infested with Aedes larvae. Containers used to hold
      water, such as earthen jars, tanks, and drums were the most common containers for
      larval breeding. Tires in outdoor and rooftop locations of the households were
      also important for larval breeding. Although present in abundance, buckets were
      of less importance. Factors such as independent household, presence of a water
      storage system in the house, and fully/partly shaded outdoors were found to be
      significantly associated with household infestation of Aedes larvae.
      Identification and subsequent elimination of the most productive containers in a
      given area may potentially reduce mosquito density to below a level at which
      dengue transmission may be halted. 

PMID- 26865830
TI  - The Cytoplasmic Region of Plasmodium falciparum SURFIN4.2 Is Required for
      Transport from Maurer's Clefts to the Red Blood Cell Surface.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, exports many proteins to
      the surface of the infected red blood cell (iRBC) in order to modify it toward a
      structure more suitable for parasite development and survival. One such exported
      protein, SURFIN4.2, from the parasite of human malignant malaria, P. falciparum,
      was identified in the trypsin-cleaved protein fraction from the iRBC surface, and
      is thereby inferred to be exposed on the iRBC surface. SURFIN4.2 also localize to
      Maurer's clefts-parasite-derived membranous structures established in the RBC
      cytoplasm and tethered to the RBC membrane-and their role in trafficking suggests
      that they are a pathway for SURFIN4.2 transport to the iRBC surface. It has not
      been determined the participation of protein domains and motifs within SURFIN4.2
      in transport from Maurer's clefts to the iRBC surface; and herein we examined if
      the SURFIN4.2 intracellular region containing tryptophan-rich (WR) domain is
      required for its exposure on the iRBC surface. RESULTS: We generated two
      transgenic parasite lines which express modified SURFIN4.2, with or without a
      part of the intracellular region. Both recombinant SURFIN4.2 proteins were
      exported to Maurer's clefts. However, only SURFIN4.2 possessing the intracellular
      region was efficiently cleaved by surface treatment of iRBC with proteinase K.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that SURFIN4.2 is exposed on the iRBC surface
      and that the intracellular region containing WR domain plays a role on the
      transport from Maurer's clefts to the iRBC membrane.

PMID- 26865831
TI  - Disaggregated N2O emission factors in China based on cropping parameters create a
      robust approach to the IPCC Tier 2 methodology.
AB  - China accounts for a third of global nitrogen fertilizer consumption. Under an
      International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 assessment, emission factors
      (EFs) are developed for the major crop types using country-specific data. IPCC
      advises a separate calculation for the direct nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions of
      rice cultivation from that of cropland and the consideration of the water regime
      used for irrigation. In this paper we combine these requirements in two
      independent analyses, using different data quality acceptance thresholds, to
      determine the influential parameters on emissions with which to disaggregate and
      create N2O EFs. Across China, the N2O EF for lowland horticulture was slightly
      higher (between 0.74% and 1.26% of fertilizer applied) than that for upland crops
      (values ranging between 0.40% and 1.54%), and significantly higher than for rice
      (values ranging between 0.29% and 0.66% on temporarily drained soils, and between
      0.15% and 0.37% on un-drained soils). Higher EFs for rice were associated with
      longer periods of drained soil and the use of compound fertilizer; lower
      emissions were associated with the use of urea or acid soils. Higher EFs for
      upland crops were associated with clay soil, compound fertilizer or maize crops;
      lower EFs were associated with sandy soil and the use of urea. Variation in
      emissions for lowland vegetable crops was closely associated with crop type. The
      two independent analyses in this study produced consistent disaggregated N2O EFs
      for rice and mixed crops, showing that the use of influential cropping parameters
      can produce robust EFs for China.

PMID- 26865833
TI  - Creative interactions with data: using visual and metaphorical devices in
      repeated focus groups.
AB  - This article presents some of the emergent methods developed to fit a study of
      quality in inclusive research with people with learning disabilities. It
      addresses (i) the ways in which the methodology was a response to the need for
      constructive, transformative dialogue through use of repeated focus groups in a
      design interspersing dialogic and reflective spaces; and (ii) how stimulus
      materials for the focus groups involved imaginative and creative interactions
      with data. Particular innovations in the blending of narrative and thematic
      analyses and data generation and analysis processes are explored, specifically
      the creative use of metaphor as stimulus and the playful adaptation of I-poems
      from the Listening Guide approach as writing and performance. In reflecting on
      these methodological turns we also reflect on creativity as an interpretive lens.
      The paper is an invitation for further methodological dialogue and development.

PMID- 26865832
TI  - Modelling of amorphous cellulose depolymerisation by cellulases, parametric
      studies and optimisation.
AB  - Improved understanding of heterogeneous cellulose hydrolysis by cellulases is the
      basis for optimising enzymatic catalysis-based cellulosic biorefineries. A
      detailed mechanistic model is developed to describe the dynamic
      adsorption/desorption and synergistic chain-end scissions of cellulases
      (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase) upon amorphous cellulose. The
      model can predict evolutions of the chain lengths of insoluble cellulose polymers
      and production of soluble sugars during hydrolysis. Simultaneously, a modelling
      framework for uncertainty analysis is built based on a quasi-Monte-Carlo method
      and global sensitivity analysis, which can systematically identify key
      parameters, help refine the model and improve its identifiability. The model,
      initially comprising 27 parameters, is found to be over-parameterized with
      structural and practical identification problems under usual operating conditions
      (low enzyme loadings). The parameter estimation problem is therefore
      mathematically ill posed. The framework allows us, on the one hand, to identify a
      subset of 13 crucial parameters, of which more accurate confidence intervals are
      estimated using a given experimental dataset, and, on the other hand, to overcome
      the identification problems. The model's predictive capability is checked against
      an independent set of experimental data. Finally, the optimal composition of
      cellulases cocktail is obtained by model-based optimisation both for enzymatic
      hydrolysis and for the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.

PMID- 26865834
TI  - Quantitative assessment of placental morphology may identify specific causes of
      stillbirth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stillbirth is frequently the result of pathological processes
      involving the placenta. Understanding the significance of specific lesions is
      hindered by qualitative subjective evaluation. We hypothesised that quantitative
      assessment of placental morphology would identify alterations between different
      causes of stillbirth and that placental phenotype would be independent of post
      mortem effects and differ between live births and stillbirths with the same
      condition. METHODS: Placental tissue was obtained from stillbirths with an
      established cause of death, those of unknown cause and live births. Image
      analysis was used to quantify different facets of placental structure including:
      syncytial nuclear aggregates (SNAs), proliferative cells, blood vessels,
      leukocytes and trophoblast area. These analyses were then applied to placental
      tissue from live births and stillbirths associated with fetal growth restriction
      (FGR), and to placental lobules before and after perfusion of the maternal side
      of the placental circulation to model post-mortem effects. RESULTS: Different
      causes of stillbirth, particularly FGR, cord accident and hypertension had
      altered placental morphology compared to healthy live births. FGR stillbirths had
      increased SNAs and trophoblast area and reduced proliferation and villous
      vascularity; 2 out of 10 stillbirths of unknown cause had similar placental
      morphology to FGR. Stillbirths with FGR had reduced vascularity, proliferation
      and trophoblast area compared to FGR live births. Ex vivo perfusion did not
      reproduce the morphological findings of stillbirth. CONCLUSION: These preliminary
      data suggest that addition of quantitative assessment of placental morphology may
      distinguish between different causes of stillbirth; these changes do not appear
      to be due to post-mortem effects. Applying quantitative assessment in addition to
      qualitative assessment might reduce the proportion of unexplained stillbirths.

PMID- 26865835
TI  - Mutation pattern is an influential factor on functional mutation rates in cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mutation rates are consistently varied in cancer genome and play an
      important role in tumorigenesis, however, little has been known about their
      function potential and impact on the distribution of functional mutations. In
      this study, we investigated genomic features which affect mutation pattern and
      the function importance of mutation pattern in cancer. METHODS: Somatic mutations
      of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, liver cancer, lung cancer and melanoma and
      single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were intersected with 54 distinct genomic
      features. Somatic mutation and SNP densities were then computed for each feature
      type. We constructed 2856 1-Mb windows, in which each row (1-Mb window) contains
      somatic mutation, SNP densities and 54 feature vectors. Correlation analyses were
      conducted between somatic mutation, SNP densities and each feature vector. We
      also built two random forest models, namely somatic mutation model (CSM) and SNP
      model to predict somatic mutation and SNP densities on a 1-Kb scale. The relation
      of CSM and SNP scores was further analyzed with the distributions of deleterious
      coding variants predicted by SIFT and Mutation Assessor, non-coding functional
      variants evaluated with FunSeq 2 and GWAVA and disease-causing variants from HGMD
      and ClinVar databases. RESULTS: We observed a wide range of genomic features
      which affect local mutation rates, such as replication time, transcription
      levels, histone marks and regulatory elements. Repressive histone marks,
      replication time and promoter contributed most to the CSM models, while,
      recombination rate and chromatin organizations were most important for the SNP
      model. We showed low mutated regions preferentially have higher densities of
      deleterious coding mutations, higher average scores of non-coding variants,
      higher fraction of functional regions and higher enrichment of disease-causing
      variants as compared to high mutated regions. CONCLUSIONS: Somatic mutation
      densities vary largely across cancer genome, mutation frequency is a major
      indication of function and influence on the distribution of functional mutations
      in cancer.

PMID- 26865836
TI  - Cytotoxic and apoptogenic effect of hypericin, the bioactive component of
      Hypericum perforatum on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancies among the women that
      have a high mortality. Previous studies demonstrated that hypericin, a bioactive
      component of Hypericum perforatum have a cytotoxic effect on the malignant cell
      lines. However, an anti-carcinogenic activity of hypericin on MCF-7 is uncertain.
      To investigate the cytotoxic effect of hypericin on MCF-7 cells, a human breast
      adenocarcinoma cell-line, that resistance to chemotherapy. METHODS: The MCF-7 and
      fibroblast (as normal cell line) were treated with various concentrations of
      hypericin, and Cisplatin as a positive control for 24 and 48 h. Cytotoxicity
      activity was measured and confirmed by MTT assay and Trypan blue staining,
      respectively. In addition, Apoptosis were determined by Annexin V/Propidium
      Iodide assay. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis for bcl2 and p53 proteins
      performed to further investigate different expression of these genes in different
      samples. RESULTS: Both cisplatin and the hypericin exhibited a dose-dependent
      cytotoxic effect in the MCF-7 cell line. Although the LD50 of the hypericin was
      significantly lower when compared to cispaltin (5 vs. 20 MUg/ml), it continued to
      decrease the growth rate of the MCF-7 cells when tested at higher concentration
      than LD50. In contrast, cisplatine, at higher concentration than LD50, completely
      inhibited the growth of the MCF-7 in 48 h. Regarding Annexin V/Propidium results,
      treatment of MCF-7 cells with LD50 concentration of cisplatin and hypericin
      showed 60 and 52 % apoptosis in 24 h, respectively. ICC analysis for bcl2 and p53
      also confirmed our results; in treated samples for the dose of LD50 in 24 and 48
      h of cisplatin and hypercin, more cells expressed p53 (guardian of cells in front
      of tumor formation/progression) and less expressed bcl2 (which has anti apoptotic
      activity) compared to untreated samples. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that hypericin
      showed to be cytotoxic, it seems to be a chemopreventive agent and a good
      candidate for antineoplastic drug development.

PMID- 26865838
TI  - Editor's Introduction to This Issue.

PMID- 26865837
TI  - Effects of Demographics and OTC Analgesics on Ovarian Cancer Symptoms.
AB  - Several independent studies have shown that ovarian cancer is not a silent
      disease and that many women have symptoms before diagnosis. These symptoms
      include abdominal/pelvic pain, feeling full quickly, and bloating. However,
      little information is known about what personal characteristics, medical
      conditions, or habits influence these symptoms or how they are reported. This
      report evaluates and describes factors that may be associated with how a patient
      reports these symptoms. We show that a small number of characteristics, include
      race, number of gynecologic conditions, and reason for clinic visit, may
      influence what symptoms are reported and the specific pattern of reporting.

PMID- 26865839
TI  - Small Non-coding Transfer RNA-Derived RNA Fragments (tRFs): Their Biogenesis,
      Function and Implication in Human Diseases.
AB  - tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs) are an emerging class of non-coding RNAs
      (ncRNAs). A growing number of reports have shown that tRFs are not random
      degradation products but are functional ncRNAs made of specific tRNA cleavage.
      They play regulatory roles in several biological contexts such as cancer, innate
      immunity, stress responses, and neurological disorders. In this review, we
      summarize the biogenesis and functions of tRFs. 

PMID- 26865840
TI  - Role of Chromosome Changes in Crocodylus Evolution and Diversity.
AB  - The karyotypes of most species of crocodilians were studied using conventional
      and molecular cytogenetics. These provided an important contribution of
      chromosomal rearrangements for the evolutionary processes of Crocodylia and
      Sauropsida (birds and reptiles). The karyotypic features of crocodilians contain
      small diploid chromosome numbers (30~42), with little interspecific variation of
      the chromosome arm number (fundamental number) among crocodiles (56~60). This
      suggested that centric fusion and/or fission events occurred in the lineage,
      leading to crocodilian evolution and diversity. The chromosome numbers of
      Alligator, Caiman, Melanosuchus, Paleosuchus, Gavialis, Tomistoma, Mecistops, and
      Osteolaemus were stable within each genus, whereas those of Crocodylus
      (crocodylians) varied within the taxa. This agreed with molecular phylogeny that
      suggested a highly recent radiation of Crocodylus species. Karyotype analysis
      also suggests the direction of molecular phylogenetic placement among Crocodylus
      species and their migration from the Indo-Pacific to Africa and The New World.
      Crocodylus species originated from an ancestor in the Indo-Pacific around 9~16
      million years ago (MYA) in the mid-Miocene, with a rapid radiation and dispersion
      into Africa 8~12 MYA. This was followed by a trans-Atlantic dispersion to the New
      World between 4~8 MYA in the Pliocene. The chromosomes provided a better
      understanding of crocodilian evolution and diversity, which will be useful for
      further study of the genome evolution in Crocodylia. 

PMID- 26865841
TI  - Introns: The Functional Benefits of Introns in Genomes.
AB  - The intron has been a big biological mystery since it was first discovered in
      several aspects. First, all of the completely sequenced eukaryotes harbor introns
      in the genomic structure, whereas no prokaryotes identified so far carry introns.
      Second, the amount of total introns varies in different species. Third, the
      length and number of introns vary in different genes, even within the same
      species genome. Fourth, all introns are copied into RNAs by transcription and
      DNAs by replication processes, but intron sequences do not participate in protein
      coding sequences. The existence of introns in the genome should be a burden to
      some cells, because cells have to consume a great deal of energy to copy and
      excise them exactly at the correct positions with the help of complicated
      spliceosomal machineries. The existence throughout the long evolutionary history
      is explained, only if selective advantages of carrying introns are assumed to be
      given to cells to overcome the negative effect of introns. In that regard, we
      summarize previous research about the functional roles or benefits of introns.
      Additionally, several other studies strongly suggesting that introns should not
      be junk will be introduced. 

PMID- 26865842
TI  - Analysis of Whole Transcriptome Sequencing Data: Workflow and Software.
AB  - RNA is a polymeric molecule implicated in various biological processes, such as
      the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. Numerous studies have
      examined RNA features using whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) approaches.
      RNA-seq is a powerful technique for characterizing and quantifying the
      transcriptome and accelerates the development of bioinformatics software. In this
      review, we introduce routine RNA-seq workflow together with related software,
      focusing particularly on transcriptome reconstruction and expression
      quantification. 

PMID- 26865844
TI  - Expressional Subpopulation of Cancers Determined by G64, a Co-regulated Module.
AB  - Studies of cancer heterogeneity have received considerable attention recently,
      because the presence or absence of resistant sub-clones may determine whether or
      not certain therapeutic treatments are effective. Previously, we have reported
      G64, a co-regulated gene module composed of 64 different genes, can differentiate
      tumor intra- or inter-subpopulations in lung adenocarcinomas (LADCs). Here, we
      investigated whether the G64 module genes were also expressed distinctively in
      different subpopulations of other cancers. RNA sequencing-based transcriptome
      data derived from 22 cancers, except LADC, were downloaded from The Cancer Genome
      Atlas (TCGA). Interestingly, the 22 cancers also expressed the G64 genes in a
      correlated manner, as observed previously in an LADC study. Considering that gene
      expression levels were continuous among different tumor samples, tumor
      subpopulations were investigated using extreme expressional ranges of G64-i.e.,
      tumor subpopulation with the lowest 15% of G64 expression, tumor subpopulation
      with the highest 15% of G64 expression, and tumor subpopulation with intermediate
      expression. In each of the 22 cancers, we examined whether patient survival was
      different among the three different subgroups and found that G64 could
      differentiate tumor subpopulations in six other cancers, including sarcoma,
      kidney, brain, liver, and esophageal cancers. 

PMID- 26865843
TI  - Association of HLA Genotype and Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes in Koreans.
AB  - Fulminant type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a distinct subtype of T1DM that is
      characterized by rapid onset hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, absolute insulin
      deficiency, and near normal levels of glycated hemoglobin at initial
      presentation. Although it has been reported that class II human leukocyte antigen
      (HLA) genotype is associated with fulminant T1DM, the genetic predisposition is
      not fully understood. In this study we investigated the HLA genotype and
      haplotype in 11 Korean cases of fulminant T1DM using imputation of whole exome
      sequencing data and compared its frequencies with 413 participants of the Korean
      Reference Panel. The HLA-DRB1*04:05-HLA-DQB1*04:01 haplotype was significantly
      associated with increased risk of fulminant T1DM in Fisher's exact test (odds
      ratio [OR], 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56 to 10.86; p = 0.009). A
      histidine residue at HLA-DRbeta1 position 13 was marginally associated with
      increased risk of fulminant T1DM (OR, 2.45; 95% CI ,1.01 to 5.94; p = 0.054).
      Although we had limited statistical power, we provide evidence that HLA haplotype
      and amino acid change can be a genetic risk factor of fulminant T1DM in Koreans.
      Further large-scale research is required to confirm these findings. 

PMID- 26865845
TI  - Prediction of Genes Related to Positive Selection Using Whole-Genome Resequencing
      in Three Commercial Pig Breeds.
AB  - Selective sweep can cause genetic differentiation across populations, which
      allows for the identification of possible causative regions/genes underlying
      important traits. The pig has experienced a long history of allele frequency
      changes through artificial selection in the domestication process. We obtained an
      average of 329,482,871 sequence reads for 24 pigs from three pig breeds:
      Yorkshire (n = 5), Landrace (n = 13), and Duroc (n = 6). An average read depth of
      11.7 was obtained using whole-genome resequencing on an Illumina HiSeq2000
      platform. In this study, cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity and
      cross-population composite likelihood ratio tests were implemented to detect
      genes experiencing positive selection for the genome-wide resequencing data
      generated from three commercial pig breeds. In our results, 26, 7, and 14 genes
      from Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc, respectively were detected by two kinds of
      statistical tests. Significant evidence for positive selection was identified on
      genes ST6GALNAC2 and EPHX1 in Yorkshire, PARK2 in Landrace, and BMP6, SLA-DQA1,
      and PRKG1 in Duroc.These genes are reportedly relevant to lactation,
      reproduction, meat quality, and growth traits. To understand how these single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related positive selection affect protein
      function, we analyzed the effect of non-synonymous SNPs. Three SNPs (rs324509622,
      rs80931851, and rs80937718) in the SLA-DQA1 gene were significant in the
      enrichment tests, indicating strong evidence for positive selection in Duroc. Our
      analyses identified genes under positive selection for lactation, reproduction,
      and meat-quality and growth traits in Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc,
      respectively. 

PMID- 26865846
TI  - Heritability Estimated Using 50K SNPs Indicates Missing Heritability Problem in
      Holstein Breeding.
AB  - Previous studies in Holstein have shown 35% to 51.8% heritability in milk
      production traits, such as milk yield, fat, and protein, using pedigree data.
      Other studies in complex human traits could be captured by common single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and their genetic variations, attributed to
      chromosomes, are in proportion to their length. Using genome-wide estimation and
      partitioning approaches, we analyzed three quantitative Holstein traits relevant
      to milk production in Korean Holstein data harvested from 462 individuals
      genotyped for 54,609 SNPs. For all three traits (milk yield, fat, and protein),
      we estimated a nominally significant (p = 0.1) proportion of variance explained
      by all SNPs on the Illumina BovineSNP50 Beadchip (h (2) G ). These common SNPs
      explained approximately most of the narrow-sense heritability. Longer genomic
      regions tended to provide more phenotypic variation information, with a
      correlation of 0.46~0.53 between the estimate of variance explained by individual
      chromosomes and their physical length. These results suggested that polygenicity
      was ubiquitous for Holstein milk production traits. These results will expand our
      knowledge on recent animal breeding, such as genomic selection in Holstein. 

PMID- 26865847
TI  - Building the Frequency Profile of the Core Promoter Element Patterns in the Three
      ChromHMM Promoter States at 200bp Intervals: A Statistical Perspective.
AB  - Recently, the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Analysis Working Group
      converted data from ChIP-seq analyses from the Broad Histone track into 15
      corresponding chromatic maps that label sequences with different kinds of histone
      modifications in promoter regions. Here, we publish a frequency profile of the
      three ChromHMM promoter states, at 200-bp intervals, with particular reference to
      the existence of sequence patterns of promoter elements, GC-richness, and
      transcription starting sites. Through detailed and diligent analysis of promoter
      regions, researchers will be able to uncover new and significant information
      about transcription initiation and gene function. 

PMID- 26865848
TI  - ERRATUM: Acknowledgments Correction. Cell-Free miR-27a, a Potential Diagnostic
      and Prognostic Biomarker for Gastric Cancer.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 70 in vol. 13, PMID: 26523130.]. 

PMID- 26865849
TI  - Brugada-type ECG associated with pectus excavatum.

PMID- 26865850
TI  - Right ventricular outflow tract stenting - effective palliation for Fallot's
      tetralogy.

PMID- 26865851
TI  - "Bendy" stents help negotiate hairpin intracardiac curves.
AB  - Simple transposition of the great arteries (TGA) occurs in 0.2 per 1000 live
      births. The condition is surgically repaired in the neonatal period by the
      arterial switch procedure (ASO) sometimes preceded by an atrial septostomy. The
      ASO involves transecting the great arteries and relocating them to the
      appropriate ventriculo-arterial (VA) connection with attachment of the
      disconnected coronary arteries to the aorta. In the process, the attachment of
      the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle involves the Le Compte manoeuvre and
      to achieve this the pulmonary arteries must be fully mobilised and sometimes the
      main pulmonary artery may require patch augmentation as well. Nevertheless,
      pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) is one of the potential problems with the ASO.
      However, with improved surgical techniques, this has dropped from around 15% in
      the 1980s to less than 3%. Apart from surgical revision when PAS occurs, there
      are interventional options which include angioplasty and/or stent insertion. The
      latter is preferred in small children and works well in around 60% but may
      require repeat procedures. In older patients or when angioplasty fails, stent
      insertion can be considered. These procedures may involve negotiating tight bends
      in order to reach the site of stenosis. The passage of non-premounted stents may
      be problematic in such situations, especially with longer stents and tighter
      bends as they tend to slip off balloon. We describe several techniques that may
      facilitate such interventions, and these were utilised in an adolescent patient
      who had had ASO for TGA in the neonatal period. These included manually giving
      the mounted stent a slight bend in order to help the balloon-stent assembly
      negotiate hairpin bends. 

PMID- 26865852
TI  - Free left ventricular wall rupter in a newborn.

PMID- 26865853
TI  - Depicting the analyses of the first National Maltese Childhood BMI study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease that often commences in childhood.
      Several publications have shown that a quarter to a third of Maltese children are
      overweight or obese. Malta will be the first country to measure height and weight
      (and hence Body Mass Index) for all school children in order to quantify the
      extent of the problem. METHODS: This study would include 46,000 children in 150
      schools. This would be the first time that any country measured its entire
      childhood cohort, as opposed to sampling. Hence, it was decided to attempt to
      facilitate data collection and analysis with the use of bespoke spreadsheets.
      RESULTS: This paper will demonstrate how standard Microsoft Excel was used to
      accomplish this, greatly speeding up the data analysis process. CONCLUSION:
      Software should be prepared in advance in anticipation of large amounts of data
      that need to be analysed and summarised. Particular care must be taken in order
      to prepare the requisite graphs and tables in advance so as to process the data
      once and present it in a suitable format for consumption and evaluation.

PMID- 26865854
TI  - Combination of long-acting HIV fusion inhibitor albuvirtide and LPV/r showed
      potent efficacy in HIV-1 patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long acting antiretroviral drugs represent a promising approach for
      chronic treatment of HIV infection. Here, we study the efficacy and safety of
      albuvirtide (ABT), an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor with a half life of 11-12 days in
      human. METHODS: ABT was evaluated in a 7-week, open-label and randomized trial,
      combining with LPV/r. Twenty HIV-1-infected adults were assigned to two dose
      groups, receiving ABT (160 or 320 mg) given weekly and LPV/r given twice daily.
      RESULTS: At week 7, the decline of HIV-1 RNA from baseline was 1.9 (1.3-2.3)
      log10 and 2.2 (1.6-2.7) log10 copies/ml, and suppression of HIV-1 RNA to below 50
      copies/ml was achieved in 11.1 % (1/9) and 55.6 % (5/9) patients, for the 160 and
      320 mg dose group respectively. CONCLUSION: A clear dose-efficacy correlation of
      ABT was demonstrated. ABT combining with LPV/r is a promising two-drug regimen to
      be tested in larger patient population.

PMID- 26865855
TI  - Geographic variation in life-history traits: growth season affects age structure,
      egg size and clutch size in Andrew's toad (Bufo andrewsi).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Environmental variation associated with season length is likely to
      promote differentiation in life-history traits, but has been little studied in
      natural populations of ectotherms. We investigated patterns of variation in egg
      size, clutch size, age at sexual maturity, maximum age, mean age, growth rate and
      adult body size in relation to growth season length among 17 populations of
      Andrew's toad (Bufo andrewsi) at different latitudes and altitudes in the
      Hengduan Mountains, western China. RESULTS: We found that egg size, age at sexual
      maturity, and mean age increased with decreasing length of the growth season,
      whereas clutch size showed a converse cline. Body size did not increase with
      decreasing length of the growth season, but was tightly linked to lifetime
      activity (i.e. the estimated number of active days during lifetime). Males and
      females differed in their patterns of geographic variation in growth rates, which
      may be the result of forces shaping the trade-off between growth and reproduction
      in different environments. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that growth season
      plays an important role in shaping variation in life-history traits in B.
      andrewsi across geographical gradients.

PMID- 26865858
TI  - Respirator masks protect health but impact performance: a review.
AB  - Respiratory protective masks are used whenever it is too costly or impractical to
      remove airborne contamination from the atmosphere. Respirators are used in a wide
      range of occupations, form the military to medicine. Respirators have been found
      to interfere with many physiological and psychological aspects of task
      performance at levels from resting to maximum exertion. Many of these limitations
      have been investigated in order to determine quantitatively how much performance
      decrement can be expected from different levels of respirator properties. The
      entire system, including respirator and wearer interactions, must be considered
      when evaluating wearer performances. This information can help respirator
      designers to determine trade-offs or managers to plan to compensate for reduced
      productivity of wearers. 

PMID- 26865856
TI  - Patterns of human herpesvirus-8 oral shedding among diverse cohorts of human
      herpesvirus-8 seropositive persons.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), the etiologic agent of Kaposi sarcoma
      (KS), establishes lifelong latent infection with periodic lytic replication
      ("shedding") at mucosal sites, especially the oropharynx. Patterns of HHV-8
      shedding are not well understood, and require elucidation to better predict risk
      of HHV-8 related malignancies in those infected. We sought to characterize
      patterns of HHV-8 oropharyngeal shedding among diverse cohorts that enrolled HHV
      8 seropositive persons. METHODS: We quantified HHV-8 oral shedding using PCR
      among HHV-8 seropositive persons who collected at least 14 days of oral swabs in
      22 studies on 3 continents. We excluded persons taking antivirals during sampling
      or any prior use of antiretrovirals in those who were HIV-infected. RESULTS: 248
      participants were enrolled from the US, Peru, Cameroon, Uganda, and Kenya; 61 %
      were men, 58 % were HIV seropositive, and 16 % had KS. Overall, 3,123 of 10,557
      samples (29.6 %) had HHV-8 detected. Quantity of virus shed was highly correlated
      with shedding rate, (rho = 0.72, p < 0.0001). HHV-8 was detected in >=1 sample in
      55 % of participants with a median of 7 % of days in the US and Kenya, 0 % in
      Uganda and Peru, and 18 % in Cameroon. Median episode duration was three days,
      and episodes with high median quantity lasted longer (42 vs 3 days, p < 0.0001).
      In persons with multiple observations over time, 66 % of shedding rate variance
      was attributable to differences between individuals. CONCLUSIONS: In HHV-8
      infected individuals from diverse settings, oral mucosal shedding rate, quantity,
      and duration were correlated; individual shedding was highly variable. Studies
      are needed to determine factors accounting for between-person variation and the
      relationship of HHV-8 shedding to development of associated diseases.

PMID- 26865857
TI  - Psychometric properties and reliability of the Assessment Screen to Identify
      Survivors Toolkit for Gender Based Violence (ASIST-GBV): results from
      humanitarian settings in Ethiopia and Colombia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Refugees and internally displaced persons who are affected by armed
      conflict are at increased vulnerability to some forms of sexual violence or other
      types of gender-based violence. A validated, brief and easy-to-administer
      screening tool will help service providers identify GBV survivors and refer them
      to appropriate GBV services. To date, no such GBV screening tool exists. We
      developed the 7-item ASIST-GBV screening tool from qualitative research that
      included individual interviews and focus groups with GBV refugee and IDP
      survivors. This study presents the psychometric properties of the ASIST-GBV with
      female refugees living in Ethiopia and IDPs in Colombia. METHODS: Several
      strategies were used to validate ASIST-GBV, including a 3 month implementation to
      validate the brief screening tool with women/girls seeking health services, aged
      >=15 years in Ethiopia (N = 487) and female IDPs aged >= 18 years in Colombia (N
      = 511). RESULTS: High proportions of women screened positive for past-year GBV
      according to the ASIST-GBV: 50.6 % in Ethiopia and 63.4 % in Colombia. The factor
      analysis identified a single dimension, meaning that all items loaded on the
      single factor. Cronbach's alpha = 0.77. A 2-parameter logistic IRT model was used
      for estimating the precision and discriminating power of each item. Item
      difficulty varied across the continuum of GBV experiences in the following order
      (lowest to highest): threats of violence (0.690), physical violence (1.28),
      forced sex (2.49), coercive sex for survival (2.25), forced marriage (3.51), and
      forced pregnancy (6.33). Discrimination results showed that forced pregnancy was
      the item with the strongest ability to discriminate between different levels of
      GBV. Physical violence and forced sex also have higher levels of discrimination
      with threats of violence discriminating among women at the low end of the GBV
      continuum and coercive sex for survival among women at the mid-range of the
      continuum. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that the ASIST-GBV has strong
      psychometric properties and good reliability. The tool can be used to screen and
      identify female GBV survivors confidentially and efficiently among IDPs in
      Colombia and refugees in Ethiopia. Early identification of GBV survivors can
      enable safety planning, early referral for treatment, and psychosocial support to
      prevent long-term harmful consequence of GBV.

PMID- 26865859
TI  - Somatic incompatibility and genetic structure of fungal crops in sympatric Atta
      colombica and Acromyrmex echinatior leaf-cutting ants.
AB  - Obligate mutualistic symbioses rely on mechanisms that secure host-symbiont
      commitments to maximize host benefits and prevent symbiont cheating. Previous
      studies showed that somatic incompatibilities correlate with neutral-marker-based
      genetic distances between fungal symbionts of Panamanian Acromyrmex leaf-cutting
      ants, but the extent to which this relationship applies more generally remained
      unclear. Here we showed that genetic distances accurately predicted somatic
      incompatibility for Acromyrmex echinatior symbionts irrespective of whether
      neutral microsatellites or AFLP markers were used, but that such correlations
      were weaker or absent in sympatric Atta colombica colonies. Further analysis
      showed that the symbiont clades maintained by A. echinatior and A. colombica were
      likely to represent separate gene pools, so that neutral markers were unlikely to
      be similarly correlated with incompatibility loci that have experienced different
      selection regimes. We suggest that evolutionarily derived claustral colony
      founding by Atta queens may have removed selection for strong incompatibility in
      Atta fungi, as this condition makes the likelihood of symbiont swaps much lower
      than in Acromyrmex, where incipient nests stay open because queens have to forage
      until the first workers emerge.

PMID- 26865860
TI  - Periprosthetic joint infections in modular endoprostheses of the lower
      extremities: a retrospective observational study in 101 patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Modular mega-endoprosthesis systems are used to bridge very large
      bone defects and have become a widespread method in orthopaedic surgery for the
      treatment of tumours and revision arthroplasty. However, the indications for the
      use of modular mega-endoprostheses must be carefully considered. Implanting
      modular endoprostheses requires major, complication-prone surgery in which the
      limited salvage procedures should always be borne in mind. The management of
      periprosthetic infection is particularly difficult and beset with problems. Given
      this, the present study was designed to gauge the significance of periprosthetic
      infections in connection with modular mega-implants in the lower extremities
      among our own patients. METHODS: Patients who had been fitted with modular
      endoprosthesis on a lower extremity at our department between September 1994 and
      December 2011 were examined retrospectively. A total of 101 patients with 114
      modular prostheses were identified. Comprising 30 men (29.7 %) and 71 women (70.3
      %), their average age at the time of surgery was 67 years (18-92 years). RESULTS:
      The average follow-up period was 27 months (5 months and 2 weeks to 14 years and
      11 months) and the drop-out rate was about 8.8 %. Altogether, there were 19 (17.7
      %) endoprosthesis infections: 3 early infections and 16 late or delayed
      infections. The pathogen spectrum was dominated by coagulase-negative
      staphylococci (36 %) and Staphylococcus aureus (16 %), including 26 % multi
      resistant pathogens. Reinfection occurred in 37 % of cases of infection. Tumours
      were followed by significantly fewer infections than the other indications.
      Infections were twice as likely to occur after previous surgery. CONCLUSION: In
      our findings modular endoprostheses (18 %) are much more susceptible to infection
      than primary endoprostheses (0.5-2,5 %). Infection is the most common
      complication alongside the dislocation of proximal femur endoprostheses.
      Consistent, radical surgery is essential - although even with an adequate
      treatment strategy, the recurrence rate is very high. Unfortunately, the
      functional results are frequently unsatisfactory, with amputation often being the
      last resort. Therefore, the indication for implantation must be carefully
      considered and discussed in great detail, especially in the case of multimorbid
      patients with previous joint infections.

PMID- 26865861
TI  - Primary and recurrent diffuse astrocytomas: genomic profile comparison reveals
      acquisition of biologically relevant aberrations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diffuse astrocytomas are characterized by their highly variable
      biological behavior. The possibility that tumors develop novel aberrations, with
      relevant biological properties, is often neglected. In this study, we present two
      cases of diffuse astrocytoma in which additional cytogenetic and epigenetic
      markers with potential influence on cell proliferation or differentiation were
      detected at relapse. FINDINGS: The biopsies taken from the primary and recurrent
      tumors of two patients were analyzed with molecular methods to detect copy number
      variations (CNVs), gene mutations and epigenetic changes. Both cases were
      characterized by the R132H mutation in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)
      gene. Features typical of astrocytomas, such as copy-neutral loss of
      heterozygosity at 17p and the deletion of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor
      2A (CDKN2A) gene, were also detected in both cases. These markers were present in
      the primary and recurrent lesions. Other aberrations, predominantly deletions or
      amplifications of chromosomal segments and the hypermethylation of gene
      promoters, were detected in the recurrent lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The IDH1 mutation
      was the primary event, as previously reported. According to our observations, the
      methylation of promoters constituted later events, which may have further
      disrupted cell proliferation and/or differentiation, together with additional
      CNVs.

PMID- 26865863
TI  - Bridging experiment and theory: a template for unifying NMR data and electronic
      structure calculations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The testing of theoretical models with experimental data is an
      integral part of the scientific method, and a logical place to search for new
      ways of stimulating scientific productivity. Often experiment/theory comparisons
      may be viewed as a workflow comprised of well-defined, rote operations
      distributed over several distinct computers, as exemplified by the way in which
      predictions from electronic structure theories are evaluated with results from
      spectroscopic experiments. For workflows such as this, which may be laborious and
      time consuming to perform manually, software that could orchestrate the
      operations and transfer results between computers in a seamless and automated
      fashion would offer major efficiency gains. Such tools also promise to alter how
      researchers interact with data outside their field of specialization by, e.g.,
      making raw experimental results more accessible to theorists, and the outputs of
      theoretical calculations more readily comprehended by experimentalists. RESULTS:
      An implementation of an automated workflow has been developed for the integrated
      analysis of data from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments and electronic
      structure calculations. Kepler (Altintas et al. 2004) open source software was
      used to coordinate the processing and transfer of data at each step of the
      workflow. This workflow incorporated several open source software components,
      including electronic structure code to compute NMR parameters, a program to
      simulate NMR signals, NMR data processing programs, and others. The Kepler
      software was found to be sufficiently flexible to address several minor
      implementation challenges without recourse to other software solutions. The
      automated workflow was demonstrated with data from a [Formula: see text] NMR
      study of uranyl salts described previously (Cho et al. in J Chem Phys 132:084501,
      2010). CONCLUSIONS: The functional implementation of an automated process linking
      NMR data with electronic structure predictions demonstrates that modern software
      tools such as Kepler can be used to construct programs that comprehensively
      manage complex, multi-step scientific workflows spanning several different
      computers. Automation of the workflow can greatly accelerate the pace of
      discovery, and allows researchers to focus on the fundamental scientific
      questions rather than mastery of specialized software and data processing
      techniques. Future developments that would expand the scope and power of this
      approach include tools to standardize data and associated metadata formats, and
      the creation of interactive user interfaces to allow real-time exploration of the
      effects of program inputs on calculated outputs.

PMID- 26865862
TI  - Chicken embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cells display different
      heterochromatic histone marks than their mammalian counterparts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chromatin epigenetics participate in control of gene expression
      during metazoan development. DNA methylation and post-translational modifications
      (PTMs) of histones have been extensively characterised in cell types present in,
      or derived from, mouse embryos. In embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from
      blastocysts, factors involved in deposition of epigenetic marks regulate
      properties related to self-renewal and pluripotency. In the germ lineage, changes
      in histone PTMs and DNA demethylation occur during formation of the primordial
      germ cells (PGCs) to reset the epigenome of the future gametes. Trimethylation of
      histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27me3) by Polycomb group proteins is involved in
      several epigenome-remodelling steps, but it remains unclear whether these
      epigenetic features are conserved in non-mammalian vertebrates. To investigate
      this question, we compared the abundance and nuclear distribution of the main
      histone PTMs, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in
      chicken ESCs, PGCs and blastodermal cells (BCs) with differentiated chicken ESCs
      and embryonic fibroblasts. In addition, we analysed the expression of chromatin
      modifier genes to better understand the establishment and dynamics of chromatin
      epigenetic profiles. RESULTS: The nuclear distributions of most PTMs and 5hmC in
      chicken stem cells were similar to what has been described for mammalian cells.
      However, unlike mouse pericentric heterochromatin (PCH), chicken ESC PCH
      contained high levels of trimethylated histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27me3). In
      differentiated chicken cells, PCH was less enriched in H3K27me3 relative to
      chromatin overall. In PGCs, the H3K27me3 global level was greatly reduced,
      whereas the H3K9me3 level was elevated. Most chromatin modifier genes known in
      mammals were expressed in chicken ESCs, PGCs and BCs. Genes presumably involved
      in de novo DNA methylation were very highly expressed. DNMT3B and HELLS/SMARCA6
      were highly expressed in chicken ESCs, PGCs and BCs compared to differentiated
      chicken ESCs and embryonic fibroblasts, and DNMT3A was strongly expressed in
      ESCs, differentiated ESCs and BCs. CONCLUSIONS: Chicken ESCs and PGCs differ from
      their mammalian counterparts with respect to H3K27 methylation. High enrichment
      of H3K27me3 at PCH is specific to pluripotent cells in chicken. Our results
      demonstrate that the dynamics in chromatin constitution described during mouse
      development is not universal to all vertebrate species.

PMID- 26865864
TI  - Erratum to: ribosomal protein and biogenesis factors affect multiple steps during
      movement of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ty1 retrotransposon.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13100-015-0053-5.]. 

PMID- 26865865
TI  - EURAPA moves to open access: Research trends and challenges in physical activity
      in old age.

PMID- 26865866
TI  - The application of strength and power related field tests in older adults:
      criteria, current status and a future perspective.
AB  - Leg muscle strength (LMS) and leg muscle power (LMP) are determinants of aspects
      of functional status and important parameters for measuring intervention effects
      in older adults. Field tests are often used for the evaluation of LMS and LMP in
      older persons. However, criteria important for the application of strength and
      power related field tests in older adults have not been systematically taken into
      account and are not yet fully listed and described in a single publication.
      Therefore, this paper describes criteria important for the application of
      strength and power related field tests in older adults. In addition, strength and
      power related field tests commonly used in older adults are evaluated by using
      the described criteria. Based on this evaluation, this paper provides a
      perspective on the further development of field tests. Criteria important for
      strength and power related field tests are: adequate accuracy, precision,
      concurrent validity, clinical validity, practical feasibility and pure strength
      or power outcomes. Commonly used strength and power related field tests do not
      meet all the aforementioned criteria. Therefore, further development of field
      tests is necessary. Mobile sensing systems are potentially useful for the
      evaluation of LMS and LMP in older adults. Mobile sensing systems do not have the
      limitations of commonly used field tests and provide important additional
      advantages. In particular, mobile sensing systems offer the opportunity of
      continuous monitoring during free-movement in the home-environment, thereby
      reducing the need of standardized assessments by health-care professionals.
      Future studies should examine the clinical validity of mobile sensing systems and
      evaluate the application of sensor technology in exercise-based interventions. 

PMID- 26865867
TI  - A qualitative investigation of exercising with MS and the impact on the spousal
      relationship.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than
      2.3 million people around the world. Symptoms are numerous and varied, often
      having a profound effect on activities of daily living. While for many years
      individuals with MS were told to avoid exercise for fear of worsening their
      symptoms, recent research has emphasized the multi-faceted benefits associated
      with regular physical activity. Given the strain that MS can put on family and
      interpersonal relationships, the intention of this study was to investigate the
      exercise experiences of individuals with MS and the extent to which these
      experiences affect, or are affected by, their spousal relationship. METHODS: In
      depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 individuals, five with MS,
      along with each of their spouses, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding
      of living and exercising with the disease. An inductive approach was used to
      analyze the interview data. RESULTS: The results displayed the important
      physical, psychological, and social benefits of involvement in an exercise
      program. Spouses help to counteract barriers and facilitate exercise, and are
      well aware of the integral role they play in their partner's health and well
      being. Spouses also valued the increased independence they gained, in the form of
      reduced care-giving responsibilities and enhanced social opportunities, as a
      result of the improved physical function of their partner. These findings
      contrast the severe strain on spousal relationships that is often reported in
      studies on people living with MS. CONCLUSIONS: Rather than an inexorable downward
      decline in physical ability that is common with MS, participants spoke of a
      positive reversal in physical function, which has had far-reaching implications
      for multiple aspects of their lives, including their psychological outlook, their
      sense of independence, overcoming isolation, and their relationship with their
      spouse, all of which are identified in the literature as notable aspects of life
      affected by the disease.

PMID- 26865868
TI  - Exploring the context of sedentary behaviour in older adults (what, where, why,
      when and with whom).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Older adults are the most sedentary segment of the population. Little
      information is available about the context of sedentary behaviour to inform
      guidelines and intervention. There is a dearth of information about when, where
      to intervene and which specific behaviours intervention should target. The aim of
      this exploratory study was to obtain objective information about what older
      adults do when sedentary, where and when they are sedentary and in what social
      context. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional data collection. Older adults
      (Mean age = 73.25, SD +/- 5.48, median = 72, IQR = 11) volunteers wore activPAL
      monitors and a Vicon Revue timelapse camera between 1 and 7 days. Periods of
      sedentary behaviour were identified using the activPAL and the context extracted
      from the pictures taken during these periods. Analysis of context was conducted
      using the Sedentary Behaviour International Taxonomy classification system.
      RESULTS: In total, 52 days from 36 participants were available for analysis.
      Participants spent 70.1 % of sedentary time at home, 56.9 % of sedentary time on
      their own and 46.8 % occurred in the afternoon. Seated social activities were
      infrequent (6.9 % of sedentary bouts) but prolonged (18 % of sedentary time).
      Participants appeared to frequently have vacant sitting time (41 % of non-screen
      sedentary time) and screen sitting was prevalent (36 % of total sedentary time).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable information to inform future
      interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour. Interventions should consider
      targeting the home environment and focus on the afternoon sitting time, though
      this needs confirmation in a larger study. Tackling social isolation may also be
      a target to reduce sedentary time.

PMID- 26865869
TI  - Preliminary inconclusive results of a randomised double blinded cross-over pilot
      trial in long-term-care dwelling elderly assessing the feasibility of stochastic
      resonance whole-body vibration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This randomised double-blinded controlled cross-over pilot study
      examined feasibility and preliminary effects of stochastic resonance whole-body
      vibration training applied in long term care elderly. FINDINGS: Nine long term
      care elderly were recruited and randomized to group A (6 Hz, Noise 4 SR-WBV/
      Sham) or B (Sham / 1 Hz, Noise 1 SR-WBV). Feasibility outcomes included
      recruitment rate, attrition, adherence and safety. Physical performance outcomes
      focused on the Expanded Timed Get Up-and-Go (ETGUG) test, the Short Physical
      Performance Battery (SPPB), and lower extremity muscle strength. Of 24 subjects
      initially approached 9 started and 5 completed the study resulting in 37.5
      recruitment, 44.4 attrition and 81.7 % adherence rates. No adverse events were
      reported. There is more evidence of improved performance levels in the SR-WBV
      treatment group with significant differences in average change for isometric rate
      of force development (p = 0.016 left leg; p = 0.028 right leg). No statistical
      significance was reached for other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this
      study indicate that the used training protocol for long term care elderly is
      feasible, however, requires more closely monitoring of participants; e.g. needs
      protocol modifications that target improved compliance with the intervention in
      this setting. SR-WBV shows beneficial effects on physical performance for those
      adhering to the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: U.S. National Institutes of
      Health NCT01543243.

PMID- 26865871
TI  - The time course of changes induced by resistance training and detraining on
      muscular and physical function in older adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is generally recognised that the physical functioning of older
      adults is enhanced with resistance exercise. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the time course of changes in upper and lower body muscle strength
      and physical function in older individuals following a 16 week resistance
      training (RT) programme and a similar duration detraining (DET) period. METHODS:
      Forty-one inactive individuals (55 to 75 years) were randomly allocated in a RT
      group (n = 22; three sessions per week) and a control (CON) group (n = 19).
      Muscle strength was assessed with 10RM leg and bench press tests, while the Timed
      Up-and-Go (TUG) test was used to measure functional mobility. The Bruce treadmill
      test determined the participants' submaximal endurance capacity. Data were
      analysed using mixed model repeated measures ANOVA and P < 0.05 was considered
      statistically significant. RESULTS: Main treatment effects were found for muscle
      strength (P < 0.001) and functional mobility (P < 0.05). Upper and lower body
      strength generally showed a statistically significant improvement after every 4
      weeks in RT (the increase after 16 weeks being 7.3 +/- 4.9 kg and 86.6 +/- 44.4
      kg, respectively; P < 0.001) while TUG performance (-0.2 +/- 0.4 s; P < 0.05) and
      submaximal endurance capacity (0.7 +/- 0.9 min; P < 0.001) only improved after 16
      weeks. Although muscle strength decreased after DET, it was still better than at
      baseline. No significant improvements in any performance variable were observed
      in CON directly after the intervention period (0-16 weeks) (P > 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: A 16-week RT programme has positive effects on both muscular and
      physical function in older adults, although the time course of these adaptations
      is different. While the gains in muscle strength and submaximal endurance
      capacity were not totally lost after DET, functional mobility was completely
      reversed. Older adults can be reassured that if the need arises to discontinue RT
      for a certain period they will still retain a large amount of their acquired
      muscle strength, as well as a degree of physical function such as submaximal
      endurance capacity. The association between leg strength and submaximal endurance
      capacity strengthens the notion that RT should be incorporated in training and
      rehabilitation programmes of ageing and frail older adults.

PMID- 26865870
TI  - Possible neurocognitive benefits of exercise in persons with heart failure.
AB  - More than 6 million Americans have heart failure (HF) and more than 500,000 are
      diagnosed each year. In addition to its many adverse medical consequences, HF is
      also a significant risk factor for neurological disorders like Alzheimer's
      disease and associated with cognitive impairment long prior to the onset of these
      conditions. Converging bodies of literature suggest cognitive dysfunction in HF
      may be at least partially modifiable. One key mechanism for cognitive improvement
      is improved cerebral blood flow, which may be possible with exercise in patients
      with HF. This brief review provides a model for the likely neurocognitive
      benefits of exercise in HF and encourages further work in this area. 

PMID- 26865872
TI  - Health benefits of cycle ergometer training for older adults over 70: a review.
AB  - As the number of older adults continues to increase worldwide, more attention is
      being paid to geriatric health care needs, and successful ageing is becoming an
      important topic in the medical literature. A preventive approach to the care of
      older adults is thus a priority in our aging societies. The purpose of this study
      was to update evidence for the health benefits of cycle ergometer training for
      older adults over 70. We searched online electronic databases up to September
      2014 for original observational and intervention studies on the relationship
      between cycle ergometer training and health among older patients over 70. Twenty
      five studies examined interventions aimed specifically at promoting cycling for
      older adults over 70. These studies reported a positive effect on the prevention
      of cardiovascular disease, and a significant improvement in metabolic responses.
      Improving functional status, muscle strength and cognitive performance are also
      well established. Overall, this review demonstrates a positive effect of cycle
      ergometer training with functional benefits and positive health outcomes for
      older adults over 70. Based on this evidence, clinicians can now encourage older
      adults to profit from the health benefits of cycle ergometer training to be able
      to pursue their daily activities independently. 

PMID- 26865873
TI  - A comparison of linear and nonlinear stability parameters in different clinical
      forms of multiple sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the neurological diseases that
      affect the ability of subjects to stand and walk. The stability of MS subjects
      has been evaluated in various studies, mostly based on linear approach. Based on
      this approach it is controversial weather stability of MS subjects differ from
      normal or not. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate stability in
      three groups of MS subjects (spastic, ataxic and ataxic-spastic) using both
      linear and non-linear approaches. METHOD: Seventeen healthy and 36 subjects with
      MS participated in this study. The MS group presenting with spastic, ataxic and
      ataxic-spastic (each group consisted of 12 subjects) participated in the study.
      The stability of the subjects was evaluated using Kistler force plate. The
      difference between stability of the subjects was evaluated using the Multi
      Analysis of Variance and significant value was set at P < 0.05. RESULT: There was
      a significant difference in the mean value of Approximate Entropy (ApEn) in
      anterior-posterior direction between normal (0.66 +/- 0.13) and ataxic (0.85 +/-
      0.12) and ataxic-spastic (0.90 +/- 0.12) subjects (P < 0.05) and no difference
      between normal and spastic groups (0.76 +/- 0.13). The results of both linear and
      nonlinear approaches confirmed that both ataxic and ataxic-spastic subjects had
      more instability than normal subjects. Although, the mean values of stability
      parameters increased in spastic compared to normal, the difference was not
      statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Subjects with ataxic and ataxic-spastic MS
      disorder had difficulty in controlling their stability during quiet standing. The
      results of this study also confirmed that spasticity of muscles surrounding the
      hip and knee joints did not influence standing stability in patients with spastic
      MS.

PMID- 26865874
TI  - ICT-based system to predict and prevent falls (iStoppFalls): results from an
      international multicenter randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-related injuries are a serious public health issue.
      Exercise programs can effectively reduce fall risk in older people. The
      iStoppFalls project developed an Information and Communication Technology-based
      system to deliver an unsupervised exercise program in older people's homes. The
      primary aims of the iStoppFalls randomized controlled trial were to assess the
      feasibility (exercise adherence, acceptability and safety) of the intervention
      program and its effectiveness on common fall risk factors. METHODS: A total of
      153 community-dwelling people aged 65+ years took part in this international,
      multicentre, randomized controlled trial. Intervention group participants
      conducted the exercise program for 16 weeks, with a recommended duration of 120
      min/week for balance exergames and 60 min/week for strength exercises. All
      intervention and control participants received educational material including
      advice on a healthy lifestyle and fall prevention. Assessments included physical
      and cognitive tests, and questionnaires for health, fear of falling, number of
      falls, quality of life and psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: The median total
      exercise duration was 11.7 h (IQR = 22.0) over the 16-week intervention period.
      There were no adverse events. Physiological fall risk (Physiological Profile
      Assessment, PPA) reduced significantly more in the intervention group compared to
      the control group (F1,127 = 4.54, p = 0.035). There was a significant three-way
      interaction for fall risk assessed by the PPA between the high-adherence (>90
      min/week; n = 18, 25.4 %), low-adherence (<90 min/week; n = 53, 74.6 %) and
      control group (F2,125 = 3.12, n = 75, p = 0.044). Post hoc analysis revealed a
      significantly larger effect in favour of the high-adherence group compared to the
      control group for fall risk (p = 0.031), postural sway (p = 0.046), stepping
      reaction time (p = 0.041), executive functioning (p = 0.044), and quality of life
      (p for trend = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: The iStoppFalls exercise program reduced
      physiological fall risk in the study sample. Additional subgroup analyses
      revealed that intervention participants with better adherence also improved in
      postural sway, stepping reaction, and executive function. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Trial ID: ACTRN12614000096651
      International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: ISRCTN15932647.

PMID- 26865875
TI  - The effect of sensor-based exercise at home on functional performance associated
      with fall risk in older people - a comparison of two exergame interventions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is good evidence that balance challenging exercises can reduce
      falls in older people. However, older people often find it difficult to
      incorporate such programs in their daily life. Videogame technology has been
      proposed to promote enjoyable, balance-challenging exercise. As part of a larger
      analysis, we compared feasibility and efficacy of two exergame interventions:
      step-mat-training (SMT) and Microsoft-Kinect(r) (KIN) exergames. METHODS: 148
      community-dwelling people, aged 65+ years participated in two exergame studies in
      Sydney, Australia (KIN: n = 57, SMT: n = 91). Both interventions were delivered
      as unsupervised exercise programs in participants' homes for 16 weeks. Assessment
      measures included overall physiological fall risk, muscle strength, finger-press
      reaction time, proprioception, vision, balance and executive functioning.
      RESULTS: For participants allocated to the intervention arms, the median time
      played each week was 17 min (IQR 32) for KIN and 48 min (IQR 94) for SMT.
      Compared to the control group, SMT participants improved their fall risk score (p
      = 0.036), proprioception (p = 0.015), reaction time (p = 0.003), sit-to-stand
      performance (p = 0.011) and executive functioning (p = 0.001), while KIN
      participants improved their muscle strength (p = 0.032) and vision (p = 0.010),
      and showed a trend towards improved fall risk scores (p = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS:
      The findings suggest that it is feasible for older people to conduct an
      unsupervised exercise program at home using exergames. Both interventions reduced
      fall risk and SMT additionally improved specific cognitive functions. However,
      further refinement of the systems is required to improve adherence and maximise
      the benefits of exergames to deliver fall prevention programs in older people's
      homes. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: ACTRN12613000671763 (Step Mat Training RCT)
      ACTRN12614000096651 (MS Kinect RCT).

PMID- 26865876
TI  - Effects of whole-body vibration on proxies of muscle strength in old adults: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis on the role of physical capacity level.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dynapenia (age-associated loss of muscle strength not caused by
      neurologic or muscular diseases) and functional limitations (e.g. climbing
      stairs, chair rising) are important problems in elderly persons. Whole body
      vibration, used as an adjunct to classical resistance training or even as a stand
      alone alternative, might help to reduce these problems. Its value might be
      highest in elderly persons with very low function, where whole body vibration can
      be used as a skilling up training until more conventional exercise types are
      possible. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarized the current
      evidence for whole-body vibration interventions on isometric maximum voluntary
      contraction, dynamic strength, power, rate of force development and functional
      strength in elderly categorised in different subgroups based on function levels.
      METHODS: An extensive literature search was carried out in February 2014 and
      repeated in February 2015 at PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and CINAHL electronic databases. The
      International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from the World Health
      Organization was also searched. Randomized controlled trials measuring isometric
      maximum voluntary contraction, dynamic strength, power, rate of force development
      and functional strength in studies using WBV intervention in 65 years or older
      elderly individuals were included. The methodological quality of included studies
      was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing Risk of Bias.
      Studies were classified based on the level of physical capacitiy of the
      participants as "Go-Go", "Slow-Go" or "No-Go". Data were pooled using a random
      effects model. RESULTS: Thirty-eigth articles of moderate methodological quality
      were included. The vibration modes for sinusoidal vertical whole-body vibration
      was between 25 and 40 Hz, the amplitude varied from 2 to 4 mm. Sinusoidal side
      alternating -whole-body vibration revealed frequencies from 2.5 to 35 Hz with
      amplitudes ranging from 0.05 to 12 mm. Stochastic resonance whole-body vibration
      used frequencies between 3 and 6 Hz. Effect sizes in Go-Go were moderate after
      vertical sinusoidal Whole-body vibration compared to non-training control groups
      for isometric maximum voluntary contraction with effect size 0.48 (95 % CI 0.33
      to 0.63) and for Dynamic Strength with effect size 0.47 (95 % CI 0.06 to 0.88).
      Side-alternating sinusoidal whole body vibration showed moderate effect sizes
      with 0.69 (95 % CI 0.32 to 1.06) for isometric maximum voluntary contraction,
      0.50 (95 % CI 0.07 to 0.92) for power, 0.40 (95 % CI 0.16 to 0.64) for Rate of
      Force Development and 0.42 (95 % CI 0.13 to 0.71) for Functional Strength
      compared to non-exercise control. The analysis for Slow-Go showed for stochastic
      resonance whole-body vibration and Functional Strength an effect size of 0.97 (95
      % CI -0.07 to 2.00) compared to non-exercise control in one study. No-Go showed
      for stochastic resonance whole-body vibration a moderate effect size with 0.50
      (95 % CI -0.32 to 1.33) for Functional Strength compared to non-exercise control.
      CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body vibration shows beneficial effects, mainly in the No-Go
      group elderly compared to non-training control and conventional strength training
      groups. The results suggest that WBV can be used as a skilling-up exercise in
      participants not able to perform standard exercises. Further studies with the
      various types of WBV in various sub-populations of elderly persons are needed to
      determine the most effective vibration modes. TRIAL REGISTRATION:  REGISTRATION
      NUMBER: CRD42013006489.

PMID- 26865877
TI  - The design of a purpose-built exergame for fall prediction and prevention for
      older people.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Falls in older people represent a major age-related health challenge
      facing our society. Novel methods for delivery of falls prevention programs are
      required to increase effectiveness and adherence to these programs while
      containing costs. The primary aim of the Information and Communications
      Technology-based System to Predict and Prevent Falls (iStoppFalls) project was to
      develop innovative home-based technologies for continuous monitoring and exercise
      based prevention of falls in community-dwelling older people. The aim of this
      paper is to describe the components of the iStoppFalls system. METHODS: The
      system comprised of 1) a TV, 2) a PC, 3) the Microsoft Kinect, 4) a wearable
      sensor and 5) an assessment and training software as the main components.
      RESULTS: The iStoppFalls system implements existing technologies to deliver a
      tailored home-based exercise and education program aimed at reducing fall risk in
      older people. A risk assessment tool was designed to identify fall risk factors.
      The content and progression rules of the iStoppFalls exergames were developed
      from evidence-based fall prevention interventions targeting muscle strength and
      balance in older people. CONCLUSIONS: The iStoppFalls fall prevention program,
      used in conjunction with the multifactorial fall risk assessment tool, aims to
      provide a comprehensive and individualised, yet novel fall risk assessment and
      prevention program that is feasible for widespread use to prevent falls and fall
      related injuries. This work provides a new approach to engage older people in
      home-based exercise programs to complement or provide a potentially motivational
      alternative to traditional exercise to reduce the risk of falling.

PMID- 26865878
TI  - Aerobic training as a means to enhance inhibition: what's yet to be studied?
AB  - Some of the neurodegenerative processes in healthy aging, including changes in
      structural and biochemical properties of the brain, are argued to affect cortical
      inhibitory functions. Age-related deficits in the ability to control cerebral
      inhibition may explain wide range of motor and cognitive deficits that healthy
      older adults experience in daily life such as impaired coordination skills and
      declines in attention, concentration, and learning abilities. Importantly,
      evidence from many studies suggests that impaired inhibitory control in advancing
      age can be delayed or even alleviated by aerobic exercise training. Findings from
      a recent study by Duchesne and colleagues (2015) may provide insights into this
      process. First, observations from Duchesne et al. indicated that aerobic exercise
      training program improved cognitive inhibitory functioning in both patients with
      Parkinson's disease (PD) and matched older controls. Second, Duchesne et al.
      showed that cognitive inhibition and motor skills were highly correlated both pre
      and post-exercise in PD but not in controls. Based on the aforementioned
      findings we highlight possible mechanisms that may play a role in the
      interactions between cognitive and motor inhibitory functions in healthy elderly
      that could benefit from aerobic exercise training: specifically, the brain
      neurotransmission systems and the frontal-basal ganglia network. In conclusion,
      we raise two fundamental questions which are yet to be addressed: (1) the extent
      to which different brain neurotransmitter systems are affected by aerobic
      exercise training; (2) the extent to which neurotransmitter levels prior to the
      onset of intervention may facilitate (or impede) training-induced neuroplasticity
      in the aging brain. 

PMID- 26865879
TI  - Effects of BDNF polymorphism and physical activity on episodic memory in the
      elderly: a cross sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration is highest
      in the hippocampus compared with that in other brain structures and affects
      episodic memory, a cognitive function that is impaired in older adults. According
      to the neurotrophic hypothesis, BDNF released during physical activity enhances
      brain plasticity and consequently brain health. However, even if the physical
      activity level is involved in the secretion of neurotrophin, this protein is also
      under the control of a specific gene. The aim of the present study was to examine
      the effect of the interaction between physical activity and BDNF Val66Met
      (rs6265), a genetic polymorphism, on episodic memory. METHODS: Two hundred and
      five volunteers aged 55 and older with a Mini Mental State Examination score >=
      24 participated in this study. Four groups of participants were established
      according to their physical activity level and polymorphism BDNF profile (Active
      Val homozygous, Inactive Val homozygous, Active Met carriers, Inactive Met
      carriers). Episodic memory was evaluated based on the delayed recall of the
      Logical Memory test of the MEM III battery. RESULTS: As expected, the physical
      activity level interacted with BDNF polymorphism to affect episodic memory
      performance (p < .05). The active Val homozygous participants significantly
      outperformed the active Met carriers and inactive Val homozygous participants.
      CONCLUSION: This study clearly demonstrates an interaction between physical
      activity and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism that affects episodic memory in the
      elderly and confirms that physical activity contributes to the neurotrophic
      mechanism implicated in cognitive health. The interaction shows that only
      participants with Val/Val polymorphism benefited from physical activity.

PMID- 26865880
TI  - Physical activity and neurocognitive functioning in aging - a condensed updated
      review.
AB  - This condensed review gives an overview about two methodological approaches to
      study the impact of physical activity on cognition in elderly, namely cross
      sectional studies and randomized controlled intervention studies with pre- and
      post-measures. Moreover, this review includes studies investigating different
      types of physical activity and their relation to cognitive functions in older
      age. Behavioral data are considered but the main focus lies on neuroscientific
      methods like event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional magnetic resonance
      imaging (fMRI). 

PMID- 26865881
TI  - Kinect-based choice reaching and stepping reaction time tests for clinical and in
      home assessment of fall risk in older people: a prospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Quick protective reactions such as reaching or stepping are important
      to avoid a fall or minimize injuries. We developed Kinect-based choice reaching
      and stepping reaction time tests (Kinect-based CRTs) and evaluated their ability
      to differentiate between older fallers and non-fallers and the feasibility of
      administering them at home. METHODS: A total of 94 community-dwelling older
      people were assessed on the Kinect-based CRTs in the laboratory and were followed
      up for falls for 6 months. Additionally, a subgroup (n = 20) conducted the Kinect
      based CRTs at home. Signal processing algorithms were developed to extract
      features for reaction, movement and the total time from the Kinect skeleton data.
      RESULTS: Nineteen participants (20.2 %) reported a fall in the 6 months following
      the assessment. The reaction time (fallers: 797 +/- 136 ms, non-fallers: 714 +/-
      89 ms), movement time (fallers: 392 +/- 50 ms, non-fallers: 358 +/- 51 ms) and
      total time (fallers: 1189 +/- 170 ms, non-fallers: 1072 +/- 109 ms) of the
      reaching reaction time test differentiated well between the fallers and non
      fallers. The stepping reaction time test did not significantly discriminate
      between the two groups in the prospective study. The correlations between the
      laboratory and in-home assessments were 0.689 for the reaching reaction time and
      0.860 for stepping reaction time. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that
      the Kinect-based CRT tests are feasible to administer in clinical and in-home
      settings, and thus represents an important step towards the development of sensor
      based fall risk self-assessments. With further validation, the assessments may
      prove useful as a fall risk screen and home-based assessment measures for
      monitoring changes over time and effects of fall prevention interventions.

PMID- 26865882
TI  - Maximizing Data Quality using Mode Switching in Mixed-Device Survey Design:
      Nonresponse Bias and Models of Demographic Behavior.
AB  - Conducting survey interviews on the internet has become an attractive method for
      lowering data collection costs and increasing the frequency of interviewing,
      especially in longitudinal studies. However, the advantages of the web mode for
      studies with frequent re-interviews can be offset by the serious disadvantage of
      low response rates and the potential for nonresponse bias to mislead
      investigators. Important life events, such as changes in employment status,
      relationship changes, or moving can cause attrition from longitudinal studies,
      producing the possibility of attrition bias. The potential extent of such bias in
      longitudinal web surveys is not well understood. We use data from the
      Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study to examine the potential for a
      mixed-device approach with active mode switching to reduce attrition bias. The
      RDSL design allows panel members to switch modes by integrating telephone
      interviewing into a longitudinal web survey with the objective of collecting
      weekly reports. We found that in this design allowing panel members to switch
      modes kept more participants in the study compared to a web only approach. The
      characteristics of persons who ever switched modes are different than those who
      did not - including not only demographic characteristics, but also baseline
      characteristics related to pregnancy and time-varying characteristics that were
      collected after the baseline interview. This was true in multivariate models that
      control for multiple of these dimensions simultaneously. We conclude that mode
      options and mode switching is important for the success of longitudinal web
      surveys to maximize participation and minimize attrition.

PMID- 26865884
TI  - Prevalence of Work-Related Asthma in Primary Health Care: Study Rationale and
      Design.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Occupational Asthma (OA) is the most frequent origin of occupational
      respiratory diseases in industrialized countries and accounts for between 5% and
      25% of asthmatic patients. The correct and early diagnosis of OA is of great
      preventive and socio-economic importance. However, few studies exist on OA's
      prevalence in Catalonia and in Spain and those affected are mainly treated by the
      public health services and not by the occupational health services, which are
      private. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of OA in patients diagnosed with
      asthma in the Primary Healthcare system and to evaluate the socio-economic impact
      of OA in the Primary Healthcare system. METHODS/DESIGN: We will carry out an
      observational, transversal and multi-center study in the Primary Healthcare
      Service in the Barcelona region (Catalonia, Spain), with 385 asthmatic workers
      aged between 16 and 64 who are currently working or have been working in the
      past. We will confirm the asthma diagnosis in each patient, and those meeting the
      inclusion criteria will be asked to answer a questionnaire that aims to link
      asthma to the patient's past employment history. The resulting diagnosis will be
      of either occupational asthma, work-aggravated asthma or common asthma. We will
      also collect socio-demographic information about the patients, about their
      smoking status, their exposure outside of the workplace, their work situation at
      the onset of the symptoms, their employment history, their symptoms of asthma,
      their present and past medical asthma treatment, and, in order to estimate the
      economic impact in the Primary Healthcare system, where they have been attended
      to and treated. Prevalence will link OA or work-aggravated asthma to the total of
      patients participating in the study with a asthma diagnosis. DISCUSSION: The
      results will show the prevalence of OA and work-aggravated asthma, and shall
      provide valuable information to set out and apply the necessary personal and
      technical measures, either in the public or in the occupational health services.
      No studies evaluating the costs generated by the OA in the Primary Healthcare
      system have been carried out.

PMID- 26865885
TI  - Anaesthesia for minimally invasive surgery.
AB  - Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is rising in popularity. It offers well-known
      benefits to the patient. However, restricted access to the surgical site and gas
      insufflation into the body cavities may result in severe complications. From the
      anaesthetic point of view MIS poses unique challenges associated with creation of
      pneumoperitoneum, carbon dioxide absorption, specific positioning and monitoring
      a patient to whom the anaesthetist has often restricted access, in a poorly lit
      environment. Moreover, with refinement of surgical procedures and growing
      experience the anaesthetist is presented with patients from high-risk groups
      (obese, elderly, with advanced cardiac and respiratory disease) who once were
      deemed unsuitable for the laparoscopic technique. Anaesthetic management is aimed
      at getting the patient safely through the procedure, minimizing the specific
      risks arising from laparoscopy and the patient's coexisting medical problems,
      ensuring quick recovery and a relatively pain-free postoperative course with
      early return to normal function. 

PMID- 26865886
TI  - Results of endoscopic and surgical fistula treatment in oesophagointestinal
      anastomosis after gastrectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Intestinal fistulas occur in 4-8% of cases of upper
      gastrointestinal tract surgery. Until now, surgery has been the standard of
      treating fistulas in oesophagointestinal anastomosis. The use of stents and
      haemoclips still causes much controversy, but more and more publications present
      good results with this type of treatment. AIM: To present results of endoscopic
      and surgical treatment of fistulas in oesophagointestinal anastomosis after
      gastrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A fistula in the oesophagointestinal
      anastomosis was observed in 23 (4.8%) patients within an 18-year period. The
      indications for endoscopic treatment were small fistulas (< 50 ml/day), and large
      (> 50 ml/day) fistulas in subjects with no symptoms of peritonitis or abscess
      were treated with implantation a of covered stent. Surgical treatment was
      performed with a large fistula leading to peritonitis and complicated gangrene of
      margins and/or the presence of abscess. RESULTS: Four subjects were treated
      endoscopically with the use of haemoclips, resulting in 50% technical and
      clinical success. We implanted stents in 12 patients. Technical success was
      achieved in all the patients, yet permanent closure of the fistula was reported
      for 8 (66%) subjects. The percentage of patients operated on for fistula was 33%.
      We recorded 4 deaths in this group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of haemoclips in
      treatment of small fistulas, and self-expandable, covered stents in treatment of
      medium and large fistulas, is an effective method that shortens the
      hospitalisation period and accelerates introduction of oral nutrition while
      reducing the number of fatal complications.

PMID- 26865887
TI  - Impact of post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy weight loss on C-reactive protein,
      lipid profile and CA-125 in morbidly obese women.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Obesity increases production of adipose tissue-derived proteins,
      such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Also
      there are elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, CD8, and CD4,
      indicating chronic subclinical inflammation. Since obesity represents a serious
      risk factor in several metabolic diseases, identifying the status of carbohydrate
      antigen-125 (CA-125) would further link obesity and tumors. AIM: To examine the
      effect of weight loss by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on plasma CRP,
      lipid profiles and CA-125 level in morbidly obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      This prospective study was conducted in the Surgery Department, Fayoum University
      Hospital, between August 2013 and September 2015. To assess the effect of excess
      weight loss following this operation CRP, lipid profile and CA-125 were measured
      before and 12 months after the LSG operation for weight loss. The study included
      30 cases of morbidly obese patients: 30 (100%) females aged 23-55 years who were
      considered clinically obese with a mean body mass index of 42.71 +/-4.3 (38-46)
      kg/m(2) and mean age of 40.3 +/-8.5 (23-55) years. The National Institute of
      Health (NIH) inclusion criteria for bariatric surgery were used. RESULTS: A mean
      weight loss of 29.30% decreased plasma CRP, triglycerides, total cholesterol and
      low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), CA-125 level and increased
      high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) The percentage weight loss
      was significantly associated with changes in plasma CRP, triglycerides, total
      cholesterol, total HDL cholesterol and CA-125. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss by LSG
      improves inflammation, dyslipidemia and CA-125 level.

PMID- 26865888
TI  - Transpapillary drainage of walled-off pancreatic necrosis - a single center
      experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) often coexists with
      disruption of the main pancreatic duct that manifests as a leak of contrast
      medium into the necrotic collection during endoscopic retrograde pancreatography.
      AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of treatment of patients with symptomatic
      WOPN and disruption of the main pancreatic duct, who underwent endoscopic
      transpapillary drainage as the only access to the necrosis cavity. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: In 22 patients with symptomatic WOPN, active endoscopic transpapillary
      drainage was performed. During endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP),
      partial disruption of the main pancreatic duct was observed in 14 patients and
      complete disruption in 8 patients. After the active drainage was finished, a
      transpapillary pancreatic stent was inserted into the main pancreatic duct, which
      was later exchanged after 6, 12 and 24 months or when no extravasation of
      contrast from the pancreatic duct was observed. The results of treatment and
      complications were compared retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean duration of active
      drainage was 22 (range: 7-94) days. Complications of endotherapy occurred in 3/22
      patients. The mean time of the main pancreatic duct stenting was 304 (range: 85
      519) days. Success of endoscopic treatment of WOPN and pancreatic duct disruption
      was achieved in 20/22 patients. During a 1-year follow-up, recurrence of the
      collection was noted in 4/20 patients. Long-term success was achieved in 16/22
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with WOPN who cannot undergo transmural
      drainage when there is a communication between the necrotic collection and the
      main pancreatic duct, transpapillary access may be an effective and safe method
      of treatment.

PMID- 26865889
TI  - Hybrid technique for postoperative ventral hernias - own experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There are many techniques which may be involved in abdominal hernia
      repair, from classical to tension-free. Treatment of complicated hernias has
      undergone evolution. Many surgeons consider the laparoscopic method as a method
      of choice for incisional hernia repair. Sometimes miniinvasive repair of
      complicated hernia is not so easy to perform. We are convinced that selected
      patients may benefit from combined open and laparoscopic techniques. AIM: To
      present the operating technique and early results of treatment of 15 patients
      operated on using the 3 hybrid technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients
      suffering from recurrent incisional hernias underwent the hybrid technique for
      their repair between June 2012 and April 2015. The hybrid technique was performed
      using synthetic meshes in 14 cases and a biological implant in 1 case. RESULTS:
      The early postoperative period was uncomplicated in all cases. Within a maximum
      follow-up period of 32 months, two deep wound infections were observed.
      CONCLUSIONS: The hybrid technique may be used in patients with recurrent
      incisional hernias.

PMID- 26865890
TI  - In search of the ideal patient for the intragastric balloon - short- and long
      term results in 70 obese patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Treating concomitant diseases in obese patients generates costs
      which are twice as high as the costs of the therapies in individuals with a
      normal weight. The conservative management of obesity involving lifestyle and
      dietary modifications and medical treatment shows only short-term efficacy and
      carries a 90% risk of recurrence. The intragastric balloon causes a permanent
      feeling of satiety, thus reducing the amount of food consumed by the patient.
      AIM: To assess the early and long-term effect of intragastric balloon treatment
      in obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2012, we performed 75 intragastric
      balloon procedures in obese patients. A total of 70 patients were enrolled in the
      study. The balloon was removed at 6 months. The patients were interviewed 2 years
      after removal. RESULTS: Upon balloon removal, mean total weight loss (TWL) was
      15.9 kg, and excess weight loss (EWL) was 41 +/-19.6% (p < 0.001). Only one
      patient was classified as a non-respondent. Satisfactory results (> 10% TWL) were
      achieved in all other patients. The mean body mass index (BMI) reduction was 5.8
      kg/m(2) (15.5%) (p < 0.001). Two years later 45 patients still maintained reduced
      weight, 7 returned to baseline body weight, whereas 18 subjects experienced a
      full yo-yo effect (mean gain of 2.7 kg). During 2 years following the balloon
      removal, mean total weight increased by 10.9 kg, and mean BMI increased by 3.9
      kg/m(2) (12.5%). A satisfactory effect (> 10% TWL) was achieved in only 19
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity management with the intragastric balloon is a safe
      treatment method, which effectively induces weight loss. Poor tolerance and lack
      of response occurring in some individuals should be taken into consideration. The
      best results are achieved in women with class 1 obesity.

PMID- 26865892
TI  - Three-dimensional intraoperative imaging with O-arm to establish a working
      trajectory in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Successful percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD)
      requires an appropriate working trajectory. Due to the complexity of spinal
      anatomy, this is difficult to verify with conventional 2-dimensional fluoroscopy.
      AIM: Here we assessed the feasibility and utility of the O-arm for establishing
      the working trajectory for PELD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively
      reviewed the records of 89 patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent
      PELD using the O-arm. The working trajectory was evaluated with standard
      fluoroscopic images or 3-dimensional, volumetric computed tomography scan. Based
      on the detail provided by the multiplanar view, we confirmed the ideal working
      trajectory and adjusted the surgical approach accordingly. RESULTS: At the 12
      month follow-up, based on MacNab's criteria, 85.9% of patients showed an
      excellent or good outcome. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The O
      arm provides detailed multiplanar intraoperative high-quality imaging for PELD,
      and enables the surgeon to ascertain the surgical anatomy, determine the optimal
      working trajectory, and improve the accuracy of surgery.

PMID- 26865891
TI  - Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass for left anterior descending
      artery revascularization - analysis of 300 cases.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) grafting
      is performed via small, left anterolateral thoracotomy. The left internal mammary
      artery was grafted to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in 300
      consecutive patients. AIM: In-hospital results were evaluated and compared with
      the conventional, off-pump coronary artery bypass graft procedure. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three (54.33%) of 300 patients underwent staged
      hybrid coronary revascularization, 93 (31%) were treated for a single LAD lesion,
      and 44 (14.67%) were treated for multi-vessel disease with reasonably incomplete
      revascularization. Major in-hospital cardiac adverse events and postoperative
      data were compared between groups. RESULTS: Preoperative data were similar
      between groups. However, the difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (p
      < 0.001) was significant. No conversions to sternotomy occurred during the
      primary MIDCAB procedures. Shorter operation time (p < 0.001), shorter
      postoperative mechanical ventilation time (p < 0.001), shorter intensive care
      unit stay (p < 0.001), and less red blood cell transfusion (p < 0.001) were noted
      in the MIDCAB group. Postoperative coronary angiography conducted in the MIDCAB
      group within one week after the operation showed that 2 of 163 patients developed
      graft occlusion. These patients underwent conventional CABG and recovered well.
      No significant differences were observed in postoperative MI, delayed wound
      healing or 30-day in-hospital mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The
      use of a chest wall lifting system and modified stabilizer makes the MIDCAB
      procedure safer and easier. The MIDCAB procedure is demonstrated to be a feasible
      and minimally invasive alternative for patients with coronary artery disease
      involving LAD lesions.

PMID- 26865893
TI  - Removal of uterine fibroids by mini-laparotomy technique in women who wish to
      preserve their uterus and fertility.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The minilaparotomy is considered to be a safe and effective
      alternative to laparoscopy and abdominal laparotomy in myomectomy cases. AIM: To
      perform a retrospective analysis of pre-surgical assessment, surgical course and
      post-operational parameters in women wishing to preserve their uterus and
      fertility who underwent myomectomy by minilaparotomy in the Department of
      Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology at the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital -
      Research Institute in Lodz in the years 2008-2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total
      of 76 patients were qualified for minilaparotomy due to a benign gynecological
      pathology. Only 21 patients with uterine fibroids who wanted to preserve their
      uterus and fertility were appropriate for this study. Patients' records were
      analyzed in terms of: epidemiological history, surgical course, postoperative
      stay and pathological data. All studied patients were asked in 2014 about
      conception and pregnancy after minilaparotomy. RESULTS: The median age was 35.7
      years. The median patient body mass index (BMI) was 24 kg/m(2). The average
      decrease of hemoglobin was 1.5 g/dl. The size of the myoma was between 1.5 and 15
      cm. There were no serious post-surgical complications. The size of the myoma did
      not correlate significantly with operation time, BMI or blood loss. There was no
      statistically significant dependence between operation time and average
      hematocrit and hemoglobin decrease. In our group 7 patients who had undergone
      myomectomy tried to achieve conception. Four of them succeeded in pregnancy and
      gave birth to healthy infants. CONCLUSIONS: Myomectomy performed via
      minilaparotomy is a safe procedure for patients willing to preserve their uterus
      and fertility, and it combines some advantages of both laparotomy and
      laparoscopy.

PMID- 26865894
TI  - C-reactive protein and procalcitonin predict anastomotic leaks following
      colorectal cancer resections - a prospective study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Early safe discharge is paramount for the success of ERAS following
      colorectal cancer resections. Anastomotic leakage (AL) has high morbidity,
      particularly if the patient has been discharged to the community. AIM: To
      evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) can predict AL
      before early discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive patients
      undergoing open and robotic colorectal cancer resections were included. C
      reactive protein and PCT were measured pre-operatively, 8 h after incision, and
      on the first and third postoperative day. Thirty-day readmissions, re-operations
      and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients underwent robotic and
      the remainder open (n = 26) resections. Five patients had AL. The mean CRP and
      PCT increased on postoperative day 1 (POD 1) and POD 3 in all patients. On POD 3,
      mean CRP was 114 mg/l in non-AL patients and 321 mg/l in AL patients (p =
      0.0001). Mean PCT on POD 3 was 0.56 ng/ml in the non-AL group and 10.4 ng/ml in
      AL patients (p = 0.017). On analysis of ROC and AUC curves, the cut-off for CRP
      on POD 3 was 245.64 mg/l, with 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity for AL. The
      cut-off for PCT on POD 3 was 3.83 ng/ml, with 75% sensitivity and 100%
      specificity for AL. CONCLUSIONS: C-reactive protein and PCT measurement on POD 3
      following colorectal cancer resection can positively identify patients at low
      risk of anastomotic leakage.

PMID- 26865895
TI  - Successful laparoscopic management of a rare complication after embryo transfer:
      ovarian pregnancy. A case report and up-to-date literature review.
AB  - Ovarian pregnancy (OP) after embryo transfer is very rare. Due to the rarity and
      the asymptomatic nature, there are still difficulties in diagnosis and treatment.
      The traditional operative treatment for OP has been oophorectomy. However, the
      desire to maintain reproductive capability and improvements in laparoscopy have
      more recently led to conservative laparoscopic techniques. This rare complication
      could be diagnosed early and managed by a conservative laparoscopic approach.
      Here we present a survey of the literature and a case of successful laparoscopic
      management of ovarian pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo
      transfer. The current case is the first case in the literature in which ovarian
      pregnancy occurred after a single embryo transfer. We also summarize the
      literature about management of ovarian pregnancy after embryo transfer. 

PMID- 26865896
TI  - Removal of gallstone from mesorectum after laparoscopic cholecystectomy - new
      indication for transanal endoscopic microsurgery technique.
AB  - Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive technique for
      local excision of benign and malignant neoplasms in the rectum. Indications for
      this technique are constantly changing and extending. The aim of this study is to
      describe a case of a unique and innovative application of this surgical
      technique. A 72-year-old patient was admitted to the Clinical Department of
      General and Colorectal Surgery for elective resection of a tumor located in the
      perianal area using the TEM surgical technique. In August 2005 the patient
      underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to symptomatic cholecystitis. From
      March 2011 the patient complained about ongoing sharp pain in the perianal and
      presacral area. Computed tomography revealed two oval areas approximately 30 mm
      in size to the right of the sigmoido-rectal region communicating with the colon
      lumen. Subsequently diverticulitis was diagnosed. The TEM technique was uniquely
      used to successfully remove the gallstone from the 72-year-old patient's
      presacral area. 

PMID- 26865897
TI  - Laparoscopic approach in the treatment of large epiphrenic esophageal
      diverticulum.
AB  - Epiphrenic diverticulum of the lower third of the esophagus is a relatively rare
      disorder. We present the case of a large, 7.5 cm diameter esophageal epiphrenic
      diverticulum treated by the laparoscopic approach. Surgery was indicated by the
      severity of the patient's symptoms and size of the diverticulum. A laparoscopic
      transhiatal diverticulectomy with a myotomy and Dor fundoplication was carried
      out. The overall operative time was 180 min. The patient tolerated the surgery
      well and was discharged from hospital 4 days after the surgery. From the 10(th)
      postoperative day the patient resumed a regular diet. Four weeks after the
      operation the patient had no complaints, symptoms of dysphagia or vomiting. The
      laparoscopic approach in the treatment of a large, 7.5 cm epiphrenic diverticulum
      of the esophagus is feasible, safe and well tolerated by the patient. 

PMID- 26865898
TI  - Is it appropriate to perform anterior segment reconstruction in amblyopic eye
      following penetrating trauma in childhood?
AB  - We present a case of diagnostic and surgical management in an amblyopic eye
      following penetrating trauma in childhood. The 75-year-old female patient
      experienced the trauma at the age of 4. The eye was amblyopic, but after thorough
      investigations (ultrasonography, ultrabiomicroscopy, visual evoked potentials)
      the eye underwent anterior segment reconstruction. Visual evoked potentials
      allowed us to assess optic nerve function, while ultrabiomicroscopy allowed us to
      plan the surgical procedure. Although we observed quite a small visual acuity
      improvement, the subjective improvement reported by the patient was fairly
      significant (NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire). The cosmetic effect of the black pupil
      was also important. 

PMID- 26865899
TI  - Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak at the clivus.
AB  - We present a case report of a 60-year-old woman with a spontaneous cerebrospinal
      fluid leak at the clivus, obesity and no history of trauma. Follow-up imaging
      scans confirmed enlargement of the defect within the posterior clival framework
      to the size of 16 * 9 * 4 mm with a suspected meningocerebral hernia. The
      surgeons used the "two nostrils - four hands" endoscopic operating technique. The
      patient reported a history of cerebrospinal fluid leaks lasting for 3 years, with
      increasingly shorter leak-free periods and an increasing incidence of
      inflammatory complications. The patient recovered without complications, and she
      was discharged 14 days after the surgery. Good local outcome and improved patient
      condition were achieved postoperatively. 

PMID- 26865901
TI  - In-situ photopolymerization of monodisperse and discoid oxidized methacrylated
      alginate microgels in a microfluidic channel.
AB  - We present a simple microfluidic technique to in-situ photopolymerize (by 365 nm
      ultraviolet) monodisperse oxidized methacrylated alginate (OMA) microgels using a
      photoinitiator (VA-086). By this technique, we generated monodisperse spherical
      OMA beads and discoid non-spherical beads with better shape consistency than
      ionic crosslinking methods do. We found that a high monomer concentration (8 w/v
      %), a high photoinitiator concentration (1.5 w/v %), and absence of oxygen are
      critical factors to cure OMA microgels. This photopolymerizing method is an
      alternative to current methods to form alginate microgels and is a simpler
      approach to generate non-spherical alginate microgels. 

PMID- 26865900
TI  - Food Insecurity and Obesity Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Whites
      in California.
AB  - Food insecurity is linked to obesity among some, but not all, racial and ethnic
      populations. We examined the prevalence of food insecurity and the association
      between food insecurity and obesity among American Indians (AIs) and Alaska
      Natives (ANs) and a comparison group of whites. Using the 2009 California Health
      Interview Survey, we analyzed responses from 592 AIs/ANs and 7371 white adults
      with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Food
      insecurity was measured using a standard 6-item scale. Sociodemographics,
      exercise, and obesity were all obtained using self-reported survey data. Logistic
      regression was used to estimate associations. The prevalence of food insecurity
      was similar among AIs/ANs and whites (38.7% vs 39.3%). Food insecurity was not
      associated with obesity in either group in analyses adjusted for
      sociodemographics and exercise. The ability to afford high-quality foods is
      extremely limited for low-income Californians regardless of race. Health policy
      discussions must include increased attention on healthy food access among the
      poor, including AIs/ANs, for whom little data exist.

PMID- 26865902
TI  - Lab-on-a-chip workshop activities for secondary school students.
AB  - The ability to engage and inspire younger generations in novel areas of science
      is important for bringing new researchers into a burgeoning field, such as lab-on
      a-chip. We recently held a lab-on-a-chip workshop for secondary school students,
      for which we developed a number of hands-on activities that explained various
      aspects of microfluidic technology, including fabrication (milling and moulding
      of microfluidic devices, and wax printing of microfluidic paper-based analytical
      devices, so-called MUPADs), flow regimes (gradient formation via diffusive
      mixing), and applications (tissue analysis and MUPADs). Questionnaires completed
      by the students indicated that they found the workshop both interesting and
      informative, with all activities proving successful, while providing feedback
      that could be incorporated into later iterations of the event. 

PMID- 26865905
TI  - An integrated acoustic and dielectrophoretic particle manipulation in a
      microfluidic device for particle wash and separation fabricated by mechanical
      machining.
AB  - In this study, acoustophoresis and dielectrophoresis are utilized in an
      integrated manner to combine the two different operations on a single
      polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip in sequential manner, namely, particle wash
      (buffer exchange) and particle separation. In the washing step, particles are
      washed with buffer solution with low conductivity for dielectrophoretic based
      separation to avoid the adverse effects of Joule heating. Acoustic waves
      generated by piezoelectric material are utilized for washing, which creates
      standing waves along the whole width of the channel. Coupled electro-mechanical
      acoustic 3D multi-physics analysis showed that the position and orientation of
      the piezoelectric actuators are critical for successful operation. A unique mold
      is designed for the precise alignment of the piezoelectric materials and 3D side
      wall electrodes for a highly reproducible fabrication. To achieve the throughput
      matching of acoustophoresis and dielectrophoresis in the integration, 3D side
      wall electrodes are used. The integrated device is fabricated by PDMS molding.
      The mold of the integrated device is fabricated using high-precision mechanical
      machining. With a unique mold design, the placements of the two piezoelectric
      materials and the 3D sidewall electrodes are accomplished during the molding
      process. It is shown that the proposed device can handle the wash and
      dielectrophoretic separation successfully. 

PMID- 26865904
TI  - Screening applications in drug discovery based on microfluidic technology.
AB  - Microfluidics has been the focus of interest for the last two decades for all the
      advantages such as low chemical consumption, reduced analysis time, high
      throughput, better control of mass and heat transfer, downsizing a bench-top
      laboratory to a chip, i.e., lab-on-a-chip, and many others it has offered.
      Microfluidic technology quickly found applications in the pharmaceutical
      industry, which demands working with leading edge scientific and technological
      breakthroughs, as drug screening and commercialization are very long and
      expensive processes and require many tests due to unpredictable results. This
      review paper is on drug candidate screening methods with microfluidic technology
      and focuses specifically on fabrication techniques and materials for the
      microchip, types of flow such as continuous or discrete and their advantages,
      determination of kinetic parameters and their comparison with conventional
      systems, assessment of toxicities and cytotoxicities, concentration generations
      for high throughput, and the computational methods that were employed. An
      important conclusion of this review is that even though microfluidic technology
      has been in this field for around 20 years there is still room for research and
      development, as this cutting edge technology requires ingenuity to design and
      find solutions for each individual case. Recent extensions of these microsystems
      are microengineered organs-on-chips and organ arrays. 

PMID- 26865906
TI  - A bead-based fluorescence immunosensing technique enabled by the integration of
      Forster resonance energy transfer and optoelectrokinetic concentration.
AB  - Bead-based immunosensing has been growing as a promising technology in the point
      of-care diagnostics due to great flexibility. For dilute samples, functionalized
      particles can be used to collect dispersed analytes and act as carriers for
      particle manipulation. To realize rapid and visual immunosensing, Forster
      resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used herein to ensure only the diabetic
      biomarker, lipocalin 1, to be detected. The measurement was made in an aqueous
      droplet sandwiched between two parallel plate electrodes. With an electric field
      and a focused laser beam applying on the microchip simultaneously, the
      immunocomplexes in the droplet were further concentrated to enhance the FRET
      fluorescent signal. The optoelectrokinetic technique, termed rapid electrokinetic
      patterning (REP), has been proven to be excellent in dynamic and programmable
      particle manipulation. Therefore, the detection can be complete within several
      tens of seconds. The lower detection limit of the REP-enabled bead-based
      diagnosis reached nearly 5 nM. The combinative use of FRET and the
      optoelectrokinetic technique for the bead-based immunosensing enables a rapid
      measure to diagnose early stage diseases and dilute analytes. 

PMID- 26865903
TI  - In vitro methods to study bubble-cell interactions: Fundamentals and therapeutic
      applications.
AB  - Besides their use as contrast agents for ultrasound imaging, microbubbles are
      increasingly studied for a wide range of therapeutic applications. In particular,
      their ability to enhance the uptake of drugs through the permeabilization of
      tissues and cell membranes shows great promise. In order to fully understand the
      numerous paths by which bubbles can interact with cells and the even larger
      number of possible biological responses from the cells, thorough and extensive
      work is necessary. In this review, we consider the range of experimental
      techniques implemented in in vitro studies with the aim of elucidating these
      microbubble-cell interactions. First of all, the variety of cell types and cell
      models available are discussed, emphasizing the need for more and more complex
      models replicating in vivo conditions together with experimental challenges
      associated with this increased complexity. Second, the different types of
      stabilized microbubbles and more recently developed droplets and particles are
      presented, followed by their acoustic or optical excitation methods. Finally, the
      techniques exploited to study the microbubble-cell interactions are reviewed.
      These techniques operate over a wide range of timescales, or even off-line,
      revealing particular aspects or subsequent effects of these interactions.
      Therefore, knowledge obtained from several techniques must be combined to
      elucidate the underlying processes. 

PMID- 26865907
TI  - Ex vivo characterization of age-associated impedance changes of single vascular
      endothelial cells using micro electrical impedance spectroscopy with a cell trap.
AB  - We aimed to characterize aging of single vascular endothelial cells, which are
      indicators of senescence, using micro electrical impedance spectroscopy (MUEIS)
      for the first time. The proposed MUEIS was equipped with two barriers under the
      membrane actuator near the sensing electrodes, increasing its cell-trapping
      capability and minimizing the interference between the target cell and subsequent
      cells. The cell-trapping capability in MUEIS with barriers was considerably
      improved (90%) with a capture time of 5 s or less, compared to MUEIS without
      barriers (30%). Cells were extracted from transgenic zebrafish to minimize an
      initial discrepancy originating from genetic differences. In order to estimate
      useful parameters, cytoplasm resistance and membrane capacitance were estimated
      by fitting an electrical equivalent circuit to the data of ex vivo sensor output.
      The estimated cytoplasm resistance and membrane capacitance in the younger
      vascular endothelial cells were 20.16 +/- 0.79 kOmega and 17.46 +/- 0.76 pF,
      respectively, whereas those in the older cells were 17.81 +/- 0.98 kOmega and
      20.08 +/- 1.38 pF, respectively. Discrimination of each group with different
      aging showed statistical significance in terms of cytoplasm resistance (p <
      0.001) and membrane capacitance (p < 0.001). Considering both of the sensor and
      cellular level, the optimal frequency was determined as 1 MHz at which the
      electrical impedance of each group was clearly discriminated (p < 0.001). 

PMID- 26865908
TI  - A microfluidic electrochemical biosensor based on multiwall carbon
      nanotube/ferrocene for genomic DNA detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
      clinical isolates.
AB  - Herein we present a microfluidic-multiplexed platform that integrates
      electrochemical sensors based on carbon nanotubes associated with ferrocene as
      redox marker (carbon nanotube (CNT)/ferrocene) for direct detection of pathogenic
      viral DNA from Hepatitis C and genomic DNA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
      clinical isolates. By operating the fluidic device under high flow (150 MUl/min),
      the formation of a very thin depletion layer at the sensor surface (deltaS = 230
      nm) enhances the capture rate up to one DNA strand per second. By comparison,
      this capture rate is only 0.02 molecule/s in a static regime without flow. This
      fluidic protocol allows thus enhancing the limit of detection of the
      electrochemical biosensor from picomolar in bulk solution to femtomolar with a
      large dynamic range from 0.1 fM to 1 pM. Kinetics analysis also demonstrates an
      enhancement of the rate constant of electron transfer (kS) of the electrochemical
      process from 1 s(-1) up to 6 s(-1) thanks to the geometry of the miniaturized
      fluidic electrochemical cell. This microfluidic device working under high flow
      allows selective direct detection of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv) rpoB
      allele from clinical isolate extracted DNA. We envision that a microfluidic
      approach under high flow associated with a multiwall CNT/ferrocene sensor could
      find useful applications as the point-of-care for multi-target diagnostics of
      biomarkers in real samples. 

PMID- 26865909
TI  - Genome sequence of Shinella sp. strain DD12, isolated from homogenized guts of
      starved Daphnia magna.
AB  - Shinella sp. strain DD12, a novel phosphite assimilating bacterium, has been
      isolated from homogenized guts of 4 days starved zooplankton Daphnia magna. Here
      we report the draft genome of this bacterium, which comprises 7,677,812 bp and
      7505 predicted protein-coding genes. 

PMID- 26865910
TI  - Oligonol promotes anti-aging pathways via modulation of SIRT1-AMPK-Autophagy
      Pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oligonol, mainly found in lychee fruit, is an antioxidant
      polyphenolic compound which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti
      cancer properties. The detailed mechanisms by which oligonol may act as an anti
      aging molecule have not been determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, we
      evaluated the ability of oligonol to modulate sirtuin (SIRT) expression in human
      lung epithelial (A549) cells. Oligonol was added to A549 cells and reactive
      oxygen species production, mitochondrial superoxide formation, and p21 protein
      levels were measured. Signaling pathways activated upon oligonol treatment were
      also determined by western blotting. Furthermore, the anti-aging effect of
      oligonol was evaluated ex vivo in mouse splenocytes and in vivo in Caenorhabditis
      elegans. RESULTS: Oligonol specifically induced the expression of SIRT1, whose
      activity is linked to gene expression, metabolic control, and healthy aging. In
      response to influenza virus infection of A549 cells, oligonol treatment
      significantly up-regulated SIRT1 expression and down-regulated viral
      hemagglutinin expression. Oligonol treatment also resulted in the activation of
      autophagy pathways and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase
      (AMPK). Furthermore, oligonol-treated spleen lymphocytes from old mice showed
      increased cell proliferation, and mRNA levels of SIRT1 in the lungs of old mice
      were significantly lower than those in the lungs of young mice. Additionally, in
      vivo lethality assay revealed that oligonol extended the lifespan of C. elegans
      infected with lethal Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that
      oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule by modulating SIRT1/autophagy/AMPK
      pathways.

PMID- 26865912
TI  - Protective effect of dietary chitosan on cadmium accumulation in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cadmium is a toxic metal that is an occupational and
      environmental concern especially because of its human carcinogenicity; it induces
      serious adverse effects in various organs and tissues. Even low levels of
      exposure to cadmium could be harmful owing to its extremely long half-life in the
      body. Cadmium intoxication may be prevented by the consumption of dietary
      components that potentially reduce its accumulation in the body. Dietary chitosan
      is a polysaccharide derived from animal sources; it has been known for its
      ability to bind to divalent cations including cadmium, in addition to other
      beneficial effects including hypocholesterolemic and anticancer effects.
      Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of dietary chitosan in reducing
      cadmium accumulation using an in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cadmium was
      administered orally at 2 mg (three times per week) to three groups of Sprague
      Dawley rats: control, low-dose, and high-dose (0, 3, and 5%, respectively)
      chitosan diet groups for eight weeks. Cadmium accumulation, as well as tissue
      functional and histological changes, was determined. RESULTS: Compared to the
      control group, rats fed the chitosan diet showed significantly lower levels of
      cadmium in blood and tissues including the kidneys, liver, and femur. Biochemical
      analysis of liver function including the determination of aspartate
      aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels showed that dietary chitosan reduced
      hepatic tissue damage caused by cadmium intoxication and prevented the associated
      bone disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary chitosan has the
      potential to reduce cadmium accumulation in the body as well as protect liver
      function and bone health against cadmium intoxication.

PMID- 26865911
TI  - D-Xylose as a sugar complement regulates blood glucose levels by suppressing
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK) in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced
      diabetic rats and by enhancing glucose uptake in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more frequently diagnosed and is
      characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. D-Xylose, a sucrase
      inhibitor, may be useful as a functional sugar complement to inhibit increases in
      blood glucose levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti
      diabetic effects of D-xylose both in vitro and stretpozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide
      (NA)-induced models in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into the
      following groups: (i) normal control; (ii) diabetic control; (iii) diabetic rats
      supplemented with a diet where 5% of the total sucrose content in the diet was
      replaced with D-xylose; and (iv) diabetic rats supplemented with a diet where 10%
      of the total sucrose content in the diet was replaced with D-xylose. These groups
      were maintained for two weeks. The effects of D-xylose on blood glucose levels
      were examined using oral glucose tolerance test, insulin secretion assays,
      histology of liver and pancreas tissues, and analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate
      carboxylase (PEPCK) expression in liver tissues of a STZ-NA-induced experimental
      rat model. Levels of glucose uptake and insulin secretion by differentiated C2C12
      muscle cells and INS-1 pancreatic beta-cells were analyzed. RESULTS: In vivo, D
      xylose supplementation significantly reduced fasting serum glucose levels (P <
      0.05), it slightly reduced the area under the glucose curve, and increased
      insulin levels compared to the diabetic controls. D-Xylose supplementation
      enhanced the regeneration of pancreas tissue and improved the arrangement of
      hepatocytes compared to the diabetic controls. Lower levels of PEPCK were
      detected in the liver tissues of D-xylose-supplemented rats (P < 0.05). In vitro,
      both 2-NBDG uptake by C2C12 cells and insulin secretion by INS-1 cells were
      increased with D-xylose supplementation in a dose-dependent manner compared to
      treatment with glucose alone. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, D-xylose exerted anti
      diabetic effects in vivo by regulating blood glucose levels via regeneration of
      damaged pancreas and liver tissues and regulation of PEPCK, a key rate-limiting
      enzyme in the process of gluconeogenesis. In vitro, D-xylose induced the uptake
      of glucose by muscle cells and the secretion of insulin cells by beta-cells.
      These mechanistic insights will facilitate the development of highly effective
      strategy for T2D.

PMID- 26865913
TI  - Vitamin A supplementation modifies the antioxidant system in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that vitamin A supplementation has
      different effects on skeletal health and the antioxidant system. Deficiency or
      excess of this vitamin can lead to health problems. Vitamin A can work as either
      an antioxidant or prooxidant depending on its concentration. The present study
      was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin A
      supplementation on the antioxidant system in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty
      Spargue-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups according to the dose of
      vitamin A received: 0 (A0), 4,000 (A1), 8,000 (A2), and 20,000 (A3) IU retinyl
      palmitate/kg diet. After a feeding period of 4 wks, lipid peroxide levels,
      glutathione concentration, antioxidant enzyme activities, and vitamins A and E
      concentrations were measured. Histopathological changes were observed in rat
      liver tissue using an optical microscope and transmission electron microscope.
      RESULTS: Lipid peroxide levels in plasma were significantly decreased in the A1
      and A2 groups compared to the A0 rats. Erythrocyte catalase and hepatic
      superoxide dismutase activities of the A2 group were significantly higher than
      those of the A0 group. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly
      lower in the A3 group compared to the other groups. Total glutathione
      concentrations were significantly higher in the A1 and A2 groups than in the A0
      group. Histological examination of liver tissue showed that excessive
      supplementation of vitamin A might lead to lipid droplet accumulation and nuclear
      membrane deformation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that appropriate
      supplementation of vitamin A might have a beneficial effect on the antioxidant
      system in rats.

PMID- 26865914
TI  - Similarities and differences between alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol in
      amelioration of inflammation, oxidative stress and pre-fibrosis in hyperglycemia
      induced acute kidney inflammation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major chronic disease which
      increases global health problems. Diabetes-induced renal damage is associated
      with inflammation and fibrosis. Alpha (AT) and gamma-tocopherols (GT) have shown
      antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in inflammation-mediated injuries. The
      primary aim of this study was to investigate effects of AT and GT
      supplementations on hyperglycemia induced acute kidney inflammation in alloxan
      induced diabetic mice with different levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG).
      MATERIALS/METHODS: Diabetes was induced by injection of alloxan monohydrate (150
      mg/kg, i.p) in ICR mice (5.5-week-old, male) and mice were subdivided according
      to their FBG levels and treated with different diets for 2 weeks; CON: non
      diabetic mice, m-DMC: diabetic control mice with mild FBG levels (250 mg/dl <=
      FBG <= 450 mg/dl), m-AT: m-DM mice fed AT supplementation (35 mg/kg diet), m-GT:
      m-DM mice with GT supplementation (35 mg/kg diet), s-DMC: diabetic control mice
      with severe FBG levels (450 mg/dl < FBG), s-AT: s-DM mice with AT
      supplementation, s-GT: s-DM mice with GT supplementation. RESULTS: Both AT and GT
      supplementations showed similar beneficial effects on NFkappaB associated
      inflammatory response (phosphorylated inhibitory kappa B-alpha, interleukin
      1beta, C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and pre-fibrosis
      (tumor growth factor beta-1 and protein kinase C-II) as well as an antioxidant
      emzyme, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in diabetic mice. On the other hands, AT and GT
      showed different beneficial effects on kidney weight, FBG, and oxidative stress
      associated makers (malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) except
      HO-1. In particular, GT significantly preserved kidney weight in m-DM and
      improved FBG levels in s-DM and malondialdehyde and catalase in m- and s-DM,
      while AT significantly attenuated FBG levels in m-DM and improved glutathione
      peroxidase in m- and s-DM. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that AT and GT with
      similarities and differences would be considered as beneficial nutrients to
      modulate hyperglycemia induced acute renal inflammation. Further research with
      careful approach is needed to confirm beneficial effects of tocopherols in
      diabetes with different FBG levels for clinical applications.

PMID- 26865915
TI  - Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of brown seaweeds in high-fat diet
      induced obese mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seaweeds have been reported to have various health
      beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-obesity and
      anti-inflammatory effects of four types of domestic brown seaweeds in a high-fat
      diet-induced obese mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM).
      MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet
      (HFD) or HFD containing Undaria Pinnatifida, HFD containing Laminaria Japonica
      (LJ), HFD containing Sargassum Fulvellum, or HFD containing Hizikia Fusiforme
      (HF) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: Brown seaweed supplementation did not affect long
      term HFD-associated changes in body weight or adiposity, although mice fed HFD +
      LJ or HFD + HF gained slightly less body weight compared with those fed HFD at
      the beginning of feeding. Despite being obese, mice fed HFD + LJ appeared to show
      improved insulin sensitivity compared to mice fed HFD. Consistently, we observed
      significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in mice fed HFD + LJ compared
      with those of mice fed HFD. Although no significant differences in adipocyte size
      were detected among the HFD-fed groups, consumption of seaweeds decreased
      formation of HFD-induced crown-like structures in gonadal adipose tissue as well
      as plasma inflammatory cytokines. BMDM from mice fed HFDs with seaweeds showed
      differential regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and IL-6
      compared with BMDM from mice fed HFD by LPS stimulation. CONCLUSION: Although
      seaweed consumption did not prevent long-term HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6N
      mice, it reduced insulin resistance (IR) and circulation of pro-inflammatory
      cytokines. Therefore, seaweeds may ameliorate systemic inflammation and IR in
      obesity partially due to inhibition of inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue
      cells as well as bone marrow-derived immune cells.

PMID- 26865916
TI  - The extended Theory of Planned Behavior in explaining exclusive breastfeeding
      intention and behavior among women in Kelantan, Malaysia.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to utilize an extended Theory
      of Planned Behavior in identifying predictors of exclusive breastfeeding
      intention and behavior among women in Kelantan, Malaysia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A
      prospective cohort study was conducted, recruiting pregnant womenthrough two
      stage cluster sampling. Their exclusive breastfeeding intention, attitude,
      perceived norm, perceived behavioral control and past behavior were obtained at
      baseline through interviewer-guided questionnaire. At one month after delivery,
      another interview was conducted to determine the two additional variables in the
      extended theory, which were their postpartum support and breastfeeding
      difficulty. The behavior, which was the actual duration of exclusive
      breastfeeding, was obtained from the second follow-up at six months. Pearson
      correlation and two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A
      total of 200 women completed the study follow-up. Their median intended exclusive
      breastfeeding duration was 4.0 (IQR 5) months, and the median actual duration was
      1.0 (IQR 4) month. The Theory of Planned Behavior explained 51.0% of the variance
      in intention, with perceived behavioral control and attitude were the significant
      predictors. It also explained 10.0% of the variance in behavior, but the addition
      of postpartum support and breastfeeding difficulty increased the amount of
      explained variance in behavior by 6.0%. The significant predictors of exclusive
      breastfeeding behavior were intention, postpartum support and breastfeeding
      difficulty. CONCLUSION: The extended Theory of Planned Behaviorhad a good
      predictive ability in explaining exclusive breastfeedingintention and behavior.
      The women's intention to practice exclusive breastfeeding may be improved by
      improving their perceived behavioral control and attitude. Providing correct
      postpartum support and skills to handle breastfeeding difficulties after delivery
      will improve their exclusive breastfeeding behavior.

PMID- 26865917
TI  - Modelling protection behaviour towards micronutrient deficiencies: Case of iodine
      biofortified vegetable legumes as health intervention for school-going children.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite successes recorded in combating iodine deficiency,
      more than 2 billion people are still at risk of iodine deficiency disorders.
      Rural landlocked and mountainous areas of developing countries are the hardest
      hit, hence the need to explore and advance novel strategies such as
      biofortification. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We evaluated adoption, purchase, and
      consumption of iodine biofortified vegetable legumes (IBVL) using the theory of
      protection motivations (PMT) integrated with an economic valuation technique. A
      total of 1,200 participants from three land-locked locations in East Africa were
      recruited via multi-stage cluster sampling, and data were collected using two,
      slightly distinct, questionnaires incorporating PMT constructs. The survey also
      elicited preferences for iodine biofortified foods when offered at a premium or
      discount. Determinants of protection motivations and preferences for iodine
      biofortified foods were assessed using path analysis modelling and two-limit
      Tobit regression, respectively. RESULTS: Knowledge of iodine, iodine-health link,
      salt iodization, and biofortification was very low, albeit lower at the household
      level. Iodine and biofortification were not recognized as nutrient and novel
      approaches, respectively. On the other hand, severity, fear, occupation,
      knowledge, iodine status, household composition, and self-efficacy predicted the
      intention to consume biofortified foods at the household level; only
      vulnerability, self-efficacy, and location were the most crucial elements at the
      school level. In addition, results demonstrated a positive willingness-to-pay a
      premium or acceptance of a lesser discount for biofortification. Furthermore,
      preference towards iodine biofortified foods was a function of protection
      motivations, severity, vulnerability, fear, response efficacy, response cost,
      knowledge, iodine status, gender, age. and household head. CONCLUSIONS: Results
      lend support for prevention of iodine deficiency in unprotected populations
      through biofortification; however 'threat' appraisal and socio-economic
      predictors are decisive in designing nutrition interventions and stimulating
      uptake of biofortification. In principle, the contribution is threefold: 1)
      Successful application of the integrated model to guide policy formulation; 2)
      Offer guidance to stakeholders to identify and tap niche markets; 3) stimulation
      of rural economic growth around school feeding programmes.

PMID- 26865918
TI  - Association between dietary flavanones intake and lipid profiles according to the
      presence of metabolic syndrome in Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at examining the association between
      dietary flavanones intake and lipid profiles according to the presence of
      metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
      SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed among 502 female T2DM
      patients (non-MetS group; n = 129, MetS group; n = 373) who were recruited from
      the Huh's Diabetes Clinic in Seoul, Korea between 2005 and 2011. The dietary
      intake was assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire
      (FFQ) and the data was analyzed using the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis
      program (CAN-Pro) version 4.0 software. The intake of flavanones was estimated on
      the basis of the flavonoid database. RESULTS: In the multiple linear regression
      analysis after adjustment for confounding factors, daily flavanones intake was
      negatively associated with CVD risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL
      cholesterol, and apoB and apoB/apoA1 ratio only in the MetS group but not in the
      non-MetS group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds
      ratio for a higher apoB/apoA1 ratio above the median (>= 0.74) was significantly
      low in the 4(th) quartile compared to that in the 1(st) quartile of dietary
      flavanones intake [OR: 0.477, 95% CI: 0.255-0.894, P for trend = 0.0377] in the
      MetS group. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary flavanones intake was inversely associated with
      the apoB/apoA1 ratio, suggesting a potential protective effect of flavanones
      against CVD in T2DM women with MetS.

PMID- 26865919
TI  - Combined effect of folate and adiposity on homocysteine in children at three
      years of age.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases is a major cause of death and is
      responsible for 23.8% of deaths in Korea. Clinical symptoms manifest in
      adulthood, but susceptibility begins in utero. Elevated homocysteine levels and
      adiposity might be linked to a greater risk in children as well as adults. We
      hypothesized that those who have simultaneous risk for folate and adiposity would
      be affected with elevated homocysteine levels at 3 years of age.
      SUBJECTS/METHODS: From the ongoing birth cohort at Ewha Womans University Mok
      Dong Hospital, we compared adiposity parameters, serum homocysteine, and folate
      levels in 238 children (118 boys and 120 girls) at three years of age. The
      relationship between birth outcome, current weight and body mass index (BMI),
      postnatal growth, and homocysteine level were assessed using correlation and
      general linear model. Additionally, we assessed the combined effect between blood
      folate status and adiposity on current homocysteine levels. RESULTS: Birth
      characteristics were not correlated with homocysteine. Current weight, BMI, upper
      arm circumference, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and hip circumference
      were positively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.05).
      Folate level was negatively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P
      < 0.0001). A relative high anthropometric measure which is compatible with
      adiposity and low folate level was associated with high homocysteine levels.
      CONCLUSION: We found a combined effect of adiposity and folate levels with
      homocysteine levels at three years of age. This implicates the beneficial role of
      folate supplementation in the high-risk population at an early age.

PMID- 26865920
TI  - Dietary factors associated with high serum ferritin levels in postmenopausal
      women with the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
      (KNHANES V), 2010-2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Serum ferritin levels are significantly increased after
      menopause and greatly affect women's health. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the dietary and non-dietary factors associated with high ferritin
      levels in postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Among adult women in 2010-2012,
      qualified postmenopausal women (n = 3880) were separated into quartiles of serum
      ferritin. The variable differences among the quartiles of ferritin were
      determined using either procsurvey chi-square test (chi(2)-test) among
      categorical variables, or GLM (Generalized Linear Model) among continuous
      variables. The odds ratio for high ferritin in relation to dietary factors was
      also determined using procsurvery logistic analysis. RESULTS: Age, obesity,
      drinking habit, and blood glucose levels were found to be significant indicators
      of high serum ferritin level after adjusting for all confounding factors. Among
      the food groups, grain, milk, vegetable, and seaweed intakes were significantly
      associated with high ferritin levels, but after adjusting for all confounding
      factors, only grains and vegetables remained significant factors. Among the
      nutrient groups, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C intake were significant
      factors, but after adjustment, none of the nutrient groups analyzed were
      associated with a high risk of ferritin. CONCLUSION: Age, obesity, drinking
      habit, and glucose levels, as well as inadequate intakes of grains and
      vegetables, were found to be significantly associated with high serum ferritin
      levels in postmenopausal Korean women.

PMID- 26865921
TI  - Vegetable intake is associated with lower Frammingham risk scores in Korean men:
      Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2007-2009.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Observational studies suggest that an association between
      vegetable consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the results are
      inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the daily intake of vegetables on a
      national level and its effect on the risk of CHD risk, as determined by the
      Framingham Risk Score (FRS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was conducted a cross
      sectional design of 2,510 male adults 40-64y of age who participated in the 2007
      2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Daily intake of
      vegetable was assessed by 24-h recall, and the consumption frequency of
      vegetables was determined using a food frequency questionnaire. The odd ratio of
      CHD risk according to daily intake and frequency of vegetables was analyzed.
      RESULTS: Total vegetable intake was inversely and significantly associated with
      the risk of CHD (Model 1: 4th vs. 1st quartile, OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96, P
      for trend = 0.0015), and the significant relationship with CHD risk remained even
      after adjusting for potential confounders (Model 3: 4th vs. 1st quartile,
      adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.49-0.95, P for trend = 0.0492). Subjects in
      the higher quartiles of non-salted vegetable intake had 31% lower odds of the
      risk of CHD compared to those in the lowest quartile after adjusting for various
      potential confounders in model 3 (aOR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.49-0.97, P for trend =
      0.0478). No significant associations between the frequency of vegetable intake
      (total, green, white and red vegetable) and the risk of CHD were found.
      CONCLUSIONS: The major results of this study indicate that higher vegetable
      intake may help prevent CHD in Korean men.

PMID- 26865922
TI  - Development and evaluation of continuing education course in renal nutrition.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Competent renal dietitians are crucial for better patient
      compliance and clinical outcomes, specifically in critical settings. The aim of
      this study was to develop and evaluate an evidence-based course in renal
      dietetics for dietitians working in health care systems where dietetic
      specialization is absent. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen licensed dietitians working
      with hemodialysis patients in Lebanon were randomly recruited to participate in
      the course. The latter was developed by the study's primary investigator,
      according to evidence-based practice guidelines, and focused on all aspects of
      renal nutrition. Total course duration was 28 hours spread over a 2 month period.
      Dietitians' knowledge in renal nutrition was tested pre- and post-training
      through a 23-item questionnaire; the total score was expressed in percentage (<
      60% score indicated insufficient knowledge). Paired-samples t test was used for
      statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall knowledge of the dietitians significantly
      improved post-training and reached satisfactory levels (pre: 38.75 +/- 17.20%,
      post: 62.08 +/- 21.85%). Sub-analysis of the change in the knowledge showed
      significant and satisfactory improvement only in 3 topics: 1) correct body weight
      use in calculations, 2) energy estimation method and 3) phosphorus management.
      Knowledge in the fluid management significantly improved but did not achieve a
      satisfactory level. CONCLUSION: The course significantly improved dietitians'
      knowledge in renal nutrition. If adopted as part of the continuing education of
      dietitians in countries that lack dietetic specializations, it may serve the
      first step towards improving health care practice.

PMID- 26865923
TI  - Consumer perceptions on sustainable practices implemented in foodservice
      organizations in Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sustainable practices in foodservice organizations
      including commercial and noncommercial ones are critical to ensure the protection
      of the environment for the future. With the rapid growth of the foodservice
      industry, wiser usage of input sources such as food, utilities, and single use
      packaging should be reconsidered for future generations. Therefore, this study
      aims to investigate the customer's perceptions on sustainable practices and to
      identify the relationship among sustainable practices, social contribution and
      purchase intention. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted using content
      analyses by reviewing articles on sustainable food service practices published
      domestically and abroad. Thereafter, data were collected with a face-to-face
      survey using a questionnaire and analyzed with factor analyses and multiple
      regressions. RESULTS: Sustainable practices classified with factor analysis
      consisted of 6 dimensions of green food material procurement, sustainable food
      preparation, green packaging, preservation of energy, waste management, and
      public relations on green activity, with a total of 25 green activities in
      foodservice operations. Consumers were not very familiar with the green
      activities implemented in the foodservice unit, with the lowest awareness of
      "green food material procurement (2.46 out of 5 points)", and the highest
      awareness of "green packaging (3.74)" and "waste management (3.28). The factors
      influencing the perception of social contribution by foodservice organizations
      among 6 sustainable practice dimensions were found to be public relations on
      green activity (beta = 0.154), waste management (beta = 0.204) and sustainable
      food preparation (beta = 0.183). Green packaging (beta = 0.107) and the social
      contribution of the foodservice organization (beta = 0.761) had strong
      relationships with the image of the organization. The purchase intentions of
      customers was affected only by the foodservice image (beta = 0.775). CONCLUSIONS:
      The results of this study suggest that sustainable practices by foodservice
      organization present a good image to customers and increase the awareness of
      valuable contributions that benefit the customer as well as the community.

PMID- 26865924
TI  - Genome-wide association study for the interaction between BMR and BMI in obese
      Korean women including overweight.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to identify common genetic factors
      associated with the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass index (BMI) in obese
      Korean women including overweight. This will be a basic study for future research
      of obese gene-BMR interaction. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The experimental design was 2 by
      2 with variables of BMR and BMI. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted in the overweight and obesity (BMI
      > 23 kg/m(2)) compared to the normality, and in women with low BMR (< 1426.3
      kcal/day) compared to high BMR. A total of 140 SNPs reached formal genome-wide
      statistical significance in this study (P < 1 * 10(-4)). Surveys to estimate
      energy intake using 24-h recall method for three days and questionnaires for
      family history, a medical examination, and physical activities were conducted.
      RESULTS: We found that two NRG3 gene SNPs in the 10q23.1 chromosomal region were
      highly associated with BMR (rs10786764; P = 8.0 * 10(-7), rs1040675; 2.3 * 10(
      6)) and BMI (rs10786764; P = 2.5 * 10(-5), rs10786764; 6.57 * 10(-5)). The other
      genes related to BMI (HSD52, TMA16, MARCH1, NRG1, NRXN3, and STK4) yielded P <10
      * 10(-4). Five new loci associated with BMR and BMI, including NRG3, OR8U8,
      BCL2L2-PABPN1, PABPN1, and SLC22A17 were identified in obese Korean women (P < 1
      * 10(-4)). In the questionnaire investigation, significant differences were found
      in the number of starvation periods per week, family history of stomach cancer,
      coffee intake, and trial of weight control in each group. CONCLUSION: We
      discovered several common BMR- and BMI-related genes using GWAS. Although most of
      these newly established loci were not previously associated with obesity, they
      may provide new insights into body weight regulation. Our findings of five common
      genes associated with BMR and BMI in Koreans will serve as a reference for
      replication and validation of future studies on the metabolic rate.

PMID- 26865926
TI  - Comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation and bioequivalence study of three
      different formulations of Imatinib Mesylate in CML patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Imatinib is known as the drug of choice for treatment of chronic
      myeloid leukemia (CML). For adults the recommended daily dosage of 400 mg
      requires simultaneous intake of up to four capsules or tablets each 100 mg. A new
      400 mg film coated tablet developed due to the need to swallow multiple capsules
      or tablets per dose and that was a negative impact on treatment adherence.
      SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A group of 36 patients were randomly assigned to receive
      Imatinib as 4*100 mg capsules, 4*100 mg tablets and 1*400 mg tablet. Blood
      sampling was performed for up to 48 h after first dosing. After that, subjects
      were monitored to assess drug related adverse events. Pharmacokinetic parameters
      were assessed using concentration-time curves for plasma Imatinib and its
      metabolite. RESULTS: Mean area under the curve (AUC (0-infinity)) values were
      27011, 25811 and 25699 ng/ml for 4*100 mg capsules, 4*100 mg tablets and 1*400 mg
      tablets, respectively. Cmax values were 1548, 1605 and 1622 ng/ml and t1/2 values
      were 15.7, 15.8 and 15.6 h. The Test/Reference ratios for AUC (0-infinity), AUC
      (0-48), and Cmax were 0.99, 0.99 and 1.02 for 4*100 mg tablets versus 4*100 mg
      capsules and 0.96, 0.96 and 0.99 for 1*400 mg tablet versus 4*100 mg capsules.
      The 95% confidence intervals were fully contained within the accepted interval.
      The mild and moderate adverse events considered to be drug related were reported.
      These events showed no clustering by type of dosage form and were of little to no
      clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Film coated (400 mg) tablet dosage
      formulations of Imatinib is bioequivalent to the commercial available 100 mg hard
      gelatin capsule, and is as safe and well tolerated.

PMID- 26865925
TI  - Role of the XPA protein in the NER pathway: A perspective on the function of
      structural disorder in macromolecular assembly.
AB  - Lack of structure is often an essential functional feature of protein domains.
      The coordination of macromolecular assemblies in DNA repair pathways is yet
      another task disordered protein regions are highly implicated in. Here I review
      the available experimental and computational data and within this context discuss
      the functional role of structure and disorder in one of the essential scaffolding
      proteins in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, namely Xeroderma
      pigmentosum complementation group A (XPA). From the analysis of the current
      knowledge, in addition to protein-protein docking and secondary structure
      prediction results presented for the first time herein, a mechanistic framework
      emerges, where XPA builds the NER pre-incision complex in a modular fashion, as
      "beads on a string", where the protein-protein interaction "beads", or modules,
      are interconnected by disordered link regions. This architecture is ideal to
      avoid the expected steric hindrance constraints of the DNA expanded bubble.
      Finally, the role of the XPA structural disorder in binding affinity modulation
      and in the sequential binding of NER core factors in the pre-incision complex is
      also discussed. 

PMID- 26865927
TI  - Effects of short-term pretreatment with atorvastatin on mobilization of
      hematopoietic progenitor cells: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in mobilization techniques, a considerable
      portion of patients fail to mobilize sufficient number of cells for successful
      autologous stem cell transplantation. There are several studies available that
      have demonstrated enhanced mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells with
      atorvastatin. Therefore, this prospective trial was conducted to evaluate the
      mobilizing effect of atorvastatin on hematopoietic progenitor cells. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: Forty-four autologous HSCT candidates were randomized in a double-blind
      controlled trial to receive atorvastatin 40 mg daily or placebo plus standard G
      CSF regimen. Treatment was initiated at the time of hospitalization and continued
      until the day of cell harvest. Independent-samples T-Test, Repeated Measures
      ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test were performed to compare means. Categorical
      variables were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Mean
      number of hematopoietic progenitor cells per microL of peripheral blood at the
      time of cell harvest did not differ significantly between the two groups. There
      was no statistically significant difference in secondary outcomes like time of
      platelet or PMN engraftment, occurrence of bleeding or infectious episode,
      duration of hospitalization and etc. CONCLUSION: The results of this study did
      not support beneficial effects of atorvastatin on mobilization of hematopoietic
      progenitor cells from bone marrow.

PMID- 26865928
TI  - Concentration Study of High Sensitive C - reactive Protein and some Serum Trace
      Elements in Patients with Benign and Malignant Breast Tumor.
AB  - Background : Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females
      worldwide. It accounts for 16% of all female cancers and 22.9% of invasive
      cancers in women. 18.2% of all cancer deaths worldwide including both males and
      females are from breast cancer. In this study we compared few serum elements in
      patients with benign and malignant breast tumor to find any related prognostic
      and predictive value. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control study was carried out
      in a hospital (Tehran - Iran) in 2012. Target population was divided in 2 groups;
      subjects with benign and malignant breast tumors. We did preoperative
      hematological test. Five milliliter fasting blood vein was collected, centrifuged
      in 3000 g for 15 minutes to obtain serum. We measured serum Calcium (Ca),
      Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), and high sensitive-CRP, analyzed
      statistically and compared recorded elements in 2 groups by software package SPSS
      version 16. The level of significant was considered P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 87
      women, 49 cases with benign breast disease (group A) and 38 cases with breast
      cancer (group B) entered our study. Serum concentration of Ca, mg, and P in group
      A were higher than group B, however these differences were not significant. We
      found no significant correlation between serum Zn and type of tumor in our
      patients. On the other hand, a significant elevation in hs-CRP in patient with
      breast cancer was seen (P Value=.000). Conclusion : Our results have shown
      similar concentration of Ca, Mg, Zn, P and completely different hs-CRP
      concentration in patients with benign and malignant breast disease.

PMID- 26865929
TI  - Identification of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 polymorphisms in Iranian patients who are
      under warfarin therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although catalytic properties of different genetic polymorphisms of
      VKORC1 and CYP2C9 products have been identified, there is limited study available
      regarding warfarin dose requirement in Iranian patient population. This study
      investigates the impact of these polymorphisms on 115 patients, referred to
      Payvand Clinical and Specialty Laboratory for determining the appropriate dose of
      warfarin. RESULTS of the study may be applicable to individuals who are under
      warfarin therapy to avoid warfarin resistance or intolerance. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: PT-INR test was utilized as a screening method. Genotyping were
      performed for VKORC1 and CYP2C9 using PCR method. Statistical analyses including
      unpaired t-test or ANOVA and regression were done using SPSS. RESULTS: VKORC1 GA
      was the most common genotype of VKORC1 allele among the study samples, with a
      rate of 57.4%. In CYP2C9 variant, 20% and 14.8% of subjects carried CYP2C9*1/*2
      and CYP2C9*1/*3 genotyping, respectively. By contrast, the WT *1/*1 genotype was
      more abundant and dominant. The high frequency of VKORC1 (_1639) GA genotype
      (57.4%), was significant versus for the rest of the cohort (42.6%). In addition,
      a significant relationship was found between CYP2C9*1 and drug dose (P>0.021).
      CONCLUSION: In this study, samples were characterized by higher frequencies of
      CYP2C9*1 and VKORC1 G/A, determined as higher warfarin taking doses. The results
      showed a significant relationship of the VCORC1 and CYP2C9 polymorphisms with
      warfarin sensitivity and severe side effects. Estimating right doses of warfarin
      to prescribe can help to reduce the risk of over- or under-anticoagulation and
      subsequently, the risk of thromboembolism or bleeding.

PMID- 26865930
TI  - Bone marrow infiltration in Langerhan's cell histiocytosis - An unusual but
      important determinant for staging and treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a reactive proliferative
      disease of unknown pathogenesis characterized by proliferation of Langerhans
      cells. Involvement of bone marrow (BM), liver and lung are related to high risk
      factors and poor survival. The aim of this report is to highlight the clinical
      and haematological findings of 5 cases of LCH with BM infiltration which may help
      to predict involvement of BM. CASE SERIES: Five cases of Langerhan's cell
      histiocytosis with bone marrow infiltration were retrieved from archives of
      Department of Hematology, PGIMER and Chandigarh for review and further analysis.
      Male to female ratio was 3:2 with mean age of 9.4 months. Two out of 5 patients
      had obvious skull swelling; however, radiography of the skull revealed lytic
      lesion of skull in 4 cases and 2 had skin rashes. Hepatomegaly was present in 4
      cases and 2 of whom also had lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. All patients had
      anaemia at the time of presentation. Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy
      in all 5 cases revealed infiltration by large histiocytes with abundant cytoplasm
      and coffee bean shaped nucleus. Nodules of these Langerhans cells with admixture
      of eosinophils were seen on trephine biopsy. Immunohistochemistry showed
      positivity for CD1a stain. CONCLUSION: BM evaluation is important in LCH patients
      to categorize disease which further determines the type of therapy to be given.
      Clinical details may help to predict the BM involvement; however, demonstration
      of CD1a positive cells in marrow is most important tool to diagnose marrow
      infiltration by LCH.

PMID- 26865931
TI  - A Large Cohort Study of Genotype and Phenotype Correlations of Beta- Thalassemia
      in Iranian Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thalassemia syndromes are the most prevalent single gene disorders in
      Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different types of beta-globin
      gene mutations, co-inheritance of alpha-globin gene mutations and/or Xmn1 SNP on
      disease phenotype in a large cohort of Iranian patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In
      total, 433 patients were clinically classified into beta-thalassemia major (TM)
      or intermedia (TI). Multiplex PCR, ARMS-PCR, RFLP-PCR and DNA sequencing were
      performed to identify both alpha- and beta-globin gene mutations and Xmn1
      polymorphism as well. All data were compared and analyzed by SPSS software in TM
      and TI groups, consequently. RESULTS: A total of 39 different beta-globin
      mutations were identified. Among them, the most common were IVS IInt1 (40.33%)
      followed by IVS Int5 (9.56%), C30 (7.22%) and Fr8-9(7%). All patients were
      subjected to evaluate common alpha-globin gene deletions. The patients inherited
      concomitant mutations of alpha- and beta-globin, showed no clinical modifications
      compared with those who had only beta-globin mutation. The TI patients showed a
      significant increase in frequency of both heterozygous and homozygous form of the
      Xmn1 polymorphism. It was also found that beta(0)/beta(0) genotype patients,
      inherited the Xmn1 polymorphism required lesser blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: No
      significant differences were observed, on the severity of disease, between
      patient's inherited defective alpha- and beta-globin genes and ones with just
      beta-globin gene mutation. Taking the results of this research into account, Xmn1
      polymorphism can be considered as an important genetic factor modulating the
      severity of disease.

PMID- 26865932
TI  - The Role of HDACs as Leukemia Therapy Targets using HDI.
AB  - Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are the enzymes causing deacetylation of histone and
      non-histone substrates. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are a family of
      drugs eliminating the effect of HDACs in malignant cells via inhibition of HDACs.
      Due to extensive effects upon gene expression through interference with fusion
      genes and transcription factors, HDACs cause proliferation and migration of
      malignant cells, inhibiting apoptosis in these cells via tumor suppressor genes.
      Over expression evaluation of HDACs in leukemias may be a new approach for
      diagnosis of leukemia, which can present new targets for leukemia therapy. HDIs
      inhibit HDACs, increase acetylation in histones, cause up- or down regulation in
      some genes and result in differentiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
      induction in malignant cells via cytotoxic effects. Progress in identification of
      new HDIs capable of tracking several targets in the cell can result in novel
      achievements in treatment and increase survival in patients. In this review, we
      examine the role of HDACs as therapeutic targets in various types of leukemia as
      well as the role of HDIs in inhibition of HDACs for treatment of these
      malignancies. 

PMID- 26865934
TI  - Correction: GDP versus ESHAP Regimen in Relapsed and/or Refractory Hodgkin
      lymphoma: A Comparison Study.

PMID- 26865933
TI  - Treatment related acute promyelocytic leukemia (t-APML) in breast cancer survivor
      treated with anthracycline based chemotherapy: rare case report.
AB  - Treatment related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) is well documented phenomenon
      after chemotherapy. In this subgroup of patients acute promyelocytic leukemia
      (APML) due to delayed complication of using anthracycline is very rare
      occurrence. Very few cases are reported in world literature. We are reporting a
      rare case of occurrence of t-APML in cured breast cancer patient treated with
      doxorubicin. 43 year old female presented with triple negative early breast
      cancer treated initially with Right modified radical mastectomy. Pathological
      staging was pT2N0M0. She was treated with 6 cycle of adjuvant AC (Doxorubicin,
      Cyclophosphamide). After latent period of 23 months she developed symptoms of
      fever, weakness and generalized body ache. On further investigation she was found
      to have acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML). We had successfully treated t-APML
      with conventional 7+3 induction and subsequent consolidation with ATRA (All Trans
      Retinoic Acid) and arsenic trioxide. Patient was given maintenance treatment for
      18 months after confirming negative PML RARA by RT PCR and declared cured.
      Patient is under regular surveillance in our centre. 

PMID- 26865935
TI  - Detection, Virulence Gene Assessment and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of O157
      Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Tabriz, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a food-borne
      pathogen and infection with this organism causes illnesses such as bloody
      diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. OBJECTIVES:
      Considering the lack of any information about the prevalence rate and the
      antibiotic resistance pattern of O157:H7 serotype in Tabriz, finding answers to
      the above mentioned subjects was among the goals of this study. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Two hundred E. coli strains from diarrheal or non-diarrheal stools of
      outpatients and hospitalized cases in Tabriz Imam Reza hospital were isolated
      between September and December 2014 using MacConkey agar and standard biochemical
      tests and then cultured on sorbitol MacConkey agar. The sorbitol-negative
      isolates were confirmed as the O157 serotype using O157 antisera. A multiplex
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for the detection of stx-1, stx
      2, eae, and mdh genes and the antibiotic resistance pattern of these isolates was
      determined using Kirby-Bauer method and clinical and laboratory standards
      institute (CLSI) standards. RESULTS: Of the isolates 11 (5.5%) were sorbitol
      negative, which were later analyzed by multiplex PCR and the results revealed
      that 2 (18.18%) isolates contained the stx-1 gene, 10 (90.91%) contained the stx
      2 gene, and 5 (45.45%) contained the eae gene. The stx-2 and eae genes were the
      most commonly encountered virulence factors. All or most of the isolates were
      susceptible to ceftazidime (100%), gentamicin (100%), ciprofloxacin (100%),
      nalidixic acid (90.9%), trimetoprim sulfamethoxazole (90.9%), chloramphenicol
      (90.9%), ampicillin (81.8%), and cephalothin (72.7%). On the contrary, moderate
      susceptibility of the isolates to doxycycline (54.5%) was observed. CONCLUSIONS:
      Due to the low frequency of STEC O157 and the high susceptibility rates of the
      isolates to the tested antibiotics in this study, STEC O157 has not become a
      major problem in Tabriz yet, but comprehensive microbiological surveillance
      programs that provide early warning and limit the scale of possible outbreaks
      would be essential.

PMID- 26865936
TI  - Isolation and Characterization of a Myoviridae MJ1 Bacteriophage Against Multi
      Drug Resistant Escherichia coli 3.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli, a member of the
      Enterobacteriaceae, is of particular concern because it is the most common (Gram
      negative) pathogen causing nosocomial and community infections. Researchers are
      now considering the use of phages for the control of various antibiotic-resistant
      bacterial infections. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to isolate and
      characterize a novel pathogenic/lytic phage that targets multi-drug resistant
      (MDR) E. coli 3, and to investigate its effectiveness at lysing this bacterium.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical strain of E. coli 3 was identified based on its
      16S rRNA sequencing and its antibiotic resistance profile was determined by the
      disc diffusion method. A bacteriophage was isolated from wastewater and its
      various characteristics, such as host range, heat tolerance, pH stability, one
      step growth, total protein content, and genome size, were determined. The
      antibacterial property of the phage was determined against log-phase bacterial
      planktonic cells at 37 degrees C. RESULTS: The bacteriophage, designated MJ1, was
      isolated by testing against a clinical MDR E. coli 3 strain. The MJ1 phage showed
      a wide range of heat and pH stability. The phage morphology, determined by
      transmission electron microscopy, revealed a structure comprised of a head (108
      +/- 0.2 nm long by 128 +/- 0.5 nm wide) and a contractile tail (123 +/- 0.5 nm
      long by 15 - 26 nm wide). These features placed the MJ1 phage in the family
      Myoviridae and the order Caudovirales. Eleven structural proteins (17 to 200 kDa)
      for this phage were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A double stranded DNA, approximately 32 kb, in size
      was detected for this phage on agarose gels. The phage efficacy against E. coli 3
      planktonic cells was also investigated. The MJ1 phage demonstrated a very good
      capability to reduce the numbers of E. coli 3 planktonic cells, as determined by
      a change in the bacterial growth (an optical density decrease at 600 nm from 0.40
      to 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: MJ1 phage has much potential for use in phage therapy and
      other applications.

PMID- 26865937
TI  - Investigation of OprD Porin Protein Levels in Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa Isolates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Pseudomonas aeruginosa porin OprD is a substrate-specific porin
      that facilitates the diffusion of basic amino acids, small peptides, and
      carbapenems into the cell. OprD-mediated resistance occurs as a result of
      decreased transcriptional expression of oprD and/or loss of function mutations
      that disrupt protein activity. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the level
      of oprD expression in P. aeruginosa clinical isolates to determine the
      contribution of OprD porins in carbapenem resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Included strains were divided into two groups, comprised of multidrug-resistant
      (MDR) and isolated carbapenem-resistant (ICR) strains. The transcription product
      level of oprD was identified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
      RESULTS: Of the 18 clinical isolates, a decrease in the oprD level was found to
      be significant in 13 isolates. Nine of eighteen isolates with a significant
      decrease were determined in the first group and comprised MDR isolates that
      showed a statistically significant difference compared with the ICR group (P =
      0.001). In the ICR group, oprD levels were found to be significantly low in 4
      isolates. Six different patterns were determined by comparing band profiles in AP
      PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Although the data support the idea that the basic mechanism of
      imipenem resistance could be via the loss of oprD, they do not fully explain the
      role of oprD and indicate that other mechanisms may play an important role.
      Additionally, the significant decrease in the oprD levels in MDR strains suggests
      that oprD also plays a role in the emergence of both carbapenem and non
      carbapenem resistance.

PMID- 26865938
TI  - Design, Construction and Cloning of Truncated ORF2 and tPAsp-PADRE-Truncated ORF2
      Gene Cassette From Hepatitis E Virus in the pVAX1 Expression Vector.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is the causative agent of enterically
      transmitted acute hepatitis and has high mortality rate of up to 30% among
      pregnant women. Therefore, development of a novel vaccine is a desirable goal.
      OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to construct tPAsp-PADRE-truncated open
      reading frame 2 (ORF2) and truncated ORF2 DNA plasmid, which can assist future
      studies with the preparation of an effective vaccine against Hepatitis E Virus.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A synthetic codon-optimized gene cassette encoding tPAsp
      PADRE-truncated ORF2 protein was designed, constructed and analyzed by some
      bioinformatics software. Furthermore, a codon-optimized truncated ORF2 gene was
      amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a specific primer from the
      previous construct. The constructs were sub-cloned in the pVAX1 expression vector
      and finally expressed in eukaryotic cells. RESULTS: Sequence analysis and
      bioinformatics studies of the codon-optimized gene cassette revealed that codon
      adaptation index (CAI), GC content, and frequency of optimal codon usage (Fop)
      value were improved, and performance of the secretory signal was confirmed.
      Cloning and sub-cloning of the tPAsp-PADRE-truncated ORF2 gene cassette and
      truncated ORF2 gene were confirmed by colony PCR, restriction enzymes digestion
      and DNA sequencing of the recombinant plasmids pVAX-tPAsp-PADRE-truncated ORF2
      (aa 112-660) and pVAX-truncated ORF2 (aa 112-660). The expression of truncated
      ORF2 protein in eukaryotic cells was approved by an Immunofluorescence assay
      (IFA) and the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that the tPAsp-PADRE
      truncated ORF2 gene cassette and the truncated ORF2 gene in recombinant plasmids
      are successfully expressed in eukaryotic cells. The immunogenicity of the two
      recombinant plasmids with different formulations will be evaluated as a novel DNA
      vaccine in future investigations.

PMID- 26865939
TI  - The Effect of Campylobacter concisus on Expression of IL-18, TNF-alpha and p53 in
      Barrett's Cell Lines.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Barrett's oesophagus is a pre-malignant condition at gastroesophageal
      junction in which normal squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar shape
      epithelium, which predisposes oesophageal adenocarcinoma. It is known that
      Barrett's oesophagus evolves as a consequence of chronic gastro-oesophageal
      reflux disease. Although progression of Barrett's oesophagus to adenocarcinoma is
      still unclear, increasing incidence of oesophageal cancer and mortality worldwide
      make its study necessary. Several investigations have been made on the aetiology
      of oesophageal cancer. Most of them assessed genetical or environmental factors.
      However, potential role of bacteria in the development of oesophageal
      adenocarcinoma as a new environmental factor has not been addressed. Previous
      study on Barrett's disease detected presence of Campylobacter concisus as a new
      emerging pathogen on Barrett's and oesophageal cancer samples compared with
      healthy individuals. This indicates that this organism might involve in the
      progression of Barrett's to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. OBJECTIVES: This study
      aimed to determine the effects of C. concisus on expression of three biomarkers
      including interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and
      tumour suppressor gene (p53) in three Barrett's cell lines. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR assays were developed to measure expression
      of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-18 and TNF-alpha) and gene expression of p53 in
      Barrett's cell lines in co-culture with C. concisus. RESULTS: The mentioned
      organism was able to modulate considerably expression of p53, TNF-alpha and IL-18
      in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that microorganism
      influences expression of carcinogenesis biomarker and cytokines in cell line
      models and possibility promotes oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26865940
TI  - Detection and Typing of Human Papilloma Viruses by Nested Multiplex Polymerase
      Chain Reaction Assay in Cervical Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in under
      developed countries. Human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 and 18 are the most prevalent
      types associated with carcinogenesis in the cervix. Conventional Polymerase Chain
      Reaction (PCR), type-specific and consensus primer-based PCR followed by
      sequencing, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) or hybridization by
      specific probes are common methods for HPV detection and typing. In addition,
      some researchers have developed a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection and
      typing of different HPVs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to
      investigate the prevalence of HPV infection and its types in cervical Squamous
      Cell Carcinoma (SCC) using the Nested Multiplex PCR (NMPCR) assay. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Sixty-six samples with histologically confirmed SCC were evaluated.
      Total DNA was isolated by phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation.
      Nested multiplex PCR was performed with first-round PCR by GP-E6/E7 consensus
      primers for amplification of the genomic DNA of all known mucosal HPV genotypes
      and second-round PCR by type-specific multiplex PCR primer cocktails. RESULTS:
      Human papilloma virus infection was detected in 78.8% of samples, with the
      highest prevalence of HPV 16 (60.6%) while concurrent infections with two types
      was detected in 10.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The NMPCR assay is more convenient and easy
      for analysis of results, which is important for fast diagnosis and patient
      management, in a type-specific manner.

PMID- 26865941
TI  - Evaluation of mRNA Expression Levels of cyp51A and mdr1, Candidate Genes for
      Voriconazole Resistance in Aspergillus flavus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Voriconazole Resistance (VRC-R) in Aspergillus flavus isolates
      impacts the management of aspergillosis, since azoles are the first choice for
      prophylaxis and therapy. However, to the best of our knowledge, the mechanisms
      underlying voriconazole resistance are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: The present
      study was designed to evaluate mRNA expression levels of cyp51A and mdr1 genes in
      voriconazole resistant A. flavus by a Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase
      Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five A. flavus isolates
      with resistance to VRC were examined by a RT-PCR approach. RESULTS: Four out of
      five isolates revealed cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA overexpression. Interestingly, the
      isolate, which was negative for cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA expression showed a high
      voriconazole Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Furthermore, a computational
      based analysis predicted that voriconazole resistance could be mediated through
      cooperation with a network protein interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Our experimental and
      in silico findings may provide new insight in the complex molecular pathways of
      drug resistance and also could assist design an efficient therapeutic strategy
      for aspergillosis treatment.

PMID- 26865942
TI  - Evaluation of Immune Response Against Inactivated Avian Influenza (H9N2) Vaccine,
      by Using Chitosan Nanoparticles.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Influenza A is a virus that affects a wide range of animals and also
      human beings. Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H9N2 has the potential to
      create influenza pandemic and vaccination is a common solution for this problem.
      The vaccine, used for rapid intervention, should be safe to use and highly
      effective, after a single administration. Chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) have
      already been recommended as a new adjuvant for inactivated AIV H9N2 vaccine
      immunization. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at the evaluation and better
      understanding of optimum concentration of CNP preparations and also, assessment
      of loading capacity of AIV into CNP, as an adjuvant in specific pathogen-free
      (SPF) chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For measurement of vaccine-antibody
      response, different types of CNP were injected intramuscularly, in a single dose,
      to 21-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens. Chickens were monitored for the
      efficacy of the nanoparticles and, also, their immune response, during a follow
      up of 7 weeks, by using hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. The CNP were
      prepared according to modified ionic gelation method and inactivated antigen was
      loaded in four hemagglutinin units (HAU) concentrations. Loading capacity of
      nanoparticles was determined by hemagglutination (HA) method. Inactivated A/H9N2
      AIV was mixed with chitosan of low molecular weight. RESULTS: The CNP did not
      cause any mortality or side effects, when chickens were administered the prepared
      vaccine. The results strongly showed that this novel vaccine significantly
      enhances the immunogenicity of inactivated AIV, comparing with ISA70 (SEPPIC,
      Puteaux, France) adjuvant that is used routinely in the Razi Serum and Vaccine
      Research and Production Institute, Karaj, Iran, to reduce ISA70's side effects.
      CONCLUSIONS: The AIV loaded into CNP vaccines induce appropriate antibody titers,
      after a single immunization, while requiring a low dose of antigen. The CNP also
      represent an interesting new platform for antigen delivery and a promising
      adjuvant candidate for H9N2 inactivated influenza vaccine.

PMID- 26865943
TI  - Impact of Human Enterovirus 71 Genotypes in Meningoencephalitis in Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since the importance of poliovirus has diminished, as a result of its
      elimination in the majority of countries, non-polioviruses are emerging as
      causative agents of severe central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Outbreaks of
      enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated CNS infections have recently been reported in
      Asia, Australia, and Europe. OBJECTIVES: This is the first study on genotyping of
      EV71 in children with meningoencephalitis to be carried out in Iran, and it was
      conducted in order to obtain an improved understanding of the disease burden of
      this virus, particularly with regard to CNS involvement. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Viral RNA was extracted from 170 cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from
      children aged under 8 years with a primary diagnosis of aseptic meningitis.
      Specific EV71 PCR was conducted to identify the genotype of the detected EV71
      viruses. RESULTS: Human enteroviruses (HEVs) were detected in 89 patients
      (52.3%). EV71 infection was detected in 19 (21.3%) of the 89 EV71-positive
      patients, and the C genotype was identified in 15 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The C
      genotype should be considered as the prevalent EV71 circulating genotype in Iran,
      particularly in cases of aseptic meningitis.

PMID- 26865944
TI  - Antimicrobial Activity of Lactobacillus spp. Isolated From Fecal Flora of Healthy
      Breast-Fed Infants Against Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Among the enteric pathogens, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are
      important causes of diarrhea in children in both developing and industrialized
      countries. Some Lactobacillus species are commonly used as probiotics, with
      effects especially against acute diarrhea in childhood. OBJECTIVES: The aim of
      this study was to explore antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus strains
      isolated from fecal flora of healthy breast-fed infants against five
      diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes such as enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC),
      enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteropathogenic
      E. coli (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal
      samples were collected from seven healthy breast-fed infants between 1 to 18
      months of age in Tehran city, Iran. Identification of Lactobacillus isolates was
      performed by biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing methods. An agar well
      diffusion assay was used for detection of antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus
      isolates against five diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes. RESULTS: A total of 20
      Lactobacillus isolates were identified from stool samples. Lactobacillus
      fermentum was the most frequently isolated strain, followed by L. plantarum and
      L. rhamnosus. Seven Lactobacillus strains including L. fermentum (four isolates),
      L. paracasei (one isolate), L. plantarum (one isolate) and L. rhamnosus (one
      isolate) had a mild inhibitory activity against diarrheagenic E. coli. The
      mechanism of inhibitory activity of Lactobacillus strains appeared to be due to
      the production of organic acids or hydrogen peroxide. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      show that Lactobacillus strains with human origin had a mild inhibitory activity
      against the diarrheagenic E. coli, and these strains may be useful as probiotic
      candidates in prevention of intestinal infections caused by diarrheagenic E.
      coli.

PMID- 26865945
TI  - Reporting phenotypes in mouse models when considering body size as a potential
      confounder.
AB  - Genotype-phenotype studies aim to identify causative relationships between genes
      and phenotypes. The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium is a high
      throughput phenotyping program whose goal is to collect phenotype data for a
      knockout mouse strain of every protein coding gene. The scale of the project
      requires an automatic analysis pipeline to detect abnormal phenotypes, and
      disseminate the resulting gene-phenotype annotation data into public resources. A
      body weight phenotype is a common result of knockout studies. As body weight
      correlates with many other biological traits, this challenges the interpretation
      of related gene-phenotype associations. Co-correlation can lead to gene-phenotype
      associations that are potentially misleading. Here we use statistical modelling
      to account for body weight as a potential confounder to assess the impact. We
      find that there is a considerable impact on previously established gene-phenotype
      associations due to an increase in sensitivity as well as the confounding effect.
      We investigated the existing ontologies to represent this phenotypic information
      and we explored ways to ontologically represent the results of the influence of
      confounders on gene-phenotype associations. With the scale of data being
      disseminated within the high throughput programs and the range of downstream
      studies that utilise these data, it is critical to consider how we improve the
      quality of the disseminated data and provide a robust ontological representation.

PMID- 26865946
TI  - Interoperability between phenotypes in research and healthcare terminologies-
      Investigating partial mappings between HPO and SNOMED CT.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identifying partial mappings between two terminologies is of special
      importance when one terminology is finer-grained than the other, as is the case
      for the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO), mainly used for research purposes, and
      SNOMED CT, mainly used in healthcare. OBJECTIVES: To investigate and contrast
      lexical and logical approaches to deriving partial mappings between HPO and
      SNOMED CT. METHODS: 1) Lexical approach-We identify modifiers in HPO terms and
      attempt to map demodified terms to SNOMED CT through UMLS; 2) Logical approach-We
      leverage subsumption relations in HPO to infer partial mappings to SNOMED CT; 3)
      Comparison-We analyze the specific contribution of each approach and evaluate the
      quality of the partial mappings through manual review. RESULTS: There are 7358
      HPO concepts with no complete mapping to SNOMED CT. We identified partial
      mappings lexically for 33% of them and logically for 82%. We identified partial
      mappings both lexically and logically for 27%. The clinical relevance of the
      partial mappings (for a cohort selection use case) is 49% for lexical mappings
      and 67% for logical mappings. CONCLUSIONS: Through complete and partial mappings,
      92% of the 10,454 HPO concepts can be mapped to SNOMED CT (30% complete and 62%
      partial). Equivalence mappings between HPO and SNOMED CT allow for
      interoperability between data described using these two systems. However, due to
      differences in focus and granularity, equivalence is only possible for 30% of HPO
      classes. In the remaining cases, partial mappings provide a next-best approach
      for traversing between the two systems. Both lexical and logical mapping
      techniques produce mappings that cannot be generated by the other technique,
      suggesting that the two techniques are complementary to each other. Finally, this
      work demonstrates interesting properties (both lexical and logical) of HPO and
      SNOMED CT and illustrates some limitations of mapping through UMLS.

PMID- 26865947
TI  - Towards exergaming commons: composing the exergame ontology for publishing open
      game data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been shown that exergames have multiple benefits for physical,
      mental and cognitive health. Only recently, however, researchers have started
      considering them as health monitoring tools, through collection and analysis of
      game metrics data. In light of this and initiatives like the Quantified Self,
      there is an emerging need to open the data produced by health games and their
      associated metrics in order for them to be evaluated by the research community in
      an attempt to quantify their potential health, cognitive and physiological
      benefits. METHODS: We have developed an ontology that describes exergames using
      the Web Ontology Language (OWL); it is available at
      http://purl.org/net/exergame/ns#. After an investigation of key components of
      exergames, relevant ontologies were incorporated, while necessary classes and
      properties were defined to model these components. A JavaScript framework was
      also developed in order to apply the ontology to online exergames. Finally, a
      SPARQL Endpoint is provided to enable open data access to potential clients
      through the web. RESULTS: Exergame components include details for players, game
      sessions, as well as, data produced during these game-playing sessions. The
      description of the game includes elements such as goals, game controllers and
      presentation hardware used; what is more, concepts from already existing
      ontologies are reused/repurposed. Game sessions include information related to
      the player, the date and venue where the game was played, as well as, the
      results/scores that were produced/achieved. These games are subsequently played
      by 14 users in multiple game sessions and the results derived from these sessions
      are published in a triplestore as open data. CONCLUSIONS: We model concepts
      related to exergames by providing a standardized structure for reference and
      comparison. This is the first work that publishes data from actual exergame
      sessions on the web, facilitating the integration and analysis of the data, while
      allowing open data access through the web in an effort to enable the concept of
      Open Trials for Active and Healthy Ageing.

PMID- 26865948
TI  - IspH-RPS1 and IspH-UbiA: "Rosetta Stone" Proteins.
AB  - The protein IspH, (E)-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl 4-diphosphate (HMPPP)
      reductase, is an essential 4Fe-4S cluster-containing protein in the
      methylerythritol phosphate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Using a sequence
      similarity network we found that there are >400 IspH proteins that are about
      twice as large as most of the IspHs studied to date since their IspH domains are
      fused to either the ribosomal protein S1 (RPS1), or to a UbiA (4-hydroxybenzoate
      octaprenyltransferase)-like protein. Many of the IspH-RPS1 proteins are present
      in anaerobes found in the human gut and some, such as Clostridium botulinum, C.
      tetani and Fusobacterium nucleatum, are pathogens. The IspH-UbiAs are all found
      in sulfate-reducing anaerobes. The IspH domains in IspH-RPS1 are fused to 4 and
      in a few cases 6 tandem repeats in RPS1 that, in most organisms, bind to mRNA or
      form part of the bacterial ribosome. Mutants in which the four RPS1 domains were
      sequentially eliminated had similar IspH activity as wild-type protein,
      indicating they are not essential for IspH catalysis. Overall, the results are of
      interest since they represent the first isolation of a catalytically active IspH
      RPS1, as well as the identification of IspH-UbiA hybrids, two "Rosetta stone"
      proteins that are likely to be functionally related-IspH producing the
      isoprenoids required for a UbiA-like prenyl transferase; the IspH-RPS1 hybrids,
      perhaps, being involved in the stringent response or as Fe/O2 sensors.

PMID- 26865949
TI  - Key influence of sex on urine volume and osmolality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Demographics influence kidney stone risk and the type of stone that
      is more likely to form. Common kidney stone risk factors include having a low
      urine volume and a high urine concentration. The goal of the current study was to
      evaluate the effect of demographics on urinary concentration and osmole
      excretion. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected from non
      Hispanic white sibships in Rochester, MN. Height, weight, blood pressure, serum
      creatinine, and cystatin C were measured. Diet was assessed using the Viocare
      food frequency questionnaire. Effects of demographics and dietary elements on
      urine osmolality and volume were evaluated in bivariate and multivariable models,
      as well as models that included dietary interactions with age, sex, and weight.
      RESULTS: Samples were available from 709 individuals (mean age 66 +/- 9 years, 59
      % female). Across the age spectrum, males had higher urine osmolality (~140
      mOsm/kg, p < 0.0001) and total osmole excretion (~270 mOsm, p < 0.0001) compared
      to females. For any given urine volume, males had a consistently higher urine
      osmolality (~140 mOsm/kg, p < 0.0001). In multivariable models, urine osmolality
      declined with age and water intake and remained higher in males than females.
      Urine osmolality positively associated with weight and animal protein intake.
      Higher urine volume associated with larger water intake. An interaction revealed
      that greater body weight was associated with larger changes in urine osmolality
      as oxalate intake increased (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Data from this study support
      the hypothesis that there are sex differences in thirst and vasopressin action.
      This trend in urine concentration is also consistent with known epidemiologic
      patterns of urinary stone disease risk.

PMID- 26865950
TI  - Erratum to: The burden of smoking in Israel-attributable mortality and costs
      (2014).
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/2045-4015-3-28.]. 

PMID- 26865951
TI  - Different pitcher shapes and trapping syndromes explain resource partitioning in
      Nepenthes species.
AB  - Nepenthes pitcher plants display interspecific diversity in pitcher form and
      diets. This species-rich genus might be a conspicuous candidate for an adaptive
      radiation. However, the pitcher traits of different species have never been
      quantified in a comparative study, nor have their possible adaptations to the
      resources they exploit been tested. In this study, we compare the pitcher
      features and prey composition of the seven Nepenthes taxa that grow in the heath
      forest of Brunei (Borneo) and investigate whether these species display different
      trapping syndromes that target different prey. The Nepenthes species are shown to
      display species-specific combinations of pitcher shapes, volumes, rewards,
      attraction and capture traits, and different degrees of ontogenetic pitcher
      dimorphism. The prey spectra also differ among plant species and between
      ontogenetic morphotypes in their combinations of ants, flying insects, termites,
      and noninsect guilds. According to a discriminant analysis, the Nepenthes species
      collected at the same site differ significantly in prey abundance and composition
      at the level of order, showing niche segregation but with varying degrees of
      niche overlap according to pairwise species comparisons. Weakly carnivorous
      species are first characterized by an absence of attractive traits. Generalist
      carnivorous species have a sweet odor, a wide pitcher aperture, and an acidic
      pitcher fluid. Guild specializations are explained by different combinations of
      morpho-functional traits. Ant captures increase with extrafloral nectar, fluid
      acidity, and slippery waxy walls. Termite captures increase with narrowness of
      pitchers, presence of a rim of edible trichomes, and symbiotic association with
      ants. The abundance of flying insects is primarily correlated with pitcher
      conicity, pitcher aperture diameter, and odor presence. Such species-specific
      syndromes favoring resource partitioning may result from local character
      displacement by competition and/or previous adaptations to geographically
      distinct environments.

PMID- 26865952
TI  - Scale dependence of sex ratio in wild plant populations: implications for social
      selection.
AB  - Social context refers to the composition of an individual's social interactants,
      including potential mates. In spatially structured populations, social context
      can vary among individuals within populations, generating the opportunity for
      social selection to drive differences in fitness functions among individuals at a
      fine spatial scale. In sexually polymorphic plants, the local sex ratio varies at
      a fine scale and thus has the potential to generate this opportunity. We measured
      the spatial distribution of two wild populations of the gynodioecious plant
      Silene vulgaris and show that there is fine-scale heterogeneity in the local
      distribution of the sexes within these populations. We demonstrate that the
      largest variance in sex ratio is among nearest neighbors. This variance is
      greatly reduced as the spatial scale of social interactions increases. These
      patterns suggest the sex of neighbors has the potential to generate fine-scale
      differences in selection differentials among individuals. One of the most
      important determinants of social interactions in plants is the behavior of
      pollinators. These results suggest that the potential for selection arising from
      sex ratio will be greatest when pollen is shared among nearest neighbors. Future
      studies incorporating the movement of pollinators may reveal whether and how this
      fine-scale variance in sex ratio affects the fitness of individuals in these
      populations. 

PMID- 26865953
TI  - Leaf traits in Chilean matorral: sclerophylly within, among, and beyond matorral,
      and its environmental determinants.
AB  - Studies of leaf traits often focus on tradeoffs between growth and resource
      conservation, but little is known about variation in the mechanical traits that
      influence resource conservation. This study investigates how leaf mechanical
      traits vary across matorral vegetation in central Chile, how they correlate with
      environmental factors, and how these trends compare at a broader geographic
      scale. Leaf toughness, strength, stiffness, and associated traits were measured
      in five matorral types in central Chile, and relationships with soil N and P and
      climate variables were assessed. Trends with soil and climate were then analyzed
      across shrubland and woodland in Chile, Western Australia, and New Caledonia.
      Chilean species varied in leaf mechanics and associated traits, both within and
      among matorral types, with more species in sclerophyll matorral having strong,
      tough, and stiff leaves than in arid and littoral matorral. Overall, leaves with
      high leaf dry mass per area were stiffer, tougher, stronger, thicker, denser,
      with more fiber, lignin, phenolics and fiber per unit protein and less protein:
      tannin activity and N and P per mass, forming a broad sclerophylly syndrome.
      Mechanical traits of matorral species were not correlated with soil N or P, or
      predictably with climate variables, except flexural stiffness (EI W) which
      correlated positively with annual reference evapotranspiration (ET 0). However,
      soil P made strong independent contributions to variation in leaf mechanics
      across shrublands and woodlands of Chile, Western Australia, and New Caledonia,
      either separately (strength) or together with ET 0 (toughness) explaining 46-90%
      of variation. Hence ET 0 was predictive of EI W in Chilean matorral, whereas soil
      P was highly predictive of variation in leaf strength, and combined with ET 0 was
      highly predictive of toughness, at a broader geographic scale. The biological
      basis of these relationships, however, may be complex. 

PMID- 26865954
TI  - Timing and location of reproduction in African waterfowl: an overview of >100
      years of nest records.
AB  - The timing and location of reproduction are fundamental elements of reproductive
      success for all organisms. Understanding why animals choose to reproduce at
      particular times and in particular places is also important for our understanding
      of other aspects of organismal ecology, such as their habitat requirements,
      movement strategies, and biogeography. Although breeding patterns in waterfowl
      are relatively well documented, most studies are from northern temperate regions
      and the influences of location and time of year on breeding in Afrotropical ducks
      (Anatidae) are poorly understood. We outline six alternative (but not mutually
      exclusive) hypotheses that might explain where and when Afrotropical ducks choose
      to breed. To explore these hypotheses, we assembled and analyzed a new database
      of c. 22,000 breeding records for 16 Afrotropical ducks and one introduced
      Palearctic species (the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos). The full database is
      available on line as an appendix to this article. We identified five distinct
      breeding strategies as well as two outliers. Peak breeding for 9 of 16 indigenous
      duck species occurs during the dry season. We found no evidence for spatial
      synchrony or spatial autocorrelation in breeding, suggesting a high level of
      flexibility in waterfowl responses to prevailing conditions in any given year.
      More intensive analyses of alternative hypotheses are needed, but our initial
      analysis suggests that the timing of breeding for the majority of Afrotropical
      ducks is driven by a combination of resource availability and predation risk.

PMID- 26865955
TI  - Within species support for the expensive tissue hypothesis: a negative
      association between brain size and visceral fat storage in females of the Pacific
      seaweed pipefish.
AB  - The brain is one of the most energetically expensive organs in the vertebrate
      body. Consequently, the high cost of brain development and maintenance is
      predicted to constrain adaptive brain size evolution (the expensive tissue
      hypothesis, ETH). Here, we test the ETH in a teleost fish with predominant female
      mating competition (reversed sex roles) and male pregnancy, the pacific seaweed
      pipefish Syngnathus schlegeli. The relative size of the brain and other
      energetically expensive organs (kidney, liver, heart, gut, visceral fat, and
      ovary/testis) was compared among three groups: pregnant males, nonpregnant males
      and egg producing females. Brood size in pregnant males was unrelated to brain
      size or the size of any other organ, whereas positive relationships were found
      between ovary size, kidney size, and liver size in females. Moreover, we found
      that the size of energetically expensive organs (brain, heart, gut, kidney, and
      liver) as well as the amount of visceral fat did not differ between pregnant and
      nonpregnant males. However, we found marked differences in relative size of the
      expensive organs between sexes. Females had larger liver and kidney than males,
      whereas males stored more visceral fat than females. Furthermore, in females we
      found a negative correlation between brain size and the amount of visceral fat,
      whereas in males, a positive trend between brain size and both liver and heart
      size was found. These results suggest that, while the majority of variation in
      the size of various expensive organs in this species likely reflects that
      individuals in good condition can afford to allocate resources to several organs,
      the cost of the expensive brain was visible in the visceral fat content of
      females, possibly due to the high costs associated with female egg production. 

PMID- 26865956
TI  - Comparative phylogeography and evolutionary history of schizothoracine fishes in
      the Changtang Plateau and their implications for the lake level and Pleistocene
      climate fluctuations.
AB  - The water level oscillation of endorheic lakes and extent change of glaciers
      associated with the Asian monsoon are known as prominent representatives of
      climatic and environmental events in the Tibetan Plateau during the Quaternary.
      However, details process in spatial and temporal changes are still debated. We
      use the schizothoracines as a palaeoclimatic proxy to test two hypotheses
      concerning the evolution of Quaternary glaciations and lakes of the Changtang
      Plateau: (1) the Tibetan glaciations generally tended to decrease since the
      middle Pleistocene; (2) the lakes expansion was driven by summer monsoon
      rainfall. Based on a wide range-wide sampling throughout in the Changtang Plateau
      and its adjacent drainages, we constructed phylogeny and demographic histories of
      schizothoracines in the Changtang Plateau. Our results showed that the
      populations of the exorheic rivers and lakes in southern Tibet possessed higher
      genetic variability, earlier coalescent and expansion times than those of the
      endorheic lakes in the Changtang Plateau. Population expansions are highly
      consistent with phases of strong summer monsoon and high lake level during
      interglacial stages. The maximum growth rate intervals showed three pulses from
      64.7 to 54.8, 39.6 to 31.0, and 14.9 to 2.4 kya respectively. The significant
      positive correlations were found between regional precipitation and genetic
      diversity, as well as coalescence time of populations in the endorheic lakes. We
      suggested that the demographic history of the schizothoracines reflects the
      spatial and temporal changes in climate and lake level, in particular, in
      regional precipitation gradients associated with changes of the South Asian
      monsoon, and supports the climatic hypothesis of a general diminishing tend in
      Tibetan glaciations in the Tibetan Plateau since the middle Pleistocene. 

PMID- 26865957
TI  - Grazing exclusion reduced soil respiration but increased its temperature
      sensitivity in a Meadow Grassland on the Tibetan Plateau.
AB  - Understanding anthropogenic influences on soil respiration (R s) is critical for
      accurate predictions of soil carbon fluxes, but it is not known how R s responds
      to grazing exclusion (GE). Here, we conducted a manipulative experiment in a
      meadow grassland on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effects of GE on R s.
      The exclusion of livestock significantly increased soil moisture and above-ground
      biomass, but it decreased soil temperature, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and R
      s. Regression analysis indicated that the effects of GE on R s were mainly due to
      changes in soil temperature, soil moisture, and MBC. Compared with the grazed
      blocks, GE significantly decreased soil carbon release by 23.6% over the growing
      season and 21.4% annually, but it increased the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of
      R s by 6.5% and 14.2% for the growing season and annually respectively.
      Therefore, GE may reduce the release of soil carbon from the Tibetan Plateau, but
      under future climate warming scenarios, the increases in Q10 induced by GE could
      lead to increased carbon emissions.

PMID- 26865958
TI  - Patterns of hybridization among cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in northern
      Rocky Mountain streams.
AB  - Introgressive hybridization between native and introduced species is a growing
      conservation concern. For native cutthroat trout and introduced rainbow trout in
      western North America, this process is thought to lead to the formation of hybrid
      swarms and the loss of monophyletic evolutionary lineages. Previous studies of
      this phenomenon, however, indicated that hybrid swarms were rare except when
      native and introduced forms of cutthroat trout co-occurred. We used a panel of 86
      diagnostic, single nucleotide polymorphisms to evaluate the genetic composition
      of 3865 fish captured in 188 locations on 129 streams distributed across western
      Montana and northern Idaho. Although introgression was common and only 37% of the
      sites were occupied solely by parental westslope cutthroat trout, levels of
      hybridization were generally low. Of the 188 sites sampled, 73% contained <=5%
      rainbow trout alleles and 58% had <=1% rainbow trout alleles. Overall, 72% of
      specimens were nonadmixed westslope cutthroat trout, and an additional 3.5% were
      nonadmixed rainbow trout. Samples from seven sites met our criteria for hybrid
      swarms, that is, an absence of nonadmixed individuals and a random distribution
      of alleles within the sample; most (6/7) were associated with introgression by
      Yellowstone cutthroat trout. In streams with multiple sites, upstream locations
      exhibited less introgression than downstream locations. We conclude that although
      the widespread introduction of nonnative trout within the historical range of
      westslope cutthroat trout has increased the incidence of introgression, sites
      containing nonadmixed populations of this taxon are common and broadly
      distributed.

PMID- 26865959
TI  - A tough egg to crack: recreational boats as vectors for invasive goby eggs and
      transdisciplinary management approaches.
AB  - Non-native invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity, especially in
      freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems are naturally rather isolated from
      one another. Nonetheless, invasive species often spread rapidly across water
      sheds. This spread is to a large extent realized by human activities that provide
      vectors. For example, recreational boats can carry invasive species propagules as
      "aquatic hitch-hikers" within and across water sheds. We used invasive gobies in
      Switzerland as a case study to test the plausibility that recreational boats can
      serve as vectors for invasive fish and that fish eggs can serve as propagules. We
      found that the peak season of boat movements across Switzerland and the goby
      spawning season overlap temporally. It is thus plausible that goby eggs attached
      to boats, anchors, or gear may be transported across watersheds. In experimental
      trials, we found that goby eggs show resistance to physical removal (90 mN
      attachment strength of individual eggs) and stay attached if exposed to rapid
      water flow (2.8 m.s(-1)for 1 h). When exposing the eggs to air, we found that
      hatching success remained high (>95%) even after eggs had been out of water for
      up to 24 h. It is thus plausible that eggs survive pick up, within-water and
      overland transport by boats. We complemented the experimental plausibility tests
      with a survey on how decision makers from inside and outside academia rate the
      feasibility of managing recreational boats as vectors. We found consensus that an
      installation of a preventive boat vector management is considered an effective
      and urgent measure. This study advances our understanding of the potential of
      recreational boats to serve as vectors for invasive vertebrate species and
      demonstrates that preventive management of recreational boats is considered
      feasible by relevant decision makers inside and outside academia.

PMID- 26865961
TI  - The use of an unsupervised learning approach for characterizing latent behaviors
      in accelerometer data.
AB  - The recent increase in data accuracy from high resolution accelerometers offers
      substantial potential for improved understanding and prediction of animal
      movements. However, current approaches used for analysing these multivariable
      datasets typically require existing knowledge of the behaviors of the animals to
      inform the behavioral classification process. These methods are thus not well
      suited for the many cases where limited knowledge of the different behaviors
      performed exist. Here, we introduce the use of an unsupervised learning
      algorithm. To illustrate the method's capability we analyse data collected using
      a combination of GPS and Accelerometers on two seabird species: razorbills (Alca
      torda) and common guillemots (Uria aalge). We applied the unsupervised learning
      algorithm Expectation Maximization to characterize latent behavioral states both
      above and below water at both individual and group level. The application of this
      flexible approach yielded significant new insights into the foraging strategies
      of the two study species, both above and below the surface of the water. In
      addition to general behavioral modes such as flying, floating, as well as
      descending and ascending phases within the water column, this approach allowed an
      exploration of previously unstudied and important behaviors such as searching and
      prey chasing/capture events. We propose that this unsupervised learning approach
      provides an ideal tool for the systematic analysis of such complex multivariable
      movement data that are increasingly being obtained with accelerometer tags across
      species. In particular, we recommend its application in cases where we have
      limited current knowledge of the behaviors performed and existing supervised
      learning approaches may have limited utility.

PMID- 26865962
TI  - Will climate change impact the potential distribution of a native vine (Merremia
      peltata) which is behaving invasively in the Pacific region?
AB  - Merremia peltata is a species with uncertain status in the island nations of the
      Pacific region. It has been designated introduced and invasive in some countries
      whereas it is considered native in others. Recent increase in its abundance
      across some island landscapes have led to calls for its designation as an
      invasive species of environmental concern with biological control being suggested
      as a control strategy. Climate change will add to the complications of managing
      this species since changes in climate will influence its range limits. In this
      study, we develop a process-oriented niche model of M. peltata using CLIMEX to
      investigate the impacts of climate change on its potential distribution.
      Information on the climatic requirements of M. peltata and its current geographic
      distribution were used to calibrate the model. The results indicate that under
      current climate, 273,132 km(2) of the land area in the region is climatically
      unsuitable or marginal for M. peltata whereas 664,524 km(2) is suitable to highly
      suitable. Under current climate, areas of climatic suitability for M. peltata
      were identified on the archipelagos of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
      and Vanuatu. By the end of the century, some archipelagos like Fiji, Hawaii, New
      Caledonia and Vanuatu will probably become more suitable while PNG and Solomon
      Islands become less suitable for M. peltata. The results can be used to inform
      biosecurity planning, management and conservation strategies on islands. 

PMID- 26865960
TI  - Local parasite lineage sharing in temperate grassland birds provides clues about
      potential origins of Galapagos avian Plasmodium.
AB  - Oceanic archipelagos are vulnerable to natural introduction of parasites via
      migratory birds. Our aim was to characterize the geographic origins of two
      Plasmodium parasite lineages detected in the Galapagos Islands and in North
      American breeding bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) that regularly stop in
      Galapagos during migration to their South American overwintering sites. We used
      samples from a grassland breeding bird assemblage in Nebraska, United States, and
      parasite DNA sequences from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, to compare to global
      data in a DNA sequence registry. Homologous DNA sequences from parasites detected
      in bobolinks and more sedentary birds (e.g., brown-headed cowbirds Molothrus
      ater, and other co-occurring bird species resident on the North American breeding
      grounds) were compared to those recovered in previous studies from global sites.
      One parasite lineage that matched between Galapagos birds and the migratory
      bobolink, Plasmodium lineage B, was the most common lineage detected in the
      global MalAvi database, matching 49 sequences from unique host/site combinations,
      41 of which were of South American origin. We did not detect lineage B in brown
      headed cowbirds. The other Galapagos-bobolink match, Plasmodium lineage C, was
      identical to two other sequences from birds sampled in California. We detected a
      close variant of lineage C in brown-headed cowbirds. Taken together, this pattern
      suggests that bobolinks became infected with lineage B on the South American end
      of their migratory range, and with lineage C on the North American breeding
      grounds. Overall, we detected more parasite lineages in bobolinks than in
      cowbirds. Galapagos Plasmodium had similar host breadth compared to the non
      Galapagos haemosporidian lineages detected in bobolinks, brown-headed cowbirds,
      and other grassland species. This study highlights the utility of global
      haemosporidian data in the context of migratory bird-parasite connectivity. It is
      possible that migratory bobolinks bring parasites to the Galapagos and that these
      parasites originate from different biogeographic regions representing both their
      breeding and overwintering sites.

PMID- 26865963
TI  - Fixation probability of rare nonmutator and evolution of mutation rates.
AB  - Although mutations drive the evolutionary process, the rates at which the
      mutations occur are themselves subject to evolutionary forces. Our purpose here
      is to understand the role of selection and random genetic drift in the evolution
      of mutation rates, and we address this question in asexual populations at
      mutation-selection equilibrium neglecting selective sweeps. Using a multitype
      branching process, we calculate the fixation probability of a rare nonmutator in
      a large asexual population of mutators and find that a nonmutator is more likely
      to fix when the deleterious mutation rate of the mutator population is high.
      Compensatory mutations in the mutator population are found to decrease the
      fixation probability of a nonmutator when the selection coefficient is large.
      But, surprisingly, the fixation probability changes nonmonotonically with
      increasing compensatory mutation rate when the selection is mild. Using these
      results for the fixation probability and a drift-barrier argument, we find a
      novel relationship between the mutation rates and the population size. We also
      discuss the time to fix the nonmutator in an adapted population of asexual
      mutators, and compare our results with experiments. 

PMID- 26865964
TI  - Effects of polyploidy and reproductive mode on life history trait expression.
AB  - Ploidy elevation is increasingly recognized as a common and important source of
      genomic variation. Even so, the consequences and biological significance of
      polyploidy remain unclear, especially in animals. Here, our goal was to identify
      potential life history costs and benefits of polyploidy by conducting a large
      multiyear common garden experiment in Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand
      freshwater snail that is a model system for the study of ploidy variation, sexual
      reproduction, host-parasite coevolution, and invasion ecology. Sexual diploid and
      asexual triploid and tetraploid P. antipodarum frequently coexist, allowing for
      powerful direct comparisons across ploidy levels and reproductive modes. Asexual
      reproduction and polyploidy are very often associated in animals, allowing us to
      also use these comparisons to address the maintenance of sex, itself one of the
      most important unresolved questions in evolutionary biology. Our study revealed
      that sexual diploid P. antipodarum grow and mature substantially more slowly than
      their asexual polyploid counterparts. We detected a strong negative correlation
      between the rate of growth and age at reproductive maturity, suggesting that the
      relatively early maturation of asexual polyploid P. antipodarum is driven by
      relatively rapid growth. The absence of evidence for life history differences
      between triploid and tetraploid asexuals indicates that ploidy elevation is
      unlikely to underlie the differences in trait values that we detected between
      sexual and asexual snails. Finally, we found that sexual P. antipodarum did not
      experience discernable phenotypic variance-related benefits of sex and were more
      likely to die before achieving reproductive maturity than the asexuals. Taken
      together, these results suggest that under benign conditions, polyploidy does not
      impose obvious life history costs in P. antipodarum and that sexual P.
      antipodarum persist despite substantial life history disadvantages relative to
      their asexual counterparts. 

PMID- 26865965
TI  - Phenotypic plasticity in growth and fecundity induced by strong population
      fluctuations affects reproductive traits of female fish.
AB  - Fish are known for their high phenotypic plasticity in life-history traits in
      relation to environmental variability, and this is particularly pronounced among
      salmonids in the Northern Hemisphere. Resource limitation leads to trade-offs in
      phenotypic plasticity between life-history traits related to the reproduction,
      growth, and survival of individual fish, which have consequences for the age and
      size distributions of populations, as well as their dynamics and productivity. We
      studied the effect of plasticity in growth and fecundity of vendace females on
      their reproductive traits using a series of long-term incubation experiments. The
      wild parental fish originated from four separate populations with markedly
      different densities, and hence naturally induced differences in their growth and
      fecundity. The energy allocation to somatic tissues and eggs prior to spawning
      served as a proxy for total resource availability to individual females, and its
      effects on offspring survival and growth were analyzed. Vendace females allocated
      a rather constant proportion of available energy to eggs (per body mass) despite
      different growth patterns depending on the total resources in the different
      lakes; investment into eggs thus dictated the share remaining for growth. The
      energy allocation to eggs per mass was higher in young than in old spawners and
      the egg size and the relative fecundity differed between them: Young females
      produced more and smaller eggs and larvae than old spawners. In contrast to
      earlier observations of salmonids, a shortage of maternal food resources did not
      increase offspring size and survival. Vendace females in sparse populations with
      ample resources and high growth produced larger eggs and larvae. Vendace
      accommodate strong population fluctuations by their high plasticity in growth and
      fecundity, which affect their offspring size and consequently their recruitment
      and productivity, and account for their persistence and resilience in the face of
      high fishing mortality.

PMID- 26865966
TI  - Phantoms of the forest: legacy risk effects of a regionally extinct large
      carnivore.
AB  - The increased abundance of large carnivores in Europe is a conservation success,
      but the impact on the behavior and population dynamics of prey species is
      generally unknown. In Europe, the recolonization of large carnivores often occurs
      in areas where humans have greatly modified the landscape through forestry or
      agriculture. Currently, we poorly understand the effects of recolonizing large
      carnivores on extant prey species in anthropogenic landscapes. Here, we
      investigated if ungulate prey species showed innate responses to the scent of a
      regionally exterminated but native large carnivore, and whether the responses
      were affected by human-induced habitat openness. We experimentally introduced
      brown bear Ursus arctos scent to artificial feeding sites and used camera traps
      to document the responses of three sympatric ungulate species. In addition to
      controls without scent, reindeer scent Rangifer tarandus was used as a
      noncarnivore, novel control scent. Fallow deer Dama dama strongly avoided areas
      with bear scent. In the presence of bear scent, all ungulate species generally
      used open sites more than closed sites, whereas the opposite was observed at
      sites with reindeer scent or without scent. The opening of forest habitat by
      human practices, such as forestry and agriculture, creates a larger gradient in
      habitat openness than available in relatively unaffected closed forest systems,
      which may create opportunities for prey to alter their habitat selection and
      reduce predation risk in human-modified systems that do not exist in more natural
      forest systems. Increased knowledge about antipredator responses in areas
      subjected to anthropogenic change is important because these responses may affect
      prey population dynamics, lower trophic levels, and attitudes toward large
      carnivores. These aspects may be of particular relevance in the light of the
      increasing wildlife populations across much of Europe.

PMID- 26865967
TI  - Photographic identification of individuals of a free-ranging, small terrestrial
      vertebrate.
AB  - Recognition of individuals within an animal population is central to a range of
      estimates about population structure and dynamics. However, traditional methods
      of distinguishing individuals, by some form of physical marking, often rely on
      capture and handling which may affect aspects of normal behavior. Photographic
      identification has been used as a less-invasive alternative, but limitations in
      both manual and computer-automated recognition of individuals are particularly
      problematic for smaller taxa (<500 g). In this study, we explored the use of
      photographic identification for individuals of a free-ranging, small terrestrial
      reptile using (a) independent observers, and (b) automated matching with the
      Interactive Individual Identification System (I(3)S Pattern) computer algorithm.
      We tested the technique on individuals of an Australian skink in the Egernia
      group, Slater's skink Liopholis slateri, whose natural history and varied scale
      markings make it a potentially suitable candidate for photo-identification. From
      'photographic captures' of skink head profiles, we designed a multi-choice key
      based on alternate character states and tested the abilities of observers - with
      or without experience in wildlife survey - to identify individuals using
      categorized test photos. We also used the I(3)S Pattern algorithm to match the
      same set of test photos against a database of 30 individuals. Experienced
      observers identified a significantly higher proportion of photos correctly (74%)
      than those with no experience (63%) while the I(3)S software correctly matched
      67% as the first ranked match and 83% of images in the top five ranks. This study
      is one of the first to investigate photo identification with a free-ranging small
      vertebrate. The method demonstrated here has the potential to be applied to the
      developing field of camera-traps for wildlife survey and thus a wide range of
      survey and monitoring applications.

PMID- 26865968
TI  - Conservation genetics in Chinese sheep: diversity of fourteen indigenous sheep
      (Ovis aries) using microsatellite markers.
AB  - The domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been an economically and culturally important
      farm animal species since its domestication around the world. A wide array of
      sheep breeds with abundant phenotypic diversity exists including domestication
      and selection as well as the indigenous breeds may harbor specific features as a
      result of adaptation to their environment. The objective of this study was to
      investigate the population structure of indigenous sheep in a large geographic
      location of the Chinese mainland. Six microsatellites were genotyped for 611
      individuals from 14 populations. The mean number of alleles (+/-SD) ranged from
      7.00 +/- 3.69 in Gangba sheep to 10.50 +/- 4.23 in Tibetan sheep. The observed
      heterozygote frequency (+/-SD) within a population ranged from 0.58 +/- 0.03 in
      Gangba sheep to 0.71 +/- 0.03 in Zazakh sheep and Minxian black fur sheep. In
      addition, there was a low pairwise difference among the Minxian black fur sheep,
      Mongolian sheep, Gansu alpine merino, and Lanzhou fat-tailed sheep. Bayesian
      analysis with the program STRUCTURE showed support for 3 clusters, revealing a
      vague genetic clustering pattern with geographic location. The results of the
      current study inferred high genetic diversity within these native sheep in the
      Chinese mainland. 

PMID- 26865969
TI  - Stress-induced changes in abundance differ among obligate and facultative
      endosymbionts of the soybean aphid.
AB  - Bacterial endosymbionts can drive evolutionary novelty by conferring adaptive
      benefits under adverse environmental conditions. Among aphid species there is
      growing evidence that symbionts influence tolerance to various forms of stress.
      However, the extent to which stress inflicted on the aphid host has cascading
      effects on symbiont community dynamics remains poorly understood. Here we
      simultaneously quantified the effect of host-plant induced and xenobiotic stress
      on soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) fitness and relative abundance of its three
      bacterial symbionts. Exposure to soybean defensive stress (Rag1 gene) and a
      neurotoxic insecticide (thiamethoxam) substantially reduced aphid composite
      fitness (survival * reproduction) by 74 +/- 10% and 92 +/- 2%, respectively,
      which in turn induced distinctive changes in the endosymbiont microbiota. When
      challenged by host-plant defenses a 1.4-fold reduction in abundance of the
      obligate symbiont Buchnera was observed across four aphid clonal lines. Among
      facultative symbionts of Rag1-stressed aphids, Wolbachia abundance increased
      twofold and Arsenophonus decreased 1.5-fold. A similar pattern was observed under
      xenobiotic stress, with Buchnera and Arsenophonus titers decreasing (1.3-fold)
      and Wolbachia increasing (1.5-fold). Furthermore, variation in aphid virulence to
      Rag1 was positively correlated with changes in Arsenophonus titers, but not
      Wolbachia or Buchnera. A single Arsenophonus multi-locus genotype was found among
      aphid clonal lines, indicating strain diversity is not primarily responsible for
      correlated host-symbiont stress levels. Overall, our results demonstrate the
      nature of aphid symbioses can significantly affect the outcome of interactions
      under stress and suggests general changes in the microbiome can occur across
      multiple stress types. 

PMID- 26865970
TI  - Condition dependence of male and female reproductive success: insights from a
      simultaneous hermaphrodite.
AB  - Sexually selected traits are predicted to show condition dependence by capturing
      the genetic quality of its bearer. In separate-sexed organisms, this will
      ultimately translate into condition dependence of reproductive success of the sex
      that experiences sexual selection, which is typically the male. Such condition
      dependence of reproductive success is predicted to be higher in males than
      females under conditions promoting intense sexual selection. For simultaneous
      hermaphrodites, however, sex allocation theory predicts that individuals in poor
      condition channel relatively more resources into the male sex function at the
      expense of the female function. Thus, male reproductive success is expected to be
      less condition dependent than female reproductive success. We subjected
      individuals of the simultaneously hermaphroditic snail Physa acuta to two feeding
      treatments to test for condition dependence of male and female reproductive
      success under varying levels of male-male competition. Condition dependence was
      found for female, but not for male, reproductive success, meaning that selection
      on condition is relatively stronger through the female sex function. This effect
      was consistent over both male-male competition treatments. Decomposition of male
      and female reproductive performance revealed that individuals in poor condition
      copulated more in their male role, indicating an increased male allocation to
      mate acquisition. These findings suggest that sex-specific condition dependence
      of reproductive success is at least partially driven by condition-dependent sex
      allocation. We discuss the implications of condition-dependent sex allocation for
      the evolution of sexually selected traits in simultaneous hermaphrodites.

PMID- 26865972
TI  - Evolution of tail fork depth in genus Hirundo.
AB  - A classic example of a sexually selected trait, the deep fork tail of the barn
      swallow Hirundo rustica is now claimed to have evolved and be maintained mainly
      via aerodynamic advantage rather than sexually selected advantage. However, this
      aerodynamic advantage hypothesis does not clarify which flight habits select
      for/against deep fork tails, causing diversity of tail fork depth in hirundines.
      Here, by focusing on the genus Hirundo, we investigated whether the large
      variation in tail fork depth could be explained by the differential flight
      habits. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach, we found that migrant species
      had deeper fork tails, but less colorful plumage, than the other species,
      indicating that migration favors a specific trait, deep fork tails. At the same
      time, tail fork depth but not plumage coloration decreased with increasing bill
      size - a proxy of prey size, suggesting that foraging on larger prey items favors
      shallower fork tails. Variation of tail fork depth in the genus Hirundo may be
      explained by differential flight habits, even without assuming sexual selection. 

PMID- 26865971
TI  - Tree species richness decreases while species evenness increases with disturbance
      frequency in a natural boreal forest landscape.
AB  - Understanding species diversity and disturbance relationships is important for
      biodiversity conservation in disturbance-driven boreal forests. Species richness
      and evenness may respond differently with stand development following fire.
      Furthermore, few studies have simultaneously accounted for the influences of
      climate and local site conditions on species diversity. Using forest inventory
      data, we examined the relationships between species richness, Shannon's index,
      evenness, and time since last stand-replacing fire (TSF) in a large landscape of
      disturbance-driven boreal forest. TSF has negative effect on species richness and
      Shannon's index, and a positive effect on species evenness. Path analysis
      revealed that the environmental variables affect richness and Shannon's index
      only through their effects on TSF while affecting evenness directly as well as
      through their effects on TSF. Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrate
      that species richness and Shannon's index decrease while species evenness
      increases with TSF in a boreal forest landscape. Furthermore, we show that
      disturbance frequency, local site conditions, and climate simultaneously
      influence tree species diversity through complex direct and indirect effects in
      the studied boreal forest. 

PMID- 26865973
TI  - Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on whole-plant respiration and
      thermal acclimation of tropical tree seedlings.
AB  - Symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in tropical forests.
      AMF play a role in the forest carbon cycle because they can increase nutrient
      acquisition and biomass of host plants, but also incur a carbon cost to the
      plant. Through their interactions with their host plants they have the potential
      to affect how plants respond to environmental perturbation such as global
      warming. Our objective was to experimentally determine how plant respiration
      rates and responses to warmer environment are affected by AMF colonization in
      seedlings of five tropical tree species at the whole plant level. We evaluated
      the interaction between AMF colonization and temperature on plant respiration
      against four possible outcomes; acclimation does or does not occur regardless of
      AMF, or AMF can increase or decrease respiratory acclimation. Seedlings were
      inoculated with AMF spores or sterilized inoculum and grown at ambient or
      elevated nighttime temperature. We measured whole plant and belowground
      respiration rates, as well as plant growth and biomass allocation. There was an
      overall increase in whole plant, root, and shoot respiration rate with AMF
      colonization, whereas temperature acclimation varied among species, showing
      support for three of the four possible responses. The influence of AMF
      colonization on growth and allocation also varied among plant species. This study
      shows that the effect of AMF colonization on acclimation differs among plant
      species. Given the cosmopolitan nature of AMF and the importance of plant
      acclimation for predicting climate feedbacks a better understanding of the
      patterns and mechanisms of acclimation is essential for improving predictions of
      how climate warming may influence vegetation feedbacks.

PMID- 26865974
TI  - Whole genome sequence analysis of BT-474 using complete Genomics' standard and
      long fragment read technologies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cell line BT-474 is a popular cell line for studying the biology
      of cancer and developing novel drugs. However, there is no complete, published
      genome sequence for this highly utilized scientific resource. In this study we
      sought to provide a comprehensive and useful data set for the scientific
      community by generating a whole genome sequence for BT-474. FINDINGS: Five MUg of
      genomic DNA, isolated from an early passage of the BT-474 cell line, was used to
      generate a whole genome sequence (114X coverage) using Complete Genomics'
      standard sequencing process. To provide additional variant phasing and structural
      variation data we also processed and analyzed two separate libraries of 5 and 6
      individual cells to depths of 99X and 87X, respectively, using Complete Genomics'
      Long Fragment Read (LFR) technology. CONCLUSIONS: BT-474 is a highly aneuploid
      cell line with an extremely complex genome sequence. This ~300X total coverage
      genome sequence provides a more complete understanding of this highly utilized
      cell line at the genomic level.

PMID- 26865975
TI  - Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta
      lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from intensive care units at Hamad Medical
      Corporation, Qatar.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
      isolates has important clinical and therapeutic implications. High prevalence of
      ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae has been reported in the literature for
      clinical samples from a variety of infection sites. The present study was
      undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and
      to perform molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of
      clinical isolates from patients admitted to the intensive care units at Hamad
      Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, from November 2012 to October 2013. METHODS: A
      total of 629 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were included in the study.
      Identification and susceptibility testing was performed using Phoenix (Becton
      Dickinson) and the ESBL producers were confirmed by double-disk potentiation as
      recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Molecular
      analysis of the ESBL producers was performed by polymerase chain reaction.
      RESULTS: In total, 109 isolates (17.3 %) were confirmed as ESBL producers and all
      were sensitive to meropenem in routine susceptibility assays. Most of the ESBL
      producers (99.1 %) were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone
      and 93.6 % were resistant to cefepime. Among the ESBL-producing genes, bla CTX-M
      (66.1 %) was the most prevalent, followed by bla SHV (53.2 %) and bla TEM (40.4
      %). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show the high prevalence of ESBL-producing
      Enterobacteriaceae within the intensive care units at Hamad Medical Corporation,
      Qatar, and emphasize the need for judicious use of antibiotics and the
      implementation of strict infection control measures.

PMID- 26865976
TI  - Observed outcomes on the use of oxidized and regenerated cellulose polymer for
      breast conserving surgery - A case series.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oxidized regenerated cellulose polymer (ORCP) may be used for
      reshaping and filling lack of volume in breast-conserving surgery (BCS). The
      study aimed to observe both the aesthetic and diagnostic outcomes in patients
      with different age, BMI, breast volume, and breast tissue composition over 36
      months after BCS with ORCP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 18 patients with early breast
      cancer and with proliferative benign lesions underwent BCS with ORCP that was
      layered in three-dimensional wafer, and placed into the Chassaignac space between
      the mammary gland and the fascia of pectoralis major with no fixation. After
      surgery, patients started a clinical and instrumental 36-month follow-up with
      mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cytological
      examination with fine needle aspiration when seroma occurred. RESULTS: Below the
      median age of 66 years old no complications were observed even in case both of
      overweight, and large breasts with low density. Over the median age seromas
      occurred with either small or large skin retraction, with the exception of 1
      patient having quite dense breasts and low BMI, which had no complications. In
      elderly patients, 1 case with quite dense breasts and high BMI showed severe
      seroma and skin retraction, while 1 case with low BMI and less dense breasts
      highlighted milder complications. CONCLUSION: During 36 months after BCS with
      ORCP, a significant correlation between positive diagnostic and aesthetic
      outcomes and low age, dense breasts, and low BMI of patient was observed. Despite
      of the few number of cases, either low BMI, or high breast density improved the
      aesthetic outcomes and reduced the entity of complications even in the elderly
      patients.

PMID- 26865977
TI  - Corneal oedema after phacoemulsification in the early postoperative period: A
      qualitative comparative case-control study between diabetics and non-diabetics.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The occurrence and severity of corneal oedema after
      phacoemulsification is dependent on the integrity of corneal endothelial cells.
      The function of these cells is affected by diabetes mellitus and consequently the
      behaviour of the cornea in diabetic patients is of special interest. AIM: To
      compare the frequency of corneal oedema in two age-matched groups of diabetics
      and non diabetic patients that underwent cataract surgery in the Ophthalmology
      Department of Xanthi General Hospital in Greece. METHODS: A retrospective case
      control study was conducted in a retrospective fashion. Patients in the control
      and study groups were assessed regarding the severity of corneal oedema at three
      postoperative visits: days 1, 3-7, 10-14 after the operation. Ultrasound energy
      consumed during phacoemulsification was also a parameter of interest and possible
      correlations with the pre-existent cataract severity and the subsequent incidence
      of corneal oedema were investigated. RESULTS: The difference in the incidence of
      severe corneal oedema between the study and control group was statistically
      significant: (4.5% non diabetics vs 14.3% diabetics). The consumed ultrasound
      energy did not define final clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of
      diabetes mellitus type 2 appears to be a significant risk factor for the
      development of persistent corneal oedema. The results of our study led to the
      modification of the algorithm for postoperative follow-up of patients of this
      remote area of Greece.

PMID- 26865978
TI  - Bochdalek hernia: A rare case report of adult age.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Bochdalek hernia is the most common type of congenital
      diaphragmatic hernia and constitutes 85% of cases. Bochdalek hernia (BH) in
      adults is extremely rare. We present a BH case in an adult patient and discuss
      the literature. PRESENTATION: 22-year-old female patient with abdominal pain,
      occasional cramps, dysphagic problems, constipation, shortness of breath and
      choking for about 2 years applied to our clinic. DIAGNOSIS: A defect about 5 cm
      in the left hemidiaphragm posterior area and herniation of intra-abdominal fat
      plan in the left hemithorax was seen in intravenous and oral whole abdominal CT.
      TREATMENT: Patient was operated laparoscopically. Transverse colon and a large
      portion of the omentum entering into hemidiaphragm were pulled in to
      intraperitoneal area carefully. Approximately 10 * 8 cm intraabdominal mesh was
      fixed to the defect area with the help of laparoscopic tacker. CONCLUSION: Adult
      BH is very rare and when confronted laparoscopic treatment with mesh fixation can
      be performed safely.

PMID- 26865979
TI  - Acceptability and preference of three inhalation devices assessed by the Handling
      Questionnaire in asthma and COPD patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The patients' criteria of preference for inhalation devices can
      affect the extent of their adherence to treatment and outcomes. Aim of this study
      was to assess and compare the patients' preference and acceptability (PPA) for
      Breezhaler and Genuair (both Dry Powder Inhalers), and for Respimat (a Soft Mist
      Inhaler) in asthma and COPD out-patients by means of the Handling Questionnaire.
      METHODS: The Handling Questionnaire is a validated instrument which allows the
      investigation of different domains of PPA; it also takes into account the
      patients' age and gender, together with their previous experience with the
      inhalation devices and their previous education approach to them. Differences in
      terms of preference, acceptance and usability were assessed by linear and
      logistic regressions in order to evaluate factors influencing the proper
      actuation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Data from 333 patients were collected: Genuair
      and Respimat were the most liked and perceived as the easiest to use at glance by
      patients, but also as the least problematic according to the patients' and
      nurse's judgments. Mean number of attempts for achieving the first effective
      actuation was the highest with Breezhaler (2.6 vs 1.6; p <0.0001). Linear
      regressions showed that longer the explanation, higher was the number of attempts
      to the first proper actuation (0.58 additional attempts every 10 s increase in
      the first explanation, p <0.0001). Devices requiring less manoeuvres for the
      actuation were used properly after less attempts (0.38 increase in the number of
      attempts every additional manoeuvres, p <0.0001). Respimat proved to be the most
      indicated in COPD patients since it was the most liked and its successful rate at
      first attempt was the highest. Logistic regressions confirmed these data.
      Previous experience with DPIs and/or MDIs did not affect the patient preference
      and acceptability, independently whether suffering from asthma or COPD.
      CONCLUSIONS: Substantial differences are existing in patient's preference and
      acceptability for inhalation devices, mainly related to the handling and the
      understanding of the different devices.

PMID- 26865980
TI  - Process evaluation of the MOSAIC trial: treatment experience of two psychological
      therapies for out-patient treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study is part of a series of process evaluations within the
      MOSAIC Trial (Maudsley Outpatient Study of Treatments for Anorexia Nervosa and
      Related Conditions). This randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared two
      psychological treatments, the Maudsley Model for Treatment of Adults with
      Anorexia Nervosa (MANTRA) and Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM)
      for adult outpatients with Anorexia Nervosa. The present process study integrates
      quantitative (treatment acceptability and credibility) and qualitative (written)
      feedback to evaluate patients' treatment experiences. METHOD: All 142 MOSAIC
      participants were asked to (a) rate treatment acceptability and credibility on
      visual analogue scales (VAS) at six and 12 months post-randomisation, and (b)
      provide written feedback regarding their views on their treatment at 12 months.
      Transcripts were first analysed thematically and then rated according to the
      global valence of feedback (positive, mixed/negative). RESULTS: 114/142 (80.3 %)
      MOSAIC participants provided VAS data and 82 (57.7 %) provided written feedback.
      At 12 months, MANTRA patients gave significantly higher acceptability and
      credibility ratings compared to SSCM patients. A significantly higher proportion
      of MANTRA patients provided written feedback. MANTRA patients also tended to
      write in more detail and to give globally more positive feedback when compared to
      individuals receiving SSCM. Qualitative themes suggest that patients experienced
      the two treatments differently in terms of characteristics and outcomes.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the benefits of incorporating qualitative and
      quantitative data into RCT process evaluations. MANTRA patients were more willing
      to express their views on treatment and generally felt more positively about this
      than those receiving SSCM.

PMID- 26865981
TI  - Use of a modified early warning score system to reduce the rate of in-hospital
      cardiac arrest.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Physiological abnormalities are often observed in patients prior to
      cardiac arrest. A modified early warning score (MEWS) system was introduced,
      which aims to detect early abnormalities by grading vital signs, and the present
      study investigated its usefulness. METHODS: Based on previous reports, the Chubu
      Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was developed in Okinawa, Japan. The MEWS was
      calculated among all inpatients, and the rates of in-hospital cardiac arrests
      (IHCAs) were compared according to the score. The warning zone (WZ) was set as 7
      or more because of the high possibility of acute deterioration. The MEWS system
      was introduced to provide immediate interventions for patients who reached the WZ
      in accordance with the callout algorithm. The numbers of IHCAs were compared
      between the 18 months before and after introduction of the MEWS system. RESULTS:
      The numbers of patients who experienced IHCA with each score were as follows:
      score of 6, 1 of 556 patients (0.18 %); score of 7, 4 of 289 (1.40 %); score of
      8, 2 of 114 (1.75 %); and score of 9 or more, 2 of 56 (3.57 %). There was no
      significant difference in the mean age or sex between before and after the
      introduction of the MEWS system. The rate of IHCAs per 1000 admissions decreased
      significantly from 5.21 (79/15,170) to 2.05 (43/17,961) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:
      The Chubu Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was applied to all inpatients, and
      the rate of IHCA decreased owing to the introduction of the system, as the system
      enables early interventions for patients who have the possibility of acute
      deterioration.

PMID- 26865983
TI  - Identification of emergent bla CMY-2 -carrying Proteus mirabilis lineages by
      whole-genome sequencing.
AB  - Whole-genome sequencing of 24 Proteus mirabilis isolates revealed the clonal
      expansion of two cefoxitin-resistant strains among patients with community-onset
      infection. These strains harboured bla CMY-2 within a chromosomally located
      integrative and conjugative element and exhibited multidrug resistance
      phenotypes. A predominant strain, identified in 18 patients, also harboured the
      PGI-1 genomic island and associated resistance genes, accounting for its broader
      antibiotic resistance profile. The identification of these novel multidrug
      resistant strains among community-onset infections suggests that they are endemic
      to this region and represent emergent P. mirabilis lineages of clinical
      significance. 

PMID- 26865982
TI  - Hypersplenism in liver disease and SLE revisited: current evidence supports an
      active rather than passive process.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Active and passive theories have been advanced to explain
      splenomegaly and cytopenias in liver disease. Dameshek proposed active
      downregulation of hematopoiesis. Doan proposed passive trapping of blood
      components in a spleen enlarged by portal hypertension. Recent findings do not
      support a passive process. DISCUSSION: Cytopenias and splenomegaly in both liver
      disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) poorly correlate with portal
      hypertension, and likely reflect an active process allocating stem cell resources
      in response to injury. Organ injury is repaired partly by bone-marrow-derived
      stem cells. Signaling would thus be needed to allocate resources between repair
      and routine marrow activities, hematologic and bone production. Granulocyte
      colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may play a central role: mobilizing stem cells,
      increasing spleen size and downregulating bone production. Serum G-CSF rises with
      liver injury, and is elevated in chronic liver disease and SLE. Signaling, not
      sequestration, likely accounts for splenomegaly and osteopenia in liver disease
      and SLE. The downregulation of a non-repair use of stem cells, bone production,
      suggests that repair efforts are prioritized. Other non-repair uses might be
      downregulated, namely hematologic production, as Dameshek proposed. SUMMARY:
      Recognition that an active process may exist to allocate stem-cell resources
      would provide new approaches to diagnosis and treatment of cytopenias in liver
      disease, SLE and potentially other illnesses.

PMID- 26865984
TI  - Assessment of drug content uniformity of atropine sulfate triturate by liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman
      chemical imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Atropine sulfate is an anticholinergic agent for treatment of
      hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and is orally administrated as a triturate with
      lactose hydrate. Because of the low safety margin of atropine sulfate, triturate
      uniformity is a key safety factor. In this study, we assessed the uniformity of
      atropine sulfate in 1000-fold triturates prepared by wet mixing and dry mixing
      methods and discussed the cause of the difference in uniformity between two
      preparation methods. METHODS: A 1000-fold triturate of atropine sulfate with
      lactose hydrate was prepared by two different methods: wet mixing and dry mixing.
      The wet mixing was performed according to Kurashiki Central Hospital protocol and
      the dry mixing was a simple physical mixing by a rocking mixer. The uniformity of
      atropine sulfate content in aliquots of a 1000-fold triturate with lactate
      hydrate was assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
      quantification. Solid-state analyses of the triturates by Raman chemical imaging
      and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) were performed to investigate the difference
      in uniformity. RESULTS: The LC-MS/MS quantification showed that the uniformity of
      atropine sulfate in the 1000-fold triturate was excellent for wet mixing but was
      significantly variable for dry mixing. On the basis of the Raman chemical imaging
      and XRPD analyses, it was indicated that an amorphous thin film of atropine
      sulfate coated the surfaces of the lactose hydrate particles during wet mixing
      and contributed to the uniformity of the triturate. In contrast, clusters of the
      crystalline atropine sulfate were found in the dry mixing samples. CONCLUSION:
      The results showed that better atropine sulfate triturate uniformity was achieved
      using the wet mixing method rather than the dry method and the cause of the
      uniformity difference between two mixing methods was indicated by the
      multilateral assessment.

PMID- 26865985
TI  - Electrophoretically prepared hybrid materials for biopolymer hydrogel and layered
      ceramic nanoparticles.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In order to obtain biomaterials with controllable physicochemical
      properties, hybrid biomaterials composed of biocompatible biopolymers and ceramic
      nanoparticles have attracted interests. In this study, we prepared
      biopolymer/ceramic hybrids consisting of various natural biopolymers and layered
      double hydroxide (LDH) ceramic nanoparticles via an electrophoretic method. We
      studied the structures and controlled-release properties of these materials.
      RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and X-ray absorption
      spectra (XAS) showed that LDH nanoparticles were formed in a biopolymer hydrogel
      through electrophoretic reaction. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images
      showed that the ceramic nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed throughout
      the hydrogel matrix. An antioxidant agent (i.e., ferulic acid) was loaded onto
      agarose/LDH and gelatin/LDH hybrids, and the time-dependent release of ferulic
      acid was investigated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for
      kinetic model fitting. CONCLUSIONS: Biopolymer/LDH hybrid materials that were
      prepared by electrophoretic method created a homogeneous composite of two
      components and possessed controllable drug release properties according to the
      type of biopolymer.

PMID- 26865986
TI  - Evidence for Placental HPV Infection in Both HIV Positive and Negative Women.
AB  - Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have previously been reported to infect epithelial
      trophoblast cells of the placenta. To investigate this possibility, 200 placental
      samples from Zambian women were separated into HIV+ and HIV- groups and tested
      for HPV by redundant primer PCR, using GP5+/GP6+ and CPI/CPII primer sets. Three
      HPV genotypes (HPV6, 16 and 90) were detected in placental samples. Whereas, 20
      different HPV genotypes were detected in vaginal sampling of the same patients,
      suggesting that compartment specific sub-populations of HPV may exist. The
      incidence of HPV16 in placental samples was almost 2-fold greater in HIV+ women
      compared to HIV- (p = 0.0241). HPV16 L1 expression, detected by immunochemistry,
      was significantly higher in HIV+ than HIV- samples (p = 0.0231). HPV16 DNA was
      detected in the nuclei of trophoblast cells by in situ hybridization. Overall,
      these results suggest that HPVs infect the placenta and that HIV significantly
      influences these infections.

PMID- 26865987
TI  - Historical Parallels, Ebola Virus Disease and Cholera: Understanding Community
      Distrust and Social Violence with Epidemics.
AB  - In the three West African countries most affected by the recent Ebola virus
      disease (EVD) outbreak, resistance to public health measures contributed to the
      startling speed and persistence of this epidemic in the region. But how do we
      explain this resistance, and how have people in these communities understood
      their actions? By comparing these recent events to historical precedents during
      Cholera outbreaks in Europe in the 19th century we show that these events have
      not been new to history or unique to Africa. Community resistance must be
      analysed in context and go beyond simple single-variable determinants. Knowledge
      and respect of the cultures and beliefs of the afflicted is essential for dealing
      with threatening disease outbreaks and their potential social violence. 

PMID- 26865989
TI  - Evacuation During Hurricane Sandy: Data from a Rapid Community Assessment.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In anticipation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 New York City officials
      issued mandatory evacuation orders for evacuation Zone A. However, only a small
      proportion of residents complied. Failure to comply with evacuation warnings can
      result in severe consequences including injury and death. To better ascertain why
      individuals failed to heed pre--emptive evacuation warnings for Hurricane Sandy
      we assessed factors that may have affected evacuation among residents in
      neighborhoods severely affected by the storm. METHODS: Data from a mental health
      needs assessment survey conducted among adult residents in South Brooklyn, the
      Rockaways, and Staten Island from December 13--18, 2012 was assessed. Several
      disasters related questions were evaluated, and prevalence estimates of
      evacuation and evacuation timing by potential factors that may influence
      evacuation were estimated. Measures of association were assessed using chi-
      square and t--test. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 420 residents of which, only
      49% evacuated at any time for Sandy. Evacuation was higher among those who
      witnessed trauma to others related to the World Trade Center attacks (66% vs.
      40%, p=0.024). Those who reported extensive household damage after Sandy, had a
      higher rate of evacuation than those with minimal damage (83% vs. 30%, p<0.001).
      Among those who evacuated, evacuation before the storm was lower among residents
      living on higher floors (56% vs. 22%, p=0.022). DISCUSSION: Given that warnings
      to evacuate were issued before Sandy made landfall, evacuation among residents in
      South Brooklyn, the Rockaways and Staten Island, while higher than the overall
      Zone A evacuation rate, was less than optimal. Continued research on evacuation
      behaviors is needed, particularly on how timing affects evacuation. A better
      understanding may help to reduce barriers, and improve evacuation compliance.

PMID- 26865988
TI  - Immediate Needs and Concerns among Pregnant Women During and after Typhoon Haiyan
      (Yolanda).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pregnant and postpartum women are especially vulnerable to natural
      disasters. These women suffer from increased risk of physical and mental issues
      including pregnant related problems. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which hit the
      Philippines affected a large number of people and caused devastating damages.
      During and after the typhoon, pregnant women were forced to live in particularly
      difficult circumstances. The purpose of this study was to determine concerns and
      problems regarding public health needs and coping mechanisms among pregnant women
      during and shortly after the typhoon. METHODS: This study employed a cross
      sectional design utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs). Participants were 53
      women (mean age: 26.6 years old; 42 had children) from four affected communities
      who were pregnant at the time of the typhoon. FGDs were conducted 4 months after
      the typhoon, from March 19 to 28, 2014, using semi-structured interviews. Data
      were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis. RESULT: Three themes were
      identified regarding problems and concerns during and after the typhoon: 1)
      having no ideas what is going to happen during the evacuation, 2) lacking
      essentials to survive, and 3) being unsure of how to deal with health concerns.
      Two themes were identified as means of solving issues: 1) finding food for
      survival and 2) avoiding diseases to save my family. As the pregnant women
      already had several typhoon experiences without any major problems, they
      underestimated the catastrophic nature of this typhoon. During the typhoon, the
      women could not ensure their safety and did not have a strong sense of crisis
      management. They suffered from hunger, food shortage, and poor sanitation.
      Moreover, though the women had fear and anxiety regarding their pregnancy, they
      had no way to resolve these concerns. Pregnant women and their families also
      suffered from common health problems for which they would usually seek medical
      services. Under such conditions, the pregnant woman cooperated with others for
      survival and used their knowledge of disease prevention. DISCUSSION: Pregnant
      women experienced difficulties with evacuation, a lack of minimum survival needs,
      and attending to their own health issues. Pregnant women were also concerned
      about needs and health issues of their families, particular, when they had small
      children. Collecting accurate information regarding the disaster and conducting
      self-sustainable preparation prior to the disaster among pregnant women will help
      them to protect their pregnancy status, thereby improving their families' chance
      of survival during and after disasters.

PMID- 26865990
TI  - Methods for an International Randomized Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effect
      of Gsk249320 on Motor Cortex Neurophysiology using Transcranial Magnetic
      Stimulation in Survivors of Stroke.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a neurophysiological
      tool capable of assessing the motor nervous system and its change over time. In
      multi-site clinical trials, this technique has some advantages over other
      neuroimaging methods owing to its relatively low cost, low personnel and
      equipment infrastructure requirements, and greater ease in consistently applying
      technology to collect and analyze data. Limited published details exist regarding
      methods to deliver TMS and analyze data in a standardized and consistent manner
      as part of an international, multicenter, clinical trial. PURPOSE: The objective
      of this paper is to describe standardized methods of applying TMS motor cortex
      assessments in an international clinical trial of a pharmacological intervention
      for stroke patients, which was conducted at 15 centers in three countries.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A standardization process was developed to ensure TMS
      protocol adherence and data quality, and each clinical site was required to
      successfully complete standardization procedures prior to collecting patient
      data. Key elements of standardization included internet-based training, pilot
      subject data collection, common TMS equipment across sites, and corrective
      feedback provided by a standardization administrator. Subsequently, TMS
      assessments of motor hot spot location, motor threshold, and recruitment curve
      were conducted in stroke patients on post-stroke Days 5, 30, and 112. Ongoing
      standardization was maintained by regular review of patient data and
      communication between the clinical site and standardization administrator.
      CONCLUSION: Although TMS methodological approaches vary, a protocol with
      standardized procedures was successfully developed and implemented. Using this
      protocol, centers were formally certified to perform TMS-based neurophysiological
      measures in this clinical trial of stroke patients. The methodology described is
      potentially valuable to investigators who might construct future multi-site
      clinical trials using TMS.

PMID- 26865991
TI  - Evaluation of novel starch-deficient mutants of Chlorella sorokiniana for hyper
      accumulation of lipids.
AB  - When green algae are exposed to physiological stresses such as nutrient
      deprivation, growth is arrested and the cells channel fixed carbon instead into
      storage compounds, accumulating first starch granules and then lipid bodies
      containing triacylglycerides. In recent years there has been significant interest
      in the commercial exploitation of algal lipids as a sustainable source of
      biodiesel. Since starch and lipid biosynthesis involves the same C3 precursor
      pool, it has been proposed that mutations blocking starch accumulation should
      result in increased lipid yields, and indeed several studies have supported this.
      The fast-growing, thermotolerant alga Chlorella sorokiniana represents an
      attractive strain for industrial cultivation. We have therefore generated and
      characterized starch-deficient mutants of C. sorokiniana and determined whether
      lipid levels are increased in these strains under stress conditions. One mutant
      (ST68) is shown to lack isoamylase, whilst two others (ST3 and ST12) are
      defective in starch phosphorylase. However, we find no significant change in the
      accumulation or profile of fatty acids in these mutants compared to the wild
      type, suggesting that a failure to accumulate starch per se is not sufficient for
      the hyper-accumulation of lipid, and that more subtle regulatory steps underlie
      the partitioning of carbon to the two storage products.

PMID- 26865992
TI  - Optimization of an in vitro human blood-brain barrier model: Application to blood
      monocyte transmigration assays.
AB  - The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a selectively permeable barrier that separates
      the circulating blood from the extracellular fluid of the brain and is an
      essential component in brain homeostasis. In vitro BBB models are valuable
      supporting tools that can precede and complement animal and human studies of the
      development and progression of the central nervous system diseases. At present,
      mono-, co-, and tri-culture models that use porcine, murine, or human cells have
      been developed. We have optimized a two-dimensional model of the human BBB using
      primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells and normal human astrocytes.
      We have validated the effectiveness of our model with transmigration assays of
      human blood monocytes toward CCL19, a natural ligand of the chemokine receptor
      CCR7. This model offers the following advantages:*It is simple, convenient, and
      requires small quantities of material, reagents, and primary cells.*It can be
      used to monitor cell migration through the BBB.*It can be used to assess brain
      capillary permeability in the presence of xenobiotic, pro-inflammatory, or other
      substances. 

PMID- 26865993
TI  - An unusual presentation of filariasis in a nonendemic country.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Filariasis is an endemic disease with worldwide distribution in
      tropical and subtropical regions. It is uncommon in Qatar. The conventional
      diagnostic procedure is the demonstration of microfilaria in blood smears. Even
      with its high incidence, it is unusual to detect microfilaria in fine needle
      aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears. Although the 'filarial dance sign' is rarely
      documented, it remains a classical ultrasonographic sign in lymphatic filariasis.
      CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 38-year-old male patient with fever,
      chills, shortness of breath and a tender warm swelling on his right thigh.
      Ultrasound of the thigh lesion showed the classical filarial dance sign.
      Subsequently FNAC from the lesion documented microfilaria in spite of absent
      peripheral blood eosinophilia and microfilaria. The patient underwent an incision
      and drainage of the thigh lesion and was treated with ivermectin and
      diethylcarbamazine. He was subsequently admitted to the medical ward and
      discharged home after two weeks in a stable condition. CONCLUSION: This case
      report illustrates the importance of diagnostic tools like ultrasound and FNAC
      along with a high index of clinical suspicion while evaluating patients
      presenting with unusual signs and symptoms. We would like to highlight the rarity
      of filarial presentation in a nonendemic country like Qatar. This case is unique
      since microfilaria was demonstrated in the pus aspirated from the thigh abscess
      and showed the filarial dance sign by ultrasound along with involvement of the
      pleura and pericardium.

PMID- 26865994
TI  - Varicella-zoster virus associated encephalitis in a patient undergoing
      haemodialysis.
AB  - We describe an elderly gentleman with end stage renal disease on haemodialysis
      who presented with ophthalmic zoster infection and was discharged on oral
      acyclovir. He presented again a few days later with confusion and expressive
      dysphasia. Differential diagnosis was mainly between varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
      associated encephalitis versus acyclovir toxicity. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
      confirmed the diagnosis of VZV associated encephalitis and the patient was
      treated with intravenous acyclovir and steroids with full recovery back to pre
      admission neurological status. 

PMID- 26865995
TI  - HDAC and HDAC Inhibitor: From Cancer to Cardiovascular Diseases.
AB  - Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic regulators that regulate the histone
      tail, chromatin conformation, protein-DNA interaction, and even transcription.
      HDACs are also post-transcriptional modifiers that regulate the protein
      acetylation implicated in several pathophysiologic states. HDAC inhibitors have
      been highlighted as a novel category of anti-cancer drugs. To date, four HDAC
      inhibitors, Vorinostat, Romidepsin, Panobinostat, and Belinostat, have been
      approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Principally, these
      HDAC inhibitors are used for hematologic cancers in clinic with less severe side
      effects. Clinical trials are continuously expanding to address other types of
      cancer and also nonmalignant diseases. HDAC inhibition also results in beneficial
      outcomes in various types of neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation disorders,
      and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we will briefly discuss 1) the roles
      of HDACs in the acquisition of a cancer's phenotype and the general outcome of
      the HDAC inhibitors in cancer, 2) the functional relevance of HDACs in
      cardiovascular diseases and the possible therapeutic implications of HDAC
      inhibitors in cardiovascular disease. 

PMID- 26865996
TI  - Signaling Pathways in Osteoclast Differentiation.
AB  - Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells of hematopoietic origin that are responsible
      for the degradation of old bone matrix. Osteoclast differentiation and activity
      are controlled by two essential cytokines, macrophage colony-stimulating factor
      (M-CSF) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL). M-CSF
      and RANKL bind to their respective receptors c-Fms and RANK to stimulate
      osteoclast differentiation through regulation of delicate signaling systems.
      Here, we summarize the critical or essential signaling pathways for osteoclast
      differentiation including M-CSF-c-Fms signaling, RANKL-RANK signaling, and
      costimulatory signaling for RANK. 

PMID- 26865999
TI  - Modulation of Melanogenesis by Heme Oxygenase-1 via p53 in Normal Human
      Melanocytes.
AB  - As a key regulator of melanogenesis, p53 controls microphthalmia-associated
      transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase expression. The anti-oxidant enzyme
      heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced by various forms of cellular stress and
      diverse oxidative stimuli. However, few studies have examined the role of HO-1 in
      melanogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of HO-1
      in melanogenesis and the mechanism underlying this relationship. Cultures of
      normal human melanocytes were treated with the HO-1 inducer cobalt protoporphyrin
      (CoPP) or the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP). We then measured the
      melanin content of the cells. Additional analyses consisted of Western blotting
      and RT-PCR. The results showed that the cellular melanin content was increased by
      CoPP and decreased by ZnPP. The Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that CoPP
      increased p53, MITF and tyrosinase levels, and ZnPP reduced all of them. The
      knockdown of p53 by siRNA transfection was followed by large decreases in the
      expression levels of p53, MITF and tyrosinase at 3 h of transfection. The
      presence of CoPP or ZnPP had no significant increased or decreased effects on
      MITF and tyrosinase levels from 15 h in the siRNA transfectants. Our results
      suggest that HO-1 modulates melanogenesis in human melanocytes via a p53
      dependent pathway. 

PMID- 26865997
TI  - The Neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder: An Integrated Approach.
AB  - Bipolar disorder is a heterogeneous condition with myriad clinical manifestations
      and many comorbidities leading to severe disabilities in the biopsychosocial
      realm. The objective of this review article was to underline recent advances in
      knowledge regarding the neurobiology of bipolar disorder. A further aim was to
      draw attention to new therapeutic targets in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
      To accomplish these goals, an electronic search was undertaken of the PubMed
      database in August 2015 of literature published during the last 10 years on the
      pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. A wide-ranging evaluation of the existing
      work was done with search terms such as "mood disorders and biology," "bipolar
      disorder and HPA axis," "bipolar disorder and cytokines," "mood disorders and
      circadian rhythm," "bipolar disorder and oxidative stress," etc. This endeavor
      showed that bipolar disorder is a diverse condition sharing neurobiological
      mechanisms with major depressive disorder and psychotic spectrum disorders. There
      is convincing evidence of crosstalk between different biological systems that act
      in a deleterious manner causing expression of the disease in genetically
      predisposed individuals. Inflammatory mediators act in concert with oxidative
      stress to dysregulate hormonal, metabolic, and circadian homeostasis in
      precipitating and perpetuating the illness. Stress, whether biologically or
      psychologically mediated, is responsible for the initiation and progression of
      the diathesis. Bipolar spectrum disorders have a strong genetic component; severe
      life stresses acting through various paths cause the illness phenotype. 

PMID- 26865998
TI  - No-Reflow Phoenomenon by Intracoronary Thrombus in Acute Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - Recently, percutaneous coronary intervention has been the treatment of choice in
      most acute myocardial infarction cases. Although the results of percutaneous
      coronary interventions have ben good, the no-reflow phenomenon and distal
      embolization of intracoronary thrombus are still major problems even after
      successful interventions. In this article, we will briefly review the deleterious
      effects of no-reflow and distal embolization of intracoronary thrombus during
      percutaneous coronary interventions. The current trials focused on the prevention
      and treatment of the no-reflow phenomenon and intracoronary thrombus. 

PMID- 26866000
TI  - The Effects of Air Pollution on Ischemic Stroke Admission Rate.
AB  - The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of air
      pollutants and the rate of ischemic stroke (IS) admissions to hospitals. In this
      retrospective cross-sectional study, stroke admissions (January-March 2012 and
      2013) to an emergency department and air pollution and meteorological data were
      gathered. The relationship between air pollutant levels and hospital admission
      rates were evaluated using the generalize additive model. In all 379 patients
      with IS were referred to the hospital (52.5% male; mean age 68.2+/-13.3 years).
      Both transient (p<0.001) and long-term (p<0.001) rises in CO level increases the
      risk of IS. Increased weekly (p<0.001) and monthly (p<0.001) average O3 levels
      amplifies this risk, while a transient increase in NO2 (p<0.001) and SO2
      (p<0.001) levels has the same effect. Long-term changes in PM10 (p<0.001) and
      PM2.5 (p<0.001) also increase the risk of IS. The findings showed that the level
      of air pollutants directly correlates with the number of stroke admissions to the
      emergency department. 

PMID- 26866001
TI  - Association of APOE Genotype with Bone Mineral Density in Men and Women: The Dong
      gu and Namwon Studies.
AB  - Many studies have investigated relationships between APOE genotype and bone
      mineral density (BMD). However, the results of these studies have been
      inconsistent. Few studies have been carried out in Asian populations. We studied
      the relationship of the APOE gene polymorphism and BMD in two large population
      based studies. The datasets included the Dong-gu Study (3575 men and 5335 women)
      and the Namwon Study (2310 men, 3512 women). Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD
      were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. APOE genotypes were analyzed
      by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The APOE
      genotypes were classified into APOE E2 (E2/E2 and E2/E3), APOE E3 (E3/E3), and
      APOE E4 (E3/E4 and E4/E4). The genotype distribution of the study population was
      in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There were no significant differences among APOE
      genotype groups in lumbar and femoral neck BMD in either cohort. Our data do not
      support the hypothesis that the APOE genotype is associated with BMD. 

PMID- 26866002
TI  - Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Childhood Diabetes Mellitus: A Single
      Center Study from 2000 to 2013.
AB  - We examined the clinical and laboratory characteristics of children newly
      diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) in a single-center study. We
      retrospectively reviewed the data of 155 children with DM between January 2000
      and December 2013. Of 155 diabetic children, 87 (56.1%) were diagnosed with type
      1 DM (T1DM) and 68 (43.9%) with type 2 DM (T2DM). Mean ages at diagnosis were
      8.95+/-3.89 years (T1DM) and 13.76+/-2.23 years (T2DM), respectively (p<0.001).
      There were significant differences in HbA1c, C-peptide, and glutamic acid
      decarboxylase antibody levels between the T1DM and T2DM groups. Annual numbers of
      children with DM have increased, and since 2011 the number of children with T2DM
      has surpassed the number with T1DM. The most common clinical symptom in T1DM was
      polyuria, and 26.4% of children with T1DM presented initially with diabetic
      ketoacidosis. In contrast, 60.3% of T2DM children showed glucosuria in a school
      urine screening, and only 19.1% presented with polydipsia. The rate of positivity
      for at least more than one islet autoantibody was 77.1% in T1DM and 26.3% in
      T2DM. Serum C-peptide levels in T2DM were increased up to 12 months after onset
      and remained >3.59 ng/mL for 36 months. However, serum C-peptide levels in T1DM
      were slightly increased up to 6 months after onset and gradually decreased to
      0.32 ng/mL for 36 months. The prevalence of children with DM has increased over
      the last 14 years, and the proportion of T2DM patients has rapidly increased
      since 2009. Because childhood DM is associated with several metabolic and
      cardiovascular complications, children should be screened for early detection of
      DM, especially asymptomatic T2DM in children and adolescents. 

PMID- 26866003
TI  - The Diagnostic Value of Pelvic Ultrasound in Girls with Central Precocious
      Puberty.
AB  - The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard
      for differentiating central precocious puberty (CPP) from exaggerated thelarche
      (ET). Because of this test's limitations, previous studies have clarified the
      clinical and laboratory factors that predict CPP. The present study investigated
      the early diagnostic significance of pelvic ultrasound in girls with CPP. The
      GnRH stimulation test and pelvic ultrasound were performed between March 2007 and
      February 2015 in 192 girls (aged <8 years) with signs of early puberty and
      advanced bone age. Ninety-three of 192 patients (48.4%) were diagnosed as having
      CPP and the others (51.6%) as having ET. The CPP group had higher uterine volumes
      (4.31+/-2.79 mL) than did the ET group (3.05+/-1.97 mL, p=0.03). No significant
      differences were found in other ultrasonographic parameters. By use of receiver
      operating characteristic curve analysis, the most predictive parameter for CPP
      was a uterine volume of least 3.30 mL, with an area under the curve of 0.659 (95%
      confidence interval: 0.576-0.736). The CPP group had significantly higher uterine
      volumes than did the ET group, but there were no reliable cutoff values in pelvic
      ultrasound for differentiating between CPP and ET. Pelvic ultrasound should be
      combined with clinical and laboratory tests to maximize its diagnostic value for
      CPP. 

PMID- 26866004
TI  - Vitamin D Levels After Kidney Transplantation and the Risk of Cytomegalovirus
      Infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some studies reported an association between low levels of vitamin D
      and the risk of infections, especially viral infections. Kidney transplant
      patients are at risk of opportunistic infections; however, no study has been
      conducted on the association between vitamin D levels and the risk of CMV
      infection. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the level of vitamin
      D in two groups of patients with and without CMV infection within four months
      after the transplantation. Moreover, we aimed to find a relation between vitamin
      D level, before and after transplantation in each group. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      This prospective cohort study was conducted in Baqiyatallah hospital in Tehran in
      2013. A total of 82 kidney transplant patients were enrolled and vitamin D levels
      were measured in them before transplantation. The kidney transplant patients had
      been followed up for four months and monitored for the presence of
      cytomegalovirus antigen (CMV Ag) in their blood. In patients with positive CMV
      Ag, vitamin D level was measured again when they became positive but in other
      patients it was measured at the end of follow-up; at the end, characteristics of
      patients and vitamin D levels were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of
      all, 40 patients were CMV Ag positive and 42 patients were negative. In most
      patients transplanted organs were taken from cadaver (66%) and the most common
      type of dialysis was hemodialysis (92%). Most participants did not undergo
      antithymocyte globulin therapy (69%) and pulse corticosteroid therapy (83%).
      Vitamin D level before transplantation was 17.2 +/- 11.6 ng/mL. In patients with
      positive results or at the end of follow-up in patients without CMV Ag, vitamin D
      level was 16.3 +/- 11.4 ng/mL. Only 11% of kidney transplant patients, within
      four months after transplantation, had a normal level of vitamin D (> 30 ng/mL).
      There was no significant difference between the two groups for patients'
      characteristics (P > 0.05). Vitamin D levels, before transplantation and at the
      time of detecting CMV Ag or at the end of follow-up period in patients without
      CMV, were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). However,
      vitamin D levels decreased in patients with CMV, while it increased in CMV Ag
      negative patients, which was statistically significant (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS:
      Only 11% of kidney transplant patients, even with a successful transplantation of
      the kidney and with an acceptable performance of the transplanted kidney, had an
      adequate level of vitamin D. Although, we did not find any significant
      association between vitamin D levels and CMV infection during a 4-month follow-up
      after kidney transplantation. It was observed that, compared with the time before
      transplantation, vitamin D levels decreased in patients with CMV, while it
      increased in CMV negative patients.

PMID- 26866005
TI  - Vaginismus in Iran: A Single Center Report of 7 Years Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vaginismus is a sexual disorder that can cause painful intercourse.
      Although several studies have shown a relationship between higher education and
      socio-economic level of women with vaginismus, the relationship between
      demographic characteristics and other variables remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The
      present study was conducted to determine the demographic characteristics of women
      with vaginismus, coming to family health clinic, between 2007 and 2013. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 115
      clinical records, from early 2007 until the end of 2013, that have received a
      diagnosis of vaginismus. In these clinical records, the data on female and male
      age, education and employment, duration of marriage, type of marriage
      (traditional, virtual, etc.), being a virgin, erectile dysfunction of husband,
      information of families, sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction, residential,
      non-medical types of medical treatment and hymenectomy were derived. RESULTS: The
      results showed that the average age of women was 29 +/- 5 years and the average
      age of the spouses was 33 +/- 6 years. Undergraduate education most prominent
      among women (52%) and spouses (42%). In terms of employment status, most women
      were housewives (54%) and the majority of male were employees (54%). The most
      frequent form of marriage was traditional (80%). The maximum elapsed time of
      marriage was between 1 - 3 years (43%). In most women, the first attempt for
      intercourse was from the second day of marriage to the end of the first week
      (73%). Hymenectomy was done by 9% of women. Totally, 45% of the men, the wives of
      whom were suffering from vaginismus, experienced erectile dysfunction. In 37% of
      couples, their sexual life was satisfactory. The most referred specialist for
      treatment was the urologist (17%). In 27% of women with vaginismus, numerous
      references to a variety of medical specialists and psychologists were also
      recorded. Of the total, 7% of couples experienced traditional and non-academic
      treatments. CONCLUSIONS: As vaginismus can affect the stability of marriage, it
      is necessary to assess sexual dysfunction from all directions, including
      demographic characteristics and variables that affect the incidence of
      vaginismus. Therefore, based on the data obtained, we can diagnose and properly
      treat sexual dysfunction, in time, and teach couples how to deal with it.

PMID- 26866007
TI  - Effects of Ropivacaine on Postoperative Pain and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in
      Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative analgesic effects of ropivacaine have been demonstrated
      in various surgical procedures; however, its beneficial effect on postoperative
      pain relief and ability to breathe out air in urological surgeries, particularly
      in local interventions such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), has remained
      uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of
      ropivacaine on postoperative pain severity and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in
      patients undergoing PCNL procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized double
      blinded clinical trial was performed on 55 consecutive adult patients aged 15 to
      60 years who underwent Tubeless PCNL surgery. The patients were randomly assigned
      to instill 30 mL of ropivacaine 0.2% or 30 mL of isotonic saline with the same
      protocol. The parameters of visual analogue scale (VAS) (for assessment of pain
      severity) and PEF (for assessment of ability to breathe out air) were measured 4
      and 6 hours after completing the procedure. Moreover, the amounts of opioids or
      analgesics administered within 6 hours after the operation were recorded.
      RESULTS: We found no difference in the mean pain severity score between the case
      and control groups 4 hours (P = 0.332) and 6 hours (P = 0.830) after the
      operation. The mean PEF at baseline was similar in case and control groups (P =
      0.738). Moreover, no difference was revealed in PEF index 4 hours (P = 0.398) and
      6 hours (P = 0.335) after PCNL between the groups. The mean VAS scores 4 hours
      after the operation slightly decreased 2 hours later (P < 0.001) in the both
      groups. Moreover, in the both groups, a sudden decrease in PEF index was observed
      within 4 hours after the operation and increased with a mild gradient for the
      next 2 hours. No difference was found in the amount of postoperative analgesic
      used in the both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Instillation of ropivacaine 0.2% (30 mL)
      within tubeless PCNL surgery does not have a significant effect on postoperative
      pain relief and improvement of PEF within 6 hours after the operation.

PMID- 26866006
TI  - Hemophagocytic Syndrome, an Uncommon Complication of Microscopic Polyangitis: A
      Case Report From Senegal.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We reported a case of hemophagocytic syndrome complicating
      microscopic polyangitis presented by crescentic glomerulonephritis. CASE
      PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old female patient originated from Dakar, Senegal
      presented with nephrotic syndrome and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. On
      physical examination, we noticed hyperchromic diffuse punctilious purpura skin
      lesions predominant on the trunk, the neck and the upper thigh. Immunology
      investigations revealed strongly positive anti SSA/Ro and anti-SSB. Anti
      neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies had positive results with a peri-nuclear type
      fluorescence, specific to myeloperoxidase. In optic microscopy, renal biopsy
      showed a crescentic glomerulonephritis with circumferential cellular and fibrous
      proliferation affecting 85% of glomeruli. The diagnosis of microscopic
      polyangitis with renal and skin involvement was retained. The patient received
      methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide 700 mg/m(2) every 15 days for the first 3
      pulses and every 21 days thereafter. After the 5(th) month, she developed
      obnubilation, fever and central pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration was
      performed, which showed medullary invasion by macrophages with signs of
      hemophagocytosis. Diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome complicating a microscopic
      polyangitis was retained and methylprednisolone pulses started. The patient was
      under hemodialysis after follow-up of about 9 months with stable clinical state.
      CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of SAM in pauci-autoimmune vasculitis is rarely
      described, particularly in Africa. Our case is an illustration of the reality of
      this association.

PMID- 26866008
TI  - Ameliorative Effect of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin and Ischemic
      Preconditioning on Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is one of the most common causes of
      renal dysfunction. There is increasing evidence about the role of the reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) in these injuries and endogenous antioxidants seem to have
      an important role in decreasing the renal tissue injury. OBJECTIVES: The aim of
      this study was to compare the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO)
      and ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on renal IR injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Twenty four male Wistar rats were allocated into four experimental groups: sham
      operated, IR, EPO + IR, and IPC + IR. Rats were underwent 50 minutes bilateral
      ischemia followed by 24 hours reperfusion. Erythropoietin (5000 IU/kg, i.p) was
      administered 30 minutes before onset of ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning was
      performed by three cycles of 3 minutes ischemia followed by 3 minutes
      reperfusion. Plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine were measured. Kidney
      samples were taken for reactive oxidative species (ROS) measurement including
      superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione (GSH) contents, and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. RESULTS: Compared to the sham group, IR led to
      renal dysfunction as evidenced by significantly higher plasma urea and
      creatinine. Treatment with EPO or IPC decreased urea, creatinine, and renal MDA
      levels and increased SOD activity and GSH contents in the kidney. CONCLUSIONS:
      Pretreatment with EPO and application of IPC significantly ameliorated the renal
      injury induced by bilateral renal IR. However, both treatments attenuated renal
      dysfunction and oxidative stress in kidney tissues. There were no significant
      differences between pretreatment with EPO or application of IPC.

PMID- 26866009
TI  - Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles and Cytomegalovirus Infection After Renal
      Transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between a
      number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and cytomegalovirus infection
      (CMV), in kidney transplant recipients, after transplantation. However, only a
      limited number of HLAs have been investigated, so far, and the results have been
      contradictory. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship
      between 59 HLA alleles and the CMV infection, in transplant recipients, after
      kidney transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was
      conducted on 200 patients, receiving a kidney transplant, in Baqiyatallah
      Hospital, in Tehran, during 2013. Throughout a one-year follow-up of kidney
      transplant recipients, in case of detecting the CMV antigen in patients' blood,
      at any time, they were placed in the group of patients with CMV infection,
      whereas, if no CMV-specific antigen was developed, over a year, patients were
      placed in the group of patients without CMV infection, after transplantation.
      This study investigated the relationship between CMV infection in kidney
      transplant recipients and 59 HLA alleles, including 14 HLA-A, 28 HLA-B, and 17
      HLA-DRB1 cases. RESULTS: Of all participants, 104 patients (52%) were diagnosed
      with CMV infection. There was no significant difference between the two groups,
      with and without CMV infection, in terms of patient's characteristics. The CMV
      infection, in patients receiving a transplanted organ from deceased donor, was
      significantly more prevalent than in those receiving kidney transplant from
      living donor (63% vs. 39%, respectively, P = 0.001). Recipients with HLA-B44 were
      more infected with CMV compared with patients without this allele (80% vs. 50%,
      respectively, P = 0.024); on the contrary, kidney recipients with HLA-DRB1-1 were
      less infected with CMV than patients without this allele (31% vs. 55%,
      respectively, P = 0.020). There was no significant relationship between CMV
      infection and other HLA alleles. Results of multivariate logistic regression
      analysis showed that deceased donor renal transplantation (OR = 3.018, 95%CI:
      1.662 - 5.480, P < 0.001), presence of HLA-B44 (OR = 4.764, 95%CI: 1.259 -
      18.032, P = 0.022) and lack of HLA-B8 (OR = 3.246, 95%CI: 1.030 - 10.230, P =
      0.044) were the independent risk factors for developing CMV infection, after
      kidney transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed that
      deceased donor renal transplantation and the presence of HLA-B44 can make the
      kidney recipient susceptible to CMV infection after kidney transplantation; on
      the other hand, the presence of HLA-B8 can have a protective effect.

PMID- 26866010
TI  - Restless Legs Syndrome: Associated Risk Factors in Hemodialysis Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be associated with increased
      morbidity and mortality among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients; however,
      it is a disorder that is neglected in dialysis centers. OBJECTIVES: The goal of
      this study was to investigate the clinical factors associated with RLS among ESRD
      patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ESRD
      patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) in three HD centers in Ahvaz
      city in Southwest Iran. Blood samples were obtained prior to a dialysis session
      to check the routine laboratory test results and assess the adequacy of dialysis.
      The presence of RLS was assessed by using the international RLS study group
      (IRLSSG) diagnostic criteria. The IRLSSG rating scale was also used to evaluate
      the severity of the RLS symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 139 HD patients enrolled in
      this study, 60 were female (43.2%) and 79 were male (56.8%), with a mean age of
      51.82 +/- 13.31 years. The prevalence of RLS was 15.8% (22 patients), with 50% of
      them (11 patients) having severe or very severe symptoms. There was a significant
      relationship between RLS and longer durations of dialysis (P < 0.001). The mean
      level of serum ferritin was lower in patients without RLS, but it was not
      significant (P = 0.065). No significant differences were found according to age,
      gender, dialysis shifts, and hemoglobin (Hb) level among patients with and
      without RLS. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a significant percentage of ESRD
      patients undergoing maintenance HD have severe or very severe RLS symptoms. The
      presence of RLS is associated to longer durations of dialysis.

PMID- 26866011
TI  - Evaluation of Protein-Energy Wasting and Inflammation on Patients Undergoing
      Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and its Correlations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) and heightened inflammation are
      prevalent in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
      and is a strong risk factor for morbidity and mortality in these patients.
      Evaluation of PEW, prevalence of inflammation as well as interrelationship
      between various nutritional indices and inflammation has not been studied in much
      detail in patients undergoing CAPD. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to
      evaluate the interrelationship between PEW and inflammation in patients
      undergoing CAPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients undergoing CAPD (M =
      28, F = 35) were assessed with regard to their nutritional status and
      inflammation after a minimum of 3 months CAPD initiation. Nutritional status was
      assessed by dietary diary, anthropometry, subjective global assessment, and
      multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). In addition, their serum
      albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and cholesterol level were measured. Also,
      inflammation in these patients was assessed by High-Sensitivity C-Reactive
      Protein (hs-CRP > 3 mg/L) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6 > 2 ug/mL). Later on, diagnosis
      of malnutrition was made based on different methods. Correlation between
      inflammation and various nutritional assessment indices were analyzed
      statistically. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age of the patients was 57.6 (11.6) years. The
      average (SD) calorie and protein intake per day were 25.5 (4.6) kcal and 0.81
      (0.2) mg, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of anthropometry
      variables of body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), tricipital skin
      fold thickness (TST), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), and corrected mid-arm
      muscle area (cMAMA) were 23.7 +/- 5 kg/m(2), 26.3 +/- 4.5 cm, 1.624 +/- 0.4 cm,
      25.6 +/- 4.5 cm, and 45.7 +/- 19.7 cm(2), respectively. The mean values of serum
      protein, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, cholesterol, triglyceride, hs-CRP, and
      IL-6 were 5.9 g/dL, 3.0 g/dL, 21.11 mg/dL, 130.6 mg/dL, 155.9 mg/dL, 136.1 mg/dL,
      8.8 +/- 7.6 mg/L, and 8.4 +/- 12.2 ug/dL, respectively. Based on subjective
      global assessment (SGA); 11.63 (17.4%), 34.63 (54%), and 18.65 (28.6%) patients
      undergoing CAPD had normal, moderate, and severe malnutrition status,
      respectively. According to serum albumin level; 13.63 (21%), 39.63 (62%), and
      11.63 (17%) patients undergoing CAPD had normal, moderate, and severe
      malnutrition status, respectively. Finally, based on BMI; 33.63 (52%), 23.63
      (37%), and 7.63 (11%) patients undergoing CAPD had normal, moderate, and severe
      malnutrition status, respectively. About 76.1% and 9.5% of patients undergoing
      CAPD were malnourished based on lean tissue index (LTI) and fat tissue index
      (FTI), respectively. Based on hs-CRP and IL-6 findings, 70% (44/63) and 71.8%
      (45/63) of patients undergoing CAPD had high inflammation, respectively. High
      sensitive C-reactive protein correlated negatively (significantly) with serum
      albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin. Interleukin -6 correlated negatively
      (significantly) with MAC; MAMA; serum albumin, cholesterol, and transferrin.
      There was significant positive correlation between hs-CRP and IL-6. There is
      statistically significant difference in total protein intake (g/d), protein
      intake (g/kg/d), serum protein (g/dL), albumin (g/dL), transferrin (mg/dL), and
      cholesterol (mg/dL) between patients with and without inflammation. CONCLUSIONS:
      Protein-energy wasting (80% - 85%) by various methods and inflammation (70%) was
      very prevalent among patients undergoing CAPD. Inflammatory markers show
      significant negative correlation with anthropometry and serological markers.
      Inflammatory markers are suggested to be included in the regular assessment of
      patients undergoing CAPD, for the better management of protein-energy wasting.

PMID- 26866012
TI  - Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy With Significant Coronary Stenosis and Atrioventricular
      Conduction Block: A Rare Case Report With 3 Year Follow-Up.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCMP) is a rare acute cardiomyopathy
      characterized by acute chest pain syndrome, similar to myocardial infarction,
      except that no significant stenosis is observed on coronary angiography in
      patients with this condition; these findings aid the diagnosis of TCMP. CASE
      PRESENTATION: We discuss an unusual case of TCMP in a 45-year-old woman with
      complete heart block and significant coronary artery stenosis. Maximal exercise
      test and perfusion scan after 1 month from the acute event did not show any
      ischemia; therefore, revascularization was not recommended. Her follow-up with
      normal echocardiographic data 3 years after the first event showed no recurrence.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present case and a few previous cases have showed that severe
      coronary artery disease may be occur in patients with TCMP and that TCMP may be
      associated with a high-degree atrioventricular block. The association between
      atrioventricular conduction block and TCMP as well as significant coronary
      stenosis is rarely reported; therefore, coronary angiography should be performed
      in all patients with clinical TCMP and the previous definition should be
      reconsidered. The occurrence of arrhythmia and later recovery is expected in
      these patients (due to a catecholamine surge).

PMID- 26866013
TI  - Shortness of Breath and Lower Limb Edema in a 54-Year-Old Woman, Is There Any
      Cure?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension is common among patients with
      hyperthyroidism, and Graves' disease constitutes the most common cause of
      thyrotoxicosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a female patient
      admitted to the cardiology department with shortness of breath and pretibial
      myxedema. The diagnostic work-up revealed combined pre- and post-capillary
      pulmonary hypertension due to Graves' disease superimposed on left ventricular
      diastolic dysfunction. Restoration of thyroid function led to normalization of
      the pulmonary pressure and symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid disease is a
      cause of reversible pulmonary hypertension and thus should be appropriately
      considered in the diagnostic algorithm in patients with dyspnea, clinical signs
      of hyperthyroidism and elevated pulmonary pressure.

PMID- 26866014
TI  - Characterization of an Oncolytic Adenovirus Vector Constructed to Target the cMet
      Receptor.
AB  - The cMet receptor is a homodimer with tyrosine kinase activity. Upon stimulation
      with its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), the receptor mediates wide
      physiologic actions. The HGF-cMet signaling pathway is dysregulated in many
      cancers, which makes cMet an important target for novel therapeutic
      interventions. Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) have been used for the past three
      decades as a promising therapeutic approach for a wide array of neoplastic
      diseases. To date, achieving cancer-specific replication of oncolytic Ads has
      been accomplished by either viral genome deletions or by incorporating tumor
      selective promoters. To achieve novel specificity of oncolytic Ad infection of
      cancer cells that overexpress cMet, we inserted the HGF NK2 sequence,
      corresponding to a competitive antagonist of HGF binding to the cMet receptor,
      into the Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) fiber gene. The resulting vector, Ad5-pIX-RFP
      FF/NK2, was rescued, amplified in HEK293 cells, and characterized. Binding
      specificity and viral infectivity were tested in various cancer cell lines that
      express varying levels of cMet and hCAR (the Ad5 receptor). We found that Ad5-pIX
      RFP-FF/NK2 demonstrated binding specificity to the cMet receptor. In addition,
      there was enhanced viral infectivity and virus replication compared with a non
      targeted Ad vector. Although NK2 weakly induces cMet receptor activation, our
      results showed no receptor phosphorylation in the context of an oncolytic Ad
      virus. In summary, these results suggest that an oncolytic Ad retargeted to the
      cMet receptor is a promising vector for developing a novel cancer therapeutic
      agent.

PMID- 26866015
TI  - Methodological Aspects of the Phase II Study AFF006 Evaluating Amyloid-beta 
      Targeting Vaccine AFFITOPE(r) AD02 in Early Alzheimer's Disease - Prospective Use
      of Novel Composite Scales.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Optimized scales and composite outcomes have been proposed as a way
      to more accurately measure Alzheimer's disease related decline. AFFITOPE(r) AD02,
      is an amyloid-beta (Abeta)-targeting vaccine to elicit anti-Abeta antibodies. IMM
      AD04, commonly known as Alum, originally designated as a control agent, appeared
      to have disease-modifying activity in a multicenter, parallel group phase II
      study in early AD patients. OBJECTIVES: To develop adapted outcomes for
      cognition, function and a composite scale with improved sensitivity to decline
      and treatment effects in early AD (mild plus prodromal AD) based on historical
      data and to assess these adapted outcomes in this phase II study. DESIGN: Data
      from public datasets was analyzed using a partial least squares model in order to
      identify an optimally weighted cognitive outcome, Adapted ADAS-cog, and an
      optimally weighted ADL outcome, Adapted ADCS-ADL which were prospectively defined
      as co-primary endpoints for the study and were also combined into a composite
      scale. Data from 162 patients in the placebo groups of ADCS studies and 156 mild
      patients in the ADNI I study were pooled for this analysis. The Adapted ADAS-cog
      scale considered 13 ADAS-cog items as well as several Neuropsychological test
      items and CogState items, the Adapted ADCS-ADL considered all ADCS-ADL items.
      After the pre-specified analyses were complete, additional adapted and composite
      scales were investigated in a post-hoc manner. Evaluation of the adapted and
      composite scales was performed on Phase II trial data for AFFITOPE(r) AD02
      (AFF006, Clinical Trial Identifier: NCT01117818) and historic data in early AD.
      Least square means, standard deviations, and least squares mean to standard
      deviation ratios were compared among adapted and composite scales and traditional
      scales for the 5 treatment groups in the phase II study and overall for the
      historic data. Treatment effect sizes and p-values were also compared for the
      phase II study. RESULTS: Cognitive items that were selected for the adapted
      cognitive scale (aADAS-cog) and had the highest weights were Word Recall, Word
      Recognition, and Orientation. Delayed Word Recall and Digit Cancellation were
      among the items excluded due to lack of improved sensitivity to decline. Highly
      weighted ADL items included in the adapted functional scale (aADCS-ADL) were
      using the telephone, traveling, preparing a meal/snack, selecting clothing,
      shopping and using appliances. Excluded items were primarily basic ADLs such as
      eating, walking, toileting and bathing. Comparisons between traditional scales
      and primary outcome adapted scales show improved sensitivity to group differences
      with the adapted scales in the phase II trial. Most of the improvement in the
      sensitivity of the aADAS-cog and the aADCS-ADL is due to a larger treatment
      difference observed rather than the improved sensitivity to decline in the
      comparison groups. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to
      prospectively use optimized scales as primary endpoints and to demonstrate the
      superior power of optimized scales and composites in early disease. Although it
      is possible that the treatment difference between randomized groups is due to a
      factor other than the treatment itself, for instance baseline imbalance, the
      improved power to detect these differences still argues in favor of the adapted
      scales. The issue of oversensitivity to detect treatment effects is controlled by
      selection of the alpha level for significance, and in our case will happen less
      than 5% of the time. Clinical relevance of the treatment difference should be
      assessed separately from statistical significance, and in this phase II study, is
      supported by significant or similar sizes of effect on function, behaviour and
      quality of life outcomes, which are important to patients and caregivers.

PMID- 26866016
TI  - The Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research has been selected for coverage in
      Emerging Sources Citation Index of Web of Science.

PMID- 26866017
TI  - The prevention of pneumococcal infections.

PMID- 26866018
TI  - Recent update in HIV vaccine development.
AB  - Despite the tremendous efforts to develop a successful human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) vaccine, the quest for a safe and effective HIV vaccine seems to be
      remarkably long and winding. Disappointing results from previous clinical trials
      of VaxGen's AIDSVAXgp120 vaccine and MRKAd5 HIV-1 Gag/Pol/Nef vaccine emphasize
      that understanding the correlates of immune protection in HIV infection is the
      key to solve the puzzle. The modest vaccine efficacy from RV144 trial and the
      successive results obtained from the correlate of risk analysis have
      reinvigorated the HIV vaccine research field leading to various novel strategies.
      This paper will review the brief history and recent advances in HIV vaccine
      development. 

PMID- 26866019
TI  - Recent vaccine technology in industrial animals.
AB  - Various new technologies have been applied for developing vaccines against
      various animal diseases. Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine technology was used
      for manufacturing the porcine circovirus type 2 and RNA particle vaccines based
      on an alphavirus vector for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). Although VLP is
      classified as a killed-virus vaccine, because its structure is similar to the
      original virus, it can induce long-term and cell-mediated immunity. The RNA
      particle vaccine used a Venezuela equine encephalitis (VEE) virus gene as a
      vector. The VEE virus partial gene can be substituted with the PED virus spike
      gene. Recombinant vaccines can be produced by substitution of the target gene in
      the VEE vector. Both of these new vaccine technologies made it possible to
      control the infectious disease efficiently in a relatively short time. 

PMID- 26866020
TI  - Cloning, expression and purification flagellar sheath adhesion of Helicobacter
      pylori in Escherichia coli host as a vaccination target.
AB  - PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori is a widely distributed gram-negative bacterium that
      infects the human stomach and duodenum. HpaA is a H. pylori-specific lipoprotein
      that has been shown to be an effective protective antigen against H. pylori
      infection. HpaA of H. pylori as a vaccine antigen is fully competent for
      stimulation of immune responses. The aim of this project is cloning, expression,
      and purification flagellar sheath adhesion of H. pylori in Escherichia coli host
      by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) as a vaccination target. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The hpaA gene was inserted into pET28a (+) as cloning and expression
      vectors respectively. The recombinant plasmid (pET-hpaA) was subjected to
      sequencing other than polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion analysis.
      Protein expression was induced by adding 1 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside to
      cultures of E. coli strain BL21 transformed with pET-hpaA. Protein expression
      assessed with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS
      PAGE) analysis. Protein purification of flagellar sheath adhesion was by FPLC.
      RESULTS: The restriction endonuclease digestion, PCR amplification analysis
      showed that the hpaA gene of 730 bp was amplified from H. pylori DNA and
      sequencing analysis of the pET-hpaA confirmed the cloning accuracy and in frame
      insertion of hpaA fragment. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the expression of an
      approximately 29,000 Da protein. CONCLUSION: Sequencing results along with SDS
      PAGE analysis confirms the expression of recombinant hpaA in the heterologous E.
      coli BL21. Conclusion A prokaryotic expression system for hpaA gene was
      successfully constructed. These results indicate that production of a specific
      recombinant protein is an alternative and potentially more expeditious strategy
      for development of H. pylori vaccine.

PMID- 26866021
TI  - Comparison of the antigenic relationship between Japanese encephalitis virus
      genotypes 1 and 3.
AB  - PURPOSE: The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype circulating in Korea has
      changed from G3 to G1. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the
      antigenic relationship between the two genotypes by using antibody tests.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples from 42 sows and 216 horses were collected,
      and their seroprevalence was monitored using the hemagglutination inhibition and
      virus neutralization tests. Antisera against JEV G1 and G3 were isolated and
      prepared from guinea pigs. The cross-reactivity of these two viruses was then
      compared using the neutralizing antibody test. RESULTS: We found that there was a
      difference in the seropositive ratios of JEV G1 and G3. However, the difference
      was dependent on the antibody test used. There was also an observed difference in
      the antigenicity between the two genotypes, as ascertained using the neutralizing
      antibody test. CONCLUSION: There is an evident difference in JEV antigenicity
      between the genotypes G1 and G3. Therefore, we propose monitoring of the
      seroprevalence of JEV, and reevaluating the antigenicity of the current vaccine
      by using the relevant tests.

PMID- 26866022
TI  - Assessment of immunological markers and booster effects of Ag85B peptides, Ag85B,
      and BCG in blood of BCG vaccinated children: a preliminary report.
AB  - PURPOSE: In the present study, the protective immunological markers in serum and
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
      vaccinated and unvaccinated children were evaluated after vaccination. Further,
      PBMCs of children with low protective levels were boosted with BCG, Ag85B, and
      Ag85B peptides to study their booster effects to increase waning BCG induced
      immunity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty children from 1 month to 18 years of age
      were randomized for the study. Blood samples were collected from 27 participants
      with/without BCG vaccination. Immunological markers (anti-BCG, interferon gamma
      [IFN-gamma], and adenosine deaminase activity) were assessed in both serum and
      PBMCs of children. Children with low levels of protective immunological markers
      were further recruited and their PBMCs were boosted with BCG, Ag85B, and Ag85B
      peptides. RESULTS: Children in age group of 4-6 years were associated with
      significantly (p<0.05) higher BCG-specific IgG and IFN-gamma levels compared to
      those in age group greater than 10 years. Vaccinated children had greater
      repertoire of immunological memory which on in vitro stimulation with BCG showed
      increase in BCG-specific response compared to unvaccinated controls. Assessment
      of booster effects of BCG, Ag85B, and Ag85B peptides in PBMCs of children
      revealed greater potential of peptides to boost BCG induced immunity compared to
      BCG and Ag85B. CONCLUSION: To conclude, children within age 4-6 years are
      associated with high immunological markers which eventually diminish with age
      thereby suggesting need for booster dose in later years. Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis peptides along with BCG may be used as attractive candidates to
      boost such waning BCG induced immunity in children.

PMID- 26866023
TI  - In silico analysis of an envelope domain III-based multivalent fusion protein as
      a potential dengue vaccine candidate.
AB  - PURPOSE: Dengue virus infection is now a global problem. Currently, there is no
      licensed vaccine or proven antiviral treatment against this virus. All four
      serotypes (1-4) of dengue virus can infect human. An effective dengue vaccine
      should be tetravalent to induce protective immune responses against all four
      serotypes. Most of dengue vaccine candidates are monovalent, or in the form of
      physically mixed multivalent formulations. Recently envelope protein domain III
      of virus is considered as a vaccine candidate, which plays critical roles in the
      most important viral activities. Development of a tetravalent protein subunit
      vaccine is very important for equal induction of immune system and prevention of
      unbalanced immunity. Here, we have presented and used a rational approach to
      design a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed
      a multi domain antigen by fusing four consensus domain III sequences together
      with appropriate hydrophobic linkers and used several types of bioinformatics
      software and neural networks to predict structural and immunological properties
      of the designed tetravalent antigen. RESULTS: We designed a tetravalent protein
      (EDIIIF) based on domain III of dengue virus envelope protein. According to the
      results of the bioinformatics analysis, the constructed models for EDIIIF protein
      were structurally stable and potentially immunogenic. CONCLUSION: The designed
      tetravalent protein can be considered as a potential dengue vaccine candidate.
      The presented approach can be used for rational design and in silico evaluation
      of chimeric dengue vaccine candidates.

PMID- 26866024
TI  - A potent multivalent vaccine for modulation of immune system in atherosclerosis:
      an in silico approach.
AB  - PURPOSE: Atherosclerosis is classically defined as an immune-mediated disease
      characterized by accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol over intima
      in medium sized and large arteries. Recent studies have demonstrated that both
      innate and adaptive immune responses are involved in atherosclerosis. In
      addition, experimental and human models have recognized many autoantigens in
      pathophysiology of this disease. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins, beta2
      glycoprotein I (beta-2-GPI), and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) are the best
      studied of them which can represent promising approach to design worthwhile
      vaccines for modulation of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In silico
      approaches are the best tools for design and evaluation of the vaccines before
      initiating the experimental study. In this study, we identified immunogenic
      epitopes of HSP60, ApoB-100, and beta-2-GPI as major antigens to construct a
      chimeric protein through bioinformatics tools. Additionally, we have evaluated
      physico-chemical properties, structures, stability, MHC binding properties,
      humoral and cellular immune responses, and allergenicity of this chimeric protein
      by means of bioinformatics tools and servers. RESULTS: Validation results
      indicated that 89.1% residues locate in favorite or additional allowed region of
      Ramachandran plot. Also, based on Ramachandran plot analysis this protein could
      be classified as a stable fusion protein. In addition, the epitopes in the
      chimeric protein had strong potential to induce both the B-cell and T-cell
      mediated immune responses. CONCLUSION: Our results supported that this chimeric
      vaccine could be effectively utilized as a multivalent vaccine for prevention and
      modulation of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26866025
TI  - Immunogenicity and efficacy of Rabivac vaccine for animal rabies control in
      Morocco.
AB  - PURPOSE: To fight animal rabies, Moroccan veterinary authorities organize annual
      dog mass vaccination campaigns using Rabivac vaccine, an inactivated adjuvanted
      cell culture veterinary rabies vaccine. Two experiments were undertaken to assess
      the efficacy and immunogenicity of Rabivac. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first
      experiment involved 13 caged dogs (8 vaccinated and 5 negative controls). Dogs
      were bled at day 0 (D0) and at days D7, D14, D21, D28, D35, D49, D56, D64, D70,
      D77, D84, D91, D98, D105, D112, and D119 post-vaccination. At D121, a virulent
      challenge was performed. After 70 days monitoring period, seven out of eight
      vaccinated dogs survived the challenge (one dog succumbed to a mesenteric torsion
      accident) and four out of five controls succumbed. All vaccinated dogs
      seroconverted and the control dogs remained negative. The second experiment
      consisted in a field study involving 919 owned dogs randomly selected in eight
      Moroccan districts located in different parts of the country. The dogs were
      identified and vaccinated by the parenteral route and bled on the vaccination day
      (D0) and on D30. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of dogs developed a positive rabies
      virus neutralizing antibody response to vaccination and 24% were positive at D0,
      suggesting that dogs were previously vaccinated. The increase in rabies antibody
      titers was highly significant in all districts. No significant difference seemed
      occurring between the geographical status (rural, semiurban, or urban) of the
      districts on the results obtained. CONCLUSION: Rabivac is efficacious both in
      experimental and field conditions. This supports its use in dog mass vaccination
      campaigns.

PMID- 26866026
TI  - Augmented immune responses in pigs immunized with an inactivated porcine
      reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus containing the deglycosylated
      glycoprotein 5 under field conditions.
AB  - PURPOSE: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) leads to
      major economic losses in the swine industry. Vaccination is the most effective
      method to control the disease by PRRSV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the
      efficacy of a glycoprotein (GP) 5-modified inactivated vaccine was investigated
      in pigs. The study was performed in three farms: farm A, which was porcine
      reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)-negative, farm B (PRRS-active),
      which showed clinical signs of PRRS but had not used vaccines, and farm C (PRRS
      stable), which had a history of endemic PRRS over the past years, but showed no
      more clinical signs after periodic administration of modified live virus vaccine.
      RESULTS: The inactivated vaccine induced great enhancement in serum neutralizing
      antibody titer, which was sufficient to protect pigs from further infections of
      PRRSV in a farm where pre-existing virus was circulating. CONCLUSION: These
      results indicated that vaccination with the inactivated vaccine composed of
      viruses possessing deglycosylated GP5 would provide enhanced protection to pigs
      from farms suffering from endemic PRRSV.

PMID- 26866027
TI  - In silico analysis of Brucella abortus Omp2b and in vitro expression of SOmp2b.
AB  - PURPOSE: At present, there is no vaccine available for the prevention of human
      brucellosis. Brucella outer membrane protein 2b (Omp2b) is a 36 kD porin existed
      in common Brucella pathogens and it is considered as priority antigen for
      designing a new subunit vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we
      aimed to predict and analyze the secondary and tertiary structures of the
      Brucella abortus Omp2b protein, and to predict T-cell and B-cell epitopes with
      the help of bioinformatics tools. Subsequently, cloning and expression of the
      short form of Omp2b (SOmp2b) was performed using pET28a expression vector and
      Escherichia coli BL21 host, respectively. The recombinant SOmp2b (rSOmp2b) was
      purified with Ni-NTA column. RESULTS: The recombinant protein was successfully
      expressed in E. coli host and purified under denaturation conditions. The yield
      of the purified rSOmp2b was estimated by Bradford method and found to be 220
      ug/mL of the culture. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that Omp2b protein has a
      potential to induce both B-cell- and T-cell-mediated immune responses and it can
      be evaluated as a new subunit vaccine candidate against brucellosis.

PMID- 26866028
TI  - Novel foot-and-mouth disease virus in Korea, July-August 2014.
AB  - Despite nation-wide immunization with O, A, and Asia 1 type vaccines in Republic
      of Korea, foot-and-mouth disease type O occurred again in July 2014 after three
      years and three months. This virus was a Mya-98 strain of the Southeast Asian
      topotype and was most similar to the identified type that circulated in East Asia
      in 2014. This was new virus with the deletion of 23 amino acids in 3A/3B1 region
      and low pathogenic property. 

PMID- 26866029
TI  - Clinical characteristics and outcome of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and
      outcome of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. METHODS: This is a retrospective
      cohort study of women who were diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy at a
      tertiary academic hospital between 1995 and 2013. Maternal characteristics,
      gestational age at diagnosis, and type, stage, symptoms and signs of cancer for
      each patient were retrieved from the medical records. The cancer treatment,
      pregnancy management and the subsequent perinatal and maternal outcomes for each
      cancer were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 87 women were diagnosed with cancer
      during pregnancy (172.6 cases per 100,000 deliveries). The most common cancer was
      breast cancer (n=20), followed by gastrointestinal (n=17), hematologic (n=13),
      thyroid (n=11), central nervous system (n=7), cervical (n=7), ovarian (n=5), lung
      (n=3), and other cancers (n=4). Eighteen (20.7%) patients terminated their
      pregnancies. In the 69 (79.3%) patients who maintained their pregnancies, one
      patient miscarried and 34 patients delivered preterm. Of the preterm babies, 24
      (70.6%) were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and 3 (8.8%) of those
      expired. The maternal mortality rate was 31.0%, with highest rate seen with lung
      cancers (66.7%), followed by gastrointestinal (50.0%), central nervous system
      (50.0%), hematologic (30.8%), breast (25.0%), ovarian (20.0%) cervical (14.3%),
      and thyroid cancers (0%). CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics and outcome of
      cancer during pregnancy were highly variable depending on the type of cancer.
      However, timely diagnosis and appropriate management of cancer during pregnancy
      may improve both maternal and neonatal outcome.

PMID- 26866030
TI  - Gestational age at delivery and neonatal outcome in uncomplicated twin
      pregnancies: what is the optimal gestational age for delivery according to
      chorionicity?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neonatal outcome according to the gestational age
      at delivery and to determine the optimal timing for delivery in uncomplicated
      monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies. METHODS: This is a retrospective
      cohort study of women with uncomplicated twin pregnancies delivered at or beyond
      35 weeks of gestation from 1995 to 2013. The primary outcome was neonatal
      composite morbidity, which was defined as when either one or both twins have one
      or more of the followings: fetal death after 35 weeks gestation, admission to
      neonatal intensive care unit, mechanical ventilator requirement, respiratory
      distress syndrome and neonatal death. To determine the optimal gestational age
      for delivery according to chorionicity, we compared the neonatal composite
      morbidity rate between women who delivered and women who remained undelivered at
      each gestational week in both monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies.
      RESULTS: A total of 697 twin pregnancies were included (171 monochorionic and 526
      dichorionic twins). The neonatal composite morbidity rate significantly decreased
      with advancing gestational age at delivery and its nadir was observed at 38 and
      >=39 weeks of gestation in monochorionic and dichorionic twins, respectively.
      However, the composite morbidity rate did not differ between women who delivered
      and women who remained undelivered >=36 and >=37 weeks in monochorionic and
      dichorionic twins, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the optimal
      gestational age for delivery was at >=36 and >=37 weeks in uncomplicated
      monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies, respectively.

PMID- 26866031
TI  - Post-cerclage ultrasonographic cervical length can predict preterm delivery in
      elective cervical cerclage patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of transvaginal ultrasound measurements of
      cervical length before and after elective prophylactic cervical cerclage in
      predicting preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Women who
      underwent an elective cerclage operation at 14 to 19 weeks of gestation and who
      delivered between January 2004 and December 2009 were enrolled in this study
      (n=52). Ultrasonography was performed to measure cervical length before and after
      cerclage. The primary outcome was defined as preterm delivery before 32 weeks of
      gestation. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the
      most discriminating cut-off values of ultrasonographic cervical parameters
      predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Among the
      52 patients studied, ten delivered before 32 weeks of gestation. Among the
      ultrasonographic cervical parameters compared, only the cervical length after
      cerclage was significantly different (shorter) in patients who delivered before
      32 weeks of gestation (P=0.037) compared to that of those who delivered after 32
      weeks of gestation in univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio, 0.402;
      95% confidence interval, 0.174 to 0.925; P=0.021). The receiver operating
      characteristic curve showed that a cervical length of 25 mm or less after
      cerclage was predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation (area
      under curve, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.87; P=0.029) with a
      sensitivity of 91.0% and a specificity of 30.0%. CONCLUSION: Patients with a
      cervical length less than 25 mm after elective cerclage may be at higher risk of
      preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation.

PMID- 26866032
TI  - Fertility-preserving treatment in complex atypical hyperplasia and early
      endometrial cancer in young women with oral progestin: Is it effective?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of oral progestin
      treatment in women diagnosed with complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH) or grade 1
      endometrial cancer (G1EC), who desire to preserve their fertility, as alternative
      treatment to a hysterectomy. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of women
      younger than 45 years old that had been diagnosed with CAH or G1EC, who expressed
      a desire to preserve their fertility using alternative treatment at our
      institution. Women without evidence of myometrial invasion on pelvic magnetic
      resonance imaging scans were included. The study period was between 2004 and
      2014. Endometrial biopsies were taken at follow-up appointments. RESULTS: We
      identified 31 young women with CAH or G1EC. The median age was 33 years old
      (range, 20 to 41), and the median period of time undertaking the treatment was 5
      months (range, 1 to 12). Twenty-three patients (74.2%) achieved complete
      remission (CR; median time to CR was 3 months; range, 1 to 22), 16 patients
      (88.9%) with CAH and 7 (53.8%) with G1EC achieved CR. 6 patients (26.1%) who had
      achieved CR, had recurrence of the disease (median time from CR to recurrence was
      12.5 months; range, 4 to 18). Eight patients (25.8%) finally underwent a
      hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Oral progestin therapy is an alternative treatment for
      women with CAH or G1EC who desire fertility preservation. However, more
      prospective studies are needed for standard progestin regimen. Also, there still
      remains a risk of disease progression and recurrence. Therefore, close follow-up
      is important during treatment and after CR. In addition, a hysterectomy is
      recommended as a definitive treatment after completion of childbearing.

PMID- 26866033
TI  - Effects of different add-back regimens on hypoestrogenic problems by
      postoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of different add-back regimens on
      hypoestrogenic symptoms during postoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      (GnRH) agonist treatment in endometriosis patients. METHODS: This prospective
      cohort study included reproductive-aged women who underwent conservative
      laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriosis and received add-back therapy
      during a 6-month course of GnRH agonist therapy after surgery. Participants
      received one of four different add-back regimens: 1 mg of estradiol valerate, 2.5
      mg of tibolone, or a combination of 1 mg of estradiol and 2 mg of drospirenone or
      0.5 mg of norethisterone acetate. Changes in quality of life, hypoestrogenic
      symptoms, and bone mineral density were compared according to add-back regimens.
      RESULTS: A total of 57 participants completed a 6-month course of GnRH agonist
      and add-back therapy. All components of quality of life did not differ across
      groups. However, within the same treatment group, social relationship factors
      decreased significantly with estradiol valerate and tibolone alone, and
      environmental factors decreased significantly with estradiol valerate alone.
      Menopausal Rating Scale score did not change significantly, but the incidence of
      hot flushes significantly decreased with a combination of estradiol and
      norethisterone acetate. Bone mineral densities at the lumbar spine declined
      significantly after treatment in all groups except with a combination of
      estradiol and norethisterone acetate. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests
      that an add-back regimen containing estradiol valerate and norethisterone acetate
      may have better efficacy in terms of quality of life, hypoestrogenism-associated
      symptoms, and bone mineral density.

PMID- 26866034
TI  - Total laparoscopic hysterectomy via suture and ligation technique.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The term 'total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) with classical suture
      method' refers to a surgical procedure performed using only sutures and ligations
      with intracorporeal or extracorporeal ties, without using any laser or electronic
      cauterization devices during laparoscopic surgery as in total abdominal
      hysterectomy. However, the method is not as widely used as electric coagulation
      equipment for TLH because further advances in technology and surgical technique
      are required and operative time can take longer. In the current study, we
      evaluated the benefits of the classical suture method for TLH. METHODS: This
      study retrospectively reviewed patients who received TLH using the classical
      suture method from August 2005 to April 2014. The patients' baseline
      characteristics were analyzed, including age, parity, cause of operation, medical
      and surgical history. Surgical outcomes analyzed included the weight of the
      uterus, operative time, complications, changes in hemoglobin level, blood
      transfusion requirements, and postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: Of 746
      patients who underwent TLH with the classical suture method, mean operation time
      was 96.9 minutes. Mean average decline in hemoglobin was 1.6 g/dL and transfusion
      rate was 6.2%. Urinary tract injuries were reported in 8 patients. Urinary tract
      injuries comprised 6 cases of bladder injury and 3 cases of ureter injury. There
      were no cases of vaginal stump infection, hematoma, bowel injury or abdominal
      wound complication. All cases involving complications occurred before 2010.
      CONCLUSION: The classical suture method for TLH presents tolerable levels of
      complications and blood loss. Advanced surgical skill is expected to decrease
      operation time and complications.

PMID- 26866035
TI  - Vasomotor symptoms and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin-resistance in
      Korean postmenopausal women.
AB  - The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between
      vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and insulin resistance, which can be postulated by the
      homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index. This study involved 1,547 Korean
      postmenopausal women (age, 45 to 65 years) attending a routine health check-up at
      a single institution in Korea from January 2010 to December 2012. A menopause
      rating scale questionnaire was used to assess the severity of VMS. The mean age
      of participants was 55.22+/-4.8 years and 885 (57.2%) reported VMS in some
      degree. The mean HOMA index was 1.79+/-0.96, and the HOMA index increased with an
      increase in severity of VMS (none, mild, moderate and severe) in logistic
      regression analysis (beta=0.068, t=2.665, P =0.008). Insulin resistance needs to
      be considered to understand the linkage between VMS and cardiometabolic
      disorders. 

PMID- 26866036
TI  - Successful pregnancy and delivery of a patient with congenital adrenal
      hyperplasia.
AB  - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) during pregnancy is a rare condition. Only a
      few cases have been reported in the literature. CAH patients has lower pregnancy
      rate compared to normal women. A 27-year-old nulliparous woman, a diagnosed case
      of 21-hydroxylase deficient simple virilising form of classic CAH visited. She
      got pregnant spontaneously without any trial of assisted reproductive technology.
      At the age of 12, she underwent clitoral resection and vaginoplasty. She took
      dexamethasone or prednisolone after operation. She delivered healthy singleton
      female baby by cesarean section. Four years later, she delivered healthy
      singleton female baby by repeat cesarean section. Two female babies have shown
      normal external genitalia. Here, we report a case of successful pregnancy and
      delivery in a patient with CAH. 

PMID- 26866037
TI  - Fetal goiter conservatively monitored during the prenatal period associated with
      maternal and neonatal euthyroid status.
AB  - Congenital goiter is considered a rare occurrence, and may be related to
      hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or euthyroidism. In this report, we describe a
      case of fetal goiter identified in the 34th gestational week in a 41-year-old
      secundigravida with normal thyroid functions. A conservative approach was
      followed; the fetal goiter was monitored via ultrasound, which suggested this was
      a case of hyperthyroidism. After the birth, tests indicated that the newborn was
      euthyroidic. Consequently, a more detailed study using non-invasive procedures
      was deemed necessary to discover the precise cause of the fetal goiter during the
      gestational period. 

PMID- 26866038
TI  - Impaction of an intrathoracic kidney acted as a shield against herniation of the
      abdominal viscera in a case of right congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
AB  - We describe a case of an intrathoracic kidney combined with right congenital
      diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) that was diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation. Although
      it has been well established that a right CDH shows a poorer outcome than a left
      CDH, our present case showed a good outcome because there was no herniation of
      other abdominal viscera, except for the right kidney. Our findings in this case
      indicate that impaction of the intrathoracic kidney may act as a 'shield' against
      further herniation of other abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity. 

PMID- 26866039
TI  - Successful vaginal birth after prior cesarean section in a patient with pyoderma
      gangrenosum.
AB  - Pyoderma gangrenosum is an extremely rare chronic cutaneous disease causing
      severe ulceration. It can be developed after minor trauma or surgical procedure.
      The typical features mimic acute infection site, however the treatment methods
      are opposing since pyoderma gangrenosum is improved with the use of
      corticosteroids, not antibiotic therapy. We here report a patient who had been
      diagnosed for acute infection after cesarean delivery in 2011 and treated with a
      number of antibiotics, but failed to recover. The patient had suffered from pain
      of the disease and also renal failure caused by antibiotics. Ultimately she had
      been diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum and managed successfully with steroids.
      For her next pregnancy in 2013, we tried vaginal delivery after prior cesarean
      section and it was uneventful during and after delivery. 

PMID- 26866040
TI  - Intra-amniotic thyroxine to treat fetal goiter.
AB  - A 35-year-old pregnant woman visited our department and had been treated with 100
      ug of daily oral levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. An ultrasonography screening
      was performed at 25 weeks gestation and revealed a fetal goiter and an increased
      amniotic fluid volume. Fetal hypothyroidism was confirmed by cordocentesis and
      amniotic hormone levels at 26 weeks gestation. We treated the mother with 200 ug
      of daily oral levothyroxine to optimize the transplacental transfer. A total of
      four intra-amniotic injections of levothyroxine were administered, resulting in
      progressive reduction in the fetal thyroid volume of goiter as measured by 3D
      ultrasonography and increased amniotic fluid volume. Following birth, neonatal
      serum thyroid stimulating hormone level was within the normal range, but free T4
      was reduced. Based on this case, we suggest that monitoring amniotic fluid
      thyroid hormone concentration and intra-amniotic levothyroxine injection can be
      used to reduce the thyroid volume of goiters and to prevent polyhydramnios. 

PMID- 26866041
TI  - Total vaginectomy for refractory vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia III of the
      vaginal vault.
AB  - Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia III, is a relatively rare disease. Consequently
      standard treatments for this disease were not established until recently.
      Although several convenient methods, such as laser ablation, 5-fluorouracil
      topical injection, and radiation therapy, have been applied for treating these
      lesions, surgical treatments, including vaginectomy, have not yet been attempted,
      as they would likely be accompanied by technical difficulties and various
      complications. Herein, we report a case of refractory vaginal intraepithelial
      neoplasia III in the vaginal vault that was successfully treated with a total
      vaginectomy. 

PMID- 26866042
TI  - Torsion of a parasitic myoma that developed after abdominal myomectomy.
AB  - Iatrogenic parasitic myomas are rare. The condition is defined by the presence of
      multiple smooth-muscle tumorous nodules in the peritoneal cavity. This may be
      attributable to seeding of myoma particles during uterine surgery. The clinical
      course is usually indolent. The disease is often asymptomatic and is usually
      discovered only incidentally. A 38-year-old woman who had undergone abdominal
      myomectomy 7 months prior presented with acute abdominal pain and a huge pelvic
      mass. We performed exploratory laparotomy. A parasitic mass 17 cm in diameter
      with a twisted omental pedicle was identified. En bloc excision of the mass and
      omentum was performed, followed by total abdominal hysterectomy.
      Histopathological examination of multiple sections revealed features compatible
      with an infarcted leiomyoma. Thus, we present a very rare case of an iatrogenic,
      rapidly growing parasitic myoma complicated by omental torsion (which caused the
      acute abdominal pain). We also offer a literature review. 

PMID- 26866045
TI  - Pilot Study and Review: Physiological Differences in BDNF, a Potential Biomarker
      in Males and Females with Autistic Disorder.
AB  - AIMS: There is a need for more biologic research in autistic disorder (AD) to
      determine if biomarkers exist that would be useful for correlating to symptom
      severity and/or clinical improvement during treatment. Given the fact that AD is
      4 times more common in males than females, gender differences in physiological
      biomarkers may be present. One potential biomarker that has begun to be studied
      is brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a peptide involved in the regulation
      of neuronal cell survival, differentiation, and plasticity, and possessing an
      ability to influence neurotransmitter systems by modulating gene expression. This
      pilot study examined whether serum BDNF differed according to gender in children
      with AD and whether differences were associated with a behavioral phenotype or
      severity of illness. STUDY DESIGN: Data for this investigation were collected
      during the participants' baseline visit of an intervention study. Participants
      were males (n=29) and females (n=7), aged 5 to 12 years diagnosed with AD.
      Baseline serum BDNF concentration was determined for comparison to clinical
      ratings using an autism severity measure and the Pervasive Developmental Disorder
      Behavior Inventory (PDD-BI). RESULTS: BDNF serum concentrations were higher in
      females (p<0.049). The baseline BDNF value corresponded significantly to
      hyperactivity in females (p<0.0002) but not in males. BDNF did not correlate with
      severity of disease in either gender. CONCLUSION: Although this is a small study,
      a better understanding of the central role of BDNF may provide insight into the
      pathophysiology of the disease and elucidate why gender differences exist in
      prevalence and behavioral phenotype of AD.

PMID- 26866046
TI  - Urban microbial ecology of a freshwater estuary of Lake Michigan.
AB  - Freshwater estuaries throughout the Great Lakes region receive stormwater runoff
      and riverine inputs from heavily urbanized population centers. While human and
      animal feces contained in this runoff are often the focus of source tracking
      investigations, non-fecal bacterial loads from soil, aerosols, urban
      infrastructure, and other sources are also transported to estuaries and lakes. We
      quantified and characterized this non-fecal urban microbial component using
      bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from sewage, stormwater, rivers,
      harbor/estuary, and the lake surrounding Milwaukee, WI, USA. Bacterial
      communities from each of these environments had a distinctive composition, but
      some community members were shared among environments. We used a statistical
      biomarker discovery tool to identify the components of the microbial community
      that were most strongly associated with stormwater and sewage to describe an
      "urban microbial signature," and measured the presence and relative abundance of
      these organisms in the rivers, estuary, and lake. This urban signature increased
      in magnitude in the estuary and harbor with increasing rainfall levels, and was
      more apparent in lake samples with closest proximity to the Milwaukee estuary.
      The dominant bacterial taxa in the urban signature were Acinetobacter, Aeromonas,
      and Pseudomonas, which are organisms associated with pipe infrastructure and soil
      and not typically found in pelagic freshwater environments. These taxa were
      highly abundant in stormwater and sewage, but sewage also contained a high
      abundance of Arcobacter and Trichococcus that appeared in lower abundance in
      stormwater outfalls and in trace amounts in aquatic environments. Urban signature
      organisms comprised 1.7% of estuary and harbor communities under baseflow
      conditions, 3.5% after rain, and >10% after a combined sewer overflow. With
      predicted increases in urbanization across the Great Lakes, further alteration of
      freshwater communities is likely to occur with potential long term impacts on the
      function of estuarine and nearshore ecosystems.

PMID- 26866047
TI  - Separation of the global and local components in functional near-infrared
      spectroscopy signals using principal component spatial filtering.
AB  - Global systemic effects not specific to a task can be prominent in functional
      near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals and the separation of task-specific
      fNIRS signals and global nonspecific effects is challenging due to waveform
      correlations. We describe a principal component spatial filter algorithm for
      separation of the global and local effects. The effectiveness of the approach is
      demonstrated using fNIRS signals acquired during a right finger-thumb tapping
      task where the response patterns are well established. Both the temporal
      waveforms and the spatial pattern consistencies between oxyhemoglobin and
      deoxyhemoglobin signals are significantly improved, consistent with the basic
      physiological basis of fNIRS signals and the expected pattern of activity
      associated with the task. 

PMID- 26866048
TI  - Full receiver operating characteristic curve estimation using two alternative
      forced choice studies.
AB  - Task-based medical image quality is typically measured by the degree to which a
      human observer can perform a diagnostic task in a psychophysical human observer
      study. During a typical study, an observer is asked to provide a numerical score
      quantifying his confidence as to whether an image contains a diagnostic marker or
      not. Such scores are then used to measure the observers' diagnostic accuracy,
      summarized by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area
      under ROC curve. These types of human studies are difficult to arrange, costly,
      and time consuming. In addition, human observers involved in this type of study
      should be experts on the image genre to avoid inconsistent scoring through the
      lengthy study. In two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) studies, known to be
      faster, two images are compared simultaneously and a single indicator is given.
      Unfortunately, the 2AFC approach cannot lead to a full ROC curve or a set of
      image scores. The aim of this work is to propose a methodology in which multiple
      rounds of the 2AFC studies are used to re-estimate an image confidence score
      (a.k.a. rating, ranking) and generate the full ROC curve. In the proposed
      approach, we treat image confidence score as an unknown rating that needs to be
      estimated and 2AFC as a two-player match game. To achieve this, we use the ELO
      rating system, which is used for calculating the relative skill levels of players
      in competitor-versus-competitor games such as chess. The proposed methodology is
      not limited to ELO, and other rating methods such as TrueSkillTM, Chessmetrics,
      or Glicko can be also used. The presented results, using simulated data, indicate
      that a full ROC curve can be recovered using several rounds of 2AFC studies and
      that the best pairing strategy starts with the first round of pairing abnormal
      versus normal images (as in the classical 2AFC approach) followed by a number of
      rounds using random pairing. In addition, the proposed method was tested in a
      pilot human observer study. These pilot results indicate that three to five
      rounds of 2AFC studies require less human observer time than a full scoring study
      and that the re-estimated ROC curves and associated area under ROC curve values
      have high statistical agreement with the full scoring study. 

PMID- 26866044
TI  - Formyl-methionine as a degradation signal at the N-termini of bacterial proteins.
AB  - In bacteria, all nascent proteins bear the pretranslationally formed N-terminal
      formyl-methionine (fMet) residue. The fMet residue is cotranslationally
      deformylated by a ribosome-associated deformylase. The formylation of N-terminal
      Met in bacterial proteins is not strictly essential for either translation or
      cell viability. Moreover, protein synthesis by the cytosolic ribosomes of
      eukaryotes does not involve the formylation of N-terminal Met. What, then, is the
      main biological function of this metabolically costly, transient, and not
      strictly essential modification of N-terminal Met, and why has Met formylation
      not been eliminated during bacterial evolution? One possibility is that the
      similarity of the formyl and acetyl groups, their identical locations in N
      terminally formylated (Nt-formylated) and Nt-acetylated proteins, and the
      recently discovered proteolytic function of Nt-acetylation in eukaryotes might
      also signify a proteolytic role of Nt-formylation in bacteria. We addressed this
      hypothesis about fMet-based degradation signals, termed fMet/N-degrons, using
      specific E. coli mutants, pulse-chase degradation assays, and protein reporters
      whose deformylation was altered, through site-directed mutagenesis, to be either
      rapid or relatively slow. Our findings strongly suggest that the formylated N
      terminal fMet can act as a degradation signal, largely a cotranslational one. One
      likely function of fMet/N-degrons is the control of protein quality. In bacteria,
      the rate of polypeptide chain elongation is nearly an order of magnitude higher
      than in eukaryotes. We suggest that the faster emergence of nascent proteins from
      bacterial ribosomes is one mechanistic and evolutionary reason for the
      pretranslational design of bacterial fMet/N-degrons, in contrast to the
      cotranslational design of analogous Ac/N-degrons in eukaryotes.

PMID- 26866049
TI  - Active monitoring of formaldehyde diffusion into histological tissues with
      digital acoustic interferometry.
AB  - The preservation of certain labile cancer biomarkers with formaldehyde-based
      fixatives can be considerably affected by preanalytical factors such as quality
      of fixation. Currently, there are no technologies capable of quantifying a
      fixative's concentration or the formation of cross-links in tissue specimens.
      This work examined the ability to detect formalin diffusion into a histological
      specimen in real time. As formaldehyde passively diffused into tissue, an
      ultrasound time-of-flight (TOF) shift of several nanoseconds was generated due to
      the distinct sound velocities of formalin and exchangeable fluid within the
      tissue. This signal was resolved with a developed digital acoustic interferometry
      algorithm, which compared the phase differential between signals and computed the
      absolute TOF with subnanosecond precision. The TOF was measured repeatedly across
      the tissue sample for several hours until diffusive equilibrium was realized. The
      change in TOF from 6-mm thick ex vivo human tonsil fit a single-exponential decay
      ([Formula: see text]) with rate constants that varied drastically spatially
      between 2 and 10 h ([Formula: see text]) due to substantial heterogeneity. This
      technology may prove essential to personalized cancer diagnostics by documenting
      and tracking biospecimen preanalytical fixation, guaranteeing their suitability
      for diagnostic assays, and speeding the workflow in clinical histopathology
      laboratories. 

PMID- 26866050
TI  - Forward-scatter and side-scatter dataset for epithelial cells from touch samples
      analyzed by flow cytometry.
AB  - 'Touch' or trace biological samples submitted to caseworking labs as evidence
      often contain biological material from multiple individuals which can result in
      mixed DNA profiles. These mixture profiles are difficult to interpret and may
      cause analytical bottlenecks for forensic laboratories. The data in this brief
      reports the variation in the relative abundance of intact epithelial cells
      deposited by four different donors across nine days. Touch samples were generated
      each day by rubbing a polypropylene tube with both hands for five minutes.
      Forward-scatter area (FSC-A) and side-scatter area (SSC-A) data was acquired with
      the BD FACSCantoTM II Analyzer. The relative abundance of different sub
      populations within the FSC-A and SSC-A plots was calculated against the total
      number of events analyzed in each sample. Mean and standard deviation values were
      calculated for each donor. 

PMID- 26866051
TI  - Data on Na,K-ATPase in primary cultures of renal proximal tubule cells treated
      with catecholamines.
AB  - This data article is concerned with chronic regulation of Na,K-ATPase by
      catecholamines. After a chronic treatment, inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity was
      observed in cultures with dopamine, while a stimulation was observed in cultures
      treated with norepinephrine. Following a chronic incubation with guanabenz, an
      alpha adrenergic agonist, an increase in Na,K-ATPase alpha and beta subunit mRNAs
      was observed. This data supports the research article entitled, "Renal proximal
      tubule Na, K-ATPase is controlled by CREB regulated transcriptional coactivators
      as well as salt inducible kinase 1" (Taub et al. 2015) [1]. 

PMID- 26866052
TI  - Expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray data collection for RAS and
      its mutants.
AB  - This article expands on crystal structure data for human H-RAS with mutations at
      position Y137, briefly described in a paper on the effects of phosphorylation of
      Y137 by ABL kinases (Tyrosine phosphorylation of RAS by ABL allosterically
      enhances effector binding, published in the FASEB Journal [1]). The crystal
      structures of the Y137E mutant (phosphorylation mimic) and of the Y137F mutant
      (without the hydroxyl group where phosphorylation occurs) were deposited in the
      Protein Data Bank with PDB codes 4XVQ (H-RAS(Y137E)) and 4XVR (H-RAS(Y137F)).
      This article includes details for expression and purification of RAS and its
      mutants with no affinity tags, in vitro exchange of guanine nucleotides, protein
      crystallization, X-ray data collection and structure refinement. 

PMID- 26866053
TI  - Neonatal mitochondrial abnormalities due to PINK1 deficiency: Proteomics reveals
      early changes relevant to Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder,
      affects roughly 7-10 million people worldwide. A wide array of research has
      suggested that PD has a mitochondrial component and that mitochondrial
      dysfunction occurs well in advance of the clinical manifestation of the disease.
      Previous work by our lab has categorized the mitochondrial disorder associated
      with Parkinson's disease in a PINK1 knockout rat model. This model develops
      Parkinson's disease in a spontaneous, predictable manner. Our findings
      demonstrated PINK1-deficient rats at 4 months of age had mitochondrial proteomic
      and functional abnormalities before the onset of Parkinsonian symptoms (6 months)
      such as the movement disorder, loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, or the
      progressive degeneration present at 9 months. With this in mind, our group
      investigated the PINK1 knockout genetic rat model at postnatal day 10 to
      determine if the observed alterations at 4 months were present at an earlier time
      point. Using a proteomic analysis of brain mitochondria, we identified
      significant mitochondrial proteomic alterations in the absence of mitochondrial
      functional changes suggesting the observed alterations are part of the
      mitochondrial pathways leading to PD. Specifically, we identified differentially
      expressed proteins in the PINK1 knockout rat involved in glycolysis, the
      tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid metabolism demonstrating abnormalities
      occur well in advance of the manifestation of clinical symptoms. Additionally, 13
      of the differentially expressed proteins have been previously identified in older
      PINK1 knockout animals as differentially regulated suggesting these proteins may
      be viable markers of the PD pathology, and further, the abnormally regulated
      pathways could be targeted for therapeutic interventions. All raw data can be
      found in Supplementary Table 1. 

PMID- 26866055
TI  - Realistic Numerical and Analytical Modeling of Light Scattering in Brain Tissue
      for Optogenetic Applications(1,2,3).
AB  - In recent years, optogenetics has become a central tool in neuroscience research.
      Estimating the transmission of visible light through brain tissue is of crucial
      importance for controlling the activation levels of neurons in different depths,
      designing optical systems, and avoiding lesions from excessive power density. The
      Kubelka-Munk model and Monte Carlo simulations have previously been used to model
      light propagation through rodents' brain tissue, however, these prior attempts
      suffer from fundamental shortcomings. Here, we introduce and study two modified
      approaches for modeling the distributions of light emanating from a multimode
      fiber and scattering through tissue, using both realistic numerical Monte Carlo
      simulations and an analytical approach based on the beam-spread function
      approach. We demonstrate a good agreement of the new methods' predictions both
      with recently published data, and with new measurements in mouse brain cortical
      slices, where our results yield a new cortical scattering length estimate of ~47
      um at lambda = 473 nm, significantly shorter than ordinarily assumed in
      optogenetic applications. 

PMID- 26866054
TI  - Chemokine (C-C Motif) Receptor 2 Mediates Dendritic Cell Recruitment to the Human
      Colon but Is Not Responsible for Differences Observed in Dendritic Cell Subsets,
      Phenotype, and Function Between the Proximal and Distal Colon.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Most knowledge about gastrointestinal (GI)-tract dendritic
      cells (DC) relies on murine studies where CD103+ DC specialize in generating
      immune tolerance with the functionality of CD11b+/- subsets being unclear.
      Information about human GI-DC is scarce, especially regarding regional
      specifications. Here, we characterized human DC properties throughout the human
      colon. METHODS: Paired proximal (right/ascending) and distal (left/descending)
      human colonic biopsies from 95 healthy subjects were taken; DC were assessed by
      flow cytometry and microbiota composition assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
      RESULTS: Colonic DC identified were myeloid (mDC, CD11c+CD123-) and further
      divided based on CD103 and SIRPalpha (human analog of murine CD11b) expression.
      CD103-SIRPalpha+ DC were the major population and with CD103+SIRPalpha+ DC were
      CD1c+ILT3+CCR2+ (although CCR2 was not expressed on all CD103+SIRPalpha+ DC).
      CD103+SIRPalpha- DC constituted a minor subset that were CD141+ILT3-CCR2-.
      Proximal colon samples had higher total DC counts and fewer CD103+SIRPalpha+
      cells. Proximal colon DC were more mature than distal DC with higher stimulatory
      capacity for CD4+CD45RA+ T-cells. However, DC and DC-invoked T-cell expression of
      mucosal homing markers (beta7, CCR9) was lower for proximal DC. CCR2 was
      expressed on circulating CD1c+, but not CD141+ mDC, and mediated DC recruitment
      by colonic culture supernatants in transwell assays. Proximal colon DC produced
      higher levels of cytokines. Mucosal microbiota profiling showed a lower
      microbiota load in the proximal colon, but with no differences in microbiota
      composition between compartments. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal colonic DC subsets differ
      from those in distal colon and are more mature. Targeted immunotherapy using DC
      in T-cell mediated GI tract inflammation may therefore need to reflect this
      immune compartmentalization.

PMID- 26866056
TI  - Cortical Transformation of Spatial Processing for Solving the Cocktail Party
      Problem: A Computational Model(1,2,3).
AB  - In multisource, "cocktail party" sound environments, human and animal auditory
      systems can use spatial cues to effectively separate and follow one source of
      sound over competing sources. While mechanisms to extract spatial cues such as
      interaural time differences (ITDs) are well understood in precortical areas, how
      such information is reused and transformed in higher cortical regions to
      represent segregated sound sources is not clear. We present a computational model
      describing a hypothesized neural network that spans spatial cue detection areas
      and the cortex. This network is based on recent physiological findings that
      cortical neurons selectively encode target stimuli in the presence of competing
      maskers based on source locations (Maddox et al., 2012). We demonstrate that key
      features of cortical responses can be generated by the model network, which
      exploits spatial interactions between inputs via lateral inhibition, enabling the
      spatial separation of target and interfering sources while allowing monitoring of
      a broader acoustic space when there is no competition. We present the model
      network along with testable experimental paradigms as a starting point for
      understanding the transformation and organization of spatial information from
      midbrain to cortex. This network is then extended to suggest engineering
      solutions that may be useful for hearing-assistive devices in solving the
      cocktail party problem. 

PMID- 26866059
TI  - Participation in HIV cure-related research: a scoping review of the proxy
      literature and implications for future research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the main types of HIV cure-related strategies and examine
      possible risks (and benefits) associated with participating in HIV cure-related
      research studies. METHODS: We undertook a scoping review to first map out the
      landscape of HIV cure-related research and then examined the risks and potential
      benefits associated with participating in HIV cure research. Given the early
      stage of many HIV cure-related studies, we used proxy literatures from non-cure
      HIV research and cancer research in order to anticipate possible motivators and
      deterrents of participation in HIV cure-related studies. RESULTS: We discussed
      four main categories of HIV cure-related research: (1) early antiretroviral
      treatment (ART); (2) latency-reversing agents (LRAs); (3) therapeutic
      vaccinations and immune-based therapies (IBT); and (4) stem-cell transplantation
      and gene therapy. At this juncture, these categories of HIV cure-related research
      have substantial individual risks and negligible individual and clinical
      benefits. Non-cure HIV research (including HIV prevention and treatment) and
      cancer research have empirical similarities (and differences) to HIV cure
      research and may provide an opportunity to anticipate ethical and logistical
      challenges associated with HIV cure-related research participation and decision
      making. Learning from the cancer field, a strong foundation of patient
      participant and clinician-researcher trust will need to be established to
      facilitate recruitment of participants into HIV cure-related studies. CONCLUSION:
      Further empirical social science and ethics research will be necessary to inform
      clinical HIV cure-related research. The study of participation in HIV cure
      related research can gain insights from proxy fields by incorporating study
      elements to clearly explain motivators and deterrents to participation and to
      inform the implementation of HIV cure-related studies. Study-specific contexts
      from the reviewed literature further demonstrate the importance of various types
      of research to assess factors affecting participation in HIV cure-related
      research, including adequate formative and ethics research.

PMID- 26866057
TI  - Nicotine Modifies Corticostriatal Plasticity and Amphetamine Rewarding Behaviors
      in Mice(1,2,3).
AB  - Corticostriatal signaling participates in sensitized responses to drugs of abuse,
      where short-term increases in dopamine availability provoke persistent, yet
      reversible, changes in glutamate release. Prior studies in mice show that
      amphetamine withdrawal promotes a chronic presynaptic depression in glutamate
      release, whereas an amphetamine challenge reverses this depression by
      potentiating corticostriatal activity in direct pathway medium spiny neurons.
      This synaptic plasticity promotes corticostriatal activity and locomotor
      sensitization through upstream changes in the activity of tonically active
      cholinergic interneurons (ChIs). We used a model of operant drug-taking
      behaviors, in which mice self-administered amphetamine through an in-dwelling
      catheter. Mice acquired amphetamine self-administration under fixed and
      increasing schedules of reinforcement. Following a period of abstinence, we
      determined whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptors modified drug-seeking
      behavior and associated alterations in ChI firing and corticostriatal activity.
      Mice responding to conditioned reinforcement showed reduced ChI and
      corticostriatal activity ex vivo, which paradoxically increased following an
      amphetamine challenge. Nicotine, in a concentration that increases Ca(2+) influx
      and desensitizes alpha4beta2*-type nicotinic receptors, reduced amphetamine
      seeking behaviors following abstinence and amphetamine-induced locomotor
      sensitization. Nicotine blocked the depression of ChI firing and corticostriatal
      activity and the potentiating response to an amphetamine challenge. Together,
      these results demonstrate that nicotine reduces reward-associated behaviors
      following repeated amphetamine and modifies the changes in ChIs firing and
      corticostriatal activity. By returning glutamatergic activity in amphetamine self
      administering mice to a more stable and normalized state, nicotine limits the
      depression of striatal activity in withdrawal and the increase in activity
      following abstinence and a subsequent drug challenge. 

PMID- 26866060
TI  - Treatment strategies for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
AB  - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), an emerging infectious
      disease of growing global importance, has caused severe acute respiratory disease
      in more than 1600 people, resulting in almost 600 deaths. The high case fatality
      rate, growing geographic distribution and vaguely defined epidemiology of this
      novel pathogen have created an urgent need for effective public health
      countermeasures, including safe and effective treatment strategies. Despite the
      relatively few numbers of cases to date, research and development of MERS-CoV
      therapeutic candidates is advancing quickly. This review surveys the landscape of
      these efforts and assesses their potential for use in affected populations.

PMID- 26866058
TI  - Nociceptor Sensitization Depends on Age and Pain Chronicity(1,2,3).
AB  - Peripheral inflammation causes mechanical pain behavior and increased action
      potential firing. However, most studies examine inflammatory pain at acute,
      rather than chronic time points, despite the greater burden of chronic pain on
      patient populations, especially aged individuals. Furthermore, there is
      disagreement in the field about whether primary afferents contribute to chronic
      pain. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the contribution of nociceptor activity to
      the generation of pain behaviors during the acute and chronic phases of
      inflammation in both young and aged mice. We found that both young (2 months old)
      and aged (>18 months old) mice exhibited prominent pain behaviors during both
      acute (2 day) and chronic (8 week) inflammation. However, young mice exhibited
      greater behavioral sensitization to mechanical stimuli than their aged
      counterparts. Teased fiber recordings in young animals revealed a twofold
      mechanical sensitization in C fibers during acute inflammation, but an unexpected
      twofold reduction in firing during chronic inflammation. Responsiveness to
      capsaicin and mechanical responsiveness of A-mechanonociceptor (AM) fibers were
      also reduced chronically. Importantly, this lack of sensitization in afferent
      firing during chronic inflammation occurred even as these inflamed mice exhibited
      continued behavioral sensitization. Interestingly, C fibers from inflamed aged
      animals showed no change in mechanical firing compared with controls during
      either the acute or chronic inflammatory phases, despite strong behavioral
      sensitization to mechanical stimuli at these time points. These results reveal
      the following two important findings: (1) nociceptor sensitization to mechanical
      stimulation depends on age and the chronicity of injury; and (2) maintenance of
      chronic inflammatory pain does not rely on enhanced peripheral drive. 

PMID- 26866061
TI  - A PET/CT Directed, 3D Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy System for Prostate Cancer.
AB  - Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men in the USA. Systematic transrectal ultrasound
      (TRUS)-guided biopsy is the standard method for a definitive diagnosis of
      prostate cancer. However, this "blind" biopsy approach can miss at least 20% of
      prostate cancers. In this study, we are developing a PET/CT directed, 3D
      ultrasound image-guided biopsy system for improved detection of prostate cancer.
      In order to plan biopsy in three dimensions, we developed an automatic
      segmentation method based wavelet transform for 3D TRUS images of the prostate.
      The segmentation was tested in five patients with a DICE overlap ratio of more
      than 91%. In order to incorporate PET/CT images into ultrasound-guided biopsy, we
      developed a nonrigid registration algorithm for TRUS and PET/CT images. The
      registration method has been tested in a prostate phantom with a target
      registration error (TRE) of less than 0.4 mm. The segmentation and registration
      methods are two key components of the multimodality molecular image-guided biopsy
      system.

PMID- 26866062
TI  - [Comment on "1-year outcomes after transfemoral transcatheter or surgical aortic
      valve replacement. Results from the Italian OBSERVANT study"].
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of prospective and controlled data on the
      comparative effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus
      surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a real-world setting. OBJECTIVES:
      This analysis aims to describe 1-year clinical outcomes of a large series of
      propensity-matched patients who underwent SAVR and transfemoral TAVR. METHODS:
      The OBSERVANT (Observational Study of Effectiveness of SAVR-TAVI Procedures for
      Severe Aortic Stenosis Treatment) trial is an observational prospective
      multicenter cohort study that enrolled patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who
      underwent SAVR or TAVR. The propensity score method was applied to select 2
      groups with similar baseline characteristics. All outcomes were adjudicated
      through a linkage with administrative databases. The primary endpoints of this
      analysis were death from any cause and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular
      events (MACCE) at 1 year. RESULTS: The unadjusted enrolled population (N = 7,618)
      included 5,707 SAVR patients and 1,911 TAVR patients. The matched population had
      a total of 1,300 patients (650 per group). The propensity score method generated
      a low-intermediate risk population (mean logistic EuroSCORE 1:10.2 +/-9.2%+/
      7.1%, SAVR vs. transfemoral TAVR; p = 0.104). At 1 year, the rate of death from
      any cause was 13.6% in the surgical group and 13.8% in the transcatheter group
      (hazard ratio [HR]: 0,99%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72 to 1.35; p =
      0.936). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rates of MACCE,
      which were 17.6% in the surgical group and 18.2% in the transcatheter group (HR:
      1.03; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.36; p = 0.83). The cumulative incidence of
      cerebrovascular events, and rehospitalization due to cardiac reasons and acute
      heart failure was similar in both groups at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that SAVR and transfemoral TAVR have comparable mortality, MACCE, and
      rates of rehospitalization due to cardiac reasons at 1 year. The data need to be
      confirmed in longer term and dedicated ongoing randomized trials.

PMID- 26866063
TI  - Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache:  New Insights on the Treatment of Pain in 
      the Neck.

PMID- 26866064
TI  - Acute Myelopathy in a 68-Year-Old Male.

PMID- 26866065
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26866066
TI  - Lexical support for phonetic perception during nonnative spoken  word
      recognition.
AB  - Second language comprehension is generally not as efficient and effective as
      native language comprehension. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis
      that lower-level processes such as lexical support for phonetic perception are a
      contributing factor to these differences. For native listeners, it has been shown
      that the perception of ambiguous acoustic-phonetic segments is driven by lexical
      factors (Samuel Psychological Science, 12, 348-351, 2001). Here, we tested
      whether nonnative listeners can use lexical context in the same way. Native
      Hebrew speakers living in Israel were tested with American English stimuli. When
      subtle acoustic cues in the stimuli worked against the lexical context, these
      nonnative speakers showed no evidence of lexical guidance of phonetic perception.
      This result conflicts with the performance of native speakers, who demonstrate
      lexical effects on phonetic perception even with conflicting acoustic cues. When
      stimuli without any conflicting cues were used, the native Hebrew subjects
      produced results similar to those of native English speakers, showing lexical
      support for phonetic perception in their second language. In contrast, native
      Arabic speakers, who were less proficient in English than the native Hebrew
      speakers, showed no ability to use lexical activation to support phonetic
      perception, even without any conflicting cues. These results reinforce previous
      demonstrations of lexical support of phonetic perception and demonstrate how
      proficiency modulates the use of lexical information in driving phonetic
      perception.

PMID- 26866067
TI  - Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency: Changing the Landscape of
      Pediatric Primary Immunodeficiencies.

PMID- 26866068
TI  - Retraction notice to "Submicrometer particles and their effects on the
      association between air temperature and mortality in Brisbane, Australia".

PMID- 26866069
TI  - Reflections: Neurology and the Humanities. Mistaken identity.

PMID- 26866070
TI  - Author response.

PMID- 26866071
TI  - The cost of multiple sclerosis drugs in the US and the pharmaceutical industry:
      too big to fail?

PMID- 26866072
TI  - Author response.

PMID- 26866073
TI  - Guest Editorial: Enabling Technologies for Parkinson's Disease Management.

PMID- 26866074
TI  - A Tribute to Joan (Jan) Mary Anderson 12 May 1932 - 28 August 2015.

PMID- 26866075
TI  - 'Ten Commandments' of 2015 ESC Guidelines for diagnosis and management of
      pericardial diseases.

PMID- 26866076
TI  - The Russian National Congress of Cardiology   2015.

PMID- 26866078
TI  - Professor Christoph Bode.

PMID- 26866077
TI  - Germany's largest heart centre.

PMID- 26866079
TI  - Professor Franz-Josef Neumann.

PMID- 26866080
TI  - NUTRITION STATUS AND ASSOCIATED MORBIDITY RISK FACTORS AMONG ORPHANAGE AND NON
      ORPHANAGE CHILDREN IN SELECTED PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITHIN DAGORETTI, NAIROBI,
      KENYA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most of the nutritional surveys that have been carried out in Kenya
      have concentrated on children aged five years and below who are under the care of
      their parent(s). The HIV/AIDS, conflict, natural disasters, endemic diseases such
      as malaria and tuberculosis and rising poverty has claimed the health and lives
      of millions of productive adults, leaving their children orphaned and vulnerable.
      This has led to mushrooming of orphanages to take care of these orphans and
      vulnerable children in Kenya. OBJECTIVE: Compare the nutrition status and
      associated risk factors of primary school children living in orphanages and those
      not living in orphanages in selected public primary schools in Dagoretti
      Division, Nairobi. DESIGN: Descriptive cross sectional survey. SETTING: Four
      public primary schools in Dagoretti Division. Data were collected from school
      registers and directly questioning the students, parents/guardians or caretakers.
      SUBJECTS: Four hundred and sixteen, four to eleven year olds randomly selected
      orphanage and non-orphanage children who attended the same primary school.
      RESULTS: The orphanage children had a significantly higher rate of stunting and
      underweight (p < 0.05) than the non-orphanage children. The orphanage children
      had also a significantly higher rate of morbidity (p < 0.05) than the non
      orphanage children. The orphanage children were more than three times more likely
      to take inadequate calories compared to the non-orphanage children. CONCLUSIONS:
      The main factors associated with the higher rate of malnutrition among orphanage
      children were high morbidity rate, inadequate amounts and diversity of foods
      served, low rates of vaccination and basic hygiene.

PMID- 26866081
TI  - IMMUNISATION TRAINING NEEDS IN MALAWI.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) and its immunisation partners
      conducted a training needs assessment in May 2013 to assess the current status of
      immunisation training programmemes in health training institutions, to identify
      unmet training needs, and to recommend possible solutions for training of health
      workers on a regular basis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study.
      SETTING: Health training institutions in Malawi, a developing country that does
      not regularly update its curricula to include new vaccines and management tools,
      nor train healthcare workers on a regular basis. SUBJECTS: Researchers
      interviewed Malawi's central immunisation manager, three zonal immunisation
      officers, six district officers, 12 health facility immunisation coordinators,
      and eight principals of training institutions. RESULTS: All health training
      institutions in Malawi include immunisation in their preservice training
      curricula. However, the curriculum is not regularly updated; thus, the graduates
      are not well equipped to provide quality services. In addition, the duration of
      the training curriculum is inadequate, and in-service training sessions for
      managers and service providers are conducted only on an ad hoc basis. CONCLUSION:
      All levels of Malawi's health system have not met sufficient training needs for
      providing immunisations, and the health training institutions teach their
      students with outdated materials. It is recommended that the training
      institutions update their training curricula regularly and the service providers
      are trained on a regular basis.

PMID- 26866082
TI  - EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF 2-HOURLY 20 MCG ORAL MISOPROSTOL SOLUTION COMPARED TO
      STANDARD INTRAVENOUS OXYTOCIN IN LABOUR INDUCTION DUE TO PRE-LABOUR RUPTURE OF
      MEMBRANES AT TERM: A RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIAL AT KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) at term is a common event
      whose management varies from centre to centre. The practice at the Kenyatta
      National Hospital (KNH) for patients with PROM at term is to initiate delivery of
      the patient soon on admission with intravenous oxytocin, if there are no
      contraindications to vaginal delivery. However, in PROM at term, if the cervix is
      not ripe, vaginal administration of prostaglandin pessaries for cervical ripening
      is not possible when there is active draining of liquor, thus use of intravenous
      oxytocin may take a very long time or fail all together. Oral misoprostol at low
      doses has been found to be a safe and effective agent for labour induction in
      numerous studies carried out in the developed world, where there are better
      resources for monitoring of labour. None of the studies has been carried out in
      Kenya, a limited resource country. Therefore, there is a need to determine the
      effectiveness and safety of oral misoprostol solution at the KNH, a limited
      resource set up. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of 2-hourly
      20 mcg oral misoprostol solution compared to the standard intravenous oxytocin in
      labour induction in mothers with pre-labour rupture of membranes at term at the
      Kenyatta National Hospital. DESIGN: An unblinded randomised clinical trial.
      SETTING: Kenyatta National Hospital Labour Ward Unit. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty three
      pregnant women with pre-labour rupture of membranes at term without an indication
      for Caeserian section were consented and randomised for labour induction with
      either oral misoprostol at a dose of 20mcg 2-hourly up to a maximum of 4-doses,
      or with intravenous oxytocin according to the WHO protocol. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Induction to delivery interval; maternal complications and early
      neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: The overall induction success rates in the
      misoprostol arm was 81% versus 83% in the oxytocin arm (P = 0.447). The mean
      induction to vaginal delivery interval in the misoprostol arm was 8.4 hours as
      compared to 9.45 hours in the oxytocin arm (P = 0.116). The induction to active
      labour interval was similar in the two study arms. The mean induction to active
      labour in the misoprostol arm was 4.02 hours as versus 4.51 hours in the oxytocin
      arm (P = 0.223 ). Two women who had failed induction with misoprostol were
      augmented with oxytocin and delivered vaginally. The Caesarean section rates were
      19% in the misoprostol arm and 17% in the oxytocin arm (P = 0.447), which was not
      statistically significant. The maternal outcomes were similar in the two study
      arms. Four women had tachysystole in the misoprostol arm, compared to three in
      the oxytocin arm (P = 0.253). In the misoprostol arm two women had hypertonus
      compared to three in the oxytocin arm (P = 0.322).There was one case of
      hyperstimulation in the misoprostol arm and two in in the oxytocin arm. There
      were no differences in the foetal/neonatal outcomes. No baby had an Apgar score
      of less than seven at one or five minutes. No baby was admitted to the New Born
      Unit in either of the two arms. There was no case of a still birth in either of
      the study arms. There was no significant difference in the passage of meconium
      between the two arms, 39% in the misoprostol arm and 35.7% in the oxytocin arm (P
      = 0.755). The passage of meconium did not impact on the neonatal outcomes.
      CONCLUSION: Oral misoprostol solution 20mcg 2-hourly is as safe and effective as
      the standard intravenous oxytocin for labour induction in women presenting with
      prelabour rupture of membranes at term at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

PMID- 26866083
TI  - MUSCULOSKELETAL PRESENTATION OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA AT GENERAL HOSPITAL DOUALA,
      CAMEROON.
AB  - Background: very little is known about musculoskeletal features of multiple
      myeloma (MM) in Africa. OBJECTIVES: To describe the musculoskeletal features of
      multiple myeloma at presentation in a tertiary health care centre in sub-Saharan
      Africa. DESIGN: A Cross sectional observational study. SETTING: The Douala
      General Hospital, Cameroon from 2007 to 2013. SUBJECTS: A patient was said to
      have MM according the current international consensus criteria for diagnosis and
      staging of MM. Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance,
      solitary plamocytoma and other haematologic malignancies were excluded. RESULTS:
      A total of 62 patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma, 63% were female.
      Mean age was 57 +/- 12,1 (19-81) years. Musculoskeletal presentation included
      spine bone pains (75.6%); vertebral fracture with spinal cord compression in 46.8
      %. Other clinical features at presentation included anaemia (70.93%), and
      nephropathy (17.74%). The average percentage of bone marrow plasmacytosis at
      diagnosis was 33% and Immunoglobulin G was found in 86% of patients. Sixty three
      per cent of patients were diagnosed at stage III of the disease. CONCLUSION:
      Presence of bone pain and anaemia should alert the clinician to investigate along
      the lines of multiple myeloma. Majority of the patients have osteolytic lesions
      and pathologic fractures at the time of diagnosis.

PMID- 26866084
TI  - RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN NIGERIANS: TWO CASE
      REPORTS.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis may sometimes present with extra-articular involvement,
      pulmonary involvement is not common. Rheumatoid arthritis has been reported among
      Nigerians and extra-articular manifestations are rarely seen. One of the patients
      was misdiagnosed and mismanaged as a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. The
      study is to demonstrate that rheumatoid arthritis is not as rare as previously
      reported in Nigeria and its pulmonary involvement can mimic tuberculosis or other
      granulomatous lung disorder. Clinical and serological acumen are necessary to
      distinguish between the two. Two diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis and
      pulmonary involvement seen at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital
      (OOUTH), are hereby presented.

PMID- 26866085
TI  - PATTERNS OF POISONING AMONG PATIENTS AGED 0-13 YEARS AT A PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL IN
      NAIROBI.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern of poisoning amongst patients admitted at a
      paediatric hospital in Nairobi and compare it with that of other hospitals around
      the world DESIGN: A retrospective hospital based multivariate study. SETTING:
      Gertrude's Garden Children's Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. SUBJECTS: Medical records
      of all children admitted with a diagnosis of poisoning between January 2003 and
      December 2007. RESULTS: The age range of the study population was birth to 13
      years. The mean age was 3.57 years with a standard deviation of +/- 1.57 with a
      peak incidence in the one to three years old age group (56.7%). Males comprised
      61.7% of the cases. The most common cause of poisoning was ingestion of a drug (
      46.7%). Petroleum products caused 30.0%, detergents 8.3% and organophosphates
      6.7%. Ninety six point seven percent of poisonings were unintentional and 93.3%
      of injuries took place at home. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSION: The
      majority of these incidents were preventable. Measures need to be instituted to
      reduce the number of incidents of poisoning in children. This can take the form
      of health and safety education particularly in relation to storage of common
      household poisons.

PMID- 26866086
TI  - PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED CHARACTERISTICS OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) IMMUNOGLOBULIN
      ANTIBODIES AMONG BLOOD DONORS AT A UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific antibodies is not
      routine in our setting, thus the transfusion of blood portends high risk for
      susceptible individuals. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM
      specific antibodies and associated characteristics in blood donors seen at a
      referral teaching hospital in Nigeria. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional and
      descriptive study. SETTING: Blood Bank and Serology Unit of the Department of
      Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals'
      Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: One hundred and eighty four blood donors
      negative for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis
      were assessed for their levels of CMV specific IgG and IgM antibodies (AccuDiagTM
      ELISA, DIAGNOSTIC AUTOMATION INC, USA) using the enzyme linked immunosorbent
      assay technique (ELISA). RESULTS: Ninety six percent of the donors were males
      while those with secondary education and below (61.3%), unmarried (70%), artisans
      and unemployed including students (82.5%) were in the majority. The prevalence of
      CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were 97.4% and 52.6%, while CMV IgG antibody range
      from 94.7% to 100% in all types of donation. All female donors (3.8%) were
      positive for IgG and IgM antibodies. The level of education of the donors
      predicts IgM antibody positivity, those with secondary education or less are more
      likely than others to be positive (p < 0.05; X2 = 15.98). Linear logistic
      regression showed that male donors and those in the artisan group are more likely
      to be positive for IgM antibody (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CMV
      antibodies is very high (IgG = 97.4%; IgM = 52.6%) in our setting. Donors with
      low educational status and artisans are more likely to be IgM positive.
      Therefore, a more stringent donor selection, adoption of leukodepleted blood and
      blood products for uninfected patients especially the immuno-compromised and
      adoption of a national policy on CMV infected blood is advocated.

PMID- 26866087
TI  - BARRIERS TO UPTAKE OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN KENYA.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To conduct clinical breast cancer screening in three sites in Western
      Kenya and explore community barriers to screening uptake. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      study. SETTING: Western Kenya specifically, Mosoriot, Turbo, and Kapsokwony.
      SUBJECTS: Community members (18 years and older) who did not attend the screening
      events. OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome measure was having heard about the breast
      cancer screening events. Both structured and open-ended questions were used for
      data collection. Item frequency, correlations, and content analyses were
      performed. RESULTS: A total of 733 community members were surveyed (63% women,
      median age 33 years, IQR = 26-43). More than half (55%) of respondents had heard
      about the screening but did not attend. The majority of those who had heard about
      this particular screening had knowledge of screening availability in general (45%
      vs. 25%, p < 0.001). Only 8.0% of those who heard and 6.0% of those who had not
      heard of the screening event had previously undergone clinical breast exam (p =
      0.20). Reasons for not attending the screening event were personal factors,
      including busy schedule (41.0%), perceived low personal risk (12.7%), lack of
      transport (4.2%), as well as health facility factors such as poor publicity
      (14.4%) and long queues (8.7%). CONCLUSION: Barriers to breast cancer screening
      uptake were associated with inadequate publicity, perceived long waits at event
      and busy lives among community women.

PMID- 26866088
TI  - FEMALE GENITAL TRACT CANCERS IN SAGAMU, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe pattern of female genital tract cancers seen at Olabisi
      Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Nigeria. DESIGN: This is a
      retrospective review of all cases of female genital tract cancers managed at the
      Gynaecology department of OOUTH, Sagamu, Nigeria. SETTING: OOUTH is a tertiary
      health institution of the State's university and it takes referrals from within
      and outside the State. SUBJECTS: Case records of all female genital tract cancers
      managed between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrieved and analysed using
      SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS: There were 2059 women treated forvarious gynaecologic
      conditions, 179 (8.7%) were cases of female genital tract cancers and 161 records
      were available for analysis. Cervical cancer constituted the commonest (51.6%),
      followed by ovarian (35.4%), endometrial (9.9%), and choriocarcinoma (1.9%).
      There were no cases of vaginal and fallopian tube cancers. The lowest mean age
      was found in choriocarcinoma (36.60 +/- 4.50 years) and highest in vulvar cancer
      (70.00 +/- 2.82 years). The mean ages for cervical, endometrial and ovarian
      cancers were (51.98 +/- 12.39), (65.38 +/- 7.24), and (54.42 +/- 10.51) years
      respectively. Similarly the least mean parity was found in choriocarcinoma (2.33
      +/- 1.52), and the highest in vulvar cancer (6.00 +/- 1.44). The mean parity for
      cervical, endometrial, and ovarian were (4.10 +/- 1.49),(3.06 +/- 1.48), and
      (3.72 +/- 1.68) respectively. These differences are statistically significant,
      age; F = 7.61, p < 0.0001, and parity; F = 3.27, p= 0.013. CONCLUSION: Incidence
      of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers remain high and presentations are
      at late stages. There is a need to improve on cervical cancer screening, and for
      the attending physicians to improve on their indices of suspicions as regards
      endometrial and ovarian cancers.

PMID- 26866089
TI  - FACTORS INFLUENCING VOLUNTARY MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION AMONG MEN AGED 18-50
      YEARS IN KIBERA DIVISION.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is the surgical removal of
      all or part of the foreskin from the penis. It is done for medical reasons as it
      has been shown to reduce the risk of female to male transmission of HIV by up to
      60%. It has also been associated with lower transmission of sexually transmitted
      infections. Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services have been scaled up in
      countries with high prevalence, generalised heterosexual HIV epidemics and low
      rates of male circumcision. Kibera is inhabited by a multi-ethnic community with
      a sizeable number of un-circumcising ethnic groups. OBJECTIVES: To determine the
      uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision among men in Kibera Division and to
      identify factors associated with circumcision preference. DESIGN: Descriptive
      cross-sectional study. SETTING: Kibera Division of Nairobi County. SUBJECTS:
      Simple random sampling was used to enrol 387 participants. A 42-item
      questionnaire was administered to the participants for determining the uptake of
      VMMC. It had three sub-sections: demographic characteristics, general knowledge
      about VMMC and AIDS and acceptability of VMMC, which collected data on the main
      outcome measures. Data captured was entered into EpiInfo and converted to Stata13
      for validation and analysis. Bivariate statistics were generated for all the
      variables in accordance to the study questions. Categorical variables were
      analysed using chi-square tests, while the qualitative variables were analysed
      using the t-test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to
      identify factors associated with the acceptability of male circumcision. RESULTS:
      The study analysed data for a sample of 341 individuals whose mean age was 31
      years (95% = 31 +/- 9.1) and 62% were married. A total of 54% of the respondents
      had completed secondary and tertiary level of education. The level of
      understanding about VMMC was above average. Fifty nine percent of the respondents
      (95% CI = 0.54-0.64) knew about VMMC. Of these, 31% had obtained information
      about VMMC from TV and radio. The most frequently mentioned reason for undergoing
      VMMC was prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. The level of
      uptake of VMMC was high at 75%. The study established that the prefered age group
      for circumcision was during adolescence. Using multivariate logistic regression,
      the factors associated with uptake of VMMC were education level, medical and
      hygiene reasons for VMMC. Barriers for uptake were cost, pain and long recovery
      period after the operation. CONCLUSION: The uptake and acceptability of male
      circumcision is high among the general population in Kibera. Participant
      understanding of HIV and VMMC was also high. There is need for heightened
      awareness creation in educational institutes. This will specifically target young
      men before or shortly after their sexual debut when they may still be free of HIV
      and HSV-2 infections. Circumcision by medical providers should be increased in
      traditionally circumcising regions to reduce incidence of adverse events.

PMID- 26866090
TI  - DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RUIRU DIVISION, KIAMBU COUNTY,
      KENYA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish common disasters, preparedness and management in
      secondary school in Ruiru Division, Kiambu County, Kenya. DESIGN: Descriptive
      cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Out of the target population a hundred and
      twenty (120) respondents were selected from the students, teachers and the
      support staff. Eighteen key informants snowballed gave information that augmented
      the study findings. RESULTS: The respondents did not know how to use the first
      aid kit elements (= 835.263, p = 0.000, df = 1). Lack of knowledge on use of
      first aid elements was significantly high among the respondents which also
      reflected lack of skills to manage minor incidences (= 835.1, P = 0.000, df = 1).
      The respondents confessed the lack of preparedness for disasters in their schools
      (= 840.8, P = 0.0, df = 2). CONCLUSIONS: The study was set to find out the
      Preparedness for disasters in ruirusecondary with an aim of filling any gap that
      maybe found by implementing strategies to improve preparedness for ruriru people
      which should be the way to go everywhere and those in authority to avail the
      required resources for disaster management.

PMID- 26866091
TI  - A STUDY OF SOME MORPHOGENETIC TRAITS AMONG THE ESAN ETHNIC GROUP OF NIGERIA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genetic variability is a common feature of many organisms. The
      existence of genetic variation in man is caused by many factors along with
      selection, migration, gene flow and genetic drift. Human genetics are known as
      hereditary traits, these hereditary traits include the dominant and recessive
      traits in humans. Most of the genes are transmitted in the Mendelian pattern and
      a few are transmitted through the non-Mendelian pattern. OBJECTIVE: To show
      variation pattern in earlobe attachment, hair line distribution and presence or
      absence of cheek dimples and to determine prevalence of these traits among the
      Esan ethnic group of Southern Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: The
      target populations for this study are the Esan ethnic group of Southern Nigeria.
      Esan land is bordered to the south by Benin City, to the east by Agbor City, to
      the north by Etsako and to the west by River Niger. SUBJECT: A simple random
      sampling technique was used to select 400 volunteered subjects (176 males, 224
      females). They were between the ages of 17-60. Their parents and grandparents
      were from Esan backgrounds. Data on cheek dimple (present or absent), widow's
      peak or straight hairline and earlobe attachment was gathered. RESULT: Results
      showed 12.5% of Males and 21.3% of females had cheek dimples while 31.5% of males
      and 34.7% of female had no dimple. 29.0% Males and 40.0% females had unattached
      earlobe while 15.0% Males and 16.0% females had their earlobes attached. Results
      for widow's peak showed 14.7% males and 16.5% females had widow's peak while
      29.3% males and females 39.5% didn't have a peak. The chi-squared analysis of
      variance showed that there is a no significant difference between gender for
      earlobe attachment, hair line variation and cheek dimple (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      The study concluded that these traits varies in the population but do not vary
      with gender.

PMID- 26866092
TI  - ATYPICAL TUBERCULOSIS PRESENTING WITH PRIMARY INFERTILITY AND ENDOMETRIAL
      CALCIFICATION.
AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It remains a public
      health concern especially in developing country. Pulmonary infection is the main
      presentation. However, genitourinary TB is common especially with the increase in
      Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Genitourinary TB is one of the most
      common causes of extrapulmonary tuberculosis which affects 12% patients with
      pulmonary tuberculosis. It is common in women less than 40 years of age and
      rarely occurs in post-menopausal. Therefore it is more likely to affect women in
      reproductive years leading to infertility. Fallopian tube involvement in genital
      TB is at least 95-100% of cases and is mainly from haematological spread and this
      leads to infertility. This is a case of a woman who presented a diagnosis of
      primary infertility and tuberculous endometritis with endometrial calcification.

PMID- 26866093
TI  - AN UNUSUAL CASE OF RECTAL FOREIGN BODY: CASE REPORT.
AB  - Foreign bodies within the rectum are an infrequent occurrence with a wide variety
      of objects either inserted or swallowed. Many techniques of removal have been
      described to remove these objects in case series mainly in developed countries.
      We report a case of unusually large rectal foreign body we managed by
      sigmoidotomy with primary closure.

PMID- 26866094
TI  - PARENTS' AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PERSPECTIVES ABOUT HOSPITALISED CHILDREN BEING
      VISITED BY OTHER CHILDREN IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Throughout history, visitation of the hospitalised child has always
      been restricted. The subject of whether hospitalised children should be visited
      by other children has been accorded minimal attention. OBJECTIVE: To determine
      the current status of visitation of the hospitalised children and the parents and
      healthcare providers'views on hospitalised children being visited by other
      children. DESIGN: A descriptive study carried out using quantitative and
      qualitative methods in two phases SETTING: All paediatric wards at Kenyatta
      National Hospital and Gertrudes Children's Hospital. SUBJECTS: Nurses,
      paediatricians and parents of hospitalised children. RESULTS: A total of 161
      parents participated in phase I of the study whereas 11 nurses not specialised in
      paediatric nursing, 13 paediatric nurses, 12 nurse managers, fur paediatricians
      and13 parents participated in phase II of the study. The study established that
      visiting of the hospitalised child by family members especially children aged
      below twelve years is severely restricted particularly in the public hospital.
      Despite this, however, majority of the healthcare providers and the parents
      acknowledged the importance of the hospitalised children being visited by other
      children. This is because it promotes healing, gives the sick child psychological
      satisfaction and relieves anxiety in the hospitalised child, the accompanying
      parent and the other children. The risk of exposing the visiting children to
      infection was cited as the main reason for the restrictions. CONCLUSION: Both the
      healthcare providers and the hospitalised children's parents appreciate the
      importance of the hospitalised child being visited by other children. There is a
      need to review healthcare policies to make provision for hospitalised children to
      be visited by other children.

PMID- 26866095
TI  - FLUCONAZOLE AND BORIC ACID FOR TREATMENT OF VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS--NEW WORDS ABOUT
      OLD ISSUE.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare boric acid as an effective treatment for VVC compared to
      fluconazole. We also studied the efficiency of these drugs in preventing
      recurrence of VVC. DESIGN: A cross sectional, randomized, double-blind study.
      SETTINGS: Gynaecology clinic of Imam Reza hospital, Tehran - Iran SUBJECTS: Women
      with signs and symptoms related to Vulvo Vaginal Candidiasis. RESULTS: Seventy
      five patients out of total 150 patients with signs and symptoms related to Vulvo
      Vaginal Candidiasis were treatedwith boric acidpowder everynight for a week and
      the remaining 75 patients received Fluconazole. The cure rate in first group was
      46.7% but the cure rate in second group was 37.3%. The difference was not
      statistically significant (P>0.3). Difference between the efficacy of the two
      drugs was not significant either (P=0.47). The recurrence rate among patients in
      first group was 35% while it was 32% in second group. Their difference was not
      statistically significant (P=0.54). CONCLUSION: According to our findings,
      treatment of vaginal candidiasis with boric acid is as effective as fluconazole.
      The availability of boric acid and its relatively low cost suggests it as a safe
      and effective drug for treatment of candidiasis.

PMID- 26866096
TI  - RISK OF RED BLOOD CELL ALLOIMMUNISATION IN RWANDA: ASSESSMENT OF PRETRANSFUSION
      CROSSMATCH TECHNIQUES USED IN DISTRICT HOSPITALS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Screening of alloantibodies in patients is not yet done in district
      hospitals of Rwanda. The practice is to transfuse ABO/D compatible blood
      following an immediate spin crossmatch (IS-XM) or indirect antiglobulin test
      crossmatch (IAT-XM). OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk of red blood cell (RBC)
      alloimmunisation associated with the use of IS-XM compared to the IAT-XM in
      patients receiving blood transfusions in district hospitals in Rwanda. DESIGN: A
      cross-sectional comparative descriptive study. SETTING: Four Rwandan district
      hospitals. Kirehe and Nyanza hospitals used IS-XM while Muhima and Ruhengeri
      hospitals used IAT-XM. SUBJECTS: Blood samples were obtained from 187 patients
      (101 with IS-XM and 86 with IAT-XM) transfused in January, February, October, and
      November of 2012. RESULTS: The median age of blood recipients was 31 years (7 -
      80) and 36% of them were male. Sixteen specific antibodies were identified in 12
      patients: anti-RH1/D (2),anti-RH2/C (2), anti-RH3/E (2), anti-RH4/c (1), anti
      RH5/e (2),anti-LE1/Lea (2),anti-JK1/Jka (1), anti-JK2/Jkb (1), anti-KEL1/K (1),
      anti-MNS1/M (1), and autoantibody (1).The global prevalence of redblood cell
      (RBC) alloimmunisationwas 6.4% (12/187). Thatprevalence was significantly higher
      in the IS-XM group (10.4%) than in the IAT-XM group (2.3%) with an odds ratio of
      4.8; [95% CI=1.2-19.8]; and a p-value of 0.031. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of red
      blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation in 187 patients receiving blood transfusions
      was 6.4% and was higher in recipients from hospitals using IS-XM, with Rhesus
      (RH) system antibodies widely predominant (56.2%).We recommend that IAT-XM be
      used in all district hospitals in Rwanda to minimise this risk.

PMID- 26866097
TI  - GLOBAL DISPARITY IN CHILDHOOD DENTAL CARIES: IS THERE A REMEDY?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors associated with childhood caries, their
      association withthe widening childhood caries gap between developed and less
      developed nations and proposition on how the gap could be bridged. DATA SOURCE:
      Pubmed database was used to retrieve appropriate research literature. STUDY
      SELECTION: All publications in the English language reporting on prevalence,
      management strategies and policy matters relating to childhood dental caries for
      the period 2000 to 2011. DATA SYNTHESIS: The data collected were analysed and the
      results related to the objective of the study. CONCLUSION: Socio-economic
      factors, educational factors and human resource factors were found have been
      associated with childhood caries gap between the developed and less developed
      nations. The caries gap could be bridged through smart policies by less developed
      nations, involving multiple strategies geared towards preventive oral health
      care.

PMID- 26866098
TI  - RELAPSING FEVER, A DISAPPEARING CAUSE OF FEVER AND MATERNAL DEATH IN SENGEREMA,
      TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of tick borne relapsing fever (TBRF) during the
      last 50 years, once like malaria an endemic disease in Sengerema, Tanzania.
      DESIGN: By analyzing the annual reports, focusing on the number of admissions,
      maternal deaths, blood smears of patients with fever for Borrelia. SETTING:
      Sengerema district, Tanzania. SUBJECT: Admissions in Sengerema Hospital due to
      TBRF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: From 1960 to 2010, we analyzed the incidence of
      TBRF. RESULT: Forty annual admissions in the sixties/seventies, 200 in the
      eighties (range from 37 in 1964 to 455 in 1988), dropping to 30 in the nineties.
      For the last nine years no Borrelia spirochetes were found in blood smears at the
      laboratory anymore and no admissions for TBRF were registered. The number of
      maternal deaths due to relapsing fever decreased simultaneously; the last one
      recordedwas in 2002. CONCLUSION: During the last century, we have witnessed the
      disappearing of tick borne relapsing fever in Sengerema. Increase of gold mining,
      improved local economy, housing and standards of living after the nineties
      resulted in an almost complete eradication of the incidence of TBRF.

PMID- 26866099
TI  - CALCINOSIS CUTIS - A SERIES OF 59 CONSECUTIVE CASES CONFINED AMONG WOMEN.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis is the cutaneous deposition of calcium salts.
      Tumoral Calcinosis is a condition consisting of massive subcutaneous deposits of
      calcium salts often overlying large joints in otherwise healthy patients.
      OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of a series of patients with Tumoral
      Calcinosis in the Gurage Zone of Central Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY: Data was
      collected from 59 patients who presented with clinical diagnosis of calcinosis
      cutis around hip region between January 2005 and January 2009. RESULTS: All cases
      were females, with a mean (standard deviation) age at diagnosis of 50.7(10.8).
      The duration of illness ranged from one to eighteen years. The cases were
      distributed in the different villages of Gurage Zone without any sign of
      clustering of cases. The lesions were localized around hip region on both sides.
      The patients did not have any related co-morbidity or any history of similar
      illness among close family members. None of the patients gave history of evident
      trauma to the site of the lesions. Significant proportion of the patients (53.4%)
      confirmed to carry water container and/or other goods on their side. Serum
      Phosphate and Calcium levels in selected patients were with in normal limit.
      Histo-pathological examinations of five cases revealed Calcium deposits in
      collagenous connective tissue. CONCLUSION: The lesion was found to be relatively
      common in the study area and specifically confined to females. The probable
      factor associated with the cases is carrying objects on their side (hip area).
      Further research with in-depth clinical and laboratory evaluation is of paramount
      importance.

PMID- 26866100
TI  - PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF SINGLE AND MIXED SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI AND SCHISTOSOMA
      HAEMATOBIUM INFECTIONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RACHUONYO NORTH DISTRICT,
      HOMABAY COUNTY, WESTERN KENYA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence andintensity of single and mixed
      schistosomiasis infection among primary school children in Rachuonyo North
      District, Homabay County in western Kenya. DESIGN: A descriptive cross sectional
      study. SETTING: A parasitological survey involving six primary schools in
      Rachuonyo North District, Homabay County. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and seventy
      four(474) school children, seven to 15 years old. Each child provided a urine and
      stool sample for diagnosis of schistosome and soil-transmitted helminth
      infections. Urine samples were processed using the filtration technique and the
      sample examined by microscopy for Schistosoma haematobium ova. Stool samples were
      processed by the Kato-Katz technique and the sample examined by microscopy for
      ova of S. mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths. RESULTS: Prevelance of
      S.haematobium was 37.6%, S.mansoni (12.2%), hookworm (14.6%), Ascaris
      lumbricoides (6.3%), Trichuris trichiura (5.3%) among the children in the
      participating schools. Overall, 78.6% of the children infected with S.haematobium
      had light infection (<50 eggs per 10 ml of urine) and the rest (21.4%) had heavy
      infection (50 eggs per 10 ml of urine). On the hand, 75.9% of those with
      S.mansoni had light infection (one to 99 eggs per gram of stool (EPG), and the
      rest (24.1%) had moderate infection intensities (100-399 (EPG). CONCLUSION: This
      is the first report in which both S.haematobium and S.mansoni are found together
      in the same geographic locality in high prevalence in the Lake Victoria region of
      western Kenya, with S. haematobium being the most predominant in some places.
      Rachuonyo North District becomes a new focus of mixed human schistosome
      infections in Kenya. The significant burden of schistosomiasis in this area
      highlights the need to include regular treatment for schistosomiasis in the
      national school based deworming programme especially now that the infection
      occurs in areas more than five kilometres away from the lake.

PMID- 26866101
TI  - ACUTE LEUKEMIAS IMMUNOPHENOTYPES AT AGAKHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, NAIROBI.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine relative frequencies of acute leukemia
      immunophenotypes using commonly expressed markers and to describe the
      clinicopathological characteristics. Design: This was a prospective cross
      sectional study. SETTING: The study was based at Aga khan clinical laboratory
      department. SUBJECTS: One hundred and thirty two (132) consecutive blood and bone
      marrow specimens from patients suspected to have acute leukemia were analysed for
      cytomorphological characteristics and immunophenotyping. The clinical
      pathological characteristics were also recorded. Immunological category was
      assigned using the EGIL criteria. RESULTS: There were 88 AML and 42 ALL patients
      analysed for immunophenotypes. Only tw cases of biphenotypic leukemia were found.
      The commonest overall AML morphological sub-type was AML-M2, 26 (29.5%). Majority
      of ALL cases were B-cell immunological sub-type (96.6%). Early pre-B phenotype
      constituted 62.07% and Common B-cell ALL 37.93%. There were only 4 cases of T
      cell ALL. Majority of patients presented with anaemia with a median hemoglobin of
      7.5g/dl (range 2-15g/dl). The median platelet count was 55 (range 4-462 x
      10(9)/L). CONCLUSION: Immunophenotyping of acute leukemia is beneficial in
      accurate diagnosis of patients with these malignancies in this setup. T-cell ALL,
      AML-M6 and M7 are less frequent than what has been reported in most studies in
      Africa.

PMID- 26866102
TI  - AWARENESS AND PRACTICE ON BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL
      IN KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The proper handling and disposal of Bio-medical waste (BMW) is very
      imperative. There are well defined set rules for handling BMW worldwide.
      Unfortunately, laxity and lack of adequate training and awareness in execution of
      these rules leads to staid health and environment apprehension. OBJECTIVE: To
      assessthe awareness and practice regarding biomedical waste management among
      health care personnel in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) DESIGN: A cross
      sectional study design. SETTING: Kenyatta National Hospital SUBJECTS: Doctors,
      Nurses and support staff who have worked in the institution for more than six
      months and consented were evaluated. RESULTS: The total level of awareness on
      biomedical waste management among health care personnel was found to be 60%. The
      doctors scored 51% which was the lowest score the nurses scored 65% which was the
      highest score while the support staff scored 55%. As for the practices, the
      results showed that most of the healthcare personnel were aware of the biomedical
      waste management practices in the hospital with the lowest scores emerging from
      doctors and this shows no association between knowledge on biomedical waste
      management and education. When asked how they would describe the control of waste
      management in the institution 59% said good and 40% said fair while 1% said poor.
      CONCLUSION: The present study therefore outlines the gap between biomedical waste
      management rules and inadequate state of execution and awareness in practice. It
      is recommended that enhancement be done to the already existing Hospital
      Infection Control Committee to supervise all the aspects of biomedical waste
      management. Periodical training programmes for biomedical waste handling and
      disposal to the staff with focus on doctors is highlighted.

PMID- 26866103
TI  - EFFECTS OF STANDARD AND/OR GLUTAMINE DIPEPTIDE AND/OR OMEGA-3 FATTY ASCID
      SUPPLEMENTED PARENTERAL NUTRITION ON NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONS, INTERLEUKIN-8 LEVEL
      AND LENGTH OF STAY--A DOUBLE BLIND,CONTROLLED, RANDOMISED STUDY.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Protein calorie malnutrition for cancer patients is related
      with altered cellular and humoral immunity. Standard TPN and glutamine and lipid
      emulsion with omega 3 fatty acids were given to colorectal cancer patients and
      the effects of these to neutrophil functions and IL-8 levels are compared.
      METHODS: Consecutive 36 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed with endoscopic
      biopsy and with malnutrition determined by subjective global assessment were
      enrolled to study. The patients are randomly divided into four groups. Standard
      TPN to control group, TPN with glutamine solution to S-D group, TPN with omega 3
      fatty acid solution to S-O group and TPN with omega 3 fatty acids solution and
      glutamine to S-D-O group were given for seven days after the operation. At the
      preoperative, postoperative first day and 7th day, neutrophil phagocytosis index,
      neutrophil adhesivity index and IL-8 levels were determined. RESULTS: In all
      groups compared to control group neutrophil phagocytosis index were increased
      significantly (p<0.05). The most increasing was in group 3. There wasn't
      significant difference between groups about postoperative first day neutrophil
      adhesiveness index (p>0.05). At the 7th day the neutrophil adhesivity index for
      study groups were increased compared with control group, but there was no
      significant differences between groups. There was no significant difference
      between groups for IL-8 levels. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study, altered
      cellular immunity in colorectal cancer patients with malnutrition can be
      corrected with omega 3 fatty acid emulsions and glutamine added to TPN so the
      ratio of morbidity and mortality can be decreased.

PMID- 26866104
TI  - LEFT VENTRICULAR INFLOW OBSTRUCTION BY GIANT ATRIAL SEPTAL ANEURYSM IN A NEONATE
      WITH HYPOPLASTIC RIGHT HEART SYNDROME: CASE REPORT.
AB  - Atrial septal aneurysm remains a rare congenital cardiac malformation. In the
      neonatal age group it can occur as an isolated cardiac malformation or in
      association with complex hypoplastic cardiac malformations of the right and left
      heart. In the adult population most aneurysms have been described in association
      with stroke. Baby H.N delivered on 10/05/2008 by C/S, was cyanosed at birth with
      systemic desaturation. Chest X-ray showed oligaemic lung fields while two
      dimensional echocardiograms showed tricuspid atresia with hypoplastic right
      ventricle, large secundum atrial septal defect, and highly mobile gigantic
      aneurysms of the atrial septum obstructing the inflow of the mitral valve and
      entering the left ventricle in diastole. Surgical intervention was not possible
      and child died on second day.

PMID- 26866105
TI  - MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF ESCHERICHIA
      COLI ISOLATES FROM GOATS SLAUGHTERED IN PARTS OF KENYA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogenic
      Escherichia coli on goat meat carcass at Huruma and Kiserian abattoirs in Kenya.
      DESIGN: Laboratory based study. SETTING: Huruma and Kiserian abattoirs in Kenya,
      SUBJECTS: 400 slaughtered goats inspected by veterinary health officers and
      approved for human consumption. METHODS: A Total of 400 slaughtered goats which
      were inspected by veterinary health officers and approved for human consumption
      were sampled from Huruma and Kiserian abattoir. Goat carcass swabs were collected
      by passing each swab tissue on four parts of the carcass mainly neck, right and
      left forelimbs, right and left hind limbs, and brisket. RESULTS: A total of 54 E.
      coli isolates were isolated and confirmed to be pathogenic. The percentage of
      isolates resistant to various microbial agents was recorded as follows:
      ampicillin (26 %), amoxycillin-clavulanic acid (17%), tetracycline (15%),
      chroramphenicol (4%), and ceftrixone (2% each). All Escherichia coli isolates
      were susceptible to gentamicin sulphamethaxazole-trimethomprin, kanamycin,
      cetriazididine (CAZ, 30pg), ciproxacin, nalidixic acid and chloramphenicol.
      Isolates were resistant to one or more of the antibiotics tested. Among the drugs
      tested, resistance was more frequently observed against ampicillin, amoxycillin
      clavulanic acid, tetracycline, ceftrixone and chroramphenicol antibiotics. Among
      the isolates 26(48%) were positive for the stx1 gene, 19(35%) had the eae gene,
      10(19%) possessed est gene,while 8(15%) harboured elt gene. Overall five isolates
      (10%) possessed aspu gene and two (4%) had aggR gene. No isolate possessed ipah
      gene. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that there is a significant level of
      antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic E. coli isolated from goat meat from
      Huruma and Kiserian abattoir. This indicates that goat meat from abattoirs could
      pose a risk of transmission of pathogenic antibiotic resistant strains to human.
      Poor hygienic standards and indiscriminate use of antimicrobials are the two main
      reasons for the presence of resistant pathogens in goat carcasses.
      RECOMMENDATIONS: Implemention of appropriate hygiene measures to control
      contamination of meat with pathogenic E. coli.

PMID- 26866106
TI  - FETAL OUTCOMES AMONG GRAND MULTIPAROUS AND MULTIPAROUS WOMEN IN MULAGO HOSPITAL,
      UGANDA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare fetal outcomes among grand multiparous (para 5-9) and
      multiparous (para 2-4) delivering in Mulago hospital, Uganda. DESIGN: Prospective
      cohort study. SETTING: Mulago hospital, Uganda. SUBJECTS: One hundred and fifty
      six grand multiparous and multiparous women were recruited on admission in
      labourward and followedup through labour and immediate postpartum period. Fetal
      outcomes among the two groups were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The
      admissions to SCU were similar in the two groups i.e. 11(7%) GMP vs. 11(7%) MP,
      the number of fresh still births was higher among the grandmultiparas 13(8.3%)
      GMP vs. 7(4.5%) MP though this was not statistically significant. The fetal
      weight did not significantly differ in the two groups. CONCLUSION: There was no
      difference in fetal outcomes among GMPs when compared to MPs.

PMID- 26866107
TI  - ATTITUDES AND ACCEPTANCE OF NIGERIANS TOWARDS VASECTOMY--A COMPARISON OF MARRIED
      MEN AND WOMEN IN LAGOS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nigeria with a growth rate of 28%, accounts for over two thirds of
      the West African population. It also has one of the highest maternal mortality
      rates in the world with contraceptive prevalence among married couples less than
      10%. Despite its safety and efficacy vasectomy appears to be unpopular in our
      environment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception and acceptance of married men
      and women towards vasectomy and the influence of the spouse on the man's decision
      to accept or reject vasectomy. DESIGN: A cross sectional questionnaire based
      study. SETTING: With an estimated population of 20 million, Lagos is the most
      cosmopolitan and urbanised city in Nigeria and accounts for 65% of all commercial
      activities in the country. Virtually all the tribes in Nigeria are represented in
      the city. SUBJECTS: Literate pregnant women recruited from the antenatal clinics
      and literate new fathers. All subjects were recruited from three health
      facilities in the Lagos metropolis. RESULTS: Twenty seven point five and twenty
      one percent of the men and women respectively had a good Knowledge of vasectomy
      while 49.1% and 19% of all men and women respectively with good knowledge would
      accept vasectomy (or agree for their spouses to have the procedure). Overall
      acceptance rates for men and women were 26 and 13.5% respectively while 92% of
      men who can opt for vasectomy will only do so if their spouses agree. Knowledge
      about vasectomy was the strongest single factor influencing the acceptance of
      vasectomy (p= 0.013) with stronger correlation among men than women (p=0.005 vrs
      p=.0.023). CONCLUSION: Knowledge and acceptance of vasectomy is significantly
      better in males than female Nigerians living in Lagos.

PMID- 26866108
TI  - REASSESSMENT OF HELMINTH INFECTIONS IN GULU MUNICIPALITY NOTHERN UGANDA AFTER THE
      TWENTY YEARS OF INSURGENCY: USING THREE DIAGONOSTIC METHODS TO COMPARE THEIR
      SENSITIVITY.
AB  - BACKGROUND: During the period of insurgency there were several internally
      displace people camps all over the Northern Uganda. People who lived within ten
      kilometers from Gulu Municipality were forced to evacuate their villages and re
      locate and build huts for themselves in areas identified for them by the
      government. There were several of such camps within the municipality creating
      influx of people from the villages to the municipality for security. Now with the
      situation restored to normal, there is need to re-assess and update information
      on the prevalence of helminth infections in Gulu municipality where many of the
      internally displaced people (IDP) settled. OBJECTIVE: To find out if S. mansoni
      and soil transmitted nematode infections are so prevalent and very common in
      children aged betweenfive to 20 years. In Gulu municipality and that additional
      preventive and curative measure need to be considered. Further is there a strong
      need to reconsider more sensitive diagnostic methods at the hospitals or does the
      standard approach of direct smear examination recognise at least most heavy
      infected children with any of the parasites. Setting. The study was carried out
      in Gulu municipality. DESIGN: Purposive and random sampling methods were used.
      Study Population: Mainly Primary school children aged between five to 20 years
      randomly selected from four primary schools purposively selected around Gulu
      municipality were recruited for the study. For control 20 staff of each school
      randomly selected were also studied. RESULTS: Of the 582 samples tested,
      117(20.1%) were found positive for Schistosoma mansoni. Fifteen (2.6%) other
      samples were found positive for other helminths like Ascaris lumbricoides,
      Trichuris trichiura H.nana Hookworm. The comparison between the methods showed
      that the results obtained by the three methods were similar for field research.
      There is a low intensity of infection with soil transmitted helminths found in
      the primary schools around Gulu municipality. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the
      prevalence and intensity of infection with soil transmitted helminths was low
      among the children aged between 5 to 20 years in the four primary school studied
      (2.6%) but there was medium infection with S.mansoi (20.1%). The sensitivity in
      detecting the helminthes eggs in the stool specimen were similar. Though the
      original Kato/Katz method recorded lowest egg count than the Polderman and Odongo
      Aginya methods. This could be due to the fact that the slides were read
      immediately.

PMID- 26866109
TI  - RICKETS IN RURAL KENYAN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN: CASE REPORT.
AB  - Clinical rickets has not been reported previously in Embu district, Kenya.
      Baseline clinical assessments performed for a nutrition intervention study in
      preschool children (n=324) identified 28 cases of rickets (8.6% of study sample).
      Clinical characteristics included: delays of sitting, walking, and teething; bone
      and chest deformities; widened wrists and ankles; and bowed lower extremities.
      Risk factors identified were short duration of breastfeeding with feeding of
      cereal-based supplements with little or no milk, low calcium intake, limited
      sunlight exposure. Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies likely contributed to these
      cases. Treatment with Vitamin D3 and milk resulted in clinical improvement.

PMID- 26866110
TI  - THE INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR INTRA-OPERATIVE HYPOTHERMIA AMONG PAEDIATRIC
      PATIENTS UNDERGOING GENERAL ANAESTHESIA AT THE KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors for intra-operative
      hypothermia in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia at the Kenyatta
      National Hospital. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: The
      Kenyatta National Hospital main operating theatres and affiliated satellite
      operating theatres. SUBJECTS: A total of 100 paediatric patients (range; three
      days to 12 years, mean; 4.1 +/- 3.3 years) were enrolled in the study. RESULTS:
      Thirty out of 100 patients developed hypothermia defined as a core temperature <
      36  degrees C recorded at least once during provision of general anaesthesia.
      Ninety percent of those developing hypothermia were male compared to 63% who
      remained normothermic (p = 0.006). Proportionally, more than twice as many
      hypothermic patients had a caudal block (43% versus 20%, p = 0.016) and received
      121 ml more of fluid (p = 0.002) compared to the normothermic group. The patients
      who became hypothermic tended to be colder at induction of anaesthesia (36.6 +/-
      0.5 degrees C versus 37.0 +/- 0.5  degrees C, p = < 0.0001) but there was no
      significant difference in the waiting time, time of induction, environmental
      temperatures or theatre temperatures compared to those not developing
      hypothermia. There was no significant difference in the BMI between the two
      groups (14.0 +/- 2.9 kg/ m2 versus 15.2 +/- 3.5 kg/m2, p = 0.101). CONCLUSION:
      The incidence of intra-operative core hypothermia in paediatric patients
      undergoing general anaesthesia at the Kenyatta National Hospital is 30%. Gender
      (male), lower body temperature at induction, use of caudal block and the volume
      of intravenous fluids infused were significant independent predictors of core
      hypothermia. The most significant predictor was body temperature at the time of
      induction of general anaesthesia.

PMID- 26866111
TI  - ANATOMICAL SITES OF COLORECTAL CANCER IN A SEMI-URBAN NIGERIAN HOSPITAL: IS THERE
      A TRUE RIGHTWARD SHIFT.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent report on colorectal tumours in Nigeria and Africa sub-region
      from big urban cities have shown that the incidence of colorectal cancer is
      rising and with a proportionate right-ward shift. OBJECTIVE: To assess the sub
      site distribution and surgical treatmentpatterns of colorectal cancer in a semi
      urban tertiary Nigerian hospital. DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive study.
      SETTING: Tertiary health institution in a semi-urban (rural) community. SUBJECTS:
      All consecutive in-patients, admitted and managed for acute intestinal
      obstruction due to colorectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME: The right colon was the site
      of predilection (60.6%) while the left colon was only (6.06%). Young adults were
      mostly affected. RESULT: A total of thirty three (33) cases of colorectal cancer
      (CRC) were seen during the study period. There were 20 (60.6%) males and 13
      (39.4%) females. The male:female ratio was 1.5:1. The age range was between 22-87
      years (mean 57.09 years). The peak age of occurrence was the 6th decade. All
      patients'were symptomatic at presentation. The caccum (36.365) was the
      predominant site affected; followed by the rectum (24.24%) and the hepatic
      flexure (21.21%). Of the colonic tumours, 60.6% were on the right colon while
      only 6.06% were on the left colon. Tumours of the descending and sigmoid colon
      were conspicuously absent. Fifteen patients (45.5%) had curative resection and
      33.3% had palliative surgery. Twenty one point two percent mortality was
      recorded, while 21.2% refused surgery and opted for alternative care. CONCLUSION:
      Colorectal cancers are seen among rural dwellers in Nigeria. Presentations are
      often late. The right colon is the dominant site affected; this calls for a
      change in strategy for formulating a preventive policy for the country.

PMID- 26866112
TI  - DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ATTENDING
      KISII GENERAL HOSPITAL, KISII CENTRAL DISTRICT, KENYA (JANUARY 2009-JUNE 2010).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the causes and determinants of maternal mortality among
      women of reproductive age seeking healthcare services at Kisii General Hospital.
      DESIGN: Descriptive retrospective study. SETTING: Kisii General Hospital which is
      a Level-5 Referral Hospital. SUBJECTS: Seventy-two women who had died as a result
      of pregnancy and childbirth related conditions who had sought obstetric services
      at Kisii General Hospital. RESULTS: Majority 51(70.8%) of deceased did not go to
      hospital promptly, due to; lack of transport 22 (30.6%), lack of money 17
      (23.6%), and hospital distance 8 (11.1%). About 43 (60%) of those who died were
      between 15-25 years of age. Hospital experiences included; delay in service
      provision by staff 14 (19.4%), unavailability of blood for transfusion 6 (8.3%),
      and lack of money for drugs 12 (16.7%). Complications which led to maternal
      mortality were mainly; postpartum sepsis, bleeding, hypertension and
      cardiovascular conditions. CONCLUSION: Lack of lack of transport, inability to
      pay, delayed care seeking and lack of emergency obstetrics were the major
      challenges. Postpartum sepses, bleeding and pre-eclampsia were the leading
      complications that led to death.

PMID- 26866113
TI  - HE BURDEN AND CHALLENGES OF NEONATAL TETANUS IN KILIFI DISTRICT, KENYA--2004-7.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence of neonatal tetanus (NNT) and to describe
      the trends between 2004 and 2007; to show the geographical distribution of NNT in
      Kilifi district and to describe routine immunisation coverage, catch-up campaigns
      and mop-ups. DESIGN: Retrospective study SETTING: Kilifi district, Coastal Kenya
      SUBJECTS: Children diagnosed with Neonatal Tetanus (NNT) attending Health
      facilities in the District. RESULTS: The incidence of NNT in Kilifi increased
      from 0.6 in 2004 to 1.0 per 1000 live births in 2007. Over 50% of Kilifi district
      was a high risk area for NNT. It was a public health problem (> 1 per 1000 live
      births) in 19/36 locations. Immunisation (TT2+) increased from 4% in 2004 to 17%
      in 2007 for women of childbearing age and from 22% to 98% for pregnant women in
      the same period. All cases of NNT were delivered at home. 83% of NNT cases had
      potentially infectious materials applied to their cords. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal
      tetanus was an increasing problem in Kilifi district in the period 2004-2007.
      Immunisation coverage was low for women of childbearing age. TT immunisation data
      capture was a mix-up (pregnant women andwomen of childbearing age) at various
      health facilities and was a challenge to accurate estimates of TT2+ immunisation
      coverage.

PMID- 26866114
TI  - PREVALENCE OF HEAD LICE INFESTATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PORT HARCOURT.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Head lice infestation affects mainly school-aged children and
      prevalence varies from region to region. Head lice infestation is of public
      health concern and screening is integrated into the School Health Programme.
      OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of head lice infestation in primary school
      aged children in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive
      study. SUBJECTS: A stratified multi-staged sampling technique was used to recruit
      pupils between six and 12 years of age, from thirteen primary schools located in
      three School Districts in the area. The heads of the pupils were inspected for
      head lice and nits with the aid of a battery operated Robi lice comb, magnifying
      glass and a torch as light source. RESULTS: A total of 1350 pupils were studied,
      743 (55%) females and 607 (45%) males giving a female to male ratio of 1.2:1. Ten
      (0.7%) of the pupils had head lice infestation while five (0.4%) had evidence of
      past head lice infestation. The number of infested pupils among the younger age
      group (six to nine years) was seven (0.8%) and is higher, though not
      statistically significant, than that in the older age group (ten to twelve years)
      which was three (0.6%) (p = 0.453). No male was found to be infested while ten
      (1.3%) females were infested and the observed gender difference was statistically
      significant (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Head lice infestation still exists in
      Primary School children in Nigeria, therefore, screening for head lice
      infestation should still remain a part of the School Health Programme.

PMID- 26866115
TI  - IMPLEMENTATION OF A SCHOOL-BASED HIV PREVENTION CURRICULUM FOLLOWING NATIONAL
      DISSEMINATION IN NYANZA PROVINCE, KENYA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary School Action for Better Health (PSABH) became the national
      HIV prevention curriculum of Kenya in 2005. OBJECTIVE: To examined implementation
      of PSABH and student risk behaviour s. SETTING: Muhuru, a rural division of
      Nyanza Province. SUBJECTS: One thousand one hundred and forty six students aged 9
      21 years from six primary schools in Muhuru. OUTCOME MEASURES: Anonymous surveys
      were administered to assess students'exposure to PSABH curriculum components,
      sexual activity, condom use, and self-efficacy related to engaging in lower risk
      behaviours. RESULTS: The six schools implementing PSABH were not implementing the
      full curriculum. Fifty-five percent of males and 44% of females reported a
      history of sexual activity. For females, condom self-efficacy was related to
      lower risk behaviour, while HIV education during pastoral instruction was
      associated with higher risk. Boys who reported higher self-efficacy and learning
      about abstinence strategies engaged in lower risk behaviour , while exposure to
      HIV education in assemblies and communication with relatives about HIV was
      associated with higher risk. CONCLUSION: Previous studies documented benefits of
      PSABH. However, it is unclear how effective the curriculum is after national
      scale-up. In this community, PSABH was implemented at a low level, with some
      curriculum components associated with higher risk behaviour, calling into
      question how PSABH is being delivered. Future studies should examine effective
      strategies for ongoing support, monitoring, and evaluation. Successfully
      disseminating evidence-based prevention strategies could reduce HIV incidence and
      the burden on healthcare providers struggling to care for people living with
      HIV/AIDS.

PMID- 26866116
TI  - MALARIA PREVALENCE IN UNDER FIVE CHILDREN UTILISING INSECTICIDE TREATED NETS
      THROUGH VOUCHER SCHEME PROGRAMME IN MTWARA MUNICIPALITY.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the malaria prevalence in under five year old children,
      comparing those utilising with those not utilising insecticide treated nets in
      Mtwara Municipality. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING: Five
      streets that were randomly selected in Mtwara Municipality. SUBJECTS: Three
      hundred and ninety eight (398) under five year old children. RESULTS: In the 398
      under five year old children in this study, 18 (4.5%) and 20 (5.0%) tested
      positive by RDT and microscopy, respectively. Of the 385 who always used
      Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), 16 (4.2%) had malaria, compared to four among
      the 13 who rarely/or never used nets (30.8%). Thus there is a relationship
      between the use of the treated nets and prevalence of malaria (chi2 P-value
      0.002). Inspite of the decline in malaria prevalence anaemia remain a big problem
      as among those 378 who tested negative for malaria, 81% had haemoglobin level
      below normal (8 and 11 g/dl). CONCLUSION: Malaria infection has been prevented by
      the ITNs in under five years children as the prevalence of malaria is only 4.2%
      among net users compared to 30.8% non net users. The ITNs are useful since the
      overall five percent prevalence of malaria is less than expected in Mtwara region
      which had the prevalence of 33.6 percent in 2007 and less to the overall national
      prevalence of seven percent in under fives in urban areas in 2009. Plasmodium
      falciparum species is still a notorious cause of the disease among under fives
      compared to other types, thus the preventive measures should scientifically
      target this species at large.

PMID- 26866117
TI  - GENDER AND AGE RELATED VARIATION IN CORNEA POWER.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the mean cornea power for this population and how it
      varies with gender and age. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: The eye
      clinic of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital. SUBJECTS: All patients
      referred to the Optometric unit by the duty optometrist using a Carl Zeiss 599
      Auto-refractokeratometer and the findings recorded in a register designed for
      that purpose. These patients had previously undergone full ocular examination by
      the referring Ophthalmologist. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data collected were analysed
      using the statistical package of social scientist (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: Two
      hundred and one patients (402 eyes) were analysed in this study. They consisted
      of 100 males and 101 females (M/F = 1:1.01). Their ages ranged from 8 to 84 years
      with a mean of 42.74 years (SD +/- 14.62). The mean cornea power in the entire
      population was found to be 43.24 D (95% Cl 43.01-43.41). The horizontal cornea
      meridian has a higher diopteric power than the vertical meridian (43.38 D versus
      43.13). The mean cornea power in females is greater than the mean cornea power in
      males (43.62 D versus 42.80 D). Cornea power was found to vary with age (P =
      0.003), and the relationship was found to be linear on regression analysis.
      CONCLUSION: The diopteric power of the female cornea is higher than that of their
      male counterpart. There is evidence that suggests a reduction of the diopteric
      power of the cornea with aging, but further studies are needed to confirm this
      observation.

PMID- 26866118
TI  - CAREGIVERS' KNOWLEDGE AND HOME MANAGEMENT OF FEVER IN CHILDREN.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fever is one of the most common complaints presented to the
      Paediatric Emergency Unit (PEU). It is a sign that there is an underlying
      pathologic process, the most common being infection. Many childhood illnesses are
      accompanied by fever, many of which are treated at home prior to presentation to
      hospital. Most febrile episodes are benign. Caregivers are the primary contacts
      to children with fever. Adequate caregivers' knowledge and proper management of
      fever at home leads to better management of febrile illnesses and reduces
      complications. OBJECTIVE: To determine the caregivers' knowledge and practices
      regarding fever in children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Peadiatric
      Emergency Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) SUBJECTS: Two hundred and
      fifty caregivers of children under 12 years presenting with fever in August to
      October 2011 to the PEU. RESULTS: Three quarters of the caregivers' defined fever
      correctly. Their knowledge on the normal body was at 47.6%. Infection was cited
      as the leading cause of fever (95.2%). Brain damage (77.6%) and dehydration
      (65.6%) were viewed as the most common complication. Fever was treated at home by
      97.2% of caregivers, most of them used medication. CONCLUSIONS: Fever was defined
      correctly by 75.2% of the study participants and a majority of them used touch to
      detect fever. Fever was managed at home with medications. Public Health Education
      should be implemented in order to enlighten caregivers on fever and advocate for
      the use of a clinical thermometer to monitor fever at home.

PMID- 26866119
TI  - PRIMARY MALIGNANT AMELANOTIC MELANOMA ARISING FROM A VITILIGO PATCH OF AN AFRICAN
      TANZANIAN: CASE REPORT.
AB  - Skin cancer is rare in people of African origin while vitiligo occurs worldwide.
      The occurrence of primary malignant melanoma and vitiligo together is very rare.
      We present a rare case of primary malignant amelanotic melanoma arising from a
      depigmented patch of a patient with vitiligo. It was completely excised and
      followed for one year. No recurrence or metastases was noted during the follow up
      period.

PMID- 26866121
TI  - Nurses and midwives stand by Rosie Batty.

PMID- 26866120
TI  - Detention is damaging for children.

PMID- 26866122
TI  - Dementia programs fall short.

PMID- 26866123
TI  - AHPRA watching thousands of health professionals to protect public.

PMID- 26866124
TI  - NSW Inquiry backs need for registered nurses in aged care.

PMID- 26866125
TI  - Call to boost quality palliative care in the bush.

PMID- 26866126
TI  - Strategy to increase number of Indigenous nurses in NT.

PMID- 26866127
TI  - Engaging rural and remote health leaders of tomorrow.

PMID- 26866128
TI  - New wound management course for healthcare professionals.

PMID- 26866129
TI  - CATSINaM breaks the ice on alarming drug.

PMID- 26866130
TI  - A FORCE to be reckoned with. A YEAR IN REVIEW.

PMID- 26866131
TI  - A fairer Medicare for all.

PMID- 26866132
TI  - Doffing and donning debate.

PMID- 26866133
TI  - [Comment on "1-year outcomes after transfemoral transcatheter or surgical aortic
      valve replacement. Results from the Italian OBSERVANT study"].
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of prospective and controlled data on the
      comparative effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus
      surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a real-world setting. OBJECTIVES:
      This analysis aims to describe 1-year clinical outcomes of a large series of
      propensity-matched patients who underwent SAVR and transfemoral TAVR. METHODS:
      The OBSERVANT (Observational Study of Effectiveness of SAVR-TAVI Procedures for
      Severe Aortic Stenosis Treatment) trial is an observational prospective
      multicenter cohort study that enrolled patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who
      underwent SAVR or TAVR. The propensity score method was applied to select 2
      groups with similar baseline characteristics. All outcomes were adjudicated
      through a linkage with administrative databases. The primary endpoints of this
      analysis were death from any cause and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular
      events (MACCE) at 1 year. RESULTS: The unadjusted enrolled population (N = 7,618)
      included 5,707 SAVR patients and 1,911 TAVR patients. The matched population had
      a total of 1,300 patients (650 per group). The propensity score method generated
      a low-intermediate risk population (mean logistic EuroSCORE 1:10.2 +/-9.2%+/
      7.1%, SAVR vs. transfemoral TAVR; p = 0.104). At 1 year, the rate of death from
      any cause was 13.6% in the surgical group and 13.8% in the transcatheter group
      (hazard ratio [HR]: 0,99%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72 to 1.35; p =
      0.936). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rates of MACCE,
      which were 17.6% in the surgical group and 18.2% in the transcatheter group (HR:
      1.03; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.36; p = 0.83). The cumulative incidence of
      cerebrovascular events, and rehospitalization due to cardiac reasons and acute
      heart failure was similar in both groups at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that SAVR and transfemoral TAVR have comparable mortality, MACCE, and
      rates of rehospitalization due to cardiac reasons at 1 year. The data need to be
      confirmed in longer term and dedicated ongoing randomized trials.

PMID- 26866135
TI  - Acute Myelopathy in a 68-Year-Old Male.

PMID- 26866136
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26866140
TI  - Reflections: Neurology and the Humanities. Mistaken identity.

PMID- 26866138
TI  - Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency: Changing the Landscape of
      Pediatric Primary Immunodeficiencies.

PMID- 26866141
TI  - Author response.

PMID- 26866143
TI  - Author response.

PMID- 26866145
TI  - A Tribute to Joan (Jan) Mary Anderson 12 May 1932 - 28 August 2015.

PMID- 26866144
TI  - Guest Editorial: Enabling Technologies for Parkinson's Disease Management.

PMID- 26866269
TI  - The relative association between individual difference variables and general
      psychotherapy outcome expectation in socially anxious individuals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although patients' psychotherapy outcome expectation relates to their
      treatment outcome, little is known about correlates of this expectation.
      Moreover, the limited research has largely assessed convenience variables as
      correlates, with little replication and few examinations of the relative strength
      of associations between the correlates and outcome expectation. This clinical
      analogue study examined the relation between socially anxious undergraduates' (N
      = 178) characteristics and their general psychotherapy outcome expectation. We
      investigated characteristics supported as correlates in prior studies. METHODS:
      Data derived from a baseline assessment prior to a larger experiment.
      Participants' mean level of social anxiety was within 1 standard deviation of the
      mean of clinical, treatment-seeking samples, and 65.2% of the sample either had
      therapy experience or were actively considering it. RESULTS: Participants'
      general outcome expectation was significantly associated with positive beliefs
      about and intention to seek therapy. Multivariate regression models showed a
      positive association between psychological mindedness (B = .59, p < .001) and
      outcome expectation. Subgroup analyses indicated that for participants with prior
      therapy experience, greater satisfaction with that treatment (B = 5.26, p < .001)
      was associated with higher outcome expectation. CONCLUSION: Results are discussed
      with regard to their implications for treatment-seeking intentions and treatment
      planning.

PMID- 26866270
TI  - Hsp90 modulates the stability of MLKL and is required for TNF-induced
      necroptosis.
AB  - The pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) is a key
      component of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced necroptosis and plays a crucial
      role in necroptosis execution. However, the mechanisms that control MLKL activity
      are not completely understood. Here, we identify the molecular chaperone Hsp90 as
      a novel MLKL-interacting protein. We show that Hsp90 associates with MLKL and is
      required for MLKL stability. Moreover, we find that Hsp90 also regulates the
      stability of the upstream RIP3 kinase. Interference with Hsp90 function with the
      17AAG inhibitor destabilizes MLKL and RIP3, resulting in their degradation by the
      proteasome pathway. Furthermore, we find that Hsp90 is required for TNF
      stimulated necrosome assembly. Disruption of Hsp90 function prevents necrosome
      formation and strongly reduces MLKL phosphorylation and inhibits TNF-induced
      necroptosis. Consistent with a positive role of Hsp90 in necroptosis,
      coexpression of Hsp90 increases MLKL oligomerization and plasma membrane
      translocation and enhances MLKL-mediated necroptosis. Our findings demonstrate
      that an efficient necrotic response requires a functional Hsp90. 

PMID- 26866271
TI  - Affinity purification-mass spectrometry analysis of bcl-2 interactome identified
      SLIRP as a novel interacting protein.
AB  - Members of the bcl-2 protein family share regions of sequence similarity, the bcl
      2 homology (BH) domains. Bcl-2, the most studied member of this family, has four
      BH domains, BH1-4, and has a critical role in resistance to antineoplastic drugs
      by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Moreover, it is also involved
      in other relevant cellular processes such as tumor progression, angiogenesis and
      autophagy. Deciphering the network of bcl-2-interacting factors should provide a
      critical advance in understanding the different functions of bcl-2. Here, we
      characterized bcl-2 interactome by mass spectrometry in human lung adenocarcinoma
      cells. In silico functional analysis associated most part of the identified
      proteins to mitochondrial functions. Among them we identified SRA stem-loop
      interacting RNA-binding protein, SLIRP, a mitochondrial protein with a relevant
      role in regulating mitochondrial messenger RNA (mRNA) homeostasis. We validated
      bcl-2/SLIRP interaction by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments
      in cancer cell lines from different histotypes. We showed that, although SLIRP is
      not involved in mediating bcl-2 ability to protect from apoptosis and oxidative
      damage, bcl-2 binds and stabilizes SLIRP protein and regulates mitochondrial mRNA
      levels. Moreover, we demonstrated that the BH4 domain of bcl-2 has a role in
      maintaining this binding. 

PMID- 26866272
TI  - Loss of Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule leads to spontaneous obesity and
      hepatosteatosis.
AB  - Altered hepatic lipogenesis is associated with metabolic diseases such as obesity
      and hepatosteatosis. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia are
      key drivers of these metabolic imbalances. Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule
      (FAIM), a ubiquitously expressed antiapoptotic protein, functions as a mediator
      of Akt signalling. Since Akt acts at a nodal point in insulin signalling, we
      hypothesize that FAIM may be involved in energy metabolism. In the current study,
      C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and FAIM-knockout (FAIM-KO) male mice were fed with normal
      chow diet and body weight changes were monitored. Energy expenditure, substrate
      utilization and physical activities were analysed using a metabolic cage. Liver,
      pancreas and adipose tissue were subjected to histological examination. Serum
      glucose and insulin levels and lipid profiles were determined by biochemical
      assays. Changes in components of the insulin signalling pathway in FAIM-KO mice
      were examined by immunoblots. We found that FAIM-KO mice developed spontaneous
      non-hyperphagic obesity accompanied by hepatosteatosis, adipocyte hypertrophy,
      dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. In FAIM-KO liver,
      lipogenesis was elevated as indicated by increased fatty acid synthesis and SREBP
      1 and SREBP-2 activation. Notably, protein expression of insulin receptor beta
      was markedly reduced in insulin target organs of FAIM-KO mice. Akt
      phosphorylation was also lower in FAIM-KO liver and adipose tissue as compared
      with WT controls. In addition, phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1
      and Akt2 in response to insulin treatment in isolated FAIM-KO hepatocytes was
      also markedly attenuated. Altogether, our data indicate that FAIM is a novel
      regulator of insulin signalling and plays an essential role in energy
      homoeostasis. These findings may shed light on the pathogenesis of obesity and
      hepatosteatosis. 

PMID- 26866275
TI  - Glucose-Derived Porous Carbon-Coated Silicon Nanowires as Efficient Electrodes
      for Aqueous Micro-Supercapacitors.
AB  - In this study, we report on carbon coating of vertically aligned silicon nanowire
      (SiNWs) arrays via a simple hydrothermal process using glucose as carbon
      precursor. Using this process, a thin carbon layer is uniformly deposited on the
      SiNWs. Under optimized conditions, the coated SiNWs electrode showed better
      electrochemical energy storage capacity as well as exceptional stability in
      aqueous system as compared to uncoated SiNWs. The as-measured capacitance reached
      25.64 mF/cm(2) with a good stability up to 25000 charging/discharging cycles in 1
      M Na2SO4 aqueous solution. 

PMID- 26866273
TI  - Cellular localization of NRF2 determines the self-renewal and osteogenic
      differentiation potential of human MSCs via the P53-SIRT1 axis.
AB  - NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2) plays an important role in
      defense against oxidative stress at the cellular level. Recently, the roles of
      NRF2 in embryonic and adult stem cells have been reported, but its role in
      maintaining self-renewal and differentiation potential remains unknown. We
      studied the mechanisms of NRF2 action in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived
      from human bone marrow. We found that the cellular localization of NRF2 changed
      during prolonged cell passage and osteogenic differentiation. Blocking the
      nuclear import of NRF2 using ochratoxin A (OTA) induced the loss of the self
      renewal and osteogenic potential of early-passage (EP) MSCs. Conversely,
      reinforcing the nuclear import of NRF2 using tert-butylhydroquinone (t-BHQ)
      improved the self-renewal capacity and maintained the differentiation potential
      in the osteogenic lineage of EP MSCs. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot
      analysis showed that NRF2 positively regulates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) at the mRNA and
      protein levels via the negative regulation of p53. The self-renewal and
      osteogenic potential suppressed in OTA-treated or NRF2-targeting small hairpin
      RNA (shRNA)-infected EP MSCs were rescued by introducing small interfering RNA
      (siRNA) targeting p53. t-BHQ treatment in late-passage (LP) MSCs, which lost
      their self-renewal and osteogenic potential, reversed these effects. In LP MSCs
      treated with t-BHQ for ~7 days, the phosphorylation and nuclear localization of
      NRF2 improved and SIRT1 protein level increased, whereas p53 protein levels
      decreased. Therefore, our results suggest that NRF2 plays an important role in
      regulating p53 and SIRT1 to maintain MSC stemness. This study is the first to
      establish a functional link between NRF2 and SIRT1 expression in the maintenance
      of MSC self-renewal and differentiation potential. 

PMID- 26866276
TI  - Highlighting material structure with transmission electron diffraction
      correlation coefficient maps.
AB  - Correlation coefficient maps are constructed by computing the differences between
      neighboring diffraction patterns collected in a transmission electron microscope
      in scanning mode. The maps are shown to highlight material structural features
      like grain boundaries, second phase particles or dislocations. The inclination of
      the inner crystal interfaces are directly deduced from the resulting contrast. 

PMID- 26866274
TI  - Structural simulation of adenosine phosphate via plumbagin and zoledronic acid
      competitively targets JNK/Erk to synergistically attenuate osteoclastogenesis in
      a breast cancer model.
AB  - The treatment of breast cancer-induced osteolysis remains a challenge in clinical
      settings. Here, we explored the effect and mechanism of combined treatment with
      zoledronic acid (ZA) and plumbagin (PL), a widely investigated component derived
      from Plumbago zeylanica, against breast cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis. We
      found that the combined treatment with PL and ZA suppressed cell viability of
      precursor osteoclasts and synergistically inhibited MDA-MB-231-induced osteoclast
      formation (combination index=0.28) with the abrogation of recombinant mouse
      receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced activation of
      NF-kappaB/MAPK (nuclear factor-kappaB/mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways.
      Molecular docking suggested a putative binding area within c-Jun N-terminal
      kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (JNK/Erk) protease active sites
      through the structural mimicking of adenosine phosphate (ANP) by the spatial
      combination of PL with ZA. A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay further
      illustrated the direct competitiveness of the dual drugs against ANP docking to
      phosphorylated JNK/Erk, contributing to the inhibited downstream expression of c
      Jun/c-Fos/NFATc-1 (nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin
      dependent 1). Then, in vivo testing demonstrated that the combined administration
      of PL and ZA attenuated breast cancer growth in the bone microenvironment.
      Additionally, these molecules prevented the destruction of proximal tibia, with
      significant reduction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAcP)-positive
      osteoclast cells and potentiation of apoptotic cancer cells, to a greater extent
      when combined than when the drugs were applied independently. Altogether, the
      combination treatment with PL and ZA could significantly and synergistically
      suppress osteoclastogenesis and inhibit tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo
      by simulating the spatial structure of ANP to inhibit competitively
      phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase
      (JNK/Erk). 

PMID- 26866277
TI  - Editorial: Endurance Exercise: An Important Therapeutic Adjuvant in the Overall
      Treatment of Myositis?

PMID- 26866280
TI  - Influence of Perfluorooctanoic Acid on the Transport and Deposition Behaviors of
      Bacteria in Quartz Sand.
AB  - The significance of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on the transport and deposition
      behaviors of bacteria (Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus
      subtilis) in quartz sand is examined in both NaCl and CaCl2 solutions at pH 5.6
      by comparing both breakthrough curves and retained profiles with PFOA in
      solutions versus those without PFOA. All test conditions are found to be highly
      unfavorable for cell deposition regardless of the presence of PFOA; however, 7%
      46% cell deposition is observed depending on the conditions. The cell deposition
      may be attributed to micro- or nanoscale roughness and/or to chemical
      heterogeneity of the sand surface. The results show that, under all examined
      conditions, PFOA in suspensions increases cell transport and decreases cell
      deposition in porous media regardless of cell type, presence or absence of
      extracellular polymeric substances, ionic strength, and ion valence. We find that
      the additional repulsion between bacteria and quartz sand caused by both acid
      base interaction and steric repulsion as well as the competition for deposition
      sites on quartz sand surfaces by PFOA are responsible for the enhanced transport
      and decreased deposition of bacteria with PFOA in solutions. 

PMID- 26866281
TI  - On the feasibility of life-saving locomotive bumpers.
AB  - Motivated by the thousands of pedestrians killed each year in train impacts, this
      paper investigates the life-saving capability of four high-level locomotive
      bumper concepts. The head motions produced by the four concepts are modeled as
      one or two square acceleration pulses and are analyzed using the Head Injury
      Criterion (HIC). Surprisingly, the analyses show that all four concepts can
      achieve HIC values of less than 200 for an impact with a locomotive traveling at
      100 km/h. Two of the concepts eject the pedestrian trackside with at a velocity
      of roughly 40 km/h and the risk of ground-impact injury is discussed in the
      context of related automobile accident data. The computed bumper lengths are a
      fraction of the overall length of a locomotive and are thus feasible for
      practical implementation. One concept involves an oblique impact and the
      potential for rotational head injury is analyzed. This basic feasibility research
      motivates future investigations into the detailed design of bumper shapes, multi
      body pedestrian simulations, and finite-element injury models.

PMID- 26866282
TI  - Simulative investigation on head injuries of electric self-balancing scooter
      riders subject to ground impact.
AB  - The safety performance of an electric self-balancing scooter (ESS) has recently
      become a main concern in preventing its further wide application as a major
      candidate for green transportation. Scooter riders may suffer severe brain
      injuries in possible vehicle crash accidents not only from contact with a
      windshield or bonnet but also from secondary contact with the ground. In this
      paper, virtual vehicle-ESS crash scenarios combined with finite element (FE) car
      models and multi-body scooter/human models are set up. Post-impact kinematic
      gestures of scooter riders under various contact conditions, such as different
      vehicle impact speeds, ESS moving speeds, impact angles or positions, and
      different human sizes, are classified and analyzed. Furthermore, head-ground
      impact processes are reconstructed using validated FE head models, and important
      parameters of contusion and laceration (e.g., coup or contrecoup pressures and
      Von Mises stress and the maximum shear stress) are extracted and analyzed to
      assess the severity of regional contusion from head-ground contact. Results show
      that the brain injury risk increases with vehicle speeds and ESS moving speeds
      and may provide fundamental knowledge to popularize the use of a helmet and the
      vehicle-fitted safety systems, and lay a strong foundation for the reconstruction
      of ESS-involved accidents. There is scope to improve safety for the use of ESS in
      public roads according to the analysis and conclusions. 

PMID- 26866284
TI  - Investigating the Impact of Polymer Functional Groups on the Stability and
      Activity of Lysozyme-Polymer Conjugates.
AB  - Polymers are often conjugated to proteins to improve stability; however, the
      impact of polymer chain length and functional groups on protein structure and
      function is not well understood. Here we use RAFT polymerization to grow polymers
      of different lengths and functionality from a short acrylamide oligomer with a
      RAFT end group conjugated to lysozyme. We show by X-ray crystallography that
      enzyme structure is minimally impacted by modification with the RAFT end group.
      Significant activity toward the negatively charged Micrococcus lysodeicticus cell
      wall was maintained when lysozyme was modified with cationic polymers. Thermal
      and chemical stability of the conjugates was characterized using differential
      scanning fluorimetry and tryptophan fluorescence. All conjugates had a lower
      melting temperature; however, conjugates containing ionic or substrate mimicking
      polymers were more resistant to denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride. Our
      results demonstrate that tailoring polymer functionality can improve conjugate
      activity and minimize enzymatic inactivation by denaturants. 

PMID- 26866285
TI  - Curriculum-based measurement of oral reading: A preliminary investigation of
      confidence interval overlap to detect reliable growth.
AB  - Curriculum-based measurement of oral reading (CBM-R) progress monitoring data is
      used to measure student response to instruction. Federal legislation permits
      educators to use CBM-R progress monitoring data as a basis for determining the
      presence of specific learning disabilities. However, decision making frameworks
      originally developed for CBM-R progress monitoring data were not intended for
      such high stakes assessments. Numerous documented issues with trend line
      estimation undermine the validity of using slope estimates to infer progress. One
      proposed recommendation is to use confidence interval overlap as a means of
      judging reliable growth. This project explored the degree to which confidence
      interval overlap was related to true growth magnitude using simulation
      methodology. True and observed CBM-R scores were generated across 7 durations of
      data collection (range 6-18 weeks), 3 levels of dataset quality or residual
      variance (5, 10, and 15 words read correct per minute) and 2 types of data
      collection schedules. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted to
      explore interactions between overlap status, progress monitoring scenarios, and
      true growth magnitude. A small but statistically significant interaction was
      observed between overlap status, duration, and dataset quality, b = -0.004,
      t(20992) =-7.96, p < .001. In general, confidence interval overlap does not
      appear to meaningfully account for variance in true growth across many progress
      monitoring conditions. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
      Limitations and directions for future research are addressed. (PsycINFO Database
      Record

PMID- 26866283
TI  - Resting-state low-frequency fluctuations reflect individual differences in spoken
      language learning.
AB  - A major challenge in language learning studies is to identify objective, pre
      training predictors of success. Variation in the low-frequency fluctuations
      (LFFs) of spontaneous brain activity measured by resting-state functional
      magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) has been found to reflect individual
      differences in cognitive measures. In the present study, we aimed to investigate
      the extent to which initial spontaneous brain activity is related to individual
      differences in spoken language learning. We acquired RS-fMRI data and
      subsequently trained participants on a sound-to-word learning paradigm in which
      they learned to use foreign pitch patterns (from Mandarin Chinese) to signal word
      meaning. We performed amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF)
      analysis, graph theory-based analysis, and independent component analysis (ICA)
      to identify functional components of the LFFs in the resting-state. First, we
      examined the ALFF as a regional measure and showed that regional ALFFs in the
      left superior temporal gyrus were positively correlated with learning
      performance, whereas ALFFs in the default mode network (DMN) regions were
      negatively correlated with learning performance. Furthermore, the graph theory
      based analysis indicated that the degree and local efficiency of the left
      superior temporal gyrus were positively correlated with learning performance.
      Finally, the default mode network and several task-positive resting-state
      networks (RSNs) were identified via the ICA. The "competition" (i.e., negative
      correlation) between the DMN and the dorsal attention network was negatively
      correlated with learning performance. Our results demonstrate that a) spontaneous
      brain activity can predict future language learning outcome without prior
      hypotheses (e.g., selection of regions of interest--ROIs) and b) both regional
      dynamics and network-level interactions in the resting brain can account for
      individual differences in future spoken language learning success.

PMID- 26866286
TI  - Excision Margins for Melanoma In Situ on the Head and Neck.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Complete surgical excision of melanoma in situ (MIS) is curative. A 5
      mm margin is often taken as the standard primary excision margin despite
      increasing evidence that this is frequently inadequate for tumor clearance.
      OBJECTIVE: To calculate the proportion of patients requiring >5 mm margin for
      clearance and to investigate any patient/lesion characteristics necessitating
      larger margins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-three primary MIS
      cases on the head and neck treated in the authors' department by Mohs
      micrographic surgery (MMS) over a 65-month period were retrospectively analyzed.
      Records were made of patient and lesion characteristics, and the total surgical
      margin for clearance calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent were cleared by a 5
      mm margin; for a 97% clearance rate, 15 mm was necessary. The increased clearance
      with additional margin was significant (p < .0001). Patient age, lesion site, and
      preoperative size did not predict margin. CONCLUSION: These results verify that
      MIS on the head and neck can spread significantly beyond the clinical margin and
      demonstrate the importance of confirming clearance histologically before closure
      procedures. Mohs micrographic surgery has the advantage of total margin
      evaluation and where available it may be reasonable to start with a 5-mm margin.
      Where MMS is not a treatment option, the authors would advocate larger excision
      margins of >=10 mm.

PMID- 26866287
TI  - Conservative Treatment of Osteoradionecrosis of the Cranium After Treatment of
      Cutaneous Malignancy With Mohs Surgery and Postoperative Radiation.

PMID- 26866288
TI  - Surgical Treatment of Chronic Hidradenitis Suppurativa: CO2 Laser Stripping
      Second Intention Technique.

PMID- 26866289
TI  - The Treatment of Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome With a Thermoplastic Dressing.

PMID- 26866291
TI  - Integrated care for Down syndrome.
AB  - Down syndrome (DS), caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21), is the
      most intensively studied human aneuploidy condition. It is the leading cause of
      intellectual disability and birth defects. Although most prenatally diagnosed DS
      fetuses are aborted in Taiwan, there are still some infants with DS who are
      diagnosed after birth. In addition to intellectual disability, people with DS
      face systemic problems that include short stature, dysmorphism, congenital heart
      disease, congenital anomalies of gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts,
      abnormal endocrine function, leukemia and leukemoid reactions. To provide better
      care for people with DS in Taiwan, we began the DS multi-disciplinary clinic that
      has opened once per month since November 2013. The multi-disciplinary clinic
      consists of several subspecialists who provide care for DS people. To date,
      approximately 200 patients have used the clinic. The average number of patients
      who use the clinic per month is 27+/-6 with a mean patient age of 16+/-12 years
      old (range 0.3-53 years). The average number of patients per specialist on each
      clinic day is 5.2+/-4.9 (range 0.5-20.9 patients). We focus on early detection
      and prevention of medical and developmental issues associated with DS. This
      coordinated approach allows DS patients and family to have more comprehensive
      care. 

PMID- 26866292
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26866290
TI  - Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A Is Highly Expressed on Human Hematopoietic
      Repopulating Cells and Associates with the Key Hematopoietic Chemokine Receptor
      CXCR4.
AB  - Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in specialized bone marrow
      microenvironmental niches, with vascular elements (endothelial/mesenchymal
      stromal cells) and CXCR4-CXCL12 interactions playing particularly important roles
      for HSPC entry, retention, and maintenance. The functional effects of CXCL12 are
      dependent on its local concentration and rely on complex HSPC-niche interactions.
      Two Junctional Adhesion Molecule family proteins, Junctional Adhesion Molecule-B
      (JAM)-B and JAM-C, are reported to mediate HSPC-stromal cell interactions, which
      in turn regulate CXCL12 production by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Here, we
      demonstrate that another JAM family member, JAM-A, is most highly expressed on
      human hematopoietic stem cells with in vivo repopulating activity (p < .01 for
      JAM-A(high) compared to JAM-A(Int or Low) cord blood CD34(+) cells). JAM-A
      blockade, silencing, and overexpression show that JAM-A contributes significantly
      (p < .05) to the adhesion of human HSPCs to IL-1beta activated human bone marrow
      sinusoidal endothelium. Further studies highlight a novel association of JAM-A
      with CXCR4, with these molecules moving to the leading edge of the cell upon
      presentation with CXCL12 (p < .05 compared to no CXCL12). Therefore, we
      hypothesize that JAM family members differentially regulate CXCR4 function and
      CXCL12 secretion in the bone marrow niche. Stem Cells 2016;34:1664-1678.

PMID- 26866293
TI  - Generalizability of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Biologic Agent Clinical
      Trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have consistently demonstrated the
      efficacy of biologic agents in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      who satisfy strict eligibility criteria, yet studies report that a majority of RA
      patients in the US have had biologic treatment exposure. We identified the
      proportion of RA patients in clinical practice satisfying entry criteria for
      biologic agent RCTs. METHODS: Eligibility criteria of 30 RCTs of 10 Food and Drug
      Administration-approved biologic agents to treat RA were reviewed, summarized,
      and applied to 2 observational clinical cohorts: the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid
      Arthritis registry (VARA; n = 1,523) and the Rheumatology and Arthritis
      Investigational Network Database (RAIN-DB; n = 1,548). Patients at a single
      clinical encounter were assessed for overall trial eligibility as well as
      eligibility across 3 domains: demographics, disease activity, and medication
      exposure. RESULTS: The mean percentage of patients that satisfied eligibility
      criteria was 3.7% (interquartile range [IQR] 1.5-3.1) in VARA and 7.1% (IQR 4.4
      7.7) in RAIN-DB. Ineligibility was most often due to low disease activity,
      specifically low joint counts. The mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints at
      enrollment was 6.59 (range 6.1-7.1) across RCTs versus 3.87 (0.07-8.69) in VARA
      and 3.65 (0.49-7.21) in RAIN-DB. RCTs for non-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      inhibitor biologic agents were more restrictive than RCTs for TNF inhibitors.
      There was no trend in eligibility by RCT study publication or drug approval date.
      CONCLUSION: The vast majority of RA patients from our clinical cohorts did not
      satisfy criteria for participation in biologic agent RCTs. These findings
      underscore the need for caution in extrapolating trial results to day-to-day
      management of RA patients and may provide insight into the differential responses
      to biologic agents reported in prior observational studies.

PMID- 26866294
TI  - Photosensitized rose Bengal-induced phototoxicity on human melanoma cell line
      under natural sunlight exposure.
AB  - Rose Bengal (RB) is an anionic water-soluble xanthene dye, which used for many
      years to assess eye cornea and conjunctiva damage. RB showed strong absorption
      maxima (lambdamax) under visible light followed by UV-B and UV-A. RB under
      sunlight exposure showed a time-dependent photodegradation. Our results show that
      photosensitized RB generates (1)O2 via Type-II photodynamic pathway and induced
      DNA damage under sunlight/UV-R exposure. 2'dGuO degradation, micronuclei
      formation, and single- and double-strand breakage were the outcome of
      photogenotoxicity caused by RB. Quenching studies with NaN3 advocate the
      involvement of (1)O2 in RB photogenotoxicity. RB induced linoleic acid
      photoperoxidation, which was parallel to (1)O2-mediated DNA damage. Oxidative
      stress in A375 cell line (human melanoma cell line) was detected through DCF-DA
      assay. Photosensitized RB decreased maximum cellular viability under sunlight
      followed by UV-B and UV-A exposures. Apoptosis was detected as a pattern of cell
      death through the increased of caspase-3 activity, decreased mitochondrial
      membrane potential, and PS translocation through inner to outer plasma membrane.
      Increased cytosolic levels of Bax also advocate the apoptotic cell death. We
      propose a p53-mediated apoptosis via increased expression of Bax gene and
      protein. Thus, the exact mechanism behind RB phototoxicity was the involvement of
      (1)O2, which induced oxidative stress-mediated DNA and membrane damage, finally
      apoptotic cell death under natural sunlight exposure. The study suggests that
      after the use of RB, sunlight exposure may avoid to prevent from its harmful
      effects. 

PMID- 26866295
TI  - A Longitudinal Study to Evaluate Pregnancy-Induced Endogenous Analgesia and Pain
      Modulation.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The phenomenon of pregnancy-induced analgesia has been
      demonstrated in animal models but less consistently in human studies. This study
      aimed to assess endogenous pain modulation, evaluating inhibitory and excitatory
      pain pathways, over the course of pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: Healthy
      pregnant women were approached for participation in this prospective multicenter
      cohort study. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM), mechanical temporal summation
      (mTS), and temperature that induced pain 6 out of 10 (pain-6) were assessed
      toward the end of each trimester of pregnancy (8-12, 18-22, and 36 weeks) and at
      6 to 12 weeks postpartum. To assess how pregnancy affects CPM, mTS, and pain-6, a
      mixed-effects analysis of variance was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-three pregnant
      women were enrolled. Pregnancy did not significantly impact CPM (F3,39 = 0.30, P
      = 0.83, partial eta = 0.02), and there was no significant difference between CPM
      scores in the third trimester compared with postpartum. The mTS scores and pain-6
      ratings were also not significantly changed by pregnancy (F3,42 = 1.20, P = 0.32,
      partial eta = 0.08; and F3,42 = 1.90, P = 0.14, partial eta = 0.12,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess CPM and mTS changes
      in pregnancy and postpartum. Endogenous pain modulation evaluating both
      inhibitory and excitatory pain pathways did not significantly change during
      pregnancy or postpartum. Future studies are required to determine the magnitude
      and clinical significance of pregnancy-induced analgesia.

PMID- 26866296
TI  - Comparative-Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Deliberate Practice Versus Self
      Guided Practice on Resident Anesthesiologists' Acquisition of Ultrasound-Guided
      Regional Anesthesia Skills.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Simulation-based education strategies to teach
      regional anesthesia have been described, but their efficacy largely has been
      assumed. We designed this study to determine whether residents trained using the
      simulation-based strategy of deliberate practice show greater improvement of
      ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) skills than residents trained using
      self-guided practice in simulation. METHODS: Anesthesiology residents new to UGRA
      were randomized to participate in either simulation-based deliberate practice
      (intervention) or self-guided practice (control). Participants were recorded and
      assessed while performing simulated peripheral nerve blocks at baseline,
      immediately after the experimental condition, and 3 months after enrollment.
      Subject performance was scored from video by 2 blinded reviewers using a
      composite tool. The amount of time each participant spent in deliberate or self
      guided practice was recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants completed the
      study. Both groups showed within-group improvement from baseline scores
      immediately after the curriculum and 3 months following study enrollment. There
      was no difference between groups in changed composite scores immediately after
      the curriculum (P = 0.461) and 3 months following study enrollment (P = 0.927)
      from baseline. The average time in minutes that subjects spent in simulation
      practice was 6.8 minutes for the control group compared with 48.5 minutes for the
      intervention group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this comparative effectiveness
      study, there was no difference in acquisition and retention of skills in UGRA for
      novice residents taught by either simulation-based deliberate practice or self
      guided practice. Both methods increased skill from baseline; however, self-guided
      practice required less time and faculty resources.

PMID- 26866297
TI  - Real-Time Detection of Periforaminal Vessels in the Cervical Spine: An Ultrasound
      Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Compared with the thoracic and lumbar spine,
      transforaminal epidural injections and medial branch blocks in the cervical spine
      are associated with a higher incidence of neurological complications. Accidental
      breach of small periforaminal arteries has been implicated in many instances. In
      this observational study, using ultrasonography, we surveyed the incidence of
      periforaminal bloods vessels in the cervical spine. METHODS: Patients undergoing
      ultrasound-guided cervical medial branch blocks were scanned using color power
      and pulsed wave Doppler. Five levels from C2/C3 to C6/C7 were studied. Incidental
      blood vessels located between the anterior tubercles of the transverses process
      and the posterior borders of the articular pillars were included for analysis. We
      recorded the diameter and position of arteries relative to contiguous bony
      landmarks as well the number of veins. RESULTS: In 102 patients, we performed a
      total 201 scans (1005 cervical levels). Of the 363 incidental vessels identified,
      238 were arteries (mean diameter, 1.25 +/- 0.45 mm). The latter were most
      commonly found at the posterior foraminal aspects of C5, C6, and C7 (13%, 11%,
      and 16% of scans, respectively); the transverse processes of C5 and C6 (10% and
      16% of scans, respectively); and the articular pillars of C6 and C7 (19% and 16%
      of scans, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Small periforaminal arteries are prevalent
      along the lateral aspect of the cervical spine, adjacent to areas commonly
      targeted by nerve block procedures. Further trials are required to determine if
      ultrasound guidance can reduce the incidence of complications related to
      accidental vascular breach.

PMID- 26866298
TI  - Sudden Intrathecal Drug Delivery Device Motor Stalls: A Case Series.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intrathecal (IT) drug delivery systems (IDDSs) have
      been valuable in managing refractory chronic cancer and noncancer pain for more
      than 3 decades. These devices, time tested and overall reliable, have lately been
      noted at this institution to cease infusing unexpectedly. If not immediately
      recognized and rectified, this abrupt malfunction may lead to significant patient
      harm. METHODS: A series of 13 patients from 1 academic center whose Medtronic
      SynchroMed II pumps malfunctioned from 2013 to 2015 is described. Data from the
      patient population with regard to variables that may increase the rate of IDDS
      malfunction are analyzed. The risk factors for IDDS malfunction, Medtronic-issued
      recalls, and current literature on IT device failure are reviewed. RESULTS: The
      total prevalence of device motor stall among the population of this institution
      is 9.03%. The incidence rate of IDDS failure is calculated at 0.04 device
      failures per patient per year. Increased length of time from implant was the only
      statistically significant (P = 0.00009) risk factor for device failure identified
      in this population. Dysfunction in the motor gear train was found after
      destructive analysis of several devices in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates
      of device failure are associated with the use of off-label IT drugs. However,
      device failure may still occur while infusing only approved medications.
      Implanted patients should be properly informed and educated to differentiate and
      recognize the critical error alarm of their device as well as the signs and
      symptoms of IT medication overdose and withdrawal.

PMID- 26866299
TI  - Update on Ultrasound for Truncal Blocks: A Review of the Evidence.
AB  - We summarized the evidence for ultrasound (US) guidance for truncal blocks in
      2010 by performing a systematic literature review and rating the strength of
      evidence for each block using a system developed by the United States Agency for
      Health Care Policy and Research. Since then, numerous studies of US guidance for
      truncal blocks have been published. In addition, 3 novel US-guided blocks have
      been described since our last review. To provide updated recommendations, we
      performed another systematic search of the literature to identify studies
      pertaining to US guidance for the following blocks: paravertebral, intercostal,
      transversus abdominis plane, rectus sheath, ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric, as well
      as the Pecs, quadratus lumborum, and transversalis fascia blocks. We rated the
      methodologic quality of each of the identified studies and then graded the
      strength of evidence supporting the use of US for each block based on the number
      and quality of available studies for that block. WHAT'S NEW: Since our last
      review, numerous studies have been published, especially for the paravertebral
      and transversus abdominis plane blocks, and 3 novel US-guided blocks (Pecs,
      quadratus lumborum, and transversalis fascia blocks) have been described.
      Although some of these studies support the use of US for performing these blocks,
      others do not. Additional studies have used US to improve our understanding of
      the anatomy pertinent to these blocks and evaluated the effect on patient
      outcomes and risk of complications.

PMID- 26866300
TI  - Liposomal adjuvants for human vaccines.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Liposomes are well-known as drug carriers, and are now critical
      components of two of six types of adjuvants present in licensed vaccines. The
      liposomal vaccine adjuvant field has long been dynamic and innovative, and
      research in this area is further examined as new commercial products appear in
      parallel with new vaccines. In an arena where successful products exist the
      potential for new types of vaccines with liposomal adjuvants, and alternative
      liposomal adjuvants that could emerge for new types of vaccines, are discussed.
      AREAS COVERED: Major areas include: virosomes, constructed from phospholipids and
      proteins from influenza virus particles; liposomes containing natural and
      synthetic neutral or anionic phospholipids, cholesterol, natural or synthetic
      monophosphoryl lipid A, and QS21 saponin; non-phospholipid cationic liposomes;
      and combinations and mixtures of liposomes and immunostimulating ingredients as
      adjuvants for experimental vaccines. EXPERT OPINION: Liposomes containing
      monophosphoryl lipid A and QS21 have considerable momentum that will result soon
      in emergence of prophylactic vaccines to malaria and shingles, and possible novel
      cancer vaccines. The licensed virosome vaccines to influenza and hepatitis A will
      be replaced with virosome vaccines to other infectious diseases. Alternative
      liposomal formulations are likely to emerge for difficult diseases such as
      tuberculosis or HIV-1 infection.

PMID- 26866301
TI  - Complex chromosomal rearrangement involving five chromosomes: deciphering genomic
      imbalances in an apparently balanced chromosomal translocation.

PMID- 26866302
TI  - A bright and colorful future for DNA cell cycle analysis.

PMID- 26866303
TI  - Determination of Concentration of Amphiphilic Polymer Molecules on the Surface of
      Encapsulated Semiconductor Nanocrystals.
AB  - We present a method for the determination of the average number of polymer
      molecules on the surface of A(II)B(VI) luminescent core-shell nanocrystals
      (CdSe/ZnS, ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots, and CdS/ZnS nanorods) encapsulated with
      amphiphilic polymer. Poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-tetradecene) (PMAT) was
      quantitatively labeled with amino-derivative of fluorescein and the average
      amount of PMAT molecules per single nanocrystal was determined using optical
      absorption of the dye in the visible spectral range. The average amount of PMAT
      molecules grows linearly with the surface area of all studied nanocrystals.
      However, the surface density of the monomer units increases nonlinearly with the
      surface area, because of the increased competition between PMAT molecules for Zn
      hexanethiol surface binding sites. The average value of zeta potential (zeta = 
      35 mV) was found to be independent of the size, shape, and chemical composition
      of nanocrystals at fixed buffer parameters (carbonate-bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.5
      and 5 mM ionic strength). This finding is expected to be useful for the
      determination of the surface density of remaining carboxyl groups in PMAT
      encapsulated nanocrystals. 

PMID- 26866304
TI  - Diagnosis of placental abruption: a legal issue for physicians.

PMID- 26866305
TI  - Association Between Human Hair Loss and the Expression Levels of Nucleolin,
      Nucleophosmin, and UBTF Genes.
AB  - AIMS: Nucleolar organizer regions, also known as argyrophilic nucleolar organizer
      regions, are associated with ribosomal genes. The main function of the nucleolus
      is the rapid production of ribosomal subunits, a process that must be highly
      regulated to provide the appropriate levels for cellular proliferation and cell
      growth. There are no studies in the literature addressing the expression and
      function of nucleolar component proteins, including nucleophosmin, nucleolin and
      the upstream binding transcription factor (UBTF), in human follicular hair cells.
      METHODS: Nineteen healthy males who had normal and sufficient hair follicles on
      the back of the head, but exhibited hair loss on the frontal/vertex portions of
      the head and 14 healthy males without hair loss were included in the current
      study. Gene expression levels were measured by relative quantitative real time
      polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In the individuals suffering from alopecia,
      the total expression levels of nucleolin, nucleophosmin, and UBTF were lower in
      normal sites than in hair loss sites. Strong expression level correlations were
      detected between: nucleophosmin and nucleolin; nucleophosmin and UBTF, and
      nucleolin and UBTF for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between
      human hair loss and the expression levels of nucleolin, nucleophosmin, and UBTF
      genes.

PMID- 26866306
TI  - Effects of transcytolemmal water exchange on the assessment of myocardial
      extracellular volume with cardiovascular MRI.
AB  - Quantitative analysis of the myocardial interstitial space is gaining increased
      interest as a biomarker in the MRI and clinical cardiovascular communities. To
      investigate the effect of water exchange on the calculation of myocardial
      extracellular volume (ECV), we employed two tissue models: the standard ECV two
      point model (SM) and the shutter speed model (SSM). Twenty individuals (18 men
      and two women; age 61.9 +/- 10.3 years) underwent MRI at 1.5 T with pre-contrast
      and post-contrast dynamic T1 quantification. Means, standard deviations and
      ranges for SM and SSM model parameters were calculated. Infarct and viable
      myocardial model parameters as well as apparent ECV values calculated with the SM
      and SSM were statistically compared. Viable ECV(SM) remained temporally constant
      (27.3-28.0%: P = 0.5) and infarcted myocardial ECV(SM) changed significantly
      (49.3-58.8%; P < 0.001), reaching a steady-state value after 15 min. The
      intracellular lifetime of water was three times greater in infarcted myocardium
      when compared with viable myocardium (taui: 66.6 +/- 115 versus 208.7 +/- 72.7
      ms) and accompanied a twofold increase in ECV (ECV(SSM) : 30.3 +/- 11.1 versus
      71.0 +/- 13.1%; P < 0.001). There was a consistent significant difference in ECV
      values of infarcted myocardium at different timepoints between the SM and SSM,
      but not viable myocardium, presumably due to slower water exchange. In summary,
      we found a significant change in apparent ECV and water exchange in infarcted
      myocardium when compared with viable myocardium. This was visualized by changes
      in dynamic contrast enhanced curve shapes and quantified using the SSM as not
      only an increase in apparent ECV but also a decrease in water exchange.

PMID- 26866307
TI  - Mass Spectrometry Uncovers Molecular Reactivities of Coordination and
      Organometallic Gold(III) Drug Candidates in Competitive Experiments That
      Correlate with Their Biological Effects.
AB  - The reactivity of three cytotoxic organometallic gold(III) complexes with
      cyclometalated C,N,N and C,N ligands (either six- or five-membered
      metallacycles), as well as that of two representative gold(III) complexes with N
      donor ligands, with biological nucleophiles has been studied by ESI-MS on ion
      trap and time-of-flight instruments. Specifically, the gold compounds were
      reacted with mixtures of nucleophiles containing l-histidine (imine), l
      methionine (thioether), l-cysteine (thiol), l-glutamic acid (carboxylic acid),
      methylseleno-l-cysteine (selenoether), and in situ generated seleno-l-cysteine
      (selenol) to judge the preference of the gold compounds for binding to selenium
      containing amino acid residues. Moreover, the gold compounds' reactivity was
      studied with proteins and nucleic acid building blocks. These experiments
      revealed profound differences between the coordination and organometallic
      families and even within the family of organometallics, which allowed insights to
      be gained into the compounds mechanisms of action. In particular, interactions
      with seleno-l-cysteine appear to reflect well the compounds' inhibition
      properties of the seleno-enzyme thioredoxin reductase and to a certain extent
      their antiproliferative effects in vitro. Therefore, mass spectrometry is
      successfully applied for linking the molecular reactivity and target preferences
      of metal-based drug candidates to their biological effects. Finally, this
      experimental setup is applicable to any other metallodrug that undergoes ligand
      substitution reactions and/or redox changes as part of its mechanism of action.

PMID- 26866308
TI  - Expanding metabolite coverage of real-time breath analysis by coupling a
      universal secondary electrospray ionization source and high resolution mass
      spectrometry--a pilot study on tobacco smokers.
AB  - Online breath analysis is an attractive approach to track exhaled compounds
      without sample preparation. Current commercially available real-time breath
      analysis platforms require the purchase of a full mass spectrometer. Here we
      present an ion source compatible with virtually any preexisting atmospheric
      pressure ionization mass spectrometer that allows real-time analysis of breath.
      We illustrate the capabilities of such technological development by upgrading an
      orbitrap mass spectrometer. As a result, we detected compounds in exhaled breath
      between 70 and 900 Da, with a mass accuracy of typically  <1 ppm; resolutions
      between m/Deltam 22,000 and 70,000 and fragmentation capabilities. The setup was
      tested in a pilot study, comparing the breath of smokers (n  =  9) and non
      smokers (n  =  10). Exogenous compounds associated to smoking, as well as
      endogenous metabolites suggesting increased oxidative stress in smokers, were
      detected and in some cases identified unambiguously. Most of these compounds
      correlated significantly with smoking frequency and allowed accurate
      discrimination of smokers and non-smokers.

PMID- 26866309
TI  - Iodine-Mediated Intramolecular Dehydrogenative Coupling: Synthesis of N
      Alkylindolo[3,2-c]- and -[2,3-c]quinoline Iodides.
AB  - An I2/TBHP-mediated intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling reaction is developed
      for the synthesis of a library of medicinally important 5,11-dialkylindolo[3,2
      c]quinoline salts and 5,7-dimethylindolo[2,3-c]quinoline salts. The annulation
      reaction is followed by aromatization to yield tetracycles in good yield. This
      protocol is also demonstrated for the synthesis of the naturally occurring
      isocryptolepine in salt form. 

PMID- 26866310
TI  - The Use of Low-Dose Oral Glucocorticoids Was Minimized in the 2015 American
      College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:
      Comment on the Article by Singh et al.

PMID- 26866311
TI  - Transitions.

PMID- 26866312
TI  - Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction: An Analysis of Ulnar Tunnel
      Locations.
AB  - We conducted a study to determine precise ulnar tunnel location during lateral
      ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction to maximize bony bridge and graft
      construct perpendicularity. Three-dimensional computer models of 15 adult elbows
      were constructed. These elbow models were manipulated for simulated 4-mm tunnel
      drilling. The proximal ulna tunnels were placed at the radial head-neck junction
      and sequentially 0, 5, and 10 mm posterior to the supinator crest. The bony
      bridges created by these tunnels were measured. Location of the humeral isometric
      point was determined and marked as the humeral tunnel location. Graft
      configuration was simulated. Using all the simulated ulna tunnels, we measured
      the proximal and distal limbs of the graft. In addition, we measured the degree
      of perpendicularity of the graft limbs. The ulnar tunnel bony bridge was
      significantly longer with more posterior placement of the proximal tunnel
      relative to the supinator crest. An increase in degree of perpendicularity of
      graft to ulnar tunnels was noted with posterior shifts in proximal tunnel
      location. Posterior placement of the proximal ulna tunnel allows for a larger
      bony bridge and a more geometrically favorable reconstruction.

PMID- 26866313
TI  - Navigating the Alphabet Soup of Labroligamentous Pathology of the Shoulder.
AB  - Because of the widespread use of eponyms and acronyms to describe
      labroligamentous findings in the shoulder, interpreting shoulder magnetic
      resonance imaging reports can be challenging. A summary of the appearance of
      these lesions on shoulder magnetic resonance images can help the orthopedic
      surgeon to understand these entities as imaging findings and to determine the
      appropriate treatment for patients with shoulder injuries.

PMID- 26866314
TI  - Minimum 5-Year Results With Duracon Press-Fit Metal-Backed Patellae.
AB  - Negative outcomes of earlier metal-backed patella designs have overshadowed
      reports of positive outcomes achieved with careful attention paid to component
      design, patellar tracking, and surgical technique. Much as reported elsewhere, we
      found earlier component failures were caused by poor locking mechanisms, thin
      polyethylene, poor tracking, and minimal femur contact. Over the past decade,
      however, our outcomes with Duracon metal-backed patellae have been encouraging.
      We think these positive outcomes, seen over a minimum 5-year follow-up, are
      largely attributable to the thicker polyethylene and improved articular
      conformity of this component relative to earlier designs.

PMID- 26866315
TI  - Nonoperative Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears.

PMID- 26866316
TI  - Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis.
AB  - Biceps tenodesis is a common procedure performed for tendinopathy of the long
      head of the biceps brachii (LHB). Indications include partial-thickness LHB tear,
      tendon subluxation with or without subscapularis tear, and failed conservative
      management of bicipital tenosynovitis. Biceps tenodesis may also be performed for
      superior labrum anterior to posterior tears. Evaluation of biceps stability is
      important in the treatment of LHB pathology. We advocate a technique of
      subpectoral biceps tenodesis. Interference screw fixation has demonstrated
      biomechanical superiority in laboratory models. If there are any concomitant
      operations, such as rotator cuff repair, the postoperative rehabilitation
      protocol may need to be adjusted. Overall, subpectoral biceps tenodesis with
      interference screw fixation has had excellent clinical outcomes and low
      complication rates.

PMID- 26866317
TI  - Implant Designs in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PMID- 26866318
TI  - Outcomes and Aseptic Survivorship of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PMID- 26866319
TI  - Distal Ulna Fracture With Delayed Ulnar Nerve Palsy in a Baseball Player.
AB  - We present a case report of a college baseball player who sustained a blunt
      trauma, distal-third ulna fracture from a thrown ball with delayed presentation
      of ulnar nerve palsy. Even after his ulna fracture had healed, the nerve injury
      made it difficult for the athlete to control a baseball while throwing, resulting
      in a delayed return to full baseball activity for 3 to 4 months. He had almost
      complete nerve recovery by 6 months after his injury and complete nerve recovery
      by 1 year after his injury.

PMID- 26866320
TI  - Adipose Flap Versus Fascial Sling for Anterior Subcutaneous Transposition of the
      Ulnar Nerve.
AB  - Perineural scarring is a major cause of recurrent symptoms after anterior
      subcutaneous transposition secured with a fascial sling. Use of a vascularized
      adipose flap to secure the anteriorly transposed ulnar nerve can help reduce
      nerve adherence and may enhance nerve recovery. In the study reported here, we
      retrospectively reviewed the long-term outcomes of ulnar nerve anterior
      subcutaneous transposition secured with either an adipose flap (16 patients) or a
      fascial sling (17 patients). The 33 patients underwent physical examinations and
      completed the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) questionnaire,
      visual analog scales (VASs), and the Modified Bishop Rating Scale (MBRS). There
      were no significant differences in DASH (P = .673), VAS pain (P = .413), or VAS
      weakness (P = .362) scores between the adipose flap and fascial sling groups.
      Physical examinations revealed no significant differences in flexion-extension
      arc (P = .668) or supination-pronation arc (P = .226) between the operated and
      nonoperated extremities. Lateral pinch strength and grip strength were
      comparable. On the MBRS, excellent and good outcomes were reported by 62.5% and
      37.5% of the adipose flap patients, respectively, and 59% and 41% of the fascial
      sling patients. The contribution of perineural scarring to postoperative
      recurrent ulnar neuropathy is well documented. We think the pedicled adipofascial
      flap benefits the peripheral nerve by providing a scar tissue barrier and an
      optimal milieu for vascular regeneration. For all patients in the present study,
      symptoms improved, though the adipose flap and fascial sling groups were not
      significantly different in their objective outcomes. Subjective results were
      slightly better for the adipose flap patients but not significantly so. These
      findings indicate that, compared with the current standard of care, adipose flaps
      are more efficacious in securing the anteriorly transposed nerve.

PMID- 26866321
TI  - Improving Spanning-Knee External Fixator Stiffness: A Biomechanical Study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test and compare external fixator construct
      stiffness using pin-to-bar clamps or multipin clamps across 2 external fixation
      systems. Constructs were tested with 8-mm and 11-mm-diameter bar systems and pin
      to-bar or multipin clamps. Three construct designs were tested: construct 1 with
      a single crossbar and pin-to-bar clamps, construct 2 with 2 crossbars and pin-to
      bar clamps, and construct 3 with 2 crossbars and multipin clamps. The stiffness
      of each construct (N = 24) was tested using anterior-posterior bending. Two
      crossbars and pin-to-bar clamps resulted in the highest mean stiffness.
      Constructs with a single crossbar and pin-to-bar clamps had a similar average
      stiffness compared with constructs with 2 crossbars and multipin clamps. Pin-to
      bar clamps with 2 crossbars result in stronger spanning-knee external fixators
      than constructs using multipin clamps.

PMID- 26866322
TI  - Novel Intraoperative Technique to Visualize the Lower Cervical Spine: A Case
      Series.
AB  - Visualization of the lower cervical spine with a lateral radiograph poses a
      challenge secondary to encroachment of the shoulders. Applying traction to the
      arms or taping the shoulders down provides adequate visualization in most
      patients, but imaging the mid- to lower cervical levels presents a significant
      challenge in patients with stout necks. We present a variation of the lateral
      radiograph that is 30o oblique from horizontal and 30o cephalad from neutral and
      used in a series of patients with stout necks that require anterior
      instrumentation of the lower cervical spine. We reviewed intraoperative images of
      2 patients who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery at our institution, and
      assessed type of procedure, body mass index, and outcome scores. Our variation
      provided improved visualization relative to a lateral view and was used
      intraoperatively to confirm correct-level hardware placement in both patients.

PMID- 26866323
TI  - Ureter and Nerve Root Compression Secondary to Expansile Fibrous Dysplasia of the
      Transverse Process.
AB  - Considering their proximity to abdominal viscera, transverse process lesions may
      pose a diagnostic challenge. We present a case of fibrous dysplasia of the
      transverse process, causing urinary retention, frequent urinary tract infections,
      and thigh numbness. This is the first reported case of a transverse process
      fibrous dysplasia lesion, causing simultaneous urinary retention and neurologic
      symptoms. Clinicians may consider lesions of the lumbar transverse processes in
      patients presenting to orthopedic surgeons with urinary symptoms, especially when
      combined with neurologic symptoms. In these lesions, fibrous dysplasia should be
      within the differential diagnosis. We discuss the diagnosis and present a brief
      review of fibrous dysplasia.

PMID- 26866324
TI  - Differences in Innovative Behavior Among Hospital-Based Registered Nurses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The 2010 Institute of Medicine report, 'The Future of Nursing:
      Leading Change, Advancing Health', advocated for nurses to innovate in their
      practice, research, and education. However, little is known about the innovative
      behavior of registered nurses or whether there are differences in innovative
      behavior among registered nurses. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to
      describe the innovative behavior of hospital-based registered nurses and
      understand the differences in innovative behavior when registered nurses are
      categorized into various demographic groups. METHODS: A survey of 251 hospital
      based registered nurses from 9 hospitals in California was administered to assess
      demographic characteristics and innovative behavior, measured through Scott and
      Bruce's Individual Innovative Behavior Scale. RESULTS: Hospital-based registered
      nurses, on average, reported moderate levels of innovative behavior. There were
      statistically significant differences in innovative behavior when registered
      nurses were categorized according to specialty certification, role, level of
      education, hospital size, and hospital innovativeness. CONCLUSIONS: To support
      innovative behavior, organizations should provide opportunities for specialty
      certification and increasing levels of education.

PMID- 26866325
TI  - Measuring Nurse Caring Behaviors in the Hospitalized Older Adult.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between
      nurse caring behavior scores and the use of the "Get to Know Me" poster in
      hospitalized older adults. BACKGROUND: Hospitalization can be an isolating
      experience for the patient and his/her family. Within the high-tech healthcare
      arena, the focus of the "patient/person" can be lost. The art of caring and basic
      communication between the nurse and person is essential to nursing. METHODS: This
      was a 2-group quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design using the intervention
      of the Get to Know Me poster and measurement of nurse caring behaviors with the
      Caring Assessment of Care Givers (CACG) instrument. RESULTS: Nurse caring
      behavior scores of the nurses in the experimental group who utilized the Get to
      Know Me poster were significantly higher on the total CACG scores as well on the
      subscale dimensions of maintaining belief, being with, and doing for than those
      of the nurses forming the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this
      research indicated that interventions that focus the attention on the person and
      emphasize patient-focused care can enhance nurse caring behaviors and strengthen
      the patient-nurse relationship.

PMID- 26866327
TI  - Does prism adaptation affect visual search in spatial neglect patients: A
      systematic review.
AB  - Prism adaptation (PA) is a widely used intervention for (visuo-)spatial neglect.
      PA-induced improvements can be assessed by visual search tasks. It remains
      unclear which outcome measures are the most sensitive for the effects of PA in
      neglect. In this review, we aimed to evaluate PA effects on visual search
      measures. A systematic literature search was completed regarding PA intervention
      studies focusing on patients with neglect using visual search tasks. Information
      about study content and effectiveness was extracted. Out of 403 identified
      studies, 30 met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the studies was evaluated:
      Rankings were moderate-to-high for 7, and low for 23 studies. As feature search
      was only performed by five studies, low-to-moderate ranking, we were limited in
      drawing firm conclusions about the PA effect on feature search. All moderate-to
      high-ranking studies investigated cancellation by measuring only omissions or
      hits. These studies found an overall improvement after PA. Measuring
      perseverations and total task duration provides more specific information about
      visual search. The two (low ranking) studies that measured this found an
      improvement after PA on perseverations and duration (while accuracy improved for
      one study and remained the same for the other). This review suggests there is an
      overall effect of PA on visual search, although complex visual search tasks and
      specific visual search measures are lacking. Suggestions for search measures that
      give insight in subcomponents of visual search are provided for future studies,
      such as perseverations, search path intersections, search consistency and using a
      speed-accuracy trade-off.

PMID- 26866326
TI  - Does an Insulin Double-Checking Procedure Improve Patient Safety?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a
      subcutaneous insulin double-checking preparation intervention on insulin
      administration errors. BACKGROUND: Insulin accounts for 3.5% of medication
      related errors. The Joint Commission and Institute for Safe Medication Practices
      recommend a 2-nurse double-checking procedure when preparing insulin. METHODS:
      This study used a randomized, controlled, nonblinded, intent-to-treat
      methodology. RESULTS: In total, 266 patients were enrolled, and over 4 weeks of
      data collection, there were 5238 opportunities for insulin administration.
      Overall, 3151 insulin administration opportunities had no errors; the double
      checking group had more no-error periods than usual care. Of error types, wrong
      time was predominant, but less prevalent in the double-checking group. Omission
      errors were uncommon and occurred less in the double-checking group. CONCLUSIONS:
      The subcutaneous insulin double-checking preparation procedure led to less
      insulin administration errors; however, timing errors were most prevalent and are
      not resolved with double-checking interventions.

PMID- 26866329
TI  - Infrabrow Skin Excision Associated With Upper Blepharoplasty to Address
      Significant Dermatochalasis With Lateral Hooding in Select Asian Patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: In Asian patients, lateral hooding in the aging upper eyelid is
      prominent and frequently seen. Removal of the redundant skin of this region
      during classic blepharoplasty tends to produce a resultant prolonged scar.
      Furthermore, as the height of the eyelid skin excision increases, suturing of the
      thick upper skin to the thin pretarsal skin can result in upper lid fullness.
      This study documents the combination of infrabrow skin excision and upper
      blepharoplasty to address lateral hooding in select patients of Asian ancestry.
      METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent
      infrabrow skin excision associated with upper blepharoplasty. The inclusion
      criteria were moderate and severe upper eyelid dermatochalasis in patients with
      high eyebrows and lateral hooding; residual lateral hooding following previous
      blepharoplasty. RESULTS: Thirty-two eyelids of 16 female patients of Japanese
      ancestry underwent infrabrow skin excision associated with upper blepharoplasty.
      The mean age of patients was 68.87 +/- 7.88 years (57-82 years). Mean follow up
      was 37.25 +/- 18.96 months (9-72 months). Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and
      9 months at least. The Strasser system for evaluation of surgical results was
      applied at 3 months. All patients had scores indicating good results and were
      satisfied with the cosmetic outcome and improvement of visual field after
      surgery. No complications related to wound dehiscence, lagophthalmos,
      hypertrophic scars, or sensory changes were observed. CONCLUSION: The combination
      of infrabrow skin excision and upper blepharoplasty was effective to address
      moderate and severe dermatochalasis with lateral hooding in select patients of
      Japanese ancestry.

PMID- 26866328
TI  - Recent advances in globin research using genome-wide association studies and gene
      editing.
AB  - A long-sought goal in the hemoglobin field has been an improved understanding of
      the mechanisms that regulate the switch from fetal (HbF) to adult (HbA)
      hemoglobin during development. With such knowledge, the hope is that strategies
      for directed reactivation of HbF in adults could be devised as an approach to
      therapy for the beta-hemoglobinopathies thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
      Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) led to identification of three loci
      (BCL11A, HBS1L-MYB, and the beta-globin cluster itself) in which natural genetic
      variation is correlated with different HbF levels in populations. Here, the
      central role of BCL11A in control of HbF is reviewed from the perspective of how
      findings may be translated to gene therapy in the not-too-distant future. This
      summary traces the evolution of recent studies from the initial recognition of
      BCL11A through GWAS to identification of critical sequences in an enhancer
      required for its erythroid-specific expression, thereby highlighting an Achilles
      heel for genome editing.

PMID- 26866330
TI  - Comparison of Two Polypropylene Frontalis Suspension Techniques in 92 Patients
      With Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the functional outcome of the polypropylene trapezoid
      frontalis suspension with the polypropylene modified Crawford frontalis
      suspension in a large cohort of patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.
      METHODS: Retrospective, nonrandomized comparative case series. Patients with
      oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy who underwent bilateral polypropylene
      frontalis suspension were selected for chart review. Main outcome measures were
      margin reflex distance, duration of surgery, and ptosis recurrence. RESULTS:
      Ninety-two patients qualified for chart review; 39 patients underwent the
      trapezoid sling and 53 patients the modified Crawford sling. There was no
      difference in preoperative margin reflex distance or levator function between the
      2 surgical groups. Postoperative improvement in margin reflex distance was 2.95
      +/- 1.56 mm in the trapezoid group compared with 2.85 +/- 1.65 mm in the modified
      Crawford group (p = 0.67). Duration of surgery was 40.49 +/- 13.33 minutes in the
      trapezoid group compared with 53.77 +/- 16.04 minutes in the modified Crawford
      group (p < 0.001). Five percent of eyes in the trapezoid group had ptosis
      recurrence compared with 13% of eyes in the modified Crawford group (p = 0.07).
      CONCLUSION: Both polypropylene frontalis suspension techniques generated an
      equivalent increase in margin reflex distance. However, the trapezoid frontalis
      suspension required less operative time and trended toward a lower rate of ptosis
      recurrence.

PMID- 26866331
TI  - IgG4-Related Disease of the Punctum and Canaliculus.
AB  - A 60-year-old man with no past medical history presented with a 14-month history
      of a painless medial left lower eyelid mass causing mechanical ectropion and
      discharge from the inferior punctum. Excisional biopsy was performed via a
      transconjunctival canaliculotomy and histopathology revealed a dense plasma cell
      infiltrate with IgG4+ plasma cells >100/high power field and an IgG4/IgG ratio of
      65%. Serum IgG4 was found to be elevated at 224 mg/dl (reference range: 4-86
      mg/dl). Systemic work up with PET CT was negative. The patient's signs and
      symptoms all resolved without medical treatment and he remains disease free 24
      months following surgery. A single case of IgG4 disease of the nasolacrimal duct
      has been reported, but to the authors' knowledge, disease involving the proximal
      nasolacrimal outflow system has yet to be described. The authors herein report a
      case of IgG4-related disease involving the punctum and canaliculus.

PMID- 26866332
TI  - Orbital Volume Augmentation for Enophthalmos Following Ventriculoperitoneal
      Shunting: A Case Study in "Silent Brain Syndrome".
AB  - A 21-year-old female with a history of infantile hydrocephalus and
      ventriculoperitoneal shunting presented with bilateral persistent tearing.
      Examination revealed marked bilateral enophthalmos, poor lower eyelid apposition
      to the ocular surface, and patent nasolacrimal systems. Radiographic imaging
      demonstrated expanded orbital volumes with high arching orbital roofs,
      sequestered air under the eyelids, short, straight optic nerves, and expanded
      paranasal sinuses. Surgical intervention included insertion of mesh and block
      implants within the subperiosteal space of the orbital roof, resulting in
      correction of enophthalmos, improved lower eyelid apposition and resolution of
      tearing. However, new onset myopic astigmatism and bilateral ptosis were noted
      postoperatively and treated successfully with corrective spectacles and ptosis
      repair. Current literature has demonstrated the benefit of orbital roof implants
      through a upper eyelid crease incision. The authors present a case that supports
      the utility of this approach and addresses its potential complications, including
      postoperative-induced astigmatism/myopia and ptosis.

PMID- 26866333
TI  - Iodine-131 Therapy and Nasolacrimal Duct Obstructions: What We Know and What We
      Need to Know.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aims of the current review are to summarize the etiopathogenesis,
      symptomatology, management, complications, and outcomes of iodine-131-induced
      nasolacrimal duct obstructions, to propose a screening protocol and elucidate the
      potential avenues of future research. METHODS: The authors performed an
      electronic database (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) search of all
      articles published in English on nasolacrimal duct obstructions following
      radioiodine therapy. These articles were reviewed along with their relevant cross
      references. Data reviewed included demographics, presentations, investigations,
      management, complications, and outcomes. In addition, based on relevant
      unanswered questions and current lacunae in literature, potential avenues for
      further research have been elucidated. RESULTS: The frequency of nasolacrimal
      duct obstruction is reported to range from 2.2% to 18% following I-131 therapy.
      They are mostly bilateral and noted in patients who receive more than 150 mCi
      radioiodine. Exact etiopathogenesis is unknown but radiotoxicity to lacrimal sac
      and nasolacrimal duct is believed to be mediated through a sodium-iodine
      symporter protein. Although uncommon, it is important to increase awareness among
      treating physicians and patients receiving radioiodine therapy about the
      potential side effect of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Imaging modalities are
      useful adjuncts in the diagnosis. Dacryocystorhinostomy is the most common
      modality of management with good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Nasolacrimal duct
      obstruction following radioiodine treatment is a distinct clinical entity.
      Increased awareness would facilitate timely diagnosis, management, and an
      enhanced quality of life for the patients.

PMID- 26866334
TI  - Compliance With Protective Lens Wear in Anophthalmic Patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of protective lens wear by anophthalmic
      patients and identify factors that influence compliance. METHODS: An IRB approved
      descriptive retrospective chart review of patients undergoing surgery with the
      senior author (PLC) with an anophthalmic orbit and one remaining sighted eye.
      Results were tabulated and analyzed using age, indication for procedure, duration
      of visual symptoms, safety glasses wear, number of postoperative visits, and
      evidence of new trauma to the remaining eye. All patients underwent counseling on
      the importance of protective lens wear preoperatively and each subsequent visit.
      RESULTS: Etiologies for loss of the eye in the 132 study patients included trauma
      (33.3%), blind painful eye (33.3%), congenital disorders (14.4%), adult-onset
      malignancy (14.4%), and retinoblastoma (4.5%). At the final visit, protective
      lenses were worn in the following patterns: full-time (55.3%), frequently
      (11.4%), occasional (6%), and never (28.8%). The regular use of protective
      eyewear at last visit was more common in patients wearing glasses at presentation
      (79.7%), than in those who did not (32.9%; p <= 0.001). Increased number of
      office encounters correlated with more frequent use of protective eyewear (p <=
      0.01). Patient age (p = 0.95), indication for surgery (p = 0.97), and duration of
      visual loss (p = 0.85) were not predictive of safety glasses wear. Three patients
      had evidence of subsequent ocular trauma to the remaining eye, with 2 having
      resultant decrease in acuity; none of these 3 patients wore safety glasses full
      time. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of anopthalmic patients were not wearing
      protective lenses at presentation. Overall compliance was poor; but repeated
      education on the importance of safety glasses appears to improve compliance.
      Educating referring providers and primary care physicians about the importance of
      early and repeated counseling is vital to increasing compliance.

PMID- 26866335
TI  - Assessment of Cutaneous Melanoma by Use of Very- High-Frequency Ultrasound and
      Real-Time Elastography.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of
      very-high-frequency ultrasound as tool for assessment of skin melanoma by
      investigation of the correlation between the ultrasound measurement of the
      thickness of a melanoma and the histopathologically measured Breslow index. The
      secondary objective was to assess the potential role of real-time elastography in
      the preoperative evaluation of skin melanoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study
      included 42 cutaneous melanoma lesions in 39 adult subjects examined in the
      division of ultrasound of a department of radiology between September 2011 and
      January 2015. Gray-scale sonographic features at 40 MHz (thickness, echogenicity,
      contour) and real-time strain elastographic (qualitative and semiquantitative,
      strain ratio) characteristics were evaluated and compared with the pathologic
      results. RESULTS: The melanoma lesions had a homogeneous hypoechoic appearance
      with a regular contour and stiff or medium consistency. The mean difference
      between Breslow index and ultrasound thickness was -0.05 mm (95% CI, -0.24 to
      0.13 mm), sustaining the absence of significant differences between these two
      measurements. A strong relation was identified between real-time elastographic
      appearance and strain ratio for the relations between lesion and hypodermis and
      between lesion and neighboring dermis (p < 0.002) or hypodermis. CONCLUSION: Our
      study showed that very-high-frequency ultrasound and real-time elastography can
      be useful examinations for comprehensive preoperative evaluation of cutaneous
      melanoma.

PMID- 26866336
TI  - Direct Comparison of Unenhanced and Contrast-Enhanced CT for Opportunistic
      Proximal Femur Bone Mineral Density Measurement: Implications for Osteoporosis
      Screening.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: For patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT examinations that include
      the proximal femur, an opportunity exists for concurrent screening bone mineral
      density (BMD) measurement. We investigated the effect of IV contrast enhancement
      on CT-derived x-ray absorptiometry areal BMD measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Our cohort included 410 adults (mean age, 65.3 +/- 10.0 years; range, 49-95
      years) who underwent split-bolus CT urography at 120 kVp. Areal femoral neck BMD
      in g/cm(2) was measured on both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT series with
      asynchronous phantom calibration. Constant offset and multiplicative factor
      corrections for the contrast-enhanced series were derived from the Bland-Altman
      plot linear regression slopes. RESULTS: Mean unenhanced and contrast-enhanced
      areal femoral neck BMD values were 0.681 +/- 0.118 and 0.713 +/- 0.123 g/cm(2),
      respectively. The SD of the distribution of residuals for the constant offset and
      multiplicative model corrections were 0.0232 and 0.0231, respectively. The
      constant offset correction associated with contrast enhancement was 0.032 +/-
      0.023 g/cm(2), which corresponds to 0.29 +/- 0.21 T-score units using the CT
      derived x-ray absorptiometry young normal areal femoral neck BMD reference SD of
      0.111 g/cm(2). CONCLUSION: For the purposes of opportunistic osteoporosis
      screening, contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT studies are equivalent to
      unenhanced CT and can therefore be used for femoral neck BMD assessment. This
      measure could greatly enhance osteoporosis screening.

PMID- 26866338
TI  - Patient Recall Imaging in the Ambulatory Setting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recalling a patient to repeat a radiology examination is an adverse
      and, in certain cases, preventable event. Our objectives were to assess the rate
      of patient recalls for all imaging performed in the outpatient setting at our
      institution and to characterize the underlying reasons for the recalls. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all repeat imaging requests
      for an inadequate initial imaging study between January 2012 and March 2015.
      RESULTS: We identified 100 recall requests (mean, 2.6 requests per month), for an
      overall recall rate of approximately 1 in 8046 ambulatory studies and 1 in 1684
      MRI studies. Nearly all recalls (98%) involved adults. A total of 95% of the
      recalls were for MRI studies. The most common reason for a patient recall request
      was an incomplete examination, making up 24% of all requests. The other causes
      were inadequate coverage of the area of interest (22%), protocoling errors (20%),
      poor imaging quality (15%), additional imaging to clarify a finding (11%),
      insufficient contrast visualization (7%), and incorrect patient information (1%).
      CONCLUSION: We found that patient recalls for imaging in the outpatient setting
      at our institution are not common. When recalls did occur, they were most often
      related to the acquisition of MR images. Improved technologist education on MRI
      protocoling and enhanced communication between ordering clinicians and
      radiologists to clarify the purpose of imaging might reduce the need for repeat
      ambulatory imaging.

PMID- 26866337
TI  - Incidence of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Renal Graft Catheter
      Arteriography Using Iodine-Based Contrast Medium.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess the incidence of contrast
      induced nephropathy (CIN), dialysis, and graft loss after direct intraarterial
      infusion of iodine-based contrast medium (CM) in renal allograft recipients.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients underwent renal graft catheter
      arteriography between 2006 and 2014. CIN was defined as an increase in serum
      creatinine value of 0.5 mg/dL or more above the creatinine value before
      arteriography. CIN could be assessed in 37 patients with creatinine levels
      obtained before arteriography and 24-72 hours after arteriography. Dialysis
      requirement and renal allograft loss at 30 days after the procedure were recorded
      in all 100 patients. RESULTS: In the 37 patients who could be assessed for CIN,
      three patients (8%) met the criteria for CIN. In a subgroup analysis, there was
      an increased incidence of CIN in patients undergoing angiography alone (25%)
      compared with those in the angioplasty and stenting group (0%) (p = 0.028). At 30
      days after the procedure, none (0/100) of the patients required dialysis or had
      graft failure. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients with a single renal allograft
      undergoing renal graft catheter arteriography using iodine-based CM, the overall
      incidence of CIN was low and no major adverse outcomes were noted at 30 days
      after the procedure. However, in a subgroup analysis, the patients who underwent
      arteriography alone-that is, without angioplasty or stenting-had a statistically
      significant higher rate of CIN.

PMID- 26866339
TI  - Safety and Outcomes of Percutaneous Biopsy of 61 Hepatic Adenomas.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Given the recent classification of hepatic adenoma (HA) into subtypes
      and recognition of imperfect specificity of MRI to differentiate HA from focal
      nodular hyperplasia (FNH), there is a resurgent interest in the role of biopsy to
      diagnose HA. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and outcomes
      of biopsy of HAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the electronic
      medical records of all patients who underwent hepatic mass biopsy revealing HA
      from 2000 through 2013 was performed. The biopsy procedure parameters were
      evaluated. Complications were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for
      Adverse Events. Pathology-specific outcomes related to the diagnosis of HA were
      assessed. RESULTS: Sixty patients (52 women and eight men) were identified with a
      mean age of 42 +/- 13 (SD) years and a mean follow-up of 2.3 +/- 3.0 years after
      biopsy. One patient had two HAs biopsied during the same procedure, resulting in
      a total of 61 biopsy-proven HAs. Of the 60 patients, one patient (2%) had a
      single major complication, which involved bleeding that resulted in a blood
      transfusion, and six patients (10%) had a minor complication. A total of six
      (10%) discordant biopsy results were found: Four biopsy-proven HAs (7%) revealed
      FNH on surgical resection or repeat biopsy, one HA (2%) showed well
      differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at subsequent biopsy, and one HA
      (2%) showed findings suggestive of HCC on follow-up imaging. CONCLUSION:
      Complications after biopsy of HAs are uncommon. Although uncommon, discordant
      pathology results between biopsy and surgical resection may occur.

PMID- 26866340
TI  - Systematic Evaluation of Radiation Dose Reduction in CT Studies of Body Packers:
      Accuracy Down to Submillisievert Levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the
      accuracy of abdominal CT performed at different radiation dose levels for the
      detection of body packs in human cadavers, in comparison with the accuracy of
      abdominal radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, differing numbers of
      body packs (range, 0-20) were placed in the alimentary tract of human cadavers
      and then underwent imaging with abdominal radiography and with CT performed at
      different radiation dose levels (ranging from the standard abdominal CT dose to
      the technical minimum dose). Depiction of body packs on abdominal radiographs and
      on each CT scan was assessed by two independent blinded radiologists, and the
      accuracy of detection of body packs was calculated. The radiation dose associated
      with abdominal radiography was measured, and the effective radiation dose
      associated with CT was estimated. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) effective radiation
      dose for abdominal radiography was 1.4 +/- 0.3 mSv, whereas the mean effective
      dose of CT ranged from 0.1 to 9.6 mSv. Interobserver agreement for body pack
      detection was moderate (kappa = 0.51) for abdominal radiography and good (kappa =
      0.72-0.85) for CT. In a per-body pack analysis, abdominal radiography depicted
      42% of the body packs with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 100%. When
      performed at radiation dose levels of 0.6 mSv or greater, CT correctly detected
      all body packs. In per-person analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CT for
      the correct detection of at least one body pack per cadaver was 100% for all
      radiation dose levels. CONCLUSION: CT performed at a dose of 0.6 mSv can be used
      for the detection of body packs. With a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, CT
      is superior to abdominal radiography in terms of reliability, associated
      radiation dose, and accuracy of detection.

PMID- 26866341
TI  - Detecting Regional Myocardial Abnormalities in Patients With Wolff-Parkinson
      White Syndrome With the Use of ECG-Gated Cardiac MDCT.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Myocardial dyskinesia caused by the accessory pathway and related
      reversible heart failure have been well documented in echocardiographic studies
      of pediatric patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. However, the
      long-term effects of dyskinesia on the myocardium of adult patients have not been
      studied in depth. The goal of the present study was to evaluate regional
      myocardial abnormalities on cardiac CT examinations of adult patients with WPW
      syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 74 patients with WPW syndrome who underwent
      cardiac CT from January 2006 through December 2013, 58 patients (mean [+/- SD]
      age, 52.2 +/- 12.7 years), 36 (62.1%) of whom were men, were included in the
      study after the presence of combined cardiac disease was excluded. Two observers
      blindly evaluated myocardial thickness and attenuation on cardiac CT scans. On
      the basis of CT findings, patients were classified as having either normal or
      abnormal findings. We compared the two groups for other clinical findings,
      including observations from ECG, echocardiography, and electrophysiologic study.
      RESULTS: Of the 58 patients studied, 16 patients (27.6%) were found to have
      myocardial abnormalities (i.e., abnormal wall thinning with or without low
      attenuation). All abnormal findings corresponded with the location of the
      accessory pathway. Patients with abnormal findings had statistically
      significantly decreased left ventricular function, compared with patients with
      normal findings (p < 0.001). The frequency of regional wall motion abnormality
      was statistically significantly higher in patients with abnormal findings (p =
      0.043). However, echocardiography documented structurally normal hearts in all
      patients. CONCLUSION: A relatively high frequency (27.6%) of regional myocardial
      abnormalities was observed on the cardiac CT examinations of adult patients with
      WPW syndrome. These abnormal findings might reflect the long-term effects of
      dyskinesia, suggesting irreversible myocardial injury that ultimately causes left
      ventricular dysfunction.

PMID- 26866342
TI  - Gastric Wall Fatty Infiltration in Patients Without Overt Gastrointestinal
      Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of gastric
      wall fatty infiltration in patients without overt gastrointestinal disease.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study included patients who underwent
      unenhanced MDCT for renal colic. Two radiologists reviewed all of the images and
      evaluated for the presence of gastric wall fatty infiltration. The following
      patient characteristics were also recorded: sex, age, body mass index, total and
      visceral fat area, and presence of colic or ileal fat halo sign, or hepatic
      steatosis. A t test and Fisher test were used to compare the results between
      patients with and patients without gastric wall fatty infiltration. RESULTS:
      Gastric wall fatty infiltration was present in 25 of 120 (21%) patients in the
      study. Mean age, weight, body mass index, visceral and total fat areas,
      proportion of hepatic steatosis, number of men, and frequency of the presence of
      colic and ileal fat halo signs were significantly higher among patients with
      gastric wall fatty infiltration than in those without infiltration. CONCLUSION:
      Gastric wall fatty infiltration was significantly more frequent in men older than
      45 years and patients with a body mass index greater than 25. It may represent a
      normal finding, but its relation to other pathologic conditions related to
      obesity remains to be explored.

PMID- 26866343
TI  - Corticosteroid implants for chronic non-infectious uveitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Uveitis is a term used to describe a heterogeneous group of
      intraocular inflammatory diseases of the anterior, intermediate, and posterior
      uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, choroid). Uveitis is the fifth most common cause
      of vision loss in high-income countries, accounting for 5% to 20% of legal
      blindness, with the highest incidence of disease in the working-age
      population.Corticosteroids are the mainstay of acute treatment for all anatomical
      subtypes of non-infectious uveitis and can be administered orally, topically with
      drops or ointments, by periocular (around the eye) or intravitreal (inside the
      eye) injection, or by surgical implantation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the
      efficacy and safety of steroid implants in people with chronic non-infectious
      posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, and panuveitis. SEARCH METHODS: We
      searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register)
      (Issue 10, 2015), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed
      Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to November 2015),
      EMBASE (January 1980 to November 2015), PubMed (1948 to November 2015), Latin
      American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (1982 to
      November 2015), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled
      trials.com) (last searched 15 April 2013), ClinicalTrials.gov
      (www.clinicaltrials.gov), and the World Health Organization (WHO) International
      Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did
      not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic search for studies.
      We last searched the electronic databases on 6 November 2015.We also searched
      reference lists of included study reports, citation databases, and abstracts and
      clinical study presentations from professional meetings. SELECTION CRITERIA: We
      included randomized controlled trials comparing either fluocinolone acetonide
      (FA) or dexamethasone intravitreal implants with standard-of-care therapy with at
      least six months of follow-up after treatment. We included studies that enrolled
      participants of all ages who had chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis,
      intermediate uveitis, or panuveitis with vision that was better than hand-motion.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently reviewed studies
      for inclusion. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the
      risk of bias for each study. MAIN RESULTS: We included data from two studies (619
      eyes of 401 participants) that compared FA implants with standard-of-care
      therapy. Both studies used similar standard-of-care therapy that included
      administration of prednisolone and, if needed, immunosuppressive agents. The
      studies included participants from Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy,
      Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the
      United States. We assessed both studies at high risk of performance and detection
      bias.Only one study reported our primary outcome, recurrence of uveitis at any
      point during the study through 24 months. The evidence, judged as moderate
      quality, showed that a FA implant probably prevents recurrence of uveitis
      compared with standard-of-care therapy (risk ratio (RR) 0.29, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.59; 132 eyes). Both studies reported safety outcomes, and
      moderate-quality evidence showed increased risks of needing cataract surgery (RR
      2.98, 95% CI 2.33 to 3.79; 371 eyes) and surgery to lower intraocular pressure
      (RR 7.48, 95% CI 3.94 to 14.19; 599 eyes) in the implant group compared with
      standard-of-care therapy through two years of follow-up. No studies compared
      dexamethasone implants with standard-of-care therapy. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: After
      considering both benefits and harms reported from two studies in which
      corticosteroids implants were compared with standard-of-care therapy, we are
      unable to conclude that the implants are superior to traditional systemic therapy
      for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. These studies exhibited
      heterogeneity in design and outcomes that measured efficacy. Pooled findings
      regarding safety outcomes suggest increased risks of post-implant surgery for
      cataract and high intraocular pressure compared with standard-of-care therapy.

PMID- 26866344
TI  - Occupational HIV Transmission Among Male Adult Film Performers - Multiple States,
      2014.
AB  - In 2014, the California Department of Public Health was notified by a local
      health department of a diagnosis of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infection* and rectal gonorrhea in a male adult film industry performer, aged 25
      years (patient A). Patient A had a 6-day history of rash, fever, and sore throat
      suggestive of acute retroviral syndrome at the time of examination. He was
      informed of his positive HIV and gonorrhea test results 6 days after his
      examination. Patient A had a negative HIV-1 RNA qualitative nucleic acid
      amplification test (NAAT)(?) 10 days before symptom onset. This investigation
      found that during the 22 days between the negative NAAT and being informed of his
      positive HIV test results, two different production companies directed patient A
      to have condomless sex with a total of 12 male performers. Patient A also
      provided contact information for five male non-work-related sexual partners
      during the month before and after his symptom onset. Patient A had additional
      partners during this time period for which no locating information was provided.
      Neither patient A nor any of his interviewed sexual partners reported taking HIV
      preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Contact tracing and phylogenetic analysis of HIV
      sequences amplified from pretreatment plasma revealed that a non-work-related
      partner likely infected patient A, and that patient A likely subsequently
      infected both a coworker during the second film production and a non-work-related
      partner during the interval between his negative test and receipt of his positive
      HIV results. Adult film performers and production companies, medical providers,
      and all persons at risk for HIV should be aware that testing alone is not
      sufficient to prevent HIV transmission. Condom use provides additional protection
      from HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Performers and all persons
      at risk for HIV infection in their professional and personal lives should discuss
      the use of PrEP with their medical providers. 

PMID- 26866346
TI  - Dissociating spatial and spatiotemporal aspects of navigation ability in chronic
      stroke patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The notion of distinguishable processing mechanisms for spatial and
      spatiotemporal information has largely been neglected in the context of
      navigation. Only a recent neuropsychological case study has provided initial
      evidence for the idea that these elements can be differentiated at a functional
      level. The aim of the current study was therefore to critically verify this
      double dissociation by adopting a systematic, large-scale approach. METHOD: Sixty
      five chronic stroke patients and 60 matched healthy controls watched a route
      through a realistic virtual environment. They were assessed on their knowledge of
      this route in 4 different tasks after the learning phase. Performance on the
      scene recognition and route continuation tasks was taken as an indication of
      knowledge of the spatial route aspects. By contrast, spatiotemporal knowledge of
      the route was assessed in the route order and route progression tasks. RESULTS:
      Based on single case statistics, 6 patients showed an exceptionally large
      difference in their performance on the spatial and spatiotemporal tasks.
      Moreover, 2 patients satisfied formal criteria for a classical dissociation.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that spatial and spatiotemporal performance was
      closely associated in most patients. Nonetheless, the study also provided partial
      support for the notion of separate space- and time-based processing mechanisms in
      the context of navigation. This distinction is of particular relevance to the
      investigation into the cognitive structure underlying navigation behavior.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866347
TI  - Differential processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in young and older healthy
      adults: An event-related potentials (ERP) study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In tasks involving hierarchical stimuli, young subjects typically show
      faster RTs and higher accuracy rates in discriminating target stimuli at the
      global level than at the local level. This pattern of performance is called the
      global precedence effect (GPE). As individuals age, this patterns shifts to a
      local precedence effect (LPE). The purpose of this study was to determine whether
      the decline in GPE in older adults may be due to impairment of grouping
      processes. METHOD: The authors recorded event-related potentials (ERP) while
      young and elderly subjects performed a global/local task in response to
      hierarchical stimuli, and they focused on the P300 component as an index of
      grouping processes. RESULTS: Compared to young subjects, elderly individuals
      showed a lower rate of correct discrimination in global processing conditions,
      but a higher rate of correct responses in local processing conditions, confirming
      a shift from a GPE to a LPE during aging. Interestingly, the P300 amplitude
      increased selectively during global processing in young adults but was not
      modulated by processing level in older participants. By contrast, the modulation
      of the early component N2 as a function of precedence level remained preserved in
      older subjects. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the precedence level may
      depend on early processes that are unaffected during aging. This may explain the
      preservation of local precedence effect in elderly individuals. However, global
      processing may depend on extra attentional processing occurring at later stages.
      The alteration of later processing may explain the decline in global precedence
      during aging. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866345
TI  - Evaluating the consequences of impaired monitoring of learned behavior in
      attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using a Bayesian hierarchical model of
      choice response time.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Performance monitoring deficits have been proposed as a cognitive
      marker involved in the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
      (ADHD), but it is unclear whether these deficits cause impairment when
      established action sequences conflict with environmental demands. The current
      study applies a novel data-analytic technique to a well-established sequence
      learning paradigm to investigate reactions to disruption of learned behavior in
      ADHD. METHOD: Children (ages 8-12) with and without ADHD completed a serial
      reaction time task in which they implicitly learned an 8-item sequence of
      keypresses over 5 training blocks. The training sequence was replaced with a
      novel sequence in a transfer block, and returned in 2 subsequent recovery blocks.
      Response time (RT) data were fit by a Bayesian hierarchical version of the linear
      ballistic accumulator model, which permitted the dissociation of learning
      processes from performance monitoring effects on RT. RESULTS: Sequence-specific
      learning on the task was reflected in the systematic reduction of the amount of
      evidence required to initiate a response, and was unimpaired in ADHD. When the
      novel sequence onset, typically developing children displayed a shift in their
      attentional state while children with ADHD did not, leading to worse subsequent
      performance compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD are not
      impaired in learning novel action sequences, but display difficulty monitoring
      their implementation and engaging top-down control when they become inadequate.
      These results support theories of ADHD that highlight the interactions between
      monitoring processes and changing cognitive demands as the cause of self
      regulation and information-processing problems in the disorder. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26866348
TI  - Decomposing card-sorting performance: Effects of working memory load and age
      related changes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is often regarded as a
      prototypical neuropsychological test of set-shifting ability. However, it has
      been proposed that WCST performance involves cognitive processes other than set
      shifting, such as set maintenance and rule inference. Distinguishing between
      these processes is necessary for the meaningful interpretation of WCST
      performance deficits in neuropsychological populations. In the present studies,
      we aimed to concurrently measure processes of set shifting, set maintenance and
      rule inference in a computerized version of the WCST, and to dissociate these
      processes based on their dependence on working memory capacity. METHOD AND
      RESULTS: In Study 1, we manipulated the number of card-sorting rules to vary the
      demands placed on working memory-dependent processes of rule inference. As
      predicted, integration errors as a novel measure of rule-inference efficiency
      were selectively affected by increasing the number of rules from 3 to 4. In Study
      2, we examined age-related changes in set shifting, set maintenance, and rule
      inference. We found a specific association between age and integration errors,
      indicating that rule inference, but not set shifting or set maintenance, is
      affected in older individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Rule inference on WCST-like card
      sorting tasks appeared to be selectively impaired when the amount of information
      to be integrated in working memory increases or when working memory capacity is
      reduced (as in older individuals). Our findings indicate that measuring
      integration errors as an index of a distinct rule-inference process can improve
      the understanding and interpretability of WCST performance. (PsycINFO Database
      Record

PMID- 26866349
TI  - [Healthcare in One's Own Home or Outside: A Comparison of the Health Status of
      Family Caregivers].
AB  - The GEDA-Survey 2012 is a representative, nationwide survey conducted by means of
      computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) between March 2012 and March 2013
      by the Robert Koch Institute with 19 294 completed interviews. A total of 1 219
      persons tending to the needs of a care-dependent person responded to questions
      about sex, age and health status. Using the statistics software "SPSS", the GEDA
      data were evaluated descriptively and finally visualized with "Microsoft Office".
      The survey results reveal that 47,2% of family caregivers from this cohort are
      between 45 and 64 years old. This cohort had more female caregivers (62,8%) than
      males (37,2%). Comparing the frequency of information on health status in 3 age
      groups, our survey indicated that persons tending to an individual outside their
      own homes assessed their health status to be better than those caring for
      individuals in their own homes.

PMID- 26866350
TI  - Elevated interleukin-8 in bile of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: To better understand the pathogenesis of primary sclerosing
      cholangitis, anti- and pro-inflammatory factors were studied in bile. METHODS:
      Ductal bile of PSC patients (n = 36) and controls (n = 20) was collected by
      endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Gallbladder bile was collected at liver
      transplantation. Bile samples were analysed for cytokines, FGF19 and biliary
      lipids. Hepatobiliary tissues of PSC and non-PSC patients (n = 8-11 per patient
      group) were collected at transplantation and were analysed for IL8 and FGF19 mRNA
      expression and IL8 localization. The effect of IL8 on proliferation of primary
      human cholangiocytes and expression of pro-fibrotic genes was studied. RESULTS:
      In PSC patients, median IL8 in ductal bile was 6.6 ng/ml vs. 0.24 ng/ml in
      controls. Median IL8 in gallbladder bile was 7.6 ng/ml in PSC vs. 2.2 and 0.3
      ng/ml in two control groups. IL8 mRNA in PSC gallbladder was increased and bile
      ducts stained positive for IL8. In vitro, IL8 induced proliferation of primary
      human cholangiocytes and increased the expression of pro-fibrotic genes.
      CONCLUSION: Elevation of IL8 in bile of PSC patients, collected at different
      stages of disease, indicates an ongoing inflammatory stimulus that drives IL8
      production. This challenges the idea that advanced PSC is a burned-out disease,
      and calls for reconsideration of anti-inflammatory therapy in PSC.

PMID- 26866352
TI  - Lithium-titanate-nanotube-supported WO3 for enhancing transmittance contrast in
      electrochromics.
AB  - Lithium titanate nanotubes (Li-TNTs) have been successfully synthesized. The
      inner and outer diameters of the nanotubes are 5 nm and 8 nm with an interlayer
      spacing of 0.83 nm. The nanotubes were in accordance with the Li1.81H0.19Ti2O5 .
      xH2O phase. The chemical component was Li0.9H1.1Ti2O5 . H2O as determined by ICP
      AES. The Li-TNT-supported WO3 nanoparticle (WO3/Li-TNTs) thin film was prepared
      onto ITO glass via spin-coating and then fabricated with an electrochromic
      device. The Li ion diffusion coefficient in the WO3/Li-TNT film was 6.1 * 10(-10)
      cm(2) s(-1), which is eight times higher than that for the pure WO3 film. The
      transmittance contrast of the pure WO3-based ECD was 53.3% at 600 nm. However,
      this increased to 74.1% for the WO3/Li-TNT-based ECD. Meanwhile, the color
      switching times of the WO3/Li-TNT-based ECD were apparently shorter than the ones
      for the WO3-based ECD. 

PMID- 26866351
TI  - Pathways Between Discrimination and Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2
      Diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Discrimination is a social determinant that has been linked to poor
      physical and mental health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the pathway
      whereby discrimination influences quality of life in patients with type 2
      diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six hundred fifteen patients were recruited from
      two adult primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. Measures
      included perceived discrimination, perceived stress, social support, and social
      cohesion and were based on a theoretical model for the pathways by which
      perceived discrimination influences mental and physical health. Quality of life
      was measured using the SF-12 questionnaire. RESULTS: The final model [chi(2)(106)
      = 157.35, P = 0.009, R(2) = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation = 0.03,
      comparative fit index = 0.99] indicates direct effects of higher perceived stress
      (r = -1.02, P < 0.05) and lower social support (r = 0.36, P < 0.001)
      significantly related to decreased mental health component score (MCS) of quality
      of life. Discrimination and social cohesion were not significantly directly
      related to MCS. However, higher discrimination (r = 0.47, P < 0.001), higher
      social cohesion (r = 0.14, P < 0.05), and lower social support (r = -0.43, P <
      0.001) were significantly directly related to increased stress. No significant
      paths were found for the physical component score of quality of life.
      CONCLUSIONS: Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with stress
      and served as a pathway to influence the mental health component of quality of
      life (MCS). Social support had a direct and an indirect effect on MCS through a
      negative association with stress. These results suggest that future interventions
      should be developed to decrease stress and increase social support surrounding
      discrimination to improve the MCS of quality of life in patients with diabetes.

PMID- 26866353
TI  - Gene Expression Profiling Supports the Neural Crest Origin of Adult Rodent
      Carotid Body Stem Cells and Identifies CD10 as a Marker for Mesectoderm-Committed
      Progenitors.
AB  - Neural stem cells (NSCs) are promising tools for understanding nervous system
      plasticity and repair, but their use is hampered by the lack of markers suitable
      for their prospective isolation and characterization. The carotid body (CB)
      contains a population of peripheral NSCs, which support organ growth during
      acclimatization to hypoxia. We have set up CB neurosphere (NS) cultures enriched
      in differentiated neuronal (glomus) cells versus undifferentiated progenitors to
      investigate molecular hallmarks of cell classes within the CB stem cell (CBSC)
      niche. Microarray gene expression analysis in NS is compatible with CBSCs being
      neural crest derived-multipotent progenitor cells able to sustain CB growth upon
      exposure to hypoxia. Moreover, we have identified CD10 as a marker suitable for
      isolation of a population of CB mesectoderm-committed progenitor cells. CD10 +
      cells are resting in normoxia, and during hypoxia they are activated to
      proliferate and to eventually complete maturation into mesectodermal cells, thus
      participating in the angiogenesis necessary for CB growth. Our results shed light
      into the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in CBSC fate choice, favoring
      a potential use of these cells for cell therapy. Stem Cells 2016;34:1637-1650.

PMID- 26866354
TI  - Myxoid Leiomyosarcoma of the Uterus: A Clinicopathologic Analysis of 30 Cases and
      Review of the Literature With Reappraisal of Its Distinction From Other Uterine
      Myxoid Mesenchymal Neoplasms.
AB  - Myxoid leiomyosarcoma (mLMS) of the uterus is a rare neoplasm; thus, knowledge of
      its clinical behavior and morphology remains limited. We therefore reviewed 30
      cases initially diagnosed as uterine mLMS to better characterize its
      clinicopathologic features. Diagnosis was confirmed in 25 subjects (average age
      51.5 y), of whom 80% were stage 1 at presentation. The average tumor size was
      10.8 cm. An infiltrative tumor border was observed microscopically in 24 cases
      (96%); the border in 1 case could not be assessed. Fourteen cases (56%) had >10
      mitoses per 10 high-power fields, 8 (32%) had between 2 and 10, and 3 cases (12%)
      had <2 mitoses. Geographic tumor necrosis and moderate to severe nuclear
      pleomorphism were seen concurrently in 12 cases (48%). All tumors expressed
      smooth muscle markers. Estrogen receptor was expressed in 29.4% of cases.
      Eighteen of 21 cases (85.7%) were negative for ALK by immunohistochemistry.
      Follow-up information was available in 18 subjects: 8 died of disease, 6 were
      alive with local and/or distant recurrence, and 4 were alive with no evidence of
      disease. Individuals who died of disease tended to have tumors with >10 mitoses
      per 10 high-power fields. Among cases with >=5-year follow-up, overall survival
      was 11.1%, significantly worse compared with reported survival rates for
      conventional LMS. The initial diagnosis of mLMS was revised in 5 cases. Four had
      a distinctive loose myxoid appearance, nuclei with vesicular chromatin, and ALK
      positivity by immunohistochemistry, suggesting, suggesting inflammatory
      myofibroblastic tumor. This diagnosis was confirmed by in situ hybridization in 2
      cases. One additional myxoid tumor lacked smooth muscle or myofibroblastic
      features and could not be classified further. mLMS is an aggressive neoplasm
      characterized by infiltrative tumor borders and variability of other features
      (mitotic count, atypia, and necrosis). The differential diagnosis includes myxoid
      leiomyoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Attention to distinguishing
      morphologic features and immunohistochemistry will aid in the interpretation. An
      illustrated algorithm with criteria for diagnosis is proposed. 

PMID- 26866355
TI  - Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus Revisited.
AB  - Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anus, previously called cloacogenic
      carcinoma, is a subtype of SCC. There are very few data on the morphologic
      variation within basaloid SCC of the anus, which may contribute to misdiagnosis.
      We retrospectively evaluated cases originally diagnosed as basaloid SCC for
      histologic characterization. We retrieved and reviewed cases of basaloid SCC from
      1994 to 2013. Ten (27%) cases were reclassified after review, including basal
      cell carcinoma (n=6), melanoma (n=2), and neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=2). The
      final group of basaloid SCC (n=27) showed a female predominance (median age=60 y;
      range, 42 to 92 y). Morphologically, basaloid SCC could be categorized into 4
      groups: transitional carcinoma like (n=10), basaloid with peripheral palisade
      (n=13), adenoid cystic carcinoma like (n=3), and mucinous microcystic (n=1). In
      19 cases the histologic patterns were pure and were mixed in the remainder.
      CK5/6, p16, and high-risk HPV were positive in all cases (n=27). SOX2 was
      positive in 18/22 cases. Clinical follow-up was available on 60% of cases; 9
      patients (53%) developed local recurrence or metastasis, and 5 (29%) died of
      disease. Basaloid SCC of the anus is characterized by 4 major histologic patterns
      and is consistently HPV driven. 

PMID- 26866356
TI  - Protective Effect of Dihydromyricetin Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute
      Kidney Injury in a Rat Model.
AB  - BACKGROUND The present study investigated the effect of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury in a rat model. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS Kidney injury was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of LPS
      through the tail vein. The rats were treated with 5 ug/kg body weight DHM within
      12 h of the LPS administration. The urine of the rats was collected over a period
      of 48 h for determination of calcium and creatinine concentrations. Blood urea
      nitrogen in the serum was analyzed using a BC-2800 Vet Animal Auto Biochemistry
      Analyzer. On day 3 after treatment, the rats were sacrificed to extract the
      kidneys. RESULTS Treatment of the endotoxemia rats with DHM caused a significant
      (P<0.05) decrease in the level of kidney injury molecule-1 and blood urea
      nitrogen. DHM treatment significantly (P<0.05) decreased the level of calcium in
      the kidney tissues compared to those of the untreated endotoxemia rats. The level
      of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the kidney tissues was significantly reduced in the
      endotoxemia rats by DHM treatment. The results from immunohistochemistry reveled
      a significant decrease in the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and CD44 levels.
      The endotoxemia rats showed significantly higher levels of TUNEL-positive stained
      nuclei compared to the normal controls. However, treatment of the endotoxemia
      rats with DHM resulted in a significant decrease in the population of TUNEL
      positive cells. CONCLUSIONS DHM may be a promising candidate for the treatment of
      acute kidney injury. 

PMID- 26866357
TI  - Erosive Monoarthritis of the Wrist Secondary to Coccidioides Immitis Infection.

PMID- 26866358
TI  - Using a wrap skirt to improve the pelvic examination experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The study aims were to analyze the experience of women and their
      physicians of nakedness when moving between changing room and examination chair
      and during pelvic examination itself, and to assess the protective benefit of a
      wrap skirt in alleviating the associated discomfort and vulnerability. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: We offered 1000 women a wrap skirt for pelvic examination and asked
      them to complete a post-procedure questionnaire. Physicians were invited to
      complete a similar but separate questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi
      squared contingency tables. RESULTS: A total of 425 women (43%, age 15-78 years)
      completed the questionnaire; 51% felt uncomfortable and embarrassed during the
      examination, Muslim women significantly more so (p < 0.001). Most women (n = 255;
      58%) rated the wrap skirt a significant improvement; 69% requested it for future
      examinations, significantly more so if the physician was male rather than female
      (66% vs. 54%, p = 0.003). Even the one-third of women experiencing no discomfort
      reported improvement. Most examiners (n = 45; 56%) found the wrap skirt
      beneficial; 31 (38%) were unconvinced. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic examination as
      practiced in many countries, on women naked from the waist down throughout,
      causes unnecessary embarrassment. A simple protective measure, such as a wrap
      skirt, significantly alleviates the discomfort and sense of vulnerability
      associated with nakedness.

PMID- 26866359
TI  - Activated mesoporous carbon nanofibers fabricated using water etching-assisted
      templating for high-performance electrochemical capacitors.
AB  - Activated mesoporous carbon nanofibers (AMCNFs) are synthesized by a sequential
      process of electrospinning, water etching-assisted templating, and acid
      treatment. Their morphologies, crystal structures, melting behavior, chemical
      bonding states, surface properties, and electrochemical performance are
      investigated for three different polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to polyvinylpyrrolidone
      (PVP) weight ratios - PAN : PVP = 8 : 2, 7 : 3, and 6 : 4. Compared to other
      samples, the AMCNFs with an optimum weight ratio of 6 : 4 show the highest
      specific surface area of 692 m(2) g(-1), a high volume percentage of mesopores of
      43.9%, and an increased amount of carboxyl groups (10.5%). This results in a high
      specific capacitance of 207 F g(-1), a high-rate capability with a capacitance
      retention of 93%, a high energy density of 24.8-23.1 W h kg(-1), and an excellent
      cycling durability of up to 3000 cycles. The electrochemical performance
      improvement can be explained by the combined effect of the high surface area
      relative to the increased electrical double-layers, the high volume fraction of
      mesopores relative to shorter diffusion routes and low resistance pathways for
      ions, and the increased amount of carboxyl groups on the CNF surface relative to
      enhanced wettability. 

PMID- 26866360
TI  - Cholinergic mechanisms of the context preexposure facilitation effect in
      adolescent rats.
AB  - The context preexposure facilitation effect (CPFE) is a variant of contextual
      fear conditioning in which context learning, context-shock association, and
      expression of context conditioning occur in 3 separate phases-preexposure,
      training, and testing. During the preexposure phase, the CPFE is disrupted by
      hippocampal NMDA receptor blockade in juvenile rats (Schiffino et al., 2011), and
      a similar deficit is seen with a subcutaneous injection of the muscarinic
      receptor antagonist, scopolamine, in adult mice (Brown, Kennard, Sherer, Comalli,
      & Woodruff-Pak, 2011). As a foundation for further developmental research, the
      present study examined the role of cholinergic function in the CPFE in adolescent
      rats during each phase of the CPFE protocol. In Experiment 1, an i.p injection of
      either 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg dose of scopolamine administered prior to all 3 phases of
      the CPFE protocol impaired the CPFE. Experiment 2 further showed that a 0.5 mg/kg
      injection prior to just 1 of the 3 phases of the CPFE also disrupted contextual
      fear conditioning. We further showed that the CPFE is impaired by localized
      scopolamine infusions into dorsal hippocampus on the preexposure day (Experiment
      3a), training day (Experiment 3b), and test day (Experiment 3c). These findings
      demonstrate a role of cholinergic signaling in hippocampus during each of the 3
      phases of the CPFE in adolescent rats. Implications for the development and
      neural basis of the CPFE are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26866361
TI  - The bidirectional relation between emotional reactivity and sleep: From
      disruption to recovery.
AB  - Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent and greatly affect consecutive emotional
      reactivity, while sleep quality itself can be strongly affected by reactions to
      previous emotional events. In this review, we shed light on this bidirectional
      relation through examples of pathology: insomnia and bipolar disorder. We show
      that both experimental sleep deprivation and insomnia are related to increased
      emotional reactivity and increased amygdala activation upon emotional stimuli
      presentation, and that particularly Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is important
      for emotional processing and reorganization of emotion-specific brain activity.
      Increased emotional reactivity affects REM sleep quality and sleep spindles,
      while REM sleep is particularly affected in insomnia, possibly related to
      condition-specific hyperarousal levels. Normal sleep onset deactivation of brain
      regions important for emotional processing (amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex
      (ACC)) is further affected in insomnia. In bipolar disorder, sleep disturbances
      are common in both symptomatic and nonsymptomatic phases. Both amygdala and ACC
      volume and function are affected in bipolar disorder, with the ACC showing phase
      dependent resting state activity differences. Deficient Gamma-aminobutyric acid
      (GABA) GABA-ergic activity of this region might play a role in sleep disturbances
      and their influence on emotional reactivity, given the inhibitory role of GABA on
      brain activity during sleep and its deficiency in both bipolar disorder and
      insomnia. Promising findings of normalizing brain activity in both insomnia and
      bipolar disorder upon treatment may inspire a focus on treatment studies
      investigating the normalization of sleep, emotional reactivity, and their
      corresponding brain activity patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866362
TI  - Genomic Organization of Human Transcription Initiation Complexes.
AB  - A repertoire of transcription initiation factors engage the core promoter of mRNA
      genes to recruit RNA polymerase (Pol) II to initiate transcription, yet their
      precise spatial organization remains unclear. Using ChIP-exo, here we detail the
      interactions and genomic organization of initiation factors TBP, TFIIB, and Pol
      II at mRNA genes and within CpG islands. We find that when Pol II moves into a
      transcriptionally paused state, TBP/TFIIB remain at the promoter. We show that
      TBP and TFIIB bound to the core promoter at two separate, resolvable locations
      that coincided with sites of divergent transcription initiation. We also examine
      the precise binding of TBP at Pol III transcribed tRNA genes. We find that TBP
      crosslinked to tRNA genes in a similar manner as at Pol II transcribed genes.
      This comprehensive and high resolution genome-wide detection of the initiation
      machinery produces a consolidated view of transcription initiation events humans
      at Pol II coding and Pol III transcribed tRNA genes. 

PMID- 26866363
TI  - Stage-Specific Changes in the Water, Na+, Cl- and K+ Contents of Organelles
      during Apoptosis, Demonstrated by a Targeted Cryo Correlative Analytical
      Approach.
AB  - Many studies have demonstrated changes in the levels of several ions during
      apoptosis, but a few recent studies have reported conflicting results concerning
      the changes in water content in apoptotic cells. We used a correlative light and
      cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy method to quantify water and
      ion/element contents simultaneously at a nanoscale resolution in the various
      compartments of cells, from the onset to the end of apoptosis. We used stably
      transfected HeLa cells producing H2B-GFP to identify the stages of apoptosis in
      cells and for a targeted elemental analysis within condensed chromatin,
      nucleoplasm, mitochondria and the cytosol. We found that the compartments of
      apoptotic cells contained, on average, 10% more water than control cells. During
      mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, we observed a strong increase in
      the Na+ and Cl- contents of the mitochondria and a strong decrease in
      mitochondrial K+ content. During the first step in apoptotic volume decrease
      (AVD), Na+ and Cl- levels decreased in all cell compartments, but remained higher
      than those in control cells. Conversely, during the second step of AVD, Na+ and
      Cl- levels increased considerably in the nucleus and mitochondria. During these
      two steps of AVD, K+ content decreased steadily in all cell compartments. We also
      determined in vivo ion status during caspase-3 activity and chromatin
      condensation. Finally, we found that actinomycin D-tolerant cells had water and
      K+ contents similar to those of cells entering apoptosis but lower Na+ and Cl-
      contents than both cells entering apoptosis and control cells. 

PMID- 26866364
TI  - Carvedilol Administration Can Prevent Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A
      Double-Blind Randomized Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the preventive effects of
      carvedilol on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS: In this trial, 70
      female patients with breast cancer who were candidates to receive doxorubicin
      were enrolled, from which 30 were selected randomly to receive carvedilol 6.25 mg
      daily during chemotherapy, with the rest receiving placebo as the control group.
      Both groups were evaluated 1 week before and 1 week after chemotherapy by
      measuring the left ventricular ejection fraction and strain/strain rate. RESULTS:
      Data analysis showed that the case group presented no significant reduction in
      strain and strain-rate parameters after intervention, while there was a
      significant reduction in these parameters in the control group (all p values
      <0.001). Also, the mean differences of strain parameters in the case group were
      significantly less than in the control group in all evaluated heart walls (basal
      septal strain, p = 0.005, basal lateral strain, p = 0.001, basal inferior strain,
      p < 0.001, and basal anterior strain, p < 0.001); the same was true for the
      strain-rate parameters (the p values for basal septal, basal lateral, basal
      inferior and basal anterior strain rate were 0.037, 0.037, 0.002 and <0.001,
      respectively). CONCLUSION: This study shows that carvedilol can prevent
      doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Whether this prophylaxis should be considered
      as the preferred method needs further investigation.

PMID- 26866365
TI  - Expression of cagA, virB/D Complex and/or vacA Genes in Helicobacter pylori
      Strains Originating from Patients with Gastric Diseases.
AB  - In order to better understand pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori, particularly
      in the context of its carcinogenic activity, we analysed expression of virulence
      genes: cagA, virB/D complex (virB4, virB7, virB8, virB9, virB10, virB11, virD4)
      and vacA in strains of the pathogen originating from persons with gastric
      diseases. The studies were conducted on 42 strains of H. pylori isolated from
      patients with histological diagnosis of non-atrophic gastritis-NAG (group 1,
      including subgroup 1 containing cagA+ isolates and subgroup 2 containing cagA-
      strains), multifocal atrophic gastritis-MAG (group 2) and gastric adenocarcinoma
      GC (group 3). Expression of H. pylori genes was studied using microarray
      technology. In group 1, in all strains of H. pylori cagA+ (subgroup 1) high
      expression of the gene as well as of virB/D was disclosed, accompanied by
      moderate expression of vacA. In strains of subgroup 2 a moderate expression of
      vacA was detected. All strains in groups 2 and 3 carried cagA gene but they
      differed in its expression: a high expression was detected in isolates of group 2
      and its hyperexpression in strains of group 3 (hypervirulent strains). In both
      groups high expression of virB/D and vacA was disclosed. Our results indicate
      that chronic active gastritis may be induced by both cagA+ strains of H. pylori,
      manifesting high expression of virB/D complex but moderate activity of vacA, and
      cagA- strains with moderate expression of vacA gene. On the other hand, in
      progression of gastric pathology and carcinogenesis linked to H. pylori a
      significant role was played by hypervirulent strains, manifesting a very high
      expression of cagA and high activity of virB/D and vacA genes. 

PMID- 26866367
TI  - Machine learning and data mining in complex genomic data--a review on the lessons
      learned in Genetic Analysis Workshop 19.
AB  - In the analysis of current genomic data, application of machine learning and data
      mining techniques has become more attractive given the rising complexity of the
      projects. As part of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 19, approaches from this
      domain were explored, mostly motivated from two starting points. First, assuming
      an underlying structure in the genomic data, data mining might identify this and
      thus improve downstream association analyses. Second, computational methods for
      machine learning need to be developed further to efficiently deal with the
      current wealth of data.In the course of discussing results and experiences from
      the machine learning and data mining approaches, six common messages were
      extracted. These depict the current state of these approaches in the application
      to complex genomic data. Although some challenges remain for future studies,
      important forward steps were taken in the integration of different data types and
      the evaluation of the evidence. Mining the data for underlying genetic or
      phenotypic structure and using this information in subsequent analyses proved to
      be extremely helpful and is likely to become of even greater use with more
      complex data sets. 

PMID- 26866366
TI  - Expression of the Bitter Taste Receptor, T2R38, in Enteroendocrine Cells of the
      Colonic Mucosa of Overweight/Obese vs. Lean Subjects.
AB  - Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) are expressed in the mammalian gastrointestinal
      mucosa. In the mouse colon, T2R138 is localized to enteroendocrine cells and is
      upregulated by long-term high fat diet that induces obesity. The aims of this
      study were to test whether T2R38 expression is altered in overweight/obese
      (OW/OB) compared to normal weight (NW) subjects and characterize the cell types
      expressing T2R38, the human counterpart of mouse T2R138, in human colon. Colonic
      mucosal biopsies were obtained during colonoscopy from 35 healthy subjects (20
      OW/OB and 15 NW) and processed for quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry
      using antibodies to T2R38, chromogranin A (CgA), glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1),
      cholecystokinin (CCK), or peptide YY (PYY). T2R38 mRNA levels in the colonic
      mucosa of OW/OB were increased (> 2 fold) compared to NW subjects but did not
      reach statistical significance (P = 0.06). However, the number of T2R38
      immunoreactive (IR) cells was significantly increased in OW/OB vs. NW subjects (P
      = 0.01) and was significantly correlated with BMI values (r = 0.7557; P = 0.001).
      In both OW/OB and NW individuals, all T2R38-IR cells contained CgA-IR supporting
      they are enteroendocrine. In both groups, T2R38-IR colocalized with CCK-, GLP1-
      or PYY-IR. The overall CgA-IR cell population was comparable in OW/OB and NW
      individuals. This study shows that T2R38 is expressed in distinct populations of
      enteroendocrine cells in the human colonic mucosa and supports T2R38 upregulation
      in OW/OB subjects. T2R38 might mediate host functional responses to increased
      energy balance and intraluminal changes occurring in obesity, which could involve
      peptide release from enteroendocrine cells. 

PMID- 26866368
TI  - Optimal Timing of Delivery among Low-Risk Women with Prior Caesarean Section: A
      Secondary Analysis of the WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate optimal timing of elective repeat caesarean section
      among low-risk pregnant women with prior caesarean section in a multicountry
      sample from largely low- and middle-income countries. DESIGN: Secondary analysis
      of a cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twenty-nine countries from the World Health
      Organization Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health. POPULATION:
      29,647 women with prior caesarean section and no pregnancy complications in their
      current pregnancy who delivered a term singleton (live birth and stillbirth) at
      gestational age 37-41 weeks by pre-labour caesarean section, intra-partum
      caesarean section, or vaginal birth following spontaneous onset of labour.
      METHODS: We compared the rate of short-term adverse maternal and newborn outcomes
      following pre-labour caesarean section at a given gestational age, to those
      following ongoing pregnancies beyond that gestational age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Severe maternal outcomes, neonatal morbidity, and intra-hospital early neonatal
      mortality. RESULTS: Odds of neonatal morbidity and intra-hospital early neonatal
      mortality were 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.60) and 0.31 (95% CI
      0.16-0.58) times lower for ongoing pregnancies compared to pre-labour caesarean
      section at 37 weeks. We did not find any significant change in the risk of severe
      maternal outcomes between pre-labour caesarean section at a given gestational age
      and ongoing pregnancies beyond that gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Elective repeat
      caesarean section at 37 weeks had higher risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality
      compared to ongoing pregnancy, however risks at later gestational ages did not
      differ between groups.

PMID- 26866369
TI  - Plasticity-Driven Self-Organization under Topological Constraints Accounts for
      Non-random Features of Cortical Synaptic Wiring.
AB  - Understanding the structure and dynamics of cortical connectivity is vital to
      understanding cortical function. Experimental data strongly suggest that local
      recurrent connectivity in the cortex is significantly non-random, exhibiting, for
      example, above-chance bidirectionality and an overrepresentation of certain
      triangular motifs. Additional evidence suggests a significant distance dependency
      to connectivity over a local scale of a few hundred microns, and particular
      patterns of synaptic turnover dynamics, including a heavy-tailed distribution of
      synaptic efficacies, a power law distribution of synaptic lifetimes, and a
      tendency for stronger synapses to be more stable over time. Understanding how
      many of these non-random features simultaneously arise would provide valuable
      insights into the development and function of the cortex. While previous work has
      modeled some of the individual features of local cortical wiring, there is no
      model that begins to comprehensively account for all of them. We present a
      spiking network model of a rodent Layer 5 cortical slice which, via the
      interactions of a few simple biologically motivated intrinsic, synaptic, and
      structural plasticity mechanisms, qualitatively reproduces these non-random
      effects when combined with simple topological constraints. Our model suggests
      that mechanisms of self-organization arising from a small number of plasticity
      rules provide a parsimonious explanation for numerous experimentally observed non
      random features of recurrent cortical wiring. Interestingly, similar mechanisms
      have been shown to endow recurrent networks with powerful learning abilities,
      suggesting that these mechanism are central to understanding both structure and
      function of cortical synaptic wiring. 

PMID- 26866370
TI  - Correction: Live Imaging of Innate Immune Cell Sensing of Transformed Cells in
      Zebrafish Larvae: Parallels between Tumor Initiation and Wound Inflammation.

PMID- 26866371
TI  - Integrating Cervical Cancer Screening with HIV Care in Cameroon: Comparative Risk
      Analysis of Cervical Disease in HIV-Infected Women Receiving Antiretroviral
      Therapy to Women in the General Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on
      natural history of cervical lesions remains controversial, resource limited
      countries need to understand the relevance of their own data to their settings.
      We compared the risk of cervical disease in HAART-experienced women with that in
      women in the general population of Cameroon. METHODS: A retrospective cross
      sectional survey of women aged 35 years and above, attending a voluntary
      screening campaign for cervical cancer at the Nkongsamba Regional Hospital in
      Cameroon between February and May 2014. Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL)
      were determined by Pap smear. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare
      the odds of SIL in women on HAART to women from the community with unknown HIV
      status. RESULTS: Included were 302 women of whom 131(43.4%) were HIV-infected and
      receiving HAART on the site while 171 (56.6%) were women from the community.
      Cervical disease was observed in 51(16.9%) persons of whom 15 (11.5%) cases in
      the HAART group and 36 (21.1%) cases in the general group (p = 0.027). After
      controlling for age and other covariates, women in the HAART group had a 67%
      reduction in the odds of cervical lesions compared with the community group
      [adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.15-0.73, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: HIV
      infected women receiving HAART have a lower risk of cancer than women in the
      general population. This finding may not be attributed to HAART alone but to all
      the health benefits derived from receiving a comprehensive HIV care.

PMID- 26866372
TI  - Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Prevent Renal Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Unilateral
      Ureteral Obstruction by Suppressing the Renin-Angiotensin System via HuR.
AB  - We studied Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) effects in experimental Unilateral
      Ureteral Obstruction (UUO), a fibrogenic renal disease. Rats were divided in 5
      groups: sham, UUO, MSC treated-UUO, ACEi treated-UUO, MSC+ACEi treated- UUO. Data
      were collected at 1, 7, 21 days. UUO induced monocyte renal infiltration, tubular
      cell apoptosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and overexpression of
      TGFbeta, Renin mRNA (RENmRNA), increase of Renin, Angiotensin II (AII) and
      aldosterone serum levels. Both lisinopril (ACEi) and MSC treatment prevented
      monocyte infiltration, reduced tubular cell apoptosis, renal fibrosis and TGFbeta
      expression. Combined therapy provided a further suppression of monocyte
      infiltration and tubular injury. Lisinopril alone caused a rebound activation of
      Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS), while MSC suppressed RENmRNA and Renin synthesis
      and induced a decrease of AII and aldosterone serum levels. Furthermore, in in
      vitro and in-vivo experiments, MSC inhibit Human antigen R (HuR) trascription, an
      enhancer of RENmRNA stability by IL10 release. In conclusion, we demonstrate that
      in UUO MSC prevent fibrosis, by decreasing HuR-dependent RENmRNA stability. Our
      findings give a clue to understand the molecular mechanism through which MSC may
      prevent fibrosis in a wide and heterogeneous number of diseases that share RAS
      activation as common upstream pathogenic mechanism. 

PMID- 26866373
TI  - Targeting HO-1 by Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Contrast-Induced Renal
      Injury via Anti-Oxidative Stress and Anti-Inflammation Pathways.
AB  - Both oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of
      contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a purified
      catechin from green tea, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However,
      it is unknown whether or not EGCG is effective in treating CIN. Our present study
      found that intravenous administration of EGCG, either before or just after the
      establishment of CIN, had a protective effect, determined by normalization of
      serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, improvement in renal
      histopathological scoring and alleviation of apoptosis, accompanied by decreased
      oxidative stress and inflammation. Because EGCG is a potent inducer of the
      antioxidant heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), we studied HO-1 signaling in CIN. HO-1
      levels were increased in CIN; treatment with EGCG further increased HO-1 levels,
      accompanied by an increase in Nrf2, a regulator of antioxidant proteins.
      Interestingly, blockade of HO-1 with protoporphyrin IX zinc(II) (ZnPP) prevented
      the protective effect of EGCG on CIN. ZnPP also blocked the ability of EGCG to
      increase the activity of an antioxidant (superoxide dismutase), and decrease
      markers of oxidative stress (myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde) and
      inflammation (myeloperoxidase and IL-1beta), indicating that HO-1 is the upstream
      molecule that regulates the EGCG-mediated protection. To determine further the
      role of HO-1 on the EGCG-mediated inhibition of inflammation, we studied the
      effect of EGCG on the NLRP3 inflammasome, an upstream signaling of IL-1beta. EGCG
      down-regulated NLRP3 expression, which was blocked by ZnPP, indicating that HO-1
      links EGCG with NLRP3. Therefore, EGCG, via up-regulation of HO-1, protects
      against CIN by amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation. 

PMID- 26866374
TI  - Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Beefpacking Workers in a Midwestern
      United States Slaughterhouse.
AB  - Occupational contact with livestock is an established risk factor for exposure to
      livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
      particularly among industrial swine workers. While S. aureus is known to infect
      cattle, livestock-associated S. aureus carriage among workers in the beef
      production chain has received limited attention. Beefpacking workers, who
      slaughter, butcher and process cattle, have intensified exposure to potentially
      infectious animal materials and may be at risk of livestock-associated S. aureus
      exposure. We conducted a cross-sectional study of beefpacking workers (n = 137)
      at an industrial slaughterhouse in the Midwestern United States to evaluate
      prevalence and characteristics of S. aureus nasal colonization, specifically the
      absence of the scn gene to identify putative association with livestock,
      antibiotic susceptibility, presence of Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) genes
      lukS-PV and lukF-PV, and spa type. Overall prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage
      was 27.0%. No workers carried livestock-associated MRSA. Methicillin-sensitive S.
      aureus isolates (MSSA) recovered from five workers (3.6%) lacked the scn gene and
      were considered putative livestock-associated S. aureus (pLA-SA). Among pLA-SA
      isolates, spa types t338, t748, t1476 and t2379 were identified. To our
      knowledge, these spa types have not previously been identified as associated with
      livestock. Prevalence of human-adapted MRSA carriage in workers was 3.6%. MRSA
      isolates were identified as spa types t002, t008 and t024, and four of five MRSA
      isolates were PVL-positive. To date, this is the first study to indicate that
      industrial beefpacking workers in the United States may be exposed to livestock
      associated S. aureus, notably MSSA, and to spa types not previously identified in
      livestock and livestock workers. Occupational exposure to livestock-associated S.
      aureus in the beef production chain requires further epidemiologic investigation.

PMID- 26866376
TI  - A stimulus-location effect in contingency-governed, but not rule-based,
      discrimination learning.
AB  - We tested pigeons' acquisition of a conditional discrimination task between
      colored grating stimuli that included choosing 1 of 2 response keys, which either
      appeared as white keys to the left and right of the discriminative stimulus, or
      were replicas of the stimulus. Pigeons failed to acquire the discrimination when
      the response keys were white disks but succeeded when directly responding to a
      replica of the stimulus. These results highlight how conditioning processes shape
      learning in pigeons: The results can be accounted for by supposing that, when
      pigeons were allowed to respond directly toward the stimulus, learning was guided
      by classical conditioning, but that responding to white keys demanded
      instrumental learning, which impaired task acquisition for pigeons. In contrast,
      humans completing the same paradigm showed no differential learning success
      depending on whether figure or position indicated the correct key. However, only
      participants who could state the underlying discrimination rule acquired the
      task, which implies that human performance in this situation relied on the
      deduction and application of task rules instead of associative processes.

PMID- 26866377
TI  - Seeing through Walls at the Nanoscale: Microwave Microscopy of Enclosed Objects
      and Processes in Liquids.
AB  - Noninvasive in situ nanoscale imaging in liquid environments is a current
      imperative in the analysis of delicate biomedical objects and electrochemical
      processes at reactive liquid-solid interfaces. Microwaves of a few gigahertz
      frequencies offer photons with energies of ~10 MUeV, which can affect neither
      electronic states nor chemical bonds in condensed matter. Here, we describe an
      implementation of scanning near-field microwave microscopy for imaging in liquids
      using ultrathin molecular impermeable membranes separating scanning probes from
      samples enclosed in environmental cells. We imaged a model electroplating
      reaction as well as individual live cells. Through a side-by-side comparison of
      the microwave imaging with scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrate the
      advantage of microwaves for artifact-free imaging. 

PMID- 26866375
TI  - AarF Domain Containing Kinase 3 (ADCK3) Mutant Cells Display Signs of Oxidative
      Stress, Defects in Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Lysosomal Accumulation.
AB  - Autosomal recessive ataxias are a clinically diverse group of syndromes that in
      some cases are caused by mutations in genes with roles in the DNA damage
      response, transcriptional regulation or mitochondrial function. One of these
      ataxias, known as Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxia Type-2 (ARCA-2, also
      known as SCAR9/COQ10D4; OMIM: #612016), arises due to mutations in the ADCK3
      gene. The product of this gene (ADCK3) is an atypical kinase that is thought to
      play a regulatory role in coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) biosynthesis. Although much work
      has been performed on the S. cerevisiae orthologue of ADCK3, the cellular and
      biochemical role of its mammalian counterpart, and why mutations in this gene
      lead to human disease is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that ADCK3
      localises to mitochondrial cristae and is targeted to this organelle via the
      presence of an N-terminal localisation signal. Consistent with a role in CoQ10
      biosynthesis, ADCK3 deficiency decreased cellular CoQ10 content. In addition,
      endogenous ADCK3 was found to associate in vitro with recombinant Coq3, Coq5,
      Coq7 and Coq9, components of the CoQ10 biosynthetic machinery. Furthermore, cell
      lines derived from ARCA-2 patients display signs of oxidative stress, defects in
      mitochondrial homeostasis and increases in lysosomal content. Together, these
      data shed light on the possible molecular role of ADCK3 and provide insight into
      the cellular pathways affected in ARCA-2 patients. 

PMID- 26866378
TI  - Assessment of Bowel Wall Enhancement for the Diagnosis of Intestinal Ischemia in
      Patients with Small Bowel Obstruction: Value of Adding Unenhanced CT to Contrast
      enhanced CT.
AB  - Purpose To determine whether adding unenhanced computed tomography (CT) to
      contrast material-enhanced CT improves the diagnostic performance of decreased
      bowel wall enhancement as a sign of ischemia complicating mechanical small bowel
      obstruction (SBO). Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by
      the institutional review board, which waived the requirement for informed
      consent. Two gastrointestinal radiologists independently performed retrospective
      assessments of 164 unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT studies from 158
      consecutive patients (mean age, 71.2 years) with mechanical SBO. The reference
      standard was the intraoperative and/or histologic diagnosis (in 80 cases) or
      results from clinical follow-up in patients who did not undergo surgery (84
      cases). Decreased bowel wall enhancement was evaluated with contrast-enhanced
      images then and both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced images 1 month later.
      Diagnostic performance of decreased bowel wall enhancement and confidence in the
      diagnosis were compared between the two readings by using McNemar and Wilcoxon
      signed rank tests. Interobserver agreement was assessed by using kappa statistics
      and compared with bootstrapping. Results Ischemia was diagnosed in 41 of 164
      (25%) episodes of SBO. For both observers, adding unenhanced images improved
      decreased bowel wall enhancement sensitivity (observer 1: 46.3% [19 of 41] vs
      65.8% [27 of 41], P = .02; observer 2: 56.1% [23 of 41] vs 63.4% [26 of 41], P =
      .45), Youden index (from 0.41 to 0.58 for observer 1 and from 0.42 to 0.61 for
      observer 2), and confidence score (P < .001 for both). Specificity significantly
      increased for observer 2 (84.5% [104 of 123] vs 94.3% [116 of 123], P = .002),
      and interobserver agreement significantly increased, from moderate (kappa = 0.48)
      to excellent (kappa = 0.89; P < .0001). Conclusion Adding unenhanced CT to
      contrast-enhanced CT improved the sensitivity, diagnostic confidence, and
      interobserver agreement of the diagnosis of ischemia, a complication of
      mechanical SBO, on the basis of decreased bowel wall enhancement. ((c)) RSNA,
      2016.

PMID- 26866381
TI  - A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism of miR-196a2T>C rs11614913 Is Associated with
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Chinese Population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We investigated the miR-196a2T>C rs11614913 variant in the initiation
      and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A case-control
      research model was conducted and the genotypes of 109 HCC patients and 105
      healthy controls were identified by direct sequencing. The correlation between
      the rs11614913 genotypes and the susceptibility to HCC was evaluated using an
      unconditional logistic regression model. RESULTS: We found that 20/109 (18.3%)
      patients were TT homozygote, whereas 64/109 (58.8%) patients had the CT genotype,
      and 25/109 (22.9%) patients had the CC genotype. In control samples, the
      frequency of the TT homozygote was 33.3%, that of CT was 49.5%, and that of CC
      was 17.1%. After adjusting for age and gender by logistic regression analysis, we
      found significant differences in susceptibility to HCC by genotype (TT vs. CT+CC:
      OR = 2.52, 95%CI = 1.18-4.19; p < 0.05). The CT and CC genotypes were more common
      in HCC patients compared to controls. Moreover, the CT+CC genotypes were
      associated with a poor HCC prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that
      the CT+CC genotypes of rs11614913 were significantly associated with an increased
      risk and poor prognosis for HCC in the Chinese population.

PMID- 26866382
TI  - Polymer-lipid hybrid systems: merging the benefits of polymeric and lipid-based
      nanocarriers to improve oral drug delivery.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A number of biobarriers limit efficient oral drug absorption; both
      polymer-based and lipid-based nanocarriers have demonstrated properties and
      delivery mechanisms to overcome these biobarriers in preclinical settings.
      Moreover, in order to address the multifaceted oral drug delivery challenges,
      polymer-lipid hybrid systems are now being designed to merge the beneficial
      features of both polymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers. AREAS COVERED: Recent
      advances in the development of polymer-lipid hybrids with a specific focus on
      their viability in oral delivery are reviewed. Three classes of polymer-lipid
      hybrids have been identified, i.e. lipid-core polymer-shell systems, polymer-core
      lipid-shell systems, and matrix-type polymer-lipid hybrids. We focus on their
      application to overcome the various biological barriers to oral drug absorption,
      as exemplified by selected preclinical studies. EXPERT OPINION: Numerous studies
      have demonstrated the superiority of polymer-lipid hybrid systems to their non
      hybrid counterparts in providing improved drug encapsulation, modulated drug
      release, and improved cellular uptake. These features have encouraged their
      applications in the delivery of chemotherapeutics, proteins, peptides, and
      vaccines. With further research expected to optimize the manufacturing and
      scaling up processes and in-depth pre-clinical pharmacological and toxicological
      assessments, these multifaceted drug delivery systems will have significant
      clinical impact on the oral delivery of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.

PMID- 26866383
TI  - Antidiabetic activity of Helicteres angustifolia root.
AB  - Context The root of Helicteres angustifolia L. (Sterculiaceae) has been used as
      folk herbal drug to treat cancer, bacterial infections, inflammatory, and flu in
      China. However, there is no report on its antidiabetic activity. Objective This
      study evaluates the antidiabetic activity of ethanol extract from H. angustifolia
      root. Materials and methods The promoting effect of H. angustifolia root ethanol
      extract (25, 50, and 100 MUg/mL) on glucose uptake was evaluated using HepG2
      cell, differentiated C2C12 myotubes, and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The
      antidiabetic activity of the extract was assessed in vivo using STZ-induced
      diabetic rats by orally administration of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.)
      once per day for 28 d. Blood glucose, TG, TC, TP, HDL-C, UA, BUN, AST, ALT,
      insulin, and HOMA-IR were analyzed. Results The results showed that the extract
      increased glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes with an IC50
      value of 79.95 and 135.96 MUg/mL, respectively. And about 12%, 19%, and 10% (p <
      0.05) in HepG2 cells when compared with the control at the concentration of 25,
      50, and 100 MUg/mL, respectively. After 28 days' treatment with the extract,
      significant reduction was observed in blood glucose, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, UA, BUN,
      AST, and ALT levels, while the levels of TP and HDL cholesterol increased.
      Discussion and conclusion These results suggest that H. angustifolia root ethanol
      extract possess potent antidiabetic activity, which is the first report on
      antidiabetic activity of this plant. 

PMID- 26866384
TI  - Environmentally Friendly Mechanochemical Syntheses and Conversions of Highly
      Luminescent Cu(I) Dinuclear Complexes.
AB  - Luminescent dinuclear Cu(I) complexes, [Cu2X2(dpypp)2] [Cu-X; X = Cl, Br, I;
      dpypp = 2,2'-(phenylphosphinediyl)dipyridine], were successfully synthesized by a
      solvent-assisted mechanochemical method. A trace amount of the assisting solvent
      plays a key role in the mechanochemical synthesis; only two solvents possessing
      the nitrile group, CH3CN and PhCN, were effective for promoting the formation of
      dinuclear Cu-X. X-ray analysis revealed that the dinuclear structure with no
      Cu...Cu interactions, bridged by two dpypp ligands, was commonly formed in all Cu
      X species. These complexes exhibited bright green emission in the solid state at
      room temperature (Phi = 0.23, 0.50, and 0.74; lambdaem = 528, 518, and 530 nm for
      Cu-Cl, Cu-Br, and Cu-I, respectively). Emission decay measurement and TD-DFT
      calculation suggested that the luminescence of Cu-X could be assigned to
      phosphorescence from the triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT)
      excited state, effectively mixed with the halide-to-ligand charge-transfer
      ((3)XLCT) excited state, at 77 K. The source of emission changed to thermally
      activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) with the same electronic transition nature
      at room temperature. In addition, the CH3CN-bound analogue,
      [Cu2(CH3CN)2(dpypp)2](BF4)2, was successfully mechanochemically converted to Cu-X
      by grinding with solid KX in the presence of a trace amount of assisting water. 

PMID- 26866385
TI  - Dense Poly(ethylene glycol) Brushes Reduce Adsorption and Stabilize the Unfolded
      Conformation of Fibronectin.
AB  - Polymer brushes, in which polymers are end-tethered densely to a grafting
      surface, are commonly proposed for use as stealth coatings for various
      biomaterials. However, although their use has received considerable attention, a
      mechanistic understanding of the impact of brush properties on protein adsorption
      and unfolding remains elusive. We investigated the effect of the grafting density
      of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) brushes on the interactions of the brush with
      fibronectin (FN) using high-throughput single-molecule tracking methods, which
      directly measure protein adsorption and unfolding within the brush. We observed
      that, as grafting density increased, the rate of FN adsorption decreased;
      however, surface-adsorbed FN unfolded more readily, and unfolded molecules were
      retained on the surface for longer residence times relative to those of folded
      molecules. These results, which are critical for the rational design of PEG
      brushes, suggest that there is a critical balance between protein adsorption and
      conformation that underlies the utility of such brushes in physiological
      environments. 

PMID- 26866386
TI  - The Dynamic Landscape of the Full-Length HIV-1 Transactivator of Transcription.
AB  - The type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transactivator of transcription
      (Tat) is a small RNA-binding protein essential for viral gene expression and
      replication. It has also been shown to bind to a large number of human proteins
      and to modulate many different cellular activities. We have used nuclear magnetic
      resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and hydrogen exchange chemistry to measure backbone
      dynamics over the millisecond to picosecond time scales. Sequential backbone
      assignment was facilitated by several isotope labeling schemes, including uniform
      labeling, site-specific labeling, and unlabeling. (15)N NMR relaxation parameters
      were measured and analyzed by reduced spectral density mapping and the Lipari
      Szabo Model-Free approach to characterize the backbone dynamics on the picosecond
      to nanosecond time scale. The results indicate that the protein exists in an
      extended disordered conformational ensemble. NMR relaxation dispersion profiles
      show that on the millisecond time scale no conformational exchange is detected
      for any of the residues, supporting the model of a disordered backbone. NMR
      chemical shift differences from random coil values suggest that some segments of
      the protein have a modest propensity to fold; comparison to X-ray diffraction
      structures of Tat complexes indicates that some segments of the protein function
      through an induced-fit mechanism whereas other segments likely operate by
      conformational selection. Surprisingly, measured hydrogen exchange rates are
      higher than predicted for a disordered polymer, but this is explained as being
      caused by the high net charge on the protein that enhances base-catalyzed
      hydrogen exchange. The dynamics results provide a deeper understanding of the
      protein conformational ensemble and form a foundation for future studies of the
      conformational changes that accompany the formation of the superelongation
      complex that activates viral transcription. 

PMID- 26866388
TI  - Inverted Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Fabricated by All-Solution Processing.
AB  - All-solution processed, multilayer, and inverted quantum-dot light-emitting
      diodes (QD-LEDs) are developed in this work. To protect the QDs from dissolving
      by the solvents of upper layers, the solvents of poly(9-vinlycarbazole) (PVK)
      hole transporting layer are first investigated. The QD layer has been less
      affected by o-dichlorobenzene solvent than other typical solvents like chloroform
      and chlorobenzene. Second, to deposit a hydrophilic
      poly(ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrenesulfonate ( PEDOT: PSS) hole injection
      layer on top of hydrophobic PVK, the surface energy of the PEDOT: PSS is reduced
      by using isopropanol as the additive. With optimized conditions, the demonstrated
      QD-LEDs exhibit a maximum luminance of 16290 cd/m(2) and a peak current
      efficiency of 4.1 cd/A, which is the highest among the reported values. These
      results may offer a practicable platform for further research, leading to the
      achievement of all-solution processed, multilayer, and efficient inverted QD
      LEDs.

PMID- 26866387
TI  - Meeting the Needs for Released Nanomaterials Required for Further Testing-The SUN
      Approach.
AB  - The analysis of the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has so far
      been almost exclusively focused on the pristine, as-produced particles. However,
      when considering a life-cycle perspective, it is clear that ENM released from
      genuine products during manufacturing, use, and disposal is far more relevant.
      Research on the release of materials from nanoproducts is growing and the next
      necessary step is to investigate the behavior and effects of these released
      materials in the environment and on humans. Therefore, sufficient amounts of
      released materials need to be available for further testing. In addition, ENM
      free reference materials are needed since many processes not only release ENM but
      also nanosized fragments from the ENM-containing matrix that may interfere with
      further tests. The SUN consortium (Project on "Sustainable Nanotechnologies", EU
      seventh Framework funding) uses methods to characterize and quantify
      nanomaterials released from composite samples that are exposed to environmental
      stressors. Here we describe an approach to provide materials in hundreds of gram
      quantities mimicking actual released materials from coatings and polymer
      nanocomposites by producing what is called "fragmented products" (FP). These FP
      can further be exposed to environmental conditions (e.g., humidity, light) to
      produce "weathered fragmented products" (WFP) or can be subjected to a further
      size fractionation to isolate "sieved fragmented products" (SFP) that are
      representative for inhalation studies. In this perspective we describe the
      approach, and the used methods to obtain released materials in amounts large
      enough to be suitable for further fate and (eco)toxicity testing. We present a
      case study (nanoparticulate organic pigment in polypropylene) to show exemplarily
      the procedures used to produce the FP. We present some characterization data of
      the FP and discuss critically the further potential and the usefulness of the
      approach we developed. 

PMID- 26866389
TI  - Isomerization Pathways of ONCNO: Unstable or Metastable?
AB  - Fulminates containing the CNO(-) ion have been widely utilized as high-energy
      density materials (HEDMs) for more than 120 years. Yet no purely covalently bound
      CNO molecule, i.e., nitrile oxide, is known to behave as an HEDM. In this study,
      we performed a thorough investigation of the potential energy surface of nitrile
      oxide ONCNO and related isomers, applying various sophisticated methods including
      G4, CBS-QB3, W1BD, CCSD(T)/CBS, and CASPT2/CBS. The Gibbs free energy
      calculations showed that the decomposition of ONCNO to the considerably
      endothermic products CNO + NO is favored compared to that into the highly
      exothermic products CO2 + N2. Thus, ONCNO fails to be the long expected nitrile
      oxide HEDM. However, with the rate-determining barrier of 23.3 kcal mol(-1) at
      the W1BD level, ONCNO should be experimentally accessible. 

PMID- 26866391
TI  - Oxidation of Tetraphenylhexaazaanthracene: Accessing a Scissor Dimer of a 16pi
      Biscyanine.
AB  - Tetraphenylhexaazaanthracene (TPHA), a fluorescent zwitterionic biscyanine with a
      closed-shell singlet ground state, on treatment with manganese dioxide or
      phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), undergoes oxidative dimerization to
      give a near-zero dipole scissor 5,5'-dimer DI-TPHA. Both acene components of the
      new dimer DI-TPHA maintain their biscyanine closed-shell singlet ground state
      motifs, as judged by analysis of both single crystal X-ray crystallographic and
      density functional theory computational studies; however, unlike TPHA, DI-TPHA is
      only very weakly fluorescent. 

PMID- 26866390
TI  - Serial Femtosecond Crystallography and Ultrafast Absorption Spectroscopy of the
      Photoswitchable Fluorescent Protein IrisFP.
AB  - Reversibly photoswitchable fluorescent proteins find growing applications in cell
      biology, yet mechanistic details, in particular on the ultrafast photochemical
      time scale, remain unknown. We employed time-resolved pump-probe absorption
      spectroscopy on the reversibly photoswitchable fluorescent protein IrisFP in
      solution to study photoswitching from the nonfluorescent (off) to the fluorescent
      (on) state. Evidence is provided for the existence of several intermediate states
      on the pico- and microsecond time scales that are attributed to chromophore
      isomerization and proton transfer, respectively. Kinetic modeling favors a
      sequential mechanism with the existence of two excited state intermediates with
      lifetimes of 2 and 15 ps, the second of which controls the photoswitching quantum
      yield. In order to support that IrisFP is suited for time-resolved experiments
      aiming at a structural characterization of these ps intermediates, we used serial
      femtosecond crystallography at an X-ray free electron laser and solved the
      structure of IrisFP in its on state. Sample consumption was minimized by
      embedding crystals in mineral grease, in which they remain photoswitchable. Our
      spectroscopic and structural results pave the way for time-resolved serial
      femtosecond crystallography aiming at characterizing the structure of ultrafast
      intermediates in reversibly photoswitchable fluorescent proteins. 

PMID- 26866393
TI  - Novel Tools, Biomarkers, and Disease Entities in Esophageal Disorders.

PMID- 26866392
TI  - The Effects of Bowel Preparation on Microbiota-Related Metrics Differ in Health
      and in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and for the Mucosal and Luminal Microbiota
      Compartments.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Bowel preparations (BPs) taken before colonoscopy may introduce a
      confounding effect on the results of gastrointestinal microbiota studies. This
      study aimed to determine the effect of bowel preparation on the mucosa-associated
      and luminal colonic microbiota in healthy subjects (HC) and inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD) patients. METHODS: Biopsy samples (n=36) and fecal samples (n=30)
      were collected from 10 HC and 8 IBD subjects pre- and post-BP. 16S rRNA gene was
      pyrosequenced using 454 Titanium protocols. We compared the differences between
      the pre- and post-BP samples (i.e., comparisons-across-bowel-prep); we examined
      the effect of BP on the expected separation of the mucosal vs. the luminal
      compartments (i.e., comparisons-across-compartments). Last, we compared the
      baseline differences between the HC vs. IBD groups (a secondary analysis), and
      examined whether the differences between the HC vs. IBD changed after BP.
      RESULTS: In comparisons-across-bowel-prep, the Shannon's index (SI) decreased
      only in the biopsy samples of IBD subjects post-BP (P=0.025) and phylogenetic
      diversity-whole tree (PD-WT) metric decreased in biopsy samples of HC subjects
      post-BP (P=0.021). In secondary comparisons, the subtle differences between the
      fecal samples of the HC vs. IBD groups, in terms of evenness and the SI, were not
      apparent post-BP. In terms of beta-diversity, in comparisons-across-bowel-prep,
      the proportion of shared operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in pre- and post-BP
      samples was low (~30%) and unweighted Unifrac distances between pre- and post-BP
      specimens ranged from 0.52 to 0.66. HC biopsies were affected more than IBD
      biopsies with BP (P=0.004). In comparisons-across-compartments, the proportion of
      shared OTUs between biopsy and fecal samples increased and Unifrac distances
      decreased post-BP in IBD subjects, reducing the differences between the mucosal
      and luminal compartments of the gut microbiota. Interindividual differences in
      Unifrac distances were preserved even with BP effects, although the effects were
      greater on weighted Unifrac distances. Bacteroidetes and its subtypes increased
      post-BP in both the luminal and mucosal compartments. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel
      preparations affect the composition and diversity of the fecal and luminal
      microbiota in the short term, introducing potential bias into experiments
      examining the gut microbiota. The magnitude of the effect of BP is not greater
      than that of interindividual variation. Both the luminal and mucosal compartments
      of the gut microbiota get affected, and samples from controls and IBD subjects
      may get affected differently. Studies of the colonic microbiota should take into
      account the direction and the magnitude of the change introduced by BP during the
      design stage of the experiments, and consider sample sizes so that potential bias
      is minimized.

PMID- 26866394
TI  - A self-assembly aptasensor based on thick-shell quantum dots for sensing of
      ochratoxin A.
AB  - A novel self-assembling aptasensor was fabricated by precisely attaching three
      phosphorothioate-modified capture aptamers onto a single thick-shell quantum dot
      in a controllable manner for monitoring of ochratoxin A (OTA), a poisonous
      contaminant widespread in foodstuffs. Herein, CdSe/CdS QDs coated in ten layer
      CdS shells were synthesized using a continual precursor injection method.
      Analysis of the prepared CdSe/CdS QDs showed a zinc-blende structure, high
      photoluminescence quantum yields (>80%), and a photoemission peak with a narrow
      full-width at half-maximum (about 29 nm), all qualities that render them as a
      superior choice for optical applications. By adjusting the number of
      phosphorothioate bases in the anchor domain, the tunable-valency aptasensor was
      able to self-assemble. In the sensing strategy, the thick-shell quantum dot was
      provided as an acceptor while OTA itself was used as a donor. In the presence of
      OTA, the capture aptamers drive the aptasensor function into a measurable signal
      through a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system. The newly
      developed aptasensor had a detection limit as low as 0.5 ng mL(-1), with a linear
      concentration in the range of 1 to 30 ng mL(-1), and therefore meets the
      requirements for rapid, effective, and anti-interference sensors for real-world
      applications. Moreover, the high quality thick-shell QDs provide an ideal
      alternative for highly sensitive imaging and intensive illumination in the fields
      of biotechnology and bioengineering. 

PMID- 26866395
TI  - Senior Tech: The Next Generation: Health Informatics Solutions for Older Adults
      Living in the Community.

PMID- 26866400
TI  - How to Put Individuals at the Heart of Health Care: AGS Advances Definition of
      Person-Centered Care.

PMID- 26866398
TI  - Optimizing Medication Use Through Deprescribing: Tactics for This Approach.
AB  - As older adults age, it is imperative to constantly reevaluate medications.
      Deprescribing, the process of identifying and discontinuing drugs that could
      potentially harm rather than benefit a patient, should therefore be considered in
      all older adults on an individual basis. Nurses are a critical part of the team
      in addressing this issue. The current article discusses deprescribing, tactics to
      this approach, and important areas for future development.

PMID- 26866401
TI  - Ir(III)-catalyzed C-H alkynylation of arenes under chelation assistance.
AB  - An efficient and mild Ir(III)-catalyzed, chelation assisted C-H alkynylation of
      arenes has been developed using hypervalent iodine alkynes as alkynylating
      reagents. A broad scope of N-phenyl-2-aminopyridines and 2-phenoxypyridines has
      been established as effective substrates for this C-H functionalization and the
      desired alkynylated products were isolated in moderate to high yields.

PMID- 26866402
TI  - Interaction of europium and curium with alpha-amylase.
AB  - The complexation of Eu(iii) and Cm(iii) with the protein alpha-amylase (Amy), a
      major enzyme in saliva and pancreatic juice, was investigated over wide ranges of
      pH and concentration at both ambient and physiological temperatures. Macroscopic
      sorption experiments demonstrated a strong and fast binding of Eu(iii) to Amy
      between pH 5 and 8. The protein provides three independent, non-cooperative
      binding sites for Eu(iii). The overall association constant of these three
      binding sites on the protein was calculated to be log K = 6.4 +/- 0.1 at ambient
      temperature. With potentiometric titration, the averaged deprotonation constant
      of the carboxyl groups (the aspartic and glutamic acid residues) of Amy was
      determined to be pKa = 5.23 +/- 0.14 at 25  degrees C and 5.11 +/- 0.24 at 37 
      degrees C. Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) revealed
      two different species for both Eu(iii) and Cm(iii) with Amy. In the case of the
      Eu(iii) species, the stability constants were determined to be log beta11 = 4.7
      +/- 0.2 and log beta13 = 12.0 +/- 0.4 for Eu : Amy = 1 : 1 and 1 : 3 complexes,
      respectively, whereas the values for the respective Cm(iii) species were log
      beta11 = 4.8 +/- 0.1 and log beta13 = 12.1 +/- 0.1. Furthermore, the obtained
      stability constants were extrapolated to infinite dilution to make our data
      compatible with the existing thermodynamic database.

PMID- 26866403
TI  - Metabolomics analysis of exhaled breath condensate for discrimination between
      lung cancer patients and risk factor individuals.
AB  - The search for new clinical tests aimed at diagnosing chronic respiratory
      diseases is a current research line motivated by the lack of efficient screening
      tools and the severity of some of these pathologies. Alternative biological
      samples can open the door to new screening tools. A promising biofluid that is
      rarely used for diagnostic purposes is exhaled breath condensate (EBC), the
      composition of which has been inadequately studied. In this research, untargeted
      analysis of EBC using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry has
      been applied to a cohort of patients with lung cancer (n  =  48), risk factor
      individuals (active smokers and ex-smokers, n  =  130) and control healthy
      individuals (non-smokers without respiratory diseases, n  =  61). An identical
      protocol was applied to the two EBC fractions provided by the sampling device
      (upper and central airways and distal airway) from each individual, which allowed
      the compositional differences between the two EBC fractions to be detected.
      Tentative compounds that contribute to discrimination between the three groups
      were identified, and a relevant role for lipids such as monoacylglycerols and
      squalene was found. These results could support the ability of metabolomics to go
      inside the study of lung cancer. 

PMID- 26866404
TI  - Promoting a Culture of Safety.

PMID- 26866405
TI  - Evaluation of 2-Stage Injection Technique in Children.
AB  - Effective pain control during local anesthetic injection is the cornerstone of
      behavior guidance in pediatric dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate
      the practical efficacy of a 2-stage injection technique in reducing injection
      pain in children. This was a split-mouth, randomized controlled crossover trial.
      One hundred cooperative children aged 7 to 13 years in need of bilateral local
      anesthetic injections (inferior alveolar nerve block, posterior superior alveolar
      nerve block, or maxillary and mandibular buccal infiltrations) for restorative,
      endodontic, and extraction treatments were recruited for the study. Children were
      randomly allocated to receive either the 2-stage injection technique or
      conventional technique at the first appointment. The other technique was used at
      the successive visit after 1 week. Subjective and objective evaluation of pain
      was done using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FPS) and Sound Eye Motor
      (SEM) scale, respectively. The comparison of pain scores was done by Wilcoxon
      sign-rank test. Both FPS and SEM scores were significantly lower when the 2-stage
      injection technique of local anesthetic nerve block/infiltration was used
      compared with the conventional technique. The 2-stage injection technique is a
      simple and effective means of reducing injection pain in children.

PMID- 26866406
TI  - Dentists' and Parents' Attitude Toward Nitrous Oxide Use in Kuwait.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the attitude of dentists in Kuwait
      toward the use of nitrous oxide sedation as a behavior management technique (BMT)
      for pediatric patients and assess their training in nitrous oxide sedation. In
      addition, we assessed parents' knowledge of and attitude toward the use of
      nitrous oxide as a BMT for their children. The objective was to determine if
      nitrous oxide sedation is being provided and utilized as a means to enhance
      dental care for pediatric patients. A cross-sectional survey was randomly
      distributed to both groups of interest: parents accompanying their children to
      the dentist and licensed dentists in Kuwait. Participants had to meet certain
      inclusion criteria to be included in the survey and had to complete the entire
      questionnaire to be part of the analysis. A total of 381 parents completed the
      questionnaires. The majority of parents responded that they were unaware of
      nitrous oxide sedation and were not aware of it as a BMT (79%). Two thirds of the
      parent would accept nitrous oxide sedation if recommended by a dentist treating
      their children. Two hundred and one dentists completed the survey and met the
      inclusion criteria. The majority (74.5%) of dentists were willing to use nitrous
      oxide as a BMT. However, only 6% were utilizing nitrous oxide sedation and
      providing it to their child patient if indicated. The main reasons for this huge
      gap are lack of facilities/equipment and lack of training as indicated by the
      dentists. This study showed that parents are accepting nitrous oxide sedation as
      a BMT for their children. It also showed the willingness of the dentists to
      provide such BMT to their patients. The lack of training and lack of equipment
      are the main barriers to providing such service to the patients. More training
      courses and more facilities should be provided to eliminate such barriers.

PMID- 26866407
TI  - Lidocaine Concentration in Oral Tissue by the Addition of Epinephrine.
AB  - The vasoconstrictive effect due to the addition of epinephrine to local
      anesthetic has been clearly shown by measuring blood-flow volume or blood
      anesthetic concentration in oral mucosal tissue. However, there are no reports on
      the measurement of anesthetic concentration using samples directly taken from the
      jawbone and oral mucosal tissue. Consequently, in this study, the effect of
      lidocaine concentration in the jawbone and oral mucosal tissue by the addition of
      epinephrine to the local anesthetic lidocaine was considered by quantitatively
      measuring lidocaine concentration within the tissue. Japanese white male rabbits
      (n = 96) were used as test animals. General anesthesia was induced by sevoflurane
      and oxygen, and then cannulation to the femoral artery was performed while
      arterial pressure was constantly recorded. Infiltration anesthesia was achieved
      by 0.5 mL of 2% lidocaine containing 1 : 80,000 epinephrine in the upper jawbone
      (E(+)) and 0.5 mL of 2% of epinephrine additive-free lidocaine (E(0)) under the
      periosteum. At specified time increments (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes),
      samples from the jawbone, oral mucosa, and blood were collected, and lidocaine
      concentration was directly measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. No
      significant differences in the change in blood pressure were observed either in
      E(+) or E(0). In both E(+) and E(0) groups, the serum lidocaine concentration
      peaked 10 minutes after local anesthesia and decreased thereafter. At all time
      increments, serum lidocaine concentration in E(+) was significantly lower than
      that in E(0). There were no significant differences in measured lidocaine
      concentration between jawbone and mucosa within either the E(+) or the E(0)
      groups at all time points, although the E(0) group had significantly lower
      jawbone and mucosa concentrations than the E(+) group at all time points when
      comparing the 2 groups to each other. Addition of epinephrine to the local
      anesthetic inhibited systemic absorption of local anesthetic into the blood such
      that a high concentration could be maintained in the tissue. Epinephrine-induced
      vasoconstrictive effect was observed not only in the oral mucosa but also in the
      jawbone.

PMID- 26866408
TI  - Tetany During Intravenous Conscious Sedation in Dentistry Resulting From
      Hyperventilation-Induced Hypocapnia.
AB  - Hyperventilation can be a manifestation of anxiety that involves abnormally fast
      breathing (tachypnea) and an elevated minute ventilation that exceeds metabolic
      demand. This report describes a case of hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia
      resulting in tetany in a 16-year-old girl undergoing orthodontic extractions
      under intravenous conscious sedation. Pulse oximetry is the gold standard
      respiratory-related index in conscious sedation. Although the parameter has great
      utility in determining oxygen desaturation, it provides no additional information
      on respiratory function, including, for example, respiratory rate. In this case,
      we found capnography to be a very useful aid to monitor respiration in this
      patient and also to treat the hypocapnia.

PMID- 26866409
TI  - Anesthetic Management of a Patient With Takayasu Arteritis.
AB  - Takayasu arteritis is a rare chronic progressive panendarteritis involving the
      aorta and its main branches. Anesthesia in patients with this disease can be
      complicated by severe uncontrolled hypertension, end-organ dysfunction, and
      stenosis of major blood vessels. In this case, general anesthesia was induced
      with sevoflurane and remifentanil without complications. To prevent
      intraoperative complications, we conducted intubation with a rigid video
      laryngoscope with careful consideration of the concentrations of analgesics and
      sedatives used. This case demonstrates the importance of anesthetic techniques
      for maintaining adequate tissue perfusion without hemodynamic changes in the
      anesthetic management of patients with Takayasu arteritis.

PMID- 26866410
TI  - Cardiovascular Collapse Associated With Irreversible Cardiomyopathy, Chronic
      Renal Failure, and Hypertension During Routine Dental Care.
AB  - Patients with multiple comorbid conditions visit the dental office every day, and
      although rare, complications from their conditions may occur during treatment. A
      case is presented of a 65-year-old African American woman with a history of
      severe cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and a reported local anesthetic
      allergy who experienced complete cardiovascular collapse during routine dental
      treatment from which she was successfully resuscitated. Treating clinicians
      should recognize the emerging symptoms and be proficient with a basic and
      advanced cardiac life support protocol to care for their patients safely and
      effectively until they can be transported to more advanced care facilities.

PMID- 26866411
TI  - Potent Inhalational Anesthetics for Dentistry.
AB  - Nitrous oxide and the volatile inhalational anesthetics have defined anxiety and
      pain control in both dentistry and medicine for over a century. From curious
      experimentation to spectacular public demonstrations, the initial work of 2
      dentists, Horace Wells and William T. G. Morton, persists to this day in modern
      surgery and anesthesia. This article reviews the history, similarities,
      differences, and clinical applications of the most popular inhalational agents
      used in contemporary dental surgical settings.

PMID- 26866412
TI  - Does social support buffer the effects of occupational stress on sleep quality
      among paramedics? A daily diary study.
AB  - Given evidence suggesting a detrimental effect of occupational stress on sleep,
      it is important to identify protective factors that may ameliorate this effect.
      We followed 87 paramedics upon waking and after work over 1 week using a daily
      diary methodology. Multilevel modeling was used to examine whether the
      detrimental effects of daily occupational stress on sleep quality were buffered
      by perceived social support availability. Paramedics who reported more support
      availability tended to report better quality sleep over the week. Additionally,
      perceived support availability buffered postworkday sleep from average
      occupational stress and days of especially high occupational stress. Perceived
      support availability also buffered off-workday sleep from the cumulative amount
      of occupational stress experienced over the previous workweek. Those with low
      levels of support displayed poor sleep quality in the face of high occupational
      stress; those high in support did not show significant effects of occupational
      stress on sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866413
TI  - Progress Toward Strengthening National Blood Transfusion Services - 14 Countries,
      2011-2014.
AB  - Blood transfusion is a life-saving medical intervention; however, challenges to
      the recruitment of voluntary, unpaid or otherwise nonremunerated whole blood
      donors and insufficient funding of national blood services and programs have
      created obstacles to collecting adequate supplies of safe blood in developing
      countries (1). Since 2004, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
      (PEPFAR) has provided approximately $437 million in bilateral financial support
      to strengthen national blood transfusion services in 14 countries in sub-Saharan
      Africa and the Caribbean* that have high prevalence rates of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. CDC analyzed routinely collected
      surveillance data on annual blood collections and HIV prevalence among donated
      blood units for 2011-2014. This report updates previous CDC reports (2,3) on
      progress made by these 14 PEPFAR-supported countries in blood safety, summarizes
      challenges facing countries as they strive to meet World Health Organization
      (WHO) targets, and documents progress toward achieving the WHO target of 100%
      voluntary, nonremunerated blood donors by 2020 (4). During 2011-2014, overall
      blood collections among the 14 countries increased by 19%; countries with 100%
      voluntary, nonremunerated blood donations remained stable at eight, and, despite
      high national HIV prevalence rates, 12 of 14 countries reported an overall
      decrease in donated blood units that tested positive for HIV. Achieving safe and
      adequate national blood supplies remains a public health priority for WHO and
      countries worldwide. Continued success in improving blood safety and achieving
      WHO targets for blood quality and adequacy will depend on national government
      commitments to national blood transfusion services or blood programs through
      increased public financing and diversified funding mechanisms for transfusion
      related activities. 

PMID- 26866414
TI  - Fertility and Pregnancy in Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Germany.
AB  - Autoimmune adrenalitis (AA) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are the most
      common reasons for acquired and monogenetic primary adrenal insufficiency. Both
      concern women in their fertile years. The aim of the work was to examine
      fertility rates, pregnancy outcome, and children's characteristics in AA and CAH
      patients in 2 German endocrine centers. One hundred and fifty-eight women were
      contacted. Thirty-nine patients with CAH due to 21-hydroxlase deficiency and 54
      AA patients agreed and were included. Information about course and outcome of
      pregnancies was obtained by questionnaire and telephone interview. Fertility
      rates were calculated and compared to expected values from the German general
      population. Twelve CAH patients (30.8%) had 25 pregnancies, which resulted in 16
      children. In AA patients, 93 pregnancies in 42 women (75%) were reported
      resulting in 73 childbirths. Fertility rates were normal in nonclassic CAH and in
      AA-only patients, but significantly reduced in classic CAH and autoimmune
      polyendocrine syndrome type 2 (APS-2). Rates of miscarriages were high in all CAH
      (36%) and APS-2 (22%) patients. The majority of children in both groups were born
      at term, but rates of cesarean section were elevated in classic CAH and in AA
      patients<5 years before or after diagnosis. Children born to CAH patients weighed
      significantly less than expected and 33.3% of them were born small for
      gestational age. Fertility seems not to be reduced in general, but specific in
      classic CAH and APS 2 patients. Nevertheless all CAH and AA patients seem to be
      at risk of miscarriages and cesarean section. 

PMID- 26866415
TI  - Modified silver nanowire transparent electrodes with exceptional stability
      against oxidation.
AB  - We report an easy method to prepare thin, flexible and transparent electrodes
      that show enhanced inertness toward oxidation using modified silver nanowires (Ag
      NWs). Stabilization is achieved through the adsorption of triphenylphosphine
      (PPh3) onto the Ag NW hybrid dispersions prior to their 2D organization as
      transparent electrodes on polyethylene terephtalate (PET) films. After 110 days
      in air (20  degrees C) under atmospheric conditions, the transmittance of the
      PET/Ag NW/PPh3 based films is nearly unchanged, while the transmittance of the
      PET/Ag NW-based films decreases by about 5%. The sheet resistance increases for
      both materials as time elapses, but the rate of increase is more than four times
      slower for films stabilized by PPh3. The improved transmittance and conductivity
      results in a significantly enhanced stability for the figure of merit sigma
      dc/sigma op. This phenomenon is highlighted in highly oxidative nitric acid
      vapor. The tested stabilized films in such conditions exhibit a decrease to sigma
      dc/sigma op of only 38% after 75 min, whereas conventional materials exhibit a
      relative loss of 71%. In addition, by contrast to other classes of stabilizers,
      such as polymer or graphene-based encapsulants, PPh3 does not alter the
      transparency or conductivity of the modified films. While the present films are
      made by membrane filtration, the stabilization method could be implemented
      directly in other liquid processes, including industrially scalable ones. 

PMID- 26866416
TI  - Editorial: Survive to Fight: Effector Treg Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PMID- 26866417
TI  - Prevalence and Determinants of Fatigue Following Total Knee Replacement: A
      Longitudinal Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and determinants of clinically important
      fatigue before and up to 12 months after total knee replacement (TKR) surgery.
      METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study
      conducted among 422 patients (ages 45-74 years) undergoing primary TKR for
      osteoarthritis (OA) who participated in the Maximum Recovery After Knee
      Replacement randomized clinical trial. Assessments were carried out before, and
      at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Self-reported fatigue was
      assessed on a 10-cm visual analog scale. Patients also completed a number of
      questionnaires evaluating knee pain, activity limitations, psychological well
      being, comorbidity, and physical activity. Linear regression analyses were
      conducted to explore 6- and 12-month cross-sectional and longitudinal
      associations with self-reported fatigue. RESULTS: Clinically important fatigue
      (>=6.7 of 10) was reported by 145 patients (34%) before surgery, decreasing to
      14%, 12%, and 8% at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery, respectively.
      In multivariate analyses, muscle strength was strongly associated with fatigue at
      6 months, and knee pain, activity limitations, number of comorbidities, and lack
      of energy were strongly associated with fatigue at both 6 and 12 months after TKR
      surgery. Female sex, number of comorbidities, depression, and fatigue were all
      early predictors of fatigue 12 months after TKR. CONCLUSION: Among patients
      undergoing TKR for OA, clinically important fatigue is considerably prevalent
      both before and for at least 6 months after surgery. Identifying and addressing
      early predictors of ongoing fatigue has the potential to improve the quality of
      life following TKR surgery.

PMID- 26866418
TI  - New use for an old reagent: Cell cycle analysis of DNA content using flow
      cytometry in formamide treated cells.
AB  - Formamide has long been one of the most widely used reagents in the study of
      nucleic acids. However, the use of formamide for treating cells to be analyzed by
      flow cytometry is a recent development and is restricted to measuring telomere
      lengths by flow-FISH. In this field, we have published several papers in order to
      observe the effects of formamide treatment on cells at room temperature. We
      therefore discovered that, with suitable modifications, a short and simple
      incubation in this ionizing solvent facilitates cell cycle analysis by flow
      cytometry, equivalent or superior to that obtained with treatments in alcohol,
      acetone or detergent in hypotonic solution. Even using a bulky and problematic
      stain (low quantum efficiency and G-C base preference), such as 7
      aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) which, on the other hand, has the advantage of being
      excited at 488 nm and does not bind to the RNA, it is possible to obtain
      excellent coefficients of variation and (G2-M) mode/(G0-G1) mode ratios. These
      parameters, especially if stained cells are washed before acquisition, arrive at
      optimal values. It is noteworthy that the ability to wash the cells stained for
      DNA content analysis without affecting the stoichiometry of the staining has not
      been described elsewhere in the literature. With formamide treatment the doublets
      are practically absent, sample recovery is efficient, as well as the preservation
      of physical parameters, and the stained cells can be stored for at least 10 days
      at room temperature before acquisition. (c) 2016 International Society for
      Advancement of Cytometry.

PMID- 26866419
TI  - Concise Review: Primary Cilia: Control Centers for Stem Cell Lineage
      Specification and Potential Targets for Cell-Based Therapies.
AB  - Directing stem cell lineage commitment prevails as the holy grail of
      translational stem cell research, particularly to those interested in the
      application of mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells in tissue
      engineering. However, elucidating the mechanisms underlying their phenotypic
      specification persists as an active area of research. In recent studies, the
      primary cilium structure has been intimately associated with defining cell
      phenotype, maintaining stemness, as well as functioning in a chemo, electro, and
      mechanosensory capacity in progenitor and committed cell types. Many hypothesize
      that the primary cilium may indeed be another important player in defining and
      controlling cell phenotype, concomitant with lineage-dictated cytoskeletal
      dynamics. Many of the studies on the primary cilium have emerged from disparate
      areas of biological research, and crosstalk amongst these areas of research is
      just beginning. To date, there has not been a thorough review of how primary
      cilia fit into the current paradigm of stem cell differentiation and this review
      aims to summarize the current cilia work in this context. The goal of this review
      is to highlight the cilium's function and integrate this knowledge into the
      working knowledge of stem cell biologists and tissue engineers developing
      regenerative medicine technologies. Stem Cells 2016;34:1445-1454.

PMID- 26866420
TI  - Paradigm Shift in the Surveillance and Management of Dysplasia in Inflammatory
      Bowel Disease (West).
AB  - Patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colitis have a 2.4
      fold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) than the general
      population, for both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) colitis.
      Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended to detect early CRC and dysplasia. Most
      dysplasia discovered in patients with IBD is actually visible. Recently published
      SCENIC (Surveillance for Colorectal Endoscopic Neoplasia Detection and Management
      in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: International Consensus Recommendations)
      consensus statements provide unifying recommendations for the optimal
      surveillance and management of dysplasia in IBD. SCENIC followed the prescribed
      processes for guideline development from the Institute of Medicine (USA),
      including systematic reviews, full synthesis of evidence and deliberations by
      panelists, and incorporation of the GRADE methodology. The new surveillance
      paradigm involves high-quality visual inspection of the mucosa, using
      chromoendoscopy and high-definition colonoscopy, with endoscopic recognition of
      colorectal dysplasia. Lesions are described according to a new classification,
      which replaces the term 'dysplasia associated lesion or mass (DALM)' and its
      derivatives. Targeted biopsies are subsequently done on areas suspicious for
      dysplasia, and resections are carried out for discrete, resectable lesions. 

PMID- 26866421
TI  - Interventions to optimise prescribing for older people in care homes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a substantial body of evidence that prescribing for care
      home residents is suboptimal and requires improvement. Consequently, there is a
      need to identify effective interventions to optimise prescribing and resident
      outcomes in this context. This is an update of a previously published review
      (Alldred 2013). OBJECTIVES: The objective of the review was to determine the
      effect of interventions to optimise overall prescribing for older people living
      in care homes. SEARCH METHODS: For this update, we searched the Cochrane Central
      Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (including the Cochrane Effective
      Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Specialised Register), MEDLINE, EMBASE
      and CINAHL to May 2015. We also searched clinical trial registries for relevant
      studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials evaluating
      interventions aimed at optimising prescribing for older people (aged 65 years or
      older) living in institutionalised care facilities. Studies were included if they
      measured one or more of the following primary outcomes: adverse drug events;
      hospital admissions; mortality; or secondary outcomes, quality of life (using
      validated instrument); medication-related problems; medication appropriateness
      (using validated instrument); medicine costs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two
      authors independently screened titles and abstracts, assessed studies for
      eligibility, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We presented a narrative
      summary of results. MAIN RESULTS: The 12 included studies involved 10,953
      residents in 355 (range 1 to 85) care homes in ten countries. Nine studies were
      cluster-randomised controlled trials and three studies were patient-randomised
      controlled trials. The interventions evaluated were diverse and often
      multifaceted. Medication review was a component of ten studies. Four studies
      involved multidisciplinary case-conferencing, five studies involved an
      educational element for health and care professionals and one study evaluated the
      use of clinical decision support technology. We did not combine the results in a
      meta-analysis due to heterogeneity across studies. Interventions to optimise
      prescribing may lead to fewer days in hospital (one study out of eight; low
      certainty evidence), a slower decline in health-related quality of life (one
      study out of two; low certainty evidence), the identification and resolution of
      medication-related problems (seven studies; low certainty evidence), and may lead
      to improved medication appropriateness (five studies out of five studies; low
      certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether the intervention improves/reduces
      medicine costs (five studies; very low certainty evidence) and it may make little
      or no difference on adverse drug events (two studies; low certainty evidence) or
      mortality (six studies; low certainty evidence). The risk of bias across studies
      was heterogeneous. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We could not draw robust conclusions
      from the evidence due to variability in design, interventions, outcomes and
      results. The interventions implemented in the studies in this review led to the
      identification and resolution of medication-related problems and improvements in
      medication appropriateness, however evidence of a consistent effect on resident
      related outcomes was not found. There is a need for high-quality cluster
      randomised controlled trials testing clinical decision support systems and
      multidisciplinary interventions that measure well-defined, important resident
      related outcomes.

PMID- 26866422
TI  - New insights into rotating frame relaxation at high field.
AB  - Measurements of spin-lock relaxation rates in the rotating frame (R1rho ) at high
      magnetic fields afford the ability to probe not only relatively slow molecular
      motions, but also other dynamic processes, such as chemical exchange and
      diffusion. In particular, measurements of the variation (or dispersion) of R1rho
      with locking field allow the derivation of quantitative parameters that describe
      these processes. Measurements in deuterated solutions demonstrate the manner and
      degree to which exchange dominates relaxation at high fields (4.7 T, 7 T) in
      simple solutions, whereas temperature and pH are shown to be very influential
      factors affecting the rates of proton exchange. Simulations and experiments show
      that multiple exchanging pools of protons in realistic tissues can be assumed to
      behave independently of each other. R1rho measurements can be combined to derive
      an exchange rate contrast (ERC) that produces images whose intensities emphasize
      protons with specific exchange rates rather than chemical shifts. In addition,
      water diffusion in the presence of intrinsic susceptibility gradients may produce
      significant effects on R1rho dispersions at high fields. The exchange and
      diffusion effects act independently of each other, as confirmed by simulation and
      experimentally in studies of red blood cells at different levels of oxygenation.
      Collectively, R1rho measurements provide an ability to quantify exchange
      processes, to provide images that depict protons with specific exchange rates and
      to describe the microstructure of tissues containing magnetic inhomogeneities. As
      such, they complement traditional T1 or T2 measurements and provide additional
      insights from measurements of R1rho at a single locking field. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26866423
TI  - The 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of
      Rheumatoid Arthritis Should Include New Standards for Hepatitis B Screening:
      Comment on the Article by Singh et al.

PMID- 26866424
TI  - Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Systemic Sclerosis: Not Less Frequent Than
      Rheumatoid Arthritis and Not Detected With Cardiovascular Risk Indices.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients
      with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) compared to healthy subjects (HS) and
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to determine the ability of cardiovascular
      (CV) risk indices in detecting SSc patients with subclinical atherosclerosis.
      METHODS: A total of 110 SSc patients (102 females and 8 males, mean +/- SD age
      50.5 +/- 11.9 years), 110 age- and sex-matched RA patients, and 51 HS without CV
      disease were examined with ultrasonography (US). Carotid intima-media thickness
      (cIMT) >0.90 mm and/or carotid plaques were used as the gold standard for
      subclinical atherosclerosis (US+). Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE),
      QRisk II, and 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart
      Association (AHA) CV risk indices were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-one (19.1%)
      SSc patients, 24 (21.8%) RA patients, and 3 (5.9%) HS had subclinical
      atherosclerosis (SSc versus RA: P = 0.62, SSc versus HS: P = 0.029). cIMT in SSc
      was higher compared to HS (0.68 +/- 0.15 mm versus 0.61 +/- 0.10 mm; P = 0.008)
      but similar to RA patients (0.66 +/- 0.14 mm; P = 0.82). Subclinical
      atherosclerosis in SSc was associated with age (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, P = 0.013),
      elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR 3.4, P = 0.045), and pulmonary
      arterial hypertension (OR 4.27, P = 0.012). Concerning CV risk indices, of the 21
      US+ SSc patients only 0, 3 (14.2%), and 6 (28.6%) were classified as high CV risk
      according to SCORE, QRisk II, and ACC/AHA risk indices, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Subclinical atherosclerosis in SSc patients is more frequent than in HS, but is
      as frequent as in RA patients in which accelerated atherosclerosis is clearly
      defined. CV risk indices for the general population are considerably insufficient
      to detect SSc patients with atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26866425
TI  - Thalassemia: a look to the future.
AB  - To assess the future of a clinical science one must first assess the rate of
      accrual of understanding in the past century. From the time of Cooley's
      description (1925) to 1964, the year of the first Symposium, progress was glacial
      because the molecular biology revolution in medicine was in its infancy and
      therapy other than transfusion was impossible. But between 1964 and 2015,
      progress has been huge on every front. Our patients ushered in the molecular
      biology revolution in medicine. They have benefited from far better understanding
      of molecular pathophysiology, substantial improvements in transfusion and
      chelation, more effective stem cell transplantation, the beginnings of gene
      therapy, and now major advances in our capacity to reinduce fetal hemoglobin. We
      have only lagged in the application of prevention technology in the less
      developed world that suffers the most from thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
      We must redouble our efforts to spare patients from these cruel diseases.

PMID- 26866426
TI  - Global public awareness of venous thromboembolism: reply.

PMID- 26866428
TI  - Stopping Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment in Patients With Established
      Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission or With Stable Low Disease Activity: A
      Pragmatic Multicenter, Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic agents are an
      effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether patients
      whose disease is in remission or who have stable low disease activity need to
      continue use of TNFi or can stop this treatment. This study was undertaken to
      assess whether patients with established RA who are in remission or have stable
      low disease activity can effectively and safely stop their TNFi therapy. METHODS:
      The study was designed as a pragmatic multicenter, open-label randomized
      controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of RA according to the
      American College of Rheumatology 1987 classification criteria, as well as use of
      a TNFi for at least 1 year along with a stable dose of disease-modifying
      antirheumatic drugs and a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of <3.2
      over the 6 months preceding trial inclusion. Patients were randomized in a 2:1
      ratio to either stop or continue treatment with their current TNFi. Flare was
      defined as a DAS28 of >=3.2 during the 12-month follow-up period and an increase
      in score of >=0.6 compared to the baseline DAS28. RESULTS: In total, 531 patients
      were allocated to the stop group and 286 to the TNFi continuation group. At 12
      months, more patients had experienced a flare in the stop group (272 [51.2%] of
      531) than in the continuation group (52 [18.2%] of 286; P < 0.001). The hazard
      ratio for occurrence of a flare after stopping TNFi was 3.50 (95% confidence
      interval [95% CI] 2.60-4.72). The mean DAS28 in the stop group was significantly
      higher during the follow-up period compared to that in the continuation group (P
      < 0.001). Of the 195 patients who restarted TNFi treatment after experiencing a
      flare and within 26 weeks after stopping, 165 (84.6%) had regained a DAS28 of
      <3.2 by 6 months later, and the median time to a regained DAS28 of <3.2 was 12
      weeks (95% Cl 10.7-13.3). There were more hospitalizations in the stop group than
      in the continuation group (6.4% versus 2.4%). CONCLUSION: Stopping TNFi treatment
      results in substantially more flares than does continuation of TNFi in patients
      with established RA in remission or with stable low disease activity.

PMID- 26866429
TI  - Flaxseed flour, compared to flaxseed oil, contributes to femoral structure in
      male rats subjected to early weaning.
AB  - The aim of this study was to analyze whether flaxseed flour or flaxseed oil
      treatment contributes to femoral structure in male rats subjected to early
      weaning. Pups were weaned for separation from mothers at 14 days (early weaning,
      EW) or 21 days (control, C). After 21 days, the control (C60) was fed with the
      control diet. The EW group was divided based on control (EWC60), flaxseed flour
      (EWFF60) and flaxseed oil (EWFO60) diets until 60 days. Femoral dimension, bone
      mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), area and biomechanical
      properties were determined. EWFO60 showed lower (P < 0.05) femur mass. EWC60 and
      EWFO60 showed lower (P < 0.05) distance between epiphyses, diaphysis width and
      BMD. BMC was lower (P < 0.05) in EWC60 (vs. C60 and EWFF60). EWC60 and EWFO60
      showed lower (P < 0.05) maximum force (vs. C60). Breaking strength was lower (P <
      0.05) in EWFO60 (vs. C60). EWFF60 showed higher (P < 0.05) rigidity. Flaxseed
      flour abbreviated the femoral fragility secondary to early weaning. 

PMID- 26866427
TI  - Molecular Analysis of Neutrophil Differentiation from Human Induced Pluripotent
      Stem Cells Delineates the Kinetics of Key Regulators of Hematopoiesis.
AB  - In vitro generation of mature neutrophils from human induced pluripotent stem
      cells (iPSCs) requires hematopoietic progenitor development followed by myeloid
      differentiation. The purpose of our studies was to extensively characterize this
      process, focusing on the critical window of development between hemogenic
      endothelium, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), and myeloid commitment,
      to identify associated regulators and markers that might enable the stem cell
      field to improve the efficiency and efficacy of iPSC hematopoiesis. We utilized a
      four-stage differentiation protocol involving: embryoid body (EB) formation
      (stage-1); EB culture with hematopoietic cytokines (stage-2); HSPC expansion
      (stage-3); and neutrophil maturation (stage-4). CD34(+) CD45(-) putative
      hemogenic endothelial cells were observed in stage-3 cultures, and expressed
      VEGFR-2/Flk-1/KDR and VE-cadherin endothelial markers, GATA-2, AML1/RUNX1, and
      SCL/TAL1 transcription factors, and endothelial/HSPC-associated microRNAs miR-24,
      miR-125a-3p, miR-126/126*, and miR-155. Upon further culture, CD34(+) CD45(-)
      cells generated CD34(+) CD45(+) HSPCs that produced hematopoietic CFUs. Mid-stage
      3 CD34(+) CD45(+) HSPCs exhibited increased expression of GATA-2, AML1/RUNX1,
      SCL/TAL1, C/EBPalpha, and PU.1 transcription factors, but exhibited decreased
      expression of HSPC-associated microRNAs, and failed to engraft in immune
      deficient mice. Mid-stage-3 CD34(-) CD45(+) cells maintained PU.1 expression and
      exhibited increased expression of hematopoiesis-associated miR-142-3p/5p and a
      trend towards increased miR-223 expression, indicating myeloid commitment. By
      late Stage-4, increased CD15, CD16b, and C/EBPE expression were observed, with
      25%-65% of cells exhibiting morphology and functions of mature neutrophils. These
      studies demonstrate that hematopoiesis and neutrophil differentiation from human
      iPSCs recapitulates many features of embryonic hematopoiesis and neutrophil
      production in marrow, but reveals unexpected molecular signatures that may serve
      as a guide for enhancing iPSC hematopoiesis. Stem Cells 2016;34:1513-1526.

PMID- 26866431
TI  - Allergen component analysis as a tool in the diagnosis of occupational allergy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Rapid developments have been seen in molecular allergy
      diagnosis, based on the detection and quantification of specific IgE to single
      allergens. This review summarizes and discusses studies on allergen component
      analysis as a tool in the diagnosis of occupational allergy. RECENT FINDINGS:
      More than 400 agents are identified as sensitizers of occupational asthma, but
      only very few are characterized on the molecular level and available for routine
      diagnosis. Baker's asthma is one of the most frequently occurring forms of
      occupational asthma caused by workplace-related inhalation of cereal flour mainly
      wheat. Wheat sensitization profiles of bakers show great interindividual
      variability and no wheat allergen could be classified as the major allergen.
      Component-resolved diagnosis is a useful tool for diagnosing natural rubber latex
      (NRL) allergy. In cases with unexpected high-latex IgE but without clinical
      symptoms application of crossreactive carbohydrate determinants are helpful to
      clarify the cause of IgE binding. SUMMARY: Latex is an excellent model for
      component-resolved diagnosis and demonstrates well how to improve the diagnosis
      by using single allergens. For diagnosis of baker's asthma, a whole wheat extract
      is still the best option for specific IgE determination, but single wheat
      allergens might help to discriminate between wheat-induced food allergy, grass
      pollen allergy, and baker's asthma. New diagnostic tools and platforms are
      promising, but further knowledge of molecules relevant for occupational asthma
      (as in wood dust allergens, enzymes, laboratory animal allergens, etc.) and for
      occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis is necessary to improve and standardize
      the diagnostic tools.

PMID- 26866430
TI  - Lexical processing and organization in bilingual first language acquisition:
      Guiding future research.
AB  - A rich body of work in adult bilinguals documents an interconnected lexical
      network across languages, such that early word retrieval is language independent.
      This literature has yielded a number of influential models of bilingual semantic
      memory. However, extant models provide limited predictions about the emergence of
      lexical organization in bilingual first language acquisition (BFLA). Empirical
      evidence from monolingual infants suggests that lexical networks emerge early in
      development as children integrate phonological and semantic information. These
      findings tell us little about the interaction between 2 languages in early
      bilingual memory. To date, an understanding of when and how languages interact in
      early bilingual development is lacking. In this literature review, we present
      research documenting lexical-semantic development across monolingual and
      bilingual infants. This is followed by a discussion of current models of
      bilingual language representation and organization and their ability to account
      for the available empirical evidence. Together, these theoretical and empirical
      accounts inform and highlight unexplored areas of research and guide future work
      on early bilingual memory. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866432
TI  - Development of a Theory-Based Intervention to Increase Clinical Measurement of
      Reactive Balance in Adults at Risk of Falls.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effective balance reactions are essential for avoiding falls, but are
      not regularly measured by physical therapists. Physical therapists report wanting
      to improve reactive balance assessment, and theory-based approaches are
      recommended as the foundation for the development of interventions. This article
      describes how a behavior change theory for health care providers, the theoretical
      domains framework (TDF), was used to develop an intervention to increase reactive
      balance measurement among physical therapists who work in rehabilitation settings
      and treat adults who are at risk of falls. CASE DESCRIPTION: We employed
      published recommendations for using the TDF-guided intervention development. We
      identified what health care provider behavior is in need of change, relevant
      barriers and facilitators, strategies to address them, and how we would measure
      behavior change. In this case, identifying strategies required selecting both a
      reactive balance measure and behavior change techniques. Previous research had
      determined that physical therapists need to increase reactive balance
      measurement, and identified barriers and facilitators that corresponded to 8 TDF
      domains. A published review informed the selection of the Balance Evaluation
      Systems Test (Reactive Postural Responses Section) as addressing the barriers and
      facilitators, and existing research informed the selection of 9 established
      behavior change techniques corresponding to each identified TDF domain. OUTCOMES:
      The TDF framework were incorporated into a 12-month intervention with interactive
      group sessions, local champions, and health record modifications. Intervention
      effect can be evaluated using health record abstraction, questionnaires, and
      qualitative semistructured interviews. SUMMARY: Although future research will
      evaluate the intervention in a controlled study, the process of theory-based
      intervention development can be applied to other rehabilitation research
      contexts, maximizing the impact of this work.Video Abstract is available for more
      insights from the authors (see Supplemental Digital Content 1,
      http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A123).

PMID- 26866433
TI  - Impact of a prophylactic combination of dexamethasone-ondansetron on
      postoperative nausea and vomiting in obese adult patients undergoing laparoscopic
      sleeve gastrectomy during closed-loop propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia: A
      randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In obese patients, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting
      (PONV) following sleeve gastrectomy under titration of total intravenous
      anaesthesia (TIVA) and the relevance of risk factors to indicate prophylaxis is
      unknown. OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis was that after automated TIVA, prophylaxis
      reduces PONV following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Our objective was to
      determine the incidence of PONV and evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone and
      ondansetron as prophylaxis when automated intravenous anaesthesia is employed.
      DESIGN: A randomised, placebo-controlled, single-centre, double-blinded study.
      SETTING: Secondary care centre in New Caledonia from June 2013 to January 2014.
      PATIENTS: A total of 122 patients were randomised and 117 (92 women) were
      included in the analysis (58 in the prophylaxis group and 59 in the placebo
      group). Eligibility criteria included at least two of the known risk factors for
      PONV: female sex, nonsmoking status, prior history of PONV or motion sickness and
      expected postoperative opioid analgesia. Exclusion criteria included disorders
      limiting the use of the bispectral index. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received
      propofol and remifentanil controlled by the same automated system during
      induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. The controller modifies the
      calculated effect-site concentrations according to bispectral index values.
      Patients received either intravenous dexamethasone 4 mg after tracheal intubation
      and ondansetron 4 mg during skin closure, or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      primary endpoint was the cumulative incidences of 24-h PONV and severe PONV
      (vomiting or nausea with a score of >=4 on an 11-point verbal rating scale). Data
      are presented as percentage (95% confidence interval). RESULTS: PONV in the first
      24 h occurred in 45 (34 to 60)% of patients who received prophylaxis and 54 (41
      to 67)% in the placebo group (P = 0.35). The numbers of patients who suffered
      severe PONV [19 (10 to 32)% in the prophylaxis group vs. 20 (11 to 33)%, P = 1,
      in the placebo group] and who required rescue antiemetic drugs [55 (41 to 68) vs.
      63 (49 to 75)%, P = 0.46] were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: The
      combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron was not effective in preventing PONV
      or severe PONV in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy after
      TIVA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01876290.

PMID- 26866434
TI  - CHORIORETINAL BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS DUE TO
      ESCHERICHIA COLI.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the novel use of a chorioretinal biopsy technique to confirm
      the microbiological diagnosis of endogenous Escherichia coli (E. coli)
      endophthalmitis, when other investigations have been proven nondiagnostic.
      METHODS: Case report of an 82-year-old white man with endogenous endophthalmitis
      without a clearly identifiable source of infection. RESULTS: After systemic
      cultures and multiple aqueous and vitreous samples were unable to identify a
      causative organism, chorioretinal biopsy of a subretinal abscess was used to
      confirm the microbiological diagnosis. This ensured appropriate ophthalmic and
      systemic treatment of infection. CONCLUSION: Endogenous E. coli endophthalmitis
      is a rare and aggressive condition usually seen in patients with insulin
      dependent diabetes with concurrent urinary tract infection. This case
      demonstrates chorioretinal biopsy to be a viable and effective method of
      establishing a firm microbiological diagnosis in cases of culture-negative
      endophthalmitis.

PMID- 26866435
TI  - A Retrospective Review of the Presentation and Treatment of Stingray Stings
      Reported to a Poison Control System.
AB  - We studied stingray stings reported to our poison system to identify associated
      complications and treatments. We undertook a 14-year retrospective observational
      analysis of stingray stings reported to our poison system. Extracted data
      included caller age and gender, outcome, management site, symptoms, treatments,
      and geographical location of the sting. We examined suspected infection rate, hot
      water treatment efficacy, and possible presence of foreign bodies in the wound.
      Suspected infection rate was defined as "possible infection" or "likely
      infection." Hot water treatment efficacy was defined as cases that encoded hot
      water as a treatment and noted pain relief within 1 hour of treatment in the free
      text record, before documentation of other analgesic administration. A total of
      576 envenomations were reported. The majority were men (76%), with an average age
      of 24 years (range, 6-78 years). Symptoms were reported in 485 cases. A total of
      9% recorded a foreign body or debris at the wound site. Symptoms included pain
      (79%), puncture wound (65%), and edema (25%). Infections were reported in 9% of
      cases. Hot/warm water immersion appeared effective for pain relief in 69% of
      cases where outcome was documented. The most common geographical location of
      stingray envenomations was Southern California. Stingray stings are common in
      California. Hot/warm water seemed to be effective in pain management in our
      series, whereas foreign bodies or retained spines and infections were other
      identified complications.

PMID- 26866436
TI  - Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2/-9 is Associated With Microvessel
      Density in Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the association of matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)
      2 and MMP-9 with microvessel density (MVD) in pancreatic cancer. The tumor
      tissues and para-tumor tissues of 30 patients with pancreatic cancer were
      pathologically examined. The normal pancreatic tissues of another 17 patients
      served as controls. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was examined using
      immunohistochemistry and scored. The association of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with the MVD
      values and pathological features were analyzed. The positive expression rates of
      MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the tumor tissues were significantly higher than those in the
      para-tumor tissues (P < 0.01). In normal pancreatic tissues, both MMP-2 and MMP-9
      expressions were negative. The MVD values increased significantly along with
      higher tumor node metastasis stages (P = 0.04). The MVD values were positively
      correlated with MMP-2 scores (r = 0.563, P < 0.05) and MMP-9 scores (r = 0.451, P
      < 0.05). The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 is associated with angiogenesis in
      pancreatic cancer. MMPs might be used as prognostic factors and therapy targets
      for patients with pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26866437
TI  - Prognostic Importance of Controlling Nutritional Status in Patients Undergoing
      Curative Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.
AB  - It is now clear that cancer survival is determined not only by tumor pathology
      but also by host-related factors, in particular, nutritional status and systemic
      inflammation. It is desirable that the essential properties of any scale designed
      or intended to be used for the prediction of survival are simple, convenient, and
      objective. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the database of patients
      who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer in our department to
      evaluate controlling nutritional status (CONUT) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
      (NLR) as predictors of cancer-specific survival (CSS) after esophagectomy. We
      retrospectively reviewed the database of 148 consecutive patients who underwent
      potentially curative surgery for histologically verified esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma at our institute between January 2002 and December 2014. CONUT and NLR
      were calculated. On multivariate analysis, pTNM stage (P < 0.0001) and CONUT (P =
      0.0291) were independently associated with worse prognosis. Multivariate analysis
      evaluated the prognostic factors in 2 different patient groups: patients younger
      than 70 years (nonelderly) and those aged 70 years or more (elderly).
      Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pTNM stage (P = 0.0083) and CONUT (P =
      0.0138) were the independent risk factors for a worse prognosis among the
      nonelderly group, whereas univariate analysis demonstrated that pTNM stage (P =
      0.0002) was the only independent risk factor for a worse prognosis among the
      elderly group. CONUT was a significant predictor of CSS in patients with
      esophageal cancer in this study. However, pTNM stage remained a significantly
      more powerful predictor of CSS. Therefore, the results of this study suggested
      that CONUT and pTNM stage are the significant and complementary factors
      predicting survival in patients with esophageal cancer. But, this study failed to
      confirm the NLR as a significant predictor of CSS after resection for esophageal
      cancer.

PMID- 26866438
TI  - High-Power Prismatic Devices for Oblique Peripheral Prisms.
AB  - PURPOSE: Horizontal peripheral prisms for hemianopia provide field expansion
      above and below the horizontal meridian; however, there is a vertical gap leaving
      the central area (important for driving) without expansion. In the oblique
      design, tilting the bases of both prism segments toward the horizontal meridian
      moves the field expansion area vertically and centrally (closing the central gap)
      while the prisms remain in the peripheral location. However, tilting the prisms
      results also in a reduction of the lateral field expansion. Higher prism powers
      are needed to counter this effect. METHODS: We developed, implemented, and tested
      a series of designs aimed at increasing the prism power to reduce the central gap
      while maintaining wide lateral expansion. The designs included inserting the
      peripheral prisms into carrier lenses that included yoked prism in the opposite
      direction, combination of two Fresnel segments attached at the base and angled to
      each other (bi-part prisms), and creating Fresnel prism-like segments from
      nonparallel periscopic mirror pairs (reflective prisms). RESULTS: A modest
      increase in lateral power was achieved with yoked-prism carriers. Bi-part
      combination of 36Delta Fresnel segments provided high power with some reduction
      in image quality. Fresnel reflective prism segments have potential for high power
      with superior optical quality but may be limited in field extent or by
      interruptions of the expanded field. Extended apical scotomas, even with
      unilateral fitting, may limit the utility of very high power prisms. The high
      power bi-part and reflective prisms enable a wider effective eye scanning range
      (more than 15 degrees) into the blind hemifield. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional prisms
      of powers higher than the available 57Delta are limited by the binocular impact
      of a wider apical scotoma and a reduced effective eye scanning range to the blind
      side. The various designs that we developed may overcome these limitations and
      find use in various other field expansion applications.

PMID- 26866440
TI  - Heading to the right: The effect of aperture width on navigation asymmetries for
      miniature remote-controlled vehicles.
AB  - Our ability to attend to the environment is asymmetrical and affects activities
      like navigation. This study investigated whether rightward deviations exist for
      miniaturized vehicles. Experiment 1 asked participants (n = 26) to navigate a
      remote-controlled car through apertures that were 200, 300 or 400 mm wide.
      Analyses revealed a nonsignificant trend for the rightward deviation to increase
      with aperture width. None of the deviations was significantly to the right.
      Experiment 2 (n = 16) elevated the car to eye level to control for upper/lower
      visual-field effects. The results were unchanged. Experiment 3 (n = 16) altered
      the car's mechanical drive to control veering effects, and the results were
      unchanged. Data from Experiments 1-3 were combined to increase statistical power
      and showed that the rightward deviation increased for wider apertures. Experiment
      4 (n = 17) investigated deviations for wider apertures (1,100 mm) and found a
      rightward deviation. Finally, Experiment 5 (n = 24) used a different type of
      remote-controlled vehicle. A rightward deviation, which increased with width, was
      observed. In addition, the degree of rightward deviation was related to the
      perceived middle of the aperture. It appears that systematic rightward deviations
      occur for miniaturized vehicles, which increase with aperture width. The
      implications of these results for attentional explanations of rightward deviation
      are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866439
TI  - The Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the United States.
AB  - RATIONALE: Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) represent a
      reservoir of infection, many of whom will progress to tuberculosis (TB) disease.
      A central pillar of TB control in the United States is reducing this reservoir
      through targeted testing and treatment. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of
      LTBI in the United States using the tuberculin skin test (TST) and an IFN-gamma
      release assay. METHODS: We used nationally representative data from the 2011-2012
      National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 6,083 aged >=6 yr). LTBI
      was measured by both the TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT).
      Weighted population, prevalence, and multiple logistic regression were used.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of LTBI in 2011-2012 was
      4.4% as measured by the TST and 4.8% by QFT-GIT, corresponding to 12,398,000 and
      13,628,000 individuals, respectively. Prevalence declined slightly since 2000
      among the U.S. born but remained constant among the foreign born. Earlier birth
      cohorts consistently had higher prevalence than more recent ones. Higher risk
      groups included the foreign born, close contact with a case of TB disease, and
      certain racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: After years of decline, the prevalence
      of LTBI remained relatively constant between 2000 and 2011. A large reservoir of
      12.4 million still exists, with foreign-born persons representing an increasingly
      larger proportion of this reservoir (73%). Estimates and risk factors for LTBI
      were generally similar between the TST and QFT-GIT. The updated estimates of LTBI
      and associated risk groups can help improve targeted testing and treatment in the
      United States.

PMID- 26866441
TI  - Prejudice toward individuals with obesity: Evidence for a pro-effort bias.
AB  - Three studies examined the role of causal beliefs in weight stigma in order to
      better understand people's evaluations of individuals with obesity. Participants
      viewed weight-related information about a target individual and evaluated that
      target on various dimensions. Study 1 showed that offset effort information
      (i.e., information about effort to lose weight) had a greater impact on
      participants' evaluations of individuals with obesity than did other causal
      information, such as onset control and offset ability. Study 2 extended this
      finding by demonstrating that the duration of effort invested to lose weight is
      also important in determining participants' evaluations of individuals with
      obesity. Study 3 replicated the effect of effort (albeit in terms of effort to
      maintain a healthy lifestyle) on evaluations of individuals without obesity.
      Furthermore, in all 3 studies, disgust mediated the association between perceived
      effort and desire for social distance from the target. These findings highlight a
      key role for effort and disgust in weight stigma, and suggest that the negative
      evaluations of individuals with obesity might in part reflect a pro-effort bias.
      The present research has important implications for strategies to reduce weight
      stigma, and may even inform strategies to reduce social stigma beyond obesity,
      such as drug addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866442
TI  - Vertical 2D/3D Semiconductor Heterostructures Based on Epitaxial Molybdenum
      Disulfide and Gallium Nitride.
AB  - When designing semiconductor heterostructures, it is expected that epitaxial
      alignment will facilitate low-defect interfaces and efficient vertical transport.
      Here, we report lattice-matched epitaxial growth of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)
      directly on gallium nitride (GaN), resulting in high-quality, unstrained, single
      layer MoS2 with strict registry to the GaN lattice. These results present a
      promising path toward the implementation of high-performance electronic devices
      based on 2D/3D vertical heterostructures, where each of the 3D and 2D
      semiconductors is both a template for subsequent epitaxial growth and an active
      component of the device. The MoS2 monolayer triangles average 1 MUm along each
      side, with monolayer blankets (merged triangles) exhibiting properties similar to
      that of single-crystal MoS2 sheets. Photoluminescence, Raman, atomic force
      microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses identified monolayer
      MoS2 with a prominent 20-fold enhancement of photoluminescence in the center
      regions of larger triangles. The MoS2/GaN structures are shown to electrically
      conduct in the out-of-plane direction, confirming the potential of directly
      synthesized 2D/3D semiconductor heterostructures for vertical current flow.
      Finally, we estimate a MoS2/GaN contact resistivity to be less than 4 Omega.cm(2)
      and current spreading in the MoS2 monolayer of approximately 1 MUm in diameter. 

PMID- 26866445
TI  - Spectral Heart Rate Variability analysis using the heart timing signal for the
      screening of the Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome.
AB  - Some approaches have been published in the past using Heart Rate Variability
      (HRV) spectral features for the screening of Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS)
      patients. However there is a big variability among these methods regarding the
      selection of the source signal and the specific spectral components relevant to
      the analysis. In this study we investigate the use of the Heart Timing (HT) as
      the source signal in comparison to the classical approaches of Heart Rate (HR)
      and Heart Period (HP). This signal has the theoretical advantage of being optimal
      under the Integral Pulse Frequency Modulation (IPFM) model assumption. Only
      spectral bands defined as standard for the study of HRV are considered, and for
      each method the so-called LF/HF and VLFn features are derived. A comparative
      statistical analysis between the different resulting methods is performed, and
      subject classification is investigated by means of ROC analysis and a Naive-Bayes
      classifier. The standard Apnea-ECG database is used for validation purposes. Our
      results show statistical differences between SAHS patients and controls for all
      the derived features. In the subject classification task the best performance in
      the testing set was obtained using the LF/HF ratio derived from the HR signal
      (Area under ROC curve=0.88). Only slight differences are obtained due to the
      effect of changing the source signal. The impact of using the HT signal in this
      domain is therefore limited, and has not shown relevant differences with respect
      to the use of the classical approaches of HR or HP. 

PMID- 26866446
TI  - Gate-Sensing Coherent Charge Oscillations in a Silicon Field-Effect Transistor.
AB  - Quantum mechanical effects induced by the miniaturization of complementary metal
      oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology hamper the performance and scalability
      prospects of field-effect transistors. However, those quantum effects, such as
      tunneling and coherence, can be harnessed to use existing CMOS technology for
      quantum information processing. Here, we report the observation of coherent
      charge oscillations in a double quantum dot formed in a silicon nanowire
      transistor detected via its dispersive interaction with a radio frequency
      resonant circuit coupled via the gate. Differential capacitance changes at the
      interdot charge transitions allow us to monitor the state of the system in the
      strong-driving regime where we observe the emergence of Landau-Zener-Stuckelberg
      Majorana interference on the phase response of the resonator. A theoretical
      analysis of the dispersive signal demonstrates that quantum and tunneling
      capacitance changes must be included to describe the qubit-resonator interaction.
      Furthermore, a Fourier analysis of the interference pattern reveals a charge
      coherence time, T2 ~ 100 ps. Our results demonstrate charge coherent control and
      readout in a simple silicon transistor and open up the possibility to implement
      charge and spin qubits in existing CMOS technology. 

PMID- 26866447
TI  - Advances in stent-mediated gene delivery.

PMID- 26866448
TI  - A Novel Splicing Mutation Identified in a Chinese Family with X-linked Alport
      Syndrome Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing.
AB  - AIMS: Alport syndrome (AS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, characterized
      by hematuria, progressive renal failure, sensorineural hearing loss, and ocular
      abnormalities caused by mutations in the COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 genes. The
      aim of this study was to identify underlying mutations in individuals from a
      Chinese family with X-linked AS. METHODS: We performed targeted next-generation
      sequencing (NGS) to identify mutations associated with AS. The results were
      processed and visualized using an Integrated Genomics Viewer software. The most
      likely disease-causing variants were identified and confirmed by Sanger
      sequencing of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products. RESULTS:
      Visual inspection using Integrative Genomics Viewer software found that COL4A5
      exon 10 was not covered by the disease panel, while coverage of exons 4, 17, 20,
      21, 37, and 45 was incomplete. Sanger sequencing of these regions identified a
      novel splice-site mutation in intron 9 (c.547-3C>A) of the COL4A5 gene.
      Subsequent cDNA analysis revealed that c.547-3C>A led to skipping of exon 10,
      which resulted in an in-frame deletion of 21 amino acids from the alpha5 chain of
      type IV collagen. CONCLUSION: We determined the molecular basis of AS in a
      Chinese family by targeted NGS and cDNA analysis. This is the first report of the
      novel c.547-3C>A splicing mutation in the collagen domain of COL4A5 gene.

PMID- 26866449
TI  - Interspecific differences in the antioxidant capacity of two Laridae species
      exposed to metals.
AB  - The main aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of metals (Pb,
      Cd, Hg, Cu and Zn) in blood, and elucidate their potential effects on oxidative
      stress biomarkers in red blood cells of Audouin's gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)
      and Slender-billed gull (Chroicocephalus genei) chicks in Southeastern Spain. For
      this purpose, total glutathione (GSH) content, antioxidant enzymes activities
      (glutathione peroxidase, GPx; superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT and
      glutathione-S-transferase, GST), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were analyzed. In
      general, metal exposure in both species can be considered low, except for Hg in
      Audouin's gull. Our findings show higher antioxidant levels in Audouin's gull
      than in Slender-billed gull; probably due to a combination of different basal
      antioxidant capacity between species, and to an up-regulation of the antioxidant
      system in Audouin's gull as a response to the higher Hg, Cu and Zn
      concentrations. This could reduce the production of TBARS keeping them at lower
      levels than those found in Slender-billed gull. In spite of this, the
      significantly higher Hg levels found in Audouin's gull (13.6ug/dl wet weight) in
      comparison to Slender-billed gull (2.7ug/dl), likely related to their different
      diet and the former consuming discarded fish, were able to produce lipid
      peroxidation in this species. The positive effect of Hg on SOD activity in
      Slender-billed gull, and of Pb on GSH levels in Audouin's gull, could reflect the
      necessity of the organism to upregulate these antioxidants to balance the
      increased oxidative stress caused by metals. The degree of metal exposure seems
      to be essential in the response of the antioxidant system, which may suffer up or
      down-regulations depending on metal concentrations. This study supports the
      interactive effects of metals on oxidative stress biomarkers, the complexity of
      the antioxidant system and the close cooperation between antioxidants, which
      requires the study of several metals and biomarkers to evaluate oxidative stress
      and damage in wild birds.

PMID- 26866450
TI  - Kidney function in sugarcane cutters in Nicaragua--A longitudinal study of
      workers at risk of Mesoamerican nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is common among sugarcane workers in Central
      America. The main risk factor seems to be repeated high-intensity work in hot
      environments. Several cross-sectional studies have been performed but few
      longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine whether
      kidney function changes over a few months of work during the harvest period.
      METHODS: A group of male sugarcane cutters in Nicaragua (N=29, aged 17-38 years)
      was examined with renal biomarkers before and after shift on the first day at the
      start of harvest, on the sixth day during acclimatization, and then in mid
      harvest 9 weeks later. A reference group (N=25, mainly office workers) was
      examined with the same biomarkers at start of harvest, and then at end of harvest
      5 months later. RESULTS: The pre-shift renal function decreased significantly
      during 9 weeks of work in the cane cutters. Mean serum creatinine increased
      (20%), mean estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased (9%, 10mL/min), serum
      urea N (BUN) increased (41%), and mean urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated
      lipocalin (NGAL) increased (four times). The cane cutters also developed cross
      shift increases in these biomarkers, in particular serum creatinine and BUN, and
      in urinary uric acid. The longitudinal decrease in eGFR tended to be associated
      with the cross-shift increase in serum creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: There was a
      remarkable decrease of glomerular kidney function, after only 9 weeks of harvest.
      The cross-shift increase in serum creatinine may be caused by dehydration (pre
      renal dysfunction), and when repeated on a daily basis this may cause permanently
      reduced GFR.

PMID- 26866451
TI  - Corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of Ti-B4C composite intended for
      orthopaedic implants.
AB  - Poor wear resistance of titanium is a major concern since relative movements due
      to the cyclic loads in body environment cause wear between the bone and the
      implant material leading to detachment of the wear debris and release of metal
      ions due to the simultaneous action of corrosion and wear, defined as
      tribocorrosion. In order to increase the tribocorrosion resistance, Grade 2 Ti
      matrix 24vol% B4C particle reinforced composites were processed by hot pressing.
      Corrosion behaviour was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
      and potentiodynamic polarization in 9g/L NaCl solution at body temperature.
      Tribocorrosion tests were performed under open circuit potential, as well as
      under potentiodynamic polarization using a reciprocating ball-on-plate
      tribometer. Results suggested that the addition of B4C particles provided lower
      tendency to corrosion and lower corrosion kinetics under sliding, along with
      significantly reduced wear loss, mainly due to the load carrying effect given by
      the reinforcement particles.

PMID- 26866452
TI  - A preliminary technical study on sodium dodecyl sulfate-induced changes of the
      nano-structural and macro-mechanical properties in human iliotibial tract
      specimens.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Acellular scaffolds are frequently used for the surgical repair of
      ligaments and tendons. Even though data on the macro-mechanical properties
      related to the acellularization process exist, corresponding data on the nano
      structural properties are still lacking. Such data would help identify target
      proteins of the formed extracellular matrix that are chemically altered by the
      acellularization. In this study we examined the altered structure by comparing
      molecular properties of collagens from native and acellular iliotibial tract
      samples to the macroscopic stress-strain behavior of tract samples. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: Matched pairs of five human iliotibial tract samples were obtained from
      five donors (mean age 28.2+/-4.7 years). One of each pair was acellularized using
      1vol% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for 7 days. (13)C magic angle spinning nuclear
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((13)C CP MAS NMR) was utilized to compare the
      collagen overall secondary structure and internal dynamics of collagen-typical
      amino acid proteins. The resulting data was compared to age-matched stress-strain
      data of tract samples obtained in an uniaxial tensile setup and histologically.
      RESULTS: Typical and nearly identical collagen (13)C CP MAS NMR spectra were
      found in the tract samples before and after acellularization with SDS. The
      characteristic collagen backbone remained intact in the native and acellular
      samples. Collagen molecular composition was largely unaltered in both conditions.
      Furthermore, a similar dynamic behavior was found for the amino acids Hyp gamma,
      Pro alpha/Hyp alpha, Ala alpha, Gly alpha and Ala beta. These minute alterations
      in the collagens' molecular properties related to acellularization with SDS were
      in line with the similarly minute changes in the macro-mechanical tensile
      behavior, such as the elastic modulus and ultimate stress. Histology showed
      intact type I collagens, minute amounts of elastins before and after
      acellularization and evidence for acellularization-induced reductions of
      proteoglycans. DISCUSSION: Nano-structural properties of collagens are minutely
      affected by SDS treatment for acellularization, indicated by the molecular
      composition and dynamics. The lacking acellularization-related changes in the
      molecular structure properties of collagens in iliotibial tract samples are in
      line with the small alterations in their macro-mechanical tensile behavior.
      Though the given setup approaches soft tissue mechanics from both scaling
      extremes of mechanical testing, further structural analyzes are needed in a
      larger sample size to substantiate these findings.

PMID- 26866453
TI  - Adhesive strength of bioactive oxide layers fabricated on TNTZ alloy by three
      different alkali-solution treatments.
AB  - Bioactive oxide layers were fabricated on Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr alloy (TNTZ) by
      three different alkali solution treatments: hydrothermal (H), electrochemical
      (E), and hydrothermal-electrochemical (HE). The adhesive strength of the oxide
      layer to the TNTZ substrate was measured to determine whether this process
      achieves sufficient adhesive strength for implant materials. Samples subjected to
      the HE process, in which a current of 15mA/cm(2) was applied at 90 degrees C for
      1h (HE90-1h), exhibited a comparatively higher adhesive strength of approximately
      18MPa while still maintaining a sufficiently high bioactivity. Based on these
      results, an oxide layer fabricated on TNTZ by HE90-1h is considered appropriate
      for practical biomaterial application, though thicker oxide layers with many
      cracks can lead to a reduced adhesive strength.

PMID- 26866454
TI  - Chinese medicines with sedative-hypnotic effects and their active components.
AB  - The main pharmacological effects of sedative agents are sedation, hypnosis,
      antianxiety, and antidepression. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long
      history of clinical experience in treating insomnia. This review focuses mainly
      on the role of active ingredients from TCM in the treatment of insomnia. Single
      herbs and their active ingredients from TCM with hypnotic effects are summarized
      through reviewing the relevant literature published in the past 20 y. The active
      ingredients are divided into alkaloids, terpenoids, and volatile oils,
      flavonoids, lignanoids and coumarins, saponins, and others. Current studies on
      TCM in treating insomnia are described from the aspects of active ingredients,
      sources, experimental models and methods, results, and mechanisms. In addition,
      Chinese compound prescriptions developed from a variety of single herbs with
      sedative-hypnotic effects are introduced. The acting pathways of TCM are covered
      from the perspectives of regulating central neurotransmitters, influencing sleep
      related cytokines, and improving the structure of the central nervous system.

PMID- 26866455
TI  - Chiral pool synthesis and biological evaluation of C-furanosidic and acyclic LpxC
      inhibitors.
AB  - Inhibitors of the bacterial deacetylase LpxC have emerged as a promising new
      class of Gram-negative selective antibacterials. In order to find novel LpxC
      inhibitors, in chiral-pool syntheses starting from d-mannose, C-furanosides with
      altered configuration in positions 2 and/or 5 of the tetrahydrofuran ring were
      prepared in stereochemically pure form. Additionally, the substitution pattern in
      positions 3 and 4 of the tetrahydrofuran ring as well as the structure of the
      lipophilic side chain in position 2 were varied. Finally, all stereoisomers of
      the respective open chain diols were obtained via glycol cleavages of properly
      protected C-glycosides. The biological evaluation of the synthesized hydroxamic
      acids revealed that in case of the C-glycosides, 2,5-trans-configuration
      generally leads to superior inhibitory and antibacterial activities. The relief
      of the conformational strain leading to the respective open chain derivatives
      generally caused an increase in the inhibitory and antibacterial activities of
      the benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acids. With Ki-values of 0.35 MUm and 0.23 MUm, the
      (S,S)-configured open-chain derivatives 8b and 8c were found to be the most
      potent LpxC inhibitors of these series of compounds. 

PMID- 26866456
TI  - Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel L-ascorbic acid-conjugated
      pentacyclic triterpene derivatives as potential influenza virus entry inhibitors.
AB  - Since the influenza viruses can rapidly evolve, it is urgently required to
      develop novel anti-influenza agents possessing a novel mechanism of action. In
      our previous study, two pentacyclic triterpene derivatives (Q8 and Y3) have been
      found to have anti-influenza virus entry activities. Keeping the potential
      synergy of biological activity of pentacyclic triterpenes and l-ascorbic acid in
      mind, we synthesized a series of novel l-ascorbic acid-conjugated pentacyclic
      triterpene derivatives (18-26, 29-31, 35-40 and 42-43). Moreover, we evaluated
      these novel compounds for their anti-influenza activities against A/WSN/33 virus
      in MDCK cells. Among all evaluated compounds, the 2,3-O,O-dibenzyl-6-deoxy-l
      ascorbic acid-betulinic acid conjugate (30) showed the most significant anti
      influenza activity with an EC50 of 8.7 MUM, and no cytotoxic effects on MDCK
      cells were observed. Time-of-addition assay indicated that compound 30 acted at
      an early stage of the influenza life cycle. Further analyses revealed that
      influenza virus-induced hemagglutination of chicken red blood cells was inhibited
      by treatment of compound 30, and the interaction between the influenza
      hemagglutinin (HA) and compound 30 was determined by surface plasmon resonance
      (SPR) with a dissociation constant of KD = 3.76 MUM. Finally, silico docking
      studies indicated that compound 30 and its derivative 31 were able to occupy the
      binding pocket of HA for sialic acid receptor. Collectively, these results
      suggested that l-ascorbic acid-conjugated pentacyclic triterpenes were promising
      anti-influenza entry inhibitors, and HA protein associated with viral entry was a
      promising drug target.

PMID- 26866457
TI  - Phytochemicals from Dodonaea viscosa and their antioxidant and anticholinesterase
      activities with structure-activity relationships.
AB  - Context Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq (Sapindaceae) has been used in traditional
      medicine as antimalarial, antidiabetic and antibacterial agent, but further
      investigations are needed. Objective This study determines the antioxidant and
      anticholinesterase activities of six compounds (1-6) and two crystals (1A and 3A)
      isolated from D. viscosa, and discusses their structure-activity relationships.
      Materials and methods Antioxidant activity was evaluated using six complementary
      tests, i.e., beta-carotene-linoleic acid; DPPH(*), ABTS(*+), superoxide
      scavenging, CUPRAC and metal chelating assays. Anticholinesterase activity was
      performed using the Elman method. Results Clerodane diterpenoids (1 and 2) and
      phenolics (3-6) - together with three crystals (1A, 3A and 7A) - were isolated
      from the aerial parts of D. viscosa. Compound 3A exhibited good antioxidant
      activity in DPPH (IC50: 27.44 +/- 1.06 MUM), superoxide (28.18 +/- 1.35%
      inhibition at 100 MUM) and CUPRAC (A0.5: 35.89 +/- 0.09 MUM) assays. Compound 5
      (IC50: 11.02 +/- 0.02 MUM) indicated best activity in ABTS assay, and 6 (IC50:
      14.30 +/- 0.18 MUM) in beta-carotene-linoleic acid assay. Compounds 1 and 3 were
      also obtained in the crystal (1A and 3A) form. Both crystals showed antioxidant
      activity. Furthermore, crystal 3A was more active than 3 in all activity tests.
      Phenol 6 possessed moderate anticholinesterase activity against
      acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (IC50 values: 158.14 +/-
      1.65 and 111.60 +/- 1.28 MUM, respectively). Discussion and conclusion This is
      the first report on antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of compounds 1,
      2, 5, 6, 1A and 3A, and characterisation of 7A using XRD. Furthermore, the
      structure-activity relationships are also discussed in detail for the first time.

PMID- 26866458
TI  - Synthesis and Characterization of Cleavable Core-Cross-Linked Micelles Based on
      Amphiphilic Block Copolypeptoids as Smart Drug Carriers.
AB  - Amphiphilic block copolypeptoids consisting of a hydrophilic poly(N-ethyl
      glycine) segment and a hydrophobic poly[(N-propargyl glycine)-r-(N-decyl
      glycine)] random copolymer segment [PNEG-b-P(NPgG-r-NDG), EPgD] have been
      synthesized by sequential primary amine-initiated ring-opening polymerization
      (ROP) of the corresponding N-alkyl N-carboxyanhydride monomers. The block
      copolypeptoids form micelles in water and the micellar core can be cross-linked
      with a disulfide-containing diazide cross-linker by copper-mediated alkyne-azide
      cycloaddition (CuAAC) in aqueous solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
      and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis revealed the formation of spherical
      micelles with uniform size for both the core-cross-linked micelles (CCLMs) and
      non-cross-linked micelles (NCLMs) precursors for selective block copolypeptoid
      polymers. The CCLMs exhibited increased dimensional stability relative to the
      NCLMs in DMF, a nonselective solvent for the core and corona segments. Micellar
      dissociation of CCLMs can be induced upon addition of a reducing agent (e.g.,
      dithiothreitol) in dilute aqueous solutions, as verified by a combination of
      fluorescence spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and (1)H NMR
      spectroscopic measurement. Doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, can be loaded
      into the hydrophobic core of CCLMs with a maximal 23% drug loading capacity (DLC)
      and 37% drug loading efficiency (DLE). In vitro DOX release from the CCLMs can be
      triggered by DTT (10 mM), in contrast to significantly reduced DOX release in the
      absence of DTT, attesting to the reductively responsive characteristic of the
      CCLMs. While the CCLMs exhibited minimal cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cancer cells,
      DOX-loaded CCLMs inhibited the proliferation of the HepG2 cancer cells in a
      concentration and time dependent manner, suggesting the controlled release of DOX
      from the DOX-loaded CCLMS in the cellular environment. 

PMID- 26866460
TI  - The Interplay Between Bioenergy Grass Production and Water Resources in the
      United States of America.
AB  - We apply a land surface model to evaluate the interplay between potential
      bioenergy grass (Miscanthus, Cave-in-Rock, and Alamo) production, water quantity,
      and nitrogen leaching (NL) in the Central and Eastern U.S. Water use intensity
      tends to be lower where grass yields are modeled to be high, for example in the
      Midwest for Miscanthus and Cave-in-Rock and the upper southeastern U.S. for
      Alamo. However, most of these regions are already occupied by crops and forests
      and substitution of these biome types for ethanol production implies trade-offs.
      In general, growing Miscanthus consumes more water, Alamo consumes less water,
      and Cave-in-Rock consumes approximately the same amount of water as existing
      vegetation. Bioenergy grasses can maintain high productivity over time, even in
      water limited regions, because their roots can grow deeper and extract the water
      from the deep, moist soil layers. However, this may not hold where there are
      frequent and intense drought events, particularly in regions with shallow soil
      depths. One advantage of bioenergy grasses is that they mitigate nitrogen
      leaching relative to row crops and herbaceous plants when grown without applying
      N fertilizer; and bioenergy grasses, especially Miscanthus, generally require
      less N fertilizer application than row crops and herbaceous plants. 

PMID- 26866459
TI  - Structural Insights into the Activation of Human Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor
      1 by Small-Molecule Agonists.
AB  - The GPCR relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) mediates the action of relaxin
      peptide hormone, including its tissue remodeling and antifibrotic effects. The
      peptide has a short half-life in plasma, limiting its therapeutic utility.
      However, small-molecule agonists of human RXFP1 can overcome this limitation and
      may provide a useful therapeutic approach, especially for chronic diseases such
      as heart failure and fibrosis. The first small-molecule agonists of RXFP1 were
      recently identified from a high-throughput screening, using a homogeneous cell
      based cAMP assay. Optimization of the hit compounds resulted in a series of
      highly potent and RXFP1 selective agonists with low cytotoxicity, and excellent
      in vitro ADME and pharmacokinetic properties. Here, we undertook extensive site
      directed mutagenesis studies in combination with computational modeling analysis
      to probe the molecular basis of the small-molecule binding to RXFP1. The results
      showed that the agonists bind to an allosteric site of RXFP1 in a manner that
      closely interacts with the seventh transmembrane domain (TM7) and the third
      extracellular loop (ECL3). Several residues were determined to play an important
      role in the agonist binding and receptor activation, including a hydrophobic
      region at TM7 consisting of W664, F668, and L670. The G659/T660 motif within ECL3
      is crucial to the observed species selectivity of the agonists for RXFP1. The
      receptor binding and activation effects by the small molecule ML290 were compared
      with the cognate ligand, relaxin, providing valuable insights on the structural
      basis and molecular mechanism of receptor activation and selectivity for RXFP1. 

PMID- 26866461
TI  - Sorazolons, Carbazole Alkaloids from Sorangium cellulosum Strain Soce375.
AB  - Sorazolons A (1) to E2 (9) were isolated from Sorangium cellulosum strain
      Soce375. Their molecular structures were elucidated using extensive HRESIMS and
      NMR analysis. The absolute configuration of sorazolon A (1) was determined by
      comparison of the experimental CD spectrum with quantum chemical calculated
      spectra for both enantiomers. Sorazolons D2 (7), E (8), and E2 (9) exhibit a
      moderate cytotoxic activity against mouse fibroblast cell line L929 with IC50
      values between 5.0 MUM and 0.09 mM. 

PMID- 26866462
TI  - Intrinsically Labeled Fluorescent Oligonucleotide Probes on Quantum Dots for
      Transduction of Nucleic Acid Hybridization.
AB  - Quantum dots (QDs) have been widely used in chemical and biosensing due to their
      unique photoelectrical properties and are well suited as donors in fluorescence
      resonance energy transfer (FRET). Selective hybridization interactions of
      oligonucleotides on QDs have been determined by FRET. Typically, the QD-FRET
      constructs have made use of labeled targets or have implemented labeled sandwich
      format assays to introduce dyes in proximity to the QDs for the FRET process. The
      intention of this new work is to explore a method to incorporate the acceptor dye
      into the probe molecule. Thiazole orange (TO) derivatives are fluorescent
      intercalating dyes that have been used for detection of double-stranded nucleic
      acids. One such dye system has been reported in which single-stranded
      oligonucleotide probes were doubly labeled with adjacent thiazole orange
      derivatives. In the absence of the fully complementary (FC) oligonucleotide
      target, the dyes form an H-aggregate, which results in quenching of fluorescence
      emission due to excitonic interactions between the dyes. The hybridization of the
      FC target to the probe provides for dissociation of the aggregate as the dyes
      intercalate into the double stranded duplex, resulting in increased fluorescence.
      This work reports investigation of the dependence of the ratiometric signal on
      the type of linkage used to conjugate the dyes to the probe, the location of the
      dye along the length of the probe, and the distance between adjacent dye
      molecules. The limit of detection for 34mer and 90mer targets was found to be
      identical and was 10 nM (2 pmol), similar to analogous QD-FRET using labeled
      oligonucleotide target. The detection system could discriminate a one base pair
      mismatch (1BPM) target and was functional without substantial compromise of the
      signal in 75% serum. The 1BPM was found to reduce background signal, indicating
      that the structure of the mismatch affected the environment of the intercalating
      dyes. 

PMID- 26866464
TI  - Reaction Mechanism and Product Branching Ratios of the CH + C3H6 Reaction: A
      Theoretical Study.
AB  - The mechanism of CH(X(2)Pi) reaction with propene has been studied with ab initio
      CCSD(T)-F12/CBS//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculations of the C4H7 potential energy
      surface and RRKM/master equation calculations of unimolecular rate constants for
      the various isomerization and dissociation steps available to the C4H7 radicals.
      Product branching ratios were calculated and were found to strongly depend on the
      initial chemically activated C4H7 complex formed in a barrierless entrance
      channel. If the reaction is initiated via either CH addition to the double bond
      in propene or CH insertions into the terminal sp(2) C-H or single C-C bonds, then
      1,3-butadiene + H are predicted to be the dominant products, ethene + C2H3
      radical are minor but non-negligible products, and a small amount of 1,2
      butadiene + H is also produced. The reaction then proceeds through a key
      CH3CHCH(*)CH2 intermediate, which loses an H atom to form either 1,3- or 1,2
      butadiene or isomerizes to (*)CH2CH2CHCH2 and then dissociates to ethene + C2H3
      radical. If CH inserts into a C-H bond in the CH3 group the (*)CH2CH2CHCH2
      complex is formed directly and then the major reaction products are predicted to
      be ethene + C2H3 radical and 1,3-butadiene + H. Finally, if CH inserts into the
      middle sp(2) C-H bond, a branched CH3C((*)CH2)CH2 complex is produced, which
      predominantly decomposes to allene + CH3 radical. A comparison of the calculated
      reaction mechanism with available experimental data indicates that the CH
      addition entrance channel is favorable, in which case the computed branching
      ratios are in agreement with the experimental result of Loison and Bergeat, who
      measured the H elimination branching ratio of 78 +/- 10%. However, the computed
      branching ratios quantitatively disagree with the experimental data by Trevitt et
      al., who observed a nearly 100% yield of the C4H6 + H products and also larger
      yields of 1,2-butadiene and 1-butyne than the calculations predict. The deviation
      of the theoretical results from experiment can be rationalized in terms of
      dynamical factors, which should favor direct dissociation of the CH3CHCH(*)CH2
      precursor by H loss, especially to 1,2-butadiene, over its isomerization to
      (*)CH2CH2CHCH2 followed by the production of ethene + C2H3 radical, while 1
      butyne might be formed through secondary H assisted isomerization of 1,2
      butadiene. Overall, the calculations corroborate that the CH + C3H6 reaction
      could be a major source of 1,3-butadiene at low temperature and low pressure
      conditions in the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres. 

PMID- 26866463
TI  - Optimization and Analysis of Thermoelectric Properties of Unfilled Co(1-x
      y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3 Synthesized via a Rapid Hydrothermal Procedure.
AB  - A series of nanostructured co-doped Co(1-x-y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3 were fabricated using
      a rapid hydrothermal method at 170  degrees C for a duration of 12 h, followed by
      evacuated-and-encapsulated heating at 580  degrees C for a short period of 5 h.
      The resulting samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, field
      emission scanning electron microscopy, bulk density, electronic and thermal
      transport measurements. The power factor of Co(1-x-y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3 is
      significantly enhanced in the high-temperature region due to significant
      enhancement of the electrical conductivity and absolute value of thermopower. The
      latter arises from the onset of bipolar effect being shifted to higher
      temperatures as compared with the non-doped CoSb3. The room temperature thermal
      conductivity falls in the range between 1.22 and 1.67 W m(-1) K(-1) for Co(1-x
      y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3. The thermal conductivity of both the (x,y) = (0.14,10) and
      (0.14,12) samples is measured up to 600 K and found to decrease with increasing
      temperature. The thermal conductivity of the (0.14,10) sample goes down to ~1.02
      W m(-1) K(-1). As a result, zT = 0.68 is attained at 600 K. The lattice thermal
      conductivity is analyzed to gain insight into the contribution of various
      scattering processes that suppress the heat transfer through the phonons in Co(1
      x-y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3. The effect of the simultaneous presence of Co, Ni, and Fe
      elements on the electronic structure and transport properties of Co(1-x
      y)Ni(x)Fe(y)Sb3 is described using the quantum mechanical tunneling theory of
      electron transmission among the potential barriers.

PMID- 26866465
TI  - Glutamic Acid Selective Chemical Cleavage of Peptide Bonds.
AB  - Site-specific hydrolysis of peptide bonds at glutamic acid under neutral aqueous
      conditions is reported. The method relies on the activation of the backbone amide
      chain at glutamic acid by the formation of a pyroglutamyl (pGlu) imide moiety.
      This activation increases the susceptibility of a peptide bond toward hydrolysis.
      The method is highly specific and demonstrates broad substrate scope including
      cleavage of various bioactive peptides with unnatural amino acid residues, which
      are unsuitable substrates for enzymatic hydrolysis. 

PMID- 26866466
TI  - Current Challenges and Prospective Research for Upscaling Hybrid Perovskite
      Photovoltaics.
AB  - Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite photovoltaics (PSCs) are poised to push
      toward technology translation, but significant challenges complicating
      commercialization remain. Though J-V hysteresis and ecotoxicity are uniquely
      imposing issues at scale, CH3NH3PbI3 degradation is by far the sharpest
      limitation to the technology's potential market contribution. Herein, we offer a
      perspective on the practical market potential of PSCs, the nature of fundamental
      PSC challenges at scale, and an outline of prospective solutions for achieving
      module scale PSC production tailored to intrinsic advantages of CH3NH3PbI3.
      Although integrating PSCs into the energy grid is complicated by CH3NH3PbI3
      degradation, the ability of PSCs to contribute to consumer electronics and other
      niche markets like those organic photovoltaics have sought footing in rests
      primarily upon the technology's price point. Thus, slot die, roll-to-roll
      processing has the greatest potential to enable PSC scale-up, and herein, we
      present a perspective on the research necessary to realize fully printable PSCs
      at scale. 

PMID- 26866467
TI  - The killer immunoglobulin-like receptor KIR3DL1 in combination with HLA-Bw4 is
      protective against multiple sclerosis in African Americans.
AB  - We investigated the role of the KIR loci and their HLA class I ligands in a large
      cohort of African American multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (N=907) and controls
      (N=1456). No significant differences in carrier frequencies for any KIR locus or
      haplotype were observed between cases and controls. However, examination of KIR
      in the context of their cognate HLA ligands revealed a strong protective effect
      for KIR3DL1 in combination with HLA-A and -B alleles bearing the Bw4 motif (P=10(
      8); odds ratio (OR)=0.60, confidence interval (CI)=0.50-0.71) and the Bw4 ligand
      alone (P<10(-6); OR=0.63, CI=0.53-0.75). The observed effect cannot be explained
      by either a specific HLA-B allele or by linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DRB1 or
      HLA-A. The protective effect was observed only in individuals who were not
      positive for the MS risk allele HLA-DRB1*15:01 (P<10(-6); OR=0.61, CI=0.51-0.74).
      Our study, the first investigation of KIR and MS in African Americans, confirms
      and refines previous findings in a European cohort.

PMID- 26866468
TI  - Two blinking mechanisms in highly confined AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS quantum dots
      evaluated by single particle spectroscopy.
AB  - Ternary AgInS2 quantum dots (QDs) have been found as promising cadmium-free, red
      shifted, and tunable luminescent bio-probes with efficient Stokes and anti-Stokes
      excitations and luminescence lifetimes (ca. 100 ns) convenient for time resolved
      techniques like fluorescence life-time imaging. Although the spectral properties
      of the AgInS2 QDs are encouraging, the complex recombination kinetics in the QDs
      being still far from understood, limits their full utility. In this paper we
      report on a model describing the recombination pathways responsible for large
      deviations from the first-order decay law observed commonly in the ternary
      chalcogenides. The presented results were evaluated by means of individual AgInS2
      QD spectroscopy aided by first principles calculations including the electronic
      structure and structural reconstruction of the QDs. Special attention was devoted
      to study the impact of the surface charge state on the excited state relaxation
      and effect of its passivation by Zn(2+) ion alloying. Two different blinking
      mechanisms related to defect-assisted charge imbalance in the QD responsible for
      fast non-radiative relaxation of the excited states as well as surface recharging
      of the QD were found as the major causes of deviations from the first-order decay
      law. Careful optimization of the AgInS2 QDs would help to fabricate new red
      shifted and tunable fluorescent bio-probes characterized by low-toxicity, high
      quantum yield, long luminescence lifetime, and time stability, leading to many
      novel in vitro and in vivo applications based on fluorescence lifetime imaging
      (FLIM) and time-gated detection. 

PMID- 26866470
TI  - Breathomics--exhaled volatile organic compound analysis to detect hepatic
      encephalopathy: a pilot study.
AB  - The current diagnostic challenge with diagnosing hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is
      identifying those with minimal HE as opposed to the more clinically apparent
      covert/overt HE. Rifaximin, is an effective therapy but earlier identification
      and treatment of HE could prevent liver disease progression and hospitalization.
      Our pilot study aimed to analyse breath samples of patients with different HE
      grades, and controls, using a portable electronic (e) nose. 42 patients were
      enrolled; 22 with HE and 20 controls. Bedside breath samples were captured and
      analysed using an uvFAIMS machine (portable e-nose). West Haven criteria applied
      and MELD scores calculated. We classify HE patients from controls with a
      sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 (0.73-0.95) and 0.68 (0.51-0.81)
      respectively, AUROC 0.84 (0.75-0.93). Minimal HE was distinguishable from
      covert/overt HE with sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.5, AUROC 0.71 (0.57
      0.84). This pilot study has highlighted the potential of breathomics to identify
      VOCs signatures in HE patients for diagnostic purposes. Importantly this was
      performed utilizing a non-invasive, portable bedside device and holds potential
      for future early HE diagnosis. 

PMID- 26866469
TI  - C60 fullerene localization and membrane interactions in RAW 264.7 immortalized
      mouse macrophages.
AB  - There continues to be a significant increase in the number and complexity of
      hydrophobic nanomaterials that are engineered for a variety of commercial
      purposes making human exposure a significant health concern. This study uses a
      combination of biophysical, biochemical and computational methods to probe
      potential mechanisms for uptake of C60 nanoparticles into various compartments of
      living immune cells. Cultures of RAW 264.7 immortalized murine macrophage were
      used as a canonical model of immune-competent cells that are likely to provide
      the first line of defense following inhalation. Modes of entry studied were
      endocytosis/pinocytosis and passive permeation of cellular membranes. The
      evidence suggests marginal uptake of C60 clusters is achieved through
      endocytosis/pinocytosis, and that passive diffusion into membranes provides a
      significant source of biologically-available nanomaterial. Computational modeling
      of both a single molecule and a small cluster of fullerenes predicts that low
      concentrations of fullerenes enter the membrane individually and produce limited
      perturbation; however, at higher concentrations the clusters in the membrane
      causes deformation of the membrane. These findings are bolstered by nuclear
      magnetic resonance (NMR) of model membranes that reveal deformation of the cell
      membrane upon exposure to high concentrations of fullerenes. The atomistic and
      NMR models fail to explain escape of the particle out of biological membranes,
      but are limited to idealized systems that do not completely recapitulate the
      complexity of cell membranes. The surprising contribution of passive modes of
      cellular entry provides new avenues for toxicological research that go beyond the
      pharmacological inhibition of bulk transport systems such as pinocytosis. 

PMID- 26866471
TI  - Elevated Blood Lead Levels Are Associated with Reduced Risk of Malaria in
      Beninese Infants.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Elevated blood lead levels (BLL) and malaria carry an important
      burden of disease in West Africa. Both diseases might cause anemia and they might
      entail long-term consequences for the development and the health status of the
      child. Albeit the significant impact of malaria on lead levels described in
      Nigeria, no evaluation of the effect of elevated BLL on malaria risk has been
      investigated so far. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2010 and 2012, blood lead
      levels of 203 Beninese infants from Allada, a semi-rural area 50km North from
      Cotonou, were assessed at 12 months of age. To assess lead levels, blood samples
      were analyzed by mass spectrometry. In parallel, clinical, microbiological and
      hematological data were collected. More precisely, hemoglobin, serum ferritin,
      CRP, vitamin B12, folate levels, and Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia were
      assessed and stool samples were also analyzed. RESULTS: At 12 months, the mean
      BLL of infants was 7.41 MUg/dL (CI: 65.2; 83), and 128 infants (63%) had elevated
      blood lead levels, defined by the CDC as BLL>5 MUg/dL. Lead poisoning, defined as
      BLL>10 MUg/dL, was found in 39 infants (19%). Twenty-five infants (12.5%) had a
      positive blood smear at 12 months and 144 infants were anemic (71%,
      hemoglobin<110 g/L). Elevated blood lead levels were significantly associated
      with reduced risk of a positive blood smear (AOR = 0.38, P-value = 0.048) and P.
      falciparum parasite density (beta-estimate = -1.42, P-value = 0.03) in logistic
      and negative binomial regression multivariate models, respectively, adjusted on
      clinical and environmental indicators. CONCLUSION: Our study shows for the first
      time that BLL are negatively associated with malarial risk considering other risk
      factors. Malaria is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in infants
      under 5 years worldwide, and lead poisoning is the 6th most important contributor
      to the global burden of diseases measured in disability adjusted life years
      (DALYs) according to the Institute of Health Metrics. In conclusion, due to the
      high prevalence of elevated BLL, health interventions should look forward to
      minimize the exposure to lead to better protect the population in West Africa.

PMID- 26866472
TI  - 30-Day Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Prognostic Value of Clinical Scores
      and Anamnestic Features.
AB  - PURPOSE: Identification of high-risk patients with pulmonary embolism is vital.
      The aim of the present study was to examine clinical scores, their single items,
      and anamnestic features in their ability to predict 30-day mortality. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: A retrospective, single-center study from 06/2005 to 01/2010 was
      performed. Inclusion criteria were presence of pulmonary embolism, availability
      of patient records and 30-day follow-up. The following clinical scores were
      calculated: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, original and
      simplified pulmonary embolism severity index, Glasgow Coma Scale, and euroSCORE
      II. RESULTS: In the study group of 365 patients 39 patients (10.7%) died within
      30 days due to pulmonary embolism. From all examined scores and parameters the
      best predictor of 30-day mortality were the Glasgow Coma scale (<= 10) and
      parameters of the circulatory system including presence of mechanical
      ventilation, arterial pH (< 7.335), and systolic blood pressure (< 99 mm Hg).
      CONCLUSIONS: Easy to ascertain circulatory parameters have the same or higher
      prognostic value than the clinical scores that were applied in this study. From
      all clinical scores studied the Glasgow Coma Scale was the most time- and cost
      efficient one.

PMID- 26866474
TI  - Recent Land Use Change to Agriculture in the U.S. Lake States: Impacts on
      Cellulosic Biomass Potential and Natural Lands.
AB  - Perennial cellulosic feedstocks may have potential to reduce life-cycle
      greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by offsetting fossil fuels. However, this
      potential depends on meeting a number of important criteria involving land cover
      change, including avoiding displacement of agricultural production, not reducing
      uncultivated natural lands that provide biodiversity habitat and other valued
      ecosystem services, and avoiding the carbon debt (the amount of time needed to
      repay the initial carbon loss) that accompanies displacing natural lands. It is
      unclear whether recent agricultural expansion in the United States competes with
      lands potentially suited for bioenergy feedstocks. Here, we evaluate how recent
      land cover change (2008-2013) has affected the availability of lands potentially
      suited for bioenergy feedstock production in the U.S. Lake States (Minnesota,
      Wisconsin, Michigan) and its impact on other natural ecosystems. The region is
      potentially well suited for a diversity of bioenergy production systems, both
      grasses and woody biomass, due to the widespread forest economy in the north and
      agricultural economy in the south. Based on remotely-sensed data, our results
      show that between 2008 and 2013, 836,000 ha of non-agricultural open lands were
      already converted to agricultural uses in the Lake States, a loss of nearly 37%.
      The greatest relative changes occurred in the southern half that includes some of
      the most diverse cultivable lands in the country. We use transition diagrams to
      reveal gross changes that can be obscured if only net change is considered. Our
      results indicate that expansion of row crops (corn, soybean) was responsible for
      the majority of open land loss. Even if recently lost open lands were brought
      into perennial feedstock production, there would a substantial carbon debt. This
      reduction in open land availability for biomass production is closing the window
      of opportunity to establish a sustainable cellulosic feedstock economy in the
      Lake States as mandated by current Federal policy, incurring a substantial GHG
      debt, and displacing a range of other natural ecosystems and their services. 

PMID- 26866473
TI  - Selenoprotein T Exerts an Essential Oxidoreductase Activity That Protects
      Dopaminergic Neurons in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - AIMS: Oxidative stress is central to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease
      (PD), but the mechanisms involved in the control of this stress in dopaminergic
      cells are not fully understood. There is increasing evidence that selenoproteins
      play a central role in the control of redox homeostasis and cell defense, but the
      precise contribution of members of this family of proteins during the course of
      neurodegenerative diseases is still elusive. RESULTS: We demonstrated first that
      selenoprotein T (SelT) whose gene disruption is lethal during embryogenesis,
      exerts a potent oxidoreductase activity. In the SH-SY5Y cell model of
      dopaminergic neurons, both silencing and overexpression of SelT affected
      oxidative stress and cell survival. Treatment with PD-inducing neurotoxins such
      as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or rotenone triggered SelT
      expression in the nigrostriatal pathway of wild-type mice, but provoked rapid and
      severe parkinsonian-like motor defects in conditional brain SelT-deficient mice.
      This motor impairment was associated with marked oxidative stress and
      neurodegeneration and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase activity and dopamine levels
      in the nigrostriatal system. Finally, in PD patients, we report that SelT is
      tremendously increased in the caudate putamen tissue. INNOVATION: These results
      reveal the activity of a novel selenoprotein enzyme that protects dopaminergic
      neurons against oxidative stress and prevents early and severe movement
      impairment in animal models of PD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that
      selenoproteins such as SelT play a crucial role in the protection of dopaminergic
      neurons against oxidative stress and cell death, providing insight into the
      molecular underpinnings of this stress in PD.

PMID- 26866476
TI  - Posttraumatic growth and perceived health: The role of posttraumatic stress
      symptoms.
AB  - The contested discourse regarding the nature of posttraumatic growth (PTG)
      includes 2 main competitive claims. The first argues that PTG reflects authentic
      positive transformation while the second posits that PTG reflects illusory
      defenses that could be maladaptive in the long run. The present study assesses
      these competing claims by investigating secondary PTG in relation to the somatic
      domain. Specifically, this study investigates: (a) the association between PTG,
      and perceived health (PH), as measured by 3 indices of somatic complaints, self
      rated health (SRH) and a number of health problems; (b) the association between
      PTG, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and PH over time; and (c) the mediating
      role of PTSS between PTG and PH, among wives of former prisoners of war (ex-POWs)
      and wives of control veterans. Assessments were conducted 30 (T1) and 38 (T2)
      years after the Yom Kippur War. Results showed that wives of ex-POWs endorsed
      higher PTSS, higher PTG and poorer PH, compared to control wives. Higher PTG was
      associated with higher PTSS and poorer PH. PTG at T1 predicted an increase in
      PTSS between T1 and T2, which in turn was correlated with poorer PH. PTSS at T2
      as well as changes in PTSS from T1 to T2 mediated the association between T1 PTG
      and T2 PH measures. The present findings imply that PTG might have negative
      implications on PH through the amplification of PTSS, among secondary trauma
      victims. It seems that although spouses of trauma victims describe benefits
      resulting from vicarious trauma exposures, their body indicates differently.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866475
TI  - Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Completion of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Can
      Accurately Discriminate between No Residual Carcinoma and Residual Ductal
      Carcinoma In Situ in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The accurate evaluation of favorable response to neoadjuvant
      chemotherapy (NCT) is critical to determine the extent of surgery. We
      investigated independent clinicopathological and radiological predictors to
      discriminate no residual carcinoma (ypT0) from residual ductal carcinoma in situ
      (ypTis) in breast cancer patients who received NCT. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Parameters of 117 patients attaining pathological complete response (CR) in the
      breast after NCT between January 2010 and December 2013 were retrospectively
      evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. All patients underwent
      mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after
      NCT. RESULTS: There were 67 (57.3%) patients with ypT0. These patients were
      associated with hormone receptor-negative status, human epidermal growth factor
      receptor-2 (HER2)-negative tumors, and a higher likelihood of breast-conservation
      surgery. Baseline mammographic and MRI presentation of the main lesion, absence
      of associated microcalcifications, shape, posterior features, and absence of
      calcifications on ultrasound were significantly associated with ypT0. CR in
      mammography, ultrasound, or MRI after NCT was also related to ypT0. By
      multivariate analysis, independent predictors of ypT0 were the triple-negative
      subtype [Odds ratio (OR), 4.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-16.09] and CR
      in MRI after NCT (OR, 5.23; 95% CI, 1.53-17.85). Stratified analysis by breast
      cancer subtype demonstrated that MRI well predicted ypT0 in all subtypes except
      the HER2-positive subtype. In particular, of 40 triple-negative subtypes, 22
      showed CR in MRI and 21 (95.5%) were ypT0 after NCT. CONCLUSION: Among imaging
      modalities, breast MRI can potentially distinguish between ypT0 and ypTis after
      NCT, especially in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. This information
      can help clinicians evaluate tumor response to NCT and plan surgery for breast
      cancer patients of all subtypes except for those with HER2-enriched tumors after
      NCT.

PMID- 26866477
TI  - Ethnic differences in problem perception: Immigrant mothers in a parenting
      intervention to reduce disruptive child behavior.
AB  - Ethnic minority families in Europe are underrepresented in mental health care-a
      profound problem for clinicians and policymakers. One reason for their
      underrepresentation seems that, on average, ethnic minority families tend to
      perceive externalizing and internalizing child behavior as less problematic.
      There is concern that this difference in problem perception might limit
      intervention effectiveness. We tested the extent to which ethnic differences in
      problem perception exist when ethnic minority families engage in mental health
      service and whether lower levels of problem perception diminish parenting
      intervention effects to reduce disruptive child behavior. Our sample included 136
      mothers of 3- to 8-year-olds (35% female) from the 3 largest ethnic groups in the
      Netherlands (43% Dutch; 35% Moroccan; 22% Turkish). Mothers reported on their
      child's externalizing and internalizing behavior and their perception of this
      behavior as problematic. They were then randomly assigned to the Incredible Years
      parenting intervention or a wait list control condition. We contrasted maternal
      reports of problem perception to teacher reports of the same children. Moroccan
      and Turkish mothers, compared with Dutch mothers, perceived similar levels of
      child behavior problems as less problematic, and as causing less impairment and
      burden. Teacher problem perception did not vary across children from different
      ethnic groups. Importantly, maternal problem perception did not affect parenting
      intervention effectiveness to reduce disruptive child behavior. Our findings
      suggest that ethnic differences in problem perception exist once families engage
      in treatment, but that lower levels of problem perception do not diminish
      treatment effects. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866478
TI  - Origin and Evolution of Rickettsial Plasmids.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rickettsia species are strictly intracellular bacteria that have
      undergone a reductive genomic evolution. Despite their allopatric lifestyle,
      almost half of the 26 currently validated Rickettsia species have plasmids. In
      order to study the origin, evolutionary history and putative roles of rickettsial
      plasmids, we investigated the evolutionary processes that have shaped 20 plasmids
      belonging to 11 species, using comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis
      between rickettsial, microbial and non-microbial genomes. RESULTS: Plasmids were
      differentially present among Rickettsia species. The 11 species had 1 to 4
      plasmid (s) with a size ranging from 12 kb to 83 kb. We reconstructed pRICO, the
      last common ancestor of the current rickettsial plasmids. pRICO was vertically
      inherited mainly from Rickettsia/Orientia chromosomes and diverged vertically
      into a single or multiple plasmid(s) in each species. These plasmids also
      underwent a reductive evolution by progressive gene loss, similar to that
      observed in rickettsial chromosomes, possibly leading to cryptic plasmids or
      complete plasmid loss. Moreover, rickettsial plasmids exhibited ORFans, recent
      gene duplications and evidence of horizontal gene transfer events with
      rickettsial and non-rickettsial genomes mainly from the alpha/gamma
      proteobacteria lineages. Genes related to maintenance and plasticity of plasmids,
      and to adaptation and resistance to stress mostly evolved under vertical and/or
      horizontal processes. Those involved in nucleotide/carbohydrate transport and
      metabolism were under the influence of vertical evolution only, whereas genes
      involved in cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, cycle control, amino
      acid/lipid/coenzyme and secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and
      metabolism underwent mainly horizontal transfer events. CONCLUSION: Rickettsial
      plasmids had a complex evolution, starting with a vertical inheritance followed
      by a reductive evolution associated with increased complexity via horizontal gene
      transfer as well as gene duplication and genesis. The plasmids are plastic and
      mosaic structures that may play biological roles similar to or distinct from
      their co-residing chromosomes in an obligate intracellular lifestyle.

PMID- 26866480
TI  - Considering Future Potential Regarding Structural Diversity in Selection of
      Forest Reserves.
AB  - A rich structural diversity in forests promotes biodiversity. Forests are dynamic
      and therefore it is crucial to consider future structural potential when
      selecting reserves, to make robust conservation decisions. We analyzed forests in
      boreal Sweden based on 17,599 National Forest Inventory (NFI) plots with the main
      aim to understand how effectiveness of reserves depends on the time dimension in
      the selection process, specifically by considering future structural diversity.
      In the study both the economic value and future values of 15 structural variables
      were simulated during a 100 year period. To get a net present structural value
      (NPSV), a single value covering both current and future values, we used four
      discounting alternatives: (1) only considering present values, (2) giving equal
      importance to values in each of the 100 years within the planning horizon, (3)
      applying an annual discount rate considering the risk that values could be lost,
      and (4) only considering the values in year 100. The four alternatives were
      evaluated in a reserve selection model under budget-constrained and area
      constrained selections. When selecting young forests higher structural richness
      could be reached at a quarter of the cost over almost twice the area in a budget
      constrained selection compared to an area-constrained selection. Our results
      point to the importance of considering future structural diversity in the
      selection of forest reserves and not as is done currently to base the selection
      on existing values. Targeting future values increases structural diversity and
      implies a relatively lower cost. Further, our results show that a re-orientation
      from old to young forests would imply savings while offering a more extensive
      reserve network with high structural qualities in the future. However, caution
      must be raised against a drastic reorientation of the current old-forest strategy
      since remnants of ancient forests will need to be prioritized due to their role
      for disturbance-sensitive species. 

PMID- 26866479
TI  - Inferring Growth Control Mechanisms in Growing Multi-cellular Spheroids of NSCLC
      Cells from Spatial-Temporal Image Data.
AB  - We develop a quantitative single cell-based mathematical model for multi-cellular
      tumor spheroids (MCTS) of SK-MES-1 cells, a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
      cell line, growing under various nutrient conditions: we confront the simulations
      performed with this model with data on the growth kinetics and spatial labeling
      patterns for cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM), cell distribution
      and cell death. We start with a simple model capturing part of the experimental
      observations. We then show, by performing a sensitivity analysis at each
      development stage of the model that its complexity needs to be stepwise increased
      to account for further experimental growth conditions. We thus ultimately arrive
      at a model that mimics the MCTS growth under multiple conditions to a great
      extent. Interestingly, the final model, is a minimal model capable of explaining
      all data simultaneously in the sense, that the number of mechanisms it contains
      is sufficient to explain the data and missing out any of its mechanisms did not
      permit fit between all data and the model within physiological parameter ranges.
      Nevertheless, compared to earlier models it is quite complex i.e., it includes a
      wide range of mechanisms discussed in biological literature. In this model, the
      cells lacking oxygen switch from aerobe to anaerobe glycolysis and produce
      lactate. Too high concentrations of lactate or too low concentrations of ATP
      promote cell death. Only if the extracellular matrix density overcomes a certain
      threshold, cells are able to enter the cell cycle. Dying cells produce a
      diffusive growth inhibitor. Missing out the spatial information would not permit
      to infer the mechanisms at work. Our findings suggest that this iterative data
      integration together with intermediate model sensitivity analysis at each model
      development stage, provide a promising strategy to infer predictive yet minimal
      (in the above sense) quantitative models of tumor growth, as prospectively of
      other tissue organization processes. Importantly, calibrating the model with two
      nutriment-rich growth conditions, the outcome for two nutriment-poor growth
      conditions could be predicted. As the final model is however quite complex,
      incorporating many mechanisms, space, time, and stochastic processes, parameter
      identification is a challenge. This calls for more efficient strategies of
      imaging and image analysis, as well as of parameter identification in stochastic
      agent-based simulations. 

PMID- 26866481
TI  - Long-Term Shedding of Influenza Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, Respiratory Syncytial
      Virus and Nosocomial Epidemiology in Patients with Hematological Disorders.
AB  - Respiratory viruses are a cause of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), but
      can be associated with severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in
      immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the
      genetic variability of influenza virus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory
      syncytial virus (RSV) and the duration of viral shedding in hematological
      patients. Nasopharyngeal swabs from hematological patients were screened for
      influenza, parainfluenza and RSV on admission as well as on development of
      respiratory symptoms. Consecutive swabs were collected until viral clearance. Out
      of 672 tested patients, a total of 111 patients (17%) were infected with one of
      the investigated viral agents: 40 with influenza, 13 with parainfluenza and 64
      with RSV; six patients had influenza/RSV or parainfluenza/RSV co-infections. The
      majority of infected patients (n = 75/111) underwent stem cell transplantation
      (42 autologous, 48 allogeneic, 15 autologous and allogeneic). LRTI was observed
      in 48 patients, of whom 15 patients developed severe LRTI, and 13 patients with
      respiratory tract infection died. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a variety of
      influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), influenza B, parainfluenza 3 and RSV A, B
      viruses. RSV A was detected in 54 patients, RSV B in ten patients. The newly
      emerging RSV A genotype ON1 predominated in the study cohort and was found in 48
      (75%) of 64 RSV-infected patients. Furthermore, two distinct clusters were
      detected for RSV A genotype ON1, identical RSV G gene sequences in these patients
      are consistent with nosocomial transmission. Long-term viral shedding for more
      than 30 days was significantly associated with prior allogeneic transplantation
      (p = 0.01) and was most pronounced in patients with RSV infection (n = 16) with a
      median duration of viral shedding for 80 days (range 35-334 days). Long-term
      shedding of respiratory viruses might be a catalyzer of nosocomial transmission
      and must be considered for efficient infection control in immunocompromised
      patients. 

PMID- 26866482
TI  - Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is Associated with the Airway Dominant
      Phenotype of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been shown to be a non-invasive
      marker that predicts the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been
      reported that the EAT volume is increased in patients with chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease (COPD). However, little is known about which phenotypes of COPD
      are associated with increased EAT. METHODS: One hundred and eighty smokers who
      were referred to the clinic were consecutively enrolled. A chest CT was used for
      the quantification of the emphysematous lesions, airway lesions, and EAT. These
      lesions were assessed as the percentage of low attenuation volume (LAV%), the
      square root of airway wall area of a hypothetical airway with an internal
      perimeter of 10 mm (?Aaw at Pi10) and the EAT area, respectively. The same
      measurements were made on 225 Vietnamese COPD patients to replicate the results.
      RESULTS: Twenty-six of the referred patients did not have COPD, while 105 were
      diagnosed as having COPD based on a FEV1/FVC<0.70. The EAT area was significantly
      associated with age, BMI, FEV1 (%predicted), FEV1/FVC, self-reported
      hypertension, self-reported CVD, statin use, LAV%, and ?Aaw at Pi10 in COPD
      patients. The multiple regression analyses showed that only BMI, self-reported
      CVD and ?Aaw at Pi10 were independently associated with the EAT area (R2 = 0.51,
      p<0.0001). These results were replicated in the Vietnamese population.
      CONCLUSIONS: The EAT area is independently associated with airway wall thickness.
      Because EAT is also an independent predictor of CVD risk, these data suggest a
      mechanistic link between the airway predominant form of COPD and CVD.

PMID- 26866483
TI  - Genotypic Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-Hemolysin Gene (hla) and Its
      Association with Clonal Background: Implications for Vaccine Development.
AB  - The alpha-hemolysin, encoded by the hla gene, is a major virulence factor in S.
      aureus infections. Changes in key amino acid residues of alpha-hemolysin can
      result in reduction, or even loss, of toxicity. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the diversity of the hla gene sequence and the relationship of hla
      variants to the clonal background of S. aureus isolates. A total of 47 clinical
      isolates from China were used in this study, supplemented with in silico analysis
      of 318 well-characterized whole genome sequences from globally distributed
      isolates. A total of 28 hla genotypes were found, including three unique to
      isolates from China, 20 found only in the global genomes and five found in both.
      The hla genotype generally correlated with the clonal background, particularly
      the multilocus sequence type, but was not related to geographic origin, host
      source or methicillin-resistance phenotype. In addition, the hla gene showed
      greater diversity than the seven loci utilized in the MLST scheme for S. aureus.
      Our investigation has provided genetic data which may be useful for future
      studies of toxicity, immunogenicity and vaccine development. 

PMID- 26866484
TI  - Premature Termination of MexR Leads to Overexpression of MexAB-OprM Efflux Pump
      in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in India.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to investigate the mutations that
      are present in mexR gene of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa collected from a tertiary referral hospital of north east India.
      METHODS: 76 MDR clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from the
      patients who were admitted to or attended the clinics of Silchar medical college
      and hospital. They were screened phenotypically for the presence of efflux pump
      activity by an inhibitor based method. Acquired resistance mechanisms were
      detected by multiplex PCR. Real time PCR was performed to study the expression of
      mexA gene of MexAB-OprM efflux pump in isolates with increase efflux pump
      activity. mexR gene of the isolates with overexpressed MexAB-OprM efflux pump was
      amplified, sequenced and analysed. RESULTS: Out of 76 MDR isolates, 24 were found
      to exhibit efflux pump activity phenotypically against ciprofloxacin and
      meropenem. Acquired resistance mechanisms were absent in 11 of them and among
      those isolates, 8 of them overexpressed MexAB-OprM. All the 8 isolates possessed
      mutation in mexR gene. 11 transversions, 4 transitions, 2 deletion mutations and
      2 insertion mutations were found in all the isolates. However, the most
      significant observation was the formation of a termination codon at 35th position
      which resulted in the termination of the polypeptide and leads to overexpression
      of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted emergence of a
      novel mutation which is probably associated with multi drug resistance.
      Therefore, further investigations and actions are needed to prevent or at least
      hold back the expansion and emergence of newer mutations in nosocomial pathogens
      which may compromise future treatment options.

PMID- 26866485
TI  - Interim Guidelines for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus - United
      States, 2016.
AB  - Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti
      mosquitoes (1,2). Infection with Zika virus is asymptomatic in an estimated 80%
      of cases (2,3), and when Zika virus does cause illness, symptoms are generally
      mild and self-limited. Recent evidence suggests a possible association between
      maternal Zika virus infection and adverse fetal outcomes, such as congenital
      microcephaly (4,5), as well as a possible association with Guillain-Barre
      syndrome. Currently, no vaccine or medication exists to prevent or treat Zika
      virus infection. Persons residing in or traveling to areas of active Zika virus
      transmission should take steps to prevent Zika virus infection through prevention
      of mosquito bites (http://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/). 

PMID- 26866486
TI  - G = E: What GWAS Can Tell Us about the Environment.
AB  - As our understanding of genetics has improved, genome-wide association studies
      (GWAS) have identified numerous variants associated with lifestyle behaviours and
      health outcomes. However, what is sometimes overlooked is the possibility that
      genetic variants identified in GWAS of disease might reflect the effect of
      modifiable risk factors as well as direct genetic effects. We discuss this
      possibility with illustrative examples from tobacco and alcohol research, in
      which genetic variants that predict behavioural phenotypes have been seen in GWAS
      of diseases known to be causally related to these behaviours. This consideration
      has implications for the interpretation of GWAS findings. 

PMID- 26866488
TI  - Bahman Jabbari, MD.

PMID- 26866489
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Neurology.

PMID- 26866487
TI  - Progress in methods for rare variant association.
AB  - Empirical studies and evolutionary theory support a role for rare variants in the
      etiology of complex traits. Given this motivation and increasing affordability of
      whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing, methods for rare variant association
      have been an active area of research for the past decade. Here, we provide a
      survey of the current literature and developments from the Genetics Analysis
      Workshop 19 (GAW19) Collapsing Rare Variants working group. In particular, we
      present the generalized linear regression framework and associated score
      statistic for the 2 major types of methods: burden and variance components
      methods. We further show that by simply modifying weights within these frameworks
      we arrive at many of the popular existing methods, for example, the cohort
      allelic sums test and sequence kernel association test. Meta-analysis techniques
      are also described. Next, we describe the 6 contributions from the GAW19
      Collapsing Rare Variants working group. These included development of new
      methods, such as a retrospective likelihood for family data, a method using
      genomic structure to compare cases and controls, a haplotype-based meta-analysis,
      and a permutation-based method for combining different statistical tests. In
      addition, one contribution compared a mega-analysis of family-based and
      population-based data to meta-analysis. Finally, the power of existing family
      based methods for binary traits was compared. We conclude with suggestions for
      open research questions. 

PMID- 26866490
TI  - Botulinum Toxin to Treat Neurogenic Bladder.
AB  - Alteration in neural control from suprapontine areas to the nerves innervating
      the bladder can lead to bladder dysfunction and the development of a neurogenic
      bladder (NGB). Patients with NGB often suffer from urinary incontinence, which
      can lead to adverse events such as urinary tract infections and decubiti, in
      addition to creating a large care burden for family members or healthcare
      providers and significantly impairing patient quality of life. The common failure
      of anticholinergic medications has spurned the development of second-line
      treatments, including the use of botulinum toxin. OnabotulinumtoxinA (onaBoNT-A;
      BOTOX, Allergan, Inc.) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
      (FDA) in 2011 to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with urinary
      incontinence resulting from a NGB. In this review the authors summarize pertinent
      results from key trials leading to FDA approval of onaBoNT-A as well as more
      recent long-term data. 

PMID- 26866491
TI  - The Botulinum Toxin as a Therapeutic Agent: Molecular Structure and Mechanism of
      Action in Motor and Sensory Systems.
AB  - Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum is the most potent
      molecule known to mankind. Higher potency of BoNT is attributed to several
      factors, including structural and functional uniqueness, target specificity, and
      longevity. Although BoNT is an extremely toxic molecule, it is now increasingly
      used for the treatment of disorders related to muscle hyperactivity and glandular
      hyperactivity. Weakening of muscles due to peripheral action of BoNT produces a
      therapeutic effect. Depending on the target tissue, BoNT can block the
      cholinergic neuromuscular or cholinergic autonomic innervation of exocrine glands
      and smooth muscles. In recent observations of the analgesic properties of BoNT,
      the toxin modifies the sensory feedback loop to the central nervous system.
      Differential effects of BoNT in excitatory and inhibitory neurons provide a
      unique therapeutic tool. In this review the authors briefly summarize the
      structure and mechanism of actions of BoNT on motor and sensory neurons to
      explain its therapeutic effects and future potential. 

PMID- 26866492
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Autonomic Disorders: Focal Hyperhidrosis and
      Sialorrhea.
AB  - Primary focal hyperhidrosis is a common autonomic disorder that significantly
      impacts quality of life. It is characterized by excessive sweating confined to
      circumscribed areas, such as the axillae, palms, soles, and face. Less frequent
      types of focal hyperhidrosis secondary to underlying causes include gustatory
      sweating in Frey's syndrome and compensatory sweating in Ross' syndrome and after
      sympathectomy. Approval of onabotulinumtoxinA for severe primary axillary
      hyperhidrosis in 2004 has revolutionized the treatment of this indication.
      Meanwhile further type A botulinum neurotoxins like abobotulinumtoxinA and
      incobotulinumtoxinA, as well as the type B botulinum neurotoxin
      rimabotulinumtoxinB are successfully used off-label for axillary and various
      other types of focal hyperhidrosis. For unexplained reasons, the duration of
      effect differs considerably at different sites. Beside hyperhidrosis, botulinum
      neurotoxin is also highly valued for the treatment of sialorrhea affecting
      patients with Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
      motor neuron disease, and other neurologic conditions. With correct dosing and
      application, side effects are manageable and transient. 

PMID- 26866493
TI  - Botulinum Toxin: Preparations for Clinical Use, Immunogenicity, Side Effects, and
      Safety Profile.
AB  - Botulinum toxin (BoNT) formulations are being used for a variety of medical
      applications. The use of BoNT preparations is continuously expanding with new
      formulations and indications. Of the seven antigenically distinct BoNTs, only two
      serotypes, type A and type B are commonly available for therapeutic use. The four
      available BoNT products are not equivalent and the knowledge of their
      formulations is crucial for product selection, avoidance of medication errors,
      therapeutic efficacy and safety. Generally, BoNT injection is a safe procedure
      when administered by an experienced injector. Side effects are always transient,
      and in the majority of cases they are mild and tolerable. 

PMID- 26866494
TI  - Voiding Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Voiding dysfunction is a common and debilitating consequence of multiple
      sclerosis (MS). The prevalence and severity of voiding dysfunction increases with
      the increasing severity of MS, but even the mildest forms of the disease are
      associated with urinary symptoms in 30% of patients. Every component of the
      central nervous system is involved in regulating voiding; as a result, MS can
      lead to a wide variety of urinary symptoms and urologic complications. The effect
      of MS on voiding can be classified according to the resulting function of the
      bladder and the urethral sphincter during storage and emptying of urine. Therapy
      is targeted to the specific bladder and sphincter abnormalities that occur. The
      primary goals of therapy are prevention of injury to the upper urinary tract
      (kidneys), reduction in urinary tract infections, and maintenance of urinary
      continence. These goals can be achieved by interventions ranging from behavioral
      modification to major reconstructive surgery.

PMID- 26866495
TI  - Update on the Use of Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Focal and Task-Specific
      Dystonias.
AB  - Focal dystonia is defined by anatomical distribution and represents a distinct
      entity from generalized dystonia. Task-specific dystonia occurs in the context of
      specific patterns of movement. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections are the
      treatment of choice in most cases. Several formulations are available; the
      approved indications, dosing, and some administration details, differ between
      them. The major forms of focal and task-specific dystonia are reviewed, along
      with the evidence for BoNT therapy, the expected benefit and side effects, and
      practical points guiding the injections. 

PMID- 26866496
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Cervical Dystonia.
AB  - The use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of cervical dystonia (CD) was first
      reported in 1985. Since then, four commercially available formulations have been
      approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in CD, including three
      botulinum toxin A formulations and one botulinum toxin B formulation. Recent
      clinical trials have generally demonstrated good efficacy and tolerability.
      Commonly reported side effects include dysphagia, muscle weakness, and dry mouth.
      Secondary nonresponse may develop, but the relationship of detected antibodies to
      clinical responsiveness remains unclear. Further research is needed into the
      treatment of complex subtypes of CD and the potential use of alternate botulinum
      toxin serotypes or subtypes with less immunogenic profiles. 

PMID- 26866497
TI  - Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Tremor and Tics.
AB  - The therapeutic applications of botulinum toxin (BoNT) have grown manifold since
      its initial approval in 1989 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the
      treatment of strabismus, blepharospasm, and other facial spasms. Although it is
      the most potent biologic toxin known to man, long-term studies have established
      its safety in the treatment of a variety of neurologic and nonneurologic
      disorders. Despite a paucity of randomized controlled trials, BoNT has been found
      to be beneficial in treating a variety of tremors and tics when used by
      clinicians skilled in the administration of the drug for these hyperkinetic
      movement disorders. Botulinum toxin injections can provide meaningful improvement
      in patients with localized tremors and tics; in some cases, they may be an
      alternative to other treatments with more undesirable adverse effects. 

PMID- 26866498
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Spasticity in Adults and Children.
AB  - Spasticity is a frequent symptom in stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral or
      spinal trauma, and cerebral palsy that affects and disables a large number of
      adults and children. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology and
      nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments of spasticity with emphasis on the
      role of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). The world literature is reviewed on double
      blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials reporting safety and efficacy of
      BoNT treatment in adult spasticity and spasticity of children with cerebral
      palsy. The evidence for efficacy is presented from recommendations of the
      Assessment and Therapeutics subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. A
      technical section describes the techniques and recommended doses of BoNTs in
      spasticity. 

PMID- 26866499
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.
AB  - Neuropathic pain (NP), a common form of human pain, often poorly responds to
      analgesic medications. In this review the authors discuss the pathophysiology and
      conventional treatment of neuropathic pain and provide evidenced-based statements
      on the efficacy of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in this form of pain. The level
      of efficacy for BoNT treatment in each category of NP is defined according to the
      published guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology. The data indicate that
      BoNT treatment (most of the literature is with onabotulinumtoxinA) is effective
      (level A evidence) in postherpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. It is
      probably effective (level B) in posttraumatic neuralgia and painful diabetic
      neuropathy. The data on complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome,
      occipital neuralgia, and phantom limb pain are preliminary and await conduction
      of randomized, blinded clinical trials. Much remains to be learned about the most
      effective dosage and technique of injection, optimum dilutions, and differences
      among BoNTs in the treatment of neuropathic pain. 

PMID- 26866500
TI  - Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Blepharospasm, Orofacial/Oromandibular Dystonia, and
      Hemifacial Spasm.
AB  - Blepharospasm is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary, repetitive eye
      closure. Orofacial and oromandibular dystonia describe involuntary dystonic
      movements of orofacial and oromandibular musculature. Hemifacial spasm is
      characterized by repetitive synchronous contraction of facial nerve innervated
      muscles on one side of the face. In this article, the clinical presentation,
      epidemiology, and approaches to treatment are reviewed. Technical aspects of
      using botulinum toxin for treatment and reported outcomes are discussed. 

PMID- 26866501
TI  - The Use of Botulinum Toxin in the Management of Headache Disorders.
AB  - Headache disorders can be further classified as episodic (< 15 headache days per
      month) or chronic (>= 15 headache days per month for more than 3 months). Chronic
      migraine (CM) requires that headaches occur on 15 or more days a month for more
      than 3 months. These headaches must be migraines on at least 8 days per month.
      There are seven botulinum toxin (BoNT) serotypes (A1, A2, A3, B, C1, D, E, F, and
      G). All serotypes inhibit acetylcholine release, although their intracellular
      target proteins, physiochemical characteristics, and potencies are different. Its
      mechanism of action in pain is being investigated. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT
      A) has been the most widely studied serotype for therapeutic purposes. A major
      clinical advantage of type A toxin arises from its prolonged duration of action
      due to the longevity of its protease (90 days in rats and probably much longer in
      human neurons). Clinical studies suggest that BoNT is a safe treatment and is
      efficacious for the prevention of some forms of migraine, such as CM, and perhaps
      high-frequency episodic migraine.

PMID- 26866502
TI  - Overcoming Strain-Induced Rearrangement Reactions: A Mild Dehydrative
      Aromatization Protocol for Synthesis of Highly Distorted p-Phenylenes.
AB  - A series of p-terphenyl-based macrocycles, containing highly distorted p
      phenylene units, have been synthesized. Biaryl bonds of the nonplanar p-terphenyl
      nuclei were constructed in the absence of Pd-catalyzed or Ni-mediated cross
      coupling reactions, using 1,4-diketones as surrogates to strained arene units. A
      streamlined synthetic protocol for the synthesis of 1,4-diketo macrocycles has
      been developed, using only 2.5 mol % of the Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation
      catalyst in both metathesis and transfer hydrogenation reactions. Under protic
      acid-mediated dehydrative aromatization conditions, the central and most strained
      benzene ring of the p-terphenyl systems was susceptible to rearrangement
      reactions. To overcome this, a dehydrative aromatization protocol using the
      Burgess reagent was developed. Under these conditions, no strain-induced
      rearrangement reactions occur, delivering p-phenylene units with up to 28.4
      kcal/mol strain energy and deformation angles that sum up to 40 degrees . 

PMID- 26866503
TI  - Population-Based Evidence that Survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is
      Related to Weight Loss at Diagnosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: In a population-based setting, we aimed to (i) describe weight
      loss (WL) of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients at the time of
      diagnosis and (ii) evaluate the association between WL and survival. METHODS: All
      patients recruited in the FRALim register (2000-2013) were considered to be
      included in this study. Time-to-death analyses were performed using a
      multivariable Cox model. Model discrimination and calibration were assessed.
      RESULTS: Among 322 patients in the register, 261 (81%) were included. At the time
      of diagnosis, 50.6% of patients reported a WL of more than 5%: 14.6% with WL
      between 5 and 10% and 36.0% with a WL of more than 10%. WL was independently
      associated with survival (p = 0.002). Patients with a WL of 10% or more
      experienced a 45% increase in the risk of death (95% CI 6-99) with respect to
      patients with a WL lower than 5% or no WL. The introduction of WL significantly
      improved the model's discrimination achieving a survival C statistic of 79.5%
      (95% CI 75.6-83.5, p = 0.006) at 12 months. CONCLUSION: More than 50% of ALS
      patients experience a WL of more than 5% at the time of diagnosis. This finding
      highlights the need for randomized trials to evaluate the effect of nutritional
      interventions to improve ALS survival.

PMID- 26866504
TI  - Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Improves the Predictive Power of GRACE Risk Score
      for Long-Term Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between platelet-to
      lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and GRACE risk score and to examine whether PLR on
      admission can improve the predictive value of GRACE risk score for cardiovascular
      disease (CVD) events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: PLR
      was calculated from the platelet and lymphocyte counts from the complete blood
      count of 2,230 ACS patients upon admission. The GRACE risk score was also
      calculated. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlation demonstrated that GRACE risk
      score was positively correlated with PLR (r = 0.190, p < 0.001). After a median
      follow-up period of 58 months, multivariate Cox analysis showed that both GRACE
      risk score [hazard ratio (HR) 1.092, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.067-1.117, p
      < 0.001] and PLR (HR 1.100, 95% CI 1.088-1.112, p < 0.001) could independently
      predict CVD events. Receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis proved
      that using PLR together with GRACE risk score improved the score from 0.70 (95%
      CI 0.67-0.73, p < 0.001) when used alone to 0.81 (95% CI 0.79-0.83, p < 0.001)
      for CVD events and from 0.73 (95% CI 0.70-0.77, p < 0.001) when used alone to
      0.80 (95% CI 0.77-0.83, p < 0.001) for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study proves, for the first time, a positive association between GRACE risk score
      and PLR, and that a combination of PLR and GRACE risk score is more effective in
      predicting CVD events in ACS patients.

PMID- 26866505
TI  - Multifrequency spectrum analysis using fully digital G Mode-Kelvin probe force
      microscopy.
AB  - Since its inception over two decades ago, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM)
      has become the standard technique for characterizing electrostatic,
      electrochemical and electronic properties at the nanoscale. In this work, we
      present a purely digital, software-based approach to KPFM utilizing big data
      acquisition and analysis methods. General mode (G-Mode) KPFM works by capturing
      the entire photodetector data stream, typically at the sampling rate limit,
      followed by subsequent de-noising, analysis and compression of the cantilever
      response. We demonstrate that the G-Mode approach allows simultaneous multi
      harmonic detection, combined with on-the-fly transfer function correction
      required for quantitative CPD mapping. The KPFM approach outlined in this work
      significantly simplifies the technique by avoiding cumbersome instrumentation
      optimization steps (i.e. lock in parameters, feedback gains etc), while also
      retaining the flexibility to be implemented on any atomic force microscopy
      platform. We demonstrate the added advantages of G-Mode KPFM by allowing
      simultaneous mapping of CPD and capacitance gradient (C') channels as well as
      increased flexibility in data exploration across frequency, time, space, and
      noise domains. G-Mode KPFM is particularly suitable for characterizing voltage
      sensitive materials or for operation in conductive electrolytes, and will be
      useful for probing electrodynamics in photovoltaics, liquids and ionic
      conductors. 

PMID- 26866506
TI  - Brief Report: Intensification to Triple Therapy After Treatment With Nonbiologic
      Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis in the United
      States From 2009 to 2014.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Several trials suggest that triple therapy (methotrexate,
      sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine) and biologic disease-modifying
      antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have similar efficacy in patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). This study was undertaken to investigate intensification to
      triple therapy after initial nonbiologic prescription among patients with RA.
      METHODS: The use of triple therapy among patients with RA in 2009-2014 was
      evaluated using US insurance claims data. Patients with a health care visit for
      RA and an initial nonbiologic DMARD prescription were included. Frequencies of
      intensification to triple therapy or a biologic DMARD and rates of
      intensification per 6-month time period were calculated. Using Cox regression, we
      evaluated whether sociodemographic, temporal, geographic, clinical, and health
      care utilization factors were associated with intensification to triple therapy.
      Among those patients whose therapy was intensified, we investigated factors
      associated with triple therapy use by logistic regression. Hazard ratios (HRs)
      with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for intensification to triple therapy in
      relation to various clinical and demographic factors were calculated. RESULTS:
      There were 24,576 patients with a mean +/- SD age of 50.3 +/- 12.3 years, and 78%
      were female. During the study period, treatment was intensified to biologic
      DMARDs in 2,739 patients (11.1%) compared to 181 patients (0.7%) whose treatment
      was intensified to triple therapy. There was no significant change in triple
      therapy use across calendar years. Patients whose treatment was intensified to
      triple therapy were more likely to receive glucocorticoids (HR 1.91 [95% CI 1.41
      2.60]) compared to patients who did not use glucocorticoids and were more likely
      to use nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10-1.99
      versus no NSAID use). Among those patients whose treatment was intensified to
      triple therapy or biologic DMARDs, factors significantly associated with triple
      therapy use included older age, US region (with the highest odds for triple
      therapy use in the West and lowest odds for triple therapy use in the Northeast),
      glucocorticoid use, and lower number of outpatient visits within 180 days of
      initial nonbiologic DMARD prescription. CONCLUSION: Despite reports published
      during the study period suggesting equivalent efficacy of triple therapy and
      biologic DMARDs for RA, the use of triple therapy was infrequent and did not
      increase over time in this large nationwide study.

PMID- 26866507
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26866508
TI  - Flaked sorghum biscuits increase postprandial GLP-1 and GIP levels and extend
      subjective satiety in healthy subjects.
AB  - SCOPE: Sorghum grain components may play a role in mechanisms that protect
      against development of obesity-related chronic diseases. We conducted a
      randomized, cross-over trial (40 healthy subjects) using whole grain sorghum
      flaked biscuits to investigate mechanisms related to satiety. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Subjects were tested on four occasions after a 12-h fast. At baseline,
      they consumed 50 grams of one of four treatment meals: white, red, or brown
      sorghum biscuits or a wheat control. Subjective satiety was measured at 8 time
      points over four hours. In a subset of 20 subjects, plasma glucose, insulin,
      gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide
      tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), and ghrelin were measured. Subjects reported
      significantly lower subjective satiety ratings after consuming wheat compared to
      sorghum biscuits. Incremental area under the plasma concentration-time curve of
      postprandial GLP-1, GIP and in males, PYY, were significantly higher (p = 0.018,
      p = 0.031, p = 0.036, respectively) for sorghum breakfasts compared to wheat.
      Energy intake at a subsequent meal did not differ between treatments.
      CONCLUSIONS: Sorghum whole grain is a promising novel ingredient in foods
      targeting satiety as an adjunct for weight control. Evidence is now required from
      randomized controlled trials that aim to examine specific effects on health
      outcomes from a sorghum-enriched intervention diet.

PMID- 26866509
TI  - Molecular Cloning and Expression Determination of p38 MAPK from the Liver and
      Kidney of Silver Carp.
AB  - The sequence of p38MAPK in silver carp (Hm-p38a) was cloned and sequenced.
      Additionally, the acute toxicity of crude microcystins (MCs) on silver carp and
      induction expression of Hm-p38a by MCs exposure were also determined in this
      study. The results reveal that the length of Hm-p38a is 2418 bp and it contains a
      1086 bp open reading frame. Hm-p38a could encode 361 amino acids. Sequence
      analysis indicates that Hm-p38a contains the conserved structures of Thr-Gly-Tyr
      motif and substrate binding site Ala-Thr-Arg-Trp, and it is highly conserved in
      fish. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Hm-p38a is more closely related to fish
      than mammals and it belongs to p38alpha subfamily. Moreover, Hm-p38a in silver
      carp is constitutively expressed in all examined tissues. In addition, our
      results indicate that MCs exposure significantly promotes the transcription of Hm
      p38a in fish liver or kidney, suggesting that mitogen-activated protein kinase
      should also be the signal pathway of MCs hepatotoxicity in fish. 

PMID- 26866510
TI  - Helicobacter pylori-negative and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-negative
      idiopathic peptic ulcers show refractoriness and high recurrence incidence:
      Multicenter follow-up study of peptic ulcers in Japan.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori-negative and non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-negative idiopathic peptic ulcers (IPU) have
      attracted attention in Japan and other developed countries. The aim of the
      present study was to clarify the healing rate of IPU and the risk of recurrence.
      METHODS: We conducted a retrospective follow-up study of patients with peptic
      ulcer disease (PUD) who were diagnosed in our previous multicenter-prospective
      study. Three hundred and eighty-two patients from four institutions in the Tohoku
      district were enrolled. Enrolled subjects were divided into four groups according
      to H. pylori infection and intake of NSAIDs. In these patients, we checked
      treatment course, healing rate during 3 months, and recurrence rate. RESULTS:
      Healing rates in the: (i) simple H. pylori group; (ii) H. pylori (+)/ NSAIDs (+)
      group, (iii) simple NSAIDs group; and (iv) IPU group, were 95.0%, 94.9%, 73.3%,
      and 77.4%, respectively. The healing rate of the IPU group was significantly
      lower than that of both the simple H. pylori group and the H. pylori (+)/ NSAIDs
      (+) group (P < 0.01). The recurrence rate of 13.9% in the IPU group was much
      higher than the 2.1% in the simple H. pylori group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the
      cumulative recurrence rates by the Kaplan-Meier method in the IPU group were
      significantly higher than those of the simple H. pylori group (P = 0.015).
      CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the clinical course of peptic ulcers is
      considerably different depending on the cause. IPU could be refractory to
      treatment and prone to recur compared with simple H. pylori ulcers.

PMID- 26866511
TI  - Fractional ventilation mapping using inert fluorinated gas MRI in rat models of
      inflammation and fibrosis.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to extend established methods for fractional
      ventilation mapping using (19) F MRI of inert fluorinated gases to rat models of
      pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. In this study, five rats were instilled with
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the lungs two days prior to imaging, six rats were
      instilled with bleomycin in the lungs two weeks prior to imaging and an
      additional four rats were used as controls. (19) F MR lung imaging was performed
      at 3 T with rats continuously breathing a mixture of sulfur hexafluoride and O2 .
      Fractional ventilation maps were obtained using a wash-out approach, by switching
      the breathing mixture to pure O2 , and acquiring images following each successive
      wash-out breath. The mean fractional ventilation (r) was 0.29 +/- 0.05 for
      control rats, 0.23 +/- 0.10 for LPS-instilled rats and 0.19 +/- 0.03 for
      bleomycin-instilled rats. Bleomycin-instilled rats had a significantly decreased
      mean r value compared with controls (P = 0.010). Although LPS-instilled rats had
      a slightly reduced mean r value, this trend was not statistically significant (P
      = 0.556). Fractional ventilation gradients were calculated in the
      anterior/posterior (A/P) direction, and the mean A/P gradient was -0.005 +/-
      0.008 cm(-1) for control rats, 0.013 +/- 0.005 cm(-1) for LPS-instilled rats and
      0.009 +/- 0.018 cm(-1) for bleomycin-instilled rats. Fractional ventilation
      gradients were significantly different for control rats compared with LPS
      instilled rats only (P = 0.016). The ventilation gradients calculated from
      control rats showed the expected gravitational relationship, while ventilation
      gradients calculated from LPS- and bleomycin-instilled rats showed the opposite
      trend. Histology confirmed that LPS-instilled rats had a significantly elevated
      alveolar wall thickness, while bleomycin-instilled rats showed signs of
      substantial fibrosis. Overall, (19)F MRI may be able to detect the effects of
      pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis using a simple and inexpensive imaging
      approach that can potentially be translated to humans.

PMID- 26866512
TI  - End-of-life care pathways for improving outcomes in caring for the dying.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This is an updated version of a Cochrane review published in Issue
      11, 2013 in the Cochrane Library. In many clinical areas, integrated care
      pathways are utilised as structured multidisciplinary care plans that detail
      essential steps in caring for patients with specific clinical problems. In
      particular, care pathways for the dying have been developed as a model to improve
      care of patients who are in the last days of life. The care pathways were
      designed with an aim of ensuring that the most appropriate management occurs at
      the most appropriate time, and that it is provided by the most appropriate health
      professional. Since the last update, there have been sustained concerns about the
      safety of implementing end-of-life care pathways, particularly in the United
      Kingdom (UK). Therefore, there is a significant need for clinicians and policy
      makers to be informed about the effects of end-of-life care pathways via a
      systematic review. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of end-of-life care
      pathways, compared with usual care (no pathway) or with care guided by another
      end-of-life care pathway across all healthcare settings (e.g. hospitals,
      residential aged care facilities, community).In particular, we aimed to assess
      the effects on symptom severity and quality of life of people who are dying, or
      those related to the care, such as families, carers and health professionals, or
      a combination of these. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register
      of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Cochrane Library; 2015, Issue 6), MEDLINE, EMBASE,
      PsycINFO, CINAHL, review articles, trial registries and reference lists of
      relevant articles. We conducted the original search in September 2009, and the
      second updated search in July 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled
      trials (RCTs), quasi-randomised trials or high quality controlled before-and
      after studies comparing use versus non-use of an end-of-life care pathway in
      caring for the dying. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors
      independently assessed the results of the searches against the predetermined
      criteria for inclusion, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data. We used
      standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We
      screened 3028 titles, and included one Italian cluster RCT with 16 general
      medicine wards (inpatient units in hospitals) and 232 carers of cancer patients
      in this updated review. We judged the study to be at a high risk of bias overall,
      mainly due to a lack of blinding and rates of attrition. Only 34% of the
      participants (range 14% to 75% on individual wards) were cared for in accordance
      with the care pathway as planned. However, these issues were to be expected due
      to the nature of the intervention and condition. The study population was all
      cancer patients in their last days of life. Participants were allocated to care
      using the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP-I, Italian version of a continuous quality
      improvement programme of end-of-life care) or to standard care. The primary
      outcomes of this review were physical symptom severity, psychological symptom
      severity, quality of life, and any adverse effects. Physical symptom severity was
      assessed as overall control of pain, breathlessness, and nausea and vomiting.
      There was very low quality evidence of a difference in overall control of
      breathlessness that favoured the Liverpool Care Pathway group compared to usual
      care: the study reported an odds ratio (OR) of 2.0 with 95% confidence intervals
      (CIs) 1.1 to 3.8. Very low quality evidence of no difference was found for pain
      (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7 to 2.6, P = 0.461) and nausea and vomiting (OR 1.5, 95% CI
      0.7 to 3.2, P = 0.252). None of the other primary outcomes were assessed by the
      study. Limited data on advance care planning were collected by the study authors,
      making results for this secondary outcome unreliable. None of our other secondary
      outcomes were assessed by the study. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is limited
      available evidence concerning the clinical, physical, psychological or emotional
      effectiveness of end-of-life care pathways.

PMID- 26866513
TI  - A Molecular Analysis of the Shared Epitope Hypothesis: Binding of Arthritogenic
      Peptides to DRB1*04 Alleles.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The shared epitope hypothesis posits that amino acids QR/KRAA in
      positions 70-74 of the DRBeta1 chain are responsible for rheumatoid arthritis
      susceptibility. However, even DRB1*04 alleles containing the shared epitope vary
      greatly with respect to degrees of susceptibility. This study was undertaken to
      conduct a molecular examination of the shared epitope hypothesis by measuring
      binding of arthritogenic peptides to susceptibility and resistance alleles.
      METHODS: We measured binding of native and citrullinated forms of vimentin(66-78)
      and alpha-enolase(11-25) and noncitrullinated type II collagen(258-272) to 88
      class II alleles on Luminex beads (which includes alleles of many varying degrees
      of susceptibility and resistance). We expressed DRBeta1*04:01, *04:02, and *08:01
      in T2 cells and mutated DRBeta1*04:01 at positions 67, 70, 71, 74, and 86 to
      corresponding residues in DRB1*04:02, *04:03, *04:04, *04:05, and *08:01.
      Finally, we measured responses of 4 DRBeta1*04:01 restricted collagen(258-272) T
      cell hybridomas against wild-type DRBeta1*04:01, *04:02, and all mutated alleles.
      RESULTS: The most susceptible allele, DRBeta1*04:01, preferentially bound
      citrullinated vimentin(66-78) and citrullinated alpha-enolase(11-25) over the
      native forms. DRBeta1*04:02 exhibited no preference for citrullinated peptides,
      and *08:01 preferred native peptides. Similarly, DRB1*04:01 bound collagen(258
      272) , but *04:02 and *08:01 did not. Mutating DRBeta1*04:01 at positions 70, 71,
      74, and 86 to the corresponding residues in DRBeta1*04:02 or *08:01 dramatically
      reduced the specificity for citrullinated peptides and collagen(258-272) binding.
      CONCLUSION: These observations demonstrate that while amino acids at positions
      70, 71, and 74 within the shared epitope in DRBeta1 mediate binding and T cell
      responses of arthritogenic peptides, position 86 outside the shared epitope also
      plays a critical role.

PMID- 26866514
TI  - How Critical is Tele-Medicine to the Rheumatology Workforce?

PMID- 26866515
TI  - Current management strategies and long-term clinical outcomes of upper extremity
      venous thrombosis.
AB  - Essentials Few data exist on outcome of upper extremity deep and superficial vein
      thrombosis (UEDVT and UESVT). We followed 102 and 55 patients with UEDVT or
      UESVT, respectively, for a median of 3.5 years. Risk of recurrent venous
      thromboembolism was low in both diseases, and the mortality high. Postthrombotic
      symptoms were infrequent and cancer patients had a higher risk of recurrent VTE.
      SUMMARY: Background There is scant information on the optimal management and
      clinical outcome of deep and superficial vein thrombosis of the upper extremity
      (UEDVT and UESVT). Objectives To explore treatment strategies and the incidence
      of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), mortality, postthrombotic symptoms,
      and bleeding in patients with UEDVT and UESVT and to assess the prognosis of
      cancer patients with UEDVT. Patients/methods Follow-up of patients with UEDVT or
      UESVT, who were enrolled previously in a diagnostic management study. Results We
      followed 102 and 55 patients with UEDVT and UESVT, respectively, both for a
      median of 3.5 years. Anticoagulant treatment was started in 100 patients with
      UEDVT (98%) and in 40 (73%) with UESVT. Nine patients with UEDVT (9%) developed
      recurrent VTE, 26 (26%) died, 6 (8%) of 72 patients had moderate postthrombotic
      symptoms, and 5 (5%) experienced major bleeding. One patient with UESVT had a
      recurrent VTE, 18 (33%) died, none had moderate postthrombotic symptoms, and none
      had major bleeding. Of the cancer patients with UEDVT, 18% had recurrent VTE vs.
      7.5% in non-cancer patients (adjusted hazard ratio 2.2, 95%CI 0.6-8.2). The
      survival rate was 50% in cancer patients with UEDVT vs. 60% in those without
      (adjusted HR 0.8, 95%CI 0.4-1.4). Conclusions The risk of recurrent VTE was low
      in patients with UEDVT, and negligible for UESVT. Mortality was high for both
      diseases. Postthrombotic symptoms were infrequent and mild. Anticoagulant therapy
      of UEDVT carried a substantial risk of major bleeding. Cancer patients had a
      significant risk of recurrent VTE.

PMID- 26866516
TI  - Brief Report: Predicting Functional Disability: One-Year Results From the
      Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Inception Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify baseline prognostic indicators of disability at 1 year
      within a contemporary early inflammatory arthritis inception cohort and then
      develop a clinically useful tool to support early patient education and decision
      making. METHODS: The Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) inception cohort
      is a multicenter, prospective study of patients with newly presenting RA or
      undifferentiated arthritis. SERA data were analyzed to determine baseline
      predictors of disability (defined as a Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ]
      score of >=1) at 1 year. Clinical and psychosocial baseline exposures were
      entered into a forward stepwise logistic regression model. The model was
      externally validated using newly accrued SERA data and subsequently converted
      into a prediction tool. RESULTS: Of the 578 participants (64.5% female), 36.7% (n
      = 212) reported functional disability at 1 year. Functional disability was
      independently predicted by baseline disability (odds ratio [OR] 2.67 [95%
      confidence interval (95% CI) 1.98, 3.59]), depression (OR 2.52 [95% CI 1.18,
      5.37]), anxiety (OR 2.37 [95% CI 1.33, 4.21]), being in paid employment with
      absenteeism during the last week (OR 1.19 [95% CI 0.63, 2.23]), not being in paid
      employment (OR 2.36 [95% CI 1.38, 4.03]), and being overweight (OR 1.61 [95% CI
      1.04, 2.50]). External validation (using 113 newly acquired patients) evidenced
      good discriminative performance with a C statistic of 0.74, and the calibration
      slope showed no evidence of model overfit (P = 0.31). CONCLUSION: In the context
      of modern early inflammatory arthritis treatment paradigms, predictors of
      disability at 1 year appear to be dominated by psychosocial rather than more
      traditional clinical measures. This indicates the potential benefit of early
      access to nonpharmacologic interventions targeting key psychosocial factors, such
      as mental health and work disability.

PMID- 26866517
TI  - Plant Homeo Domain Finger Protein 8 Regulates Mesodermal and Cardiac
      Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells Through Mediating the Histone
      Demethylation of pmaip1.
AB  - Histone demethylases have emerged as key regulators of biological processes. The
      H3K9me2 demethylase plant homeo domain finger protein 8(PHF8), for example, is
      involved in neuronal differentiation, but its potential function in the
      differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to cardiomyocytes is poorly
      understood. Here, we explored the role of PHF8 during mesodermal and cardiac
      lineage commitment of mouse ESCs (mESCs). Using a phf8 knockout (ph8(-/Y) )
      model, we found that deletion of phf8 in ESCs did not affect self-renewal,
      proliferation or early ectodermal/endodermal differentiation, but it did promote
      the mesodermal lineage commitment with the enhanced cardiomyocyte
      differentiation. The effects were accompanied by a reduction in apoptosis through
      a caspase 3-independent pathway during early ESC differentiation, without
      significant differences between differentiating wide-type (ph8(+/Y) ) and ph8(
      /Y) ESCs in cell cycle progression or proliferation. Functionally, PHF8 promoted
      the loss of a repressive mark H3K9me2 from the transcription start site of a
      proapoptotic gene pmaip1 and activated its transcription. Furthermore, knockdown
      of pmaip1 mimicked the phenotype of ph8(-/Y) by showing the decreased apoptosis
      during early differentiation of ESCs and promoted mesodermal and cardiac
      commitment, while overexpression of pmaip1 or phf8 rescued the phenotype of ph8(
      /Y) ESCs by increasing the apoptosis and weakening the mesodermal and cardiac
      differentiation. These results reveal that the histone demethylase PHF8 regulates
      mesodermal lineage and cell fate decisions in differentiating mESCs through
      epigenetic control of the gene critical to programmed cell death pathways. Stem
      Cells 2016;34:1527-1540.

PMID- 26866518
TI  - Secukinumab improves patient-reported psoriasis symptoms of itching, pain, and
      scaling: results of two phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Secukinumab is a human interleukin-17A antagonist indicated for the
      treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for
      systemic therapy or phototherapy. The objective of this analysis was to measure
      the treatment response on psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling via the
      Psoriasis Symptom Diary (PSD)((c)). METHODS: ERASURE (n = 738) and FIXTURE (n =
      1306) were double-blind, multicenter phase 3 studies in adults randomized to
      secukinumab (300, 150 mg, n = 1144) or placebo (n = 574) (administered at Weeks
      0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, followed by dosing every 4 weeks) or a biologic active control
      (FIXTURE only). Patient-reported itching, pain, and scaling were assessed during
      the first 12 weeks of treatment using the PSD. The results reported here are
      limited to subjects in the secukinumab and placebo treatment groups who completed
      the PSD. The proportions of subjects achieving prespecified responses
      (improvement:reduction of at least 2.2 points for itching, 2.2 points for pain,
      or 2.3 points for scaling) were compared for secukinumab versus placebo. RESULTS:
      Overall, 39% of subjects completed the PSD at baseline and Week 12 (n = 453
      secukinumab; 225 placebo). Subjects treated with secukinumab achieved
      significantly greater improvements in itching, pain, and scaling at Week 12
      versus placebo (all P < 0.0001) and had significantly greater proportions of
      itching, pain, and scaling responders at Week 12 versus placebo (all P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Secukinumab significantly improves patient-reported itching, pain,
      and scaling in adults with moderate to severe psoriasis compared with placebo.

PMID- 26866519
TI  - Development of an Asian American parental racial-ethnic socialization scale.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To develop a measure of parental racial-ethnic socialization that is
      appropriate for Asian American families. METHOD: To test the reliability and
      validity of this new measure, we surveyed 575 Asian American emerging adults (49%
      female, 79% U.S. born). RESULTS: Using exploratory and confirmatory factor
      analyses, the results show 7 reliable subscales: maintenance of heritage culture,
      becoming American, awareness of discrimination, avoidance of other groups,
      minimization of race, promotion of equality, and cultural pluralism. Tests of
      factorial invariance show that overall, the subscales demonstrate, at minimum,
      partial metric invariance across gender, age, nativity, educational attainment,
      parent educational attainment, geographic region of residence, and Asian-heritage
      region. Thus, the relations among the subscales with other variables can be
      compared across these different subgroups. The subscales also correlated with
      ethnic identity, ethnic centrality, perceptions of discrimination, and
      pluralistic orientation, demonstrating construct validity. CONCLUSION: In an
      increasingly complex and diverse social world, our scale will be useful for
      gaining a better understanding of how Asian American parents socialize their
      children regarding issues of race, discrimination, culture, and diversity.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866520
TI  - The culture of mentoring: Ethnocultural empathy and ethnic identity in mentoring
      for minority girls.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Many mentoring programs place minority group mentees with majority
      group mentors. These programs aim to promote beneficial outcomes for their
      diverse participants. The present study explores mentors of color and White
      mentors' ethnocultural empathy and ethnic identities in association with their
      minority group mentees' ethnic identities. METHOD: Our study examined 95
      mentoring pairs of middle school girls of color and college student women from
      both majority and minority group cultural backgrounds. RESULTS: A series of
      linear regressions revealed an association between mentors' ethnocultural empathy
      and EI exploration/commitment and minority group mentees' ethnic identity
      exploration, regardless of the mentors' majority group status. CONCLUSIONS: The
      results of this preliminary study suggest that mentors' cultural identity and
      empathy may be linked with mentees' willingness to explore their own ethnic
      identities. We discuss the implications for mentoring programs that seek to build
      participants' ethnic identities and ethnocultural empathy. (PsycINFO Database
      Record

PMID- 26866521
TI  - Glucose control in acute brain injury: does it matter?
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Alterations of blood glucose levels are secondary insults with
      detrimental consequences for the injured brain. Here, we review various aspects
      of brain glucose metabolism and analyze the evidence on glycemic control during
      acute brain injury. RECENT FINDINGS: An essential component in the overall
      management of acute brain injury, especially during the acute phase, is
      maintaining adequate and appropriate control of serum glucose. This is one of the
      few physiological parameters that is modifiable. Hypoglycemia should be
      rigorously avoided. However, intensive insulin therapy is associated with
      unacceptable rates of hypoglycemia and metabolic crisis, and does not necessarily
      provide benefit. Hyperglycemia is harmful to the injured brain as it compromises
      microcirculatory blood flow, increases blood-brain barrier permeability, and
      promotes inflammation. In addition, it triggers osmotic diuresis, hypovolemia,
      and immunosuppression. SUMMARY: Glucose is the primary energy substrate for the
      brain. During injury, the brain increases its needs and is vulnerable to glucose
      deficit. In these situations, alternative fuel can be lactate, which has
      potential implications for future research. In this review, various
      pathophysiological aspects of glucose metabolism during acute brain injury, as
      well as the risks, causes, and consequences of glucose deficiency or excess, will
      be discussed.

PMID- 26866522
TI  - Postpartum Weight Retention and Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes.
AB  - The effects of postpartum weight retention on gestational weight gain in
      successive pregnancies require elucidation. The purpose of the study was (1) to
      examine the association between postpartum weight retention and subsequent
      adherence to the Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain guidelines and (2)
      to determine whether the association varies by body mass index status and affects
      birth outcomes. Florida vital records for 2005-2010 were analyzed using chi tests
      and multivariable Poisson regression, adjusted for interpregnancy interval,
      tobacco use, maternal age, and race/ethnicity. Obese women who gained inadequate
      weight were more likely to retain weight between pregnancies than obese women who
      met or exceeded the recommended weight gain. Risks for preterm birth increased
      among women with inadequate weight and decreased among women with excessive
      weight gain. Gaining excessive weight was protective for small-for-gestational
      age infants in all body mass index categories but increased the risks for large
      for-gestational age infants. Underweight and normal weight women who gained in
      excess were 40% more likely to develop hypertension than normal weight women who
      gained within the recommended amount. Obese women who retain or gain weight
      postpartum are at increased risk for inadequate weight gain in a successive
      pregnancy. Achieving Institute of Medicine-recommended gestational weight gain is
      essential for preventing adverse maternal and infant outcomes.

PMID- 26866523
TI  - Hepatitis B and C prevalence in Portugal: disparity between the general
      population and high-risk groups.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in Portugal has been
      shown to be elevated in high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug-users and
      incarcerated individuals. However, in the general population, prevalence remains
      largely unknown. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti
      HCV and HBsAg in the general Portuguese population and identify associated risk
      factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a nationwide, population-based
      cross-sectional study of adults resident in mainland Portugal. Serology for
      HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV was performed. Anti-HCV-positive
      individuals were tested for HCV RNA by PCR. RESULTS: Of 1685 participants, 50.6%
      were men, mean age 50.2+/-18.3 years. In terms of hepatitis C, the prevalence of
      anti-HCV was 0.54% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-0.9] and 0.12% (95% CI: 0.0
      0.3) were viremic, with peak prevalence among individuals 35-64 years of age
      (0.8%), men (0.8%), and individuals from Lisbon and Tagus Valley region (1.9%).In
      terms of hepatitis B, the estimated prevalence of HBsAg was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.9
      2.0). A higher prevalence was found in individuals who were 35-64 years old
      (2.2%), in men (2.5%), and in the Northern region (2.6%).The presence of positive
      serological markers of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus infection did not
      correlate with elevated aminotransferases, race, place of birth, and alcohol
      consumption. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a low endemicity for both
      hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the general population, in contrast to a very high
      prevalence in risk groups, thus suggesting that targeted screening to high-risk
      groups may be more cost-effective than general population screening.

PMID- 26866524
TI  - Management of gastric varices: a French national survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bleeding from gastric varices is more severe than that from
      esophageal varices, but its management remains debated. We aimed to determine how
      French hepatogastroenterologists manage cirrhotic patients with gastric varices.
      METHODS: Hepatogastroenterologists (n=1163) working in general or university
      hospitals received a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 155
      hepatogastroenterologists (13.3%) from 112 centers (33.3%; 39/40 university
      hospitals, 73/296 general hospitals) answered. Primary prophylaxis was used by
      98.1% of hepatogastroenterologists as follows: beta-blockers 96.1% (93.8 vs.
      97.0%; university vs. general hospitals respectively; P=0.57), glue obliteration
      16.9% (17.2 vs. 16.3%; P=0.88), and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
      (TIPS) 8.0% (12.7 vs. 4.6%; P=0.12). To manage bleeding, university hospitals had
      greater local access to glue obliteration (95.4 vs. 68.2%; P<0.001) and TIPS
      (78.5 vs. 3.5%; P<0.001). Early TIPS was proposed by 53.6% (72.1 vs. 39.2%;
      P<0.001). Glue obliteration was performed under general anesthesia (86.1%) using
      Glubran (43.1%) or Histoacryl (52.9%), and lipiodol (78.8%) with varying degrees
      of dilution (1 : 10 to 3 : 4). The injected volume per varix varied widely (1-20
      ml). Glue obliteration, band ligation, or both were used by, respectively, 64.2,
      18.2, and 17.5% of practitioners. Almost all hepatogastroenterologists (98%)
      performed secondary prophylaxis: beta-blockers 74.7% (75.0 vs. 74.4%, university
      vs. general hospitals; P=0.93), glue obliteration 66.0% (76.9 vs. 57.6%;
      P=0.013), and TIPS 30.0% (39.1 vs. 23.3%; P=0.037). CONCLUSION: The management of
      gastric varices in France is heterogeneous across centers. University hospitals
      have better access to techniques such as glue obliteration and TIPS. As bleeding
      from gastric varices has a poor outcome, guidelines should be established to
      standardize clinical practices and design further studies.

PMID- 26866525
TI  - PHOTORECEPTOR OUTER SEGMENT LENGTH AND OUTER FOVEAL THICKNESS AS FACTORS
      ASSOCIATED WITH VISUAL OUTCOME AFTER VITRECTOMY FOR VITREOMACULAR TRACTION
      SYNDROME.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the predictive factors for postoperative best-corrected
      visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with vitreomacular traction syndrome treated
      with vitrectomy. METHODS: The records of 21 patients with 21 eyes that underwent
      vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction syndrome and followed for at least 12
      months were retrospectively reviewed. The BCVA and spectral domain optical
      coherence tomography findings were investigated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6,
      and 12 months postoperatively. Axial length was measured preoperatively. The
      correlations between 12-month postoperative BCVA and preoperative parameters,
      including BCVA, age, axial length, central foveal thickness, outer foveal
      thickness, and photoreceptor outer segment length, were evaluated. RESULTS:
      Twelve-month postoperative BCVA was significantly negatively correlated with
      preoperative outer foveal thickness and photoreceptor outer segment length (outer
      foveal thickness: P = 0.029, r = -0.501; photoreceptor outer segment length: P =
      0.022, r = -0.523, respectively) but not correlated with age, axial length,
      preoperative BCVA, and preoperative central foveal thickness (age: P = 0.346, r =
      0.216; axial length: P = 0.333, r = 0.242; BCVA: P = 0.202, r = 0.290; central
      foveal thickness: P = 0.065, r = -0.410, respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative
      outer foveal thickness and photoreceptor outer segment length could be good
      predictive factors of postoperative BCVA in patients with vitreomacular traction
      syndrome.

PMID- 26866526
TI  - INDUCTION OF MACULAR DETACHMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERSISTENT OR RECURRENT
      IDIOPATHIC MACULAR HOLES.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze the efficacy of induced macular detachment for the treatment
      of persistent or recurrent idiopathic macular holes after treatment with one or
      more standard pars plana vitrectomies (PPVs) with internal limiting membrane
      peeling. METHODS: This study is a retrospective consecutive case series of 10
      patients who underwent a PPV with subretinal balanced salt solution injection
      from 2011 to 2014 to treat persistent or recurrent idiopathic macular holes. All
      patients had previously undergone PPV with internal limiting membrane peeling.
      Visual acuity, ocular examination findings, and optical coherence tomographic
      images were reviewed preoperatively and postoperatively to assess the anatomical
      and visual outcomes of this procedure. RESULTS: Nine of the 10 patients who
      underwent the procedure had closure of their macular holes postoperatively (90%)
      and remained closed 6 months postoperatively. Most patients reported a subjective
      visual improvement. A mean objective visual improvement of 16 letters (Early
      Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, 0.324 logMAR) was seen between preoperative
      and 6-month postoperative assessments of all patients (pre = 1.490, post = 1.166;
      P = 0.022). Subgroup analysis of patients with successful closure revealed 20
      letters of improvement (0.398 logMAR) in visual acuity (pre = 1.491, post =
      1.093; P = 0.004). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.
      CONCLUSION: In eyes with persistent or recurrent idiopathic macular holes after
      standard PPV with internal limiting membrane peeling, repeat PPV with subretinal
      balanced salt solution injection to create a macular detachment may be a viable
      surgical treatment option. Our results show improved anatomical and visual
      outcomes postoperatively that compare favorably to other case series describing
      various surgical treatments for these challenging cases.

PMID- 26866527
TI  - SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB THERAPY ON MACULAR EDEMA AFTER
      BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the short-term effect of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) on
      macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: Twenty-three eyes
      with macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion were enrolled in a
      prospective observational study. After administering one IVR injection (0.5 mg)
      for the first time, the authors measured the foveal thickness (FT) before and 2
      hours, 1 and 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month later and the best-corrected visual
      acuity at all times except 2 hours, and determined the changes from baseline
      (DeltaFT and DeltaVA). RESULTS: The mean FT decreased significantly (P < 0.0001)
      from 522 +/- 131 MUm to 458 +/- 96 MUm after 2 hours. The mean logarithm of the
      minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity improved significantly (P <
      0.05) after 1 day from 0.69 +/- 0.40 to 0.55 +/- 0.34 (20/98-20/70, Snellen
      equivalent). The DeltaFT after 2 hours was significantly positively correlated
      with the DeltaFT after 1 week (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) and 1 month (r = 0.67, P <
      0.001). The DeltaVA after 1 day was correlated positively with the DeltaVA after
      1 week (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) and 1 month (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:
      Structural and functional effects of IVR for branch retinal vein occlusion
      occurred within 1 day. The short-term effects of IVR may predict the outcome of
      the therapy at 1 week and 1 month after IVR in macular edema secondary to branch
      retinal vein occlusion.

PMID- 26866528
TI  - NEAR VISION OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION TREATED
      WITH AFLIBERCEPT.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome in near vision and
      the best-corrected visual acuity in patients with wet, age-related macular
      degeneration treated with aflibercept in a fixed bimonthly regimen in an ordinary
      clinical setting. METHODS: The study was a retrospective, nonrandomized
      consecutive case series including 85 patients with wet, age-related macular
      degeneration followed for 18 months. During the first year all the patients
      received aflibercept injections in a fixed regimen at the following time points:
      Month 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. From Month 12 to Month 18, patients were
      treated with a treat and extend algorithm. RESULTS: The median near visual acuity
      improved from 12 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.5-13.4) at baseline to 5
      points both at Month 12 (95% CI 3.8-6.2) and at Month 18 (95% CI 3.6-6.4) (P <
      0.0001). At the 18-month visit, 58% (42/73) of the patients had a near visual
      acuity of at least 5 points compared with 7% (6/85) (P < 0.0001) at baseline.
      Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 60.9 letters (Snellen 20/63) (95% CI
      58.4-63.4) at baseline to 68.1 letters (20/40) (95% CI 65.3-70.9) (P < 0.001) at
      Month 12 and 69.6 letters (20/40) (95% CI 66.7-72.5) (P < 0.001) at Month 18.
      CONCLUSION: Significant improvements were found in near vision and best-corrected
      visual acuity. The improvement in near vision was comparably greater than the
      change in best-corrected visual acuity. Monitoring near vision can contribute
      additional information when managing the patient with wet, age-related macular
      degeneration.

PMID- 26866529
TI  - POSSIBLE MOLECULAR BASIS OF BEVACIZUMAB THERAPY FOR MACULAR EDEMA IN BRANCH
      RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the aqueous humor levels of 11
      factors/cytokines (including vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptors,
      growth factors, and inflammatory factors) after intravitreal injection of
      bevacizumab (IVB), as well as the relationship between changes of these factors
      and improvement of macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion
      and macular edema. METHODS: In 29 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion who
      received IVB twice for macular edema at monthly intervals, aqueous humor samples
      were obtained during IVB. Levels of VEGF, soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1,
      sVEGFR-2, placental growth factor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1,
      monocyte chemotactic protein 1, platelet-derived growth factor-AA, and
      interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12 (p70), and IL-13 were measured by the suspension
      array method. Foveal thickness was examined by optical coherence tomography
      before and 1 month after IVB, and the improvement of macular edema was evaluated
      by calculating the percent change of foveal thickness. RESULTS: Aqueous humor
      levels of sVEGFR-1, VEGF, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and IL-6 showed a
      significant decrease at 1 month after IVB compared with baseline (P = 0.013, P <
      0.001, P = 0.047, and P = 0.019, respectively). There was a significant negative
      correlation between the change of sVEGFR-1 or platelet-derived growth factor-AA
      after IVB and the improvement of macular edema (P = 0.004 and P = 0.036,
      respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that improvement of macular
      edema by IVB is related to inhibition of sVEGFR-1 and platelet-derived growth
      factor-AA, but not VEGF, in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion. Soluble
      VEGF receptor-1 and platelet-derived growth factor-AA might be useful indicators
      of the response of macular edema.

PMID- 26866530
TI  - Albumin Supplementation as a Therapeutic Strategy in Cardiac Surgery: Useful Tool
      or Expensive Hobby?

PMID- 26866531
TI  - Person-centred care: an overview of reviews.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Existing evidence suggests that a person-centred approach can improve
      coordination and access to health care and services. OBJECTIVES: This overview
      sought to: (1) identify and define components of person-centred care; (2) explore
      nursing and health-care provider behaviours that are person-centred; and (3)
      identify systems level supports required to enable person-centred care. METHODS:
      An overview of reviews was conducted to locate synthesized literature published
      between June 2005 and April 2014. Two independent reviewers screened, extracted
      data and quality appraised the sources. Results were synthesized narratively.
      RESULTS: A total of 46 articles were deemed relevant to this overview. This paper
      synthesizes the results of 43 of the 46 articles. A universal definition of
      person-centred care was not found, however; common components, associated health
      care provider behaviours and the organizational supports required for person
      centred care are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Key findings from this review outline
      that health-care providers and organizations need to promote person-centred care
      by engaging persons in partnerships, shared decision-making, and meaningful
      participation in health system improvement.

PMID- 26866532
TI  - The Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Lung Function in Young Adults with Asthma.
AB  - RATIONALE: Life-course persistent asthma and tobacco smoking are risk factors for
      irreversible airflow obstruction. It is often assumed that smoking and asthma
      have additive or multiplicative effects on the risk for airflow obstruction, but
      this has not been demonstrated in prospective studies of children with persistent
      asthma. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of smoking and asthma on the
      development of airflow obstruction in a population-based birth cohort followed to
      age 38 years. METHODS: Reports of childhood asthma from ages 9, 11, and 13 and
      self-reports of adult asthma at ages 32 and 38 years were used to define
      childhood-onset persistent asthma (n = 91), late-onset asthma (n = 93), asthma in
      remission (n = 85), and nonasthmatic (n = 572) phenotypes. Cumulative tobacco
      smoking histories and spirometry were obtained at ages 18, 21, 26, 32, and 38
      years. Analyses were by generalized estimating equations adjusting for childhood
      spirometry, body mass index, age, and sex. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Smoking
      history and childhood-onset persistent asthma were both associated with lower
      FEV1/FVC ratios. Associations between smoking and FEV1/FVC ratios were different
      between asthma phenotypes (interaction P < 0.001). Smoking was associated with
      lower prebronchodilator and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratios among subjects
      without asthma and those with late-onset or remittent asthma, but smoking was not
      associated with lower FEV1/FVC ratios among those with childhood-onset persistent
      asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood-onset persistent asthma is associated with airflow
      obstruction by mid-adult life, but this does not seem to be made worse by tobacco
      smoking. We found no evidence that smoking and childhood-persistent asthma have
      additive or multiplicative effects on airflow obstruction.

PMID- 26866533
TI  - Social stress facilitates risk in youths.
AB  - This research examined the influence of social stress on risk processes in
      youths. Study 1 (N = 89) randomly assigned male youths to perform either a
      stressful social-evaluative or nonstressful control task followed by a risk
      perception measure. Compared to controls, social stress participants perceived
      less risk in their environment. Study 2 (N = 188) extended findings by testing
      effects of social stress on risk perception in males and females, and across 3
      age groups: teenagers (15-19), young adults (25-40), and older adults (60-75).
      Replicating Study 1, teenagers experiencing social stress perceived less risk
      than age-matched controls. However, adults assigned to experience social stress
      reported greater risk perception compared to their age-matched controls. Effects
      of social stress also extended to risk-taking behavior. Stressed teenagers
      engaged in more risk-taking behavior relative to controls, and showed increased
      reward and lowered cost sensitivity during decision-making. These findings offer
      basic and translational value regarding factors that influence how youths
      evaluate risk.

PMID- 26866536
TI  - Role of Resonances in the Transmission of Surface Plasmon Polaritons between
      Nanostructures.
AB  - Understanding how surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagate in metal
      nanostructures is important for the development of plasmonic devices. In this
      paper, we study the transmission of SPPs between single-crystal gold nanobars on
      a glass substrate using transient absorption microscopy. The coupled structures
      were produced by creating gaps in single nanobars by focused ion beam milling.
      SPPs were launched by focusing the pump laser at the end of the nanobar, and the
      transmission across the gaps was imaged by scanning the probe laser over the
      nanostructure. The results show larger losses at small gap sizes. Finite element
      method calculations were used to investigate this effect. The calculations show
      two main modes for nanobars on a glass surface: a leaky mode localized at the air
      gold interface, and a bound mode localized at the glass-gold interface. At
      specific gap sizes (approximately 50 nm for our system), these SPP modes can
      excite localized surface plasmon modes associated with the gap, which dissipate
      energy. This increases the energy losses at small gap sizes. Experiments and
      simulations were also performed for the nanobars in microscope immersion oil,
      which creates a more homogeneous optical environment, and consistent results were
      observed. 

PMID- 26866537
TI  - Therapeutic advances and risk factor management: our best chance to tackle
      dementia?

PMID- 26866538
TI  - Ebola and the WHO: a journey from toothless tiger to global dragon?

PMID- 26866539
TI  - Multidisciplinary approach to reducing pharmaceutical misuse.

PMID- 26866541
TI  - Non-reimbursement for preventable health care-acquired conditions.

PMID- 26866542
TI  - The value of consultant-led ward rounds for patient safety.

PMID- 26866543
TI  - Lessons from Wales--how to embed sustainability and prevention in health care.

PMID- 26866544
TI  - Uptake of novel oral anticoagulants in Australia.

PMID- 26866545
TI  - Pitfalls in photographing radiological images from computer screens.

PMID- 26866546
TI  - A rare cause of intrathoracic mass.

PMID- 26866547
TI  - Novel insights, challenges and practical implications of DOHaD-omics research.
AB  - Research investigating the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
      has never had the technology to investigate physiology in such a data-rich
      capacity and at such a microlevel as it does now. A symposium at the inaugural
      meeting of the DOHaD Society of Australia and New Zealand outlined the advantages
      and challenges of using "-omics" technologies in DOHaD research. DOHaD studies
      with -omics approaches to generate large, rich datasets were discussed. We
      discuss implications for policy and practice and make recommendations to
      facilitate successful translation of results of future DOHaD-omics studies.

PMID- 26866548
TI  - Factors contributing to frequent attendance to the emergency department of a
      remote Northern Territory hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and environmental variables associated with
      frequent presentations by adult patients to a remote Australian hospital
      emergency department (ED) for reasons other than chronic health conditions.
      DESIGN: Unmatched case-control study of all adult patients attending Katherine
      Hospital ED between 1 January and 31 December 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Cases were
      defined as frequent attenders (FAs) without a chronic health condition who
      presented to the ED six or more times during the 12-month period. A single
      presentation was randomly selected for data collection. Controls were patients
      who presented on only one occasion. OUTCOME MEASURES: Basic demographic data were
      collected, including clinical outcomes, Indigenous status, living arrangements,
      and whether alcohol and violence contributed to the presentation. Environmental
      variables were extracted from the Bureau of Meteorology database and mapped to
      each presentation. RESULTS: FAs were much more likely to be homeless (odds ratio
      [OR], 16.4; P < 0.001) and to be Aboriginal (OR, 2.16; P < 0.001); alcohol as a
      contributing factor was also more likely (OR, 2.77; P = 0.001). FAs were more
      likely to present in hotter, wetter weather, although the association was
      statistically weak. Clinical presentations by cases and controls were similar;
      the annual death rates for both groups were high (3.6% and 1.5%, respectively).
      CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong association between FA and Aboriginal status,
      homelessness and the involvement of alcohol, but alcohol was more likely to
      contribute to presentation by non-Aboriginal FAs who had stable living
      conditions. FAs and non-FAs had similar needs for emergency medical care, with
      strikingly higher death rates than the national average in both groups. As a
      result of this study, Katherine Hospital has initiated a Frequent Attender
      Pathway that automatically triggers a dedicated ED service for those at greatest
      clinical risk. Homelessness is a serious problem in the Northern Territory, and
      is associated with poor health outcomes.

PMID- 26866549
TI  - Socio-demographic and structural barriers to being tested for chlamydia in
      general practice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate socio-demographic and structural factors associated
      with not providing a specimen for chlamydia testing following a request by a
      general practitioner. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis
      of chlamydia testing data for men and women aged 16-29 years attending general
      practice clinics participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial
      evaluating the effectiveness of a chlamydia testing intervention. The study
      period was the 2013 calendar year. OUTCOME: The proportion of chlamydia test
      requests for which the patient did not provide a specimen for testing. RESULTS:
      During the study period, there were 13 225 chlamydia test requests, for which a
      chlamydia test was not performed in 2545 instances (19.2%; 95% CI, 16.5-22.3%).
      Multivariate analysis indicated that the odds for not undertaking a requested
      test were higher for men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.6), those
      aged 16-19 years (aOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), those living in areas of greater
      socio-economic disadvantage (aOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4 for each additional
      quintile of Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage), and those attending
      clinics without on-site pathology collection (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9).
      CONCLUSION: One in five young people did not submit a specimen for chlamydia
      testing despite their GP requesting it. This highlights the need for clinics to
      establish systems which ensure that men and those aged 16-19 years undertake
      chlamydia tests requested by a GP.

PMID- 26866550
TI  - Acute heart failure admissions in New South Wales and the Australian Capital
      Territory: the NSW HF Snapshot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the NSW Heart Failure (HF) Snapshot was to obtain a
      representative cross-sectional view of patients with acute HF and their
      management in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory hospitals. DESIGN
      AND SETTING: A prospective audit of consecutive patients admitted to 24
      participating hospitals in NSW and the ACT with a diagnosis of acute HF was
      conducted from 8 July 2013 to 8 August 2013. RESULTS: A total of 811 participants
      were recruited (mean age, 77 +/- 13 years; 58% were men; 42% had a left
      ventricular ejection fraction >= 50%). The median Charlson Comorbidity Index
      score was 3, with ischaemic heart disease (56%), renal disease (55%), diabetes
      (38%) and chronic lung disease (32%) the most frequent comorbidities; 71% of
      patients were assessed as frail. Intercurrent infection (22%), non-adherence to
      prescribed medication (5%) or to dietary or fluid restrictions (16%), and atrial
      fibrillation/flutter (15%) were the most commonly identified precipitants of HF.
      Initial treatment included intravenous diuretics (81%), oxygen therapy (87%), and
      bimodal positive airways pressure or continuous positive airways pressure
      ventilation (17%). During the index admission, 6% of patients died. The median
      length of stay in hospital was 6 days, but ranged between 3 and 12 days at
      different hospitals. Just over half the patients (59%) were referred to a
      multidisciplinary HF service. Discharge medications included angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (59%), beta-blockers
      (66%) and loop diuretics (88%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to hospital with
      acute HF in NSW and the ACT were generally elderly and frail, with multiple
      comorbidities. Evidence-based therapies were underused, and there was substantial
      interhospital variation in the length of stay. We anticipate that the results of
      the HF Snapshot will inform the development of strategies for improving the
      uptake of evidence-based therapies, and hence outcomes, for HF patients.

PMID- 26866551
TI  - Emergency department presentations with mammalian bite injuries: risk factors for
      admission and surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The incidence of animal bite injuries in Australia is high. There is
      currently no established method for reliably predicting whether a patient with a
      bite injury will require admission to hospital or surgery. DESIGN: A
      retrospective audit of mammalian bite injuries at seven major hospitals in
      Melbourne, Victoria, over a 2-year period. The associations between each
      predictor and outcome of interest were analysed with univariate and multiple
      regression analyses. SETTING: Seven major hospitals in Melbourne, Victoria: the
      Alfred Hospital, Austin Hospital, Frankston Hospital, Monash Medical Centre,
      Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital and Western Hospital.
      PARTICIPANTS: Patients presenting to emergency departments with mammalian bite
      injuries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital admission, intravenous antibiotic
      therapy, surgery, reoperation, readmission. RESULTS: We identified 717 mammalian
      bite injuries. The mean age of the patients was 36.5 years (median, 34 years;
      range, 0-88 years), with an equal number of males and females. The overall rate
      of hospital admission was 50.8%, and the mean length of stay was 2.7 days.
      Intravenous antibiotics were administered in 46% of cases; surgery was undertaken
      in 43.1% of cases. The re-operation rate was 4.5%, the re-admission rate was 3%.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a detailed epidemiological analysis of animal
      bite injuries at seven major hospitals in Victoria. Risk factors for
      hospitalisation and surgery may assist in identifying patients who require
      admission and surgical intervention.

PMID- 26866553
TI  - The early bird and the worm: a case of cercarial dermatitis.

PMID- 26866552
TI  - Statins and tendinopathy: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the evidence on whether statin therapy,
      commonly used in clinical practice to treat hypercholesterolaemia for primary and
      secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, contributes to tendinopathy; and
      to examine causality according to the Bradford Hill criteria. STUDY DESIGN: A
      systematic review of studies examining the relationship between statin therapy
      and tendinopathy. Included studies were rated based on their methodological
      quality. A best evidence synthesis was used to summarise the results, and
      Bradford Hill criteria were used to assess causation. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE,
      CINAHL Plus, PubMed and Embase databases. STUDY SELECTION: We included adult
      human studies published in the English language between January 1966 and October
      2015. Study designs eligible for inclusion were randomised controlled trials and
      cross-sectional, cohort or case-control studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Four studies
      (three cohort studies and one case-control study) were included, with a mean
      methodological quality score of 67%. Three studies were deemed high quality.
      Tendon rupture was the primary outcome in three studies, and rotator cuff disease
      in the other. All studies found no positive association between statin therapy
      and tendon rupture for the total study population. There was evidence that
      simvastatin reduces the risk of tendinopathy. CONCLUSION: To date, there is a
      paucity of evidence to implicate statin therapy as a well established risk factor
      or causal mechanism for tendon rupture in the general population. There is strong
      evidence that simvastatin reduces the risk of tendinopathy.

PMID- 26866554
TI  - Shiitake dermatitis: the tale of an under-recognised, undercooked fungus.

PMID- 26866555
TI  - Massive subdural haematoma and dementia: a "yin and yang" paradigm.

PMID- 26866556
TI  - John Stuart Newlinds, OAM, MB BS, FRCOG, FRANZCOG, DGO.

PMID- 26866559
TI  - Vladimir Albert Lovric, MB BS, FRCPA, DipClinPath, GradDipPH, FRCPath, FRACP.

PMID- 26866560
TI  - Levamisole-adulterated cocaine: Two fatal case reports and evaluation of possible
      cocaine toxicity potentiation.
AB  - Levamisole has been identified as a cocaine adulterant in the United States since
      2002. Although there is a variation in the percentage of levamisole in cocaine
      samples between European countries, measurement of levamisole in human samples of
      cocaine users has become increasingly important. To our best knowledge, only five
      deaths are reported (one twice) as a result of complications secondary to
      levamisole-tainted cocaine and none of these cases reports the post-mortem
      levamisole concentration. In this article, we present the post-mortem levamisole
      concentrations in fluids and tissues in two young cocaine users, dead after
      levamisole-adulterated cocaine intake. With the dearth of levamisole reported
      concentrations in literature, this particular report is of interest to the
      forensic toxicological and pathological communities. This article aims to be a
      supplementary alert to aware the risk that may occur using levamisole-adulterated
      cocaine and an incentive to publication of toxicity reports and new researches
      involving the combination of levamisole and cocaine. 

PMID- 26866562
TI  - A novel biosensor based on competitive SERS immunoassay and magnetic separation
      for accurate and sensitive detection of chloramphenicol.
AB  - The accurate and sensitive detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) is particularly
      imperative to public health and safety. Here, we present a novel sensor for
      residual CAP detection based on competitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering
      (SERS) immunoassay and magnetic separation. In this nanosensor, functionalized Au
      nanoparticles (AuNPs) were labeled with the Raman reporter molecule (e.g. 4,4'
      dipyridyl). With the addition of free CAP, a competitive immune reaction was
      initiated between free CAP and above AuNPs for conjugating with CAP antibody
      modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Instead of the solid substrate, the
      antibody conjugated-magnetic beads were used as supporting materials and
      separation tools in the present sensor. With the aid of a magnet, the mixture was
      removed from the supernatant for concentration effects. This caused obvious
      change of SERS signal intensity obtained from supernatant. The SERS signals were
      collected from the supernatant directly, which made the SERS measurements more
      stable, repeatable and reliable. The proposed SERS-based magnetic immunosensor
      allows us to detect CAP in a fast, selective and sensitive (1.0 pg/mL) manner
      over a wide concentration range ( 1-1 * 10(4)pg/mL). In addition, these results
      demonstrate that this immunosensor holds great potential for the detection of
      antibiotics in real aquatic environment, which is crucial to our life.

PMID- 26866561
TI  - A novel polydopamine-based chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer method for
      microRNA detection coupling duplex-specific nuclease-aided target recycling
      strategy.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs), functioning as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, play
      significant regulatory roles in regulating gene expression and become as
      biomarkers for disease diagnostics and therapeutics. In this work, we have
      coupled a polydopamine (PDA) nanosphere-assisted chemiluminescence resonance
      energy transfer (CRET) platform and a duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-assisted
      signal amplification strategy to develop a novel method for specific miRNA
      detection. With the assistance of hemin, luminol, and H2O2, the horseradish
      peroxidase (HRP)-mimicking G-rich sequence in the sensing probe produces
      chemiluminescence, which is quickly quenched by the CRET effect between PDA as
      energy acceptor and excited luminol as energy donor. The target miRNA triggers
      DSN to partially degrade the sensing probe in the DNA-miRNA heteroduplex to
      repeatedly release G-quadruplex formed by G-rich sequence from PDA for the
      production of chemiluminescence. The method allows quantitative detection of
      target miRNA in the range of 80 pM-50 nM with a detection limit of 49.6 pM. The
      method also shows excellent specificity to discriminate single-base differences,
      and can accurately quantify miRNA in biological samples, with good agreement with
      the result from a commercial miRNA detection kit. The procedure requires no
      organic dyes or labels, and is a simple and cost-effective method for miRNA
      detection for early clinical diagnosis.

PMID- 26866563
TI  - Triple cascade reactions: An ultrasensitive and specific single tube strategy
      enabling isothermal analysis of microRNA at sub-attomole level.
AB  - Sensitive and specific analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a single tube without
      the need of thermal cycler instrument would greatly facilitate the investigation
      of miRNA-associated regulatory circuits and diseases. Homogeneous isothermal
      amplification assays are attractive in conducting single tube assays that can
      minimize contamination-prone steps and simplifies assay procedures. However, the
      relative low amplification efficiency and high detection background remain as
      bottlenecks restricting their more versatile applications. In this work, we have
      developed a novel isothermal exponential enzymatic amplification (IEEA) strategy
      for miRNAs analysis. By rational triple cascade amplification cycles of target
      recycling, nicking-replication reaction, and DNAzyme catalysis, the strategy
      exhibited high signal amplification efficiency (10(4)-10(9) folds of
      amplification in 1h) with very low detection background and excellent
      specificity. As a result, the miR-27a target model was rapidly determined with a
      limit of detection down to 0.79 aM (S/N=3), corresponding to 94 copies of the
      miRNA molecule in a 200 MUL sample solution. The levels of miR-27a in
      atherosclerotic sprague-dawley rats were accurately quantified. The strategy is
      anticipated to have an important impact on the development of simple and rapid
      molecular diagnostic applications for any short oligonucleotides.

PMID- 26866564
TI  - ELISA-PLA: A novel hybrid platform for the rapid, highly sensitive and specific
      quantification of proteins and post-translational modifications.
AB  - Detection of low-abundance proteins and their post-translational modifications
      (PTMs) remains a great challenge. A conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (ELISA) is not sensitive enough to detect low-abundance PTMs and suffers
      from nonspecific detection. Herein, a rapid, highly sensitive and specific
      platform integrating ELISA with a proximity ligation assay (PLA), termed ELISA
      PLA, was developed. Using ELISA-PLA, the specificity was improved by the
      simultaneous and proximate recognition of targets through multiple probes, and
      the sensitivity was significantly improved by rolling circle amplification (RCA).
      For GFP, the limit of detection (LOD) was decreased by two orders of magnitude
      compared to that of ELISA. Using site-specific phospho-antibody and pan-specific
      phospho-antibody, ELISA-PLA was successfully applied to quantify the
      phosphorylation dynamics of ERK1/2 and the overall tyrosine phosphorylation level
      of ERK1/2, respectively. ELISA-PLA was also used to quantify the O-GlcNAcylation
      of AKT, c-Fos, CREB and STAT3, which is faster and more sensitive than the
      conventional immunoprecipitation and western blotting (IP-WB) method. As a
      result, the sample consumption of ELISA-PLA was reduced 40-fold compared to IP
      WB. Therefore, ELISA-PLA could be a promising platform for the rapid, sensitive
      and specific detection of proteins and PTMs. 

PMID- 26866565
TI  - Intrinsic Two-Dimensional Organic Topological Insulators in Metal
      Dicyanoanthracene Lattices.
AB  - We predict theoretical existence of intrinsic two-dimensional organic topological
      insulator (OTI) states in Cu-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) lattice, a system that has
      also been grown experimentally on Cu substrate, based on first-principle density
      functional theory calculations. The pz-orbital Kagome bands having a Dirac point
      lying exactly at the Fermi level are found in the freestanding Cu-DCA lattice.
      The tight-binding model analysis, the calculated Chern numbers, and the semi
      infinite Dirac edge states within the spin-orbit coupling gaps all confirm its
      intrinsic topological properties. The intrinsic TI states are found to originate
      from a proper number of electrons filling of the hybridized bands from Cu atomic
      and DCA molecular orbitals based on which similar lattices containing noble metal
      atoms (Au and Cu) and those molecules with two CN groups (DCA and cyanogens) are
      all predicted to be intrinsic OTIs. 

PMID- 26866566
TI  - Red wine activates plasma membrane redox system in human erythrocytes.
AB  - In the present study, we report that polyphenols present in red wine obtained by
      a controlled microvinification process are able to protect human erythrocytes
      from oxidative stress and to activate Plasma Membrane Redox System (PMRS). Human
      plasma obtained from healthy subjects was incubated in the presence of whole red
      wine at a concentration corresponding to 9.13-73 MUg/ml gallic acid equivalents
      to verify the capacity to protect against hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced plasma
      oxidation and to minimize chloramine formation. Red wine reduced hemolysis and
      chloramine formation induced by HOCl of 40 and 35%, respectively. PMRS present on
      human erythrocytes transfers electrons from intracellular molecules to
      extracellular electron acceptors. We demonstrated that whole red wine activated
      PMRS activity in human erythrocytes isolated from donors in a dose-dependent
      manner with a maximum at about 70-100 MUg/ml gallic acid equivalents. We also
      showed that red wine increased glutathione (GSH) levels and erythrocytic
      antioxidant capacity, measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) quenching
      assay. Furthermore, we reported that GSH played a crucial role in regulating PMRS
      activity in erythrocytes. In fact, the effect of iodoacetamide, an alkylating
      agent that induces depletion of intracellular GSH, was completely counteracted by
      red wine. Bioactive compounds present in red wine, such as gallic acid,
      resveratrol, catechin, and quercetin were unable to activate PMRS when tested at
      the concentrations normally present in aged red wines. On the contrary, the
      increase of PMRS activity was associated with the anthocyanin fraction,
      suggesting the capacity of this class of compounds to positively modulate PMRS
      enzymatic activity. 

PMID- 26866567
TI  - The Relationship Between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene (NOS3)
      Polymorphisms, NOS3 Expression, and Varicocele.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous
      plexus in the scrotum. Varicocele is the most common cause of secondary male
      infertility. Nitric oxide (NO), which has a role on varicocele pathophysiology,
      is synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3). OBJECTIVE: In
      our study, we aimed to explain the relationship between varicocele, three common
      NOS3 polymorphisms (T-786C, G894T, 4b/a), and NOS3 mRNA expression levels.
      METHODS: We investigated NOS3 T-786C, G894T, and 4b/a polymorphisms in 102
      patients with varicocele and 100 healthy controls. Twenty-four patients and 17
      controls were chosen for expression studies based on polymorphism subgroupings.
      Subgroup 1 includes patients who have no minor allele polymorphisms, and
      subgroups 2, 3, and 4 have T-786C, G894T, and 4b/a polymorphisms, respectively.
      RESULTS: The 4b/a polymorphism demonstrated significantly elevated levels in both
      allele and genotype analysis in the control group compared to the patient group.
      The G894T polymorphism was statistically elevated for genotypic frequencies in
      the patient group compared to the control group, but this finding did not extend
      to allelic frequencies. There were no statistically significant differences in
      either the allelic or genotypic frequencies between patients and control groups
      for the T-786C polymorphism. When patient and control expression levels were
      compared without considering the subgroups, the NOS3 expression level was found
      to be statistically higher in the patient group. There were no statistically
      significant differences in the patient and control group expression levels when
      stratified by subgroup, nor was there any effect of the polymorphisms under study
      on expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: The 4b/a polymorphism may have a protective
      effect for varicocelem and G894T polymorphism may contribute to varicocele
      occurrence by lowering the level of NO. The higher NOS3 expression levels in the
      patient group may be a kind of dilator compensatory mechanism to protect vascular
      anatomy in varicocele.

PMID- 26866568
TI  - Polymorphisms in the type I deiodinase gene and frontal function in recurrent
      depressive disorder.
AB  - PURPOSE: Significant impairment of some psychological functions, including
      cognitive functioning, has been characteristically found in depressed patients.
      Memory disturbances may be related to the levels of thyroid hormones (TH) that
      are under the influence of different mechanisms and molecules, including
      deiodinase type 1(D1) - an important determinant of circulating triiodothyronine
      (T3). We investigated the relationship between two functionally known
      polymorphisms within the DIO1 gene, i.e. DIO1a-C/T and DIO1b-A/G, and cognitive
      functioning in patients diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder (rDD). In
      the planned analysis we mainly concentrated on the frontal function: working
      memory, executive functions and verbal fluency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic
      variants were genotyped in 128 patients using a method based on polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR). Cognitive functions were assessed by the Trail Making Test, the
      Stroop Test and the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT). RESULTS: No significant
      associations were found between DIO1 polymorphisms and cognitive functioning in
      rDD. Only the CT and TT genotypes of the DIO1a variant were significantly related
      to verbal fluency. There were no significant differences between the distribution
      of the genotypes and demographic/medical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      study, the examined polymorphisms are not an important risk or protective factor
      for cognitive impairment in depressive patients. Functional variants within the
      DIO1 gene that affect triiodothyronine (T3) levels seem not to be associated with
      cognitive functions. Nevertheless, considering the fact that the DIO1 gene is
      related to the course and management of depression, further studies on a larger
      sample size might be suggested.

PMID- 26866569
TI  - The big five of the monocot genomes.
AB  - Monocots represent a monophyletic clade of the angiosperms that - based on fossil
      and molecular records - originated at around the Early Cretaceous from aquatic
      and wetland ancestors. Among their members are important crops including maize,
      wheat, rice, sorghum and barley, accounting for the major source for the daily
      calorie uptake by humans. Reflecting this importance, the partly large and
      complex genomes of these plants were major targets for ambitious and innovative
      sequencing projects, which will be discussed in this review article.

PMID- 26866570
TI  - HLA Genetic Discrepancy Between Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults and Type 1
      Diabetes: LADA China Study No. 6.
AB  - CONTEXT: The discrepancies in terms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1-DQA1
      DQB1 conferred risks between latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type
      1 diabetes (T1D) patients remained almost completely unknown. The goal of the
      current study is to determine and compare HLA-conferred risks between LADA and
      T1D. DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted in a representative Chinese data
      set containing 520 T1D patients, 562 LADA patients, and 1065 controls. The
      frequencies and odds ratios for HLA susceptible haplotypes and genotypes and for
      arginine at residue 52 in the DQ-alpha chain or aspartic acid at residue 57 in
      the DQ-beta chain were analyzed. RESULTS: DRB1*0405-DQA1*03-DQB1*0401 and
      DRB1*0901-DQA1*03-DQB1*0303 are the major LADA susceptible haplotypes, which also
      confer comparable risks for T1D (odds ratio 2.02 vs 2.20 and 1.61 vs 2.30,
      respectively). The strongly associated T1D haplotype DRB1*0301-DQA1*05-DQB1*0201
      is also associated with LADA but confers only half of the T1D risk (odds ratio
      2.65 vs 4.84). Interestingly, the most susceptible T1D haplotypes, DRB1*0901
      DQA1*05-DQB1*0201, DRB1*0301-DQA1*03-DQB1*0201, and DRB1*0301-DQA1*03-DQB1*0303,
      are not associated with LADA. Genotypes for DR3/DR3, DR3/DR9, and DR9/DR9 are
      highly associated with T1D susceptibility, whereas only DR9/DR9 confers risk for
      LADA. DR3/DR3 is the high-risk genotype in Chinese T1D patients, which manifests
      similar risk as the DR3/DR4 genotype in Caucasians but with a lower frequency.
      DR9/DR9 is the high risk LADA genotype in Chinese. Alleles with DQ-alpha arginine
      at residue 52-positive, DQ-beta aspartic acid at residue 57-negative, and their
      combination formed in cis or trans confer susceptibility to T1D but not to LADA.
      CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LADA risk conferred by HLA-DRB1-DQA1-DQB1
      loci in Chinese differs significantly from that of T1D risk. This information
      would be useful for classifying Asian LADA patients, which should provides novel
      insight into the understanding of its pathoetiology as well.

PMID- 26866571
TI  - Clinical Relationship Between IgG4-Positive Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Papillary
      Thyroid Carcinoma.
AB  - CONTEXT: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) can be divided into IgG4-positive and IgG4
      negative HT. The potential association between IgG4-positive HT and papillary
      thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to
      investigate the relationship between IgG4-positive HT and PTC and to compare the
      prognostic parameters of PTC patients with and without IgG4-positive HT. DESIGN:
      This was a retrospective study. PATIENTS AND SETTING: A total of 66 HT patients
      (18 HT-alone, 48 HT with PTC) with serum samples stored before the operation were
      collected. Another 18 PTC-alone patients were collected as controls. MAIN
      OUTCOMES: Expression of IgG4, IgG, and TGF-beta1 in thyroid tissues and serum
      levels of IgG4, TgAb IgG, TgAb IgG4, TPOAb IgG, and TPOAb IgG4 were measured.
      RESULTS: Seventeen HT patients with PTC (35.4%) were IgG4-positive HT, whereas
      only one patient (5.6%) was found to be IgG4-positive in the HT-alone group. In
      contrast, there were only a few IgG4-positive plasma cells in the PTC-alone
      group. The association of IgG4-positive HT and PTC was statistically significant
      (P < .05). Moreover, serum levels of TgAb IgG4 and the ratios of TgAb IgG4 to
      TgAb IgG were significantly higher in the HT with PTC and the PTC-alone groups
      than in the HT-alone group (P < .05). Furthermore, in the HT with PTC group, the
      average tumor diameter of 17 IgG4-positive HT with PTC patients was 1.7 +/- 0.8
      cm, whereas of 31 IgG4-negative HT patients with PTC, the diameter was 1.2 +/-
      0.6 cm (P = .01). A considerably higher percentage of lymph node metastasis
      (41.2% vs 12.9%; P = .026) was found in PTC patients with IgG4-positive HT as
      compared with those with IgG4-negative HT. CONCLUSION: PTC may be facilitated by
      preexisting autoimmune inflammation of IgG4-positive HT. IgG4-positive HT with
      PTC cases may have worse clinical outcomes. The high levels of TgAb IgG4 might
      present a risk factor for PTC.

PMID- 26866572
TI  - Using in situ bacterial communities to monitor contaminants in river sediments.
AB  - Bacterial communities in sediments of human-impacted rivers are exposed to
      multiple anthropogenic contaminants and eventually lead to biodiversity lost and
      ecological functions disable. Nanfei River of Anhui province has been
      contaminated by pollutants from industrial and/or agricultural sources. This
      study was conducted to investigate the structure of in situ sediment bacterial
      communities in Nanfei River and to examine the correlation between the different
      taxonomic components and contaminant concentrations. The bacterial communities
      were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi. Both the
      profiles of environmental predictors and the composition of microbial communities
      differed among agriculture, industrial and confluence regions. There were
      significant associations between bacterial community phylogenies and the measured
      contaminants in the sediments. Nutrients (TN and TP) and two metals (Cd and Zn)
      were negatively correlated with the essential "core" of the bacterial interaction
      network (Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria). Metals (Fe, Ni and Zn) and
      nutrients (TN and TP) had higher impact on bacterial community compositions than
      PAHs, OPs and PRTs according to the correlation and network analyses.
      Furthermore, several sensitive candidate genera were identified as potential
      bioindicators to monitor key contaminants by species contaminant correlation
      analysis. Overall, in situ bacterial communities could provide a useful tool for
      monitoring and assessing ecological stressors in freshwater sediments. 

PMID- 26866573
TI  - Structural Basis for the Interaction between Pyk2-FAT Domain and Leupaxin LD
      Repeats.
AB  - Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and
      belongs to the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family. Like FAK, the C-terminal focal
      adhesion-targeting (FAT) domain of Pyk2 binds to paxillin, a scaffold protein in
      focal adhesions; however, the interaction between the FAT domain of Pyk2 and
      paxillin is dynamic and unstable. Leupaxin is another member in the paxillin
      family and was suggested to be the native binding partner of Pyk2; Pyk2 gene
      expression is strongly correlated with that of leupaxin in many tissues including
      primary breast cancer. Here, we report that leupaxin interacts with Pyk2-FAT.
      Leupaxin has four leucine-aspartate (LD) motifs. The first and third LD motifs of
      leupaxin preferably target the two LD-binding sites on the Pyk2-FAT domain,
      respectively. Moreover, the full-length leupaxin binds to Pyk2-FAT as a stable
      one-to-one complex. Together, we propose that there is an underlying selectivity
      between leupaxin and paxillin for Pyk2, which may influence the differing
      behavior of the two proteins at focal adhesion sites. 

PMID- 26866574
TI  - Gold Nanorods as Colorful Chromogenic Substrates for Semiquantitative Detection
      of Nucleic Acids, Proteins, and Small Molecules with the Naked Eye.
AB  - Herein, we report for the first time a colorful chromogenic substrate, which
      displays vivid color responses in the presence of different concentration of
      analytes. Our investigation reveals that the selective shortening of gold
      nanorods (AuNRs) could generate a series of distinct colors that covers nearly
      the whole visible range from 400 to 760 nm. These vivid colors can be easily
      distinguished by the naked eye; as a result, the accuracy of visual inspection
      could be greatly improved. Next, we demonstrate the utility of AuNRs as
      multicolor chromogenic substrate to develop a number of colorimetric immunoassay
      methods, e.g., multicolor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), multicolor
      competitive ELISA, and multicolor magnetic immunoassay (MIA). These methods allow
      us to visually quantify the concentration of a broad range of target molecules
      with the naked eye, and the obtained results are highly consistent with those
      state-of-the-art techniques that are tested by the sophisticated apparatus. These
      multicolor portable and cost-effective immunoassay approaches could be
      potentially useful for a number of applications, for example, in-home personal
      healthcare, on-site environmental monitoring, and food inspection in the field. 

PMID- 26866575
TI  - Changes in Neurotransmitter Profiles during Early Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
      Development and after Pesticide Exposure.
AB  - During early development, neurotransmitters are important stimulants for the
      development of the central nervous system. Although the development of different
      neuronal cell types during early zebrafish (Danio rerio) development is well
      studied, little is known of the levels of neurotransmitters, their precursors and
      metabolites during development, and how these levels are affected by exposure to
      environmental contaminants. A method based on hydrophilic interaction liquid
      chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry has been applied for the first
      time to zebrafish embryos and larvae to study five neurotransmitter systems in
      parallel, including the dopaminergic-andrenergic, glutaminergic-GABAnergic,
      serotoninergic, histaminergic, and cholinergic systems. Our method enables the
      quantification of neurotransmitters and their precursors and metabolites in whole
      zebrafish from the period of zygote to free-swimming larvae 6 days
      postfertilization (dpf). We observed a developmental stage-dependent pattern with
      clear differences between the first 2 days of development and the following days.
      Whereas the neurotransmitter levels steadily increased, the precursors showed a
      peak at 3 dpf. After exposure to several pesticides, significant differences in
      concentrations of neurotransmitters and precursors were observed. Our study
      revealed new insights about neurotransmitter systems during early zebrafish
      development and showed the usefulness of our approach for environmental
      neurotoxicity studies. 

PMID- 26866576
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed Alkylation of Nitroalkanes with alpha-Bromonitriles: Synthesis
      of beta-Cyanonitroalkanes.
AB  - Copper catalysis now enables the efficient C-alkylation of nitroalkanes with
      alpha-bromonitriles. Using a simple and inexpensive catalyst, this process
      provides access to beta-cyanonitroalkanes. The method is highly tolerant of
      various functional groups and substitution patterns. These functionally dense
      products serve as orthogonally masked 1,3-diamines, which can be revealed
      selectively for access to differentially substituted diamines. These products can
      also be exploited for the formation of complex cyanoalkenes and 5
      aminoisoxazoles. 

PMID- 26866577
TI  - Soluble, microporous, Troger's Base copolyimides with tunable membrane
      performance for gas separation.
AB  - A facile two-step synthesis beginning with commercial monomers to prepare
      copolyimides by Troger's Base (TB) formation provides membranes for the first
      time with tunable gas transport relative to hydrogen separations, CO2
      plasticization resistance, and good mechanical and thermal properties. 

PMID- 26866578
TI  - Patients with colorectal cancer associated with Lynch syndrome and MLH1 promoter
      hypermethylation have similar prognoses.
AB  - PURPOSE: Mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) is caused by
      Lynch syndrome (LS) in 3% and sporadic inactivation of MLH1 by hypermethylation
      (MLH1-hm) in 12% of cases. It is not clear whether outcomes between LS-associated
      and MLH1-hm CRC differ. The objective of this study was to explore differences in
      clinical factors and outcomes in these two groups. METHODS: Patients with dMMR
      CRC identified by immunohistochemistry staining and treated at a single
      institution from 1998 to 2012 were included. MLH1-hm was established with BRAF
      mutational analysis or hypermethylation testing. Patients' charts were accessed
      for information on pathology, germ-line MMR mutation testing, and clinical
      course. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients had CRC associated with LS (37 patients,
      26%) or MLH1-hm (106 patients, 74%). Patients with LS were younger, more often
      male, presented more often with stage III disease, and had more metachronous
      disease than patients with MLH1-hm tumors. There was no difference in cancer
      specific survival (CSS) between the groups; overall survival was longer in
      patients with LS, but this difference was minimal after adjusting for age and
      stage at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: CSS did not differ in LS-associated CRC compared
      with MLH1-hm CRC, suggesting that they carry a similar prognosis.Genet Med 18 9,
      863-868.

PMID- 26866581
TI  - Carbon coated SnO2 nanoparticles anchored on CNT as a superior anode material for
      lithium-ion batteries.
AB  - Hierarchically structured carbon coated SnO2 nanoparticles well-anchored on the
      surface of a CNT (C-SnO2/CNT) material were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal
      process and subsequent carbonization. The as-obtained C-SnO2/CNT hybrid, when
      applied as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), showed a high
      reversible capacity up to 1572 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1) with a superior rate
      capability (685 mA h g(-1) at 4000 mA g(-1)). Even after 100 charge/discharge
      cycles at 1000 mA g(-1), a specific capacity of 1100 mA h g(-1) can still be
      maintained. Such impressive electrochemical performance can be mainly attributed
      to the hierarchical sandwiched structure and strong synergistic effects of the
      ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles and the carbon coating, and thus presents this
      material a promising anode material for LIBs. 

PMID- 26866580
TI  - The Geisinger MyCode community health initiative: an electronic health record
      linked biobank for precision medicine research.
AB  - PURPOSE: Geisinger Health System (GHS) provides an ideal platform for Precision
      Medicine. Key elements are the integrated health system, stable patient
      population, and electronic health record (EHR) infrastructure. In 2007, Geisinger
      launched MyCode, a system-wide biobanking program to link samples and EHR data
      for broad research use. METHODS: Patient-centered input into MyCode was obtained
      using participant focus groups. Participation in MyCode is based on opt-in
      informed consent and allows recontact, which facilitates collection of data not
      in the EHR and, since 2013, the return of clinically actionable results to
      participants. MyCode leverages Geisinger's technology and clinical infrastructure
      for participant tracking and sample collection. RESULTS: MyCode has a consent
      rate of >85%, with more than 90,000 participants currently and with ongoing
      enrollment of ~4,000 per month. MyCode samples have been used to generate
      molecular data, including high-density genotype and exome sequence data. Genotype
      and EHR-derived phenotype data replicate previously reported genetic
      associations. CONCLUSION: The MyCode project has created resources that enable a
      new model for translational research that is faster, more flexible, and more cost
      effective than traditional clinical research approaches. The new model is
      scalable and will increase in value as these resources grow and are adopted
      across multiple research platforms.Genet Med 18 9, 906-913.

PMID- 26866579
TI  - Oncologists' and cancer patients' views on whole-exome sequencing and incidental
      findings: results from the CanSeq study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although targeted sequencing improves outcomes for many cancer patients,
      it remains uncertain how somatic and germ-line whole-exome sequencing (WES) will
      integrate into care. METHODS: We conducted surveys and interviews within a study
      of WES integration at an academic center to determine oncologists' attitudes
      about WES and to identify lung and colorectal cancer patients' preferences for
      learning WES findings. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-seven patients (85% white, 58%
      female, mean age 60) and 27 oncologists (22% female) participated. Although
      oncologists had extensive experience ordering somatic tests (median 100/year),
      they had little experience ordering germ-line tests. Oncologists intended to
      disclose most WES results to patients but anticipated numerous challenges in
      using WES. Patients had moderately low levels of genetic knowledge (mean 4
      correct out of 7). Most patients chose to learn results that could help select a
      clinical trial, pharmacogenetic and positive prognostic results, and results
      suggesting inherited predisposition to cancer and treatable noncancer conditions
      (all >=95%). Fewer chose to receive negative prognostic results (84%) and results
      suggesting predisposition to untreatable noncancer conditions (85%). CONCLUSION:
      The majority of patients want most cancer-related and incidental WES results.
      Patients' low levels of genetic knowledge and oncologists' inexperience with
      large-scale sequencing present challenges to implementing paired WES in
      practice.Genet Med 18 10, 1011-1019.

PMID- 26866582
TI  - Enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using a new
      photoelectrode material: upconversion YbF3-Ho/TiO2 nanoheterostructures.
AB  - New up-conversion YbF3-Ho/TiO2 (UC/TiO2) nanoheterostructures are designed and
      explored as an efficient photoelectrode material to yield dye-sensitized solar
      cells (DSSCs) with enhanced performance. In this study, we analyze the
      photogenerated charge transfer properties of the UC/TiO2 nanoheterostructures via
      surface photovoltage (SPV) and transient photovoltage (TPV) techniques, and the
      interfacial dynamics of charge transfer and recombination processes in DSSCs
      using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and open circuit photovoltage
      decay (OCVD) techniques. It is found that these UC/TiO2 nanoheterostructures
      combine the upconversion function of YbF3-Ho and the semiconductive merits from
      TiO2. More importantly, the hetero-junction interface in the UC/TiO2
      nanoheterostructures not only induces direct electron-injection from YbF3-Ho to
      TiO2 by utilizing near-infrared light, but also further improves the existing
      merits of TiO2 through facilitating the interfacial photoinduced charge
      separation, suppressing the photoinduced charge recombination and prolonging the
      lifetimes of excited electrons, which can give further improvement of the
      photovoltaic performances. When integrating the UC/TiO2 nanoheterostructures into
      DSSCs, an overall energy conversion efficiency of 8.0% is achieved. There is a
      23% enhancement in the overall conversion efficiency and a 19% improvement in the
      photocurrent, compared to the pristine devices. 

PMID- 26866583
TI  - Portuguese Haemophilia Registry. Set of variables for a computerized solution.
AB  - National Patient Registries (NPR) have an important role in the management of
      haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders, representing powerful
      instruments to support healthcare and research. Computer software to assist the
      NPR is crucial, as it facilitates the introduction of the data from a national
      universe that will be centralized and merged into a unique location, thus
      ensuring a greater reliability and accuracy of the collected data, avoiding
      duplication of patients. In Portugal, despite the efforts and recognition of the
      need of a NPR, just recently the protocol for the establishment of the computer
      software to support the Portuguese National Registry of Haemophilia and other
      Congenital Coagulopathies (PorR H&CC) was approved. This paper aims to present
      this newly developed computerized solution, as well as to report the main
      variables and information that will be available. The development of this
      application, which includes a set of socio-demographic, clinical and treatment
      data, was based on the principles of WFH, and the database that supports the NPR,
      with anonymized data, is operated and maintained in accordance with the Data
      Protection Law. Currently, the first data are available on the application. Our
      focus now is to ensure more registries and continuous data entry in order to have
      complete information on the characterization of the haemophilia patient
      population in Portugal.

PMID- 26866584
TI  - C2-Symmetric ferrocenyl bisthiazoles: synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical
      and DFT studies.
AB  - A series of donor-acceptor ferrocenyl substituted bisthiazoles 3-8 were designed
      and synthesized by the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira cross-coupling
      reactions. Their photophysical, electrochemical and computational studies reveal
      strong donor-acceptor interactions. The photonic and electrochemical studies show
      that the ferrocenyl bisthiazoles with vinyl linkage ferrocenyl-bisthiazole 4,
      show better electronic communication compared to rest of the ferrocenyl
      bisthiazoles. The time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculation
      at B3LYP on the ferrocenyl substituted bisthiazoles 3-5 was performed, in which
      the ferrocenyl-bisthiazole 4 shows strong donor-acceptor interactions compared to
      the Fc-bisthiazoles 3 and 5. The thermal stability of the ferrocenyl substituted
      bisthiazoles 3-8 is reported, in which Fc-bisthiazole 8 shows high thermal
      stability. The single crystal structures of ferrocenyl-bisthiazoles 3 and 5 are
      reported. 

PMID- 26866585
TI  - 2016 ISBER Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Berlin-"Breaking Down Walls: Unifying
      Biobanking Communities to Secure Our Sustainability".

PMID- 26866586
TI  - Distinctive processing in young and older adults: Metacognitive judgments and the
      isolation paradigm.
AB  - The isolation paradigm is often used for studying the effects of distinctiveness
      on memory. Within this paradigm the isolated item can appear early or late in the
      list. Most prior studies using the isolation paradigm with older adults placed
      the isolated items late in the study list, however, Smith (2011) used an early
      isolation list and found that older adults showed an early isolation effect when
      the dimension of isolation was more readily detected (numbers vs. letters) but
      did not show an isolation effect when the dimension of difference was more subtle
      (category membership). The current experiments replicate these findings and
      demonstrate judgments of learning are elevated for the isolated item in the
      former case, but not in the latter case, for young and older adults.

PMID- 26866587
TI  - Aging and associative recognition: A view from the DRYAD model of age-related
      memory deficits.
AB  - How do we best characterize the memory deficits that accompany aging? A popular
      hypothesis, articulated originally by Naveh-Benjamin (2000) and reviewed in the
      accompanying article by Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin (2016), suggests that older
      adults are selectively deficient in establishing associations between to-be
      learned memoranda and as a result have deficits in memory for sources or
      contexts. An alternative proposal, called density of representations yields age
      related deficits (DRYAD) and outlined in recent articles by Benjamin (2010) and
      colleagues (Benjamin, Diaz, Matzen, & Johnson, 2012), attributes disproportionate
      deficits in memory to a global, rather than a selective, deficit of memory. In an
      attempt to adjudicate between these competing positions, Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin
      (2016) discussed 2 sets of experimental data that they claim speak against the
      global deficit model. Here I review some general principles of how the global
      deficit view is applied to experimental paradigms and demonstrate that even a
      simplified form of DRYAD can comfortably accommodate the critical findings cited
      by Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin. I also evaluate aspects of their results that may be
      problematic for DRYAD and describe ways in which DRYAD's account of associative
      recognition can be falsified. I end with a discussion of the complementary
      strengths and weaknesses of the 2 approaches and consider ways in which the
      associative deficit hypothesis and DRYAD might work more profitably together than
      apart.

PMID- 26866588
TI  - DRYAD and ADH: Further comments on explaining age-related differences in memory.
AB  - Recently, Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin (2016) questioned some of the main
      assumptions/hypotheses of DRYAD (or density of representations yields age-related
      deficits), a global-deficit model of aging and memory judgments (Benjamin, 2010;
      Benjamin et al., 2012). Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin (2016) provided empirical
      evidence that seems incompatible with DRYAD, but that fits the associative
      deficit hypothesis (ADH; Naveh-Benjamin, 2000), 1 specific-deficit theoretical
      view. In response, Aaron Benjamin (2016) offered a discussion of the
      complementary strengths and weaknesses of the DRYAD and the ADH, and the
      potential ways they might work together. We agree with many of his comments, but
      are not convinced that DRYAD is able to explain basic replicable empirical
      evidence of the type mentioned in Smyth and Naveh-Benjamin (2016). We discuss the
      reasons why we are not fully convinced by the demonstration of DRYAD's simulation
      of results presented in Benjamin (2016) and then present an implementation of ADH
      in a computationally based age-related impaired neuromodulation approach that was
      shown to simulate the basic empirical results of age-related associative memory
      deficits. We also discuss the issues of parsimony of theories and the appropriate
      type of representation, in the context of global versus specific deficits
      theoretical views. Finally, we show that the ADH's take on the distinction
      between items and associations has been adopted by some global computational
      models of memory. We believe that considerations of the above issues and others
      raised by Benjamin (2016) can lead to fruitful discussions that will benefit both
      theory development and existing knowledge of aging and memory.

PMID- 26866589
TI  - Eye movements and the perceptual span during first- and second-language sentence
      reading in bilingual older adults.
AB  - This study addressed a central yet previously unexplored issue in the
      psychological science of aging, namely, whether the advantages of healthy aging
      (e.g., greater lifelong experience with language) or disadvantages (e.g.,
      decreases in cognitive and sensory processing) drive L1 and L2 reading
      performance in bilingual older adults. To this end, we used a gaze-contingent
      moving window paradigm to examine both global aspects of reading fluency (e.g.,
      reading rates, number of regressions) and the perceptual span (i.e., allocation
      of visual attention into the parafovea) in bilingual older adults during L1 and
      L2 sentence reading, as a function of individual differences in current L2
      experience. Across the L1 and L2, older adults exhibited reduced reading fluency
      (e.g., slower reading rates, more regressions), but a similar perceptual span
      compared with matched younger adults. Also similar to matched younger adults,
      older adults' reading fluency was lower for L2 reading than for L1 reading as a
      function of current L2 experience. Specifically, greater current L2 experience
      increased L2 reading fluency, but decreased L1 reading fluency (for global
      reading measures only). Taken together, the dissociation between intact
      perceptual span and impaired global reading measures suggests that older adults
      may prioritize parafoveal processing despite age-related encoding difficulties.
      Consistent with this interpretation, post hoc analyses revealed that older adults
      with higher versus lower executive control were more likely to adopt this
      strategy.

PMID- 26866590
TI  - "A Culture-Brain Link: Negative Age Stereotypes Predict Alzheimer's Disease
      Biomarkers": Correction to Levy et al. (2016).
AB  - Reports an error in "A Culture-Brain Link: Negative Age Stereotypes Predict
      Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers" by Becca R. Levy, Luigi Ferrucci, Alan B.
      Zonderman, Martin D. Slade, Juan Troncoso and Susan M. Resnick (Psychology and
      Aging, Advanced Online Publication, Dec 7, 2015, np). In the article, the correct
      analyses were reported for bootstrapping; however, the sizes of the bootstrapping
      samples for Studies 1 and 2 were reversed. (The following abstract of the
      original article appeared in record 2015-54839-001.) Although negative age
      stereotypes have been found to predict adverse outcomes among older individuals,
      it was unknown whether the influence of stereotypes extends to brain changes
      associated with Alzheimer's disease. To consider this possibility, we drew on
      dementia-free participants, in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, whose
      age stereotypes were assessed decades before yearly magnetic resonance images and
      brain autopsies were performed. Those holding more-negative age stereotypes
      earlier in life had significantly steeper hippocampal-volume loss and
      significantly greater accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid
      plaques, adjusting for relevant covariates. These findings suggest a new pathway
      to identifying mechanisms and potential interventions related to the pathology of
      Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26866592
TI  - Wolf Lethal Control and Livestock Depredations: Counter-Evidence from Respecified
      Models.
AB  - We replicated the study conducted by Wielgus and Peebles (2014) on the effect of
      wolf mortality on livestock depredations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho states in
      the US. Their best models were found to be misspecified due to the omission of
      the time index and incorrect functional form. When we respecified the models,
      this replication failed to confirm the magnitude, direction and often the very
      existence of the original results. Wielgus and Peebles (2014) reported that the
      increase in the number of wolves culled the previous year would increase the
      expected number of livestock killed this year by 4 to 6%. But our results showed
      that the culling of one wolf the previous year would decrease the expected number
      of cattle killed this year by 1.9%, and the expected number of sheep killed by
      3.4%. However, for every wolf killed there is a corresponding 2.2% increase in
      the expected number of sheep killed in the same year. The increase in sheep
      depredation appears to be a short term phenomenon. 

PMID- 26866591
TI  - Identification of Targets of CUG-BP, Elav-Like Family Member 1 (CELF1) Regulation
      in Embryonic Heart Muscle.
AB  - CUG-BP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1) is a highly conserved RNA binding
      protein that regulates pre-mRNA alternative splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA
      stability, and translation. In the heart, CELF1 is expressed in the myocardium,
      where its levels are tightly regulated during development. CELF1 levels peak in
      the heart during embryogenesis, and aberrant up-regulation of CELF1 in the adult
      heart has been implicated in cardiac pathogenesis in myotonic dystrophy type 1,
      as well as in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Either inhibition of CELF activity or over
      expression of CELF1 in heart muscle causes cardiomyopathy in transgenic mice.
      Nonetheless, many of the cardiac targets of CELF1 regulation remain unknown. In
      this study, to identify cardiac targets of CELF1 we performed cross-linking
      immunoprecipitation (CLIP) for CELF1 from embryonic day 8 chicken hearts. We
      identified a previously unannotated exon in MYH7B as a novel target of CELF1
      mediated regulation. We demonstrated that knockdown of CELF1 in primary chicken
      embryonic cardiomyocytes leads to increased inclusion of this exon and decreased
      MYH7B levels. We also investigated global changes in the transcriptome of primary
      embryonic cardiomyocytes following CELF1 knockdown in a published RNA-seq
      dataset. Pathway and network analyses identified strong associations between
      CELF1 and regulation of cell cycle and translation. Important regulatory
      proteins, including both RNA binding proteins and a cardiac transcription factor,
      were affected by loss of CELF1. Together, these data suggest that CELF1 is a key
      regulator of cardiomyocyte gene expression. 

PMID- 26866593
TI  - Comparison of Cervical Spine Anatomy in Calves, Pigs and Humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Animals are commonly used to model the human spine for in
      vitro and in vivo experiments. Many studies have investigated similarities and
      differences between animals and humans in the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae.
      However, a quantitative anatomic comparison of calf, pig, and human cervical
      spines has not been reported. PURPOSE: To compare fundamental structural
      similarities and differences in vertebral bodies from the cervical spines of
      commonly used experimental animal models and humans. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomical
      morphometric analysis was performed on cervical vertebra specimens harvested from
      humans and two common large animals (i.e., calves and pigs). METHODS: Multiple
      morphometric parameters were directly measured from cervical spine specimens of
      twelve pigs, twelve calves and twelve human adult cadavers. The following
      anatomical parameters were measured: vertebral body width (VBW), vertebral body
      depth (VBD), vertebral body height (VBH), spinal canal width (SCW), spinal canal
      depth (SCD), pedicle width (PW), pedicle depth (PD), pedicle inclination (PI),
      dens width (DW), dens depth (DD), total vertebral width (TVW), and total
      vertebral depth (TVD). RESULTS: The atlantoaxial (C1-2) joint in pigs is similar
      to that in humans and could serve as a human substitute. The pig cervical spine
      is highly similar to the human cervical spine, except for two large transverse
      processes in the anterior regions ofC4-C6. The width and depth of the calf
      odontoid process were larger than those in humans. VBW and VBD of calf cervical
      vertebrae were larger than those in humans, but the spinal canal was smaller.
      Calf C7 was relatively similar to human C7, thus, it may be a good substitute.
      CONCLUSION: Pig cervical vertebrae were more suitable human substitutions than
      calf cervical vertebrae, especially with respect to C1, C2, and C7. The
      biomechanical properties of nerve vascular anatomy and various segment functions
      in pig and calf cervical vertebrae must be considered when selecting an animal
      model for research on the spine.

PMID- 26866594
TI  - Serum Taurine and Stroke Risk in Women: A Prospective, Nested Case-Control Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a conditionally essential
      sulfur-containing amino acid, is mainly obtained from diet in humans.
      Experimental studies have shown that taurine's main biological actions include
      bile salt conjugation, blood pressure regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti
      inflammation. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study nested in
      the New York University Women's Health Study, a cohort study involving 14,274
      women enrolled since 1985. Taurine was measured in pre-diagnostic serum samples
      of 241 stroke cases and 479 matched controls. RESULTS: There was no statistically
      significant association between serum taurine and stroke risk in the overall
      study population. The adjusted ORs for stroke were 1.0 (reference), 0.87 (95% CI,
      0.59-1.28), and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.69-1.54) in increasing tertiles of taurine (64.3
      126.6, 126.7-152.9, and 153.0-308.5 nmol/mL, respectively). A significant inverse
      association between serum taurine and stroke risk was observed among never
      smokers, with an adjusted OR of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.37-1.18) and 0.50 (95% CI, 0.26
      0.94) for the second and third tertile, respectively (p for trend = 0.01), but
      not among past or current smokers (p for interaction < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We
      observed no overall association between serum taurine and stroke risk, although a
      protective effect was observed in never smokers, which requires further
      investigation. Taurine, Stroke, Epidemiology, Prospective, Case-control study,
      NYUWHS.

PMID- 26866596
TI  - Nanotopography-Induced Structural Anisotropy and Sarcomere Development in Human
      Cardiomyocytes Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
AB  - Understanding the phenotypic development of human induced pluripotent stem cell
      derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) is a prerequisite to advancing regenerative
      cardiac therapy, disease modeling, and drug screening applications. Lack of
      consistent hiPSC-CM in vitro data can be largely attributed to the inability of
      conventional culture methods to mimic the structural, biochemical, and mechanical
      aspects of the myocardial niche accurately. Here, we present a nanogrid culture
      array comprised of nanogrooved topographies, with groove widths ranging from 350
      to 2000 nm, to study the effect of different nanoscale structures on the
      structural development of hiPSC-CMs in vitro. Nanotopographies were designed to
      have a biomimetic interface, based on observations of the oriented myocardial
      extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers found in vivo. Nanotopographic substrates were
      integrated with a self-assembling chimeric peptide containing the Arg-Gly-Asp
      (RGD) cell adhesion motif. Using this platform, cell adhesion to peptide-coated
      substrates was found to be comparable to that of conventional fibronectin-coated
      surfaces. Cardiomyocyte organization and structural development were found to be
      dependent on the nanotopographical feature size in a biphasic manner, with
      improved development achieved on grooves in the 700-1000 nm range. These findings
      highlight the capability of surface-functionalized, bioinspired substrates to
      influence cardiomyocyte development, and the capacity for such platforms to serve
      as a versatile assay for investigating the role of topographical guidance cues on
      cell behavior. Such substrates could potentially create more physiologically
      relevant in vitro cardiac tissues for future drug screening and disease modeling
      studies.

PMID- 26866597
TI  - Short-Range Temporal Interactions in Sleep; Hippocampal Spike Avalanches Support
      a Large Milieu of Sequential Activity Including Replay.
AB  - Hippocampal neural systems consolidate multiple complex behaviors into memory.
      However, the temporal structure of neural firing supporting complex memory
      consolidation is unknown. Replay of hippocampal place cells during sleep supports
      the view that a simple repetitive behavior modifies sleep firing dynamics, but
      does not explain how multiple episodes could be integrated into associative
      networks for recollection during future cognition. Here we decode sequential
      firing structure within spike avalanches of all pyramidal cells recorded in
      sleeping rats after running in a circular track. We find that short sequences
      that combine into multiple long sequences capture the majority of the sequential
      structure during sleep, including replay of hippocampal place cells. The
      ensemble, however, is not optimized for maximally producing the behavior-enriched
      episode. Thus behavioral programming of sequential correlations occurs at the
      level of short-range interactions, not whole behavioral sequences and these short
      sequences are assembled into a large and complex milieu that could support
      complex memory consolidation. 

PMID- 26866598
TI  - Non-monotonic Temporal-Weighting Indicates a Dynamically Modulated Evidence
      Integration Mechanism.
AB  - Perceptual decisions are thought to be mediated by a mechanism of sequential
      sampling and integration of noisy evidence whose temporal weighting profile
      affects the decision quality. To examine temporal weighting, participants were
      presented with two brightness-fluctuating disks for 1, 2 or 3 seconds and were
      requested to choose the overall brighter disk at the end of each trial. By
      employing a signal-perturbation method, which deploys across trials a set of
      systematically controlled temporal dispersions of the same overall signal, we
      were able to quantify the participants' temporal weighting profile. Results
      indicate that, for intervals of 1 or 2 sec, participants exhibit a primacy-bias.
      However, for longer stimuli (3-sec) the temporal weighting profile is non
      monotonic, with concurrent primacy and recency, which is inconsistent with the
      predictions of previously suggested computational models of perceptual decision
      making (drift-diffusion and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes). We propose a novel,
      dynamic variant of the leaky-competing accumulator model as a potential account
      for this finding, and we discuss potential neural mechanisms. 

PMID- 26866600
TI  - Complementary Therapies and Medicines and Reproductive Medicine.
AB  - Complementary therapies and medicines are a broad and diverse range of
      treatments, and are frequently used by women and their partners during the
      preconception period to assist with infertility, and to address pregnancy-related
      conditions. Despite frequent use, the evidence examining the efficacy,
      effectiveness, and safety for many modalities is lacking, with variable study
      quality. In this article, we provide an overview of research evidence with the
      aim of examining the evidence to inform clinical practice. During the
      preconception period, there is mixed evidence for acupuncture to improve
      ovulation, or increase pregnancy rates. Acupuncture may improve sperm quality,
      but there is insufficient evidence to determine whether this results in improved
      pregnancy and live birth rates. Acupuncture can be described as a low-risk
      intervention. Chinese and Western herbal medicines may increase pregnancy rates;
      however, study quality is low. The evaluation of efficacy, effectiveness, and
      safety during the first trimester of pregnancy has most commonly reported on
      herbs, supplements, and practices such as acupuncture. There is high-quality
      evidence reporting the benefits of herbal medicines and acupuncture to treat
      nausea in pregnancy. The benefit from ginger to manage symptoms of nausea in
      early pregnancy is incorporated in national clinical guidelines, and vitamin B6
      is recommended as a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
      The safety of ginger and vitamin B6 is considered to be well established, and is
      based on epidemiological studies. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce back pain
      and improve function for women in early pregnancy. There is little evidence to
      support the use of cranberries in pregnancy for prevention of urinary tract
      infections, and chiropractic treatment for back pain. Overall the numbers of
      studies are small and of low quality, although the modalities appear to be low
      risk of harm. 

PMID- 26866599
TI  - No Fabry Disease in Patients Presenting with Isolated Small Fiber Neuropathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Screening for Fabry disease in patients with small fiber neuropathy
      has been suggested, especially since Fabry disease is potentially treatable.
      However, the diagnostic yield of testing for Fabry disease in isolated small
      fiber neuropathy patients has never been systematically investigated. Our aim is
      to determine the presence of Fabry disease in patients with small fiber
      neuropathy. METHODS: Patients referred to our institute, who met the criteria for
      isolated small fiber neuropathy were tested for Fabry disease by measurement of
      alpha-Galactosidase A activity in blood, lysosomal globotriaosylsphingosine in
      urine and analysis on possible GLA gene mutations. RESULTS: 725 patients
      diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy were screened for Fabry disease. No skin
      abnormalities were seen except for redness of the hands or feet in 30.9% of the
      patients. Alfa-Galactosidase A activity was tested in all 725 patients and showed
      diminished activity in eight patients. Lysosomal globotriaosylsphingosine was
      examined in 509 patients and was normal in all tested individuals. Screening of
      GLA for mutations was performed for 440 patients, including those with diminished
      alpha-Galactosidase A activity. Thirteen patients showed a GLA gene variant. One
      likely pathogenic variant was found in a female patient. The diagnosis Fabry
      disease could not be confirmed over time in this patient. Eventually none of the
      patients were diagnosed with Fabry disease. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with
      isolated small fiber neuropathy, and no other signs compatible with Fabry
      disease, the diagnostic yield of testing for Fabry disease is extremely low.
      Testing for Fabry disease should be considered only in cases with additional
      characteristics, such as childhood onset, cardiovascular disease, renal failure,
      or typical skin lesions.

PMID- 26866601
TI  - Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is high, and the risks of
      maternal and perinatal complications with clear hyperglycemia are well
      recognized. The worldwide obesity epidemic and the consequent excess of
      hyperglycemia have resulted in a rising prevalence of GDM. Changing definitions
      and more intensive screening may also be contributing to an increased prevalence.
      Despite the recognized risks, much controversy surrounds the screening,
      diagnosis, and treatment of GDM. The more stringent diagnostic criteria,
      advocated in new guidelines, are based on observational studies and are not
      guided by interventional studies. Here, we review the evidence behind updated
      diagnostic criteria, stricter treatment targets, and current controversies and
      conclude that international consensus regarding diagnosis and treatment will only
      be achieved with further evidence from interventional studies. 

PMID- 26866602
TI  - Evaluation and Verification of Channel Transmission Characteristics of Human Body
      for Optimizing Data Transmission Rate in Electrostatic-Coupling Intra Body
      Communication System: A Comparative Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intra-body communication is a new wireless scheme for transmitting
      signals through the human body. Understanding the transmission characteristics of
      the human body is therefore becoming increasingly important. Electrostatic
      coupling intra-body communication system in a ground-free situation that
      integrate electronic products that are discretely located on individuals, such as
      mobile phones, PDAs, wearable computers, and biomedical sensors, are of
      particular interest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human body is modeled as a
      simplified Resistor-Capacitor network. A virtual ground between the transmitter
      and receiver in the system is represented by a resister-capacitor network. Value
      of its resistance and capacitance are determined from a system perspective. The
      system is characterized by using a mathematical unit step function in digital
      baseband transmission scheme with and without Manchester code. As a result, the
      signal-to-noise and to-intersymbol-interference ratios are improved by
      manipulating the load resistor. The data transmission rate of the system is
      optimized. A battery-powered transmitter and receiver are developed to validate
      the proposal. RESULTS: A ground-free system fade signal energy especially for a
      low-frequency signal limited system transmission rate. The system transmission
      rate is maximized by simply manipulating the load resistor. Experimental results
      demonstrate that for a load resistance of 10k-50k Omega, the high-pass 3 dB
      frequency of the band-pass channel is 400kHz-2MHz in the worst-case scenario. The
      system allows a Manchester-coded baseband signal to be transmitted at speeds of
      up to 20M bit per second with signal-to-noise and signal-to-intersymbol
      interference ratio of more than 10 dB. CONCLUSION: The human body can function as
      a high speed transmission medium with a data transmission rate of 20Mbps in an
      electrostatic-coupling intra-body communication system. Therefore, a wideband
      signal can be transmitted directly through the human body with a good signal-to
      noise quality of 10 dB if the high-pass 3 dB frequency is suitably selected.

PMID- 26866603
TI  - Circulating Hepcidin-25 Is Reduced by Endogenous Estrogen in Humans.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hepcidin reduces iron absorption by binding to the intestinal iron
      transporter ferroportin, thereby causing its degradation. Although short-term
      administration of testosterone or growth hormone (GH) has been reported to
      decrease circulating hepcidin levels, little is known about how hepcidin is
      influenced in human endocrine conditions associated with anemia. RESEARCH DESIGN
      AND METHODS: We used a sensitive and specific dual-monoclonal antibody sandwich
      immunoassay to measure hepcidin-25 in patients (a) during initiation of in vitro
      fertilization when endogenous estrogens were elevated vs. suppressed, (b) with GH
      deficiency before and after 12 months substitution treatment, (c) with
      hyperthyroidism before and after normalization, and (d) with hyperprolactinemia
      before and after six months of treatment with a dopamine agonist. RESULTS: In
      response to a marked stimulation of endogenous estrogen production, median
      hepcidin levels decreased from 4.85 to 1.43 ng/mL (p < 0.01). Hyperthyroidism,
      hyperprolactinemia, or GH substitution to GH-deficient patients did not influence
      serum hepcidin-25 levels. CONCLUSIONS: In humans, gonadotropin-stimulated
      endogenous estrogen markedly decreases circulating hepcidin-25 levels. No clear
      and stable correlation between iron biomarkers and hepcidin-25 was seen before or
      after treatment of hyperthyroidism, hyperprolactinemia or growth hormone
      deficiency.

PMID- 26866604
TI  - Oxazolines as Dual-Function Traceless Chromophores and Chiral Auxiliaries:
      Enantioselective Photoassisted Synthesis of Polyheterocyclic Ketones.
AB  - 2-(o-Amidophenyl)oxa- and -thiazolines undergo excited-state intramolecular
      proton transfer (ESIPT), generating aza-o-xylylenes capable of intramolecular
      [4+2] and [4+4] cycloadditions with tethered unsaturated pendants. Facile
      hydrolysis of the primary photoproducts, spiro-oxazolidines and thiazolidines,
      under mild conditions unmasks a phenone functionality. Variations in linkers
      allow for access to diverse core scaffolds in the primary photoproducts,
      rendering the approach compatible with the philosophy of diversity-oriented
      synthesis. Chiral oxazolines, readily available from the corresponding amino
      alcohols, yield enantioenriched keto-polyheterocycles of complex topologies with
      enantiomeric excess values up to 90%. 

PMID- 26866605
TI  - Structural Study of the HD-PTP Bro1 Domain in a Complex with the Core Region of
      STAM2, a Subunit of ESCRT-0.
AB  - EGFR is a key player in cell proliferation and survival signaling, and its
      sorting into MVBs for eventual lysosomal degradation is controlled by the
      coordination of multiple ESCRT complexes on the endosomal membrane. HD-PTP is a
      cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase, and is associated with EGFR trafficking
      by interacting with the ESCRT-0 protein STAM2 and the ESCRT-III protein CHMP4B
      via its N-terminal Bro1 domain. Intriguingly, the homologous domain of two other
      human Bro1 domain-containing proteins, Alix and Brox, binds CHMP4B but not STAM2,
      despite their high structural similarity. To elucidate this binding specificity,
      we determined the complex structure of the HD-PTP Bro1 domain bound to the STAM2
      core region. STAM2 binds to the hydrophobic concave pocket of the HD-PTP Bro1
      domain, as CHMP4B does to the pocket of Alix, Brox, or HD-PTP but in the opposite
      direction. Critically, Thr145 of HD-PTP, corresponding to Lys151 of Alix and
      Arg145 of Brox, is revealed to be a determinant residue enabling this protein to
      bind STAM2, as the Alix- or Brox-mimicking mutations of this residue blocks the
      intermolecular interaction. This work therefore provides the structural basis for
      how HD-PTP recognizes the ESCRT-0 component to control EGFR sorting. 

PMID- 26866606
TI  - Cryptanalysis and Improvement of a Biometric-Based Multi-Server Authentication
      and Key Agreement Scheme.
AB  - With the security requirements of networks, biometrics authenticated schemes
      which are applied in the multi-server environment come to be more crucial and
      widely deployed. In this paper, we propose a novel biometric-based multi-server
      authentication and key agreement scheme which is based on the cryptanalysis of
      Mishra et al.'s scheme. The informal and formal security analysis of our scheme
      are given, which demonstrate that our scheme satisfies the desirable security
      requirements. The presented scheme provides a variety of significant
      functionalities, in which some features are not considered in the most of
      existing authentication schemes, such as, user revocation or re-registration and
      biometric information protection. Compared with several related schemes, our
      scheme has more secure properties and lower computation cost. It is obviously
      more appropriate for practical applications in the remote distributed networks. 

PMID- 26866608
TI  - Joint analysis of multiple phenotypes: summary of results and discussions from
      the Genetic Analysis Workshop 19.
AB  - For Genetic Analysis Workshop 19, 2 extensive data sets were provided, including
      whole genome and whole exome sequence data, gene expression data, and
      longitudinal blood pressure outcomes, together with nongenetic covariates. These
      data sets gave researchers the chance to investigate different aspects of more
      complex relationships within the data, and the contributions in our working group
      focused on statistical methods for the joint analysis of multiple phenotypes,
      which is part of the research field of data integration. The analysis of data
      from different sources poses challenges to researchers but provides the
      opportunity to model the real-life situation more realistically.Our 4
      contributions all used the provided real data to identify genetic predictors for
      blood pressure. In the contributions, novel multivariate rare variant tests,
      copula models, structural equation models and a sparse matrix representation
      variable selection approach were applied. Each of these statistical models can be
      used to investigate specific hypothesized relationships, which are described
      together with their biological assumptions.The results showed that all methods
      are ready for application on a genome-wide scale and can be used or extended to
      include multiple omics data sets. The results provide potentially interesting
      genetic targets for future investigation and replication. Furthermore, all
      contributions demonstrated that the analysis of complex data sets could benefit
      from modeling correlated phenotypes jointly as well as by adding further
      bioinformatics information. 

PMID- 26866607
TI  - The Quantitative Basis of the Arabidopsis Innate Immune System to Endemic
      Pathogens Depends on Pathogen Genetics.
AB  - The most established model of the eukaryotic innate immune system is derived from
      examples of large effect monogenic quantitative resistance to pathogens. However,
      many host-pathogen interactions involve many genes of small to medium effect and
      exhibit quantitative resistance. We used the Arabidopsis-Botrytis pathosystem to
      explore the quantitative genetic architecture underlying host innate immune
      system in a population of Arabidopsis thaliana. By infecting a diverse panel of
      Arabidopsis accessions with four phenotypically and genotypically distinct
      isolates of the fungal necrotroph B. cinerea, we identified a total of 2,982
      genes associated with quantitative resistance using lesion area and 3,354 genes
      associated with camalexin production as measures of the interaction. Most genes
      were associated with resistance to a specific Botrytis isolate, which
      demonstrates the influence of pathogen genetic variation in analyzing host
      quantitative resistance. While known resistance genes, such as receptor-like
      kinases (RLKs) and nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat proteins (NLRs),
      were found to be enriched among associated genes, they only account for a small
      fraction of the total genes associated with quantitative resistance. Using
      publically available co-expression data, we condensed the quantitative resistance
      associated genes into co-expressed gene networks. GO analysis of these networks
      implicated several biological processes commonly connected to disease resistance,
      including defense hormone signaling and ROS production, as well as novel
      processes, such as leaf development. Validation of single gene T-DNA knockouts in
      a Col-0 background demonstrate a high success rate (60%) when accounting for
      differences in environmental and Botrytis genetic variation. This study shows
      that the genetic architecture underlying host innate immune system is extremely
      complex and is likely able to sense and respond to differential virulence among
      pathogen genotypes. 

PMID- 26866610
TI  - Caffeine Prevents Hyperoxia-Induced Functional and Structural Lung Damage in
      Preterm Rabbits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Caffeine is a commonly used drug for apnea of prematurity. It may,
      however, also have a beneficial effect on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which
      is the most common complication of extreme preterm birth. OBJECTIVES: To study
      the inflammatory, structural and functional effects of caffeine in an animal
      model of BPD. METHODS: Preterm New Zealand-Dendermonde rabbits (gestational day
      28; term 31) were randomized to three groups: normoxia-placebo (N-P), hyperoxia
      placebo (H-P) and hyperoxia-caffeine (H-C). Lung function was assessed on
      postnatal day 5, along with airway morphometry, vascular morphometry and a score
      observing airway inflammation. RESULTS: Caffeine improved lung function by
      increasing lung volume [mean displaced volume N-P: 40.1 +/- 6 ml/kg, H-P: 27.8 +/
      8 ml/kg and H-C: 34.4 +/- 7 ml/kg (p < 0.05); total lung capacity: N-P: 1.17 +/-
      0.1 ml, H-P: 0.67 +/- 0.1 ml and H-C: 1.1 +/- 0.1 ml (p < 0.05)], decreasing
      tissue damping [N-P: 2.7 +/- 0.3 cm H2O/ml, H-P: 4.6 +/- 0.6 cm H2O/ml and H-C:
      3.2 +/- 0.4 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)], elastance [N-P: 9.3 +/- 2.4 cm H2O/ml, H-P:
      19.2 +/- 7.4 cm H2O/ml and H-C: 10.7 +/- 2 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)] and compliance
      [N-P: 0.06 +/- 0.01 cm H2O/ml, H-P: 0.054 +/- 0.01 cm H2O/ml and H-C: 0.07 +/-
      0.013 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)]. Caffeine also improved histology by decreasing
      alveolar size [linear intercepts; N-P: 83.6 +/- 1.7, H-P: 82.9 +/- 1.6 and H-C:
      67.3 +/- 1.4 (p < 0.05)], increasing radial alveolar count (N-P: 6.6 +/- 0.5, H
      P: 5.7 +/- 0.6 and H-C: 7.05 +/- 0.5) and decreasing the acute inflammation score
      [N-P: 0.3 +/- 0.1, H-P: 0.5 +/- 0.1 and H-C: 0.4 +/- 0.1 (p < 0.05)]. CONCLUSION:
      In preterm rabbits, caffeine reduces the functional, architectural and
      inflammatory pulmonary changes induced by hyperoxia in the lung.

PMID- 26866611
TI  - Identification of energy dissipation mechanisms in CNT-reinforced nanocomposites.
AB  - In this paper we present our recent findings on the mechanisms of energy
      dissipation in polymer-based nanocomposites obtained through experimental
      investigations. The matrix of the nanocomposite was polystyrene (PS) which was
      reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). To study the mechanical strain energy
      dissipation of nanocomposites, we measured the ratio of loss to storage modulus
      for different CNT concentrations and alignments. CNT alignment was achieved via
      hot-drawing of PS-CNT. In addition, CNT agglomeration was studied via a
      combination of SEM imaging and Raman scanning. We found that at sufficiently low
      strains, energy dissipation in composites with high CNT alignment is not a
      function of applied strain, as no interfacial slip occurs between the CNTs and
      PS. However, below the interfacial slip strain threshold, damping scales
      monotonically with CNT content, which indicates the prevalence of CNT-CNT
      friction dissipation mechanisms within agglomerates. At higher strains,
      interfacial slip also contributes to energy dissipation. However, the increase in
      damping with strain, especially when CNT agglomerates are present, does not scale
      linearly with the effective interface area between CNTs and PS, suggesting a
      significant contribution of friction between CNTs within agglomerates to energy
      dissipation at large strains. In addition, for the first time, a comparison
      between the energy dissipation in randomly oriented and aligned CNT composites
      was made. It is inferred that matrix plasticity and tearing caused by
      misorientation of CNTs with the loading direction is a major cause of energy
      dissipation. The results of our research can be used to design composites with
      high energy dissipation capability, especially for applications where dynamic
      loading may compromise structural stability and functionality, such as rotary
      wing structures and antennas. 

PMID- 26866609
TI  - Desensitization and Incomplete Recovery of Hepatic Target Genes After Chronic
      Thyroid Hormone Treatment and Withdrawal in Male Adult Mice.
AB  - Clinical symptoms may vary and not necessarily reflect serum thyroid hormone (TH)
      levels during acute and chronic hyperthyroidism as well as recovery from
      hyperthyroidism. We thus examined changes in hepatic gene expression and serum
      TH/TSH levels in adult male mice treated either with a single T3 (20 MUg per 100
      g body weight) injection (acute T3) or daily injections for 14 days (chronic T3)
      followed by 10 days of withdrawal. Gene expression arrays from livers harvested
      at these time points showed that among positively-regulated target genes, 320
      were stimulated acutely and 429 chronically by T3. Surprisingly, only 69 of 680
      genes (10.1%) were induced during both periods, suggesting desensitization of the
      majority of acutely stimulated target genes. About 90% of positively regulated
      target genes returned to baseline expression levels after 10 days of withdrawal;
      however, 67 of 680 (9.9%) did not return to baseline despite normalization of
      serum TH/TSH levels. Similar findings also were observed for negatively regulated
      target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of representative positively
      regulated target genes suggested that acetylation of H3K9/K14 was associated with
      acute stimulation, whereas trimethylation of H3K4 was associated with chronic
      stimulation. In an in vivo model of chronic intrahepatic hyperthyroidism since
      birth, adult male monocarboxylate transporter-8 knockout mice also demonstrated
      desensitization of most acutely stimulated target genes that were examined. In
      summary, we have identified transcriptional desensitization and incomplete
      recovery of gene expression during chronic hyperthyroidism and recovery. Our
      findings may be a potential reason for discordance between clinical symptoms and
      serum TH levels observed in these conditions. 

PMID- 26866612
TI  - Factors Associated with Reevaluation of the Stepwise Excavation Procedure: An 8
      Year Retrospective Study.
AB  - Although the stepwise excavation procedure (SWP) has been shown to be an
      effective caries treatment technique, studies reporting its application outside
      of controlled clinical trials are limited. We performed a retrospective study
      from patient record data to assess the proportion of patients who had an SWP
      reevaluated within 18 months at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry
      (UICOD) between 2004 and 2012, and evaluated the association between different
      variables and this outcome. A total of 1,985 SWPs were performed in 1,326
      patients, with 518 patients having had reevaluation within 18 months. Bivariate
      analysis and logistic regression modeling revealed strong associations between
      explanatory variables such as provider type, tooth type, patient age, number of
      recalls and the calendar year in which the SWP was done and reevaluation status.
      There was also evidence of association with dental insurance status. Other
      characteristics such as gender, distance traveled to the UICOD, number of
      surfaces treated and tooth arch did not show any significant association. In
      general, patients were more likely to have reevaluation when seen by faculty
      members or residents, the procedure was performed in molars/pre-molars, they were
      older, they had more recalls and were seen earlier in the study period. These
      results suggest that decisions to use SWP should consider patient demographics
      and treatment characteristics such as provider level, tooth type, patient age and
      number of recalls. The impact of treatment year may reflect program heterogeneity
      or temporal changes in external societal factors. 

PMID- 26866613
TI  - Recommendations in the American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the
      Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Related to the Use of Biologic Agents in
      Patients With a History of Cancer Need Reconsideration: Comment on the Article by
      Singh et al.

PMID- 26866618
TI  - GaAlAs laser-induced pulp mineralization involves dentin matrix protein 1 and
      osteopontin expression.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: GaAlAs lasers induce pulp mineralization by promoting reparative
      dentinogenesis. This study analyzed the expression of dentin matrix protein 1
      (DMP1) and osteopontin in GaAlAs laser-irradiated rat molars, to examine the
      hypothesis that these proteins play a role in the laser-induced reparative
      dentinogenic process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mesial surfaces of the upper
      first molars of 8-week-old Wistar rats were irradiated with a pulsed GaAlAs
      laser. After 1-14 days, mRNA expression of DMP1 and osteopontin in the coronal
      pulp was analyzed using real-time PCR. DMP1, osteopontin, and heat shock protein
      25 (HSP25) were immunolocalized at 1-21 days. RESULTS: The pulp exhibited a
      degenerative zone in its mesial portion on days 1-3, and progressive formation of
      reparative dentin lined with HSP25-immunoreactive odontoblast-like cells, from
      day 7 onwards. DMP1 and osteopontin mRNA expression were significantly
      upregulated on days 1-7 and 3-7, respectively. From day 7 onwards, DMP1 and
      osteopontin immunoreactivity colocalized along the boundary between the primary
      and reparative dentin. CONCLUSION: GaAlAs laser irradiation of rat molars induced
      upregulated DMP1 and osteopontin mRNA expression in the coronal pulp, followed by
      the formation of reparative dentin and the colocalization of DMP1 and osteopontin
      immunoreactivity at the site at which this tissue first appeared.

PMID- 26866621
TI  - Spatioselective Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Functionalization of
      Silicon Microwires with Axial p/n Junctions.
AB  - The spatioselective functionalization of silicon microwires with axial p/n
      junctions is achieved using the electronic properties of the junction.
      (Photo)electrochemical deposition of metals is demonstrated at the bottom and top
      of the wires in the dark and light, respectively. The junction depletion layer
      remains unmodified, which allows its visualization and comparison with
      theoretical calculations. 

PMID- 26866627
TI  - Bone marrow segmentation based on a combined consideration of transverse
      relaxation processes and Dixon oscillations.
AB  - The aim of this study was to demonstrate that gradient-echo sampling of single
      spin echoes can be used to isolate the signal from trabecular bone marrow, with
      high-quality segmentation and surface reconstructions resulting from the
      application of simple post-processing strategies. Theoretical expressions of the
      time-domain single-spin-echo signal were used to simulate signals from bone
      marrow, non-bone fatty deposits and muscle. These simulations were compared with
      and used to interpret signals obtained by the application of the gradient-echo
      sampling of a spin-echo sequence to image the knee and surrounding tissues at 1.5
      T. Trabecular bone marrow has a much higher reversible transverse relaxation rate
      than surrounding non-bone fatty deposits and other musculoskeletal tissues. This
      observation, combined with a choice of gradient-echo spacing that accentuates
      Dixon-type oscillations from chemical-shift interference effects, enabled the
      isolation of bone marrow signal from surrounding tissues through the use of
      simple image subtraction and thresholding. Three-dimensional renderings of the
      marrow surface were then readily generated with this approach - renderings that
      may prove useful for bone morphology assessment, e.g. for the measurement of
      femoral anteversion. In conclusion, understanding the behavior of signals from
      bone marrow and surrounding tissue as a function of time through a spin echo
      facilitates the segmentation and reconstruction of bone marrow surfaces using
      straightforward post-processing strategies that are typically available on modern
      radiology workstations.

PMID- 26866626
TI  - Aging Promotes Sirtuin 3-Dependent Cartilage Superoxide Dismutase 2 Acetylation
      and Osteoarthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To quantify functional age-related changes in the cartilage
      antioxidant network in order to discover novel mediators of cartilage oxidative
      stress and osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology. METHODS: We evaluated
      histopathologic changes of knee OA in 10-, 20-, and 30-month-old male F344BN rats
      and analyzed cartilage oxidation according to the ratio of reduced to oxidized
      glutathione. Antioxidant gene expression and protein abundance were analyzed by
      quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and selected
      reaction-monitoring mass spectrometry, respectively. Superoxide dismutase 2
      (SOD2) activity and acetylation were analyzed by colorimetric enzyme assays and
      Western blotting, respectively. We examined human OA cartilage to evaluate the
      clinical relevance of SOD2 acetylation, and we tested age-related changes in the
      mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT-3) in rats and mice. RESULTS: Cartilage
      oxidation and OA severity in F344BN rats increased with age and were associated
      with an increase in SOD2 expression and protein abundance. However, SOD2-specific
      activity decreased with age due to elevated posttranslational lysine acetylation.
      Consistent with these findings, SIRT-3 levels decreased substantially with age,
      and treatment with SIRT-3 increased SOD2 activity in an age-dependent manner.
      SOD2 was also acetylated in human OA cartilage, and activity was increased with
      SIRT-3 treatment. Moreover, in C57BL/6J mice, cartilage SIRT-3 expression
      decreased with age, and whole-body deletion of SIRT-3 accelerated the development
      of knee OA. CONCLUSION: Our results show that SIRT-3 mediates age-related changes
      in cartilage redox regulation and protects against early-stage OA. These findings
      suggest that mitochondrial acetylation promotes OA and that restoration of SIRT-3
      in aging cartilage may improve cartilage resistance to oxidative stress by
      rescuing acetylation-dependent inhibition of SOD2 activity.

PMID- 26866628
TI  - Association of plasma chloride values with acute kidney injury in the critically
      ill - a prospective observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chloride-rich fluids have been found to associate with an increased
      risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
      Studies evaluating the association of plasma chloride (Cl) with the development
      of AKI are few. We hypothesized that higher plasma Cl is associated with an
      increased risk for the development of AKI. METHODS: In this sub-study of the
      prospective FINNAKI study, we analyzed Cl values measured during ICU stay in two
      ICUs at a tertiary center including 445 patients. We calculated time-weighted
      mean values within the first 24 h in ICU for plasma Cl (ClTWM 24 ). We analyzed
      the association of ClTWM 24 primarily with the development of AKI, and
      secondarily with 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Based on the first measured Cl value,
      350 of 445 patients [78.7 (95 CI, 74.8-82.5)] had hyperchloremia (P-Cl > 106
      mmol/l) and 48 [10.8 (95 CI, 7.9-13.7)] severe hyperchloremia (P-Cl > 114
      mmol/l). Altogether 217 of 445 [48.8% (95% CI 44.2-53.4%)] patients developed
      AKI. Of these 217, AKI was diagnosed in 62 (28.6%) after 24 h from ICU admission
      and were included in the analysis regarding development of AKI. ClTWM 24 was
      associated with an increased risk for the development of AKI (OR1.099; 1.003
      1.205) after multivariable adjustments. According to ClTWM 24 , no difference in
      90-day mortality between severely hyperchloremic patients and others existed.
      CONCLUSIONS: More than three of four critically ill patients had hyperchloremia
      and 1 of 10 had its severe form. Higher time-weighted mean chloride was
      independently associated with an increased risk for AKI.

PMID- 26866630
TI  - Prevention of Incident Knee Osteoarthritis by Moderate Weight Loss in Overweight
      and Obese Females.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of moderate weight loss on the
      incidence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in middle-aged overweight and obese women,
      without clinical and radiologic knee OA at baseline. METHODS: A total of 353
      women (87%) with followup data available were selected from the Prevention of
      Knee Osteoarthritis in Overweight Females study, which evaluated the preventive
      effect of a diet and exercise intervention and of oral glucosamine sulfate on the
      incidence of knee OA. This was an exploratory proof-of-concept analysis, which
      compared the incidence of knee OA between women who reached the clinically
      relevant weight loss target of 5 kg or 5% of body weight after 30 months and
      those who did not reach this target. RESULTS: The weight loss group showed a
      significantly lower incidence of knee OA according to the primary outcome
      measure, which was composed of the American College of Rheumatology criteria
      (clinical and radiographic), Kellgren/Lawrence grade >=2, and joint space
      narrowing >=1.0 mm (15% versus 20%; odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3
      0.9). Moreover, the weight loss also positively affected several health measures,
      such as blood glucose level, body fat percentage, and blood pressure. CONCLUSION:
      A reduction of >=5 kg or 5% of body weight over a 30-month period reduces the
      risk for the onset of radiographic knee OA in middle-aged overweight and obese
      women. Because of the slow progression of the disease, a longer followup period
      will be necessary before the number of prevented cases of knee OA by moderate
      weight loss becomes clinically more relevant.

PMID- 26866629
TI  - Using family members to augment genetic case-control studies of a life
      threatening disease.
AB  - Survival bias is difficult to detect and adjust for in case-control genetic
      association studies but can invalidate findings when only surviving cases are
      studied and survival is associated with the genetic variants under study. Here,
      we propose a design where one genotypes genetically informative family members
      (such as offspring, parents, and spouses) of deceased cases and incorporates that
      surrogate genetic information into a retrospective maximum likelihood analysis.
      We show that inclusion of genotype data from first-degree relatives permits
      unbiased estimation of genotype association parameters. We derive closed-form
      maximum likelihood estimates for association parameters under the widely used log
      additive and dominant association models. Our proposed design not only permits a
      valid analysis but also enhances statistical power by augmenting the sample with
      indirectly studied individuals. Gene variants associated with poor prognosis can
      also be identified under this design. We provide simulation results to assess
      performance of the methods. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26866631
TI  - Factors to consider when applying transcranial magnetic stimulation of
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when resting motor threshold is asymmetric: A case
      study.
AB  - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an increasingly popular tool in
      treating psychiatric conditions. The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is
      typically targeted for stimulation, with magnetic field intensity being
      calibrated by establishing resting motor threshold (RMT) at hand region of
      primary motor cortex (M1 hand). This presumes that scalp-to-cortex distance (SCD)
      and cortical thickness is similar at both sites. We present data from a patient
      who had very asymmetrical RMTs (47 and 78). We investigated SCDs in this patient
      at the M1 hand and DLPFC, and the M1 hand cortical thickness. We also
      investigated TMS electric field distribution. The M1 hand SCD and cortical
      thickness of the M1 hand was larger on the side with higher RMT. Electric field
      finite element modelling demonstrated the focal point did not effectively reach
      the M1 hand with higher RMT as the postcentral gyrus was shunting it. Hence,
      successful DLPFC treatment was based upon the side with lower RMT. This study
      highlights the importance of tailoring DLPFC treatment intensity not only based
      on RMT at the M1 hand, and upon the degree to which SCD distance differs between
      sites, but also based upon size, shape, and density of M1 hand, as well as
      electric field distribution.

PMID- 26866632
TI  - Clairvoyance.

PMID- 26866633
TI  - Two Phenotypes Are Identified by Cluster Analysis in Early Inflammatory Back Pain
      Suggestive of Spondyloarthritis: Results From the DESIR Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether disease manifestations at baseline would combine
      according to distinguishable ordered phenotypes in patients with early
      inflammatory back pain (IBP) suggestive of spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS:
      Baseline clinical and demographic characteristics as well as imaging features and
      biologic data on patients included in the French multicenter Devenir des
      Spondyloarthropathies Indiffererenciees Recentes cohort were analyzed by multiple
      correspondence analysis and cluster analysis to identify subgroups of patients
      based on shared characteristics. RESULTS: Cluster analysis allowed us to classify
      the 679 patients with no missing data into 2 major groups-one with a predominance
      of isolated axial manifestations and the other with associated peripheral
      symptoms. The application of the same analysis to selected subsets of the cohort,
      such as HLA-B27-positive and -negative patients and patients fulfilling the
      Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for
      axial SpA, resulted again in an optimal division of the samples into 2 recurrent
      clusters of patients similar to those observed in the whole cohort. CONCLUSION:
      Cluster analysis of SpA manifestations among patients with early IBP highly
      suggestive of SpA allowed us to clearly identify at baseline 2 different clinical
      phenotypes-one with predominant axial manifestations and the other with
      predominant peripheral manifestations. Ongoing follow-up will allow us to
      determine whether these clusters correspond to different patterns of disease
      severity.

PMID- 26866636
TI  - Leukodystrophies and genetic leukoencephalopathies in childhood: a national
      epidemiological study.
AB  - AIM: To report on the epidemiology of the brain white matter disorders of
      children identified via a national prospective study. METHOD: Since 1997 a study
      of UK children with progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration
      (PIND) has used the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit system to identify
      children with progressive neurodegenerative disease. This paper reports on
      children in the study with brain white matter disorders. RESULTS: Between May
      1997 and November 2014 the PIND study identified 349 children with diagnosed
      leukodystrophies, giving an estimated UK lifetime risk of 31/million live births.
      There were 18 specific diseases in the group and relatively large numbers of
      affected children came from consanguineous Pakistani families. In addition there
      were 454 children with genetic leukoencephalopathies - in this group there were
      38 diseases. 5.8% of children with scan evidence of brain white matter disorders
      did not receive a specific diagnosis. INTERPRETATION: These unique prospectively
      obtained national data avoid the selection bias inherent in reports from single
      centres. White matter disorders of the central nervous system comprise more than
      half of UK paediatric neurodegenerative diseases meeting the PIND criteria. This
      paper reports the lifetime risk/million live births for the commonest
      leukodystrophies, providing a basis for comparison with future studies.

PMID- 26866635
TI  - Wnt/beta-Catenin Signaling Determines the Vasculogenic Fate of Postnatal
      Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
AB  - Vasculogenesis is the process of de novo blood vessel formation observed
      primarily during embryonic development. Emerging evidence suggest that postnatal
      mesenchymal stem cells are capable of recapitulating vasculogenesis when these
      cells are engaged in tissue regeneration. However, the mechanisms underlining the
      vasculogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells remain unclear. Here, we
      used stem cells from human permanent teeth (dental pulp stem cells [DPSC]) or
      deciduous teeth (stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth [SHED]) as
      models of postnatal primary human mesenchymal stem cells to understand mechanisms
      regulating their vasculogenic fate. GFP-tagged mesenchymal stem cells seeded in
      human tooth slice/scaffolds and transplanted into immunodeficient mice
      differentiate into human blood vessels that anastomize with the mouse
      vasculature. In vitro, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced the
      vasculogenic differentiation of DPSC and SHED via potent activation of Wnt/beta
      catenin signaling. Further, activation of Wnt signaling is sufficient to induce
      the vasculogenic differentiation of postnatal mesenchymal stem cells, while Wnt
      inhibition blocked this process. Notably, beta-catenin-silenced DPSC no longer
      differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro, and showed impaired vasculogenesis
      in vivo. Collectively, these data demonstrate that VEGF signaling through the
      canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway defines the vasculogenic fate of postnatal
      mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cells 2016;34:1576-1587.

PMID- 26866639
TI  - Androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome: lessons from experimental models.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is substantial evidence to support a role for androgens
      acting via the androgen receptor in the development of the pathological disorder,
      polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is the most common endocrine condition in
      women, but its etiology remains unknown. This review focuses on how animal
      experimental models of PCOS are providing strong evidence to support
      hyperandrogenism as an important mediator in the development of PCOS
      characteristics. RECENT FINDINGS: A variety of animal models for PCOS have now
      been established by increasing androgen exposure, supporting a role for androgens
      in the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, some androgens can be aromatized into
      estrogens leading to confusion on which PCOS traits are primary mediated via
      androgenic (mediated via the androgen receptor) or estrogenic (mediated via the
      estrogen receptor) mechanisms. Recent findings from studies comparing the
      induction of PCOS by aromatizable and nonaromatizable androgens, as well as
      androgen receptor knockout mouse models have enhanced our understanding of the
      mechanisms underlying PCOS, and verify that androgen receptor-mediated actions
      play a key role in the development of PCOS. SUMMARY: Animal models have provided
      strong evidence to support that androgen receptor-mediated actions are key
      mediators in the development of PCOS traits.

PMID- 26866638
TI  - Dependency and self-criticism in treatments for depression.
AB  - Dependency and self-criticism are vulnerability factors for depression. How these
      personality factors change with treatment for depression and how they relate to
      symptom change across different types of treatment require further research. In
      addition, cultural differences that interact with the dependency/self-criticism
      depression relation remain underinvestigated. We randomly assigned 149 adults
      with major depression to receive active medication (MED; n = 50), supportive
      expressive therapy (SET; n = 49), or placebo pill (PBO; n = 50). Participants
      completed the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt, D'Afflitti, &
      Quinlan, 1976) before and after treatment and completed the Hamilton Rating Scale
      for Depression (Hamilton, 1967) throughout the course of treatment. Self
      criticism as measured on the DEQ decreased with treatment similarly across
      conditions. DEQ Dependency decreased in MED but remained unchanged in SET and
      PBO. Higher initial dependency, but not higher initial self-criticism, predicted
      poor treatment response across conditions. Greater reduction in self-criticism
      was associated with greater reduction in depressive symptoms, but the effect was
      weaker for racial minorities (vs. White). Increase in connectedness, an adaptive
      form of dependency, was associated with symptom improvement in SET but not MED.
      Hence, different pathways of change seem to be implicated in the treatment of
      depression depending on culture and type of intervention. Implications for future
      research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26866637
TI  - Discriminatory experiences associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
      among transgender adults.
AB  - Discrimination has been shown to disproportionately burden transgender people;
      however, there has been a lack of clinical attention to the mental health
      sequelae of discrimination, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
      symptoms. Additionally, few studies contextualize discrimination alongside other
      traumatic stressors in predicting PTSD symptomatology. The current study sought
      to fill these gaps. A community-based sample of 412 transgender adults (mean age
      33, SD = 13; 63% female-to-male spectrum; 19% people of color; 88% sampled
      online) completed a cross-sectional self-report survey of everyday discrimination
      experiences and PTSD symptoms. Multivariable linear regression models examined
      the association between self-reported everyday discrimination experiences, number
      of attributed domains of discrimination, and PTSD symptoms, adjusting for prior
      trauma, sociodemographics, and psychosocial comorbidity. The mean number of
      discrimination attributions endorsed was 4.8 (SD = 2.4) and the 5 most frequently
      reported reasons for discrimination were: gender identity and/or expression
      (83%), masculine and feminine appearance (79%), sexual orientation (68%), sex
      (57%), and age (44%). Higher everyday discrimination scores (beta = 0.25; 95% CL
      [0.21, 0.30]) and greater number of attributed reasons for discrimination
      experiences (beta = 0.05; 95% CL [0.01, 0.10]) were independently associated with
      PTSD symptoms, even after adjusting for prior trauma experiences. Everyday
      discrimination experiences from multiple sources necessitate clinical
      consideration in treatment for PTSD symptoms in transgender people. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26866640
TI  - Treatment of Unstable Slipped Capital Epiphysis Via the Modified Dunn Procedure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The modified Dunn procedure has been shown to be safe and effective
      in treating unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We present a
      consecutive series of unstable SCFE managed by a single surgeon with a focus on
      timing of surgical intervention, postoperative complications, and radiographic
      results. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive unstable SCFEs were treated.
      Demographics, presentation time to time of operation, surgical times, and
      complications were recorded. Bilateral hip radiographs at latest follow-up were
      utilized to record slip angle, alpha angle, greater trochanteric height, and
      femoral neck length. RESULTS: Thirty-one consecutive hips in 30 patients were
      reviewed: 15 males (50%) and 15 females (50%), average age 12.37 years (range,
      8.75 to 14.8 y), 20 left hips (65%) and 11 right hips (35%). Mean follow-up was
      27.9 months (range, 1 to 82 mo). Time from presentation to intervention averaged
      13.9 hours (range, 2.17 to 23.4 h). Two patients (6%) developed avascular
      necrosis at average 19 weeks postoperative. Three patients (10%) developed mild
      heterotopic ossification requiring no treatment. Two patients (6%) required
      removal of symptomatic hardware. One patient had hardware failure and in no
      patients was nonunion, delayed union, or postoperative hip
      subluxation/dislocation seen. Three patients (10%) presented with bilateral,
      stable SCFE requiring contralateral in situ pinning. Five patients (16%) had
      sequential SCFE requiring treatment with 1 patient having an acute, unstable SCFE
      10 months after the previous realignment. Mean postoperative slip angle measured
      2.5 degrees (range, +19 to -9.4 degrees) (SD, 7.2), alpha angle 47.43 degrees
      (range, 34 to 64 degrees) (SD, 7.49), greater trochanteric height averaged 3.5 mm
      below the center of femoral head (-17.5 to +25 mm), and mean femoral neck length
      difference measured -7.75 mm (range, -1.8 to -18.6 mm). CONCLUSIONS: A single
      surgeon series of unstable SCFEs treated by a modified Dunn procedure showed a 6%
      incidence of avascular necrosis and low complication rates at latest follow-up.
      Radiographs showed restoration of the slip angle, alpha angle, femoral neck
      length, and greater trochanteric height. This series reveals the safety and
      effectiveness of the modified Dunn procedure for unstable SCFE. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective review.

PMID- 26866641
TI  - A New Radiographic Classification System for Developmental Hip Dysplasia is
      Reliable and Predictive of Successful Closed Reduction and Late Pelvic Osteotomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Tonnis radiographic classification of developmental dysplasia of
      the hip (DDH) has been used as a prognostic indicator for patients with walking
      age DDH. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) classification, a new
      radiographic classification system, has been proposed to be more reliable by its
      creators. We sought to validate its reliability using independent observers, to
      compare it to the Tonnis method, and to assess its prognostic significance in a
      large cohort of patients. METHODS: A consecutive series of walking-age DDH
      patients were examined radiographically and classified by the Tonnis and IHDI
      schemes by 3 independent observers. Interobserver agreement was determined using
      the Kappa method. Clinical data were collected on patients with regard to success
      of closed reduction, need for later pelvic osteotomy, and presence of subsequent
      radiographic avascular necrosis (AVN). The prognostic value of the Tonnis and
      IHDI classifications to predict these clinical outcomes was determined. RESULTS:
      A total of 287 hips were available for analysis of the classification schemes. In
      total, 235 hips underwent attempted closed reduction and were eligible for
      analysis of successful closed reduction, and 131 hips had >4-year follow-up and
      were utilized for analysis of late pelvic osteotomy and AVN. Both classifications
      showed excellent interobserver reliability and in general, there was
      nonstatistically significant better reliability for the IHDI versus the Tonnis
      classification. In multivariate analysis, both IHDI and Tonnis classifications
      were found to be predictive of successful closed reduction and need for late
      pelvic osteotomy. Both methods showed trends toward being predictive of AVN rate,
      without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The IHDI classification is
      subjectively more facile to use and has excellent interrelater agreement for
      classifying the radiographic severity of DDH. It is also reliable in predicting
      success of closed reduction and need for late pelvic osteotomy. SIGNIFICANCE:
      practitioners and researchers should consider the IHDI classification as a useful
      classification scheme and prognosticator when considering treatment options for
      late-presenting DDH. SIGNIFICANCE: Practitioners and researchers should consider
      the IHDI classification as a useful classification scheme and prognosticator when
      considering treatment options for late-presenting DDH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level
      III.

PMID- 26866642
TI  - Surgical Site Infections following Spine Surgery for Non-idiopathic Scoliosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) following spine surgery in children
      and adolescents with nonidiopathic scoliosis are associated with increased
      morbidity and health care costs. Potentially modifiable risk factors for SSIs
      merit additional study in this population. METHODS: A single-center,
      retrospective cohort study was performed from August 2008 through December 2013
      in children and adolescents undergoing surgery for nonidiopathic scoliosis to
      determine the trends in SSI rate and causative microorganisms. A standardized
      perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis regimen was developed from September
      October 2008. Potential risk factors for SSIs were assessed by multivariable
      analysis using Poisson regression models. Fusion procedures and growing construct
      procedures were analyzed separately. RESULTS: In all, 268 patients underwent 536
      surgical procedures of whom 192 underwent 228 fusion procedures, 89 underwent 308
      growing construct procedures, and 13 underwent both procedures during the study
      period. Twenty-one SSIs (3.9% of surgical procedures and 7.8% of patients)
      occurred within 90 days of surgery, 17 SSIs occurred after fusion procedures
      (4.5% of procedures and 8.9% of patients), and 4 SSIs occurred after growing
      construct procedures (1.3% of procedures and 4.5% of patients). There were 9
      polymicrobial SSIs (42.9%). Of the 31 bacterial pathogens isolated, 48% were Gram
      negative organisms. Among patients undergoing fusion procedures, SSIs were
      associated with underdosing of preoperative cefazolin [relative risk (RR)=4.99;
      95% confidence interval (CI), 1.89-17.43; P=0.012] and tobramycin (RR=5.86; 95%
      CI, 1.90-18.06; P=0.002), underdosing of intraoperative (RR=5.65; 95% CI, 2.13
      14.97; P=0.001) and postoperative (RR=3.86; 95% CI, 1.20-12.40; P=0.023)
      tobramycin, and any preoperative or intraoperative underdosing (RR=4.89; 95% CI,
      1.70-14.12; P=0.003), after adjustment for duration of surgery. No factors were
      associated with SSIs in those undergoing growing construct procedures. During the
      study period, the SSIs rate declined (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Underdosing of
      tobramycin and preoperative cefazolin were associated with an increased SSI risk
      among patients undergoing fusion procedures. Future multicenter studies should
      further investigate the generalizability of these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Level II-retrospective study.

PMID- 26866643
TI  - Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Thoracic Volume Modeling: The Effect of Surgical
      Correction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Scoliosis has been shown to have detrimental effects on pulmonary
      function, traditionally measured by pulmonary function tests, which is theorized
      to be correlated to the distortion of the spine and thorax. The changes in
      thoracic volume with surgical correction have not been well quantified. This
      study seeks to define the effect of surgical correction on thoracic volume in
      patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: Images were obtained from
      adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis enrolled in a multicenter database
      (Prospective Pediatric Scoliosis Study). A convenience sample of patients with
      Lenke type 1 curves with a complete data set meeting specific parameters was
      used. Blender v2.63a software was used to construct a 3-dimensional (3D)
      computational model of the spine from 2-dimensional calibrated radiographs. To
      accomplish this, the 3D thorax model was deformed to match the calibrated
      radiographs. The thorax volume was then calculated in cubic centimeters using
      Mimics v15 software. RESULTS: The results using this computational modeling
      technique demonstrated that surgical correction resulted in decreased curve
      measurement as determined by Cobb method, and increased postoperative thoracic
      volume as expected. Thoracic volume significantly increased by a mean of 567 mm
      (P<0.001). The percent change in thoracic volume after surgical correction
      averaged 40% (range, 3% to 87%). The smaller the baseline volume, the greater the
      change in volume postoperatively (r=-0.86).Evaluation of postoperative data
      demonstrated that spinal curve measurement as determined by Cobb method was
      significantly reduced from a mean of 69 degrees (range, 50 to 96 degrees)
      preoperatively to 27 degrees (range, 13 to 33 degrees) postoperatively (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates methodologic plausibility for
      measuring 3D changes in thoracic volumes using 2-dimensional imaging. This is an
      assessment of the novel modeling technique, to be used in larger future studies
      to assess clinical significance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3-retrospective
      comparison of prospectively collected data.

PMID- 26866644
TI  - Calcaneofibular Ligament Transfer for Recurrent Peroneal Tendon Subluxation in
      Pediatric and Young Adult Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Peroneal tendon subluxation is an uncommon cause of lateral ankle
      pain and instability but can be disabling for some young patients. Surgical
      management may be required to restore function for patients who fail nonoperative
      management. The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcomes
      after surgical management of peroneal tendon subluxation in pediatric and
      adolescent patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients presenting to
      our institution over a 10-year period yielded 18 cases of recurrent subluxation
      refractory to nonoperative management in 14 children or young adults (mean age
      15.0 y). All patients failed nonoperative management and were treated operatively
      with isolated calcaneofibular ligament transfer to construct a new soft tissue
      restraint for the peroneal tendons. Patients were evaluated clinically and sent
      validated questionnaires, including the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and
      the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale.
      RESULTS: All 18 ankles of 14 patients had minimum 2-year follow-up. Ten of 18
      ankles (55.6%) returned the outcome surveys at an average of 5.7 years after the
      index procedure (range, 2. 0 to 9.7 y). The average FAAM activities of daily
      living score was 93.5 (+/-2.9) and the sports subscale was 77.8 (+/-6.1). The
      mean AOFAS subjective scaled score was 84.3 (+/-4.5). All patients returned to
      sports and recreational activity. Complications included 1 case of recurrent
      subluxation (1/18, 5.5%) treated with revision to a Chrisman-Snook procedure and
      4 ankles (4/18, 22.2%) with stiffness or arthrofibrosis treated with a secondary
      procedure of peroneal tendon release or lysis of adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical
      management with rerouting of the peroneal tendons under the calcaneofibular
      ligament appears to be safe and effective for young patients with chronic
      peroneal tendon subluxation. It provides a low rate of recurrent subluxation,
      excellent stability, and good long-term functional outcomes. However, the
      potential for postoperative stiffness appears to be a limitation to the procedure
      and necessitates aggressive physical therapy to maintain ankle motion. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV- retrospective case series.

PMID- 26866645
TI  - Does a Weekly Didactic Conference Improve Resident Performance on the Pediatric
      Domain of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Performance on the Orthopaedic In-training Examination (OITE) has
      been correlated with performance on the written portion of the American Board of
      Orthopaedic Surgery examination. Herein we sought to discover whether adding a
      regular pediatric didactic lecture improved residents' performance on the OITE's
      pediatric domain. METHODS: In 2012, a didactic lecture series was started in the
      University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hamot Orthopaedic Residency
      Program (Hamot). This includes all topics in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and
      has teaching faculty present, and occurs weekly with all residents attending. A
      neighboring program [UMPC Pittsburgh (Pitt)] shares in these conferences, but
      only during their pediatric rotation. We sought to determine the effectiveness of
      the conference by comparing the historic scores from each program on the
      pediatric domain of the OITE examination to scores after the institution of the
      conference, and by comparing the 2 programs' scores. RESULTS: Both programs
      demonstrated improvement in OITE scores. In 2008, the mean examination score was
      19.6+/-4.3 (11.0 to 30.0), and the mean percentile was 57.7+/-12.6 (32.0 to
      88.0); in 2014, the mean examination score was 23.5+/-4.2 (14.0 to 33.0) and the
      mean percentile was 67.1+/-12.1 (40.0 to 94.0). OITE scores and percentiles
      improved with post graduate year (P<0.0001). Compared with the preconference
      years, Hamot residents answered 3.99 more questions correctly (P<0.0001) and Pitt
      residents answered 2.93 more questions correctly (P<0.0001). Before the
      conference, site was not a predictor of OITE score (P=0.06) or percentile
      (P=0.08); there was no significant difference found between the mean scores per
      program. However, in the postconference years, site did predict OITE scores.
      Controlling for year in training, Hamot residents scored higher on the OITE (2.3
      points higher, P=0.003) and had higher percentiles (0.07 higher, P=0.004) than
      Pitt residents during the postconference years. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests
      that adding a didactic pediatric lecture improved residents' scores on the OITE
      and indirectly suggests that more frequent attendance is associated with better
      scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective case-control study.

PMID- 26866646
TI  - Do Sublaminar Polyester Bands Affect the Outcomes of Postoperative Infections
      After Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) after adolescent
      idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery ranges from 0.5% to 7%. There is currently a
      regain of interest in hybrid constructs, combining lumbar pedicle screws and
      thoracic sublaminar bands, but some authors have raised concerns about the risk
      of SSI and the difficulty of bacterial eradication. The goal of this study was
      therefore to assess the outcomes of SSI after AIS surgery using sublaminar bands.
      METHODS: A total of 524 consecutive patients operated for AIS using sublaminar
      bands between June 2006 and June 2014 were included. SSI cases were identified
      and analyzed retrospectively. Radiologic and functional outcomes were evaluated
      at follow-up using EOS imaging and SRS 30 scores, and compared with a control
      group. RESULTS: The overall SSI rate was 5.3%, with a majority of monomicrobial
      (86%) infections occurring in the first 6 weeks postoperative (93%). The most
      frequent pathogens were skin germs (Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium
      acnes) with a community profile. Patients were treated successfully with surgical
      debridement without implants removal, associated with 6 weeks of antibiotherapy.
      However, 25% of patients required >1 surgical debridement. Instrumentation
      removal was decided in the 2 cases with late SSI, and performed uneventfully.
      Radiologic and functional outcomes at follow-up were not affected by the
      occurrence of SSI. CONCLUSIONS: Sublaminar bands are not associated with a higher
      risk of infection. However, the SSI rate in the current study stands in the upper
      range of the literature, and other preventive strategies should be considered. In
      case of early infection, bands removal is not necessary to obtain pathogen
      eradication, but the sublaminar implants can be pulled out safely in case of late
      SSI. The occurrence of SSI does not alter the outcomes at follow-up. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III.

PMID- 26866647
TI  - Functional Outcome of Humeral Rodding in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The impact of humeral rodding on functional ability in children with
      osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has not previously been reported. This article
      investigates this issue. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on
      35 children with OI who underwent humeral rodding at our institution between 1995
      and 2013. Fassier-Duval rods were inserted in 19 cases, K-wires in 13 cases, and
      Rush rods in 3 cases. Functional ability was assessed preoperatively and every
      year postoperatively using the self-care and mobility domains of the Pediatric
      Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). RESULTS: The mean PEDI self-care score
      increased by 5.7 (P=0.028) and the mean PEDI mobility score increased by 3.6
      (P=0.008) at 1-year postsurgery. Improved function was maintained in the majority
      of cases at a mean of 7.0 years postcorrection. CONCLUSIONS: Humeral rodding in
      children with OI leads to significant improvement in functional ability. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID- 26866648
TI  - Impairment of the Endothelial Glycocalyx in Cardiogenic Shock and Its Prognostic
      Relevance: Erratum.
AB  - The article beginning on page 450 of the May 2015 issue should have contained a
      note indicating that first authorship was shared: Christian Jung and Georg
      Fuernau contributed equally to this work. The publisher regrets the omission.

PMID- 26866649
TI  - The National Mammography Database: Preliminary Data.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purposes of our study were to analyze screening mammography data
      submitted to the National Mammography Database (NMD) since its inception to
      confirm data collection feasibility, to draw parallels to data from the Breast
      Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC), and to examine trends over time. We also
      retrospectively evaluated practice-level variation in terms of practice type,
      practice setting, census region, and annual volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data
      from 90 mammography facilities in the NMD registry were analyzed. The registry
      receives mammography data collected as part of standard clinical practice,
      including self-reported demographic information, clinical findings, screening
      mammography interpretation, and biopsy results. Outcome metrics calculated were
      cancer detection rate, recall rate, and positive predictive values for biopsy
      recommended (PPV2) and biopsy performed (PPV3). RESULTS: The NMD successfully
      collected and analyzed data for 3,181,437 screening mammograms performed between
      January 2008 and December 2012. Mean values for outcomes were cancer detection
      rate of 3.43 per 1000 (95% CI, 3.2-3.7), recall rate of 10% (95% CI, 9.3-10.7%),
      PPV2 of 18.5% (95% CI, 16.7-20.2%), and PPV3 of 29.2% (95% CI, 26.2-32.3%). No
      statistically significant difference was seen in performance measurements on the
      basis of practice type, practice setting, census region, or annual volume. NMD
      performance measurements parallel those reported by the BCSC. CONCLUSION: The NMD
      has become the fastest growing mammography registry in the United States,
      providing nationwide performance metrics and permitting comparison with published
      benchmarks. Our study shows the feasibility of using the NMD to audit mammography
      facilities and to provide current, ongoing benchmark data.

PMID- 26866650
TI  - Molecular hydrogen alleviates motor deficits and muscle degeneration in mdx mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating muscle disease
      caused by a mutation in DMD encoding dystrophin. Oxidative stress accounts for
      dystrophic muscle pathologies in DMD. We examined the effects of molecular
      hydrogen in mdx mice, a model animal for DMD. METHODS: The pregnant mother
      started to take supersaturated hydrogen water (>5 ppm) ad libitum from E15.5 up
      to weaning of the offspring. The mdx mice took supersaturated hydrogen water from
      weaning until age 10 or 24 weeks when they were sacrificed. RESULTS: Hydrogen
      water prevented abnormal body mass gain that is commonly observed in mdx mice.
      Hydrogen improved the spontaneous running distance that was estimated by a
      counter-equipped running-wheel, and extended the duration on the rota-rod. Plasma
      creatine kinase activities were decreased by hydrogen at ages 10 and 24 weeks.
      Hydrogen also decreased the number of central nuclei of muscle fibers at ages 10
      and 24 weeks, and immunostaining for nitrotyrosine in gastrocnemius muscle at age
      24 weeks. Additionally, hydrogen tended to increase protein expressions of
      antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 1, as well as anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, in
      skeletal muscle at age 10 weeks. DISCUSSION: Although molecular mechanisms of the
      diverse effects of hydrogen remain to be elucidated, hydrogen potentially
      improves muscular dystrophy in DMD patients.

PMID- 26866654
TI  - Long-term priming of visual search prevails against the passage of time and
      counteracting instructions.
AB  - Studies on intertrial priming have shown that in visual search experiments, the
      preceding trial automatically affects search performance: facilitating it when
      the target features repeat and giving rise to switch costs when they change-so
      called (short-term) intertrial priming. These effects also occur at longer time
      scales: When 1 of 2 possible target colors is more frequent during an experiment
      block, this results in a prolonged and persistent facilitation for the color that
      was biased, long after the frequency bias is gone-so-called long-term priming. In
      this study, we explore the robustness of such long-term priming. In Experiment 1,
      participants were fully informed of the bias and instructed to prioritize the
      other unbiased color. Despite these instructions, long-term priming of the biased
      color persisted in this block, suggesting that guidance by long-term priming is
      an implicit effect. In Experiment 2, long-term priming was built up in 1
      experimental session and was then assessed in a second session a week later. Long
      term priming persisted across this week, emphasizing that long-term priming is
      truly a phenomenon of long-term memory. The results support the view that priming
      results from the automatic and implicit retrieval of memory traces of past
      trials. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866655
TI  - A general valence asymmetry in similarity: Good is more alike than bad.
AB  - The density hypothesis (Unkelbach, Fiedler, Bayer, Stegmuller, & Danner, 2008)
      claims a general higher similarity of positive information to other positive
      information compared with the similarity of negative information to other
      negative information. This similarity asymmetry might explain valence asymmetries
      on all levels of cognitive processing. The available empirical evidence for this
      general valence asymmetry in similarity suffers from a lack of direct tests, low
      representativeness, and possible confounding variables (e.g., differential
      valence intensity, frequency, familiarity, or concreteness of positive and
      negative stimuli). To address these problems, Study 1 first validated the spatial
      arrangement method (SpAM) as a similarity measure. Using SpAM, Studies 2-6 found
      the proposed valence asymmetry in large, representative samples of self- and
      other-generated words (Studies 2a/2b), for words of consensual and idiosyncratic
      valence (Study 3), for words from 1 and many independent information sources
      (Study 4), for real-life experiences (Study 5), and for large data sets of verbal
      (i.e., ~14,000 words reported by Warriner, Kuperman, & Brysbaert, 2013) and
      visual information (i.e., ~1,000 pictures reported in the IAPS; Lang, Bradley, &
      Cuthbert, 2005; Study 6). Together, these data support a general valence
      asymmetry in similarity, namely that good is more alike than bad. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26866656
TI  - Do we know what we're simulating? Information loss on transferring unconscious
      perceptual simulation to conscious imagery.
AB  - Perceptual simulations are unconscious and automatic, whereas perceptual imagery
      is conscious and deliberate, but it is unclear how easily one can transfer
      perceptual information from unconscious to conscious awareness. We investigated
      whether it is possible to be aware of what one is mentally representing; that is,
      whether it is possible to consciously examine the contents of a perceptual
      simulation without information being lost. Studies 1 and 2 found that people
      cannot accurately evaluate the perceptual content of a representation unless
      attention is explicitly drawn to each modality individually. In particular, when
      asked to consider sensory experience as a whole, modality-specific auditory,
      gustatory, and haptic information is neglected, and olfactory and visual
      information distorted. Moreover, information loss is greatest for perceptually
      complex, multimodal simulations. Study 3 examined if such information loss leads
      to behavioral consequences by examining performance during lexical decision, a
      task whose semantic effects emerge from automatic access to the full potential of
      unconscious perceptual simulation. Results showed that modality-specific
      perceptual strength consistently outperformed modality-general sensory experience
      ratings in predicting latency and accuracy, which confirms that the effects of
      Studies 1 and 2 are indeed due to information being lost in the transfer to
      conscious awareness. These findings suggest that people indeed have difficulty in
      transferring perceptual information from unconscious simulation to conscious
      imagery. People cannot be aware of the full contents of a perceptual simulation
      because the act of bringing it to awareness leads to systematic loss of
      information. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866658
TI  - Searching for the best cause: Roles of mechanism beliefs, autocorrelation, and
      exploitation.
AB  - When testing which of multiple causes (e.g., medicines) works best, the testing
      sequence has important implications for the validity of the final judgment.
      Trying each cause for a period of time before switching to the other is important
      if the causes have tolerance, sensitization, delay, or carryover (TSDC) effects.
      In contrast, if the outcome variable is autocorrelated and gradually fluctuates
      over time rather than being random across time, it can be useful to quickly
      alternate between the 2 causes, otherwise the causes could be confounded with a
      secular trend in the outcome. Five experiments tested whether individuals modify
      their causal testing strategies based on beliefs about TSDC effects and
      autocorrelation in the outcome. Participants adaptively tested each cause for
      longer periods of time before switching when testing causal interventions for
      which TSDC effects were plausible relative to cases when TSDC effects were not
      plausible. When the autocorrelation in the baseline trend was manipulated,
      participants exhibited only a small (if any) tendency toward increasing the
      amount of alternation; however, they adapted to the autocorrelation by focusing
      on changes in outcomes rather than raw outcome scores, both when making choices
      about which cause to test as well as when making the final judgment of which
      cause worked best. Understanding how people test causal relations in diverse
      environments is an important first step for being able to predict when
      individuals will successfully choose effective causes in real-world settings.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866659
TI  - Dissociating appraisals of accuracy and recollection in autobiographical
      remembering.
AB  - Recent studies of metamemory appraisals implicated in autobiographical
      remembering have established distinct roles for judgments of occurrence,
      recollection, and accuracy for past events. In studies involving everyday
      remembering, measures of recollection and accuracy correlate highly (>.85). Thus
      although their measures are structurally distinct, such high correspondence might
      suggest conceptual redundancy. This article examines whether recollection and
      accuracy dissociate when studying different types of autobiographical event
      representations. In Study 1, 278 participants described a believed memory, a
      nonbelieved memory, and a believed-not-remembered event and rated each on
      occurrence, recollection, accuracy, and related covariates. In Study 2, 876
      individuals described and rated 1 of these events, as well as an event about
      which they were uncertain about their memory. Confirmatory structural equation
      modeling indicated that the measurement dissociation between occurrence,
      recollection and accuracy held across all types of events examined. Relative to
      believed memories, the relationship between recollection and belief in accuracy
      was meaningfully lower for the other event types. These findings support the
      claim that recollection and accuracy arise from distinct underlying mechanisms.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866657
TI  - Prediction in the processing of repair disfluencies: Evidence from the visual
      world paradigm.
AB  - Two visual-world eye-tracking experiments investigated the role of prediction in
      the processing of repair disfluencies (e.g., "The chef reached for some salt uh I
      mean some ketchup . . ."). Experiment 1 showed that listeners were more likely to
      fixate a critical distractor item (e.g., pepper) during the processing of repair
      disfluencies compared with the processing of coordination structures (e.g., ". .
      . some salt and also some ketchup . . ."). Experiment 2 replicated the findings
      of Experiment 1 for disfluency versus coordination constructions and also showed
      that the pattern of fixations to the critical distractor for disfluency
      constructions was similar to the fixation patterns for sentences employing
      contrastive focus (e.g., ". . . not some salt but rather some ketchup . . .").
      The results suggest that similar mechanisms underlie the processing of repair
      disfluencies and contrastive focus, with listeners generating sets of entities
      that stand in semantic contrast to the reparandum in the case of disfluencies or
      the negated entity in the case of contrastive focus. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866660
TI  - Are you sure the library is that way? Metacognitive monitoring of spatial
      judgments.
AB  - Many studies have examined how people recall the locations of objects in spatial
      layouts. However, little is known about how people monitor the accuracy of
      judgments based on those memories. The goal of the present experiments was to
      examine the effect of reference frame characteristics on metacognitive accuracy
      for spatial judgments. Reference frame characteristics include the alignment of
      one's viewpoint with the structure of the environment (allocentric alignment),
      direction of the target with respect to one's current viewpoint (egocentric
      direction), and the type of perspective used to solve the task (egocentric vs.
      allocentric). Participants were tested on their knowledge of a well-known
      location in which they had experience navigating. They were asked to orient
      themselves toward a particular heading and point to target landmarks from this
      heading. They then rated their confidence in their pointing judgments. Confidence
      judgments were sensitive to the effects of allocentric alignment and egocentric
      direction on performance. However, they underestimate the magnitude of these
      effects. Follow-up regression analyses indicate that confidence in individual
      landmarks was a stronger predictor of confidence than reference frame
      characteristics. Overall, the results suggest that people use reference frame
      features and landmark confidence when monitoring performance in directional
      judgments. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866661
TI  - Subnanometer Two-Dimensional Graphene Oxide Channels for Ultrafast Gas Sieving.
AB  - Two-dimensional (2D) materials with atomic thickness and extraordinary
      physicochemical properties exhibit unique mass transport behaviors, enabling them
      as emerging nanobuilding blocks for separation membranes. Engineering 2D
      materials into membrane with subnanometer apertures for precise molecular sieving
      remains a great challenge. Here, we report rational-designing external forces to
      precisely manipulate nanoarchitecture of graphene oxide (GO)-assembled 2D
      channels with interlayer height of ~0.4 nm for fast transporting and selective
      sieving gases. The external forces are synergistic to direct the GO nanosheets
      stacking so as to realize delicate size-tailoring of in-plane slit-like pores and
      plane-to-plane interlayer-galleries. The 2D channels endow GO membrane with
      excellent molecular-sieving characteristics that offer 2-3 orders of magnitude
      higher H2 permeability and 3-fold enhancement in H2/CO2 selectivity compared with
      commercial membranes. Formation mechanism of 2D channels is proposed on the basis
      of the driving forces, nanostructures, and transport behaviors. 

PMID- 26866662
TI  - Altered interleukin-18 levels are associated with cognitive impairment in chronic
      schizophrenia.
AB  - The pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may involve the
      neuroinflammation mediated by cytokines. This study examined the IL-18 levels,
      the cognitive function, and their association in schizophrenia. We recruited 70
      chronic patients and 75 normal controls and examined the Repeatable Battery for
      the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and IL-18 levels. Positive
      and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was assessed in chronic patients. IL-18
      levels were increased in chronic patients as compared to normal controls (p <
      0.01). RBANS total score and the subscales of immediate memory and delayed memory
      were lower in patients than controls (all p < 0.001). In patients, IL-18 levels
      were positively associated with RBANS total score and the subscales of immediate
      and delayed memory (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis further confirmed
      that IL-18 was an independent contributor to RBANS total score and the
      aforementioned two indexes (all p < 0.05). Our data demonstrate that immune
      responses may play an important role in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and
      the abnormal levels of IL-18 reflecting the disturbed balance of proinflammatory
      and anti-inflammatory mechanisms may be relevant to cognitive deficits of this
      disorder.

PMID- 26866663
TI  - Infections in patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with low-intensity
      therapeutic regimens: Risk factors and efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis.
AB  - Survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, who are unfit for high-dose
      chemotherapy, has significantly improved with the advent of low-intensity
      therapeutic regimens (LITR, comprising decitabine, azacitidine, and low-dose
      cytarabine). However, infectious complications are common during LITR treatment
      and might hamper the beneficial effect of these drugs. In this study, we aimed to
      evaluate the incidence of and predisposing risk factors for infections during
      LITR treatment of AML, as well as the value of antibiotic prophylaxis within this
      setting. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed 40 AML patients, treated with 215
      cycles of LITR and analyzed putative risk factors by multivariate logistic
      regression. Infections occurred in 53/215 (25%) of LITR cycles, resulting in
      death in six patients. Of the parameters assessed at the start of each LITR
      cycle, transfusion dependence (p=0.008) and increased LDH (p=0.027) independently
      predicted the occurrence of infection. Most importantly, however, antibiotic
      prophylaxis was independently associated with a decreased rate of infectious
      complications (p=0.030). It was regularly performed in neutropenic patients and
      even managed to eliminate low neutrophil counts as risk factor in multivariate
      models. These data argue for the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis during LITR
      therapy of AML and suggest its further evaluation within a prospective clinical
      trial. 

PMID- 26866664
TI  - Above and beyond state-of-the-art approaches to investigate sequence data:
      summary of methods and results from the population-based association group at the
      Genetic Analysis Workshop 19.
AB  - This paper summarizes the contributions from the Population-Based Association
      group at the Genetic Analysis Workshop 19. It provides an overview of the new
      statistical approaches tried out by group members in order to take best advantage
      of population-based sequence data.Although contributions were highly
      heterogeneous regarding the applied quality control criteria and the number of
      investigated variants, several technical issues were identified, leading to
      practical recommendations. Preliminary analyses revealed that Hurdle-negative
      binomial regression is a promising approach to investigate the distribution of
      allele counts instead of called genotypes from sequence data. Convergence
      problems, however, limited the use of this approach, creating a technical
      challenge shared by environment-stratified models used to investigate rare
      variant-environment interactions, as well as by rare variant haplotype analyses
      using well-established public software. Estimates of relatedness and population
      structure strongly depended on the allele frequency of selected variants for
      inference. Another practical recommendation was that dissenting probability
      values from standard and small-sample tests of a particular hypothesis may
      reflect a lack of validity of large-sample approximations. Novel statistical
      approaches that integrate evolutionary information showed some advantage to
      detect weak genetic signals, and Bayesian adjustment for confounding was able to
      efficiently estimate causal genetic effects. Haplotype association methods may
      constitute a valuable complement of collapsing approaches for sequence data. This
      paper reports on the experience of members of the Population-Based Association
      group with several novel, promising approaches to preprocessing and analyzing
      sequence data, and to following up identified association signals. 

PMID- 26866665
TI  - MCM: one ring to rule them all.
AB  - Precise replication of the eukaryotic genome is achieved primarily through strict
      regulation of the enzyme responsible for DNA unwinding, the replicative helicase.
      The motor of this helicase is a hexameric AAA+ ATPase called MCM. The loading of
      MCM onto DNA and its subsequent activation and disassembly are each restricted to
      separate cell cycle phases; this ensures that a functional replisome is only
      built once at any replication origin. In recent years, biochemical and structural
      studies have shown that distinct conformational changes in MCM, each requiring
      post-translational modifications and/or the activity of other replication
      proteins, define the various stages of the chromosome replication cycle. Here, we
      review recent progress in this area. 

PMID- 26866666
TI  - Amorphous Red Phosphorus Embedded in Highly Ordered Mesoporous Carbon with
      Superior Lithium and Sodium Storage Capacity.
AB  - Red phosphorus (P) have been considered as one of the most promising anode
      material for both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and (NIBs), because of its high
      theoretical capacity. However, natural insulating property and the large volume
      expansion of red P during cycling lead to poor cyclability and low rate
      performance, which prevents its practical application. Here, we significantly
      improves both lithium storage and sodium storage performance of red P by
      confining nanosized amorphous red P into the mesoporous carbon matrix (P@CMK-3)
      using a vaporization-condensation-conversion process. The P@CMK-3 shows a high
      reversible specific capacity of ~ 2250 mA h g(-1) based on the mass of red P at
      0.25 C (~ 971 mA h g(-1) based on the composite), excellent rate performance of
      1598 and 624 mA h g(-1) based on the mass of red P at 6.1 and 12 C, respectively
      (562 and 228 mA h g(-1) based on the mass of the composite at 6.1 and 12 C,
      respectively) and significantly enhanced cycle life of 1150 mA h g(-1) based on
      the mass of red P at 5 C (500 mA h g(-1) based on the mass of the composite)
      after 1000 cycles for LIBs. For Na ions, it also displays a reversible capacity
      of 1020 mA h g(-1) based on the mass of red P (370 mA h g(-1) based on the mass
      of the composite) after 210 cycles at 5C. The significantly improved
      electrochemical performance could be attributed to the unique structure that
      combines a variety of advantages: easy access of electrolyte to the open channel
      structure, short transport path of ions through carbon toward the red P, and high
      ionic and electronic conductivity.

PMID- 26866667
TI  - KDR gene polymorphisms and idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Process of angiogenesis is essential for successful gestation.
      Disruption in this pathway leads to various undesirable consequences in pregnancy
      such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). One of the most important genes
      involved in angiogenesis is kinase-insert domain-containing receptor (KDR). This
      study aimed to investigate the associations between two single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) of KDR gene, 1719A > T and 1192G > A, with idiopathic RSA in
      south-east Iran. METHODS: A total of 230 women, including 110 women with a
      history of at least two consecutive spontaneous miscarriages and 120 healthy
      women were recruited in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral
      blood samples of participants using the Salting out method. The KDR 1719A > T and
      1192G > A polymorphisms were genotyped by the standard amplification refractory
      mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) technique. RESULTS: For the
      case group, frequencies of 2.73%, 30% and 67.27% were observed for AA, AT and TT
      genotypes in1719A > T SNP, respectively, and the genotype frequencies for
      controls were equal to AA = 3.33%, AT = 32.5% and TT = 64.17%. Distribution of
      genotypes in 1192G > A SNP in the case group was 79.1%, 19.1% and 1.8% for GG, AG
      and AA, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for the controls were GG 
      =  80%, AG  =  20% and AA  =  0. No significant difference was found between the
      case and control groups based on the frequency of KDR gene polymorphisms with the
      susceptibility to RSA. CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between these two
      SNPs of KDR gene and the susceptibility to RSA in women from south-east Iran.

PMID- 26866669
TI  - Adsorption of Crystal violet on raw and acid-treated montmorillonite, K10, in
      aqueous suspension.
AB  - Crystal violet is used as a dye in cotton and silk textiles, paints and printing
      ink. The dye is hazardous and exposure to it may cause permanent injury to the
      cornea and conjunctiva including permanent blindness, and in severe cases, may
      lead to respiratory and kidney failure. The present work describes removal of
      Crystal violet from aqueous solution by adsorption on raw and acid-treated
      montmorillonite, K10. The clay mineral was treated with 0.25 and 0.50 M sulfuric
      acid and the resulting materials were characterized by XRD, zeta potential, SEM,
      FTIR, cation exchange capacity, BET surface area and pore volume measurements.
      The influences of pH, interaction time, adsorbent amount, and temperature on
      adsorption were monitored and explained on the basis of physico-chemical
      characteristics of the materials. Basic pH generally favors adsorption but
      considerable removal was possible even under neutral conditions. Adsorption was
      very rapid and equilibrium could be attained in 180 min. The kinetics conformed
      to second order model. Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of raw
      montmorillonite K10 was 370.37 mg g(-1) whereas 0.25 M and 0.50 M acid treated
      montmorillonite K10 had capacities of 384.62 and 400.0 mg g(-1) respectively at
      303 K. Adsorption was exothermic and decreased in the temperature range of 293
      323 K. Thermodynamically, the process was spontaneous with Gibbs energy
      decreasing with rise in temperature. The results suggest that montmorillonite K10
      and its acid treated forms would be suitable for removing Crystal violet from
      aqueous solution.

PMID- 26866668
TI  - Analysis of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Polymorphism (rs5743704) in Saudi Patients with
      Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs5743704
      in the toll-like receptor 2 gene is associated with primary open-angle glaucoma
      (POAG) or any of its clinical indices in a Saudi cohort. METHOD: Ninety-five
      unrelated POAG cases and 95 controls of Saudi origin were genotyped utilizing a
      TaqMan((r)) assay. The association between genotypes and various clinical indices
      important for POAG were investigated. RESULTS: The genotypic and allelic
      frequencies among cases were not significantly different when compared to
      controls. The minor allele frequency was 0.021 in cases and 0.011 in controls. No
      significant association was seen with intraocular pressure and cup/disc ratio.
      However, carriers of the C/A genotype had higher number of anti-glaucoma
      medications compared to controls (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: SNP rs5773704 is not
      associated with POAG in a Saudi population. Despite sample size limitation, the
      association of the minor allele A with higher number of anti-glaucoma medications
      suggests a possible indirect role for this SNP in predicting disease severity.

PMID- 26866670
TI  - Evaluation of the influence of methane and copper concentration and methane mass
      transport on the community structure and biodegradation kinetics of
      methanotrophic cultures.
AB  - The environmental conditions during culture enrichment, which ultimately
      determine its maximum specific biodegradation rate (qmax) and affinity for the
      target pollutant (Ks), play a key role in the performance of bioreactors devoted
      to the treatment of methane emissions. This study assessed the influence of
      Cu(2+) and CH4 concentration and the effective CH4 supply rate during culture
      enrichment on the structure and biodegradation kinetics of methanotrophic
      communities. The results obtained demonstrated that an increase in Cu(2+)
      concentration from 0.05 to 25 MUM increased the qmax and Ks of the communities
      enriched by a factor of ~ 3, even if the Cu(2+) concentration did not seem to
      have an effect on the enzymatic "copper switch" and only pMMO was detected. In
      addition, high Cu(2+) concentrations supported lower diversity coefficients (Hs ~
      1.5* lower) and apparently promoted the growth of more adapted methanotrophs such
      as Methylomonas. Despite no clear effect of CH4 concentration on the population
      structure or on the biodegradation kinetics of the communities enriched was
      recorded at the two low CH4 concentrations studied (1 and 8%), a higher agitation
      rate increased the qmax by a factor of ~ 2.3 and Ks by a factor of ~ 3.1.

PMID- 26866672
TI  - Correction to Spatial Variation of Aerosol Chemical Composition and Organic
      Components Identified by Positive Matrix Factorization in the Barcelona Region.

PMID- 26866671
TI  - A Case of Juxtaglomerular Cell Tumor, or Reninoma, of the Kidney Treated by
      Retroperitoneoscopy-Assisted Nephron-Sparing Partial Nephrectomy Through a Small
      Pararectal Incision.
AB  - A 15-year-old girl was found to be hypertensive (230-270/140-170 mm Hg) without
      any subjective symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a
      well-defined 22 mm hypodense lesion in the lower pole of the left kidney, located
      close to the renal hilum. Plasma rennin activity was elevated (75 ng/mL/h), and
      reninoma was diagnosed. Retroperitoneoscopy-assisted nephron-sparing surgery was
      planned. The retroperitoneum was accessed through a 4 cm left pararectal upper
      abdominal incision. Following blunt dissection, the abdominal wall was elevated
      with a lifting bar and lifting retractor, inserted below the 12th rib in the
      anterior axillary line to create sufficient working space in the retroperitoneal
      cavity without the need for pneumoperitoneum. Three 5 mm trocars were introduced
      above the superior iliac crest for the camera and the assistant. Gerota's fascia
      was opened and the kidney exposed. The surgeon dissected the left kidney through
      the minilaparotomy incision under both direct vision and using the magnified view
      on the monitor, which was particularly effective for the lateral and posterior
      sides of the kidney. The posterior peritoneum was incised intentionally next to
      the diaphragm to allow further mobilization of the kidney. Diathermy was used to
      remove the tumor and a layer of surrounding normal parenchymal tissue at least
      0.5 cm thick. The histopathologic diagnosis was reninoma. Ischemia time was 14
      minutes. Postoperatively, both plasma rennin activity and blood pressure were
      normal (1.9 ng/mL/h and 90-110/70-80 mm Hg, respectively). After follow-up of 12
      months, there is no evidence of recurrence. 

PMID- 26866674
TI  - Water Use and Management in the Bakken Shale Oil Play in North Dakota.
AB  - Oil and natural gas development in the Bakken shale play of North Dakota has
      grown substantially since 2008. This study provides a comprehensive overview and
      analysis of water quantity and management impacts from this development by (1)
      estimating water demand for hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken from 2008 to 2012;
      (2) compiling volume estimates for maintenance water, or brine dilution water;
      (3) calculating water intensities normalized by the amount of oil produced, or
      estimated ultimate recovery (EUR); (4) estimating domestic water demand
      associated with the large oil services population; (5) analyzing the change in
      wastewater volumes from 2005 to 2012; and (6) examining existing water sources
      used to meet demand. Water use for hydraulic fracturing in the North Dakota
      Bakken grew 5-fold from 770 million gallons in 2008 to 4.3 billion gallons in
      2012. First-year wastewater volumes grew in parallel, from an annual average of
      1,135,000 gallons per well in 2008 to 2,905,000 gallons in 2012, exceeding the
      mean volume of water used in hydraulic fracturing and surpassing typical 4-year
      wastewater totals for the Barnett, Denver, and Marcellus basins. Surprisingly,
      domestic water demand from the temporary oilfield services population in the
      region may be comparable to the regional water demand from hydraulic fracturing
      activities. Existing groundwater resources are inadequate to meet the demand for
      hydraulic fracturing, but there appear to be adequate surface water resources,
      provided that access is available.

PMID- 26866673
TI  - Cisplatin in the modern era: The backbone of first-line chemotherapy for non
      small cell lung cancer.
AB  - The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be changing, but
      the cisplatin-based doublet remains the foundation of treatment for the majority
      of patients with advanced NSCLC. In this respect, changes in practice to various
      aspects of cisplatin use, such as administration schedules and the choice of
      methods and frequency of monitoring for toxicities, have contributed to an
      incremental improvement in patient management and experience. Chemoresistance,
      however, limits the clinical utility of this drug in patients with advanced
      NSCLC. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cisplatin resistance,
      identification of predictive markers and the development of newer, more effective
      and less toxic platinum agents is required. In addition to maximising potential
      benefits from advances in molecular biology and associated therapeutics,
      modification of existing cisplatin-based treatments can still lead to
      improvements in patient outcomes and experiences. 

PMID- 26866675
TI  - PET Imaging of Carbonic Anhydrase IX Expression of HT-29 Tumor Xenograft Mice
      with (68)Ga-Labeled Benzenesulfonamides.
AB  - Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) is a HIF-1-inducible enzyme that is overexpressed
      in many cancer subtypes to promote survival and invasion in hypoxic niches.
      Pharmacologic inhibition of CA-IX is achievable through sulfonamide-based
      inhibitors and has been shown to reduce primary growth of cancers and distant
      metastasis in preclinical models. We explored a multivalent approach for
      targeting CA-IX in vivo, noninvasively, with positron emission tomography. Three
      (68)Ga-polyaminocarboxylate chelator complex-conjugated tracers containing one,
      two, or three 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonamide moieties were synthesized and
      evaluated for protein binding and imaging properties. Binding affinity to CA-I, 
      II, -IX, and -XII were determined using a stopped-flow CA catalyzed CO2 hydration
      assay. Biodistribution and PET/CT imaging were performed using immunocompromised
      mice bearing CA-IX expressing HT-29 colorectal tumors. Compounds demonstrated
      good binding affinity to CA-IX (Ki: 7.7-25.4 nM). (68)Ga-labeled sulfonamides
      were obtained in 64-91% decay-corrected average radiochemical yields with 50-536
      GBq/MUmol specific activity and >97% average radiochemical purity. All three
      tracers allowed for the visualization of tumor xenografts at 1 h postinjection,
      with the monomer displaying the highest contrast. Tumor uptake of the monomer was
      blockable in the presence of acetazolamide, confirming target specificity. The
      monomer was excreted predominantly through the kidneys, while the dimer and
      trimer were cleared by both renal and hepatobiliary pathways. According to
      biodistribution analysis, tumor uptake (%ID/g) of the monomeric, dimeric, and
      trimeric tracers were 0.81 +/- 0.15, 1.93 +/- 0.26, and 2.30 +/- 0.53 at 1 h
      postinjection. This corresponded to tumor-to-muscle ratios of 5.02 +/- 0.22, 4.07
      +/- 0.87, and 4.18 +/- 0.84, respectively. Our data suggest that (68)Ga
      polyaminocarboxylate chelator-conjugated sulfonamides can be used to
      noninvasively image CA-IX. These CA-IX targeting PET tracers may be used to
      identify patients who can benefit from treatments targeting this protein or serve
      as surrogate imaging agents for tumor hypoxia.

PMID- 26866676
TI  - Hydroxyphenylation of Histone Lysines: Post-translational Modification by Quinone
      Imines.
AB  - Monocyclic aromatic amines are widespread environmental contaminants with
      multiple sources such as combustion products, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides.
      Their phenolic metabolites are converted intracellularly to electrophilic quinone
      imines upon autoxidation and can embed in the cellular matrix through a
      transimination reaction that leaves a redox-active residue as a substituent of
      lysine side-chain amino groups. To demonstrate the occurrence of this process
      within the cellular nucleus, Chinese hamster ovary AA8 cells were treated with
      the para-phenol of 3,5-dimethylamine, after which the histone proteins were
      isolated, derivatized, and subjected to tryptic digestion. The resulting peptides
      were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry to determine which lysines were
      modified. Nine residues in histones H2A, H2B, and H4 were identified; these were
      located in histone tails, close to where DNA makes contact with the nuclear core
      particle, elsewhere on the protein surface, and deep within the core. Kinetics of
      disappearance of the modified lysines in cultured cells was determined using
      isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. AA8 cells were also transfected with the
      genetically encoded hydrogen peroxide biosensor HyPer in constructs that lead to
      expression of HyPer in different cellular compartments. Challenging the resulting
      cells with the dimethylaminophenol resulted in sustained fluorescence emission in
      each of the compartments, demonstrating ongoing production of H2O2. The kinetics
      of modified lysine loss determined by mass spectrometry was consistent with
      persistence of HyPer fluorescence emission. We conclude that the para-phenol of
      3,5-dimethylamine can become stably integrated into the histone proteins, which
      are minimally repaired, if at all, and function as a persistent source of
      intracellular H2O2.

PMID- 26866677
TI  - Extinction retention and the menstrual cycle: Different associations for women
      with posttraumatic stress disorder.
AB  - The propensity to acquire and retain conditioned fear responses may contribute to
      the risk of developing and maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
      following a traumatic event. There is growing evidence that the gonadal hormones
      estrogen and progesterone are associated with how well women retain extinction of
      previously conditioned fear responses. Thus, sex steroid effects may contribute
      to the increased prevalence of PTSD in women. For the current study, 32
      nonmedicated female trauma survivors with and without PTSD completed a
      differential fear conditioning task both during the early follicular phase of the
      menstrual cycle when estradiol and progesterone levels are low, and during the
      midluteal phase when estradiol and progesterone levels are high. Skin conductance
      served as the measure of conditioned fear. Women with PTSD, compared to those
      without, showed impaired retention of extinction learning in the midluteal phase
      of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, the impact of menstrual phase on extinction
      retention may differ between women with and without PTSD. These findings raise
      potential considerations regarding the coordination of psychopharmacologic and
      trauma exposure-based treatments for PTSD with specific phases of the menstrual
      cycle.

PMID- 26866678
TI  - A high-performance, flexible and robust metal nanotrough-embedded transparent
      conducting film for wearable touch screen panels.
AB  - We report a high-performance, flexible and robust metal nanotrough-embedded
      transparent conducting hybrid film (metal nanotrough-GFRHybrimer). Using an
      electro-spun polymer nanofiber web as a template and vacuum-deposited gold as a
      conductor, a junction resistance-free continuous metal nanotrough network is
      formed. Subsequently, the metal nanotrough is embedded on the surface of a glass
      fabric reinforced composite substrate (GFRHybrimer). The monolithic composite
      structure of our transparent conducting film allows simultaneously high thermal
      stability (24 h at 250  degrees C in air), a smooth surface topography (Rrms < 1
      nm) and excellent opto-electrical properties. A flexible touch screen panel (TSP)
      is fabricated using the transparent conducting films. The flexible TSP device
      stably operates on the back of a human hand and on a wristband. 

PMID- 26866679
TI  - Characterization of the size and position of electron-hole puddles at a graphene
      p-n junction.
AB  - The effect of an electron-hole puddle on the electrical transport when governed
      by snake states in a bipolar graphene structure is investigated. Using numerical
      simulations we show that information on the size and position of the electron
      hole puddle can be obtained using the dependence of the conductance on magnetic
      field and electron density of the gated region. The presence of the scatterer
      disrupts snake state transport which alters the conduction pattern. We obtain a
      simple analytical formula that connects the position of the electron-hole puddle
      with features observed in the conductance. The size of the electron-hole puddle
      is estimated from the magnetic field and gate potential that maximizes the effect
      of the puddle on the electrical transport. 

PMID- 26866682
TI  - Erratum: Vol. 64, No. 52.

PMID- 26866680
TI  - Increased asymmetric dimethylarginine levels in severe transient tachypnea of the
      newborn.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by NO synthase (NOS), and asymmetric
      dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of NOS. We aimed to
      investigate l-arginine and ADMA levels in transient tachypnea of the newborn
      (TTN) and their relationship with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and
      disease severity. STUDY DESIGN: Infants born at ?35 weeks gestational age with
      clinical signs and chest X-ray findings consistent with TTN were enrolled;
      controls were recruited at the same time. l-arginine and ADMA levels were
      measured at 12 to 24 h (first samples) and at 48 to 72 h (second samples).
      Systolic PAP was evaluated on the second day. Patients were divided according to
      the duration of tachypnea and designated as group A (duration ?72 h) and group B
      (duration >72 h). RESULTS: In the first samples, the ADMA levels were
      significantly higher in patients with TTN compared with controls (P<0.001). In
      the second samples, the ADMA levels were significantly higher in group B compared
      with that in group A (P=0.019). In group A patients, the second ADMA levels were
      significantly lower compared with that in the first samples (P<0.001), whereas
      the second ADMA levels remained unchanged compared with the first samples in
      group B. Systolic PAP values were significantly higher in group B compared with
      that in group A patients (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: Increased ADMA concentration may
      reduce NO synthesis, leading to increased PAP and thus longer duration of
      tachypnea.

PMID- 26866681
TI  - Chest pain: coronary CT in the ER.
AB  - Cardiac CT has developed into a robust clinical tool during the past 15 years. Of
      the fields in which the potential of cardiac CT has raised more interest is chest
      pain in acute settings. In fact, the possibility to exclude with high reliability
      obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients at low-to-intermediate risk
      is of great interest both from the clinical standpoint and from the management
      standpoint. Several other modalities, with or without imaging, have been used
      during the past decades in the settings of new onset chest pain or in acute chest
      pain for both diagnostic and prognostic assessment of CAD. Each one has
      advantages and disadvantages. Most imaging modalities also focus on inducible
      ischaemia to guide referral to invasive coronary angiography. The advent of
      cardiac CT has introduced a new practice diagnostic paradigm, being the most
      accurate non-invasive method for identification and exclusion of CAD.
      Furthermore, the detection of subclinical CAD and plaque imaging offer the
      opportunity to improve risk stratification. Moreover, recent advances of the
      latest generation CT scanners allow combining both anatomical and functional
      imaging by stress myocardial perfusion. The role of cardiac CT in acute settings
      is already important and will become progressively more important in the coming
      years. 

PMID- 26866683
TI  - Ovarian Toxicity in Female Rats after Oral Administration of Melamine or Melamine
      and Cyanuric Acid.
AB  - Although the toxicity of melamine to the kidneys and testes is well known, few
      studies have investigated the effects of melamine on female reproductive organs.
      Therefore, this study explores the effects of oral administration melamine or
      melamine and cyanuric acid for 28 days on the ovaries of female rats. Rats that
      were exposed to the mixture exhibited reduced ovarian and uterine weights, a
      shorter estrous cycle, and reduced serum estrogen and progesterone levels
      compared to rats that were exposed to melamine and control rats. Furthermore,
      morphological analysis revealed pathological changes in the ovaries of rats
      exposed to melamine or the mixture, such as more atretic follicles and necrosis
      of oocytes and granulosa cells. TUNEL staining revealed that the exposed groups
      had a higher proportion of TUNEL-positive granulosa cells than the control group,
      and the mRNA expressions of SOD1, GPX1, GPX2, P450scc, 17beta-HSD I, and 17beta
      HSD II were reduced in the exposure groups compared with the control group. These
      results indicated that exposure to melamine alone or to the melamine-cyanuric
      acid mixture could damage the ovaries in rats. 

PMID- 26866686
TI  - A Virological Perspective on Cancer.

PMID- 26866688
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26866684
TI  - Variable Resistance to Plasminogen Activator Initiated Fibrinolysis for
      Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We examine the clinical significance and biomarkers of tissue
      plasminogen activator (tPA)-catalyzed clot lysis time (CLT) in patients with
      intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: Platelet-poor, citrated
      plasma was obtained from patients with PE. Healthy age- and sex-matched patients
      served as disease-negative controls. Fibrinogen, alpha2-antiplasmin, plasminogen,
      thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), plasminogen activator
      Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), thrombin time and D-dimer were quantified. Clotting was
      induced using CaCl2, tissue factor, and phospholipid. Lysis was induced using 60
      ng/mL tPA. Time to 50% clot lysis (CLT) was assessed by both thromboelastography
      (TEG) and turbidimetry (A405). RESULTS: Compared with disease-negative controls,
      patients with PE exhibited significantly longer mean CLT on TEG (+2,580 seconds,
      95% CI 1,380 to 3,720 sec). Patients with PE and a short CLT who were treated
      with tenecteplase had increased risk of bleeding, whereas those with long CLT had
      significantly worse exercise tolerance and psychometric testing for quality of
      life at 3 months. A multivariate stepwise removal regression model selected PAI-1
      and TAFI as predictive biomarkers of CLT. CONCLUSION: The CLT from TEG predicted
      increased risk of bleeding and clinical failure with tenecteplase treatment for
      intermediate-risk PE. Plasmatic PAI-1 and TAFI were independent predictors of
      CLT.

PMID- 26866685
TI  - Factors Associated with Non-Participation and Non-Adherence in Directly Observed
      Mass Drug Administration for Malaria in The Gambia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The potential benefits of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for
      malaria elimination are being considered in several malaria endemic countries
      where a decline in malaria transmission has been reported. For this strategy to
      work, it is important that a large proportion of the target population
      participates, requiring an in-depth understanding of factors that may affect
      participation and adherence to MDA programs. METHODOLOGY: This social science
      study was ancillary to a one-round directly observed MDA campaign with
      dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, carried out in 12 villages in rural Gambia
      between June and August 2014. The social science study employed a mixed-methods
      approach combining qualitative methods (participant observation and in-depth
      interviewing) and quantitative methods (structured follow-up interviews among non
      participating and non-adhering community members). RESULTS: Of 3942 people
      registered in the study villages, 67.9% adhered to the three consecutive daily
      doses. For the remaining villagers, 12.6% did not attend the screening, 3.5% was
      not eligible and 16% did not adhere to the treatment schedule. The main barriers
      for non-participation and adherence were long and short-term mobility of
      individuals and specific subgroups, perceived adverse drug reactions and rumors,
      inconveniences related to the logistics of MDA (e.g. waiting times) and the
      perceived lack of information about MDA. CONCLUSION: While, there was no
      fundamental resistance from the target communities, adherence was 67.9%. This
      shows the necessity of understanding local perceptions and barriers to increase
      its effectiveness. Moreover, certain of the constraining factors were socio
      spatially clustered which might prove problematic since focal areas of residual
      malaria transmission may remain allowing malaria to spread to adjacent areas
      where transmission had been temporarily interrupted.

PMID- 26866687
TI  - Using the Web to Collect Data on Sensitive Behaviours: A Study Looking at Mode
      Effects on the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interviewer-administered surveys are an important method of
      collecting population-level epidemiological data, but suffer from declining
      response rates and increasing costs. Web surveys offer more rapid data collection
      and lower costs. There are concerns, however, about data quality from web
      surveys. Previous research has largely focused on selection biases, and few have
      explored measurement differences. This paper aims to assess the extent to which
      mode affects the responses given by the same respondents at two points in time,
      providing information on potential measurement error if web surveys are used in
      the future. METHODS: 527 participants from the third British National Survey of
      Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3), which uses computer assisted personal
      interview (CAPI) and self-interview (CASI) modes, subsequently responded to
      identically-worded questions in a web survey. McNemar tests assessed whether
      within-person differences in responses were at random or indicated a mode effect,
      i.e. higher reporting of more sensitive responses in one mode. An analysis of
      pooled responses by generalized estimating equations addressed the impact of
      gender and question type on change. RESULTS: Only 10% of responses changed
      between surveys. However mode effects were found for about a third of variables,
      with higher reporting of sensitive responses more commonly found on the web
      compared with Natsal-3. CONCLUSIONS: The web appears a promising mode for surveys
      of sensitive behaviours, most likely as part of a mixed-mode design. Our findings
      suggest that mode effects may vary by question type and content, and by the
      particular mix of modes used. Mixed-mode surveys need careful development to
      understand mode effects and how to account for them.

PMID- 26866689
TI  - [Treatment of Chronic Functional Constipation during Pregnancy and Lactation].
AB  - Natural fibres (bulk-forming agents), docusate sodium (stool-softener), mineral
      oils (lubricant laxatives), macrogol (polyethylene glycol, PEG), sugars and sugar
      alcohols (osmotic laxatives) and anthraquinones and diphenolic laxatives
      (stimulant laxatives) seem to be safe medicaments regarding teratogenicity and
      lactation. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) risk categories for these
      substances taken during pregnancy and lactation are often the result of the lack
      of studies than of evidence-based information. So risk categories do not help in
      the decision-making for the right laxative. Alternative solutions such as
      proposals of the American College of Gastroenterology's Committee on FDA related
      matters, (ACG-FDA) and the Motherisk Programme try to improve decision-making.
      For newer compounds such as chloride-channel-activators and procinetics no data
      regarding safe use in pregnancy and during breast-feeding are available as yet.
      We suggest the use of macrogol and lactulose as the first-line therapy in
      treating chronic constipation during pregnancy. Macrogol shows some advantages,
      such as faster onset of bowel action and fewer flatulences. If this treatment
      does not work or starts but then stops working, we recommend in the second and
      third trimenon a second-line treatment with diphenolic laxatives such as
      bisacodyl and and sodium picosulfate. During pregnancy the decision on the
      application of these laxatives is largely determined by the side-effects of
      tenesmus associated with preterm births. During lactation we recommend macrogol
      (preferable to lactulose due to the lack of data), lactulose, bisacodyl and
      sodium picosulfate, according to the nature of the conditions.

PMID- 26866690
TI  - [Anxiety of Pregnant Women with Prior Miscarriage Before and After Prenatal
      Diagnosis].
AB  - PURPOSE: Aim of the investigation is to assess the anxiety in pregnant women with
      prior miscarriage and without prior miscarriage before and after prenatal testing
      for congenital anomalies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Are sampling is carried of 50
      pregnant women with prior miscarriage and 224 pregnant women without prior
      miscarriage between the 11th and 22th week of gestation who are presenting
      themselves for the first time for specific prenatal diagnostics. I study state
      and trait anxiety levels (Spielberger) before and state anxiety after prenatal
      diagnosis. Data processing and evaluation were carried out with the SPSS Version
      18.0. RESULTS: Prior to the prenatal examination, women with prior miscarriage
      report more state anxiety symptoms then women without miscarriage (t-test, p
      value 0.035), but not more trait anxiety (t-test, p-value 0.794). After prenatal
      examination no differ in state anxiety scale between pregnant women with prior
      miscarriage and pregnant women without prior miscarriage (t-test, p-value 0.909).
      CONCLUSION: The study suggests that miscarriages may lead to higher levels of
      state anxiety before prenatal diagnosis. Gynaecologists and prenatal experts
      should be pay attention and response the fear actively during prenatal
      examination and after prenatal examination. Anxiety may have negative
      consequences for obstetric outcomes, parenting and infant behaviours.

PMID- 26866691
TI  - [Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in a Very Low Birth Weight Premature
      Infant].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) was often endemic in
      the past but is nowadays rare. The hematogeneous spread of exfoliative toxins A
      (ETA) or B (ETB) produced by specific Staphylococcus aureus strains causes a
      scald-like eruption with disseminated bullous lesions. CASE REPORT: A perioral
      impetigo lesion occurred on day 14 of life in a preterm male infant (1,065 g, 30
      weeks of gestational age). Empiric antibiotic therapy with cefotaxime and
      vancomycin was given for 6 days and led to complete resolution. A Staphylococcus
      aureus strain was isolated. After a symptom-free interval a relapse was noted on
      day 26 of life. Despite restarting the antibiotic therapy immediately the initial
      lesion expanded, and disseminated flaccid blisters on an erythematous base
      appeared within a few hours. On histological examination the cleavage was in the
      level of the granular layer. There was no mucosal involvement, and the Nikolsky I
      sign was positive. The antibiotic therapy was changed to a combination of
      cefotaxime, flucloxacillin and clindamycin which rapidly stopped progression of
      the exfoliation. Supportive therapy included adequate analgesia, parenteral
      rehydration, and application of local antiseptics. The preterm infant completely
      recovered. In the primary lesion an ETA-producing Staphylococcus aureus strain
      was isolated. Nasal microtrauma by a nasogastric tube was assumed to have caused
      the fulminant disease. At the same time, no other Staphylococcus aureus
      infections were seen in our Department of Neonatology. DISCUSSION: According to
      the literature, the incidence of SSSS is higher in premature infants and newborns
      than in older children. Possible causes include lower antibody levels against
      exfoliative toxins and renal immaturity. Rapid diagnosis and immediate
      appropriate antibiotic therapy are essential to prevent secondary infection,
      dehydration with electrolyte disturbance, death, and endemic spread.

PMID- 26866693
TI  - Synergistic Combination of Electrolysis and Electroporation for Tissue Ablation.
AB  - Electrolysis, electrochemotherapy with reversible electroporation, nanosecond
      pulsed electric fields and irreversible electroporation are valuable non-thermal
      electricity based tissue ablation technologies. This paper reports results from
      the first large animal study of a new non-thermal tissue ablation technology that
      employs "Synergistic electrolysis and electroporation" (SEE). The goal of this
      pre-clinical study is to expand on earlier studies with small animals and use the
      pig liver to establish SEE treatment parameters of clinical utility. We examined
      two SEE methods. One of the methods employs multiple electrochemotherapy-type
      reversible electroporation magnitude pulses, designed in such a way that the
      charge delivered during the electroporation pulses generates the electrolytic
      products. The second SEE method combines the delivery of a small number of
      electrochemotherapy magnitude electroporation pulses with a low voltage
      electrolysis generating DC current in three different ways. We show that both
      methods can produce lesion with dimensions of clinical utility, without the need
      to inject drugs as in electrochemotherapy, faster than with conventional
      electrolysis and with lower electric fields than irreversible electroporation and
      nanosecond pulsed ablation. 

PMID- 26866692
TI  - Using an Insect Mushroom Body Circuit to Encode Route Memory in Complex Natural
      Environments.
AB  - Ants, like many other animals, use visual memory to follow extended routes
      through complex environments, but it is unknown how their small brains implement
      this capability. The mushroom body neuropils have been identified as a crucial
      memory circuit in the insect brain, but their function has mostly been explored
      for simple olfactory association tasks. We show that a spiking neural model of
      this circuit originally developed to describe fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster)
      olfactory association, can also account for the ability of desert ants
      (Cataglyphis velox) to rapidly learn visual routes through complex natural
      environments. We further demonstrate that abstracting the key computational
      principles of this circuit, which include one-shot learning of sparse codes,
      enables the theoretical storage capacity of the ant mushroom body to be estimated
      at hundreds of independent images. 

PMID- 26866694
TI  - Two Independent Functions of Collier/Early B Cell Factor in the Control of
      Drosophila Blood Cell Homeostasis.
AB  - Blood cell production in the Drosophila hematopoietic organ, the lymph gland, is
      controlled by intrinsic factors and extrinsic signals. Initial analysis of
      Collier/Early B Cell Factor function in the lymph gland revealed the role of the
      Posterior Signaling Center (PSC) in mounting a dedicated cellular immune response
      to wasp parasitism. Further, premature blood cell differentiation when PSC
      specification or signaling was impaired, led to assigning the PSC a role
      equivalent to the vertebrate hematopoietic niche. We report here that Collier is
      expressed in a core population of lymph gland progenitors and cell autonomously
      maintains this population. The PSC contributes to lymph gland homeostasis by
      regulating blood cell differentiation, rather than by maintaining core
      progenitors. In addition to PSC signaling, switching off Collier expression in
      progenitors is required for efficient immune response to parasitism. Our data
      show that two independent sites of Collier/Early B Cell Factor expression,
      hematopoietic progenitors and the PSC, achieve control of hematopoiesis. 

PMID- 26866695
TI  - Characterization of Regulatory T-Cell Markers in CD4+ T Cells of the Upper Airway
      Mucosa.
AB  - CD4+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells the
      regulate immune responses and prevent autoimmunity. Most reports on human Tregs
      are derived from studies of peripheral blood, although Tregs mainly exert their
      functions in the periphery. Here we performed a detailed analysis of Tregs in the
      human upper airway mucosa under non-inflammatory conditions, and found that 10%
      of all CD4+ T cells expressed the transcription factor FOXP3 and the memory
      marker CD45RO, as well as high levels of CTLA-4. The majority of FOXP3+CD4+ T
      cells co-expressed the transcription factor Helios and produced very little
      cytokines, compatible with being thymus-derived Tregs. FOXP3+Helios-CD4+ T cells
      were more heterogeneous. A mean of 24% produced the immunomodulatory cytokine IL
      10, whereas a large fraction also produced IL-2, IFN-MU or IL-17. A significant
      population (6%) of FOXP3-negative T cells also produced IL-10, usually in
      combination with IFN-MU. Together, we found that CD4+ T cells in the upper
      airways differed functionally from their counterparts in peripheral blood,
      including higher expression of IL-10. Moreover, our findings suggest that several
      subsets of CD4+ T cells with functionally distinct regulatory properties reside
      in the upper airway mucosa which should be taken into account when targeting
      Tregs for therapy. 

PMID- 26866696
TI  - Trends in Malaria in Odisha, India-An Analysis of the 2003-2013 Time-Series Data
      from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although Odisha is the largest contributor to the malaria burden in
      India, no systematic study has examined its malaria trends. Hence, the spatio
      temporal trends in malaria in Odisha were assessed against the backdrop of the
      various anti-malaria strategies implemented in the state. METHODS: Using the
      district-wise malaria incidence and blood examination data (2003-2013) from the
      National Vector Borne Disease Control Program, blood examination-adjusted time
      trends in malaria incidence were estimated and predicted for 2003-2013 and 2014
      2016, respectively. An interrupted time series analysis using segmented
      regression was conducted to compare the disease trends between the pre (2003
      2007) and post-intensification (2009-2013) periods. Key-informant interviews of
      state stakeholders were used to collect the information on the various anti
      malaria strategies adopted in the state. RESULTS: The state annual malaria
      incidence declined from 10.82/1000 to 5.28/1000 during 2003-2013 (adjusted annual
      decline: -0.54/1000, 95% CI: -0.78 to -0.30). However, the annual blood
      examination rate remained almost unchanged from 11.25% to 11.77%. The
      keyinformants revealed that intensification of anti-malaria activities in 2008
      led to a more rapid decline in malaria incidence during 2009-2013 as compared to
      that in 2003-2007 [adjusted decline: -0.83 (-1.30 to -0.37) and -0.27 (-0.41 to 
      0.13), respectively]. There was a significant difference in the two temporal
      slopes, i.e., -0.054 (-0.10 to -0.002, p = 0.04) per 1000 population per month,
      between these two periods, indicating almost a 200% greater decline in the post
      intensification period. Although, the seven southern high-burden districts
      registered the highest decline, they continued to remain in that zone, thereby,
      making the achievement of malaria elimination (incidence <1/1000) unlikely by
      2017. CONCLUSION: The anti-malaria strategies in Odisha, especially their
      intensification since 2008, have helped improve its malaria situation in recent
      years. These successful measures need to be sustained and perhaps intensified
      further for eliminating malaria from Odisha.

PMID- 26866697
TI  - Self-Exfoliated Guanidinium-Based Ionic Covalent Organic Nanosheets (iCONs).
AB  - Covalent organic nanosheets (CONs) have emerged as functional two-dimensional
      materials for versatile applications. Although pi-pi stacking between layers,
      hydrolytic instability, possible restacking prevents their exfoliation on to few
      thin layered CONs from crystalline porous polymers. We anticipated rational
      designing of a structure by intrinsic ionic linker could be the solution to
      produce self-exfoliated CONs without external stimuli. In an attempt to address
      this issue, we have synthesized three self-exfoliated guanidinium halide based
      ionic covalent organic nanosheets (iCONs) with antimicrobial property. Self
      exfoliation phenomenon has been supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation
      as well. Intrinsic ionic guanidinium unit plays the pivotal role for both self
      exfoliation and antibacterial property against both Gram-positive and Gram
      negative bacteria. Using such iCONs, we have devised a mixed matrix membrane
      which could be useful for antimicrobial coatings with plausible medical benefits.

PMID- 26866699
TI  - Leprosy Diagnostic Test Development As a Prerequisite Towards Elimination:
      Requirements from the User's Perspective.

PMID- 26866701
TI  - Phase transformation controlled tetragonality of MnNi-based nanocrystals.
AB  - The phase transformation controlled tetragonality of MnNi nanostructures has
      attracted wide interest for their shape memory effect. In this study, MnNi
      nanocrystals were selected to epitaxially grow an FeCo shell, where the
      antiferromagnetic L1(0) phase transformation of the MnNi core triggers the
      tetragonal distortion in the magnetically soft FeCo shell. The tetragonality
      change of L1(0) MnNi under thermal annealing enables the control of the
      tetragonality of the FeCo phase, ultimately increasing magnetocrystalline
      anisotropy and coercivity. This study opens up a new route to fabricate
      functional nanostructures with unique magnetic properties.

PMID- 26866698
TI  - A Comparative Oncology Study of Iniparib Defines Its Pharmacokinetic Profile and
      Biological Activity in a Naturally-Occurring Canine Cancer Model.
AB  - Development of iniparib as an anti-cancer agent was hindered in part by lingering
      questions regarding its mechanism of action, the activity of its metabolites, and
      their potential accumulation in tumors. Due to strong similarities in metabolism
      of iniparib between humans and dogs, a veterinary clinical trial in pet dogs with
      spontaneous cancers was designed to answer specific questions pertaining to
      pharmacokinetic exposures and tolerability of iniparib. Dogs were treated with
      iniparib alone and in combination with carboplatin chemotherapy. Iniparib doses
      ranged between 10-70 mg/kg intravenously (IV). Plasma, tumor and normal tissue
      samples were collected before and at various time points scheduled after exposure
      for pharmacokinetic and biologic analysis. The primary endpoints included
      characterization of dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and determination of the drug
      exposures that could be achieved in both normal and tumor tissues. Nineteen dogs
      were treated. DLT included fever, anorexia, diarrhea, neutropenia, and
      thrombocytopenia; most effects were attributable to carboplatin based on the
      timing of adverse event onset. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of iniparib was
      not identified. Moderate to high variability in plasma exposure was noted for
      iniparib and all metabolites between animals. When quantifiable, iniparib and
      metabolite plasma:tumor ratios were < 0.088 and <1.7, respectively. In this
      study, iniparib was well tolerated as a single agent and in combination with
      carboplatin over a range of doses. However, clinically relevant concentrations of
      the parent drug and selected metabolites were not detectable in canine tumor
      tissues at any studied dose, thus eliminating expectations for clinical responses
      in dogs or humans. Negative clinical trials in humans, and the uncertainties of
      its mechanism of action, ultimately led to the decision to stop clinical
      development of the drug. Nevertheless, the questions that can be asked and
      answered within the comparative oncology approach are evident from this
      successfully executed comparative clinical trial and exemplify the value of such
      studies in drug development. 

PMID- 26866702
TI  - CLINICAL AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF INSULIN DELIVERY WITH V-GO((r)) DISPOSABLE
      INSULIN DELIVERY DEVICE VERSUS MULTIPLE DAILY INJECTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2
      DIABETES INADEQUATELY CONTROLLED ON BASAL INSULIN.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare two methods of delivering intensified insulin therapy (IIT)
      in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on basal insulin +/-
      concomitant antihyperglycemic agents in a real-world clinical setting. METHODS:
      Data for this retrospective study were obtained using electronic medical records
      from a large multicenter diabetes system. Records were queried to identify
      patients transitioned to V-Go((r)) disposable insulin delivery device (V-Go) or
      multiple daily injections (MDI) using an insulin pen to add prandial insulin when
      A1C was >7% on basal insulin therapy. The primary endpoint was the difference in
      A1C change using follow-up A1C results. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were
      evaluated (56 V-Go, 60 MDI). Both groups experienced significant glycemic
      improvement from similar mean baselines. By 27 weeks, A1C least squares mean
      change from baseline was -1.98% (-21.6 mmol/mol) with V-Go and -1.34% (-14.6
      mmol/mol) with MDI, for a treatment difference of -0.64% (-7.0 mmol/mol; P =
      .020). Patients using V-Go administered less mean +/- SD insulin compared to
      patients using MDI, 56 +/- 17 units/day versus 78 +/- 40 units/day (P<.001),
      respectively. Diabetes-related direct pharmacy costs were lower with V-Go, and
      the cost inferential from baseline per 1% reduction in A1C was significantly less
      with V-Go ($118.84 +/- $158.55 per patient/month compared to $217.16 +/- $251.66
      per patient/month with MDI; P = .013). CONCLUSION: Progression to IIT resulted in
      significant glycemic improvement. Insulin delivery with V-Go was associated with
      a greater reduction in A1C, required less insulin, and proved more cost-effective
      than administering IIT with MDI. ABBREVIATIONS: A1C = glycated hemoglobin ANCOVA
      = analysis of covariance CI = confidence interval CSII = continuous subcutaneous
      insulin infusion FPG = fasting plasma glucose IIT = intensified insulin therapy
      LSM = least squares mean MDI = multiple daily injections T2DM = type 2 diabetes
      mellitus TDD = total daily dose.

PMID- 26866700
TI  - Family-based approaches: design, imputation, analysis, and beyond.
AB  - Participants in the family-based analysis group at Genetic Analysis Workshop 19
      addressed diverse topics, all of which used the family data. Topics addressed
      included questions of study design and data quality control (QC), genotype
      imputation to augment available sequence data, and linkage and/or association
      analyses. Results show that pedigree-based tests that are sensitive to genotype
      error may be useful for QC. Imputation quality improved with inclusion of small
      amounts of pedigree information used to phase the data in evaluation of 5
      commonly used approaches for imputation in samples of (typically) unrelated
      subjects. It improved still further when pedigree-based imputation using larger
      pedigrees was also added. An important distinction was made between methods that
      do versus do not make use of Mendelian transmission in pedigrees, because this
      serves as a key difference between underlying models and assumptions. Methods
      that model relatedness generally had higher power in association testing than did
      analyses that carry out testing in the presence of a transmission model, but this
      may reflect details of implementation and/or ability of more general methods to
      jointly include data from larger pedigrees. In either case, for single nucleotide
      polymorphism-set approaches, weights that incorporate information on functional
      effects may be more useful than those that are based only on allele frequencies.
      The overall results demonstrate that family data continue to provide important
      information in the search for trait loci. 

PMID- 26866704
TI  - TACKLING A BIG PROBLEM WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE: IMPROVING RESEARCH INTO
      POSTTRANSPLANTATION DIABETES.

PMID- 26866705
TI  - TRABECULAR BONE SCORE IN PATIENTS WITH NORMOCALCEMIC HYPERPARATHYROIDISM.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The effects of normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism (NHPT) on bone remain
      unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in the
      trabecular bone score (TBS) of NHPT patients and asymptomatic hypercalcemic
      hyperparathyroidism (HHPT) patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective study
      that enrolled consecutive patients with asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism (NHPT
      and HHPT) with a follow-up >=1 year at the University Hospital of Valladolid,
      Spain. Metabolic phosphocalcium plasma and urine parameters were evaluated in >=2
      determinations during follow-up to classify patients as NHPT patients or
      asymptomatic HHPT patients. A control group was enrolled during the same period.
      TBS and bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients
      with asymptomatic HPT (24 with NHPT and 15 with HHPT) and 24 controls were
      recruited. NHPT patients and HHPT patients had a similar mean age, vitamin D
      level, TBS, and areal BMD (all sites). Compared to controls, symptomatic HPT
      patients had significantly higher parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels
      and significantly lower TBS and areal BMD at all sites (all P<.05). A significant
      negative relationship between TBS and PTH was found in asymptomatic HPT patients
      (r = -0.320, P = .043), which remained significant after adjustment for age, sex,
      and body mass index. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the TBS between NHPT
      and HHPT patients. However, there was a reduction in the TBS of patients with
      asymptomatic HPT that was related to PTH levels but had no repercussion on bone
      mass. Higher levels of PTH seem to be responsible for this alteration in
      microarchitecture texture. ABBREVIATIONS: aBMD = areal bone mineral density BMD =
      bone mineral density BMI = body mass index DXA = dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
      HHPT = hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism HPT = hyperparathyroidism HR-MRI = high
      resolution magnetic resonance HR-pQcT = high-resolution peripheral quantitative
      computed tomography NHPT = normocalcemic hyper-parathyroidism PTH = parathyroid
      hormone TBS = trabecular bone score 25vitD = 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

PMID- 26866706
TI  - THE ROLE OF GLUCAGON IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There is general recognition that insulin and glucagon are the main
      hormones involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes, but the role of glucagon in
      diabetes is complex and in some circumstances controversial. The increasing
      appreciation of the role of glucagon in currently used hypoglycemic agents and
      the ongoing development of glucagon-targeted therapies underscores glucagon's
      important contribution in optimizing diabetes management. The current review
      provides a background on glucagon physiology and pathophysiology and an update
      for investigators, endocrinologists, and other healthcare providers on glucagon
      modulating therapies. METHODS: A literature review was conducted utilizing
      published literature in PubMed and AccessMedicine including the years 1922-2015
      using the following key words: glucagon, bihormonal, diabetes mellitus, glucagon
      antagonists, glucagon-targeted therapies. RESULTS: Glucagon is a
      counterregulatory hormone that promotes hepatic glucose production, thus
      preventing hypoglycemia in normal physiology. In patients with diabetes mellitus,
      glucagon secretion may be unregulated, which contributes to problems with glucose
      homeostasis. Several of the most effective therapies for diabetes have been found
      to suppress glucagon secretion or action, which may contribute to their success.
      Additionally, glucagon-specific targeted therapies, such as glucagon receptor
      antagonists, are being studied at a basic and clinical level. CONCLUSION:
      Glucagon plays an important role in contributing to hyperglycemia in patients
      with diabetes. Utilizing hypoglycemic agents that decrease glucagon secretion or
      inhibit glucagon action can help improve glycemic control, making these agents a
      valuable resource in diabetes therapy.

PMID- 26866707
TI  - THE IMPACT OF AGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE
      SURVEY.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evidence exists that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) increases with
      age and lowering the TSH goal in older patients on thyroid hormone may cause over
      treatment. Risks of overtreatment include cardiac and skeletal events. We
      assessed practice patterns regarding TSH goals and explored factors influencing
      physicians' decision making when managing hypothyroidism. METHODS: Members of the
      American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the
      Endocrine Society were surveyed to determine goal TSH when treating
      hypothyroidism. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of physicians reported factoring
      patient age into their decision making when managing hypothyroidism. Patient age
      was prioritized third (53%), following patient symptoms (69.2%) and cardiac
      arrhythmias (65.7%). In multivariable analysis, endocrinologists (P = .002),
      internists (P = .049), physicians in academic settings (P = .003), and high
      volume physicians (P = .021) were more likely to consider patient age when
      determining goal TSH. When presented with scenarios differing in patient gender
      and age, 90% of physicians targeted a TSH <=3.0 mIU/L in 30-year-old patients.
      Fifty-three percent of respondents targeted a TSH <=3.0 mIU/L in octogenarians,
      but 90% targeted a TSH >1.5 mIU/L in this group. Regardless of gender, physician
      reported TSH goal ranges (0.1 to 0.5, 0.6 to 1.5, 1.6 to 3.0, and 3.1 to 5.0
      mIU/L) increased in a direct relationship to patient age (P<.001). CONCLUSION:
      Just over half of physicians consider patient age when determining TSH goal. When
      presented with scenarios differing in patient age and gender, physicians targeted
      a higher TSH goal in octogenarians. This may indicate an attempt to avoid
      overtreatment in this group. Consensus is needed among physicians regarding the
      role of patient age in hypothyroidism management. ABBREVIATIONS: TSH = thyroid
      stimulating hormone.

PMID- 26866708
TI  - AXIAL BMD IN DIABETIC AND NONDIABETIC SOUTHEAST ASIANS WITH HIP FRACTURES: DO
      RACE AND BODY MASS INDEX MATTER?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Obesity is less prevalent in Asian subjects with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (T2DM) in contrast to Caucasians. Whether higher axial bone mineral
      density (BMD) often reported in T2DM is independent of body mass index (BMI) has
      not been clearly shown. BMD characterization in T2DM patients with hip fractures
      has also not been performed. We compared the BMD of Asian diabetic and
      nondiabetic patients with new hip fractures and explored how BMD was influenced
      by BMI. METHODS: We included 255 diabetic and 148 nondiabetic patients. BMD
      adjusted for age; BMI; race; sex; renal function; and use of statins, proton pump
      inhibitors, steroids, anticonvulsants, and calcium and/or vitamin D supplements
      were compared between the groups. We were particularly interested in the BMD
      comparison between underweight diabetics and nondiabetics with hip fractures.
      RESULTS: The presence of T2DM was associated with higher BMD (g/cm(2)) at the
      femoral neck (0.527 +/- 0.103 vs. 0.491 +/- 0.102, P<.01) and lumbar spine [LS]
      (0.798 +/- 0.147 vs. 0.723 +/- 0.156, P<.01). This association persisted after
      adjustment for multiple confounding variables including BMI. The age-, BMI-, and
      sex-adjusted LS BMD was higher in underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) diabetics
      compared to similar weight nondiabetics (0.733 +/- 0.126 vs. 0.649 +/- 0.131
      g/cm(2), P = .014). CONCLUSION: T2DM is independently associated with higher
      axial BMD in patients with new hip fractures. The finding of higher BMD even in
      underweight diabetics with hip fractures compared to their nondiabetic
      counterparts suggests that higher BMD in subjects with T2DM is not due to higher
      BMI. ABBREVIATIONS: BMD = bone mineral density BMI = body mass index CV =
      coefficient of variation DXA = dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry HbA1c = glycated
      hemoglobin IGF-1 = insulin growth factor-1 LS = lumbar spine 25(OH)D = 25
      hydroxyvitamin D T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 26866709
TI  - Emerging roles of lncRNAs in senescence.
AB  - Cellular senescence is a complex stress response that leads to an irreversible
      state of cell growth arrest. Senescence may be induced by various stimuli such as
      telomere shortening, DNA damage or oncogenic insult, among others. Senescent
      cells are metabolically highly active, producing a wealth of cytokines and
      chemokines that, depending on the context, may have a beneficial or deleterious
      effect on the organism. Senescence is considered a tightly regulated stress
      response that is largely governed by the p53/p21 and p16/Rb pathways. Many
      molecules have been identified as regulators of these two networks, such as
      transcription factors, chromatin modifiers and non-coding RNAs. The expression
      level of several long non-coding RNAs is affected during different types of
      senescence; however, which of these are important for the biological function
      remains poorly understood. Here we review our current knowledge of the
      mechanistic roles of lncRNAs affecting the main senescence pathways, and discuss
      the importance of identifying new regulators.

PMID- 26866710
TI  - The Use of Low-Dose Oral Glucocorticoids Was Minimized in the 2015 American
      College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:
      Comment on the Article by Singh et al.

PMID- 26866712
TI  - Alu retroelement-associated autoimmunity in Sjogren's syndrome.

PMID- 26866714
TI  - DNA-Based Sensor Particles Enable Measuring Light Intensity in Single Cells.
AB  - "Lab on a particle" architecture is employed in designing a light nanosensor.
      Light-sensitive protecting groups are installed on DNA, which is encapsulated in
      silica particles, qualifying as a self-sufficient light sensor. The nanosensors
      allow measuring light intensity and duration in very small volumes, such as
      single cells, and store the irradiation information until readout. 

PMID- 26866713
TI  - Antagonistic Effects of Insulin and TGF-beta3 during Chondrogenic Differentiation
      of Human BMSCs under a Minimal Amount of Factors.
AB  - Growth factors are crucial regulators of cell differentiation towards tissue and
      organ development. Insulin and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) have
      been used as the major factors for chondrogenesis in vitro, by activating the AKT
      and Smad signaling pathways. Previous reports demonstrated that AKT and Smad3
      have a direct interaction that results in the inhibition of TGF-beta-mediated
      cellular responses. However, the result of this interaction between AKT and Smad3
      during the chondrogenesis of human bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells
      (hBMSCs) is unknown. In this study, we performed functional analyses by inducing
      hBMSCs into chondrogenesis with insulin, TGF-beta3 or in combination, and found
      that TGF-beta3, when applied concomitantly with insulin, significantly decreases
      an insulin-induced increase in mRNA levels of the master regulator of
      chondrogenesis, SOX9, as well as the regulators of the 2 major chondrocyte
      markers, ACAN and COL2A1. Similarly, the insulin/TGF-beta3-treated group
      presented a significant decrease in the deposition of cartilage matrix as
      detected by safranin O staining of histological sections of hBMSC micromass
      cultures when compared to the group stimulated with insulin alone. Intracellular
      analysis revealed that insulin-induced activation of AKT suppressed Smad3
      activation in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, insulin/TGF-beta3
      significantly decreased the TGF-beta3-induced increase in mRNA levels of the
      direct downstream factor of TGF-beta/Smad3, CCN2/CGTF, compared to the group
      stimulated with TGF-beta3 alone. On the other hand, insulin/TGF-beta3 stimulation
      did not suppress insulin-induced expression of the downstream targets TSC2 and
      DDIT4/REDD1. In summary, insulin and TGF-beta3 have antagonistic effects when
      applied concomitantly, with a minimal number of factors. The application of an
      insulin/TGF-beta3 combination without further supplementation should be used with
      caution in the chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. 

PMID- 26866711
TI  - Continuous End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring during Resuscitation of
      Asphyxiated Term Lambs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) recommends close monitoring
      of oxygenation during the resuscitation of newborns using a pulse oximeter.
      However, there are no guidelines for monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) to assess
      ventilation. Considering that cerebral blood flow (CBF) correlates directly with
      PaCO2, continuous capnography monitoring of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) may limit
      fluctuations in PaCO2 and, therefore, CBF during resuscitation of asphyxiated
      infants. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether continuous monitoring of ETCO2 with
      capnography during resuscitation of asphyxiated term lambs with meconium
      aspiration will prevent fluctuations in PaCO2 and carotid arterial blood flow
      (CABF). METHODS: Fifty-four asphyxiated term lambs with meconium aspiration
      syndrome were mechanically ventilated from birth to 60 min of age. Ventilatory
      parameters were adjusted based on clinical observation (chest excursion) and
      frequent arterial blood gas analysis in 24 lambs (control group) and 30 lambs
      (capnography group) received additional continuous ETCO2 monitoring. Left CABF
      was monitored. We aimed to maintain PaCO2 between 35 and 50 mm Hg and ETCO2
      between 30 and 45 mm Hg. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between
      ETCO2 and PaCO2 (R = 0.7, p < 0.001), between PaCO2 and carotid flow (R = 0.52, p
      < 0.001) and between ETCO2 and carotid flow (R = 0.5, p < 0.001). PaCO2 and CABF
      during the first 60 min of age showed significantly higher fluctuation in the
      control group compared to the capnography group. CONCLUSION: Continuous
      monitoring of ETCO2 using capnography with mechanical ventilation during and
      after resuscitation in asphyxiated term lambs with meconium aspiration limits
      fluctuations in PaCO2 and CABF and may potentially limit brain injury.

PMID- 26866715
TI  - HLA-DPB1 as a Risk Factor for Relapse in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody
      Associated Vasculitis: A Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides
      (AAVs) form a group of small-vessel vasculitides with systemic involvement.
      Although the etiology of AAVs remains largely unknown, both genetic and
      environmental factors have been implicated. Recently, certain alleles in the HLA
      DPB1 region on chromosome 6 were shown to be associated with proteinase 3 (PR3)
      ANCA-positive AAV but not with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA-positive AAV. The aim
      of this study was to investigate whether different alleles in the HLA-DPB1 region
      have clinical and/or prognostic implications in AAV. METHODS: One hundred seventy
      four patients with a diagnosis of AAV were recruited at the Maastricht University
      Medical Centre between 2000 and 2009. Seventeen different HLA-DPB1 alleles were
      determined using the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. A
      validation cohort of 170 AAV patients from the Vasculitis Centre of Luebeck/Bad
      Bramstedt was included. RESULTS: In the initial cohort, the distribution of HLA
      DPB1 alleles was significantly different between PR3-ANCA-positive compared with
      MPO-ANCA-positive AAV patients, ANCA-negative AAV patients, and healthy controls.
      Importantly, HLA-DPB1*04:01 was present in 90% of PR3-ANCA-positive AAV patients
      compared with 63% of MPO-ANCA-positive AAV patients, 58% of ANCA-negative
      patients, and 63% of healthy controls. Patients homozygous for HLA-DPB1*04:01 had
      relapses more often compared with heterozygous patients and noncarrier patients.
      This association persisted after correction for ANCA subtype and diagnosis. In
      the validation cohort, patients homozygous for HLA-DPB1*04:01 and those
      heterozygous for HLA-DPB1*04:01 had relapses more often compared with noncarrier
      patients. When both patient cohorts were merged (n = 344), homozygous patients
      relapsed most often, followed by heterozygous patients and noncarrier patients.
      CONCLUSION: Carriage of HLA-DPB1*04:01 in patients with AAV is significantly
      associated with an increased risk of relapse compared with HLA-DPB1*04:01
      negative patients, irrespective of ANCA status or clinical AAV entity.

PMID- 26866716
TI  - Microphase Separation within Disk Shaped Aggregates of Triblock Bottlebrushes.
AB  - Well-defined AbBA triblock bottlebrush with poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PAm)
      as A block and polyacrylate, densely grafted with poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block
      polystyrene (PBA-b-PS), as brush bB block is prepared by controlled radical
      polymerization and click chemistry. The triblock copolymer with a composition of
      PAm200 -b-b(PBA14 -b-PS47 )167 -b-PAm200 is obtained and is further transformed
      into PAm200 -b-b(PAA14 -b-PS47 )167 -b-PAm200 by hydrolysis of the PBA segment
      into poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). In a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and
      methanol, a poor solvent of bB block, PAm200 -b-b(PAA14 -b-PS47 )167 -b-PAm200
      self-assembled into disk-like platelets, which have an internal lamellar
      structure by further microphase-separation of PAA-b-PS branches in 2D. Moreover,
      Ag nanoparticles are aligned by PAA segments along the disk to form a pattern. 

PMID- 26866717
TI  - Tranexamic acid for preventing postpartum blood loss at cesarean delivery: is
      evidence sufficient?

PMID- 26866718
TI  - Management of patients with Graves' orbitopathy: initial assessment, management
      outside specialized centres and referral pathways.

PMID- 26866719
TI  - Association of Serum Uric Acid and Disease Duration With Frequent Gout Attacks: A
      Case-Control Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether readily available disease and demographic factors
      associate with frequent acute attacks of gout, and to find out whether they can
      identify patients especially at risk of recurrent gout attacks. METHODS: Data
      from 3 previous studies at Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, UK,
      were used. Patients taking urate lowering treatment (ULT) were excluded, as it
      influences gout flare frequency. Logistic regression was used to examine the
      association between age, sex, body mass index (BMI), disease duration,
      cardiovascular comorbidities, tophi, serum uric acid (SUA), and >2 acute attacks
      of gout in the previous 12 months. Receiver operating curves were plotted to
      examine their ability in identifying patients with recurrent gout attacks.
      RESULTS: A total of 468 gout patients (88.5% men, mean +/- SD age 62.2 +/- 11.3
      years, BMI 29.8 +/- 5.0 kg/m(2) ) were included. Disease duration and SUA
      associated independently with >2 acute attacks of gout in the previous 12 months
      (adjusted odds ratio 1.36 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08-1.72] and 1.27
      [95% CI 1.10-1.46], respectively). However, these factors performed poorly in
      identifying patients with frequent gout attacks, with an area under the curve
      (AUC) of 0.61, and there was an insignificant increase in AUC on adding other
      variables (AUC 0.64). CONCLUSION: Higher SUA and longer disease duration
      associate independently with frequent gout attacks, presumably because of greater
      crystal load. This association supports early consideration of ULT for gout
      patients with higher SUA. However, as readily available disease and demographic
      factors perform poorly in identifying patients with frequent gout attacks,
      further research is required to ascertain the reasons underlying interpersonal
      variations in frequency of gout attacks.

PMID- 26866721
TI  - Correction: CoPt/CeO2 catalysts for the growth of narrow diameter semiconducting
      single-walled carbon nanotubes.
AB  - Correction for 'CoPt/CeO2 catalysts for the growth of narrow diameter
      semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes' by Lei Tang et al., Nanoscale,
      2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05616k. 

PMID- 26866720
TI  - Effect of weak permanent magnetic field on lipid composition and content in
      perilla leaves.
AB  - Composition and content of lipids were studied in leaves of red perilla plants
      (Perilla nankinensis [Lour.] Decne.) grown in weak permanent horizontal magnetic
      field (PMF) of 500 uT flux density under controlled illumination, temperature,
      and humidity in the phytothron chamber. Control plants were grown under similar
      conditions, but without PMF exposure. Exposure of perilla plants for a month to
      PMF retarded plant flowering as compared to control. PMF treatment increased
      total lipid content, including polar lipids, among them glycolipids and
      phospholipids. PMF did not affect content of neutral lipids. It is concluded that
      PMF stimulated synthesis of membrane lipids of chloroplasts, mitochondria, and
      cytoplasm in perilla leaves. A possible role of PMF as a factor imitating the
      additional light source retarding flowering of a short-day perilla plants is
      discussed.

PMID- 26866722
TI  - Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome due to 2p23 microdeletion.
AB  - Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome is a new overgrowth syndrome due to DNMT3A (DNA
      cytosine 5 methyltransferase 3A) mutations. Mutation carriers show a distinctive
      facial appearance, intellectual disability, and increased height. We report a
      patient with overgrowth who showed submicroscopic deletion of chromosome 2p23
      including DNMT3A. The deletion was detected by array-CGH. He showed moderate ID
      and distinctive facial gestalt. His clinical features were consistent with those
      of Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome. We suggest that 2p23 microdeletion including
      DNMT3A may cause similar symptoms in patients with DNMT3A mutations and should be
      considered in patients with overgrowth.

PMID- 26866723
TI  - Association of Increased Treg Cell Levels With Elevated Indoleamine 2,3
      Dioxygenase Activity and an Imbalanced Kynurenine Pathway in Interferon-Positive
      Primary Sjogren's Syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme that
      converts tryptophan to kynurenine, is driven in part by type I and type II
      interferons (IFNs). Naive T cells are polarized into FoxP3+ Treg cells upon
      exposure to either IDO+ cells or kynurenine. Recent studies have suggested that
      the kynurenine pathway reflects a crucial interface between the immune and
      nervous system. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether Treg cell
      levels are elevated, in conjunction with increased IDO activity, in patients with
      primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) who are positive for the IFN gene expression
      signature, and to investigate the downstream kynurenine pathway in these
      patients. METHODS: Serum from 71 healthy controls, 58 IFN-negative patients with
      primary SS, and 66 IFN-positive patients with primary SS was analyzed using high
      performance liquid chromatography to measure the levels of tryptophan and
      kynurenine. Expression levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) for IDO and downstream
      enzymes in the kynurenine pathway were assessed in CD14+ monocytes using real
      time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CD4+CD45RO+ T helper memory cell
      populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Significantly increased
      levels of IDO activity (assessed as the kynurenine:tryptophan ratio) (P = 0.0054)
      and percentages of CD25(high) FoxP3+ Treg cells (P = 0.039) were observed in the
      serum from IFN-positive patients with primary SS, and these parameters were
      significantly correlated with one another (r = 0.511, P = 0.002). In circulating
      monocytes from IFN-positive patients with primary SS, the expression of IDO1 mRNA
      was up-regulated (P < 0.0001), and this was correlated with the IFN gene
      expression score (r = 0.816, P < 0.0001). Interestingly, the proapoptotic and
      neurotoxic downstream enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase was up-regulated (P =
      0.0057), whereas kynurenine aminotransferase I (KATI) (P = 0.0003), KATIII (P =
      0.016), and KATIV (P = 0.04) were down-regulated in IFN-positive patients with
      primary SS compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate
      enhanced IDO activity in conjunction with increased percentages of CD25(high)
      FoxP3+ Treg cells in primary SS patients who carry the IFN signature. In
      addition, IFN-positive patients with primary SS exhibit an imbalanced kynurenine
      pathway, with evidence of a shift toward potentially more proapoptotic and
      neurotoxic metabolites. Intervening in these IFN- and IDO-induced immune system
      imbalances may offer a new array of possibilities for therapeutic interventions
      in patients with primary SS.

PMID- 26866725
TI  - beta-Globin-Expressing Definitive Erythroid Progenitor Cells Generated from
      Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Sacs.
AB  - Human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells
      represent a potential alternative source for red blood cell transfusion. However,
      when using traditional methods with embryoid bodies, ES cell-derived erythroid
      cells predominantly express embryonic type E-globin, with lesser fetal type gamma
      globin and very little adult type beta-globin. Furthermore, no beta-globin
      expression is detected in iPS cell-derived erythroid cells. ES cell-derived sacs
      (ES sacs) have been recently used to generate functional platelets. Due to its
      unique structure, we hypothesized that ES sacs serve as hemangioblast-like
      progenitors capable to generate definitive erythroid cells that express beta
      globin. With our ES sac-derived erythroid differentiation protocol, we obtained
      ~120 erythroid cells per single ES cell. Both primitive (E-globin expressing) and
      definitive (gamma- and beta-globin expressing) erythroid cells were generated
      from not only ES cells but also iPS cells. Primitive erythropoiesis is gradually
      switched to definitive erythropoiesis during prolonged ES sac maturation,
      concurrent with the emergence of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Primitive and
      definitive erythroid progenitor cells were selected on the basis of glycophorin A
      or CD34 expression from cells within the ES sacs before erythroid
      differentiation. This selection and differentiation strategy represents an
      important step toward the development of in vitro erythroid cell production
      systems from pluripotent stem cells. Further optimization to improve expansion
      should be required for clinical application. Stem Cells 2016;34:1541-1552.

PMID- 26866727
TI  - "Are you looking at me?" How children's gaze judgments improve with age.
AB  - Adults' judgments of another person's gaze reflect both sensory (e.g.,
      perceptual) and nonsensory (e.g., decisional) processes. We examined how
      children's performance on a gaze categorization task develops over time by
      varying uncertainty in the stimulus presented to 6- to 11- year-olds (n = 57). We
      found that younger children responded "direct" over a wider range of gaze
      deviations. We also found that increasing uncertainty led to an increase in
      direct responses, across all age groups. A simple model to account for these data
      revealed that although younger children had a noisier sensory representation of
      the stimulus, most developmental changes in gaze were because of a change in
      children's response criteria (category boundaries). These results suggest that
      although the core mechanisms for gaze processing are already in place by the age
      of 6, their development continues across the whole of childhood. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26866726
TI  - Girls' and boys' problem talk: Implications for emotional closeness in
      friendships.
AB  - This research highlights the critical role of gender in the context of problem
      talk and social support in adolescents' friendships. Early- and middle
      adolescents' (N = 314 friend dyads; Ms = 13.01 and 16.03 years) conversations
      about problems were studied using observation and a short-term longitudinal
      design. Mean-level gender differences emerged in that girls participated in
      problem talk more than boys and responded in a more positive and engaged manner
      to friends' statements about problems (e.g., by saying something supportive,
      asking a question) than did boys. Interestingly, boys used humor during problem
      talk more than girls. Despite mean-level differences, there were not gender
      differences in the functional significance of participating in problem talk and
      positive engaged responses in that these behaviors predicted increased friendship
      closeness for both boys and girls. In contrast, humor during problem talk
      predicted increased closeness only for boys, highlighting an understudied pathway
      to closeness in boys' friendships.

PMID- 26866728
TI  - The development of visual search in infancy: Attention to faces versus salience.
AB  - Four experiments examined how faces compete with physically salient stimuli for
      the control of attention in 4-, 6-, and 8-month-old infants (N = 117 total).
      Three computational models were used to quantify physical salience. We presented
      infants with visual search arrays containing a face and familiar object(s), such
      as shoes and flowers. Six- and 8-month-old infants looked first and longest at
      faces; their looking was not strongly influenced by physical salience. In
      contrast, 4-month-old infants showed a visual preference for the face only when
      the arrays contained 2 items and the competitor was relatively low in salience.
      When the arrays contained many items or the only competitor was relatively high
      in salience, 4-month-old infants' looks were more often directed at the most
      salient item. Thus, over ages of 4 to 8 months, physical salience has a
      decreasing influence and faces have an increasing influence on where and how long
      infants look.

PMID- 26866729
TI  - Influenza-Related Hospitalizations and Poverty Levels - United States, 2010-2012.
AB  - Annual influenza vaccine is recommended for all persons aged >=6 months in the
      United States, with recognition that some persons are at risk for more severe
      disease (1). However, there might be previously unrecognized demographic groups
      that also experience higher rates of serious influenza-related disease that could
      benefit from enhanced vaccination efforts. Socioeconomic status (SES) measures
      that are area-based can be used to define demographic groups when individual SES
      data are not available (2). Previous surveillance data analyses in limited
      geographic areas indicated that influenza-related hospitalization incidence was
      higher for persons residing in census tracts that included a higher percentage of
      persons living below the federal poverty level (3-5). To determine whether this
      association occurs elsewhere, influenza hospitalization data collected in 14
      FluSurv-NET sites covering 27 million persons during the 2010-11 and 2011-12
      influenza seasons were analyzed. The age-adjusted incidence of influenza-related
      hospitalizations per 100,000 person-years in high poverty (>=20% of persons
      living below the federal poverty level) census tracts was 21.5 (95% confidence
      interval [CI]: 20.7-22.4), nearly twice the incidence in low poverty (<5% of
      persons living below the federal poverty level) census tracts (10.9, 95% CI: 10.3
      11.4). This relationship was observed in each surveillance site, among children
      and adults, and across racial/ethnic groups. These findings suggest that persons
      living in poorer census tracts should be targeted for enhanced influenza
      vaccination outreach and clinicians serving these persons should be made aware of
      current recommendations for use of antiviral agents to treat influenza (6). 

PMID- 26866730
TI  - Exosomes promote bone marrow angiogenesis in hematologic neoplasia: the role of
      hypoxia.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the data on angiogenesis related to exosomes
      secreted by tumor cells in hematologic neoplasia and to elucidate the role of
      exosomes and exosomal miRNA in the bone marrow microenvironment, especially under
      hypoxic conditions. RECENT FINDINGS: Cross-talk between bone marrow tumor cells
      and surrounding cells, including endothelial cells, is important for tumor growth
      in hematologic neoplasia. In addition to conventional signaling pathways,
      exosomes, which are small endosome-derived vesicles containing miRNAs, can help
      to modulate the microenvironment without directly contacting nontumorous cells.
      The human myeloid leukemia cell line K562 secretes exosomes containing a large
      amount of miR-92a that enhances angiogenesis under normoxic and hypoxic
      conditions. With chronic hypoxia, exosomes secreted by multiple myeloma cells
      also enhance angiogenesis by targeting factor-inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor
      1 via miR-135b. SUMMARY: Intercellular communication between tumor cells and a
      heterogeneous population of bone marrow stromal cells is mediated by exosomes
      containing various functional proteins, mRNA, and miRNA. Hypoxia is a major
      regulator of exosomal content and affects angiogenesis in various types of
      hematologic neoplasia. Functional analysis of exosomes and exosome-mediated cell
      cell interactions not only clarifies molecular pathogenesis but also suggests new
      treatment strategies for hematologic neoplasia through targeting exosomes.

PMID- 26866731
TI  - Teaching Handoff Communication to Nursing Students: A Teaching Intervention and
      Lessons Learned.
AB  - When new-graduate nurses enter practice, they are expected to provide clear,
      effective handoff reports during care transitions. However, few nursing programs
      offer systematic instruction or opportunities to practice this important form of
      communication. This article describes a teaching intervention designed to prepare
      students with handoff skills they will need in practice. Data gathered to
      evaluate its effectiveness indicated that skill repetition improved student
      performance and perceived self-efficacy of handoff reporting. Lessons learned and
      recommendations for incorporating this instruction into nursing curricula are
      discussed. 

PMID- 26866732
TI  - Supports and Barriers to Successful Progression in a DNP Program: Students' and
      Graduates' Perspectives.
AB  - This study examined the supports, barriers, and strategies to successful
      progression in a DNP program using a nationwide online survey of DNP students and
      graduates. Subjects (n = 172) had a mean age of 46.2 years; 83% worked full time.
      Major barriers were competing demands of work, family, and school. Perseverance
      was a key element in overcoming barriers; most students reported being
      overwhelmed, and 37% considered quitting. Mechanisms for programs to consider in
      addressing this stress are discussed. 

PMID- 26866733
TI  - Impact of Attendance on Academic Performance in Prenursing Students.
AB  - A descriptive-correlational design was used to explore the relationship between
      attendance and course grade in a prenursing course. Findings revealed that
      attendance was positively associated with final course grades (r443 = 0.54, P <
      .001). Traditional students attended a significantly higher percentage of classes
      than their nontraditional counterparts. These findings support the long-held
      belief by nursing faculty that attendance positively impacts course outcomes. 

PMID- 26866735
TI  - Interventions to increase the use of electronic health information by healthcare
      practitioners to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

PMID- 26866734
TI  - Influence of Nursing Faculty Discussion Presence on Student Learning and
      Satisfaction in Online Courses.
AB  - This study determined the relationships between faculty participation in online
      discussions with student satisfaction and perceived learning in online RN-BSN and
      MSN courses. Analysis of faculty participation in online courses (n = 280)
      demonstrated a relationship between faculty participation and student
      satisfaction and perceived learning. The results of this study offer guidance on
      the minimal faculty participation necessary in online discussions in nursing
      courses. 

PMID- 26866736
TI  - Neurologic Outcomes of Complex Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Results of the
      Prospective, Multicenter Scoli-RISK-1 Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, international observational study.
      OBJECTIVE: To evaluate motor neurologic outcomes in patients undergoing surgery
      for complex adult spinal deformity (ASD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The
      neurologic outcomes after surgical correction for ASD have been reported with
      significant variability and have not been measured as a primary endpoint in any
      prospective, multicenter, observational study. METHODS: The primary outcome
      measure was the change in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Lower
      Extremity Motor Scores (LEMS) obtained preoperatively, and at hospital discharge,
      6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients with
      complex ASD underwent surgery at 15 sites worldwide. One patient was excluded for
      lack of preoperative LEMS. The remaining 272 patients were divided into two
      groups: normal preoperative LEMS (=50) (Preop NML, N = 204, 75%) and abnormal
      preoperative LEMS (<50) (Preop ABNML, N = 68, 25%). At hospital discharge, 22.18%
      of patients showed a decline in LEMS compared with 12.78% who showed an
      improvement. At 6 weeks, there was a significant change compared with discharge:
      17.91% patients showed a decline in LEMS and 16.42% showed an improvement. At 6
      months, 10.82% patients showed a decline in preoperative LEMS, 20.52%
      improvement, and 68.66% maintenance. This was a significant change compared with
      6 weeks and at discharge. CONCLUSION: Although complex ASD surgery can restore
      neurologic function in patients with a preoperative neurologic deficit, a
      significant portion of patients with ASD experienced postoperative decline in
      LEMS. Measures that can anticipate and reduce the risk of postoperative
      neurologic complications are warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26866737
TI  - Case-Matched Comparison of Spinal Fusion Versus Growing Rods for Progressive
      Idiopathic Scoliosis in Skeletally Immature Patients.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter study of retrospectively and prospectively collected
      data. OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes of spinal fusion (SF) versus growing rod
      (GR) surgery using a case-matched series. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Scoliosis
      surgeons face two distinct treatment options for progressive idiopathic scoliosis
      in skeletally immature patients: definitive SF or growth-friendly surgery such as
      GR. No previous studies have directly compared outcomes between these two
      techniques. METHODS: A multicenter database identified 11 GR patients who met the
      following criteria: (1) idiopathic etiology; (2) 9 years to 11 years old at
      initial surgery; (3) major thoracic curve; (4) had "final" SF. A second
      multicenter database was used to identify SF patient matches. A one-to-one
      patient match was performed based on age, major curve size, and curve apex.
      RESULTS: Preoperative age was 10.1 years for GR and 10.8 years for SF (P =
      0.003). GR had a mean 2.8 lengthenings before final fusion. Follow-up time after
      spinal fusion (3.8 vs. 4.5 years; P = 0.51) and age at latest follow-up (16.4 vs.
      15.3 years; P = 0.28) were similar between GR and SF groups. Initial curve
      correction was significantly greater for SF compared with GR after initial GR
      surgery (71% vs. 38%; P < 0.001). SF patients had better overall curve correction
      at latest follow-up (63% vs. 44%; P = 0.08). Overall increase in T1-S1 was 23%
      for GR and 19% for SF (P = 0.42). Overall increase in T1-T12 was 19% for GR and
      17% for SF (P = 0.76). Complications requiring unplanned surgery occurred in one
      GR patient and two SF patients. Number of surgeries was significantly higher in
      GR (54) compared with SF (13). CONCLUSION: SF patients had greater curve
      correction and marginally less spinal and thoracic height gain compared with GR
      patients. GR patients underwent significantly more surgical procedures. These
      findings suggest GR treatment does not benefit older patients with juvenile
      idiopathic scoliosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26866738
TI  - Repeated 3.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Clinically Successful Lumbar
      Disc Surgery.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To describe the naturally
      occurring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings after successful
      microsurgical removal of lumbar disc herniation with repeated MRI examinations.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The interpretation of MRI after spinal surgery may be
      particularly challenging and image findings do not always correlate to clinical
      findings. Early postoperative MRI has limited value in the evaluation of patients
      after surgery for lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Prospective study of 30
      successfully operated patients, which underwent 3.0 T MRI within 24 h after
      surgery for lumbar disc herniation and repeated at 6 weeks and 3 months
      postoperatively. Postoperative image findings (nerve root enhancement, nerve root
      thickening, displacement or compression of the nerve root, and residual mass size
      and signal) were assessed quantitatively. Inter-rater reliability was tested.
      RESULTS: Inter-rater reliability between neuroradiologists was moderate for
      assessed MRI variables. In the immediate postoperative phase, compression or
      dislocation of the nerve root at the operated level was common. A residual mass
      at the operated level was seen in 80%, 47%, and 33% after 24 h, 6 weeks, and 3
      months, respectively. Postoperative dislocation or compression of the nerve root
      from residual masses was seen in 67%, 24%, and 14% after 24 h, 6 weeks, and 3
      months, respectively. A residual mass with a higher signal than muscle on T2
      weighted images was seen in 80%, 30%, and 17% after 24 h, 6 weeks, and 3 months,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: A residual mass with compression or dislocation of the
      nerve root at the operated level, that disappears over 3 months, is a common MRI
      finding in patients successfully operated for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation.
      An expectant approach instead of early reoperations may perhaps be preferred in
      patients with residual pain and root compression due to residual masses with high
      T2-signal since these often seem to resolve spontaneously. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26866739
TI  - Prevalence of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Chinese Schoolchildren: A Large, Population
      Based Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of school
      scoliosis screening program in mainland China. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study
      was to assess current prevalence and distribution of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) in
      schoolchildren and to compare with the results of previous studies. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: The feasibility and predictive values of scoliosis screening
      programs for school-age children remains controversial and many of these programs
      have recently been discontinued in different countries. Due to different race and
      medical model in China, it is not feasible to introduce these data without
      further study. Therefore, a reliable retrospective cohort study with a large
      sample size to ensure proper evaluation of school scoliosis screening is needed.
      METHODS: Schoolchildren were initially screened by visual inspection of clinical
      signs, the forward-bending test, and the measurement of the angle of trunk
      rotation (ATR). Students suspected were rescreened, and then were referred for
      radiography or dismissed. The diagnosis and treatment were based on the Cobb
      angle. The personal information, demographic information, and results of tests
      performed were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 99,695 children were
      screened, with a female-to-male ratio of 1:1.03. Around 6.56% of children
      screened were referred for radiography, and 5125 of them had confirmed diagnosis.
      The overall scoliosis prevalence rate was 5.14%. According to age and gender, 14-
      to 15-year-old girls had the highest prevalence rates (13.81%). And, the
      prevalence of IS in need of treatment was 0.64%. A prevalence rate of 13.1% was
      observed in girls with BMI less than 18 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of
      IS was 5.14% in our study. Screening of 13- to 14- and 14- to 15-year-old girls
      identified a significant number who could benefit from preventive treatment. Low
      BMI may be a risk factor for IS. We present this study as a guide for studying
      the prevalence of IS and modifying our further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26866740
TI  - The Impact of Advanced Age on Peri-Operative Outcomes in the Surgical Treatment
      of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Nationwide Study Between 2001 and 2010.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter database review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of
      this study was to evaluate national postoperative outcomes and hospital
      characteristics trends from 2001 to 2010 for advanced age CSM patients. SUMMARY
      OF BACKGROUND DATA: Recent studies show increases in US cervical spine surgeries
      and CSM diagnoses. However, few have compared national outcomes for elderly and
      younger CSM patients. METHODS: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) analysis from
      2001 to 2010, including CSM patients 25+ who underwent anterior and/or posterior
      cervical fusion or laminoplasty. Fractures, 9+ levels fused, or any cancers were
      excluded. Measures included demographics, outcomes, and hospital-related data for
      25 to 64 versus 65+ and 65 to 75 versus 76+ age groups. Univariate and logistic
      regression modeling evaluated procedure-related complications risk in 65+ and 76+
      age groups (OR[95% CI]). RESULTS: Discharges for 35,319 patients in the age range
      of 25 to 64 years and 19,097 at the age 65+ years were identified. Average
      comorbidity indices for patients at 65+ years were higher compared to the 25 to
      64 years age group (0.79 vs. 0.0.44, P < 0.0001), as was the total complications
      rate (11.39% vs. 5.93%, P < 0.0001) and charges ($57,449.94 vs. $49,951.11, P <
      0.0001). Hospital course for aged 65+ patients was longer (4.76 vs. 3.26 days, P
      < 0.0001). Mortality risk was higher in the 65+ cohort (3.38[2.93-3.91]),
      adjusted for covariates. 65+ patients had increased risk of all complications
      except device-related, for which they had decreased risk (0.61[0.56-0.67]).
      Patients 76+ years displayed increased hospital charges ($59,197.60 vs.
      $56,601.44, P < 0.001) and courses (5.77 vs. 4.28 days, P < 0.001) compared to
      those in the age group 65 to 75 years. These same patients presented with
      increased Deyo scores (0.83 vs. 0.77, P < 0.001), had increased total
      complications rate (13.87% vs. 10.20%, P < 0.001), and displayed increased risk
      for postoperative shock (6.34 [11.16-3.60], P < 0.001), digestive system (1.92
      [2.40-1.54], P < 0.001), and wound dehiscence (1.71 [2.56-1.15], P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSION: Patients aged 65+ years undergoing CSM surgical management have a
      higher mortality risk, more procedure-related complications, higher comorbidity
      burden, longer hospital course, and higher charges. This study provides
      clinically useful data for surgeons to educate patients and to improve outcomes.

PMID- 26866741
TI  - Patient-Based Surgical Outcomes of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Patient
      Satisfaction Analysis.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to
      investigate: (1) patient-based surgical outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody
      fusion (PLIF); (2) correlations between patient-based surgical outcomes and
      surgeon-based surgical outcomes; (3) factors associated with patient
      satisfaction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have been no reports of patient
      based surgical outcomes of PLIF for lumbar spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Patients
      who underwent PLIF for L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis between 2006 and 2009
      were reviewed (n = 121). Surgical outcomes were assessed 5 years after primary
      surgery using a questionnaire, a numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain, the 36
      Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Japanese Orthopedic Association score
      (JOA score), and the recovery rate. The original questionnaire consisted of 5
      categories, with scoring out of 100 points for surgery, satisfaction,
      improvement, recommendation to others, and willingness to undergo repeat surgery.
      Patient-based outcomes were divided into 3 groups according to the questionnaire
      responses as positive, intermediate, and negative and were compared with the JOA
      scores. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients responded, for a response rate of 85%.
      The average patient-evaluated score for surgery was 82 points. The positive
      response rate in each category was 78% for satisfaction, 88% for improvement, 74%
      for recommendation, and 71% for repeat. The average pre- and postoperative JOA
      scores were 11.2 and 23.2, respectively. The average recovery rate was 68.5%.
      There were significant correlations between patient-based surgical outcomes and
      the JOA score. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between patient
      based surgical outcomes and the NRS and physical component scores of the SF-36.
      Postoperative permanent motor loss was a major factor related to a negative
      response. CONCLUSION: The patient-evaluated score for surgery was 82 points. More
      than 70% of patients gave positive responses in all sections of the
      questionnaire. There were significant correlations between patient-based and
      surgeon-based surgical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

PMID- 26866742
TI  - Predictive Value of Six Prognostic Scoring Systems for Spinal Bone Metastases: An
      Analysis Based on 1379 Patients.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was
      to assess and compare the predictive accuracy of six models designed to estimate
      survival of patients suffering from spinal bone metastases Just (SBMs). SUMMARY
      OF BACKGROUND DATA: On the basis of the estimated survival of patients with SBM,
      extent of treatment can be adjusted. To aid clinicians in the difficult task of
      assessing probability of survival, prognostic scoring systems have been developed
      by Tomita, Tokuhashi, Van der Linden, Bauer, Rades, and Bollen. METHODS: All
      patients who were treated for SBM between 2000 and 2010 were included in this
      international, multicenter, retrospective study (n = 1379). Medical records were
      reviewed for all items needed to use the scoring systems. Survival time was
      calculated as the difference between start of treatment for SBM and date of
      death. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and accuracy
      was assessed with the c-statistic. Survival rates of the worst prognostic groups
      were evaluated at 4 months. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 6.7 years [95%
      confidence interval (95% CI) 5.6-7.7] with a minimum of 2.3 years and a maximum
      of 12.3 years. The overall median survival was 5.1 months (95% CI 4.6-5.6). The
      most common primary tumors were breast (n = 388, 28%), lung (n = 318, 23%), and
      prostate cancer (n = 259, 19%). The Tokuhashi, Bauer, Tomita, and Van der Linden
      models performed similar with a c-statistic of 0.64 to 0.66 and a 4-month
      accuracy of 62% to 65%. The Rades model (c-statistic 0.44) and Bollen model (c
      statistic 0.70) had a 4-month accuracy of 69% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      The Bollen model performs better than the other models. However, improvements are
      still warranted to increase the accuracy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26866743
TI  - Letters.

PMID- 26866744
TI  - Letters.

PMID- 26866745
TI  - To the Editor.

PMID- 26866746
TI  - Imaging Features of Biphenotypic Primary Liver Carcinoma
      (Hepatocholangiocarcinoma) and the Potential to Mimic Hepatocellular Carcinoma:
      LI-RADS Analysis of CT and MRI Features in 61 Cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which
      biphenotypic primary liver carcinoma (also called hepatocholangiocarcinoma) may
      be misclassified as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when only Liver Imaging
      Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) major features are used and after
      consideration of ancillary features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of all
      pathologically proven biphenotypic primary liver carcinomas diagnosed at one
      institution from 2006 to 2014 was performed. Two subspecialized abdominal imagers
      independently reviewed cases using LI-RADS version 2014 and assigned major
      features, ancillary features, and additional findings. The number of lesions
      meeting imaging criteria for HCC was determined after assessment of major
      features alone and after the addition of ancillary features. RESULTS: Sixty-one
      patients (30 men, 31 women; mean age, 62 years; range, 22-89 years) with
      biphenotypic primary liver carcinomas who underwent pretreatment multiphasic
      contrast-enhanced MRI (48 patients) or CT (13 patients) were included. According
      to LI-RADS major features alone, 33 (54.1%) lesions met criteria for HCC and
      therefore might have been misclassified. Thirteen had arterial phase
      hyperenhancement, washout, and a capsule. Twenty had arterial phase
      hyperenhancement with either washout (15 lesions) or a capsule (five lesions).
      After evaluation of ancillary features, 29 of these potential mimics exhibited at
      least one ancillary feature favoring non-HCC malignancy, possibly leading to
      appropriate reclassification. Of the four carcinomas that met criteria for HCC by
      major features and did not have ancillary features favoring non-HCC malignancy,
      two (3.3% of all tumors) fell within the Milan criteria. CONCLUSION: Most
      biphenotypic primary liver carcinomas have features of non-HCC malignancy and can
      be correctly categorized as such. Addition of ancillary features to major
      features may improve diagnostic accuracy over systems in which only major
      features are used.

PMID- 26866747
TI  - Association of KCNQ1 polymorphisms with gliclazide efficacy in Chinese type 2
      diabetic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of KCNQ1 polymorphisms on the efficacy of
      gliclazide in type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 443
      newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study. After
      enrollment, patients went on an 8-week gliclazide monotherapy. Fasting plasma
      glucose (FPG) was measured before and after the treatment. Life-style information
      was collected by weekly follow-up. Genotyping of the two single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms was performed using the single base primer extension method. T
      test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson chi-test were used to evaluate
      the effects of rs2237892 and rs2237897 on the FPG reduction and treatment success
      rate. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of gliclazide therapy, the FPG decreased
      significantly from 10.9+/-2.8 to 7.4+/-2.2 mmol/l (P<0.001). Compared with the CC
      genotype, patients with CT or TT genotypes of rs2237897 achieved greater
      reduction in FPG (3.9+/-2.6 vs. 3.2+/-2.4 mmol/l, P=0.003; 33.9+/-19.0 vs. 27.7+/
      17.4%, P<0.001) and a higher rate of treatment success (74.1 vs. 65.2%, P=0.042
      for criterion 1; 61.1 vs. 44.5%, P<0.001 for criterion 2, respectively), whereas
      no significant difference was found in the FPG reduction and treatment success
      rate among different genotypes of rs2237892. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated
      that a common variant of KCNQ1, rs2237897, was associated with the efficacy of
      gliclazide after 8-week monotherapy in Chinese newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic
      patients. The FPG reduction and treatment success rate were significantly higher
      in carriers of CT and TT genotypes.

PMID- 26866749
TI  - Interview with Michelle Arkin, PhD.

PMID- 26866750
TI  - Drug Discovery Approaches Utilizing Three-Dimensional Cell Culture.
AB  - Historically, two-dimensional (2D) cell culture has been the preferred method of
      producing disease models in vitro. Recently, there has been a move away from 2D
      culture in favor of generating three-dimensional (3D) multicellular structures,
      which are thought to be more representative of the in vivo environment. This
      transition has brought with it an influx of technologies capable of producing
      these structures in various ways. However, it is becoming evident that many of
      these technologies do not perform well in automated in vitro drug discovery
      units. We believe that this is a result of their incompatibility with high
      throughput screening (HTS). In this study, we review a number of technologies,
      which are currently available for producing in vitro 3D disease models. We assess
      their amenability with high-content screening and HTS and highlight our own work
      in attempting to address many of the practical problems that are hampering the
      successful deployment of 3D cell systems in mainstream research. 

PMID- 26866752
TI  - Intracellularly Acid-Switchable Multifunctional Micelles for Combinational
      Photo/Chemotherapy of the Drug-Resistant Tumor.
AB  - The intrinsic or acquired drug resistance is the main challenge for cancer
      chemotherapy today. So far, many nanosized drug delivery systems (NDDS) have been
      exploited to combat cancer drug resistance. However, the therapy efficacy of
      current NDDS is severely impaired by the limited tumor penetration of the
      nanoparticles due to the existence of physiological and pathological barriers in
      the solid tumor. In this study, we report on the design and fabrication of
      intracellularly acid-switchable multifunctional micelles for combinational photo-
      and chemotherapy of the drug-resistant tumor. The micelles were composed of a pH
      responsive diblock copolymer, a photosensitizer, and a polymeric prodrug of
      doxorubicin. The micelle displayed silenced fluorescence and photoactivity during
      the blood circulation and switched to an active state in weakly acid conditions
      (i.e., pH <= 6.2) in the endocytic vesicles to dramatically induce a 7.5-fold
      increase of the fluorescence signal for fluorescence imaging. Upon near-infrared
      (NIR) laser irradiation, the micelle induced notable reactive oxygen species
      generation to trigger cytosol release of the chemotherapeutics and perform
      photodynamic therapy (PDT). Moreover, the micelle efficiently converted the NIR
      light to local heat for enhancing tumor penetration of the anticancer drug, tumor
      specific photothermal therapy, and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Furthermore, the
      micelles could generate amplified magnetic resonance (MR) signal in an acidic
      microenvironment to perform MR imaging. Collectively, this study presents a
      robust nanoplatform for multimodal imaging and combinational therapy of the drug
      resistant tumor, which might provide an insight for developing polymer-based NDDS
      for cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26866753
TI  - Head-Elevated Patient Positioning Decreases Complications of Emergent Tracheal
      Intubation in the Ward and Intensive Care Unit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Based on the data from elective surgical patients, positioning
      patients in a back-up head-elevated position for preoxygenation and tracheal
      intubation can improve patient safety. However, data specific to the emergent
      setting are lacking. We hypothesized that back-up head-elevated positioning would
      be associated with a decrease in complications related to tracheal intubation in
      the emergency room environment. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by
      the University of Washington Human Subjects Division (Seattle, WA). Eligible
      patients included all adults undergoing emergent tracheal intubation outside of
      the operating room by the anesthesiology-based airway service at 2 university
      affiliated teaching hospitals. All intubations were through direct laryngoscopy
      for an indication other than full cardiopulmonary arrest. Patient characteristics
      and details of the intubation procedure were derived from the medical record. The
      primary study endpoint was the occurrence of a composite of any intubation
      related complication: difficult intubation, hypoxemia, esophageal intubation, or
      pulmonary aspiration. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the
      odds of the primary endpoint in the supine versus back-up head-elevated positions
      with adjustment for a priori-defined potential confounders (body mass index and a
      difficult intubation prediction score [Mallampati, obstructive sleep Apnea,
      Cervical mobility, mouth Opening, Coma, severe Hypoxemia, and intubation by a non
      Anesthesiologist score]). RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-eight patients were
      analyzed. Overall, at least 1 intubation-related complication occurred in 76 of
      336 (22.6%) patients managed in the supine position compared with 18 of 192
      (9.3%) patients managed in the back-up head-elevated position. After adjusting
      for body mass index and the Mallampati, obstructive sleep Apnea, Cervical
      mobility, mouth Opening, Coma, severe Hypoxemia, and intubation by a non
      Anesthesiologist score, the odds of encountering the primary endpoint during an
      emergency tracheal intubation in a back-up head-elevated position was 0.47 (95%
      confidence interval, 0.26-0.83; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Placing patients in a
      back-up head-elevated position, compared with supine position, during emergency
      tracheal intubation was associated with a reduced odds of airway-related
      complications.

PMID- 26866754
TI  - Build-up of toxic metals on the impervious surfaces of a commercial seaport.
AB  - In the context of increasing threats to the sensitive marine ecosystem by toxic
      metals, this study investigated the metal build-up on impervious surfaces
      specific to commercial seaports. The knowledge generated from this study will
      contribute to managing toxic metal pollution of the marine ecosystem. The study
      found that inter-modal operations and main access roadway had the highest loads
      followed by container storage and vehicle marshalling sites, while the quay line
      and short term storage areas had the lowest. Additionally, it was found that Cr,
      Al, Pb, Cu and Zn were predominantly attached to solids, while significant amount
      of Cu, Pb and Zn were found as nutrient complexes. As such, treatment options
      based on solids retention can be effective for some metal species, while
      ineffective for other species. Furthermore, Cu and Zn are more likely to become
      bioavailable in seawater due to their strong association with nutrients.
      Mathematical models to replicate the metal build-up process were also developed
      using experimental design approach and partial least squares regression. The
      models for Cr and Pb were found to be reliable, while those for Al, Zn and Cu
      were relatively less reliable, but could be employed for preliminary
      investigations. 

PMID- 26866755
TI  - Genotoxicity assessment of particulate matter emitted from heavy-duty diesel
      powered vehicles using the in vivo Vicia faba L. micronucleus test.
AB  - Diesel exhaust particulate matter (PM) can have an impact on the environment due
      to its chemical constitution. A large number of substances such as organic
      compounds, sulfates, nitrogen derivatives and metals are adsorbed to the
      particles and desorption of these contaminants could promote genotoxic effects.
      The objective of this study was to assess the in vivo genotoxicity profile of
      diesel exhaust PM from heavy-duty engines. Extracts were obtained through
      leaching with pure water and chemical extraction using three organic solvents
      (dichloromethane, hexane, and acetone). The in vivo Vicia faba micronucleus test
      (ISO 29200 protocol) was used to assess the environmental impact of the samples
      collected from diesel exhaust PM. The solid diesel PM (soot) dissolved in water,
      and the different extracts, showed positive results for micronucleus formation.
      After the addition of EDTA, the aqueous extracts did not show a genotoxic effect.
      The absence of metals in the organic solvent extract indicated that organic
      compounds also had a genotoxic effect, which was not observed for a similar
      sample cleaned in a C18 column. Thus, considering the ecological importance of
      higher plants in relation to ecosystems (in contrast to Salmonella spp., which
      are commonly used in mutagenicity studies), the Vicia micronucleus test was
      demonstrated to be appropriate for complementing prokaryotic or in vitro tests on
      diesel exhaust particulate matter included in risk assessments. 

PMID- 26866756
TI  - Chronic toxicity and physiological changes induced in the honey bee by the
      exposure to fipronil and Bacillus thuringiensis spores alone or combined.
AB  - In the agricultural environment, honey bees may be exposed to combinations of
      pesticides. Until now, the effects of these combinations on honey bee health have
      been poorly investigated. In this study, we assessed the impacts of biological
      and chemical insecticides, combining low dietary concentrations of Bacillus
      thuringiensis (Bt) spores (100 and 1000ug/L) with the chemical insecticide
      fipronil (1ug/L). In order to assess the possible effects of Cry toxins, the Bt
      kurstaki strain (Btk) was compared with a Bt strain devoid of toxin-encoding
      plasmids (Bt Cry(-)). The oral exposure to fipronil and Bt spores from both
      strains for 10 days did not elicit significant effects on the feeding behavior
      and survival after 25 days. Local and systemic physiological effects were
      investigated by measuring the activities of enzymes involved in the intermediary
      and detoxication metabolisms at two sampling dates (day 10 and day 20). Attention
      was focused on head and midgut glutathione-S-transferase (GST), midgut alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP), abdomen glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) and
      glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). We found that Bt Cry(-) and Btk spores
      induced physiological modifications by differentially modulating enzyme
      activities. Fipronil influenced the enzyme activities differently at days 10 and
      20 and, when combined with Bt spores, elicited modulations of some spore-induced
      physiological responses. These results show that an apparent absence of toxicity
      may hide physiological disruptions that could be potentially damaging for the
      bees, especially in the case of combined exposures to other environmental
      stressors. 

PMID- 26866757
TI  - Physiological responses of Microcystis aeruginosa against the algicidal bacterium
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - Proliferation of cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems has caused water security
      problems throughout the world. Our preliminary study has showed that Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa can inhibit the growth of cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa. In
      order to explore the inhibitory mechanism of P. aeruginosa on the cell growth and
      synthesis of intracellular substances of M. aeruginosa, concentrations of
      Chlorophyll-a, intracellular protein, carbohydrate, enzyme activities and ion
      metabolism of M. aeruginosa, were investigated. The results indicated that 83.84%
      algicidal efficiency of P. aeruginosa was achieved after treatment for 7 days.
      The strain inhibited the reproduction of M. aeruginosa by impeding the synthesis
      of intracellular protein and carbohydrate of cyanobacterium, and only a very
      small part of intracellular protein and carbohydrate was detected after exposure
      to P. aeruginosa for 5 days. P. aeruginosa caused the alteration of intracellular
      antioxidant enzyme activity of M. aeruginosa, such as catalase, peroxidase. The
      accumulation of malondialdehyde aggravated membrane injury after treatment for 3
      days. P. aeruginosa also affected the ion metabolism of cyanobacteria. The
      release of Na(+) and Cl(-) was significantly enhanced while the uptake of K(+),
      Ca(2+), Mg(2+), NO3(-) and SO4(2)(-) decreased. Surface morphology and
      intracellular structure of cyanobacteria and bacterial cells changed dramatically
      over time as evidenced by electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron
      microscope (TEM) analysis. These results revealed that the algicidal activity of
      P. aeruginosa was primarily due to the fermentation liquid of P. aeruginosa that
      impeded the synthesis of intracellular protein and carbohydrate, and damaged the
      cell membrane through membrane lipid peroxidation. 

PMID- 26866758
TI  - Kinetic characteristics and modeling of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris growth and
      CO2 biofixation considering the coupled effects of light intensity and dissolved
      inorganic carbon.
AB  - Understanding and optimizing the microalgae growth process is an essential
      prerequisite for effective CO2 capture using microalgae in photobioreactors. In
      this study, the kinetic characteristics of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris growth
      in response to light intensity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration
      were investigated. The greatest values of maximum biomass concentration (Xmax)
      and maximum specific growth rate (MUmax) were obtained as 2.303 g L(-1) and 0.078
      h(-1), respectively, at a light intensity of 120 MUmol m(-2) s(-1) and DIC
      concentration of 17 mM. Based on the results, mathematical models describing the
      coupled effects of light intensity and DIC concentration on microalgae growth and
      CO2 biofixation are proposed. The models are able to predict the temporal
      evolution of C. vulgaris growth and CO2 biofixation rates from lag to stationary
      phases. Verification experiments confirmed that the model predictions agreed well
      with the experimental results.

PMID- 26866759
TI  - Microalgae from domestic wastewater facility's high rate algal pond: Lipids
      extraction, characterization and biodiesel production.
AB  - In this study, the harvesting of a biomass from a high rate algal pond (HRAP) of
      a real-scale domestic wastewater treatment facility and its potential as a
      biomaterial for the production of biodiesel were investigated. Increasing the
      medium pH to 12 induced high flocculation efficiency of up to 96% of the biomass
      through both sweep flocculation and charge neutralization. Lipids extracted by
      ultrasounds from this biomass contained around 70% of fatty acids, with palmitic
      and stearic acids being the most abundant. The extract obtained by supercritical
      CO2 contained 86% of fatty acids. Both conventional solvents extracts contained
      only around 10% of unsaturated fats, whereas supercritical CO2 extract contained
      more than 40% of unsaturated fatty acids. This same biomass was also subject to
      direct extractive-transesterification in a microwave reactor to produce fatty
      acid methyl esters, also known as, raw biodiesel. 

PMID- 26866760
TI  - Co-digestion of food and garden waste with mixed sludge from wastewater treatment
      in continuously stirred tank reactors.
AB  - Co-digestions of urban organic waste were conducted to investigate the effect of
      the mixing ratio between sludge, food waste, grass clippings and green waste at
      different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Compared to the digestion of 100%
      sludge, the methane yield increased by 48% and 35%, when co-digesting sludge with
      food waste, grass clippings and garden waste with a corresponding %VS of
      10:67.5:15.75:6.75 (R1) and 10:45:31.5:13.5 (R2), respectively. The methane yield
      remained constant at around 425 and 385 NmL CH4/g VS in R1 and R2, respectively,
      when the reactors were operated at HRTs of 15, 20 and 30 days. However, the
      methane yield dropped significantly to 356 (R1) and 315 (R2) NmL CH4/g VS when
      reducing the HRT to 10 days, indicating that the process was stressed. Since the
      methane production rate improved significantly with decreasing HRT, the trade-off
      between yield and productivity was obtained at 15 days HRT.

PMID- 26866761
TI  - Cultivation of Neochloris oleoabundans in bubble column photobioreactor with or
      without localized deoxygenation.
AB  - This study evaluated long-term non-sterile cultivation of freshwater green alga
      Neochloris oleoabundans in a 15-liter bubble column photobioreactor (BCPBR) and
      the effects of a membrane-based localized oxygen remover (LOR) on deoxygenation,
      cell growth, and lipid production of N. oleoabundans. Batch and continuous
      cultivations were carried out under non-sterile conditions for 53 days with no
      detectable protozoa or other biological contaminants, indicating successful long
      term contamination-free cultivation. The results show that the BCPBR equipped
      with LOR (BCPBR-LOR) has enhanced deoxygenation efficiency and were able to
      maintain dissolved oxygen at a level of around 120% air saturation, which was 32%
      lower than that of the conventional BCPBR, which had no LOR. While similar
      biomass concentration and productivity were obtained in both systems,
      significantly higher lipid cell content and lipid productivity of microalgae were
      obtained in the latter, which was attributed to the low dO2 in culture due to
      enhanced deoxygenation efficiency of BCPBR-LOR.

PMID- 26866762
TI  - Cu2O Nanowire Photocathodes for Efficient and Durable Solar Water Splitting.
AB  - Due to its abundance, scalability, and nontoxicity, Cu2O has attracted extensive
      attention toward solar energy conversion, and it is the best performing metal
      oxide material. Until now, the high efficiency devices are all planar in
      structure, and their photocurrent densities still fall well below the theoretical
      value of 14.5 mA cm(-2) due to the incompatible light absorption and charge
      carrier diffusion lengths. Nanowire structures have been considered as a rational
      and promising approach to solve this issue, but due to various challenges,
      performance improvements through the use of nanowires have rarely been achieved.
      In this work, we develop a new synthetic method to grow Cu2O nanowire arrays on
      conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates with well-controlled phase and
      excellent electronic and photonic properties. Also, we introduce an innovative
      blocking layer strategy to enable high performance. Further, through material
      engineering by combining a conformal nanoscale p-n junction, durable protective
      overlayer, and uniform catalyst decoration, we have successfully fabricated Cu2O
      nanowire array photocathodes for hydrogen generation from solar water splitting
      delivering unprecedentedly high photocurrent densities of 10 mA cm(-2) and stable
      operation beyond 50 h, establishing a new benchmark for metal oxide based
      photoelectrodes. 

PMID- 26866763
TI  - Physical efficiency and activity energy expenditure in term pregnancy females
      measured during cardiopulmonary exercise tests with a supine cycle ergometer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate physical efficiency and activity energy expenditure (AEE)
      in term pregnancy females during cardiopulmonary exercise tests with a supine
      cycle ergometer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 22 healthy full-term
      pregnancy women with uncomplicated pregnancies hospitalized in the Department of
      Gynecology and Obstetrics, Specialist Teaching Hospital in Tychy, Poland. All
      subjects underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) on a supine cycle
      ergometer. The 12-min, three-stage, progressive, symptom-limited submaximal test
      protocol (up to 80% HRmax) was used. Pulsometry was used to record HR on a beat
      to-beat analysis and to calculate AEE. Respiratory responses were measured by
      ergospirometer and a computer system on a breath-by-breath basis at rest, during
      exercise and at restitution. RESULTS: In the studied population, VO2max was
      established at the level of 2.19 +/- 0.33 L/min in ergospirometry and 2.04 +/-
      025 L/min in pulsometry. Physical efficiency calculated for sub-maximal exercise
      by use of the Davis equation was 30.52 +/- 0.12%. AEE, based on VO2 in various
      phases of the CPET, was 0.47, 0.71 and 0.88 L/min for phases 25, 50 and 75 W.
      Based on ergospirometer readouts, AEE was 10.60, 16.11 and 20.94 kJ/min for
      phases 25, 50 and 75 W. Overall mean AEE (determined by pulsometry) was 10.59 
      kJ/min. CPET testing did not have any negative effect upon the health or life of
      the neonates involved in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Submaximal CPET up to 80% HRmax
      with a supine cycle ergometer is a safe and precise method for assessing work
      efficiency in term pregnancy women.

PMID- 26866764
TI  - Readers of narratives take the protagonist's geographical perspective. Evidence
      from an event-related potential study.
AB  - This ERP study explores how the reader's brain is sensitive to the protagonist's
      perspective in the fictitious environment of narratives. Participants initially
      received narratives describing a protagonist living in a given geographical
      place. Later on they were given short paragraphs describing another character as
      "coming" or "going" to a place either close to or distant from the protagonist.
      Paragraphs referring to distant places elicited larger negative waves than those
      with places close to the protagonist. Moreover, narratives with the verb to come
      incoherent with the protagonist's perspective (e.g., "she came to the distant
      place") elicited larger negative-going waves in the 320-400ms time window than
      coherent paragraphs (e.g., "she came to the close place"). These results indicate
      that readers of narratives were able to take the protagonist's geographical
      perspective, showing discourse-level coherence effects when they read motion
      sentences with the marked deictic verb to come.

PMID- 26866765
TI  - Gene expression in large pedigrees: analytic approaches.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We currently have the ability to quantify transcript abundance of
      messenger RNA (mRNA), genome-wide, using microarray technologies. Analyzing
      genotype, phenotype and expression data from 20 pedigrees, the members of our
      Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) 19 gene expression group published 9 papers,
      tackling some timely and important problems and questions. To study the
      complexity and interrelationships of genetics and gene expression, we used
      established statistical tools, developed newer statistical tools, and developed
      and applied extensions to these tools. METHODS: To study gene expression
      correlations in the pedigree members (without incorporating genotype or trait
      data into the analysis), 2 papers used principal components analysis, weighted
      gene coexpression network analysis, meta-analyses, gene enrichment analyses, and
      linear mixed models. To explore the relationship between genetics and gene
      expression, 2 papers studied expression quantitative trait locus allelic
      heterogeneity through conditional association analyses, and epistasis through
      interaction analyses. A third paper assessed the feasibility of applying allele
      specific binding to filter potential regulatory single-nucleotide polymorphisms
      (SNPs). Analytic approaches included linear mixed models based on measured
      genotypes in pedigrees, permutation tests, and covariance kernels. To incorporate
      both genotype and phenotype data with gene expression, 4 groups employed linear
      mixed models, nonparametric weighted U statistics, structural equation modeling,
      Bayesian unified frameworks, and multiple regression. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
      Regarding the analysis of pedigree data, we found that gene expression is
      familial, indicating that at least 1 factor for pedigree membership or multiple
      factors for the degree of relationship should be included in analyses, and we
      developed a method to adjust for familiality prior to conducting weighted co
      expression gene network analysis. For SNP association and conditional analyses,
      we found FaST-LMM (Factored Spectrally Transformed Linear Mixed Model) and SOLAR
      MGA (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines -Major Gene Analysis) have
      similar type 1 and type 2 errors and can be used almost interchangeably. To
      improve the power and precision of association tests, prior knowledge of DNase-I
      hypersensitivity sites or other relevant biological annotations can be
      incorporated into the analyses. On a biological level, eQTL (expression
      quantitative trait loci) are genetically complex, exhibiting both allelic
      heterogeneity and epistasis. Including both genotype and phenotype data together
      with measurements of gene expression was found to be generally advantageous in
      terms of generating improved levels of significance and in providing more
      interpretable biological models. CONCLUSIONS: Pedigrees can be used to conduct
      analyses of and enhance gene expression studies.

PMID- 26866766
TI  - Cognitively Engaging Chronic Physical Activity, But Not Aerobic Exercise, Affects
      Executive Functions in Primary School Children: A Group-Randomized Controlled
      Trial.
AB  - Although the positive effects of different kinds of physical activity (PA) on
      cognitive functioning have already been demonstrated in a variety of studies, the
      role of cognitive engagement in promoting children's executive functions is still
      unclear. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the effects of
      two qualitatively different chronic PA interventions on executive functions in
      primary school children. Children (N = 181) aged between 10 and 12 years were
      assigned to either a 6-week physical education program with a high level of
      physical exertion and high cognitive engagement (team games), a physical
      education program with high physical exertion but low cognitive engagement
      (aerobic exercise), or to a physical education program with both low physical
      exertion and low cognitive engagement (control condition). Executive functions
      (updating, inhibition, shifting) and aerobic fitness (multistage 20-m shuttle run
      test) were measured before and after the respective condition. Results revealed
      that both interventions (team games and aerobic exercise) have a positive impact
      on children's aerobic fitness (4-5% increase in estimated VO2max). Importantly,
      an improvement in shifting performance was found only in the team games and not
      in the aerobic exercise or control condition. Thus, the inclusion of cognitive
      engagement in PA seems to be the most promising type of chronic intervention to
      enhance executive functions in children, providing further evidence for the
      importance of the qualitative aspects of PA. 

PMID- 26866767
TI  - Transtheoretical Principles and Processes for Adopting Physical Activity: A
      Longitudinal 24-Month Comparison of Maintainers, Relapsers, and Nonchangers.
AB  - This study examined longitudinal differences in use of transtheoretical model
      (TTM) behavior change constructs in maintainers (who reached and maintained
      exercise guidelines), relapsers (who reached guidelines, then regressed), and
      nonchangers (who did not reach guidelines). Data from two population-based TTM
      tailored randomized trial intervention groups targeting exercise behavior (N =
      1050) were pooled, and analyses assessed differences in TTM constructs between
      the three groups at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Findings indicated that
      relapsers tended to use TTM variables similarly to maintainers with the exception
      of self-efficacy, consciousness raising, and most behavioral processes of change,
      at 24 months. Nonchangers, however, used all TTM variables less than maintainers
      at nearly every time point. Findings suggest that relapsers remain more active
      than nonchangers in terms of use of change processes. Poor response to
      interventions (nonchangers) may be predicted by low baseline engagement in change
      processes. Although relapsers reverted to physical inactivity, their overall
      greater use of TTM constructs suggests that their efforts to change remain better
      than those of the stable nonchanger group. Future research can focus on treatment
      engagement strategies to help the stable nonchangers initiate change and to help
      relapsers to maintain treatment gains. 

PMID- 26866768
TI  - Differences in Attentional Focus Associated With Recovery From Sports Injury:
      Does Injury Induce an Internal Focus?
AB  - Although it is commonly believed that focusing too much attention on the injured
      body area impairs recovery in sports, this has not been directly assessed. The
      present study investigated attentional focus following sports injury. Experienced
      baseball position players recovering from knee surgery (Expt 1) and baseball
      pitchers recovering from elbow surgery (Expt 2) performed simulated batting and
      pitching respectively. They also performed three different secondary tasks: leg
      angle judgments, arm angle judgments, and judgments about the ball leaving their
      bat/hand. Injured athletes were compared with expert and novice control groups.
      Performance on the secondary tasks indicated that the injured batters had an
      internal focus of attention localized on the area of the injury resulting in
      significantly poorer batting performance as compared with the expert controls.
      Injured pitchers had a diffuse, internal attentional focus similar to that of
      novices resulting in poorer pitching performance as compared with the expert
      controls. 

PMID- 26866769
TI  - Do Male And Female Cyclists' Cortical Activity Differ Before and During Cycling
      Exercise?
AB  - Although men and women are suggested to vary in resistance to fatigue, possible
      sex difference in its central component have rarely been investigated via
      electroencephalography (EEG). Therefore, we examined differences in cortical
      activity between male and female cyclists (n = 26) during cycling exercise.
      Participants performed an incremental test to derive the anaerobic threshold from
      the lactate power curve. In addition, cyclists' cortical activity was recorded
      with EEG before and during cycling exercise. Whereas women showed higher frontal
      alpha and beta activity at rest, no sex-specific differences of relative EEG
      spectral power occurred during cycling at higher intensity. Women and men's
      brains respond similarly during submaximal cycling, as both sexes show an
      inverted U-shaped curve of alpha power. Therefore, sex differences observable at
      rest vanish after the onset of exercise. 

PMID- 26866770
TI  - Sensorimotor Rhythm Neurofeedback Enhances Golf Putting Performance.
AB  - Sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) activity has been related to automaticity during
      skilled action execution. However, few studies have bridged the causal link
      between SMR activity and sports performance. This study investigated the effect
      of SMR neurofeedback training (SMR NFT) on golf putting performance. We
      hypothesized that preelite golfers would exhibit enhanced putting performance
      after SMR NFT. Sixteen preelite golfers were recruited and randomly assigned into
      either an SMR or a control group. Participants were asked to perform putting
      while electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded, both before and after
      intervention. Our results showed that the SMR group performed more accurately
      when putting and exhibited greater SMR power than the control group after 8
      intervention sessions. This study concludes that SMR NFT is effective for
      increasing SMR during action preparation and for enhancing golf putting
      performance. Moreover, greater SMR activity might be an EEG signature of improved
      attention processing, which induces superior putting performance. 

PMID- 26866771
TI  - rs6295 [C]-Allele Protects Against Depressive Mood in Elderly Endurance Athletes.
AB  - A single nucleotide variant within the promoter of the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A
      (5HT1A) receptor, rs6295, is part of a binding site for the transcription factor.
      We aimed to ascertain whether the rs6295 mediates the effect of exercise on
      depressive mood in elderly endurance athletes. We prospectively enrolled 55
      elderly athletes (marathon runners/bicyclists) and 58 controls. In a controlled,
      univariate model, an interaction between the [C]-allele and physical activity
      indicated that only among athletes, the variant resulting in an imperfect NUDR
      binding site was associated with a lower depression score. Hence, athletes
      presented with a significantly lower relative risk of achieving a suspicious
      depression score among carriers of at least one [C]-allele. Our results suggest
      that the positive effect of physical exercise on depressive mood might be
      mediated by the 5HT1A receptor and the extent of this protective effect seems to
      be enhanced by the [C]-allele of the rs6295 variant. 

PMID- 26866772
TI  - Predictors of Moral Disengagement in Sport.
AB  - Researchers have made productive use of Bandura's (1991) construct of moral
      disengagement (MD) to help explain why sport participants deviate from ethical
      ideals. In this study of intercollegiate athletes from diverse sports (N = 713),
      we examined MD in relation to other character-related variables: empathy, moral
      identity, moral attentiveness, and contesting orientations. We also examined
      whether moral attentiveness conforms to the pattern of "bracketed morality" found
      in moral reasoning (Shields & Bredemeier, 1995) and moral behavior (Kavussanu,
      Boardley, Sagar, & Ring, 2013). Results indicated that MD correlated positively
      with perceptual moral attentiveness and war contesting orientation; MD correlated
      negatively with empathy, moral identity, reflective moral attentiveness, and
      partnership contesting orientation. Results of hierarchical regression
      demonstrated that gender, contesting orientations, moral identity, and one form
      of moral attentiveness were significant predictors of MD. Finally, sport
      participants were found to be less morally attentive in sport than in everyday
      life. 

PMID- 26866773
TI  - To Weigh or Not to Weigh? Relation to Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors
      Among Female Collegiate Athletes.
AB  - Female athletes have been identified as a subpopulation at heightened risk for
      disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, particularly due to weight pressures
      in their environment. Using a sample of 414 NCAA Division-I female collegiate
      athletes, we examined the relations of required team weigh-ins or self-weighing
      on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Through a series of multivariate
      analyses, we determined that team weighs were unrelated significantly to all
      outcome measures. Self-weighing, however, differentiated the athletes' scores on
      internalization, body satisfaction, dietary restraint, negative affect, and
      bulimic symptomatology; athletes who self-weighed three or more times a week
      (sometimes 1-2 times per week) reported significantly higher levels of pathology
      across all measures. Mandatory team-conducted weigh-ins appear to not be a
      salient pressure for female gymnasts and swimmer/divers, although the frequency
      of their self-weighing may represent a level of self-monitoring that is
      associated with greater endorsement of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

PMID- 26866774
TI  - Response-Order Effects in Survey Methods: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study
      in the Context of Sport Injury Prevention.
AB  - Consistency tendency is characterized by the propensity for participants
      responding to subsequent items in a survey consistent with their responses to
      previous items. This method effect might contaminate the results of sport
      psychology surveys using cross-sectional design. We present a randomized
      controlled crossover study examining the effect of consistency tendency on the
      motivational pathway (i.e., autonomy support -> autonomous motivation ->
      intention) of self-determination theory in the context of sport injury
      prevention. Athletes from Sweden (N = 341) responded to the survey printed in
      either low interitem distance (IID; consistency tendency likely) or high IID
      (consistency tendency suppressed) on two separate occasions, with a one-week
      interim period. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups, and they
      received the survey of different IID at each occasion. Bayesian structural
      equation modeling showed that low IID condition had stronger parameter estimates
      than high IID condition, but the differences were not statistically significant. 

PMID- 26866776
TI  - Frequency and clinical correlates of postural and striatal deformities in
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of postural and striatal deformities in
      patients with Parkinson's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 416
      consecutive patients with Parkinson's disease were evaluated for musculoskeletal
      deformities using a standardized criteria. Data including disease history, motor
      complications and antiparkinsonic treatment were collected. RESULTS: The overall
      frequency of musculoskeletal deformities was 19.7%. Striatal deformities were the
      most frequent deformities (9.9%). Scoliosis was the deformity most frequently
      found. No cases with Pisa syndrome or antecollis were found. Striatal deformities
      were associated with a younger age at onset, more frequent use of levodopa, as
      well as higher levodopa equivalent daily dose. Postural deformities were
      associated with higher motor scores. CONCLUSION: Postural and striatal
      deformities are common in Parkinson's disease. Striatal deformities appear to be
      more related to dopaminergic treatment, while postural deformities are associated
      with the motor state.

PMID- 26866777
TI  - Stroke and cardiac cell death: Two peas in a pod.
AB  - A close pathological link between stroke brain and heart failure may exist. Here,
      we discuss relevant laboratory and clinical reports demonstrating neural and
      cardiac myocyte cell death following ischemic stroke. Although various
      overlapping risk factors exist between cerebrovascular incidents and cardiac
      incidents, stroke therapy has largely neglected the cardiac pathological
      consequences. Recent preclinical stroke studies have implicated an indirect cell
      death pathway, involving toxic molecules, that originates from the stroke brain
      and produces cardiac cell death. In concert, previous laboratory reports have
      revealed a reverse cell death cascade, in that cardiac arrest leads to ischemic
      cell death in the brain. A deeper understanding of the crosstalk of cell death
      pathways between stroke and cardiac failure will facilitate the development of
      novel treatments designed to arrest the global pathology of both diseases thereby
      improving the clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with stroke and heart
      failure. 

PMID- 26866779
TI  - First-Principles Study of Antisite Defect Configurations in ZnGa2O4:Cr Persistent
      Phosphors.
AB  - Zinc gallate doped with chromium is a recently developed near-infrared emitting
      persistent phosphor, which is now extensively studied for in vivo bioimaging and
      security applications. The precise mechanism of this persistent luminescence
      relies on defects, in particular, on antisite defects and antisite pairs. A
      theoretical model combining the solid host, the dopant, and/or antisite defects
      is constructed to elucidate the mutual interactions in these complex materials.
      Energies of formation as well as dopant, and defect energies are calculated
      through density-functional theory simulations of large periodic supercells. The
      calculations support the chromium substitution on the slightly distorted
      octahedrally coordinated gallium site, and additional energy levels are
      introduced in the band gap of the host. Antisite pairs are found to be
      energetically favored over isolated antisites due to significant charge
      compensation as shown by calculated Hirshfeld-I charges. Significant structural
      distortions are found around all antisite defects. The local Cr surrounding is
      mainly distorted due to a ZnGa antisite. The stability analysis reveals that the
      distance between both antisites dominates the overall stability picture of the
      material containing the Cr dopant and an antisite pair. The findings are further
      rationalized using calculated densities of states and Hirshfeld-I charges. 

PMID- 26866778
TI  - Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in the Hospital Setting:
      Overview, Implications for Clinical Practice, and Emerging Treatment Options.
AB  - The increasing prevalence of infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram
      negative bacteria constitutes a serious threat to global public health due to the
      limited treatment options available and the historically slow pace of development
      of new antimicrobial agents. Infections due to MDR strains are associated with
      increased morbidity and mortality and prolonged hospitalization, which translates
      to a significant burden on healthcare systems. In particular, MDR strains of
      Enterobacteriaceae (especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli),
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii have emerged as particularly
      serious concerns. In the United States, MDR strains of these organisms have been
      reported from hospitals throughout the country and are not limited to a small
      subset of hospitals. Factors that have contributed to the persistence and spread
      of MDR gram-negative bacteria include the following: overuse of existing
      antimicrobial agents, which has led to the development of adaptive resistance
      mechanisms by bacteria; a lack of good antimicrobial stewardship such that use of
      multiple broad-spectrum agents has helped perpetuate the cycle of increasing
      resistance; and a lack of good infection control practices. The rising prevalence
      of infections due to MDR gram-negative bacteria presents a significant dilemma in
      selecting empiric antimicrobial therapy in seriously ill hospitalized patients. A
      prudent initial strategy is to initiate treatment with a broad-spectrum regimen
      pending the availability of microbiological results allowing for targeted or
      narrowing of therapy. Empiric therapy with newer agents that exhibit good
      activity against MDR gram-negative bacterial strains such as tigecycline,
      ceftolozane-tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and others in the development
      pipeline offer promising alternatives to existing agents. 

PMID- 26866780
TI  - The Influence of High Drug Loading in Xanthan Tablets and Media with Different
      Physiological pH and Ionic Strength on Swelling and Release.
AB  - The formation of a gel coat around xanthan (Xan) tablets, empty or loaded with
      pentoxifylline (PF), and its release in media differing in pH and ionic strength
      by NMR, MR imaging, and two release methods were studied. The T1 and T2 NMR
      relaxation times in gels depend predominantly on Xan concentration; the presence
      of PF has negligible influence on them. It is interesting that the matrix
      swelling is primarily regulated by Xan despite high drug loading (25%, 50%). The
      gastric pH and high ionic strength of the media do not influence the position of
      the penetration and swelling fronts but do affect the erosion front and gel
      thickness. The different release profiles obtained in mixing and nonmixing in
      vitro methods are the consequence of matrix hydration level and erosion at the
      surface. In water and in diluted acid medium with low ionic strength, the main
      release mechanism is erosion, whereas in other media (pH 1.2, MU >= 0.20 M),
      anomalous transport dominates as was found out by fitting of measured data with
      theoretical model. Besides the in vitro investigation that mimics gastric
      conditions, mathematical modeling makes the product development more successful.

PMID- 26866781
TI  - Cognitive regulation of smoking behavior within a cigarette: Automatic and
      nonautomatic processes.
AB  - There has been limited research on cognitive processes governing smoking behavior
      in individuals who are tobacco dependent. In a replication (Baxter & Hinson,
      2001) and extension, this study examined the theory (Tiffany, 1990) that drug use
      may be controlled by automatic processes that develop over repeated use. Heavy
      and occasional cigarette smokers completed a button-press reaction time (RT) task
      while concurrently smoking a cigarette, pretending to smoke a lit cigarette, or
      not smoking. Slowed RT during the button-press task indexed the cognitive
      disruption associated with nonautomatic control of behavior. Occasional smokers'
      RTs were slowed when smoking or pretending to smoke compared with when not
      smoking. Heavy smokers' RTs were slowed when pretending to smoke versus not
      smoking; however, their RTs were similarly fast when smoking compared with not
      smoking. The results indicated that smoking behavior was more highly regulated by
      controlled, nonautomatic processes among occasional smokers and by automatic
      processes among heavy smokers. Patterns of RT across the interpuff interval
      indicated that occasional smokers were significantly slowed in anticipation of
      and immediately after puffing onset, whereas heavy smokers were only slowed
      significantly after puffing onset. These findings suggest that the entirety of
      the smoking sequence becomes automatized, with the behaviors leading up to
      puffing becoming more strongly regulated by automatic processes with experience.
      These results have relevance to theories on the cognitive regulation of cigarette
      smoking and support the importance of interventions that focus on routinized
      behaviors that individuals engage in during and leading up to drug use. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26866782
TI  - Meta-analysis of the association between methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual
      behavior among heterosexuals.
AB  - A large body of research has found that nonheterosexual methamphetamine users
      engage in substantially higher levels of risky sex compared to nonusers.
      Considerably fewer studies have examined methamphetamine use and high-risk sex
      among heterosexuals. The present study is a meta-analysis of the empirical
      literature on methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behavior among
      heterosexual individuals. Four risky sex outcomes were examined: unprotected
      vaginal intercourse, unprotected anal sex, inconsistent condom use, and sex with
      multiple partners. Analysis of 24 studies (26 independent samples) including
      286,781 individuals found that the pooled mean weighted odds ratios ranged from
      1.37 (unprotected vaginal intercourse) to 1.72 (inconsistent condom use),
      indicating that the odds of engaging in risky sex for heterosexual
      methamphetamine users is, on average, between 37% and 72% greater than for
      nonmethamphetamine users. Date of publication, percentage of White Caucasian
      respondents, and sample size were significant moderators of effect size
      magnitude. Moreover, symmetry plots revealed little direct evidence for
      publication bias. It is recommended that future research explore additional
      categorical and continuous variables as potential moderators of effect size
      strength. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26866783
TI  - Development of the Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0.
AB  - Parallels in biological, psychological, and behavioral systems have led to the
      hypothesis that an addictive process may contribute to problematic eating. The
      Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) was developed to provide a validated measure of
      addictive-like eating behavior based upon the diagnostic criteria for substance
      dependence. Recently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
      (5th ed.; DSM-5) was released, which included significant changes to the
      substance-related and addictive disorders (SRAD) section. In the current study,
      the YFAS 2.0 was developed to maintain consistency with the current diagnostic
      understanding of addiction and to improve the psychometric properties of the
      original YFAS. In a sample of 550 participants, 14.6% met criteria for food
      addiction. The YFAS 2.0 demonstrated good internal consistency, as well as
      convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. Elevated scores on the YFAS
      2.0 were associated with higher rates of obesity and more severe pathological
      eating (e.g., binge eating). The YFAS 2.0 also appeared to capture a related, but
      unique construct relative to traditional eating disorders. In a separate sample
      of 209 participants, the YFAS and YFAS 2.0 were directly compared. Both versions
      of the YFAS were similarly associated with elevated body mass index, binge
      eating, and weight cycling. However, exceeding the food addiction threshold was
      more strongly associated with obesity for the YFAS 2.0 than the original YFAS.
      Thus, the YFAS 2.0 appears to by a psychometrically sound measure that reflects
      the current diagnostic understanding of addiction to further investigate the
      potential role of an addictive process in problematic eating behavior.

PMID- 26866785
TI  - The origin of luminescence from di[4-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)phenyl]sulfone
      (DAPSF), a blue light emitter: an X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and X
      ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) study.
AB  - The electronic structure and optical properties of di[4-(4
      diphenylaminophenyl)phenyl]sulfone (denoted as DAPSF), a highly efficient
      fluorophor, have been investigated using X-ray excited optical luminescence
      (XEOL) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at
      excitation energies across the C, N, O K-edges and the sulfur K-edge. The results
      indicate that the blue luminescence is mainly related to the sulfur functional
      group. 

PMID- 26866784
TI  - Formation of Kokumi-Enhancing gamma-Glutamyl Dipeptides in Parmesan Cheese by
      Means of gamma-Glutamyltransferase Activity and Stable Isotope Double-Labeling
      Studies.
AB  - Recently, gamma-glutamyl dipeptides (gamma-GPs) were found to be responsible for
      the attractive kokumi flavor of Parmesan cheese (PC). Quantitation of gamma-GPs
      and their parent amino acids in 13-, 24-, and 30-month ripened PC samples by LC
      MS/MS and stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA), in-cheese (13)C-labeling
      studies, followed by analysis of the gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity
      revealed gamma-GPs to be generated most efficiently after 24 months of ripening
      by a GGT-catalyzed transfer of the gamma-glutamyl moiety of L-glutamine onto
      various acceptor amino acids released upon casein proteolysis. Following the
      identification of milk as a potential GGT source in PC, the functionality of the
      milk's GGT to generate the target gamma-GPs was validated by stable isotope
      double-labeling (SIDL) experiments. Therefore, raw and heat-treated milk samples
      were incubated with L-glutamine-[U-(13)C] and acceptor amino acids (X) and the
      hetero- (gamma-Glu-[(13)C5]-X) and homotranspeptidation products (gamma-Glu-Gln
      [(13)C10]) were quantitated by LC-MS/MS-SIDA using gamma-Glu-Ala-[(13)C3] as the
      internal standard. High GGT activity to generate the gamma-GPs and preference for
      L-phenylalanine and L-methionine as acceptor amino acids were found in raw milk
      and milk samples heat-treated for 10 min up to a maximum of 65  degrees C. In
      comparison, GGT activity and SIDL studies performed with inoculated Lactobacillus
      strains, including Lactobacillus harbinensis and Lactobacillus casei identified
      in PC by means of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, did not show any significant GGT
      activity and unequivocally demonstrated unpasteurized cow's milk, rather than
      microorganisms, as a key factor in gamma-glutamyl dipeptide generation in
      Parmesan cheese.

PMID- 26866786
TI  - Highly branched PtCu bimetallic alloy nanodendrites with superior
      electrocatalytic activities for oxygen reduction reactions.
AB  - Morphology control is a promising strategy to improve the catalytic performance
      of Pt-based catalysts. In this work, we reported a facile synthesis of PtCu
      bimetallic alloy nanodendrites using Brij 58 as a template. The highly branched
      structures and porous features offer relatively large surface areas, which is
      beneficial to the enhancement of the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction
      reactions in fuel cells. In addition, the elimination of carbon supports showed
      an important effect on the stability of the catalysts. By tuning the ratio of Pt
      and Cu precursors, PtCu nanodendrites were almost four times more active on the
      basis of an equivalent Pt mass for oxygen reduction reactions than the commercial
      Pt/C catalyst. 

PMID- 26866787
TI  - Mixing Water, Transducing Energy, and Shaping Membranes: Autonomously Self
      Regulating Giant Vesicles.
AB  - Giant lipid vesicles are topologically closed compartments bounded by
      semipermeable flexible shells, which isolate femto- to picoliter quantities of
      the aqueous core from the surrounding bulk. Although water equilibrates readily
      across vesicular walls (10(-2)-10(-3) cm(3) cm(-2) s(-1)), the passive permeation
      of solutes is strongly hindered. Furthermore, because of their large volume
      compressibility (~10(9)-10(10) N m(-2)) and area expansion (10(2)-10(3) mN m(-1))
      moduli, coupled with low bending rigidities (10(-19) N m), vesicular shells bend
      readily but resist volume compression and tolerate only a limited area expansion
      (~5%). Consequently, vesicles experiencing solute concentration gradients
      dissipate the available chemical energy through the osmotic movement of water,
      producing dramatic shape transformations driven by surface-area-volume changes
      and sustained by the incompressibility of water and the flexible membrane
      interface. Upon immersion in a hypertonic bath, an increased surface-area-volume
      ratio promotes large-scale morphological remodeling, reducing symmetry and
      stabilizing unusual shapes determined, at equilibrium, by the minimal bending
      energy configurations. By contrast, when subjected to a hypotonic bath, walls of
      giant vesicles lose their thermal undulation, accumulate mechanical tension, and,
      beyond a threshold swelling, exhibit remarkable oscillatory swell-burst cycles,
      with the latter characterized by damped, periodic oscillations in vesicle size,
      membrane tension, and phase behavior. This cyclical pattern of the osmotic influx
      of water, pressure, membrane tension, pore formation, and solute efflux suggests
      quasi-homeostatic self-regulatory behavior allowing vesicular compartments
      produced from simple molecular components, namely, water, osmolytes, and lipids,
      to sense and regulate their microenvironment in a negative feedback loop. 

PMID- 26866788
TI  - Transparent capacitors with hybrid ZnO:Al and Ag nanowires as electrodes.
AB  - Transparent conducting films with a composite structure of AlZnO-Ag nanowires
      (AgNWs) have been prepared by atomic layer deposition. The sheet resistance was
      reduced from 120 to 9 Omega when the AgNW networks were involved. Transparent
      capacitors with Al2O3-TiO2-Al2O3 dielectrics were fabricated on the composite
      electrodes and demonstrated a capacitance density of 10.1 fF MUm(-2), which was
      significantly higher than that of capacitors with AlZnO electrodes (8.8 fF MUm(
      1)). The capacitance density remained almost unchanged in a broad frequency range
      from 3 kHz to 1 MHz. Moreover, a low leakage current density of 2.4 * 10(-7) A
      cm(-2) at 1 V was achieved. Transparent and flexible capacitors were also
      fabricated using the composite electrodes, and demonstrated an improved
      bendability. The transparent capacitors showed an average optical transmittance
      over 70% in the visible range, and thus open the door to practical applications
      in transparent integrated circuits. 

PMID- 26866789
TI  - Solid-phase synthesis of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles.
AB  - Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials, generally based on
      acrylic or methacrylic monomers, that are polymerized in the presence of a
      specific target molecule called the 'template' and capable of rebinding
      selectively to this target molecule. They have the potential to be low-cost and
      robust alternatives to biomolecules such as antibodies and receptors. When
      prepared by traditional synthetic methods (i.e., with free template in solution),
      their usefulness has been limited by high binding site heterogeneity, the
      presence of residual template and the fact that the production methods are
      complex and difficult to standardize. To overcome some of these limitations, we
      developed a method for the synthesis of MIP nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) using an
      innovative solid-phase approach, which relies on the covalent immobilization of
      the template molecules onto the surface of a solid support (glass beads). The
      obtained nanoMIPs are virtually free of template and demonstrate high affinity
      for the target molecule (e.g., melamine and trypsin in our published work).
      Because of an affinity separation step performed on the solid phase after
      polymerization, poor binders and unproductive polymer are removed, so the final
      product has more uniform binding characteristics. The overall protocol, starting
      from the immobilization of the template onto the solid phase and including the
      purification and characterization of the nanoparticles, takes up to 1 week. 

PMID- 26866793
TI  - Gas-phase rapid reduction of graphene oxide through photoionization of gold
      nanoparticles.
AB  - This work introduces for the first time the rapid reduction of graphene oxide via
      the photoionization of gold nanoparticles in a continuous gas-phase process.
      Ejected electrons from gold nanoparticles facilitated the rapid photoinduced
      reduction of GO nanoflakes without the use of wet chemical processes. 

PMID- 26866792
TI  - Procedures for the reconstruction, primary culture and experimental use of
      rainbow trout gill epithelia.
AB  - This protocol describes how to reconstruct and culture the freshwater rainbow
      trout gill epithelium on flat permeable membrane supports within cell culture
      inserts. The protocol describes gill cell isolation, cultured gill epithelium
      formation, maintenance, monitoring and preparation for use in experimental
      procedures. To produce a heterogeneous gill epithelium, as seen in vivo, seeding
      of isolated gill cells twice over a 2-d period is required. As a consequence,
      this is termed the double-seeded insert technique. Approximately 5-12 d after
      cell isolation and seeding, preparations develop electrically tight gill
      epithelia that can withstand freshwater on the apical cell surface. The system
      can be used to study freshwater gill physiology, and it is a humane alternative
      for toxicity testing, bioaccumulation studies and environmental water quality
      monitoring. 

PMID- 26866790
TI  - Spatially resolved proteomic mapping in living cells with the engineered
      peroxidase APEX2.
AB  - This protocol describes a method to obtain spatially resolved proteomic maps of
      specific compartments within living mammalian cells. An engineered peroxidase,
      APEX2, is genetically targeted to a cellular region of interest. Upon the
      addition of hydrogen peroxide for 1 min to cells preloaded with a biotin-phenol
      substrate, APEX2 generates biotin-phenoxyl radicals that covalently tag proximal
      endogenous proteins. Cells are then lysed, and biotinylated proteins are enriched
      with streptavidin beads and identified by mass spectrometry. We describe the
      generation of an appropriate APEX2 fusion construct, proteomic sample
      preparation, and mass spectrometric data acquisition and analysis. A two-state
      stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) protocol is used
      for proteomic mapping of membrane-enclosed cellular compartments from which APEX2
      generated biotin-phenoxyl radicals cannot escape. For mapping of open cellular
      regions, we instead use a 'ratiometric' three-state SILAC protocol for high
      spatial specificity. Isotopic labeling of proteins takes 5-7 cell doublings.
      Generation of the biotinylated proteomic sample takes 1 d, acquiring the mass
      spectrometric data takes 2-5 d and analysis of the data to obtain the final
      proteomic list takes 1 week. 

PMID- 26866791
TI  - Selective amplification and sequencing of cyclic phosphate-containing RNAs by the
      cP-RNA-seq method.
AB  - RNA digestions catalyzed by many ribonucleases generate RNA fragments that
      contain a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate (cP) at their 3' termini. However, standard RNA
      seq methods are unable to accurately capture cP-containing RNAs because the cP
      inhibits the adapter ligation reaction. We recently developed a method named cP
      RNA-seq that is able to selectively amplify and sequence cP-containing RNAs. Here
      we describe the cP-RNA-seq protocol in which the 3' termini of all RNAs, except
      those containing a cP, are cleaved through a periodate treatment after
      phosphatase treatment; hence, subsequent adapter ligation and cDNA amplification
      steps are exclusively applied to cP-containing RNAs. cP-RNA-seq takes ~6 d,
      excluding the time required for sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, which are
      not covered in detail in this protocol. Biochemical validation of the existence
      of cP in the identified RNAs takes ~3 d. Even though the cP-RNA-seq method was
      developed to identify angiogenin-generating 5'-tRNA halves as a proof of
      principle, the method should be applicable to global identification of cP
      containing RNA repertoires in various transcriptomes. 

PMID- 26866794
TI  - Age-related invariance of abilities measured with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence
      Scale-IV.
AB  - Assessment of measurement invariance across populations is essential for
      meaningful comparison of test scores, and is especially relevant where repeated
      measurements are required for educational assessment or clinical diagnosis.
      Establishing measurement invariance legitimizes the assumption that test scores
      reflect the same psychological trait in different populations or across different
      occasions. Examination of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS
      IV) U.S. standardization samples revealed that a first-order 5-factor measurement
      model was best fitting across 9 age groups from 16 years to 69 years. Strong
      metric invariance was found for 3 of 5 factors and partial intercept invariance
      for the remaining 2. Pairwise comparisons of adjacent age groups supported the
      inference that cognitive-trait group differences are manifested by group
      differences in the test scores. In educational and clinical settings these
      findings provide theoretical and empirical support to interpret changes in the
      index or subtest scores as reflecting changes in the corresponding cognitive
      abilities. Further, where clinically relevant, the subtest score composites can
      be used to compare changes in respective cognitive abilities. The model was
      supported in the Canadian standardization data with pooled age groups but the
      sample sizes were not adequate for detailed examination of separate age groups in
      the Canadian sample. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866795
TI  - Are fearless dominance traits superfluous in operationalizing psychopathy?
      Incremental validity and sex differences.
AB  - Researchers are vigorously debating whether psychopathic personality includes
      seemingly adaptive traits, especially social and physical boldness. In a large
      sample (N = 1,565) of adult offenders, we examined the incremental validity of 2
      operationalizations of boldness (Fearless Dominance traits in the Psychopathy
      Personality Inventory [Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996]; Boldness traits in the
      triarchic model of psychopathy [Patrick, Fowles, & Krueger, 2009]), above and
      beyond other characteristics of psychopathy, in statistically predicting scores
      on 4 psychopathy-related measures, including the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised
      (PCL-R). The incremental validity added by boldness traits in predicting the PCL
      R's representation of psychopathy was especially pronounced for interpersonal
      traits (e.g., superficial charm, deceitfulness). Our analyses, however, revealed
      unexpected sex differences in the relevance of these traits to psychopathy, with
      boldness traits exhibiting reduced importance for psychopathy in women. We
      discuss the implications of these findings for measurement models of psychopathy.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866797
TI  - Electrodeposited Co-doped NiSe2 nanoparticles film: a good electrocatalyst for
      efficient water splitting.
AB  - In this communication, we report that a Co-doped NiSe2 nanoparticles film
      electrodeposited on a conductive Ti plate (Co0.13Ni0.87Se2/Ti) behaves as a
      robust electrocatalyst for both HER and OER in strongly basic media, with good
      activity over a NiSe2/Ti counterpart. This Co0.13Ni0.87Se2/Ti catalytic electrode
      delivers 10 mA cm(-2) at an overpotential of 64 mV for HER and 100 mA cm(-2) at
      an overpotential of 320 mV for OER in 1.0 M KOH. A voltage of only 1.62 V is
      required to drive 10 mA cm(-2) for the two-electrode alkaline water electrolyzer
      using Co0.13Ni0.87Se2/Ti as an anode and cathode. 

PMID- 26866799
TI  - CO Oxidation Prefers the Eley-Rideal or Langmuir-Hinshelwood Pathway: Monolayer
      vs Thin Film of SiC.
AB  - Using the first-principles approach, we investigated the electronic and chemical
      properties of wurtzite silicon carbide (2H-SiC) monolayer and thin film
      structures and substantiated their catalytic activity toward CO oxidation. 2H-SiC
      monolayer, being planar, is quite stable and has moderate binding with O2, while
      CO interacts physically; thus, the Eley-Rideal (ER) mechanism prevails over the
      Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) mechanism with an easily cleared activation barrier.
      Contrarily, 2H-SiC thin film, which exhibits a nonplanar structure, allows
      moderate binding of both CO and O2 on its surface, thus favoring the LH mechanism
      over the ER one. Comprehending these results leads to a better understanding of
      the reaction mechanisms involving structural contrast. Weak overlapping between
      the 2p(z)(C) and 3p(z)(Si) orbitals of the SiC monolayer system has been found to
      be the primary reason to revert the active site toward sp(3) hybridization,
      during interaction with the molecules. In addition, the influences of graphite
      and Ag(111) substrates on the CO oxidation mechanism were also studied, and it is
      observed that the ER mechanism is preserved on SiC/G system, while CO oxidation
      on the SiC/Ag(111) system follows the LH mechanism. The calculated Sabatier
      activities of the SiC catalysts show that the catalysts are very efficient in
      catalyzing CO oxidation.

PMID- 26866796
TI  - Development of an itemwise efficiency scoring method: Concurrent, convergent,
      discriminant, and neuroimaging-based predictive validity assessed in a large
      community sample.
AB  - Traditional "paper-and-pencil" testing is imprecise in measuring speed and hence
      limited in assessing performance efficiency, but computerized testing permits
      precision in measuring itemwise response time. We present a method of scoring
      performance efficiency (combining information from accuracy and speed) at the
      item level. Using a community sample of 9,498 youths age 8-21, we calculated item
      level efficiency scores on 4 neurocognitive tests, and compared the concurrent,
      convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of these scores with simple
      averaging of standardized speed and accuracy-summed scores. Concurrent validity
      was measured by the scores' abilities to distinguish men from women and their
      correlations with age; convergent and discriminant validity were measured by
      correlations with other scores inside and outside of their neurocognitive
      domains; predictive validity was measured by correlations with brain volume in
      regions associated with the specific neurocognitive abilities. Results provide
      support for the ability of itemwise efficiency scoring to detect signals as
      strong as those detected by standard efficiency scoring methods. We find no
      evidence of superior validity of the itemwise scores over traditional scores, but
      point out several advantages of the former. The itemwise efficiency scoring
      method shows promise as an alternative to standard efficiency scoring methods,
      with overall moderate support from tests of 4 different types of validity. This
      method allows the use of existing item analysis methods and provides the
      convenient ability to adjust the overall emphasis of accuracy versus speed in the
      efficiency score, thus adjusting the scoring to the real-world demands the test
      is aiming to fulfill. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866801
TI  - Collaboration Expertise in Medicine - No Evidence for Cross-Domain Application
      from a Memory Retrieval Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Is there evidence for expertise on collaboration and, if so, is there
      evidence for cross-domain application? Recall of stimuli was used to measure so
      called internal collaboration scripts of novices and experts in two studies.
      Internal collaboration scripts refer to an individual's knowledge about how to
      interact with others in a social situation. METHOD- STUDY 1: Ten collaboration
      experts and ten novices of the content domain social science were presented with
      four pictures of people involved in collaborative activities. The recall texts
      were coded, distinguishing between superficial and collaboration script
      information. RESULTS- STUDY 1: Experts recalled significantly more collaboration
      script information (M = 25.20; SD = 5.88) than did novices (M = 13.80; SD =
      4.47). Differences in superficial information were not found. STUDY 2: Study 2
      tested whether the differences found in Study 1 could be replicated. Furthermore,
      the cross-domain application of internal collaboration scripts was explored.
      METHOD- STUDY 2: Twenty collaboration experts and 20 novices of the content
      domain medicine were presented with four pictures and four videos of their
      content domain and a video and picture of another content domain. All stimuli
      showed collaborative activities typical for the respective content domains.
      RESULTS- STUDY 2: As in Study 1, experts recalled significantly more
      collaboration script information of their content domain (M = 71.65; SD = 33.23)
      than did novices (M = 54.25; SD = 15.01). For the novices, no differences were
      found for the superficial information nor for the retrieval of collaboration
      script information recalled after the other content domain stimuli. DISCUSSION:
      There is evidence for expertise on collaboration in memory tasks. The results
      show that experts hold substantially more collaboration script information than
      did novices. Furthermore, the differences between collaboration novices and
      collaboration experts occurred only in their own content domain, indicating that
      internal collaboration scripts are not easily stored and retrieved in memory
      tasks other than in the own content domain.

PMID- 26866800
TI  - Experimental Approach Reveals the Role of alx1 in the Evolution of the Echinoderm
      Larval Skeleton.
AB  - Over the course of evolution, the acquisition of novel structures has ultimately
      led to wide variation in morphology among extant multicellular organisms. Thus,
      the origins of genetic systems for new morphological structures are a subject of
      great interest in evolutionary biology. The larval skeleton is a novel structure
      acquired in some echinoderm lineages via the activation of the adult skeletogenic
      machinery. Previously, VEGF signaling was suggested to have played an important
      role in the acquisition of the larval skeleton. In the present study, we compared
      expression patterns of Alx genes among echinoderm classes to further explore the
      factors involved in the acquisition of a larval skeleton. We found that the alx1
      gene, originally described as crucial for sea urchin skeletogenesis, may have
      also played an essential role in the evolution of the larval skeleton. Unlike
      those echinoderms that have a larval skeleton, we found that alx1 of starfish was
      barely expressed in early larvae that have no skeleton. When alx1 overexpression
      was induced via injection of alx1 mRNA into starfish eggs, the expression
      patterns of certain genes, including those possibly involved in skeletogenesis,
      were altered. This suggested that a portion of the skeletogenic program was
      induced solely by alx1. However, we observed no obvious external phenotype or
      skeleton. We concluded that alx1 was necessary but not sufficient for the
      acquisition of the larval skeleton, which, in fact, requires several genetic
      events. Based on these results, we discuss how the larval expression of alx1
      contributed to the acquisition of the larval skeleton in the putative ancestral
      lineage of echinoderms. 

PMID- 26866802
TI  - Next-Generation Sequencing of Aquatic Oligochaetes: Comparison of Experimental
      Communities.
AB  - Aquatic oligochaetes are a common group of freshwater benthic invertebrates known
      to be very sensitive to environmental changes and currently used as bioindicators
      in some countries. However, more extensive application of oligochaetes for
      assessing the ecological quality of sediments in watercourses and lakes would
      require overcoming the difficulties related to morphology-based identification of
      oligochaetes species. This study tested the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of a
      standard cytochrome c oxydase I (COI) barcode as a tool for the rapid assessment
      of oligochaete diversity in environmental samples, based on mixed specimen
      samples. To know the composition of each sample we Sanger sequenced every
      specimen present in these samples. Our study showed that a large majority of OTUs
      (Operational Taxonomic Unit) could be detected by NGS analyses. We also observed
      congruence between the NGS and specimen abundance data for several but not all
      OTUs. Because the differences in sequence abundance data were consistent across
      samples, we exploited these variations to empirically design correction factors.
      We showed that such factors increased the congruence between the values of
      oligochaetes-based indices inferred from the NGS and the Sanger-sequenced
      specimen data. The validation of these correction factors by further experimental
      studies will be needed for the adaptation and use of NGS technology in
      biomonitoring studies based on oligochaete communities. 

PMID- 26866803
TI  - Epigenetic Roulette in Blood Stream Plasmodium: Gambling on Sex.

PMID- 26866804
TI  - Skin grafting and tissue replacement for treating foot ulcers in people with
      diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Foot ulceration is a major problem in people with diabetes and is the
      leading cause of hospitalisation and limb amputations. Skin grafts and tissue
      replacements can be used to reconstruct skin defects for people with diabetic
      foot ulcers in addition to providing them with standard care. Skin substitutes
      can consist of bioengineered or artificial skin, autografts (taken from the
      patient), allografts (taken from another person) or xenografts (taken from
      animals). OBJECTIVES: To determine the benefits and harms of skin grafting and
      tissue replacement for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes. SEARCH
      METHODS: In April 2015 we searched: The Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the
      Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library);
      Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid
      EMBASE and EBSCO CINAHL. We also searched clinical trial registries to identify
      ongoing studies. We did not apply restrictions to language, date of publication
      or study setting. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of skin
      grafts or tissue replacements for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and
      assessed the quality of the included studies. MAIN RESULTS: We included seventeen
      studies with a total of 1655 randomised participants in this review. Risk of bias
      was variable among studies. Blinding of participants, personnel and outcome
      assessment was not possible in most trials because of obvious differences between
      the treatments. The lack of a blinded outcome assessor may have caused detection
      bias when ulcer healing was assessed. However, possible detection bias is hard to
      prevent due to the nature of the skin replacement products we assessed, and the
      fact that they are easily recognisable. Strikingly, nearly all studies (15/17)
      reported industry involvement; at least one of the authors was connected to a
      commercial organisation or the study was funded by a commercial organisation. In
      addition, the funnel plot for assessing risk of bias appeared to be asymmetrical;
      suggesting that small studies with 'negative' results are less likely to be
      published.Thirteen of the studies included in this review compared a skin graft
      or tissue replacement with standard care. Four studies compared two grafts or
      tissue replacements with each other. When we pooled the results of all the
      individual studies, the skin grafts and tissue replacement products that were
      used in the trials increased the healing rate of foot ulcers in patients with
      diabetes compared to standard care (risk ratio (RR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval
      (CI) 1.30 to 1.85, low quality of evidence). However, the strength of effect was
      variable depending on the specific product that was used (e.g. EpiFix(r) RR
      11.08, 95% CI 1.69 to 72.82 and OrCel(r) RR 1.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 5.05). Based on
      the four included studies that directly compared two products, no specific type
      of skin graft or tissue replacement showed a superior effect on ulcer healing
      over another type of skin graft or tissue replacement.Sixteen of the included
      studies reported on adverse events in various ways. No study reported a
      statistically significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events between
      the intervention and the control group.Only two of the included studies reported
      on total incidence of lower limb amputations. We found fewer amputations in the
      experimental group compared with the standard care group when we pooled the
      results of these two studies, although the absolute risk reduction for amputation
      was small (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.81; risk difference (RD) -0.06, 95% CI -0.10
      to -0.01, very low quality of evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      studies included in this review, the overall therapeutic effect of skin grafts
      and tissue replacements used in conjunction with standard care shows an increase
      in the healing rate of foot ulcers and slightly fewer amputations in people with
      diabetes compared with standard care alone. However, the data available to us was
      insufficient for us to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of different types
      of skin grafts or tissue replacement therapies. In addition, evidence of long
      term effectiveness is lacking and cost-effectiveness is uncertain.

PMID- 26866805
TI  - Low Dose Iron Treatments Induce a DNA Damage Response in Human Endothelial Cells
      within Minutes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Spontaneous reports from patients able to report vascular sequelae in
      real time, and recognition that serum non transferrin bound iron may reach or
      exceed 10MUmol/L in the blood stream after iron tablets or infusions, led us to
      hypothesize that conventional iron treatments may provoke acute vascular injury.
      This prompted us to examine whether a phenotype could be observed in normal human
      endothelial cells treated with low dose iron. METHODOLOGY: Confluent primary
      human endothelial cells (EC) were treated with filter-sterilized iron (II)
      citrate or fresh media for RNA sequencing and validation studies. RNA transcript
      profiles were evaluated using directional RNA sequencing with no pre
      specification of target sequences. Alignments were counted for exons and
      junctions of the gene strand only, blinded to treatment types. PRINCIPAL
      FINDINGS: Rapid changes in RNA transcript profiles were observed in endothelial
      cells treated with 10MUmol/L iron (II) citrate, compared to media-treated cells.
      Clustering for Gene Ontology (GO) performed on all differentially expressed genes
      revealed significant differences in biological process terms between iron and
      media-treated EC, whereas 10 sets of an equivalent number of randomly selected
      genes from the respective EC gene datasets showed no significant differences in
      any GO terms. After 1 hour, differentially expressed genes clustered to vesicle
      mediated transport, protein catabolism, and cell cycle (Benjamini p = 0.0016,
      0.0024 and 0.0032 respectively), and by 6 hours, to cellular response to DNA
      damage stimulus most significantly through DNA repair genes FANCG, BLM, and
      H2AFX. Comet assays demonstrated that 10MUM iron treatment elicited DNA damage
      within 1 hour. This was accompanied by a brisk DNA damage response pulse, as
      ascertained by the development of DNA damage response (DDR) foci, and p53
      stabilization. SIGNIFICANCE: These data suggest that low dose iron treatments are
      sufficient to modify the vascular endothelium, and induce a DNA damage response.

PMID- 26866806
TI  - On the Origins and Control of Community Types in the Human Microbiome.
AB  - Microbiome-based stratification of healthy individuals into compositional
      categories, referred to as "enterotypes" or "community types", holds promise for
      drastically improving personalized medicine. Despite this potential, the
      existence of community types and the degree of their distinctness have been
      highly debated. Here we adopted a dynamic systems approach and found that
      heterogeneity in the interspecific interactions or the presence of strongly
      interacting species is sufficient to explain community types, independent of the
      topology of the underlying ecological network. By controlling the presence or
      absence of these strongly interacting species we can steer the microbial
      ecosystem to any desired community type. This open-loop control strategy still
      holds even when the community types are not distinct but appear as dense regions
      within a continuous gradient. This finding can be used to develop viable
      therapeutic strategies for shifting the microbial composition to a healthy
      configuration. 

PMID- 26866808
TI  - Enhanced Bifunctional Oxygen Catalysis in Strained LaNiO3 Perovskites.
AB  - Strain is known to greatly influence low-temperature oxygen electrocatalysis on
      noble metal films, leading to significant enhancements in bifunctional activity
      essential for fuel cells and metal-air batteries. However, its catalytic impact
      on transition-metal oxide thin films, such as perovskites, is not widely
      understood. Here, we epitaxially strain the conducting perovskite LaNiO3 to
      systematically determine its influence on both the oxygen reduction and oxygen
      evolution reaction. Uniquely, we found that compressive strain could
      significantly enhance both reactions, yielding a bifunctional catalyst that
      surpasses the performance of noble metals such as Pt. We attribute the improved
      bifunctionality to strain-induced splitting of the eg orbitals, which can
      customize orbital asymmetry at the surface. Analogous to strain-induced shifts in
      the d-band center of noble metals relative to the Fermi level, such splitting can
      dramatically affect catalytic activity in this perovskite and other potentially
      more active oxides. 

PMID- 26866807
TI  - Effect of Subliminal Lexical Priming on the Subjective Perception of Images: A
      Machine Learning Approach.
AB  - The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of subliminal priming in terms
      of the perception of images influenced by words with positive, negative, and
      neutral emotional content, through electroencephalograms (EEGs). Participants
      were instructed to rate how much they like the stimuli images, on a 7-point
      Likert scale, after being subliminally exposed to masked lexical prime words that
      exhibit positive, negative, and neutral connotations with respect to the images.
      Simultaneously, the EEGs were recorded. Statistical tests such as repeated
      measures ANOVAs and two-tailed paired-samples t-tests were performed to measure
      significant differences in the likability ratings among the three prime affect
      types; the results showed a strong shift in the likeness judgment for the images
      in the positively primed condition compared to the other two. The acquired EEGs
      were examined to assess the difference in brain activity associated with the
      three different conditions. The consistent results obtained confirmed the overall
      priming effect on participants' explicit ratings. In addition, machine learning
      algorithms such as support vector machines (SVMs), and AdaBoost classifiers were
      applied to infer the prime affect type from the ERPs. The highest classification
      rates of 95.0% and 70.0% obtained respectively for average-trial binary
      classifier and average-trial multi-class further emphasize that the ERPs encode
      information about the different kinds of primes. 

PMID- 26866809
TI  - Microtubule and Actin Interplay Drive Intracellular c-Src Trafficking.
AB  - The proto-oncogene c-Src is involved in a variety of signaling processes.
      Therefore, c-Src spatiotemporal localization is critical for interaction with
      downstream targets. However, the mechanisms regulating this localization have
      remained elusive. Previous studies have shown that c-Src trafficking is a
      microtubule-dependent process that facilitates c-Src turnover in neuronal growth
      cones. As such, microtubule depolymerization lead to the inhibition of c-Src
      recycling. Alternatively, c-Src trafficking was also shown to be regulated by
      RhoB-dependent actin polymerization. Our results show that c-Src vesicles
      primarily exhibit microtubule-dependent trafficking; however, microtubule
      depolymerization does not inhibit vesicle movement. Instead, vesicular movement
      becomes both faster and less directional. This movement was associated with actin
      polymerization directly at c-Src vesicle membranes. Interestingly, it has been
      shown previously that c-Src delivery is an actin polymerization-dependent process
      that relies on small GTPase RhoB at c-Src vesicles. In agreement with this
      finding, microtubule depolymerization induced significant activation of RhoB,
      together with actin comet tail formation. These effects occurred downstream of
      GTP-exchange factor, GEF-H1, which was released from depolymerizing MTs.
      Accordingly, GEF-H1 activity was necessary for actin comet tail formation at the
      Src vesicles. Our results indicate that regulation of c-Src trafficking requires
      both microtubules and actin polymerization, and that GEF-H1 coordinates c-Src
      trafficking, acting as a molecular switch between these two mechanisms. 

PMID- 26866810
TI  - Ovarian Function, Not Age, Predicts the Benefit from Ovarian Suppression or
      Ablation for Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer.
AB  - The role of adjuvant ovarian suppression or ablation (OS/OA) in premenopausal
      women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer remains controversial. The
      purpose of our study was to examine which patients might benefit from the
      addition of OS/OA to tamoxifen. We analyzed the data of 2065 premenopausal
      patients with hormone receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinomas who were
      treated at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from 2000 to 2008. The five-year
      disease-free survival rate (DFSR) and overall survival rate (OSR) were compared
      by menstrual status and treatment. Compared with patients older than forty years
      of age, patients younger than forty years old had significant lower DFSRs and
      OSRs. The addition of OS/OA to tamoxifen increased the DFSR and OSR of patients
      with normal menstrual cycles after chemotherapy, regardless of their age at
      diagnosis. Patients with normal menstrual cycles after chemotherapy are the main
      beneficiaries of an adjuvant OS/OA. 

PMID- 26866811
TI  - Effects of Physiological Internal Noise on Model Predictions of Concurrent Vowel
      Identification for Normal-Hearing Listeners.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that concurrent vowel identification improves with
      increasing temporal onset asynchrony of the vowels, even if the vowels have the
      same fundamental frequency. The current study investigated the possible
      underlying neural processing involved in concurrent vowel perception. The
      individual vowel stimuli from a previously published study were used as inputs
      for a phenomenological auditory-nerve (AN) model. Spectrotemporal representations
      of simulated neural excitation patterns were constructed (i.e., neurograms) and
      then matched quantitatively with the neurograms of the single vowels using the
      Neurogram Similarity Index Measure (NSIM). A novel computational decision model
      was used to predict concurrent vowel identification. To facilitate optimum
      matches between the model predictions and the behavioral human data, internal
      noise was added at either neurogram generation or neurogram matching using the
      NSIM procedure. The best fit to the behavioral data was achieved with a signal-to
      noise ratio (SNR) of 8 dB for internal noise added at the neurogram but with a
      much smaller amount of internal noise (SNR of 60 dB) for internal noise added at
      the level of the NSIM computations. The results suggest that accurate modeling of
      concurrent vowel data from listeners with normal hearing may partly depend on
      internal noise and where internal noise is hypothesized to occur during the
      concurrent vowel identification process. 

PMID- 26866813
TI  - Commentary on: "Game Maturity Model for Health Care".

PMID- 26866812
TI  - Synergistic Malaria Parasite Killing by Two Types of Plasmodial Surface Anion
      Channel Inhibitors.
AB  - Malaria parasites increase their host erythrocyte's permeability to a broad range
      of ions and organic solutes. The plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) mediates
      this uptake and is an established drug target. Development of therapies targeting
      this channel is limited by several problems including interactions between known
      inhibitors and permeating solutes that lead to incomplete channel block. Here, we
      designed and executed a high-throughput screen to identify a novel class of PSAC
      inhibitors that overcome this solute-inhibitor interaction. These new inhibitors
      differ from existing blockers and have distinct effects on channel-mediated
      transport, supporting a model of two separate routes for solute permeation though
      PSAC. Combinations of inhibitors specific for the two routes had strong
      synergistic action against in vitro parasite propagation, whereas combinations
      acting on a single route produced only additive effects. The magnitude of
      synergism depended on external nutrient concentrations, consistent with an
      essential role of the channel in parasite nutrient acquisition. The identified
      inhibitors will enable a better understanding of the channel's structure-function
      and may be starting points for novel combination therapies that produce
      synergistic parasite killing. 

PMID- 26866814
TI  - Identification of an HV 1 voltage-gated proton channel in insects.
AB  - The voltage-gated proton channel 1 (HV 1) is an important component of the
      cellular proton extrusion machinery and is essential for charge compensation
      during the respiratory burst of phagocytes. HV 1 has been identified in a wide
      range of eukaryotes throughout the animal kingdom, with the exception of insects.
      Therefore, it has been proposed that insects do not possess an HV 1 channel. In
      the present study, we report the existence of an HV 1-type proton channel in
      insects. We searched insect transcriptome shotgun assembly (TSA) sequence
      databases and found putative HV 1 orthologues in various polyneopteran insects.
      To confirm that these putative HV 1 orthologues were functional channels, we
      studied the HV 1 channel of Nicoletia phytophila (NpHV 1), an insect of the
      Zygentoma order, in more detail. NpHV 1 comprises 239 amino acids and is 33%
      identical to the human voltage-gated proton channel 1. Patch clamp measurements
      in a heterologous expression system showed proton selectivity, as well as pH- and
      voltage-dependent gating. Interestingly, NpHV 1 shows slightly enhanced pH
      dependent gating compared to the human channel. Mutations in the first
      transmembrane segment at position 66 (Asp66), the presumed selectivity filter,
      lead to a loss of proton-selective conduction, confirming the importance of this
      aspartate residue in voltage-gated proton channels. DATABASE: Nucleotide sequence
      data have been deposited in the GenBank database under accession number KT780722.

PMID- 26866816
TI  - The 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of
      Rheumatoid Arthritis Should Include New Standards for Hepatitis B Screening:
      Comment on the Article by Singh et al.

PMID- 26866817
TI  - Efficacy of probiotics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adult and
      children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of adult and
      childhood non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Randomized
      controlled trials on the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of adult and
      childhood NAFLD published before July 2015 were searched in multiple databases,
      including Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCO, OVID, SCI, CNKI, and VIP.
      Article identification and data extraction were carried out by two reviewers
      based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RevMan 5.3 software was used for
      the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials with a total of 535
      cases of NAFLD were included. Statistical differences in homeostasis model
      assessment, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha were detected between the probiotics and control groups
      with variations in different patient populations. No significant differences in
      body mass index (BMI), glucose, or insulin were detected between the two groups.
      Statistical differences in low density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase,
      aspartate transaminase, and BMI were detected between the two childhood groups (P
      <= 0.05). CONCLUSION: Probiotics provided improvements in the outcomes of
      homeostasis model assessment, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and
      tumor necrosis factor-alpha in any NAFLD patients and triglyceride in Italian and
      Spanish patients, but no improvement in the outcomes of BMI, glucose, or insulin
      in adult NAFLD patients. The currently available data are not sufficient to
      compare the effects of probiotics between adult and childhood NAFLD patients.

PMID- 26866818
TI  - Sleep, Evolution and Brains.

PMID- 26866815
TI  - Two Distinct Yersinia pestis Populations Causing Plague among Humans in the West
      Nile Region of Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plague is a life-threatening disease caused by the bacterium,
      Yersinia pestis. Since the 1990s, Africa has accounted for the majority of
      reported human cases. In Uganda, plague cases occur in the West Nile region, near
      the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the ongoing risk of
      contracting plague in this region, little is known about Y. pestis genotypes
      causing human disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: During January 2004
      December 2012, 1,092 suspect human plague cases were recorded in the West Nile
      region of Uganda. Sixty-one cases were culture-confirmed. Recovered Y. pestis
      isolates were analyzed using three typing methods, single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multiple
      variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and subpopulations analyzed in
      the context of associated geographic, temporal, and clinical data for source
      patients. All three methods separated the 61 isolates into two distinct 1.ANT
      lineages, which persisted throughout the 9 year period and were associated with
      differences in elevation and geographic distribution. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:
      We demonstrate that human cases of plague in the West Nile region of Uganda are
      caused by two distinct 1.ANT genetic subpopulations. Notably, all three typing
      methods used, SNPs, PFGE, and MLVA, identified the two genetic subpopulations,
      despite recognizing different mutation types in the Y. pestis genome. The
      geographic and elevation differences between the two subpopulations is suggestive
      of their maintenance in highly localized enzootic cycles, potentially with
      differing vector-host community composition. This improved understanding of Y.
      pestis subpopulations in the West Nile region will be useful for identifying
      ecologic and environmental factors associated with elevated plague risk.

PMID- 26866819
TI  - Hepatocellular Carcinoma Extrahepatic Metastasis in Relation to Tumor Size and
      Alkaline Phosphatase Levels.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to metastasize. However,
      there are few reports on patients with metastasis at the time of HCC diagnosis.
      AIMS: To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of extrahepatic metastasis
      patients presenting at baseline with noncurable, advanced HCC. RESULTS: The total
      HCC cohort was initially dichotomized into 2 subcohorts, with (n = 214) and
      without (n = 719) extrahepatic metastasis ('metastasis'), and patient baseline
      characteristics were compared. The main findings for patients with metastasis
      (22.9% of total cohort) compared with other, nonmetastatic patients were: more
      advanced tumors, as judged by larger tumor diameters, more tumor multifocality
      and percent with portal vein thrombosis, higher blood alpha-fetoprotein and des
      x03B3;-carboxy prothrombin levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), but not
      bilirubin levels, and a lower incidence of cirrhosis. There was a strong
      correlation between increases in tumor size and percent of patients with
      metastasis. A subset of patients with larger tumors was identified with low blood
      ALKP levels and better survival. Survival in the total metastasis cohort was
      lower than in the non-metastasis cohort, as expected, but only in patients with
      smaller tumors. In patients with larger tumors, survival with or without
      metastasis was similar and poor. CONCLUSIONS: There was a lower incidence of
      cirrhosis in HCC patients with metastasis, and they had larger and more
      aggressive primary tumors. Patients with smaller, but not larger, tumors and
      metastasis had worse prognosis than patients without metastasis. A distinct
      subset of metastatic patients was identified that had better prognosis and low
      ALKP levels.

PMID- 26866821
TI  - Methylammonium Bismuth Iodide as a Lead-Free, Stable Hybrid Organic-Inorganic
      Solar Absorber.
AB  - Methylammonium lead halide (MAPbX3 ) perovskites exhibit exceptional carrier
      transport properties. But their commercial deployment as solar absorbers is
      currently limited by their intrinsic instability in the presence of humidity and
      their lead content. Guided by our theoretical predictions, we explored the
      potential of methylammonium bismuth iodide (MBI) as a solar absorber through
      detailed materials characterization. We synthesized phase-pure MBI by solution
      and vapor processing. In contrast to MAPbX3, MBI is air stable, forming a surface
      layer that does not increase the recombination rate. We found that MBI luminesces
      at room temperature, with the vapor-processed films exhibiting superior
      photoluminescence (PL) decay times that are promising for photovoltaic
      applications. The thermodynamic, electronic, and structural features of MBI that
      are amenable to these properties are also present in other hybrid ternary bismuth
      halide compounds. Through MBI, we demonstrate a lead-free and stable alternative
      to MAPbX3 that has a similar electronic structure and nanosecond lifetimes.

PMID- 26866822
TI  - Ocular Fluid Analysis in Children Reveals Interleukin-29/Interferon-lambda1 as a
      Biomarker for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Childhood uveitis is a vision-threatening inflammatory eye disease
      commonly attributed to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The pathogenesis is
      poorly understood, which makes clinical management challenging. We analyzed
      soluble mediators in ocular fluid (aqueous humor [AqH]) and serum from children
      with JIA-associated uveitis and common childhood uveitis to identify potential
      biomarkers and investigate the ocular microenvironment of this sight-threatening
      eye disease. METHODS: AqH (n = 73) and paired serum (n = 66) samples were
      analyzed for 51 soluble mediators of inflammation by multiplex immunoassay.
      Twenty-one children with JIA-associated uveitis were compared to 15 children with
      chronic anterior uveitis without arthritis, 29 children with noninfectious
      idiopathic uveitis, and 8 children with noninflammatory conditions (controls).
      For visualization of the joint effect of multiple mediators, we used the radial
      coordinate visualization (Radviz) method. Optimal biomarker level cutoffs were
      also determined. RESULTS: The levels of interleukin-29 (IL-29)/interferon-lambda1
      (IFNlambda1) were decreased (P < 0.001) and the levels of latency-associated
      peptide and osteoprotegerin were increased (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001,
      respectively) in samples of AqH, but not serum, from patients with JIA-associated
      uveitis. Multivariate analysis correcting for disease activity and treatment
      revealed that intraocular levels of IL-29/IFNlambda1 were specifically decreased
      in patients with JIA-associated uveitis as compared to those with idiopathic
      uveitis. Indeed, JIA-associated uveitis patients and idiopathic uveitis patients
      showed distinct profiles of intraocular soluble mediators. IL-29/IFNlambda1
      showed a high area under the curve value (0.954), with 23.5 pg/ml as the optimal
      cutoff value. CONCLUSION: We identified IL-29/IFNlambda1 as an intraocular
      biomarker for JIA-associated uveitis, which suggests that aberrant IFNlambda
      signaling might be important in JIA-associated uveitis and distinct from other
      forms of childhood uveitis.

PMID- 26866824
TI  - Does IARS2 Deficiency Cause an Intrinsic Disorder of Bone Development (Skeletal
      Dysplasia) or Are the Reported Skeletal Changes Secondary to Growth Hormone
      Deficiency and Neuromuscular Involvement?

PMID- 26866825
TI  - Parent-offspring behavior of Jambu fruit doves (Ptilinopus jambu).
AB  - Fruit doves (Ptilinopus) constitute a genus of small to medium-sized, brightly
      colored arboreal birds, whose diets consist entirely of fruit. Little is known
      about the behavior of fruit doves because most species inhabit dense forests and
      are difficult to observe in the wild. This study describes the parental behavior
      of Jambu fruit dove pairs (Ptilinopus jambu) in a captive breeding program at the
      Saint Louis Zoo. Continuous video recordings were made of three pairs which
      raised a total of eight squabs over 2 years; daily rates of parental and squab
      behaviors were quantified. Overall, females were present at the nest, brooded
      their squabs, pecked, and attempted feedings more often than males. Parents also
      cared for their squabs at different times throughout the day. Males fed and
      brooded squabs during the middle of the day, while females fed throughout the day
      and brooded in the morning, evening, and overnight. Feeding rates were lower than
      those described for seed-eating doves (Columbinae), with hours between
      consecutive feedings, and squabs rarely begged before feeding events. Most squab
      behaviors involved initiating or terminating brooding and self-preening. These
      behaviors increased as squabs approached fledging, and coincided with a shift
      from full to partial brooding, and a decrease in parental allopreening. Older
      squabs also initiated feeding less frequently. Together, these data provide the
      first description of parental behavior in a Ptilinopus fruit dove. The results of
      this study may help improve captive breeding efforts, which are likely to become
      increasingly important for future conservation and reintroduction programs.

PMID- 26866826
TI  - A new perspective on universal preconception care in China.
AB  - Many risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes can be identified
      and modified preconceptionally. Despite a broad consensus that preconception care
      should be provided to all couples of reproductive age, it has not been integrated
      in routine healthcare. There are several barriers to its implementation, and even
      in the most resourceful countries, it is only provided to some select high-risk
      groups, rather than being an organized healthcare service provision to all.
      Recently, China seems to be leading the way by implementing preconception care
      nationwide in all rural areas. Its National Free Preconception Health Examination
      Project is a unique model of comprehensive preconception care. Advantages of this
      ambitious project are now becoming evident and benefiting the most vulnerable
      sections of Chinese society. This commentary provides an overview of National
      Free Preconception Health Examination Project and highlights the concepts that
      could be further developed and adapted into a model of preconception care. 

PMID- 26866827
TI  - Increasing Public Health Burden of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions and
      Comorbidity: Results From a Statewide Health Surveillance System, 2007-2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden and changing trends of arthritis and other
      rheumatic conditions (AORCs) on health care and public health by estimating
      annual rates of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and
      mortality, in addition to medical charges related to AORCs and their
      comorbidities in Nebraska from 2007 to 2012. METHODS: Nebraska state ED
      discharge, hospital discharge, and death certificate data from 2007 to 2012 were
      used to estimate disease burden. AORCs were defined using the standard
      International Classification of Diseases specified by the National Arthritis Data
      Workgroup. AORC conditions were defined by the presence of a diagnostic code
      anywhere on the corresponding record. To identify potential disparities in AORC
      burden, health care utilization was examined separately across 4 urban/rural
      categories. RESULTS: Rates of annual ED visits (34% increase), hospitalizations
      (22% increase) and mean charges (an approximate 30% to 70% increase) from visits
      involving AORCs increased significantly from 2007 to 2012. Annual rates of ED
      visits and hospitalizations involving AORCs were lower in urban metropolitan
      areas compared to other urban/rural designations. AORC-related mortality was
      highest in small rural communities. Disease profiles revealed that ED visits and
      hospitalizations involving gout and other crystal arthropathies increased
      disproportionately compared to other AORCs. CONCLUSION: The public health burden
      of AORCs increased significantly over the 6-year period studied, posing a growing
      challenge for patients, families, and the public health system, and AORCs appear
      to disproportionately impact nonmetropolitan and other rural communities.

PMID- 26866828
TI  - Facial Scars following Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Role of Adnexal Involvement?
AB  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction
      leading to extensive sloughing of the skin. Late cutaneous complications such as
      pigmentation disorders are frequently reported. In this report, we present
      particular facial cutaneous sequelae with histological analysis after TEN. Two
      young patients who had survived TEN presented permanent multiple hypopigmented
      papules on the face affecting their quality of life. Histological analysis
      revealed areas of scarring, dystrophic microcalcifications and sebaceous
      hyperplasia. Late cutaneous sequelae are well documented; however, the
      physiopathological mechanisms leading to different clinical presentations remain
      unknown. We suggest that the destruction of the hair follicle by necrolysis leads
      to secondary dermal microcalcifications, scarring and sebaceous hyperplasia.
      Further studies are needed for a better understanding of these findings. 

PMID- 26866829
TI  - Observations from national Italian fixed radiofrequency monitoring network.
AB  - We analyzed a database of more than 50 million data points from the national
      Italian fixed radiofrequency (RF) field monitoring network that was operational
      between June 2002 and November 2006. We applied a modified Regression on Order
      Statistics approach to reanalyze the database and to deal with the large
      proportion of entries (39.8%) below detection sensitivity of the probe systems.
      We found no more than an 18% variation in annual wideband levels during the 2002
      2006 period. Mean value for mobile communications band was 0.047 MUW/cm(2) for
      the period 2005-2006. Findings of this analysis are consistent with similar
      previous studies and we conclude that mean environmental RF levels from cellular
      mobile communications systems are typically less than 0.1 MUW/cm(2) .

PMID- 26866830
TI  - Novel myopathy in a newborn with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and review of
      neonatal presentation.
AB  - Shwachman-Diamond-Bodian syndrome (SDS) is a pleiotropic disorder in which the
      main features are bone marrow dysfunction and pancreatic insufficiency. Skeletal
      changes can occur, and in rare cases manifest as severe congenital thoracic
      dystrophy. We report a newborn boy with asphyxia, narrow thorax, and severe
      hypotonia initially suggesting a neuromuscular disease. The muscle biopsy showed
      myopathic changes with prominent variability in muscle fiber size and abnormal
      expression of developmental isoforms of myosin. The myofibrils showed focal loss
      and disorganization of myofilaments, and thickening of the Z-discs including some
      abortive nemaline rods. The boy became permanently dependent on assisted
      ventilation. Pancreatic insufficiency was subsequently diagnosed, explaining the
      malabsorption and failure to thrive. Except transitory thrombocytopenia and
      leukopenia, no major hematological abnormalities were noted. He had bilateral
      nephrocalcinosis with preserved renal function. Transitory liver dysfunction with
      elevated transaminase levels and parenchymal changes on ultrasound were
      registered. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by detection of compound
      heterozygous mutations in SBDS using whole-exome sequencing: a recurrent intronic
      mutation causing aberrant splicing (c.258+2T>C) and a novel missense variant in a
      highly conserved codon (c.41A>G, p.Asn14Ser), considered to be damaging for the
      protein structure by in silico prediction programs. The carrier status of the
      parents has been confirmed. This case illustrates the challenges in differential
      diagnosis of pronounced neonatal hypotonia with asphyxia and highlights the
      muscular involvement in SDS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of
      myopathy evidenced in a patient with clinically and molecularly confirmed SDS.

PMID- 26866833
TI  - Searching for Classical Brown Fat in Humans: Development of a Novel Human Fetal
      Brown Stem Cell Model.
AB  - The potential therapeutic applications of targeting brown adipose tissue open new
      clinical avenues in fighting against metabolic pathologies. However, due to the
      limited extension in adult humans of brown depots, which are dramatically reduced
      after birth, solid cell models to study human brown adipogenesis and its
      regulatory factors in pathophysiology are urgently needed. Here, we generated a
      novel human model of brown adipose stem cells, hfB-ASC, derived for the first
      time from fetal interscapular brown fat depots. Besides the characterization of
      their stem and classical brown adipose properties, we demonstrated that these
      cells retain a specific intrinsic differentiation program to functional brown
      adipocytes, even spontaneously generating organoid structures with brown
      features. Moreover, for the first time, we investigated the thermogenic and
      electrophysiological activity of the in vitro-derived fetal brown adipocytes
      compared to their undifferentiated precursors hfB-ASC, in basal and
      norepinephrine-induced conditions. In conclusion, from interscapular brown fat of
      the human fetus we developed and functionally characterized a novel physiological
      brown adipose stem cell model early programmed to brown differentiation, which
      may represent a unique opportunity for further studies on brown adipogenesis
      processes in humans as well as the most suitable target to study novel
      therapeutic approaches for stimulating brown activity in metabolic pathologies.
      Stem Cells 2016;34:1679-1691.

PMID- 26866834
TI  - Corrigendum to "Zinc finger MYND-type containing 8 promotes tumour angiogenesis
      via induction of vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression" [FEBS Lett. 588
      (2014) 3409-3416].

PMID- 26866831
TI  - Associations of Smoking and Age With Inflammatory Joint Signs Among Unaffected
      First-Degree Relatives of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Results From Studies of
      the Etiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine whether genetic, environmental, and serologic rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) risk factors are associated with inflammatory joint signs in a
      cohort of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RA patients. METHODS: We evaluated RA
      risk factors and inflammatory joint signs in a prospective cohort of FDRs without
      RA in the Studies of the Etiology of RA. Genetic factors included 5 HLA-DRB1
      shared epitope alleles and 45 RA-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms; loci
      were combined using genetic risk scores weighted by RA risk. Environmental
      factors (smoking, body mass index, education, and parity) and RA-related
      autoantibodies were assessed at baseline. Physical examination was performed at
      baseline and 2-year follow-up, by observers who were blinded with regard to
      autoantibody status, to assess inflammatory joint signs as tender or swollen
      joints at sites typical for RA. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate
      associations of genetic, environmental, and serologic factors with inflammatory
      joint signs. RESULTS: We analyzed 966 non-Hispanic white FDRs at baseline and 262
      at 2-year follow-up after excluding those with inflammatory joint signs at
      baseline. The mean +/- SD age was 47.2 +/- 15.5 years, 71% were female, and 55%
      were shared epitope positive. Smoking >10 pack-years was associated with
      inflammatory joint signs at baseline (odds ratio [OR] 1.89 [95% confidence
      interval (95% CI) 1.26-2.82]) and at 2 years (OR 2.66 [95% CI 1.01-7.03]),
      compared to never smokers. There was a significant interaction between smoking
      and age with regard to risk of inflammatory joint signs (P = 0.02). FDRs younger
      than 50 years with >10 pack-years had the highest risk of inflammatory joint
      signs (OR 4.39 [95% CI 2.22-8.66], compared to never smokers younger than 50
      years). CONCLUSION: In a high-risk cohort of FDRs, smoking and age were
      associated with both prevalent and incident inflammatory joint signs at sites
      typical for RA. Further prospective investigations of the factors affecting the
      transitions between preclinical RA phases are warranted.

PMID- 26866836
TI  - Single mothers by choice: Mother-child relationships and children's psychological
      adjustment.
AB  - Fifty-one solo mother families were compared with 52 two-parent families all with
      a 4-9-year-old child conceived by donor insemination. Standardized interview,
      observational and questionnaire measures of maternal wellbeing, mother-child
      relationships and child adjustment were administered to mothers, children and
      teachers. There were no differences in parenting quality between family types
      apart from lower mother-child conflict in solo mother families. Neither were
      there differences in child adjustment. Perceived financial difficulties, child's
      gender, and parenting stress were associated with children's adjustment problems
      in both family types. The findings suggest that solo motherhood, in itself, does
      not result in psychological problems for children. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866837
TI  - Marital violence and coparenting quality after separation.
AB  - Research has identified multiple predictors of coparenting quality, but few
      studies have investigated how intimate partner violence (IPV) affects divorcing
      couples' coparenting relationships. We addressed this question in a sample of 154
      mothers with different marital IPV experiences. Mothers were recruited within 4
      months of a divorce filing and completed two interviews 3 months apart. At Time
      1, mothers reported on violence and coercive control during marriage, and
      postseparation behavioral (e.g., parental communication), emotional (e.g.,
      anger), and intrusion (e.g., harassment) dynamics; at Time 2, they reported on
      coparenting quality (i.e., levels of support and conflict). In the overall
      sample, divorce and violence variables independently predicted coparenting
      quality. Mothers were then classified into three groups: no violence (NV; n =
      74), situational couple violence (SCV; n = 46), or coercive controlling violence
      (CCV; n = 34). Of the 3, coparenting quality was lowest in the CCV group. While
      the SCV group was similar to the NV group on most divorce-related variables, the
      CCV group reported more hostility at separation and placed less importance on
      father-child relationships. Finally, patterns of association between study
      variables and coparenting quality showed some parallels between the SCV and NV
      groups. For CCV, postseparation harassment and fear were negatively associated
      with coparenting quality. Findings contribute to understanding predictors of
      coparenting quality and support the need for individualized assessments of
      divorce cases with attention to IPV dynamics.

PMID- 26866838
TI  - Child adjustment and parent functioning: Considering the role of child-driven
      effects.
AB  - Based on 13,694 mother-child dyads from the Early Childhood Longitudinal
      Kindergarten Study (ECLS-K; Rock & Pollack, 2002; Tourangeau, Nord, Le, Sorongon,
      & Najarian, 2009), this study is an examination of the bidirectional relations
      between parental and child functioning from kindergarten through 3rd grade.
      Results from the cross-lagged models demonstrated that child-driven effects co
      occurred with parental effects, and that these effects were comparable in size.
      At the same time, however, results from the latent profile analysis (LPA)
      revealed idiosyncratic patterns of parent and child functioning. Compared with
      children in the least optimal functioning profiles, those in the average and
      above-average profiles elicited greater improvement in parents' functioning over
      time. Although children characterized by poor academic performance at
      kindergarten appeared to precede parents characterized by harsh parenting at 3rd
      grade, there was a threshold in the evolving strength of the overall child-driven
      effects. Taken together, the results from this study underscore the importance of
      considering reciprocal processes in the parent-child dynamic while also
      underscoring individual differences in these processes across the early- to
      middle-childhood years.

PMID- 26866839
TI  - Corporal punishment and externalizing behaviors in toddlers: The moderating role
      of positive and harsh parenting.
AB  - This study investigated whether corporal punishment when the child was 2 years
      old predicted child externalizing behaviors a year later, and whether or not this
      association was moderated by parents' observed behavior toward their child. Data
      came from 218 couples and their firstborn child. The frequency of fathers'
      corporal punishment when the child was 2 years old predicted child externalizing
      behaviors a year later, while controlling for initial levels of child
      externalizing behaviors. Also, observed positive and harsh parenting moderated
      the relationship between corporal punishment and child externalizing behaviors.
      These results highlight the importance of continuing to examine the effects of a
      commonly used form of discipline (i.e., corporal punishment) and the parental
      climate in which it is used. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866840
TI  - Update: Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women
      and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure - United States,
      2016.
AB  - CDC has updated its interim guidelines for U.S. health care providers caring for
      pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak (1). Updated guidelines include a new
      recommendation to offer serologic testing to asymptomatic pregnant women (women
      who do not report clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease) who have
      traveled to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. Testing can be offered 2
      12 weeks after pregnant women return from travel. This update also expands
      guidance to women who reside in areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission, and
      includes recommendations for screening, testing, and management of pregnant women
      and recommendations for counseling women of reproductive age (15-44 years).
      Pregnant women who reside in areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission have an
      ongoing risk for infection throughout their pregnancy. For pregnant women with
      clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease,* testing is recommended
      during the first week of illness. For asymptomatic pregnant women residing in
      areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission, testing is recommended at the
      initiation of prenatal care with follow-up testing mid-second trimester. Local
      health officials should determine when to implement testing of asymptomatic
      pregnant women based on information about levels of Zika virus transmission and
      laboratory capacity. Health care providers should discuss reproductive life
      plans, including pregnancy intention and timing, with women of reproductive age
      in the context of the potential risks associated with Zika virus infection. 

PMID- 26866841
TI  - Prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes outcomes of fetal surgery for
      myelomeningocele (MMC) as they compare to postnatal MMC repair and provides
      insights into areas of investigation to improve fetal MMC repair. RECENT
      FINDINGS: Recent studies confirm the findings of the Management of
      Myelomeningocele Study and support the decreased need for postnatal ventricular
      shunts, improved hindbrain herniation, and improved neurofunctional outcome
      following open fetal repair compared to postnatal repair at the risk of increased
      maternal complications and preterm birth. Larger studies of minimally invasive
      fetal repair demonstrate that, although technically feasible, this approach is
      associated with longer operative times, increased membrane complications, an
      earlier gestational age at birth, persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and
      incidences of persistent postnatal hindbrain herniation resulting in death or
      requiring surgical decompression. SUMMARY: Open prenatal MMC repair is a new
      standard of care option with improved postnatal outcomes in a highly specific
      patient population when performed at select multidisciplinary fetal surgery
      centers. More investigations are required to optimize minimally invasive
      approaches prior to reliable clinical application.

PMID- 26866842
TI  - Noninvasive prenatal testing beyond genomic analysis: what the future holds.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The discovery of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood enabled
      the development of DNA-based noninvasive prenatal testing. Noninvasive prenatal
      testing for chromosomal aneuploidy detection was first applied for clinical use a
      few years ago, resulting in a paradigm shift in prenatal testing. Apart from the
      use of cell-free fetal nucleic acids for the detection of fetal genetic or
      chromosomal diseases, we predict that the analysis of cell-free placental RNA and
      DNA methylation signatures would allow the noninvasive monitoring of placental
      function. These developments would potentially allow the screening and
      identification of a range of pregnancy-associated diseases, providing a holistic
      approach to prenatal management. RECENT FINDINGS: This article covers the
      advancement of techniques in measuring cell-free fetal RNA and fetal-specific
      methylation patterns in maternal blood. Recently, genome-wide fetal transcriptome
      and methylome can be obtained from maternal plasma, which allow the
      identification of novel biomarkers and the elucidation of the pathogenesis of
      maternal and fetal diseases. In fact, some studies demonstrated the feasibility
      of applying the RNA and DNA methylation analysis techniques for prenatal disease
      assessment. SUMMARY: This study reviews the evidence that demonstrates the
      potential utilities of cell-free fetal transcriptomic and methylomic analysis for
      the future assessment of pregnancy-associated disorders.

PMID- 26866843
TI  - Stakeholder attitudes and needs regarding cell-free fetal DNA testing.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To explore stakeholder views on cell-free DNA testing and
      highlight findings important for successful implementation and the provision of
      best practice in counseling. RECENT FINDINGS: Noninvasive tests based on the
      analysis of cell-free fetal DNA are now widely available in clinical practice and
      applications are expanding rapidly. It is essential that stakeholder views are
      considered in order to identify and address any ethical and social issues. We
      provide an overview of stakeholder viewpoints and then focus on the key issues of
      informed decision making, test uptake, service delivery and information sources.
      SUMMARY: Stakeholders are positive about the introduction of cell-free fetal DNA
      testing into clinical practice. They describe both practical and psychological
      benefits arising from tests that are safe and can potentially be performed
      earlier in pregnancy. Key concerns, which include the potential for these tests
      to have a negative impact on informed decision making and increased societal
      pressure to have testing, can be addressed through careful parent-directed
      counseling. As applications for these tests expand it is increasingly important
      to develop innovative approaches to facilitate good understanding for parents who
      are offered noninvasive prenatal testing.

PMID- 26866844
TI  - Fetomaternal hemorrhage complicated pregnancy: risks, identification, and
      management.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article aims not only to review recent literature about
      the clinical features of massive fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) and identification
      of risk factors, but also to alert obstetricians and pediatricians to this
      underdiagnosed and underestimated severe obstetrical issue. In addition, a
      simplified flow chart for the antenatal management of suspected FMH is proposed.
      RECENT FINDINGS: Improvements in obstetrical and neonatal care have decreased
      perinatal morbidity and mortality and the rate of stillbirth. Unfortunately,
      because of the nonspecific signs on presentation, adverse outcome associated with
      massive FMH has not followed this trend and still has devastating consequences.
      As even the definition varies among publications and there is lack of universal
      screening, the real nature still remains obscure. Improvements in the diagnosis
      of fetal anemia, laboratory and intrauterine transfusion techniques, and the
      implementation of prenatal and postnatal neuroprotection give some hope for the
      better outcome in the most severe cases. Unfortunately, obstetricians' awareness
      of the massive FMH remains still at an unacceptably low level. SUMMARY: There is
      an urgent need for the internationally accepted definition, standardized
      pregnancy management protocol, and structured follow-up of neonates from such
      pregnancies. We suggest the international registry of massive FMH cases.

PMID- 26866845
TI  - Autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune neuritis in
      rats.
AB  - Recent studies have shown that autophagy is involved in peripheral nervous system
      disease. However, the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of experimental
      autoimmune neuritis (EAN) remains unclear. Therefore, EAN was induced by a
      subcutaneous injection into both hind footpads of synthetic neuritogenic P2(57
      81) peptide in male Lewis rats. The clinical evaluation was completed using a 10
      point scale method. The histological alteration of sciatic nerves was analyzed by
      hematoxylin and eosin and luxol fast blue staining. The ultrastructure of sciatic
      nerves was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Expressions of beclin-1
      and microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 (LC3) and p62/SQSTM1 were
      determined by western blot. 3-Methyladenine, the inhibitor of autophagy, was used
      in this research. Results showed that the clinical scores were significantly
      increased from day 6 to day 16 after immunization compared with the control
      group. Compared with the control group, the number of inflammatory cells and the
      histological score of sciatic nerves were significantly increased, expressions of
      beclin-1 and LC3-II and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I in the sciatic nerve were
      significantly increased, and the expression of p62 was significantly decreased in
      the EAN model group. Considerable double-membrane autophagosomes in axons and
      myelin sheaths of sciatic nerves were observed and the number of autophagosomes
      in axons and myelin sheaths of sciatic nerves in the EAN model group was
      obviously increased compared with the control group. 3-Methyladenine ameliorated
      the neurologic severity of EAN. Our results suggest that autophagy activity in
      nerve tissue of EAN rats is increased, which may be associated with the
      pathogenesis of EAN.

PMID- 26866846
TI  - Determination of the Prevalence, Height, and Location of the Maxillary Sinus
      Septa Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Presence of the maxillary sinus septum would increase the risk of
      sinus membrane perforation during sinus floor elevation surgery. Three
      dimensional radiographic techniques are recommended for the evaluation of the
      maxillary sinuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated
      946 maxillary sinuses using the cone beam computed tomography. Presence of septa,
      number, location, height, and orientation were evaluated and recorded in data
      forms. RESULTS: Of all patients, 44.8% had at least 1 septum; 36.8% had 1 septum
      in their right maxillary sinus, 27.4% in their left, and 35.8% in both sides. No
      statistically significant difference was found between males and females or the
      right and left maxillary sinuses in terms of the prevalence of septa. In 35.1% of
      patients, the septum was in the middle of the sinus. Mediolateral septa had the
      highest frequency (59.2%). The highest mean septum height in the medial zone was
      6.3 +/- 3.1 mm in the right sinus and 7.1 +/- 3.1 mm in the left sinus.
      CONCLUSION: Approximately 45% of patients had at least 1 septum, and this finding
      emphasizes the need for the assessment of the maxillary sinuses to prevent
      complications.

PMID- 26866847
TI  - Subantral Augmentation With Mineralized Cortical Bone Allograft Material:
      Clinical, Histological, and Histomorphometric Analyses and Graft Volume
      Assessments.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clinically and histologically evaluate the
      effect of using mineralized cortical bone allograft in sinus lift augmentation
      and to 3-dimensionally quantify volumetric changes in maxillary sinuses augmented
      over a 2-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients affected with less
      than 3 mm of residual ridge were enrolled in the study. After sinus grafting with
      a mineralized bone allograft, the site was covered with a collagen wound
      dressing. During implant placement 4 months later, a biopsy was obtained for
      histological and histomorphometry evaluations. Bone volume changes were also
      evaluated. RESULTS: Biopsies showed mature cancellous bone with a predominantly
      lamellar structure. The well-vascularized intertrabecular spaces were filled with
      connective tissue and bone marrow. Histomorphometry evaluations revealed a mean
      43.76 +/- 1.47% of bone marrow, 40.16 +/- 1.35% of mineralized bone and 16.59 +/-
      0.55% of woven bone. The mean of residual particles was 0.47 +/- 0.01%.
      Volumetric measurements showed a mean volume of grafted material 16.24 +/- 1.55
      cm at T0, 14.48 +/- 1.48 cm at T1, and 13.06 +/- 1.39 cm at T2. The mean volume
      retraction was 10.83% of the initial total volume at (T0-T1) and 9.8% at (T1-T2).
      CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and histological results indicated that mineralized
      cortical bone allograft promoted de novo bone formation and can be used for sinus
      lift procedure.

PMID- 26866848
TI  - Diffusion-Tensor Imaging of Thigh Muscles in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy:
      Correlation of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Fractional Anisotropy Values
      With Fatty Infiltration.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of
      apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values with
      fatty infiltration in the thigh muscles of patients with Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy (DMD) using diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
      Twenty-one boys with DMD were recruited. The grade of fatty infiltration and the
      ADC and FA values of four thigh muscles (rectus femoris, semitendinosus,
      sartorius, and gracilis) were measured, and the FA and ADC values were compared
      with the grade of fatty infiltration. Twenty age-matched healthy boys were
      enrolled as the control group. The differences in the ADC and FA values of the
      thigh muscles between patients with DMD and the control group were compared.
      RESULTS: The patients with DMD showed lower FA values and higher ADC values in
      all measured muscles when compared with the control group. The FA and ADC values
      were correlated with the grade of fatty infiltration. For the rectus femoris
      muscle, r = -0.753 and p = 0.007 for FA, and r = 0.685 and p = 0.001 for ADC. For
      the semitendinosus muscle, r = -0.621 and p = 0.041 for FA, and r = 0.705 and p =
      0.021 for ADC. For the sartorius muscle, r = -0.662 and p = 0.027 for FA, and r =
      0.701 and p = 0.017 for ADC. For the gracilis muscle, r = -0.618 and p = 0.043
      for FA, and r = 0.695 and p = 0.022 for ADC. CONCLUSION: Damage to the thigh
      muscles in patients with DMD can be detected by ADC and FA values using DTI. DTI
      can be used to assess the severity of the disease.

PMID- 26866849
TI  - Effect of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Survival and Neurologic Outcome in the
      Elderly.
AB  - Old age is considered a negative prognostic factor after out-of-hospital cardiac
      arrest (OHCA). The purpose of this study was to assess the benefit of therapeutic
      hypothermia (TH) on survival and neurologic outcome in the elderly. This is a
      retrospective study of patients treated for OHCA from April 2011 to August 2013
      in a regional cardiac system. Patients with return of spontaneous circulation
      (ROSC) are directed to designated cardiac receiving centers with established TH
      protocols. The decision to initiate TH is determined by the treating physician.
      All patients 65 years or older were identified. Patients were excluded if awake
      and responsive in the emergency department, died before hospital admission, or
      had preexisting coma. The adjusted odds ratio for survival with good neurologic
      outcome (defined as cerebral performance category [CPC] 1 or 2) was calculated
      for patients who received TH compared to a reference group without TH. There were
      1612 patients, of whom 552 (34%) received TH. Median age was 78 (inter-quartile
      range [IQR] 71-85); 56% was male. 493 (31%) patients survived to hospital
      discharge, 266 (17%) with CPC of 1 or 2. Of 1292 patients considered for TH, 192
      (25%) of 552 patients who received TH survived to hospital discharge and 97 (18%)
      with good neurologic outcome compared to 150 (20%) and 57 (8%), respectively,
      without TH. The adjusted odds ratio for survival with good neurologic outcome for
      TH was 2.0 (95% CI 1.3-3.3). TH is associated with improved neurologic outcome in
      the elderly population. 

PMID- 26866853
TI  - A Case-control Study of Diphtheria in the High Incidence City of Hyderabad,
      India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: India accounts for approximately 72% of reported diphtheria cases
      globally, the majority of which occur in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The aim of
      this study is to better understand lack of knowledge on diphtheria vaccination
      and to determine factors associated with diphtheria and low knowledge and
      negative attitudes. METHODS: We performed a 1:1 case-control study of
      hospitalized diphtheria cases in Hyderabad. Eligible case patients were 10 years
      of age or older, resided within the city of Hyderabad and were diagnosed with
      diphtheria per the case definition. Patients admitted to the hospital for
      nonrespiratory communicable diseases and residing in the same geographic region
      as that of cases were eligible for enrolment as controls RESULTS: : There were no
      statistical differences in disease outcome by gender, education, economic status
      and mean room per person sleeping in the house in case and control subjects. Not
      having heard of diphtheria (adjusted odds ratio: 3.56; 95% confidence intervals:
      1.58-8.04] and not believing that vaccines can prevent people from getting
      diseases (adjusted odds ratio: 3.99; 95% confidence intervals: 1.18-13.45)
      remained significantly associated with diphtheria on multivariate analysis.
      CONCLUSION: To reduce the burden of diphtheria in India, further efforts to
      educate the public about diphtheria should be considered.

PMID- 26866854
TI  - Paenibacillus alvei Sepsis in a Neonate.

PMID- 26866855
TI  - Pediatric Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis is Rare in Europe.

PMID- 26866856
TI  - Serial Changes of Serum Cytokine in a Pediatric Patient with Severe Fever with
      Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

PMID- 26866857
TI  - Denouement.

PMID- 26866858
TI  - Vapor Condensed and Supercooled Glassy Nanoclusters.
AB  - We use molecular simulation to study the structural and dynamic properties of
      glassy nanoclusters formed both through the direct condensation of the vapor
      below the glass transition temperature, without the presence of a substrate, and
      via the slow supercooling of unsupported liquid nanodroplets. An analysis of
      local structure using Voronoi polyhedra shows that the energetic stability of the
      clusters is characterized by a large, increasing fraction of bicapped square
      antiprism motifs. We also show that nanoclusters with similar inherent structure
      energies are structurally similar, independent of their history, which suggests
      the supercooled clusters access the same low energy regions of the potential
      energy landscape as the vapor condensed clusters despite their different methods
      of formation. By measuring the intermediate scattering function at different
      radii from the cluster center, we find that the relaxation dynamics of the
      clusters are inhomogeneous, with the core becoming glassy above the glass
      transition temperature while the surface remains mobile at low temperatures. This
      helps the clusters sample the highly stable, low energy structures on the
      potential energy surface. Our work suggests the nanocluster systems are
      structurally more stable than the ultrastable glassy thin films, formed through
      vapor deposition onto a cold substrate, but the nanoclusters do not exhibit the
      superheating effects characteristic of the ultrastable glass states. 

PMID- 26866859
TI  - The effects of combined sewer overflow events on riverine sources of drinking
      water.
AB  - This study was set out to investigate the impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows
      (CSOs) on the microbiological water quality of a river used as a source of
      drinking water treatment plants. Escherichia coli concentrations were monitored
      at various stations of a river segment located in the Greater Montreal Area
      including two Drinking Water Intakes (DWIs) in different weather conditions (dry
      weather and wet weather (precipitation and snowmelt period)). Long-term
      monitoring data (2002-2011) at DWIs revealed good microbiological water quality
      with E. coli median concentrations of 20 and 30 CFU/100 mL for DWI-1 and DWI-2
      respectively. However, E. coli concentration peaks reached up to 510 and 1000
      CFU/100 mL for both DWIs respectively. Statistical Process Control (SPC) analysis
      allowed the identification of E. coli concentration peaks in almost a decade of
      routine monitoring data at DWIs. Almost 80% of these concentrations were linked
      to CSO discharges caused by precipitation exceeding 10 mm or spring snowmelt. Dry
      weather monitoring confirmed good microbiological water quality. Wet weather
      monitoring showed an increase of approximately 1.5 log of E. coli concentrations
      at DWIs. Cumulative impacts of CSO discharges were quantified at the river center
      with an increase of approximately 0.5 log of E. coli concentrations. Caffeine
      (CAF) was tested as a potential chemical indicator of CSO discharges in the river
      and CAF concentrations fell within the range of previous measurements performed
      for surface waters in the same area (~20 ng/L). However, no significant
      differences were observed between CAF concentrations in dry and wet weather, as
      the dilution potential of the river was too high. CSO event based monitoring
      demonstrated that current bi-monthly or weekly compliance monitoring at DWIs
      underestimate E. coli concentrations entering DWIs and thus, should not be used
      to quantify the risk at DWIs. High frequency event-based monitoring is a
      desirable approach to establish the importance and duration of E. coli peak
      concentrations entering DWIs. 

PMID- 26866860
TI  - The FDA Pivots Toward Patient-Centeredness: Patient Engagement Advisory
      Committee.

PMID- 26866861
TI  - Ankle Brachial Index and Foot Ulcer Etiology.

PMID- 26866866
TI  - Pieces of the HOPD Payment Puzzle: NCCI Edits, OPPS Payment Status Indicators,
      and LCDs.

PMID- 26866867
TI  - Negative-Pressure Therapy to Reduce the Risk of Wound Infection Following
      Diverting Loop Ileostomy Reversal: An Initial Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the application of a negative-pressure therapy system
      (Prevena Incision Management System, Kinetics Concepts Inc, [KCI] an Acelity
      Company, San Antonio, Texas) on ileostomy-closure surgical wounds would reduce
      surgical site infections (SSIs) in comparison with conventional closure and
      dressing. DESIGN: Prospective interventional pilot study. SETTING: La Paz
      University Hospital, tertiary care academic hospital in Madrid, Spain. PATIENTS:
      The Prevena device was applied on the wounds of 17 consecutive patients
      undergoing ileostomy reversal. Control subjects were 43 patients undergoing the
      same procedure, in which conventional dressings were used for the wound.
      INTERVENTION: The device was applied on the wound immediately after surgery
      (under sterile conditions) and maintained for 5 to 7 days. Patients were
      evaluated daily, and on the seventh postoperative day, the device was removed and
      wounds carefully inspected. Another evaluation was performed a month after the
      surgical intervention in the outpatient clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary
      end point of the study was the detection of SSI (defined according to the Centers
      for Disease Control and Prevention definitions). Other intervention-related
      complications were also registered. MAIN RESULTS: There were no significant
      differences in demographic variables between groups. In the control group, 9
      patients (21%) presented SSI, with statistical significance (P < .038) when
      compared with the intervention group (0%). There were no complications associated
      with the application of the Prevena device. Other complications (for example,
      ileus or obstruction) occurred in 30% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The negative
      pressure Prevena System was safe and easy to use and may prevent SSIs in dirty
      wounds, such as those from ileostomy closure.

PMID- 26866868
TI  - Tissue-Engineered Skin Substitute Enhances Wound Healing after Radiation Therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: When given in conjunction with surgery for treating cancer, radiation
      therapy may result in impaired wound healing, which, in turn, could cause skin
      ulcers. In this study, bilayer and monolayer autologous skin substitutes were
      used to treat an irradiated wound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single dose of 30 Gy
      of linear electron beam radiation was applied to the hind limb of nude mice
      before creating the skin lesion (area of 78.6 mm). Monolayer tissue-engineered
      skin substitutes (MTESSs) were prepared by entrapping cultured keratinocytes in
      fibrin matrix, and bilayer tissue-engineered skin substitutes (BTESSs) were
      prepared by entrapping keratinocytes and fibroblasts in separate layers. Bilayer
      tissue-engineered skin substitute and MTESS were implanted to the wound area.
      Gross appearance and wound area were analyzed to evaluate wound healing
      efficiency. Skin regeneration and morphological appearance were observed via
      histological and electron microscopy. Protein expressions of transforming growth
      factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), and
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in skin regeneration were evaluated by
      immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Macroscopic observation revealed that at day
      13, treatments with BTESS completely healed the irradiated wound, whereas wound
      sizes of 1.1 +/- 0.05 and 6.8 +/- 0.14 mm were measured in the MTESS-treated and
      untreated control groups, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) analysis showed
      formation of compact and organized epidermal and dermal layers in the BTESS
      treated group, as compared with MTESS-treated and untreated control groups.
      Ultrastructural analysis indicates maturation of skin in BTESS-treated wound
      evidenced by formation of intermediate filament bundles in the dermal layer and
      low intercellular space in the epidermal layer. Expressions of TGF-beta1, PDGF
      BB, and VEGF were also higher in BTESS-treated wounds, compared with MTESS
      treated wounds. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BTESS is the preferred
      treatment for irradiated wound ulcers.

PMID- 26866869
TI  - Assessment of Chicken-Egg Membrane as a Dressing for Wound Healing.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of the folk remedy of chicken-egg membrane
      dressing on wound healing. DESIGN: Full-thickness excisional wounds were created
      on 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats in 2 separate trials. Each animal received 2
      wounds on the upper back. One wound was untreated, and the other was dressed with
      chicken-egg membrane to assess its impact on wound healing. Half of the rats
      received egg membrane treatment on the inferior wound, whereas the other half
      received egg membrane treatment on the superior wound. Membrane replacement,
      wound debridement, and imaging were done on days 5, 8, and 10 and then imaging
      continued on days 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 of the experiment. Healing rate was
      measured based on the wound area over the 20 days of the experiment. RESULTS: The
      wounds dressed with chicken-egg membrane had a significantly (P < .01) faster
      rate of healing compared with the control at the early stages of healing between
      days 0 and 5. This group healed 21% faster during this early phase, compared with
      the control group. Overall, however, wound healing rates were indistinguishable
      from days 5 to 20. CONCLUSION: Chicken-egg membrane dressing significantly
      improves healing of cutaneous wounds in the early stages of wound healing.

PMID- 26866870
TI  - Development of a Nutrition Screening Tool for an Outpatient Wound Center.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To construct a quickly and easily administered nutrition screening
      tool using variables believed to be predictive of malnutrition risk in the wound
      patient population. DESIGN: A prospective pilot study assessed patients on a list
      of suspected variables, as well as the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global
      Assessment (PG-SGA), chosen as the criterion standard. Variables were analyzed to
      select the most appropriate items for inclusion on a new nutrition screening tool
      using preliminary bivariate correlations and chi tests of association. Items
      significantly associated with malnutrition were dichotomized, and binary logistic
      regression analyses were performed to arrive at a final model. A sum score was
      computed, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine
      designation of risk. SETTING: An outpatient wound center in Northeast Ohio.
      PARTICIPANTS: The pilot study included a convenience sample of 105 outpatients
      with at least 1 active wound. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Malnutrition as assessed by
      the Scored PG-SGA. MAIN RESULTS: The final nutrition screening tool, the MEAL
      Scale, is composed of 4 dichotomous elements: multiple wounds (number of wounds),
      eats less than 3 meals per day, appetite decrease (eats less than usual), and
      level of activity. These variables predicted 83.7% of the malnutrition cases
      assessed by the Scored PG-SGA. The receiver operating characteristic analysis
      showed an acceptable area under the curve (0.8581), and a cutoff score of 2 or
      greater was selected to indicate risk (median sensitivity = 91.4%, median
      specificity = 60.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies of validity and
      reliability are necessary to establish the tool before widespread use, the MEAL
      Scale is a needed step toward nutrition screening in a wound patient population.

PMID- 26866871
TI  - The Strategic View of Modified Stage 2 Meaningful Use: Part 3.

PMID- 26866873
TI  - Comparative study of CXC chemokines modulation in brown trout (Salmo trutta)
      following infection with a bacterial or viral pathogen.
AB  - Chemokine modulation in response to pathogens still needs to be fully
      characterised in fish, in view of the recently described novel chemokines
      present. This paper reports the first comparative study of CXC chemokine genes
      transcription in salmonids (brown trout), with a particular focus on the fish
      specific CXC chemokines (CXCL_F). Adopting new primer sets, optimised to
      specifically target mRNA, a RT-qPCR gene screening was carried out. Constitutive
      gene expression was assessed first in six tissues from SPF brown trout.
      Transcription modulation was next investigated in kidney and spleen during
      septicaemic infection induced by a RNA virus (Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
      virus, genotype Ia) or by a Gram negative bacterium (Yersinia ruckeri, ser.
      O1/biot. 2). From each target organ specific pathogen burden, measured detecting
      VHSV-glycoprotein or Y. ruckeri 16S rRNA, and IFN-gamma gene expression were
      analysed for their correlation to chemokine transcription. Both pathogens
      modulated CXC chemokine gene transcript levels, with marked up-regulation seen in
      some cases, and with both temporal and tissue specific effects apparent. For
      example, Y. ruckeri strongly induced chemokine transcription in spleen within
      24h, whilst VHS generally induced the largest increases at 3d.p.i. in both
      tissues. This study gives clues to the role of the novel CXC chemokines, in
      comparison to the other known CXC chemokines in salmonids. 

PMID- 26866874
TI  - Exploratory study of once-daily transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as
      a treatment for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Auditory hallucinations are resistant to pharmacotherapy in about 25%
      of adults with schizophrenia. Treatment with noninvasive brain stimulation would
      provide a welcomed additional tool for the clinical management of auditory
      hallucinations. A recent study found a significant reduction in auditory
      hallucinations in people with schizophrenia after five days of twice-daily
      transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) that simultaneously targeted left
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left temporo-parietal cortex. HYPOTHESIS: We
      hypothesized that once-daily tDCS with stimulation electrodes over left frontal
      and temporo-parietal areas reduces auditory hallucinations in patients with
      schizophrenia. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled
      study that evaluated five days of daily tDCS of the same cortical targets in 26
      outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder with auditory
      hallucinations. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction in auditory
      hallucinations measured by the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (F2,50=12.22,
      P<0.0001) that was not specific to the treatment group (F2,48=0.43, P=0.65). No
      significant change of overall schizophrenia symptom severity measured by the
      Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of
      efficacy of tDCS for treatment of auditory hallucinations and the pronounced
      response in the sham-treated group in this study contrasts with the previous
      finding and demonstrates the need for further optimization and evaluation of
      noninvasive brain stimulation strategies. In particular, higher cumulative doses
      and higher treatment frequencies of tDCS together with strategies to reduce
      placebo responses should be investigated. Additionally, consideration of more
      targeted stimulation to engage specific deficits in temporal organization of
      brain activity in patients with auditory hallucinations may be warranted.

PMID- 26866875
TI  - Interstitial stromal progenitors during kidney development: here, there and
      everywhere.
AB  - In recent years, the renal interstitium has been identified as the site of
      multiple cell types, giving rise to multiple contiguous cellular networks with
      multiple fundamental structural and functional roles. Few studies have been
      carried out on the morphological and functional properties of the
      stromal/interstitial renal cells during the intrauterine life. This work was
      aimed at reviewing the peculiar features of renal interstitial stem/progenitor
      cells involved in kidney development. The origin of the renal interstitial
      progenitor cells remains unknown. During kidney development, besides the Six2 +
      cells of the cap mesenchyme, a self-renewing progenitor population, characterized
      by the expression of Foxd1, represents the first actor of the non-nephrogenic
      lineage. Foxd1 + interstitial progenitors originate the cortical and the renal
      medullary interstitial progenitors. Here, the most important stromal/interstitial
      compartments present in the developing human kidney will be analyzed: capsular
      stromal cells, cortical interstitial cells, medullary interstitial cells, the
      interstitium inside the renal stem cell niche, Hilar interstitial cells and
      Ureteric interstitial cells. Data reported here indicate that the different
      interstitial compartments of the developing kidney are formed by different cell
      types that characterize the different renal areas. Further studies are needed to
      better characterize the different pools of renal interstitial progenitors and
      their role in human nephrogenesis. 

PMID- 26866876
TI  - Reliability and Validity of the Therapy Intensity Level Scale: Analysis of
      Clinimetric Properties of a Novel Approach to Assess Management of Intracranial
      Pressure in Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - We aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Therapy Intensity Level
      scale (TIL) for intracranial pressure (ICP) management. We reviewed the medical
      records of 31 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in two European
      intensive care units (ICUs). The ICP TIL was derived over a 4-day period for 4-h
      (TIL4) and 24-h epochs (TIL24). TIL scores were compared with historical schemes
      for TIL measurement, with each other, and with clinical variables. TIL24 scores
      in ICU patients with TBI were compared with two control groups: patients with
      extracranial trauma necessitating intensive care (Trauma_ICU; n = 20) and
      patients with TBI not needing ICU care (TBI_WARD; n = 19), to further determine
      the discriminative validity of the TIL for ICP-related ICU interventions.
      Interrater and intraobserver agreement were excellent for TIL4 and TIL24 (Cohen
      kappa: 0.98-0.99; intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.99-1; p < 0.0005). The
      mean + standard deviation (SD) TIL24 in the ICU TBI cohort was significantly
      higher than the Trauma_ICU patients and the TBI_WARD patients (8.2 +/- 3.2 vs.
      2.2 +/- 0.9 and 0.1 +/- 0.1, respectively; p < 0.005 for both comparisons).
      Correlations between the TIL scale scores and historical TIL scores, between
      TIL24 and the Glasgow Coma Scale, and between a range of TIL metrics and summary
      measures of ICP over the 4-day period, were all highly significant (p < 0.01).
      The results were consistent with the expected direction. A linear mixed effect
      analysis, accounting for within-subjects repeated measures, showed strong
      correlation between TIL4 and 4-h ICP (p < 0.0000005). The TIL scale is a reliable
      measurement instrument with a high degree of validity for assessing the
      therapeutic intensity level of ICP management in patients with TBI.

PMID- 26866877
TI  - One-step synthesis of high-density peptide-conjugated gold nanoparticles with
      antimicrobial efficacy in a systemic infection model.
AB  - The increase in antibiotic drug resistance and the low number of new
      antibacterial drugs approved in the last few decades requires the development of
      new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are very promising
      molecules to fight microbial infection since they kill quickly bacteria and, in
      some cases, target bacterial membrane. Although some AMPs may be stable against
      proteolytic degradation by chemical modification, in general, low AMP activity
      and stability in the presence of serum and proteolytic enzymes as well as their
      cytotoxicity have impaired their clinical translation. Here, we describe a one
      step methodology to generate AMP-conjugated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), with a
      high concentration of AMPs (CM-SH) (~240 AMPs per NP), controlled size (14 nm)
      and low polydispersity. AMP-conjugated Au NPs demonstrated higher antimicrobial
      activity and stability in serum and in the presence of non-physiological
      concentrations of proteolytic enzymes than soluble AMP, as well as low
      cytotoxicity against human cells. Moreover, the NPs demonstrated high
      antimicrobial activity after in vivo administration in a chronic wound and in an
      animal model of systemic infection. 

PMID- 26866878
TI  - Two-Dimensional Disorder in Black Phosphorus and Monochalcogenide Monolayers.
AB  - Ridged, orthorhombic two-dimensional atomic crystals with a bulk Pnma structure
      such as black phosphorus and monochalcogenide monolayers are an exciting and
      novel material platform for a host of applications. Key to their crystallinity,
      monolayers of these materials have a 4-fold degenerate structural ground state,
      and a single energy scale EC (representing the elastic energy required to switch
      the longer lattice vector along the x- or y-direction) determines how disordered
      these monolayers are at finite temperature. Disorder arises when nearest
      neighboring atoms become gently reassigned as the system is thermally excited
      beyond a critical temperature Tc that is proportional to EC/kB. EC is tunable by
      chemical composition and it leads to a classification of these materials into two
      categories: (i) Those for which EC >= kBTm, and (ii) those having kBTm > EC >= 0,
      where Tm is a given material's melting temperature. Black phosphorus and SiS
      monolayers belong to category (i): these materials do not display an intermediate
      order-disorder transition and melt directly. All other monochalcogenide
      monolayers with EC > 0 belonging to class (ii) will undergo a two-dimensional
      transition prior to melting. EC/kB is slightly larger than room temperature for
      GeS and GeSe, and smaller than 300 K for SnS and SnSe monolayers, so that these
      materials transition near room temperature. The onset of this generic atomistic
      phenomena is captured by a planar Potts model up to the order-disorder
      transition. The order-disorder phase transition in two dimensions described here
      is at the origin of the Cmcm phase being discussed within the context of bulk
      layered SnSe. 

PMID- 26866879
TI  - Expression of MIF and CD74 in leukemic cell lines: correlation to DR expression
      destiny.
AB  - Invariant chain (Ii) or CD74 is a non-polymorphic glycoprotein, which apart from
      its role as a chaperone dedicated to MHCII molecules, is known to be a high
      affinity receptor for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). The present
      study aimed to define the roles of CD74 and MIF in the immune surveillance escape
      process. Towards this direction, the cell lines HL-60, Raji, K562 and primary pre
      B leukemic cells were examined for expression and secretion of MIF. Flow
      cytometry analysis detected high levels of MIF and intracellular/membrane CD74
      expression in all leukemic cells tested, while MIF secretion was shown to be
      inversely proportional to intracellular HLA-DR (DR) expression. In the MHCII
      negative cells, IFN-gamma increased MIF expression and induced its secretion in
      HL-60 and K562 cells, respectively. In K562 cells, CD74 (Iip33Iip35) was shown to
      co-precipitate with HLA-DObeta (DObeta), inhibiting thus MIF or DR binding.
      Induced expression of DOalpha in K562 (DOalpha-DObeta+) cells in different
      transfection combinations decreased MIF expression and secretion, while
      increasing surface DR expression. Thus, MIF could indeed be part of the antigen
      presentation process.

PMID- 26866880
TI  - Clinical evaluation of microRNA-145 expression in renal cell carcinoma: a
      promising molecular marker for discriminating and staging the clear cell
      histological subtype.
AB  - The vast majority of malignancies detected in renal parenchyma are diagnosed as
      renal cell carcinoma (RCC), whose subtype discrimination and determination of
      prognosis may contribute to the selection of the adequate therapy. Recently, a
      new class of small non-coding RNAs, known as microRNAs, has proven to be among
      the most promising biomarkers for providing this information. Herein, we sought
      to add up to this knowledge by evaluating the expression levels of microRNA-145
      (miR-145) in RCC. For that purpose, total RNA from 58 cancerous and 44 adjacent
      non-cancerous renal tissues was firstly extracted and then polyadenylated and
      reverse transcribed to cDNA. MiR-145 levels were finally analyzed by developing
      and applying a highly sensitive real-time PCR protocol, while their clinical
      significance was determined via comprehensive statistical analysis. Our data
      showed that miR-145 was significantly downregulated in cancerous samples and
      could discriminate between clear cell and non-clear cell subtypes. Moreover, miR
      145 expression was found to be correlated with primary tumor staging of cancerous
      samples, something also noticed in the clear cell RCC subset, in which miR-145
      levels were negatively correlated with tumor size as well. Overall, these results
      indicate that miR-145 might constitute a promising molecular marker for RCC
      classification and staging.

PMID- 26866881
TI  - An atypical presentation of small bowel obstruction and perforation secondary to
      sporadic synchronous intra-abdominal desmoid tumours.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Desmoid tumours (DTs) are rare, soft tissue tumours which account
      for 0.03% of all neoplasms. They are characteristically locally invasive but do
      not metastasize. There is frequent association with females of reproductive age,
      a history of abdominal surgery or trauma and a family history of fibromatoses.
      Intra-abdominal DTs are infrequently sporadic and more commonly associated with
      inherited disorders such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), attenuated FAP
      and Gardener's syndrome. PRESENTATION OF CASE: The authors report a rare case of
      small bowel obstruction and perforation secondary to sporadic, synchronous intra
      abdominal DTs in a 54-year old man with atypical symptoms and no risk factors or
      family history. DISCUSSION: Intra-abdominal DTs have a worse prognosis as they
      can cause intestinal bleeding, obstruction and perforation. Due to the rarity of
      these tumours there are no clear guidelines on their management and this is
      instead based on small case series from specialist centres. In the non-acute
      setting patients with sporadic intra-abdominal DTs should be managed in a
      specialist sarcoma unit by a multidisciplinary team. In the presence of FAP or
      other polyposis syndromes patients with DTs should be managed at a specialist
      colorectal unit. Emergent presentations require emergency surgery in suitable
      candidates. CONCLUSION: In non-emergency presentations of DTs, it is essential to
      exclude FAP, AFAP and other hereditary polyposis syndromes since this affects
      treatment and subsequent follow-up.

PMID- 26866882
TI  - A rare case of lacrimal adenoid cystic carcinoma with large hepatic and multiple
      pulmonary metastases with successful surgical treatment.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the lacrimal gland is rare but
      with high recurrence rates and late metastases. They occasionally metastasise via
      haematogenous spread to lungs, brain and bone. Liver is a rare site of metastasis
      and is usually present with disseminated disease. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 42 year
      old lady, a known case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland who had
      been operated 4 years ago for the same followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
      She was detected with large hepatic and bilateral multiple pulmonary metastases.
      A right hepatectomy was done. After six months when her general condition
      improved we did a staged pulmonary metastatectomy. Histology confirmed the
      diagnosis. She is presently doing well with no recurrence since 18 months.
      DISCUSSION: Usually asymptomatic, the commonest symptom is pain. It is a locally
      invasive disease with a poor prognosis if detected late. Surgery is the only
      proven therapy. Isolated hepatic metastases being managed surgically has been
      reported. However, extensive, staged, surgical resection of hepatic and pulmonary
      metastases has not been reported. CONCLUSION: Lacrimal ACC is an aggressive
      tumour with known late metastases with the liver being affected seldomly. Our
      case highlights that even disseminated metastases to the liver and the lungs from
      lacrimal ACC can be managed surgically with a good outcome. To our knowledge, no
      such report with distant metastases to the liver and the lung along with their
      successful surgical management has been reported.

PMID- 26866885
TI  - The study of electrical conductivity and diffusion behavior of water-based and
      ferro/ferricyanide-electrolyte-based alumina nanofluids.
AB  - Nanofluids are liquids containing suspensions of solid nanoparticles and have
      attracted considerable attention because they undergo substantial mass transfer
      and have many potential applications in energy technologies. Most studies on
      nanofluids have used low-ionic-strength solutions, such as water and ethanol.
      However, very few studies have used high-ionic-strength solutions because the
      aggregation and sedimentation of nanoparticles cause a stability problem. In this
      study, a stable water-based alumina nanofluid was prepared using stirred bead
      milling and exhibits a high electrical conductivity of 2420 MUS/cm at 23  degrees
      C and excellent stability after five severe freezing-melting cycles. We then
      developed a process for mixing the water-based nanofluid with a high-ionic
      strength potassium ferro/ferricyanide electrolyte and sodium dodecyl sulfate by
      using stirred bead milling and ultrasonication, thus forming a stable electrolyte
      based nanofluid. According to the rotating disk electrode study, the electrolyte
      based alumina nanofluid exhibits an unusual increase in the limiting current at
      high angular velocities, resulting from a combination of local percolation
      behavior and shear-induced diffusion. The electrolyte-based alumina nanofluid was
      demonstrated in a possible thermogalvanic application, since it is considered to
      be an alternative electrolyte for thermal energy harvesters because of the
      increased electrical conductivity and confined value of thermal conductivity.

PMID- 26866884
TI  - Photosensitizer-loaded gold nanorods for near infrared photodynamic and
      photothermal cancer therapy.
AB  - Despite the advancement of photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, the
      ability to form compact nanocomplex for combined photodynamic and photothermal
      cancer therapy under a single near infrared irradiation remains limited. In this
      work, we prepared an integrated sub-100 nm nanosystem for simultaneous near
      infrared photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy. The nanosystem was formed
      by adsorption of silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine dihydroxide onto gold nanorod
      followed by covalent stabilization with alkylthiol linked polyethylene glycol.
      The effects of alkylthiol chain length on drug loading, release and cell killing
      efficacy were examined using 6-mercaptohexanoic acid, 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid
      and 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid. We found that the loading efficiency of silicon
      2,3-naphthalocyanine dihydroxide increased and the release rate decreased with
      the increase of the alkylthiol chain length. We demonstrated that the combined
      near infrared photodynamic and photothermal therapy using the silicon 2,3
      naphthalocyanine dihydroxide-loaded gold nanorods exhibit superior efficacy in
      cancer cell destruction as compared to photodynamic therapy and photothermal
      therapy alone. The nanocomplex stabilized with 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid
      linked polyethylene glycol provided highest cell killing efficiency as compared
      to those stabilized with the other two stabilizers under low drug dose. This new
      nanosystem has potential to completely eradicate tumors via noninvasive
      phototherapy, preventing tumor reoccurrence and metastasis.

PMID- 26866883
TI  - Estrogen, SNP-Dependent Chemokine Expression and Selective Estrogen Receptor
      Modulator Regulation.
AB  - We previously reported, on the basis of a genome-wide association study for
      aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms, that single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) near the T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1A (TCL1A) gene were
      associated with aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal pain and with
      estradiol (E2)-induced TCL1A expression. Furthermore, variation in TCL1A
      expression influenced the downstream expression of proinflammatory cytokines and
      cytokine receptors. Specifically, the top hit genome-wide association study SNP,
      rs11849538, created a functional estrogen response element (ERE) that displayed
      estrogen receptor (ER) binding and increased E2 induction of TCL1A expression
      only for the variant SNP genotype. In the present study, we pursued mechanisms
      underlying the E2-SNP-dependent regulation of TCL1A expression and, in parallel,
      our subsequent observations that SNPs at a distance from EREs can regulate
      ERalpha binding and that ER antagonists can reverse phenotypes associated with
      those SNPs. Specifically, we performed a series of functional genomic studies
      using a large panel of lymphoblastoid cell lines with dense genomic data that
      demonstrated that TCL1A SNPs at a distance from EREs can modulate ERalpha binding
      and expression of TCL1A as well as the expression of downstream immune mediators.
      Furthermore, 4-hydroxytamoxifen or fulvestrant could reverse these SNP-genotype
      effects. Similar results were found for SNPs in the IL17A cytokine and CCR6
      chemokine receptor genes. These observations greatly expand our previous results
      and support the existence of a novel molecular mechanism that contributes to the
      complex interplay between estrogens and immune systems. They also raise the
      possibility of the pharmacological manipulation of the expression of
      proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in a SNP genotype-dependent fashion. 

PMID- 26866886
TI  - Synthesis of nitrogen doped faceted titanium dioxide in pure brookite phase with
      enhanced visible light photoactivity.
AB  - Brookite titanium dioxide (TiO2) is rarely studied, as compared with anatase and
      rutile phases TiO2, due to its comparatively lower photoactivity. It has been
      recently reported that brookite TiO2 with active facets exhibits excellent
      performance, however, synthesis of such faceted brookite TiO2 is difficult
      because of its low thermodynamic phase stability and low structural symmetric.
      Furthermore, like faceted anatase and rutile TiO2, faceted brookite TiO2 is not
      responsive to visible light due to its wide bandgap. In this study, a novel
      dopant, hydrazine, was introduced in the development of nitrogen doping. By
      applying this dopant, nitrogen doped brookite nanorods with active {120}, {111}
      and {011-} facets were successfully synthesized. The resultant materials
      exhibited remarkably enhanced visible-light photoactivity in photodegradation. 

PMID- 26866887
TI  - Surface tailored PS/TiO2 composite nanofiber membrane for copper removal from
      water.
AB  - Polystyrene (PS)/TiO2 composite nanofiber membranes have been fabricated by
      electrospinning process for Cu(2+) ions removal from water. The surface
      properties of the polystyrene nanofibers were modulated by introducing TiO2
      nanoparticles. The contact angle of the PS nanofiber membrane was found to be
      decreased with increasing concentration of TiO2, depicted enhanced
      hydrophilicity. These membranes were highly effective in adsorbing Cu(2+) ions
      from water. The adsorption capacity of these membranes was found to be 522 mg/g,
      which is significantly higher than the results reported by other researchers.
      This was attributed to enhanced hydrophilicity of the PS/TiO2 composite nanofiber
      membranes and effective adsorption property of TiO2 nanoparticles.

PMID- 26866888
TI  - Probing interactions of neurotransmitters with twin tailed anionic surfactant: A
      detailed physicochemical study.
AB  - Keeping in view the role of neurotransmitters (NTs) in central nervous system
      diseases and in controlling various physiological processes, present study is
      aimed to study the binding of neurotransmitters (NTs) such as norepinephrine
      hydrochloride (NE) and serotonin hydrochloride (5-HT) with twin tailed surfactant
      sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT). Spectroscopic and electrochemical
      measurements combined with microcalorimetric measurements were used to
      characterize the interactions between AOT and NTs. Meteoric modifications to
      emission profile and absorption spectra of NTs upon addition of AOT are
      indicative of the binding of NTs with AOT. Distinct interactional states such as
      formation of ion-pairs, induced and regular micelles with adsorbed NTs molecules
      have been observed in different concentration regimes of AOT. The formation of
      ion-pairs from oppositely charged NTs and AOT is confirmed by the reduced
      absorbance, quenched fluorescence intensity and decrease in peak current (ipa) as
      well as shifts in peak potential (Epa) values. The stoichiometry and formation of
      the NTs-AOT complexes has been judged and the extent of interactions is
      quantitatively discussed in terms of binding constant (K) and free energy of
      binding (DeltaG degrees ). The enthalpy (DeltaH degrees mic) and free energy of
      micellization (DeltaG degrees mic) for AOT in presence and absence of NTs are
      determined from the enthalpy curves. 

PMID- 26866889
TI  - Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchically structured spherical
      CuBi2O4 as negative electrodes for Li-ion hybrid capacitors.
AB  - Hierarchically structured spherical CuBi2O4 particles were prepared using a
      facile hydrothermal method without using a surfactant over various hydrothermal
      reaction periods. The prepared CuBi2O4 samples were examined via X-ray
      diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the formation of a tetragonal crystal
      structure. The morphological features were analyzed using field emission scanning
      electron microscopy (FESEM), which elucidated the construction of the
      hierarchical microspherical CuBi2O4 particles. The plausible growth mechanism of
      the hierarchical structure was explained in terms of a time-dependent synthesis
      process and its crystal structure. The uniform hierarchical CuBi2O4 microspheres
      were used to fabricate a Li-ion hybrid capacitor (Li-HC) along with activated
      carbon (AC), the generated device delivers a stable specific capacitance of 26.5
      F g(-1) over 1500 cycles at a high current density of 1000 mA g(-1) and a
      capacity retention of ~86%. The AC/CB2 Li-ion hybrid cell exhibits high energy
      density and power density values of 24 W h kg(-1) and 300 W kg(-1), respectively.

PMID- 26866890
TI  - ns or fs pulsed laser ablation of a bulk InSb target in liquids for nanoparticles
      synthesis.
AB  - Laser ablation of bulk target materials in liquids has been established as an
      alternative method for the synthesis of nanoparticles colloidal solutions mainly
      due to the fact that the synthesized nanoparticles have bare, ligand-free
      surfaces since no chemical precursors are used for their synthesis. InSb is a
      narrow band gap semiconductor which has the highest carrier mobility of any known
      semiconductor and nanoparticles of this material are useful in optoelectronic
      device fabrication. In this paper a bulk InSb target was ablated in deionized
      (DI) water or ethanol using a nanosecond (20 ns) or a femtosecond (90 fs) pulsed
      laser source, for nanoparticles synthesis. In all four cases the largest
      percentage of the nanoparticles are of InSb in the zincblende crystal structure
      with fcc lattice. Oxides of either In or Sb are also formed in the nanoparticles
      ensembles in the case of ns or fs ablation, respectively. Formation of an oxide
      of either element from the two elements of the binary bulk alloy is explained
      based on the difference in the ablation mechanism of the material in the case of
      ns or fs pulsed laser irradiation in which the slow or fast deposition of energy
      into the material results to mainly melting or vaporization, respectively under
      the present conditions of ablation, in combination with the lower melting point
      but higher vaporization enthalpy of In as compared to Sb. InSb in the metastable
      phase with orthorhombic lattice is also formed in the nanoparticles ensembles in
      the case of fs ablation in DI water (as well as oxide of InSb) which indicates
      that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibit polymorphism controlled by the type of
      the laser source used for their synthesis. The nanoparticles exhibit absorption
      which is observed to be extended in the infrared region of the spectrum.

PMID- 26866891
TI  - Longitudinal analytical approaches to genetic data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Longitudinal phenotypic data provides a rich potential resource for
      genetic studies which may allow for greater understanding of variants and their
      covariates over time. Herein, we review 3 longitudinal analytical approaches from
      the Genetic Analysis Workshop 19 (GAW19). These contributions investigated both
      genome-wide association (GWA) and whole genome sequence (WGS) data from odd
      numbered chromosomes on up to 4 time points for blood pressure-related
      phenotypes. The statistical models used included generalized estimating equations
      (GEEs), latent class growth modeling (LCGM), linear mixed-effect (LME), and
      variance components (VC). The goal of these analyses was to test statistical
      approaches that use repeat measurements to increase genetic signal for variant
      identification. RESULTS: Two analytical methods were applied to the GAW19: GWA
      using real phenotypic data, and one approach to WGS using 200 simulated
      replicates. The first GWA approach applied a GEE-based model to identify gene
      based associations with 4 derived hypertension phenotypes. This GEE model
      identified 1 significant locus, GRM7, which passed multiple test corrections for
      2 hypertension-derived traits. The second GWA approach employed the LME to
      estimate genetic associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) change
      trajectories identified using LCGM. This LCGM method identified 5 SBP
      trajectories and association analyses identified a genome-wide significant locus,
      near ATOX1 (p = 1.0E(-8)). Finally, a third VC-based model using WGS and
      simulated SBP phenotypes that constrained the beta coefficient for a genetic
      variant across each time point was calculated and compared to an unconstrained
      approach. This constrained VC approach demonstrated increased power for WGS
      variants of moderate effect, but when larger genetic effects were present,
      averaging across time points was as effective. CONCLUSION: In this paper, we
      summarize 3 GAW19 contributions applying novel statistical methods and testing
      previously proposed techniques under alternative conditions for longitudinal
      genetic association. We conclude that these approaches when appropriately applied
      have the potential to: (a) increase statistical power; (b) decrease trait
      heterogeneity and standard error;

PMID- 26866892
TI  - Supersaturated polymeric micelles for oral cyclosporine A delivery: The role of
      Soluplus-sodium dodecyl sulfate complex.
AB  - Our previous study demonstrated that the retention of drug in the hydrophobic
      core of Soluplus micelle greatly impeded drug absorption from gastrointestinal
      tract. Using supersaturated polymeric micelles can improve drug release, however,
      insufficient maintaining of supersaturation of drug is still unfavorable for drug
      absorption. Here, we report adding small amount of small molecule, sodium dodecyl
      sulfate (SDS), to Soluplus solution can form a Soluplus-SDS complex. This complex
      not only showed a higher solubilization capability for the model drug
      cyclosporine A (CsA), but also maintained a longer period of and higher
      supersaturation than was achieved with Soluplus alone. The Soluplus-SDS
      interactions were characterized by analyzing surface tension, small-angle X-ray
      scattering (SAXS), fluorescence spectra, and nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the formation of Soluplus-SDS complex
      via SDS adsorption on hydrophobic segments of Soluplus, which have more
      hydrophobic domain than that of Soluplus micelle, contributed significantly to
      the solubilization and stabilization of supersaturated CsA. Using this
      amphiphilic copolymer-small molecule surfactant system, the cellular uptake and
      rat in vivo absorption of CsA were more effectively achieved than pure Soluplus.
      The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and the maximal plasma
      concentration (Cmax) achieved by CsA-loaded Soluplus-SDS complex were 1.58- and
      1.8-times higher than the corresponding values for CsA-loaded pure Soluplus,
      respectively. This study highlighted the benefits of Soluplus-SDS complex for
      optimizing the solubilization and oral absorption of a drug with low aqueous
      solubility. 

PMID- 26866894
TI  - Near the Ferric Pseudobrookite Composition (Fe2TiO5).
AB  - Because of a very low thermodynamic stability, obtaining a pure monophasic
      compound of ferric pseudobrookite is quite difficult to achieve. Indeed, the low
      reticular energy of this phase leads easily to its decomposition and the
      occurrence of the secondary phases: hematite (Fe2O3) and/or rutile (TiO2).
      Samples with global composition Fe2-xTi1+xO5 (x = 0, 0.05, and 0.10) have been
      synthesized by the Pechini route and, thereafter, thermally treated at different
      temperatures. The concentrations of Fe2O3 and TiO2 secondary phases were
      accurately determined and correlated with the target compositions and the
      synthesis parameters, especially the thermal treatment temperature. As revealed
      by Mossbauer spectroscopy, all iron ions are at the III+ oxidation state. Thus,
      the formation of hematite or rutile as a secondary phase may be related to the
      occurrence of cationic vacancies within the pseudobrookite structure, with the
      amount of vacancies depending on the annealing temperature. In light of the
      presented results, it appears unreasonable to propose a "fixed" binary phase
      diagram for such a complex system. Furthermore, the occurrence of cationic
      vacancies induces a coloration change (darkening), preventing any industrial use
      of this reddish-brown pseudobrookite as a ceramic pigment. 

PMID- 26866893
TI  - Nanoparticles prolong N-palmitoylethanolamide anti-inflammatory and analgesic
      effects in vivo.
AB  - N-Palmitoylethanolamide showed great therapeutic potential in the treatment of
      inflammation and pain but its unfavourable pharmacokinetics properties will
      hinder its use in the clinical practice. A nanotechnology-based formulation was
      developed to enhance the probability of N-palmitoylethanolamide therapeutic
      success, especially in skin disease management. Lipid nanoparticles were produced
      and characterized to evaluate their mean size, zeta-potential, thermal behaviour,
      and morphology. The ability of N-palmitoylethanolamide to diffuse across the
      epidermis as well as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were investigated.
      Particles had a mean size of about 150 nm and a zeta-potential of -40 mV. DSC
      data confirmed the solid state of the matrix and the embedding of N
      palmitoylethanolamide while electron microscopy have evidenced a peculiar
      internal structure (i.e., low-electrondense spherical objects within the matrix)
      that can be reliably ascribed to the presence of oil nanocompartments. Lipid
      nanoparticles increased N-palmitoylethanolamide percutaneous diffusion and
      prolonged the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in vivo. Lipid
      nanoparticles seem a good nanotechnology-based strategy to bring N
      palmitoylethanolamide to clinics.

PMID- 26866895
TI  - Role of Molecular Interactions for Synergistic Precipitation Inhibition of Poorly
      Soluble Drug in Supersaturated Drug-Polymer-Polymer Ternary Solution.
AB  - We are reporting a synergistic effect of combined Eudragit E100 and PVP K90 in
      precipitation inhibition of indomethacin (IND) in solutions at low polymer
      concentration, a phenomenon that has significant implications on the usefulness
      of developing novel ternary solid dispersion of poorly soluble drugs. The IND
      supersaturation was created by cosolvent technique, and the precipitation studies
      were performed in the absence and the presence of individual and combined PVP K90
      and Eudragit E100. The studies were also done with PEG 8000 as a noninteracting
      control polymer. A continuous UV recording of the IND absorption was used to
      observe changes in the drug concentration over time. The polymorphic form and
      morphology of precipitated IND were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and
      scanning electron microscopy. The change in the chemical shift in solution (1)H
      NMR was used as novel approach to probe IND-polymer interactions. Molecular
      modeling was used for calculating binding energy between IND-polymer as another
      indication of IND-polymer interaction. Spontaneous IND precipitation was observed
      in the absence of polymers. Eudragit E100 showed significant inhibitory effect on
      nuclei formation due to stronger interaction as reflected in higher binding
      energy and greater change in chemical shift by NMR. PVP K90 led to significant
      crystal growth inhibition due to adsorption on growing IND crystals as confirmed
      by modified crystal habit of precipitate in the presence of PVP K90. Combination
      of polymers resulted in a synergistic precipitation inhibition and extended
      supersaturation. The NMR confirmed interaction between IND-Eudragit E100 and IND
      PVP K90 in solution. The combination of polymers showed similar peak shift albeit
      using lower polymer concentration indicating stronger interactions. The results
      established the significant synergistic precipitation inhibition effect upon
      combining Eudragit E100 and PVP K90 due to drug-polymer interaction.

PMID- 26866897
TI  - Metal-Free Asymmetric Synthesis of Indanes through Chiral Hypervalent Iodine(III)
      Mediated Ring Contraction.
AB  - The iodine(III)-mediated asymmetric oxidative rearrangement of 1,2
      dihydronaphthalenes was investigated to prepare optically active 1-substituted
      indanes. The chiral hypervalent iodine species is generated in situ from a chiral
      aryl iodide, prepared in 94% yield in one step. This metal-free protocol was
      applied to different cyclic alkenes, substituted with oxygen, with nitrogen, or
      at position 1 with aryl or methyl. Indanes can be isolated as an acetal or
      alcohol in up to 78% ee. 

PMID- 26866896
TI  - Structure and Hydration of Highly-Branched, Monodisperse Phytoglycogen
      Nanoparticles.
AB  - Phytoglycogen is a naturally occurring polysaccharide nanoparticle made up of
      extensively branched glucose monomers. It has a number of unusual and
      advantageous properties, such as high water retention, low viscosity, and high
      stability in water, which make this biomaterial a promising candidate for a wide
      variety of applications. In this study, we have characterized the structure and
      hydration of aqueous dispersions of phytoglycogen nanoparticles using neutron
      scattering. Small angle neutron scattering results suggest that the phytoglycogen
      nanoparticles behave similar to hard sphere colloids and are hydrated by a large
      number of water molecules (each nanoparticle contains between 250% and 285% of
      its mass in water). This suggests that phytoglycogen is an ideal sample in which
      to study the dynamics of hydration water. To this end, we used quasielastic
      neutron scattering (QENS) to provide an independent and consistent measure of the
      hydration number, and to estimate the retardation factor (or degree of water slow
      down) for hydration water translational motions. These data demonstrate a length
      scale dependence in the measured retardation factors that clarifies the origin of
      discrepancies between retardation factor values reported for hydration water
      using different experimental techniques. The present approach can be generalized
      to other systems containing nanoconfined water. 

PMID- 26866898
TI  - Magneto-thermally activated spin-state transition in La0.95Ca0.05CoO3:
      magnetically-tunable dipolar glass and giant magneto-electricity.
AB  - The magneto-dielectric spectroscopy of La0.95Ca0.05CoO3 covering the crossover of
      spin states reveals the strong coupling of its spin and dipolar degrees of
      freedom. The signature of the spin-state transition at 30 K clearly manifests in
      the magnetization data at a 1 Tesla optimal field. Our Co L3,2-edge X-ray
      absorption spectrum on the doped specimen is consistent with its suppressed low
      to-intermediate spin-state transition temperature at ~30 K compared to ~150 K,
      documented for pure LaCoO3. The dispersive activation step in the dielectric
      constant with the associated relaxation peak in imaginary permittivity
      characterize the allied influence of coexistent spin-states on the dielectric
      character. Dipolar relaxation in the low-spin regime below the transition
      temperature is partly segmental (Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman (VFT) kinetics) and
      features magnetic-field tunability, whereas in the low/intermediate-spin
      disordered state above ~30 K, it is uncorrelated (Arrhenic kinetics) and almost
      impervious to the magnetic field H. Kinetics-switchover defines the dipolar-glass
      transition temperature Tg(H) (=27 K|0T), below which their magneto-thermally
      activated cooperative relaxations freeze out by the VFT temperature T0(H) (=15
      K|0T). An applied magnetic field facilitates thermal activation in toggling the
      low spins up into the intermediate states. Consequently, the downsized dipolar
      glass segments in the low-spin state and the independent dipoles in the
      intermediate state exhibit accelerated dynamics. A critical 5 Tesla field
      collapses the entire relaxation kinetics into a single Arrhenic behaviour,
      signaling that the dipolar glass is completely devitrified under all higher
      fields. The magneto-electricity (ME) spanning sizeable thermo-spectral range
      registers diverse signatures here in kinetic, spectral, and field behaviors, in
      contrast to the static/perturbative ME observed close to the spin-ordering in
      typical multiferroics. Intrinsic magneto-dielectricity (50%) along with vanishing
      magneto-loss is obtained at (27 K/50 kHz)9T. The sub-linear deviant and field
      hysteretic split seen in above 4 Tesla suggests the emergence of robust dipoles
      organized into nano-clusters, induced by the internally-generated high magneto
      electric field. An elaborate omega-T multi-dispersions diagram maps the rich
      variety of phase/response patterns, revealing highly-interacting magnetic and
      electric moments in the system. 

PMID- 26866899
TI  - Peptide Bond Isomerization in High-Temperature Simulations.
AB  - Force fields for molecular simulation are generally optimized to model
      macromolecules such as proteins at ambient temperature and pressure.
      Nevertheless, elevated temperatures are frequently used to enhance conformational
      sampling, either during system setup or as a component of an advanced sampling
      technique such as temperature replica exchange. Because macromolecular force
      fields are now put upon to simulate temperatures and time scales that greatly
      exceed their original design specifications, it is appropriate to re-evaluate
      whether these force fields are up to the task. Here, we quantify the rates of
      peptide bond isomerization in high-temperature simulations of three octameric
      peptides and a small fast-folding protein. We show that peptide octamers with and
      without proline residues undergo cis/trans isomerization every 1-5 ns at 800 K
      with three classical atomistic force fields (AMBER99SB-ILDN, CHARMM22/CMAP, and
      OPLS-AA/L). On the low microsecond time scale, these force fields permit
      isomerization of nonprolyl peptide bonds at temperatures >=500 K, and the
      CHARMM22/CMAP force field permits isomerization of prolyl peptide bonds >=400 K.
      Moreover, the OPLS-AA/L force field allows chiral inversion about the Calpha atom
      at 800 K. Finally, we show that temperature replica exchange permits cis peptide
      bonds developed at 540 K to subsequently migrate back to the 300 K ensemble,
      where cis peptide bonds are present in 2 +/- 1% of the population of Trp-cage
      TC5b, including up to 4% of its folded state. Further work is required to assess
      the accuracy of cis/trans isomerization in the current generation of protein
      force fields. 

PMID- 26866900
TI  - Oxidation of Membrane Curvature-Regulating Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipid Results
      in Formation of Bilayer and Cubic Structures.
AB  - Oxidation is associated with conditions related to chronic inflammations and
      aging. Cubic structures have been observed in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum
      and mitochondrial membranes of cells under oxidative stress (e.g., tumor cells
      and virus-infected cells). It has been previously suspected that oxidation can
      result in the rearrangement of lipids from a fluid lamellar phase to a cubic
      structure in organelles containing membranes enriched with amphiphiles that have
      nonzero intrinsic curvature, such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and
      cardiolipin. This study focuses on the oxidation of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3
      phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), a lipid that natively forms an inverted hexagonal
      phase at physiological conditions. The oxidized samples contain an approximately
      3:2 molar ratio of nonoxidized to oxidized DOPE. Optical microscopy images
      collected during the hydration of this mixture from a dried film suggest that the
      system evolves into a coexistence of a stable fluid lamellar phase and transient
      square lattice structures with unit cell sizes of 500-600 nm. Small-angle X-ray
      scattering of the same lipid mixture yielded a body-centered Im3m cubic phase
      with the lattice parameter of 14.04 nm. On average, the effective packing
      parameter of the oxidized DOPE species was estimated to be 0.657 +/- 0.069
      (standard deviation). This suggests that the oxidation of PE leads to a group of
      species with inverted molecular intrinsic curvature. Oxidation can create
      amphiphilic subpopulations that potently impact the integrity of the membrane,
      since negative Gaussian curvature intrinsic to cubic phases can enable membrane
      destabilization processes. 

PMID- 26866901
TI  - Borderline personality disorder and self-conscious affect: Too much shame but not
      enough guilt?
AB  - Shame has emerged as a particularly relevant emotion to the maintenance and
      exacerbation of borderline personality disorder (BPD) features; however, little
      attention has been paid to the potentially differing effects of other forms of
      self-conscious affect. While guilt has been demonstrated to have adaptive
      functions in the social psychology literature, it has not been previously
      explored whether a lack of socially adaptive guilt might also contribute to BPD
      related dysfunction. The present study examined the relationship between BPD
      features and self-conscious emotions in a sample of undergraduate students (n =
      839). Increased shame and decreased guilt independently accounted for significant
      variance in the association between BPD features and anger, hostility, and
      externalization of blame. Only increased shame significantly mediated the
      association between BPD features and anger rumination, and only decreased guilt
      significantly mediated the relationship between BPD features and aggression.
      These findings suggest BPD and its associated problems with anger and
      externalizing may be characterized not only by high levels of shame, but also by
      lower levels of guilt. Clinical implications include the need to differentiate
      between self-conscious emotions and teach adaptive responses to warranted guilt.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26866902
TI  - Expanding the plasmonic response of bimetallic nanoparticles by laser seeding.
AB  - This work explores a cost-effective route to enhance the tuning range of the
      optical response of metal nanostructures on substrates beyond the ranges that are
      achievable through the nanostructure dimensions, composition or dewetting
      processes. The new route (laser seeding) uses single nanosecond laser pulses to
      induce dewetting in regions of a metal layer deposited on a glass substrate
      followed by the deposition of a second metal layer, both layers being deposited
      by pulsed laser deposition. In order to show the possibilities of this new route,
      we have chosen that the two metals were different, namely Ag and Au. The
      comparison of the optical response of these regions to those that were laser
      irradiated after deposition of the second metal layer shows that while
      nanoalloyed nanoparticles (NPs) are formed in the latter case, the NPs produced
      in the former case have a heterogeneous structure. The interface between the two
      metals is either sharp or a narrow region where they have mixed depending on the
      laser fluence used. While the nanoalloyed NPs exhibit a single, narrow surface
      plasmon resonance (SPR), the heterogeneous NPs show broader SPRs that peak in the
      near infrared and depending on conditions exhibit even two clear SPRs. The laser
      seeding approach in the conditions used in this work allows for the expansion of
      the tuning range of the color to the blue-green region, i.e. beyond the region
      that can be achieved through nanoalloyed NPs (yellow-red region). In addition,
      the results presented foresee the laser seeding route as a means to produce round
      and almost isolated NPs in an enhanced range of diameters. 

PMID- 26866904
TI  - Comparison of ECG-based physiological markers for hypoxia in a preterm ovine
      model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Current methods for assessing perinatal hypoxic conditions did not
      improve infant outcomes. Various waveform-based and interval-based ECG markers
      have been suggested, but not directly compared. We compare performance of ECG
      markers in a standardized ovine model for fetal hypoxia. METHODS: Sixty-nine
      fetal sheep of 0.7 gestation had ECG recorded 4 h before, during, and 4 h after a
      25-min period of umbilical cord occlusion (UCO), leading to severe hypoxia.
      Various ECG markers were calculated, among which were heart rate (HR), HR
      corrected ventricular depolarization/repolarization interval (QTc), and ST
      segment analysis (STAN) episodic and baseline rise markers, analogue to clinical
      STAN device alarms. Performance of interval- and waveform-based ECG markers was
      assessed by correlating predicted and actual hypoxic/normoxic state. RESULTS: Of
      the markers studied, HR and QTc demonstrated high sensitivity (>=86%),
      specificity (>=96%), and positive predictive value (PPV) (>=86%) and detected
      hypoxia in >=90% of fetuses at 4 min after UCO. In contrast, STAN episodic and
      baseline rise markers displayed low sensitivity (<=20%) and could not detect
      severe fetal hypoxia in 65 and 28% of the animals, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Interval-based HR and QTc markers could assess the presence of severe hypoxia.
      Waveform-based STAN episodic and baseline rise markers were ineffective as
      markers for hypoxia.

PMID- 26866905
TI  - The interrelationship of recruitment maneuver at birth, antenatal steroids, and
      exogenous surfactant on compliance and oxygenation in preterm lambs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To describe the interrelationship between antenatal steroids,
      exogenous surfactant, and two approaches to lung recruitment at birth on
      oxygenation and respiratory system compliance (Cdyn) in preterm lambs. METHODS:
      Lambs (n = 63; gestational age 127 +/- 1 d) received either surfactant at 10-min
      life (Surfactant), antenatal corticosteroids (Steroid), or neither (Control).
      Within each epoch lambs were randomly assigned to a 30-s 40 cmH2O sustained
      inflation (SI) or an initial stepwise positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
      open lung ventilation (OLV) maneuver at birth. All lambs then received the same
      management for 60-min with alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO2) and Cdyn
      measured at regular time points. RESULTS: Overall, the OLV strategy improved Cdyn
      and AaDO2 (all epochs except Surfactant) compared to SI (all P < 0.05; two-way
      ANOVA). Irrespective of strategy, Cdyn was better in the Steroid group in the
      first 10 min (all P < 0.05). Thereafter, Cdyn was similar to Steroid epoch in the
      OLV + Surfactant, but not SI + Surfactant group. OLV influenced the effect of
      steroid and surfactant (P = 0.005) on AaDO2 more than SI (P = 0.235).
      CONCLUSIONS: The antenatal state of the lung influences the type and impact of a
      recruitment maneuver at birth. The effectiveness of surfactant maybe enhanced
      using PEEP-based time-dependent recruitment strategies rather than approaches
      solely aimed at initial lung liquid clearance.

PMID- 26866903
TI  - Intrauterine growth restriction: impact on cardiovascular development and
      function throughout infancy.
AB  - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to the situation where a fetus does
      not grow according to its genetic growth potential. One of the main causes of
      IUGR is uteroplacental vascular insufficiency. Under these circumstances of
      chronic oxygen and nutrient deprivation, the growth-restricted fetus often
      displays typical circulatory changes, which in part represent adaptations to the
      suboptimal intrauterine environment. These fetal adaptations aim to preserve
      oxygen and nutrient supply to vital organs such as the brain, the heart, and the
      adrenals. These prenatal circulatory adaptations are thought to lead to an
      altered development of the cardiovascular system and "program" the fetus for life
      long cardiovascular morbidities. In this review, we discuss the alterations to
      cardiovascular structure, function, and control that have been observed in growth
      restricted fetuses, neonates, and infants following uteroplacental vascular
      insufficiency. We also discuss the current knowledge on early life surveillance
      and interventions to prevent progression into chronic disease.

PMID- 26866909
TI  - Thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine as an Electron Deficient pi-Bridge in D-A-pi-A DSCs.
AB  - Thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine (TPz) is examined as an electron deficient pi-bridge
      enabling near-infrared (NIR) spectral access in dye-sensitized solar cells
      (DSCs). Seven dissymmetric dyes for DSCs were synthesized (NL2-NL8) with TPz as
      the pi-bridge utilizing palladium catalyzed C-H activation methodology. C-H bond
      cross-coupling was uniquely effective among the cross-couplings and electrophilic
      aromatic substitution reactions analyzed in monofunctionalizing the TPz building
      block. The TPz-based NL2-NL8 dyes examine the effects of various donors, pi
      spacers, and acceptors within the donor-pi bridge-acceptor (D-pi-A) dye design.
      Proaromatic TPz stabilizes the excited-state oxidation potential (E(s+/s*)) of
      the dyes by maintaining aromaticity upon excitation of the dye molecule. This
      leads to concise conjugated systems capable of accessing the NIR region. Through
      judicious structural modifications, dye band gaps were reduced to 1.48 eV, and
      power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) reached 7.1% in this first generation TPz
      dye series.

PMID- 26866907
TI  - Iron is prioritized to red blood cells over the brain in phlebotomized anemic
      newborn lambs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Critically ill preterm and term neonates are at high risk for
      negative iron balance due to phlebotomy that occurs with frequent laboratory
      monitoring, and the high iron demand of rapid growth. Understanding the
      prioritization of iron between red blood cells (RBCs) and brain is important
      given iron's role in neurodevelopment. METHODS: Ten neonatal twin lamb pairs (n =
      20) underwent regular phlebotomy for 11 d. Lambs were randomized to receive no
      iron or i.v. daily iron supplementation from 1 to 5 mg/kg. Serum hemoglobin
      concentration and reticulocyte count were assayed, iron balance calculated, and
      iron content of RBCs, liver, brain, muscle, and heart measured at autopsy.
      RESULTS: Among phlebotomized lambs: (i) liver iron concentration was directly
      related to net iron balance (r = 0.87; P < 0.001) and (ii) brain iron
      concentration was reduced as a function of net iron balance (r = 0.63) only after
      liver iron was depleted. In animals with negative iron balance, total RBC iron
      was maintained while brain iron concentration decreased as a percentage of the
      iron present in RBCs (r = -0.70; P < 0.01) and as a function of reticulocyte
      count (r = -0.63; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Phlebotomy-induced negative iron balance
      limits iron availability to the developing brain.

PMID- 26866910
TI  - WITHDRAWN: Inhaled bronchodilators for cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 26866906
TI  - Childhood obesity-related endothelial dysfunction: an update on
      pathophysiological mechanisms and diagnostic advancements.
AB  - Childhood obesity jeopardizes a healthy future for our society's children as it
      is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality later on in
      life. Endothelial dysfunction, the first step in the development of
      atherosclerosis, is already present in obese children and may well represent a
      targetable risk factor. Technological advancements in recent years have
      facilitated noninvasive measurements of endothelial homeostasis in children.
      Thereby this topic ultimately starts to get the attention it deserves. In this
      paper, we aim to summarize the latest insights on endothelial dysfunction in
      childhood obesity. We discuss methodological advancements in peripheral
      endothelial function measurement and newly identified diagnostic markers of
      vascular homeostasis. Finally, future challenges and perspectives are set forth
      on how to efficiently tackle the catastrophic rise in cardiovascular morbidity
      and mortality that will be inflicted on obese children if they are not treated
      optimally.

PMID- 26866908
TI  - Comparing apples with apples: it is time for standardized reporting of neonatal
      nutrition and growth studies.
AB  - The ultimate goal of neonatal nutrition care is optimal growth, neurodevelopment,
      and long-term health for preterm babies. International consensus is that
      increased energy and protein intakes in the neonatal period improve growth and
      neurodevelopment, but after more than 100 y of research the optimum intakes of
      energy and protein remain unknown. We suggest an important factor contributing to
      the lack of progress is the lack of a standardized approach to reporting
      nutritional intake data and growth in the neonatal literature. We reviewed
      randomized controlled trials and observational studies documented in MEDLINE and
      the Web of Science from 2008 to 2015 that compared approximately 3 vs. 4 g.kg(
      1).d(-1) protein for preterm babies in the first month after birth. Consistency
      might be expected in the calculation of nutritional intake and assessment of
      growth outcomes in this relatively narrow scope of neonatal nutrition research.
      Twenty-two studies were reviewed. There was substantial variation in methods used
      to estimate and calculate nutritional intakes and in the approaches used in
      reporting these intakes and measures of infant growth. Such variability makes
      comparisons amongst studies difficult and meta-analysis unreliable. We propose
      the StRONNG Checklist-Standardized Reporting Of Neonatal Nutrition and Growth to
      address these issues.

PMID- 26866911
TI  - Muscle Activity Adaptations to Spinal Tissue Creep in the Presence of Muscle
      Fatigue.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to identify adaptations in muscle activity
      distribution to spinal tissue creep in presence of muscle fatigue. METHODS:
      Twenty-three healthy participants performed a fatigue task before and after 30
      minutes of passive spinal tissue deformation in flexion. Right and left erector
      spinae activity was recorded using large-arrays surface electromyography (EMG).
      To characterize muscle activity distribution, dispersion was used. During the
      fatigue task, EMG amplitude root mean square (RMS), median frequency and
      dispersion in x- and y-axis were compared before and after spinal creep. RESULTS:
      Important fatigue-related changes in EMG median frequency were observed during
      muscle fatigue. Median frequency values showed a significant main creep effect,
      with lower median frequency values on the left side under the creep condition
      (p<=0.0001). A significant main creep effect on RMS values was also observed as
      RMS values were higher after creep deformation on the right side (p = 0.014); a
      similar tendency, although not significant, was observed on the left side (p =
      0.06). A significant creep effects for x-axis dispersion values was observed,
      with higher dispersion values following the deformation protocol on the left side
      (p<=0.001). Regarding y-axis dispersion values, a significant creep x fatigue
      interaction effect was observed on the left side (p = 0.016); a similar tendency,
      although not significant, was observed on the right side (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION:
      Combined muscle fatigue and creep deformation of spinal tissues led to changes in
      muscle activity amplitude, frequency domain and distribution.

PMID- 26866913
TI  - Towards a Metropolitan Fundamental Diagram Using Travel Survey Data.
AB  - Using travel diary data from 2000-2001 and 2010-2012 this research examines
      fundamental traffic relationships at the metropolitan level. The results of this
      paper can help to explain the causes of some traffic phenomena. Network average
      speed by time of day can be explained by trip length and cumulative number of
      vehicles on the road. A clockwise hysteresis loop is found in the Metropolitan
      Fundamental Diagram in the morning period and a reverse process happens in the
      afternoon. 

PMID- 26866912
TI  - Risk Factors for Enterovirus A71 Seropositivity in Rural Indigenous Populations
      in West Malaysia.
AB  - Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, causes
      hand, foot and mouth disease and, rarely, severe neurological complications. In
      Malaysia, the indigenous rural community (Orang Asli) has a high prevalence of
      parasitic diseases due to poor sanitation, water supply and hygiene practices.
      This cross-sectional study compared the seroepidemiology of EV-A71 among rural
      Orang Asli and urban Kuala Lumpur populations in West Malaysia, and determined
      the risk factors associated with EV-A71 seropositivity in rural Orang Asli.
      Seropositive rates were determined by neutralization assay. EV-A71 seropositivity
      was strongly associated with increasing age in both populations. Rural Orang Asli
      children <=12 years had significantly higher EV-A71 seropositivity rates than
      urban Kuala Lumpur children (95.5% vs 57.6%, P < 0.001), and also higher rates in
      the age groups of 1-3, 4-6 and 7-12 years. Multivariate analysis confirmed that
      age <=12 years (adjusted OR 8.1, 95% CI 3.2-20.7, P < 0.001) and using untreated
      water (adjusted OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.3-16.6, P < 0.001) were independently associated
      with EV-A71 seropositivity in the Orang Asli population. Supply of clean drinking
      water may reduce the risk of EV-A71 infection. With significantly higher EV-A71
      seropositive rates, younger rural children should be a priority target for future
      vaccination programs in Malaysia. 

PMID- 26866914
TI  - The March towards a Vaccine for Congenital CMV: Rationale and Models.

PMID- 26866915
TI  - Tunneling Interlayer for Efficient Transport of Charges in Metal Oxide
      Electrodes.
AB  - Due to the limited electronic conductivity, the application of many metal oxides
      that may have attractive (photo)-electrochemical properties has been limited.
      Regarding these issues, incorporating low-dimensional conducting scaffolds into
      the electrodes or supporting the metal oxides onto the conducting networks are
      common approaches. However, some key electronic processes like interfacial charge
      transfer are far from being consciously concerned. Here we use a carbon-TiO2
      contact as a model system to demonstrate the electronic processes occurring at
      the metal-semiconductor interface. To minimize the energy dissipation for fast
      transfer of electrons from semiconductor to carbon scaffolds, facilitating
      electron tunneling while avoiding high energy-consuming thermionic emission is
      desired, according to our theoretical simulation of the voltammetric behaviors.
      To validate this, we manage to sandwich ultrathin TiO2 interlayers with heavy
      electronic doping between the carbon conductors and dopant-free TiO2. The
      radially graded distribution of the electronic doping along the cross-sectional
      direction of carbon conductor realized by immobilizing the dopant species on the
      carbon surface can minimize the energy consumption for contacts to both the
      carbon and the dopant-free TiO2. Our strategy provides an important requirement
      for metal oxide electrode design. 

PMID- 26866916
TI  - Generation and Characterisation of a Pax8-CreERT2 Transgenic Line and a Slc22a6
      CreERT2 Knock-In Line for Inducible and Specific Genetic Manipulation of Renal
      Tubular Epithelial Cells.
AB  - Genetically relevant mouse models need to recapitulate the hallmarks of human
      disease by permitting spatiotemporal gene targeting. This is especially important
      for replicating the biology of complex diseases like cancer, where genetic events
      occur in a sporadic fashion within developed somatic tissues. Though a number of
      renal tubule targeting mouse lines have been developed their utility for the
      study of renal disease is limited by lack of inducibility and specificity. In
      this study we describe the generation and characterisation of two novel mouse
      lines directing CreERT2 expression to renal tubular epithelia. The Pax8-CreERT2
      transgenic line uses the mouse Pax8 promoter to direct expression of CreERT2 to
      all renal tubular compartments (proximal and distal tubules as well as collecting
      ducts) whilst the Slc22a6-CreERT2 knock-in line utilises the endogenous mouse
      Slc22a6 locus to specifically target the epithelium of proximal renal tubules.
      Both lines show high organ and tissue specificity with no extrarenal activity
      detected. To establish the utility of these lines for the study of renal cancer
      biology, Pax8-CreERT2 and Slc22a6-CreERT2 mice were crossed to conditional Vhl
      knockout mice to induce long-term renal tubule specific Vhl deletion. These
      models exhibited renal specific activation of the hypoxia inducible factor
      pathway (a VHL target). Our results establish Pax8-CreERT2 and Slc22a6-CreERT2
      mice as valuable tools for the investigation and modelling of complex renal
      biology and disease. 

PMID- 26866917
TI  - Radial Frequency Analysis of Contour Shapes in the Visual Cortex.
AB  - Cumulative psychophysical evidence suggests that the shape of closed contours is
      analysed by means of their radial frequency components (RFC). However,
      neurophysiological evidence for RFC-based representations is still missing. We
      investigated the representation of radial frequency in the human visual cortex
      with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We parametrically varied the radial
      frequency, amplitude and local curvature of contour shapes. The stimuli evoked
      clear responses across visual areas in the univariate analysis, but the response
      magnitude did not depend on radial frequency or local curvature. Searchlight
      based, multivariate representational similarity analysis revealed RFC specific
      response patterns in areas V2d, V3d, V3AB, and IPS0. Interestingly, RFC-specific
      representations were not found in hV4 or LO, traditionally associated with visual
      shape analysis. The modulation amplitude of the shapes did not affect the
      responses in any visual area. Local curvature, SF-spectrum and contrast energy
      related representations were found across visual areas but without similar
      specificity for visual area that was found for RFC. The results suggest that the
      radial frequency of a closed contour is one of the cortical shape analysis
      dimensions, represented in the early and mid-level visual areas. 

PMID- 26866918
TI  - Robust CPD Algorithm for Non-Rigid Point Set Registration Based on Structure
      Information.
AB  - Recently, the Coherent Point Drift (CPD) algorithm has become a very popular and
      efficient method for point set registration. However, this method does not take
      into consideration the neighborhood structure information of points to find the
      correspondence and requires a manual assignment of the outlier ratio. Therefore,
      CPD is not robust for large degrees of degradation. In this paper, an improved
      method is proposed to overcome the two limitations of CPD. A structure
      descriptor, such as shape context, is used to perform the auxiliary calculation
      of the correspondence, and the proportion of each GMM component is adjusted by
      the similarity. The outlier ratio is formulated in the EM framework so that it
      can be automatically calculated and optimized iteratively. The experimental
      results on both synthetic data and real data demonstrate that the proposed method
      described here is more robust to deformation, noise, occlusion, and outliers than
      CPD and other state-of-the-art algorithms. 

PMID- 26866919
TI  - Intrapericardial Delivery of Cardiosphere-Derived Cells: An Immunological Study
      in a Clinically Relevant Large Animal Model.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The intrapericardial delivery has been defined as an efficient
      method for pharmacological agent delivery. Here we hypothesize that
      intrapericardial administration of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) may have an
      immunomodulatory effect providing an optimal microenvironment for promoting
      cardiac repair. To our knowledge, this is the first report studying the effects
      of CDCs for myocardial repair using the intrapericardial delivery route. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: CDCs lines were isolated, expanded and characterized by flow
      cytometry and PCR. Their differentiation ability was determined using specific
      culture media and differential staining. 300,000 CDCs/kg were injected into the
      pericardial space of a swine myocardial infarcted model. Magnetic resonance
      imaging, biochemical analysis of pericardial fluid and plasma, cytokine
      measurements and flow cytometry analysis were performed. RESULTS: Our results
      showed that, phenotype and differentiation behavior of porcine CDCs were
      equivalent to previously described CDCs. Moreover, the intrapericardial
      administration of CDCs fulfilled the safety aspects as non-adverse effects were
      reported. Finally, the phenotypes of resident lymphocytes and TH1 cytokines in
      the pericardial fluid were significantly altered after CDCs administration.
      CONCLUSIONS: The pericardial fluid could be considered as a safe and optimal
      vehicle for CDCs administration. The observed changes in the studied
      immunological parameters could exert a modulation in the inflammatory environment
      of infarcted hearts, indirectly benefiting the endogenous cardiac repair.

PMID- 26866921
TI  - Gyroscopic corrections improve wearable sensor data prior to measuring dynamic
      sway in the gait of people with Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Accelerometers are incorporated into many consumer devices providing new ways to
      monitor gait, mobility, and fall risk. However, many health benefits have not
      been realised because of issues with data quality that results from gravitational
      'cross-talk' when the wearable device is tilted. Here we present an adaptive
      filter designed to improve the quality of accelerometer data prior to measuring
      dynamic pelvic sway patterns during a six minute walk test in people with and
      without Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Optical motion capture was used as the gold
      standard. Improved wearable device accuracy (<=4.4% NRMSE) was achieved using
      gyroscopic corrections and scaling filter thresholds by step frequency. The
      people with MS presented significantly greater pelvis sway range to compensate
      for their lower limb weaknesses and joint contractures. The visualisation of
      asymmetric pelvic sway in people with MS illustrates the potential to better
      understand their mobility impairments for reducing fall risk. 

PMID- 26866922
TI  - The Role of Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Sulfide in Urinary Tract Function.
AB  - This MiniReview focuses on the role played by nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen
      sulfide (H2 S) in physiology of the upper and lower urinary tract. NO and H2 S,
      together with carbon monoxide, belong to the group of gaseous autocrine/paracrine
      messengers or gasotransmitters, which are employed for intra- and intercellular
      communication in almost all organ systems. Because they are lipid-soluble gases,
      gaseous transmitters are not constrained by cellular membranes, so that their
      storage in vesicles for later release is not possible. Gasotransmitter signals
      are terminated by falling concentrations upon reduction in production that are
      caused by reacting with cellular components (essentially reactive oxygen species
      and NO), binding to cellular components or diffusing away. NO and, more recently,
      H2 S have been identified as key mediators in neurotransmission of the urinary
      tract, involved in the regulation of ureteral smooth muscle activity and urinary
      flow ureteral resistance, as well as by playing a crucial role in the smooth
      muscle relaxation of bladder outlet region. Urinary bladder function is also
      dependent on integration of inhibitory mediators, such as NO, released from the
      urothelium. In the bladder base and distal ureter, the co-localization of
      neuronal NO synthase with substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide in
      sensory nerves as well as the existence of a high nicotinamide adenine
      dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase activity in dorsal root ganglion neurons also
      suggests the involvement of NO as a sensory neurotransmitter.

PMID- 26866920
TI  - The Combined Effects of Obesity, Abdominal Obesity and Major Depression/Anxiety
      on Health-Related Quality of Life: the LifeLines Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity and major depressive disorder (MDD)/anxiety disorders often
      co-occur and aggravate each other resulting in adverse health-related outcomes.
      As little is known about the potential effects of interaction between obesity and
      MDD and/or anxiety disorders on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), this
      study was aimed at examining these combined effects. METHODS: We collected data
      among N = 89,332 participants from the LifeLines cohort study. We categorized
      body weight using body mass index (kg/m2) as normal weight (18.5-24.99),
      overweight (25-29.9), mild obesity (30-34.9) and moderate/severe obesity (>= 35);
      we measured abdominal obesity using a waist circumference of >=102 and >= 88 cm
      for males and females, respectively. MDD and anxiety disorders were diagnosed
      with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. HR-QoL was assessed using
      the RAND-36 questionnaire to compute physical and mental quality of life scores.
      We used binary logistic and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The combined
      effect of obesity and MDD and/or anxiety disorders on physical QoL was larger
      than the sum of their separate effects; regression coefficients, B (95%
      confidence interval, 95%-CI) were: - 1.32 (-1.75; -0.90). However, the combined
      effect of obesity and major depression alone on mental QoL was less than the
      additive effect. With increasing body weight participants report poorer physical
      QoL; when they also have MDD and/or anxiety disorders participants report even
      poorer physical QoL. In persons without MDD and/or anxiety disorders, obesity was
      associated with a better mental QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and MDD and/or anxiety
      disorders act synergistically on physical and mental QoL. The management of MDD
      and/or anxiety disorders and weight loss may be important routes to improve HR
      QoL.

PMID- 26866923
TI  - Development of an Indirect ELISA for Serological Diagnosis of Bovine herpesvirus
      5.
AB  - Bovine herpesviruses 1 and 5 (BoHV-1 and BoHV-5) are economically important
      pathogens, associated with a variety of clinical syndromes, including respiratory
      and genital disease, reproductive failure and meningoencephalitis. The standard
      serological assay to diagnose BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 infections is the virus
      neutralization test (VNT), a time consuming procedure that requires manipulation
      of infectious virus. In the present study a highly sensitive and specific single
      dilution indirect ELISA was developed using recombinant glycoprotein D from BoHV
      5 as antigen (rgD5ELISA). Bovine serum samples (n = 450) were screened by VNT
      against BoHV-5a and by rgD5ELISA. Compared with the VNT, the rgD5ELISA
      demonstrated accuracy of 99.8%, with 100% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity and
      coefficient of agreement between the tests of 0.954. The rgD5ELISA described here
      shows excellent agreement with the VNT and is shown to be a simple, convenient,
      specific and highly sensitive virus-free assay for detection of serum antibodies
      to BoHV-5. 

PMID- 26866924
TI  - Novel Role of Src in Priming Pyk2 Phosphorylation.
AB  - Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) is a member of the focal adhesion kinase
      (FAK) family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases and plays an important role in
      diverse cellular events downstream of the integrin-family of receptors, including
      cell migration, proliferation and survival. Here, we have identified a novel role
      for Src kinase in priming Pyk2 phosphorylation and subsequent activation upon
      cell attachment on the integrin-ligand fibronectin. By using complementary
      methods, we show that Src activity is indispensable for the initial Pyk2
      phosphorylation on the Y402 site observed in response to cell attachment. In
      contrast, the initial fibronectin-induced autophosphorylation of FAK in the
      homologous Y397 site occurs in a Src-independent manner. We demonstrate that the
      SH2-domain of Src is required for Src binding to Pyk2 and for Pyk2
      phosphorylation at sites Y402 and Y579. Moreover, Y402 phosphorylation is a
      prerequisite for the subsequent Y579 phosphorylation. While this initial
      phosphorylation of Pyk2 by Src is independent of Pyk2 kinase activity, subsequent
      autophosphorylation of Pyk2 in trans is required for full Pyk2 phosphorylation
      and activation. Collectively, our studies reveal a novel function of Src in
      priming Pyk2 (but not FAK) phosphorylation and subsequent activation downstream
      of integrins, and shed light on the signaling events that regulate the function
      of Pyk2. 

PMID- 26866925
TI  - Heme oxygenase 1 controls early innate immune response of macrophages to
      Salmonella Typhimurium infection.
AB  - Macrophages are central for the immune control of intracellular microbes. Heme
      oxygenase 1 (HO-1, hmox) is the first and rate limiting enzyme in the breakdown
      of heme originating from degraded senescent erythrocytes and heme-proteins,
      yielding equal amounts of iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. HO-1 is strongly
      up-regulated in macrophages in response to inflammatory signals, including
      bacterial endotoxin. In view of the essential role of iron for the growth and
      proliferation of intracellular bacteria along with known effects of the metal on
      innate immune function, we examined whether HO-1 plays a role in the control of
      infection with the intracellular bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium. We studied the
      course of infection in stably-transfected murine macrophages (RAW264.7) bearing a
      tetracycline-inducible plasmid producing hmox shRNA and in primary HO-1 knockout
      macrophages. While uptake of bacteria into macrophages was not affected, a
      significantly reduced survival of intracellular Salmonella was observed upon hmox
      knockdown or pharmacological hmox inhibition, which was independent of Nramp1
      functionality. This could be traced to limitation of iron availability for
      intramacrophage bacteria along with enhanced stimulation of innate immune
      effector pathways, including the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen
      species and increased TNF-alpha expression. Mechanistically, these latter effects
      result from intracellular iron limitation with subsequent activation of NF-kappaB
      and further inos, tnfa and p47phox transcription along with reduced formation of
      the anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging molecules, CO and biliverdin as a
      consequence of HO-1 silencing. Taken together our data provide novel evidence
      that the infection-driven induction of HO-1 exerts detrimental effects in the
      early control of Salmonella infection, whereas hmox inhibition can favourably
      modulate anti-bacterial immune effector pathways of macrophages and promote
      bacterial elimination.

PMID- 26866926
TI  - Micro-scale Spatial Clustering of Cholera Risk Factors in Urban Bangladesh.
AB  - Close interpersonal contact likely drives spatial clustering of cases of cholera
      and diarrhea, but spatial clustering of risk factors may also drive this pattern.
      Few studies have focused specifically on how exposures for disease cluster at
      small spatial scales. Improving our understanding of the micro-scale clustering
      of risk factors for cholera may help to target interventions and power studies
      with cluster designs. We selected sets of spatially matched households (matched
      sets) near cholera case households between April and October 2013 in a cholera
      endemic urban neighborhood of Tongi Township in Bangladesh. We collected data on
      exposures to suspected cholera risk factors at the household and individual
      level. We used intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) to characterize
      clustering of exposures within matched-sets and households, and assessed if
      clustering depended on the geographical extent of the matched-sets. Clustering
      over larger spatial scales was explored by assessing the relationship between
      matched-sets. We also explored whether different exposures tended to appear
      together in individuals, households, and matched-sets. Household level exposures,
      including: drinking municipal supplied water (ICC = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.96, 0.98),
      type of latrine (ICC = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.71, 1.00), and intermittent access to
      drinking water (ICC = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.87, 1.00) exhibited strong clustering
      within matched-sets. As the geographic extent of matched-sets increased, the
      concordance of exposures within matched-sets decreased. Concordance between
      matched-sets of exposures related to water supply was elevated at distances of up
      to approximately 400 meters. Household level hygiene practices were correlated
      with infrastructure shown to increase cholera risk. Co-occurrence of different
      individual level exposures appeared to mostly reflect the differing domestic
      roles of study participants. Strong spatial clustering of exposures at a small
      spatial scale in a cholera endemic population suggests a possible role for highly
      targeted interventions. Studies with cluster designs in areas with strong spatial
      clustering of exposures should increase sample size to account for the
      correlation of these exposures. 

PMID- 26866927
TI  - Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Inhibit Tumor Progression in a Mouse Model.
AB  - Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthetic interactions
      between particular nanomaterials with specific cells or proteins opens new
      alternatives in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes
      (MWCNTs) have long been explored as drug delivery systems and nanomedicines
      against cancer. There are high expectations for their use in therapy and
      diagnosis. These filaments can translocate inside cultured cells and intermingle
      with the protein nanofilaments of the cytoskeleton, interfering with the
      biomechanics of cell division mimicking the effect of traditional microtubule
      binding anti-cancer drugs such as paclitaxel. Here, it is shown how MWCNTs can
      trigger significant anti-tumoral effects in vivo, in solid malignant melanomas
      produced by allograft transplantation. Interestingly, the MWCNT anti-tumoral
      effects are maintained even in solid melanomas generated from paclitaxel
      resistant cells. These findings provide great expectation in the development of
      groundbreaking adjuvant synthetic microtubule-stabilizing chemotherapies to
      overcome drug resistance in cancer.

PMID- 26866928
TI  - Endovascular Management of Acute Ischemic Strokes with Tandem Occlusions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ischemic strokes with tandem occlusions are associated with a poor
      prognosis. Recent studies demonstrating the effectiveness of endovascular
      treatment for large vessel occlusions have shown less impressive results in
      patients with tandem occlusions than in those with isolated intracranial
      occlusions. Also, the indications and effects of carotid stenting remain unclear.
      METHODS: From a prospectively gathered registry, we analyzed data of 70
      consecutive patients who underwent mechanical endovascular treatment for acute
      stroke with tandem occlusions from November 2011 to August 2014. Clinical
      (including demographics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and
      stroke etiology), imaging (including diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke
      Program Early Computed Tomography Score), and endovascular treatment data were
      assessed and reviewed in consensus by 2 observers. Good clinical outcome was
      defined as a modified Rankin Scale of <=2 at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At 3
      month follow-up, 50.8% had a poor clinical outcome, including death in 13.4%.
      Lower NIHSS (initial, at day 1, and at discharge) and successful recanalization
      (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b-3) were associated with a good clinical
      outcome (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between
      patients with a good or poor clinical outcome in terms of intravenous (IV) tissue
      plasminogen activator use, delay between symptom onset and recanalization, and
      endovascular technique including the carotid stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the
      recent randomized control trials demonstrating the effectiveness of thrombectomy,
      there is still a research gap about tandem occlusions. This subtype of stroke,
      which usually responds poorly to IV thrombolysis, is also difficult to treat by
      endovascular means. Guidelines for the endovascular management of tandem
      occlusions are needed.

PMID- 26866929
TI  - A relaxometric method for the assessment of intestinal permeability based on the
      oral administration of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents.
AB  - Herein, a new relaxometric method for the assessment of intestinal permeability
      based on the oral administration of clinically approved gadolinium (Gd)-based MRI
      contrast agents (CAs) is proposed. The fast, easily performed and cheap
      measurement of the longitudinal water proton relaxation rate (R1) in urine
      reports the amount of paramagnetic probe that has escaped the gastrointestinal
      tract. The proposed method appears to be a compelling alternative to the
      available methods for the assessment of intestinal permeability. The method was
      tested on the murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in
      comparison with healthy mice. Three CAs were tested, namely ProHance(r),
      MultiHance(r) and Magnevist(r). Urine was collected for 24 h after the oral
      ingestion of the Gd-containing CA at day 3-4 (severe damage stage) and day 8-9
      (recovery stage) after treatment with DSS. The Gd content in urine measured by
      (1)H relaxometry was confirmed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
      (ICP-MS). The extent of urinary excretion was given as a percentage of excreted
      Gd over the total ingested dose. The method was validated by comparing the
      results obtained with the established methodology based on the lactulose/mannitol
      and sucralose tests. For ProHance and Magnevist, the excreted amounts in the
      severe stage of damage were 2.5-3 times higher than in control mice. At the
      recovery stage, no significant differences were observed with respect to healthy
      mice. Overall, a very good correlation with the lactulose/mannitol and sucralose
      results was obtained. In the case of MultiHance, the percentage of excreted Gd
      complex was not significantly different from that of control mice in either the
      severe or recovery stages. The difference from ProHance and Magnevist was
      explained on the basis of the (known) partial biliary excretion of MultiHance in
      mice.

PMID- 26866930
TI  - Effect of Angiotensin-(1-7) on Aortic Response, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and Receptor
      for Advanced Glycation Endproduct in Rat's Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis.
AB  - Altered vascular reactivity due to endothelial dysfunction, consequent to
      vascular damage, is observed in rheumatoid arthritis. We investigated the effect
      of angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) on vasculature changes in arthritis induced by
      complete Freund's adjuvant in male Wistar rats. Arthritis decreased soluble
      receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) whereas elevated aortic RAGE
      expression, increased interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor
      alpha (TNF-alpha), systolic blood pressure and the contractility induced by
      phenylephrine and KCl. Moreover, arthritis decreased the relaxing effect of
      acetylcholine. Neither arthritis nor Ang-(1-7) altered sodium nitroprusside
      relaxation. Ang-(1-7) reversed the effect of arthritis on TNF-alpha, sRAGE and
      RAGE expression without any effect on the IL-1beta. Ang-(1-7) decreased
      phenylephrine and KCl contractility, especially in the endothelial-denuded aorta,
      whereas increased acetylcholine relaxation in the endothelial-intact aorta. Ang
      (1-7) could find its place in the treatment protocol of arthritis and vascular
      diseases. 

PMID- 26866931
TI  - Expression of AQP1 Was Associated with Apoptosis and Survival of Patients in
      Gastric Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, interest in the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in
      human gastrointestinal carcinogenesis has developed. However, to date no studies
      have examined relationships between AQP1 expression and specific characteristics
      of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We investigated 109 specimens of primary
      gastric adenocarcinoma and their corresponding normal gastric mucosa using
      immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
      to determine AQP1 expression. We then evaluated disease free survival (DFS) and
      overall survival (OS) in these patients in association with AQP1 expression.
      RESULTS: Both immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses identified increased AQP1
      expression in tumors from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). The 3
      year DFS and OS rates were higher in the AQP1-negative group than in the positive
      group (DFS: 77.2 vs. 52.8%, p < 0.001; OS: 85.1 vs. 70.7%, p < 0.001). The 5-year
      DFS and OS rates exhibited a similar trend (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of
      patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma (stages I and II) revealed a total 5
      year OS of 90.0%, with 5-year OS being higher in the AQP1-negative group than in
      the positive group (95.2 vs. 84.2%). Furthermore, incidence of tumor recurrence
      following surgical treatment was significantly higher in the AQP1-positive group
      (4/19, 21.1%) compared with the negative group (0/21, 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      demonstrates that AQP1 plays an important role in gastric adenocarcinoma and may
      therefore represent a novel therapeutic target and prognostic marker in this
      disease.

PMID- 26866934
TI  - Does Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade Protect Lupus Nephritis Patients From
      Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events? A Case-Control Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin
      receptor blockers (ARBs) are used as an adjuvant treatment in lupus nephritis
      (LN) patients with proteinuria. The primary aim of this study was to discover
      whether ACE inhibitors/ARBs have an atheroprotective effect similar to other, at
      risk, populations. METHODS: A total of 144 patients (cases; mean +/- SD age at
      onset 34 +/- 12.1 years, followup 14.9 +/- 8.6 years) with LN who were treated
      with ACE inhibitors/ARBs for at least 5 years were enrolled. The control group
      comprised 301 LN patients (mean +/- SD age at onset 34.1 +/- 13.2 years, followup
      13.4 +/- 7.9 years) with no such treatment. All patients were followed for the
      occurrence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (CVEs), consisting of
      transient ischemic attack and stroke, angina, myocardial infarction, percutaneous
      transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG),
      and congestive heart failure. Patients with preexisting CVEs were excluded.
      RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the cumulative occurrence of
      CVEs (9.7% for treated versus 8.6% for nontreated patients; P = 0.708); however,
      hard events (stroke, myocardial infarction, CABG, and PTCA) were less frequent in
      treated patients (4.17% versus 5.32%). Cases were more frequently hypertensive
      (100% versus 52.8%; P < 0.001) and diabetic (10.4% versus 4.7%; P = 0.021),
      whereas controls more frequently had hypercholesterolemia (27.9% versus 18.1%; P
      = 0.024) and elevated triglycerides (14% versus 4.9%; P = 0.004); other variables
      did not differ significantly. Regression analysis failed to confirm ACE
      inhibitor/ARB nonuse as an important predictor of future CVEs. CONCLUSION: Our
      data do not support the hypothesis that ACE inhibitors/ARBs may be protective
      against atherosclerotic CVEs in LN patients.

PMID- 26866933
TI  - Transanal submucosal polyacrylamide gel injection treatment of anal incontinence:
      a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The efficacious and safe use of transurethral injections of
      polyacrylamide hydrogel (Bulkamid((r))) in women with stress urinary incontinence
      suggests that it may be suitable also for treatment of anal incontinence. We
      aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel when
      used as a transanal submucosal bulking agent in women with anal incontinence.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty women with a diagnosis of anal incontinence and a
      Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) >10 were randomized to three different
      techniques of transanal submucosal injections using polyacrylamide hydrogel.
      Follow up was performed at 2, 6 and 12 months using CCIS and the Fecal
      Incontinence Quality of Life scale (FIQL). RESULTS: In all, 29 of the 30 women
      completed the follow up. Approximately half of the women requested a re-injection
      at the 6-month visit. The overall CCIS improved significantly from baseline
      (14.7. SD 2.5) to 1 year (12.4. SD 3.1) (p = 0.003). There was a significant
      improvement with regard to the occurrence of loose fecal incontinence (p = 0.014)
      but not for solid fecal incontinence (p = 0.28). At 1 year the FIQL domains of
      coping-behavior, depression, and embarrassment showed significant improvements (p
      = 0.012, p = 0.007 and p = 0.007, respectively). We recorded no adverse events
      related either to the injection technique or the biomaterial. There were no
      significant differences between the treatment groups in either CCIS or FIQL
      scores. CONCLUSION: Transanal submucosal injection of polyacrylamide hydrogel
      resulted in a modest although significant overall improvement in anal
      incontinence symptom scores with corresponding improvements in several domains of
      quality of life, regardless of injection volume.

PMID- 26866932
TI  - Cross-talk between circadian clocks, sleep-wake cycles, and metabolic networks:
      Dispelling the darkness.
AB  - Integration of knowledge concerning circadian rhythms, metabolic networks, and
      sleep-wake cycles is imperative for unraveling the mysteries of biological cycles
      and their underlying mechanisms. During the last decade, enormous progress in
      circadian biology research has provided a plethora of new insights into the
      molecular architecture of circadian clocks. However, the recent identification of
      autonomous redox oscillations in cells has expanded our view of the clockwork
      beyond conventional transcription/translation feedback loop models, which have
      been dominant since the first circadian period mutants were identified in fruit
      fly. Consequently, non-transcriptional timekeeping mechanisms have been proposed,
      and the antioxidant peroxiredoxin proteins have been identified as conserved
      markers for 24-hour rhythms. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding
      of interdependencies amongst circadian rhythms, sleep homeostasis, redox cycles,
      and other cellular metabolic networks. We speculate that systems-level
      investigations implementing integrated multi-omics approaches could provide novel
      mechanistic insights into the connectivity between daily cycles and metabolic
      systems. 

PMID- 26866935
TI  - Immediate Administration of Intraarticular Triamcinolone Acetonide After Joint
      Injury Modulates Molecular Outcomes Associated With Early Synovitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test whether intraarticular corticosteroid injection mitigates
      injury-induced synovitis and collagen degradation after anterior cruciate
      ligament transection (ACLT) and to characterize the synovial response using a
      functional genomics approach in a preclinical model of posttraumatic
      osteoarthritis. METHODS: Yorkshire pigs underwent unilateral ACLT without
      subsequent corticosteroid injection (the ACLT group; n = 6) or ACLT with
      immediate injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide (the steroid group; n = 6).
      A control group of pigs (the intact group; n = 6) did not undergo surgery. Total
      synovial membrane cellularity and synovial fluid concentration of C1,2C
      neoepitope-bearing collagen fragments 14 days after injury were primary end
      points and were compared between the ACLT, steroid, and intact groups. Cells were
      differentiated by histologic phenotype and counted, while RNA sequencing was used
      to quantify transcriptome-wide gene expression and monocyte, macrophage, and
      lymphocyte markers. RESULTS: In the intact group, total cellularity was 13% (95%
      confidence interval [95% CI] 9-16) and the C1,2C concentration was 0.24 MUg/ml
      (95% CI 0.08-0.39). In the ACLT group, significant increases were observed in
      total cellularity (to 21% [95% CI 16-27]) and C1,2C concentration (to 0.49 MUg/ml
      [95% CI 0.39-0.59]). Compared to values in the ACLT group, total cellularity in
      the steroid group was nonsignificantly decreased to 17% (95% CI 15-18) (P = 0.26)
      and C1,2C concentration in the steroid group was significantly decreased to 0.29
      MUg/ml (95% CI 0.23-0.35) (P = 0.04). A total of 255 protein-coding transcripts
      were differentially expressed between the ACLT group and the intact group. These
      genes mainly enriched pathways related to cellular immune response, proteolysis,
      and angiogenesis. Mononuclear leukocytes were the dominant cell type in cell
      dense areas. MARCO, SOCS3, CCR1, IL4R, and MMP2 expression was significantly
      associated with C1,2C levels. CONCLUSION: Early intraarticular immunosuppression
      mitigated injury-induced increases in collagen fragments, an outcome better
      predicted by specific marker expression than by histologic measures of synovitis.

PMID- 26866936
TI  - Interlocked supramolecular glycoconjugated polymers for receptor-targeting
      theranostics.
AB  - We report an interlocked supramolecular ensemble formed between a conjugated
      polymer (CP) and a fluorescent glycoprobe for receptor-targeting cancer cell
      theranostics. 

PMID- 26866937
TI  - Protective Role of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Staphylococcus aureus-Induced
      Lung Injury is Mediated by RegIIIgamma Secretion.
AB  - Effective and specific therapeutic approaches are still needed for treating acute
      lung injury caused by severe pneumonia. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are
      well-characterized adult stem cells that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
      effects. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of ADSCs on
      Staphylococcus aureus-induced acute lung injury in mice. Our results showed that
      intratracheal injection of ADSCs could attenuate the severity of lung
      inflammation, and reduce the bacterial load as well as mortality among infected
      mice. Our experiments also revealed that the secretion of regenerating islet
      derived IIIgamma (RegIIIgamma) is responsible for the protective effect of ADSCs.
      Moreover, the expression of RegIIIgamma requires TLR2, MyD88, and JAK2/STAT3
      activation. In conclusion, ADSCs exhibit a direct antimicrobial activity that is
      mediated primarily by the TLR2-MyD88-JAK2/STAT3-dependent secretion of
      RegIIIgamma. Stem Cells 2016;34:1947-1956.

PMID- 26866938
TI  - Peroxiredoxin II Is Essential for Maintaining Stemness by Redox Regulation in
      Liver Cancer Cells.
AB  - Redox regulation in cancer stem cells (CSCs) is viewed as a good target for
      cancer therapy because redox status plays an important role in cancer stem-cell
      maintenance. Here, we investigated the role of Peroxiredoxin II (Prx II), an
      antioxidant enzyme, in association with maintenance of liver CSCs. Our study
      demonstrates that Prx II overexpressed in liver cancer cells has high potential
      for self-renewal activity. Prx II expression significantly corelated with
      expression of epithelial-cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) and cytokerain 19 in
      liver cancer tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Downregulation
      of Prx II in Huh7 cells with treatment of siRNA reduced expression of EpCAM and
      CD133 as well as Sox2 in accordance with increased ROS and apoptosis, which were
      reversed in Huh7-hPrx II cells. Huh7-hPrx II cells exhibited strong sphere
      formation activity compared with mock cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) exposure enhanced sphere formation, cell-surface expression of EpCAM and
      CD133, and pSTAT3 along with activation of VEGF receptor 2 in Huh7-hPrx II cells.
      The result also emerged in Huh7-H-ras(G12V) and SK-HEP-1-H-ras(G12V) cells with
      high-level expression of Prx II. Prx II was involved in regulation of VEGF
      driving cancer stem cells through VEGFR-2/STAT3 signaling to upregulate Bmi1 and
      Sox2. In addition, knockdown of Prx II in Huh7-H-ras(G12V) cells showed
      significant reduction in cell migration in vitro and in tumorigenic potential in
      vivo. Taken together, all the results demonstrated that Prx II plays a key role
      in the CSC self-renewal of HCC cells through redox regulation. Stem Cells
      2016;34:1188-1197.

PMID- 26866939
TI  - Large Deformation Mechanisms, Plasticity, and Failure of an Individual Collagen
      Fibril With Different Mineral Content.
AB  - Mineralized collagen fibrils are composed of tropocollagen molecules and mineral
      crystals derived from hydroxyapatite to form a composite material that combines
      optimal properties of both constituents and exhibits incredible strength and
      toughness. Their complex hierarchical structure allows collagen fibrils to
      sustain large deformation without breaking. In this study, we report a mesoscale
      model of a single mineralized collagen fibril using a bottom-up approach. By
      conserving the three-dimensional structure and the entanglement of the molecules,
      we were able to construct finite-size fibril models that allowed us to explore
      the deformation mechanisms which govern their mechanical behavior under large
      deformation. We investigated the tensile behavior of a single collagen fibril
      with various intrafibrillar mineral content and found that a mineralized collagen
      fibril can present up to five different deformation mechanisms to dissipate
      energy. These mechanisms include molecular uncoiling, molecular stretching,
      mineral/collagen sliding, molecular slippage, and crystal dissociation. By
      multiplying its sources of energy dissipation and deformation mechanisms, a
      collagen fibril can reach impressive strength and toughness. Adding mineral into
      the collagen fibril can increase its strength up to 10 times and its toughness up
      to 35 times. Combining crosslinks with mineral makes the fibril stiffer but more
      brittle. We also found that a mineralized fibril reaches its maximum toughness to
      density and strength to density ratios for a mineral density of around 30%. This
      result, in good agreement with experimental observations, attests that bone
      tissue is optimized mechanically to remain lightweight but maintain strength and
      toughness.

PMID- 26866940
TI  - Mesenchymal Stem Cell Alterations in Bone Marrow Lesions in Patients With Hip
      Osteoarthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In patients with osteoarthritis (OA), bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are
      intimately linked to disease progression. We hypothesized that aberrant
      multipotential stromal cell (also known as mesenchymal stem cell [MSC]) responses
      within bone tissue contributes to BML pathophysiology. The aim of this study was
      to investigate BML and non-BML native subchondral bone MSCs for numeric,
      topographic, in vitro functional, and gene expression differences. METHODS: Ex
      vivo 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the femoral heads of 20 patients with
      hip OA was performed. MRI-determined BML and non-BML regions were excised and
      enzymatically treated to extract cells and quantify MSCs using flow cytometry and
      colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assay. Immunohistochemical analysis was
      performed to determine in vivo CD271+ MSC distribution. Culture-expanded CD271+
      cells were analyzed for tripotentiality and gene expression. RESULTS: BML regions
      were associated with greater trabecular bone area and cartilage damage compared
      with non-BML regions. The proportion of CD45-CD271+ MSCs was higher in BML
      regions compared with non-BML regions (median difference 5.6-fold; P < 0.001);
      the CFU-F assay showed a similar trend (median difference 4.3-fold; P = 0.013).
      Immunohistochemistry revealed CD271+ cell accumulation in bone adjacent to
      cartilage defects and areas of osteochondral angiogenesis. BML MSCs had lower
      proliferation and mineralization capacities in vitro and altered expression of
      TNFSF11/RANKL and CXCR4/stromal cell-derived factor 1 receptor. OA MSCs showed up
      regulated transcripts for CXCR1 and CCR6 compared with MSCs derived from healthy
      or osteoporotic bone. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show numeric and
      topographic alterations in native MSCs in the diseased bone of patients with hip
      OA. Given the associated functional perturbation of MSCs, these data suggest that
      subchondral bone MSC manipulation may be an OA treatment target.

PMID- 26866942
TI  - Notes from the Field: Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Outbreaks - Five
      Countries, 2014-2015.
AB  - In 2015, wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission was identified in only Afghanistan
      and Pakistan (1). The widespread use of live, attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine
      (OPV) has been key in polio eradication efforts. However, OPV use, particularly
      in areas with low vaccination coverage, is associated with the low risk for
      emergence of vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPV), which can cause paralysis (2).
      VDPVs vary genetically from vaccine viruses and can cause outbreaks in areas with
      low vaccination coverage. Circulating VDPVs (cVDPVs) are VDPVs in confirmed
      outbreaks. Single VDPVs for which the origin cannot be determined are classified
      as ambiguous (aVDPVs), which can also cause paralysis. Among the three types of
      WPV, type 2 has been declared to be eradicated. More than 90% of cVDPV cases have
      been caused by type 2 cVDPVs (cVDPV2). Therefore, in April 2016, all OPV-using
      countries of the world are discontinuing use of type 2 Sabin vaccine by
      simultaneously switching from trivalent OPV (types 1, 2, and 3) to bivalent OPV
      (types 1 and 3) for routine and supplementary immunization. The World Health
      Organization recently broadened the definition of cVDPVs to include any VDPV with
      genetic evidence of prolonged transmission (i.e., >1.5 years) and indicated that
      any single VDPV2 event (a case of paralysis caused by a VDPV or isolation of a
      VDPV from an environmental specimen) should elicit a detailed outbreak
      investigation and local immunization response. A confirmed cVDPV2 detection
      should elicit a full poliovirus outbreak response that includes multiple
      supplemental immunization activities (SIAs); an aVDPV designation should be made
      only after investigation and response (3). Since 2005, there have been 1-8 cVDPV
      outbreaks and 3-12 aVDPV events per year. There are currently five active cVDPV
      outbreaks in Guinea, Laos, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and four other
      active VDPV events. 

PMID- 26866941
TI  - A comprehensive meta-analysis of ZNF804A SNPs in the risk of schizophrenia among
      Asian populations.
AB  - Common variants in ZNF804A increased the risk of schizophrenia (and bipolar
      disorder), with low effect sizes in Europeans, which is in line with the
      polygenic nature of the illnesses, and implies that genetic analyses in small
      samples may not be sufficient to detect stable results. This notion is supported
      by the inconsistent replications of ZNF804A variations among individual small
      Asian samples, indicating the absence of definitive conclusions in this
      population. We collected psychiatric phenotypic and genetic data from Asian
      genome-wide association (GWA) and individual replication studies, which include
      up to 13,452 cases, 17,826 healthy controls, and 680 families, that is, the
      largest-scale study on ZNF804A in Asian populations to date. The European GWAS
      risk single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1344706 was nominally associated with
      schizophrenia in these Asian samples (one-tailed P = 4.26 * 10(-2) , odds ratio
      [OR] = 1.048), and the association was further strengthened when bipolar disorder
      data was also included (one-tailed P = 1.85 * 10(-2) , OR = 1.057). Besides, a
      non-synonymous SNP rs1366842 in the exon 4 of ZNF804A was also associated with
      schizophrenia (P = 9.96 * 10(-3) , OR = 1.095). We additionally analyzed other
      163 SNPs covering ZNF804A region, but none of them showed any evidence of
      association. Though the two SNPs did not remain significant if we applied
      multiple corrections, our analysis should be interpreted as a primary replication
      study with in prior hypothesis, and rs1344706 and rs1366842 might confer a small
      but detectable risk of schizophrenia (and bipolar disorder) in Asians. Moreover,
      the current data suggest the necessity of replication analyses in a large enough
      scale samples.

PMID- 26866943
TI  - So You Are Published, but Are You Read?

PMID- 26866946
TI  - Erratum, Vol. 13, January 14 Release.
AB  - This corrects the article DOI: 10.5888/pcd12.150491.

PMID- 26866945
TI  - Examining the interaction of parental involvement and parenting style in
      predicting adherence in youth with type 1 diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This study examined whether aspects of parenting style
      (specifically, warmth, autonomy support, and coercion) moderated the association
      between parental involvement and adherence in youth with type 1 diabetes.
      METHODS: Children ages 8 to 16 years with type 1 diabetes and a parent completed
      assessments of parental involvement, parenting style, and adherence. RESULTS:
      Parent autonomy support and coercion were associated with adherence but warmth
      was not. Child report of more parental involvement was associated with better
      adherence. Warmth, autonomy support, and coercion were not moderators.
      DISCUSSION: The findings underscore the importance of parental involvement,
      operationalized as responsibility for diabetes tasks, and parenting style,
      specifically coercion and autonomy support, for adherence in pediatric chronic
      illness management. Longitudinal research is needed to better understand how and
      why dimensions of involvement (e.g., responsibility, monitoring, support) vary
      over time and whether they impact outcomes differentially.

PMID- 26866947
TI  - Food Security Status and Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Two
      Economically Deprived Communities of Oakland, California, 2013-2014.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Food security status may moderate how people perceive barriers to
      fruit and vegetable consumption. This study aimed to 1) describe the association
      between fruit and vegetable consumption and microbarriers and mezzobarriers to
      consumption, and 2) test whether these associations differ by food security
      status. METHODS: We surveyed adults (n = 531) living in 2 economically deprived
      communities in Oakland, California, in 2013 and 2014. Multivariate linear
      regression assessed associations between microbarriers (taste, cost, busyness)
      and mezzobarriers (produce selection, quality, and purchase ease) and fruit and
      vegetable consumption, derived from a 26-item dietary screener. Interactions were
      tested by food security status. RESULTS: Respondents consumed a mean 2.4
      (standard deviation, 1.5) servings of fruits and vegetables daily; 39% of the
      sample was food insecure. Being too busy to prepare healthy foods was associated
      with reduced fruit and vegetable consumption (beta(busyness) = -0.40; 95%
      confidence interval [CI], -0.52 to -0.28) among all respondents. Food security
      moderated the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and taste,
      cost, and perceived ease of purchase of healthy foods. Among the food secure,
      disliking healthy food taste (beta(taste) = -0.38; 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.15) and
      cost (beta(cost) = -0.29; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.15) concerns were associated with
      lower consumptions of fruits and vegetables. Mezzobarriers were not significantly
      associated with consumption in either group. CONCLUSION: Perceived time
      constraints influenced fruit and vegetable consumption. Taste and cost influenced
      fruit and vegetable consumption among the food secure and may need to be
      considered when interpreting analyses that describe dietary intake and designing
      diet-related interventions.

PMID- 26866948
TI  - Dyslipidemia and Food Security in Low-Income US Adolescents: National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2010.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Low levels of food security are associated with dyslipidemia and
      chronic disease in adults, particularly in women. There is a gap in knowledge
      about the relationship between food security among youth and dyslipidemia and
      chronic disease. We investigated the relationship between food security status
      and dyslipidemia among low-income adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed data from
      adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (N = 1,072) from households with incomes at or
      below 200% of the federal poverty level from the National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2010. We used logistic regression to examine the
      relationship between household food security status and the odds of having
      abnormalities with fasting total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-C), TG/HDL-C ratio, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B). Models
      included age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, partnered status in the
      household, and maternal education, with additional adjustment for adiposity.
      RESULTS: Household food security status was not associated with elevated TC or
      LDL-C. Adolescents with marginal food security were more likely than food-secure
      peers to have elevated TGs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI],
      1.14-3.05), TG/HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.11-2.82), and Apo B (OR = 1.98;
      95% CI, 1.17-3.36). Female adolescents with marginal food security had greater
      odds than male adolescents of having low HDL-C (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.14-6.37). No
      elevated odds of dyslipidemia were found for adolescents with low or very low
      food security. Adjustment for adiposity did not attenuate estimates. CONCLUSION:
      In this nationally representative sample, low-income adolescents living in
      households with marginal food security had increased odds of having a pattern
      consistent with atherogenic dyslipidemia, which represents a cardiometabolic
      burden above their risk from adiposity alone.

PMID- 26866950
TI  - Edge morphology evolution of graphene domains during chemical vapor deposition
      cooling revealed through hydrogen etching.
AB  - During cooling, considerable changes such as wrinkle formation and edge
      passivation occur in graphene synthesized on the Cu substrate. Wrinkle formation
      is caused by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of graphene and
      its substrate. This work emphasizes the cooling-induced edge passivation. The
      graphene-edge passivation can limit the regrowth of graphene at the domain edge.
      Our work shows that silicon-containing particles tend to accumulate at the
      graphene edge, and the formation of these particles is related to cooling.
      Furthermore, a clear curvature can be observed at the graphene edge on the Cu
      substrate, indicating the sinking of the graphene edge into the Cu substrate.
      Both the sinking of the graphene edge and the accumulation of silicon-containing
      particles are responsible for edge passivation. In addition, two kinds of
      graphene edge morphologies are observed after etching, which were explained by
      different etching mechanisms that illustrate the changes of the graphene edge
      during cooling. 

PMID- 26866949
TI  - A Brief Evaluation of a Project to Engage American Indian Young People as Agents
      of Change in Health Promotion Through Radio Programming, Arizona, 2009-2013.
AB  - Young people can be valuable motivational resources for health promotion. A
      project implemented from 2009 through 2013 in a small American Indian community
      in northwest Arizona recruited American Indian young people aged 10 to 21 as
      agents of change for health promotion through radio programming. Thirty-seven
      participants were recruited and trained in broadcasting and creative writing
      techniques; they produced and aired 3 radio dramas. In post-project evaluation,
      participants were confident they could influence community behaviors but thought
      that training techniques were too similar to those used in school activities and
      thus reduced their drive to engage. Effective engagement of young people requires
      creativity to enhance recruitment, retention, and impact. 

PMID- 26866951
TI  - Letter: De Novo Arteriovenous Malformation Growth Secondary to Implantation of
      Genetically Modified Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Brain.

PMID- 26866952
TI  - In Reply: De Novo Arteriovenous Malformation Growth Secondary to Implantation of
      Genetically Modified Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Brain.

PMID- 26866953
TI  - Recent approaches to evaluating and monitoring geographic atrophy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Given the increasing prevalence of geographic atrophy from age
      related macular degeneration as the number of individuals over 85 increases
      throughout the world, as well as the recent increase in potential treatments to
      slow growth of geographic atrophy, this article discusses recent findings
      regarding retinal imaging of geographic atrophy to detect its presence or
      expansion over time. RECENT FINDINGS: During the review period, the COMPLETE
      (Systemic complement inhibition with eculizumab for geographic atrophy in age
      related macular degeneration) and the GATE (Randomized trial to evaluate
      tandospirone in geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration)
      studies, respectively, reported no beneficial effects of intravenous eculizumab
      or tandospirone eye drops, respectively, identified on the growth of geographic
      atrophy. Several imaging and visual function studies have evaluated the role of
      various techniques using fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography,
      microperimetry, or other investigator-initiated tools to assess geographic
      atrophy growth or progression over time, although the ideal imaging for
      geographic atrophy remains unknown. Some predictive factors for geographic
      atrophy growth recently suggested include genetic features, geographic atrophy
      characteristics in the fellow eye, or the presence of outer retinal tubulation on
      optical coherence tomography. SUMMARY: Quantification of geographic atrophy is
      important for evaluating growth of geographic atrophy. Numerous new imaging
      techniques of geographic atrophy beyond human grading of fundus photographs or
      fluorescein angiograms have emerged, but the ideal imaging for geographic atrophy
      has yet to be determined.

PMID- 26866954
TI  - Bone Mineral Density Changes Among Young, Healthy African Women Receiving Oral
      Tenofovir for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on effect of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)
      when used for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on bone mineral density (BMD) in HIV
      negative women. We evaluated the effect of daily oral TDF and emtricitabine/TDF
      compared with placebo on BMD among women enrolled in an HIV-1 PrEP trial.
      METHODS: HIV-uninfected women in Uganda and Zimbabwe had BMD measurements of
      lumbar spine (LS) and total hip (TH) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at
      baseline and every 24 weeks for 48 weeks of active treatment and for 48 weeks
      after discontinuation of study medication. Plasma tenofovir levels were assessed
      every 12 weeks for the first 48 weeks. RESULTS: Of 518 women enrolled, 432 had
      dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry results at baseline and week 48. In the primary
      analysis, no significant differences in percent BMD change in hip or spine
      between arms observed, likely because of low product adherence. Among the subset
      with tenofovir detection in 75%-100% of plasma samples, the mean percent BMD
      change from baseline to week 48 in the LS was 1.4% lower for TDF or
      emtricitabine/TDF recipients than for placebo (P = 0.002) and TH BMD was 0.9%
      lower (P = 0.018). BMD changes from end of active treatment to 48 weeks were
      significantly greater in the active arm participants compared with placebo
      participants with a net difference of approximately +0.9% at the LS (P = 0.007)
      and +0.7% (P = 0.003) at the TH. CONCLUSIONS: TDF-containing oral PrEP resulted
      in small but significant reversible decreases in hip and spine BMD among young
      African women.

PMID- 26866956
TI  - Scanner-Based Protocol-Driven Ultrasound: An Effective Method to Improve
      Efficiency in an Ultrasound Department.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: For ultrasound, a wide variation is often observed among the number
      and sequence of images acquired for a particular examination type. Scanner-based
      protocols are preset pathways in the ultrasound machine that guide a sonographer
      through the required study images. These protocols can streamline image
      acquisition by improving consistency and efficiency of ultrasound examinations.
      This study evaluated whether implementation of scanner-based protocol-driven
      ultrasound improves efficiency by decreasing the scanning duration and number of
      images acquired. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 437 carotid
      Doppler examinations, 395 complete abdominal ultrasound examinations with Doppler
      imaging, and 413 bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler examinations for deep
      venous thrombosis (DVT) performed by five sonographers before and after
      implementation of scanner-based protocol-driven ultrasound was performed. The
      scanning duration and number of images acquired for each study were recorded.
      Statistical analysis compared the scanning duration and number of images acquired
      before and after implementation of protocol-driven ultrasound. A p value of <
      0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A significant decrease in scanning
      duration occurred for both carotid Doppler ultrasound examinations (decrease by
      12.4% [2.7 minutes], p < 0.0001) and complete abdominal ultrasound examinations
      with Doppler imaging (decrease by 7.5% [2.0 minutes], p = 0.0054) after
      implementation of protocol-driven ultrasound. The decrease in scanning duration
      was not significant for lower extremity DVT Doppler examinations (p = 0.4192). In
      addition, there was a significant decrease in the overall number of images
      obtained for all three types of studies. CONCLUSION: Scanner-based protocol
      driven ultrasound is an effective method that streamlines image acquisition and
      significantly improves efficiency in an ultrasound department while ensuring
      consistency and adherence to accreditation guidelines.

PMID- 26866955
TI  - Implementation and Operational Research: Computer-Assisted Intervention for Safer
      Sex in HIV-Positive Men Having Sex With Men: Findings of a European Randomized
      Multi-Center Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the key population most affected
      by HIV in Europe. We performed the first European multicenter, simple-randomized
      parallel-group study to test the effectiveness of a theory-guided computer
      assisted intervention to improve safer sex among HIV-positive men who have sex
      with men. METHODS: Between February, 2011 and February, 2013, 112 participants
      were enrolled in 8 different European HIV-care settings. Intervention
      participants received 3 individual counseling sessions facilitated by trained
      service providers using computer-assisted tools. The control-group received
      sexual health advice delivered as part of regular HIV care. Outcome behavior
      (self-reported condom use at last intercourse; combined HIV transmission risk
      score), its influencing factors, and mediating variables were assessed at
      baseline, and at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Mixed effects models were used to
      compare primary outcomes (condom use at last intercourse, HIV transmission risk
      score), and mediation analysis to explore intervention effects. RESULTS: Condom
      use at last intercourse increased more among intervention than control
      participants at 3 months follow-up (odds ratio of 3.83; P = 0.03), but not
      significantly at 6 months follow-up. Intervention participants reported a lower
      transmission risk at 3 months follow-up than controls (odds ratio compared with
      baseline of 11.53 and 1.28, respectively; P = 0.008), but this effect became
      nonsignificant at 6 months. Intervention effects were mediated by the proximal
      variables, self-efficacy to negotiate condom use and condom attitudes.
      CONCLUSIONS: This intervention showed short-term effectiveness. The intervention
      should be replicated in other settings, eventually investigating if booster
      counseling sessions would yield a longer lasting effect.

PMID- 26866957
TI  - Prevalence and Incidence of Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture in
      Korea: Nationwide Epidemiological Study Focusing on Differences in Socioeconomic
      Status.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A cross-national study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and
      incidence of osteoporosis (OP) and osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in Korea
      and to investigate if socioeconomic status has an effect. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND
      DATA: As life expectancy increases, OP and related fragility fractures are also
      increasing. This presents a serious challenge, not only for health authorities
      but also for individuals, their families, and society overall. Determining the
      prevalence and incidence of OP and related fragility fractures is the first step
      in developing strategies to reduce their increasing disease burdens.
      Concurrently, we need to confirm whether people with low socioeconomic status are
      more susceptible to these diseases. METHODS: Using the Health Insurance Review
      and Assessment Service (HIRA) database from 2008 to 2012, we estimated the annual
      prevalence and incidence of OP and OVF and investigated the differences according
      to socioeconomic status by National Health Insurance (NHI) beneficiaries and
      Medical Aid (MA) recipients. RESULTS: In 2012, the standardized prevalence of OP
      in the NHI and MA groups was 3968 and 6927 per 100,000, respectively (odds ratio,
      3.83). The standardized incidence of OP in the MA group was significantly higher
      than in the NHI group in 2011 and 2012 (odds ratios, 2.34 and 2.19,
      respectively). In addition, the standardized incidence of OVF in the MA group in
      2011 and 2012 was 408 and 389 per 100,000, respectively, and the incidence in the
      MA group was significantly higher than in the NHI group (odds ratios, 4.13 and
      4.12, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the prevalence and
      incidence of OP and OVF in the MA group were higher than those in the NHI group.
      It showed that low income might be a significant factor related to OP and OVF.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26866958
TI  - Clinical Q & A: Translating Therapeutic Temperature Management from Theory to
      Practice.

PMID- 26866962
TI  - Enhanced UV-visible response of bismuth subcarbonate nanowires for degradation of
      xanthate and photocatalytic reaction mechanism.
AB  - (BiO)2CO3 nanowires were prepared by simple hydrothermal treatment of commercial
      Bi2O3 powders and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron
      microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and X
      ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activity of (BiO)2CO3
      nanowires was studied through degradation of sodium isopropyl xanthate.
      Photocatalytic experimental results indicated that the as-prepared (BiO)2CO3
      nanowires show high photocatalytic efficiency. Photocatalytic activity increased
      after two cycles. Time-dependent UV-vis spectra demonstrated that the final
      degradation products included isopropyl alcohol and carbon disulfide. UV-vis
      diffuse reflection spectra showed that the band gap of the as-prepared (BiO)2CO3
      nanowires and recycled (BiO)2CO3 nanowires were 2.75 eV and 1.15 eV,
      respectively. XPS results indicated that formation of Bi2S3@(BiO)2CO3 core-shell
      nanowires occurred after recycled photodegradation of isopropyl xanthate owing to
      existence of two types of Bi configurations in the recycled (BiO)2CO3 nanowires.
      A probable degradation mechanism of isopropyl xanthate was also proposed. 

PMID- 26866963
TI  - Biochar filters reduced the toxic effects of nickel on tomato (Lycopersicon
      esculentum L.) grown in nutrient film technique hydroponic system.
AB  - This work used the nutrient film technique to evaluate the role of biochar
      filtration in reducing the toxic effects of nickel (Ni(2+)) on tomato growth.
      Three hydroponic treatments: T1 (control), T2 (with Ni(2+)), and T3 (with Ni(2+)
      and biochar) were used in the experiments. Scanning electron microscopy equipped
      with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform spectroscopy was
      used to characterize the pre- and post-treatment biochar samples. The results
      illustrated that precipitation, ion exchange, and complexation with surface
      functional groups were the potential mechanisms of Ni(2+) removal by biochar. In
      comparison to the control, the T2 treatment showed severe Ni-stress with
      alterations in cell wall structure, distortions in cell nucleus, disturbances in
      mitochondrial system, malformations in stomatal structure, and abnormalities in
      chloroplast structure. The biochar filters in T3 treatment reduced dysfunctions
      of cell organelles in root and shoot cells. Total chlorophyll concentration
      decreased by 41.6% in T2 treatment. This reduction, however, was only 20.8% due
      to the protective effect of the biochar filters. The presence of Ni(2+) in the
      systems reduced the tomato fruit yield 58.5% and 31.9% in T2 and T3,
      respectively. Nickel concentrations reached the toxic limit in roots, shoots, and
      fruits in T2, which were not observed in T3. Biochar filters in T3 also minimized
      the dramatic reductions in nutrients concentration in roots, shoots, and fruits,
      which occurred in T2 treatment due to the severe Ni-stress. Findings from this
      work suggested that biochar filters can be used on farms as a safeguard for
      wastewater irrigation. 

PMID- 26866964
TI  - Stabilization of cationic and anionic metal species in contaminated soils using
      sludge-derived biochar.
AB  - Currently, sludge pyrolysis has been considered as a promising technology to
      solve disposal problem of municipal sewage sludge, recover sludge heating value,
      sequester carbon and replenish nutrients in farmland soils. The resultant sludge
      derived biochar (SDBC) is potentially an excellent stabilizing agent for metal
      species. This study applied the SDBC into four soils that had been contaminated
      in field with cationic Pb(II) and Cd(II)/Ni(II), and anionic Cr(VI) and As(III),
      respectively. The performance of metal stabilization under various operational
      and environmental conditions was evaluated with acid batch extraction and column
      leaching tests. Results indicated the SDBC could effectively stabilize these
      metals, which was favored by elevated temperature and longer aging. Periodic
      temperature decrease from 45 to 4  degrees C resulted in the release of
      immobilized Cr(VI) and As(III) but not Pb(II). However, a longer aging time
      offset such metal remobilization. This was possibly because more Pb was strongly
      bound and even formed stable precipitates, as shown by XRD and sequential
      extraction results. With increasing time, Cr(VI) was sorbed and partly reduced to
      Cr(III), while immobilized As(III) was co-oxidized to As(V) as indicated by XPS
      spectra. Column tests revealed that adding SDBC as a separate layer was
      unfavorable because the concentrated Cd(II) and Ni(II) in localized positions
      increased the peak levels of metal release under continuous acid leaching. In
      contrast, uniformly mixed SDBC could effectively delay the metal breakthrough and
      reduce their released amounts. Yet, a long-term monitoring may be required for
      evaluating the potential leaching risks and bioavailability/toxicity of these
      immobilized and transformed species in the SDBC-amended soils. 

PMID- 26866965
TI  - Sorption of diclofenac and naproxen onto MWCNT in model wastewater treated by
      H2O2 and/or UV.
AB  - The application of oxidation processes such as UV and/or H2O2 will change the
      physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT). It may affect the sorption
      affinity of CNT to different contaminants and then affect their fate in the
      environment. In the present study the adsorption of two very common used
      pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and naproxen) onto CNT treated by UV, H2O2 or UV/H2O2
      was investigated. Four different adsorption models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin,
      Dubinin-Radushkevich) were tested. The best fitting of experimental data was
      observed for Freundlich or Langmuir model. The significant relationships between
      Q calculated from Langmuir model with O% and dispersity were observed. Kinetics
      of diclofenac and naproxen followed mainly pseudo-second order indicating for
      chemisorption limiting step of adsorption. The data showed that the mechanism of
      sorption was physical or chemical depending on the type of CNT modification. 

PMID- 26866966
TI  - Element mobilization from Bakken shales as a function of water chemistry.
AB  - Waters that return to the surface after injection of a hydraulic fracturing fluid
      for gas and oil production contain elements, including regulated metals and
      metalloids, which are mobilized through interactions between the fracturing fluid
      and the shale formation. The rate and extent of mobilization depends on the
      geochemistry of the formation and the chemical characteristics of the fracturing
      fluid. In this work, laboratory scale experiments investigated the influence of
      water chemistry on element mobilization from core samples taken from the Bakken
      formation, one of the most productive shale oil plays in the US. Fluid properties
      were systematically varied and evaluated with regard to pH, oxidant level,
      solid:water ratio, temperature, and chemical additives. Element mobilization
      strongly depended on solution pH and redox conditions and to a lesser extent on
      the temperature and solid:water ratio. The presence of oxygen and addition of
      hydrogen peroxide or ammonium persulfate led to pyrite oxidation, resulting in
      elevated sulfate concentrations. Further, depending on the mineral carbonates
      available to buffer the system pH, pyrite oxidation could lower the system pH and
      enhance the mobility of several metals and metalloids. 

PMID- 26866967
TI  - Synthesis and biological evaluation of D-ring fused 1,2,3-thiadiazole
      dehydroepiandrosterone derivatives as antitumor agents.
AB  - A series of D-ring fused 1,2,3-thiadiazole DHEA derivatives were synthesized and
      investigated for their activity against the growth of various tumor cell lines
      using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. It is amazing that for these compounds,
      T47D cell line was much more sensitive than other tumor cell lines. The most
      potent saturated N-heterocyclic derivatives showed similar antitumor effect with
      the positive control compound ADM (adriamycin) on T47D cells, that was 44-60
      folds more potent than the lead compound DHEA. Most compounds with potent
      antitumor activity displayed low toxicity on normal human fibroblasts (HAF).
      Especially compound 25 (CH33) showed an IC50 of 0.058 MUM on T47D cells and its
      selectivity index (SI) between HAF and T47D was 364, which was 214 folds better
      than ADM (SI = 1.7). The apoptosis, colony formation and transwell migration
      assays of 25 were performed on T47D cell line. The primary mechanism study showed
      that 25 caused a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis, and induced
      phosphorylation of EphA2 and EphB3 in T47D cells. The in vivo antitumor effect of
      25 was also observed in T47D tumor-bearing mice without obvious toxicity. 

PMID- 26866968
TI  - Potent alpha-amino-beta-lactam carbamic acid ester as NAAA inhibitors. Synthesis
      and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
AB  - 4-Cyclohexylbutyl-N-[(S)-2-oxoazetidin-3-yl]carbamate (3b) is a potent, selective
      and systemically active inhibitor of intracellular NAAA activity, which produces
      profound anti-inflammatory effects in animal models. In the present work, we
      describe structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on 3-aminoazetidin-2-one
      derivatives, which have led to the identification of 3b, and expand these studies
      to elucidate the principal structural and stereochemical features needed to
      achieve effective NAAA inhibition. Investigations on the influence of the
      substitution at the beta-position of the 2-oxo-3-azetidinyl ring as well as on
      the effect of size and shape of the carbamic acid ester side chain led to the
      discovery of 3ak, a novel inhibitor of human NAAA that shows an improved
      physicochemical and drug-like profile relative to 3b. This favourable profile,
      along with the structural diversity of the carbamic acid chain of 3b, identify
      this compound as a promising new tool to investigate the potential of NAAA
      inhibitors as therapeutic agents for the treatment of pain and inflammation. 

PMID- 26866969
TI  - Cocaine cues retain silent traces of an excitatory history after conversion into
      conditioned inhibitors: 'the ghost in the addict'.
AB  - The present experiment investigated the extent to which the A+/AB- conditioned
      inhibition procedure could counteract an excitatory drug-related conditioning
      history. In two groups of rats, a light stimulus was established as a signal for
      the absence of cocaine. For the History group, the light had previously been a
      discriminative stimulus (S) that occasioned cocaine self-administration and could
      thus be classified as a cocaine excitor. In comparison, the No-History group
      first encountered the light during conditioned inhibition training. During
      conditioned inhibition training, both groups self-administered cocaine during
      tone as well as during click Ss, whereas drug seeking was eliminated in click
      plus-light, wherein cocaine was not available (A+/AB-). Drug seeking was
      essentially eliminated in both groups. Nevertheless, on a summation test the
      light reduced cocaine seeking occasioned by the tone S by 95% in the No-History
      group, but by less than 50% in the History group. This summation test result
      showed that the effects of a drug-related history persisted even after the light
      was converted into an effective conditioned inhibitor on the training baseline
      through the powerful A+/AB- procedure. Future research should seek procedures
      that produce even stronger conditioned inhibition that eliminates such residual
      'silent' drug excitation, the 'ghost in the addict'. 

PMID- 26866970
TI  - The ketamine analogue methoxetamine generalizes to ketamine discriminative
      stimulus in rats.
AB  - Methoxetamine (MXE) is a chemical analogue of ketamine. Originally proposed as a
      ketamine-like fast-acting antidepressant, owing to similar N-methyl-D-aspartate
      blocker properties, it is now scheduled for reports of hallucinations and
      psychosis similar to ketamine and lysergic acid. As little is known about the
      addictive properties of MXE, the aim of this study was to investigate the
      similarity between discriminative stimuli of MXE and ketamine, as well as to
      provide data and protocols that could be used in the future for the
      characterization of novel ketamine-like drugs. The paradigm used was a two-lever
      operant conditioning paradigm in which rats were trained to discriminate ketamine
      (7.5 mg/kg/ml, intraperitoneal) from vehicle. Generalization tests were performed
      with MXE (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0). We also tested the N-methyl-D
      aspartate channel blocker MK-801 (0.005-0.1), lysergic acid (0.025-0.30), a
      serotonergic drug that had similar hallucinogenic effects as ketamine and
      methamphetamine (0.15-0.60) a drug with no generalization with ketamine, injected
      intraperitoneally presession (mg/kg). MXE and MK-801 fully generalized to
      ketamine. Lysergic acid and methamphetamine partially substituted for the
      ketamine stimulus, although the highest lysergic acid dose showed a 77.7%
      generalization. The present findings suggest that investigation of 'ketamine-like
      compounds' should explore not only substances with chemical analogy and common
      molecular mechanisms with ketamine, but also with similar psychopharmacological
      effects. 

PMID- 26866971
TI  - Dose and elasticity of demand for self-administered cocaine in rats.
AB  - The present experiment tested whether the elasticity of demand for self
      administered cocaine in rats is dose-dependent. Subjects lever pressed for three
      different doses of intravenous cocaine - 0.11, 0.33, and 1.0 mg/kg/infusion - on
      a demand procedure where the number of lever presses required per infusion
      increased within a session. The main finding was that demand for the 0.11 mg/kg
      dose was more elastic than it was for the two larger doses. There was no
      difference in demand elasticity between the 0.33 and 1.0 mg/kg doses. These
      results parallel findings previously reported in monkeys. The present study also
      demonstrated that a within-session procedure can be used to generate reliable
      demand curves. 

PMID- 26866972
TI  - How cognitive biases can distort environmental statistics: introducing the rough
      estimation task.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a novel behavioural method to explore
      cognitive biases. The task, called the Rough Estimation Task, simply involves
      presenting participants with a list of words that can be in one of three
      categories: appetitive words (e.g. alcohol, food, etc.), neutral related words
      (e.g. musical instruments) and neutral unrelated words. Participants read the
      words and are then asked to state estimates for the percentage of words in each
      category. Individual differences in the propensity to overestimate the proportion
      of appetitive stimuli (alcohol-related or food-related words) in a word list were
      associated with behavioural measures (i.e. alcohol consumption, hazardous
      drinking, BMI, external eating and restrained eating, respectively), thereby
      providing evidence for the validity of the task. The task was also found to be
      associated with an eye-tracking attentional bias measure. The Rough Estimation
      Task is motivated in relation to intuitions with regard to both the behaviour of
      interest and the theory of cognitive biases in substance use. 

PMID- 26866973
TI  - Cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of phendimetrazine and phenmetrazine
      in rats.
AB  - Phendimetrazine is a clinically available anorectic and candidate medication for
      the treatment of cocaine addiction. Phendimetrazine can be metabolized to the
      amphetamine-like monoamine releaser phenmetrazine, but it is unclear if
      phendimetrazine functions as an inactive prodrug or might have activity on its
      own. As one method to address this issue, the present study compared the potency
      and time course of phendimetrazine and phenmetrazine to produce cocaine-like
      discriminative stimulus effects in adult, male rats (N=5) trained to discriminate
      cocaine (5.6 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) from saline in a two-key food-reinforced
      discrimination procedure. We hypothesized that, if metabolism to phenmetrazine
      was required for phendimetrazine effects, then phendimetrazine would be less
      potent and have a slower onset and offset of effects than phenmetrazine. Both
      phendimetrazine and phenmetrazine produced dose-dependent cocaine-like
      discriminative stimulus effects, and phendimetrazine was 7.8-fold less potent
      than phenmetrazine. However, the time courses of discriminative stimulus effects
      produced by phendimetrazine and phenmetrazine were similar, with peak effects at
      10 min and offset by 100 min. These results show the effectiveness of
      phendimetrazine to rapidly produce cocaine-like behavioral effects in rats and
      support other nonhuman primate evidence to suggest that metabolism to
      phenmetrazine may not be required for phendimetrazine effects. 

PMID- 26866974
TI  - Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate binds and inhibits the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase in barley aleurone.
AB  - The aleurona cell is a model that allows the study of the antagonistic effect of
      gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Previous results of our laboratory
      demonstrated the involvement of phospholipids during the response to ABA and GA.
      ABA modulates the levels of diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol
      pyrophosphate (DAG, PA, DGPP) through the activities of phosphatidate
      phosphatases, phospholipase D, diacylglycerol kinase and phosphatidate kinase
      (PAP, PLD, DGK and PAK). PA and DGPP are key phospholipids in the response to
      ABA, since both are capable of modifying the hydrolitic activity of the aleurona.
      Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanism of action of these
      phospholipids during the ABA signal. DGPP is an anionic phospholipid with a
      pyrophosphate group attached to diacylglycerol. The ionization of the
      pyrophosphate group may be important to allow electrostatic interactions between
      DGPP and proteins. To understand how DGPP mediates cell functions in barley
      aleurone, we used a DGPP affinity membrane assay to isolate DGPP-binding proteins
      from Hordeum vulgare, followed by mass spectrometric sequencing. A cytosolic
      glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, EC 1.2.1.12) was identified for
      being bound to DGPP. To validate our method, the relatively abundant GAPDH was
      characterized with respect to its lipid-binding properties, by fat western blot.
      GAPDH antibody interacts with proteins that only bind to DGPP and PA. We also
      observed that ABA treatment increased GAPDH abundance and enzyme activity. The
      presence of phospholipids during GAPDH reaction modulated the GAPDH activity in
      ABA treated aleurone. These data suggest that DGPP binds to GAPDH and this DGPP
      and GAPDH interaction provides new evidences in the study of DGPP-mediated ABA
      responses in barley aleurone. 

PMID- 26866975
TI  - Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in jaundiced Egyptian
      neonates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The enzyme, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), deficiency
      leads to impaired production of reduced glutathione and predisposes the red cells
      to be damaged by oxidative metabolites, causing hemolysis. Deficient neonates may
      manifest clinically as hyperbilirubinemia or even kernicterus. OBJECTIVE: This
      study was carried out to detect erythrocyte G6PD deficiency in neonatal
      hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS AND DESIGN: To determine the frequency and effect of
      G6PD deficiency, this study was conducted on 202 neonates with indirect
      hyperbilirubinemia. All term and preterm babies up to 13 day of age admitted with
      clinically evident jaundice were taken for the study. G6PD activity is measured
      by the UV-Kinetic Method using cellular enzyme determination reagents by
      spectrophotometry according to manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: A total of
      202 babies were enrolled in this study. Male babies outnumbered the female (71.3%
      versus 28.7%). Mean age of the study newborns was 3.75 +/- 2.5 days. Eighteen
      neonates (8.9%) had G6PD deficiency, all are males. One case had combined G6PD
      deficiency and RH incompatibility. Mean serum total bilirubin was 17.2 +/- 4.4 in
      G6PD deficient cases. There was significant positive correlation between the time
      of appearance of jaundice in days and G6PD levels in G6PD deficient cases.
      CONCLUSION: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is associated with various clinical
      comorbidities. G6PD deficiency is found to one important cause of neonatal
      jaundice developing on day 2 onwards.

PMID- 26866977
TI  - Photoredox-Catalyzed Intramolecular Difluoromethylation of N-Benzylacrylamides
      Coupled with a Dearomatizing Spirocyclization: Access to CF2H-Containing 2
      Azaspiro[4.5]deca-6,9-diene-3,8-diones.
AB  - A visible light-mediated difluoromethylation of N-benzylacrylamides with
      HCF2SO2Cl as the HCF2 radical precursor is described. The reaction incorporates a
      tandem cyclization/dearomatization process to afford various difluoromethylated 2
      azaspiro[4.5]deca-6,9-diene-3,8-diones bearing adjacent quaternary stereocenters
      under mild conditions in moderate to excellent yields. 

PMID- 26866976
TI  - Impaired glucose metabolism moderates the course of illness in bipolar disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The longitudinal course of bipolar disorder (BD) is highly
      heterogeneous, and is moderated by the presence of general medical comorbidities.
      This study aimed to investigate the moderating effects of impaired glucose
      metabolism (IGM) on variables of illness course and severity in a BD population.
      METHODS: Fifty-five patients with BD were evaluated. All subjects were evaluated
      with respect to current and past psychiatric and medical disorders, as well as
      lifetime use of any medication. Body mass index (BMI) and metabolic parameters
      were obtained. IGM was operationalized as pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes
      mellitus. RESULTS: Thirty (54.5%) individuals had IGM. After adjustment for age,
      gender, ethnicity, alcohol use, smoking, BMI and past and current exposure to
      psychotropic medications, individuals with IGM, when compared to euglycemic
      participants, had an earlier age of onset (RR: 0.835, p=0.024), longer illness
      duration (RR: 1.754, p=0.007), a higher number of previous manic/hypomanic
      episodes (RR: 1.483, p=0.002) and a higher ratio of manic/hypomanic to depressive
      episodes (RR: 1.753, p=0.028). Moreover, we observed a moderating effect of IGM
      on the association between number of mood episodes and other variables of illness
      course, with the correlation between lifetime mood episodes and frequency of
      episodes being significantly greater in the IGM subgroup (RR: 1.027, p=0.029).
      All associations observed herein remained significant after adjusting for
      relevant confounding factors (e.g. age, alcohol and tobacco use, exposure to
      psychotropic agents, BMI). LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design, small sample
      size. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid IGM may be a key moderator of illness progression in
      BD.

PMID- 26866978
TI  - Prevalence and Prognostic Impact of Metabolic Syndrome in Asymptomatic (Stage A
      and B Heart Failure) Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has an increased risk of cardiovascular
      events. Its relationship with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and
      prognosis has not been completely clarified. OBJECTIVES: To determine, in
      asymptomatic patients (Stage A, B heart failure, HF), whether MS is associated
      with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and left ventricular diastolic
      dysfunction and its predictive role for cardiovascular events. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We included 1920 nonconsecutive patients without symptoms of HF, with at
      least one cardiovascular risk factor, undergoing echocardiographic evaluation as
      preventive screening. We subdivided the study population according to the
      presence (Group 1) or absence (Group 2) of MS. The primary endpoint was a
      composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery
      revascularization, stroke, and acute pulmonary edema. Secondary endpoints were
      hospitalization for HF and HF progression. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of MS was
      13.4% (n = 262, Group 1). In Group 2 (n = 1658), the prevalence of LVSD was
      12.2%, while the prevalence of LVSD was 21.8% in Group 1 (relative risk [RR]
      2.01; 95% confidence interval 1.4-2.8; P < 0.001). Adjusting for age and gender,
      MS resulted an independent predictor of LVSD (P < 0.001). After a median follow
      up of 22 months, Group 1 patients had a significantly higher incidence of primary
      events (P < 0.001), including cardiac death (P = 0.04), and secondary events (P <
      0.001). Both primary and secondary endpoints were more frequent in patients with
      LVSD (P < 0.001). In multivariate survival analysis, MS (but not its specific
      components) and LVSD were independently associated both with primary and
      secondary events (P <= 0.003). Incremental chi-square analysis showed the
      presence of combined LVD added to MS, and age raised significantly the predictive
      value of the model for the primary endpoint (Incremental chi-square = 8.6).
      CONCLUSIONS: In stage A and B HF subjects, the coexistence of MS with functional
      or structural cardiac abnormalities, detected by echocardiography, showed a
      significant incremental value in predicting clinical cardiovascular events.

PMID- 26866979
TI  - Effect of dolutegravir functional monotherapy on HIV-1 virological response in
      integrase strand transfer inhibitor resistant patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: VIKING-4 assessed the safety and efficacy of dolutegravir in heavily
      antiretroviral treatment-experienced patients who had documented integrase strand
      transfer inhibitor (INSTI) resistance-associated substitutions in their HIV.
      VIKING-4 had a placebo-controlled 7-day dolutegravir functional monotherapy phase
      followed by dolutegravir plus an optimized background regimen for 48 weeks.
      METHODS: Independent resistance analyses evaluated week 48 virological responses
      in the VIKING-4 trial based on the presence of baseline INSTI resistance
      associated substitutions and baseline dolutegravir phenotypic susceptibility.
      Response rates at week 48 based on baseline dolutegravir resistance subgroups
      were compared for the 7-day dolutegravir functional monotherapy arm and placebo
      control arm. Additionally, genotypic and phenotypic resistance at day 8 and time
      of failure was analysed for the virological failures from both arms. RESULTS:
      Week 48 response rates for VIKING-4 were 23% (3/13) in the 7-day dolutegravir
      functional monotherapy arm compared with 60% (9/15) in the 7-day placebo arm.
      Response rates were consistently lower in the dolutegravir functional monotherapy
      arm across baseline INSTI genotypic and phenotypic subgroups. There was a higher
      proportion of virological failures in the 7-day dolutegravir functional
      monotherapy arm (n=6/13; 46%) compared with the 7-day placebo arm (n=3/15; 20%).
      Additionally, five virological failures in the dolutegravir arm had virus
      expressing emergent INSTI resistance-associated substitutions compared with two
      in the placebo arm. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of response rates and resistance
      emergence in VIKING-4 suggests careful consideration should be given to the
      duration of functional monotherapy in future studies of highly treatment
      experienced patients to reduce the risk of resistance and virological failure.

PMID- 26866981
TI  - Scrutinizing the Noninnocence of Quinone Ligands in Ruthenium Complexes: Insights
      from Structural, Electronic, Energy, and Effective Oxidation State Analyses.
AB  - The most relevant manifestations of ligand noninnocence of quinone and bipyridine
      derivatives are thoroughly scrutinized and discussed through an extensive and
      systematic set of octahedral ruthenium complexes, [(en)2RuL](z), in four
      oxidation states (z = +3, +2, +1, and 0). The characteristic structural
      deformation of ligands upon coordination/noninnocence is put into context with
      the underlying electronic structure of the complexes and its change upon
      reduction. In addition, by means of decomposing the corresponding reductions into
      electron transfer and structural relaxation subprocesses, the energetic
      contribution of these structural deformations to the redox energetics is
      revealed. The change of molecular electron density upon metal- and ligand
      centered reductions is also visualized and shown to provide novel insights into
      the corresponding redox processes. Moreover, the charge distribution of the pi
      subspace is straightforwardly examined and used as indicator of ligand
      noninnocence in the distinct oxidation states of the complexes. The
      aromatization/dearomatization processes of ligand backbones are also monitored
      using magnetic (NICS) and electronic (PDI) indicators of aromaticity, and the
      consequences to noninnocent behavior are discussed. Finally, the recently
      developed effective oxidation state (EOS) analysis is utilized, on the one hand,
      to test its applicability for complexes containing noninnocent ligands, and, on
      the other hand, to provide new insights into the magnitude of state mixings in
      the investigated complexes. The effect of ligand substitution, nature of donor
      atom, ligand frame modification on these manifestations, and measures is
      discussed in an intuitive and pedagogical manner. 

PMID- 26866980
TI  - Human Exposure and Elimination Kinetics of Chlorinated Polyfluoroalkyl Ether
      Sulfonic Acids (Cl-PFESAs).
AB  - The incomplete mass-balance of organic fluorine in human serum indicates the
      existence of unknown per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with persistent
      and bioaccumulative properties. Here we characterized human exposure and
      elimination kinetics of chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (Cl
      PFESAs) in metal plating workers (n = 19), high fish consumers (n = 45), and
      background controls (n = 8). Cl-PFESAs were detected in >98% of the sampled
      individuals with serum concentrations ranging <0.019-5040 ng/mL. Statistically
      higher median serum levels were observed in high fish consumers (93.7 ng/mL) and
      metal plating workers (51.5 ng/mL) compared to the background control group (4.78
      ng/mL) (Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, p < 0.01). Cl-PFESAs could account for
      0.269 to 93.3% of ?PFASs in human serum indicating that this compound class may
      explain a substantial fraction of previously unidentified organic fluorine in the
      Chinese population. Estimated half-lives for renal clearance (median 280 years;
      range 7.1-4230 years) and total elimination (median 15.3 years; range 10.1-56.4
      years) for the eight carbon Cl-PFESA suggest that this is the most biopersistent
      PFAS in humans reported to date. The apparent ubiquitous distribution and slow
      elimination kinetics in humans underscore the need for more research and
      regulatory actions on Cl-PFESAs and PFAS alternatives with similar chemical
      structures. 

PMID- 26866983
TI  - Pegylated Polyaspartamide-Polylactide-Based Nanoparticles Penetrating Cystic
      Fibrosis Artificial Mucus.
AB  - Here, the preparation of mucus-penetrating nanoparticles for pulmonary
      administration of ibuprofen in patients with cystic fibrosis is described. A
      fluorescent derivative of alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide is
      synthesized by derivatization with rhodamine, polylactide, and poly(ethylene
      glycol), to obtain polyaspartamide-polylactide derivatives with different degrees
      of pegylation. Starting from these copolymers, fluorescent nanoparticles with
      different poly(ethylene glycol) content, empty and loaded with ibuprofen, showed
      spherical shape, colloidal size, slightly negative zeta potential, and
      biocompatibility toward human bronchial epithelial cells. The high surface
      poly(ethylene glycol) density of fluorescent nanoparticles and poly(ethylene
      glycol) brush-like conformation assumed on their surface, conferred to pegylated
      nanoparticles the mucus-penetrating properties, properly demonstrated by
      assessing their ability to avoid interactions with mucus components and to
      penetrate cystic fibrosis artificial mucus. Finally, ibuprofen release profile
      and uptake capacity within human bronchial epithelial cells in the presence of
      cystic fibrosis artificial mucus showed how these mucus-penetrating nanoparticles
      could rapidly diffuse through the mucus barrier reaching the mucosal surface,
      where they could offer a sustained delivery of ibuprofen at the site of disease.

PMID- 26866984
TI  - Recognizing the Limited Applicability of Job Plots in Studying Host-Guest
      Interactions in Supramolecular Chemistry.
AB  - Continuous variation method, known as Job plot, is the most commonly applied
      method for the determination of stoichiometry of complex chemical entities for
      over 100 years. Although, the method was proven successful in the analysis of
      very stable metal-ligand complexes, we demonstrate that its use in supramolecular
      chemistry often provides false results. We support this statement with multiple
      simulations as well as cases studies of several real host-guest systems. We
      propose an alternative, general method relying on the analysis of residual
      distribution in titration data fitting. The latter method is more convenient
      compared to the Job plot and unlike it gives correct results in all real cases
      studied. 

PMID- 26866982
TI  - Filtering genetic variants and placing informative priors based on putative
      biological function.
AB  - High-density genetic marker data, especially sequence data, imply an immense
      multiple testing burden. This can be ameliorated by filtering genetic variants,
      exploiting or accounting for correlations between variants, jointly testing
      variants, and by incorporating informative priors. Priors can be based on
      biological knowledge or predicted variant function, or even be used to integrate
      gene expression or other omics data. Based on Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) 19
      data, this article discusses diversity and usefulness of functional variant
      scores provided, for example, by PolyPhen2, SIFT, or RegulomeDB annotations.
      Incorporating functional scores into variant filters or weights and adjusting the
      significance level for correlations between variants yielded significant
      associations with blood pressure traits in a large family study of Mexican
      Americans (GAW19 data set). Marker rs218966 in gene PHF14 and rs9836027 in MAP4
      significantly associated with hypertension; additionally, rare variants in SNUPN
      significantly associated with systolic blood pressure. Variant weights strongly
      influenced the power of kernel methods and burden tests. Apart from variant
      weights in test statistics, prior weights may also be used when combining test
      statistics or to informatively weight p values while controlling false discovery
      rate (FDR). Indeed, power improved when gene expression data for FDR-controlled
      informative weighting of association test p values of genes was used. Finally,
      approaches exploiting variant correlations included identity-by-descent mapping
      and the optimal strategy for joint testing rare and common variants, which was
      observed to depend on linkage disequilibrium structure. 

PMID- 26866985
TI  - Undergraduate study in psychology: Curriculum and assessment.
AB  - The undergraduate curriculum in psychology profoundly reflects and shapes the
      discipline. Yet, reliable information on the undergraduate psychology curriculum
      has been difficult to acquire due to insufficient research carried out on
      unrepresentative program samples with disparate methods. In 2014, APA launched
      the first systematic effort in a decade to gather national data on the psychology
      major and program outcomes. We surveyed a stratified random sample of department
      chairs/coordinators of accredited colleges and universities in the United States
      that offer undergraduate courses and programs in psychology. A total of 439
      undergraduate psychology programs (45.2%) completed the survey. This article
      summarizes, for both associate and baccalaureate programs, the results of the
      Undergraduate Study in Psychology. Current practices concerning the introductory
      course, the courses offered, core requirements, the psychology minor, and
      tracks/concentrations are presented. The frequency of formal program reviews and
      program-level assessment methods are also addressed. By extending prior research
      on the undergraduate curriculum, we chronicle longitudinal changes in the
      psychology major over the past 20 years.

PMID- 26866986
TI  - Guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major: Version 2.0.
AB  - The APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major: Version 2.0
      (henceforth Guidelines 2.0; APA, 2013) represents a national effort to describe
      and develop high-quality undergraduate programs in psychology. The task force
      charged with the revision of the original guidelines for the undergraduate major
      examined the success of the document's implementation and made changes to reflect
      emerging best practices and to integrate psychology's work with benchmarking
      scholarship in higher education. Guidelines 2.0 abandoned the original
      distinction drawn between psychology-focused skills and psychology skills that
      enhance liberal arts development. Instead, Guidelines 2.0 describes five
      inclusive goals for the undergraduate psychology major and two developmental
      levels of student learning outcomes. Suggestions for assessment planning are
      provided for each of the five learning goals.

PMID- 26866987
TI  - Strengthening introductory psychology: A new model for teaching the introductory
      course.
AB  - Introductory psychology (Intro Psych) is one of the most popular and frequently
      taught courses on college campuses, yet educators in psychology have limited
      knowledge about what is covered in classes around the nation or the extent to
      which class content reflects the current scope of the discipline. There is no
      explicit model to guide course content selection for the intro course, which
      poses substantial challenges for instructors. This article proposes a new model
      for teaching the intro course that integrates (a) scientific foundations, (b) 5
      major domains or pillars of knowledge (biological, cognitive, developmental,
      social and personality, and mental and physical health), and (c) cross-cutting
      themes relevant to all domains (cultural and social diversity, ethics, variations
      in human functioning, and applications; American Psychological Association,
      2014). We advocate for national assessment of the course, a similar introductory
      course for majors and nonmajors, the inclusion of experiential or laboratory
      components, and additional training resources for instructors of the intro
      course. Given the exponential growth of psychological knowledge and applications
      during the past decades, we caution against attempting to provide exhaustive
      coverage of all topic areas of psychology in a one-semester course. We conclude
      by discussing the challenges that lie ahead for the discipline of psychology as
      it launches this new model for Intro Psych.

PMID- 26866988
TI  - The new Medical College Admission Test: Implications for teaching psychology.
AB  - This year's applicants to medical school took a newly revised version of the
      Medical College Admission Test. Unlike applicants in the past, they were asked to
      demonstrate their knowledge and use of concepts commonly taught in introductory
      psychology courses. The new Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of
      Behavior Test asked applicants to demonstrate the ways in which psychological,
      social, and biological factors influence perceptions and reactions to the world;
      behavior and behavior change; what people think about themselves and others; the
      cultural and social differences that influence well-being; and the relationships
      among social stratification, access to resources, and well-being. Building from
      the classic biopsychosocial model, this article provides the rationale for
      testing psychology concepts in application to medical school. It describes the
      concepts and skills that the new exam tests and shows how they lay the foundation
      for learning in medical school about the behavioral and sociocultural
      determinants of health. This article discusses the implications of these changes
      for undergraduate psychology faculty and psychology curricula as well as their
      importance to the profession of psychology at large.

PMID- 26866989
TI  - Internationalizing undergraduate psychology education: Trends, techniques, and
      technologies.
AB  - How can we best internationalize undergraduate psychology education in the United
      States and elsewhere? This question is more timely than ever, for at least 2
      reasons: Within the United States, educators and students seek greater contact
      with psychology programs abroad, and outside the United States, psychology is
      growing apace, with educators and students in other nations often looking to U.S.
      curricula and practices as models. In this article, we outline international
      developments in undergraduate psychology education both in the United States and
      abroad, and analyze the dramatic rise of online courses and Internet-based
      technologies from an instructional and international point of view. Building on
      the recommendations of the 2005 APA Working Group on Internationalizing the
      Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum, we then advance 14 recommendations on
      internationalizing undergraduate psychology education--for students, faculty, and
      institutions.

PMID- 26866990
TI  - Sarnoff A. Mednick (1928-2015).
AB  - Presents the obituary of Sarnoff A. Mednick (1928 -2015). Sarnoff A. Mednick was
      considered among the most important figures in psychopathology research in his
      generation. He pioneered the high-risk research design and made numerous
      contributions to our understanding of creativity and of the origins of
      schizophrenia and criminality. The son of Jewish immigrants, Mednick was born on
      January 27, 1928, and was raised in the Bronx in New York City, New York. He
      earned a bachelor's degree from the City College of New York in 1948 and a
      master's degree from Columbia University. In 1954, he earned his doctorate in
      psychology from Northwestern University. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at
      the University of Chicago, he was appointed an instructor at Harvard University
      and then became a visiting assistant research professor at the University of
      California, Berkeley (1958 -1959). In 1968, he became a professor at the New
      School for Social Research in New York, where he taught until 1977, when he
      joined the faculty at the University of Southern California until his retirement
      in August 2008. Mednick, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of
      Southern California, died of natural causes on April 10, 2015, in Toledo, Ohio.
      He was 87.

PMID- 26866991
TI  - Robert W. Rieber (1932-2015).
AB  - Presents the obituary of Robert W. Rieber (1932-2015). Robert W. Rieber, the son
      of immigrants from the former Austro- Hungarian Empire was born March 24, 1932.
      He earned a bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University and a master's
      degree in speech pathology at Temple University. He moved to New York City, New
      York, in 1957, working as a speech pathologist at New York University. In 1960,
      he accepted an academic position at Pace University, subsequently moving to the
      John Jay College of Criminal Justice at City University of New York. He held
      appointments at Columbia University and, following his retirement from John Jay,
      at Fordham University. Bob founded and edited several journals, including The
      Journal of Communication Disorders, The Journal of Social Distress and the
      Homeless, and The Journal of Psycholinguistics Research. While on leave from
      Pace, he completed his doctorate at the University of London with a dissertation
      on the relationship between language and psychopathology. Rieber died at his
      summer home in Maine on April 9, 2015. He was 83.

PMID- 26866992
TI  - Richard Henry Dana (1927-2015).
AB  - Richard Henry Dana was born on June 14, 1927, in Bronxville, New York. Dick was
      accepted to Princeton University in 1944 on a scholarship and graduated in 1949.
      He then became a student leader in the Congress of Racial Equality and
      participated in a series of nonviolent sit-in protests. He completed studies for
      his doctoral degree at the University of Illinois in clinical psychology (1953).
      He briefly held a series of clinical and university positions until finally
      settling down at the University of Arkansas (1969- 1988). It was during his long
      tenure in Arkansas that Dick authored one of the foundational textbooks in
      clinical psychology. His groundbreaking work, Multicultural Assessment
      Perspectives for Professional Psychology (1993), provided the first comprehensive
      book on the topic. Over a remarkable 10-year period, he produced a flurry of
      scholarly and professional activity. He passed away peacefully at his home in
      Portland, Oregon, on August 17, 2015.

PMID- 26866993
TI  - Giuseppe Costantino (1937-2015).
AB  - Giuseppe Costantino was born in Nocera Terinese, Italy, on December 25, 1937.
      Giuseppe's personal understanding of the immigrant experience infused his career.
      He developed Cuento therapies, hero/heroine therapy for adolescents, and the Tell
      Me-a-Story (TEMAS) tests, which addressed the growing needs of multiculturalism.
      He served as a junior lieutenant/training officer in the Italian Armed forces,
      obtained his teaching degree (1955). Costantino immigrated to the United States
      in 1961. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial psychology from Baruch
      College, a master's degree in school psychology from City College, and a
      doctorate in clinical/community psychology from New York University in 1975.
      Giuseppe began his career as a caseworker. The bulk of his career was spent in
      Brooklyn, New York, where he was chief psychologist for 7 years, clinical
      director for 21 years, and director of research, training, and new programs from
      2005 until his death. Giuseppe, a psychologist who dedicated his life to working
      for minority populations, particularly children, died on February 18, 2015.

PMID- 26866995
TI  - A general view on the reactivity of the oxygen-functionalized graphene basal
      plane.
AB  - In this contribution we inspect the adsorption of H, OH, Cl and Pt on oxidized
      graphene using DFT calculations. The introduction of epoxy and hydroxyl groups on
      the graphene basal plane significantly alters its chemisorption properties, which
      can be attributed to the deformation of the basal plane and the type and
      distribution of these groups. We show that a general scaling relation exists
      between the hydrogen binding energies and the binding energies of other
      investigated adsorbates, which allows for a simple probing of the reactivity of
      oxidized graphene with only one adsorbate. The electronic states of carbon atoms
      located within the 2 eV interval below the Fermi level are found to be
      responsible for the interaction of the basal plane with the chosen adsorbates.
      The number of electronic states situated in this energy interval is shown to
      correlate with hydrogen binding energies. 

PMID- 26866994
TI  - Enhancing Paradynamics for QM/MM Sampling of Enzymatic Reactions.
AB  - Despite the enormous increase in computer power, it is still extremely
      challenging to obtain computationally converging sampling of ab initio QM/MM
      (QM(ai)/MM) free energy surfaces in condensed phases. The sampling problem can be
      significantly reduced by the use of the reference potential paradynamics (PD)
      approach, but even this approach still requires major computer time in studies of
      enzymatic reactions. To further reduce the sampling problem we developed here a
      new PD version where we use an empirical valence bond reference potential that
      has a minimum rather than a maximum at the transition state region of the target
      potential (this is accomplished conveniently by shifting the EVB of the product
      state). Hence, we can map the TS region in a more efficient way. Here, we
      introduce and validate the inverted EVB PD approach. The validation involves the
      study of the S(N)2 step of the reaction catalyzed by haloakene dehalogenase
      (DhlA) and the GTP hydrolysis in the RasGAP system. In addition, we have also
      studied the corresponding reaction in water for each of the systems described
      here and the reaction involving trimethylsulfonium and dimethylamine in solution.
      The results are encouraging and the new strategy appears to provide a powerful
      way of evaluating QM(ai)/MM activation free energies.

PMID- 26866996
TI  - Demonstrating an Order-of-Magnitude Sampling Enhancement in Molecular Dynamics
      Simulations of Complex Protein Systems.
AB  - Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can describe protein motions in atomic
      detail, but transitions between protein conformational states sometimes take
      place on time scales that are infeasible or very expensive to reach by direct
      simulation. Enhanced sampling methods, the aim of which is to increase the
      sampling efficiency of MD simulations, have thus been extensively employed. The
      effectiveness of such methods when applied to complex biological systems like
      proteins, however, has been difficult to establish because even enhanced sampling
      simulations of such systems do not typically reach time scales at which
      convergence is extensive enough to reliably quantify sampling efficiency. Here,
      we obtain sufficiently converged simulations of three proteins to evaluate the
      performance of simulated tempering, a member of a widely used class of enhanced
      sampling methods that use elevated temperature to accelerate sampling. Simulated
      tempering simulations with individual lengths of up to 100 MUs were compared to
      (previously published) conventional MD simulations with individual lengths of up
      to 1 ms. With two proteins, BPTI and ubiquitin, we evaluated the efficiency of
      sampling of conformational states near the native state, and for the third, the
      villin headpiece, we examined the rate of folding and unfolding. Our comparisons
      demonstrate that simulated tempering can consistently achieve a substantial
      sampling speedup of an order of magnitude or more relative to conventional MD. 

PMID- 26866997
TI  - Three-Dimensionally Costabilized Metal Catalysts toward an Oxygen Reduction
      Reaction.
AB  - Improving the long-term stability of metal catalysts is crucial to developing
      polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In this work, we first report an
      inorganic (TiO2)-organic (perfluorosulfonic acid, PFSA) costabilized Pt catalyst
      supported on graphene nanosheets (GNS) (Pt-PFSA-TiO2/GNS). Herein, TiO2, as a
      robust wall, impedes the collision between the metal nanoparticles (NPs) in plane
      along the horizontal x and y axes, while PFSA mainly anchors the metal NPs to
      constrain detachment along the vertical z axis. The resulting catalyst displays
      higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in comparison to that of
      commercial Pt/C. Significantly, the stability is particularly better than that of
      only PFSA- or TiO2-decorated catalysts (Pt-PFSA/GNS or Pt-TiO2/GNS) and far
      better than that of Pt/C. After 6000 potential cycles, the half-wave potential
      (E1/2) of Pt-PFSA-TiO2/GNS decreases by only 16 mV, far less than that of Pt/C
      (56 mV). The excellent electrochemical property of Pt-PFSA-TiO2/GNS is
      predominantly attributed to the synergistic effect of PFSA and TiO2 in
      costabilizing the Pt NP by anchoring and blocking Pt NPs in all three spatial
      directions. The structural dynamics and mechanism of enhanced properties are also
      discussed. 

PMID- 26866998
TI  - Functional Nucleic Acid Probe for Parallel Monitoring K(+) and Protoporphyrin IX
      in Living Organisms.
AB  - Parallel monitoring of K(+) and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is of vital importance
      because they are not only involved in a variety of biological processes but also
      closely linked to each other in numerous cellular pathways. However, there are
      currently no existing methods that can meet the requirements for parallel and in
      vivo detection of K(+) and PPIX in living organisms. Herein, we demonstrated a
      functional nucleic acid (FNA)-based technique for parallel monitoring of K(+) and
      PPIX in living animals. Specifically, the selected G-rich FNA probe was
      selectively induced to form a parallel G-quadruplex by K(+). The parallel G
      quadruplex then remarkably enhanced the fluorescence of PPIX. Thus, by modulating
      the fluorescence "turn on" with the G-quadruplex and K(+)/PPIX, both K(+) and
      PPIX could be detected. After validating the developed method for selective and
      sensitive detection of K(+) and PPIX in vitro, their dynamic changes in living
      organisms (i.e., living brains and tumors) following various physiological and
      pathological processes were simultaneously monitored. The current study not only
      provides a general method for the detection of metal ions and bioactive molecules
      but also presents a way to investigate their synergistic functions in the
      regulation of various biological processes. It may also be helpful for improving
      the imaging and therapeutic efficacy of PPIX and 5-ALA. 

PMID- 26866999
TI  - Interaction grand potential between calcium-silicate-hydrate nanoparticles at the
      molecular level.
AB  - Calcium-silicate-hydrate (or C-S-H), an inosilicate, is the major binding phase
      in cement pastes and concretes and a porous hydrated material made up of a
      percolated and dense network of crystalline nanoparticles of a mean apparent
      spherical diameter of ~5 nm that are each stacks of multiple C-S-H layers.
      Interaction forces between these nanoparticles are at the origin of C-S-H
      chemical, physical, and mechanical properties at the meso- and macroscales. These
      particle interactions and the resulting properties may be affected significantly
      by nanoparticle density and environmental conditions such as the temperature,
      relative humidity, or concentration of chemical species in the bulk solution. In
      this study, we combined grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations and an extension
      of the mean force integration method to derive the pair potentials. This approach
      enables realistic simulation of the physical environment surrounding the C-S-H
      particles. We thus constructed the pair potentials for C-S-H nanoparticles of
      defined chemical stoichiometry at 10% relative humidity (RH), varying the
      relative crystallographic orientations at a constant particle density of rhopart
      ~ 2.21 mmol L(-1). We found that cohesion between nanoparticles is affected
      strongly by both the aspect ratio and the crystallographic misorientation of
      interacting particles. This method and the findings underscore the importance of
      accounting for relative dimensions and orientation among C-S-H nanoparticles in
      descriptions of physical and simulated multiparticle aggregates or mesoscale
      systems. 

PMID- 26867000
TI  - Individual differences in subjective alcohol responses and alcohol-related
      disinhibition.
AB  - There are important individual differences in acute subjective responses to
      alcohol, which have often been assessed using self-report measures. There is also
      evidence of meaningful between-persons variation in alcohol's disinhibiting
      effects on behavior, such that some individuals become more impaired on tasks of
      inhibition than do others after an intoxicating dose. The degree to which
      subjective alcohol responses correspond with these disinhibition effects is not
      yet clear. In this study, we tested associations among indices of subjective
      alcohol responses and their correspondence with sensitivity to alcohol-related
      disinhibition. We recruited recent-binge-drinking emerging adults (N = 82) for a
      group-administered, placebo-controlled, within-subject, counterbalanced alcohol
      challenge in a simulated bar laboratory. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed
      that a 2-factor model with several cross-loadings explained associations among
      the subjective measures well, replicating a differentiation between stimulant
      like and sedative-like subjective responses. Controlling sex and placebo
      performance, participants who reported greater subjective stimulant-like effects
      but not sedative-like effects-experienced more alcohol-related disinhibition, as
      measured by cued go/no-go task inhibitory failures. This association was small-to
      moderate in magnitude. The results of this study highlight the distinction
      between stimulant-like and sedative-like subjective alcohol effects. They
      suggest, additionally, that there may be modest commonalities between alcohol's
      acute impacts on subjective stimulation and objective disinhibition.

PMID- 26867001
TI  - Tunable optical response of bowtie nanoantenna arrays on thermoplastic
      substrates.
AB  - Thermally responsive polymers present an interesting avenue for tuning the
      optical properties of nanomaterials on their surfaces by varying their
      periodicity and shape using facile processing methods. Gold bowtie nanoantenna
      arrays are fabricated using nanosphere lithography on prestressed polyolefin
      (PO), a thermoplastic polymer, and optical properties are investigated via a
      combination of spectroscopy and electromagnetic simulations to correlate shape
      evolution with optical response. Geometric features of bowtie nanoantennas evolve
      by annealing at temperatures between 105  degrees C and 135  degrees C by
      releasing the degree of prestress in PO. Due to the higher modulus of Au versus
      PO, compressive stress occurs on Au bowtie regions on PO, which leads to surface
      buckling at the two highest annealing temperatures; regions with a 5 nm gap
      between bowtie nanoantennas are observed and the average reduction is 75%.
      Reflectance spectroscopy and full-wave electromagnetic simulations both
      demonstrate the ability to tune the plasmon resonance wavelength with a window of
      approximately 90 nm in the range of annealing temperatures investigated. Surface
      enhanced Raman scattering measurements demonstrate that maximum enhancement is
      observed as the excitation wavelength approaches the plasmon resonance of Au
      bowtie nanoantennas. Both the size and morphology tunability offered by PO allows
      for customizing optical response. 

PMID- 26867002
TI  - Dried plum diet protects from bone loss caused by ionizing radiation.
AB  - Bone loss caused by ionizing radiation is a potential health concern for
      radiotherapy patients, radiation workers and astronauts. In animal studies,
      exposure to ionizing radiation increases oxidative damage in skeletal tissues,
      and results in an imbalance in bone remodeling initiated by increased bone
      resorbing osteoclasts. Therefore, we evaluated various candidate interventions
      with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities (antioxidant cocktail,
      dihydrolipoic acid, ibuprofen, dried plum) both for their ability to blunt the
      expression of resorption-related genes in marrow cells after irradiation with
      either gamma rays (photons, 2 Gy) or simulated space radiation (protons and heavy
      ions, 1 Gy) and to prevent bone loss. Dried plum was most effective in reducing
      the expression of genes related to bone resorption (Nfe2l2, Rankl, Mcp1, Opg, TNF
      alpha) and also preventing later cancellous bone decrements caused by irradiation
      with either photons or heavy ions. Thus, dietary supplementation with DP may
      prevent the skeletal effects of radiation exposures either in space or on Earth.

PMID- 26867004
TI  - Conjunctival autograft for pterygium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A pterygium is a fleshy, wing-shaped growth from the conjunctiva,
      crossing over the limbus onto the cornea. Prevalence ranges widely around the
      world. Evidence suggests that ultraviolet light is a major contributor in the
      formation of pterygia. Pterygia impair vision, limit eye movements, and can cause
      eye irritation, foreign body sensation, and dryness. In some susceptible
      patients, the pterygium can grow over the entire corneal surface, blocking the
      visual axis.Surgery is the only effective treatment for pterygium, though
      recurrences are common. With simple excision techniques (that is, excising the
      pterygium and leaving bare sclera), the risk of recurrence has been reported to
      be upwards of 80%. Pterygium excision combined with a tissue graft has a lower
      risk of recurrence. In conjunctival autograft surgery, conjunctival tissue from
      another part of the person's eye along with limbal tissue is resected in one
      piece and used to cover the area from which the pterygium was excised. Another
      type of tissue graft surgery for pterygium is amniotic membrane graft, whereby a
      piece of donor amniotic membrane is fixed to the remaining limbus and bare sclera
      area after the pterygium has been excised. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this
      review was to assess the safety and effectiveness of conjunctival autograft (with
      or without adjunctive therapy) compared with amniotic membrane graft (with or
      without adjunctive therapy) for pterygium. We also planned to determine whether
      use of MMC yielded better surgical results and to assess the direct and indirect
      comparative costs of these procedures. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (which
      contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (Issue 10, 2015), Ovid
      MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE
      Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to November 2015), EMBASE (January 1980 to
      November 2015), PubMed (1948 to November 2015), Latin American and Caribbean
      Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (1982 to November 2015), the
      metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com) (last
      searched 21 November 2014), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the
      World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform
      (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language
      restrictions in the electronic search for trials. We last searched the electronic
      databases on 23 November 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included in this review
      randomized controlled trials that had compared conjunctival autograft surgery
      (with or without adjunctive therapy) with amniotic membrane graft surgery (with
      or without adjunctive therapy) in people with primary or recurrent pterygium.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened search
      results and assessed full-text reports from among the potentially eligible
      trials. Two review authors independently extracted data from the included trials
      and assessed the trial characteristics and risk of bias. The primary outcome was
      the risk of recurrence of pterygium at 3 months and 6 months after surgery. We
      combined results from individual studies in meta-analyses using random-effects
      models. Risk of recurrence of pterygium was reported using risk ratios to compare
      conjunctival autograft with amniotic membrane transplant. MAIN RESULTS: We
      identified 20 studies that had analyzed a total of 1947 eyes of 1866 participants
      (individual studies ranged from 8 to 346 participants who were randomized). The
      studies were conducted in eight different countries: one in Brazil, three in
      China, three in Cuba, one in Egypt, two in Iran, two in Thailand, seven in
      Turkey, and one in Venezuela. Overall risk of bias was unclear, as many studies
      did not provide information on randomization methods or masking to prevent
      performance and detection bias.The risk ratio for recurrence of pterygium using
      conjunctival autograft versus amniotic membrane transplant was 0.87 (95%
      confidence interval (CI) 0.43 to 1.77) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.85) at 3 months
      and 6 months, respectively. These estimates include participants with primary and
      recurrent pterygia. We performed a subgroup analysis to compare participants with
      primary pterygia with participants with recurrent pterygia. For participants with
      primary pterygia, the risk ratio was 0.92 (95% CI 0.37 to 2.30) and 0.58 (95% CI
      0.27 to 1.27) at 3 months and 6 months, respectively. We were only able to
      estimate the recurrence of pterygia at 6 months for participants with recurrent
      pterygia, and the risk ratio comparing conjunctival autograft with amniotic
      membrane transplant was 0.45 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.99). One included study was a
      doctoral thesis and did not use allocation concealment. When this study was
      excluded in a sensitivity analysis, the risk ratio for pterygium recurrence at 6
      months' follow-up was 0.43 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.62) for participants with primary
      and recurrent pterygium. One of the secondary outcomes, the proportion of
      participants with clinical improvement, was analyzed in only one study. This
      study reported clinical outcome as the risk of non-recurrence, which was seen in
      93.8% of participants in the conjunctival limbal autograft group and 93.3% in the
      amniotic membrane transplant group at 3 months after surgery.We did not analyze
      data on the need for repeat surgery, vision-related quality of life, and direct
      and indirect costs of surgery due to an insufficient number of studies reporting
      these outcomes.Thirteen studies reported adverse events associated with
      conjunctival autograft surgery and amniotic membrane transplant surgery. Adverse
      events that occurred in more than one study were granuloma and pyogenic granuloma
      and increased intraocular pressure. None of the included studies reported that
      participants had developed induced astigmatism. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In
      association with pterygium excision, conjunctival autograft is associated with a
      lower risk of recurrence at six months' after surgery than amniotic membrane
      transplant. Participants with recurrent pterygia in particular have a lower risk
      of recurrence when they receive conjunctival autograft surgery compared with
      amniotic membrane transplant. There are few studies comparing the two techniques
      with respect to visual acuity outcomes, and we identified no studies that
      reported on vision-related quality of life or direct or indirect costs.
      Comparison of these two procedures in such outcome measures bears further
      investigation. There were an insufficient number of studies that used adjunctive
      mitomycin C to estimate the effects on pterygium recurrence following
      conjunctival autograft or amniotic membrane transplant.

PMID- 26867003
TI  - The role of radiology in diagnosis and management of drug mules: an update with
      new challenges and new diagnostic tools.
AB  - Emergency physicians and radiologists have been increasingly encountering
      internal concealment of illegal drugs. The packages commonly contain powdered
      solid drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and hashish, but they may
      also contain cocaine in the liquid form. The second type of package has recently
      been more commonly encountered, and poses a greater diagnostic challenge. As
      clinical evaluation and laboratory tests frequently fail to make the correct
      diagnosis, imaging examination is typically required. Imaging methods assume a
      vital role in the diagnosis, follow-up and management. Abdominal X-ray,
      ultrasonography, CT and MRI are used for the imaging purposes. Among the
      aforementioned methods, low-dose CT is state-of-the-art in these cases. It is of
      paramount importance that radiologists have a full knowledge of the imaging
      characteristics of these packages and accurately guide physicians and security
      officials. 

PMID- 26867005
TI  - Distance-Dependent Plasmon-Enhanced Singlet Oxygen Production and Emission for
      Bacterial Inactivation.
AB  - Herein, we synthesized a series of 10 core-shell silver-silica nanoparticles with
      a photosensitizer, Rose Bengal, tethered to their surface. Each nanoparticle
      possesses an identical silver core of about 67 nm, but presents a different
      silica shell thickness ranging from 5 to 100 nm. These hybrid plasmonic
      nanoparticles thus afford a plasmonic nanostructure platform with a source of
      singlet oxygen ((1)O2) at a well-defined distance from the metallic core. Via
      time-resolved and steady state spectroscopic techniques, we demonstrate the
      silver core exerts a dual role of enhancing both the production of (1)O2, through
      enhanced absorption of light, and its radiative decay, which in turn boosts (1)O2
      phosphorescence emission to a greater extent. Furthermore, we show both the
      production and emission of (1)O2 in vitro to be dependent on proximity to the
      plasmonic nanostructure. Our results clearly exhibit three distinct regimes as
      the plasmonic nanostructure moves apart from the (1)O2 source, with a greater
      enhancement for silica shell thicknesses ranging between 10 and 20 nm. Moreover,
      these hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles can be delivered to both Gram-positive and
      Gram-negative bacteria boosting both photoantibacterial activity and detection
      limit of (1)O2 in cells. 

PMID- 26867006
TI  - Understanding Charge Transport in Mixed Networks of Semiconducting Carbon
      Nanotubes.
AB  - The ability to select and enrich semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes
      (SWNT) with high purity has led to a fast rise of solution-processed nanotube
      network field-effect transistors (FETs) with high carrier mobilities and on/off
      current ratios. However, it remains an open question whether it is best to use a
      network of only one nanotube species (monochiral) or whether a mix of purely
      semiconducting nanotubes but with different bandgaps is sufficient for high
      performance FETs. For a range of different polymer-sorted semiconducting SWNT
      networks, we demonstrate that a very small amount of narrow bandgap nanotubes
      within a dense network of large bandgap nanotubes can dominate the transport and
      thus severely limit on-currents and effective carrier mobility. Using gate
      voltage-dependent electroluminescence, we spatially and spectrally reveal
      preferential charge transport that does not depend on nominal network density but
      on the energy level distribution within the network and carrier density. On the
      basis of these results, we outline rational guidelines for the use of mixed SWNT
      networks to obtain high performance FETs while reducing the cost for
      purification. 

PMID- 26867007
TI  - Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Decreases Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
      Receptor Expression and Function in Human Renal Proximal Tubule Cells.
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), via its receptors, induces epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) and plays an important role in the development of
      renal tubulointersitial fibrosis. Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R), which
      mediates beneficial renal physiological functions, has received attention as a
      prospective therapeutic target for renoprotection. In this study, we investigated
      the effect and underlying mechanism of AT2R on the TGF-beta receptor II (TGF
      betaRII) expression and function in human proximal tubular cells (HK-2). Here, we
      show that the AT2R agonist CGP42112A decreased TGF-betaRII protein expression in
      a concentration- and time-dependent manner in HK-2 cells. The inhibitory effect
      of the AT2R on TGF-betaRII expression was blocked by the AT2R antagonists
      PD123319 or PD123177. Stimulation with TGF-beta1 enhanced EMT in HK-2 cells,
      which was prevented by pre-treatment with CGP42112A. One of mechanisms in this
      regulation is associated with the increased TGF-betaRII degradation after
      activation of AT2R. Furthermore, laser confocal immunofluorescence microscopy
      showed that AT2R and TGF-betaRII colocalized in HK-2 cells. AT2R and TGF-betaRII
      coimmunoprecipitated and this interaction was increased after AT2R agonist
      stimulation for 30 min. The inhibitory effect of the AT2R on TGF-betaRII
      expression was also blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME,
      indicating that nitric oxide is involved in the signaling pathway. Taken
      together, our study indicates that the renal AT2R regulates TGF-betaRII
      expression and function via the nitric oxide pathway, which may be important in
      the control of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. 

PMID- 26867008
TI  - A Splice Variant of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 5 (BBS5) Protein that Is Selectively
      Expressed in Retina.
AB  - PURPOSE: Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a complex ciliopathy that usually manifests
      with some form of retinal degeneration, amongst other ciliary-related
      deficiencies. One of the genetic causes of this syndrome results from a defect in
      Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 5 (BBS5) protein. BBS5 is one component of the BBSome, a
      complex of proteins that regulates the protein composition in cilia. In this
      study, we identify a smaller molecular mass form of BBS5 as a variant formed by
      alternative splicing and show that expression of this splice variant is
      restricted to the retina. METHODS: Reverse transcription PCR from RNA was used to
      isolate and identify potential alternative transcripts of Bbs5. A peptide unique
      to the C-terminus of the BBS5 splice variant was synthesized and used to prepare
      antibodies that selectively recognized the BBS5 splice variant. These antibodies
      were used on immunoblots of tissue extracts to determine the extent of expression
      of the alternative transcript and on tissue slices to determine the localization
      of expressed protein. Pull-down of fluorescently labeled arrestin1 by
      immunoprecipitation of the BBS5 splice variant was performed to assess functional
      interaction between the two proteins. RESULTS: PCR from mouse retinal cDNA using
      Bbs5-specific primers amplified a unique cDNA that was shown to be a splice
      variant of BBS5 resulting from the use of cryptic splicing sites in Intron 7. The
      resulting transcript codes for a truncated form of the BBS5 protein with a unique
      24 amino acid C-terminus, and predicted 26.5 kD molecular mass. PCR screening of
      RNA isolated from various ciliated tissues and immunoblots of protein extracts
      from these same tissues showed that this splice variant was expressed in retina,
      but not brain, heart, kidney, or testes. Quantitative PCR showed that the splice
      variant transcript is 8.9-fold (+/- 1.1-fold) less abundant than the full-length
      transcript. In the retina, the splice variant of BBS5 appears to be most abundant
      in the connecting cilium of photoreceptors, where BBS5 is also localized. Like
      BBS5, the binding of BBS5L to arrestin1 can be modulated by phosphorylation
      through protein kinase C. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we have identified a novel
      splice variant of BBS5 that appears to be expressed only in the retina. The BBS5
      splice variant is expressed at approximately 10% of full-length BBS5 level. No
      unique functional or localization properties could be identified for the splice
      variant compared to BBS5.

PMID- 26867011
TI  - Prediction of the intramembranous tissue formation during perisprosthetic healing
      with uncertainties. Part 2. Global clinical healing due to combination of random
      sources.
AB  - This work proposes to examine the variability of the bone tissue healing process
      in the early period after the implantation surgery. The first part took into
      account the effect of variability of individual biochemical factors on the solid
      phase fraction, which is an indicator of the quality of the primary fixation and
      condition of its long-term behaviour. The next issue, addressed in this second
      part, is the effect of cumulative sources of uncertainties on the same problem of
      a canine implant. This paper is concerned with the ability to increase the number
      of random parameters to assess the coupled influence of those variabilities on
      the tissue healing. To avoid an excessive increase in the complexity of the
      numerical modelling and further, to maintain efficiency in computational cost, a
      collocation-based polynomial chaos expansion approach is implemented. A
      progressive set of simulations with an increasing number of sources of
      uncertainty is performed. This information is helpful for future implant design
      and decision process for the implantation surgical act. 

PMID- 26867010
TI  - Factor Xa Inhibitor Suppresses the Release of Phosphorylated HSP27 from Collagen
      Stimulated Human Platelets: Inhibition of HSP27 Phosphorylation via p44/p42 MAP
      Kinase.
AB  - Selective inhibitors of factor Xa (FXa) are widely recognized as useful
      therapeutic tools for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation or
      venous thrombosis. Thrombin, which is rapidly generated from pro-thrombin through
      the activation of factor X to FXa, acts as a potent activator of human platelets.
      Thus, the reduction of thrombin generation by FXa inhibitor eventually causes a
      suppressive effect on platelet aggregation. However, little is known whether FXa
      inhibitors directly affect the function of human platelets. We have previously
      reported that collagen induces the phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27
      (HSP27), a low-molecular weight heat shock protein via Rac-dependent activation
      of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in human platelets, eventually
      resulting in the release of HSP27. In the present study, we investigated the
      direct effect of FXa inhibitor on the collagen-induced human platelet activation.
      Rivaroxaban as well as edoxaban significantly reduced the collagen-induced
      phosphorylation of both HSP27 and p44/p42 MAP kinase without affecting the
      platelet aggregation. Rivaroxaban significantly inhibited the release of
      phosphorylated HSP27 from collagen-stimulated platelets but not the secretion of
      platelet derived growth factor-AB. In patients administrated with rivaroxaban,
      the collagen-induced levels of phosphorylated HSP27 were markedly diminished
      after 2 days of administration, which failed to affect the platelet aggregation.
      These results strongly suggest that FXa inhibitor reduces the collagen-stimulated
      release of phosphorylated HSP27 from human platelets due to the inhibition of
      HSP27 phosphorylation via p44/p42 MAP kinase. 

PMID- 26867009
TI  - The Adenovirus E4orf4 Protein Provides a Novel Mechanism for Inhibition of the
      DNA Damage Response.
AB  - The DNA damage response (DDR) is a conglomerate of pathways designed to detect
      DNA damage and signal its presence to cell cycle checkpoints and to the repair
      machinery, allowing the cell to pause and mend the damage, or if the damage is
      too severe, to trigger apoptosis or senescence. Various DDR branches are
      regulated by kinases of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-like protein kinase
      family, including ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM- and Rad3-related
      (ATR). Replication intermediates and linear double-stranded genomes of DNA
      viruses are perceived by the cell as DNA damage and activate the DDR. If allowed
      to operate, the DDR will stimulate ligation of viral genomes and will inhibit
      virus replication. To prevent this outcome, many DNA viruses evolved ways to
      limit the DDR. As part of its attack on the DDR, adenovirus utilizes various
      viral proteins to cause degradation of DDR proteins and to sequester the MRN
      damage sensor outside virus replication centers. Here we show that adenovirus
      evolved yet another novel mechanism to inhibit the DDR. The E4orf4 protein,
      together with its cellular partner PP2A, reduces phosphorylation of ATM and ATR
      substrates in virus-infected cells and in cells treated with DNA damaging drugs,
      and causes accumulation of damaged DNA in the drug-treated cells. ATM and ATR are
      not mutually required for inhibition of their signaling pathways by E4orf4. ATM
      and ATR deficiency as well as E4orf4 expression enhance infection efficiency.
      Furthermore, E4orf4, previously reported to induce cancer-specific cell death
      when expressed alone, sensitizes cells to killing by sub-lethal concentrations of
      DNA damaging drugs, likely because it inhibits DNA damage repair. These findings
      provide one explanation for the cancer-specificity of E4orf4-induced cell death
      as many cancers have DDR deficiencies leading to increased reliance on the
      remaining intact DDR pathways and to enhanced susceptibility to DDR inhibitors
      such as E4orf4. Thus DDR inhibition by E4orf4 contributes both to the efficiency
      of adenovirus replication and to the ability of E4orf4 to kill cancer cells. 

PMID- 26867012
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of Partial alpha2 -Adrenoceptor Agonist and Pure alpha2 
      Adrenoceptor Antagonist on the Behavioural Symptoms of Withdrawal after Chronic
      Alcohol Administration in Mice.
AB  - As an addictive drug, alcohol produces withdrawal symptoms if discontinued
      abruptly after chronic use. Clonidine (CLN), a partial alpha2 -adrenergic
      agonist, and mirtazapine (MRT), an antagonist of alpha2 -adrenoceptor, both
      clinically aid alcohol withdrawal. Considering different mechanisms of action of
      the two drugs, this study was designed to see how far these two mechanistically
      different drugs differ in their ability to decrease the severity of ethanol
      withdrawal syndrome. The effect of CLN and MRT on ethanol withdrawal-induced
      anxiety, depression and memory impairment was analysed using EPM, FST and PAR
      tests, respectively. Animals received distilled water, ethanol and/or either of
      the drugs (CLN and MRT) in different doses. Relapse to alcohol use was analysed
      by CPP test. Animals received ethanol as a conditioning drug and distilled water,
      CLN or MRT as test drug. CLN and MRT both alleviated anxiety in a dose-dependent
      manner. MRT (4 mg/kg) was more effective than CLN (0.1 mg/kg) in ameliorating the
      anxiogenic effect of alcohol withdrawal. However, CLN treatment increased
      depression. It significantly decreased swimming time and increased immobility
      time, whereas MRT treatment decreased immobility time and increased climbing and
      swimming time during abstinence. The effect was dose dependent for both drugs.
      The results of PAR test show that CLN treatment worsens working memory.
      Significant increase in SDE and TSZ and decrease in SDL were observed in CLN
      treated animals. MRT treatment, on the other hand, improved working memory at
      both doses. Further, both CLN and MRT alleviated craving. A significant decrease
      in time spent in the ethanol-paired chamber was seen. MRT treatment at both doses
      showed better effect than CLN in preventing the development of preference in CPP
      test. These findings indicate a potential therapeutic use and better profile of
      mirtazapine over clonidine in improving memory, as well as in alleviating
      depression, anxiety and craving associated with alcohol withdrawal. 

PMID- 26867013
TI  - C6: A Monoclonal Antibody Specific for a Fibronectin Epitope Situated at the
      Interface between the Oncofoetal Extra-Domain B and the Repeat III8.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fibronectin (FN) is a large multidomain molecule that is involved in
      many cellular processes. Different FN isoforms arise from alternative splicing of
      the pre-mRNA including, most notably, the FN isoform that contains the "extra
      domain-B" (ED-B). The FN isoform containing ED-B (known as B-FN) is undetectable
      in healthy adult tissues but is present in large amounts in neoplastic and foetal
      tissues as well as on the blood vessels during angiogenesis. Thus, antibodies
      specific for B-FN can be useful for detecting and targeting neoplastic tissues in
      vivo. We previously characterised C6, a new monoclonal antibody specific for
      human B-FN and we suggested that it reacts with the B-C loop of the type III
      repeat 8 which is masked in FN isoforms lacking ED-B and that the insertion of ED
      B in FN molecules unmasked it. Here we have now consolidated and refined the
      characterization of this B-FN specific antibody demonstrating that the epitope
      recognized by C6 also includes loop E-F of ED-B. METHODOLOGY: We built the three
      dimensional model of the variable regions of the mAb C6 and of the FN fragment
      EDB-III8 and performed protein:protein docking simulation using the web server
      ClusPro2.0. To confirm the data obtained by protein:protein docking we generated
      mutant fragments of the recombinant FN fragment EDB-III8 and tested their
      reactivity with C6. CONCLUSION: The monoclonal antibody C6 reacts with an epitope
      formed by the B-C loop of domain III8 and the E-F loop of ED-B. Both loops are
      required for an immunological reaction, thus this monoclonal is strictly specific
      for B-FN but the part of the epitope on III8 confers the human specificity.

PMID- 26867014
TI  - Muscle Synergies Heavily Influence the Neural Control of Arm Endpoint Stiffness
      and Energy Consumption.
AB  - Much debate has arisen from research on muscle synergies with respect to both
      limb impedance control and energy consumption. Studies of limb impedance control
      in the context of reaching movements and postural tasks have produced divergent
      findings, and this study explores whether the use of synergies by the central
      nervous system (CNS) can resolve these findings and also provide insights on
      mechanisms of energy consumption. In this study, we phrase these debates at the
      conceptual level of interactions between neural degrees of freedom and tasks
      constraints. This allows us to examine the ability of experimentally-observed
      synergies--correlated muscle activations--to control both energy consumption and
      the stiffness component of limb endpoint impedance. In our nominal 6-muscle
      planar arm model, muscle synergies and the desired size, shape, and orientation
      of endpoint stiffness ellipses, are expressed as linear constraints that define
      the set of feasible muscle activation patterns. Quadratic programming allows us
      to predict whether and how energy consumption can be minimized throughout the
      workspace of the limb given those linear constraints. We show that the presence
      of synergies drastically decreases the ability of the CNS to vary the properties
      of the endpoint stiffness and can even preclude the ability to minimize energy.
      Furthermore, the capacity to minimize energy consumption--when available--can be
      greatly affected by arm posture. Our computational approach helps reconcile
      divergent findings and conclusions about task-specific regulation of endpoint
      stiffness and energy consumption in the context of synergies. But more generally,
      these results provide further evidence that the benefits and disadvantages of
      muscle synergies go hand-in-hand with the structure of feasible muscle activation
      patterns afforded by the mechanics of the limb and task constraints. These
      insights will help design experiments to elucidate the interplay between
      synergies and the mechanisms of learning, plasticity, versatility and pathology
      in neuromuscular systems.

PMID- 26867015
TI  - Roles of MPBQ-MT in Promoting alpha/gamma-Tocopherol Production and
      Photosynthesis under High Light in Lettuce.
AB  - 2-methyl-6-phytyl-1, 4-benzoquinol methyltransferase (MPBQ-MT) is a vital enzyme
      catalyzing a key methylation step in both alpha/gamma-tocopherol and
      plastoquinone biosynthetic pathway. In this study, the gene encoding MPBQ-MT was
      isolated from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends
      (RACE), named LsMT. Overexpression of LsMT in lettuce brought about a significant
      increase of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol contents with a reduction of
      phylloquinone (vitamin K1) content, suggesting a competition for a common
      substrate phytyl diphosphate (PDP) between the two biosynthetic pathways.
      Besides, overexpression of LsMT significantly increased plastoquinone (PQ) level.
      The increase of tocopherol and plastoquinone levels by LsMT overexpression
      conduced to the improvement of plants' tolerance and photosynthesis under high
      light stress, by directing excessive light energy toward photosynthetic
      production rather than toward generation of more photooxidative damage. These
      findings suggest that the role and function of MPBQ-MT can be further explored
      for enhancing vitamin E value, strengthening photosynthesis and phototolerance
      under high light in plants. 

PMID- 26867016
TI  - Inhibition of Monoacylglycerol Lipase Activity Decreases Glucose-Stimulated
      Insulin Secretion in INS-1 (832/13) Cells and Rat Islets.
AB  - Lipid signals derived from lipolysis and membrane phospholipids play an important
      role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), though the exact secondary
      signals remain unclear. Previous reports have documented a stimulatory role of
      exogenously added mono-acyl-glycerol (MAG) on insulin secretion from cultured
      beta-cells and islets. In this report we have determined effects of increasing
      intracellular MAG in the beta-cell by inhibiting mono-acyl-glycerol lipase (MGL)
      activity, which catalyzes the final step in triacylglycerol breakdown, namely the
      hydrolysis of MAG to glycerol and free fatty acid (FA). To determine the role of
      MGL in GSIS, we used three different pharmacological agents (JZL184, MJN110 and
      URB602). All three inhibited GSIS and depolarization-induced insulin secretion in
      INS-1 (832/13). JZL184 significantly inhibited both GSIS and depolarization
      induced insulin secretion in rat islets. JZL184 significantly decreased lipolysis
      and increased both mono- and diacyglycerol species in INS-1 cells. Analysis of
      the kinetics of GSIS showed that inhibition was greater during the sustained
      phase of secretion. A similar pattern was observed in the response of Ca2+ to
      glucose and depolarization but to a lesser degree suggesting that altered Ca2+
      handling alone could not explain the reduction in insulin secretion. In addition,
      a significant reduction in long chain-CoA (LC-CoA) was observed in INS-1 cells at
      both basal and stimulatory glucose following inhibition of MGL. Our data
      implicate an important role for MGL in insulin secretion. 

PMID- 26867017
TI  - Visual Recognition Software for Binary Classification and Its Application to
      Spruce Pollen Identification.
AB  - Discriminating between black and white spruce (Picea mariana and Picea glauca) is
      a difficult palynological classification problem that, if solved, would provide
      valuable data for paleoclimate reconstructions. We developed an open-source
      visual recognition software (ARLO, Automated Recognition with Layered
      Optimization) capable of differentiating between these two species at an accuracy
      on par with human experts. The system applies pattern recognition and machine
      learning to the analysis of pollen images and discovers general-purpose image
      features, defined by simple features of lines and grids of pixels taken at
      different dimensions, size, spacing, and resolution. It adapts to a given problem
      by searching for the most effective combination of both feature representation
      and learning strategy. This results in a powerful and flexible framework for
      image classification. We worked with images acquired using an automated slide
      scanner. We first applied a hash-based "pollen spotting" model to segment pollen
      grains from the slide background. We next tested ARLO's ability to reconstruct
      black to white spruce pollen ratios using artificially constructed slides of
      known ratios. We then developed a more scalable hash-based method of image
      analysis that was able to distinguish between the pollen of black and white
      spruce with an estimated accuracy of 83.61%, comparable to human expert
      performance. Our results demonstrate the capability of machine learning systems
      to automate challenging taxonomic classifications in pollen analysis, and our
      success with simple image representations suggests that our approach is
      generalizable to many other object recognition problems. 

PMID- 26867018
TI  - Oncological and functional outcomes 1 year after radical prostatectomy for very
      low-risk prostate cancer: results from the prospective LAPPRO trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To analyse oncological and functional outcomes 12 months after
      treatment of very-low-risk prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy in men who
      could have been candidates for active surveillance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We
      conducted a prospective study of all men with very-low-risk prostate cancer who
      underwent radical prostatectomy at one of 14 participating centres. Validated
      patient questionnaires were collected at baseline and after 12 months by
      independent healthcare researchers. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as
      prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >=0.25 ng/mL or treatment with salvage
      radiotherapy or with hormones. Urinary continence was defined as <1 pad changed
      per 24 h. Erectile function was defined as ability to achieve erection hard
      enough for penetration more than half of the time after sexual stimulation.
      Changes in tumour grade and stage were obtained from pathology reports. We report
      descriptive frequencies and proportions of men who had each outcome in various
      subgroups. Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences between the age
      groups. RESULTS: Of the 4003 men in the LAPPRO cohort, 338 men fulfilled the
      preoperative national criteria for very-low-risk prostate cancer. Adverse
      pathology outcomes included upgrading, defined as pT3 or postoperative Gleason
      sum >=7, which was present in 35% of the men (115/333) and positive surgical
      margins, which were present in 16% of the men (54/329). Only 2.1% of the men
      (7/329) had a PSA concentration >0.1 ng/mL 6-12 weeks postoperatively. Erectile
      function and urinary continence were observed in 44% (98/222) and 84% of the men
      (264/315), respectively, 12 months postoperatively. The proportion of men
      achieving the trifecta, defined as preoperative potent and continent men who
      remained potent and continent with no BCR, was 38% (84/221 men) at 12 months.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective study of men with very-low-risk prostate cancer
      undergoing open or robot-assisted radical prostatectomy showed that there were
      favourable oncological outcomes in approximately two-thirds. Approximately 40%
      did not have surgically induced urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction 12
      months postoperatively. These results provide additional support for the use of
      active surveillance in men with very-low-risk prostate cancer; however, the
      number of men with risk of upgrading and upstaging is not negligible. Improved
      stratification is still urgently needed.

PMID- 26867019
TI  - Tunicate-Inspired Gallic Acid/Metal Ion Complex for Instant and Efficient
      Treatment of Dentin Hypersensitivity.
AB  - Dentin hypersensitivity is sharp and unpleasant pains caused by exposed dentinal
      tubules when enamel outside of the tooth wears away. The occlusion of dentinal
      tubules via in situ remineralization of hydroxyapatite is the best method to
      alleviate the symptoms caused by dentin hypersensitivity. Commercially available
      dental desensitizers are generally effective only on a specific area and are
      relatively toxic, and their performance usually depends on the skill of the
      clinician. Here, a facile and efficient dentin hypersensitivity treatment with
      remarkable aesthetic improvement inspired by the tunicate-self-healing process is
      reported. As pyrogallol groups in tunicate proteins conjugate with metal ions to
      heal the torn body armor of a tunicate, the ingenious mechanism by introducing
      gallic acid (GA) as a cheap, abundant, and edible alternative to the pyrogallol
      groups of the tunicate combined with a varied daily intake of metal ion sources
      is mimicked. In particular, the GA/Fe(3+) complex exhibits the most promising
      results, to the instant ~52% blockage in tubules within 4 min and ~87% after 7 d
      of immersion in artificial saliva. Overall, the GA/metal ion complex-mediated
      coating is facile, instant, and effective, and is suggested as an aesthetic
      solution for treating dentin hypersensitivity. 

PMID- 26867020
TI  - Correlation of Choline/Creatine and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient values with
      the prognostic parameters of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of this study was to measure choline/creatine (Ch/Cr) levels through (1)H
      MRS and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values through diffusion-weighted
      MRI, and to correlate these values with the prognostic parameters of head and
      neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The institutional review board approved
      this study and informed written consent was obtained from all study participants.
      A prospective study of 43 patients (31 men and 12 women; mean age, 65 years) with
      HNSCC was conducted. Single-voxel (1)H-MRS was performed at the tumor or
      metastatic cervical lymph node with point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) at TE =
      135 ms. Diffusion-weighted MR images with b values of 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm(2) and
      contrast MRI of the head and neck were performed. The Ch/Cr levels and ADC values
      of HNSCC were calculated. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was also calculated. The
      degree of tumor differentiation was determined through pathological examination.
      The HNSCC Ch/Cr level was negatively correlated with the ADC value (r = -0.662, p
      = 0.001). There was a significant difference in the Ch/Cr and ADC values at
      different degrees of tumor differentiation (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001) and with
      different GTVs (p = 0.122 and p = 0.001). The following prognostic parameter
      categories were used: (i) poorly differentiated and undifferentiated versus well
      differentiated to moderately differentiated; and (ii) HNSCC with GTV < 30 cm(3)
      versus GTV > 30 cm(3). The cut-off values for Cho/Cr and ADC for each category
      were 1.83, 0.95 and 1.94, 0.99, respectively, and the areas under the curve were
      0.771, 0.967 and 0.726, 0.795, respectively, for each category. We conclude that
      the Ch/Cr levels determined using (1)H-MRS and the ADC values are well correlated
      with several prognostic parameters of HNSCC.

PMID- 26867021
TI  - Repeatability Using Automatic Tracing with Canon OCT- HS100 and Zeiss Cirrus HD
      OCT 5000.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT), can be used in clinical practice
      to provide high resolution cross-sectional images of the retina, optic disc and
      macula structure. These measurements can be useful for early detection,
      diagnosis, monitoring and treatment guidance for retinal diseases. Therefore,
      repeatability of measurements in OCT is of great importance. METHODS: Macula and
      optic disc parameters from the right eye of 30 healthy subjects were obtained
      twice with the Canon OCT-HS100 and Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT 5000. Repeatability was
      evaluated by use of the coefficient of repeatability (CR) and the coefficient of
      repeatability as a percentage of the mean (CR%), and the obtained measurements
      were compared between the instruments. RESULTS: CR% of optic disc parameters
      ranged between 0.90 and 22.22% and 0.00 and 16.00% with the Canon and Zeiss OCT
      respectively. For macular parameters CR% ranged between 0.62 and 2.81% and 0.99
      and 1.81% with the Canon and Zeiss OCT respectively. No statistical difference
      could be found when comparing the CR of all macular and disc measurements between
      the instruments. Compared to our previously published data repeatability has
      significantly improved with the inclusion of automatic tracking systems with both
      the Canon and Zeiss OCT. CONCLUSION: Automatic tracking function improves
      repeatability in both Canon OCT-HS100 and Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT 5000. However,
      measurements generated by the two instruments are still not interchangeable.

PMID- 26867022
TI  - Monitoring the Location of Staff via Mobile Devices in a Large Multifacility
      Practice Group.
AB  - We describe a novel location and timekeeping system for a large, multifacility
      practice group using an app installed on mobile devices belonging to the staff.
      The system can be used independently of physical time clocks and without
      extracting information from anesthesia information management systems. The app
      creates geofences, reporting automatically when the user enters or departs the
      vicinity of a facility. The app displays the location of staff at all facilities,
      providing situational awareness. The leaving order of staff was adjusted daily
      using app data for the previous workload. This was successful; overtime was more
      evenly distributed year on year. Acceptance of the system was excellent. 

PMID- 26867023
TI  - Identification and Treatment of New Inflammatory Triggers for Complex Regional
      Pain Syndrome: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
AB  - Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is evoked by conditions that may be
      associated with local and/or systemic inflammation. We present a case of long
      standing CRPS in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in which prolonged
      remission was attained by directing therapy toward concomitant small intestinal
      bacterial overgrowth, obstructive sleep apnea, and potential increased microglia
      activity. We theorize that cytokine production produced by small intestinal
      bacterial overgrowth and obstructive sleep apnea may act as stimuli for ongoing
      CRPS symptoms. CRPS may also benefit from the properties of low-dose naltrexone
      that blocks microglia Toll-like receptors and induces production of endorphins
      that regulate and reduce inflammation. 

PMID- 26867024
TI  - Optimizing Viral Discovery in Bats.
AB  - Viral discovery studies in bats have increased dramatically over the past decade,
      yet a rigorous synthesis of the published data is lacking. We extract and analyze
      data from 93 studies published between 2007-2013 to examine factors that increase
      success of viral discovery in bats, and specific trends and patterns of infection
      across host taxa and viral families. Over the study period, 248 novel viruses
      from 24 viral families have been described. Using generalized linear models, at a
      study level we show the number of host species and viral families tested best
      explained number of viruses detected. We demonstrate that prevalence varies
      significantly across viral family, specimen type, and host taxonomy, and
      calculate mean PCR prevalence by viral family and specimen type across all
      studies. Using a logistic model, we additionally identify factors most likely to
      increase viral detection at an individual level for the entire dataset and by
      viral families with sufficient sample sizes. Our analysis highlights major
      taxonomic gaps in recent bat viral discovery efforts and identifies ways to
      improve future viral pathogen detection through the design of more efficient and
      targeted sample collection and screening approaches. 

PMID- 26867026
TI  - MRI Assessment of Ischemic Lesion Evolution within White and Gray Matter.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In acute ischemic stroke (AIS), gray matter (GM) and white matter
      (WM) have different vulnerabilities to ischemia. Thus, we compared the evolution
      of ischemic lesions within WM and GM using MRI. METHODS: From a European
      multicenter prospective database (I-KNOW), available T1-weighted images were
      identified for 50 patients presenting with an anterior AIS and a perfusion
      weighted imaging (PWI)/diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch ratio of 1.2 or
      more. Six lesion compartments were outlined: initial DWI (b = 1,000 s/mm2)
      lesion, initial PWI-DWI mismatch (Tmax >4 s and DWI-negative), final infarct
      mapped on 1-month fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging, lesion
      growth between acute DWI and 1-month FLAIR, DWI lesion reversal at 1 month and
      salvaged mismatch. The WM and GM were segmented on T1-weighted images, and all
      images were co-registered within subjects to the baseline MRI. WM and GM
      proportions were calculated for each compartment. RESULTS: Fifty patients were
      eligible for the study. Median delay between symptom onset and baseline MRI was
      140 min. The percentage of WM was significantly greater in the following
      compartments: initial mismatch (52.5 vs. 47.5%, p = 0.003), final infarct (56.7
      vs. 43.3%, p < 0.001) and lesion growth (58.9 vs. 41.2%, p < 0.001). No
      significant difference was found between GM and WM percentages within the initial
      DWI lesion, DWI reversal and salvaged mismatch compartments. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ischemic lesions may extend preferentially within the WM. Specific therapeutic
      strategies targeting WM ischemic processes may deserve further investigation.

PMID- 26867027
TI  - Liver capsule: Mechanisms of alcoholic hepatitis.

PMID- 26867025
TI  - Amazonian Triatomine Biodiversity and the Transmission of Chagas Disease in
      French Guiana: In Medio Stat Sanitas.
AB  - The effects of biodiversity on the transmission of infectious diseases now stand
      as a cornerstone of many public health policies. The upper Amazonia and Guyana
      shield are hot-spots of biodiversity that offer genuine opportunities to explore
      the relationship between the risk of transmission of Chagas disease and the
      diversity of its triatomine vectors. Over 730 triatomines were light-trapped in
      four geomorphological landscapes shaping French-Guiana, and we determined their
      taxonomic status and infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. We used a model selection
      approach to unravel the spatial and temporal variations in species abundance,
      diversity and infection. The vector community in French-Guiana is typically made
      of one key species (Panstrongylus geniculatus) that is more abundant than three
      secondary species combined (Rhodnius pictipes, Panstrongylus lignarius and
      Eratyrus mucronatus), and four other species that complete the assemblage.
      Although the overall abundance of adult triatomines does not vary across French
      Guiana, their diversity increases along a coastal-inland gradient. These
      variations unravelled a non-monotonic relationship between vector biodiversity
      and the risk of transmission of Chagas disease, so that intermediate biodiversity
      levels are associated with the lowest risks. We also observed biannual variations
      in triatomine abundance, representing the first report of a biannual pattern in
      the risk of Chagas disease transmission. Those variations were highly and
      negatively correlated with the average monthly rainfall. We discuss the
      implications of these patterns for the transmission of T. cruzi by assemblages of
      triatomine species, and for the dual challenge of controlling Amazonian vector
      communities that are made of both highly diverse and mostly intrusive species. 

PMID- 26867028
TI  - Childbirth or termination of pregnancy: does paid employment matter? A population
      study of women in reproductive age in Norway.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We studied whether female paid employment is associated with
      pregnancy outcome; childbirth or pregnancy termination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All
      women in Norway, 16-54 years of age, during the years 2007-10 were included. Data
      sources were; the Norwegian Central Person Registry, the Medical Birth Registry
      of Norway, and the Registry of Pregnancy Termination. We compared the proportion
      without paid employment among all women, women who gave birth, and among women
      who requested termination of pregnancy. Thereafter, and among pregnant women, we
      estimated the odds ratio for pregnancy termination request for women without paid
      employment by applying logistic regression analyses, using women with paid
      employment as reference. RESULTS: Among all women 16-54 years of age, 23.5% were
      without paid employment. Among women who gave birth, 15.8% were without paid
      employment, whereas this proportion was 46.4% among women who requested pregnancy
      termination (p < 0.05). Among the 307 512 women who were pregnant, 60 734 (19.4%)
      requested pregnancy termination. The odds ratio for pregnancy termination request
      was 3.18 (95% CI 3.11-3.25) for women without paid employment. Adjustments were
      made for age, number of children, and region of residence in Norway. CONCLUSION:
      Being without paid employment was more common among women in the general
      population and among women requesting pregnancy termination than among women who
      gave birth. Hence, women seem to have children when they are in paid employment.
      The role of women's paid employment for reproductive choices should be further
      investigated.

PMID- 26867029
TI  - Fascia Origin of Adipose Cells.
AB  - Adipocytes might arise from vascular stromal cells, pericytes and endothelia
      within adipose tissue or from bone marrow cells resident in nonadipose tissue.
      Here, we identified adipose precursor cells resident in fascia, an uninterrupted
      sheet of connective tissue that extends throughout the body. The cells and
      fragments of superficial fascia from the rat hindlimb were highly capable of
      spontaneous and induced adipogenic differentiation but not myogenic and
      osteogenic differentiation. Fascial preadipocytes expressed multiple markers of
      adipogenic progenitors, similar to subcutaneous adipose-derived stromal cells
      (ASCs) but discriminative from visceral ASCs. Such preadipocytes resided in
      fascial vasculature and were physiologically active in vivo. In growing rats,
      adipocytes dynamically arose from the adventitia to form a thin adipose layer in
      the fascia. Later, some adipocytes appeared to overlay on top of other
      adipocytes, an early sign for the formation of three-dimensional adipose tissue
      in fascia. The primitive adipose lobules extended invariably along blood vessels
      toward the distal fascia areas. At the lobule front, nascent capillaries wrapped
      and passed ahead of mature adipocytes to form the distal neovasculature niche,
      which might replenish the pool of preadipocytes and supply nutrients and hormones
      necessary for continuous adipogenesis. Our findings suggest a novel model for the
      origin of adipocytes from the fascia, which explains both neogenesis and
      expansion of adipose tissue. Fascial preadipocytes generate adipose cells to form
      primitive adipose lobules in superficial fascia, a subcutaneous nonadipose
      tissue. With continuous adipogenesis, these primitive adipose lobules newly
      formed in superficial fascia may be the rudiment of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
      Stem Cells 2016;34:1407-1419.

PMID- 26867030
TI  - The Impact of Methylprednisolone Pulses during Relapses of Multiple Sclerosis on
      the Kinetics of Anti-Interferon-Beta Antibodies.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: We assessed the, hitherto unknown, impact of intravenous
      methylprednisolone (ivMP) pulses during relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) on
      the kinetics of anti-interferon-beta neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) and binding
      antibodies (Babs). METHODS: Babs (ELISA) and Nabs (antiviral cytopathic effect
      assay) titers were evaluated before, immediately after and at 1 month following
      ivMP in 60 MS patients. RESULTS: ivMP reduces Nabs and Babs titers for at least 1
      month. Baseline titers determine Nabs and Babs seronegativity at the end of ivMP.
      Clinical response to ivMP tends to be better in Nabs(+) patients. CONCLUSION:
      Sampling for Nabs/Babs should be avoided during or shortly after ivMP to avoid
      transient positive or negative results that may obscure the decision to switch
      treatment.

PMID- 26867031
TI  - Rheumatology Research Foundation Clinician Scholar Educator Award: Fifteen Years
      Promoting Rheumatology Educators and Education.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Rheumatology Research Foundation's Clinician Scholar Educator
      (CSE) award is a 3-year career development award supporting medical education
      research while providing opportunities for mentorship and collaboration. Our
      objective was to document the individual and institutional impact of the award
      since its inception, as well as its promise to strengthen the subspecialty of
      rheumatology. METHODS: All 60 CSE Award recipients were surveyed periodically.
      Fifty-six of those 60 awardees (90%) responded to requests for survey information
      that included post-award activities, promotions, and further funding. Data were
      also collected from yearly written progress reports for each grant. RESULTS: Of
      the total CSE recipients to date, 48 of 60 (80%) are adult rheumatologists, 11 of
      60 (18%) are pediatric rheumatologists, and 1 is an adult and pediatric
      rheumatologist. Two-thirds of survey respondents spend up to 30% of their total
      time in educational activities, and one-third spend greater than 30%. Thirty-one
      of the 60 CSE recipients (52%) have published a total of 86 medical education
      papers. Twenty-six of 52 (50%) had received an academic promotion following the
      award. Eleven awardees earned advanced degrees. CONCLUSION: We describe the
      creation and evolution of a grant program from a medical subspecialty society
      foundation and the impact on producing education research, individual identity
      formation, and ongoing support for educators. This community of rheumatology
      scholar educators now serves as an important resource at the national level for
      the American College of Rheumatology and its membership. We believe that this
      grant may serve as a model for other medical societies that want to promote
      education scholarship and leadership within their specialties.

PMID- 26867032
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26867033
TI  - Development of Biomarker Models to Predict Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The American College of Rheumatology guidelines for the treatment of
      lupus nephritis recommend change in induction therapy when response to therapy
      has not occurred within 6 months. Response is not defined, and renal fibrosis can
      occur while waiting for this end point. Therefore, a decision support tool to
      better define response is needed to guide clinicians when starting patients on
      therapy. This study was undertaken to identify biomarker models with sufficient
      predictive power to develop such a tool. METHODS: Urine samples from 140 patients
      with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis who had not yet started induction therapy were
      analyzed for a panel of urinary biomarkers. Univariate receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for each individual biomarker and
      compared to the ROC area under the curve values from machine learning models
      developed using random forest algorithms. Biomarker models of outcome developed
      with novel markers in addition to clinical markers were compared to those
      developed with traditional clinical markers alone. RESULTS: Models developed with
      the combined traditional and novel biomarker panels demonstrated clinically
      meaningful predictive power. Markers most predictive of response were chemokines,
      cytokines, and markers of cellular damage. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to
      demonstrate the power of low-abundance biomarker panels and machine learning
      algorithms for predicting lupus nephritis outcomes. This is a critical first step
      in research to develop clinically meaningful decision support tools.

PMID- 26867035
TI  - The orthopedic characterization of Goltz syndrome.
AB  - Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), also known as Goltz syndrome, is a rare condition
      in which congenital anomalies result in a multitude of defects that affect many
      systems of the body. These defects can involve the eyes, skin, teeth, and
      cardiovascular, skeletal, and gastrointestinal systems. There have been many
      associated abnormalities reported in the literature. An appreciation of the
      clinical presentation of Goltz syndrome is important because physicians rely
      heavily on recognition of key physical characteristics in order to help make a
      diagnosis. In this report, we summarize the clinical findings observed when we
      were afforded the unique opportunity to interview and physically examine 19
      patients, the largest group of individuals with Goltz syndrome brought together
      in one place to date. The findings are intended to characterize the orthopedic
      phenotypic manifestations of Goltz syndrome. This collection of data revealed
      that the most common orthopedic findings were syndactyly (68%), ectrodactyly
      (68%), leg length discrepancy (57%), and reduction defects of long bones (52%).
      Nail irregularities were present in 89% of the patients seen.

PMID- 26867037
TI  - A Simple Field Method for Assessing Near-Surface Saturated Hydraulic
      Conductivity.
AB  - This technical note describes an effective and inexpensive field technique for
      measuring the saturated hydraulic conductivity of both undisturbed cores and
      repacked soil samples. The method requires no specialized equipment; everything
      that is required can be obtained in a hardware store. The method is a
      straightforward field implementation of the widely used falling-head laboratory
      analysis directly derived from Darcy's law. As such, it sidesteps the need for
      empirical assumptions about soil texture and the relationship between saturated
      and unsaturated flow components which many permeameter-based methods rely upon.
      The method is shown to produce results that are consistent with K values obtained
      elsewhere in the same homogeneous sand formation. Furthermore, the proposed
      method is useful for measuring hydraulic conductivity in drill cuttings obtained
      from direct push or auguring drill techniques, which cannot be done with any
      other field method. The range of hydraulic conductivity values that this test is
      appropriate for is on the order of 1E - 7 m/s to 1E - 3 m/s.

PMID- 26867034
TI  - JNK/SAPK Signaling Is Essential for Efficient Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts
      to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
AB  - Reprogramming of somatic cells to the phenotypic state termed "induced
      pluripotency" is thought to occur through three consecutive stages: initiation,
      maturation, and stabilisation. The initiation phase is stochastic but
      nevertheless very important as it sets the gene expression pattern that permits
      completion of reprogramming; hence a better understanding of this phase and how
      this is regulated may provide the molecular cues for improving the reprogramming
      process. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase (SAPKs)
      are stress activated MAPK kinases that play an essential role in several
      processes known to be important for successful completion of the initiation phase
      such as cellular proliferation, mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) and
      cell cycle regulation. In view of this, we postulated that manipulation of this
      pathway would have significant impacts on reprogramming of human fibroblasts to
      induced pluripotent stem cells. Accordingly, we found that key components of the
      JNK/SAPK signaling pathway increase expression as early as day 3 of the
      reprogramming process and continue to rise in reprogrammed cells throughout the
      initiation and maturation stages. Using both chemical inhibitors and RNA
      interference of MKK4, MKK7 and JNK1, we tested the role of JNK/SAPK signaling
      during the initiation stage of neonatal and adult fibroblast reprogramming. These
      resulted in complete abrogation of fully reprogrammed colonies and the emergence
      of partially reprogrammed colonies which disaggregated and were lost from culture
      during the maturation stage. Inhibition of JNK/SAPK signaling resulted in reduced
      cell proliferation, disruption of MET and loss of the pluripotent phenotype,
      which either singly or in combination prevented establishment of pluripotent
      colonies. Together these data provide new evidence for an indispensable role for
      JNK/SAPK signaling to overcome the well-established molecular barriers in human
      somatic cell induced reprogramming. Stem Cells 2016;34:1198-1212.

PMID- 26867038
TI  - Is spending money on others good for your heart?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Does spending money on others (prosocial spending) improve the
      cardiovascular health of community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with high
      blood pressure? METHOD: In Study 1, 186 older adults diagnosed with high blood
      pressure participating in the Midlife in the U.S. Study (MIDUS) were examined. In
      Study 2, 73 older adults diagnosed with high blood pressure were assigned to
      spend money on others or to spend money on themselves. RESULTS: In Study 1, the
      more money people spent on others, the lower their blood pressure was 2 years
      later. In Study 2, participants who were assigned to spend money on others for 3
      consecutive weeks subsequently exhibited lower systolic and diastolic blood
      pressure compared to participants assigned to spend money on themselves. The
      magnitude of these effects was comparable to the effects of interventions such as
      antihypertensive medication or exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings
      suggest that spending money on others shapes cardiovascular health, thereby
      providing a pathway by which prosocial behavior improves physical health among at
      risk older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867039
TI  - The role of caregiver social support, depressed mood, and perceived stress in
      changes in pediatric secondhand smoke exposure and asthma functional morbidity
      following an asthma exacerbation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Caregiver depressed mood and stress are associated with increased
      child asthma functional morbidity (AFM) and secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe),
      whereas social support (SS) reduces risk. This study extends previous literature
      by examining (1) longitudinal patterns of pediatric AFM and SHSe and (2) how
      caregiver stress, depressed mood, and SS are related to child SHSe and AFM
      changes. METHOD: Participants were 334 caregivers who smoked, had a child with
      asthma, and were enrolled in a smoking cessation induction/asthma intervention.
      SHSe and AFM were measured at baseline and 4, 6, and 12 months. All measures were
      caregiver self-report. We used an autoregressive latent trajectory model to
      examine the intercept, linear, and quadratic growth factors and autoregressive
      and cross-lagged effects of SHSe and AFM. RESULTS: After an asthma exacerbation,
      decreases in child AFM and SHSe were followed by respective increases over time.
      Child SHSe at 4 months and 6 months predicted subsequent child AFM.
      Autoregressive paths were significant for only AFM. Higher baseline caregiver
      depressed mood and stress predicted higher baseline child AFM but not other
      growth factors. Higher baseline caregiver self-esteem SS was associated with only
      lower baseline child AFM and fewer increases in AFM across time. Exploratory
      analyses indicated higher baseline caregiver depressed mood and stress were
      associated with less-favorable changes in child SHSe and AFM. CONCLUSIONS:
      Caregiver depressed mood, stress, and SS should be considered when addressing
      pediatric SHSe and AFM. Caregiver support may be needed to maintain intervention
      gains. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867040
TI  - Dispositional emotional expressivity, cancer-specific coping, and distress in
      socioeconomically-disadvantaged Latinas.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Coping processes directed toward avoiding and approaching stressor
      related thoughts and emotions predict psychological adjustment. However, few
      studies have examined how the relationship between dispositional emotional
      tendencies and stressor-specific coping affects outcomes. The aim of the current
      study was to examine the association of dispositional emotional expressivity
      (i.e., the propensity to experience and express emotions strongly) with cancer
      specific coping through avoidance and emotional approach to predict intrusive
      thoughts and depressive symptoms in Latinas with breast cancer. METHOD: Recently
      diagnosed Latina breast cancer patients receiving treatment completed
      standardized assessments via interview at 2 time points: within 18 months of
      diagnosis (Time 1; N = 95) and 3 months later (Time 2; N = 79). RESULTS: Most
      women were immigrants (93%), reported a combined household income of $20,000 or
      less (75%), did not graduate from high school (59%), and primarily spoke Spanish
      (88%). In path analyses, more recent immigration was associated with greater
      dispositional expressivity, which in turn was associated with coping with the
      cancer experience using both greater avoidance and emotional approach strategies.
      Only avoidance-oriented strategies predicted an increase in intrusive thoughts at
      3 months. No significant effects on depressive symptoms were observed.
      CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that Latina breast cancer patients who have a
      propensity to experience and express emotions strongly may be initially
      overwhelmed by their cancer-related emotions and consequently turn to avoidance
      oriented and emotional approach strategies to cope with their diagnosis.
      Avoidance-oriented coping in turn may uniquely predict an increase in cancer
      related intrusive thoughts 3 months later. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867041
TI  - Fatigue and mood among people with arthritis: Carry-over across the day.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the within-day relationship between fatigue
      and positive and negative mood among adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or
      osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: A sample of 142 adults-70 with RA and 72 with OA
      (67.6% women, 32.4% men)-completed daily diaries during 4 fixed time windows per
      day for 7 days. In each diary, participants reported fatigue, pain, happiness,
      and frustration. Multilevel modeling tested the temporal patterns in fatigue
      across the day and the lagged associations between fatigue and subsequent mood
      (and vice versa). RESULTS: Fatigue showed a midmorning dip followed by a linear
      rise in the afternoon and evening. Higher fatigue earlier in the day predicted
      subsequently lower happiness and higher frustration. Higher frustration-but not
      happiness-predicted subsequently worse fatigue. These within-day patterns were
      significant even when controlling for daily sleep quality, daily physical
      activity, diagnosis, age, gender, anxiety, depression, and disability.
      CONCLUSIONS: There was a unidirectional effect of fatigue on subsequent happiness
      and a bidirectional relationship between fatigue and frustration within the same
      day for adults with RA or OA. These findings inform interventions for the
      management of mood and fatigue throughout the day and suggest that addressing
      fatigue could improve mood, and that addressing sources of frustration could
      improve fatigue among people with arthritis.

PMID- 26867042
TI  - Affective forecasting and medication decision making in breast-cancer prevention.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Over 2 million American women at elevated risk for breast cancer are
      eligible to take chemoprevention medications such as tamoxifen and raloxifene,
      which can cut in half the risk of developing breast cancer, but which also have a
      number of side effects. Historically, very few at-risk women have opted to use
      chemoprevention medications. Affective forecasting theory suggests that people
      may avoid these medications if they expect taking them to increase their health
      related stress. METHOD: After receiving an individually tailored decision aid
      that provided personalized information about the risks and benefits of these
      medications, 661 women at elevated risk of breast cancer were asked to make 3
      affective forecasts, predicting what their level of health-related stress would
      be if they took tamoxifen, raloxifene, or neither medication. They also completed
      measures of decisional preferences and intentions, and at a 3-month follow-up,
      reported on whether or not they had decided to use either medication. RESULTS: On
      the affective forecasting items, very few women (<10%) expected the medications
      to reduce their health-related stress, relative to no medication at all.
      Participants with more negative affective forecasts about taking a
      chemoprevention medication expressed lower preferences and intentions for using
      the medications (Cohen's ds from 0.74 to 0.79) and were more likely to have opted
      against using medication at follow-up (OR range = 1.34-2.66). CONCLUSION: These
      findings suggest that affective forecasting may explain avoidance of breast
      cancer chemoprevention medications. They also highlight the need for more
      research aimed at integrating emotional content into decision aids. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26867044
TI  - Feeling older and risk of hospitalization: Evidence from three longitudinal
      cohorts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Subjective age is a biopsychosocial marker of aging with a range of
      health-related implications. Using 3 longitudinal samples, this study examined
      whether subjective age predicts hospitalization among older adults. METHOD:
      Participants were adults aged from 24 to 102 years old, drawn from the 1995-1996
      and 2004-2005 waves of the Midlife in the United States Survey (MIDUS, N = 3209),
      the 2008 and 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N = 3779), and
      the 2011 and 2013 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS, N =
      3418). In each sample, subjective age and covariates were assessed at baseline
      and hospitalization was assessed at follow-up. RESULTS: Consistent across the 3
      samples, participants who felt subjectively older at baseline had an increased
      likelihood of hospitalization (combined effect size: 1.17, 95% CI 1.11-1.23),
      controlling for age, sex, race, and education. Further adjusting for disease
      burden and depression reduced the magnitude of the association between subjective
      age and hospitalization in the 3 samples, but it remained significant in the
      MIDUS and HRS. CONCLUSION: This study provides consistent evidence that
      subjective age predicts incident hospitalization. Subjective age assessment can
      help identify individuals at greater risk of hospitalization, who may benefit
      from prevention and intervention efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867043
TI  - Depressive symptoms and responses to cigarette pack warning labels among Mexican
      smokers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examine whether having depressive symptoms (DS) is associated with
      different responses to cigarette package health warning labels (HWLs) before and
      after the implementation of pictorial HWLs in Mexico. METHOD: We analyze data
      from adult smokers from Wave 4 and Wave 5 (n = 1,340) of the International
      Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project in Mexico. Seven Center for
      Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) items assessed DS, with scores
      >=7 indicating elevated DS. Outcomes included: attention to HWLs, cognitive
      responses to HWLs, tobacco constituents awareness, putting off smoking due to
      HWLs, avoidance of HWLs, and awareness of telephone support for cessation (i.e.,
      quitlines). Mixed effects models were used to assess main and interactive effects
      of DS and time (i.e., survey wave) on each outcome. RESULTS: All HWL responses
      increased over time, except putting off smoking. Statistically significant
      interactions were found between DS and time for models of tobacco constituents
      awareness (b = -0.36, SE = 0.15, p = .022), putting off smoking (OR = 0.41, 95%
      CI [0.25, 0.66]), avoidance of HWLs (OR = 1.84, 95% CI [1.03, 3.29]), and
      quitline awareness (OR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.21, 0.56]). Compared to smokers with low
      DS, smokers with elevated DS reported stronger HWL responses at baseline;
      however, HWL responses increased over time among smokers with low DS, whereas HWL
      responses showed little or no change among smokers with elevated DS. DISCUSSION:
      Population-level increases in HWL responses after pictorial HWLs were introduced
      in Mexico appeared mostly limited to smokers with low DS. In general, however,
      smokers with elevated DS reported equivalent or stronger HWL responses than
      smokers with low DS.

PMID- 26867047
TI  - Fostering liver living donor liver transplantation.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review discusses issues pertinent to fostering
      professional and public interest in living donor liver transplantation. We
      discuss practices that we have adopted at our center, issues that have arisen and
      provide suggestions to expand live donor transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: To
      bridge the gap between the current supply and demand of deceased donor organs,
      the transplant program in Toronto established the busiest live donor liver
      transplant program in the western world. To date, we have performed 664 live
      liver donor procedures with no donor deaths and excellent recipient and donor
      outcomes. To foster and grow live donation, we established a strong culture
      supporting live donation; hired a full-time, dedicated team of individuals to
      support the live donor program; obtained financial support for donors through a
      partnership agreement with the Trillium Gift of Life Network; developed linkages
      with the media, community service groups and the general public; generated
      patient education materials; and established a website. SUMMARY: With the present
      and future trends of deceased donation worldwide, we anticipate that live liver
      donation will remain an important option to fully meet the needs of patients
      requiring liver transplantation for the foreseeable future.

PMID- 26867045
TI  - Enhancing physical function in HIV-infected older adults: A randomized controlled
      clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: HIV-infected older adults (HOA) are at risk of functional decline.
      Interventions promoting physical activity that can attenuate functional decline
      and are easily translated into the HOA community are of high priority. We
      conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether a physical
      activity counseling intervention based on self-determination theory (SDT)
      improves physical function, autonomous motivation, depression and the quality of
      life (QOL) in HOA. METHOD: In total, 67 community-dwelling HOA with mild-to
      moderate functional limitations were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: a physical
      activity counseling group or the usual care control group. We used SDT to guide
      the development of the experimental intervention. Outcome measures that were
      collected at baseline and final study visits included a battery of physical
      function tests, levels of physical activity, autonomous motivation, depression,
      and QOL. RESULTS: The study participants were similar in their demographic and
      clinical characteristics in both the treatment and control groups. Overall
      physical performance, gait speed, measures of endurance and strength, and levels
      of physical activity improved in the treatment group compared to the control
      group (p < .05). Measures of autonomous regulation such as identified regulation,
      and measures of depression and QOL improved significantly in the treatment group
      compared with the control group (p < .05). Across the groups, improvement in
      intrinsic regulation and QOL correlated with an improvement in physical function
      (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a physical activity counseling
      program grounded in SDT can improve physical function, autonomous motivation,
      depression, and QOL in HOA with functional limitations. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867048
TI  - Acute alcoholic hepatitis as indication for liver transplantation.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Until recently, severe acute alcoholic hepatitis that is
      refractory to medical therapy was a disease with extremely high mortality and no
      viable treatment options. A landmark trial of early liver transplantation in
      highly selected patients demonstrated a clear survival benefit and favorable
      posttransplant outcomes. Since then, new findings regarding medical therapy for
      alcoholic hepatitis, outcomes of early transplant, and ethical considerations as
      well as public perception of this intervention have been published. RECENT
      FINDINGS: Glucocorticoids remain the best initial medical therapy for severe
      acute alcoholic hepatitis, but liver transplantation can be an acceptable and
      effective therapy for those who fail to respond to steroids. Recurrence of
      harmful drinking is a valid concern, and has been observed in long-term follow-up
      of patients transplanted for alcoholic liver disease. Public perception of early
      liver transplant for severe acute alcoholic hepatitis is overall positive.
      SUMMARY: Liver transplantation for refractory severe acute alcoholic hepatitis is
      a life-saving intervention and should be judiciously employed in highly selected
      individuals who are at low risk of recidivism.

PMID- 26867046
TI  - OPTIMA prelim: a randomised feasibility study of personalised care in the
      treatment of women with early breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty about the chemotherapy sensitivity of some
      oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
      negative breast cancers. Multiparameter assays that measure the expression of
      several tumour genes simultaneously have been developed to guide the use of
      adjuvant chemotherapy for this breast cancer subtype. The assays provide
      prognostic information and have been claimed to predict chemotherapy sensitivity.
      There is a dearth of prospective validation studies. The Optimal Personalised
      Treatment of early breast cancer usIng Multiparameter Analysis preliminary study
      (OPTIMA prelim) is the feasibility phase of a randomised controlled trial (RCT)
      designed to validate the use of multiparameter assay directed chemotherapy
      decisions in the NHS. OBJECTIVES: OPTIMA prelim was designed to establish the
      acceptability to patients and clinicians of randomisation to test-driven
      treatment assignment compared with usual care and to select an assay for study in
      the main RCT. DESIGN: Partially blinded RCT with adaptive design. SETTING: Thirty
      five UK hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged >= 40 years with surgically
      treated ER-positive HER2-negative primary breast cancer and with 1-9 involved
      axillary nodes, or, if node negative, a tumour at least 30 mm in diameter.
      INTERVENTIONS: Randomisation between two treatment options. Option 1 was standard
      care consisting of chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy. In option 2, an
      Oncotype DX((r)) test (Genomic Health Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA) performed on
      the resected tumour was used to assign patients either to standard care [if
      'recurrence score' (RS) was > 25] or to endocrine therapy alone (if RS was <=
      25). Patients allocated chemotherapy were blind to their randomisation. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: The pre-specified success criteria were recruitment of 300
      patients in no longer than 2 years and, for the final 150 patients, (1) an
      acceptance rate of at least 40%; (2) recruitment taking no longer than 6 months;
      and (3) chemotherapy starting within 6 weeks of consent in at least 85% of
      patients. RESULTS: Between September 2012 and 3 June 2014, 350 patients consented
      to join OPTIMA prelim and 313 were randomised; the final 150 patients were
      recruited in 6 months, of whom 92% assigned chemotherapy started treatment within
      6 weeks. The acceptance rate for the 750 patients invited to participate was 47%.
      Twelve out of the 325 patients with data (3.7%, 95% confidence interval 1.7% to
      5.8%) were deemed ineligible on central review of receptor status. Interviews
      with researchers and recordings of potential participant consultations made as
      part of the integral qualitative recruitment study provided insights into
      recruitment barriers and led to interventions designed to improve recruitment.
      Patient information was changed as the result of feedback from three patient
      focus groups. Additional multiparameter analysis was performed on 302 tumour
      samples. Although Oncotype DX, MammaPrint((r))/BluePrint((r)) (Agendia Inc.,
      Irvine, CA, USA), Prosigna((r)) (NanoString Technologies Inc., Seattle, WA, USA),
      IHC4, IHC4 automated quantitative immunofluorescence (AQUA((r))) [NexCourse
      BreastTM (Genoptix Inc. Carlsbad, CA, USA)] and MammaTyper((r)) (BioNTech
      Diagnostics GmbH, Mainz, Germany) categorised comparable numbers of tumours into
      low- or high-risk groups and/or equivalent molecular subtypes, there was only
      moderate agreement between tests at an individual tumour level (kappa ranges 0.33
      0.60 and 0.39-0.55 for tests providing risks and subtypes, respectively). Health
      economics modelling showed the value of information to the NHS from further
      research into multiparameter testing is high irrespective of the test evaluated.
      Prosigna is currently the highest priority for further study. CONCLUSIONS: OPTIMA
      prelim has achieved its aims of demonstrating that a large UK clinical trial of
      multiparameter assay-based selection of chemotherapy in hormone-sensitive early
      breast cancer is feasible. The economic analysis shows that a trial would be
      economically worthwhile for the NHS. Based on the outcome of the OPTIMA prelim, a
      large-scale RCT to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of
      multiparameter assay-directed chemotherapy decisions in hormone-sensitive HER2
      negative early breast would be appropriate to take place in the NHS. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN42400492. FUNDING: This project was
      funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology
      Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology
      Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further
      project information. The Government of Ontario funded research at the Ontario
      Institute for Cancer Research. Robert C Stein received additional support from
      the NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre.

PMID- 26867050
TI  - Multivisceral transplantation for diffuse splanchnic venous thrombosis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The development of diffuse splanchnic venous thrombosis
      continues to be a challenging undertaking for patients waiting for liver
      transplantation, requiring the utilization of highly complex surgical techniques.
      The aim of this article is to review the status of multivisceral transplantation
      (MVT) in the setting of diffuse portomesenteric thrombosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Even
      though many anatomical reconstructions of the venous system have been proposed to
      revascularize the transplanted liver, there are only few articles describing the
      use of these techniques. Here we describe a succinct review of these alternatives
      with emphasis on MVT. SUMMARY: MVT is a complex procedure; however, it is the
      only one capable of reestablishing the venous anatomy and physiology of the
      abdominal cavity, resolving completely the effects of portal hypertension and the
      baseline disease.

PMID- 26867051
TI  - Who comes first?

PMID- 26867049
TI  - Generation of an artificial intestine for the management of short bowel syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article discusses the current state of the art in
      artificial intestine generation in the treatment of short bowel syndrome. RECENT
      FINDINGS: Short bowel syndrome defines the condition in which patients lack
      sufficient intestinal length to allow for adequate absorption of nutrition and
      fluids, and thus need parenteral support. Advances toward the development of an
      artificial intestine have improved dramatically since the first attempts in the
      1980s, and the last decade has seen significant advances in understanding the
      intestinal stem cell niche, the growth of complex primary intestinal stem cells
      in culture, and fabrication of the biomaterials that can support the growth and
      differentiation of these stem cells. There has also been recent progress in
      understanding the role of the microbiota and the immune cells on the growth of
      intestinal cultures on scaffolds in animal models. Despite recent progress, there
      is much work to be done before the development of a functional artificial
      intestine for short bowel syndrome is successfully achieved. SUMMARY: Continued
      concerted efforts by cell biologists, bioengineers, and clinician-scientists will
      be required for the development of an artificial intestine as a clinical
      treatment modality for short bowel syndrome.

PMID- 26867052
TI  - Stack the odds in favor of newly licensed RNs.

PMID- 26867054
TI  - Differences in night-time and daytime ambulatory blood pressure when diurnal
      periods are defined by self-report, fixed-times, and actigraphy: Improving the
      Detection of Hypertension study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine whether defining diurnal periods by self-report, fixed
      time, or actigraphy produce different estimates of night-time and daytime
      ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). METHODS: Over a median of 28 days, 330
      participants completed two 24-h ABP and actigraphy monitoring periods with sleep
      diaries. Fixed night-time and daytime periods were defined as 0000-0600 h and
      1000-2000 h, respectively. Using the first ABP period, within-individual
      differences for mean night-time and daytime ABP and kappa statistics for night
      time and daytime hypertension (systolic/diastolic ABP>=120/70 mmHg and >=135/85
      mmHg, respectively) were estimated comparing self-report, fixed-time, or
      actigraphy for defining diurnal periods. Reproducibility of ABP was also
      estimated. RESULTS: Within-individual mean differences in night-time systolic ABP
      were small, suggesting little bias, when comparing the three approaches used to
      define diurnal periods. The distribution of differences, represented by 95%
      confidence intervals (CI), in night-time systolic and diastolic ABP and daytime
      systolic and diastolic ABP was narrowest for self-report versus actigraphy. For
      example, mean differences (95% CI) in night-time systolic ABP for self-report
      versus fixed-time was -0.53 (-6.61, +5.56) mmHg, self-report versus actigraphy
      was 0.91 (-3.61, +5.43) mmHg, and fixed-time versus actigraphy was 1.43 (-5.59,
      +8.46) mmHg. Agreement for night-time and daytime hypertension was highest for
      self-report versus actigraphy: kappa statistic (95% CI) = 0.91 (0.86,0.96) and
      1.00 (0.98,1.00), respectively. The reproducibility of mean ABP and hypertension
      categories was similar using each approach. CONCLUSION: Given the high agreement
      with actigraphy, these data support using self-report to define diurnal periods
      on ABP monitoring. Further, the use of fixed-time periods may be a reasonable
      alternative approach.

PMID- 26867055
TI  - Circulating resistin concentrations are independently associated with aortic
      pulse wave velocity in a community sample.
AB  - AIMS: The role of the adipokine, resistin in mediating increases in aortic
      stiffness is uncertain. We aimed to determine independent relations between
      circulating resistin concentrations and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and wave
      reflection in a community-based sample with a high prevalence of untreated
      hypertension and obesity. METHODS: Plasma resistin, adiponectin, and C-reactive
      protein concentrations (ELISA); carotid-femoral (aortic) PWV and the aortic
      reflected wave index (applanation tonometry and SphygmoCor software) were
      determined in 683 randomly selected participants of African ancestry from SOWETO,
      South Africa who had never received antihypertensive therapy. RESULTS: Resistin
      concentrations were not independently associated with office or 24-h (n = 492)
      blood pressure (BP). In a stepwise regression model with BMI included in the
      model, age (P < 0.0001), mean arterial pressure (P < 0.0001), plasma resistin
      concentrations (P < 0.005), female sex (P = 0.01), and creatinine concentrations
      (P < 0.01) contributed independently to variations in PWV. Independent relations
      between resistin concentrations and PWV persisted with further adjustments for C
      reactive protein concentrations (P < 0.005), and the homeostasis model of insulin
      resistance (P < 0.02). Similar relations were noted with waist circumference
      rather than BMI in the model. Resistin concentrations were not independently
      associated with aortic reflected wave index or aortic BP. CONCLUSION: Resistin is
      independently and directly associated with aortic stiffness and these effects
      occur beyond BP, insulin resistance, and general inflammation.

PMID- 26867053
TI  - Parathyroid hormone and the risk of incident hypertension: the Atherosclerosis
      Risk in Communities study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that parathyroid hormone (PTH) has effects
      on vascular smooth muscle cells, the rennin-angiotensin system and kidney
      function, but less is known about its role in the development of hypertension.
      The distribution of serum PTH also varies by race. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Therefore, we examined the relation between PTH and incident hypertension and
      tested for interaction by race among 7504 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities
      participants (1264 black, 6240 white, median age 56 years) without initial
      hypertension in 1990-1992. During a median follow-up of 6 years, 1487 white and
      509 black participants developed hypertension. In the overall study population,
      PTH was not associated with incident hypertension after adjustment for
      demographics and behavioral risk factors [hazard ratio highest vs. lowest
      quintiles, 95% confidence interval: 1.11 (0.96-1.28); P for linear trend 0.02].
      Although the interaction was not statistically significant (P = 0.60), there was
      some evidence that the PTH-hypertension association differed by race. Among
      blacks, PTH was positively associated with incident hypertension, independent of
      demographics, and behavioral risk factors (P for linear trend 0.003). Among
      whites, PTH was not associated with hypertension risk. Results were similar when
      comparing participants with elevated versus nonelevated PTH (>=65 vs. <65 pg/ml):
      hazard ratio in blacks: 1.24 (1.02-1.54); hazard ratio in whites: 0.95 (0.78
      1.16). CONCLUSIONS: In this large community-based cohort, PTH levels, overall,
      were not independently associated with the risk of hypertension. However, we
      found some evidence that PTH may be associated with hypertension in blacks.
      Future research should continue to explore potential race differences in the PTH
      hypertension association.

PMID- 26867057
TI  - A cross-sectional study of the effects of beta-blocker therapy on the
      interpretation of the aldosterone/renin ratio: can dosing regimen predict effect?
AB  - CONTEXT AND AIM: Aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) is used as the primary screening
      tool for primary aldosteronism. Its interpretation is often challenging because
      of the interference of antihypertensive medication. beta-blocker therapy
      suppresses renin production by inhibiting beta-adrenergic receptors in the
      juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney and consequently aldosterone secretion
      (to a lesser extent). Therefore, beta-blocker therapy has the potential to
      elevate the ARR. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the
      effect of beta-blocker therapy on the ARR could be predicted from the dosing
      regimen. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants
      were stratified into one of four groups (control/low/medium/high) based on the
      quantity of beta-blocker prescribed. ARR was calculated from renin/aldosterone,
      measured using two assay systems. RESULTS: Eighty-nine volunteers were recruited
      to our study. In the control group, zero patients had a positive ARR using plasma
      renin activity (PRA)/direct renin concentration (DRC). In the low, medium, and
      high-dose beta-blocker groups between 8-25% of patients demonstrated screen
      positive ARR results for primary aldosteronism using DRC and PRA. DRC was
      significantly lower in patients in the medium/high-dose groups and PRA
      significantly lower in the low/medium/high-dose groups compared with controls.
      ARR using DRC was significantly higher in the medium/high-dose groups and ARR
      using PRA was significantly higher in the low/medium/high-dose groups compared
      with controls. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that beta-blocker therapy is
      associated with an increased risk of positive ARR screens for primary
      aldosteronism irrespective of the dose of beta-blocker prescribed, in patients in
      whom it is clinically reasonable to expect that primary aldosteronism may be
      present.

PMID- 26867056
TI  - Prostasin and matriptase (ST14) in placenta from preeclamptic and healthy
      pregnant women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is characterized by disturbed placentation, hypertension,
      proteinuria, and suppression of plasma renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone.
      Regulated activity of tissue serine proteases, prostasin, and matriptase is
      necessary for normal placental development in mice. Prostasin activates the renal
      epithelial sodium channel. We hypothesized that preeclampsia is associated with
      low prostasin expression in placenta and spillover of prostasin into urine across
      the defect glomerular barrier. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 20 healthy
      pregnant women and 20 patients suspected of preeclampsia were included. Plasma
      and urine was obtained before delivery, and placental biopsies were taken
      immediately after delivery (mean gestational age: control 39 and preeclampsia 38
      weeks). RESULTS: Patients with preeclampsia displayed lower levels of aldosterone
      in plasma and in spot urine normalized for creatinine (P = 0.0001). Prostasin,
      matriptase, hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI-1) and 2,
      and nexin-1 mRNA abundances were not different in placental tissue between
      groups. Prostasin mRNA in placenta correlated directly with nexin-1 and HAI-1
      mRNA, but not with matriptase mRNA. Plasma prostasin and placental homogenate
      prostasin and nexin-1 protein levels did not differ between groups. Activated,
      arginine 614 (Arg614)-cleaved matriptase was not detectable in placentas. Western
      blotting showed significant elevated levels of prostasin in urine from
      preeclamptic patients that correlated with urine albumin. Placenta and plasma
      prostasin did not correlate to aldosterone or placental weight. CONCLUSION:
      Preeclampsia is not associated with altered prostasin in placenta or plasma at
      term, but with increased prostasin in urine. An impact of prostasin-matriptase on
      placental development is likely to be at the level of activity and not protein
      abundance.

PMID- 26867058
TI  - Trends in admission blood pressure and stroke outcome in patients with acute
      stroke and transient ischemic attack in a National Acute Stroke registry.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is common during an acute stroke and is
      associated with unfavorable outcome. Management of hypertension has improved in
      recent years. We aimed to evaluate trends in admission BP levels in patients
      admitted with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) over the past
      decade. METHODS: Data were based on the National Acute Stroke Israeli Registry.
      The study population comprised 6177 patients, aged at least 18 years admitted for
      acute stroke (4382 ischemic stroke and 476 intracerebral hemorrhage) or TIA
      (1227) and had data on BP levels on admission. We studied temporal trends in
      admission BP and preadmission antihypertensive therapy from 2004 to 2010.
      RESULTS: Admission SBP (mean +/- SD) in patients with acute stroke decreased from
      161 +/- 29 mmHg in 2004 to 153 +/- 28 mmHg in 2010 (P < 0.001). Similar trends
      were observed for patients with TIA. The use of three or more antihypertensive
      agents before stroke onset increased from 16.9% in 2004 to 20.0% in 2010 (P =
      0.02). In patients with acute stroke, higher admission SBP was associated with
      increased stroke severity (P < 0.001). Rate of disability at discharge or in
      hospital death decreased from 71.3% in 2004 to 64.8% in 2010 (P < 0.0001).
      Admission SBP was associated with disability at discharge or in-hospital death
      with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.06 (1.04-1.08) per 10
      mmHg change in SBP. CONCLUSION: Admission SBP in patients with acute stroke and
      TIA decreased from 2004 to 2010 and may have contributed to the improved outcome
      in these patients.

PMID- 26867059
TI  - Regulation of podoplanin expression by microRNA-29b associates with its
      antiapoptotic effect in angiotensin II-induced injury of human podocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiotensin (Ang)II is involved in induction of proteinuria, renal
      injury, and apoptosis and thus a major contributor to the development of chronic
      kidney disease. Podocytes are of major importance for the pathogenesis of several
      kidney diseases. Decrease of podoplanin (PDPN) in podocytes and podocyte loss has
      been associated with the development of proteinuria. Little is known about the
      regulation and biological function of PDPN in podocytes and its role in AngII
      mediated kidney damage. Here, we determined the influence of AngII on the
      expression of PDPN, microRNA (miRNA)-29b and miRNA-497 in human podocytes.
      Further, we analyzed the impact of small interfering RNA-mediated downregulation
      of PDPN on AngII-induced apoptosis and viability. Moreover, we characterized the
      role of miRNA-29b and miRNA-497 in expression regulation of PDPN. METHODS: Cell
      viability and apoptosis were determined by functional assays. Expression analyses
      were done via Real-Time PCR and western blot analyses. Dual luciferase assay was
      performed to characterize miRNA-mediated expression control. RESULTS: AngII
      increased the expression of miRNA-29b and reduced PDPN. Small interfering RNA
      mediated downregulation of PDPN increased proapoptotic caspase-3 activation and
      cytochrome C translocation, whereas cell viability and Akt phosphorylation were
      reduced in AngII-stimulated podocytes. In contrast to miRNA-497, transfection of
      cells with miRNA-29b mimics significantly decreased PDPN. Cotransfection of cells
      with miRNA-29b and a dual luciferase reporter vector decreased the luciferase
      activity compared with controls. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate the
      posttranscriptional control of PDPN expression by miRNA-29b and support a role of
      PDPN as an antiapoptotic prosurvival factor in AngII-induced injury of human
      podocytes.

PMID- 26867061
TI  - Renal sympathetic denervation in treating drug-resistant hypertension in a
      patient on hemodialysis.
AB  - A 26-year-old man had an end-stage renal disease because of a neurogenic urinary
      bladder with a vesicourinary reflux. The first kidney transplant was lost in
      consequence of chronic allograft nephropathy. Immunosuppressive medication was
      withdrawn and transplantectomy was performed in November 2010. After
      transplantectomy, his blood pressure (BP) slowly increased up to 200/100 mmHg.
      Antihypertensive medication was intensified and a fluid overload was excluded
      with body composition bioimpedance measurements. Forty-eight-hour ambulatory BP
      was 180/109 mmHg in the daytime and 178/108 mmHg in the night-time. Bilateral
      renal denervation (RDN) was performed with a single electrode Symplicity catheter
      on May 2013. The effect of RDN became evident at the 6 months visit, and all the
      antihypertensive medicines were withdrawn at 12 months. Fifteen months after RDN,
      48-h ambulatory BP was 120/63 mmHg in the daytime and 108/60 mmHg in the night
      time. The patient was without antihypertensive medication until retransplantation
      in May 2015.

PMID- 26867064
TI  - Learning how to ask in ethnography and psychotherapy.
AB  - To social anthropologists an affinity with psychotherapy lies in the view that
      this discipline is a social science. Increasingly, social anthropologists offer
      comments and analyse their own data using psychotherapeutic or psychoanalytic
      frames of reference. At the same time, a methodological crisis has developed in
      ethnography. This is a crisis of how to carry out an ethnographic enquiry in a
      disciplined manner without either claiming to be a detached observer on the one
      hand or explaining away the subjective experiences of informants or clients with
      too much interpretation on the other. The aim of this paper is to address this
      crisis and to suggest ways in which ethnographers can use techniques from one
      type of psychotherapy, namely systemic or family psychotherapy in order to access
      social and psychological aspects of the lives of their informants. The paper
      achieves this by describing systemic psychotherapy and its theoretical
      foundations in the ethnographic work of Gregory Bateson. It then reviews the
      mainly medical anthropology literature in which the connection between
      psychotherapy and anthro pology has been discussed. While this literature has
      suggested a narrative and a performative approach to ethnographic data and,
      therefore, to informants, it has not extended the analytic frame to include the
      ethnographer him/herself within these frames. Clinical case material is presented
      to demonstrate how such an inclusion is central to the practice of systemic
      psychotherapy and to show that this type of material is ethnographic. The
      techniques of double description, hypothesising and circular questioning are
      described and demonstrated, and it is argued that adapting these to an
      ethnographic enquiry will enhance the validity of the anthropological project. 

PMID- 26867065
TI  - Predictive genetic testing and the making of the pre-symptomatic person:
      Prognostic moralities amongst Huntington's-affected families.
AB  - This paper identifies the emergence of new prognostic categories of genetic
      health information in contemporary predictive biomedicine. Arguing that pre
      emptive genetic foreknowledge is linked intimately to the creation of a new
      classificatory order of "pre-symptomatic" persons, the paper discusses how the
      "prophetic" revelations of predictive testing technologies transform ordinary
      persons into moral prognosticators. Case study materials detailing the pre
      symptomatic illness narratives of three British families affected by a late-onset
      monogenic condition (Huntington's disease (HD)) are analysed with a view to
      examining how, as a class of potential "pre-patients", persons are seen to be
      "ill" before they are "diseased". The clinical burden of "telling" a bad
      prognosis, similarly, is seen to shift to the moral responsibilities of kin who
      are obliged to make decisions about when and how to share or withhold genetic
      information with other potentially "pre-symptomatic" relatives. As genetic tests
      and treatments are developed and made available for common conditions, not
      everyone who undergoes genetic testing will face such a bleak prognosis as the HD
      population. Nonetheless, the narratives presented here illustrate how "the making
      of the pre-symptomatic person" speaks to some of the more general ethico-cultural
      dilemmas relating to the politics of pre-emptive health cultures. 

PMID- 26867062
TI  - Sacrum and Coccyx Radiographs Have Limited Clinical Impact in the Emergency
      Department.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the yield and clinical
      impact of sacrum and coccyx radiographs in the emergency department (ED).
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive sacrum and coccyx radiographs obtained in the
      EDs of four hospitals over a 6-year period were categorized as positive for acute
      fracture or dislocation, negative, or other. Five follow-up metrics were
      analyzed: follow-up advanced imaging in the same ED visit, follow-up advanced
      imaging within 30 days, new analgesic prescriptions, clinic follow-up, and
      surgical intervention within 60 days. RESULTS: Sacrum and coccyx radiographs from
      687 patients (mean age, 48.1 years; 61.6% women and 38.4% men) obtained at level
      1 (n = 335) and level-2 (n = 352) trauma centers showed a positivity rate of 8.4%
      +/- 2.1% (n = 58/687). None of the 58 positive cases had surgical intervention.
      At the level-1 trauma centers, there was no significant association between
      sacrum and coccyx radiograph positivity and analgesic prescription or clinical
      follow-up (p = 0.12; odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% CI, 0.81-6.20). At the level-2
      trauma centers, 97.1% (n = 34/35) of patients with positive sacrum and coccyx
      radiographs received analgesic prescriptions or clinical referrals, whereas
      negative cases were at 82.9% (OR, 7.0; 95% CI, 0.94-52.50). Of all cases, 5.7% (n
      = 39) and 4.3% (n = 29) had advanced imaging in the same ED visit and within 30
      days, respectively. Sacrum and coccyx radiography results had no significant
      correlation with advanced imaging in the same ED visit (level-1, p = 0.351; level
      2, p = 0.179). There was no significant difference in 30-day advanced imaging at
      the level-1 trauma centers (p = 0.8), but there was at the level-2 trauma centers
      (p = 0.0493). CONCLUSION: ED sacrum and coccyx radiographs showed a low
      positivity rate and had no quantifiable clinical impact. We recommend that sacrum
      and coccyx radiographs be eliminated from ED practice and patients treated
      conservatively on the basis of clinical parameters.

PMID- 26867060
TI  - Comparative study of the efficacy of olmesartan/amlodipine vs.
      perindopril/amlodipine in peripheral blood pressure after missed dose in type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Combination therapy is needed to control blood pressure (BP) in a
      large number of hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus. Adherence to
      treatment is a major clinical problem; therefore, the time duration of the
      antihypertensive action of a drug determines BP control when a dose is skipped.
      OBJECTIVES: The aim was to determine whether the fixed-dose combination of
      olmesartan/amlodipine provides equal efficacy and safety as the
      perindopril/amlodipine combination when a drug dose is missed. METHODS: In this
      noninferiority trial with a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy parallel
      group, controlled design, 260 patients received either olmesartan 20-40
      mg/amlodipine 5-10 mg or perindopril 4-8 mg/amlodipine 5-10 mg for 24 weeks. The
      main outcome was the sitting office DBP after 24 weeks of treatment at 48 h from
      last administration. RESULTS: The olmesartan/amlodipine combination reached
      noninferiority criteria in reduction of office DBP after 24 weeks of treatment
      and after the missed dose, compared with the perindopril/amlodipine combination (
      11.7 and -10.5 mmHg, respectively). Office SBP and pulse pressure were
      significantly lower in both groups after 24 weeks of treatment and 48 h after the
      missed dose, observing a trend to greater SBP reduction in the
      olmesartan/amlodipine group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination olmesartan/amlodipine
      is safe, well tolerated, and as effective as the combination of
      perindopril/amlodipine in the control of essential hypertension in patients with
      diabetes mellitus. A missed dose does not leave the patients unprotected in both
      treatments; however, a faster control with less dose increment is observed with
      olmesartan/amlodipine.

PMID- 26867063
TI  - Characteristics of Antithyroid Drug-Induced Agranulocytosis in Patients with
      Hyperthyroidism: A Retrospective Analysis of 114 Cases in a Single Institution in
      China Involving 9690 Patients Referred for Radioiodine Treatment Over 15 Years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antithyroid drug (ATD)-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but life
      threatening disease. Clinical features of ATD-induced agranulocytosis and
      outcomes remain incompletely understood. METHOD: Patients with clinically
      diagnosed ATD-induced agranulocytosis were retrospectively studied, involving
      9690 patients who were referred for radioiodine treatment during a 15-year period
      (2000-2015) in China. There were 114 cases of agranulocytosis attributable to ATD
      included, and their clinical characteristics and therapy outcomes were analyzed.
      RESULTS: The female-to-male ratio of ATD-induced agranulocytosis was 10.4:1. The
      mean age (+/-standard deviation) of the patients with ATD-induced agranulocytosis
      was 41.7 +/- 12.3 years. The methimazole and propylthiouracil doses given at the
      onset were 22.9 +/- 8.0 mg/day and 253.6 +/- 177.5 mg/day, respectively. ATD
      induced agranulocytosis occurred in 45.1%, 74.3%, and 88.5% of patients within 4,
      8, and 12 weeks of the onset of ATD therapy, respectively. Fever (78.9%) and sore
      throat (72.8%) were the most common symptoms when agranulocytosis was diagnosed.
      The mean recovery time of agranulocytosis was 13.41 +/- 7.14 days. Recovery time
      in the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-treated group (12.7 +/- 6.0
      days) did not differ from that in the group not treated with G-CSF (16.4 +/- 10.6
      days; p = 0.144). Treatment with (131)I was successful in 87/98 patients (88.8%).
      The success rate of (131)I was equivalent (p = 1.000) between the groups
      receiving methimazole (88.2%, 75/85) and propylthiouracil (92.3%, 12/13).
      CONCLUSIONS: This largest single-institution study in China shows that ATD
      induced agranulocytosis tends to occur within the first 12 weeks after the onset
      of ATD therapy. For patients with ATD-induced agranulocytosis, G-CSF does not
      improve the recovery time of agranulocytosis, and (131)I is an optimal treatment
      approach.

PMID- 26867066
TI  - Illusions of controlling the future: Risk and genetic inheritance.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to analyse the implications of current beliefs that
      human beings can control the risk of inheriting a genetic disease and influence
      their present and future health. To accomplish this goal, materials will be drawn
      from disparate literatures bearing on concepts of probability, risk and genetic
      inheritance, and on empirical data gathered on cancer survivors and healthy
      persons with a family history of cancer. The concept of risk has been theorised
      on a grand scale but, as Lupton (1999, Introduction, Risk and Sociological Theory
      , Cambridge University Press) correctly observes, there has been very little
      empirical work done on how people experience risk as part of their lived world.
      In this paper, notions of probabilities and risk will be examined as applied to
      beliefs in genetic inheritance that are shaped by historical and cultural forces
      and in turn how they shape people's lives. It will be proposed that the belief
      that knowledge of one's genetic inheritance can control one's future health and
      disease is an illusion, and also replicates in part a religious notion of
      predestination. 

PMID- 26867067
TI  - Cultural politics and clinical competence in Australian health services.
AB  - Medical competence is demonstrated in multiple ways in clinical settings, and
      includes technical competence, both in terms of diagnosis and management, and
      cultural competence, as demonstrated in communication between providers and
      clients. In cross-cultural contexts, such communication is complicated by
      interpersonal communication and the social and cultural context. To illustrate
      this, we present four case studies that illustrate the themes from interviews
      with immigrant women and refugees from Middle Eastern and Sahel African
      backgrounds, conducted as part of a study of their reproductive health. In our
      analysis, we highlight the limitations of conventional models of communication.
      We illustrate the need for health providers to appreciate the possible barriers
      of education, ethnicity, religion and gender that can impede communication, and
      the need to be mindful of broader structural, institutional and inter-cultural
      factors that affect the quality of the clinical encounter. 

PMID- 26867068
TI  - Recipe knowledge: A tool for understanding some apparently irrational behaviour
      a,b.
AB  - What kind of knowledge about illness determines treatment action? The authors
      explore this question after encountering a paradox in the course of an
      ethnographic study on Malaria in Tanzania. Why did Tanzanian mothers who knew
      about the link between degedege --a local term to describe convulsions in
      children--and malaria still use traditional practices for degedege , even though
      they would never use these for malaria? Through questionnaires, in-depth
      interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork, the authors repeatedly elicited and
      observed seemingly irrational behaviour (for example, urinating over a child,
      rubbing the child's body with elephant dung, etc.), which their informants could
      not explain. Informants routinely commented that "this is what we have always
      done" or "this is what everybody does". In this paper, the authors suggest that
      Schutz's (1964) idea of "recipe knowledge"--culturally learned formulas that are
      automatically activated and remain unquestioned as long as nothing unforeseen
      happens--offers an explanation for such observed behaviour. In the case of
      degedege , the "recipes" are embedded in a wider schema for action that combines
      traditional and biomedical practices, and thereby integrate social values of
      "tradition" and "modernity". These findings reflect on the limitation of
      classical knowledge transmitted through health messages for behaviour change, and
      shed light on the role of historical and social context in knowledge construction
      and therapeutic action. 

PMID- 26867069
TI  - Medical ethics and rites involving blood.
AB  - Although the discussions in the Netherlands on ritual circumcision of girls,
      ritual circumcision of boys and hymen construction started more than ten years
      ago, these discussions about rituals of blood are not connected and offer a range
      of very diverging views. The significance of this article is to make clear that
      these diverging views and separated discussions fail to make distinctions. As a
      result, strategies to achieve abolition of these practices are not well thought
      through. The objective is to connect and to deepen these discussions by a
      practical method, starting with the dilemmas aid workers are confronted with. The
      conclusion is that other issues play a role, the issue of the space we allow
      others to be different and the manner in which the juxtaposition of "individual
      versus the group" influences this issue. 

PMID- 26867070
TI  - On humour and pathology: The role of paradox and absurdity for ideological
      survival.
AB  - Anthropologically informed approaches to mental health have argued for the
      importance of examining cultural specificity of mental distress and coping
      patterns. In an increasingly globalised world, a call has been made within
      international mental health agendas to pay attention to the particular needs and
      resources of sub-dominant populations. This paper deals with results from a study
      carried out with a Mexican community that has engendered a publicly contradictory
      imagery: a community considered marginal, deviant and multi-pathological, and yet
      outwittingly resilient and innovative. The goal was to gain an understanding of
      local patterns of distress and coping--and their encompassing meanings--to guide
      the orientation of therapeutic interventions. In a first stage, the study
      involved brief, intensive ethnographic work. This included participant
      observation, document analysis, application of both structured and semi
      structured questionnaires, and population-based open-ended interviews.
      Information about community life, social organisation, value-systems and styles
      of interaction was collected. In a second phase, analysis of the collected
      information was followed by the implementation and assessment of community-based
      family therapy sessions. This report will deal with results from our ethnographic
      work. Our findings argue that humour-based interactions might serve for
      psychological and ideological survival in the face of psychosocial
      stigmatisation. Irony, absurdity and paradox, might be used to contest and
      transcend, both in thought and in action, the logic of dominant and dichotomous
      systems of thought where the attributes of pathology are embedded. 

PMID- 26867074
TI  - Improvements in Somatic Complaints Among Individuals With Serious Mental Illness
      Receiving Treatment in a Psychiatric Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) experience significant
      comorbid somatic complaints. Little is known about response to integrated
      inpatient care that addresses psychiatric and general medical needs among
      individuals with SMI. METHODS: Latent growth curve analyses were used to model
      somatic symptom trajectories across adult inpatients with SMI (n = 989). The
      Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) was administered at admission, every 14
      days, and at discharge. RESULTS: Patients evidenced substantial reduction in
      somatization from admission (mean [standard deviation] = 9.0 [5.2]) to discharge
      (mean [standard deviation] = 5.2 [4.4]), with large effects (d = 0.83, 95%
      confidence interval = 0.76-0.90). Results indicate nonlinear improvement in
      somatic symptoms for 8 weeks of treatment, with greatest symptom reduction
      occurring during the first weeks of treatment with continued, albeit slowed,
      improvement until discharge. Initial PHQ-15 scores were lower among men and those
      who reported regular exercise in the 30 days preceding this hospitalization. In
      addition, presence of an anxiety disorder or personality disorder at admission;
      history of trauma, a gastrointestinal disorder, or major medical illness (within
      the past 3 months); and significant sleep disturbance independently contribute to
      higher PHQ-15 scores at admission. A substance use disorder and sleep disturbance
      were associated with greater immediate symptom reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Somatic
      complaints can be managed in the context of inpatient psychiatric care integrated
      with 24-hour nursing and internal medicine specialists. Addressing psychiatric
      impairments, improving sleep, and ensuring abstinence from drugs and alcohol are
      associated with significant improvement in somatic complaints.

PMID- 26867073
TI  - Effects of Anxiety on Caloric Intake and Satiety-Related Brain Activation in
      Women and Men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the relationship of anxiety to caloric intake and food cue
      perception in women and men. METHODS: Fifty-five twins (26 complete, 3 incomplete
      pairs; 51% women) underwent 2 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans
      (before and after a standardized meal) and then ate at an ad libitum buffet to
      objectively assess food intake. State and trait anxiety were assessed using the
      State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. During the fMRI scans, participants viewed blocks
      of fattening and nonfattening food images, and nonfood objects. RESULTS: In
      women, higher trait anxiety was associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) (r
      = 0.40, p = .010). Trait anxiety was positively associated with kilocalories
      consumed at the buffet (r = 0.53, p = .005) and percent kilocalories consumed
      from fat (r = 0.30, p = .006), adjusted for BMI. In within-pair models, which
      control for shared familial and genetic factors, higher trait anxiety remained
      associated with kilocalories consumed at the buffet (p = .66, p = .014), but not
      with BMI. In men, higher state anxiety was related to macronutrient choices, but
      not to total caloric intake or BMI. FMRI results revealed that women with high
      trait anxiety did not suppress activation by fattening food cues across brain
      regions associated with satiety perception after eating a standardized meal (low
      anxiety, mean difference = -15.4, p < .001; high anxiety, mean difference = 
      1.53, p = .82, adjusted for BMI). CONCLUSIONS: In women, trait anxiety may
      promote excess caloric consumption through altered perception of high-calorie
      environmental food cues, placing women with genetic predispositions toward weight
      gain at risk of obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Clinicaltrials.govidentifier:NCT02483663.

PMID- 26867072
TI  - A Biobehavioral Framework to Address the Emerging Challenge of Multimorbidity.
AB  - Multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of multiple physical or psychological
      illnesses, is prevalent particularly among older adults. The number of Americans
      with multiple chronic diseases is projected to increase from 57 million in 2000
      to 81 million in 2020. However, behavioral medicine and health psychology, while
      focusing on the co-occurrence of psychological/psychiatric disorders with primary
      medical morbidities, have historically tended to ignore the co-occurrence of
      primary medical comorbidities, such as diabetes and cancer, and their
      biopsychosocial implications. This approach may hinder our ecologically valid
      understanding of the etiology, prevention, and treatment for individual patients
      with multimorbidity. In this selective review, we propose a heuristic behavioral
      framework for the etiology of multimorbidity. More acknowledgment and systematic
      research on multiple, co-existing disorders in behavioral medicine are consistent
      with the biopsychosocial model's emphasis on treating the "whole person," which
      means not considering any single illness, its symptoms, risk factors, or
      mechanisms, in isolation. As systems analytics, big data, machine learning, and
      mixed-model trajectory analyses, among others, come online and become more widely
      available, we may be able to tackle multimorbidity more holistically,
      efficiently, and satisfactorily.

PMID- 26867075
TI  - The Effect of Hostility Reduction on Autonomic Control of the Heart and
      Vasculature: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hostility is associated with coronary artery disease. One candidate
      mechanism may be autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation. In this study, we
      report the effect of cognitive behavioral treatment on ANS regulation. METHODS:
      Participants were 158 healthy young adults, high in hostility measured by the
      Cook-Medley Hostility and Spielberger Trait Anger scales. Participants were also
      interviewed using the Interpersonal Hostility Assessment Technique. They were
      randomized to a 12-week cognitive behavioral treatment program for reducing
      hostility or a wait-list control group. The outcome measures were preejection
      period, low-frequency blood pressure variability, and high-frequency heart rate
      variability measured at rest and in response to and recovery from cognitive and
      orthostatic challenge. Linear-mixed models were used to examine group by session
      and group by session by period interactions while controlling for sex and age.
      Contrasts of differential group and session effects were used to examine
      reactivity and recovery from challenge. RESULTS: After Bonferroni correction, two
      way and three-way interactions failed to achieve significance for preejection
      period, low-frequency blood pressure variability, or high-frequency heart rate
      variability (p > .002), indicating that hostility reduction treatment failed to
      influence ANS indices. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in anger and hostility failed to
      alter ANS activity at rest or in response to or recovery from challenge. These
      findings raise questions about whether autonomic dysregulation represents a
      pathophysiological link between hostility and heart disease.

PMID- 26867076
TI  - Effects of Exercise and Sertraline on Measures of Coronary Heart Disease Risk in
      Patients With Major Depression: Results From the SMILE-II Randomized Clinical
      Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of supervised and home-based aerobic exercise
      training, and antidepressant pharmacotherapy (sertraline) on coronary heart
      disease (CHD) risk factors in a sample of participants with major depressive
      disorder (MDD). METHODS: The Standard Medical Intervention versus Long-term
      Exercise (SMILE)-II study randomized 202 adults (153 women, 49 men) diagnosed as
      having MDD to one of four interventions, each of 4-month duration: supervised
      exercise, home-based exercise, antidepressant medication (sertraline, 50-200 mg
      daily), or placebo pill. Patients underwent a structured clinical interview for
      depression and completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. CHD risk factors
      included brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, carotid intima-media thickness,
      serum lipids, and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.
      RESULTS: Compared with placebo, active treatment of depression (supervised
      exercise, home-based exercise, sertraline therapy) was associated with an
      improvement in CHD risk factors (improved flow-mediated dilation [p = .032],
      reduced progression of intima-media thickness [p = .037], and a reduction in 10
      year ASCVD [p = .049]). The active treatments did not differ from each other in
      their effects on the CHD risk outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Both exercise and
      antidepressant medication improved CHD risk factors and lowered ASCVD risk in
      patients with MDD. Because MDD is associated with increased risk for CHD events,
      treatment of depression with exercise or sertraline may reduce the risk of
      developing CHD in patients with MDD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials
      Government Identifier: NCT-00331305.

PMID- 26867077
TI  - Positive Affect and Inflammatory Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors: Examining
      the Role of Affective Arousal.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Given the importance of positive affect and inflammation for well
      being in cancer survivors, the current study examined the relationship between
      high- and low-arousal positive affect and inflammation in 186 women who completed
      treatment of early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Measures of high- and low
      arousal positive affect were completed within 3 months after treatment completion
      (baseline). Plasma markers of inflammation, including soluble tumor necrosis
      factor receptor type II (sTNF-RII), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-1
      receptor antagonist, were assessed at baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-up
      assessments. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling analyses showed that high-arousal
      positive affect was associated with lower levels of sTNF-RII, a marker of TNF
      activity, at treatment completion and prospectively predicted maintenance of
      these differences through the 6- and 12-month follow-ups adjusting for
      biobehavioral confounds (b = -0.055, t(156) = -2.40, p = .018). However, this
      association was no longer significant when adjusting for fatigue. Exploratory
      analyses showed that low-arousal positive affect was associated with lower levels
      of CRP at treatment completion and through the 6- and 12-month follow-ups; this
      association remained significant after adjusting for fatigue and other confounds
      (b = -0.217, t(152) = -2.04, p = .043). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship of high
      arousal positive affect (e.g., "active") with sTNF-RII seems to be driven by the
      overlap of high-arousal positive affect with fatigue, whereas the relationship of
      low-arousal positive affect (e.g., "calm") with CRP was independent of fatigue.
      Future research should consider affective arousal when examining the association
      of positive affect with inflammation as this facet of positive affect may have
      important implications for interpretation of results.

PMID- 26867080
TI  - The Role of Disadvantaged Neighborhood Environments in the Association of John
      Henryism With Hypertension and Obesity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The John Henryism hypothesis proposes that high-effort, active coping
      in impoverished, low-resource environments is associated with an increased risk
      of cardiovascular disease, but a lower risk of disease in a high-resource
      environment. To test this hypothesis, we examined the association of John
      Henryism Active Coping (JHAC) with objectively measured neighborhood
      disadvantages and the relationship to hypertension (including systolic [SBP] and
      diastolic [DBP] blood pressure) and elevated body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The
      study included 3105 participants- 39.93% non-Hispanic blacks, 31.66% non-Hispanic
      whites, and 25.83% Hispanic and 2.58% non-Hispanic other. All participants aged
      18 to 92 years were surveyed and underwent a baseline clinical examination as
      part of the Chicago Community Adult Health Study, from 2001 to 2003. Coping was
      measured using four items from the JHAC scale, and neighborhood disadvantage was
      assessed using rater assessments and the US Census data. RESULTS: In multilevel
      regression models clustered by neighborhood, neither JHAC nor neighborhood
      disadvantage was significantly associated with hypertension (SBP and DBP) or BMI.
      However, significant interaction effects of neighborhood disadvantage and JHAC on
      hypertension (odds ratio [standard error {SE}] = 0.66 [0.11], p = .018), SBP (B
      [SE] = -2.63 [1.33], p = .048), DBP (B [SE] = -2.08 [0.87], p = .017), and BMI (B
      [SE] = -1.86 [0.46], p < .001) were found, such that JHAC was related to
      increases in disadvantaged neighborhoods and decreases in advantaged
      neighborhoods. CONCLUSIONS: In a large study that modeled objective measures of
      neighborhood disadvantage, JHAC was associated with increased risk for
      cardiovascular disease among individuals living in highly disadvantaged
      neighborhoods which lack resources and opportunities for upward social mobility.
      This is consistent with the John Henryism hypothesis.

PMID- 26867078
TI  - The Neurobiology of Giving Versus Receiving Support: The Role of Stress-Related
      and Social Reward-Related Neural Activity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There is a strong association between supportive ties and health.
      However, most research has focused on the health benefits that come from the
      support one receives while largely ignoring the support giver and how giving may
      contribute to good health. Moreover, few studies have examined the neural
      mechanisms associated with support giving or how giving support compares to
      receiving support. METHOD: The current study assessed the relationships: a)
      between self-reported receiving and giving social support and vulnerability for
      negative psychological outcomes and b) between receiving and giving social
      support and neural activity to socially rewarding and stressful tasks. Thirty-six
      participants (mean [standard deviation] age = 22.36 [3.78] years, 44% female)
      completed three tasks in the functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner: 1) a
      stress task (mental arithmetic under evaluative threat), b) an affiliative task
      (viewing images of close others), and c) a prosocial task. RESULTS: Both self
      reported receiving and giving social support were associated with reduced
      vulnerability for negative psychological outcomes. However, across the three
      neuroimaging tasks, giving but not receiving support was related to reduced
      stress-related activity (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex [r = -0.27], left [r = 
      0.28] and right anterior insula [r = -0.33], and left [r = -0.32] and right
      amygdala [r = -0.32]) to a stress task, greater reward-related activity (left [r
      = 0.42] and right ventral striatum [VS; r = 0.41]) to an affiliative task, and
      greater caregiving-related activity (left VS [r = 0.31], right VS [r = 0.31], and
      septal area [r = 0.39]) to a prosocial task. CONCLUSIONS: These results
      contribute to an emerging literature suggesting that support giving is an
      overlooked contributor to how social support can benefit health.

PMID- 26867081
TI  - Type 2 Diabetes Among People With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic
      Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To clarify the prevalence and predictors of Type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and where possible
      compare this to healthy controls. METHODS: We searched major electronic databases
      until May 2015 for studies reporting T2DM prevalence in people with PTSD. Two
      independent authors extracted data and completed methodological quality
      appraisal. A random-effects meta-analysis was used. RESULTS: From 1171 candidate
      publications after exclusions, nine publications were included (n = 23,396; 28.6%
      male; mean age = 35-60 years). The overall prevalence of T2DM was 10.0% (95%
      confidence interval [CI] = 8.1%-12.0%). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that war
      veterans experience higher prevalence of T2DM (16.3%; 95% CI = 5.2%-31.8%; n
      studies = 3, n = 473) compared with mixed samples (11.8%; 95% CI = 6.34-18.7, p <
      .001; n studies = 4, n = 2753). Increasing age (beta = 0.0593, 95% CI = 0.010
      0.109, z = 2.34, p = .019), median year of publication (beta = -0.08, 95% CI = 
      0.14 to -0.03, z = -3.09, p = .002), and a lower percentage of white participants
      (beta = -3.21, 95% CI = -5.12 to -1.29, z = -2.28, p = .001) predicted prevalence
      of T2DM. A relative risk meta-analysis comparing controls (n = 125,723) against
      those with PTSD (n = 23,203) demonstrated a significantly increased risk of T2DM
      (n studies = 5, relative risk = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.17-1.89, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS:
      People with PTSD are at a high risk for developing T2DM. The current findings
      should, however, be interpreted with caution because most studies were based on
      self-report data.

PMID- 26867079
TI  - Type D Personality and Coronary Plaque Vulnerability in Patients With Coronary
      Artery Disease: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between Type D personality and higher
      incidence of major adverse cardiac events, we used in vivo optical coherence
      tomography (OCT) to evaluate the association between Type D with coronary plaque
      characteristics. METHODS: A total of 109 patients who had culprit coronary plaque
      (s) were included in the study. The Type D construct was analyzed using both the
      categorized and the continuous approaches. Plaque vulnerability of culprit
      lesions was measured by OCT. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic and
      clinical factors, multivariate analysis demonstrated that Type D was associated
      with lipid plaque (odds ratio [OR] = 4.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41
      11.14, p = .025), thin cap fibroatheroma (OR = 3.84, 95% CI = 1.36-10.85, p =
      .011), and fibrous cap thickness (beta = -1.43, standard error = 0.04, p = .001)
      analyzed by categorical approach. When analyzing Type D as continuous variable,
      the negative affectivity component was significantly related to plaque
      vulnerability, including lipid plaque (OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.23-9.52, p = .018),
      thin cap fibroatheroma (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.10-4.40, p = .026), and fibrous cap
      thickness (beta = -0.05, standard error = 0.02, p = .030), whereas no
      associations between the negative affectivity by social inhibition interaction
      term with OCT indices were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that plaque
      characteristics in Type D have more features of plaque vulnerability. The
      negative affectivity component seems to drive the associations between Type D and
      vulnerable plaques. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism
      involved in the association between Type D and major adverse cardiac event.

PMID- 26867083
TI  - Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Tinnitus: A Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Tinnitus has a substantially negative impact on quality of life in up
      to 5% of the general population. Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment
      (iCBT) has been shown to be effective in a few trials. The aim of our study was
      to investigate iCBT for tinnitus by using a randomized controlled trial. METHODS:
      Patients with severe tinnitus-related distress were randomly assigned to
      therapist-guided iCBT (n = 62) or to a moderated online discussion forum (n =
      62). Standardized self-report measures for tinnitus-related distress (Tinnitus
      Handicap Inventory, Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire) and associated symptoms
      (tinnitus acceptance, anxiety, depression, and insomnia) were assessed at
      pretreatment and posttreatment, 6-month-, and 1-year follow-up. Clinical
      significance was assessed with the Reliable Change Index. RESULTS: Multivariate
      analyses of variance revealed significant main effects for time, group, and
      interaction in favor of the iCBT group. With regard to tinnitus-related distress,
      the significant univariate interaction effects (time by group) were supported by
      large effect sizes (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory: g = 0.83, 95% confidence
      interval = 0.47-1.20; Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire: g = 1.08, 95% confidence
      interval = 0.71-1.64). For the secondary outcomes, significant interactions with
      small to medium effect sizes were found. Within-group effects for the iCBT, from
      pretreatment to follow-up, were substantial in regard to tinnitus-related
      distress (1.38 <= d <= 1.81) and small to large for secondary outcomes (0.39 <= d
      <= 1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Using a randomized controlled trial design, we replicated
      prior findings regarding positive effects of Internet-delivered CBT on tinnitus
      related distress and associated symptoms. Implementing iCBT for tinnitus into
      regular health care will be an important next step to increase access to
      treatment for patients with tinnitus. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov,
      Identifier: NCT01205919.

PMID- 26867082
TI  - Linking Daily Stress Processes and Laboratory-Based Heart Rate Variability in a
      National Sample of Midlife and Older Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the associations between people's trait-like
      patterns of stress in daily life (stressor frequency, perceived stressor
      severity, affective reactivity to stressors, and negative affect) and laboratory
      assessed heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Data were collected from 909
      participants aged 35 to 85 years in the Midlife in the United States Study.
      Participants reported negative affect and minor stressful events during telephone
      interviews on 8 consecutive evenings. On a separate occasion, HRV was measured
      from electrocardiograph recordings taken at rest during a laboratory-based
      psychophysiology protocol. Regression models were used to evaluate the
      associations between daily stress processes and three log-transformed HRV
      indices: standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDRR), root mean square of
      successive differences (RMSSD), and high-frequency power (high-frequency HRV [HF
      HRV]). Analyses were adjusted for demographics, body mass index, comorbid
      conditions, medications, physical activity, and smoking. RESULTS: Stressor
      frequency was unrelated to HRV (r values ranging from -0.04 to -0.01, p values
      >.20). However, people with greater perceived stressor severity had lower resting
      SDRR (fully adjusted B [standard error {SE}] = -0.05 [0.02]), RMSSD (-0.08
      [0.03]), and HF-HRV (-0.16 [0.07]). Individuals with more pronounced affective
      reactivity to stressors also had lower levels of all three HRV indices (SDRR: B
      [SE] = -0.28 [0.14]; RMSSD: -0.44 [0.19]; HF-HRV: -0.96 [0.37]). Furthermore,
      aggregated daily negative affect was linked to reduced RMSSD (B [SE] = -0.16
      [0.08]) and HF-HRV (-0.35 [0.15]). CONCLUSIONS: In a national sample, individual
      differences in daily negative affect and responses to daily stressors were more
      strongly related to cardiovascular autonomic regulation than the frequency of
      such stressors.

PMID- 26867084
TI  - Duration of anuria predicts recovery of renal function after acute kidney injury
      requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known regarding the incidence rate of and factors
      associated with developing chronic kidney disease after continuous renal
      replacement therapy (CRRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. We investigated
      renal outcomes and the factors associated with incomplete renal recovery in AKI
      patients who received CRRT. METHODS: Between January 2011 and November 2013, 408
      patients received CRRT in our intensive care unit. Of them, patients who had
      normal renal function before AKI and were discharged without maintenance renal
      replacement therapy (RRT) were included in this study. We examined the incidence
      of incomplete renal recovery with an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60
      mL/min/1.73 m(2) and factors that increased the risk of incomplete renal recovery
      after AKI. RESULTS: In total, 56 AKI patients were discharged without further RRT
      and were followed for a mean of 8 months. Incomplete recovery of renal function
      was observed in 20 of the patients (35.7%). Multivariate analysis revealed old
      age and long duration of anuria as independent risk factors for incomplete renal
      recovery (odds ratio [OR], 1.231; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.041 to 1.457; p
      = 0.015 and OR, 1.064; 95% CI, 1.001 to 1.131; p = 0.047, respectively). In a
      receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a cut-off anuria duration of 24
      hours could predict incomplete renal recovery after AKI with a sensitivity of
      85.0% and a specificity of 66.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The renal outcome of severe AKI
      requiring CRRT was poor even in patients without further RRT. Long-term
      monitoring of renal function is needed, especially in severe AKI patients who are
      old and have a long duration of anuria.

PMID- 26867085
TI  - Series with complete resolution of left atrial appendage thrombi with apixaban in
      elderly patients.

PMID- 26867086
TI  - Removal of Trace Pharmaceuticals from Water using coagulation and powdered
      activated carbon as pretreatment to ultrafiltration membrane system.
AB  - In this study, the efficacy of water treatment technologies: ultra-filtration
      (UF), powdered activated carbon (PAC), coagulation (COA) and a combination of
      these technologies (PAC/UF and COA/UF) to remove target pharmaceuticals
      (Acetaminophen, Bezafibrate, Caffeine, Carbamazepine, Cotinine, Diclofenac,
      Gemfibrozil, Ibuprofen, Metoprolol, Naproxen, Sulfadimethoxine, Sulfamethazine,
      Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfathiazole, Triclosan and Trimethoprim) was investigated.
      Samples of wastewater from municipal WWTPs were analyzed using direct aqueous
      injection High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Quadrupole Mass
      Spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) detection. On concentration basis, results showed an
      average removal efficiency of 29%, 50%, and 7%, respectively, for the UF, PAC
      dosage of 50ppm, and COA dosage of 10ppm. When PAC dosage of 100ppm was used as
      pretreatment to the combined PAC and UF in-line membrane system, a 90.3% removal
      efficiency was achieved. The removal efficiency of UF in tandem with COA was 33%,
      an increase of 4% compared with the single UF treatment. The adsorption effect of
      PAC combined with the physical separation process of UF revealed the best
      treatment strategy for removing pharmaceutical contaminant from water. 

PMID- 26867087
TI  - Metacognitive knowledge of olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - It is well known that patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) suffer from
      olfactory impairments, but it is not clear whether patients are aware of their
      level of deficit in olfactory functioning. Since PD is a neurodegenerative
      disorder and its progression may be correlated with olfactory loss (Ansari &
      Johnson, 1975; but see also Doty, Deems, & Stellar, 1988), it is possible that
      these patients would be subject to metacognitive errors of over-estimation of
      olfactory ability (White & Kurtz, 2003). Nineteen non-demented PD patients and 19
      age-matched controls were each given an objective measure of olfactory
      identification (the UPSIT, Doty, Shaman, Kimmelman, & Dann, 1984) and a
      subjective measure involving a questionnaire that asked them to self-rate both
      their olfactory function generally and their ability to smell each of 20 odors,
      12 of which were assessed on the UPSIT. All of the PD patients showed impaired
      olfactory ability, as did 7 of the controls, according to the UPSIT norms. Self
      rated and performance-based olfactory ability scores were significantly
      correlated in controls (r=.49, p=.03) but not in patients with PD (r=.20, p=.39).
      When the 12 odors common to both the self-rated questionnaire and UPSIT were
      compared, PD patients were less accurate than controls (t(36)=-4.96, p<.01) at
      estimating their own ability and the number of over-estimation errors was
      significantly higher (tone-tailed(29)=1.80, p=.04) in PD patients than in the
      control group, showing less metacognitive awareness of their ability than
      controls. These results support the idea that olfactory metacognition is often
      impaired in PD, as well as in controls recruited for normosmic ability (Wehling,
      Nordin, Espeseth, Reinvang, & Lundervold, 2011), and indicate that people with PD
      generally exhibit over-estimation of their olfactory ability at a rate that is
      higher than controls. These findings imply that PD patients, unaware of their
      olfactory deficit, are at greater risk of harm normally detected through
      olfaction, such as smoke or spoiled foods. 

PMID- 26867088
TI  - Frequency tagging yields an objective neural signature of Gestalt formation.
AB  - The human visual system integrates separate visual inputs into coherently
      organized percepts, going beyond the information given. A striking example is the
      perception of an illusory square when physically separated inducers are
      positioned and oriented in a square-like configuration (illusory condition). This
      illusory square disappears when the specific configuration is broken, for
      instance, by rotating each inducer (non-illusory condition). Here we used
      frequency tagging and electroencephalography (EEG) to identify an objective
      neural signature of the global integration required for illusory surface
      perception. Two diagonal inducers were contrast-modulated at different frequency
      rates f1 and f2, leading to EEG responses exactly at these frequencies over the
      occipital cortex. Most importantly, nonlinear intermodulation (IM) components
      (e.g., f1+f2) appeared in the frequency spectrum, and were much larger in
      response to the illusory square figure than the non-illusory control condition.
      Since the IMs reflect long-range interactions between the signals from the
      inducers, these data provide an objective (i.e., at a precise and predicted EEG
      frequency) signature of neural processes involved in the emergence of illusory
      surface perception. More generally, these findings help to establish EEG
      frequency-tagging as a highly valuable approach to investigate the underlying
      neural mechanisms of subjective Gestalt phenomena in an objective and
      quantitative manner, at the system level in humans. 

PMID- 26867089
TI  - The effect of different information sources on the anxiety level of pregnant
      women who underwent invasive prenatal testing.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The goal is to explore the effects of age, education, obstetric
      history and information sources on the (Beck) anxiety levels of pregnant women
      attending invasive prenatal testing. METHODS: Questionnaire results from 152
      pregnant women are utilized. Results are analyzed through an independent samples
      t-test and a two-step cluster analysis attempting to categorize patients in terms
      of the chosen variables. RESULTS: t-Tests reveal that age, education and bad
      obstetric history do not significantly affect anxiety levels. Descriptive
      statistics indicate that almost 60% of patients feel anxious mostly because of
      the fear of receiving bad news, followed by the fear of miscarriage, the fear of
      pain and the fear of hurting the baby. According to the cluster analysis,
      patients who use doctors or nurses as information sources have significantly
      lower anxiety levels, while those who do not receive information from any source
      have the second lowest level of anxiety. Patients who receive information from
      personal sources (i.e. friends and family) have the highest level of anxiety.
      Anxiety levels do not change according to test type. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors and
      nurses should allocate enough time for providing information about prenatal
      diagnosis before the procedure. This will reduce the anxiety level as well as the
      felt necessity to search for information from other sources, such as personal or
      popular which will further increase the level of anxiety.

PMID- 26867090
TI  - 11-interval PFG pulse sequence for improved measurement of fast velocities of
      fluids with high diffusivity in systems with short T2(*).
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) was used to measure SF6 gas velocities in beds filled
      with particles of 1.1 mm and 0.5 mm in diameter. Four pulse sequences were
      tested: a traditional spin echo pulse sequence, the 9-interval and 13-interval
      pulse sequence of Cotts et al. (1989) and a newly developed 11-interval pulse
      sequence. All pulse sequences measured gas velocity accurately in the region
      above the particles at the highest velocities that could be achieved (up to 0.1
      ms(-1)). The spin echo pulse sequence was unable to measure gas velocity
      accurately in the bed of particles, due to effects of background gradients,
      diffusivity and acceleration in flow around particles. The 9- and 13-interval
      pulse sequence measured gas velocity accurately at low flow rates through the
      particles (expected velocity <0.06 ms(-1)), but could not measure velocity
      accurately at higher flow rates. The newly developed 11-interval pulse sequence
      was more accurate than the 9- and 13-interval pulse sequences at higher flow
      rates, but for velocities in excess of 0.1 ms(-1) the measured velocity was lower
      than the expected velocity. The increased accuracy arose from the smaller echo
      time that the new pulse sequence enabled, reducing selective attenuation of
      signal from faster moving nuclei.

PMID- 26867092
TI  - Implant Maintenance Should Not Be Forgotten.

PMID- 26867091
TI  - Dynamic Nuclear Polarization enhanced NMR at 187 GHz/284 MHz using an Extended
      Interaction Klystron amplifier.
AB  - A Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation (DNP) enhanced solid-state Magic Angle Spinning
      (MAS) NMR spectrometer which uses a 187 GHz (corresponding to (1)H NMR frequency
      of 284 MHz) Extended Interaction Klystron (EIK) amplifier as the microwave source
      is briefly described. Its performance is demonstrated for a biomolecule
      (bacteriorhodopsin), a pharmaceutical, and surface functionalised silica. The EIK
      is very compact and easily incorporated into an existing spectrometer. The
      bandwidth of the amplifier is sufficient that it obviates the need for a
      sweepable magnetic field, once set, for all commonly used radicals. The variable
      power (CW or pulsed) output from the EIK is transmitted to the DNP-NMR probe
      using a quasi-optic system with a high power isolator and a corrugated waveguide
      which feeds the microwaves into the DNP-NMR probe. Curved mirrors inside the
      probe project the microwaves down the axis of the MAS rotor, giving a very
      efficient system such that maximum DNP enhancement is achieved with less than 3 W
      output from the microwave source. The DNP-NMR probe operates with a sample
      temperature down to 90K whilst spinning at 8 kHz. Significant enhancements, in
      excess of 100 for bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane (bR in PM), are shown
      along with spectra which are enhanced by ~25 with respect to room temperature,
      for both the pharmaceutical furosemide and surface functionalised silica. These
      enhancements allow hitherto prohibitively time consuming experiments to be
      undertaken. The power at which the DNP enhancement in bR in PM saturates does not
      change significantly between 90K and 170 K even though the enhancement drops by a
      factor of ~11. As the DNP build up time decreases by a factor 3 over this
      temperature range, the reduction in T1n is presumably a significant contribution
      to the drop in enhancement.

PMID- 26867093
TI  - Stress Distribution on Short Implants at Maxillary Posterior Alveolar Bone Model
      With Different Bone-to-Implant Contact Ratio: Finite Element Analysis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution of the short dental
      implants and bone-to-implant contact ratios in the posterior maxilla using 3
      dimensional (3D) finite element models. Two different 3D maxillary posterior bone
      segments were modeled. Group 1 was composed of a bone segment consisting of
      cortical bone and type IV cancellous bone with 100% bone-to-implant contact.
      Group 2 was composed of a bone segment consisting of cortical bone and type IV
      cancellous bone including spherical bone design and homogenous tubular hollow
      spaced structures with 30% spherical porosities and 70% bone-to-implant contact
      ratio. Four-millimeter-diameter and 5-mm-height dental implants were assumed to
      be osseointegrated and placed at the center of the segments. Lateral occlusal
      bite force (300 N) was applied at a 25 degrees  inclination to the implants long
      axis. The maximum von Mises stresses in cortical and cancellous bones and implant
      abutment complex were calculated. The von Mises stress values on the implants and
      the cancellous bone around the implants of the 70% bone-to-implant contact group
      were almost 3 times higher compared with the values of the 100% bone-to-implant
      contact group. For clinical reality, use of the 70% model for finite element
      analysis simulation of the posterior maxilla region better represents real
      alveolar bone and the increased stress and strain distributions evaluated on the
      cortical and cancellous bone around the dental implants. 

PMID- 26867094
TI  - Functionalization of Silyldienol Ethers at the gamma-Position via 2
      Silyloxypentadienyl Cations.
AB  - This report describes Bronsted acid catalyzed de novo synthesis of silyldienol
      ethers bearing tetrasubstituted double bonds via an intermediacy of 2
      silyloxypentadienyl cations. The reactivity of these novel cationic intermediates
      could be modulated and harnessed toward direct nucleophilic additions
      regioselectively at the gamma-position to produce highly functionalized
      silyldienol ethers with tunable control of the resulting double bond geometry. 

PMID- 26867095
TI  - Small RNAs Add Zing to the Zig-Zag-Zig Model of Plant Defenses.
AB  - Plant small RNAs play important roles in transcriptional and posttranscriptional
      regulation, with ongoing work demonstrating their functions in diverse pathways.
      Their roles in defense responses are a topic of active investigation,
      particularly the rich set of micro (mi)RNAs that target disease resistance genes
      such as nucleotide binding/leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) genes. The miRNA-NB-LRR
      interactions result in the production of phased, secondary small interfering
      (phasi)RNAs, and phasiRNAs function in both cis and trans to propagate negative
      regulatory effects across additional members of the target gene family. Yet,
      while phasiRNAs have the capacity to trigger targeted decay of specific targets,
      both in cis and trans, their functional relevance in NB-LRR regulation remains
      largely a matter of speculation. 

PMID- 26867096
TI  - An inception cohort study assessing the role of pneumococcal and other bacterial
      pathogens in children with influenza and ILI and a clinical decision model for
      stringent antibiotic use.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Influenza-like illness (ILI) is a common reason for paediatric
      consultations. Viral causes predominate, but antibiotics are used frequently.
      With regard to influenza, pneumococcal coinfections are considered major
      contributors to morbidity/mortality. METHODS: In the context of a perennial
      quality management (QM) programme at the Charite Departments of Paediatrics and
      Microbiology in collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute, children aged 0-18
      years presenting with signs and symptoms of ILI were followed from the time of
      initial presentation until hospital discharge (Charite Influenza-Like Disease =
      ChILD Cohort). An independent QM team performed highly standardized clinical
      assessments using a disease severity score based on World Health Organization
      criteria for uncomplicated and complicated/progressive disease. Nasopharyngeal
      and pharyngeal samples were collected for viral reverse transcription polymerase
      chain reaction and bacterial culture/sensitivity and MaldiTOF analyses. The term
      'detection' was used to denote any evidence of viral or bacterial pathogens in
      the (naso)pharyngeal cavity. With the ChILD Cohort data collected, a standard
      operating procedure (SOP) was created as a model system to reduce the
      inappropriate use of antibiotics in children with ILI. Monte Carlo simulations
      were performed to assess cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: Among 2,569 ChILD Cohort
      patients enrolled from 12/2010 to 04/2013 (55% male, mean age 3.2 years, range 0
      18, 19% >5 years), 411 patients showed laboratory-confirmed influenza, with
      bacterial co-detection in 35%. Influenza and pneumococcus were detected
      simultaneously in 12/2,569 patients, with disease severity clearly below average.
      Pneumococcal vaccination rates were close to 90%. Nonetheless, every fifth
      patient was already on antibiotics upon presentation; new antibiotic
      prescriptions were issued in an additional 20%. Simulation of the model SOP in
      the same dataset revealed that the proposed decision model could have reduced the
      inappropriate use of antibiotics significantly (P<0.01) with an incremental cost
      effectiveness ratio of -99.55?. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be made aware that
      in times of pneumococcal vaccination the prevalence and severity of influenza
      infections complicated by pneumococci may decline. Microbiological testing in
      combination with standardized disease severity assessments and review of
      vaccination records could be cost-effective, as well as promoting stringent use
      of antibiotics and a personalized approach to managing children with ILI.

PMID- 26867097
TI  - Dissolved radon and uranium in groundwater in a potential coal seam gas
      development region (Richmond River Catchment, Australia).
AB  - The extraction of unconventional gas resources such as shale and coal seam gas
      (CSG) is rapidly expanding globally and often prevents the opportunity for
      comprehensive baseline groundwater investigations prior to drilling.
      Unconventional gas extraction often targets geological layers with high naturally
      occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and extraction practices may possibly
      mobilise radionuclides into regional and local drinking water resources. Here, we
      establish baseline groundwater radon and uranium levels in shallow aquifers
      overlying a potential CSG target formation in the Richmond River Catchment,
      Australia. A total of 91 groundwater samples from six different geological units
      showed highly variable radon activities (0.14-20.33 Bq/L) and uranium levels
      (0.001-2.77 MUg/L) which were well below the Australian Drinking Water Guideline
      values (radon; 100 Bq/L and uranium; 17 MUg/L). Therefore, from a radon and
      uranium perspective, the regional groundwater does not pose health risks to
      consumers. Uranium could not explain the distribution of radon in groundwater.
      Relatively high radon activities (7.88 +/- 0.83 Bq/L) in the fractured Lismore
      Basalt aquifer coincided with very low uranium concentrations (0.04 +/- 0.02
      MUg/L). In the Quaternary Sediments aquifers, a positive correlation between U
      and HCO3(-) (r(2) = 0.49, p < 0.01) implied the uranium was present as uranyl
      carbonate complexes. Since NORM are often enriched in target geological
      formations containing unconventional gas, establishing radon and uranium
      concentrations in overlying aquifers comprises an important component of baseline
      groundwater investigations.

PMID- 26867099
TI  - Concentrations of iodine isotopes ((129)I and (127)I) and their isotopic ratios
      in aerosol samples from Northern Germany.
AB  - New data about (129)I, (127)I concentrations and their isotopic ratios in aerosol
      samples from the trace survey station of the Physikalisch-Technische
      Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, Northern Germany, are presented and
      discussed in this paper. The investigated samples were collected on a weekly
      basis during the years 2011 to 2013. Iodine was extracted from aerosol filters
      using a strong basic solution and was separated from the matrix elements with
      chloroform and was analysed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) for (129)I and
      by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for (127)I. The
      concentrations of (127)I and (129)I in aerosol filters ranged from 0.31 to 3.71
      ng m(-3) and from 0.06 to 0.75 fg m(-3), respectively. The results of
      (129)I/(127)I isotopic ratios were in the order 10(-8) to 10(-7). The (129)I
      originated directly from gaseous emissions and indirectly from liquid emissions
      (via sea spray) from the reprocessing plants in Sellafield and La Hague. In
      comparison with the results of (131)I after the Fukushima accident, no
      contribution of (129)I from this accident was detectable in Central Europe due to
      the high background originating from the (129)I releases of the European
      reprocessing plants. (129)I atmospheric activity concentrations were compared
      with those of an anthropogenic radionuclide ((85)Kr). We did not find any
      correlation between (129)I and (85)Kr, both having nuclear reprocessing plant as
      the main source.

PMID- 26867098
TI  - Analysis of spectra from portable handheld gamma-ray spectrometry for terrain
      comparative assessment.
AB  - Geological characteristics can have impacts on societal development by, e.g.,
      geotechnical issues and radiological hazard levels. Due to urban sprawl, there is
      an increasing need for detailed geological assessment. In this work are analysed
      data from portable handheld gamma-ray spectra (K, eU and eTh) obtained in
      granitic and Silurian metaclastic outcrops as well as in an profile, roughly N-S,
      on soil covered terrains transecting a mapped contact between these rock types
      (the profile's northern extremity is at locations mapped as granite). Estimations
      from gamma-ray spectra were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. K,
      eU and eTh values were higher on granite in relation to Silurian metaclastic
      rocks. The northern extremity of the profile showed clearly higher contents of
      eTh and this contrast was supported by univariate statistical tools (normality
      plot and Wilk-Shapiro test; boxplots). A ternary plot with the contribution of
      the elements to gamma-ray absorbed dose showed the separation of granite from
      Silurian metaclastic rocks with the former being nearer the eTh vertex. The
      points in the northern extremity of the profile are nearer the eTh vertex than
      the other points on the profile. These visual suggestions were supported by
      hierarchical cluster analysis, which was able to differentiate between granite
      and metaclastic outcrops and separate portions of the profile located on
      different terrains. Portable gamma-ray spectrometry showed, hence, the potential
      to distinguish granite and metaclastic terrains at a scale useful for engineering
      works. These results can also be useful for a first comparative zoning of
      radiological hazards (which are higher for granite). 

PMID- 26867100
TI  - Alternative Fuel Vehicle Adoption Increases Fleet Gasoline Consumption and
      Greenhouse Gas Emissions under United States Corporate Average Fuel Economy
      Policy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards.
AB  - The United States Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and Greenhouse
      Gas (GHG) Emission standards are designed to reduce petroleum consumption and GHG
      emissions from light-duty passenger vehicles. They do so by requiring automakers
      to meet aggregate criteria for fleet fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2)
      emission rates. Several incentives for manufacturers to sell alternative fuel
      vehicles (AFVs) have been introduced in recent updates of CAFE/GHG policy for
      vehicles sold from 2012 through 2025 to help encourage a fleet technology
      transition. These incentives allow automakers that sell AFVs to meet less
      stringent fleet efficiency targets, resulting in increased fleet-wide gasoline
      consumption and emissions. We derive a closed-form expression to quantify these
      effects. We find that each time an AFV is sold in place of a conventional
      vehicle, fleet emissions increase by 0 to 60 t of CO2 and gasoline consumption
      increases by 0 to 7000 gallons (26,000 L), depending on the AFV and year of sale.
      Using projections for vehicles sold from 2012 to 2025 from the Energy Information
      Administration, we estimate that the CAFE/GHG AFV incentives lead to a cumulative
      increase of 30 to 70 million metric tons of CO2 and 3 to 8 billion gallons (11 to
      30 billion liters) of gasoline consumed over the vehicles' lifetimes - the
      largest share of which is due to legacy GHG flex-fuel vehicle credits that expire
      in 2016. These effects may be 30-40% larger in practice than we estimate here due
      to optimistic laboratory vehicle efficiency tests used in policy compliance
      calculations. 

PMID- 26867101
TI  - New Luminescent Polynuclear Metal Complexes with Anticancer Properties: Toward
      Structure-Activity Relationships.
AB  - A series of new heterodinuclear luminescent complexes with two different organic
      ligands have been synthesized and characterized. A luminescent
      Ru(II)(polypyridine) moiety and a metal-based anticancer fragment (AuCl, (p
      cymene)RuCl2, (p-cymene)OsCl2, (Cp*)RhCl2, or Au-thioglucose) are the two general
      features of these complexes. All of the bimetallic compounds have been evaluated
      for their antiproliferative properties in vitro in human cancer cell lines. Only
      the complexes containing an Au(I) fragment exhibit antiproliferative activity in
      the range of cisplatin or higher. The photophysical and electrochemical
      properties of the bimetallic species have been investigated, and fluorescence
      microscopy experiments have been performed successfully. The most promising
      bimetallic cytotoxic complexes (i.e., with the Au-thioglucose scaffold) have
      shown to be easily taken up by cancer cells at 37  degrees C in the cytoplasm or
      in specific organelles. Interestingly, experiments repeated at 4  degrees C
      showed no uptake of the bimetallic species inside cells, which confirms
      involvement of active transport processes. To evaluate the role of glucose
      transporters in the cell uptake of the gold complexes, inhibition of the GluT-1
      (glucose transporter isoform with high level of expression in cancer cells) was
      achieved, showing only scarce influence on the compounds' uptake. Finally, the
      observed absence of interactions with nucleic acid model structures suggests that
      the gold compounds may have different intracellular targets with respect to
      cisplatin. 

PMID- 26867102
TI  - The Synthesis of Multifunctionalized 1,3-Oxazin-4-ones from Donor-Acceptor
      Cyclopropanes.
AB  - A series of electronically diverse imines were found to readily react with
      various donor-acceptor cyclopropyl acid chlorides, with complete
      regioselectivity, to form 1,3-oxazin-4-ones in moderate yields (25-48% over two
      steps). Select oxazinones underwent a base induced rearrangement to afford the
      corresponding cycloheptene-fused oxazinones in good yields (up to 70%). 

PMID- 26867104
TI  - Why victims of undermining at work become perpetrators of undermining: An
      integrative model.
AB  - We develop and test an integrative model explaining why victims of workplace
      social undermining become perpetrators of undermining. Conceptualizing social
      undermining as a norm-violating and a resource-depleting experience, we theorize
      that undermining victimization lowers interpersonal justice perceptions and
      depletes self-regulatory resources, and these 2 mechanisms in tandem trigger a
      moral disengagement process that influences subsequent undermining behaviors. We
      further theorize that moral identity functions as a boundary condition: high
      moral identity attenuates whether interpersonal injustice and resource depletion
      shape moral disengagement and whether moral disengagement translates to
      subsequent undermining. A field study of bank employees provides empirical
      support for the mediating mechanisms, and shows that employees who have high
      moral identity are less likely to respond to interpersonal injustice by morally
      disengaging and to translate moral disengagement to undermining. (PsycINFO
      Database Record 

PMID- 26867103
TI  - When ethical leader behavior breaks bad: How ethical leader behavior can turn
      abusive via ego depletion and moral licensing.
AB  - The literature to date has predominantly focused on the benefits of ethical
      leader behaviors for recipients (e.g., employees and teams). Adopting an actor
      centric perspective, in this study we examined whether exhibiting ethical leader
      behaviors may come at some cost to leaders. Drawing from ego depletion and moral
      licensing theories, we explored the potential challenges of ethical leader
      behavior for actors. Across 2 studies which employed multiwave designs that
      tracked behaviors over consecutive days, we found that leaders' displays of
      ethical behavior were positively associated with increases in abusive behavior
      the following day. This association was mediated by increases in depletion and
      moral credits owing to their earlier displays of ethical behavior. These results
      suggest that attention is needed to balance the benefits of ethical leader
      behaviors for recipients against the challenges that such behaviors pose for
      actors, which include feelings of mental fatigue and psychological license and
      ultimately abusive interpersonal behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26867105
TI  - Getting on the same page: The effect of normative feedback interventions on
      structured interview ratings.
AB  - This study explores normative feedback as a way to reduce rating errors and
      increase the reliability and validity of structured interview ratings. Based in
      control theory and social comparison theory, we propose a model of normative
      feedback interventions (NFIs) in the context of structured interviews and test
      our model using data from over 20,000 interviews conducted by more than 100
      interviewers over a period of more than 4 years. Results indicate that lenient
      and severe interviewers reduced discrepancies between their ratings and the
      overall normative mean rating after receipt of normative feedback, though changes
      were greater for lenient interviewers. When various waves of feedback were
      presented in later NFIs, the combined normative mean rating over multiple time
      periods was more predictive of subsequent rating changes than the normative mean
      rating from the most recent time period. Mean within-interviewer rating variance,
      along with interrater agreement and interrater reliability, increased after the
      initial NFI, but results from later NFIs were more complex and revealed that
      feedback interventions may lose effectiveness over time. A second study using
      simulated data indicated that leniency and severity errors did not impact rating
      validity, but did affect which applicants were hired. We conclude that giving
      normative feedback to interviewers will aid in minimizing interviewer rating
      differences and enhance the reliability of structured interview ratings. We
      suggest that interviewer feedback might be considered as a potential new
      component of interview structure, though future research is needed before a
      definitive conclusion can be drawn. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26867106
TI  - Power and death: Mortality salience increases power seeking while feeling
      powerful reduces death anxiety.
AB  - According to Terror Management Theory, people respond to reminders of mortality
      by seeking psychological security and bolstering their self-esteem. Because
      previous research suggests that having power can provide individuals a sense of
      security and self-worth, we hypothesize that mortality salience leads to an
      increased motivation to acquire power, especially among men. Study 1 found that
      men (but not women) who wrote about their death reported more interest in
      acquiring power. Study 2A and Study 2B demonstrated that when primed with
      reminders of death, men (but not women) reported behaving more dominantly during
      the subsequent week, while both men and women reported behaving more prosocially
      during that week. Thus, mortality salience prompts people to respond in ways that
      help them manage their death anxiety but in ways consistent with normative gender
      expectations. Furthermore, Studies 3-5 showed that feeling powerful reduces
      anxiety when mortality is salient. Specifically, we found that when primed to
      feel more powerful, both men and women experienced less mortality anxiety.
      (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26867107
TI  - How Sodium Chloride Salt Inhibits the Formation of CO2 Gas Hydrates.
AB  - We present an experimental Raman study on how the addition of sodium chloride to
      CO2-hydrate-forming systems inhibits the hydrate formation thermodynamically. For
      this purpose, the molar enthalpy of reaction and the molar entropy of reaction
      for the reaction of weakly hydrogen-bonded water molecules to strongly hydrogen
      bonded water molecules are determined for different salinities from the Raman
      spectrum of the water-stretching vibration. Simultaneously, the influence of the
      salinity on the solubility of CO2 in the liquid water-rich phase right before the
      start of hydrate formation is analyzed. The results demonstrate that various
      mechanisms contribute to the inhibition of gas hydrate formation. For the highest
      salt concentration of 20 wt % investigated, the temperature of gas hydrate
      formation is lowered by 12 K. For this concentration the molar enthalpy and
      entropy of reaction become smaller by 50 and 20%, respectively. Concurrently, the
      solubility of carbon dioxide is reduced by 70%. These results are compared with
      data in literature for systems of sodium chloride in water (without carbon
      dioxide). 

PMID- 26867108
TI  - Pathway-based analyses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: New technologies for acquisition of genomic data, while offering
      unprecedented opportunities for genetic discovery, also impose severe burdens of
      interpretation and penalties for multiple testing. METHODS: The Pathway-based
      Analyses Group of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 19 (GAW19) sought reduction of
      multiple-testing burden through various approaches to aggregation of
      highdimensional data in pathways informed by prior biological knowledge. RESULTS:
      Experimental methods testedincluded the use of "synthetic pathways" (random sets
      of genes) to estimate power and false-positive error rate of methods applied to
      simulated data; data reduction via independent components analysis, single
      nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-SNP interaction, and use of gene sets to estimate
      genetic similarity; and general assessment of the efficacy of prior biological
      knowledge to reduce the dimensionality of complex genomic data. CONCLUSIONS: The
      work of this group explored several promising approaches to managing high
      dimensional data, with the caveat that these methods are necessarily constrained
      by the quality of external bioinformatic annotation.

PMID- 26867109
TI  - Effect of nanostructured ceria as support for the iron catalysed hydrogenation of
      CO2 into hydrocarbons.
AB  - This paper demonstrates the key role of the property-structure relationship of
      the support on iron/ceria catalysts on the hydrocarbon selectivity and olefin-to
      paraffin ratio for the direct hydrogenation of carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons.
      The effect is directly related to the reducibility of the different
      nanostructured ceria supports and their interaction with the iron particles.
      Herein, we demonstrate that the iron-based catalysts can be modified not only by
      the addition of promoters, commonly reported in the literature, but also by
      careful control of the morphology of the ceria support. 

PMID- 26867110
TI  - Surface-Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy and Neutron Reflectivity Studies of
      Ubiquinone in Hybrid Bilayer Membranes under Potential Control.
AB  - Surface-enhanced infrared adsorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and neutron
      reflectometry (NR) were employed to characterize ubiquinone (UQ) containing
      hybrid bilayer membranes. The biomimetic membrane was prepared by fusing
      phospholipid vesicles on a hydrophobic octadecanethiol monolayer self-assembled
      on a thin gold film. Using SEIRAS, the assembly of the membrane is monitored in
      situ. The presence of ubiquinone is verified by the characteristic carbonyl peaks
      from the quinone ester. A well-ordered distal lipid leaflet results from fusion
      of vesicles with and without the addition of ubiquinone. With applied potential,
      the hybrid bilayer membrane in the absence of UQ behaves in the same way as
      previously reported solid supported phospholipid membranes. When ubiquinone is
      incorporated in the membrane, electric field induced changes in the distal
      leaflet are suppressed. Changes in the infrared vibrations of the ubiquinone due
      to applied potential indicate the head groups are located in both polar and
      nonpolar environments. The spectroscopic data reveal that the isoprenoid unit of
      the ubiquinone is likely lying in the midplane of the lipid bilayer while the
      head has some freedom to move within the hydrophobic core. The SEIRAS experiments
      show redox behavior of UQ incorporated in a model lipid membrane that are
      otherwise inaccessible with traditional electrochemistry techniques. 

PMID- 26867112
TI  - The voiced pronunciation of initial phonemes predicts the gender of names.
AB  - Although it is known that certain names gain popularity within a culture because
      of historical events, it is unknown how names become associated with different
      social categories in the first place. We propose that vocal cord vibration during
      the pronunciation of an initial phoneme plays a critical role in explaining which
      names are assigned to males versus females. This produces a voiced gendered name
      effect, whereby voiced phonemes (vibration of the vocal cords) are more
      associated with male names, and unvoiced phonemes (no vibration of the vocal
      cords) are more associated with female names. Eleven studies test this
      association between voiced names and gender (a) using 270 million names (more
      than 80,000 unique names) given to children over 75 years, (b) names across 2
      cultures (the U.S. and India), and (c) hundreds of novel names. The voiced
      gendered name effect was mediated through how hard or soft names sounded, and
      moderated by gender stereotype endorsement. Although extensive work has
      demonstrated morphological and physical cues to gender (e.g., facial, bodily,
      vocal), this work provides a systematic account of name-based cues to gender.
      Overall, the current research extends work on sound symbolism to names; the way
      in which a name sounds can be symbolically related to stereotypes associated with
      its social category.

PMID- 26867111
TI  - True grit and genetics: Predicting academic achievement from personality.
AB  - Grit-perseverance and passion for long-term goals-has been shown to be a
      significant predictor of academic success, even after controlling for other
      personality factors. Here, for the first time, we use a U.K.-representative
      sample and a genetically sensitive design to unpack the etiology of Grit and its
      prediction of academic achievement in comparison to well-established personality
      traits. For 4,642 16-year-olds (2,321 twin pairs), we used the Grit-S scale
      (perseverance of effort and consistency of interest), along with the Big Five
      personality traits, to predict grades on the General Certificate of Secondary
      Education (GCSE) exams, which are administered U.K.-wide at the end of compulsory
      education. Twin analyses of Grit perseverance yielded a heritability estimate of
      37% (20% for consistency of interest) and no evidence for shared environmental
      influence. Personality, primarily conscientiousness, predicts about 6% of the
      variance in GCSE grades, but Grit adds little to this prediction. Moreover,
      multivariate twin analyses showed that roughly two-thirds of the GCSE prediction
      is mediated genetically. Grit perseverance of effort and Big Five
      conscientiousness are to a large extent the same trait both phenotypically (r =
      0.53) and genetically (genetic correlation = 0.86). We conclude that the etiology
      of Grit is highly similar to other personality traits, not only in showing
      substantial genetic influence but also in showing no influence of shared
      environmental factors. Personality significantly predicts academic achievement,
      but Grit adds little phenotypically or genetically to the prediction of academic
      achievement beyond traditional personality factors, especially conscientiousness.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867113
TI  - Biomimetic synthesis of highly biocompatible gold nanoparticles with amino acid
      dithiocarbamate as a precursor for SERS imaging.
AB  - Amino acid-dithiocarbamate (amino acid-DTC) was developed as both the reductant
      and ligand stabilizer for biomimetic synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs),
      which served as an excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) contrast
      nanoprobe for cell imaging. Glycine (Gly), glutamic acid (Glu), and histidine
      (His) with different isoelectric points were chosen as representative amino acid
      candidates to synthesize corresponding amino acid-DTC compounds through mixing
      with carbon disulfide (CS2), respectively. The pyrogenic decomposition of amino
      acid-DTC initiated the reduction synthesis of AuNPs, and the strong coordinating
      dithiocarbamate group of amino acid-DTC served as a stabilizer that grafted onto
      the surface of the AuNPs, which rendered the as-prepared nanoparticles a negative
      surface charge and high colloidal stability. MTT cell viability assay
      demonstrated that the biomimetic AuNPs possessed neglectful toxicity to the human
      hepatoma cell, which guaranteed them good biocompatibility for biomedical
      application. Meanwhile, the biomimetic AuNPs showed a strong SERS effect with an
      enhancement factor of 9.8 * 10(5) for the sensing of Rhodamine 6G, and two
      distinct Raman peaks located at 1363 and 1509 cm(-1) could be clearly observed in
      the cell-imaging experiments. Therefore, biomimetic AuNPs can be explored as an
      excellent SERS contrast nanoprobe for biomedical imaging, and the amino acid-DTC
      mediated synthesis of the AuNPs has a great potential in bio-engineering and
      biomedical imaging applications. 

PMID- 26867114
TI  - An Enzyme Cascade for Selective Modification of Tyrosine Residues in Structurally
      Diverse Peptides and Proteins.
AB  - Bioorthogonal chemistry enables a specific moiety in a complex biomolecule to be
      selectively modified in the presence of many reactive functional groups and other
      cellular entities. Such selectivity has become indispensable in biology, enabling
      biomolecules to be derivatized, conjugated, labeled, or immobilized for imaging,
      biochemical assays, or therapeutic applications. Methyltransferase enzymes
      (MTase) that accept analogues of the cofactor S-adenosyl methionine have been
      widely deployed for alkyl-diversification and bioorthogonal labeling. However,
      MTases typically possess tight substrate specificity. Here we introduce a more
      flexible methodology for selective derivatization of phenolic moieties in complex
      biomolecules. Our approach relies on the tandem enzymatic reaction of a fungal
      tyrosinase and the mammalian catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which can
      effect the sequential hydroxylation of the phenolic group to give an intermediate
      catechol moiety that is subsequently O-alkylated. When used in this combination,
      the alkoxylation is highly selective for tyrosine residues in peptides and
      proteins, yet remarkably tolerant to changes in the peptide sequence. Tyrosinase
      COMT are shown to provide highly versatile and regioselective modification of a
      diverse range of substrates including peptide antitumor agents, hormones, cyclic
      peptide antibiotics, and model proteins. 

PMID- 26867115
TI  - Hierarchical Carbon with High Nitrogen Doping Level: A Versatile Anode and
      Cathode Host Material for Long-Life Lithium-Ion and Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
AB  - Nitrogen-rich carbon with both a turbostratic microstructure and
      meso/macroporosity was prepared by hard templating through pyrolysis of a
      tricyanomethanide-based ionic liquid in the voids of a silica monolith template.
      This multifunctional carbon not only is a promising anode candidate for long-life
      lithium-ion batteries but also shows favorable properties as anode and cathode
      host material owing to a high nitrogen content (>8% after carbonization at 900 
      degrees C). To demonstrate the latter, the hierarchical carbon was melt
      infiltrated with sulfur as well as coated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of
      anatase TiO2, both of which led to high-quality nanocomposites. TiO2 ALD
      increased the specific capacity of the carbon while maintaining high Coulombic
      efficiency and cycle life: the composite exhibited stable performance in lithium
      half-cells, with excellent recovery of low rate capacities after thousands of
      cycles at 5C. Lithium-sulfur batteries using the sulfur/carbon composite also
      showed good cyclability, with reversible capacities of ~700 mA.h.g(-1) at C/5 and
      without obvious decay over several hundred cycles. The present results
      demonstrate that nitrogen-rich carbon with an interconnected multimodal pore
      structure is very versatile and can be used as both active and inactive electrode
      material in high-performance lithium-based batteries.

PMID- 26867116
TI  - How in vitro influences in silico utilized for the prediction of in vivo - pilot
      study of the drug-induced pro-arrhythmic potency prediction.
AB  - The current drug cardiac safety risk assessment paradigm is about to be changed.
      The discussed modifications cover clinical as well as pre-clinical sides. As for
      the latter, the pre-clinical assessment, it is planned to be based on the
      analysis of the drug-triggered multiple ion currents inhibition. Considering the
      variability in the in vitro patch clamp studies results, it would be of benefit
      to assess how these apparatus- and protocol-dependent differences influence the
      risk prediction and, eventually, the decision making. Four compounds, namely
      dextromethorphan, ketoconazole, terfenadine, and quinidine were screened for hERG
      inhibition with an automated patch clamp apparatus (CytoPatch(TM)2). The results
      were then compared against the literature published data, and after being
      complemented with information about other current inhibitions and effective
      therapeutic plasma concentration, utilized for the in silico based safety
      assessment. Two endpoints were used: (1) the concentration dependent potential to
      induce early afterdepolarizations in the simulated action potential and (2) the
      arrhythmia-like disruption in the simulated pseudo-ECG signals. Data analysis
      results prove that IC50 values, describing the inhibition potential,
      significantly differ among studies, and the choice of input data can greatly
      influence the in silico based safety assessment and thus the decision making
      process.

PMID- 26867117
TI  - Role of new biomarkers for the diagnosis of nephropathy associated with diabetes
      type 2.
AB  - In twenty first century, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMt2)
      dramatically increases, followed by the number of patients suffering from its
      complications. Currently, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of
      renal replacement therapy. Often, DMt2 is diagnosed after several years of
      duration, and irreversible organ damage can develop during that period. On the
      other hand, the early diag- nosis of DKD in the preclinical phase, when
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is still maintained and there are no evident
      changes in urinalysis, gives the possibility of implementing the nephroprotective
      treatment that can significantly delay the progression of the disease. However,
      the diagnostic tests available in clinical practice, i.e. serum creatinine,
      estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria have important
      limitations. There is a need for new, early and non-invasive biomarkers specific
      for kidney injury, allowing for differentiation between glomerular and tubular
      injury, and changing dynamically in response to the degree of kidney damage.
      Hereby, we review the current knowledge about the novel and emerging biomarkers
      of kidney injury and their used for the diagnosis of DKD. 

PMID- 26867119
TI  - Rhenium-coated glass beads for intracolonic administration attenuate TNBS-induced
      colitis in mice: Proof-of-Concept Study.
AB  - In search for novel effective treatments in inflammatory bowel diseases, a new
      strategy employing glass beads coated with rhenium nanolayer has been developed
      and validated in the mouse model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)
      induced colitis. Briefly, mice were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups:
      control (vehicle alone, Group 1); control treated with rhenium-coated glass beads
      (Group 2); TNBS (Group 3); TNBS treated with rhenium-coated glass beads (Group
      4); and TNBS treated with uncoated glass beads (Group 5). Mice from Group 2, 4
      and 5 were treated with respective beads (once daily, 5 beads / animal, i.c.)
      between D3-D6 post-TNBS/vehicle and evaluation of colonic damage was performed on
      D7, based on macroscopic scoring and clinical parameters. Severe colonic
      inflammation developed in post-TNBS mice (Group 3) [P <0.001 vs. control (Group
      1) for macroscopic score], which was significantly attenuated by treatment with
      rhenium-coated glass beads (Group 4) [P <0.01 vs. TNBS (Group 3), for macroscopic
      score]. Neither rhenium-coated glass beads had any effect in control animals
      (Group 2), nor uncoated glass beads influenced TNBS-induced colitis (Group 5). In
      conclusion, a novel and attractive strategy for the treatment of colonic
      inflammation has been proposed; therapy with rhenium-coated glass beads already
      proved effective in the mouse model of TNBS-induced colitis, now requires further
      characterization in clinical conditions. 

PMID- 26867118
TI  - Extracellular vesicles participate in the transport of cytokines and angiogenic
      factors in diabetic patients with ocular complications.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including circulating microvesicles
      (MVs) or mi- croparticles (MPs) and exosomes, derived from cells or platelets are
      present in the peripheral blood and are important elements involved in the
      activation of the coagulation system, transport of macromolecules and
      intercellular communication. In patients with vascular complications (including
      diabetes), the number of EVs is significantly increased during the acute phase of
      the disease. However, less is known about EVs release in the chronic state of
      diabetes. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the profile of inflammatory cytokines and
      angiogenic factors in EVs in diabetic patients with ocular and vascular
      complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients with diabetes
      and varying degrees of ocular complications including retinopathy (n = 48) and
      the control group (n = 13). EV-enriched and EV-depleted fractions were obtained
      from platelet-poor plasma by means of the centrifugation method (16 000 g, for 90
      min). In screening, the profile of cytokines with pro-angiogenic effects was
      preliminary assessed using the protein microarray technology for controlled
      diabetic patients - CD, uncontrolled diabetic patients - UD and for the control
      group. In all patients, concentrations of cytokines: RANTES (Regulated on
      Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed and secreted) and Ang-2 (angiopoietin-2) were
      assayed using the ELISA method. Common blood and biochemical tests were
      performed. RESULTS: In patients with diabetes, analysis of supernatant revealed
      significantly increased concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)
      and soluble receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (V-EGFR2) when
      compared to the control group: 49 (10.5-122) vs. 24 (2-72.5) SD (p = 0.03) and
      260 (195.5-351) vs. 360 (256-461.5) SD (p = 0.01). In UD patients, concentrations
      of RANTES, angiostatin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and tissue inhibitors
      of metalloproteinase 1 and 2 (TIMP1 and TIMP2) were relatively higher in the EV
      enriched fraction when compared to the EV-depleted fraction. Post hoc analysis
      revealed significant differences between UC patients and the control group in
      RANTES (16.73 (14.41-18.93) vs. 14.62 (12.37-15.28) mg/ml; p = 0.0235) and Ang-2
      (2.76 (2.23-4.64) ng/ml vs. 1.74 (1.54-1.93); p = 0.0316) concentrations. These
      analyses did not reveal any significant differences in RANTES and Ang-2
      concentrations between CD patients and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The
      profiles of cytokines and angiogenic factors in EVs are significantly increased
      in patients with diabetes. Also, the formation of specific cytokines related to
      EVs is strongly influenced by disease duration and successful treatment. EVs seem
      to be the conveyors of upregulated cytokines and angiogenic agents in diabetic
      patients.

PMID- 26867120
TI  - Visfatin and TGF-Beta1 in primary biliary cirrhosis and two other common liver
      diseases.
AB  - The aim of this study is to investigate plasma concentration of visfatin and
      transforming growth factor Beta1 (TGF-Beta1) in three groups of patients: primary
      biliary cirrhosis (PBC), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and toxic
      cirrhosis (TC). We qualified the patients into the study and assigned them to the
      appropriate group according to clinical examination, laboratory tests and
      ultrasound imaging technic (US). We showed that plasma concentrations of visfatin
      in PBC, NAFLD and TC group were respectively 1.41 +/- 1.76 ng/mL, 1.22 +/- 1.08
      ng/mL and 0.70 +/- 1.22 ng/mL. Plasma concentration of visfatin was significantly
      lower in TC group than in others both (p +/- 0.017). The differences of visfatin
      concentration between NAFLD and TC group were not statistically significant. The
      values of TGF-Beta1 in PBC, NAFLD and TC group were respectively 21031 +/- 7822
      pg/mL, 21588 +/- 12639 pg/mL, and 9678 +/- 4757 pg/mL. The statistical analysis
      showed that the value of cirrhotic group was significantly (p +/-0.017) lower
      compared to both others groups. The difference between PBC and NAFLD was
      insignificant. IN CONCLUSION: Despite the PBC and NAFLD are the diseases of
      different pathogenesis and origin, plasma concentration of visfatin and TGF-Beta1
      were similar in these both groups but significantly lower in TC probably due to
      decreased activity as well as number of cells producing these cytokines in the
      cirrhotic liver.

PMID- 26867121
TI  - Inferior tibiofibular joint (tibiofibular syndesmosis) - own studies and review
      of the literature.
AB  - The study was carried out on 50 human lower legs obtained during autopsies. The
      anatomy of the joint was studied using classical anatomical description methods.
      Based also on literature we have reviewed the current knowledge on the inferior
      tibiofibular joint. 

PMID- 26867122
TI  - Volume rendering of the tympanic cavity from micro-CT data.
AB  - The current study presents volumetric reconstruction of the tympanic cavity
      obtained from micro-CT scans which pixel size was 18 MUm. Thanks to this, osseous
      components of the tympanic cavity were shown in high optical resolution, causing
      that their morphological appearance was clearly demonstrated. Particular
      attention was paid on imaging the medial wall of the tympanic cavity, because its
      structures are of clinical importance. In this respect we showed spatial
      relationship between the promontory, the oval window, the round window and other
      minute structures like the pyramidal eminence, subiculum and ponticulus. Hence,
      application of the microcomputed tomography allowed to visualize abnormal osseous
      formation located within the tympanic cavity, which potentially could interrupt
      normal movement of the auditory ossicles. 

PMID- 26867123
TI  - Certain remarks on blood supply of normal human uterine corpus - corrosion
      casting and SEM study.
AB  - Corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy are currently best available
      technique which allows observation of microvascular bed of different anatomical
      structures and obtaining quasi 3-D pictures, necessary for reconstruction of
      microvessels. Application of synthetic resins, which fill practically the whole
      vascular bed enables profound analysis of such obtained specimens. 

PMID- 26867124
TI  - Finite element modeling of human brain response to football helmet impacts.
AB  - The football helmet is used to help mitigate the occurrence of impact-related
      traumatic (TBI) and minor traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in the game of American
      football. While the current helmet design methodology may be adequate for
      reducing linear acceleration of the head and minimizing TBI, it however has had
      less effect in minimizing mTBI. The objectives of this study are (a) to develop
      and validate a coupled finite element (FE) model of a football helmet and the
      human body, and (b) to assess responses of different regions of the brain to two
      different impact conditions - frontal oblique and crown impact conditions. The FE
      helmet model was validated using experimental results of drop tests.
      Subsequently, the integrated helmet-human body FE model was used to assess the
      responses of different regions of the brain to impact loads. Strain-rate, strain,
      and stress measures in the corpus callosum, midbrain, and brain stem were
      assessed. Results show that maximum strain-rates of 27 and 19 s(-1) are observed
      in the brain-stem and mid-brain, respectively. This could potentially lead to
      axonal injuries and neuronal cell death during crown impact conditions. The
      developed experimental-numerical framework can be used in the study of other
      helmet-related impact conditions. 

PMID- 26867125
TI  - Antinociceptive Interaction of Tramadol with Gabapentin in Experimental
      Mononeuropathic Pain.
AB  - Neuropathic pain is the result of injury to the nervous system, and different
      animal models have been established to meet the manifestations of neuropathy. The
      pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain includes gabapentin and tramadol, but these
      are only partially effective when given alone. The aim of this study was to
      assess the antinociceptive interaction between both drugs using the
      isobolographic analysis and changes of the IL-1beta concentration in a mouse
      model of neuropathic pain (partial sciatic nerve ligation or PSNL). The i.p.
      administration of gabapentin (5-100 mg/kg) or tramadol (12.5-100 mg/kg) displayed
      a dose-dependent antinociception in the hot plate assay of PSNL mice, and effects
      induced by gabapentin with tramadol were synergistic. Administration of
      gabapentin or tramadol reversed significantly the increase in the concentration
      of IL-1beta induced by PSNL after either 7 or 14 days and their combination was
      significantly more potent in reversing the elevated concentration of IL-1beta.
      The synergism obtained by the co-administration of gabapentin and tramadol is
      proposed to result from action on different mechanisms in pain pathways.
      Gabapentin or tramadol or their combination modulates the expression of pro
      inflammatory cytokine, IL-1beta, in a model of mice PSNL which could be due to an
      inhibition of glial function. 

PMID- 26867127
TI  - Cartilage Derived from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expresses Lubricin In
      Vitro and In Vivo.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Lubricin expression in the superficial cartilage will be a crucial
      factor in the success of cartilage regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
      are an attractive cell source and the use of aggregates of MSCs has some
      advantages in terms of chondrogenic potential and efficiency of cell adhesion.
      Lubricin expression in transplanted MSCs has not been fully elucidated so far.
      Our goals were to determine (1) whether cartilage pellets of human MSCs expressed
      lubricin in vitro chondrogenesis, (2) whether aggregates of human MSCs promoted
      lubricin expression, and (3) whether aggregates of MSCs expressed lubricin in the
      superficial cartilage after transplantation into osteochondral defects in rats.
      METHODS: For in vitro analysis, human bone marrow (BM) MSCs were differentiated
      into cartilage by pellet culture, and also aggregated using the hanging drop
      technique. For an animal study, aggregates of BM MSCs derived from GFP transgenic
      rats were transplanted to the osteochondral defect in the trochlear groove of
      wild type rat knee joints. Lubricin expression was mainly evaluated in
      differentiated and regenerated cartilages. RESULTS: In in vitro analysis,
      lubricin was detected in the superficial zone of the pellets and conditioned
      medium. mRNA expression of Proteoglycan4 (Prg4), which encodes lubricin, in
      pellets was significantly higher than that of undifferentiated MSCs. Aggregates
      showed different morphological features between the superficial and deep zone,
      and the Prg4 mRNA expression increased after aggregate formation. Lubricin was
      also found in the aggregate. In a rat study, articular cartilage regeneration was
      significantly better in the MSC group than in the control group as shown by
      macroscopical and histological analysis. The transmission electron microscope
      showed that morphology of the superficial cartilage in the MSC group was closer
      to that of the intact cartilage than in the control group. GFP positive cells
      remained in the repaired tissue and expressed lubricin in the superficial
      cartilage. CONCLUSION: Cartilage derived from MSCs expressed lubricin protein
      both in vitro and in vivo. Aggregation promoted lubricin expression of MSCs in
      vitro and transplantation of aggregates of MSCs regenerated cartilage including
      the superficial zone in a rat osteochondral defect model. Our results indicate
      that aggregated MSCs could be clinically relevant for therapeutic approaches to
      articular cartilage regeneration with an appropriate superficial zone in the
      future.

PMID- 26867126
TI  - GDF-15 Is Elevated in Children with Mitochondrial Diseases and Is Induced by
      Mitochondrial Dysfunction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously described increased levels of growth and
      differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in skeletal muscle and serum of patients with
      mitochondrial diseases. Here we evaluated GDF-15 as a biomarker for mitochondrial
      diseases affecting children and compared it to fibroblast-growth factor 21 (FGF
      21). To investigate the mechanism of GDF-15 induction in these pathologies we
      measured its expression and secretion in response to mitochondrial dysfunction.
      METHODS: We analysed 59 serum samples from 48 children with mitochondrial
      disease, 19 samples from children with other neuromuscular diseases and 33
      samples from aged-matched healthy children. GDF-15 and FGF-21 circulating levels
      were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Our results showed that in children with
      mitochondrial diseases GDF-15 levels were on average increased by 11-fold (mean
      4046pg/ml, 1492 SEM) relative to healthy (350, 21) and myopathic (350, 32)
      controls. The area under the curve for the receiver-operating-characteristic
      curve for GDF-15 was 0.82 indicating that it has a good discriminatory power. The
      overall sensitivity and specificity of GDF-15 for a cut-off value of 550pg/mL was
      67.8% (54.4%-79.4%) and 92.3% (81.5%-97.9%), respectively. We found that elevated
      levels of GDF-15 and or FGF-21 correctly identified a larger proportion of
      patients than elevated levels of GDF-15 or FGF-21 alone. GDF-15, as well as FGF
      21, mRNA expression and protein secretion, were significantly induced after
      treatment of myotubes with oligomycin and that levels of expression of both
      factors significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that GDF-15 is a
      valuable serum quantitative biomarker for the diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases
      in children and that measurement of both GDF-15 and FGF-21 improves the disease
      detection ability of either factor separately. Finally, we demonstrate for the
      first time that GDF-15 is produced by skeletal muscle cells in response to
      mitochondrial dysfunction and that its levels correlate in vitro with FGF-21
      levels.

PMID- 26867130
TI  - Development of Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles for Genetic Engineering and
      Tracking of Neural Stem Cells.
AB  - Genetic modification of cell transplant populations and cell tracking ability are
      key underpinnings for effective cell therapies. Current strategies to achieve
      these goals utilize methods which are unsuitable for clinical translation because
      of related safety issues, and multiple protocol steps adding to cost and
      complexity. Multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offering dual mode gene
      delivery and imaging contrast capacity offer a valuable tool in this context.
      Despite their key benefits, there is a critical lack of neurocompatible and
      multifunctional particles described for use with transplant populations for
      neurological applications. Here, a systematic screen of MNPs (using a core shown
      to cause contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) bearing various surface
      chemistries (polyethylenimine (PEI) and oxidized PEI and hybrids of oxidized
      PEI/alginic acid, PEI/chitosan and PEI/polyamidoamine) is performed to test their
      ability to genetically engineer neural stem cells (NSCs; a cell population of
      high clinical relevance for central nervous system disorders). It is demonstrated
      that gene delivery to NSCs can be safely achieved using two of the developed
      formulations (PEI and oxPEI/alginic acid) when used in conjunction with
      oscillating magnetofection technology. After transfection, intracellular
      particles can be detected by histological procedures with labeled cells
      displaying contrast in MRI (for real time cell tracking). 

PMID- 26867128
TI  - Involvement of the 3' Untranslated Region in Encapsidation of the Hepatitis C
      Virus.
AB  - Although information regarding morphogenesis of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is
      accumulating, the mechanism(s) by which the HCV genome encapsidated remains
      unknown. In the present study, in cell cultures producing HCV, the molecular
      ratios of 3' end- to 5' end-regions of the viral RNA population in the culture
      medium were markedly higher than those in the cells, and the ratio was highest in
      the virion-rich fraction. The interaction of the 3' untranslated region (UTR)
      with Core in vitro was stronger than that of the interaction of other stable RNA
      structure elements across the HCV genome. A foreign gene flanked by the 3' UTR
      was encapsidated by supplying both viral NS3-NS5B proteins and Core-NS2 in trans.
      Mutations within the conserved stem-loops of the 3' UTR were observed to
      dramatically diminish packaging efficiency, suggesting that the conserved apical
      motifs of the 3' X region are important for HCV genome packaging. This study
      provides evidence of selective packaging of the HCV genome into viral particles
      and identified that the 3' UTR acts as a cis-acting element for encapsidation. 

PMID- 26867129
TI  - Airborne Influenza A Is Detected in the Personal Breathing Zone of Swine
      Veterinarians.
AB  - The 2009 H1N1 pandemic emphasized a need to evaluate zoonotic transmission of
      influenza A in swine production. Airborne influenza A virus has been detected in
      swine facilities during an outbreak. However, the personal exposure of
      veterinarians treating infected swine has not been characterized. Two personal
      bioaerosol samplers, the NIOSH bioaerosol sampler and the personal high-flow
      inhalable sampler head (PHISH), were placed in the breathing zone of
      veterinarians treating swine infected with either H1N1 or H3N2 influenza A. A
      greater number of viral particles were recovered from the NIOSH bioaerosol
      sampler (2094 RNA copies/m3) compared to the PHISH sampler (545 RNA copies/m3).
      In addition, the majority of viral particles were detected by the NIOSH
      bioaerosol sampler in the >4 MUm size fraction. These results suggest that
      airborne influenza A virus is present in the breathing zone of veterinarians
      treating swine, and the aerosol route of zoonotic transmission of influenza virus
      should be further evaluated among agricultural workers. 

PMID- 26867132
TI  - Clinical excellence in physical medicine and rehabilitation: Examples from the
      published literature.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Advancements in medical knowledge and technology are enabling people
      to live longer with chronic medical conditions, and creating a need for
      physiatrists to help maintain and restore function. Clinical excellence in
      physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) is not well documented in the
      literature. The aim of this paper is to provide examples of clinical excellence
      in PM&R as they relate to the definition formulated by the Miller-Coulson Academy
      of Clinical Excellence (MCACE). METHODS AND RESULTS: A review of the literature
      revealed 1,686 published articles that were evaluated to determine their
      relevance to the definition of clinical excellence in PM&R. From these articles,
      exemplary case reports and research studies were identified for each of the
      domains of excellence. CONCLUSION: The application of the definition of clinical
      excellence to PM&R is more than just an intellectual exercise, as it can help to
      establish the model to which physicians and trainees may want to aspire.

PMID- 26867133
TI  - Motion correction and frequency stabilization for MRS of the human spinal cord.
AB  - Subject motion is challenging for MRS, because it can falsify results. For spinal
      cord MRS in particular, subject movement is critical, since even a small movement
      > 1 mm) can lead to a voxel shift out of the desired measurement region.
      Therefore, the identification of motion corrupted MRS scans is essential. In this
      investigation, MR navigators acquired simultaneously with the MRS data are used
      to identify a displacement of the spinal cord due to subject motion. It is shown
      that navigators are able to recognize substantial subject motion (>1 mm) without
      impairing the MRS measurement. In addition, navigators are easy to apply to the
      measurement, because no additional hardware and just a minor additional user
      effort are needed. Moreover, no additional scan time is required, because
      navigators can be applied in the deadtime of the MRS sequence. Furthermore, in
      this work, retrospective motion correction combined with frequency stabilization
      is presented by combining navigators with non-water-suppressed (1)H-MRS,
      resulting in an improved spectral quality of the spinal cord measurements.

PMID- 26867134
TI  - Practical Approaches for Detecting Selection in Microbial Genomes.
AB  - Microbial genome evolution is shaped by a variety of selective pressures.
      Understanding how these processes occur can help to address important problems in
      microbiology by explaining observed differences in phenotypes, including
      virulence and resistance to antibiotics. Greater access to whole-genome
      sequencing provides microbiologists with the opportunity to perform large-scale
      analyses of selection in novel settings, such as within individual hosts. This
      tutorial aims to guide researchers through the fundamentals underpinning popular
      methods for measuring selection in pathogens. These methods are transferable to a
      wide variety of organisms, and the exercises provided are designed for
      researchers with any level of programming experience. 

PMID- 26867131
TI  - The Black Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis and Other Selected Opportunistic Human
      Fungal Pathogens Spread from Dishwashers to Kitchens.
AB  - We investigated the diversity and distribution of fungi in nine different sites
      inside 30 residential dishwashers. In total, 503 fungal strains were isolated,
      which belong to 10 genera and 84 species. Irrespective of the sampled site, 83%
      of the dishwashers were positive for fungi. The most frequent opportunistic
      pathogenic species were Exophiala dermatitidis, Candida parapsilosis sensu
      stricto, Exophiala phaeomuriformis, Fusarium dimerum, and the
      Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces clade. The black yeast E. dermatitidis was detected in
      47% of the dishwashers, primarily at the dishwasher rubber seals, at up to 106
      CFU/cm2; the other fungi detected were in the range of 102 to 105 CFU/cm2. The
      other most heavily contaminated dishwasher sites were side nozzles, doors and
      drains. Only F. dimerum was isolated from washed dishes, while dishwasher waste
      water contained E. dermatitidis, Exophiala oligosperma and Sarocladium killiense.
      Plumbing systems supplying water to household appliances represent the most
      probable route for contamination of dishwashers, as the fungi that represented
      the core dishwasher mycobiota were also detected in the tap water. Hot aerosols
      from dishwashers contained the human opportunistic yeast C. parapsilosis,
      Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and E. dermatitidis (as well as common air-borne genera
      such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium). Comparison of
      fungal contamination of kitchens without and with dishwashers revealed that
      virtually all were contaminated with fungi. In both cases, the most contaminated
      sites were the kitchen drain and the dish drying rack. The most important
      difference was higher prevalence of black yeasts (E. dermatitidis in particular)
      in kitchens with dishwashers. In kitchens without dishwashers, C. parapsilosis
      strongly prevailed with negligible occurrence of E. dermatitidis. F. dimerum was
      isolated only from kitchens with dishwashers, while Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces
      isolates were only found within dishwashers. We conclude that dishwashers
      represent a reservoir of enriched opportunistic pathogenic species that can
      spread from the dishwasher into the indoor biome. 

PMID- 26867135
TI  - IL-17a and IL-22 Induce Expression of Antimicrobials in Gastrointestinal
      Epithelial Cells and May Contribute to Epithelial Cell Defense against
      Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori colonization of the human stomach can lead to adverse
      clinical outcomes including gastritis, peptic ulcers, or gastric cancer. Current
      data suggest that in addition to bacterial virulence factors, the magnitude and
      types of immune responses influence the outcome of colonization. Specifically,
      CD4+ T cell responses impact the pathology elicited in response to H. pylori.
      Because gastritis is believed to be the initiating host response to more
      detrimental pathological outcomes, there has been a significant interest in pro
      inflammatory T cell cytokines, including the cytokines produced by T helper 17
      cells. Th17 cells produce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. While these cytokines
      have been linked to inflammation, IL-17A and IL-22 are also associated with anti
      microbial responses and control of bacterial colonization. The goal of this
      research was to determine the role of IL-22 in activation of antimicrobial
      responses in models of H. pylori infection using human gastric epithelial cell
      lines and the mouse model of H. pylori infection. Our data indicate that IL-17A
      and IL-22 work synergistically to induce antimicrobials and chemokines such as IL
      8, components of calprotectin (CP), lipocalin (LCN) and some beta-defensins in
      both human and primary mouse gastric epithelial cells (GEC) and gastroids.
      Moreover, IL-22 and IL-17A-activated GECs were capable of inhibiting growth of H.
      pylori in vitro. While antimicrobials were activated by IL-17A and IL-22 in
      vitro, using a mouse model of H. pylori infection, the data herein indicate that
      IL-22 deficiency alone does not render mice more susceptible to infection, change
      their antimicrobial gene transcription, or significantly change their
      inflammatory response. 

PMID- 26867137
TI  - Impact of Tumor Localization and Method of Preoperative Biopsy on Sentinel Lymph
      Node Mapping After Periareolar Nuclide Injection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether tumor localization and method of preoperative
      biopsy affect sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection after periareolar nuclide
      injection in breast cancer patients. METHODS AND FINDINGS: 767 breast cancer
      patients were retrospectively included. For lymphscintigraphy periareolar nuclide
      injection was performed and the SLN was located by gamma camera. Patient and
      tumor characteristics were correlated to the success rate of SLN mapping. SLN
      marking failed in 9/61 (14.7%) patients with prior vacuum-assisted biopsy and
      80/706 (11.3%) patients with prior core needle biopsy. Individually evaluated,
      biopsy method (p = 0.4) and tumor localization (p = 0.9) did not significantly
      affect the SLN detection rate. Patients with a vacuum-assisted biopsy of a tumor
      in the upper outer quadrant had a higher odds ratio of failing in SLN mapping (OR
      3.8, p = 0.09) compared to core needle biopsy in the same localization (OR 0.9, p
      = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor localization and preoperative biopsy method do not
      significantly impact SLN mapping with periareolar nuclide injection. However, the
      failure risk tends to rise if vacuum-assisted biopsy of a tumor in the upper
      outer quadrant is performed.

PMID- 26867138
TI  - Body Mass Index and Decline of Cognitive Function.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function
      is a public health issue. This study investigated the relationship between
      obesity and cognitive impairment which was assessed by the Korean version of the
      Mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) among mid- and old-aged people in South
      Korea. METHODS: A cohort of 5,125 adults, age 45 or older with normal cognitive
      function (K-MMSE>=24) at baseline (2006), was derived from the Korean
      Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) 2006~2012. The association between baseline
      BMI and risk of cognitive impairment was assessed using multiple logistic
      regression models. We also assessed baseline BMI and change of cognitive function
      over the 6-year follow-up using multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: During the
      follow-up, 358 cases of severe cognitive impairment were identified. Those with
      baseline BMI>=25 kg/m2 than normal-weight (18.5<=BMI<23 kg/m2) were marginally
      less likely to experience the development of severe cognitive impairment
      (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.52 to 1.03; Ptrend = 0.03). This
      relationship was stronger among female (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.40 to 1.00; Ptrend
      = 0.01) and participants with low-normal K-MMSE score (MMSE: 24-26) at baseline
      (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.98; Ptrend<0.01). In addition, a slower decline
      of cognitive function was observed in obese individuals than those with normal
      weight, especially among women and those with low-normal K-MMSE score at
      baseline. CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative study, we found that
      obesity was associated with lower risk of cognitive decline among mid- and old
      age population.

PMID- 26867136
TI  - Atazanavir exposure in utero and neurodevelopment in infants: a comparative
      safety study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of in-utero exposure to atazanavir and
      neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected (PHEU) infants.
      DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of mother-PHEU infant pairs in the Surveillance
      Monitoring for ART Toxicities protocol of the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study.
      METHODS: Pregnant women living with HIV who initiated an antiretroviral regimen
      during pregnancy were followed from the date of antiretroviral initiation. Women
      were classified according to whether the antiretroviral regimen contained
      atazanavir and the trimester of antiretroviral initiation. Neurodevelopment at 9
      15 months was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development
      Third Edition (Bayley-III). We estimated mean differences for the five Bayley-III
      domains for atazanavir-containing regimens versus all other regimens. Models
      included baseline covariates and adjustment for failure to complete the Bayley
      III using inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: PHEU infants were exposed in
      utero to atazanavir-containing (n = 167) and nonatazanavir-containing (n = 750)
      antiretroviral regimens. The adjusted mean differences (95% confidence interval)
      in Bayley-III domain scores for initiating an atazanavir-containing regimen in
      the first trimester were: cognitive, -1.5 (-6.2, 3.2); language, -3.3 (-7.6,
      1.0); motor, -2.9 (-7.7, 1.9); social-emotional, 0.1 (-6.2, 6.4); and adaptive
      behavior, -0.1 (-4.3, 4.0). The mean differences for the second or third
      trimester were: cognitive, 0.4 (-3.2, 4.0); language, -3.4 (-6.2, -0.5); motor,
      0.3 (-2.9, 3.4); social-emotional, -5.9 (-9.4, -2.3); and adaptive behavior, -2.5
      (-5.9, 0.8). CONCLUSION: In-utero exposure to atazanavir-containing regimens
      compared with non-atazanavir-containing regimens may adversely affect language
      and social-emotional development in PHEU infants during the first year of life,
      but the absolute difference is small.

PMID- 26867139
TI  - Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Insomnia: A Systematic
      Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Insomnia is of major public health importance. While cognitive
      behavioral therapy is beneficial, in-person treatment is often unavailable. We
      assessed the effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for
      insomnia. OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives were to determine whether online
      cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia could improve sleep efficiency and
      reduce the severity of insomnia in adults. Secondary outcomes included sleep
      quality, total sleep time, time in bed, sleep onset latency, wake time after
      sleep onset, and number of nocturnal awakenings. DATA SOURCES: We searched
      PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature,
      PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Embase, and the Web of Science for randomized trials.
      METHODS: Studies were eligible if they were randomized controlled trials in
      adults that reported application of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia via
      internet delivery. Mean differences in improvement in sleep measures were
      calculated using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method for random effects meta
      analysis. RESULTS: We found 15 trials, all utilizing a pretest-posttest
      randomized control group design. Sleep efficiency was 72% at baseline and
      improved by 7.2% (95% CI: 5.1%, 9.3%; p<0.001) with internet-delivered cognitive
      behavioral therapy versus control. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral
      therapy resulted in a decrease in the insomnia severity index by 4.3 points (95%
      CI: -7.1, -1.5; p = 0.017) compared to control. Total sleep time averaged 5.7
      hours at baseline and increased by 20 minutes with internet-delivered therapy
      versus control (95% CI: 9, 31; p = 0.004). The severity of depression decreased
      by 2.3 points (95% CI: -2.9, -1.7; p = 0.013) in individuals who received
      internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy compared to control. Improvements
      in sleep efficiency, the insomnia severity index and depression scores with
      internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy were maintained from 4 to 48
      weeks after post-treatment assessment. There were no statistically significant
      differences between sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and insomnia severity
      index for internet-delivered versus in-person therapy with a trained therapist.
      CONCLUSION: In conclusion, internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy is
      effective in improving sleep in adults with insomnia. Efforts should be made to
      educate the public and expand access to this therapy. Registration Number,
      Prospero: CRD42015017622.

PMID- 26867140
TI  - Simultaneous cross-linking and p-doping of a polymeric semiconductor film by
      immersion into a phosphomolybdic acid solution for use in organic solar cells.
AB  - Poly[N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'
      benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) is shown to be simultaneously cross-linked and p
      doped when immersed into a phosphomolybdic acid solution, yielding conductive
      films with low solubility that can withstand the solution processing of
      subsequent photoactive layers. Such a modified PCDTBT film serves to improve hole
      collection and limit carrier recombination in organic solar cells. 

PMID- 26867141
TI  - Endurance Exercise Improves Molecular Pathways of Aerobic Metabolism in Patients
      With Myositis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Endurance exercise demonstrates beneficial effects in
      polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM); however, the molecular effects of exercise
      on skeletal muscle are incompletely understood. We undertook this controlled
      pilot study to investigate the effects of a 12-week endurance exercise training
      program on the molecular profile of skeletal muscle in patients with established
      PM/DM compared to a nonexercised control group of patients with established
      PM/DM. METHODS: Fifteen patients (7 in the exercise group and 8 in the control
      group) with paired baseline and 12-week follow-up muscle biopsy samples were
      included. Messenger RNA expression profiling, mass spectrometry-based
      quantitative proteomics, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on
      muscle biopsy samples to determine molecular adaptations associated with changes
      in clinical measurements induced by endurance exercise. RESULTS: Compared to the
      control group, the exercise group improved in minutes of cycling time (P < 0.01)
      and Vo2 max (P < 0.05). The exercise group also had reduced disease activity (P <
      0.05) and reduced lactate levels at exhaustion (P < 0.05). Genes related to
      capillary growth, mitochondrial biogenesis, protein synthesis, cytoskeletal
      remodeling, and muscle hypertrophy were up-regulated in the exercise group, while
      genes related to inflammation/immune response and endoplasmic reticulum stress
      were down-regulated. Mitochondrial pathways including the oxidative
      phosphorylation metabolic pathway were most affected by the endurance exercise,
      as demonstrated by proteomics analysis. The exercise group also showed a higher
      number of capillaries per mm(2) in follow-up biopsy samples (P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that endurance exercise in patients with
      established PM and DM may activate an aerobic phenotype and promote muscle growth
      and simultaneously suppress the inflammatory response in these patients' muscles,
      as supported by a combination of data on gene expression, proteomics, and
      capillary density in repeated muscle biopsies.

PMID- 26867142
TI  - The Organization of Repetitive DNA in the Genomes of Amazonian Lizard Species in
      the Family Teiidae.
AB  - Repetitive DNA is the largest fraction of the eukaryote genome and comprises
      tandem and dispersed sequences. It presents variations in relation to its
      composition, number of copies, distribution, dynamics, and genome organization,
      and participates in the evolutionary diversification of different vertebrate
      species. Repetitive sequences are usually located in the heterochromatin of
      centromeric and telomeric regions of chromosomes, contributing to chromosomal
      structures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to physically map repetitive DNA
      sequences (5S rDNA, telomeric sequences, tropomyosin gene 1, and retroelements
      Rex1 and SINE) of mitotic chromosomes of Amazonian species of teiids (Ameiva
      ameiva, Cnemidophorus sp. 1, Kentropyx calcarata, Kentropyx pelviceps, and
      Tupinambis teguixin) to understand their genome organization and karyotype
      evolution. The mapping of repetitive sequences revealed a distinct pattern in
      Cnemidophorus sp. 1, whereas the other species showed all sequences interspersed
      in the heterochromatic region. Physical mapping of the tropomyosin 1 gene was
      performed for the first time in lizards and showed that in addition to being
      functional, this gene has a structural function similar to the mapped repetitive
      elements as it is located preferentially in centromeric regions and termini of
      chromosomes. 

PMID- 26867143
TI  - Validity of a selection of pregnancy complications in the Medical Birth Registry
      of Norway.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The validity of information on pregnancy complications in the
      Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) is insufficiently studied. The objective
      was to examine the validity of information on gestational age, birthweight,
      medically initiated delivery, and gestational hypertension in the MBRN. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: We randomly sampled MBRN records among women who participated in the
      population-based HUNT Study in Nord-Trondelag county and who gave birth during
      1967-2012. We estimated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value
      (PPV) and negative predictive value of information in the MBRN, using hospital
      records as the reference standard. RESULTS: Hospital records were available for
      786 out of 797 sampled MBRN records. The PPVs of preterm (<37 weeks of gestation)
      and early preterm birth (<34 weeks of gestation) were approximately 90%, and the
      PPVs of low (<2500 g) and high (>4500 g) birthweight were 100%. For medically
      initiated delivery, the PPV was 28% during 1967-85, but 80% during 1986-2012 and
      higher among preterm (76%) than among term (51%) births. For gestational
      hypertension, the PPV was 68%, but 88% of women labeled with gestational
      hypertension in the MBRN had evidence of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
      in hospital records. CONCLUSIONS: The validity of information on gestational age
      and birthweight in the MBRN was very good. For medically initiated delivery, the
      validity was poor before 1985 and satisfactory thereafter. For gestational
      hypertension, lack of information in hospital records made the evaluation
      difficult, but our results suggest that most women labeled with gestational
      hypertension in the MBRN did have a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.

PMID- 26867144
TI  - Association of Anticentromere Antibodies With More Severe Exocrine Glandular
      Dysfunction in Sjogren's Syndrome: Analysis of the Sjogren's International
      Collaborative Clinical Alliance Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Anticentromere antibodies (ACAs) define a subset of primary Sjogren's
      syndrome (SS) with a unique phenotype, including features of limited cutaneous
      systemic sclerosis and a lower frequency of anti-SSA/SSB antibodies. We sought to
      determine whether ACAs are associated with more severe exocrine glandular
      dysfunction in a large cohort of primary SS subjects. METHODS: We performed a
      cross-sectional analysis of 1,361 subjects with primary SS from the Sjogren's
      International Collaborative Clinical Alliance Registry, stratified by the
      presence or absence of ACAs. ACAs were assayed by immunofluorescence staining on
      HEp-2 cells. RESULTS: ACAs were present in 82 of the 1,361 SS subjects (6%) and
      were associated with older age, female sex, and lower frequencies of anti
      SSA/SSB, rheumatoid factor, and hyperglobulinemia. Among ACA-positive versus ACA
      negative subjects, there was a higher frequency of a focus score >=2 (71% versus
      53%; P = 0.002), a higher median focus score (2.8 versus 2.5; P = 0.0440), and
      greater exocrine gland dysfunction: Schirmer's test value: median 4 versus 5 mm/5
      minutes; P = 0.0003, and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rate: median 0.08
      versus 0.37 ml/5 minutes; P < 0.0001. ACA-positive subjects had an increased risk
      of UWS <0.1 ml/minute (odds ratio [OR] 12.24 [95% confidence interval (95% CI)
      4.91-41.02]) and Schirmer's test value <5 mm/5 minutes (OR 2.52 [95% CI 1.50
      4.36]) after correcting for age, sex, anti-SSA/SSB, and focus score. Labial gland
      fibrosis was not different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: In a large
      international registry of SS, ACA had an independent association with more severe
      exocrine glandular dysfunction. This dysfunction was associated with more
      pronounced labial salivary glandular inflammation but not fibrosis.

PMID- 26867145
TI  - Why Was Silcrete Heat-Treated in the Middle Stone Age? An Early Transformative
      Technology in the Context of Raw Material Use at Mertenhof Rock Shelter, South
      Africa.
AB  - People heat treated silcrete during the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in southern Africa
      but the spatial and temporal variability of this practice remains poorly
      documented. This paucity of data in turn makes it difficult to interrogate the
      motive factors underlying the application of this technique. In this paper we
      present data on heat treatment of silcrete through the Howiesons Poort and post
      Howiesons Poort of the rock shelter site Mertenhof, located in the Western Cape
      of South Africa. In contrast to other sites where heat treatment has been
      documented, distance to rock source at Mertenhof can be reasonably well
      estimated, and the site is known to contain high proportions of a diversity of
      fine grained rocks including silcrete, hornfels and chert at various points
      through the sequence. Our results suggest the prevalence of heat treatment is
      variable through the sequence but that it is largely unaffected by the relative
      abundance of silcrete prevalence. Instead there is a strong inverse correlation
      between frequency of heat treatment in silcrete and prevalence of chert in the
      assemblage, and a generally positive correlation with the proportion of locally
      available rock. While it is difficult to separate individual factors we suggest
      that, at Mertenhof at least, heat treatment may have been used to improve the
      fracture properties of silcrete at times when other finer grained rocks were less
      readily available. As such, heat treatment appears to have been a component of
      the MSA behavioural repertoire that was flexibly deployed in ways sensitive to
      other elements of technological organisation. 

PMID- 26867146
TI  - HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among Male High School Students Who Had Sexual Contact
      with Males - 17 Large Urban School Districts, United States, 2009-2013.
AB  - Young persons aged 13-24 years accounted for an estimated 22% of all new
      diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the United States in
      2014. Most new HIV diagnoses among youths occur among males who have sex with
      males (MSM). Among all MSM, young black MSM accounted for the largest number of
      new HIV diagnoses in 2014 (1). To determine whether the prevalence of HIV-related
      risk behaviors among black male high school students who had sexual contact with
      males differed from the prevalence among white and Hispanic male students who had
      sexual contact with males, potentially contributing to the racial/ethnic
      disparities in new HIV diagnoses, CDC analyzed data from Youth Risk Behavior
      Surveys conducted by 17 large urban school districts during 2009-2013. Although
      other studies have examined HIV-related risk behaviors among MSM (2,3), less is
      known about MSM aged <18 years. Black male students who had sexual contact with
      males had a lower or similar prevalence of most HIV-related risk behaviors than
      did white and Hispanic male students who had sexual contact with males. These
      findings highlight the need to increase access to effective HIV prevention
      strategies for all young MSM. 

PMID- 26867149
TI  - Recommendations in the American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the
      Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Related to the Use of Biologic Agents in
      Patients With a History of Cancer Need Reconsideration: Comment on the Article by
      Singh et al.

PMID- 26867147
TI  - Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha Regulates Endothelial Progenitor Cell Migration via
      CADM1 and NF-kB.
AB  - Shortly after the discovery of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in 1997, many
      clinical trials were conducted using EPCs as a cellular based therapy with the
      goal of restoring damaged organ function by inducing growth of new blood vessels
      (angiogenesis). Results were disappointing, largely because the cellular and
      molecular mechanisms of EPC-induced angiogenesis were not clearly understood.
      Following injection, EPCs must migrate to the target tissue and engraft prior to
      induction of angiogenesis. In this study EPC migration was investigated in
      response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine,
      to test the hypothesis that organ damage observed in ischemic diseases induces an
      inflammatory signal that is important for EPC homing. In this study, EPC
      migration and incorporation were modeled in vitro using a coculture assay where
      TNFalpha treated EPCs were tracked while migrating toward vessel-like structures.
      It was found that TNFalpha treatment of EPCs increased migration and
      incorporation into vessel-like structures. Using a combination of genomic and
      proteomic approaches, NF-kB mediated upregulation of CADM1 was identified as a
      mechanism of TNFalpha induced migration. Inhibition of NF-kB or CADM1
      significantly decreased migration of EPCs in vitro suggesting a role for TNFalpha
      signaling in EPC homing during tissue repair. Stem Cells 2016;34:1922-1933.

PMID- 26867148
TI  - Hyaluronan Is Crucial for Stem Cell Differentiation into Smooth Muscle Lineage.
AB  - Deciphering the extracellular signals that regulate SMC differentiation from stem
      cells is vital to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of vascular
      disease and for development of cell-based therapies and tissue engineering.
      Hyaluronan (HA) has emerged as an important component of the stem cell niche,
      however its role during stem cell differentiation is a complicated and
      inadequately defined process. This study aimed to investigate the role of HA in
      embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation toward a SMC lineage. ESCs were seeded
      on collagen-IV in differentiation medium to generate ESC-derived SMCs (esSMCs).
      Differentiation coincided with increased HA synthase (HAS) 2 expression,
      accumulation of extracellular HA and its assembly into pericellular matrices.
      Inhibition of HA synthesis by 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), removal of the HA coat
      by hyaluronidase (HYAL) or HAS2 knockdown led to abrogation of SMC gene
      expression. HA activates ERK1/2 and suppresses EGFR signaling pathways via its
      principle receptor, CD44. EGFR inactivation coincided with increased binding to
      CD44, which was further augmented by addition of high molecular weight (HMW)-HA
      either exogenously or via HAS2 overexpression through adenoviral gene transfer.
      HMW-HA-stimulated esSMCs displayed a functional role in vascular tissue
      engineering ex vivo, vasculogenesis in a matrigel plug model and SMC accumulation
      in neointimal lesions of vein grafts in mice. These findings demonstrate that
      HAS2-induced HA synthesis and organization drives ESC-SMC differentiation. Thus,
      remodeling of the HA microenvironment is a critical step in directing stem cell
      differentiation toward a vascular lineage, highlighting HA as a potential target
      for treatment of vascular diseases. Stem Cells 2016;34:1225-1238.

PMID- 26867151
TI  - Novel Candidate Biomarkers of Chemoradiosensitivity in Esophageal Squamous Cell
      Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.
AB  - There is no doubt that, along with surgery, chemoradiotherapy is an important
      treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients who respond
      well to chemoradiotherapy obtain great benefits toward overcoming their cancer,
      and so a more favorable prognosis. On the other hand, patients who do not respond
      well have wasted valuable time and experienced severe toxicity and seriously
      diminished quality of life, only to have their cancer recur with an unfavorable
      prognosis. For this reason, a reliable biomarker of chemoradiosensitivity in ESCC
      has long been sought. In this review, we will enumerate recently reported
      candidate biomarkers of chemoradiosensitivity in ESCC that have the potential for
      future clinical application. 

PMID- 26867152
TI  - Congenital omphalocele and cleft palate in two fetuses.

PMID- 26867150
TI  - A Phylogenetic and Phenotypic Analysis of Salmonella enterica Serovar
      Weltevreden, an Emerging Agent of Diarrheal Disease in Tropical Regions.
AB  - Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden (S. Weltevreden) is an emerging cause of
      diarrheal and invasive disease in humans residing in tropical regions. Despite
      the regional and international emergence of this Salmonella serovar, relatively
      little is known about its genetic diversity, genomics or virulence potential in
      model systems. Here we used whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses
      to define the phylogenetic structure of a diverse global selection of S.
      Weltevreden. Phylogenetic analysis of more than 100 isolates demonstrated that
      the population of S. Weltevreden can be segregated into two main phylogenetic
      clusters, one associated predominantly with continental Southeast Asia and the
      other more internationally dispersed. Subcluster analysis suggested the local
      evolution of S. Weltevreden within specific geographical regions. Four of the
      isolates were sequenced using long read sequencing to produce high quality
      reference genomes. Phenotypic analysis in Hep-2 cells and in a murine infection
      model indicated that S. Weltevreden were significantly attenuated in these models
      compared to the classical S. Typhimurium reference strain SL1344. Our work
      outlines novel insights into this important emerging pathogen and provides a
      baseline understanding for future research studies. 

PMID- 26867153
TI  - In memoriam--A salute to Dr. Carlos F. Salinas and Dr. Robert Goltz.

PMID- 26867154
TI  - Green organocatalytic alpha-hydroxylation of ketones.
AB  - An efficient and green method for the alpha-hydroxylation of substituted ketones
      has been developed. This method includes the in situ conversion of various
      ketones into the corresponding silyl enol ethers and their oxidation to the
      corresponding alpha-hydroxy ketones. Two protocols have been established leading
      either to protected alpha-hydroxy carbonyls or free alpha-hydroxy ketones. Both
      procedures are easy to follow and lead to good to high yields for a variety of
      ketones. 

PMID- 26867155
TI  - The shifted Wald distribution for response time data analysis.
AB  - We propose and demonstrate the shifted Wald (SW) distribution as both a useful
      measurement tool and intraindividual process model for psychological response
      time (RT) data. Furthermore, we develop a methodology and fitting approach that
      readers can easily access. As a measurement tool, the SW provides a detailed
      quantification of the RT data that is more sophisticated than mean and SD
      comparisons. As an intraindividual process model, the SW provides a cognitive
      model for the response process in terms of signal accumulation and the threshold
      needed to respond. The details and importance of both of these features are
      developed, and we show how the approach can be easily generalized to a variety of
      experimental domains. The versatility and usefulness of the approach is
      demonstrated on 3 published data sets, each with a different canonical mode of
      responding: manual, vocal, and oculomotor modes. In addition, model-fitting code
      is included with the article. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867156
TI  - Dynamical correlation: A new method for quantifying synchrony with multivariate
      intensive longitudinal data.
AB  - In this article, we introduce dynamical correlation, a new method for quantifying
      synchrony between 2 variables with intensive longitudinal data. Dynamical
      correlation is a functional data analysis technique developed to measure the
      similarity of 2 curves. It has advantages over existing methods for studying
      synchrony, such as multilevel modeling. In particular, it is a nonparametric
      approach that does not require a prespecified functional form, and it places no
      assumption on homogeneity of the sample. Dynamical correlation can be easily
      estimated with irregularly spaced observations and tested to draw population
      level inferences. We illustrate this flexible statistical technique with a
      simulation example and empirical data from an experiment examining interpersonal
      physiological synchrony between romantic partners. We discuss the advantages and
      limitations of the method, and how it can be extended and applied in
      psychological research. We also provide a set of R code for other researchers to
      estimate and test for dynamical correlation. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26867157
TI  - Panitumumab added to docetaxel, cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine in
      oesophagogastric cancer: ATTAX3 phase II trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This randomised phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of
      panitumumab added to docetaxel-based chemotherapy in advanced oesophagogastric
      cancer. METHODS: Patients with metastatic or locally recurrent cancer of the
      oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction or stomach received docetaxel and a
      fluoropyrimidine with or without panitumumab for 8 cycles or until progression.
      The primary end point was response rate (RECIST1.1). We planned to enrol 100
      patients, with 50% expected response rate for combination therapy. RESULTS: A
      total of 77 patients were enrolled. A safety alert from the REAL3 trial prompted
      a review of data that found no evidence of adverse outcomes associated with
      panitumumab but questionable efficacy, and new enrolment was ceased. Enrolled
      patients were treated according to protocol. Response rates were 49% (95% CI 34
      64%) in the chemotherapy arm and 58% (95% CI 42-72%) in the combination arm.
      Common grade 3 and 4 toxicities included infection, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea
      and fatigue. At 23.7 months of median follow-up, median progression-free survival
      was 6.9 months vs 6.0 months and median overall survival was 11.7 months vs 10.0
      months in the chemotherapy arm and the combination arm, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Adding panitumumab to docetaxel-based chemotherapy for advanced
      oesophagogastric cancer did not improve efficacy and increased toxicities.

PMID- 26867158
TI  - Arpin downregulation in breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Arp2/3 complex is required for cell migration and invasion. The
      Arp2/3 complex and its activators, such as the WAVE complex, are deregulated in
      diverse cancers. Here we investigate the expression of Arpin, the Arp2/3
      inhibitory protein that antagonises the WAVE complex. METHODS: We used qRT-PCR
      and reverse phase protein arrays in a patient cohort with known clinical
      parameters and outcome, immunofluorescence in breast biopsy cryosections and
      breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: Arpin was downregulated at the mRNA and
      protein levels in mammary carcinoma cells. Arpin mRNA downregulation was
      associated with poor metastasis-free survival (MFS) on univariate analysis
      (P=0.022). High expression of the NCKAP1 gene that encodes a WAVE complex subunit
      was also associated with poor MFS on univariate analysis (P=0.0037) and was
      mutually exclusive with Arpin low. Arpin low or NCKAP1 high was an independent
      prognosis factor on multivariate analysis (P=0.0012) and was strongly associated
      with poor MFS (P=0.000064). CONCLUSIONS: Loss of the Arp2/3 inhibitory protein
      Arpin produces a similar poor outcome in breast cancer as high expression of the
      NCKAP1 subunit of the Arp2/3 activatory WAVE complex.

PMID- 26867159
TI  - Cancer fear and fatalism among ethnic minority women in the United Kingdom.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer fear and fatalism are believed to be higher in ethnic
      minorities and may contribute to lower engagement with cancer prevention and
      early detection. We explored the levels of cancer fear and fatalism in six ethnic
      groups in the United Kingdom and examined the contribution of acculturation and
      general fatalism. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 720 White British,
      Caribbean, African, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi women (120 of each) was
      conducted. Three items assessed cancer fear and two cancer fatalism.
      Acculturation was assessed using (self-reported) migration status, ability to
      speak English, and understanding of health leaflets; general fatalism with a
      standard measure. RESULTS: Relative to White British women, African and Indian
      women were more fearful of cancer, Bangladeshi women less fearful, and Pakistani
      and Caribbean women were similar to White British women. Cancer fatalism was
      higher in all the ethnic minority groups compared with White British women. Less
      acculturated women were less likely to worry (ORs 0.21-0.45, all P<0.05) or feel
      particularly afraid (ORs 0.11-0.31, all P<0.05) but more likely to feel
      uncomfortable about cancer (ORs 1.97-3.03, all P<0.05). Lower acculturation (ORs
      4.30-17.27, P<0.05) and general fatalism (OR 2.29, P<0.05) were associated with
      the belief that cancer is predetermined. CONCLUSIONS: In general, cancer fear and
      fatalism are more prevalent among ethnic minority than White British women and
      even more so in less acculturated ethnic minorities. This may affect their
      participation in cancer prevention and early detection.

PMID- 26867160
TI  - Long-term use of lithium and risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma: a nationwide case
      control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lithium accumulates in the colon and inhibits the enzyme GSK-3beta
      that possesses anti-carcinogenic effects. We therefore examined the association
      between lithium use and colorectal cancer risk in a nationwide study. METHODS: We
      used the Danish Cancer Registry to identify all patients diagnosed with incident
      colorectal adenocarcinoma during 2000-2012 (n=36 248). Using a matched case
      control approach, we estimated the association between long-term use (?5 years)
      of lithium and risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma using conditional logistic
      regression. RESULTS: Long-term use of lithium was similar among cases (0.22%) and
      controls (0.20%), yielding an odds ratio of 1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI),
      0.89-1.43) for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Dose-response, subgroup and other
      subanalyses returned neutral associations. However, ORs differed for colorectal
      subsites (proximal colon: 1.01 (95% CI, 0.66-1.55; distal colon: 1.52 (95% CI,
      1.05-2.20); and rectum: 0.80 (95% CI, 0.50-1.30). CONCLUSIONS: Lithium use was
      not associated with an overall increased risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The
      variation by subsite warrants further investigation.

PMID- 26867161
TI  - Do no harm: no psychological harm from colorectal cancer screening.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Participation in cancer screening programmes might cause worries in
      the population outweighting the benefits of reduced mortality. The present study
      aimed to investigate possible psychological harm of participation in a colorectal
      cancer (CRC) screening pilot in Norway. METHODS: In a prospective, randomised
      trial participants (aged 50-74 years) were invited to either flexible
      sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening, faecal immunochemical test (FIT), or no screening
      (the control group; 1 : 1: 1). Three thousand two hundred and thirteen screening
      participants (42% of screened individuals) completed the Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale questionnaire as well as the SF-12-a health-related quality of
      life (HRQOL) questionnaire when invited to screening and when receiving the
      screening result. A control group was invited to complete the questionnaires
      only. Two thousand six hundred and eighteen control participants (35% of invited
      individuals) completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: A positive screening result
      did not increase participants' level of anxiety or depression, or decrease
      participants' level of HRQOL. Participants who received a negative result
      reported decreased anxiety and improvement on some HRQOL dimensions. However, no
      change was considered to be of clinical relevance. CONCLUSION: The current study
      showed no clinically relevant psychological harm of receiving a positive CRC
      screening result or of participating in FS or FIT screening, in a Norwegian
      population.

PMID- 26867164
TI  - Addressing substance misuse in adolescents: a review of the literature on the
      screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment model.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adolescent substance use is a major public health concern in
      the United States. Pediatricians are in a unique position via the medical home to
      address this issue. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment
      (SBIRT) is a comprehensive approach that aims to prevent, identify, and reduce
      substance use. SBIRT has been heavily studied in adults, but research with
      adolescents is still ongoing. This review examines the SBIRT model and highlights
      recent applicable research. RECENT FINDINGS: This research indicates that alcohol
      and drug use has a negative impact on the developing brain. In 2011, the American
      Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement recommending the use of
      SBIRT. An adolescent SBIRT algorithm can be used clinically. Recent studies focus
      on individual components of SBIRT; however, there have been no studies that
      examine all three components together in adolescents. Nevertheless, research
      indicates that SBIRT is an important tool to assess and intervene regarding
      adolescent substance use. SUMMARY: SBIRT is recommended by the AAP as a way to
      address adolescent substance use. Pediatricians should be screening adolescents
      for substance use at every well exam, and acute care visits when possible, with a
      validated tool. Although more research is needed, SBIRT is an effective method to
      address adolescent substance use.

PMID- 26867163
TI  - Human papillomavirus vaccination induces neutralising antibodies in oral mucosal
      fluids.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a major cause of cancers and
      papillomas of the anogenital and oropharyngeal tract. HPV-vaccination elicits
      neutralising antibodies in sera and cervicovaginal secretions and protects
      uninfected individuals from persistent anogenital infection and associated
      diseases caused by the vaccine-targeted HPV types. Whether immunisation can
      prevent oropharyngeal infection and diseases and whether neutralising antibodies
      represent the correlate of protection, is still unclear. METHODS: We determined
      IgG and neutralising antibodies against low-risk HPV6 and high-risk HPV16/18 in
      sera and oral fluids from healthy females (n=20) before and after quadrivalent
      HPV-vaccination and compared the results with non-vaccinated controls. RESULTS:
      HPV-vaccination induced type-specific antibodies in sera and oral fluids of the
      vaccinees. Importantly, the antibodies in oral fluids were capable of
      neutralising HPV pseudovirions in vitro, indicating protection from infection.
      The increased neutralising antibody levels against HPV16/18 in sera and oral
      fluids post-vaccination correlated significantly within an individual.
      CONCLUSIONS: We provide experimental proof that HPV-vaccination elicits
      neutralising antibodies to the vaccine-targeted types in oral fluids. Hence,
      immunisation may confer direct protection against type-specific HPV infection and
      associated diseases of the oropharyngeal tract. Measurement of antibodies in oral
      fluids represents a suitable tool to assess vaccine-induced protection within the
      mucosal milieu of the orophayrynx.

PMID- 26867162
TI  - Chetomin, targeting HIF-1alpha/p300 complex, exhibits antitumour activity in
      multiple myeloma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable clonal plasma cell malignancy.
      The constitutive expression of HIF-1alpha in MM suggests that inhibition of HIF
      1alpha-mediated transcription represents an interesting target in MM. METHODS: As
      p300 is a crucial co-activator of hypoxia-inducible transcription, disrupting the
      complex HIF-1alpha/p300 to target HIF activity appears to be an attractive
      strategy. RESULTS: We reported that chetomin, an inhibitor of HIF-1alpha/p300
      interaction, exhibits antitumour activity in human myeloma cell lines and primary
      MM cells from patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that chetomin may be of
      clinical value in MM and especially for patients characterised by a high
      EP300/HIF-1alpha expression and a poor prognosis.

PMID- 26867165
TI  - Consumer products as sources of chemical exposures to children: case study of
      triclosan.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Consumer products are often overlooked as sources of
      children's exposures to toxic chemicals. Various regulatory bodies have developed
      lists of chemicals of concern that can be found in products contacted by
      children. However, this information has not been summarized for health
      practitioners. This review organizes such chemicals and products into four
      categories, with the antibacterial agent triclosan used to illustrate the
      potential risks to children from a common ingredient in consumer products. RECENT
      FINDINGS: Biomonitoring, house dust, indoor air, and product testing document
      children's exposures to a wide variety of chemicals. An increasing number of
      epidemiology studies have shown associations between these exposures and health
      effects in children. Triclosan is an example of a chemical contained in high
      contact products (e.g., soaps, lotions, and toothpaste) not necessarily designed
      for children. Triclosan exposure in children has been associated with increased
      responsiveness to airway allergens, with it also capable of endocrine disruption.
      However, the utility and necessity of this chemical in consumer products has not
      been demonstrated in most cases. SUMMARY: Triclosan and the other examples
      provided show that a changing marketplace with little regulatory oversight of
      chemical uses can lead to unanticipated exposures and potential health risks to
      children.

PMID- 26867166
TI  - Environmental exposure to metals, neurodevelopment, and psychosis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article presents a new hypothesis about the possible
      relation between early life exposure to metals and psychosis. We review
      limitations of available research, and discuss novel approaches to overcome
      previous methodological barriers. RECENT FINDINGS: Mechanistic studies suggest a
      possible association between excess lead, manganese, cadmium, arsenic, or copper,
      and zinc deficiency, and several biochemical disturbances related to psychosis,
      such as altered neurotransmitters levels, excitotoxicity, and inflammation.
      Furthermore, studies suggest that some metals (lead, manganese, cadmium excess,
      and zinc deficiency) are associated with schizophrenia or psychosis-related
      phenotype. However, previous studies had multiple methodological limitations.
      Importantly, metal exposure was often measured after disease development and
      seldom determined during critical developmental periods. Most studies fell short
      of depicting the exact timing of exposure and the change in exposure over time.
      Here, we propose several methods to overcome these methodological limitations.
      SUMMARY: There is a plausible role of early life exposure to metals in the cause
      of psychosis. Owing to methodological limitations in exposure measurement, this
      has not been well characterized. Considering the wide exposure to metals and the
      high cost of psychosis to society, this hypothesis should be rigorously examined.

PMID- 26867167
TI  - Comparison of glomerular filtration rate measured between anterior and posterior
      image processing using Gates' method in an ectopic pelvic kidney.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in measured
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of an ectopic pelvic kidney between anterior and
      posterior image processing using Gates' method of renal dynamic imaging. METHODS:
      A total of 10 patients were studied retrospectively, with a single ectopic kidney
      in the pelvic cavity and a contralateral kidney at its normal anatomical position
      confirmed by ultrasound, computed tomography, renal dynamic imaging, etc. All
      images of ectopic kidneys were processed, and GFRs were measured using anterior
      and posterior Gates' method of renal dynamic imaging, respectively. The
      contralateral normal kidney was only processed on posterior imaging. The total
      GFRant of one patient, which was equal to the sum of the GFR of a normal kidney
      on posterior imaging and the GFR of an ectopic kidney on anterior imaging, was
      compared with the total GFRpost of two kidneys on posterior imaging, with the
      GFRtwo-sample from the two-sample method, and with the estimated GFR in the
      Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. All correlation
      analyses were carried out between GFRs obtained from three methods, and all
      patients were followed up. For statistical analysis, nonparametric rank tests
      were used, Bland-Altman graphs were plotted. RESULTS: The mean GFR of the ectopic
      kidney on anterior imaging was 27.48+/-12.24 ml/min/1.73 m. It was higher than
      the GFR (10.71+/-4.74 ml/min/1.73 m) on posterior imaging (t=-2.803, P<0.05).
      There were statistical differences between the total GFRant and the total GFRtwo
      sample (Z=-2.295, P<0.05), between the total GFRant and the total GFRpost
      (Z=2.599, P<0.01), between the total GFRtwo-sample and the total GFRpost (Z=
      2.191, P<0.05), and between the total GFRant and the estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (Z=-2.803, P<0.01). The bias of the total GFRant was different
      from that of the total GFRpost (Z=-2.191, P<0.05). There were no differences in
      the precision and accuracy within 30% of the total GFRant and that of the total
      GFRpost (precision: F=0.351, P>0.05), but there were statistical differences in
      the accuracy within 10% of the total GFRant and that of the total GFRpost
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The GFR measured using Gates' method of anterior image
      processing was more accurate than the GFR obtained on posterior image processing
      in reflecting the function of an ectopic pelvic kidney in renal dynamic imaging.

PMID- 26867168
TI  - Alcohol Lowers Your (Intestinal) Inhibitions.
AB  - Alcohol causes microbiota dysbiosis and breaches intestinal integrity, resulting
      in liver inflammation and ultimately cirrhosis. In this issue of Cell Host &
      Microbe, Wang et al. (2016) demonstrate that ethanol suppresses the intestinal
      anti-microbial response. This enables gut bacteria to trespass to the liver and
      thus exacerbates the disease progression.

PMID- 26867169
TI  - Microbes without Borders: Decompartmentalization of the Aging Gut.
AB  - The microbiota supports intestinal homeostasis in developing animals. With
      increased age, gut maintenance declines and microbes can stray from traditional
      zones, negatively impacting host health. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Li
      et al. (2016) detail the mechanisms leading to the decline in intestinal health
      in aged flies.

PMID- 26867170
TI  - CRISPR-Cas Gatekeeper: Slow on the Uptake but Gets the Job Done.
AB  - Microbial CRISPR-Cas acts as a defense, but also as a gatekeeper controlling the
      flow of new genes into microbial genomes. In a recent Cell paper, Jiang et al.
      (2016) uncover the functional importance of transcription-dependent RNA targeting
      in type III-A CRISPR-Cas antiviral defense and provide insight into the co
      evolution of virus-host symbioses.

PMID- 26867171
TI  - The Avian Influenza Virus Polymerase Brings ANP32A Home to Roost.
AB  - Avian influenza virus polymerases function poorly in mammals, restricting
      transmission across species and the emergence of pandemic outbreaks. Long et al.
      (2016) have now identified ANP32A as a crucial cellular protein that dictates
      species-specific polymerase activity.

PMID- 26867172
TI  - SARS-CoV and IFN: Too Little, Too Late.
AB  - Dysregulated type I interferon (IFN-I) expression can lead to severe pathology
      and disease. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Channappanavar et al. (2016)
      use a SARS-coronavirus animal model to describe how rapid and robust virus
      replication with delayed IFN-I can lead to lung immunopathology, with fatal
      outcomes. 

PMID- 26867173
TI  - The Evolution of Antiviral Defense Systems.
AB  - Self-replicating genetic material presumably provided the architecture necessary
      for generating the last universal ancestor of all nucleic-acid-based life. As
      biological complexity increased in the billions of years that followed, the same
      genetic material also morphed into a wide spectrum of viruses and other parasitic
      genetic elements. The resulting struggle for existence drove the evolution of
      host defenses, giving rise to a perpetual arms race. This Perspective summarizes
      the antiviral mechanisms evident across the tree of life, discussing each in
      their evolutionary context to postulate how the coevolution of host and pathogen
      shaped the cellular antiviral defenses we know today.

PMID- 26867174
TI  - The cGAS-STING Defense Pathway and Its Counteraction by Viruses.
AB  - Upon virus infection, host cells mount a concerted innate immune response
      involving type I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines to enable elimination
      of the pathogen. Recently, cGAS and STING have been identified as intracellular
      sensors that activate the interferon pathway in response to virus infection and
      thus mediate host defense against a range of DNA and RNA viruses. Here we review
      how viruses are sensed by the cGAS-STING signaling pathway as well as how viruses
      modulate this pathway. Mechanisms utilized by viral proteins to inhibit cGAS
      and/or STING are also discussed. On the flip side, host cells have also evolved
      strategies to thwart viral immune escape. The balance between host immune control
      and viral immune evasion is pivotal to viral pathogenesis, and we discuss this
      virus-host stand-off in the context of the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway.

PMID- 26867175
TI  - The Interaction between Respiratory Pathogens and Mucus.
AB  - The interaction between respiratory pathogens and their hosts is complex and
      incompletely understood. This is particularly true when pathogens encounter the
      mucus layer covering the respiratory tract. The mucus layer provides an essential
      first host barrier to inhaled pathogens that can prevent pathogen invasion and
      subsequent infection. Respiratory mucus has numerous functions and interactions,
      both with the host and with pathogens. This review summarizes the current
      understanding of respiratory mucus and its interactions with the respiratory
      pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza
      viruses, with particular focus on influenza virus transmissibility and host-range
      specificity. Based on current findings we propose that respiratory mucus
      represents an understudied host-restriction factor for influenza virus.

PMID- 26867176
TI  - Selective Bottlenecks Shape Evolutionary Pathways Taken during Mammalian
      Adaptation of a 1918-like Avian Influenza Virus.
AB  - Avian influenza virus reassortants resembling the 1918 human pandemic virus can
      become transmissible among mammals by acquiring mutations in hemagglutinin (HA)
      and polymerase. Using the ferret model, we trace the evolutionary pathway by
      which an avian-like virus evolves the capacity for mammalian replication and
      airborne transmission. During initial infection, within-host HA diversity
      increased drastically. Then, airborne transmission fixed two polymerase mutations
      that do not confer a detectable replication advantage. In later transmissions,
      selection fixed advantageous HA1 variants. Transmission initially involved a
      "loose" bottleneck, which became strongly selective after additional HA mutations
      emerged. The stringency and evolutionary forces governing between-host
      bottlenecks may therefore change throughout host adaptation. Mutations occurred
      in multiple combinations in transmitted viruses, suggesting that mammalian
      transmissibility can evolve through multiple genetic pathways despite phenotypic
      constraints. Our data provide a glimpse into avian influenza virus adaptation in
      mammals, with broad implications for surveillance on potentially zoonotic
      viruses.

PMID- 26867179
TI  - Plant TRAF Proteins Regulate NLR Immune Receptor Turnover.
AB  - In animals, Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins are
      molecular adaptors that regulate innate and adaptive immunity, development, and
      abiotic stress responses. Although gene families encoding TRAF domain-containing
      proteins exhibit enriched diversity in higher plants, their biological roles are
      poorly defined. Here, we report the identification of two redundant TRAF
      proteins, Mutant, snc1-enhancing 13 (MUSE13) and MUSE14, that contribute to the
      turnover of nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR)
      immune receptors SNC1 and RPS2. Loss of both MUSE13 and MUSE14 leads to enhanced
      pathogen resistance, NLR accumulation, and autoimmunity, while MUSE13
      overexpression results in reduced NLR levels and activity. In planta, MUSE13
      associates with SNC1, RPS2, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF(CPR1). Taken
      together, we speculate that MUSE13 and MUSE14 associate with the SCF E3 ligase
      complex to form a plant-type TRAFasome, which modulates ubiquitination and
      subsequent degradation of NLR immune sensors to maintain their homeostasis.

PMID- 26867177
TI  - Dysregulated Type I Interferon and Inflammatory Monocyte-Macrophage Responses
      Cause Lethal Pneumonia in SARS-CoV-Infected Mice.
AB  - Highly pathogenic human respiratory coronaviruses cause acute lethal disease
      characterized by exuberant inflammatory responses and lung damage. However, the
      factors leading to lung pathology are not well understood. Using mice infected
      with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)-CoV, we show that robust virus
      replication accompanied by delayed type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling
      orchestrates inflammatory responses and lung immunopathology with diminished
      survival. IFN-I remains detectable until after virus titers peak, but early IFN-I
      administration ameliorates immunopathology. This delayed IFN-I signaling promotes
      the accumulation of pathogenic inflammatory monocyte-macrophages (IMMs),
      resulting in elevated lung cytokine/chemokine levels, vascular leakage, and
      impaired virus-specific T cell responses. Genetic ablation of the IFN-alphabeta
      receptor (IFNAR) or IMM depletion protects mice from lethal infection, without
      affecting viral load. These results demonstrate that IFN-I and IMM promote lethal
      SARS-CoV infection and identify IFN-I and IMMs as potential therapeutic targets
      in patients infected with pathogenic coronavirus and perhaps other respiratory
      viruses.

PMID- 26867178
TI  - Anti-Self Phosphatidylserine Antibodies Recognize Uninfected Erythrocytes
      Promoting Malarial Anemia.
AB  - Plasmodium species, the parasitic agents of malaria, invade erythrocytes to
      reproduce, resulting in erythrocyte loss. However, a greater loss is caused by
      the elimination of uninfected erythrocytes, sometimes long after infection has
      been cleared. Using a mouse model, we found that Plasmodium infection induces the
      generation of anti-self antibodies that bind to the surface of uninfected
      erythrocytes from infected, but not uninfected, mice. These antibodies recognize
      phosphatidylserine, which is exposed on the surface of a fraction of uninfected
      erythrocytes during malaria. We find that phosphatidylserine-exposing
      erythrocytes are reticulocytes expressing high levels of CD47, a "do-not-eat-me"
      signal, but the binding of anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies mediates their
      phagocytosis, contributing to anemia. In human patients with late postmalarial
      anemia, we found a strong inverse correlation between the levels of anti
      phosphatidylserine antibodies and plasma hemoglobin, suggesting a similar role in
      humans. Inhibition of this pathway may be exploited for treating malarial anemia.

PMID- 26867180
TI  - A Bacterial Pathogen Targets a Host Rab-Family GTPase Defense Pathway with a GAP.
AB  - Cell-autonomous defense mechanisms are potent strategies that protect individual
      cells against intracellular pathogens. The Rab-family GTPase Rab32 was previously
      shown to restrict the intracellular human pathogen Salmonella Typhi, but its
      potential broader role in antimicrobial defense remains unknown. We show that
      Rab32 represents a general cell-autonomous, antimicrobial defense that is
      counteracted by two Salmonella effectors. Mice lacking Rab-32 or its nucleotide
      exchange factor BLOC-3 are permissive to S. Typhi infection and exhibit increased
      susceptibility to S. Typhimurium. S. Typhimurium counters this defense pathway by
      delivering two type III secretion effectors, SopD2, a Rab32 GAP, and GtgE, a
      specific Rab32 protease. An S. Typhimurium mutant strain lacking these two
      effectors exhibits markedly reduced virulence, which is fully restored in BLOC-3
      deficient mice. These results demonstrate that a cell-autonomous, Rab32-dependent
      host defense pathway plays a central role in the defense against vacuolar
      pathogens and describe a mechanism evolved by a bacterial pathogen to counter it.

PMID- 26867181
TI  - Intestinal REG3 Lectins Protect against Alcoholic Steatohepatitis by Reducing
      Mucosa-Associated Microbiota and Preventing Bacterial Translocation.
AB  - Approximately half of all deaths from liver cirrhosis, the tenth leading cause of
      mortality in the United States, are related to alcohol use. Chronic alcohol
      consumption is accompanied by intestinal dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth, yet
      little is known about the factors that alter the microbial composition or their
      contribution to liver disease. We previously associated chronic alcohol
      consumption with lower intestinal levels of the antimicrobial-regenerating islet
      derived (REG)-3 lectins. Here, we demonstrate that intestinal deficiency in REG3B
      or REG3G increases numbers of mucosa-associated bacteria and enhances bacterial
      translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes and liver, promoting the progression
      of ethanol-induced fatty liver disease toward steatohepatitis. Overexpression of
      Reg3g in intestinal epithelial cells restricts bacterial colonization of mucosal
      surfaces, reduces bacterial translocation, and protects mice from alcohol-induced
      steatohepatitis. Thus, alcohol appears to impair control of the mucosa-associated
      microbiota, and subsequent breach of the mucosal barrier facilitates progression
      of alcoholic liver disease.

PMID- 26867184
TI  - Prediction and prevention of hypertension-related events.

PMID- 26867183
TI  - Integrated Omics Analysis of Pathogenic Host Responses during Pandemic H1N1
      Influenza Virus Infection: The Crucial Role of Lipid Metabolism.
AB  - Pandemic influenza viruses modulate proinflammatory responses that can lead to
      immunopathogenesis. We present an extensive and systematic profiling of lipids,
      metabolites, and proteins in respiratory compartments of ferrets infected with
      either 1918 or 2009 human pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses. Integrative analysis
      of high-throughput omics data with virologic and histopathologic data uncovered
      relationships between host responses and phenotypic outcomes of viral infection.
      Proinflammatory lipid precursors in the trachea following 1918 infection
      correlated with severe tracheal lesions. Using an algorithm to infer cell
      quantity changes from gene expression data, we found enrichment of distinct T
      cell subpopulations in the trachea. There was also a predicted increase in
      inflammatory monocytes in the lung of 1918 virus-infected animals that was
      sustained throughout infection. This study presents a unique resource to the
      influenza research community and demonstrates the utility of an integrative
      systems approach for characterization of lipid metabolism alterations underlying
      respiratory responses to viruses.

PMID- 26867185
TI  - Parents' attitudes toward genetic research in autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Genetic research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is mainly performed
      in minors who are legally unable to provide consent. Thus, knowledge of the
      attitudes, fears, and expectations toward genetic research of the parents is
      important. Knowledge of the attitudes toward genetic research will improve
      cooperation between researchers and participants, and help establish confidence
      in ASD genetic research. The present study aimed to assess these attitudes.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire-based assessments of attitudes toward
      genetic research and toward procedures in genetic research of n=1455 parents of
      individuals with ASD were performed. RESULTS: The main motivation for
      participation in genetic research is to gain more knowledge of the causes and
      disease mechanisms of ASD (83.6%), and to contribute toward development of
      improved treatment in the future (63.7%). The parents also had a positive
      attitude towards storing genetic information (54.3%) and they requested
      confidentiality of data (82.9%) and expressed a need to be informed about the
      purpose (89%) and progress of the research (83.7%). We found a slightly more
      positive attitude to participation in genetic research among older parents
      (P=0.015), among fathers compared with mothers (P=0.01), among parents of girls
      compared with boys (P=0.03), and infantile autism compared with Asperger syndrome
      (P=0.002). However, linear regression analysis showed that parent and child
      characteristics seem to have too small an influence on attitudes toward genetic
      research to be of any relevance (R(2)=0.002-0.02). CONCLUSION: Parents of
      children with ASD have, in general, a very positive attitude toward genetic
      research. Data confidentiality is important, and they express a need for
      information on the purpose and progress of the research.

PMID- 26867182
TI  - Preventing Age-Related Decline of Gut Compartmentalization Limits Microbiota
      Dysbiosis and Extends Lifespan.
AB  - Compartmentalization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of metazoans is critical
      for health. GI compartments contain specific microbiota, and microbiota dysbiosis
      is associated with intestinal dysfunction. Dysbiosis develops in aging
      intestines, yet how this relates to changes in GI compartmentalization remains
      unclear. The Drosophila GI tract is an accessible model to address this question.
      Here we show that the stomach-like copper cell region (CCR) in the middle midgut
      controls distribution and composition of the microbiota. We find that chronic
      activation of JAK/Stat signaling in the aging gut induces a metaplasia of the
      gastric epithelium, CCR decline, and subsequent commensal dysbiosis and
      epithelial dysplasia along the GI tract. Accordingly, inhibition of JAK/Stat
      signaling in the CCR specifically prevents age-related metaplasia, commensal
      dysbiosis and functional decline in old guts, and extends lifespan. Our results
      establish a mechanism by which age-related chronic inflammation causes the
      decline of intestinal compartmentalization and microbiota dysbiosis, limiting
      lifespan.

PMID- 26867186
TI  - Transcriptional response of yellow perch to changes in ambient metal
      concentrations-A reciprocal field transplantation experiment.
AB  - Recent local adaptation to pollution has been evidenced in several organisms
      inhabiting environments heavily contaminated by metals. Nevertheless, the
      molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to high metal concentrations are
      poorly understood, especially in fishes. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
      populations from lakes in the mining area of Rouyn-Noranda (QC, Canada) have been
      faced with metal contamination for about 90 years. Here, we examine gene
      transcription patterns of fish reciprocally transplanted between a reference and
      a metal-contaminated lake and also fish caged in their native lake. After four
      weeks, 111 genes were differentially transcribed in metal-naive fish transferred
      to the metal-contaminated lake, revealing a plastic response to metal exposure.
      Genes involved in the citric cycle and beta-oxidation pathways were under
      transcribed, suggesting a potential strategy to mitigate the effects of metal
      stress by reducing energy turnover. However, metal-contaminated fish transplanted
      to the reference lake did not show any transcriptomic response, indicating a
      reduced plastic response capability to sudden reduction in metal concentrations.
      Moreover, the transcription of other genes, especially ones involved in energy
      metabolism, was affected by caging. Overall, our results highlight environmental
      stress response mechanisms in yellow perch at the transcriptomic level and
      support a rapid adaptive response to metal exposure through genetic assimilation.

PMID- 26867187
TI  - Behavioural toxicity assessment of silver ions and nanoparticles on zebrafish
      using a locomotion profiling approach.
AB  - Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is not only a widely used species in the Fish Embryo
      Toxicity (FET) test but also an emerging model in behavioural ecotoxicology. By
      using automatic behaviour tracking technology, locomotion of developing zebrafish
      (ZF) larvae can be accurately recorded and potentially used in an
      ecotoxicological context to detect toxicant-induced behavioural alterations. In
      this study, we explored if and how quantitative locomotion data can be used for
      sub-lethal toxicity testing within the FET framework. We exposed ZF embryos to
      silver ions and nanoparticles, which previously have been reported to cause
      neurodevelopmental toxicity and behavioural retardation in early-life stages of
      ZF. Exposure to a broad range of silver (Ag(+) and AgNPs) concentrations was
      conducted, and developmental toxicity was assessed using FET criteria. For
      behavioural toxicity assessment, locomotion of exposed ZF eleutheroembryos
      (120hpf) was quantified according to a customised behavioural assay in an
      automatic video tracking system. A set of repeated episodes of dark/light
      stimulation were used to artificially stress ZF and evoke photo-motor responses,
      which were consequently utilized for locomotion profiling. Our locomotion-based
      behaviour profiling approach consisted of (1) dose-response ranking for multiple
      and single locomotion variables; (2) quantitative assessment of locomotion
      structure; and (3) analysis of ZF responsiveness to darkness stimulation. We
      documented that both silver forms caused adverse effects on development and
      inhibited hatchability and, most importantly, altered locomotion. High Ag(+) and
      AgNPs exposures significantly suppressed locomotion and a clear shift in
      locomotion towards inactivity was reported. Additionally, we noted that low,
      environmentally relevant Ag(+) concentrations may cause subordinate locomotive
      changes (hyperactivity) in developing fish. Overall, it was concluded that our
      locomotion-based behaviour-testing scheme can be used jointly with FET and can
      provide endpoints for sub-lethal toxicity. When combined with multivariate data
      analysis, this approach facilitated new insights for handling and analysis of
      data generated by automatized behavioural tracking systems. 

PMID- 26867188
TI  - Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Some Novel Pyrrolizine
      Derivatives as COX Inhibitors with Anti-Inflammatory/Analgesic Activities and Low
      Ulcerogenic Liability.
AB  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed
      anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications. However, their use is associated
      with many drawbacks, including mainly serious gastric and renal complications. In
      an attempt to circumvent these risks, a set of N-(4-bromophenyl)-7-cyano-6
      substituted-H-pyrrolizine-5-carboxamide derivatives were designed, synthesized
      and evaluated as dual COX/5-LOX inhibitors. The structural elucidation, in vivo
      anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities using a carrageenan-induced rat paw
      edema model and hot plate assay, were performed, respectively. From the results
      obtained, it was found that the newly synthesized pyrrolizines exhibited IC50
      values in the range of 2.45-5.69 uM and 0.85-3.44 uM for COX-1 and COX-2,
      respectively. Interestingly, compounds 12, 13, 16 and 17 showed higher anti
      inflammatory and analgesic activities compared to ibuprofen. Among these
      derivatives, compounds 16 and 19 displayed better safety profile than ibuprofen
      in acute ulcerogenicity and histopathological studies. Furthermore, the docking
      studies revealed that compound 17 fits nicely into COX-1 and COX-2 binding sites
      with the highest binding affinity, while compound 16 exerted the highest binding
      affinity for 5-LOX. In light of these findings, these novel pyrrolizine-5
      carboxamide derivatives represent a promising scaffold for further development
      into potential dual COX/5-LOX inhibitors with safer gastric profile. 

PMID- 26867189
TI  - Biological Activity of Vegetal Extracts Containing Phenols on Plant Metabolism.
AB  - The influence of vegetal extracts derived from red grape, blueberry fruits and
      hawthorn leaves on Zea mays L. plant growth and the activity of phenylalanine
      ammonia-lyase (PAL), a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway, was
      investigated in laboratory experiments. The extracts were characterized using FT
      IR and Raman spectroscopies in order to obtain a pattern of the main functional
      groups. In addition, phenols content was determined by HPLC, whereas the content
      of indoleacetic acid and isopentenyladenosine hormones was determined by ELISA
      test and the auxin and gibberellin-like activities by plant-bioassays. The
      treated maize revealed increased root and leaf biomass, chlorophyll and sugars
      content with respect to untreated plants. Hawthorn, red grape skin and blueberry
      at 1.0 mL/L induced high p-coumaric content values, whilst hawthorn also showed
      high amounts of gallic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids. PAL activity induced by
      hawthorn at 1.0 mL/L had the highest values (11.1-fold UNT) and was strongly and
      linearly related with the sum of leaf phenols. Our results suggest that these
      vegetal extracts contain more than one group of plant-promoting substances. 

PMID- 26867190
TI  - Identification and Determination of the Polyhydroxylated Alkaloids Compounds with
      alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor Activity in Mulberry Leaves of Different Origins.
AB  - Mulberry leaves have commonly been utilized in China as a herbal medicine for the
      treatment of diabetes for thousands of years. To evaluate the quality, an ultra
      high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight
      mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) method was developed for identification of
      polyhydroxylated alkaloids with alpha-glucosidase inhibitor activity in mulberry
      leaf. As a result, five alkaloid compounds were identified or tentatively
      characterized. Among them, the compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) was selected as
      the most typical and active chemical marker and quantified using an improved high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) normal phase coupled with evaporative
      light scattering detector (ELSD) method. The developed method was fully validated
      in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision and repeatability, as well as
      recovery, and subsequently applied to evaluate twenty-nine batches of mulberry
      leaves from different collections. From the analytical data it was discovered
      that the average content of DNJ is 1.53 mg/g, while the total contents of DNJ in
      the 29 mulberry leaf sample ranged from 0.20 to 3.88 mg/g, which suggested
      remarkable differences, although it reached the highest levels in early August.
      These data may provide an important reference for the quality of mulberry leaves
      used as herbal medicine for the treatment of diabetes or as a material to obtain
      the DNJ of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor or as a functional food. 

PMID- 26867191
TI  - Organic Nanomaterials and Their Applications in the Treatment of Oral Diseases.
AB  - There is a growing interest in the development of organic nanomaterials for
      biomedical applications. An increasing number of studies focus on the uses of
      nanomaterials with organic structure for regeneration of bone, cartilage, skin or
      dental tissues. Solid evidence has been found for several advantages of using
      natural or synthetic organic nanostructures in a wide variety of dental fields,
      from implantology, endodontics, and periodontics, to regenerative dentistry and
      wound healing. Most of the research is concentrated on nanoforms of chitosan,
      silk fibroin, synthetic polymers or their combinations, but new nanocomposites
      are constantly being developed. The present work reviews in detail current
      research on organic nanoparticles and their potential applications in the dental
      field. 

PMID- 26867192
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of Total Antioxidant Capacities of Plant Polyphenols.
AB  - Thirty-seven samples of naturally occurring phenolic compounds were evaluated
      using three common in vitro assays for total antioxidant activity (TAC) testing:
      the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), the Ferric Reducing
      Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical
      scavenging assay, in addition to the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent reactivity (FCR). We
      found that antioxidant hierarchies depended on the choice of assay and applied
      ANOVA analyses to explore underlying structure-TAC dependencies. In addition to
      statistically confirming the empirically established connection between flavonoid
      ring-B catechol and high TEAC or FRAP, new correlations were also found. In
      flavonoids, (i) hydroxyl groups on ring-B had a positive effect on all four TAC
      assays; (ii) the presence of a 3-hydroxyl group on ring-C increased TEAC and
      FRAP, but had no effect on DPPH or FCR; (iii) Phenolic acids lacking a 3-hydroxyl
      group had significantly lower FRAP or DPPH than compounds having this structure,
      while TEAC or FCR were not affected. Results demonstrated that any TAC-based
      ranking of phenolic rich samples would very much depend on the choice of assay,
      and argue for use of more than one technique. As an illustration, we compared
      results of the above four assays using either grapevine leaf extracts or
      synthetic mixtures of compounds prepared according to major polyphenols
      identified in the leaves. 

PMID- 26867193
TI  - Identification of Novel Pathways in Plant Lectin-Induced Cancer Cell Apoptosis.
AB  - Plant lectins have been investigated to elucidate their complicated mechanisms
      due to their remarkable anticancer activities. Although plant lectins seems
      promising as a potential anticancer agent for further preclinical and clinical
      uses, further research is still urgently needed and should include more focus on
      molecular mechanisms. Herein, a Naive Bayesian model was developed to predict the
      protein-protein interaction (PPI), and thus construct the global human PPI
      network. Moreover, multiple sources of biological data, such as smallest shared
      biological process (SSBP), domain-domain interaction (DDI), gene co-expression
      profiles and cross-species interolog mapping were integrated to build the core
      apoptotic PPI network. In addition, we further modified it into a plant lectin
      induced apoptotic cell death context. Then, we identified 22 apoptotic hub
      proteins in mesothelioma cells according to their different microarray
      expressions. Subsequently, we used combinational methods to predict microRNAs
      (miRNAs) which could negatively regulate the abovementioned hub proteins.
      Together, we demonstrated the ability of our Naive Bayesian model-based network
      for identifying novel plant lectin-treated cancer cell apoptotic pathways. These
      findings may provide new clues concerning plant lectins as potential apoptotic
      inducers for cancer drug discovery. 

PMID- 26867194
TI  - Sanger Sequencing for BRCA1 c.68_69del, BRCA1 c.5266dup and BRCA2 c.5946del
      Mutation Screen on Pap Smear Cytology Samples.
AB  - Three sets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed for
      heminested PCR amplification of the target DNA fragments in the human genome
      which include the site of BRCA1 c.68_69del, BRCA1 c.5266dup and BRCA2 c.5946del
      respectively, to prepare the templates for direct Sanger sequencing screen of
      these three founder mutations. With a robust PCR mixture, crude proteinase K
      digestate of the fixed cervicovaginal cells in the liquid-based Papanicolaou
      (Pap) cytology specimens can be used as the sample for target DNA amplification
      without pre-PCR DNA extraction, purification and quantitation. The post-PCR
      products can be used directly as the sequencing templates without further
      purification or quantitation. By simplifying the frontend procedures for template
      preparation, the cost for screening these three founder mutations can be reduced
      to about US $200 per test when performed in conjunction with human papillomavirus
      (HPV) assays now routinely ordered for cervical cancer prevention. With this
      projected price structure, selective patients in a high-risk population can be
      tested and each provided with a set of DNA sequencing electropherograms to
      document the absence or presence of these founder mutations in her genome to help
      assess inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer in this era of
      precision molecular personalized medicine.

PMID- 26867196
TI  - A Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Optical Sensor for Continuous Monitoring of
      Environmental Methane in Dunkirk (France).
AB  - A room-temperature continuous-wave (CW) quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based methane
      (CH4) sensor operating in the mid-infrared near 8 MUm was developed for
      continuous measurement of CH4 concentrations in ambient air. The well-isolated
      absorption line (7F2,4 <- 8F1,2) of the nu4 fundamental band of CH4 located at
      1255.0004 cm(-1) was used for optical measurement of CH4 concentration by direct
      absorption in a White-type multipass cell with an effective path-length of 175 m.
      A 1sigma (SNR = 1) detection limit of 33.3 ppb in 218 s was achieved with a
      measurement precision of 1.13%. The developed sensor was deployed in a campaign
      of measurements of time series CH4 concentration on a site near a suburban
      traffic road in Dunkirk (France) from 9th to 22nd January 2013. An episode of
      high CH4 concentration of up to ~3 ppm has been observed and analyzed with the
      help of meteorological parameters combined with back trajectory calculation using
      the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model of
      NOAA.

PMID- 26867197
TI  - A Unified Global Reference Frame of Vertical Crustal Movements by Satellite Laser
      Ranging.
AB  - Crustal movement is one of the main factors influencing the change of the Earth
      system, especially in its vertical direction, which affects people's daily life
      through the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, geological disasters, and so on.
      In order to get a better study and application of the vertical crustal
      movement,as well as its changes, the foundation and prerequisite areto devise and
      establish its reference frame; especially, a unified global reference frame is
      required. Since SLR (satellite laser ranging) is one of the most accurate space
      techniques for monitoring geocentric motion and can directly measure the ground
      station's geocentric coordinates and velocities relative to the centre of the
      Earth's mass, we proposed to take the vertical velocity of the SLR technique in
      the ITRF2008 framework as the reference frame of vertical crustal motion, which
      we defined as the SLR vertical reference frame (SVRF). The systematic bias
      between other velocity fields and the SVRF was resolved by using the GPS (Global
      Positioning System) and VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) velocity
      observations, and the unity of other velocity fields and SVRF was realized,as
      well. The results show that it is feasible and suitable to take the SVRF as a
      reference frame, which has both geophysical meanings and geodetic observations,
      so we recommend taking the SLR vertical velocity under ITRF2008 as the global
      reference frame of vertical crustal movement. 

PMID- 26867195
TI  - Therapeutic Effect of Losartan, an Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antagonist, on
      CCl4-Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury.
AB  - TGF-beta1 is known to inhibit muscle regeneration after muscle injury. However,
      it is unknown if high systemic levels of TGF-beta can affect the muscle
      regeneration process. In the present study, we demonstrated the effect of a CCl4
      intra-peritoneal injection and losartan (an angiotensin II type 1 receptor
      antagonist) on skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius muscle) injury and regeneration.
      Male C57BL/6 mice were grouped randomly as follows: control (n = 7), CCl4
      treatment group (n = 7), and CCl4 + losartan treatment group (n = 7). After CCl4
      treatment for a 16-week period, the animals were sacrificed and analyzed. The
      expression of dystrophin significantly decreased in the muscle tissues of the
      control group, as compared with that of the CCl4 + losartan group (p < 0.01).
      p(phospho)-Smad2/3 expression significantly increased in the muscles of the
      control group compared to that in the CCl4 + losartan group (p < 0.01). The
      expressions of Pax7, MyoD, and myogenin increased in skeletal muscles of the CCl4
      + losartan group compared to the corresponding levels in the control group (p <
      0.01). We hypothesize that systemically elevated TGF-beta1 as a result of CCl4
      induced liver injury causes skeletal muscle injury, while losartan promotes
      muscle repair from injury via blockade of TGF-beta1 signaling.

PMID- 26867198
TI  - Viruses Causing Gastroenteritis: The Known, The New and Those Beyond.
AB  - The list of recently discovered gastrointestinal viruses is expanding rapidly.
      Whether these agents are actually involved in a disease such as diarrhea is the
      essential question, yet difficult to answer. In this review a summary of all
      viruses found in diarrhea is presented, together with the current knowledge about
      their connection to disease. 

PMID- 26867199
TI  - Evidence for the Presence of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity in Patients with
      Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Results from a Multicenter Randomized
      Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Gluten Challenge.
AB  - Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is characterized by the onset of symptoms
      after eating gluten-containing food. We aimed to single out NCGS subjects among
      subjects with functional gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients were enrolled in a
      multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial with crossover. Symptoms and
      quality of life were evaluated by means of 10-cm VAS and SF36. Iron parameters,
      transaminases and C reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. After a three-week
      long gluten-free diet (GFD), responsive patients were randomly assigned to gluten
      intake (5.6 g/day) or placebo for seven days, followed by crossover. The primary
      endpoint was the worsening of symptoms (VAS increase >=3 cm) during gluten
      ingestion compared to placebo. One hundred and forty patients were enrolled and
      134 (17 males, mean age 39.1 +/- 11.7 years, BMI 22.4 +/- 3.8) completed the
      first period. A total of 101 subjects (10 males, mean age 39.3 +/- 11.0 years,
      BMI 22.3 +/- 4.0) reported a symptomatic improvement (VAS score 2.3 +/- 1.2 vs.
      6.5 +/- 2.2 before and after GFD, p = 0.001). 98 patients underwent the gluten
      challenge and 28 (all females, mean age 38.9 +/- 12.7 years, BMI 22.0 +/- 2.9)
      reported a symptomatic relapse and deterioration of quality of life. No
      parameters were found to be statistically associated with positivity to the
      challenge. However, 14 patients responded to the placebo ingestion. Taking into
      account this finding, about 14% of patients responding to gluten withdrawal
      showed a symptomatic relapse during the gluten challenge. This group is suspected
      to have NCGS. 

PMID- 26867202
TI  - The protective effect of dopamine against OGD/R injury-induced cell death in HT22
      mouse hippocampal cells.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that levo-dopamine (L-dopa) can improve the
      consciousness of certain patients with prolonged coma after cerebral ischemia
      reperfusion injury, and promote cell growth in vivo. This study aimed to
      investigate whether L-dopa, which is used clinically to treat Parkinson's
      disease, might also ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced cell death.
      The oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD/R) model was used to mimic
      the ischemia-reperfusion pathological process in vitro. HT22 cells were treated
      with dopamine hydrochloride at different times (i.e., 2 h prior to OGD, during
      the period of OGD, during the period of R, and throughout the period of OGD/R)
      and at different concentrations (i.e., 25 MUM, 50 MUM, 100 MUM). Lactate
      dehydrogenase (LDH) release, flow cytometry-annexin V, and propidium iodide
      staining with light microscopy showed that dopamine hydrochloride (added during
      re-oxygenation) promoted cell proliferation and facilitated maintenance of normal
      cell morphology. However, when present during oxygen-glucose deprivation for 18 h
      and present throughout OGD/R, dopamine hydrochloride increased cell damage as
      manifested by shrinkage, rounding up, and reduced viability. In conclusion,
      dopamine protected HT22 cells from OGD/R injury-induced cell death only at a
      particular point in time, suggesting that it may be useful for treating severe
      ischemia-reperfusion brain injury.

PMID- 26867200
TI  - DHA Supplementation Alone or in Combination with Other Nutrients Does not
      Modulate Cerebral Hemodynamics or Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults.
AB  - A number of recent trials have demonstrated positive effects of dietary
      supplementation with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs),
      docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on measures of
      cognitive function in healthy young and older adults. One potential mechanism by
      which EPA, and DHA in particular, may exert these effects is via modulation of
      cerebral hemodynamics. In order to investigate the effects of DHA alone or
      provided as one component of a multinutrient supplement (also including Gingko
      biloba, phosphatidylserine and vitamins B9 and B12) on measures of cerebral
      hemodynamics and cognitive function, 86 healthy older adults aged 50-70 years who
      reported subjective memory deficits were recruited to take part in a six month
      daily dietary supplementation trial. Relative changes in the concentration of
      oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin were assessed using Near
      Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) during the performance of cognitive tasks prior to
      and following the intervention period. Performance on the cognitive tasks was
      also assessed. No effect of either active treatment was found for any of the NIRS
      measures or on the cognitive performance tasks, although the study was limited by
      a number of factors. Further work should continue to evaluate more holistic
      approaches to cognitive aging.

PMID- 26867201
TI  - Cardiometabolic Health in Submariners Returning from a 3-Month Patrol.
AB  - Confined space, limited exercise equipment, rotating shift work and reduced sleep
      may affect cardiometabolic health in submariners. To test this hypothesis, 53
      male U.S. Submariners (20-39 years) were studied before and after a 3-month
      routine submarine patrol. Measures included anthropometrics, dietary and physical
      activity, biomarkers of cardiometabolic health, energy and appetite regulation,
      and inflammation. Before deployment, 62% of submariners had a body fat % (BF%) >=
      25% (obesity), and of this group, 30% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. In
      obese volunteers, insulin, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance
      (HOMA-IR), leptin, the leptin/adiponectin ratio, and pro-inflammatory chemokines
      growth-related oncogene and macrophage-derived chemokine were significantly
      higher compared to non-obese submariners. Following the patrol, a significant
      mean reduction in body mass (5%) and fat-mass (11%) occurred in the obese group
      as a result of reduced energy intake (~2000 kJ) during the patrol; and,
      independent of group, modest improvements in serum lipids and a mean reduction in
      interferon gamma-induced protein 10 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 were
      observed. Since 43% of the submariners remained obese, and 18% continued to meet
      the criteria for metabolic syndrome following the patrol, the magnitude of weight
      loss was insufficient to completely abolish metabolic dysfunction. Submergence up
      to 3-months, however, does not appear to be the cause of obesity, which is
      similar to that of the general population. 

PMID- 26867203
TI  - Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Denervation of the Medial Calcaneal Nerve.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Plantar fasciosis is a common complaint of athletes, particularly for
      runners. The medial calcaneal nerve (MCN) may play a role in the pain syndrome,
      and radiofrequency (RF) denervation has been previously reported. The hypothesis
      is that ultrasound-guided denervation of the MCN results in symptomatic
      improvement. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Private practice. PATIENTS:
      Twenty-nine patients previously receiving ultrasound-guided RF denervation of the
      MCN, having failed conservative therapy, were assessed in 2 groups, those more
      than (group 1, n = 16) or less than (group 2, n = 13) 6 months since the
      procedure. INTERVENTIONS: Ultrasound-guided RF denervation of the MCN. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain scores before denervation, as well as at maximal pain
      relief and the time of the interview. Levels of satisfaction and attitudes toward
      surgery were also assessed. RESULTS: Pain scores decreased significantly in both
      groups, for both best and residual pain scores. Group 1 mean pain scores were
      8.56 before procedure, 2.81 (P < 0.001 compared to baseline) at best pain score,
      and 3.75 (P < 0.01) residual pain score. Group 2 mean pain scores were 7.23
      before procedure, 3.77 (P < 0.01) at best pain score and 4.92 (P < 0.01) residual
      pain score. Levels of satisfaction were predominantly positive (69% of group 1%
      and 54% of group 2 were either somewhat or very satisfied), with attitudes toward
      surgery unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with refractory plantar heel pain,
      ultrasound-guided denervation of the MCN can potentially improve symptoms,
      although efficacy needs assessing in comparative studies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
      Ultrasound-guided denervation of the MCN provides a further management option for
      patients with refractory plantar fasciosis.

PMID- 26867204
TI  - Googling Concussion Care: A Critical Appraisal of Online Concussion Healthcare
      Providers and Practices in Canada.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Concussion is an emerging public health concern, but care of patients
      with a concussion is presently unregulated in Canada. METHODS: Independent,
      blinded Google Internet searches were conducted for the terms "concussion" and
      "concussion clinic" and each of the Canadian provinces and territories. The first
      10 to 15 concussion healthcare providers per province were identified. A critical
      appraisal of healthcare personnel and services offered on the provider's Web site
      was conducted. RESULTS: Fifty-eight concussion healthcare providers were
      identified using this search methodology. Only 40% listed the presence of an on
      site medical doctor (M.D.) as a member of the clinical team. Forty-seven percent
      of concussion healthcare providers advertised access to a concussion clinic,
      program, or center on their Web site. Professionals designated as team leaders,
      directors, or presidents among concussion clinics, programs, and centers included
      a neuropsychologist (15%), sports medicine physician (7%), neurologist (4%), and
      neurosurgeon (4%). Services offered by providers included baseline testing (67%),
      physiotherapy (50%), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study
      indicates that there are numerous concussion healthcare providers in Canada
      offering diverse services with clinics operated by professionals with varying
      levels of training in traumatic brain injury. In some cases, the practices of
      these concussion clinics do not conform to current expert consensus guidelines.

PMID- 26867205
TI  - Optical and positron annihilation spectroscopic studies on PMMA polymer doped by
      rhodamine B/chloranilic acid charge transfer complex: Special relevance to the
      effect of gamma-ray irradiation.
AB  - Polymeric sheets of poly (methylmethaclyerate) (PMMA) containing charge transfer
      (CT) complex of rhodamine B/chloranilic acid (Rho B/CHA) were synthesized in
      methanol solvent at room temperature. The systematic analysis done on the Rho B
      and its CT complex in the form of powder or polymeric sheets confirmed their
      structure and thermal stability. The IR spectra interpreted the charge transfer
      mode of interaction between the CHA central positions and the terminal carboxylic
      group. The polymer sheets were irradiated with 70 kGy of gamma radiation using
      (60)Co source to study the enhanced changes in the structure and optical
      parameters. The microstructure changes of the PMMA sheets caused by gamma-ray
      irradiation were analyzed using positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) and positron
      annihilation Doppler broadening (PADB) techniques. The positron life time
      components (tau(i)) and their corresponding intensities (I(i)) as well as PADB
      line-shape parameters (S and W) were found to be highly sensitive to the enhanced
      disorder occurred in the organic chains of the polymeric sheets due to gamma
      irradiation.

PMID- 26867206
TI  - Short duration response-guided treatment is effective for most individuals with
      recent hepatitis C infection: the ATAHC II and DARE-C I studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individuals with recent HCV infection may benefit from shortened
      duration therapy. These studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of response
      guided regimens with pegylated interferon-alpha2a and ribavirin for people with
      recent HCV infection. METHODS: Participants with recent hepatitis C (duration of
      infection <=18 months) enrolled in the ATAHC II (pegylated interferon-alpha2a +/-
      ribavirin) and DARE-C I (pegylated interferon-alpha2a, ribavirin and telaprevir)
      studies were included for analysis. Treatment duration was response-guided (ATAHC
      II: 8, 16, 24 or 48 weeks; DARE-C I: 8, 12 or 24 weeks) and dependent on time to
      first undetectable HCV RNA using Roche Taqman HCV RNA testing. The primary
      efficacy end point was sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) by
      intention-to-treat. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors
      of SVR. RESULTS: A total of 82 participants (62% HIV-positive) were enrolled in
      ATAHC II (treated, n=52) and 14 (79% HIV-positive) in DARE-C I. The predominant
      modes of HCV acquisition were injecting drug use (ATAHC II 55%, DARE-C I 36%) and
      sexual intercourse with a partner of the same sex (ATAHC II 39%, DARE-C I 64%).
      SVR12 was 71% in both ATAHC II (37/52) and DARE-C I (10/14) with 56% in ATAHC II
      receiving shortened therapy (8 or 16 weeks). SVR was associated with a rapid
      virological response (odds ratio 10.80; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of
      participants were able to receive short duration response-guided therapy with
      pegylated interferon-alpha2a and ribavirin. Response-guided therapy for recent
      hepatitis C infection could be considered in the absence of available interferon
      free therapies. ClinicalTrials.gov registry (ATAHC II: NCT01336010; DARE-C I:
      NCT01743521).

PMID- 26867207
TI  - Taming the fear of voice: Dilemmas in maintaining a high vaccination rate in the
      Netherlands.
AB  - In the context of international public debates on vaccination the National
      Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Dutch public health
      body responsible for the National Immunization Programme (NIP), fears that the
      high vaccination rate of children in the Netherlands obscures the many doubts and
      criticisms parents may have about vaccination. The question arises as to how the
      robustness of this vaccination rate and the resilience of the NIP can be
      assessed. To answer this question, we explore the vaccination practices and
      relationships between professionals and parents using qualitative methods.
      Drawing on Hirschman's concepts of exit, voice and loyalty, we distinguish
      between two different approaches to vaccination: one which enforces parental
      loyalty to the vaccination programme, and one which allows for voice. The
      analysis shows that due to their lack of voice in the main vaccination setting,
      parents' considerations are unknown and insight into their loyalty is lacking. We
      argue that the Dutch vaccination programme is caught between the insecurity of
      enforced parental loyalty to the NIP and the insecurity of enabling parental
      voice and negotiating space. We conclude that to increase the resilience of the
      NIP, experimenting with voice and exit is inevitable. 

PMID- 26867208
TI  - The role of social support in protecting mental health when employed and
      unemployed: A longitudinal fixed-effects analysis using 12 annual waves of the
      HILDA cohort.
AB  - Perceived social support is associated with overall better mental health. There
      is also evidence that unemployed workers with higher social support cope better
      psychologically than those without such support. However, there has been limited
      research about the effect of social support among people who have experienced
      both unemployment and employment. We assessed this topic using 12 years of
      annually collected cohort data. The sample included 3190 people who had
      experienced both unemployment and employment. We used longitudinal fixed-effects
      modelling to investigate within-person changes in mental health comparing the
      role of social support when a person was unemployed to when they were employed.
      Compared to when a person reported low social support, a change to medium (6.35,
      95% 5.66 to 7.04, p < 0.001) or high social support (11.58, 95%, 95% CI 10.81 to
      12.36, p < 0.001) was associated with a large increase in mental health (measured
      on an 100 point scale, with higher scores representing better mental health).
      When a person was unemployed but had high levels of social support, their mental
      health was 2.89 points (95% CI 1.67 to 4.11, p < 0.001) higher than when they
      were employed but had lower social support. The buffering effect of social
      support was confirmed in stratified analysis. There was a strong direct effect of
      social support on mental health. The magnitude of these differences could be
      considered clinically meaningful. Our results also suggest that social support
      has a significant buffering effect on mental health when a person is unemployed.

PMID- 26867209
TI  - Healthy and unhealthy red blood cell detection in human blood smears using neural
      networks.
AB  - One of the most common diseases that affect human red blood cells (RBCs) is
      anaemia. To diagnose anaemia, the following methods are typically employed: an
      identification process that is based on measuring the level of haemoglobin and
      the classification of RBCs based on a microscopic examination in blood smears.
      This paper presents a proposed algorithm for detecting and counting three types
      of anaemia-infected red blood cells in a microscopic coloured image using
      circular Hough transform and morphological tools. Anaemia cells include sickle,
      elliptocytosis, microsite cells and cells with unknown shapes. Additionally, the
      resulting data from the detection process have been analysed by a prevalent data
      analysis technique: the neural network. The experimental results for this model
      have demonstrated high accuracy for analysing healthy/unhealthy cells. This
      algorithm has achieved a maximum detection of approximately 97.8% of all cells in
      21 microscopic images. Effectiveness rates of 100%, 98%, 100%, and 99.3% have
      been achieved using neural networks for sickle cells, elliptocytosis cells,
      microsite cells and cells with unknown shapes, respectively. 

PMID- 26867210
TI  - A study on the orientation inheritance in laminated NiAl produced by in situ
      reaction annealing.
AB  - In order to promote the performance of B2 NiAl by texture control of orientation
      during in situ processing, phase transformation in laminated NiAl with bimodal
      grain size distribution manufactured by reaction annealing of Ni and Al foils has
      been studied. It turned out that there existed a Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation
      relationship (K-S OR) between parent Ni and product NiAl by crystallography
      analysis according to the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) results. The
      parent Ni did not transform to the product NiAl directly but via the formation of
      Ni3Al firstly according to the transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation
      of the interface. This led to a new K-S OR between Ni3Al and NiAl with a small
      atomic misfit, which made less residual stress generated through the formation of
      Ni3Al than directly from the parent Ni. 

PMID- 26867211
TI  - Minimal Increase Network Coding for Dynamic Networks.
AB  - Because of the mobility, computing power and changeable topology of dynamic
      networks, it is difficult for random linear network coding (RLNC) in static
      networks to satisfy the requirements of dynamic networks. To alleviate this
      problem, a minimal increase network coding (MINC) algorithm is proposed. By
      identifying the nonzero elements of an encoding vector, it selects blocks to be
      encoded on the basis of relationship between the nonzero elements that the
      controls changes in the degrees of the blocks; then, the encoding time is
      shortened in a dynamic network. The results of simulations show that, compared
      with existing encoding algorithms, the MINC algorithm provides reduced
      computational complexity of encoding and an increased probability of delivery. 

PMID- 26867212
TI  - Multiple Novel Functions of Henipavirus O-glycans: The First O-glycan Functions
      Identified in the Paramyxovirus Family.
AB  - O-linked glycosylation is a ubiquitous protein modification in organisms
      belonging to several kingdoms. Both microbial and host protein glycans are used
      by many pathogens for host invasion and immune evasion, yet little is known about
      the roles of O-glycans in viral pathogenesis. Reportedly, there is no single
      function attributed to O-glycans for the significant paramyxovirus family. The
      paramyxovirus family includes many important pathogens, such as measles, mumps,
      parainfluenza, metapneumo- and the deadly Henipaviruses Nipah (NiV) and Hendra
      (HeV) viruses. Paramyxoviral cell entry requires the coordinated actions of two
      viral membrane glycoproteins: the attachment (HN/H/G) and fusion (F)
      glycoproteins. O-glycan sites in HeV G were recently identified, facilitating use
      of the attachment protein of this deadly paramyxovirus as a model to study O
      glycan functions. We mutated the identified HeV G O-glycosylation sites and found
      mutants with altered cell-cell fusion, G conformation, G/F association, viral
      entry in a pseudotyped viral system, and, quite unexpectedly, pseudotyped viral F
      protein incorporation and processing phenotypes. These are all important
      functions of viral glycoproteins. These phenotypes were broadly conserved for
      equivalent NiV mutants. Thus our results identify multiple novel and
      pathologically important functions of paramyxoviral O-glycans, paving the way to
      study O-glycan functions in other paramyxoviruses and enveloped viruses. 

PMID- 26867213
TI  - Leaf Mass per Area (LMA) and Its Relationship with Leaf Structure and Anatomy in
      34 Mediterranean Woody Species along a Water Availability Gradient.
AB  - Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a morphological trait widely used as a good indicator
      of plant functioning (i.e. photosynthetic and respiratory rates, chemical
      composition, resistance to herbivory, etc.). The LMA can be broken down into the
      leaf density (LD) and leaf volume to area ratio (LVA or thickness), which in turn
      are determined by anatomical tissues and chemical composition. The aim of this
      study is to understand the anatomical and chemical characteristics related to LMA
      variation in species growing in the field along a water availability gradient. We
      determined LMA and its components (LD, LVA and anatomical tissues) for 34
      Mediterranean (20 evergreen and 14 deciduous) woody species. Variation in LMA was
      due to variation in both LD and LVA. For both deciduous and evergreen species LVA
      variation was strongly and positively related with mesophyll volume per area (VA
      or thickness), but for evergreen species positive relationships of LVA with the
      VA of epidermis, vascular plus sclerenchyma tissues and air spaces were found as
      well. The leaf carbon concentration was positively related with mesophyll VA in
      deciduous species, and with VA of vascular plus sclerenchymatic tissues in
      evergreens. Species occurring at the sites with lower water availability were
      generally characterised by a high LMA and LD. 

PMID- 26867215
TI  - Comprehensive Immunophenotypic Characterization of Adult and Fetal Testes, the
      Excretory Duct System, and Testicular and Epididymal Appendages.
AB  - The immunophenotype of a normal testis and the excretory duct system has not been
      studied comprehensively in fetal and adult patients without testicular disease or
      hormonal manipulation so far. In addition, testicular (TA) and epididymal (EA)
      appendages are frequent paratesticular structures without previously reported
      comprehensive immunophenotypic studies. Immunohistochemistry for multiple
      markers, including the androgen receptor (AR), the estrogen receptor (ER), the
      progesterone receptor (PR), the prostate-specific antigen, the prostate-specific
      membrane antigen, PAX8, WT1, calretinin, CK7, CK20, OCT4, SALL4, and CD117, was
      performed on full sections of testicular/paratesticular tissue from a large
      cohort of adult and fetal autopsy patients. In contrast to adult germ cells (GC),
      fetal GC strongly express OCT4 and CD117, although the expression of these
      proteins is lost in the early postnatal period; SALL4, in contrast, is expressed
      in both fetal and adult GC, with only weak and focal expression in adult
      patients. Fetal Sertoli cells (SC) express WT1 and calretinin strongly and
      diffusely, in contrast to adult SC. Both fetal and adult excretory duct systems
      express CK7 and PAX8 with frequent AR coexpression, and all 3 main segments of
      the excretory duct system (ductuli efferentes, epididymis, and vas deferens) have
      unique immunophenotypes. The rete testis also has a unique immunohistochemical
      expression pattern, which includes strong expression of CK7, PAX8, WT1,
      calretinin, and AR. Finally, of the adult autopsy patients examined, 80% had a
      TA, and 60% had an EA; these paratesticular structures occurred at stereotypical
      locations, demonstrated reproducible morphologic features, and had a unique
      immunophenotype relative to other studied structures, with strong CK7, PAX8, WT1,
      AR, ER, and PR coexpression. The testis and the paratestis may be involved by
      diverse neoplastic and non-neoplastic processes, and knowledge of the
      immunophenotypic expression spectrum of these tissues may aid in clinical
      diagnosis and advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of both oncologic and
      nononcologic disease processes.

PMID- 26867214
TI  - Hexose Oxidase-Mediated Hydrogen Peroxide as a Mechanism for the Antibacterial
      Activity in the Red Seaweed Ptilophora subcostata.
AB  - Marine algae have unique defense strategies against microbial infection. However,
      their mechanisms of immunity remain to be elucidated and little is known about
      the similarity of the immune systems of marine algae and terrestrial higher
      plants. Here, we suggest a possible mechanism underlying algal immunity, which
      involves hexose oxidase (HOX)-dependent production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
      We examined crude extracts from five different red algal species for their
      ability to prevent bacterial growth. The extract from one of these algae,
      Ptilophora subcostata, was particularly active and prevented the growth of gram
      positive and -negative bacteria, which was completely inhibited by treatment with
      catalase. The extract did not affect the growth of either a yeast or a
      filamentous fungus. We partially purified from P. subcostata an enzyme involved
      in its antibacterial activity, which shared 50% homology with the HOX of red
      seaweed Chondrus crispus. In-gel carbohydrate oxidase assays revealed that P.
      subcostata extract had the ability to produce H2O2 in a hexose-dependent manner
      and this activity was highest in the presence of galactose. In addition, Bacillus
      subtilis growth was strongly suppressed near P. subcostata algal fronds on GYP
      agar plates. These results suggest that HOX plays a role in P. subcostata
      resistance to bacterial attack by mediating H2O2 production in the marine
      environment. 

PMID- 26867217
TI  - Ten Simple Rules for Selecting a Bio-ontology.

PMID- 26867216
TI  - A New Mutation, hap1-2, Reveals a C Terminal Domain Function in AtMago Protein
      and Its Biological Effects in Male Gametophyte Development in Arabidopsis
      thaliana.
AB  - The exon-exon junction complex (EJC) is a conserved eukaryotic multiprotein
      complex that examines the quality of and determines the availability of messenger
      RNAs (mRNAs) posttranscriptionally. Four proteins, MAGO, Y14, eIF4AIII and BTZ,
      function as core components of the EJC. The mechanisms of their interactions and
      the biological indications of these interactions are still poorly understood in
      plants. A new mutation, hap1-2. leads to premature pollen death and a reduced
      seed production in Arabidopsis. This mutation introduces a viable truncated
      transcript AtMagoDeltaC. This truncation abolishes the interaction between AtMago
      and AtY14 in vitro, but not the interaction between AtMago and AteIF4AIII. In
      addition to a strong nuclear presence of AtMago, both AtMago and AtMagoDeltaC
      exhibit processing-body (P-body) localization. This indicates that AtMagoDeltaC
      may replace AtMago in the EJC when aberrant transcripts are to be degraded. When
      introducing an NMD mutation, upf3-1, into the existing HAP1/hap1-2 mutant, plants
      showed a severely reduced fertility. However, the change of splicing pattern of a
      subset of SR protein transcripts is mostly correlated with the sr45-1 and upf3-1
      mutations, not the hap1-2 mutation. These results imply that the C terminal
      domain (CTD) of AtMago is required for the AtMago-AtY14 heterodimerization during
      EJC assembly, UPF3-mediated NMD pathway and the AtMago-AtY14 heterodimerization
      work synergistically to regulate male gametophyte development in plants. 

PMID- 26867219
TI  - Voxel Based Analysis of Surgical Revascularization for Moyamoya Disease: Pre- and
      Postoperative SPECT Studies.
AB  - Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic, progressive, cerebrovascular occlusive
      disease that causes abnormal enlargement of collateral pathways (moyamoya
      vessels) in the region of the basal ganglia and thalamus. Cerebral
      revascularization procedures remain the preferred treatment for patients with
      MMD, improving the compromised cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, voxel based
      analysis (VBA) of revascularization surgery for MMD based on data from pre- and
      postoperative data has not been established. The latest algorithm called as
      Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Through Exponentiated Lie Algebra (DARTEL)
      has been introduced for VBA as the function of statistical parametric mapping
      (SPM8), and improved registration has been achieved by SPM8 with DARTEL. In this
      study, VBA was conducted to evaluate pre- and postoperative single photon
      emission computed tomography (SPECT) images for MMD by SPM8 with DARTEL
      algorithm, and the results were compared with those from SPM8 without DARTEL (a
      conventional method). Thirty-two patients with MMD who underwent superficial
      temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery as the first
      surgery were included and all patients underwent pre- and postoperative 3D T1
      weighted imaging and SPECT. Pre- and postoperative SPECT images were registered
      to 3D T1-weighted images, then VBA was conducted. Postoperative SPECT showed more
      statistically increased CBF areas in the bypassed side cerebral hemisphere by
      using SPM8 with DARTEL (58,989 voxels; P<0.001), and increased ratio of CBF after
      operation was less than 15%. Meanwhile, postoperative SPECT showed less CBF
      increased areas by SPM8 without DARTEL. In conclusion, VBA was conducted for
      patients with MMD, and SPM8 with DARTEL revealed that postoperative SPECT showed
      statistically significant CBF increases over a relatively large area and with at
      most 15% increase ratio. 

PMID- 26867218
TI  - Distribution and Abundance of Glucocorticoid and Mineralocorticoid Receptors
      throughout the Brain of the Great Tit (Parus major).
AB  - The glucocorticoid stress response, regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary
      adrenal (HPA) axis, enables individuals to cope with stressors through
      transcriptional effects in cells expressing the appropriate receptors. The two
      receptors that bind glucocorticoids-the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and
      glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-are present in a variety of vertebrate tissues, but
      their expression in the brain is especially important. Neural receptor patterns
      have the potential to integrate multiple behavioral and physiological traits
      simultaneously, including self-regulation of glucocorticoid secretion through
      negative feedback processes. In the present work, we quantified the expression of
      GR and MR mRNA throughout the brain of a female great tit (Parus major), creating
      a distribution map encompassing 48 regions. This map, the first of its kind for
      P. major, demonstrated a widespread but not ubiquitous distribution of both
      receptor types. In the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the
      hippocampus (HP)-the two brain regions that we sampled from a total of 25 birds,
      we found high GR mRNA expression in the former and, unexpectedly, low MR mRNA in
      the latter. We examined the covariation of MR and GR levels in these two regions
      and found a strong, positive relationship between MR in the PVN and MR in the HP
      and a similar trend for GR across these two regions. This correlation supports
      the idea that hormone pleiotropy may constrain an individual's behavioral and
      physiological phenotype. In the female song system, we found moderate GR in
      hyperstriatum ventrale, pars caudalis (HVC), and moderate MR in robust nucleus of
      the arcopallium (RA). Understanding intra- and interspecific patterns of
      glucocorticoid receptor expression can inform us about the behavioral processes
      (e.g. song learning) that may be sensitive to stress and stimulate future
      hypotheses concerning the relationships between receptor expression, circulating
      hormone concentrations and performance traits under selection, including
      behavior. 

PMID- 26867221
TI  - Age-Dependent Changes in Geometry, Tissue Composition and Mechanical Properties
      of Fetal to Adult Cryopreserved Human Heart Valves.
AB  - There is limited information about age-specific structural and functional
      properties of human heart valves, while this information is key to the
      development and evaluation of living valve replacements for pediatric and
      adolescent patients. Here, we present an extended data set of structure-function
      properties of cryopreserved human pulmonary and aortic heart valves, providing
      age-specific information for living valve replacements. Tissue composition,
      morphology, mechanical properties, and maturation of leaflets from 16 pairs of
      structurally unaffected aortic and pulmonary valves of human donors (fetal-53
      years) were analyzed. Interestingly, no major differences were observed between
      the aortic and pulmonary valves. Valve annulus and leaflet dimensions increase
      throughout life. The typical three-layered leaflet structure is present before
      birth, but becomes more distinct with age. After birth, cell numbers decrease
      rapidly, while remaining cells obtain a quiescent phenotype and reside in the
      ventricularis and spongiosa. With age and maturation-but more pronounced in
      aortic valves-the matrix shows an increasing amount of collagen and collagen
      cross-links and a reduction in glycosaminoglycans. These matrix changes correlate
      with increasing leaflet stiffness with age. Our data provide a new and
      comprehensive overview of the changes of structure-function properties of fetal
      to adult human semilunar heart valves that can be used to evaluate and optimize
      future therapies, such as tissue engineering of heart valves. Changing
      hemodynamic conditions with age can explain initial changes in matrix composition
      and consequent mechanical properties, but cannot explain the ongoing changes in
      valve dimensions and matrix composition at older age. 

PMID- 26867220
TI  - Non-Classical Monocytes and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Correlate
      with Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in Chronically HIV-1 Infected Adults on
      Stable Antiretroviral Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Persistent inflammation and immune activation has been hypothesized
      to contribute to increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with chronic HIV infection. In this
      study, we examined the correlation of peripheral monocyte subsets and soluble
      biomarkers of inflammation to coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression, as
      measured by cardiac computed tomography scan. METHODS: We conducted a
      longitudinal analysis utilizing baseline data of 78 participants with HIV
      infection on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Hawaii Aging with HIV
      Cardiovascular study who had available baseline monocyte subset analysis as well
      as CAC measurement at baseline and at 2-year follow up. Monocyte phenotypes were
      assessed from cryopreserved blood by flow cytometry and plasma was assayed for
      soluble biomarkers using antibody-coated beads in a high sensitivity Milliplex
      Luminex platform. Change in CAC over 2 years was analyzed as the primary outcome
      variable. RESULTS: Of all monocyte subsets and biomarkers tested, higher non
      classical monocyte percentage (rho = 0.259, p = 0.022), interleukin (IL)-6 (rho =
      0.311, p = 0.012), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 (rho = 0.524, p =
      <0.001) were significantly correlated to higher 2-year CAC progression in
      unadjusted Spearman's correlation. Non-classical monocyte percentage (rho =
      0.247, p = 0.039), and MCP-1 (rho = 0.487, p = <0.001), remained significantly
      correlated to 2-year CAC progression, while IL-6 was not (rho = 0.209, p = 0.120)
      after adjustment for age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, total/HDL cholesterol
      ratio, smoking history, and BMI. CONCLUSION: The percentage of non-classical
      monocytes and plasma MCP-1 levels were independently associated with CAC
      progression and may be related to the progression of atherosclerosis and
      increased CVD risk associated with chronic HIV infection on stable ART.

PMID- 26867222
TI  - The Invasion of Coastal Areas in South China by Ipomoea cairica May Be
      Accelerated by the Ecotype Being More Locally Adapted to Salt Stress.
AB  - Local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity are two alternative mechanisms used by
      invasive plants for range expansion. We conducted a series of experiments to
      investigate the role of these mechanisms in the recent expansion of the invasive
      Ipomoea cairica from non-saline to salt-stressed coastal habitats. A comparison
      of the plant's photosynthetic traits and construction costs across habitats was
      conducted through a field survey. Meanwhile, a full factorial greenhouse
      experiment was conducted with two ecotypes (non-saline and coastal) of I. cairica
      and two salinity gradients (water and 4 g L-1 NaCl solution) to evaluate the
      roles of the two strategies by comparing their main traits. The results revealed
      that the construction cost and Amax of I. cairica did not change with the habitat
      type. The ecotype and saline treatments, however, significantly influenced the
      plant growth. The non-saline ecotype (NE) generally showed higher or equal
      plasticity of biomass-allocation and functional traits compared to the coastal
      ecotype (CE). However, the fitness and biomass of the NE significantly decreased
      with salinity, whereas those aspects of the CE did not change. Our results
      indicate that the recent expansion of I. cairica into coastal areas may be
      accelerated by the local adaptation of the CE to salt stress. Additionally, in
      South China, the CE will most likely evolve adaptations to both saline and non
      saline environments, which will further broaden the invasion range of I. cairica
      in the future. 

PMID- 26867224
TI  - Cytotoxicity and effect on protease activity of copolymer extracts containing
      catechin.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cytotoxicity and effect on protease activity of
      epigallocatechin-gallate extracted from experimental restorative dental
      copolymers in comparison to the control compound chlorhexidine. METHODS:
      Copolymer disks were prepared from bis-GMA/TEGDMA (70/30 mol%) containing no
      compound (control) or 1% w/w of either epigallocatechin-gallate or chlorhexidine.
      MDPC-23 odontoblast-like cells were seeded with the copolymer extracts leached
      out into deionized water. Cell metabolic activity was quantified by 3-(4,5
      dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay at 24, 48, 72
      h. Inhibition of protease activity by resin extracts was measured by a
      collagenolytic/genatinolytic enzyme activity assay and gelatin zymography. Data
      for MTT and protease inhibition were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by
      Tukey or Bonferroni post hoc tests (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: The MTT revealed that
      at 72 h, extracts from control (16.7%) and chlorhexidine (22.3%) copolymers
      induced significant reduction in cell metabolism (p<0.05). All copolymer extracts
      caused enzymatic inhibition in a dose dependent manner (p<0.01). Even when highly
      diluted, epigallocatechin-gallate extract had a significant antiproteolytic
      activity (p<0.05). Zymograms showed that all extracts reduced activity of MMP-2
      and MMP-9 (pro- and active forms), with MMP-9 exhibiting the highest percentage
      inhibition revealed by densitometry. CONCLUSIONS: Epigallocatechin-gallate and
      chlorhexidine extracts did not exert cytotoxicity on evaluated cells when
      compared to control extracts. Both compounds retained antiproteolytic activity
      after extraction from a dental copolymer. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Once extracted
      from a dental copolymer, epigallocatechin-gallate is not cytotoxic and retains
      antiproteolytic activity. These results may allow incorporation of
      epigallocatechin-gallate as a natural-safe alternative to chlorhexidine in
      functionalized restorative materials.

PMID- 26867223
TI  - Late Presentation of Fulminant Necrotizing Enterocolitis in a Child with
      Hyperinsulinism on Octreotide Therapy.
AB  - Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is the most common cause of persistent
      hypoglycemia in infants and children. In cases of diazoxide-unresponsive HI,
      alternative medical and surgical approaches may be required to reduce the risk of
      hypoglycemia. Octreotide, a somatostatin analog, often has a role in the
      management of these children, but a dose-dependent reduction in splanchnic blood
      flow is a recognized complication. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has been
      reported within the first few weeks of initiating predominantly high doses of
      octreotide. We describe the case of an infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
      and diazoxide-unresponsive HI, who had persistent hypoglycemia after two
      pancreatectomy surgeries. She developed NEC 2 months after beginning octreotide
      therapy at a relatively low dose of 8 ug/kg/day. This complication has occurred
      later, and at a lower dose, than has previously been described. We review the
      case and identify the known and suspected multifactorial risk factors for NEC
      that may contribute to the development of this complication in patients with HI.

PMID- 26867225
TI  - Effect of the association of maltodextrin and sucrose on the acidogenicity and
      adherence of cariogenic bacteria.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effect of maltodextrin and sucrose
      association on the acidogenic and adherence profiles of cariogenic bacteria.
      DESIGN: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) were
      cultivated in culture medium containing maltodextrin, sucrose, maltodextrin
      sucrose mixture or glucose. Analyses of the acidogenicity and microbial adherence
      were conducted in triplicate for each microorganism and tested carbohydrate.
      RESULTS: For L. casei, maltodextrin, sucrose and maltodextrin-sucrose mixture
      showed lower acidogenic potential compared to glucose. When the microorganism was
      S. mutans, sucrose and maltodextrin-sucrose mixture presented higher acidogenic
      potential compared to maltodextrin and glucose. Microbial adherence analysis
      revealed higher adherence for S. mutans in presence of sucrose and maltodextrin
      sucrose mixture compared to maltodextrin and glucose. For L. casei, all the
      carbohydrates showed similar adherence percentages. CONCLUSION: The addition of
      maltodextrin to sucrose does not increase the cariogenicity of sucrose in terms
      of acidogenicity and adherence of the cariogenic bacteria.

PMID- 26867228
TI  - The outlook for 2016.

PMID- 26867227
TI  - [Factors that influence comorbidity from panic disorder  and PTSD after
      earthquakes].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: After the earthquake and tsunami in Chile (F-27), we studied the
      effect of socio-demographic factors, exposure to the event, and state aid
      received on comorbidity from panic disorder (PD) and posttraumatic stress
      disorder (PTSD). METHOD: Surveys that include the administration of the Davidson
      Trauma Scale (DTS) to 246 inhabitants. RESULTS: 19.1 % comorbidity was found
      (r=.583, R(2)=.340, p<.01). Females homeowners have a higher risk of PD and PTSD.
      State aid is associated with more cases of PD. CONCLUSIONS: We designed
      risk/resistance profiles against earthquakes/tsunamis and an instrument to detect
      cases at risk of PTSD. We suggest guidelines so that the government can improve
      its role after disasters.

PMID- 26867226
TI  - Epidemiology and Burden of Bloodstream Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum
      Beta-Lactamase Producing Enterobacteriaceae in a Pediatric Hospital in Senegal.
AB  - CONTEXT: Severe bacterial infections are not considered as a leading cause of
      death in young children in sub-Saharan Africa. The worldwide emergence of
      extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) could
      change the paradigm, especially in neonates who are at high risk of developing
      healthcare-associated infections. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology and the
      burden of ESBL-E bloodstream infections (BSI). METHODS: A case-case-control study
      was conducted in patients admitted in a pediatric hospital during two consecutive
      years. Cases were patients with Enterobacteriaceae BSI and included ESBL-positive
      (cases 1) and ESBL-negative BSI (cases 2). Controls were patients with no BSI.
      Multivariate analysis using a stepwise logistic regression was performed to
      identify risk factors for ESBL acquisition and for fatal outcomes. A multistate
      model was used to estimate the excess length of hospital stay (LOS) attributable
      to ESBL production while accounting for time of infection. Cox proportional
      hazards models were performed to assess the independent effect of ESBL-positive
      and negative BSI on LOS. RESULTS: The incidence rate of ESBL-E BSI was of 1.52
      cases/1000 patient-days (95% CI: 1.2-5.6 cases per 1000 patient-days).
      Multivariate analysis showed that independent risk factors for ESBL-BSI
      acquisition were related to underlying comorbidities (sickle cell disease OR =
      3.1 (95%CI: 2.3-4.9), malnutrition OR = 2.0 (95%CI: 1.7-2.6)) and invasive
      procedures (mechanical ventilation OR = 3.5 (95%CI: 2.7-5.3)). Neonates were also
      identified to be at risk for ESBL-E BSI. Inadequate initial antibiotic therapy
      was more frequent in ESBL-positive BSI than ESBL-negative BSI (94.2% versus 5.7%,
      p<0.0001). ESBL-positive BSI was associated with higher case-fatality rate than
      ESBL-negative BSI (54.8% versus 15.4%, p<0.001). Multistate modelling indicated
      an excess LOS attributable to ESBL production of 4.3 days. The adjusted end-of
      LOS hazard ratio for ESBL-positive BSI was 0.07 (95%CI, 0.04-0.12). CONCLUSION:
      Control of ESBL-E spread is an emergency in pediatric populations and could be
      achieved with simple cost-effective measures such as hand hygiene, proper
      management of excreta and better stewardship of antibiotic use, especially for
      empirical therapy.

PMID- 26867229
TI  - OPINION. Thoughts, views and your feedback.

PMID- 26867230
TI  - It's all about position.

PMID- 26867231
TI  - LISTEN UP.

PMID- 26867232
TI  - Communication matters.

PMID- 26867233
TI  - LIVING WITH MISCARRIAGE.

PMID- 26867234
TI  - Antidepressant use in late pregnancy.

PMID- 26867235
TI  - Barriers to facilitating birth in Nepal.

PMID- 26867236
TI  - Write a research proposal.

PMID- 26867237
TI  - Bullying. The writing on the wall.

PMID- 26867239
TI  - A day on the farm.

PMID- 26867238
TI  - Engaging in research.

PMID- 26867240
TI  - Remote control.

PMID- 26867241
TI  - PREVENTING PERTUSSIS.

PMID- 26867242
TI  - The voice of midwifery education.

PMID- 26867243
TI  - Doulas ... complementary or conflicting?

PMID- 26867244
TI  - Parental preparation.

PMID- 26867245
TI  - LEARNING leadership.

PMID- 26867246
TI  - BORN IN AFRICA.

PMID- 26867247
TI  - Tackling health inequality.

PMID- 26867248
TI  - Childhood Cancers in Zimbabwe: A 10 year review of the Zimbabwe National Cancer
      Registry data.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To document the pattern of cancer in children (0-14 years) registered
      in the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry from 2000-2009. DESIGN: Retrospective
      descriptive analysis. METHODS: Analysis of data from the Zimbabwe National Cancer
      Registry for the period 2000-2009. SETTING: The Zimbabwe National Cancer
      Registry. RESULTS: Childhood Cancer constituted 3.8% of all malignancies recorded
      at the cancer registry during the study period. The common cancers were: Wilm's
      Tumour 286 (16.2%), Kaposi Sarcoma 277 (15.7%), Retinoblastoma 231 (13.1%), Non-
      Hodgkins lymphoma 182 (10.3%), leukemia 158 (8.9%), brain and nervous tissue 107
      (6.1%), connective tissue 105 (5.9%), bone 97 (5.5%), Hodgkins lymphoma 57
      (3.2%), Non-melanoma skin 33 (1.9%). All the other remaining cancers were 233
      (13.2%). Burkits lymphoma constituted only 2% of all cancers. The noted pattern
      of cancers in this study were compared to patterns from other countries and
      similarities and differences are discussed. CONCLUSION: This study showed high
      incidence rates of Nephroblastoma, Retinoblastoma and Kaposi sarcoma. In contrast
      to high income countries leukemia and brain tumours are more prevalent in older
      age group. Compared to other countries in Africa, Burkits lymphoma was rare.
      Further research is required to identify factors that influence relative
      frequencies in childhood cancers in Zimbabwe. Findings from this study provide
      baseline data for future studies.

PMID- 26867249
TI  - Cancer awareness and perceived barriers to health seeking in a rural population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low cancer awareness may lead to delays in cancer screening behaviour
      and diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: We set out to assess public awareness of cancer and
      perceived barriers to seeking help among the rural population of Murewa district
      in a cross-sectional survey of 384 conveniently selected respondents. METHODS: A
      self-administered and interviewer guided questionnaires were developed with the
      guide of the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) used in public awareness studies.
      RESULTS: Awareness of the occurrence of cancer in the population was high with
      90.1% responding that they had heard about cancer. However, 60.6% of the
      respondents could not explain what cancer is. An association was identified
      between educational level and awareness on the existence of cancer in the
      population (p = 0.001). Age was also associated with awareness of the existence
      of cancer in the population (p < 0.001). Level of education was also associated
      with awareness on types of cancers with breast cancer (p = 0.0014), and prostate
      cancer (p = 0.001). Barriers to health (help) seeking included low levels of
      awareness of the availability of cancer screening and not being able to afford
      treatment services. Other barriers to help seeking included fear of screening and
      the costs of screening services. Unavailability of preventive and curative
      services for cancer at primary care level was another barrier to help seeking.
      CONCLUSION: There is therefore an increasing need for health promotional
      interventions to raise public awareness of cancer and to create supportive
      environments for cancer prevention, screening, early detection and treatment.

PMID- 26867250
TI  - Female genital schistosomiasis: pathological features and density infestation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To study the percentage distribution and Average Tissue Density (ATD)
      of schistosoma infestation in different parts of the Female Genital System (FGS).
      DESIGN: A retrospective explorative study of all surgical pathology cases
      examined from January to December of 2000. SETTING: Public Health Laboratories,
      Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: All archive slides cases
      positive for schistosoma ova were examined. INTERVENTION: To generate awareness
      of female genital schistosomiasis, often under diagnosed, despite causing
      dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, genital ulcer disease and
      mimicking cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Female genital schistosomiasis is
      underdiagnosed as of all forty seven (47) cases found positive microscopically,
      the clinicians had not raised it in their differentials. RESULTS: Forty seven
      (47) cases of Schistosomiasis were found with an ATD of six (6) to thirty nine
      (39) schistosoma ova per 10 hpf. In the lower genital tract, the cervix accounted
      for thirty two (68%) cases. Interestingly fifteen (47%) of cases showed
      association with cervical dysplasia, invasive squamous cell carcinoma or human
      papilloma virus koliocytosis. Presentations in the lower genital tract were of
      ulceration, polyps or abnormal vaginal bleeding. Surprisingly of the total forty
      seven (47) cases three (3%) cases were in leiomyomata. Significantly tubal
      ectopic pregnancy was associated with 3 (50%) cases out of six (6) cases of
      fallopian tube. CONCLUSION: Schistosomiasis needs more recognition as a cause of
      disease of the female genital tract. Its association with tubal ectopic
      pregnancies can be catastrophic. Further molecular studies towards its
      association with cervical cancer need to be done.

PMID- 26867251
TI  - Acute postpartum uterine inversion: a case report.
AB  - The case described is that of an African 24 year old and Para 2. She had a normal
      vaginal delivery at a local clinic and sustained an acute uterine inversion and
      postpartum haemorrhage. Resuscitative measures were done and she was referred to
      the central hospital. At the central hospital and under general anaesthesia
      attempts to manually replace the uterus were unsuccessful. The uterine inversion
      was successfully corrected at laparotomy after which an area of gangrene and
      perforation was noted on the uterine fundus. A decision to perform total
      abdominal hysterectomy was taken. The patient had an uneventful post-operative
      recovery. A discussion of acute postpartum uterine inversion is presented.

PMID- 26867252
TI  - Anaemia and iron deficiency in peri-urban school children born in a National HIV
      Prevention Programme in Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency and iron
      deficiency anaemia in school children who were born in a national HIV prevention
      programme. DESIGN: This was a community based cross-sectional study. SETTING: A
      resource poor peri-urban setting with high prevalence of HIV infection. SUBJECTS:
      School aged children six to 10 years old who were born in a national mother-to
      child HIV prevention programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Haemoglobin (Hb), serum
      Ferritin (F) and serum Transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels. RESULTS: Three hundred
      and eighteen children were recruited including 21 HIV positive. The prevalence of
      anaemia (Hb < 11.5 grams per litre), iron deficiency (F<15 micrograms per litre)
      and iron deficiency anaemia (Hb < 11.5 g/L and either F < 15 MUg/L or sTfR > 8.3
      MUg/L) were 15%, 4% and 2% respectively. When a higher cut-off for ferritin of 30
      micrograms per litre was applied to adjust for high infection disease burden,
      iron deficiency prevalence increased to 32% and iron deficiency anaemia increased
      to 5%. Anaemia was 4.9 (C.I 1.9-12.4) times more likely to occur in HIV infected
      children compared to the HIV uninfected children. Maternal HIV status at birth
      was not related to presence of anaemia in the school children. CONCLUSION:
      Anaemia was of mild public health significance in this cohort of children. Iron
      deficiency anaemia contributed less than a quarter of the cases of anaemia. HIV
      infection was an important determinant for presence of anaemia. Therefore
      continued efforts to eliminate paediatric HIV infection as a way of reducing
      anaemia in children are essential.

PMID- 26867253
TI  - Factors influencing treatment failure in HIV positive adult patients on first
      line antiretroviral therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk factors for treatment failure in HIV positive adults have not
      been studied extensively in Zimbabwe. AIM: To investigate socio-demographic,
      psychosocial and antiretroviral drug related factors as possible risk factors for
      treatment failure. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy and reliability of CD4
      count results in diagnosing treatment failure versus viral load results. DESIGN:
      A descriptive cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Harare Central Hospital adult
      opportunistic infections clinic. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eighteen (118) HIV
      positive participants on 1st line antiretroviral therapy (any 1 of stavudine,
      tenofovir or zidovudine combined with lamivudine and nevirapine or efavirenz) for
      at least 1 year. Participants were conveniently sampled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      First line treatment failure as defined according to World Health Organisation
      (WHO) 2010 guidelines. RESULTS: Factors associated with higher odds of treatment
      failure were severe depression [OR 3.7; p-value 0.002; 95% CI 1.6-8.5] and
      discontinuing ART [OR 4.4; p-value 0.02; 95% CI 1.3-14.7]. Factors associated
      with lower odds of treatment failure were age = 42 [OR 0.3; p-value 0.007; 95% CI
      0.1-0.7], taking ART on time [OR 0.2; p-value 0.02; 95% CI 0.05-0.8], time on ART
      > 4 years [OR 0.6; p-value 0.02; 95% CI 0.3-0.9] and female sex [OR 0.4; p-value
      0.02; 95% CI 0.2-0.8]. There was statistically significant difference between CD4
      count and viral load results in diagnosing treatment failure [OR 8.7; p-value
      0.0005; 95% CI 3.6-21.2]. CONCLUSION: Severe depression and discontinuing ART
      predisposed to treatment failure. CD4 counts were not as reliable as viral load
      measurements in diagnosing treatment failure.

PMID- 26867254
TI  - The prevalence, types and effects of traditional eye medicine use among newly
      presenting patients at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital Eye Unit in Harare, Zimbabwe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of Traditional Medicines (TM) is common practice world over.
      Traditional Eye Medicine (TEM) use may be associated with various ocular
      complications including blindness. A study on the prevalence of TEM use was
      carried out at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital Eye Unit (SKHEU) in Harare, with emphasis
      on the types ofTEM used and associated ocular complications. OBJECTIVES: To
      evaluate the prevalence of TEM use among newly-presenting patients at SKHEU. To
      identify the ocular symptoms experienced by the new clinic-attendees who had used
      TEM for their current eye problem. To characterize the TEM used, in terms of
      type, source (provider) and routes of administration. To evaluate any association
      between TEM use and legal blindness at presentation, destructive eye procedures
      and other specific ocular complications among these patients. DESIGN: Hospital
      based, cross-sectional analytic study. METHODS: All new patients attending one
      randomly selected clinic per week were recruited for the study over a period of
      eight months. The patients had a full clinical examination and data collected.
      RESULTS: The prevalence of TEM use among new patients at SKHEU was 61.5%. The
      initial ocular symptoms prior to the use of TEM were mainly those of ocular
      surface inflammation: tearing (77.4%), redness (74.9%), itchiness (71.6%) and
      pain (70.3%). The most common category of TEM used was plants and plant products.
      Most TEMs (92.4%) were administered as topical eye drops. In ninety-five percent
      of cases, the provider of TEM was not a formal traditional healer but rather
      relatives, friends and the patients self-medicated. The use of TEM was associated
      with specific ocular complications in 58.6% of cases. There were significant
      associations between use of TEM and corneal ulceration, corneal vascularisation,
      endophthalmitis, evisceration, exenteration and legal blindness at presentation.
      CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the use of TEM is common among new clinic
      attendees at SKHEU and is associated with specific ocular complications.

PMID- 26867255
TI  - Experiences of health science students during clinical placements at the
      University of Zimbabwe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical placement is an essential component of training in health
      sciences because it is where theory and practice interface. OBJECTIVE: To explore
      experiences of health sciences students during clinical placement in terms of
      supervision, challenges and coping strategies. DESIGN: It was a cross sectional
      survey. SETTING: University ofZimbabwe, College of Health Sciences. PARTICIPANTS:
      179 multidisciplinary health science students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross
      sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Ethical
      clearance was obtained. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: These were perceptions of students with regard to supervision,
      challenges faced during clinical placement and coping strategies used. RESULTS:
      179 participants responded to the questionnaires. Participants enjoyed linking
      theory to practice. Perceptions on supervision were both positive and negative.
      Inadequate supervision and inappropriate behaviours by supervisors were some of
      the challenges faced. Almost 89% used stress-relieving strategies such as
      focusing on why they were doing the clinical placement and the importance of
      successful completion. Ninety-one per cent had never used cannabis/mbanje but 41%
      had engaged in sexual activity to cope with challenges. CONCLUSION: This study
      found that the perceptions of health sciences students about supervision clinical
      placement, challenges faced and the coping strategies are almost the same as
      those found elsewhere. It is therefore important to plan clinical placement with
      the involvement of clinical educators. RECOMMENDATIONS: Supervisors' workshops
      should be held to create a forum to discuss clinical placement issues. Follow-up
      of students by academics is recommended. Students should be empowered to cope
      with challenges.

PMID- 26867256
TI  - Hepatitis B and C infection at a large public sector hospital clinic: is it a
      burden?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Co-infections have become significant causes of morbidity and
      mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected people. Due to shared
      routes of transmission, co-infection of HIV with Hepatitis B (HBV) and/or
      Hepatitis C (HCV) should be expected. In Zimbabwe, screening for both viruses in
      HIV infected people prior to treatment is not routinely practised despite the
      World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines (2013) prioritising treatment where
      these co-infections exist. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV
      infection in HIV infected adults at a public sector HIV clinic in Zimbabwe and to
      determine risk factors associated with these infections. DESIGN AND SETTING: An
      analytical cross-sectional survey carried out among systematically randomly
      sampled HIV infected patients coming for treatment between March and July 2012 at
      Parirenyatwa Hospital Opportunistic Infection Clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Blood samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C
      virus antibodies (anti-HCV). Demographic data and exposure to risk factors were
      collected. RESULTS: 228 antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive adults were enrolled.
      7.9% (18/228) were HBsAg positive and 0.9% (2/228) were anti-HCV positive. None
      of the participants were infected with both viruses. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence
      of HBV has not changed during this HIV era and there is no significant HCV
      infection in this public sector clinic which serves quite a large sector of the
      population that lives in Harare, Zimbabwe. Based on these results, there is no
      need for HCV screening but HBV screening prior to ART initiation may be required.
      -

PMID- 26867257
TI  - Prevalence of HIV among people with physical disabilities in Rwanda.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HIV among persons with physical
      disabilities in Rwanda. DESIGN: Across-sectional HIV diagnostic study. SETTING: A
      national referral rehabilitation centre in Rwanda. SUBJECTS: Persons aged 5 to 49
      years with lower or upper limb impairments that were obtaining rehabilitation
      services at the centre. INTERVENTION: Blood samples were collected from the
      subjects who voluntarily accepted to participate in the study. Blood samples
      (4mls) were collected in vacutainer tubes and centrifuged to obtain serum which
      was analyzed using standard HIV rapid tests-determine HIV-1/2 Ab/Ag, SD-Bioline
      and UNI-Gold Recombigen HIV as a tie-breaker. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The HIV
      status of participants--negative or positive. Descriptive statistics were
      computed to characterize the sample and proportions for the HIV test results.
      RESULTS: All one hundred and fifty-seven subjects, 59 (37.6%) male and 98 (62.4%)
      female, completed the study. The HIV prevalence obtained was 5.73%. All
      participants that tested positive were female and all tested positive for HIV-1.
      CONCLUSION: The prevalence obtained was higher than the population prevalence of
      3.0% reported for Rwanda. Targeted HIV prevention is required for PWDs in Rwanda,
      with at least as much rigor as programs targeted towards the general population.
      Further, this should address the wide range of gender inequalities that make
      women particularly vulnerable to HIV. Further research needs to be conducted on a
      larger sample that draws participants from non-institutional settings and from
      other disability categories; as well as to study more specifically, the risk
      factors for HIV infection among PWDs in Rwanda.

PMID- 26867258
TI  - Work related musculoskeletal disorders among farm workers: a case study of an
      agricultural college in Zimbabwe.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Farming is a physically laborious occupation and farm workers are
      at risk of developing musculoskeletal complaints. OBJECTIVE: To determine the
      work related musculoskeletal complaints among farm workers at an agricultural
      college in Zimbabwe. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted
      using a sample size of 30 farm workers. Convenience sampling was used to select
      participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to assess the
      occupational hazards and the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among farm
      workers. STATA version 13 was used for data analysis. Fishers' exact test was
      used to determine associations between agricultural activities and reported
      occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints. RESULTS: The lower back was the most
      frequently affected body site. Commonly performed activities included working
      prolonged periods in the same posture and working prolonged periods squatting or
      kneeling. There were significant associations between performing overhead
      activities (p = 0.029), working with the back bent (p = 0.007) and pushing or
      pulling heavy objects (p=0.014) with the occurrence of musculoskeletal
      complaints. CONCLUSION: Farm workers at Chibero College of Agriculture are
      exposed to a variety of occupational hazards, therefore a need for intervention
      to protect them from musculoskeletal complaints. Improvement in farm work
      practices through ergonomic training might help reduce musculoskeletal
      complaints.

PMID- 26867259
TI  - Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Update on AHNAs Strategic Plan-Focused Activities
      for 2015.

PMID- 26867260
TI  - It's About Resilience.

PMID- 26867261
TI  - Embracing Our Connection to Nature: Nurses as Advocates for Our Health and Food
      System.

PMID- 26867262
TI  - My Earth ... My Footprint ... My Heartvoice.

PMID- 26867263
TI  - Our Spaces Build Us.

PMID- 26867264
TI  - Holistic Nursing, Reiki, & the Centle Art of Beekeeping.

PMID- 26867265
TI  - LETTER to the EDITOR.

PMID- 26867266
TI  - Impact of praziquantel mass drug administration campaign on prevalence and
      intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium among school children in Bahi district,
      Tanzania.
AB  - As part of the Tanzania National Schistosomiasis Control Programme, Bahi district
      in central Tanzania, received two annual rounds of praziquantel mass drug
      administration (MDA) to control urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren. The
      objectives of this study were to assess the impact of the two rounds of MDA on
      prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium and the impact of MDA
      campaigns on knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis, safe water use and contact
      with potentially unsafe water bodies. A quantitative cross-sectional study was
      carried out among schoolchildren in March and April, 2013. A structured
      questionnaire was used to collect information on MDA uptake, knowledge of
      schistosomiasis, sources of water for domestic and other uses. Urine samples were
      collected from each pupil to examine prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium.
      Transmission of schistosomiasis was assessed by sampling Bulinus spp snails for
      cercarial shedding. Uptake of MDA was 39.5% in 2011 and 43.6% in 2012. Prevalence
      of S. haematobium significantly dropped by 50.0% from 26% in 2011 to 15% in 2012
      (p = 0.000). Prevalence of S. haematobium was significantly low in MDA
      participating (3.1%) than non-participating (28.5%) schoolchildren (p = 0.000).
      MDA campaigns had significant impact on knowledge of the disease (p = 0.02) and
      borderline impact on safe water use (p = 0.04) but had no impact on avoidance of
      contact with unsafe water bodies (p = 0.06). Bulinus spp. snails were found
      shedding schistosome cercariae indicating environmental contamination with viable
      S. haematobium eggs. In conclusion, though MDA significantly reduced prevalence
      of S. haematobium, uptake was below 50.0% and below the World Health Assembly
      resolution 54.19 target of 75.0% for 2010. Non-participation in MDA was the
      likely source of S. haematobium eggs in the environment hence the observed 15.0%
      prevalence of S. haematobium infection; and cercarial shedding Bulinus spp.
      snails indicating continuity of transmission hence the need for further health
      promotion campaigns.

PMID- 26867267
TI  - Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among antenatal clinic attendees at
      a tertiary hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem in sub
      Saharan Africa. The risk of vertical transmission increases if the mother is
      hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and more so when she is also
      hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) positive. Since 2000, the World Health
      Organization recommends screening of pregnant women for HBV infection. However,
      this is not currently practiced in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to
      determine seroprevalence and associated factors of HBV infection among pregnant
      women attending antenatal clinic at the Muhimbili National Hospital, in Dar es
      Salaam, Tanzania. This cross-sectional study was conducted from August-September
      2010. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric and risk factors such
      as history of blood transfusion, and risky sexual practices was collected. Blood
      samples were tested for HBsAg, HBeAg, antibodies to HBsAg (Anti-HBs), IgM
      antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc) and anti-HIV antibodies. A
      total of 310 pregnant women (28.5 +/- 5.4 years) were enrolled in the study.
      Thirty-one percent (96) of the women were primigravidae. Most of studied women
      were of low educational status and married. The seroprevalence of HBsAg was 3.9%
      (12/310) and none had detectable anti-HBs. None had IgM HBcAb, thus excluding
      acute HBV infection. All women tested negative for HBeAg. The overall
      seroprevalence of HIV infection was 9.7%. Three of 12 (25%) women had HBV-HIV co
      infection. None of the assessed associated factors were significantly related to
      HBV infection. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of HBsAg among women attending
      antenatal care at Muhimbili National Hospital is moderate. It is recommended to
      introduce routine antenatal screening for HBV and "at birth dose" vaccination to
      new born babies of mothers found to be HBsAg positive.

PMID- 26867268
TI  - Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori
      infection among adult patients with dyspepsia in northern Tanzania.
AB  - Dyspepsia is a common presenting complaint of various upper gastrointestinal
      disorders. The symptoms of causes of dyspepsia often overlap and this makes
      etiological diagnosis difficult. Endoscopy is the ideal procedure for identifying
      organic diseases of the foregut. Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with
      various upper gastrointestinal pathologies. A cross-sectional study was conducted
      to determine endoscopic findings and H. pylori status in two hundred and eight
      consecutive dyspeptic adult patients between June 2009 and April 2010 at
      Kilimanjaro Christian medical Centre, a referral and teaching hospital in
      northern Tanzania. The most commonly identified endoscopic findings were
      gastritis (61.10%), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (57%), and Peptic
      ulcer disease (PUD) (24.1%). Gastric cancer was identified in 6.7% of patients
      and all of them were aged 40 years and above (p = 0.00). H. pylori infection was
      detected in 65% (n = 130) of patients. H. pylori infection was present in 57% (n
      = 24) of patients who were tested within six months after eradication therapy.
      Gastritis and duodenal ulcer were statistically significantly associated with H.
      pylori (p < 0.001). No association was found between GERD and H. pylori infection
      (p > 0.05). Gastritis, GERD, and PUD are the leading causes of dyspepsia. H.
      pylori infection is present in significant proportion of dyspeptic patients.
      Patients with Gastritis and PUD should undergo empirical eradication therapy if a
      confirmatory test is not available. Patients with dyspepsia who are over 40 years
      of age should undergo Endoscopy (EGD) for initial work up. Study on antimicrobial
      susceptibility pattern of H. pylori is recommended to guide choices for evidence
      based treatment option.

PMID- 26867269
TI  - Seroprevalence of Leptospira infection in bats roosting in human settlements in
      Morogoro municipality in Tanzania.
AB  - Leptospirosis is a neglected emerging infectious disease with high burden in
      Africa. Major reservoirs of leptospirosis are rodents and other small mammals.
      Studies of leptospirosis in bats and the extent to which they contribute to its
      transmission to humans and domestic animals in Tanzania are lacking. The
      objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis and
      local Leptospira serovars in bat colonies found around human settlements in
      Morogoro, Tanzania. In this study, mist nets were used to capture bats at Sokoine
      University of Agriculture main campus, whereas bats roosting on trees at Nunge A,
      Nunge B and M were primary school were captured manually. Leptospirosis was
      determined using the gold standard microscopic agglutination test for
      determination of Leptospira antibodies. Six live Leptospira serovars including
      local Leptospira serovar Sokoine, Kenya and Lora reported in rodents and domestic
      animals in Tanzania, and reference serovars Hebdomadis, Canicola and Pomona were
      used in the study. Leptospirosis prevalence was high in bats (19.4%) and higher
      within colonies (27.3%). Leptospira serovar Sokoine was more prevalent (19.4%)
      compared to serovars Kenya (2.8%) and Lora (2.8%). Serovars Pomona, Canicola and
      Hebdomadis were not detected in bats. In conclusion, bats are potential reservoir
      and transmitter of Leptospira serovar Sokoine, hence should be prevented to
      access houses and roosting in human settlements to avoid public health risks.
      Routine diagnosis of human leptospirosis is needed in Tanzania as evidence show a
      high prevalence of Leptospira in reservoir hosts interacting with humans.

PMID- 26867270
TI  - Knowledge and perception on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania: Multinomial
      logistic regression analysis of secondary data.
AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important public health problems in Tanzania
      and was declared as a national public health emergency in 2006. Community and
      individual knowledge and perceptions are critical factors in the control of the
      disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge and perception
      on the transmission of TB in Tanzania. Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis
      was considered in order to quantify the impact of knowledge and perception on TB.
      The data used was adopted as secondary data from larger national survey 2007-08
      Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey. The findings across groups
      revealed that knowledge on TB transmission increased with an increase in age and
      level of education. People in rural areas had less knowledge regarding
      tuberculosis transmission compared to urban areas [OR = 0.7]. People with the
      access to radio [OR = 1.7] were more knowledgeable on tuberculosis transmission
      compared to those who did not have access to radio. People who did not have
      telephone [OR = 0.6] were less knowledgeable on tuberculosis route of
      transmission compared to those who had telephone. The findings showed that socio
      demographic factors such as age, education, place of residence and owning
      telephone or radio varied systematically with knowledge on tuberculosis
      transmission.

PMID- 26867271
TI  - Dynamic bowel obstruction: aetiology, clinical presentation, management and
      outcome at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
AB  - Dynamic bowel obstruction is a common and potentially dangerous surgical
      emergency with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. No prospective study has
      been done on this subject in our setting. This study was conducted to describe in
      our region, the aetiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome of
      dynamic bowel obstruction. Data were analyzed using SPSS software system. A total
      of 342 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.1: 1. The
      median age of patients at presentation was 34 years (range 11 to 78 years).
      Obstructed hernias (32.7%) were the commonest cause of dynamic bowel obstruction.
      Abdominal pain (100%) and vomiting (86.5%) were the most frequent presenting
      symptoms. Thirty-one (9.1%) patients were HIV positive. Small bowel was the
      commonest site of obstruction accounting for 89.2% of cases. Herniorrhaphy was
      the most frequent surgical procedure performed in 112 (32.7%) patients. Surgical
      site infection (38.8%) was the most common post-operative complication and it was
      significantly associated with HIV positivity and low CD 4+ count (p < 0.001). The
      overall median of length of hospital stay was 26 days (range 1 to 72 days).
      Patients who had postoperative complications stayed longer in the hospital and
      this was statistically significant (p = 0.022). Mortality rate was 14.3%. Delayed
      presentation, HIV positivity, low CD 4 count (< 200 cells/MUl), high ASA class
      and presence of complications were the main predictors of mortality (p < 0.001).
      Obstructed hernias remain the commonest cause of dynamic bowel obstruction in our
      setting and contribute significantly to high morbidity and mortality. The
      majority of patients present late when the disease becomes complicated. Early
      diagnosis and timely definitive treatment are essential in order to decrease the
      morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.

PMID- 26867272
TI  - Postoperative pain management outcomes among adults treated at a tertiary
      hospital in Moshi, Tanzania.
AB  - Inadequately controlled postoperative pain (POP) subjects individuals to
      complications which may be fatal or leading to prolonged hospital stay.
      Complications from inadequately controlled POP may alleviate the existing
      shortage of hospital human resource for health in health facilities in developing
      countries. The burden and challenges of POP management at health facilities in
      Tanzania is not known. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate
      postoperative pain management and patient satisfaction with care given at
      Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). This descriptive prospective
      hospital based study, was conducted at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
      in Moshi, Tanzania from August 2011 to March 2012. POP and patients' satisfaction
      with pain relief scores were assessed using pain and satisfaction numerical
      rating scales. Pain assessment was done at 24 hours and 48 hours after operation.
      Satisfaction was assessed on 48 hours post surgery. All adult patient aged 18
      years and above whom were operated in general surgery ward, KCMC and accepted by
      signing consent were involved in the study. Patients suffering from nervous
      system were excluded from the study. A total number of 124 patients were
      recruited and participated in the study. Sixty-five (52.4%) were males and 59
      (47.6%) females. Mean age (SD) years 40.9 +/- 15.4. The largest percentage of
      individuals had mild pain both at rest (45.2%) and during movement (44.4%).
      Patients whose analgesia was administered intravenously were more likely to be
      satisfied with POP management than those given intramuscular analgesics (P =
      0.028). Analgesia used in combination increased significantly the proportion of
      pain free individuals 48 hours postoperative compared to 24 hours postoperative
      (P = 0.003). In conclusion, the postoperative pain management is still a
      challenge in our centre as nearly half of the patient had mild pain in.the first
      48 hours post surgery.

PMID- 26867273
TI  - In vitro susceptibility of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
      extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from
      clinical specimens at Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania to Piperacillin
      Tazobactam.
AB  - Pseudomonas spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae are common causes of serious health
      care associated infections (HCAIs) worldwide. The treatment options for
      infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms are limited to
      tigecycline and carbapenems. A total of 172 isolates of multi-drug resistant
      Pseudomonas. spp and extended-spectrum beta- (ESBL) producing Klebsiella
      pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre were
      tested for their in vitro susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam 100/10MUg
      using disc diffusion test as recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standard
      Institute (CLSI). Out of 59 multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas spp, 54 (92.0%) were
      susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam while of 113 ESBL producing Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, 55 (48.7%) were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam 100/10MUg.
      Also, 20 (34.0%) of the Pseudomonas spp were both ESBL producers and susceptible
      to piperacillin-tazobactam 100/10MUg. A significant proportion of Pseudomonas spp
      isolates from clinical specimens in our setting are susceptible to
      piperacillin/tazobactam. This study shows that piperacillin-tazobactam offer a
      better option to clinicians for the treatment of health care associated
      infections due to Pseudomonas spp. and ESBL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in
      our setting and other health facilities where these organisms are of
      significance.

PMID- 26867274
TI  - Influence of human activity patterns on epidemiology of plague in Western
      Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.
AB  - Human plague has been a recurring public health threat in some villages in the
      Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, in the period between 1980 and 2004.
      Despite intensive past biological and medical research, the reasons for the
      plague outbreaks in the same set of villages remain unknown. Plague research
      needs to broaden its scope and formulate new hypotheses. This study was carried
      out to establish relationships between the nature and the spatial extent of
      selected human activities on one hand, and the reported plague cases on the other
      hand. Three outdoor activities namely, fetching water, collecting firewood and
      going to the market, were selected. Through enquiries the activity patterns
      related to these activities were mapped in 14 villages. Standard deviation
      ellipses represent the extent of action spaces. Over 130 activity types were
      identified and listed. Of these, fetching water, collecting firewood and going to
      the market were used for further analysis. The results indicate a significant
      correlation between the plague frequency and the size of these action spaces.
      Different characteristics of land use and related human activities were
      correlated with the plague frequency at village and hamlet levels. Significant
      relationships were found between plague frequency and specific sources of
      firewood and water, and specific market places.

PMID- 26867275
TI  - Human activity spaces and plague risks in three contrasting landscapes in Lushoto
      District, Tanzania.
AB  - Since 1980 plague has been a human threat in the Western Usambara Mountains in
      Tanzania. However, the spatial-temporal pattern of plague occurrence remains
      poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to gain understanding of
      human activity patterns in relation to spatial distribution of fleas in Lushoto
      District. Data were collected in three landscapes differing in plague incidence.
      Field survey coupled with Geographic Information System (GIS) and physical sample
      collections were used to collect data in wet (April to June 2012) and dry (August
      to October 2012) seasons. Data analysis was done using GIS, one-way ANOVA and
      nonparametric statistical tools. The degree of spatial co-occurrence of potential
      disease vectors (fleas) and humans in Lushoto focus differs significantly (p <=
      0.05) among the selected landscapes, and in both seasons. This trend gives a
      coarse indication of the possible association of the plague outbreaks and the
      human frequencies of contacting environments with fleas. The study suggests that
      plague surveillance and control programmes at landscape scale should consider the
      existence of plague vector contagion risk gradient from high to low incidence
      landscapes due to human presence and intensity of activities.

PMID- 26867277
TI  - Small mammal distribution and diversity in a plague endemic area in West Usambara
      Mountains, Tanzania.
AB  - Small mammals play a role in plague transmission as hosts in all plague endemic
      areas. Information on distribution and diversity of small mammals is therefore
      important for plague surveillance and control in such areas. The objective of
      this study was to investigate small mammals' diversity and their distribution in
      plague endemic area in the West Usambara Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania.
      Landsat images and field surveys were used to select trapping locations in
      different landscapes. Three landscapes with different habitats were selected for
      trapping of small mammals. Three types of trap were used in order to maximise the
      number of species captured. In total, 188 animals and thirteen species were
      captured in 4,905 trap nights. Praomys delectorum and Mastomys natalensis both
      reported as plague hosts comprised 50% of all the animals trapped. Trap success
      increased with altitude. Species diversity was higher in plantation forest
      followed by shrub, compared to other habitats, regardless of landscape type. It
      would therefore seem that chances of plague transmission from small mammals to
      humans are much higher under shrub, natural and plantation forest habitats.

PMID- 26867276
TI  - Predicting small mammal and flea abundance using landform and soil properties in
      a plague endemic area in Lushoto District, Tanzania.
AB  - Small mammals particularly rodents, are considered the primary natural hosts of
      plague. Literature suggests that plague persistence in natural foci has a root
      cause in soils. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship
      between on the one hand landforms and associated soil properties, and on the
      other hand small mammals and fleas in West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, a
      plague endemic area. Standard field survey methods coupled with Geographical
      Information System (GIS) technique were used to examine landform and soils
      characteristics. Soil samples were analysed in the laboratory for physico
      chemical properties. Small mammals were trapped on pre-established landform
      positions and identified to genus/species level. Fleas were removed from the
      trapped small mammals and counted. Exploration of landform and soil data was done
      using ArcGIS Toolbox functions and descriptive statistical analysis. The
      relationships between landforms, soils, small mammals and fleas were established
      by generalised linear regression model (GLM) operated in R statistics software.
      Results show that landforms and soils influence the abundance of small mammals
      and fleas and their spatial distribution. The abundance of small mammals and
      fleas increased with increase in elevation. Small mammal species richness also
      increases with elevation. A landform-soil model shows that available phosphorus,
      slope aspect and elevation were statistically significant predictors explaining
      richness and abundance of small mammals. Fleas' abundance and spatial
      distribution were influenced by hill-shade, available phosphorus and base
      saturation. The study suggests that landforms and soils have a strong influence
      on the richness and evenness of small mammals and their fleas' abundance hence
      could be used to explain plague dynamics in the area.

PMID- 26867278
TI  - Landform and surface attributes for prediction of rodent burrows in the Western
      Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.
AB  - Previous studies suggest that rodent burrows, a proxy for rodent population are
      important for predicting plague risk areas. However, studies that link landform,
      surface attributes and rodent burrows in the Western Usambara Mountains in
      Tanzania are scanty. Therefore, this study was conducted in plague endemic area
      of the Western Usambara Mountains in northern, Tanzania, to explore the
      relationship between rodent burrows, and landform and surface attributes. The
      study was carried out in three areas corresponding to high (Lokome), medium
      (Lukozi) and low.(Mwangoi) frequency of reported plague cases. Data were
      collected from 117, 200 and 170 observation sites for Lokome, Lukozi and Mwangoi,
      respectively using 100 m x 200 m quadrats. Remote sensing and field surveys were
      used to collect data on landform and surface attributes. Rodent burrows were
      surveyed and quantified by counting the number of burrows in 20m x 20m grids
      demarcated on the main 100m x 200m quadrats. The collected data were analysed in
      R software using boosted regression trees (BRT) technique. Rodent burrows were
      found at an elevation of above 1600m in the high and medium plague frequency
      landscapes. No burrows were found in the low plague frequency landscape situated
      below 1500m. BRT analysis shows a significant relationship between landform
      characteristics and rodent burrows in both high and medium plague frequency
      landscapes. Overall, elevation and hillshade are the most important determinants
      of rodent burrow distribution in the studied landscapes. It is concluded that in
      high altitudes, specific landform attributes (hill-shade, slope, elevation) and
      vegetation cover- favour rodent burrowing.

PMID- 26867279
TI  - Vegetation habitats and small mammals in a plague endemic area in Western
      Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.
AB  - Human plague still exists in different parts of the world, including some
      landscapes in north-eastern Tanzania. Wherever the hotspot of plague, small
      mammals seem to play a key role as host. The objective of this study was to
      investigate the relationship between vegetation habitats types and small mammals
      in a plague endemic area of Lushoto District in Tanzania. A combination of field
      survey and Landsat images was used to identify the vegetation habitats. Small
      mammals were trapped in the mapped vegetation units, and identified. In total,
      six main types of vegetation habitats were investigated. A total of 13 small
      mammal species, potentially related to plague were trapped. Results show that
      annual cultivated crops habitat accounted for 80% of Mastomys natalensis while
      natural forest accounted for 60% of Praomys delectorum. These findings have shed
      new light on the diversity of rodents in different habitats of natural and semi
      natural vegetations, and agricultural crops in the study area, which is an
      important intermediate step in unravelling the complex human plague system.

PMID- 26867280
TI  - Integrating land cover and terrain characteristics to explain plague risks in
      Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania: a geospatial approach.
AB  - Literature suggests that higher resolution remote sensing data integrated in
      Geographic Information System (GIS) can provide greater possibility to refine the
      analysis of land cover and terrain characteristics for explanation of abundance
      and distribution of plague hosts and vectors and hence of health risk hazards to
      humans. These technologies are not widely used in East Africa for studies on
      diseases including plague. The objective of this study was to refine the analysis
      of single and combined land cover and terrain characteristics in order to gain an
      insight into localized plague infection risks in the West Usambara Mountains in
      north-eastern Tanzania. The study used a geospatial approach to assess the
      influence of land cover and terrain factors on the abundance and spatial
      distribution of plague hosts (small mammals) and plague vectors (fleas). It
      considered different levels of scale and resolution. Boosted Regression Tree
      (BRT) statistical method was used to clarify the relationships between land cover
      and terrain variables with small mammals and fleas. Results indicate that
      elevation positively influenced the presence of small mammals. The presence of
      fleas was clearly influenced by land management features such as miraba. Medium
      to high resolution remotely sensed data integrated in a GIS have been found to be
      quite useful in this type of analysis. These findings contribute to efforts on
      plague surveillance and awareness creation among communities on the probable
      risks associated with various landscape factors during epidemics.

PMID- 26867281
TI  - Land use determinants of small mammal abundance and distribution in a plague
      endemic area of Lushoto District, Tanzania.
AB  - Small mammals are considered to be involved in the transmission cycle of bubonic
      plague, still occurring in different parts of the world, including the Lushoto
      District in Tanzania. The objective of this study was to determine the
      relationship between land use types and practices and small mammal abundance and
      distribution. A field survey was used to collect data in three landscapes
      differing in plague incidences. Data collection was done both in the wet season
      (April-June 2012) and dry season (August-October 2012). Analysis of variance and
      Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) modelling technique were used to establish the
      relationship between land use and small mammal abundance and distribution.
      Significant variations (p <= 0.05) of small mammal abundance among land use types
      were identified. Plantation forest with farming, natural forest and fallow had
      higher populations of small mammals than the other aggregated land use types. The
      influence of individual land use types on small mammal abundance level showed
      that, in both dry and wet seasons, miraba and fallow tended to favour small
      mammals' habitation whereas land tillage practices had the opposite effect. In
      addition, during the wet season crop types such as potato and maize appeared to
      positively influence the distribution and abundance of small mammals which was
      attributed to both shelter and food availability. Based on the findings from this
      study it is recommended that future efforts to predict and map spatial and
      temporal human plague infection risk at fine scale should consider the role
      played by land use and associated human activities on small mammal abundance and
      distribution.

PMID- 26867283
TI  - Contribution of land use to rodent flea load distribution in the plague endemic
      area of Lushoto District, Tanzania.
AB  - Fleas associated with different rodent species are considered as the major
      vectors of bubonic plague, which is still rampant in different parts of the
      world. The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of land
      use to rodent flea load distribution at fine scale in the plague endemic area of
      north-eastern Tanzania. Data was collected in three case areas namely, Shume,
      Lukozi and Mwangoi, differing in plague incidence levels. Data collection was
      carried out during both wet and dry seasons of 2012. Analysis of Variance and
      Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) statistical methods were used to clarify the
      relationships between fleas and specific land use characteristics. There was a
      significant variation (P <= 0.05) of flea indices in different land use types.
      Fallow and natural forest had higher flea indices whereas plantation forest mono
      crop and mixed annual crops had the lowest flea indices among the aggregated land
      use types. The influence of individual land use types on flea indices was
      variable with fallow having a positive effect and land tillage showing a negative
      effect. The results also demonstrated a seasonal effect, part of which can be
      attributed to different land use practices such as application of pesticides, or
      the presence of grass strips around fields. These findings suggest that land use
      factors have a major influence on rodent flea abundance which can be taken as a
      proxy for plague infection risk. The results further point to the need for a
      comprehensive package that includes land tillage and crop type considerations on
      one hand and the associated human activities on the other, in planning and
      implementation of plague control interventions.

PMID- 26867282
TI  - Anthropogenic soils and land use patterns in relation to small mammal and flea
      abundance in plague endemic area of Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.
AB  - Heterogeneity in the landscapes of West Usambara Mountains on land use and human
      activities has been reported. However, the interface of land use patterns and
      human modified soils with small mammal and flea abundance for possible
      explanation of plague has not been explored. This study was carried out to
      determine the link between anthropogenic soils and land use patterns on small
      mammal and flea abundance and the occurrence of reported plague in the Western
      Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. Standard soil survey methods were used to
      identify and describe soils and land use patterns on lower slopes and valley
      bottoms on which the surrounding villages are reported to have high and medium
      plague frequencies. The identified soils were characterised in terms of their
      morphological and physico-chemical properties and classified according to FAO
      World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Small mammals were trapped on the same
      landscape positions and identified to genus/species level. Fleas were removed
      from the trapped small mammals, counted and identified to species level. In total
      57 small mammals were captured from which 32 fleas were collected. Results show
      that human settlements and mixed cultivation on lower slopes and continuous
      vegetable cropping in the valley bottoms are dominant land use types. Intensive
      use of forest soils, manuring and irrigation on farms in the studied landscapes
      have contributed to the development of uniquely human modified soils namely
      Hortic Anthrosols in the lower slopes and Plaggic Irragric Hortic Anthrosols in
      valley bottoms. The identified anthropogenic soils and land use patterns are
      associated with high abundance of small mammals (Mastomys natalensis) and flea
      species (Xenopsylla brasiliensis and Dinopsyllus lypusus). This phenomenon is
      vividly apparent in the villages with medium to high plague frequencies. The
      study suggests that plague surveillance programmes should consider the existing
      relationship between anthropogenic soils, land use patterns, small mammal and
      flea abundance.

PMID- 26867284
TI  - Prevalence of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis: a study of rodents and shrews in
      cultivated and fallow land, Morogoro rural district, Tanzania.
AB  - Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are among understudied zoonotic diseases that are
      also not diagnosed routinely in Tanzania. Humans get leptospirosis and
      toxoplasmosis through contact with an environment contaminated with Leptospira
      bacteria and Toxoplasma protozoa from reservoir hosts, which are rodents and
      cats, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence
      of Leptospira and Toxoplasma infections in rodents and shrews in Mikese area of
      Morogoro Rural District in eastern Tanzania. A total of 89 rodents and one shrew
      from cultivated and fallow land were tested for leptospirosis using six
      Leptospira serovars: Sokoine, Kenya, Canicola, Lora, Hebdomadis and Pomona.
      Toxoplasmosis was determined in 46 rodents brain smears. The prevalence of
      leptospirosis was 25.8%, and Leptospira serovar Sokoine was the most prevalent
      serovar (16.9%). Toxoplasma was detected in one rodent (2.17%) individual while
      three rodent individuals had Toxoplasma-like parasites hence were considered
      suspect positive. Findings suggest potential existence of human leptospirosis
      which needs to be further investigated. Public awareness of leptospirosis and
      toxoplasmosis should be promoted and their diagnosis considered in patients in
      health care facilities.

PMID- 26867285
TI  - Building the Future Environmental Health Workforce.

PMID- 26867286
TI  - Gender Differences in Respiratory Health of School Children Exposed to Rail Yard
      Generated Air Pollution: The ENRRICH Study.
AB  - Studies about environmental burdens often explore overall community risk.
      Increasing evidence suggests, however, differential burdens by gender and age.
      The purpose of the authors' research was to determine if gender-related
      difference exists among children in a region plagued with poor air quality and if
      increased exposure to pollutants from a major goods movement rail yard influences
      the relationship. Using a cross-sectional study design, the authors provided
      respiratory screening for children at two elementary schools. Compared to
      females, males were at significantly greater odds of exhibiting elevated
      fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) but less likely to exhibit reduced lung
      volume. Even in an area of overall poor air quality, the authors found that male
      children were a vulnerable subpopulation for greater elevated FeNO, while females
      were at increased risk for reduced lung capacity. Understanding differential
      burdens in vulnerable subpopulations is critical to providing timely and
      responsive strategies targeted towards health-based prevention and intervention
      activities.

PMID- 26867287
TI  - A Step Towards Improving Food Safety in India: Determining Baseline Knowledge and
      Behaviors Among Restaurant Food Handlers in Chennai.
AB  - With the establishment of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
      (FSSAI) and new food safety regulations, a precedent has been set to prevent
      foodborne illness in India. The objective of the authors' study was to identify
      knowledge gaps among food handlers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to establish
      priorities for future intervention. A 44-question survey was administered to 156
      food handlers at 36 restaurants in Chennai between April and June of 2011. The
      overall mean knowledge score was 49% and knowledge gaps related to hand hygiene,
      proper food cooking and holding temperatures, and cross contamination were
      identified. Food handlers with a Medical Fitness Certificate scored significantly
      higher than those without a certificate, after controlling for food safety
      training and level of education (p < .05). As the FSSAI standards now require a
      medical certificate for restaurant licensure and registration, consideration
      should be given to include an educational component to this certification with an
      explanation of expected food safety behavior.

PMID- 26867288
TI  - Safety Evaluation of Metal Exposure From Commonly Used Hair Dyes and Tattoo Inks
      in Nigeria.
AB  - In the study described in this article, the concentrations of metals (cadmium,
      copper, chromium, aluminum, lead, nickel, zinc, cobalt, manganese, and iron) in
      samples of some commonly used hair dyes and tattoo inks were determined with a
      view to providing information on the hazards associated with the use of these
      products. The concentrations of metals were measured after nitric acid/perchloric
      acid/hydrogen peroxide digestion by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results
      indicated that the tattoo ink samples contained allergenic metals such as nickel,
      chromium, and cobalt at concentrations above the suggested limit of 1 MUg/g for
      greater skin protection, and the toxic metals were below their respective
      prescribed limits, as impurities in ingredients for use for cosmetics, in the
      majority of the samples.

PMID- 26867289
TI  - Knowledge and Food Handling Practices of Nurses in a Tertiary Health Care
      Hospital in Nigeria.
AB  - Food safety in hospitals is important to protect patients whose immunity may be
      compromised by their illness. The safety of food served to patients is dependent
      on its handling acquisition of raw food items, to preparation, packaging, and
      distribution. The study described in this article assessed the knowledge and food
      handling practices of nurses in the food chain to patients in the hospital wards.
      The mean age of respondents was 33.7 +/- 9.3 years and 180 (56.6%) had worked in
      the hospital for 1-5 years. While respondents had good knowledge scores overall,
      only 22 (6.5%) knew the correct temperature for maintaining hot, ready-to-eat
      food. Also, 332 (97.6%) respondents knew the importance of hand washing before
      handling food while 279 (84.1%) always wash hands before handling food. The study
      revealed a decline in performance over time, from knowledge and attitudes to
      practice in food handling. Therefore, regular training on safe food handling
      procedures should be mainstreamed into the training curriculum of staff nurses in
      health care institutions.

PMID- 26867290
TI  - Assessment of the Physicochemical Quality of Drinking Water Resources in the
      Central Part of Iran.
AB  - The aim of the study described in this article was to assess the physicochemical
      quality of water resources in Isfahan province, located in the central part of
      Iran, from June to November 2012. Comparison of the results with the acceptable
      limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water
      showed that nitrate, chloride, iron, and fluoride concentrations exceeded the
      maximum acceptable level in 12.3%, 9.2%, 6.8%, and 1.5% of samples, respectively.
      Total dissolved solids (TDS) and turbidity values also exceeded the maximum
      acceptable level in 9.2% and 3.1% of samples, respectively. In general, the
      quality of drinking water resources in the central part of Iran at present is
      mostly acceptable and satisfactory. It may be deteriorated in the future,
      however, because water quantity and quality in arid and semiarid areas are highly
      variable over time. Therefore, continued monitoring of the water resources
      quality is extremely important to environmental safety.

PMID- 26867291
TI  - Seat Belt Usage Interventions for Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention on the Pine
      Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota.
AB  - Motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are the leading cause of death from severe injuries
      on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (PRIR), averaging 16 MVC deaths per year
      from 2002 to 2011. The Sacred Cargo Coalition was established in PRIR in 2007 to
      implement intervention strategies to increase seat belt usage and reduce MVC
      fatalities, including seat belt law enforcement, creating a traffic court system,
      and educational campaigns on MVC prevention. The study described in this article
      examined the effectiveness of the interventions on increasing the seat belt usage
      rates and reducing MVC deaths. Secondary data were collected from the National
      Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other federal and local agencies. Seat
      belt usage rates increased an average of 6.8 percentage points from 2007 (10%) to
      2012 (44%). MVC fatalities decreased by 46.7% from the preintervention to the
      intervention period. Maintenance and improvement of the intervention strategies
      may be achieved by seeking additional funding and including appropriate
      engineering activities in PRIR.

PMID- 26867292
TI  - An Expanding and Shifting Focus in Recent Environmental Health Literature: A
      Quantitative Bibliometric Study.
AB  - This special report characterizes the patterns of environmental health literature
      from 1993 to 2012 by using bibliometric techniques based on databases of the
      Science Citation Index and the Social Science Citation Index. "Research article"
      was the most widely used document type, accounting for 71.7% of the total records
      (5,053), and 94.9% of these articles were published in English. The number of
      environmental health publications is growing along with an increasing level of
      communication. The U.S. was the largest contributing country with the highest h
      index (85) and the most publications (1,854), followed by the UK and Canada.
      Environmental Health Perspectives and the Journal of Environmental Health were
      the top two most productive journals. The most cited article in each main
      research area is also listed. The authors' study not only identifies global
      characteristics in environmental health research, but also influences
      researchers' selection of future studies and publications.

PMID- 26867293
TI  - Pesticide Exposure in the Caribbean: A Case From Nutmeg Processing.
AB  - Many developed countries around the world have implemented regulations to phase
      out or greatly restrict the use of pesticides. Pesticides are still utilized with
      minimal restrictions, however, in fumigating agricultural commodities in
      developing countries such as Grenada. This special report presents the case of a
      nutmeg factory worker in Grenada who worked with various pesticides including
      methyl bromide, magnesium phosphide (magtoxin), and aluminum phosphide
      (phostoxin) without the proper awareness and utilization of health and safety
      measures. The nutmeg factory worker later developed metastatic bladder cancer,
      which may have been triggered by a combination of individual risk factors along
      with long-term occupational exposure to these pesticides. In this special report,
      the occupational health importance of prevention in a work environment with
      significant exposure to pesticides is highlighted as well as some of the
      fundamental deficiencies in awareness among workers in developing nations
      concerning the deleterious effects of frequent exposure to pesticides.

PMID- 26867294
TI  - Association Between Low Temperature During Winter Season and Hospitalizations for
      Ischemic Heart Diseases in New York State.
AB  - Most prior research investigating the health effects of extreme cold has been
      limited to temperature alone. Only a few studies have assessed population
      vulnerability and compared various weather indicators. The study described in
      this article intended to evaluate the effects of cold weather on hospital
      admissions due to ischemic heart disease, especially acute myocardial infarction
      (AMI), and to examine the potential interactive effects between weather factors
      and demographics on AMI. The authors found that extremely low universal apparent
      temperature in winter was associated with increased risk of AMI, especially
      during lag4-lag6. Certain demographic groups such as the elderly, males, people
      with Medicaid insurance, people living in warmer areas, and areas with high PM2.5
      concentration showed higher vulnerabilities to cold-AMI effects than other
      groups.

PMID- 26867295
TI  - Measurements of Arsenic in the Urine and Nails of Individuals Exposed to Low
      Concentrations of Arsenic in Drinking Water From Private Wells in a Rural Region
      of Quebec, Canada.
AB  - Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic leads to an increased risk of cancer. A
      biological measurement was conducted in 153 private well owners and their
      families consuming water contaminated by inorganic arsenic at concentrations that
      straddle 10 MUg/L. The relationship between the external dose indicators
      (concentration of inorganic arsenic in wells and daily well water inorganic
      arsenic intake) and the internal doses (urinary arsenic--sum of As(III), DMA, and
      MMA, adjusted for creatinine--and total arsenic in toenails) was evaluated using
      multiple linear regressions, controlling for age, gender, dietary sources of
      arsenic, and number of cigarettes smoked. It showed that urinary arsenic was
      associated with concentration of inorganic arsenic in wells (p < .001) and daily
      well water inorganic arsenic intake (p < .001) in adults, and with daily well
      water inorganic arsenic intake (p = .017) and rice consumption (p = .022) in
      children (n = 43). The authors' study reinforces the drinking-water quality
      guidelines for inorganic arsenic.

PMID- 26867296
TI  - Health Risk Assessment Research on Heavy Metals Ingestion Through Groundwater
      Drinking Pathway for the Residents in Baotou, China.
AB  - Drinking groundwater is a significant pathway for human exposure to heavy metals.
      To evaluate the health effect of some heavy metals ingestion through the
      groundwater drinking pathway, the authors collected 35 groundwater samples from
      the drinking water wells of local residents and the exploitation wells of
      waterworks in Baotou, China. The monitoring results indicate that the groundwater
      had been polluted by heavy metals in some regions of the study area. A health
      risk assessment model derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was
      used to determine the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents who
      drink groundwater. All the respondents in the study area were at potential risk
      of carcinogenic health effects from arsenic when using the lowest safe standard
      for carcinogenic risk (1E-06). The hazard quotient values for noncarcinogenic
      health risk of arsenic exceeded 1 in 14.3% of the sampling wells in the study
      area. The research results could provide baseline data for groundwater
      utilization and supervision in the Baotou plain area.

PMID- 26867297
TI  - The Impact of Extremes in Outdoor Temperature and Sunshine Exposure on Birth
      Weight.
AB  - Following the "fetal origins of adult disease" hypothesis, environmental
      determinants of birth weight regained interest. The authors applied a detailed
      spatial-time exposure model for climatological factors thought to affect fetal
      growth: seasonality, temperature, and sunshine. Daily climatological data (29
      stations) were linked to 1,460,401 term births with an individual exposure matrix
      for each pregnancy. Linear regression was utilized to determine effects of
      climatological factors on individual birth weight and existing spatial variations
      in birth weight. In The Netherlands substantial regional climatological
      differences exist. Summer was associated with significantly reduced birth weight
      (16-19 g). Minimum and maximum temperatures were significantly associated with
      increased and reduced birth weight, respectively. Spatial birth weight
      differences ranged from -11 to +25 g, with lowest birth weights in inland areas.
      The authors demonstrate birth weight to be associated with climatological
      factors; negative birth weight effects of maximum temperature exposure confirm
      results from animal studies. Consequently, a climate footprint is visible in the
      spatial birth weight differences.

PMID- 26867298
TI  - Radon Risk Communication Strategies: A Regional Story.
AB  - Risk communication on the health effects of radon encounters many challenges and
      requires a variety of risk communication strategies and approaches. The concern
      over radon exposure and its health effects may vary according to people's level
      of knowledge and receptivity. Homeowners in radon-prone areas are usually more
      informed and have greater concern over those not living in radon-prone areas. The
      latter group is often found to be resistant to testing. In British Columbia as
      well as many other parts of the country, some homes have been lying outside of
      the radon-prone areas have radon levels above the Canadian guideline, which is
      the reason Health Canada recommends that all homes should be tested. Over the
      last five years, the Environment Health Program (EHP) of Health Canada in the
      British Columbia region has been using a variety of different approaches in their
      radon risk communications through social media, workshops, webinars, public
      forums, poster contests, radon distribution maps, public inquiries, tradeshows
      and conference events, and partnership with different jurisdictions and
      nongovernmental organizations. The valuable lessons learned from these approaches
      are discussed in this special report.

PMID- 26867300
TI  - Parks: An Opportunity to Leverage Environmental Health.

PMID- 26867299
TI  - Civic Engagement Builds Capacity for Health Departments.

PMID- 26867301
TI  - (Work) Force = Mass x Acceleration.

PMID- 26867302
TI  - [How I TREAT ... THE ROLE OF DPP-4 INHIBITORS (GLIPTINS) IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPE
      2 DIABETES].
AB  - Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (gliptins) are more and more prominent
      medications in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), with five molecules
      commercialized and as many fixed-dose combinations with metformin. After failure
      of metformin monotherapy, gliptins compete with old medications such as
      sulphonylureas, on the one hand, or with new oral antidiabetic agents such as
      inhibitors of renal sodium-glucose cotransporters type 2 (SGLT2) (gliflozines),
      on the other hand. Another alternative is the use of an incretin mimetic (agonist
      of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors, to be injected subcutaneously) rather than
      an incretin enhancer such as a gliptin, before considering insulin therapy. This
      article analyses the arguments in favour of DPP-4 inhibitors. We will mainly
      consider the use of gliptins in patients with recently diagnosed T2D, in elderly
      and frail patients and in those with chronic kidney disease. To illustrate the
      discussion, we will analyze the results of both interventional and observational
      studies with vildagliptin. Obviously, these various groups of patients represent
      a large proportion of T2D population.

PMID- 26867303
TI  - [MAZABRAUD SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT].
AB  - We report a case of Mazabraud syndrome diagnosed in a 53 year old female patient.
      This disease is characterized by the association of a fibrous dysplasia with one
      or several intramuscular myxoma(s). The literature related to this pathology is
      poor and only reports a few cases. The aetiology has not been fully established:
      a genetic hypothesis seems most likely given the common association with McCune
      Albright syndrome. Although rare, the incidence of Mazabraud syndrome seems
      underestimated, probably out of ignorance. The aim of this article is to describe
      Mazabraud syndrome and its common features. The management of fibrous dysplasia
      of bone and benign soft tissue tumors will also be outlined.

PMID- 26867304
TI  - [Moxifloxacin and iris transillumination].
AB  - Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination (BAIT) is a new clinical entity
      characterized by acute onset of pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber and
      angle, depigmentation of the iris stroma and permanent iris transillumination,
      mas- querading as uveitis. An association with oral moxifloxacin is reported in
      some articles. We describe one case of bilate- ral acute iris transillumination,
      following the use of systemic moxifloxacin.

PMID- 26867305
TI  - [ENDOSCOPIC LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION IN PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA].
AB  - Emphysema is characterized by an irreversible alveolar destruction, a progressive
      lung hyperinflation and a dysfunction of respiratory muscles. It induces a
      respiratory functional limitation and a decrease of quality of life. Endoscopic
      lung volume reduction represents a potential alternative to surgical treatments
      for advanced heterogeneous emphysema without concomitant surgical morbidity. The
      different bronchoscopic systems for lung volume reduction currently under
      evaluation are presented.

PMID- 26867306
TI  - [CUTANEOUS INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES].
AB  - Patients suffering from a malignant hemopathy represent a population at high risk
      for cutaneous infections that are potentially severe. Viral, bacterial and
      mycotic infections of the skin are not rare. Their semiology possibly appears
      falsely reassuring. Some skin lesions are primary events. Other lesions are
      secondary following contiguous extension of another deeper location, or represent
      a sign of septicemia. Taking care of the patient must be precocious and rigorous.

PMID- 26867307
TI  - [MANAGEMENT OF THYMIC EPITHELIAL TUMORS].
AB  - Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are rare. Their optimal care is still poorly
      defined because of their rarity and of the resulting difficulty to conceive large
      clinical trials. This review of the literature presents the current clinical and
      therapeutic data on this form of tumors and underlines the need for a
      multidisciplinary approach to advanced stage TET. Three clinical situations can
      be encountered: encapsuled tumors lead to radical surgery; tumors associated with
      capsular invasion justify a postoperative radiotherapy; advanced stages require a
      multimodal treatment by chemotherapy, possibly completed by surgery and adjuvant
      radiotherapy. Besides systemic chemotherapies, the place of new therapeutic
      strategies, such as somatostatin analogues and targeted treatments, requires to
      be defined. Treatment of late stage TET is based upon a multidisciplinary
      dialogue, ideally by a reference team.

PMID- 26867308
TI  - [CA, P, AND MG POSTNATAL METABOLISM AND REQUIREMENTS IN PARENTERAL AND ENTERAL
      NUTRITION OF PREMATURE INFANTS].
AB  - During the last trimester of gestation, transplacental mineral transfer and fetal
      mineral accretion is particularly high: 2.3-3.2 mmol/kg/day (90-130 mg/kg/d) of
      calcium, 2.4-2.7 mmol/kg/d (65-75 mg/kg/day) of phosphorus and 0.12-0.20
      mmol/kg/d (2.9-4.8 mg/kg/day) of magnesium. After birth, there is a dramatic
      change in bone mineral metabolism from a maximal bone deposition during fetal
      life to a postnatal bone turnover stimulation improving bone structure and
      resistance. This physiological change could partly reduce the mineral
      requirements, as minerals available from the remodeling activities could be
      recycled for bone mineralization. In addition, recent studies in preterm infants,
      suggest that the use of early more "aggressive" nutritional support, providing
      high aminoacid intakes from the first day of life, may induce a "refeeding like
      syndrome" suggesting that early phosphorus and electrolytes supplies are also
      necessary. The aim of the present paper is to review the mineral metabolism of
      Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants during the first weeks of life at the light
      of the more recent studies and to revise the nutritional recommendations for
      mineral parenteral and enteral intakes in VLBW infants.

PMID- 26867309
TI  - [CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY AND LIMITATIONS OF FROZEN SECTION IN
      THYROID PATHOLOGY: AN EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENT].
AB  - Palpable thyroid nodules are present clinically in 4-7% of the population and
      their prevalence increases to 50%-67% when using high-resolution neck
      ultrasonography. By contrast, thyroid carcinoma (TC) represents only 5-20% of
      these nodules, which underlines the need for an appropriate approach to avoid
      unnecessary surgery. Frozen section (PS) has been used for more than 40 years in
      thyroid surgery to establish the diagnosis of malignancy. However, a controversy
      persists regarding the accuracy of FS and its place in thyroid pathology has
      changed with the emergence of fine-needle aspiration (FNA). A PubMed Medline and
      SpringerLink search was made covering the period from January 2000 to June 2012
      to assess the accuracy of ES, its limitations and indications for the diagnosis
      of thyroid nodules. Twenty publications encompassing 8.567 subjects were included
      in our study. The average value of TC among thyroid nodules in analyzed studies
      was 15.5 %. ES ability to detect cancer expressed by its sensitivity (Ss) was
      67.5 %. More than two thirds of the authors considered PS useful exclusively in
      the presence of doubtful ENA and for guiding the surgical extension in cases
      confirmed as malignant by FNA; however, only 33% accepted FS as a routine
      examination for the management of thyroid nodules. The influence of FS on
      surgical reintervention rate in nodular thyroid pathology was considered to be
      negligible by most studies, whereas 31 % of the authors thought that FS has a
      favorable benefit by decreasing the number of surgical re-interventions. In
      conclusion, the role of FS in thyroid pathology evolved from a mandatory
      component for thyroid surgery to an optional examination after a pre-operative
      FNA cytology. The accuracy of FS seems to provide no sufficient additional
      benefit and most experts support its use only in the presence of equivocal or
      suspicious cytological features, for guiding the surgical extension in cases
      confirmed as malignant by FNA and for the identification of other potentially
      confusing intraoperative findings.

PMID- 26867310
TI  - [FROM THE LAW "RELATED TO ABNORMAL AND HABITUAL OFFENDERS" TO THE LAW OF
      INTERNMENT OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS"].
AB  - The Belgian forensic system for offenders with mental disorders is organized
      according to a principle of social defense. It is characterized, on the one hand,
      by the protection of the society and neutralization of risks and, on the other
      hand, by the requirements of mental care for the internee. The evolution of the
      legal framework from the 1930 law related to "abnormal and habitual offenders" to
      the law about "internment of persons with mental disorder" voted in 2014 reflects
      the vicissitudes born of the tension between these two pillars. In this difficult
      balance between medical and judicial issues, although published, but not yet
      effective, the 2014 version of the law is, in many ways, a positive development
      in the integration of internees and their needs.

PMID- 26867311
TI  - [Construction of Recombinant Adenovirus Vector with Human/Mouse Interferon Gene
      and Its Transfection into Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Construction and identification of recombinant adenovirus vector with
      human/mouse interferon (IFN-gamma) and effectively transfection into human
      umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs). METHODS: IFN-gamma gene of
      human/mouse were amplified from the plasmid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      and then inserted into the plasmid pDC316 to generate pDC316-IFN-gamma. After
      being confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, the DNA
      encoding IFN-gamma in the new structure were inserted into the vector of
      recombinant plasmid adenovirus and confirmed by restricition enzyme digestion.
      Then the human embryonic kidney cell line 293 were transfected with confirmed Ad
      IFN-gamma, and the recombinant adenovirus were amplified, and the virus titer
      were detected using 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) assay. The
      expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and IFN-gamma were detected by
      fluorescent microsope and Western blot and ELISA after the recombinant adenovirus
      transfected HUMSCs. RESULTS: The recombinant adenovirus Ad-hIFN-gamma were
      constructed successfully, and amplified with titer of 1.6 x 10(10) IU/mL. The
      titer of Ad-mIFN-gamma was 1.0 x 10(10) IU/mL and the titer of Ad-GFP was 1.0 x
      10(9) IU/mL. The green fluorescence proteins could be observed under fluorescent
      microscope in HUMSCs 24 h after transfection and with a stronger degree after 72
      h, and IFN-gamma expression in HUMSCs were confirmed by Western blot and ELISA.
      CONCLUSION: Construction and identification of recombinant adenovirus vector of
      human/mouse IFN-ygamma and effectively transfection of HUMSCs were successful.

PMID- 26867312
TI  - [Estrogen Receptor Subtype-mediated Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays for
      Determining (anti) Estrogen Effect of Chemicals].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish gene assays for determining (anti) estrogen effect of
      environmental chemicals; and to compare the reactivity and sensitivity of two
      assays with different estrogen subtype. METHODS: Human estrogen receptor a
      (hERalpha) and hERbeta mediated reporter gene assays employing firefly luciferase
      (Luc) were developed. The expression plasmid hERalpha or hERbeta was constructed
      and transiently co-transfected into LLC-MK2 cells with pERE-minP-Luc2P reporter
      plasmid and the control plasmid pGL4.74. Estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol
      (DES) served as positive test substances to verify the performance of the assays.
      The effectiveness of the assays for detecting anti-estrogenic activity was tested
      using 10(-5) mol/L ICI 182, 780 under different concentrations of E2. The
      performance of the two subtype-mediated assays was verified and compared using
      bisphenol A (BPA) and genistein (GS). RESULTS: The hERalpha mediated assay found
      expression of reported gene at 1.9 x 10(-11) mol/L E2; and the largest luciferase
      activity was shown at 10(-8) mol/L E2, resulting in 30.7-fold of vehicle control.
      The hERbeta mediated assay found expression of reporter gene at 2.2 x 10(11)
      mol/L E2, and the largest luciferase activity was shown at 10(-8) mol/L E2,
      resulting in 14.4-fold of vehicle control. ICI 182, 780 inhibited estrogenic
      activity of E2 significantly. In both assays, E2 failed to induce luciferase
      activity without hER-pcDNA3.1. BPA and GS induced luciferase activity.
      CONCLUSION: Both assays have high sensitivity and reproducibility for detecting
      (anti) estrogen effect. The pGL4-based hERbeta has lower sensitivity than the
      hERalpha- mediated reporter gene assay. BPA shows stronger estrogenic activity
      than GS in hERalpha mediated reporter gene assay; whereas, GS shows stronger
      estrogenic activity than BPA in hERbeta mediated reporter gene assay.

PMID- 26867313
TI  - [Bactericidal Activity of Constructed Recombinant Fusion Protein Pheromonicin
      CT].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To construct engineering peptide pheromonicin-Clostrzaum tretant krn
      ui), and to test its bactericidal activity. METHODS: We amplified the gene of
      variable regions from hybridoma cells which secreted monoclonal antibody (mAb)
      against antigen in the membrane of Clostridium tetani and linked the small
      antibody mimetic to the channel-forming domain of colicin Ia to create Ph-CT. The
      Ph-CT was purified by CM sepharose ion-exchange column. Its in vitro
      antibacterial activity was evaluated by colony culture with different doses of Ph
      CT (final concentration 2, 4, 8, and 16 microg/mL,respectively). Then we
      inoculated culture medium with CT strains and different doses of Ph-CT (final
      concentration of 4 and 16 microg/mL). The in vivo antibacterial activity of Ph-CT
      was evaluated by cumulative survival of mice. After 16 hours' anaerobic culture,
      the mice was treated with filtered CT medium or CT medium. RESULTS: We
      constructed Ph-CT successfully. CT colonies appeared in the CT medium treated
      with Ph-CT (2, 4 microg/mL), while no colony appeared in the CT medium treated
      with Ph-CT (8, 16 microg/mL). All mice survived when they were injected with
      filtered CT medium treated with Ph-CT (4, 16 microg/mL) and CT medium treated
      with Ph-CT (16 microg/mL). Three (50%) mice survived when they were injected with
      CT medium treated with Ph-CT (4 microg/mL). All mice in the control groups died
      after CT infections. CONCLUSION: Ph-CT may be of value as antibiotics against
      Clostridium tetani.

PMID- 26867314
TI  - [The Effects of Thymosin alpha1 on Immune Function of Mice after Skin
      Transplantation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: By establishing C57-BABL/c mice allogeneic skin transplantation model,
      to analyze the immune system function with the administration of thymosin al
      (Tal) in mouse after skin transplantation; and to explore the mechanism of
      specific immune tolerance induced by Tal in vivo. METHODS: 80 C57 mice and 80
      BABL/c mice were used as donor and acceptor respectively to establish C57-BABL/c
      mice allogeneic skin transplantation model and divided into four groups: Group A,
      control group (without any treatment, n=20); Group B, CsA treatment group (CsA 10
      mg/kg, n=20); Group C, Tal treatment group (Tal 400 microg/kg, n=20) and Group D,
      combination therapy group (CsA 10 mg/kg & Talphal 400 microg/kg, n=20). In the
      three experimental group, the drug of each group were respectively administrated
      by intraperitoneal injection daily, for 21 d. The survival of skin graft were
      observed and recorded, the Luminexx MAP for cytokine detection were performed in
      1, 7, 14, 21 d after treatment, skin grafts were taking for HE staining, and flow
      cytometry were performed for lymphocyte phenotype. RESULTS: After
      transplantation, in 1, 7, 14, 21 d, the cytokine of Group B, C and ID compared to
      Group A, as well as Group D to B&C respectively, shows a decreaing of IL-1, IL-2,
      IL-6, IL-17 value and increasing of IL-10 significantly (P<0.05) at the same time
      point; While no statistical significance shows between Group B and C. Compared
      with other groups, Group D have a high ratio of CD4/CD8, and a high percentage of
      CD4+ CD25+ T cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Administrated Tal after transplantation,
      can decrease the graft damage from T cells, but could not prevent rejection.

PMID- 26867315
TI  - [Effect of Berberine on the Insulin Resistance and TLR4/IKKbeta/NF-kappaB
      Signaling Pathways in Skeletal Muscle of Obese Rats with Insulin Resistance].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible mechanism of berberine improve insulin
      resistance in skeletal muscle of obese rats. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were
      divided into normal control group (NC group, n =10) and high fat food group (HF
      group, n=30). After the obese model rats established successfully, the rats of NC
      group (n=10) and HF group (n=10) were sacrificed. The level of fasting plasma
      endotoxin (ET) was detected. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA
      in skeletal muscle were detected by real time quantitative PCR. The expression of
      TLR4, IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta), phospho-IKKbeta(Ser181) (p-IKKbeta(Ser181)),
      nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
      insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), phospho-IRS
      1(Ser307) (p-IRS-1(ser307)) and the tyrosine phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1 (p
      IR(Tyr) and p-IRS-1(Tyr)) protein in skeletal muscle were detected by Western
      blot. The twenty HF group rats were randomly divided into two group: the fat
      model control group (FC group, n=10) were fed with high fat diet and distilled
      water. The fat berberine group (FB group, n=10) were fed with high fat diet and
      berberine. All rats were sacrificed after effective interventions of eight weeks.
      The same indexes as the first part of experiment were detected. Results The
      results showed that the level of ET was increased. The TLR4/IKKneta/NF-kappaB
      signaling pathway is activated and the expression of TNF-alpha was increased of
      the skeletal muscle in obese rats. However, the insulin signaling pathways of the
      skeletal muscle in obese rats was inhibited. Berberine could reduce the level of
      ET of obese rats, down-regulate the TLR4/IKKbeta/NF- kappaB inflammation
      signaling pathway and improve insulin resistance of skeletal muscle in obese
      rats. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that berberine could reduce the level of ET
      of obese rats, down-regulate the TLR4/IKKbeta/NF-kappaB inflammation signaling
      pathway in skeletal muscle and berberine can improve insulin resistance of
      skeletal muscle through inhibiting the active of the TLR4/IKKbeta/NF-kappaB
      signaling pathway.

PMID- 26867316
TI  - [Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Grafts for Neonatal Rats Model of
      HIBD: the Mechanism of PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein
      kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway for umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem
      cells (UC-MSCs) treating in neonatal rats with hypoxia-ischemia brain damage
      (HIBD). METHODS: P10 SD rats were divided into sham group, MSCs group, inhibitor
      (LY 294002) group (LY group) and HIBD group randomly. To establish a neonatal rat
      model of HIBD, UC-MSCs labeled with Brd U were transplanted into the lateral
      ventricle of rats. At 24 and 48 h after transplantation, the number of apoptotic
      cells was detected by TUNEL, while the expression of caspase3 protein and
      phosphorylation of Akt (P-Akt) were quantified by Western blot. RESULTS: At 24
      and 48 h after transplantation, both the apoptotic cells and caspase3 protein
      expression in MSCs group were less than those in LY group and HIBD group (P<0.
      05), while the expression of P-Akt was higher than those in LY group and HIBD
      group (P<0.05), and with the passage of time after transplantation, the
      expression of each index showed a downward trend. CONCLUSION: The apoptotic cells
      of brain and the expression of caspase3 protein decrease, while the expression of
      P-Akt increase. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be an important mechanism for UC
      MSCs transplantation in HIBD rats.

PMID- 26867317
TI  - [Physicochemical Property of iRGD Peptide Modified Doxorubicin Loaded Liposome
      and Its Effect on Cancer Cell Growth].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the physicochemical properties of iRGD conjugated
      doxorubicin loaded liposome (iRGD-LP-DOX), and its effect on targeting and
      inhibiting growth of A549 cells. METHODS: Liposomes were observed under a
      transmission electron microscope. Release of doxorubicin from iRGD-LP-DOX was
      detected by the dialysis bag method. The efficiency of cellular uptake and tumor
      spheroids penetration on A549 cells in vitro was determined. The anti
      proliferation efficiency of iRGD-LP-DOX was evaluated by MTT assay using IC50
      (50% inhibition concentration). RESULTS: iRGD-LP-DOX was spherical in a uniform
      size. Free DOX was released by 100% in 5 h, while LP-DOX and iRGD-LP-DOX were
      released by about 40% in 48 h. A higher level of iRGD-LP-DOX uptaken by A549 was
      found compared with that of LP-DOX (P<0.01). Higher fluorescence intensity was
      detected with iRGD-LP-DOX than with LP-DOX in tumor spheroid. The MTT assay
      confirmed strong inhibitory effect of iRGD-LP-DOX (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: iRGD can
      enhance uptake of liposomes by A549 cells and inhibit the proliferation of tumor
      cells.

PMID- 26867318
TI  - [The Protective Effect of B7-H4 on Concanavalin A Induced Hepatic Injury in
      Mice].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect and its mechanism of B7-H4 on the
      immuno hepatic injury. METHODS: The immuno hepatic injury was induced by
      Concanavalin A (Con A). Sixty KM mice were randomly divided into 4 groups with 15
      mice in each group: Group A (saline), Group B (pcDNA3.1-mB7-H4-Fc), Group C
      (pcDNA3.1), Group D (Con A). One day before the injection of Con A (25 mg/kg),
      the mice in Group B and Group C received the injection of 100 pg pcDNA3.1-mB7-H4
      Fc and 100 microg pcDNA3.1 respectively. The blood samples were collected at 12
      h, 24 h and 48 h after Con A injection, the levels of ALT, AST, IL-4 and IFN
      gamma were measured. Five mice in each group were sacrificed at the above 3 time
      points, the liver tissue were harvested for histopathological detection. RESULTS:
      After Con A injection, the level of ALT in Group B, C, and D were higher than
      that in Group A. The level of ALT in Group B was lower than that in Group C and
      D. The significant difference was found between Group B and Group C. The hepatic
      injury of Group B was less serious than that of Group C and D. CONCLUSION: B7-H4
      may have protection on the immune injury of liver induced by Con A.

PMID- 26867319
TI  - [Expression Difference of MicroRNAs in Colorectal Adenoma and Colorectal Cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression difference of microRNAs in colorectal
      tubular adenoma, tubulovillous adenoma and colorectal cancer. METHODS: Real time
      polymerase chain reaction was used to analysis the expression level of miR-1, miR
      9, miR-31, miR-135a, miR-137 and miR-145 between colorectal tubular adenoma
      (n=44), tubulovillous adenoma (n=16), colorectal cancer (n=20) and paired
      paracancerous normal colorectal tissues. RESULTS: Compared with paired
      paracancerous normal colorectal tissues, colorectal tubular adenoma had decreased
      expression of miR-1, miR-9, miR-137 and miR-145 as well as increased expression
      of miR-31 and miR-135a. Colorectal tubulovillous adenoma had decreased levels of
      miR-1, miR-137, miR-145, as well as increased levels of miR-9, miR-135a, and miR
      31. Colorectal cancer had the expressions of miR-1, miR-9, miR-137 and miR-145
      decreased while the expression of miR-135a and miR-31 increased. CONCLUSION: The
      differential expressions of microRNAs suggested that miRNAs participate in the
      development of colorectal adenoma and cancer.

PMID- 26867320
TI  - [Oxidative Stress Level of Vanadium-exposed Workers].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the oxidative stress level in peripheral blood of
      vanadium-exposed workers, as an indication of population health effect of
      vanadium on human neurobehavioral system. METHODS: 86 vanadium-exposed workers
      and 65 non-exposed workers were recruited by cluster sampling. A questionnaire
      was administered to collect demographic and occupational exposure information.
      Serum activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), inducible nitric oxide synthase
      (iNOS) and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents were detected by kit assay. The
      differences in oxidative stress level between vanadium-exposed and non-exposed
      workers were compared. RESULTS: Vanadium-exposed workers had higher levels of MDA
      contents than the controls. The total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD) activity in
      vanadium-exposed workers was significantly lower than that in the controls, which
      was associated with lowered levels of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD)
      activity. No changes in serum levels of cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn
      SOD) was found in vanadium-exposed workers. No difference in iNOS activity was
      found between vanadium-exposed workers and controls. CONCLUSION: Vanadium
      exposure increases free radical production in serum and reduces antioxidant
      capacity. But the relationship between vanadium exposure and iNOS damage remains
      uncertain.

PMID- 26867321
TI  - [Lesion Locations and Quality of Life in Patients with Ischemic Stroke].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between lesion locations and quality of
      life (QOL) in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: The QOL of 456 stroke
      survivors was assessed two years after the occurrence of stroke. The EQ-5D was
      used for measuring QOL. Lesion locations of the patients were identified with CT,
      MRI and clinical features. Risk factors associated with QOL were identified using
      a multi-level model. RESULTS: Among the 456 stroke survivors, 61.62% (3/5) had
      ACI lesions, and more than half of ACI occurred in the subcortex. The number of
      stroke survivors with left and-right hemisphere lesions was almost equal.
      Different QOL was found between stroke survivors with a right-side brain lesion
      and those with non-brain lesions (P<0.001). Significant differences in QOL were
      also found between those with a subcortex of anterior circulation lesion and
      others (P<0.044). CONCLUSION: Lesion locations are associated with QOL. Future
      studies should pay attention to lesion locations classified by vascular territory
      and brain anatomical structures and size of lesions.

PMID- 26867322
TI  - [High Risk Sex Behaviors and Associated Factors in Young Men in Chengdu].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of high risk sex behaviors and associated
      factors in 18-34 years old men in Chengdu. Methods An anonymous questionnaire
      survey was conducted in 18-34 years old men selected by multi-stage random
      sampling in Chengdu. Data of 1536 respondents who reported having sex contacts
      were analyzed. RESULTS: 23.6% of respondents had multiple sex partners in the
      past 12 months; 11.8% were involved commercial sex; 9.0% had group sex; 4. 7% had
      anal sex; 15.6% had never used a condom; 37.7% had sex under the influence of
      alcohol or drugs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status
      [married, standardized partial regression coefficient (B) = -0.086, P<0.05] ,
      level of education (bachelor or above, B= -0.063, P<0.05), frequency of exposure
      to pornography (B=0.058, P<0.05), childhood sexual abuse (B= 0.042, P<0.05),
      first sexual intercourse at an earlier age (B=0.162, P<0.05), frequency of sex
      under the influence of alcohol or drugs (B=0.054, P<0.05) were significant
      predictors of having multiple sexual partners. Sexual orientation, age, smoking,
      alcohol abuse, drug use, anxiety, depression, childhood physical abuse did not
      appear to be significant factors associated with having multiple sexual partners.
      CONCLUSION: Having multiple sexual partners is the main high risk sex behavior of
      young men in Chengdu. Childhood sexual abuse and early start of sexual
      intercourse are the major predictors of having multiple sexual partners.

PMID- 26867323
TI  - [Knowledge-Attitude-Practice and Associated Factors of Cancer Patients with
      Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) of cancer
      patients with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and its associated
      factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 650 cancer patients
      with PICC in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from April 2014 to
      March 2015. Data were collected through a self-designed questionnaire in relation
      to KAP and its associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 619 valid questionnaires
      were returned. The participants had an average score of 9.28 +/- 2.04 in
      knowledge, 27.95 +/- 4.17 in attitude, and 25.67 +/- 4.00 in practice. Occupation
      was associated with catheter-related knowledge. Comorbidity (with diabetes,
      hypertension and coronary heart disease) was associated with catheter-related
      attitudes (P=0.040). Gender (P=0.015) and catheter insertion site (P=0.023) were
      associated with PICC practice. The multivariable linear regression model showed
      that female patients (standardized partial regression coefficient = -0.097, P =
      0.024) and those with a higher level of education (standardized partial
      regression coefficient=0.125, P=0.017) had a higher score in PICC practice.
      CONCLUSION: Overall, a high level of KAP was found in cancer patients with PICC.
      Clinical nursesshould provide personalized catheter-related education for
      patients according to their gender and level of education. Special attention
      should be paid to those with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus,
      hypertension, coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases.

PMID- 26867324
TI  - [The Relationship Between the Damages of Hand Functions and the Type of Cerebral
      Palsy in Children].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the damages of hand functions
      and the type of cerebral palsy (CP) in children with CP. METHODS: A total of 280
      children aged 4-12 years old with CP in the 20 districts of Chengdu were
      included. The damages of hand functions were assessed with the Chinese Version of
      Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and its relationship with the type of
      CP were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 280 investigated children, there were 195
      chidren with spastic CP, which accounted for the largest proportion (69.64%),
      wherein the spastic diplegia was most common (56.41%). The classification of MACS
      was level I-II in 65.13% children with spastic CP, whereas the classification of
      MACS was level IU-V in 84. 44% and 80.95% children with mixed and dyskinetic CP,
      respectively. With the increase of the degree of cognitive dysfunction in
      children with CP, the level of MACS was also increased. There was a difference
      between the classification of MACS and the different type of CP (P<0.05). The
      children with spastic CP were mostly mild hand dysfunction, while the children
      with mixed and dyskinetic type of CP were mostly middle and severe hand
      dysfunction. A positive correlation was found between the MACS and the subtype of
      spastic CP (r=0.541, P<0.05). In most of the children with diplegia from spastic
      CP, the hand dysfunction was mild, whereas the children with quadriplegia from
      spastic CP were mostly middle and severe hand dysfunction. CONCLUSION: There was
      a correlation between the MACS and the type of CP which can be used to determine
      the damaged condition of hand functions and develop the program of rehabilitation
      and the measures of classification management for the chidren with CP.

PMID- 26867325
TI  - [Correlations Between Joint Proprioception, Muscle Strength, and Functional
      Ability in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish correlations between joint proprioception, muscle flexion
      and extension peak torque, and functional ability in patients with knee
      osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Fifty-six patients with symptomatic knee OA were
      recruited in this study. Both proprioceptive acuity and muscle strength were
      measured using the isomed-2000 isokinetic dynamometer. Proprioceptive acuity was
      evaluated by establishing the joint motion detection threshold (JMDT). Muscle
      strength was evaluated by Max torque (Nm) and Max torque/weight (Nm/ kg).
      Functional ability was assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
      Osteoarthritis Index physical function (WOMAC-PF) questionnaire. Correlational
      analyses were performed between proprioception, muscle strength, and functional
      ability. A multiple stepwise regression model was established, with WOMAC-PF as
      dependent variable and patient age, body mass index (BMI), visual analogue scale
      (VAS)-score, mean grade for Kellgren-Lawrance of both knees, mean strength for
      quadriceps and hamstring muscles of both knees, and mean JMDT of both knees as
      independent variables. RESULTS: Poor proprioception (high JMDT) was negatively
      correlated with muscle strength (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation
      between knee proprioception (high JMDT) and joint pain (WOMAC pain score), and
      between knee proprioception (high JMDT) and joint stiffness (WOMAC stiffness
      score). Poor proprioception (high JMDT) was correlated with limitation in
      functional ability (WOMAC physical function score r=0.659, P<0.05). WOMAC score
      was correlated with poor muscle strength (quadriceps muscle strength r = -0.511,
      P<0.05, hamstring muscle strength r = -0.408, P<0.05). The multiple stepwise
      regression model showed that high JMDT C standard partial regression coefficient
      (B) = 0.385, P<0.50 and high VAS-scale score (B=0.347, P<0.05) were significant
      predictors of WOMAC-PF score. CONCLUSION: Patients with poor proprioception is
      associated with poor muscle strength and limitation in functional ability.
      Patients with symptomatic OA of knees commonly endure with moderate to
      considerable dysfunction, which is associated with poor proprioception (high
      JMDT) and high VAS-scale score.

PMID- 26867326
TI  - [Early Diagnosis And Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Treatment of Gastrointestinal
      Tumor].
AB  - Gastrointestinal tumor could be aggressive and life threaten if it was not be
      diagnosed and treated at early stage. Digestive endoscopy plays a very important
      role in the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumor, and shows
      rapid evolution with novel technologies in the past years, such as endoscopic
      ultrasonography, magnifying endoscopy, electronic staining endoscopy, endoscopic
      confocal laser microscopy. Nowaday it becomes feasible to learn more about the
      endoscopic manifestation in early stage GI tumor. Besides, several new endoscopic
      surgical techniques, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD),
      endoscopicsubmucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD), submucosal tunneling endoscopic
      resection (STER), has been applied in clinical treatment of early stage GI tumor
      with curative effect. However, there are some new problems emerged, such as how
      to determine the depth of the lesion, how to avoid or reduce the incidence of
      postoperative complications, and how to standardize the pathological
      classification and the treatment of positive margin, which need multidisciplinary
      solution with the efforts from endoscopist, clinician and pathologist. With the
      deep insight on, molecular pathogenesis of GI tumor, new technologies combinding
      endoscopy, imaging and pathological measures, will promote more GI tumor early
      diagnosed and effectively treated, thus improve the survival and prognosis of GI
      tumor patients.

PMID- 26867328
TI  - [Factors Associated with Successful Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection
      Treatment for Upper Gastrointestinal Submucosal Tumors].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of location, depth and size of upper
      gastrointestinal (GI) submucosal tumors (SMTs) on the success of submucosal
      tunneling endoscopic resection (STER). METHODS: Patient records of 31 cases with
      upper GI SMTs who had STER between Jan. 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 in West China
      Hospital of Sichuan University were retrieved. The success of STER was determined
      by its efficiency, complete resection rate, and incidence of complications.
      RESULTS: Of the 31 cases, 29 were treated successfully, with an average of (13.76
      +/- 9.70) min and (32.00 +/- 27.35) min for tunnel formation of esophageal and
      stomach mucosal tumors respectively (P = 0.045). The 2 unsuccessful cases were
      gastric tumors. SMTs resection for mucous layer and muscularis propria took
      (17.50 +/- 9.06) min and (36.24 +/- 15.68) min, respectively (P=0.004). SMTs
      resection for tumors diameter < 2.0 cm and > or = 2.0 cm took (25.78 +/- 12.13)
      min and (39.73 +/- 19.23) min, respectively (P=0.023). Six cases of gastric
      tumors from muscularis propria had complications (19.4%) during or after surgery.
      CONCLUSION: Location, depth and size of upper GI SMTs has implications on
      duration of different STER stages, which may determine complete resection rate
      and incidence of complications.

PMID- 26867327
TI  - [The Efficiency and Complications of ESD and ESTD in the Treatment of Large
      Esophageal Mucosal Lesions].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the efficiency and complications of endoscopic submucosal
      dissection (ESD) and endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) in the
      treatment of large esophageal mucosal lesions. METHODS: The clinical data were
      collected from the patients who received ESD or ESTD for the treatment of early
      esophageal lesions in our hospital during January 1, 2014 to July 15, 2015,
      including the en bloc resection rate, curative resection rate, postoperative
      complication rate, the risk factors of complications were explored by univariate
      and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were involved in the
      study, ESD or ESTD were performed successfully in 53 times, including 6 cases of
      ESD,47 cases of ESTD, The average age was (61.9 +/- 6.8) yr., the average
      operating time was (83.57 +/- 32.33) min, the average dissected lesion was (14.82
      +/- 3.18) cm2, En bloc resection rate was 94.34%, the curative rate was 84.90%.
      There were 1 case of bleeding, 1 case of perforation, 45 (84.90%) cases of fever,
      13 cases (24.53%) of esophageal stricture. The severity of stricture was
      associated with the operation time Codds ratio (OR) = 1.040, 95% confidence
      interal (CI): 1.007-1.075) and esophageal circumference (OR=9.972, 95% CI: 1.221
      81.416). The residual resection margin appeared in 8 patients, and the lesion
      area (OR=1.145, 95% CI: 1.013-1.294) was the only risk factor. CONCLUSION: ESD
      and ESTD are safe and effective in the treatment of early esophageal lesions, but
      seems have relatively high incidence of esopgageal stricture and residual
      resection margin in the treatment of large esophageal lesions.

PMID- 26867329
TI  - [Risk Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell
      Carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analysis the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in
      superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). METHODS: The clinical
      data and pathological results of 344 SESCC patients, who underwent surgical
      treatments between January 2009 and December 2013 in West China Hospital, Sichuan
      University, were analyzed retrospectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics were
      compared between different histological types, and their possible relationships
      with LNM were explored by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: There
      were no LNM found in the patients with tumor limited to the mucous, tumor
      diameter <3 cm, highly and moderate differentiated SESCC. Univariate analysis
      showed that tumor diameter (P=0.004), depth of tumor invasion (P=0.009),
      histological type (P=0.030) and lymphatic involvement (P=0.002) were correlated
      with LNM. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor diameter (P=0.007), depth of
      tumor invasion (P=0.003), histological type (P=0.010) and lymphatic involvement
      (P<0.001) were independent risk factors of LNM. CONCLUSION: To the patients with
      low risk of LNM, such as tumor limited to the mucous, tumor diameter <3 cm, and
      highly and moderate differentiation, endoscopic excision may be considered as an
      absolute indications.

PMID- 26867330
TI  - [Superficial Esophageal Carcinoma and Esophageal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: a
      Pathological Study of 130 Cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the pathological features of superficial esophageal
      carcinoma and esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia resected through endoscopic
      submucosal dissection (ESD). METHODS: The clinical and pathologic profiles of 130
      cases were reviewed, including gross type, histology type, infiltration depth,
      infiltrative growth pattern, presence of tumor budding, lymphatic and vascular
      invasion, and margin status. RESULTS: The patients had a median age of 62 years
      old. The predominant gross type was mixed type (78/130, 60.0%), followed by Type
      0-II (49/130, 37.7%). The longest diameter of lesionshad a median of 13.8 mm.
      Morphologically, there were 3 cases (2.3%) of undetermined dysplasia, 25 cases
      (19.2%) of low grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 56 cases (43.1%) of high grade of
      intraepithelial neoplasia, and 46 cases (35.4%) of invasive carcinoma. No
      correlation was found between histological type and gross type. Intramucosal and
      submucosal invasive carcinoma accounted for 87.0% (40/46) and 13.0% (6/46) of the
      cases, respectively; sm1 and sm2 accounted for 4.3% (2/46) and 8.7% (4/46) of the
      cases, respectively. Infiltrative growth pattern was identified as infiltrative
      growth pattern (INF) a (23/46, 50.0%), INFbeta (17/46, 37.0%) and INFc (6/46,
      13.0%). Tumor budding was found in 3 cases and lymphatic and vascular invasion
      was found in 2 cases. Margin was positive in 30 cases (23.1%). Invasive
      carcinomahad a higher margin positive rate (24/46, 52.1%) than low grade
      intraepithelial neoplasia (1/25, 4.0%) and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia
      (5/56, 89%) (P<0.001). No association between margin positivity and invasive
      pattern was found (P=0.208). Fifteen cases (11.5%) recurred, with invasive
      carcinoma being more likely to recur (17.4%, 8/46) than low grade intraepithelial
      neoplasia (8.0%, 2/25) and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (8.9%, 5/56)
      (P<0.05). No association between margin positivity and recurrence rate was found
      (P= 0.590). CONCLUSION: The superficial esophageal carcinoma and esophageal
      intraepithelial neoplasia resected by ESD are predominantly mixed type under
      endoscope, with histological features of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and
      invasive carcinoma. Invasive carcinomas are more likely to recur and present with
      a positive margin.

PMID- 26867331
TI  - [Correlation Between Endoscopic Macroscopic Type and Depth of Tumor Invasion for
      Superficial Adenocarcinoma of Esophagogastric Junction].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of superficial
      adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), and to analyze the relationship
      between endoscopic macroscopic type and tumor depth for such cancers. METHODS:
      The clinical data of the 57 superficial AEG patients who underwent endoscopic
      resection or surgical operation between November 2008 and May 2015 in West China
      Hospital, Sichuan University were analyzed. Clinicopathologic features were
      compared between different depth of tumor invasion by univariate and multivariate
      analysis. RESULTS: The age ranged between 48 and 76 yr., with an average age of
      (63.0 +/- 6.8) yr.; 49 cases in male, 8 cases in female. The tumor size ranged
      between 3.0 and 40.0 mm, the average size was 16. 6 mm. The mucosal carcinoma was
      28 cases, the submucosal carcinoma is 29 cases. There were no significant
      differences in age, gender, histological type and Siewert type in two groups,
      while there was statistical difference in tumor diameter (P=0.02) and endoscopic
      typing (P=0.02) between the two groups. The further multivariate analysis
      revealed that endoscopic macroscopic type (P=0.041) was an independent risk
      factor of superficial AEG invasion depth. The risk of submucosal invasion was
      3.244 times in depressed type as.large as in elevated or flat type of the
      superficial AEG (95% confidence interval: 1.050-10.023). CONCLUSION: The
      endoscopic macroscopic type may be useful in accurately diagnosing superficial
      AEG invasion depth. For the endoscopic macroscopic type mainly of depression,
      especially the type 0-III, which was more likely to infiltrate the submucosal and
      more likely to have lymph node metastasis, do not recommend to get an endoscopic
      treatment.

PMID- 26867332
TI  - [Detecting Thallium in Water Samples using Dispersive Liquid Phase
      Microextraction-Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To develope a method of solvent demulsification dispersive liquid
      phase microextraction (SD-DLPME) based on ion association reaction coupled with
      graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) for detecting thallium in
      water samples. Methods Thallium ion in water samples was oxidized to Tl(III) with
      bromine water, which reacted with Cl- to form TlCl4-. The ionic associated
      compound with trioctylamine was obtained and extracted. DLPME was completed with
      ethanol as dispersive solvent. The separation of aqueous and organic phase was
      achieved by injecting into demulsification solvent without centrifugation. The
      extractant was collected and injected into GFAAS for analysis. With palladium
      colloid as matrix modifier, a two step drying and ashing temperature programming
      process was applied for high precision and sensitivity. RESULTS: The linear range
      was 0.05-2.0 microg/L, with a detection limit of 0.011 microg/L. The relative
      standard derivation (RSD) for detecting Tl in spiked water sample was 9.9%. The
      spiked recoveries of water samples ranged from 94.0% to 103.0%. CONCLUSION: The
      method is simple, sensitive and suitable for batch analysis of Tl in water
      samples.

PMID- 26867333
TI  - [The Effect of Fennel Tea Drinking on Postoperative Gut Recovery after
      Gynecological Malignancies Operation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To reveal if whether fennel fruit (Fructus Foeniculi) tea drinking
      enhances the recovery of intestinal function after gynecologic malignancies
      operation. METHODS: A total of 159 patients undergoing laparotomy for
      gynecological cancers were randomized into a tea group (n=78) and a control group
      (n=81). The patients in tea group drank a cup of fennel fruit tea while patients
      in control group drank the equal quantity of water twice per day from the first
      morning after operation until the first flatus. Every cup of tea consists of 5
      gram of dried fennel fruit and 130 mL boiled water. The patents only drank the
      filtrate. Groups were compared in terms of time to first flatus and defecation,
      postoperative hospital stay, length of parenteral nutrition, ileus symptoms and
      other postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative hospital [(5.6 +/- 1.2)
      d vs. (6.7 +/- 2.0) d, P<0.001], the mean time to flatus [(53.1 +/- 11.3) h vs.
      (64.2 +/- 13.6) h, P<0.001)], and the mean time to defecation [(4.3 +/- 1.0) d
      vs. (5.4 +/- 1.2) d, P < 0.001)] were significantly lower in tea group compared
      with those in control group. Ileus symptoms were observed more in patients in the
      control group compared to patients in tea group [relative risk = 2.6; 95%
      confidence interval, 1.5-4.5; P=0.001]. CONCLUSION: Fennel tea drinking after
      laparotomy for gynecological malignancis, an economical care, is safe, well to
      lerated and associated with rapider recovery of bowel motility, shorter hospital
      stay and fewer complications.

PMID- 26867334
TI  - [Clinical Pathological Analysis of 29 Cases of Borderline Ovarian Tumors with
      Intraepithelial Carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis and
      the pregnancy condition after preserving fertility function surgery of borderline
      ovarian tumors with intraepithelial carcinoma (OIC). METHODS: Clinical data of 29
      patients with OIC at Department of Gynecology, West China Second University
      Hospital, Sichuan University, between January 2005 and March 2014, were collected
      for retrospectively analysis with 6-93 months follow-up. The recurrence rate and
      pregnancy rate after preserving fertility function surgery were compared.
      RESULTS: OIC patients accounts for 4.0% (29/719) in borderline tumors patients,
      including fertility preserving function requirement 51.7% (15/29). All patients
      underwent surgery treatment, including conservative surgery 51.7% (15/29),
      radical surgery 48.3% (14/29). Adjuvant chemotherapy 27.6% (8/29). Pathological
      types: mucinous 69.0% (20/29), serous 13.8% (4/29), endometrioid 6.9% (2/29) and
      mixed 10.3% (3/29). FIGO stage: I a 75.9% (22/29), I b 17.2% (5/29), I c 6.9%
      (2/29). The average follow-up time was 49.6 months, the recurrence rate was 10.3%
      (3/29), the pregnancy rate was 66.7% (10/15). The recurrence rate of higher stage
      and intraoperative retaining ovaries was higher (P = 0.005, P = 0.005); the
      pregnancy rate of younger patients was higher (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: OIC patients
      are young, diagnosed at an early stage. Pathological types are mainly mucinous.
      For patients with fertility requirements, the recurrence rate of ovarian tumor
      excision surgery is very high.

PMID- 26867335
TI  - [Dual Cycle and Dual Channel Regimen in the Treatment of Severe Ovarian
      Hyperstimulation Syndrome with Pregnancy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and advantages of dual channel and
      dual cycle regimen in the treatment of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
      (OHSS) with pregnancy. METHODS: This study enrolled 60 severe OHSS patients who
      were successfully pregnant with vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The
      patients were divided into conventional single cycle treatment group (Group A)
      and dual cycle and dual channel treatment group (Group B). Before the treatment
      and at the 3rd d and 9th d of treatment, all the patients received the
      measurements of body mass (BM), abdominal circumference (AC), maximum depth of
      ascites in ultrasonic (D), serum albumin (ALB), Na+ concentration, white blood
      cell count (WBC), hematocrit (HCT), drink intake (Intake) and urine volume. The
      hospital days and costs, the times of paracentesis, the amount of albumin used
      and pregnancy outcomes were compared at discharge day. RESULTS: At the 3rd d of
      treatment, the changes of BM and HCT between the two groups had not significant
      difference, but AC and WBC were reduced in both groups, and Group B reduced more
      (P<0.05). At the 9th d of treatment,both groups had HCT, AC, D and WBC reduced as
      well as urine-volume and Intake increased, Group B showed more changes (P<0.05).
      Compared to the levels of ALB before treatment, it was lower at the 3rd d but
      higher at the 9th d in both group, with more changes found in Group B (P<0.05).
      Compared with Group A, Group B had shorter hospital day, less use of album and
      paracentesis (P<0.05). All patients in Group B were successful pregnant, one
      patient in Group A terminated pregnancy because of poor treatment effect.
      CONCLUSION: Dual-circulation and dual-channel therapeutic regimen could improve
      hypoproteinemia, low osmotic pressure, low blood volume for OHSS patients.

PMID- 26867336
TI  - [ED50 of Intrathecal Isobaric Bupivacaine with Epidural Volume Extension for
      Cesarean Delivery].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the 50% effective dose (ED50) of intrathecal isobaric
      bupivacaine in combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia with epidural volume
      extension for caesarean surgery. METHODS: Eighty-four women undergoing elective
      caesarean sections were randomly assigned to seven groups, receiving
      intrathecally isobaric bupivacaine in a dosage of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 mg
      (n=12 per group), respectively. Ten mL normal saline was injected through an
      epidural catheter at a rate of 0.5 mL/s. Successful induction was defined as
      Hollmen pinprick block grade 2 at a height equal to or higher than T6. Success
      (surgery) was defined as success (induction) plus no requirement for epidural
      supplementation throughout surgery. The ED50 values were determined using a
      logistic regression model. RESULTS: The EDs for success (induction) and success
      (surgery) were 8.121 mg (95% confidence interval: 7.421-8.821) and 9.012 mg (95%
      confidence interval: 7.747-10.280), respectively. With increase in amount of
      intrathecal bupivacaine, time to success (induction) was shortened (P<0.05),
      resulting in increased successful numbers for both induction and surgery. No
      differences were found in the use of phenylephrine, haemodynamic stability and
      the occurrence of nausea and vomiting among groups. CONCLUSION: When combined
      with epidural volume extension, intrathecal bupivacaine has an ED50 of 8.121 mg
      and 9.012 mg for success (induction) and success (surgery), respectively, in
      women undergoing caesarean sections.

PMID- 26867338
TI  - The Role of Hospitals for end of life care.

PMID- 26867337
TI  - [Prevention Effect of Thymosin-alpha1 Aganist Early Ventilator-associated
      Pneumonia in Patients with Mechanical Ventilation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effects of thymosin-alpha1 against early
      ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the patients with mechanical
      ventilation. METHODS: Fifty two patients with expectancy of mechanical
      ventilation over 48 h were divided into routine therapy group (n=26) and thymosin
      therapy group (n= 26) in random. The patients in routine therapy group were given
      intensive care unit (ICU) conventional treatment, and the patients in thymosin
      therapy group were given thymosin treatment additionally (1.6 mg subcutaneous
      injection, qd X 7 d). The incidence and occurrence time of VAP were observed, and
      the time of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay were recorded. The levels of
      CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+ T lymphocyte, CD14+ mononuclear cell human leukocyte
      antigens-DR (CD14+ HLA-DR) and procalcitonin (PCT) were detected before
      mechanical ventilation and at the 3d and 7th d after mechanical ventilation.
      RESULTS: The base line including the level of immunologic function had no
      difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of VAP in thymosin
      therapy group was lower than that in routine therapy group, but it was not
      significant difference (P>0.05). The durations of machine ventilation and ICU
      stay in thymosin therapy group were shorter than those in routine therapy group
      (P<0.05). The occurrence time of VAP in thymosin therapy group was significantly
      later than that in routine therapy group (P<0.05). At the 3rd and 7th d after
      mechanical ventilation, thymosin therapy group achived higher levels of CD3+,
      CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+ T lymphocyte and CD14+ HLA-DR than routine therapy group did
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thymosinal may be able to improve immunologic function and
      prevent the incidence of early VAP in the patients with mechanical ventilation.

PMID- 26867339
TI  - Understanding Global End-of-Life Care Practices: IHF 2014 Research Project.
AB  - This first-of-its kind survey of global end-of-life (EOL) practices uncovered
      major differences in how EOL care is defined, delivered, and measured. According
      to respondents from university hospitals and cancer centers in 17 countries, the
      primary challenges to providing effective EOL care are communication between
      clinicians and patients/families, cultural beliefs about death, entrenched staff
      beliefs about prolonging life, and lack of funding. However, many organizations
      are implementing improvements in EOL services that support hospital-wide
      identification of patients for whom such services are appropriate, screening to
      avoid needless aggressive therapies, enhanced provider education, and ways to
      assess quality of life for terminally ill patients.

PMID- 26867340
TI  - Introduction of an Advance Care Planning Clinic in a Regional Care Coordination
      Service.
AB  - Advance Care Planning is an increasingly important consideration in health care
      service provision. Barriers to Advance Care Planning including lower
      prioritization than clinical care, and the complex logistics of completing the
      documentation have been identified in the literature and clinical practice. The
      Chronic Care Program within Canberra Hospital and Health Services introduced
      mobile and outpatient Advance Care Planning Clinics for care coordinated patients
      with chronic diseases, to address some of these barriers and facilitate end-of
      life care discussion amongst this patient group. The implementation of the
      clinics was evaluated, looking at the practicality of running these clinics
      within existing resources and patient acceptability. The number of Statement of
      Choices completed was used as a marker of whether the clinics led to an increase
      in Advance Care Planning amongst this patient group. The introduction of the
      clinics received positive feedback from patients and was able to beimplemented
      without requiring additional external resources. Following introduction of the
      Advance Care Planning clinics, an increase in the proportion of patients with a
      completed a Statement of Choices was seen.

PMID- 26867341
TI  - Overcoming the Obstacles in Promoting Hospice Palliative Care--Sharing
      Experiences of the Taiwan Changhua Christian Hospital.
AB  - Hospice palliative care for terminal patients is necessary, yet challenges are on
      the way worldwide. This study demonstrated that hospice palliative care has been
      quickly developed in Taiwan due to the support of the National Health Insurance
      system, the promotion by civil societies and religious groups, patient's legal
      right for DNR, easier access to pain killers through medical prescription, and
      well-planned hospice staff training programs. This paper introduces how hospice
      consultation is provided by a comprehensive hospice palliative team at Changhua
      Christian Hospital to establish trust and cooperation with the medical team, and
      to improve hospice-palliative care referral and utilization rates.

PMID- 26867342
TI  - Palliative Care and legislation around dying.
AB  - Around the world forty million people a year need palliative care yet more than
      four in five of these have no access to basic analgesia with morphine. 6% of
      those dying with no pain relief are children. Those left behind carry with them
      the memory of the death and it can colour their future lives, making good
      palliative care an urgent public health issue around the world. Everyone
      providing healthcare needs core training in palliative care, including the
      fundamentals of pain and symptom relief. Governments must urgently address
      barriers to morphine availability and educators of health care professionals must
      eliminate myths and phobias, and teach good end of life care.

PMID- 26867343
TI  - Establishing Palliative Care across the AKDN Health Services: Opportunities and
      Challenges.
AB  - AKDN has one of the most comprehensive private not-for-profit health care systems
      in the developing world. It has state-of-the-art urban academic tertiary care
      centers, service hospitals and community based primary care centers spread across
      the most remote areas of Central and South Asia and East Africa. In response to a
      global initiative to make palliative care widely available, the AKDN is
      spearheading the integration of palliative care across its international health
      network. The scope includes specialist palliative care services in urban tertiary
      care centers across secondary and outreach programs to home based palliative care
      services. The ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive structure of palliative
      care services which, in addition tofulfilling the vision of quality, also
      fulfills the needs of the communities that it serves. This article describes the
      international undertaking; its challenges and the key contextual design
      principles of the implementation.

PMID- 26867344
TI  - End of life care in Acute Geriatric Units: making decisions about sedation.
AB  - Decisions regarding sedation as part of End-of-life Care in Acute Geriatric
      Hospitals, especially considering their 10% mortality rate, require an extremely
      rigorous approach to ensure complete ethical and clinical conformity. Developing
      a sedation protocol which examines a series of ethical and clinical safeguards
      regarding the implementation of this therapeutic measure facilitates and improves
      the decision-making process and encourages reflection among the professionals
      involved. Here we examine whether the protocol established in our hospital for
      terminal sedation was appropriately applied for those patients who passed away
      over the course of one year in our unit, and who received sedation in their final
      days.

PMID- 26867345
TI  - Evolution of palliative care in the French Cancer Centers-Unicancer.
AB  - The French Cancer Centers (FCC) have a threefold mission, care research and
      education. Their specificity is multidisciplinary and comprehensive patient
      support at all stages of cancer. Innovation and research are at the heart of FCC
      action, but the care of patients in the palliative phase is a major and long-time
      concern. In each center there is an autonomous or integrated structure of
      palliative care in a service or Interdisciplinary Department of Support Care for
      the Patient in Oncology. These include, besides the hospice activity, chronic
      pain, psychooncology, social support, nutrition, functional rehabilitation, etc.
      Furthermore, the FCC have, in accordance with a secondary regulatory text to
      National Plans for palliative care, identified beds of palliative care (IBPC) in
      oncology day hospitals and in palliative care. In 2006 a Unicancer FCC group was
      established. One of the group's goals is to promote "early palliative care"
      together with other FCC teams. A common research dynamic has been implemented,
      ensuring the development of organizations and palliative culture.

PMID- 26867346
TI  - Eukaryotic non-coding RNAs: new targets for diagnostics and therapeutics?
AB  - Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in eukaryotes have recently developed to a very active
      research area in RNA biology, opening up new strategies for diagnosis and
      therapies of human disease. Here we introduce and describe the most important
      classes of eukaryotic ncRNAs: microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs),
      and circular RNAs (circRNAs). We further discuss new RNA-based diagnostic and
      therapeutic concepts.

PMID- 26867347
TI  - Chemical modification of nucleic acids as a key technology for the development of
      RNA-based therapeutics.
AB  - RNA-based effector molecules (nucleic acid effectors) are important tools in
      molecular medicine because they offer a strategy to address therapeutically
      interesting targets that are not "druggable" with classic small molecule
      inhibitors. However, for in vivo applications, RNA-based effectors require
      specific chemical modifications to improve their stability and pharmacokinetic
      properties, as well as to minimize toxic and unspecific off-target effects.

PMID- 26867348
TI  - Circulating RNAs in medical diagnostics and as disease-relevant biomarkers.
AB  - The development of malignant tumors from healthy tissues is associated with
      profound changes in expression profiles of a large number of mRNAs, miRNAs and
      IncRNAs. These changes on the one hand permit insights into the biology of
      individual tumors; on the other hand, tumor-derived RNAs can also be detected in
      circulating blood and serve as specific markers for differential diagnosis and
      patient prognosis.

PMID- 26867349
TI  - Therapeutic delivery of RNA effectors: diseases affecting the respiratory system.
AB  - Although there are several hurdles to overcome on the way to the lung, this
      target organ provides several advantages for successful drug absorption. Recent
      findings in this field of research give reason to assume that the pulmonary
      delivery of RNA effector molecules holds a promising potential for the treatment
      of numerous severe respiratory diseases.

PMID- 26867350
TI  - Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of small RNA molecules in tumor therapy.
AB  - In principle, RNA interference (RNAi) allows for the inhibition of any oncogene
      of choice, thus leading to novel concepts in tumor therapy. For their delivery,
      the RNAi-inducing small RNA molecules (small interfering RNAs, siRNAs) can be
      formulated in various nanoparticle systems, prior to testing them in preclinical
      animal models. The same is true for miRNAs that have more recently been explored
      in therapeutic miRNA replacement strategies. This puts high demands on the
      properties of the nanoparticles. This review article discusses various
      nanoparticulate systems for RNA delivery in vivo and gives an overview of
      preclinical studies on siRNA- or miRNA-based tumor therapy.

PMID- 26867351
TI  - RNAi as a tool for target discovery in early pharmaceutical research.
AB  - The pharmaceutical industry is currently faced with increasing pressure due to
      patent expirations for block busters, healthcare reforms with strained budgets
      and growing demands for approval by administrative organizations like the FDA and
      the EMA. High attrition rates especially in the later expensive stages of the
      drug development process ask for thoroughly validated drug targets at the
      beginning of such projects. The great potential of RNA interference strategies
      toward reaching this goal is outlined in this article.

PMID- 26867353
TI  - SOUTHEAST ASIAN MINISTERS OF EDUCATION ORGANIZATION (SEAMEO).

PMID- 26867352
TI  - Actively personalized cancer vaccines--the step into clinical application.
AB  - Cancer vaccine development enters a new phase of innovation based on the
      development of modern sequencing technologies and novel RNA-based synthetic drug
      formats which enable the analysis and therapeutic targeting of every patient's
      tumor genome. By applying and combining these innovations, we have brought the
      concept of "actively personalized cancer vaccines" to clinical testing. Synthetic
      RNA is used as the drug format, allowing affordable, individual "on demand"
      manufacturing of tumor-optimized vaccines.

PMID- 26867354
TI  - SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED MALARIA
      CASES IN BANGKA DISTRICT, BABEL ISLAND PROVINCE, INDONESIA DURING 2008-2012.
AB  - Malaria is a major health problem in many developing countries including
      Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the socio-demographic
      characteristics and geographic distribution of malaria cases in Bangka District,
      Bangka-Belitung Island Province, Indonesia. Bangka District is a malaria endemic
      area of Indonesia. We analyzed the epidemiological data of all reported malaria
      cases during 2008-2012 in Bangka District. Of the 4,756 malaria-confirmed cases
      reported during the study period, 3,234 (68. 0%) were among persons aged >= 15
      years, 1,024 (21.5%) were among persons aged 5-14 years and 498 (10.5%) were
      among persons aged < 5 years. Malaria cases were primarily located along the sea
      coast and less frequently in inland. Malaria cases were found not only among the
      local population but also among migrant workers. The monthly incidence of
      reported malaria cases in the study population ranged from 0.06 to 1.06 per 1,000
      person-months. The cases were mostly due to Plasmodium vivax (57.1%) followed by
      Plasmodiumfalciparum (40.2%). Plasmodiumfalciparum was more common among migrant
      workers while Plasmodium vivax was more common among the local population (Odds
      ratio 1.2; p = 0.03). The main transmission vector found in the coastal area was
      Anopheles sundaicus. An. letifer and An. barbirostris were found inland. We
      identified "malaria hot-spots" in the study area using a Geographic Information
      System. The results of this study will contribute to the malaria control program.

PMID- 26867356
TI  - BIOEFFICACY OF A LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDE IMPREGNATED NET AGAINST ANOPHELES
      MACULATUS THEOBALD AND CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS SAY.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the bioefficacy and effects of unwashed and
      washed PermaNet(r) 2.0 nets treated with extrinsic heat during washing against
      mosquitoes under laboratory condition. The effectiveness of the washed nets was
      bioassayed soon after washing using the WHO cone test method. The results
      indicated that the treated nets exhibited high durability to washing (five
      washes) and persistent bioefficacy against An. maculatus on both unwashed and
      washed nets. The unwashed net exhibited mortality of 98.33 +/- 2.06%, with KT50
      and KT90 ranging from 17.57-to-66.38 minutes and 34.65-to-311.30 minutes,
      respectively (n = 9) for > 44 months. Nets washed at 30  degrees C for three
      successive washes exhibited mortality of 98.00 +/- 2.65% (n = 3) for 7 months.
      Twenty-one months later, two washes at 80 degrees C on the same nets caused a
      mortality of 87.50 +/- 3.54% (n = 2). The overall cone mortality of five washes
      over a total wash period of 33 months was 94.75 +/- 6.85% with KT50 and KT90
      ranging from 23.98 to 58.25 minutes and 51.63 to 230.21 minutes, respectively (n
      = 5). However, the treated net exhibited lower bioefficacy against Culex
      quinquefasciatus on the unwashed nets with mortality of 9%. KT50 and KT90 ranged
      from 129.17 to 136.78 minutes and 315.35 to 716.05 minutes, respectively, over an
      unwashed period of 3 months (n = 1), and washed nets had a mortality of 30%; KT50
      of 64.04 minutes and KT90 of 347.56 minutes for only one wash at 30 degrees C (n
      = 1). Application of extrinsic heat treatment during washing at 30 degrees C
      followed by increased heat at 80 degrees C on the same net did not enhance any
      significant increase in mortality of An. maculatus and Culex quinquefasciatus (p
      > 0.05). There was a difference in the delayed knock down time soon after washing
      at 80 degrees C. Based on these promising results, the PermaNet(r) 2.0 should be
      field-tested.

PMID- 26867355
TI  - TOXOPLASMA AND VIRAL ANTIBODIES AMONG HIV PATIENTS AND INMATES IN CENTRAL JAVA,
      INDONESIA.
AB  - In Indonesia, Toxoplasma and its associations with blood-borne viruses have been
      poorly studied. In order to study the association between anti-Toxoplasma
      antibodies and blood-borne viral antibodies, blood samples from 497 participants
      (375 inmates from four prisons in Central Java, Indonesia and 122 HIV patients at
      a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Clinic in Surakarta, Indonesia) were tested
      for serological markers of Toxoplasma, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
      hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV) and
      human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-1/2). Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM
      positivity rates were 41.6% and 3.6%, respectively. One point two percent of
      participants was positive for both anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies.
      Sixteen point five percent, 11.3%, 2.6% and 2.8% of participants were positive
      for anti- Toxoplasma IgG combined with anti-HCV antibodies, anti-Toxoplasma IgG
      combined with anti-HIV antibodies, anti-Toxoplasma IgM combined with anti-HIV
      antibodes and anti-Toxoplasma IgG combined with both anti-HIV and anti-HCV
      antibodies, respectively. Anti-Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity was associated with
      anti-HIV (aOR = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.112-16.204, p = 0.034). Anti-Toxoplasma IgG
      antibodies were associated with anti-HCV (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.749-4.538, p <
      0.001) and history of injection drug use (aOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.905-5.093, p <
      0.001). In conclusion, we recommend patients with HIV, HCV infection and
      injection drug users should be screened for Toxoplasma infection in Indonesia.

PMID- 26867357
TI  - CHARACTERISTICS OF PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLIES IN SELECTED AREAS OF SRI LANKA.
AB  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease in Sri Lanka. Studies on
      vector aspects, although important for better understanding of disease
      transmission dynamics, are still limited. The present study describes the species
      distribution and behavioral patterns of sandflies within selected disease
      prevalent zones in the country. Adult sandflies were collected from several field
      sites over a two-year duration in Sri Lanka using cattle-baited net traps, CDC
      light traps and manual methods. Species identification was performed using
      standard keys. Leishmania donovani and source of blood meal in blood-fed female
      sandflies DNA were identified using PCR-based methods. Aggregation period of
      adult sandflies during overnight collections was also noted. The collected
      sandflies were identified as Phlebotomus argentipes glaucus (previously known as
      morphospecies A) and a non-vector species, Sergentomyia zeylanica. Presence of L.
      donovani DNA was found in 2/634 female sandflies. The parasite ITS1 region of SSU
      rDNA had 99% sequence similarity with L. donovani from Bangladesh and India. The
      peak aggregation period of sandflies within cattle-traps was between 8:00 PM to
      11:00 PM, indicating that vector control strategies could be conducted during
      this time period. As Sergentomyia zeylanica is likely to be merely a biting
      nuisance and showed more of an anthropophilic behavior, whereas the probable
      vector of CL in Sri Lanka (P. argentipes glaucus) demonstrated zoophilic
      behavior, has implications for the planning of future vector control strategies.

PMID- 26867358
TI  - MOLECULAR DETECTION OF HUMAN BOCAVIRUS 1 AND 2 IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE
      GASTROENTERITIS IN TAIWAN.
AB  - Human bocaviruses (HBoVs) have been detected in human gastrointestinal infections
      worldwide. Although HBoV global prevalence and strains diversity have been
      reported, but epidemiological data from Taiwan is largely unavailable to date. A
      total of 110 fecal samples from stools of diarrheic children at a general
      hospital, Taiwan, obtained from August 2012 to July 2013, were analyzed by nested
      PCR targeting a partial fragment (576 bp) of HBoV VP1/VP2 gene, which revealed 4
      positive fecal samples. Clinical symptoms of HBoV-associated acute
      gastroenteritis (AGE) were not different from those without HBoV. HBoV infection
      was seen only during the fall and winter seasons. This is the first description
      of HBoV infection in children with AGE in Taiwan. Systematic surveillance and
      evidence-based studies are required to determine the transmission pathways and
      spread of HBoV in Taiwan.

PMID- 26867359
TI  - PREVALENCE OF HUMAN ENTEROVIRUS AMONG PATIENTS WITH HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE
      AND HERPANGINA IN THAILAND, 2013.
AB  - Human enterovirus (EV) infection causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and
      herpangina (HA). We studied the prevalence of enterovirus (EV) among patients
      with HFMD and HA in Thailand during 2013. We conducted a study in archived
      specimens of patients sent for screening for enterovirus. A total of 203 clinical
      specimens from 184 individuals with painful blister in the oropharynx and on the
      palms, soles, knees, elbows or buttock were examined by semi-nested polymerase
      chain reaction (PCR) for the 5'UTR and VP1 genes of EV. Eighty-six samples were
      positive: EV71 was detected in 14 (30%), CV-A8 in 12 (26%) and CV-A16 in 10
      (21%). Classification of EV species detected revealed that 46 specimens were EV
      A, 14 specimens were EV-B, 1 specimen was EV-D, and 16 specimens were positive
      for unclassified enterovirus. The majority of individuals with EV infection were
      aged 2-6 years. Multiple EV-A serotypes were detected among HFMD and HA patients
      in our study.

PMID- 26867360
TI  - MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF VIRULENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILES
      OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL, SOUTHERN
      THAILAND.
AB  - Among uropathogens, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common
      cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) worldwide, but clinical aspects due to
      this bacterial species is not fully understood in southern Thailand. Two hundred
      fifty-four UPEC isolates from patients admitted to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat
      Hospital, southern Thailand were examined for crucial virulence genes, showing
      that 33.5% contained at least one of the virulence, genes tested. Genes encoding
      P fimbria, cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 and alpha-hemolysin constituted the
      majority (15.8%) carried by UPEC isolates. Phylogenetic group classification
      revealed that 57.5% of UPEC belonged to group D. Antimicrobial susceptibility
      tests showed that 70.5% and 65.1% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin
      and norfloxacin, respectively. Moreover, 50.0% of UPEC were capable of producing
      extended spectrum beta-lactamases. These findings should be of benefit for more
      appropriate treatment of UTI patients in this region of Thailand. Keywords:
      uropathogenic Escherichia coli, antibiotics resistance, cnfl, hlyA, pap, Thailand

PMID- 26867361
TI  - DETECTION OF NEW DELHI METALLO-BETA-LACTAMASE-1-PRODUCING KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE
      AT A GENERAL HOSPITAL IN THAILAND.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to detect carbapenemase genes in clinical isolates
      of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) obtained from patients admitted
      to Hua-Hin Hospital, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province, Thailand between January and
      December 2014. Screening of CRE was initially determined using disk diffusion
      method, and subsequently using modified Hodge test (MHT). Multiplex PCR was
      employed to amplify carbapenemase genes, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, blaNDM blaKPC, and
      blaVIM. Of the 624 clinical isolates, seven CRE isolates were identified by the
      disk diffusion method, but were negative for MHT. Only one isolate, Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, was found to carry blaNDM-1, encoding New Delhi metallo-beta
      lactamase-1, and the remaining CRE isolates were negative for the carbapenemase
      genes looked at. However, monitoring of carbapenem resistance among
      Enterobacteriaceae should be for optimal infection control measures.

PMID- 26867362
TI  - PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF A NOVEL TWO-STEP PROTOCOL FOR SCREENING OF CLOSTRIDIUM
      DIFFICILE INFECTION IN HOSPITALIZED ADULT PATIENTS.
AB  - Abstract. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common
      nosocomial infections in Thailand and worldwide. The clinical spectrum ranges
      from annoy- ing diarrhea to severe life-threatening disease. Enzyme-linked
      immunofluorescent assay for cytotoxins A/B (cytotoxins A/B ELFA), which has been
      widely used in our institute, generally is considered as having low sensitivity
      for diagnosis of CDI. The study was a prospective evaluation of a novel two-step
      diagnostic algorithm, in which the first step involved concurrent cytotoxins A/B
      ELFA and enzyme immunoassay for glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH EIA) for CDI,
      followed by PCR assay of tcdA and tcdB in samples with discordant results. Of the
      91 adult patients (37 males and 54 females, mean age of 60.0 +/- 19.5 years) with
      suspected CDI hospitalized at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok,
      Thailand from December 2012 to February 2013, 22 were diagnosed with CDI by the
      gold standard PCR test for tcdA and tcdB, among whom 21 were positive by GDH EIA,
      accounting for a sensitivity of 95%. Of the 69 patients without CDI, GDH EIA was
      negative in 46 patients, accounting for a specificity of 67%. The positive predic
      tive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of GDH EIA was
      48%, 98% and 74%, respectively, whereas sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and
      accuracy of cytotoxins A/B ELFA was 73%, 96%, 84%, 92% and 92%, respectively.
      Some 30% of specimens required the more expensive PCR assay. However, this two
      step protocol detected 20% more patients with CDI than the currently used
      cytotoxins A/B ELFA method.

PMID- 26867363
TI  - NOCARDIA BEIJINGENSIS PSOAS ABSCESS AND SUBCUTANEOUS PHAEOHYPHOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY
      PHAEOACREMONIUM PARASITICUM IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: THE FIRST CASE
      REPORT IN THAILAND.
AB  - We describe the first case of a psoas muscle abscess caused by Nocardia
      beijingensis and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phaeoacremonium
      parasiticum in a renal transplant recipient. The patient was treated for
      nocardiosis with percutaneous drainage and intravenous
      trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) combined with imipenem for 2 weeks,
      followed by a 4-week course of intravenous TMP/SMX and then oral TMP/SMX. During
      hospitalization for the psoas muscle abscess the patient developed cellulitis
      with subcutaneous nodules of his right leg. Skin biopsy and cultures revealed a
      dematiaceous mold, subsequently identified as P. parasiticum by DNA sequencing.
      The subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis was treated with surgical drainage and
      liposomal amphotericin B for 4 weeks followed by a combination of itraconazole
      and terbinafine. The patient gradually improved and was discharged home after 18
      weeks of hospitalization.

PMID- 26867364
TI  - NOCARDIOSIS REVEALED BY THYROID ABSCESS AND PNEUMONIA IN A LIVER TRANSPLANT
      RECIPIENT.
AB  - Nocardia thyroid abscess with pneumonia is a rare clinical presentation. We
      reported a liver transplant recipient with Nocardia thyroiditis and pneumonia
      after receiving high dose immunosuppressants to preserve his graft. The patient
      is a 50-year-old male who developed hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis and
      received a liver transplant. Seven months post-transplantation the patient
      developed graft rejection, which was treated with 3 days pulse dose methyl
      prednisolone followed by an increased dose of his tracolimus, mycophenolate and
      prednisolone. He presented to the hospital with a 2 week history of fever,
      tenderness in his anterior neck and dry cough. On admission his temperature was
      39.5 degrees C. The right wing of his thyroid gland was swollen to 3 cm in size,
      fluctuant and tender. On auscultation of his lungs there were fine crepitations
      and increased vocal resonance in the right middle lung field. On laboratory
      testing, a complete blood count (CBC) revealed leukocytosis (19,900/mm3) with
      neutrophils (97%). A chest X-ray showed an patchy infiltrates and round
      circumscribed densities in the superior segment of the right lower lobe of his
      lung. A CT scan of his neck revealed a diffusely enlarged right wing of the
      thyroid gland, 3.8 cm in diameter that had an abnormal hyposignal area. A CT of
      his chest revealed consolidation of the superior segment of the right lower lobe
      and necrotic right paratracheal lymph nodes with inflamed strap muscles. Fine
      needle aspiration of the right lobe of thyroid gland was performed. Modified acid
      fast bacilli (MAFB) staining showed partially acid-fast beaded branching
      filamentous organisms and a culture grew out Nocardia asteroides. He was treated
      with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 6 months. He improved clinically and his
      chest X-ray also cleared.

PMID- 26867365
TI  - PLANT POISONING IN THAILAND: A 10-YEAR ANALYSIS FROM RAMATHIBODI POISON CENTER.
AB  - Plant poisoning is not uncommon in Thailand. The objective of this study was to
      determine the incidence, type, clinical manifestations, severity and outcomes of
      plant poisoned patients in Thailand over a 10-year period. We retrospectively
      reviewed data from the Ramathibodi Poison Center Toxic Exposure Surveillance
      System for 2001-2010. A total of 2,901 poisonous plant exposure cases were
      identified, comprising 3.1% of the 92,392 poison cases recorded during the study
      period. This was the fifth most common type of poisoning recorded. Children aged
      < 13 years comprised the largest percent (69.8%) of the cases. The major type of
      exposure was unintentional ingestion. Ninety-nine types of poisonous plants were
      recorded as the causative agents among 99.1%of the cases. Gastrointestinal
      symptoms were reported in 72.0% of cases with Jatropha curcas (physic nut)
      comprising 54.1% of these. Most patients had only minor signs and symptoms. The
      mortality rate among the total plant poisoning cases was 0.9%, with 26 deaths.
      Thirteen deaths occurred in children aged < 13 years. The greatest number of
      fatalities were due to ingestion of Manihot esculenta (cassava), primarily due to
      multi-system organ failure. Children aged < 13 years are at the greatest risk for
      plant poisoning in Thailand; mostly unintentional. Most cases were minor and the
      mortality rate was low. Jatropha curcas was the most common cause of poisoning
      and Manihot esculenta was the most common cause of death. Public education is
      important to minimize these poisonings.

PMID- 26867366
TI  - EQUITY AND SATISFACTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES IN TONGLIAO CITY, INNER
      MONGOLIA.
AB  - We aimed to describe the human resources and apparatuses of community health
      service (CHS) in Tongliao City of China and investigate the differences between
      CHS centers and stations. Field investigations and questionnaire-based surveys
      were conducted in 120 CHS organizations of Tongliao City, which were selected by
      a stratified multistage random cluster sampling method. Data were collected on
      the human resources, medical apparatuses, and satisfaction of covered residents.
      We found that the total number, educational background, and professional titles
      of staff were lower at stations than at centers. Although the categories of
      providing health services were comparable between centers and stations, stations
      provided fewer health services than centers did. In addition, stations owned
      fewer apparatuses compared with centers. The percentages of satisfaction on many
      items were lower among residents covered by stations than among those covered by
      centers. Desired health services provided by CHS organizations have been
      partially accomplished in Tongliao City. Attracting more highly educated
      professionals and purchasing more valuable apparatuses may be helpful to improve
      the unbalanced distribution in human resources and apparatuses between centers
      and stations. Appropriate modifications of corresponding policies should be taken
      into consideration by the local government in the future.

PMID- 26867367
TI  - ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MATERNAL BODY MASS INDEX AND WEIGHT GAIN WITH LOW BIRTH
      WEIGHT IN EASTERN THAILAND.
AB  - We conducted a retrospective study to determine the association between maternal
      body mass index and pregnancy weight gain with low birth weight newborns (LBWN)
      at Phrapokklao Hospital in eastern Thailand. We evaluated the files of 2,012
      women who delivered at the hospital. Data obtained from the charts were parity,
      maternal age, body mass index (BMI), prepregnancy weight, weight gained during
      pregnancy, gestational age, hematocrit level, referral status, place of
      residence, fetal presentation, completion of antenatal care visits and maternal
      HIV infection. Sixty-five point two percent of subjects were aged 20-34 years
      old. Fifty-seven percent of subjects had a normal BMI and 13.2% were anemic.
      Thirty- seven point five percent, 32.9% and 29.6% gained too little, the correct
      amount and too much weight during pregnancy, respectively. Primiparity, too
      little weight gain and gestational age less than 37 weeks at delivery were all
      significantly associated with LBWN. Preterm babies were 25 times more likely to
      have a low birth weight than term infants (adjusted OR = 24.995; 95% CI: 16.824
      37.133, p < 0.001). When maternal weight gain of any BMI group was inadequate,
      the subject had a 3.4 times greater risk (adjusted OR = 3.357; 95% CI: 22.114
      5.332, p < 0.001) of having a LBWN. Primiparous women had a 1.7 times (adjusted
      OR=1.720; 95% CI: 1.182-2.503, p-0.005) greater risk of having a LBWN. The
      results from this study may be useful to plan maternal health programs for
      eastern Thailand.

PMID- 26867368
TI  - INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED RISK OF SMOKING AND SECOND-HAND SMOKE ON SELF-REGULATORY
      BEHAVIOR AMONG PREGNANT TAIWANESE WOMEN.
AB  - Tobacco use is a global health problem, including in Taiwan. The present study
      evaluated the perceived risk of smoking and second-hand smoke among pregnant
      Taiwanese women using a questionnaire. Seven hundred twenty-four pregnant
      Taiwanese women were recruited from an online parenting community using
      convenience sampling in 2013. Pregnant smokers and non-smokers had significantly
      different perceptions regarding risk of smoking and second-hand smoke during
      pregnancy. Pregnant non-smokers adopted more behaviors to avoid second-hand smoke
      both at home and in public than pregnant smokers. We conclude that perceived
      fetal health risks from smoking and second-hand smoke influenced maternal
      behavior during pregnancy. Pregnant women's perceptions of the risk of tobacco
      smoke depended on whether their focus in the decision-making process was on
      prevention or promotion. Understanding the risk factors associated with smoking
      and exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy may help in developing
      strategies to reduce such exposure.

PMID- 26867369
TI  - PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF HOUSEHOLD TOBACCO SMOKE EXPOSURE IN
      ASTHMATIC CHILDREN.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of household tobacco smoke
      exposure in children presenting to asthma clinic at Prapokklao Hospital and to
      survey parental knowledge and perception to the dangers of household smoke
      exposure. Parents/guardians who brought their children to asthma clinic during
      June-September 2014 were interviewed to complete survey questionnaires. If there
      were smokers in the household, questionnaires with a postage paid self-addressed
      envelopes were given to the family to take back home for other household smokers
      to complete. There were 149 asthmatic children who attended the asthma clinic
      during the study period. Seventy-one pediatric patients (47.7%) lived with at
      least one household smoker. Thirty-one smokers completed the questionnaires. Only
      five (16.1%) accompanied the patients to asthma clinic. Almost all of the smokers
      had a desire to quit smoking, and 58.1% of the smokers and 63.2% of the non
      smokers had received information regarding the dangers of household smoke
      exposure. The knowledge test scores were not different between the two groups.
      The prevalence of household smoke exposure in asthmatic children was high,
      despite most of the smokers knew about the adverse effects of household smoke
      exposure on their children' s health and desired to quit smoking.

PMID- 26867370
TI  - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS FOR NONFATAL DROWNING IN THE MIGRANT CHILDREN.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and potential risk
      factors for nonfatal drowning among migrant workers' children in China. We
      conducted a cross-sectional survey of students from third to ninth grade at five
      Migrant Workers' Children schools in Ningbo, China in 2014. General information
      and a history of nonfatal drowning was obtained from self-reported questionnaires
      by migrant students. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to
      identify potential risk factors. A total 3,859 students were included in the
      current study. Of these, 13.4% had experienced a nonfatal drowning accident
      (15.2% for males, 11.2% for females). Most nonfatal drowning occurred in natural
      water settings. Diving into unknown water without adult supervision had the
      greatest association with history of nonfatal drowning [odds ratio (OR) = 1.97;
      95% confidential interval (CI): 1.31-2.95], followed by fishing in water (OR =
      1.50; 95% CI: 1.05-2.14), swimming or playing in water (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.02
      2.12), and trying to rescue peers in the water if they were drowning (OR = 1.31;
      95% CI: 1.04-1.64). There were factors associated with a lower risk of drowing:
      having a parent accompany the child to school (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51
      0.93),understanding the the danger of swimming alone (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48
      0.99) and having a knowledge about water safety (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99).
      The study population was at inceased risk for nonfatal drowning. Preventive
      measures, such as improved water-safety knowledge, decreasing risky water-related
      activities and better supervision of children need to be developed and tested to
      decrease the risk of nonfatal drowning among the study population.

PMID- 26867371
TI  - WORK RELATED INJURY AND ILLNESS: EXPLORING THE RETURN-TO-WORK PROGRAM IN
      MALAYSIA.
AB  - Illness and injury have a significant impact on employees, their families and
      employers. The consequences faced by an injured worker could lead to disability,
      which could then lead to inability to work. This study examined the patterns of
      the Return to Work (RTW) using data from The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)
      of Malaysia RTW database from 2010 to 2013. Factors of successful return to work,
      employees' salary upon returning to formal employment were also investigated.
      Gender, age, year of injury, industry, and job hierarchy were found to be
      significant predictors of employees' salary upon returning to work. Although
      there are other costs involved on the part of employers and employees,
      themselves, in the long term the financial returns that can be brought back by
      injured workers who have successfully returned to work combined with the
      qualitative benefits substantially outweighs the costs of RTW program.

PMID- 26867372
TI  - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INJURY SEVERITY AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS: A SURVEY
      IN SOUTHERN CHINA.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the relationships between road traffic injury severity
      and individual characteristics in Liuzhou, a city in southern China. Data for
      this study were collected from the Guangxi Public Security Bureau Traffic Police
      Corps. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was used. Of all 14,595
      individuals involved in accidents, males, motor vehicle drivers, motorcyclists,
      and those aged 21-45 years accounted for the great proportion of all injuries.
      Children, the elderly, pedestrians, farmers and migrant workers, unemployed
      people, and novice drivers were at higher risk of serious injury in crashes.
      These findings suggest that individual characteristics (age, modes of transport,
      profession, driving experience) are strongly related to injury severity. To
      address road traffic related mortality and injuries, there is a need to develop
      policy strategies, strengthen road supervision, and improve public consciousness
      of road safety.

PMID- 26867373
TI  - CHARACTERIZATION OF MALARIA INFECTION AT TWO BORDER AREAS OF THAILAND ADJOINING
      WITH MYANMAR AND MALAYSIA.
AB  - During 2009 to 2010, a total of 408 blood samples collected from malaria patients
      in Ranong (149) and Yala (259) Provinces, Thailand were investigated for
      Plasmodium spp using microscopic examination. There are no statistical
      differences in the prevalence of P. falciparum and P. vivax in samples collected
      from Ranong and Yala (46% vs 52%, and 54% vs 45%, respectively). Single
      nucleotide polymorphism of codon 86 in pfmdr1 (encoding P. falciparum multidrug
      resistance protein 1) was investigated among 75 samples of P. falciparum and 2
      samples of P. knowlesi. A pfmdr1 N86Y mutation was detected in 1 out of 29
      samples and 45 out of 46 samples obtained from Ranong and Yala Provinces,
      respectively. It is interesting that pfmdr1 was detected in two P. knowlesi DNA
      samples obtained previously from Ranong Province which was 99% homologous to
      pfmdr1 obtained from falciparum parasites in the same area but the mutation was
      not observed. The difference in multidrug resistance protein in Plasmodium
      obtained from those two border areas of Thailand will be of use in monitoring
      drug resistance in these border regions of the country.

PMID- 26867374
TI  - INTRAOSSEOUS PROLIFERATIVE SPARGANOSIS PRESENTING AS A PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURE: A
      CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.
AB  - We report a case of 63-year-old male, who presented with pathological fracture of
      left distal humerus 3 weeks previously. The radiographic findings showed an ill
      defined permeative osteolytic lesion of the left distal humerus. Incisional
      biopsy and debridement was done; pathological examination revealed a folded
      cestode larva with calcareous corpuscles in the bone and soft tissue, and
      increased eosinophils. IgG antibody tests for sparganosis were positive. The
      patient refused to have surgery for internal fixation and placement of an
      endoprosthesis.

PMID- 26867375
TI  - DISTRIBUTION OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES IN LOWER NORTHERN THAILAND.
AB  - Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are used successfully for biological control of
      subterranean larval pests leading to reduced environmental contamination if
      chemical control measures are employed. Their diversity and distribution in
      Thailand are unclear, so the present study sought to obtain a better
      understanding these EPN populations in the lower northern region of Thailand. We
      collected 930 soil samples from 186 sites of Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan,
      Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Tak, Uthai Thani, and Uttaradit
      Provinces, Thailand from December 2011 to November 2012. Galleria mellonella was
      used as host for isolating and propagating EPNs. Seventy soil samples (7.5%)
      yielded EPNs of two genera, Steinernema (3.0%) and Heterorhabditis (4.5%). The
      majority of the isolated EPNs were found in loam at 26 degrees C-33 degrees C and
      pH values of 5.0-7.0. Molecular identification from partial 28S rDNA sequences
      revealed S. websteri, isolated from soil samples from Nakhon Sawan and Uthai
      Thani. Phylogenetic analysis of these EPNs showed they are closely related to S.
      websteri JC1032. The identification that S. websteri was the predominant EPN
      should enable its application for biological control in the local prevailing soil
      conditions.

PMID- 26867376
TI  - TEMPORAL CHANGES OF AEDES AND ARMIGERES POPULATIONS IN SUBURBAN AND FORESTED
      AREAS IN MALAYSIA.
AB  - Surveillance of mosquitoes and their distribution in association with rainfall,
      relative humidity, and temperature were conducted in selected suburban and
      forested areas, namely, Sungai Penchala (Kuala Lumpur) and Taman Alam (Selangor)
      for 12 months. Armigeres kesseli was the most abundant species in Sungai Penchala
      while Aedes butleri was the most dominant species in Taman Alam. A positive
      correlation between mosquito distribution and rainfall was observed in selected
      mosquito species in Sungai Penchala (Armigeres kesseli, r = 0.75; Armigeres
      subalbatus, r = 0.62; and Aedes albopictus, r = 0.65) and Taman Alam (Armigeres
      sp, r = 0.59; Ae. butleri, r = 0.85; and Ae. albopictus, r = 0.62). However, no
      significant cor- relation was found either between selected mosquito species in
      both study areas and relative humidity or temperature. Results obtained suggested
      that vector control programs to be conducted based on temporal distribution of
      vectors in order to achieve beneficial outcomes with effective costing.

PMID- 26867377
TI  - SCREENING FOR MOSQUITO LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF THAI MUSHROOM EXTRACTS WITH SPECIAL
      REFERENCE TO STECCHERINUM SP AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI (L.) (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE).
AB  - For over 50 years, biological control of mosquito larvae has depended mainly on
      plant extracts, fish, bacteria, protozoa, filamentous fungi, viruses or
      nematodes. In this study, we screened 143 mushroom samples from 44 confirmed
      species in Thailand for their mosquito larvicidal activity. One g% (w/v) aqueous
      extracts of dried powdered mushroom samples were tested against 3rd stage Aedes
      aegypti larvae. Four mushroom species, namely, Thaeogyroporus porentosus, Xylaria
      nigripes, Chlorophyllum sp and Steccherinum sp, and two unidentified species
      showed larvicidal mortality ranging from 10%-70% and 18%-90% for 24- and 48-hour
      exposure time, respectively. Steccherinum sp aqueous crude extract, after 48-hour
      exposure, did not show any larvicidal activity at 1,000 ppm, whereas that from
      ethanol, after 24-hour exposure, had 50% and 90% lethal concentration of 203 ppm
      and 412 ppm, respectively, with higher levels of mortality after 48- hour
      exposure. This is the first report of mosquito larvicidal properties of Thai
      mushroom extracts.

PMID- 26867378
TI  - LARVICIDAL POTENTIAL AND MOSQUITO REPELLENT ACTIVITY OF CASSIA MIMOSOIDES
      EXTRACTS.
AB  - This study aims to investigate larvicidal activities of extracts of Cassia
      mimosoides leaves and pods as a potential agent in vector control of malaria and
      to evaluate repellent effect against Anopheles gambiae mosquito of the extract
      formulated in an aqueous cream base. Petroleum spirit, ethanol, water and
      dichloromethane extracts were tested against third and fourth instar Anopheles
      gambiae larvae. The petroleum extract was formulated in an aqueous cream base and
      repellency determined using N-N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) as control.
      Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, tannins, anthraquinones,
      steroids, and flavonoids but absence of cardiac glycosides and alkaloids in
      powdered C. mimosoides. A dose related response was observed in the mortality
      rate of the extracts, with 2 mg/ml petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts
      achieving 100 % mortality. Larvicidal activity of extracts based on LC50 values
      was petroleum ether > dichloromethane > ethanol > water. The formulated petroleum
      ether extract cream had a characteristic odor, hard and smooth texture, skin
      feeling of smoothness, ease of application by rubbing, easy removal using soap
      and water, non-irritating effect on skin and an acceptable pH value. The cream
      containing 2%-6% (w/w) extract and control achieved 100% repellency against
      mosquitoes after an exposure time of 5 minutes. There was a linear relationship
      between percent concentration of plant extract in the cream samples and repellent
      activity. These results suggest that crude extracts of C. mimosoides can be
      developed as eco-friendly larvicide and mosquito repellent and encourage further
      effort to investigate the bioactive compounds in the extracts.

PMID- 26867379
TI  - EVALUATION OF A COMMERCIAL RAPID TEST KIT FOR DETECTION OF ACUTE DENGUE
      INFECTION.
AB  - Early diagnosis is important for clinical management of dengue disease. While
      classic laboratory tests are often tedious and time consuming, point of care
      devices offer a rapid, cost-effective and user-friendly alternative provided
      their accuracy is acceptable. This study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity
      and efficiency of SD BIOLINE Dengue Duo(r) rapid NS1, IgM and IgG test kit for
      diagnosis of acute dengue virus infection. Standard laboratory diagnostics, RT
      PCR, IgM and IgG capture ELISAs were carried out on 143 suspected dengue patient
      samples obtained from a Sri Lankan population. Using the results of these
      standard laboratory tests as reference, the sensitivity and specificity of the SD
      Dengue Duo(r) NS1 test was 57% and 87%, respectively, and those of the IgM test
      was 50% and 84%, respectively. The combined sensitivity and specificity of the SD
      Dengue Duo(r) NS1/ IgM test was 72% and 80%, respectively. The SD Dengue Duo(r)
      NS1 test detected NS1 for up to 9 days from onset of fever. Primary and secondary
      dengue cases were classified according to the IgG test, of which the kit
      identified 88% and 26% of primary and of secondary infection, respectively.
      Although the SD Dengue Duo(r) kit was not as accurate as the standard tests, it
      still can serve the useful reference for initial screening of suspected dengue
      cases, especially in poor resource hospital settings and aid in clinical disease
      management of dengue infection.

PMID- 26867380
TI  - ANTIGENIC AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF INFLUENZA B VIRUSES IN 2012 FROM SLUMS,
      DHAKA, BANGLADESH.
AB  - Nasal and throat swab samples were collected from 400 subjects with influenza
      like illness during June to September, 2012 from two heavily crowded slums,
      Rayerbazar and Hazaribagh, situated southeast of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Forty-one
      samples were positive for influenza B virus using quantitative RT-PCR, but no
      influenza A virus was detected. Antigenic characterization revealed that the
      influenza B viruses were of Yamagata and Victoria lineages, which was confirmed
      from genetic analysis of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes. Co
      circulation of influenza B viruses of both Yamagata and Victoria lineages in the
      slums of Dhaka indicates that introduction of a tetravalent vaccine formulation
      that includes both of these influenza B virus lineages would be more effective in
      this population.

PMID- 26867381
TI  - NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK AT A DAYCARE CENTER IN BANGKOK, 2014.
AB  - Norovirus is a leading cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide,
      affecting developing and developed countries, both children and adults. This
      study describes an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at a daycare center of a
      tertiary level hospital in Bangkok, Thailand during October 2014. Although none
      of the staff became symptomatic, 8 of 11 children attending the center and 4 of
      their household contacts developed acute gastroenteritis. No pathogenic bacteria
      or rotavirus were detected in their evaluation; however, 3 out of 7 stool samples
      from the cases were positive for norovirus GII.17. Reverse transcriptase
      polymerase chain reaction analysis with sequence and phylogenetic analysis
      revealed the viral strain was the same strain reported from Taiwan in 2013.
      Because norovirus is a frequent cause of outbreaks in crowded conditions, early
      detection and preventive measures are important to control outbreaks.

PMID- 26867382
TI  - DETECTION BY DUPLEX RT-COUPLED NESTED PCR OF HEPATITIS A AND ROTAVIRUS IN OYSTERS
      FROM THAILAND EAST COAST.
AB  - Abstract. An efficient and rapid virus detection method is required for routine
      monitoring and risk assessment in food products. A duplex RT-coupled nested PCR
      method was developed to detect the simultaneous presence of hepatitis A virus
      (HAV) and rotavirus in commercial oysters from the eastern coast of Thailand.
      Primers were designed to amplify HAV VP4 and rotavirus VP7 genes. Although excess
      amounts of target template of one virus type interfered with RT-PCR am-
      plification of the other, this was overcome by including a nested duplex PCR
      step. Detection limit for both types of virus of this technique in oyster samples
      was more than 1,000-fold lower than that of the equivalent monoplex method. Out
      of 41 oyster samples 63% were positive for either one or both viruses. All
      rotaviruses belonged to group A G1P[8]. The use of multiplex RT-coupled nested
      PCR technique provides a cost-effective, rapid, sensitive and efficient tool to
      detect a wide diversity of viral pathogens and to improve control of virus
      infection in oysters.

PMID- 26867383
TI  - MOLECULAR CONFIRMATION OF ENTEROVIRUS FROM SEWAGE AND DRINKING WATER SAMPLES FROM
      THREE CITIES, PAKISTAN: A POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
AB  - Gastroenteritis causes from 4 to 10 million children deaths every year worldwide,
      mainly from infection with water-borne Enteroviruses, which consist of 67 diverse
      serogroups. Forty-two sewage and drinking water samples from three metropolitan
      cities of Pakistan were analyzed for the occurrence of Enterovirus by nested RT
      PCR amplification. Molecular detection was based on amplification of a part of
      5'UTR region of the viruses. Our results revealed an alarming situ- ation in
      densely populated areas of the three main cities of Pakistan: 28%, 19% and 21% of
      drinking water samples were positive for enteroviruses in Islamabad, Rawalpindi
      and Lahore, respectively. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic study of the
      amplified region of the virus revealed its close relationship with Coxsackie A
      strains reported from Greece, Singapore and USA.

PMID- 26867384
TI  - CAUSATIVE AGENTS OF SEVERE COMMUNITY ACQUIRED VIRAL PNEUMONIA AMONG CHILDREN IN
      EASTERN THAILAND.
AB  - Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and young
      children. The most common causes of pneumonia in children are respiratory
      viruses. In Thailand, the epidemiology of the viruses causing community-acquired
      pneumonia (CAP) among children is poorly defined. In this cross sectional study
      we used nasopharyngeal samples collected from hospitalized children diagnosed
      with severe CAP in accordance with WHO criteria between June 2013 and May 2014 to
      determine the causes of infection. The samples were analyzed for respiratory
      syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV) types 1,2 and 3, adenovirus,
      rhinovirus, influenza viruses types A and B and coronavirus by polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of
      102 cases of severe CAP, samples were obtained in 91 cases and 48 (52.7%) were
      positive for respiratory viruses. The most common viruses were RSV (n = 22;
      45.8%), rhinovirus (n = 11; 22.9%) and adenovirus (n = 9; 18.7%). Patients were
      aged 1 month to 4 years 5 months, with a median age of 1 year 1 month. Thirty
      seven (77.1%) were male. Asthma was the most common co-morbidity affecting 5
      (10.4%) of the 48 cases with an identified virus. The peak prevalence occurred
      during October (n = 17). All patients required oxygen therapy and 17 (35.4%)
      required mechanical ventilation. The median length of hospitalization was 11
      days. Preterm infants had a significantly higher rate of RSV infection than other
      respiratory viruses (8 of 21; 38% vs 3 of 27; 11.1%) (p = 0.02). Viruses were
      most commonly associated with severe CAP among children aged less than 1 year.
      The peak prevalence occurred during the rainy season. Our findings suggest that
      young and preterm infants with CAP should be monitored closely due to their high
      risk for developing serious complications.

PMID- 26867385
TI  - BIOPSY-PROVEN BK VIRUS NEPHROPATHY WITHOUT DETECTABLE BK VIREMIA IN A ONE-YEAR
      POST-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT.
AB  - BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) is an important clinical problem in kidney transplant
      (KT) recipients. The sequence of disease is usually viruria, viremia and then
      nephropathy. Diagnosis of BK virus (BKV) infection includes checking BKV DNA in
      the urine, in the plasma and histology on renal biopsy. This last method is used
      to diagnose BKVN. We describe a KT patient with BKVN without detectable BK
      viremia. A 62-year-old female with hypertensive nephropathy underwent renal
      transplant from a living relative donor in December 2011. Fourteen months after
      transplantation, her serum creatinine(SCr) rose up from 1.2 to 1.6 mg/dl with
      biopsy-proven acute antibody-mediated and cellular rejection. After pulse
      methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin, her SCr
      decreased to baseline but she subsequently developed cytomegalovirus infection
      with pancytopenia and transaminitis. The SCr rose to 1.9 mg/dl despite
      ganciclovir treatment. Renal ultrasound and antegrade pyelogram showed partial
      obstruction of the proximal ureter with moderate hydronephrosis. A quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for BKV DNA was negative (less than 10
      copies/ml). A renal biopsy was performed and the pathology revealed viral
      cytopathic changes in the tubular epithelium with interstitial inflammation. The
      renal biopsy also showed BKV nucleic acid sequences by in-situ hybridization
      confirming BKVN. Immunosuppression regimen was changed to cyclosporine, low-dose
      prednisolone and leflunomide. A temporary percutaneous nephrostomy was performed.
      Her renal function improved within one week. The diagnosis of BKVN should be
      considered in a KT recipient with a rising SCr with or without BK viremia and
      should be made by renal biopsy.

PMID- 26867387
TI  - PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HIV/AIDS: HOW MEDIA PLAY A ROLE?.
AB  - Abstract. This paper examines the effectiveness of media in public awareness of
      the HIV/AIDS issue among the public in an area in central Selangor, comprising
      Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings and suburbs in Malaysia. Cross-sectional survey
      questionnaires were distributed to 384 respondents about accessing the public
      awareness of modes of HIV transmission, perceptions and attitudes towards people
      living with HIV/AIDS, as well as people's understanding about government policies
      to curb HIV/AIDS. Health care practitioners and newspapers were the preferred
      sources of information seeking on HIV/AIDS among the public. Most of the
      respondents were aware of the modes of HIV transmission. However, they were some
      respondents who still have misconceptions about the modes of transmission. Most
      of the respondents were not aware about the government's significant policies to
      address HIV/AIDS in the region. Overall, the respondents had certain knowledge
      about HIV transmission modes and moderate positive perceptions and attitudes
      towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Future studies should be conducted to
      examine about who sets the agenda in the media, and apart from gatekeepers, who
      are the real decision makers in deciding what is important to inform the public.

PMID- 26867386
TI  - ESTABLISHING MEAN CD4+ T CELL VALUES AMONG HEALTHY JAVANESE ADULTS IN INDONESIA.
AB  - The objective of this study was to establish mean CD4+ T cell values among
      healthy Javanese adults in Indonesia. Two hundred forty-one healthy adults (119
      women and 122 men), aged 18-65 years, were enrolled in the study. CD4+ T cells
      were analyzed by immunophenotyping. The mean absolute CD4+ T cell count was 753.3
      +/- 270.3 cells/ul (median = 725.0 cells/ul) and the mean CD4+ T cell percentage
      was 32.6 +/- 7.7%, (median = 31.0%). Women had a slightly higher mean absolute
      CD4+ T cell count and CD4+ T cell percentage (779.1 +/- 271.0 cells/ ul; 33.4 +/-
      8.2%) than men (728.2 +/- 268.3 cells/ul; 31.8 +/- 7.1%), but the differences
      were not statistically significant (p = 0.126, p = 0.216, respectively). The mean
      absolute CD4+ T cell varied significantly by age group (p = 0.002). Sixty-one
      point seven percent of men studied (37/60) had a CD4+ T cell count less than 500
      cells/ul (OR 1.8; 95% CI = 1.001-3.300). Absolute CD4+ T cell counts among
      Javanese Indonesians varied significantly by age.

PMID- 26867388
TI  - CHARACTERISTICS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING UNPROTECTED ANAL INTERCOURSE AMONG MEN
      WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN IN FUYANG, CHINA.
AB  - Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk for contracting hu- man
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of this study was to
      explore the characteristics and factors influencing unprotected anal intercourse
      (UAI) among MSM in Fuyang, China in order to develop an intervention program to
      prevent the spread of HIV infection among MSM. We conducted this cross sectional
      study among 413 MSM in 2013. Participants completed an interviewer- administered
      questionnaire and were tested for HIV and syphilis infections. Three hundred
      fifty of 413 subjects reported sexual activity with a male partner during the
      previous 6 months; of these 27(7.7%) had unprotected sex. Forty-four subjects had
      sex with a female partner during the previous 6 months; of these 25 (58.1%) had
      unprotected sex. The frequency of having unprotected sex with a female was
      significantly greater than with a male (chi2 = 84.52, p < 0.001). Multivariate
      logistic analysis showed education level (OR = 0.45, p = 0.003), length of time
      of current residence (OR = 0.47, p = 0.014), knowledge about HIV infection (OR =
      0.09, p = 0.022) and integrated interventions (OR = 0.32, p < 0.001) were all
      significantly associated with UAI. High-risk sex behavior was common among the
      study population. A targeted interventions needs to be developed urgently.

PMID- 26867389
TI  - FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAY IN TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT AT 10 TERTIARY LEVEL CARE
      HOSPITALS IN THAILAND.
AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is common in Thailand. Delay in initiating tuberculosis
      treatment is a major public health problem. Delay in treatment can result in more
      severe diseases, risk for death, and greater risk of tuberculosis transmission in
      the community. We attempted to determine the duration from onset of TB symptoms
      to the date of first consultation (patient delay) and the factors associated with
      that delay at 10 tertiary level care hospitals in Thailand. All participants aged
      18 years who were willing to participate were included in the study, which was
      conducted from January to December 2012. A structured questionnaire and medical
      records were used to collect data. One hundred ninety-nine TB patients were
      included in the study. The mean age of subjects was 48 years (SD = 15.9); 69.8%
      were male. The median duration from onset of symptoms to first medical
      consultation was 30 days. On multivariate analysis, living in an urban area
      (adjusted odds ratio = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.29-6.14) was an independent risk factor
      for the delay. Delay in seeking help is a common problem among TB patients in
      Thailand. At risk populations need to be educated on the importance of presenting
      for early medical consultation if they have symptoms of TB.

PMID- 26867390
TI  - PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS AT
      SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, BANGKOK, THAILAND.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors
      associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) at Siriraj Hospital,
      Bangkok, Thailand. We conducted a retrospective unmatched case-control study of
      patients clinically diagnosed and microbiologically confirmed to have tuber-
      culosis (TB) at Siriraj Hospital from 2010 to 2012. Patient characteristics,
      clinical data, microbiological findings, outcomes and drug susceptibilities were
      recorded. A total of 188 subjects were included in the study; 52.1% (98) were
      males; the mean age was 48.9 years. Subjects were categorized into one of two
      groups, as follows: non-MDR-TB (141 patients) and MDR-TB (47 patients). The
      prevalence of MDR- TB was 2.6%. Co-morbidities of study subjects included
      diabetes mellitus (16.5%), HIV infection (16%) and cancer (5.9%). One hundred
      thirty-one patients (69.7%) had pulmonary TB. Factors significantly associated
      with MDR-TB were age < 65 years (OR = 6.94; 95% CI: 1.02-45.49; p = 0.048),
      history of TB (OR = 51.86; 95% CI: 12.35-217.79; p < 0.001), HIV co-infection (OR
      = 3.83; 95% CI: 1.02-14.38; p = 0.047) and alcohol consumption (OR = 3.90; 95%
      CI: 1.03-14.72; p = 0.045). Of the 146 patients for whom a clinical outcome was
      available, 51 (34.9%) had an unfavorable outcome. Poor compliance (OR = 13.51;
      95% CI: 3.97-45.45; p < 0.001) and previous history of TB (OR = 8.16; 95% CI:
      1.76-37.73; p = 0.007) were associated with an unfavorable outcome. MDR-TB was
      significantly associated with: patients aged < 65 years, those with a previous
      history of TB, those with HIV co-infection and those who drank alcohol. These
      factors should be kept in mind when treating TB patients at Siriraj Hospital,
      Thailand.

PMID- 26867391
TI  - DISSEMINATION OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEQUENCE TYPES AMONG ASEAN ECONOMIC
      COMMUNITY COUNTRIES.
AB  - Food-borne illness caused by Salmonella enterica remains a public health problem
      and results in economic loss worldwide. With the up-coming establish- ment of the
      ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) allowing unrestricted move- ment of labor and
      goods, there is a higher risk of pathogen transmission among the AEC countries.
      This study characterized and investigated the spatial and temporal associations
      of S. enterica strains isolated in AEC countries during 1940- 2012 compared with
      those isolated in northern-Thailand during 2011-2013. Of the 173 S. enterica
      strains examined, 68 sequence types (STs) and 32 clonal complexes (CCs) were
      identified by multi loci sequence typing. Twenty-one strains belonged to four
      sequence types new to AEC countries, and they constituted only two CCs. A number
      of strains originated from various countries with multiple hosts, were
      highlighted. There was evidence of strains circulating in the AEC region well
      over a decade. Such information will be important in formulating biosecurity
      measures, as well as in educating regarding the risk of disease transmission in
      AEC.

PMID- 26867392
TI  - BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION USING SSRA ENCODING TRANSFER-MESSENGER RNA.
AB  - Abstract. Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences are widely used for phylogenetic and
      bacterial identification. However, rDNA of different species often reveals
      similar or identical same sequences. This study employed the bacterial stable
      small RNA (ssrA) gene encoding transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) as a tool for
      identification of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp, Pseudomonas spp and
      Enterobacteriaceae from clinical isolates as representative groups using PCR and
      species specific primers. The method correctly identified 11 standard strains and
      99 clinical isolates. Quantitative PCR revealed a limit of detection of 10(-5) ug
      of DNA for S. aureus and Enterococcus spp, and 10(-6) ug for Pseudomonas spp and
      Enterobacteriaceae. Further studies with a greater number of bacteria especially
      from clinical samples will need to be undertaken before this bacterial molecular
      marker can be applied in a clinical setting.

PMID- 26867393
TI  - THE BURDEN OF INVASIVE NEONATAL GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL (GBS) DISEASE IN THAILAND
      AND THE PHILIPPINES.
AB  - Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis in
      infancy, but burden of disease data are scarce for Asia. We performed two
      hospital-based, prospective, descriptive, observational studies using similar
      protocols in the Philippines and Thailand to evaluate neonatal GBS disease
      epidemiology. Infants aged <90 days with a GBS-positive culture from normally
      sterile sites using routine microbiological standards were eligible for
      inclusion. Awareness of GBS symptoms was raised by informing all women at
      delivery and follow-up for 90 days post-delivery. Infections were classified as
      early onset disease (EOD) if they occurred within 6 days of birth and late Onset
      disease (LOD) if they occurred 7-89 days after birth. Due to ethical requirements
      in Thailand, consent for study participation, including periodic post-discharge
      telephone calls, was obtained at delivery. Parents in the Philippines gave
      consent for study participation at case identification. The clinical outcomes of
      GBS infections were recorded. During the 6-month study period, two cases (one
      fatal) of EOD were identified among 8,409 live births at the study hospitals in
      Thailand and three cases (two fatal) of EOD were identified among 11,768 live
      births reported at the study hospitals in the Philippines. Incidence rates per
      1,000 live births were 0.2 (95% CI: 0.0-0.8) and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.8) in
      Thailand and the Philippines, respectively. There were no cases of reported LOD.
      The low number of cases precluded analysis of serotype distribution and case
      fatality rates. Large epidemiological studies are needed to better understand the
      factors influencing GBS infection incidence in Asia.

PMID- 26867394
TI  - HISTOPLASMOSIS MYOSITIS: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW.
AB  - Disseminated histoplasmosis is an AIDS-defining illness that can affect multiple
      organ systems. Myositis due to histoplasmosis is rare in HIV infected patients.
      We report here an HIV-infected patient who presented with myositis caused by
      Histoplasma capsulatum. Her HIV was under poor control and her CD4 cell count was
      only 11 cells/mm3. She responded well to treatment but later succumbed to another
      opportunistic infection. The literature on disseminated histoplasmosis is
      reviewed.

PMID- 26867395
TI  - SAFETY OF A CRM197-CONJUGATED HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B VACCINE IN KOREAN
      CHILDREN.
AB  - Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a major cause of meningitis and pneumonia
      with high morbidity and mortality rates in young children. The introduction of
      effective and well-tolerated conjugate Hib vaccines, has nearly eradicated this
      disease in many countries. We investigated the safety of the Hib PRP-CRM197
      vaccine in a multi-center post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study. Korean
      children (N = 764) aged 1-33 months were enrolled when receiving a routine
      primary immunization or a booster vaccine with Hib PRP-CRM197 and solicited and
      unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded using a diary card for 7 and 28
      days after each vaccination, respectively. In this study, AEs were reported by
      66% of subjects but were generally mild, with 42% of subjects reporting solicited
      AEs and 46% reporting unsolicited AEs. Among the unsolicited AEs, 98% were
      determined to be unrelated to the study vaccine. The studied Hib PRP-CRM197
      vaccine was well tolerated by the study group and found to have a similar safety
      profile to that reported in other clinical studies. This vaccine is suitable for
      routine immunization against Hib disease among Korean children. AEs due to this
      vaccine will continue to be monitored.

PMID- 26867396
TI  - IMMUNOGENICITY AND SAFETY OF QUINVAXEM(r) (DIPHTHERIA, TETANUS, WHOLE-CELL
      PERTUSSIS, HEPATITIS B AND HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B VACCINE) GIVEN TO
      VIETNAMESE INFANTS AT 2 TO 4 MONTHS OF AGE.
AB  - Vietnam plans to replace the routine childhood diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus
      combination (DPT) vaccine with a pentavalent vaccine. The present study was
      performed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the combined diphtheria,
      tetanus, whole-cell pertussis, hepatitis B (HepB), and Haemophilus influenzae
      type b (Hib) (DTwP-HepB-Hib) Quinvaxem(r) vaccine in children. A total of 131
      infants received the Quinvaxem(r) vaccine at 2, 3 and 4 months. Antibody levels
      were measured at baseline, at one month after the third injection and one year
      after the first injection. Seroprotection rates were high for each vaccine
      antigen at one month after the third dose: 93.1% for diphtheria, 98.5% for
      tetanus, 99.2% for pertussis (seroconversion rate), 93.1% for HepB, and 100% for
      Hib (anti-PRP >= 0.15 ug/ml). The rate of children with protective antibodies
      persisting at one year after the first dose was 88.4% for diphtheria, 49.6% for
      pertussis, 82.2% for tetanus, 76.7% for HepB and 97.7% for Hib (anti-PRP >= 0.15
      ug/ml). The Quinvaxem(r) vaccine was well tolerated and has a low rate of adverse
      events. Quinvaxem(r) given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age was immunogenic and safe
      for primary immunization among infants in Vietnam.

PMID- 26867397
TI  - ADVERSE EVENTS POST-DTAP AND DTwP VACCINATION IN THAI CHILDREN.
AB  - We conducted a prospective study to compare the development of fever (axillary T
      >= 37.9  degrees C) within 4 hours of vaccination, determine the proportion of
      children who develop high fever (T >= 39 degrees C) and evaluate parental days
      missed from work due to their children's vaccination with either the diphtheria
      tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTwP) or diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis
      (DTaP) vaccine. The results of this study can help physicians and parents decide
      whether to have their child vaccinated with the DTwP or more expensive DTaP
      vaccine. We studied 140 healthy Thai children aged 2 months to 6 years from
      December 2011 to March 2012 who presented for vaccination. Parents recorded their
      child's temperature, local and systemic adverse reactions and missed days from
      work due to these adverse events on a diary card. Of the 140 participants, 72
      received the DTwP vaccine and 68 received the DTaP vaccine. The median (IQR) age
      was 4 (2-6) months and the median weight was 7.1 (5.6-8.7) kg. Twenty children
      developed fever (axillary T >= 37.9 degrees C) within 4 hours following
      vaccination, 17 (23.6%) had received the DTwP vaccine and 3 (4.4%) had received
      the DTaP vaccine (p = 0.040). One child (1.4%) who had received the DTwP vaccine
      and none who received the DTaP vaccine developed high fever (T >= 39 degrees C)
      within 4 hours of vaccination (p = 0.329). Parents of two children who received
      the DTwP vaccine and one child who received the DTaP vaccine missed work
      following vaccination (p = 0.059). In conclusion, children who received the DTwP
      vaccines were more likely to have early post-vaccination fever and higher fever
      but there was no significant difference between the two groups in parental days
      lost from work.

PMID- 26867398
TI  - AN INCREASE IN RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA:
      A COMPARISON OF TWO CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEYS.
AB  - This paper aims to describe changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease
      (CVD) over a five year period in urban Indonesia. In 2004 (n = 3,205) and 2009 (n
      = 2,467) we conducted cross-sectional surveys of residents in Yogjakarta City,
      Indonesia evaluating risk factors for CVD. Smoking habits, fruit and vegetable
      intake, physical activity, blood pressure, weight, and height were recorded. The
      results of these 2 surveys conducted 5 years apart were then compared. The risk
      for having a CVD event was also calculated. Behavioral CVD risk factors were more
      common among men. The predicted risk of having a CVD event increased from 8.4% to
      11.3% among men between 2004 and 2009. Effective measures need to be taken to
      change these behaviors among men in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

PMID- 26867399
TI  - DENTAL CARIES AND RELATED ORAL HEALTH FACTORS AMONG 9 TO 18 MONTH OLD THAI
      CHILDREN.
AB  - Dental caries can occur as soon as the first tooth erupts. We studied the caries
      prevalence and related risk factors among children aged 9-18 months in U Thong
      District, Suphan Buri Province, Thailand. A total of 151 children, whose primary
      caregivers were willing to participate in this study, were evaluated for decayed,
      missing, and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs). Questionnaires were given to the
      primary caregivers of the study subjects to ascertain their socio-economic
      status, oral hygiene habits, and child-feeding habits. The Mann-Whitney U and
      Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate bivariate outcome data. Hierarchical
      multiple regression analysis was used to determine variables predictive of dental
      caries in the studied children. The prevalence of dental caries among the 151
      subjects was 32.5%; 15.9% had at least one cavity (cavitated caries) and 16.6%
      had white lesions (non-cavitated caries). The mean dmfs score was 2.83 +/- 6.48.
      Significant associations were seen between the dmfs score and the number of
      erupted teeth (p < 0.001) and toothpaste usage (p < 0.01). Hierarchical multiple
      regression analysis revealed four factors significantly associated with caries:
      number of erupted teeth, which had the highest Beta value (P = 0.35, p < 0.01),
      nighttime bottle feeding (P = 0.17, p < 0.05), frequency of drinking sweetened
      milk (P = 0.17-0.18, p < 0.05) and falling asleep with a bottle in the mouth (P =
      0.18, p < 0.05). Nighttime bottle feeding, frequency of drinking sweetened milk
      and falling asleep with a bottle in the mouth were important caries risk factors
      and the number of erupted teeth was a strong caries risk predictor. Dentists
      should educate caregivers about these risk factors.

PMID- 26867400
TI  - OCCUPATIONAL CARBAMATE POISONING IN THAILAND.
AB  - Carbamate insecticide is a leading cause of poisoning in Thailand. The objective
      of this study was to characterize the clinical manifestations and modes of
      occupational exposure in carbamate poisoning cases. We retrospectively studied
      all the cases of carbamate poisoning due to occupational exposure recorded in the
      Ramathibodi Poison Center Toxic Exposure Surveillance system during 2005 to 2010.
      Demographic data, clinical manifestations and severity were analyzed
      statistically. During the study period, 3,183 cases were identified, of which 170
      (5.3%) were deemed to be due to occupational exposure. Ninety-six cases (56.5%)
      and 35 cases (20.6%) were poisoned by carbofuran and methomyl, respectively.
      Carbofuran is sold as a 3% grain and applied by sowing; methomyl is sold as a
      liquid and is applied by spraying. The majority of poisoned patients did not wear
      personal protective equipment (PPE) while applying the carbamates. The clinical
      manifestations of occupational carbofuran poisoning recorded were nausea and
      vomiting (82.3%), headaches (56.3%) and miosis (19.8%). The clinical
      manifestations of methomyl poisoning were nausea and vomiting (74.3%), headaches
      (57.1%) and palpitations (11.4%). Most patients in both groups had mild symptoms.
      Only one case in each group required endotracheal intubation and mechanical
      ventilation support. There were no deaths and the lengths of hospitalization
      ranged from 2 hours to 2 days. Occupational carbamate poisoning cases in our
      series were mostly mild and the patients recovered quickly. There were only rare
      cases of serious symptoms. Lack of knowledge and inadequate PPE were the major
      factors contributing to occupational poisoning. Educating agricultural workers
      about correct precautions and pesticide use could minimize this type of
      poisoning.

PMID- 26867401
TI  - FACTORS RELATED TO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN
      NORTHEASTERN THAILAND.
AB  - Young motorcycle drivers in Thailand are at high risk for road traffic accidents.
      We conducted this study to identify factors associated with motorcycle accident
      risk behavior (MARB). We studied 372 randomly selected university students aged
      18-22 years (mean 20.2 years; women comprised 68.0% of our participants), who
      attend a government university in northeastern Thailand. Each student was asked
      to fill out a questionnaire asking about MARB and factors associated with this
      behavior. The respondents had an average of 6.2 years (SD+3.09) motorcycle
      driving experience, 72.3% had a motorcycle driver's license and 83.0% had
      accident insurance. The prevalence of self-reported motorcycle accident injuries
      was 42.7%. Their major MARB were using a telephone while driving (69.3%),
      speeding (45.4%), driving with more than one passenger (40.1%), drunk driving
      (22.1%), and not wearing a helmet (23.3%). Factors related to MARB were: gender,
      with men engaged in risky behavior more often than women (p < 0.05); duration of
      motorcycle driving--drivers with > 5 years experience were more likely to engage
      in risky behavior (p < 0.05); and knowledge of safe driving, those with a greater
      knowledge of safe driving were more likely to drive safely (p < 0.001). Having a
      greater awareness of MARB was associated with lower risk of engaging in risky
      behavior (p < 0.001). Students who engaged in risky behavior were more likely to
      view it as normal behavior (p < 0.001) and less likely to have adequate self
      control (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate a need to strengthen accident
      prevention programs for university students in northeastern Thailand.

PMID- 26867402
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26867403
TI  - Accessing the online archive for the Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service.
AB  - Following work by the editorial team, notably Surg Lt Cdr M O'Shea, and with
      funding from the Wellcome Trust, every edition of this Journal dating back to the
      first edition in 1915 is available on our website. This article gives details of
      how to access it.

PMID- 26867404
TI  - Maritime in transit care.
AB  - Operation GRITROCK saw the first operational deployment of the Maritime In
      Transit Care team from the Role 2 (Enhanced) (R2(E)) Medical Treatment Facility,
      which is able to provide Damage Control Surgery and the limited holding of
      patients, situated on board RFA ARGUS. Whilst the Medical Emergency Response Team
      demonstrated the capability of advanced military Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
      (PHEC) on Op HERRICK, the need to provide a similar high level of care on
      contingency operations was recognised. Op GRITROCK allowed for the continued
      exploration of a maritime capability from an established R2(E) platform whilst
      providing medical evacuation capability for a significant population at risk
      distributed over a large Joint Operation Area. Although the patient load during
      the operation was low, key lessons were learnt and opportunities identified to
      further develop the newly recognised sub-speciality of PHEC, both medically and
      logistically, and these will be discussed in this article.

PMID- 26867405
TI  - The operational role of the Royal Marines Band Service during the contingency
      era: lessons from Op GRITROCK.
AB  - The Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) deploys in support of the Royal Naval
      Medical Service in a variety of operational roles. This article describes the
      roles that RMBS personnel performed whilst deployed on board RFA ARGUS during the
      recent Operation GRITROCK. The article is divided into five main sections, each
      describing one aspect of the work that RMBS ranks were asked to undertake:
      casualty handling; working within Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF)
      departments; personal protective equipment (PPE) monitoring and drills;
      temperature monitoring; and last, but not least, musical support. This will
      provide the reader with an insight into what the RMBS have achieved whilst
      deployed on board ARGUS and also what skills they are able to bring, both to
      contingency operations and operations in the medical environment.

PMID- 26867406
TI  - Devising a training programme and reviewing the lessons identified during
      contingency operations on board the Role 3 Maritime platform.
AB  - The deployment of the Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF) to Sierra Leone
      in October 2014 in support of Operation GRITROCK was a contingency operation that
      required a very specific training programme. This article discusses the training
      and how it evolved beyond its original remit into a programme used as a
      management tool to meet the needs of the staff. The result was the implementation
      of a comprehensive package from which lessons can be drawn and used when planning
      future operations.

PMID- 26867407
TI  - PCRF Pathology, OP GRITROCK--A biomedical scientist's perspective.
AB  - The Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF) Pathology Department was deployed
      on Operation GRITROCK from October 2014 to April 2015 to support the medical
      treatment facility on RFA ARGUS. The department deployed with enhanced
      microbiology capability and effectively became the microbiology reference
      laboratory for the Joint Operations Area (JOA). A platelet apheresis capability
      was delivered in the maritime environment for the first time on an active
      operation.

PMID- 26867408
TI  - Platelet apheresis in a deployed maritime environment: experiences from Operation
      GRITROCK.
AB  - When the Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF) on Royal Fleet Auxiliary
      (RFA) ARGUS deployed to Operation GRITROCK in October 2014, platelet apheresis
      had yet to be proven as a sustainable and usable capability for improving
      provision of blood products on a maritime platform. This paper explores the
      difficulties encountered by nurses tasked with setting up this capability once
      deployed and the requirements needed to ensure that this capability is maintained
      for future operations.

PMID- 26867409
TI  - Medical supply on contingency military operations: experience from Operation
      GRITROCK.
AB  - Medical supply during military operations has the ability to affect the efficacy
      of the operation being undertaken, either negatively or positively. An
      appropriately-managed maritime platform with a robust medical supply chain during
      transit and on arrival in theatre is the main aim. A secure supply chain will
      reduce any implications that logistics may have with regard to capability, and
      negate the effects of deficiencies of short shelf life items occurring over time
      and during use in high tempo operations.

PMID- 26867410
TI  - From RAF to RN--the transition from Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service (PMRAFNS)
      to Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS).
AB  - I transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy (RN) on 10 July 2014. I
      would like to share my experiences as a junior RN Officer during Op GRITROCK,
      looking at some of the similarities and differences between the two Services and
      their deployed environments: maritime and air.

PMID- 26867412
TI  - A practical guide to expedition medical planning.
AB  - Expedition medical planning is integral in ensuring participant safety and
      maximising the likelihood of achieving the expedition aims. The task of producing
      a medical plan will often fall to a medical officer of limited experience. The
      aim of this article is to provide a concise, practical guide to aid junior
      medical officers (MOs) in forming a robust and pragmatic medical plan.

PMID- 26867411
TI  - Nurse-delivered focused echocardiography to determine intravascular volume status
      in a deployed maritime critical care unit.
AB  - Focused echocardiography is increasingly used by clinicians to guide fluid
      resuscitation. The UK Defence Medical Services (DMS) have adopted focused
      echocardiography as a tool to guide flow assessment and resuscitation in deployed
      critical care. We aimed to explore whether two focused echo techniques, namely
      Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Velocity Time integer
      (LVOT VTi) respiratory variability could be taught to a group of critical care
      nurses without previous exposure to ultrasound imaging. After a five-week program
      of training, validation was carried out on healthy volunteers. The mentor, an
      accredited focused echo trainer, and six nurses performed a total of forty-eight
      scans on eleven volunteers. The mentor and students acquired subcostal long axis
      views of the IVC and apical five chamber views using a high frequency linear
      ultrasound probe. Mean values from three measurements were obtained for IVC
      diameter and LVOT VTi. Minimum and maximum values were recorded for both
      variables across a full respiratory cycle. Echo images were saved and at least
      two images for each student were reviewed offline by an accredited echo-training
      supervisor. In all cases students were able to obtain adequate echo windows.
      There was good correlation between values recorded by the mentor and students for
      both IVC diameter (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) and LVOT VTi (r = 0.77, p < 0.001). Bland
      Altman analysis showed good correlation with minimal bias for VTi measurements.
      There was some increase in bias for IVC measurements below 1.2 cm. In summary, we
      found that these skills for assessing intravascular volume status could be
      acquired in a relatively short time by specialist nurses without previous
      experience, and that results were comparable to those produced by an experienced
      practitioner.

PMID- 26867414
TI  - Exercise HIMALAYAN SERPENT: feedback article.
AB  - Exercise HIMALAYAN SERPENT was open to junior doctors from the United Kingdom
      (UK) Armed Forces and aimed to educate potential expedition doctors on aspects of
      high altitude and wilderness medicine as well as conducting adventurous training
      (AT) and medical research. This was the first time such an exercise had been
      undertaken and this article explores the views of those junior doctors taking
      part to assess whether the exercise met the aims and objectives it set out.

PMID- 26867413
TI  - Medical reconnaissance for the Defence Medical Services Dhaulagiri Expedition
      2016.
AB  - The formation of a clear and well-informed medical plan is critical to the safe
      planning and execution of any expedition in remote locations. We performed a
      reconnaissance of medical facilities in Nepal in March 2015 prior to a large
      Defence Medical Services (DMS) expedition to the Dhaulagiri area in 2016.
      Visiting relevant medical facilities in person provides invaluable information
      and experience of what healthcare services may be relied upon in managing an
      expedition casualty, in scenarios ranging from minor illness to major trauma. We
      describe the principles, practice and level of detail required for performing
      such a medical reconnaissance and illustrate this with examples of our findings
      from Nepal.

PMID- 26867415
TI  - Lessons learned while undertaking high altitude medical research in the
      Himalayas.
AB  - Undertaking medical research during military adventurous training expeditions
      presents a unique set of challenges to medical personnel, and for those
      considering doing so in the future the task may seem daunting. This article
      details some of the challenges faced whilst undertaking high altitude research on
      a recent Defence Medical Services (DMS) adventurous training expedition to the
      Dhaulagiri circuit in Nepal. By discussing what led to some of the problems
      encountered, how they were overcome, and in some instances how they could have
      been avoided in the first place, it is hoped that the article will act as a guide
      for others who plan on undertaking future research in a similar environment.

PMID- 26867416
TI  - A systematic review of the use of tourniquets and topical haemostatic agents in
      conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have seen increased
      use of tourniquets and topical haemostatic agents in the management of
      battlefield trauma. The aim of this paper is to review the available evidence for
      their efficacy and continued use. METHODS: A systematic review of the medical
      literature published as a consequence of conflicts in Iraq in Afghanistan was
      conducted to determine the clinical outcomes from the use of tourniquets and
      haemostatic agents for haemorrhage control in limb extremity injury. RESULTS:
      Studies were retrospective cohort or prospective observational studies by design.
      None were eligible for meta-analysis and control groups were rarely available for
      ethical reasons. Despite methodological limitations, tourniquets were shown to
      save lives if applied prior to the onset of shock or in a pre-hospital setting.
      Topical haemostatic agents were shown to be useful adjuncts in haemorrhage
      control with small numbers of complications. CONCLUSION: In the military setting,
      tourniquet use in extremity trauma improves survival when used prior to the onset
      of shock. Topical haemostatic agents provide additional means of haemorrhage
      control, though further studies to identify the most effective types are
      necessary. Adequate training and protocols for use must be implemented to prevent
      complications through use.

PMID- 26867417
TI  - What do we need for airway management of adult casualties on the Primary Casualty
      Receiving Facility? A review of airway management on Role 3 Afloat.
AB  - The Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF) of the Royal Navy (RN) is
      currently based on Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ARGUS and provides a functioning
      hospital with surgical teams and a CT scanner (Role 3) within the maritime
      environment. The case mix could include complex trauma, critically ill patients
      returning to theatre several times, as well as non-battle injury procedures. This
      paper describes how we have used national guidelines, evidence from recent
      military experience, and the Clinical Guidelines for Operations (CGOs) to review
      and rationalise the airway equipment that is available and that would be required
      for the PCRF in its current configuration, whilst maintaining capability in a
      deployed setting.

PMID- 26867418
TI  - The management of unexplained collapse in service age personnel.
AB  - Unexplained collapse is a common presentation to medical practitioners, with a
      wide range of differential diagnoses making assessment problematic. Without a
      methodical approach to the patient presenting with unexplained collapse,
      potentially life-threatening conditions may not be recognised, whilst benign
      presentations can be over-investigated. This article will review the assessment,
      differential diagnosis and management of unexplained collapse, whilst considering
      the impact in the military environment.

PMID- 26867419
TI  - The management of acute seizures in Naval Service personnel.
AB  - Seizures are a relatively common Emergency Department (ED) presentation among
      young adult populations, considered for the purpose of this report as being aged
      15-59. Due to the varied aetiologies involved, understanding of the potential
      causes and their presentation is key to managing these patients. Although seizure
      incidence within the United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces population is generally
      low, it is not negligible. Therefore, awareness of the initial management is
      required by all those involved in patient care from the Medical Assistant (MA) at
      the Role 1 facility, through to the senior doctors at Role 3 establishments. All
      management should be in line with the Clinical Guidelines for Operations (CGOs)
      and Advanced Life Support (ALS) principles, with resuscitation, seizure control
      and patient stabilisation taking precedence initially. Ultimately, the use of
      laboratory testing and imaging at a Role 3 setting will be required to accurately
      confirm a diagnosis. Information obtained during these assessments may serve to
      assist the Naval Service Medical Board of Survey (NSMBOS) in determining
      suitability for continued Service retention and employment.

PMID- 26867420
TI  - Abdominal hernias: a clinical review of their assessment and management in the
      Naval Service.
AB  - Hernias are a relatively common occurrence in the armed forces community and may
      affect an individual's fitness for duty and impact on operational capability,
      particularly in specialist occupations. Their early identification and management
      will allow appropriate treatment and minimise any impact on operational
      capability. This article aims to summarise the assessment and management of
      simple hernias and considers occupational considerations in their management for
      personnel serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

PMID- 26867421
TI  - Lower limb stress fractures in military training.
AB  - This article describes stress fractures that are seen in military training, and
      reviews the relevant literature. The information is vital for medical personnel
      who work with the United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces, particularly those working in
      training establishments. The author suggests areas for further research and
      discusses some of the issues in current UK Armed Forces training.

PMID- 26867422
TI  - Recent changes in hypoxia training at the Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation
      Medicine.
AB  - Hypoxia training at the Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine (RAF CAM) has
      traditionally involved the use of a hypobaric chamber to induce hypoxia. While
      giving the student experience of both hypoxia and decompression, hypobaric
      chamber training is not without risks such as decompression sickness and
      barotrauma. This article describes the new system for hypoxia training known as
      Scenario-Based Hypoxia Training (SBHT), which involves the subject sitting in an
      aircraft simulator and wearing a mask linked by hose to a Reduced Oxygen
      Breathing Device (ROBD). The occupational requirements to be declared fit for
      this new training method are also discussed.

PMID- 26867423
TI  - A brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) bite at sea.
AB  - Medical Officers (MOs) and Medical Branch Ratings (MBRs) must maintain an
      awareness of the risk of vector-borne diseases among deployed personnel.
      Personnel working in the maritime environment may not expect to be at risk of
      tick bites, as ticks typically occupy habitats with dense vegetation such as
      forests or scrub land. However, tick-borne pathogens can cause serious and
      sometimes fatal disease, and therefore the risk of tick bites and associated
      diseases should be recognised. We present a case of a tick bite in a member of a
      ship's company eight days after leaving port. The tick was identified as a brown
      dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), a species known to thrive indoors. We
      describe several important tick-borne diseases which can be transmitted by R.
      sanguineus and explore best practice for tick removal and aftercare. Finally, we
      outline the appropriate management of suspected tick-borne disease in deployed
      personnel in the maritime environment.

PMID- 26867424
TI  - Military Health Systems Research Symposium 2015.

PMID- 26867425
TI  - Report from Association of Surgeons in Training Conference.

PMID- 26867426
TI  - Obituaries. Surgeon Commander Herbert Ellis.

PMID- 26867427
TI  - The Eighth Charles Bernard Lecture.

PMID- 26867428
TI  - Multicolored, Low-Power, Flexible Electrochromic Devices Based on Ion Gels.
AB  - Ion gels composed of a copolymer and a room temperature ionic liquid are
      versatile solid-state electrolytes with excellent features including high ionic
      conductivity, nonvolatility, easily tunable mechanical properties, good
      flexibility and solution processability. Ion gels can be functionalized by
      incorporating redox-active species such as electrochemiluminescent (ECL)
      luminophores or electrochromic (EC) dyes. Here, we enhance the functionality of
      EC gels for realizing multicolored EC devices (ECDs), either by controlling the
      chemical equilibrium between a monomer and dimer of a colored EC species, or by
      modifying the molecular structures of the EC species. All devices in this work
      are conveniently fabricated by a "cut-and-stick" strategy, and require very low
      power for maintaining the colored state [i.e., 90 MUW/cm(2) (113 MUA/cm(2) at 
      0.8 V) for blue, 4 MUW/cm(2) (10 MUA/cm(2) at -0.4 V) for green, and 32 MUW/cm(2)
      (79 MUA/cm(2) at -0.4 V) for red ECD]. We also successfully demonstrate a
      patterned, multicolored, flexible ECD on plastic. Overall, these results suggest
      that gel-based ECDs have significant potential as low power displays in printed
      electronics powered by thin-film batteries. 

PMID- 26867429
TI  - Screening for perinatal depression: a missed opportunity.

PMID- 26867430
TI  - Ending the death penalty for juveniles.

PMID- 26867431
TI  - Acute myocardial infarction in women.

PMID- 26867432
TI  - Brain health: widening the scope of NCDs.

PMID- 26867433
TI  - Rheumatology--a call for papers.

PMID- 26867436
TI  - Strangers when we meet: David Bowie, mortality, and metamorphosis.

PMID- 26867437
TI  - Roderick Norman McIver MacSween.

PMID- 26867438
TI  - Should doctors strike?

PMID- 26867439
TI  - Men B: lack of coverage or vaccine failure?

PMID- 26867440
TI  - Should doctors strike?

PMID- 26867441
TI  - Call to duty revisited.

PMID- 26867442
TI  - Bacterial neonatal sepsis and antibiotic resistance in low-income countries.

PMID- 26867443
TI  - Closure of abdominal midline incisions: STITCH trial.

PMID- 26867444
TI  - Closure of abdominal midline incisions: STITCH trial.

PMID- 26867445
TI  - Closure of abdominal midline incisions: STITCH trial--Authors' reply.

PMID- 26867446
TI  - Closure of abdominal midline incisions: STITCH trial.

PMID- 26867447
TI  - Department of Error.

PMID- 26867448
TI  - Department of Error.

PMID- 26867449
TI  - Sign of the times: be careful what you say in the operating room.

PMID- 26867450
TI  - Poncet's disease: unusual presentation of a common disease.

PMID- 26867451
TI  - Tuberculosis and Poncet's disease: the many faces of an old enemy.

PMID- 26867453
TI  - Guinea worm disease nears eradication.

PMID- 26867454
TI  - Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis: options and choice.

PMID- 26867455
TI  - Plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanisms: is it time to revise our
      approach to selective digestive decontamination?

PMID- 26867456
TI  - Changing hepatitis B virus epidemiology in rural China.

PMID- 26867457
TI  - Changing hepatitis B virus epidemiology in rural China.

PMID- 26867458
TI  - Changing hepatitis B virus epidemiology in rural China - Authors' reply.

PMID- 26867459
TI  - Respiratory co-morbidities in people with HIV.

PMID- 26867460
TI  - Ethiopia shows it is single-minded in tackling disease.

PMID- 26867461
TI  - WHO estimates suggest large herpes simplex virus burden.

PMID- 26867462
TI  - Infection disease surveillance update.

PMID- 26867464
TI  - The transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in high burden settings.
AB  - Unacceptable levels of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission are noted in high
      burden settings and a renewed focus on reducing person-to-person transmission in
      these communities is needed. We review recent developments in the understanding
      of airborne transmission. We outline approaches to measure transmission in
      populations and trials and describe the Wells-Riley equation, which is used to
      estimate transmission risk in indoor spaces. Present research priorities include
      the identification of effective strategies for tuberculosis infection control,
      improved understanding of where transmission occurs and the transmissibility of
      drug-resistant strains, and estimates of the effect of HIV and antiretroviral
      therapy on transmission dynamics. When research is planned and interventions are
      designed to interrupt transmission, resource constraints that are common in high
      burden settings-including shortages of health-care workers-must be considered. 

PMID- 26867465
TI  - Chronic skin ulcers in a patient returning from Mexico.

PMID- 26867466
TI  - Adrenal imaging for adenoma characterization: imaging features, diagnostic
      accuracies and differential diagnoses.
AB  - Adrenocortical adenoma is the most common adrenal tumour. This lesion is
      frequently encountered on cross-sectional imaging that has been performed for
      unrelated reasons. Adrenal adenoma manifests various imaging features on CT, MRI
      and positron emission tomography/CT. The learning objectives of this review are
      to describe the imaging findings of adrenocortical adenoma, to compare the
      sensitivities of different imaging modalities for adenoma characterization and to
      introduce differential diagnoses. 

PMID- 26867467
TI  - [Carcinomatous meningitis: The radiation therapist's point of view].
AB  - Carcinomatous meningitis complicates 5 to 10% of cancers, essentially with breast
      cancers, lung cancers and melanomas. The incidence probably increased because of
      therapeutic advances in oncology. Treatment is based on external beam
      radiotherapy, systemic treatment, intrathecal chemotherapy and supportive care.
      The aim of this work was to review data on external radiation therapy and
      carcinomatous meningitis. There are few evidences on the subject, but it is a
      major topic of interest. A whole brain radiation therapy is indicated in case of
      brain metastases or clinical encephalitis. Focal radiation therapy is recommended
      on symptomatic, bulky or obstructive sites. The dose depends on performance
      status (20 to 40 Gy in five to 20 fractions), volume to treat and available
      techniques (classic fractionation or hypofractionation via stereotactic
      radiosurgery). The objective of radiation therapy is to improve quality of life.
      Association with systemic therapy improves overall survival. Administration of
      sequential intrathecal chemotherapy may also improve overall survival, but
      induces more toxicity. The use of new radiotherapy techniques and development of
      radiosensitizing molecules in patients with good performance status could improve
      survival in this frequent complication of cancer.

PMID- 26867468
TI  - Breast reconstruction by tissue expansion: What is the integrity of the chest
      wall?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both tissue expanders and implants are commonly used during breast
      reconstructions. These devices are the preferred choice of many plastic surgeons
      around the world during breast reconstruction due to their technical ease of use,
      low comorbidity and safety. However, several issues such as the integrity of the
      chest wall during and after tissue expansion remain unclear. Here we present a
      longitudinal study that shows deformities of the chest wall caused by the use of
      tissue expanders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study of the
      chest wall in 36 patients who underwent immediate two-stage expander-to-implant
      reconstruction from 2010 to 2013 was conducted to evaluate the possible causes of
      chest wall deformity. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest walls were
      taken before the second-stage reconstruction and after 1 year. Chest wall
      deformities (graded from I, no deformities, to V, costal fracture) were evaluated
      with CT scans. RESULTS: This study examined 36 breast reconstructions. Chest wall
      deformities were observed by a CT scan before the second-stage reconstruction.
      There were eight patients with grade I scores, 14 with grade II, 10 with grade
      III and four with grade IV. No cases of costal fracture (grade V) were observed.
      At the 1-year follow-up after the TE/implant change, 22 patients had the same
      degree of chest wall deformity. Ten patients showed an improvement and four a
      higher-grade deformity. CONCLUSION: Chest wall deformities commonly occur after
      tissue expander/implant reconstruction. However, the size of the expander,
      reconstruction timing and filling volume are not correlated with deformity
      development.

PMID- 26867469
TI  - Arterial supply and anastomotic pattern of the infraspinous fossa focusing on the
      surgical significance.
AB  - The clinical significance of the muscular branch of the circumflex scapular
      artery (CSA) has been underestimated during surgery involving the scapular
      osteocutaneous free flap, while the suprascapular artery (SSA) is vulnerable to
      damage during internal fixation of a scapular fracture. This study aimed to
      provide navigational guidelines for the positions of the suprascapular and
      circumflex scapular arteries at the infraspinous fossa and to identify the
      anastomotic pattern. Scapulae were carefully dissected following injection of
      liquid silicone into the suprascapular and circumflex scapular arteries. The
      artery diameters and the distances between landmarks were measured. Scapulae were
      classified according to the anastomotic morphology of the arteries. The
      suprascapular and circumflex scapular arteries had mean diameters of 1.7 and 2.1
      mm, respectively. The mean horizontal distance from the root of the spine to the
      suprascapular artery was 90.3 mm, and the mean distance between the suprascapular
      and circumflex scapular arteries was 45.5 mm. The circumflex scapular artery was
      positioned along the lateral border at 68.7% from the inferior angle. Practical
      navigational guidelines for the positions of the suprascapular and circumflex
      scapular arteries have been provided, with the anastomotic pattern classified
      into two types and two subtypes. The results of the present study will help
      reduce donor-site morbidity and damage to these arteries during surgery in the
      scapular region.

PMID- 26867470
TI  - Survey of Portuguese health care professionals attitudes towards non-invasive
      ventilation in COPD.

PMID- 26867471
TI  - Effort-reward imbalance at work, over-commitment personality and diet quality in
      Central and Eastern European populations.
AB  - The aims of this study were to investigate the associations between work stress
      defined by the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model and diet quality and to
      examine the potential role of over-commitment (OC) personality in ERI-diet
      relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted in random population samples
      of 6340 men and 5792 women (age 45-69 years) from the Czech Republic, Russia and
      Poland. Dietary data were collected using FFQ. The healthy diet indicator (HDI)
      was constructed using eight nutrient/food intakes (HDI components) to reflect the
      adherence to WHO dietary guideline. The extent of imbalance between effort and
      reward was measured by the effort:reward (ER) ratio; the effort score was the
      numerator and the reward score was multiplied by a factor adjusting for unequal
      number of items in the denominator. Logistic regression and linear regression
      were used to assess the associations between exposures (ER ratio and OC) and
      outcomes (HDI components and HDI) after adjustment for confounders and mediators.
      The results showed that high ER ratio and high OC were significantly associated
      with unhealthy diet quality. For a 1-SD increase in the ER ratio, HDI was reduced
      by 0.030 and 0.033 sd in men and women, and for a 1-SD increase in OC, HDI was
      decreased by 0.036 and 0.032 sd in men and women, respectively. The modifying
      role of OC in ERI-diet relationships was non-significant. To improve diet quality
      at workplace, a multiple-level approach combining organisational intervention for
      work stress and individual intervention for vulnerable personality is
      recommended.

PMID- 26867472
TI  - High incidence of tuberculosis in patients treated for hepatitis C chronic
      infection.
AB  - Brazil is one of the 22 countries that concentrates 80% of global tuberculosis
      cases concomitantly to a large number of hepatitis C carriers and some
      epidemiological risk scenarios are coincident for both diseases. We analyzed
      tuberculosis cases that occurred during alpha-interferon-based therapy for
      hepatitis C in reference centers in Brazil between 2001 and 2012 and reviewed
      their medical records. Eighteen tuberculosis cases were observed in patients
      submitted to hepatitis C alpha-interferon-based therapy. All patients were human
      immunodeficiency virus-negative. Nine patients (50%) had extra-pulmonary
      tuberculosis; 15 (83%) showed significant liver fibrosis. Hepatitis C treatment
      was discontinued in 12 patients (67%) due to tuberculosis reactivation and six
      (33%) had sustained virological response. The majority of patients had a
      favorable outcome but one died. Considering the evidences of alpha-IFN
      interference over the containment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the immune
      impairment of cirrhotic patients, the increase of tuberculosis case reports
      during hepatitis C treatment with atypical and severe presentations and the
      negative impact on sustained virological response, we think these are strong
      arguments for latent tuberculosis infection screening before starting alpha
      interferon-based therapy for any indication and even to consider IFN-free
      regimens against hepatitis C when a patient tests positive for latent
      tuberculosis infection. 

PMID- 26867473
TI  - Are opossums a relevant factor associated with asymptomatic Leishmania infection
      in the outskirts of the largest Brazilian cities?
AB  - A population survey was conducted to explore the prevalence and factors
      associated with Leishmania infection in the Fercal region of the Federal
      District. The Fercal region is a group of neighborhoods in Brasilia in which the
      first cases of visceral leishmaniasis were described. Leishmania infection was
      established by a positive leishmanin test. Although other tests were performed in
      the study (an immunochromatographic assay (Kalazar detect((r))) and a molecular
      assay), only the leishmanin skin test provided sufficient results for the
      measurement of the disease prevalence. Data on the epidemiological, clinical and
      environmental characteristics of individuals were collected along with the
      diagnostic tests. After sampling and enrollment, seven hundred people from 2 to
      14 years of age were included in the study. The prevalence of Leishmania
      infection was 33.28% (95% CI 29.87-36.84). The factors associated with Leishmania
      infection according to the multivariate analysis were age of more than seven
      years and the presence of opossums near the home. Age is a known factor
      associated with Leishmania infection; however, the presence of wild animals, as
      described, is an understudied factor. The presence of opossums, which are known
      reservoirs of Leishmania, in peri-urban areas could be the link between the rural
      and urban occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis in the outskirts of largest
      Brazilian cities, as suggested by previous studies. 

PMID- 26867474
TI  - Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization in pediatric and neonatal
      intensive care units: risk factors for progression to infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about factors associated with carbapenem-resistant
      Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in pediatric patients, who are initally
      colonized with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving pediatric and neonatal
      intensive care units throughout a five-year period (January 2010-December 2014).
      Clinical and microbiological data were extracted from Hospital Infection Control
      Committee reports and patients' medical records. Risk factors were assessed in
      carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae colonized patients who developed
      subsequent systemic infection (cases) and compared to carbapenem-resistant
      Klebsiella pneumoniae colonized patients who did not develop infection
      (controls). RESULTS: Throughout the study period, 2.6% of patients admitted to
      neonatal intensive care units and 3.6% of patients admitted to pediatric
      intensive care units had become colonized with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae. After a mean of 10.6+/-1.9 days (median: 7 days, range: 2-38 days)
      following detection of colonization, 39.0% of the carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae colonized patients in pediatric intensive care units and 18.1% of
      carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae colonized patients in neonatal
      intensive care units developed systemic carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae infection. Types of systemic carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae infections included bacteremia (n=15, 62.5%), ventilator-associated
      pneumonia (n=4, 16.6%), ventriculitis (n=2, 8.3%), intraabdominal infections
      (n=2, 8.3%), and urinary tract infection (n=1, 4.1%). A logistic regression model
      including parameters found significant in univariate analysis of carbapenem
      resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization and carbapenem resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae infection groups revealed underlying metabolic disease (OR: 10.1; 95%
      CI: 2.7-37.2), previous carbapenem use (OR: 10.1; 95% CI: 2.2-40.1), neutropenia
      (OR: 13.8; 95% CI: 3.1-61.0) and previous surgical procedure (OR: 7.4; 95% CI:
      1.9-28.5) as independent risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae infection in patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae. Out of 24 patients with carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
      infection, 4 (16.6%) died of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis.
      CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic colonization with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae in intensive care units of pediatric departments should alert health
      care providers about forthcoming carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
      infection. Those carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae colonized patients at
      risk of developing infection due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
      may be targeted for interventions to reduce subsequent infection occurence and
      also for timely initiation of empirical carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella
      pneumoniae active treatment, when necessary.

PMID- 26867475
TI  - Biosensing using plasmonic nanohole arrays with small, homogenous and tunable
      aperture diameters.
AB  - Plasmonic nanohole arrays are widely used for optical label-free molecular
      detection. An important factor for many applications is the diameter of the
      apertures. So far nanohole arrays with controllable diameters below 100 nm have
      not been demonstrated and it has not been systematically investigated how the
      diameter influences the optical properties. In this work we fine-tune the
      diameter in short range ordered nanohole arrays down to 50 nm. The experimental
      far field spectra show how the wavelength of maximum extinction remains
      unaffected while the transmission maximum blue shifts with smaller diameters. The
      near field is visualized by numerical simulations, showing a homogenous
      enhancement throughout the cylindrical void at the transmission maximum for
      diameters between 50 and 100 nm. For diameters below 50 nm plasmon excitation is
      no longer possible experimentally or by simulations. Further, we investigate the
      refractive index sensing capabilities of the smaller holes. As the diameter was
      reduced, the sensitivity in terms of resonance shift with bulk liquid refractive
      index was found to be unaltered. However, for the transmission maximum the
      sensitivity becomes more strongly localized to the hole interior. By directing
      molecular binding to the bottom of the holes we demonstrate how smaller holes
      enhance the sensitivity in terms of signal per molecule. A real-time detection
      limit well below one protein per nanohole is demonstrated. The smaller plasmonic
      nanoholes should be suitable for studies of molecules confined in small volumes
      and as mimics of biological nanopores. 

PMID- 26867476
TI  - Insights into Aminophylline and   Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Premature  
      Infants.

PMID- 26867477
TI  - A prospective, randomised, cross-over trial comparing two standard polyvinyl
      chloride tracheal tubes. Are all the tubes the same?
AB  - BACKGROUND: A randomised study was conducted on the number of attempts made
      during the conventional endotracheal intubation of a mannequin using two
      polyvinyl (PVC) tracheal tubes, apparently similar but from different
      manufactures: INTERSURGICAL (IS; Intersurgical S.L., Madrid, Spain) and
      Mallinckrodt (ML; Mallinkrodt Medical S.A., Madrid, Spain). METHODS: A total of
      26 anaesthesiologists, in randomly established order (generated by Epidat 3.1)
      intubated a mannequin twice using a different tube each time. The tubes were
      masked by painting them to prevent recognition. The main outcome of the study was
      to compare the number of attempts needed to complete the manoeuvre for each tube.
      Data on intubation time and failed intubations were also collected. RESULTS: The
      number of attempts with the ML tube was significantly lower than with the IS
      tube. Intubation was completed on the first attempt with the ML tube in 93.3% of
      cases, while using the IS tube the percentage fell to 30.8% (Fisher exact test,
      P<.001). The time required to complete the manoeuvre was greater with the IS tube
      (median 10.8seconds, interquartile range 6-22) than with the ML tube (median
      4.4seconds, interquartile range 3.5 to 6.3). CONCLUSIONS: The PVC tube from the
      ML manufacturer was superior when compared with the IS, the latter was also
      associated with a larger number of attempts to complete intubation using a
      conventional Macintosh blade.

PMID- 26867478
TI  - The role of genomic islands in Escherichia coli K1 interactions with intestinal
      and kidney epithelial cells.
AB  - The completion of Escherichia coli K1 genome has identified several genomic
      islands that are present in meningitis-causing E. coli RS218 but absent in the
      non-pathogenic E. coli MG1655. In this study, the role of various genomic islands
      in E. coli K1 interactions with intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) and kidney
      epithelial cells (MA104) was determined. Using association assays, invasion
      assays, and intracellular survival assays, the findings revealed that the genomic
      island deletion mutants of RS218 related to P fimbriae, S fimbriae, F17-like
      fimbriae, non-fimbrial adhesins, Hek and hemagglutinin, protein secretion system
      (T1SS for hemolysin; T2SS; T5SS for antigen 43), Iro system and hmu system),
      invasins (CNF1, IbeA), toxins (alpha-hemolysin), K1 capsule biosynthesis,
      metabolism (d-serine catabolism, dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and glyoxylate
      metabolism), prophage genes, showed reduced interactions with both cell types.
      Next, we determined the role of various genomic islands in E. coli K1 resistance
      to serum. When exposed to the normal human serum, the viability of the genomic
      island deletion mutants related to adhesins such as S fimbriae, P fimbriae, F17
      like fimbriae, non-fimbrial adhesins, Hek and hemagglutinin, antigen 43 and T5SS
      for antigen 43, T2SS, and T1SS for hemolysin, Iro system and hmu system, prophage
      genes, metabolism (sugar metabolism and d-serine catabolism), K1 capsule
      biosynthesis, and invasins such as CNF1 was affected, suggesting their role in
      bacteremia. The characterization of these genomic islands should reveal
      mechanisms of E. coli K1 pathogenicity that could be of value as therapeutic
      targets.

PMID- 26867479
TI  - Management of acute appendicitis in a rural population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our system uses a hub and spoke approach to provide surgical care for
      our rural population. Patients access care anywhere in the system but are
      transferred centrally for surgical care. We sought to determine if surgical
      outcome differed depending on where initial care occurred. We chose acute
      appendicitis (AA) to investigate our care model. METHODS: We identified patients
      admitted with the diagnosis of AA. Patients were divided into 2 groups, Bassett
      Medical Center presentation and satellite center (SAT) presentation. Demographics
      were compared and, time from system access to surgery, time of surgery, and
      clinical information associated with care. RESULTS: There were no differences
      regarding any clinically relevant factor. SAT patients had longer mean surgery
      times, 60.7 minutes vs 51.5 (P=.008). Time to surgery, LOS, and complications
      were similar. CONCLUSIONS: It is safe to care for AA patients with a hub and
      spoke approach without putting SAT patients at a disadvantage.

PMID- 26867480
TI  - Intraoperative management of renal gunshot injuries: is mandatory exploration of
      Gerota's fascia necessary?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many trauma surgeons and trauma centers use routine exploration of
      Gerota's fascia (GE) for renal gunshot wounds (RGSW). The purpose of this study
      was to assess whether RGSW can be selectively explored for patients who undergo
      exploratory laparotomy. METHODS: Retrospective 10-year review of all patients who
      underwent exploratory laparotomy for abdominal gunshot wounds and had RGSW
      selectively explored. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with RGSW underwent
      exploratory laparotomy. Twenty-eight (44%) underwent GE vs 35 (56%) who did not.
      Eight (29%) mortalities occurred with GE and 5 (14%) without GE (P < .05). Of GE
      patients, 14 (50%) had nephrectomy and 14 (50%) had renorrhaphy. Average hospital
      length of stay with GE was 16.7 days vs 17.9 without GE. Three (9%) renal
      associated complications occurred without GE and 1 (4%) with GE. CONCLUSIONS:
      Most patients who suffer RGSW do not require exploration of GE during abdominal
      exploration. Complication rates due to nonexploration of RGSW are very low with
      infrequent need for surgical intervention due to renal-associated complications.
      High nephrectomy rates may be avoided when GE is averted.

PMID- 26867481
TI  - Risk and contributing factors of ecosystem shifts over naturally vegetated land
      under climate change in China.
AB  - Identifying the areas at risk of ecosystem transformation and the main
      contributing factors to the risk is essential to assist ecological adaptation to
      climate change. We assessed the risk of ecosystem shifts in China using the
      projections of four global gridded vegetation models (GGVMs) and an aggregate
      metric. The results show that half of naturally vegetated land surface could be
      under moderate or severe risk at the end of the 21(st) century under the middle
      and high emission scenarios. The areas with high risk are the Tibetan Plateau
      region and an area extended northeastward from the Tibetan Plateau to northeast
      China. With the three major factors considered, the change in carbon stocks is
      the main contributing factor to the high risk of ecosystem shifts. The change in
      carbon fluxes is another important contributing factor under the high emission
      scenario. The change in water fluxes is a less dominant factor except for the
      Tibetan Plateau region under the high emission scenario. Although there is
      considerable uncertainty in the risk assessment, the geographic patterns of the
      risk are generally consistent across different scenarios. The results could help
      develop regional strategies for ecosystem conservation to cope with climate
      change.

PMID- 26867483
TI  - Effects of habitual physical activity on microsurgical performance.
AB  - We investigated the effect of physical activity on microsurgical performance.
      Forty novice candidates and 6 expert controls did a series of consecutive end-to
      end microvascular anastomoses. To assess performance, we did a hand motion
      analysis and correlated the results with levels of habitual physical activity.
      Higher levels of activity in the novice candidates correlated with slower
      completion of anastomosis for medical students on day 1 (p=0.0035) and day 5
      (p=0.0003). The same pattern was seen for postgraduate trainees on day 1
      (p=0.024) and day 5 (p=0.0063). Higher level of activity also correlated with an
      increase in path length (total distance travelled and direction of travel) and in
      total movements on day 1 for medical students (p=0.016 and p=0.0021,
      respectively), and in total path length on day 1 for postgraduate trainees
      (p=0.0305).

PMID- 26867482
TI  - Tripartite assembly of RND multidrug efflux pumps.
AB  - Tripartite multidrug efflux systems of Gram-negative bacteria are composed of an
      inner membrane transporter, an outer membrane channel and a periplasmic adaptor
      protein. They are assumed to form ducts inside the periplasm facilitating drug
      exit across the outer membrane. Here we present the reconstitution of native
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa MexAB-OprM and Escherichia coli AcrAB-TolC tripartite
      Resistance Nodulation and cell Division (RND) efflux systems in a lipid nanodisc
      system. Single-particle analysis by electron microscopy reveals the inner and
      outer membrane protein components linked together via the periplasmic adaptor
      protein. This intrinsic ability of the native components to self-assemble also
      leads to the formation of a stable interspecies AcrA-MexB-TolC complex suggesting
      a common mechanism of tripartite assembly. Projection structures of all three
      complexes emphasize the role of the periplasmic adaptor protein as part of the
      exit duct with no physical interaction between the inner and outer membrane
      components. 

PMID- 26867484
TI  - Pain Sensitivity in Patients With Major Depression: Differential Effect of Pain
      Sensitivity Measures, Somatic Cofactors, and Disease Characteristics.
AB  - Patients with depression often report pain. Evidence regarding altered pain
      sensitivity in depressed patients remains, however, inconclusive. In a large
      cross-sectional study we investigated the association between depression and pain
      sensitivity with regard to 2 different dimensions of pain sensitivity, as well as
      the effect of somatic cofactors, symptom severity, and subtype of depression. In
      735 patients with a current episode of major depression and 456 never-depressed
      control participants pain thresholds (pressure pain thresholds, PPTs) were
      measured at the index finger pad and self-rated suprathreshold pain intensity
      ratings were obtained using the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ)-minor
      subscore, an instrument that assesses pain intensity in daily life situations.
      Additionally, lifestyle factors, medical, and psychiatric conditions were
      assessed. Unadjusted, patients with depression had lower PPTs and higher PSQ
      minor scores indicating increased pain sensitivity. After adjusting for potential
      mediators, such as poor sleep quality and physical inactivity, patients did not
      differ from control participants regarding PPTs, but still had significantly
      higher PSQ-minor ratings. Among patients with depression, severity of anxiety
      symptoms predicted higher PSQ-minor scores. In conclusion, we found a
      differential effect of depression on the 2 pain sensitivity dimensions: Decreased
      experimentally obtained pain thresholds were explained by depression-associated
      somatic factors whereas increased self-rated suprathreshold pain intensity
      ratings were associated with increased anxiety symptoms. PERSPECTIVE: Because
      increased pain intensity perception is hypothesized to be a risk factor for the
      development of chronic pain, our findings may contribute to understanding the
      high incidence of chronic pain in depressed patients. They also encourage
      clinicians to consider the role of anxiety in treatment programs for pain in
      patients with depression.

PMID- 26867485
TI  - Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and
      benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives as Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      pantothenate synthetase inhibitors.
AB  - In the present study, we have designed imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and
      benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives from earlier reported imidazo[1,2
      a]pyridine based Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) pantothenate synthetase (PS)
      inhibitors. We synthesized thirty compounds and they were evaluated for MTB PS
      inhibition study, in vitro anti-TB activities against replicative and non
      replicative MTB, in vivo activity using Mycobacterium marinum infected Zebra fish
      and cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cell line. Among them compound 2-methyl-N'-(4
      phenoxybenzoyl)benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-3-carbohydrazide (5bc) emerged as
      potent compound active against MTB PS with IC50 of 0.53+/-0.13 MUM, MIC of 3.53
      MUM, 2.1 log reduction against nutrient starved MTB, with 33% cytotoxicity at 50
      MUM. It also showed 1.5 log reduction of M. marinum load in Zebra fish at
      10mg/kg.

PMID- 26867486
TI  - 4H-Chromene-based anticancer agents towards multi-drug resistant HL60/MX2 human
      leukemia: SAR at the 4th and 6th positions.
AB  - 4H-Chromene-based compounds, for example, CXL017, CXL035, and CXL055, have a
      unique anticancer potential that they selectively kill multi-drug resistant
      cancer cells. Reported herein is the extended structure-activity relationship
      (SAR) study, focusing on the ester functional group at the 4th position and the
      conformation at the 6th position. Sharp SARs were observed at both positions with
      respect to cellular cytotoxic potency and selectivity between the parental HL60
      and the multi-drug resistant HL60/MX2 cells. These results provide critical
      guidance for future medicinal optimization. 

PMID- 26867487
TI  - Synthesis and evaluation of thiophene-based guanylhydrazones (iminoguanidines)
      efficient against panel of voriconazole-resistant fungal isolates.
AB  - A series of new thiophene-based guanylhydrazones (iminoguanidines) were
      synthesized in high yields using a straightforward two-step procedure. The
      antifungal activity of compounds was evaluated against a wide range of medicaly
      important fungal strains including yeasts, molds, and dermatophytes in comparison
      to clinically used drug voriconazole. Cytotoxic properties of compounds were also
      determined using human lung fibroblast cell line and hemolysis assay. All
      guanylhydrazones showed significant activity against broad spectrum of clinically
      important species of Candida spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum,
      Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which was in some cases
      comparable or better than activity of voriconazole. More importantly, compounds
      10, 11, 13, 14, 18 and 21 exhibited excellent activity against voriconazole
      resistant Candida albicans CA5 with very low minimal inhibitory concentration
      (MIC) values <2 MUg mL(-1). Derivative 14, bearing bromine on the phenyl ring,
      was the most effective compound with MICs ranging from 0.25 to 6.25 MUg mL(-1).
      However, bis-guanylhydrazone 18 showed better selectivity in terms of therapeutic
      index values. In vivo embryotoxicity on zebrafish (Danio rerio) showed improved
      toxicity profile of 11, 14 and 18 in comparison to that of voriconazole. Most
      guanylhydrazones also inhibited C. albicans yeast to hyphal transition, essential
      for its biofilm formation, while 11 and 18 were able to disperse preformed
      Candida biofilms. All guanylhydrazones showed the equal potential to interact
      with genomic DNA of C. albicans in vitro, thus indicating a possible mechanism of
      their action, as well as possible mechanism of observed cytotoxic effects. Tested
      compounds did not have significant hemolytic effect and caused low liposome
      leakage, which excluded the cell membrane as a primary target. On the basis of
      computational docking experiments using both human and cytochrome P450 from
      Candida it was concluded that the most active guanylhydrazones had minimal
      structural prerequisites to interact with the cytochrome P450 14alpha-demethylase
      (CYP51). Promising guanylhydrazone derivatives also showed satisfactory
      pharmacokinetic profile based on molecular calculations.

PMID- 26867488
TI  - Rhesus macaques persistently infected with hepatitis E shed virus into urine.

PMID- 26867489
TI  - Prioritization of HCV treatment in the direct-acting antiviral era: An economic
      evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: We determined the optimal HCV treatment prioritization
      strategy for interferon-free (IFN-free) HCV direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) by
      disease stage and risk status incorporating treatment of people who inject drugs
      (PWID). METHODS: A dynamic HCV transmission and progression model compared the
      cost-effectiveness of treating patients early vs. delaying until cirrhosis for
      patients with mild or moderate fibrosis, where PWID chronic HCV prevalence was
      20, 40 or 60%. Treatment duration was 12weeks at L3300/wk, to achieve a 95%
      sustained viral response and was varied by genotype/stage in alternative
      scenarios. We estimated long-term health costs (in LUK=?1.3=$1.5) and outcomes as
      quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained using a L20,000 willingness to pay per
      QALY threshold. We ranked strategies with net monetary benefit (NMB); negative
      NMB implies delay treatment. RESULTS: The most cost-effective group to treat were
      PWID with moderate fibrosis (mean NMB per early treatment L60,640/L23,968 at
      20/40% chronic prevalence, respectively), followed by PWID with mild fibrosis
      (NMB L59,258 and L19,421, respectively) then ex-PWID/non-PWID with moderate
      fibrosis (NMB L9,404). Treatment of ex-PWID/non-PWID with mild fibrosis could be
      delayed (NMB -L3,650). In populations with 60% chronic HCV among PWID it was only
      cost-effective to prioritize DAAs to ex-PWID/non-PWID with moderate fibrosis. For
      every one PWID in the 20% chronic HCV setting, 2 new HCV infections were averted.
      One extra HCV-related death was averted per 13 people with moderate disease
      treated. Rankings were unchanged with reduced drug costs or varied sustained
      virological response/duration by genotype/fibrosis stage. CONCLUSIONS: Treating
      PWID with moderate or mild HCV with IFN-free DAAs is cost-effective compared to
      delay until cirrhosis, except when chronic HCV prevalence and reinfection risk is
      very high.

PMID- 26867491
TI  - Reply to "Rhesus macaques persistently infected with hepatitis E shed virus into
      urine".

PMID- 26867490
TI  - IL-6 pathway in the liver: From physiopathology to therapy.
AB  - Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic four-helix-bundle cytokine that exerts
      multiple functions in the body. In the liver, IL-6 is an important inducer of the
      acute phase response and infection defense. IL-6 is furthermore crucial for
      hepatocyte homeostasis and is a potent hepatocyte mitogen. It is not only
      implicated in liver regeneration, but also in metabolic function of the liver.
      However, persistent activation of the IL-6 signaling pathway is detrimental to
      the liver and might ultimately result in the development of liver tumors. On
      target cells IL-6 can bind to the signal transducing subunit gp130 either in
      complex with the membrane-bound or with the soluble IL-6 receptor to induce
      intracellular signaling. In this review we describe how these different pathways
      are involved in the physiology and pathophyiology of the liver. We furthermore
      discuss how IL-6 pathways can be selectively inhibited and therapeutically
      exploited for the treatment of liver pathologies.

PMID- 26867492
TI  - Lights on MAIT cells, a new immune player in liver diseases.

PMID- 26867493
TI  - The pro-inflammatory effects of miR-155 promote liver fibrosis and alcohol
      induced steatohepatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) ranges from fatty liver to
      inflammation and cirrhosis. miRNA-155 is an important regulator of inflammation.
      In this study, we describe the in vivo role of miR-155 in ALD. METHODS: Wild-type
      (WT) (C57/BL6J) or miR-155 knockout (KO) and TLR4 KO mice received Lieber DeCarli
      diet for 5weeks. Some mice received corn oil or CCl4 for 2 or 9weeks. RESULTS: We
      found that miR-155 KO mice are protected from alcohol-induced steatosis and
      inflammation. The reduction in alcohol-induced fat accumulation in miR-155 KO
      mice was associated with increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
      response element (PPRE) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
      (PPAR)alpha (miR-155 target) binding and decreased MCP1 production. Treatment
      with a miR-155 inhibitor increased PPARgamma expression in naive and alcohol
      treated RAW macrophages. Alcohol increased lipid metabolism gene expression
      (FABP4, LXRalpha, ACC1 and LDLR) in WT mice and this was prevented in KO mice.
      Alcohol diet caused an increase in the number of CD163(+) CD206(+) infiltrating
      macrophages and neutrophils in WT mice, which was prevented in miR-155 KO mice.
      Kupffer cells isolated from miR-155 KO mice exhibited predominance of M2
      phenotype when exposed to M1 polarized signals and this was due to increased
      C/EBPbeta. Pro-fibrotic genes were attenuated in miR-155 KO mice after alcohol
      diet or CCl4 treatment. Compared to WT mice, attenuation in CCl4 induced
      hydroxyproline and alpha-SMA was observed in KO mice. Finally, we show TLR4
      signaling regulates miR-155 as TLR4 KO mice showed no induction of miR-155 after
      alcohol diet. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively our results demonstrated the role of miR
      155 in alcohol-induced steatohepatitis and fibrosis in vivo.

PMID- 26867494
TI  - Novel pre-mRNA splicing of intronically integrated HBV generates oncogenic
      chimera in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration is common in HBV
      associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and may play an important pathogenic
      role through the production of chimeric HBV-human transcripts. We aimed to screen
      the transcriptome for HBV integrations in HCCs. METHODS: Transcriptome sequencing
      was performed on paired HBV-associated HCCs and corresponding non-tumorous liver
      tissues to identify viral-human chimeric sites. Validation was further performed
      in an expanded cohort of human HCCs. RESULTS: Here we report the discovery of a
      novel pre-mRNA splicing mechanism in generating HBV-human chimeric protein. This
      mechanism was exemplified by the formation of a recurrent HBV-cyclin A2 (CCNA2)
      chimeric transcript (A2S), as detected in 12.5% (6 of 48) of HCC patients, but in
      none of the 22 non-HCC HBV-associated cirrhotic liver samples examined. Upon the
      integration of HBV into the intron of the CCNA2 gene, the mammalian splicing
      machinery utilized the foreign splice sites at 282nt. and 458nt. of the HBV
      genome to generate a pseudo-exon, forming an in-frame chimeric fusion with CCNA2.
      The A2S chimeric protein gained a non-degradable property and promoted cell cycle
      progression, demonstrating its potential oncogenic functions. CONCLUSIONS: A pre
      mRNA splicing mechanism is involved in the formation of HBV-human chimeric
      proteins. This represents a novel and possibly common mechanism underlying the
      formation of HBV-human chimeric transcripts from intronically integrated HBV
      genome with functional impact. LAY SUMMARY: HBV is involved in the mammalian pre
      mRNA splicing machinery in the generation of potential tumorigenic HBV-human
      chimeras. This study also provided insight on the impact of intronic HBV
      integration with the gain of splice sites in the development of HBV-associated
      HCC.

PMID- 26867496
TI  - Limits of Coherency and Strain Transfer in Flexible 2D van der Waals
      Heterostructures: Formation of Strain Solitons and Interlayer Debonding.
AB  - In flexible 2D-devices, strain transfer between different van-der Waals stacked
      layers is expected to play an important role in determining their optoelectronic
      performances and mechanical stability. Using a 2D non-linear shear-lag model, we
      demonstrate that only 1-2% strain can be transferred between adjacent layers of
      different 2d-materials, depending on the strength of the interlayer vdW
      interaction and the elastic modulus of the individual layers. Beyond this
      critical strain, layers begin to slip with respect to each other. We further show
      that due to the symmetry of the periodic interlayer shear potential, stacked
      structures form strain solitons with alternating AB/BA or AB/AB stacking which
      are separated by incommensurate domain walls. The extent and the separation
      distance of these commensurate domains are found to be determined by the degree
      of the applied strain, and their magnitudes are calculated for several 2D
      heterostructures and bilayers including MoS2/WS2, MoSe2/WSe2, Graphene/Graphene
      and MoS2/MoS2 using a multiscale method. As bilayer structures have been shown to
      exhibit stacking-dependent electronic bandgap and quantum transport properties,
      the predictions of our study will not only be crucial in determining the
      mechanical stability of flexible 2D devices but will also help to better
      understand optoelectronic response of flexible devices. 

PMID- 26867495
TI  - Metabolism of isoniazid by neutrophil myeloperoxidase leads to isoniazid-NAD(+)
      adduct formation: A comparison of the reactivity of isoniazid with its known
      human metabolites.
AB  - The formation of isonicotinyl-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (INH-NAD(+)) via
      the mycobacterial catalase-peroxidase enzyme, KatG, has been described as the
      major component of the mode of action of isoniazid (INH). However, there are
      numerous human peroxidases that may catalyze this reaction. The role of
      neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) in INH-NAD(+) adduct formation has never been
      explored; this is important, as neutrophils are recruited at the site of
      tuberculosis infection (granuloma) through infected macrophages' cell death
      signals. In our studies, we showed that neutrophil MPO is capable of INH
      metabolism using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping and UV-Vis
      spectroscopy. MPO or activated human neutrophils (by phorbol myristate acetate)
      catalyzed the oxidation of INH and formed several free radical intermediates; the
      inclusion of superoxide dismutase revealed a carbon-centered radical which is
      considered to be the reactive metabolite that binds with NAD(+). Other human
      metabolites, including N-acetyl-INH, N-acetylhydrazine, and hydrazine did not
      show formation of carbon-centered radicals, and either produced no detectable
      free radicals, N-centered free radicals, or superoxide, respectively. A
      comparison of these free radical products indicated that only the carbon-centered
      radical from INH is reducing in nature, based on UV-Vis measurement of nitroblue
      tetrazolium reduction. Furthermore, only INH oxidation by MPO led to a new
      product (lambdamax=326nm) in the presence of NAD(+). This adduct was confirmed to
      be isonicotinyl-NAD(+) using LC-MS analysis where the intact adduct was detected
      (m/z=769). The findings of this study suggest that neutrophil MPO may also play a
      role in INH pharmacological activity. 

PMID- 26867497
TI  - Decisions in Motion: Decision Dynamics during Intertemporal Choice reflect
      Subjective Evaluation of Delayed Rewards.
AB  - People tend to discount rewards or losses that occur in the future. Such delay
      discounting has been linked to many behavioral and health problems, since people
      choose smaller short-term gains over greater long-term gains. We investigated
      whether the effect of delays on the subjective value of rewards is expressed in
      how people move when they make choices. Over 600 patrons of the RISK LAB
      exhibition hosted by the Science Gallery Dublin(TM) played a short computer game
      in which they used a computer mouse to choose between amounts of money at various
      delays. Typical discounting effects were observed and decision dynamics indicated
      that choosing smaller short-term rewards became easier (i.e., shorter response
      times, tighter trajectories, less vacillation) as the delays until later rewards
      increased. Based on a sequence of choices, subjective values of delayed outcomes
      were estimated and decision dynamics during initial choices predicted these
      values. Decision dynamics are affected by subjective values of available options
      and thus provide a means to estimate such values. 

PMID- 26867498
TI  - Application of cosmetic nail varnish does not affect the antifungal efficacy of
      amorolfine 5% nail lacquer in the treatment of distal subungual toenail
      onychomycosis: results of a randomised active-controlled study and in vitro
      assays.
AB  - As onychomycosis is unsightly, this study clinically evaluated whether the
      antifungal efficacy of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer (NL) was affected by a masking,
      natural-coloured, cosmetic nail varnish applied 24 h later; in vitro
      investigations were also performed. Subjects with mild-to-moderate distal
      subungual toenail onychomycosis were randomised to receive amorolfine 5% NL once
      weekly with or without cosmetic nail varnish applied 24 h later. After 12-week
      treatment, antifungal activity of affected toenail clippings was assessed by
      measurement of zones of inhibition (ZOIs) on Trichophyton mentagrophytes seeded
      agar plates. Mean diameters were 53.5 mm for the amorolfine 5% NL-alone group (n
      = 23) and 53.6 mm for amorolfine 5% NL plus cosmetic nail varnish group (n = 25).
      Also, mycological cultures of subungual debris at week 12 were negative for all
      subjects in both groups. Most subjects (88%) reported that cosmetic nail varnish
      masked their infected toenails. Additionally, cadaver human nails coated in vitro
      with or without cosmetic nail varnish 10 min or 24 h post amorolfine NL
      application all gave ZOIs on Trichophyton rubrum agar plates representing potent
      antifungal activity. In conclusion, cosmetic nail varnish applied post amorolfine
      had no effect on the subungual antifungal activity of amorolfine 5% NL or its
      penetration through toenails. 

PMID- 26867499
TI  - Activation and Connectivity within the Default Mode Network Contribute
      Independently to Future-Oriented Thought.
AB  - Future-oriented thought, a projection of the self into the future to pre
      experience an event, has been linked to default mode network (DMN). Previous
      studies showed that the DMN was generally divided into two subsystems: anterior
      part (aDMN) and posterior part (pDMN). The former is mostly related to self
      referential mental thought and latter engages in episodic memory retrieval and
      scene construction. However, functional contribution of these two subsystems and
      functional connectivity between them during future-oriented thought has rarely
      been reported. Here, we investigated these issues by using an experimental
      paradigm that allowed prospective, episodic decisions concerning one's future
      (Future Self) to be compared with self-referential decisions about one's
      immediate present state (Present Self). Additionally, two parallel control
      conditions that relied on non-personal semantic knowledge (Future Non-Self
      Control and Present Non-Self Control) were conducted. Our results revealed that
      the aDMN was preferentially activated when participants reflected on their
      present states, whereas the pDMN exhibited preferentially activation when
      participants reflected on their personal future. Intriguingly, significantly
      decreased aDMN-pDMN connectivity was observed when thinking about their future
      relative to other conditions. These results support the notion that activation
      within these subsystems and connectivity between them contribute differently to
      future-oriented thought. 

PMID- 26867501
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26867502
TI  - Nematode-bacteria mutualism: Selection within the mutualism supersedes selection
      outside of the mutualism.
AB  - The coevolution of interacting species can lead to codependent mutualists. Little
      is known about the effect of selection on partners within verses apart from the
      association. Here, we determined the effect of selection on bacteria (Xenorhabdus
      nematophila) both within and apart from its mutualistic partner (a nematode,
      Steinernema carpocapsae). In nature, the two species cooperatively infect and
      kill arthropods. We passaged the bacteria either together with (M+), or isolated
      from (M-), nematodes under two different selection regimes: random selection (S-)
      and selection for increased virulence against arthropod hosts (S+). We found that
      the isolated bacteria evolved greater virulence under selection for greater
      virulence (M-S+) than under random selection (M-S-). In addition, the response to
      selection in the isolated bacteria (M-S+) caused a breakdown of the mutualism
      following reintroduction to the nematode. Finally, selection for greater
      virulence did not alter the evolutionary trajectories of bacteria passaged within
      the mutualism (M+S+ = M+S-), indicating that selection for the maintenance of the
      mutualism was stronger than selection for increased virulence. The results show
      that selection on isolated mutualists can rapidly breakdown beneficial
      interactions between species, but that selection within a mutualism can supersede
      external selection, potentially generating codependence over time. 

PMID- 26867500
TI  - Efficacy of naringenin against permethrin-induced testicular toxicity in rats.
AB  - Permethrin (PM), a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, has broad toxicity spectra.
      We aimed to investigate the effects of PM on the testes of adult albino rats,
      examine the recovery response and evaluate the efficacy of naringenin (NG)
      supplementation. Adult male albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups of
      six each: control, NG (50 mg/kg), PM (70 mg/kg), recovery (after subsequent
      withdrawal of PM) and NG-PM group. All treatments were given by oral gavage for 6
      weeks and another 3 weeks for the recovery group. At the time of sacrifice, each
      testis was weighed. Biochemical analysis of epididymal sperm count and serum
      testosterone level was performed. Testes were processed for histological,
      ultrastructural and c-Kit immunohistochemical study. PM toxicity was evidenced by
      a highly significant decrease in testicular weight, epididymal sperm count and
      serum testosterone level compared to control. Furthermore, testicular structure
      abnormalities and reduced c-Kit immunoreactions were observed. Stoppage of PM in
      the recovery group partially reversed PM-induced changes. There was a mild
      decrease in testicular weight and biochemical parameters compared to control. The
      structure of seminiferous tubules was partially retained. The NG-PM group showed
      an overall improvement in testicular weight and biochemical alterations which
      were confirmed by light and electron microscopic examination. In conclusion, PM
      induced testicular toxicity, which was ameliorated by NG co-administration.
      However, stoppage of PM exposure was associated with partial recovery.

PMID- 26867503
TI  - (I) Pharmacological profiling of a novel modulator of the alpha7 nicotinic
      receptor: Blockade of a toxic acetylcholinesterase-derived peptide increased in
      Alzheimer brains.
AB  - The primary cause of Alzheimer's disease is unlikely to be the much studied
      markers amyloid beta or tau. Their widespread distribution throughout the brain
      does not account for the specific identity and deep subcortical location of the
      primarily vulnerable neurons. Moreover an unusual and intriguing feature of these
      neurons is that, despite their diverse transmitters, they all contain
      acetylcholinesterase. Here we show for the first time that (1) a peptide derived
      from acetylcholinesterase, with independent trophic functions that turn toxic in
      maturity, is significantly raised in the Alzheimer midbrain and cerebrospinal
      fluid; (2) a synthetic version of this peptide enhances calcium influx and
      eventual production of amyloid beta and tau phosphorylation via an allosteric
      site on the alpha7 nicotinic receptor; (3) a synthetic cyclic version of this
      peptide is neuroprotective against the toxicity not only of its linear
      counterpart but also of amyloid beta, thereby opening up the prospect of a novel
      therapeutic approach.

PMID- 26867504
TI  - Beta-arrestin 2 rather than G protein efficacy determines the anxiolytic-versus
      antidepressant-like effects of nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligands.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor (NOP) agonists
      produce anxiolytic-like effects in rodents while antagonists promote
      antidepressant-like effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect
      on anxiety and depression of NOP receptor partial agonists such as the peptides
      [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 and UFP-113 and the non-peptide AT-090. EXPERIMENTAL
      APPROACH: In vitro AT-090, UFP-113, and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were tested for their
      ability to promote NOP/G-protein and NOP/beta-arrestin 2 interaction, using a
      bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assay. In vivo, they were tested in
      mice in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and in the forced swim (FST) tests. NOP
      partial agonists effects were systematically compared to those of full agonists
      (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570) and antagonists (UFP-101 and SB-612111). KEY RESULTS: In
      vitro, AT-090, UFP-113, and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 promoted NOP/G protein
      interaction, with maximal effects lower than those evoked by N/OFQ and Ro 65
      6570. AT-090 behaved as a NOP partial agonist also in inducing beta-arrestin 2
      recruitment, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were inactive in this assay.
      In vivo, AT-090 induced anxiolytic-like effects in the EPM but was inactive in
      the FST. Opposite results were obtained with UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2.
      CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: NOP ligands producing similar effects on NOP/G
      protein interaction (partial agonism) but showing different effects on beta
      arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism) elicited different actions
      on anxiety and mood. These results suggest that the action of a NOP ligand on
      emotional states is better predicted based on its beta-arrestin 2 rather than G
      protein efficacy.

PMID- 26867506
TI  - Failure and rescue of preconditioning-induced neuroprotection in severe stroke
      like insults.
AB  - Preconditioning is a well established neuroprotective modality. However, the
      mechanism and relative efficacy of neuroprotection between diverse
      preconditioners is poorly defined. Cultured neurons were preconditioned by 4
      aminopyridine and bicuculline (4-AP/bic), rendering neurons tolerant to normally
      lethal (sufficient to kill most neurons) oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) or a
      chemical OGD-mimic, ouabain/TBOA, by suppression of extracellular glutamate
      (glutamateex) elevations. However, subjecting preconditioned neurons to longer
      duration supra-lethal insults caused neurotoxic glutamateex elevations, thereby
      identifying a 'ceiling' to neuroprotection. Neuroprotective 'rescue' of neurons
      could be obtained by administration of an NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, just
      before glutamateex rose during these supra-lethal insults. Next, we evaluated if
      these concepts of glutamateex suppression during lethal OGD, and a
      neuroprotective ceiling requiring MK-801 rescue under supra-lethal OGD, extended
      to the preconditioning field. In screening a panel of 42 diverse putative
      preconditioners, neuroprotection against normally lethal OGD was observed in 12
      cases, which correlated with glutamateex suppression, both of which could be
      reversed, either by the inclusion of a glutamate uptake inhibitor (TBOA, to
      increase glutamateex levels) during OGD or by exposure to supra-lethal OGD.
      Administrating MK-801 during the latter stages of supra-lethal OGD again rescued
      neurons, although to varying degrees dependent on the preconditioning agent.
      Thus, 'stress-testing' against the harshest ischemic-like insults yet tested
      identifies the most efficacious preconditioners, which dictates how early MK-801
      needs to be administered during the insult in order to maintain neuroprotection.
      Preconditioning delays a neurotoxic rise in glutamateex levels, thereby 'buying
      time' for acute anti-excitotoxic pharmacologic rescue.

PMID- 26867507
TI  - Prediction of orthostatic hypotension in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson
      disease.
AB  - Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is common in multiple system atrophy (MSA) and
      Parkinson disease (PD), generally assessed through a lying-to-standing
      orthostatic test. However, standing blood pressure may not be available due to
      orthostatic intolerance or immobilization for such patients. Systolic blood
      pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were successively measured in
      supine, sitting, and standing positions in patients with MSA and PD. Receiver
      operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic performance of
      the drops of sitting SBP or DBP. OH and severe OH were respectively regarded as
      "gold standard". The drops of SBP in standing position were associated with
      increased disease severity for MSA and correlated with age for PD. In MSA group,
      drops in sitting SBP >= 14 mmHg or DBP >= 6 mmHg had highest validity for
      prediction of OH, and drops in sitting SBP >= 18 mmHg or DBP >= 8 mmHg for severe
      OH. In PD group, drops in sitting SBP >= 10 mmHg or DBP >= 6 mmHg had highest
      validity for prediction of OH. The lying-to-sitting orthostatic test is an
      alternative method for detection of OH in MSA and PD, especially when standing BP
      could not be validly measured due to various reasons.

PMID- 26867505
TI  - Activation of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors protects potentiated
      synapses from depotentiation during theta pattern stimulation in the hippocampal
      CA1 region of rats.
AB  - Long-term potentiation (LTP) shows memory-like consolidation and thus becomes
      increasingly resistant to disruption by low-frequency stimulation (LFS). However,
      it is known that nicotine application during LFS uniquely depotentiates
      consolidated LTP. Here, we investigated how nicotine contributes to the
      disruption of stabilized LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region. We found that
      nicotine-induced depotentiation is not due to masking LTP by inducing long-term
      depression and requires the activation of GluN2A-containing NMDARs. We further
      examined whether nicotine-induced depotentiation involves the reversal of LTP
      mechanisms. LTP causes phosphorylation of Ser-831 on GluA1 subunits of AMPARs
      that increases the single-channel conductance of AMPARs. This phosphorylation
      remained unchanged after depotentiation. LTP involves the insertion of new AMPARs
      into the synapse and the internalization of AMPARs is associated with
      dephosphorylation of Ser-845 on GluA1 and caspase-3 activity. Nicotine-induced
      depotentiation occurred without dephosphorylation of the Ser-845 and in the
      presence of a caspase-3 inhibitor. LTP is also accompanied by increased
      filamentous actin (F-actin), which controls spine size. Nicotine-induced
      depotentiation was prevented by jasplakinolide, which stabilizes F-actin,
      suggesting that nicotine depotentiates consolidated LTP by destabilizing F-actin.
      alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists mimicked the effect
      of nicotine and selective removal of hippocampal cholinergic input caused
      depotentiation in the absence of nicotine, suggesting that nicotine depotentiates
      consolidated LTP by inducing alpha7 nAChR desensitization. Our results
      demonstrate a new role for nicotinic cholinergic systems in protecting
      potentiated synapses from depotentiation by preventing GluN2A-NMDAR-mediated
      signaling for actin destabilization.

PMID- 26867508
TI  - Deep procedural sedation by a sedationist team for outpatient pediatric renal
      biopsies.
AB  - To date, no study has analyzed the use of deep PS for pediatric renal biopsies by
      a dedicated sedation team in an outpatient setting. Retrospective analysis of
      renal biopsies performed at CHOA from 2009 to 2013. Patient demographics,
      procedure success, and sedation-related events were analyzed. Logistic regression
      techniques were applied to identify characteristics associated with procedure
      safety and success. A total of 174 biopsies from 136 patients, aged 2-21 yr, were
      reviewed. Of the 174 biopsies, 63 of 174 (36%) were from native, and 111 of 174
      (64%) were from transplanted kidneys, respectively. No deaths, allograft losses,
      or unanticipated hospital admissions occurred. The most commonly utilized
      interventions during sedation were blow-by oxygen (29.9%) and CPAP (12.1%).
      Children receiving the combination of F + P had significantly higher biopsy
      success rates vs. other drug combinations (96.1% vs. 79%; p = 0.014). There was
      no difference in complication rates regardless of drug combination or biopsy type
      (transplanted vs. native). The combination of F + P yields a high procedural
      success rate for outpatient native and transplanted kidney biopsies. We
      identified a number of sedation-related events that can be easily managed by a
      well-trained sedationist team. 

PMID- 26867509
TI  - Temple syndrome: A patient with maternal hetero-UPD14, mixed iso- and hetero
      disomy detected by SNP microarray typing of patient-father duos.
AB  - Temple syndrome (TS, MIM 616222) is an imprinting disorder involving genes within
      the imprinted region of chromosome 14q32. TS is a genetically complex disorder,
      which is associated with maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 14 (UPD14),
      paternal deletions on chromosome 14, or loss of methylation at the intergenic
      differentially methylated region (IG-DMR). Here, we describe the case of a
      patient with maternal hetero-UPD14, mixed iso-/hetero-disomy mechanism identified
      by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis of patient-father duos
      study. The phenotype of our case is similarities to Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
      during infancy and to Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) during childhood. This SNP
      array appears to be an effective initial screening tool for patients with
      nonspecific clinical features suggestive of chromosomal disorders. 

PMID- 26867510
TI  - Electroclinical phenotype in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a rare congenital disorder
      (1:125.000) characterized by growth retardation, psychomotor developmental delay,
      microcephaly and dysmorphic features. In 25% of patients seizures have been
      described, and in about 66% a wide range of EEG abnormalities, but studies on
      neurological features are scant and dated. The aim of this study is to describe
      the electroclinical phenotype of twenty-three patients with RSTS, and to try to
      correlate electroclinical features with neuroradiological, cognitive and genetic
      features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Electroclinical features of twenty-three patients
      with RSTS (age between18months and 20years) were analyzed. Sleep and awake EEG
      was performed in twenty-one patients, and brain MRI in nineteen patients. All
      subjects received cognitive evaluation. RESULTS: EEG abnormalities were observed
      in 76% (16/21) of patients. A peculiar pattern prevalent in sleep, characterized
      by slow monomorphic activity on posterior regions was also observed in 33% (7/21)
      of patients. Almost no patient presented seizures. Eighty-four percentage of
      patients had brain MRI abnormalities, involving corpus callosum and/or posterior
      periventricular white matter. Average General Quotient (GQ) was 52, while average
      IQ was 55, corresponding to mild Intellectual Disability. The homogeneous
      electroclinical pattern was observed mainly in patients with more severe
      neuroradiologic findings and moderate Intellectual Disability/Developmental
      Disability (ID/DD). No genotype-phenotype correlations were found. CONCLUSION:
      The specific electroclinical and neuroradiological features described may be part
      of a characteristic RSTS phenotype. Wider and longitudinal studies are needed to
      verify its significance and impact on diagnosis, prognosis and clinical
      management of RSTS patients.

PMID- 26867512
TI  - Computed Tomographic Screening for Lung Cancer Trends at Leading Academic Medical
      Centers From 2013 to 2015.

PMID- 26867511
TI  - Focal seizures and epileptic spasms in a child with Down syndrome from a family
      with a PRRT2 mutation.
AB  - We describe a girl with Down syndrome who experienced focal seizures and
      epileptic spasms during infancy. The patient was diagnosed as having trisomy 21
      during the neonatal period. She had focal seizures at five months of age, which
      were controlled with phenobarbital. However, epileptic spasms appeared at seven
      months of age in association with hypsarrhythmia. Upon treatment with
      adrenocorticotropic hormone, her epileptic spasms disappeared. Her younger
      brother also had focal seizures at five months of age. His development and
      interictal electroencephalogram were normal. The patient's father had had
      infantile epilepsy and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia. We performed a mutation
      analysis of the PRRT2 gene and found a c.841T>C mutation in the present patient,
      her father, and in her younger brother. We hypothesized that the focal seizures
      in our patient were caused by the PRRT2 mutation, whereas the epileptic spasms
      were attributable to trisomy 21. 

PMID- 26867513
TI  - Spectroscopic, structural and computational analysis of [Re(CO)3(dippM)Br](n+)
      (dippM = 1,1'-bis(diiso-propylphosphino)metallocene, M = Fe, n = 0 or 1; M = Co,
      n = 1).
AB  - While the redox active backbone of bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands is often cited
      as an important feature of these ligands in catalytic studies, the structural
      parameters of oxidized bis(phosphino)ferrocene ligands have not been thoroughly
      studied. The reaction of [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br] (dippf = 1,1'-bis(diiso
      propylphosphino)ferrocene) and [NO][BF4] in methylene chloride yields the
      oxidized compound, [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br][BF4]. The oxidized species,
      [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br][BF4], and the neutral species, [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br], are
      compared using X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, visible spectroscopy,
      IR spectroscopy and zero-field (57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. In addition, the
      magnetic moment of the paramagnetic [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br][BF4] was measured in the
      solid state using SQUID magnetometry and in solution by the Evans method. The
      electron transfer reaction of [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br][BF4] with acetylferrocene was
      also examined. For additional comparison, the cationic compound,
      [Re(CO)3(dippc)Br][PF6] (dippc = 1,1'-bis(diiso-propylphosphino)cobaltocenium),
      was prepared and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray crystallography, and
      NMR, IR and visible spectroscopies. Finally, DFT was employed to examine the
      oxidized dippf ligand and the oxidized rhenium complex, [Re(CO)3(dippf)Br](+). 

PMID- 26867514
TI  - Preface: Issue 30.3.

PMID- 26867518
TI  - Instructions for Contributors.

PMID- 26867515
TI  - Magnetic field induced motion behavior of gas bubbles in liquid.
AB  - The oxygen evolution reaction generally exists in electrochemical reactions. It
      is a ubiquitous problem about how to control the motion of oxygen bubbles
      released by the reaction. Here we show that oxygen bubbles during oxygen
      evolution reaction exhibit a variety of movement patterns in the magnetic field,
      including directional migration and rotational motion of oxygen bubbles when the
      magnet in parallel with the electrode, and exclusion movement of oxygen bubbles
      when the magnet perpendicular to the electrode. The results demonstrate that the
      direction of oxygen bubbles movement is dependent upon the magnet pole near the
      electrode, and the kinetics of oxygen bubbles is mainly proportional to intensity
      of the electromagnetic field. The magnetic-field induced rotational motion of
      oxygen bubbles in a square electrolyzer can increase liquid hydrodynamics, thus
      solve the problems of oxygen bubbles coalescence, and uneven distribution of
      electrolyte composition and temperature. These types of oxygen bubbles movement
      will not only improve energy saving and metal deposition for energy storage and
      metal refinery, but also propel object motion in application to medical and
      martial fields. 

PMID- 26867519
TI  - Seasonality of water quality and diarrheal disease counts in urban and rural
      settings in south India.
AB  - The study examined relationships among meteorological parameters, water quality
      and diarrheal disease counts in two urban and three rural sites in Tamil Nadu,
      India. Disease surveillance was conducted between August 2010 and March 2012;
      concurrently water samples from street-level taps in piped distribution systems
      and from household storage containers were tested for pH, nitrate, total
      dissolved solids, and total and fecal coliforms. Methodological advances in data
      collection (concurrent prospective disease surveillance and environmental
      monitoring) and analysis (preserving temporality within the data through time
      series analysis) were used to quantify independent effects of meteorological
      conditions and water quality on diarrheal risk. The utility of a local calendar
      in communicating seasonality is also presented. Piped distribution systems in the
      study area showed high seasonal fluctuations in water quality. Higher ambient
      temperature decreased and higher rainfall increased diarrheal risk with
      temperature being the predominant factor in urban and rainfall in rural sites.
      Associations with microbial contamination were inconsistent; however, disease
      risk in the urban sites increased with higher median household total coliform
      concentrations. Understanding seasonal patterns in health outcomes and their
      temporal links to environmental exposures may lead to improvements in prospective
      environmental and disease surveillance tailored to addressing public health
      problems. 

PMID- 26867520
TI  - Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurts made from goat and cow
      milk.
AB  - Substituting goats' milk for cows' milk could improve the quality of dairy
      products, because it adds new sensorial characteristics. The aim of this study
      was to develop a type of yoghurt using goats' milk (25, 50, 75 and 100%) in place
      of cows' milk and to compare their characteristics. Physicochemical,
      microbiological and sensory characteristics were evaluated using a nine-point
      hedonic scale and purchase intention test. The data obtained in the
      physicochemical analysis were submitted to regression analysis and the sensory
      results were evaluated through analysis of variance. Among the physicochemical
      characteristics of the yoghurts, variation (P < 0.05) of ash, acidity and lactose
      was observed. Tasters in the sensory analysis indicated that yoghurts up to 50%
      of goats' milk received favorable averages; with lower scores for higher goats'
      milk concentrations (75% and 100%). No difference was reported in acidity.
      Replacing cows' milk with goats' milk in yoghurt preparation promotes variations
      in the physicochemical characteristics for ash, acidity and lactose. However, it
      does not cause alterations in the sensory attributes (50% goat milk) and
      therefore could be considered as an alternative for the production of dairy
      products. (c) 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science. 

PMID- 26867521
TI  - Quantitative proteomics suggests metabolic reprogramming during ETHE1 deficiency.
AB  - Deficiency of mitochondrial sulfur dioxygenase (ETHE1) causes the severe
      metabolic disorder ethylmalonic encephalopathy, which is characterized by early
      onset encephalopathy and defective cytochrome C oxidase because of hydrogen
      sulfide accumulation. Although the severe systemic consequences of the disorder
      are becoming clear, the molecular effects are not well defined. Therefore, for
      further elucidating the effects of ETHE1-deficiency, we performed a large scale
      quantitative proteomics study on liver tissue from ETHE1-deficient mice. Our
      results demonstrated a clear link between ETHE1-deficiency and redox active
      proteins, as reflected by downregulation of several proteins related to oxidation
      reduction, such as different dehydrogenases and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) members.
      Furthermore, the protein data indicated impact of the ETHE1-deficiency on
      metabolic reprogramming through upregulation of glycolytic enzymes and by
      altering several heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins, indicating novel link between
      ETHE1 and gene expression regulation. We also found increase in total protein
      acetylation level, pointing out the link between ETHE1 and acetylation, which is
      likely controlled by both redox state and cellular metabolites. These findings
      are relevant for understanding the complexity of the disease and may shed light
      on important functions influenced by ETHE1 deficiency and by the concomitant
      increase in the gaseous mediator hydrogen sulfide. All MS data have been
      deposited in the ProteomeXchange with the dataset identifiers PXD002741
      (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002741) and PXD002742
      (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002741). 

PMID- 26867523
TI  - Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor AG1478 inhibits mucus hypersecretion
      in airway epithelium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mucus hypersecretion and neutrophil infiltration are important
      characteristics of airway inflammation. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
      transactivation induces mucus and inflammatory cytokine secretion from airway
      epithelial cells. To elucidate the roles of EGFR in airway inflammation, the in
      vitro effects on mucin production and interleukin (IL) 8 secretion from cultured
      airway epithelial cells and the in vivo effects on mucus hypersecretion and
      neutrophil infiltration in rat nasal mucosa of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor
      AG1478 were examined. METHODS: The in vitro effects of AG1478 treatment of
      cultured NCI-H292 cells on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced or tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF) alpha induced MUC5AC mucin and IL-8 secretion were evaluated.
      Hypertrophic and metaplastic changes of goblet cells, mucus production and
      neutrophil infiltration in rat nasal epithelium were induced by intranasal
      instillation of LPS in vivo, and the inhibitory effects of AG1478 by
      intraperitoneal injection or intranasal instillation were examined. RESULTS:
      AG1478 (1-1000 nM) significantly inhibited both LPS-induced and TNF-alpha-induced
      secretion of MUC5AC and IL-8 from cultured NCI-H292 cells in a dose-dependent
      manner. The expression of MUC5AC and IL-8 messenger RNAs was also significantly
      inhibited. Intranasal instillation of AG1478 one hour after intranasal LPS
      instillation significantly inhibited LPS-induced goblet cell metaplasia, mucus
      production, and neutrophil infiltration in rat nasal epithelium, as did
      intraperitoneal injection of AG1478 one hour before LPS instillation.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that EGFR transactivation plays an important
      role in mucin and IL-8 secretion from airway epithelial cells. Intranasal
      instillation of an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor may be a new therapeutic
      approach for the treatment of upper airway inflammation.

PMID- 26867524
TI  - Editorial: The microbiome of the sinuses and its relevance in health and disease.

PMID- 26867522
TI  - The antimicrobial action of resveratrol against Listeria monocytogenes in food
      based models and its antibiofilm properties.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural
      phytoalexin synthesized by plants in response to stress. This compound has
      several beneficial documented properties, namely anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
      neuroprotective and antimicrobial activities. In this study the antimicrobial
      activity of resveratrol against Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua was
      investigated. RESULTS: Resveratrol had a minimum inhibitory concentration of 200
      ug mL(-1) for the tested strains, with time-kill curves demonstrating
      bacteriostatic activity. Inhibition of biofilm formation was also assessed, with
      resveratrol strongly inhibiting biofilm formation by both species even at
      subinhibitory concentrations. Overall, resveratrol showed antimicrobial
      properties on planktonic cells and on biofilm formation ability. Considering the
      potential use of resveratrol as a food preservative, the antimicrobial efficacy
      of resveratrol in food was studied in milk, lettuce leaf model and chicken juice.
      Resveratrol retained greater efficacy in both lettuce leaf model and chicken
      juice, but milk had a negative impact on its antilisterial activity, indicating a
      possible reduction of resveratrol availability in milk. CONCLUSION: This study
      reinforces resveratrol as an antimicrobial agent, pointing out its antibiofilm
      activity and its potential use as preservative in some food matrices. (c) 2016
      Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26867526
TI  - The relationship between serum vitamin D and chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic
      review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An exciting development in upper respiratory tract disease is the
      pathophysiology of vitamin D (VD3). There now is substantial literature to
      indicate that VD3 acts as an immunomodulator of adaptive and innate immunity
      locally within the respiratory epithelium. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) places a
      relatively large socioeconomic burden on developed nations, yet remains a
      difficult disease to treat. VD3, therefore, has become an area of clinical
      interest because it may provide an adjunctive drug therapy option in CRS, thereby
      potentially improving the quality of life of these patients. OBJECTIVE: A
      systematic review of the relationship among serum VD3 levels, CRS phenotype, and
      disease severity by using outcome assessments. METHODS: A systematic search was
      performed by using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases. The Preferred
      Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were
      followed. Studies that measured serum VD3 levels and correlated the measurements
      to any subtype of CRS (with or without nasal polyps) were included for
      qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Seven articles were included (four prospective and
      three retrospective studies), with a total of 539 patients. There were
      significantly lower VD3 levels in the polypoid phenotypes of CRS compared with
      controls. Low VD3 levels were often associated with an increased degree of
      inflammation. CONCLUSION: The available evidence indicated that there is a
      significant relationship between low VD3 levels and polypoid CRS phenotypes. The
      association between VD3 levels and disease severity and VD3 potential for drug
      therapy remains unclear, which warrants further research in the area.

PMID- 26867525
TI  - Microbiome of the paranasal sinuses: Update and literature review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the resident microbiome of the paranasal sinuses
      has changed considerably in recent years. Once presumed to be sterile, healthy
      sinus cavities are now known to harbor a diverse assemblage of microorganisms,
      and, it is hypothesized that alterations in the kinds and quantities of these
      microbes may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
      OBJECTIVES: To review the current literature regarding the sinus microbiome and
      collate research findings from relevant studies published to date. METHODS: A
      systematic literature review was performed on all molecular studies that
      investigated the microbial communities of the paranasal sinuses. Methods of
      detection, microbiome composition, and comparative profiling between patients
      with and without CRS were explored. RESULTS: A complex consortium of
      microorganisms has been demonstrated in the sinuses of both patients with and
      without CRS. However, the latter generally have been characterized by reduced
      biodiversity compared with controls, with selective enrichment of particular
      microbes (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus). Such disruptions in the resident
      microbiome may contribute to disease pathogenesis by enhancing the virulence of
      potential pathogens and adversely modulating immune responses. CONCLUSION: The
      advent of culture-independent molecular approaches has led to a greater
      appreciation of the intricate microbial ecology of the paranasal sinuses.
      Microbiota composition, distribution, and abundance impact mucosal health and
      influence pathogen growth and function. A deeper understanding of the host
      microbiome relationship and its constituents may encourage development of new
      treatment paradigms for CRS, which target restoration of microbiome homeostasis
      and cultivation of optimal microbial communities.

PMID- 26867528
TI  - The bacterial microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis: Richness, diversity,
      postoperative changes, and patient outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The bacterial microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains
      poorly understood. Microorganisms are believed to be important contributors to
      the inflammatory response seen in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To examine the
      bacterial CRS microbiome by using a pyrosequencing technique and determine the
      diversity, richness, prevalence, and abundance of bacterial species in these
      patients. Furthermore, the postoperative changes that occur in the microbiome and
      correlations with patient outcomes are assessed. METHODS: Swabs were collected
      from 23 patients with CRS and 11 controls during surgery. Further postoperative
      swabs were collected in the CRS group. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the swabs
      and then sequenced by using 16S ribosomal DNA bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon
      pyrosequencing. RESULTS: A total of 456 unique bacterial species were detected.
      No difference was seen for richness or diversity between the study groups (p >
      0.05). Diversity declined after surgery in the CRS group (p = 0.01).
      Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most prevalent
      species. Several significant differences were determined for prevalence and mean
      relative abundance (MRA) between the study groups. In particular, Acinetobacter
      johnsonii was more prevalent and had a higher MRA in the controls. Furthermore,
      the MRA of this species increased after surgery and was associated with improved
      quality of life. CONCLUSION: This study characterized the sinonasal microbiome in
      a group of controls and patients with CRS. Important differences in diversity,
      prevalence, abundance, and temporal changes were described. Of great interest is
      the potential association between A. johnsonii and health. These findings provide
      new insights into the interplay between the microbiome and health in the
      paranasal sinuses.

PMID- 26867527
TI  - Characterizing airflow profile in the postoperative maxillary sinus by using
      computational fluid dynamics modeling: A pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Maxillary antrostomy is commonly performed during endoscopic sinus
      surgery. Little is known about the association surrounding recalcitrant maxillary
      sinusitis, antrostomy size, and intranasal airflow changes. Furthermore, the
      interaction between sinus mucosa and airflow is poorly understood. This study
      used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to investigate postoperative
      airflow characteristics between diseased and nondiseased maxillary sinuses in
      subjects with recurrent disease. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients from
      a tertiary-level academic rhinology practice was performed. Seven subjects with
      endoscopic evidence of postoperative maxillary sinus disease that presented as
      chronic unilateral crusting at least 1 year after bilateral maxillary
      antrostomies were selected. A three-dimensional model of each subject's sinonasal
      cavity was created from postoperative computed tomographies and used for CFD
      analysis. RESULTS: Although the variables investigated between diseased and
      nondiseased sides were not statistically significant, the diseased side in six
      subjects had a smaller antrostomy, and five of these subjects had both reduced
      nasal unilateral airflow and increased unilateral nasal resistance on the
      diseased side. The ratio of posterior wall shear stress (WSS) of the maxillary
      sinus to the total WSS was higher on the diseased side in six subjects. Results
      also showed strong correlations between antrostomy and CFD variables on the
      diseased side than on the nondiseased side. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed
      that the majority of the simulated sinonasal models exhibited common
      characteristics on the side with persistent disease, such as smaller antrostomy,
      reduced nasal airflow, increased nasal resistance, and increased posterior WSS.
      Although statistical significance was not established, this study provided
      preliminary insight into variables to consider in a larger cohort study.

PMID- 26867530
TI  - The role of allergen immunotherapy in the management of allergic rhinitis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in the treatment of
      allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Individual studies, systematic reviews, and
      practice guidelines that included information on sublingual AIT (SLIT) and
      subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) in the treatment of AR were considered. RESULTS: AIT via
      the SLIT or SCIT route has been shown to be effective in treating AR symptoms
      with resultant improvements in overall quality of life, comorbid illnesses, and
      medication requirements. Persistent clinical benefits have been demonstrated
      years after AIT treatment discontinuation. AIT may prevent the progression of AR
      to asthma. In addition, studies that evaluated the pharmacoeconomics of AR
      treatment indicate that AIT may be more cost effective than pharmacotherapy. The
      AIT cost savings are likely underestimated in that few cost comparison studies
      considered AIT's long-term benefits or preventive effects. CONCLUSION: Multiple
      individual studies and systematic reviews provide strong evidence for the
      clinical effectiveness of AIT in the treatment of AR. Cost-effectiveness and
      disease modification are additional advantages of AIT compared with standard drug
      treatment in the management of AR.

PMID- 26867531
TI  - The Rhinitis Control Scoring System: Development and validation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a common health problem that requires regular
      monitoring of symptoms to provide adequate treatment. There is a need to develop
      rhinitis control assessment tools that are meaningful and easy to interpret by
      both the patient and the practitioner. OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple, easy-to
      interpret instrument, the Rhinitis Control Scoring System (RCSS), for the
      assessment of rhinitis control, as a companion tool to the Asthma Control Scoring
      System previously validated. METHODS: After a literature review and based on the
      Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma guidelines, allergic rhinitis control
      parameters were identified. The draft items were subjected to cognitive
      debriefing regarding instructions, wordings, and response options. The second
      version of the draft was then pretested and modified according to the results.
      The final draft of the RCSS, based on the intensity and frequency of symptoms,
      was then pilot tested with 50 subjects who had allergic rhinitis for validation
      of some psychometric properties. Each subject completed the RCSS in addition to
      other rhinitis instruments. They also had nasal peak inspiratory flow
      measurements. RESULTS: The RCSS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha
      = 0.84). There was strong criterion validity between the RCSS scores and the
      other instruments. The discriminant validity demonstrated as mean RCSS scores
      differed significantly across groups of patients with different Total Nasal
      Symptom Score severity (F = 58.8, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study
      showed that the RCSS is a simple tool to assess and quantify rhinitis control by
      using a percentage score. This questionnaire allows the quantification of
      rhinitis control and, therefore, may help guide therapeutic interventions.
      Combined with the Asthma Control Scoring System, it can provide a global
      assessment of rhinitis and asthma control. Clinical Trial number NCT00967967.

PMID- 26867529
TI  - Relationships among allergic rhinitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common disease in the United
      States. There are a significant number of patients with CRS who are refractory to
      standard medical and surgical therapy. Many of these patients also have comorbid
      allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma, although the underlying pathophysiology that
      connects these three conditions remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this
      article is to review the relationships among CRS, AR and asthma. METHODS:
      Scientific literature that addresses the prevalence of AR and asthma in CRS
      populations, the effect of AR and asthma on CRS disease severity, and whether
      treatment of AR and asthma can affect CRS outcomes was reviewed. RESULTS: The
      literature supports the relationship between AR and CRS, but there is no direct
      evidence of causality the between the two conditions. There is a high prevalence
      of CRS in patients with asthma and the presence of CRS is associated with worse
      asthma outcomes. There is weak evidence that treatment of CRS may improve asthma
      outcomes. Targeting type 2 inflammation via biologics is being investigated in
      the treatment of asthma and CRS. CONCLUSION: AR, asthma, and CRS are closed
      related and understanding the associations among these comorbid diseases will
      have significant clinical implication.

PMID- 26867533
TI  - Neuron-specific enolase in nasal secretions as a novel biomarker of olfactory
      dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction is a diagnostic criterion for chronic
      rhinosinusitis (CRS). During chronic inflammation and olfactory neuronal damage
      in CRS, it is likely that neuron-specific enolase (NSE) can leak into nasal
      secretions (NS) and serum. Therefore, we postulated that NSE levels in NS and in
      circulation may be indicative of olfactory dysfunction in CRS. OBJECTIVE: To
      evaluate the relationship between the NS and serum concentrations of NSE with
      olfactory dysfunction in subjects with CRS. METHODS: The patients with CRS were
      classified into two groups, depending on the presence of polyps: CRS without
      nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). A group of age- and sex
      matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Olfactory function assessment was
      performed by using Sniffin' Sticks. NSE concentrations in serum and NS were
      analyzed by using the enzyme immunometric assay kit specific for the gamma
      subunit. RESULTS: The study included 46 patients with CRSsNP, 25 women (54.3%)
      and 21 men (45.7%), mean (standard deviation [SD]) age, 34.1 +/- 12.3 years; and
      54 patients with CRSwNP, 24 women (44.4%) and 30 men (55.6%), mean (SD) age, 37.9
      +/- 17.5 years. A group of 40 healthy volunteers who were matched for age and sex
      served as controls. Significantly higher serum and NS levels of NSE were measured
      in patients with CRS compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001). In the CRSwNP
      group, both mean (SD) serum (83.5 +/- 37.6 ng/mL) and mean (SD) NS (6.1 +/- 2.3
      ng/mL) levels of NSE were significantly higher than in the CRSsNP group (46.4 +/-
      7.3 ng/mL [p < 0.001] and 1.7 +/- 0.5 ng/mL [p < 0.001], respectively). In both
      the CRSsNP and CRSwNP groups (but not in the healthy controls), significant
      negative correlations between NS NSE levels and TDI scores (r = -0.63, p < 0.001
      for the CRSwNP group, and r = -0.51, p < 0.001 for CRSsNP group) were observed,
      which meant that higher NSE was associated with worse olfactory function.
      CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a contribution of CRS to NSE and olfactory
      dysfunction.

PMID- 26867532
TI  - Correlation of skin test results and specific immunoglobulin E blood levels with
      nasal provocation testing for house-dust mite allergies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy for house-dust mite (HDM) allergies
      is associated with lower success rates when compared with similar treatments for
      other inhalant allergens, such as grass or birch. One reason might be the greater
      difficulty in diagnosing patients with assumed HDM allergies because symptoms
      occur perennially and may differ from those of a conventional allergic rhinitis.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the different methods of diagnosis
      in patients with assumed HDM allergy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective
      analysis of nasal provocation tests (NPT) from patients (n = 161) evaluated for
      Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n = 127) and Dermatophagoides farinae (n = 104)
      allergies, and compared the results with other allergen testing methods (skin
      prick test [SPT], intracutaneous test, and allergen specific immunoglobulin E
      levels [sIgE] to detect sensitization). Receiver operating characteristic curves
      were used for the analyses and the areas under the curve were calculated.
      RESULTS: For D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, 86 and 70 complete data files,
      respectively, were available. For both tested HDMs, the results of the receiver
      operating characteristic curves showed a significant correlation for SPT and
      sIgE, with the results of the NPT (area under the curve, 0.742 to 0.763) but not
      for the intracutaneous test. In patients with a positive SPT (>=3 mm), an allergy
      was confirmed by the NPT in 69% of cases for D. pteronyssinus and 71% for D.
      farinae. A positive sIgE result (ImmunoCAP class of >=2) was verified by the NPT
      in 69% of cases (D. pteronyssinus) and 70% (D. farinae). CONCLUSION: The
      predictability value for a positive NPT result is best for SPT and sIgE.
      Nevertheless, even if the results of both test systems are combined, the positive
      predictive value that was achieved was only 0.77 for D. pteronyssinus and 0.69
      for D. farinae. Therefore, in patients eligible for immunotherapy for HDM, an NPT
      should be performed before the start of the therapy to verify a clinically
      relevant allergy.

PMID- 26867534
TI  - Indications and outcomes for Draf IIB frontal sinus surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extended frontal surgery techniques are often required when maximal
      medical therapy and standard endoscopic surgical approaches fail in patients.
      Although outcomes of the Draf III (modified Lothrop) procedure have been widely
      reported, postoperative outcomes and indications for the Draf IIB frontal
      sinusotomy have been relatively underreported. We presented our institution's
      experience with the Draf IIB procedure. METHODS: Patients who underwent the Draf
      IIB frontal sinusotomy between 2007 and 2012 were identified by retrospective
      chart review. Data collected included demographics, imaging, sinus patency, and
      Sino-nasal Outcome Test 20 scores. RESULTS: A total of 22 Draf IIB frontal
      sinusotomies were performed in 18 patients. Thirteen of eighteen patients had
      previous frontal sinus surgery. The most common indications for the extended
      approach were chronic frontal sinusitis due to lateralized middle turbinate
      remnant (8 patients), mucocele (6), postoperative synechiae (5), and frontal
      sinus mass (3). Sinus ostium patency was maintained in 20 of 22 sinuses over an
      average follow-up period of 16.2 months. No complications were reported.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Draf IIB frontal sinusotomy is a relatively safe procedure, with
      multiple indications. Long-term sinus ostium patency was maintained in >90% of
      operated sinuses, which indicated that the Draf IIB procedure may present an
      acceptable alternative to more aggressive extended frontal sinus approaches in
      selected patients.

PMID- 26867536
TI  - Improved pregnancy outcomes with increasing antiretroviral coverage in South
      Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Universal multi drug antiretroviral treatment in pregnancy is a
      global priority in our bid to eliminate paediatric HIV infections although few
      studies have documented the impact of antiretroviral coverage on overall
      pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a maternity audit at a large regional
      hospital in South Africa during July-December 2011 and January-June 2014 with an
      aim to determine an association between pregnancy outcomes and the ARV treatment
      guidelines implemented during those specific periods. During 2011, women received
      either Zidovudine/sd Nevirapine or Stavudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine if CD4+ count
      was < 350 cells/ml. During 2014, all HIV positive pregnant women were eligible
      for a fixed dose combination (FDC) of triple ARVs
      (Tenofovir/Emtracitabine/Efavirenz). RESULTS: In 2011, 622 (35.9%) of 1732 HIV
      positive pregnant women received triple antiretrovirals (D4T/3TC/NVP) and in
      2014, 2104 (94.8%) of 2219 HIV positive pregnant women received the fixed dose
      combination (TDF/FTC/EFV). We observed a reduction in the proportion of
      unregistered pregnancies, caesarean delivery rate, still birth rate, very low
      birth weight rate, and very premature delivery rate in 2014. In a bivariate
      analysis of all 9,847 deliveries, unregistered pregnancies (2.2%) and HIV
      infection (37.8%) remained significant risk factors for SB(OR 6.36 and 1.43
      respectively), PTD(OR 4.23 and 1.26 respectively),LBW (OR 4.07 and 1.26
      respectively) and SGA(OR 2.17 and 1.151 respectively). In a multivariable
      analysis of HIV positive women only, having received AZT/NVP or D4T/3TC/NVP or
      EFV/TDF/FTC as opposed to not receiving any ARV was significantly associated with
      reduced odds of a SB (OR 0.08, 0.21 and 0.18 respectively), PTD (OR 0.52, 0.68
      and 0.56 respectively) and LBW(0.37, 0.61 and 0.52 respectively). CONCLUSION: An
      improvement in birth outcomes is likely associated with the increased coverage of
      triple antiretroviral treatment for pregnant women. And untreated HIV infected
      women and women who do not seek antenatal care should be considered most at risk
      for poor birth outcomes.

PMID- 26867537
TI  - Outcome of Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Living-Donor Liver Transplant: A
      Single-center Experience Over 20 Years.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Despite living-donor liver transplant being a life-saving therapy for
      patients with hepatitis B virus with or without hepatocellular carcinoma,
      outcomes for patients with these diseases are worse. Hepatitis B virus recurrence
      or relapse of hepatocellular carcinoma can result in subsequent graft loss or
      patient death. In this study, we discuss the postoperative outcomes of patients
      with hepatitis B virus infection after living-donor liver transplant. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 125 patients with hepatitis B virus
      related end-stage liver disease, comparing results with 1228 control patients who
      had other pathologies, including hepatitis C virus, combined hepatitis B virus
      and hepatitis C virus, and neither virus. RESULTS: Survival rates of patients
      with hepatitis B virus did not differ from the control groups (P > .05). Patients
      with concurrent hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly
      older (P < .0001), had critical status (P < .0001), had chronic underlying
      pathology (P = .001), lower graft-to-recipient body weight ratio (P = .047),
      needed more intraoperative plasma transfusion, and experienced more rejection
      episodes than those without hepatocellular carcinoma. Of interest, in 5 patients
      who had hepatitis B virus recurrence after living-donor liver transplant, Model
      for End-Stage Liver Disease score was significantly higher than those who did not
      have recurrence (P = .015). In addition, 2 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma
      recurrence in the form of peritoneal metastasis, with both patients having high
      preoperative alpha-fetoprotein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides details on
      long-term outcomes of patients with hepatitis B virus infection who had undergone
      living-donor liver transplant. Based on our results, we suggest that prolonged
      antiviral prophylactic therapy in the form of hepatitis B immunoglobulin with
      either lamivudine or entecavir be considered for patients who associated with
      risk factors to prevent postoperative recurrence.

PMID- 26867539
TI  - Nocardioides zeicaulis sp. nov., an endophyte actinobacterium of maize.
AB  - A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic organism was isolated as an endophyte from the
      stem tissue of healthy maize (Zea mays) and investigated in detail for its
      taxonomic position. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain
      JM-601T was shown to be most closely related to Nocardioides alpinus (98.3%), and
      Nocardioides ganghwensis (98.0%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to all
      other species of the genus Nocardioides was <= 98.0%. The diagnostic diamino acid
      of the peptidoglycan was ll-diaminopimelic acid. The major quinone of strain JM
      601T was menaquinone MK-8(H4). The polar lipid profile revealed the major
      components diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol,
      phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified phospholipid. The polyamine pattern
      contained predominantly spermine and moderate amounts of spermidine. In the fatty
      acid profile, iso-C16:0, C17:1omega8c and 10-methyl C17:0 were present in major
      amounts. All these data support the allocation of the strain to the genus
      Nocardioides. The results of physiological and biochemical characterization allow
      in addition a phenotypic differentiation of strain JM-601T from N. alpinus and N.
      ganghwensis. Strain JM-601T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides,
      for which we propose the name Nocardioides zeicaulis sp. nov., with JM-601T (=CCM
      8654T=CIP 110980T) as the type strain.

PMID- 26867538
TI  - Post-Injury Administration of Tert-butylhydroquinone Attenuates Acute
      Neurological Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice.
AB  - Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe form of stroke with substantial public
      health impact. Notably, there is no effective treatment for ICH. Given the role
      of transcription factor Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) in antioxidant signaling,
      herein, we tested the efficacy of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a selective
      inducer of Nrf2 in a preclinical model of ICH. Male CD1 mice were subjected to
      experimental intracerebral hemorrhage and administered intraperitoneally with
      TBHQ. The administration of TBHQ enhanced the DNA-binding activity of Nrf2 in the
      brain and reduced oxidative brain damage in comparison to vehicle-treated ICH. In
      addition, TBHQ treatment reduced microglial activation with concomitant reduction
      in the release of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1 beta).
      Furthermore, TBHQ treatment attenuated neurodegeneration and improved
      neurological outcomes after ICH. Altogether, the data demonstrate the efficacy of
      post-injury administration of TBHQ in attenuating acute neurological injury after
      ICH.

PMID- 26867540
TI  - Inequalities in utilization of maternal and child health services in Ethiopia:
      the role of primary health care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health systems aim to narrow inequality in access to health care
      across socioeconomic groups and area of residency. However, in low-income
      countries, studies are lacking that systematically monitor and evaluate health
      programs with regard to their effect on specific inequalities. We aimed to
      measure changes in inequality in access to maternal and child health (MCH)
      interventions and the effect of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities expansion on
      the inequality in access to care in Ethiopia. METHODS: The Demographic and Health
      Survey datasets from Ethiopia (2005 and 2011) were used. We calculated changes in
      utilization of MCH interventions and child morbidity. Concentration and
      horizontal inequity indices were estimated. Decomposition analysis was used to
      calculate the contribution of each determinant to the concentration index.
      RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2011, improvements in aggregate coverage have been
      observed for MCH interventions in Ethiopia. Wealth-related inequality has
      remained persistently high in all surveys. Socioeconomic factors were the main
      predictors of differences in maternal and child health services utilization and
      child health outcome. Utilization of primary care facilities for selected
      maternal and child health interventions have shown marked pro-poor improvement
      over the period 2005-2011. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that expansion of
      PHC facilities in Ethiopia might have an important role in narrowing the urban
      rural and rich-poor gaps in health service utilization for selected MCH
      interventions.

PMID- 26867542
TI  - Home Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) treatment for COPD patients with a history of
      NIV-treated exacerbation; a randomized, controlled, multi-center study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the prognosis for patients
      who have survived an episode of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to an
      exacerbation is poor. Despite being shown to improve survival and quality-of-life
      in stable patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure, long-term
      noninvasive ventilation is controversial in unstable patients with frequent
      exacerbations, complicated by acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. In an
      uncontrolled group of patients with previous episodes of acute hypercapnic
      respiratory failure, treated with noninvasive ventilation, we have been able to
      reduce mortality and the number of repeat respiratory failure and readmissions by
      continuing the acute noninvasive ventilatory therapy as a long-term therapy.
      METHODS: Multi-center open label randomized controlled trial of 150 patients
      having survived an admission with noninvasive ventilatory treatment of acute
      hypercapnic respiratory failure due chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The
      included patients are randomized to usual care or to continuing the acute
      noninvasive ventilation as a long-term therapy, both with a one-year follow-up
      period. The primary endpoint is time to death or repeat acute hypercapnic
      respiratory failure; secondary endpoints are one-year mortality, number of
      readmissions and repeat acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, exacerbations,
      dyspnea, quality of life, sleep quality, lung function, and arterial gases.
      DISCUSSION: Though previous studies of long-term noninvasive ventilation have
      shown conflicting results, we believe the treatment can reduce mortality and
      readmissions when applied in patients with previous need of acute ventilatory
      support, regardless of persistent hypercapnia. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      clinicaltrials.org: NCT01513655 16-Jan-2012.

PMID- 26867541
TI  - Effectiveness of blood flow restricted exercise compared with standard exercise
      in patients with recurrent low back pain: study protocol for a randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a highly prevalent condition in the United States
      and has a staggeringly negative impact on society in terms of expenses and
      disability. It has previously been suggested that rehabilitation strategies for
      persons with recurrent low back pain should be directed to the medial back
      muscles as these muscles provide functional support of the lumbar region.
      However, many individuals with low back pain cannot safely and effectively induce
      trunk muscle adaptation using traditional high-load resistance exercise, and no
      viable low-load protocols to induce trunk extensor muscle adaptation exist.
      Herein, we present the study protocol for a randomized controlled trial that will
      investigate the "cross-transfer" of effects of a novel exercise modality, blood
      flow restricted exercise, on cross-sectional area (primary outcome), strength and
      endurance (secondary outcomes) of trunk extensor muscles, as well as the pain,
      disability, and rate of recurrence of low back pain (tertiary outcomes). METHODS
      AND STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-blinded, single-site, randomized controlled
      trial. A minimum of 32 (and up to 40) subjects aged 18 to 50 years with recurrent
      low back pain and poor trunk extensor muscle endurance will be recruited,
      enrolled and randomized. After completion of baseline assessments, participants
      will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 10-week resistance exercise
      training program with blood flow restriction (BFR exercise group) or without
      blood flow restriction (control exercise group). Repeat assessments will be taken
      immediately post intervention and at 12 weeks after the completion of the
      exercise program. Furthermore, once every 4 weeks during a 36-week follow-up
      period, participants will be asked to rate their perceived disability and back
      pain over the past 14 days. DISCUSSION: This study will examine the potential for
      blood flow restricted exercise applied to appendicular muscles to result in a
      "cross-transfer" of therapeutic effect to the lumbar musculature in individuals
      with low back pain. The results of this study will provide important insights
      into the effectiveness of this novel exercise modality, which could potentially
      provide the foundation for a cost-effective and easy-to-implement rehabilitation
      strategy to induce muscle adaptation in the absence of high mechanical and
      compressive loading on the spine. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered
      with ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT02308189, date of registration:
      2 December 2014).

PMID- 26867543
TI  - Scalable Expansion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitors in
      Stirred Suspension Bioreactor Under Xeno-free Condition.
AB  - Recent advances in neural differentiation technology have paved the way to
      generate clinical grade neural progenitor populations from human pluripotent stem
      cells. These cells are an excellent source for the production of neural cell
      based therapeutic products to treat incurable central nervous system disorders
      such as Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries. This progress can be
      complemented by the development of robust bioprocessing technologies for large
      scale expansion of clinical grade neural progenitors under GMP conditions for
      promising clinical use and drug discovery applications. Here, we describe a
      protocol for a robust, scalable expansion of human neural progenitor cells from
      pluripotent stem cells as 3D aggregates in a stirred suspension bioreactor. The
      use of this platform has resulted in easily expansion of neural progenitor cells
      for several passages with a fold increase of up to 4.2 over a period of 5 days
      compared to a maximum 1.5-2-fold increase in the adherent static culture over a 1
      week period. In the bioreactor culture, these cells maintained self-renewal,
      karyotype stability, and cloning efficiency capabilities. This approach can be
      also used for human neural progenitor cells derived from other sources such as
      the human fetal brain.

PMID- 26867545
TI  - Building an Evidence Base for Effective Supervision Practices: An Analogue
      Experiment of Supervision to Increase EBT Fidelity.
AB  - Treatments that are efficacious in research trials perform less well under
      routine conditions; differences in supervision may be one contributing factor.
      This study compared the effect of supervision using active learning techniques
      (e.g. role play, corrective feedback) versus "supervision as usual" on therapist
      cognitive restructuring fidelity, overall CBT competence, and CBT expertise.
      Forty therapist trainees attended a training workshop and were randomized to
      supervision condition. Outcomes were assessed using behavioral rehearsals pre-
      and immediately post-training, and after three supervision meetings. EBT
      knowledge, attitudes, and fidelity improved for all participants post-training,
      but only the SUP+ group demonstrated improvement following supervision.

PMID- 26867544
TI  - Whole-Heart Construct Cultivation Under 3D Mechanical Stimulation of the Left
      Ventricle.
AB  - Today the concept of Whole-Heart Tissue Engineering represents one of the most
      promising approaches to the challenge of synthesizing functional myocardial
      tissue. At the current state of scientific and technological knowledge it is a
      principal task to transfer findings of several existing and widely investigated
      models to the process of whole-organ tissue engineering. Hereby, we present the
      first bioreactor system that allows the integrated 3D biomechanical stimulation
      of a whole-heart construct while allowing for simultaneous controlled perfusion
      of the coronary system.

PMID- 26867546
TI  - Atypical presentations of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a diagnostic role
      for ADAMTS13.
AB  - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an acute, life threatening disease.
      Only a minority of patients expresses the complete clinical presentation and
      unusual manifestations can occur. Demonstration of low activity levels of
      ADAMTS13 (<5 %) is highly specific for the diagnosis of TTP. This study reports a
      series of five cases of TTP presenting with a thrombotic event and no
      hematological findings. Detailed chart reviews on these patients were conducted.
      We identified two patients whose first attack of TTP presented as a thrombotic
      episode without microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, only to
      be diagnosed as TTP days later, after the appearance of hematological signs. We
      also describe three cases of classical TTP relapsing atypically as
      cerebrovascular accidents without hematological signs. Low levels of ADAMTS13
      activity were detected and facilitated the diagnosis. The neurological
      manifestations disappeared concurrent with normalization of ADAMTS13 activity
      level after plasma exchange. This study underscores the importance of having a
      high clinical suspicion of TTP in cases of thrombosis even without hematological
      abnormalities in patients with previous attacks of TTP. In this clinical
      scenario, measurement of ADAMTS13 activity is important for diagnosis and early
      administration of treatment. 

PMID- 26867547
TI  - Predictors of postnatal mother-infant bonding: the role of antenatal bonding,
      maternal substance use and mental health.
AB  - The emotional bond that a mother feels towards her baby is critical to social,
      emotional and cognitive development. Maternal health and wellbeing through
      pregnancy and antenatal bonding also play a key role in determining bonding
      postnatally, but the extent to which these relationships may be disrupted by poor
      mental health or substance use is unclear. This study aimed to examine the extent
      to which mother-fetal bonding, substance use and mental health through pregnancy
      predicted postnatal mother-infant bonding at 8 weeks. Participants were 372 women
      recruited from three metropolitan hospitals in Australia. Data was collected
      during trimesters one, two and three of pregnancy and 8 weeks postnatal using the
      Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale
      (MPAS), the Edinburgh Antenatal and Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the
      Depression and Anxiety Scales (DASS-21), frequency and quantity of substance use
      (caffeine, alcohol and tobacco) as well as a range of demographic and postnatal
      information. Higher antenatal bonding predicted higher postnatal bonding at all
      pregnancy time-points in a fully adjusted regression model. Maternal depressive
      symptoms in trimesters two and three and stress in trimester two were inversely
      related to poorer mother-infant bonding 8 weeks postnatally. This study extends
      previous work on the mother's felt bond to her developing child by drawing on a
      large sample of women and documenting the pattern of this bond at three time
      points in pregnancy and at 8 weeks postnatally. Utilising multiple antenatal
      waves allowed precision in isolating the relationships in pregnancy and at key
      intervention points. Investigating methods to enhance bonding and intervene in
      pregnancy is needed. It is also important to assess maternal mental health
      through pregnancy.

PMID- 26867548
TI  - Clinical Outcomes of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Superficial Esophageal
      Squamous Neoplasms.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic treatment has been broadly applied to superficial
      esophageal neoplasms. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allows for high
      rates of en bloc resection, precise histological assessment, and low rates of
      local recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of ESD for
      superficial esophageal neoplasms. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 36
      esophageal ESDs for superficial squamous neoplasms in 32 patients between March
      2009 and August 2014 at Gangnam Severance Hospital. RESULTS: The median patient
      age was 64 years, and 30 men were included. The indications were early squamous
      cell carcinoma in 26 lesions, adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in five lesions,
      and low-grade dysplasia in five lesions. The en bloc resection and R0 resection
      rates were 97.2% (35 of 36) and 91.7% (33 of 36), respectively. Microperforation
      and post-ESD bleeding occurred in 5.6% (2 of 36) and 5.6% (2 of 36),
      respectively. Post-ESD esophageal strictures developed in five patients (13.9%).
      Five patients (15.6%) had an additional treatment after ESD (concurrent
      chemoradiation therapy in three, radiation therapy in one, and surgery in one
      patient). There was no disease-specific mortality during the median follow-up of
      31 months. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable clinical outcomes were observed in ESD for
      superficial esophageal squamous neoplasms. Esophageal ESD could be a good
      treatment option in terms of efficacy and safety.

PMID- 26867549
TI  - Obesity and Cecal Intubation Time.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obesity is a much-debated factor with conflicting evidence
      regarding its association with cecum intubation rates during colonoscopy. We
      aimed to identify the association between cecal intubation (CI) time and obesity
      by eliminating confounding factors. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of
      subjects undergoing outpatient colonoscopy was conducted. The population was
      categorized by sex and obesity (body mass index [BMI, kg/m(2)]: I, <24.9; II, 25
      to 29.9; III, >=30). CI time was used as a marker for a difficult colonoscopy.
      Mean CI times (MCT) were compared for statistical significance using analysis of
      variance tests. RESULTS: A total of 926 subjects were included. Overall MCT was
      15.7+/-7.9 minutes, and it was 15.9+/-7.9 and 15.5+/-7.9 minutes for men and
      women, respectively. MCT among women for BMI category I, II, and III was 14.4+/
      6.5, 15.5+/-8.3, and 16.2+/-8.1 minutes (p=0.55), whereas for men, it was 16.3+/
      8.9, 15.9+/-8.0, and 15.6+/-7.2 minutes (p=0.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BMI
      had a positive association with CI time for women, but had a negative association
      with CI for men.

PMID- 26867550
TI  - Laterally Spreading Tumor of the Rectum Delineated with Linked Color Imaging
      Technology.

PMID- 26867551
TI  - Immunoglobulin G4-Related Inflammatory Pseudotumor Presenting as a Solitary Mass
      in the Stomach.
AB  - Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4RD) is a relatively recently
      recognized entity that is histopathologically characterized by an extensive
      infiltration of lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells with dense fibrosis.
      IgG4RD is now known to affect any organ system, and a few cases of
      gastrointestinal lesions have also been reported. However, solitary IgG4RD of the
      stomach is still very rare. Furthermore, as it can mimic malignant conditions, it
      is important to recognize this disease to avoid unnecessary surgery. Herein, we
      present a case of IgG4RD presenting as an isolated subepithelial mass in the
      stomach. 

PMID- 26867552
TI  - Endoscopic Electrosurgery in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic
      Devices.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs)
      undergoing endoscopic electrosurgery (EE) are at a risk of electromagnetic
      interference (EMI). We aimed to analyze the effects of EE in CIED patients.
      METHODS: Patients with CIED who underwent EE procedures such as snare
      polypectomy, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) were
      retrospectively analyzed. Postprocedural symptoms as well as demographic and
      outpatient follow-up data were reviewed through medical records. Electrical data,
      including preprocedural and postprocedural arrhythmia records, were reviewed
      through pacemaker interrogation, 24-hour Holter monitoring, or electrocardiogram.
      RESULTS: Fifty-nine procedures in 49 patients were analyzed. Fifty procedures
      were performed in 43 patients with a pacemaker, and nine were performed in six
      patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. There were one gastric
      and 44 colon snare polypectomies, five gastric and one colon ESDs, and eight
      ERCPs with EST. Fifty-five cases of electrical follow-up were noted, with two
      postprocedural changes not caused by EE. Thirty-one pacemaker interrogations had
      procedure recordings, with two cases of asymptomatic tachycardia. All patients
      were asymptomatic with no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports no
      adverse events from EE in patients with CIED, suggesting that this procedure is
      safe. However, because of the possibility of EMI, recommendations on EE should be
      followed.

PMID- 26867553
TI  - Asymptomatic Gastric Band Erosion Detected during Routine Gastroduodenoscopy.
AB  - The incidence of gastric band erosion has decreased to 1%. Gastric band erosion
      can manifest with various clinical symptoms, although some patients remain
      asymptomatic. We present a case of a mostly asymptomatic patient who was
      diagnosed with gastric band erosion during a routine health check-up. A 32-year
      old man without any underlying diseases except for non-alcoholic fatty liver
      underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery in 2010. He had no
      significant complications postoperatively. He underwent routine health check-ups
      with near-normal gastroduodenoscopic findings through 2014. However, in 2015,
      routine gastroduodenoscopy showed that the gastric band had eroded into the
      stomach. His gastric band was removed laparoscopically, and the remaining gastric
      ulcer perforation was repaired using an omental patch. Due to the early
      diagnosis, the infection was not serious. The patient was discharged on
      postoperative day 3 with oral antibiotics. This patient was fortunately diagnosed
      early by virtue of a routine health check-up; thus, eliminating the possibility
      of serious complications. 

PMID- 26867554
TI  - Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer: A Determinant of the Quality of Life of
      Their Family Caregivers.
AB  - Cancer disrupts the quality of life of both the patients and their family
      caregivers. This study attempted to explore the relationship between the quality
      of life of cancer patients and their family caregivers and to examine whether the
      quality of life, age, and gender of the patients contributed to the quality of
      life of their family caregivers. This correlational study involved 206 pairs of
      participants consisting of cancer patients and their corresponding family
      caregivers. The European Organization for the Treatment and Research of Quality
      of Life Questionnaire C-30 (version 3) was administered on the patients and the
      Caregiver Quality of Life-Cancer was administered on their family caregivers. The
      result revealed that social functioning, appetite loss, physical functioning, and
      gender of the patients contributed significantly to the quality of life of their
      family caregivers. Implications, shortcomings, and future directions were
      discussed.

PMID- 26867556
TI  - Intelligent Agent Transparency in Human-Agent Teaming for Multi-UxV Management.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of level of agent transparency on operator
      performance, trust, and workload in a context of human-agent teaming for
      multirobot management. BACKGROUND: Participants played the role of a
      heterogeneous unmanned vehicle (UxV) operator and were instructed to complete
      various missions by giving orders to UxVs through a computer interface. An
      intelligent agent (IA) assisted the participant by recommending two plans-a top
      recommendation and a secondary recommendation-for every mission. METHOD: A within
      subjects design with three levels of agent transparency was employed in the
      present experiment. There were eight missions in each of three experimental
      blocks, grouped by level of transparency. During each experimental block, the IA
      was incorrect three out of eight times due to external information (e.g.,
      commander's intent and intelligence). Operator performance, trust, workload, and
      usability data were collected. RESULTS: Results indicate that operator
      performance, trust, and perceived usability increased as a function of
      transparency level. Subjective and objective workload data indicate that
      participants' workload did not increase as a function of transparency.
      Furthermore, response time did not increase as a function of transparency.
      CONCLUSION: Unlike previous research, which showed that increased transparency
      resulted in increased performance and trust calibration at the cost of greater
      workload and longer response time, our results support the benefits of
      transparency for performance effectiveness without additional costs. APPLICATION:
      The current results will facilitate the implementation of IAs in military
      settings and will provide useful data to the design of heterogeneous UxV teams.

PMID- 26867557
TI  - Policy layers delay funding of innovative care deal for elderly people,
      conference hears.

PMID- 26867555
TI  - Derivative Quotient Spectrophotometry and an Eco-Friendly Micellar
      Chromatographic Approach with Time-Programmed UV-Detection for the Separation of
      Two Fluoroquinolones and Phenazopyridine.
AB  - In this study, two analytical approaches were exploited for the resolution of
      binary mixtures of ciprofloxacin HCl (CIP) or norfloxacin (NOR) and
      phenazopyridine HCl (PHZ). In the first approach, the amplitudes of the first
      derivative of the ratio spectra were measured at 267 or 287 nm for CIP and at 268
      or 291 nm for NOR. PHZ could be directly determined in the presence of CIP or NOR
      at 405 nm. The calibration graphs were rectilinear over the ranges of 1.0-16.0
      ug/mL for CIP or NOR and 1.0-10.0 ug/mL for PHZ. In the second approach, an
      accurate, reliable and environmentally nontoxic micellar liquid chromatographic
      (MLC) method was developed. A good chromatographic separation was achieved using
      a 150 mm * 4.6 mm i.d., 5 um particle size Spherisorb ODS-2 column. Eco-friendly
      mobile phase containing 0.12 M sodium dodecyl sulphate, 0.3% triethylamine and
      6%n-butanol in 0.02 M orthophosphoric acid of pH 3.0 was pumped at a flow rate of
      1 mL/min. Time programmed UV-detection was applied to allow sensitive
      determination of the studied drugs. The analytes were eluted without
      interferences in <10 min. Methocarbamol was used as an internal standard. The MLC
      method was found to be rectilinear over the concentration range of 0.5-20.0
      MUg/mL for CIP, NOR or PHZ. These optimized and validated methods were
      successfully applied for the simultaneous analysis of the studied drugs in their
      synthetic mixtures and co-formulated tablets. Moreover, the second method was
      further extended to the determination of these drugs in human urine with direct
      injection and without any pretreatment.

PMID- 26867558
TI  - Contractures and muscle disease.
AB  - Contractures are one of a handful of signs in muscle disease, besides weakness
      and its distribution, whose presence can help guide us diagnostically, a welcome
      star on the horizon. Contractures are associated with several myopathies, some
      with important cardiac manifestations, and consequently are important to
      recognise; their presence may also provide us with a potential satisfying 'penny
      dropping' diagnostic moment. 

PMID- 26867560
TI  - Selenium Supplementation for Prevention of Late-Onset Sepsis in Very Low Birth
      Weight Preterm Neonates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality continues to be a significant problem in the
      Indian setting, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. Selenium
      (Se) has been shown to possess antioxidant properties, and some recent studies
      have shown a reduction in the sepsis-attributable neonatal mortality with its
      use. India is a Se-deficient country. Blood Se concentrations in newborns are
      lower than those of their mothers and lower still in preterm infants. OBJECTIVE:
      To evaluate the efficacy of Se in preventing the first episode of late-onset
      sepsis in VLBW preterm neonates. METHODS: Ninety neonates weighing <1500 g and
      period of gestation <32 weeks, asymptomatic at birth and admitted to the neonatal
      intensive-care unit (NICU) in the first 12 h of birth with no maternal risk
      factors for sepsis were analyzed in the study. Se or placebo was supplemented
      orally once daily from 1st to 28th day of life to the test (n = 45) or control (n
      = 45) groups, respectively, followed by daily clinical assessment for signs or
      symptoms of sepsis in the hospital and weekly after discharge. RESULTS: Preterm
      VLBW neonates (mean birth weight 1464.22 +/- 50.14 g and mean gestational age
      221.75 +/- 4 days) are Se deficient at birth, with mean (SD) Se levels 31.1 +/-
      14.8 ug/l. Se supplementation at 10 ug/day increased serum Se levels
      significantly (63.9 +/- 13.9 ug/l on Day 28 in Se vs. 40.9 +/- 17.3 on Day 28 in
      placebo; p < 0.01). The incidence of the first episode of culture-proven late
      onset sepsis was significantly lower in the Se than in the placebo group. [0/45
      (0%) in Se vs. 6/45 (13.3%) in placebo; p = 0.033]. The incidence of probable
      sepsis was found to be significantly lower in the Se group [7/45 (15.55%)] than
      in the placebo [16/45 (35.55%)]; p = 0.02. The total incidence of any late-onset
      sepsis (i.e. culture-proven plus probable sepsis) was also significantly reduced
      by Se supplementation. [7/45 (15.55%) in Se vs. 22/45 (48.88%) in placebo; p =
      0.001]. CONCLUSION: Preterm VLBW neonates are Se deficient at birth. Se
      supplementation at 10 ug/day resulted in getting the Se levels into the
      acceptable normal level and reduced the incidence of the first episode of late
      onset sepsis in these neonates.

PMID- 26867561
TI  - Effects of Kangaroo Care on Neonatal Pain in South Korea.
AB  - Blood sampling for a newborn screening test is necessary for all neonates in
      South Korea. During the heel stick, an appropriate intervention should be
      implemented to reduce neonatal pain. This study was conducted to identify the
      effectiveness of kangaroo care (KC), skin contact with the mother, on pain relief
      during the neonatal heel stick. Twenty-six neonates undergoing KC and 30 control
      neonates at a university hospital participated in this study. Physiological
      responses of neonates, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, duration of
      crying and Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores were measured and compared
      before, during and 1 min and 2 min after heel sticks. The heart rate of KC
      neonates was lower at both 1 and 2 min after sampling than those of the control
      group. Also, PIPP scores of KC neonates were significantly lower both during and
      after sampling. The duration of crying for KC neonates was around 10% of the
      duration of the control group. In conclusion, KC might be an effective
      intervention in a full-term nursery for neonatal pain management.

PMID- 26867559
TI  - Skilled Bimanual Training Drives Motor Cortex Plasticity in Children With
      Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - Background Intensive bimanual therapy can improve hand function in children with
      unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). We compared the effects of structured
      bimanual skill training versus unstructured bimanual practice on motor outcomes
      and motor map plasticity in children with USCP. Objective We hypothesized that
      structured skill training would produce greater motor map plasticity than
      unstructured practice. Methods Twenty children with USCP (average age 9.5; 12
      males) received therapy in a day camp setting, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks.
      In structured skill training (n = 10), children performed progressively more
      difficult movements and practiced functional goals. In unstructured practice (n =
      10), children engaged in bimanual activities but did not practice skillful
      movements or functional goals. We used the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA),
      Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF), and Canadian Occupational
      Performance Measure (COPM) to measure hand function. We used single-pulse
      transcranial magnetic stimulation to map the representation of first dorsal
      interosseous and flexor carpi radialis muscles bilaterally. Results Both groups
      showed significant improvements in bimanual hand use (AHA; P < .05) and hand
      dexterity (JTTHF; P < .001). However, only the structured skill group showed
      increases in the size of the affected hand motor map and amplitudes of motor
      evoked potentials (P < .01). Most children who showed the most functional
      improvements (COPM) had the largest changes in map size. Conclusions These
      findings uncover a dichotomy of plasticity: the unstructured practice group
      improved hand function but did not show changes in motor maps. Skill training is
      important for driving motor cortex plasticity in children with USCP.

PMID- 26867562
TI  - Agaro-oligosaccharides: a new frontier in the fight against colon cancer?

PMID- 26867563
TI  - Lactobacillus acidophilus stimulates intestinal P-glycoprotein expression via a c
      Fos/c-Jun-dependent mechanism in intestinal epithelial cells.
AB  - Our previous studies showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) culture
      supernatant (CS) increased P-glycoprotein [Pgp/multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1)]
      function, expression, and promoter activity in Caco-2 cells. The current studies
      were designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms mediating the stimulatory
      effects of LA CS on Pgp promoter activity. Deletion analysis indicated that the
      LA CS response element(s) is located in the -172/+428-bp region, and sequence
      analysis of this region revealed three potential binding sites for c-Fos or c
      Jun: proximal activating protein (AP) 1a (-119/-98 bp), distal AP1b (-99/-78 bp),
      and AP1c (+175/+196 bp). LA CS (24 h) showed an approximately twofold increase in
      the protein expression of c-Fos and c-Jun in Caco-2 cells. Electrophoretic
      mobility shift assay showed that LA CS markedly increased the binding of Caco-2
      nuclear proteins to AP1a and AP1b, but not AP1c. The DNA-protein complex was
      completely eliminated by c-Fos antibody, while c-Jun antibody partially
      eliminated the complex. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis also showed that
      LA CS enhanced the association of c-Fos and c-Jun (by ~4- and 1.5-fold,
      respectively) with endogenous Pgp promoter in Caco-2 cells (p-172/+1).
      Interestingly, overexpression of c-Fos or c-Jun activated Pgp promoter by nearly
      twofold each. This increase was further enhanced (~14-fold) when c-Fos and c-Jun
      were simultaneously overexpressed, suggesting that the presence of one of these
      transcription factors potentiates the effect of the other. These studies, for the
      first time, provide evidence for the involvement of c-Fos/c-Jun in stimulation of
      Pgp gene expression by LA CS in the human intestine.

PMID- 26867564
TI  - Nuclear factor-kappaB regulates the expression of multiple genes encoding liver
      transport proteins.
AB  - In this study we identified the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of
      NF-kappaB on the expression of genes encoding multiple liver transport proteins.
      Well-conserved NF-kappaB binding sites were found in the promoters of farnesoid X
      receptor (FXR)-target genes. An electromobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated
      the specific interaction between the NF-kappaB p65 protein and a (32)P-labeled
      BSEP NF-kappaB response element (NF-kappaBE). Chromatin immunoprecipitation
      (ChIP) analysis confirmed binding of NF-kappaB p65 to the BSEP locus but not the
      FXRE in vitro. NF-kappaB p65 overexpression in Huh-7 cells markedly repressed
      FXR/RXR transactivation of the BSEP, ABCG5/G8, MRP2, and FXR promoters, which was
      totally reversed by expression of the IkappaBalpha super-repressor. NF-kappaB
      interacted directly with FXR on coimmunoprecipitation, suggesting another level
      for the inhibitory effects of NF-kappaB on FXR-target genes. In vivo ChIP
      analysis with liver nuclei obtained from mice after 3 days of common bile duct
      ligation (BDL) or 6 h post-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection showed a markedly
      increased recruitment of NF-kappaB p65 to the Bsep promoter compared with
      controls. There was also increased recruitment of the corepressor silencing
      mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) and histone
      deacetylase (HDAC)3 and HDAC2 to the NF-kappaB sites. We also found that NF
      kappaB p65 was recruited to NF-kappaB binding sites in the promoters of organic
      solute transporter, OSTalpha and OSTbeta, and unexpectedly activated rather than
      repressed gene expression. In mouse liver after BDL NF-kappaB recruitment to
      Ostalpha and Ostbeta promoters was associated with increased binding of the
      potent coactivator cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein
      (CBP)/p300 to the NF-kappaBE and depletion of CBP/p300 at the FXR element.
      Overall, these studies demonstrate a novel role for NF-kappaB in adaptation to
      obstructive and LPS-induced cholestasis acting through recruitment to specific NF
      kappaB binding sites in the promoters of FXR-target genes and possibly through
      direct interaction with FXR.

PMID- 26867565
TI  - TAM receptor tyrosine kinase function and the immunopathology of liver disease.
AB  - Tyro3, Axl, MERTK (TAM) receptor tyrosine kinases are implicated in the
      regulation of the innate immune response through clearance of apoptotic cellular
      debris and control of cytokine signaling cascades. As a result they are pivotal
      in regulating the inflammatory response to tissue injury. Within the liver,
      immune regulatory signaling is employed to prevent the overactivation of innate
      immunity in response to continual antigenic challenge from the gastrointestinal
      tract. In this review we appraise current understanding of the role of TAM
      receptor function in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity, with a
      focus on its impact upon hepatic inflammatory pathology.

PMID- 26867566
TI  - Deletion of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 2 represses colon cancer progress
      by suppression of Stat3 and CD24.
AB  - The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) family of proteins is
      scaffolds that orchestrate interaction of receptors and cellular proteins.
      Previous studies have shown that NHERF1 functions as a tumor suppressor. The goal
      of this study is to determine whether the loss of NHERF2 alters colorectal cancer
      (CRC) progress. We found that NHERF2 expression is elevated in advanced-stage
      CRC. Knockdown of NHERF2 decreased cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in a
      mouse xenograft tumor model. In addition, deletion of NHERF2 in Apc(Min/+) mice
      resulted in decreased tumor growth in Apc(Min/+) mice and increased lifespan.
      Blocking NHERF2 interaction with a small peptide designed to bind the second PDZ
      domain of NHERF2 attenuated cancer cell proliferation. Although NHERF2 is known
      to facilitate the effects of lysophosphatidic acid receptor 2 (LPA2),
      transcriptome analysis of xenograft tumors revealed that NHERF2-dependent genes
      largely differ from LPA2-regulated genes. Activation of beta-catenin and ERK1/2
      was mitigated in Apc(Min/+);Nherf2(-/-) adenomas. Moreover, Stat3 phosphorylation
      and CD24 expression levels were suppressed in Apc(Min/+);Nherf2(-/-) adenomas.
      Consistently, NHERF2 knockdown attenuated Stat3 activation and CD24 expression in
      colon cancer cells. Interestingly, CD24 was important in the maintenance of Stat3
      phosphorylation, whereas NHERF2-dependent increase in CD24 expression was blocked
      by inhibition of Stat3, suggesting that NHERF2 regulates Stat3 phosphorylation
      through a positive feedback mechanism between Stat3 and CD24. In summary, this
      study identifies NHERF2 as a novel oncogenic protein and a potential target for
      cancer treatment. NHERF2 potentiates the oncogenic effects in part by regulation
      of Stat3 and CD24.

PMID- 26867567
TI  - HOX transcription factors are potential targets and markers in malignant
      mesothelioma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The HOX genes are a family of homeodomain-containing transcription
      factors that determine cellular identity during development and which are dys
      regulated in some cancers. In this study we examined the expression and oncogenic
      function of HOX genes in mesothelioma, a cancer arising from the pleura or
      peritoneum which is associated with exposure to asbestos. METHODS: We tested the
      sensitivity of the mesothelioma-derived lines MSTO-211H, NCI-H28, NCI-H2052, and
      NCI-H226 to HXR9, a peptide antagonist of HOX protein binding to its PBX co
      factor. Apoptosis was measured using a FACS-based assay with Annexin, and HOX
      gene expression profiles were established using RT-QPCR on RNA extracted from
      cell lines and primary mesotheliomas. The in vivo efficacy of HXR9 was tested in
      a mouse MSTO-211H flank tumor xenograft model. RESULTS: We show that HOX genes
      are significantly dysregulated in malignant mesothelioma. Targeting HOX genes
      with HXR9 caused apoptotic cell death in all of the mesothelioma-derived cell
      lines, and prevented the growth of mesothelioma tumors in a mouse xenograft
      model. Furthermore, the sensitivity of these lines to HXR9 correlated with the
      relative expression of HOX genes that have either an oncogenic or tumor
      suppressive function in cancer. The analysis of HOX expression in primary
      mesothelioma tumors indicated that these cells could also be sensitive to the
      disruption of HOX activity by HXR9, and that the expression of HOXB4 is strongly
      associated with overall survival. CONCLUSION: HOX genes are a potential
      therapeutic target in mesothelioma, and HOXB4 expression correlates with overall
      survival.

PMID- 26867568
TI  - Generation and filtering of gene expression noise by the bacterial cell cycle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gene expression within cells is known to fluctuate stochastically in
      time. However, the origins of gene expression noise remain incompletely
      understood. The bacterial cell cycle has been suggested as one source, involving
      chromosome replication, exponential volume growth, and various other changes in
      cellular composition. Elucidating how these factors give rise to expression
      variations is important to models of cellular homeostasis, fidelity of signal
      transmission, and cell-fate decisions. RESULTS: Using single-cell time-lapse
      microscopy, we measured cellular growth as well as fluctuations in the expression
      rate of a fluorescent protein and its concentration. We found that, within the
      population, the mean expression rate doubles throughout the cell cycle with a
      characteristic cell cycle phase dependent shape which is different for slow and
      fast growth rates. At low growth rate, we find the mean expression rate was
      initially flat, and then rose approximately linearly by a factor two until the
      end of the cell cycle. The mean concentration fluctuated at low amplitude with
      sinusoidal-like dependence on cell cycle phase. Traces of individual cells were
      consistent with a sudden two-fold increase in expression rate, together with
      other non-cell cycle noise. A model was used to relate the findings and to
      explain the cell cycle-induced variations for different chromosomal positions.
      CONCLUSIONS: We found that the bacterial cell cycle contribution to expression
      noise consists of two parts: a deterministic oscillation in synchrony with the
      cell cycle and a stochastic component caused by variable timing of gene
      replication. Together, they cause half of the expression rate noise.
      Concentration fluctuations are partially suppressed by a noise cancelling
      mechanism that involves the exponential growth of cellular volume. A model
      explains how the functional form of the concentration oscillations depends on
      chromosome position.

PMID- 26867569
TI  - Analysis of mitochondrial DNA alteration in new phenotype ACOS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mitochondria contain their own DNA (MtDNA) that is very sensitive to
      oxidative stress and as a consequence could be damaged in quantity. Oxidative
      stress is largely recognized to play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma and
      COPD and might have a role in the new intermediate phenotype ACOS (asthma-COPD
      overlap syndrome). The aim of this study was to investigate MtDNA alterations, as
      an expression of mitochondrial dysfunction, in ACOS and to verify whether they
      might help in the identification of this new phenotype and in its differentiation
      from asthma and COPD. METHODS: Ten (10) ACOS according to Spanish guidelines, 13
      ACOS according to GINA guidelines, 13 COPD, 14 asthmatic patients and ten normal
      subjects were enrolled. They further underwent a blood, induced sputum and
      exhaled nitric oxide collection. Content of MtDNA and nuclear DNA (nDNA) were
      measured in the blood cells of patients by Real Time PCR. RESULTS: ACOS patients
      showed an increase of MtDNA/nDNA ratio. Dividing ACOS according to guidelines,
      those from the Spanish showed a higher value of MtDNA/nDNA compared to those from
      GINA/GOLD (92.69 +/- 7.31 vs 80.68 +/- 4.16). Spanish ACOS presented MtDNA/nDNA
      ratio closer to COPD than asthma. MtDNA was higher in asthmatic, COPD, GINA and
      Spanish ACOS patients compared to healthy subjects (73.30 +/- 4.47-137.0 +/-
      19.45-80.68 +/- 4.16-92.69 +/- 7.31 vs 65.97 +/- 20.56). CONCLUSION: We found an
      increase of MtDNA/nDNA ratio in ACOS subjects that led us to conclude that there
      is presence of mitochondrial dysfunction in this disease, that makes it closer to
      COPD than to asthma. Although the MtDNA/nDNA ratio results are a useful marker
      for differential diagnosis from asthma, COPD and ACOS, further studies are needed
      to confirm the potentiality of MtDNA/nDNA ratio and to a better characterization
      of ACOS.

PMID- 26867570
TI  - 3D Polyaniline Architecture by Concurrent Inorganic and Organic Acid Doping for
      Superior and Robust High Rate Supercapacitor Performance.
AB  - A good high rate supercapacitor performance requires a fine control of
      morphological (surface area and pore size distribution) and electrical properties
      of the electrode materials. Polyaniline (PANI) is an interesting material in
      supercapacitor context because it stores energy Faradaically. However in
      conventional inorganic (e.g. HCl) acid doping, the conductivity is high but the
      morphological features are undesirable. On the other hand, in weak organic acid
      (e.g. phytic acid) doping, interesting and desirable 3D connected morphological
      features are attained but the conductivity is poorer. Here the synergy of the
      positive quality factors of these two acid doping approaches is realized by
      concurrent and optimized strong-inorganic (HCl) and weak-organic (phytic) acid
      doping, resulting in a molecular composite material that renders impressive and
      robust supercapacitor performance. Thus, a nearly constant high specific
      capacitance of 350 F g(-1) is realized for the optimised case of binary doping
      over the entire range of 1 A g(-1) to 40 A g(-1) with stability of 500 cycles at
      40 A g(-1). Frequency dependant conductivity measurements show that the optimized
      co-doped case is more metallic than separately doped materials. This transport
      property emanates from the unique 3D single molecular character of such system. 

PMID- 26867571
TI  - Pretransplant Stable Systolic Cardiac Functions Play an Important Role in Short
      term Systolic Cardiac Functions After Kidney Transplant in Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the systolic cardiac
      parameters and related risk factors in children within 6 months after kidney
      transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 24 children who
      received kidney transplants. Clinical and laboratory parameters before and after
      transplant were recorded. Results were evaluated statistically, with a P value
      less than .05 considered significant. RESULTS: Before transplant, systolic
      cardiac functions were within normal limits. After transplant, ejection fraction
      (63.35% +/- 5.38% vs 66.95% +/- 4.62%; P = .01) was significantly increased and
      left ventricular mass index (32.63 +/- 17.21 g/m2.7 vs 31.29 +/- 15.65 g/m2.7; P
      = .78) was not significantly decreased, whereas fractional shortening (52.16% +/-
      15.32% vs 59.8% +/- 12.94%; P = .54) did not change. Systolic blood pressure,
      systolic blood pressure index, diastolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood
      pressure index values were not statistically different before and after
      transplant (P > .05). The number of antihypertensive agents was significantly
      decreased (P = .001). Before and after transplant, cardiac geometry was normal in
      15 patients (62.5%) and 17 patients (70.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our patients, who had
      stable systolic cardiac function before transplant, showed further improvements
      in systolic cardiac function even within 6 months after transplant. Therefore,
      strictly monitored and controlled blood pressure, volume, anemia, and nutrition
      in children before transplant may play important roles in achieving better
      cardiac systolic function after kidney transplant.

PMID- 26867572
TI  - Detection of Babesia annae DNA in lung exudate samples from Red foxes (Vulpes
      vulpes) in Great Britain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Babesia species DNA
      in lung exudate samples collected from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from across
      Great Britain. Babesia are small piroplasmid parasites which are mainly
      transmitted through the bite of infected ticks of the family Ixodidae. Babesia
      can cause potentially fatal disease in a wide-range of mammalian species
      including humans, dogs and cattle, making them of significant economic importance
      to both the medical and veterinary fields. METHODS: DNA was extracted from lung
      exudate samples of 316 foxes. A semi-nested PCR was used to initially screen
      samples, using universal Babesia-Theileria primers which target the 18S rRNA
      gene. A selection of positive PCR amplicons were purified and sequenced.
      Subsequently specific primers were designed to detect Babesia annae and used to
      screen all 316 DNA samples. Randomly selected positive samples were purified and
      sequenced (GenBank accession KT580786). Clones spanning a 1717 bp region of the
      18S rRNA gene were generated from 2 positive samples, the resultant consensus
      sequence was submitted to GenBank (KT580785). Sequence KT580785 was used in the
      phylogenetic analysis RESULTS: Babesia annae DNA was detected in the fox samples,
      in total 46/316 (14.6%) of samples tested positive for the presence of Babesia
      annae DNA. The central region of England had the highest prevalence at 36.7%,
      while no positive samples were found from Wales, though only 12 samples were
      tested from this region. Male foxes were found to have a higher prevalence of
      Babesia annae DNA than females in all regions of Britain. Phylogenetic and
      sequence analysis of the GenBank submissions (Accession numbers KT580785 and
      KT580786) showed 100% identity to Babesia sp.-'Spanish Dog' (AY534602, EU583387
      and AF188001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time that Babesia annae DNA has
      been reported in red foxes in Great Britain with positive samples being found
      across England and Scotland indicating that this parasite is well established
      within the red fox population of Britain. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that
      though B. annae is closely related to B. microti it is a distinct species.

PMID- 26867573
TI  - Novel KCNJ10 Gene Variations Compromise Function of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium
      Channel 4.1.
AB  - TheKCNJ10gene encoding Kir4.1 contains numerous SNPs whose molecular effects
      remain unknown. We investigated the functional consequences of uncharacterized
      SNPs (Q212R, L166Q, and G83V) on homomeric (Kir4.1) and heteromeric (Kir4.1
      Kir5.1) channel function. We compared these with previously characterized
      EAST/SeSAME mutants (G77R and A167V) in kidney-derived tsA201 cells and in glial
      cell-derived C6 glioma cells. The membrane potentials of tsA201 cells expressing
      G77R and G83V were significantly depolarized as compared with WTKir4.1, whereas
      cells expressing Q212R, L166Q, and A167V were less affected. Furthermore,
      macroscopic currents from cells expressing WTKir4.1 and Q212R channels did not
      differ, whereas currents from cells expressing L166Q, G83V, G77R, and A167V were
      reduced. Unexpectedly, L166Q current responses were rescued when co-expressed
      with Kir5.1. In addition, we observed notable differences in channel activity
      between C6 glioma cells and tsA201 cells expressing L166Q and A167V, suggesting
      that there are underlying differences between cell lines in terms of Kir4.1
      protein synthesis, stability, or expression at the surface. Finally, we
      determined spermine (SPM) sensitivity of these uncharacterized SNPs and found
      that Q212R-containing channels displayed reduced block by 1 MUmSPM. At 100
      MUmSPM, the block was equal to or greater than WT, suggesting that the greater
      driving force of SPM allowed achievement of steady state. In contrast, L166Q
      Kir5.1 channels achieved a higher block than WT, suggesting a more stable
      interaction of SPM in the deep pore cavity. Overall, our data suggest that G83V,
      L166Q, and Q212R residues play a pivotal role in controlling Kir4.1 channel
      function. 

PMID- 26867574
TI  - Ras-related C3 Botulinum Toxin Substrate (Rac) and Src Family Kinases (SFK) Are
      Proximal and Essential for Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) Activation in
      Natural Killer (NK) Cell-mediated Direct Cytotoxicity against Cryptococcus
      neoformans.
AB  - The activity of Rac in leukocytes is essential for immunity. However, its role in
      NK cell-mediated anti-microbial signaling remains unclear. In this study, we
      investigated the role of Rac in NK cell mediated anti-cryptococcal killing. We
      found thatCryptococcus neoformansindependently activates both Rac and SFK
      pathways in NK cells, and unlike in tumor killing,Cryptococcusinitiated a novel
      Rac -> PI3K -> Erk cytotoxicity cascade. Remarkably, Rac was not required for
      conjugate formation, despite its essential role in NK cytotoxicity againstC.
      neoformans Taken together, our data show that, unlike observations with tumor
      cells, NK cells use a novel Rac cytotoxicity pathway in conjunction with SFK, to
      killC. neoformans. 

PMID- 26867576
TI  - Exploration of the Peptide Recognition of an Amiloride-sensitive FMRFamide
      Peptide-gated Sodium Channel.
AB  - FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2)-activated sodium channel (FaNaC) is an amiloride
      sensitive sodium channel activated by endogenous tetrapeptide in invertebrates,
      and belongs to the epithelial sodium channel/degenerin (ENaC/DEG) superfamily.
      The ENaC/DEG superfamily differs markedly in its means of activation, such as
      spontaneously opening or gating by mechanical stimuli or tissue acidosis.
      Recently, it has been observed that a number of ENaC/DEG channels can be
      activated by small molecules or peptides, indicating that the ligand-gating may
      be an important feature of this superfamily. The peptide ligand control of the
      channel gating might be an ancient ligand-gating feature in this superfamily.
      Therefore, studying the peptide recognition of FaNaC channels would advance our
      understanding of the ligand-gating properties of this superfamily of ion
      channels. Here we demonstrate that Tyr-131, Asn-134, Asp-154, and Ile-160,
      located in the putative upper finger domain ofHelix aspersaFaNaC (HaFaNaC)
      channels, are key residues for peptide recognition of this ion channel. Two
      HaFaNaC specific-insertion motifs among the ENaC/DEG superfamily, residing at the
      putative alpha4-alpha5 linker of the upper thumb domain and the alpha6-alpha7
      linker of the upper knuckle domain, are also essential for the peptide
      recognition of HaFaNaC channels. Chemical modifications and double mutant cycle
      analysis further indicated that those two specific inserts and key residues in
      the upper finger domain together participate in peptide recognition of HaFaNaC
      channels. This ligand recognition site is distinct from that of acid-sensing ion
      channels (ASICs) by a longer distance between the recognition site and the
      channel gate, carrying useful information about the ligand gating and the
      evolution of the trimeric ENaC/DEG superfamily of ion channels. 

PMID- 26867575
TI  - Kinetics of Nitrite Reduction and Peroxynitrite Formation by Ferrous Heme in
      Human Cystathionine beta-Synthase.
AB  - Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme that
      catalyzes the condensation of homocysteine with serine or with cysteine to form
      cystathionine and either water or hydrogen sulfide, respectively. Human CBS
      possesses a noncatalytic heme cofactor with cysteine and histidine as ligands,
      which in its oxidized state is relatively unreactive. Ferric CBS (Fe(III)-CBS)
      can be reduced by strong chemical and biochemical reductants to Fe(II)-CBS, which
      can bind carbon monoxide (CO) or nitric oxide (NO(*)), leading to inactive
      enzyme. Alternatively, Fe(II)-CBS can be reoxidized by O2to Fe(III)-CBS, forming
      superoxide radical anion (O2 ()). In this study, we describe the kinetics of
      nitrite (NO2 (-)) reduction by Fe(II)-CBS to form Fe(II)NO(*)-CBS. The second
      order rate constant for the reaction of Fe(II)-CBS with nitrite was obtained at
      low dithionite concentrations. Reoxidation of Fe(II)NO(*)-CBS by O2showed complex
      kinetic behavior and led to peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation, which was detected
      using the fluorescent probe, coumarin boronic acid. Thus, in addition to being a
      potential source of superoxide radical, CBS constitutes a previously unrecognized
      source of NO(*)and peroxynitrite. 

PMID- 26867578
TI  - Structural and Kinetic Characterization of the 4-Carboxy-2-hydroxymuconate
      Hydratase from the Gallate and Protocatechuate 4,5-Cleavage Pathways of
      Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
AB  - The bacterial catabolism of lignin and its breakdown products is of interest for
      applications in industrial processing of ligno-biomass. The gallate degradation
      pathway ofPseudomonas putidaKT2440 requires a 4-carboxy-2-hydroxymuconate (CHM)
      hydratase (GalB), which has a 12% sequence identity to a previously identified
      CHM hydratase (LigJ) fromSphingomonassp. SYK-6. The structure of GalB was
      determined and found to be a member of the PIG-LN-acetylglucosamine deacetylase
      family; GalB is structurally distinct from the amidohydrolase fold of LigJ. LigJ
      has the same stereospecificity as GalB, providing an example of convergent
      evolution for catalytic conversion of a common metabolite in bacterial aromatic
      degradation pathways. Purified GalB contains a bound Zn(2+)cofactor; however the
      enzyme is capable of using Fe(2+)and Co(2+)with similar efficiency. The general
      base aspartate in the PIG-L deacetylases is an alanine in GalB; replacement of
      the alanine with aspartate decreased the GalB catalytic efficiency for CHM by 9.5
      * 10(4)-fold, and the variant enzyme did not have any detectable hydrolase
      activity. Kinetic analyses and pH dependence studies of the wild type and variant
      enzymes suggested roles for Glu-48 and His-164 in the catalytic mechanism. A
      comparison with the PIG-L deacetylases led to a proposed mechanism for GalB
      wherein Glu-48 positions and activates the metal-ligated water for the hydration
      reaction and His-164 acts as a catalytic acid. 

PMID- 26867577
TI  - Structural Studies of Lipopolysaccharide-defective Mutants from Brucella
      melitensis Identify a Core Oligosaccharide Critical in Virulence.
AB  - The structures of the lipooligosaccharides fromBrucella melitensismutants
      affected in the WbkD and ManBcoreproteins have been fully characterized using NMR
      spectroscopy. The results revealed that disruption ofwbkDgives rise to a rough
      lipopolysaccharide (R-LPS) with a complete core structure (beta-d-Glcp-(1->4)
      alpha-Kdop-(2->4)[beta-d-GlcpN-(1->6)-beta-d-GlcpN-(1->4)[beta-d-GlcpN-(1->6)]
      beta-d-GlcpN-(1->3)-alpha-d-Manp-(1->5)]-alpha-Kdop-(2->6)-beta-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1
      >6)-alpha-d-GlcpN3N1P), in addition to components lacking one of the terminal
      beta-d-GlcpN and/or the beta-d-Glcpresidues (48 and 17%, respectively). These
      structures were identical to those of the R-LPS fromB. melitensisEP, a strain
      simultaneously expressing both smooth and R-LPS, also studied herein. In
      contrast, disruption ofmanBcoregives rise to a deep-rough pentasaccharide core
      (beta-d-Glcp-(1->4)-alpha-Kdop-(2->4)-alpha-Kdop-(2->6)-beta-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1->6)
      alpha-d-GlcpN3N1P) as the major component (63%), as well as a minor
      tetrasaccharide component lacking the terminal beta-d-Glcpresidue (37%). These
      results are in agreement with the predicted functions of the WbkD
      (glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the O-antigen) and
      ManBcoreproteins (phosphomannomutase involved in the biosynthesis of a mannosyl
      precursor needed for the biosynthesis of the core and O-antigen). We also report
      that deletion ofB. melitensis wadCremoves the core oligosaccharide branch not
      linked to the O-antigen causing an increase in overall negative charge of the
      remaining LPS inner section. This is in agreement with the mannosyltransferase
      role predicted for WadC and the lack of GlcpN residues in the defective core
      oligosaccharide. Despite carrying the O-antigen essential inB.
      melitensisvirulence, the core deficiency in thewadCmutant structure resulted in a
      more efficient detection by innate immunity and attenuation, proving the role of
      the beta-d-GlcpN-(1->6)-beta-d-GlcpN-(1->4)[beta-d-GlcpN-(1->6)]-beta-d-GlcpN-(1
      >3)-alpha-d-Manp-(1->5) structure in virulence. 

PMID- 26867580
TI  - Control of the Position of Oxygen Delivery in Soybean Lipoxygenase-1 by Amino
      Acid Side Chains within a Gas Migration Channel.
AB  - Understanding gas migration pathways is critical to unraveling structure-function
      relationships in enzymes that process gaseous substrates such as O2, H2, and N2
      This work investigates the role of a defined pathway for O2 in regulating the
      peroxidation of linoleic acid by soybean lipoxygenase 1. Computational and
      mutagenesis studies provide strong support for a dominant delivery channel that
      shuttles molecular oxygen to a specific region of the active site, thereby
      ensuring the regio- and stereospecificity of product. Analysis of reaction
      kinetics and product distribution in channel mutants also reveals a plasticity to
      the gas migration pathway. The findings show that a single site mutation (I553W)
      limits oxygen accessibility to the active site, greatly increasing the fraction
      of substrate that reacts with oxygen free in solution. They also show how a
      neighboring site mutation (L496W) can result in a redirection of oxygen toward an
      alternate position of the substrate, changing the regio- and stereospecificity of
      peroxidation. The present data indicate that modest changes in a protein scaffold
      may modulate the access of small gaseous molecules to enzyme-bound substrates. 

PMID- 26867581
TI  - Association for Medical Education in the Western Pacific Region: Presidential
      Address 2016.

PMID- 26867579
TI  - The Platelet Integrin alphaIIbbeta3 Differentially Interacts with Fibrin Versus
      Fibrinogen.
AB  - Fibrinogen binding to the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 mediates platelet aggregation
      and spreading on fibrinogen-coated surfaces. However,in vivoalphaIIbbeta3
      activation and fibrinogen conversion to fibrin occur simultaneously, although the
      relative contributions of fibrinogenversusfibrin to alphaIIbbeta3-mediated
      platelet functions are unknown. Here, we compared the interaction of
      alphaIIbbeta3 with fibrin and fibrinogen to explore their differential effects. A
      microscopic bead coated with fibrinogen or monomeric fibrin produced by treating
      the immobilized fibrinogen with thrombin was captured by a laser beam and
      repeatedly brought into contact with surface-attached purified alphaIIbbeta3.
      When alphaIIbbeta3-ligand complexes were detected, the rupture forces were
      measured and displayed as force histograms. Monomeric fibrin displayed a higher
      probability of interacting with alphaIIbbeta3 and a greater binding strength.
      alphaIIbbeta3-fibrin interactions were also less sensitive to inhibition by
      abciximab and eptifibatide. Both fibrinogen- and fibrin-alphaIIbbeta3
      interactions were partially inhibited by RGD peptides, suggesting the existence
      of common RGD-containing binding motifs. This assumption was supported using the
      fibrin variants alphaD97E or alphaD574E with mutated RGD motifs. Fibrin made from
      a fibrinogen gamma'/gamma' variant lacking the gammaC alphaIIbbeta3-binding motif
      was more reactive with alphaIIbbeta3 than the parent fibrinogen. These results
      demonstrate that fibrin is more reactive with alphaIIbbeta3 than fibrinogen.
      Fibrin is also less sensitive to alphaIIbbeta3 inhibitors, suggesting that fibrin
      and fibrinogen have distinct binding requirements. In particular, the maintenance
      of alphaIIbbeta3 binding activity in the absence of the gammaC-dodecapeptide and
      the alpha-chain RGD sequences suggests that the alphaIIbbeta3-binding sites in
      fibrin are not confined to its known gamma-chain and RGD motifs. 

PMID- 26867583
TI  - First Biventricular Jarvik 2000 Implants (Retroauricular Version) Via a Median
      Sternotomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Organ shortages and increased numbers of nontransplant older patients
      have necessitated a search for alternatives to heart transplants. The Jarvik 2000
      assist device (Jarvik Heart, Inc., Manhattan, NY, USA), as a small long-term
      axial flow pump, offers many advantages, such as retroauricular power supply,
      which minimizes driveline infection risks. When implanted biventricularly, the
      device may offer support for patients with biventricular heart failure,
      especially for nontransplant patients as a destination therapy. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We implanted biventricular Jarvik 2000 systems into 3 men (aged, 65.3 +/
      5.0 y; ejection fraction, 24.7% +/- 1.5% for left ventricle and 17.7% +/- 5.0%
      for right ventricle). These were the first patients worldwide to receive a
      biventricular Jarvik 2000 device with retroauricular power supply via a median
      sternotomy and with additional cardiac surgical procedures. RESULTS: No technical
      problems were noted during biventricular assist device implant. Mean support time
      on the device was 224 +/- 198 days. All 3 patients showed sufficient cardiac
      support; 2 patients died from noncardiac complications. Patient 1 died on day 3
      as a result of postoperative hepatic failure after preoperative reanimation, and
      patient 3 died as a result of an ileus and colon perforation after 50 days.
      Patient 2 died of ventricular fibrillation (after 1.5 y), which occurred 1 year
      after right ventricular pump shutdown, although significant improvement of right
      ventricle function was shown (ejection fraction increased by 48%). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our 3 patients were old, had multiple comorbidities, and needed further cardiac
      surgery. None of the patients died as a result of technical failure of the device
      but because of complications accompanying their morbidities. If complication
      rates can be reduced, a biventricular assist device implant could and should be
      considered as a potential alternative for nontransplant patients.

PMID- 26867582
TI  - Relation between phalangeal bone mineral density and radiographic knee
      osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Major reports have suggested that bone mineral density (BMD) is
      higher in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), while other studies do not agree.
      Our aim was to examine the cross-sectional association between phalangeal BMD and
      radiographic knee OA. METHODS: A total of 2855 participants were included in this
      study. Radiographic knee OA was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) Grade >= 2 in
      at least one leg. BMD scans of the middle phalanges of the second, third and
      fourth digits of the nondominant hand were performed with a compact radiographic
      absorptiometry system (Alara MetriScan(r)). A multivariable logistic analysis
      model was applied to test the relation between phalangeal BMD with radiographic
      knee OA, the presence of knee osteophytes (OSTs), and knee joint space narrowing
      (JSN) after adjusting for a number of potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The
      multivariable-adjusted odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals [ORs (95 % CI)]
      of radiographic knee OA across phalangeal BMDs were 1.08 (95 % CI 0.89-1.32) and
      0.62 (95 % CI 0.45-0.86), respectively. The P for trend was 0.09. For the female
      population, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95 % CI) of radiographic knee OA
      across phalangeal BMD were 1.01 (95 % CI 0.73-1.37) and 0.58 (95 % CI 0.38 -
      0.87), respectively. The P for trend was 0.02. This positive finding, however,
      did not exist in the male subgroup. There was a significantly lower prevalence of
      OST in the osteoporosis (OP) group than in the normal group (OR = 0.59, 95 % CI
      0.40-0.88; P for trend was 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of JSN was
      significantly higher in the osteopenia group (OR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.00-1.48) and
      the OP group (OR = 1.35, 95 % CI 1.00-1.84) than in the normal group. The P for
      trend was 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: This study observed lower odds for the presence of
      radiographic knee OA and OST in OP patients than in normal subjects. The
      prevalence of JSN was higher in the osteopenia and OP groups than in normal
      subjects.

PMID- 26867585
TI  - Bike Score(r): Associations between urban bikeability and cycling behavior in 24
      cities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in designing cities that support not only
      walking, but also cycling. Bike Score(r) is a metric capturing environmental
      characteristics associated with cycling that is now available for over 160 US and
      Canadian cities. Our aim was to determine if Bike Score was associated with
      between and within-city variability in cycling behavior. METHODS: We used linear
      regression to model associations between Bike Score and journey to work cycling
      mode share (US: American Community Survey, 2013 or 2012 5-year estimates; Canada:
      2011 National Household Survey) for 5664 census tracts in 24 US and Canadian
      cities. RESULTS: At the city level, the correlation between mean Bike Score and
      mean journey to work cycling mode share was moderate (r = 0.52). At the census
      tract level, the correlation was 0.35; a ten-unit increase in Bike Score was
      associated with a 0.5% (95% CI: 0.5 to 0.6) increase in the proportion of
      population cycling to work, a meaningful difference given the low modal shares
      (mean = 1.9%) in many North American cities. Census tracts with the highest Bike
      Scores (>90 to 100) had mode shares 4.0 higher (beta = 4.0, 95% CI: 2.9 to 5.0)
      than the lowest Bike Score areas (0-25). City specific analyses indicated between
      city variability in associations, with regression estimates between Bike Score
      and mode share ranging from 0.2 to 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The Bike Score metric was
      associated bicycle mode share between and within cities, suggesting its utility
      for planning bicycle infrastructure.

PMID- 26867586
TI  - Development of a career coaching model for medical students.
AB  - PURPOSE: Deciding on a future career path or choosing a career specialty is an
      important academic decision for medical students. The purpose of this study is to
      develop a career coaching model for medical students. METHODS: This research was
      carried out in three steps. The first step was systematic review of previous
      studies. The second step was a need assessment of medical students. The third
      step was a career coaching model using the results acquired from the researched
      literature and the survey. RESULTS: The career coaching stages were defined as
      three big phases: The career coaching stages were defined as the
      "crystallization" period (Pre-medical year 1 and 2), "specification" period
      (medical year 1 and 2), and "implementation" period (medical year 3 and 4).
      CONCLUSION: The career coaching model for medical students can be used in
      programming career coaching contents and also in identifying the outcomes of
      career coaching programs at an institutional level.

PMID- 26867584
TI  - HbA1c levels in non-diabetic older adults - No J-shaped associations with primary
      cardiovascular events, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality after adjustment
      for confounders in a meta-analysis of individual participant data from six cohort
      studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine the shape of the associations of HbA1c with mortality
      and cardiovascular outcomes in non-diabetic individuals and explore potential
      explanations. METHODS: The associations of HbA1c with all-cause mortality,
      cardiovascular mortality and primary cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction
      or stroke) were assessed in non-diabetic subjects >=50 years from six population
      based cohort studies from Europe and the USA and meta-analyzed. Very low, low,
      intermediate and increased HbA1c were defined as <5.0, 5.0 to <5.5, 5.5 to <6.0
      and 6.0 to <6.5% (equals <31, 31 to <37, 37 to <42 and 42 to <48 mmol/mol),
      respectively, and low HbA1c was used as reference in Cox proportional hazards
      models. RESULTS: Overall, 6,769 of 28,681 study participants died during a mean
      follow-up of 10.7 years, of whom 2,648 died of cardiovascular disease.
      Furthermore, 2,493 experienced a primary cardiovascular event. A linear
      association with primary cardiovascular events was observed. Adjustment for
      cardiovascular risk factors explained about 50% of the excess risk and attenuated
      hazard ratios (95 confidence interval) for increased HbA1c to 1.14 (1.03-1.27),
      1.17 (1.00-1.37) and 1.19 (1.04-1.37) for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular
      mortality and cardiovascular events, respectively. The six cohorts yielded
      inconsistent results for the association of very low HbA1c levels with the
      mortality outcomes and the pooled effect estimates were not statistically
      significant. In one cohort with a pronounced J-shaped association of HbA1c levels
      with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (NHANES), the following confounders
      of the association of very low HbA1c levels with mortality outcomes were
      identified: race/ethnicity; alcohol consumption; BMI; as well as biomarkers of
      iron deficiency anemia and liver function. Associations for very low HbA1c levels
      lost statistical significance in this cohort after adjusting for these
      confounders. CONCLUSIONS: A linear association of HbA1c levels with primary
      cardiovascular events was observed. For cardiovascular and all-cause mortality,
      the observed small effect sizes at both the lower and upper end of HbA1c
      distribution do not support the notion of a J-shaped association of HbA1c levels
      because a certain degree of residual confounding needs to be considered in the
      interpretation of the results.

PMID- 26867587
TI  - Policing of gut microbiota by the adaptive immune system.
AB  - The intestinal microbiota is a large and diverse microbial community that
      inhabits the intestine, containing about 100 trillion bacteria of 500-1000
      distinct species that, collectively, provide benefits to the host. The human gut
      microbiota composition is determined by a myriad of factors, among them genetic
      and environmental, including diet and medication. The microbiota contributes to
      nutrient absorption and maturation of the immune system. As reciprocity, the host
      immune system plays a central role in shaping the composition and localization of
      the intestinal microbiota. Secretory immunoglobulins A (sIgAs), component of the
      adaptive immune system, are important player in the protection of epithelium, and
      are known to have an important impact on the regulation of microbiota
      composition. A recent study published in Immunity by Fransen and colleagues aimed
      to mechanistically decipher the interrelationship between sIgA and microbiota
      diversity/composition. This commentary will discuss these important new findings,
      as well as how future therapies can ultimately benefit from such discovery. 

PMID- 26867588
TI  - Evaluation of a text supported weight maintenance programme 'Lighten Up Plus'
      following a weight reduction programme: randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many overweight people find it difficult to maintain weight loss
      after attending a weight reduction programme. Self-weighing and telephone support
      are known to be useful methods for self-monitoring for weight loss. We examined
      the effectiveness of an SMS-text messaging based weight maintenance programme to
      encourage regular self-weighing in adults who had completed a 12 week commercial
      weight loss programme. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial of 380 obese or
      overweight men and women. The intervention group (N = 190) received a single
      maintenance support phone call and SMS-text based weight maintenance messages
      over 12 weeks to encourage regular self-weighing after completing their weight
      loss programme. The primary outcome was change in weight at 9 months follow up.
      RESULTS: Our sample (N = 380) had a mean age of 47.4 years (SD 13.4), mean
      baseline weight and BMI of 93.1 kg (16.1) and 34.4 kg/m(2) (5.0) respectively, as
      well as majority female (87.3%) and White British (80.0%). Using intention to
      treat analysis both groups regained weight at 9 months follow up; the
      intervention group regained an average of 1.36 kg while the control group
      regained 1.81 kg. Adjusting for covariates resulted in a mean difference of 0.45
      kg (95% CI -0.78, 1.67) favouring the intervention group at 9 month follow up.
      CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that an SMS based weight maintenance
      intervention encouraging adults to weigh themselves weekly prevented weight
      regain at 3 or 9 months after completing a commercial weight loss programme.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN47845106 .

PMID- 26867590
TI  - Regional variation in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension and
      diabetes and their correlates among the adult rural population in India.
AB  - A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in five regions of India
      by adopting a multistage random sampling procedure. Information was collected
      from the participants about socio-demographic particulars such as age, sex,
      occupation, education, etc. Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight
      and waist and hip circumferences were measured and three measurements of blood
      pressure were obtained. Fasting blood sugar was assessed using a Glucometer. Data
      analysis was done using descriptive statistics, chi(2) test for association and
      logistic regression analysis. A total of 7531 subjects were covered for
      anthropometry and blood pressure. The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity
      and abdominal obesity was 29 and 21%, respectively, and was higher in the
      Southern region (40% each) as compared with other regions. The prevalence of
      hypertension was 18 and 16% and diabetes was 9.5% each among men and women,
      respectively. The risk of hypertension and diabetes was significantly higher
      among adults from the Southern and Western regions, the among elderly, among
      overweight/obese individuals and those with abdominal obesity. In conclusion, the
      prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension was higher in the Southern
      region, whereas diabetes was higher in the Southern and Western regions. Factors
      such as increasing age, male sex, overweight/obesity, and abdominal obesity were
      important risk factors for hypertension and diabetes. Appropriate health and
      nutrition education should be given to the community to control these problems.

PMID- 26867591
TI  - Erratum to: Cloning and Characterization of a Novel NAC Family Gene CarNAC1 from
      Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

PMID- 26867589
TI  - Regulation of the tumour suppressor PDCD4 by miR-499 and miR-21 in oropharyngeal
      cancers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The rates of oropharyngeal cancers such as tonsil cancers are
      increasing. The tumour suppressor protein Programmed Cell Death Protein 4 (PDCD4)
      has been implicated in the development of various human cancers and small RNAs
      such as microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate its expression. However the exact
      regulation of PDCD4 by multiple miRNAs in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
      (SCC) is not well understood. RESULTS: Using two independent oropharyngeal SCC
      cohorts with a focus on the tonsillar region, we identified a miRNA profile
      differentiating SCC tissue from normal. Both miR-21 and miR-499 were highly
      expressed in tonsil SCC tissues displaying a loss of PDCD4. Interestingly,
      expression of the miRNA machinery, Dicer1, Drosha, DDX5 (Dead Box Helicase 5) and
      DGCR8 (DiGeorge Syndrome Critical Region Gene 8) were all elevated by greater
      than 2 fold in the tonsil SCC tissue. The 3'UTR of PDCD4 contains three binding
      sites for miR-499 and one for miR-21. Using a wild-type and truncated 3'UTR of
      PDCD4, we demonstrated that the initial suppression of PDCD4 was mediated by miR
      21 whilst sustained suppression was mediated by miR-499. Moreover the single miR
      21 site was able to elicit the same magnitude of suppression as the three miR-499
      sites. CONCLUSION: This study describes the regulation of PDCD4 specifically in
      tonsil SCC by miR-499 and miR-21 and has documented the loss of PDCD4 in tonsil
      SCCs. These findings highlight the complex interplay between miRNAs and tumour
      suppressor gene regulation and suggest that PDCD4 loss may be an important step
      in tonsillar carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26867592
TI  - Proteomics analysis of high lipid-producing strain Mucor circinelloides WJ11: an
      explanation for the mechanism of lipid accumulation at the proteomic level.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The oleaginous fungus, Mucor circinelloides, is attracting
      considerable interest as it produces oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid. Nitrogen
      (N) deficiency is a common strategy to trigger the lipid accumulation in
      oleaginous microorganisms. Although a simple pathway from N depletion in the
      medium to lipid accumulation has been elucidated at the enzymatic level, global
      changes at protein levels upon N depletion have not been investigated. In this
      study, we have systematically analyzed the changes at the levels of protein
      expression in M. circinelloides WJ11, a high lipid-producing strain (36 %,
      lipid/cell dry weight), during lipid accumulation. RESULTS: Proteomic analysis
      demonstrated that N depletion increased the expression of glutamine synthetase,
      involved in ammonia assimilation, for the supply of cellular nitrogen but
      decreased the metabolism of amino acids. Upon N deficiency, many proteins (e.g.,
      fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,
      enolase, pyruvate kinase) involved in glycolytic pathway were up-regulated while
      proteins involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (e.g., isocitrate
      dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA ligase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase)
      were down-regulated, indicating this activity was retarded thereby leading to a
      greater flux of carbon into fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover, glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase, transaldolase and transketolase, which participate in
      the pentose phosphate pathway, were up-regulated, leading to the increased
      production of NADPH, the reducing power for fatty acid biosynthesis. Furthermore,
      protein and nucleic acid metabolism were down-regulated and some proteins
      involved in energy metabolism, signal transduction, molecular chaperone and redox
      homeostasis were up-regulated upon N depletion, which may be the cellular
      response to the stress produced by the onset of N deficiency. CONCLUSION: N
      limitation increased those expressions of the proteins involved in ammonia
      assimilation but decreased that involved in the biosynthesis of amino acids. Upon
      N deprivation, the glycolytic pathway was up-regulated, while the activity of the
      tricarboxylic acid cycle was retarded, thus, leading more carbon flux to fatty
      acid biosynthesis. Moreover, the pentose phosphate pathway was up-regulated, then
      this would increase the production of NADPH. Together, coordinated regulation of
      central carbon metabolism upon N limitation, provides more carbon flux to acetyl
      CoA and NADPH for fatty acid biosynthesis.

PMID- 26867594
TI  - Improving fit to work assessments for rail safety workers by exploring work
      limitations.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aim to provide evidence for improving fit to work assessments for
      rail safety workers and raised the question whether adding an assessment of work
      limitations is useful. Therefore, we assessed differences in the proportions of
      perceived work limitations and reported health complaints and whether older age
      or having health complaints are risk factors for having work limitations.
      METHODS: Job requirements for rail safety workers are 'vigilance and clear
      judgment', 'good communication abilities', 'sufficient eye sight' and 'task
      required physical abilities'. We invited 1000 workers to fill in a questionnaire
      about perceived work limitations and health problems related to their job
      requirements. Proportions of the two were compared by using the McNemar test.
      Associations were analyzed by using univariate logistic regression. RESULTS:
      Among 484 rail safety workers, we found statistically significant differences
      between the proportions of reported health complaints (2-26 %) and work
      limitations (10-32 %). No significant associations were found between older age
      and work limitations, except for workers in the age group 40-50 years regarding
      physical abilities. This was not found for the age group over 50 years. For each
      age category, workers reporting health complaints related to 'vigilance and clear
      judgment' and 'sufficient physical abilities' had a statistically significant
      increased risk for reporting work limitations as well (ORs 2.4-17.9).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that fit to work assessments should include
      both health complaints and work limitations. Our results do not substantiate the
      assumption that workers over 40 years of age are at increased risk for work
      limitations in general.

PMID- 26867593
TI  - Effect of tyrosine-rich amelogenin peptide on behavior and differentiation of
      endothelial cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) is an effective biomaterial for
      periodontal tissue regeneration and might stimulate angiogenesis. Tyrosine-rich
      amelogenin peptide (TRAP) is present in EMD and is thought to contribute in its
      biological activity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of
      chemically synthesized TRAP on proliferation, migration, angiogenic structure
      formation, and differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
      in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effects of TRAP isolated from EMD and
      chemically synthesized TRAP on proliferation/viability, migration, and angiogenic
      structure formation were investigated. Expression of angiopoietin-2 (ang-2), von
      Willebrand factor (vWF), E-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecules 1 (ICAM-1),
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1
      (FLT-1), and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) was measured on both messenger
      RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. RESULTS: The proliferation/viability of HUVECs was
      inhibited by TRAP at concentration of 100 MUg/ml and slightly stimulated by EMD
      at similar concentration. Both EMD and TRAP stimulated endothelial cell migration
      in microchemotaxis chamber. The effect of both TRAP preparations on the migration
      was significantly higher than that of EMD. All substances stimulated formation of
      angiogenic structure in vitro. The expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, FLT-1, KDR,
      and vWF was significantly increased by both TRAP and EMD at a concentration 50
      MUg/ml. The expression of ang-2 was not affected by TRAP but was significantly
      increased by EMD. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro study shows that TRAP confer the most
      effects of EMD on the endothelial cells. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TRAP might be used
      as a basis for development of new approaches for periodontal regeneration.

PMID- 26867595
TI  - Road traffic noise, air pollution and myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort
      study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Both road traffic noise and air pollution have been linked to
      cardiovascular disease. However, there are few prospective epidemiological
      studies available where both road traffic noise and air pollution have been
      analyzed simultaneously. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation
      between road traffic noise, air pollution and incident myocardial infarction in
      both current (1-year average) and medium-term (3-year average) perspective.
      METHODS: This study was based on a stratified random sample of persons aged 18-80
      years who answered a public health survey in Skane, Sweden, in 2000 (n = 13,512).
      The same individuals received a repeated survey in 2005 and 2010. Diagnoses of
      myocardial infarction (MI) were obtained from medical records for both inpatient
      and outpatient specialized care. The endpoint was first MI during 2000-2010.
      Participants with prior myocardial infarction were excluded at baseline. Yearly
      average levels of noise (L DEN) and air pollution (NO x ) were estimated using
      geographic information system for residential address every year until censoring.
      RESULTS: The mean exposure levels for road traffic noise and air pollution in
      2005 were L DEN 51 dB(A) and NO x 11 ug/m(3), respectively. After adjustment for
      individual confounders (age, sex, body mass index, smoking, education, alcohol
      consumption, civil status, year, country of birth and physical activity), a 10
      dB(A) increase in current noise exposure did not increase the incidence rate
      ratio (IRR) for MI, 0.99 (95 % CI 0.86-1.14). Neither did a 10-MUg/m(3) increase
      in current NO x increase the risk of MI, 1.02 (95 % CI 0.86-1.21). The IRR for MI
      associated with combined exposure to road traffic noise >55 dB(A) and NO x >20
      ug/m(3) was 1.21 (95 % CI 0.90-1.64) compared to <55 dB(A) and <20 ug/m(3).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study did not provide evidence for an increased risk of MI due
      to exposure to road traffic noise or air pollution at moderate average exposure
      levels.

PMID- 26867596
TI  - Inhibition of cancer cell growth by ruthenium complexes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that certain transition metal complexes,
      such as cisplatin, are efficacious for treating various cancer types, including
      ovarian, lung, and breast. METHODS: In order to further evaluate ruthenium (Ru)
      complexes as potential anti-cancer agents, we synthesized and evaluated Ru-arene
      complexes. Two complexes with the general formula [Ru (eta (6)-p-cym) (N-N)
      Cl](+) were tested for their abilities to inhibit cancer cells. RESULTS: The
      complex with o-phenylenediamine as the N-N ligand (o-PDA) significantly inhibited
      growth of breast (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SKBR-3, and SUM149), lymphoma (Raji),
      melanoma (Bowes), and osteosarcoma (HT1080); however, the complex with o
      benzoquinonediimine (o-BQDI) was ineffective except for SUM149. In contrast, o
      PDA failed to inhibit growth of human breast epithelial cells, MCF-10A. Treatment
      of MDA-MBA-231 cells with o-PDA resulted in a significant reduction of
      productions of PDGF-AA, GM-CSF, and VEGF-A proteins at the transcriptional
      levels. Finally, we demonstrated that o-PDA synergistically inhibited MDA-MB-231
      cell growth with cyclophosphamide but not doxorubicin or paclitaxel. CONCLUSION:
      These results suggest that Ru-arene complexes are promising anti-cancer drugs
      that inhibit progression and metastasis by blocking multiple processes for breast
      and other types of cancer.

PMID- 26867597
TI  - Novel approach for the ammonium removal by simultaneous heterotrophic
      nitrification and denitrification using a novel bacterial species co-culture.
AB  - Agricultural activities lead excessive emission of ammonia nitrogen in the
      environment and can profoundly interfere the equilibrium of the natural
      ecosystems leading to their contamination. Actually, the biological purification
      of wastewaters is the most adopted technique thanks to its several advantages
      such as high performance and low energy consumption. For this reason, two novel
      strains of Alcaligenes sp. S84S3 and Proteus sp. S19 genus were isolated from an
      activated sludge and applied in the treatment of ammonium and nitrite in aqueous
      solution. Under the optimum operating conditions of temperature (30  degrees C),
      pH (7), carbon substrate (2 g/L of glucose) and duration of incubation time (69
      h), the strain Alcaligenes sp. S84S3 could oxidize 65% of the ammonium as high as
      272.72 mg-NH4(+)/L. Moreover, during 48 h, the nitrate reduction rate performed
      by the strain Proteus S19 was about 99 % without production of nitrite
      intermediate (negligible concentration). Moreover, the coculture of the strains
      Alcaligenes sp. S84S3 and Proteus sp. S19 could eliminate 65.83% of the ammonium
      ions without production of toxic forms of nitrogen oxides during a short time of
      incubation (118 h) at the same operational conditions with providing the aeration
      in the first treatment phase. The coculture of our isolated strains is assumed to
      have a good potential for nitrification and denitrification reactions applied in
      the treatment of wastewater containing ammonium, nitrite and nitrate. As a
      result, we can consider that the mixed culture is a practical method in the
      treatment of high-strength ammonium wastewater with reducing of sludge
      production.

PMID- 26867598
TI  - Development of leaffolder resistant transgenic rice expressing cry2AX1 gene
      driven by green tissue-specific rbcS promoter.
AB  - The insecticidal cry genes of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been successfully
      used for development of insect resistant transgenic rice plants. In this study, a
      novel cry2AX1 gene consisting a sequence of cry2Aa and cry2Ac gene driven by rice
      rbcS promoter was introduced into a rice cultivar, ASD16. Among 27 putative rice
      transformants, 20 plants were found to be positive for cry2AX1 gene. The
      expression of Cry2AX1 protein in transgenic rice plants ranged from 5.95 to
      122.40 ng/g of fresh leaf tissue. Stable integration of the transgene was
      confirmed in putative transformants of rice by Southern blot hybridization
      analysis. Insect bioassay on T0 transgenic rice plants against rice leaffolder
      (Cnaphalocrosis medinalis) recorded larval mortality up to 83.33%. Stable
      inheritance and expression of cry2AX1 gene in T1 progenies was demonstrated using
      Southern and ELISA. The detached leaf bit bioassay with selected T1 plants showed
      83.33-90.00% mortality against C. medinalis. The whole plant bioassay for T1
      plants with rice leaffolder showed significant level of resistance even at a
      lower level of Cry2AX1 expression varying from 131 to 158 ng/g fresh leaf tissue
      during tillering stage.

PMID- 26867599
TI  - Bioinformatics analyses of Shigella CRISPR structure and spacer classification.
AB  - Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are
      inheritable genetic elements of a variety of archaea and bacteria and indicative
      of the bacterial ecological adaptation, conferring acquired immunity against
      invading foreign nucleic acids. Shigella is an important pathogen for
      anthroponosis. This study aimed to analyze the features of Shigella CRISPR
      structure and classify the spacers through bioinformatics approach. Among 107
      Shigella, 434 CRISPR structure loci were identified with two to seven loci in
      different strains. CRISPR-Q1, CRISPR-Q4 and CRISPR-Q5 were widely distributed in
      Shigella strains. Comparison of the first and last repeats of CRISPR1, CRISPR2
      and CRISPR3 revealed several base variants and different stem-loop structures. A
      total of 259 cas genes were found among these 107 Shigella strains. The cas gene
      deletions were discovered in 88 strains. However, there is one strain that does
      not contain cas gene. Intact clusters of cas genes were found in 19 strains. From
      comprehensive analysis of sequence signature and BLAST and CRISPRTarget score,
      the 708 spacers were classified into three subtypes: Type I, Type II and Type
      III. Of them, Type I spacer referred to those linked with one gene segment, Type
      II spacer linked with two or more different gene segments, and Type III spacer
      undefined. This study examined the diversity of CRISPR/cas system in Shigella
      strains, demonstrated the main features of CRISPR structure and spacer
      classification, which provided critical information for elucidation of the
      mechanisms of spacer formation and exploration of the role the spacers play in
      the function of the CRISPR/cas system. 

PMID- 26867600
TI  - Effects of saline-alkaline stress on benzo[a]pyrene biotransformation and
      ligninolytic enzyme expression by Bjerkandera adusta SM46.
AB  - Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) accumulates in marine organisms and contaminated coastal
      areas. The biotreatment of waste water using saline-alkaline-tolerant white rot
      fungi (WRF) represents a promising method for removing BaP under saline-alkaline
      conditions based on WRF's ability to produce ligninolytic enzymes. In a pre
      screening for degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of 82 fungal
      strains using Remazol brilliant blue R, Bjerkandera adusta SM46 exhibited the
      highest tolerance to saline-alkaline stress. Moreover, a B. adusta culture grown
      in BaP-containing liquid medium exhibited resistance to salinities up to 20 g l(
      1). These conditions did not inhibit fungal growth or the expression of manganese
      peroxidase (MnP) or lignin peroxidase (LiP). The degradation rate also became
      higher as salinity increased to 20 g l(-1). Fungal growth and enzyme expression
      were inhibited at a salinity of 35 g l(-1). These inhibitory effects directly
      decreased the degradation rate (>24%). The presence of MnSO4 as an inducer
      improved the degradation rate and enzyme expression. MnP and LiP activity also
      increased by seven- and fivefold, respectively. SM46 degraded BaP (38-89% over 30
      days) in an acidic environment (pH 4.5) and under saline-alkaline stress
      conditions (pH 8.2). Investigating the metabolites produced revealed BaP-1,6
      dione as the main product, indicating the important role of ligninolytic enzymes
      in initializing BaP cleavage. The other metabolites detected, naphthalene acetic
      acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, and catechol, may have been ring fission
      products. The wide range of activities observed suggests that B. adusta SM46 is a
      potential agent for biodegrading BaP under saline conditions.

PMID- 26867601
TI  - Heterologous expression and characterisation of a laccase from Colletotrichum
      lagenarium and decolourisation of different synthetic dyes.
AB  - Laccases have received considerable attention in recent decades because of their
      ability to oxidise a large spectrum of phenolic and non-phenolic organic
      substrates and highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants. In this research, a
      laccase gene from Colletotrichum lagenarium was chemically synthesised using
      yeast bias codons and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The molecular mass of the
      recombinant laccase was estimated to be 64.6 kDa by SDS-PAGE, and the enzyme
      exhibited maximum activity at pH 3.6-4.0 but more stability in buffer with higher
      pH (>pH 3.6). The optimal reaction temperature of the enzyme was 40  degrees C,
      beyond which stability significantly decreased. By using 2,2'-azino-bis-(3
      ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonate (ABTS) as a substrate, K m and V max values of
      0.34 mM and 7.11 mM min(-1) mg(-1), respectively, were obtained. Using ABTS as a
      mediator, the laccase could oxidise hydroquinone to p-benzoquinone and
      decolourise the synthetic dyes malachite green, crystal violet and orange G.
      These results indicated that the laccase could be used to treat industrial
      effluents containing artificial dyes. 

PMID- 26867602
TI  - Molecular phylogenetics and anti-Pythium activity of endophytes from rhizomes of
      wild ginger congener, Zingiber zerumbet Smith.
AB  - Zingiber zerumbet, a perennial rhizomatous herb exhibits remarkable disease
      resistance as well as a wide range of pharmacological activities. Towards
      characterizing the endophytic population of Z. zerumbet rhizomes, experiments
      were carried out during two different growing seasons viz., early-June of 2013
      and late-July of 2014. A total of 34 endophytes were isolated and categorized
      into 11 morphologically distinct groups. Fungi were observed to predominate
      bacterial species with colonization frequency values ranging from 12.5 to 50%.
      Among the 11 endophyte groups isolated, molecular analyses based on ITS/16S rRNA
      gene sequences identified seven isolate groups as Fusarium solani, two as F.
      oxysporum and one as the bacterium Rhizobium spp. Phylogenetic tree clustered the
      ITS sequences from Z. zerumbet endophytes into distinct clades consistent with
      morphological and sequence analysis. Dual culture assays were carried out to
      determine antagonistic activity of the isolated endophytes against Pythium
      myriotylum, an economically significant soil-borne phytopathogen of cultivated
      ginger. Experiments revealed significant P. myriotylum growth inhibition by F.
      solani and F. oxysporum isolates with percentage of inhibition (PoI) ranging from
      45.17 +/- 0.29 to 62.2 +/- 2.58 with F. oxysporum exhibiting higher PoI values
      against P. myriotylum. Using ZzEF8 metabolite extract, concentration-dependent P.
      myriotylum hyphal growth inhibition was observed following radial diffusion
      assays. These observations were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy
      analysis wherein exposure to ZzEF8 metabolite extract induced hyphal deformities.
      Results indicate Z. zerumbet endophytes as promising resources for biologically
      active compounds and as biocontrol agents for soft rot disease management caused
      by Pythium spp.

PMID- 26867603
TI  - [Bleeding during central venous catheterization : Cannot intubate, cannot
      ventilate due to massive cervical hematoma].
AB  - Central venous catheterization is an invasive procedure which can be associated
      with severe complications. These include in particular unsuccessful arterial
      puncture and vascular injuries, which in addition to loss of blood can lead to
      massive soft tissue swelling. A 63-year-old female patient developed massive
      cervical bleeding during ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein puncture and the
      rapidly enlarging hematoma led to compromisation of the airway. A cannot
      intubate, cannot ventilate situation developed and the subsequent hypoxia led to
      cardiac arrest that was only resolved after emergency surgical tracheotomy during
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 

PMID- 26867604
TI  - [Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism : Updated S2 guidelines on diagnostics
      and therapy].
AB  - The updated version of the S2k guidelines on diagnostics and therapy of venous
      thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have been available since the end of last year.
      The guidelines deal with the advantages and disadvantages of the currently
      available investigation and treatment methods, the diagnostic sequence of
      investigations under various clinical conditions, the invasiveness and duration
      of therapies and the potential special features of vulnerable patient
      collectives. This article presents a summary of the most important assertions. 

PMID- 26867605
TI  - Postoperative imaging findings in children with auxiliary partial orthotopic
      liver transplant (APOLT).
AB  - Auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplant (APOLT) is a treatment technique
      for people who have acute hepatic failure secondary to fulminant hepatic failure
      and might ultimately recover normal liver function. This surgical procedure is
      complicated, involving the placement of a liver graft while maintaining viability
      of the remaining native portion of the liver. This method allows the native liver
      to recover hepatic function, therefore eliminating the need for long-term
      immunosuppression, as is typically needed in post-transplant settings.
      Postoperative imaging in these cases can be challenging given the complex
      anatomy, specifically the vascular anastomosis. Therefore it is important for
      radiologists and clinicians to be aware of the anatomy as well as the variable
      imaging appearances of the liver. We review the imaging findings in children who
      have undergone auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplant (APOLT). 

PMID- 26867607
TI  - Childhood asymmetrical labium majus enlargement sonographic and MR imaging
      appearances.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood asymmetrical labium majus enlargement (CALME) has been
      described sparsely in recent surgery, pathology, pediatric and gynecology
      literature; however, no comprehensive description from a radiology perspective
      has been developed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case series is to describe the
      imaging findings of CALME and to review the current understanding of this
      recently described clinical entity with regard to clinical presentation,
      pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment options. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 3 girls, ages 5-7 years, who
      presented for imaging evaluation with subsequent pathologically proven CALME.
      Each child's clinical history, length of symptoms, imaging appearance and
      pathological findings were reviewed. RESULTS: All three girls presented with
      unilateral enlargement of the labium majus (two right-side, one left-side) with
      no history of trauma or other inciting cause. Two girls had painless labial
      enlargement that was recognized for weeks, and one had similar symptoms for 1
      year prior to presentation. One girl was evaluated initially with sonography, and
      all three children underwent MR imaging. Sonographic evaluation showed
      asymmetrical labial enlargement without a definable mass. In each girl, the MR
      imaging findings were characterized by relatively ill-defined T1-weighted
      hypointense signal, T2-weighted hypo- to isointense signal with interspersed
      hyperintense septae, and heterogeneous patchy and feathery strands of enhancement
      on post-contrast imaging. Biopsy from each child showed benign fibrous tissue
      with intervening mature fibroadipose tissue, vessels and nerves without findings
      of inflammation or neoplasia. CONCLUSION: The MR imaging appearance of CALME is
      consistent. Recognition and appreciation of this unique pediatric entity by the
      radiologist may be essential for appropriate diagnosis and can help to guide
      therapy. Current preferred treatment approach is conservative.

PMID- 26867606
TI  - Criteria for radiologic diagnosis of hypochondroplasia in neonates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A radiologic diagnosis of hypochondroplasia is hampered by the
      absence of age-dependent radiologic criteria, particularly in the neonatal
      period. OBJECTIVE: To establish radiologic criteria and scoring system for
      identifying neonates with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)-associated
      hypochondroplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 7
      hypochondroplastic neonates and 30 controls. All subjects underwent radiologic
      examination within 28 days after birth. We evaluated parameters reflecting the
      presence of (1) short ilia, (2) squared ilia, (3) short greater sciatic notch,
      (4) horizontal acetabula, (5) short femora, (6) broad femora, (7) metaphyseal
      flaring, (8) lumbosacral interpedicular distance narrowing and (9) ovoid
      radiolucency of the proximal femora. RESULTS: Only parameters 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6
      were statistically different between the two groups. Parameters 3, 5 and 6 did
      not overlap between the groups, while parameters 1 and 4 did. Based on these
      results, we propose a scoring system for hypochondroplasia. Two major criteria
      (parameters 3 and 6) were assigned scores of 2, whereas 4 minor criteria
      (parameters 1, 4, 5 and 9) were assigned scores of 1. All neonates with
      hypochondroplasia in our material scored >=6. CONCLUSION: Our set of diagnostic
      radiologic criteria might be useful for early identification of
      hypochondroplastic neonates.

PMID- 26867608
TI  - Detecting inflammation in the unprepared pediatric colon - how reliable is
      magnetic resonance enterography?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease frequently affects the colon. MR
      enterography is used to assess the small bowel but it also depicts the colon.
      OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of MR enterography and direct visualization at
      endoscopy in assessing the colon in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included children with inflammatory bowel disease who
      had undergone both MR enterography and endoscopy, and we restrospectively
      assessed the imaging and endoscopic findings. We scored the colonic appearance at
      MR using a total colon score. We then compared scores for the whole colon and for
      its individual segments with endoscopy and histology. RESULTS: We included 15
      children. An elevated MR colonic segmental score predicted the presence of active
      inflammation on biopsy with a specificity of 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]
      79.5-96.2%) and sensitivity of 60% (CI 40.6-77.3%); this compares reasonably with
      the predictive values for findings at colonoscopy - specificity 85% (CI 73.4
      92.9%) and sensitivity 53.3% (CI 34.3%-71.6%). Accuracy did not change
      significantly with increasing bowel distension. CONCLUSION: MR-derived scores had
      comparable accuracy to those derived during visualization at colonoscopy for
      detecting biopsy-proven inflammation in our patient group. MR enterography might
      prove useful in guiding biopsy or monitoring treatment response. Collapse of a
      colonic segment did not impair assessment of inflammation.

PMID- 26867609
TI  - An index for diagnosing infant hip dysplasia using 3-D ultrasound: the acetabular
      contact angle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common condition that
      is highly treatable in infancy but can lead to the lifelong morbidity of
      premature osteoarthritis if left untreated. Current diagnostic methods lack
      reliability, which may be improved by using 3-D ultrasound. OBJECTIVE:
      Conventional 2-D US assessment of DDH has limitations, including high inter-scan
      variability. We quantified DDH on 3-D US using the acetabular contact angle
      (ACA), a property of the 3-D acetabular shape. We assessed ACA reliability and
      diagnostic utility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data from
      January 2013 to December 2014, including 114 hips in 85 children divided into
      three clinical diagnostic groups: (1) normal, (2) initially borderline but
      ultimately normal without treatment and (3) dysplastic requiring treatment. Using
      custom software, two observers each traced acetabula twice on two 3-D US scans of
      each hip, enabling automated generation of 3-D surface models and ACA
      calculation. We computed inter-observer and inter-scan variability of
      repeatability coefficients and generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC)
      curves. RESULTS: The 3-D US acetabular contact angle was reproduced 95% of the
      time within 6 degrees  in the same scan and within 9 degrees  in different scans
      of the same hip, vs. 9 degrees  and 14 degrees  for the 2-D US alpha angle (P <
      0.001). Areas under ROC curves for diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the
      hip were 0.954 for ACA and 0.927 for alpha angle. CONCLUSION: The 3-D US ACA was
      significantly more reliable than 2-D US alpha angle, and the 3-D US measurement
      predicted the presence of DDH with slightly higher accuracy. The ACA therefore
      shows promising initial diagnostic utility. Our findings call for further study
      of 3-D US in the diagnosis and longer-term follow-up of infant hip dysplasia.

PMID- 26867610
TI  - Hydrotropism: Analysis of the Root Response to a Moisture Gradient.
AB  - Hydrotropism is a genuine response of roots to a moisture gradient to avoid
      drought. An experimental system for the induction of hydrotropic root response in
      petri dishes was designed by pioneering groups in the field. This system uses
      split agar plates containing an osmolyte only in a region of the plate in order
      to generate a water potential gradient. Arabidopsis seedlings are placed on the
      MS agar plate so that their root tips are near the junction between plain MS
      medium and the region supplemented with the osmolyte. This elicits a hydrotropic
      response in Arabidopsis roots that can be measured as the root curvature angle. 

PMID- 26867611
TI  - Assessing Gravitropic Responses in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Arabidopsis thaliana was the first higher organism to have its genome sequenced
      and is now widely regarded as the model dicot. Like all plants, Arabidopsis
      develops distinct growth patterns in response to different environmental stimuli.
      This can be seen in the gravitropic response of roots. Methods to investigate
      this particular tropism are presented here. First, we describe a high-throughput
      time-lapse photographic analysis of root growth and curvature response to
      gravistimulation allowing the quantification of gravitropic kinetics and growth
      rate at high temporal resolution. Second, we present a protocol that allows a
      quantitative evaluation of gravitropic sensitivity using a homemade 2D clinostat.
      Together, these approaches allow an initial comparative analysis of the key
      phenomena associated with root gravitropism between different genotypes and/or
      accessions. 

PMID- 26867612
TI  - Physiological Analysis of Phototropic Responses in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Plants utilize light as sole energy source. To maximize light capture they are
      able to detect the light direction and orient themselves towards the light
      source. This phototropic response is mediated by the plant blue light
      photoreceptors phototropin1 and 2 (phot1 and phot2). Although fully
      differentiated plants also exhibit this response it can be best observed in
      etiolated seedlings. Differences in light between the illuminated and shaded site
      of a seedling stem lead to changes in the auxin-distribution, resulting in cell
      elongation on the shaded site. Since phototropism connects light perception,
      signaling, and auxin transport, it is of great interest to analyze this response
      with a fast and simple method.Here we describe a method to analyze the
      phototropic response of Arabidopsis seedlings. With numerous mutants available,
      its fast germination and its small size Arabidopsis is well suited for this
      analysis. Different genotypes can be simultaneously probed in less than a week. 

PMID- 26867613
TI  - Automatic Chloroplast Movement Analysis.
AB  - In response to low or high intensities of light, the chloroplasts in the
      mesophyll cells of the leaf are able to increase or decrease their exposure to
      light by accumulating at the upper and lower sides or along the side walls of the
      cell respectively. This movement, regulated by the phototropin blue light
      photoreceptors phot1 and phot2, results in a decreased or increased transmission
      of light through the leaf. This way the plant is able to optimize harvesting of
      the incoming light or avoid damage caused by excess light. Here we describe a
      method that indirectly measures the movement of chloroplasts by taking advantage
      of the resulting change in leaf transmittance. By using a microplate reader,
      quantitative measurements of chloroplast accumulation or avoidance can be
      monitored over time, for multiple samples with relatively little hands-on time. 

PMID- 26867614
TI  - Microscopic and Biochemical Visualization of Auxins in Plant Tissues.
AB  - Auxins are a particularly notable class of phytohormones in that they regulate
      plant growth and development at sites of synthesis, and via a regulated polar
      transport system comprising PIN, ABCB, and AUX/LAX transport proteins. In order
      to fully understand auxin-regulated physiological processes, it is therefore
      essential to be able to determine where indole-3-acetic acid and related
      compounds are being synthesized, where they are transported to, and how much IAA
      is accumulating in any given tissue. Auxin may be visualized either indirectly,
      through the use of auxin responsive promoters; directly, through the use of
      radiolabelled auxin or fluorescent auxin analogs; or biochemically through
      extraction and mass-spectrometric quantification of auxin and auxin metabolites
      from target cells or tissues. Here we focus on the use of the DR5::GUS synthetic
      auxin promoter reporter construct, fluorescent auxin analogs, and confirmatory
      biochemical (high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry)
      visualization of auxin and auxin metabolites. 

PMID- 26867615
TI  - Immunolocalization of PIN and ABCB Transporters in Plants.
AB  - PIN auxin efflux carriers and ABCB auxin transporters are important for polar
      auxin transport, organogenesis and long distance auxin transport. Along with the
      auxin influx symporter AUX1, they are essential for tropic responses such as
      gravitropism and phototropism where lateral redistribution of auxin is required
      for the tropic response to occur. Immunolocalization of plant membrane
      transporters is an effective technique to determine the transporters' subcellular
      localization patterns in the tissues of interest, especially when fluorescent
      protein fusions of the protein of interest are not available. Immunolocalization
      is also a valuable tool for validation of the localization of fluorescent protein
      fusions when the fusions are available. Here we describe the procedures to
      prepare plant tissue samples and fix them for whole mount or embedding and
      sectioning. We focus on immunolocalizations of PINs and ABCBs in Arabidopsis and
      maize tissues. In addition, we describe treatments of roots with inhibitors of
      cellular trafficking: brefeldin A (BFA), a fungal compound that blocks
      exocytosis; wortmannin, a fungal compound that inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3
      kinase and induces fusion of pre-vacuolar compartments and multi-vascular bodies;
      and oryzalin, a fungal compound that depolymerizes microtubules. Inhibitor
      treatments are performed prior to fixation and affect the localization patterns
      of PINs and ABCBs, giving insight into cell type -specific trafficking
      mechanisms. The procedures described for Arabidopsis and maize can be easily
      adapted for other herbaceous plants. 

PMID- 26867616
TI  - Analysis of Circadian Leaf Movements.
AB  - The circadian clock is a molecular timekeeper that controls a wide variety of
      biological processes. In plants, clock outputs range from the molecular level,
      with rhythmic gene expression and metabolite content, to physiological processes
      such as stomatal conductance or leaf movements. Any of these outputs can be used
      as markers to monitor the state of the circadian clock. In the model plant
      Arabidopsis thaliana, much of the current knowledge about the clock has been
      gained from time course experiments profiling expression of endogenous genes or
      reporter constructs regulated by the circadian clock. Since these methods require
      labor-intensive sample preparation or transformation, monitoring leaf movements
      is an interesting alternative, especially in non-model species and for natural
      variation studies. Technological improvements both in digital photography and
      image analysis allow cheap and easy monitoring of circadian leaf movements. In
      this chapter we present a protocol that uses an autonomous point and shoot camera
      and free software to monitor circadian leaf movements in tomato. 

PMID- 26867617
TI  - Sample Preparation of Arabidopsis thaliana Shoot Apices for Expression Studies of
      Photoperiod-Induced Genes.
AB  - Plants produce new organs from a population of pluripotent cells which are
      located in specific tissues called meristems. One of these meristems, the shoot
      apical meristem (SAM), gives rise to leaves during the vegetative phase and
      flowers during the reproductive phase. The transition from vegetative SAM to an
      inflorescence meristem (IM) is a dramatic developmental switch, which has been
      particularly well studied in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. This
      developmental switch is controlled by multiple environmental signals such as day
      length (or photoperiod), and it is accompanied by changes in expression of
      hundreds of genes. A major interest in plant biology is to identify and
      characterize those genes which are regulated in the stem cells of the SAM in
      response to the photoperiodic signals. In this sense, techniques such as RNA in
      situ hybridization (RNA ISH) have been very successfully employed to detect the
      temporal and spatial expression patterns of genes in the SAM. This method can be
      specifically optimized for photoperiodic-flowering studies. In this chapter, we
      describe improved methods to generate plant material and histological samples to
      be combined with RNA ISH in flowering-related studies. 

PMID- 26867618
TI  - A Luciferase-Based Assay to Test Whether Gene Expression Responses to
      Environmental Inputs Are Temporally Restricted by the Circadian Clock.
AB  - Gating is the mechanism by which the influence of an environmental signal on a
      particular output is temporally restricted by the circadian clock, so that the
      maximum response of the output to the signal occurs at a specific time. Gated
      regulation mechanisms have been described for several genes whose expression is
      strongly induced by light or temperature at certain times but repressed by the
      circadian clock at others. To reveal a gated pattern of expression in response to
      light, light pulses are applied in the dark at different times of the 24 h cycle
      and the transcriptional response of the gene of interest is then monitored with
      an appropriate technique. Luciferase (LUC) reporters have been the method of
      choice to study circadian rhythms in the past decades, but this methodology also
      provides an ideal platform for performing a gating assay. In this chapter, we
      describe a LUC imaging based protocol designed to test whether the influence of
      light on the expression of a gene of interest is gated by the circadian clock. 

PMID- 26867619
TI  - Identification of Arabidopsis Transcriptional Regulators by Yeast One-Hybrid
      Screens Using a Transcription Factor ORFeome.
AB  - Genetic and molecular approaches revealed that the circadian clock network
      structure is comprised of several interlocked positive and negative
      transcriptional feedback loops. The network evolved to sense and integrate inputs
      from environmental cues to adjust daily rhythms in physiological processes.
      Compiling evidence indicates that part of this regulation happens at the
      transcriptional level through subtle adjustments in the expression of core clock
      genes. Thus, to better understand the network and identify the molecular
      mechanisms of clock input pathways, it is imperative to determine how core clock
      genes are regulated. For this purpose we developed reagents for an unbiased
      approach to identify transcription factors (TFs) interacting with the promoters
      of core clock genes. At the center of this approach lies the yeast one-hybrid
      (Y1H) assay in which a pool of proteins fused to the GAL4 transcriptional
      activation domain are tested for their ability to interact with a selected
      promoter fragment in yeast cells. Taking advantage of the fact that Arabidopsis
      TF genes are well annotated, we generated a comprehensive TF clone collection (TF
      ORFeome) and used it to replace the standard cDNA pool strategy traditionally
      used in Y1H screens. The use of this TF clone collection substantially
      accelerates the comprehensive discovery of promoter-specific DNA binding
      activities among all Arabidopsis TFs. Considering that this strategy can be
      extended to the study of the promoter interactome of any Arabidopsis gene, we
      developed a low throughput protocol that can be universally implemented to screen
      the ~2000 TF clone library. 

PMID- 26867620
TI  - Monitoring Alternative Splicing Changes in Arabidopsis Circadian Clock Genes.
AB  - Posttranscriptional control makes an important contribution to circadian
      regulation of gene expression. In higher plants, alternative splicing is
      particularly prevalent upon abiotic and biotic stress and in the circadian
      system. Here we describe in detail a high-resolution reverse transcription-PCR
      based panel (HR RT-PCR) to monitor alternative splicing events. The use of the
      panel allows the quantification of changes in the proportion of splice isoforms
      between different samples, e.g., different time points, different tissues,
      genotypes, ecotypes, or treatments. 

PMID- 26867621
TI  - Assessing the Impact of Photosynthetic Sugars on the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock.
AB  - Circadian clocks drive 24 h biological rhythms to optimize physiology and
      development in response to the rotation of the planet. In plants, photosynthesis
      is modulated by the circadian clock and contributes to daily rhythms in cellular
      metabolism. In addition to light and temperature, sugar produced from
      photosynthesis acts as a zeitgeber to contribute to setting of the plant
      circadian clock. Here, we describe methods to manipulate photosynthetic output
      and sugar availability in Arabidopsis seedlings. These protocols have been
      applied to investigate the effects on the Arabidopsis circadian network, but are
      easily adaptable to other processes in plants. 

PMID- 26867622
TI  - Assessing Protein Stability Under Different Light and Circadian Conditions.
AB  - Plants use light as an indicator of time and space as well as the major energy
      source for photosynthesis. Due to the development of specific photoreceptors,
      plants can perceive a wide range of wavelengths and adjust their development
      accordingly to their surroundings. In addition to light, the circadian clock
      allows the anticipation of diurnal and seasonal changes thus providing organisms
      with the adequate physiological responses to ever changing surroundings, which
      are reflected in increased fitness and survival rate. Although initially
      described as a set of interconnected transcriptional loops, it is now accepted
      that posttranslational modifications are also important for proper clock
      function. In fact, not only the clock but also light signaling rely on
      posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination, for
      proper signal transduction. We have designed a simple and yet reproducible method
      to determine protein stability and half-life under different light and circadian
      conditions. Our method only requires standard laboratory equipment, a relatively
      small amount of starting material and can be applied to young seedlings and
      mature plants. Besides our application to study light and circadian clock
      proteins, this protocol can be adapted to any other conditions that regulate
      protein stability. 

PMID- 26867624
TI  - Basic Techniques to Assess Seed Germination Responses to Abiotic Stress in
      Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - The model organism Arabidopsis thaliana has been extensively used to unmask the
      molecular genetic signaling pathways controlling seed germination in plants. In
      Arabidopsis, the normal seed to seedling developmental transition involves testa
      rupture soon followed by endosperm rupture, radicle elongation, root hair
      formation, cotyledon expansion, and greening. Here we detail a number of basic
      procedures to assess Arabidopsis seed germination in response to different light
      (red and far-red pulses), temperature (seed thermoinhibition), and water
      potential (osmotic stress) environmental conditions. We also discuss the role of
      the endosperm and how its germination-repressive activity can be monitored
      genetically by means of a seed coat bedding assay. Finally we detail how to
      evaluate germination responses to changes in gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid
      (ABA) levels by manipulating pharmacologically the germination medium. 

PMID- 26867623
TI  - Screening for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice: Salt, Cold, and Drought.
AB  - Rice (Oryza sativa) is the primary source of food for more than half of the world
      population. Most rice varieties are severely injured by abiotic stresses, with
      strong social and economic impact. Understanding rice responses to stress may
      help breeding for more tolerant varieties. However, papers dealing with stress
      experiments often describe very different experimental designs, thus making
      comparisons difficult. The use of identical setups is the only way to generate
      comparable data. This chapter is organized into three sections, describing the
      experimental conditions established at the Genomics of Plant Stress (GPlantS)
      unit of ITQB to assess the response of rice plants to three different abiotic
      stresses--high salinity, cold stress, and drought. All sections include a
      detailed description of the materials and methodology, as well as useful notes
      gathered from the GPlantS team's experience. We use rice seedlings as plants at
      this stage show high sensitivity to abiotic stresses. For the salt and cold
      stress assays we use hydroponic cultures, while for the drought assay plants are
      grown in soil and subjected to water withholding. All setups enable visual score
      determination and are suitable for sample collection along the imposition of
      stress. The proposed methodologies are simple and affordable to implement in most
      labs, allowing the discrimination of several rice genotypes at the molecular and
      phenotypic level.

PMID- 26867625
TI  - Assessing Tolerance to Heavy-Metal Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings.
AB  - Heavy-metal soil contamination is one of the major abiotic stress factors that,
      by negatively affecting plant growth and development, severely limit agricultural
      productivity worldwide. Plants have evolved various tolerance and detoxification
      strategies in order to cope with heavy-metal toxicity while ensuring adequate
      supply of essential micronutrients at the whole-plant as well as cellular levels.
      Genetic studies in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have been instrumental in
      elucidating such mechanisms. The root assay constitutes a very powerful and
      simple method to assess heavy-metal stress tolerance in Arabidopsis seedlings. It
      allows the simultaneous determination of all the standard growth parameters
      affected by heavy-metal stress (primary root elongation, lateral root
      development, shoot biomass, and chlorophyll content) in a single experiment.
      Additionally, this protocol emphasizes the tips and tricks that become
      particularly useful when quantifying subtle alterations in tolerance to a given
      heavy-metal stress, when simultaneously pursuing a large number of plant lines,
      or when testing sensitivity to a wide range of heavy metals for a single line. 

PMID- 26867626
TI  - Assessing Drought Responses Using Thermal Infrared Imaging.
AB  - Canopy temperature, a surrogate for stomatal conductance, is shown to be a good
      indicator of plant water status and a potential tool for phenotyping and
      irrigation scheduling. Measurement of stomatal conductance and leaf temperature
      has traditionally been done by using porometers or gas exchange analyzers and
      fine-wire thermocouples attached to the leaves, which are labor intensive and
      point measurements. The advent of remote or proximal thermal sensing technologies
      has provided the potential for scaling up to leaves, plants, and canopies.
      Thermal cameras with a temperature resolution of <0.1 K now allow one to study
      the temperature variation within and between plants. This chapter discusses some
      applications of infrared thermography for assessing drought and other abiotic and
      biotic stress and outlines some of the main factors that need to be considered
      when applying this to the study of leaf or canopy temperature whether in
      controlled environments or in the field. 

PMID- 26867627
TI  - Generating Targeted Gene Knockout Lines in Physcomitrella patens to Study
      Evolution of Stress-Responsive Mechanisms.
AB  - The moss Physcomitrella patens possesses highly efficient homologous
      recombination allowing targeted gene manipulations and displays many features of
      the early land plants including high tolerance to abiotic stresses. It is
      therefore an invaluable model organism for studies of gene functions and
      comparative studies of evolution of stress responses in plants. Here, we describe
      a method for generating targeted gene knockout lines in P. patens using a
      polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation of protoplasts including basic in
      vitro growth, propagation, and maintenance techniques. 

PMID- 26867628
TI  - Screening Stress Tolerance Traits in Arabidopsis Cell Cultures.
AB  - Screening for tolerance traits in plant cell cultures can combine the efficiency
      of microbial selection and plant genetics. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
      can efficiently introduce cDNA library to cell suspension cultures generating
      population of randomly transformed microcolonies. Transformed cultures can
      subsequently be screened for tolerance to different stress conditions such as
      salinity, high osmotic, or oxidative stress conditions. cDNA inserts in tolerant
      cell lines can be easily identified by PCR amplification and homology search of
      the determined nucleotide sequences. The described methods have been tested and
      used to identify regulatory genes controlling salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. As
      cDNA libraries can be prepared from any plants, natural diversity can be explored
      by using extremophile plants as gene source. 

PMID- 26867629
TI  - Using Arabidopsis Protoplasts to Study Cellular Responses to Environmental
      Stress.
AB  - Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts can be readily isolated and transfected in
      order to transiently express proteins of interest. As freshly isolated mesophyll
      protoplasts maintain essentially the same physiological characteristics of whole
      leaves, this cell-based transient expression system can be used to molecularly
      dissect the responses to various stress conditions. The response of stress
      responsive promoters to specific stimuli can be accessed via reporter gene
      assays. Additionally, reporter systems can be easily engineered to address other
      levels of regulation, such as transcript and/or protein stability. Here we
      present a detailed protocol for using the Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplast system
      to study responses to environmental stress, including preparation of reporter and
      effector constructs, large scale DNA purification, protoplast isolation,
      transfection, treatment, and quantification of luciferase-based reporter gene
      activities. 

PMID- 26867630
TI  - Construction of Artificial miRNAs to Prevent Drought Stress in Solanum tuberosum.
AB  - The use of artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) is still a relatively new technique in
      molecular biology with a wide range of applications in life sciences. Here, we
      describe the silencing of the CBP80/ABH1 gene in Solanum tuberosum with the use
      of amiRNA. The CBP80/ABH1 protein is part of the Cap Binding Complex (CBC), which
      is involved in plant responses to drought stress conditions. Transformed plants
      with a decreased level of CBP80/ABH1 display increased tolerance to water
      shortage conditions. We describe how to design amiRNA with the Web MicroRNA
      Designer platform in detail. Additionally, we explain how to perform all steps of
      a procedure aiming to obtain transgenic potato plants with the use of designed
      amiRNA, through callus tissue regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain
      LBA4404 as a transgene carrier. 

PMID- 26867631
TI  - Virus-Induced Gene Silencing for Gene Function Studies in Barley.
AB  - Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) creates a natural antiviral defense in
      plants. However, it has been also a powerful tool for endogenous gene silencing
      in dicot and monocot plants by exploitation of recombinant viruses, harboring
      silencing inducing sequences. The Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (BSMV) based VIGS
      system is an efficient and rapid RNAi approach that is routinely applied in
      functional genomics studies of cereals. We present here a protocol for BSMV VIGS
      application in barley based on mechanical inoculation of the plants with in vitro
      transcribed recombinant BSMV RNAs as the silencing triggers. 

PMID- 26867632
TI  - Methods for Long-Term Stable Storage of Colletotrichum Species.
AB  - In this chapter we describe methods for long-term preservation of ascomycete
      genus Colletotrichum species. Colletotrichum species employ a hemibiotrophic
      infection strategy and cause clear anthracnose diseases on various host plants
      including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Their infection proceeds in a
      highly synchronized manner, which is helpful for the dissection of the fungus
      plant interactions at the molecular level. Gene engineering methods, including
      efficient protocols for targeted gene disruption, and whole-genome sequences are
      available for several Colletotrichum species. Thus, these pathogens provide us
      with model systems to address the molecular mechanisms underlying hemibiotrophic
      fungal pathogenicity.We describe how to prepare glycerol stocks or filter paper
      fungal stocks for long-term preservation of Colletotrichum species. These two
      methods are easily handled, and provide a stable preservation for at least a few
      years. 

PMID- 26867633
TI  - Plant Inoculation with the Fungal Leaf Pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum.
AB  - After Colletotrichum storage methods in Chapter 23 , we describe here
      experimental methods for the inoculation of Colletotrichum higginsianum (C.h.) on
      Arabidopsis leaves. We put a particular focus on the methods for lesion
      measurements after the drop-inoculation of the leaves and on C.h. biomass
      measurements in the leaves by RT-qPCR analysis. As an option, we also briefly
      describe methods for counting C.h. entry ratio. 

PMID- 26867634
TI  - Tracing Plant Defense Responses in Roots upon MAMP/DAMP Treatment.
AB  - This chapter describes how to apply microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)
      or damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) solutions to Arabidopsis roots to
      trace defense responses in the root. Plants sense the presence of microbes via
      the perception of MAMPs or DAMPs by surface-localized pattern recognition
      receptors. The mechanisms governing plant root immunity are poorly characterized
      compared with those underlying plant immunity in the leaf, despite the fact that
      plant roots constantly interact with countless microbes living in soils that
      carry potential MAMPs and could stimulate the production of plant-derived DAMPs
      during colonization. To understand how a plant root immune system detects and
      reacts to the potential sources of a stimulus, we describe a simple method to
      monitor activation of root immunity upon MAMP/DAMP treatment by measuring
      relative expression of defense-related genes by RT-qPCR. 

PMID- 26867635
TI  - Analysis of the lmmunity-Related Oxidative Bursts by a Luminol-Based Assay.
AB  - The rapid production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to biotic and
      abiotic cues is a conserved hallmark of plant responses. The detection and
      quantification of ROS generation during immune responses is an excellent readout
      to analyze signaling triggered by the perception of pathogens. The assay
      described here is easy to employ and versatile, allowing its use in a multitude
      of variations. For example, ROS production can be analyzed using different
      tissues including whole seedlings, roots, leaves, protoplasts, and cultured
      cells, which can originate from different ecotypes or mutants. Samples can be
      tested in combination with any ROS-inducing elicitors, such as the FLS2
      activating peptide flg22, but also lipids or even abiotic stresses. Furthermore,
      early (PAMP-triggered) and late (effector-triggered) ROS production induced by
      virulent and avirulent bacteria, respectively, can also be assayed. 

PMID- 26867636
TI  - Quantitative Analysis of Microbe-Associated Molecular Pattern (MAMP)-Induced
      Ca(2+) Transients in Plants.
AB  - Ca(2+) is a secondary messenger involved in early signaling events triggered in
      response to a plethora of biotic and abiotic stimuli. In plants, environmental
      cues that induce cytosolic Ca(2+) elevation include touch, reactive oxygen
      species, cold shock, and salt or osmotic stress. Furthermore, Ca(2+) signaling
      has been implicated in early stages of plant-microbe interactions of both
      symbiotic and antagonistic nature. A long-standing hypothesis is that there is
      information encoded in the Ca(2+) signals (so-called Ca(2+) signatures) to enable
      plants to differentiate between these stimuli and to trigger the appropriate
      cellular response. Qualitative and quantitative measurements of Ca(2+) signals
      are therefore needed to dissect the responses of plants to their environment.
      Luminescence produced by the Ca(2+) probe aequorin upon Ca(2+) binding is a
      widely used method for the detection of Ca(2+) transients and other changes in
      Ca(2+) concentrations in cells or organelles of plant cells. In this chapter,
      using microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), such as the bacterial
      derived flg22 or elf18 peptides as stimuli, a protocol for the quantitative
      measurements of Ca(2+) fluxes in apoaequorin-expressing seedlings of Arabidopsis
      thaliana in 96-well format is described. 

PMID- 26867637
TI  - Rapid Assessment of DNA Methylation Changes in Response to Salicylic Acid by Chop
      qPCR.
AB  - Methylation of cytosines plays an important role in epigenetic regulation of gene
      expression. Several methods exist to determine the methylation status of DNA.
      Here, we describe a rapid and cost-effective method called Chop-qPCR to determine
      dynamic changes in the DNA methylation patterns, as they occur for instance in
      response to environmental stresses. 

PMID- 26867638
TI  - Determining Nucleosome Position at Individual Loci After Biotic Stress Using
      MNase-qPCR.
AB  - Nucleosome occupancy in promoter and genic regions can severely influence the
      transcription levels. Few methods have been established to investigate the
      nucleosome occupancy along the DNA. In this chapter we describe a detailed
      protocol to analyze the nucleosome occupancy at a specific locus using MNase
      pPCR. 

PMID- 26867639
TI  - Phosphoprotein Enrichment Combined with Phosphopeptide Enrichment to Identify
      Putative Phosphoproteins During Defense Response in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Phosphoprotein/peptide enrichment is an important technique to elucidate
      signaling components of defense responses with mass spectrometry. Normally,
      proteins can be detected easily by shotgun experiments but the low abundance of
      phosphoproteins hinders their detection. Here, we describe a combination of
      prefractionation with desalting, phosphoprotein and phosphopeptide enrichment to
      effectively accumulate phosphorylated proteins from leaf tissue of stressed
      Arabidopsis plants. 

PMID- 26867641
TI  - Difficulties arising from the variety of testing schemes used for bovine viral
      diarrhoea virus (BVDV).
AB  - Globally, the eradication of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is still in its
      infancy, but eradication has been, or is being, adopted by several countries or
      regions. Comparisons between countries' schemes allow others to assess best
      practice, and aggregating published results from eradication schemes provides
      greater statistical power when analysing data. Aggregating data requires that
      results derived from different testing schemes be calibrated against one another.
      The authors aimed to evaluate whether relationships between published BVDV test
      results could be created and present the outcome of a systematic literature
      review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta
      Analyses guidelines. The results are tabulated, providing a summary of papers
      where there is potential cross-calibration and a summary of the obstacles
      preventing such data aggregation. Although differences in measuring BVDV present
      barriers to academic progress, they may also affect progress within individual
      eradication schemes. The authors examined the time taken to retest following an
      initial antibody BVDV test in the Scottish eradication scheme. The authors
      demonstrate that retesting occurred quicker if the initial not negative test was
      from blood rather than milk samples. Such differences in the response of
      farmers/veterinarians to tests may be of interest to the design of future
      schemes. 

PMID- 26867642
TI  - Increased expression of the sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor
      with co-localization in varicocele veins.
AB  - Objectives Varicocele is characterized by dilatation and tortuosity of the
      internal spermatic vein. Sonic hedgehog plays an important role in angiogenesis
      and vascular remodeling under hypoxic stress. We studied the relationship and
      distribution of SHH and vascular endothelial growth factor in internal spermatic
      vein in patients diagnosed with varicocele. Methods Specimens of 1 cm were taken
      from the internal spermatic vein during left varicocele repair (N = 20). The
      control samples of ISV were obtained from eight male patients who underwent left
      inguinal herniorrhaphy. We analyzed the sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial
      growth factor expression and distribution by immunoblotting,
      immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, and confocal laser scanning
      microscopy. The data were analyzed using the Student's t test. Results
      Immunoblotting showed higher expression of sonic hedgehog and vascular
      endothelial growth factor proteins in varicocele veins than in the control group
      ( P < 0.05) which located over muscle layer and endothelium was demonstrated by
      immunohistochemical staining. Both proteins with co-localization in the muscle
      layer and especially distributed in endothelium of varicocele veins were revealed
      under confocal microscopy. Conclusions These findings showed the upexpression of
      sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor with co-localization in
      varicocele veins which imply that the reducing hypoxia or using sonic hedgehog
      antagonists may be helpful for this vascular disease.

PMID- 26867640
TI  - Effects of aging on the male reproductive system.
AB  - The study aims to discuss the effects of aging on the male reproductive system. A
      systematic review was performed using PubMed from 1980 to 2014. Aging is a
      natural process comprising of irreversible changes due to a myriad of endogenous
      and environmental factors at the level of all organs and systems. In modern life,
      as more couples choose to postpone having a child due to various socioeconomic
      reasons, research for understanding the effects of aging on the reproductive
      system has gained an increased importance. Paternal aging also causes genetic and
      epigenetic changes in spermatozoa, which impair male reproductive functions
      through their adverse effects on sperm quality and count as, well as, on sexual
      organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Hormone production,
      spermatogenesis, and testes undergo changes as a man ages. These small changes
      lead to decrease in both the quality and quantity of spermatozoa. The offspring
      of older fathers show high prevalence of genetic abnormalities, childhood
      cancers, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, the latest advances
      in assisted reproductive techniques give older men a chance to have a child even
      with poor semen parameters. Further studies should investigate the onset of
      gonadal senesce and its effects on aging men. 

PMID- 26867643
TI  - PD-L1-expressing neutrophils as a novel indicator to assess disease activity and
      severity of systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is well-known that increased frequency of neutrophils was found in
      patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the immunomodulatory
      roles and mechanisms of neutrophils in SLE are poorly understood. METHODS:
      Patients with SLE were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang
      University. The medical history, clinical manifestations, physical examination,
      laboratory measurements, therapeutic regimen and treatment response were
      recorded. The expression of costimulatory molecules including programmed death 1
      (PD-1), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain
      containing protein 3 (Tim-3), CD40, T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and
      immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory domains (TIGIT), CD80 and CD86 on
      neutrophils were determined by flow cytometry. The frequencies of PD-L1
      expressing neutrophils in patients with SLE were further analyzed for their
      correlation with markers of autoimmune response, inflammation, disease activity
      and severity of SLE. RESULTS: The frequency of PD-L1-expressing neutrophils was
      significantly elevated in SLE patients compared to the healthy controls (P <
      0.0001). The frequency of PD-L1-expressing neutrophils in patients with SLE was
      increased significantly in subjects with high ANA titre, high anti-nRNP/Sm, high
      levels of inflammatory markers and high SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)
      score. Furthermore, the percentages of PD-L1-expressing neutrophils were
      significantly decreased in SLE patients that received a 15-day regular treatment
      with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs (P = 0.0075). CONCLUSION: The
      frequency of PD-L1-expressing neutrophils is elevates in patients with SLE,
      correlates with the disease activity and severity of SLE, and may serves as a
      negative feedback mechanism preventing potential tissue damage caused by
      excessive autoimmune responses in patients with SLE.

PMID- 26867644
TI  - Rhododenol and raspberry ketone impair the normal proliferation of melanocytes
      through reactive oxygen species-dependent activation of GADD45.
AB  - Rhododenol or rhododendrol (RD, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol) occurs naturally
      in many plants along with raspberry ketone (RK, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone),
      a ketone derivative, which include Nikko maple tree (Acer nikoense) and white
      birch (Betula platyphylla). De-pigmenting activity of RD was discovered and it
      was used as a brightening ingredient for the skin whitening cosmetics. Recently,
      cosmetics containing RD were withdrawn from the market because a number of
      consumers developed leukoderma, inflammation and erythema on their face, neck and
      hands. Here, we explored the mechanism underlying the toxicity of RD and RK
      against melanocytes using B16F10 murine melanoma cells and human primary
      epidermal melanocytes. Treatment with RD or RK resulted in the decreased cell
      viability in a dose-dependent manner which appeared from cell growth arrest.
      Consistently, ROS generation was significantly increased by RD or RK as
      determined by DCF-enhanced fluorescence. An antioxidant enzyme, glutathione
      peroxidase was depleted as well. In line with ROS generation, oxidative damages
      and the arrest of normal cell proliferation, GADD genes (Growth Arrest and DNA
      Damage) that include GADD45 and GADD153, were significantly up-regulated.
      Prevention of ROS generation with an anti-oxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
      significantly rescued RD and RK-suppressed melanocyte proliferation.
      Consistently, up-regulation of GADD45 and GADD153 was significantly attenuated by
      NAC, suggesting that increased ROS and the resultant growth arrest of melanocytes
      may contribute to RD and RK-induced leukoderma. 

PMID- 26867645
TI  - Antihypertensive treatments for adults with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26867646
TI  - Specific polymorphisms in the vitamin D metabolism pathway are not associated
      with susceptibility to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in humans.
AB  - Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterium
      worldwide. Its often asymptomatic course of infection increases chances of
      transmission, and increases risk of late complications. Genetic variations in the
      host immune system are known to impact the course of infections. Recent studies
      have shown a positive impact of vitamin D on the regulation of the immune system.
      This study assesses the impact of eight polymorphisms in five genes [VDR
      (rs1544410 G > A, rs2228570 C > T), CYP27B1 (rs10877012 G > T), DHCR7 (rs7944926
      G > A, rs3829251 G > A), GC (rs3755967) and CYP2R1 (rs10741657 G > A, rs2060793 G
      > A)] on susceptibility to Chlamydia infections in humans. These polymorphisms
      could influence protein expression or function, and thus influence the immune
      system. Samples of women visiting the STD outpatient clinic in South Limburg were
      genotyped using the Roche Lightcycler 480. In this study, we did not observe
      statistically significant differences between the genotype distributions of these
      polymorphisms in women with or without a Chlamydia infection. This suggests that
      VDR, CYP27B1, DHCR7, GC and CYP2R1 do not affect the susceptibility to Chlamydia
      infections. However, due to its pleiotropic nature in the immune system a role
      for the vitamin D pathway may not be excluded from the whole clinical course of
      Chlamydia infections (e.g. late complications), and further research is required.

PMID- 26867647
TI  - Genomic prediction of unordered categorical traits: an application to
      subpopulation assignment in German Warmblood horses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Categorical traits without ordinal representation of classes do not
      qualify for threshold models. Alternatively, the multinomial problem can be
      assessed by a sequence of independent binary contrasts using schemes such as one
      vs-all or one-vs-one. Class probabilities can be arrived at by normalization or
      pair-wise coupling strategies. We assessed the predictive ability of whole-genome
      regression models and support vector machines for the classification of horses
      into four German Warmblood breeds. RESULTS: Prediction accuracies of leave-one
      out cross-validation were high and ranged from 0.75 to 0.97 depending on the
      binary classifier and breeds incorporated in the training. An analysis of the
      population structure using eigenvectors of the genomic relationship matrix
      revealed clustering of individuals beyond the given breed labels. Admixture
      between two breeds became apparent which had substantial impact on the prediction
      accuracies between those two breeds and also influenced the contrasts between
      other breeds. CONCLUSIONS: Genomic prediction of unordered categorical traits was
      successfully applied to subpopulation assignment of German Warmblood horses. The
      applied methodology is a straightforward extension of existing binary threshold
      models for genomic prediction.

PMID- 26867648
TI  - Transient-state kinetic analysis of complex formation between photoprotein clytin
      and GFP from jellyfish Clytia gregaria.
AB  - Luminous organisms use different protein-mediated strategies to modulate light
      emission color. Here, we report the transient-state kinetic studies of the
      interaction between photoprotein clytin from Clytia gregaria and its antenna
      protein, cgreGFP. We propose that cgreGFP forms a transient complex with Ca(2+)
      bound clytin before the excited singlet state of the coelenteramide product is
      formed. From the spectral distribution and donor-acceptor separation distance, we
      infer that clytin reaction intermediates may interact only with the middle side
      part of cgreGFP.

PMID- 26867649
TI  - The Bisphenol A analogue Bisphenol S binds to K-Ras4B--implications for 'BPA
      free' plastics.
AB  - K-Ras4B is a small GTPase that belongs to the Ras superfamily of guanine
      nucleotide-binding proteins. GTPases function as molecular switches in cells and
      are key players in intracellular signalling. Ras has been identified as an
      oncogene and is mutated in more than 20% of human cancers. Here, we report that
      Bisphenol S binds into a binding pocket of K-Ras4B previously identified for
      various low molecular weight compounds. Our results advocate for more
      comprehensive safety studies on the toxicity of Bisphenol S, as it is frequently
      used for Bisphenol A-free food containers. 

PMID- 26867650
TI  - TGF-beta triggers HBV cccDNA degradation through AID-dependent deamination.
AB  - The covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a viral
      center molecule for HBV infection and persistence. However, the cellular
      restriction factors of HBV cccDNA are not well understood. Here, we show that TGF
      beta can induce nuclear viral cccDNA degradation and hypermutation via activation
      induced cytidine deaminase (AID) deamination activity in hepatocytes. This
      suppression by TGF-beta is abrogated when AID or the activity of uracil-DNA
      glycosylase (UNG) is absent, which indicates that AID deamination and the UNG
      mediated excision of uracil act in concert to degrade viral cccDNA. Moreover, the
      HBV core protein promotes the interaction between AID and viral cccDNA. Overall,
      our results indicate a novel molecular mechanism that allows cytokine TGF-beta to
      restrict viral nuclear cccDNA in innate immunity, thereby suggesting a novel
      method for potentially eliminating cccDNA. 

PMID- 26867652
TI  - Radioactive by-products of a self-shielded cyclotron and the liquid target system
      for F-18 routine production.
AB  - Routine production of F-18 radionuclide using proton beams accelerated in a
      cyclotron could potentially generate residual radioisotopes in the cyclotron
      vicinity which eventually become major safety concerns over radiation exposure to
      the workers. In this investigation, a typical 11-MeV proton, self-shielded
      cyclotron has been assessed for its residual radiation sources in the cyclotron's
      shielding, tank/chamber, cave wall as well as target system. Using a portable
      gamma ray spectroscopy system, the radiation measurement in the cyclotron
      environment has been carried out. Experimental results indicate that relatively
      long-lived radioisotopes such as Mn-54, Zn-65 and Eu-152 are detected in the
      inner and outer surface of the cyclotron shielding respectively while Mn-54
      spectrum is observed around the cyclotron chamber. Weak intensity of Eu-152
      radioisotope is again spotted in the inner and outer surface of the cyclotron
      cave wall. Angular distribution measurement of the Eu-152 shows that the
      intensity slightly drops with increasing observation angle relative to the proton
      beam incoming angle. In the target system, gamma rays from Co-56, Mn-52, Co-60,
      Mn-54, Ag-110 m are identified. TALYS-calculated nuclear cross-section data are
      used to study the origins of the radioactive by-products. 

PMID- 26867651
TI  - Acute bilateral uveitis and right macular edema induced by a single infusion of
      zoledronic acid for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis as a
      substitution for oral alendronate: a case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Zoledronic acid-induced uveitis (ZAIU) is rare but severe, and has
      been recently considered part of an acute phase reaction. Only 15 cases have been
      reported since 2005. Here we describe a case with macular edema, which is the
      first reported case observed after long-term alendronate tolerance. CASE
      PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old Asian woman received her first intravenous zoledronic
      acid treatment for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis as a more
      convenient substitute for oral alendronate. Twenty-four hours later, bilateral
      eye irritations, periorbital swelling, blurred vision, and diplopia presented.
      The complete blood count and transaminase levels were normal, but the
      erythrocytic sedimentation, C-reactive protein, and serum C4 levels were
      elevated. On detailed ophthalmological examination, a diagnosis of bilateral
      acute uveitis and macular edema in the right eye was made. The ocular symptoms
      were not improved until administration of topical and oral steroids. Complete
      resolution was achieved. There was no rechallenge of bisphosphonates, and no
      recurrence at 6 months follow-up. Based on an extensive review, abnormal fundus
      is rarely reported, especially in cases of macular edema. Rechallenge with
      zoledronic acid in five cases induced no additional uveitis, and changing the
      medication to pamidronate in another patient was also tolerated. Interestingly,
      our patient suffered from uveitis soon after intravenous zoledronate exposure
      after a two-year tolerance to oral alendronate. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first
      report of zoledronic acid induced uveitis with macular edema after long-term
      alendronate tolerance. Prior oral alendronate may not entirely prevent ZAIU.
      Steroids are usually necessary in the treatment of ZAIU. Bisphosphonate
      rechallenge is not fully contraindicated, and prior steroid administration may be
      a more reasonable treatment choice according to the available evidence.

PMID- 26867653
TI  - Parallelism of DOG1 expression with recurrence risk in gastrointestinal stromal
      tumors bearing KIT or PDGFRA mutations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by
      mutations of KIT (v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog)
      or PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha) that may be efficiently
      targeted by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Notwithstanding the early
      responsiveness to TKI, the majority of GISTs progress, imposing the need for
      alternative therapeutic strategies. DOG1 (discovered on GIST-1) shows a higher
      sensitivity as a diagnostic marker than KIT, however its prognostic role has been
      little investigated. METHODS: We evaluated DOG1 expression by
      immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 59 patients with GISTs, and correlated its levels
      with clinical and pathological features as well as mutational status. Kaplan
      Meier analysis was also applied to assess correlations of the staining score with
      patient recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: DOG1 was expressed in 66% of
      CD117(+) GISTs and highly associated with tumor size and the rate of wild-type
      tumors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that a strong DOG1 expression
      demonstrated by IHC correlated with a worse 2-year RFS rate, suggesting its
      potential ability to predict GISTs with poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest a prognostic role for DOG1, as well as its potential for
      inclusion in the criteria for risk stratification.

PMID- 26867654
TI  - Serum Antibodies to Glycans in Peripheral Neuropathies.
AB  - In peripheral neuropathies, such as sensorimotor neuropathies, motor neuron
      diseases, or the Guillain-Barre syndrome, serum antibodies recognizing saccharide
      units, portion of oligosaccharides, or oligosaccharide chains, have been found.
      These antibodies are called anti-glycosphingolipid (GSL) or anti-ganglioside
      antibodies. However, the information on the aglycone carrying the hydrophilic
      oligosaccharide remains elusive. The absolute and unique association of GSL to
      the onset, development and symptomatology of the peripheral neuropathies could be
      misleading. Here, we report some thoughts on the matter.

PMID- 26867655
TI  - A Therapeutic Insight of Niacin and Coenzyme Q10 Against Diabetic Encephalopathy
      in Rats.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin
      inactivity or insufficiency with increasing risk of developing specific
      complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and
      atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of
      coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), niacin, as well as their combination in ameliorating brain
      disorders associated with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats.
      Glibenclamide, a reference diabetic drug, and donepezil, an acetylcholine
      inhibitor drug, were also evaluated. Diabetes was induced by single
      intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight (b.wt)). One-month
      diabetic rats were treated with the selected drugs daily for another two
      consecutive weeks. The evaluation was done through the estimation of the levels
      of blood glucose, serum insulin, and oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde
      (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH); neurotransmitters:
      acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and dopamine (DA); vasoconstrictor indices:
      intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule
      1(VCAM-1), and angiotensin II (Ang II); and apoptosis markers: tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and caspase-3 as well as the histopathological picture
      of the cerebellum region of the brain. The results revealed that the combination
      of niacin and CoQ10 improved most of the measured parameters with variable
      degrees. In conclusion, niacin and CoQ10 are promising dietary supplements in the
      management of diabetic encephalopathy.

PMID- 26867659
TI  - Ruthenium complexes bearing an unsymmetrical pincer ligand with a 2
      hydroxypyridylmethylene fragment: active catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of
      ketones.
AB  - Five ruthenium(ii) complexes were synthesized, including (HO-C5H3N-CH2-C5H3N
      C5H4N)Ru(PPh3)Cl2 (3), [(HO-C5H3N-CH2-C5H3N-C5H4N)Ru(PPh3)2Cl][PF6] (4) and [(HO
      C5H3N-CH2-C5H3N-C5H4N)Ru(PPh3)2OH][PF6] (5) bearing an unsymmetrical pincer NNN
      ligand with a 2-hydroxypyridylmethylene fragment, and [(CH3O-C5H3N-CH2-C5H3N
      C5H4N)2Ru][Cl]2 (6) and [(CH3O-C5H3N-CH2-C5H3N-C5H4N)2Ru][PF6]2 (7) containing 2
      methoxypyridylmethylene moieties. 4 reacts with H2O at room temperature to give 5
      whose crystal structure reveals the existence of intramolecular hydrogen-bonding
      between its two -OH groups. 3 exhibits high catalytic activity for transfer
      hydrogenation of ketones. 

PMID- 26867657
TI  - The OPA1 Gene Mutations Are Frequent in Han Chinese Patients with Suspected Optic
      Neuropathy.
AB  - While many patients with hereditary optic neuropathies are caused by
      mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy
      (LHON), a significant proportion of them does not have mtDNA mutation and is
      caused by mutations in genes of the nuclear genome. In this study, we
      investigated whether the OPA1 gene, which is a pathogenic gene for autosomal
      dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), is frequently mutated in these patients. We
      sequenced all 29 exons of the OPA1 gene in 105 Han Chinese patients with
      suspected LHON. mtDNA copy number was quantified in blood samples from patients
      with and without OPA1 mutation and compared to healthy controls. In silico
      program-affiliated prediction, evolutionary conservation analysis, and in vitro
      cellular assays were performed to show the potential pathogenicity of the
      mutations. We identified nine OPA1 mutations in eight patients; six of them are
      located in exons and three are located in splicing sites. Mutation c.1172T > G
      has not been reported before. When we combined our data with 193 reported Han
      Chinese patients with optic neuropathy and compared to the available data of 4327
      East Asians by the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC), we found a significant
      enrichment of potentially pathogenic OPA1 mutations in Chinese patients. Cellular
      assays for OPA1 mutants c.869G > A and c.2708_2711del showed abnormalities in
      OPA1 isoforms, mitochondrial morphology, and cellular reactive oxygen species
      (ROS) level. Our results indicated that screening OPA1 mutation is needed for
      clinical diagnosis of patients with suspected optic neuropathy.

PMID- 26867658
TI  - SAR evolution and discovery of benzenesulfonyl matrinanes as a novel class of
      potential coxsakievirus inhibitors.
AB  - MATERIALS & METHODS: Fifty-one novel 12N-substituted matrinic acid derivatives
      were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-coxsackievirus B3 activities.
      RESULTS: Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the 11-side chain
      could be determinant for the selectivity index by adjusting overall
      lipophilicity, and 11-butane was the best one for both potency and druggability.
      The optimized 35d showed the broad-spectrum anti-coxsackieviruse effects, an
      excellent pharmacokinetics and a good safety profile. More importantly, it
      displayed a potential effect for the pleconaril-resistant coxsackievirus B3 as
      well. Its mode of action is targeting on the viral transcription and translation
      stage, a different mechanism from that of pleconaril. CONCLUSION: Thus, we
      considered that 35d is a promising anti-enteroviral candidate for the treatment
      of various diseases infected with coxsackieviruses.

PMID- 26867660
TI  - Unique piezochromic fluorescence behavior of organic crystal of carbazole
      substituted CNDSB.
AB  - CzCNDSB with a highly twisted conformation in the solid state is constructed.
      Single crystal measurements prove that it possesses an inside pore with a
      diameter of 8 A and further forms a long-range orderly arrayed channel. CzCNDSB
      can sense external pressure from 1.0 atm to 9.21 GPa, accompanied by color
      changes from green to red with excellent reversibility and reproducibility. 

PMID- 26867656
TI  - Melatonin Attenuates Early Brain Injury via the Melatonin Receptor/Sirt1/NF
      kappaB Signaling Pathway Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Mice.
AB  - Melatonin (Mel) has been reported to alleviate early brain injury (EBI) following
      subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The activation of silent information regulator 1
      (Sirt1), a histone deacetylase, has been suggested to be beneficial in SAH.
      However, the precise role of Sirt1 in Mel-mediated protection against EBI
      following SAH has not been elucidated. The present study aims to evaluate the
      role of melatonin receptor/Sirt1/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in this
      process. The endovascular perforation SAH model was used in male C57BL/6J mice,
      and melatonin was administrated intraperitoneally (150 mg/kg). The mortality, SAH
      grade, neurological score, brain water content, and neuronal apoptosis were
      evaluated. The expression of Sirt1, acetylated-NF-kappaB (Ac-NF-kappaB), Bcl-2,
      and Bax were detected by western blot. To study the underlying mechanisms,
      melatonin receptor (MR) antagonist luzindole and Sirt1 small interfering RNA
      (siRNA) were administrated to different groups. The results suggest that Mel
      improved the neurological deficits and reduced the brain water content and
      neuronal apoptosis. In addition, Mel enhanced the expression of Sirt1 and Bcl-2
      and decreased the expression of Ac-NF-kappaB and Bax. However, the protective
      effects of Mel were abolished by luzindole or Sirt1 siRNA. In conclusion, our
      results demonstrate that Mel attenuates EBI following SAH via the MR/Sirt1/NF
      kappaB signaling pathway.

PMID- 26867661
TI  - Effectiveness of malaria control interventions in Madagascar: a nationwide case
      control survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Madagascar, as other malaria endemic countries, depends mainly on
      international funding for the implementation of malaria control interventions
      (MCI). As these funds no longer increase, policy makers need to know whether
      these MCI actually provide the expected protection. This study aimed at measuring
      the effectiveness of MCI deployed in all transmission patterns of Madagascar in
      2012-2013 against the occurrence of clinical malaria cases. METHODS: From
      September 2012 to August 2013, patients consulting for non-complicated malaria in
      31 sentinel health centres (SHC) were asked to answer a short questionnaire about
      long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) use, indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the
      household and intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp) intake.
      Controls were healthy all-ages individuals sampled from a concurrent cross
      sectional survey conducted in areas surrounding the SHC. Cases and controls were
      retained in the database if they were resident of the same communes. The
      association between Plasmodium infection and exposure to MCI was calculated by
      multivariate multilevel models, and the protective effectiveness (PE) of an
      intervention was defined as 1 minus the odds ratio of this association. RESULTS:
      Data about 841 cases (out of 6760 cases observed in SHC) and 8284 controls was
      collected. The regular use of LLIN provided a significant 51 % PE (95 % CI [16
      71]) in multivariate analysis, excluding in one transmission pattern where PE was
      -11 % (95 % CI [-251 to 65]) in univariate analysis. The PE of IRS was 51 % (95 %
      CI [31-65]), and the PE of exposure to both regular use of LLIN and IRS was 72 %
      (95 % CI [28-89]) in multivariate analyses. Vector control interventions avoided
      yearly over 100,000 clinical cases of malaria in Madagascar. The maternal PE of
      IPTp was 73 %. CONCLUSIONS: In Madagascar, LLIN and IRS had good PE against
      clinical malaria. These results may apply to other countries with similar
      transmission profiles, but such case-control surveys could be recommended to
      identify local failures in the effectiveness of MCI.

PMID- 26867662
TI  - Vitamin D deficiency and its role in neurological conditions: A review.
AB  - This review exposes recent advances on the role of vitamin D, cholecalciferol, a
      secosteroid, in the central nervous system. In humans, vitamin D arises from
      cutaneous transformation of 7-dehydrocholesterol under the effect of UVB exposure
      or from food intake. Vitamin D has an immunomodulatory role through its anti
      inflammatory and anti-autoimmune actions. In the nervous system, vitamin D is
      involved in the regulation of calcium-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity, in the
      reduction of oxidative stress, and in the induction of synaptic structural
      proteins, neurotrophic factors and deficient neurotransmitters. Reduced exposure
      to sunlight and low food intake can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Increasing
      evidence highlights the impact of vitamin D deficiency as a favoring factor in
      various central or peripheral neurological diseases, especially multiple
      sclerosis and several neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Recently, several
      clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation stressed the role of vitamin D as a
      protective and/or prognostic factor in the onset and progress of such
      neurological conditions. 

PMID- 26867663
TI  - [Cerebral vasculitis: A rare complication of pneumococcal meningitis].

PMID- 26867664
TI  - Rapid specimen preparation to improve the throughput of electron microscopic
      volume imaging for three-dimensional analyses of subcellular ultrastructures with
      serial block-face scanning electron microscopy.
AB  - Serial block-face imaging using scanning electron microscopy enables rapid
      observations of three-dimensional ultrastructures in a large volume of biological
      specimens. However, such imaging usually requires days for sample preparation to
      reduce charging and increase image contrast. In this study, we report a rapid
      procedure to acquire serial electron microscopic images within 1 day for three
      dimensional analyses of subcellular ultrastructures. This procedure is based on
      serial block-face with two major modifications, including a new sample treatment
      device and direct polymerization on the rivets, to reduce the time and workload
      needed. The modified procedure without uranyl acetate can produce tens of
      embedded samples observable under serial block-face scanning electron microscopy
      within 1 day. The serial images obtained are similar to the block-face images
      acquired by common procedures, and are applicable to three-dimensional
      reconstructions at a subcellular resolution. Using this approach, regional immune
      deposits and the double contour or heterogeneous thinning of basement membranes
      were observed in the glomerular capillary loops of an autoimmune nephropathy
      model. These modifications provide options to improve the throughput of three
      dimensional electron microscopic examinations, and will ultimately be beneficial
      for the wider application of volume imaging in life science and clinical
      medicine. 

PMID- 26867666
TI  - Psychiatric governance, volkisch corporatism, and the German Research Institute
      of Psychiatry in Munich (1912-26). Part 2.
AB  - This is the second of two articles exploring in depth some of the early
      organizational strategies that were marshalled in efforts to found and develop
      the German Research Institute of Psychiatry (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur
      Psychiatrie). The first article analysed the strategies of psychiatric governance
      - best understood as a form of volkisch corporatism - that mobilized a group of
      stakeholders in the service of higher bio-political and hygienic ends. This
      second article examines how post-war imperatives and biopolitical agendas shaped
      the institute's organization and research. It also explores the financial
      challenges the institute faced amidst the collapse of the German financial system
      in the early Weimar Republic, including efforts to recruit financial support from
      the Rockefeller Foundation and other philanthropists in the USA.

PMID- 26867665
TI  - Influence of Ku86 and XRCC4 expression in uterine cervical cancer on the response
      to preoperative radiotherapy.
AB  - DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are severe damages induced by ionizing radiation.
      Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is a major mechanism for repairing DSB.
      Immunohistochemical analysis of proteins involved in NHEJ, such as Ku86 and XRCC4
      (X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 4) may be useful for predicting tumor
      radiosensitivity. We examined the relationship between expression of DSB-related
      proteins in biopsy specimens of uterine cervical cancer and the pathological
      effect of 40 Gy of preoperative radiotherapy. 119 patients with uterine cervical
      cancer were treated between 2000 and 2011. Pathological effects of preoperative
      radiotherapy were classified by examining hysterectomy specimens. Patients with
      complete response (pCR) had a significantly better overall 5-year survival rate
      than those without pCR (96.3 vs. 76.9 %, P = 0.02). The pCR rate was
      significantly higher in patients with low Ku86 and XRCC4 expression than in other
      patients (47.4 vs. 21.3 %, P = 0.04). Logistic regression analysis also
      demonstrated that low Ku86 and XRCC4 expression was a significant predictor of
      pCR (P = 0.03). Patients with high Ku86 and XRCC4 expression had a significantly
      lower 5-year metastasis-free rate than others (79.3 vs. 93.5 %, P = 0.02).
      Proteins involved with NHEJ might have an influence on results of radiotherapy
      for uterine cervical cancer.

PMID- 26867667
TI  - Removal versus retention of asymptomatic third molars in mandibular angle
      fractures: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - The treatment dilemma provided by asymptomatic third molars in mandibular angle
      fractures remains controversial. This prospective randomized controlled trial was
      undertaken to determine whether there is an advantage to extraction or retention
      of the third molar whilst repairing a mandibular angle fracture. Sixty-four
      patients were allocated randomly to the two treatment groups. All underwent open
      reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with standard postoperative care. The
      primary outcome measure was uncomplicated fracture healing. Secondary measures
      were surgical duration, malocclusion, wound healing, nerve injury, and return to
      theatre. All patients had uncomplicated fracture healing. The incidence of nerve
      injury was 16% for the retention group compared with 39% for the removal group
      (P=0.038). The average operating time for ORIF and third molar retention cases
      was 58.5min and for ORIF and third molar removal cases was 66.3min (P=0.26).
      There was no statistically significant difference between groups for wound
      healing, occlusion outcomes, or return to theatre. Given the additional risk of
      nerve injury and the additional operating time required for removal of a third
      molar, in the absence of an absolute indicator for removal of the third molar, it
      appears justifiable to advise retaining the tooth in the line of a mandibular
      angle fracture. 

PMID- 26867668
TI  - Mandibular distraction osteogenesis for the management of upper airway
      obstruction in children with micrognathia: a systematic review.
AB  - Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is increasingly used for neonates and
      infants with upper airway obstruction secondary to micrognathia. This systematic
      review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of MDO in the treatment of
      airway obstruction. The databases searched included PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and
      grey literature sources. The inclusion criteria were applied to identify studies
      in children with clinical evidence of micrognathia/Pierre Robin sequence (PRS)
      who had failed conservative treatments, including both syndromic and non
      syndromic patients. Overall 66 studies were included in this review. Primary MDO
      for the relief of upper airway obstruction was found to be successful at
      preventing tracheostomy in 95% of cases. Syndromic patients were found to have a
      four times greater odds of failure compared to those with isolated PRS. The most
      common causes of failure were previously undiagnosed lower airway obstruction,
      central apnoea, undiagnosed neurological abnormalities, and the presence of
      additional cardiovascular co-morbidities. MDO was less effective (81% success
      rate) at facilitating decannulation of tracheostomy-dependent children
      (P<0.0001). Failure in these patients was most commonly due to severe
      preoperative gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, swallowing dysfunction, and
      tracheostomy-related complications. The failure rate was higher when MDO was
      performed at an age of >=24 months. More studies are needed to evaluate the long
      term implications of MDO on facial development and long-term complications. 

PMID- 26867670
TI  - Clinical impact of low-burden BCR-ABL1 mutations detectable by amplicon deep
      sequencing in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

PMID- 26867669
TI  - Clonal B cells in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia exhibit functional features of
      chronic active B-cell receptor signaling.
AB  - Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL)
      characterized by immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathy and the medullary
      expansion of clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells. Neoplastic transformation has been
      partially attributed to hyperactive MYD88 signaling, secondary to the MYD88 L265P
      mutation, occurring in the majority of WM patients. Nevertheless, the presence of
      chronic active B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, a feature of multiple IgM+ B-NHL,
      remains a subject of speculation in WM. Here, we interrogated the BCR signaling
      capacity of primary WM cells by utilizing multiparametric phosphoflow cytometry
      and found heightened basal phosphorylation of BCR-related signaling proteins, and
      augmented phosphoresponses on surface IgM (sIgM) crosslinking, compared with
      normal B cells. In support of those findings we observed high sIgM expression and
      loss of phosphatase activity in WM cells, which could both lead to signaling
      potentiation in clonal cells. Finally, led by the high-signaling heterogeneity
      among WM samples, we generated patient-specific phosphosignatures, which
      subclassified patients into a 'high' and a 'healthy-like' signaling group, with
      the second corresponding to patients with a more indolent clinical phenotype.
      These findings support the presence of chronic active BCR signaling in WM while
      providing a link between differential BCR signaling utilization and distinct
      clinical WM subgroups.

PMID- 26867671
TI  - Donor cell-derived hematological malignancy: a survey by the Japan Society for
      Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

PMID- 26867672
TI  - Evaluation of bone surrogates for indirect and direct ballistic fractures.
AB  - The mechanism of injury for fractures to long bones has been studied for both
      direct ballistic loading as well as indirect. However, the majority of these
      studies have been conducted on both post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) and animal
      surrogates which have constraints in terms of storage, preparation and testing.
      The identification of a validated bone surrogate for use in forensic, medical and
      engineering testing would provide the ability to investigate ballistic loading
      without these constraints. Two specific bone surrogates, Sawbones and Synbone,
      were evaluated in comparison to PMHS for both direct and indirect ballistic
      loading. For the direct loading, the mean velocity to produce fracture was 121 +/
      19 m/s for the PMHS, which was statistically different from the Sawbones (140 +/
      7 m/s) and Synbone (146 +/- 3 m/s). The average distance to fracture in the
      indirect loading was .70 cm for the PMHS. The Synbone had a statistically similar
      average distance to fracture (.61 cm, p=0.54) however the Sawbones average
      distance to fracture was statistically different (.41 cm, p<0.05). Fractures
      patterns were found to be comparable to the PMHS for tests conducted with
      Synbones, however the input parameters were slightly varied to produce similar
      results. The fractures patterns with the Sawbones were not found to be as
      comparable to the PMHS. An ideal bone surrogate for ballistic testing was not
      identified and future work is warranted.

PMID- 26867673
TI  - Spontaneous and strong multi-layer graphene n-doping on soda-lime glass and its
      application in graphene-semiconductor junctions.
AB  - Scalable and low-cost doping of graphene could improve technologies in a wide
      range of fields such as microelectronics, optoelectronics, and energy storage.
      While achieving strong p-doping is relatively straightforward, non-electrostatic
      approaches to n-dope graphene, such as chemical doping, have yielded electron
      densities of 9.5 * 10(12) e/cm(2) or below. Furthermore, chemical doping is
      susceptible to degradation and can adversely affect intrinsic graphene's
      properties. Here we demonstrate strong (1.33 * 10(13) e/cm(2)), robust, and
      spontaneous graphene n-doping on a soda-lime-glass substrate via surface-transfer
      doping from Na without any external chemical, high-temperature, or vacuum
      processes. Remarkably, the n-doping reaches 2.11 * 10(13) e/cm(2) when graphene
      is transferred onto a p-type copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS)
      semiconductor that itself has been deposited onto soda-lime-glass, via surface
      transfer doping from Na atoms that diffuse to the CIGS surface. Using this
      effect, we demonstrate an n-graphene/p-semiconductor Schottky junction with
      ideality factor of 1.21 and strong photo-response. The ability to achieve strong
      and persistent graphene n-doping on low-cost, industry-standard materials paves
      the way toward an entirely new class of graphene-based devices such as
      photodetectors, photovoltaics, sensors, batteries, and supercapacitors.

PMID- 26867674
TI  - Further patient information; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy related to autonomic
      nervous system.

PMID- 26867676
TI  - Exposure of CCRF-CEM cells to acridone derivative 8a triggers tumor death via
      multiple mechanisms.
AB  - A newly synthesized acridone derivative 8a shows potent antitumor activity
      against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. Herein, the first proteomic study of 8a effects
      in CCRF-CEM cells was performed by 2D nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS to better understand the
      mechanisms of action of 8a. Data analyses based on PLGS, STRING, Cytoscape, and
      database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery identified 55
      proteins that were differentially expressed in response to 8a exposure. Multiple
      cellular pathways were affected, including chromatin organization, energy
      metabolism, DNA repair, oxidative-stress, and apoptosis. The changes in protein
      expression were further verified for PKM2. Moreover, 8a lowered down the
      expression of HEX and PFK-1. Lactate production was decreased in 8a-treated
      cells, indicating suppression of glycolysis. The elevated XRCC6 and decreased
      histone expression levels suggested increased DNA damage in 8a-treated cells,
      which was confirmed by the increased gamma-H2AX foci. Molecular docking of 8a
      with DNA demonstrated direct interactions of 8a with DNA through three hydrogen
      bonds and four pi-pi interactions, potentially explaining the mode of action that
      8a damaged to DNA. The differential protein profiling and dysfunction of
      metabolic pathways induced by 8a provide novel insights into the potential action
      mechanisms of 8a. 

PMID- 26867675
TI  - TGF-beta1 regulates human brain pericyte inflammatory processes involved in
      neurovasculature function.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta1) is strongly induced
      following brain injury and polarises microglia to an anti-inflammatory phenotype.
      Augmentation of TGFbeta1 responses may therefore be beneficial in preventing
      inflammation in neurological disorders including stroke and neurodegenerative
      diseases. However, several other cell types display immunogenic potential and
      identifying the effect of TGFbeta1 on these cells is required to more fully
      understand its effects on brain inflammation. Pericytes are multifunctional cells
      which ensheath the brain vasculature and have garnered recent attention with
      respect to their immunomodulatory potential. Here, we sought to investigate the
      inflammatory phenotype adopted by TGFbeta1-stimulated human brain pericytes.
      METHODS: Microarray analysis was performed to examine transcriptome-wide changes
      in TGFbeta1-stimulated pericytes, and results were validated by qRT-PCR and
      cytometric bead arrays. Flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and LDH/Alamar
      Blue(r) viability assays were utilised to examine phagocytic capacity of human
      brain pericytes, transcription factor modulation and pericyte health. RESULTS:
      TGFbeta1 treatment of primary human brain pericytes induced the expression of
      several inflammatory-related genes (NOX4, COX2, IL6 and MMP2) and attenuated
      others (IL8, CX3CL1, MCP1 and VCAM1). A synergistic induction of IL-6 was seen
      with IL-1beta/TGFbeta1 treatment whilst TGFbeta1 attenuated the IL-1beta-induced
      expression of CX3CL1, MCP-1 and sVCAM-1. TGFbeta1 was found to signal through
      SMAD2/3 transcription factors but did not modify nuclear factor kappa-light-chain
      enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) translocation. Furthermore, TGFbeta1
      attenuated the phagocytic ability of pericytes, possibly through downregulation
      of the scavenger receptors CD36, CD47 and CD68. Whilst TGFbeta did decrease
      pericyte number, this was due to a reduction in proliferation, not apoptotic
      death or compromised cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: TGFbeta1 attenuated pericyte
      expression of key chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in CNS leukocyte
      trafficking and the modulation of microglial function, as well as reduced the
      phagocytic ability of pericytes. However, TGFbeta1 also enhanced the expression
      of classical pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes which can disrupt BBB
      functioning, suggesting that pericytes adopt a phenotype which is neither solely
      pro- nor anti-inflammatory. Whilst the effects of pericyte modulation by TGFbeta1
      in vivo are difficult to infer, the reduction in pericyte proliferation together
      with the elevated IL-6, MMP-2 and NOX4 and reduced phagocytosis suggests a
      detrimental action of TGFbeta1 on neurovasculature.

PMID- 26867679
TI  - Effect of preceding crop on Fusarium species and mycotoxin contamination of wheat
      grains.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Fusarium graminearum species complex infects several cereals and
      causes the reduction of grain yield and quality. Many factors influence the
      extent of Fusarium infection and mycotoxin levels. Such factors include crop
      rotation. In the present study, we explored the effect of rice or maize as former
      crops on mycotoxin accumulation in wheat grains. RESULTS: More than 97% of
      samples were contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). DON concentrations in wheat
      grains from rice and maize rotation fields were 884.37 and 235.78 ug kg(-1) .
      Zearalenone (ZEN) was detected in 45% of samples which were mainly collected from
      maize-wheat rotation systems. Fusarium strains were isolated and more F.
      graminearum sensu stricto (s. str.) isolates were cultured from wheat samples
      obtained from maize rotation fields. DON levels produced by Fusarium isolates
      from rice rotation fields were higher than those of samples from maize rotation
      fields. CONCLUSIONS: Rice-wheat rotation favours DON accumulation, while more ZEN
      contamination may occur in maize-wheat rotation models. Appropriate crop rotation
      may help to reduce toxin levels in wheat grains. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical
      Industry.

PMID- 26867677
TI  - Bloating is associated with worse quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and
      treatment responsiveness among patients with constipation-predominant irritable
      bowel syndrome and functional constipation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The management of bloating is unclear and its relationship with
      patients' well-being and treatment satisfaction independent of other abdominal
      symptoms is uncharacterized. We evaluated the association of bloating with
      patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: Thirty-nine centers for functional
      gastrointestinal disorders joined the laxative inadequate relief survey. We
      enrolled 2203 consecutive outpatients with functional constipation (FC) or
      constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) in two cross-sectional
      waves. Both wave 1 and 2 included the SF-12, the patient assessment of
      constipation-symptoms (PAC-SYM), and the treatment satisfaction questionnaire for
      medication (TSQM-2). Wave 2 only included a global rating of change (GRC) scale
      to assess patients' assessment of efficacy concerning treatment switches occurred
      in the 3 months prior to the interview. Bloating in the abdomen was defined on
      the basis of PAC-SYM item 3. KEY RESULTS: The average age was 50.1 years (SD,
      16.7) and 82.1% of patients were women. The prevalence of bloating was 91.6% (n =
      1970). Bloating was associated with SF-12 Physical Composite Score (p < 0.01), SF
      12 Mental Composite Score (p < 0.01), GRC (p < 0.01), Satisfaction with treatment
      effectiveness (p < 0.01), convenience of administration (p < 0.01), and side
      effects (p < 0.01) after adjustment for possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS &
      INFERENCES: Our data suggest that patients regard bloating as a key element in
      assessing clinical changes and treatments' efficacy as this symptom exerts a
      strong influence on patient-reported outcomes independent of possible confounders
      and other symptoms of constipation. Our data provide the rationale to investigate
      the efficacy and tolerability of new treatments specifically addressing this
      important, yet disregarded, patients' complain.

PMID- 26867678
TI  - SIRT7-dependent deacetylation of the U3-55k protein controls pre-rRNA processing.
AB  - SIRT7 is an NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylase with important roles in ribosome
      biogenesis and cell proliferation. Previous studies have established that SIRT7
      is associated with RNA polymerase I, interacts with pre-ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and
      promotes rRNA synthesis. Here we show that SIRT7 is also associated with small
      nucleolar RNP (snoRNPs) that are involved in pre-rRNA processing and rRNA
      maturation. Knockdown of SIRT7 impairs U3 snoRNA dependent early cleavage steps
      that are necessary for generation of 18S rRNA. Mechanistically, SIRT7
      deacetylates U3-55k, a core component of the U3 snoRNP complex, and reversible
      acetylation of U3-55k modulates the association of U3-55k with U3 snoRNA.
      Deacetylation by SIRT7 enhances U3-55k binding to U3 snoRNA, which is a
      prerequisite for pre-rRNA processing. Under stress conditions, SIRT7 is released
      from nucleoli, leading to hyperacetylation of U3-55k and attenuation of pre-rRNA
      processing. The results reveal a multifaceted role of SIRT7 in ribosome
      biogenesis, regulating both transcription and processing of rRNA. 

PMID- 26867680
TI  - The language-related transcription factor FOXP2 is post-translationally modified
      with small ubiquitin-like modifiers.
AB  - Mutations affecting the transcription factor FOXP2 cause a rare form of severe
      speech and language disorder. Although it is clear that sufficient FOXP2
      expression is crucial for normal brain development, little is known about how
      this transcription factor is regulated. To investigate post-translational
      mechanisms for FOXP2 regulation, we searched for protein interaction partners of
      FOXP2, and identified members of the PIAS family as novel FOXP2 interactors. PIAS
      proteins mediate post-translational modification of a range of target proteins
      with small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs). We found that FOXP2 can be modified
      with all three human SUMO proteins and that PIAS1 promotes this process. An
      aetiological FOXP2 mutation found in a family with speech and language disorder
      markedly reduced FOXP2 SUMOylation. We demonstrate that FOXP2 is SUMOylated at a
      single major site, which is conserved in all FOXP2 vertebrate orthologues and in
      the paralogues FOXP1 and FOXP4. Abolishing this site did not lead to detectable
      changes in FOXP2 subcellular localization, stability, dimerization or
      transcriptional repression in cellular assays, but the conservation of this site
      suggests a potential role for SUMOylation in regulating FOXP2 activity in vivo. 

PMID- 26867681
TI  - Neonatal phthalate ester exposure induced placental MTs, FATP1 and HFABP mRNA
      expression in two districts of southeast China.
AB  - Plastic production releases phthalate esters (PAEs), which can alter the
      expression of metallothioneins (MTs), fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) and
      heart fatty acid binding protein (HFABP). A total of 187 mother-infant pairs were
      recruited, 127 from Chenghai (high exposed group) and 60 from Haojiang (low
      exposed group), to investigate the association between neonatal PAE exposure and
      mRNA expression of placental MTs, FATP1 and HFABP. Umbilical cord blood and
      placenta samples were collected for measuring five PAE concentrations and
      detecting mRNA levels of MTs, FATP1 and HFABP. Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2
      ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) were significantly
      higher in the high exposed group compared to the low exposed group. FATP1 and
      HFABP mRNA in the high exposed group were higher than that in the low exposed
      group while MT-1A was contrary. Both dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and DEHP were
      correlated with higher MT and MT-2A expression, while diethyl phthalate (DEP) was
      also positively correlated with MT-1A and FATP1 expression in female infants.
      DEHP exposure was negatively correlated with birth weight and gestational age in
      male infants. These results show that neonatal PAE exposure alters the mRNA
      expression of placental MTs and FATP1, which are related to fetal growth and
      development.

PMID- 26867684
TI  - The importance of using the entire face to assess facial profile attractiveness.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of using the
      entire face to assess facial profile attractiveness. The secondary objective was
      to assess the facial profile preferences of orthodontists, dentists and
      laypeople. METHODS: Two original cephalometric radiographs of two subjects (one
      man and one woman meeting the normality criteria) and 16 modified samples of
      these radiographs were used. The 18 radiographs were then converted into
      silhouettes and printed twice: the entire profile (A) and the lower third alone
      (B). The silhouettes were randomly distributed into two binders A and B. A survey
      was conducted using three panels of evaluators: orthodontists, dentists and
      laypeople. The esthetic appreciation was quantified according to the Visual
      Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated
      to compare the scores of the entire profile with the scores of the lower third
      alone. The results showed that the orthodontists panel presented a much better
      correlation between A and B compared to dentists and especially to laypeople. A
      comparison of profile scores with the correlation coefficients shows that the
      profiles with the highest scores present the lowest correlations. The three
      panels of evaluators preferred the orthogonal profiles or profiles with upper lip
      protrusion over profiles with lower lip protrusion. CONCLUSION: For profiles with
      values close to the norm, the lower face alone does not reveal the attractiveness
      of the entire facial profile. Hence, the importance of using the entire facial
      profile to assess the beauty of the face.

PMID- 26867682
TI  - CHK1 expression in Gastric Cancer is modulated by p53 and RB1/E2F1: implications
      in chemo/radiotherapy response.
AB  - Radiation has a limited but relevant role in the adjuvant therapy of gastric
      cancer (GC) patients. Since Chk1 plays a critical function in cellular response
      to genotoxic agents, we aimed to analyze the role of Chk1 in GC as a biomarker
      for radiotherapy resistance. We analyzed Chk1 expression in AGS and MKN45 human
      GC cell lines by RT-QPCR and WB and in a small cohort of human patient's samples.
      We demonstrated that Chk1 overexpression specifically increases resistance to
      radiation in GC cells. Accordingly, abrogation of Chk1 activity with UCN-01 and
      its expression with shChk1 increased sensitivity to bleomycin and radiation.
      Furthermore, when we assessed Chk1 expression in human samples, we found a
      correlation between nuclear Chk1 accumulation and a decrease in progression free
      survival. Moreover, using a luciferase assay we found that Chk1's expression is
      controlled by p53 and RB/E2F1 at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we
      present preliminary data suggesting a posttranscriptional regulation mechanism,
      involving miR-195 and miR-503, which are inversely correlated with expression of
      Chk1 in radioresistant cells. In conclusion, Chk1/microRNA axis is involved in
      resistance to radiation in GC, and suggests Chk1 as a potential tool for optimal
      stratification of patients susceptible to receive adjuvant radiotherapy after
      surgery.

PMID- 26867685
TI  - Influence of nutrients on oxidation of low level methane by mixed methanotrophic
      consortia.
AB  - Low-level methane emissions from coal mine ventilation air (CMV-CH4; i.e., 1 %
      CH4) can significantly contribute to global climate change, and therefore,
      treatment is important to reduce impacts. To investigate CMV-CH4 abatement
      potential, five different mixed methanotrohic consortia (MMCs) were established
      from soil/sediment sources, i.e., landfill top cover soil, bio-solid compost,
      vegetated humus soil, estuarine and marine sediments. Enrichment conditions for
      MMCs were as follows: nitrate mineral salt (NMS) medium, pH ~ 6.8; 25  degrees C;
      20-25 % CH4; agitation 200 rpm; and culture period 20 days, in mini-bench-top
      bioreactors. The enriched cultures were supplemented with extra carbon (methanol
      0.5-1.5 %, formate 5-15 mM, and acetate 5-15 mM), nitrogen (nitrate 0.5-1.5 g L(
      1), ammonium 0.1-0.5 g L(-1), or urea: 0.1-0.5 g L(-1)), and trace elements
      (copper 1-5 MUM, iron 1-5 MUM, and zinc 1-5 MUM) in different batch experiments
      to improve low-level CH4 abatement. Average CH4 oxidation capacities (MOCs) of
      MMCs varied between 1.712 +/- 0.032 and 1.963 +/- 0.057 mg g(-1)DWbiomass h(-1).
      Addition of formate improved the MOCs of MMCs, but the dose-response varied for
      different MMCs. Acetate, nitrate and copper had no significant effect on MOCs,
      while addition of methanol, ammonium, urea, iron and zinc impacted negatively.
      Overall, MMCs enriched from marine sediments and landfill top cover soil showed
      high MOCs which were largely resilient to nutrient supplementation, suggesting a
      strong potential for biofilter development for industrial low-level CH4
      abatement, such as those present in CMV.

PMID- 26867686
TI  - Acute and short-term developmental toxicity of cyhalofop-butyl to zebrafish
      (Danio rerio).
AB  - Cyhalofop-butyl is an aryloxyphenoxypropionate post-emergence herbicide widely
      used around the world in agriculture. The acute toxicity of cyhalofop-butyl to
      embryos, larvae (12 and 72 h post-hatching), and adult zebrafish, as well as the
      short-term developmental toxicity of cyhalofop-butyl to embryo and sac-fry
      stages, was tested. The results showed that the 96-h LC50 values of cyhalofop
      butyl to embryos, 12 h post-hatching larvae, 72 h post-hatching larvae, and adult
      fish were 2.03, 0.58, 1.42, and 3.49 mg/L, respectively, suggesting zebrafish
      early life stages were more sensitive to cyhalofop-butyl than adult stage.
      Cyhalofop-butyl would inhibit the spontaneous movement, heartbeat, hatching rate
      of embryos, and the body length of surviving larvae of zebrafish at 1.00 mg/L or
      higher concentrations. Morphological abnormalities, including pericardial edema,
      yolk sac edema, deformation of tail, and deformation of spine, were induced by
      cyhalofop-butyl. The results indicated that cyhalofop-butyl had significant
      negative impacts on zebrafish at different life stages, and spontaneous movement
      and hatching rate were sensitive endpoints for assessing short-term developmental
      toxicity of cyhalofop-butyl. 

PMID- 26867687
TI  - Effects of fullerene (C60), multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), single wall
      carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and hydroxyl and carboxyl modified single wall carbon
      nanotubes on riverine microbial communities.
AB  - Commercial production of nanoparticles (NP) has created a need for research to
      support regulation of nanotechnology. In the current study, microbial biofilm
      communities were developed in rotating annular reactors during continuous
      exposure to 500 MUg L(-1) of each nanomaterial and subjected to multimetric
      analyses. Scanning transmission X-ray spectromicroscopy (STXM) was used to detect
      and estimate the presence of the carbon nanomaterials in the biofilm communities.
      Microscopy observations indicated that the communities were visibly different in
      appearance with changes in abundance of filamentous cyanobacteria in particular.
      Microscale analyses indicated that fullerene (C60) did not significantly (p <
      0.05) impact algal, cyanobacterial or bacterial biomass. In contrast, MWCNT
      exposure resulted in a significant decline in algal and bacteria biomass.
      Interestingly, the presence of SWCNT products increased algal biomass,
      significantly in the case of SWCNT-COOH (p < 0.05) but had no significant impact
      on cyanobacterial or bacterial biomass. Thymidine incorporation indicated that
      bacterial production was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by all nanomaterials
      with the exception of fullerene. Biolog assessment of carbon utilization revealed
      few significant effects with the exception of the utilization of carboxylic
      acids. PCA and ANOSIM analyses of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)
      results indicated that the bacterial communities exposed to fullerene were not
      different from the control, the MWCNT and SWNT-OH differed from the control but
      not each other, whereas the SWCNT and SWCNT-COOH both differed from all other
      treatments and were significantly different from the control (p < 0.05).
      Fluorescent lectin binding analyses also indicated significant (p < 0.05) changes
      in the nature and quantities of exopolymer consistent with changes in microbial
      community structure during exposure to all nanomaterials. Enumeration of
      protozoan grazers showed declines in communities exposed to fullerene or MWCNT
      but a trend for increases in all SWCNT exposures. Observations indicated that at
      500 MUg L(-1), carbon nanomaterials significantly alter aspects of microbial
      community structure and function supporting the need for further evaluation of
      their effects in aquatic habitats. 

PMID- 26867688
TI  - MicroRNA-1228(*) inhibit apoptosis in A549 cells exposed to fine particulate
      matter.
AB  - Studies have reported associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and
      respiratory disorders; however, the underlying mechanism is not completely clear
      owing to the complex components of PM2.5. microRNAs (miRNAs) demonstrate
      tremendous regulation to target genes, which are sensitive to exogenous
      stimulation, and facilitate the integrative understood of biological responses.
      Here, significantly modulated miRNA were profiled by miRNA microarray, coupled
      with bioinformatic analysis; the potential biological function of modulated miRNA
      were predicted and subsequently validated by cell-based assays. Downregulation of
      miR-1228-5p (miR-1228(*)) expression in human A549 cells were associated with
      PM2.5-induced cellular apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway.
      Further, overexpression of miR-1228(*) rescued the cellular damages induced by
      PM2.5. Thus, our results demonstrate that PM2.5-induced A549 apoptosis is
      initiated by mitochondrial dysfunction and miR-1228(*) could protect A549 cells
      against apoptosis. The involved pathways and target genes might be used for
      future mechanistic studies. 

PMID- 26867689
TI  - Enhanced nutrient removal from municipal wastewater assisted by mixotrophic
      microalgal cultivation using glycerol.
AB  - In a present study, nutrient removal from municipal wastewater by Chlorella
      vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oculata was investigated by using mixotrophic
      cultivation with glycerol (0 to 5 g/L). Performance parameters were assessed by
      estimating the removal of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen
      demand (COD), biomass growth, chlorophyll content, lipid yield, and fatty acids.
      With the addition of 2 g/L glycerol, a maximum biomass productivity of 56
      mg/L/day was achieved in the mixotrophic culture of C. vulgaris within 12 days.
      The mixotrophic culture showed a 30-fold increase in biomass productivity
      compared to the wastewater without any glycerol. However, the highest total
      nitrogen removal (80.62 %), total phosphate removal (60.72 %), and COD removal
      (96.3 %) was observed in the N. oculata culture supplemented with 3, 5, and 1 g/L
      glycerol, respectively. These results suggest that mixotrophic cultivation using
      glycerol offers great potential in the production of renewable biomass, waste
      water treatment, and consequent production of high-value microalgal oil.
      Graphical Abstract Simultaneous biomass production and nutrient removal using
      microalgae cultivated in wastewater supplemented with glycerol. 

PMID- 26867690
TI  - Elemental analysis of soils and Salix polaris in the town of Pyramiden and its
      surroundings (Svalbard).
AB  - The contents of elements in the top soil (upper 5 cm) and deeper soil (5 to 10
      cm) layers and in Salix polaris (leaves and stem) from the former Soviet mining
      town of Pyramiden and its close vicinity on the Svalbard archipelago were
      determined. The analyses covered major and trace elements, including heavy
      metals, in order to describe anthropogenic impacts related to the management of
      the mining town. Soil samples and plant tissues were analysed from 13 localities
      across and close to town vicinity. The plant ground cover of all sampling points
      was determined, and plant tissues (leaves and stem) were collected. Higher
      contents of Cd (3-11 mg kg(-1)) and Mo (11-33 mg kg(-1)) were detected in the
      soils. With relation to the world average concentration of metals in soils, the
      geo-accumulation indexes (Igeo) and the level of pollution of the analysed soils
      were classified into seven pollution grades. The soils of the studied localities
      were usually unpolluted (grade 1) when analysed for metals, with the soil
      pollution grades 4-6 identified only for Cd and Mo (moderately to strongly
      polluted). In Salix polaris, excessive amounts of Fe (60-1520 mg kg(-1)), Zn (80
      1050 mg kg(-1)), Cd (0.2-5.5 mg kg(-1)) and Cr (0-3.6 mg kg(-1)) were observed.
      The Igeo of these elements, compared with values considered sufficient for
      plants, showed pollution grades from 2 to 6. The pollution load index (PLI)
      ranged between 0.49 and 1.01. Only one locality could be considered polluted
      having a PLI higher than 1. Plant/soil transfer factors (TF) for trace metals
      decreased in the following order: Zn > Cu > Cd > Mn > Ni > As > Mo > Pb > Co > Al
      > Cr > Fe. The principal contribution of this study consists in the assessment of
      the contamination of soils and plants by toxic heavy metals in an otherwise
      pristine environment of the Svalbard archipelago related to urban/industrial
      activities. 

PMID- 26867691
TI  - WISP1 mediates IL-6-dependent proliferation in primary human lung fibroblasts.
AB  - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung
      disease. IPF is characterized by epithelial cell injury and reprogramming,
      increases in (myo)fibroblasts, and altered deposition of extracellular matrix.
      The Wnt1-inducible signaling protein 1 (WISP1) is involved in impaired epithelial
      mesenchymal crosstalk in pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we aimed to further
      investigate WISP1 regulation and function in primary human lung fibroblasts
      (phLFs). We demonstrate that WISP1 is directly upregulated by Transforming growth
      factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in phLFs,
      using a luciferase-based reporter system. WISP1 mRNA and protein secretion
      increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner by TGFbeta1 and TNFalpha
      in phLFs, as analysed by qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Notably, WISP1 is required
      for TGFbeta1- and TNFalpha-dependent induction of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a
      mechanism that is conserved in IPF phLFs. The siRNA-mediated WISP1 knockdown led
      to a significant IL-6 reduction after TGFbeta1 or TNFalpha stimulation.
      Furthermore, siRNA-mediated downregulation or antibody-mediated neutralization of
      WISP1 reduced phLFs proliferation, a process that was in part rescued by IL-6.
      Taken together, these results strongly indicate that WISP1-induced IL-6
      expression contributes to the pro-proliferative effect on fibroblasts, which is
      likely orchestrated by a variety of profibrotic mediators, including Wnts,
      TGFbeta1 and TNFalpha.

PMID- 26867692
TI  - Hyaluronic acid versus saline intra-articular injections for amelioration of
      chronic knee osteoarthritis: A canine model.
AB  - The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intra
      articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) versus saline for symptomatic
      treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Twenty-five adult purpose-bred dogs underwent
      meniscal release of one knee. Clinical, arthroscopic, and radiographic signs of
      OA were confirmed in all dogs prior to treatment. Dogs were randomized into five
      groups: HA-1 (n = 5), HA-3 (n = 5), HA-5 (n = 5), Saline-1 (n = 5), and Saline-3
      (n = 5). Each dog received intra-articular injections of the respective substance
      into the affected knee at the pre-determined time points. Dogs were assessed for
      heat, swelling, and erythema after each injection and for lameness, pain,
      effusion, range of motion, kinetics, radiographic OA scoring, and arthroscopic
      scoring prior to treatment and for 6 months after injection. Dogs were then
      humanely euthanatized and the knees assessed grossly and histologically. Only
      mild heat, swelling, and/or erythema were noted in some dogs following injection
      and resolved within 1 week. Dogs treated with HA-1, HA-3, and HA-5 were
      significantly (p < 0.05) better than dogs treated with Saline-1 and Saline-3 at
      the 4, 8, and 12 week time points based on at least one outcome measure. OA
      severity was not significantly different among groups at any time point, but
      increased in severity over time in all groups. Gross and histologic OA scores
      were not significantly different among groups. These data suggest the three HA
      injection protocols were safe, superior to saline for short-term amelioration of
      symptoms associated with chronic OA, and can be translated to human OA treatment.
      (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J
      Orthop Res 34:1772-1779, 2016.

PMID- 26867693
TI  - Radiological impact of natural radionuclides from soils of Salamanca, Mexico.
AB  - Salamanca is the centre of a large industrial complex associated with the
      production and refining of oil-derived products in the state of Guanajuato,
      Mexico. The city also hosts a large chemical industry, and in past years a major
      fertilizer industry. All of them followed NORM (naturally occurring radioactive
      materials) industrial activities, where either raw materials or residues enriched
      in natural radionuclides are handled or generated, which can have an
      environmental radiological impact on their environmental compartments (e.g. soils
      and aquatic systems). In this study, activity concentrations of radionuclides
      from the 238U and 232Th natural series present in superficial urban soils
      surrounding an industrial complex in Salamanca, Mexico, have been determined to
      analyse the possible environmental radiological impact of some of the industrial
      activities. The alpha-particle and gamma-ray spectrometry is used for the
      radiometric characterization. The results revealed the presence of 10-42, 11-51
      and 178-811Bq/kg of 238U, 232Th and 40K, respectively, without any clear
      anthropogenic increment in relation to the values normally found in unaffected
      soils. Thus, the radioactive impact of the industrial activities on the
      surrounding soils can be evaluated as very low, representing no radiological risk
      for the health of the population.

PMID- 26867694
TI  - Sequence diversity and ligand-induced structural rearrangements of viper
      hyaluronidase.
AB  - Hyaluronidases (Hyals) are a class of carbohydrate-active enzyme involved in
      angiogenesis, cancer proliferation, tumour growth and venom spreading.
      Functionally significant Hyals are responsible for the fast spreading of venom to
      the target site of action. The absence of molecular diversity and the structural
      and functional behaviour of snake venom Hyals was the inspiration for the
      objective of this study. Echis pyramidum leakeyi hyaluronidase (EHY)-based
      phylogenetic analysis showed the existence of two functional groups of Hyals
      which had diverged from the coral snake (the ancestor). The structure was
      modelled and it was found that the E-loop region (211-224 AA) was only present in
      EHY compared to the templates which may account for the significant function of
      viper Hyal. The best interacting ligands were screened from the selected plant
      derivatives and MYR consisted of better pharmacophore features (AADDRRR) in
      comparison with other ligands. Furthermore, the HOMO, LUMO, and MO energies and
      energy gaps of CGA, MIM and MYR were calculated by DFT analysis. EHY-ligand
      complex stability and interactions were investigated through MD simulation and
      FEL analysis. These revealed that MIM and MYR or their derivative compounds could
      be prominent lead molecules for both EHY and other eukaryotic Hyals. PCA analysis
      of both the non-ligated and ligated forms confirmed that loop-III (86-96 AA) and
      E-loop region structural rearrangements were essential for the association and
      dissociation process of the substrate. Particularly, ARG92 and LYS219 are
      determined as important key residues from the conformational changes. These
      regions' dynamic behaviour can be associated with HA binding and the catalytic
      function of EHY. This result can extend our knowledge of viper Hyal functional
      behaviour and provides structural insight to target eukaryotic Hyals as
      forthcoming drug targets in cancer treatment and venom spreading. 

PMID- 26867695
TI  - Corrigendum: Pharmacologically targeted NMDA receptor antagonism by
      NitroMemantine for cerebrovascular disease.

PMID- 26867696
TI  - Monitoring of Vital Signs with Flexible and Wearable Medical Devices.
AB  - Advances in wireless technologies, low-power electronics, the internet of things,
      and in the domain of connected health are driving innovations in wearable medical
      devices at a tremendous pace. Wearable sensor systems composed of flexible and
      stretchable materials have the potential to better interface to the human skin,
      whereas silicon-based electronics are extremely efficient in sensor data
      processing and transmission. Therefore, flexible and stretchable sensors combined
      with low-power silicon-based electronics are a viable and efficient approach for
      medical monitoring. Flexible medical devices designed for monitoring human vital
      signs, such as body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure,
      pulse oxygenation, and blood glucose have applications in both fitness monitoring
      and medical diagnostics. As a review of the latest development in flexible and
      wearable human vitals sensors, the essential components required for vitals
      sensors are outlined and discussed here, including the reported sensor systems,
      sensing mechanisms, sensor fabrication, power, and data processing requirements. 

PMID- 26867699
TI  - Intraoperative Predictors of Long-term Outcomes After Radiofrequency Endometrial
      Ablation.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify intraoperative predictors of radiofrequency ablation
      (RFA) failure after adjusting for clinical risk factors. DESIGN: A cohort study
      (Canadian Task Force II-2). SETTING: An academic institution in the Upper
      Midwest. PATIENTS: Data were retrospectively collected from medical records of
      women who underwent RFA and who had a postprocedure gynecologic assessment
      between April 1998 and December 2011. INTERVENTIONS: RFA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: The primary outcome was RFA failure, which was defined as hysterectomy,
      repeat ablation, synechiolysis, or treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      analogue for postablation pain or bleeding. Cox proportional hazards regression
      was used to test the predictability of intraoperative variables on RFA failure
      with adjustment for baseline predictors. We created an RFA index to capture the
      procedure duration divided by the uterine surface area. One thousand one hundred
      seventy-eight women were eligible. The median age at ablation was 44 years
      (interquartile range, 40-48 years), and the median parity was 2 (interquartile
      range, 2-3). Dysmenorrhea and prior tubal ligation were reported in 37.1% and
      37.2% of women, respectively. After adjustment for baseline characteristics,
      intraoperative predictors of failure were uterine sounding length >10.5 cm
      (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-5.05),
      uterine cavity length >6 cm (adjusted HR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.30-3.27), uterine
      width >4.5 cm (adjusted HR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.29-3.28), surface area >25 cm(2)
      (adjusted HR = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.26-3.23), procedure time <93 seconds (adjusted HR
      = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.25-5.47), and RFA index <3.6 (adjusted HR = 3.14; 95% CI, 1.70
      5.77). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative parameters are predictive of long-term adverse
      outcomes of RFA independent of patient clinical characteristics. Uterine length,
      procedure duration, and RFA index are associated with unfavorable outcomes and
      thus could be used to optimize postprocedure patient counseling.

PMID- 26867698
TI  - The efficacy of the appetite suppressant, diethylpropion, is dependent on both
      when it is given (day vs. night) and under conditions of high fat dietary
      restriction.
AB  - Obesity is a public health problem caused by excessive consumption of high
      caloric diets and/or lack of physical activity. Although treatments for obesity
      include low caloric diets and exercise programs, these activities frequently are
      supplemented with appetite suppressants. For the short-term treatment of weight
      loss, diethylpropion (DEP) is a commonly used appetite suppressant. However,
      little is known with regard to how to improve its weight loss efficacy. We
      therefore evaluated, in rats, two administration protocols where the animals
      received daily injections of DEP. First, when these nocturnal animals were
      normally active (at night) and when they were normally inactive (daytime), and
      second, with or without high fat dietary restriction (HFDR). We observed that DEP
      induced a greater weight-loss administered when the animals were in their active
      phase than in their inactive phase. Moreover, DEP's administration during the
      inactive phase (and to a lesser degree in the active phase) promotes the
      consumption of food during normal sleeping time. In addition, we found that DEP
      induced weight loss under ad libitum access to a HF diet, but its efficacy
      significantly improved under conditions of HFDR. In summary, the efficacy of DEP,
      and presumably other like appetite suppressants, is enhanced by carefully
      controlling the time it is administered and under dietary restriction of HF
      diets. 

PMID- 26867697
TI  - Reduced reward-driven eating accounts for the impact of a mindfulness-based diet
      and exercise intervention on weight loss: Data from the SHINE randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - Many individuals with obesity report over eating despite intentions to maintain
      or lose weight. Two barriers to long-term weight loss are reward-driven eating,
      which is characterized by a lack of control over eating, a preoccupation with
      food, and a lack of satiety; and psychological stress. Mindfulness training may
      address these barriers by promoting awareness of hunger and satiety cues, self
      regulatory control, and stress reduction. We examined these two barriers as
      potential mediators of weight loss in the Supporting Health by Integrating
      Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) randomized controlled trial, which compared the
      effects of a 5.5-month diet and exercise intervention with or without mindfulness
      training on weight loss among adults with obesity. Intention-to-treat multiple
      mediation models tested whether post-intervention reward-driven eating and
      psychological stress mediated the impact of intervention arm on weight loss at 12
      and 18-months post-baseline among 194 adults with obesity (BMI: 30-45).
      Mindfulness (relative to control) participants had significant reductions in
      reward-driven eating at 6 months (post-intervention), which, in turn, predicted
      weight loss at 12 months. Post-intervention reward-driven eating mediated 47.1%
      of the total intervention arm effect on weight loss at 12 months [beta = -0.06,
      SE(beta) = 0.03, p = .030, 95% CI (-0.12, -0.01)]. This mediated effect was
      reduced when predicting weight loss at 18 months (p = .396), accounting for 23.0%
      of the total intervention effect, despite similar weight loss at 12 months.
      Psychological stress did not mediate the effect of intervention arm on weight
      loss at 12 or 18 months. In conclusion, reducing reward-driven eating, which can
      be achieved using a diet and exercise intervention that includes mindfulness
      training, may promote weight loss (clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT00960414).

PMID- 26867700
TI  - Laparoscopic Lateral Suspension: Benefits of a Cross-shaped Mesh to Treat
      Difficult Vaginal Vault Prolapse.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To show an original technique of laparoscopic lateral suspension
      (LLS) with a precut mesh in a difficult case of vaginal vault prolapse. DESIGN:
      Step-by-step descriptions of the technique using videos (educational video).
      SETTING: Vaginal vault prolapse affects up to 1% of patients who had a
      hysterectomy. Sacrocolpopexy is considered the gold standard in the treatment of
      apical pelvic organ prolapse. However, dissection at the level of the promontory
      may be challenging, particularly in obese patients or when an anatomic variation
      exists. This may be associated with rare but serious neurologic or ureteral
      morbidity as well as life-threatening vascular injury. LLS with mesh represents
      an alternative procedure, avoiding dissection at the promontory. The originality
      of this video is to describe the procedure of LLS in a difficult case of vaginal
      vault prolapse related to adhesions and difficulties of fascia cleavage. The use
      of a precut cross-shaped mesh simplified the technique and facilitated the
      attachment of the mesh to the fascia and the lateral suspension for a smaller
      period of time. This point is not negligible, especially in cases with technical
      difficulties. Institutional review board approval was obtained through the local
      ethics committee of Geneva University Hospitals (Canadian Task Force
      classification III). INTERVENTIONS: After dissections, positioning of the mesh on
      the dome and on the anterior and posterior vaginal walls is explained. The out-in
      technique of lateral suspension with the specific mesh is described. CONCLUSION:
      In this difficult case of vaginal vault prolapse, the LLS using a precut cross
      shaped mesh was placed in good conditions, providing the patient with a minimum
      risk of complications and with the benefits of minimally invasive approach.

PMID- 26867702
TI  - Tribute to: Self-administered nicotine activates the mesolimbic dopamine system
      through the ventral tegmental area [William Corrigall, Kathleen Coen and Laurel
      Adamson, Brain Res. 653 (1994) 278-284].
AB  - In this paper, Dr. Corrigall and collaborators described elegant experiments
      designed to elucidate the neurobiology of nicotine reinforcement. The nicotinic
      receptor antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE) was infused in the
      ventral tegmental area (VTA) or nucleus accumbens (NAC) of rats trained to self
      administer nicotine intravenously. Additionally, DHbetaE was infused in the VTA
      of rats trained to self-administer food or cocaine, and nicotine self
      administration was assessed in rats with lesions to the peduculopontine tegmental
      nucleus (PPT). A number of key themes emerged from this fundamental study that
      remain relevant today. The primary finding was that infusions of DHbetaE in the
      VTA, but not in the NAC, lowered nicotine self-administration, suggesting that
      nicotinic receptors in VTA are involved in the reinforcing action of nicotine.
      This conclusion has been confirmed by subsequent findings, and the nature of the
      nicotinic receptors has also been elucidated. The authors also reported that
      DHbetaE in the VTA had no effect on food or cocaine self-administration, and that
      lesions to the PPT did not alter nicotine self-administration. Since this initial
      investigation, the question of whether nicotinic receptors in the VTA are
      necessary for the reinforcing action of other stimuli, and by which mechanisms,
      has been extensively explored. Similarly, many groups have further investigated
      the role of mesopontine cholinergic nuclei in reinforcement. This paper not only
      contributed in important ways to our understanding of the neurochemical basis of
      nicotine reinforcement, but was also a key catalyst that gave rise to several
      research themes central to the neuropharmacology of substance abuse. This article
      is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:50th Anniversary Issue.

PMID- 26867701
TI  - Peritoneal Washings After Power Morcellation in Laparoscopic Myomectomy: A Pilot
      Study.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if peritoneal washings of the abdominopelvic cavity
      during laparoscopic myomectomy can detect leiomyoma cells after power
      morcellation. DESIGN: Prospective cohort pilot study. SETTING: University of
      North Carolina Hospitals, an academic, tertiary referral center (Canadian Task
      Force classification II-2). PATIENTS: Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic
      myomectomy for suspected benign leiomyoma by members of the Minimally Invasive
      Gynecologic Surgery division between September 2014 and January 2015.
      INTERVENTION: Washings of the peritoneal cavity were collected at 3 times during
      surgery: the beginning of the procedure once the peritoneal cavity was accessed
      laparoscopically, after the myoma was excised and myometrial incision closed, and
      after uncontained power morcellation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty
      patients were included in the analysis. The median morcellation time was 16
      minutes (range, 2-36). The median specimen weight was 283.5 g (range, 13-935).
      Cytologic evaluation (ThinPrep with Papanicolaou staining) did not detect any
      smooth muscle cells. Cell block histology, however, detected spindle cells in 6
      postmorcellation samples. Three of these 6 cases also had spindle cells detected
      on the postmyomectomy closure samples. When performed on the postmorcellation
      samples, desmin and smooth muscle actin immunostaining were positive, confirming
      the presence of smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSION: Cell block histology, but not
      cytology, can detect leiomyoma cells in peritoneal washings after power
      morcellation. With myomectomy, there is some tissue disruption that seems to
      cause cell spread even in the absence of morcellation. Further protocol testing
      might allow peritoneal washings to be used in assessing containment techniques
      and testing comparative safety of different morcellation methods.

PMID- 26867703
TI  - The long pursued Holy Grail of the true "alcoholic" rat.
AB  - An anthology of microdialysis and electrophysiological studies on ethanol effect
      on mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons is presented. The usefulness of rats with
      innate preference for ethanol, such as the Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP), in
      studying ethanol rewarding and reinforcing effects is signaled. The generation of
      the long sought "alcoholics rat" from sP rats is announced. Rats of the sP line
      avoid the shortcomings of using rats non selected for ethanol preference.

PMID- 26867704
TI  - Finding prefrontal cortex in the rat.
AB  - The prefrontal cortex of the rat. I. Cortical projection of the mediodorsal
      nucleus. II. Efferent connections The cortical projection field of the
      mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MD) was identified in the rat using the Fink
      Heimer silver technique for tracing degenerating fibers. Small stereotaxic
      lesions confined to MD were followed by terminal degeneration in the dorsal bank
      of the rhinal sulcus (sulcal cortex) and the medial wall of the hemisphere
      anterior and dorsal to the genu of the corpus callosum (medial cortex). No
      degenerating fibers were traced to the convexity of the hemisphere. The cortical
      formation receiving a projection from MD is of a relatively undifferentiated type
      which had been previously classified as juxtallocortex. A study of the efferent
      fiber connections of the rat's MD-projection cortex demonstrated some
      similarities to those of monkey prefrontal cortex. A substantial projection to
      the pretectal area and deep layers of the superior colliculus originates in
      medial cortex, a connection previously reported for caudal prefrontal (area 8)
      cortex in the monkey. Sulcal cortex projects to basal olfactory structures and
      lateral hypothalamus, as does orbital frontal cortex in the monkey. The rat's MD
      projection cortex differs from that in the monkey in that it lacks a granular
      layer and appears to have no prominent direct associations with temporal and
      juxtahippocampal areas. Furthermore, retrograde degeneration does not appear in
      the rat thalamus after damage to MD-projection areas, suggesting that the
      striatum or thalamus receives a proportionally larger share of the MD-projection
      in this animal than it does in the monkey. Comparative behavioral investigations
      are in progress to investigate functional differences between granular prefrontal
      cortex in the primate and the relatively primitive MD-projection cortex in the
      rat. (c) 1969. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:50th
      Anniversary Issue.

PMID- 26867705
TI  - Online information for women and their families regarding reduced fetal movements
      is of variable quality, readability and accountability.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: reduced fetal movements (RFM) are experienced by 46-50% of women prior
      to the diagnosis of stillbirth. Empowering women with evidenced-based information
      regarding RFM may allow for prompt contact with a health care provider and access
      to appropriate management. Use of the Internet is growing in popularity as a
      source of pregnancy information to aid mothers' decision-making. This study aimed
      to identify and examine the available online information for pregnant women
      regarding RFM. DESIGN: a systematic search was performed using Google, Yahoo and
      Bing to identify the most popular websites giving information about RFM. The
      websites were assessed for readability, accountability and content using the
      Flesh-Kincaid ease of readability score; the Silberg criteria; and by comparison
      to evidence-based guidelines respectively. Chat forums were assessed using a
      qualitative thematic analysis. FINDINGS: 70 information articles and 63 chat
      forums were analysed from 77 unique websites. The mean readability score was 65.7
      (suitable for the average 13-15 year old) and therefore above the recommended
      level set for health materials; only 15 (21.4%) websites met all accountability
      criteria; and 43 (70%) websites contained information that was not in accordance
      with evidence-based recommendations. Typical questions on forums were 'Is this
      normal? What should I do?' and responses were 'Better safe than sorry', 'There is
      no harm in calling'. KEY CONCLUSION: overall, there was wide variation in the
      quality of information regarding RFM on the Internet. However, the study
      identified four excellent websites on RFM that may be suitable sources of
      information for women. Women's uncertainty displayed in the chat forums may
      suggest that clearer, accessible guidance is needed if they experience RFM.
      IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the Internet can compliment and support current
      methods of antenatal information provision. However, due to varying levels of
      quality it is essential that professionals discuss and direct women to useful
      evidenced-based websites. Care must be taken to ensure consistent advice and
      management of those presenting with RFM and that women's concerns are addressed.

PMID- 26867706
TI  - Survival in Children With Down Syndrome Undergoing Single-Ventricle Palliation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We describe survival in patients with Down syndrome (DS) with single
      ventricle anatomy and palliation and characterize risk factors associated with
      mortality. METHODS: All patients with DS and single-ventricle anatomy documented
      in the electronic medical record at our institution from January 1, 1992, to May
      1, 2014, were compared with patients with unbalanced atrioventricular septal
      defects and single-ventricle anatomy, without DS or heterotaxy, during the same
      period. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with
      mortality, including the presence of DS. RESULTS: There were 28 patients with DS
      and 30 patients without DS. One-year survival with DS was 75% (95% CI: 55% to
      87%); 5-year survival was 61% (95% CI: 40% to 76%). All DS deaths except one
      occurred before 2 years of age. One-year non-DS survival was 93% (95% CI: 76% to
      98%); 5-year survival was 85% (95% CI: 64% to 94%). Factors associated with death
      by univariable analysis included DS (p = 0.04), pulmonary vascular resistance
      (PVR) of at least 3 Wood units * meter(2) (WUm(2)) in the first year of life (p =
      0.03), and moderate-to-severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation (p = 0.1). In
      combined analysis, when accounting for PVR of at least 3 WUm(2) (hazard ratio
      [HR] 9.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 83.5, p = 0.04), DS was not associated with increased
      mortality (HR 1.5, 95% CI: 0.3 to 7.8, p = 0.66). No patient with DS with PVR
      less than 3 WUm(2) died. CONCLUSIONS: Children with DS and single-ventricle
      anatomy have excellent survival when PVR is less than 3 WUm(2) in the first year
      of life, with minimal mortality beyond 2 years of age. When accounting for PVR,
      DS alone is not associated with increased mortality in patients with single
      ventricle anatomy.

PMID- 26867707
TI  - Side-to-side variation in normal femoral morphology: 3D CT analysis of 122
      femurs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The contralateral femur is often used as reference for reconstruction
      in unilateral hip joint pathology. The objective of this study was to quantify
      the side-to-side variation in proximal femur. We hypothesized that significant
      side-to-side differences exist between left and right femur with implications for
      preoperative planning and leg length discrepancy following hip arthroplasty.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT-based 3D femoral models were reconstructed for 122
      paired femurs in 61 young healthy subjects (46.9+/-6.8 years) with no history of
      hip pathology. Side-to-side differences of several femoral morphologic
      parameters, including femoral head diameter, femoral anteversion, horizontal
      offset and femoral head center location, were compared and correlated with
      demographic factors using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Significant side
      to-side differences (P<0.01) were found in femoral anteversion (4.3+/-3.8 degrees
      ; range: 0.2 degrees  to 17.3 degrees ), horizontal offset (2.5+/-2.1mm; range:
      0.1 to 10.3mm), and femoral head center location (7.1+/-3.8mm; range: 0.5 to
      19.4mm). The difference in femoral anteversion was strongly correlated with the
      difference in neck diameter (R(2)=0.79), whereas the difference in horizontal
      femoral offset was highly correlated with the head diameter difference
      (R(2)=0.72). Femoral head center difference was correlated with the femoral
      anteversion, horizontal offset and neck-shaft-angle difference (R(2)=0.82).
      DISCUSSION: Relying on the anatomic landmarks of the contralateral femur during
      hip arthroplasty may not necessarily result in restoration of native anatomy and
      leg-length. Knowledge of the baseline side-to-side asymmetry could provide a
      range of error that would be tolerable following hip reconstruction. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective observational study.

PMID- 26867708
TI  - Patient-specific risk factors for infection in arthroplasty procedure.
AB  - All patients are not equally at risk when it comes to postoperative infections,
      whether the risks are related to the environment or the patient. Patient-specific
      infection risk factors for arthroplasty should be a focal point during the
      preoperative consultation as they impact the treatment decision. Eighty percent
      of patients have at least one modifiable infection risk factor. These risk
      factors must be corrected preoperatively whenever possible so that the patient is
      operated under the best possible conditions, with the lowest possible infection
      risk. The screenings and preoperative preparations are multidisciplinary but must
      also involve the patient. The information provided to the patient must match the
      patient's infectious risk profile. This lecture will review every infection risk
      factor, whether it is modifiable or not, and then suggest how the treatment
      decision should be adapted to each patient's infection risk. 

PMID- 26867709
TI  - Smoking and alcohol behaviours in people following hip and knee arthroplasty:
      Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Smoking and alcohol consumption has a negative effect on overall
      health. Limited evidence has been presented as to how these health behaviours may
      change between pre- and postoperative intervals in the initial 12 months post
      arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to address this uncertainty.
      HYPOTHESIS: Smoking and alcohol consumption differs between pre- and post-THA/TKA
      and it differs between non-arthroplasty cohorts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from
      the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), a population-based observational study in
      the USA, were gathered. In total, data from 287 people who had undergone THA or
      TKA from baseline to month 48 OAI follow-up assessments were analysed. Data on
      this cohort were compared to 287 age- and gender-matched people with
      osteoarthritis. Mean change from pre- to post-arthroplasty, and differences
      between arthroplasty and non-arthroplasty participants for smoking and alcohol
      consumption were assessed descriptively and through Wilcoxin-matched pairs test
      and Student t-tests (as appropriate). RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of smoking
      was high for people who received THA (99%) and TKA (96%). Prevalence of current
      smoking significantly decreased from 5 to 3% across the THA and TKA cohort in the
      initial 12 months post-arthroplasty (P<0.05). Similarly, there was a
      statistically significant decrease in weekly alcohol consumption post
      arthroplasty for people who underwent THA and TKA (P<0.01), although the mean
      difference was only by 0.9 alcoholic drinks. The only statistically significant
      difference in smoking and alcohol consumption for arthroplasty to non
      arthroplasty participants was in weekly alcohol consumption, which was higher by
      0.3 drinks in the non-arthroplasty cohort (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and
      alcohol consumption decreased in the initial 12 months post-THA and TKA. This was
      not significantly different to an age- and gender-matched non-arthroplasty
      cohort. Whilst this is positive, a small group of patients still present with
      unhealthy lifestyle choices in relation to these behaviours post-arthroplasty.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III - prospective case control study.

PMID- 26867710
TI  - BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Testing in Young Women With Breast Cancer.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: BRCA testing is recommended for young women diagnosed as having
      breast cancer, but little is known about decisions surrounding testing and how
      results may influence treatment decisions in young patients. OBJECTIVES: To
      describe the use of BRCA testing and to evaluate how concerns about genetic risk
      and use of genetic information affect subsequent treatment decisions in young
      women with breast cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional
      analysis of data collected following the opening of the study to accrual from
      October 10, 2006, through December 31, 2014, as part of the Helping Ourselves,
      Helping Others: Young Women's Breast Cancer Study, an ongoing prospective cohort
      study. Study participants included 897 women aged 40 years and younger at breast
      cancer diagnosis from 11 academic and community medical centers. MAIN OUTCOMES
      AND MEASURES: Frequency and trends in the use of BRCA testing and how genetic
      information is used to make treatment decisions among women who test positive vs
      negative for a BRCA mutation. RESULTS: A total of 780 (87.0%) of 897 women
      reported BRCA testing by 1 year after breast cancer diagnosis (mean age at
      diagnosis, 35.3 vs 36.9 years for untested women; P < .001), with the frequency
      of testing increasing among women diagnosed from August 1, 2006, through December
      31, 2013. Of 39 women who were diagnosed as having breast cancer in 2006, 30
      (76.9%) reported testing. In 2007, a slightly lower percentage of women (87 of
      124 [70.2%]) reported testing; however, the proportion tested increased each
      subsequent year, with 141 (96.6%) of 146 and 123 (95.3%) of 129 women diagnosed
      as having breast cancer in 2012 and 2013, respectively, reporting BRCA testing (P
      < .001). Among untested women, 37 (31.6%) of 117 did not report discussion of the
      possibility that they might have a mutation with a physician and/or genetic
      counselor, and 43 (36.8%) of 117 were thinking of testing in the future. A total
      of 248 (29.8%) of 831 women said that knowledge or concern about genetic risk
      influenced treatment decisions; among these women, 76 (86.4%) of 88 mutation
      carriers and 82 (51.2%) of 160 noncarriers chose bilateral mastectomy (P < .001).
      Fewer women reported that systemic treatment decisions were influenced by genetic
      risk concern. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Rates of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation
      testing are increasing in young women with breast cancer. Given that knowledge
      and concern about genetic risk influence surgical decisions and may affect
      systemic therapy trial eligibility, all young women with breast cancer should be
      counseled and offered genetic testing, consistent with the National Comprehensive
      Cancer Network guidelines.

PMID- 26867712
TI  - Inhaled Mannitol (Bronchitol) for Cystic Fibrosis.

PMID- 26867711
TI  - Characterization of SCO4439, a D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase involved in
      spore cell wall maturation, resistance, and germination in Streptomyces
      coelicolor.
AB  - This work contributes to the understanding of cell wall modifications during
      sporulation and germination in Streptomyces by assessing the biological function
      and biochemical properties of SCO4439, a D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase (DD
      CPase) constitutively expressed during development. SCO4439 harbors a DD-CPase
      domain and a putative transcriptional regulator domain, separated by a putative
      transmembrane region. The recombinant protein shows that DD-CPase activity is
      inhibited by penicillin G. The spores of the SCO4439::Tn5062 mutant are affected
      in their resistance to heat and acid and showed a dramatic increase in swelling
      during germination. The mycelium of the SCO4439::Tn5062 mutant is more sensitive
      to glycopeptide antibiotics (vancomycin and teicoplanin). The DD-CPase domain and
      the hydrophobic transmembrane region are highly conserved in Streptomyces, and
      both are essential for complementing the wild type phenotypes in the mutant. A
      model for the biological mechanism behind the observed phenotypes is proposed, in
      which SCO4439 DD-CPase releases D-Ala from peptidoglycan (PG) precursors, thereby
      reducing the substrate pool for PG crosslinking (transpeptidation). PG
      crosslinking regulates spore physical resistance and germination, and modulates
      mycelium resistance to glycopeptides. This study is the first demonstration of
      the role of a DD-CPase in the maturation of the spore cell wall. 

PMID- 26867713
TI  - Synthetic biology for production of natural and new-to-nature terpenoids in
      photosynthetic organisms.
AB  - With tens of thousands of characterized members, terpenoids constitute the
      largest class of natural compounds that are synthesized by all living organisms.
      Several terpenoids play primary roles in the maintenance of cell membrane
      fluidity, as pigments or as phytohormones, but most of them function as
      specialized metabolites that are involved in plant resistance to herbivores or
      plant-environment interactions. Terpenoids are an essential component of human
      nutrition, and many are economically important pharmaceuticals, aromatics and
      potential next-generation biofuels. Because of the often low abundance in their
      natural source, as well as the demand for novel terpenoid structures with new or
      improved bioactivities, terpenoid biosynthesis has become a prime target for
      metabolic engineering and synthetic biology projects. In this review we focus on
      the creation of new-to-nature or tailor-made plant-derived terpenoids in
      photosynthetic organisms, in particular by means of combinatorial biosynthesis
      and the activation of silent metabolism. We reflect on the characteristics of
      different potential photosynthetic host organisms and recent advances in
      synthetic biology and discuss their utility for the (heterologous) production of
      (novel) terpenoids.

PMID- 26867714
TI  - Development and validation of a sensitive monoclonal antibody-based indirect
      competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of the
      aflatoxin M1 levels in milk.
AB  - A sensitive monoclonal antibody (mAb) against aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was generated
      to quickly monitor the AFM1 residues in milk. Then, a mAb-based indirect
      competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was established that
      utilizes simple sample preparation and clean-up methods. The obtained 3D8 mAb,
      which is an IgG1 isotype mAb, displayed an IC50 value of 64.75 ng L(-1) for AFM1
      and did not exhibit measurable cross-reactivity with other aflatoxins and
      antibiotics. The decision limit (CCalpha, alpha = 1%), detection capability
      (CCbeta, beta = 5%), and LOQ value for the AFM1 matrix calibration method were 24
      ng L(-1), 27.5 ng L(-1), and 35 ng L(-1) in the milk matrices, respectively. The
      AFM1 recovery ranged from 85.3% to 107.6%. The CVs were less than 13.8%. A
      positive correlation (r > 0.99) was observed between the ic-ELISA and HPLC-MS/MS
      results. This ic-ELISA would be a useful tool for screening the AFM1 residues in
      milk.

PMID- 26867715
TI  - A prospective examination of Axis I psychiatric disorders in the first 5 years
      following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders commonly emerge during the first year following
      traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is not clear whether these disorders
      soon remit or persist for long periods post-injury. This study aimed to examine,
      prospectively: (1) the frequency, (2) patterns of co-morbidity, (3) trajectory,
      and (4) risk factors for psychiatric disorders during the first 5 years following
      TBI. METHOD: Participants were 161 individuals (78.3% male) with moderate (31.2%)
      or severe (68.8%) TBI. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using the Structured
      Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, administered soon after injury and 3, 6 and 12
      months, and 2, 3, 4 and 5 years post-injury. Disorder frequencies and generalized
      estimating equations were used to identify temporal relationships and risk
      factors. RESULTS: In the first 5 years post-injury, 75.2% received a psychiatric
      diagnosis, commonly emerging within the first year (77.7%). Anxiety, mood and
      substance-use disorders were the most common diagnostic classes, often presenting
      co-morbidly. Many (56.5%) experienced a novel diagnostic class not present prior
      to injury. Disorder frequency ranged between 61.8 and 35.6% over time, decreasing
      by 27% [odds ratio (OR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-0.83] with each
      year post-injury. Anxiety disorders declined significantly over time (OR 0.73,
      95% CI 0.63-0.84), whilst mood and substance-use disorder rates remained stable.
      The strongest predictors of post-injury disorder were pre-injury disorder (OR
      2.44, 95% CI 1.41-4.25) and accident-related limb injury (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.03
      3.07). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the first year post-injury is a critical
      period for the emergence of psychiatric disorders. Disorder frequency declines
      thereafter, with anxiety disorders showing greater resolution than mood and
      substance-use disorders.

PMID- 26867716
TI  - Excitation Dynamics in Hetero-bichromophoric Calixarene Systems.
AB  - In this work, the dynamics of electronic energy transfer (EET) in bichromophoric
      donor-acceptor systems, obtained by functionalizing a calix[4]arene scaffold with
      two dyes, was experimentally and theoretically characterized. The investigated
      compounds are highly versatile, due to the possibility of linking the dye
      molecules to the cone or partial cone structure of the calix[4]arene, which
      directs the two active units to the same or opposite side of the scaffold,
      respectively. The dynamics and efficiency of the EET process between the donor
      and acceptor units was investigated and discussed through a combined experimental
      and theoretical approach, involving ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy and density
      functional theory based characterization of the energetic and spectroscopic
      properties of the system. Our results suggest that the external medium strongly
      determines the particular conformation adopted by the bichromophores, with a
      direct effect on the extent of excitonic coupling between the dyes and hence on
      the dynamics of the EET process itself.

PMID- 26867717
TI  - The dilemma of immune stimulation and suppression during depression: One step
      closer to a solution?

PMID- 26867718
TI  - Postoperative cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation; Cardiac surgery and
      abdominal surgery are not the same.
AB  - Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a debilitating surgical
      complication, with cardiac surgery patients at particular risk. To gain insight
      in the mechanisms underlying the higher incidence of POCD after cardiac versus
      non-cardiac surgery, systemic and central inflammatory changes, alterations in
      intraneuronal pathways, and cognitive performance were studied after cardiac and
      abdominal surgery in rats. Male Wistar rats were subjected to ischemia
      reperfusion of the upper mesenteric artery (abdominal surgery) or the left
      coronary artery (cardiac surgery). Control rats remained naive, received
      anesthesia only, or received thoracic sham surgery. Rats were subjected to
      affective and cognitive behavioral tests in postoperative week 2. Plasma
      concentrations of inflammatory factors, and markers for neuroinflammation (NGAL
      and microglial activity) and the BDNF pathway (BDNF, p38MAPK and DCX) were
      determined. Spatial memory was impaired after both abdominal and cardiac surgery,
      but only cardiac surgery impaired spatial learning and object recognition. While
      all surgical procedures elicited a pronounced acute systemic inflammatory
      response, NGAL and TNFalpha levels were particularly increased after abdominal
      surgery. Conversely, NGAL in plasma and the paraventricular nucleus of the
      hypothalamus and microglial activity in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex on
      postoperative day 14 were increased after cardiac, but not abdominal surgery.
      Both surgery types induced hippocampal alterations in BDNF signaling. These
      results suggest that POCD after cardiac surgery, compared to non-cardiac surgery,
      affects different cognitive domains and hence may be more extended rather than
      more severe. Moreover, while abdominal surgery effects seem limited to
      hippocampal brain regions, cardiac surgery seems associated with more wide spread
      alterations in the brain. 

PMID- 26867719
TI  - Primary angiosarcoma of the breast.
AB  - Primary angiosarcoma (AS) of the breast is a rare neoplasia that is not related
      to radiation exposure. It represents less than 0.05% of all malignant breast
      tumors. This lesion is characterized by aggressive patterns and poor prognosis
      and by the absence of typical features at radiologic examination. Currently there
      are not evidence-based guidelines regarding surgical and adjuvant treatment for
      this tumor even though wide surgical resection followed by chemo- radiotherapy
      appears to improve both disease free survival and overall survival. The aim of
      this study was to analyze the available series of AS patients suggesting the most
      reliable treatment options for this rare neoplasia. 

PMID- 26867720
TI  - Symptomatic annular pancreas in adult: Report of two different presentations and
      treatments and review of the literature.
AB  - Annular pancreas (AP) in adults is a rare embryologic abnormality detected after
      development of complications or as incidental finding. Diagnosis and treatment
      strategies for symptomatic adult AP remain controversial. We describe two
      different presentation of AP: a woman with a specific upper abdominal pain
      treated with medical therapy and a man with upper gastroenteric obstructive
      symptoms which underwent surgical duodeno-jejunal by-pass. English language
      literature about annular pancreas etiology, diagnosis and treatment was reviewed.
      No specific guidelines and protocols exist about management of AP, therefore,
      treatment and operative approaches must be individualized. In consideration of
      the possible post-operative complications, surgical treatment should be reserved
      in case of failure of conservative medical therapies. 

PMID- 26867721
TI  - Spray Inlet Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (SI-PTR-MS) for Rapid and
      Sensitive Online Monitoring of Benzene in Water.
AB  - Rapid and sensitive monitoring of benzene in water is very important to the
      health of people and for environmental protection. A novel and online detection
      method of spray inlet proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (SI-PTR-MS) was
      introduced for rapid and sensitive monitoring of trace benzene in water. A
      spraying extraction system was coupled with the self-developed PTR-MS. The
      benzene was extracted from the water sample in the spraying extraction system and
      continuously detected with PTR-MS. The flow of carrier gas and salt concentration
      in water were optimized to be 50 sccm and 20% (w/v), respectively. The response
      time and the limit of detection of the SI-PTR-MS for detection of benzene in
      water were 55 s and 0.14 MUg/L at 10 s integration time, respectively. The
      repeatability of the SI-PTR-MS was evaluated, and the relative standard deviation
      of five replicate determinations was 4.3%. The SI-PTR-MS system was employed for
      monitoring benzene in different water matrices, such as tap water, lake water,
      and wastewater. The results indicated that the online SI-PTR-MS can be used for
      rapid and sensitive monitoring of trace benzene in water. 

PMID- 26867722
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Primary Endoscopic Realignment of Urethral Disruption
      Injuries--A Double-Edged Sword?

PMID- 26867723
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Finasteride Reduces the Risk of Bladder Cancer in a Large
      Prospective Screening Study.

PMID- 26867724
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Nephron-sparing Techniques Independently Decrease the Risk
      of Cardiovascular Events Relative to Radical Nephrectomy in Patients with a T1a
      T1b Renal Mass and Normal Preoperative Renal Function.

PMID- 26867725
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Nivolumab versus Everolimus in Advanced Renal-Cell
      Carcinoma.

PMID- 26867726
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Genomic Classifier Identifies Men with Adverse Pathology
      After Radical Prostatectomy Who Benefit from Adjuvant Radiation Therapy.

PMID- 26867727
TI  - Words of Wisdom. Re: Chemohormonal Therapy in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive
      Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26867728
TI  - Dermabacter vaginalis sp. nov., isolated from human vaginal fluid.
AB  - A novel actinobacterial strain, AD1-86T, was isolated from the vaginal fluid of a
      Korean female and was characterized by a polyphasic approach. The strain was a
      facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile,
      catalase-positive and oxidase-negative short rod. Colonies were creamy white, of
      low convexity and 1-2 mm in diameter after growth on DSM 92 agar plates at 37 
      degrees C for 2 days. The most closely related strains were Dermabacter hominis
      DSM 7083T and Helcobacillus massiliensis 6401990T (98.3 and 96.3 % 16S rRNA gene
      sequence similarity, respectively). The isolate grew optimally at 37  degrees C
      and pH 7 in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan
      contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the cell-wall hydrolysates contained
      ribose, galactose and glucose. The DNA G+C content was 62.6 mol% and the mean DNA
      DNA relatedness value of the isolate to D. hominis DSM 7083T was 31.1+/-3.0%
      (reciprocal: 48.2+/-5.3%). The major cellular fatty acids (>10%) were anteiso
      C17:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0, and the menaquinones were MK-9, MK-8 and MK
      7. The polar lipid profile of strain AD1-86T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylglycerol, two aminolipids and a glycolipid. Data from this polyphasic
      study indicate that strain AD1-86T represents a novel species of the genus
      Dermabacter, for which the name Dermabacter vaginalis sp. nov. is proposed; the
      type strain is AD1-86T (=KCTC 39585T=DSM 100050T).

PMID- 26867729
TI  - Ovarian cancer mimics: how to avoid being fooled by extraovarian pelvic masses.
AB  - In our clinical experience, pelvic masses from a variety of anatomic sites may be
      misdiagnosed as ovarian cancer. This tendency to overdiagnose a rare disease
      probably reflects both its protean imaging appearance and concern for its
      potential morbidity and mortality. However, radiologists can better serve
      patients with an analytic approach to the anatomic and tissue features of pelvic
      masses. We review a range of ovarian cancer mimics and illustrate the radiologic
      reasoning enabling correct diagnosis.

PMID- 26867730
TI  - MRI texture analysis parameters of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images of
      Crohn's disease differ according to the presence or absence of histological
      markers of hypoxia and angiogenesis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate if texture analysis parameters of contrast-enhanced MRI
      differ according to the presence of histological markers of hypoxia and
      angiogenesis in Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Seven CD patients (mean age 38 (19
      75), 3 male)) undergoing ileal resection underwent 3T MR enterography including
      axial ultrafast spoiled gradient-echo T1 post IV gadolinium chelate. Regions of
      interest were placed in bowel destined for resection and registered to trans
      mural histological sections (n = 28 across 7 bowel sections) via MRI of the
      resected specimen. Microvessel density (MVD) and staining for markers of hypoxia
      (HIF 1alpha) and angiogenesis (VEGF) were performed. Texture analysis features
      were derived utilizing an image filtration-histogram technique at spatial scaling
      factor (SSF) 0-6 mm, including mean, standard deviation, mean of positive pixels,
      entropy, kurtosis and skewness and compared according to the presence or absence
      of histological markers of hypoxia/angiogenesis using Mann-Whitney U/Kruskal
      Wallis tests and with the log of MVD using simple linear regression. RESULTS:
      Mean, standard deviation and mean of positive pixels were significantly lower in
      sections expressing VEGF. For example at SSF 6 mm, median (inter-quartile range)
      of mean, standard deviation and mean of positive pixels in those with VEGF
      expression were 150.1 (134.7), 132.4 (49.2) and 184.0 (91.4) vs. 362.5 (150.2),
      216.3 (100.1) and 416.6 (80.0) in those without (p = 0.001, p = 0.004 and p =
      0.001), respectively. There was a significant association between skewness and
      MVD (ratio 1.97 (1.15-3.41)) at SSF = 2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced MRI
      texture analysis features significantly differ according to the presence or
      absence of histological markers of hypoxia and angiogenesis in CD.

PMID- 26867731
TI  - Handgrip strength measured by a dynamometer connected to a smartphone: a new
      applied health technology solution for the self-assessment of rheumatoid
      arthritis disease activity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyse the accuracy of a hand dynamometer connected to
      a smartphone to assess RA disease activity through the measurement of handgrip
      strength (HGS). METHODS: Eighty-two RA patients participated in this prospective
      study. Three types of HGS were assessed: power (Po), pinch (Pi) and tripod (T).
      An interactive mobile application was developed to capture grip measures. A
      unilinear regression analysis between HGS and DAS28 was performed. A multivariate
      regression analysis to identify independent variables related to HGS was also
      conducted. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (76.8%) were female. Mean age was 61.3
      years. At baseline, a negative correlation between the three HGS measures and
      DAS28 score was found, as follows: Po, r = -0.65 (95% CI: -0.76, -0.51, P <
      0.001); Pi, r= -0.42 (95% CI: -0.59, -0.23, P < 0.001); and T, r = -0.47 (95% CI:
      -0.63, -0.29, P < 0.001). In a longitudinal analysis of 32 patients, a negative
      correlation between DeltaPo grip and DeltaDAS28 was found (r = -0.76, 95% CI: 
      0.88, -0.56). Po grip was independently correlated with male sex (95% CI: 1.49,
      4.14, P = 0.002), whereas variables inversely correlated with Po grip were
      disease duration (95% CI: -2.71, -1.34, P = 0.03), patient global assessment (95%
      CI: -2.41, -1.1, P < 0.001) and CRP level (95% CI: -3.56, -1.08, P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSION: HGS assessed by a hand dynamometer connected to a smartphone
      represents an innovative health technology solution that could prompt the self
      assessment of RA disease activity in an outpatient setting.

PMID- 26867732
TI  - Phenotypic variability in patients with ADA2 deficiency due to identical
      homozygous R169Q mutations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the genotype-phenotype association in patients with
      adenosine deaminase-2 (ADA2) deficiency due to identical homozygous R169Q
      mutations inCECR1 METHODS: We present a case series of nine ADA2-deficient
      patients with an identical homozygous R169Q mutation. Clinical and diagnostic
      data were collected and available MRI studies were reviewed. We performed
      genealogy and haplotype analyses and measured serum ADA2 activity. ADA2 activity
      values were correlated to clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Age of presentation
      differed widely between the nine presented patients (range: 0 months to 8 years).
      The main clinical manifestations were (hepato)splenomegaly (8/9), skin
      involvement (8/9) and neurological involvement (8/9, of whom 6 encountered
      stroke). Considerable variation was seen in type, frequency and intensity of
      other symptoms, which included aplastic anaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and
      cutaneous ulcers. Common laboratory abnormalities included cytopenias and
      hypogammaglobulinaemia. ADA2 enzyme activity in patients was significantly
      decreased compared with healthy controls. ADA2 activity levels tended to be lower
      in patients with stroke compared with patients without stroke. Genealogical
      studies did not identify a common ancestor; however, based on allele frequency, a
      North-West European founder effect can be noted. Three patients underwent
      haematopoietic cell transplantation, after which ADA2 activity was restored and
      clinical symptoms resolved. CONCLUSION: This case series revealed large
      phenotypic variability in patients with ADA2 deficiency though they were
      homozygous for the same R169Q mutation inCECR1 Disease modifiers, including
      epigenetic and environmental factors, thus seem important in determining the
      phenotype. Furthermore, haematopoietic cell transplantation appears promising for
      those patients with a severe clinical phenotype.

PMID- 26867733
TI  - Two carbohydrate recognizing domains from Cycas revoluta leaf lectin show the
      distinct sugar-binding specificity-A unique mannooligosaccharide recognition by N
      terminal domain.
AB  - Cycas revoluta leaf lectin (CRLL) of mannose-recognizing jacalin-related lectin
      (mJRL) has two tandem repeated carbohydrate recognition domains, and shows the
      characteristic sugar-binding specificity toward high mannose-glycans, compared
      with other mJRLs. We expressed the N-terminal domain and C-terminal domain (CRLL
      N and CRLL-C) separately, to determine the fine sugar-binding specificity of each
      domain, using frontal affinity chromatography, glycan array and equilibrium
      dialysis. The specificity of CRLL toward high mannose was basically derived from
      CRLL-N, whereas CRLL-C had affinity for alpha1-6 extended mono-antennary complex
      type glycans. Notably, the affinity of CRLL-N was most potent to one of three Man
      8 glycans and Man 9 glycan, whereas the affinity of CRLL-C decreased with the
      increase in the number of extended alpha1-2 linked mannose residue. The
      recognition of the Man 8 glycans by CRLL-N has not been found for other mannose
      recognizing lectins. Glycan array reflected these specificities of the two
      domains. Furthermore, it was revealed by equilibrium dialysis method that the
      each domain had two sugar-binding sites, similar with Banlec, banana mannose
      binding Jacalin-related lectin. 

PMID- 26867735
TI  - Increased Depth and Breadth of Plasma Protein Quantitation via Two-Dimensional
      Liquid Chromatography/Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry with Labeled
      Peptide Standards.
AB  - Absolute quantitative strategies are emerging as a powerful and preferable means
      of deriving concentrations in biological samples for systems biology
      applications. Method development is driven by the need to establish new-and
      validate current-protein biomarkers of high-to-low abundance for clinical
      utility. In this chapter, we describe a methodology involving two-dimensional
      (2D) reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), operated under alkaline and
      acidic pH conditions, combined with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-mass
      spectrometry (MS) (also called selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-MS) and a
      complex mixture of stable isotope-labeled standard (SIS) peptides, to quantify a
      broad and diverse panel of 253 proteins in human blood plasma. The quantitation
      range spans 8 orders of magnitude-from 15 mg/mL (for vitamin D-binding protein)
      to 450 pg/mL (for protein S100-B)-and includes 31 low-abundance proteins (defined
      as being <10 ng/mL) of potential disease relevance. The method is designed to
      assess candidates at the discovery and/or verification phases of the biomarker
      pipeline and can be adapted to examine smaller or alternate panels of proteins
      for higher sample throughput. Also detailed here is the application of our
      recently developed software tool-Qualis-SIS-for protein quantitation (via
      regression analysis of standard curves) and quality assessment of the resulting
      data. Overall, this chapter provides the blueprint for the replication of this
      quantitative proteomic method by proteomic scientists of all skill levels. 

PMID- 26867734
TI  - A biophysical model of the cortex-basal ganglia-thalamus network in the 6-OHDA
      lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Electrical stimulation of sub-cortical brain regions (the basal ganglia), known
      as deep brain stimulation (DBS), is an effective treatment for Parkinson's
      disease (PD). Chronic high frequency (HF) DBS in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or
      globus pallidus interna (GPi) reduces motor symptoms including bradykinesia and
      tremor in patients with PD, but the therapeutic mechanisms of DBS are not fully
      understood. We developed a biophysical network model comprising of the closed
      loop cortical-basal ganglia-thalamus circuit representing the healthy and
      parkinsonian rat brain. The network properties of the model were validated by
      comparing responses evoked in basal ganglia (BG) nuclei by cortical (CTX)
      stimulation to published experimental results. A key emergent property of the
      model was generation of low-frequency network oscillations. Consistent with their
      putative pathological role, low-frequency oscillations in model BG neurons were
      exaggerated in the parkinsonian state compared to the healthy condition. We used
      the model to quantify the effectiveness of STN DBS at different frequencies in
      suppressing low-frequency oscillatory activity in GPi. Frequencies less than 40
      Hz were ineffective, low-frequency oscillatory power decreased gradually for
      frequencies between 50 Hz and 130 Hz, and saturated at frequencies higher than
      150 Hz. HF STN DBS suppressed pathological oscillations in GPe/GPi both by
      exciting and inhibiting the firing in GPe/GPi neurons, and the number of GPe/GPi
      neurons influenced was greater for HF stimulation than low-frequency stimulation.
      Similar to the frequency dependent suppression of pathological oscillations, STN
      DBS also normalized the abnormal GPi spiking activity evoked by CTX stimulation
      in a frequency dependent fashion with HF being the most effective. Therefore,
      therapeutic HF STN DBS effectively suppresses pathological activity by
      influencing the activity of a greater proportion of neurons in the output nucleus
      of the BG.

PMID- 26867736
TI  - Quantitative Analysis of the Sirt5-Regulated Lysine Succinylation Proteome in
      Mammalian Cells.
AB  - Lysine (Lys) succinylation is a recently discovered protein posttranslational
      modification pathway that is evolutionarily conserved from bacteria to mammals.
      It is regulated by Sirt5, a member of the class III histone deacetylases (HDACs)
      or the Sirtuins. Recent studies demonstrated that Lys succinylation and Sirt5 are
      involved in diverse cellular metabolic processes including urea cycle, ammonia
      transfer, and glucose metabolism. In this chapter, we describe the general
      protocol to identify Sirt5-regulated Lys succinylation substrates and a
      computational method to calculate the absolute modification stoichiometries of
      Lys succinylation sites. The strategy employs Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino
      acid in Cell culture (SILAC) and the immunoaffinity enrichment of Lys
      succinylated peptides to identify the Lys succinylation sites that are
      significantly upregulated in Sirt5 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. 

PMID- 26867738
TI  - Label-Free Quantitation for Clinical Proteomics.
AB  - Label-free quantification (LFQ) has emerged as a viable option for quantitative
      LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analyses for use on the scale of hundreds of samples
      such as are encountered in clinical analysis. Notably, sample preparation, sample
      loading, HPLC separations, and mass spectrometric performance must be highly
      reproducible for this approach to be effective. The following protocols describe
      the key steps in the methods related to sample preparation and analysis for LC
      MS/MS-based label-free quantitation using standard data-dependent acquisition. 

PMID- 26867737
TI  - Determining the Composition and Stability of Protein Complexes Using an
      Integrated Label-Free and Stable Isotope Labeling Strategy.
AB  - In biological systems, proteins catalyze the fundamental reactions that underlie
      all cellular functions, including metabolic processes and cell survival and death
      pathways. These biochemical reactions are rarely accomplished alone. Rather, they
      involve a concerted effect from many proteins that may operate in a directed
      signaling pathway and/or may physically associate in a complex to achieve a
      specific enzymatic activity. Therefore, defining the composition and regulation
      of protein complexes is critical for understanding cellular functions. In this
      chapter, we describe an approach that uses quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) to
      assess the specificity and the relative stability of protein interactions.
      Isolation of protein complexes from mammalian cells is performed by rapid
      immunoaffinity purification, and followed by in-solution digestion and high
      resolution mass spectrometry analysis. We employ complementary quantitative MS
      workflows to assess the specificity of protein interactions using label-free MS
      and statistical analysis, and the relative stability of the interactions using a
      metabolic labeling technique. For each candidate protein interaction, scores from
      the two workflows can be correlated to minimize nonspecific background and
      profile protein complex composition and relative stability. 

PMID- 26867740
TI  - Mass Spectrometry-Based Quantitative O-GlcNAcomic Analysis.
AB  - The dynamic co- and post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins, O-linked
      beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) of serine/threonine
      residues is critical in many cellular processes, contributing to multiple
      physiological and pathological events. The term "O-GlcNAcome" refers to not only
      the complete set of proteins that undergo O-GlcNAcylation but also the O-GlcNAc
      status at individual residues, as well as the dynamics of O-GlcNAcylation in
      response to various stimuli. O-GlcNAcomic analyses have been a challenge for many
      years. In this chapter, we describe a recently developed approach for the
      identification and quantification of O-GlcNAc proteins/peptides from complex
      samples. 

PMID- 26867739
TI  - Proteogenomic Methods to Improve Genome Annotation.
AB  - Annotation of protein coding genes in sequenced genomes has been routinely
      carried out using gene prediction programs guided by available transcript data.
      The advent of mass spectrometry has enabled the identification of proteins in a
      high-throughput manner. In addition to searching proteins annotated in public
      databases, mass spectrometry data can also be searched against conceptually
      translated genome as well as transcriptome to identify novel protein coding
      regions. This proteogenomics approach has resulted in the identification of novel
      protein coding regions in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. These studies
      have also revealed that some of the annotated noncoding RNAs and pseudogenes code
      for proteins. This approach is likely to become a part of most genome annotation
      workflows in the future. Here we describe a general methodology and approach that
      can be used for proteogenomics. 

PMID- 26867741
TI  - Isolating and Quantifying Plasma HDL Proteins by Sequential Density Gradient
      Ultracentrifugation and Targeted Proteomics.
AB  - The sensitivity and specificity of tandem mass spectrometers have made targeted
      proteomics the method of choice for the precise simultaneous measurement of many
      proteins in complex mixtures. Its application to the relative quantification of
      proteins in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) that have been purified from human
      plasma has revealed potential mechanisms to explain the atheroprotective effects
      of HDL. We describe a moderate throughput method for isolating HDL from human
      plasma that uses sequential density gradient ultracentrifugation, the traditional
      method of HDL purification, and subsequent trypsin digestion and nanoflow liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify 38 proteins in the HDL
      fraction of human plasma. To control for the variability associated with
      digestion, matrix effects, and instrument performance, we normalize the signal
      from endogenous HDL protein-associated peptides liberated during trypsin
      digestion to the signal from peptides liberated from stable isotope-labeled
      apolipoprotein A-I spiked in as an internal standard prior to digestion. The
      method has good reproducibility and other desirable characteristics for
      preclinical research. 

PMID- 26867742
TI  - A Method for Label-Free, Differential Top-Down Proteomics.
AB  - Biomarker discovery in the translational research has heavily relied on labeled
      and label-free quantitative bottom-up proteomics. Here, we describe a new
      approach to biomarker studies that utilizes high-throughput top-down proteomics
      and is the first to offer whole protein characterization and relative
      quantitation within the same experiment. Using yeast as a model, we report
      procedures for a label-free approach to quantify the relative abundance of intact
      proteins ranging from 0 to 30 kDa in two different states. In this chapter, we
      describe the integrated methodology for the large-scale profiling and
      quantitation of the intact proteome by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
      (LC-MS) without the need for metabolic or chemical labeling. This recent advance
      for quantitative top-down proteomics is best implemented with a robust and highly
      controlled sample preparation workflow before data acquisition on a high
      resolution mass spectrometer, and the application of a hierarchical linear
      statistical model to account for the multiple levels of variance contained in
      quantitative proteomic comparisons of samples for basic and clinical research. 

PMID- 26867743
TI  - Multiplexed Immunoaffinity Enrichment of Peptides with Anti-peptide Antibodies
      and Quantification by Stable Isotope Dilution Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass
      Spectrometry.
AB  - Immunoaffinity enrichment of peptides using anti-peptide antibodies and their
      subsequent analysis by targeted mass spectrometry using stable isotope-labeled
      peptide standards is a sensitive and relatively high-throughput assay technology
      for unmodified and modified peptides in cells, tissues, and biofluids. Suppliers
      of antibodies and peptides are increasingly aware of this technique and have
      started incorporating customized quality measures and production protocols to
      increase the success rate, performance, and supply of the necessary reagents.
      Over the past decade, analytical biochemists, clinical diagnosticians, antibody
      experts, and mass spectrometry specialists have shared ideas, instrumentation,
      reagents, and protocols, to demonstrate that immuno-MRM-MS is reproducible across
      laboratories. Assay performance is now suitable for verification of candidate
      biomarkers from large scale discovery "omics" studies, measuring diagnostic
      proteins in plasma in the clinical laboratory, and for developing a companion
      assay for preclinical drug studies. Here we illustrate the process for developing
      these assays with a step-by-step guide for a 20-plex immuno-MRM-MS assay. We
      emphasize the need for analytical validation of the assay to insure that
      antibodies, peptides, and mass spectrometer are working as intended, in a
      multiplexed manner, with suitable assay performance (median values for 20
      peptides: CV = 12.4% at 740 amol/MUL, LOD = 310 amol/MUL) for applications in
      quantitative biology and candidate biomarker verification. The assays described
      conform to Tier 2 (of 3) level of analytical assay validation (1), meaning that
      the assays are capable of repeatedly measuring sets of analytes of interest
      within and across samples/experiments and employ internal standards for each
      analyte for confident detection and precise quantification.

PMID- 26867744
TI  - High-Throughput Quantitative Proteomics Enabled by Mass Defect-Based 12-Plex
      DiLeu Isobaric Tags.
AB  - Isobaric labeling has become a popular technique for high-throughput, mass
      spectrometry (MS)-based relative quantification of peptides and proteins.
      However, widespread use of the approach for large-scale proteomics applications
      has been limited by the high cost of commercial isobaric tags. To address this,
      we have developed our own N,N-dimethyl leucine (DiLeu) multiplex isobaric tags as
      a cost-effective alternative that can be synthesized with ease using readily
      available isotopic reagents. When paired with high-resolution tandem mass (MS(n))
      acquisition, mass defect-based DiLeu isobaric tags allow relative quantification
      of up to twelve samples in a single liquid chromatography (LC)-MS(2) experiment.
      Herein, we present detailed methods for synthesis of 12-plex DiLeu isobaric tags,
      labeling of complex protein digest samples, analysis by high-resolution nanoLC
      MS(n), and processing of acquired data.

PMID- 26867745
TI  - Isotopic N,N-Dimethyl Leucine (iDiLeu) for Absolute Quantification of Peptides
      Using a Standard Curve Approach.
AB  - Quantitative proteomics studies require an absolute quantification step to
      accurately measure changes in protein concentration. Absolute quantification
      using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) traditionally combines
      triple quadrupole instrumentation with stable isotope-labeled standards to
      measure protein concentrations via their enzymatically produced peptides.
      Chemical modification of peptides using labels like mass differential tags for
      relative and absolute quantification (mTRAQ) provides another route to determine
      protein quantities. This chapter describes a cost-effective and high-throughput
      chemical labeling method that utilizes five amine-reactive, isotopic N,N-dimethyl
      leucine (iDiLeu) reagents. These tags enable generation of four-point calibration
      curves in one LC-MS run to determine protein concentrations from labeled
      peptides. In particular, we provide a detailed workflow for protein
      quantification using the iDiLeu reagent that includes important considerations
      like labeling conditions and isotopic interference correction. 

PMID- 26867746
TI  - Selecting Optimal Peptides for Targeted Proteomic Experiments in Human Plasma
      Using In Vitro Synthesized Proteins as Analytical Standards.
AB  - In targeted proteomics, the development of robust methodologies is dependent upon
      the selection of a set of optimal peptides for each protein-of-interest.
      Unfortunately, predicting which peptides and respective product ion transitions
      provide the greatest signal-to-noise ratio in a particular assay matrix is
      complicated. Using in vitro synthesized proteins as analytical standards, we
      report here an empirically driven method for the selection of said peptides in a
      human plasma assay matrix. 

PMID- 26867748
TI  - Large-Scale and Deep Quantitative Proteome Profiling Using Isobaric Labeling
      Coupled with Two-Dimensional LC-MS/MS.
AB  - Comprehensive, quantitative information on abundances of proteins and their
      posttranslational modifications (PTMs) can potentially provide novel biological
      insights into diseases pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention. Herein, we
      introduce a quantitative strategy utilizing isobaric stable isotope-labeling
      techniques combined with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS) for large-scale, deep quantitative proteome profiling
      of biological samples or clinical specimens such as tumor tissues. The workflow
      includes isobaric labeling of tryptic peptides for multiplexed and accurate
      quantitative analysis, basic reversed-phase LC fractionation and concatenation
      for reduced sample complexity, and nano-LC coupled to high resolution and high
      mass accuracy MS analysis for high confidence identification and quantification
      of proteins. This proteomic analysis strategy has been successfully applied for
      in-depth quantitative proteomic analysis of tumor samples and can also be used
      for integrated proteome and PTM characterization, as well as comprehensive
      quantitative proteomic analysis across samples from large clinical cohorts. 

PMID- 26867750
TI  - Methods for SWATHTM: Data Independent Acquisition on TripleTOF Mass
      Spectrometers.
AB  - Data independent acquisition (DIA also termed SWATH) is an emerging technology in
      the field of mass spectrometry based proteomics. Although the concept of DIA has
      been around for over a decade, the recent advancements, in particular the speed
      of acquisition, of mass analyzers have pushed the technique into the spotlight
      and allowed for high-quality DIA data to be routinely acquired by proteomics
      labs. In this chapter we will discuss the protocols used for DIA acquisition
      using the Sciex TripleTOF mass spectrometers and data analysis using the Sciex
      processing software. 

PMID- 26867749
TI  - Multiple and Selective Reaction Monitoring Using Triple Quadrupole Mass
      Spectrometer: Preclinical Large Cohort Analysis.
AB  - Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), sometimes referred to as selective reaction
      monitoring (SRM), is a mass spectrometry method that can target selective
      peptides for the detection and quantitation of a protein. Compared to traditional
      ELISA, MRM assays have a number of advantages including ease in multiplexing
      several proteins in the same assay and independence from the necessity for high
      quality, expensive, and at times unreliable antibodies. Furthermore, MRM assays
      can be developed to quantify multiple proteoforms of a single protein allowing
      the quantification of allelic expression of a particular sequence polymorphism,
      protein isoform, as well as determining site occupancy of posttranslational
      modification(s). In this chapter, we describe our workflow for target peptide
      selection, assay optimization, and acquisition multiplexing. Our workflow is
      presented using the example of constrained MRM assays developed for the serum
      protein ApoL1 in its various proteoforms to highlight the specific technical
      considerations necessary for the difficult task of quantifying peptide targets
      based on highly specific amino acid sequences by MRM. 

PMID- 26867747
TI  - Using the CPTAC Assay Portal to Identify and Implement Highly Characterized
      Targeted Proteomics Assays.
AB  - The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) of the National Cancer
      Institute (NCI) has launched an Assay Portal (http://assays.cancer.gov) to serve
      as an open-source repository of well-characterized targeted proteomic assays. The
      portal is designed to curate and disseminate highly characterized, targeted mass
      spectrometry (MS)-based assays by providing detailed assay performance
      characterization data, standard operating procedures, and access to reagents.
      Assay content is accessed via the portal through queries to find assays targeting
      proteins associated with specific cellular pathways, protein complexes, or
      specific chromosomal regions. The position of the peptide analytes for which
      there are available assays are mapped relative to other features of interest in
      the protein, such as sequence domains, isoforms, single nucleotide polymorphisms,
      and posttranslational modifications. The overarching goals are to enable robust
      quantification of all human proteins and to standardize the quantification of
      targeted MS-based assays to ultimately enable harmonization of results over time
      and across laboratories.

PMID- 26867751
TI  - Measurement of Phosphorylated Peptides with Absolute Quantification.
AB  - Mass spectrometry, when coupled to on-line separation such as liquid
      chromatography or capillary electrophoresis, enables the identification and
      quantification of protein expression and post-translational modification changes
      under diverse conditions. To date most of the methods for mass spectrometry-based
      quantification have either provided relative quantification information (e.g.,
      comparison to a selected condition) or utilized one-point calibration curves, or
      calibration curves in a different biological matrix. Although these quantitative
      methods have been used to generate insight into the differences between
      biological samples, additional biological insight could be gained by accurately
      measuring the absolute quantity of selected proteins and protein modifications.
      To address this challenge, we have developed the MARQUIS (Multiplex Absolute
      Regressed Quantification with Internal Standards) method, designed to provide
      absolute quantification for potentially hundreds of peptides across multiple
      samples in a single analysis, using a multi-point internal calibration curve
      derived from synthetic, isotopically distinct standard peptides. 

PMID- 26867752
TI  - Proteomic Analysis of Protein Turnover by Metabolic Whole Rodent Pulse-Chase
      Isotopic Labeling and Shotgun Mass Spectrometry Analysis.
AB  - The analysis of protein half-life and degradation dynamics has proven critically
      important to our understanding of a broad and diverse set of biological
      conditions ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. Historically these protein
      turnover measures have been performed in cells by monitoring protein levels after
      "pulse" labeling of newly synthesized proteins and subsequent chase periods.
      Comparing the level of labeled protein remaining as a function of time to the
      initial level reveals the protein's half-life. In this method we provide a
      detailed description of the workflow required for the determination of protein
      turnover rates on a whole proteome scale in vivo. Our approach starts with the
      metabolic labeling of whole rodents by restricting all the nitrogen in their diet
      to exclusively nitrogen-15 in the form of spirulina algae. After near complete
      organismal labeling with nitrogen-15, the rodents are then switched to a normal
      nitrogen-14 rich diet for time periods of days to years. Tissues are harvested,
      the extracts are fractionated, and the proteins are digested to peptides.
      Peptides are separated by multidimensional liquid chromatography and analyzed by
      high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS). The nitrogen-15 containing
      proteins are then identified and measured by the bioinformatic proteome analysis
      tools Sequest, DTASelect2, and Census. In this way, our metabolic pulse-chase
      approach reveals in vivo protein decay rates proteome-wide.

PMID- 26867754
TI  - Novel small molecule inhibitors of the OLIG2 transcription factor: promising new
      therapeutics for glioblastoma.

PMID- 26867753
TI  - Choosing a Nursing Home: What Do Consumers Want to Know, and Do Preferences Vary
      across Race/Ethnicity?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify what consumers want to know about nursing homes (NHs)
      before choosing one and to determine whether information preferences vary across
      race/ethnicity. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Primary data were collected in
      Greater Boston (January 2013-February 2014) from community-dwelling, white,
      black, and Latino adults aged 65+ and 40-64 years, who had personal/familial
      experience with a NH admission or concerns about one. STUDY DESIGN: Eleven focus
      groups and 30 interviews were conducted separately by race/ethnicity and age
      group. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Participants wanted detailed information on the
      facility, policies, staff, and residents, such as location, staff treatment of
      residents, and resident conditions. They wanted a sense of the NH gestalt and
      were interested in feedback/reviews from residents/families. Black and Latino
      participants were especially interested in resident and staff racial/ethnic
      concordance and facility cultural sensitivity. Latino participants wanted
      information on staff and resident language concordance. CONCLUSIONS: Consumers
      want more information about NHs than what is currently available from resources
      like Nursing Home Compare. Report card makers can use these results to enhance
      their websites, and they should consider the distinct needs of different
      racial/ethnic groups. Future research should test methods for collecting and
      reporting resident and family feedback/reviews.

PMID- 26867755
TI  - Direct P-functionalization of azobenzene by a cationic phosphidozirconocene
      complex.
AB  - We report that the cationic phosphidozirconocene complex [(eta(5)
      C5H5)2Zr(PCy2)][CH3B(C6F5)3] (II) reacts with azobenzene, resulting in the
      expedient formation of Zr complex (2) bound to a tridentate PNN ligand. This
      reaction proceeds by a mechanism of cooperative nucleophilic substitution of
      hydrogen. The intermediate sigma(H) adduct (1) has been characterized by NMR
      spectroscopy.

PMID- 26867757
TI  - Voices unite to demand free healthcare for refugees in Germany.

PMID- 26867759
TI  - Making Medicine Precise and Personalized: What Can We Learn from the Past?

PMID- 26867756
TI  - Recurrent mutation in the crystallin alpha A gene associated with inherited
      paediatric cataract.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cataract is a major cause of childhood blindness worldwide. The
      purpose of this study was to determine the genetic cause of paediatric cataract
      in a South Australian family with a bilateral lamellar paediatric cataract
      displaying variable phenotypes. CASE PRESENTATION: Fifty-one genes implicated in
      congenital cataract in human or mouse were sequenced in an affected individual
      from an Australian (Caucasian) family using a custom Ampliseq library on the Ion
      Torrent Personal Genome Machine. Reads were mapped against the human genome
      (hg19) and variants called with the Torrent Suite software. Variants were
      annotated to dbSNP 137 using Ion Reporter (IR 1.6.2) and were prioritised for
      validation if they were novel or rare and were predicted to be protein changing.
      We identified a previously reported oligomerization disrupting mutation, c.62G >
      A (p.R21Q), in the Crystallin alpha A (CRYAA) gene segregating in this three
      generation family. No other novel or rare coding mutations were detected in the
      known cataract genes sequenced. Microsatellite markers were used to compare the
      haplotypes between the family reported here and a previously published family
      with the same segregating mutation. Haplotype analysis indicated a potential
      common ancestry between the two South Australian families with this mutation. The
      work strengthens the genotype-phenotype correlations between this functional
      mutation in the crystallin alpha A (CRYAA) gene and paediatric cataract.
      CONCLUSION: The p.R21Q mutation is the most likely cause of paediatric cataract
      in this family. The recurrence of this mutation in paediatric cataract families
      is likely due to a familial relationship.

PMID- 26867758
TI  - Clinical Effectiveness of Hydralazine-Isosorbide Dinitrate Therapy in Patients
      With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Findings From the Get With The
      Guidelines-Heart Failure Registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In clinical trials, hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate (H-ISDN) for
      heart failure with reduced ejection fraction reduced morbidity and mortality
      among black patients and patients with intolerance to angiotensin-converting
      enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. The effectiveness of H
      ISDN in clinical practice is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using data from a
      clinical registry linked with Medicare claims, we examined the use and outcomes
      of H-ISDN between 2005 and 2011 among older patients hospitalized with heart
      failure and reduced ejection fraction. We adjusted for demographic and clinical
      characteristics using Cox proportional hazards models and inverse probability
      weighting. Among 4663 eligible patients, 22.7% of black patients and 18.2% of
      patients not on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II
      receptor blocker were newly prescribed H-ISDN therapy at discharge. By 3 years,
      the cumulative incidence rates of mortality and readmission were similar between
      treated and untreated patients. After multivariable adjustment, 3-year outcomes
      remained similar for mortality [black patients: hazard ratio (HR), 0.92; 95%
      confidence interval (CI), 0.75-1.13; other patients: HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.79
      1.09], all-cause readmission (black patients: HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.84-1.13; other
      patients: HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.90-1.17), and cardiovascular readmission (black
      patients: HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.82-1.19; other patients: HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.81
      1.09). A post hoc analysis of Medicare Part D data revealed low postdischarge
      adherence to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline-recommended initiation of H-ISDN
      therapy at hospital discharge was uncommon, and adherence was low. For both black
      patients and patients of other races, there were no differences in outcomes
      between those treated and untreated at discharge.

PMID- 26867760
TI  - The second highest chromosome count among vertebrates is observed in cultured
      sturgeon and is associated with genome plasticity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: One of the five basal actinopterygian lineages, the Chondrostei,
      including sturgeon, shovelnose, and paddlefish (Order Acipenseriformes) show
      extraordinary ploidy diversity associated with three rounds of lineage-specific
      whole-genome duplication, resulting in three levels of ploidy in sturgeon.
      Recently, incidence of spontaneous polyploidization has been reported among
      cultured sturgeon and it could have serious negative implications for the
      economics of sturgeon farming. We report the occurrence of seven spontaneous
      heptaploid (7n) Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii, which is a functional
      tetraploid species (4n) with ~245 chromosomes. Our aims were to assess ploidy
      level and chromosome number of the analysed specimens and to identify the
      possible mechanism that underlies the occurrence of spontaneous additional
      chromosome sets in their genome. RESULTS: Among 150 specimens resulting from the
      mating of a tetraploid (4n) A. baerii (~245 chromosomes) dam with a hexaploid
      (6n) A. baerii (~368 chromosomes) sire, 143 displayed a relative DNA content that
      corresponds to pentaploidy (5n) with an absolute DNA content of 8.98 +/- 0.03 pg
      DNA per nucleus and nuclear area of 35.3 +/- 4.3 MUm(2) and seven specimens
      exhibited a relative DNA content that corresponds to heptaploidy (7n), with an
      absolute DNA content of 15.02 +/- 0.04 pg DNA per nucleus and nuclear area of
      48.4 +/- 5.1 MUm(2). Chromosome analyses confirmed a modal number of ~437
      chromosomes in these heptaploid (7n) individuals. DNA genotyping of eight
      microsatellite loci followed by parental assignment confirmed spontaneous
      duplication of the maternal chromosome sets via retention of the second polar
      body in meiosis II as the mechanism for the formation of this unusual chromosome
      number and ploidy level in a functional tetraploid A. baerii. CONCLUSIONS: We
      report the second highest chromosome count among vertebrates in cultured sturgeon
      (~437) after the schizothoracine cyprinid Ptychobarbus dipogon with ~446
      chromosomes. The finding also represents the highest documented chromosome count
      in Acipenseriformes, and the first report of a functional heptaploid (7n) genome
      composition in sturgeon. To our knowledge, this study provides the first clear
      evidence of a maternal origin for spontaneous polyploidization in cultured A.
      baerii. To date, all available data indicate that spontaneous polyploidization
      occurs frequently among cultured sturgeons.

PMID- 26867761
TI  - International guidelines for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: ultrasound
      imaging in the new millennium.
AB  - The intent of this review is to discuss and comment on common clinical scenarios
      in which contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) may play a decisive role and to
      illustrate important points with typical cases. With the advent of CEUS, the
      scope of indications for ultrasonography has been dramatically extended, and now
      includes functional imaging and tissue characterization, which in many cases
      enable tumor diagnosis without a biopsy. It is virtually impossible to imagine
      the practice of modern medicine as we know it in high-income countries without
      the use of imaging, and yet, an estimated two thirds of the global population may
      receive no such care. Ultrasound imaging with CEUS has the potential to correct
      this inequity. 

PMID- 26867762
TI  - Increased ROM and high patient satisfaction after open arthrolysis: a follow-up
      study of 43 patients with posttraumatic stiff elbows.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stiffness of the elbow is a common finding after elbow
      trauma. Restoration of motion in the posttraumatic stiff elbow is difficult, time
      consuming, and requires high patient compliance. We have evaluated the long-term
      effect of an open elbow arthrolysis in the posttraumatic stiff elbow. METHODS: We
      evaluated 43 patients (14 women, 29 men) with a median age of 47(16-78) years
      operated with open arthrolysis for a posttraumatic stiff elbow. The median follow
      up time was 41(12-204) months. The patients were hospitalized median 12(4-14)
      days, with daily physiotherapy and NSAID. 36 patients tolerated continuous
      passive motion (CPM) for 11(0-42) days. 35 patients had a well-functioning
      brachial plexus anesthesia for median 7(1-18) days. We used the paired 2-tailed T
      test in our statistical analysis. RESULTS: Preoperatively the patients had a
      median flexion of 110(30-160) degrees , extension 40(10-90) degrees , and the
      total flexion-extension sector (F/E) was 50(0-110) degrees . At follow-up the
      patients had a median flexion of 132(75-151) degrees  and extension of 23(8-84)
      degrees , which indicate a median gain of 42(-50-114) degrees . The subjective
      functional scores (Mayo Elbow Score, EQ5D, Q-Dash, and VAS for pain) were
      satisfying, and most of the patients (81 %) would have done the operation once
      again knowing the outcome. We had 5 temporary ulnar neuropraxias, one became
      permanent and in addition ankylotic, one temporary radial neuropraxia, two
      superficial wound infections, and one transient hematoma. CONCLUSION: Open
      arthrolysis of the posttraumatic stiff elbow is associated with reliable clinical
      and functional long-term outcomes.

PMID- 26867763
TI  - Improving growth in preterm infants during initial hospital stay: principles into
      practice.
AB  - Despite recent innovations in nutritional care, postnatal growth failure between
      birth and hospital discharge remains a significant problem in preterm infants.
      Whether or not it is entirely preventable is unclear. What is clear is that
      feeding practices and growth outcomes vary widely between neonatal intensive care
      units (NICUs). This partly reflects lack of data in key areas but it also
      reflects inconsistent translation of principles into practice and limitations in
      the way infants are fed and growth monitored in the NICU. These issues will be
      reviewed, in the process underline the key roles that audit, standardised feeding
      protocol, individualised nutritional care and a nutritional support team play in
      improving outcome in these high-risk infants. 

PMID- 26867764
TI  - A phase II study of Epirubicin in oxaliplatin-resistant patients with metastatic
      colorectal cancer and TOP2A gene amplification.
AB  - The overall purpose of this study is to provide proof of concept for introducing
      the anthracycline epirubicin as an effective, biomarker-guided treatment for
      metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who are refractory to treatment with
      oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and have TOP2A gene amplification in their tumor
      cells. BACKGROUND: Epirubicin is an anthracycline that targets DNA topoisomerase
      2-alpha enzyme encoded by the TOP2A gene. It is used for treatment of several
      malignancies, but currently not in CRC. TOP2A gene amplifications predict
      improved efficacy of epirubicin in patients with breast cancer and thus could be
      an alternative option for patients with CRC and amplified TOP2A gene. We have
      previously analysed the frequency of TOP2A gene aberrations in CRC and found that
      46.6% of these tumors had TOP2A copy gain and 2.0% had loss of TOP2A when
      compared to adjacent normal tissue. The TOP2A gene is located on chromosome 17
      and when the TOP2A/CEN-17 ratio was applied to identify tumors with gene loss or
      amplifications, 10.5% had a ratio >= 1.5 consistent with gene amplification and
      2.6% had a ratio <= 0.8 suggesting gene deletions. Based on these observations
      and the knowledge gained from treatment of breast cancer patients, we have
      initiated a prospective clinical, phase II protocol using epirubicin (90 mg/m2 iv
      q 3 weeks) in mCRC patients, who are refractory to treatment with oxaliplatin.
      METHODS/DESIGN: The study is an open label, single arm, phase II study,
      investigating the efficacy of epirubicin in patients with oxaliplatin refractory
      mCRC and with a cancer cell TOP2A/CEN-17 ratio >= 1.5. TOP2A gene amplification
      measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization. A total of 25 evaluable patients
      (15 + 10 in two steps) will be included (Simon's two-stage minimax design). Every
      nine weeks, response is measured by computed tomography imaging and evaluated
      according to RECIST 1.1. The primary end-point of the study is progression-free
      survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Eudract no. 2013-001648-79.

PMID- 26867765
TI  - UCA1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to suppress epithelial ovarian
      cancer metastasis.
AB  - Urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) is an example of functional long noncoding
      RNAs involved in many biologic processes. However, little is known about the
      association between UCA1 expression and metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer
      (EOC). Findings of this study confirmed that not only UCA1 was aberrantly
      upregulated in EOC tissues and cells, but also correlated with status of lymph
      node metastasis and FIGO stage. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate analyses
      showed that UCA1 was a prognostic factor for overall survival in EOC patients. In
      vitro, knockdown of UCA1 reduced the invasion and migration ability of EOC cells.
      The results showed that UCA1 could function as an endogenous sponge by directly
      binding to miR-485-5p. Depletion of UCA1 was involved in the downregulation of
      matrix metallopeptidase 14 (MMP14) expression, a target gene of miR-485-5p. In
      conclusion, our work indicates that UCA1 is a new prognostic biomarker for EOC,
      establishing a novel connection among UCA1, miR-485-5p, and MMP14 in EOC
      metastasis. 

PMID- 26867766
TI  - iRGD-targeted delivery of a pro-apoptotic peptide activated by cathepsin B
      inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in mice.
AB  - The use of cytolytic peptides with potential therapeutic properties is a
      promising approach to cancer therapy due to their convenient automated synthesis
      and their capacity for modifications. However, the use of cytolytic peptides is
      limited due to their nonspecific cytolytic activity. In this study, we designed a
      tumor-targeting proapoptotic system based on an amphipathic D-amino acid-modified
      apoptotic peptide, KLA, a variant of (KLAKLAK)2, which is fused with a linear
      tumor-penetrating homing peptide iRGD through specific cathepsin B (CTSB)
      cleavage sequences that are overexpressed in many types of tumor tissues. Our
      data show that the procytotoxic peptide D(KLAKLAKKLAKLA)K-GG-iRGD (m(KLA)-iRGD)
      is internalized into cultured tumor cells through a neuropilin-1 (NRP1)-activated
      pathway by iRGD delivery. Once inside the cells, the peptide triggers rapid
      apoptosis through both the mitochondrial-induced apoptotic pathway and the death
      receptor pathway in NRP1+/alphavbeta3/CTSB+ tumor cells. Furthermore, m(KLA)-iRGD
      spread extensively within the tumor tissue when it was injected into 4T1 tumor
      bearing mice. The m(KLA)-iRGD peptide inhibited tumor growth to a certain degree,
      resulting in a significant reduction in tumor volume (P < 0.05) and the total
      inhibition of metastasis at the end of the treatment. These results suggest that
      m(KLA)-iRGD has the potential for development as a new antitumor drug. 

PMID- 26867768
TI  - A truncated phosphorylated p130Cas substrate domain is sufficient to drive breast
      cancer growth and metastasis formation in vivo.
AB  - Elevated p130Cas (Crk-associated substrate) levels are found in aggressive breast
      tumors and are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to standard
      therapeutics in patients. p130Cas signals majorly through its phosphorylated
      substrate domain (SD) that contains 15 tyrosine motifs (YxxP) which recruit
      effector molecules. Tyrosine phosphorylation of p130Cas is important for
      mediating migration, invasion, tumor promotion, and metastasis. We previously
      developed a Src*/SD fusion molecule approach, where the SD is constitutively
      phosphorylated. In a polyoma middle T-antigen (PyMT)/Src*/SD double-transgenic
      mouse model, Src*/SD accelerates PyMT-induced tumor growth and promotes a more
      aggressive phenotype. To test whether Src*/SD also drives metastasis and which of
      the YxxP motifs are involved in this process, full-length and truncated SD
      molecules fused to Src* were expressed in breast cancer cells. The functionality
      of the Src*/SD fragments was analyzed in vitro, and the active proteins were
      tested in vivo in an orthotopic mouse model. Breast cancer cells expressing the
      full-length SD and the functional smaller SD fragment (spanning SD motifs 6-10)
      were injected into the mammary fat pads of mice. The tumor progression was
      monitored by bioluminescence imaging and caliper measurements. Compared with
      control animals, the complete SD promoted primary tumor growth and an earlier
      onset of metastases. Importantly, both the complete and truncated SD
      significantly increased the occurrence of metastases to multiple organs. These
      studies provide strong evidence that the phosphorylated p130Cas SD motifs 6-10
      (Y236, Y249, Y267, Y287, and Y306) are important for driving mammary carcinoma
      progression. 

PMID- 26867767
TI  - Colchicine induces autophagy and senescence in lung cancer cells at clinically
      admissible concentration: potential use of colchicine in combination with
      autophagy inhibitor in cancer therapy.
AB  - Colchicine is a well-known and potent microtubule targeting agent, but the
      therapeutic value of colchicine against cancer is limited by its toxicity against
      normal cells. But, there is no report of its cytotoxic potential against lung
      cancer cell, at clinically permissible or lower concentrations, minimally toxic
      to non-cancerous cells. Hence, in the present study, we investigated the possible
      mechanism by which the efficacy of colchicine against lung cancer cells at less
      toxic dose could be enhanced. Colchicine at clinically admissible concentration
      of 2.5 nM had no cytotoxic effect and caused no G2/M arrest in A549 cells.
      However, at this concentration, colchicine strongly hindered the reformation of
      cold depolymerised interphase and spindle microtubule. Colchicine induced
      senescence and reactive oxygen species mediated autophagy in A549 cells at this
      concentration. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) sensitised the
      cytotoxicity of colchicine in A549 cells by switching senescence to apoptotic
      death, and this combination had reduced cytotoxicity to normal lung fibroblast
      cells (WI38). Together, these findings indicated the possible use of colchicine
      at clinically relevant dose along with autophagy inhibitor in cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26867769
TI  - Association between the CpG island methylator phenotype and its prognostic
      significance in primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Aberrant methylation of promoter CpG islands is one of the most important
      inactivation mechanisms for tumor suppressor and tumor-related genes. Previous
      studies using genome-wide DNA methylation microarray analysis have suggested the
      existence of a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in lung adenocarcinomas.
      Although the biological behavior of these tumors varies according to tumor stage,
      no large-scale study has examined the CIMP in lung adenocarcinoma patients
      according to tumor stage. Furthermore, there have been no reported results
      regarding the clinical significance of each of the six CIMP markers. To examine
      the CIMP in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma after a surgical resection, we
      performed methylation analysis of six genes (CCNA1, ACAN, GFRA1, EDARADD,
      MGC45800, and p16 (INK4A)) in 230 pulmonary adenocarcinoma cases using the
      SEQUENOM MassARRAY platform. Fifty-four patients (28 %, 54/191) were in the CIMP
      high (CIMP-H) group associated with high nodal stage (P = 0.007), the presence of
      micropapillary or solid histology (P = 0.003), and the absence of an epidermal
      growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (P = 0.002). By multivariate analysis,
      CIMP was an independent prognostic marker for overall survival (OS) and disease
      specific survival (P = 0.03 and P = 0.43, respectively). In the stage I subgroups
      alone, CIMP-H patients had lower OS rates than the CIMP-low (CIMP-L) group (P =
      0.041). Of the six CIMP markers, ACAN alone was significantly associated with
      patient survival. CIMP predicted the risk of progression independently of
      clinicopathological variables and enables the stratification of pulmonary
      adenocarcinoma patients, particularly among stage I cases. 

PMID- 26867770
TI  - Enzymatically active cathepsin D sensitizes breast carcinoma cells to TRAIL.
AB  - Cathepsin D (CD), a ubiquitously expressed lysosomal aspartic protease, is
      upregulated in human breast carcinoma and many other tumor types. CD has been
      repeatedly reported to act as key mediator of apoptosis induced by various
      chemotherapeutics. However, there is still controversy over the role of
      enzymatic/proteolytic versus protein-protein interaction activities of CD in
      apoptotic signaling. The elucidation of molecular mechanism responsible for the
      effect of CD in the chemotherapy-induced cell death is crucial for development of
      an appropriate strategy to target this protease in cancer treatment. Therefore,
      the objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism behind the
      CD-mediated regulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
      (TRAIL)-induced cell death. For this purpose, MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells
      with an increased level of wt CD (CD) or mutant enzymatically inactive CD
      (DeltaCD) were subjected to TRAIL and the frequency of apoptosis was determined.
      Our results show that CD facilitates the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231
      breast cancer cells in enzymatic activity-dependent manner. Moreover, the
      importance of endosomal/lysosomal acidification in this process was documented.
      Analysis of the potential substrates specifically cleaved by CD during the TRAIL
      induced apoptosis confirmed caspase-8 and Bid proteins as the CD targets.
      Moreover, in search for protein regulators of apoptosis that can be cleaved by CD
      at physiologically relevant pH, we identified the Bcl-2 protein as a suitable
      candidate. The modulatory role of CD in cell response to TRAIL was also confirmed
      in another breast cancer cell line SKBR3. These experiments identified the CD
      enzymatic activity as a new factor affecting sensitivity of breast cancer cells
      to TRAIL. 

PMID- 26867772
TI  - Exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers of recurrent lung cancer.
AB  - Prognosis of lung cancer still remains grim largely due to recurrence and
      aggressive metastasis of the disease. In this study, we examined the potential of
      exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers of recurrent lung cancer. Initially, in vitro miRNA
      profiles of normal lung (Beas-2b) and lung cancer (H1299) cells and of exosomes
      isolated from conditioned media were determined. In vivo study involved
      establishing subcutaneous primary and recurrent lung cancer xenografts in nude
      mouse model and examining tumor and serum exosomal miRNA alteration in
      secondary/recurrent lung tumors. A total of 77 miRNAs were observed to be
      significantly modulated in the H1299 cells (47 miRNA upregulated and 30
      downregulated) compared to the Beas-2b cells. The exosomes isolated from
      conditioned media indicated several miRNAs which were in agreement with cells of
      origin. A similarity was also observed between miRNAs from serum exosomes and
      tumors, indicating their origin from the lung tumors. Two miRNAs, miR-21 and miR
      155, were found to be significantly upregulated in recurrent tumors compared to
      primary tumors. These miRNAs were also upregulated in serum exosomes of recurrent
      tumor-bearing animals versus non-tumor- or primary tumor-bearing animals.
      Increased expression of the recurrent disease markers were also observed in
      recurrent tumors compared with primary tumors. Serum exosomes from recurrent
      tumor mice mirrored its tumor profile in expressing higher levels of these
      proteins compared with exosomes from primary tumor mice. Our data suggest that
      exosomal miRNA signatures may be a true representation of a pathological profile
      of lung cancer; thus, miRNAs could serve as promising biomarkers for non-invasive
      diagnosis of the disease. 

PMID- 26867773
TI  - Recovery of symbiotic nitrogen fixing acacia rhizobia from Merzouga Desert sand
      dunes in South East Morocco--Identification of a probable new species of Ensifer
      adapted to stressed environments.
AB  - Bacteria capable of nodulating Acacia tortilis and A. gummifera could be
      recovered from sand dunes collected in the Moroccan Merzouga desert. The trapping
      approach enabled the recovery of 17 desert rhizobia that all clustered within the
      Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) genus. Four isolates of the dominant genotype comprising
      15 strains as well as 2 divergent strains were further characterized by MLSA.
      Phylogenetic analyzes indicated that the dominant genetic type was belonging to a
      new and yet undefined species within the Ensifer genus. Interestingly,
      housekeeping gene phylogenies showed that this possibly new species is also
      present in another desert but in India. Phylogenetic analyses of nifH and nodC
      sequences showed high sequence conservation among the Moroccan strains belonging
      to the dominant genotype but high divergence with sequences from Indian isolates
      suggesting acquisition of symbiotic genes through Horizontal Gene Transfer. These
      desert rhizobia were capable of growing in media containing high salt
      concentrations, under high pH and most of the strains showed growth at 45 degrees
      C. Only recovered from desert type of Biome, yet, this new taxon appears
      particularly adapted to such harsh environment. 

PMID- 26867771
TI  - The MDM4 SNP34091 (rs4245739) C-allele is associated with increased risk of
      ovarian-but not endometrial cancer.
AB  - The MDM4 protein (also known as MDMX or HDMX) is a negative regulator of p53, not
      only by direct interaction but also through its interaction with MDM2. Further,
      MDM4 overexpression and amplification have been observed in several cancer forms.
      Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3' untranslated region of
      the MDM4 gene, SNP34091A > C (rs4245739) was reported to alter MDM4 messenger RNA
      (mRNA) stability by modulating a microRNA binding site, thereby leading to
      decreased MDM4 levels. In this case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the
      possible association between MDM4 SNP34091 status and cancer risk by comparing
      the genotype frequencies in large hospital-based cohorts of endometrial- (n =
      1404) and ovarian (n = 1385) cancer patients with healthy female controls (n =
      1870). Genotype frequencies were compared by odds ratio (OR) estimates and Fisher
      exact tests. We found that individuals harboring the MDM4 SNP34091AC/CC genotypes
      had a significantly elevated risk for serous ovarian cancer (SOC) in general and
      high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) in particular (SOC: OR = 1.18., 95 % CI
      = 1.01-1.39; HGSOC: OR = 1.25, CI = 1.02-1.53). No association between SNP34091
      genotypes and endometrial cancer risk was observed. Our data indicate the MDM4
      SNP34091AC/CC genotypes to be associated with an elevated risk for SOC and in
      particular the HGSOC type. 

PMID- 26867775
TI  - Meta-Analysis With a Continuous Covariate That Is Differentially Categorized
      Across Studies.
AB  - We propose taking advantage of methodology for missing data to estimate
      relationships and adjust outcomes in a meta-analysis where a continuous covariate
      is differentially categorized across studies. The proposed method incorporates
      all available data in an implementation of the expectation-maximization
      algorithm. We use simulations to demonstrate that the proposed method eliminates
      bias that would arise by ignoring a covariate and generalizes the meta-analytical
      approach for incorporating covariates that are not uniformly categorized. The
      proposed method is illustrated in an application for estimating diarrhea
      incidence in children aged <=59 months. 

PMID- 26867774
TI  - Spatial heterogeneity of malaria in Ghana: a cross-sectional study on the
      association between urbanicity and the acquisition of immunity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malaria incidence has declined considerably over the last decade.
      This is partly due to a scale-up of control measures but is also attributed to
      increasing urbanization. This study aimed to analyse the association between
      malaria and urbanization and the effect of urbanicity on the acquisition of semi
      immunity. METHODS: In 2012, children with fever presenting to St Michael's
      Hospital Pramso/Ghana were recruited. The malaria-positive-fraction (MPF) of
      fever cases was calculated on community-level to approximate the malaria risk.
      The mean age of malaria cases was calculated for each community to estimate the
      acquisition of semi-immunity. The level of urbanicity for the communities was
      calculated and associations between MPF, urbanicity and immunity were modelled
      using linear regression. RESULTS: Twenty-six villages were included into the
      study with a mean MPF of 35 %. A linear decrease of 5 % (95 % CI: 4-6 %) in MPF
      with every ten-point increase in urbanicity was identified. The mean age of
      malaria patients increased by 2.9 months (95 % CI: 1.0-4.8) with every ten-point
      increase in urbanicity. DISCUSSION: The results confirm an association between an
      increase in urbanicity and declining malaria risk and demonstrate that the
      acquisition of semi-immunity is heterogeneous on a micro-epidemiological scale
      and is associated with urbanicity.

PMID- 26867776
TI  - Statistical Reasoning and Methods in Epidemiology to Promote Individualized
      Health: In Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
      School of Public Health.
AB  - Epidemiology is concerned with determining the distribution and causes of
      disease. Throughout its history, epidemiology has drawn upon statistical ideas
      and methods to achieve its aims. Because of the exponential growth in our
      capacity to measure and analyze data on the underlying processes that define each
      person's state of health, there is an emerging opportunity for population-based
      epidemiologic studies to influence health decisions made by individuals in ways
      that take into account the individuals' characteristics, circumstances, and
      preferences. We refer to this endeavor as "individualized health." The present
      article comprises 2 sections. In the first, we describe how graphical,
      longitudinal, and hierarchical models can inform the project of individualized
      health. We propose a simple graphical model for informing individual health
      decisions using population-based data. In the second, we review selected topics
      in causal inference that we believe to be particularly useful for individualized
      health. Epidemiology and biostatistics were 2 of the 4 founding departments in
      the world's first graduate school of public health at Johns Hopkins University,
      the centennial of which we honor. This survey of a small part of the literature
      is intended to demonstrate that the 2 fields remain just as inextricably linked
      today as they were 100 years ago. 

PMID- 26867777
TI  - Epidemiology and the Tobacco Epidemic: How Research on Tobacco and Health Shaped
      Epidemiology.
AB  - In this article, I provide a perspective on the tobacco epidemic and
      epidemiology, describing the impact of the tobacco-caused disease epidemic on the
      field of epidemiology. Although there is an enormous body of epidemiologic
      evidence on the associations of smoking with health, little systematic attention
      has been given to how decades of research have affected epidemiology and its
      practice. I address the many advances that resulted from epidemiologic research
      on smoking and health, such as demonstration of the utility of observational
      designs and important parameters (the odds ratio and the population attributable
      risk), guidelines for causal inference, and systematic review approaches. I also
      cover unintended and adverse consequences for the field, including the strategy
      of doubt creation and the recruitment of epidemiologists by the tobacco industry
      to serve its mission. The paradigm of evidence-based action for addressing
      noncommunicable diseases began with the need to address the epidemic of tobacco
      caused disease, an imperative for action documented by epidemiologic research. 

PMID- 26867778
TI  - Manual thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention:
      Impact of total ischemic time.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The benefit of manual thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary
      percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains uncertain, and the effect of TA
      in relation to total ischemic time has not been evaluated. METHODS: We analyzed
      5641 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (<12h) from the
      Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry undergoing primary PCI. Patients were
      divided into 2 groups: TA (n=1245) and PCI only (n=4396). Propensity-matched 12
      month clinical outcome was compared between the groups according to different
      total ischemic times (<=2h, 2-4h, 4-6h, >6h). RESULTS: Twelve-month rates of
      death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: composite of death, recurrent
      myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization, and coronary artery
      bypass grafting) were not different between TA and PCI only. After propensity
      matching (n=1162 for each group), there were no differences in the 12-month
      outcome between TA and PCI only, which was consistent across subgroups. In the
      propensity-matched cohort, the effect of TA on 12-month outcome showed a U-shaped
      relationship with longer total ischemic time: TA in patients with total ischemic
      time between 4 and 6h was associated with lower rates of death [hazard ratio
      (HR): 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24-1.19, p for interaction=0.01] and
      MACE (HR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.66, p for interaction=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Manual
      TA during primary PCI was not associated with improved clinical outcome at 12
      months. The impact of TA may become clinically relevant with longer total
      ischemic time, forming a U-shaped relationship.

PMID- 26867779
TI  - Usefulness of anaerobic threshold to peak oxygen uptake ratio to determine the
      severity and pathophysiological condition of chronic heart failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2) are well known
      as indicators of severity and prognosis of heart failure. Since these parameters
      are regulated by many factors, multiple organ dysfunction may occur in chronic
      heart failure, and these two parameters would vary among patients. However, it is
      not clear whether AT and peak VO2 deteriorate similarly. Therefore, we planned to
      compare the degree of deterioration of these two parameters using a ratio of AT
      and peak VO2 (%AT/peak), and evaluated its significance in heart failure
      subjects. METHODS: One hundred ninety-four stable heart failure patients who had
      optimal medical treatment for at least 3 months were enrolled. Cardiopulmonary
      exercise testing, echocardiography, and blood sampling were examined within one
      week. Since %AT/peak varied from 50.3% to 108.5%, we divided patients into
      tertiles of %AT/peak [Group A, 50.1-70.0 (n=112), Group B, 70.1-90.0 (n=64),
      Group C, 90.1-110.0 (n=18)], and compared factors relating with skeletal muscle
      and heart failure among these 3 groups. RESULTS: In Group A, ratio of measured AT
      against predicted value (%AT) and measured peak VO2 against predicted value
      (%peak VO2) were similar (80.3+/-19.0% and 80.4+/-17.1%, respectively). Peak VO2
      became lower as %AT/peak increased (Group B; 65.6+/-14.8%, p<0.01 vs. Group A,
      Group C; 38.3+/-9.7%, p<0.01 vs. Group B). On the other hand, %AT in Group B
      (77.1+/-18.5%) was similar to Group A, and diminished in Group C (58.0+/-8.2%,
      p<0.05 vs. Group B). Peak work rate and lean body mass were smaller in Group B
      than those in Group A. Although, left ventricular ejection fraction and E/E'
      deteriorated in Group B compared with Group A, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide
      and estimated glomerular filtration rate stayed constant in Group B and
      deteriorated in Group C. CONCLUSIONS: %AT/peak showed negative correlation with
      peak VO2. In chronic heart failure, muscle weakness occurs at an early stage, and
      this can be evaluated using %AT/peak.

PMID- 26867780
TI  - A reduced-order model-based study on the effect of intermittent pneumatic
      compression of limbs on the cardiovascular system.
AB  - This work investigates the effect that the application of intermittent pneumatic
      compression to lower limbs has on the cardiovascular system. Intermittent
      pneumatic compression can be applied to subjects with reduced or null mobility
      and can be useful for therapeutic purposes in sports recovery, deep vein
      thrombosis prevention and lymphedema drainage. However, intermittent pneumatic
      compression performance and the effectiveness are often difficult to predict.
      This study presents a reduced-order numerical model of the interaction between
      the cardiovascular system and the intermittent pneumatic compression device. The
      effect that different intermittent pneumatic compression operating conditions
      have on the overall circulation is investigated. Our findings confirm (1) that an
      overall positive effect on hemodynamics can be obtained by properly applying the
      intermittent pneumatic compression device and (2) that using intermittent
      pneumatic compression for cardiocirculatory recovery is feasible in subjects
      affected by lower limb disease. 

PMID- 26867781
TI  - Establishing the biomechanical properties of the pelvic soft tissues through an
      inverse finite element analysis using magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - The mechanical characteristics of the female pelvic floor are relevant when
      explaining pelvic dysfunction. The decreased elasticity of the tissue often
      causes inability to maintain urethral position, also leading to vaginal and
      rectal descend when coughing or defecating as a response to an increase in the
      internal abdominal pressure. These conditions can be associated with changes in
      the mechanical properties of the supportive structures-namely, the pelvic floor
      muscles-including impairment. In this work, we used an inverse finite element
      analysis to calculate the material constants for the passive mechanical behavior
      of the pelvic floor muscles. The numerical model of the pelvic floor muscles and
      bones was built from magnetic resonance axial images acquired at rest. Muscle
      deformation, simulating the Valsalva maneuver with a pressure of 4 KPa, was
      compared with the muscle displacement obtained through additional dynamic
      magnetic resonance imaging. The difference in displacement was of 0.15 mm in the
      antero-posterior direction and 3.69 mm in the supero-inferior direction, equating
      to a percentage error of 7.0% and 16.9%, respectively. We obtained the shortest
      difference in the displacements using an iterative process that reached the
      material constants for the Mooney-Rivlin constitutive model (c10=11.8 KPa and
      c20=5.53 E-02 KPa). For each iteration, the orthogonal distance between each node
      from the group of nodes which defined the puborectal muscle in the numerical
      model versus dynamic magnetic resonance imaging was computed. With the
      methodology used in this work, it was possible to obtain in vivo biomechanical
      properties of the pelvic floor muscles for a specific subject using input
      information acquired non-invasively. 

PMID- 26867782
TI  - Comment to Comment article "Posterior component separation with transversus
      abdominis release successfully addresses recurrent ventral hernias following
      anterior component separation" Pauli EM, et al. Hernia 2015; 19: 285-291. Tulloh
      B, de Beaux AC and to Reply to comment article "Posterior component separation
      with transversus abdominis release successfully addresses recurrent ventral
      hernias following anterior component separation" Tulloh B et al. Hernia 2015;
      19:687-688. Pauli EM, Rosen MJ.

PMID- 26867783
TI  - Plasma cells in primary melanoma. Prognostic significance and possible role of
      IgA.
AB  - Melanoma is not only one of the most immunogenic cancers but also one of the most
      effective cancers at subverting host immunity. The role of T lymphocytes in tumor
      immunity has been extensively studied in melanoma, whereas less is known about
      the importance of B lymphocytes. The effects of plasma cells (PCs), in
      particular, are still obscure. The aim of this study was to characterize
      pathological features and clinical outcome of primary cutaneous melanomas
      associated with PCs. Moreover, we investigated the origins of the melanoma
      associated PCs. Finally, we studied the outcome of patients with primary
      melanomas with PCs. We reviewed 710 melanomas to correlate the presence of PCs
      with histological prognostic markers. Immunohistochemistry for CD138 and heavy
      and light chains was performed in primary melanomas (PM) and in loco-regional
      lymph nodes (LN), both metastatic and not metastatic. In three PM and nine LN
      with frozen material, VDJ-rearrangement was analyzed by Gene Scan Analysis.
      Survival analysis was performed on a group of 85 primary melanomas >2 mm in
      thickness. Forty-one cases (3.7%) showed clusters/sheets of PCs. PC-rich
      melanomas occurred at an older age and were thicker, more often ulcerated and
      more mitotically active (P<0.05). PCs were polyclonal and often expressed IgA in
      addition to IgG. In LN, clusters/sheets of IgA+ PCs were found both in the
      sinuses and subcapsular areas. Analysis of VDJ-rearrangements showed the IgA to
      be oligoclonal. Melanomas with clusters/sheets of PCs had a significantly worse
      survival compared with melanomas without PCs while, interestingly, melanomas with
      sparse PCs were associated with a better clinical outcome (P=0.002). In
      conclusion, melanomas with sheets/clusters of PCs are associated with worse
      prognosis. IgG and IgA are the isotypes predominantly produced by these PCs. IgA
      oligoclonality suggests an antigen-driven response that facilitates melanoma
      progression by a hitherto unknown mechanism. 

PMID- 26867784
TI  - Leukocyte chemotactic factor 2 amyloidosis (ALECT2) is a common form of renal
      amyloidosis among Egyptians.
AB  - Large case series of renal amyloidosis subtypes have recently been published in
      the United States and Europe showing AL amyloidosis to be the predominant subtype
      in this part of the world. However, the most common subtypes of renal amyloidosis
      throughout the rest of the world are unknown. We present here the first large
      case series detailing the subtypes of renal amyloidosis among Egyptians. In this
      population, AA amyloidosis was the most common type of amyloidosis on renal
      biopsy at 48%. The newly described leukocyte chemotactic factor 2 amyloidosis
      (ALECT2) was the second most common type and represented nearly one-third of
      renal amyloid cases at 31%. AL accounted for only 20% of cases. The pathologic
      findings in ALECT2 cases were similar to those previously described in other case
      series. Thus ALECT2, which was initially thought to affect mainly Hispanics in
      the United States, appears to represent an important and likely underrecognized
      etiology of chronic kidney disease among Egyptians and probably in other ethnic
      groups around the world. 

PMID- 26867785
TI  - Suicidality and its relationships with individual, family, peer, and
      psychopathology factors among adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
      disorder.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence rates of suicidal intent and
      its correlates among adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in Taiwan. A total of 287
      adolescents aged 11-18 years and diagnosed with ADHD participated in this study.
      Their suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were assessed. Logistic regression
      analysis was used to examine the associations of suicide with individual, family,
      peer, ADHD, and psychopathology factors. A total of 12.2% of the participants
      reported suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt. A logistic regression analysis
      model showed that adolescents who were older, were bullying perpetrators, and
      reported high depression level were more likely to have suicidal intent. These
      three factors were also significantly correlated with suicidal ideation; however,
      only having high depression level was significantly correlated with suicidal
      attempts. The results of this study showed that a high proportion of adolescents
      with ADHD reported suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt. Multiple factors were
      significantly associated with suicidal intent among adolescents with ADHD.
      Clinicians, educational professionals, and parents of adolescents with ADHD
      should monitor the possibility of suicide in adolescents with ADHD who exhibit
      the correlates of suicidal intent identified in this study. 

PMID- 26867786
TI  - Multisensory body representation in autoimmune diseases.
AB  - Body representation has been linked to the processing and integration of
      multisensory signals. An outstanding example of the pivotal role played by
      multisensory mechanisms in body representation is the Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI).
      In this paradigm, multisensory stimulation induces a sense of ownership over a
      fake limb. Previous work has shown high interindividual differences in the
      susceptibility to the RHI. The origin of this variability remains largely
      unknown. Given the tight and bidirectional communication between the brain and
      the immune system, we predicted that the origin of this variability could be
      traced, in part, to the immune system's functioning, which is altered by several
      clinical conditions, including Coeliac Disease (CD). Consistent with this
      prediction, we found that the Rubber Hand Illusion is stronger in CD patients as
      compared to healthy controls. We propose a biochemical mechanism accounting for
      the dependency of multisensory body representation upon the Immune system. Our
      finding has direct implications for a range of neurological, psychiatric and
      immunological conditions where alterations of multisensory integration, body
      representation and dysfunction of the immune system co-exist. 

PMID- 26867789
TI  - Immunolocalization of AMPA receptor subunits within the enteric nervous system of
      the mouse colon and the effect of their activation on spontaneous colonic
      contractions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The appropriate expression of specific neurotransmitter receptors
      within the cellular networks that compose the enteric nervous system (ENS) is
      central to the regulation of gastrointestinal (GI) functions. While the ENS
      expression patterns of the neurotransmitter glutamate have been well documented,
      the localization of its receptors on ENS neurons remains to be fully
      characterized. We investigated the expression patterns of glutamate receptor AMPA
      subunits within ENS neurons of the mouse colon and the consequences of their
      pharmacological activation on spontaneous colonic contractility. METHODS: RT-PCR
      was used to detect individual AMPA receptor (GluR 1-4) subunit expression at the
      mRNA level in mouse colon tissue. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy
      was used to localize the expression of the GluR1 and 4 subunits in colon tissue.
      Brain tissue was used as a positive control. Organ bath preparations were used to
      determine the effect of AMPA receptors activation on the force and frequency of
      colonic longitudinal smooth muscle spontaneous contractions. KEY RESULTS: GluR1,
      3, 4 mRNA was detected in the mouse colon. Immunoreactivity for GluR1 and 4
      subunits was detected on the somatic and dendritic surfaces of subpopulations of
      neurochemically defined ENS neurons. The pharmacological activation of AMPA
      receptors increased the force but not frequency of spontaneous colonic
      contractions. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Molecularly distinct AMPA receptor
      subtypes are differentially expressed within the neural networks of the mouse
      colon and have a direct role in motility. These data provide the rationale for
      the development of AMPA-selective ligands for the therapeutic delivery to the GIT
      in motility disorders.

PMID- 26867788
TI  - Age and muscle strength mediate the age-related biomechanical plasticity of gait.
AB  - PURPOSE: Old compared with young adults walk with reduced ankle and increased hip
      mechanical output. We examined the idea that age, leg strength, or both are
      related to the age-related changes in mechanical output during gait. METHODS:
      Healthy young (n = 32, age 21.5 years) and old adults (n = 32, age 76.8 years)
      participated in biomechanical gait analyses at 1.5 m/s and were also measured for
      maximal leg strength. RESULTS: Analysis 1 confirmed previous data as old compared
      with young adults walked with 50 % more hip positive work and 18 % less ankle
      positive work. Analysis 2 showed that leg strength did not affect gait kinetics
      in groups of subjects with similar ages. In a weak young and a strong old group,
      Analysis 3 showed that old adults still walked with 23 % greater hip positive
      work. The group by joint interaction in Analysis 4 was suggestive of an even
      greater reliance on hip and less reliance on ankle work in weak compared with
      strong old adults. CONCLUSIONS: Age and leg strength both contribute to the age
      related changes in mechanical output during gait. Exercise prescription, normally
      targeting the knee extensors, should also involve ankle and hip muscles.

PMID- 26867787
TI  - Gelatin-Methacryloyl Hydrogels: Towards Biofabrication-Based Tissue Repair.
AB  - Research over the past decade on the cell-biomaterial interface has shifted to
      the third dimension. Besides mimicking the native extracellular environment by 3D
      cell culture, hydrogels offer the possibility to generate well-defined 3D
      biofabricated tissue analogs. In this context, gelatin-methacryloyl (gelMA)
      hydrogels have recently gained increased attention. This interest is sparked by
      the combination of the inherent bioactivity of gelatin and the physicochemical
      tailorability of photo-crosslinkable hydrogels. GelMA is a versatile matrix that
      can be used to engineer tissue analogs ranging from vasculature to cartilage and
      bone. Convergence of biological and biofabrication approaches is necessary to
      progress from merely proving cell functionality or construct shape fidelity
      towards regenerating tissues. GelMA has a critical pioneering role in this
      process and could be used to accelerate the development of clinically relevant
      applications.

PMID- 26867791
TI  - Differential characteristics of photochemical acclimation to cold in two
      contrasting sweet sorghum hybrids.
AB  - Sweet sorghum has a photosynthetic system which is highly sensitive to cold
      stress and hence strongly limits its development in temperate environments;
      therefore, the identification of key exploitable cold tolerance traits is
      imperative. From a preliminary field trial, two dissimilar sweet sorghum hybrids
      (ICSSH31 and Bulldozer), in terms of early vigor and productivity, were selected
      for a controlled-environment trial aiming at identifying useful traits related to
      acclimation mechanisms to cold stress. The higher cold tolerance of Bulldozer was
      partially related to a more efficient photochemical regulation mechanism of the
      incoming light energy: the higher tolerance of photosystem II (PSII) to photo
      inactivation was because of a more effective dissipation capacity of the excess
      of energy and to a more balanced diversion of the absorbed energy into
      alternative energy sinks. ICSSH31 increased the dissipation and accumulation of a
      large amount of xanthophylls, as in Bulldozer, but, at the same time, inactivated
      the oxygen evolving complex and the re-synthesis of chlorophyll (Chl) a and b,
      thus, leading to an overproduction of CO2 fixation enzymes after re-warming. In
      summary, in Bulldozer, the acclimation adjustments of the photosynthetic
      apparatus occurred through an efficient control of energy transfer toward the
      reaction centers, and this likely allowed a more successful seedling
      establishment; ICSSH31, conversely, exhibited a fast re-synthesis of Chl
      pigments, which appears to divert photosynthates from dry matter accumulation.
      Such broad acclimation traits may constitute a source for selecting higher
      genetic gain traits relevant for enlarging the growing season of promising
      biomass sorghum ideotypes in temperate climates. 

PMID- 26867790
TI  - Anthropogenic effects are associated with a lower persistence of marine food
      webs.
AB  - Marine coastal ecosystems are among the most exposed to global environmental
      change, with reported effects on species biomass, species richness and length of
      trophic chains. By combining a biologically informed food-web model with
      information on anthropogenic influences in 701 sites across the Caribbean region,
      we show that fishing effort, human density and thermal stress anomaly are
      associated with a decrease in local food-web persistence. The conservation status
      of the site, in turn, is associated with an increase in food-web persistence.
      Some of these associations are explained through effects on food-web structure
      and total community biomass. Our results unveil a hidden footprint of human
      activities. Even when food webs may seem healthy in terms of the presence and
      abundance of their constituent species, they may be losing the capacity to
      withstand further environmental degradation. 

PMID- 26867792
TI  - Varicella zoster virus antibody detection: A comparison of four commonly used
      techniques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antibody tests for the varicella zoster virus (VZV) include
      neutralization, fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA), immune adherence
      hemagglutination (IAHA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), glycoprotein-based enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA), and complement fixation (CF) tests. Of
      these, FAMA is considered the most sensitive. However, in Japan, the EIA method
      is most frequently employed. OBJECTIVE: The VZV antibody detection rate of the
      FAMA, EIA, gpELISA, and IAHA methods was compared. METHODS: Four types of
      antibody tests were conducted with sera collected from 83 college students. The
      relationships between two antibody tests were examined using Pearson's
      correlation coefficients. RESULTS: All 83 subjects were observed to be VZV
      antibody-positive using the FAMA method. The Pearson correlation coefficients of
      gpELISA, EIA, and IAHA relative to FAMA were 0.808, 0.782, and 0.356,
      respectively. The positive agreement rate of IAHA relative to FAMA was 88.0%
      (73/83), whereas those of gpELISA and EIA were both 97.6% (81/83). Furthermore,
      EIA showed 100% positive agreement with gpELISA and a high correlation
      coefficient of 0.911, whereas these values for IAHA compared to gpELISA were much
      lower (90.1% and 0.530). The calculated Pearson correlation coefficient for
      comparison of the EIA and IAHA methods was 0.498, with a positive agreement rate
      of 90.1% (73/81). CONCLUSIONS: The EIA method should be employed in Japan based
      on the similarity of the positivity between EIA and gpELISA, as it is more
      available and practical than gpELISA.

PMID- 26867793
TI  - The efficacy and safety of cefepime or meropenem in the treatment of febrile
      neutropenia in patients with lung cancer. A randomized phase II study.
AB  - Febrile neutropenia frequently develops after chemotherapy. There is little
      evidence to indicate the type of antimicrobial agents that should be used in the
      treatment of febrile neutropenia in patients with solid tumors. The objective is
      to determine the efficacy and safety of cefepime (CFPM) and meropenem (MEPM) in
      the treatment of febrile neutropenia in lung cancer patients in a prospective
      randomized study. FN patients with lung cancer were randomly divided into CFPM or
      MEPM groups. The primary end-point was the response rate. The secondary end
      points were the defervescence rates at 72 h, 7 days, 14 days and the incidence of
      adverse events. Twenty-one patients were treated with CFPM and 24 patients were
      treated with MEPM. One patient died of FN. The CFPM treatment completion rate was
      17.65% (95% CI; 0.00-35.77%), while the MEPM treatment completion rate was 38.10%
      (95% CI; 17.33-58.87%). The defervescence rates at 72 h, 7 days, and 14 days were
      70.59%, 86.67%, and 100.00%, respectively in the CFPM group; and 65.00%, 84.21%,
      and 92.31% in the MEPM group. Adverse events were observed in 33.33% of the CFPM
      group and 45.83% of the MEPM group. The response rate of the CFPM group was
      94.12% (95% CI; 73.02-98.95%), while that of the MEPM group was 85.71% (95% CI;
      65.36-95.02%). No differences were found in the efficacy or safety of CFPM and
      MEPM in the treatment of febrile neutropenia in patients with lung cancer. 

PMID- 26867794
TI  - A case of miriplatin-induced lung injury.
AB  - A 69-year-old man with an 8-year history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was
      hospitalized for treatment of recurrent tumour. In 2010, the first transcatheter
      arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using miriplatin with agents (Lipiodol Ultra
      Fluid) was performed and did not occur any adverse events. In 2014, since his HCC
      recurred, the TACE using miriplatin with agents was performed. Following this
      therapy, pyrexia occurred on day 3, followed by respiratory failure with cough
      and dyspnea on day 5. Chest radiography revealed scattered infiltration in the
      right upper lung fields, and chest computed tomography revealed ground grass
      attenuations, indicating fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonia. These
      findings progressively deteriorated, and a diagnosis of miriplatin-induced lung
      injury was made. His respiratory failure also progressively deteriorated.
      Treatment with pulse methylprednisolone therapy resulted in a dramatic
      improvement in both patient symptoms and radiological abnormalities. 

PMID- 26867795
TI  - Antimycobacterial activity of methanolic plant extract of Artemisia capillaris
      containing ursolic acid and hydroquinone against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In order to protect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)
      infection, novel drugs and new targets should be screened from the vast source of
      plants. We investigated the potentiality of the herbal plant of Artemisia
      capillaris extract (AC) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. DESIGN: In this
      study, we isolated ursolic acid and hydroquinone by bio-activity guided
      fractionation from the methanol extracts of AC, and tested the inhibitory effects
      against several strains of MTB. Anti-mycobacterial evaluation of these compounds
      was carried out using the MGITTM 960 and resazurin assay. Mycobacterial
      morphological changes due to the treatment of these compounds were further
      evaluated by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: Ursolic acid (UA)
      and hydroquinone (HQ) inhibited the growth of both susceptible and resistant
      strains of M. tuberculosis. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of
      both UA and HQ were 12.5 MUg/ml against the susceptible strains of M.
      tuberculosis. Also both UA and HQ showed 12.5-25 MUg/ml of MIC values against
      MDR/XDR MTB strains. However, against clinical strains of MTB, UA was found
      sensitive against those strains that are sensitive against both INH and RFP but
      resistant against those strains that are resistant to INH. On the other hand HQ
      was sensitive against all clinical strains. TEM image-analysis of the strain
      H37Ra after treatment with UA revealed cell wall lysis, whereas HQ-treated cells
      showed deformed cytoplasmic morphology. CONCLUSION: All these results indicate
      that AC extracts containing UA and HQ possess promising chemotherapeutic potency
      against MTB for future use.

PMID- 26867796
TI  - Protective effects of intravenous immunoglobulin and antimicrobial agents on
      acute pneumonia in leukopenic mice.
AB  - Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes the type of acute lung injury
      that is strongly associated with bacteremia, sepsis, and mortality, especially
      under immunocompromised conditions. Although administration of immunoglobulin
      solution is an applicable immunotherapy in immunocompromised patients, efficacy
      of immunoglobulin administration against multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa
      pneumonia has not been well evaluated. In this study, we investigated the
      effectiveness of prophylactic administration of immunoglobulin solution (IVIG) in
      comparison with that of other types of antimicrobial agents, such as anti-PcrV
      IgG, piperacillin/tazobactam, or colistin in an immunocompromised mouse model of
      P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Colistin was the most effective agent for preventing
      acute lung injury, bacteremia, cytokinemia, and sepsis. Among the four tested
      antimicrobial agents, after colistin, anti-PcrV IgG and IVIG were the most
      effective at protecting mice from mortality. Piperacillin/tazobactam did not
      prevent acute lung injury or bacteremia; rather, it worsened lung histology. The
      data suggest that using an agent for which a positive result in an in vitro
      susceptibility test has been obtained may not always prevent acute lung injury in
      a leukopenic host infected with P. aeruginosa. Clinicians should consider the
      possibility of discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo tests because the
      absence of in vitro bactericidal activity in an antimicrobial agent is not always
      a reliable predictor of its lack of ability to eradicate bacteria in vivo, even
      in immunocompromised hosts. Based on our findings, the potential protective
      effects of IVIG against the acute lung injury induced by P. aeruginosa should be
      reevaluated. 

PMID- 26867797
TI  - Client perspective assessment of women's satisfaction towards labour and delivery
      care service in public health facilities at Arba Minch town and the surrounding
      district, Gamo Gofa zone, south Ethiopia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A woman's satisfaction with labour and delivery care service has a
      good effect on her health and subsequent utilization of the services. Thus
      knowledge about women's satisfaction on labour and delivery care used to enhances
      the services utilization. The objective of this study was to assess the
      satisfaction of women's towards labour and delivery care service and identify
      factors associated it at public health facilities in Arba Minch town and the
      surrounding district, Gamo Gofa zone, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based
      cross sectional study was conducted among women who gave birth at public health
      facility. A total 256 women who gave birth during the study period were included
      in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Satisfaction
      level was measured using a 5 point-Likert scale questions. Data were entered
      using Epi data version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software.
      Factor analysis was employed for Likert scale questions to extract factor
      represented each of the scale which facilitate treatment of variable as
      continuous for further analysis. Bi-variate and multivariable logistic regression
      analysis was employed to identify association between women's satisfaction and
      predicator variables. Statistical significance was declared at P value <0.05 on
      final model. The strength of association was interpreted using the adjusted odds
      ratio and 95% CI. RESULT: This study revealed that 90.2% of women who gave birth
      in public health facilities were satisfied with labour and delivery care. Factors
      associated with women's satisfaction with labour and delivery care services
      include: not attending formal education [AOR = 8.00, 95% CI = (1.52, 12.27)]
      attending antenatal care four times and more [AOR = 5.00, 95% CI = (1.76, 14.20)]
      waiting below 15 minutes to be seen by health professional [AOR = 3.37, 95% CI =
      (1.14, 9.97)] and not paying for drugs and supplies [AOR = 6.19, 95% CI = (1.34,
      18.59)]. CONCLUSION: Although majority of women were satisfied with the labour
      and delivery service they got, their level of satisfaction was influenced by
      educational status, number of ANC visits, waiting time, and payment for drug and
      supplies. Thus, public health intervention working on improving delivery care
      should consider these factors.

PMID- 26867798
TI  - The palaeobiology of high latitude birds from the early Eocene greenhouse of
      Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada.
AB  - Fossils attributable to the extinct waterfowl clade Presbyornithidae and the
      large flightless Gastornithidae from the early Eocene (~52-53 Ma) of Ellesmere
      Island, in northernmost Canada are the oldest Cenozoic avian fossils from the
      Arctic. Except for its slightly larger size, the Arctic presbyornithid humerus is
      not distinguishable from fossils of Presbyornis pervetus from the western United
      States, and the Gastornis phalanx is within the known size range of mid-latitude
      individuals. The occurrence of Presbyornis above the Arctic Circle in the Eocene
      could be the result of annual migration like that of its living duck and geese
      relatives, or it may have been a year-round resident similar to some Eocene
      mammals on Ellesmere and some extant species of sea ducks. Gastornis, along with
      some of the mammalian and reptilian members of the Eocene Arctic fauna, likely
      over-wintered in the Arctic. Despite the milder (above freezing) Eocene climate
      on Ellesmere Island, prolonged periods of darkness occurred during the winter.
      Presence of these extinct birds at both mid and high latitudes on the northern
      continents provides evidence that future increases in climatic warming (closer to
      Eocene levels) could lead to the establishment of new migratory or resident
      populations within the Arctic Circle.

PMID- 26867800
TI  - Optical detection of radon decay in air.
AB  - An optical radon detection method is presented. Radon decay is directly measured
      by observing the secondary radiolumines cence light that alpha particles excite
      in air, and the selectivity of coincident photon detection is further enhanced
      with online pulse-shape analysis. The sensitivity of a demonstration device was
      6.5 cps/Bq/l and the minimum detectable concentration was 12 Bq/m(3) with a 1 h
      integration time. The presented technique paves the way for optical approaches in
      rapid radon detec tion, and it can be applied beyond radon to the analysis of any
      alpha-active sample which can be placed in the measurement chamber. 

PMID- 26867799
TI  - beta-elemene sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to oxaliplatin by
      preventing oxaliplatin-induced degradation of copper transporter 1.
AB  - beta-elemene, a Curcuma wenyujin plant extract, has been used widely as a tumor
      adjuvant therapeutic agent. However, how to obtain optimum therapeutic effects by
      combining this compound with other agents remain unclear. In this study, we found
      that beta-elemene, which alone had little effect on hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC) cell proliferation, exerted a synergistic anti-proliferative effect in HCC
      cells when dosed in combination with oxaliplatin, which increased the amounts of
      platinum accumulation and platinum-DNA adduct significantly and augmented the
      oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis. Western blot and laser scanning confocal
      microscopy studies indicated that beta-elemene enhanced the sensitivity of HCC
      cells to oxaliplatin by upregulating copper transporter 1 (CTR1), a major
      controller of intracellular platinum accumulation. In an orthotopic
      transplantation HCC model in nude mice, HCC tumor growth was inhibited
      significantly by oxaliplatin combined with beta-elemene, as compared with
      oxaliplatin alone. Notably, CTR1 protein expression in xenograft HCC was
      upregulated in mice who received beta-elemene treatment. Taken together, our
      findings show that beta-elemene can block the reduction of CTR1 resulting from
      oxaliplatin treatment, and therefore has a synergistic anti-HCC effect with
      oxaliplatin by enhancing cellular uptake of oxaliplatin. The synergistic effects
      of beta-elemene and oxaliplatin deserve further evaluation in clinical settings. 

PMID- 26867801
TI  - Curcumin: A Natural Multitarget Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer.

PMID- 26867803
TI  - On spatial pattern of concentration distribution for Taylor dispersion process.
AB  - Taylor dispersion is a key concept in many fields. In the present paper, we
      characterize the pattern of the complete spatial concentration distribution for
      laminar tube flow; the obtained simple description is shown to represent the
      nature of Taylor dispersion. Importantly, we find that during the approach to the
      longitudinal normality of the transverse mean concentration at the time scale of
      R(2)/D (R is the tube radius and D is the molecular diffusivity), the solute
      concentration becomes uniformly distributed across a family of invariant curved
      transverse surfaces instead of the flat cross-sections in the traditional view.
      The family of curved surfaces is analytically determined, and a transformation is
      devised for the previously obtained analytical solution to discuss the decay of
      the concentration difference across the curved surfaces. The approach to a
      uniform concentration across the flat cross-sections to the same degree (~3% by
      concentration difference percentage), achieved at a time-scale of 100 R(2)/D, is
      shown to be the natural consequence of the longitudinal separation of the
      concentration contours on the curved surfaces. 

PMID- 26867802
TI  - Examining Mediators and Moderators of Yoga for Women With Breast Cancer
      Undergoing Radiotherapy.
AB  - Hypothesis This study examines moderators and mediators of a yoga intervention
      targeting quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in women with breast cancer receiving
      radiotherapy.Methods Women undergoing 6 weeks of radiotherapy were randomized to
      a yoga (YG; n = 53) or stretching (ST; n = 56) intervention or a waitlist control
      group (WL; n = 54). Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances were measured at
      baseline. Mediator (posttraumatic stress symptoms, benefit finding, and cortisol
      slope) and outcome (36-item Short Form [SF]-36 mental and physical component
      scales [MCS and PCS]) variables were assessed at baseline, end-of-treatment, and
      1-, 3-, and 6-months posttreatment. Results Baseline depressive symptoms (P =
      .03) and sleep disturbances (P < .01) moderated the Group * Time effect on MCS,
      but not PCS. Women with high baseline depressive symptoms in YG reported
      marginally higher 3-month MCS than their counterparts in WL (P = .11). Women with
      high baseline sleep disturbances in YG reported higher 3-months MCS than their
      counterparts in WL (P < .01) and higher 6-month MCS than their counterparts in ST
      (P = .01). YG led to greater benefit finding than ST and WL across the follow-up
      (P = .01). Three-month benefit finding partially mediated the effect of YG on 6
      month PCS. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and cortisol slope did not mediate
      treatment effect on QOL. Conclusion Yoga may provide the greatest mental-health
      related QOL benefits for those experiencing pre-radiotherapy sleep disturbance
      and depressive symptoms. Yoga may improve physical-health-related QOL by
      increasing ability to find benefit in the cancer experience.

PMID- 26867807
TI  - Accuracy of secondary maxillofacial reconstruction with prefabricated fibula
      grafts using 3D planning and guided reconstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We compared the pre-operative 3D-surgical plan with the surgical
      outcome of complex two-stage secondary reconstruction of maxillofacial defects
      using inserted implants in the prefabricated fibula graft. METHODS: Eleven
      reconstructions of maxillofacial defects with prefabricated fibulas were
      performed using a 3D virtual planning. Accuracy of placement of the fibula grafts
      and dental implants was compared to pre-operative 3D virtual plans by
      superimposing pre-operative and post-operative CT-scans: we first superimposed
      the CT-scans on the antagonist jaw, to represent the outcome of occlusion, and
      then superimposed on the planned fibula segments. RESULTS: Superimposing the CT
      scans on the antagonist jaws revealed a median deviation of the fibula segments
      and implants of 4.7 mm (IQR:3-6.5 mm) and 5.5 mm (IQR:2.8-7 mm) from the planned
      position, respectively. Superimposing of the CT scans on the fibula segments
      revealed a median difference of fibula and implant placement of 0.3 mm (IQR:0-1.6
      mm) and 2.2 mm (IQR:1.5-2.9 mm), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The final position of
      the fibula graft is determined by the occlusion of the denture, which is designed
      from the 3D plan. From a prosthodontic perspective, the accuracy of 3D-surgical
      planning of reconstruction of maxillofacial defects with a fibula graft and the
      implants allows for a favorable functional position of the implants and fibula
      graft.

PMID- 26867804
TI  - Nutlin-3 treatment spares cisplatin-induced inhibition of bone healing while
      maintaining osteosarcoma toxicity.
AB  - The majority of Osteosarcoma (OS) patients are treated with a combination of
      chemotherapy, resection, and limb salvage protocols. These protocols include
      distraction osteogenesis (DO), which is characterized by direct new bone
      formation. Cisplatin (CDP) is extensively used for OS chemotherapy and recent
      studies, using a mouse DO model, have demonstrated that CDP has profound negative
      effects on bone repair. Recent oncological therapeutic strategies are based on
      the use of standard cytotoxic drugs plus an assortment of biologic agents. Here
      we demonstrate that the previously reported CDP-associated inhibition of bone
      repair can be modulated by the administration of a small molecule p53 inducer
      (nutlin-3). The effects of nutlin-3 on CDP osteotoxicity were studied using both
      pre- and post-operative treatment models. In both cases the addition of nutlin-3,
      bracketing CDP exposure, demonstrated robust and significant bone sparing
      activity (p < 0.01-0.001). In addition the combination of nutlin-3 and CDP
      induced equivalent OS tumor killing in a xenograft model. Collectively, these
      results demonstrate that the induction of p53 peri-operatively protects bone
      healing from the toxic effects of CDP, while maintaining OS toxicity. (c) 2016
      Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
      34:1716-1724, 2016.

PMID- 26867805
TI  - Clinically relevant weakness in diverse populations of older adults participating
      in the International Mobility in Aging Study.
AB  - The aims of this study were to compare cut points for weakness proposed by
      Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project with
      cut points estimated with our own data; to assess the prevalence of clinically
      relevant handgrip strength (HGS) weakness according to published criteria across
      distinct populations of older adults; to estimate the ability of HGS weakness to
      identify slowness. This is a cross-sectional analysis of International Mobility
      in Aging Study (IMIAS) involving 1935 community-dwelling older adults, between 65
      and 74 years, who completed HGS and gait speed assessment. We used baseline data
      from Tirana (Albania), Natal (Brazil), Manizales (Colombia), Kingston (Ontario,
      Canada), and Saint-Hyacinthe (Quebec, Canada). Weakness was defined according to
      sex-specific HGS cut points associated with slowness proposed by FNIH Sarcopenia
      Project. Slowness was defined as gait speed <0.8 m/s. IMIAS cut points for
      clinical weakness had good agreement with those proposed by FNIH. Weakness
      prevalence across the research sites ranged from 1.1 % (Saint-Hyacinthe) to 19.2
      % (Manizales) among men. Women from Manizales (13.5 %) and Natal (19.3 %) had
      higher prevalence of weakness than their counterparts. FNIH cut points had a
      strong association with slowness, for both sexes. The IMIAS population generated
      cut points which were close to those proposed by FNIH. There was large
      variability in prevalence of weakness across our research sites. The HGS cut
      points for weakness proposed by FNIH performed well in IMIAS populations,
      providing a useful tool for screening older adults at risk for functional
      problems. 

PMID- 26867808
TI  - Dibenzofurans and derivatives from lichens and ascomycetes.
AB  - Covering: up to 2016.When looking for dibenzofuran in the biochemical databases,
      most papers and reviews deal with pollutants and polychlorinated dibenzofurans
      like dioxins. But dibenzofurans are also biosynthetized by a wide diversity of
      organisms in nature. Even if dibenzofurans from natural sources represent a small
      class of secondary metabolites, compared to flavonoids, xanthones or terpenoids,
      they are often endowed with interesting biological properties which have been
      recently described. This review provides an update on papers describing
      dibenzofurans from lichens, ascomycetes and cultured mycobionts. Other sources,
      such as basidiomycetes, myxomycetes or plants produce sporadically interesting
      dibenzofurans in terms of structures and activities.

PMID- 26867806
TI  - Senescence associated secretory phenotype profile from primary lung mice
      fibroblasts depends on the senescence induction stimuli.
AB  - Cellular senescence is a multifactorial phenomenon of growth arrest and distorted
      function, which has been recognized as an important feature during tumor
      suppression mechanisms and a contributor to aging. Senescent cells have an
      altered secretion pattern called Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP)
      that comprises a complex mix of factors including cytokines, growth factors,
      chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases. SASP has been related with local
      inflammation that leads to cellular transformation and neurodegenerative
      diseases. Various pathways for senescence induction have been proposed; the most
      studied is replicative senescence due to telomere attrition called replicative
      senescence (RS). However, senescence can be prematurely achieved when cells are
      exposed to diverse stimuli such as oxidative stress (stress-induced premature
      senescence, SIPS) or proteasome inhibition (proteasome inhibition-induced
      premature senescence, PIIPS). SASP has been characterized in RS and SIPS but not
      in PIIPS. Hence, our aim was to determine SASP components in primary lung
      fibroblasts obtained from CD-1 mice induced to senescence by PIIPS and compare
      them to RS and SIPS. Our results showed important variations in the 62 cytokines
      analyzed, while SIPS and RS showed an increase in the secretion of most
      cytokines, and in PIIPS only 13 were incremented. Variations in glutathione-redox
      balance were also observed in SIPS and RS, and not in PIIPS. All senescence types
      SASP displayed a pro-inflammatory profile and increased proliferation in L929
      mice fibroblasts exposed to SASP. However, the behavior observed was not exactly
      the same, suggesting that the senescence induction pathway might encompass
      dissimilar responses in adjacent cells and promote different outcomes. 

PMID- 26867809
TI  - Recent Strategies for Improving the Catalytic Activity of 2D TMD Nanosheets
      Toward the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.
AB  - Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanosheets have
      emerged as a fascinating new class of materials for catalysis. These nanosheets
      are active for several important catalysis reactions including hydrogen evolution
      from water. The rich chemistry of TMDs combined with numerous strategies that
      allow tuning of their electronic properties make these materials very attractive
      for understanding the fundamental principles of electro- and photocatalysis, as
      well as for developing highly efficient, renewable, and affordable catalysts for
      large-scale production of hydrogen. Recent developments are highlighted and
      important challenges in using TMDs as catalysts are also discussed. 

PMID- 26867810
TI  - Anticancer activity and radiosensitization effect of methyleneisoxazolidin-5-ones
      in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.
AB  - Parthenolide (PTL), a well-known sesquiterpene lactone of natural origin with
      alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl structure, has proven to show promising anti
      cancer properties. In this report, anti-proliferative potential of two synthetic
      methyleneisoxazolidin-5-ones, MZ-6 and MZ-14, with the same structural motif, has
      been investigated in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The effects on apoptosis
      induction and DNA damage were evaluated. All compounds decreased the number of
      live cells and increased the number of late apoptotic cells. However, only MZ-14
      was able to induce DNA damage. Both synthetic compounds increased intracellular
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential
      changes at the same level as PTL. Additionally, cell survival was analyzed after
      a combined treatment, in which HepG2 cells were preincubated for 24 h with MZ-6,
      MZ-14 or PTL and irradiated with different doses of X-rays. The inhibition of
      cell survival was assessed by the clonogenic assay. We have shown that the clone
      formation was strongly inhibited by the combined treatment. The synergistic
      effect was observed for all three compounds but MZ-6 was significantly more
      effective. It is interesting to note that in HepG2 cells MZ-6 was the least
      cytotoxic of the tested compounds, did not induce DNA damage and was less active
      than the others in the clonogenic cell survival assay. It seems advantages from
      the point of view of the further in vivo studies that the compound with the
      lowest cytotoxic activity showed the strongest sensitizing effect.

PMID- 26867812
TI  - HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 genotyping of 180 Czech individuals from the Czech
      Republic pop 3.
AB  - One hundred and eighty Czech individuals from the Czech Republic pop 3 were
      genotyped at the HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 loci using sequence-specific primers
      PCR methods. HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 genotypes are consistent with expected
      Hardy-Weinberg (HW) proportions. These genotype data are available in the Allele
      Frequencies Net Database under identifier AFND.

PMID- 26867811
TI  - Long-Lasting Sound-Evoked Afterdischarge in the Auditory Midbrain.
AB  - Different forms of plasticity are known to play a critical role in the processing
      of information about sound. Here, we report a novel neural plastic response in
      the inferior colliculus, an auditory center in the midbrain of the auditory
      pathway. A vigorous, long-lasting sound-evoked afterdischarge (LSA) is seen in a
      subpopulation of both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus
      of the inferior colliculus of normal hearing mice. These neurons were identified
      with single unit recordings and optogenetics in vivo. The LSA can continue for up
      to several minutes after the offset of the sound. LSA is induced by long-lasting,
      or repetitive short-duration, innocuous sounds. Neurons with LSA showed less
      adaptation than the neurons without LSA. The mechanisms that cause this neural
      behavior are unknown but may be a function of intrinsic mechanisms or the
      microcircuitry of the inferior colliculus. Since LSA produces long-lasting firing
      in the absence of sound, it may be relevant to temporary or chronic tinnitus or
      to some other aftereffect of long-duration sound. 

PMID- 26867813
TI  - Current outcomes of chronic active antibody mediated rejection - A large single
      center retrospective review using the updated BANFF 2013 criteria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The updated BANFF 2013 criteria has enabled a more standardized and
      complete serologic and histopathologic diagnosis of chronic active antibody
      mediated rejection (cAMR). Little data exists on the outcomes of cAMR since the
      initiation of this updated criteria. METHODS: 123 consecutive patients with
      biopsy proven cAMR (BANFF 2013) between 2006 and 2012 were identified. RESULTS:
      Patients identified with cAMR were followed for a median of 9.5 (2.7-20.3) years
      after transplant and 4.3 (0-8.8) years after cAMR. Ninety-four (76%) recipients
      lost their grafts with a median survival of 1.9 years after diagnosis with cAMR.
      Mean C4d and allograft glomerulopathy scores were 2.6 +/- 0.7 and 2.2 +/- 0.8,
      respectively. 53.2% had class II DSA, 32.2% had both class I and II, and 14.5%
      had class I DSA only. Chronicity score >8 (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1-8.4, p=0.05), DSA
      >2500 MFI (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-6.8, p=0.03), Scr >3mg/dL (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6-6.3,
      p=0.001) and UPC >1g/g (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.5, p=0.003) were associated with a
      higher risk of graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: cAMR was associated with poor graft
      survival after diagnosis. Improved therapies and earlier detection strategies are
      likely needed to improve outcomes of cAMR in kidney transplant recipients.

PMID- 26867815
TI  - Host switching of human lice to new world monkeys in South America.
AB  - The coevolution between a host and its obligate parasite is exemplified in the
      sucking lice that infest primates. In the context of close lice-host partnerships
      and cospeciation, Pediculus mjobergi, the louse of New World primates, has long
      been puzzling because its morphology resembles that of human lice. To investigate
      the possibility that P. mjobergi was transmitted to monkeys from the first humans
      who set foot on the American continent thousands of years ago, we obtained and
      compared P. mjobergi lice collected from howler monkeys from Argentina to human
      lice gathered from a remote and isolated village in Amazonia that has escaped
      globalization. Morphological examinations were first conducted and verified the
      similarity between the monkey and human lice. The molecular characterization of
      several nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers in the two types of lice
      revealed that one of the P. mjobergi specimens had a unique haplotype that
      clustered with the haplotypes of Amazonian head lice that are prevalent in
      tropical regions in the Americas, a natural habitat of New World monkeys. Because
      this phylogenetic group forms a separate branch within the clade of lice from
      humans that were of American origin, this finding indicates that human lice have
      transferred to New World monkeys. 

PMID- 26867814
TI  - Incremental Hemodialysis, Residual Kidney Function, and Mortality Risk in
      Incident Dialysis Patients: A Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Maintenance hemodialysis is typically prescribed thrice weekly
      irrespective of a patient's residual kidney function (RKF). We hypothesized that
      a less frequent schedule at hemodialysis therapy initiation is associated with
      greater preservation of RKF without compromising survival among patients with
      substantial RKF. STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS:
      23,645 patients who initiated maintenance hemodialysis therapy in a large
      dialysis organization in the United States (January 2007 to December 2010), had
      available RKF data during the first 91 days (or quarter) of dialysis, and
      survived the first year. PREDICTOR: Incremental (routine twice weekly for >6
      continuous weeks during the first 91 days upon transition to dialysis) versus
      conventional (thrice weekly) hemodialysis regimens during the same time.
      OUTCOMES: Changes in renal urea clearance and urine volume during 1 year after
      the first quarter and survival after the first year. RESULTS: Among 23,645
      included patients, 51% had substantial renal urea clearance
      (>=3.0mL/min/1.73m(2)) at baseline. Compared with 8,068 patients with
      conventional hemodialysis regimens matched based on baseline renal urea
      clearance, urine volume, age, sex, diabetes, and central venous catheter use, 351
      patients with incremental regimens exhibited 16% (95% CI, 5%-28%) and 15% (95%
      CI, 2%-30%) more preserved renal urea clearance and urine volume at the second
      quarter, respectively, which persisted across the following quarters. Incremental
      regimens showed higher mortality risk in patients with inadequate baseline renal
      urea clearance (<=3.0mL/min/1.73m(2); HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.07-2.44), but not in
      those with higher baseline renal urea clearance (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76-1.28).
      Results were similar in a subgroup defined by baseline urine volume of 600mL/d.
      LIMITATIONS: Potential selection bias and wide CIs. CONCLUSIONS: Among incident
      hemodialysis patients with substantial RKF, incremental hemodialysis may be a
      safe treatment regimen and is associated with greater preservation of RKF,
      whereas higher mortality is observed after the first year of dialysis in those
      with the lowest RKF. Clinical trials are needed to examine the safety and
      effectiveness of twice-weekly hemodialysis.

PMID- 26867816
TI  - Comparative sequence analysis of domain I of Plasmodium falciparum apical
      membrane antigen 1 from Saudi Arabia and worldwide isolates.
AB  - The apical membrane antigen 1 of Plasmodium falciparum (PfAMA1) plays a crucial
      role in erythrocyte invasion and is a target of protective antibodies. Although
      domain I of PfAMA1 has been considered a promising vaccine component, extensive
      sequence diversity in this domain could compromise an effective vaccine design.
      To explore the extent of sequence diversity in domain I of PfAMA1, P. falciparum
      infected blood samples from Saudi Arabia collected between 2007 and 2009 were
      analyzed and compared with those from worldwide parasite populations. Forty-six
      haplotypes and a novel codon change (M190V) were found among Saudi Arabian
      isolates. The haplotype diversity (0.948+/-0.004) and nucleotide diversity
      (0.0191+/-0.0008) were comparable to those from African hyperendemic countries.
      Positive selection in domain I of PfAMA1 among Saudi Arabian parasite population
      was observed because nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions per nonsynonymous
      site (dN) significantly exceeded synonymous nucleotide substitutions per
      synonymous site (dS) and Tajima's D and its related statistics significantly
      deviated from neutrality in the positive direction. Despite a relatively low
      prevalence of malaria in Saudi Arabia, a minimum of 17 recombination events
      occurred in domain I. Genetic differentiation was significant between P.
      falciparum in Saudi Arabia and parasites from other geographic origins. Several
      shared or closely related haplotypes were found among parasites from different
      geographic areas, suggesting that vaccine derived from multiple shared epitopes
      could be effective across endemic countries. 

PMID- 26867817
TI  - Control of the rotary inverted pendulum through threshold-based communication.
AB  - This paper deals with the real implementation of an event-based control structure
      for the classical rotary inverted pendulum. The communication between controller
      and plant is performed through Ethernet (TCP/IP) which leads to a Networked
      Control System. The bandwidth used by the control loop is reduced, compared with
      the one that needs a conventional control, by using a threshold-based
      communication. The values of the thresholds have been determined by means of
      simulation techniques. The results over the real plant show how this technique
      can reach a significant reduction of the bandwidth consumed with a negligible
      worsening of the performance. 

PMID- 26867818
TI  - Supporting the human life-raft in confronting the juggernaut of technology: Jens
      Rasmussen, 1961-1986.
AB  - Jens Rasmussen's contribution to the field of human factors and ergonomics has
      had a lasting impact. Six prominent interrelated themes can be extracted from his
      research between 1961 and 1986. These themes form the basis of an engineering
      epistemology which is best manifested by his abstraction hierarchy. Further,
      Rasmussen reformulated technical reliability using systems language to enable a
      proper human-machine fit. To understand the concept of human-machine fit, he
      included the operator as a central component in the system to enhance system
      safety. This change resulted in the application of a qualitative and categorical
      approach for human-machine interaction design. Finally, Rasmussen's insistence on
      a working philosophy of systems design as being a joint responsibility of
      operators and designers provided the basis for averting errors and ensuring safe
      and correct system functioning.

PMID- 26867819
TI  - Efficacy of 11 Brazilian essential oils on lethality of the cattle tick
      Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.
AB  - Herbal extracts have been investigated as an alternative for parasite control,
      aiming to slow the development of resistance and to obtain low-cost biodegradable
      parasiticides. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, in vitro, of
      11 essential oils from Brazil on reproductive efficiency and lethality of the
      cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The effects of oils extracted
      from Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Lippia alba, Lippia gracilis, Lippia
      origanoides, Lippia sidoides, Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita, Croton cajucara
      (white and red), and Croton sacaquinha on ticks were investigated by the
      Immersion Test with Engorged Females (ITEF) and the modified Larval Packet Test
      (LPT). Distilled water and 2% Tween 80 were used as control treatments. Chemical
      analysis of the oils was done with gas chromatography coupled with mass
      spectrometry. Analysis of the in vitro tests using Probit (SAS program) allowed
      the calculation of lethal concentrations (LCs). Lower reproductive efficiency
      indexes and higher efficacy percentages in the ITEF were obtained with the oils
      extracted from C. longa (24 and 71%, respectively) and M. arvensis oils (27 and
      73%, respectively). Lower LC50 was reached with C. longa (10.24 mg/mL), L. alba
      (10.78 mg/mL), M. arvensis (22.31 mg/mL), L. sidoides (27.67 mg/mL), and C.
      sacaquinha (29.88 mg/mL) oils. In the LPT, species from Zingiberaceae and
      Verbenaceae families caused 100% lethality at 25 mg/mL, except for L. sidoides.
      The most effective oils were from C. longa, L. gracilis, L. origanoides, L. alba,
      and Z. officinale. The LC50 and LC90 were, respectively: 0.54 and 1.80 mg/mL,
      3.21 and 7.03 mg/mL, 3.10 and 8.44 mg/mL, 5.85 and 11.14 mg/mL, and 7.75 and
      13.62 mg/mL. The efficacy was directly related to the major components in each
      essential oil, and the oils derived from Croton genus presented the worst
      performance, suggesting the absence of synergistic effect among its compounds.
      Since C. longa, containing 62% turmerone, was the one most efficient against
      ticks, this compound may be potentially used for tick control, but further
      research is needed, especially to assess toxicity of these compounds to the host.
      These new studies, together with the results presented here, may provide a strong
      rationale for designing pre-clinical and clinical studies with these agents.

PMID- 26867820
TI  - Combined Epiregulin and Amphiregulin Expression Levels as a Predictive Biomarker
      for Panitumumab Therapy Benefit or Lack of Benefit in Patients With RAS Wild-Type
      Advanced Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - Importance: RAS wild-type (wt) status is necessary but not sufficient for
      response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents in advanced
      colorectal cancer (aCRC). RNA expression of EGFR ligands epiregulin (EREG) and
      amphiregulin (AREG) may correlate with EGFR-targeted therapy efficacy in aCRC, so
      may represent a much-needed additional predictive marker for these drugs.
      Objective: To examine a novel ligand model in a randomized clinical trial of
      panitumumab, irinotecan, and ciclosporin in colorectal cancer (PICCOLO) with with
      the a priori hypothesis that high tumor expression of either AREG or EREG would
      predict panitumumab therapy benefit in RAS-wt patients; and low expression, lack
      of efficacy. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospectively planned
      retrospective biomarker study from the PICCOLO trial, which tested the addition
      of panitumumab to irinotecan therapy in patients with KRAS wt aCRC who
      experienced failure with prior fluoropyrimidine treatment. The analysis was
      conducted between 2012 and 2014. A predefined dichotomous model classified tumors
      as "high expressor" (either EREG or AREG in top tertile for messenger RNA level)
      or "low expressor" (neither EREG nor AREG in top tertile). Ligand expression was
      assessed as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Expression of AREG/EREG and
      RAS and BRAF mutations were assessed in archival tumor tissue. Main Outcomes and
      Measures: Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end
      points were response rate and overall survival (OS). Results: Of the 696 PICCOLO
      trial patients in the irinotecan-vs-irinotecan with panitumumab randomization,
      331 had sufficient tumor tissue available and measurement of ligand expression
      was successful in 323. High ligand expression was not prognostic for OS (hazard
      ratio [HR], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.58-1.09]; P = .15) or PFS (HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.68
      1.27]; P = .64). The primary population had RAS wt aCRC (n = 220); for RAS wt
      patients with high ligand expression, median (interquartile range [IQR]) PFS was
      8.3 [4.0-11.0] months (irinotecan with panitumumab) vs 4.4 [2.8-6.7] months
      (irinotecan alone); HR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.24-0.61]; P < .001). In RAS wt patients
      with low ligand expression, median (IQR) PFS was 3.2 [2.7-8.1] months (irinotecan
      with panitumumab) vs 4.0 [2.7-7.5] months (irinotecan); HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.64
      1.37]; P = .73; interaction test results were significant [P = .01]). Less marked
      effects were seen for response rate (interaction P = .17) and OS (interaction P =
      .11). Conclusions and Relevance: High ligand expression is a predictive marker
      for panitumumab therapy benefit on PFS in RAS wt patients; conversely, patients
      with low ligand expression gained no benefit. The current "opt-in" strategy for
      anti-EGFR therapy in all patients with RAS wt aCRC should be questioned.
      Expression of EREG/AREG is a useful biomarker for anti-EGFR therapy; optimization
      for clinical use is indicated. Trial Registration: isrctn Identifier:
      ISRCTN93248876.

PMID- 26867821
TI  - Anomalous magneto-elastic and charge doping effects in thallium-doped BaFe2As2.
AB  - Within the BaFe2As2 crystal lattice, we partially substitute thallium for barium
      and report the effects of interlayer coupling in Ba(1-x)Tl(x)Fe2As2 crystals. We
      demonstrate the unusual effects of magneto-elastic coupling and charge doping in
      this iron-arsenide material, whereby Neel temperature rises with small x, and
      then falls with additional x. Specifically, we find that Neel and structural
      transitions in BaFe2As2 (T(N) = T(s) = 133 K) increase for x = 0.05 (T(N) = 138
      K, T(s) = 140 K) from magnetization, heat capacity, resistivity, and neutron
      diffraction measurements. Evidence from single crystal X-ray diffraction and
      first principles calculations attributes the stronger magnetism in x = 0.05 to
      magneto-elastic coupling related to the shorter intraplanar Fe-Fe bond distance.
      With further thallium substitution, the transition temperatures decrease for x =
      0.09 (T(N) = T(s) = 131 K), and this is due to charge doping. We illustrate that
      small changes related to 3d transition-metal state can have profound effects on
      magnetism.

PMID- 26867822
TI  - Acupuncture in Pediatrics.
AB  - There has been extensive research on the use of acupuncture in adults with a wide
      array of conditions. Much less research has been conducted on the use of
      acupuncture in children. In this article, we review the history and philosophy of
      acupuncture, and the literature on its effectiveness and safety in children and
      adolescents, giving special attention to the pediatric and adolescent conditions
      that have been most studied in high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs). 

PMID- 26867823
TI  - Commentary.

PMID- 26867824
TI  - Update of Antithrombotic Guidelines: Medical Professionalism and the Funnel of
      Knowledge.

PMID- 26867825
TI  - Physiologic Markers of Exercise as a Potential Screening Tool for the Detection
      of Pulmonary Hypertension: "alpha" Few Steps Forward.

PMID- 26867826
TI  - Disparities in Cystic Fibrosis Care and Outcome: Socioeconomic Status and Beyond.

PMID- 26867827
TI  - Atrial Fibrillation and Aging: Risky Mutual Relationships.

PMID- 26867828
TI  - POINT: Does Low-Dose Oxygen Expose Patients With COPD to More Radiation-Like
      Risks Than Patients Without COPD? Yes.

PMID- 26867829
TI  - COUNTERPOINT: Does Low-Dose Oxygen Expose Patients With COPD to More Radiation
      Like Risks Than Patients Without COPD? No.

PMID- 26867830
TI  - Rebuttal From Drs Kopp and Stavas.

PMID- 26867831
TI  - Rebuttal From Drs Christopher and Repine.

PMID- 26867832
TI  - Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We update recommendations on 12 topics that were in the 9th edition
      of these guidelines, and address 3 new topics. METHODS: We generate strong (Grade
      1) and weak (Grade 2) recommendations based on high- (Grade A), moderate- (Grade
      B), and low- (Grade C) quality evidence. RESULTS: For VTE and no cancer, as long
      term anticoagulant therapy, we suggest dabigatran (Grade 2B), rivaroxaban (Grade
      2B), apixaban (Grade 2B), or edoxaban (Grade 2B) over vitamin K antagonist (VKA)
      therapy, and suggest VKA therapy over low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH; Grade
      2C). For VTE and cancer, we suggest LMWH over VKA (Grade 2B), dabigatran (Grade
      2C), rivaroxaban (Grade 2C), apixaban (Grade 2C), or edoxaban (Grade 2C). We have
      not changed recommendations for who should stop anticoagulation at 3 months or
      receive extended therapy. For VTE treated with anticoagulants, we recommend
      against an inferior vena cava filter (Grade 1B). For DVT, we suggest not using
      compression stockings routinely to prevent PTS (Grade 2B). For subsegmental
      pulmonary embolism and no proximal DVT, we suggest clinical surveillance over
      anticoagulation with a low risk of recurrent VTE (Grade 2C), and anticoagulation
      over clinical surveillance with a high risk (Grade 2C). We suggest thrombolytic
      therapy for pulmonary embolism with hypotension (Grade 2B), and systemic therapy
      over catheter-directed thrombolysis (Grade 2C). For recurrent VTE on a non-LMWH
      anticoagulant, we suggest LMWH (Grade 2C); for recurrent VTE on LMWH, we suggest
      increasing the LMWH dose (Grade 2C). CONCLUSIONS: Of 54 recommendations included
      in the 30 statements, 20 were strong and none was based on high-quality evidence,
      highlighting the need for further research.

PMID- 26867833
TI  - Validation of the International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous
      Thromboembolism Bleeding Risk Score.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines recommend assessing medical inpatients for bleeding
      risk prior to providing chemical prophylaxis for VTE. The International Medical
      Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism (IMPROVE) bleeding risk score (BRS)
      was derived from a well-defined population of medical inpatients but it has not
      been validated externally. We sought to externally validate the IMPROVE BRS.
      METHODS: We prospectively collected characteristics on admission and VTE
      prophylaxis data each hospital day for all patients admitted for a medical
      illness to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center over an 18-month period. We
      calculated the IMPROVE BRS for each patient using admission data and reviewed
      medical records to identify bleeding events. RESULTS: From September 2009 through
      March 2011, 1,668 inpatients met the IMPROVE inclusion criteria. Bleeding events
      occurred during 45 separate admissions (2.7%); 31 events (1.9%) were major and 14
      (0.8%) were nonmajor but clinically relevant. Two hundred fifty-six patients
      (20.7%) had an IMPROVE BRS >= 7.0. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher cumulative
      incidence of major (P = .02) and clinically important (major plus clinically
      relevant nonmajor) (P = .06) bleeding within 14 days in patients with an IMPROVE
      BRS >= 7.0. An IMPROVE BRS >= 7.0 was associated with major bleeding in Cox
      regression analysis adjusted for administration of chemical prophylaxis (OR, 2.6;
      95% CI, 1.1-5.9; P = .03); there was a trend toward a significant association
      with clinically important bleeding (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9-3.7; P = .07).
      CONCLUSIONS: The IMPROVE BRS calculated at admission predicts major bleeding in
      medical inpatients. This model may help assess the relative risks of bleeding and
      VTE before chemoprophylaxis is administered.

PMID- 26867834
TI  - Is Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytic Dysfunction in Children With Protracted
      Bacterial Bronchitis a Forerunner to Bronchiectasis?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children with recurrent protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and
      bronchiectasis share common features, and PBB is likely a forerunner to
      bronchiectasis. Both diseases are associated with neutrophilic inflammation and
      frequent isolation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, including
      nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), from the lower airway. Defective
      alveolar macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic bronchial epithelial cells
      (efferocytosis), as found in other chronic lung diseases, may also contribute to
      tissue damage and neutrophil persistence. Thus, in children with bronchiectasis
      or PBB and in control subjects, we quantified the phagocytosis of airway
      apoptotic cells and NTHi by alveolar macrophages and related the phagocytic
      capacity to clinical and airway inflammation. METHODS: Children with
      bronchiectasis (n = 55) or PBB (n = 13) and control subjects (n = 13) were
      recruited. Alveolar macrophage phagocytosis, efferocytosis, and expression of
      phagocytic scavenger receptors were assessed by flow cytometry. Bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid interleukin (IL) 1beta was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay. RESULTS: For children with PBB or bronchiectasis, macrophage phagocytic
      capacity was significantly lower than for control subjects (P = .003 and P < .001
      for efferocytosis and P = .041 and P = .004 for phagocytosis of NTHi; PBB and
      bronchiectasis, respectively); median phagocytosis of NTHi for the groups was as
      follows: bronchiectasis, 13.7% (interquartile range [IQR], 11%-16%); PBB, 16%
      (IQR, 11%-16%); control subjects, 19.0% (IQR, 13%-21%); and median efferocytosis
      for the groups was as follows: bronchiectasis, 14.1% (IQR, 10%-16%); PBB, 16.2%
      (IQR, 14%-17%); control subjects, 18.1% (IQR, 16%-21%). Mannose receptor
      expression was significantly reduced in the bronchiectasis group (P = .019), and
      IL-1beta increased in both bronchiectasis and PBB groups vs control subjects.
      CONCLUSIONS: A reduced alveolar macrophage phagocytic host response to apoptotic
      cells or NTHi may contribute to neutrophilic inflammation and NTHi colonization
      in both PBB and bronchiectasis. Whether this mechanism also contributes to the
      progression of PBB to bronchiectasis remains unknown.

PMID- 26867835
TI  - Risk of Active Tuberculosis in the Five Years Following Infection . . . 15%?
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is often stated that the lifetime risk of developing active TB
      after an index infection is 5% to 10%, one-half of which accrues in the 2 to 5
      years following infection. The goal of this study was to determine whether such
      estimates are consistent with local programmatic data. METHODS: This study
      included close contacts of individuals with active pulmonary TB notified in the
      Australian state of Victoria from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2013, who we
      deemed to have been infected as a result of their exposure. Survival analysis was
      first performed on the assumption of complete follow-up through to the end of the
      study period. The analysis was then repeated with imputation of censorship for
      migration, death, and preventive treatment, using local mortality and migration
      data combined with programmatic data on the administration of preventive therapy.
      RESULTS: Of 613 infected close contacts, 67 (10.9%) developed active TB during
      the study period. Assuming complete follow-up, the 1,650-day cumulative hazard
      was 11.5% (95% CI, 8.9-14.1). With imputation of censorship for death, migration,
      and preventive therapy, the median 1,650-day cumulative hazard over 10,000
      simulations was 14.5% (95% CI, 11.1-17.9). Most risk accrued in the first 5
      months after infection, and risk was greatest in the group aged < 5 years,
      reaching 56.0% with imputation, but it was also elevated in older children (27.6%
      in the group aged 5-14 years). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of active TB following
      infection is several-fold higher than traditionally accepted estimates, and it is
      particularly high immediately following infection and in children.

PMID- 26867838
TI  - Response.

PMID- 26867839
TI  - Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Hypothyroidism: Cannot Forget Subclinical
      Disease and Difficult-to-Eliminate Corticosteroids.

PMID- 26867840
TI  - Noninvasive Ventilation and Risk of Leakage of Esophageal Anastomosis: A Matter
      of "Transesophageal Pressure"?

PMID- 26867841
TI  - Response.

PMID- 26867842
TI  - Response.

PMID- 26867843
TI  - Cardiac Biomarkers in Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

PMID- 26867844
TI  - Inhaled Tranexamic Acid as an Alternative for Hemoptysis Treatment.

PMID- 26867845
TI  - Merging Two Worlds: Point-of-Care Ultrasonography and Tele-Medicine.

PMID- 26867846
TI  - Method of Height Determination Used in Predicted Body Weight Equations.

PMID- 26867847
TI  - Commentary on the Study of the Efficacy of Lung Expansion Techniques on
      Alterations in Postoperative Pulmonary Complications.

PMID- 26867848
TI  - Controversies After Brain Death: When Families Ask for More.

PMID- 26867849
TI  - Bronchial Thermoplasty: Misleading Differences in Asthma Exacerbation Rates!

PMID- 26867850
TI  - Identifying Pathogen in Culture-Negative Pneumonia.

PMID- 26867851
TI  - Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Liver Disease.
AB  - Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a liver-induced lung disorder defined as a
      triad of liver disease, pulmonary vascular dilatation, and a defect in
      oxygenation. It can complicate chronic liver disease of any etiology, but is most
      commonly associated with portal hypertension. Severe liver disease with portal
      hypertension is present in 2% to 8% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), but to
      date, to our knowledge, only one patient with CF has been reported to suffer from
      HPS. Here, we describe two patients with CF diagnosed with HPS, one subsequent to
      unresolved hypoxemia and the other following screening for HPS performed in our
      center. We speculate that HPS is underdiagnosed in patients with CF because of
      their coexisting respiratory morbidity, and we advocate routine screening for
      every patient with CF who has liver disease and portal hypertension.

PMID- 26867852
TI  - Refractory Case of Paroxysmal Autonomic Instability With Dystonia Syndrome
      Secondary to Hypoxia.
AB  - Paroxysmal autonomic instability with dystonia (PAID) is a syndrome commonly
      related to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and rarely to anoxia associated with
      symptoms of dystonia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. This is a case of
      a 20-year-old man who was stabbed in the heart. He underwent surgical repair of a
      ventricular septal defect and mitral valve replacement. Postoperatively, he
      developed dystonia with tachycardia and tachypnea consistent with PAID syndrome,
      secondary to prolonged hypoxia. Traditionally, this poorly understood syndrome is
      treated with morphine, clonazepam, and nonselective beta-blockers. Second-line
      medications commonly used are baclofen, dantrolene, and gabapentin, which are
      aimed at the dystonia itself. In this case, both first- and second-line agents
      were ineffective. A 72-hour dexmedetomidine infusion resulted in complete
      resolution of symptoms. This is the first case of anoxia-induced PAID syndrome to
      be effectively treated with dexmedetomidine, which was previously used in a case
      induced by TBI. 

PMID- 26867853
TI  - Two Patients With Hypotension and Respiratory Distress.

PMID- 26867854
TI  - Middle-Aged Woman With Shock.

PMID- 26867855
TI  - Chronic Cough and Bilateral Pneumothoraces in a Nonsmoker.
AB  - An 82-year-old Japanese nonsmoking man presented with persistent dry cough and
      small left apical pneumothorax. High resolution CT scan of the chest demonstrated
      bilateral upper lobe pleuroparenchymal thickening and architectural distortion.
      Serial imaging revealed mild progression and development of small bilateral
      pneumothoraces, and pneumomediastinum. A surgical lung biopsy was required to
      confirm the diagnosis.

PMID- 26867856
TI  - A 49-Year-Old Man With Cirrhosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis.
AB  - A 49-year-old man with a history of cryptogenic cirrhosis was referred to
      pulmonary clinic for evaluation prior to liver transplantation. Chest imaging
      obtained as part of the transplant workup had shown evidence of interstitial
      abnormalities. The patient noted shortness of breath on moderate exertion that
      was worsening over the past 2 to 3 years and associated with a nonproductive
      cough. He denied chest pain, chills, or fevers. His past medical history was
      significant for hypothyroidism. He did not have a history of alcohol consumption,
      smoking, or occupational exposures. He noted a family history of lung disease in
      his father and evidence of prominent clubbing in his sister and nephew. Workup
      for liver failure included a liver biopsy, which showed cirrhosis without
      evidence of autoimmune hepatitis. 

PMID- 26867857
TI  - A 39-Year-Old Postpartum Woman With Foot Drop and Shortness of Breath.
AB  - A 39-year-old white woman with a history of adult-onset asthma, chronic
      sinusitis, and nasal polyposis presented to the ED with dyspnea and left lower
      extremity weakness and pain. Three months prior to her presentation she had an
      uncomplicated delivery of her second child, but during her pregnancy she
      experienced increasing asthma symptoms and nasal congestion. These symptoms
      progressed after delivery despite treatment with albuterol inhalers and
      antibiotics. 

PMID- 26867859
TI  - The accuracy of biochemical interactions is ensured by endothermic stepwise
      kinetics.
AB  - The discerning behavior of living systems relies on accurate interactions
      selected from the lot of molecular collisions occurring in the cell. To ensure
      the reliability of interactions, binding partners are classically envisioned as
      finely preadapted molecules, selected on the basis of their affinity in one-step
      associations. But the counterselection of inappropriate interactions can in fact
      be much more efficiently obtained through difficult multi-step adjustment, whose
      final high energy state is locked by a fluctuation ratchet. The progressive
      addition of molecular bonds during stereo-adjustment can be modeled as a
      predominantly backward random walk whose first arrival is frozen by a micro
      irreversible transition. A new criterion of ligand specificity is presented, that
      is based on the ratio rejection/incorporation. In addition to its role in the
      selectivity of interactions, this generic recipe can underlie other important
      biological phenomena such as the regular synthesis at low level of supramolecular
      complexes, monostable kinetic bimodality, substrate concentration thresholds or
      the preparation of rapidly depolymerizable structures with stored energy, like
      microtubules.

PMID- 26867860
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy of a brief screening tool for attention deficit hyperactivity
      disorder in UK prison inmates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is overrepresented in
      prison, making it imperative to identify a screening tool that can be quickly
      applied to efficiently detect the disorder. We explored the discrimination
      ability of a widely used ADHD screen, the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale (BAARS
      IV), against a clinical diagnostic interview. A brief version of the screen was
      then developed in order to simplify its use in the prison context, and maximize
      its diagnostic properties. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 390 male prison
      inmates was performed in the UK, all participants were screened and interviewed
      via the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults 2.0 (DIVA-2). RESULTS: A total of
      47 (12.1%) inmates screened positive for ADHD using the full BAARS-IV, and 96
      (24.6%) were clinically diagnosed, for a sensitivity of 37.9 and a specificity of
      96.3. Our models identified the six items that most predicted ADHD diagnosis,
      with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 2.66 to 4.58. Sensitivity, specificity and
      accuracy were 0.82, 0.84 and 0.84, respectively, for the developed brief scale,
      and 0.71, 0.85 and 0.81 for its validation. Weighted probability scores produced
      an area under the curve of 0.89 for development, and 0.82 for validation of the
      brief scale. CONCLUSIONS: The original BAARS-IV performed poorly at identifying
      prison inmates with ADHD. Our developed brief scale substantially improved
      diagnostic accuracy. The brief screening instrument has great potential to be
      used as an accurate and resource-effective tool to screen young people and adults
      for likely ADHD in the criminal justice system.

PMID- 26867861
TI  - Using Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory to Probe the Nature of Donor
      Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct Photochromes.
AB  - We present the first theoretical investigation of a recently proposed class of
      photochromes, namely donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA) switches [J. Am.
      Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 8169-8172]. By using density functional theory and its time
      dependent counterpart, we investigate the ground- and excited-state structures,
      electronic transition energies, and several properties of the two isomeric forms.
      In addition to demonstrating that the selected level of theory is able to
      reproduce the main experimental facts, we show that 1) the two forms of the DASA
      photochromes are close to isoenergetic; 2) the two isomers possess similar total
      dipole moments, in spite of their very different sizes; 3) both isomers have a
      zwitterionic nature; 4) the nature of the dipole-allowed electronic excited state
      is vastly different in the two forms; and 5) the specific band shape of the
      extended DASA can be reproduced by vibronic calculations.

PMID- 26867858
TI  - Towards engineering carboxysomes into C3 plants.
AB  - Photosynthesis in C3 plants is limited by features of the carbon-fixing enzyme
      Rubisco, which exhibits a low turnover rate and can react with O2 instead of CO2
      , leading to photorespiration. In cyanobacteria, bacterial microcompartments,
      known as carboxysomes, improve the efficiency of photosynthesis by concentrating
      CO2 near the enzyme Rubisco. Cyanobacterial Rubisco enzymes are faster than those
      of C3 plants, though they have lower specificity toward CO2 than the land plant
      enzyme. Replacement of land plant Rubisco by faster bacterial variants with lower
      CO2 specificity will improve photosynthesis only if a microcompartment capable of
      concentrating CO2 can also be installed into the chloroplast. We review current
      information about cyanobacterial microcompartments and carbon-concentrating
      mechanisms, plant transformation strategies, replacement of Rubisco in a model C3
      plant with cyanobacterial Rubisco and progress toward synthesizing a carboxysome
      in chloroplasts.

PMID- 26867862
TI  - Characteristics of resistin in rheumatoid arthritis angiogenesis.
AB  - Adipokines have been reported to be involved in the regulation of various
      physiological processes, including the immune response. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      is an example of a systemic immune disease that causes chronic inflammation of
      the synovium and bone destruction in the joint. Recent therapeutic strategies
      based on the understanding of the role of cytokines and cellular mechanisms in RA
      have improved our understanding of angiogenesis. On the other hand, endogenous
      endothelial progenitor cells, which are a population isolated from peripheral
      blood monocytes have recently been identified as a homing target for pro
      angiogeneic factor and vessel formation. In this review, we summarize the effects
      of common adipokines, such as adiponectin, leptin and resistin in RA pathogenesis
      and discuss other potential mechanisms of relevance for the therapeutic treatment
      of RA.

PMID- 26867863
TI  - Adherence to ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients on antiviral treatment:
      Results from a randomized controlled trial using real-time medication monitoring.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adherence is essential in antiviral therapy for chronic
      hepatitis C. We investigated the effect of real-time medication monitoring on
      adherence to ribavirin. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, patients in
      the intervention group received a medication dispenser that monitored ribavirin
      intake real-time during 24 weeks PEG-interferon/ribavirin+/-boceprevir or
      telaprevir. Patients in the control group received standard-of-care. Adherence
      was also measured by pill count. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were assigned to
      either intervention (n=35) or control groups (n=37). Median adherence by pill
      count was 96% (range: 43%-100%) with 30 (94%) of patients exhibiting>=80%
      adherence. Perfect adherence (i.e. 100%) was similar in intervention and control
      groups: 22 (85%) vs. 15 (75%) (P=0.47). Adherences by real-time medication
      monitoring and by pill count did not correlate (R=0.19, P=0.36). No predictors of
      poor adherence could be identified. Ribavirin trough levels after 8 weeks
      (median: 2.4 vs. 2.7mg/L, P=0.30) and 24 weeks (median: 3.0 vs. 3.0mg/L, P=0.69),
      and virological responses did not differ between intervention and control groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to ribavirin during PEG-interferon containing therapy in
      chronic hepatitis C is high. Real-time medication monitoring did not influence
      adherence to ribavirin, plasma ribavirin levels or virological responses.

PMID- 26867864
TI  - Matrine compromises mouse sperm functions by a [Ca(2+)]i-related mechanism.
AB  - Matrine, a bioactive alkaloid widely used in Chinese medicine, inhibits mouse
      sperm functions in vitro. In this study, we investigated the reproductive
      toxicity of matrine to male mice in vivo. C57BL/6J mice were administered with
      daily doses of 0, 1, 10 and 50mg/kg matrine by intraperitoneal injection for 30
      days. The results showed that matrine did not affect testis size, testis weight,
      sperm count and sperm viability, but it significantly inhibited total motility,
      progressive motility, linear velocity, capacitation and the progesterone-induced
      acrosome reaction of mouse sperm. Furthermore, the intracellular Ca(2+)
      concentration ([Ca(2+)]i), a key regulator of sperm function, was reduced in
      sperm of matrine-exposed mice. The current and gene expression of the sperm
      specific Ca(2+) channel, CatSper, which modulates Ca(2+) influx in sperm, were
      decreased in testes of matrine-exposed mice. These results indicate that matrine
      inhibits mouse sperm functions by a [Ca(2+)]i-related mechanism via CatSper
      channel.

PMID- 26867865
TI  - Sexual differentiation and reproductive development of female rat offspring after
      paternal exposure to the anti-tumor pharmaceutical cisplatin.
AB  - Cisplatin (CP) is used to treat a number of cancers, including testicular cancer.
      Studies indicate that CP-treatment can impair spermatogenesis in humans and
      rodents by germ cell DNA binding, through different modes of action. CP-paternal
      exposure resulted in adverse effects in F1 male offspring. In this study, F1
      female offspring was assessed for reproductive development after CP-paternal
      exposure. Peri-pubertal male rats, treated with 1mg/Kg/day of CP or vehicle for 3
      weeks, were mated with unexposed females. F1 female offspring of CP-treated
      fathers showed a decrease in fetal ovary germ cells, in estrous cycle length and
      FSH levels, and an increase in the percentage of antral follicles in adults.
      Based on our previous results and the findings of the present work we concluded
      that CP-paternal exposure leads to adverse effects on rat male and female
      reproductive development, raising concern, in humans, for children born to men
      exposed to CP.

PMID- 26867867
TI  - Development and pre-validation of an in vitro transactivation assay for detection
      of (anti)androgenic potential compounds using 22Rv1/MMTV cells.
AB  - The endocrine-disrupting effects of androgenic signaling play crucial roles in
      several androgen-related diseases. In attempting to develop an in vitro cell line
      to be used in androgen receptor (AR)-mediated reporter gene assays, we developed
      a stable 22Rv1/MMTV cell line, which is a human prostate cancer cell line that
      endogenously expresses functional AR, to evaluate AR-mediated transcriptional
      activation (TA). Using 22Rv1/MMTV cells, we established and optimized a test
      protocol for the AR-TA assay and validated the proposed assay using 20 compounds
      recommended by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of
      Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). All the performance parameters for agonist and
      antagonist assays were 91-100% comparable between the 22Rv1/MMTV assay and the
      ICCVAM report. In conclusion, the AR-TA assay using 22Rv1/MMTV cells might be a
      quick and relatively inexpensive method for screening large numbers of chemicals
      for their potential to activate or inhibit AR-mediated gene transcription.

PMID- 26867866
TI  - Phthalate metabolite levels and menopausal hot flashes in midlife women.
AB  - During the menopausal transition, a woman's reproductive capacity declines, her
      hormone milieu changes, and her risk of hot flashes increases. Exposure to
      phthalates, which can be found in personal care products, can also result in
      altered reproductive function. Here, we investigated the associations between
      phthalate metabolite levels and midlife hot flashes. Eligible women (45-54 years
      of age) provided detailed information on hot flashes history and donated urine
      samples (n=195). Urinary phthalate metabolite levels were measured by HPLC-MS/MS.
      A higher total sum of phthalate metabolites commonly found in personal care
      products was associated with an increased risk of ever experiencing hot flashes
      (odds ratio (OR)=1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.07-1.96), hot flashes in
      the past 30days (OR=1.43; 95%CI=1.04-1.96), and more frequent hot flashes
      (OR=1.47; 95%CI=1.06-2.05). These data suggest that some phthalate exposures from
      personal care products are associated with menopausal hot flashes in women.

PMID- 26867869
TI  - Central Nervous System: Progress of Today and a Preview of Tomorrow.

PMID- 26867868
TI  - Facile, Fast-Responsive, and Photostable Imaging of Telomerase Activity in Living
      Cells with a Fluorescence Turn-On Manner.
AB  - In situ detecting and monitoring intracellular telomerase activity is significant
      for cancer diagnosis. In this work, we report a facile and fast-responsive
      bioprobe for in situ detection and imaging of intracellular telomerase activity
      with superior photostability. After transfected into living cells, quencher group
      labeled TS primer (QP) can be extended in the presence of intracellular
      telomerase. Positive charged TPE-Py molecules (AIE dye) will bind to the primer
      as well as extension repeated units, producing a telomerase activity-related turn
      on fluorescence signal. By incorporating positive charged AIE dye and substrate
      oligonucleotides, in situ light-up imaging and detection of intracellular
      telomerase activity were achieved. This strategy exhibits good performance for
      sensitive in situ tracking of telomerase activity in living cells. The
      practicality of this facile and fast-responsive telomerase detection method was
      demonstrated by using it to distinguish tumor cells from normal cells and to
      monitor the change of telomerase activity during treatment with antitumor drugs,
      which shows its potential in clinical diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring. 

PMID- 26867870
TI  - Status of Radiation Therapy in Uruguay: Past, Present, and Future.

PMID- 26867871
TI  - Gray Anatomy: The Case of the Missing "s".

PMID- 26867872
TI  - Global Radiation Oncology From the Trainee Perspective: A View From Beyond the
      Bunker.

PMID- 26867873
TI  - Closing the Cancer Divide Through Ubuntu: Information and Communication
      Technology-Powered Models for Global Radiation Oncology.

PMID- 26867875
TI  - Impact of Expression of CD44, a Cancer Stem Cell Marker, on the Treatment
      Outcomes of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Patients With Oropharyngeal
      Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the significance of CD44 protein expression on the
      treatment outcomes of radiation therapy in patients with oropharyngeal squamous
      cell carcinoma (OPSCC) with or without p16 protein expression in the tumor
      tissue. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the medical records of 58 OPSCC
      patients who had undergone radiation therapy and examined the tumor tissue
      expressions of CD44 and p16 protein by immunohistochemical staining. The
      correlations between the expressions of these proteins and the patients'
      treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The data of 58 consecutive OPSCC
      patients who had undergone definitive intensity modulated radiation therapy were
      analyzed. The male/female ratio was 55:3, and the median age was 64 years. The
      clinical stage of the disease was stage II in 7 patients, stage III in 5
      patients, stage IVA in 35 patients, and stage IVB in 11 patients. Of the
      patients, 79% received additional induction and/or concurrent chemotherapy. The
      median follow-up duration was 34 months. The 3-year overall survival, progression
      free survival (PFS) and locoregional control (LRC) rates of all the patients,
      regardless of the results of immunohistochemistry, were 73%, 64% and 76%,
      respectively. The PFS and LRC rates in the CD44(-) patients (86% and 93%,
      respectively) were significantly higher than those in the CD44(+) patients (57%
      and 70%, respectively). The PFS and LRC rates in the p16(+) patients (83% and
      90%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the p16(-) patients
      (45% and 61%, respectively). Patients who were CD44(-)/p16(+) showed the best LRC
      rates, and those who were CD44(+)/p16(-) showed the worst PFS and LRC rates among
      all the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Profiling of CD44 and p16 protein expressions by
      immunohistochemical staining is useful for predicting the treatment outcomes in
      patients with OPSCC undergoing definitive intensity modulated radiation therapy.

PMID- 26867876
TI  - Effect of Dosimetric Outliers on the Performance of a Commercial Knowledge-Based
      Planning Solution.
AB  - PURPOSE: RapidPlan, a commercial knowledge-based planning solution, uses a model
      library containing the geometry and associated dosimetry of existing plans. This
      model predicts achievable dosimetry for prospective patients that can be used to
      guide plan optimization. However, it is unknown how suboptimal model plans
      (outliers) influence the predictions or resulting plans. We investigated the
      effect of, first, removing outliers from the model (cleaning it) and subsequently
      adding deliberate dosimetric outliers. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Clinical plans from
      70 head and neck cancer patients comprised the uncleaned (UC) ModelUC, from which
      outliers were cleaned (C) to create ModelC. The last 5 to 40 patients of ModelC
      were replanned with no attempt to spare the salivary glands. These substantial
      dosimetric outliers were reintroduced to the model in increments of 5, creating
      Model5 to Model40 (Model5-40). These models were used to create plans for a 10
      patient evaluation group. Plans from ModelUC and ModelC, and ModelC and Model5-40
      were compared on the basis of boost (B) and elective (E) target volume
      homogeneity indexes (HIB/HIE) and mean doses to oral cavity, composite salivary
      glands (compsal) and swallowing (compswal) structures. RESULTS: On average,
      outlier removal (ModelC vs ModelUC) had minimal effects on HIB/HIE (0%-0.4%) and
      sparing of organs at risk (mean dose difference to oral cavity and
      compsal/compswal were <=0.4 Gy). Model5-10 marginally improved compsal sparing,
      whereas adding a larger number of outliers (Model20-40) led to deteriorations in
      compsal up to 3.9 Gy, on average. These increases are modest compared to the 14.9
      Gy dose increases in the added outlier plans, due to the placement of
      optimization objectives below the inferior boundary of the dose-volume histogram
      predicted range. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, dosimetric outlier removal from or
      addition of 5 to 10 outliers to a 70-patient model had marginal effects on
      resulting plan quality. Although the addition of >20 outliers deteriorated plan
      quality, the effect was modest. In this study, RapidPlan demonstrated robustness
      for moderate proportions of salivary gland dosimetric outliers.

PMID- 26867874
TI  - Influence of Nucleoshuttling of the ATM Protein in the Healthy Tissues Response
      to Radiation Therapy: Toward a Molecular Classification of Human
      Radiosensitivity.
AB  - PURPOSE: Whereas post-radiation therapy overreactions (OR) represent a clinical
      and societal issue, there is still no consensual radiobiological endpoint to
      predict clinical radiosensitivity. Since 2003, skin biopsy specimens have been
      collected from patients treated by radiation therapy against different tumor
      localizations and showing a wide range of OR. Here, we aimed to establish
      quantitative links between radiobiological factors and OR severity grades that
      would be relevant to radioresistant and genetic hyperradiosensitive cases.
      METHODS AND MATERIALS: Immunofluorescence experiments were performed on a
      collection of skin fibroblasts from 12 radioresistant, 5 hyperradiosensitive, and
      100 OR patients irradiated at 2 Gy. The numbers of micronuclei, gammaH2AX, and
      pATM foci that reflect different steps of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB)
      recognition and repair were assessed from 10 minutes to 24 hours after
      irradiation and plotted against the severity grades established by the Common
      Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.
      RESULTS: OR patients did not necessarily show a gross DSB repair defect but a
      systematic delay in the nucleoshuttling of the ATM protein required for complete
      DSB recognition. Among the radiobiological factors, the maximal number of pATM
      foci provided the best discrimination among OR patients and a significant
      correlation with each OR severity grade, independently of tumor localization and
      of the early or late nature of reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent
      with a general classification of human radiosensitivity based on 3 groups:
      radioresistance (group I); moderate radiosensitivity caused by delay of
      nucleoshuttling of ATM, which includes OR patients (group II); and
      hyperradiosensitivity caused by a gross DSB repair defect, which includes fatal
      cases (group III).

PMID- 26867877
TI  - Deep Inspiration Breath Hold-Based Radiation Therapy: A Clinical Review.
AB  - Several recent developments in linear accelerator-based radiation therapy (RT)
      such as fast multileaf collimators, accelerated intensity modulation paradigms
      like volumeric modulated arc therapy and flattening filter-free (FFF) high-dose
      rate therapy have dramatically shortened the duration of treatment fractions.
      Deliverable photon dose distributions have approached physical complexity limits
      as a consequence of precise dose calculation algorithms and online 3-dimensional
      image guided patient positioning (image guided RT). Simultaneously, beam quality
      and treatment speed have continuously been improved in particle beam therapy,
      especially for scanned particle beams. Applying complex treatment plans with
      steep dose gradients requires strategies to mitigate and compensate for motion
      effects in general, particularly breathing motion. Intrafractional breathing
      related motion results in uncertainties in dose delivery and thus in target
      coverage. As a consequence, generous margins have been used, which, in turn,
      increases exposure to organs at risk. Particle therapy, particularly with scanned
      beams, poses additional problems such as interplay effects and range
      uncertainties. Among advanced strategies to compensate breathing motion such as
      beam gating and tracking, deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) gating is
      particularly advantageous in several respects, not only for hypofractionated,
      high single-dose stereotactic body RT of lung, liver, and upper abdominal lesions
      but also for normofractionated treatment of thoracic tumors such as lung cancer,
      mediastinal lymphomas, and breast cancer. This review provides an in-depth
      discussion of the rationale and technical implementation of DIBH gating for
      hypofractionated and normofractionated RT of intrathoracic and upper abdominal
      tumors in photon and proton RT. 

PMID- 26867879
TI  - Is Pilocarpine Effective in Preventing Radiation-Induced Xerostomia? A Systematic
      Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of concomitant administration of pilocarpine on
      radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancers. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials were
      searched to identify randomized, controlled trials studying the effect of
      concomitant administration of pilocarpine for radiation-induced xerostomia.
      Included trials were systematically reviewed, and quantifiable outcomes were
      pooled for meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest included salivary flow, clinician
      rated xerostomia grade, patient-reported xerostomia scoring, quality of life, and
      adverse effects. RESULTS: Six prospective, randomized, controlled trials in 8
      articles were included in this systematic review. The total number of patients
      was 369 in the pilocarpine group and 367 in the control group. Concomitant
      administration of pilocarpine during radiation could increase the unstimulated
      salivary flow rate in a period of 3 to 6 months after treatment, and also reduce
      the clinician-rated xerostomia grade. Patient-reported xerostomia was not
      significantly impacted by pilocarpine in the initial 3 months but was superior at
      6 months. No significant difference of stimulated salivary flow rate could be
      confirmed between the 2 arms. Adverse effects of pilocarpine were mild and
      tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant administration of pilocarpine during
      radiation increases unstimulated salivary flow rate and reduces clinician-rated
      xerostomia grade after radiation. It also relieves patients' xerostomia at 6
      months and possibly at 12 months. However, pilocarpine has no effect on
      stimulated salivary flow rate.

PMID- 26867880
TI  - Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Chemoradiation Therapy Versus Transoral Robotic
      Surgery for Human Papillomavirus-Associated, Clinical N2 Oropharyngeal Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of primary chemoradiation
      therapy (CRT) versus transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for clinical N2, human
      papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We
      developed a Markov model to describe the health states after treatment with CRT
      or TORS, followed by adjuvant radiation therapy or CRT in the presence of high
      risk pathology (positive margins or extracapsular extension). Outcomes,
      toxicities, and costs were extracted from the literature. One-way sensitivity
      analyses (SA) were performed over a wide range of parameters, as were 2-way SA
      between the key variables. Probabilistic SA and value of information studies were
      performed over key parameters. RESULTS: The expected quality-adjusted life years
      (QALYs)/total costs for CRT and TORS were 7.31/$50,100 and 7.29/$62,200,
      respectively, so that CRT dominated TORS. In SA, primary CRT was almost always
      cost-effective up to a societal willingness-to-pay of $200,000/QALY, unless the
      locoregional recurrence risk after TORS was 30% to 50% lower, at which point it
      became cost effective at a willingness-to-pay of $50-100,000/QALY. Probabilistic
      SA confirmed the importance of locoregional recurrence risk, and the value of
      information in precisely knowing this parameter was more than $7M per year. If
      the long-term utility after TORS was 0.03 lower than CRT, CRT was cost-effective
      over nearly any assumption. CONCLUSIONS: Under nearly all assumptions, primary
      CRT was the cost-effective therapy for HPV-associated, clinical N2 OPC. However,
      in the hypothetical event of a large relative improvement in LRR with surgery and
      equivalent long-term utilities, primary TORS would become the higher-value
      treatment, arguing for prospective, comparative study of the 2 paradigms.

PMID- 26867878
TI  - Patterns of Local-Regional Management Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in
      Breast Cancer: Results From ACOSOG Z1071 (Alliance).
AB  - PURPOSE: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1071 was a prospective
      trial evaluating the false negative rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) surgery
      after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients with initial node
      positive disease. Radiation therapy (RT) decisions were made at the discretion of
      treating physicians, providing an opportunity to evaluate variability in practice
      patterns following NAC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 756 patients enrolled from July
      2009 to June 2011, 685 met all eligibility requirements. Surgical approach, RT,
      and radiation field design were analyzed based on presenting clinical and
      pathologic factors. RESULTS: Of 401 node-positive patients, mastectomy was
      performed in 148 (36.9%), mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in 107
      (26.7%), and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in 146 patients (36.4%). Of the 284
      pathologically node-negative patients, mastectomy was performed in 84 (29.6%),
      mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in 69 (24.3%), and BCS in 131 patients
      (46.1%). Bilateral mastectomy rates were higher in women undergoing
      reconstruction than in those without (66.5% vs 32.2%, respectively, P<.0001). Use
      of internal mammary RT was low (7.8%-11.2%) and did not differ between surgical
      approaches. Supraclavicular RT rate ranged from 46.6% to 52.2% and did not differ
      between surgical approaches but was omitted in 193 or 408 node-positive patients
      (47.3%). Rate of axillary RT was more frequent in patients who remained node
      positive (P=.002). However, 22% of patients who converted to node-negative still
      received axillary RT. Post-mastectomy RT was more frequently omitted after
      reconstruction than mastectomy (23.9% vs 12.1%, respectively, P=.002) and was
      omitted in 19 of 107 patients (17.8%) with residual node-positive disease in the
      reconstruction group. CONCLUSIONS: Most clinically node-positive patients treated
      with NAC undergoing mastectomy receive RT. RT is less common in patients
      undergoing reconstruction. There is wide variability in RT fields. These practice
      patterns conflict with expert recommendations and ongoing trial guidelines. There
      is a significant need for greater uniformity and guidelines regarding RT
      following NAC.

PMID- 26867883
TI  - Surgical Resection of Brain Metastases and the Risk of Leptomeningeal Recurrence
      in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: Recent prospective data have shown that patients with solitary or
      oligometastatic disease to the brain may be treated with upfront stereotactic
      radiosurgery (SRS) with deferral of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). This
      has been extrapolated to the treatment of patients with resected lesions. The aim
      of this study was to assess the risk of leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in patients
      treated with SRS to the postsurgical resection cavity for brain metastases
      compared with patients treated with SRS to intact metastases. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: Four hundred sixty-five patients treated with SRS without upfront WBRT
      at a single institution were identified; 330 of these with at least 3 months'
      follow-up were included in this analysis. One hundred twelve patients had
      undergone surgical resection of at least 1 lesion before SRS compared with 218
      treated for intact metastases. Time to LMD and overall survival (OS) time were
      estimated from date of radiosurgery, and LMD was analyzed by the use of
      cumulative incidence method with death as a competing risk. Univariate and
      multivariate analyses were performed with competing risk regression to determine
      whether various clinical factors predicted for LMD. RESULTS: With a median follow
      up time of 9.0 months, 39 patients (12%) experienced LMD at a median of 6.0
      months after SRS. At 1 year, the cumulative incidence of LMD, with death as a
      competing risk, was 5.2% for the patients without surgical resection versus 16.9%
      for those treated with surgery (Gray test, P<.01). On multivariate analysis,
      prior surgical resection (P<.01) and breast cancer primary (P=.03) were
      significant predictors of LMD development. The median OS times for patients
      undergoing surgery compared with SRS alone were 12.9 and 10.6 months,
      respectively (log-rank P=.06). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing SRS with
      deferral of upfront WBRT for intracranial metastatic disease, prior surgical
      resection and breast cancer primary are associated with an increased risk for the
      development of LMD.

PMID- 26867882
TI  - Perioperative Interstitial High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for the Treatment of
      Recurrent Keloids: Feasibility and Early Results.
AB  - PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment
      of therapy-resistant keloids and report first results, with emphasis on
      feasibility and early treatment outcome. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 2009 to
      2014, 24 patients with 32 recurrent keloids were treated with immediate
      perioperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy; 3 patients had been previously
      treated with adjuvant external beam radiation therapy and presented with
      recurrences in the pretreated areas. Two or more different treatment modalities
      had been tried in all patients and had failed to achieve remission. After (re
      )excision of the keloids, a single brachytherapy tube was placed subcutaneously
      before closing the wound. The target volume covered the scar in total length.
      Brachytherapy was given in 3 fractions with a single dose of 6 Gy in 5 mm tissue
      depth. The first fraction was given within 6 hours after surgery, the other 2
      fractions on the first postoperative day. Thus, a total dose of 18 Gy in 3
      fractions was administered within 36 hours after the resection. RESULTS: The
      treatment was feasible in all patients. No procedure-related complications (eg,
      secondary infections) occurred. Nineteen patients had keloid-related symptoms
      before treatment like pain and pruritus; disappearance of symptoms was noticed in
      all patients after treatment. After a median follow-up of 29.4 months (range, 7.9
      72.4 months), 2 keloid recurrences and 2 mildly hypertrophied scars were
      observed. The local control rate was 94%. Pigmentary abnormalities were detected
      in 3 patients, and an additional 6 patients had a mild delay in the wound-healing
      process. CONCLUSIONS: The early results of this study prove the feasibility and
      the efficacy of brachytherapy for the prevention of keloids. The results also
      suggest that brachytherapy may be advantageous in the management of high-risk
      keloids or as salvage treatment for failure after external beam therapy.

PMID- 26867881
TI  - The Influence of Diabetes Mellitus and Metformin on Distant Metastases in
      Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Multicenter Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Local control in oropharyngeal cancer has improved to unprecedented
      rates with combined modality therapy; as a result, distant metastases are
      becoming a principal challenge. We aimed to determine the impact of diabetes
      mellitus and metformin use on clinical outcomes in a large population of
      oropharyngeal cancer patients treated in the modern era. METHODS AND MATERIALS:
      We identified 1745 consecutive patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated at 2
      large cancer centers with external beam radiation therapy from 1998 to 2011. A
      total of 184 patients had diabetes mellitus at the time of diagnosis, of whom 102
      were taking metformin. The outcomes assessed included local failure-free survival
      (LFFS), regional failure-free survival (RFFS), distant metastasis-free survival
      (DMFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 4.3
      years. The 5-year actuarial rates of DMFS were 89.6% for nondiabetic patients and
      78.7% for diabetic nonmetformin users (P=.011) and of OS were 83.0% for
      nondiabetic patients and 70.7% for diabetic nonmetformin users (P=.048). Diabetic
      metformin users had 5-year DMFS (90.1%) and OS (89.6%) similar to those of
      nondiabetic patients. Multivariate analysis (diabetic nonmetformin users as
      reference) demonstrated improved DMFS for nondiabetic patients (adjusted hazard
      ratio 0.54; 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.93; P=.03) and a trend toward improved
      DMFS with metformin use (adjusted hazard ratio 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.20
      1.04; P=.06). LFFS and RFFS were high in all groups and were not significantly
      different by diabetic status or metformin use. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients not
      using metformin independently have significantly higher rates of distant
      metastases than do nondiabetic patients, whereas metformin users have rates of
      distant metastases similar to those of nondiabetic patients. Further prospective
      investigation is warranted to validate the benefit of metformin in oropharyngeal
      cancer.

PMID- 26867884
TI  - Predictors of Locoregional Failure and Impact on Overall Survival in Patients
      With Resected Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Resection of exocrine pancreatic cancer is necessary for cure, but
      locoregional and distant relapse is common. We evaluated our institutional
      experience to better understand risk factors for locoregional failure (LRF) and
      its impact on overall survival (OS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed 1051
      consecutive patients with nonmetastatic exocrine pancreatic cancer who underwent
      resection at our institution between March 1987 and January 2011. Among them, 458
      had adequate follow-up and evaluation for study inclusion. All patients received
      adjuvant chemotherapy (n=80 [17.5%]) or chemoradiation therapy (n=378 [82.5%]).
      Chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy most frequently consisted of 6 cycles of
      gemcitabine and 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with concurrent 5-fluorouracil,
      respectively. Locoregional control (LRC) and OS were estimated with the Kaplan
      Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with Cox
      proportional hazards regression models incorporating propensity score. RESULTS:
      Median patient age was 64.5 years (range: 29-88 years). Median follow-up for
      living patients was 84 months (range: 6-300 months). Extent of resection was R0
      (83.8%) or R1 (16.2%). Overall crude incidence of LRF was 17% (n=79). The 5-year
      LRC for patients with and without radiation therapy was 80% and 68%, respectively
      (P=.003; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.76).
      Multivariate analysis, incorporating propensity score, indicated radiation
      therapy (P<.0001; HR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.12-0.42) and positive lymph node ratio of
      >=0.2 (P=.02; HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.10-2.9) were associated with LRC. In addition,
      LRF was associated with worse OS (P<.0001; HR: 5.0; 95% CI: 3.9-6.3).
      CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis of 458 patients with resected pancreatic cancer,
      positive lymph node ratio of >=0.2 and no adjuvant chemoradiation therapy were
      associated with increased LRF risk. LRF was associated with poor OS. Radiation
      therapy should be considered as adjuvant locoregional treatment following
      pancreatic cancer resection.

PMID- 26867886
TI  - Phase 1 Trial of Sorafenib and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the maximally tolerated dose of sorafenib delivered before,
      during, and after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in hepatocellular
      carinoma (HCC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients had locally advanced
      Child-Pugh class A HCC, showed Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance
      status 0-1, and were ineligible for standard local-regional therapies. Sorafenib
      was dose escalated in 2 strata: (1) low effective irradiated liver volume (veff)
      < 30% and (2) high veff 30%to 60%. Sorafenib (400 mg daily = dose level 1) was
      administered for 12 weeks, with 6 fractions SBRT delivered weeks 2 and 3, and
      escalation to full dose (400 mg twice daily) after 12 weeks as tolerated.
      Standard 3 + 3 cohorts with dose escalation of sorafenib were planned. RESULTS:
      Sixteen patients (4 low veff, median dose 51 Gy; 12 high veff, median dose 33 Gy)
      were treated at 2 sorafenib dose levels. Of those patients 75% were had Barcelona
      Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, and 63% had main branch portal vein invasion. In the
      low veff stratum, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 4 patients
      treated with SBRT and sorafenib 400 mg. Inb the high veff stratum: 2 of 3
      evaluable patients treated with sorafenib 400 mg experienced DLT (grade 3 large
      bowel bleed and grade 4 bowel obstruction 51 and 27 days, respectively, after
      SBRT). One of 6 evaluable patients at dose level -1 (200 mg once daily)
      experienced a grade 3 tumor rupture at week 5. Median overall survival and in
      field local progression have not been reached. Worsening of Child-Pugh liver
      function class was seen in 6 of 12 patients in the high veff stratum.
      CONCLUSIONS: Significant toxicity was observed in the high veff stratum, and
      concurrent SBRT with sorafenib is not recommended outside a clinical trial.

PMID- 26867885
TI  - Lymphocyte-Sparing Effect of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Patients With
      Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) is associated with inferior survival
      in patients with glioblastoma, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. We asked
      whether stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) decreases severity of RIL
      compared to conventional chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in locally advanced
      pancreatic cancer (LAPC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Serial total lymphocyte counts
      (TLCs) from patients enrolled in a prospective trial of SBRT for LAPC were
      compared to TLCs from an existing database of LAPC patients undergoing definitive
      CRT. SBRT patients received 33 Gy (6.6 Gy * 5 fractions). CRT patients received a
      median dose of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy * 28 fractions) with concurrent 5-fluorouracil
      (77%) or gemcitabine (23%) therapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses (MVA)
      were used to identify associations between clinical factors and post-treatment
      TLC and between TLC and survival. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients received SBRT and
      101 received CRT. Median planning target volume (PTV) was smaller in SBRT (88.7
      cm(3)) than in CRT (344.6 cm(3); P<.001); median tumor diameter was larger for
      SBRT (4.6 cm) than for CRT (3.6 cm; P=.01). SBRT and CRT groups had similar
      median baseline TLCs. One month after starting radiation, 71.7% of CRT patients
      had severe lymphopenia (ie, TLC <500 cells/mm(3) vs 13.8% of SBRT patients;
      P<.001). At 2 months, 46.0% of CRT patients remained severely lymphopenic
      compared with 13.6% of SBRT patients (P=.007). MVA demonstrated that treatment
      technique and baseline TLCs were significantly associated with post-treatment TLC
      at 1 but not 2 months after treatment. Higher post-treatment TLC was associated
      with improved survival regardless of treatment technique (hazard ratio [HR] for
      death: 2.059; 95% confidence interval: 1.310-3.237; P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: SBRT is
      associated with significantly less severe RIL than CRT at 1 month in LAPC,
      suggesting that radiation technique affects RIL and supporting previous modeling
      studies. Given the association of severe RIL with survival in LAPC, further study
      of the effect of radiation technique on immune status is warranted.

PMID- 26867887
TI  - Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Without or With Applicator in Place for
      Target Definition in Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To define, in the setting of cervical cancer, to what extent information
      from additional pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without the
      brachytherapy applicator improves conformity of CT-based high-risk clinical
      target volume (CTVHR) contours, compared with the MRI for various tumor stages
      (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stages I-IVA).
      METHODS AND MATERIALS: The CTVHR was contoured in 39 patients with cervical
      cancer (FIGO stages I-IVA) (1) on CT images based on clinical information (CTVHR
      CTClinical) alone; and (2) using an additional MRI before brachytherapy, without
      the applicator (CTVHR-CTpre-BT MRI). The CT contours were compared with reference
      contours on MRI with the applicator in place (CTVHR-MRIref). Width, height,
      thickness, volumes, and topography were analyzed. RESULTS: The CT-MRIref
      differences hardly varied in stage I tumors (n=8). In limited-volume stage IIB
      and IIIB tumors (n=19), CTVHR-CTpre-BT MRI-MRIref volume differences (2.6 cm(3)
      [IIB], 7.3 cm(3) [IIIB]) were superior to CTVHR-CTClinical-MRIref (11.8 cm(3)
      [IIB], 22.9 cm(3) [IIIB]), owing to significant improvement of height and width
      (P<.05). In advanced disease (n=12), improved agreement with MR volume, width,
      and height was achieved for CTVHR-CTpre-BT MRI. In 5 of 12 cases, MRIref contours
      were partly missed on CT. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-BT MRI helps to define CTVHR before BT
      implantation appropriately, if only CT images with the applicator in place are
      available for BT planning. Significant improvement is achievable in limited
      volume stage IIB and IIIB tumors. In more advanced disease (extensive IIB to
      IVA), improvement of conformity is possible but may be associated with geographic
      misses. Limited impact on precision of CTVHR-CT is expected in stage IB tumors.

PMID- 26867888
TI  - Image Guided Cervical Brachytherapy: 2014 Survey of the American Brachytherapy
      Society.
AB  - PURPOSE: To provide an update of the 2007 American brachytherapy survey on image
      based brachytherapy, which showed that in the setting of treatment planning for
      gynecologic brachytherapy, although computed tomography (CT) was often used for
      treatment planning, most brachytherapists used point A for dose specification.
      METHODS AND MATERIALS: A 45-question electronic survey on cervical cancer
      brachytherapy practice patterns was sent to all American Brachytherapy Society
      members and additional radiation oncologists and physicists based in the United
      States between January and September 2014. Responses from the 2007 survey and the
      present survey were compared using the chi(2) test. RESULTS: There were 370
      respondents. Of those, only respondents, not in training, who treat more than 1
      cervical cancer patient per year and practice in the United States, were included
      in the analysis (219). For dose specification to the target (cervix and tumor),
      95% always use CT, and 34% always use MRI. However, 46% use point A only for dose
      specification to the target. There was a lot of variation in parameters used for
      dose evaluation of target volume and normal tissues. Compared with the 2007
      survey, use of MRI has increased from 2% to 34% (P<.0001) for dose specification
      to the target. Use of volume-based dose delineation to the target has increased
      from 14% to 52% (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Although use of image-based brachytherapy
      has increased in the United States since the 2007 survey, there is room for
      further growth, particularly with the use of MRI. This increase may be in part
      due to educational initiatives. However, there is still significant heterogeneity
      in brachytherapy practice in the United States, and future efforts should be
      geared toward standardizing treatment.

PMID- 26867889
TI  - Image Guided Hypofractionated Postprostatectomy Intensity Modulated Radiation
      Therapy for Prostate Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) has promising long-term
      biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) with comparable toxicity for definitive
      treatment of prostate cancer. However, data reporting outcomes after adjuvant and
      salvage postprostatectomy hypofractionated RT are sparse. Therefore, we report
      the toxicity and clinical outcomes after postprostatectomy hypofractionated RT.
      METHODS AND MATERIALS: From a prospectively maintained database, men receiving
      image guided hypofractionated intensity modulated RT (HIMRT) with 2.5-Gy
      fractions constituted our study population. Androgen deprivation therapy was used
      at the discretion of the radiation oncologist. Acute toxicities were graded
      according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Late
      toxicities were scored using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European
      Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scale. Biochemical recurrence
      was defined as an increase of 0.1 in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from
      posttreatment nadir or an increase in PSA despite treatment. The Kaplan-Meier
      method was used for the time-to-event outcomes. RESULTS: Between April 2008 and
      April 2012, 56 men received postoperative HIMRT. The median follow-up time was 48
      months (range, 21-67 months). Thirty percent had pre-RT PSA <0.1; the median pre
      RT detectable PSA was 0.32 ng/mL. The median RT dose was 65 Gy (range, 57.5-65
      Gy). Ten patients received neoadjuvant and concurrent hormone therapy.
      Posttreatment acute urinary toxicity was limited. There was no acute grade 3
      toxicity. Late genitourinary (GU) toxicity of any grade was noted in 52% of
      patients, 40% of whom had pre-RT urinary incontinence. The 4-year actuarial rate
      of late grade 3 GU toxicity (exclusively gross hematuria) was 28% (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 16%-41%). Most grade 3 GU toxicity resolved; only 7% had
      persistent grade >=3 toxicity at the last follow-up visit. Fourteen patients
      experienced biochemical recurrence at a median of 20 months after radiation. The
      4-year bPFS rate was 75% (95% CI, 63%-87%). CONCLUSIONS: The biochemical control
      in this series appears promising, although relatively short follow-up may lead to
      overestimation. Late grade 3 GU toxicity was higher than anticipated with
      hypofractionated radiation of 65 Gy to the prostate bed, although most resolved.

PMID- 26867891
TI  - Radiation Therapy-First Strategy After Surgery With or Without Adjuvant
      Chemotherapy in Stage IIIA-N2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) and postoperative chemotherapy
      (POCT) can be administered as adjuvant therapies in patients with non-small cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to present the clinical outcomes
      in patients treated with PORT-first with or without subsequent POCT in stage IIIA
      N2 NSCLC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From January 2002 to November 2014, the
      conditions of 105 patients with stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC who received PORT-first with
      or without subsequent POCT were analyzed. PORT was initiated within 4 to 6 weeks
      after surgical resection. Platinum-based POCT was administered 3 to 4 weeks after
      the completion of PORT. We analyzed the outcomes and the clinical factors
      affecting survival. RESULTS: Of 105 patients, 43 (41.0%) received POCT with a
      median of 4 cycles (range, 2-6 cycles). The follow-up times ranged from 3 to 123
      months (median, 30 months), and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 40.2%. The 5
      year OS of patients treated with PORT and POCT was significantly higher than that
      of patients with PORT (61.3% vs 29.2%, P<.001). The significant prognostic
      factors affecting OS were the use of POCT (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.453, P=.036) and
      type of surgery (pneumonectomy/lobectomy; HR = 2.845, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: PORT
      first strategy after surgery appeared not to compromise the clinical outcomes in
      the treatment of stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. The benefit of POCT on OS was preserved
      even in the PORT-first setting. Further studies are warranted to compare the
      sequencing of PORT and POCT, guaranteeing the proper use of POCT.

PMID- 26867892
TI  - Audiovisual Biofeedback Improves Cine-Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measured Lung
      Tumor Motion Consistency.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the impact of an audiovisual (AV) biofeedback on intra- and
      interfraction tumor motion for lung cancer patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Lung
      tumor motion was investigated in 9 lung cancer patients who underwent a breathing
      training session with AV biofeedback before 2 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      sessions. The breathing training session was performed to allow patients to
      become familiar with AV biofeedback, which uses a guiding wave customized for
      each patient according to a reference breathing pattern. In the first MRI session
      (pretreatment), 2-dimensional cine-MR images with (1) free breathing (FB) and (2)
      AV biofeedback were obtained, and the second MRI session was repeated within 3-6
      weeks (mid-treatment). Lung tumors were directly measured from cine-MR images
      using an auto-segmentation technique; the centroid and outlier motions of the
      lung tumors were measured from the segmented tumors. Free breathing and AV
      biofeedback were compared using several metrics: intra- and interfraction tumor
      motion consistency in displacement and period, and the outlier motion ratio.
      RESULTS: Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved intrafraction tumor motion
      consistency by 34% in displacement (P=.019) and by 73% in period (P<.001).
      Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved interfraction tumor motion consistency
      by 42% in displacement (P<.046) and by 74% in period (P=.005). Compared with FB,
      AV biofeedback reduced the outlier motion ratio by 21% (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      These results demonstrated that AV biofeedback significantly improved intra- and
      interfraction lung tumor motion consistency for lung cancer patients. These
      results demonstrate that AV biofeedback can facilitate consistent tumor motion,
      which is advantageous toward achieving more accurate medical imaging and
      radiation therapy procedures.

PMID- 26867893
TI  - In Regard to Wu et al.

PMID- 26867890
TI  - Factors Associated With Early Mortality in Patients Treated With Concurrent
      Chemoradiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy (con-CRT) is recommended for fit
      patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) but is
      associated with toxicity, and observed survival continues to be limited.
      Identifying factors associated with early mortality could improve patient
      selection and identify strategies to improve prognosis. METHODS AND MATERIALS:
      Analysis of a multi-institutional LA-NSCLC database consisting of 1245 patients
      treated with con-CRT in 13 institutions was performed to identify factors
      predictive of 180-day survival. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was
      performed to identify prognostic groups for 180-day survival. Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis was used to create a clinical nomogram predicting
      180-day survival based on important predictors from RPA. RESULTS: Median follow
      up was 43.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.3-48.8) and 127 patients
      (10%) died within 180 days of treatment. Median, 180-day, and 1- to 5-year (by
      yearly increments) actuarial survival rates were 20.9 months, 90%, 71%, 45%, 32%,
      27%, and 22% respectively. Multivariate analysis adjusted by region identified
      gross tumor volume (GTV) (odds ratio [OR] >=100 cm(3): 2.61; 95% CI: 1.10-6.20;
      P=.029) and pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1],
      defined as the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity [FVC]) (OR <80%: 2.53; 95%
      CI: 1.09-5.88; P=.030) as significant predictors of 180-day survival. RPA
      resulted in a 2-class risk stratification system: low-risk (GTV <100 cm(3) or GTV
      >=100 cm(3) and FEV1 >=80%) and high-risk (GTV >=100 cm(3) and FEV1 <80%). The
      180-day survival rates were 93% for low risk and 79% for high risk, with an OR of
      4.43 (95% CI: 2.07-9.51; P<.001), adjusted by region. A clinical nomogram
      predictive of 180-day survival, incorporating FEV1, GTV, N stage, and maximum
      esophagus dose yielded favorable calibration (R(2) = 0.947). CONCLUSIONS: This
      analysis identified several risk factors associated with early mortality and
      suggests that future research in the optimization of pretreatment pulmonary
      function and/or functional lung avoidance treatment may alter the therapeutic
      ratio in this patient population.

PMID- 26867894
TI  - Erratum. In Regard to Onimaru et al.

PMID- 26867895
TI  - Erratum. A randomized phase 2 study comparing 2 stereotactic body radiation
      therapy schedules for medically inoperable patients with stage I peripheral non
      small cell lung cancer: NRG Oncology RTOG 0915 (NCCTG N0927).

PMID- 26867898
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26867899
TI  - Celeribacter persicus sp. nov., a polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbon-degrading
      bacterium isolated from mangrove soil.
AB  - A Gram-stain-negative, mesophilic bacterial strain, designated SBU1T, which
      degrades polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was isolated from the sediments of the
      mangrove forests of Nayband Bay in the Iranian Persian Gulf during a
      bioremediation experiment. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SBU1T exhibited
      highest similarities with Celeribacter indicus P73T (98.52%) and Celeribacter
      neptunius H 14T (97.05%). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene
      sequences, demonstrated that strain SBU1T fell within a cluster consisting of the
      type strains of species of the genus Celeribacter and formed a stable clade with
      C. indicus P73T in trees generated with three algorithms. The fatty acid profile
      of strain SBU1T consisted of the major fatty acids C18:1omega7c/omega6c and
      C18:1omega7c 11-methyl. The major compounds in the polar lipid profile were one
      phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified phospholipids. The quinone system
      exclusively comprised ubiquinone (Q-10). The DNA G+C content was 60.4 mol%. A
      combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization estimation, average
      nucleotide identity results and differential phenotypic and chemotaxonomic
      characteristics demonstrated that strain SBU1T could be distinguished from its
      close relatives. Therefore, strain SBU1T is considered to represent a novel
      species of the genus Celeribacter for which the name Celeribacter persicus sp.
      nov. is proposed. The type strain is SBU1T (=MCCC 1A00672T=DSM 100434T).

PMID- 26867900
TI  - The zinc transporter ZNT3 co-localizes with insulin in INS-1E pancreatic beta
      cells and influences cell survival, insulin secretion capacity, and ZNT8
      expression.
AB  - Zinc trafficking in pancreatic beta cells is tightly regulated by zinc
      transporting (ZNTs) proteins. The role of different ZNTs in the beta cells is
      currently being clarified. ZNT8 transports zinc into insulin granules and is
      critical for a correct insulin crystallization and storage in the granules
      whereas ZNT3 knockout negatively affects beta cell function and survival. Here,
      we describe for the first time the sub-cellular localization of ZNT3 by immuno
      gold electron microscopy and supplement previous data from knockout experiments
      with investigations of the effect of ZNT3 in a pancreatic beta cell line, INS-1E
      overexpressing ZNT3. In INS-1E cells, we found that ZNT3 was abundant in insulin
      containing granules located close to the plasma membrane. The level of ZNT8 mRNA
      was significantly decreased upon over-expression of ZNT3 at different glucose
      concentrations (5, 11 and 21 mM glucose). ZNT3 over-expression decreased insulin
      content and insulin secretion whereas ZNT3 over-expression improved the cell
      survival after 24 h at varying glucose concentrations (5, 11 and 21 mM). Our data
      suggest that ZNT3 and ZNT8 (known to regulate insulin secretion) have opposite
      effects on insulin synthesis and secretion possibly by a transcriptional co
      regulation since mRNA expression of ZNT3 was inversely correlated to ZNT8 and
      ZNT3 over-expression reduced insulin synthesis and secretion in INS-1E cells.
      ZNT3 over-expression improved cell survival.

PMID- 26867901
TI  - Isolated recto-sigmoid colitis: a new imaging pattern of ipilimumab-associated
      colitis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe typical CT findings and
      distinct imaging patterns of ipilimumab-associated colitis in immunotherapeutic
      treatment of melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This HIPAA-compliant retrospective
      study included 86 patients with melanoma imaged with CT or PET/CT of the abdomen
      and pelvis during or shortly after administration of ipilimumab. Twelve of 86
      patients (14%) developed symptoms of colitis and underwent CT imaging of the
      abdomen and pelvis while symptomatic. Two radiologists reviewed CT images to
      evaluate for the presence of CT findings of colitis including mesenteric vessel
      engorgement, pericolonic inflammatory change, hyperenhancement of colonic mucosa,
      colonic wall thickening, fluid-filled colonic distension, pneumoperitoneum,
      pneumatosis, and diverticulosis in the inflamed segment of colon. One nuclear
      medicine radiologist reviewed PET images for abnormally increased FDG uptake in
      the colon. The diagnosis of ipilimumab-associated colitis was made based on
      clinical presentation, imaging findings, and laboratory data. RESULTS: Common CT
      findings of ipilimumab-associated colitis included colonic mucosal
      hyperenhancement (10/12 [83%]), mesenteric vessel engorgement (9/12 [75.0%]),
      colonic wall thickening (9/12 [75%]), and pericolonic fat stranding (2/12 [16%]).
      No patient developed pneumatosis or pneumoperitoneum. Diffuse colitis was present
      in 4/12 (33%) patients. Segmental colitis with associated diverticulosis (was
      present in 2/12 (17%) patients). A third pattern, isolated recto-sigmoid colitis
      without diverticulosis, was observed in 6/12 (50%) patients. All patients with
      colitis demonstrated recto-sigmoid involvement. CONCLUSIONS: A third radiologic
      pattern of ipilimumab-associated colitis was observed in this study: isolated
      recto-sigmoid colitis without diverticulosis. All patterns of ipilimumab
      associated colitis include recto-sigmoid involvement.

PMID- 26867902
TI  - MRI for pelvic floor dysfunction: can the strain phase be eliminated?
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine if the strain phase of an MR
      defecography (MRD) protocol is redundant and can be eliminated without a loss of
      diagnostic information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board
      approval was obtained and the requirement for informed consent was waived. A
      retrospective single-center review of 80 MRD examinations (68 female, 12 male,
      mean age 55 years old) was conducted. Two radiologists blinded to patient
      information evaluated in consensus the strain and evacuation phases separately
      and in a random order. Each phase was assessed for the presence and degree of
      posterior compartment descent, cystocele, urethral hypermobility, uterovaginal
      prolapse, rectocele, rectal intussusception, and enterocele. The degree of pelvic
      floor descent was compared using a paired t test and McNemar's test was used to
      compare the proportion of abnormal findings. RESULTS: The evacuation phase
      identified all abnormalities identified on the strain phase and also identified
      both additional and more pronounced abnormalities, including an additional 34
      cystoceles, 20 cases of urethral hypermobility, 13 uterovaginal prolapses, 36
      rectoceles, 5 rectal intussusceptions, and 6 enteroceles (all p < 0.02). The mean
      posterior compartment descent was 24.1 mm greater on the evacuation phase than
      the strain phase (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The strain phase is redundant and we
      propose that it can be eliminated from a routine MRD protocol. This will help
      streamline the examination, simplify patient instructions, and reduce both
      imaging and reporting time.

PMID- 26867903
TI  - How to not miss alveolar echinococcosis in hepatic lesions suspicious for
      cholangiocellular carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) resembles intrahepatic
      cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) on radiological imaging. The purpose of this study was
      to identify criteria to discriminate AE from ICC with CT and MR Imaging. METHODS:
      One hundred and sixteen imaging studies of 94 patients (CT n = 65; MRI n = 51)
      diagnosed with AE (n = 55) or ICC (n = 39) were retrospectively reviewed by two
      blinded radiologists for lesion features including enhancement pattern and matrix
      composition. A consensus read was conducted in cases of disagreement. Uni- and
      multivariate logistic regression with bootstrapping were used for analysis.
      RESULTS: Using CT, no or septal enhancement and calcification yielded the highest
      values of sensitivity/specificity (90.9%/90.6% and 81.8%/96.9%) for AE. Using
      MRI, no or septal enhancement and cystic components achieved the highest
      sensitivity/specificity (90.9%/100.0% and 84.8%/66.7%) for AE. Multivariate
      logistic regression identified the following strong independent predictors for
      AE: for MRI, no or septal enhancement (odds ratio [OR] 322.4; p < 0.001); for CT,
      no or septal enhancement and calcification (OR 35.9 and 42.5; p < 0.001 and p <
      0.01, respectively). No or septal enhancement and calcification demonstrated the
      highest interreader agreement (>90%). CONCLUSION: Enhancement characteristics and
      matrix calcifications offer the strongest discriminating potential between AE and
      ICC with a high sensitivity, specificity, and interreader agreement.

PMID- 26867904
TI  - Diffusion-weighted and hepatobiliary phase gadoxetic acid-enhanced quantitative
      MR imaging for identification of complete pathologic response in colorectal liver
      metastases after preoperative chemotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging
      (DWI) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to
      differentiate colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) with complete pathologic
      response from those with incomplete response in patients treated with
      preoperative chemotherapy. METHODS: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI and DWI
      were performed after completion of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with
      CRLM scheduled for liver resection. Metastases were classified as those with
      complete pathologic response (CR-CRLM) or incomplete response (IR-CRLM) according
      to postsurgical histopathology. Quantitative analysis was performed on non
      contrast-enhanced images and hepatobiliary phase images following gadoxetic acid
      administration. Apparent diffusion coefficient values (ADC), normalized relative
      enhancement (NRE), and relative signal intensity difference (RSID) along with
      their diagnostic measures for detection of CR-CRLM were calculated for all
      lesions. RESULTS: In 23 patients, 10 CR-CRLM and 35 IR-CRLM (mean diameter, 21.2
      mm) were evaluated. In CR-CRLM, ADC was significantly higher after exclusion of
      the outliers (p = 0.030); and RSID was significantly lower (p = 0.008). Combined
      indices range of ADC = 1.25-1.9 * 10(-3) mm(2)/s, NRE = 0-35% and RSID <120 had
      60% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detection of CR-CRLM. CONCLUSION: DWI
      and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI appear promising for the detection of CRLM with
      complete response to preoperative chemotherapy. This could have significant
      implications for liver resection planning after preoperative chemotherapy.

PMID- 26867905
TI  - Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis using acoustic structure
      quantification: comparison with transient elastography in chronic viral
      hepatitis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of
      acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) parameters [mode, average, and focal
      distribution (FD) ratio] in the staging of hepatic fibrosis in patients with
      chronic viral hepatitis and to compare it with transient elastography (TE) by
      using liver biopsy as reference standard. METHODS: We studied 62 patients with
      chronic viral hepatitis. Each patient underwent ASQ evaluation and liver biopsy;
      54 of these patients received TE. Thirty-six participants without any liver
      disease were enrolled as normal group, who also underwent ASQ evaluation and TE.
      All three parameters of ASQ were compared with the histologic fibrosis grade
      according to the METAVIR scoring (F0-F4). Statistical analysis was performed to
      investigate the correlations and the diagnostic values of ASQ parameters and
      compare them to TE. RESULTS: All three ASQ parameters and TE were significantly
      correlated with liver fibrosis stage. Of the ASQ parameters, the mode parameter
      showed the best correlation (P < 0.001). On the area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve (AUROC), the mode parameter of ASQ analysis showed both
      significant correlation and good accuracy for diagnosis of F >= 1, F >= 2, and F
      >= 3. These values were significantly better than those of the average and FD
      ratio parameters in F >= 1 and F >= 2 (P < 0.05). There was no statistically
      significant difference in AUROC between the mode parameter and TE in diagnosis of
      F >= 1, F >= 2, or F >= 3. CONCLUSIONS: The mode parameter is the most reliable
      ASQ parameter, comparable to TE, as a non-invasive method for the detection and
      grading of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

PMID- 26867906
TI  - Comparison of CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings in hepatic
      angiomyolipoma with pathological correlations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare imaging findings of CT and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in
      hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) and investigate their pathological correlations.
      METHODS: Imaging findings and preoperative diagnosis of CT and CEUS were
      retrospectively compared head to head in 46 patients with 54 histologically
      proven HAMLs. Correlations between imaging features and preoperative diagnosis
      with pathological types of HAMLs were analyzed. RESULTS: Fat was detected in 100%
      of lipomatous type, 84.6% of mixed type, and 7.1% of myomatous type (p = 0.000)
      of HAML at unenhanced CT. Well-defined hyper-echogenicity was displayed in 100%
      of lipomatous type, 88.5% of mixed type, 50% of myomatous type, and 66.7% of
      angiomatous type of HAMLs at unenhanced US. More arterial hyper-enhancement was
      noted on CEUS (100%) than on CT (73.1%) in mixed type (p = 0.015) and in
      lipomatous type (90.9% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.000) of HAMLs. Washout was present in more
      HAMLs on CT than on CEUS (42.6% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.007). Correct preoperative
      diagnosis was suggested in more HAMLs of myomatous type on CEUS than on CT (42.9%
      vs. 0%, p = 0.016) but showed no difference in other types of HAMLs. CONCLUSION:
      There are considerable discrepancies between CT and CEUS findings of HAMLs, and
      the imaging appearance and preoperative diagnosis of HAMLs on CT and CEUS are
      significantly affected by pathological types of HAMLs.

PMID- 26867907
TI  - Comparison of tumor vascularity and hemodynamics in three rat hepatoma models.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare tumor vascularity and hemodynamics in three rat hepatoma
      models: N1-S1 cells in Sprague-Dawley rats, McA-RH7777 cells in Sprague-Dawley
      rats, and 13762 MAT B III cells in F344 rats. METHODS: The three rat hepatoma
      models were induced in five rats per group. After confirming that the tumors grew
      up to 10 mm on magnetic resonance imaging, the rats underwent dynamic contrast
      enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US). Afterward, the rats were euthanized for
      histologic analyses. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the rat hepatoma
      models. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the microvessel density
      (MVD) and DCE-US parameters. RESULTS: On DCE-US imaging, arterial enhancement and
      washout were demonstrated in all N1-S1 tumors, while persistent peripheral
      enhancement on arterial to portal phases was shown in all 13762 MAT B III tumors.
      The McA-RH7777 tumors presented diverse enhancement patterns on arterial and
      portal phases. There were no significant differences in DCE-US parameters among
      the three hepatoma groups, while MVD was correlated with peak intensity (r =
      0.565, p = 0.044), mean transit time (r = -0.559, p = 0.047), and time to peak (r
      = - 0.617, p = 0.025) of individual rats. The necrosis ratio was significantly
      different between the models (p = 0.031); 13762 MAT B III showed a significantly
      higher necrosis ratio than N1-S1 (p < 0.050 by post hoc test). CONCLUSION: The N1
      S1 tumor may be suitable as a model to investigate hypervascular hepatic tumors
      of the liver in DCE-US such as hepatocellular carcinoma among the three tumors.

PMID- 26867908
TI  - Focal hepatic solid lesions incidentally detected on initial ultrasonography in
      542 asymptomatic patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of
      focal hepatic solid lesions incidentally detected on initial ultrasonography in
      asymptomatic patients. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2009, 2670 initial
      ultrasonographies were performed in asymptomatic population. Of these 2670
      initial examinations, 681 focal hepatic solid lesions in 542 patients (mean 39.4
      years, range 23-73 years) were detected. Clinical information, ultrasonography
      features, and the outcome of these lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: Six hundred
      and seventy four lesions (99.0%) in 539 patients (99.4%) were benign, while seven
      lesions (1.0%) in three patients (0.6%) proved to be malignant. Risk factors
      significantly associated with malignant focal hepatic solid lesions were known
      history of malignancy, history of hepatitis, a positive result for the hepatitis
      B surface antigen, and abnormally elevated tumor markers. No malignancy was
      identified in patients without any one of these four risk factors.
      Ultrasonographic features of internal heterogeneous echotexture with peripheral
      hypoechoic rim showed significant associations with malignancy. CONCLUSIONS:
      Focal hepatic solid lesions incidentally detected on initial ultrasonography were
      rarely malignant, especially in patients without these risk factors. Therefore,
      the knowledge of these risk factors and US features is important in order to make
      a differential diagnosis between benign and malignant focal hepatic lesions.

PMID- 26867909
TI  - CT imaging of early local recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma following
      pancreaticoduodenectomy.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objectives of this retrospective study were to describe the
      characteristics and topography of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its early
      local recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy and identify predictive factors of
      local early recurrence by imaging computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The
      institutional review board approved the study and did require additional informed
      consent for reviewing the patients' medical records and images. Patients who
      underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma, a preoperative CT
      scan, and adequate postoperative CT were included. After postoperative imaging,
      correlations among clinical and histological characteristics and preoperative
      imaging were evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 123 patients who underwent
      pancreaticoduodenectomy, 48 patients had sufficient follow-up imaging and were
      included in this study. A total of 33 patients experienced local early recurrence
      (Group 1), and 15 exhibited no local recurrence (Group 2). Local recurrence
      consisted of two types of anomalies: tissue nodules on surgical clips (94%) and
      peri-arterial encasement (82%). On preoperative imaging, the tumor diameter (p =
      0.02) and the presence of a venous borderline resectable tumor (p < 0.0001) were
      predictive of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue nodules on surgical clips and
      arterial encasement characterize early local recurrence, and nodules and
      encasement should not be considered common post-operative infiltration. The role
      of the radiologist is essential to assess the predictive factors of recurrence
      and to identify early local recurrence.

PMID- 26867910
TI  - Common and uncommon pitfalls in pancreatic imaging: it is not always cancer.
AB  - Despite advances in multimodality imaging of pancreas, there is still overlap
      between imaging findings of several pancreatic/peripancreatic disease processes.
      Pancreatic and peripancreatic non-neoplastic entities may mimic primary
      pancreatic neoplasms on ultrasound, CT, and MRI. On the other hand, primary
      pancreatic cancer may be overlooked on imaging because of technical and inherent
      factors. The purpose of this pictorial review is to describe and illustrate
      pancreatic imaging pitfalls and highlight the basic radiological features for
      proper differential diagnosis. 

PMID- 26867911
TI  - Impact of histologic subtype and sarcomatoid transformation on metastasis in
      renal cell carcinoma: a single institute experience in 149 patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the metastatic pattern and outcome of clear cell RCC (ccRCC)
      and papillary RCC (pRCC), and to assess the impact of sarcomatoid transformation
      on the disease spread and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This IRB-approved,
      HIPAA-compliant retrospective study included 149 consecutive patients (108 men;
      mean age 58 years; range 25-86) with metastatic RCC (ccRCC = 116, pRCC = 33),
      identified from imaging database. All available imaging studies and electronic
      records of these patients were reviewed to document pathological features,
      distribution and timing of metastasis, and survival. The metastatic pattern and
      survival was first compared between the ccRCC and pRCC groups, and then between
      those with and without sarcomatoid transformation; all 27 cases of sarcomatoid
      transformation occurred in the ccRCC group. RESULTS: Metastases were noted at
      presentation in 62 (42%) and after median 13 months in the remaining 87 (58%)
      patients. Lymph nodes (134/149), lung (125/149), and bone (60/149) were the most
      common metastatic sites, which did not differ between the RCC subtypes.
      Pancreatic (p = 0.0014) and renal (p = 0.046) metastases were more common in
      ccRCC, lymphangitic spread (p = 0.0003) and peritoneal metastasis (p = 0.039)
      more common in pRCC. In ccRCC, sarcomatoid transformation was associated with
      high-grade tumors (p < 0.0001), more frequently demonstrated lymphangitic (p =
      0.016), pleural (p = 0.0018), and peritoneal metastases (p = 0.0002), and had
      shorter metastasis-free survival and overall survival (log-rank test, p <
      0.0001). In the absence of sarcomatoid transformation, ccRCC had longer
      metastasis-free interval (median 22 months compared to 6 months) (p = 0.0238) and
      overall survival (median survival 48 months vs. 25 months) (p = 0.0193) compared
      to pRCC. CONCLUSION: Histologic subtype, as well as the presence of sarcomatoid
      transformation, affects the metastatic pattern and metastasis-free survival of
      RCC. In the absence of sarcomatoid transformation, ccRCC has a better outcome
      than pRCC.

PMID- 26867912
TI  - Adrenal congestion preceding adrenal hemorrhage on CT imaging: a case series.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Adrenal hemorrhage is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening
      condition, particularly in cases of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage causing primary
      adrenal insufficiency. It is difficult to diagnose clinically, particularly in
      critically ill patients, given its non-specific symptoms and signs, which include
      abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, weakness, hypotension, and altered conscious
      state. Non-traumatic adrenal hemorrhage has been observed to occur in times of
      physiological stress, such as post-surgery, sepsis, burns, and hypotension. This
      is hypothesized to be due to a combination of increased arterial blood flow to
      the adrenal glands, the paucity of draining adrenal venules and adrenal vein
      thrombosis, leading to intra-glandular vascular congestion and subsequent
      hemorrhage. CASE SERIES: We present four cases of non-traumatic adrenal
      hemorrhage, which demonstrated features of preceding adrenal congestion (adrenal
      gland thickening and peri-adrenal fat stranding) on computed tomography (CT)
      imaging. Comparison was made with 12 randomly selected intensive care patients to
      observe if these findings were prevalent in this subgroup of patients.
      CONCLUSION: Non-traumatic adrenal hemorrhage is an uncommon condition that is
      difficult to diagnose clinically. As such, it may be useful to recognize CT
      features of adrenal congestion as a sign for potential adrenal dysfunction and
      subsequent adrenal hemorrhage, so early steroid replacement therapy can be
      commenced to prevent death from adrenal insufficiency.

PMID- 26867913
TI  - Impact of hysterectomy on three-dimensional rectosigmoid morphology and endoscopy
      performance: a pilot study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Assess differences in three-dimensional colonic metrics on CTC in
      women with or without hysterectomy following incomplete endoscopy to determine if
      there is a correlation between colonic morphology and incomplete colonoscopy
      after hysterectomy. METHODS: Quantitative rectosigmoid metrics were derived from
      CTC datasets of 37 women with hysterectomy and 36 women without hysterectomy who
      underwent CTC for incomplete endoscopy. Evaluated metrics included colonic
      length, volume, tortuosity, and compactness and sigmoid apex height relative to
      the lumbosacral junction. Differences were measured using the Student's t test,
      and intra-reader reliability was assessed using ICC. The relative risk of
      incomplete rectosigmoid visualization was determined by reviewing the endoscopy
      reports. RESULTS: Women with hysterectomy had a lower sigmoid apex height (p =
      0.002), as well as increased tortuosity (p = 0.012) and compactness (p = 0.001)
      and decreased length (p = 0.026) and volume (p = 0.016) of the rectosigmoid.
      Intra-reader reliability was high for centerline length (ICC = 0.9940) and
      sigmoid apex height (ICC = 0.9851). The relative risk of incomplete visualization
      of the rectosigmoid on endoscopy in women with hysterectomy was 2.068 (p = 0.043)
      compared to women without hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Our pilot data show
      reproducible quantitative differences in three-dimensional metrics of the
      rectosigmoid in women with or without hysterectomy who underwent CTC for
      incomplete endoscopy and increased relative risk of incomplete endoscopic
      visualization of the rectosigmoid after hysterectomy. Our findings suggest that
      women with hysterectomy may benefit from CTC rather than endoscopy as the initial
      diagnostic test for evaluating the colon.

PMID- 26867914
TI  - Percutaneous biliary drainage effectively lowers serum bilirubin to permit
      chemotherapy treatment.
AB  - PURPOSE: For digestive tract cancers, the bilirubin threshold for administration
      of systemic chemotherapy can be 5 or 2 mg/dL (85.5 or 34.2 MUmol/L) depending
      upon the regimen. We examined the ability of percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD)
      in patients with malignant biliary obstruction to achieve these clinically
      relevant endpoints. METHODS: 106 consecutive patients with malignant biliary
      obstruction and a baseline serum bilirubin >2 mg/dL underwent PBD. Time to
      achieve a bilirubin of 5 mg/dL (85.5 MUmol/L), 2 mg/dL (34.2 MUmol/L), and
      survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Potential technical and clinical
      prognostic factors were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis.
      Categorical variables were analyzed by the log rank test. Hazard ratios were
      calculated for continuous variables. RESULTS: Median survival was 100 days (range
      1-3771 days). Among 88 patients with a pre-drainage bilirubin >5 mg/dL, 62%
      achieved a serum bilirubin <=5 mg/dL within 30 days and 84% within 60 days,
      median 21 days. Among 106 patients with a pre-drainage bilirubin >2 mg/dL, 37%
      achieved a serum bilirubin <=2 mg/dL by 30 days and 70% within 60 days, median 43
      days. None of the technical or clinical factors evaluated, including pre-drainage
      bilirubin, were significant predictors of time to achieve a bilirubin <=2 mg/dL
      (p = 0.51). Size and type of biliary device were the only technical variables
      found to affect time to bilirubin of 5 mg/dL (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: PBD of
      malignant obstruction achieves clinically relevant reduction in serum bilirubin
      in the majority of patients within 1-2 months, irrespective of the pre-drainage
      serum bilirubin, sufficient to allow administration of systemic chemotherapy.
      However, the decision to undergo this procedure for this indication alone must be
      considered in the context of patients' prognosis and treatment goals.

PMID- 26867915
TI  - Patient preferences for chaperone use during transvaginal sonography.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine patient preferences for use of a chaperone during
      transvaginal sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Informed consent was waived for
      this IRB-exempt, HIPAA-compliant, retrospective review of prospectively acquired
      quality improvement survey data. Willing unique consecutive adult patients (n =
      155) scheduled to undergo a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound between March 1, 2015
      and August 15, 2015 completed a survey before and after the ultrasound
      examination assessing their opinions regarding the need for a chaperone. Surveys
      were collected from three outpatient centers (n = 35/center) and an inpatient
      center (n = 50) in the same health system. Respondent opinions were compared with
      Chi-Square test or Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: Most respondents (78% [121/155])
      had previously undergone a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound. Respondents were
      significantly more likely to prefer a chaperone if their sonographer was male
      than if their sonographer was female (pre-ultrasound: 46% [69/155] vs. 12%
      [19/155], p < 0.0001; post-ultrasound: 43% [66/155] vs. 6% [10/155], p < 0.0001).
      The fraction of respondents who said they would be somewhat or substantially
      reassured by a chaperone if their sonographer was female was similar to the
      fraction of respondents who said they would be somewhat or substantially
      embarrassed by presence of a female chaperone (pre-ultrasound: 12% [19/155] vs.
      6% [9/155], p = 0.07; post-ultrasound: 6% [10/155] vs. 7% [11/155], p = 0.82;
      respectively). CONCLUSION: Approximately half of adult women scheduled to undergo
      transvaginal pelvic sonography prefer that a chaperone be present if their
      sonographer is male, but in general do not feel it is necessary if their
      sonographer is female. These opinions do not change after performance of a
      transvaginal pelvic ultrasound.

PMID- 26867916
TI  - The "double bubble" sign.

PMID- 26867917
TI  - The "molar tooth" sign.

PMID- 26867918
TI  - The bullet on bodkin sign.

PMID- 26867919
TI  - The "Nubbin" Sign.

PMID- 26867920
TI  - The stained glass window appearance.

PMID- 26867921
TI  - 'Tardus-Parvus' waveform.

PMID- 26867922
TI  - Pictorial review of orthotopic neobladder reconstruction: indication, normal
      postsurgical anatomy, and complications.
AB  - Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is a common urological procedure
      performed for the treatment of bladder cancer. Numerous surgical procedures have
      been developed for urinary diversion. Over the past decade, orthotopic neobladder
      reconstruction has been used frequently for urinary diversion because of its
      advantageousness in providing patients with a good quality of life compared with
      other urinary diversion technique. Knowledge of the indication, surgical
      procedure, and postsurgical anatomy of orthotopic neobladder reconstruction is
      essential. While the technique has many advantages, multiple postsurgical
      complications may occur after reconstruction, including urine leakage, bowel
      obstruction and fluid collection (lymphocele, urinoma, hematoma, and abscess),
      neobladder rupture, vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis, urinary tract
      infection, urinary calculi, abdominal incisional hernia, bowel obstruction,
      intraneobladder tumor, and tumor recurrence. Radiological imaging including
      multiple modalities such as intravenous urography, cystography, CT, and MRI plays
      an important role in the postoperative evaluation of patients with orthotopic
      neobladder reconstruction and is an accurate method for evaluating complications.
      In addition, knowledge of appearances on multimodal imaging helps clinicians to
      select the modality required to achieve an accurate diagnosis of each
      complication and avoid misdiagnosis. 

PMID- 26867923
TI  - Update on the imaging of malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors
      (PEComas).
AB  - Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are a histologic group
      of mesenchymal neoplasms that share a distinctive histological phenotype, the
      perivascular epithelioid cell. These tumors are known for their perivascular
      distribution. Malignant PEComas have a female predominance and are associated
      with aggressive disease and poor prognosis, making timely diagnosis critical to
      management. Imaging features of malignant PEComas are nonspecific and mimic other
      benign and malignant neoplasms. Surgery is the mainstay in the management of
      malignant PEComas. Promising novel molecular targeted therapies like m-TOR
      inhibitors have been shown to be effective in the metastatic setting. The aim of
      this review is to familiarize radiologists with the imaging appearances of and
      potential therapies for primary and metastatic malignant PEComa. 

PMID- 26867924
TI  - Direct and indirect imaging features of adrenohepatic fusion.
AB  - It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis when a lesion arising from
      adrenohepatic fusion occurs. Also, the anatomical characteristics may lead to
      various radiological features so that it is frequent to under- or over-treat a
      lesion from adrenohepatic fusion. Adrenohepatic fusion is characterized by the
      close intermixture of hepatocytes and adrenocortical cells with rare or no
      formation of a peri-adrenal capsule. The purpose of this clinical perspective was
      to describe the direct and indirect imaging features of adrenohepatic fusion and
      show their clinical implications for patient care. 

PMID- 26867925
TI  - The evaluation of abdominal findings in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widely seen, fatal disease
      and is endemic to some countries. It affects many organs in the abdomen.
      Comprehensive radiological study of CCHF is quite rare. This study will use
      multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) to investigate if there is a
      relationship between clinical laboratory measurements and abdominal findings in
      CCHF and discuss our findings in the light of the literature. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 443 patients
      diagnosed with CCHF in our hospital between April 1, 2008 and September 30, 2014.
      Fifty-one patients had undergone abdominal MDCT examination. RESULTS: The most
      common findings seen in abdominal MDCT were intra-abdominal free fluid and
      hepatomegaly. Gallbladder wall thickening, heterogeneity in mesenteric, omental
      fatty tissue, and splenomegaly were other common findings. Subcutaneous fat
      tissue edema, intramuscular hemorrhage, duodenal wall thickening, colon wall
      thickening, pancreatitis, and acute renal failure were among the rare findings
      seen in abdominal MDCT. Comparison of these findings to the clinical laboratory
      parameters showed a strong relationship between intra-abdominal free fluid and
      platelet count. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first comprehensive study on
      abdominal MDCT findings of CCHF. We detected a strong relationship between
      patients' platelet count and abdominal free liquid. Therefore, it should be kept
      in mind that abdominal free fluid can be among clinical manifestations in
      patients with platelet counts <=50000 and that this manifestation can become
      aggravated.

PMID- 26867926
TI  - Expression of peroxisome proliferator activation receptors (PPARs) and TNFalpha
      in placenta tissues in unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: an
      immunohistochemical study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: PPAR expression in placenta tissues regulates proinflammatory
      cytokine production and preserves the quiescence of the uterus during pregnancy.
      PPAR-gamma regulates inflammatory response during gestation while PPAR-delta and
      TNFalpha play a central role at implantation, decidualization and placentation.
      However, their expression levels affect normal pregnancy and may cause
      gestational complications and miscarriage. The aim of this report is to
      investigate the relationship of these molecules with unexplained recurrent
      miscarriage. MATERIALS-METHODS: The miscarriage group was obtained from 12 women,
      between the ages of 35 to 42 years, who miscarried during the 1st trimester of
      gestation and controls consisted of 12 healthy women, between the ages of 27 to
      39 years, who had electively terminated their pregnancies, during the 1st
      trimester of gestation. The abortion material was processed and specimens taken
      were studied using immunohisto-chemical methods. Specimens were taken from
      decidua basalis and decidua parietalis. Monoclonal antibodies were used against
      PPAR-gamma (Peroxisome Proliferator Activation Receptor gamma), PPAR-delta and
      TNFalpha (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha). The results were statistically analyzed
      with Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Our research identified PPAR-gamma expression in
      decidua basalis and decidua parietalis from control group and decidua basalis
      from miscarriage group. PPAR-delta expression was also identified in both
      deciduas from both groups. Statistically, no significant change in PPAR-gamma and
      PPAR-delta expression was observed between recurrent miscarriage group and
      controls. On the contrary, a statistically significant upregulation of TNFalpha
      was identified in both deciduas between miscarriage group and controls (p<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our evidence did not support a possible role of PPARs expression in
      recurrent pregnancy loss. However, a potential involvement of TNFalpha in the
      syndrome was reported. Further research should be performed due to insufficient
      bibliographic data.

PMID- 26867927
TI  - Radiofrequency ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways associated with
      coronary sinus diverticula.
AB  - PURPOSE: Posteroseptal accessory pathways may be associated with a coronary sinus
      (CS) diverticulum. Our purpose was to describe the clinical characteristics,
      mapping and ablation of these pathways. METHODS: This was a retrospective study
      of all patients who underwent ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways in a
      single centre. Patients with a diverticulum of the CS or one of its tributaries
      were included in group I, while the other patients formed group II. Clinical
      presentation, ablation procedure and outcome were compared between the two
      groups. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were included, 16 in group I and 35 in
      group II. There were no significant differences in age or sex distribution.
      Atrial fibrillation (AF) and previous unsuccessful ablation were more common in
      group I. A negative delta wave in lead II was the ECG finding with best
      sensitivity and specificity for the presence of a diverticulum. A pathway
      potential was common at the successful site in group I, and the interval between
      local ventricular electrogram and delta wave onset was shorter (19.5 +/- 8 vs
      33.1 +/- 7.6 ms, p < 0.001). There was a trend toward lower procedural success
      rate and higher recurrence rate in group I, although this was not significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: CS diverticula should be suspected in patients with manifest
      posteroseptal accessory pathways who have a previous failed ablation, documented
      AF or typical electrocardiographic signs. A discrete potential is frequently seen
      at the successful site, but the local ventricular electrogram is not as early as
      in other accessory pathways.

PMID- 26867928
TI  - When is enough, enough? Understanding and solving your sample size problems in
      health services research.
AB  - Health services researchers face two obstacles to sample size calculation:
      inaccessible, highly specialised or overly technical literature, and difficulty
      securing methodologists during the planning stages of research. The purpose of
      this article is to provide pragmatic sample size calculation guidance for
      researchers who are designing a health services study. We aimed to create a
      simplified and generalizable process for sample size calculation, by (1)
      summarising key factors and considerations in determining a sample size, (2)
      developing practical steps for researchers-illustrated by a case study and, (3)
      providing a list of resources to steer researchers to the next stage of their
      calculations. Health services researchers can use this guidance to improve their
      understanding of sample size calculation, and implement these steps in their
      research practice. 

PMID- 26867929
TI  - A powerful score-based statistical test for group difference in weighted
      biological networks.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Complex disease is largely determined by a number of biomolecules
      interwoven into networks, rather than a single biomolecule. A key but
      inadequately addressed issue is how to test possible differences of the networks
      between two groups. Group-level comparison of network properties may shed light
      on underlying disease mechanisms and benefit the design of drug targets for
      complex diseases. We therefore proposed a powerful score-based statistic to
      detect group difference in weighted networks, which simultaneously capture the
      vertex changes and edge changes. RESULTS: Simulation studies indicated that the
      proposed network difference measure (NetDifM) was stable and outperformed other
      methods existed, under various sample sizes and network topology structure. One
      application to real data about GWAS of leprosy successfully identified the
      specific gene interaction network contributing to leprosy. For additional gene
      expression data of ovarian cancer, two candidate subnetworks, PI3K-AKT and Notch
      signaling pathways, were considered and identified respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The
      proposed method, accounting for the vertex changes and edge changes
      simultaneously, is valid and powerful to capture the group difference of
      biological networks.

PMID- 26867932
TI  - Shifting to settled cultivation: Changing practices among the Adis in Central
      Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India.
AB  - In the hilly tropics, although shifting cultivation is a widespread practice,
      government policies have attempted to replace it with other land uses. However,
      several factors determine whether farming communities can make the shift. We
      tried understanding the factors that facilitate or impede the shift to settled
      cultivation through interviews with the Adi tribe in north-east India. Although
      settled cultivation was initiated in the 60s, about 90 % of the families still
      practise shifting cultivation, observing 13 festivals associated with the annual
      agricultural calendar. Our results indicate that the economic status of a
      household determined whether a family undertook settled cultivation, while labour
      availability was important for shifting cultivation. Often, these nuances are
      ignored in the Government policies. We conclude that future policies should be
      mindful of cultural and socio-economic factors that affect the community and of
      the social-ecological resilience of the landscapes and not use a one-size-fits
      all strategy. 

PMID- 26867931
TI  - Comparative immunogenicity and structural analysis of epitopes of different
      bacterial L-asparaginases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: E.coli type II L-asparaginase is widely used for treatment of acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia. However, serious side effects such as allergic or
      hypersensitivity reactions are common for L-asparaginase treatment. Methods for
      minimizing immune response on L-asparaginase treatment in human include
      bioengeneering of less immunogenic version of the enzyme or utilizing the
      homologous enzymes of different origin. To rationalize these approaches we
      compared immunogenicity of L-asparaginases from five bacterial organisms and
      performed sequence-structure analysis of the presumable epitope regions. METHODS:
      IgG and IgM immune response in C57B16 mice after immunization with Wollinella
      succinogenes type II (WsA), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis type II (YpA), Erwinia
      carotovora type II (EwA), and Rhodospirillum rubrum type I (RrA) and Escherichia
      coli type II (EcA) L-asparaginases was evaluated using standard ELISA method. The
      comparative bioinformatics analysis of structure and sequence of the bacterial L
      asparaginases presumable epitope regions was performed. RESULTS: We showed
      different immunogenic properties of five studied L-asparaginases and confirmed
      the possibility of replacement of EcA with L-asparaginase from different origin
      as a second-line treatment. Studied L-asparaginases might be placed in the
      following order based on the immunogenicity level: YpA > RrA, WsA >= EwA > EcA.
      Most significant cross-immunogenicity was shown between EcA and YpA. We propose
      that a long N-terminus of YpA enzyme enriched with charged aminoacids and
      tryptophan could be a reason of higher immunogenicity of YpA in comparison with
      other considered enzymes. Although the recognized structural and sequence
      differences in putative epitope regions among five considered L-asparaginases
      does not fully explain experimental observation of the immunogenicity of the
      enzymes, the performed analysis set the foundation for further research in this
      direction. CONCLUSIONS: The performed studies showed different immunogenic
      properties of L-asparaginases and confirmed the possibility of replacement of EcA
      with L-asparaginase from different origin. The preferable enzymes for the second
      line treatment are WsA, RrA, or EwA.

PMID- 26867930
TI  - Do psychological and behavioral factors classified by the West Haven-Yale
      Multidimensional Pain Inventory (Swedish version) predict the early clinical
      course of low back pain in patients receiving chiropractic care?
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate if psychological and behavioral factors (as determined
      by the Swedish version of the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory,
      MPI-S) can predict the early clinical course of Low Back Pain (LBP). METHODS: MPI
      S data from patients (18-65 years of age) seeking chiropractic care for recurrent
      and persistent LBP were collected at the 1(st) visit. A follow-up questionnaire
      was administered at the 4(th) visit. The predictive value of the MPI-S subgroups
      Adaptive Copers (AC), Interpersonally Distressed (ID) and Dysfunctional (DYS) was
      calculated against the subjective improvement at the 4(th) visit and clinically
      relevant difference in pain intensity between the 1(st) and 4(th) visit. RESULTS:
      Of the 666 subjects who were included at the 1(st) visit, 329 completed the
      questionnaire at the 4(th) visit. A total of 64.7 % (AC), 68.0 % (ID) and 71.3 %
      (DYS) reported a definite improvement. The chance of "definite improvement",
      expressed as relative risk (95 % CI) with the AC group as reference, was 1.05
      (.87-1.27) for the ID and 1.10 (.93-1.31) for the DYS groups, respectively. The
      DYS and ID groups reported higher values in pain intensity both at the 1(st) and
      the 4(th) visit. The proportion of subjects who reported an improvement in pain
      intensity of 30 % or more (clinically relevant) were 63.5 % AC, 72.0 % ID and
      63.2 % DYS. Expressed as relative risk (95 % CI) with the AC group as reference,
      this corresponded to 1.26 (.91-1.76) for the ID and 1.09 (.78-1.51) for the DYS
      groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The MPI-S instrument could not predict the
      early clinical course of recurrent and persistent LBP in this sample of
      chiropractic patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials.gov; NCT01539863 ,
      February 22, 2012.

PMID- 26867933
TI  - Retrospective analysis of the influence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on disease
      progression and survival in pancreatic cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in neoplastic processes in
      multiple organs, including the pancreas. While animal and human data have
      established a relationship between serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) and the development
      of pancreatic cancer, few studies have examined the effects of 25(OH)D on time to
      progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) in this patient population. We
      hypothesize that lower baseline serum concentrations (BSC) of 25(OH)D will be
      associated with decreased TTP and OS. METHODS: This retrospective analysis of
      1222 patients with pancreatic cancer aims to identify potential relationships
      between 25(OH)D and both TTP and OS, while controlling for the effects of
      ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). Baseline 25(OH)D was divided into quartiles
      defined as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20-39 ng/mL), sufficient (40-59
      ng/mL), and optimal (>=60 ng/ml). Statistical significance was declared if the
      two-sided p-value was <= 0.05. RESULTS: For the 627 subjects included for
      analysis, the median 25(OH)D was 27 ng/mL (range 4 to 114), 30.0 % were 25(OH)D
      deficient (<20 ng/mL), and 47.2 % were insufficient (20-39 ng/mL). Ethnicity (p <
      0.0001) and BMI (p = 0.05) were significantly associated with (BSC)of 25(OH)D,
      while TTP (p = 0.39) and OS (p = 0.37) were not associated. CONCLUSION:
      Suboptimal vitamin D levels (<60 ng/mL) occurred in 96 % of patients analyzed.
      Both ethnicity and BMI were statistically significantly associated with vitamin D
      deficiency and insufficiency. Similar to results previously reported in the
      literature, this analysis did not identify a significant association between BSC
      of 25(OH)D and OS or TTP in patients with pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26867935
TI  - New Strategies in Breast Cancer: Immunotherapy.
AB  - More than 70% of breast cancers contain lymphocytic infiltration in the stroma,
      and preclinical studies suggest that immunoediting and partial control of cancer
      progression by the local immune microenvironment operate in most breast cancers.
      Consistent with this hypothesis, a large number of studies demonstrated a
      favorable prognostic and chemotherapy response predictive role for immune
      infiltration in breast cancer. The evidence is particularly strong for triple
      negative and HER2-positive cancers. The development of clinically effective
      immune checkpoint inhibitors now provides an opportunity to test the therapeutic
      potential of augmenting the local antitumor immune response. Several phase I
      clinical trials using single-agent anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies
      demonstrated objective tumor response rates, with remarkably durable responses,
      in heavily pretreated, metastatic, triple-negative cancers and somewhat lower
      responses in estrogen receptor-positive cancers. Currently, close to 50 ongoing,
      or soon to open, clinical trials evaluate the role of this new treatment modality
      in breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(9); 2105-10. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26867936
TI  - The Vertical Drop Jump Is a Poor Screening Test for ACL Injuries in Female Elite
      Soccer and Handball Players: A Prospective Cohort Study of 710 Athletes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The evidence linking knee kinematics and kinetics during a vertical
      drop jump (VDJ) to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk is restricted to
      a single small sample. Still, the VDJ test continues to be advocated for clinical
      screening purposes. PURPOSE: To test whether 5 selected kinematic and kinetic
      variables were associated with future ACL injuries in a large cohort of Norwegian
      female elite soccer and handball players. Furthermore, we wanted to assess
      whether the VDJ test can be recommended as a screening test to identify players
      with increased risk. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS:
      Elite female soccer and handball players participated in preseason screening
      tests from 2007 through 2014. The tests included marker-based 3-dimensional
      motion analysis of a drop-jump landing. We followed a predefined statistical
      protocol in which we included the following candidate risk factors in 5 separate
      logistic regression analyses, with new ACL injury as the outcome: (1) knee valgus
      angle at initial contact, (2) peak knee abduction moment, (3) peak knee flexion
      angle, (4) peak vertical ground-reaction force, and (5) medial knee displacement.
      RESULTS: A total of 782 players were tested (age, 21 +/- 4 years; height, 170 +/-
      7 cm; body mass, 67 +/- 8 kg), of which 710 were included in the analyses. We
      registered 42 new noncontact ACL injuries, including 12 in previously ACL-injured
      players. Previous ACL injury (relative risk, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.1-7.1) and medial
      knee displacement (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.12-1.74 per 1-SD change) were
      associated with increased risk for injury. However, among the 643 players without
      previous injury, we found no association with medial knee displacement. A
      receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of medial knee displacement
      showed an area under the curve of 0.6, indicating a poor-to-failed combined
      sensitivity and specificity of the test, even when including previously injured
      players. CONCLUSION: Of the 5 risk factors considered, medial knee displacement
      was the only factor associated with increased risk for ACL. However, receiver
      operating characteristic curve analysis indicated a poor combined sensitivity and
      specificity when medial knee displacement was used as a screening test for
      predicting ACL injury. For players with no previous injury, none of the VDJ
      variables were associated with increased injury risk. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: VDJ
      tests cannot predict ACL injuries in female elite soccer and handball players.

PMID- 26867937
TI  - Integrating palliative care across settings: A retrospective cohort study of a
      hospice home care programme for cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Terminally ill patients at the end-of-life do transit between care
      settings due to their complex care needs. Problems of care fragmentation could
      result in poor quality of care. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the impact of an
      integrated hospice home care programme on acute care service usage and on the
      share of home deaths. SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS: The retrospective study cohort
      comprised patients who were diagnosed with cancer, had an expected prognosis of 1
      year or less, and were referred to a home hospice. The intervention group
      comprised deceased patients enrolled in the integrated hospice home care
      programme between September 2012 and June 2014. The historical comparison group
      comprised deceased patients who were referred to other home hospices between
      January 2007 and January 2011. RESULTS: There were 321 cases and 593 comparator
      subjects. Relative to the comparator group, the share of hospital deaths was
      significantly lower for programme participants (12.1% versus 42.7%). After
      adjusting for differences at baseline, the intervention group had statistically
      significantly lower emergency department visits at 30 days (incidence rate ratio:
      0.38; 95% confidence interval: 0.31-0.47), 60 days (incidence rate ratio: 0.61;
      95% confidence interval: 0.54-0.69) and 90 days (incidence rate ratio: 0.69; 95%
      confidence interval: 0.62-0.77) prior to death. Similar results held for the
      number of hospitalisations at 30 days (incidence rate ratio: 0.48; 95% confidence
      interval: 0.40-0.58), 60 days (incidence rate ratio: 0.71; 95% confidence
      interval: 0.62-0.82) and 90 days (incidence rate ratio: 0.77; 95% confidence
      interval: 0.68-0.88) prior to death. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that by
      integrating services between acute care and home hospice care, a reduction in
      acute care service usage could occur.

PMID- 26867938
TI  - Erratum to: SEOM guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer 2015.

PMID- 26867940
TI  - Regioselective ortho-trifluoromethylthiolation of 2-arylbenzo[d]thiazole via
      tandem substrate-assisted C-H iodination and trifluoromethylthiolation.
AB  - A mild and efficient tandem benzo[d]thiazole directed C-H iodination and
      trifluoromethylthiolation for the synthesis of ortho-trifluoromethylthiolated 2
      arylbenzo[d]thiazoles have been developed using AgSCF3 as a coupling partner. The
      reaction exhibits a diverse array of functional group tolerance giving the
      desired products in good to excellent yields. Regioselective
      trifluoromethylthiolation was observed at the less sterically hindered site when
      the phenyl ring of the substrate possesses a methyl group at its meta position. 

PMID- 26867939
TI  - Classification, prevention and management of entero-atmospheric fistula: a state
      of-the-art review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Entero-atmospheric fistula (EAF) is an enteric fistula occurring in
      the setting of an open abdomen, thus creating a communication between the GI
      tract and the external atmosphere. Management and nursing of patients suffering
      EAF carries several challenges, and prevention of EAF should be the first and
      best treatment option. PURPOSE: Here, we present a novel modified classification
      of EAF and review the current state of the art in its prevention and management
      including nutritional issues and feeding strategies. We also provide an overview
      on surgical management principles, highlighting several surgical techniques for
      dealing with EAF that have been reported in the literature throughout the years.
      CONCLUSIONS: The treatment strategy for EAF should be multidisciplinary and
      multifaceted. Surgical treatment is most often multistep and should be tailored
      to the single patient, based on the type and characteristics of the EAF,
      following its correct identification and classification. The specific experience
      of surgeons and nursing staff in the management of EAF could be enhanced,
      applying distinct simulation-based ex vivo training models.

PMID- 26867941
TI  - Non-targeted metabolite profiling reveals changes in oxidative stress, tryptophan
      and lipid metabolisms in fearful dogs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anxieties, such as shyness, noise phobia and separation anxiety, are
      common but poorly understood behavioural problems in domestic dogs, Canis
      familiaris. Although studies have demonstrated genetic and environmental
      contributions to anxiety pathogenesis, better understanding of the molecular
      underpinnings is needed to improve diagnostics, management and treatment plans.
      As a part of our ongoing canine anxiety genetics efforts, this study aimed to
      pilot a metabolomics approach in fearful and non-fearful dogs to identify
      candidate biomarkers for more objective phenotyping purposes and to refer to
      potential underlying biological problem. METHODS: We collected whole blood
      samples from 10 fearful and 10 non-fearful Great Danes and performed a liquid
      chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based non-targeted
      metabolite profiling. RESULTS: Non-targeted metabolomics analysis detected six
      932 metabolite entities in four analytical modes [RP and HILIC; ESI(-) and
      ESI(+)], of which 239 differed statistically between the test groups. We
      identified changes in 13 metabolites (fold change ranging from 1.28 to 2.85)
      between fearful and non-fearful dogs, including hypoxanthine, indoxylsulfate and
      several phospholipids. These molecules are involved in oxidative stress,
      tryptophan and lipid metabolisms. CONCLUSIONS: We identified significant
      alterations in the metabolism of fearful dogs, and some of these changes appear
      relevant to anxiety also in other species. This pilot study demonstrates the
      feasibility of the non-targeted metabolomics and warrants a larger replication
      study to confirm the role of the identified biomarkers and pathways in canine
      anxiety.

PMID- 26867943
TI  - Corrigendum.
AB  - In the Research Article by Ozan Yazici, Nuriye Ozdemir, Ayse Ocak Duran, Serkan
      Menekse, Mehmet Ali Nahit Sendur, Halit Karaca, Gamze Goksel, Erkan Arpaci, Ilhan
      Hacibekiroglu, Irem Bilgetekin, Turgut Kacan, Metin Ozkan, Sercan Aksoy, Asude
      Aksoy, Suna Cokmert, Mukremin Uysal, Emin Tamer Elkiran, Irfan Cicin, Suleyman
      Buyukberber & Nurullah Zengin, titled 'The effect of the gastrectomy on survival
      in patients with metastatic gastric cancer: a study of ASMO', which appeared in
      the February 2016 issue of Future Oncology 12(3), 343-354 (2016), the following
      author name is presented incorrectly as: Mehmet Ali Nahit Sendur The correct
      presentation of this author name is: Mehmet Ali Sendur The authors and editors
      would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may
      have caused our readers.

PMID- 26867942
TI  - Highly Vascularized Primarily Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Omentum in an Adult
      Male: A Case Report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammatory pseudotumors can affect any organ, whereas primary
      omental tumors are very rare. A few cases have been reported in the literature,
      all affecting adult patients. They are usually difficult to diagnose
      preoperatively and pathology remains the criterion standard for diagnosis.
      Surgical resection is considered the first-line treatment in limited disease,
      whereas recurrent or metastatic disease is treated by re-excision. There is no
      role for chemo- or radio-therapy in limited disease. Here, we present a rare case
      of omental myofibroblastic tumor in an adult male. CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old
      healthy man presented to our clinic complaining of lower abdominal pain
      associated with anorexia and low-grade fever, and he also reported weight loss.
      His initial hemoglobin was 9.7 g/dl. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an
      enhancing solid mass in the lower abdomen, with close proximity to the appendix
      and the urinary bladder. The patient was treated successfully with laparotomy and
      excision of the tumor. Histopathology of the mass revealed spindle cells of vague
      fascicular pattern. Further immunohistochemical staining showed presence of
      reaction for CD68, CD34, and ALK. No omental infiltration was noted. No adjuvant
      treatment was applied and the patient was free of disease after 1-year follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: Omental pseudotumors are a rare pathology. They are usually slowly-
      growing, circumscribed tumors with a low malignant potential. They have a
      predilection for children. The overall mortality is reported to be 5-7% in cases
      with multiple recurrences.

PMID- 26867944
TI  - Ninth Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey.
AB  - This survey serves as the ninth in a series of toxicology salary surveys
      conducted at 3-year intervals and beginning in 1988. An electronic survey
      instrument was distributed to 5919 individuals including members of the Society
      of Toxicology, American College of Toxicology, and 23 additional professional
      organizations. Question items inquired about gender, age, degree, years of
      experience, certifications held, areas of specialization, society membership,
      employment and income. Overall, 1293 responses were received (response rate
      21.8%). The results of the 2014 survey provide insight into the job market and
      career path for current and future toxicologists. 

PMID- 26867945
TI  - Lenvatinib: A Review in Refractory Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - Lenvatinib (Lenvima(r)) is an oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor
      (TKI) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1, 2 and 3,
      fibroblast growth factor receptors 1, 2, 3 and 4, platelet-derived growth factor
      receptor alpha, and RET and KIT signalling networks, which are implicated in
      tumour growth and maintenance. In the EU and USA, lenvatinib is indicated for the
      treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic progressive, radioiodine-refractory
      differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). This approval was based on the results of
      the randomized, double-blind, multinational, phase 3 SELECT study, in which
      lenvatinib significantly improved median progression-free survival (PFS) and
      overall response rate compared with placebo in patients with RR-DTC. The PFS
      benefit with lenvatinib was seen in all pre-specified subgroups, including
      patients who had received either one or no prior VEGF-targeted therapy. Moreover,
      the PFS benefit with lenvatinib was maintained regardless of BRAF or RAS mutation
      status. The safety and tolerability profile of lenvatinib in SELECT was
      consistent with that of other VEGF/VEGF receptor-targeted therapies and was
      mostly manageable. Hypertension was the most common treatment-related adverse
      event in lenvatinib-treated patients, but only infrequently led to
      discontinuation of the drug. Although not collected in SELECT, information on
      quality of life would be useful in assessing the overall impact of therapy on the
      patient. This notwithstanding, the data which are available indicate that
      lenvatinib is an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment option for
      patients with RR-DTC. Lenvatinib, therefore, offers an acceptable alternative to
      sorafenib--currently, the only other TKI approved for this indication.

PMID- 26867946
TI  - Sonidegib: A Review in Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - Sonidegib (Odomzo(r)), an oral smoothened (SMO) antagonist, is indicated for the
      treatment of adults with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) who are
      not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy, or adults with recurrent laBCC
      following surgery or radiation therapy. In the multicentre BOLT trial, the
      primary endpoint (i.e., an objective tumour response rate point estimate of >=30
      % and a 95 % confidence interval lower bound of >20 % in patients with fully
      assessable laBCC and all patients with metastatic BCC) was met at the primary
      analysis cut-off date (median follow-up 13.9 months) in the sonidegib 200 mg (36
      % [95 % CI 24-50]) and 800 mg (34 % [95 % CI 25-43]) once-daily groups. Sonidegib
      200 mg once daily (recommended dosage) had a better benefit-risk profile than the
      800 mg dosage. Central review of the patients with laBCC in this population
      showed that 43 % achieved an objective response with sonidegib 200 mg once daily
      at the primary analysis date. Clinically meaningful responses were sustained in
      the sonidegib 200 mg group, based on an 18-month analysis. The majority of
      treatment-emergent adverse events were of mild to moderate severity and
      manageable with dosage adjustments, concomitant medications and/or non-drug
      therapies (e.g., adequate hydration). The acceptable benefit-risk profile of
      sonidegib, along with a paucity of treatment options and the seriousness of the
      condition, makes sonidegib an emerging option for the treatment of adults with
      laBCC that has recurred following surgery or radiation therapy, or in those who
      are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy. 

PMID- 26867948
TI  - The fabrication of formamidinium lead iodide perovskite thin films via organic
      cation exchange.
AB  - High-quality formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite thin films are
      fabricated via organic cation exchange. With ammonia lead iodide (NH4PbI3) as the
      starting material, the NH4(+) in NH4PbI3 could be gradually substituted by FA(+)
      in formamidine acetate (FA-Ac) and simultaneously transformed to the pure phase
      alpha-FAPbI3 at elevated temperature. 

PMID- 26867947
TI  - MAZ mediates the cross-talk between CT-1 and NOTCH1 signaling during gliogenesis.
AB  - Neurons and glia cells are differentiated from neural stem/progenitor cells
      (NSCs/NPCs) during brain development. Concomitant activation of JAK/STAT and
      NOTCH1 signaling is required for gliogenesis, a process to generate glia cells to
      ensure proper brain functions. NOTCH1 signaling is down-regulated during
      neurogenesis and up-regulated during gliogenesis. However, the underlying
      mechanism remains elusive. We report here that cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) activates
      NOTCH1 signaling through the up-regulation of ADAM10, a rate-limiting factor of
      NOTCH1 signaling activation. We found that a transcriptional factor, Myc
      associated zinc finger protein (MAZ), plays an important role in ADAM10
      transcription in response to CT-1 in NPCs. MAZ knockdown inhibits CT-1 stimulated
      gliogenesis and it can be rescued by over-expressing human NICD. Our results
      provide a link between NOTCH1 activation and neuronal secreted CT-1, suggesting
      that CT-1 plays an important role in ensuring the coordinated activation of
      NOTCH1 signaling during gliogenesis.

PMID- 26867949
TI  - The Nursing Home Compare Report Card: Perceptions of Residents and Caregivers
      Regarding Quality Ratings and Nursing Home Choice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perceived usefulness of publicly reported nursing home
      quality indicators. STUDY SETTING: Primary data were collected from October 2013
      to August 2014 among a convenience sample of persons (or family member) recently
      admitted or anticipating admission to a nursing home within 75 miles of the city
      of Philadelphia. STUDY DESIGN: Structured interviews were conducted to assess the
      salience of data on the Medicare Nursing Home Compare website, including star
      ratings, clinical quality measures, and benchmarking of individual nursing home
      quality with state and national data. DATA COLLECTION: Interviews were
      transcribed verbatim, independently coded by two reviewers, and agreement
      determined. A thematic analysis of transcripts was undertaken. PRINCIPAL
      FINDINGS: Thirty-five interviews were completed. Eighty-three percent (n = 29)
      were caregivers and 17 percent (n = 6) were residents. Star ratings, clinical
      quality measures, and benchmarking information were salient to decision making,
      with preferred formats varying across participants. Participants desired
      additional information on the source of quality data. Confusion was evident
      regarding the relationship between domain-specific and overall star quality
      ratings. CONCLUSIONS: The Nursing Home Compare website provides salient content
      and formats for consumers. Increased awareness of this resource and clarity
      regarding the definition of measures could further support informed decision
      making regarding nursing home choice.

PMID- 26867950
TI  - Distribution of the type III DNA methyltransferases modA, modB and modD among
      Neisseria meningitidis genotypes: implications for gene regulation and virulence.
AB  - Neisseria meningitidis is a human-specific bacterium that varies in invasive
      potential. All meningococci are carried in the nasopharynx, and most genotypes
      are very infrequently associated with invasive meningococcal disease; however,
      those belonging to the 'hyperinvasive lineages' are more frequently associated
      with sepsis or meningitis. Genome content is highly conserved between carriage
      and disease isolates, and differential gene expression has been proposed as a
      major determinant of the hyperinvasive phenotype. Three phase variable DNA
      methyltransferases (ModA, ModB and ModD), which mediate epigenetic regulation of
      distinct phase variable regulons (phasevarions), have been identified in N.
      meningitidis. Each mod gene has distinct alleles, defined by their Mod DNA
      recognition domain, and these target and methylate different DNA sequences,
      thereby regulating distinct gene sets. Here 211 meningococcal carriage and >1,400
      disease isolates were surveyed for the distribution of meningococcal mod alleles.
      While modA11-12 and modB1-2 were found in most isolates, rarer alleles (e.g.,
      modA15, modB4, modD1-6) were specific to particular genotypes as defined by
      clonal complex. This suggests that phase variable Mod proteins may be associated
      with distinct phenotypes and hence invasive potential of N. meningitidis strains.

PMID- 26867952
TI  - Characterizing colonic motility in children with chronic intractable
      constipation: a look beyond high-amplitude propagating sequences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children with chronic intractable constipation experience severe and
      long-lasting symptoms, which respond poorly to conventional therapeutic
      strategies. Detailed characterization of colonic motor patterns in such children
      has not yet been obtained. METHODS: In 18 children with chronic intractable
      constipation, a high-resolution water-perfused manometry catheter (36 sensors at
      1.5-cm intervals) was colonoscopically placed with the tip at the distal
      transverse colon. Colonic motor patterns were recorded for 2 h prior to and after
      a meal and then after colonic infusion of bisacodyl. These data were compared
      with previously published colonic manometry data from 12 healthy adult controls
      and 14 adults with slow-transit constipation. KEY RESULTS: The postprandial
      number of the retrograde cyclic propagating motor pattern was significantly
      reduced in these children compared with healthy adults (children, 3.1 +/- 4.7/h
      vs healthy adults, 34.7 +/- 45.8/h; p < 0.0001) but not constipated adults (4.5
      +/- 5.6/h; p = 0.9). The number of preprandial long-single motor patterns was
      significantly higher (p = 0.003) in children (8.0 +/- 13.2/h) than in healthy
      adults (0.4 +/- 0.9/h) and in constipated adults (0.4 +/- 0.7/h). Postprandial
      high-amplitude propagating sequences (HAPSs) were rarely observed in children
      (2/18), but HAPS could be induced by bisacodyl in 16 of 18 children. CONCLUSIONS
      & INFERENCES: Children with chronic intractable constipation show a similar
      impaired postprandial colonic response to that seen in adults with slow-transit
      constipation. Children may have attenuated extrinsic parasympathetic inputs to
      the colon associated with an increased incidence of spontaneous long-single motor
      patterns.

PMID- 26867953
TI  - Ultrasonic and mechanical soil washing processes for the removal of heavy metals
      from soils.
AB  - In order to determine the optimal operating conditions of full-scale soil washing
      processes for the removal of heavy metals, the effect of high-power ultrasound on
      the conventional mechanical soil washing process was investigated in a large lab
      scale 28kHz sonoreactor. The soil samples were obtained from an abandoned railway
      station site in Seoul, Korea, which was contaminated with Cu (242.7+/-40.0mg/kg),
      Pb (441.3+/-49.8mg/kg), and Zn (358.0+/-35.7mg/kg). The treated concentrations of
      three heavy metal species in each process were compared with the regulation
      levels. It was found that higher performance, satisfying the regulation levels,
      was obtained in the ultrasonic/mechanical process due to the combined effects of
      macroscale mixing and microscale sonophysical effects. Moreover ultrasound played
      a more important role in less favorable conditions for the mechanical washing
      process (less acidic or less washing liquid conditions). Considering the
      application of the ultrasonic/mechanical soil washing process in real
      contaminated sites, the optimal conditions for the reactor with the bottom area
      of 15*15cm2 and the input ultrasound power of 250W were determined as follows:
      (1) the amount of soil per an operation was a 300g; (2) the ratio of soil and
      liquid was 1:3; (3) the concentration of acidic washing liquid was 0.5M HCl.

PMID- 26867951
TI  - Gene Insertion Into Genomic Safe Harbors for Human Gene Therapy.
AB  - Genomic safe harbors (GSHs) are sites in the genome able to accommodate the
      integration of new genetic material in a manner that ensures that the newly
      inserted genetic elements: (i) function predictably and (ii) do not cause
      alterations of the host genome posing a risk to the host cell or organism. GSHs
      are thus ideal sites for transgene insertion whose use can empower functional
      genetics studies in basic research and therapeutic applications in human gene
      therapy. Currently, no fully validated GSHs exist in the human genome. Here, we
      review our formerly proposed GSH criteria and discuss additional considerations
      on extending these criteria, on strategies for the identification and validation
      of GSHs, as well as future prospects on GSH targeting for therapeutic
      applications. In view of recent advances in genome biology, gene targeting
      technologies, and regenerative medicine, gene insertion into GSHs can potentially
      catalyze nearly all applications in human gene therapy. 

PMID- 26867954
TI  - Toward a new paradigm for sonochemistry: Short review on nonequilibrium plasma
      observations by means of MBSL spectroscopy in aqueous solutions.
AB  - This review summarizes recent studies of multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) in
      aqueous media in order to highlight new insights into the origin of the
      sonochemical activity. The observation of OH(C2Sigma+-A2Sigma+) emission band and
      a spectroscopic analysis of OH(A2Sigma+-X2Pii) emission band in MBSL of water pre
      equilibrated with noble gases revealed the formation of a nonequilibrium plasma
      inside the collapsing bubble (Te>Tv>Tr, where Te is an electron temperature, Tv
      is a vibrational temperature and Tr is a rotational (gas) temperature). The Te
      and Tv estimated using OH(A2Sigma+-X2Pii) emission band increase with ultrasonic
      frequency. In Xe the Tv of OH(A2Sigma+) state is much higher than in Ar most
      probably due to the lower ionization potential of Xe. The MBSL of C2* Swan band
      (d3Pig-a3Piu) measured in aqueous tert-butanol (t-BuOH) solutions correlates with
      the data obtained for OH(A2Sigma+-X2Pii) emission band. Analysis of the gaseous
      products of t-BuOH sonolysis revealed a significant sonochemical activity even at
      high t-BuOH concentration when MBSL is totally quenched, indicating that drastic
      intrabubble conditions (plasma) are not necessarily accompanied by
      sonoluminescence. The nonequilibrium plasma model of cavitation allows to explain
      the reverse carbon isotope effect observed during the sonolysis of water in the
      presence of Ar/CO gas mixture.

PMID- 26867956
TI  - Peridischarge prophylactic platelet transfusions after stem cell transplant: is a
      tranfusion trigger needed?
AB  - BACKGROUND: We examined the appropriateness of prophylactic peridischarge
      platelet (PLT) transfusions and the feasibility of lowering the prophylactic PLT
      transfusion threshold in transplant recipients within 24 hours of discharge at a
      National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. STUDY DESIGN
      AND METHODS: From April 2011 to June 2014, each prophylactic PLT transfusion that
      was administered to transplant recipients within 24 hours of discharge was
      identified. Each transfusion was reviewed to identify the indication and to
      determine if the transfusion adhered to institutional guidelines. RESULTS: Of the
      187 transplant patients identified, 44 patients received a prophylactic PLT
      transfusion within 24 hours of discharge. Of these 44 patients, transfusions were
      administered to fulfill a PLT count of 20 * 10(9) /L required for discharge (n =
      25 patients), for the removal of a tunneled central venous catheter (n = 16
      patients), for active bleeding (n = 1 patient), or due to active anticoagulation
      (n = 2 patients). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of PLT transfusions (95%) were
      appropriate, and only 5% were avoidable. If the prophylactic PLT transfusion
      threshold was decreased to 15 * 10(9) /L from 20 * 10(9) /L for central line
      removal and to fulfill discharge PLT count criteria, 41% of the currently
      appropriate PLT transfusions could have been avoided. These results suggest that
      a risk-adapted method to select autologous transplant recipients for prophylactic
      PLT transfusions may be beneficial. A future study is needed to address this
      issue.

PMID- 26867955
TI  - Cardio-metabolic risk factors in Argentine children. A comparative study.
AB  - Obesity and its complications are emerging in an epidemic manner in Latin
      American countries. AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of Cardio-Metabolic Risk
      Factors (CMRFs) and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in overweight/obese (OW/OB) and
      normal weight (NW) adolescents and to examine the associated variables. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in two groups of
      children, between 10 and 19 years of age, in seven Argentine provinces. A survey
      on dietary habits, physical activity, anthropometric and biochemical data was
      collected to identify CMRF and MS. The WHO definition adapted to children was
      used. RESULTS: 1009 children were assessed; 398 were male (39.4%), 601 (59.6%)
      were NW and 408 (40.4%) were OW/OB. The OW/OB had a significantly higher
      proportion of values defined as CMRF: 3.7% impaired fasting glucose >110mg/dl;
      27.9% insulin >15 or 20MUU/l as they were pubertal/prepubertal; 53.2% Homeostatic
      Model Assessment (HOMA)>2.5; 45.6% High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)<40mg/dl; 37.7%
      TG>110mg/dl and 13.5% hypertension (SBP and/or diastolic Blood Pressure
      percentile >90). Prevalence of the MS in OW/OB patients was 40.3%. The MS was not
      observed in NW children. Significant differences were found for: family history
      of OW/OB, birth weight (BW), age at menarche, presence of acanthosis nigricans,
      waist circumference (WC) >90th percentile. The WC was positively correlated with
      BP, TG, insulin, HOMA and Body mass index Z score and negatively with HDL in the
      study population. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm obesity as a major determinant of CMRF
      and MS (40%), especially fat centralization. We stress the need to address
      obesity prevention plans in children and adolescents.

PMID- 26867957
TI  - MpUL-multi: Software for Calculation of Amyloid Fibril Mass per Unit Length from
      TB-TEM Images.
AB  - Structure determination for amyloid fibrils presents many challenges due to the
      high variability exhibited by fibrils and heterogeneous morphologies present,
      even in single samples. Mass per unit length (MPL) estimates can be used to
      differentiate amyloid fibril morphologies and provide orthogonal evidence for
      helical symmetry parameters determined by other methods. In addition, MPL data
      can provide insight on the arrangement of subunits in a fibril, especially for
      more complex fibrils assembled with multiple parallel copies of the asymmetric
      unit or multiple twisted protofilaments. By detecting only scattered electrons,
      which serve as a relative measure of total scattering, and therefore protein
      mass, dark field imaging gives an approximation of the total mass of protein
      present in any given length of fibril. When compared with a standard of known
      MPL, such as Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), MPL of the fibrils in question can be
      determined. The program suite MpUL-multi was written for rapid semi-automated
      processing of TB-TEM dark field data acquired using this method. A graphical user
      interface allows for simple designation of fibrils and standards. A second
      program averages intensities from multiple TMV molecules for accurate standard
      determination, makes multiple measurements along a given fibril, and calculates
      the MPL. 

PMID- 26867958
TI  - Induction of virulence factors in Giardia duodenalis independent of host
      attachment.
AB  - Giardia duodenalis is responsible for the majority of parasitic gastroenteritis
      in humans worldwide. Host-parasite interaction models in vitro provide insights
      into disease and virulence and help us to understand pathogenesis. Using HT-29
      intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) as a model we have demonstrated that initial
      sensitisation by host secretions reduces proclivity for trophozoite attachment,
      while inducing virulence factors. Host soluble factors triggered up-regulation of
      membrane and secreted proteins, including Tenascins, Cathepsin-B precursor,
      cystatin, and numerous Variant-specific Surface Proteins (VSPs). By comparison,
      host-cell attached trophozoites up-regulated intracellular pathways for
      ubiquitination, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification and production of
      pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). We reason that these results demonstrate early
      pathogenesis in Giardia involves two independent host-parasite interactions.
      Motile trophozoites respond to soluble secreted signals, which deter attachment
      and induce expression of virulence factors. Trophozoites attached to host cells,
      in contrast, respond by up-regulating intracellular pathways involved in
      clearance of ROS, thus anticipating the host defence response.

PMID- 26867959
TI  - Two clonal types of human skin fibroblasts with different potentials for
      proliferation and tissue remodeling ability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Skin fibroblast heterogeneity is of growing interest due to its
      relevance in not only skin development but also cutaneous wound healing. However,
      the characterization of human dermal fibroblasts at a clonal level has not been
      accomplished and their functional heterogeneity remains poorly understood.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the clonal heterogeneity of human
      dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: Isolated human dermal fibroblasts were clonally
      expanded and categorized by comprehensive phenotypic and gene expression
      profiling. RESULTS: Single fibroblasts were significantly multiplied and
      efficiently cloned without chromosomal abnormalities under hypoxic conditions.
      Individual clones were heterogeneous in their proliferative capacity, and gene
      expression profiling revealed differences in the expression of genes involved in
      extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation. Each cloned fibroblast also had
      different abilities in terms of collagen remodeling. All phenotypic and gene
      expression data were analyzed with Spearman's rank correlation, and fibroblasts
      were categorized into at least two functional clonal types. One was highly
      proliferative, while the other was less proliferative but had the ability to
      remodel the tissue architecture. The proliferative clones were predominant in
      infants, but decreased with physiological aging. CONCLUSION: This study provides
      strong evidence for the functional heterogeneity of human dermal fibroblasts at a
      clonal level, which has implications regarding skin repair and aging.

PMID- 26867960
TI  - IL-33 down-regulates filaggrin expression by inducing STAT3 and ERK
      phosphorylation in human keratinocytes.

PMID- 26867961
TI  - A founder deletion of corneodesmosin gene is prevalent in Japanese patients with
      peeling skin disease: Identification of 2 new cases.

PMID- 26867962
TI  - Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of tcdA-negative
      Clostridium difficile isolates from Guangzhou, China.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics and antimicrobial
      susceptibility of Clostridium difficile clinical isolates in Guangzhou, China.
      One hundred twenty isolates were collected from Guangzhou General Hospital at the
      Guangzhou Military Command in China from March 2014 to April 2015, and 9 isolates
      were identified as tcdA-negative/tcdB-positive (A(-)B(+)) strains. Results showed
      that all of the strains were confirmed to be ST37 and 0 single nucleotide
      variants (SNVs) were found in the PaLoc region, and >60 SNVs were identified
      throughout the whole genome sequence. The results show the diversity of the
      antibiotic and gene mutations present in these strains. All of the A(-)B(+)
      isolates were highly resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin; showed an average
      sensitivity to fluoroquinolones; and maintained a high susceptibility to
      metronidazole, vancomycin, and tigecycline. 

PMID- 26867963
TI  - Higher recovery rate of microorganisms from cerebrospinal fluid samples by the
      BACTEC culture system in comparison with agar culture.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the BACTEC FX blood
      culture (BC) system as compared to the agar culture (AC) of cerebrospinal fluid
      samples (CSF), evaluating the recovery rate and the time to detection of
      microorganisms in a 3.5-year period. From December 2011 to May 2015, 1326 CSF
      samples (694 patients) were submitted to both AC and BC. Among the 150 positive
      samples (96 patients), 165 microorganisms were detected: 81 by both the
      protocols, 77 by BC alone, and 7 by AC alone, demonstrating a higher detection
      rate of BC (95.8%) than AC (53.3%). Although BC presents some disadvantages, it
      is able to improve the yield of clinically significant microorganisms, and it
      could potentially reduce the reporting time as compared to AC. The results
      obtained highlighted the necessity of a combined approach for the successful
      detection of central nervous system microbial infections. 

PMID- 26867964
TI  - Investigation of a suspected nosocomial transmission of blaKPC3-mediated
      carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae by whole genome sequencing.
AB  - Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was compared to pulse-field gel electrophoresis
      (PFGE) of XbaI-digested genomic DNA, as methods by which to evaluate a potential
      transmission of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae between 2 hospital
      inpatients. PFGE result demonstrated only 1-band difference between the isolates,
      suggesting probable relatedness. In contrast, while WGS data demonstrated the
      same sequence type and very similar chromosomal sequences, over 20 single
      nucleotide variants were identified between the isolates, bringing into question
      whether there was a transmission event. WGS also identified an additional
      plasmid, with an XbaI restriction site in the isolates of the second patient that
      was not identified by PFGE. While WGS provided additional information that was
      not available by PFGE, in this study, neither method could definitively conclude
      the relatedness between the isolates. 

PMID- 26867965
TI  - Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli colonization risk factors among trauma
      patients.
AB  - Prior studies have demonstrated high rates of colonization and infection with
      multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) in injured military
      personnel. Our analysis shows that injuries inflicted during peak combat periods,
      massive blood transfusion requirement, and posttrauma cefazolin prophylaxis
      (additive effect with fluoroquinolones) were risk factors for MDR-GNB
      colonization. 

PMID- 26867966
TI  - Rapid detection and typing of pathogenic nonpneumophila Legionella spp. isolates
      using a multiplex real-time PCR assay.
AB  - We developed a single tube multiplex real-time PCR assay that allows for the
      rapid detection and typing of 9 nonpneumophila Legionella spp. isolates that are
      clinically relevant. The multiplex assay is capable of simultaneously detecting
      and discriminating L. micdadei, L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii, L. longbeachae, L.
      feeleii, L. anisa, L. parisiensis, L. tucsonensis serogroup (sg) 1 and 3, and L.
      sainthelensis sg 1 and 2 isolates. Evaluation of the assay with nucleic acid from
      each of these species derived from both clinical and environmental isolates and
      typing strains demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when tested
      against 43 other Legionella spp. Typing of L. anisa, L. parisiensis, and L.
      tucsonensis sg 1 and 3 isolates was accomplished by developing a real-time PCR
      assay followed by high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis targeting the ssrA gene.
      Further typing of L. bozemanii, L. longbeachae, and L. feeleii isolates to the
      serogroup level was accomplished by developing a real-time PCR assay followed by
      HRM analysis targeting the mip gene. When used in conjunction with other
      currently available diagnostic tests, these assays may aid in rapidly identifying
      specific etiologies associated with Legionella outbreaks, clusters, sporadic
      cases, and potential environmental sources. 

PMID- 26867967
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy of an IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and comparison
      with 2 polymerase chain reactions for early diagnosis of human leptospirosis.
AB  - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests and polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) may play a key role for early detection and treatment of human
      leptospirosis in developing countries. The aims of this study were to develop and
      validate an IgM ELISA under field conditions and to compare the diagnostic
      accuracy among IgG, IgM ELISAs, conventional PCR (cPCR), and real-time PCR
      (rtPCR) for early detection of human leptospirosis. Overall accuracy of IgM ELISA
      was sensitivity of 87.9%, specificity of 97.0%, and area under the curve of
      0.940. When the 4 methods were compared, IgM ELISA showed the greatest diagnostic
      accuracy (J=0.6) followed by rtPCR (J=0.4), cPCR (J=0.2) and IgG ELISA (J=0.1).
      Our results support the use of IgM ELISA and rtPCR for early diagnosis of the
      disease. Moreover, due to their high specificity, they could be also useful to
      replace or supplement microscopic agglutination test as a confirmatory test,
      allowing more confirmations. 

PMID- 26867968
TI  - Cost-effectiveness assessment of lumpectomy cavity boost in elderly women with
      early stage estrogen receptor positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant
      radiotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Breast radiotherapy (RT) for elderly women with estrogen
      receptor positive early stage breast cancer (ER+ESBC) improves local recurrence
      (LR) rates without benefitting overall survival. Breast boost is a common
      practice, although the absolute benefit decreases with age. Consequently, an
      analysis of its cost-effectiveness in the elderly ESBC populations is warranted.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Markov model was used to compare cost-effectiveness of RT
      with or without a boost in elderly ER+ESBC patients. The ten-year probability of
      LR with boost was derived from the CALGB 9343 trial and adjusted by the hazard
      ratio for LR from boost radiotherapy trial data, yielding the LR rate without
      boost. Remaining parameters were estimated using published data. RESULTS: Boost
      RT was associated with an increase in mean cost ($7139 vs $6193) and
      effectiveness (5.66 vs 5.64 quality adjusted life years; QALYs) relative to no
      boost. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for boost was $55,903 per
      QALY. On one-way sensitivity analysis, boost remained cost-effective if the
      hazard ratio of LR with boost was <0.67. CONCLUSIONS: Boost RT for ER+ESBC
      patients was cost-effective over a wide range of assumptions and inputs over
      commonly accepted willingness-to pay-thresholds, but particularly in women at
      higher risk for LR.

PMID- 26867970
TI  - Knowledge, attitudes and decision-making preferences of men considering
      participation in the TROG RAVES Prostate Cancer Trial (TROG 08.03).
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The RAVES (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group 08.03)
      randomised controlled trial (RCT), compares adjuvant radiotherapy with early
      salvage radiotherapy in men with high risk histopathological features at
      prostatectomy. The RAVES Decision Aid study evaluates the utility of a decision
      aid for men considering participation in the RAVES RCT. We report the RAVES
      Decision Aid study participants' attitudes and knowledge regarding RCTs, decision
      making preferences and decisional-conflict. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline
      questionnaires assessed knowledge and attitudes towards RCTs and RAVES RCT.
      Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of knowledge were examined. Involvement
      in decision-making and difficulties with the decision-making process were
      assessed using validated tools. RESULTS: 127 men (median age=63years) were
      recruited through urologists (n=91) and radiation oncologists (n=36). Men
      preferred collaborative (35%) or semi-active (35%) decision-making roles. Most
      (>75%) felt the RAVES RCT was worthwhile and important with participation being
      wise. However, nearly half had high decisional-conflict regarding participation.
      Scores of objective knowledge regarding RCTs and RAVES RCT were low. CONCLUSIONS:
      Most men with high-risk histopathological features at prostatectomy desire active
      involvement in decision-making regarding further management. Despite positive
      attitudes towards RCTs and the RAVES RCT, there were gaps in knowledge and high
      decisional-conflict surrounding participation.

PMID- 26867969
TI  - Proton beam radiation therapy results in significantly reduced toxicity compared
      with intensity-modulated radiation therapy for head and neck tumors that require
      ipsilateral radiation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) may allow greater normal
      tissue sparing when compared with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT),
      we compared the dosimetry and treatment-related toxicities between patients
      treated to the ipsilateral head and neck with either PBRT or IMRT. METHODS:
      Between 01/2011 and 03/2014, 41 consecutive patients underwent ipsilateral
      irradiation for major salivary gland cancer or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
      The availability of PBRT, during this period, resulted in an immediate shift in
      practice from IMRT to PBRT, without any change in target delineation. Acute
      toxicities were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology
      Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. RESULTS: Twenty-three (56.1%) patients
      were treated with IMRT and 18 (43.9%) with PBRT. The groups were balanced in
      terms of baseline, treatment, and target volume characteristics. IMRT plans had a
      greater median maximum brainstem (29.7 Gy vs. 0.62 Gy (RBE), P < 0.001), maximum
      spinal cord (36.3 Gy vs. 1.88 Gy (RBE), P < 0.001), mean oral cavity (20.6 Gy vs.
      0.94 Gy (RBE), P < 0.001), mean contralateral parotid (1.4 Gy vs. 0.0 Gy (RBE),
      P<0.001), and mean contralateral submandibular (4.1 Gy vs. 0.0 Gy (RBE), P <
      0.001) dose when compared to PBRT plans. PBRT had significantly lower rates of
      grade 2 or greater acute dysgeusia (5.6% vs. 65.2%, P<0.001), mucositis (16.7%
      vs. 52.2%, P=0.019), and nausea (11.1% vs. 56.5%, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The
      unique properties of PBRT allow greater normal tissue sparing without sacrificing
      target coverage when irradiating the ipsilateral head and neck. This dosimetric
      advantage seemingly translates into lower rates of acute treatment-related
      toxicity.

PMID- 26867971
TI  - De novo design of protein-protein interactions through modification of inter
      molecular helix-helix interface residues.
AB  - For de novo design of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), information on the
      shape and chemical complementarity of their interfaces is generally required.
      Recent advances in computational PPI design have allowed for de novo design of
      protein complexes, and several successful examples have been reported. In
      addition, a simple and easy-to-use approach has also been reported that arranges
      leucines on a solvent-accessible region of an alpha-helix and places charged
      residues around the leucine patch to induce interactions between the two helical
      peptides. For this study, we adopted this approach to de novo design a new PPI
      between the helical bundle proteins sulerythrin and LARFH. A non-polar patch was
      created on an alpha-helix of LARFH around which arginine residues were introduced
      to retain its solubility. The strongest interaction found was for the LARFH
      variant cysLARFH-IV-3L3R and the sulerythrin mutant 6L6D (KD=0.16 MUM). This
      artificial protein complex is maintained by hydrophobic and ionic interactions
      formed by the inter-molecular helical bundle structure. Therefore, by the simple
      and easy-to-use approach to create de novo interfaces on the alpha-helices, we
      successfully generated an artificial PPI. We also created a second LARFH variant
      with the non-polar patch surrounded by positively charged residues at each end.
      Upon mixing this LARFH variant with 6L6D, mesh-like fibrous nanostructures were
      observed by atomic force microscopy. Our method may, therefore, also be
      applicable to the de novo design of protein nanostructures.

PMID- 26867972
TI  - The synthesis, structural elucidation and antimicrobial activity of 2- and 4
      substituted-coumarinyl chalcones.

PMID- 26867974
TI  - Nurses' role in medical error recovery: an integrative review.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative review
      of the literature to fully understand nurses' role in medical error recovery.
      BACKGROUND: Despite focused efforts on error prevention, the prevalence of
      medical errors occurring in the health care system remains a concern. Patient
      harm can be reduced or prevented by adequate recovery processes that include
      identifying, interrupting and correcting medical errors in a timely fashion. Both
      medical error prevention and recovery are critical components in advancing
      patient safety, yet little is known about nurses' role in medical error recovery.
      DESIGN: An integrative review of the literature, guided by Whittmore and Knafl's
      (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 5, 2005, 546) five-step process, was conducted for
      the period between 2000-2015. A comprehensive search yielded twelve articles for
      this review. METHODS: The level and quality of evidence of the included articles
      was rated using a five-level rating system and the Johns Hopkins Nursing Quality
      of Evidence Appraisal developed by (c)The Johns Hopkins Hospital/The Johns
      Hopkins University. RESULTS: The medical error recovery rate varied across
      specialty nursing populations with nurses recovering, on average, as many as one
      error per shift to as few as one error per week. Nurses rely on knowing the
      patient, environment and plan of care to aid in medical error recovery.
      CONCLUSIONS: Nurses play a unique yet invisible role in identifying, interrupting
      and recovering medical errors. Individual and organisational factors influencing
      nurses' ability to recover medical errors remain unclear. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL
      PRACTICE: Greater understanding of nurse characteristics and organisational
      factors that influence error recovery can foster the development of effective
      strategies to detect and correct medical errors and enable organisations to
      reduce negative outcomes.

PMID- 26867973
TI  - Plasma EGFR T790M ctDNA status is associated with clinical outcome in advanced
      NSCLC patients with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.
AB  - EGFR T790M mutation occurs in half of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
      with acquired EGFR-TKI (TKI) resistance, based on tumor re-biopsies using an
      invasive clinical procedure. Here, we dynamically monitored T790M mutation in
      circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using serial plasma samples from NSCLC patients
      receiving TKI through Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) method and the associations
      between overall survival (OS) starting from initial TKI treatment and the T790M
      ctDNA status detected in plasma were analyzed. Among 318 patients, 117 who
      acquired TKI resistance were eligible for the analysis. T790M ctDNA was detected
      in the plasma of 55/117 (47%) patients. Almost half of the T790M ctDNA positive
      patients were identified at a median time of 2.2 months prior to clinically
      progressive disease (PD). Furthermore, within the patients receiving TKI
      treatment at 2(nd) line or later, the T790M ctDNA positive group had
      significantly shorter OS than the negative group (median OS: 26.9 months versus
      NA, P = 0.0489). Our study demonstrates the feasibility of monitoring EGFR
      mutation dynamics in serial plasma samples from NSCLC patients receiving TKI
      therapy. T790M ctDNA can be detected in plasma before and after PD as a poor
      prognostic factor.

PMID- 26867975
TI  - Corrigendum: Genome-wide association of polycystic ovary syndrome implicates
      alterations in gonadotropin secretion in European ancestry populations.

PMID- 26867976
TI  - The Truncated Human Telomeric Sequence forms a Hybrid-Type Intramolecular Mixed
      Parallel/antiparallel G-quadruplex Structure in K(+) Solution.
AB  - In 80-90% tumor cells, telomerase becomes active and stabilizes the length of
      telomeres. The formation and stabilization of G-quadruplexes formed from human
      telomeric sequences have been proved able to inhibit the activity of telomerase,
      thus human telomeric G-quadruplex structure has become a potential target for the
      development of cancer therapy. Hence, structure of G-quadruplex formed in K(+)
      solution has been an attractive hotspot for further studies. However, the exact
      structure of human telomeric G-quadruplex in K(+) is extremely controversial,
      this study provides information for the understanding of different G
      quadruplexes. Here, we report that 22nt and 24nt human telomeric sequences form
      unimolecular hybrid-type mixed parallel/antiparallel G-quadruplex in K(+)
      solution elucidated utilizing Circular Dichroism, Differential Scanning
      Calorimetry, and gel electrophoresis. Moreover, individual configuration of these
      two sequences was speculated in this study. The detailed structure information of
      the G-quadruplex formed under physiologically relevant condition is necessary for
      structure-based rational drug design.

PMID- 26867978
TI  - Peloruside A: a lead non-taxoid-site microtubule-stabilizing agent with potential
      activity against cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disease.
AB  - Covering: 2000 up to 2016Peloruside A, a macrocyclic secondary metabolite from a
      New Zealand marine sponge, Mycale hentscheli, has shown potent antiproliferative
      activity in cultured cancer cells as well as inhibitory effects on tumor growth
      in mouse models. The compound also has promising effects against cell models of
      neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. In mechanistic studies, peloruside A
      shares with paclitaxel (Taxol(r)) the ability to stabilize microtubules by
      binding to beta-tubulin. Peloruside A, however, occupies a unique external site
      on beta-tubulin that does not overlap the classical taxoid site that is located
      on the inside of the microtubule. As such, peloruside A has been of central
      importance in defining a new microtubule-stabilizer binding site localized on the
      exterior surface of the microtubule that has led to increased interest in the
      design of an upscaled total synthesis of the natural product and its analogues.
      Here, we review advances in the biochemical and biological validation of
      peloruside A as an attractive therapeutic candidate for the treatment of cancer,
      neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disease. 

PMID- 26867977
TI  - Hypoxia-mediated autophagic flux inhibits silver nanoparticle-triggered apoptosis
      in human lung cancer cells.
AB  - Solid tumors are frequently associated with resistance to chemotherapy because
      the fraction of hypoxic tumor cells is substantial. To understand the underlying
      mechanism of hypoxia on silver nanoparticle (AgNPs)-induced apoptosis, the
      expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, a hallmark of hypoxia, was
      measured in the presence and absence of AgNPs. The results showed that HIF-1alpha
      expression was upregulated after AgNPs treatment under both hypoxic and normoxic
      conditions. Cell viability assays showed that AgNPs promoted cell death in cancer
      cells but not in non-cancer cells, as cancer cells are slightly more acidic than
      normal cells. However, reactive oxygen species generation induced by AgNPs in
      lung cancer cells caused high susceptibility to oxidative stress, whereas pre
      exposure to hypoxia blocked AgNPs-induced oxidative stress. Notably, HIF-1alpha
      inhibited AgNPs-induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by regulating autophagic
      flux through the regulation of ATG5, LC3-II, and p62. Further, cell viability
      after treatment of cancer cells with AgNPs under hypoxic conditions was lower in
      HIF-1alpha siRNA-transfected cells than in control siRNA-transfected cells,
      indicating that HIF-1alpha knockdown enhances hypoxia induced decrease in cell
      viability. Our results suggest that hypoxia-mediated autophagy may be a mechanism
      for the resistance of AgNPs-induced apoptosis and that strategies targeting HIF
      1alpha may be used for cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26867979
TI  - Definition of a safe zone for antegrade lag screw fixation of fracture of
      posterior column of the acetabulum by 3D technology.
AB  - The objective of this study was to define a safe zone for antegrade lag screw
      fixation of fracture of posterior column of the acetabulum using a novel 3D
      technology. Pelvic CT data of 59 human subjects were obtained to reconstruct
      three-dimensional (3D) models. The transparency of 3D models was then downgraded
      along the axial perspective (the view perpendicular to the cross section of the
      posterior column axis) to find the largest translucent area. The outline of the
      largest translucent area was drawn on the iliac fossa. The line segments of OA,
      AB, OC, CD, the angles of OAB and OCD that delineate the safe zone (ABDC) were
      precisely measured. The resultant line segments OA, AB, OC, CD, and angles OAB
      and OCD were 28.46mm(13.15-44.97mm), 45.89mm (34.21-62.85mm), 36.34mm (18.68
      55.56mm), 53.08mm (38.72-75.79mm), 37.44 degrees  (24.32-54.96 degrees ) and
      55.78 degrees  (43.97-79.35 degrees ) respectively. This study demonstrates that
      computer-assisted 3D modelling techniques can aid in the precise definition of
      the safe zone for antegrade insertion of posterior column lag screws. A full
      length lag screw can be inserted into the zone (ABDC), permitting a larger
      operational error. 

PMID- 26867980
TI  - Countering a multi-faceted terrorist wave through an integrated emergency-care
      system.

PMID- 26867981
TI  - Kendrick's extrication device and unstable pelvic fractures: Should a
      trochanteric belt be added? A cadaveric study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pre-hospital pelvic stabilisation is advised to prevent
      exsanguination in patients with unstable pelvic fractures (UPFs). Kendrick's
      extrication device (KED) is commonly used to extricate patients from cars or
      crevasses. However the KED has not been tested for potential adverse effects in
      patients with pelvic fractures. The aim of this study was to examine the effect
      of the KED on pubic symphysis diastasis (SyD) with and without the use of a
      trochanteric belt (TB) during the extraction process following a MVC. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Left-sided "open-book" UPFs were created in 18 human cadavers that
      were placed in seven different positions simulating pre-extraction and extraction
      positions using the KED with and without a TB in two different positions (through
      and over the thigh straps). The SyD was measured using anteroposterior
      radiographs. The effects of the KED with and without TB, on the SyD, were
      evaluated. RESULTS: The KED alone resulted in a non-significant increase of the
      SyD compared to baseline, whereas the addition of a TB to the KED resulted in a
      significant reduction of the SyD (p<0.001). The TB through the straps provided a
      significantly better reduction than the TB over the straps in the extracted
      position (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that a TB in combination
      with the KED on UPFs is an effective way to achieve early reduction. The addition
      of the TB in combination with the KED could be considered for Pre-Hospital Trauma
      Life Support (PHTLS) training protocols.

PMID- 26867982
TI  - A 4 year prospective longitudinal study of progression of dental erosion
      associated to lifestyle in 13-14 year-old Swedish adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the progression of dental erosion in 13-14 year-olds
      after 4 years, and its association with lifestyle and oral health. METHODS: 227
      randomly selected 13-14 year-olds from a Public Dental Clinic, Orebro, Sweden,
      were investigated. A clinical examination was performed which included dental
      caries/gingival/plaque status, as well as grading of dental erosion at the tooth
      surface and participant levels in "marker teeth", including buccal/palatal
      surfaces of 6 maxillary anterior teeth (13-23), and occlusal surfaces of first
      molars. An interview and a questionnaire regarding drinking habits and other
      lifestyle factors were completed. All investigations were repeated at follow-up.
      The participants were divided into high and low progression erosion groups and
      logistic regression statistics were applied. RESULTS: 175 individuals
      participated at follow-up. Progression occurred in 35% of the 2566 tooth
      surfaces. 32% of the surfaces had deteriorated by one severity grade (n=51
      individuals) and 3% by two grades (n=2 individuals). Boys showed more severe
      erosion than girls at the follow-up. Among the variables predicting greater
      progression, a lower severity of erosive wear at baseline had the highest OR
      (13.3), followed in descending order by a "retaining" drinking technique, more
      frequent intake of drinks between meals, low GBI and lesser sour milk intake,
      with reference to the baseline recording. Using these five variables, sensitivity
      and specificity were 87% and 67% respectively, for predicting progression of
      erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Progression of erosive lesions in Swedish adolescents aged
      13-14 years followed up to age 17-18 years was common and related to certain
      lifestyle factors. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In permanent teeth, dental erosion may
      develop early in life and its progression is common. Dental health workers should
      be made aware of this fact and regular screenings for erosion and recording of
      associated lifestyle factors should be performed.

PMID- 26867983
TI  - Radiosensitisation of human colorectal cancer cells by ruthenium(II) arene
      anticancer complexes.
AB  - Some of the largest improvements in clinical outcomes for patients with solid
      cancers observed over the past 3 decades have been from concurrent treatment with
      chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). The lethal effects of RT on cancer cells
      arise primarily from damage to DNA. Ruthenium (Ru) is a transition metal of the
      platinum group, with potentially less toxicity than platinum drugs. We postulated
      that ruthenium-arene complexes are radiosensitisers when used in combination with
      RT. We screened 14 ruthenium-arene complexes and identified AH54 and AH63 as
      supra-additive radiosensitisers by clonogenic survival assays and isobologram
      analyses. Both complexes displayed facial chirality. At clinically relevant doses
      of RT, radiosensitisation of cancer cells by AH54 and AH63 was p53-dependent.
      Radiation enhancement ratios for 5-10 micromolar drug concentrations ranged from
      1.19 to 1.82. In p53-wildtype cells, both drugs induced significant G2 cell cycle
      arrest and apoptosis. Colorectal cancer cells deficient in DNA damage repair
      proteins, EME1 and MUS81, were significantly more sensitive to both agents. Both
      drugs were active in cancer cell lines displaying acquired resistance to
      oxaliplatin or cisplatin. Our findings broaden the potential scope for these
      drugs for use in cancer therapy, including combination with radiotherapy to treat
      colorectal cancer. 

PMID- 26867984
TI  - Progress in treatments for colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases during the
      years 2010-2015. A systematic review.
AB  - Peritoneal metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) were traditionally
      associated with bad prognosis. Only recently, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with
      hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has resulted in survival
      improvements. A systematic literature search between January 2010 and June 2015
      was performed. Studies were selected and appraised according to predetermined
      criteria. Nineteen cohort studies, and thirteen comparative studies of CRS/HIPEC
      were included. The weighted median overall survival was 31.6 months (range 16
      51). Major morbidity was 17.6-52.4% (weighted average 32.6%). Mortality was 0
      8.1% (weighted average 2.9%). Additional relevant topics, such as CRC-PM
      prevalence, results by systemic therapies, preoperative work-up, and technical
      aspects were summarized through a narrative review. The recent literature
      suggests that CRS/HIPEC is gaining acceptance as standard of care for selected
      CRC-PM patients. Refinement of selection criteria, and rationalization of
      comprehensive systemic and local-regional management is ongoing. Prevention and
      early treatment of PM are new and promising options. 

PMID- 26867985
TI  - Ether-linked lipids of Dermabacter hominis, a human skin actinobacterium.
AB  - Dermabacter hominis is a medically important actinobacterial inhabitant of human
      skin, although it is rarely implicated in infections. The lipid composition of D.
      hominis is revisited in this study in the context of its natural resistance to
      daptomycin, an antibiotic whose activity is influenced by membrane lipids. Thin
      layer chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that this species contains
      phospholipids and glycolipids. Using electrospray ionization time of flight mass
      spectrometry (exact mass) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the major
      phospholipid of D. hominis was identified as plasmanyl-phosphatidylglycerol
      (pPG), because it presented one alkyl chain and one acyl chain in the glycerol
      moiety of the molecule. The structure of the major glycolipid (GL1) was studied
      by combined gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic
      resonance, and was established as galactosyl-alpha-(1->2)-glucosyl-alkyl-acyl
      glycerol. Lipid analyses showed differences between one daptomycin-resistant (DAP
      R) strain and one daptomycin-sensitive (DAP-S) strain growing in the presence of
      the antibiotic: DAP-R tended to accumulate GL1 and to reduce pPG, whereas DAP-S
      maintained high proportions of pPG. The results demonstrate the existence of
      ether-linked lipids in D. hominis and reveal a differential distribution of
      phospholipids and glycolipids according to the sensitivity or resistance to
      daptomycin, although the mechanism(s) operating in the resistance to the
      antibiotic remain(s) to be elucidated. 

PMID- 26867986
TI  - Self-Assembly of Telechelic Tyrosine End-Capped PEO and Poly(alanine) Polymers in
      Aqueous Solution.
AB  - The self-assembly in aqueous solution of three novel telechelic conjugates
      comprising a central hydrophilic polymer and short (trimeric or pentameric)
      tyrosine end-caps has been investigated. Two of the conjugates have a central
      poly(oxyethylene) (polyethylene oxide, PEO) central block with different molar
      masses. The other conjugate has a central poly(L-alanine) (PAla) sequence in a
      purely amino-acid based conjugate. All three conjugates self-assemble into beta
      sheet based fibrillar structures, although the fibrillar morphology revealed by
      cryogenic-TEM is distinct for the three polymers--in particular the Tyr5-PEO6k
      Tyr5 forms a population of short straight fibrils in contrast to the more diffuse
      fibril aggregates observed for Tyr5-PEO2k-Tyr5 and Tyr3-PAla-Tyr3. Hydrogel
      formation was not observed for these samples (in contrast to prior work on
      related systems) up to quite high concentrations, showing that it is possible to
      prepare solutions of peptide-polymer-peptide conjugates with hydrophobic end-caps
      without conformational constraints associated with hydrogelation. The Tyr5-PEO6k
      Tyr5 shows significant PEO crystallization upon drying in contrast to the Tyr5
      PEO2k-Tyr5 conjugate. Our findings point to the remarkable ability of short
      hydrophobic peptide end groups to modulate the self-assembly properties of
      polymers in solution in model peptide-capped "associative polymers". Retention of
      fluidity at high conjugate concentration may be valuable in potential future
      applications of these conjugates as bioresponsive or biocompatible materials, for
      example exploiting the enzyme-responsiveness of the tyrosine end-groups.

PMID- 26867987
TI  - Portal annular pancreas: An unusual pancreatic anomaly.

PMID- 26867989
TI  - Epidemiology and outcomes of squamous ovarian carcinoma; a population-based
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Squamous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) is a rare tumor. Scarcity of
      information about the epidemiology and prognosis of SOC hinders attempts at
      optimal patient management. This retrospective study of a large cohort details
      the clinicopathological and demographic characteristics and prognosis of women
      with SOC. METHODS: A cohort of patients drawn from the National Cancer
      Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database who were
      diagnosed with SOC between 1988 and 2012 were analyzed. Observed and disease
      specific survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier plots in women who underwent
      surgery as part of their cancer-related treatment. A Cox hazard regression
      analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of cancer-specific
      survival in patients with SOC. RESULTS: We identified 341 patients with SOC with
      a median age at diagnosis of 55 years. Stage I, II, III and IV tumors were noted
      in 34%, 15%, 20.5% and 24.9% of patients, respectively. Five-year cancer-specific
      survival was 86% for stage I, 54.3% for stage II, 36.3% for stage III and 2.8%
      for stage IV disease patients. Observed and cancer-specific survival was better
      for patients that underwent lymphadenectomy (p=0.031). Postoperative radiotherapy
      was not associated with improved survival. In a multivariate analysis,
      independent predictors of improved cancer-specific survival were younger age,
      lower disease stage and lymphadenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: SOC is typically a
      unilateral malignancy with a tendency toward loco-regional spread. Stage I
      patients have a relatively high survival rate; however, the prognosis is poor for
      women with abdominal or distant spread. Lymphadenectomy, but not postoperative
      radiotherapy, is associated with improved survival.

PMID- 26867990
TI  - On-Surface Synthesis of Atomically Precise Graphene Nanoribbons.
AB  - The surface-assisted polymerization and cyclodehydrogenation of specifically
      designed organic precursors provides a route toward atomically precise graphene
      nanoribbons, which promises to combine the outstanding electronic properties of
      graphene with a bandgap that is sufficiently large for room-temperature digital
      logic applications. Starting from the basic concepts behind the on-surface
      synthesis approach, this report covers the progress made in understanding the
      different reaction steps, in synthesizing atomically precise graphene nanoribbons
      of various widths and edge structures, and in characterizing their properties,
      ending with an outlook on the challenges that still lie ahead. 

PMID- 26867988
TI  - Single-dose infusion ketamine and non-ketamine N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor
      antagonists for unipolar and bipolar depression: a meta-analysis of efficacy,
      safety and time trajectories.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ketamine and non-ketamine N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists
      (NMDAR antagonists) recently demonstrated antidepressant efficacy for the
      treatment of refractory depression, but effect sizes, trajectories and possible
      class effects are unclear. METHOD: We searched PubMed/PsycINFO/Web of
      Science/clinicaltrials.gov until 25 August 2015. Parallel-group or cross-over
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single intravenous infusion of
      ketamine or a non-ketamine NMDAR antagonist v. placebo/pseudo-placebo in patients
      with major depressive disorder (MDD) and/or bipolar depression (BD) were included
      in the analyses. Hedges' g and risk ratios and their 95% confidence intervals
      (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. The primary outcome was
      depressive symptom change. Secondary outcomes included response, remission, all
      cause discontinuation and adverse effects. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs (nine
      ketamine studies: n = 234; five non-ketamine NMDAR antagonist studies: n = 354;
      MDD = 554, BD = 34), lasting 10.0 +/- 8.8 days, were meta-analysed. Ketamine
      reduced depression significantly more than placebo/pseudo-placebo beginning at 40
      min, peaking at day 1 (Hedges' g = -1.00, 95% CI -1.28 to -0.73, p < 0.001), and
      loosing superiority by days 10-12. Non-ketamine NMDAR antagonists were superior
      to placebo only on days 5-8 (Hedges' g = -0.37, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.09, p = 0.01).
      Compared with placebo/pseudo-placebo, ketamine led to significantly greater
      response (40 min to day 7) and remission (80 min to days 3-5). Non-ketamine NMDAR
      antagonists achieved greater response at day 2 and days 3-5. All-cause
      discontinuation was similar between ketamine (p = 0.34) or non-ketamine NMDAR
      antagonists (p = 0.94) and placebo. Although some adverse effects were more
      common with ketamine/NMDAR antagonists than placebo, these were transient and
      clinically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: A single infusion of ketamine, but less so
      of non-ketamine NMDAR antagonists, has ultra-rapid efficacy for MDD and BD,
      lasting for up to 1 week. Development of easy-to-administer, repeatedly given
      NMDAR antagonists without risk of brain toxicity is of critical importance.

PMID- 26867991
TI  - Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx((r))) embolization of cranial dural
      arteriovenous fistula via the ascending pharyngeal artery.

PMID- 26867998
TI  - Photodynamic UVA-riboflavin bacterial elimination in antibiotic-resistant
      bacteria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the bactericidal effect of clinical ultraviolet A (UVA)
      settings used in photoactivated chromophore for infectious keratitis (PACK)
      collagen cross-linking (CXL) in antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant bacterial
      strains. METHODS: Well-characterized bacterial strains from clinical isolates,
      without and with antibiotic resistance, were studied in a pairwise comparison.
      The evaluated pathogens were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus,
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis. Bacteria were dispersed in PBS
      and diluted to a concentration of approximately 4 * 105 /ml. Riboflavin was added
      to a concentration of 0.01%. By spreading the solution on a microscope slide, a
      fluid film layer, with a thickness of around 400 mm, was formed and UVA exposure
      followed. Eight separate exposures were made for each strain (n = 8). The degree
      of elimination in resistant and non-resistant pathogens was compared. RESULTS:
      The bactericidal efficacy of exposure differed between the tested microorganisms,
      and the mean elimination ranged between 60 and 92%, being most extensive in both
      of the evaluated Pseudomonas strains and least in the E. faecalis strains.
      Similar reductions were seen in antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant strains,
      with the exception of S. aureus, in which the resistant strain metchicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was eradicated in a greater extent than
      the non-resistant strain (P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: UVA-riboflavin settings used in
      PACK-CXL are effective in reducing both antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant
      bacteria. Antibiotic resistance does not appear to be protective against the
      photooxidative exposure.

PMID- 26867999
TI  - Celebrate a Bad Day.

PMID- 26868000
TI  - The protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (Ppp6c) is indispensable for proper
      post-implantation embryogenesis.
AB  - Ppp6c, which encodes the catalytic subunit of phosphoprotein phosphatase 6 (PP6),
      is conserved among eukaryotes from yeast to humans. In mammalian cells, PP6
      targets IkappaBepsilon for degradation, activates DNA-dependent protein kinase to
      trigger DNA repair, and is reportedly required for normal mitosis. Recently,
      Ppp6c mutations were identified as candidate drivers of melanoma and skin cancer.
      Nonetheless, little is known about the physiological role of Ppp6c. To
      investigate this function in vivo, we established mice lacking the Ppp6c
      phosphatase domain by crossing heterozygous mutants. No viable homozygous pups
      were born, indicative of a lethal mutation. Ppp6c homozygous mutant embryos were
      identified among blastocysts, which exhibited a normal appearance, but embryos
      degenerated by E7.5 and showed clear developmental defects at E8.5, suggesting
      that mutant embryos die after implantation. Accordingly, homozygous blastocysts
      showed significant growth failure of the inner cell mass (ICM) in in vitro
      blastocyst culture, and primary Ppp6c exon4-deficient MEFs showed greatly reduced
      proliferation. These results establish for the first time that the Ppp6c
      phosphatase domain is indispensable for mouse embryogenesis after implantation. 

PMID- 26868002
TI  - Rhizobacter profundi sp. nov., isolated from freshwater sediment.
AB  - Three bacterial strains, designated DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6-9, were
      isolated from a sediment sample taken from Daechung Reservoir (Republic of Korea)
      at a water depth of 48 m. Cells of the strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic,
      rod-shaped and motile with a single polar flagellum. Comparative 16S rRNA gene
      sequence studies showed that the three isolates had clear affiliation with
      Betaproteobacteria and the closest relatives were Rhizobacter bergeniae KCTC
      32299T, Rhizobacter dauci DSM 11587T and Rhizobacter fulvus KCTC 12591T with 97.2
      97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities; the 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarities between the three strains were 99.5-100 %. The only isoprenoid
      quinone of the three strains was ubiquinone-8, and the major fatty acids were
      summed feature 3 (C16 : 1omega6c and/or C16 : 1omega7c) and C16 : 0. The G+C
      content of the genomic DNA of strains DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6-9 was 66.7,
      67.0 and 66.8 mol%, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization values of the novel
      strains with R. bergeniae KCTC 32299T, R. dauci DSM 11587T and R. fulvus KCTC
      12591T were 19.3-48.5 %. Based on the evidence from this taxonomic study using a
      polyphasic approach, it is proposed that strains, DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6
      9, represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobacter, for which the name
      Rhizobacter profundi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DS48-6-5T ( = KCTC
      42645T = NBRC 111169T). 

PMID- 26868001
TI  - Expression profile of the sex determination gene doublesex in a gynandromorph of
      bumblebee, Bombus ignitus.
AB  - Gynandromorphy that has both male and female features is known in many insect
      orders, including Hymenoptera. In most cases, however, only external morphology
      and behavioral aspects have been studied. We found a gynandromorph of bumblebee,
      Bombus ignitus, that showed almost bilateral distribution of external sexual
      traits, with male characters observed on the left side and female characters on
      the right side. This individual never exhibited sexual behavior toward new
      queens. The dissection of the head part showed that it had bilaterally dimorphic
      labial glands, only the left of which was well developed and synthesized male
      specific pheromone components. In contrast, the gynandromorph possessed an
      ovipositor and a pair of ovaries in the abdominal part, suggesting that it had a
      uniformly female reproductive system. Furthermore, we characterized several
      internal organs of the gynandromorph by a molecular biological approach. The
      expression analyses of a sex determination gene, doublesex, in the brain, the fat
      bodies, the hindgut, and the ovaries of the gynandromorph revealed a male-type
      expression pattern exclusively in the left brain hemisphere and consistent female
      type expression in other tissues. These findings clearly indicate the sexual
      discordance between external traits and internal organs in the gynandromorph. The
      results of genetic analyses using microsatellite markers suggested that this
      individual consisted of both genetically male- and female-type tissues. 

PMID- 26868003
TI  - Resting State fMRI Demonstrates a Disturbance of the Cerebello-Cortical Circuit
      in Essential Tremor.
AB  - Individuals with essential tremor (ET) have postural and active movement
      abnormalities. Disturbances in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit may
      contribute to the several motor symptoms of ET. Resting state fMRI provides a
      valuable, noninvasive tool to study intrinsic activation in the human brain,
      particularly in the brains of individuals with neuropsychiatric diseases. To
      investigate the low frequency oscillation features of intrinsic activation in ET
      in this study, we performed a resting state fMRI analysis in 24 patients with ET
      and 23 healthy controls. The amplitudes of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were
      analyzed. When compared with healthy controls, patients showed significantly
      enhanced ALFF in the bilateral cerebral cortex, which is related to motor
      function, including the pre- and post-central gyrus, supplementary motor area and
      paracentral lobule. The larger ALFF value in the right precentral gyrus is
      related to a longer duration of tremor. The decreased ALFF in the bilateral
      cerebellum was also observed in patients. In addition, aberrant ALFF in the right
      cerebellar tonsil was negatively associated with the duration of tremor. Our
      findings suggest that abnormalities exist in the intrinsic activation of brain
      regions in patients with ET. These findings provide noninvasive evidence that
      supports the hypothesis that the abnormality of intrinsic activity in the
      cerebello-cerebral cortex pathway could be associated with the motor-related
      symptoms of ET. Furthermore, the duration of a tremor might relate to the
      severity of the alterations to the motor system of ET. 

PMID- 26868004
TI  - On the Differentiation of Foveal and Peripheral Early Visual Evoked Potentials.
AB  - The C1 is one of the earliest visual evoked potentials observed following the
      onset of a patterned stimulus. The polarity of its peak is dependent on whether
      stimuli are presented in the upper or lower regions of the peripheral visual
      field, but has been argued to be negative for stimuli presented to the fovea.
      However, there has yet to be a systematic investigation into the extent to which
      the peripheral C1 (pC1) and foveal C1 (fC1) can be differentiated on the basis of
      response characteristics to different stimuli. The current study employed
      checkerboard patterns (Exp 1) and sinusoidal gratings of different spatial
      frequency (Exp 2) presented to the fovea or within one of the four quadrants of
      the peripheral visual field. The checkerboard stimuli yielded a sizable
      difference in peak component latency, with the fC1 peaking ~32 ms after the pC1.
      Further, the pC1 showed a band-pass response magnitude profile that peaked at 4
      cycles per degree (cpd), whereas the fC1 was high-pass for spatial frequency,
      with a cut-off around 4 cpd. Finally, the scalp topographies of the pC1 and fC1
      in both experiments differed greatly, with the fC1 being more posterior than the
      pC1. The results reported here call into question recent attempts to characterize
      general C1 processes without regard to whether stimuli are placed in the fovea or
      in the periphery.

PMID- 26868005
TI  - Intravitreal aflibercept for choroidal neovascularization in ocular sarcoidosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report a case of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a patient with
      ocular sarcoidosis treated by intravitreal aflibercept. METHODS: A 27-year old
      man was referred to our department because of sudden visual acuity decrease (best
      corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/80 LE). Fundus examination showed bilateral
      optic disk swelling, retinal pigment epithelium changes at the posterior pole,
      yellowish chorioretinal lesions in the periphery, and the presence of a prominent
      peripapillary neovascular complex. RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis was most
      compatible with ocular sarcoidosis, later confirmed by mediastinal lymph node
      biopsy. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography confirmed the presence of
      active peripapillary type 2 (classic) CNV in both eyes. Given that the exudation
      of the peripapillary CNV harmed the fovea, the patient underwent a single
      intravitreal aflibercept injection LE. One month after the treatment, LE BCVA
      decreased to 20/125. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed
      complete resolution of subretinal fluid but revealed outer retinal atrophy with
      complete loss of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) in the macula (possibly responsible for
      visual acuity worsening). Six months later, LE BCVA slightly increased to 20/100,
      and SD-OCT showed partial recovery of the EZ in the macula. No adverse events
      related to the treatment were recorded during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We report a
      case of CNV in a patient with ocular sarcoidosis treated with intravitreal
      aflibercept. In our experience, intravitreal aflibercept injection achieved
      morphologic resolution for sarcoid-related peripapillary CNV.

PMID- 26868006
TI  - Adherence to European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery recommendations
      among Italian cataract surgeons: a survey.
AB  - PURPOSE: To survey the surgical routines with regards to prophylactic strategies
      in a sample of Italian hospitals and compare these with European Society for
      Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) guidelines. METHODS: Six private and 18
      public hospitals were included in this clinical-based retrospective study. The
      overall volume of cataract operations in the 24 centers in 2013 was 43,553. Main
      outcome measure was incidence of endophthalmitis per 1,000. An incidence of less
      than 0.13% was considered acceptable. RESULTS: Our study provides the first
      Italian data on the use of intracameral antibiotics in cataract surgery as
      recommended by the ESCRS. Thirteen centers (54%) used intracameral cefuroxime at
      the end of surgery. Of the 13 centers that used cefuroxime, 8 (62%) had an
      incidence of endophthalmitis less than 0.13%. Of the 7 (29%) centers that did not
      use intracameral cefuroxime, all had an endophthalmitis rate of greater than
      0.13%. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Among the 4
      centers not included, 2 used vancomycin in the infusion bottle, 1 a
      fluoroquinolone, and the last a combination of antibiotics. The majority of
      surgeons (71%) used preoperative antibiotic eyedrops, but this measure was not
      shown to be significantly protective. CONCLUSIONS: Slightly more than half of the
      centers surveyed in this study adhered to the recommendations of the ESCRS and
      routinely employed prophylactic intracameral cefuroxime. An incidence of
      endophthalmitis greater than 0.13% was encountered significantly more frequently
      among centers that did not employ intracameral cefuroxime.

PMID- 26868007
TI  - Visual and anatomic outcomes after conversion to aflibercept in neovascular age
      related macular degeneration: 12-month results.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate 12-month outcomes of conversion to aflibercept in
      patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration resistant to
      ranibizumab. METHODS: Twenty-two eyes of 19 consecutive patients received 3
      monthly aflibercept injections followed by a pro re nata protocol. Spectral
      domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained before each
      injection. All 49 cross-sectional OCT B-scans obtained in each examination were
      investigated and the largest choroidal neovascularization (CNV) size was chosen.
      The same cross-sectional B-scan sections containing the maximum CNV size were
      used during the follow-up. RESULTS: After 12 months, best-corrected visual acuity
      increased from 45.68 +/- 20.25 to 59.09 +/- 17.50 Early Treatment Diabetic
      Retinopathy Study letters (p<0.001), central subfield thickness decreased from
      399.91 +/- 148.85 to 304.55 +/- 97.89 MUm (p = 0.003), area of CNV declined from
      0.38 +/- 0.24 to 0.28 +/- 0.19 mm2 (p = 0.003), and macular volume improved from
      9.64 +/- 1.75 to 8.45 +/- 0.98 mm3 (p<0.001). There was a significant resolution
      of intraretinal fluid (p = 0.016), but reduction of subretinal fluid was not
      significant (p = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Visual and anatomic improvement were
      obtained after conversion to aflibercept.

PMID- 26868008
TI  - Selecting Fuchs patients for drug trials involving endothelial cell
      proliferation.
AB  - PURPOSE: Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) might be managed by drug
      treatment before becoming severe enough to require surgery. For a clinical trial
      of such a drug, we hypothesize that selecting an adequate number of patients with
      FECD with only moderately compromised cell densities will be challenging. Thus,
      the purpose of the present study was to measure the prevalence of patients with
      FECD exhibiting moderately decreased corneal cell densities. METHODS: A
      retrospective data mining study (cross-sectional study) was performed on patient
      charts presenting at a large US northwestern academic health center by searching
      for diagnosis ICD-9 code 371.57 and Fuchs corneal dystrophies, including those
      with prior cataract surgeries and/or existing glaucoma. Patients with prior
      corneal transplants were excluded. Noncontact specular photomicroscopic data
      (Topcon 2000) were obtained from the central region whenever possible, and
      individual eyes were grouped according to cell density (cells/mm2): severe
      (<800), moderate (800-1,500), and mild (>1,500). RESULTS: The values for 98 eyes
      from 61 patients with FECD were as follows (mean +/- SD): corneal thickness 573
      +/- 59 MUm, cell size 627 +/- 336 MUm2/cell, coefficient of variation 23 +/- 7,
      and density 1,883 +/- 703 cells/mm2. The moderate subgroup with cell density
      values averaging 1,184 +/- 212 (26) comprised 27% of the total FECD patient pool.
      CONCLUSIONS: Only approximately 1 out of 4 patients with FECD will show
      moderately compromised corneal cell densities. A moderate level of damage may be
      optimal for clinical trials for testing topical drugs on endothelial cell
      viability. Thus, investigators will need to initially screen a fourfold excess of
      all patients with FECD.

PMID- 26868009
TI  - INTERNAL DOSES OF THREE PERSONS STAYING 110 KM SOUTH OF THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI
      NUCLEAR POWER STATION DURING THE ARRIVAL OF RADIOACTIVE PLUMES BASED ON DIRECT
      MEASUREMENTS.
AB  - The authors describe the results of direct measurements made on three persons who
      stayed in Tokai-mura, a village located ~110 km south of the Fukushima Daiichi
      Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), during the arrival of significant radioactive
      plumes released from the FDNPS as a consequence of the Tohoku
      earthquake/tsunami/FDNPS accident in March 2011. These measurements were made
      using a NaI(Tl) spectrometer and a whole-body counter shortly after the accident.
      Their thyroid equivalent doses ((131)I) were estimated to be 0.9-1.4 mSv under
      the assumption of acute intake via inhalation on 15 March, when the first
      significant release event was observed. Although greatly depending on the
      physicochemical form of iodine, the intake amount ratios of (131)I to (137)Cs for
      the three subjects were calculated as 2.7-3.7, which were much smaller than the
      radioactivity ratio (7.8) found in air sampling at the same site. 

PMID- 26868010
TI  - HOW DO HOSPITAL STERILISATION PROCEDURES AFFECT THE RESPONSE OF PERSONAL
      EXTREMITY RINGS AND OF EYE LENS TL DOSEMETERS?
AB  - Stringent standards of hygiene must be applied in medical institutions,
      especially at operating blocks or during interventional radiology procedures.
      Medical equipment, including personal dosemeters that have to be worn by medical
      staff during such procedures, needs therefore to be sterilised. In this study,
      the effect of various sterilisation procedures has been tested on the dose
      response of extremity rings and of eye lens dosemeters in which thermoluminescent
      (TL) detectors (of types MTS-N and MCP-N, respectively) are used. The effects of
      medical sterilisation procedures were studied: by chemicals, by steam or by
      ultraviolet (UV), on the dose assessment by extremity rings and by eye lens
      dosemeters. Since it often happens that a dosemeter is accidentally machine
      washed together with protective clothing, the effect of laundering on dose
      assessment by these dosemeters was also tested. The sterilisation by chemicals is
      mostly safe for TL detectors assuming that the dosemeters are waterproofed.
      Following sterilisation by water vapour, the response of these dosemeters
      diminished by some 30 %, irrespectively of the period of sterilisation;
      therefore, this method is not recommended. UV sterilisation can be applied to EYE
      DTM eye lens dosemeters if their encapsulation is in black. The accidental
      dosemeter laundry in a washing machine has no impact on measured dose. 

PMID- 26868011
TI  - NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF DIRECT MEASUREMENT TO DETERMINE THYROID 131I CONTENT OF
      TWO TEPCO WORKERS CONSIDERING INDIVIDUAL TISSUE THICKNESS.
AB  - After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, the National
      Institute of Radiological Sciences examined seven heavily exposed emergency
      workers and performed internal dose estimations. The largest dose contributor was
      found to be (131)I, which was detected by thyroid monitor with an HPGe detector.
      Different energy peaks from (131)I were simultaneously identified in the pulse
      height spectra of the two subjects with the highest doses regardless of late
      measurements. A closer look at the spectra indicated that the count ratio of the
      two peak areas at 80.2 and 365 keV differed somewhat between the individual
      workers, suggesting a difference in attenuation in the overlaying soft tissue and
      in the thyroid itself. In this study, the relationship between the count ratio
      (80.2/365 keV) and the thickness of soft tissue overlying the thyroid was
      investigated by means of numerical simulations performed using the Japanese Male
      (JM) phantom varying the thickness of the overlaying tissue. From the measured
      count ratios, it was possible to estimate that the overlaying tissue was thinner
      for Worker 1 (difference from the JM phantom: -0.34+/-1.29 cm) and thicker for
      Worker 2 (diff.: 2.5+/-1.2 cm). The thyroid (131)I contents evaluated taking into
      account the individual thicknesses were 4.3 kBq for Worker 1 and 8.4 kBq for
      Worker 2, resulting in a significant increase for Worker 2 compared with the
      content based on the default counting efficiency at 365 keV of the original JM
      phantom. However, the results have large uncertainty factors of 1.4 for Worker 1
      and 1.3 for Worker 2 and should be carefully considered together with other
      factors influencing the attenuation. 

PMID- 26868012
TI  - THORACIC SPINE IMAGING: A COMPARISON BETWEEN RADIOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS USING
      VISUAL GRADING CHARACTERISTICS.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate digital tomosynthesis (DTS) in
      thoracic spine imaging, comparing the reproduction of anatomical structures with
      that achieved using digital radiography (DR). In a prospective visual grading
      study, 23 patients referred in 2014 for elective radiographic examination of the
      thoracic spine were examined using lateral DR and DTS. The DR image and the DTS
      section images were read in random order by four radiologists, evaluating the
      ability of the modalities to present a clear reproduction of nine specific
      relevant structures of the thoracic vertebrae 3, 6 and 9 (T3, T6 and T9). The
      data were analysed using visual grading characteristics (VGC) analysis. The VGC
      analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in favour of DTS for all
      evaluated structures, except for the anterior vertebral edges and lower end plate
      surfaces of T6 and T9 and the cancellous bone of T9. The difference was most
      striking in T3 and for posterior structures. For no structure in any vertebra was
      the reproduction rated significantly better for DR. In conclusion, DTS of the
      thoracic spine appears to be a promising alternative to DR, especially in areas
      where the problem of overlaying anatomy is accentuated, such as posterior and
      upper thoracic structures. 

PMID- 26868014
TI  - Molecular epidemiological tracing of a cattle rabies outbreak lasting less than a
      month in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vampire bat-transmitted cattle rabies cases are typically encountered
      in areas where the disease is endemic. However, over the period of a month in
      2009, an outbreak of cattle rabies occurred and then ended spontaneously in a
      small area of the Rio Grande do Sul State in southern Brazil. To investigate the
      epidemiological characteristics of this rabies outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, 26
      nucleotide sequences of rabies virus (RABV) genomes that were collected in this
      area were analyzed phylogenetically. RESULTS: Nucleotide sequence identities of
      the nucleoprotein gene and G-L intergenic region of the 26 RABVs were greater
      than 99.6 %. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all RABVs clustered with the
      vampire bat-related cattle RABV strains and that the RABVs were mainly
      distributed in southern Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study
      suggested that a small population of rabid vampire bats carrying a single RABV
      strain produced a spatiotemporally restricted outbreak of cattle rabies in
      southern Brazil.

PMID- 26868015
TI  - Evaluation of focal cartilage lesions of the knee using MRI T2 mapping and
      delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Assessment of degenerative changes of the cartilage is important in
      knee cartilage repair surgery. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) T2 mapping and
      delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC) are able to detect early
      degenerative changes. The hypothesis of the study was that cartilage surrounding
      a focal cartilage lesion in the knee does not possess degenerative changes.
      METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients included in a randomized controlled
      trial on cartilage repair were evaluated using MRI T2 mapping and dGEMRIC before
      cartilage treatment was initiated. Inclusion was based on disabling knee problems
      (Lysholm score of <= 75) due to an arthroscopically verified focal femoral
      condyle cartilage lesion. Furthermore, no major malalignments or knee ligament
      injuries were accepted. Mean patient age was 33 +/- 9.6 years, and the mean
      duration of knee symptoms was 49 +/- 60 months. The MRI T2 mapping and the
      dGEMRIC measurements were performed at three standardized regions of interest
      (ROIs) at the medial and lateral femoral condyle, avoiding the cartilage lesion
      RESULTS: The MRI T2 mapping of the cartilage did not demonstrate significant
      differences between condyles with or without cartilage lesions. The dGEMRIC
      results did not show significantly lower values of the affected condyle compared
      with the opposite condyle and the contra-lateral knee in any of the ROIs. The
      intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the dGEMRIC readings was 0.882.
      CONCLUSION: The MRI T2 mapping and the dGEMRIC confirmed the arthroscopic
      findings that normal articular cartilage surrounded the cartilage lesion,
      reflecting normal variation in articular cartilage quality. STUDY IDENTIFIER:
      NCT00885729 , registered April 17 2009.

PMID- 26868013
TI  - Physiological roles of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
AB  - Neurons experience high metabolic demand during such processes as synaptic
      vesicle recycling, membrane potential maintenance and Ca2+ exchange/extrusion.
      The energy needs of these events are met in large part by mitochondrial
      production of ATP through the process of oxidative phosphorylation. The job of
      ATP production by the mitochondria is performed by the F1FO ATP synthase, a multi
      protein enzyme that contains a membrane-inserted portion, an extra-membranous
      enzymatic portion and an extensive regulatory complex. Although required for ATP
      production by mitochondria, recent findings have confirmed that the membrane
      confined portion of the c-subunit of the ATP synthase also houses a large
      conductance uncoupling channel, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore
      (mPTP), the persistent opening of which produces osmotic dysregulation of the
      inner mitochondrial membrane, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and cell
      death. Recent advances in understanding the molecular components of mPTP and its
      regulatory mechanisms have determined that decreased uncoupling occurs in states
      of enhanced mitochondrial efficiency; relative closure of mPTP therefore
      contributes to cellular functions as diverse as cardiac development and synaptic
      efficacy.

PMID- 26868016
TI  - Erratum to: Weakly supervised learning of biomedical information extraction from
      curated data.

PMID- 26868019
TI  - Erratum to: Integrating traditional indigenous medicine and western biomedicine
      into health systems: a review of Nicaraguan health policies and miskitu health
      services.

PMID- 26868017
TI  - Distinct genomic and epigenomic features demarcate hypomethylated blocks in colon
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Large mega base-pair genomic regions show robust alterations in DNA
      methylation levels in multiple cancers. A vast majority of these regions are
      hypomethylated in cancers. These regions are generally enriched for CpG islands,
      Lamin Associated Domains and Large organized chromatin lysine modification
      domains, and are associated with stochastic variability in gene expression. Given
      the size and consistency of hypomethylated blocks (HMB) across cancer types, we
      hypothesized that the immediate causes of methylation instability are likely to
      be encoded in the genomic region near HMB boundaries, in terms of specific
      genomic or epigenomic signatures. However, a detailed characterization of the HMB
      boundaries has not been reported. METHOD: Here, we focused on ~13 k HMBs,
      encompassing approximately half of the genome, identified in colon cancer. We
      modeled the genomic features of HMB boundaries by Random Forest to identify their
      salient features, in terms of transcription factor (TF) binding motifs.
      Additionally we analyzed various epigenomic marks, and chromatin structural
      features of HMB boundaries relative to the non-HMB genomic regions. RESULT: We
      found that the classical promoter epigenomic mark--H3K4me3, is highly enriched at
      HMB boundaries, as are CTCF bound sites. HMB boundaries harbor distinct
      combinations of TF motifs. Our Random Forest model based on TF motifs can
      accurately distinguish boundaries not only from regions inside and outside HMBs,
      but surprisingly, from active promoters as well. Interestingly, the
      distinguishing TFs and their interacting proteins are involved in chromatin
      modification. Finally, HMB boundaries significantly coincide with the boundaries
      of Topologically Associating Domains of the chromatin. CONCLUSION: Our analyses
      suggest that the overall architecture of HMBs is guided by pre-existing chromatin
      architecture, and are associated with aberrant activity of promoter-like
      sequences at the boundary.

PMID- 26868020
TI  - 3-Component synthesis of alpha-substituted sulfonamides via Bronsted acid
      catalyzed C(sp(3))-H bond functionalization of 2-alkylazaarenes.
AB  - A Bronsted acid-catalyzed addition of 2-alkylazaarenes to in situ generated N
      sulfonylimines through selective C(sp(3))-H bond functionalization has been
      developed. This protocol provides an atom- and step-economic approach to alpha
      substituted sulfonamides. 

PMID- 26868021
TI  - Welfare changes could put an extra 1.5 million children into poverty.

PMID- 26868018
TI  - Exercise and Environmental Enrichment as Enablers of Task-Specific
      Neuroplasticity and Stroke Recovery.
AB  - Improved stroke care has resulted in greater survival, but >50% of patients have
      chronic disabilities and 33% are institutionalized. While stroke rehabilitation
      is helpful, recovery is limited and the most significant gains occur in the first
      2-3 months. Stroke triggers an early wave of gene and protein changes, many of
      which are potentially beneficial for recovery. It is likely that these molecular
      changes are what subserve spontaneous recovery. Two interventions, aerobic
      exercise and environmental enrichment, have pleiotropic actions that influence
      many of the same molecular changes associated with stroke injury and subsequent
      spontaneous recovery. Enrichment paradigms have been used for decades in adult
      and neonatal animal models of brain injury and are now being adapted for use in
      the clinic. Aerobic exercise enhances motor recovery and helps reduce depression
      after stroke. While exercise attenuates many of the signs associated with normal
      aging (e.g., hippocampal atrophy), its ability to reverse cognitive impairments
      subsequent to stroke is less evident. It may be that stroke, like other diseases
      such as cancer, needs to use multimodal treatments that augment complimentary
      neurorestorative processes.

PMID- 26868022
TI  - Identification of Molecular Targets for Predicting Colon Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND Colon adenocarcinoma mostly happens at the junction of the rectum and
      is a common gastrointestinal malignancy. Accumulated evidence has indicated that
      colon adenocarcinoma develops by genetic alterations and is a complicated
      disease. The aim of this study was to screen differentially expressed miRNAs
      (DEMs) and genes with diagnostic and prognostic potentials in colon
      adenocarcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study we screened DEMs and their
      target genes (DEGs) between 100 colon adenocarcinoma and normal samples in The
      Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database by using the DEseq toolkit in Bioconductor.
      Then Go enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed on the selected
      differential genes by use of the DAVID online tool. A regulation network of miRNA
      gene was constructed and analyzed by Cytoscape. Finally, we performed ROC
      analysis of 8 miRNAs and ROC curves were drawn. RESULTS A total of 159 DEMs and
      1921 DEGs were screened, and 1881 pairs of miRNA-target genes with significant
      negative correlations were also obtained. A regulatory network of miRNA-gene,
      including 60 cancer-related genes and 47 miRNAs, was successfully constructed. In
      addition, 5 clusters with several miRNAs regulating a set of target genes
      simultaneously were identified through cluster analysis. There were 8 miRNAs
      involved in these 5 clusters, and these miRNAs could serve as molecular
      biomarkers to distinguish colon adenocarcinoma and normal samples indicated by
      ROC analysis. CONCLUSIONS The identified 8 miRNAs were closely associated with
      colon adenocarcinoma, which may have great clinical value as diagnostic and
      prognostic biomarkers and provide new ideas for targeted therapy. 

PMID- 26868023
TI  - Perchlorate as an emerging contaminant in soil, water and food.
AB  - Perchlorate ( [Formula: see text] ) is a strong oxidizer and has gained
      significant attention due to its reactivity, occurrence, and persistence in
      surface water, groundwater, soil and food. Stable isotope techniques (i.e.,
      ((18)O/(16)O and (17)O/(16)O) and (37)Cl/(35)Cl) facilitate the differentiation
      of naturally occurring perchlorate from anthropogenic perchlorate. At high enough
      concentrations, perchlorate can inhibit proper function of the thyroid gland.
      Dietary reference dose (RfD) for perchlorate exposure from both food and water is
      set at 0.7 MUg kg(-1) body weight/day which translates to a drinking water level
      of 24.5 MUg L(-1). Chromatographic techniques (i.e., ion chromatography and
      liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) can be successfully used to detect trace
      level of perchlorate in environmental samples. Perchlorate can be effectively
      removed by wide variety of remediation techniques such as bio-reduction, chemical
      reduction, adsorption, membrane filtration, ion exchange and electro-reduction.
      Bio-reduction is appropriate for large scale treatment plants whereas ion
      exchange is suitable for removing trace level of perchlorate in aqueous medium.
      The environmental occurrence of perchlorate, toxicity, analytical techniques,
      removal technologies are presented.

PMID- 26868025
TI  - Tracking the release of IPCC AR5 on Twitter: Users, comments, and sources
      following the release of the Working Group I Summary for Policymakers.
AB  - Using the immediate release of the Working Group 1 Summary for Policymakers of
      the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report as a case
      study, this article seeks to describe what type of actors were most active during
      the summary release, the substance of the most propagated tweets during the
      summary release, and the media sources that attracted the most attention during
      the summary release. The results from the study suggest that non-elite actors,
      such as individual bloggers and concerned citizens, accounted for the majority of
      the most propagated tweets in the sample. This study also finds that the majority
      of the most propagated tweets in the sample focused on public understanding of
      the report. Finally, while mainstream media sources were the most frequently
      discussed media sources, a number of new media and science news and information
      sources compete for audience attention.

PMID- 26868024
TI  - Chicken sperm transcriptome profiling by microarray analysis.
AB  - It has been confirmed that mammalian sperm contain thousands of functional RNAs,
      and some of them have vital roles in fertilization and early embryonic
      development. Therefore, we attempted to characterize transcriptome of the sperm
      of fertile chickens using microarray analysis. Spermatozoal RNA was pooled from
      10 fertile males and used for RNA preparation. Prior to performing the
      microarray, RNA quality was assessed using a bioanalyzer, and gDNA and somatic
      cell RNA contamination was assessed by CD4 and PTPRC gene amplification. The
      chicken sperm transcriptome was cross-examined by analysing sperm and testes RNA
      on a 4 * 44K chicken array, and results were verified by RT-PCR. Microarray
      analysis identified 21,639 predominantly nuclear-encoded transcripts in chicken
      sperm. The majority (66.55%) of the sperm transcripts were shared with the
      testes, while surprisingly, 33.45% transcripts were detected (raw signal
      intensity greater than 50) only in the sperm and not in the testes. The greatest
      proportion of up-regulated transcripts were responsible for signal transduction
      (63.20%) followed by embryonic development (56.76%) and cell structure (56.25%).
      Of the 20 most abundant transcripts, 18 remain uncharacterized, whereas the least
      abundant genes were mostly associated with the ribosome. These findings lay a
      foundation for more detailed investigations on sperm RNAs in chickens to identify
      sperm-based biomarkers for fertility.

PMID- 26868026
TI  - Common Variable Immunodeficiency.
AB  - Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common primary
      immunodeficiency of young adolescents and adults which also affects the children.
      The disease remains largely under-diagnosed in India and Southeast Asian
      countries. Although in majority of cases it is sporadic, disease may be inherited
      in a autosomal recessive pattern and rarely, in autosomal dominant pattern.
      Patients, in addition to frequent sino-pulmonary infections, are also susceptible
      to various autoimmune diseases and malignancy, predominantly lymphoma and
      leukemia. Other characteristic lesions include lymphocytic and granulomatous
      interstitial lung disease, and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of gut. Diagnosis
      requires reduced levels of at least two immunoglobulin isotypes: IgG with IgA
      and/or IgM and impaired specific antibody response to vaccines. A number of gene
      mutations have been described in CVID; however, these genetic alterations account
      for less than 20% of cases of CVID. Flow cytometry aptly demonstrates a disturbed
      B cell homeostasis with reduced or absent memory B cells and increased CD21(low)
      B cells and transitional B cell populations. Approximately one-third of patients
      with CVID also display T cell functional defects. Immunoglobulin therapy remains
      the mainstay of treatment. Immunologists and other clinicians in India and other
      South East Asian countries need to be aware of CVID so that early diagnosis can
      be made, as currently, majority of these patients still go undiagnosed.

PMID- 26868027
TI  - Status quo and directions in deep head and neck hyperthermia.
AB  - The benefit of hyperthermia as a potent modifier of radiotherapy has been well
      established and more recently also the combination with chemotherapy was shown
      beneficial. Also for head and neck cancer, the impact of hyperthermia has been
      clinically demonstrated by a number of clinical trials. Unfortunately, the
      technology applied in these studies provided only limited thermal dose control,
      and the devices used only allowed treatment of target regions close to the skin.
      Over the last decade, we developed the technology for deep and controlled
      hyperthermia that allows treatment of the entire head and neck region. Our
      strategy involves focused microwave heating combined with 3D patient-specific
      electromagnetic and thermal simulations for conformal, reproducible and adaptive
      hyperthermia application. Validation of our strategy has been performed by 3D
      thermal dose assessment based on invasively placed temperature sensors combined
      with the 3D patient specific simulations. In this paper, we review the phase III
      clinical evidence for hyperthermia in head and neck tumors, as well as the
      heating and dosimetry technology applied in these studies. Next, we describe the
      development, clinical implementation and validation of 3D guided deep
      hyperthermia with the HYPERcollar, and its second generation, i.e. the
      HYPERcollar3D. Lastly, we discuss early clinical results and provide an outlook
      for this technology. 

PMID- 26868028
TI  - The fate of fertilizer nitrogen in a high nitrate accumulated agricultural soil.
AB  - Well-acclimatized nitrifiers in high-nitrate agricultural soils can quickly
      nitrify NH4(+) into NO3(-) subject to leaching and denitrifying loss. A 120-day
      incubation experiment was conducted using a greenhouse soil to explore the fates
      of applied fertilizer N entering into seven soil N pools and to examine if green
      manure (as ryegrass) co-application can increase immobilization of the applied N
      into relatively stable N pools and thereby reduce NO3(-) accumulation and loss.
      We found that 87-92% of the applied (15)N-labelled NH4(+) was rapidly recovered
      as NO3(-) since day 3 and only 2-4% as microbial biomass and soil organic matter
      (SOM), while ryegrass co-application significantly decreased its recovery as NO3(
      ) but enhanced its recovery as SOM (17%) at the end of incubation. The trade-off
      relationship between (15)N recoveries in microbial biomass and SOM indicated that
      ryegrass co-application stabilized newly immobilized N via initial microbial
      uptake and later breakdown. Nevertheless, ryegrass application didn't decrease
      soil total NO3(-) accumulation due to its own decay. Our results suggest that
      green manure co-application can increase immobilization of applied N into stable
      organic N via microbial turnover, but the quantity and quality of green manure
      should be well considered to reduce N release from itself. 

PMID- 26868029
TI  - Improved lenticule shape for hyperopic femtosecond lenticule extraction (ReLEx
      FLEx): a pilot study.
AB  - The aim of this study is to establish and to prove a new lenticule shape for the
      treatment of hyperopia using a 500 kHz femtosecond laser and the femtosecond
      lenticule extraction (ReLEx FLEx) technique. Improved lenticule shapes with a
      large transition zone of at least 2 mm adjusted to the 5.75 mm optical zone were
      designed. A prospective pilot study on nine eyes of five patients who underwent
      an uncomplicated FLEx using VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) for
      spherical hyperopia was performed. Patients' mean age was 55.5 years, and the
      preoperative manifest spherical equivalent (SE) was +1.82 D (range +1.25 to +3.00
      D). Because of the presbyopic age and in order to compensate for a possible
      regression, the treatment was aimed at low myopia (mean target SE was -0.88 D
      with a mean treatment refraction of +2.69 D). At the last follow-up, after 9
      months, 33% were within +/-0.50 D and 78% within +/-1.00 D of intended
      correction. Thirty-three percent lost one line, and 11% gained one line corrected
      distance visual acuity (CDVA). On average, the centre of the optical zone was
      0.34 +/- 0.17 mm from the corneal vertex. No adverse effects were observed. This
      pilot study confirms that the improved lenticule's design with a large optical
      and transition zone can achieve good centration and acceptable results for
      spherical hyperopia using FLEx. The next steps are to extend the study to
      spherocylindrical hyperopic treatments and to increase the number of eyes for
      better assessment of refractive outcome.

PMID- 26868030
TI  - Carbon dioxide laser ablation of dermatosis papulosa nigra: high satisfaction and
      few complications in patients with pigmented skin.
AB  - Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) is a common condition of pigmented skin. Whilst
      lesions are benign, they may be symptomatic or cosmetically disfiguring. Ablative
      lasers have previously been reported as a useful therapeutic modality in DPN. We
      report the largest case series to date of patients with DPN ablated with the
      carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. A retrospective case note review was conducted of all
      patients with DPN treated in our laser clinic in the last five years, and a post
      treatment telephone survey was undertaken to assess patient satisfaction. Forty
      five patients were identified, with a median age of 41 years (range 25-74 years),
      of whom 37 (82%) were female. The median number of treatments undertaken was
      three (range 1-10). Of the 18 respondents to the telephone survey, when asked to
      grade their satisfaction with the procedure out of 10, median response was 9.5
      (range 6-10) with nine patients citing the maximum score of 10. All patients
      replied that their confidence had improved following the procedure and that they
      would recommend the treatment to other patients. Five respondents (28%) reported
      recurrence of a few lesions following CO2 laser ablation; the remaining 13
      respondents (72%) reported no recurrence of DPN. No respondents reported any
      other post-procedural complications (including scarring, hypopigmentation and
      hyperpigmentation). We advocate use of the CO2 laser as a safe, convenient means
      of treating DPN, with a high degree of patient satisfaction, low recurrence rate
      and few complications.

PMID- 26868031
TI  - Photobiomodulation regulates cytokine release and new blood vessel formation
      during oral wound healing in rats.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation
      (PBM) on cytokine levels and angiogenesis during oral wound healing. Ulcers were
      made on the dorsum of the tongue in 48 Wistar rats. Irradiation with an indium
      gallium-aluminum-phosphide (InGaAlP) laser (660 nm; output power, 40 mW; spot
      size, 0.04 cm(2)) was performed once a day on two points of the ulcer for 14
      days. Two different energy densities were used: 4 J/cm(2) (energy per point 0.16
      J, total energy 0.32 J) and 20 J/cm(2) (energy per point 0.8 J, total energy 1.6
      J). Tissue levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha
      were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Image analysis of
      CD31-immunostained sections was used to investigate microvessel density (MVD).
      PBM increased the tissue levels of IL-1beta at the early stage of oral wound
      healing (p < 0.01) and increased the tissue levels of TNF-alpha during all stages
      of oral wound healing (p < 0.05). PBM at a dose of 4 J/cm(2) produced more
      significant results regarding cytokine modulation and was associated with higher
      MVD at day 5. Collectively, these findings indicate that cytokine modulation and
      increased angiogenesis are among the basic mechanisms whereby PBM improves oral
      wound repair.

PMID- 26868032
TI  - Greenlight high-performance system (HPS) 120-W laser vaporization versus
      transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic
      hyperplasia: a meta-analysis of the published results of randomized controlled
      trials.
AB  - To assess the efficacy and the safety of Greenlight(TM) high-performance system
      (HPS) 120-W laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) compared with
      transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for treatment of benign prostatic
      hyperplasia (BPH). The related original studies only including randomized
      controlled trials were searched by databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and
      the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register. The databases were updated till July
      2014. The risk ratio, mean difference, and their corresponding 95% confidence
      intervals were calculated. Risk of bias of the enrolled trials were assessed
      according to Cochrane Handbook. A total of four trials involving 559 patients
      were enrolled. Statistical analysis was performed by software Review Manager
      (V5.3.3). There was no significant difference in International Prostate Symptom
      Score (IPSS) and maximum flow rate (Qmax) between PVP and TURP at 6-, 12-, and 24
      month follow-up. Patients in the PVP group were associated with significantly
      lower risk of capsule perforation (risk ratio (RR) = 0.06, 95% confidence
      interval (95%CI) = 0.01 to 0.46; p = 0.007), significantly lower transfusion
      requirements (RR = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.03 to 0.43; p = 0.001), a shorter
      catheterization time (mean difference (MD) = -41.93, 95%CI = -54.87 to -28.99; p
      < 0.00001), and a shorter duration of hospital stay (MD = -2.09, 95%CI = -2.58 to
      -1.59; p < 0.00001) than that in the TURP group. In the TURP group, the patients
      were associated with a lower risk of re-operation (RR = 3.68, 95%CI = 1.04 to
      13.00; p = 0.04) and a shorter operative time (MD = 9.28, 95%CI = 2.80 to 15.75;
      p = 0.005) than those in the PVP group. In addition, no statistically significant
      differences were detected between groups in terms of the rates of transurethral
      resection syndrome, urethral stricture, bladder neck contracture, incontinence,
      and infection. Greenlight(TM) 120-W laser PVP is as effective as TURP for symptom
      reduction and improvement of the quality of life. Laser PVP shows advantages over
      TURP in terms of intraoperative safety, whereas TURP is found to have a shorter
      operative time and lower re-operative risk.

PMID- 26868033
TI  - Effects of low level laser therapy on the prognosis of split-thickness skin graft
      in type 3 burn of diabetic patients: a case series.
AB  - Significant populations in burn centers are diabetic burn patients. Healing
      process in these patients is more difficult due to diabetes complications. The
      gold standard treatment for patients with grade 3 burn ulcer is split-thickness
      skin grafting (STSG), but in the diabetic patients, the rate of graft failure and
      amputation is high due to impaired tissue perfusion. The technique of low level
      laser therapy (LLLT) improves tissue perfusion and fibroblast proliferation,
      increases collagen synthesis, and accelerates wound healing. The purpose of this
      case report is introducing a new therapeutic method for accelerating healing with
      better prognosis in these patients. The protocols and informed consent were
      reviewed according to the Medical Ethics, Board of Shahid Beheshti Medical
      Sciences (IR.SBMU.RAM.REC.13940.363). Diabetic type 2 patients with 13 grade 3
      burn ulcers, candidate for amputation, were enrolled in the study. We used a 650
      nm red laser light, 2 J/Cm for the bed of the ulcer and an 810-nm infrared laser
      light 6 J/Cm(2) for the margins along with intravenous laser therapy with a 660
      nm red light, before and after STSG for treating grade 3 burn ulcers in 13
      diabetic ulcers. The results of this study showed complete healing in the last 8
      weeks for all patients who were candidates for amputation. In this case series,
      we present 13 cases of diabetic ulcer with type 3 burn wound, candidate for
      amputation, who healed completely using LLLT and STSG. This is the first time
      that these two techniques are combined for treatment of burn ulcer in diabetic
      patients. Using LLLT with STSG might be a promising treatment for burn victims
      especially diabetic patients.

PMID- 26868034
TI  - Changes in Consumer Demand Following Public Reporting of Summary Quality Ratings:
      An Evaluation in Nursing Homes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Limited consumer use of health care report cards may be due to the
      large amount of information presented in report cards, which can be difficult to
      understand. These limitations may be overcome with summary measures. Our
      objective was to evaluate consumer response to summary measures in the setting of
      nursing homes. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: 2005-2010 nursing home Minimum Data
      Set and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) datasets. STUDY
      DESIGN: In December 2008, Medicare converted its nursing home report card to
      summary or star ratings. We test whether there was a change in consumer demand
      for nursing homes related to the nursing home's star rating after the information
      was released. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The star rating system was associated with a
      significant change in consumer demand for low- and high-scoring facilities. After
      the star-based rating system was released, 1-star facilities typically lost 8
      percent of their market share and 5-star facilities gained over 6 percent of
      their market share. CONCLUSIONS: The nursing home star rating system
      significantly affected consumer demand for high- and low-rated nursing homes.
      These results support the use of summary measures in report cards.

PMID- 26868036
TI  - Erratum to: Dynamics of Simple Food Webs.

PMID- 26868035
TI  - Preparation of Au-polydopamine functionalized carbon encapsulated Fe3O4 magnetic
      nanocomposites and their application for ultrasensitive detection of carcino
      embryonic antigen.
AB  - A novel carbon encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in two-dimensional (2D)
      porous graphitic carbon nanocomposites (Fe3O4@C@PGC nanocomposites) were
      synthesized by situ synthesis strategy, which provided a sensor platform owing to
      a large aspect ratio and porous structure. Polydopamine (PDA) were modified on
      the surface of Fe3O4@C@PGC nanocomposites through self-polymerization of
      dopamine, acting as both the reductant and template for one-step synthesis of
      gold nanoparticles. The prepared Au/PDA/Fe3O4@C@PGC nanocomposites show
      ferromagnetic features, extremely excellent electron transfer, large specific
      surface area and excellent dispersing property. These are conducive to the
      electrochemical signal output and the immobilization of antibody. In this work, a
      highly label-free sensitive magnetic immunosensor was developed based on
      Au/PDA/Fe3O4@C@PGC nanocomposites for the detection of carcino-embryonic antigen
      (CEA). The magnetic glassy carbon electrode was used to fix the
      Au/PDA/Fe3O4@C@PGC nanocomposites with the help of magnetic force. Under the
      optimal conditions, the immunosensor exhibited a wide linear range (0.001 ng/mL
      20.0 ng/mL), a low detection limit (0.33 pg/mL), good reproducibility,
      selectivity and acceptable stability. The proposed sensing strategy may provide a
      potential application in the detection of other cancer biomarkers. 

PMID- 26868037
TI  - dTRPA1 in Non-circadian Neurons Modulates Temperature-dependent Rhythmic Activity
      in Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - In fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster, environmental cycles of light and
      temperature are known to influence behavioral rhythms through dedicated sensory
      receptors. But the thermosensory pathways and molecular receptors by which
      thermal cycles modulate locomotor activity rhythms remain unclear. Here, we
      report that neurons expressing warmth-activated ion channel Drosophila Transient
      Receptor Potential-A1 (dTRPA1) modulate distinct aspects of the rhythmic
      activity/rest rhythm in a light-dependent manner. Under light/dark (LD) cycles
      paired with constantly warm ambient conditions, flies deficient in dTRPA1
      expression are unable to phase morning and evening activity bouts appropriately.
      Correspondingly, we show that electrical activity of a few neurons targeted by
      the dTRPA1(SH)-GAL4 driver modulates temperature-dependent phasing of
      activity/rest rhythm under LD cycles. The expression of dTRPA1 also affects
      behavior responses to temperature cycles combined with constant dark (DD) or
      light (LL) conditions. We demonstrate that the mid-day "siesta" exhibited by
      flies under temperature cycles in DD is dependent on dTRPA1 expression in a small
      number of neurons that include thermosensory anterior cell neurons. Although a
      small subset of circadian pacemaker neurons may express dTRPA1, we show that CRY
      negative dTRPA1(SH)-GAL4 driven neurons are critical for the suppression of mid
      thermophase activity, thus enabling flies to exhibit siesta. In contrast to
      temperature cycles in DD, under LL, dTRPA1 is not required for exhibiting siesta
      but is important for phasing of evening peak. Our studies show that activity/rest
      rhythms are modulated in a temperature-dependent manner via signals from
      dTRPA1(SH)-GAL4 driven neurons. Taken together, these results emphasize the
      differential influence of thermoreceptors on rhythmic behavior in fruit flies in
      coordination with light inputs.

PMID- 26868038
TI  - Porcelain lung: calcification in severe Bordetella pertussis infection.

PMID- 26868039
TI  - Managing the child with a diagnosis of Moebius syndrome: more than meets the eye.
AB  - Moebius syndrome (MBS) is a congenital, non-progressive facial and abducens nerve
      palsy in the presence of full vertical gaze and may be associated with limb
      abnormalities and craniofacial dysmorphisms. MBS is now defined as a disorder of
      rhombencephalic maldevelopment and recent gene discoveries have shown this to be
      a dominant disorder in a subset of patients. Accurate diagnosis and management by
      a multidisciplinary team with expertise in congenital facial palsy is paramount.

PMID- 26868040
TI  - Deformation-induced trace element redistribution in zircon revealed using atom
      probe tomography.
AB  - Trace elements diffuse negligible distances through the pristine crystal lattice
      in minerals: this is a fundamental assumption when using them to decipher
      geological processes. For example, the reliable use of the mineral zircon
      (ZrSiO4) as a U-Th-Pb geochronometer and trace element monitor requires minimal
      radiogenic isotope and trace element mobility. Here, using atom probe tomography,
      we document the effects of crystal-plastic deformation on atomic-scale elemental
      distributions in zircon revealing sub-micrometre-scale mechanisms of trace
      element mobility. Dislocations that move through the lattice accumulate U and
      other trace elements. Pipe diffusion along dislocation arrays connected to a
      chemical or structural sink results in continuous removal of selected elements
      (for example, Pb), even after deformation has ceased. However, in disconnected
      dislocations, trace elements remain locked. Our findings have important
      implications for the use of zircon as a geochronometer, and highlight the
      importance of deformation on trace element redistribution in minerals and
      engineering materials. 

PMID- 26868042
TI  - Expanding perspectives on cognition in humans, animals, and machines.
AB  - Over the past decade neuroscience has been attacking the problem of cognition
      with increasing vigor. Yet, what exactly is cognition, beyond a general signifier
      of anything seemingly complex the brain does? Here, we briefly review attempts to
      define, describe, explain, build, enhance and experience cognition. We highlight
      perspectives including psychology, molecular biology, computation, dynamical
      systems, machine learning, behavior and phenomenology. This survey of the
      landscape reveals not a clear target for explanation but a pluralistic and
      evolving scene with diverse opportunities for grounding future research. We argue
      that rather than getting to the bottom of it, over the next century, by
      deconstructing and redefining cognition, neuroscience will and should expand
      rather than merely reduce our concept of the mind.

PMID- 26868041
TI  - Canonical computations of cerebral cortex.
AB  - The idea that there is a fundamental cortical circuit that performs canonical
      computations remains compelling though far from proven. Here we review evidence
      for two canonical operations within sensory cortical areas: a feedforward
      computation of selectivity; and a recurrent computation of gain in which, given
      sufficiently strong external input, perhaps from multiple sources, intracortical
      input largely, but not completely, cancels this external input. This operation
      leads to many characteristic cortical nonlinearities in integrating multiple
      stimuli. The cortical computation must combine such local processing with
      hierarchical processing across areas. We point to important changes in moving
      from sensory cortex to motor and frontal cortex and the possibility of
      substantial differences between cortex in rodents vs. species with columnar
      organization of selectivity.

PMID- 26868043
TI  - Brain structure and dynamics across scales: in search of rules.
AB  - Louis Henry Sullivan, the father of skyscrapers, famously stated 'Form ever
      follows function'. In this short review, we will focus on the relationship
      between form (structure) and function (dynamics) in the brain. We summarize
      recent advances on the quantification of directed- and weighted-mesoscopic
      connectivity of mammalian cortex, the exponential distance rule for mesoscopic
      and microscopic circuit wiring, a spatially embedded random model of inter-areal
      cortical networks, and a large-scale dynamical circuit model of money's cortex
      that gives rise to a hierarchy of timescales. These findings demonstrate that
      inter-areal cortical networks are dense (hence such concepts as 'small-world'
      need to be refined when applied to the brain), spatially dependent (therefore
      purely topological approach of graph theory has limited applicability) and
      heterogeneous (consequently cortical areas cannot be treated as identical
      'nodes').

PMID- 26868044
TI  - Strategies for parenting by mothers and fathers with a mental illness.
AB  - WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The combination of coping with their mental health
      problems and caring for children makes parents vulnerable. Family-centred
      practice can help to maintain and strengthen important family relationships, and
      to identify and enhance the strengths of a parent with a mental illness, all
      contributing to the recovery of the person with the mental illness. WHAT THIS
      PAPER ADDS TO THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Taking the strength and the opportunities
      formulated by parents themselves as a starting point is fairly new. Parents with
      severe mental illness find strength for parenting in several ways. They feel
      responsible, and this helps them to stay alert while parenting, whereas
      parenthood also offers a basis for social participation through school contacts
      and the child's friendships. Dedication to the parent role provides a focus;
      parents develop strengths and skills as they find a balance between attending to
      their own lives and caring for their children; and parenting prompts them to find
      adequate sources of social support. In this study these strategies were found to
      be the fundamentals of recovery related to parenting. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS
      FOR PRACTICE?: Nurses can support and coach patients who are identified as
      parents, and self-chosen parenting related goals are set and addressed. A family
      focused approach by nurses can be used to prevent problems for children and their
      families, identify their strengths as well as vulnerabilities, and address the
      challenges to build resilience. INTRODUCTION: Understanding of the problems of
      parents with mental illness is growing. Gaining insight into strategies for
      parenting, while taking the opportunities formulated by these parents themselves
      as a starting point is fairly new. QUESTION: What are the strategies of parents
      with a mental illness to be successful? METHOD: Experiences of 19 mothers and
      eight fathers with a mental illness were explored with in-depth interviews. Data
      were content analysed, using qualitative methods. RESULTS: Next to feelings of
      inadequacy, interviewees also describe how children enrich and structure their
      lives and are not only a burden but serve as distraction from problems.
      Developing activities that interest both child and parent provides avenues for
      emerging strength. Mental illness constrains fathers, but also gives
      opportunities to develop a meaningful relation with their children. DISCUSSION:
      Strategies like being fully dedicated to the parental role, finding a balance
      between attention for one's own life and parenting and finding adequate sources
      of support are found to be fundamental for recovery in the parent role.
      Implications for practice Peer groups can be of valuable help and mental health
      workers can support parents to set self-chosen parenting related goals.

PMID- 26868045
TI  - The Milky Way educational and support programme: Structure, content and
      strategies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health professionals have put much effort into supporting women to
      continue breastfeeding up to six months and beyond. The majority of those efforts
      have not been successful for primiparous women. Primiparous women who engaged in
      the Milky Way Programme had an improvement in breastfeeding rates of almost 50%
      at six months when compared to women in a control group. PURPOSE: To provide
      details of the Milky Way Programme including the educational structure, content
      and strategies as well as the process of postnatal telephone support. OVERVIEW:
      The details of the Milky Way Programme are presented including a summary of
      literature review that was used to design the programme. The structure and
      content of the programme is then presented. Finally, the strategies with some
      practical examples are outlined in more detail. CONCLUSION: The programme is
      evidence-based, theoretically informed and woman-centred. This paper provides the
      necessary information to health professionals who are trained to educate and
      support breastfeeding women to implement similar programmes in their workplaces.

PMID- 26868046
TI  - A novel algorithm for detecting active propulsion in wheelchair users following
      spinal cord injury.
AB  - Physical activity in wheelchair-bound individuals can be assessed by monitoring
      their mobility as this is one of the most intense upper extremity activities they
      perform. Current accelerometer-based approaches for describing wheelchair
      mobility do not distinguish between self- and attendant-propulsion and hence may
      overestimate total physical activity. The aim of this study was to develop and
      validate an inertial measurement unit based algorithm to monitor wheel kinematics
      and the type of wheelchair propulsion (self- or attendant-) within a "real-world"
      situation. Different sensor set-ups were investigated, ranging from a high
      precision set-up including four sensor modules with a relatively short
      measurement duration of 24 h, to a less precise set-up with only one module
      attached at the wheel exceeding one week of measurement because the gyroscope of
      the sensor was turned off. The "high-precision" algorithm distinguished self- and
      attendant-propulsion with accuracy greater than 93% whilst the long-term
      measurement set-up showed an accuracy of 82%. The estimation accuracy of
      kinematic parameters was greater than 97% for both set-ups. The possibility of
      having different sensor set-ups allows the use of the inertial measurement units
      as high precision tools for researchers as well as unobtrusive and simple tools
      for manual wheelchair users.

PMID- 26868047
TI  - Expression levels of ABCG2 on cord red blood cells and study of fetal anemia
      associated with anti-Jr(a).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Jr(a) antigen of JR blood group systems is located on ABCG2 and
      Jr(a-) subjects whose red blood cells (RBCs) lack ABCG2 have been identified
      mostly among the Japanese. Although anti-Jr(a) can cause fetal anemia, little is
      known regarding its mechanism. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical
      courses of all reported cases with fetal anemia due to anti-Jr(a) . We analyzed
      the ABCG2 expressions of cord RBCs at various gestational ages. We examined the
      effects of sera containing anti-Jr(a) from three pregnancies with fetal anemia or
      monoclonal anti-Jr(a) on erythropoiesis and phagocytosis. We also examined
      epitopes of anti-Jr(a) . RESULTS: Case series suggested that the majority of
      fetal anemia with anti-Jr(a) may not be progressive in the later gestational
      ages. ABCG2 expression levels of cord RBCs were significantly higher than those
      of adults and neonates with high individual variation and gradually decreased
      with advancing gestational ages. Anti-Jr(a) did not significantly impact
      erythroid colony formation, although we detected a tendency toward the
      suppression of erythroid burst-forming unit formation by anti-Jr(a) using feline
      marrow cells. Anti-Jr(a) did not induce phagocytosis of sensitized RBCs by
      monocytes. While many anti-Jr(a) recognized the same regions as a monoclonal anti
      ABCG2, 5D3, epitopes of anti-Jr(a) did not correlate with the incidence of fetal
      anemia. CONCLUSION: ABCG2 expression levels in cord RBCs are higher than those of
      adults, and the change of ABCG2 expression in erythroid lineage cells may
      influence the clinical course of fetal anemia with anti-Jr(a) , although we could
      not detect significant effects of anti-Jr(a) on erythroid colony formation or
      phagocytosis.

PMID- 26868049
TI  - Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Nanocubes with Ultrahigh Surface Areas for
      Efficient CO2 Adsorption.
AB  - Ultrahigh surface area single-crystals of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOs)
      with uniform cubic or truncated-cubic morphology and organic/inorganic components
      homogeneously distributed over the whole frameworks have successfully been
      prepared by a sol-gel surfactant-templating method. By tuning the porous feature
      and polymerization degree, the surface areas of the obtained PMO nanocubes can
      reach as high as 2370 m(2)/g, which is the highest for silica-based mesoporous
      materials. The ultrahigh surface area of the obtained PMO single crystals is
      mainly resulted from abundant micropores in the mesoporous frameworks.
      Furthermore, the diameter of the nanocubes can also be well controlled from 150
      to 600 nm. The materials show ultrahigh CO2 adsorption capacity (up to 1.42
      mmol/g at 273 K) which is much higher than other porous silica materials and
      comparable to some carbonaceous materials. The adsorption of CO2 into the PMO
      nanocubes is mainly in physical interaction, therefore the adsorption-desorption
      process is highly reversible and the adsorption capacity is much dependent on the
      surface area of the materials. Moreover, the selectivity is also very high (~11
      times to N2) towards CO2 adsorption.

PMID- 26868048
TI  - Choroidal vascularity index as a measure of vascular status of the choroid:
      Measurements in healthy eyes from a population-based study.
AB  - The vascularity of the choroid has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various
      eye diseases. To date, no established quantifiable parameters to estimate
      vascular status of the choroid exists. Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) may
      potentially be used to assess vascular status of the choroid. We aimed to
      establish normative database for CVI and identify factors associated with CVI in
      healthy eyes. In this population-based study on 345 healthy eyes, choroidal
      enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans were segmented by
      modified image binarization technique. Total subfoveal choroidal area (TCA) was
      segmented into luminal (LA) and stromal (SA) area. CVI was calculated as the
      proportion of LA to TCA. Linear regression was used to identify ocular and
      systemic factors associated with CVI and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT).
      Subfoveal CVI ranged from 60.07 to 71.27% with a mean value of 65.61 +/- 2.33%.
      CVI was less variable than SFCT (coefficient of variation for CVI was 3.55 vs
      40.30 for SFCT). Higher CVI was associated with thicker SFCT, but not associated
      with most physiological variables. CVI was elucidated as a significant
      determinant of SFCT. While SFCT was affected by many factors, CVI remained
      unaffected suggesting CVI to be a more robust marker of choroidal diseases.

PMID- 26868050
TI  - Specialist availability in emergencies: contributions of response times and the
      use of ad hoc coverage in New York State.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Nationwide, hospitals struggle to maintain specialist on-call
      coverage for emergencies. We seek to further understand the issue by examining
      reliability of scheduled coverage and the role of ad hoc coverage when none is
      scheduled. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey of all emergency department
      (ED) directors of a large state. Overall and for 10 specialties, respondents were
      asked to estimate on-call coverage extent and "reliability" (frequency of
      emergency response in a clinically useful time frame: 2 hours), and use and
      effect of ad hoc emergency coverage to fill gaps. Descriptive statistics were
      performed using Fisher exact and Wilcoxon sign rank tests for significance.
      RESULTS: Contact information was obtained for 125 of 167 ED directors. Sixty
      responded (48%), representing 36% of EDs. Forty-six percent reported full on-call
      coverage scheduled for all specialties. Forty-six percent reported consistent
      reliability. Coverage and reliability were strongly related (P<.01; 33% reported
      both), and larger ED volume correlated with both (P<.01). Ninety percent of
      hospitals that had gaps in either employed ad hoc coverage, significantly
      improving coverage for 8 of 10 specialties. For all but 1 specialty, more than
      20% of hospitals reported that specialists are "Never", "Rarely" or "Sometimes"
      reliable (more than 50% for cardiovascular surgery, hand surgery and
      ophthalmology). CONCLUSIONS: Significant holes in scheduled on-call specialist
      coverage are compounded by frequent unreliability of on-call specialists, but
      partially ameliorated by ad hoc specialist coverage. Regionalization may help
      because a 2-tiered system may exist: larger hospitals have more complete,
      reliable coverage. Better understanding of specialists' willingness to treat
      emergencies ad hoc without taking formal call will suggest additional remedies.

PMID- 26868051
TI  - Investigation of cell death mechanisms in human lymphatic endothelial cells
      undergoing photodynamic therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to induce ablation and
      functional occlusion of tumor-associated lymphatic vessels. However, direct
      effects of PDT on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) have not been studied so
      far. The aim of this study was to elucidate molecular mechanisms of cell death
      induced by PDT in human LECs. METHODS: Verteporfin was used as a photosensitizer
      to investigate PDT-mediated damage of lymphatic vessels in mice using
      immunofluorescent staining and stereomicroscopy. In vitro dose-response studies
      were carried-out with crystal violet staining. Immunofluorescence, flow
      cytometry, immunoblotting and DNA electrophoresis were used to investigate the
      mechanisms of cell death in human LECs undergoing PDT. RESULTS: PDT induced an
      increase in the number of propidium iodide positive lymphatic endothelial cells
      in the mouse dermis. In in vitro studies dose-dependent cytotoxic effects of PDT
      towards LECs were observed. Typical hallmarks of apoptotic cell death, including
      Annexin V binding, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase activation,
      cleavage of PARP as well as DNA fragmentation were observed in LECs when PDT was
      used at high irradiation conditions, causing >80% cell death. At lower light
      fluencies causing <50% cell death PDT induced autophagy rather than apoptosis, as
      revealed by conversion of LC3-I to the autophagosomal LC3-II and formation of LC3
      puncta. Z-VAD-FMK, a caspase inhibitor, prevented cell death induced by high-dose
      PDT only, while 3-methyladenine, an autophagy suppressor, inhibited cell death
      induced by low-dose PDT. CONCLUSIONS: Both apoptosis and autophagy are involved
      in cell death induced by verteporfin-PDT in LECs.

PMID- 26868052
TI  - Portal of medical data models: information infrastructure for medical research
      and healthcare.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Information systems are a key success factor for medical research
      and healthcare. Currently, most of these systems apply heterogeneous and
      proprietary data models, which impede data exchange and integrated data analysis
      for scientific purposes. Due to the complexity of medical terminology, the
      overall number of medical data models is very high. At present, the vast majority
      of these models are not available to the scientific community. The objective of
      the Portal of Medical Data Models (MDM, https://medical-data-models.org) is to
      foster sharing of medical data models. METHODS: MDM is a registered European
      information infrastructure. It provides a multilingual platform for exchange and
      discussion of data models in medicine, both for medical research and healthcare.
      The system is developed in collaboration with the University Library of Munster
      to ensure sustainability. A web front-end enables users to search, view, download
      and discuss data models. Eleven different export formats are available (ODM, PDF,
      CDA, CSV, MACRO-XML, REDCap, SQL, SPSS, ADL, R, XLSX). MDM contents were analysed
      with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: MDM contains 4387 current versions of data
      models (in total 10,963 versions). 2475 of these models belong to oncology
      trials. The most common keyword (n = 3826) is 'Clinical Trial'; most frequent
      diseases are breast cancer, leukemia, lung and colorectal neoplasms. Most common
      languages of data elements are English (n = 328,557) and German (n = 68,738).
      Semantic annotations (UMLS codes) are available for 108,412 data items, 2453 item
      groups and 35,361 code list items. Overall 335,087 UMLS codes are assigned with
      21,847 unique codes. Few UMLS codes are used several thousand times, but there is
      a long tail of rarely used codes in the frequency distribution. DISCUSSION:
      Expected benefits of the MDM portal are improved and accelerated design of
      medical data models by sharing best practice, more standardised data models with
      semantic annotation and better information exchange between information systems,
      in particular Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and Electronic Health Records (EHR)
      systems. Contents of the MDM portal need to be further expanded to reach broad
      coverage of all relevant medical domains. Database URL: https://medical-data
      models.org.

PMID- 26868053
TI  - The Corvids Literature Database--500 years of ornithological research from a
      crow's perspective.
AB  - Corvids (Corvidae) play a major role in ornithological research. Because of their
      worldwide distribution, diversity and adaptiveness, they have been studied
      extensively. The aim of the Corvids Literature Database (CLD,
      http://www.corvids.de/cld) is to record all publications (citation format) on all
      extant and extinct Crows, Ravens, Jays and Magpies worldwide and tag them with
      specific keywords making them available for researchers worldwide. The self
      maintained project started in 2006 and today comprises 8000 articles, spanning
      almost 500 years. The CLD covers publications from 164 countries, written in 36
      languages and published by 8026 authors in 1503 journals (plus books, theses and
      other publications). Forty-nine percent of all records are available online as
      full-text documents or deposited in the physical CLD archive. The CLD contains
      442 original corvid descriptions. Here, we present a metadata assessment of
      articles recorded in the CLD including a gap analysis and prospects for future
      research. Database URL: http://www.corvids.de/cld.

PMID- 26868054
TI  - CCSI: a database providing chromatin-chromatin spatial interaction information.
AB  - Distal regulatory elements have been shown to regulate gene transcription through
      spatial interactions, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are linked with
      distal gene expression by spatial proximity, which helps to explain the causal
      role of disease-associated SNPs in non-coding region. Therefore, studies on
      spatial interactions between chromatin have created a new avenue for elucidating
      the mechanism of transcriptional regulation in disease pathogenesis. Recently, a
      growing number of chromatin interactions have been revealed by means of 3C, 4C,
      5C, ChIA-PET and Hi-C technologies. To interpret and utilize these interactions,
      we constructed chromatin-chromatin spatial interaction (CCSI) database by
      integrating and annotating 91 sets of chromatin interaction data derived from
      published literature, UCSC database and NCBI GEO database, resulting in a total
      of 3,017,962 pairwise interactions (false discovery rate < 0.05), covering human,
      mouse and yeast. A web interface has been designed to provide access to the
      chromatin interactions. The main features of CCSI are (i) showing chromatin
      interactions and corresponding genes, enhancers and SNPs within the regions in
      the search page; (ii) offering complete interaction datasets, enhancer and SNP
      information in the download page; and (iii) providing analysis pipeline for the
      annotation of interaction data. In conclusion, CCSI will facilitate exploring
      transcriptional regulatory mechanism in disease pathogenesis associated with
      spatial interactions among genes, regulatory regions and SNPs. Database URL:
      http://songyanglab.sysu.edu.cn/ccsi.

PMID- 26868055
TI  - A meta-analysis of leaf gas exchange and water status responses to drought.
AB  - Drought is considered to be one of the most devastating natural hazards, and it
      is predicted to become increasingly frequent and severe in the future.
      Understanding the plant gas exchange and water status response to drought is very
      important with regard to future climate change. We conducted a meta-analysis
      based on studies of plants worldwide and aimed to determine the changes in gas
      exchange and water status under different drought intensities (mild, moderate and
      severe), different photosynthetic pathways (C3 and C4) and growth forms (herbs,
      shrubs, trees and lianas). Our results were as follows: 1) drought negatively
      impacted gas exchange and water status, and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased
      more than other physiological traits and declined to the greatest extent in
      shrubs and C3 plants. Furthermore, C4 plants had an advantage compared to C3
      plants under the same drought conditions. 2) The decrease in gs mainly reduced
      the transpiration rate (Tr), and gs could explain 55% of the decrease in the
      photosynthesis (A) and 74% of the decline in Tr. 3). Finally, gas exchange showed
      a close relationship with the leaf water status. Our study provides comprehensive
      information about the changes in plant gas exchange and water status under
      drought. 

PMID- 26868056
TI  - Proprotein convertase 7 rs236918 associated with liver fibrosis in Italian
      patients with HFE-related hemochromatosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: p.Cys282Tyr homozygosity is the prevalent genotype in (HFE)
      related Hereditary Hemochromatosis with low penetrance and variable expression.
      However, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma remain the main causes of
      mortality in these patients. Detection of genetic modifiers identifying patients
      at risk for liver damage would be relevant for their clinical management. We
      evaluated proprotein convertase 7 (PCSK7) rs236918 as genetic marker of risk of
      liver fibrosis in an Italian cohort of p.Cys282Tyr homozygotes. METHODS: Liver
      fibrosis was histologically assessed by Ishak score. We evaluated PCSK7 alleles
      and genotypes frequencies according to single or grouped staging scores:
      absent/mild fibrosis (stage: 0-2), moderate (stage: 3-4), and severe
      fibrosis/cirrhosis (stage: 5-6). Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping was
      performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism or Taqman 5'-nuclease
      assays. RESULTS: The rs236918 allele C frequency increased from stages 0-2 to 5-6
      (7.1% vs 13.6%, vs 21.9%, P = 0.003). The wild-type genotype was significantly
      more frequent in the absent/mild fibrosis group (54.2%) compared with only 17% in
      patients with severe fibrosis/cirrhosis. At univariate proportional odds model,
      patients with GC + CC genotypes were 2.77 times (P = 0.0018) more likely to have
      worse liver staging scores than wild-type patients. In the adjusted analysis,
      odds ratio was 2.37 (P = 0.0218), and 2.56 (P = 0.0233) when the analysis was
      restricted to males. An exploratory mediation analysis suggested a direct effect
      of genotype on severe fibrosis/cirrhosis (odds ratio = 3.11, P = 0.0157), and a
      mild non-significant indirect effect mediated through iron accounting for 28%.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that PCSK7 rs236918 C allele is a risk factor
      for cirrhosis development in Italian patients with HFE-Hemochromatosis.

PMID- 26868057
TI  - The perspectives of stakeholders of intellectual disability liaison nurses: a
      model of compassionate, person-centred care.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the experiences of patients with intellectual
      disabilities, family and paid carers regarding the role of liaison nurses and the
      delivery of compassionate, person-centred care. From this to propose a model of
      person-centred care embedded in these experiences. BACKGROUND: People with
      intellectual disabilities have a high number of comorbidities, requiring
      multidisciplinary care, and are at high risk of morbidity and preventable
      mortality. Provision of compassionate, person-centred care is essential to
      prevent complications and avoid death. DESIGN: A qualitative design was adopted
      with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis for data analysis. METHODS:
      Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted. Data were analysed
      with a focus on compassionate, person-centred care elements and components.
      Themes were modelled to develop a clinically meaningful model for practice.
      RESULTS: Themes identified vulnerability, presence and the human interface;
      information balance; critical points and broken trust; roles and
      responsibilities; managing multiple transitions; 'flagging up' and communication.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide the first 'anatomy' of compassionate, person
      centred care and provide a model for operationalising this approach in practice.
      The applicability of the model will have to be evaluated further with this and
      other vulnerable groups. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This is the first study
      to provide a definition of compassionate, person-centred care and proposes a
      model to support its application into clinical practice for this and other
      vulnerable groups.

PMID- 26868058
TI  - Reduced Labeling of Parvalbumin Neurons and Perineuronal Nets in the Dorsolateral
      Prefrontal Cortex of Subjects with Schizophrenia.
AB  - Alterations in cortical parvalbumin (PV)-containing neurons, including a reduced
      density of detectable neurons and lower PV levels, have frequently been reported
      in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of schizophrenia subjects. Most PV
      neurons are surrounded by perineuronal nets (PNNs) and the density of PNNs, as
      detected by Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) labeling, has been reported to
      be lower in schizophrenia. However, the nature of these PNN alterations, and
      their relationship to disease-related changes in PV neurons, has not been
      assessed. Using confocal microscopy, we quantified the densities and fluorescence
      intensities of PV neurons and PNNs labeled with WFA or immunoreactive for the
      major PNN protein, aggrecan, in the DLPFC from schizophrenia and matched
      comparison subjects. In schizophrenia, the densities of PV cells and of PNNs were
      not altered; however, the fluorescence intensities of PV immunoreactivity in cell
      bodies and of WFA labeling and aggrecan immunoreactivity in individual PNNs
      around PV cells were lower. These findings indicate that the normal complements
      of PV cells and PNNs are preserved in schizophrenia, but the levels of PV protein
      and of individual PNN components, especially the carbohydrate moieties on
      proteoglycans to which WFA binds, are lower. Given the roles of PV neurons in
      regulating DLPFC microcircuits and of PNNs in regulating PV cellular physiology,
      the identified alterations in PV neurons and their PNNs could contribute to DLPFC
      dysfunction in schizophrenia.

PMID- 26868059
TI  - Agreement between health utility instruments in cochlear implantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objectives of our study were threefold: to compare health utility
      scores measured with different health utility instruments in adult patients with
      bilateral deafness, to compare the change in health utility scores after
      unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation using the different health utility
      instruments and to assess which health utility instrument would be the most
      appropriate for future studies on cochlear implantation. DESIGN: A prospective
      study. SETTING: The data for this article were collected as part of a multicentre
      randomised controlled trial in the Netherlands on the benefits of simultaneous
      bilateral cochlear implantation compared to unilateral cochlear implantation.
      PARTICIPANTS: The study included 38 adult patients with severe to profound
      bilateral post-lingual sensorineural hearing loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Participants completed various quality of life questionnaires (the EuroQol five
      dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D), the Health Utilities Index mark 3 (HUI3), a
      visual analogue scale (VAS) for general quality of life and a VAS for hearing)
      preoperatively, and one and two years postoperatively. The general health utility
      instruments (EQ-5D, HUI3 and VAS general) were compared. RESULTS: The EQ-5D, HUI3
      and VAS general utility scores differed significantly. The intraclass correlation
      coefficients showed poor to no agreement between these instruments. A gain in
      health utility after cochlear implantation was found with the HUI3 and VAS
      general. The highest gain in health utility was found with the HUI3. CONCLUSIONS:
      A health utility score depends on the health utility instrument that is used in a
      specific patient population. We recommend using the HUI3 in future studies on
      cochlear implantation.

PMID- 26868060
TI  - Report on milestones for care and support under the U.S. National Plan to Address
      Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Under the U.S. national Alzheimer's plan, the National Institutes
      of Health identified milestones required to meet the plan's biomedical research
      goal (Goal 1). However, similar milestones have not been created for the goals on
      care (Goal 2) and support (Goal 3). METHODS: The Alzheimer's Association convened
      a workgroup with expertise in clinical care, long-term services and supports,
      dementia care and support research, and public policy. The workgroup reviewed the
      literature on Alzheimer's care and support; reviewed how other countries are
      addressing the issue; and identified public policies needed over the next 10
      years to achieve a more ideal care and support system. RESULTS: The workgroup
      developed and recommended 73 milestones for Goal 2 and 56 milestones for Goal 3.
      DISCUSSION: To advance the implementation of the U.S. national Alzheimer's plan,
      the U.S. government should adopt these recommended milestones, or develop similar
      milestones, to be incorporated into the national plan.

PMID- 26868061
TI  - Multiple Imputation for General Missing Data Patterns in the Presence of High
      dimensional Data.
AB  - Multiple imputation (MI) has been widely used for handling missing data in
      biomedical research. In the presence of high-dimensional data, regularized
      regression has been used as a natural strategy for building imputation models,
      but limited research has been conducted for handling general missing data
      patterns where multiple variables have missing values. Using the idea of multiple
      imputation by chained equations (MICE), we investigate two approaches of using
      regularized regression to impute missing values of high-dimensional data that can
      handle general missing data patterns. We compare our MICE methods with several
      existing imputation methods in simulation studies. Our simulation results
      demonstrate the superiority of the proposed MICE approach based on an indirect
      use of regularized regression in terms of bias. We further illustrate the
      proposed methods using two data examples. 

PMID- 26868064
TI  - A standardized formula based on 2D fetal thigh measurements improves the accuracy
      of intrapartum birth weight estimation.

PMID- 26868062
TI  - World Health Organization Guidelines for treatment of cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia 2-3 and screen-and-treat strategies to prevent cervical cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 1%-2% of women develop cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia grade 2-3 (CIN 2-3) annually worldwide. The prevalence among women
      living with HIV is higher, at 10%. If left untreated, CIN 2-3 can progress to
      cervical cancer. WHO has previously published guidelines for strategies to screen
      and treat precancerous cervical lesions and for treatment of histologically
      confirmed CIN 2-3. METHODS: Guidelines were developed using the WHO Handbook for
      Guideline Development and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment,
      Development and Evaluation) approach. A multidisciplinary guideline panel was
      created. Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and observational
      studies were conducted. Evidence tables and Evidence to Recommendations Tables
      were prepared and presented to the panel. RESULTS: There are nine recommendations
      for screen-and-treat strategies to prevent cervical cancer, including the HPV
      test, cytology, and visual inspection with acetic acid. There are seven for
      treatment of CIN with cryotherapy, loop electrosurgical excision procedure, and
      cold knife conization. CONCLUSION: Recommendations have been produced on the
      basis of the best available evidence. However, high-quality evidence was not
      available. Such evidence is needed, in particular for screen-and-treat strategies
      that are relevant to low- and middle-income countries.

PMID- 26868063
TI  - Randomized controlled trial comparing ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose for
      treatment of iron deficiency anemia due to abnormal uterine bleeding.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric
      carboxymaltose (FCM) in comparison with intravenous iron sucrose (ISC) in the
      treatment of anemia due to abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). METHODS: A randomized
      controlled trial was conducted between April 2013 and May 2014 in patients older
      than 18 years of age presenting at a hospital in New Delhi, India, with anemia
      due to AUB. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive treatment with
      intravenous FCM or ISC. The primary outcome, increase in hemoglobin above
      baseline, was monitored over a 12-week period. Patients completing the full
      treatment and follow-up protocol were included in the analyses. Participants and
      investigators were not masked to treatment allocations. RESULTS: Overall, 30
      patients were assigned to each group. Increases in mean hemoglobin levels from
      baseline were significantly higher in the FCM group at 6 weeks (P=0.005). At 12
      weeks, there was no significant difference in hemoglobin increase from baseline
      between the two groups (P=0.11). Adverse events were similar between both
      treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with FCM resulted in a rapid increase in
      hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia due to AUB, with similar increases in
      hemoglobin over a 12-week period. Clinical Trial Registration
      (www.ctri.nic.in):CTRI/2015/09/006224.

PMID- 26868065
TI  - Economic implications of labor induction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess health service costs associated with labor induction
      according to different clinical situations in a tertiary-level hospital. METHODS:
      In a prospective study, individual patient cost data were assessed for women
      admitted for induction of labor at a tertiary hospital in Spain between November
      1, 2012, and August 31, 2013. The costs of labor induction were estimated
      according to maternal and neonatal outcomes, method of delivery, cervical
      condition at admission, and obstetric indication. Direct costs including
      professional fees, epidural, maternal stay, consumables, and drugs were
      calculated. RESULTS: Overall, 412 women were included in the final cost analysis.
      The mean total cost of labor induction was ?3589.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]
      3475.13-3704.61). Cesarean delivery after labor induction (?4830.45, 95% CI
      4623.13-5037.58) was significantly more expensive than spontaneous delivery
      (?3037.45, 95% CI 2966.91-3179.99) and instrumental vaginal delivery (?3344.31,
      95%CI 3151.69-3536.93). The total cost for patients with a very unfavorable
      cervix (Bishop score <2; ?4283.47, 95% CI 4063.06-4503.88) was almost double that
      for women with a favorable cervix (?2605.09, 95% CI 2327.38-2837.58). Labor
      induction for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was the most expensive
      obstetric indication for induction of labor (?4347.32, 95% CI 3890.45-4804.18).
      CONCLUSION: Following the induction of labor, a number of patient- and treatment
      related factors influence costs associated with delivery.

PMID- 26868067
TI  - Importance of serial CA125 measurements over an absolute cut-off value for the
      detection of asymptomatic ovarian cancer in high-risk patients.

PMID- 26868066
TI  - Vitamin A status and its relationship with serum zinc concentrations among
      pregnant women who have previously undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vitamin A status and its relationship with serum zinc
      concentrations among pregnant women who had previously undergone Roux-en-Y
      gastric bypass (RYGB), correlating these measures with anthropometric maternal
      characteristics and perinatal outcomes. METHODS: An analytical prospective
      longitudinal study was conducted at a clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between
      March 3, 2008, and March 30, 2012, among women with singleton pregnancies who had
      previously undergone RYGB. Participants received daily oral supplementation with
      5000 IU retinol and 15 mg zinc. Variables assessed included vitamin A status
      (serum retinol and beta-carotene; gestational night blindness), serum zinc
      concentration, maternal anthropometry, complications during pregnancy, and
      perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 30 women participated. In all trimesters,
      more than 60% had inadequate serum levels of retinol or beta-carotene. Night
      blindness was reported by 17 (57%) women in each trimester. Only 6 (20%) women
      had zinc inadequacy in the first and third trimesters. No significant association
      was observed between serum retinol or zinc and maternal anthropometry and birth
      weight. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with urinary tract infection (first
      trimester, P=0.020) and dumping syndrome (third trimester, P=0.013). CONCLUSION:
      Despite RYGB and nutritional deficiencies (especially of vitamin A and zinc)
      increasing risks during pregnancy, there was no apparent fetal compromise when
      considering the analysis of birth weight and length of pregnancy at birth.

PMID- 26868068
TI  - The evaluation of uterine artery embolization as a nonsurgical treatment option
      for adenomyosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization
      (UAE) for the treatment of adenomyosis. METHODS: A prospective study was
      performed at Yuhuangding Hospital, China, between January 2012 and December 2013,
      enrolling premenopausal patients diagnosed with adenomyosis. All patients were
      treated with bilateral UAE using 500-700-MUm tris-acryl gelatin microspheres. At
      baseline, and 3, 6, and 12months after UAE, magnetic resonance imaging was used
      to assess uterine volume and patient-assessed improvements in dysmenorrhea were
      recorded. Any complications and adverse events were reported. RESULTS: In total,
      117 patients with adenomyosis were enrolled. The bilateral UAE procedure was
      successful in 115 (98.3%) patients, who were able to return to normal activity
      within 1week of treatment. At 12-month follow-up, a median 51.0% reduction in
      uterine volume from baseline was recorded (P=0.005). Marked and moderate
      improvements in dysmenorrhea symptoms were reported by 64 (55.7%) and 31 (27.0%)
      participants, respectively. Pelvic pain of varying intensity was reported by 112
      (97.4%) patients but was managed with analgesia. Persistent amenorrhea was
      experienced by 2 (1.7%) individuals following treatment. Patients did not
      encounter any new gynecologic or general complications following UAE treatment.
      CONCLUSION: UAE could be considered as a minimally invasive treatment option for
      patients with adenomyosis. Further research to compare the efficacy and safety of
      UAE with conventional hysterectomy is warranted.

PMID- 26868069
TI  - Lymph node micrometastases in initial stage cervical cancer and tumoral
      recurrence.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of micrometastases in lymph node tissue of
      patients with stage Ib1-IIA cervical cancer, the correlation of micrometastases
      with tumor recurrence and survival, and the expression of D2-40 in the primary
      tumor of patients with recurrence and/or micrometastases and its correlation with
      histopathologic findings. METHODS: In a retrospective study, the medical records
      of all patients with cervical cancer treated at a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil,
      between 2001 and 2007 were reviewed. Patients with no lymph node metastases and
      treated with radical hysterectomy without adjuvant treatment were included. Tumor
      sections were reviewed and lymph nodes were analyzed with AE1/AE3. Patients with
      and without recurrence were compared. The presence of lymph node micrometastasis
      or isolated tumor cells was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients
      evaluated, 15 (18%) had recurrence. Significant differences between patients with
      and without recurrence were observed with regard to tumor greatest axis, clinical
      stage, number of micrometastases, and negative lymph nodes (P<=0.04). Lymph node
      micrometastases and isolated tumor cells were significantly different for a
      stromal invasion depth greater than 2/3 (P=0.046). CONCLUSION: The presence of
      lymph node micrometastases is an important risk factor for tumor recurrence.
      These patients should be considered eligible for adjuvant radiochemotherapy
      treatment.

PMID- 26868070
TI  - Validation of a structured intensive laparoscopic course for basic and advanced
      gynecologic skills training.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe and validate a gynecologic laparoscopic-surgery training
      model. METHODS: The present prospective observational study was conducted at the
      Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre Jesus Uson, Caceres, Spain, between January
      2011 and June 2013. Novice gynecologists attended a 3-day course including
      simulation and animal training. Participants' were assessed before and after
      training using a virtual reality simulator; during training, gynecologists were
      timed and assessed using an Objective and Structured Assessment of Technical
      Skills score. The virtual reality simulator-assessed skills were eye-hand
      coordination, hand-hand coordination, and transference of objects. Participants
      were asked to rate various elements of the training program using a five-point
      scale. RESULTS: The study enrolled 21 gynecologists. Participants performed all
      tasks faster (P<0.001), using fewer movements (P<0.05 for left and right
      instruments), after receiving training. During participants' final animal and
      simulator training sessions, completion times were reduced (P<0.001) and
      assessment scores (P<0.001) increased for all techniques and tasks. Participants
      considered suturing to be the most useful aspect of the basic-skills training
      (4.95+/-0.22); animal training received a higher rating than simulator training
      for practicing new techniques (4.81+/-0.40 vs 4.05+/-0.86) and maintaining skills
      (4.76+/-0.54 vs 3.95+/-0.97). CONCLUSION: Combining proficiency-based physical
      simulation and animal training models under expert guidance is an efficient model
      for improving basic and advanced laparoscopic skills. Suturing and animal models
      were the preferred training components.

PMID- 26868071
TI  - Progestin-based contraceptive on the same day as medical abortion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the success rate of medical abortion when a progestin
      based contraceptive-either an etonogestrel implant or depot medroxyprogesterone
      acetate (DMPA) injection-is given on the same day as mifepristone for medical
      abortion. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, data were assessed for women
      aged 15-49years who underwent medical abortion (<=63days of pregnancy) at two
      hospitals in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, between August 2013 and July 2014. The
      women were given oral mifepristone (200mg) and buccal misoprostol (800MUg), and
      received an etonogestrel implant or DMPA injection on the same day as
      mifepristone. The primary outcome was the success rate of medical abortion.
      Comparative data were obtained through a PubMed search. RESULTS: A total of 89
      women were included. Complete termination was achieved in 87 (98%, 95% confidence
      interval 95%-100%) women. This success rate is similar to that reported in a
      previous systematic review of the rate of medical abortion success without
      progestin contraceptive administration (94.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of a
      progestin-based contraceptive such as an etonogestrel implant or DMPA injection
      on the same day as mifepristone for medical abortion did not alter the success
      rates.

PMID- 26868072
TI  - Association between bone mineral density and metabolic syndrome in Turkish women
      who were postmenopausal.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the parameters of metabolic
      syndrome and bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in
      Turkish women who were postmenopausal. METHODS: In a retrospective study, the
      records of patients who were postmenopausal attending the Menopause Outpatient
      Clinic of a tertiary women's hospital in Ankara, Turkey, between January 1, 2014
      and December 31, 2014 were retrieved. Patient's BMD at the lumbar spine and
      femoral neck were assessed using T-scores, and parameters of metabolic syndrome
      were evaluated in all patients. RESULTS: The records of 315 patients were
      retrieved. The mean age of patients was 55.63+/-6.14years (range 45-71 years).
      Metabolic syndrome was recorded in 92 (29.2%) patients. Following adjustment for
      age, patients with metabolic syndrome had higher T-scores at the femoral neck
      than patients without metabolic syndrome (-0.67+/-0.1 vs -1.15+/-0.06; P=0.001);
      there was no significant difference in T-scores at the lumbar spine (P=0.062). A
      Spearman correlation analysis of the entire study cohort demonstrated a negative
      association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and BMD at the lumbar
      spine and femoral neck (r=-0.12 and r=-0.15, respectively). CONCLUSION: Metabolic
      syndrome could have been partly associated with increased BMD in Turkish women
      who were postmenopausal.

PMID- 26868073
TI  - The effects of previous cesarean deliveries on severe maternal and adverse
      perinatal outcomes at a university hospital in Tanzania.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate if multiparous individuals who had undergone a previous
      cesarean delivery experienced an increased risk of severe maternal outcomes or
      adverse perinatal outcomes compared with multiparous individuals who had
      undergone previous vaginal deliveries. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional
      study at a university hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, enrolled multiparous
      participants of at least 28weeks of pregnancy between February 1 and June 30,
      2012 . Data were collected from patients' medical records and the hospital's
      obstetric database. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were
      calculated to compare outcomes among patients who had or had not undergone
      previous cesarean deliveries. RESULTS: A total of 2478 patients were enrolled. A
      previous cesarean delivery resulted in no increase in the risk of severe maternal
      outcomes (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.58-1.26; P=0.46), and decreased risk of stillbirth
      (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29-0.62, P<0.001), and intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal
      distress (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.87, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Previous cesarean
      delivery was not a risk factor for severe maternal outcomes or adverse perinatal
      outcomes. The present study was conducted at a referral institution, where
      individuals with previous cesarean deliveries may constitute a healthy group.
      Additionally, there could be differences between the study groups in terms of
      healthcare-seeking behavior, referral mechanisms, intrapartum monitoring, and
      clinical decision making.

PMID- 26868074
TI  - Randomized controlled trial of elevation of the fetal head with a fetal pillow
      during cesarean delivery at full cervical dilatation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether use of the Fetal Pillow (Safe Obstetric Systems,
      Shenfield, UK) affects maternal and fetal morbidity in cesarean delivery at full
      cervical dilatation. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at two
      teaching hospitals in West Bengal, India, between April 1, 2013, and March 31,
      2014. Women undergoing cesarean delivery at full dilatation were enrolled and
      randomly assigned with computer-generated random numbers (block size 10) to
      undergo delivery with or without the Fetal Pillow. Group assignment was not
      masked. The primary outcome was the incidence of major uterine wound extensions
      (grade 2-3). RESULTS: Overall, 120 women were assigned to each group. Major
      uterine wound extensions occurred in 6 (5.0%) women in the Fetal Pillow group and
      39 (32.5%) in the control group (relative risk 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.11
      0.48). CONCLUSION: Use of the Fetal Pillow in second-stage cesarean delivery
      significantly reduces the risk of a major extension of the uterine incision. CTRI
      registration number: CTRI/2015/03/005651.

PMID- 26868075
TI  - Ductus venosus blood flow velocity waveforms during the early second trimester of
      pregnancy in a Thai population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish reference ranges for ductus venosus (DV) blood flow
      velocities and indices during the early second trimester. METHODS: A cross
      sectional DV Doppler study of fetuses at 15-22 weeks of gestation was conducted
      at Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand, during 2013-2014. The peak
      forward velocities were recorded and the DV indices were calculated. Predicted
      reference ranges based on the 5th and 95th percentiles according to the week of
      gestation were constructed. RESULTS: Among 371 fetuses, measurement of DV Doppler
      waveforms in the sagittal plane was achieved in 97.5% of cases. With advancing
      pregnancy (weeks 15 to 22), the DV velocities during ventricular systole, early
      diastole, and atrial contraction increased from 47.48 cm/s to 68.22 cm/s, 42.23
      cm/s to 60.52 cm/s, and 15.94 cm/s to 34.84 cm/s, respectively. The time-averaged
      maximum value increased from 37.61 cm/s to 55.42 cm/s. The DV indices-pulsatility
      index for the vein, peak velocity index for the vein, preload index, and
      systolic/a-wave ratio-decreased from 0.79 to 0.59, 0.71 to 0.53, 0.63 to 0.47,
      and 2.72 to 1.90, respectively. The systolic/diastolic ratio remained relatively
      constant at 1.12. CONCLUSIONS: Normal reference ranges for DV flow velocities and
      indices during the early second trimester were established.

PMID- 26868076
TI  - Human Factors Approach to Comparative Usability of Hospital Manual
      Defibrillators.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Equipment-related issues have recently been cited as a significant
      contributor to the suboptimal outcomes of resuscitation management. A systematic
      evaluation of the human-device interface was undertaken to evaluate the intuitive
      nature of three different defibrillators. Devices tested were the Physio-Control
      LifePak 15, the Zoll R Series Plus, and the Philips MRx. METHODS: A convenience
      sample of 73 multidisciplinary health care providers from 5 different hospitals
      participated in this study. All subjects' performances were evaluated without any
      training on the devices being studied to assess the intuitiveness of the user
      interface to perform the functions of delivering an Automated External
      Defibrillator (AED) shock, a manual defibrillation, pacing to achieve 100%
      capture, and synchronized cardioversion on a rhythm simulator. RESULTS: Times to
      deliver an AED shock were fastest with the Zoll, whereas the Philips had the
      fastest times to deliver a manual defibrillation. Subjects took the least time to
      attain 100% capture for pacing with the Physio-Control device. No differences in
      performance times were seen with synchronized cardioversion among the devices.
      Human factors issues uncovered during this study included a preference for knobs
      over soft keys and a desire for clarity in control panel design. This study
      demonstrated no clearly superior defibrillator, as each of the models exhibited
      strengths in different areas. When asked their defibrillator preference, 67% of
      subjects chose the Philips. CONCLUSIONS: This comparison of user interfaces of
      defibrillators in simulated situations allows the assessment of usability that
      can provide manufacturers and educators with feedback about defibrillator
      implementation for these critical care devices.

PMID- 26868077
TI  - Representativity and co-morbidity: Two factors of importance when reporting
      health status among survivors of cardiac arrest.
AB  - AIM: Reports on differences between respondents and non-respondents of out-of
      hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors are sparse. This study compares
      respondents with non-respondents in a follow-up study of a consecutive sample of
      OHCA survivors and describes the relation between respondents' self-reported
      morbidity and health. METHODS/DESIGN: Questionnaires were administered within 12
      months after the OHCA. The study population was adult patients who had survived
      an OHCA during 2008 to 2011, with a cerebral performance score of <=2 at
      discharge. The patients were identified through the Swedish registry of OHCA. The
      Self-administered comorbidity questionnaire and EQ VAS (Euroqol questionnaire
      visual analogue scale) was used to measure morbidity and health status. RESULTS:
      Of 298 survivors, 224 were eligible for the study and 127 responded. Mean time
      from cardiac arrest (CA) to follow up was 178 days. Comparing the 127 respondents
      with the 97 lost to follow-up and non-respondents, no significant differences
      were found in terms of age, sex, factors at resuscitation and in-hospital
      interventions. The EQ VAS median was 75 (25th,75th percentile 60,80)). Self-rated
      health differed between respondents reporting 0-2 conditions (n=68) and
      respondents reporting more than two (n=43), median EQ VAS 78 (68,90) and 65
      (50,80)), respectively; p-value 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a limited response
      rate, representativeness in terms of patient characteristics among survivors of
      OHCA with an acceptable cerebral function is achievable. A considerable
      proportion of the survivors lived with the burden of multi-morbidity which
      worsened health.

PMID- 26868078
TI  - Towards interventional trials on the use of oxygen during and after cardiac
      arrest.

PMID- 26868079
TI  - Kids save lives: a six-year longitudinal study of schoolchildren learning
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Who should do the teaching and will the effects
      last?
AB  - AIMS: This prospective longitudinal study over 6 years compared schoolteachers
      and emergency physicians as resuscitation trainers for schoolchildren. It also
      investigated whether pupils who were trained annually for 3 years retain their
      resuscitation skills after the end of this study. METHODS: A total of 261 pupils
      (fifth grade) at two German grammar schools received resuscitation training by
      trained teachers or by emergency physicians. The annual training events stopped
      after 3 years in one group and continued for 6 years in a second group. We
      measured knowledge about resuscitation (questionnaire), chest compression rate
      (min(-1)), chest compression depth (mm), ventilation rate (min(-1)), ventilation
      volume (mL), self-efficacy (questionnaire). Their performance was evaluated after
      1, 3 and 6 years. RESULTS: The training events increased the pupils' knowledge
      and practical skills. When trained by teachers, the pupils achieved better
      results for knowledge (92.86% +/- 8.38 vs. 90.10% +/- 8.63, P=0.04) and
      ventilation rate (4.84/min +/- 4.05 vs. 3.76/min +/- 2.37, P=0.04) than when they
      were trained by emergency physicians. There were no differences with regard to
      chest compression rate, depth, ventilation volume, or self-efficacy at the end of
      the study. Knowledge and skills after 6 years were equivalent in the group with 6
      years training compared with 3 years training. CONCLUSIONS: Trained teachers can
      provide adequate resuscitation training in schools. Health-care professionals are
      not mandatory for CPR training (easier for schools to implement resuscitation
      training). The final evaluation after 6 years showed that resuscitation skills
      are retained even when training is interrupted for 3 years.

PMID- 26868080
TI  - Induction of humoral immune response against Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagellin(1
      161) using gold nanoparticles as an adjuvant.
AB  - Flagellin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important vaccine candidate. N-terminal
      domains are highly conserved in both type a and type b flagellins. The efficacy
      of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated to N-terminal domains of P. aeruginosa
      flagellin (flagellin(1-161)), as an immunogen in mice, has been assessed. The
      nanoparticles were conjugated to the recombinant protein through direct
      interaction of thiol molecules of the cysteines with AuNPs and formation of AuS
      bond. Flagellin(1-161), AuNP-flagellin(1-161), and flagellin(1-161) emulsified in
      Freund's adjuvant (FA: complete/incomplete Freund's adjuvant formulation) were
      administered subcutaneously to BALB/c mice. Mice given AuNP-flagellin(1-161)
      elicited high titers of anti-flagellin(1-161) antibodies compared with non-immune
      group and/or mice which received flagellin(1-161) without adjuvant. In whole cell
      ELISA, these antibodies effectively recognized the native flagellin on the
      bacteria. Opsonophagocytosis assay demonstrated the functional activity and
      specificity of anti-flagellin(1-161) antibodies raised by AuNP-flagellin(1-161)
      against homologous strain. All of the results were comparable with those obtained
      by use of FA. Taken together, this is the first report of conjugation of AuNPs to
      flagellin and evaluating its immune response against P. aeruginosa. 

PMID- 26868081
TI  - Hong Kong Chinese parental attitudes towards vaccination and associated socio
      demographic disparities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most previous studies on parental attitudes towards vaccination
      focused on a disease-specific vaccine. In this study we describe general
      attitudes towards vaccination in Chinese parents and associated socio-demographic
      disparities. METHODS: Data were collected from a random sample of 1996 Hong Kong
      Chinese parents by telephone interviews (response rate 60%). Multiple linear
      regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Most parents believed vaccination to
      be effective (91.6%) and beneficial (78.7%), though many considered optional
      vaccines unimportant (39.5%) and unnecessary (62.1%). Demographic characteristics
      associated with parental negative attitudes to vaccination included being female,
      born in Hong Kong, married, having fewer children, and children ever experienced
      vaccination side effects. Lower personal income and religious affiliation were
      associated with more hesitant attitudes towards optional vaccines. CONCLUSION:
      Segments of the population hold significantly negative attitudes towards
      vaccination and optional vaccines, suggesting a need for targeted efforts on
      vaccination communication in these groups.

PMID- 26868082
TI  - Parental report of vaccine receipt in children with autism spectrum disorder: Do
      rates differ by pattern of ASD onset?
AB  - A contentious theory espoused by some parents is that regressive-onset of autism
      spectrum disorder (ASD) is triggered by vaccines. If this were true, then vaccine
      receipt should be higher in children with regressive-onset ASD compared with
      other patterns of onset. Parental report of rate of receipt for six vaccines
      (DPT/DTaP, HepB, Hib, polio, MMR, varicella) was examined in children with ASD
      (N=2755) who were categorized by pattern of ASD onset (early onset, plateau,
      delay-plus-regression, regression). All pairwise comparisons were significantly
      equivalent within a 10% margin for all vaccines except varicella, for which the
      delay-plus-regression group had lower rates of receipt (81%) than the early-onset
      (87%) and regression (87%) groups. Findings do not support a connection between
      regressive-onset ASD and vaccines in this cohort. 

PMID- 26868083
TI  - Vaccination with virus-like particles containing H5 antigens from three H5N1
      clades protects chickens from H5N1 and H5N8 influenza viruses.
AB  - Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, especially H5N1 strains,
      represent a public health threat and cause widespread morbidity and mortality in
      domestic poultry. Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a promising
      novel vaccine approach to control avian influenza including HPAI strains.
      Influenza VLPs contain viral hemagglutinin (HA), which can be expressed in cell
      culture within highly immunogenic VLPs that morphologically and antigenically
      resemble influenza virions, except VLPs are non-infectious. Here we describe a
      recombinant VLP containing HA proteins derived from three distinct clades of H5N1
      viruses as an experimental, broadly protective H5 avian influenza vaccine. A
      baculovirus vector was configured to co-express the H5 genes from recent H5N1
      HPAI isolates A/chicken/Germany/2014 (clade 2.3.4.4), A/chicken/West
      Java/Subang/29/2007 (clade 2.1.3) and A/chicken/Egypt/121/2012 (clade 2.2.1). Co
      expression of these genes in Sf9 cells along with influenza neuraminidase (NA)
      and retrovirus gag genes resulted in production of triple-clade H555 VLPs that
      exhibited hemagglutination activity and morphologically resembled influenza
      virions. Vaccination of chickens with these VLPs resulted in induction of serum
      antibody responses and efficient protection against experimental challenges with
      three different viruses including the recent U.S. H5N8 HPAI isolate. We conclude
      that these novel triple-clade VLPs represent a feasible strategy for
      simultaneously evoking protective antibodies against multiple variants of H5
      influenza virus. 

PMID- 26868084
TI  - Simulating Chiral Magnetic and Separation Effects with Spin-Orbit Coupled Atomic
      Gases.
AB  - The chiral magnetic and chiral separation effects-quantum-anomaly-induced
      electric current and chiral current along an external magnetic field in parity
      odd quark-gluon plasma-have received intense studies in the community of heavy
      ion collision physics. We show that analogous effects occur in rotating trapped
      Fermi gases with Weyl-Zeeman spin-orbit coupling where the rotation plays the
      role of an external magnetic field. These effects can induce a mass quadrupole in
      the atomic cloud along the rotation axis which may be tested in future
      experiments. Our results suggest that the spin-orbit coupled atomic gases are
      potential simulators of the chiral magnetic and separation effects. 

PMID- 26868085
TI  - Interleukin-15-mediated inflammation promotes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
AB  - Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is essential for the homeostasis of lymphoid cells
      particularly memory CD8(+) T cells and NK cells. These cells are abundant in the
      liver, and are implicated in obesity-associated pathogenic processes. Here we
      characterized obesity-associated metabolic and cellular changes in the liver of
      mice lacking IL-15 or IL-15Ralpha. High fat diet-induced accumulation of lipids
      was diminished in the livers of mice deficient for IL-15 or IL-15Ralpha.
      Expression of enzymes involved in the transport of lipids in the liver showed
      modest differences. More strikingly, the liver tissues of IL15-KO and IL15Ralpha
      KO mice showed decreased expression of chemokines CCl2, CCL5 and CXCL10 and
      reduced infiltration of mononuclear cells. In vitro, IL-15 stimulation induced
      chemokine gene expression in wildtype hepatocytes, but not in IL15Ralpha
      deficient hepatocytes. Our results show that IL-15 is implicated in the high fat
      diet-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation in the liver, leading to fatty
      liver disease.

PMID- 26868086
TI  - Interleukin-27 inhibits malignant behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells by
      targeting M2 polarized tumor associated macrophages.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is characterized as inflammatory malignancy with a dismal
      prognosis. There is abundant intratumoral infiltration of macrophages, and most
      of these tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are induced to be M2 phenotype. The
      M2 polarized TAM has been demonstrated to promote progression and induce chemo
      resistance of pancreatic cancer. Interleukin (IL)-27 is a novel member of IL-12
      cytokine family and its roles in regulation of phenotypes and functions of TAM
      remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated IL-27 significantly
      inhibited the M2 macrophages polarization and dampened the proliferation,
      migration and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and as well enhanced the
      efficacy of gemcitabine. IL-27 could be potential to improve the treatment of
      pancreatic cancer by targeting M2 polarized TAMs.

PMID- 26868087
TI  - Secretion of cytokines and heat shock protein (HspA1A) by ovarian cancer cells
      depending on the tumor type and stage of disease.
AB  - Epithelial ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising several tumor
      types that each have multiple histopathological features and different biological
      behaviors. Recent morphologic and molecular genetic studies have allowed for the
      categorization of various types of ovarian cancer into two groups: type I and
      type II. Type I tumors are low-grade and are genetically more stable, while type
      II tumors are high-grade and genetically unstable. The determination of the type
      of ovarian cancer may have implications in terms of the appropriate therapeutic
      strategy because different prognoses and responses to chemotherapeutic agents are
      observed. Therefore, the current challenge is better recognition of the features
      of cancer cells, which may result in more individualized therapy. The aim of the
      current studies was to compare the ability of ovarian cancer cells isolated from
      tumors, which were classified as type I or type II ovarian cancer, to release pro
      inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines and heat shock protein (HspA1A).
      These factors are known to facilitate tumor cell survival, invasion and
      metastasis. Our studies demonstrated that ovarian cancer cells isolated from
      patients with type II tumors released high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines
      (i.e., interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor beta) and HspA1A in vitro.
      Conversely, ovarian cancer cells obtained from of type I tumors were
      significantly less active. We did not observe any difference in the ability of
      the isolated cancer cells to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, regardless of
      the type of ovarian cancer. In this study, we found that cancer cells from
      patients with type II tumors demonstrated more intense activity in regards to
      survival and metastasis, which should be considered during therapy.

PMID- 26868088
TI  - Effects of tumor vaccine expressing Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating
      Factor and interleukin-18 fusion on cancer cells and its possible application for
      cancer immunotherapy.
AB  - To access antitumor effects of a combined Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony
      Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), cDNA fusion of murine GM
      CSF and mature IL-18 (GMIL-18) was constructed and transfected in mammalian
      cells. GMIL-18 fusion protein was highly secreted and displayed bifunctional
      activities, possessing immune response initiation and cytokine roles, including
      IFN-gamma induction in mouse splenocytes and increased proliferation of GM-CSF
      dependent cells, M-NSF-60. The GMIL-18 secreting tumor vaccine was generated and
      it strongly stimulated differentiation of dendrite cells (DCs) and effusive CD8+
      and CD4+ cell infiltration into tumor mice. Moreover, growth of CT26 mouse colon
      cancer cells was significantly retarded by GMIL-18 (CT26GMIL-18), but not by
      CT26GM-CSF- or CT26IL-18. The efficiency of prophylactic vaccination was greater
      than that of therapeutic vaccination in terms of tumor size and its inhibitory
      role in proliferation. In micrometastasis analysis of tumor models, gamma-ray
      irradiated GMIL-18 tumor vaccine showed a smaller number of liver-meta tumor
      nodules in mouse liver cells. We concluded that bifunctional GMIL-18 fusion
      protein could be applied as an immune therapy for cancer treatments.

PMID- 26868089
TI  - Chylomicrons: Advances in biology, pathology, laboratory testing, and
      therapeutics.
AB  - The adequate absorption of lipids is essential for all mammalian species due to
      their inability to synthesize some essential fatty acids and fat-soluble
      vitamins. Chylomicrons (CMs) are large, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins that are
      produced in intestinal enterocytes in response to fat ingestion, which function
      to transport the ingested lipids to different tissues. In addition to the
      contribution of CMs to postprandial lipemia, their remnants, the degradation
      products following lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase, are linked to cardiovascular
      disease. In this review, we will focus on the structure-function and metabolism
      of CMs. Second, we will analyze the impact of gene defects reported to affect CM
      metabolism and, also, the role of CMs in other pathologies, such as
      atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Third, we will
      provide an overview of the laboratory tests currently used to study CM disorders,
      and, finally, we will highlight current treatments in diseases affecting CMs. 

PMID- 26868091
TI  - IS THE LINK BETWEEN HEALTH AND WEALTH CONSIDERED IN DECISION MAKING? RESULTS FROM
      A QUALITATIVE STUDY.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore whether wealth effects of health
      interventions, including productivity gains and savings in other sectors, are
      considered in resource allocations by health technology assessment (HTA) agencies
      and government departments. To analyze reasons for including, or not including,
      wealth effects. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with decision makers and
      academic experts in eight countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland,
      South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). RESULTS: There is evidence
      suggesting that health interventions can produce economic gains for patients and
      national economies. However, we found that the link between health and wealth
      does not influence decision making in any country with the exception of Sweden.
      This is due to a combination of factors, including system fragmentation,
      methodological issues, and the economic recession forcing national governments to
      focus on short-term measures. CONCLUSIONS: In countries with established HTA
      processes and methods allowing, in principle, the inclusion of wider effects in
      exceptional cases or secondary analyses, it might be possible to overcome the
      methodological and practical barriers and see a more systematic consideration of
      wealth effect in decision making. This would be consistent with principles of
      efficient priority setting. Barriers for the consideration of wealth effects in
      government decision making are more fundamental, due to an enduring separation of
      budgets within the public sector and current financial pressures. However,
      governments should consider all relevant effects from public investments,
      including healthcare, even when benefits can only be captured in the medium- and
      long-term. This will ensure that resources are allocated where they bring the
      best returns.

PMID- 26868092
TI  - ParkIndex: Development of a standardized metric of park access for research and
      planning.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A lack of comprehensive and standardized metrics for measuring park
      exposure limits park-related research and health promotion efforts. This study
      aimed to develop and demonstrate an empirically-derived and spatially-represented
      index of park access (ParkIndex) that would allow researchers, planners, and
      citizens to evaluate the potential for park use for a given area. METHODS: Data
      used for developing ParkIndex were collected in 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri
      (KCMO). Adult study participants (n=891) reported whether they used a park within
      the past month, and all parks in KCMO were mapped and audited using ArcGIS 9.3
      and the Community Park Audit Tool. Four park summary variables - distance to
      nearest park, and the number of parks, amount of park space, and average park
      quality index within 1mile were analyzed in relation to park use using logistic
      regression. Coefficients for significant park summary variables were used to
      create a raster surface (ParkIndex) representing the probability of park use for
      all 100m*100m cells in KCMO. RESULTS: Two park summary variables were positively
      associated with park use - the number of parks and the average park quality index
      within 1 mile. The ParkIndex probability of park use across all cells in KCMO
      ranged from 17 to 77 out of 100. CONCLUSION: ParkIndex represents a standardized
      metric of park access that combines elements of both park availability and
      quality, which was developed empirically and can be represented spatially. This
      tool has both practical and conceptual significance for researchers and
      professionals in diverse disciplines.

PMID- 26868090
TI  - DNA Polymerases eta and zeta Combine to Bypass O(2)-[4-(3-Pyridyl)-4
      oxobutyl]thymine, a DNA Adduct Formed from Tobacco Carcinogens.
AB  - 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine
      (NNN) are important human carcinogens in tobacco products. They are metabolized
      to produce a variety 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutyl (POB) DNA adducts including O(2)-[4
      (3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]thymidine (O(2)-POB-dT), the most abundant POB adduct
      in NNK- and NNN-treated rodents. To evaluate the mutagenic properties of O(2)-POB
      dT, we measured the rate of insertion of dNTPs opposite and extension past O(2)
      POB-dT and O(2)-Me-dT by purified human DNA polymerases eta, kappa, iota, and
      yeast polymerase zeta in vitro. Under conditions of polymerase in excess,
      polymerase eta was most effective at the insertion of dNTPs opposite O(2)-alkyl
      dTs. The time courses were biphasic suggesting the formation of inactive DNA
      polymerase complexes. The kpol parameter was reduced approximately 100-fold in
      the presence of the adduct for pol eta, kappa, and iota. Pol eta was the most
      reactive polymerase for the adducts due to a higher burst amplitude. For all
      three polymerases, the nucleotide preference was dATP > dTTP ? dGTP and dCTP.
      Yeast pol zeta was most effective in bypassing the adducts; the kcat/Km values
      were reduced only 3-fold in the presence of the adducts. The identity of the
      nucleotide opposite the O(2)-alkyl-dT did not significantly affect the ability of
      pol zeta to bypass the adducts. The data support a model in which pol eta inserts
      ATP or dTTP opposite O(2)-POB-dT, and then, pol zeta extends past the adduct. 

PMID- 26868095
TI  - The relevance of Foucault and Bourdieu for medical anthropology: exploring new
      sites.

PMID- 26868093
TI  - Trends and predictors of HPV vaccination among U.S. College women and men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: HPV vaccination was recommended by the Advisory Committee on
      Immunization Practices for young adult females in 2006 and males in 2011 to
      prevent HPV-related cancers and genital warts. As this prevention mechanism
      continues to disseminate, it is necessary to monitor the uptake of this vaccine.
      College students represent an important population for HPV vaccination efforts
      and surveillance due to increased risk for HPV infection and representing a
      priority population for catch-up HPV vaccination. The purpose of this study was
      to assess the trends in HPV vaccination among U.S. college females and males from
      2009 to 2013, and to examine whether predictors for HPV vaccination differ
      between males and females. METHODS: The National College Health Assessment-II
      (Fall 2009-2013) was used to assess trends in HPV vaccination using hierarchical
      logistic regression across genders and demographics. Data from 2013 were used to
      assess demographic variables associated with HPV vaccination for males and
      females, respectively. The analysis was conducted in 2015. RESULTS: Females had
      nearly double the rates of HPV vaccination compared to males over time. All
      demographic sub-groups had significant increases in vaccine rates over time, with
      select male sub-groups having more accelerated increases (e.g., gay). Young age
      (18-21 vs. 22-26years) was a significant predictor for HPV vaccination among
      males and females, while race/ethnicity was a predictor of vaccination among
      females only. CONCLUSIONS: These findings identified specific demographic sub
      groups that need continued support for HPV vaccination. Campus health centers may
      be rational settings to facilitate clinical opportunities for HPV vaccination
      among unvaccinated college students.

PMID- 26868094
TI  - Ultrastrong Bioinspired Graphene-Based Fibers via Synergistic Toughening.
AB  - Ultrastrong bioinspired graphene-based fibers are designed and prepared via
      synergistic toughening of ionic and covalent bonding. The tensile strength
      reaches up to 842.6 MPa and is superior to all other reported graphene-based
      fibers. In addition, its electrical conductivity is as high as 292.4 S cm(-1).
      This bioinspired synergistic toughening strategy supplies new insight toward the
      construction of integrated high-performance graphene-based fibers in the near
      future.

PMID- 26868096
TI  - Resources for health in Uganda: Bourdieu's concepts of capital and habitus.
AB  - Based on long-term fieldwork in rural Eastern Uganda, this paper explores the use
      of Bourdieu's concepts of capital and habitus to analyse local understandings of
      resources and strategies for health. In this local Ugandan context health cannot
      be taken for granted, but requires persistent effort. In local terms, health is
      broadly described as having a 'good life' and this is experienced as a social
      achievement conditioned by access to a variety of human and material resources.
      Wealth, unity with others, learnedness, 'smartness', and bodily strength are
      described by local people as key resources for a 'good life'. Bourdieu's concepts
      of economic, social, cultural and symbolic capital are applied in discussing the
      dynamics of how these local resources are converted into different forms of
      capital in the quest for health. It is argued that in order to more fully analyse
      how people think about, and strive for, health, a concept of bodily capital may
      be a useful addition to Bourdieu's original forms of capital. 

PMID- 26868097
TI  - Therapeutic itineraries: the medical field in rural Burkina Faso.
AB  - The health care system in Burkina Faso presents a paradox. The number of health
      centres in the rural areas has increased significantly since the signing of the
      Alma-Ata Declaration in 1978. However, studies show that these public health
      facilities are grossly under-utilized. Parallel to this development, local
      healers of different types are numerous and popular, and self-treatment extremely
      common. The present study explores this paradox on the basis of fieldwork in
      three villages in south-east Burkina Faso. Drawing on Bourdieu's notions of field
      and capital, the local health care system is analysed as a medical field where
      the different types of healers and health care institutions position themselves
      and are positioned through villagers' choice of therapy in their health seeking
      processes. The popularity of self-medication and various types of local healers
      are discussed in relation to the strengths of the various forms of capital in the
      medical field. It is argued that both local social relationships and indigenous
      knowledge are important variables in this particular area and add to our
      understanding of the low utilization rate of the public health facilities. 

PMID- 26868098
TI  - Medicalization and morality in a weak state: health, hygiene and water in Dar Es
      Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - Inspired by Foucault, many studies have examined the medicalization of everyday
      life in Western societies. This paper reconsiders potentials and limitations of
      this concept in an African city. Grounded in ethnographic research in Dar es
      Salaam, Tanzania, it concentrates on cleanliness, health and water in a lower
      middle-class neighbourhood. The findings show that women are familiar with
      professional health development discourses emphasizing cleanliness as a high
      value linked to bodily and domestic health. These discourses have been diffused
      in schools, clinics and other institutions during the colonial and socialist
      period. Women not only refer to these discourses, they try to reproduce them in
      daily practice and even demand them. This coercive yet voluntary nature of
      institutionalized discourses points to 'paradoxes of medicalization' also found
      in Western societies. It acquires, however, different meanings in a weak state
      like contemporary Tanzania which hardly manages to institutionalize
      medicalization through professional practice. Under such conditions, women who
      choose to follow health development discourses suffer a heavier practical,
      intellectual and emotional burden than those who are less committed. This may at
      least partly explain why many women assume a pragmatic stance towards the
      medicalization of everyday life. 

PMID- 26868099
TI  - Pleasure, power and dangerous substances: applying Foucault to the study of
      'heroin dependence' in Germany.
AB  - Taking the observation of disciplining and controlling everyday practices of
      methadone substitution as a point of departure, this paper explores the question
      of what exactly is so threatening or dangerous about heroin and heroin users.
      Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler, the main argument of
      this article is that the danger of heroin use is a discursive construction in
      accordance with bio-power. On the one hand, the juridical governance of heroin
      dependence is shifting from punishment to therapy, and biomedical discourses
      proclaim the substitution of a moral notion of heroin dependence by a disease
      model. Nevertheless, in the context of the anxiety associated with HIV, heroin
      remains the dangerous drug par excellence, and heroin users are constructed as
      'abject others', unable to subordinate to certain social norms. As a reaction to
      such injurious ascriptions, I argue, applicants to the methadone programme in
      their life stories intensely narrate a desire for normalization, which I read as
      a desire to emerge from the realm of the abject. Both the danger and the pleasure
      associated with heroin use are bound to fundamental processes of subject
      formation, which are often ignored in biomedical and anthropological discourses. 

PMID- 26868100
TI  - Bodily sovereignty as political sovereignty: 'self-care' in Kolkata, India.
AB  - This paper explores the potentials of applying Michel Foucault's notion of 'self
      care' to issues in medical anthropology. While Foucault's writings on regimes of
      power/knowledge have had an enormous influence on medical anthropologists, his
      late works on the ethics of the self have not yet received much attention. This
      paper discusses Foucault's notion of self-care in relation to Ayurvedic
      interpretations of digestion in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, India). In Kolkata,
      it is a widely held belief that attentive care of the self, and especially for
      the stomach, can set a person free from dependencies. Yet at the same time,
      'modern' people are seen as unable to live up to the ethics of self-care. The
      parallel between bodily sovereignty and cultural/political sovereignty produces a
      discourse on 'lack of self-control' as one of the main reasons for continuing
      dependency in all spheres of life. How does Foucault's late work help to
      conceptualize these findings? 

PMID- 26868101
TI  - French colonial medicine in Cambodia: reflections of governmentality.
AB  - Studies of colonial medicine, mostly from former British colonies, have shown
      that colonial medical interventions mostly benefited the European colonisers and
      often had very little positive effects on the health of the native populations at
      large. A common assumption is that this was also the case for French colonial
      medicine in general, and for colonial medicine in Cambodia in particular, and
      that the unsatisfactory contemporary state of the medical services in the country
      may be partly explained by its colonial past. As a way to test this assumption,
      this paper presents an ethnography of colonial medicine in Cambodia in the first
      decades of the twentieth century. Documents in the Cambodian National Archives
      provided the primary sources, and their significance was assessed against the
      background of the authors' experience of medical anthropological research in
      contemporary Cambodia. Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality is used as
      the interpretative frame. Elements of colonial governmentality in the medical
      field included the promotion of modern medicine through the free dispensing of
      medicines and medical treatment and rudimentary medical training of members of
      the local population, as well as compulsory vaccinations and surveillance of the
      colonial subjects. It is concluded that both the idea of medicine as a 'tool of
      empire' and that of the colonial physician as a humanitarian hero are equally
      incomplete as general descriptions, and that specific ethnographies of medical
      policies and practices should be undertaken for particular colonial settings.
      This paper provides the first anthropological account of colonial medicine in
      Cambodia. 

PMID- 26868102
TI  - Addressing Skyrocketing Cancer Drug Prices Comes With Tradeoffs: Pick Your
      Poison.

PMID- 26868103
TI  - Ecological interactions and the fitness effect of water-use efficiency:
      Competition and drought alter the impact of natural MPK12 alleles in Arabidopsis.
AB  - The presence of substantial genetic variation for water-use efficiency (WUE)
      suggests that natural selection plays a role in maintaining alleles that affect
      WUE. Soil water deficit can reduce plant survival, and is likely to impose
      selection to increase WUE, whereas competition for resources may select for
      decreased WUE to ensure water acquisition. We tested the fitness consequences of
      natural allelic variation in a single gene (MPK12) that influences WUE in
      Arabidopsis, using transgenic lines contrasting in MPK12 alleles, under four
      treatments; drought/competition, drought/no competition, well
      watered/competition, well-watered/no competition. Results revealed an allele *
      environment interaction: Low WUE plants performed better in competition,
      resulting from increased resource consumption. Contrastingly, high WUE
      individuals performed better in no competition, irrespective of water
      availability, presumably from enhanced water conservation and nitrogen
      acquisition. Our findings suggest that selection can influence MPK12 evolution,
      and represents the first assessment of plant fitness resulting from natural
      allelic variation at a single locus affecting WUE. 

PMID- 26868104
TI  - Solitude: On Dining Alone, Cellphones, and Teddy Bears.

PMID- 26868105
TI  - Structure of iridoid synthase in complex with NADP(+)/8-oxogeranial reveals the
      structural basis of its substrate specificity.
AB  - Iridoid synthase (IS), as a vegetal enzyme belonging to the short-chain
      dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily, produces the ring skeletons for
      downstream alkaloids with various pharmaceutical activities, including the
      commercially available antineoplastic agents, vinblastine and vincristine. Here,
      we present the crystal structures of IS in apo state and in complex with
      NADP(+)/8-oxogeranial, exhibiting an active center that lacks the classical
      Tyr/Lys/Ser triad spatially conserved in SDRs, with only the catalytically
      critical function of triad tyrosine remained in Tyr178. In consistent, mutation
      of Tyr178 to a phenylalanine residue significantly abolished the catalytic
      activity of IS. Within the substrate binding pocket, the linear-shaped 8
      oxogeranial adopts an entirely extended conformation with its two aldehyde ends
      hydrogen-bonded to Tyr178-OH and Ser349-OH, respectively. In addition, the
      intermediate carbon chain of bound substrate is harbored by a well-ordered
      hydrophobic scaffold, involving residues Ile145, Phe149, Leu203, Met213, Phe342,
      Ile345 and Leu352. Mutagenesis studies showed that both Ser349 and the
      hydrophobic residues around are determinant to the substrate specificity and,
      consequently, the catalytic activity of IS. In contrast, the Gly150-Pro160 loop
      previously proposed as a factor involved in substrate binding might have very
      limited contribution, because the deletion of residues Ile151-His161 has only
      slight influence on the catalytic activity. We believe that the present work will
      help to elucidate the substrate specificity of IS and to integrate its detailed
      catalytic mechanism. 

PMID- 26868106
TI  - Compaction of isolated Escherichia coli nucleoids: Polymer and H-NS protein
      synergetics.
AB  - Escherichia coli nucleoids were compacted by the inert polymer polyethylene
      glycol (PEG) in the presence of the H-NS protein. The protein by itself appears
      to have little impact on the size of the nucleoids as determined by fluorescent
      microscopy. However, it has a significant impact on the nucleoidal collapse by
      PEG. This is quantitatively explained by assuming the H-NS protein enhances the
      effective diameter of the DNA helix leading to an increase in the depletion
      forces induced by the PEG. Ultimately, however, the free energy of the nucleoid
      itself turns out to be independent of the H-NS concentration. This is because the
      enhancement of the supercoil excluded volume is negligible. The experiments on
      the nucleoids are corroborated by dynamic light scattering and EMSA analyses
      performed on DNA plasmids in the presence of PEG and H-NS. 

PMID- 26868107
TI  - Crystal structure of truncated FlgD from the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - Flagellin component D (FlgD) participates in the assembly of flagella, helical
      tubular structures that provide motility in non-filamentous bacteria. FlgD guides
      and controls the polymerization of FlgE that builds the hook, a short curved and
      hollow cylinder that connects the flagellar basal body spanning the cell envelope
      to the protruding filament. Crystal structures of truncated forms of Helicobacter
      pylori FlgD from two different strains in two space groups, I422 and P2, are
      reported here, at 2.2A and 2.8A resolution, respectively. Analogously to
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Xanthomonas campestris FlgD proteins, crystallization
      experiments set up for the full length protein resulted in crystals of a
      truncated form, lacking both N- and C-terminus ends. The crystal structures of
      the central domain show that the monomer is composed of a tudor and a fibronectin
      type III domain. The full length HpFlgD contains a long N-terminal signal region,
      probably partially flexible, a central globular region and a C-terminal segment
      with a peculiar repetitive pattern of amino acids. The spatial orientation of the
      two domains in HpFlgD differs from that of the homologous FlgD family members, P.
      aeruginosa and X. campestris. This difference together with the observation that
      HpFlgD assembles into tetramers, both in the solution and in the two crystal
      forms, strongly suggests that significant differences exist in the molecular
      organization of the flagella in different bacterial species. 

PMID- 26868108
TI  - [Core principles for the regulation of placement subject to public law in
      psychiatric hospitals - with explanations].
AB  - While the provisions of the highest courts concerning the involuntary commitment
      and treatment in psychiatric hospitals of people unable to give their consent are
      being implemented, in many federal states corresponding adjustments to the rules
      governing involuntary commitment in accordance with the mental health laws and
      laws on involuntary commitment are still pending. In states where new regulations
      do exist, legal experts express doubts that they conform to the Constitution and
      the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The DGPPN has
      formulated key parameters for involuntary commitment from a clinical perspective,
      which should be taken into account in the new regulations of the individual
      federal states.

PMID- 26868109
TI  - [Erratum to: Should antipsychotics be used in prodromal stages of schizophrenia
      to prevent psychosis? Pro].

PMID- 26868110
TI  - [Relatives in intensive care units: (Un)Satisfied needs].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Relatives of patients in intensive care units (ICU) have important
      supportive care needs which are often unrecognized and rarely satisfactorily met.
      OBJECTIVES: Description of stress factors and strains as well as supportive care
      needs, assessment of care needs, empirical evidence for care needs, satisfaction
      of care needs, options and efficacy of psychosocial support and communication
      recommendations for this special situation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of
      literature review articles, discussion of basic qualitative and quantitative
      research findings, meta-analyses and expert recommendations. RESULTS: Relatives
      of ICU patients report a number of cognitive, emotional, social and pragmatic
      support needs. Important needs, such as maintenance of hope and security as well
      as sincere and needs-adjusted communication often remain unrecognized and are
      rarely satisfactorily met. The weighting and prioritization of support needs are
      modulated by sociodemographic and cultural factors. Psychoeducative interventions
      reduce the psychosocial distress of family members. Communicative strategies of
      healthcare professionals reduce the risk of posttraumatic stress disorders for
      family members, reduce anxiety and depression and improve participative decision
      making. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals in ICUs should be sensitized to the
      specific characteristics of these special situations. For healthcare
      professionals it is equally important to improve self-awareness regarding their
      own defense mechanisms and to refine communicative competence on accessibility
      and adequately address the reality of subjective experiences of family members.
      Psychosocial support services should be recommended and utilization should be
      encouraged.

PMID- 26868111
TI  - [Significance of clinical electroencephalogram in psychiatry].
AB  - The generation of an electroencephalogram (EEG) provides a sensitive, non
      invasive and inexpensive method for the investigation of brain function. This
      article critically reviews the significance of EEG examinations in clinical
      psychiatric practice and describes relevant applications and limitations. A
      summary of the basic principles of the production and interpretation of an EEG is
      followed by a survey of typical EEG patterns in healthy subjects and pathological
      alterations of EEG patterns. The importance of the EEG for the clinical
      diagnostics of Alzheimer's disease and acute delirium as well as the
      differentiation between psychiatric syndromes and non-convulsive status
      epilepticus is reviewed. Moreover, the usefulness of the EEG is highlighted with
      respect to the diagnostics and monitoring of the course of lithium intoxication.
      Finally, this article gives a brief insight into promising research approaches
      that are currently being followed in modern psychiatry using an EEG. 

PMID- 26868112
TI  - Nocardia camponoti sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from the head of an ant
      (Camponotus japonicas Mayr).
AB  - A novel actinomycete, designated strain 1H-HV4T, was isolated from the head of
      Camponotus japonicas Mayr, which was collected from Northeast Agriculture
      University (Harbin, Heilongjiang, China). Chemotaxonomic properties of this
      strain were consistent with those of members of the genus Nocardia. The cell wall
      contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose
      and arabinose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4,omega-cycl). The
      phospholipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol
      mannoside. The major fatty acids were identified as C18:0 10-methyl, C16:0,
      C18:1omega9c and C16:1omega7c. Mycolic acids were found to be present. 16S rRNA
      gene sequence analysis also showed that strain 1H-HV4T was a member of the genus
      Nocardia, with the highest sequence similarities to Nocardia salmonicida JCM
      4826T (97.39%), Nocardia soli JCM 11441T (97.12%) and Nocardia cummidelens JCM
      11439T (97.08%). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to type strains of other
      members of the genus Nocardia were less than 97%. However, DNA-DNA relatedness
      values and phenotypic data demonstrated that strain1H-HV4T was clearly
      distinguished from all closely related species of the genus Nocardia. It is
      concluded that the isolate can be classified as representing a novel species of
      the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia camponoti is proposed. The type
      strain is 1H-HV4T (=DSM 100526T=CGMCC 4.7278T).

PMID- 26868113
TI  - Reconstruction of periacetabular tumours with saddle prosthesis or custom-made
      prosthesis, functional results and complications.
AB  - Reconstruction after resection of pelvic tumours is a major challenge. We report
      the outcomes and complications of 7 patients who underwent limb salvage following
      type II or type II, III pelvic resection and reconstruction using a saddle
      prosthesis or custom-made hemipelvic prosthesis. In our opinion, reconstruction
      using custom-made prostheses is better than placement of saddle prostheses
      because of a lower risk of complications and improved functional outcomes. 

PMID- 26868114
TI  - Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention in early periprosthetic joint
      infection.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication
      in hip arthroplasty surgery. Debridement, antibiotics (AB) and implant retention
      (DAIR) is recommended in early PJI in association with stable implants. The aim
      of this study was to evaluate the success rate of DAIR in early PJI (<4 weeks)
      and to identify factors predicting the outcome. METHODS: This cohort study
      included a consecutive series of 35 patients (median age 74 years, 25 women, 26
      primary arthroplasties) treated with DAIR for an early PJI in a regional
      hospital. RESULTS: 28 patients (80%) had their infection eradicated. DAIR-only
      eradicated the PJI in 22 (63%) patients with a median follow-up of 50 (24-84)
      months. In 17 (49%) patients, oral AB had been given prior to intraoperative
      cultures, which delayed first debridement with average 6 days and delayed
      hospital stay. Primary surgery for a hip fracture increased the risk of DAIR
      failure. Surgical experience did not affect the outcome. 17% (n = 6) of the
      patients sustained a secondary infection during their hospital stay; the majority
      was beta-lactam resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSIONS:
      The success rate of DAIR was inferior to pervious controls from experienced
      revision centers. Hip fracture patients should be informed about the increased
      risk of DAIR treatment failure. In order not to delay surgery, empirically based
      oral AB should not be administered prior to deep cultures. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02087020.

PMID- 26868116
TI  - Provision of total hip replacement for displaced intracapsular hip fracture and
      the outcomes: audit of local practice based on NICE guidelines.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures are becoming an increasing public health issue due to
      an ageing population (1). Total hip replacements (THR) produce better outcomes in
      certain patients who were functioning independently before the injury (2). We
      aimed to assess whether the management of intracapsular hip fracture is carried
      out in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
      (NICE) hip fracture guidance (1) and the outcomes with regards to performing THRs
      on those patients who fulfil the described criteria. METHOD: Data was collected
      retrospectively from the 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013 from all fractured
      neck of femur patients admitted to our hospital. RESULTS: Of the 382 patients fit
      for an operation, 78 (20.4%) met with the NICE hip fracture guidance for a total
      hip replacement. Of those eligible, 32 (41.0%) did receive a THR and 4 (2.8%)
      patients of the 142 not eligible for a total hip replacement also received a THR.
      DISCUSSIONS: Of those eligible for a THR, the patients who underwent that
      procedure had a significantly lower mortality rate compared to those who
      underwent a hemiarthroplasty (0% versus 19.6% at 1 year, p = 0.007). However,
      those who did not meet the NICE criteria but underwent a THR had the worst
      mortality rate (50% at 30 days and 1 year). The provision rate of THR in
      displaced intracapsular hip fracture is low at 41.0% for those who met the NICE
      criteria. The results suggest that the decision process when determining if a
      patient should undergo THR for a fractured neck of femur is multifactorial.

PMID- 26868115
TI  - Cementless total hip arthroplasty using Biolox(r)delta ceramic-on-ceramic bearing
      in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of cementless
      total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a 32 mm or larger Biolox(r)delta ceramic-on
      ceramic (CoC) bearing in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head after a
      minimum of 5 years of follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively
      analysed 44 patients (53 hips) who underwent cementless THA using Biolox(r)delta
      CoC bearing. There were 33 men (40 hips) and 11 women (13 hips) with the mean age
      of 49 years. A 36 mm head was used in 42 (79%) of 53 hips and a 32 mm head was
      used in 11 hips with smaller acetabular shells. The mean duration of follow-up
      was 5.3 years (range 5-6 years). RESULTS: The mean Harris Hip Score improved from
      50 points preoperatively to 97 points at final follow-up (p<0.001). All
      acetabular and femoral components showed radiographic evidence of
      osseointegration. No osteolysis was observed. No patients sustained ceramic
      fracture. An audible hip noise was identified in 2 (4%) of the 53 hips (1
      squeaking and 1 clicking). Survivorship with revision for any reason at a minimum
      of 5 years was 100% in the best-case scenario and 95 % in the worst-case
      scenario. CONCLUSIONS: The minimum 5-year results of cementless THA using a 32 mm
      or larger Biolox(r)delta CoC bearing in patients with osteonecrosis of the
      femoral head were encouraging with excellent survivorship. However, it was also
      found that the risk of noise development remains even for the new alumina matrix
      composite ceramic.

PMID- 26868117
TI  - Clinical and radiographic outcomes after femoral varus derotation osteotomy for
      Legg-Calve-Perthes disease at 25 years follow-up: what are the determinants of
      outcome in the long term?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The main purposes of the present study were to analyse the long-term
      clinical and radiographic results of femoral varus derotation osteotomy performed
      in a group of patients with the diagnosis of Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) disease and
      to compare the effects of age, lateral pillar classification, radiographic stage
      according to Waldenstrom's classification, and the amount of varisation obtained
      on long-term results. DESIGN: The study group consisted of 21 hips. The mean
      postoperative follow-up time was 25.1 years. The effect of age at the time of
      surgery, preoperative lateral pillar classification, Waldenstrom's
      classification, and the amount of varisation on Merle d'Aubigne score, Stulberg
      class, and presence of degenerative arthritis of the hip joint were assessed at
      the final follow-up. RESULTS: Better clinical and radiographic outcomes were
      detected in patients operated younger than 10 years. The hips with lateral pillar
      group C involvement preoperatively were found to be significantly associated with
      worse clinical scores, worse radiographic outcome, and higher rate of
      degenerative arthritis. The overall rate of the hips with good radiologic outcome
      was 52.4%. 7 hips had degenerative arthritis at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:
      Femoral varus derotation osteotomy revealed a congruent joint in half of the
      operated hips and arthritis-free hip joint in 2/3 at 25 years follow-up. Age at
      the time of surgery and preoperative lateral pillar classification were the main
      determinants of the radiographic outcome whereas the factors significantly
      correlated with progression to degenerative arthritis were determined
      preoperative lateral pillar classification and Stulberg group at maturity.

PMID- 26868118
TI  - Dislocation after total hip replacement - there is no such thing as a safe zone
      for socket placement with the posterior approach.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Malorientation of the socket contributes to instability after hip
      arthroplasty but the optimal orientation of the cup in relation to the pelvis has
      not been unequivocally described. Large radiological studies are few and problems
      occur with film standardisation, measurement methodology used and alternative
      definitions of describing acetabular orientation. METHODS: A cohort of 1,578
      patients from a single institution is studied where all patient data was
      collected prospectively. Risk factors for patients undergoing surgery are
      analysed. Radiological data was compared between a series of non-dislocating hips
      and dislocating cases matched 2:1 by operation type, age and diagnosis. RESULTS:
      The overall dislocation rate for all 1,578 cases was 3.23% but the rate varied
      according to the type of surgery performed. The rate in uncomplicated primary
      cases was 2.4% which increased to 9.3% for second stage implantation for a two
      stage procedure for infection. There was no significant difference in the
      variability of the dislocating and non-dislocating groups for either inclination
      (p = 0.393) or anteversion (p = 0.661). CONCLUSIONS: A "safe zone" for socket
      orientation to avoid dislocation could not be defined. The cause of dislocation
      is multifactorial, re-establishing the anatomic centre of rotation, balancing
      soft tissues and avoidance of impingement around the hip are important
      considerations.

PMID- 26868119
TI  - Modular neck total hip arthroplasty - a perfect storm.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was aimed to highlight neck notching as a potential cause of
      failure in modular neck total hip arthroplasty. It aimed to identify both the
      combination of modular components that place patients at greatest risk of failure
      and the potential mechanism for failure. METHODS: This study involved a
      retrospective review of 301 total hip arthroplasties (THA) using Kinectiv modular
      neck Technology (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana). The primary outcome was the presence
      of neck notching requiring revision. Patient records, operative notes and
      postoperative radiographs were reviewed. A statistical analysis was performed.
      RESULTS: A total of 301 THA were performed on 290 patients. There were 7 failures
      (2.3%). All 7 failures involved a modular combination of an anteverted neck,
      extended offset and length code -8 (failure rate of 36.8%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      We identified femoral neck notching as a potential cause of failure in modular
      neck THA. The combination of an anteverted neck, extended offset and length code 
      8 was associated with a high rate of neck notching using the Kinectiv modular
      neck Technology (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana). Based on our experience with this
      prosthesis we advise caution when using this particular combination of implants.

PMID- 26868120
TI  - A simple respiratory severity score that may be used in evaluation of acute
      respiratory infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections are ubiquitous and may have long-term
      implications on respiratory health. There are many scoring systems used to
      objectively measure severity of respiratory infections in clinical and research
      settings. A respiratory severity score derived exclusively from physical exam
      components (RSS-HR) was studied as an objective measure of disease severity and
      was compared to a previously described score that uses pulse oximetry as a
      component of its score (RSS-SO). FINDINGS: A score was derived from 497 infants.
      The RSS-HR median score was higher in infants that were hospitalized (8.0) versus
      outpatient (4.0, p < 0.001), and those with lower respiratory tract infections
      (LRTI) (6.5) versus upper respiratory infections (URI) (1.0, p < 0.001). When
      discriminating upper versus LRTIs the concordance index of regression for RSS-HR
      was 0.91 and RSS-SO was 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: RSS-HR distinguishes disease severity
      based on level of care, as well as LRTI versus URI.

PMID- 26868121
TI  - Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing 2015 end of year summary:
      cardiovascular and hemodynamic monitoring.
AB  - Hemodynamic monitoring is essential in critically ill patients. In this regard,
      the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing (JCMC) has become an ideal
      platform for publishing cardiovascular and hemodynamic monitoring-related
      research, as reflected by an increasing number of articles related to this topic
      and published in the recent years. To highlight this new progress, every New Year
      the journal prints a descriptive review on some important papers published last
      year in the JCMC and related to blood, cardiovascular function and hemodynamic
      monitoring.

PMID- 26868122
TI  - Androgen deprivation by adrenal suppression using low-dose hydrocortisone for the
      treatment of breast carcinoma with apocrine features: a case report illustrating
      this new paradigm.
AB  - We report on a postmenopausal patient with a secondary metastatic apocrine breast
      cancer successfully treated with low-dose hydrocortisone only following several
      lines of chemotherapy. The tumor cells in the primary and metastatic lesion
      exhibited a 'triple-negative' status (estrogen receptor (ER)-, progesterone
      receptor (PR)-, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative);
      the androgen receptor (AR) was strongly expressed. Twenty milligrams of
      hydrocortisone, a low substitution dose known to suppress adrenal steroid
      production, twice daily led to a clinical benefit lasting for one year, with
      symptom control, radiologically stable disease, and steady decrease in CA15.3.
      Our observation demonstrates that an AR-expressing apocrine breast cancer may
      respond to androgen deprivation, as an ER-positive breast cancer may benefit from
      estrogen deprivation. It highlights the importance of further research targeting
      the AR pathway in apocrine carcinoma, for which androgens represent the sole
      (known) steroid hormone stimulating tumor growth. Future clinical trials should
      not only focus on AR inhibitors like enzalutamide, but also on ablative
      modalities like low-dose hydrocortisone aiming at medical adrenalectomy. This
      method of androgen deprivation is largely available, cheap, and nearly devoid of
      toxicity. 

PMID- 26868124
TI  - Trends in the use of mastectomy in women with small node-negative breast cancer
      treated at US academic centers.
AB  - Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) provides equivalent survival outcomes to
      unilateral mastectomy. There is no survival advantage to bilateral mastectomy in
      average risk breast cancer. Among a cohort of breast cancer patients expected to
      be candidates for BCS, we examined choice of surgery and factors associated with
      it. A prospective cohort study of unilateral clinical Stage I breast cancer
      patients treated at National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers from 2000 to
      2009 was performed. The proportion of patients who initially underwent mastectomy
      versus BCS and time to definitive surgery and chemotherapy were examined. Of
      10,249 patients, 23 % underwent mastectomy as an initial surgery. No decline in
      the use of mastectomy as initial surgery was found. There was significant
      institutional variation, with rates of initial mastectomy ranging from 14 to 30 %
      (adjusted odds ratio: 0.42-1.38). Tumor characteristics were associated with
      surgical option, but with small absolute differences. Of those who received
      initial mastectomy, 22 % had bilateral mastectomy, with an increase over time
      (2000:13 % vs. 2009:30 %) and substantial institutional variation (11-34 %).
      Women treated with initial mastectomy had longer median times from diagnosis to
      complete definitive surgery (6 vs. 4 weeks) and to start of adjuvant chemotherapy
      (12 vs. 11 weeks). Among Stage I breast cancer, the overall use of mastectomy did
      not change significantly over 10 years; however, an increasing proportion of
      women with unilateral cancer had bilateral mastectomy, and there was wide
      variation in type of surgery by institution. Further studies to assess reasons
      for the observed wide variation are warranted. 

PMID- 26868126
TI  - Clinical profile of megaloblastic anemia in China: a single center experience
      from MegA-1710 program over two decades.

PMID- 26868125
TI  - Establishment of a patient-derived intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma xenograft
      model with KRAS mutation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive, highly lethal
      tumors and lacks of effective chemo and targeted therapies. Cell lines and animal
      models, even partially reflecting tumor characteristics, have limits to study ICC
      biology and drug response. In this work, we created and characterized a novel ICC
      patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of Italian origin. METHODS: Seventeen
      primary ICC tumors derived from Italian patients were implanted into NOD (Non
      Obese Diabetic)/Shi-SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice. To verify if the
      original tumor characteristics were maintained in PDX, immunohistochemical
      (cytokeratin 7, 17, 19, and epithelial membrane antigen) molecular (gene and
      microRNA expression profiling) and genetic analyses (comparative genomic
      hybridization array, and mutational analysis of the kinase domain of EGFR coding
      sequence, from exons 18 to 21, exons 2 to 4 of K-RAS, exons 2 to 4 of N-RAS,
      exons 9 and 20 of PI3KCA, and exon 15 of B-RAF) were performed after tumor
      stabilization. RESULTS: One out of 17 (5.8%) tumors successfully engrafted in
      mice. A high molecular and genetic concordance between primary tumor (PR) and PDX
      was confirmed by the evaluation of biliary epithelial markers, tissue
      architecture, genetic aberrations (including K-RAS G12D mutation), and
      transcriptomic and microRNA profiles. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we
      established a new ICC PDX model which reflects the histology and genetic
      characteristics of the primary tumor; this model could represent a valuable tool
      to understand the tumor biology and the progression of ICC as well as to develop
      novel therapies for ICC patients.

PMID- 26868123
TI  - Randomized, blinded trial of vitamin D3 for treating aromatase inhibitor
      associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS).
AB  - The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D3 at
      4000 IU/day as a treatment option for aromatase inhibitor-associated
      musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) when compared with the usual care dose of 600 IU
      D3. We conducted a single site randomized, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial
      in women with AIMSS comparing change in symptoms, reproductive hormones and AI
      pharmacokinetics. Postmenopausal women >=18 years with stages I-IIIA breast
      cancer, taking AI and experiencing AIMSS [breast cancer prevention trial symptom
      scale-musculoskeletal (BCPT-MS) subscale >=1.5] were admitted. Following
      randomization, 116 patients had a run-in period of 1 month on 600 IU D3, then
      began the randomized assignment to either 600 IU D3 (n = 56) or 4000 IU D3 (n =
      57) daily for 6 months. The primary endpoint was a change in AIMSS from baseline
      (after 1 month run-in) on the BCPT-MS (general MS pain, joint pain, muscle
      stiffness, range for each question: 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely). Groups had
      no statistically significant differences demographically or clinically. There
      were no discernable differences between the randomly allocated treatment groups
      at 6 months in measures of AIMSS, pharmacokinetics of anastrozole and letrozole,
      serum levels of reproductive hormones, or adverse events. We found no significant
      changes in AIMSS measures between women who took 4000 IU D3 daily compared with
      600 IU D3. The 4000 IU D3 did not adversely affect reproductive hormone levels or
      the steady state pharmacokinetics of anastrozole or letrozole. In both groups,
      serum 25(OH)D remained in the recommended range for bone health (>=30 ng/mL) and
      safety (<50 ng/mL). 

PMID- 26868127
TI  - Seqinspector: position-based navigation through the ChIP-seq data landscape to
      identify gene expression regulators.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells is a complex
      process that involves epigenetic modifications and the interaction of DNA with
      multiple transcription factors. This process can be studied with unprecedented
      sensitivity using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation and next
      generation DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq). Available ChIP-seq data can be further
      utilized to interpret new gene expression profiling experiments. RESULTS: Here,
      we describe seqinspector, a tool that accepts any set of genomic coordinates from
      ChIP-seq or RNA-seq studies to identify shared transcriptional regulators. The
      presented web resource includes a large collection of publicly available ChIP-seq
      and RNA-seq experiments (>1300 tracks) performed on transcription factors,
      histone modifications, RNA polymerases, enhancers and insulators in humans and
      mice. Over-representation is calculated based on the coverage computed directly
      from indexed files storing ChIP-seq data (bigwig). Therefore, seqinspector is not
      limited to pre-computed sets of gene promoters. CONCLUSION: The tool can be used
      to identify common gene expression regulators for sets of co-expressed
      transcripts (including miRNAs, lncRNAs or any novel unannotated RNAs) or for sets
      of ChIP-seq peaks to identify putative protein-protein interactions or
      transcriptional co-factors. The tool is available at
      http://seqinspector.cremag.org.

PMID- 26868128
TI  - Behcet's disease physiopathology: a contemporary review.
AB  - Behcet's disease, also known as the Silk Road Disease, is a rare systemic
      vasculitis disorder of unknown etiology. Recurrent attacks of acute inflammation
      characterize Behcet's disease. Frequent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers,
      skin lesions and ocular lesions are the most common manifestations. Inflammation
      is typically self-limiting in time and relapsing episodes of clinical
      manifestations represent a hallmark of Behcet's disease. Other less frequent yet
      severe manifestations that have a major prognostic impact involve the eyes, the
      central nervous system, the main large vessels and the gastrointestinal tract.
      Behcet's disease has a heterogeneous onset and is associated with significant
      morbidity and premature mortality. This study presents a current immunological
      review of the disease and provides a synopsis of clinical aspects and treatment
      options. 

PMID- 26868130
TI  - Quantifying Optimal Columellar Strut Dimensions for Nasal Tip Stabilization After
      Rhinoplasty via Finite Element Analysis.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: The contribution of columellar strut grafts (CSGs) to nasal tip
      support has not been determined via structural mechanics. Optimal graft
      dimensions have yet to be objectively determined. OBJECTIVES: To use a finite
      element model (FEM) of the human nose to (1) determine the effect of the CSG on
      nasal tip support and (2) identify how suture placement contributes to tip
      support. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A multiple-component FEM of the human
      nose consisting of bone, skin/soft tissue, and cartilage was rendered from a
      computed tomographic scan. Then, CSGs of varying sizes were created, ranging from
      15 * 4 * 1 mm to 25 * 8 * 1 mm, and placed in the model between the medial crura.
      Two FEMs were constructed for each strut size: (1) CSGs that were physically
      attached to the nasal spine, medial crura, and caudal septum and (2) CSGs that
      were not in direct contact with these structures and free to move within the soft
      tissue. A control model was also constructed wherein no graft was placed. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Nasal tip support for each model was assessed, and the
      resultant distribution of von Mises stress, reaction force, and strain energy
      density with respect to the alar cartilages were calculated. RESULTS: Compared
      with the control, the reaction force increased with increasing strut volume,
      while the strain energy density (calculated over the alar cartilages) generally
      decreased with increasing CSG volume. Simulations with struts that had suture
      attachments along the entire length of the graft generated a larger reaction
      force than the models without any suture attachments. Models with anteriorly
      placed sutures generated reaction forces similar to that of the fully sutured
      model, whereas the models with posterior sutures showed reaction forces similar
      to the fully disconnected model. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Insertion of CSGs
      does effect the amount of force the nasal tip can withstand post rhinoplasty.
      Moreover, anteriorly placed sutures incur reaction forces similar to struts that
      are fully connected to the alar cartilage. Thus, our simulations are congruent
      with clinical practice in that stability increases with graft size and fixation,
      and that sutures should be placed along either the entire CSG or the anterior
      most portion for optimal support. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

PMID- 26868131
TI  - Early mortality in multiple myeloma: Experiences from a single institution.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy that presents with
      infection, anemia, bone lesions, renal function impairment, and hypercalcemia.
      The survival of MM patients has improved in recent decades; however, early
      mortality remains a critical problem. The aim of this study was to identify the
      etiologies and clinical variables associated with early mortality in MM. In
      addition, the effects of bortezomib on reducing early mortality incidence were
      investigated. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Medical records from 122 MM patients
      diagnosed between November 2007 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.
      Early mortality was defined as death by any cause within the first 180 days after
      pathological diagnosis. RESULTS: In newly diagnosed MM patients, early mortality
      occurred in 22.95% of patients. Infection accounted for 67.86% of early deaths.
      Multivariate analyses by Cox proportional-hazards regression showed that higher
      beta2-microglobulin (P < 0.001) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.001)
      levels, and lower serum albumin levels (P < 0.001) were associated with early
      mortality. Both first-line and greater than or equal to second-line bortezomib
      treatments were not associated with superior 180-day overall survival (P = 0.546
      for first-line bortezomib treatment; P = 0.066 for greater than or equal to
      second-line bortezomib treatment). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that infection
      is the leading cause of early death in MM. High beta2-microglobulin, high serum
      lactate dehydrogenase, and low serum albumin levels are poor prognostic factors
      for early mortality. Bortezomib therapy does not appear to reduce the incidence
      of early mortality in MM patients.

PMID- 26868129
TI  - Red Sea Atlantis II brine pool nitrilase with unique thermostability profile and
      heavy metal tolerance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nitrilases, which hydrolyze nitriles in a one-step reaction into
      carboxylic acids and ammonia, gained increasing attention because of the
      abundance of nitrile compounds in nature and their use in fine chemicals and
      pharmaceutics. Extreme environments are potential habitats for the isolation and
      characterization of extremozymes including nitrilases with unique resistant
      properties. The Red Sea brine pools are characterized by multitude of extreme
      conditions. The Lower Convective Layer (LCL) of the Atlantis II Deep Brine Pool
      in the Red Sea is characterized by elevated temperature (68  degrees C), high
      salt concentrations (250 0/00), anoxic conditions and high heavy metal
      concentrations. RESULTS: We identified and isolated a nitrilase from the Atlantis
      II Deep Brine Pool in the Red Sea LCL. The isolated 338 amino-acid nitrilase
      (NitraS-ATII) is part of a highly conserved operon in different bacterial phyla
      with indiscernible function. The enzyme was cloned, expressed and purified.
      Characterization of the purified NitraS-ATII revealed its selectivity towards
      dinitriles, which suggests a possible industrial application in the synthesis of
      cyanocarboxylic acids. Moreover, NitraS-ATII showed higher thermal stability
      compared to a closely related nitrilase, in addition to its observed tolerance
      towards high concentrations of selected heavy metals. CONCLUSION: This enzyme
      sheds light on evolution of microbes in the Atlantis II Deep LCL to adapt to the
      diverse extreme environment and can prove to be valuable in bioremediation
      processes.

PMID- 26868132
TI  - Association of RBP4 levels with increased arterial stiffness in adolescents with
      family history of type 2 diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of family history of
      type 2 diabetes (FH2D) on arterial stiffness in young people and its relationship
      to adipocytokines. METHODS: This case-control study included 52 adolescents
      (male/female 28/24) with FH2D (FH2D+) and 40 adolescents (male/female 21/19)
      without FH2D (FH2D-). Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight,
      waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure, were obtained. Blood samples were
      collected, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum lipids, Retinol Binding Protein 4
      (RBP4), C reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin and visfatin were examined.
      Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used to evaluate arterial
      stiffness. Visceral fat area (VFA) was measured by computerized tomography.
      RESULTS: Compared with FH2D- group, FH2D+ group had a significantly higher oral
      glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2-hour insulin, RBP4 and baPWV levels, a lower
      adiponectin and glucose infusing rate (GIR) (P<0.05). BaPWV was positively
      correlated with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure
      (DBP), 2-hour (OGTT) insulin, RBP4, and VFA, and negatively correlated with GIR
      in FH2D+ group. After multivariate analysis, age, SBP, RBP4 and VFA maintained an
      independent association with baPWV in FH2D+ group (P<0.05), while only age, SBP,
      and VFA were independent predictors of baPWV in FH2D- group (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings led to the conclusion that RBP4 level was associated
      with increased arterial stiffness in young subjects with family history of type 2
      diabetes.

PMID- 26868133
TI  - SOX6 gene polymorphism (rs16933090) and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to investigate the association between
      the polymorphism of the SOX6 gene (rs16933090) and subclinical markers of carotid
      atherosclerosis, such as carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), the number of
      affected segments of carotid arteries and the sum of plaque thickness in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The second aim of the study was to
      demonstrate an association between the rs16933090 and subclinical markers of
      coronary artery disease in the same subset of patients with T2DM. METHODS: A
      total of 595 T2DM subjects were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Markers of
      carotid atherosclerosis were assessed by ultrasonography. Additionally, in a
      subset of subjects with T2DM a coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)
      was performed for diagnostic purposes. Genotyping of SOX6 gene (rs16933090) was
      performed using KASPar assays. RESULTS: In our study we demonstrated the effect
      of the rs16933090 on coronary calcium score obtained at CCTA, whereas we did not
      demonstrate any association between the tested polymorphism (rs16933090) and the
      presence of more than 50% stenotic lesions in coronary arteries, the sum of
      plaque thickness, the number of involved carotid segments, high-sensitivity C
      reactive protein, the presence of carotid plaques, and the presence of unstable
      carotid plaques. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we demonstrated the effect of the
      rs16933090 on coronary calcium score obtained at CCTA, whereas we did not
      demonstrate an important effect of the rs16933090 on either subclinical markers
      of carotid atherosclerosis or the presence of more than 50% stenotic lesions in
      coronary arteries in Caucasians with T2DM. We presume that the rs16933090 plays a
      minor role in the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with
      T2DM.

PMID- 26868134
TI  - Misdiagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma as venous malformation in pediatric
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify Magnetic Resonance Imaging
      (MRI) characteristics that reliably distinguish deep plexiform neurofibromas
      (PNFs) from venous malformations (VMs). METHODS: A database search was conducted
      for patients that were referred with a vascular anomaly but had a neurofibroma
      instead. Clinical and imaging features of patients with venous malformations as
      the most common referral diagnosis were compared to those with PNFs. The imaging
      features of deep PNFs recorded were: anatomical location, size, morphology,
      margins, signal intensity and post-contrast enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Ten
      patients with PNFs were identified. Five patients had adequate imaging. These
      five patients were included in our study. There were 3 female and 2 male patients
      ranging in age from 10 months to 21 years. Deep PNFs were located in the
      cervicofacial region (N.=3), lower extremity (N.=1) and back/flank region (N.=1).
      The most common clinical features of all these patients were palpable mass (N.=5)
      and pain (N.=4). The MRI features that distinguished VMs from deep PNFs were the
      serpiginous morphology, relatively intermediate T-2 signal intensity and peculiar
      enhancement pattern without fluid-fluid levels or phleboliths and nerve root
      involvement. The target sign can be regularly found in PNFs, but may be also
      present in VMs and other vascular lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Target signs, a typical
      sign of PNFs may be absent and can also be found in vascular anomalies, leading
      to confusion in diagnosis. PNFs can be reliably distinguished from VMs on MRI
      based on the above mentioned features.

PMID- 26868135
TI  - Sulodexide reduces the inflammatory reaction and senescence of endothelial cells
      in conditions involving chronic venous disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, sulodexide suppresses intravascular
      inflammation when used in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). In the
      current study, we tested the effect of prolonged in vitro exposure of human
      venous endothelial cells to the serum from patients with CVD, examining the
      function of these cells and how it is modified when these cells are
      simultaneously exposed to sulodexide. METHODS: Human umbilical venous cells
      (HUVEC) were cultured in standard medium (control), in medium supplemented with
      5% serum pooled from CVD patients (CVD-serum) or in medium from CVD patients who
      were treated with sulodexide (CVD-serum-SUL). The synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL
      6), monocyte chemoattractant protein -1(MCP-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion
      molecule - 1 (s-ICAM-1) were studied at the beginning of incubation and were
      measured after 9 and 15 days of exposure to the studied media. The concentration
      of IL-6 after cell stimulation by interleukin -1 (IL-1) was also measured. In a
      subsequent part of the experiment, the effect of the studied sera on the in vitro
      replicative ageing of HUVEC was evaluated. A total of 15 passages of the cell
      culture were performed and both the PDT (population doubling time) and the cell
      hypertrophy were assessed. RESULTS: The concentrations of Il-6, MCP-1, and ICAM-1
      gradually increased in the supernatants containing 5% CVD serum compared with the
      control medium. In the supernatants obtained after cell incubation with serum
      from sulodexide treated patients, the increase in concentrations of IL-6, MCP-1
      and ICAM-1 was significantly less than the control. Release of IL-6 after
      stimulation with IL-1 (100 pg/mL) was the highest in the CVD-serum group: 3540+/
      670 pg/105 cells vs. 1850+/-540 pg/105 cells in the control (P<0.01 vs. CVD
      serum) and 2320 +/-430 pg/105 cells in CVD-serum-SUL (P<0.02 vs. CVD-serum). PDT
      was significantly longer in the cells incubated with CVD serum compared with the
      control group, and PDT was reduced when serum from sulodexide treated patients
      was used. The cells became senescent in the presence of CVD serum, but the cells
      obtained from patients at the end of 8 weeks of treatment with sulodexide showed
      a much weaker inflammatory phenotype than the CVD group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic in
      vitro exposure of HUVEC to medium supplemented with CVD patient serum induces an
      inflammatory phenotype. Sulodexide treatment significantly reduces that effect
      and slows HUVEC senescence in the milieu of CVD serum.

PMID- 26868136
TI  - Intravenous Colistin in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter in
      neonates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria
      has been reported in different parts of the world. It is a major threat to
      neonatal care, carrying a high rate of morbidity and mortality. While Colistin is
      the treatment of choice, few studies have reported its use in neonatal patients.
      METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study of all neonatal patients who had
      multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter sepsis and were treated with Colistin over a 2
      year period. Patients' charts and hospital laboratory data were reviewed.
      RESULTS: During the study period, 21 newborns were treated with Colistin. All had
      sepsis evident by positive blood culture and clinical signs of sepsis. The median
      gestational age and birth weight were 33 weeks (26-39) and 1700 g (700-3600),
      respectively. Nine (43 %) were very low birth weight infants. Eighteen (86 %)
      were preterm infants. Nineteen (91 %) newborns survived. No renal impairment is
      documented in any of our patients. Fourteen (67 %) of our patients had elevated
      eosinophil counts following Colistin treatment, for those patients, the average
      eosinophilic counts +/- standard deviation before and after Colistin therapy were
      149.08 +/- 190.38 to 1193 +/- 523.29, respectively, with a p value of less than
      0.0001. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that Colistin was both effective and safe
      for treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter neonatal sepsis. This is a
      retrospective study. No universal protocol was used for the patients. The factors
      that might affect the response or cause side effects are difficult to evaluate.

PMID- 26868138
TI  - Cesium adsorption/desorption behavior of clay minerals considering actual
      contamination conditions in Fukushima.
AB  - Cesium adsorption/desorption experiments for various clay minerals, considering
      actual contamination conditions in Fukushima, were conducted using the (137)Cs
      radioisotope and an autoradiography using imaging plates (IPs). A 50 MUl solution
      containing 0.185 ~ 1.85 Bq of (137)Cs (10(-11) ~ 10(-9 )molL(-1) of (137)Cs) was
      dropped onto a substrate where various mineral particles were arranged. It was
      found that partially-vermiculitized biotite, which is termed "weathered biotite"
      (WB) in this study, from Fukushima sorbed (137)Cs far more than the other clay
      minerals (fresh biotite, illite, smectite, kaolinite, halloysite, allophane,
      imogolite) on the same substrate. When WB was absent on the substrate, the amount
      of (137)Cs sorbed to the other clay minerals was considerably increased, implying
      that selective sorption to WB caused depletion of radiocesium in the solution and
      less sorption to the coexisting minerals. Cs-sorption to WB continued for about
      one day, whereas that to ferruginous smectite was completed within one hour. The
      sorbed (137)Cs in WB was hardly leached with hydrochloric acid at pH 1,
      particularly in samples with a longer sorption time. The presence/absence of WB
      sorbing radiocesium is a key factor affecting the dynamics and fate of
      radiocesium in Fukushima.

PMID- 26868137
TI  - Diabetes mellitus as a compelling indication for use of renin angiotensin system
      blockers: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes with use of renin angiotensin system (RAS)
      blockers compared with other antihypertensive agents in people with diabetes.
      DESIGN: Meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: PubMed, Embase, and the
      Cochrane central register of controlled trials databases for randomized trials of
      RAS blockers versus other antihypertensive agents in people with diabetes
      mellitus. Outcomes were death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction,
      angina, stroke, heart failure, revascularization, and end stage renal disease.
      RESULTS: The search yielded 19 randomized controlled trials that enrolled 25,414
      participants with diabetes for a total of 95,910 patient years of follow-up. When
      compared with other antihypertensive agents, RAS blockers were associated with a
      similar risk of death (relative risk 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 1.05),
      cardiovascular death (1.02, 0.83 to 1.24), myocardial infarction (0.87, 0.64 to
      1.18), angina pectoris (0.80, 0.58 to 1.11), stroke (1.04, 0.92 to 1.17), heart
      failure (0.90, 0.76 to 1.07), and revascularization (0.97, 0.77 to 1.22). There
      was also no difference in the hard renal outcome of end stage renal disease
      (0.99, 0.78 to 1.28) (power of 94% to show a 23% reduction in end stage renal
      disease). CONCLUSIONS: In people with diabetes, RAS blockers are not superior to
      other antihypertensive drug classes such as thiazides, calcium channel blockers,
      and beta blockers at reducing the risk of hard cardiovascular and renal
      endpoints. These findings support the recommendations of the guidelines of the
      European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension and eighth Joint
      National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High
      Blood Pressure to also use other antihypertensive agents in people with diabetes
      but without kidney disease.

PMID- 26868139
TI  - Differentiating the grades of thymic epithelial tumor malignancy using textural
      features of intratumoral heterogeneity via (18)F-FDG PET/CT.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the ability of textural heterogeneity indices
      determined by (18)F-FDG PET/CT for grading the malignancy of thymic epithelial
      tumors (TETs). METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 47 patients with
      pathologically proven TETs who underwent pre-treatment (18)F-FDG PET/CT. TETs
      were classified by pathological results into three subgroups with increasing
      grades of malignancy: low-risk thymoma (LRT; WHO classification A, AB and B1),
      high-risk thymoma (B2 and B3), and thymic carcinoma (TC). Using (18)F-FDG PET/CT,
      we obtained conventional imaging indices including SUVmax and 20 intratumoral
      heterogeneity indices: i.e., four local-scale indices derived from the
      neighborhood gray-tone difference matrix (NGTDM), eight regional-scale indices
      from the gray-level run-length matrix (GLRLM), and eight regional-scale indices
      from the gray-level size zone matrix (GLSZM). Area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve (AUC) was used to demonstrate the abilities of the imaging
      indices for differentiating subgroups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis
      was performed to show the independent significance of the textural indices.
      Combined criteria using optimal cutoff values of the SUVmax and a best-performing
      heterogeneity index were applied to investigate whether they improved
      differentiation between the subgroups. RESULTS: Most of the GLRLM and GLSZM
      indices and the SUVmax showed good or fair discrimination (AUC >0.7) with best
      performance for some of the GLRLM indices and the SUVmax, whereas the NGTDM
      indices showed relatively inferior performance. The discriminative ability of
      some of the GLSZM indices was independent from that of SUVmax in multivariate
      analysis. Combined use of the SUVmax and a GLSZM index improved positive
      predictive values for LRT and TC. CONCLUSIONS: Texture analysis of (18)F-FDG
      PET/CT scans has the potential to differentiate between TET tumor grades;
      regional-scale indices from GLRLM and GLSZM perform better than local-scale
      indices from the NGTDM. The SUVmax and heterogeneity indices may have
      complementary value in differentiating TET subgroups.

PMID- 26868140
TI  - Realization of ppm-level CO detection with exceptionally high sensitivity using
      reduced graphene oxide-loaded SnO2 nanofibers with simultaneous Au
      functionalization.
AB  - We have realized the highly sensitive, selective ppm-level carbon monoxide (CO)
      detection based on graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets-loaded SnO2 nanofibers with
      simultaneous Au functionalization. The interplay between RGO/Au and SnO2 in terms
      of transfer of charge carriers and modulation of potential barriers is
      responsible for the exceptionally high CO detectability. 

PMID- 26868141
TI  - Critical role of CCL22/CCR4 axis in the maintenance of immune homeostasis during
      apoptotic cell clearance by splenic CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) dendritic cells.
AB  - Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in murine spleen are essential for the
      maintenance of immune homeostasis by elimination of blood-borne foreign particles
      and organisms. It has been reported that splenic DCs, especially CD8alpha(+)
      CD103(+) DCs, are responsible for tolerance to apoptosis-associated antigens.
      However, the molecular mechanism by which these DCs maintain immune homeostasis
      by blood-borne apoptotic cell clearance remains elusive. Here, we found that the
      CCL22/CCR4 axis played a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis
      during apoptotic cell clearance by splenic CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) DCs. The present
      results revealed that systemic administration of apoptotic cells rapidly induced
      a large number of CCL22 and CCR4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in the spleen of
      C57BL/6J mice. Further study demonstrated that CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) DCs
      dominantly produce much higher CCL22 than CD8alpha(+) CD103(-) DCs. Moreover, the
      transient deletion of CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) DCs caused a decrease in CCL22 levels
      together with CCR4(+) Treg cell percentage. Subsequently, the levels of some pro
      inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma in the spleen
      with the absence of CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) DCs increased in response to the
      administration of apoptotic cells. Hence, intravenous injection of apoptotic
      cells induced a subsequent increase in CCL22 expression and CCR4(+) Treg cells,
      which contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis at least partially by
      splenic CD8alpha(+) CD103(+) DCs.

PMID- 26868142
TI  - Peptide mini-scaffold facilitates JNK3 activation in cells.
AB  - Three-kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades are
      present in virtually all eukaryotic cells. MAPK cascades are organized by
      scaffold proteins, which assemble cognate kinases into productive signaling
      complexes. Arrestin-3 facilitates JNK activation in cells, and a short 25-residue
      arrestin-3 peptide was identified as the critical JNK3-binding element. Here we
      demonstrate that this peptide also binds MKK4, MKK7, and ASK1, which are upstream
      JNK3-activating kinases. This peptide is sufficient to enhance JNK3 activity in
      cells. A homologous arrestin-2 peptide, which differs only in four positions,
      binds MKK4, but not MKK7 or JNK3, and is ineffective in cells at enhancing
      activation of JNK3. The arrestin-3 peptide is the smallest MAPK scaffold known.
      This peptide or its mimics can regulate MAPKs, affecting cellular decisions to
      live or die. 

PMID- 26868143
TI  - CD27-positive hairy cell leukemia-Japanese variant.
AB  - We report a very rare case of a 45-year-old Japanese male patient with hairy cell
      leukemia-Japanese variant (HCL-JV) expressing CD27. The patient showed a high
      number of abnormal peripheral lymphocytes, thrombocytopenia, and severe
      splenomegaly but no lymphadenopathy. Histology of the resected spleen showed
      small-sized lymphoma cells diffusely infiltrating the red pulp without follicle
      formation. By immunohistochemistry, lymphoma cells were negative for CD3, CD5,
      CD8, CD10, CD34, cyclin-D1, and annexin A1 but positive for CD20 and BCL2. BRAF
      V600E mutation was not observed. Bone marrow aspirate showed preserved normal
      hematopoietic cells with invasion of lymphoma cells in an interstitial pattern
      without obvious nodules. The cells had abundant pale cytoplasm and round nuclei
      with inconspicuous nucleoli. After natural drying, the cells had unevenly
      distributed microvilli. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated positivity for
      CD11a, CD11c, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD27, surface IgG, and lambda but not for CD2,
      CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD21, CD23, CD25, CD30, CD34, CD38, CD43, CD56,
      CD57, CD103, IgD, IgM, and kappa. Monoclonal expansion of B cells was confirmed
      by an immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) rearrangement band as demonstrated by
      Southern blot hybridization. The lymphoma cells had unevenly distributed long,
      large, and broad-based microvilli, which resembled splenic diffuse red pulp small
      B cell lymphoma (SDRPL) cells. CD27 expression is extremely rare in HCL-JV, but
      the young age of the patient and high peripheral WBC counts were similar to HCL
      JV, which suggests, in this case, an intermediate disease between SDRPL and HCL
      JV.

PMID- 26868144
TI  - Funisitis is associated with adverse neonatal outcome in low-risk unselected
      deliveries at or near term.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the incidence and clinical outcomes for varying
      patterns of placental histological inflammation (consistent with fetal or
      maternal inflammatory response) in an unselected population of >1000 women with a
      singleton pregnancy resulting in live birth delivering at or near term. One
      thousand one hundred nineteen cases were studied in a blind, prospective,
      unselected study with placentas categorized into five histological subgroups
      reflecting underlying maternal or fetal inflammatory response. Clinical outcomes
      studied included interventional delivery, an Apgar score <7 at 1 min, neonatal
      acidosis (pH < 7.2) and admission to neonatal special care. One hundred eighty
      eight placentas (17%) showed histological evidence of acute inflammation: 64 with
      funisitis (with or without other inflammation; 6%); 16 with extensive acute
      inflammation across the chorionic plate, free membranes and subchorionic fibrin
      (1%); 28 with acute inflammation restricted to the chorionic plate (2%); 12 with
      acute inflammation restricted to the free membranes (1%) and 68 with acute
      inflammation restricted to the subchorionic fibrin (6%). Features of extensive
      acute inflammation were significantly associated with increased rate of
      interventional delivery (assisted vaginal delivery or emergency caesarean
      section; P < 0.01). The presence of funisitis was significantly associated with
      interventional delivery and other adverse outcomes including an Apgar score <7 at
      1 min, clinical evidence of sepsis and admission to the neonatal intensive care
      unit (P < 0.05 for all). The data represent a quantitative rather than purely
      qualitative analysis of the contribution of histological lesions related to
      inflammation on short-term adverse neonatal outcomes and interventional delivery.
      Funisitis and extensive inflammation are associated with adverse clinical
      outcomes, but the precise mechanism underlying these remains to be elucidated.

PMID- 26868145
TI  - Uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy for intralobar pulmonary sequestration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sequestration is an uncommon congenital condition for which
      surgical resection is usually indicated - either via open thoracotomy or
      conventional multi-port Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS). Of the two
      types of sequestration, intralobar sequestration is technically more challenging
      to resect. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the management of a 34 year old male
      patient with a long history of respiratory symptoms, and an extensively diseased
      right lower lobe. A diagnosis of sequestration was confirmed by CT scanning,
      showing three separate anomalous feeding vessels arising from the abdominal
      aorta. A right lower lobectomy using a Uniportal VATS approach was performed, and
      the patient discharged home on the fourth post-operative day. CONCLUSION: This is
      the first report to our knowledge demonstrating the safety and feasibility of the
      Uniportal approach for the resection of a relatively challenging intralobar
      sequestration.

PMID- 26868147
TI  - Hemoglobin level is a more predictive diagnostic marker for acute pyelonephritis
      than mean platelet volume.

PMID- 26868146
TI  - Associations of pulmonary function with serum biomarkers and dialysis adequacy in
      patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As lung impairment is an indicator of increased morbidity and
      mortality in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD),
      the risk factors associated with impaired lung function are of great
      significance. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of inflammatory
      biomarkers and dialysis adequacy on pulmonary function, in CAPD patients.
      METHODS: 101 patients undergoing CAPD, 30 CKD5 patients and 30 healthy subjects
      were enrolled. Spirometry and serum biomarkers were evaluated in each subject.
      Pulmonary function was compared among patients and control groups. Pearson
      analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum biomarkers, dialysis
      adequacy and pulmonary function. RESULTS: Lower vital capacity, maximal voluntary
      ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF),
      maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (MMEF), and diffusing capacity of the lung for
      carbon monoxide (DLCO) were observed in the CAPD group (all P < 0.05) when
      compared with control subjects. DLCO % was negatively correlated with CRP (r = 
      0.349, P = 0.007) and positively correlated with albumin (r = 0.401, P = 0.002).
      Total Kt/V was associated positively with MMEF % (r = 0.316, P = 0.019), and MVV
      % (r = 0.362, P = 0.007). nPNA was positively correlated with FVC % (r = 0.295, P
      = 0.049) and MMEF % (r = 0.381, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that
      lung function decline was directly related to higher CRP level, hypoalbuminemia,
      and dialysis inadequacy. These findings provide the evidence that inflammation
      and dialysis adequacy play a role in predicting outcomes of CAPD patients with
      pulmonary impairment.

PMID- 26868148
TI  - SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A targets methylated p53 for degradation and regulates
      senescence.
AB  - Recent evidence has revealed that senescence induction requires fine-tuned
      activation of p53, however, mechanisms underlying the regulation of p53 activity
      during senescence have not as yet been clearly established. We demonstrate here
      that SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is a senescence-associated E3 ligase targeting methylated
      p53 for degradation. We find that Fbxo22 is highly expressed in senescent cells
      in a p53-dependent manner, and that SCF(Fbxo22) ubiquitylated p53 and formed a
      complex with a lysine demethylase, KDM4A. Ectopic expression of a catalytic
      mutant of KDM4A stabilizes p53 and enhances p53 interaction with PHF20 in the
      presence of Fbxo22. SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is required for the induction of p16 and
      senescence-associated secretory phenotypes during the late phase of senescence.
      Fbxo22(-/-) mice are almost half the size of Fbxo22(+/-) mice owing to the
      accumulation of p53. These results indicate that SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is an E3
      ubiquitin ligase that targets methylated p53 and regulates key senescent
      processes. 

PMID- 26868149
TI  - Comparison of alkali treatments for efficient release of p-coumaric acid and
      enzymatic saccharification of sorghum pith.
AB  - Two separate temperature and time ranges were respectively conducted for
      optimizing release of p-coumaric acid and enzymatic saccharification of sorghum
      pith by NaOH pretreatment using response surface methodology. Two desirable
      pretreatment conditions were selected as follows: 37 degrees C, 2% NaOH and 12h,
      and 100 degrees C, 1.75% NaOH and 37min in the low and high temperature ranges,
      respectively. Under these conditions, the enzymatic glucose yields were 85.6% and
      90.4% respectively, whereas p-coumaric acid yields were 95.1% and 98.1%
      respectively. The final recovery of esterified p-coumaric acid reached 82.8% and
      87.4% respectively after further separation with HP-20 resin. Interestingly,
      strong linear correlations exist between p-coumaric acid release with glucan
      saccharification yield and lignin dissolution. These results indicate that
      sorghum pith could be an attractive source for natural p-coumaric acid and
      efficient release of p-coumaric acid and enzymatic saccharification of sorghum
      pith can be achieved by mild NaOH pretreatment. 

PMID- 26868150
TI  - The shift of the microbial community in activated sludge with calcium treatment
      and its implication to sludge settleability.
AB  - The sludge settleability is of prime importance for the activated sludge process.
      The effect of calcium ion on the biological performance of sludge was
      investigated in a lab-scale activated sludge system with varying Ca(2+)
      concentration. Results indicated that addition of 150mg/L Ca(2+) to the influent
      significantly improved the settling characteristics and metabolic reactivity of
      activated sludge in the bioreactors. Analyses using denaturing gradient gel
      electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA sequencing showed that a significant
      difference in the presence of certain bacterial groups between the sludge systems
      with 150mg/L Ca(2+) and those with 0-100mg/L Ca(2+) addition. Ca(2+) also
      increased the production of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and
      facilitated the development of microbial cluster in the bioreactor. Study showed
      that an addition of 150mg/L Ca(2+) to the influent provides a simple approach to
      improve the settling properties of activated sludge and maintain high pollutant
      removal efficiency. 

PMID- 26868151
TI  - Microalgal growth in municipal wastewater treated in an anaerobic moving bed
      biofilm reactor.
AB  - Nutrient removal from the effluent of an anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor
      (AnMBBR) treated with microalgae was evaluated. Algal treatment was highly
      efficient in removal of nutrients and discharge limits were met after 3days.
      Extending the cultivation time from 3 to 5days resulted in a large increase in
      biomass, from 233.3+/-49.3 to 530.0+/-72.1mgL(-1), despite nutrients in the water
      being exhausted after 3days (ammonium 0.04mgL(-1), orthophosphate <0.05mgL(-1)).
      Biomass productivity, lipid content and quality did not differ in microalgal
      biomass produced in wastewater sampled before the AnMBBR. The longer cultivation
      time resulted in a slight increase in total lipid concentration and a significant
      decrease in linolenic acid concentration in all treatments. Differences were
      observed in chemical oxygen demand, which decreased after algal treatment in
      wastewater sampled before the AnMBBR whereas it increased after algal treatment
      in the effluent from the AnMBBR. 

PMID- 26868152
TI  - Simultaneous inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria, removal of H2S and
      production of rhamnolipid by recombinant Pseudomonas stutzeri Rhl: Applications
      for microbial enhanced oil recovery.
AB  - Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are widely existed in oil production system, and
      its H2S product inhibits rhamnolipid producing bacteria. In-situ production of
      rhamnolipid is promising for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Inhibition of SRB,
      removal of H2S and production of rhamnolipid by recombinant Pseudomonas stutzeri
      Rhl were investigated. Strain Rhl can simultaneously remove S(2-) (>92%) and
      produce rhamnolipid (>136mg/l) under S(2-) stress below 33.3mg/l. Rhl reduced the
      SRB numbers from 10(9) to 10(5)cells/ml, and the production of H2S was delayed
      and decreased to below 2mg/l. Rhl also produced rhamnolipid and removed S(2-)
      under laboratory simulated oil reservoir conditions. High-throughput sequencing
      data demonstrated that addition of strain Rhl significantly changed the original
      microbial communities of oilfield production water and decreased the species and
      abundance of SRB. Bioaugmentation of strain Rhl in oilfield is promising for
      simultaneous control of SRB, removal of S(2-) and enhance oil recovery. 

PMID- 26868153
TI  - Enhancement of microalgae production by embedding hollow light guides to a flat
      plate photobioreactor.
AB  - To offset the adverse effects of light attenuation on microalgae growth, hollow
      polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) tubes were embedded into a flat-plate
      photobioreactor (PBR) as light guides. In this way, a fraction of incident light
      could be transmitted and emitted to the interior of the PBR, providing a
      secondary light source for cells in light-deficient regions. The average light
      intensity of interior regions 3-6cm from surfaces with 70MUmolm(-2)s(-1) incident
      light was enhanced 2-6.5 times after 3.5days cultivation, resulting in a 23.42%
      increase in biomass production to that cultivated in PBR without PMMA tubes. The
      photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae in the proposed PBR was increased to
      12.52%. Moreover, the installation of hollow PMMA tubes induced turbulent flow in
      the microalgae suspension, promoting microalgae suspension mixing. However, the
      enhanced biomass production was mainly attributed to the optimized light
      distribution in the PBR. 

PMID- 26868154
TI  - Immobilization of metal-humic acid complexes in anaerobic granular sludge for
      their application as solid-phase redox mediators in the biotransformation of
      iopromide in UASB reactors.
AB  - Metal-humic acid complexes were synthesized and immobilized by a granulation
      process in anaerobic sludge for their application as solid-phase redox mediators
      (RM) in the biotransformation of iopromide. Characterization of Ca- and Fe-humic
      acid complexes revealed electron accepting capacities of 0.472 and 0.556milli
      equivalentsg(-1), respectively. Once immobilized, metal-humic acid complexes
      significantly increased the biotransformation of iopromide in upflow anaerobic
      sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Control UASB reactor (without humic material)
      achieved 31.6% of iopromide removal, while 80% was removed in UASB reactors
      supplied with each metal-humic acid complex. Further analyses indicated multiple
      transformation reactions taking place in iopromide including deiodination, N
      dealkylation, decarboxylation and deacetylation. This is the first successful
      application of immobilized RM, which does not require a supporting material to
      maintain the solid-phase RM in long term operation of bioreactors. The proposed
      redox catalyst could be suitable for enhancing the redox conversion of different
      recalcitrant pollutants present in industrial effluents. 

PMID- 26868155
TI  - Evaluation of productivity and antioxidant profile of solid-state cultivated
      macrofungi Pleurotus albidus and Pycnoporus sanguineus.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the production profile of Pleurotus
      albidus and Pycnoporus sanguineus on different waste substrates containing
      natural phenolics, and also to investigate whether phenolic-rich substrates can
      improve the phenolic content of these macrofungi. The medium formulated with
      Pinus sp. sawdust (PSW) made possible the highest yields (2.62+/-0.73%) of P.
      sanguineus. However, the supplementation of PSW with apple waste (AW) resulted in
      better P. albidus yields (23.94+/-2.92%). The results indicated that the
      substrate composition affected macrofungi production, also the chemical
      composition and the presence of phenolic compounds in the production media
      influence phenolic content and antioxidant activity in macrofungi. 

PMID- 26868156
TI  - Enhancing ethanol production from thermophilic and mesophilic solid digestate
      using ozone combined with aqueous ammonia pretreatment.
AB  - Pretreatment with ozone combined with aqueous ammonia was used to recover
      residual organic carbon from recalcitrant solid digestate for ethanol production
      after anaerobic digestion (AD) of rice straw. Methane yield of AD at mesophilic
      and thermophilic conditions, and ethanol production of solid digestate were
      investigated. The results showed that the methane yield at thermophilic
      temperature was 72.2% higher than that at mesophilic temperature under the same
      conditions of 24days and 17% solid concentration. And also the ethanol production
      efficiency of solid digestate after thermophilic process was 24.3% higher than
      that of solid digestate after mesophilic process. In this study, the optimal
      conditions for integrated methane and ethanol processes were determined as 55
      degrees C, 17% solid concentration and 24days. 58.6% of glucose conversion,
      142.8g/kg of methane yield and 65.2g/kg of ethanol yield were achieved, and the
      highest net energy balance was calculated as 6416kJ/kg. 

PMID- 26868157
TI  - Cultivation of Scenedesmus obliquus in liquid hydrolysate from flash hydrolysis
      for nutrient recycling.
AB  - The production of biofuels from microalgae is associated with high demands of
      nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) required for growth. Recycling nutrients from
      the residual biomass is essential to obtain a sustainable production. In this
      work, the aqueous phase obtained from flash hydrolysis of Scenedesmus sp. was
      used as cultivation medium for a microalga of the same genus, to assess the
      feasibility of this technique for nutrient recycling purposes. Batch and
      continuous cultivations were carried out, to determine growth performances in
      this substrate compared to standard media, and verify if a stable biomass
      production could be obtained. In continuous experiments, the effect of
      hydrolysate inlet concentration and of residence time were assessed to optimize
      nutrient supply in relation to productivity. Results obtained show that nutrient
      recycling is feasible by treating biomass with flash hydrolysis, and Scenedesmus
      is capable of recycling large amounts of recovered nutrients. 

PMID- 26868158
TI  - Prevalence and distribution of non-AIDS causes of death among HIV-infected
      individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy: a systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - The advent of antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved AIDS-related
      morbidity and mortality. Yet, among people living with HIV, deaths due to non
      AIDS-defining illnesses have been on the rise. The objective of this study was to
      provide information about the global prevalence and distribution of non-AIDS
      causes of death in the last ten years among people living with HIV receiving
      antiretroviral therapy, by income levels of countries. We used broad search terms
      in Google Scholar, PubMed, and EMBASE to identify all studies that investigated
      the cause of death among people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy,
      published after January 1, 2005. References were also identified from review
      articles and reference lists. Inclusion criteria were English language, the
      study's end date was after 2005, all patients were HIV-positive, at least two
      thirds of the patients were receiving antiretroviral therapy, at least one
      patient died of non-AIDS causes of death. Titles, abstracts, and articles were
      reviewed by at least two independent readers. Of 2951 titles identified in our
      original search, 151 articles were selected for further screening. We identified
      19 studies meeting our full criteria, with patients from 55 different nations.
      Pooled non-AIDS causes of death prevalence estimates in high-income countries
      were 53.0% (95% confidence interval, 43.6-62.3), in developing countries 34.0%
      (95% confidence interval, 20.3-49.1), and in sub-Saharan countries 18.5% (95%
      confidence interval, 13.8-23.7). Statistically significant variation was noted
      within and between categories. Our findings show that a significant number of
      people living with HIV across the world die from cardiovascular disease, non-AIDS
      malignancies, and liver disease. There is a global need for further scrutiny in
      all regions to improve preventive measures and early detection according to
      distinct causes of death patterns.

PMID- 26868159
TI  - Cryptococcemia in primary HIV infection.
AB  - Opportunistic infections have been reported infrequently in primary HIV
      infection. We report a case of cryptococcemia in primary HIV infection. To our
      knowledge there has not been such a case reported. Our case highlights the need
      for clinicians to be wary of other opportunistic infections, including
      cryptococcosis, in primary HIV infection.

PMID- 26868160
TI  - Speckle-tracking imaging in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adults with Eisenmenger syndrome have a survival advantage over those
      with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Improved survival may result
      from preservation of right ventricular (RV) function. AIMS: To assess left
      ventricular (LV) and RV remodelling in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome
      compared to a control population, using speckle-tracking imaging. METHODS: Adults
      with Eisenmenger syndrome and healthy controls were enrolled into this
      prospective two-centre study. Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome with low
      acoustic windows, irregular heart rhythm or complex congenital heart disease were
      excluded. Clinical assessment, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), 6-minute walk
      test and echocardiography (including dedicated views to perform offline two
      dimensional-speckle-tracking analysis) were performed on inclusion. RESULTS: Our
      patient population (n=37; mean age 42.3 +/- 17 years) was mostly composed of
      patients with ventricular septal defect (37.8%) or atrial septal defect (35.1%).
      Compared with the control population (n=30), patients with Eisenmenger syndrome
      had reduced global LV longitudinal strain (-17.4 +/- 3.5 vs. -22.4 +/- 2.3;
      P<0.001), RV free-wall longitudinal strain (-15.0 +/- 4.7 vs. -29.9 +/- 6.8;
      P<0.001) and RV transverse strain (25.8 +/- 25.0 vs. 44.5 +/- 15.1; P<0.001).
      Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome also more frequently presented a predominant
      apical longitudinal and transverse strain profile. Among patients with
      Eisenmenger syndrome, those with a post-tricuspid shunt presented with reduced
      global LV longitudinal strain but increased RV transverse strain, compared to
      patients with pre-tricuspid shunt. CONCLUSION: Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome
      had impaired longitudinal RV and LV strain, but present a relatively important
      apical deformation. RV and LV remodelling, as assessed by speckle-tracking
      imaging, differ between patients with pre- and post-tricuspid shunt.

PMID- 26868161
TI  - Early-onset Parkinson disease leading to diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

PMID- 26868162
TI  - Dissolved atmospheric gas in xylem sap measured with membrane inlet mass
      spectrometry.
AB  - A new method is described for measuring dissolved gas concentrations in small
      volumes of xylem sap using membrane inlet mass spectrometry. The technique can be
      used to determine concentrations of atmospheric gases, such as argon, as reported
      here, or for any dissolved gases and their isotopes for a variety of
      applications, such as rapid detection of trace gases from groundwater only hours
      after they were taken up by trees and rooting depth estimation. Atmospheric gas
      content in xylem sap directly affects the conditions and mechanisms that allow
      for gas removal from xylem embolisms, because gas can dissolve into saturated or
      supersaturated sap only under gas pressure that is above atmospheric pressure.
      The method was tested for red trumpet vine, Distictis buccinatoria
      (Bignoniaceae), by measuring atmospheric gas concentrations in sap collected at
      times of minimum and maximum daily temperature and during temperature increase
      and decline. Mean argon concentration in xylem sap did not differ significantly
      from saturation levels for the temperature and pressure conditions at any time of
      collection, but more than 40% of all samples were supersaturated, especially
      during the warm parts of day. There was no significant diurnal pattern, due to
      high variability between samples. 

PMID- 26868163
TI  - Aldose reductase participates in the downregulation of T cell functions due to
      suppressor macrophages.
AB  - The cell-to-cell contact of T lymphocytes with immunosuppressive macrophages
      causes marked changes in the tyrosine phosphorylation of some cytosolic proteins
      of T cells. By phosphoproteome analysis, we identified a 36-kDa protein as aldose
      reductase (AR). The AR expression in T cells was not changed by TCR stimulation
      or due to cell-to-cell transmission of suppressor signals from immunosuppressive
      macrophages. Therefore, AR phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is essential for the
      transduction of TCR-mediated T-cell stimulatory signals, and moreover plays
      important roles for the cross-talk of immunosuppressive macrophage-derived
      suppressor signals with the signaling pathways for T-cell activation. Moreover,
      AR played important roles in the upregulation of ERK1/2-mediated signaling
      pathways in T lymphocytes. Notably, the enzymatic activity of AR was not required
      for its signaling action. Taken together, it is concluded that AR mediates
      intracellular transmission of the suppressor signal of immunosuppressive
      macrophages toward downstream ERK1/2 pathways, possibly through its direct
      interaction with acceptor proteins. 

PMID- 26868165
TI  - Huge pseudomyxoma peritonei: Surgical strategies and procedures to employ to
      optimize the rate of complete cytoreductive surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Complete cytoreductive surgery (CCRS) plus Hyperthermic
      Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the best-known treatment for pseudomyxoma
      peritonei (PMP). In 30% of the cases, PMP realize a widespread involvement of the
      peritoneal cavity. In these extreme situations, we developed, devoted strategies
      to optimize the feasibility and safety of CCRS. This study describes the surgical
      resections required for CCRS and the consequent approaches that we propose to
      achieve CCRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We defined "huge PMP" by a peritoneal cancer
      index (PCI) >= 28. Surgical procedures of patients operated on between 1994 and
      2014 were retrospectively reviewed from a prospective database in a single
      institution. RESULTS: During this period, 311 patients were operated on and 247
      (79%) underwent CCRS + HIPEC. Among them, 100 patients presented "huge" PMP and
      54 patients underwent CCRS + HIPEC. In patients with "huge" PMP, the rate of CCRS
      + HIPEC was 25% before 2002 and reached 71% between 2011 and 2014. We identified
      3 conditions for CCRS 1) to guaranty a sufficient length of residual small bowel
      2) to preserve the left gastric vessels in order to preserve the superior third
      of the stomach 3) to ensure that the hepatic pedicle can be entirely cleared from
      its tumor involvement. None of the other peritonectomy procedures were decisional
      for CCRS. CONCLUSION: Our learning curve improved the selection and completion
      rate of CCRS + HIPEC for "huge PMP". Some anatomical and physiological
      prerequisites guarantee the feasibility and safety of such extensive surgeries.

PMID- 26868166
TI  - The role of palliative surgery in the management of advanced pancreatic cancer in
      patients with biliary and duodenal obstruction.

PMID- 26868164
TI  - Activation and inhibition of tph2 serotonergic neurons operate in tandem to
      influence larval zebrafish preference for light over darkness.
AB  - Serotonergic neurons have been implicated in a broad range of processes, but the
      principles underlying their effects remain a puzzle. Here, we ask how these
      neurons influence the tendency of larval zebrafish to swim in the light and avoid
      regions of darkness. Pharmacological inhibition of serotonin synthesis reduces
      dark avoidance, indicating an involvement of this neuromodulator. Calcium imaging
      of tph2-expressing cells demonstrates that a rostral subset of dorsal raphe
      serotonergic neurons fire continuously while the animal is in darkness, but are
      inhibited in the light. Optogenetic manipulation of tph2 neurons by
      channelrhodopsin or halorhodopsin expression modifies preference, confirming a
      role for these neurons. In particular, these results suggest that fish prefer
      swimming in conditions that elicits lower activity in tph2 serotonergic neurons
      in the rostral raphe. 

PMID- 26868167
TI  - Nipple-areola complex reconstruction techniques: A literature review.
AB  - Many techniques for nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction are described.
      Clarity is required on the currently available options. Since a complete list of
      all the techniques described until now is not available, a possibly comprehensive
      literature overview was carried out from 75 papers (years 1946-2015). The local
      flap was the most frequently described technique for the nipple reconstruction
      with no significant difference in complications' rate among the various types of
      techniques. Complications in nipple reconstruction were 46.9% after graft, 7.9%
      after local flap, and 5.3% in case of flaps with autologous
      graft/alloplastic/allograft augmentation, while complications in areola
      reconstruction were 10.1% after graft, and 1.6% after areola tattoo. Flaps appear
      to be more reliable than grafts in nipple reconstruction, while tattoo is thought
      to be safer than graft in areola reconstruction. The loss of projection, although
      considerable (45%-75%), had not significant impact on patients' satisfaction. Due
      to contraction, overcorrection of 25-50% of the desired result is advisory when
      adopting local flaps, in order to prevent loss of projection. The use of flaps
      with autologous graft/alloplastic/allograft augmentation (cartilage, fat, calcium
      hydroxylapatite, acellular dermal matrix, polymethylmethacrylate, biologic
      collagen) showed a minor loss of nipple projection but may expose to a relative
      increased number of postoperative flap necrosis. 

PMID- 26868168
TI  - Surgical result of pterygium extended removal followed by fibrin glue-assisted
      amniotic membrane transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To report the recurrence rate and cosmetic results of
      conjunctival wound edge and caruncle, and complications after pterygium extended
      removal followed by fibrin glue-assisted amniotic membrane transplantation.
      METHODS: A prospective interventional cohort study enrolled 57 (58 eyes) patients
      undergoing pterygium extended removal followed by fibrin glue-assisted amniotic
      membrane transplantation. All patients received postoperative follow-up for at
      least 12 months. Recurrence rate was graded from 1 to 4, and cosmetic results of
      conjunctival edge and caruncle were graded from 1 to 5. RESULTS: The cohort
      included 48 eyes with nasal pterygium, 5 eyes with temporal pterygium, and 5 eyes
      with double pterygium. There were 81.0% (n=47), 0% (n=0), 12% (n=7), and 7% (n=4)
      of eyes with Grades 1-4 recurrence, respectively. The cosmetic results of
      conjunctival wound edge and caruncle in cases with nasal pterygium showed 59.3%
      (n=32), 14.8% (n=8), 9.3% (n=5), 16.6% (n=9), and 0% (n=0) of eyes with Grades 1
      5 morphology, respectively. Overall, 5.1% (n=3), 3.4% (n=2), 3.4% (n=2), 3.4%
      (n=2), 1.7% (n=1), 6.9% (n=4), and 1.7% (n=1) of patients suffered from
      postoperative pyogenic granuloma, transient diplopia, permanent motility
      restriction, steroid glaucoma, fat prolapse, subamniotic membrane hemorrhage, and
      early detachment of amniotic membrane, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pterygium
      extended removal followed by fibrin glue-assisted amniotic membrane
      transplantation results in low recurrence, satisfactory cosmetic results and a
      low incidence of additional complications.

PMID- 26868169
TI  - Presence of subpleural pulmonary interstitial emphysema as an indication of
      single or multiple alveolar ruptures on CT in patients with spontaneous
      pneumomediastinum.
AB  - Background There are no previous reports regarding the computed tomography (CT)
      findings of subpleural pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) in patients with
      spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Purpose To evaluate CT findings of subpleural PIE
      that may indicate a direct site of terminal alveolar rupture. Material and
      Methods We retrospectively evaluated chest CT and the medical records of 34
      patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Subpleural PIE was defined as the
      presence of an interstitial air collection in the subpleural portion of the lungs
      excluding the bronchovascular bundle. Results Subpleural PIE on CT was identified
      in six of 34 patients (17.6%) with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. In four of
      these (66.7%), subpleural PIE was present in multiple lobes suggesting multiple
      simultaneous ruptures of terminal alveoli. The shape of subpleural PIE was
      elongated linear (4/6), branching and linear (1/6), and elliptical (1/6).
      Conclusion The presence of subpleural PIE on CT suggests an origin of
      pneumomediastinal air from alveolar rupture.

PMID- 26868170
TI  - Duplicate publications: attack of the clones.

PMID- 26868171
TI  - Mesenteric panniculitis: review of consecutive abdominal MDCT examinations with a
      matched-pair analysis.
AB  - Background The relationship between mesenteric panniculitis (MP), a benign
      condition involving adipose mesenteric tissue, and malignancy is still being
      questioned. Purpose To investigate the prevalence of MP and study its
      relationship with malignancy. To investigate the 5-year outcome of MP patients
      for the development of malignancy. Material and Methods Retrospective search for
      MP reviewing 3054 consecutive multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) scans.
      Two radiologists in consensus selected the final MP population. For each MP, two
      subsequent MDCT scans of patients matched by gender and age. Five-year follow-up
      data regarding cancer occurrence after index MDCT scans were obtained for the MP
      and control groups. Comparisons between groups were performed using univariate
      conditional logistic regression. Results A total of 160 patients had at least
      three of the five MDCT features defining MP. Sixty-four were excluded owing to
      disease causing mesenteric infiltration or contiguous neoplastic involvement. The
      final population included 96 MP and 192 control patients. The prevalence of MP
      was 3.14%. Most cases of MP were discrete (66.7%), 2.1% were marked. In total,
      60.4% and 59.4% of MP and control patients, respectively, had cancer ( P = 0.86).
      There was no significant association between MP score and presence of cancer ( P
      = 0.06) nor any relationship between the course of associated cancer and MP
      evolution. In total, 80/96 MP patients and 50/78 control patients without
      associated cancer had a 5-year follow-up at least. No significant difference
      between both groups for new tumor occurrence during follow-up was found ( P =
      0.15). Conclusion Our results do not suggest that patients with incidentally
      found MP should be followed up for early detection of a cancer.

PMID- 26868172
TI  - Oral distension methods for small bowel MRI: comparison of different agents to
      optimize bowel distension.
AB  - Background Different methods for bowel distension prior to magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) examinations were described in recent years. Purpose To compare
      orally administered psyllium or locust bean gum / mannitol (LBM) with tylose
      administered through a duodenal catheter for bowel distension in patients
      undergoing MRI examination of the small bowel. Material and Methods Three
      different methods of bowel distension prior to MRI were compared: tylose applied
      through a duodenal catheter and orally administered psyllium and LBM in three
      groups with 15 patients each. Datasets were blinded and reviewed independently by
      two experienced radiologists, who assessed the diagnostic value and the maximum
      luminal diameter. Results Tylose was superior to psyllium and LBM in the
      examination of the duodenum and proximal jejunum. LBM was superior to the other
      methods for distension of the ileum and terminal ileum. The greatest luminal
      diameter of the duodenum was achieved after tylose and distension of the terminal
      ileum was the best in patients receiving LBM. The psyllium group was inferior to
      the other two groups in all segments. Conclusion By using LBM as an oral method
      of bowel distension, many patients can avoid the unpleasant placement of a
      duodenal catheter without compromising the diagnostic value of the examination.

PMID- 26868173
TI  - Surface modification of 3D-printed porous scaffolds via mussel-inspired
      polydopamine and effective immobilization of rhBMP-2 to promote osteogenic
      differentiation for bone tissue engineering.
AB  - For tissue engineering, a bio-porous scaffold which is applied to bone-tissue
      regeneration should provide the hydrophilicity for cell attachment as well as
      provide for the capability to bind a bioactive molecule such as a growth factor
      in order to improve cell differentiation. In this work, we prepared a three
      dimensional (3D) printed polycaprolactone scaffold (PCLS) grafted with
      recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP2) attached via polydopamine
      (DOPA) chemistry. The DOPA coated PCL scaffold was characterized by contact
      angle, water uptake, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in order to
      certify that the surface was successfully coated with DOPA. In order to test the
      loading and release of rhBMP2, we examined the release rate for 28days. For the
      In vitro cell study, pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded onto PCL scaffolds
      (PCLSs), DOPA coated PCL scaffold (PCLSD), and scaffolds with varying
      concentrations of rhBMP2 grafted onto the PCLSD 100 and PCLSD 500 (100 and
      500ng/ml loaded), respectively. These scaffolds were evaluated by cell
      proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and real time polymerase chain
      reaction with immunochemistry in order to verify their osteogenic activity.
      Through these studies, we demonstrated that our fabricated scaffolds were well
      coated with DOPA as well as grafted with rhBMP2 at a quantity of 22.7+/-5ng when
      treatment with 100ng/ml rhBMP2 and 153.3+/-2.4ng when treated with 500ng/ml
      rhBMP2. This grafting enables rhBMP2 to be released in a sustained pattern. In
      the in vitro results, the cell proliferation and an osteoconductivity of PCLSD
      500 groups was greater than any other group. All of these results suggest that
      our manufactured 3D printed porous scaffold would be a useful construct for
      application to the bone tissue engineering field. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
      Tissue-engineered scaffolds are not only extremely complex and cumbersome, but
      also use organic solvents which can negatively influence cellular function. Thus,
      a rapid, solvent-free method is necessary to improve scaffold generation.
      Recently, 3D printing such as a rapid prototyping technique has several benefits
      in that manufacturing is a simple process using computer aided design and
      scaffolds can be generated without using solvents. In this study, we designed a
      bio-active scaffold using a very simple and direct method to manufacture DOPA
      coated 3D PCL porous scaffold grafted with rhBMP2 as a means to create bone
      tissue regenerative scaffolds. To our knowledge, our approach can allow for the
      generation of scaffolds which possessed good properties for use as bone-tissue
      scaffolds.

PMID- 26868174
TI  - Oxidation-Induced Degradable Nanogels for Iron Chelation.
AB  - Iron overload can increase cellular oxidative stress levels due to formation of
      reactive oxygen species (ROS); untreated, it can be extremely destructive to
      organs and fatal to patients. Since elevated oxidative stress levels are inherent
      to the condition in such patients, oxidation-induced degradable nanogels for iron
      chelation were rationally designed by simultaneously polymerizing oxidation
      sensitive host-guest crosslinkers between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and
      ferrocene (Fc) and iron chelating moieties composed of deferoxamine (DFO) into
      the final gel scaffold in reverse emulsion reaction chambers. UV-Vis absorption
      and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to verify iron chelating
      capability of nanogels. These materials can degrade into smaller chelating
      fragments at rates proportional to the level of oxidative stress present.
      Conjugating DFO reduces the cytotoxicity of the chelator in the macrophage cells.
      Importantly, the nanogel can effectively reduce cellular ferritin expression in
      iron overloaded cells and regulate intracellular iron levels at the same time,
      which is important for maintaining a homeostatic level of this critical metal in
      cells. 

PMID- 26868175
TI  - Crystal structure of translation initiation factor 5B from the crenarchaeon
      Aeropyrum pernix.
AB  - Initiation factor 5B (IF5B) is a universally conserved translational GTPase that
      catalyzes ribosomal subunit joining. In eukaryotes, IF5B directly interacts via a
      groove in its domain IV with initiation factor 1A (IF1A), another universally
      conserved initiation factor, to accomplish efficient subunit joining. Here, we
      have determined the first structure of a crenarchaeal IF5B, which revealed that
      the archaea-specific region of IF5B (helix alpha15) binds and occludes the groove
      of domain IV. Therefore, archaeal IF5B cannot access IF1A in the same manner as
      eukaryotic IF5B. This fact suggests that different relationships between IF5B and
      IF1A exist in archaea and eukaryotes.

PMID- 26868176
TI  - A family matter--when a parent is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A
      qualitative study.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to explore and describe from a triple
      perspective--that of the ill parent, the healthy parent and the children-
      experienced issues that are important to acknowledge and act upon to make it
      easier for a child to cope when a parent is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
      BACKGROUND: A chronic disease affects the whole family and has a substantial
      impact on the children. Traditionally, the focus is on the patient, and
      communication with other family members is not generally integrated into health
      care. Health care professionals need to be aware of a child's needs when a parent
      is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: A qualitative design using content
      analysis with an inductive approach was used. METHODS: Nine focus group
      interviews were conducted with the ill parents, the healthy parents and the
      children separately. RESULTS: Participants jointly indicated that family members
      need to be recognised, both initially and onwards in their everyday lives. Seven
      categories were defined: Prerequisites within the families, Initial reactions,
      Trying to adapt and manage, Developing strategies, Everyday life, Thoughts about
      the future and Support from health care providers. Together they constituted the
      theme that multiple sclerosis is a family matter. Both ill and healthy parents
      wished for support from health care professionals in addressing their children's
      needs. CONCLUSIONS: Health care professionals need to pay attention to children
      as a parent's illness affects them. Not only the children would benefit, but so
      would their parents, as their worries for their children would be reduced.
      RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Staff can be advised to pay attention to the
      parenting role, how the parenting role and parent-child relationship may change
      as a result of a chronic disease. Parents may need reassurance and benefit from
      advice about how to talk to their children about their condition and its impact.

PMID- 26868177
TI  - Aspirin and colorectal cancer: the promise of precision chemoprevention.
AB  - Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has become one of the most commonly used drugs,
      given its role as an analgesic, antipyretic and agent for cardiovascular
      prophylaxis. Several decades of research have provided considerable evidence
      demonstrating its potential for the prevention of cancer, particularly colorectal
      cancer. Broader clinical recommendations for aspirin-based chemoprevention
      strategies have recently been established; however, given the known hazards of
      long-term aspirin use, larger-scale adoption of an aspirin chemoprevention
      strategy is likely to require improved identification of individuals for whom the
      protective benefits outweigh the harms. Such a precision medicine approach may
      emerge through further clarification of aspirin's mechanism of action. 

PMID- 26868178
TI  - Gene expression profiling of white adipose tissue reveals paternal transmission
      of proneness to obesity.
AB  - Previously, we found that C57BL/6J (B6) mice are more prone to develop obesity
      than PWK mice. In addition, we analyzed reciprocal crosses between these mice and
      found that (PWK * B6) F1 mice, which have B6 fathers, are more likely to develop
      dietary obesity than (B6 * PWK) F1 mice, which have B6 mothers. These results
      suggested that diet-induced obesity is paternally transmitted. In this study, we
      performed transcriptome analysis of adipose tissues of B6, PWK, (PWK * B6) F1,
      and (B6 * PWK) F1 mice using next-generation sequencing. We found that paternal
      transmission of diet-induced obesity was correlated with genes involved in
      adipose tissue inflammation, metal ion transport, and cilia. Furthermore, we
      analyzed the imprinted genes expressed in white adipose tissue (WAT) and obesity.
      Expression of paternally expressed imprinted genes (PEGs) was negatively
      correlated with body weight, whereas expression of maternally expressed imprinted
      genes (MEGs) was positively correlated. In the obesity-prone B6 mice, expression
      of PEGs was down-regulated by a high-fat diet, suggesting that abnormally low
      expression of PEGs contributes to high-fat diet-induced obesity in B6 mice. In
      addition, using single-nucleotide polymorphisms that differ between B6 and PWK,
      we identified candidate imprinted genes in WAT. 

PMID- 26868180
TI  - Cerebral functional connectivity and Mayer waves in mice: Phenomena and
      separability.
AB  - Resting-state functional connectivity is a growing neuroimaging approach that
      analyses the spatiotemporal structure of spontaneous brain activity, often using
      low-frequency (<0.08 Hz) hemodynamics. In addition to these fluctuations, there
      are two other low-frequency hemodynamic oscillations in a nearby spectral region
      (0.1-0.4 Hz) that have been reported in the brain: vasomotion and Mayer waves.
      Despite how close in frequency these phenomena exist, there is little research on
      how vasomotion and Mayer waves are related to or affect resting-state functional
      connectivity. In this study, we analyze spontaneous hemodynamic fluctuations over
      the mouse cortex using optical intrinsic signal imaging. We found spontaneous
      occurrence of oscillatory hemodynamics ~0.2 Hz consistent with the properties of
      Mayer waves reported in the literature. Across a group of mice (n = 19), there
      was a large variability in the magnitude of Mayer waves. However, regardless of
      the magnitude of Mayer waves, functional connectivity patterns could be recovered
      from hemodynamic signals when filtered to the lower frequency band, 0.01-0.08 Hz.
      Our results demonstrate that both Mayer waves and resting-state functional
      connectivity patterns can co-exist simultaneously, and that they can be separated
      by applying bandpass filters.

PMID- 26868181
TI  - Low generation polyamine dendrimers bearing flexible tetraethylene glycol as
      nanocarriers for plasmids and siRNA.
AB  - Low G1 generation polyamine dendrimers built around programmable, flexible, and
      short tetraethyleneglycol branches were readily prepared in a divergent manner
      using a combination of orthogonal AB3 or AB5 units and highly efficient chemical
      transformations based on Cu(i) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CUAAC) and
      thiol-ene click reactions. The constructs showed that the G1 polyamines with only
      twelve and eighteen amine surface groups can successfully deliver siRNA in human
      cells, with transfection efficiency comparable to that of Lipofectamine 2000(r).
      Measurements of cell viability following transfection of plasmid DNA and siRNA
      showed that the dendritic polyamines are less cytotoxic than Lipofectamine
      2000(r) and are thus preferable for biological applications. 

PMID- 26868182
TI  - The role of maternal cardiac vagal control in the association between depressive
      symptoms and gestational hypertension.
AB  - Reduced cardiac vagal control, indexed by relatively lower high-frequency heart
      rate variability (HF-HRV), is implicated in depressed mood and hypertensive
      disorders among non-pregnant adults whereas research in pregnancy is limited.
      This study examined whether maternal HF-HRV during pregnancy mediates the
      association between depressed mood and gestational hypertension. Depressive
      symptoms (Edinburgh Depression Scale) and HF-HRV were measured during early
      (M=14.9 weeks) and late (M=32.4 weeks) pregnancy in 287 women. Gestational
      hypertension was determined by chart review. Depressive symptoms were associated
      with less HF-HRV (b=-0.02, p=.001). There was an indirect effect of depressed
      mood on gestational hypertension through late pregnancy HF-HRV (b=0.04, 95% CI
      0.0038, 0.1028) after accounting for heart rate. These findings suggest cardiac
      vagal control is a possible pathway through which prenatal depressed mood is
      associated with gestational hypertension, though causal ordering remains
      uncertain.

PMID- 26868184
TI  - Caliber-Persistent Labial Artery: A Rarely Recognized Cause of a Lower Lip
      Swelling-Report of 5 Cases and Review of the Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Caliber-persistent labial artery (CPLA) is a vascular anomaly of the
      labial artery that penetrates into the submucosa of the lip without reduction in
      diameter. It commonly presents as a bluish or normal-colored elevated mass and
      usually pulsates on manual palpation. It can resemble a mucocele or squamous cell
      carcinoma if surface ulceration presented. CPLA carries the risk of profuse
      bleeding if the artery undergoes transection during biopsy. METHODOLOGY: Five
      patients aged between 28 and 88 years presented with discrete lesions of the
      lower lip. All cases were diagnosed clinically as either mucocele or squamous
      cell carcinoma and were treated with excisional biopsy. RESULTS: The specimens
      showed a prominent muscular vessel in the stroma that was associated with
      ulceration in 2 cases. Hemostasis was achieved by either application of surgical
      diathermy or ligation with deep sutures at the wound area. Persistence of the
      lesion after excision was seen in only 1 case, another single case the patient
      complained of persistent paresthesia at the surgical site at 7 months review
      after biopsy. CONCLUSION: CPLA should be considered in the differential diagnosis
      of any raised soft tissue lesion affecting the lip. Careful inspection with
      palpation for pulse during clinical examination should permit an accurate
      clinical diagnosis and may prevent unnecessary surgical treatment or prepare the
      operator for the possibility of hemorrhage during surgery. Pathologists can be
      alerted to the possibility of CPLA where an isolated muscular vessel is
      encountered during lip biopsy.

PMID- 26868183
TI  - Custom-Machined Miniplates and Bone-Supported Guides for Orthognathic Surgery: A
      New Surgical Procedure.
AB  - PURPOSE: Several surgical strategies exist to improve accuracy in orthognathic
      surgery, but ideal planning and treatment have yet to be described. The purpose
      of this study was to present and assess the accuracy of a virtual orthognathic
      positioning system (OPS), based on the use of bone-supported guides for placement
      of custom, highly rigid, machined titanium miniplates produced using computer
      aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      An institutional review board-approved prospective observational study was
      designed to evaluate our early experience with the OPS. The inclusion criteria
      were as follows: adult patients who were classified as skeletal Class II or III
      patients and as candidates for orthognathic surgery or who were candidates for
      maxillomandibular advancement as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Reverse
      planning with computed tomography and modeling software was performed. Our OPS
      was designed to avoid the use of intermaxillary fixation and occlusal splints.
      The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS: Six patients were enrolled in
      the study. The custom OPS miniplates fit perfectly with the anterior buttress of
      the maxilla and the mandible body surface intraoperatively. To evaluate accuracy,
      the postoperative 3-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography image and the
      presurgical plan were compared. In the maxillary fragments that underwent less
      than 6 mm of advancement, the OPS enabled an SD of 0.14 mm (92% within 1 mm) at
      the upper maxilla and 0.34 mm (86% within 1 mm) at the mandible. In the case of
      great advancements of more than 10 mm, the SD was 1.33 mm (66% within 1 mm) at
      the upper maxilla and 0.67 mm (73% within 1 mm) at the mandibular level.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our novel OPS was safe and well tolerated, providing positional
      control with considerable surgical accuracy. The OPS simplified surgery by being
      independent of support from the opposite maxilla and obviating the need for
      classic intermaxillary occlusal splints.

PMID- 26868186
TI  - The alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulates autism-like behavioral
      and motor abnormalities in pentylenetetrazol-kindled mice.
AB  - Epilepsy is associated with several psychiatric disorders, including cognitive
      impairment, autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However,
      the psychopathology of epilepsy is frequently unrecognized and untreated in
      patients. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ABT-418, a
      neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)
      kindled mice with behavioral and motor abnormalities. PTZ-kindled mice displayed
      impaired motor coordination (in the rotarod test), anxiety (in the elevated plus
      maze test) and social approach impairment (in the three-chamber social test)
      compared with control mice. ABT-418 treatment (0.05 mg/kg, intraperitoneally)
      alleviated these behavioral abnormalities in PTZ-kindled mice. Immunolabeling of
      tissue sections demonstrated that expression of the alpha4 nicotinic
      acetylcholine receptor subunit in the medial habenula was similar in control and
      PTZ-kindled mice. However, expression was significantly decreased in the piriform
      cortex in PTZ-kindled mice. In addition, we examined the expression of the
      synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin 3 (NLG3). NLG3 expression in the piriform
      cortex was significantly higher in PTZ-kindled mice compared with control mice.
      Collectively, our findings suggest that ADHD-like or autistic-like behavioral
      abnormalities associated with epilepsy are closely related to the downregulation
      of the alpha4 nicotinic receptor and the upregulation of NLG3 in the piriform
      cortex. In summary, this study indicates that ABT-418 might have therapeutic
      potential for attentional impairment in epileptic patients with psychiatric
      disorders such as autism and ADHD.

PMID- 26868187
TI  - IkappaB kinase beta inhibitor, IMD-0354, prevents allergic asthma in a mouse
      model through inhibition of CD4(+) effector T cell responses in the lung-draining
      mediastinal lymph nodes.
AB  - IkappaB kinase (IKK) is important for nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation under
      inflammatory conditions. It has been demonstrated that IMD-0354, i.e. a selective
      inhibitor of IKKbeta, inhibited allergic inflammation in a mouse model of
      ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. The present study attempts to shed light on the
      involvement of CD4(+) effector (Teff) and regulatory (Treg) T cells in the anti
      asthmatic action of IMD-0354. The animals were divided into three groups: vehicle
      treated, PBS-sensitized/challenged mice (PBS group); vehicle treated, OVA
      sensitized/challenged mice (OVA group); and IMD-0354-treated, OVA
      sensitized/challenged mice. The analyzed parameters included the absolute counts
      of Treg cells (Foxp3(+)CD25(+)CD4(+)), activated Teff cells (Foxp3(
      )CD25(+)CD4(+)) and resting T cells (CD25(-)CD4(+)) in the mediastinal lymph
      nodes (MLNs), lungs and peripheral blood. Moreover, lung histopathology was
      performed to evaluate lung inflammation. It was found that the absolute number of
      cells in all studied subsets was considerably increased in the MLNs and lungs of
      mice from OVA group as compared to PBS group. All of these effects were fully
      prevented by treatment with IMD-0354. Histopathological examination showed that
      treatment with IMD-0354 protected the lungs from OVA-induced allergic airway
      inflammation. Our results indicate that IMD-0354 exerts anti-asthmatic action, at
      least partially, by blocking the activation and clonal expansion of CD4(+) Teff
      cells in the MLNs, which, consequently, prevents infiltration of the lungs with
      activated CD4(+) Teff cells. The beneficial effects of IMD-0354 in a mouse model
      of asthma are not mediated through increased recruitment of Treg cells into the
      MLNs and lungs and/or local generation of inducible Treg cells. 

PMID- 26868185
TI  - Predicting malaria vector distribution under climate change scenarios in China:
      Challenges for malaria elimination.
AB  - Projecting the distribution of malaria vectors under climate change is essential
      for planning integrated vector control activities for sustaining elimination and
      preventing reintroduction of malaria. In China, however, little knowledge exists
      on the possible effects of climate change on malaria vectors. Here we assess the
      potential impact of climate change on four dominant malaria vectors (An. dirus,
      An. minimus, An. lesteri and An. sinensis) using species distribution models for
      two future decades: the 2030 s and the 2050 s. Simulation-based estimates suggest
      that the environmentally suitable area (ESA) for An. dirus and An. minimus would
      increase by an average of 49% and 16%, respectively, under all three scenarios
      for the 2030 s, but decrease by 11% and 16%, respectively in the 2050 s. By
      contrast, an increase of 36% and 11%, respectively, in ESA of An. lesteri and An.
      sinensis, was estimated under medium stabilizing (RCP4.5) and very heavy (RCP8.5)
      emission scenarios. in the 2050 s. In total, we predict a substantial net
      increase in the population exposed to the four dominant malaria vectors in the
      decades of the 2030 s and 2050 s, considering land use changes and urbanization
      simultaneously. Strategies to achieve and sustain malaria elimination in China
      will need to account for these potential changes in vector distributions and
      receptivity.

PMID- 26868179
TI  - In vitro models of the blood-brain barrier: An overview of commonly used brain
      endothelial cell culture models and guidelines for their use.
AB  - The endothelial cells lining the brain capillaries separate the blood from the
      brain parenchyma. The endothelial monolayer of the brain capillaries serves both
      as a crucial interface for exchange of nutrients, gases, and metabolites between
      blood and brain, and as a barrier for neurotoxic components of plasma and
      xenobiotics. This "blood-brain barrier" function is a major hindrance for drug
      uptake into the brain parenchyma. Cell culture models, based on either primary
      cells or immortalized brain endothelial cell lines, have been developed, in order
      to facilitate in vitro studies of drug transport to the brain and studies of
      endothelial cell biology and pathophysiology. In this review, we aim to give an
      overview of established in vitro blood-brain barrier models with a focus on their
      validation regarding a set of well-established blood-brain barrier
      characteristics. As an ideal cell culture model of the blood-brain barrier is yet
      to be developed, we also aim to give an overview of the advantages and drawbacks
      of the different models described.

PMID- 26868188
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of Paradol Analogues Orally Administered to Rats.
AB  - The kinetics parameters of paradols with different acyl chain lengths have been
      evaluated to determine their antiobesity site of action. Rats were orally
      administered olive oil containing 0-, 6-, 8-, or 12-paradol, and blood samples
      were collected at different time points. The concentrations of the paradols in
      the plasma were analyzed both with and without beta-glucuronidase treatment. The
      area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC(0-24h)) of the
      parent compounds decreased with increasing acyl chain length. Whereas 12-paradol
      showed the largest AUC(0-24h) with the longest time to reach its maximum plasma
      concentration of all of the compounds tested, the AUC(0-24h) values of the
      metabolites decreased with increasing acyl chain length. These results indicate
      that increasing acyl chain length leads to a decrease in the absorption of
      paradols via the intestinal tract, the wall of which was estimated to be their
      antiobesity site of action.

PMID- 26868190
TI  - FACTORS INFLUENCING REIMBURSEMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES IN FRANCE.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the key factors considered for the first
      application of the National Committee for the Evaluation of Medical Devices
      (CNEDiMTS) for achieving reimbursement through registration in the list of
      products and services qualifying for reimbursement (LPPR). METHODS: All the
      appraisals studied on medical devices (MD) for first inclusion in the LPPR during
      2011 and 2012 were retrieved from the French National Authority for Health or
      Haute Autorite de sante (HAS) Web site. A list of relevant factors was analyzed
      for each included opinion, followed by univariate and multivariate analyses to
      highlight the key factors that impacted the expected benefit (EB) provided by
      HAS. RESULTS: A total of 151 appraisals were included in the study. Of them, 94
      (62 percent) were granted with sufficient EB. The manufacturers were mostly from
      the United States (36 percent), while most of the applicants were from France (84
      percent). After adjusting for other retrieved factors, it was observed that MDs
      complying with the technical standards, requests supported by opinion(s) from
      previous generation of MD, and the presence of recommendations or guidelines had
      more probability to obtain a sufficient EB. A lower probability was related to
      MDs supported by low-quality studies and with no specific health public benefit.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed that manufacturers seeking reimbursement
      should be aware of the expectations of the health authorities (level of evidence,
      technical standard, etc.) and foresee their plan of sending requests for funding
      so that they can provide evidence of good quality.

PMID- 26868191
TI  - Purification and characterization of R-stereospecific amidase from Brevibacterium
      epidermidis ZJB-07021.
AB  - A R-stereospecific amidase was purified from Brevibacterium epidermidis ZJB-07021
      and characterized in detail. The amidase was purified to homogeneity by three
      chromatographic steps for up to 328.9-fold with specific activity of 31.9 U mg(
      1). The enzyme was a homodimer with a molecular mass of 94 kDa. It exhibited
      maximum activity at 40  degrees C and pH 7.5. The enzyme was strongly inactivated
      by serine protease inhibitor PMSF. The values of Km and Vmax for racemic 2,2
      dimethylcyclopropane carboxamide (DMCPCA) were 4.58 mM and 35.03 MUmol min(-1)
      mg(-1) protein, respectively. The amidase showed a broad substrate spectrum
      toward aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic amides, but could hardly hydrolyze
      the bulky side-chain-containing amides. Furthermore, kinetic resolution of
      racemic DMCPCA by the amidase afforded S-DMCPCA in 46.3% yield and 99% ee with an
      average E-value of 67. These unique properties of the amidase imply that it is a
      promising biocatalyst for the production of chiral amides and carboxylic acids.

PMID- 26868192
TI  - Efficient Charge Separation between Bi and Bi2 MoO6 for Photoelectrochemical
      Properties.
AB  - Herein, porous Bi/Bi2 MoO6 nanoparticles have been prepared by a facile in-situ
      reduction approach. Moreover, the morphology and Bi content of product could be
      controlled by varying the reaction time. By controlled fabrication, the desired
      porous Bi2 MoO6 nanostructure with incorporation of Bi was obtained and exhibited
      high photoelectric and photocatalytic activity. In particular, the samples yield
      a photocurrent density of 320 MUA cm(-2) , which is 3.2 times that of the pure
      Bi2 MoO6 nanosheet (100 MUA cm(-2) ) under the same conditions. UV/Vis diffuse
      reflectance spectroscopy analysis confirmed the surface plasmon resonance in the
      as-prepared porous nanoparticles. The improved photoelectric properties could be
      the synergistic effect of the porous structure with large surface area and
      effective electron-hole separations between Bi and Bi2 MoO6 .

PMID- 26868189
TI  - Japan Prosthodontic Society position paper on "occlusal discomfort syndrome".
AB  - PURPOSE: Dentists may encounter patients who present with a sense of a
      malocclusion but in whom no objective findings can be detected. For the patient
      who insists that there is occlusal discomfort, in the absence of evidence some
      dentists elect to perform an occlusal adjustment that not only fails to alleviate
      symptoms, and may, in fact, exacerbate the discomfort. The patient-dentist
      relationship is then likely compromised because of a lack of trust. STUDY
      SELECTION: In 2011, the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the Japan
      Prosthodontic Society formulated guidelines for the management of occlusal
      discomfort. When formulating clinical practice guidelines, the committee bases
      their recommendations on information derived from scientific evidence. For
      "occlusal dysesthesia," however, there are an insufficient number of high-quality
      papers related to the subject. Therefore, a consensus meeting was convened by the
      Japan Prosthodontic Society to examine evidence in the Japanese- and English
      language literature and generate a multi-center survey to create an appropriate
      appellation for this condition. RESULTS: As a result of the consensus meeting and
      survey findings, this condition may be justifiably termed "occlusal discomfort
      syndrome." CONCLUSIONS: The Japan Prosthodontics Society believes that
      identification of an umbrella term for occlusal discomfort might serve as a
      useful guide to formulating clinical practice guidelines in the future. This
      position paper represents summary findings in the literature combined with the
      results of a multicenter survey focused on dental occlusal treatment and the
      condition of patients who present with occlusal discomfort syndrome.

PMID- 26868193
TI  - David Beran: the battle for 100% access to insulin.

PMID- 26868194
TI  - PCSK9 inhibition in type 2 diabetes: so far so good, but not there yet.

PMID- 26868196
TI  - Culture and medical psychiatric narratives.

PMID- 26868195
TI  - Lipid-lowering efficacy of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab (AMG 145) in patients
      with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2 diabetes have increased cardiovascular risk.
      PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol and other
      lipids, but specific efficacy for patients with diabetes is unknown. We compared
      the effect of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab on lipid parameters in patients with
      and without type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We did a random-effects meta-analysis of
      randomised clinical trials comparing the efficacy of evolocumab, placebo, and
      ezetimibe to improve lipid parameters in adult patients (age 18-80 years) with or
      without type 2 diabetes. We searched MEDLINE and Embase to identify eligible 12
      week, phase 3 trials published between Jan 1, 2012, and Feb 28, 2015. We excluded
      trials that included patients who had homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.
      All analyses were based on individual participant data. We used DerSimonian and
      Laird random-effects meta-analyses to compare the mean changes from baseline in
      concentrations of LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol,
      triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), and HDL cholesterol at 12 weeks for evolocumab,
      placebo, and ezetimibe. We also assessed the effect of evolocumab therapy
      compared with placebo across subgroups of patients based on glycaemia, insulin
      use, renal function, and cardiovascular disease status at baseline. RESULTS:
      Three trials met our inclusion criteria, and included 413 patients with type 2
      diabetes and 2119 patients without type 2 diabetes. In patients with type 2
      diabetes evolocumab caused mean reductions in LDL cholesterol concentration that
      were 60% (95% CI 51-69) versus placebo and 39% (32-47) versus ezetimibe. In
      patients without type 2 diabetes, evolocumab caused mean reductions in LDL
      cholesterol that were 66% (62-70) versus placebo and 40% (36-45) versus
      ezetimibe. In patients with type 2 diabetes, evolocumab was associated with
      reductions in non-HDL cholesterol (55% [47-63] vs placebo and 34% [26-41] vs
      ezetimibe), total cholesterol (38% [32-44] vs placebo and 24% [16-31] vs
      ezetimibe), and lipoprotein(a) (31% [25-37] vs placebo and 26% [16-35] vs
      ezetimibe), and an increase in HDL cholesterol (7% [4-11] vs placebo and 8% [4
      13] vs ezetimibe). Findings were similar across diabetes subgroups based on
      glycaemia, insulin use, renal function, and cardiovascular disease status.
      INTERPRETATION: Evolocumab markedly reduces atherogenic lipoproteins in patients
      with type 2 diabetes, an effect that is consistent across subgroups and similar
      to that seen in patients without type 2 diabetes. Results from ongoing
      cardiovascular outcome trials of PCSK9 inhibitors will provide additional data to
      inform the use of these drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes. FUNDING: Amgen.

PMID- 26868197
TI  - Sociosomatic theory in Vietnamese immigrants' narratives of distress.
AB  - We examined the symptom experience and illness explanations of Vietnamese
      immigrants to Canada through narratives collected during a study of pathways and
      barriers to mental health care. The narratives presented two culture-related
      explanatory models: phong thap and ua't u'c. Common elements in the narratives of
      those who suffered from ua't u'c were experiences of injustice and indignation,
      along with the persistent inability to denounce these injustices because of the
      sufferer's social status. In contrast, phong thap - an explanation analogous to
      rheumatism - was a socially acceptable way to describe distress that was
      attributed to depletion of energy, cold and environmental effects. Talk about
      phong thap also served as an idiom of distress that permitted older people to
      express negative feelings about their life situation in Canada in a socially
      acceptable way. The contrast between these models throws into relief the complex
      interaction of explanatory models and idioms of distress in the co-construction
      of narratives of distress. 

PMID- 26868198
TI  - From chaos to cosmogeny.
AB  - Illness narratives are informed by grand metanarratives in any society. This
      paper compares and contrasts understandings of stories relating to illness among
      Western academics and Hasidic Jews. While not arguing for any historical
      continuity, both cultures are informed by core metanarratives of progress and
      ascendance. Contemporary Western society emphasizes coherence, success, progress,
      and movement. In Hasidism the universe is slowly progressing to a state of
      perfection. Storytelling in both cultures results in a process of restitution. In
      narrative theory it is the self which is repaired. In Hasidism it is the soul
      which is repaired through storytelling. How have narratives of misfortune changed
      since the atrocities of the Holocaust? 

PMID- 26868199
TI  - Friendly fire.
AB  - From September 1990 to June 1991, the UK deployed 53,462 military personnel in
      the Gulf War. In 1993 reports began to surface in the UK about unexplained health
      problems occurring amongst Gulf War veterans. This paper considers the way
      sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) came to label their condition in this way.
      Unlike other research into this illness, this work focuses on sufferers' own
      accounts to better understand the way GWS is perceived by those it affects. Based
      on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the UK, data for this paper were
      collected mainly by in-depth semi-structured interviews with GWS sufferers, their
      family members, doctors and scientists, as well as Gulf veterans. Findings
      suggest that GWS narratives provide a template to make sense of life events and
      illness. Investigating the way veterans came to ascribe to GWS as an explanation
      of their suffering, it became clear that contact with other sufferers was central
      to this process. Through participation in the veterans group and by assimilating
      the stories of other sufferers, a culturally specific narrative form is learned.
      This provides a framework for the reflexive re-interpretation of one's past and
      helps to construct a narrative of GWS. Unlike most work on narrative which
      focuses on the individual, this interpretation suggests that the collective
      aspect is central. In the absence of a diagnostic test and a coherence of
      symptoms, it is the concordance between the individual and collective narrative
      that is persuasive. 

PMID- 26868200
TI  - Not being mentally ill.
AB  - Much of the social scientific work on psychiatry and mental health, from a
      variety of competing perspectives, has focused upon power and the social
      construction of 'mental illness'. Very little attention has been paid to
      resistance or to the various ways in which 'patients' or 'survivors' (as some now
      prefer to refer to themselves) have sought to socially deconstruct 'mental
      illness'. This paper seeks to redress that balance by way of a detailed
      examination of some of the key practices of resistance which have developed
      within the context of the UK mental health survivors movement. Using key concepts
      from Bourdieu's theory of practice, it examines the challenge which survivors
      have mounted to the symbolic power of psychiatry, and the resistance habitus
      which their opposition has given rise to. 

PMID- 26868201
TI  - Escape, enlightenment and endurance.
AB  - This paper reports findings from a study which analysed the narratives of
      individuals who described themselves as recovered or recovering from psychosis, a
      term referring to experiences such as hearing voices other people do not hear,
      seeing or sensing things other people do not see or sense, holding unusual
      beliefs (delusions) or beliefs about the malevolent intention of others which
      seem unwarranted (paranoia). A narrative approach was taken since it allows for a
      focus on the construction of meaning and it is the breakdown of shared meanings
      which, at least in part, defines psychotic experience. It was also anticipated
      that the way the individual narrated their experience would offer important clues
      as to how they (and others) had facilitated the recovery process. This paper
      reports on the analysis of genre, tone and core narratives. Three distinct genres
      emerged from the analysis: narratives of escape, enlightenment and endurance.
      There was a relationship between genre, tone and core narrative. The study raises
      questions about how psychosis is experienced, understood and treated by the
      individual, by mental health professionals and by society. 

PMID- 26868202
TI  - Narrative expressions of despair under occupation.
AB  - As part of the first anthropological study on suicide in the contemporary Arab
      world, 31 suicide narratives from Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in
      the West Bank and Gaza were collected and analysed within their cultural, socio
      economic and political contexts. The sexual segregation of the mainly Muslim
      society was reflected in the different expressions of distress used in the female
      and male narratives. Women felt 'pressurized', 'suffocated', 'nervy', with their
      emotions about to explode. Their suicide attempts were spontaneous outbursts of
      emotional frustration. Men appeared 'worn out', 'tired', 'depressed' and dying
      seemed more honourable than living unable to gain status or even become a social
      adult male. These narratives of suffocation and frustration provide some
      understanding of reactions to the current dire political and economic situation
      faced by Palestinians living under siege as Israel uses ever more drastic
      measures to subdue the population. For suicide bombers, death may also seem more
      honourable than life under oppression. 

PMID- 26868205
TI  - The Ethical Challenges of Compassionate Use.

PMID- 26868206
TI  - Demographic buffering and compensatory recruitment promotes the persistence of
      disease in a wildlife population.
AB  - Demographic buffering allows populations to persist by compensating for
      fluctuations in vital rates, including disease-induced mortality. Using long-term
      data on a badger (Meles meles Linnaeus, 1758) population naturally infected with
      Mycobacterium bovis, we built an integrated population model to quantify impacts
      of disease, density and environmental drivers on survival and recruitment.
      Badgers exhibit a slow life-history strategy, having high rates of adult survival
      with low variance, and low but variable rates of recruitment. Recruitment
      exhibited strong negative density-dependence, but was not influenced by disease,
      while adult survival was density independent but declined with increasing
      prevalence of diseased individuals. Given that reproductive success is not
      depressed by disease prevalence, density-dependent recruitment of cubs is likely
      to compensate for disease-induced mortality. This combination of slow life
      history and compensatory recruitment promotes the persistence of a naturally
      infected badger population and helps to explain the badger's role as a persistent
      reservoir of M. bovis. 

PMID- 26868207
TI  - Extending FDA guidance to include consumer medication information (CMI) delivery
      on mobile devices.
AB  - This paper describes the current state of consumer-focused mobile health
      application use and the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance
      on the distribution of consumer medication information (CMI), and discusses
      recommendations and considerations for the FDA to expand CMI guidance to include
      CMI in mobile applications. Smartphone-based health interventions have been
      linked to increased medication adherence and improved health outcomes. Trends in
      smartphone ownership present opportunities to more effectively communicate and
      disseminate medication information; however, current FDA guidance for CMI does
      not outline how to effectively communicate CMI on a mobile platform, particularly
      in regards to user-centered design and information sourcing. As evidence
      supporting the potential effectiveness of mobile communication in health care
      continues to increase, CMI developers, regulating entities, and researchers
      should take note. Although mobile-based CMI offers an innovative mechanism to
      deliver medication information, caution should be exercised. Specifically,
      considerations for developing mobile CMI include consumers' digital literacy,
      user experience (e.g., usability), and the quality and accuracy of new widely
      used sources of information (e.g., crowd-sourced reviews and ratings).
      Recommended changes to FDA guidance for CMI include altering the language about
      scientific accuracy to address more novel methods of information gathering (e.g.,
      anecdotal experiences and Google Consumer Surveys) and including guidance for
      usability testing of mobile health applications.

PMID- 26868208
TI  - Protective Role for B-1b B Cells and IgM in Obesity-Associated Inflammation,
      Glucose Intolerance, and Insulin Resistance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the role(s) B cells play in obesity-induced
      metabolic dysfunction. This study used a mouse with B-cell-specific deletion of
      Id3 (Id3(Bcell KO)) to identify B-cell functions involved in the metabolic
      consequences of obesity. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Diet-induced obese Id3(Bcell KO)
      mice demonstrated attenuated inflammation and insulin resistance in visceral
      adipose tissue (VAT), and improved systemic glucose tolerance. VAT in Id3(Bcell
      KO) mice had increased B-1b B cells and elevated IgM natural antibodies to
      oxidation-specific epitopes. B-1b B cells reduced cytokine production in VAT M1
      macrophages, and adoptively transferred B-1b B cells trafficked to VAT and
      produced natural antibodies for the duration of 13-week studies. B-1b B cells
      null for Id3 demonstrated increased proliferation, established larger populations
      in Rag1(-/-) VAT, and attenuated diet-induced glucose intolerance and VAT insulin
      resistance in Rag1(-/-) hosts. However, transfer of B-1b B cells unable to
      secrete IgM had no effect on glucose tolerance. In an obese human population,
      results provided the first evidence that B-1 cells are enriched in human VAT and
      IgM antibodies to oxidation-specific epitopes inversely correlated with
      inflammation and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: NAb-producing B-1b B cells are
      increased in Id3(Bcell KO) mice and attenuate adipose tissue inflammation and
      glucose intolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Additional findings are the first
      to identify VAT as a reservoir for human B-1 cells and to link anti-inflammatory
      IgM antibodies with reduced inflammation and improved metabolic phenotype in
      obese humans.

PMID- 26868209
TI  - Glycosphingolipids on Human Myeloid Cells Stabilize E-Selectin-Dependent Rolling
      in the Multistep Leukocyte Adhesion Cascade.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that the E-selectin ligands expressed on human
      leukocytes may differ from those in other species, particularly mice. To
      elaborate on this, we evaluated the impact of glycosphingolipids expressed on
      human myeloid cells in regulating E-selectin-mediated cell adhesion. APPROACH AND
      RESULTS: A series of modified human cell lines and primary neutrophils were
      created by targeting UDP-Glucose Ceramide Glucosyltransferase using either
      lentivirus-delivered shRNA or CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing. Enzymology and
      mass spectrometry confirm that the modified cells had reduced or abolished
      glucosylceramide biosynthesis. Glycomics profiling showed that UDP-Glucose
      Ceramide Glucosyltransferase disruption also increased prevalence of bisecting N
      glycans and reduced overall sialoglycan expression on leukocyte N- and O-glycans.
      Microfluidics-based flow chamber studies demonstrated that both the UDP-Glucose
      Ceramide Glucosyltransferase knockouts and knockdowns display ~60% reduction in
      leukocyte rolling and firm adhesion on E-selectin bearing stimulated endothelial
      cells, without altering cell adhesion to P-selectin. Consistent with the concept
      that the glycosphingolipids support slow rolling and the transition to firm
      arrest, inhibiting UDP-Glucose Ceramide Glucosyltransferase activity resulted in
      frequent leukocyte detachment events, skipping motion, and reduced diapedesis
      across the endothelium. Cells bearing truncated O- and N-glycans also sustained
      cell rolling on E-selectin, although their ability to be recruited from free
      fluid flow was diminished. CONCLUSIONS: Glycosphingolipids likely contribute to
      human myeloid cell adhesion to E-selectin under fluid shear, particularly the
      transition of rolling cells to firm arrest.

PMID- 26868210
TI  - Asthma Associates With Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Rupture.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Both asthma and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) involve inflammation.
      It remains unknown whether these diseases interact. APPROACH AND RESULTS:
      Databases analyzed included Danish National Registry of Patients, a population
      based nationwide case-control study included all patients with ruptured AAA and
      age- and sex-matched AAA controls without rupture in Denmark from 1996 to 2012;
      Viborg vascular trial, subgroup study of participants from the population-based
      randomized Viborg vascular screening trial. Patients with asthma were categorized
      by hospital diagnosis, bronchodilator use, and the recorded use of other anti
      asthma prescription medications. Logistic regression models were fitted to
      determine whether asthma associated with the risk of ruptured AAA in Danish
      National Registry of Patients and an independent risk of having an AAA at
      screening in the Viborg vascular trial. From the Danish National Registry of
      Patients study, asthma diagnosed <1 year or 6 months before the index date
      increased the risk of AAA rupture before (odds ratio [OR]=1.60-2.12) and after
      (OR=1.51-2.06) adjusting for AAA comorbidities. Use of bronchodilators elevated
      the risk of AAA rupture from ever use to within 90 days from the index date,
      before (OR=1.10-1.37) and after (OR=1.10-1.31) adjustment. Patients prescribed
      anti-asthma drugs also showed an increased risk of rupture before (OR=1.12-1.79)
      and after (OR=1.09-1.48) the same adjustment. In Viborg vascular trial, anti
      asthmatic medication use associated with increased risk of AAA before (OR=1.45)
      or after adjustment for smoking (OR=1.45) or other risk factors (OR=1.46).
      CONCLUSIONS: Recent active asthma increased risk of AAA and ruptured AAA. These
      findings document and furnish novel links between airway disease and AAA, 2
      common diseases that share inflammatory aspects.

PMID- 26868213
TI  - Fish innate immunity against intestinal helminths.
AB  - Most individual fish in farmed and wild populations are infected with parasites.
      Upon dissection of fish, helminths from gut are often easily visible. Enteric
      helminths include several species of digeneans, cestodes, acanthocephalans and
      nematodes. Some insights into biology, morphology and histopathological effects
      of the main fish enteric helminths taxa will be described here. The immune system
      of fish, as that of other vertebrates, can be subdivided into specific and
      aspecific types, which in vivo act in concert with each other and indeed are
      interdependent in many ways. Beyond the small number of well-described models
      that exist, research focusing on innate immunity in fish against parasitic
      infections is lacking. Enteric helminths frequently cause inflammation of the
      digestive tract, resulting in a series of chemical and morphological changes in
      the affected tissues and inducing leukocyte migration to the site of infection.
      This review provides an overview on the aspecific defence mechanisms of fish
      intestine against helminths. Emphasis will be placed on the immune cellular
      response involving mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, rodlet cells and mucous
      cells against enteric helminths. Given the relative importance of innate immunity
      in fish, and the magnitude of economic loss in aquaculture as a consequence of
      disease, this area deserves considerable attention and support.

PMID- 26868211
TI  - Profound Actions of an Agonist of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone on Angiogenic
      Therapy by Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The efficiency of cell therapy is limited by poor cell survival and
      engraftment. Here, we studied the effect of the growth hormone-releasing hormone
      agonist, JI-34, on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) survival and angiogenic therapy in
      a mouse model of critical limb ischemia. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Mouse bone marrow
      derived MSCs were incubated with or without 10(-8) mol/L JI-34 for 24 hours. MSCs
      were then exposed to hypoxia and serum deprivation to detect the effect of
      preconditioning on cell apoptosis, migration, and tube formation. For in vivo
      tests, critical limb ischemia was induced by femoral artery ligation. After
      surgery, mice received 50 MUL phosphate-buffered saline or with 1*10(6) MSCs or
      with 1*10(6) JI-34-reconditioned MSCs. Treatment of MSCs with JI-34 improved MSC
      viability and mobility and markedly enhanced their capability to promote
      endothelial tube formation in vitro. These effects were paralleled by an
      increased phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of signal transducer and
      activator of transcription 3. In vivo, JI-34 pretreatment enhanced the
      engraftment of MSCs into ischemic hindlimb muscles and augmented reperfusion and
      limb salvage compared with untreated MSCs. Significantly more vasculature and
      proliferating CD31(+) and CD34(+) cells were detected in ischemic muscles that
      received MSCs treated with JI-34. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies demonstrate a novel
      role for JI-34 to markedly improve therapeutic angiogenesis in hindlimb ischemia
      by increasing the viability and mobility of MSCs. These findings support
      additional studies to explore the full potential of growth hormone-releasing
      hormone agonists to augment cell therapy in the management of ischemia.

PMID- 26868212
TI  - Effect of Coronary Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Ischemia on Plasma Levels of
      High-Sensitivity Troponin T and NT-proBNP in Patients With Stable Angina.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Circulating levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT)
      and N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are predictors of
      prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed at evaluating
      the effect of coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia on cardiac release
      of hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP in patients with suspected CAD. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Hs
      cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured in 378 patients (60.1+/-0.5 years, 229 males)
      with stable angina and unknown CAD enrolled in the Evaluation of Integrated
      Cardiac Imaging (EVINCI) study. All patients underwent stress imaging to detect
      myocardial ischemia and coronary computed tomographic angiography to assess the
      presence and characteristics of CAD. An individual computed tomographic
      angiography score was calculated combining extent, severity, composition, and
      location of plaques. In the whole population, the median (25-75 percentiles)
      value of plasma hs-cTnT was 6.17 (4.2-9.1) ng/L and of NT-proBNP was 61.66 (31.2
      132.6) ng/L. In a multivariate model, computed tomographic angiography score was
      an independent predictor of the plasma hs-cTnT (coefficient 0.06, SE 0.02;
      P=0.0089), whereas ischemia was a predictor of NT-proBNP (coefficient 0.38, SE
      0.12; P=0.0015). Hs-cTnT concentrations were significantly increased in patients
      with CAD with or without myocardial ischemia (P<0.005), whereas only patients
      with CAD and ischemia showed significantly higher levels of NT-proBNP (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable angina, the presence and extent of coronary
      atherosclerosis is related with circulating levels of hs-cTnT, also in the
      absence of ischemia, suggesting an ischemia-independent mechanism of hs-cTnT
      release. Obstructive CAD causing myocardial ischemia is associated with increased
      levels of NT-proBNP.

PMID- 26868214
TI  - Molecular and immune response characterizations of IL-6 in large yellow croaker
      (Larimichthys crocea).
AB  - Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional inflammatory cytokine which exists in
      multiple tissues and cell lines. In the present study, the full-length cDNA and
      the genomic sequence of IL-6 (LcIL-6) were cloned from large yellow croaker,
      Larimichthys crocea. The full-length cDNA of LcIL-6 was 1066 base pairs (bp),
      containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 678 bp encoding for 225 amino acids, a
      5' untranslated region (UTR) of 71 bp and a 3' UTR of 317 bp. The predicted LcIL
      6 protein included a 24 amino acids (aa) signal peptide and a conserved IL-6
      domain. However, the polypeptide sequence identities between LcIL-6 and its
      counterparts in mammals and other fish are from 12% to 45%. The genome sequence
      of LcIL-6 gene was composed of 2126 bp, including five exons and four introns.
      Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LcIL-6 showed a close relationship with the
      IL-6 from other bony fish. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed
      that LcIL-6 mRNA was expressed in most examined tissues, with the most
      predominant expression in stomach, followed by blood and very weak expression in
      other tissues. The expression levels of LcIL-6 after challenged with LPS, poly
      I:C and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were investigated in spleen, head-kidney and
      liver. LcIL-6 transcripts were induced significantly after immune challenge, with
      the peak-value of 33.5 times as much as the control in the head-kidney at 3 h
      after LPS injection (p < 0.05). Overexpression of LcIL-6 enhanced tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF)-alpha transcripts significantly (p < 0.05) in L. crocea kidney (LCK)
      cells. Additionally, recombinant LcIL-6 mature peptide was obtained in the
      supernatant of Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The purified recombinant LcIL-6
      fusion protein was also demonstrated to improve the transcriptional expression
      levels of TNF-alpha significantly in LCK cells (p < 0.05). However, no
      significant changes of Mx (myxovirus resistant protein), IL-1beta, janus kinase
      (JAK)2, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)3 and STAT5 in
      LCK cells was detected after LcIL-6 overexpression or recombinant LcIL-6 protein
      stimulation. Our results indicated that LcIL-6 might be important in large yellow
      croaker immune response and improve the inflammatory response by through
      activation TNF-alpha expression.

PMID- 26868215
TI  - How to remove the retroauricular driveline in the Jarvik 2000 after heart
      transplantation.
AB  - The Jarvik 2000 is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) used as either a
      bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy with the possibility of
      retroauricular percutaneous power delivery (pedestal). Percutaneous driveline
      infection in LVAD is a life-threatening complication that affects both the
      quality and length of life in patients. With its rigid fixation to the bone, the
      pedestal and the vascularity of scalp skin promote healing and reduce the risk of
      driveline infection. We describe a technique to remove the skull-mounted
      percutaneous pedestal of the Jarvik 2000 after heart transplantation. 

PMID- 26868216
TI  - Comparison of nafamostat mesilate and unfractionated heparin as anticoagulants
      during continuous renal replacement therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nafamostat mesilate (NM) can be used as a regional anticoagulant for
      continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The primary aim of this study was to
      assess the association of the use of NM with risk of bleeding complications and
      compare it with the use of unfractionated heparin (UFH). METHODS: We conducted a
      single-center retrospective observational study. We included adult patients who
      required CRRT in our intensive care unit from 2011 to 2013. The primary outcome
      was the risk of bleeding complications during CRRT and the secondary outcome was
      filter life for the first filter of CRRT. RESULTS: We included 101 patients (76
      with NM, 25 with UFH). Among the 101 patients, use of NM tended to be associated
      with lower risk of bleeding complications (6.6% vs. 16%; odds ratio, 0.37; p =
      0.16). Propensity score matching generated 30 patients with NM and 15 patients
      with UFH with well-balanced baseline characteristics. Among the propensity score
      matched cohorts, use of NM was significantly associated with decreased risk of
      bleeding complications (3.3% vs. 27%; odds ratio, 0.09; p = 0.04). In
      multivariate logistic analysis using the inverse probability of treatment
      weighting for sensitive analysis, the use of NM was independently associated with
      reduced risk of bleeding complications (p = 0.02). The median filter life was not
      significantly different for patients with NM and patients with UFH (25.5 hours
      vs. 30.5 hours, p = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective analysis, the use of
      NM as an anticoagulant during CRRT was associated with decreased incidence of
      bleeding complications compared with the use of UFH.

PMID- 26868217
TI  - Morphometric analysis of the infraorbital foramen, canal and groove using cone
      beam CT: considerations for creating artificial organs.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the anatomy and variations of the
      infraorbital foramen and its surroundings via morphometric measurements using
      cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans derived from a 3D volumetric rendering
      program. METHODS: 354 sides of CBCT scans from 177 patients were examined in this
      study. DICOM data from these images were exported to Maxilim(r) software in order
      to generate 3D surface models. The morphometric measurements were done for
      infraorbital foramen (IOF), infraorbital groove (IOG) and infraorbital canal
      (IOC). All images were evaluated by 1 radiologist. To assess intra-observer
      reliability, the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used. Differences
      between sex, side, age and measurements were evaluated using chi-square and
      paired t-test and measurements were evaluated using 1-way ANOVA tests.
      Differences were considered significant when p<0.05. RESULTS: The most common
      shape was oval for IOF and parallel for IOC without any accessory foramen. The
      results showed that females have smaller dimensions for the measurements between
      the two foramen rotundum (FR), FR-IOF, sella-FR, center of the IOF (cIOF)-nasion
      (N), cIOF-NB (nasion-B) (p>0.05). No significant difference was found according
      to age groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results provide detailed knowledge of
      the anatomical characteristics in this particular area. CBCT imaging with lower
      radiation dose and thin slices can be a powerful tool for anesthesia procedures
      like infra orbital nerve blocks, for surgical approaches like osteotomies and
      neurectomies and also for generating artificial prostheses.

PMID- 26868220
TI  - Ornithinicoccus halotolerans sp. nov., and emended description of the genus
      Ornithinicoccus.
AB  - A halotolerant actinobacterial strain, designated EGI 80423T, was isolated from a
      desert soil of Xinjiang, north-west China, and subjected to a polyphasic
      taxonomic characterization. Strain EGI 80423T grew at pH 7.0-10.0 and with 0
      14.0% (w/v) NaCl, optimally at pH 8.0-9.0 and with 2.0-4.0% (w/v) NaCl. Cells of
      strain EGI 80423T were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile cocci with diameters of
      0.6-0.8 MUm. The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was ornithine, and
      the interpeptide bridge was Orn <- Glu. The major fatty acids identified were iso
      C17:1omega9c, iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4),
      while the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two
      unknown phospholipids, two unknown glycolipids, six unknown phosphoglycolipids
      and five unknown polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.8 mol%.
      Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EGI
      80423T clustered with the single member of the genus Ornithinicoccus. Sequence
      similarity between strain EGI 80423T and Ornithinicoccus hortensis NBRC 16434T.
      Because the type strain has been provided by NBRC, Japan was 97.7%. The DNA-DNA
      relatedness value between strain EGI 80423T and O. hortensis NBRC 16434T was
      36.84%. Based on morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics,
      and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain EGI 80423T represents a novel species of
      the genus Ornithinicoccus, for which the name Ornithinicoccus halotolerans sp.
      nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 80423T (=CGMCC 1.14989T=KCTC 39700T).
      The description of the genus Ornithinicoccus has also been emended.

PMID- 26868221
TI  - AdapterRemoval v2: rapid adapter trimming, identification, and read merging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As high-throughput sequencing platforms produce longer and longer
      reads, sequences generated from short inserts, such as those obtained from fossil
      and degraded material, are increasingly expected to contain adapter sequences.
      Efficient adapter trimming algorithms are also needed to process the growing
      amount of data generated per sequencing run. FINDINGS: We introduce
      AdapterRemoval v2, a major revision of AdapterRemoval v1, which introduces (i)
      striking improvements in throughput, through the use of single instruction,
      multiple data (SIMD; SSE1 and SSE2) instructions and multi-threading support,
      (ii) the ability to handle datasets containing reads or read-pairs with different
      adapters or adapter pairs, (iii) simultaneous demultiplexing and adapter
      trimming, (iv) the ability to reconstruct adapter sequences from paired-end reads
      for poorly documented data sets, and (v) native gzip and bzip2 support.
      CONCLUSIONS: We show that AdapterRemoval v2 compares favorably with existing
      tools, while offering superior throughput to most alternatives examined here,
      both for single and multi-threaded operations.

PMID- 26868222
TI  - Prevalence, Detection and Correlates of PTSD in the Primary Care Setting: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - Research suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common,
      debilitating and frequently associated with comorbid health conditions, including
      poor functioning, and increased health care utilization. This article
      systematically reviewed the empirical literature on PTSD in primary care
      settings, focusing on prevalence, detection and correlates. Twenty-seven studies
      were identified for inclusion. Current PTSD prevalence in primary care patients
      ranged widely between 2 % to 39 %, with significant heterogeneity in estimates
      explained by samples with different levels of trauma exposure. Six studies found
      detection of PTSD by primary care physicians (PCPs) ranged from 0 % to 52 %.
      Studies examining associations between PTSD and sociodemographic variables
      yielded equivocal results. High comorbidity was reported between PTSD and other
      psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety, and PTSD was associated
      with functional impairment or disability. Exposure to multiple types of trauma
      also raised the risk of PTSD. While some studies indicated that primary care
      patients with PTSD report higher levels of substance and alcohol abuse, somatic
      symptoms, pain, health complaints, and healthcare utilization, other studies did
      not find these associations. This review proposes that primary care settings are
      important for the early detection of PTSD, which can be improved through
      indicated screening and PCP education.

PMID- 26868223
TI  - Psychologists in Academic Health Centers and Medical Centers: Being Visible,
      Relevant and Integral.
AB  - Psychologists play key roles in academic health centers. This article is an
      outgrowth of a presentation at the 2015 Conference of the Association of
      Psychologists in Academic Health Centers addressing various strategies by which
      psychologists can effectively adapt to and develop successful careers in medical
      schools, academic health centers, and teaching hospitals. The authors encourage
      early career and mid-career psychologists in academic health centers to be
      active, engaged members of their institutions and to participate in multiple
      aspects of the research, educational, and clinical missions. 

PMID- 26868224
TI  - Biscuspid aortic valve syndrome: diversity and controversy.

PMID- 26868226
TI  - Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes of Osseointegrated Dental Implantation of Fibula
      Free Flaps for Mandibular Reconstruction.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Dental implantation has been used for oral rehabilitation to improve
      cosmesis and function. OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the clinical outcomes and
      success rates of primary and secondary dental implant placement in vascularized
      fibula bone grafts used for segmental mandibulectomy defects. DESIGN, SETTING,
      AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review was performed between November 2005 and
      July 2014 on all patients undergoing both fibula free tissue reconstruction of
      mandibular defects and endosseous dental implantation at an academic tertiary
      care referral hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Either primary (n = 20) or secondary (n =
      26) dental implantation of the fibula was performed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
      Timing of implantation, location of implants, history of tobacco, alcohol, and
      radiation, reason for mandibulectomy, and outcomes related to these parameters.
      RESULTS: Forty-six patients (31 males, 15 females; mean age, 58.0 years)
      underwent dental implantation to the fibula graft. A total of 227 implants were
      placed, with a mean of 5 implants per patient (range, 2-7). Of these, 44 were
      placed into native mandible and 183 into fibula flap. Twenty patients underwent
      primary implantation and received 96 implants, while 26 patients underwent
      secondary implantation and received 131 implants. There were no flap failures and
      22 implant-related complications in 16 patients (implant failure, n = 10;
      granulation or soft-tissue overgrowth, n = 6; exposed bone around implant, n =
      6). An implant failure occurred in 10 patients (22%) resulting in removal of 15
      implants. Nine of these patients underwent successful dental rehabilitation, 5
      without further implantation, and 4 with replaced implants. One patient was not
      rehabilitated secondary to failed implantation. Therefore, there was a 93%
      overall implant survival rate (n = 212) and 98% overall implant-supported
      prosthesis success rate (n = 45) at a mean follow-up of 22 months. There was no
      difference in implant survival between primary (94%) (n = 90) and secondary (93%)
      (n = 122) implantation. Neither a history of preimplant or postimplant radiation
      exposure nor the diagnosis of osteoradionecrosis affected implant survival.
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Osseointegrated dental implantation is a relatively
      safe procedure with few complications. Vascularized fibula grafts are a suitable
      method of mandibular reconstruction and are amenable to successful primary and
      secondary endosseous implantation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26868228
TI  - New president for BVA's Northern Ireland Branch.

PMID- 26868227
TI  - BVA President highlights vets' role in protecting animal welfare.

PMID- 26868229
TI  - Call for a ban on primates as pets.

PMID- 26868230
TI  - Preferred provider concept 'erodes freedom of choice'.

PMID- 26868231
TI  - APHA models effects of suspending badger vaccination in Wales.

PMID- 26868232
TI  - Neglected tropical diseases attract attention in the Lords.

PMID- 26868233
TI  - New presidents elected.

PMID- 26868234
TI  - Prince highlights the importance of smallholders and women in farming.

PMID- 26868235
TI  - Developments in charity and shelter medicine.
AB  - Topics discussed at a recent meeting of the Association of Charity Vets
      demonstrated the breadth of charity and shelter medicine, as Georgina Mills
      reports. 

PMID- 26868236
TI  - Tackling stigma around mental health.

PMID- 26868237
TI  - New app to help with job searches.

PMID- 26868238
TI  - Working together to safeguard animal health.
AB  - Nigel Gibbens, the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, gives an update on some of the
      areas of animal health and welfare of particular interest to government and
      considers how farmers, vets and government can work together to control and
      respond to animal disease. 

PMID- 26868239
TI  - Northern Ireland disease surveillance report, October to December 2015.
AB  - .Pneumonia and encephalitis due to Histophilus somni in heifers .Pneumonia due to
      Bibersteinia trehalosi in a cow .Fasciolosis in ewes and lambs .Dosing gun
      injuries in lambs .Histomonosis in chickens These are among matters discussed in
      the Northern Ireland animal disease surveillance quarterly report for October to
      December 2015.

PMID- 26868240
TI  - Controlling scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in goats.

PMID- 26868241
TI  - Hantavirus (Seoul virus) in pet rats: a zoonotic viral threat.

PMID- 26868242
TI  - Babesiosis in dogs.

PMID- 26868243
TI  - Stick injuries in dogs.

PMID- 26868244
TI  - Thermography and saddle fitting.

PMID- 26868245
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26868246
TI  - Collecting the evidence for EBVM.

PMID- 26868247
TI  - Routine antibiotic dry cow therapy.

PMID- 26868254
TI  - Challenges of a PhD.
AB  - While Myfanwy Hill's PhD studies pose an 'enjoyable challenge', she has found
      that learning to manage her time and studies requires a new level of self
      discipline. 

PMID- 26868255
TI  - Second-year student diary.

PMID- 26868256
TI  - Evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the
      Presence of Bifenthrin.
AB  - This work describes the effect of insecticide bifenthrin on Lactobacillus
      plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Growths of used microorganisms in growth
      media supplemented with pesticide were studied. Determination of bacterial and
      yeast fermentation efficiency in wheat supplemented with bifenthrin was
      conducted. Additionally, investigation of bifenthrin dissipation during
      microbiological activity was performed. Experiments applying bifenthrin in
      different concentrations highlighted a negligible impact of the pesticide on the
      growth of L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae. This insecticide overall negatively
      affected the yeast fermentation of wheat, while its presence in wheat had a
      slight negative impact on lactic acid fermentation. The results of bifenthrin
      dissipation during lactic acid and yeast fermentations of wheat showed that
      activities of L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae caused lower pesticide reductions.
      Average bifenthrin residue reduction within samples fermented with L. plantarum
      was 5.4 % (maximum ~16 %), while within samples fermented with S. cerevisiae, it
      was 11.6 % (maximum ~17 %). 

PMID- 26868257
TI  - Change in Photosystem II Photochemistry During Algal Growth Phases of Chlorella
      vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus.
AB  - Sensitivity of photosynthetic processes towards environmental stress is used as a
      bioanalytical tool to evaluate the responses of aquatic plants to a changing
      environment. In this paper, change of biomass density, chlorophyll a fluorescence
      and photosynthetic parameters during growth phases of two microalgae Chlorella
      vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus were studied. The photosynthetic growth
      behaviour changed significantly with cell age and algae species. During the
      exponential phase of growth, the photosynthesis capacity reached its maximum and
      decreased in ageing algal culture during stationary phase. In conclusion, the
      chlorophyll a fluorescence OJIP method and the derived fluorescence parameters
      would be an accurate method for obtaining information on maximum photosynthetic
      capacities and monitoring algal cell growth. This will contribute to more
      understanding, for example, of toxic actions of pollutants in microalgae test. 

PMID- 26868258
TI  - Aeromonas lusitana sp. nov., Isolated from Untreated Water and Vegetables.
AB  - During previous studies to evaluate the phylogenetic diversity of Aeromonas from
      untreated waters and vegetables intended for human consumption, a group of
      isolates formed a unique gyrB phylogenetic cluster, separated from those of all
      other species described so far. A subsequent extensive phenotypic
      characterization, DNA-DNA hybridization, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, multi-locus
      phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequence of seven housekeeping genes
      (gyrB, rpoD, recA, dnaJ, gyrA, dnaX, and atpD; 4705 bp), and ERIC-PCR, were
      performed in an attempt to ascertain the taxonomy position of these isolates.
      This polyphasic approach confirmed that they belonged to a novel species of the
      genus Aeromonas, for which the name Aeromonas lusitana sp. nov. is proposed, with
      strain A.11/6(T) (=DSMZ 24095(T), =CECT 7828(T)) as the type strain. 

PMID- 26868259
TI  - Discovery of candidate genes for nonsyndromic cleft lip palate through genome
      wide linkage analysis of large extended families in the Malay population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nonsyndromic orofacial clefts are one of the most common birth
      defects worldwide. It occurs as a result of genetic or environmental factors.
      This study investigates the genetic contribution to nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or
      palate through the analysis of family pedigrees. Candidate genes associated with
      the condition were identified from large extended families from the Malay
      population. RESULTS: A significant nonparametric linkage (NPL) score was detected
      in family 100. Other suggestive NPL and logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores were
      attained from families 50, 58, 99 and 100 under autosomal recessive mode.
      Heterogeneity LOD (HLOD) score >= 1 was determined for all families, confirming
      genetic heterogeneity of the population and indicating that a proportion of
      families might be linked to each other. Several candidate genes in linkage
      intervals were determined; LPHN2 at 1p31, SATB2 at 2q33.1-q35, PVRL3 at 3q13.3,
      COL21A1 at 6p12.1, FOXP2 at 7q22.3-q33, FOXG1 and HECTD1 at 14q12 and TOX3 at
      16q12.1. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified several novel and known candidate genes
      for nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate through genome-wide linkage analysis.
      Further analysis of the involvement of these genes in the condition will shed
      light on the disease mechanism. Comprehensive genetic testing of the candidate
      genes is warranted.

PMID- 26868260
TI  - Melanoma associated antigen (MAGE)-A3 promotes cell proliferation and
      chemotherapeutic drug resistance in gastric cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE)-A3 is a member of the family of
      cancer-testis antigens and has been found to be epigenetically regulated and
      aberrantly expressed in various cancer types. It has also been found that MAGE-A3
      expression may correlate with an aggressive clinical course and with chemo
      resistance. The objectives of this study were to assess the relationship between
      MAGE-A3 promoter methylation and expression and (1) gastric cancer patient
      survival and (2) its functional consequences in gastric cancer-derived cells.
      METHODS: Samples from two independent gastric cancer cohorts (including matched
      non-malignant gastric samples) were included in this study. MAGE-A3 methylation
      and mRNA expression levels were determined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and
      quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. MAGE-A3 expression was knocked
      down in MKN1 gastric cancer-derived cells using miRNAs. In addition, in vitro
      cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle, drug treatment,
      immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were performed. RESULTS: Clinical
      analysis of 223 primary patient-derived samples (ntumor = 161, nnormal = 62)
      showed a significant inverse correlation between MAGE-A3 promoter methylation and
      expression in the cancer samples (R = -0.63, p = 5.99e-19). A lower MAGE-A3
      methylation level was found to be associated with a worse patient survival (HR:
      1.5, 95 % CI: 1.02-2.37, p = 0.04). In addition, we found that miRNA-mediated
      knockdown of MAGE-A3 expression in MKN1 cells caused a reduction in its
      proliferation and colony forming capacities, respectively. Under stress
      conditions MAGE-A3 was found to regulate the expression of Bax and p21. MAGE-A3
      knock down also led to an increase in Puma and Noxa expression, thus contributing
      to an enhanced docetaxel sensitivity in the gastric cancer-derived cells.
      CONCLUSIONS: From our results we conclude that MAGE-A3 expression is regulated
      epigenetically by promoter methylation, and that its expression contributes to
      gastric cell proliferation and drug sensitivity. This study underscores the
      potential implications of MAGE-A3 as a therapeutic target and prognostic marker
      in gastric cancer patients.

PMID- 26868261
TI  - Social structure and Escherichia coli sharing in a group-living wild primate,
      Verreaux's sifaka.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological models often use information on host social contacts
      to predict the potential impact of infectious diseases on host populations and
      the efficiency of control measures. It can be difficult, however, to determine
      whether social contacts are actually meaningful predictors of transmission. We
      investigated the role of host social structure in the transmission of Escherichia
      coli in a wild population of primates, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus
      verreauxi). Using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), we compared genetic
      similarities between E. coli isolates from different individuals and groups to
      infer transmission pathways. RESULTS: Correlation of social and transmission
      networks revealed that membership to the same group significantly predicted
      sharing of E. coli MLST sequence types (ST). Intergroup encounter rate and a
      measure of space-use sharing provided equally potent explanations for type
      sharing between social groups when closely related STs were taken into account,
      whereas animal age, sex and dispersal history had no influence. No antibiotic
      resistance was found, suggesting low rates of E. coli spillover from humans into
      this arboreal species. CONCLUSIONS: We show that patterns of E. coli transmission
      reflect the social structure of this group-living lemur species. We discuss our
      results in the light of the species' ecology and propose scent-marking, a type of
      social contact not considered in previous epidemiological studies, as a likely
      route of transmission between groups. However, further studies are needed to
      explicitly test this hypothesis and to further elucidate the relative roles of
      direct contact and environmental transmission in pathogen transfer.

PMID- 26868262
TI  - Pulsatilla saponin A induces differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia in vitro.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To identify whether Pulsatilla saponin A (PsA), an active molecule
      extracted from Pulsatilla chinensis regel, can induce acute myeloid leukemia
      (AML) cells differentiate. METHODS: PsA was isolated from P. chinensis, and its
      effects of differentiation induction on both AML cell lines and the primary
      leukemia cells were investigated. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated control,
      PsA induced the differentiation of U937 cells, K562 cells and HL-60 cells,
      represented as the increased CD15+ cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner in
      all the three AML cell lines, after PsA treatment. As the same time, the cell
      morphology of these AML cells was changed correspondingly; the cytoplasm/nuclei
      ratio was increased, basophilic cytoplasm was decreased, and eccentric nucleus
      and granules were also observed. Also, the same effects of differentiation
      induction by PSA were confirmed in the primary leukemia cells. However, the
      specific MEK/ERK inhibitor U0126 effectively abrogated the differentiation
      induced by PsA in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: PsA can modify the differentiation activity
      of AML cells, probably though the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

PMID- 26868263
TI  - Post-Fukushima radiation education for public health nursing students: a case
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The recent Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident was one of more
      than 200 serious nuclear/radiation incidents (accidents and disasters) that
      occurred worldwide since 1945. The current Fukushima disaster is in the recovery
      phase with the decreasing levels of radiation in the environment. However, fears
      and stigma related to the perceived risk of radiation exposure persist among the
      general population. INTRODUCTION: To improve on students' preparedness for social
      and public health challenges after a radiation incidence, radiation education was
      provided for undergraduate public health nursing students. AIM: This case study
      reports the development and implementation of the first class of radiation
      education in public health nursing, as well as students' reflections on their
      class experience. METHODS: We included a 90-min radiation class in an
      undergraduate public health nursing course in Tokyo, Japan. Lectures/discussion
      on technical and environmental aspects provided the minimally essential content
      for basic radiation knowledge. After class, all the 65 students were invited to
      freely write their reflections on the class. With their consent, 61 students'
      anonymous written accounts were qualitatively analysed. RESULTS: Five themes
      emerged: awareness of ignorance about radiation, problems produced by the mass
      media, becoming knowledgeable about radiation, public health nurses' role, and
      trustful and enjoyable lecture. DISCUSSION: The class inspired students to
      consider social, psychological and relational aspects of knowing and not knowing
      about radiation and their future professional role. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS
      FOR NURSING: Once radiation is taught at school, nursing students will emerge as
      professionals with the belief that radiation is within their professional
      purview. Education is key to disaster prevention, preparation, response and
      recovery. Given the ubiquitous nature of health challenges after a radiation
      incident, radiation education is indispensable for nursing students worldwide.

PMID- 26868264
TI  - Chromatic-aberration-corrected diffractive lenses for ultra-broadband focusing.
AB  - We exploit the inherent dispersion in diffractive optics to demonstrate planar
      chromatic-aberration-corrected lenses. Specifically, we designed, fabricated and
      characterized cylindrical diffractive lenses that efficiently focus the entire
      visible band (450 nm to 700 nm) onto a single line. These devices are essentially
      pixelated, multi-level microstructures. Experiments confirm an average optical
      efficiency of 25% for a three-wavelength apochromatic lens whose chromatic focus
      shift is only 1.3 MUm and 25 MUm in the lateral and axial directions,
      respectively. Super-achromatic performance over the continuous visible band is
      also demonstrated with averaged lateral and axial focus shifts of only 1.65 MUm
      and 73.6 MUm, respectively. These lenses are easy to fabricate using single-step
      grayscale lithography and can be inexpensively replicated. Furthermore, these
      devices are thin (<3 MUm), error tolerant, has low aspect ratio (<1:1) and offer
      polarization-insensitive focusing, all significant advantages compared to
      alternatives that rely on metasurfaces. Our design methodology offers high design
      flexibility in numerical aperture and focal length, and is readily extended to
      2D.

PMID- 26868265
TI  - Photochemical water oxidation by cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes: a
      mechanistic insight.
AB  - The proficiency of the cyclometalated iridium complexes [(eta(5)-C5Me5)IrCl(L1)]
      (1), [(eta(5)-C5Me5)IrCl(L2)] (2) and [(eta(5)-C5Me5)IrCl(L3)] (3) has been
      examined towards photochemical water oxidation. The involvement of Ir(iv/v) in
      the catalytic process has been explored via CV, UV/vis, XPS spectroscopic studies
      and appreciable TON relative to the theoretical value of 1 from GC. 

PMID- 26868266
TI  - Synovial-type giant cell tumors of the axial spine.

PMID- 26868267
TI  - An extremely rare case of a single isolated pituitary metastasis from
      hepatocellular carcinoma.

PMID- 26868268
TI  - First experience with Carbon/PEEK pedicle screws.

PMID- 26868269
TI  - Prediction Methods in Solar Sunspots Cycles.
AB  - An understanding of the Ohl's Precursor Method, which is used to predict the
      upcoming sunspots activity, is presented by employing a simplified movable
      divided-blocks diagram. Using a new approach, the total number of sunspots in a
      solar cycle and the maximum averaged monthly sunspots number Rz(max) are both
      shown to be statistically related to the geomagnetic activity index in the prior
      solar cycle. The correlation factors are significant and they are respectively
      found to be 0.91 +/- 0.13 and 0.85 +/- 0.17. The projected result is consistent
      with the current observation of solar cycle 24 which appears to have attained at
      least Rz(max) at 78.7 +/- 11.7 in March 2014. Moreover, in a statistical study of
      the time-delayed solar events, the average time between the peak in the monthly
      geomagnetic index and the peak in the monthly sunspots numbers in the succeeding
      ascending phase of the sunspot activity is found to be 57.6 +/- 3.1 months. The
      statistically determined time-delayed interval confirms earlier observational
      results by others that the Sun's electromagnetic dipole is moving toward the
      Sun's Equator during a solar cycle.

PMID- 26868271
TI  - Lesley Fallowfield: Psycho-oncology supremo.

PMID- 26868270
TI  - Unintended Effects of a Smoking Cessation Intervention on Latino Fathers' Binge
      Drinking In Early Postpartum.

PMID- 26868272
TI  - Interferon-inducible protein SCOTIN interferes with HCV replication through the
      autolysosomal degradation of NS5A.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) utilizes autophagy to promote its propagation. Here we
      show the autophagy-mediated suppression of HCV replication via the endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) protein SCOTIN. SCOTIN overexpression inhibits HCV replication and
      infectious virion production in cells infected with cell culture-derived HCV. HCV
      nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein, which is a critical factor for HCV RNA
      replication, interacts with the IFN-beta-inducible protein SCOTIN, which
      transports NS5A to autophagosomes for degradation. Furthermore, the suppressive
      effect of SCOTIN on HCV replication is impaired in both ATG7-silenced cells and
      cells treated with autophagy or lysosomal inhibitors. SCOTIN does not affect the
      overall flow of autophagy; however, it is a substrate for autophagic degradation.
      The physical association between the transmembrane/proline-rich domain (TMPRD) of
      SCOTIN and Domain-II of NS5A is essential for autophagosomal trafficking and NS5A
      degradation. Altogether, our findings suggest that IFN-beta-induced SCOTIN
      recruits the HCV NS5A protein to autophagosomes for degradation, thereby
      restricting HCV replication. 

PMID- 26868275
TI  - Determination of (241)Pu by the method of disturbed radioactive equilibrium using
      2pialpha-counting and precision gamma-spectrometry.
AB  - A simple technique is proposed for the determination of the content of (241)Pu,
      which is based on disturbance of radioactive equilibrium in the genetically
      related (237)U<-(241)Pu->(241)Am decay chain of radionuclides, with the
      subsequent use of 2pialpha-counting and precision gamma-spectroscopy for
      monitoring the process of restoration of that equilibrium. It has been shown that
      the data on dynamics of accumulation of the daughter (241)Am, which were obtained
      from the results of measurements of alpha- and gamma-spectra of the samples,
      correspond to the estimates calculated for the chain of two genetically related
      radionuclides, the differences in the estimates of (241)Pu radioactivity not
      exceeding 2%. Combining the different methods of registration (2pialpha-counting,
      semiconductor alpha- and gamma-spectrometry) enables the proposed method to be
      efficiently applied both for calibration of (241)Pu-sources (from several
      hundreds of kBq and higher) and for radioisotopic analysis of plutonium mixtures.
      In doing so, there is a deep purification of (241)Pu from its daughter decay
      products required due to unavailability of commercial detectors that could make
      it possible, based only on analysis of alpha-spectra, to conduct quantitative
      analysis of the content of (238)Pu and (241)Am. 

PMID- 26868274
TI  - An improved combustion apparatus for the determination of organically bound
      tritium in environmental samples.
AB  - This paper reports an improved combustion apparatus for the determination of
      organically bound tritium in environmental samples. The performance of this
      apparatus including the recovery rate and reproducibility was investigated by
      combusting lettuce and pork samples. To determine the factors for the different
      recovery rates of lettuce and pork and investigate whether the samples were
      completely oxidized, the ashes and exhaust gases produced by the combustion were
      analyzed. The results indicate that the apparatus showed an excellent performance
      in the combustion of environmental samples. Thus, the improvements conducted in
      this study were effective. 

PMID- 26868273
TI  - Supplementation of transport and freezing media with anti-apoptotic drugs
      improves ovarian cortex survival.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ovarian tissue preservation is proposed to patients at risk of
      premature ovarian failure, but this procedure still needs to be optimized. To
      limit injury during ovarian tissue cryopreservation, anti-apoptotic drugs were
      added to the transport and freezing media of ovarian cortex tissue. METHODS:
      Sheep ovaries were transported, prepared and frozen in solutions containing
      vehicle or anti-apoptotic drugs (Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor, or
      sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid). After the tissue was thawed,
      the ovarian cortex was cultured for 2 or 6 days. Follicular quantification and
      morphological and proliferation analyses were performed on histological sections.
      RESULTS: After 2 days of culture, S1P improved the quality of primordial
      follicles; higher densities of morphologically normal and proliferative
      primordial follicles were found. Z-VAD-FMK displayed similar effects by
      preserving global primordial follicular density, but this effect was evident
      after 6 days of culture. This drug also improved cell proliferation after 2 and 6
      days of culture. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the addition of S1P or Z
      VAD-FMK to the transport and freezing media prior to ovarian tissue
      cryopreservation improves primordial follicular quality and therefore improves
      global tissue survival. This should ultimately lead to improved fertility
      restoration after auto-transplantation.

PMID- 26868276
TI  - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a person with
      an Autism Spectrum Condition and Intellectual Disability: A Case Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: One of the difficulties in assessing and treating PTSD in people with
      intellectual disability is that it may not present with the typical symptoms
      associated with the disorder. This may be why there is a dearth of literature on
      the treatment of PTSD using cognitive behavioural approaches for people with
      intellectual disability (e.g. Ehlers et al. Behav Res Ther, 43, 2005, 413-431).
      This paper reports the treatment for PTSD in a young man diagnosed with autism
      and a mild intellectual disability. METHOD: Treatment involved 12 sessions of
      cognitive therapy for PTSD using the approach developed by Ehlers et al. RESULTS:
      There was an overall reduction in symptoms and a self-reported elevation in mood.
      With careful questioning, adaptation of language and elucidation of concepts, the
      patient was able to fully engage in therapy. DISCUSSION: This case suggests that
      cognitive approaches to treating PTSD can be successful in people with
      intellectual disability and autism.

PMID- 26868277
TI  - Various clinical conditions can mimic Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in
      pediatric patients in endemic regions.
AB  - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease with high
      mortality. Many disorders can mimic CCHF. It is important to recognize the
      condition and to perform differential diagnosis in endemic countries. Twenty-one
      children aged 18 years or less with a preliminary diagnosis of CCHF were
      retrospectively evaluated. Real-time PCR and a confirmatory indirect
      immunofluorescence assay for negative results were performed. The diagnoses
      determined that 9 patients had (42.9%) CCHF; 7 patients had (33.3%) viral upper
      respiratory tract infections (URTI); 2 patients had (9.5%) brucellosis; 1
      patients had (4.7%) periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and
      adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome episode; 1 patient had (4.7%) cerebral palsy, diabetes
      insipidus, acute gastroenteritis, and hypernatremic dehydration; and 1 patient
      had (4.7%) cellulitis after a tick bite. The mean age of patients with CCHF was
      greater than that of the other patients (116.1+/-53.6 vs. 94.1+/-52.1 months,
      p=0.02). Seventeen (81%) of the children included had a history of tick bites, 2
      (9.5%) had a history of contact with a patient with CCHF, and 2 (9.5%) had no
      exposure, but were living in an endemic region. Three patients had an underlying
      disorder: cerebral palsy and diabetes insipidus, epilepsy, or PFAPA. All of the
      children experienced fever. Other frequent symptoms were malaise, diarrhea,
      vomiting, and abdominal pain, but none of these differed statistically between
      the patient groups. CCHF patients had a longer mean duration of symptoms (10.56+/
      1.42 vs. 6.75+/-3.62 days, p=0.008) and a longer mean length of hospitalization
      (8.00+/-2.08 vs. 3.58+/-1.56 days, p<0.001) than the other patients. At
      laboratory examination, patients with CCHF had statistically significant lower
      leukocyte and platelet counts, more prolonged coagulation parameters, and greater
      AST, ALT, LDH, and CK levels than the other patients. No mortality or
      complications occurred in the study. Both infectious causes, such as URTI,
      cellulitis, and brucellosis, and non-infectious causes may resemble CCHF.
      Although they are not pathognomonic, some indicators, including a longer symptom
      duration and hospitalization, cytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, creatine kinase
      and prolonged coagulation parameters, were found to be in favor of CCHF. 

PMID- 26868278
TI  - High-flow oxygen therapy in cluster headache patients has no significant effect
      on nociception specific blink reflex parameters: a pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The exact pathophysiology of cluster headache is unclear. We examined
      the influence of interneurons on the trigemino-facial reflex arch and the effect
      of oxygen, by using the nociception specific blink reflex parameters. FINDINGS:
      There is no significant effect of oxygen, immediately and over time, on the
      nociception specific blink reflex parameters in ten male patients during the
      active phase of cluster headache, outside attacks. Also, there is no significant
      difference between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side. None of the subjects
      experienced a cluster headache attack during study participation. We therefore
      present the collected data as reference values of nociception specific trigeminal
      stimulation and the effect of oxygen on nociception specific blink reflex
      parameters. CONCLUSION: The nociception specific blink reflex seems not a
      suitable instrument for exploring the pathophysiology of cluster headache.

PMID- 26868279
TI  - Is the Care Transitions Measure Associated with Readmission Risk? Analysis from a
      Single Academic Center.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is widely hypothesized that improvement in transitions of care
      will reduce unplanned hospital readmissions. However, the association between the
      Care Transitions Measure, the national quality metric for transitions of care and
      readmission risk, has not been established. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the
      association between the Care Transition Measure and readmission. DESIGN: This was
      a single-center, prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of
      2,963 patients enrolled in the "Bridging the Divides" program, a longitudinal
      care management program for patients with coronary revascularization, from 2013
      to 2014. Of these, 1594 (54 %) patients completed a post-discharge Care
      Transition Measure questionnaire. INTERVENTION: Care Transition Measure scores
      were collected by trained research staff blinded to study hypothesis, by
      telephone, within 30 days of discharge. Higher Care Transition Measure scores
      reflect a higher quality transition of care. MAIN MEASURES: 30-day readmission
      was measured. KEY RESULTS: Of the1594 patients that completed the Care Transition
      Measure survey, 1216 (76 %) received percutaneous coronary intervention and 378
      (24 %) received coronary artery bypass grafting. Mean Care Transition Measure
      scores were significantly lower among patients who had a prior admission (77.2
      vs. 82.1, p < 0.001) and those with >= 5 comorbidities (77 vs. 82.6 vs. 81.6, p <
      0.001). Mean scores were significantly lower among patients who were readmitted
      within the percutaneous coronary intervention subgroup (73 vs. 80.9, p < 0.001)
      and the total study population (74.6 vs. 81.1, p < 0.001) compared to those who
      were not readmitted. This was not the case in the coronary artery bypass grafting
      subgroup (78.5 vs. 81.7, p = 0.29). After multivariable adjustment, every ten
      point increase in the Care Transition Measure score was associated with a 14 %
      reduction in readmission risk (adjusted odds ratio 0.86, 95 % CI 0.78-0.95).
      CONCLUSIONS: The Care Transition Measure is strongly associated with
      readmissions, which strengthens its validity. However, its association with
      patient variables linked with readmission and its inconsistent association with
      readmission across clinical groups raises concerns that scores may be influenced
      by patient characteristics.

PMID- 26868280
TI  - Codelivery of DNA vaccination encoding LeIF gene and IL-12 increases protection
      against Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that Leishmania elongation initiation factor (LeIF)
      antigen causes a partial immunity against leishmaniasis. The antigen develops
      type I immunity by overexpression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin
      12 (IL-12), IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Therefore, We evaluated immune responses
      induced by the LeIF gene against Leishmania major infection. Immunization with
      LeIF gene alone or with IL-12 induced Th1 response and produced higher IFN-gamma
      and lower IL-4 levels by splenocytes than control groups (P < 0.05) and also
      ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 were 11.68 to 18.53 times more in immunized groups than
      control groups after challenge. In addition, analysis of humoral immune response
      revealed that immunized mice had more IgG2a levels than both control groups (P <
      0.05). On the other hand, lesion size was less for immunized animals than control
      groups from 4th week after challenge (P < 0.05). The percentage reduction in
      lesion size was 29.30% for LeIF and 51.98% for LeIF + IL-12 than PBS at 12th week
      post-infection. Spleen parasite burden decreased in all immunized groups in
      comparison with control groups (P < 0.05). The results indicated that LeIF gene
      induced partial immunity against L. major infection in BALB/c mice. However, LeIF
      plus IL-12 group showed more potent immunity with smaller lesions than other
      groups. 

PMID- 26868282
TI  - GMOL: An Interactive Tool for 3D Genome Structure Visualization.
AB  - It has been shown that genome spatial structures largely affect both genome
      activity and DNA function. Knowing this, many researchers are currently
      attempting to accurately model genome structures. Despite these increased efforts
      there still exists a shortage of tools dedicated to visualizing the genome.
      Creating a tool that can accurately visualize the genome can aid researchers by
      highlighting structural relationships that may not be obvious when examining the
      sequence information alone. Here we present a desktop application, known as GMOL,
      designed to effectively visualize genome structures so that researchers may
      better analyze genomic data. GMOL was developed based upon our multi-scale
      approach that allows a user to scale between six separate levels within the
      genome. With GMOL, a user can choose any unit at any scale and scale it up or
      down to visualize its structure and retrieve corresponding genome sequences.
      Users can also interactively manipulate and measure the whole genome structure
      and extract static images and machine-readable data files in PDB format from the
      multi-scale structure. By using GMOL researchers will be able to better
      understand and analyze genome structure models and the impact their structural
      relations have on genome activity and DNA function. 

PMID- 26868281
TI  - Overfeeding during a critical postnatal period exacerbates hypothalamic-pituitary
      adrenal axis responses to immune challenge: a role for adrenal melanocortin 2
      receptors.
AB  - Early life diet can critically program hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
      function. We have previously shown rats that are overfed as neonates have
      exacerbated pro-inflammatory responses to immune challenge with
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in part by altering HPA axis responses, but how this
      occurs is unknown. Here we examined neonatal overfeeding-induced changes in gene
      expression in each step of the HPA axis. We saw no differences in glucocorticoid
      or mineralocorticoid receptor expression in key regions responsible for
      glucocorticoid negative feedback to the brain and no differences in expression of
      key HPA axis regulatory genes in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
      or pituitary. On the other hand, expression of the adrenal melanocortin 2
      receptor (MC2R) is elevated after LPS in control rats, but significantly less so
      in the neonatally overfed. The in vitro adrenal response to ACTH is also dampened
      in these rats, while the in vivo response to ACTH does not resolve as efficiently
      as it does in controls. These data suggest neonatal diet affects the efficiency
      of the adrenally-mediated response to LPS, potentially influencing how neonatally
      overfed rats combat bacterial infection. 

PMID- 26868283
TI  - Cost Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine Choices in Children Aged 2-8 Years in the
      U.S.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Prior evidence found live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) more
      effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in children aged 2-8 years,
      leading CDC in 2014 to prefer LAIV use in this group. However, since 2013, LAIV
      has not proven superior, leading CDC in 2015 to rescind their LAIV preference
      statement. Here, the cost effectiveness of preferred LAIV use compared with IIV
      in children aged 2-8 years is estimated. METHODS: A Markov model estimated
      vaccination strategy cost effectiveness in terms of cost per quality-adjusted
      life-year gained. Base case assumptions were equal vaccine uptake; IIV use when
      LAIV was not indicated (in 11.7% of the cohort); and no indirect vaccination
      effects. Sensitivity analyses included estimates of indirect effects from both
      equation- and agent-based models. Analyses were performed in 2014-2015. RESULTS:
      Using prior effectiveness data in children aged 2-8 years (LAIV=83%, IIV=64%),
      preferred LAIV use was less costly and more effective than IIV (dominant), with
      results sensitive only to LAIV and IIV effectiveness variation. Using 2014-2015
      U.S. effectiveness data (LAIV=0%, IIV=15%), IIV was dominant. In two-way
      sensitivity analyses, LAIV use was cost saving over the entire range of IIV
      effectiveness (0%-81%) when absolute LAIV effectiveness was >7.1% higher than
      IIV, but never cost saving when absolute LAIV effectiveness was <3.5% higher than
      IIV. CONCLUSIONS: Results support CDC's decision to no longer prefer LAIV use and
      provide guidance on effectiveness differences between influenza vaccines that
      might lead to preferential LAIV recommendation for children aged 2-8 years.

PMID- 26868284
TI  - Extended Self-Help for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Far too few smokers receive recommended interventions at their
      healthcare visits, highlighting the importance of identifying effective, low-cost
      smoking interventions that can be readily delivered. Self-help interventions
      (e.g., written materials) would meet this need, but they have shown low efficacy.
      The purpose of this RCT was to determine the efficacy of a self-help intervention
      with increased duration and intensity. DESIGN: Randomized parallel trial design
      involving enrollment between April 2010 and August 2011 with follow-up data for
      24 months. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: U.S. national sample of daily smokers (N=1,874).
      INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to one of three arms of a parallel
      trial design: Traditional Self-Help (TSH, n=638), Standard Repeated Mailings
      (SRM, n=614), or Intensive Repeated Mailings (IRM, n=622). TSH received an
      existing self-help booklet for quitting smoking. SRM received eight different
      cessation booklets mailed over a 12-month period. IRM received monthly mailings
      of ten booklets and additional material designed to enhance social support over
      18 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was 7-day point-prevalence
      abstinence collected at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. RESULTS: Data were analyzed
      between 2013 and 2015. A dose-response effect was found across all four follow-up
      points. For example, by 24 months, IRM produced the highest abstinence rate
      (30.0%), followed by SRM (24.4%) and TSH (18.9%). The difference in 24-month
      abstinence rates between IRM and TSH was 11.0% (95% CI=5.7%, 16.3%). Cost
      analyses indicated that, compared with TSH, the incremental cost per quitter who
      received SRM and IRM was $560 and $361, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Self-help
      interventions with increased intensity and duration resulted in significantly
      improved abstinence rates that extended 6 months beyond the end of the
      intervention. Despite the greater intensity, the interventions were highly cost
      effective, suggesting that widespread dissemination in healthcare settings could
      greatly enhance quitting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at
      www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01352195.

PMID- 26868285
TI  - Receipt of Care Discordant with Practice Guidelines is Associated with
      Compromised Overall Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
AB  - AIMS: It is unknown whether receiving treatment that is discordant with practice
      guidelines is associated with improved survival in patients with nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma. The objectives of this study were to characterise national treatment
      patterns, analyse whether treatment outside of practice guidelines is associated
      with overall survival, and identify variables associated with receiving
      guidelines-discordant care in the USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a
      retrospective cohort study of 1741 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in the
      National Cancer Data Base (2003-2006). Treatment regimens were compared with the
      2004-2006 National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Statistical analyses
      included chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression.
      RESULTS: Nearly 26% of our cohort received care discordant with practice
      guidelines. In multivariable analysis, patients with stage IVC disease (odds
      ratio 2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.66-4.04) were more likely to receive
      guidelines-discordant care when compared with those with stage II-IVB disease.
      The most common treatment deviation for those with stage I disease was
      overtreatment with chemoradiation therapy. Receiving guidelines-discordant care
      was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1.46, 95% confidence
      interval 1.25-1.69). CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with stages I and IVC
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma do not receive care in accordance with practice
      guidelines. Receiving guidelines-discordant care is associated with compromised
      overall survival in the USA.

PMID- 26868286
TI  - Do Patient-reported Outcome Measures Agree with Clinical and Photographic
      Assessments of Normal Tissue Effects after Breast Radiotherapy? The Experience of
      the Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) Trials in Early Breast Cancer.
AB  - AIMS: In radiotherapy trials, normal tissue effects (NTE) are important end
      points and it is pertinent to ask whether patient-reported outcome measures
      (PROMs) could replace clinical and/or photographic assessments. Data from the
      Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) trials are examined. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: NTEs in the treated breast were recorded by (i) annual clinical
      assessments, (ii) photographs at 2 and 5 years, (iii) PROMs at 6 months, 1, 2 and
      5 years after radiotherapy. Hazard ratios for the radiotherapy schedules were
      compared. Measures of agreement of assessments at 2 and 5 years tested
      concordance. RESULTS: PROMs were available at 2 and/or 5 years for 1939 women, of
      whom 1870 had clinical and 1444 had photographic assessments. All methods were
      sensitive to the dose difference between schedules. Patients reported a higher
      prevalence for all NTE end points than clinicians or photographs (P < 0.001 for
      most NTEs). Concordance was generally poor; weighted kappa at 2 years ranged from
      0.05 (telangiectasia) to 0.21 (shrinkage and oedema). The percentage agreement
      was lowest between PROMs and photographic assessments of change in breast
      appearance (38%). CONCLUSIONS: All three methods produced similar conclusions for
      the comparison of trial schedules, despite low concordance between the methods on
      an individual patient basis. Careful consideration should be given to the
      different contributions of the measures of NTE in future radiotherapy trials.

PMID- 26868287
TI  - Are Organisms Adapting to Ionizing Radiation at Chernobyl?
AB  - Numerous organisms have shown an ability to survive and reproduce under low-dose
      ionizing radiation arising from natural background radiation or from nuclear
      accidents. In a literature review, we found a total of 17 supposed cases of
      adaptation, mostly based on common garden experiments with organisms only
      deriving from typically two or three sampling locations. We only found one
      experimental study showing evidence of improved resistance to radiation. Finally,
      we examined studies for the presence of hormesis (i.e., superior fitness at low
      levels of radiation compared with controls and high levels of radiation), but
      found no evidence to support its existence. We conclude that rigorous experiments
      based on extensive sampling from multiple sites are required. 

PMID- 26868289
TI  - Adversity, Maltreatment, and Resilience in Young Children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Much of the research on children in high risk environments,
      particularly those who have been maltreated, has focused on negative outcomes.
      Yet, much can be learned from some of these children who fare relatively well.
      The objective was to examine resilience in high-risk preschoolers, and to probe
      contributors to their adaptive functioning. METHODS: The sample of 943 families
      was from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, a consortium of 5
      sites, prospectively examining the antecedents and outcomes of maltreatment. Most
      of the families were at high risk for maltreatment, and many had been reported to
      Child Protective Services (CPS) by the time the children were aged 4 years.
      Standardized measures were used at ages 4 and 6 to assess the children's
      functioning in behavioral, social and developmental domains, and parental
      depressive symptoms and demographic characteristics. Maltreatment was determined
      on the basis of CPS reports. Logistic regressions were conducted to predict
      resilience, defined as competencies in all 3 domains, over time. RESULTS: Forty
      eight percent of the sample appeared resilient. This was associated with no
      history of maltreatment (odds ratio = 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02
      2.20; P = .04), a primary caregiver reporting few depressive symptoms (odds ratio
      = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.63-2.94; P < .001), (P = .014), and fewer children in the home
      (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the sample appeared resilient during this
      important developmental period of transition to school. This enables clinicians
      to be cautiously optimistic in their work with high-risk children and their
      families. However, more than half the sample was not faring well. Child
      maltreatment and caregiver depressive symptoms were strongly associated with poor
      outcomes. These children and families deserve careful attention by pediatric
      practitioners and referral for prevention and early intervention services.

PMID- 26868288
TI  - Edaravone, a potent free radical scavenger and a calcium channel blocker
      attenuate isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction by suppressing oxidative
      stress, apoptotic signaling and ultrastructural damage.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we investigated whether combination therapy of
      low-dose benidipine with the potent free radical scavenger edaravone has a
      cardioprotective effect against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction
      (MI) in Wistar rats. METHODS: Rats were pretreated with concurrent doses of
      benidipine and edaravone (1 MUg/kg/day + 1 mg/kg/day and 3 MUg/kg/day + 3
      mg/kg/day) by intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes respectively
      for 28 days, followed by MI induction using ISO (85 mg/kg) by subcutaneous route
      for two days at 24 h intervals. After the treatment period, blood was withdrawn
      and the heart was preserved for biochemical estimations. RESULTS: The activities
      of the cardiac biomarkers (lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-MB), and the
      level of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly increased, while antioxidant markers
      (reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxidase dismutase, glutathione peroxidase,
      glutathione reductase) were significantly decreased in the ISO intoxicated group
      compared with the control group. Moreover, the level of C-reactive protein (CRP)
      and Caspase-3 activity significantly increased in ISO-intoxicated group. An
      ultrastructure study was also carried out. Pretreatment with a combination of
      benidipine and edaravone significantly attenuated the activities of the cardiac
      biomarkers and the level of MDA, and significantly increased the antioxidant
      markers compared with the ISO-intoxicated group. Furthermore, pretreatment with
      the combination of benidipine and edaravone significantly decreased the level of
      CRP and Caspase-3 activity as compared to the ISO-treated group. The
      ultrastructure study of myocardium revealed that pretreated groups preserved the
      mitochondrial shape, the membrane and its internal structures. CONCLUSION: Taken
      together these results suggest that the combination of benidipine and edaravone
      showed significant protective effect in ISO-induced MI.

PMID- 26868290
TI  - Syntabulin regulates the trafficking of PICK1-containing vesicles in neurons.
AB  - PICK1 (protein interacting with C-kinase 1) is a peripheral membrane protein that
      interacts with diverse membrane proteins. PICK1 has been shown to regulate the
      clustering and membrane localization of synaptic receptors such as AMPA (alpha
      amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptors, metabotropic
      glutamate receptor 7, and ASICs (acid-sensing ion channels). Moreover, recent
      evidence suggests that PICK1 can mediate the trafficking of various vesicles out
      from the Golgi complex in several cell systems, including neurons. However, how
      PICK1 affects vesicle-trafficking dynamics remains unexplored. Here, we show that
      PICK1 mediates vesicle trafficking by interacting with syntabulin, a kinesin
      binding protein that mediates the trafficking of both synaptic vesicles and
      mitochondria in axons. Syntabulin recruits PICK1 onto microtubule structures and
      mediates the trafficking of PICK1-containing vesicles along microtubules. In
      neurons, syntabulin alters PICK1 expression by recruiting PICK1 into axons and
      regulates the trafficking dynamics of PICK1-containing vesicles. Furthermore, we
      show that syntabulin forms a complex with PICK1 and ASICs, regulates ASIC protein
      expression in neurons, and participates in ASIC-induced acidotoxicity.

PMID- 26868291
TI  - Structural basis for cellulose binding by the type A carbohydrate-binding module
      64 of Spirochaeta thermophila.
AB  - Spirochaeta thermophila secretes seven glycoside hydrolases for plant biomass
      degradation that carry a carbohydrate-binding module 64 (CBM64) appended at the C
      terminus. CBM64 adsorbs to various beta1-4-linked pyranose substrates and shows
      high affinity for cellulose. We present the first crystal structure of a CBM64 at
      1.2 A resolution, which reveals a jelly-roll-like fold corresponding to a surface
      binding type A CBM. Modeling of its interaction with cellulose indicates that
      CBM64 achieves association with the hydrophobic face of beta-linked pyranose
      chains via a unique coplanar arrangement of four exposed tryptophan side chains.
      Proteins 2016; 84:855-858. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26868292
TI  - The evaluation of dorsogluteal and ventrogluteal injection sites: a cadaver
      study.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to measure the thickness of the
      muscles in the dorsogluteal and the ventrogluteal injection sites and to
      determine which injection site is farther away from the neurovascular structures.
      BACKGROUND: Although the dorsogluteal region is frequently used for intramuscular
      injections, the ventrogluteal region is suggested as a more secure injection site
      due to its distance to the neurovascular structures. However, there are no
      measurements regarding the distances of these structures. Due to this reason, the
      distance between these injection sites and the neurovascular structures should be
      measured. DESIGN: This study is a descriptive study that used cadavers to measure
      the distance between the injection sites and the neurovascular structures.
      METHODS: The study was conducted on 29 cadavers fixed with 10% formalin. The
      needle was advanced until reaching its end point. A 1.5-inch needle was used for
      the injections in both regions. The gluteal region was dissected. Parameters were
      measured with a digital vernier calliper. Data Analysis was performed using spss
      and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to examine differences among
      measurements from the two injection regions. Data were collected between February
      and May 2014. RESULTS: Sum of the thickness of the muscles is greater in the
      dorsogluteal region. The ventrogluteal region is farther than the dorsogluteal
      region from neurovascular structures. For the ventrogluteal injection
      administered from the same side, total thickness of the muscle was 22.22 +/- 5
      mm, distance to the superior gluteal artery was 13.87 +/- 16 mm and distance to
      the superior gluteal nerve was 11.82 +/- 14 mm. For the dorsogluteal injection,
      total thickness of the muscle was 28.35 +/- 7 mm, distance to the superior
      gluteal artery was 6.83 +/- 9 mm, and distance to the superior gluteal nerve was
      5.67 +/- 9 mm. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular injections must be based on an
      individual clinical assessment of each patient. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:
      The ventrogluteal region is preferred as the first-choice injection site. A
      needle of recommended length should be used to reach the target muscle.

PMID- 26868293
TI  - Impact of Common Diabetes Risk Variant in MTNR1B on Sleep, Circadian, and
      Melatonin Physiology.
AB  - The risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increased by abnormalities in sleep quantity
      and quality, circadian alignment, and melatonin regulation. A common genetic
      variant in a receptor for the circadian-regulated hormone melatonin (MTNR1B) is
      associated with increased fasting blood glucose and risk of T2D, but whether
      sleep or circadian disruption mediates this risk is unknown. We aimed to test if
      MTNR1B diabetes risk variant rs10830963 associates with measures of sleep or
      circadian physiology in intensive in-laboratory protocols (n = 58-96) or cross
      sectional studies with sleep quantity and quality and timing measures from self
      report (n = 4,307-10,332), actigraphy (n = 1,513), or polysomnography (n =
      3,021). In the in-laboratory studies, we found a significant association with a
      substantially longer duration of elevated melatonin levels (41 min) and delayed
      circadian phase of dim-light melatonin offset (1.37 h), partially mediated
      through delayed offset of melatonin synthesis. Furthermore, increased T2D risk in
      MTNR1B risk allele carriers was more pronounced in early risers versus late
      risers as determined by 7 days of actigraphy. Our results provide the surprising
      insight that the MTNR1B risk allele influences dynamics of melatonin secretion,
      generating a novel hypothesis that the MTNR1B risk allele may extend the duration
      of endogenous melatonin production later into the morning and that early waking
      may magnify the diabetes risk conferred by the risk allele.

PMID- 26868294
TI  - Autophagy Is Dispensable for Macrophage-Mediated Lipid Homeostasis in Adipose
      Tissue.
AB  - Adipose tissue (AT) macrophages (ATMs) contribute to obesity-induced inflammation
      and metabolic dysfunction, but also play critical roles in maintaining tissue
      homeostasis. ATMs catabolize lipid in a lysosomal-dependent manner required for
      the maintenance of AT; deficiency in lysosomal acid lipase (Lipa), the enzyme
      required for lysosome lipid catabolism, leads to AT atrophy and severe hepatic
      steatosis, phenotypes rescued by macrophage-specific expression of Lipa Autophagy
      delivers cellular products, including lipid droplets, to lysosomes. Given that
      obesity increases autophagy in AT and contributes to lipid catabolism in other
      cells, it was proposed that autophagy delivers lipid to lysosomes in ATMs and is
      required for AT homeostasis. We found that obesity does increase autophagy in
      ATMs. However, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of autophagy does not alter
      the lipid balance of ATMs in vitro or in vivo. In contrast to the deficiency of
      lysosomal lipid hydrolysis, the ablation of autophagy in macrophages does not
      lead to AT atrophy or alter metabolic phenotypes in lean or obese animals.
      Although the lysosomal catabolism of lipid is necessary for normal ATM function
      and AT homeostasis, delivery of lipid to lysosomes is not autophagy dependent and
      strongly suggests the existence of another lipid delivery pathway critical to
      lysosome triglyceride hydrolysis in ATMs.

PMID- 26868295
TI  - Haploinsufficiency of the Insulin Receptor in the Presence of a Splice-Site
      Mutation in Ppp2r2a Results in a Novel Digenic Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes.
AB  - Insulin resistance in mice typically does not manifest as diabetes due to
      multiple compensatory mechanisms. Here, we present a novel digenic model of type
      2 diabetes in mice heterozygous for a null allele of the insulin receptor and an
      N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced alternative splice mutation in the regulatory
      protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) subunit PPP2R2A. Inheritance of either allele
      independently results in insulin resistance but not overt diabetes. Doubly
      heterozygous mice exhibit progressive hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and
      impaired glucose tolerance from 12 weeks of age without significant increase in
      body weight. Alternative splicing of Ppp2r2a decreased PPP2R2A protein levels.
      This reduction in PPP2R2A containing PP2A phosphatase holoenzyme was associated
      with decreased serine/threonine protein kinase AKT protein levels. Ultimately,
      reduced insulin-stimulated phosphorylated AKT levels were observed, a result that
      was confirmed in Hepa1-6, C2C12, and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells knocked down
      using Ppp2r2a small interfering RNAs. Altered AKT signaling and expression of
      gluconeogenic genes in the fed state contributed to an insulin resistance and
      hyperglycemia phenotype. This model demonstrates how genetic changes with
      individually small phenotypic effects interact to cause diabetes and how
      differences in expression of hypomorphic alleles of PPP2R2A and potentially other
      regulatory proteins have deleterious effects and may therefore be relevant in
      determining diabetes risk.

PMID- 26868296
TI  - Prostaglandin I2 Receptor Agonism Preserves beta-Cell Function and Attenuates
      Albuminuria Through Nephrin-Dependent Mechanisms.
AB  - Discovery of common pathways that mediate both pancreatic beta-cell function and
      end-organ function offers the opportunity to develop therapies that modulate
      glucose homeostasis and separately slow the development of diabetes
      complications. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of
      pharmacological agonism of the prostaglandin I2 (IP) receptor in pancreatic beta
      cells and in glomerular podocytes. The IP receptor agonist MRE-269 increased
      intracellular 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), augmented glucose
      stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), and increased viability in MIN6 beta-cells.
      Its prodrug form, selexipag, augmented GSIS and preserved islet beta-cell mass in
      diabetic mice. Determining that this preservation of beta-cell function is
      mediated through cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA)/nephrin-dependent pathways, we found
      that PKA inhibition, nephrin knockdown, or targeted mutation of phosphorylated
      nephrin tyrosine residues 1176 and 1193 abrogated the actions of MRE-269 in MIN6
      cells. Because nephrin is important to glomerular permselectivity, we next set
      out to determine whether IP receptor agonism similarly affects nephrin
      phosphorylation in podocytes. Expression of the IP receptor in podocytes was
      confirmed in cultured cells by immunoblotting and quantitative real-time PCR and
      in mouse kidneys by immunogold electron microscopy, and its agonism 1) increased
      cAMP, 2) activated PKA, 3) phosphorylated nephrin, and 4) attenuated albumin
      transcytosis. Finally, treatment of diabetic endothelial nitric oxide synthase
      knockout mice with selexipag augmented renal nephrin phosphorylation and
      attenuated albuminuria development independently of glucose change. Collectively,
      these observations describe a pharmacological strategy that posttranslationally
      modifies nephrin and the effects of this strategy in the pancreas and in the
      kidney.

PMID- 26868297
TI  - PKCzeta Is Essential for Pancreatic beta-Cell Replication During Insulin
      Resistance by Regulating mTOR and Cyclin-D2.
AB  - Adaptive beta-cell replication occurs in response to increased metabolic demand
      during insulin resistance. The intracellular mediators of this compensatory
      response are poorly defined and their identification could provide significant
      targets for beta-cell regeneration therapies. Here we show that glucose and
      insulin in vitro and insulin resistance in vivo activate protein kinase C zeta
      (PKCzeta) in pancreatic islets and beta-cells. PKCzeta is required for glucose-
      and glucokinase activator-induced proliferation of rodent and human beta-cells in
      vitro. Furthermore, either kinase-dead PKCzeta expression (KD-PKCzeta) or
      disruption of PKCzeta in mouse beta-cells blocks compensatory beta-cell
      replication when acute hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia is induced. Importantly, KD
      PKCzeta inhibits insulin resistance-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)
      activation and cyclin-D2 upregulation independent of Akt activation. In summary,
      PKCzeta activation is key for early compensatory beta-cell replication in insulin
      resistance by regulating the downstream signals mTOR and cyclin-D2. This suggests
      that alterations in PKCzeta expression or activity might contribute to inadequate
      beta-cell mass expansion and beta-cell failure leading to type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26868299
TI  - Field Evaluations of Tracking/Locating Technologies for Prevention of Missing
      Incidents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Persons with dementia are at risk of a missing incident, which is
      defined as an instance in which a demented person's whereabouts are unknown to
      the caregiver and the individual is not in an expected location. Since it is
      critical to determine the missing person's location as quickly as possible, we
      evaluated whether commercially available tracking technologies can assist in a
      rapid recovery. METHODS: This study examined 7 commercially available tracking
      devices: 3 radio frequency (RF) based and 4 global positioning system (GPS)
      based, employing realistic tracking scenarios. Outcome measures were time to
      discovery and degree of deviation from a straight intercept course.
      RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Across all scenarios tested, GPS devices were found to be
      approximately twice as efficient as the RF devices in locating a "missing
      person." While the RF devices showed reasonable performance at close proximity,
      the GPS devices were found to be more appropriate overall for tracking/locating
      missing persons over unknown and larger distances.

PMID- 26868300
TI  - Emergency situations in rheumatology with a focus on systemic autoimmune
      diseases.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Rheumatic diseases are commonly considered chronic
      conditions. However, acute manifestations can be very severe and represent a
      diagnostic problem. Examples are systemic lupus erythematosus with acute flare,
      glomerulonephritis, CNS disorders and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome,
      scleroderma with interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension and renal
      crisis and polyangiitis with alveolar haemorhage and acute respiratory failure.
      This aim of this paper is to overview emergency situations which can be
      encountered in the care of patients with autoimmune systemic diseases and
      vasculitides. METHODS: A Pubmed search for both original and review articles,
      recent textbooks and current guidelines related to rheumatic diseases with
      possible acute situations were included in this review article. Relevant image
      documentation was obtained at the site over the past several years of
      observation. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides an overview of facts and emergency
      situations which can be encountered in the care of patients with autoimmune
      systemic diseases and vasculitides. It is directed at clinicians working in
      intensive care. It provides a differential diagnostic overview and information
      which is rare and commonly underestimated.

PMID- 26868301
TI  - Green emission and Ag(+) sensing of hydroxy double salt supported gold
      nanoclusters.
AB  - In this paper, a complex of Zn-containing hydroxy double salt (Zn-HDS) supported
      gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) has been synthesized. The formation of the complex
      (denoted as the AuNCs/Zn-HDS complex) has been analyzed by Transmission Electron
      Microscopy (TEM), IR spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). It
      is noteworthy that the AuNCs/Zn-HDS complex emits green fluorescence and the
      quantum yield is 7.6%. Based on the fluorescence quenching effect, the AuNCs/Zn
      HDS complex has been employed for the sensitive detection of Ag(+) and the limit
      of detection is 2.32 nM. The mechanisms of fluorescence generation and quenching
      are discussed in detail. 

PMID- 26868302
TI  - Synthetic collective intelligence.
AB  - Intelligent systems have emerged in our biosphere in different contexts and
      achieving different levels of complexity. The requirement of communication in a
      social context has been in all cases a determinant. The human brain, probably co
      evolving with language, is an exceedingly successful example. Similarly, social
      insects complex collective decisions emerge from information exchanges between
      many agents. The difference is that such processing is obtained out of a limited
      individual cognitive power. Computational models and embodied versions using non
      living systems, particularly involving robot swarms, have been used to explore
      the potentiality of collective intelligence. Here we suggest a novel approach to
      the problem grounded in the genetic engineering of unicellular systems, which can
      be modified in order to interact, store memories or adapt to external stimuli in
      collective ways. What we label as Synthetic Swarm Intelligence defines a parallel
      approach to the evolution of computation and swarm intelligence and allows to
      explore potential embodied scenarios for decision making at the microscale. Here,
      we consider several relevant examples of collective intelligence and their
      synthetic organism counterparts.

PMID- 26868303
TI  - Three-dimensional full-field X-ray orientation microscopy.
AB  - A previously introduced mathematical framework for full-field X-ray orientation
      microscopy is for the first time applied to experimental near-field diffraction
      data acquired from a polycrystalline sample. Grain by grain tomographic
      reconstructions using convex optimization and prior knowledge are carried out in
      a six-dimensional representation of position-orientation space, used for
      modelling the inverse problem of X-ray orientation imaging. From the 6D
      reconstruction output we derive 3D orientation maps, which are then assembled
      into a common sample volume. The obtained 3D orientation map is compared to an
      EBSD surface map and local misorientations, as well as remaining discrepancies in
      grain boundary positions are quantified. The new approach replaces the single
      orientation reconstruction scheme behind X-ray diffraction contrast tomography
      and extends the applicability of this diffraction imaging technique to material
      micro-structures exhibiting sub-grains and/or intra-granular orientation spreads
      of up to a few degrees. As demonstrated on textured sub-regions of the sample,
      the new framework can be extended to operate on experimental raw data, thereby
      bypassing the concept of orientation indexation based on diffraction spot peak
      positions. This new method enables fast, three-dimensional characterization with
      isotropic spatial resolution, suitable for time-lapse observations of grain
      microstructures evolving as a function of applied strain or temperature. 

PMID- 26868298
TI  - Coronaviruses - drug discovery and therapeutic options.
AB  - In humans, infections with the human coronavirus (HCoV) strains HCoV-229E, HCoV
      OC43, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 usually result in mild, self-limiting upper
      respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold. By contrast, the CoVs
      responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East
      respiratory syndrome (MERS), which were discovered in Hong Kong, China, in 2003,
      and in Saudi Arabia in 2012, respectively, have received global attention over
      the past 12 years owing to their ability to cause community and health-care
      associated outbreaks of severe infections in human populations. These two viruses
      pose major challenges to clinical management because there are no specific
      antiviral drugs available. In this Review, we summarize the epidemiology,
      virology, clinical features and current treatment strategies of SARS and MERS,
      and discuss the discovery and development of new virus-based and host-based
      therapeutic options for CoV infections.

PMID- 26868304
TI  - Therapeutic approach to target mesothelioma cancer cells using the Wnt
      antagonist, secreted frizzled-related protein 4: Metabolic state of cancer cells.
AB  - Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer, characterized by rapid
      progression, along with late metastasis and poor patient prognosis. It is
      resistant to many forms of standard anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we
      determined the effect of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4), a Wnt
      pathway inhibitor, on cancer cell proliferation and metabolism using the JU77
      mesothelioma cell line. Treatment with sFRP4 (250 pg/ml) resulted in a
      significant reduction of cell proliferation. The addition of the Wnt activator
      Wnt3a (250 pg/ml) or sFRP4 had no significant effect on ATP production and
      glucose utilisation in JU77 cells at both the 24 and 48 h time points examined.
      We also examined their effect on Akt and Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta
      (GSK3beta) phosphorylation, which are both important components of Wnt signalling
      and glucose metabolism. We found that protein phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3beta
      varied over the 24h and 48 h time points, with constitutive phosphorylation of
      Akt at serine 473 (pAkt) decreasing to its most significant level when treated
      with Wnt3a+sFRP4 at the 24h time point. A significant reduction in the level of
      Cytochrome c oxidase was observed at the 48 h time point, when sFRP4 and Wnt3a
      were added in combination. We conclude that sFRP4 may function, in part, to
      reduce/alter cancer cell metabolism, which may lead to sensitisation of cancer
      cells to chemotherapeutics, or even cell death.

PMID- 26868306
TI  - A Model-Based Product Evaluation Protocol for Comparison of Safety-Engineered
      Protection Mechanisms of Winged Blood Collection Needles.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in product characteristics and user
      preferences of safety-engineered protection mechanisms of winged blood collection
      needles. DESIGN: Randomized model-based simulation study. SETTING: University
      medical center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 33 third-year medical students. METHODS:
      Venipuncture was performed using winged blood collection needles with 4 different
      safety mechanisms: (a) Venofix Safety, (b) BD Vacutainer Push Button, (c) Safety
      Multifly, and (d) Surshield Surflo. Each needle type was used in 3 consecutive
      tries: there was an uninstructed first handling, then instructions were given
      according to the operating manual; subsequently, a first trial and second trial
      were conducted. Study end points included successful activation, activation time,
      single-handed activation, correct activation, possible risk of needlestick
      injury, possibility of deactivation, and preferred safety mechanism. RESULTS: The
      overall successful activation rate during the second trial was equal for all 4
      devices (94%-100%). Median activation time was (a) 7 s, (b) 2 s, (c) 9 s, and (d)
      7 s. Single-handed activation during the second trial was (a) 18%, (b) 82%, (c)
      15%, and (d) 45%. Correct activation during the second trial was (a) 3%, (b) 64%,
      (c) 15%, and (d) 39%. Possible risk of needlestick injury during the second trial
      was highest with (d). Possibility of deactivation was (a) 0%, (b) 12%, (c) 9%,
      and (d) 18%. Individual preferences for each system were (a) 11, (b) 17, (c) 5,
      and (d) 0. The main reason for preference was the comprehensive safety mechanism.
      CONCLUSION: Significant differences exist between safety mechanisms of winged
      blood collection needles.

PMID- 26868305
TI  - Improving Critical View of Safety in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy by Teaching
      Interventions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend obtaining a critical view of safety (CVS) during
      laparoscopic cholecystectomies to prevent serious bile duct injuries. We sought
      to evaluate the results of a teaching intervention for surgeons and residents
      about achieving CVS. METHODS: The intervention consisted of a lecture followed by
      a handout on CVS along with a teaching video on how to perform a laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy and common pitfalls encountered. After 9 months, the whole
      intervention was repeated. We retrospectively collected demographic data, details
      about the procedure, and complications for 316 consecutive patients who underwent
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy and reviewed available videos of laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy for 229 of these patients. Videos before and after the teaching
      interventions were reviewed by 2 gastrointestinal surgeons regarding whether CVS
      was reached, and Kappa statistics were calculated to measure inter-rater
      agreement. RESULTS: Most patients (average age 51 years) underwent laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis (n = 171, 75%). CVS was reached in
      69% of the preteaching intervention patients (n = 54), in 73% after the first
      teaching intervention (n = 75) and in 82% after the second intervention (n = 100)
      (not significant, overall p = 0.070). The complication rates were 24% (n = 13)
      before the intervention, 19% (n = 14) after the first teaching intervention, and
      17% (n = 17) after the second intervention (not significant). In these groups, 1,
      3, and 5 cases, correspondingly, with biliary injury were identified. All but 1
      complication was related to a type A biliary injury. CONCLUSION: After the
      teaching interventions, the complication rate and the rate of reaching CVS did
      not improve significantly. To improve surgeons' success in reaching CVS, more
      personal interventions may be more effective than the group intervention we used
      in this study. The next step may be to present surgeons and residents who have a
      low CVS rate directly with their personal results.

PMID- 26868307
TI  - The characterization of hematopoietic tissue in adult Chinese mitten crab
      Eriocheir sinensis.
AB  - Invertebrates rely on the efficient innate immune mechanisms against invaders, in
      which the continuous production of hemocytes (hematopoiesis) is indispensable. In
      the present study, the hematopoietic tissue (HPT) from Chinese mitten crab
      Eriocheir sinensis was identified and characterized. It was a thin and non
      transparent sheet located at the dorsolateral side of the stomach, which was
      composed of a series of ovoid lobules. Each lobule was surrounded by connective
      tissue containing a large amount of spherical cells with big nucleus. In HPT, the
      cells were full of mitochondria and granules, and DNA replication was detected in
      some cells by EdU labeling technique. Cell proliferation was observed in HPT by
      transmission electron microscope (TEM). The distribution of two transcription
      factors, GATA1 and RUNX1, were examined by human GATA1 and RUNX1 antibodies,
      respectively. Three homologues of RUNX1 were detected in the HPT while no signal
      of RUNX1 was observed in hemocytes, and GATA1 was detected in both HPT and some
      hemocytes. The mRNA transcript of a novel hematopoiesis related cytokine EsAst
      was detected in hepatopancreas and hemocytes, but it was no detectable in HPT.
      The mRNA expression level of EsAst in hepatopancreas was 1.38-fold higher than
      that in hemocytes. Total hemocytes counts were related to the mRNA expression
      level of EsAst post Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. The results suggested that
      the stem cells in the hematopoietic tissue of Chinese mitten crab E. sinensis
      were regulated by transcriptional and humoral factors to generate hemocytes. 

PMID- 26868308
TI  - Microwave-Assisted Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization of Acrylamides with Non
      Activated Ketones.
AB  - An operationally simple and efficient microwave-assisted protocol for the
      oxidative cyclization of acrylamide derivatives with non-activated ketones to
      generate 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles is described. The reaction proceeds by a
      copper-catalyzed tandem radical addition/cyclization strategy and tolerates a
      series of functional groups with moderate to excellent yields. 

PMID- 26868309
TI  - Mental health in Europe's Syrian refugee crisis.

PMID- 26868310
TI  - A National Survey of Undergraduate Suture and Local Anesthetic Training in the
      United Kingdom.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Suturing is a skill expected to be attained by all medical students
      on graduation, according to the General Medical Council's (GMC) Tomorrow's
      Doctors. There are no GMC recommendations for the amount of suture training
      required at medical school nor the level of competence to be achieved. This study
      examines the state of undergraduate suture training by surveying a sample of
      medical students across the United Kingdom. METHODS: We distributed a survey to
      17 medical schools to be completed by undergraduates who have undergone
      curricular suture training. The survey included questions relating to career
      intention, hours of curricular suture training, hours of additional paid
      training, confidence in performing various suture techniques and knowledge of
      their indications. We also asked about the students' perceived proficiency at
      injecting local anesthetic and their overall opinion of medical school suture
      training. RESULTS: We received responses from 705 medical students at 16 UK
      medical schools. A total of 607 (86.1%) medical students had completed their
      scheduled curricular suture training. Among them, 526 (86.5%) students reported
      inadequate suture training in medical school and 133 (21.9%) students had paid
      for additional training. Results for all competence markers were significantly
      lower than the required GMC standards (p < 0.001). Students who had paid for
      additional training were significantly more confident across all areas examined
      (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified a deficiency in the curricular
      suture training provided to the medical students surveyed. These findings suggest
      that medical schools should provide more opportunities for students to develop
      their suturing skills to achieve the GMC standard.

PMID- 26868311
TI  - An Experiential Learning Model Facilitates Learning of Bedside Ultrasound by
      Preclinical Medical Students.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of an experiential learning model of ultrasound
      training on preclinical medical students' knowledge and practice of Focused
      Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination. METHODS: The study was
      conducted in 2 phases. In phase 1, first- and second-year medical students
      participated in a 45-minute didactic presentation and subsequent 1-hour hands-on
      practice followed by 3-5 precepted FAST examinations in the emergency department.
      A pretest or posttest design was used to examine the participants' knowledge
      interpreting ultrasound images of the FAST examination. In phase 2, students
      performed FAST scans on patients with abdominal complaints under the supervision
      of emergency ultrasound faculty over a 1-year period. The participants were
      scored based on window acquisition, quality of images, accuracy of FAST scan
      interpretation, confidence level rated by participant, and supervising attending
      physician. RESULTS: In phase 1, 68 novice medical students participated in 11
      training sessions offered over a 1-year period. Students showed significant
      improvement in basic ultrasound and abdominal anatomy knowledge. The mean score
      improved from a pretest score of 5.8 of 10 (95% CI: 5.3-6.2) to a posttest score
      of 7.3 of 10 (95% CI: 7-7.6). The students also demonstrated a significant
      improvement in FAST image interpretation (pretest of 6.2 [95% CI: 5.9-6.6] and
      posttest of 7.6 [95% CI: 7.1-7.9]). In phase 2, 22 students performed 304 FAST
      examinations on patients. At the beginning of their training when they performed
      less than 10 FAST scans, students were able to complete the right upper quadrant
      view in 88.9%, left upper quadrant view in 69.7%, subxiphoid in 64.7%, and pelvic
      view in 70% of scans. Across all views of the FAST examination, increasing level
      of practice was associated with improvement in successfully completing the
      examination. The absolute increase in the proportion experiencing success in the
      right upper quadrant view was 1.6%, 3.6%, and 6.2% for the 10-19, 20-29, and >30
      groups, respectively, of which none were statistically significant. However, the
      improvements in the left upper quadrant view was 12.7%, 11.6%, 15.7% for the 10
      19, 20-29, and >30 groups, respectively. In all views, performing >30
      examinations more than doubled the odds of successfully completing the
      examination. CONCLUSION: An experiential learning model of ultrasound training
      consisting of brief didactic presentation, practice FAST examinations on normal
      models, and proctored examinations on patients is an effective way to teach
      preclinical medical students basic ultrasound skills.

PMID- 26868312
TI  - Assessing the Nontechnical Skills of Surgical Trainees: Views of the Theater
      Team.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the views of members of theater teams
      regarding the proposed introduction of a workplace-based assessment of
      nontechnical skills of surgeons (NOTSS) into the Intercollegiate Surgical
      Curriculum Programme in the United Kingdom. In addition, the previous training
      and familiarity of the members of the surgical theater team with the concept and
      assessment of NOTSS would be evaluated. DESIGN: A regional survey of members of
      theater teams (consultant surgeons, anesthetists, scrub nurses, and trainees) was
      performed at 1 teaching and 2 district general hospitals in South Yorkshire.
      RESULTS: There were 160 respondents corresponding to a response rate of 81%. The
      majority (77%) were not aware of the NOTSS assessment tool with only 9% of
      respondents reporting to have previously used the NOTSS tool and just 3% having
      received training in NOTSS assessment. Overall, 81% stated that assessing NOTSS
      was as important as assessing technical skills. Trainees attributed less
      importance to nontechnical skills than the other groups (p <= 0.016). Although
      opinion appears divided as to whether the presence of a consultant surgeon in
      theater could potentially make it difficult to assess a trainee's leadership
      skills and decision-making capabilities, overall 60% agree that the routine use
      of NOTSS assessment would enhance safety in the operating theater and 80% agree
      that the NOTSS tool should be introduced to assess the nontechnical skills of
      trainees in theater. However, a significantly lower proportion of trainees (45%)
      agreed on the latter compared with the other groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our
      survey demonstrates acceptability among the theater team for the introduction of
      the NOTSS tool into the surgical curriculum. However, lack of familiarity
      highlights the importance of faculty training for assessors before such an
      introduction.

PMID- 26868313
TI  - Assessment of Developmental Progress Using an Objective Structured Clinical
      Examination-Simulation Hybrid Examination for Obstetrics and Gynecology
      Residents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Test of Integrated Professional Skills (TIPS) is an objective
      structured clinical examination-simulation hybrid examination that assesses
      resident integration of technical, cognitive, and affective skills in Obstetrics
      and Gynecology (OBGYN) residents. The aim of this study was to analyze
      performance patterns and reactions of residents to the test to understand how it
      may fit within a comprehensive assessment program. DESIGN: A retrospective, mixed
      methods review of the design and implementation of the examination, patterns of
      performance of trainees at different levels of training, focus group data, and
      description of use of TIPS results for resident remediation and curriculum
      development. SETTING: OBGYN residents at New York University Langone Medical
      Center, a tertiary-care, urban academic health center. PARTICIPANTS: OBGYN
      residents in all years of training, postgraduate year-1 through postgraduate
      year, all residents completing the TIPS examination and consenting to participate
      in focus groups were included. RESULTS: In all, 24 residents completed the TIPS
      examination. Performance on the examination varied widely among individuals at
      each stage of training, and did not follow developmental trends, except for
      technical skills. Cronbach alpha for both standardized patient and faculty
      ratings ranged from 0.69 to 0.84, suggesting internal consistency. Focus group
      results indicated that residents respond to the TIPS examination in complex ways,
      ranging from anxiety about performance to mixed feelings about how to use the
      data for their learning. CONCLUSION: TIPS assesses a range of attributes, and can
      support both formative and summative evaluation. Lack of clear developmental
      differences and wide variation in performance by learners at the same level of
      training support the argument for individualized learning plans and competency
      based education.

PMID- 26868314
TI  - Do Three-dimensional Visualization and Three-dimensional Printing Improve Hepatic
      Segment Anatomy Teaching? A Randomized Controlled Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hepatic segment anatomy is difficult for medical students to learn.
      Three-dimensional visualization (3DV) is a useful tool in anatomy teaching, but
      current models do not capture haptic qualities. However, three-dimensional
      printing (3DP) can produce highly accurate complex physical models. Therefore, in
      this study we aimed to develop a novel 3DP hepatic segment model and compare the
      teaching effectiveness of a 3DV model, a 3DP model, and a traditional anatomical
      atlas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A healthy candidate (female, 50-years old) was
      recruited and scanned with computed tomography. After three-dimensional (3D)
      reconstruction, the computed 3D images of the hepatic structures were obtained.
      The parenchyma model was divided into 8 hepatic segments to produce the 3DV
      hepatic segment model. The computed 3DP model was designed by removing the
      surrounding parenchyma and leaving the segmental partitions. Then, 6 experts
      evaluated the 3DV and 3DP models using a 5-point Likert scale. A randomized
      controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the educational effectiveness of these
      models compared with that of the traditional anatomical atlas. RESULTS: The 3DP
      model successfully displayed the hepatic segment structures with partitions. All
      experts agreed or strongly agreed that the 3D models provided good realism for
      anatomical instruction, with no significant differences between the 3DV and 3DP
      models in each index (p > 0.05). Additionally, the teaching effects show that the
      3DV and 3DP models were significantly better than traditional anatomical atlas in
      the first and second examinations (p < 0.05). Between the first and second
      examinations, only the traditional method group had significant declines (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: A novel 3DP hepatic segment model was successfully developed.
      Both the 3DV and 3DP models could improve anatomy teaching significantly.

PMID- 26868315
TI  - Relevancy of an In-Service Examination for Core Knowledge Training in a Surgical
      Subspecialty.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To facilitate knowledge acquisition during plastic surgery residency,
      we analyzed the breast curriculum on the Plastic Surgery In-Service Training Exam
      (PSITE). DESIGN: Breast-related questions on 6 consecutive PSITEs were analyzed
      (2008-2013). Topics were categorized by the content outline for the American
      Board of Plastic Surgery written board examination. Question vignettes were
      classified by taxonomy and clinical setting. References for correct answer
      choices were categorized by source and publication lag. RESULTS: A total of 136
      breast-related questions were analyzed (136/1174, 12%). Questions tended to
      appear more in the Breast and Cosmetic (75%) section than the Comprehensive (25%)
      section (p < 0.001). Most question vignettes were written in a clinical setting
      (64%, p < 0.001). Question taxonomy was evenly distributed among recall (34%),
      interpretation (28%), and decision-making (37%, p > 0.05). Only 6% of questions
      required photographic evaluation. Breast-related topics focused on esthetic
      problems (35%), traumatic deformities (22%), and tumors (21%). Answer references
      comprised 293 citations to 63 unique journals published a median of 6 years
      before PSITE administration. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (57%) was the
      most cited journal (p < 0.001) and Surgery of the Breast: Principles and Art by
      Spear was the most referenced textbook (22%). CONCLUSIONS: The PSITE affords a
      curriculum that reflects breast-related topics on the American Board of Plastic
      Surgery written board examination. These data may optimize knowledge acquisition
      in esthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.

PMID- 26868316
TI  - The Effect of Self-Citations on the Hirsch Index Among Full-Time Academic Hand
      Surgeons.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of self-citation among a cohort of academic
      hand surgeons and estimate the effect of self-citation on the Hirsch index (h
      index). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Johns Hopkins Hospital,
      Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery.
      RESULTS: The study sample comprised 364 full-time academic hand surgeons. Study
      subjects had an average of 45 +/- 73 publications. The mean total number of
      citations was 800 +/- 1738, the median number of self-citations was 2.5
      (interquartile range [IQR]: 0-14.8), and the average frequency of self-citation
      was 2.2% +/- 3.7%. Older surgeons were slightly less likely to self-cite
      (coefficient = 0.07; p = 0.001). Furthermore, as the total number of publications
      increased, the frequency of self-citation increased (coefficient = 0.03; p <
      0.001). The h-index increased because of self-citation in 57 surgeons (15.7%).
      After adjusting for American Society for Surgery of the Hand status and academic
      rank, increasing rates of self-citation were associated with an increase in the h
      index. Surgeons with 7 or more self-citations were more likely to have their h
      index influenced by self-citation. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of self-citation among
      full-time academic hand surgeons affiliated with fellowship programs is fairly
      low. For most of the surgeons, self-citation did not affect the h-index.

PMID- 26868317
TI  - The Transferability of Generic Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills: Is There
      Crossover of Core Skills Between Laparoscopy and Arthroscopy?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was observing transferability of minimally
      invasive surgical skills between virtual reality simulators for laparoscopy and
      arthroscopy. Secondary objectives were to assess face validity and acceptability.
      DESIGN: Prospective single-blinded crossover randomized controlled trial.
      SETTING: MSk Laboratory, Imperial College London. PARTICIPANTS: Student doctors
      naive to simulation and minimally invasive techniques. METHODS: A total of 72
      medical students were randomized into 4 groups (2 control groups and 2 training
      groups), and tested on haptic virtual reality simulators. Group 1 (control; n =
      16) performed a partial laparoscopic cholecystectomy and Group 2 (control; n =
      16) performed a diagnostic knee arthroscopy. Both groups then repeated the same
      task a week later. Group 3 (training; n = 20) completed a partial laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy, followed by an arthroscopic training program, and repeated the
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy a week later. Group 4 (training; n = 20) performed a
      diagnostic knee arthroscopy, followed by a laparoscopic training program, and
      then repeated the initial arthroscopic test a week later. The time taken,
      instrument path length, and speed were recorded for each participant and
      analyzed. RESULTS: Time taken for task: All 4 cohorts were significantly quicker
      on their second attempt but the 2 training groups outperformed the 2 control
      groups, with the laparoscopy-trained group improving the most (p < 0.05). Economy
      of movement: All cohorts had a significant improvement in left hand path length
      (p < 0.01) but there was no difference for right hand path length. Left hand
      speed: Only the 2 training groups showed significant improvement with the
      laparoscopy-trained group improving the most (p < 0.05). Right hand speed: All
      cohorts improved significantly with the laparoscopy-trained group improving the
      most (p < 0.05). Face validity and acceptability were established for both
      simulators. CONCLUSION: This study showed that minimally invasive surgical skills
      learnt on a laparoscopy simulator are transferable to arthroscopy and vice versa,
      with greater effect after training on the laparoscopy simulator.

PMID- 26868319
TI  - The religious brain.
AB  - This paper is a critical review of anthropology and cognitive science that
      proposes social, cognitive, and neural mechanisms that convert culturally
      transmitted ideas into beliefs, discussed in relation to Geertz's classic
      definition of religion ('Religion as a cultural system', 1966). Literal and
      analogical uses of language, and a capacity for mentalizing thought, allow the
      creation of systems of symbols that vary between groups, contributing to the
      systematic group-level differences that we refer to as 'culture'. A combination
      of social referencing, mentalizing, and emotion perception enables enculturation
      to occur by attention to stable, repetitive conjunctions of meanings and emotions
      in the social environment, promoting the formation of cognitive-affective
      schemata. In addition to informal enculturation in routine social interaction,
      cultural systems such as religions organize and protect transmission of valued
      knowledge. Religious rituals are culturally invented symbolic displays that
      transmit conceptions of the world and imbue them with emotional and motivational
      significance. Two kinds of ritual are distinguished: high frequency, low arousal
      rituals belonging to a 'doctrinal' religious mode, and low frequency, high
      arousal rituals belonging to an 'imagistic' religious mode ( Whitehouse 2000 ).
      'Doctrinal' rituals allow the extraction of semantic memories and associated
      emotions through repeated participation and exposure. 'Imagistic' rituals are
      particularly associated with intense emotion, episodic memory formation, and the
      formation of social ties. Religious rituals, especially imagistic rituals, employ
      two major strategies to convey conceptions of the world and invest them with a
      heightened sense of reality and emotion: (1) a 'sensory' route evokes salient
      thought and experience by orchestrating multiple reinforcing social-emotional
      signals and other stimuli, engaging attention, emotion, and arousal; (2) a
      'semantic' route uses enigmatic verbal and non-verbal symbols to engage an
      analogical/right hemispheric processing strategy to make sense of what is
      authoritatively presented as real but incompletely understood. Both routes are
      hypothesized to activate the mesolimbic dopamine system amongst other components
      of cognitive-affective processing, so that the 'moods and motivations' evoked by
      the ritual performance seem 'uniquely realistic'. These social, cognitive, and
      neural processes constitute ways in which religious ideas are turned into
      convictions. 

PMID- 26868318
TI  - Training With Curved Laparoscopic Instruments in Single-Port Setting Improves
      Performance Using Straight Instruments: A Prospective Randomized Simulation
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Lately single-port surgery is becoming a widespread procedure, but it
      is more difficult than conventional laparoscopy owing to the lack of
      triangulation. Although, these operations are also possible with standard
      laparoscopic instruments, curved instruments are being developed. The aims of the
      study were to identify the effect of training on a box trainer in single-port
      setting on the quality of acquired skills, and transferred with the straight and
      curved instruments for the basic laparoscopic tasks, and highlight the importance
      of a special laparoscopic training curriculum. DESIGN: A prospective study on a
      box trainer in single-port setting was conducted using 2 groups. Each group
      performed 2 tasks on the box trainer in single-port setting. Group-S used
      conventional straight laparoscopic instruments, and Group-C used curved
      laparoscopic instruments. Learning curves were obtained by daily measurements
      recorded in 7-day sessions. On the last day, the 2 groups changed instruments
      between each other. SETTING: 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University of
      Medicine from Budapest, Hungary, a university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: In
      all, 20 fifth-year medical students were randomized into 2 groups. None of them
      had any laparoscopic or endoscopic experience. Participation was voluntary.
      RESULTS: Although Group-S performed all tasks significantly faster than Group-C
      on the first day, the difference proved to be nonsignificant on the last day. All
      participants achieved significantly shorter task completion time on the last day
      than on the first day, regardless of the instrument they used. Group-S showed
      improvement of 63.5%, and Group-C 69.0% improvement by the end of the session.
      After swapping the instruments, Group-S reached significantly higher task
      completion time with curved instruments, whereas Group-C showed further
      progression of 8.9% with straight instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Training with curved
      instruments in a single-port setting allows for a better acquisition of skills in
      a shorter period. For this reason, there is a need for proficiency-based
      conventional, but also for a single-port, laparoscopic training curriculum in
      general surgery residency education.

PMID- 26868320
TI  - Human and spiritual agency in Angami healing.
AB  - Despite the thought-provoking theological and philosophical implications of the
      adage urging the healer to heal him/herself, medical anthropology has, with some
      notable exceptions, given relatively little attention to the problems of well
      being experienced by healers themselves, as distinct from those of their
      patients. This paper focuses on the conflicts experienced by men and women who
      become healers and how they try to resolve them. The case taken is of the Angami
      people of Nagaland, northeastern India. There are broadly two kinds of healer,
      each of whom is subject to contrasting pressures and conflicts. Shamans depend on
      tutelary spirits who may at various points control the shaman him or herself, who
      may have been initially reluctant to become a shaman. Other healers such as
      herbalists and masseurs may sometimes use but do not rely on tutelary spirits and
      draw instead on their own non-divinational skills. An increasing number of such
      healers have become Christian and are obliged to adapt their practices
      accordingly, including the divinity of a new God, sometimes denying a previous
      personal or family connection with shamanism. At issue in both cases is a
      struggle between human and divine agency, which, writ large, is a struggle
      between human self-determination and external forces of control, this being
      possibly reflected in the fact that Nagaland has for many years been the scene of
      an armed struggle against the Indian government for political autonomy. 

PMID- 26868321
TI  - Healing rituals.
AB  - This paper poses a theoretical question: how, if at all, can 'critical medical
      anthropology' and 'performance theory' be combined? More specifically, the author
      discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of each, with respect to a
      healing cult in the Central Himalayas of North India. The paper has four parts:
      first, an ethnographic description of the cult itself; second, a brief
      introduction to critical medical anthropology; third, a short discussion of the
      performative approach to healing rituals; and finally, an attempt to combine the
      two approaches. The author concludes that the two approaches can indeed combined,
      so long as one recognizes (1) that caste and gender are also appropriate objects
      for critical medical anthropology; and (2) that aesthetics is always already
      political. 

PMID- 26868322
TI  - Towards an ethnography of Indian homeopathy.
AB  - Despite its large number of practitioners, medical anthropology has given little
      attention to Indian homeopathy. In historical accounts, homeopathy's popularity
      is explained by its position as a modern, yet non-colonial form of medicine,
      which became indigenized during the last 150 years. Other scholars argue that
      homeopathic concepts converge with Indian ideas on healing. However, few
      empirical data have been gathered on homeopathic practice in contemporary India.
      In this paper, we explore the perspectives of college-trained homeopaths in urban
      West Bengal. How strongly do they feel indebted to classical and canonical
      homeopathic writings? Can we observe attempts of indigenizing homeopathy by
      blending it with common ideas of Indian medical culture? While the homeopaths in
      our study report practising an orthodox version of homeopathy, we can also
      identify creative solutions when they are responding to their patients'
      expectations: conforming to the idea of single-remedy prescription by
      simultaneous use of placebos, short-cut homeopathic anamnesis, complementing
      homeopathic drugs with therapeutic nutritional advice, and developing a system of
      seasonal drugs are all evidence for silent hybridization of homeopathic and local
      ideas. In the homeopathic consultation, time pressure becomes a significant
      challenge and Bengali homeopaths grasp the most important homeopathic symptoms
      quickly. 

PMID- 26868323
TI  - 'He's telling us something'.
AB  - Drawing on in-depth interviews with patients and participant observation notes
      from a cancer support group and outpatients department, we analyse the
      experiences of Australian-born and immigrant women with gynaecological cancer to
      describe cancer diagnosis disclosures from the patients' perspectives and examine
      women's treatment decision-making. Data suggest that most women did not question
      the surgeon's recommendation and assumed a passive role in treatment decision
      making. The contextual factors which impacted on this pattern were the
      unavailability of an alternative biomedical treatment path, the perception of the
      metropolitan hospital as a centre of clinical excellence with extensive
      experience in treating women with gynaecological cancer, and lay understandings
      of the nature of gynaecological cancer as 'a killer'. We also discuss the
      circumstances under which a few women took on the role of primary decision-maker.

PMID- 26868326
TI  - Automated microaneurysm detection in diabetic retinopathy using curvelet
      transform.
AB  - Microaneurysms (MAs) are known to be the early signs of diabetic retinopathy
      (DR). An automated MA detection system based on curvelet transform is proposed
      for color fundus image analysis. Candidates of MA were extracted in two parallel
      steps. In step one, blood vessels were removed from preprocessed green band image
      and preliminary MA candidates were selected by local thresholding technique. In
      step two, based on statistical features, the image background was estimated. The
      results from the two steps allowed us to identify preliminary MA candidates which
      were also present in the image foreground. A collection set of features was fed
      to a rule-based classifier to divide the candidates into MAs and non-MAs. The
      proposed system was tested with Retinopathy Online Challenge database. The
      automated system detected 162 MAs out of 336, thus achieved a sensitivity of
      48.21% with 65 false positives per image. Counting MA is a means to measure the
      progression of DR. Hence, the proposed system may be deployed to monitor the
      progression of DR at early stage in population studies.

PMID- 26868327
TI  - Response to Letter to the Editor: Toward a Multifactorial Model of Caries
      Formation.

PMID- 26868328
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Toward a Multifactorial Model of Caries Formation.

PMID- 26868329
TI  - Use of a nictitating membrane flap for treatment of feline acute corneal hydrops
      21 eyes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the use of a nictitating membrane
      flap (NMF) as therapy in 19 cats (21 eyes) affected with feline acute corneal
      hydrops (FACH). METHODS: Medical records from 19 cats diagnosed with FACH and
      treated with a NMF were retrospectively evaluated. Information was collected from
      multiple veterinary hospitals and included signalment, medical history, therapy,
      and ocular outcome. RESULTS: Breeds included 13 Domestic Shorthairs, 2 Exotic
      Shorthairs, 2 Maine Coons, 1 Persian, and 1 Domestic Medium Hair. Two cats were
      bilaterally affected. Median age of cats was 3.2 years (range 0.26-15 years).
      Eleven patients were spayed females, 6 were neutered males, and 2 were intact
      males. Topical steroids were previously administered in 5 (23.8%) eyes; oral
      steroids were previously administered in 7 cats (36.8% of patients); three
      patients received both oral and topical steroids. Thirteen of 21 (61.9%) eyes had
      a history of ocular disease including ulcerative and nonulcerative keratitis,
      anterior uveitis, corneal sequestrum, conjunctivitis, and glaucoma. Median
      duration of NMF was 15 days (range 6-30 days). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 1601
      days (median 169 days). Corneal perforation occurred in 1 (4.7%) eye and was
      successfully repaired. One lesion (4.7%) in a diabetic patient did not resolve.
      Nineteen of the treated eyes (90.5%) resolved with no complications. CONCLUSIONS:
      A nictitating membrane flap successfully treated 90.5% of FACH eyes (89.5% of
      patients).

PMID- 26868330
TI  - Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase in Upper
      Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUTUC) is one of the
      uncommon malignancies lacking of prognostic indicators. Lactate dehydrogenase
      (LDH) has been demonstrated to correlate with clinical outcomes in human cancers.
      In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic implication of the
      preoperative LDH in UUTUC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 100 UUTUC samples
      along with the preoperative LDH value was recruited from January 1990 to June
      2011. The cutoff value was set at 245 u/L for the upper value of normal
      limitation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the
      association of LDH with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
      RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high level of LDH (> 245 u/L) was
      significantly associated with poor OS (P < .001) and DFS (P = .002). Multivariate
      Cox proportional analysis indicated LDH, controlled by vascular invasion,
      pathological stage, lymph node status, subsequent bladder tumor, tumor grade,
      tumor necrosis, architecture, and multifocality, was as an independent predictor
      of OS (hazard ratio, 3.181; 95% confidence interval, 1.223-8.276; P = .018) and
      DFS (hazard ratio, 3.041; 95% confidence interval, 1.247-7.417; P = .015).
      Stratified showed that elevated serum LDH was correlated with the worse OS in
      patients without lymph node metastasis (P = .002) and those at advanced
      pathological stage (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The preoperative LDH was an
      independent prognostic factor for patients with UUTUC and could be used as a risk
      factor to predict the tumor aggressiveness.

PMID- 26868331
TI  - Mitochondrial comparative genomics and phylogenetic signal assessment of mtDNA
      among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
AB  - Mitochondrial (mt) genes, such as cytochrome C oxidase genes (cox), have been
      widely used for barcoding in many groups of organisms, although this approach has
      been less powerful in the fungal kingdom due to the rapid evolution of their mt
      genomes. The use of mt genes in phylogenetic studies of Dikarya has been met with
      success, while early diverging fungal lineages remain less studied, particularly
      the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Advances in next-generation sequencing
      have substantially increased the number of publically available mtDNA sequences
      for the Glomeromycota. As a result, comparison of mtDNA across key AMF taxa can
      now be applied to assess the phylogenetic signal of individual mt coding genes,
      as well as concatenated subsets of coding genes. Here we show comparative
      analyses of publically available mt genomes of Glomeromycota, augmented with two
      mtDNA genomes that were newly sequenced for this study (Rhizophagus irregularis
      DAOM240159 and Glomus aggregatum DAOM240163), resulting in 16 complete mtDNA
      datasets. R. irregularis isolate DAOM240159 and G. aggregatum isolate DAOM240163
      showed mt genomes measuring 72,293bp and 69,505bp with G+C contents of 37.1% and
      37.3%, respectively. We assessed the phylogenies inferred from single mt genes
      and complete sets of coding genes, which are referred to as "supergenes" (16
      concatenated coding genes), using Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests, in order to identify
      genes that best described AMF phylogeny. We found that rnl, nad5, cox1, and nad2
      genes, as well as concatenated subset of these genes, provided phylogenies that
      were similar to the supergene set. This mitochondrial genomic analysis was also
      combined with principal coordinate and partitioning analyses, which helped to
      unravel certain evolutionary relationships in the Rhizophagus genus and for G.
      aggregatum within the Glomeromycota. We showed evidence to support the position
      of G. aggregatum within the R. irregularis 'species complex'. 

PMID- 26868332
TI  - HOTAIR in relation to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells in
      molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a hormone-related disease, showing highly
      diverse features of ER/PR/HER2 status-based molecular subtypes. Long noncoding
      RNA (lncRNA) HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) has recently emerged as a key
      molecule in many cancers, triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
      mediated cancer stem cell (CSC) formation, but little is known about its
      significance in EC. Thus, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of
      HOTAIR itself in different molecular subtypes of EC and possible links between
      HOTAIR, EMT and CSC-related markers. METHODS: The study group included 156
      consecutive, stage I-IV EC patients treated between 2000 and 2010. ER, PR and
      HER2 protein expression were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue
      microarrays. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression levels of HOTAIR, EMT
      related genes - SNAIL and SLUG - and the CSCs marker CD133. RESULTS: Molecular
      subtypes, defined as ER/PR+HER2+, ER/PR+HER2-, ER-PR-HER2+ and ER-PR-HER2-,
      occurred in 40.2%, 52.3%, 4.7% and 1.9% of cases, respectively. The expression of
      HOTAIR did not differ between the subtypes, but high HOTAIR expression correlated
      with shorter overall survival (p = 0.04) in the entire group. The expression
      levels of HOTAIR, SNAIL, SLUG and CD133 were similar in defined EC molecular
      subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not confirm the role of HOTAIR in EMT-mediated
      CSC formation in EC. Neither does the diversity of EC molecular subtypes
      influence these processes. But HOTAIR expression could serve as an independent
      prognostic factor in EC. The clinical importance of the above discoveries
      requires further studies.

PMID- 26868333
TI  - Drafting biological material transfer agreement: a ready-to-sign model for
      biobanks and biorepositories.
AB  - PURPOSE: Due to the scarcity of publications, guidelines, and harmonization among
      national regulations, biobanks and institutions face practical and theoretical
      issues when drafting a material transfer agreement (MTA), the fundamental tool to
      regulate the successful exchange of biosamples and information. Frequently
      researchers do not execute MTAs because of a general lack of knowledge about this
      topic. It is thus critical to develop new models to prevent loss of traceability
      and opportunities both for researchers and biobanks, their exposure to various
      risks, and delays in transferring biomaterials. METHODS: Through the involvement
      of institutional groups and professionals with multidisciplinary expertise, we
      have drawn up a ready-to-sign MTA for the CRO-Biobank (the biobank of the
      National Cancer Institute, CRO, Aviano), a standardized template that can be
      employed as a ready-to-use model agreement. RESULTS: The team identified the
      essential components to be included in the MTA, which comprise i) permissions,
      liability and representations; ii) custodianship and distribution limitations;
      iii) appropriate use of materials, including biosafety concerns; iv)
      confidentiality, non-disclosure, and publications; v) intellectual property
      protection for both the provider and recipient. CONCLUSIONS: This paper aims to
      be an unabridged report (among the few works in the existing literature)
      providing a description of the whole process related to the formation of an MTA.
      Biobanks and institutions may consider adopting our ready-to-sign form as a
      standard model. The article discusses the most important issues tackled during
      the drafting of the document, thus proposing an operative approach for other
      institutions that face the same problems.

PMID- 26868334
TI  - HPV testing of biobanked liquid-based cytology - a validation study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate whether biobanked liquid
      based cytology (LBC) vaginal samples could be reanalyzed for the biomarkers HPV
      DNA and mRNA without loss of sensitivity. METHODS: One hundred LBC samples with
      ASCUS or CIN1 were tested for HPV DNA and mRNA before and after biobanking. DNA
      analysis targeted the viral genes E6 and E7, 12 high-risk and 2 low-risk HPV
      types together with the human control gene HBB, using real-time PCR. The Aptima
      HPV assay was used for mRNA analysis of 14 high-risk HPV types. RESULTS: With
      Aptima there was 84% agreement between results before and after biobanking. The
      sensitivity and specificity were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.68-0.88) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.80
      0.99), respectively. With the DNA-based method, the agreement between results was
      87%, the sensitivity 0.85 (95% CI, 0.75-0.92) and the specificity 0.95 (95% CI,
      0.77-1.00). Both methods presented a significant difference between positive
      results before and after biobanking; McNemar test: p = 0.004, p = 0.003, Cohen's
      kappa: 0.67 (95% CI, 0.53-0.81), 0.68 (95% CI, 0.52-0.84). Cycle threshold values
      for the DNA method were higher for all genotypes after biobanking, except for HPV
      59. Some loss of sensitivity was seen after biobanking but the concordance
      between HPV detection before and after biobanking was good for both evaluated
      methods. CONCLUSIONS: Biobanking of LBC vaginal samples offers a good platform
      for HPV testing and could be extended to further molecular analyses. However, in
      order to ensure a valid test result a larger portion needs to be analyzed from
      the biobanked sample.

PMID- 26868335
TI  - Liquid cancer biopsy: the future of cancer detection?

PMID- 26868336
TI  - The promise and challenges of rare cancer research.

PMID- 26868337
TI  - Redefining "rare" in paediatric cancers.

PMID- 26868338
TI  - Cancer research: in need of introspection.

PMID- 26868340
TI  - Collages for cancer.

PMID- 26868339
TI  - The Mwanza Cancer Project.

PMID- 26868341
TI  - The Dream Lab.

PMID- 26868342
TI  - The Lake.

PMID- 26868343
TI  - Happygram.

PMID- 26868344
TI  - Prophylactic dexamethasone for radiation-induced bone-pain flare.

PMID- 26868345
TI  - Synergy in traditional Chinese medicine.

PMID- 26868347
TI  - Stereotactic radiotherapy or surgery for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

PMID- 26868346
TI  - Prophylactic dexamethasone for radiation-induced bone-pain flare - Authors'
      reply.

PMID- 26868348
TI  - S-1 with leucovorin and oxaliplatin for advanced gastric cancer.

PMID- 26868349
TI  - Stereotactic radiotherapy or surgery for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer -
      Authors' reply.

PMID- 26868351
TI  - Hemithoracic radiotherapy for mesothelioma: lack of benefit or lack of
      statistical power? - Authors' reply.

PMID- 26868350
TI  - Hemithoracic radiotherapy for mesothelioma: lack of benefit or lack of
      statistical power?

PMID- 26868352
TI  - Correction to Lancet Oncol 2016; 17: 248, 252. Addition of docetaxel or
      bisphosphonates to standard of care in men with localised or metastatic, hormone
      sensitive prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analyses of aggregate
      data.

PMID- 26868353
TI  - Correction to Lancet Oncol 2016; 17: 109. Screen detection of ductal carcinoma in
      situ and subsequent incidence of invasive interval breast cancers: a
      retrospective population-based study.

PMID- 26868354
TI  - Rare cancers: a sea of opportunity.
AB  - Rare cancers, as a collective, account for around a quarter of all cancer
      diagnoses and deaths. Historically, they have been divided into two groups:
      cancers defined by their unusual histogenesis (cell of origin or differentiation
      state)--including chordomas or adult granulosa cell tumours--and histologically
      defined subtypes of common cancers. Most tumour types in the first group are
      still clinically and biologically relevant, and have been disproportionately
      important as sources of insight into cancer biology. By contrast, most of those
      in the second group have been shown to have neither defining molecular features
      nor clinical utility. Omics-based analyses have splintered common cancers into a
      myriad of molecularly, rather than histologically, defined subsets of common
      cancers, many of which have immediate clinical relevance. Now, almost all rare
      cancers are either histomolecular entities, which often have pathognomonic
      mutations, or molecularly defined subsets of more common cancers. The presence of
      specific genetic variants provides rationale for the testing of targeted drugs in
      rare cancers. However, in addition to molecular alterations, it is crucial to
      consider the contributions of both mutation and cell context in the development,
      biology, and behaviour of these cancers. Patients with rare cancers are
      disadvantaged because of the challenge of leading clinical trials in this setting
      due to poor accrual. However, the number of patients with rare cancers will only
      increase as more molecular subsets of common cancers are identified,
      necessitating a shift in the focus of clinical trials and research into these
      cancer types, which, by epidemiological definitions, will become rare tumours.

PMID- 26868355
TI  - The value of research collaborations and consortia in rare cancers.
AB  - Rare cancers are defined by an incidence of less than six per 100,000 people per
      year. They represent roughly 20% of all human cancers and are associated with
      worse survival than are so-called frequent tumours, because of delays to accurate
      diagnosis, inadequate treatments, and fewer opportunities to participate in
      clinical trials (because of a paucity of dedicated trials from both academic and
      industrial sponsors). In this Series paper, we discuss how these challenges can
      be addressed by research consortia and suggest the integration of these consortia
      with reference networks, which gather multidisciplinary expert centres, for
      management of rare tumours.

PMID- 26868356
TI  - Research methods to change clinical practice for patients with rare cancers.
AB  - Rare cancers are a growing group as a result of reclassification of common
      cancers by molecular markers. There is therefore an increasing need to identify
      methods to assess interventions that are sufficiently robust to potentially
      affect clinical practice in this setting. Methods advocated for clinical trials
      in rare diseases are not necessarily applicable in rare cancers. This Series
      paper describes research methods that are relevant for rare cancers in relation
      to the range of incidence levels. Strategies that maximise recruitment, minimise
      sample size, or maximise the usefulness of the evidence could enable the
      application of conventional clinical trial design to rare cancer populations.
      Alternative designs that address specific challenges for rare cancers with the
      aim of potentially changing clinical practice include Bayesian designs,
      uncontrolled n-of-1 trials, and umbrella and basket trials. Pragmatic solutions
      must be sought to enable some level of evidence-based health care for patients
      with rare cancers. 

PMID- 26868357
TI  - Precision oncology: origins, optimism, and potential.
AB  - Imatinib, the first and arguably the best targeted therapy, became the
      springboard for developing drugs aimed at molecular targets deemed crucial to
      tumours. As this development unfolded, a revolution in the speed and cost of
      genetic sequencing occurred. The result--an armamentarium of drugs and an array
      of molecular targets--set the stage for precision oncology, a hypothesis that
      cancer treatment could be markedly improved if therapies were guided by a
      tumour's genomic alterations. Drawing lessons from the biological basis of cancer
      and recent empirical investigations, we take a more measured view of precision
      oncology's promise. Ultimately, the promise is not our concern, but the threshold
      at which we declare success. We review reports of precision oncology alongside
      those of precision diagnostics and novel radiotherapy approaches. Although
      confirmatory evidence is scarce, these interventions have been widely endorsed.
      We conclude that the current path will probably not be successful or, at a
      minimum, will have to undergo substantive adjustments before it can be
      successful. For the sake of patients with cancer, we hope one form of precision
      oncology will deliver on its promise. However, until confirmatory studies are
      completed, precision oncology remains unproven, and as such, a hypothesis in need
      of rigorous testing.

PMID- 26868358
TI  - Iterative error correction of long sequencing reads maximizes accuracy and
      improves contig assembly.
AB  - Next-generation sequencers such as Illumina can now produce reads up to 300 bp
      with high throughput, which is attractive for genome assembly. A first step in
      genome assembly is to computationally correct sequencing errors. However,
      correcting all errors in these longer reads is challenging. Here, we show that
      reads with remaining errors after correction often overlap repeats, where short
      erroneous k-mers occur in other copies of the repeat. We developed an iterative
      error correction pipeline that runs the previously published String Graph
      Assembler (SGA) in multiple rounds of k-mer-based correction with an increasing k
      mer size, followed by a final round of overlap-based correction. By combining the
      advantages of small and large k-mers, this approach corrects more errors in
      repeats and minimizes the total amount of erroneous reads. We show that higher
      read accuracy increases contig lengths two to three times. We provide SGA
      Iteratively Correcting Errors
      (https://github.com/hillerlab/IterativeErrorCorrection/) that implements
      iterative error correction by using modules from SGA.

PMID- 26868359
TI  - Chronic Recurrent Pseudophakic Endophthalmitis.

PMID- 26868360
TI  - Difference in Pacing Between Time- and Distance-Based Time Trials in Trained
      Cyclists.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare the pacing profiles between distance-
      and duration-based trials of short and long duration. Thirteen trained cyclists
      completed 2 time-based (6 and 30 min) and 2 distance-based (4 and 20 km) self
      paced cycling time trials. Participants were instructed to complete each trial
      with the highest average power output. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) were
      measured throughout the trials. Average power output was not different between
      the 4-km and 6-min trials (324 +/- 46 vs 325 +/- 45 W; P = .96) or between the 20
      km and 30-min trials (271 +/- 44 vs 267 +/- 38 W; P = .24). Power output was
      greater on commencement of the distance-based trials when short and long trials
      were analyzed together. Furthermore, the rate of decline in power output over the
      1st 40% of the trial was greater in the 20-km trial than in the 30-min trial (P =
      .01) but not different between the 4-km and the 6-min trials (P = .13). RPE was
      greater in the 4-km trial than in the 6-min trial but not different between the
      20-km and 30-min trials. These findings indicate that athletes commenced distance
      based time trials at relatively higher power outputs than a similar time-based
      trial. Such findings may result from discrete differences in our ability to judge
      or predict an exercise endpoint when performing time- and distance-based trials.

PMID- 26868361
TI  - Arthrobacter echini sp. nov., isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin,
      Heliocidaris crassispina.
AB  - A novel strain, designated AM23T, was isolated from the gut of a purple sea
      urchin Heliocidaris crassispina collected from the coastal waters of the Korean
      island Dokdo. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AM23T belonged
      to the genus Arthrobacter in the family Micrococcaceae and shared highest
      sequence similarity with Arthrobacter agilis DSM 20550T (98.77%). Strain AM23T
      was catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and grew optimally at 20  degrees C, in
      the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7. The isolate was a Gram-stain-positive,
      non-motile, strictly aerobic and coccus-shaped bacterium. The major cellular
      fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. The polar lipids of strain AM23T
      were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, one
      unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. The components of the cell
      wall peptidoglycan were lysine, glutamic acid and alanine and the predominant
      cell-wall sugars were galactose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. The major
      respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone MK-9(H2). The genomic DNA G+C
      content was 67.3 mol% and the DNA-DNA hybridization values showed the strain
      shared less than 29% genomic relatedness with A. agilis DSM 20550T. The results
      of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analysis indicate that strain AM23T
      represents a novel species in the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name
      Arthrobacter echini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AM23T (=KACC
      18260T=DSM 29493T).

PMID- 26868362
TI  - Assessment of the price-efficacy relationship for multiple brands of ceftriaxone
      sodium in Kabul: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most medicines are imported for health service practices in
      Afghanistan. A major concern for patients and practitioners in Kabul is the wide
      brand assortment and price range choices for the same drug. Ceftriaxone sodium is
      a broadly used antibiotic for infections caused by certain types of gram-positive
      and gram-negative bacteria. It is available in Kabul in a range of brands and
      prices. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between
      cost/brand name and efficacy of this antibiotic. METHODS: 40 brands of
      ceftriaxone, obtained from Kabul's main pharmacy, were derived from 12 countries
      including Pakistan, Turkey, India, and China. Ten samples/brand were tested for
      efficacy by the minimal bactericidal concentration assay against a sensitive
      strain of Staphylococcus aureus according to the Clinical Institute and
      Laboratory Standards Protocols. Efficacy data were obtained by inoculating
      suspensions of S. aureus grown in Mueller-Hinton medium with various
      concentrations (6.25-800 mcg/ml) of each brand followed by incubation at 37 
      degrees C for 18-24 h. Aliquots of inoculated cultures were transferred to agar
      plates, incubated at 37  degrees C for 18-24 h and visible colonies counted.
      Results were analyzed using ANOVA, Student's t test, and Pearson correlation by
      SPSS 19. A p value <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:
      Ceftriaxone sodium price varied from 20-270 Afghanis/brand (average price = 69.80
      Afghanis/brand). Of the 40 brands tested, 10 (25 %) were not registered with the
      General Directorate of Pharmaceutical Affairs of the Ministry of Public Health in
      Afghanistan. More importantly, we observed no statistically significant
      difference in efficacy against S. aureus among these brands (p = 0.59).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed no significant correlation among price, brand, and
      efficacy of ceftriaxone sodium against S. aureus, an important consideration when
      treating S. aureus infection in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Differences in brand
      prices are likely due to other factors including manufacturing and exportation
      costs, regulations of good manufacturing practice and seller's profit ceiling and
      patient preferences. Based on our results, we suggest that further chemical and
      clinical studies of ceftriaxone sodium brands are warranted and recommend that
      physicians consider alternative cost-effective generic brands in patient
      prescriptions.

PMID- 26868367
TI  - Not the End of the Odyssey: Parental Perceptions of Whole Exome Sequencing (WES)
      in Pediatric Undiagnosed Disorders.
AB  - Due to the lack of empirical information on parental perceptions of primary
      results of whole exome sequencing (WES), we conducted a retrospective semi
      structured interview with 19 parents of children who had undergone WES.
      Perceptions explored during the interview included factors that would contribute
      to parental empowerment such as: parental expectations, understanding of the WES
      and results, utilization of the WES information, and communication of findings to
      health/educational professionals and family members. Results of the WES had
      previously been communicated to families within a novel framework of clinical
      diagnostic categories: 5/19 had Definite diagnoses, 6/19 had Likely diagnoses,
      3/19 had Possible diagnosis and 5/19 had No diagnosis. All parents interviewed
      expressed a sense of duty to pursue the WES in search of a diagnosis; however,
      their expectations were tempered by previous experiences with negative genetic
      testing results. Approximately half the parents worried that a primary diagnosis
      that would be lethal might be identified; however, the hope of a diagnosis
      outweighed this concern. Parents were accurately able to summarize their child's
      WES findings, understood the implications for recurrence risks, and were able to
      communicate these findings to family and medical/educational providers. The
      majority of those with a Definite/Likely diagnosis felt that their child's
      medical care was more focused, or there was a reduction in worry, despite the
      lack of a specific treatment. Irrespective of diagnostic outcome, parents
      recommended that follow-up visits be built into the process. Several parents
      expressed a desire to have all variants of unknown significance (VUS) reported to
      them so that they could investigate these themselves. Finally, for some families
      whose children had a Definite/Likely diagnosis, there was remaining frustration
      and a sense of isolation, due to the limited information that was available about
      the diagnosed rare disorders and the inability to connect to other families,
      suggesting that for families with rare genetic disorders, the diagnostic odyssey
      does not necessarily end with a diagnosis. Qualitative interviewing served a
      meaningful role in eliciting new information about parental motivations,
      expectations, and knowledge of WES. Our findings highlight a need for continued
      communication with families as we navigate the new landscape of genomic
      sequencing.

PMID- 26868368
TI  - Slipping through the net: the paradox of nursing's electronic theses and
      dissertations.
AB  - AIM: The study's main aim was to gain in-depth understanding of how nurse
      scholars engage with electronic theses and dissertations. Through elicitation of
      opinions about challenges and opportunities, and perceptions of future
      development, the study also aimed to influence the design of a new international
      web-based forum for learning and sharing information on this topic. BACKGROUND:
      Electronic theses and dissertations provide an opportunity to radically change
      the way in which graduate student research is presented, disseminated and used
      internationally. However, as revealed by a multi-national survey in 2011, many
      nurse scholars in vanguard universities have little awareness of how to find and
      exploit this ever-expanding global knowledge resource that is increasingly
      available free in full text format. Within this context more detailed
      understandings of nurse scholars' thinking and actions are required. METHODS: A
      qualitative approach using a semi-structured interview guide was utilized to
      elicit perceptions from 14 nurse scholars. RESULTS: Thematic analysis of the
      interviewees' responses identified six major themes: initial exposure and effect;
      searching; accessing; handling; using; and evaluation. Insights were gained about
      the value of these resources and behaviours in using them as exemplars for
      structure, format and methodology. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND
      NURSING POLICY: Despite the small study size, the findings added valuable new
      insights to the overview gained from the 2011 survey. These have been used to
      inform development of a new global initiative: the International Network for
      Electronic Theses and Dissertations in Nursing. Featuring an educational website
      (www.inetdin.net), this initiative aims to support and challenge nursing's policy
      makers, practitioners and especially educators to utilize this neglected but
      exponentially increasing wellspring of international nursing knowledge.

PMID- 26868366
TI  - Cellular and molecular aspects of pancreatic cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy that affects
      nearly 50,000 patients each year. The overall 5-year survival rate for this
      malignancy remains the lowest of any cancer at around 7% due to limited
      diagnostic methods, disease aggressiveness and a lack of targeted therapeutic
      interventions. This review highlights the successes achieved over the past
      several decades as well as the significant cellular and molecular hurdles that
      remain in combatting this deadly disease at a translational level. 

PMID- 26868369
TI  - Simulation of various randomization strategies for a clinical trial in sickle
      cell disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To use numerical simulation to evaluate various randomization
      strategies for a clinical trial in sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: The
      Inhaled Mometasone to Promote Reduction in Vaso-occlusive Events trial* is a
      randomized, controlled, feasibility study of inhaled mometasone for individuals
      with SCD who do not have asthma. The target sample size is 45 patients and one
      goal is to limit imbalance with respect to two important covariates (1)
      hydroxyurea use and (2) historical emergency department (ED) utilization. We
      compared three methods of patient allocation (simple randomization, block
      randomization, and biased-coin adaptive randomization) using numerical simulation
      (10 000 trials). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of simulated
      trials with numerically apparent differences in the two covariates: hydroxyurea
      use (binary) and ED utilization (three-level ordinal). RESULTS: Overall, only
      1.6% of simulated trials had any covariate comparison with P < 0.3 across groups
      for simple randomization, and 0% for both the block and adaptive randomization.
      In trials where the total sample size was 45 patients, the block randomization
      strategy achieved the greatest balance because participants were
      deterministically assigned to the treatment arm that balanced covariates. The
      adaptive strategy achieved similar results without deterministic treatment
      assignments even when trials included only 45 patients. DISCUSSION: Adaptive
      clinical trial designs have potential to mitigate some of the challenges that
      have hampered SCD trials. In small exploratory trials, even non-statistically
      significant differences in important covariates can threaten interpretability and
      external validity. CONCLUSION: Adaptive randomization performed similarly to
      block randomization and offers advantages including better allocation concealment
      and less ability for investigators to predict the next assignment.

PMID- 26868370
TI  - The ion microscope as a tool for quantitative measurements in the extreme
      ultraviolet.
AB  - We demonstrate a tool for quantitative measurements in the extreme ultraviolet
      (EUV) spectral region measuring spatially resolved atomic ionization products at
      the focus of an EUV beam. The ionizing radiation is a comb of the 11(th)-15(th)
      harmonics of a Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser beam produced in a Xenon gas jet.
      The spatial ion distribution at the focus of the harmonics is recorded using an
      ion microscope. Spatially resolved single- and two-photon ionization products of
      Argon and Helium are observed. From such ion distributions single- and two-photon
      generalized cross sections can be extracted by a self-calibrating method. The
      observation of spatially resolved two-EUV-photon ionization constitutes an
      initial step towards future single-shot temporal characterization of attosecond
      pulses. 

PMID- 26868371
TI  - A benchmark study on error-correction by read-pairing and tag-clustering in
      amplicon-based deep sequencing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The high error rate of next generation sequencing (NGS) restricts
      some of its applications, such as monitoring virus mutations and detecting rare
      mutations in tumors. There are two commonly employed sequencing library
      preparation strategies to improve sequencing accuracy by correcting sequencing
      errors: read-pairing method and tag-clustering method (i.e. primer ID or UID).
      Here, we constructed a homogeneous library from a single clone, and compared the
      variant calling accuracy of these error-correction methods. RESULT: We
      comprehensively described the strengths and pitfalls of these methods. We found
      that both read-pairing and tag-clustering methods significantly decreased
      sequencing error rate. While the read-pairing method was more effective than the
      tag-clustering method at correcting insertion and deletion errors, it was not as
      effective as the tag-clustering method at correcting substitution errors. In
      addition, we observed that when the read quality was poor, the tag-clustering
      method led to huge coverage loss. We also tested the effect of applying quality
      score filtering to the error-correction methods and demonstrated that quality
      score filtering was able to impose a minor, yet statistically significant
      improvement to the error-correction methods tested in this study. CONCLUSION: Our
      study provides a benchmark for researchers to select suitable error-correction
      methods based on the goal of the experiment by balancing the trade-off between
      sequencing cost (i.e. sequencing coverage requirement) and detection sensitivity.

PMID- 26868372
TI  - [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and
      trophoblastic disease: the gynecologist perspective.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a group of different
      pregnancy-related diseases that includes hydatidiform mole (HM), invasive mole,
      gestational choriocarcinoma (CC), placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) and
      epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). The potential role of 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy
      D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in diagnostic setting and
      follow up phase of GTD is still largely debated. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The aim of
      this review is to examine the role of [18F]FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) in
      diagnosis, treatment and follow up of different disease subtypes. A systematic
      computerized search of the literature, from 1996 until December 2015 was
      performed in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify relevant papers to be included for
      this purpose. All pertinent articles and their reference lists were
      systematically reviewed in order to identify other studies for potential
      inclusion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Regarding HM a potential prognostic relevance of
      maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) of molar tissue within the uterus
      before evacuation has been suggested. Considering CC staging, most [18F]FDG PET
      evaluations confirmed the results of conventional imaging. However [18F]FDG PET
      played a key role in discriminating ambiguous lesions on routine imaging work-up.
      [18F]FDG PET was particularly useful in evaluating disease recurrence and chemo
      resistance, thanks to the possibility of an early identification of the active
      tumor site. Since the main treatment of PSTT is surgery, the contribution of
      [18F]FDG PET in differential diagnosis and in providing a more precise mapping of
      resectable metastasis or the complete response to treatment is advisable.
      CONCLUSIONS: Since the role of [18F]FDG PET and PET/CT in diagnostic setting and
      follow up of GTN is still controversial, further studies are required to clarify
      this issue.

PMID- 26868374
TI  - Resolution of Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Following Topical Application of Ganoderma
      lucidum (Reishi Mushroom).
AB  - Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) has been used in traditional Chinese and
      Japanese medicine as a herbal remedy for over 2000 years. Studies have shown that
      G. lucidum has anti-allergic, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti
      inflammatory properties. A review of the literature revealed that there were no
      studies examining the use of G. lucidum for the treatment of skin diseases. Here,
      we report the case of a 44-year-old male patient who used soap enriched with G.
      lucidum and goat's milk for 3 days in treating annular cutaneous sarcoidosis. The
      patient showed almost complete regression of the lesions. 

PMID- 26868373
TI  - Empirical evidence for large X-effects in animals with undifferentiated sex
      chromosomes.
AB  - Reproductive isolation is crucial for the process of speciation to progress. Sex
      chromosomes have been assigned a key role in driving reproductive isolation but
      empirical evidence from natural population processes has been restricted to
      organisms with degenerated sex chromosomes such as mammals and birds. Here we
      report restricted introgression at sex-linked compared to autosomal markers in a
      hybrid zone between two incipient species of European tree frog, Hyla arborea and
      H. orientalis, whose homologous X and Y sex chromosomes are undifferentiated.
      This large X-effect cannot result from the dominance or faster-X aspects of
      Haldane's rule, which are specific to degenerated sex chromosomes, but rather
      supports a role for faster-heterogametic-sex or faster-male evolutionary
      processes. Our data suggest a prominent contribution of undifferentiated sex
      chromosomes to speciation. 

PMID- 26868376
TI  - Spontaneous resolution of foveal detachment in traction maculopathy in high
      myopia unrelated to posterior vitreous detachment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Foveal detachment associated with foveoschisis usually takes a
      progressive course, and is associated with a poor visual outcome. The purpose of
      this study was to report the spontaneous resolution of foveal detachment in
      patients with myopic traction maculopathy without posterior vitreous detachment.
      METHODS: A retrospective study involving eight cases of high myopia with
      foveoschisis and foveal detachment in which the subfoveal fluid had spontaneously
      resolved. The clinical characteristics and optical coherence tomography (OCT)
      findings were described. RESULTS: All cases involved predominant schisis in the
      outer retina, with six showing internal limiting membrane detachment. The average
      central foveal thickness was 445.1 MUm, and the average foveal detachment height
      was 271.5 MUm. None of the cases involved traction of the vitreomacular interface
      or posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), either before or after the resolution of
      foveal detachment. In seven cases, the mean best-corrected visual acuity improved
      after foveal reattachment. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous reattachment not associated
      with PVD can occur in cases of high myopic traction maculopathy, especially in
      those without obvious vitreomacular traction.

PMID- 26868378
TI  - Does VEGF facilitate local tumor growth and spread into the abdominal cavity by
      suppressing endothelial cell adhesion, thus increasing vascular peritoneal
      permeability followed by ascites production in ovarian cancer?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is mostly associated with pathologically regulated
      permeability of peritoneal vessels, leading to ascites. Here, we investigated the
      molecular regulation of endothelial permeability by the vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF) and both tight and adherens junction proteins (VE-cadherin
      and claudin 5) with regards to the tumor biology of different ovarian cancer
      types. METHODS: Serum and ascites samples before and after surgery, as well as
      peritoneal biopsies of 68 ovarian cancer patients and 20 healthy controls were
      collected. In serum and ascites VEGF protein was measured by ELISA. In peritoneal
      biopsies co-localization of VE-cadherin and claudin 5 was investigated using
      immunohistochemical dual staining. In addition, the gene expression of VE
      cadherin and claudin 5 was quantified by Real-time PCR. Differences in VEGF
      levels, VE-cadherin and claudin 5 gene expression were analyzed in relation to
      various tumor characteristics (tumor stage, grading, histological subtypes,
      resection status after surgery) and then compared to controls. Furthermore, human
      primary ovarian cancer cells were co-cultured with human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVEC) and changes in VE-cadherin and claudin 5 were
      investigated after VEGF inhibition. RESULTS: VEGF was significantly increased in
      tumor patients in comparison to controls and accumulates in ascites. The highest
      VEGF levels were found in patients diagnosed with advanced tumor stages, with
      tumors of poor differentiation, or in the group of solid / cystic-solid tumors.
      Patients with residual tumor after operation showed significantly higher levels
      of VEGF both before and after surgery as compared to tumor-free resected
      patients. Results of an immunohistochemical double-staining experiment indicated
      co-localization of VE-cadherin and claudin 5 in the peritoneal vasculature.
      Compared to controls, expression of VE-cadherin and claudin 5 was significantly
      suppressed in peritoneal vessels of tumor patients, but there were no significant
      differences regarding VE-cadherin and claudin 5 expression in relation to
      different tumor characteristics. A significant positive correlation was found
      between VE-cadherin and claudin 5 expression. VEGF inhibition in vitro was
      associated with significant increase in VE-cadherin and claudin 5. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results indicate that increased peritoneal permeability in ovarian cancer is
      due to down-regulation of adhesion proteins via tumor derived VEGF. Advanced
      ovarian cancer with aggressive tumor biology may be associated with early
      dysregulation of vascular permeability leading to ascites. These patients may
      benefit from therapeutic VEGF inhibition.

PMID- 26868381
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Two Methicillin-Resistant Clinical Staphylococcus
      aureus Isolates.
AB  - Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates, hospital-associated perirectal
      isolate 32S (ST 239) from a colitis tracheostomy patient and community-associated
      MRSA isolate 42S (ST 772) from a hepatic-splenomegaly patient in Rawalpindi,
      Pakistan. 

PMID- 26868382
TI  - Complete Genome Sequences of Dengue Virus Type 1 to 4 Strains Used for the
      Development of CBER/FDA RNA Reference Reagents and WHO International Standard
      Candidates for Nucleic Acid Testing.
AB  - Dengue virus (DENV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is the most common and
      clinically significant arbovirus in the world and is endemic in more than 100
      countries. Here, we report the complete sequences of four DENV serotypes used in
      the development of the CBER/FDA RNA reference reagents and WHO International
      Standard candidates for nucleic acid testing. 

PMID- 26868380
TI  - Systematic Development of Transethosomal Gel System of Piroxicam: Formulation
      Optimization, In Vitro Evaluation, and Ex Vivo Assessment.
AB  - Piroxicam is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and
      other inflammatory diseases. Upon oral administration, it is reported to cause
      ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal irritation, edema and peptic ulcer. Hence,
      an alternative delivery system has been designed in the form of transethosome.
      The present study describes the preparation, optimization, characterization, and
      ex vivo study of piroxicam-loaded transethosomal gel using the central composite
      design. On the basis of the prescreening study, the concentration of lipids and
      ethanol was kept in the range of 2-4% w/v and 0-40% v/v, respectively.
      Formulation was optimized by measuring drug retention in the skin, drug
      permeation, entrapment efficiency, and vesicle size. Optimized formulation was
      incorporated in hydrogel and compared with other analogous vesicular (liposomes,
      ethosomes, and transfersomes) gels for the aforementioned responses. Among the
      various lipids used, soya phosphatidylcholine (SPL 70) and ethanol in various
      percentages were found to affect drug retention in the skin, drug permeation,
      vesicle size, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized batch of transethosome has
      shown 392.730 MUg cm-2 drug retention in the skin, 44.312 MUg cm-2 h-1 drug
      permeation, 68.434% entrapment efficiency, and 655.369 nm vesicle size,
      respectively. It was observed that the developed transethosomes were found
      superior in all the responses as compared to other vesicular formulations with
      improved stability and highest elasticity. Similar observations were noted with
      its gel formulation.

PMID- 26868379
TI  - A variant at 9p21.3 functionally implicates CDKN2B in paediatric B-cell precursor
      acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aetiology.
AB  - Paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) is the most
      common cancer of childhood, yet little is known about BCP-ALL predisposition. In
      this study, in 2,187 cases of European ancestry and 5,543 controls, we discover
      and replicate a locus indexed by rs77728904 at 9p21.3 associated with BCP-ALL
      susceptibility (Pcombined=3.32 * 10(-15), OR=1.72) and independent from
      rs3731217, the previously reported ALL-associated variant in this region. Of
      correlated SNPs tagged by this locus, only rs662463 is significant in African
      Americans, suggesting it is a plausible causative variant. Functional analysis
      shows that rs662463 is a cis-eQTL for CDKN2B, with the risk allele associated
      with lower expression, and suggests that rs662463 influences BCP-ALL risk by
      regulating CDKN2B expression through CEBPB signalling. Functional analysis of
      rs3731217 suggests it is associated with BCP-ALL by acting within a splicing
      regulatory element determining CDKN2A exon 3 usage (P=0.01). These findings
      provide new insights into the critical role of the CDKN2 locus in BCP-ALL
      aetiology. 

PMID- 26868383
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of the Fish Pathogen Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii Strain
      JCM15466, a Species Closely Related to M. marinum.
AB  - Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii is a slowly growing photochromogenic mycobacterium
      and fish pathogen isolated from wild marine fishes. M. pseudoshottsii closely
      resembles M. marinum, which is a human and animal pathogen. Here, we report the
      draft genome sequence of M. pseudoshottsii strain JCM15466, originally isolated
      from striped bass, Morone saxatilis. 

PMID- 26868384
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of the Radioresistant Bacterium Deinococcus grandis,
      Isolated from Freshwater Fish in Japan.
AB  - Deinococcus grandis is a radioresistant bacterium isolated from freshwater fish
      in Japan. Here we reported the draft genome sequence of D. grandis (4.1 Mb),
      which will be useful for elucidating the common principles of radioresistance in
      Deinococcus species through the comparative analysis of genomic sequences. 

PMID- 26868385
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Encoding Extended
      Spectrum Beta-Lactamases.
AB  - Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) have rarely been observed among Shiga
      toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), and, to our best knowledge, only three ESBL
      positive isolates of the enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) subpathotype have been
      reported. Here, we present the first draft genome sequences of two ESBL-positive
      EHEC isolates belonging to serotypes O111:H8 and O151:H16. 

PMID- 26868386
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of a Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Positive Sequence
      Type 111 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain.
AB  - Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a sequence type 111 Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa strain isolated in 2014 from a patient at the NIH Clinical Center.
      This P. aeruginosa strain exhibits pan-drug resistance and harbors the blaKPC-2
      gene, encoding the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase enzyme, on a plasmid. 

PMID- 26868387
TI  - Complete Coding Sequences of Three Toscana Virus Strains Isolated from Sandflies
      in France.
AB  - Toscana virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the sandfly fever
      Naples virus species within the genus Phlebovirus. We report here the complete
      coding sequences of three TOSV strains belonging to lineage B and isolated from
      sandflies trapped in the Southeast of France between 2009 and 2013. 

PMID- 26868388
TI  - Complete Genome Sequencing of Dengue Virus Type I from Zhuhai City, China.
AB  - The detection and successful typing of dengue virus (DENV) from patients with
      suspected dengue fever are important for stopping outbreaks and preventing the
      recurrence of this virus. In this study, we reported complete genomic sequences
      of DENV-1 isolated from Zhuhai patients, providing basic information for future
      epidemic dengue disease detection. 

PMID- 26868389
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Desulfitobacterium hafniense Strain DH, a Sulfate
      Reducing Bacterium Isolated from Paddy Soils.
AB  - Desulfitobacterium hafniense strain DH is a sulfate-reducing species. Here, we
      report the draft genome sequence of strain DH, with a size of 5,368,588 bp,
      average G+C content of 47.48%, and 5,296 predicted protein-coding sequences. 

PMID- 26868390
TI  - Six Pseudoalteromonas Strains Isolated from Surface Waters of Kabeltonne,
      Offshore Helgoland, North Sea.
AB  - Draft genomes are presented for 6 Pseudoalteromonas sp. strains isolated from
      surface waters at Kabeltonne, Helgoland, a long-term ecological research station
      in the North Sea. These strains contribute knowledge of the genomic underpinnings
      of a developing model system to study phage-host dynamics of a particle
      associated ocean copiotroph. 

PMID- 26868391
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus acidophilus MN-BM-F01.
AB  - Lactobacillus acidophilus MN-BM-F01 was originally isolated from a traditional
      fermented dairy product in China. The characteristics of this bacterium are its
      low post-acidification ability and high acid-producing rate. Here, we report the
      main genome features of L. acidophilus MN-BM-F01. 

PMID- 26868392
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Hymenobacter sp. Strain AT01-02, Isolated from a Surface
      Soil Sample in the Atacama Desert, Chile.
AB  - Here, we report the 5.09-Mb draft genome sequence of Hymenobacter sp. strain AT01
      02, which was isolated from a surface soil sample in the Atacama Desert, Chile.
      The isolate is extremely resistant to UV-C radiation and is able to accumulate
      high intracellular levels of Mn/Fe. 

PMID- 26868393
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Proteus mirabilis NO-051/03, Representative of a
      Multidrug-Resistant Clone Spreading in Europe and Expressing the CMY-16 AmpC-Type
      beta-Lactamase.
AB  - Proteus mirabilis NO-051/03, representative of a multidrug-resistant clone
      expressing the CMY-16 AmpC-type beta-lactamase and circulating in Europe since
      2003, was sequenced by a MiSeq platform using a paired-end approach. The genome
      was assembled in 100 scaffolds with a total length of 4,197,318 bp. Analysis of
      the draft genome sequence revealed the presence of several acquired resistance
      determinants to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, phenicols, tetracyclines,
      trimethoprim, and sulfonamides, of one plasmid replicon, and of a type I-E
      clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated
      protein (Cas) adaptive immune system. 

PMID- 26868394
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of a Versatile Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium, Rhodococcus
      pyridinivorans Strain KG-16, Collected from Oil Fields in India.
AB  - We describe here a 5.8-Mb draft genome sequence of Rhodococcus pyridinivorans
      strain KG-16, which was obtained from the soil samples collected from the
      oilfields of Krishna-Godavari basin in India. This genomic resource can provide
      insights into the pathways and mechanisms of hydrocarbon degradation and
      potentially aid in bioremediation applications. 

PMID- 26868395
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Two Strains of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. celebensis
      Isolated from Banana Plants.
AB  - We report here the annotated draft genome sequences of strains Xanthomonas
      arboricola pv. celebensis NCPPB 1832 and NCPPB 1630 (NCPPB, National Collection
      of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria), both isolated from Musa species in New Zealand.
      This will allow the comparison of genomes between phylogenetically distant
      xanthomonads that have independently converged with the ability to colonize
      banana plants. 

PMID- 26868396
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium Strain 58m, Isolated from
      Intestinal Tract Content of a Woolly Mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius.
AB  - Enterococcus faecium 58m is a putative ancient nonpathogenic strain isolated from
      the intestinal content of an adult woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Here,
      we report its draft genome sequence, consisting of 60 contigs. In silico genomic
      analysis was performed to determine the genetic features and pathogenic potential
      of this microorganism. 

PMID- 26868397
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Sphingomonas sp. WG, a Welan Gum-Producing Strain.
AB  - We report the draft genome sequence of Sphingomonas sp. WG, a high welan gum
      producing strain with a yield of 33 g/L. The core of wel cluster for welan gum
      biosynthesis contained 24 coding sequences in the genome, which will provide the
      genetic information on welan gum production. 

PMID- 26868398
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Uncultured SAR324 Bacterium lautmerah10, Binned from a
      Red Sea Metagenome.
AB  - A draft genome of SAR324 bacterium lautmerah10 was assembled from a metagenome of
      a surface water sample from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. The genome is more
      complete and has a higher G+C content than that of previously sequenced SAR324
      representatives. Its genomic information shows a versatile metabolism that
      confers an advantage to SAR324, which is reflected in its distribution throughout
      different depths of the marine water column. 

PMID- 26868399
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of the Syntrophic Lactate-Degrading Bacterium
      Tepidanaerobacter syntrophicus JLT.
AB  - We report here a high-quality draft genome sequence of the type strain (JL) of
      Tepidanaerobacter syntrophicus, an obligately anaerobic and moderately
      thermophilic bacterium, which is able to perform syntrophic lactate degradation
      with hydrogenotrophic methanogens. The genome comprises 2.43 Mb in 9 scaffolds,
      with a G+C content of 38.6%. 

PMID- 26868400
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of the Turfgrass Pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa.
AB  - Sclerotinia homoeocarpa (F. T. Bennett) is one of the most economically important
      pathogens on high-amenity cool-season turfgrasses, where it causes dollar spot.
      To understand the genetic mechanisms of fungicide resistance, which has become
      highly prevalent, the whole genomes of two isolates with varied resistance levels
      to fungicides were sequenced. 

PMID- 26868401
TI  - Complete Genome Sequences of Two Interactive Moderate Thermophiles, Paenibacillus
      napthalenovorans 32O-Y and Paenibacillus sp. 32O-W.
AB  - Microorganisms with the capability to desulfurize petroleum are in high demand
      with escalating restrictions currently placed on fuel purity. Thermophilic
      desulfurizers are particularly valuable in high-temperature industrial
      applications. We report the whole-genome sequences of Paenibacillus
      napthalenovorans 32O-Y and Paenibacillus sp. 32O-W, which can and cannot,
      respectively, metabolize dibenzothiophene. 

PMID- 26868402
TI  - Genome Sequence of Selenium-Solubilizing Bacterium Caulobacter vibrioides T5M6.
AB  - Caulobacter vibrioides T5M6 is a Gram-negative strain that strongly solubilizes
      selenium (Se) mineral into Se(IV) and was isolated from a selenium mining area in
      Enshi, southwest China. This strain produces the phytohormone IAA and promotes
      plant growth. Here we present the genome of this strain containing a large number
      of genes encoding resistances to copper and antibiotics. 

PMID- 26868403
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae ALF3 Isolated from
      Alfalfa.
AB  - We report here the annotated draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv.
      syringae strain ALF3, isolated in Wyoming. A comparison of this genome sequence
      with those of closely related strains of P. syringae adapted to other hosts will
      facilitate research into interactions between this pathogen and alfalfa. 

PMID- 26868404
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Cylindrospermopsis sp. Strain CR12 Extracted from the
      Minimetagenome of a Nonaxenic Unialgal Culture from a Tropical Freshwater Lake.
AB  - Cylindrospermopsis is known to be one of the major bloom-forming cyanobacterial
      genera in many freshwater environments. We report here the draft genome sequence
      of a tropical Cylindrospermopsis sp. strain, CR12, which is capable of producing
      the hepatotoxic cylindrospermopsin. 

PMID- 26868405
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio sp. Strain Evh12, a Bacterium Retrieved from the
      Gorgonian Coral Eunicella verrucosa.
AB  - To shed light on the associations established between Vibrio species and soft
      corals in coastal ecosystems, we report here the draft genome sequence of Vibrio
      sp. strain Evh12, a bacterium that has been isolated from the gorgonian coral
      Eunicella verrucosa and that shows antagonistic activity against Escherichia
      coli. 

PMID- 26868406
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of the African Strain AXO1947 of Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
      oryzae.
AB  - Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is the etiological agent of bacterial rice blight.
      Three distinct clades of X. oryzae pv. oryzae are known. We present the complete
      annotated genome of the African clade strain AXO194 using long-read single
      molecule PacBio sequencing technology. The genome comprises a single chromosome
      of 4,674,975 bp and encodes for nine transcriptional activator-like (TAL)
      effectors. The approach and data presented in this announcement provide
      information for complex bacterial genome organization and the discovery of new
      virulence effectors, and they facilitate target characterization of TAL
      effectors. 

PMID- 26868407
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KT-0133, Isolated in South
      Korea.
AB  - Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KT-0133,
      which belongs to the Korean-Beijing family. This sequence will provide a new
      perspective on the evolution and accommodation of M. tuberculosis KT-0133 in
      human hosts. 

PMID- 26868408
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain ADP, a Bacterial Model for
      Studying the Degradation of the Herbicide Atrazine.
AB  - We report here the 7,259,392-bp draft genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP. This
      is a bacterial strain that was first isolated in the 1990s from soil for its
      ability to mineralize the herbicide atrazine. It has extensively been studied as
      a model to understand the atrazine biodegradation pathway. This genome will be
      used as a reference and compared to evolved populations obtained by experimental
      evolution conducted on this strain under atrazine selection pressure. 

PMID- 26868409
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus methylotrophicus FKM10, a Plant Growth
      Promoting Rhizobacterium Isolated from Apple Rhizosphere.
AB  - Bacillus methylotrophicus FKM10 is a strain of plant growth-promoting
      rhizobacterium with antimicrobial activity, which was isolated from apple
      rhizosphere. Here, we present the genome sequence of B. methylotrophicus FKM10.
      Two scaffolds were finally assembled, and several functional genes related to its
      antimicrobial activity were discovered. 

PMID- 26868410
TI  - Genome Sequence of Bacillus pumilus Strain Bonn, Isolated from an Anthrax-Like
      Necrotic Skin Infection Site of a Child.
AB  - We report the draft genome sequence of Bacillus pumilus strain Bonn associated
      with human skin infection. B. pumilus Bonn was isolated from a carbuncle-like
      necrotic site, resembling cutaneous anthrax, on the back of the hand of a 10-year
      old child. 

PMID- 26868411
TI  - Correction for Hansen et al., Draft Genome Sequence of a Taxonomically Unique
      Neisseria Strain Isolated from a Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
      Egg on the North Slope of Alaska.

PMID- 26868412
TI  - Facing the Unknown: Intolerance of Uncertainty in Children with Autism Spectrum
      Disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anxiety is a common problem for children with autism spectrum
      disorder (ASD). Recent research indicates that intolerance of uncertainty (IU)
      may be an important aspect of anxiety for this population. IU is the belief that
      uncertainty is upsetting, and not knowing what is going to happen is negative.
      There is little known about the phenomenology of IU in children with ASD. We
      therefore present data from parent focus groups exploring this concept in
      children with ASD. METHODS: Participants were asked to differentiate IU from
      dislike of change and fear, and to discuss examples of IU and the strategies they
      use to manage it. Their experiences of IU and strategies are presented. RESULTS:
      IU was evident across novel and familiar situations and parents used a variety of
      strategies to manage IU. Their experiences of IU and strategies used are
      presented. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were able to identify and provide examples
      of IU suggesting that it is a recognizable construct among children with ASD.

PMID- 26868414
TI  - Research bodies vow to share data on Zika.

PMID- 26868413
TI  - Ancestral reconstruction of tick lineages.
AB  - Ancestral reconstruction in its fullest sense aims to describe the complete
      evolutionary history of a lineage. This depends on accurate phylogenies and an
      understanding of the key characters of each parental lineage. An attempt is made
      to delineate our current knowledge with regard to the ancestral reconstruction of
      the tick (Ixodida) lineage. Tick characters may be assigned to Core of Life,
      Lineages of Life or Edges of Life phenomena depending on how far back these
      characters may be assigned in the evolutionary Tree of Life. These include
      housekeeping genes, sub-cellular systems, heme processing (Core of Life),
      development, moulting, appendages, nervous and organ systems, homeostasis,
      respiration (Lineages of Life), specific adaptations to a blood-feeding
      lifestyle, including the complexities of salivary gland secretions and tick-host
      interactions (Edges of Life). The phylogenetic relationships of lineages, their
      origins and importance in ancestral reconstruction are discussed. Uncertainties
      with respect to systematic relationships, ancestral reconstruction and the
      challenges faced in comparative transcriptomics (next-generation sequencing
      approaches) are highlighted. While almost 150 years of information regarding tick
      biology have been assembled, progress in recent years indicates that we are in
      the infancy of understanding tick evolution. Even so, broad reconstructions can
      be made with relation to biological features associated with various lineages.
      Conservation of characters shared with sister and parent lineages are evident,
      but appreciable differences are present in the tick lineage indicating
      modification with descent, as expected for Darwinian evolutionary theory. Many of
      these differences can be related to the hematophagous lifestyle of ticks.

PMID- 26868415
TI  - Contingency, convergence and hyper-astronomical numbers in biological evolution.
AB  - Counterfactual questions such as "what would happen if you re-run the tape of
      life?" turn on the nature of the landscape of biological possibilities. Since the
      number of potential sequences that store genetic information grows exponentially
      with length, genetic possibility spaces can be so unimaginably vast that
      commentators frequently reach of hyper-astronomical metaphors that compare their
      size to that of the universe. Re-run the tape of life and the likelihood of
      encountering the same sequences in such hyper-astronomically large spaces is
      infinitesimally small, suggesting that evolutionary outcomes are highly
      contingent. On the other hand, the wide-spread occurrence of evolutionary
      convergence implies that similar phenotypes can be found again with relative
      ease. How can this be? Part of the solution to this conundrum must lie in the
      manner that genotypes map to phenotypes. By studying simple genotype-phenotype
      maps, where the counterfactual space of all possible phenotypes can be
      enumerated, it is shown that strong bias in the arrival of variation may explain
      why certain phenotypes are (repeatedly) observed in nature, while others never
      appear. This biased variation provides a non-selective cause for certain types of
      convergence. It illustrates how the role of randomness and contingency may differ
      significantly between genetic and phenotype spaces. 

PMID- 26868416
TI  - Patient safety and patient assessment in pre-hospital care: a study protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient safety issues in pre-hospital care are poorly investigated.
      The aim of the planned study is to survey patient safety problems in pre-hospital
      care in Sweden. METHODS/DESIGN: The study is a retro-perspective structured
      medical record review based on the use of 11 screening criteria. Two instruments
      for structured medical record review are used: a trigger tool instrument designed
      for pre-hospital care and a newly development instrument designed to compare the
      pre-hospital assessment with the final hospital assessment. Three different
      ambulance organisations are participating in the study. Every month, one rater in
      each organisation randomly collects 30 medical records for review. With guidance
      from the review instrument, he/she independently reviews the record. Every month,
      the review team meet for a discussion of problematic reviews. The results will be
      analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. DISCUSSION: The
      findings will make an important contribution to knowledge about patient safety
      issues in pre-hospital care.

PMID- 26868417
TI  - Sublethal Effects of Essential Oils From Eucalyptus staigeriana (Myrtales:
      Myrtaceae), Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiales: Laminaceae), and Foeniculum vulgare
      (Apiales: Apiaceae) on the Biology of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera:
      Noctuidae).
AB  - Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest of
      maize, Zea mays L. Its control is often achieved through repeated applications
      per season of insecticides, which may lead to adverse effects on the ecosystem.
      Thus, the study of alternative methods with less environmental impact has
      expanded to include the use of essential oils. These oils are products of the
      secondary metabolism in plants, and their insecticidal activity has been widely
      demonstrated in populations of many pest insects. This study evaluated the
      insecticidal activities of essential oils from Eucalyptus staigeriana, Ocimum
      gratissimum, and Foeniculum vulgare on Spodoptera frugiperda. Gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry profiles and contact toxicity of these oils as well as their
      sublethal effects on larvae and reproductive parameters in adults were evaluated.
      All three oils had sublethal effects on S. frugiperda; however, the oil of O.
      gratissimum showed the best results at all doses tested. These essential oils may
      have promise for control of S. frugiperda.

PMID- 26868418
TI  - Seroprevalence of antibodies against GII.4 norovirus among children in Pune,
      India.
AB  - This study reports the seroprevalence of antibodies against GII.4 norovirus among
      children (<=5 years) in Pune, India. Of 191 serum specimens, 98 (51.3%) tested
      positive with 61, 34 and 3 having IgG, IgG-IgA and IgG-IgA-IgM, respectively.
      Histoblood group antigen (HBGA)-blocking antibodies were detected in 33 of the 54
      tested positive specimens. IgG and blocking antibody prevalence and titer varied
      with age and was lowest among children aged 6-23 months. Antibody-positive
      children, suggesting past norovirus exposure, showed significantly lower faecal
      norovirus RNA detection rate than antibody-negative children. Further
      investigation of the seroepidemiology of norovirus infections in India is
      warranted. J. Med. Virol. 88:1636-1640, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26868419
TI  - The feasibility of transpedicular screw fixation of the subaxial cervical spine
      in the Arab population: a computed tomography-based morphometric study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transpedicular screw fixation of the cervical spine provides
      excellent biomechanical stability. The feasibility of inserting a 3.5-mm screw in
      the pedicle requires a minimum pedicle diameter of 4.5 mm. This diameter allows
      at least 0.5 mm bony bridge medially and laterally in order to avoid pedicle
      violation which can result in neurovascular complications. We aim to evaluate the
      feasibility of this technique in Arab people since no data are available about
      this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a
      retrospective review of computed tomography scans of normal cervical spines of 99
      Arab adults. Ten morphometric measurements were obtained. Data were analyzed
      using a p value of <=0.05 as the cut-off level of statistical significance.
      RESULTS: Our sample included 63 (63.6 %) males and 36 (36.4 %) females, with a
      mean age of 35.5 +/- 16.5 years. The morphometric parameters of C3-C7 spine
      pedicles were larger in males than in females. The outer pedicle width (OPW) was
      <4.5 mm in >25 % of all subjects at C3-C6 vertebrae. Statistically significant
      differences in the OPW between males and females were noted at C3 (p = 0.032) and
      C6 (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Inserting pedicle screws in the subaxial cervical
      spine is feasible among the majority of Arab people. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

PMID- 26868420
TI  - Trunnionosis in total hip arthroplasty: a review.
AB  - Trunnionosis is defined as wear of the femoral head-neck interface and has
      recently been acknowledged as a growing cause of total hip arthroplasty failure.
      Some studies have reported that it accounts for up to 3 % of all revisions. The
      exact cause of trunnionosis is currently unknown; however, postulated etiologies
      include modular junction wear, corrosion damage, and metal ion release.
      Additionally, implant design and trunnion geometries may contribute to the
      progression of component failure. In order to aid in our understanding of this
      phenomenon, our aim was to present the current literature on (1) the effect of
      femoral head size on trunnionosis, (2) the effect of trunnion design on
      trunnionosis, (3) localized biological reactions associated with trunnionosis,
      and (4) gross trunnion failures. It is hoped that this will encourage further
      research and interest aimed at minimizing this complication.

PMID- 26868421
TI  - Effect of Radiation on the Electrical Properties of PEDOT-Based Nanocomposites.
AB  - Systematic evaluation of the influence of radiation on the electrical response of
      hybrid nanocomposites obtained by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes into
      poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and poly(styrenesulfonate) host matrix is
      presented. Variations of resistance and conductivity of nanocomposites depending
      on the volume fraction of nanotubes in the matrix, ionizing radiation dosage, and
      temperature are analyzed. 

PMID- 26868422
TI  - Indocyanine Green Loaded Reduced Graphene Oxide for In Vivo
      Photoacoustic/Fluorescence Dual-Modality Tumor Imaging.
AB  - Multimodality imaging based on multifunctional nanocomposites holds great promise
      to fundamentally augment the capability of biomedical imaging. Specifically,
      photoacoustic and fluorescence dual-modality imaging is gaining much interest
      because of their non-invasiveness and the complementary nature of the two
      modalities in terms of imaging resolution, depth, sensitivity, and speed. Herein,
      using a green and facile method, we synthesize indocyanine green (ICG) loaded,
      polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated, reduced nano-graphene oxide nanocomposite (rNGO
      PEG/ICG) as a new type of fluorescence and photoacoustic dual-modality imaging
      contrast. The nanocomposite is shown to have minimal toxicity and excellent
      photoacoustic/fluorescence signals both in vitro and in vivo. Compared with free
      ICG, the nanocomposite is demonstrated to possess greater stability, longer blood
      circulation time, and superior passive tumor targeting capability. In vivo study
      shows that the circulation time of rNGO-PEG/ICG in the mouse body can sustain up
      to 6 h upon intravenous injection; while after 1 day, no obvious accumulation of
      rNGO-PEG/ICG is found in any major organs except the tumor regions. The
      demonstrated high fluorescence/photoacoustic dual contrasts, together with its
      low toxicity and excellent circulation life time, suggest that the synthesized
      rNGO-PEG/ICG can be a promising candidate for further translational studies on
      both the early diagnosis and image-guided therapy/surgery of cancer. 

PMID- 26868424
TI  - Radiographic Landmarks for Identifying the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee.
AB  - PURPOSE: To identify the radiographic position of the origin and insertion of the
      anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee on a lateral radiograph. METHODS: Twelve
      unpaired, fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were dissected to expose the ALL. The
      origin and insertion of the ALL on each cadaver were then tagged using 2-mm
      radiopaque beads. True lateral fluoroscopic views of the knee were then obtained,
      and the distance from known radiographic landmarks was recorded by 2 reviewers.
      RESULTS: The origin of the ALL was found at a distance that is 37.0 +/- 9.2% of
      the total anterior-posterior length of the femoral condyle from the posterior
      edge as measured along Blumensaat's line. The insertion was located at a distance
      that is 56.1 +/- 6.9% of the total length of the tibial plateau from the
      posterior edge. The origin of the ALL is 5 mm posterior to a line from the
      posterior femoral cortex and 9 mm distal to a line along Blumensaat's line. The
      insertion is 4 mm anterior to the 50% mark of the anterior-posterior width of the
      tibia, 14 mm distal to the articular surface. CONCLUSIONS: The origin and
      insertion of the ALL can be accurately identified using intraoperative
      fluoroscopy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Determining radiographic parameters for the ALL
      will assist in developing accurate surgical techniques for ALL reconstruction.

PMID- 26868423
TI  - A Biotin Biosynthesis Gene Restricted to Helicobacter.
AB  - In most bacteria the last step in synthesis of the pimelate moiety of biotin is
      cleavage of the ester bond of pimeloyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) methyl ester.
      The paradigm cleavage enzyme is Escherichia coli BioH which together with the
      BioC methyltransferase allows synthesis of the pimelate moiety by a modified
      fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Analyses of the extant bacterial genomes showed
      that bioH is absent from many bioC-containing bacteria and is replaced by other
      genes. Helicobacter pylori lacks a gene encoding a homologue of the known
      pimeloyl-ACP methyl ester cleavage enzymes suggesting that it encodes a novel
      enzyme that cleaves this intermediate. We isolated the H. pylori gene encoding
      this enzyme, bioV, by complementation of an E. coli bioH deletion strain.
      Purified BioV cleaved the physiological substrate, pimeloyl-ACP methyl ester to
      pimeloyl-ACP by use of a catalytic triad, each member of which was essential for
      activity. The role of BioV in biotin biosynthesis was demonstrated using a
      reconstituted in vitro desthiobiotin synthesis system. BioV homologues seem the
      sole pimeloyl-ACP methyl ester esterase present in the Helicobacter species and
      their occurrence only in H. pylori and close relatives provide a target for
      development of drugs to specifically treat Helicobacter infections.

PMID- 26868425
TI  - Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Odontoid Pathologies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical anterior decompression represents the treatment of choice
      for symptomatic irreducible ventral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) compression.
      With the refinement of the endoscopic techniques, the endonasal route has been
      proposed as alternative to the classic transoral approach to CVJ. Some reports
      assess the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic endonasal approaches to CVJ
      pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2011 to February 2014, 12 patients
      with symptomatic nonreducible ventral spinal cord compression underwent purely 3
      dimensional endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy in our department. The surgical
      technique is described. RESULTS: A good brainstem-medullary decompression was
      achieved in all patients. In 10 of 12 patients the endotracheal tube was removed
      just after the procedure with good recovery of the respiratory function. We
      report no cases of velopharyngeal insufficiency. In 5 of 12 patients the
      preservation of C1 anterior was achieved, without the need for posterior cervical
      fixation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy has
      proven to be safe and effective in selected patients. Soft and hard palate
      preservation dramatically reduces the risk of postoperative velopharyngeal
      insufficiency. Moreover, the endonasal endoscopic approach provides a direct
      access to the dens. Three-dimensional high-definition endoscope, laser, and
      ultrasound bony curettes revealed to be useful tools for this approach that,
      however, remains a demanding one.

PMID- 26868426
TI  - Comparison of a Stand-Alone Anchored Spacer Versus Plate-Cage Construct in the
      Treatment of Two Noncontiguous Levels of Cervical Spondylosis: A Preliminary
      Investigation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The application of stand-alone anchored spacer (SAAS) in anterior
      cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been proven to be safe and effective to
      treat cervical spondylosis. Skip-level ACDF with SAAS, fusing only the involved
      levels without anterior plates, may be the optimal treatment. The aim of the
      study was to compare the clinical outcomes, radiologic results of SAAS, and plate
      cage construct in the treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical
      spondylosis. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with 2 noncontiguous levels of
      cervical spondylosis were included in the retrospective review of prospective
      collected data. The clinical and radiologic outcomes were assessed with the
      Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, Neck Disability Index, cervical
      alignment, and range of motion and disc height of intermediate segment,
      respectively. All the aforementioned parameters were compared before and after
      surgery in the respective group, which also were compared between the 2 groups.
      Complications also were recorded, and correlations between the surgical outcome
      and various factors were analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences existed in
      clinical results between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). In addition, no statistical
      significance was observed in fusion rate, cervical alignment, and range of motion
      and disc height of intermediate segment, dysphagia, and hoarseness (P > 0.05).
      Preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and high-intensity signal in
      T2-weighted images were important predictors for surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS:
      Skip-level ACDF with SAAS is a safe and effective treatment of 2 noncontiguous
      levels of cervical spondylosis without obvious contraindications, which can keep
      the IS intact, and have a low impact on the IS.

PMID- 26868427
TI  - 4'-O-beta-D-Glucosyl-5-O-Methylvisamminol, A Natural Histone H3 Phosphorylation
      Epigenetic Suppressor, Exerts a Neuroprotective Effect Through PI3K/Akt Signaling
      Pathway on Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A bursting inflammation has been observed that compromises neurologic
      function in patients who experience stroke. We sought to examine the
      neuroprotective efficacy of 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (OGOMV), a
      novel histone H3 phosphorylation epigenetic suppressor) in a transient middle
      cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). METHODS: A rodent tMCAO model was used.
      Administration with 400 MUg/kg/day OGOMV was initiated 12 hours before
      (prevention) and 1 hour after animals were subjected to tMCAO (reversal). The
      cerebral cortex was harvested to examine protein kinase B (PI3D/Akt), 5-bromo-2'
      deoxyuridine (Western blot), and caspases (reverse-transcription polymerase chain
      reaction). In addition, cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected to examine
      interleukin 1-beta, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction). RESULTS:
      Cortical 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and phospho-PI3D/Akt were reduced in tMCAO
      animals, compared with the healthy controls but increased in the OGOMV treatment
      and prevention groups. Activated cortical caspase-3,-6, and -9a as well as
      increased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels were observed in the tMCAO animals (P <
      0.05). Both prevention and treatment with OGOMV significantly reduced cleaved
      caspase-3 and -9a groups, but no significant change in caspase-6 was noted.
      Perifosine, an Akt inhibitor, was added to reduce the bioexpression of phospho
      P13D/Akt, and Bcl-2 level and increased cleaved caspase-9a level in both OGOMV
      prevention and treatment tMCAO groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests
      that OGOMV could exert a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting the P13D/Akt
      protein, attenuating inflammation, and cleaved caspase-3- and -9a-related
      apoptosis. This study also lends credence to support the notion that the
      prevention of OGOMV could attenuate proinflammatory cytokine mRNA and late-onset
      caspases in tMCAO and merits further study.

PMID- 26868428
TI  - Recurrent Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis After Neurologic Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common cause of sporadic
      encephalitis worldwide. Even with proper treatment, this infection is associated
      with a mortality rate of 19%-30% and with potential neurologic sequelae.
      Recurrences of encephalitis are rare and limited to a few cases in the
      literature. Although the mechanism of reactivation has not yet been clarified, in
      our patient, the surgery might have acted as a precipitating factor. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: The case involved a female 10-year-old patient with a history of
      type 1 HSV encephalitis since 24 months of age. Secondarily, the patient
      developed postherpetic epilepsy in the following years. At 10 years old, she was
      referred to the epilepsy surgery service, and an elective right temporal
      lobectomy was performed. After surgery, the patient experienced severe clinical
      deterioration characterized by fever, severe headache, and altered state of
      consciousness. Encephalitis was diagnosed based on a positive polymerase chain
      reaction for HSV in the cerebrospinal fluid. The symptoms remitted after 8 weeks
      of treatment with acyclovir. The histopathologic diagnosis was a chronic
      encephalitic process with late secondary parenchymal changes without specific
      viral cytopathic findings. The only limitation that persisted was related to fine
      movements of the left hand. One year after surgery, the patient rejoined her
      school activities and is currently free of seizures. CONCLUSIONS: HSV
      encephalitis is a rare but serious complication that should be suspected in cases
      of unexplained postoperative fever with altered consciousness, especially in
      patients with histories of encephalitic states.

PMID- 26868429
TI  - Heme Oxygenase-1 and 2 Common Genetic Variants and Risk for Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Several neurochemical, neuropathological, and experimental data suggest a
      possible role of oxidative stress in the ethiopathogenesis of multiple
      sclerosis(MS). Heme-oxygenases(HMOX) are an important defensive mechanism against
      oxidative stress, and HMOX1 is overexpressed in the brain and spinal cord of MS
      patients and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE). We analyzed
      whether common polymorphisms affecting the HMOX1 and HMOX2 genes are related with
      the risk to develop MS. We analyzed the distribution of genotypes and allelic
      frequencies of the HMOX1 rs2071746, HMOX1 rs2071747, HMOX2 rs2270363, and HMOX2
      rs1051308 SNPs, as well as the presence of Copy number variations(CNVs) of these
      genes in 292 subjects MS and 533 healthy controls, using TaqMan assays. The
      frequencies of HMOX2 rs1051308AA genotype and HMOX2 rs1051308A and HMOX1
      rs2071746A alleles were higher in MS patients than in controls, although only
      that of the SNP HMOX2 rs1051308 in men remained as significant after correction
      for multiple comparisons. None of the studied polymorphisms was related to the
      age at disease onset or with the MS phenotype. The present study suggests a weak
      association between HMOX2 rs1051308 polymorphism and the risk to develop MS in
      Spanish Caucasian men and a trend towards association between the HMOX1
      rs2071746A and MS risk.

PMID- 26868430
TI  - Alveolar recruitment of ficolin-3 in response to acute pulmonary inflammation in
      humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ficolins serve as soluble recognition molecules in the lectin pathway
      of complement. They are known to participate in the systemic host-response to
      infection but their role in local pulmonary defence is still incompletely
      understood. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether acute lung and
      systemic inflammation induce recruitment of lectins in humans. METHODS: Fifteen
      healthy volunteers received LPS intravenously (IV) or in a lung subsegment on two
      different occasions. Volunteers were evaluated by consecutive blood samples and
      by bronchoalveolar lavage 2, 4, 6, 8, or 24h after LPS (n=3 in all groups), and
      gene expression patterns and protein levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and
      ficolins were determined. RESULTS: Endobronchial LPS was associated with an
      increase in alveolar ficolin-3 and MBL levels (p<0.04 and p<0.001, respectively).
      IV LPS elicited a pronounced acute phase response with an increase in CRP
      (p<0.001) and plasma ficolin-1 protein levels (p<0.001), whereas no changes were
      observed in ficolin-1 gene expression patterns (p=0.11) or plasma protein levels
      of MBL, ficolin-2, or ficolin-3. CONCLUSIONS: LPS induces a tissue-specific
      recruitment of ficolin-3 and ficolin-1 in the lung and systemic compartment,
      respectively, suggesting an important role of distinct lectin complement pathway
      initiators in the local pulmonary and systemic host defence.

PMID- 26868431
TI  - Inhibitory function of NKT cells during early induction phase of nickel allergy.
AB  - Until now, metal allergies have been regarded as a Th1-type immune response.
      However, because the contribution of a Th2-type immune response has been
      suggested by clinical findings, we previously examined the Th2-type immune
      response during the development of metal allergies using a GATA-3 transgenic
      (GATA-3 Tg) mouse model. As a result, a Th2-type immunization reaction was
      suggested to be involved in the early phase of metal allergies. Recently, the
      involvement of NKT cells in metal allergies has been suggested. We examined this
      possibility using the activation of NKT cells and an NKT cell-deficient mouse
      model to determine the contribution of NKT cells to nickel allergy in the present
      study. In NKT cell-deficient mice, ear swelling was remarkably increased,
      compared with that in control mice. Also, in mice that had been treated with
      alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) to activate NKT cells, the ear swelling
      response was remarkably inhibited, compared with that in untreated mice. These
      facts show that NKT cells are involved in the inhibition of nickel allergy
      induced ear swelling responses.

PMID- 26868432
TI  - Gentiana lutea exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by preventing endothelial
      inflammation and smooth muscle cell migration.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Studies suggest that Gentiana lutea (GL), and its component
      isovitexin, may exhibit anti-atherosclerotic properties. In this study we sought
      to investigate the protective mechanism of GL aqueous root extract and isovitexin
      on endothelial inflammation, smooth muscle cell migation, and on the onset and
      progression of atherosclerosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Our results show that both GL extract and isovitexin, block
      leukocyte adhesion and generation of reactive oxygen species in human umbilical
      vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs),
      following TNF-alpha and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) challenges
      respectively. Both the extract and isovitexin blocked TNF-alpha induced
      expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in HUVECs. PDGF-BB induced migration of RASMCs
      and phospholipase C-gamma activation, were also abrogated by GL extract and
      isovitexin. Fura-2 based ratiometric measurements demonstrated that, both the
      extact, and isovitexin, inhibit PDGF-BB mediated intracellular calcium rise in
      RASMCs. Supplementation of regular diet with 2% GL root powder for STZ rats,
      reduced total cholesterol in blood. Oil Red O staining demonstrated decreased
      lipid accumulation in aortic wall of diabetic animals upon treatment with GL.
      Medial thickness and deposition of collagen in the aortic segment of diabetic
      rats were also reduced upon supplementation. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated
      reduced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), inducible
      nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) in
      aortic segments of diabetic rats following GL treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our
      results support that GL root extract/powder and isovitexin exhibit anti
      atherosclerotic activities.

PMID- 26868433
TI  - Is common genetic variation at IRS1, ENPP1 and TRIB3 loci associated with
      cardiometabolic phenotypes in type 2 diabetes? An exploratory analysis of the
      Verona Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Study (VNDS) 5.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Insulin resistance is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2DM),
      it is often accompanied by defective beta-cell function (BF) and is involved in
      the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Commonalities among these
      traits may recognize a genetic background, possibly involving the genetic
      variation of insulin signaling pathway genes. We conducted an exploratory
      analysis by testing whether common genetic variability at IRS1, ENPP1 and TRIB3
      loci is associated with cardiovascular risk traits and metabolic phenotypes in
      T2DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 597 drug-naive, GADA-negative, newly-diagnosed T2DM
      patients we performed: 1) genotyping of 10 independent single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms covering ~ 90% of common variability at IRS1, ENPP1 and TRIB3 loci;
      2) carotid artery ultrasound; 3) standard ECG (n = 450); 4) euglycaemic insulin
      clamp to assess insulin sensitivity; 5) 75 g-OGTT to estimate BF (derivative and
      proportional control) by mathematical modeling. False discovery rate of multiple
      comparisons was set at 0.20. After adjustment for age, sex and smoking status,
      rs4675095-T (IRS1) and rs4897549-A (ENPP1) were significantly associated with
      carotid atherosclerosis severity, whilst rs7265169-A (TRIB3) was associated with
      ECG abnormalities. Rs858340-G (ENPP1) was significantly associated with decreased
      insulin sensitivity, independently of age, sex and body-mass-index. No consistent
      relationships were found with BF. CONCLUSION: Some associations were found
      between intermediate phenotypes of CVD and common genetic variation of
      gatekeepers along the insulin signaling pathway. These results need be replicated
      to support the concept that in T2DM the CVD genetic risk clock may start ticking
      long before hyperglycemia appears. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01526720.

PMID- 26868435
TI  - A hidden aggregation-prone structure in the heart of hypoxia inducible factor
      prolyl hydroxylase.
AB  - Prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein 2 (PHD2), as one of the most
      important regulators of angiogenesis and metastasis of cancer cells, is a
      promising target for cancer therapy drug design. Progressive studies imply that
      abnormality in PHD2 function may be due to misfolding. Therefore, study of the
      PHD2 unfolding pathway paves the way for a better understanding of the influence
      of PHD2 mutations and cancer cell metabolites on the protein folding pathway. We
      study the unfolding of the PHD2 catalytic domain using differential scanning
      calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and discrete molecular dynamics
      simulations (DMD). Using computational and experimental techniques, we find that
      PHD2 undergoes four transitions along the thermal unfolding pathway. To
      illustrate PHD2 unfolding events in atomic detail, we utilize DMD simulations.
      Analysis of computational results indicates an intermediate species in the PHD2
      unfolding pathway that may enhance aggregation propensity, explaining mutation
      independent PHD2 malfunction.

PMID- 26868434
TI  - cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation of serine 36 is critical for p66Shc
      activation.
AB  - p66Shc-dependent ROS production contributes to many pathologies including
      ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) during solid organ transplantation. Inhibiting
      p66Shc activation may provide a novel therapeutic approach to prevent damage,
      which is poorly managed by antioxidants in vivo. Previous work suggested that pro
      oxidant and a pro-apoptotic function of p66Shc required mitochondrial import,
      which depended on serine 36 phosphorylation. PKCbeta has been proposed as S36
      kinase but cJun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) may also phosphorylate this residue. To
      simulate the early stages of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) we either used H2O2
      treatment or hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR). As during reperfusion in vivo, we
      observed increased JNK and p38 activity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and
      HL-1 cardiomyocytes along with significantly increased p66ShcS36 phosphorylation,
      ROS production and cell damage. Application of specific inhibitors caused a
      pronounced decrease in p66ShcS36 phosphorylation only in the case of JNK1/2.
      Moreover, S36 phosphorylation of recombinant p66Shc by JNK1 but not PKCbeta was
      demonstrated. We further confirmed JNK1/2-dependent regulation of p66ShcS36
      phosphorylation, ROS production and cell death using JNK1/2 deficient MEFs.
      Finally, the low ROS phenotype of JNK1/2 knockout MEFs was reversed by the
      phosphomimetic p66ShcS36E mutant. Inhibiting JNK1/2-regulated p66Shc activation
      may thus provide a therapeutic approach for the prevention of oxidative damage.

PMID- 26868436
TI  - Editorial: Noise on hospital wards--what have we learned?

PMID- 26868438
TI  - Endocrine disruptors: Reproductive consequences of analgesic use during
      pregnancy.

PMID- 26868439
TI  - Development of a more streamlined approach to pregnancy screening before nuclear
      medicine procedures.

PMID- 26868441
TI  - Erratum: 2,3-Diphenyl-2,3,5,6-tetra-hydro-4H-1,3-thia-zin-4-one. Corrigendum.
AB  - In the paper by Yennawar & Silverberg [Acta Cryst. (2014), E70, o133], the
      conformation of the thiazine ring was reported incorrectly.[This corrects the
      article DOI: 10.1107/S1600536814000324.]. 

PMID- 26868437
TI  - A comprehensive overview of the role of the RET proto-oncogene in thyroid
      carcinoma.
AB  - The rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene was identified in 1985
      and, very soon thereafter, a rearrangement named RET/PTC was discovered in
      papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). After this discovery, other RET rearrangements
      were found in PTCs, particularly in those induced by radiation. For many years,
      it was thought that these genetic alterations only occurred in PTC, but, in the
      past couple of years, some RET/PTC rearrangements have been found in other human
      tumours. 5 years after the discovery of RET/PTC rearrangements in PTC, activating
      point mutations in the RET proto-oncogene were discovered in both hereditary and
      sporadic forms of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). In contrast to the
      alterations found in PTC, the activation of RET in MTC is mainly due to
      activating point mutations. Interestingly, in the past year, RET rearrangements
      that were different to those described in PTC were observed in sporadic MTC. The
      identification of RET mutations is relevant to the early diagnosis of hereditary
      MTC and the prognosis of sporadic MTC. The diagnostic and prognostic role of the
      RET/PTC rearrangements in PTC is less relevant but still important in patient
      management, particularly for deciding if a targeted therapy should be initiated.
      In this Review, we discuss the pathogenic, diagnostic and prognostic roles of the
      RET proto-oncogene in both PTC and MTC. 

PMID- 26868440
TI  - Ambient Air Pollutants Have Adverse Effects on Insulin and Glucose Homeostasis in
      Mexican Americans.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that air pollution plays a role in type 2
      diabetes (T2D) incidence and mortality. The underlying physiological mechanisms
      have yet to be established. We hypothesized that air pollution adversely affects
      insulin sensitivity and secretion and serum lipid levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
      METHODS: Participants were selected from BetaGene (n = 1,023), a study of insulin
      resistance and pancreatic beta-cell function in Mexican Americans. All
      participants underwent DXA and oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests and
      completed dietary and physical activity questionnaires. Ambient air pollutant
      concentrations (NO2, O3, and PM2.5) for short- and long-term periods were
      assigned by spatial interpolation (maximum interpolation radius of 50 km) of data
      from air quality monitors. Traffic-related air pollution from freeways (TRAP) was
      estimated using the dispersion model as NOx. Variance component models were used
      to analyze individual and multiple air pollutant associations with metabolic
      traits. RESULTS: Short-term (up to 58 days cumulative lagged averages) exposure
      to PM2.5 was associated with lower insulin sensitivity and HDL-to-LDL cholesterol
      ratio and higher fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and LDL
      cholesterol (LDL-C) (all P <= 0.036). Annual average PM2.5 was associated with
      higher fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, and LDL-C (P <= 0.043). The effects of short
      term PM2.5 exposure on insulin sensitivity were largest among obese participants.
      No statistically significant associations were found between TRAP and metabolic
      outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to ambient air pollutants adversely affects
      glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and blood lipid concentrations. Our
      findings suggest that ambient air pollutants may contribute to the
      pathophysiology in the development of T2D and related sequelae.

PMID- 26868442
TI  - Integrating forest ecosystem services into the farming landscape: A stochastic
      economic assessment.
AB  - The objective of this study was to assess how payments for ecosystem services
      could assist plantation forestry's integration into pastoral dairy farming in
      order to improve environmental outcomes and increase business resilience to both
      price uncertainty and production limits imposed by environmental policies.
      Stochastic Dominance (SD) criteria and portfolio analysis, accounting for
      farmers' risk aversion levels, were used to rank different land-use alternatives
      and landscapes with different levels of plantation forestry integration. The
      study was focused on a modal 200-ha dairy farm in the Lake Rotorua Catchment of
      the Central North Island region of New Zealand, where national environmental
      policies are being implemented to improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas
      emissions. Nitrogen and carbon payments would help farmers improve early cash
      flows for forestry, provide financial leverage to undertake afforestation
      projects and contribute to improved environmental outcomes for the catchment. The
      SD criteria demonstrated that although dairy farming generates the highest
      returns, plantation forestry with nitrogen and carbon payments would be a
      preferred alternative for landowners with relatively low risk aversion levels who
      consider return volatility and environmental limits within their land-use change
      criteria. Using the confidence premium concept, environmental payments to
      encourage plantation forestry into the landscape were shown to be lower when the
      majority of landowners are risk averse. The certainty equivalence approach helped
      to identify the optimal dairy-forestry portfolio arrangements for landowners of
      different levels of risk aversion, intensities of dairy farming (status quo and
      intensified) and nitrogen prices. At low nitrogen prices, risk neutral farmers
      would choose to afforest less than half of the farm and operate at the maximum
      nitrogen allowance, because dairy farming at both intensities provides the
      highest return among the different land uses available. However, at relatively
      low risk aversion levels, farmers would operate at levels below the maximum
      nitrogen allowance by including plantation forestry to a greater extent, compared
      to risk neutral farmers, due to its more certain returns. At a high nitrogen
      price of $400/kg, plantation forestry would completely subsume dairying, across
      risk aversion and intensity levels. These results confirm that plantation
      forestry as well as being an environmentally sound land-use alternative, also
      reduces uncertainty for landowners that are exposed to volatile international
      markets for dairy commodities. 

PMID- 26868445
TI  - Characterization of synthetic dyes by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid
      chromatography combining ion-exchange chromatography and fast ion-pair reversed
      phase chromatography.
AB  - In the late 19th century, newly invented synthetic dyes rapidly replaced the
      natural dyes on the market. The characterization of mixtures of these so-called
      early synthetic dyes is complicated through the occurrence of many impurities and
      degradation products. Conventional one-dimensional liquid chromatography does not
      suffice to obtain fingerprints with sufficient resolution and baseline integrity.
      Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC*LC) is employed in this
      study, with ion-exchange chromatography in the first dimension and fast ion-pair
      liquid chromatography in the second. Retention in the first dimension is largely
      determined by the number of charges, while the selection of a small ion-pair
      reagent (tetramethylammonium hydroxide) in the second dimension causes retention
      to be largely determined by the molecular structure of the dye. As a result,
      there is a high degree of orthogonality of the two dimensions, similar to the
      values typically encountered in GC*GC. The proposed LC*LC method shows a
      theroretical peak capacity of about 2000 in an analysis time of about three
      hours. Clear, informative fingerprints are obtained that open a way to a more
      efficient characterization of dyes used in objects of cultural heritage. 

PMID- 26868443
TI  - Moving Toward Integrative, Multidimensional Research in Modern Psychiatry:
      Lessons Learned From Fragile X Syndrome.
AB  - The field of psychiatry is approaching a major inflection point. The basic
      science behind cognition, emotion, behavior, and social processes has been
      advancing rapidly in the past 20 years. However, clinical research supporting the
      classification system in psychiatry has not kept up with these scientific
      advances. To begin organizing the basic science of psychiatry in a comprehensive
      manner, we begin by selecting fragile X syndrome, a neurogenetic disease with
      cognitive-behavioral manifestations, to illustrate key concepts in an
      integrative, multidimensional model. Specifically, we describe key genetic and
      molecular mechanisms (e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acidergic dysfunction and
      metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-associated long-term depression) relevant to
      the pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome as well as neural correlates of
      cognitive-behavioral symptoms. We then describe what we have learned from fragile
      X syndrome that may be applicable to other psychiatric disorders. We conclude
      this review by discussing current and future opportunities in diagnosing and
      treating psychiatric diseases.

PMID- 26868444
TI  - Ablation of Type III Adenylyl Cyclase in Mice Causes Reduced Neuronal Activity,
      Altered Sleep Pattern, and Depression-like Phenotypes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although major depressive disorder (MDD) has low heritability, a
      genome-wide association study in humans has recently implicated type 3 adenylyl
      cyclase (AC3; ADCY3) in MDD. Moreover, the expression level of AC3 in blood has
      been considered as a MDD biomarker in humans. Nevertheless, there is a lack of
      supporting evidence from animal studies. METHODS: We employed multiple approaches
      to experimentally evaluate if AC3 is a contributing factor for major depression
      using mouse models lacking the Adcy3 gene. RESULTS: We found that conventional
      AC3 knockout (KO) mice exhibited phenotypes associated with MDD in behavioral
      assays. Electroencephalography/electromyography recordings indicated that AC3 KO
      mice have altered sleep patterns characterized by increased percentage of rapid
      eye movement sleep. AC3 KO mice also exhibit neuronal atrophy. Furthermore,
      synaptic activity at cornu ammonis 3-cornu ammonis 1 synapses was significantly
      lower in AC3 KO mice, and they also exhibited attenuated long-term potentiation
      as well as deficits in spatial navigation. To confirm that these defects are not
      secondary responses to anosmia or developmental defects, we generated a
      conditional AC3 floxed mouse strain. This enabled us to inactivate AC3 function
      selectively in the forebrain and to inducibly ablate it in adult mice. Both AC3
      forebrain-specific and AC3 inducible knockout mice exhibited prodepression
      phenotypes without anosmia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that loss of AC3
      in mice leads to decreased neuronal activity, altered sleep pattern, and
      depression-like behaviors, providing strong evidence supporting AC3 as a
      contributing factor for MDD.

PMID- 26868446
TI  - In situ solvothermal synthesis of metal-organic framework coated fiber for highly
      sensitive solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
AB  - The present work reported a facile and simple in situ solvothermal growth method
      for immobilization of metal-organic framework UiO-66 via covalent bonding on
      amino functional silica fiber for highly sensitive solid-phase microextraction
      (SPME) of ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by coupling with gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The developed SPME coated
      fiber has been characterized through SEM, TGA and XRD, confirmed the coating
      thickness of ~25MUm with high thermal and chemical stability. Under optimized
      conditions, the obtained method exhibited satisfactory linearity in range of 1.0
      5000.0ngL(-1) for all the PAHs. The low detection limits were from 0.28ngL(-1) to
      0.60ngL(-1) (S/N=3). The UiO-66 coated fibers showed good repeatability (RSDs
      less than 8.2%, n=5) and satisfying reproducibility between fiber to fiber (RSDs
      less than 8.9%, n=5). This method was successfully used for simultaneous
      determination of ten PAHs from Minjiang water and soil samples with satisfactory
      recoveries of 87.0-113.6% and 83.8-116.7%, respectively. Experimental results
      shows that the chemical bonding approach has dramatically improve the stability
      and lifetime of pure MOFs coating for SPME in sample pretreatment. 

PMID- 26868447
TI  - Development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis in alkaline
      media as polyoxoanions of two strategic metals: Niobium and tantalum.
AB  - Tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb) are two strategic metals essential to several key
      sectors, like the aerospace, gas and oil, nuclear and electronic industries, but
      their separation is really difficult due to their almost identical chemical
      properties. Whereas they are currently produced by hydrometallurgical processes
      using fluoride-based solutions, efforts are being made to develop cleaner
      processes by replacing the fluoride media by alkaline ones. However, methods to
      analyze Nb and Ta simultaneously in alkaline samples are lacking. In this work,
      we developed a capillary zone electrophoresis (CE) method able to separate and
      quantify Nb and Ta directly in alkaline media. This method takes advantage of the
      hexaniobate and hexatantalate ions which are naturally formed at pH>9 and absorb
      in the UV domain. First, the detection conditions, the background electrolyte
      (BGE) pH, the nature of the BGE co-ion and the internal standard (IS) were
      optimized by a systematic approach. As the BGE counter-ion nature modified the
      speciation of both ions, sodium- and lithium-based BGE were tested. For each
      alkaline cation, the BGE ionic strength and separation temperature were optimized
      using experimental designs. Since changes in the migration order of IS, Nb and Ta
      were observed within the experimental domain, the resolution was not a monotonic
      function of ionic strength and separation temperature. This forced us to develop
      an original data treatment for the prediction of the optimum separation
      conditions. Depending on the consideration of either peak widths or peak
      symmetries, with or without additional robustness constraints, four optima were
      predicted for each tested alkaline cation. The eight predicted optima were tested
      experimentally and the best experimental optimum was selected considering
      analysis time, resolution and robustness. The best separation was obtained at
      31.0 degrees C and in a BGE containing 10mM LiOH and 35mM LiCH3COO.The separation
      voltage was finally optimized, resulting in the separation of Nb, Ta, and IS in
      less than 2.5min, which is three times faster than any CE method ever reported
      for the separation of Nb and Ta (acidic media included). Some figures of merit of
      the method were determined such as linearity ranges and limits of quantitation.
      Finally, the method was successfully applied to the analysis of a real industrial
      sample. 

PMID- 26868449
TI  - Delayed wound healing and dysregulation of IL6/STAT3 signalling in MSCs derived
      from pre-diabetic obese mice.
AB  - Metabolic dysfunction that occurs in obesity and Type 2 diabetes results in a low
      level inflammatory state which impacts on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) capacity
      to promote wound healing. The ability of either recombinant Interleukin-6 (rIL6)
      or pioglitazone to modulate MSC migration, essential for wound healing, by
      targeting the inflammation-modulated IL6/STAT3 signalling pathway was therefore
      investigated in bone marrow-derived MSCs from control (C57BL/6J) and pre-diabetic
      obese mice (B6. Cg-Lepob/J). The population doubling time, in vitro wound closure
      and mRNA expression profile of 84 genes involved in the IL6/STAT3 signalling
      pathway were assessed. IL6/STAT3 signalling dysregulation, caused by IL6
      deficiency, resulted in skewing of the immune modulatory properties of MSCs to
      favour a pro-inflammatory profile. This could be nullified by addition of either
      rIL6 or conventional diabetes treatment. Therapies to improve diabetic wound
      healing should therefore focus on the cellular changes induced by the
      pathological inflammatory micro-environment. 

PMID- 26868450
TI  - No Neonate Left Behind: A QI Approach to Critical Congenital Heart Screening in
      the NICU.

PMID- 26868448
TI  - Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) regulates metabolism and insulin
      secretion from a clonal rat pancreatic beta cell line BRIN-BD11 and mouse islets.
AB  - Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein,
      associated with lipid catabolism and insulin resistance. In the present study,
      PEDF increased chronic and acute insulin secretion in a clonal rat beta-cell line
      BRIN-BD11, without alteration of glucose consumption. PEDF also stimulated
      insulin secretion from primary mouse islets. Seahorse flux analysis demonstrated
      that PEDF did not change mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function. The
      cytosolic presence of the putative PEDF receptor - adipose triglyceride lipase
      (ATGL) - was identified, and ATGL associated stimulation of glycerol release was
      robustly enhanced by PEDF, while intracellular ATP levels increased. Addition of
      palmitate or ex vivo stimulation with inflammatory mediators induced beta-cell
      dysfunction, effects not altered by the addition of PEDF. In conclusion, PEDF
      increased insulin secretion in BRIN-BD11 and islet cells, but had no impact on
      glucose metabolism. Thus elevated lipolysis and enhanced fatty acid availability
      may impact insulin secretion following PEDF receptor (ATGL) stimulation. 

PMID- 26868452
TI  - MY APPROACH to testosterone replacement in older men.

PMID- 26868451
TI  - Sub-nanometre resolution of atomic motion during electronic excitation in phase
      change materials.
AB  - Phase-change materials based on Ge-Sb-Te alloys are widely used in industrial
      applications such as nonvolatile memories, but reaction pathways for crystalline
      to-amorphous phase-change on picosecond timescales remain unknown. Femtosecond
      laser excitation and an ultrashort x-ray probe is used to show the temporal
      separation of electronic and thermal effects in a long-lived (>100 ps) transient
      metastable state of Ge2Sb2Te5 with muted interatomic interaction induced by a
      weakening of resonant bonding. Due to a specific electronic state, the lattice
      undergoes a reversible nondestructive modification over a nanoscale region,
      remaining cold for 4 ps. An independent time-resolved x-ray absorption fine
      structure experiment confirms the existence of an intermediate state with
      disordered bonds. This newly unveiled effect allows the utilization of non
      thermal ultra-fast pathways enabling artificial manipulation of the switching
      process, ultimately leading to a redefined speed limit, and improved energy
      efficiency and reliability of phase-change memory technologies.

PMID- 26868453
TI  - MY APPROACH to a patient with atrial fibrillation and dementia.

PMID- 26868454
TI  - Molecular cloning and characterization of a steroidogenic enzyme, 17beta
      hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 14, from the stony coral Euphyllia ancora
      (Cnidaria, Anthozoa).
AB  - Sex steroids play a fundamental role not only in reproduction but also in various
      other biological processes in vertebrates. Although the presence of sex steroids
      has been confirmed in cnidarians (e.g., coral, sea anemone, jellyfish, and
      hydra), which are basal metazoans, only a few studies to date have characterized
      steroidogenesis-related genes in cnidarians. Based on a transcriptomic analysis
      of the stony coral Euphyllia ancora, we identified the steroidogenic enzyme
      17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 14 (17beta-hsd 14), an oxidative enzyme
      that catalyzes the NAD(+)-dependent inactivation of estrogen/androgen (estradiol
      to estrone and testosterone to androstenedione) in mammals. Phylogenetic analysis
      showed that E. ancora 17beta-Hsd 14 (Ea17beta-Hsd 14) clusters with other animal
      17beta-HSD 14s but not with other members of the 17beta-HSD family. Subsequent
      quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed a lack of correlation of Ea17beta-hsd 14
      transcript levels with the coral's reproductive cycle. In addition, Ea17beta-hsd
      14 transcript and protein were detected in all tissues examined, such as the
      tentacles, mesenterial filaments, and gonads, at similar levels in both sexes, as
      determined by quantitative RT-PCR analysis and Western blotting with an anti
      Ea17beta-Hsd 14 antibody. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Ea17beta-Hsd
      14 is mainly distributed in the endodermal regions of the polyps, but the protein
      was also observed in all tissues examined. These results suggest that Ea17beta
      Hsd 14 is involved in important functions that commonly occur in endodermal cells
      or has multiple functions in different tissues. Our data provide information for
      comparison with advanced animals as well as insight into the evolution of
      steroidogenesis-related genes in metazoans. 

PMID- 26868455
TI  - Revised Risk Estimates for MRSA Infection in Patients with Intermittent Versus
      Persistent MRSA Nares Colonization.

PMID- 26868456
TI  - Toxicity mechanisms of arsenic that are shared with neurodegenerative diseases
      and cognitive impairment: Role of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
AB  - Arsenic (As) is a worldwide naturally occurring metalloid. Human chronic exposure
      to inorganic As compounds (iAs), which are at the top of hazardous substances
      (ATSDR, 2013), is associated with different diseases including cancer and non-
      cancerous diseases. The neurotoxic effects of iAs and its methylated metabolites
      have been demonstrated in exposed populations and experimental models. Impaired
      cognitive abilities have been described in children and adults chronically
      exposed to iAs through drinking water. Even though different association studies
      failed to demonstrate that As causes neurodegenerative diseases, several toxicity
      mechanisms of iAs parallel those mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration,
      including oxidative stress and inflammation, impaired protein degradation,
      autophagy, and intracellular accumulation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and
      mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, different reports have shown that
      specifically in brain tissue, iAs and its metabolites induce hyper
      phosphorylation of the tau protein and over-regulation of the amyloid precursor
      protein, impaired neurotransmitters synthesis and synaptic transmission,
      increased glutamate receptors activation, and decreased glutamate transporters
      expression. Interestingly, increased and sustained pro-inflammatory responses
      mediated by cytokines and related factors, seems to be the triggering factor for
      all of such cellular pathological effects. Therefore, this review proposes that
      iAs-associated cognitive impairment could be the result of the activation of pro
      inflammatory responses in the brain tissue, which also may favor
      neurodegeneration or increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases in exposed
      human populations. 

PMID- 26868458
TI  - Rejoinder: In Defence of Medical Anthropology.
AB  - The claim that medical anthropology is failing medicine is wrong. Certain areas
      of medical anthropology contribute to theory, while others are intended to be of
      more clinical use. The problems that this latter category can encounter are
      rooted not within anthropology, but within medicine. For those practitioners that
      do choose to engage with anthropological ideas, it impacts in such a way that it
      cannot be readily proved within empirical data. This does not, however, mean it
      does not make significant and lasting contributions in the clinical setting. 

PMID- 26868457
TI  - Unprecedented Oxycyanation of Methylenecyclopropanes for the Facile Synthesis of
      Benzoxazine Compounds Containing a Cyano Group.
AB  - A novel intramolecular oxycyanation of methylenecyclopropanes is reported that
      proceeds through oxidative cleavage of the N-CN bond and subsequent palladium
      transfer from N to O of the amide group. A range of substituted
      benzo[d][1,3]oxazines with a cyano group are readily furnished by this newly
      developed oxycyanation reaction. Tris(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphine as a
      ligand has been found to be crucial to effectively promote the transformation
      with high chemo- and regioselectivity. Moreover, the reaction outcome can be
      significantly affected by the electronic effect of the acyl group attached to the
      nitrogen atom of methylenecyclopropanes. When R(3) is a chloromethyl group, the
      pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoline derivative is obtained by thermal-induced [3+2]
      cycloaddition of methylenecyclopropane to the methanediimine intermediate.

PMID- 26868459
TI  - Figuring Out Type 2 Diabetes through Genetic Research: Reckoning Kinship and the
      Origins of Sickness.
AB  - Genetic research on type 2 diabetes serves as a point of departure in this paper.
      Drawing together classic work in the anthropology of medical epistemologies and
      the recent revitalization of kinship studies, the paper has two main objectives:
      (1) further unsettling a portrait of biomedicine as having a single overarching
      epistemological orientation that locates the origins of disease squarely within
      individual human bodies; and (2) inviting further reflection and discussion about
      history, social structures and cultural norms as bona fide causes of disease. The
      paper shows that causal roles ascribed to history, social structures and cultural
      norms through genetic research on diabetes hinge on underscoring evolutionary
      'blood relations' between people, as well as between human and 'lower' nonhuman
      beings. It is argued that type 2 diabetes has not thoroughly undergone
      geneticization, but, partly through genetic research, it has undergone greater
      medicalization. Despite broad consensus that 'the environment' is the root cause
      of increased type 2 diabetes incidence, proposed remedies still tend to privilege
      clinical management. 

PMID- 26868460
TI  - Rejoinder: Genetic Research into the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease of substantial health and economic impact
      in Western societies. Its prevalence has drastically increased in the latter half
      of the 20th century, largely due to the ready availability of large quantities of
      calorie-rich foods and the technology-driven reduction in routine, daily
      exercise. Yet basic scientists repeatedly emphasize the prominent genetic basis
      for Type 2 diabetes mellitus, even though its widespread occurrence has appeared
      at a rate too fast to be accounted for by genetic change. This phenomenon
      emphasizes how the human gene pool has evolved as an adaptation to an ancient
      societal condition and when the environment changes rapidly both it and our
      genetic structure can contribute to the development of disease. 

PMID- 26868461
TI  - 'Sacraments' in the Hospital: Exploring the Magic and Religion of Recovery.
AB  - This article proposes to look at the ritual dimension of hospital work, a chain
      of words and acts, which fill patients with hope for a 'future life'.
      Conventional boundaries between magic, science and religion are reconsidered. The
      author argues that biomedicine, far from being a cultural no-man's land,
      represents the basic values of culture. It provides a space where doctors, nurses
      and patients find their deepest convictions and values demonstrated and
      confirmed. Medical words and interventions express and re-create people's belief
      in the canons of science and biomedicine as ultimate truth. Pointing out the
      religious dimension of medicine in no way belittles medicine's role and
      therapeutic efficacy. Rather it provides us with a better understanding of the
      'mechanics' of recovery. 

PMID- 26868462
TI  - 'La Muse Malade', 'The Fool's Perceptions' & 'Il Furore dell'Arte': An
      Examination of the Socio-cultural Construction of Genius through Madness.
AB  - The cultural interplay of madness and genius is entrenched in, although not
      exclusive to, Western intellectual tradition. In order to trace both their
      reflection of and influence on each other, this paper seeks to rupture the
      alliance of these terms with their clinical 'pseudonyms' of mental illness and
      creativity. Drawing on preceding psychiatric research, as well as both literary
      criticism and anthropological theory, this paper traces the patchwork of
      metaphors and cultural imaginings that make up the genius/madness myth-the socio
      cultural construction of genius through madness. With particular focus on the
      cyclical processes of cultural mythmaking it tracks the elements of this
      construction, initially diachronically, and then through psychiatry and its
      effect on social thought. Finally, an assessment of the social implications of
      this myth illustrates that not only is genius socio-culturally constructed
      through madness but that madness itself is also fabricated through genius in the
      binding circularity of societal mythmaking. The paper argues that this socio
      cultural construction legitimates and elevates, shackles and constrains, having
      societal implications far beyond the reaches of its own confines. 

PMID- 26868463
TI  - Competing Health Models in Mexico: An Ideological Dialogue between Indian and
      Hegemonic Views.
AB  - Models of health in Mexico emerge out of a conflictive interaction between two
      systems of knowledge and values: one from Western culture, considered superior
      and legitimate (by the majority), and an Indian one, regarded as inferior. The
      conflicts that arise from this ideological difference affect the success of
      public health programs directed to broad sectors of population with an indigenous
      culture. This gives rise to many problems in the treatment of Indian peoples,
      limiting their chances of a more adequate health system. This article focuses on
      how ideologies are negotiated between agents from the national hegemonic health
      system and the traditional healers, using as an example an interethnic health
      program developed in a mostly Indian municipality, Cuetzalan, in the Mexican
      state of Puebla. In this program intercultural interaction established a dialogue
      between the two health models, explicitly aiming to generate more adequate health
      programs for Indian communities. The attempt however was permeated by ideological
      resistance within an interethnic relationship framed by national and local
      interpretations of the value of indigenous knowledge. 

PMID- 26868464
TI  - Repetition and Repertoires: The Creation of Cultural Differences in Dutch Mental
      Health Care.
AB  - This paper explores how culture and cultural differences are created and used to
      maintain power of definition in mental health care. The author argues that
      although in mental health care an open approach in care for immigrants is
      stimulated, cultural differences are strategically used to maintain the status
      quo of mental health care and mental health professionals. The result is that
      such strategies keep immigrants in a marginal position. In mental health care,
      immigrants belong to a classificatory anomaly or, in processual terms, to liminal
      personae. The author concludes that interaction in mental health care is a
      manifestation and reproduction of larger class, racial, ethnic and gender
      conflicts in the broader society. 

PMID- 26868465
TI  - Patient support and advocacy organizations: partners in promoting awareness and
      improving the lives of patients with oral and maxillofacial disease.

PMID- 26868466
TI  - WhatsApp: a telemedicine platform for facilitating remote oral medicine
      consultation and improving clinical examinations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Increased use of smartphone and related software applications has
      created a new era in clinical data exchange among patients and clinicians. This
      study describes use of the smartphone-based application WhatsApp to share
      clinical oral medicine information. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical images and related
      questions were submitted by general dentists, physicians, dental hygienists, and
      patients to the authors via WhatsApp. For each submission, a clinical impression
      was made and categorized as traumatic, infective, neoplastic, autoimmune, or
      unclassified. Submissions were summarized by sender type, number of photographs
      per sender, and category of question. Patients were invited to undergo a clinical
      examination with biopsy, when indicated. The telemedicine impression was compared
      to the clinicopathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-nine images
      were received for 96 patients; 92 (95.8%) patients underwent clinicopathologic
      examination, and 45 (49%) received a biopsy. General dentists (62%) and dental
      hygienists (26%) were the most frequent senders. The most common question was
      related to diagnosis (56%). The telemedicine impression agreed with the
      clinicopathologic assessment for 82% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine
      applications, such as WhatsApp, can support communication about oral conditions
      among clinicians and patients. Telemedicine consultation reduced geographic
      barriers to initial clinical consultation and encouraged the significant majority
      of patients to pursue expert clinical examination.

PMID- 26868467
TI  - Characterization of pain originating from oral mucosal lesions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to characterize pain associated with oral
      mucosal lesions. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients
      diagnosed with localized mucosal pain originating from acute ulcers (AUs), herpes
      infections (HIs), and immune-mediated chronic diseases (IMCDs). Pain-related
      features, including intensity (VAS-I), perceived unpleasantness (VAS-U),
      functional impairment (VAS-F), and effect on quality of life (VAS-Q), were
      recorded using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS). Waking from sleep, provoking,
      and alleviating factors were assessed by questionnaires. RESULTS: Sixty-three
      patients aged 19 to 82 years (47.22 +/- 17.20 years) were examined over the study
      period. These included 18 patients with AUs, 21 with HIs, and 24 with IMCDs. At
      rest, VAS-U was significantly higher than VAS-I for all groups, and VAS-F was
      higher for lesions located on the tongue or lips. Up to 80% of patients described
      the pain as "burning." Differences between groups were not observed for all other
      parameters measured. Pain woke the patients from sleep in almost half of cases.
      VAS-I and VAS-U were not related to size or number of lesions. CONCLUSIONS:
      Mucosal pain is generally burning in quality, with a higher level of pain-related
      unpleasantness than pain intensity. In about half of the cases, pain awakens the
      person from sleep, a feature that correlated to female gender and pain intensity.
      Pain intensity or unpleasantness was not related to the size or number of
      lesions.

PMID- 26868468
TI  - Compromised salivary parameters of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the salivary parameters of individuals with juvenile
      idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and determine if there is a correlation with the
      simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). STUDY DESIGN: Stimulated whole saliva was
      collected from children, aged 6 to 12 years, with JIA (n = 36) and compared with
      saliva from a control group (CG) composed of healthy children matched by
      demographic characteristics (n = 36). Salivary parameters evaluated were amylase
      and peroxidase activities, calcium, phosphate, and total sialic acid
      concentration. Data were compared by two-tailed Student's t test, and salivary
      parameters were evaluated for correlations with OHI-S by Spearman's correlation.
      RESULTS: The JIA group had a statistically significant reduction in all salivary
      parameters: alpha-amylase (20%) (CG, 9.84 +/- 4.23; JIA 4.80 +/- 3.10) and
      peroxidase (55%) (CG, 35.05 +/- 14.97; JIA, 15.78 +/- 6.44) activities, total
      sialic acid (25%) (CG, 0.024 +/- 0.01; JIA, 0.010 +/- 0.04), calcium (13%) (CG,
      6.26 +/- 2.26; JIA, 5.44 +/- 2.26) and phosphate (50%) (CG, 10.88 +/- 1.49; JIA,
      5.45 +/- 0.88) concentration compared with the CG (P <= .05). There were no
      significant correlations between the salivary parameters and OHI-S in either
      group. CONCLUSION: JIA patients showed a reduction of different salivary
      parameters involved in maintaining oral health.

PMID- 26868469
TI  - Low-level laser therapy versus 5% amlexanox: a comparison of treatment effects in
      a cohort of patients with minor aphthous ulcers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the treatment effects of 5%
      amlexanox and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in a cohort of patients who
      experienced minor aphthous stomatitis. STUDY DESIGN: A clinical trial was
      performed between 2012 and 2014 on 50 participants having minor aphthous ulcers.
      Group A participants were treated with amlexanox oral paste (lexanox 5% oral
      paste), and group B participants were treated with LLLT. Pain scores and sizes of
      ulcers were measured on the first, third, and seventh days of treatment in both
      groups. Data were analyzed using paired t test and independent t test. RESULTS:
      No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to
      pain level on the first and seventh days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Both
      amlexanox and LLLT were equally effective in relieving pain associated with minor
      aphthous stomatitis. Both groups showed significant reduction in ulcer sizes and
      in pain scores.

PMID- 26868470
TI  - Validation of cone beam computed tomography-based tooth printing using different
      three-dimensional printing technologies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the accuracy of 3-dimensional reconstructed
      models of teeth compared with the natural teeth by using 4 different 3
      dimensional printers. STUDY DESIGN: This in vitro study was carried out using 2
      intact, dry adult human mandibles, which were scanned with cone beam computed
      tomography. Premolars were selected for this study. Dimensional differences
      between natural teeth and the printed models were evaluated directly by using
      volumetric differences and indirectly through optical scanning. Analysis of
      variance, Pearson correlation, and Bland Altman plots were applied for
      statistical analysis. RESULTS: Volumetric measurements from natural teeth and
      fabricated models, either by the direct method (the Archimedes principle) or by
      the indirect method (optical scanning), showed no statistical differences. The
      mean volume difference ranged between 3.1 mm(3) (0.7%) and 4.4 mm(3) (1.9%) for
      the direct measurement, and between -1.3 mm(3) (-0.6%) and 11.9 mm(3) (+5.9%) for
      the optical scan. A surface part comparison analysis showed that 90% of the
      values revealed a distance deviation within the interval 0 to 0.25 mm.
      CONCLUSIONS: Current results showed a high accuracy of all printed models of
      teeth compared with natural teeth. This outcome opens perspectives for clinical
      use of cost-effective 3-dimensional printed teeth for surgical procedures, such
      as tooth autotransplantation.

PMID- 26868471
TI  - Accuracy of diagnosis of salivary gland tumors with the use of ultrasonography,
      computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging: a meta-analysis--a
      commentary.

PMID- 26868472
TI  - Reply to "Accuracy of diagnosis of salivary gland tumors with the use of
      ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging: a meta
      analysis--a commentary".

PMID- 26868473
TI  - CBCT constancy controls: how user-friendly is the new phantom?

PMID- 26868474
TI  - Case report: An unusual presentation of oral acute graft-versus-host-disease in a
      haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient.
AB  - Oral acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a significant sequelae of
      allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Presently, transplant
      physicians have to diagnose GVHD based on clinical judgment by interpreting
      available clinical and relevant laboratory findings. As such, characterization of
      diagnostic and distinctive clinical signs and symptoms of GVHD is essential for
      diagnosis and grading. The oral features of aGVHD have been reported infrequently
      and remain ill defined, unlike in oral chronic GVHD. The report describes an
      atypical and painful presentation of oral aGVHD in a 15-year-old boy, 16 days
      after haploidentical HSCT, who presented with swollen lips, herpetiform
      ulcerations, and erythematous fungiform papilla.

PMID- 26868476
TI  - Canine and feline retinal lymphoma: a retrospective review of 12 cases.
AB  - This retrospective study identified 12 cases (6 canine and 6 feline) of ocular
      lymphoma with extensive retinal involvement and relative sparing of other ocular
      tissues. Our objectives were to describe the morphologic and immunohistochemical
      features of retinal lymphoma, assess the degree of correlation to the human
      counterpart, assign subtypes based on the veterinary-adapted WHO classification
      system, and promote accurate reporting of retinal involvement in cases of
      intraocular lymphoma. Our findings suggest that a distinct retinal tropism is
      quite rare, representing approximately 1% of all cases of canine and feline
      ocular lymphoma. No breed or sex predispositions were identified. The mean age of
      the affected animal was 7 years (range 4-10) and 11 years (range 6-19) for dogs
      and cats, respectively. Nine cases (5 canine and 4 feline) were classified as
      diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype. The remaining cases were
      classified as peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

PMID- 26868475
TI  - Chronic cocaine disrupts neurovascular networks and cerebral function: optical
      imaging studies in rodents.
AB  - Cocaine abuse can lead to cerebral strokes and hemorrhages secondary to cocaine's
      cerebrovascular effects, which are poorly understood. We assessed cocaine's
      effects on cerebrovascular anatomy and function in the somatosensory cortex of
      the rat's brain. Optical coherence tomography was used for in vivo imaging of
      three-dimensional cerebral blood flow (CBF) networks and to quantify CBF
      velocities (CBFv), and multiwavelength laser-speckle-imaging was used to
      simultaneously measure changes in CBFv, oxygenated (Delta[HbO2] ) and
      deoxygenated hemoglobin (Delta[HbR] ) concentrations prior to and after an acute
      cocaine challenge in chronically cocaine exposed rats. Immunofluorescence
      techniques on brain slices were used to quantify microvasculature density and
      levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). After chronic cocaine (2 and
      4 weeks), CBFv in small vessels decreased, whereas vasculature density and VEGF
      levels increased. Acute cocaine further reduced CBFv and decreased Delta[HbO2]
      and this decline was larger and longer lasting in 4 weeks than 2 weeks cocaine
      exposed rats, which indicates that risk for ischemia is heightened during
      intoxication and that it increases with chronic exposures. These results provide
      evidence of cocaine-induced angiogenesis in cortex. The CBF reduction after
      chronic cocaine exposure, despite the increases in vessel density, indicate that
      angiogenesis was insufficient to compensate for cocaine-induced disruption of
      cerebrovascular function.

PMID- 26868477
TI  - Chronic cocaine exposure in adolescence: Effects on spatial discrimination
      reversal, delay discounting, and performance on fixed-ratio schedules in mice.
AB  - Adolescence is marked by the continued development of the neural pathways that
      support choice and decision-making, particularly those involving dopamine
      signaling. Cocaine exposure during adolescence may interfere with this
      development and manifest as increased perseveration and delay discounting in
      adulthood, behavioral processes that are related to drug addiction. Adolescent
      mice were exposed to 30mg/kg/day of cocaine (n=11) or saline vehicle (n=10) for
      14days and behavior was assessed in adulthood. In Experiment 1, performance on a
      spatial-discrimination-reversal procedure was evaluated. In the first two
      sessions following the first reversal, cocaine-exposed mice produced more
      preservative errors relative to controls. In Experiment 2, cocaine-exposed mice
      displayed steeper delay discounting than saline-exposed mice, effects that were
      reversed by acute cocaine administration. Experiment 3 examined responding
      maintained by a range of fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement. An analysis
      based on a theoretical framework called Mathematical Principles of Reinforcement
      (MPR) was applied to response-rate functions of individual mice. According to
      MPR, differences in response-rate functions in adulthood were due to a steepening
      of the delay-of-reinforcement gradient, disrupted motoric capacity (lower maximum
      response rates), and enhanced reinforcer efficacy for the adolescent cocaine-
      compared with saline-exposed mice. Overall, these experiments suggest that
      chronic exposure to cocaine during adolescence may impair different features of
      'executive functions' in adulthood, and these may be related to distortions in
      the impact of reinforcing events. 

PMID- 26868478
TI  - Medial prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity during emotional memory encoding
      predicts individual differences in the loss of associative memory specificity.
AB  - Emotionally charged items are often remembered better, whereas a paradoxical loss
      of specificity is found for associative emotional information (specific memory).
      The balance between specific and generalized emotional memories appears to show
      large individual differences, potentially related to differences in (the risk
      for) affective disorders that are characterized by 'overgeneralized' emotional
      memories. Here, we investigate the neural underpinnings of individual differences
      in emotional associative memory. A large group of healthy male participants were
      scanned while encoding associations of face-photographs and written occupational
      identities that were of either neutral ('driver') or negative ('murderer')
      valence. Subsequently, memory was tested by prompting participants to retrieve
      the occupational identities corresponding to each face. Whereas in both valence
      categories a similar amount of faces was labeled correctly with 'neutral' and
      'negative' identities, (gist memory), specific associations were found to be less
      accurately remembered when the occupational identity was negative compared to
      neutral (specific memory). This pattern of results suggests reduced memory
      specificity for associations containing a negatively valenced component. The
      encoding of these negative associations was paired with a selective increase in
      medial prefrontal cortex activity and medial prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity.
      Individual differences in valence-specific neural connectivity were predictive of
      valence-specific reduction of memory specificity. The relationship between loss
      of emotional memory specificity and medial prefrontal-hippocampal connectivity is
      in line with the hypothesized role of a medial prefrontal-hippocampal circuit in
      regulating memory specificity, and warrants further investigations in individuals
      displaying 'overgeneralized' emotional memories.

PMID- 26868480
TI  - Aseptic technique for accessing central venous catheters: applying a standardised
      tool to audit 'scrub the hub' practices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of infections associated with indwelling central
      venous catheters (CVCs), practices for hub disinfection have been widely
      promoted. The objective of this study was to design and implement a standardised
      tool to monitor compliance with 'scrub the hub' practices at an Australian
      centre. METHODS: Review of existing literature and recommendations regarding
      scrub the hub practices was performed to identify nine key components that could
      be audited by direct observation of staff in clinical areas. The tool was
      reviewed by stakeholders in infection prevention, infectious diseases and senior
      nursing roles prior to pilot evaluation. RESULTS: Twenty attempts to access a CVC
      were audited. In all instances, scrub the hub practices were commenced. However,
      a 15-second scrub was performed in only 60% of cases, and the hub was permitted
      to dry in only 65% of instances. With respect to maintaining an aseptic field,
      the overall compliance was 40%, and compliance was lowest for maintenance of a
      non-touch technique for key parts and sites, and hand hygiene practices following
      CVC access. CONCLUSIONS: A standardised clinical audit tool for monitoring
      aseptic access of CVCs enabled identification of practices amendable to targeted
      intervention and education, such as duration of hub disinfection. This tool would
      be readily utilised to facilitate quality improvement initiatives in a range of
      healthcare contexts, including high-risk inpatient and ambulatory care settings.

PMID- 26868479
TI  - Tc1 mouse model of trisomy-21 dissociates properties of short- and long-term
      recognition memory.
AB  - The present study examined memory function in Tc1 mice, a transchromosomic model
      of Down syndrome (DS). Tc1 mice demonstrated an unusual delay-dependent deficit
      in recognition memory. More specifically, Tc1 mice showed intact immediate
      (30sec), impaired short-term (10-min) and intact long-term (24-h) memory for
      objects. A similar pattern was observed for olfactory stimuli, confirming the
      generality of the pattern across sensory modalities. The specificity of the
      behavioural deficits in Tc1 mice was confirmed using APP overexpressing mice that
      showed the opposite pattern of object memory deficits. In contrast to object
      memory, Tc1 mice showed no deficit in either immediate or long-term memory for
      object-in-place information. Similarly, Tc1 mice showed no deficit in short-term
      memory for object-location information. The latter result indicates that Tc1 mice
      were able to detect and react to spatial novelty at the same delay interval that
      was sensitive to an object novelty recognition impairment. These results
      demonstrate (1) that novelty detection per se and (2) the encoding of visuo
      spatial information was not disrupted in adult Tc1 mice. The authors conclude
      that the task specific nature of the short-term recognition memory deficit
      suggests that the trisomy of genes on human chromosome 21 in Tc1 mice impacts on
      (perirhinal) cortical systems supporting short-term object and olfactory
      recognition memory. 

PMID- 26868481
TI  - Ultrasound-guided block of selective branches of the brachial plexus for vascular
      access surgery in the forearm: a preliminary report.
AB  - PURPOSE: The operative field for vascular access (VA) surgery in the forearm is
      on the volar surface, and motor nerve block is not necessary for regional
      anesthesia. Therefore, selective block of branches of the brachial plexus may be
      a more efficient anesthesia technique. METHODS: Individual nerve blocks in the
      axillary brachial plexus and selective blocks of the musculocutaneous and medial
      antebrachial cutaneous nerves in the upper arm were performed using low doses and
      concentrations of a local anesthetic mixture of lidocaine and ropivacaine under
      ultrasound (US) guidance in patients undergoing VA surgery in the forearm. The
      targeted nerves were identified by continuous US tracing along the upper arm to
      the axilla in a short-axis view. We performed three VA surgeries in the forearm
      using an axillary brachial plexus block and four using a selective two-nerve bock
      in the upper arm. We recorded any additional anesthetic requirement and evaluated
      intraoperative pain using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFRS; 0 = no
      pain; 10 = worst pain). RESULTS: All of the target nerve branches were clearly
      identified by US tracing. All patients had satisfactory intraoperative pain
      control (0 or 2 score on WBFRS). Four patients required small additional doses of
      local anesthetic. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided block of individual branches of the
      brachial plexus at the axilla achieved effective anesthesia using small amounts
      of local anesthetic. An advanced selective nerve block in the upper arm allows
      minimum necessary anesthesia and provides safe and efficient analgesia for VA
      surgery in the forearm.

PMID- 26868484
TI  - Corrections.

PMID- 26868482
TI  - Type IIIb Endoleak and Relining: A Mathematical Model of Distraction Forces.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine the changes in distraction force following relining of a
      conventional abdominal aortic stent-graft with a type IIIb endoleak using the
      Nellix endovascular sealing device compared to a unilateral stent-graft. METHODS:
      Relining is often used to repair type IIIb endoleaks, but the consequences to
      graft stability are unknown. A mathematical model was constructed based on
      pressure and volume flow through the stent-grafts, incorporating recognized
      distraction force equations. Steady flow was presumed at peak systolic pressures
      to calculate the maximum distraction force, with gravity ignored. Distraction
      forces for 28- to 36-mm-diameter stent-graft bodies with 16-mm limbs were
      calculated and compared to forces following relining with single and double
      Nellix devices or the Renu unilateral device. RESULTS: Distraction forces for the
      28-, 32-, and 36-mm stent-grafts prior to relining were 5.99, 10.21, and 14.99 N,
      respectively. Similar forces were reported after relining with bilateral Nellix
      devices (5.86, 10.08, and 14.86 N, respectively). However, use of a unilateral
      Nellix increased the distraction forces to 9.92, 14.14, and 18.92 N,
      respectively. These were comparable to the increase observed after relining with
      a Renu unilateral stent-graft (9.87, 14.09, and 18.86 N, respectively). The
      proportional increase in distraction force for a unilateral relining ranged from
      26% to 66%, with the greatest increase noted in the smaller diameter main bodies.
      CONCLUSION: Relining a stent-graft with a type IIIb endoleak using bilateral
      Nellix devices does not increase the distraction force. However, a unilateral
      Nellix device or the Renu system could theoretically increase the distraction
      force by up to 66%, potentially risking migration and type Ia endoleak. In
      clinical practice, these results suggest that a relining with bilateral Nellix
      may have benefits over the Renu unilateral stent-graft.

PMID- 26868483
TI  - Malignant Melanoma Presenting as Pedunculated Lesion of the Caruncle.

PMID- 26868485
TI  - Corrections.

PMID- 26868486
TI  - Differences in Pedaling Technique in Cycling: A Cluster Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To employ cluster analysis to assess if cyclists would opt for different
      strategies in terms of neuromuscular patterns when pedaling at the power output
      of their second ventilatory threshold (POVT2) compared with cycling at their
      maximal power output (POMAX). METHODS: Twenty athletes performed an incremental
      cycling test to determine their power output (POMAX and POVT2; first session),
      and pedal forces, muscle activation, muscle-tendon unit length, and vastus
      lateralis architecture (fascicle length, pennation angle, and muscle thickness)
      were recorded (second session) in POMAX and POVT2. Athletes were assigned to 2
      clusters based on the behavior of outcome variables at POVT2 and POMAX using
      cluster analysis. RESULTS: Clusters 1 (n = 14) and 2 (n = 6) showed similar power
      output and oxygen uptake. Cluster 1 presented larger increases in pedal force and
      knee power than cluster 2, without differences for the index of effectiveness.
      Cluster 1 presented less variation in knee angle, muscle-tendon unit length,
      pennation angle, and tendon length than cluster 2. However, clusters 1 and 2
      showed similar muscle thickness, fascicle length, and muscle activation. When
      cycling at POVT2 vs POMAX, cyclists could opt for keeping a constant knee power
      and pedal-force production, associated with an increase in tendon excursion and a
      constant fascicle length. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in power output lead to greater
      variations in knee angle, muscle-tendon unit length, tendon length, and pennation
      angle of vastus lateralis for a similar knee-extensor activation and smaller
      pedal-force changes in cyclists from cluster 2 than in cluster 1.

PMID- 26868488
TI  - Nocardioides rotundus sp. nov., isolated from deep seawater.
AB  - A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, coccoid-shaped, non-motile actinobacterium,
      designated strain GY0594T, was isolated from deep seawater of the western
      Pacific. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this
      strain was affiliated with the genus Nocardioides with low 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarities ( <= 96.0 %) with members of the genus Nocardioides. Chemotaxonomic
      characterization of strain GYP0594T supported the result of the phylogenetic
      analysis. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ll-2,6
      diaminopimelic acid. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The polar lipids
      detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol,
      one unidentified lipid and six unidentified phospholipids. The major cellular
      fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and C18 : 1omega9c. The DNA G+C content of strain
      GY0594T was determined to be 71.2 mol%. However, strain GY0594T could be
      distinguished from closely related species by cell morphology, nitrate reduction,
      aesculin hydrolysis, activity of urease, cystine arylamidase, trypsin and acid
      phosphatase, assimilation of N-acetylglucosamine, maltose, adipic acid, malic
      acid and phenylacetate, and significant differences in the proportions of several
      fatty acids. In conclusion, based on the data presented, strain GY0594T should be
      placed in the genus Nocardioides as a representative of a novel species, for
      which the name Nocardioides rotundus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is
      GY0594T ( = MCCC 1A10561T = KCTC 39638T). 

PMID- 26868487
TI  - Phosphorylation Regulates Functions of ZEB1 Transcription Factor.
AB  - ZEB1 transcription factor is important in both development and disease, including
      many TGFbeta-induced responses, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
      (EMT) by which many tumors undergo metastasis. ZEB1 is differentially
      phosphorylated in different cell types; however the role of phosphorylation in
      ZEB1 activity is unknown. Luciferase reporter studies and electrophoresis
      mobility shift assays (EMSA) show that a decrease in phosphorylation of ZEB1
      increases both DNA-binding and transcriptional repression of ZEB1 target genes.
      Functional analysis of ZEB1 phosphorylation site mutants near the second zinc
      finger domain (termed ZD2) show that increased phosphorylation (due to either PMA
      plus ionomycin, or IGF-1) can inhibit transcriptional repression by either a ZEB1
      ZD2 domain clone, or full-length ZEB1. This approach identifies phosphosites that
      have a substantial effect regulating the transcriptional and DNA-binding activity
      of ZEB1. Immunoprecipitation with anti-ZEB1 antibodies followed by western
      analysis with a phospho-Threonine-Proline-specific antibody indicates that the
      ERK consensus site at Thr-867 is phosphorylated in ZEB1. In addition to
      disrupting in vitro DNA-binding measured by EMSA, IGF-1-induced MEK/ERK
      phosphorylation is sufficient to disrupt nuclear localization of GFP-ZEB1 fusion
      clones. These data suggest that phosphorylation of ZEB1 integrates TGFbeta
      signaling with other signaling pathways such as IGF-1. J. Cell. Physiol. 231:
      2205-2217, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26868489
TI  - The role of social determinants on tuberculosis/HIV co-infection mortality in
      southwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The role played by social determinants of health including social,
      economic, environmental and cultural factors in influencing health outcomes for
      many health conditions has been widely described. However, the potential impact
      of these factors on morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases particularly
      tuberculosis (Tb)/HIV co-infection mortality is scantly addressed. We assessed
      the role that social determinants play in Tb/HIV co-infection mortality in
      southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study collated Tb and HIV
      data from Jimma University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia for the period
      of September 2010 and August 2012. Data analysis was conducted using STATA
      version 14 for mackintosh. Both descriptive and inferential statistics analyses
      were performed. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated
      with Tb/HIV co-infection mortality at P value of <=0.05 in the final model.
      RESULTS: Fifty-five (20.2 %) patients died during the study period. Compared to
      their counterparts, more Tb/HIV co-infection death was observed in young age
      groups between 25 and 34 years (47.3 %), females (58.2 %), daily labors (40 %)
      and Muslim followers (54.5 %). 43.6 and 41.8 % of study participants respectively
      had single and double bedrooms, and 25.5 and 23.6 % of deceased study
      participants did not have water and electricity in the household respectively.
      Logistic regression analyses demonstrated the following factors significantly
      associated with Tb/HIV co-infection mortality: being a commercial sex worker
      (AOR, 5.6; 95 % CI, 1.2-25.8), being of bed ridden functional status (AOR, 3.9;
      95 % CI, 1.5-10.3) and being a rural resident (AOR, 3.4; 95 % CI, 1.4-8.4).
      CONCLUSIONS: One-fifth of Tb/HIV co-infected patients died due to the co
      infection. Social determinants including type of occupation, severity of disease
      and residing in rural areas seemed to have a significant association with the
      poor disease outcome. Findings of this study inform the role that social
      determinants play in influencing mortality due to Tb/HIV co-infection. Consistent
      with principles of primary health care as stated by Alma Ata declaration, and in
      order to achieve better disease outcomes, intervention frameworks that address
      Tb/HIV mortality should not only focus on the medical interventions of diseases,
      but should also integrate and improve social determinants of affected
      populations.

PMID- 26868491
TI  - Integrated microRNA-mRNA analyses reveal OPLL specific microRNA regulatory
      network using high-throughput sequencing.
AB  - Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a genetic disorder
      which involves pathological heterotopic ossification of the spinal ligaments.
      Although studies have identified several genes that correlated with OPLL, the
      underlying regulation network is far from clear. Through small RNA sequencing, we
      compared the microRNA expressions of primary posterior longitudinal ligament
      cells form OPLL patients with normal patients (PLL) and identified 218
      dysregulated miRNAs (FDR < 0.01). Furthermore, assessing the miRNA profiling data
      of multiple cell types, we found these dysregulated miRNAs were mostly OPLL
      specific. In order to decipher the regulation network of these OPLL specific
      miRNAs, we integrated mRNA expression profiling data with miRNA sequencing data.
      Through computational approaches, we showed the pivotal roles of these OPLL
      specific miRNAs in heterotopic ossification of longitudinal ligament by
      discovering highly correlated miRNA/mRNA pairs that associated with skeletal
      system development, collagen fibril organization, and extracellular matrix
      organization. The results of which provide strong evidence that the miRNA
      regulatory networks we established may indeed play vital roles in OPLL onset and
      progression. To date, this is the first systematic analysis of the micronome in
      OPLL, and thus may provide valuable resources in finding novel treatment and
      diagnostic targets of OPLL.

PMID- 26868490
TI  - Complications of sickle cell anaemia in children in Northwestern Tanzania.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Tanzania has the third highest birth rate of sickle cell anaemia
      (SCA) in Africa, but few studies describe severity of complications or available
      treatments, especially in Northwest Tanzania around Lake Victoria where the
      sickle gene is most prevalent. This is a report of the spectrum of clinical
      disease and range of interventions available at Bugando Medical Centre (Bugando)
      in Northwest Tanzania in Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out
      in Bugando between 1 August 2012 and 30 September 2012. Children (<15 years old)
      with SCA attending Bugando were sequentially enrolled. A trained research
      assistant completed a Swahili questionnaire with the parent or guardian of each
      participant concerning demographic information, clinical features of disease, and
      treatments received. RESULTS: Among the 124 participants enrolled, the median age
      was 6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4-8.5), and only 13 (10.5%) were < 3 years
      old. Almost all participants (97.6%) had a prior history of a vaso-occlusive
      episode, 83 (66.9%) had prior acute chest syndrome, and 21 (16.9%) had prior
      stroke. In the preceding 12 months, 120 (96.8%) had been hospitalized, and a vaso
      occlusive episode was the most common reason for hospitalization (35.5%).
      Prescriptions for folic acid (92.7%) and malaria prophylaxis (84.7%) were common,
      but only one had received a pneumococcal vaccine, and none had received
      hydroxyurea or prophylactic penicillin. CONCLUSION: Children with SCA receiving
      care in Tanzania are diagnosed late, hospitalized frequently, and have severe
      complications. Opportunities exist to improve care through wider access to
      screening and diagnosis as well as better coordination of comprehensive care.

PMID- 26868492
TI  - Lipids and immunoinflammatory pathways of beta cell destruction.
AB  - Islet inflammation contributes to beta cell demise in both type 1 and type 2
      diabetes. 12-Lipoxygenase (12-LO, gene expressed as ALOX12 in humans and 12-Lo in
      rodents in this manuscript) produces proinflammatory metabolites such as 12(S)
      hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids through dioxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty
      acids. 12-LO was first implicated in diabetes when the increase in 12-Lo
      expression and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was noted in rodent models of
      diabetes. Subsequently, germline 12-Lo (-/-) was shown to prevent the development
      of hyperglycemia in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and in high-fat fed mice.
      More recently, beta cell-specific 12-Lo (-/-) was shown to protect mice against
      hyperglycaemia after streptozotocin and a high-fat diet. In humans, 12-LO
      expression is increased in pancreatic islets of autoantibody-positive, type 1
      diabetic and type 2 diabetic organ donors. Interestingly, the high expression of
      ALOX12 is associated with the alteration in first-phase glucose-stimulated
      insulin secretion in human type 2 diabetic islets. To further clarify the role of
      islet 12-LO in diabetes and to validate 12-LO as a therapeutic target of
      diabetes, we have studied selective pharmacological inhibitors for 12-LO. The
      compounds we have identified show promise: they protect beta cell lines and human
      islets from apoptosis and preserve insulin secretion when challenged by
      proinflammatory cytokine mixture. Currently studies are underway to test the
      compounds in mouse models of diabetes. This review summarises a presentation
      given at the 'Islet inflammation in type 2 diabetes' symposium at the 2015 annual
      meeting of the EASD. It is accompanied two other mini-reviews on topics from this
      symposium (by Simone Baltrusch, DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3891-x and Marc Donath,
      DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3873-z ) and a commentary by the Session Chair, Piero
      Marchetti (DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3875-x ).

PMID- 26868493
TI  - Multiple benefits of targeting inflammation in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
AB  - The association between the metabolic syndrome and a pathological activation of
      the innate immune system is now well established. Thus, defective insulin
      secretion and action are due, at least in part, to islet, liver and fat
      inflammation in type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, an inflammatory process also seems
      to be involved in the development of cardiovascular, renal and ophthalmological
      complications of this disease. Interestingly, several other inflammatory diseases
      are associated with the metabolic syndrome, such as psoriasis, gout and rheumatic
      arthritis. The aim of this review is to discuss the clinical progress of anti
      inflammatory drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and then speculate on the
      possible further development of these drugs, with the aim of using the drugs in
      combination in order to combat the multiple manifestations of inflammatory
      diseases. This review summarises a presentation given at the 'Islet inflammation
      in type 2 diabetes' symposium at the 2015 annual meeting of the EASD. It is
      accompanied by two other reviews on topics from this symposium (by Simone
      Baltrusch, DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3891-x , and Jerry Nadler and colleagues, DOI:
      10.1007/s00125-016-3890-y ) and a commentary by the Session Chair, Piero
      Marchetti (DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3875-x ).

PMID- 26868494
TI  - Length of Residence and Vehicle Ownership in Relation to Physical Activity Among
      U.S. Immigrants.
AB  - Physical activity among U.S. immigrants over time is not well understood.
      Transportation may affect this trajectory. Using a survey of documented
      immigrants (N = 7240), we performed simple, then multivariable logistic
      regression to calculate ORs and 95 % CIs between length of residence (LOR) and
      both light-to-moderate (LPA) and vigorous (VPA) activity. We adjusted for
      demographic variables, then vehicle ownership to assess changes in ORs. Compared
      to new arrivals, all four LOR time-intervals were associated with lower odds of
      LPA and higher odds of VPA in simple analysis. All ORs for LPA remained
      significant after including demographics, but only one remained significant after
      adding vehicle ownership. Two ORs for VPA remained significant after including
      demographics and after adding vehicle ownership. Immigrants lower their light-to
      moderate activity the longer they reside in the U.S., partly from substituting
      driving for walking. Efforts to maintain walking for transportation among
      immigrants are warranted.

PMID- 26868495
TI  - Gender Differences in Platelet Reactivity in Patients Receiving Dual Antiplatelet
      Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk is still underestimated in women, experiencing
      higher mortality and worse prognosis after acute cardiovascular events. Gender
      differences have been reported in thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk during dual
      antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), thus suggesting a potential variability in platelet
      reactivity according to sex. The aim of the present study was to assess the role
      of gender on platelet function and the prevalence of high-on treatment residual
      platelet reactivity (HRPR) during DAPT in patients with recent acute coronary
      syndrome or percutaneous coronary revascularization. METHODS: Patients treated
      with DAPT (ASA and clopidogrel or ticagrelor) were scheduled for platelet
      function assessment at 30-90 days post-discharge. By whole blood impedance
      aggregometry, HRPR was considered for ASPI test >862 AU*min (for ASA) and ADP
      test values >=417 AU*min (for ADP-antagonists). RESULTS: We included 541 patients
      on DAPT, 122 (22.6 %) of whom were females. Females were older (p < 0.001),
      displayed more frequently hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.003), renal failure (p =
      0.04), acute presentation (p < 0.001), higher cholesterol levels and platelets
      count (p < 0.001). Inverse association was demonstrated with smoking (p < 0.001),
      previous PCI (p = 0.04) and statin use (p = 0.03), creatinine and haemoglobin (p
      < 0.001). Female gender did not influence mean platelet reactivity or the
      prevalence of HRPR for ASA (1.7 % vs 1.4 %, OR[95%CI] = 1.14[0.17-4.36], p =
      0.99, adjusted OR[95%CI] = 1.54[0.20-11.6], p = 0.68) or ADP-antagonists (26.3 %
      vs 22.8 %, OR[95%CI] = 1.17[0.52-1.34], p = 0.45, adjusted OR[95%CI] = 1.05[0.59
      1.86], p = 0.87). Results did not change when considering separately the 309
      patients treated with clopidogrel (34 % vs 31.3 %, OR[95%CI] = 1.13[0.62-2.07], p
      = 0.76, adjusted OR[95%CI] = 1.35[0.63-2.9], p = 0.44 for females vs males), or
      patients (n = 232) on ticagrelor (20.4 % vs 11.1 %, OR[95%CI] = 2.27[0.99-5.17],
      p = 0.06 for females vs males), confirmed after correction for baseline
      differences (adjusted OR[95%CI] = 1.21[0.28-2.29], p = 0.68). CONCLUSION: In
      patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy, gender does not impact on the
      prevalence of high-on treatment residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) with the
      major antiplatelet agents ASA, clopidogrel or ticagrelor.

PMID- 26868496
TI  - Dislocation-enhanced experimental-scale vacancy loop formation in hcp Zirconium
      in one single collision cascade.
AB  - Large defects are the main factor leading to the degradation of material
      properties under irradiation environments. It is commonly assumed that the large
      defects are mainly formed through cluster growth under continuous irradiations.
      Besides this mechanism, recent experiments and simulations show that sometimes an
      individual ion can also directly create a large defect. Here we report a novel
      mechanism for the formation of the large defects, as discovered by our Molecular
      Dynamics (MD) simulations of the collision cascades in hcp Zirconium (Zr): a pre
      existing edge dislocation (ED) can significantly promote the nucleation of the
      vacancy clusters, and even facilitate the direct formation of an experimental
      scale large vacancy loop (about 3 nm) in only one single displacement cascade.
      This dislocation-related mechanism may be the key for understanding the
      experimental results in the low-dose irradiated Zr where the high-density large
      dislocation loops are observed but difficult to be explained by the two
      mechanisms mentioned above. Considering that intrinsic dislocations exist in
      nearly all crystalline materials, our results provide a significant concept: pre
      existing dislocations have a strong influence on the primary damage production,
      and taking them into account is indispensable for assessing and improving the
      material's irradiation-resistance.

PMID- 26868497
TI  - Low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening: comparison of performance
      between annual and biennial screen.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the performance metrics of two different strategies of
      lung cancer screening by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), namely, annual
      (LDCT1) or biennial (LDCT2) screen. METHODS: Recall rate, detection rate,
      interval cancers, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive
      values (PPV and NPV, respectively) were compared between LDCT1 and LDCT2 arms of
      the MILD trial over the first seven (T0-T6; median follow-up 7.3 years) and four
      rounds (T0-T3; median follow-up 7.3 years), respectively. RESULTS: 1152 LDCT1 and
      1151 LDCT2 participants underwent a total of 6893 and 4715 LDCT scans,
      respectively. The overall recall rate was higher in LDCT2 arm (6.97 %) than in
      LDCT1 arm (5.81 %) (p = 0.01), which was counterbalanced by the overall lower
      number of LDCT scans. No difference was observed for the overall detection rate
      (0.56 % in both arms). The two LDCT arms had similar specificity (99.2 % in both
      arms), sensitivity (73.5 %, in LDCT2 vs. 68.5 % in LDCT1, p = 0.62), PPV (42.4 %,
      in LDCT2, vs. 40.6 %, in LDCT1, p = 0.83) and NPV (99.8 %, in LDCT2 vs. 99.7 %,
      in LDCT1, p = 0.71). CONCLUSION: Biennial screen may save about one third of LDCT
      scans with similar performance indicators as compared to annual screening. KEY
      POINTS: * Biennial LDCT screening may be as efficient as the annual screening. *
      Annual and biennial LDCT screening have similar frequency of interval lung
      cancers. * Biennial screening may save about one third of LDCT scans.

PMID- 26868499
TI  - Obituary for Prof. Torsten Almen.

PMID- 26868498
TI  - Graph theoretical analysis reveals the reorganization of the brain network
      pattern in primary open angle glaucoma patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Most previous glaucoma studies with resting-state fMRI have focused
      on the neuronal activity in the individual structure of the brain, yet ignored
      the functional communication of anatomically separated structures. The purpose of
      this study is to investigate the efficiency of the functional communication
      change or not in glaucoma patients. METHODS: We applied the resting-state fMRI
      data to construct the connectivity network of 25 normal controls and 25 age
      gender-matched primary open angle glaucoma patients. Graph theoretical analysis
      was performed to assess brain network pattern differences between the two groups.
      RESULTS: No significant differences of the global network measures were found
      between the two groups. However, the local measures were radically reorganized in
      glaucoma patients. Comparing with the hub regions in normal controls' network, we
      found that six hub regions disappeared and nine hub regions appeared in the
      network of patients. In addition, the betweenness centralities of two altered hub
      regions, right fusiform gyrus and right lingual gyrus, were significantly
      correlated with the visual field mean deviation. CONCLUSIONS: Although the
      efficiency of functional communication is preserved in the brain network of the
      glaucoma at the global level, the efficiency of functional communication is
      altered in some specialized regions of the glaucoma. KEY POINTS: * Global
      topological measures of brain network have no alterations in glaucoma patients. *
      Local network measures are radically reorganized in glaucoma patients. * The
      alterations of hub regions are found in the glaucoma. * Betweenness centrality of
      altered hubs may reflect the glaucoma severity.

PMID- 26868500
TI  - MR diagnosis of diaphragmatic endometriosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diaphragmatic
      endometriosis diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 2-year period, all
      diaphragmatic MRI performed in the context of diaphragmatic endometriosis were
      reviewed. Axial and coronal fat-suppressed T1- and T2-weighted sequences were
      analyzed by two independent readers for the presence of nodules, plaque lesions,
      micronodule clustering, or focal liver herniation. MR abnormalities were
      correlated to surgical findings in women surgically treated. Interobserver
      agreement was assessed by kappa statistics. RESULTS: Twenty-three women with
      diaphragmatic endometriosis criteria comprised the population; 14 had surgical
      confirmation and nine had symptoms relief with hormonal treatment. MRI
      sensitivity was 83 % (19/23; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 68, 98) for reader 1
      and 78 % (18/23; 95 % CI: 61, 95) for reader 2. Kappa value was 0.86 (95 % CI:
      0.47, 1.00). Readers 1 and 2 detected 35 and 36 lesions, respectively, all right
      sided and agreed for 32 lesions on the type, location, and signal. Lesions were
      mostly nodules (23/32, 72 %), predominantly posterior (28/32, 87.5 %) and
      hyperintense on T1 (20/32, 63 %). MRI was negative for both readers in 2
      surgically treated patients with small nodules or isolated diaphragmatic holes.
      CONCLUSION: MRI allows diaphragmatic endometriosis diagnosis with 78 to 83 %
      sensitivity and excellent interobserver agreement. KEY POINTS: * MRI allows the
      diagnosis of diaphragmatic endometriosis with up to 83 % sensitivity. *
      Diaphragmatic endometriosis lesions are better depicted on fat-suppressed T1
      weighted sequences. * Diaphragmatic lesions, mostly hyperintense nodules, are
      right-sided and predominantly posterior. * MRI can help in timely diagnosis of
      diaphragmatic endometriosis.

PMID- 26868501
TI  - Tandem amino acid repeats in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) and other
      squamates may have a role in increasing genetic variability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tandem amino acid repeats are characterised by the consecutive
      recurrence of a single amino acid. They exhibit high rates of length mutations in
      addition to point mutations and have been proposed to be involved in genetic
      plasticity. Squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) diversify in both morphology
      and physiology. The underlying mechanism is yet to be understood. In a previous
      phylogenomic analysis of reptiles, the density of tandem repeats in an anole
      lizard diverged heavily from that of the other reptiles. To gain further insight
      into the tandem amino acid repeats in squamates, we analysed the repeat content
      in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) proteome and compared the amino acid
      repeats in a large orthologous protein data set from six vertebrates (the Western
      clawed frog, the green anole, the Chinese softshell turtle, the zebra finch,
      mouse and human). RESULTS: Our results revealed that the number of amino acid
      repeats in the green anole exceeded those found in the other five species
      studied. Species-only repeats were found in high proportion in the green anole
      but not in the other five species, suggesting that the green anole had gained
      many amino acid repeats in either the Anolis or the squamate lineage. Since the
      amino acid repeat containing genes in the green anole were highly enriched in
      genes related to transcription and development, an important family of
      developmental genes, i.e., the Hox family, was further studied in a wide
      collection of squamates. Abundant amino acid repeats were also observed, implying
      the general high tolerance of amino acid repeats in squamates. A particular
      enrichment of amino acid repeats was observed in the central class Hox genes that
      are known to be responsible for defining cervical to lumbar regions. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our study suggests that the abundant amino acid repeats in the green anole, and
      possibly in other squamates, may play a role in increasing the genetic
      variability, and contribute to the evolutionary diversity of this clade.

PMID- 26868502
TI  - Factors associated with initiation of medical advanced cardiac life support after
      out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Termination of resuscitation rule permits to stop futile
      resuscitative efforts by paramedics. In a different setting, the decision to
      withhold resuscitation by emergency physician could be based on different
      factors. We aimed to identify the factors associated with the initiation of a
      medical ACLS in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. METHODS: We
      prospectively collected the characteristics of all out-of hospital cardiac arrest
      patients occurring in a French district between March 2010 and December 2013 and
      managed by the emergency medical system. We analyzed the factors associated with
      the initiation of medical ACLS. RESULTS: Medical ACLS was initiated in 69 % of
      the 2690 patients included in the register. ACLS patients were younger (69 years
      [55-80] vs. 84 years [77-90]) and more frequently men. A higher percentage of
      witnessed cardiac arrest and BLS were observed. Duration of no-flow was shorter
      in the ACLS patients, whereas BLS duration was longer. A higher proportion of
      shockable rhythm and application of AED were found in this group. Mains factors
      associated with the initiation of medical ACLS were a suspected cardiac cause
      (1.73 [1.30-2.30]) and use of an automated external defibrillator (1.59 [1.18
      2.16]), whereas factors associated with no medical ACLS were higher age (0.93
      [0.92-0.94]), absence of BLS (0.62 [0.52-0.73]), asystole (0.31 [0.18-0.51]) and
      location in nursing home (0.23 [0.11-0.51]). CONCLUSIONS: The medical decision to
      not initiate ACLS in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients seems to rely on a
      complex combination of validated criteria used for termination of resuscitation
      and factors resulting from an intuitive perception of the outcome.

PMID- 26868503
TI  - The occlusion tests and end-expiratory esophageal pressure: measurements and
      comparison in controlled and assisted ventilation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Esophageal pressure is used as a reliable surrogate of the pleural
      pressure. It is conventionally measured by an esophageal balloon placed in the
      lower part of the esophagus. To validate the correct position of the balloon, a
      positive pressure occlusion test by compressing the thorax during an end
      expiratory pause or a Baydur test obtained by occluding the airway during an
      inspiratory effort is used. An acceptable catheter position is defined when the
      ratio between the changes in esophageal and airway pressure (?Pes/?Paw) is close
      to unity. Sedation and paralysis could affect the accuracy of esophageal pressure
      measurements. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in mechanically ventilated
      patients, the effects of paralysis, two different esophageal balloon positions
      and two PEEP levels on the ?Pes/?Paw ratio measured by the positive pressure
      occlusion and the Baydur tests and on the end-expiratory esophageal pressure and
      respiratory mechanics (lung and chest wall). METHODS: Twenty-one intubated and
      mechanically ventilated patients (mean age 64.8 +/- 14.0 years, body mass index
      24.2 +/- 4.3 kg/m(2), PaO2/FiO2 319.4 +/- 117.3 mmHg) were enrolled. In step 1,
      patients were sedated and paralyzed during volume-controlled ventilation, and in
      step 2, they were only sedated during pressure support ventilation. In each step,
      two esophageal balloon positions (middle and low, between 25-30 cm and 40-45 cm
      from the mouth) and two levels of PEEP (0 and 10 cmH2O) were applied. The
      ?Pes/?Paw ratio and end-expiratory esophageal pressure were evaluated. RESULTS:
      The ?Pes/?Paw ratio was slightly higher (+0.11) with positive occlusion test
      compared with Baydur's test. The level of PEEP and the esophageal balloon
      position did not affect this ratio. The ?Pes and ?Paw were significantly related
      to a correlation coefficient of r = 0.984 during the Baydur test and r = 0.909 in
      the positive occlusion test. End-expiratory esophageal pressure was significantly
      higher in sedated and paralyzed patients compared with sedated patients (+2.47
      cmH2O) and when esophageal balloon was positioned in the low position (+2.26
      cmH2O). The esophageal balloon position slightly influenced the lung elastance,
      while the PEEP reduced the chest wall elastance without affecting the lung and
      total respiratory system elastance. CONCLUSIONS: Paralysis and balloon position
      did not clinically affect the measurement of the ?Pes/?Paw ratio, while they
      significantly increased the end-expiratory esophageal pressure.

PMID- 26868504
TI  - The safety and efficacy of AphtoFix(r) mouth ulcer cream in the management of
      recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recurrent Aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a prevalent ulcerative and
      painful disorder of the oral cavity with unknown etiology and for which no
      efficient treatment is currently available. The present study aimed to evaluate
      the safety and the efficacy of AphtoFix(r), a new mouth ulcer cream that was
      developed to help treat RAS. Prior to launching the product on the market, two
      initial safety assessment studies were performed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a
      first study, the in vitro biocompatibility of AphtoFix(r) was evaluated on
      reconstructed human gingival tissue models according to ISO guidelines 10993. In
      a second study, the tolerability of AphtoFix(r) was evaluated in 20 subjects
      during a 4-weeks daily application in the mouth. The third study investigated
      both the safety and efficacy of AphtoFix(r) treatment on 19 patients suffering
      from RAS. This study was done in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration.
      RESULTS: The results of in vitro biocompatibility study showed that AphtoFix(r)
      mouth ulcer cream did not induce any detectable cytotoxicity and irritation.
      These observations were confirmed in the 4 weeks tolerability study where no
      undesired of adverse reactions were noticed. The results of the post-market
      clinical efficacy study demonstrated a clear reduction in ulcer size from
      baseline after 3 days treatment (p < 0.05). Pain intensity reduction was also
      observed in all subjects. CONCLUSION: The application of AphtoFix(r) did not
      induce any undesired skin or mucosa reactions. These initial findings demonstrate
      that AphtoFix(r) is safe and efficient in reducing ulcer size and decreasing the
      pain intensity induced by ulcers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial Registry
      India Nr. CTRI201408004918 , Date of registration: 22/08/2014.

PMID- 26868505
TI  - Erratum to: Potassium urinary excretion and dietary intake: a cross-sectional
      analysis in 8-10 year-old children.

PMID- 26868506
TI  - Lysosomal recruitment of TSC2 is a universal response to cellular stress.
AB  - mTORC1 promotes cell growth and is therefore inactivated upon unfavourable growth
      conditions. Signalling pathways downstream of most cellular stresses converge on
      TSC1/2, which serves as an integration point that inhibits mTORC1. The TSC1/2
      complex was shown to translocate to lysosomes to inactivate mTORC1 in response to
      two stresses: amino-acid starvation and growth factor removal. Whether other
      stresses also regulate TSC2 localization is not known. How TSC2 localization
      responds to combinations of stresses and other stimuli is also unknown. We show
      that both amino acids and growth factors are required simultaneously to maintain
      TSC2 cytoplasmic; when one of the two is missing, TSC2 relocalizes to lysosomes.
      Furthermore, multiple different stresses that inhibit mTORC1 also drive TSC2
      lysosomal accumulation. Our findings indicate that lysosomal recruitment of TSC2
      is a universal response to stimuli that inactivate mTORC1, and that the presence
      of any single stress is sufficient to cause TSC2 lysosomal localization. 

PMID- 26868508
TI  - RVX-208, a BET-inhibitor for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,
      raises ApoA-I/HDL and represses pathways that contribute to cardiovascular
      disease.
AB  - High density lipoproteins (HDL), through activity of the main protein component
      apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
      by removing excess cholesterol from atherosclerotic plaque. In this study, we
      demonstrate that the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor RVX-208
      increases ApoA-I gene transcription and protein production in human and primate
      primary hepatocytes. Accordingly, RVX-208 also significantly increases levels of
      ApoA-I, HDL-associated cholesterol, and HDL particle number in patients who
      received the compound in recently completed phase 2b trials SUSTAIN and ASSURE.
      Moreover, a post-hoc analysis showed lower instances of major adverse cardiac
      events in patients receiving RVX-208. To understand the effects of RVX-208 on
      biological processes underlying cardiovascular risk, we performed microarray
      analyses of human primary hepatocytes and whole blood treated ex vivo. Overall,
      data showed that RVX-208 raises ApoA-I/HDL and represses pro-inflammatory, pro
      atherosclerotic and pro-thrombotic pathways that can contribute to CVD risk.

PMID- 26868507
TI  - Effects of simvastatin, ezetimibe and simvastatin/ezetimibe on mitochondrial
      function and leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions in patients with
      hypercholesterolemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cholesterol-lowering therapy has been related with several beneficial
      effects; however, its influence on oxidative stress and endothelial function is
      not fully elucidated. AIMS: To investigate the effect of simvastatin and
      ezetimibe on mitochondrial function and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in
      polymorphonuclear cells of hyperlipidemic patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine
      hyperlipidemic patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one received
      simvastatin (40 mg/day) and the other received ezetimibe (10 mg/day) for 4 weeks,
      after which both groups were administered combined therapy for an additional 4
      week period. Lipid profile, mitochondrial parameters (oxygen consumption,
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane potential), glutathione levels,
      superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity and leukocyte/endothelial cell
      interactions and adhesion molecules -VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, were evaluated.
      RESULTS: An improvement in lipid profile was observed after administration of
      simvastatin or ezetimibe alone (LDLc: -40.2 vs -19.6%, respectively), though this
      effect was stronger with the former (p < 0.001), and a further reduction was
      registered when the two were combined (LDLc: -50.7% vs -56.8%, respectively). In
      addition to this, simvastatin, ezetimibe and simvastatin + ezetimibe
      significantly increased oxygen consumption, membrane potential and glutathione
      content, and decreased levels of ROS, thereby improving mitochondrial function.
      Furthermore, simvastatin + ezetimibe increased catalase activity. In addition,
      simvastatin and simvastatin/ezetimibe improved leukocyte/endothelium interactions
      by decreasing leukocyte rolling and adhesion and increasing leukocyte rolling
      velocity. Finally, simvastatin, ezetimibe and simvastatin + ezetimibe reduced
      levels of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, and ezetimibe + simvastatin significantly
      decreased levels of E-selectin. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of simvastatin and
      ezetimibe has an additive cholesterol-lowering effect and beneficial consequences
      for mitochondrial function and leukocyte/endothelium interactions in leukocytes
      of hypercholesterolemic patients.

PMID- 26868509
TI  - High triglyceride levels alter the correlation of apolipoprotein B with low- and
      non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol mostly in individuals with diabetes or
      metabolic syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of Apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) with low-density
      (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in untreated
      individuals attending a lipid clinic. METHODS: This was a retrospective study
      conducted in Greece and including 1000 dyslipidemic subjects. We included
      individuals not taking lipid-lowering therapy at baseline visit and divided them
      in 2 groups: subjects diagnosed with diabetes or fulfilling the criteria of
      metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperlipidemic subjects without diabetes or MetS.
      The correlations (r(2)) of Apo-B with LDL-C and non-HDL-C were assessed in these
      2 groups. Further analyses were performed according to the baseline triglyceride
      (TG) levels (<and >=200 mg/dL). RESULTS: From 821 eligible subjects, 51% were
      diagnosed with diabetes or MetS. The correlations between Apo-B and LDL-C or non
      HDL-C were similar for the individuals with TG < 200 mg/dL. Specifically, Apo-B
      was significantly correlated with LDL-C (r(2) = 0.755, p < 0.01, for those with
      diabetes or MetS; r(2) = 0.848, p < 0.01, for non-diabetic and no MetS
      hyperlipidemic subjects). The corresponding correlations between Apo-B and non
      HDL-C for the 2 groups were 0.743 and 0.838, respectively (p < 0.01). Although
      these correlations remained significant for the individuals with high TG levels
      (>=200 mg/dL), the correlation factor was markedly decreased mostly in those with
      diabetes or MetS (r(2) = 0.600, p < 0.01, for the correlation between Apo-B and
      LDL-C; r(2) = 0.604, p < 0.01, for the correlation between Apo-B and non-HDL-C);
      in contrast, the corresponding correlations were stronger in the non-diabetic and
      no MetS hyperlipidemic individuals (r(2) = 0.710 and 0.714, respectively, p <
      0.01). CONCLUSION: Apo-B correlation with both LDL-C and non-HDL-C is reduced in
      individuals with high TG levels and in particular for those with diabetes or
      MetS.

PMID- 26868510
TI  - The Carnitine-butyrobetaine-trimethylamine-N-oxide pathway and its association
      with cardiovascular mortality in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: gamma-butyrobetaine (gammaBB) is a metabolite from
      dietary Carnitine, involved in the gut microbiota-dependent conversion from
      Carnitine to the pro-atherogenic metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Orally
      ingested gammaBB has a pro-atherogenic effect in experimental studies, but
      gammaBB has not been studied in relation to atherosclerosis in humans. The aim of
      this study was to evaluate associations between serum levels of gammaBB, TMAO and
      their common precursors Carnitine and trimethyllysine (TML) and carotid
      atherosclerosis and adverse outcome. METHODS: Serum gammaBB, Carnitine, TML and
      TMAO were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography in patients with
      carotid artery atherosclerosis (n = 264) and healthy controls (n = 62). RESULTS:
      Serum gammaBB (p = 0.024) and Carnitine (p = 0.001), but not TMAO or TML, were
      increased in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Higher levels of gammaBB and
      TML, but not TMAO or Carnitine were independently associated with cardiovascular
      death also after adjustment for age and eGFR (adjusted HR [95%] 3.3 [1.9-9.1], p
      = 0.047 and 6.0 [1.8-20.34], p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with
      carotid atherosclerosis had increased serum levels of gammaBB, and elevated
      levels of gammaBB and its precursor TML were associated with cardiovascular
      mortality. Long-term clinical studies of gammaBB, as a cardiovascular risk
      marker, and safety studies regarding dietary supplementation of gammaBB, are
      warranted.

PMID- 26868511
TI  - Thrombospondin-4 ablation reduces macrophage recruitment in adipose tissue and
      neointima and suppresses injury-induced restenosis in mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Thrombospondin-4 (Thbs4) is a member of the extracellular calcium
      binding protein family and is linked to cell adhesion and migration. Given the
      involvement of Thbs4 in vascular inflammation, we hypothesized that Thbs4 plays a
      role in restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we show evidence that Thbs4 is
      upregulated in wire-injured mouse arteries and correlated with CD68 expression.
      Macrophage infiltration is reduced in both adipose tissue (AT) and neointima of
      Thbs4/ApoE double knockout (DKO) mice after injury. Moreover, Thbs4 deficiency
      prevents restenosis in ApoE KO mice fed a Western-type diet (WTD). Lethally
      irradiated DKO mice that receive bone marrow from ApoE KO or DKO mice have
      reduced neointima development. While considering related mechanisms, we note
      decreased chemokine production in both AT and neointima of DKO mice. In addition,
      vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) derived from DKO mice display suppressed
      proliferation and migration in comparison with controls. Thioglycollate (TG)
      induced macrophages from DKO mice show retarded adhesion to VSMCs. Recombinant
      Thbs4 promoted macrophage adhesion to VSMCs, and enhanced VSMC proliferation and
      migration. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data highlight the significance of
      Thbs4 in regulating macrophage accumulation and treating restenosis.

PMID- 26868513
TI  - Enhancing Self-Determination in Health: Results of an RCT of the Ask Project, a
      School-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Intellectual Disability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adolescents with intellectual disability have high levels of
      unrecognized disease and inadequate health screening/promotion which might be
      addressed by improving health advocacy skills. METHODS: A parallel-group cluster
      randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate whether a health
      intervention package, consisting of classroom-based health education, a hand-held
      health record and a health check, increased carer-reported health advocacy in
      adolescents with intellectual disabilities. RESULTS: Carers of 388 adolescents
      responded. Adolescents allocated to receive the health intervention package were
      significantly more likely to go to the doctor on their own, ask questions and
      explain their health problems to the doctor without help. Carers reported their
      adolescent had benefited, gaining increased knowledge and responsibility for
      their own health. They themselves reported an increase in knowledge and better
      ability to support the young person. CONCLUSIONS: An educational initiative based
      on the Ask Health Diary led to improved healthcare autonomy for adolescents with
      intellectual disabilities.

PMID- 26868512
TI  - Low carotid artery wall shear stress is independently associated with brain white
      matter hyperintensities and cognitive impairment in older patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Brain white-matter lesions and cognitive impairment are
      increasing because of the increasing number of patients aged >=80 y. Wall shear
      stress (WSS) plays a pivotal role as a fluid mechanical mediator in vascular
      reactivity and atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the associations
      among common carotid artery (CCA) WSS, white-matter lesions, and cognitive
      impairment in patients aged >=80 y METHODS: We enrolled 384 patients aged >=80 y.
      All subjects had CCA-WSS, brain white-matter hyperintensities (WMH), and Mini
      Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessments and were divided into three groups
      using tertiles of mean and peak CCA-WSS. RESULTS: For groups classified by the
      tertile of mean CCA-WSS, WMH, and WMH fraction were decreased; the MMSE score
      increased from low to high in the respective groups. Differences in WMH, WMH
      fraction, and the MMSE score were significant between any two groups (all
      adjusted p < 0.001). Groups classified by the tertile of peak CCA-WSS had the
      same pattern. Mean and peak CCA-WSS were significantly and inversely correlated
      with WMH (r = -0.575 and -0.570, respectively; p < 0.001) and WMH fraction (r = 
      0.574 and -0.569, respectively; p < 0.001) but positively correlated with the
      MMSE score (r = 0.390 and 0.278, respectively; p < 0.001). Multiple linear
      backward stepwise regression indicated the mean and peak CCA-WSS were
      significantly and independently associated with WMH, WMH fraction, and the MMSE
      score (all adjusted p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Carotid artery WSS was independently
      associated with brain white-matter lesions and cognitive impairment in patients
      aged >=80 y.

PMID- 26868514
TI  - Current indications for the Hartmann procedure.
AB  - The Hartmann procedure is used in the case of left-sided colonic disease,
      especially in the setting of emergency where intraoperative conditions
      contraindicate completion of an anastomosis. This procedure has been initially
      described for the management of colorectal cancer and is based on a sigmoidectomy
      without restoration of intestinal continuity, including a left-sided iliac
      terminal stoma and closure of the rectal stump. Both procedure and underlying
      risk factors explain high rates of mortality and morbidity, around 15 and 50%
      respectively, and a low overall rate of subsequent restoration of internal
      continuity, less than 50%. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the value
      of the Hartmann procedure and its equivalents in colonic surgery, according to
      its indications: colorectal cancer, peritonitis from diverticular disease,
      anastomotic complications, ischemic colitis, left-sided colonic volvulus and
      abdominal trauma. 

PMID- 26868515
TI  - Free fatty acids, not triglycerides, are associated with non-alcoholic liver
      injury progression in high fat diet induced obese rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), commonly
      associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, is increasing worldwide. However,
      the specific mechanisms that mediate the progression from simple steatosis to non
      alcoholic steatohepatitis remain largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate
      the time dependent changes of triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels
      in the blood and liver over 24 weeks in high-fat diet-induced obese rats with
      NAFLD and to clarify the role of high FFA levels in the progression of liver
      injury. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 30
      per group): the Control group, fed standard chow; the High-fat diet (HFD) group,
      fed high-fat chow; and the Acipimox group, fed an HFD plus acipimox (100 mg/kg/d,
      ig) for 8, 16 and 24 weeks. After treatment, blood and liver samples were
      collected for biochemical analyses, western blotting analysis and a
      histopathological study. RESULTS: The visceral fat/weight and liver/body weight
      ratios were higher in both the HFD and Acipimox groups than in the Control group.
      The TG and FFA concentrations in blood and liver were increased in the HFD group
      and associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and liver
      malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and macro/microvesicular steatosis on hepatic
      fragments. Although the TG levels in the liver were similar between the HFD and
      Acipimox groups (p > 0.05), the FFA concentrations in the blood and liver were
      much lower in the latter group (p < 0.05). The Acipimox group showed normal ALT
      and MDA levels as well as less severe hepatic histological changes than did the
      HFD group (NAFLD activity score: 2.14 +/- 0.14, 2.43 +/- 0.20 and 2.63 +/- 0.26
      at 8, 16 and 24 weeks, respectively; p < 0.05 versus the HFD group at 24 weeks).
      The diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) protein levels were similar between
      the HFD and Acipimox groups (p > 0.05), but the protein expression level of
      carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT-1a) was higher in the Acipimox group.
      CONCLUSIONS: Liver TG accumulation does not cause cellular injury in the liver;
      rather, FFAs or their metabolites are responsible for liver injury via increased
      oxidative stress. It is suggested that the therapeutic efforts to prevent non
      alcoholic liver injury progression should be focused on reducing the burden of
      fatty acids transported to the liver or those being synthesized in the liver.

PMID- 26868516
TI  - A Case of Sepsis in a 92-Year-Old Korean Woman Caused by Aerococcus urinae and
      Identified by Sequencing the 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene.
AB  - Aerococcus urinae is an uncommon pathogen that was first identified in 1992.
      Herein, we report a case of bloodstream infection caused by A. urinae, which
      occurred in a 92-year-old Korean female patient with an underlying urologic
      infection who had altered consciousness. The blood culture yielded positive
      results for A. urinae; however, identifying A. urinae was challenging.
      Ultimately, we used 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing to identify the
      organism. The patient recovered after being treated with ertapenem and meropenem.
      To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of A. urinae sepsis in South
      Korea.

PMID- 26868517
TI  - Concentration of MS2 phage in river water by a combined ferric colloid adsorption
      and foam separation-based method, with MS2 phage leaching from ferric colloid.
AB  - The concentration of MS2 phage as a model RNA virus in river water using a
      combined ferric colloid adsorption and foam separation-based method was examined.
      The MS2 phage concentrations were determined by the plaque-forming unit (PFU)
      method and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. When ferric
      colloid adsorption was performed prior to foam separation, MS2 phage was
      effectively removed from river water and concentrated in the generated foam
      within 7 min. The removal efficiency was >99% at the optimum iron and casein
      concentrations of 5 mg-Fe/L and 10 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, based on the
      analysis of the collected ferric colloid dissolved using deferoxamine, the MS2
      concentration in the colloid-dissolved solution was 190-fold higher than that
      found in raw water according to RT-qPCR analysis. This is a novel method for
      concentrating RNA viruses to facilitate their detection in river water using
      coagulation and foam separation combined with chelate dissolution of ferric
      flocs. 

PMID- 26868518
TI  - Re-characterization of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate hydrolase belonging to the
      serine hydrolase family.
AB  - A novel bacterium assimilating di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate as a sole carbon source
      was isolated, and identified as a Rhodococcus species and the strain was named EG
      5. The strain has a mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) hydrolase (EG-5 MehpH),
      which exhibits some different enzymatic features when compared with the
      previously reported MEHP hydrolase (P8219 MehpH) from Gordonia sp. These
      differences include different pH optimum activity, maximal reaction temperature
      and heat stability. The Km and Vmax values of EG-5 MehpH were significantly
      higher than those of P8219 MehpH. The primary structure of EG-5 MehpH showed the
      highest sequence identity to that of P8219 MehpH (39%) among hydrolases. The
      phylogenetic tree suggested that EG-5 MehpH and P8219 MehpH were categorized in
      different groups of the novel MEHP hydrolase family. Mutation of a conserved
      R(109) residue of EG-5 MehpH to a hydrophobic residue resulted in a dramatic
      reduction in the Vmax value towards MEHP without affecting the Km value. These
      results indicate that this residue may neutralize the negative charge of a
      carboxylate anion of MEHP, and thus inhibit the catalytic nucleophile from
      attacking the ester bond. In other words, the R residue blocks inhibition from
      the carboxylate anion of MEHP. Recently, registered hypothetical proteins
      exhibiting 98% or 99% identities for EG-5 MehpH or for P8219 MehpH were found
      from some pathogens belonging to Actinomycetes. The protein may have other
      activities besides MEHP hydrolysis and function in other physiological reactions
      in some Actinomycetes. 

PMID- 26868519
TI  - A comparison of clinicopathological characteristics and long-term survival
      outcomes between symptomatic and screen-detected breast cancer in Japanese women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies from other countries have reported that patients with
      screen-detected breast cancer have better survival than those with symptomatic
      breast cancer. However, no such comparison has been performed in Japan.
      Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and
      survival rates between symptomatic and screen-detected breast cancer in Japanese
      women. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, 977 and 182 women with
      symptomatic or screen-detected breast cancer, respectively, underwent surgery at
      a single Japanese hospital. We retrospectively reviewed these patients'
      clinicopathological data. Likelihood of death was estimated using the Kaplan
      Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis including mode of
      detection, tumor size, lymph node status, hormone receptor status, and adjuvant
      therapy administration was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model.
      RESULTS: Screen-detected breast cancer was associated with increased rate of
      breast-conserving surgery, non-invasive carcinoma, smaller tumor size, decreased
      lymph node involvement, increased hormone receptor positivity, and decreased
      adjuvant chemotherapy administration. Compared to women with symptomatic tumors,
      those with screen-detected tumors had improved overall and breast cancer-specific
      survival rates. Factors associated with survival in univariate analysis were
      screen detection, tumor size, lymph node status, progesterone receptor status,
      and adjuvant chemotherapy administration. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer screening in
      Japanese women has led to increases in the rates of breast-conserving surgery,
      hormone receptor positivity, and survival rates along with reductions in axillary
      lymph node dissection and adjuvant chemotherapy administration.

PMID- 26868520
TI  - Choosing between intraoral or extraoral, red or infrared laser irradiation after
      impacted third molar extraction.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Swelling and trismus are complications experienced by
      nearly all subjects after undergoing oral surgery for the removal of impacted
      teeth. The main purpose of this paper was to compare the effects of
      photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) at two different wavelengths applied intra
      orally and extra-orally on facial swelling and trismus in the postoperative
      period following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. STUDY
      DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects were randomly divided into five
      groups, taking into account the type of laser therapy applied after surgery
      (intraoral or extraoral irradiation with 660 nm laser; intraoral or extraoral
      irradiation with 808 nm; and sham irradiation). Two and seven days after the
      surgery, two blinded evaluators measured the subjects' faces (swelling), and
      mouth opening (trismus). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant
      interaction between the irradiation site and wavelength (swelling and trismus
      were smaller if the red laser was applied intra-orally or if infrared laser was
      applied extra-orally). The intra-group analyses showed that 808 nm laser applied
      extra-orally favored reductions in postoperative facial swelling and trismus,
      although the inter-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant
      differences. CONCLUSION: Besides energy parameters, the combination of
      irradiation site and wavelength drive the results of phototherapy after the
      removal of impacted teeth. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:511-518, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26868522
TI  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PMID- 26868521
TI  - Does primary neoadjuvant systemic therapy eradicate minimal residual disease?
      Analysis of disseminated and circulating tumor cells before and after therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with breast cancer (BC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy
      (NACT) may experience metastatic relapse despite achieving a pathologic complete
      response. We analyzed patients with BC before and after NACT for disseminated
      tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow(BM); comprehensively characterized
      circulating tumor cells (CTCs), including stem cell-like CTCs (slCTCs), in blood
      to prove the effectiveness of treatment on these cells; and correlated these
      findings with response to therapy, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall
      survival (OS). METHODS: CTCs (n = 135) and slCTCs (n = 91) before and after NACT
      were analyzed using the AdnaTest BreastCancer, AdnaTest TumorStemCell, and
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (QIAGEN Hannover GmbH Germany). The expression
      of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and the resistance marker excision
      repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency, complementation group 1
      (ERCC1), nuclease were studied in separate single-plex reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction experiments. DTCs were evaluated in 142 patients before
      and 165 patients after NACT using the pan-cytokeratin antibody A45-B/B3 for
      immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The positivity rates for DTCs, CTCs, and slCTCs
      were 27 %, 24 %, and 51 % before and 20 %, 8 %, and 20 % after NACT,
      respectively. Interestingly, 72 % of CTCs present after therapy were positive for
      ERCC1, and CTCs before (p = 0.005) and after NACT (p = 0.05) were significantly
      associated with the presence of slCTCs. Whereas no significant associations with
      clinical parameters were found for CTCs and slCTCs, DTCs were significantly
      associated with nodal status (p = 0.03) and histology (0.046) before NACT and
      with the immunohistochemical subtype (p = 0.02) after NACT. Univariable Cox
      regression analysis revealed that age (p = 0.0065), tumor size before NACT (p =
      0.0473), nodal status after NACT (p = 0.0137), and response to NACT (p = 0.0136)
      were significantly correlated with PFS, whereas age (p = 0.0162) and nodal status
      after NACT (p = 0.0243) were significantly associated with OS. No significant
      correlations were found for DTCs or any CTCs before and after therapy with regard
      to PFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Although CTCs were eradicated more effectively than
      DTCs, CTCs detected after treatment seemed to be associated with tumor cells
      showing tumor stem cell characteristics as well as with resistant tumor cell
      populations that might indicate a worse outcome in the future. Thus, these
      patients might benefit from additional second-line treatment protocols including
      bisphosphonates for the eradication of DTCs.

PMID- 26868523
TI  - Seed heteromorphism in Triticum dicoccoides: association between seed positions
      within a dispersal unit and dormancy.
AB  - Variation in seed size and dormancy can take the form of seed heteromorphism,
      i.e., production of different kinds of seeds by a single individual. In this
      paper, I tested for the effect of seed position within a spikelet on its
      germination over time, and the contribution of this effect to population
      differentiation along an aridity gradient in an annual grass, Triticum
      dicoccoides. The results show that the upper grain in a spikelet is larger than
      the bottom grain, and either germinates in the season following dispersal, or
      dies. In contrast, a substantial fraction of the bottom grains do not germinate
      in the first season, but remain dormant in the soil seed bank for 1 and, very
      rarely, 2 years. This pattern was observed in seeds of all origins, but the
      bottom grains from the most arid location had the lowest, and from the least arid
      location, the highest germination fraction in the 1st year and vice versa in the
      2nd year. This difference in germination fraction was observed under controlled
      irrigation conditions but not in the field experiment. These mixed results
      suggest that seed dimorphism is a life history trait with a complicated
      evolutionary history and wide adaptive implications. Seed dimorphism in T.
      dicoccoides could initially be an adaptation for reducing competition in
      productive (i.e., high precipitation) environments. In addition to this, seed
      dimorphism under increasing aridity could become a bet-hedging trait allowing a
      population to survive periods of insufficient rainfall through dormancy.

PMID- 26868524
TI  - Living on the edge: adaptive and plastic responses of the tree Nothofagus pumilio
      to a long-term transplant experiment predict rear-edge upward expansion.
AB  - Current climate change affects the competitive ability and reproductive success
      of many species, leading to local extinctions, adjustment to novel local
      conditions by phenotypic plasticity or rapid adaptation, or tracking their optima
      through range shifts. However, many species have limited ability to expand to
      suitable areas. Altitudinal gradients, with abrupt changes in abiotic conditions
      over short distances, represent "natural experiments" for the evaluation of
      ecological and evolutionary responses under scenarios of climate change.
      Nothofagus pumilio is the tree species which dominates as pure stands the montane
      forests of Patagonia. We evaluated the adaptive value of variation in
      quantitative traits of N. pumilio under contrasting conditions of the altitudinal
      gradient with a long-term reciprocal transplant experimental design. While high
      elevation plants show little response in plant, leaf, and phenological traits to
      the experimental trials, low-elevation ones show greater plasticity in their
      responses to changing environments, particularly at high elevation. Our results
      suggest a relatively reduced potential for evolutionary adaptation of high
      elevation genotypes, and a greater evolutionary potential of low-elevation ones.
      Under global warming scenarios of forest upslope migration, high-elevation
      variants may be outperformed by low-elevation ones during this process, leading
      to the local extinction and/or replacement of these genotypes. These results
      challenge previous models and predictions expected under global warming for
      altitudinal gradients, on which the leading edge is considered to be the upper
      treeline forests.

PMID- 26868526
TI  - Head-on collision and overtaking collision between an envelope solitary wave and
      a KdV solitary wave in a dusty plasma.
AB  - Head-on collision and overtaking collision between a KdV solitary wave and an
      envelope solitary wave are first studied in present paper by using Particle-in
      cell (PIC) method in a dusty plasma. There are phase shifts of the KdV solitary
      wave in both head-on collision and the overtaking collision, while no phase shift
      is found for the envelop solitary wave in any cases. The remarkable difference
      between head-on collision and the overtaking collision is that the phase shift of
      KdV solitary wave increases as amplitude of KdV solitary wave increases in head
      on collision, while it decreases as amplitude of the KdV solitary wave increases
      in the overtaking collision. It is found that the maximum amplitude during the
      collision process is less than sum of two amplitudes of both solitary waves, but
      is larger than either of the amplitude.

PMID- 26868525
TI  - Macrophage migration inhibitory factor drives neutrophil accumulation by
      facilitating IL-1beta production in a murine model of acute gout.
AB  - This study evaluated the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in
      inflammation caused by monosodium urate crystals. The concentration of macrophage
      migration inhibitory factor was increased in synovial fluid of patients with
      acute gout, and there was a positive correlation between intra-articular
      macrophage migration inhibitory factor and IL-1beta concentrations. In mice, the
      injection of monosodium urate crystals into the knee joint increased the levels
      of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in macrophages and in inflamed tissue.
      The injection of recombinant macrophage migration inhibitory factor into the
      joint of mice reproduced the inflammatory response observed in acute gout,
      including histologic changes, the recruitment of neutrophils, and increased
      levels of IL-1beta and CXCL1. Importantly, the accumulation of neutrophils and
      the amount IL-1beta in the joints were reduced in macrophage migration inhibitory
      factor-deficient mice when injected with monosodium urate crystals. We observed a
      similar effect when we blocked macrophage migration inhibitory factor with (S,R)
      3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid or anti-macrophage
      migration inhibitory factor. In addition, the blockade of IL-1R and CXCR2 reduced
      recombinant macrophage migration inhibitory factor-induced neutrophil
      recruitment. Mechanistically, recombinant macrophage migration inhibitory factor
      is important for the synthesis of il1beta mRNA in vivo and in isolated
      macrophages. Altogether, macrophage migration inhibitory factor promotes
      neutrophil accumulation and is important for IL-1beta production, which are 2
      crucial events contributing to the pathogenesis of acute gout.

PMID- 26868527
TI  - [Nitrofurantoine, recommendations to be followed to reduce severe complications
      occurency risk].

PMID- 26868529
TI  - Financial incentives, timing of births, and infant health: a closer look into the
      delivery room.
AB  - As a result of strong financial incentives created by the German parental leave
      reform on January 1, 2007, some 1000 births have been shifted from the last days
      of 2006 to the first days of 2007, especially by working mothers. This fact is
      already described in the literature, yet there is no evidence as to the
      mechanisms and only scarce evidence regarding the effects on newborn health. I
      use new data to study the timing of C-sections and the induction of births around
      the day the reform took effect. I estimate that postponed C-sections and
      inductions account for nearly 80 % of the pre-reform shortfall and nearly 90 % of
      the post-reform excess number of births. Despite concerns voiced by doctors
      before the reform, hardly any evidence can be found for detrimental health
      effects of those shifts, as measured by changes in gestational age, birth weight,
      APGAR scores, neonatal mortality, or hospitalization.

PMID- 26868528
TI  - Sclerostin antibody prevented progressive bone loss in combined ovariectomized
      and concurrent functional disuse.
AB  - Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and compromised trabecular
      architecture, and is commonly occurred in post-menopausal women with estrogen
      deficiency. In addition, prolonged mechanical unloading, i.e., long term bed
      rest, can exaggerate the bone loss. Sclerostin is a Wnt signaling antagonist and
      acts as a negative regulator for bone formation. A sclerostin-neutralizing
      antibody (Scl-Ab) increased bone mineral density in women with postmenopausal
      osteoporosis and healthy men. The objective of this study was to characterize the
      condition of bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) rats with concurrent mechanical
      unloading and evaluate the effect of sclerostin antibody treatment in mitigating
      the prospective severe bone loss conditions in this model. Four-month-old OVX- or
      sham-operated female SD rats were used in this study. They were subjected to
      functional disuse induced by hind-limb suspension (HLS) or free ambulance after
      2days of arrival. Subcutaneous injections with either vehicle or Scl-Ab at
      25mg/kg were made twice per week for 5weeks from the time of HLS. MUCT analyses
      demonstrated a significant decrease in distal metaphyseal trabecular architecture
      integrity with HLS, OVX and HLS+OVX (bone volume fraction decreased by 29%, 71%
      and 87% respectively). The significant improvements of various trabecular bone
      parameters (bone volume fraction increased by 111%, 229% and 297% respectively as
      compared with placebo group) with the administration of Scl-Ab are associated
      with stronger mechanical property and increased bone formation by
      histomorphometry. These results together indicate that Scl-Ab prevented the loss
      of trabecular bone mass and cortical bone strength in OVX rat model with
      concurrent mechanical unloading. The data suggested that monoclonal sclerostin
      neutralizing antibody represents a promising therapeutic approach for severe
      osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency with concurrent mechanical unloading.

PMID- 26868530
TI  - An Investigation of the Behavior of Solvent based Polycaprolactone ink for
      Material Jetting.
AB  - An initial study of processing bioresorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) through
      material jetting was conducted using a Fujifilm Dimatix DMP-2830 material
      printer. The aim of this work was to investigate a potential solvent based method
      of jetting polycaprolactone. Several solvents were used to prepare a PCL solvent
      based ink and 1, 4-dioxane was chosen with the consideration of both solubility
      and safety. The morphology of PCL formed under different substrate temperatures,
      droplet spacings were investigated. Multi-layer PCL structures were printed and
      characterized. This work shows that biodegradable polycaprolactone can be
      processed through material jetting. 

PMID- 26868532
TI  - Optic neuropathy secondary to syphilis in an HIV negative patient.
AB  - Ocular syphilis is a resurgent clinical condition due to unsafe sexual practices.
      It has been reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients, but
      in HIV positive patients, it is more likely to exhibit a more aggressive course
      and adopt atypical clinical patterns such as optic nerve involvement. Herein we
      report an atypical case of optic neuritis secondary to syphilis in an HIV
      negative patient. This case highlights the importance of considering syphilis in
      the differential diagnosis of ocular inflammation and of obtaining HIV serology,
      since both diseases share common risk factors. 

PMID- 26868531
TI  - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of triplet regimens of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU (DCF
      NAC) may improve patient prognosis of cStage II/III esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma-propensity score analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with CF (cisplatin/5-FU) was
      demonstrated to improve survival of clinical stage II/III (cStage II/III)
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), however prognostic outcome remains
      unsatisfactory. We have recently reported preliminary potentiality of short-term
      survival benefit by NAC with DCF (docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU). PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Thirty-eight ESCC patients who underwent DCF NAC between 2009 and 2012
      were investigated for prognosis with a median follow-up period of 49 months as
      compared to those with CF NAC. RESULTS: (1) ESCC patients with DCF NAC showed 66%
      of 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), which is significantly superior to
      that of CF NAC (38%) (p = 0.018). ESCC patients with DCF NAC showed 79% of 3-year
      overall survival (OS), which is marginally significantly superior to that of CF
      NAC (65%) (p = 0.093). (2) The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model
      revealed that DCF NAC was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.0013)
      and OS (p = 0.047), respectively, when adjusted for patient sex, age, cT, cN, and
      preoperative borderline resectability. (3) Patients with more advanced stage were
      rather frequently included in DCF NAC than in CF NAC, however there was no
      significant difference. Nevertheless, propensity score (PS) to predict DCF NAC
      was significantly higher than CF NAC (p = 0.019). (4) Both NAC and PS were again
      applied to the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, and DCF NAC was the
      only remnant prognostic indicator for PFS (p = 0.0044) and OS (p = 0.063).
      CONCLUSION: Prognosis may be significantly improved in cStage II/III ESCC
      patients who underwent DCF NAC than those with CF NAC.

PMID- 26868533
TI  - [Leber-Coats' disease: A retrospective study of 10 patients].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Retrospective study analyzing clinical characteristics and
      treatment of children affected by Leber-Coats' disease. METHOD: Children with
      Leber-Coats' disease seen in Edouard-Herriot Hospital, Lyon, between January 2004
      and September 2013 were included. The following clinical characteristics were
      reported: sex, age at diagnosis, presenting symptom, Shields' stage, treatment
      used, and visual outcomes. RESULTS: Ten children were included in our study. Mean
      age at diagnosis was 5.5 years. The disease was unilateral in 9/10 cases. The
      presenting symptom was loss of vision in 7/10 cases, strabismus in 3/10 cases,
      and microphthalmos in 1 case. The diagnosis was made fortuitously during a follow
      up of familial congenital cataract in 2 patients. No cases of leukocoria were
      seen. Shields' stages were distributed as follows: stage 1, 2A and 2B: 1 case
      each, stage 3A1: 7 cases, stage>3A1: no cases. Laser photocoagulation was used up
      to stage 2B, combined with cryotherapy in stage 3A. Stage 1 and 2A were
      associated with relatively good final visual acuity. Significant macular lipid
      exudate (stage>2A) was associated with a worse prognosis. CONCLUSION: These
      epidemiological data help us to better characterize these patients' prognosis.
      Early diagnosis seems to improve visual outcomes.

PMID- 26868534
TI  - [Eye and cat scratch disease: A case series].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cat scratch disease is a pleiomorphic condition, sometimes with
      isolated ophthalmic involvement. We report the clinical observations of seven
      cases with ophthalmologic manifestations of cat scratch disease. OBSERVATIONS:
      There were seven patients, with a median age of 52 years, of whom five were women
      and three had unilateral involvement. Six exhibited Leber's stellate
      neuroretinitis, an incomplete syndrome in two cases, and one associated with
      chorioretinal foci. One patient had isolated retinal infiltrates. The diagnosis
      of cat scratch disease was confirmed by Bartonella henselae serology, positive in
      all cases. All patients received treatment with doxycycline. Ocular complications
      (with optic atrophy and macular retinal pigment epithelial changes) were noted in
      five cases. DISCUSSION: Ocular bartonellosis is an atypical clinical form. It
      requires a directed ancillary work-up with serology or PCR, which has the
      peculiarity of being highly specific if not very sensitive. Treatment is above
      all preventive. Antibiotics may be initiated. CONCLUSION: Cat scratch disease
      must be excluded in the work-up of posterior uveitis.

PMID- 26868535
TI  - [Genotype-phenotype correlation in ten Tunisian families with non-syndromic
      retinitis pigmentosa].
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical phenotype of ten Tunisian families with non
      syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP), to characterize genes and mutations causing
      these conditions, and to elaborate phenotype-genotype correlations. METHODS:
      Descriptive clinical genetic study of 114 individuals, of whom 27 are affected by
      non-syndromic RP. Ophthalmic examination and various visual tests were performed.
      DNA was analyzed using single nucleotide polymorphism, microsatellite genotyping
      and direct sequencing to determine the genes and mutations involved. RESULTS: We
      identified seven mutated genes: RPE65, RDH12, USHER 2A, PDE6a, PDE6b, CRB1, and
      NR2E3. Analysis of phenotype-genotype correlation indicated that some genes were
      associated with specific phenotypes. In RPE65 mutations, we found early onset
      dystrophy, nystagmus, keratoconus, white dot deposits in earlier stages and
      clumped pigment in later stages. The RDH12-associated phenotype (juvenile RP)
      showed severe and early-onset dystrophy, diffuse spicule pigmentation, macular
      edema and thickening, and tomographic re-organization of retinal layers. The CRB1
      mutation was characterized by preserved para-arteriolar retinal pigment
      epithelium and no hemeralopia. CONCLUSION: RP is clinically and genetically
      heterogeneous. The two ultimate goals of research are to provide efficient
      clinical diagnostic of affected gene by phenotype-genotype correlation and to
      design novel treatment regimens. Our goal is to create a specific chip for our
      population, and then future research will focus on the identification of the
      remaining causal genes, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of disease in
      the retina and the development of gene therapy approaches.

PMID- 26868536
TI  - Epidemiological survey of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament by
      using clinical investigation registration forms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Japan, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
      has been designated as an intractable disease by the Ministry of Health, Labour,
      and Welfare. Here we aimed to clarify the epidemiological characteristics of
      severe OPLL patients by analyzing a national registry of this disease that uses
      clinical investigation registration forms. METHODS: We retrospectively
      investigated clinical investigation registration forms for 24,502 patients with
      OPLL. We examined the sex distribution, age of disease onset, period from disease
      onset to registration, family history, site of ossification as determined by
      plain radiographs, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, and number of OPLL
      surgeries. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratios were 2.7:1 and 1.9:1 for new and
      renewed registrations, respectively. The mean ages at disease onset were 61.1 and
      59.7 years for new and renewed registrations, respectively. The mean periods from
      disease onset to registration were 2.6 and 8.4 years for new and renewed
      registrations, respectively. The percentages of new registrations with and
      without family history were 5.3% and 51.5%, respectively (unknown for 43.3%). Of
      the new registrations, 3511, 359, and 200 cases exhibited ossification in the
      cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine, respectively; the corresponding
      numbers for renewed registrations were 13,710, 2484, and 1508. The Japanese
      Orthopaedic Association score was 9.9 +/- 3.6 for new registrations, and the mean
      score recovery rate for renewed registrations was 6.0%. The number of OPLL
      surgeries was one or zero, two, three, four, or five for 21,785, 2167, 412, 99,
      and 39 patients, respectively, with 11.1% of all patients having undergone
      multiple surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers new insight into the
      epidemiological characteristics of severe OPLL. In particular, we found that the
      age of disease onset was higher than previously reported, the period from disease
      onset to registration (surgery) was relatively short, and about 90% of the
      patients required only a single surgery.

PMID- 26868538
TI  - The respective roles of polar/nonpolar binary patterns and amino acid composition
      in protein regular secondary structures explored exhaustively using hydrophobic
      cluster analysis.
AB  - Several studies have highlighted the leading role of the sequence periodicity of
      polar and nonpolar amino acids (binary patterns) in the formation of regular
      secondary structures (RSS). However, these were based on the analysis of only a
      few simple cases, with no direct mean to correlate binary patterns with the
      limits of RSS. Here, HCA-derived hydrophobic clusters (HC) which are conditioned
      binary patterns whose positions fit well those of RSS, were considered. All the
      HC types, defined by unique binary patterns, which were commonly observed in
      three-dimensional (3D) structures of globular domains, were analyzed. The 180 HC
      types with preferences for either alpha-helices or beta-strands distinctly
      contain basic binary units typical of these RSS. Therefore a general trend
      supporting the "binary pattern preference" assumption was observed. HC for which
      observed RSS are in disagreement with their expected behavior (discordant HC)
      were also examined. They were separated in HC types with moderate preferences for
      RSS, having "weak" binary patterns and versatile RSS and HC types with high
      preferences for RSS, having "strong" binary patterns and then displaying nonpolar
      amino acids at the protein surface. It was shown that in both cases, discordant
      HC could be distinguished from concordant ones by well-differentiated amino acid
      compositions. The obtained results could, thus, help to complement the currently
      available methods for the accurate prediction of secondary structures in proteins
      from the only information of a single amino acid sequence. This can be especially
      useful for characterizing orphan sequences and for assisting protein engineering
      and design.

PMID- 26868537
TI  - LPS causes pericyte loss and microvascular dysfunction via disruption of
      Sirt3/angiopoietins/Tie-2 and HIF-2alpha/Notch3 pathways.
AB  - Recent studies reveal a crucial role of pericyte loss in sepsis-associated
      microvascular dysfunction. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) mediates histone protein post
      translational modification related to aging and ischemic disease. This study
      investigated the involvement of SIRT3 in LPS-induced pericyte loss and
      microvascular dysfunction. Mice were exposed to LPS, expression of Sirt3, HIF
      2alpha, Notch3 and angiopoietins/Tie-2, pericyte/endothelial (EC) coverage and
      vascular permeability were assessed. Mice treated with LPS significantly reduced
      the expression of SIRT3, HIF-2alpha and Notch3 in the lung. Furthermore, exposure
      to LPS increased Ang-2 while inhibited Ang-1/Tie-2 expression with a reduced
      pericyte/EC coverage. Intriguingly, knockout of Sirt3 upregulated Ang-2, but
      downregulated Tie-2 and HIF-2alpha/Notch3 expression which resulted in a dramatic
      reduction of pericyte/EC coverage and exacerbation of LPS-induced vascular
      leakage. Conversely, overexpression of Sirt3 reduced Ang-2 expression and
      increased Ang-1/Tie-2 and HIF-2alpha/Notch3 expression in the LPS treated mice.
      Overexpression of Sirt3 further prevented LPS-induced pericyte loss and vascular
      leakage. This was accompanied by a significant reduction of the mortality rate.
      Specific knockout of prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD2) increased HIF-2alpha/Notch3
      expression, improved pericyte/EC coverage and reduced the mortality rate in the
      LPS-treated mice. Our study demonstrates the importance of SIRT3 in preserving
      vascular integrity by targeting pericytes in the setting of LPS-induced sepsis.

PMID- 26868539
TI  - Objective but not subjective sleep predicts memory in community-dwelling older
      adults.
AB  - Research on the relationship between habitual sleep patterns and memory
      performance in older adults is limited. No previous study has used objective and
      subjective memory measures in a large, older-aged sample to examine the
      association between sleep and various domains of memory. The aim of this study
      was to examine the association between objective and subjective measures of sleep
      with memory performance in older adults, controlling for the effects of potential
      confounds. One-hundred and seventy-three community-dwelling older adults aged 65
      89 years in Victoria, Australia completed the study. Objective sleep quality and
      length were ascertained using the Actiwatch 2 Mini-Mitter, while subjective sleep
      was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Memory was indexed by
      tests of retrospective memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised), working
      memory (n-back, 2-back accuracy) and prospective memory (a habitual button
      pressing task). Compared with normative data, overall performance on
      retrospective memory function was within the average range. Hierarchical
      regression was used to determine whether objective or subjective measures of
      sleep predicted memory performances after controlling for demographics, health
      and mood. After controlling for confounds, actigraphic sleep indices (greater
      wake after sleep onset, longer sleep-onset latency and longer total sleep time)
      predicted poorer retrospective (?R(2)  = 0.05, P = 0.016) and working memory
      (?R(2)  = 0.05, P = 0.047). In contrast, subjective sleep indices did not
      significantly predict memory performances. In community-based older adults,
      objectively-measured, habitual sleep indices predict poorer memory performances.
      It will be important to follow the sample longitudinally to determine
      trajectories of change over time.

PMID- 26868540
TI  - Elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from smoked sausages by migration
      into polyethylene packaging.
AB  - The objective of this work was a study of interactions between a smoked meat
      product and plastic packaging to find a possibility of elimination of polycyclic
      aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from smoked sausages by migration into the packaging.
      Smoked meat sausages were packed into o-polyamide/low density polyethylene
      laminated film and content of four PAH was determined at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75,
      90, 120, 150 and 180 min by HPLC. During this time, total PAH4 content decreased
      from 30.1 to 5.7 MUg/kg, benzo[a]anthracene decreased from 11.5 to 2.1 MUg/kg,
      chrysene from 9.4 to 1.9 MUg/kg, benzo[b]fluoranthene from 5.3 to 0.6 MUg/kg and
      benzo[a]pyrene from 3.9 to 1.1 MUg/kg while PAH4 content in non-packed sausages
      remained at a constant level. So, while sausages did not meet European safety
      limits set for PAH4 content of 12 MUg/kg and 2 MUg/kg for benzo[a]pyrene before
      packaging, these limits were met at the end of the experiment. This decrease was
      brought about by migration of PAH4 from sausages into low density polyethylene
      packaging bulk and the measure of decrease can be predicted by a kinetic
      equation, making it possible to calculate PAH content equal to any time of
      experiment as well as the time of interaction necessary to fulfil EU legislative
      limits.

PMID- 26868541
TI  - A novel thyroglobulin-binding lectin from the brown alga Hizikia fusiformis and
      its antioxidant activities.
AB  - A lectin (HFL) was isolated from the brown alga, Hizikia fusiformis, through ion
      exchange on cellulose DE52 and HPLC with a TSK-gel G4000PWXL column. SDS-PAGE
      showed that HFL had a molecular mass of 16.1 kDa. The HPLC (with a TSK-gel
      G4000PWXL column) indicated that HFL is a tetramer in its native state. The total
      carbohydrate content was 41%. Glucose, galactose and fucose were the
      monosaccharide units of HFL, and the normalized mol% values were 6, 14 and 80,
      respectively. HFL contains a large amount of the acidic amino acid, Asx. The beta
      elimination reaction suggested that the oligosaccharide and peptide moieties of
      HFL may belong to the N-glucosidic linkage. The amino acid sequences, of about
      five segments of HFL, were acquired by MALDI-TOF/TOF, and the sequences have no
      homology with other lectins. HFL was found to agglutinate sheep erythrocytes. The
      hemagglutination activity was inhibited by thyroglobulin, from bovine thyroid,
      but not by any of the monosaccharides tested. The lectin reaction was independent
      of the presence of the divalent cation Ca(2+). HFL showed free radical scavenging
      activity against hydroxyl, DPPH and ABTS(+) radicals.

PMID- 26868542
TI  - Enhancement of colour stability of anthocyanins in model beverages by gum arabic
      addition.
AB  - This study investigated the potential of gum arabic to improve the stability of
      anthocyanins that are used in commercial beverages as natural colourants. The
      degradation of purple carrot anthocyanin in model beverage systems (pH 3.0)
      containing L-ascorbic acid proceeded with a first-order reaction rate during
      storage (40  degrees C for 5 days in light). The addition of gum arabic (0.05
      5.0%) significantly enhanced the colour stability of anthocyanin, with the most
      stable systems observed at intermediate levels (1.5%). A further increase in
      concentration (>1.5%) reduced its efficacy due to a change in the conformation of
      the gum arabic molecules that hindered their exposure to the anthocyanins.
      Fluorescence quenching measurements showed that the anthocyanin could have
      interacted with the glycoprotein fractions of the gum arabic through hydrogen
      bonding, resulting in enhanced stability. Overall, this study provides valuable
      information about enhancing the stability of anthocyanins in beverage systems
      using natural ingredients.

PMID- 26868544
TI  - Effect of cream fermentation on microbiological, physicochemical and rheological
      properties of L. helveticus-butter.
AB  - The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and
      rheological properties of butter produced by Lactobacillus helveticus fermented
      cream. The incorporation of putative probiotic - the L. helveticus, to ferment
      cream prior to butter production was anticipated to alter the nutritional
      composition of butter. Changes in crude macronutrients and the resultant
      modification relating to textural properties of butter induced upon metabolic
      activities of L. helveticus in cream were focused in this research. Fermented
      butter (LH-butter) was produced by churning the cream that was fermented by
      lactobacilli at 37  degrees C for 24 h. Physicochemical analysis, proximate
      analysis and rheology properties of LH-butter were compared with butter produced
      using unfermented cream (control). LH-butter showed a significantly (P<0.05)
      higher fat content and acid value; lower moisture and ash; and was softer than
      the control. Cream fermentation modified nutritional and textural properties of
      butter in which LH-butter contained higher health beneficial unsaturated fatty
      acids than the control and thus rendered the product softer. Its enrichment with
      probiotics could thus further enhance its functional property.

PMID- 26868543
TI  - Sphingoid esters from the molecular distillation of squid oil: A preliminary
      bioactivity determination.
AB  - A mixture of sphingoid esters was isolated (1.4% w/w) from the molecular
      distillation of crude squid visceral oil. A preliminary investigation on the
      bioactivity profile and toxic potential of this residue was carried out by in
      vitro experiments. No cytotoxicity and a moderate lipase inhibition activity were
      highlighted. 

PMID- 26868546
TI  - Effects of some cations on the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5
      b]pyridine (PhIP) in a model system.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate in detail the changes to 2-amino-1-methyl
      6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and its precursors in the presence of some
      cations (i.e., K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Fe(2+) and Fe(3+)) in a
      creatinine/phenylacetaldehyde model system. Results showed that PhIP yields
      decreased when Fe(2+)and Fe(3+) were added to a mixture of phenylacetaldehyde and
      creatinine. This decrease may be attributed to the fact that Fe(3+) can form
      complexes with various properties with creatinine and accelerate creatinine
      degradation. This pathway can disturb the reaction with phenylacetaldehyde,
      influence aldol condensation product formation, and suppress PhIP formation.
      Furthermore, Ca(2+)and Mg(2+) enhanced PhIP content. Such enhancement may be
      attributed to the fact that CaCl2 and MgCl2 promote aldol and aldol condensation
      product reactions with ammonia and formaldehyde. A possible mechanism for the
      action of cations during PhIP formation in a model system is also proposed. 

PMID- 26868545
TI  - Pectin content and composition from different food waste streams.
AB  - In the present paper, 26 food waste streams were selected according to their
      exploitation potential and investigated in terms of pectin content. The isolated
      pectin, subdivided into calcium bound and alkaline extractable pectin, was fully
      characterized in terms of uronic acid and other sugar composition, methylation
      and acetylation degree. It was shown that many waste streams can be a valuable
      source of pectin, but also that pectin structures present a huge structural
      diversity, resulting in a broad range of pectin structures. These can have
      different physicochemical and biological properties, which are useful in a wide
      range of applications. Even if the data could not cover all the possible batch by
      batch and country variabilities, to date this represents the most complete pectin
      characterization from food waste streams ever reported in the literature with a
      homogeneous methodology. 

PMID- 26868547
TI  - Comparative evaluation of methods for the detection of 2-alkylcyclobutanones as
      indicators for irradiation treatment of cashew nuts and nutmeg.
AB  - Irradiation of food products and ingredients must be indicated by proper
      labeling. This study evaluated the appropriateness of the European Standard EN
      1785:2003 for the detection of 2-alkylcyclobutanones, which are radiolysis
      products of fatty acids, in cashew nuts and nutmeg and confirmed its suitability
      to detect irradiation of cashew nut samples at average absorbed doses of 1 kGy
      and above. An alternative method was developed, which is based on matrix solid
      phase dispersion and subsequent separation and detection of oxime derivatives of
      2-alkylcyclobutanones by high performance-high resolution mass spectrometry. It
      is more rapid, less resource consuming, and more sensitive than EN 1785:2003.
      This method allowed detection of 2-alkylcyclobutanones in cashew nuts irradiated
      at 100 Gray and in nutmeg irradiated at 400 Gray. None of the 26 cashew nut and
      14 nutmeg samples purchased in different EU Member States contained traces of 2
      alkylcyclobutanones.

PMID- 26868548
TI  - Influence of storage conditions in the evolution of phytochemicals in
      nutraceutical products applying high resolution mass spectrometry.
AB  - An adequate knowledge about possible transformation of bioactive compounds in
      nutraceutical products during long storage is important in order to know
      potential modifications of this type of compounds. In this study, one year
      monitoring was performed in different types of nutraceutical products based on
      natural extracts (green tea, soy, royal jelly and grapes) observing the
      appearance of new bioactive compounds, which were not detected at the initial
      conditions, as well as the decrease of some of the detected compounds. To
      determine these transformation products, an analytical procedure based on high
      resolution mass spectrometry (Exactive-Orbitrap analyzer) was applied. It was
      noted that transformation products were detected after 3 months of storage in
      green tea and soy products, while 6 months were necessary to observe
      transformation products in royal jelly.

PMID- 26868549
TI  - Carotenoid profiling from 27 types of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) with different
      colors, shapes, and cultivation methods.
AB  - In this study, we investigated carotenoid profiles and contents from 27 types of
      paprika with different colors (red, orange, and yellow), shapes (blocky and
      conical), and cultivation methods (soil and soilless). We simultaneously analyzed
      12 kinds of carotenoids using UPLC equipped with an HSS T3 column for 30 min, and
      we identified six kinds of carotenoids in red paprika and nine types in orange
      and yellow paprika. Zeaxanthin concentrations in orange paprika were in the range
      of 85.06+/-23.37-151.39+/-5.94 mg/100 g dry weight (dw), which shows that orange
      paprika is a great source of zeaxanthin. Generally, red paprika is a great source
      of capsanthin. However, a new cultivar, 'Mini Goggal Red', contained large
      amounts of zeaxanthin (121.41+/-30.10 mg/100 g dw) even though its visible color
      is red. This is very meaningful considering that consumers have a preference for
      red color and the potent functional value of zeaxanthin. Carotenoid profiles and
      concentrations in blocky and conical type paprika were not significantly
      different in red paprika except the 'Mini Goggal Red' cultivar and yellow
      paprika. Blocky type orange paprika contains plenty of zeaxanthin, unlike conical
      type orange paprika. Three new cultivars of the conical type were cultivated in
      both soil culture and soilless culture in the same province, and carotenoid
      profiles and concentrations were similar, showing that both cultivations methods
      can be used.

PMID- 26868550
TI  - Determination of ractopamine in pork using a magnetic molecularly imprinted
      polymer as adsorbent followed by HPLC.
AB  - A new magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) for separation and
      concentration of ractopamine (RAC) were prepared using surface molecular
      imprinting technique with methacryloyl chloride as functional monomer and RAC as
      template. The MMIPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy,
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample
      magnetometer. The results of re-binding experiments indicated that the MMIPs had
      fast adsorption kinetics and could reach binding equilibrium within 20 min, and
      the adsorption capacity of the MMIPs was 2.87-fold higher than that of the
      corresponding non-imprinted polymer. The selectivity of the MMIPs was evaluated
      according to its recognition to RAC and its analogues. The synthesized MMIPs were
      successfully applied to extraction, followed by high performance liquid
      chromatography to determine RAC in real food samples. Spiked recoveries ranged
      from 73.60% to 94.5%, with relative standard deviations of <11.17%.

PMID- 26868551
TI  - Effect of cooking methods on nutritional quality and volatile compounds of
      Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume).
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different cooking methods on the
      content of important nutrients and volatiles in the fruit of Chinese chestnut.
      The nutritional compounds, including starch, water-soluble protein, free amino
      acids, reducing sugar, sucrose, organic acids and total flavonoids, of boiled,
      roasted and fried chestnuts were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of fresh
      chestnuts after cooking, while the amylose, fat, crude protein and total
      polyphenol content varied slightly (P>0.05). L-Aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid and
      L-arginine were found to be the main reduced free amino acids in cooked
      chestnuts. The main aromatic compositions in fresh chestnuts were aldehydes and
      esters, while ketones, furfural and furan were formed in cooked chestnuts due to
      the Maillard reaction and degradation of saccharides, amino acids and lipids.
      Principle component analysis demonstrated that roasting and frying had a similar
      effect on the nutritional composition of chestnuts, which differed from that of
      the boiling process.

PMID- 26868552
TI  - Dual effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment on the
      accumulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rutin in germinated buckwheat.
AB  - In the present study, the dual effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water
      (SAEW) treatment on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rutin accumulation of
      germinated buckwheat were evaluated during germination. The results showed that
      SAEW treatment (pH 5.83, ACC of 20.3 mg/L) could promote the accumulation of GABA
      and rutin in germinated buckwheat. The GABA and rutin contents of SAEW-germinated
      buckwheat reached 143.20 and 739.9 mg/100 g respectively, which is significantly
      higher than those of control (P<0.05). Moreover, SAEW treatment could increase
      the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and phenylalanine ammonialyase
      (PAL) and thus result in the GABA and rutin accumulation of germinated buckwheat.
      The results suggested that SAEW treatment could promote the rutin accumulation of
      germinated buckwheat by influencing phenylpropanoid secondary metabolic pathway
      instead of the inhibition of rutin degrading enzyme (RDE) activity. In addition,
      SAEW treatment had no adverse impact on the sprouts growth and could reduce the
      microbial populations of germinated buckwheat during germination.

PMID- 26868553
TI  - Microencapsulation of sulforaphane from broccoli seed extracts by gelatin/gum
      arabic and gelatin/pectin complexes.
AB  - Sulforaphane is a phytochemical that has received attention in recent years due
      to its chemopreventive properties. However, the uses and applications of this
      compound are very limited, because is an unstable molecule that is degraded
      mainly by changes in temperature and pH. In this research, the use of food grade
      polymers for microencapsulation of sulforaphane was studied by a complex
      coacervation method using the interaction of oppositely charged polymers as
      gelatin/gum arabic and gelatin/pectin. The polymers used were previously
      characterized in moisture content, ash and nitrogen. The encapsulation yield was
      over 80%. The gelatin/pectin complex had highest encapsulation efficiency with
      17.91%. The presence of sulforaphane in the complexes was confirmed by FTIR and
      UV/visible spectroscopy. The materials used in this work could be a new and
      attractive option for the protection of sulforaphane. 

PMID- 26868554
TI  - Improvement of the nutraceutical quality of broccoli sprouts by elicitation.
AB  - Epidemiological studies show an inverse association between Brassica consumption
      and chronic diseases. Phytochemicals are thought to be beneficial for human
      health and therefore responsible for this protective effect. Increasing their
      levels into Brassica food is considered an expedient nutritional strategy that
      can be achieved through the manipulation of growth conditions by elicitors. In
      this work we systematically evaluated the influence of treatment with different
      elicitors (sucrose, mannitol, NaCl, 1-aminocyclopropane-L-carboxylic acid,
      salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate) on the phytochemical composition of broccoli
      sprouts. The content of total and single glucosinolates, total phenolic
      compounds, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, vitamin C and E and beta
      carotene was assessed. The exposure to different elicitors produced concentration
      and elicitor-dependent specific changes in the content of all the phytochemicals
      considered. Sucrose, identified as the most effective elicitor by principal
      component analysis, induced a significant increase of total and specific
      glucosinolates, vitamin C, total anthocyanins and polyphenols. Sucrose is likely
      to represent an effective tool to increase the nutritional value of broccoli
      sprouts.

PMID- 26868555
TI  - Development and applicability of a ready-to-use PCR system for GMO screening.
AB  - With the growing number of GMOs introduced to the market, testing laboratories
      have seen their workload increase significantly. Ready-to-use multi-target PCR
      based detection systems, such as pre-spotted plates (PSP), reduce analysis time
      while increasing capacity. This paper describes the development and applicability
      to GMO testing of a screening strategy involving a PSP and its associated web
      based Decision Support System. The screening PSP was developed to detect all GMOs
      authorized in the EU in one single PCR experiment, through the combination of 16
      validated assays. The screening strategy was successfully challenged in a wide
      inter-laboratory study on real-life food/feed samples. The positive outcome of
      this study could result in the adoption of a PSP screening strategy across the
      EU; a step that would increase harmonization and quality of GMO testing in the
      EU. Furthermore, this system could represent a model for other official control
      areas where high-throughput DNA-based detection systems are needed. 

PMID- 26868556
TI  - Stability and metabolism of Arbutus unedo bioactive compounds (phenolics and
      antioxidants) under in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation.
AB  - The natural antioxidants of Arbutus unedo highlight the importance of this fruit
      as natural source of bioactive compounds. In the present study, to evaluate the
      stability of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and fat-soluble antioxidants
      (alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and lutein), in vitro gastrointestinal digestion
      was applied to A. unedo fruit. After that, the non-absorbable fraction was
      anaerobically incubated with human faeces and the metabolic pathway for
      gallotannins, ellagitannins, flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins from A. unedo fruit
      was proposed. The results showed that the presence of pectin from the fruit
      hampered the solubilization of the phenolic compounds (with exception of gallic
      and ellagic acids) and fat-soluble vitamins during gastric digestion. Degradation
      of pectin-gel during the duodenal digestion favored the release of the phenolic
      compounds and fat-soluble antioxidants to the media. The catabolic activity of
      human microbiota led to the generation of a wide range of simple phenols, such as
      p-hydroxybenzoic acid and catechol, derived from the catabolism of gallotannins,
      ellagitannins, flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins. 

PMID- 26868557
TI  - Effects of different stunning methods on the flesh quality of grass carp
      (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets stored at 4  degrees C.
AB  - The effects of stunning methods (percussion (T1), stunning at -22  degrees C in a
      freezer (T2), and immersion in ice slurry (T3)) on the flesh quality of grass
      carp fillets were evaluated in terms of K-value, total volatile base nitrogen
      (TVB-N), electrical conductivity (EC), total viable counts (TVC), biogenic
      amines, and sensory scores during storage. Moreover, fillets were analyzed
      periodically for pH, hardness, acid phosphatase activity, and the content of
      glycogen, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and lactate. Significantly slower ATP
      depletion, slower reduction in pH, slower lactate formation, and higher initial
      glycogen level were observed in T3 compared to T1 and T2 (P<0.05). Grass carp
      stunned by percussion showed higher TVB-N, EC, TVC, total biogenic amines, and
      lower sensory scores. Significantly lower TVC (P<0.05) was exhibited in T3, which
      indicated that stunning in ice slurry could improve the quality and prolong the
      shelf life of grass carp.

PMID- 26868558
TI  - Simultaneous quantification of sulforaphene and sulforaphane by reverse phase
      HPLC and their content in Raphanus sativus L. var. caudatus Alef extracts.
AB  - A simple, rapid and precise HPLC assay was developed for the well-known anti
      cancer isothiocyanates-sulforaphene (SE) and sulforaphane (SF). The analytical
      system comprised RP-C18 column with isocratic 5% THF-95% water. High resolution
      was obtained (and eluted) of two distinct HPLC peaks of similar structures SE and
      SF analytes (at 23.01+/-0.02 and 25.65+/-0.03 min, respectively). The respective
      LOD vs. LOQ for SE and SF was 0.34 and 0.36 MUg/ml vs. 1.02 and 1.08 MUg/ml. This
      assay had the best linearity and accuracy. The recoveries were in the range of
      96.83-101.17%. SF and SE were quantified in the pod of Raphanus sativus L. var.
      caudatus Alef extracts (2253.05+/-246.18 and 111.94+/-16.49 MUg/g in the crude
      extract, respectively), while only SE was detected in the stem (1105.14+/-243.10
      MUg/g crude extract), as SF was lower than the detection limit. The validated
      method thus minimized and expedited simultaneous SE and SF analysis.

PMID- 26868559
TI  - Antioxidant dietary fibre recovery from Brazilian Pinot noir grape pomace.
AB  - Brazilian grape pomace was extracted in hot water, and a factorial experiment was
      used to evaluate polysaccharide recovery. The dependent variables were the
      temperature, particle size and solute:solvent ratio. Polysaccharide yields varied
      from 3% to 10%, and the highest sugar content was observed when extraction was
      carried out at 100  degrees C from finely sized particles (?249 MUm) in a 1:12
      solute:solvent ratio. The monosaccharide composition of extracts obtained from
      flours were, on average, Rha:Ara:Xyl:Man:Gal:Glc:GalA in a 3:32:2:13:11:20:19 M
      ratio, with varying Glc:GalA ratios. (13)C NMR and HSQC spectra confirmed the
      presence of pectic- and glucose-based polysaccharides in the extracts. Phenolic
      compounds were found after pomace extraction, and catechin, gallic acid and
      epicatechin were the principal compounds identified. The extracts also had ABTS
      radical scavenging capacity (from 8.00 to 46.60 mMol Trolox/100 g pomace). These
      findings indicate that these grape pomace flours are rich in antioxidant dietary
      fibre and have a potential use as food ingredients.

PMID- 26868560
TI  - Contributing effect of various washing procedures and additives on the decline
      pattern of diethofencarb in crown daisy, a model of leafy vegetables.
AB  - The effects of various washing procedures, including stagnant, running, and
      stagnant and running tap water, and the use of washing solutions and additives,
      namely NaCl (1% and 2%), vinegar (2%, 5%, and 10%), detergent (0.5% and 1%), and
      charcoal (1% and 2%), on the reduction rate of diethofencarb were estimated in
      field-incurred crown daisy, a model of leafy vegetables, grown under greenhouses
      located in 3 different areas (Gwangju, Naju, and Muan). The original Quick, Easy,
      Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe "QuEChERS" method was modified for extraction
      and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was used for
      analysis. The recovery of diethofencarb in unwashed and washed samples was
      satisfactory and ranged between 84.28% and 115.32% with relative standard
      deviations (RSDs) of <6%. The residual levels decreased following washing with
      stagnant, running, and stagnant+running tap water (i.e., decline in levels
      increased from 65.08% to 85.02%, 69.99 to 86.79, and 74.75 to 88.96,
      respectively). The percentage of decline increased and ranged from 77.46% to
      91.19% following washing with various solutions. Application of 1% detergent was
      found to be the most effective washing method for reducing the residues in crown
      daisy. Additionally, washing with stagnant and running tap water or even stagnant
      water for 5 min might reduce the residue levels substantially, making the
      prepared food safe for human consumption.

PMID- 26868561
TI  - Reducing retrogradation and lipid oxidation of normal and glutinous rice flours
      by adding mango peel powder.
AB  - Green and ripe mango peel powders (MPP) were added to normal rice flour (NRF) and
      glutinous rice flour (GRF) at three levels (400, 800 and 1200 ppm) and their
      effects on physicochemical properties and lipid oxidation inhibition were
      investigated. Overall, MPP increased the breakdown viscosity and reduced the
      final viscosity in rice flours when compared to the control. Decreasing in
      retrogradation was observed in both NRF and GRF with MPP added of all levels. MPP
      addition also significantly inhibited the lipid oxidation of all flours during
      storage (30 days). Retrogradation values were strongly negatively correlated with
      total phenolic and flavonoid contents, but not with fiber content. The hydrogen
      bonds and hydrophilic interactions between phenolic compounds with amylopectin
      molecule may be involved the decrease of starch retrogradation, especially GRF.
      We suggest that the addition of MPP not only reduced the retrogradation but also
      inhibited the lipid oxidation of rice flour.

PMID- 26868563
TI  - Pacific whiting frozen fillets as affected by postharvest processing and storage
      conditions.
AB  - Whole fish and H&G (headed and gutted) fish were stored under refrigeration (<4 
      degrees C) for 0, 2, and 5 days and subsequently filleted and frozen at -18 
      degrees C and -80  degrees C. Frozen fillets were analyzed during 24 weeks of
      storage. The activity of trimethylamine-N-oxide demethylase (TMAOase) decreased
      more quickly at -18  degrees C than -80  degrees C. TMAOase reduction was
      distinctively noted at -18  degrees C storage. Formaldehyde (FA) induced by
      TMAOase increased at all treatments at -18  degrees C as frozen storage extended
      to 24 weeks, but it was near zero at -80  degrees C up to 12 weeks of storage.
      Textural toughening, low water retention ability, and low salt soluble protein
      resulted from the denaturation function of FA. A sudden decrease in surface
      hydrophobicity at 24 weeks, when stored at -18  degrees C, resulted from FA
      induced unfolding and subsequent aggregation. FA concentration appeared to affect
      protein aggregations and textual toughening of fillets during frozen storage.

PMID- 26868562
TI  - Long-term storage effect on chemical composition, nutritional value and quality
      of Greek onion landrace "Vatikiotiko".
AB  - The effect of storage at two temperatures (5+/-1 and 25+/-1  degrees C and 60
      70+/-5% RH for both temperatures) on marketability and quality features of dry
      bulbs of local landrace "Vatikiotiko", "Sivan F1", "Red Cross F1" and "Creamgold"
      was examined. During storage measurements for fresh and dry weight of bulbs,
      tunic and flesh color, bulb firmness, nutritional value and mineral composition
      were taken at regular intervals. Storage concluded when either bulbs lost
      marketable quality or sprouting occurred. "Vatikiotiko" onion can be stored for
      at least 7months at 25+/-1  degrees C, whereas at 5+/-1  degrees C storage could
      be prolonged without significant marketability and quality loss. The fact that
      "Vatikiotiko" landrace can be considered a "storage" onion has to be capitalized
      in order to increase total production and yield, since storage could cover the
      market needs that arise throughout the year.

PMID- 26868564
TI  - Identification of natural lactoylcholine in lactic acid bacteria-fermented food.
AB  - Acetylcholine (AcCh) is a major neurotransmitter and an agonist of nicotinic and
      muscarinic receptors in non-neuronal systems. Artificially synthesized
      lactoylcholine (LaCh) has potent nicotinic activity equal to that of AcCh. In
      this study, we report the isolation and purification of natural AcCh and LaCh
      from a lactic-fermented food known to reduce blood pressure. To our knowledge, we
      are the first to isolate natural LaCh. The choline esters were isolated using a
      novel purification procedure combining a weak cation-exchange cartridge with ODS
      and pentafluorophenyl HPLC columns, and the structure of LaCh was identified via
      various analyses. Assessment of D- and L-LaCh showed that the isolated LaCh was
      an enantiomer mixture with a D/L ratio of 1.6. D-LaCh induced vasorelaxation of
      thoracic aortas from spontaneously hypertensive rats (EC50=3.83*10(-7) M), while
      L-LaCh did not. Our results suggest that choline esters could be new functional
      ingredients in lactic-fermented foods.

PMID- 26868565
TI  - Microfabricated interdigitated Au electrode for voltammetric determination of
      lead and cadmium in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).
AB  - An in-situ plating bismuth modified interdigitated Au electrode (IAE) was
      developed for determination of Pb(2+) and Cd(2+) in crab. The IAE was fabricated
      and used as counter electrode and working electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was
      performed with the IAE for studying electrochemical performance, showing clear
      redox peaks. The key operational parameters were optimized, which were 600 MUg L(
      1) of Bi(3+) concentration, 0.1 mol L(-1) of acetate buffer (pH 4.5), -1.2V of
      deposition potential and 180 s of deposition time. Under optimized condition, the
      linear range of IAE was from 5 to 50 MUg L(-1) for both metal ions, with
      detection limit (threefold signal-to-noise) of 0.74 MUg L(-1) for Pb(2+) and 0.86
      MUg L(-1) for Cd(2+). Finally, the developed sensor was applied to detect Pb(2+)
      and Cd(2+) in crab extract solutions by standard addition method. The results
      were in good agreement with outcomes obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass
      spectrometry.

PMID- 26868566
TI  - Effect of magnesium salt concentration in water-in-oil emulsions on the physical
      properties and microstructure of tofu.
AB  - The aim of this research was to prepare water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions
      encapsulating different concentrations of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and to
      investigate the effect of W/O emulsions on the physical properties and
      microstructure of tofu. The results showed that the stability of W/O emulsions
      improved as the concentrations of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and MgCl2
      increased. Dynamic viscoelastic measurements indicated that gelation time
      decreased with increasing MgCl2 concentration in W/O emulsions, suggesting a more
      rapid reaction between magnesium ions and protein molecules. As the concentration
      of MgCl2 in W/O emulsions increased, the yield and water content of tofu
      decreased, while the protein and crude fat contents and hardness values
      increased. At a concentration of 2.0M MgCl2 in W/O emulsion, the WHC and
      microstructure of the tofu samples were optimal. The variations in the physical
      properties of tofu were attributed to the concentration of magnesium ions and the
      coagulation rate. 

PMID- 26868567
TI  - Fortification of dark chocolate with spray dried black mulberry (Morus nigra)
      waste extract encapsulated in chitosan-coated liposomes and bioaccessability
      studies.
AB  - Fine-disperse anionic liposomes containing black mulberry (Morus nigra) extract
      (BME) were prepared by high pressure homogenization at 25,000 psi. Primary
      liposomes were coated with cationic chitosan (0.4, w/v%) using the layer-by-layer
      depositing method and mixed with maltodextrin (MD) (20, w/v%) prior to spray
      drying. After that, spray dried liposomal powders containing BME were added to
      chocolates with alkalization degrees (pH 4.5, 6, 7.5) at conching temperatures of
      40  degrees C, 60  degrees C, and 80  degrees C. The results showed that,
      compared to spray dried extract, chitosan coated liposomal powders provided
      better protection of anthocyanin content in both increased temperature and pH. In
      addition, encapsulation in liposomes enhanced in vitro bioaccessability of
      anthocyanins. Chocolate was fortified with encapsulated anthocyanins maximum
      76.8% depending on conching temperature and pH.

PMID- 26868568
TI  - Improvement of grape and wine phenolic content by foliar application to grapevine
      of three different elicitors: Methyl jasmonate, chitosan, and yeast extract.
AB  - Phenolic compounds play a key role in grape and wine organoleptic properties,
      being therefore a key parameter in wine quality. Elicitor application constitutes
      an interesting field of research since it is indirectly involved in the
      accumulation of phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to compare the
      effect of the application of three different elicitors on both grape and wine
      phenolic content. Methyl jasmonate, chitosan, and a commercial yeast extract were
      applied to the canopy at veraison and one week later. Results showed that foliar
      treatments carried out with methyl jasmonate and yeast extract achieved the best
      results, increasing grape and wine anthocyanin content when compared to the
      control. Moreover, the application of the yeast elicitor also enhanced grape
      stilbene content. In contrast, the chitosan treatment did not have a substantial
      impact on the phenolic compounds. The results of this study indicate that methyl
      jasmonate and yeast extract applications could be a simple practice to increase
      grape and wine phenolic content. 

PMID- 26868569
TI  - Measurement of haem and total iron in fish, shrimp and prawn using ICP-MS:
      Implications for dietary iron intake calculations.
AB  - Twenty-five species of fish, shrimp and prawn from local markets in Bangladesh
      were analysed for concentrations of total Fe, haem Fe and non-haem Fe by ICP-MS.
      Total Fe and non-haem Fe concentrations were measured in nitric acid-digested
      samples and haem Fe was extracted using acidified 80% acetone for 60 min. Total
      Fe concentrations ranged from 0.55-14.43 mg/100 g FW, and haem Fe% ranged from
      18%-93% of total Fe. Repeat extractions with 80% acetone recovered additional
      haem Fe, suggesting that previous measurement by this technique may have
      underestimated haem Fe content. Calculation of Fe balance (summing Fe in acetone
      extracts and Fe in the residue after haem Fe extraction) was not significantly
      different from total Fe, indicating the two processes recovered the different
      forms of Fe with similar effectiveness.

PMID- 26868570
TI  - Heat-pretreatment and enzymolysis behavior of the lotus seed protein.
AB  - Lotus seed protein (LSP) was heat-pretreated before enzymolysis in order to seek
      a greater degree of hydrolysis (DH) during enzymatic hydrolysis. The parameters
      including substrate concentration, temperature, pH, and papain concentration were
      optimized by response surface methodology in the enzymolysis of the heat
      pretreated LSP. The influence of substrate concentration on the non-pretreated
      LSP enzymolysis was assessed, and the enzymolysis was found to obey the Haldane
      model with inhibition by LSP substrate. The initial concentration of non
      pretreated LSP was inferred theoretically to be 11.07 g/L in order to avoid
      substrate inhibition. On the other hand, Chrastil model was fitted and the
      diffusion resistance constant values were in the range of 0.5-0.6 for the
      diffusion-controlled encounter of enzyme and substrate, implying that diffusion
      was a rate-limiting step. The heat-pretreatment at 60  degrees C for 60 min could
      increase the DH of the LSP, which enhanced the efficiency of the enzymolysis by
      papain.

PMID- 26868571
TI  - Oxidative stability and antioxidant enzyme activities of dry-cured bacons as
      affected by the partial substitution of NaCl with KCl.
AB  - This study investigated the influence of partial substitution of NaCl with KCl on
      protein and lipid oxidation as well as antioxidant enzyme activities in dry-cured
      bacons during processing. The partial substitution was 0% KCl (I), 40% KCl (II),
      and 70% KCl (III). Compared with 0% KCl (I), the substitution of 40% NaCl with
      KCl did not significantly influence the protein and lipid oxidation and
      antioxidant enzyme activities. The bacons that were treated with 70% KCl
      treatment (III) showed increased lipid oxidation and antioxidant enzyme GSH-Px
      activity, whereas samples treated with formulas I and II showed higher protein
      oxidation and antioxidant enzyme catalase activity. These results demonstrate
      that the substitution of NaCl with KCl by more than 40% may significantly affect
      protein and lipid oxidation and that for the substitution of NaCl in further
      processed meat products with other chloride salts, salt content is very important
      for control of protein and lipid biochemical changes in finished products. 

PMID- 26868572
TI  - Study of total dry matter and protein extraction from canola meal as affected by
      the pH, salt addition and use of zeta-potential/turbidimetry analysis to optimize
      the extraction conditions.
AB  - Total dry matter and proteins were differentially and preferentially extracted
      from canola meal (CM) under different conditions. The effect of the extraction
      medium pH, CM concentration and salt concentrations were found to have different
      influences on the extractability of total dry matter and proteins from CM. The pH
      of the extracting medium had the most significant effect. The maximal total dry
      matter (42.8+/-1.18%) extractability was obtained with 5% CM at pH 12 without
      salt addition, whereas the maximal for total protein (58.12+/-1.47%) was obtained
      with 15% CM under the same conditions. The minimal extractability for the dry
      matter (26.63+/-0.67%) was obtained with 5% CM at pH 10 without salt added and
      the minimal protein extractability was observed in a 10% CM at pH 10, in 0.01
      NaCl. Turbidity and zeta-potential measurements indicated that pH 5 was the
      optimum condition for the highest protein extraction yield. SDS-PAGE analysis
      showed that salt addition contributes to higher solubility of canola proteins
      specifically cruciferin fraction, although it reduces napin extraction. 

PMID- 26868573
TI  - Effects of divalent cations on the formation of 4(5)-methylimidazole in
      fructose/ammonium hydroxide caramel model reaction.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to detail the changes of 4(5)
      methylimidazole (4-MI) and its precursors in the presence of divalent cations
      (Ca(2+), Mg(2+)) in a fructose/ammonium hydroxide caramel model system. The
      content of 4-MI and its precursor methylglyoxal (MGO) was inhibited by divalent
      cations (Ca(2+), Mg(2+)). The possible explanation might be that fructose and its
      Heyns product glucosamine interact with divalent cations to form complexes and
      inhibit the degradation of glucosamine into MGO. Moreover, the changes of
      fructose, NH4(+) and brown intensity in the presence of divalent cations
      indicated that fructose and glucosamine underwent intra-intermolecular
      polymerisation into melanoidins rather than the degradation reaction into
      aldehydes and ketones. 

PMID- 26868574
TI  - Antioxidant activities from different rosemary clonal lines.
AB  - Rosemary extract is widely used in food industry and carnosic acid is reported to
      be the major component that is responsible for its antioxidant activities.
      However, it is unclear how the numerous plant metabolites interact and contribute
      to the overall antioxidant activity. In this study, with poultry fat as the model
      food system, rosemary extract from six clonal lines were evaluated that each
      represented a different genetic variant. As expected, rosemary extract with
      higher carnosic acid content had higher antioxidant activity. However, rosemary
      extract which had carnosic acid removed retained a significant amount of
      activity. Furthermore, when the individual contributions of carnosic acid and the
      portion without carnosic acid were evaluated separately, neither was shown to be
      responsible for the overall level of its stabilization effect from rosemary
      extract as a whole entity. The interactions among different plant metabolites
      have a major impact on the overall antioxidant capabilities of rosemary extract. 

PMID- 26868575
TI  - Pesticide contamination of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) for human
      consumption.
AB  - The use of pesticides contributes to the productivity and the quality of the
      cultivated crop. A large portion of the agricultural produce is not consumed as
      it is not an edible part or the quality of the product is too low. This waste of
      agricultural produce can be valorised as a substrate for the production of
      certain insects for human consumption. However, pesticides applied on the plants
      might accumulate during the life cycle of the insects fed on the waste materials
      and may cause a health risk to humans consuming the insects. Pesticide residues
      in larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, were investigated. We
      monitored the accumulation of pesticides in the larvae upon consumption of
      contaminated fresh produce. An increased uptake rate by the insects was found for
      pesticides with higher Kow-values. Excretion of pesticides by the insect was
      inversely related to the log(Kow) values of the pesticides. 

PMID- 26868576
TI  - Detecting ethanol and acetaldehyde by simple and ultrasensitive fluorimetric
      methods in compound foods.
AB  - There is a need for simple, accurate, and rapid analysis of ethanol (Eth) and
      acetaldehyde (AA) in a wide variety of beverages and foods. A novel enzymatic
      assay coupled to formation of fluorescent chromophore is presented. Eth detection
      was further improved by adding semicarbazide to the reaction mixture, which
      interacts with AA and prevents its inhibitory effect on Eth oxidation. The limits
      of detection of Eth (0.5 mg/L) and AA (0.9 mg/L) are comparable with the
      performance of modern gas chromatography techniques. The repeatability of Eth and
      AA detection in various foods (9% on average) was lower than that with commercial
      kits (23%). The high sensitivity of the developed method enables detection of AA
      in common foods [e.g., bio-yogurt (12.2 mg/L), and the existence of endogenous
      Eth (1.8 mg/L) and AA (2.0 mg/L) in bacteria-free non-fermented bovine milk],
      which could not measured so far by enzymatic methods.

PMID- 26868577
TI  - Polymerization of wheat gluten and the changes of glutenin macropolymer (GMP)
      during the production of Chinese steamed bread.
AB  - Polymerization of gluten and the changes of glutenin macropolymer (GMP) during
      the production of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) were investigated, providing a
      theoretical basis to improve and regulate the quality of CSB. Protein
      extractability and free sulfhydryl (SH) contents increased to some degree during
      the dough preparation stage, but significantly (P<0.05) decreased during
      steaming. Remarkable protein aggregates were observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns. The microstructure study
      of the gas cell and the protein network by confocal laser scanning microscopy
      (CLSM) further revealed the formation of a continuous and three-dimensional
      gluten network. The loss and recovery of GMP wet weight during dough processing
      were significant (P<0.05). Glutenin depolymerization negatively correlated with
      GMP wet weight and the contents of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW
      GS) and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS). Gluten polymerization
      led to a decrease in G' and G" of GMP while gluten depolymerization induced a
      slight recovery in G' and G" of GMP. 

PMID- 26868578
TI  - Comparative study of muscle proteins in relation to the development of yake in
      three tropical tuna species yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), big eye (Thunnus
      obesus) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis).
AB  - Burnt tuna (BT), or yake-niku, is a quality flaw of the muscle characterised by a
      pale colour and grainy and exudative texture. Cathepsin-L, water soluble and
      total protein components from normal and BT muscles, from three tropical tuna
      species - yellowfin (YFT, Thunnus albacares), bigeye (BET, Thunnus obesus) and
      skipjack (SKJ, Katsuwonus pelamis) - were compared by electrophoretic and western
      blot analyses to identify biomarkers for BT. As expected, SDS-PAGE patterns were
      species-specific but differences, due to BT, were observed only between some low
      ionic strength extracts of BET and YFT. Protein oxidation and cell proliferation
      analysed by immunoblotting did not show differences between BT and normal
      muscles. Gelatine zymography revealed different gelatinase activity patterns
      that, although not linked to BT, may affect the final texture of the muscle. A 43
      kDa band, identified as creatine kinase by proteomic analysis, showed the
      potential to be a good indicator for BT in BET and YFT.

PMID- 26868579
TI  - Production of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B from callus culture of
      Salvia miltiorrhiza with cytotoxicity towards acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
AB  - Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) Bunge is one of the widely-used Chinese medicinal herbs.
      In this study, the chemical constituents and anticancer potential of SM stems and
      leaves were examined with those of respective callus cultures. The callus culture
      for stem and leaf explants was initiated in modified Murashige and Skoog (MS)
      medium. Active constituents of respective extracts were analyzed by high
      performance liquid chromatography coupled with DAD and MS (HPLC-DAD-MS).
      Rosmarinic acid (RA) and salvianolic acid B (Sal B) were determined to be the
      main phenolic compounds. Quantitative analyses revealed that callus stem extracts
      produced higher amount of RA and Sal B (stem RA: 1.27+/-0.38%; stem Sal B: 0.87+/
      0.20%) than callus leaf did (leaf RA: 0.28+/-0.02%; leaf Sal B: 0.07+/-0.03%).
      Stem and leaf callus extracts exerted cytotoxic effects towards CCRF-CEM cells
      (stem: 13.1+/-0.90 MUg/ml; leaf: 18.1+/-0.33 MUg/ml). As expected, stem extract
      with higher amount of RA and Sal B showed lower IC50 value than leaf extract.
      These findings suggest the possibility to isolate bioactive constituents with
      anticancer properties from in vitro callus cultures of stems and leaves of SM.

PMID- 26868580
TI  - Antioxidative free and bound phenolic constituents in botanical fractions of
      Indian specialty maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes.
AB  - Specialty maize genotypes viz. QPM (quality protein maize), Baby corn, Popcorn
      and Sweet corn, which are usually consumed in whole forms can be good supplements
      of phenolic antioxidants. Botanical fractions of these maize genotypes were
      analyzed to explore the distribution of free and bound phenolics. HPLC and ESI
      MS/MS results indicated the presence of vanillic, syringic, p-hydroxybenzoic,
      caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic and isoferulic acids along with cyanidin-3-O
      glucoside, kaempferol and quercetin. Germs of maize samples contained
      significantly higher free phenolics than pericarps, whereas, pericarps contained
      74-83% of bound ones. QPM and Popcorn contained only 3% free phenolics whereas,
      Baby corn and Sweet corn had 14-17%. Unlike in peroxide scavenging and reducing
      capacity, anti-radical capacity of free phenolics of germs was significantly
      higher than that of pericarps. Free phenolics contributed 0.2-1.65%, 2-5% and 42
      49% in anti-radical, peroxide scavenging and reducing capacity, respectively.
      Among lipophilic tocochromanols gamma-tocopherol was the most abundant isomer in
      the samples among which Sweet corn contained the most (84.2 MUg/g). Data showed
      that specialty maize genotypes are rich sources of hydrophilic and lipophilic
      bioactives and are natural antioxidants.

PMID- 26868581
TI  - Phenolic composition, ascorbic acid content, and antioxidant capacity of Spanish
      jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) fruits.
AB  - The interest in Ziziphus jujube is growing because it is an excellent source of
      nutrients and phytochemicals, and can contribute to a healthy diet. Nutritional
      compounds (phenolic compounds and L-ascorbic acid), and antioxidant capacity of 4
      Spanish jujube cultivars were studied. Polyphenols were identified by LC-MS-QTof
      and quantified by UPLC-PDA-FL. A total of 25 polyphenolic compounds were
      identified and classified as 10 flavan-3-ols, 13 flavonols, 1 flavanone, and 1
      dihydrochalcone. The content of total polyphenols (TP) ranged from 1442 to 3432
      mg/100 g dry matter (dm) in fruits of the cultivars 'DAT' and 'PSI',
      respectively. Flavan-3-ols, the major group of polyphenols in jujube represented
      ~92% of the TP content, whereas flavonols only amounted for about ~8% each. The
      content of L-ascorbic acid was very high and took values in the range of 387-555
      mg/100 g fresh weight (fw). Some Spanish jujube cultivars, especially 'PSI' and
      'MSI', may be selected to promote the growth of cultivars with valuable
      nutritional and phytochemical beneficial effects on human health.

PMID- 26868583
TI  - Novel arginine deiminase-based method to assay L-arginine in beverages.
AB  - A highly selective and sensitive enzymatic method for the quantitative
      determination of L-arginine (Arg) has been developed. The method is based on the
      use of recombinant bacterial arginine deiminase (ADI) isolated from the cells of
      a recombinant strain Escherichia coli and o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) as a chemical
      reagent. Ammonia, the product of the enzymatic digestion of Arg by ADI, reacts
      with OPA and forms in the presence of sulfite a product, which can be detected by
      spectrophotometry (S) and fluorometry (F). The linear concentration range for Arg
      assay in the final reaction mixture varies for ADI-OPA-F variant of the method
      from 0.35 MUM to 24 MUM with the detection limit of 0.25 MUM. For ADI-OPA-S
      variant of the assay, the linearity varies from 0.7 MUM to 50 MUM with the
      detection limit of 0.55 MUM. The new method was tested on real samples of wines
      and juices. A high correlation (R=0.978) was shown for the results obtained with
      the proposed and the reference enzymatic method.

PMID- 26868582
TI  - Heated apple juice supplemented with onion has greatly improved nutritional
      quality and browning index.
AB  - Although fruit juices are very popular, enzymatic browning occurs easily.
      Browning of fruit juice deteriorates nutrition value and product quality due to
      oxidation of polyphenol compounds. Therefore, development of natural food
      additives that reduce browning will be beneficial for improving quality of fruit
      juices. Onion has been reported to be a potent natural anti-browning agent. Here,
      we compared unheated and heated apple juices pre-supplemented with onion with
      respect to browning and nutritional quality. The unheated apple juice
      supplemented with onion showed reduced browning as well as increased total
      soluble solid, total phenol concentration, radical scavenging activities, and
      ferric reducing and copper chelating activities without any change in flavonoid
      concentration. On the other hand, heated juice supplemented with onion not only
      showed improved values for these parameters but also markedly increased flavonoid
      concentration. Thus, we conclude that application of heating and onion addition
      together may greatly improve quality of apple juice. 

PMID- 26868584
TI  - Quality changes and predictive models of radial basis function neural networks
      for brined common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets during frozen storage.
AB  - To investigate and predict quality of 2% brined common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
      fillets during frozen storage, free fatty acids (FFA), salt extractable protein
      (SEP), total sulfhydryl (SH) content, and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity were determined
      at 261 K, 253 K, and 245 K, respectively. There was a dramatic increase (P<0.05)
      in FFA and a sharp decrease (P<0.05) in SH at 261 K during the first 3 weeks. SEP
      decreased to 67.31% after 17 weeks at 245 K, whereas it took about 7 weeks and 13
      weeks to decrease to the same extent at 261 K and 253 K, respectively. Ca(2+)
      ATPase activity kept decreasing to 18.28% after 7 weeks at 261 K. Furthermore,
      radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs) were developed to predict quality
      (FFA, SEP, SH, and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity) of brined carp fillets during frozen
      storage with relative errors all within +/-5%. Thus, RBFNN is a promising method
      to predict quality of carp fillets during storage at 245-261 K.

PMID- 26868585
TI  - Effect of curing salts and probiotic cultures on the evolution of flavor
      compounds in dry-fermented sausages during ripening.
AB  - The effect of the concentration of curing salts, the nature of the probiotic
      culture (free or immobilized Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 on wheat grains) and
      the ripening time on the generation of volatile compounds in probiotic dry
      fermented sausages was investigated. Samples were collected after 1, 28 and 71
      days of ripening and subjected to SPME GC/MS analysis. All factors affected
      significantly the concentration of all volatile compounds. Noticeably, the
      content of esters, organic acids and total volatiles was significantly increased
      after 28 and 71 days of ripening in almost all products. In most cases, reduction
      of curing salts content resulted in significant increase of esters and organic
      acids during ripening, whereas the opposite effect was observed in carbonyl
      compounds at days 28 and 71. Principal Component Analysis of the semi
      quantitative data revealed that primarily the ripening process affected the
      volatile composition.

PMID- 26868586
TI  - Bog bilberry phenolics, antioxidant capacity and nutrient profile.
AB  - Phenolics and nutrient profiles of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.)
      collected from high mountain pastures in northeast Anatolia (Turkey) were
      examined for the first time in this study. The major soluble sugar identified in
      the berry was fructose, following by glucose, and the main organic acid
      identified was citric acid, followed by malic acid. Eleven phenolic acids and 17
      anthocyanin 3-glycosides were identified and quantified. Caffeic acid in the free
      and glycoside forms and syringic acid in the ester form were the major phenolic
      acids, and the major individual anthocyanin present in the berry was malvidin 3
      glucoside (24%). The highest total phenolics and anthocyanin contents were
      obtained from the anthocyanin fraction in conjunction with the highest
      antioxidant capacity, followed by the polyphenolic and aqueous fractions, FRAP,
      ORAC and DPPH, in that order. Our findings can be used to compare bog bilberry
      with other Vaccinium berries and to help clarify the relative potential health
      benefits of different berries. 

PMID- 26868587
TI  - Phytochemical distribution in hull and cotyledon of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis
      L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiate L.), and their contribution to antioxidant, anti
      inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities.
AB  - Total saponin content, total phenolics content, total flavonoids content,
      condensed tannin content in hull, cotyledon and whole grain of both adzuki bean
      and mung bean were determined by colorimetric methods. Vitexin and isovitexin
      contents in mung bean were determined by HPLC. Antioxidant effects were evaluated
      with DPPH scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In
      vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of beans were evaluated by
      protease and aldose reductase inhibitory assays, respectively. The results
      indicated that the bean hulls were the most abundant in phytochemicals and
      largely contributed antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory effects and anti
      diabetic effects of whole grains. The result showed that mung bean hull was the
      most abundant with vitexin at 37.43 mg/g and isovitexin at 47.18 mg/g,
      respectively. Most of the phytochemicals and bioactivities were most
      predominantly contributed by the bean hulls with exception for condensed tannin
      of mung bean; which was more abundant in the cotyledon than its hull.

PMID- 26868589
TI  - Diurnal-activity Patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) in Southern
      India.
AB  - The diurnal time-activity patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
      were studied between 2005 and 2006 in the Nagapattinam District of Southern
      India. Bee-eaters were observed to spend an average of 52.5% of their day time
      scanning, 21.3% feeding, 13.3% flying, 8.8% resting and 4.1% engaging in preening
      activities. The time spent on scanning varied among seasons in 2005 (p<0.05) and
      among time blocks (p<0.05), but it did not vary among years or habitats (p>0.05).
      The feeding patterns differed among years, seasons within years, time blocks and
      habitats (p<0.05). The flying habits varied among years, time blocks and habitats
      (p<0.05) but did not change between seasons within years (p>0.05). The resting
      habits differed among years and habitats (p<0.05) but did not differ among
      seasons within years or time blocks (p>0.05). Preening differed among years and
      time blocks (p<0.05) but did not vary among seasons within years or habitats
      (p>0.05). We conclude that several factors, such as food availability,
      environmental factors and predation threats, may affect the diurnal activity
      patterns of Bee-eaters between habitats and seasons; a further study could
      clarify this conclusion. 

PMID- 26868588
TI  - 18F-FDG PET-CT performed before and during radiation therapy of head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma: Are they independent or complementary to each other?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study are to evaluate the prognostic value of
      metabolic parameters derived from (18) F-FDG PET-CT performed before definitive
      radiation therapy (RT) (prePET) in patients with mucosal primary head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma (MPHNSCC) and to assess the additive prognostic values of
      FDG PET-CT performed during RT (iPET). METHODS: One hundred patients with MPHNSCC
      treated with radical RT underwent staging prePET and iPET performed during the
      third week of treatment. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax ),
      metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) of primary
      tumour were analysed for both prePET and iPET, and results were correlated with
      loco-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS),
      metastatic failure-free survival (MFFS) and overall survival (OS), using Kaplan
      Meier analysis. Optimal cut-offs (OC) for prePET and iPET were derived from
      Receiver Operating Characteristic curves. Patients with metabolic parameters
      above/below the individual OC of prePET as well as iPET (i.e. combined prePET and
      iPET (comPET)) were evaluated against their outcomes. RESULTS: Median age was 61
      years (range 39-81), median follow-up of 20 months (range 4-70, mean 27), and
      AJCC 7th Edition clinical stage II, III and IV were 8, 24 and 68 patients
      respectively. Metabolic values below individual OC in comPET were found to be
      associated with statistically significant improvements (P < 0.05) in DFS, LRFS
      and OS. In addition, patients with SUVmax above the OC in comPET were associated
      with worse MFFS (P = 0.011) and confirmed on both univariate (P = 0.019) and
      multivariate analyses (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Addition of iPET significantly
      improves the prognostic values of all three metabolic parameters and can
      potentially be used in future adaptive local and systemic therapy trials.

PMID- 26868591
TI  - A Description of Lecithocladium angustiovum (Digenea: Hemiuridae) in Short
      Mackerel, Rastrelliger brachysoma (Scombridae), of Indonesia.
AB  - Lecithocladium angustiovum is identified from the stomach (87.33%) and the
      intestine (12.67%) of Indonesian short mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma). The
      description includes an elongated body; a mean total length of 1018.84 um; and an
      ecsoma of 47.52% of the total length. The oral and ventral sucker ratio is
      1:0.63, and the pharynx length is 97.42 um. The sequence results were obtained by
      18s rDNA gene sequencing of the 354 basepair (bp) DNA segment, and the mean base
      composition (%) was 17.7 A; 35.7 T; 29.6 G; and 17.1 C. A phylogenetic tree was
      constructed to demonstrate the genetic distance between L. angustiovum and
      sequences from Lecithocladium excisum, Dinurus longisinus, Plerurus digitatus and
      Lecithochirium caesionis obtained from GenBank. 

PMID- 26868590
TI  - A Comparison of Culture Characteristics between Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem
      Cells and Dental Stem Cells.
AB  - In the past decade, the field of stem cell biology is of major interest among
      researchers due to its broad therapeutic potential. Stem cells are a class of
      undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialised cell
      types. Stem cells can be classified into two main types: adult stem cells (adult
      tissues) and embryonic stem cells (embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of
      embryological development). This review will discuss two types of adult
      mesenchymal stem cells, dental stem cells and amniotic stem cells, with respect
      to their differentiation lineages, passage numbers and animal model studies.
      Amniotic stem cells have a greater number of differentiation lineages than dental
      stem cells. On the contrary, dental stem cells showed the highest number of
      passages compared to amniotic stem cells. For tissue regeneration based on animal
      studies, amniotic stem cells showed the shortest time to regenerate in comparison
      with dental stem cells. 

PMID- 26868592
TI  - Isolation and Characterisation of Endophytic Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria in
      Sugarcane.
AB  - Endophytic nitrogen fixing bacteria were isolated from the leaves, stems and
      roots of industrial variety (cv. U-Thong 3; UT3), wild and chewing sugarcane
      plants grown for 6 weeks in nitrogen (N)-free sand. Eighty nine isolates of
      endophytic bacteria were obtained on N-free agar. An acetylene reduction assay
      (ARA) detected nitrogenase activity in all 89 isolates. Three isolates from the
      chewing (C2HL2, C7HL1 and C34MR1) sugarcane and one isolate from the industrial
      sugarcane (UT3R1) varieties were characterised, and their responses to different
      yeast extract concentrations were investigated. Three different responses in
      nitrogenase activity were observed. Isolates C2HL2 and C7HL1 exhibited major
      increases with the addition of 0.005% yeast extract, C34MR1 exhibited no
      response, and UT3R1 exhibited a significant decrease in nitrogenase activity with
      0.005% yeast extract. In all the isolates, nitrogenase activity decreased with
      further increase of the yeast extract to 0.05%. The highest nitrogenase activity
      was observed in isolates C2HL2 and C7HL1, which had 16S rRNA gene sequences that
      were closely related to Novosphingobium sediminicola and Ochrobactrum
      intermedium, respectively. 

PMID- 26868593
TI  - Morphological and Molecular Identification of Holothuria (Merthensiothuria)
      leucospilota and Stichopus horrens from Pangkor Island, Malaysia.
AB  - This preliminary study aimed to identify a commercial gamat species, Stichopus
      horrens Selenka, 1867, and a timun laut species, Holothuria (Mertensiothuria)
      leucospilota (Brandt, 1835), from Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia, employing
      morphological techniques based on the shape of the ossicles and molecular
      techniques based on the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
      gene. In Malaysia, a gamat is defined as a sea cucumber species of the family
      Stichopodidae with medicinal value, and timun laut refers to non-gamat species.
      S. horrens is very popular on Pangkor Island as a main ingredient in the
      traditional production of air gamat and minyak gamat, while H. leucospilota is
      the most abundant species in Malaysia. In contrast to previous studies, internal
      body parts (the respiratory tree and gastrointestine) were examined in this study
      to obtain better inferences based on morphology. The results showed that there
      were no ossicles present in the gastrointestine of H. leucospilota, and this
      characteristic is suggested as a unique diagnostic marker for the timun laut
      species. In addition, the presence of Y-shaped rods in the respiratory tree of S.
      horrens subsequently supported the potential to use internal body parts to
      identify the gamat species. Phylogenetic analysis of the COI mtDNA gene of the
      sea cucumber specimens using the neighbour-joining method and maximum likelihood
      methods further confirmed the species status of H. leucospilota and S. horrens
      from Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. The COI mtDNA gene sequences were
      registered with GenBank, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), US
      National Library of Medicine (GenBank accession no.: KC405565-KC405568). Although
      additional specimens from various localities will be required to produce more
      conclusive results, the current findings provide better insight into the
      importance of complementary approaches involving morphological and molecular
      techniques in the identification of the two Malaysian sea cucumber species. 

PMID- 26868594
TI  - Influence of External Nitrogen on Nitrogenase Enzyme Activity and Auxin
      Production in Herbaspirillum seropedicae (Z78).
AB  - The production of nitrogenase enzyme and auxins by free living diazotrophs has
      the potential to influence the growth of host plants. In this study, diazotrophs
      were grown in the presence of various concentrations of nitogen (N) to determine
      the optimal concentration of N for microbial growth stimulation, promotion of
      gaseous N (N2) fixation, and phytohormone production. Therefore, we investigate
      whether different levels of N supplied to Herbaspirillum seropedicae (Z78) have
      significant effects on nitrogenase activity and auxin production. The highest
      nitrogenase activity and the lowest auxin production of H. seropedicae (Z78) were
      both recorded at 0 gL(-1) of NH4Cl. Higher levels of external N caused a
      significant decrease in the nitrogenase activity and an increased production of
      auxins. In a subsequent test, two different inoculum sizes of Z78 (10(6) and
      10(12) cfu/ml) were used to study the effect of different percentages of
      acetylene on nitrogenase activity of the inoculum via the acetylene reduction
      assay (ARA). The results showed that the optimal amount of acetylene required for
      nitrogenase enzyme activity was 5% for the 10(6) cfu/ml inoculum, whereas the
      higher inoculum size (10(12) cfu/ml) required at least 10% of acetylene for
      optimal nitrogenase activity. These findings provide a clearer understanding of
      the effects of N levels on diazotrophic nitrogenase activity and auxin
      production, which are important factors influencing plant growth. 

PMID- 26868595
TI  - Reduction of MTT to Purple Formazan by Vitamin E Isomers in the Absence of Cells.
AB  - The yellow tetrazolium salt 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) is widely used to determine cell viability in
      cell proliferation and cytotoxic assays. MTT is reduced by metabolically active
      cells to form an insoluble purple formazan product that is quantifiable by
      spectrophotometry. It is the most common and direct assay for cell viability.
      However, in this present study, we demonstrated that the vitamin E isomers alpha
      beta-gamma-delta-tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol were able to reduce MTT into a
      formazan product, despite the absence of living cells. For comparison, a second
      method for determining cell viability, which is the neutral red uptake assay, was
      used in parallel with the MTT assay. The results showed that neutral red did not
      interact with the vitamin E isomers. Our findings suggest that the MTT assay is
      not suitable for studying the proliferative effects of vitamin E isomers on cell
      growth. 

PMID- 26868596
TI  - Duplication and Diversification of Dipteran Argonaute Genes, and the Evolutionary
      Divergence of Piwi and Aubergine.
AB  - Genetic studies of Drosophila melanogaster have provided a paradigm for RNA
      interference (RNAi) in arthropods, in which the microRNA and antiviral pathways
      are each mediated by a single Argonaute (Ago1 and Ago2) and germline suppression
      of transposable elements is mediated by a trio of Piwi-subfamily Argonaute
      proteins (Ago3, Aub, and Piwi). Without a suitable evolutionary context,
      deviations from this can be interpreted as derived or idiosyncratic. Here we
      analyze the evolution of Argonaute genes across the genomes and transcriptomes of
      86 Dipteran species, showing that variation in copy number can occur rapidly, and
      that there is constant flux in some RNAi mechanisms. The lability of the RNAi
      pathways is illustrated by the divergence of Aub and Piwi (182-156 Ma),
      independent origins of multiple Piwi-family genes in Aedes mosquitoes (less than
      25Ma), and the recent duplications of Ago2 and Ago3 in the tsetse fly Glossina
      morsitans. In each case the tissue specificity of these genes has altered,
      suggesting functional divergence or innovation, and consistent with the action of
      dynamic selection pressures across the Argonaute gene family. We find there are
      large differences in evolutionary rates and gene turnover between pathways, and
      that paralogs of Ago2, Ago3, and Piwi/Aub show contrasting rates of evolution
      after duplication. This suggests that Argonautes undergo frequent evolutionary
      expansions that facilitate functional divergence. 

PMID- 26868597
TI  - Gene Expression Variation Resolves Species and Individual Strains among Coral
      Associated Dinoflagellates within the Genus Symbiodinium.
AB  - Reef-building corals depend on symbiotic mutualisms with photosynthetic
      dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. This large microalgal group comprises
      many highly divergent lineages ("Clades A-I") and hundreds of undescribed
      species. Given their ecological importance, efforts have turned to genomic
      approaches to characterize the functional ecology of Symbiodinium. To date,
      investigators have only compared gene expression between representatives from
      separate clades-the equivalent of contrasting genera or families in other
      dinoflagellate groups-making it impossible to distinguish between clade-level and
      species-level functional differences. Here, we examined the transcriptomes of
      four species within one Symbiodinium clade (Clade B) at ~20,000 orthologous
      genes, as well as multiple isoclonal cell lines within species (i.e., cultured
      strains). These species span two major adaptive radiations within Clade B, each
      encompassing both host-specialized and ecologically cryptic taxa. Species
      specific expression differences were consistently enriched for photosynthesis
      related genes, likely reflecting selection pressures driving niche
      diversification. Transcriptional variation among strains involved fatty acid
      metabolism and biosynthesis pathways. Such differences among individuals are
      potentially a major source of physiological variation, contributing to the
      functional diversity of coral holobionts composed of unique host-symbiont
      genotype pairings. Our findings expand the genomic resources available for this
      important symbiont group and emphasize the power of comparative transcriptomics
      as a method for studying speciation processes and interindividual variation in
      nonmodel organisms. 

PMID- 26868599
TI  - Localized self-heating in large arrays of 1D nanostructures.
AB  - One dimensional (1D) nanostructures offer a promising path towards highly
      efficient heating and temperature control in integrated microsystems. The so
      called self-heating effect can be used to modulate the response of solid state
      gas sensor devices. In this work, efficient self-heating was found to occur at
      random networks of nanostructured systems with similar power requirements to
      highly ordered systems (e.g. individual nanowires, where their thermal efficiency
      was attributed to the small dimensions of the objects). Infrared thermography and
      Raman spectroscopy were used to map the temperature profiles of films based on
      random arrangements of carbon nanofibers during self-heating. Both the techniques
      demonstrate consistently that heating concentrates in small regions, the here
      called "hot-spots". On correlating dynamic temperature mapping with electrical
      measurements, we also observed that these minute hot-spots rule the resistance
      values observed macroscopically. A physical model of a random network of 1D
      resistors helped us to explain this observation. The model shows that, for a
      given random arrangement of 1D nanowires, current spreading through the network
      ends up defining a set of spots that dominate both the electrical resistance and
      power dissipation. Such highly localized heating explains the high power savings
      observed in larger nanostructured systems. This understanding opens a path to
      design highly efficient self-heating systems, based on random or pseudo-random
      distributions of 1D nanostructures. 

PMID- 26868598
TI  - Genome-Wide Analysis Indicates Lineage-Specific Gene Loss during Papilionoideae
      Evolution.
AB  - Gene loss is the driving force for changes in genome and morphology; however,
      this particular evolutionary event has been poorly investigated in leguminous
      plants. Legumes (Fabaceae) have some lineage-specific and diagnostic
      characteristics that are distinct from other angiosperms. To understand the
      potential role of gene loss in the evolution of legumes, we compared six genome
      sequenced legume species of Papilionoideae, the largest representative clade of
      Fabaceae, such as Glycine max, with 34 nonlegume plant species, such as
      Arabidopsis thaliana. The results showed that the putative orthologs of the 34
      Arabidopsis genes belonging to 29 gene families were absent in these legume
      species but these were conserved in the sequenced nonlegume angiosperm lineages.
      Further evolutionary analyses indicated that the orthologs of these genes were
      almost completely lost in the Papillionoideae ancestors, thus designated as the
      legume lost genes (LLGs), and these underwent purifying selection in nonlegume
      plants. Most LLGs were functionally unknown. In Arabidopsis, two LLGs were well
      known genes that played a role in plant immunity such as HARMLESS TO OZONE LAYER
      1 and HOPZ-ACTIVATED RESISTANCE 1, and 16 additional LLGs were predicted to
      participate in plant-pathogen interactions in in silico expression and protein
      protein interaction network analyses. Most of these LLGs' orthologs in various
      plants were also found to be associated with biotic stress response, indicating
      the conserved role of these genes in plant defense. The evolutionary implication
      of LLGs during the development of the ability of symbiotic nitrogen fixation
      involving plant and bacterial interactions, which is a well-known characteristic
      of most legumes, is also discussed. Our work sheds light on the evolutionary
      implication of gene loss events in Papilionoideae evolution, as well as provides
      new insights into crop design to improve nitrogen fixation capacity. 

PMID- 26868601
TI  - The local density of optical states of a metasurface.
AB  - While metamaterials are often desirable for near-field functions, such as perfect
      lensing, or cloaking, they are often quantified by their response to plane waves
      from the far field. Here, we present a theoretical analysis of the local density
      of states near lattices of discrete magnetic scatterers, i.e., the response to
      near field excitation by a point source. Based on a pointdipole theory using
      Ewald summation and an array scanning method, we can swiftly and semi
      analytically evaluate the local density of states (LDOS) for magnetoelectric
      point sources in front of an infinite two-dimensional (2D) lattice composed of
      arbitrary magnetoelectric dipole scatterers. The method takes into account
      radiation damping as well as all retarded electrodynamic interactions in a self
      consistent manner. We show that a lattice of magnetic scatterers evidences
      characteristic Drexhage oscillations. However, the oscillations are phase shifted
      relative to the electrically scattering lattice consistent with the difference
      expected for reflection off homogeneous magnetic respectively electric mirrors.
      Furthermore, we identify in which source-surface separation regimes the
      metasurface may be treated as a homogeneous interface, and in which
      homogenization fails. A strong frequency and in-plane position dependence of the
      LDOS close to the lattice reveals coupling to guided modes supported by the
      lattice. 

PMID- 26868600
TI  - Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve
      brain health?
AB  - As interest in the gut microbiome has grown in recent years, attention has turned
      to the impact of our diet on our brain. The benefits of a high fiber diet in the
      colon have been well documented in epidemiological studies, but its potential
      impact on the brain has largely been understudied. Here, we will review evidence
      that butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by bacterial fermentation
      of fiber in the colon, can improve brain health. Butyrate has been extensively
      studied as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor but also functions as a ligand
      for a subset of G protein-coupled receptors and as an energy metabolite. These
      diverse modes of action make it well suited for solving the wide array of
      imbalances frequently encountered in neurological disorders. In this review, we
      will integrate evidence from the disparate fields of gastroenterology and
      neuroscience to hypothesize that the metabolism of a high fiber diet in the gut
      can alter gene expression in the brain to prevent neurodegeneration and promote
      regeneration.

PMID- 26868602
TI  - No Difference in Average Interdialytic Weight Gain Observed in a Randomized Trial
      With a Technology-Supported Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Dietary Sodium
      Intake in Adults Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis in the United States:
      Primary Outcomes of the BalanceWise Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of behavioral counseling combined with
      technology-based self-monitoring for sodium restriction in hemodialysis (HD)
      patients. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SUBJECTS: English literate adults
      undergoing outpatient, in-center intermittent HD for at least 3 months.
      INTERVENTIONS: Over a 16-week period, both the intervention and the attention
      control groups were shown 6 educational modules on the HD diet. The intervention
      group also received social cognitive theory-based behavioral counseling and
      monitored their diets daily using handheld computers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Average daily interdialytic weight gain (IDWGA) was calculated for every week of
      HD treatment over the observation period by subtracting the post-dialysis weight
      at the previous treatment time (t-1) from the pre-dialysis weight at the current
      treatment time (t), dividing by the number of days between treatments. Three 24
      hour dietary recalls were obtained at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks and
      evaluated using the Nutrient Data System for Research. RESULTS: A total of 179
      participants were randomized, and 160 (89.4%) completed final measurements. IDWGA
      did not differ significantly by treatment group at any time point considered (P >
      .79 for each). A significant differential change in dietary sodium intake
      observed at 8 weeks (-372 mg/day; P = .05) was not sustained at 16 weeks (-191
      mg/day; P = .32). CONCLUSION: The BalanceWise Study intervention appeared to be
      feasible and acceptable to HD patients although IDWGA was unchanged and the
      desired behavioral changes observed at 8 weeks were not sustained. Unmeasured
      factors may have contributed to the mixed findings, and further research is
      needed to identify the appropriate patients for such interventions.

PMID- 26868603
TI  - Three-dimensional MDCT angiography for the assessment of arteriovenous grafts and
      fistulas in hemodialysis access.
AB  - Arteriovenous grafts and fistulas are placed for long-term hemodialysis access,
      and their associated complications can lead to considerable morbidity. Multi
      detector computed tomography (MDCT) images provide accurate delineation of
      hemodialysis access anatomy and show potential complications. This review makes
      the reader more familiar with vascular access anatomy and configurations,
      describes the appearance of access complications encountered on MDCT, and
      discusses endovascular and surgical treatment options for complications, which
      should aid in post-treatment evaluation. 

PMID- 26868605
TI  - Sustained Infection Reduction in Outpatient Hemodialysis Centers Participating in
      a Collaborative Bloodstream Infection Prevention Effort.
AB  - Among dialysis facilities participating in a bloodstream infection (BSI)
      prevention collaborative, access-related BSI incidence rate improvements observed
      immediately following implementation of a bundle of BSI prevention interventions
      were sustained for up to 4 years. Overall, BSI incidence remained unchanged from
      baseline in the current analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:863-866.

PMID- 26868604
TI  - Preliminary Evaluation of Functional Swallow After Total Laryngectomy Using High
      Resolution Manometry.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Understanding of swallowing pressures after total laryngectomy (TL)
      and what constitutes a "functional" swallow are limited. Mobile structures are
      altered or removed after TL, with consequent effects on pressure profiles. High
      resolution manometry (HRM) can characterize these pressures. METHODS: Six TL
      subjects without dysphagia and 6 controls underwent pharyngeal HRM. Timing and
      pressure variables for the velopharynx, mesopharynx, and upper esophageal
      sphincter (UES) were compared. Changes in variables due to bolus volume were
      evaluated in TL subjects. RESULTS: The TL subjects had increased duration of
      velopharyngeal pressure (P = .012). Maximum mesopharyngeal pressure was lower
      versus controls (P = .003). Maximal and total pre-opening (P = .002, P = .002)
      and post-closure (P = .001, P = .002) UES pressures were lower. Maximum
      mesopharyngeal pressure (P = .032) decreased with increasing bolus volume.
      CONCLUSIONS: Increased velopharyngeal pressure duration and total swallow
      duration reflect separation of the pharynx into distinct conduits for air and
      food, thus ensuring successful bolus passage without the need for respiration.
      Decreased UES pressure highlights the effects of disrupting the cricopharyngeal
      and rostral esophageal muscle fibers from their attachments to the larynx and
      performing a cricopharyngeal myotomy. Additional studies including subjects with
      dysphagia could further characterize the functional TL swallow and identify
      aspects susceptible to dysfunction.

PMID- 26868606
TI  - Declining mortality from adult pneumococcal infections linked to children's
      vaccination.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in mortality among adults with invasive
      pneumococcal disease (IPD) after introducing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines
      (PCVs) in children. METHODS: An active surveillance of adults with culture-proven
      IPD in Barcelona. Serotype-specific mortality and rates of disease and death were
      analysed in three periods: baseline (1994-2001), PCV7 (2002-2009) and PCV13 (2010
      2013). RESULTS: Overall, IPD caused by PCV7 serotypes was associated with
      increased case fatality rate (24 percent). In patients 18-64 years (baseline vs.
      PCV7 vs. PCV13 periods), case fatality rate from IPD decreased (22 vs.14 vs. 12
      percent), and it was associated with a decline in PCV7 serotypes (3.56 vs. 2.80
      vs. 1.49 cases/10(5) person-years) and in PCV7 serotypes-specific death (0.74 vs.
      0.53 vs. 0.09 deaths/10(5) person-years). In patients >=65 years, case fatality
      rate did not change (24 vs. 22 vs. 24 percent); however, there was a decline in
      PCV7 serotypes-specific death (4.94 vs. 3.58 vs. 2.45 deaths/10(5) person-years),
      and an increase in non-PCV serotypes-specific death (2.55 vs. 3.70 vs. 4.09
      deaths/10(5) person-years). CONCLUSIONS: The use of PCVs for children was
      associated with a reduction of mortality from IPD in adults 18-64 years, through
      the indirect effect of herd protection. In older adults, age-related factors
      could play a role in IPD mortality.

PMID- 26868607
TI  - Induced Correspondence of a Local pi-Aromatic Sextet in Heteroannulenes:
      Synthesis and Characterization.
AB  - Acid-catalyzed [3+3] condensation reactions of two hitherto unknown tripyrrane
      moieties with pentafluorobenzaldehyde has led to the formation of new generation
      heteroannulene (4.1.4.1) and mutant heteroannulene (1.1.1.1.1.1). Inclusion of
      local pi-aromatic sextets, namely the N-methyl pyrrole rings through beta,beta
      linkages and alpha,beta-linkages, has led to the isolation of first ever
      heteroannulenes cross-conjugated at four points and two points respectively
      within the macrocycles. 

PMID- 26868608
TI  - The Survivor's Paradox: Psychological Consequences of the Khmer Rouge Rhetoric of
      Extermination.
AB  - From 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia, during the four years of the Pol Pot regime, the
      rhetoric of extermination that perpetrators used to legitimize mass murder was a
      powerful instrument to deprive individuals of their humankind before killing
      them. Because every human community is founded on a metaphor claiming the
      inalterability of the social bond beyond the dead, the genocide project aims for
      its obliteration. By breaking the possible representation of a continuity and a
      social permanence between the dead and the living, the rhetoric of extermination
      claims, in a terrifying reality, that the only possible connection between the
      dead and the living concerns an identical physical condition: the living have
      already died or will pass away. This is the point where the rhetoric of
      extermination radically subverts one of the major symbolic aspects of the human
      condition. In the aftermath of extermination, the social existence of the
      deceased depends on the survivors' capacity to always carry them with them in a
      shared destiny. For those who survived, the consequences of this rhetoric may
      generate a distressful feeling of living in a world of death that conforms to the
      perpetrator's will. The survivor's paradox is undoubtedly one of the principal
      consequences of this will to deprive prisoners of their human condition. It is a
      kind of interiorization of the perpetrator's rhetoric. For the survivor to leave
      this world of death could mean abandoning the dead without a symbolic place where
      they could exist. But if he/she keeps them only in his/her own memory, that could
      signify that the survivor remains captive in the perpetrator's world of death. In
      both cases, the survivor's attempt to escape this paradox fails with the risk of
      confirming the abominable claim of the torturers. In this paper, the author
      emphasizes from an anthropological and psychotherapeutic point of view the
      dramatic logic of this rhetoric and its consequences long after the fact. 

PMID- 26868609
TI  - Similarities between Human and Livestock Illnesses among the Luo in Western
      Kenya.
AB  - The objective of this study was to compare perceptions and practices in relation
      to human and livestock illness among the Luo in Western Kenya. Qualitative
      methods of data collection such as key informant interviews, open-ended, in-depth
      interviews, focus group discussions, narratives, and participant- and direct
      observations were applied. The study showed that there were significant parallels
      between human and livestock illnesses regarding terminology, perceptions of
      pathogenesis and treatment seeking practices. Even practitioners and their
      medications were often the same. The rationale behind pathogenesis in both cases
      was usually that illnesses resulted from some form of inhibition of flow through
      blockage or clogging of the various 'channels' in the body. Treatment aimed at
      decongesting or unblocking these channels so as to create openness that would
      guarantee normal flows and restore health. The study concludes that the domain of
      animal illness be taken more into account in human medical anthropological
      studies and vice versa. It further argues the case for considering these
      similarities when planning and implementing health care services. 

PMID- 26868610
TI  - Health Seeking Behaviour of Mothers of Under-Five-Year-Old Children in the Slum
      Communities of Nairobi, Kenya.
AB  - Prompt and appropriate health seeking is critical in the management of childhood
      illnesses. This paper examines the health seeking behaviour in under-five child
      morbidity. It explores in detail actions taken by 28 mothers when their children
      become sick. Sixty-two in-depth interviews with mothers were conducted from four
      study communities. The mothers were identified from a demographic surveillance
      system. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.
      The study shows that mothers classify childhood illnesses into four main
      categories: (1) not serious-coughs, colds, diarrhoea; (2) serious but not life
      threatening-malaria; (3) sudden and serious-pneumonia; and (4) chronic and
      therefore not requiring immediate action-malnutrition, tuberculosis, chronic
      coughs. This classification is reflected in the actions taken and time it takes
      to act. Shops are used as the first source of healthcare, and when the care moves
      out of the home, private health facilities are used more compared to public
      health facilities, while even fewer mothers consult traditional healers.
      Consequently we conclude that there is a need to train mothers to recognize
      potentially life-threatening conditions and to seek appropriate treatment
      promptly. Drug vendors should be involved in intervention programs because they
      reach many mothers at the critical time of health seeking. 

PMID- 26868611
TI  - Reconfiguring Relatedness in Anorexia.
AB  - Anthropological concepts of relatedness have not been addressed in any of the
      writings on anorexia, despite the literature being replete with negative
      connotations of sociality such as withdrawal, regression, and toxic families (in
      the form of 'obsessive mothers' or 'absent fathers'). As a departure to the vast
      literature on this topic, this multi-sited ethnographic project draws on the
      recent critiques and broadening of the concept of kinship to examine the ways in
      which a group of people with a diagnosis of anorexia understood and experienced
      relatedness in their everyday lives, that is, how they continually transformed
      connections by truncating, creating, sustaining and abandoning them. Those
      practices that are taken for granted as creating and sustaining relatedness-from
      the everyday practices of commensality to the capacity to have children-were
      consistently negated. Negating consensual avenues of relatedness did not leave
      these people in a void. On the contrary, new and productive meanings and
      experiences of being related were created and people entered into a relationship
      with anorexia that, in turn, tempered their relationships with their everyday
      worlds. In examining the 'relational matrix' of anorexia, new spaces of agency,
      ambiguity and power are illuminated. 

PMID- 26868612
TI  - Sacred Groves of Parinche Valley of Pune District of Maharashtra, India and their
      Importance.
AB  - Sacred groves are protected areas of forests because of religious beliefs and
      constitute an important aspect of the cultural life of various communities
      throughout the world. The source of this culture can be traced back to
      prehistoric times. The sacred groves of Parinche valley, Pune district of
      Maharashtra, India were studied to understand their status and importance in
      relation to common natural resource bases and cultural aspects. Through formal
      interviews and non-participatory observation undertaken in all seasons between
      October 2002 and February 2004, 14 sacred groves were documented. Both EMIC and
      ETIC dimensions were incorporated in the choice of subjects. The results show
      that they are important for various communities as a common natural resource
      base. They promote cultural bonding among various communities and maintain
      harmony in social life. This can be evidenced during annual village festivals and
      family celebrations, which invariably take place within the premises of sacred
      groves. They are also important for biodiversity as many groves function like
      mini sanctuaries and harbour endemic and threatened plant species. The natural
      vegetation of the groves comprises many medicinal plants that are regularly
      harvested by local medicine men ( Vaidus ). Water is a precious resource,
      especially during summer months, and the perennial water sources that are present
      in the sacred groves are the only remaining water sources for seven villages.
      There is a compunction, on the other hand, of the sacred groves being influenced
      by urbanization, resulting in the building of concrete temples by clearing
      natural vegetation and planting ornamental and other economically useful trees in
      the cleared areas of the groves. Such actions alter these fragile ecosystems and
      deplete or destroy the natural resource base for which this ancient culture is
      believed to have been originally evolved. We conclude here that sacred groves
      were originally a common natural resource which were assimilated into the social
      and cultural life of villages in the Parinche valley. Hence their protection and
      enhancement should become part of village and forest planning. 

PMID- 26868613
TI  - Experiences of Tensions in Re-orienting Selves: Tamil Refugees in Northern Norway
      Seeking Medical Advice.
AB  - Research among refugee populations tends to focus on the dramas of war and
      trauma. This paper instead brings attention to the more mundane everyday aspects
      of Tamil refugee resettlement in a fishing village along the arctic coast of
      Norway. Here, many Tamils experience various diffuse aches and pains that the
      local health personnel find difficult to diagnose and treat. In response to the
      difficulties, this study aims to investigate health and sickness as embedded in
      social life and cultural values. Data were generated during two different
      fieldwork periods: between 1996 and 1999 the author did short field visits in the
      region and conducted in-depth interviews and participant observation amongst
      Tamils and local health care workers, including observing health care
      consultations; and between September 1999 and September 2000 intensive fieldwork
      was undertaken amongst Tamil refugees in a small fishing village. A sample of two
      case studies illustrates Tamils' experience of being misunderstood as individuals
      and overlooked as social persons. Rather than looking at illness as symptoms of
      physiological or psychological malfunctions, the article suggests an
      understanding that allows an active, perceptive body and views the self as an
      orienting point of 'being in the world'. The Tamils are seen to live in a tension
      in which the self and the body are forced to re-orient themselves in the new
      social world. Tamils' illnesses are thus proposed rather to express a challenge
      and collapse in habituated patterns for constituting meaning and social
      practices. 

PMID- 26868614
TI  - Enhanced contrast and depth resolution in polarization imaging using elliptically
      polarized light.
AB  - Polarization gating is a popular and widely used technique in biomedical optics
      to sense superficial tissues (colinear detection), deeper volumes (crosslinear
      detection), and also selectively probe subsuperficial volumes (using elliptically
      polarized light). As opposed to the conventional linearly polarized illumination,
      we propose a new protocol of polarization gating that combines coelliptical and
      counter-elliptical measurements to selectively enhance the contrast of the
      images. This new method of eliminating multiple-scattered components from the
      images shows that it is possible to retrieve a greater signal and a better
      contrast for subsurface structures. In vivo experiments were performed on skin
      abnormalities of volunteers to confirm the results of the subtraction method and
      access subsurface information.

PMID- 26868615
TI  - Silencing of the tomato phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C2 (SlPLC2) reduces
      plant susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea.
AB  - The tomato [Solanum lycopersicum (Sl)] phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI
      PLC) gene family is composed of six members, named SlPLC1 to SlPLC6,
      differentially regulated on pathogen attack. We have previously shown that the
      fungal elicitor xylanase induces a raise of SlPLC2 and SlPLC5 transcripts and
      that SlPLC2, but not SlPLC5, is required for xylanase-induced expression of
      defense-related genes. In this work we studied the role of SlPLC2 in the
      interaction between tomato and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea.
      Inoculation of tomato leaves with B. cinerea increases SlPLC2 transcript levels.
      We knocked-down the expression of SlPLC2 by virus-induced gene silencing and
      plant defense responses were analyzed upon B. cinerea inoculation. SlPLC2
      silenced plants developed smaller necrotic lesions concomitantly with less
      proliferation of the fungus. Silencing of SlPLC2 resulted as well in a reduced
      production of reactive oxygen species. Upon B. cinerea inoculation, transcript
      levels of the salicylic acid (SA)-defense pathway marker gene SlPR1a were
      diminished in SlPLC2 silenced plants compared to non-silenced infected plants,
      while transcripts of the jasmonic acid (JA)-defense gene markers Proteinase
      Inhibitor I and II (SlPI-I and SlPI-II) were increased. This implies that SlPLC2
      participates in plant susceptibility to B. cinerea.

PMID- 26868617
TI  - Database Extraction of Metabolite Information of Drug Candidates: Analysis of 27
      AstraZeneca Compounds with Human Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and
      Excretion Data.
AB  - As part of the drug discovery and development process, it is important to
      understand the human metabolism of a candidate drug prior to clinical studies.
      Preclinical in vitro and in vivo experiments across species are conducted to
      build knowledge concerning human circulating metabolites in preparation for
      clinical studies; therefore, the quality of these experiments is critical. Within
      AstraZeneca, all metabolite identification (Met-ID) information is stored in a
      global database using ACDLabs software. In this study, the Met-ID information
      derived from in vitro and in vivo studies for 27 AstraZeneca drug candidates that
      underwent human absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies was
      extracted from the database. The retrospective analysis showed that 81% of human
      circulating metabolites were previously observed in preclinical in vitro and/or
      in vivo experiments. A detailed analysis was carried out to understand which
      human circulating metabolites were not captured in the preclinical experiments.
      Metabolites observed in human hepatocytes and rat plasma but not seen in
      circulation in humans (extraneous metabolites) were also investigated. The
      majority of human specific circulating metabolites derive from multistep
      biotransformation reactions that may not be observed in in vitro studies within
      the limited time frame in which cryopreserved hepatocytes are active. Factors
      leading to the formation of extraneous metabolites in preclinical studies seemed
      to be related to species differences with respect to transporter activity,
      secondary metabolism, and enzyme kinetics. This retrospective analysis assesses
      the predictive value of Met-ID experiments and improves our ability to
      discriminate between metabolites expected to circulate in humans and irrelevant
      metabolites seen in preclinical studies. 

PMID- 26868618
TI  - Integrin Receptors Play a Key Role in the Regulation of Hepatic CYP3A.
AB  - Landmark studies describing the effect of microbial infection on the expression
      and activity of hepatic CYP3A used bacterial lipopolysaccharide as a model
      antigen. Our efforts to determine whether these findings were translatable to
      viral infections led us to observations suggesting that engagement of integrin
      receptors is key in the initiation of processes responsible for changes in
      hepatic CYP3A4 during infection and inflammation. Studies outlined in this
      article were designed to evaluate whether engagement of integrins, receptors
      commonly used by a variety of microbes to enter cellular targets, is vital in the
      regulation of CYP3A in the presence and absence of virus infection. Mice infected
      with a recombinant adenovirus (AdlacZ) experienced a 70% reduction in hepatic
      CYP3A catalytic activity. Infection with a mutant virus with integrin-binding
      arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequences deleted from the penton base
      protein of the virus capsid (AdDeltaRGD) did not alter CYP3A activity. CYP3A mRNA
      and protein levels in AdlacZ-treated animals were also suppressed, whereas those
      of mice given AdDeltaRGD were not significantly different from uninfected control
      mice. Silencing of the integrinbeta-subunit reverted adenovirus-mediated CYP3A4
      suppression in vitro. Silencing of thealpha-subunit did not. Suppression of
      integrin subunits had a profound effect on nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor
      and constitutive androstane receptor, whereas retinoid X receptoralphawas largely
      unaffected. To our knowledge, this is the first time that extracellular
      receptors, like integrins, have been indicated in the regulation of CYP3A. This
      finding has several implications owing to the important role of integrins in
      normal physiologic process and in many disease states. 

PMID- 26868619
TI  - Rumen microbial abundance and fermentation profile during severe subacute ruminal
      acidosis and its modulation by plant derived alkaloids in vitro.
AB  - Rumen microbiota have important metabolic functions for the host animal. This
      study aimed at characterizing changes in rumen microbial abundances and
      fermentation profiles using a severe subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in vitro
      model, and to evaluate a potential modulatory role of plant derived alkaloids
      (PDA), containing quaternary benzophenanthridine and protopine alkaloids, of
      which sanguinarine and chelerythrine were the major bioactive compounds.
      Induction of severe SARA strongly affected the rumen microbial composition and
      fermentation variables without suppressing the abundance of total bacteria.
      Protozoa and fungi were more sensitive to the low ruminal pH condition than
      bacteria. Induction of severe SARA clearly depressed degradation of fiber (P <
      0.001), which came along with a decreased relative abundance of fibrolytic
      Ruminococcus albus and Fibrobacter succinogenes (P < 0.001). Under severe SARA
      conditions, the genus Prevotella, Lactobacillus group, Megasphaera elsdenii, and
      Entodinium spp. (P < 0.001) were more abundant, whereas Ruminobacter amylophilus
      was less abundant. SARA largely suppressed methane formation (-70%, P < 0.001),
      although total methanogenic 16S rRNA gene abundance was not affected. According
      to principal component analysis, Methanobrevibacter spp. correlated to methane
      concentration. Addition of PDA modulated ruminal fermentation under normal
      conditions such as enhanced (P < 0.05) concentration of total SCFA, propionate
      and valerate, and increased (P < 0.05) degradation of crude protein compared with
      the unsupplemented control diet. Our results indicate strong shifts in the
      microbial community during severe SARA compared to normal conditions.
      Supplementation of PDA positively modulates ruminal fermentation under normal
      ruminal pH conditions. 

PMID- 26868616
TI  - Contributions of immunoaffinity chromatography to deep proteome profiling of
      human biofluids.
AB  - Human biofluids, especially blood plasma or serum, hold great potential as the
      sources of candidate biomarkers for various diseases; however, the enormous
      dynamic range of protein concentrations in biofluids represents a significant
      analytical challenge for detecting promising low-abundance proteins. Over the
      last decade, various immunoaffinity chromatographic methods have been developed
      and routinely applied for separating low-abundance proteins from the high- and
      moderate-abundance proteins, thus enabling much more effective detection of low
      abundance proteins. Herein, we review the advances of immunoaffinity separation
      methods and their contributions to the proteomic applications in human biofluids.
      The limitations and future perspectives of immunoaffinity separation methods are
      also discussed. 

PMID- 26868621
TI  - Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: help is on the way.

PMID- 26868620
TI  - Association of Radiation Dose to the Eyes With the Risk for Cataract After
      Nonretinoblastoma Solid Cancers in Childhood.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Few studies have been published on the association of the radiation
      dose received to the eyes during radiotherapy (RT) for childhood cancer and the
      risk for later cataract. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk for cataract after
      treatment of nonretinoblastoma solid cancer in childhood. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: The study used data from the Euro2K cohort that includes 4389 5
      year survivors of solid tumors treated from January 1, 1945, to December 31,
      1985; of these, 3172 patients were treated in France. A self-reported
      questionnaire was sent to French survivors from September 1, 2005, to December
      31, 2012, when follow-up was considered completed for this study. However, 619
      patients died before the beginning of the study and 128 patients treated for a
      retinoblastoma or who underwent enucleation were excluded. Likewise, 429 patients
      with unknown addresses or who did not return the consent form and 163
      nonresponders did not participate. The remaining 1833 patients who completed the
      questionnaire underwent analysis for this study from June 1, 2014, to December 7,
      2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Radiation doses in both eyes for individuals
      were estimated for all patients who had received RT. The role of the radiation
      dose in cataract risk was investigated using the Cox proportional hazard
      regression model and the excess relative or the absolute risk model. The role of
      ctytotoxic chemotherapy was also investigated. RESULTS: The 1833 patients (961
      men [52.4%]; 872 women [47.6%]; mean [SD] age, 37.0 [8.5]) who returned the
      questionnaire were included in the analysis. After a mean follow-up of 32 years,
      33 patients with unilateral or bilateral cataract were identified, for a total of
      47 cataract events. The 47 events were validated by medical record review and by
      contacting the patients and the corresponding medical physician or
      ophthalmologist to obtain copies of diagnostic examinations or surgical reports.
      Overall, in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, patients
      who received RT had a 4.4-fold (95% CI, 1.5- to 13.0-fold) increased risk for
      cataract compared with patients who did not receive RT. Exposure to radiation
      doses of at least 10 Gy to the eyes increased the hazard ratio 39-fold (95% CI,
      12.0- to 127.9-fold), relative to no radiation exposure. Although based on few
      patients, a strong increase in cataract risk (hazard ratio, 26.3; 95% CI, 7.1
      96.6) was observed in patients treated with melphalan hydrochloride. CONCLUSIONS
      AND RELEVANCE: This study can inform guideline-based recommendations for long
      term follow-up for cataract.

PMID- 26868622
TI  - Of mice and men-the curious tale of beta blockers in asthma.

PMID- 26868625
TI  - Respiratory health in Poland.

PMID- 26868624
TI  - Knowledge gaps in therapeutic and non-therapeutic research on the Middle East
      respiratory syndrome.

PMID- 26868623
TI  - Treatment of cystic fibrosis in low-income countries.

PMID- 26868626
TI  - A voice for the silent.

PMID- 26868627
TI  - More targeted tuberculosis screening for immigrants?

PMID- 26868628
TI  - Take a deep breath in.

PMID- 26868629
TI  - Integrated Care Pathways for Airway Diseases.

PMID- 26868630
TI  - Prevalence of sleep apnoea syndrome in the middle to old age general population.

PMID- 26868631
TI  - Simple versus complex COPD: implications for health-care management.

PMID- 26868632
TI  - Prevalence and breed predisposition for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease
      in cats.
AB  - Objectives The objective was to evaluate the prevalence and possible breed
      predilections for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in cats.
      Methods Medical records and imaging studies of cats diagnosed with thoracolumbar
      IVDD between January 2008 and August 2014 were retrospectively reviewed and
      compared with the general hospital population. The association between type of
      IVDD (ie, intervertebral disc extrusion [IVDE] or intervertebral disc protrusion
      [IVDP]) and breed, age, sex, and duration and severity of clinical signs was also
      evaluated. Results Of 12,900 cats presented during the study period, 31 (0.24%)
      were diagnosed with IVDD, including 17 purebred and 14 non-purebred cats. Of all
      presented purebred cats, 0.52% were diagnosed with thoracolumbar IVDD. More
      specifically, 1.29% of all British Shorthairs and 1.83% of all presented Persians
      were diagnosed with IVDD. Compared with the general hospital population, purebred
      cats ( P = 0.0001), British Shorthairs ( P <0.0001) and Persians ( P = 0.0006)
      were significantly overrepresented with thoracolumbar IVDD. Affected purebred
      cats were younger than affected non-purebred cats ( P = 0.02). Of 31 cats with
      IVDD, 19 were diagnosed with IVDE and 12 with IVDP. Cats with IVDE had a
      significantly shorter duration of clinical signs ( P = 0.0002) and demonstrated
      more severe neurological deficits ( P = 0.04) than cats with IVDP. Conclusions
      and relevance Although thoracolumbar IVDD is an uncommon condition in cats,
      purebred cats, British Shorthairs and Persians, were overrepresented. It is
      currently unclear if this represents a true breed predisposition or a higher
      likelihood of owners of purebred cats seeking referral for advanced diagnostic
      imaging procedures.

PMID- 26868633
TI  - Lack of Dystrophin Affects Bronchial Epithelium in mdx Mice.
AB  - Mild exercise training may positively affect the course of Duchenne Muscular
      Dystrophy (DMD). Training causes mild bronchial epithelial injury in both humans
      and mice, but no study assessed the effects of exercise in mdx mice, a well known
      model of DMD. The airway epithelium was examined in mdx (C57BL/10ScSn-Dmdmdx)
      mice, and in wild type (WT, C57BL/10ScSc) mice either under sedentary conditions
      (mdx-SD, WT-SD) or during mild exercise training (mdx-EX, WT-EX). At baseline,
      and after 30 and 45 days of training (5 d/wk for 6 weeks), epithelial morphology
      and markers of regeneration, apoptosis, and cellular stress were assessed. The
      number of goblet cells in bronchial epithelium was much lower in mdx than in WT
      mice under all conditions. At 30 days, epithelial regeneration (PCNA positive
      cells) was higher in EX than SD animals in both groups; however, at 45 days,
      epithelial regeneration decreased in mdx mice irrespective of training, and the
      percentage of apoptotic (TUNEL positive) cells was higher in mdx-EX than in WT-EX
      mice. Epithelial expression of HSP60 (marker of stress) progressively decreased,
      and inversely correlated with epithelial apoptosis (r = -0.66, P = 0.01) only in
      mdx mice. Lack of dystrophin in mdx mice appears associated with defective
      epithelial differentiation, and transient epithelial regeneration during mild
      exercise training. Hence, lack of dystrophin might impair repair in bronchial
      epithelium, with potential clinical consequences in DMD patients. J. Cell.
      Physiol. 231: 2218-2223, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26868634
TI  - Prediction of treatment efficacy for prostate cancer using a mathematical model.
AB  - Prostate immune system plays a critical role in the regulation of prostate cancer
      development regarding androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and/or immunotherapy
      (vaccination). In this study, we developed a mathematical model to explore the
      interactions between prostate tumor and immune microenvironment. This model was
      used to predict treatment outcomes for prostate cancer with ADT, vaccination,
      Treg depletion and/or IL-2 neutralization. Animal data were used to guide
      construction, parameter selection, and validation of our model. Our analysis
      shows that Treg depletion and/or IL-2 neutralization can effectively improve the
      treatment efficacy of combined therapy with ADT and vaccination. Treg depletion
      has a higher synergetic effect than that from IL-2 neutralization. This study
      highlights a potential therapeutic strategy in effectively managing prostate
      tumor growth and provides a framework of systems biology approach in studying
      tumor-related immune mechanism and consequent selection of therapeutic regimens. 

PMID- 26868635
TI  - Flavobacterium suaedae sp. nov., an endophyte isolated from the root of Suaeda
      corniculata.
AB  - A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, yellow, endophytic bacterium, designated G16
      7T, was isolated from the root of Suaeda corniculata in Inner Mongolia, northern
      China. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene, revealed that strain
      G16-7T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium, with highest sequence similarities
      to Flavobacterium rakeshii FCS-5T, Flavobacterium suzhouense XIN-1T,
      Flavobacterium beibuense F44-8T, Flavobacterium hauense BX12T and Flavobacterium
      shanxiense YF-2, ranging from 92.7 % to 94.9 %. The predominant fatty acids of
      strain G16-7T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (consisting of C16 : 1omega7c
      and/or C16 : 1omega6c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9 (consisting of iso
      C17 : 1omega9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), while MK-6 was the major respiratory
      quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown
      phospholipid, an unknown aminophospholipid, four unknown aminolipids and three
      unknown lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 34.2 mol%. Based on
      the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain G16-7T is considered to
      represent a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name
      Flavobacterium suaedae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G16-7T ( = CGMCC
      1.15461T = KCTC 42947T). 

PMID- 26868637
TI  - Alcohols at the aqueous surface: chain length and isomer effects.
AB  - Surface-active organic molecules at the liquid-vapor interface are of great
      importance in atmospheric science. Therefore, we studied the surface behavior of
      alcohol isomers with different chain lengths (C4-C6) in aqueous solution with
      surface- and chemically sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which
      reveals information about the surface structure on a molecular level. Gibbs free
      energies of adsorption and surface concentrations are determined from the XPS
      results using a standard Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The free energies of
      adsorption, ranging from around -15 to -19 kJ mol(-1) (C4-C6), scale linearly
      with the number of carbon atoms within the alcohols with DeltaGAds per -CH2-~-2
      kJ mol(-1). While for the linear alcohols, surface concentrations lie around 2.4
      * 10(14) molecules per cm(2) at the bulk concentrations where monolayers are
      formed, the studied branched alcohols show lower surface concentrations of around
      1.6 * 10(14) molecules per cm(2), both of which are in line with the molecular
      structure and their orientation at the interface. Interestingly, we find that
      there is a maximum in the surface enrichment factor for linear alcohols at low
      concentrations, which is not observed for the shorter branched alcohols. This is
      interpreted in terms of a cooperative effect, which we suggest to be the result
      of more effective van der Waals interactions between the linear alcohol alkyl
      chains at the aqueous surface, making it energetically even more favorable to
      reside at the liquid-vapor interface. 

PMID- 26868636
TI  - Autoantibodies directed to centromere protein F in a patient with BRCA1 gene
      mutation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies directed to centromere protein F were first reported
      in 1993 and their association with malignancy has been well documented. CASE: We
      present the case of a 48-year-old Caucasian female with a BRCA1 gene mutation
      associated with bilateral breast cancer. Antinuclear autoantibody
      immunofluorescence performed for workup of possible inflammatory arthropathy
      showed a high titre cell cycle related nuclear speckled pattern, with subsequent
      confirmation by addressable laser bead immunoassay of the target antigen as an
      immunodominant epitope at the C-terminus of centromere protein F. CONCLUSION:
      Here we review the current literature on centromere protein F, its association
      with breast cancer and present the first case of this antibody being identified
      in a person with a BRCA1 gene mutation.

PMID- 26868638
TI  - Room temperature spin valve effect in NiFe/WS2/Co junctions.
AB  - The two-dimensional (2D) layered electronic materials of transition metal
      dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been recently proposed as an emerging canddiate for
      spintronic applications. Here, we report the exfoliated single layer WS2
      intelayer based spin valve effect in NiFe/WS2/Co junction from room temperature
      to 4.2 K. The ratio of relative magnetoresistance in spin valve effect increases
      from 0.18% at room temperature to 0.47% at 4.2 K. We observed that the junction
      resistance decreases monotonically as temperature is lowered. These results
      revealed that semiconducting WS2 thin film works as a metallic conducting
      interlayer between NiFe and Co electrodes.

PMID- 26868639
TI  - Identification of human exercise-induced physiological function changes based on
      bioinformatics analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the physiological functions that were
      significantly affected by the exercise training. METHODS: Microarray dataset of
      GSE53598 was downloaded and preprocessed to identify the differentially expressed
      genes (DEGs) between pre- and post-exercise muscle biopsies. Then hierarchical
      clustering, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional
      enrichment analysis were conducted. Finally, the significant physiological
      functions were identified using logistic regression algorithm. RESULTS: Total 420
      up- and 420 down-regulated DEGs were identified. DEGs including E2F transcription
      factor 6, hypocretin (Orexin) neuropeptide precursor, caveolin 1, platelet
      derived growth factor beta polypeptide, and transforming growth factor, beta 1
      had higher degree in the PPI network. Functions related to blood vessel
      development, regulation of cell migration, negative regulation of gene
      expression, and negative regulation of metabolic process changed significantly
      after exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Functions related to blood vessel development,
      regulation of cell migration, negative regulation of gene expression and negative
      regulation of metabolic process may be closely associated with exercising.

PMID- 26868640
TI  - Technical and physical determinants of soccer match-play performance in elite
      youth soccer players.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether physical performance
      characteristics could be a better predictor than technical skills in determining
      the technical level of county soccer players in a match situation. METHODS: With
      institutional ethics approval, 25 male youth soccer players aged 16-18.5 years
      from a professional soccer academy in South East Asia were selected and height
      and body mass were recorded. Players were tested for sexual maturity (pubertal
      development scale [PDS] self-assessment), aerobic capacity (yo-yo intermittent
      recovery test level 1 [YYIR1]), repeated sprint ability (7 x 35 m sprints)
      acceleration (15 m sprint) and four soccer skills tests (dribble with pass,
      dribbling speed, passing and shooting accuracy). Players' technical ability
      during match play was assessed in small-sided games of soccer (5 v 5) using a
      novel game technical scoring chart (scoring chart completed by coaches to assess
      technical performance in a match situation) developed from criteria (e.g., first
      touch, dribbling and two footedness) used by youth soccer coaches for talent
      identification. RESULTS: A Spearman's rank correlation showed the YYIR1 test and
      15 m sprint test were limited in predicting technical match performance (r=0.03,
      P=0.88, r=-0.23, P=0.32 respectively). A Pearson product moment correlation
      showed that the repeated sprint test was also limited in predicting technical
      match performance (r=-0.34, P=0.14). A dribbling skill with a pass was found to
      be the best determinant of a player's technical ability in a match (r=-0.57,
      P=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Talent identification and selection programs in Asian youth
      soccer should include a dribbling skill performed with a pass.

PMID- 26868641
TI  - One night of partial sleep deprivation increased biomarkers of muscle and cardiac
      injuries during acute intermittent exercise.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two types of
      partial sleep deprivation (PSD) on biomarkers of muscle and cardiac injuries in
      response to acute intermittent exercise in professional athletes. METHODS: In a
      counterbalanced order, ten healthy male Taekwondo athletes were asked to perform
      the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (YYIRT) in three conditions, allowing a 36 h
      recovery period in between: 1) following a full night of habitual sleep known as
      a reference sleep night (RN); 2) following PSD in the beginning of the night
      (PSDBN); and 3) following PSD in the end of the night (PSDEN). Heart rate (HR)
      and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were measured during exercise. Blood
      samples were taken just before and 3 min after the YYIRT to measure biomarkers
      related to muscle and cardiac injuries (BRMCI). RESULTS: No significant effect of
      PSD was observed for physiological parameters (i.e., HR and SaO2). However, a
      significant alteration of resting ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP)
      (P<0.05) and myoglobin (MYO) (P<0.01) levels was detected after PSDEN.
      Furthermore, all BRMCI were altered by exercise. Likewise, compared to RN, PSD
      affected creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and MYO levels in response to exercise
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that PSDEN increase the
      resting us-CRP and MYO levels, and that the two types of PSD increase the CPK and
      MYO levels in response to acute intermittent exercise, among Taekwondo athletes,
      in the evening of the following day. However, no rise of the physiological
      responses has been observed after the two types of PSD, at rest and in response
      to the exercise.

PMID- 26868642
TI  - Critical load: a novel approach to determining a sustainable intensity during
      resistance exercise.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A hyperbolic function as well as a linear relationship between power
      output and time to exhaustion (Tlim) has been consistently observed during
      dynamic non-resistive exercises. However, little is known about its concept to
      resistance exercises (RE), which could be defined as critical load (CL). This
      study aimed to verify the existence of CL during dynamic RE and to verify the
      number of workbouts necessary to determine the optimal modeling to achieve it.
      METHODS: Fifteen healthy men (23+/-2.5 yrs) completed 1 repetition maximum test
      (1RM) on a leg press and 3 (60%, 75% and 90% of 1RM) or 4 (+ 30% of 1RM)
      workbouts protocols to obtain the CL by hyperbolic and linear regression models
      between Tlim and load performed. Blood lactate and leg fatigue were also
      measured. RESULTS: CL was obtained during RE and 3 workbouts protocol estimate it
      at 53% while 4 tests at 38% of 1 RM. However, based on coefficients of
      determination, 3 protocols provided a better fit than the 4-parameter model,
      respectively (R2>0.95 vs. >0.77). Moreover, all intensities increased blood
      lactate and leg fatigue, however, when corrected by Tlim, were significantly
      lower at CL. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to determinate CL during dynamic lower
      limbs RE and that 3 exhaustive workbouts can be used to better estimate the CL,
      constituting a new concept of determining this threshold during dynamic RE and
      reducing the physically demanding nature of the protocol. These findings may have
      important applications for functional performance evaluation and prescription of
      RE programs.

PMID- 26868643
TI  - Interrelationship Between Organizational and Relational Aspects and the Return-to
      Work Process: A Case Study with Nursing Professionals at a Teaching Hospital in
      Brazil.
AB  - Introduction The process of returning to work, especially for individuals with
      labor restrictions, impacts work teams and interferes with the labor reinsertion
      process. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of these situations on
      a nursing team from both organizational and relational perspectives. Methods We
      conducted a qualitative research study at a university hospital in the
      municipality of Sao Paulo using three strategies: documentary analysis; semi
      structured interviews with pairs of workers returning to a labor situation; and a
      focus group with nursing managers. Results Medical leaves of absence overburden
      the employees who remain working. Regarding the return to work, the participants
      reported both positive and negative aspects. One positive aspect reported was
      that those who return to work contribute to the division of labor, generating
      solidarity and cooperation. The negative aspects reported were related to the
      return of workers with labor restrictions who do not fully resume their
      activities, consequently generating conflicts within the work teams that
      interfere with the reintegration processes. The supervisors reported difficulties
      reorganizing work on a broad scale and assessing the workers' diagnoses and
      symptoms and the workers themselves in terms of the necessity of their leaves and
      the validity of their labor restrictions. Conclusion The organization of labor
      and social relationships among peers and supervisors is a significant contributor
      to the success or failure of the work reintegration process and therefore should
      be considered. We aimed to address this issue by highlighting the complexity of
      the return-to-work process among health workers.

PMID- 26868644
TI  - Cadmium Accumulation and Pathological Alterations in the Midgut Gland of
      Terrestrial Snail Helix pomatia L. from a Zinc Smelter Area: Role of Soil pH.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether cadmium (Cd) accumulation and
      toxicity in the midgut gland of Helix pomatia snails living in a Cd-contaminated
      area were related to soil pH. Toxic responses in the midgut gland (i.e.,
      increased vacuolization and lipid peroxidation) occurred in H. pomatia snails
      exhibiting the highest Cd levels in the gland (265-274 ug/g dry wt) and living on
      acidic soil (pH 5.3-5.5), while no toxicity was observed in snails accumulating
      less Cd (90 ug/g) and ranging on neutral soil (pH 7.0), despite the fact that
      total soil Cd was similar in the two cases. The accumulation of Cd in the gland
      was directly related to the water extractable Cd in soil, which in turn
      correlated inversely with soil pH, indicating that this factor had a significant
      effect on tissue Cd. It appeared further that the occurrence of Cd toxicity was
      associated with low levels of metallothionein in the gland of snails ranging on
      acidic soil.

PMID- 26868645
TI  - Psychometric Properties of the Milestones of Recovery Scale-Older Adult Version.
AB  - The Milestones of Recovery Scale (MORS) is a tool that mental health
      professionals can use to track clients' recovery. It has been shown to have good
      reliability and validity in an adult population. It is important to demonstrate
      its psychometric properties among the elderly. This study assessed the
      reliability and validity of the MORS among a multi-ethnic (52 % White) sample of
      adults 54 and older (M = 67) at several mental health agencies in California. The
      clients, N = 432, were assessed by two raters each at two time points 2 weeks
      apart. Ratings were obtained on the MORS, the modified Global Assessment of
      Functioning scale (mGAF), and the Multnomah Community Ability Scale (MCAS). The
      MORS demonstrated acceptable reliability: inter-rater r = .65 and test-retest r =
      .71; the mGAF was .56 and .79; the MCAS was .66 and .85. The validity of the MORS
      was also supported: mGAF-MORS r = .68 and MCAS-MORS r = .74. This study lends
      support for the use of the MORS in older adult populations. In addition, this is
      the first report of the psychometric properties of the MCAS with an entirely
      older adult sample.

PMID- 26868646
TI  - Are Users Satisfied with Assertive Community Treatment in Spite of Personal
      Restrictions?
AB  - The purpose of this explorative study was to examine satisfaction among 70 users
      of 12 Norwegian Assertive Community Treatment teams. The study was carried out
      among a group of 70 service users, and reveals generally high levels of
      satisfaction with the service, with satisfaction also being high in comparison to
      other ACT satisfaction studies. Users under a Community Treatment Order were more
      satisfied, while users with an alcohol use disorder were less satisfied. Younger
      service users were less positive than older users. There was no difference in
      satisfaction between the genders. This study's positive result may reflect the
      ACT model's focus on user involvement, recovery and building relationships, and
      the fact that this service has a more holistic approach than previous services
      that users have experienced.

PMID- 26868647
TI  - A prospective study of two isothermal amplification assays compared with real
      time PCR, CCNA and toxigenic culture for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile
      infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: New molecular methods of detecting Clostridium difficile infection
      (CDI) provide the routine lab with a sensitive random access method to produce
      results that are available in a shorter time than traditional methods. METHODS:
      In this prospective study a total of 989 stool specimens were tested over a
      period of 16 months in parallel using two isothermal amplification assays,
      AmpliVue(r) (Quidel) and Illumigene(r) (Meridian) and the results compared to
      those from toxigenic culture. In addition all specimens were tested using a
      cytotoxic cell neutralisation assay (CCNA) and three different Real-time PCR
      targeting a C. difficile-specific 16S rDNA sequence or the toxin genes tcdA,
      tcdB/tcdB027 or cdtB. RESULTS: AmpliVue(r) was positive in 242 (24.5%) and
      Illumigene(r) in 228 (23.1%) specimens. 167 (16.9%) specimens were positive in
      toxigenic culture. Real-time-tcdA and -tcdB PCR was positive in 211 (21.3%)
      specimens, Real-time-cdtB PCR was positive in 101 (10.2%) specimens and C.
      difficile-PCR (16S rDNA) in 267 (27.0%) specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The respective
      sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value
      compared to toxigenic culture were 91, 89, 62 and 98% for AmpliVue(r) and 91, 91,
      67 and 98% for Illumigene(r).

PMID- 26868649
TI  - Approaching a universal scaling relationship between fracture stiffness and fluid
      flow.
AB  - A goal of subsurface geophysical monitoring is the detection and characterization
      of fracture alterations that affect the hydraulic integrity of a site.
      Achievement of this goal requires a link between the mechanical and hydraulic
      properties of a fracture. Here we present a scaling relationship between fluid
      flow and fracture-specific stiffness that approaches universality. Fracture
      specific stiffness is a mechanical property dependent on fracture geometry that
      can be monitored remotely using seismic techniques. A Monte Carlo numerical
      approach demonstrates that a scaling relationship exists between flow and
      stiffness for fractures with strongly correlated aperture distributions, and
      continues to hold for fractures deformed by applied stress and by chemical
      erosion as well. This new scaling relationship provides a foundation for
      simulating changes in fracture behaviour as a function of stress or depth in the
      Earth and will aid risk assessment of the hydraulic integrity of subsurface
      sites. 

PMID- 26868648
TI  - Clinical efficacy of combination therapy with an alpha blocker and low-dose
      sildenafil on post-therapy lower urinary tract symptoms after low-dose-rate
      brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of tamsulosin monotherapy and tamsulosin
      with low-dose sildenafil combination therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms
      (LUTS) following low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy in early prostate cancer
      patients. METHODS: From March 2008 to June 2014, of the 212 prostate cancer
      patients with a Gleason score <=7 who received LDR brachytherapy, 80 patients
      with a prostate volume <=35 g and progressed LUTS following implantation were
      selected. All 80 patients took tamsulosin 0.4-mg monotherapy until 1 month after
      implantation. Then, the patients were divided into two groups; 45 patients
      received tamsulosin 0.4-mg monotherapy, and 35 patients received tamsulosin 0.4
      mg plus sildenafil 25-mg combination therapy due to erectile dysfunction. LUTS
      were compared between the two groups using the International Prostate Symptom
      Score (IPSS), the mean maximum flow rate (Q max) and the pre-implantation post
      voiding residual (PVR) volume at 1 and 3 months after implantation. RESULTS: The
      pre-implantation total IPSS, Q max and PVR for the monotherapy and combination
      therapy groups were 14.0 +/- 6.7, 14.3 +/- 3.2 ml/s and 36.3 +/- 16.7 ml and 15.3
      +/- 5.6, 13.7 +/- 4.5 ml/s and 39.0 +/- 23.4 ml, respectively. At 1 month post
      implantation, both groups showed increases in total IPSS and PVR, but no
      statistically significant differences were observed (P = 0.078, P = 0.23). At 3
      months post-implantation, the combination therapy group showed a greater decrease
      in total IPSS compared with the monotherapy group (P = 0.035), but there were no
      statistically significant differences in the Q max and PVR between the two
      groups. CONCLUSION: Tamsulosin plus low-dose sildenafil combination therapy is a
      beneficial treatment for post-implantation progression of LUTS.

PMID- 26868650
TI  - Development of a complex intervention to support the initiation of advance care
      planning by general practitioners in patients at risk of deteriorating or dying:
      a phase 0-1 study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most patients with life-limiting illnesses are treated and cared for
      over a long period of time in primary care and guidelines suggest that ACP
      discussions should be initiated in primary care. However, a practical model to
      implement ACP in general practice is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this
      study is to develop an intervention to support the initiation of ACP in general
      practice. METHODS: We conducted a Phase 0-I study according to the Medical
      Research Council (MRC) Framework. Phase 0 consisted of a systematic literature
      review about the barriers and facilitators for GPs to engage in ACP, focus groups
      with GPs were held about their experiences, attitudes and concerns regarding
      initiating ACP in general practice and a review of ACP interventions to identify
      potential components for the development of our intervention. In Phase 1, we
      developed a complex intervention to support the initiation of ACP in general
      practice in patients at risk of deteriorating or dying, based on the results of
      Phase 0. The complex intervention and its components were reviewed and refined by
      two expert panels. RESULTS: Phase 0 resulted in the identification of the factors
      inhibiting or enabling GPs' initiation of ACP and important components
      underpinning existing ACP interventions. Based on these findings, an intervention
      was developed in Phase 1 consisting of: (1) a training for GPs in initiating and
      conducting ACP discussions, (2) a register of patients eligible for ACP
      discussions, (3) an educational booklet on ACP for patients to prepare the ACP
      discussions that includes general information on ACP, a section on the role of
      GPs in the process of ACP and a prompt list, (4) a conversation guide to support
      GPs in the ACP discussions and (5) a structured documentation template to record
      the outcomes of discussions. CONCLUSION: Taking into account the barriers and
      facilitators for GPs to initiate ACP as well as the key factors underpinning
      successful ACP intervention in other health care settings, a complex intervention
      for general practice was developed, after gaining feedback from two expert
      panels. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will subsequently
      be tested in a Phase II study.

PMID- 26868651
TI  - Neozygites osornensis (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae) Infecting Cinara sp.
      (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Brazil.
AB  - The genus Neozygites has been known in Brazil until now only on mites, and this
      is its first report on aphids in Brazil. Tree-dwelling aphids (Cinara sp.) on a
      cypress tree were regularly monitored for entomopathogenic fungi in the city of
      Terezopolis de Goias in Central Brazil between July 2014 and April 2015. During
      the survey, mycosed aphids were found attached to twigs. The fungus was
      identified morphologically as Neozygites osornensis. No in vitro cultures were
      established from infected aphids. The finding reported here suggests that special
      attention should be paid in the future for the possible occurrences of Neozygites
      species wherever cinaran aphids occur around the globe. 

PMID- 26868652
TI  - Characterization of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)
      Resistance to Emamectin Benzoate: Cross-Resistance Patterns and Fitness Cost
      Analysis.
AB  - Cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is a
      sucking pest of worldwide importance causing huge losses by feeding upon cotton
      in various parts of the world. Because of the importance of this pest, this
      research was carried out to select emamectin resistance in P. solenopsis in the
      laboratory to study cross-resistance, stability, realized heritability, and
      fitness cost of emamectin resistance. After selection from third generation (G3)
      to G6, P. solenopsis developed very high emamectin resistance (159.24-fold) when
      compared to a susceptible unselected population (Unsel pop). Population selected
      to emamectin benzoate conferred moderate (45.81-fold), low (14.06-fold), and no
      cross-resistance with abamectin, cypermethrin, and profenofos, respectively
      compared to the Unsel pop. A significant decline in emamectin resistance was
      observed in the resistant population when not exposed to emamectin from G7 to
      G13. The estimated realized heritability (h (2)) for emamectin resistance was
      0.84. A high fitness cost was associated with emamectin resistance in P.
      solenopsis. Results of this study may be helpful in devising insecticide
      resistance management strategies for P. solenopsis. 

PMID- 26868653
TI  - Seasonal Life Cycle of Linepithema micans (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in
      Vineyards.
AB  - Linepithema micans (Forel) is considered to be the main ant species responsible
      for the spread of Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille), a soil scale that damages
      vine plants in southern Brazil. In this work, the seasonal life cycle of L.
      micans was evaluated in vineyards to define the most appropriate time for the
      application of toxic baits for control. Ant nests were transported to the
      laboratory in plastic bags, and individual ants were separated into groups of
      eggs, larvae, pupae, workers, males, and queens, recording the number of
      individuals per colony. The seasonal life cycle of L. micans in the vineyards
      began in spring with the deposition of eggs by queens. During the warm months of
      the year (spring and summer), it was possible to observe nests consisting
      primarily of eggs and pupae. During the autumn and winter months, the colonies
      were composed predominantly of larvae and a reduction in eggs was observed.
      Because the main control strategy targets the larval stage of the insect, the
      application of toxic baits for the control of L. micans must be performed during
      the winter. 

PMID- 26868654
TI  - Identification of the Female Sex Pheromone of the Leafroller Proeulia triquetra
      Obraztsov (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).
AB  - Proeulia triquetra Obraztsov (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an occasional pest in
      fruit orchards in central-southern Chile. In order to develop species-specific
      lures for detection and monitoring of this species, we identified the female
      produced sex pheromone. (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc), (E)-9-dodecenyl
      acetate (E9-12:OAc), and (E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:OAc) were identified
      as biologically active compounds present in female pheromone glands by solvent
      extraction of the gland and analysis of the extracts by gas chromatography
      electroantennographic detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In
      field tests, lures baited with synthetic Z11-14:OAc and E9-12:OAc in a 10:1 ratio
      were highly attractive to males of the species. 

PMID- 26868656
TI  - Marginalization of Cultural Groups.

PMID- 26868655
TI  - Ruminococcus gnavus E1 modulates mucin expression and intestinal glycosylation.
AB  - AIMS: The molecular cross-talk between commensal bacteria and the gut play an
      important role in the maintenance of the intestinal homeostasis and general
      health. Here, we studied the impact of a major Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium
      of the human gut microbiota, that is, Ruminococcus gnavus on the glycosylation
      pattern and the production of intestinal mucus by the goblet cells. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Our results showed that R. gnavus E1 specifically increases the
      expression and the glycosylation level of the intestinal glyco-conjugates by
      goblet cells in the colonic mucosa of mono-associated mice with R. gnavus E1 as
      well as in human HT29-MTX cells. Such an effect was mediated through induction of
      the level of mRNA encoding for the major intestinal gel-forming mucin such as
      MUC2 and various glycosyltransferase enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrates for the first time that R. gnavus E1 possess the ability to modulate
      the glycosylation profile of the glyco-conjugate molecules and mucus in goblet
      cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Furthermore, we demonstrated that R.
      gnavus E1 modified specifically the glycosylation pattern and MUC2 expression by
      means of a small soluble factor of peptidic nature (<3 kDa) and heat stable in
      the HT29-MTX cell.

PMID- 26868657
TI  - President's Message: Transcultural Nursing in the Global Community.

PMID- 26868658
TI  - A Changing World Through the Lens of Panama.

PMID- 26868659
TI  - Microbiological diagnosis and molecular typing of Legionella strains during an
      outbreak of legionellosis in Southern Germany.
AB  - An explosive outbreak of Legionnaires' disease with 64 reported cases occurred in
      Ulm/Neu-Ulm in the South of Germany in December 2009/January 2010 caused by
      Legionella (L.) pneumophila serogroup 1, monoclonal (mAb) subtype Knoxville,
      sequence type (ST) 62. Here we present the clinical microbiological results from
      51 patients who were diagnosed at the University hospital of Ulm, the results of
      the environmental investigations and of molecular typing of patients and
      environmental strains. All 50 patients from whom urine specimens were available
      were positive for L. pneumophila antigen when an enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (EIA) was used following concentration of those urine samples that tested
      initially negative. The sensitivity of the BinaxNow rapid immunographic assay
      (ICA), after 15 min reading and after 60 min reading were 70% and 84%,
      respectively. Direct typing confirmed the monoclonal subtype Knoxville in 5 out
      of 8 concentrated urine samples. Real time PCR testing of respiratory tract
      specimens for L. pneumophila was positive in 15 out of 25 (60%) patients. Direct
      nested sequence based typing (nSBT) in some of these samples allowed partial
      confirmation of ST62. L. pneumophila serogroup 1, monoclonal subtype Knoxville
      ST62, defined as the epidemic strain was isolated from 8 out of 31 outbreak
      patients (26%) and from one cooling tower confirming it as the most likely source
      of the outbreak. While rapid detection of Legionella antigenuria was crucial for
      the recognition and management of the outbreak, culture and molecular typing of
      the strains from patients and environmental specimens was the clue for the rapid
      identification of the source of infection.

PMID- 26868660
TI  - Management of obesity.
AB  - A modern approach to obesity acknowledges the multifactorial determinants of
      weight gain and the health benefits to be derived from weight loss. Foundational
      to any weight loss effort is lifestyle change, diet, and increased physical
      activity. The approach should be a high quality diet to which patients will
      adhere accompanied by an exercise prescription describing frequency, intensity,
      type, and time with a minimum of 150 min moderate weekly activity. For patients
      who struggle with weight loss and who would receive health benefit from weight
      loss, management of medications that are contributing to weight gain and use of
      approved medications for chronic weight management along with lifestyle changes
      are appropriate. Medications approved in the USA or European Union are orlistat,
      naltrexone/bupropion, and liraglutide; in the USA, lorcaserin and
      phentermine/topiramate are also available. Surgical management (gastric banding,
      sleeve gastrectomy, and Roux-en Y gastric bypass) can produce remarkable health
      improvement and reduce mortality for patients with severe obesity. 

PMID- 26868661
TI  - Clinical utility of transthoracic echocardiography for screening abdominal aortic
      aneurysm: a prospective study in a Japanese population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of
      transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for screening abdominal aortic aneurysm
      (AAA) and to identify important TTE indices associated with AAA in a Japanese
      population. METHODS: We prospectively studied 1912 patients who were referred for
      TTE. AAA was defined as >= 30 mm in size. RESULTS: The abdominal aorta was
      visualized in 95.1% (1818/1912) by TTE. AAA was identified in 2.6% (47/1818). The
      aortic root size was significantly larger in patients with AAA than those without
      (36.0 +/- 4.1 vs. 31.7 +/- 4.2 mm, p < 0.001). The aortic root size had a fair
      correlation with abdominal aortic size (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). The aortic root
      size of >= 34 mm was predictive of AAA by receiver operating characteristic curve
      analysis (area under the curve = 0.78, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression
      analysis revealed that aortic root size (Hazard ratio 1.23, p < 0.001) and age
      (Hazard ratio 1.05, p = 0.013) were the independent predictors of AAA.
      CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of the abdominal aortic visualization during TTE was
      excellent. The aortic root size measured by TTE was the independent predictor of
      AAA. Screening for AAA during TTE appeared to be useful especially in the older
      patients with a large (>=34 mm) aortic root.

PMID- 26868662
TI  - Development of action mirroring.

PMID- 26868664
TI  - SCA28: Novel Mutation in the AFG3L2 Proteolytic Domain Causes a Mild Cerebellar
      Syndrome with Selective Type-1 Muscle Fiber Atrophy.
AB  - The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of rare inherited neurodegenerative
      diseases characterized by slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, resulting in
      unsteady gait, clumsiness, and dysarthria. The disorders are predominantly
      inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Mutations in the gene AFG3L2 that
      encodes a subunit of the mitochondrial m-AAA protease have previously been shown
      to cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 28 (SCA28). Here, we present the clinical
      phenotypes of three patients from a family with autosomal dominant cerebellar
      ataxia and show by molecular genetics and in silico modelling that this is caused
      by a novel missense mutation in the AFG3L2 gene. Furthermore, we show, for the
      first time, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans of
      the brain and selective type I fiber atrophy of skeletal muscle of SCA28 patients
      indicating non-nervous-system involvement in SCA28 as well.

PMID- 26868666
TI  - Donor blood screening and moral responsibility: how safe should blood be?
AB  - Some screening tests for donor blood that are used by blood services to prevent
      transfusion-transmission of infectious diseases offer relatively few health
      benefits for the resources spent on them. Can good ethical arguments be provided
      for employing these tests nonetheless? This paper discusses-and ultimately
      rejects-three such arguments. According to the 'rule of rescue' argument, general
      standards for cost-effectiveness in healthcare may be ignored when rescuing
      identifiable individuals. The argument fails in this context, however, because we
      cannot identify beforehand who will benefit from additional blood screening
      tests. On the 'imposed risk' argument, general cost-effectiveness standards do
      not apply when healthcare interventions impose risks on patients. This argument
      ignores the fact that imposing risks on patients is inevitable in healthcare and
      that these risks can be countered only within reasonable limits. Finally, the
      'manufacturing standard' argument premises that general cost-effectiveness
      standards do not apply to procedures preventing the contamination of manufactured
      medical products. We contend that while this argument seems reasonable insofar as
      commercially manufactured medical products are concerned, publicly funded blood
      screening tests should respect the standards for general healthcare. We conclude
      that these particular arguments are unpersuasive, and we offer directions to
      advance the debate.

PMID- 26868665
TI  - Atxn2 Knockout and CAG42-Knock-in Cerebellum Shows Similarly Dysregulated
      Expression in Calcium Homeostasis Pathway.
AB  - Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominantly inherited
      neurodegenerative disorder with preferential affection of Purkinje neurons, which
      are known as integrators of calcium currents. The expansion of a polyglutamine
      (polyQ) domain in the RNA-binding protein ataxin-2 (ATXN2) is responsible for
      this disease, but the causal roles of deficient ATXN2 functions versus
      aggregation toxicity are still under debate. Here, we studied mouse mutants with
      Atxn2 knockout (KO) regarding their cerebellar global transcriptome by microarray
      and RT-qPCR, in comparison with data from Atxn2-CAG42-knock-in (KIN) mouse
      cerebellum. Global expression downregulations involved lipid and growth signaling
      pathways in good agreement with previous data. As a novel effect, downregulations
      of key factors in calcium homeostasis pathways (the transcription factor Rora,
      transporters Itpr1 and Atp2a2, as well as regulator Inpp5a) were observed in the
      KO cerebellum, and some of them also occurred subtly early in KIN cerebellum. The
      ITPR1 protein levels were depleted from soluble fractions of cerebellum in both
      mutants, but accumulated in its membrane-associated form only in the SCA2 model.
      Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated no association of ITPR1 with Q42-expanded or
      with wild-type ATXN2. These findings provide evidence that the physiological
      functions and protein interactions of ATXN2 are relevant for calcium-mediated
      excitation of Purkinje cells as well as for ATXN2-triggered neurotoxicity. These
      insights may help to understand pathogenesis and tissue specificity in SCA2 and
      other polyQ ataxias like SCA1, where inositol regulation of calcium flux and
      RORalpha play a role.

PMID- 26868667
TI  - Using contrast patterns between true complexes and random subgraphs in PPI
      networks to predict unknown protein complexes.
AB  - Most protein complex detection methods utilize unsupervised techniques to cluster
      densely connected nodes in a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, in spite
      of the fact that many true complexes are not dense subgraphs. Supervised methods
      have been proposed recently, but they do not answer why a group of proteins are
      predicted as a complex, and they have not investigated how to detect new
      complexes of one species by training the model on the PPI data of another
      species. We propose a novel supervised method to address these issues. The key
      idea is to discover emerging patterns (EPs), a type of contrast pattern, which
      can clearly distinguish true complexes from random subgraphs in a PPI network. An
      integrative score of EPs is defined to measure how likely a subgraph of proteins
      can form a complex. New complexes thus can grow from our seed proteins by
      iteratively updating this score. The performance of our method is tested on eight
      benchmark PPI datasets and compared with seven unsupervised methods, two
      supervised and one semi-supervised methods under five standards to assess the
      quality of the predicted complexes. The results show that in most cases our
      method achieved a better performance, sometimes significantly. 

PMID- 26868669
TI  - Erratum to: Genetic determination of height-mediated mate choice.

PMID- 26868668
TI  - Pulmonary complications of type 1 neurofibromatosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Type 1 neurofibromatosis is one of the most common genetic
      diseases, with an incidence of 1/3500 live births. Its diagnosis primarily relies
      on the clinical features of the condition. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE: The life expectancy
      of these patients is reduced by 10 years, on average, compared to the general
      population. Type 1 neurofibromatosis has been shown to increase the risk of
      various types of neoplasia, primarily those affecting the neural crest. In
      addition, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and pulmonary hypertension have
      been observed during the third or the fourth decade of an adult's life.
      PERSPECTIVES: There are only few case reports available that address the
      pulmonary complications of neurofibromatosis type 1. It is thus crucial to fully
      understand this rare disease and its potential complications in order to allow
      for early diagnosis so we are able to improve the quality of life and survival of
      those suffering from the condition. CONCLUSIONS: The pulmonary complications of
      type 1 neurofibromatosis can be severe and life-threatening. Patients with this
      condition should thus undergo regular clinical visits and examinations to allow
      pulmonary complications to be detected and treatment to be initiated as early as
      possible.

PMID- 26868670
TI  - Induction of nephron progenitors and glomeruli from human pluripotent stem cells.
AB  - Studies of kidney regeneration using stem cells have progressed rapidly in recent
      years. Our group has developed a protocol to induce nephron progenitors from both
      mouse and human pluripotent stem cells which is based on a revised model of early
      stage kidney specification. The induced progenitors readily reconstitute three
      dimensional nephron structures, including glomeruli and renal tubules, in vitro.
      We can further generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in which
      nephrin-expressing glomerular podocytes are tagged with green fluorescent protein
      (GFP). The sorted GFP-positive cells retain the podocyte-specific molecular and
      structural features. Upon transplantation, mouse endothelial cells of the host
      animals are integrated into the human iPSC-derived glomeruli, and the podocytes
      show further maturation. Other laboratories have reported different protocols to
      induce nephron structures from human iPSCs in vitro. These findings will
      accelerate our understanding of kidney development and diseases in humans.

PMID- 26868672
TI  - UK records four cases of Zika virus in past six weeks.

PMID- 26868671
TI  - Clinicopathological correlation of psychosis and brain vascular changes in
      Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Psychosis is common in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, studies on
      neuropathology in vascular etiology contributing to psychosis in AD is lacking to
      date. The aim of this study was to investigate neuropathological vascular related
      changes in Alzheimer's disease with psychosis. Data of patients with AD from the
      National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center between 2005 to September 2013 was
      accessed and reviewed. Presence of psychosis was determined based on
      Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire taken from the last visit within one
      year prior to death, and patients were divided into psychosis positive and
      negative group. Comparison of clinical details and neuropathological vascular
      changes between the groups was performed using Wilcoxon rank sum test and Chi
      square/ Fisher's exact test. Significant variables were further included in a
      multivariate logistic model. Overall, 145 patients was included. Of these, 50
      patients were psychosis positive. Presence of one or more cortical microinfarcts
      and moderate to severe arteriosclerosis was found to be positively associated
      with psychosis. Our results suggest vascular changes correlate with psychosis in
      Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26868673
TI  - Dignity, Health, and Membership: Who Counts as One of Us?
AB  - This essay serves as an introduction to this issue of the Journal of Medicine and
      Philosophy. The five articles in this issue address a range of topics from the
      human embryo and substantial change to conceptions of disability. They engage
      claims of moral status, defense of our humanity, and argue for an accurate and
      just classification of persons of different communities within a healthcare
      system. I argue in this essay that though their concerns are diverse, the authors
      in this issue help to answer a common question: "Who counts as one of us?"
      Reading these articles through the lens of membership and the themes of dignity
      illustrates this commonality and bears fruit for further reflection on many of
      the challenging issues addressed in the subsequent papers. 

PMID- 26868674
TI  - "There's nothing here": Deindustrialization as risk environment for overdose.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Applying the "risk environment" approach proposed by Rhodes (2002,
      2009), this study considers the diverse contextual factors contributing to drug
      overdose in a deindustrialized region of the United States. The Monongahela
      Valley of Pennsylvania, once a global center of steel production, has suffered a
      mass exodus of jobs, residents, and businesses since a national manufacturing
      crisis erupted in the early 1980s; more recently, it has seen a dramatic uptick
      in accidental drug poisoning deaths. Where recent local and national media
      attention to overdose has focused on suburban areas and middle class victims,
      this study concentrates instead on the deteriorating mill city of McKeesport,
      Pennsylvania. METHODS: Eighteen clients of the city's sole drug treatment
      facility participated in in-depth interviews concerning their direct experience
      with accidental overdose. Specifically, participants were asked to describe their
      own most recent overdose event and/or the last overdose they had personally
      witnessed. They were also asked to speculate upon the roots of the local overdose
      epidemic, while venturing possible remedies. RESULTS: In relating their overdose
      experiences, participants characterized a micro-level risk environment that was
      hidden behind closed doors, and populated by unprepared, ambivalent overdose
      "assistants." Tasked with explaining a geographic concentration of overdose in
      and around McKeesport, interviewees referenced the hopelessness of the area and
      its lack of opportunity as driving the use of heroin, with many explicitly
      suggesting the need for jobs and community reinvestment to reduce fatalities.
      CONCLUSION: While state and county efforts to ameliorate overdose mortality have
      focused upon creating an open market in naloxone, this study suggests the need
      for interventions that address the poverty and social isolation of opiate users
      in the post-industrial periphery.

PMID- 26868676
TI  - Unraveling the mechanism of proton translocation in the extracellular half
      channel of bacteriorhodopsin.
AB  - Bacteriorhodopsin, a light activated protein that creates a proton gradient in
      halobacteria, has long served as a simple model of proton pumps. Within
      bacteriorhodopsin, several key sites undergo protonation changes during the
      photocycle, moving protons from the higher pH cytoplasm to the lower pH
      extracellular side. The mechanism underlying the long-range proton translocation
      between the central (the retinal Schiff base SB216, D85, and D212) and exit
      clusters (E194 and E204) remains elusive. To obtain a dynamic view of the key
      factors controlling proton translocation, a systematic study using molecular
      dynamics simulation was performed for eight bacteriorhodopsin models varying in
      retinal isomer and protonation states of the SB216, D85, D212, and E204. The side
      chain orientation of R82 is determined primarily by the protonation states of the
      residues in the EC. The side-chain reorientation of R82 modulates the hydrogen
      bond network and consequently possible pathways of proton transfer. Quantum
      mechanical intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations of proton-transfer in the
      methyl guanidinium-hydronium-hydroxide model system show that proton transfer via
      a guanidinium group requires an initial geometry permitting proton donation and
      acceptance by the same amine. In all the bacteriorhodopsin models, R82 can form
      proton wires with both the CC and the EC connected by the same amine.
      Alternatively, rare proton wires for proton transfer from the CC to the EC
      without involving R82 were found in an O' state where the proton on D85 is
      transferred to D212.

PMID- 26868675
TI  - Caffeine promotes wakefulness via dopamine signaling in Drosophila.
AB  - Caffeine is the most widely-consumed psychoactive drug in the world, but our
      understanding of how caffeine affects our brains is relatively incomplete. Most
      studies focus on effects of caffeine on adenosine receptors, but there is
      evidence for other, more complex mechanisms. In the fruit fly Drosophila
      melanogaster, which shows a robust diurnal pattern of sleep/wake activity,
      caffeine reduces nighttime sleep behavior independently of the one known
      adenosine receptor. Here, we show that dopamine is required for the wake
      promoting effect of caffeine in the fly, and that caffeine likely acts
      presynaptically to increase dopamine signaling. We identify a cluster of neurons,
      the paired anterior medial (PAM) cluster of dopaminergic neurons, as the ones
      relevant for the caffeine response. PAM neurons show increased activity following
      caffeine administration, and promote wake when activated. Also, inhibition of
      these neurons abrogates sleep suppression by caffeine. While previous studies
      have focused on adenosine-receptor mediated mechanisms for caffeine action, we
      have identified a role for dopaminergic neurons in the arousal-promoting effect
      of caffeine. 

PMID- 26868677
TI  - Prevalence of insomnia-related symptoms continues to increase in the Finnish
      working-age population.
AB  - In 2008, we published epidemiological data from 1972 to 2005 that suggested an
      increase in insomnia-related symptoms among the working-age population. The
      results were based on the National FINRISK (FR) Study samples of the Finnish
      adult population aged 25-64, and on the Finnish Quality of Work Life Surveys
      (FQWLS), carried out among Finnish salary earners. Both of these ongoing studies
      have since provided two new estimates of insomnia-related symptoms. Chronic
      insomnia-related symptoms were 9.0% (95% CI 8.3-9.7), 9.6% (95% CI 8.8-10.4) in
      FR 2007 and 2012, respectively; and 9.1% (95% CI 8.3-10.0), 9.2% (95% CI 8.4
      10.1) in FQWLS 2008 and 2013, respectively. Occasional insomnia-related symptoms
      were 45.3% (95% CI 44.1-46.6), 42.5% (95% CI 41.1-43.9) in FR 2007 and 2012,
      respectively; and 40.3% (95% CI 38.8-41.7), 44.8% (95% CI 41.1-43.9) in FQWLS
      2008 and 2013, respectively. The new estimates further strengthen the
      interpretation of the ongoing increase in occasional insomnia-related symptoms
      among the Finnish general adult population. The increase in occasional symptoms
      was most prominent among employees. However, chronic insomnia symptoms showed no
      further increase.

PMID- 26868678
TI  - Cardiogenic shock from atypical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy attributed to acute
      disseminated encephalomyelitis lesion involving the medulla.
AB  - We present here a case of atypical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy arising as a result
      of a lesion in the medulla oblongata. The patient was diagnosed with acute
      disseminated encephalomyelitis, and had improvement with intravenous steroids. 

PMID- 26868679
TI  - Intracerebral haemorrhage: Prognostic scales versus clinical judgment in ICH.

PMID- 26868681
TI  - Predictors of attendance at specialized survivor clinics in a population-based
      cohort of adult survivors of childhood cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to determine predictors of
      attendance at a network of publicly funded specialized survivor clinics by a
      population-based cohort of adult survivors of childhood cancer. METHODS: We
      conducted a retrospective study linking data on eligible patients identified in a
      provincial pediatric cancer registry with health administrative databases to
      determine attendance at five specialized survivor clinics in the Canadian
      province of Ontario between 1999 and 2012. Eligible survivors were treated for
      cancer at <=18 years between 1986 and 2005, had survived >=5 years from their
      most recent pediatric cancer event, and contributed >=1 year of follow-up after
      age 18 years. We assessed the impact of cancer type, treatment intensity,
      cumulative chemotherapy doses, radiation, socioeconomic status, distance to
      nearest clinic, and care from a primary care physician (PCP) on attendance using
      recurrent event multivariable regression. RESULTS: Of 7482 children and
      adolescents treated for cancer over the study period, 3972 were eligible for
      study inclusion, of which 3912 successfully linked to administrative health data.
      After a median of 7.8 years (range 0.2-14.0) of follow-up, 1695/3912 (43.3 %) had
      attended at least one adult survivor clinic visit. Significantly increased rates
      of attendance were associated with female gender, higher treatment intensity,
      radiation, higher alkylating agent exposure, higher socioeconomic status, and an
      annual exam by a PCP. Distance significantly impacted attendance with survivors
      living >50 km away less likely to attend than those living within 10 km (relative
      rate 0.77, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Despite free access to survivor clinics, the
      majority of adult survivors of childhood cancer do not attend. IMPLICATIONS FOR
      CANCER SURVIVORS: Alternate models of care need to be developed and assessed,
      particularly for survivors living far from a specialized clinic and those at
      lower risk of developing late effects.

PMID- 26868682
TI  - Are you a cancer survivor? A review on cancer identity.
AB  - PURPOSE: Individuals diagnosed with cancer have been shown to interpret the term
      "cancer survivor" differently and this may have implications for how they cope
      with their illness. This article reviews the empirical research conducted in the
      field and aims to formulate recommendations for future research. METHODS: A
      literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase and CINAHL using
      search strategies customized for each database: standardized subject terms and a
      wide range of free-text terms for "cancer", "survivor", and "identity". Data from
      23 eligible papers were extracted and summarized. RESULTS: Analysis of the
      studies revealed that individuals diagnosed with cancer could be categorized into
      five groups based on their attitudes towards being a cancer survivor: embracing,
      constructive, ambiguous, resisting and non-salient. Identification as "cancer
      survivor" was found to be highly prevalent within the breast cancer community
      (77.9 %) and least among individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer (30.6 %).
      Self-identifying as a cancer survivor was related to better quality of life and
      mental wellbeing, with those having a childhood diagnosis more likely to
      transition successfully into adult care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that, for
      a substantial group of individuals, "cancer survivor" is not a title earned upon
      receiving a cancer diagnosis or completion of treatment, but an identity that may
      be embraced in time after deliberation. Future studies should examine the
      endorsement rate in less common cancers and whether choice of cancer identity
      varies over time. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Researchers and healthcare
      professionals should use caution when using the term "cancer survivor" so as not
      to alienate anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer but does not identify with
      it.

PMID- 26868684
TI  - Potent P2Y12 Inhibitors in Low-Risk Patients: Is There a Medical Need?

PMID- 26868680
TI  - Maladaptive plasticity in tinnitus--triggers, mechanisms and treatment.
AB  - Tinnitus is a phantom auditory sensation that reduces quality of life for
      millions of people worldwide, and for which there is no medical cure. Most cases
      of tinnitus are associated with hearing loss caused by ageing or noise exposure.
      Exposure to loud recreational sound is common among the young, and this group are
      at increasing risk of developing tinnitus. Head or neck injuries can also trigger
      the development of tinnitus, as altered somatosensory input can affect auditory
      pathways and lead to tinnitus or modulate its intensity. Emotional and
      attentional state could be involved in the development and maintenance of
      tinnitus via top-down mechanisms. Thus, military personnel in combat are
      particularly at risk owing to combined risk factors (hearing loss, somatosensory
      system disturbances and emotional stress). Animal model studies have identified
      tinnitus-associated neural changes that commence at the cochlear nucleus and
      extend to the auditory cortex and other brain regions. Maladaptive neural
      plasticity seems to underlie these changes: it results in increased spontaneous
      firing rates and synchrony among neurons in central auditory structures, possibly
      generating the phantom percept. This Review highlights the links between animal
      and human studies, and discusses several therapeutic approaches that have been
      developed to target the neuroplastic changes underlying tinnitus. 

PMID- 26868683
TI  - Effects of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Troponin-Negative Patients With Low
      Risk ACS Undergoing Ad Hoc PCI.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many low-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are not pre
      treated with a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, and percutaneous coronary interventions
      (PCIs) are often performed on an ad hoc basis in this population. Pharmacodynamic
      (PD) studies comparing ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients undergoing ad
      hoc PCI are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess PD effects of
      ticagrelor versus clopidogrel loading dose (LD) in the peri-procedural period
      among troponin-negative ACS patients undergoing ad hoc PCI. METHODS: This was a
      prospective, open-label, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group, phase IV PD
      study. One hundred P2Y12 inhibitor-naive patients presenting with biomarker
      negative ACS and undergoing ad hoc PCI, on a background of aspirin therapy, were
      randomized to receive either ticagrelor 180 mg LD or clopidogrel 600 mg LD.
      Platelet reactivity (P2Y12 reaction units [PRU]; VerifyNow assay) was measured at
      5 time points: pre-LD, at 0.5, 2, and 8 h post-LD, and at end of PCI. The primary
      endpoint was PRU levels 2 h post-LD; secondary endpoints included PRU levels at
      all other time points and inhibition of platelet aggregation; an exploratory
      analysis evaluated rates of high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) (PRU
      >208). RESULTS: At 2 h, PRU levels were significantly lower with ticagrelor
      versus clopidogrel (98.4 +/- 95.4 vs. 257.5 +/- 74.5; p < 0.001; primary
      endpoint). PRU levels diverged as early as 0.5 h post-LD, with significant
      differences observed by the end of PCI (mean 0.6 h post-LD) and maintained up to
      8 h post-LD. HPR rates were also significantly reduced with ticagrelor compared
      with clopidogrel at the end of PCI (p = 0.030), and at 2 h (p < 0.001) and 8 h (p
      < 0.001) after LD. CONCLUSIONS: In low-risk ACS patients undergoing ad hoc PCI,
      ticagrelor LD provides more prompt and potent platelet inhibition, and lower HPR
      rates, compared with clopidogrel LD. (Ad Hoc Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
      Study in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: NCT01603082).

PMID- 26868685
TI  - Nonsyndromic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: Outcomes With Marfan
      Syndrome Versus Bicuspid Aortic Valve Aneurysm.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genetic aortopathy (GA) underlies thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) in
      younger adults. Comparative survival and predictors of outcomes in nonsyndromic
      TAA (NS-TAA) are incompletely defined compared to Marfan syndrome (MFS) and
      bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). OBJECTIVES: The study sought to compare survival and
      clinical outcomes for individuals with NS-TAA, MFS, and BAV. METHODS: From 1988
      to 2014, all patients presenting with GA 16 to 60 years of age were enrolled in a
      prospective study of clinical outcomes. Risk factors for death and aortic
      dissection were identified by Cox proportional hazards modeling and a mortality
      risk score developed. RESULTS: Diagnosis of GA was made for 760 patients (age
      36.9 +/- 13.6 years, 26.8% female; NS-TAA, n = 311; MFS, n = 221; BAV, n = 228).
      MFS patients were younger than NS-TAA and BAV. Presentation with aortic
      dissection was more common for NS-TAA than MFS or BAV. The 687 patients surviving
      >30 days after presentation were followed for a median of 7 years. Calculated 10
      year mortality was 7.8% for NS-TAA, 8.7% for MFS, and 3.5% for BAV (NS-TAA and
      MFS vs. BAV p <0.05). Factors associated with all-cause mortality were MFS (p =
      0.04), age at presentation, and family history of dissection. CONCLUSIONS:
      Clinical outcomes for MFS and NS-TAA are similar but worse than BAV. Independent
      predictors of mortality, including family history of aortic dissection and age,
      can be included in an Aortopathy Mortality Risk Score to predict survival.
      Management of NS-TAA, including surgical intervention, should be similar to that
      of MFS.

PMID- 26868686
TI  - Familial Nonsyndromic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Unraveling the Mystery and
      Defining Long-Term Outcome.

PMID- 26868688
TI  - Reducing Cardiovascular Risk With Ankle Brachial Index Screening: New Evidence
      for an Old Question?

PMID- 26868687
TI  - Statins for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in a Low-Risk Population With Low
      Ankle Brachial Index.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence is lacking about the effectiveness of risk reduction
      interventions in patients with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
      OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess whether statin therapy was associated with
      a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality in this
      population. METHODS: Data were obtained from 2006 through 2013 from the Catalan
      primary care system's clinical records database (SIDIAP). Patients age 35 to 85
      years with an ankle-brachial index <=0.95 and without clinically recognized
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) were included. Participants were categorized as
      statins nonusers or new-users (first prescription or represcribed after at least
      6 months) and matched 1:1 by inclusion date and propensity score for statin
      treatment. Conditional Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to compare the
      groups for the incidence of MACE (myocardial infarction, cardiac
      revascularization, and ischemic stroke) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The
      matched-pair cohort included 5,480 patients (mean age 67 years; 44% women)
      treated/nontreated with statins. The 10-year coronary heart disease risk was low
      (median: 6.9%). Median follow-up was 3.6 years. Incidence of MACE was 19.7 and
      24.7 events per 1,000 person-years in statin new-users and nonusers,
      respectively. Total mortality rates also differed: 24.8 versus 30.3 per 1,000
      person-years, respectively. Hazards ratios were 0.80 for MACE and 0.81 for
      overall mortality. The 1-year number needed to treat was 200 for MACE and 239 for
      all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Statin therapy was associated with a reduction
      in MACE and all-cause mortality among participants without clinical CVD but with
      asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease, regardless of its low CVD risk. The
      absolute reduction was comparable to that achieved in secondary prevention.

PMID- 26868689
TI  - Incidence, Timing, and Predictors of Valve Hemodynamic Deterioration After
      Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Multicenter Registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Scarce data exist on the incidence of and factors associated with
      valve hemodynamic deterioration (VHD) after transcatheter aortic valve
      replacement (TAVR). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the incidence,
      timing, and predictors of VHD in a large cohort of patients undergoing TAVR.
      METHODS: This multicenter registry included 1,521 patients (48% male; 80 +/- 7
      years of age) who underwent TAVR. Mean echocardiographic follow-up was 20 +/- 13
      months (minimum: 6 months). Echocardiographic examinations were performed at
      discharge, at 6 to 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Annualized changes in mean
      gradient (mm Hg/year) were calculated by dividing the difference between the mean
      gradient at last follow-up and the gradient at discharge by the time between
      examinations. VHD was defined as a >=10 mm Hg increase in transprosthetic mean
      gradient during follow-up compared with discharge assessment. RESULTS: The
      overall mean annualized rate of transprosthetic gradient progression during
      follow-up was 0.30 +/- 4.99 mm Hg/year. A total of 68 patients met criteria of
      VHD (incidence: 4.5% during follow-up). The absence of anticoagulation therapy at
      hospital discharge (p = 0.002), a valve-in-valve (TAVR in a surgical valve)
      procedure (p = 0.032), the use of a 23-mm valve (p = 0.016), and a greater body
      mass index (p = 0.001) were independent predictors of VHD. CONCLUSIONS: There was
      a mild but significant increase in transvalvular gradients over time after TAVR.
      The lack of anticoagulation therapy, a valve-in-valve procedure, a greater body
      mass index, and the use of a 23-mm transcatheter valve were associated with
      higher rates of VHD post-TAVR. Further prospective studies are required to
      determine whether a specific antithrombotic therapy post-TAVR may reduce the risk
      of VHD.

PMID- 26868690
TI  - Shedding More Light on Valve Thrombosis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve
      Replacement.

PMID- 26868691
TI  - Contributions of Nondiastolic Factors to Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure
      With Preserved Ejection Fraction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has a complex
      etiology. Factors responsible for development of impaired exercise tolerance and
      disease progression are incompletely defined. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to
      define the contributions of contractile reserve, ventriculo-arterial coupling
      (VAC) reserve, and chronotropic response to the progression of HFpEF. METHODS: We
      performed echocardiography at rest and immediately post-cardiopulmonary exercise
      test in 207 patients (63 +/- 8 years of age) with stage C heart failure (HF)
      (exertional dyspnea, New York Heart Association functional class II to III,
      exercise capacity <80% of normal, left ventricular ejection fraction >50%, and
      diastolic dysfunction) and 60 patients with stage B HF (normal exercise tolerance
      with left ventricular hypertrophy, and/or reduced global longitudinal strain,
      with diastolic dysfunction). RESULTS: Symptomatic patients were grouped as stage
      C1 (ratio of peak early diastolic mitral flow velocity to peak early diastolic
      mitral annular velocity [E/e'] <13 both at rest and exercise; n = 63), C2 (E/e'
      >13 only at exercise; n = 118), and C3 (E/e' >13 both at rest and exercise; n =
      26) HF. Exercise capacity and cardiovascular functional reserve were less
      impaired in stage C1 than in stages C2 and C3. Chronotropic response was more
      disturbed in stage C3 than C1 and C2. Changes from rest to exercise in E/e' (-0.6
      +/- 1.7 vs. 3.7 +/- 2.8; p < 0.0001), global longitudinal strain (2.9 +/- 2.0 vs.
      1.6 +/- 2.8; p < 0.002), VAC (-0.21 +/- 0.17 vs. -0.09 +/- 0.15; p < 0.0001), and
      in VO2-HR gradient (0.30 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.11; p < 0.01) were significantly
      different in stages B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Normal E/e' response to exertion in
      symptomatic HFpEF is associated with less profound impairment of exercise
      capacity and is accompanied by derangements of contractile state and VAC. The
      transition from asymptomatic to overt HFpEF is linked to diastolic, systolic, and
      chronotropic deficits and an increasing degree of hemodynamic disturbances in
      stage C HF.

PMID- 26868692
TI  - Is HFpEF One Disease or Many?

PMID- 26868694
TI  - Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: Are We Winning the Battle But Losing the War?

PMID- 26868693
TI  - Long-Term Success of Irrigated Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Sustained
      Ventricular Tachycardia: Post-Approval THERMOCOOL VT Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is used to treat recurrent
      ventricular tachycardia (VT). OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated long-term safety
      and effectiveness of radiofrequency catheter ablation using an open-irrigated
      catheter. METHODS: Patients with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
      associated with coronary disease were analyzed for cardiovascular-specific
      adverse events within 7 days of treatment, hospitalization duration, 6-month
      sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia recurrence, quality of life
      measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, long-term (1-, 2-, and 3
      year) survival, symptomatic VT control, and amiodarone use. RESULTS: Overall, 249
      patients, mean age 67.4 years, were enrolled. The cardiovascular-specific adverse
      events rate was 3.9% (9 of 233) with no strokes. Noninducibility of targeted VT
      was achieved in 75.9% of patients. Post-ablation median hospitalization was 2
      days. At 6 months, 62.0% (114 of 184) of patients had no sustained monomorphic
      ventricular tachycardia recurrence; the proportion of patients with implantable
      cardioverter-defibrillator shocks decreased from 81.2% to 26.8% (p < 0.0001); the
      frequency of VT in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients with
      recurrences was reduced by >=50% in 63.8% of patients; and the proportion with
      normal Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores increased from 48.8% to 69.1%
      (p < 0.001). Patient-reported VT remained steady for 1, 2, and 3 years at 22.7%,
      29.8%, and 24.1%, respectively. Amiodarone use and hospitalization decreased from
      55% and 77.2% pre-ablation to 23.3% and 30.7%, 18.5% and 36.7%, 17.7% and 31.3%
      at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency catheter ablation
      reduced implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks and VT episodes and
      improved quality of life at 6 months. A steady 3-year nonrecurrence rate with
      reduced amiodarone use and hospitalizations indicate improved long-term outcomes.
      (NaviStar ThermoCool Catheter for Endocardial RF Ablation in Patients With
      Ventricular Tachycardia [THERMOCOOL VT]; NCT00412607).

PMID- 26868695
TI  - Editor-in-Chief's Top Picks From 2015: Part One.
AB  - Each week, I record audio summaries for every article in JACC, as well as an
      issue summary. While this process has been time-consuming, I have become very
      familiar with every paper that we publish. Thus, I have personally selected the
      papers (both original investigations and review articles) from 13 distinct
      specialties for your review. In addition to my personal choices, I have included
      manuscripts that have been the most accessed or downloaded on our websites, as
      well as those selected by the JACC Editorial Board members. There are
      approximately 130 articles selected across this 2-part series, which represent
      less than 3% of the papers submitted to the Journal in 2015. In order to present
      the full breadth of this important research in a consumable fashion, we will
      present these manuscripts over the course of 2 issues in JACC. Part One includes
      the sections: Congenital Heart Disease, Coronary Disease & Interventions, CVD
      Prevention & Health Promotion, Cardiac Failure, Cardiomyopathies, Genetics,
      Omics, & Tissue Regeneration, and Hypertension (1-60). Part Two includes the
      sections: Imaging, Metabolic Disorders & Lipids, Rhythm Disorders, Statistics,
      Valvular Heart Disease, and Vascular Medicine. 

PMID- 26868696
TI  - A Test in Context: High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein.
AB  - The inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) adds
      prognostic information on cardiovascular risk comparable to blood pressure or
      cholesterol. Values <1, 1 to 3, and >3 mg/l indicate lower, average, or higher
      relative cardiovascular risk, respectively. Global risk algorithms that include
      hsCRP outperform those solely using Framingham covariates. Although diet,
      exercise, and smoking cessation are first steps for patients with a
      proinflammatory response, JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in
      Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial data demonstrate
      that statins reduce by 47% the rate of first myocardial infarction, stroke, or
      confirmed cardiovascular death when given to patients with low-density
      lipoprotein-C levels of <130 mg/dl and hsCRP of >2 mg/l (hazard ratio: 0.53; 95%
      confidence interval: 0.40 to 0.69; p < 0.00001). In current U.S. guidelines,
      hsCRP carries a class IIb assessment and is most appropriate in primary
      prevention when clinical decisions to initiate statin therapy are uncertain.
      Ongoing multinational trials are pursuing whether reducing inflammation will
      decrease vascular event rates.

PMID- 26868697
TI  - U.S. Trends in Inpatient Utilization of Fractional Flow Reserve and Percutaneous
      Coronary Intervention.

PMID- 26868698
TI  - Comparison of the American PPCM Registry Data With International Registries.

PMID- 26868699
TI  - Reply: Comparison of the American PPCM Registry Data With International
      Registries.

PMID- 26868700
TI  - Final Common Pathway of Aortic Dilation?: Heterogeneity of Aortic Wall Property
      Causes the Aneurysmal Change.

PMID- 26868701
TI  - Reply: Final Common Pathway of Aortic Dilation?: Heterogeneity of Aortic Wall
      Property Causes the Aneurysmal Change.

PMID- 26868702
TI  - Comparison between PCR and larvae visualization methods for diagnosis of
      Strongyloides stercoralis out of endemic area: A proposed algorithm.
AB  - Underdiagnosis of chronic infection with the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis
      may lead to severe disease in the immunosuppressed. Thus, we have set-up a
      specific and highly sensitive molecular diagnosis in stool samples. Here, we
      compared the accuracy of our polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method with
      that of conventional diagnostic methods for chronic infection. We also analyzed
      clinical and epidemiological predictors of infection to propose an algorithm for
      the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis useful for the clinician. Molecular and gold
      standard methods were performed to evaluate a cohort of 237 individuals recruited
      in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Subjects were assigned according to their
      immunological status, eosinophilia and/or history of residence in endemic areas.
      Diagnosis of strongyloidiasis by PCR on the first stool sample was achieved in
      71/237 (29.9%) individuals whereas only 35/237(27.4%) were positive by
      conventional methods, requiring up to four serial stool samples at weekly
      intervals. Eosinophilia and history of residence in endemic areas have been
      revealed as independent factors as they increase the likelihood of detecting the
      parasite according to our study population. Our results underscore the usefulness
      of robust molecular tools aimed to diagnose chronic S. stercoralis infection.
      Evidence also highlights the need to survey patients with eosinophilia even when
      history of an endemic area is absent. 

PMID- 26868703
TI  - Radiological input during paediatric multidisciplinary team meetings and its
      influence on clinical patient management.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is little information about the role of the radiologist at
      multidisciplinary team meetings; in particular their influence on patient
      management. To evaluate the influence of radiologists on clinical patient
      management during multidisciplinary meetings. METHODS: Prospective data were
      collected over a 5-week period from multidisciplinary team meetings across four
      paediatric clinical domains. Radiological input was recorded for each case
      discussion, including the type of influence and its potential effect on clinical
      patient management. RESULTS: One hundred and forty paediatric cases were
      reviewed. Radiological advice was requested from the radiologist for 25.7% (N =
      36) of cases. In 17.9% (N = 25) this advice was judged to have influenced
      clinical patient management. There were two cases where new imaging findings were
      discovered. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologists influence clinical patient management
      during multidisciplinary team meetings primarily by providing differential
      diagnoses and guidance regarding future imaging, with respect to both the
      necessity and the modality. Occasionally, when imaging is reviewed at these
      meetings, new findings are discovered that impact on patient management.

PMID- 26868704
TI  - Analysis of dopamine beta hydroxylase gene polymorphisms in migraine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Migraine is a complex neurological disorder characterized by severe
      recurrent headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. The frequency
      and duration of these symptoms varies among individuals. Dopaminergic systems are
      believed to be involved in migraine pathophysiology. We aimed to look for
      association of polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes in genetic susceptibility to
      migraine in Turkey population. METHODS: The present study was designed to explore
      possible association of three polymorphisms, (1021C>T (Rs1611115), +1603C>T
      (Rs6271; C535R) and +444G>A (rs1108580), of Dopamin Beta Hydroxylase gene in
      migraine patients. 200 migraine patients and 267 healthy controls were included
      in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and genotypes were analyzed
      using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods
      (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Statistical evaluation of data results showed a significant
      association for allelic and genotypic frequency distribution between the Dopamin
      Beta Hydroxylase gene +1603C>T polymorphism and migraine (p=0.000, OR: 4.36, 95%
      CI: 2.73-7.16). There was no association observed between the -1021C>T and +444
      G>A polymorphisms of the Dopamin Beta Hydroxylase gene and migraine (p=0.8731 and
      p=0.7584). CONCLUSIONS: This study reflects that Dopamin Beta Hydroxylase gene
      +1603C>T polymorphism may be one of the many genetic factors for migraine
      susceptibility in the Turkish population.

PMID- 26868706
TI  - Species and Size Composition of Seahorses (Genus Hippocampus, Family
      Syngnathidae) in the Coastal Waters and Local Market of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,
      Malaysia.
AB  - Seahorse diversity (genus Hippocampus, Family Syngnathidae), species
      identification, size composition and sexual dimorphism were studied from November
      2012 to March 2013 in selected coastal waters around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the
      local market trade. Six species of seahorses were identified in the study: (1)
      Hippocampus barbouri, (2) Hippocampus comes, (3) Hippocampus kelloggi, (4)
      Hippocampus kuda, (5) Hippocampus spinosissimus and (6) Hippocampus trimaculatus.
      All six species were sold at the local market, and the dried seahorses were
      obtained mainly by local fishermen using trawl by-catch method and traded as
      traditional medicine, souvenirs and other uses. Four species were identified by
      direct samplings in various different habitats of Kota Kinabalu coastal waters:
      (1) H. barbouri, (2) H. comes, (3) H. kuda, and (4) H. spinosissimus. Based on
      the results, H. comes was the largest in size among the four fresh/live species
      found (mean standard length [SL]: 148.25+/-1.26 mm), whereas H. barbouri was the
      smallest species (mean SL: 129+/-7.81 mm). For the dried samples, H. kelloggi was
      the largest (mean SL: 245.25+/-14.55 mm) and H. barbouri was the smallest (mean
      SL: 127.21+/-10.01 mm). No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between
      the lengths of males and females in every seahorse species, and there was no
      sexual size dimorphism in any of the species. The findings from the study are
      significant to provide baseline data for the conservation efforts of these unique
      marine teleost. 

PMID- 26868705
TI  - Visual recovery after retinal detachment with macula-off: is surgery within the
      first 72 h better than after?
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the influence of lag time between the onset of central
      visual acuity loss and surgical intervention of macula-off retinal detachment.
      METHODS: This retrospective case series examined all consecutively treated eyes
      with primary macula-off retinal detachment at the University Hospital Hamburg
      (Germany) from February 2010 to February 2015. Records of 1727 patients operated
      by six surgeons were reviewed. Eighty-nine eyes (5.2%) from 89 patients met the
      inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main outcome measure studied was final
      visual acuity as a function of symptom duration of macula-off detachment.
      Secondary outcome measures studied were influence of age and surgical technique.
      Symptom duration was defined as the time from the onset of loss of central vision
      to surgical intervention. RESULTS: After 10 days no clinically relevant
      difference was seen in final visual acuity. Eyes with symptom duration of 3 days
      or less achieved best final visual acuity (p<0.001). Age and preoperative visual
      acuity had no influence while vitrectomised eyes had better outcome compared with
      those with scleral buckling. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 1. After 10
      days of central visual acuity loss, the final visual outcome is clinically
      comparable and independent of further delay of surgery up to 30 days. 2. Eyes
      treated up to 3 days after onset of loss of central vision have better final
      visual acuity than eyes with longer lag time. However, we did not find
      statistically significant differences within the first 3 days. 3. Surgery for
      macula-off retinal detachment may therefore most likely not be postponed without
      compromising the patient's visual prognosis.

PMID- 26868708
TI  - Range Measurement and a Habitat Suitability Map for the Norway Rat in a Highly
      Developed Urban Environment.
AB  - Studies of habitat suitability (HS) are essential when animals' habitats have
      been altered or when animals migrate to a habitat different from their natural
      habitat. This study assessed HS and used an integrated geographic information
      system in the assessment of Rattus norvegicus in a highly developed urban
      environment. Using data from the Campbell market and the police quarters of
      George Town, Malaysia, home range (through the use of 100% Minimum Convex Polygon
      [MCP], 95% MCP and 95% Harmonic Mean [HM]) was estimated. Home range for male
      rats at Campbell market reached an asymptote, with a slight increase, at 96 radio
      fixes (home range = 133.52 m(2); core area = 29.39 m(2)). Female rats reached an
      asymptote at 62 radio fixes (home range = 13.38 m(2); core area = 9.17 m(2)). At
      Campbell market, male rats emerged at 1900 hours every day, whereas females
      emerged at 2000 hours; at police quarters, the most common time of emergence for
      males was 2000 hours and for females was 2200. Raster charts of R. norvegicus
      showed that rat hot spots can be grouped into 4 zones (market, shop houses,
      settlement and general places). The standardised raster chart isolated the market
      as the major rallying points of the rats (hot spots) by producing the highest
      rats frequencies of 255. All of the habitat suitability thresholds, including the
      built-up points, skip bins, water source and nature of the site explored in this
      study, produced a structural pattern (monotonic increase or decrease) of habitat
      suitability. 

PMID- 26868707
TI  - Larvicidal and Histopathological Effects of Cassia siamea Leaf Extract against
      Culex quinquefasciatus.
AB  - A traditional Thai medicinal extract from Cassia siamea was evaluated with
      respect to its larvicidal properties by determining the median lethal
      concentration (LC50) at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h against the fourth instar larvae of
      Culex quinquefasciatus, which is a carrier of mosquito-borne diseases, by
      studying the histopathological alterations. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50 values
      were 394.29, 350.24, 319.17 and 272.42 ppm, respectively. The histopathological
      lesions after exposure to 25% of the 24-h LC50 were observed primarily in the
      midgut of the larva. Lesions with edema, swelling, and deformation or elongation
      of the epithelial cells were observed. Moreover, cells protruding into the lumen
      and absent microvilli were also found in some areas. The present study reveals
      that aqueous C. siamea leaf extracts have natural biopesticide properties. 

PMID- 26868709
TI  - Mating Compatibility and Restriction Analysis of Ganoderma Isolates from Oil Palm
      and Other Palm Hosts.
AB  - Mating compatibility and restriction analyses of Internal Transcribed Spacer
      (ITS) regions were performed to determine the relations between Ganoderma
      boninense, the most common species associated with basal stem rot in oil palm and
      Ganoderma isolates from infected oil palm, two ornamental palms, sealing wax palm
      (Cyrtostachys renda) and MacArthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), an isolate
      from coconut stump (Cocos nucifera), Ganoderma miniatocinctum, Ganoderma zonatum
      and Ganoderma tornatum. The results showed that G. boninense was compatible with
      Ganoderma isolates from oil palm, G. miniatocinctum and G. zonatum, Ganoderma
      isolates from sealing wax palm, MacArthur palm and coconut stump. G. boninense
      was not compatible with G. tornatum. Therefore, the results suggested that the G.
      boninense, G. miniatocinctum, G. zonatum, and Ganoderma isolates from oil palm,
      ornamental palms and coconut stump could represent the same biological species.
      In performing a restriction analysis of the ITS regions, variations were observed
      in which five haplotypes were generated from the restriction patterns. An
      unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis
      showed that all the Ganoderma isolates were grouped into five primary groups, and
      the similarity values of the isolates ranged from 97% to 100%. Thus, a
      restriction analysis of the ITS regions showed that G. boninense and the
      Ganoderma isolates from other palm hosts were closely related. On the basis of
      the mating compatibility test and the restriction analysis of the ITS regions
      performed in this study, a diverse group of Ganoderma species from oil palm and
      other palm hosts are closely related, except for G. tornatum and Ganoderma
      isolates from tea and rubber. 

PMID- 26868710
TI  - Reproductive Cycle of Hard Clam, Meretrix lyrata Sowerby, 1851 (Bivalvia:
      Veneridae) from Sarawak, Malaysia.
AB  - A study of the reproductive cycle of the hard clam, Meretrix lyrata, was
      documented based on histological observation and Gonad Index (GI). Samples were
      taken from estuarine waters of the Buntal River in Sarawak, Malaysia. The gonad
      of M. lyrata started to develop in September 2013. Gametogenesis continued to
      develop until the maturation and spawning stage from February to April 2014. The
      GI pattern for a one-year cycle showed a significant correlation with chlorophyll
      a. The corresponding GI with chlorophyll a suggested that the development of the
      reproductive cycle of M. lyrata required a high amount of food to increase
      gametogenesis. 

PMID- 26868711
TI  - Efficacy of Insecticide and Bioinsecticide Ground Sprays to Control Metisa plana
      Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in Oil Palm Plantations, Malaysia.
AB  - The effectiveness of the synthetic insecticides trichlorfon, lambda-cyhalothrin,
      cypermethrin emulsion concentrated (EC) and cypermethrin emulsion water based
      (EW) and a bio-insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk), was
      evaluated at 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after treatment (DAT) for the control of Metisa
      plana larvae in an oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation in Malaysia. Although
      all synthetic insecticides effectively reduced the larval population of M. plana,
      trichlorfon, lambda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin EC were the fastest-acting. The
      larval population dropped below the economic threshold level (ETL) 30 days after
      a single application of the synthetic insecticides. Application of Btk, however,
      gave poor results, with the larval population remaining above the ETL post
      treatment. In terms of operational productivity, ground spraying using power
      spray equipment was time-consuming and resulted in poor coverage. Power spraying
      may not be appropriate for controlling M. plana infestations in large fields.
      Using a power sprayer, one man could cover 2-3 ha per day. Hence, power spraying
      is recommended during outbreaks of infestation in areas smaller than 50 ha. 

PMID- 26868712
TI  - Bird Diversity and Structure in Different Land-use Types in Lowland South-Central
      Mindanao, Philippines.
AB  - Birds are crucial to maintaining the balance of many ecosystems by providing
      various ecological services. The diversity of birds and their feeding guilds in
      different land-use types were investigated in south-central Mindanao to elucidate
      the effect of disturbance and habitat modification on bird communities. Point
      count method was employed to identify birds in three habitat types: i)
      agroforests; ii) ricefields; iii) roads and heavily disturbed areas. A total of
      1114 bird sightings were recorded that included 33 species of 24 families; of
      these, 3 were Philippine endemics, and 5 were migrant species. Among all of the
      habitat types, the highest species diversity was found in agroforests (1/D =
      16.148), and the lowest was recorded from roads and heavily disturbed habitats.
      The species composition of agroforests was more similar to ricefields than to
      areas with high levels of disturbance, such as roads. The characteristic of the
      vegetation and the availability of food resources may be vital to the diversity
      of birds in every habitat as evidenced by the high species richness of frugivores
      and insectivores in agroforests and ricefields, respectively, where food source
      is largely available. The observation of Streptopelia tranquebarica was a new
      record for Mindanao, and it was particularly sighted in ricefields. Therefore,
      this study indicates that land-use change and modification may alter bird
      diversity structure, and the maintenance of the vegetation in land-use types as
      food and resource, and as habitat is essential to the conservation of the native
      and ecologically-important bird species in south-central Mindanao. 

PMID- 26868713
TI  - First Record of Hippa adactyla (Fabricius, 1787; Crustacea, Anomura, Hippidae)
      from Indonesian Waters.
AB  - Specimens of Hippa adactyla (Crustacea, Anomura, Hippidae) were collected from
      several coasts of Indonesia (Sumatera, Java, Bali-Lombok and Sulawesi). This
      finding represents the first record of this species in Indonesia and confirms its
      presence in the Indian Ocean and in the Wallacea region. Its systematic and
      morphological characteristics are described, and its distribution in Indonesia is
      presented. One of the main characteristics of this species is a median lobe in
      the anterior part of the carapace, which has 3-4 lobes. Likewise, the left
      antenna has 2-6 articles. 

PMID- 26868714
TI  - Contribution to the Pteridophyte Flora of Langkawi Archipelago, Peninsular
      Malaysia.
AB  - The pteridophyte flora of Langkawi Archipelago consists of 130 species, 1
      subspecies and 12 varieties in 68 genera and 27 families. This value represents
      22.1% of the 647 taxa at the species level and below reported for Peninsular
      Malaysia. Of the 143 recorded taxa of pteridophytes at the species level and
      below, 8 species in 2 genera and 2 families are lycophytes and the other 135 taxa
      in 66 genera and 25 families are monilophytes or ferns. 

PMID- 26868715
TI  - Screening for Zoonotic Fascioliasis in Slaughtered Large Ruminants in Abattoirs
      in Perak, Malaysia.
AB  - Fascioliasis, or trematode infestation, is an important disease caused by
      Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Both species are hepatic parasites that
      affect humans. We have examined the zoonotic aspects of fascioliasis. A total of
      80 fresh liver samples were collected from 67 Kedah-Kelantan crossbred cattle and
      13 Murrah buffalo at 4 local abattoirs in Perak, Malaysia. The samples were
      examined macroscopically to detect the presence of Fasciola spp. The results show
      7.50% (6 of 80) of the animals were diagnosed with fascioliasis. Overall, 7.46%
      (5 of 67) and 7.69% (1 of 13) of cattle and buffalo samples were positive,
      respectively. There were only F. gigantica species identified in the samples. Our
      findings suggest that precautions should be taken because the disease has a
      zoonotic impact on public health. 

PMID- 26868716
TI  - Upregulated CCL28 expression in the nasal mucosa in experimental allergic
      rhinitis: Implication for CD4(+) memory T cell recruitment.
AB  - During nasal immune responses, lymphocytes activated in the nasopharynx
      associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) are thought to traffic to the nasal mucosa.
      Here we found a prominent infiltration of CD4(+) memory T cells into the nasal
      mucosa in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. CCR3 and CCR10 mRNA was increased
      in the NALT, and CCR3- or CCR10-expressing CD4(+) T cells were present in the
      nasal mucosa. CCL28, a chemokine ligand for CCR3 and CCR10, was upregulated in
      nasal epithelial cells. Our results suggest that memory CD4(+) T cells traffic to
      the nasal mucosa in a process that may involve CCL28 and its receptors CCR3 and
      CCR10. 

PMID- 26868717
TI  - The relevance of membrane models to understand nanoparticles-cell membrane
      interactions.
AB  - Over the past two decades, numerous types of nanoparticles (NPs) have been
      developed for medical applications; however only a few nanomedicines are actually
      available on the market. One reason is the lack of understanding and data
      concerning the NP fate and their behavior upon contact with biological media and
      cell membranes. Biomimetic membrane models are interesting tools to approach and
      understand NPs-cell membrane interactions. The use of these models permits one to
      control physical and chemical parameters and to rapidly compare membrane types
      and the influence of different media conditions. The interactions between NPs and
      cell membranes can be qualified and quantified using analytical and modeling
      methods. In this review, the major studies concerning NPs-cell membrane models
      and associated methods are described. The advantages and drawbacks for each
      method are compared for the different models. The key mechanisms of interactions
      between NPs and cell membranes are revealed using cell membrane models and are
      interrogated in comparison with the NP behavior in cellulo or in vivo.
      Investigating the interactions between NPs and cell membrane models is now
      proposed as an intermediate step between physicochemical characterization of NPs
      and biological assays. 

PMID- 26868718
TI  - The Gram-negative bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum NCIMB 8003 employs a new
      glycoside hydrolase family 70 4,6-alpha-glucanotransferase enzyme (GtfD) to
      synthesize a reuteran like polymer from maltodextrins and starch.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Originally the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 70 only comprised
      glucansucrases of lactic acid bacteria which synthesize alpha-glucan polymers
      from sucrose. Recently we have identified 2 novel subfamilies of GH70 enzymes
      represented by the Lactobacillus reuteri 121 GtfB and the Exiguobacterium
      sibiricum 255-15 GtfC enzymes. Both enzymes catalyze the cleavage of (alpha1->4)
      linkages in maltodextrin/starch and the synthesis of consecutive (alpha1->6)
      linkages. Here we describe a novel GH70 enzyme from the nitrogen-fixing Gram
      negative bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum, designated as GtfD. METHODS: The
      purified recombinant GtfD enzyme was biochemically characterized using the
      amylose-staining assay and its products were identified using profiling
      chromatographic techniques (TLC and HPAEC-PAD). Glucans produced by the GtfD
      enzyme were analyzed by HPSEC-MALLS-RI, methylation analysis, 1D/2D [1]H/[13]C
      NMR spectroscopy and enzymatic degradation studies. RESULTS: The A. chroococcum
      GtfD is closely related to GtfC enzymes, sharing the same non-permuted domain
      organization also found in GH13 enzymes and displaying 4,6-alpha
      glucanotransferase activity. However, the GtfD enzyme is unable to synthesize
      consecutive (alpha1->6) glucosidic bonds. Instead, it forms a high molecular mass
      and branched alpha-glucan with alternating (alpha1->4) and (alpha1->6) linkages
      from amylose/starch, highly similar to the reuteran polymer synthesized by the L.
      reuteri GtfA glucansucrase from sucrose. CONCLUSIONS: In view of its origin and
      specificity, the GtfD enzyme represents a unique evolutionary intermediate
      between family GH13 (alpha-amylase) and GH70 (glucansucrase) enzymes. GENERAL
      SIGNIFICANCE: This study expands the natural repertoire of starch-converting
      enzymes providing the first characterization of an enzyme that converts starch
      into a reuteran-like alpha-glucan polymer, regarded as a health promoting food
      ingredient.

PMID- 26868719
TI  - Electron work functions of ferrite and austenite phases in a duplex stainless
      steel and their adhesive forces with AFM silicon probe.
AB  - Local electron work function, adhesive force, modulus and deformation of ferrite
      and austenite phases in a duplex stainless steel were analyzed by scanning force
      microscopy. It is demonstrated that the austenite has a higher electron work
      function than the ferrite, corresponding to higher modulus, smaller deformation
      and larger adhesive force. Relevant first-principles calculations were conducted
      to elucidate the mechanism behind. It is demonstrated that the difference in the
      properties between austenite and ferrite is intrinsically related to their
      electron work functions. 

PMID- 26868720
TI  - Incidence and prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in type 1 diabetes.
AB  - AIMS: To estimate prevalence and incidence of auto-immune thyroid disease and
      thyroid auto-antibodies in an unselected cohort of patients with DM1, including
      stratification by age, gender and duration of diabetes. METHODS: Patients with
      T1D visiting our outpatient clinic between 1995 and 2011 were included. We
      calculated the prevalence of AITD at first screening and estimated prevalence and
      incidence rates during follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1304 patients were
      included, 48.9% being female. Mean age of diabetes onset was 18.7 years. Of all
      patients without known thyroid disorder first screened for AITD, 10.3 % (n=104)
      was diagnosed with hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The average prevalence of AITD in
      our population was 112/1000 patients. We found 128 new cases of AITD, 101 cases
      of hypothyroidism and 27 of hyperthyroidism between 1995 and 2011 with
      accompanying incidences of 11.2/1000 person-years (95% CI 9.5-13.4), 8.9/1000
      person-years (95% CI, 7.3-10.8) and 2.4/1000 person-years (95% CI, 1.6-3.5),
      respectively. Age-stratified incidence of AITD was comparable at all ages in both
      males and females, with an approximately two times higher incidence in females.
      CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AITD among T1D patients is high, but stable among
      all ages and independent of diabetes duration.

PMID- 26868721
TI  - Seasonal life history trade-offs in two leafwing butterflies: Delaying
      reproductive development increases life expectancy.
AB  - Surviving inhospitable periods or seasons may greatly affect fitness. Evidence of
      this exists in the prevalence of dormant stages in the life cycles of most
      insects. Here I focused on butterflies with distinct seasonal morphological types
      (not a genetic polymorphism) in which one morphological type, or form, delays
      reproduction until favorable conditions return, while the other form develops in
      an environment that favors direct reproduction. For two butterflies, Anaea aidea
      and A. andria, I tested the hypothesis that the development of each seasonal form
      involves a differential allocation of resources to survival at eclosion. I
      assayed differences in adult longevity among summer and winter forms in either a
      warm, active environment or a cool, calm environment. Winter form adults lived 40
      times longer than summer form but only in calm, cool conditions. The magnitude of
      this difference provided compelling evidence that the winter form body plan and
      metabolic strategy (i.e. resource conservatism) favor long term survival. This
      research suggests that winter form adults maintain lowered metabolic rate, a
      common feature of diapause, to conserve resources and delay senescence while
      overwintering. 

PMID- 26868722
TI  - Nutrition and dopamine: An intake of tyrosine in royal jelly can affect the brain
      levels of dopamine in male honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).
AB  - Precursors of neuroactive substances can be obtained from dietary sources, which
      can affect the resulting production of such substances in the brain. In social
      species, an intake of the precursor in food could be controlled by social
      interactions. To test the effects of dietary tyrosine on the brain dopamine
      levels in social insect colonies, male and worker honeybees were fed tyrosine or
      royal jelly under experimental conditions and the brain levels of dopamine and
      its metabolite were then measured. The results showed that the levels of dopamine
      and its metabolite in the brains of 4- and 8-day-old workers and 8-day-old males
      were significantly higher in tyrosine-fed bees than in control bees, but the
      levels in 4-day-old males were not. The brain levels of dopamine and its
      metabolite in 4- and 8-day-old males and workers were significantly higher in
      royal jelly-fed bees than in control bees, except for one group of 4-day-old
      workers. Food exchanges with workers were observed in males during 1-3 days, but
      self-feedings were also during 5-7 days. These results suggest that the brain
      levels of dopamine in males can be controlled by an intake of tyrosine in food
      via exchanging food with nestmates and by self-feeding.

PMID- 26868723
TI  - Chill-coma recovery time, age and sex determine lipid profiles in Ceratitis
      capitata tissues.
AB  - The remodeling of membrane composition by changes in phospholipid head groups and
      fatty acids (FA) degree of unsaturation has been associated with the maintenance
      of membrane homeostasis under stress conditions. Overall lipid levels and the
      composition of cuticle lipids also influence insect stress resistance and tissue
      protection. In a previous study, we demonstrated differences in survival,
      behavior and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene expression between subgroups of
      Ceratitis capitata flies that had a reversible recovery from chill-coma and those
      that developed chilling-injury. Here, we analyzed lipid profiles from comparable
      subgroups of 15 and 30-day-old flies separated according to their recovery time
      after a chill-coma treatment. Neutral and polar lipid classes of chill-coma
      subgroups were separated by thin layer chromatography and quantified by
      densitometry. FA composition of polar lipids of chill-coma subgroups and non
      stressed flies was evaluated using gas chromatography coupled to mass
      spectrometry. Higher amounts of neutral lipids such as triglycerides,
      diacylglycerol, wax esters, sterol esters and free esters were found in male
      flies that recovered faster from chill-coma compared to slower flies. A
      multivariate analysis revealed changes in patterns of storage and cuticle lipids
      among subgroups both in males and females. FA unsaturation increased after cold
      exposure, and was higher in thorax of slower subgroups compared to faster
      subgroups. The changes in neutral lipid patterns and FA composition depended on
      recovery time, sex, age and body-part, and were not specifically associated with
      the development of chilling-injury. An analysis of phospholipid classes showed
      that the phosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidylcholine ratio (PC/LPC) was
      significantly higher, or showed a tendency, in subgroups that may have developed
      chilling-injury compared to those with a reversible recovery from coma. 

PMID- 26868724
TI  - Sexual difference in juvenile-hormone titer in workers leads to sex-biased
      soldier differentiation in termites.
AB  - In termites, the soldier caste, with its specialized defensive morphology, is one
      of the most important characteristics for sociality. Most of the basal termite
      species have both male and female soldiers, and the soldier sex ratio is almost
      equal or only slightly biased. However, in the apical lineages (especially family
      Termitidae), there are many species that have soldiers with strongly biased sex
      ratio. Generally in termites, since high juvenile hormone (JH) titer is required
      for soldier differentiation from a worker via a presoldier stage, it was
      hypothesized that the biased soldier-sex ratio was caused by differences in JH
      sensitivity and/or JH titer between male and female workers. Therefore, we
      focused on the presoldier differentiation and the worker JH titer in species with
      only male soldiers (Nasutitermes takasagoensis) and with both male and female
      soldiers (Reticulitermes speratus) in natural conditions. In the former species,
      there are four types of workers; male minor, male medium, female medium and
      female major workers, and presoldiers differentiate from male minor workers.
      First, we tried to artificially induce presoldiers from male and female workers.
      In N. takasagoensis, the presoldier differentiation rate and mortality was
      significantly higher in male minor workers. Morphological analyses showed that
      both male and female induced presoldiers possessed normal soldier-specific
      morphologies. It was suggested that female workers, from which soldiers do not
      differentiate under natural conditions, also maintained the physiological and
      developmental potential for soldier differentiation. In R. speratus, however, no
      differences were observed in solder differentiation rate and mortality between
      male and female workers. Second, the JH titers of each sex/type of workers were
      quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in two
      different seasons (April and December). The results showed that, in N.
      takasagoensis, JH titer in male minor workers was consistently higher than those
      in other worker types. In R. speratus, in contrast, there were no significant
      differences in JH titers between male and female workers. These results suggested
      that, in N. takasagoensis, male minor workers maintain JH titers at a high level
      throughout a year, and this may cause the male-biased presoldier differentiation.

PMID- 26868725
TI  - Balancing of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate intake in a predatory beetle
      following hibernation, and consequences for lipid restoration.
AB  - Carnivorous animals are known to balance their consumption of lipid and protein,
      and recent studies indicate that some mammalian carnivores also regulate their
      intake of carbohydrate. We investigated macronutrient balancing and lipid
      restoration following hibernation in the ground beetle Anchomenus dorsalis,
      hypothesizing that carbohydrates might be important energy sources upon
      hibernation when predator lipid stores are exhausted and prey are equally lean.
      We recorded the consumption of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate over nine days
      following hibernation, as the beetles foraged to refill their lipid stores. Each
      beetle was given the opportunity to regulate consumption from two semi-artificial
      foods differing in the proportion of two of the three macronutrients, while the
      third macronutrient was kept constant. When analyzing consumption of the three
      macronutrients on an energetic basis, it became apparent that the beetles
      regulated lipid and carbohydrate energy interchangeably and balanced the combined
      energy intake from the two macronutrients against protein intake. Restoration of
      lipid stores was independent of the availability of any specific macronutrient.
      However, the energetic consumption required to refill lipid stores was higher
      when a low proportion of lipids was ingested, suggesting that lipids were readily
      converted into lipid stores while there were energetic costs associated with
      converting carbohydrate and protein into stored lipids. Our experiment
      demonstrates that carbohydrates are consumed and regulated as a non-protein
      energy source by A. dorsalis despite an expectedly low occurrence of
      carbohydrates in their natural diet. Perhaps carbohydrates are in fact an
      overlooked supplementary energy source in the diet of carnivorous arthropods. 

PMID- 26868726
TI  - Successful rapid desensitization to temozolomide: A case series.

PMID- 26868727
TI  - Practice Variation in Management of Childhood Asthma Is Associated with Outcome
      Differences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although specialist asthma care improves children's asthma outcomes,
      the impact of primary care management is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether
      variation in preventive and acute care for asthma in pediatric practices affects
      patients' outcomes. METHODS: For 22 practices, we aggregated 12-month patient
      data obtained by chart review and parent telephone interviews for 948 children, 3
      to 12 years old, diagnosed with asthma to obtain practice-level measures of
      preventive (>=1 asthma maintenance visit/year) and acute (>=1 acute asthma
      visit/year) asthma care. Relationships between practice-level measures and
      individual asthma outcomes (symptom-free days, parental quality of life,
      emergency department [ED] visits, and hospitalizations) were explored using
      generalized estimating equations, adjusting for seasonality, specialist care,
      Medicaid insurance, single-family status, and race. RESULTS: For every 10%
      increase in the proportion of children in the practice receiving preventive care,
      symptom-free days per child increased by 7.6 days (P = .02) and ED visits per
      child decreased by 16.5% (P = .002), with no difference in parental quality of
      life or hospitalizations. Only the association between more preventive care and
      fewer ED visits persisted in adjusted analysis (12.2% reduction; P = .03). For
      every 10% increase in acute care provision, ED visits per child and
      hospitalizations per child decreased by 18.1% (P = .02) and 16.5% (P < .001),
      respectively, persisting in adjusted analyses (ED visits 8.6% reduction, P = .02;
      hospitalizations 13.9%, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Children cared for in practices
      providing more preventive and acute asthma care had improved outcomes, both
      impairment and risk. Persistence of improved risk outcomes in the adjusted
      analyses suggests that practice-level interventions to increase asthma care may
      reduce childhood asthma disparities.

PMID- 26868729
TI  - A Perylene-Based Microporous Coordination Polymer Interacts Selectively with
      Electron-Poor Aromatics.
AB  - The design, synthesis, and properties of the new microporous coordination polymer
      UMCM-310 are described. The unique electronic character of the perylene-based
      linker enables selective interaction with electron-poor aromatics leading to
      efficient separation of nitroaromatics. UMCM-310 possesses high surface area and
      large pore size and thus permits the separation of large organic molecules based
      on adsorption rather than size exclusion. 

PMID- 26868728
TI  - African American Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis Have a Distinct Phenotype
      of Polyposis Associated with Increased Asthma Hospitalization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory disease of the
      upper airways that is often categorized into subtypes including "with" and
      "without" nasal polyps. However, the influence of multiple important
      epidemiologic factors, including race, on CRS has not been investigated.
      OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed various phenotypic characteristics of CRS
      in patients, living in the United States, with different racial backgrounds.
      METHODS: We performed a large retrospective cohort study of patients with CRS
      treated at a large urban tertiary care referral center in Chicago. RESULTS:
      African American (AA) patients with CRS living in Chicago were more likely to
      report hyposmia as a symptom of CRS. Furthermore, AA patients with CRS who failed
      medical therapy and required surgical intervention had a significantly higher
      frequency of nasal polyposis and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, and a
      higher disease severity index on computed tomography imaging than did white
      patients with CRS. The increased polyposis in AAs was associated with increased
      hospitalization for asthma. There were no differences in the prevalence of atopy,
      asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergy, duration of disease, or number of
      surgeries between different races. CONCLUSIONS: AAs with refractory CRS are at
      increased risk for nasal polyposis, smell loss, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory
      disease, and a greater severity of disease based on imaging, resulting in
      increased health care utilization.

PMID- 26868730
TI  - Chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene expression analysis of neuronal subtypes
      after fluorescence activated cell sorting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With advances in cell capture, gene expression can now be studied in
      neuronal subtypes and single cells; however, studying epigenetic mechanisms that
      underlie these changes presents challenges. Moreover, chromatin
      immunoprecipitation (ChIP) protocols optimized for low cell number do not
      adequately address technical issues and cell loss while preparing tissue for
      fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Developing a reliable FACS-ChIP
      protocol without the need for pooling tissue from multiple animals would enable
      study of epigenetic mechanisms in neuronal subtypes. METHODS: FACS was used to
      isolate dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) expressing cells from the nucleus accumbens
      (NAc) of a commercially available BAC transgenic mouse strain. D1R+ cells were
      used to study gene expression as well as histone modifications at gene promoters
      using a novel native ChIP protocol. RESULTS: Isolated cells had enrichment of the
      dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) mRNA and nearly undetectable levels of GFAP and D2R
      mRNA. ChIP analysis demonstrated the association of activating or repressive
      histone modifications with highly expressed or silent gene promoters,
      respectively. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The ChIP protocol developed in
      this paper enables characterization of histone modifications from ~30,000 FAC
      sorted neurons. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a one day FACS-ChIP protocol that can be
      applied to epigenetic studies of neuronal subtypes without pooling tissue.

PMID- 26868731
TI  - Minimally invasive highly precise monitoring of respiratory rhythm in the mouse
      using an epithelial temperature probe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Respiration is one of the essential rhythms of life. The precise
      measurement of respiratory behavior is of great importance in studies addressing
      olfactory sensory processing or the coordination of orofacial movements with
      respiration. An ideal method of measurement should reliably capture the distinct
      phases of respiration without interfering with behavior. NEW METHOD: This new
      method involves chronic implantation of a thermistor probe in a previously
      undescribed hollow space located above the anterior portion of the nasal cavity
      without penetrating any soft epithelial tissues. RESULTS: We demonstrate the
      reliability and precision of the method in head-fixed and freely moving mice by
      directly comparing recorded signals with simultaneous measurements of chest
      movements and plethysmographic measurements of respiration. COMPARISON WITH
      EXISTING METHODS: Current methods have drawbacks in that they are either
      inaccurate or require invasive placement of temperature or pressure sensors into
      the sensitive nasal cavity, where they interfere with airflow and cause
      irritation and damage to the nasal epithelium. Furthermore, surgical placement
      within the posterior nasal cavity adjacent to the nasal epithelium requires
      extensive recovery time, which is not necessary with the described method.
      CONCLUSIONS: Here, we describe a new method for recording the rhythm of
      respiration in awake mice with high precision, without damaging or irritating the
      nasal epithelium. This method will be effective for measurement of respiration
      during experiments requiring free movement, as well as those involving imaging or
      electrophysiology.

PMID- 26868732
TI  - Mild traumatic brain injury-induced hippocampal gene expressions: The
      identification of target cellular processes for drug development.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurological dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses
      short-term or long-lasting health issues for family members and health care
      providers. Presently there are no approved medicines to treat TBI.
      Epidemiological evidence suggests that TBI may cause neurodegenerative disease
      later in life. In an effort to illuminate target cellular processes for drug
      development, we examined the effects of a mild TBI on hippocampal gene expression
      in mouse. METHODS: mTBI was induced in a closed head, weight drop-system in mice
      (ICR). Animals were anesthetized and subjected to mTBI (30g). Fourteen days after
      injury the ipsilateral hippocampus was utilized for cDNA gene array studies. mTBI
      animals were compared with sham-operated animals. Genes regulated by TBI were
      identified to define TBI-induced physiological/pathological processes. mTBI
      regulated genes were divided into functional groupings to provide gene
      ontologies. Genes were further divided to identify molecular/cellular pathways
      regulated by mTBI. RESULTS: Numerous genes were regulated after a single mTBI
      event that mapped to many ontologies and molecular pathways related to
      inflammation and neurological physiology/pathology, including neurodegenerative
      disease. CONCLUSIONS: These data illustrate diverse transcriptional changes in
      hippocampal tissues triggered by a single mild injury. The systematic analysis of
      individual genes that lead to the identification of functional categories, such
      as gene ontologies and then molecular pathways, illustrate target processes of
      relevance to TBI pathology. These processes may be further dissected to identify
      key factors that can be evaluated at the protein level to highlight possible
      treatments for TBI in human disease and potential biomarkers of neurodegenerative
      processes.

PMID- 26868734
TI  - Neck collar for restraining head and body movements in rats for behavioral task
      performance and simultaneous neural activity recording.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Head fixation has been one of the major methods in behavioral
      neurophysiology because it allows precision in stimulus application and
      behavioral assessment. Most neural recordings in awake monkeys have been obtained
      under head fixation, which is nowadays also being used in awake rodents. However,
      head fixation devices in rats often become unstable within several months, which
      increases risks for inflammation, infection, and necrosis of the bone and
      surrounding tissue. NEW METHOD: In this study we developed a novel non-invasive
      "neck collar system" for restraining the head and body movements of behaving
      rats. RESULTS: The attachment of the neck collar for 2-3 months did not affect
      the animals' health and welfare. Rats under neck-collar fixation could learn a
      behavioral task (standard delayed licking task) with the same efficiency as those
      under standard head fixation. They could also learn a more complicated task
      (delayed pro/anti-licking task) under neck-collar fixation and afterwards
      transfer their learning to the task under standard head fixation. Furthermore, we
      were able to record single-unit activity in rats under neck-collar fixation
      during the performance of the standard delayed licking task. COMPARISON WITH
      EXISTING METHOD(S): This system consists of economical materials and is easily
      constructed, and it enables head-restraint without surgery, thus eliminating the
      risk of inflammation or infection. CONCLUSIONS: We consider the neck-collar
      fixation developed in this study would be useful for restraining the head of a
      behaving rodent.

PMID- 26868736
TI  - Thai monks and lay nuns (mae chii) in urban health care.
AB  - In the process of defining their identity in relation to other social
      institutions, Thai monks and increasingly, lay nuns (mae chii), have been
      adopting social and community roles in rural areas. Studies conducted in the
      early 1980s and repeated more recently indicate that these can be adapted to suit
      urban situations such as paramedical roles in hospitals in which mae chii may
      prove more effective than monks as counsellors. But although the young scholar
      monks whose views were solicited were mostly open to such roles on the part of
      the mae chii, the majority were opposed to their full ordination as bhikkhuni. 

PMID- 26868737
TI  - The indigenous psychiatry of Ladakh, part II: Narrative and metanarrative in the
      cultural control of dissociative states in the Himalayas.
AB  - In traditional Ladakh (NW India, Tibetan) men are less frequently sufferers from
      dissociative possession by 'witches' than are women, but they may be possessed by
      spirits of place, plausibly a consequence of their more outward focus on life
      beyond the household. Where possession leads to authorisation to practice as an
      oracle healer the 'afflicted' may gain in social status. Male possession is also
      induced through ritual meditation (visualisation) in monks destined to function
      as oracles in monastic festivals which have ancient links with traditional
      government. In these cases the individuals have usually had considerable
      experience and training in Buddhist mental yoga and have not experienced an
      initiatory illness. The metanarrative governing these occasions constrains
      village narratives as an aspect of social control by Buddhist authorities with a
      long history in the culture of Tibetan-speaking peoples. The functions of
      shamanic trance and its parallels in the post-modern West are considered. 

PMID- 26868735
TI  - Weight and skin colour as predictors of vitamin D status: results of an
      epidemiological investigation using nationally representative data.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Current US dietary recommendations for vitamin D vary by age. Recent
      research suggests that body weight and skin colour are also major determinants of
      vitamin D status. The objective of the present epidemiological investigation was
      to clarify the role of age as a predictor of vitamin D status, while accounting
      for body weight and skin colour, among a nationally representative sample.
      DESIGN: We calculated the mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for the US
      population by age and weight, as well as by weight and race/ethnicity group.
      Multiple regression analyses were utilized to evaluate age and weight as
      predictors of vitamin D status: serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with age alone,
      age and body weight, and age, body weight and their two-way interaction were
      modelled for the entire sample and each age subgroup. Graphical data were
      developed using B-spline non-linear regression. SETTING: National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey (31 934 unweighted cases). SUBJECTS: Individuals
      aged 1 year and older. RESULTS: There were highly significant differences in mean
      vitamin D status among US residents by weight and skin colour, with those having
      darker skin colour or higher body weight having worse vitamin D status. Although
      a significant factor, the impact of age on vitamin D status was notably less than
      the impact of body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D status varied predominantly by
      body weight and skin colour. Recommendations by nutritionists for diet and
      supplementation needs should take this into account if vitamin D-related health
      disparities are to be meaningfully reduced across the USA.

PMID- 26868733
TI  - Novel pharmaceutical treatments for minimal traumatic brain injury and evaluation
      of animal models and methodologies supporting their development.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The need for effective pharmaceuticals within animal models of
      traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be paramount, as TBI remains the major
      cause of brain damage for children and young adults. While preventative measures
      may act to reduce the incidence of initial blunt trauma, well-tolerated drugs are
      needed to target the neurologically damaging internal cascade of molecular
      mechanisms that follow. Such processes, known collectively as the secondary
      injury phase, include inflammation, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis among other
      changes still subject to research. In this article positive treatment findings to
      mitigate this secondary injury in rodent TBI models will be overviewed, and
      include recent studies on Exendin-4, N-Acetyl-l-cycteine, Salubrinal and
      Thrombin. CONCLUSIONS: These studies provide representative examples of
      methodologies that can be combined with widely available in vivo rodent models to
      evaluate therapeutic approaches of translational relevance, as well as drug
      targets and biochemical cascades that may slow or accelerate the degenerative
      processes induced by TBI. They employ well-characterized tests such as the novel
      object recognition task for assessing cognitive deficits. The application of such
      methodologies provides both decision points and a gateway for implementation of
      further translational studies to establish the feasibility of clinical efficacy
      of potential therapeutic interventions.

PMID- 26868738
TI  - Fake malaria and hidden parasites-the ambiguity of malaria.
AB  - Lay perspectives and health-seeking behaviour for malaria were investigated in an
      ethnographic study carried out in a village in south-eastern Tanzania. The
      inhabitants have easy access to hospital services and education programmes, and
      as a result, biomedical knowledge on malaria is comparatively high. However, the
      cultural model of malaria does not always explain all the events that occur
      during an actual illness episode, e.g. when the disease cannot be detected at the
      hospital or the symptoms persist despite antimalarial treatment. Under these
      circumstances, the model of malaria may be complemented with the logic of
      witchcraft. This can lead people to consult sequentially both biomedical and
      traditional health services for the same illness episode. The consequences can
      include non-compliance with treatment or delay in seeking diagnosis or treatment.
      Our analysis offers elements for the understanding of aspects of the dynamics of
      reinterpretation and health-seeking behaviour for malaria, particularly in the
      phase after diagnosis and treatment at a biomedical health facility. The research
      is presented with an applied perspective. We propose specific recommendations
      that could be discussed with health promoters. 

PMID- 26868739
TI  - 'Worms are our life', part I: Understandings of worms and the body among the Luo
      of western Kenya.
AB  - Perceptions of worms and their role in the body were studied among the people in
      a Luo village in western Kenya. Worms were found to be prominent in people's body
      image and ideas about illness. Two models applied to worms were distinguished
      analytically as 'traditional' and 'biomedical', referring to their sources, modes
      of transmission and relation to wider understandings of life. The first
      acknowledged worms as positive agents of both digestion and illness and aimed at
      maintaining a balanced relationship with them. The latter saw worms as dangerous
      intruders into bodily order and demanded their expulsion. Both models were used
      side by side or alternately by most people in the village, according to their
      individual preferences or to the specific context. The different attitudes to
      worms-one inclusive, the other exclusive-were related to wider concepts of dirt,
      pollution, affliction and evil, and shed light on people's understandings of the
      body and life. 

PMID- 26868740
TI  - The powers of nature.
AB  - There has been a widespread tendency to interpret medical practices in Africa in
      terms of a spiritual or religious perspective, specifically linking medicine to
      spirit healing. Countering this tendency this paper emphasises the importance of
      an empirical herbal tradition in Malawi, and examines in detail the role of
      animals as medicine, especially highlighting their use as an activating medicine.
      Such use implies a distinctive ontology, a pan-vitalism that recognises the
      inherent powers of nature. 

PMID- 26868742
TI  - Courses in medical anthropology: Germany.

PMID- 26868746
TI  - APR-246/PRIMA-1Met Inhibits and Reverses Squamous Metaplasia in Human
      Conjunctival Epithelium.
AB  - PURPOSE: Squamous metaplasia is a common pathologic condition in ocular surface
      diseases for which there is no therapeutic medication in clinic. In this study,
      we investigated the effect of a small molecule, APR-246/PRIMA-1(Met), on squamous
      metaplasia in human conjunctival epithelium. METHODS: Human conjunctival explants
      were cultured for up to 12 days under airlifting conditions. Epithelial cell
      differentiation and proliferation were assessed by Cytokeratin 10 (K10), K14,
      K19, Pax6, MUC5AC, and p63 immunostaining patterns. beta-catenin and TCF-4
      immunofluorescent staining and real-time PCR characterized Wnt signaling pathway
      involvement. Pterygium clinical samples were cultured under airlifting conditions
      with or without APR-246 for 4 days. p63, K10, beta-catenin, and TCF-4 expression
      in pterygial epithelium was determined by immunofluorescent staining and real
      time PCR. RESULTS: Airlift conjunctival explants resulted in increased
      stratification and intrastromal epithelial invagination. Such pathology was
      accompanied by increases in K10, K14, and p63 expression, whereas K19 and Pax6
      levels declined when compared to those in freshly isolated tissue. On the other
      hand, APR-246 reversed all of these declines in K10, K14, and p63 expression.
      Furthermore, K19 and Pax6 increased along with rises in goblet cell density.
      These effects of APR-246 were accompanied by near restoration of normal
      conjunctival epithelial histology. APR-246 also reversed squamous metaplasia in
      pterygial epithelium that had developed after 4 days in ex vivo culture.
      CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in squamous metaplasia induced by APR-246 suggest it may
      provide a novel therapeutic approach in different squamous metaplasia-associated
      ocular surface diseases.

PMID- 26868747
TI  - (+)-Pentazocine Reduces NMDA-Induced Murine Retinal Ganglion Cell Death Through a
      sigmaR1-Dependent Mechanism.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate, in vivo, the effects of the sigma-1 receptor (sigmaR1)
      agonist, (+)-pentazocine, on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated retinal
      excitotoxicity. METHODS: Intravitreal NMDA injections were performed in C57BL/6J
      mice (wild type [WT]) and sigmaR1-/- (sigmaR1 knockout [KO]) mice. Fellow eyes
      were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). An experimental cohort of WT
      and sigmaR1 KO mice was administered (+)-pentazocine by intraperitoneal
      injection, and untreated animals served as controls. Retinas derived from mice
      were flat-mounted and labeled for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The number of
      RGCs was compared between NMDA and PBS-injected eyes for all groups. Apoptosis
      was assessed using TUNEL assay. Levels of extracellular-signal-regulated kinases
      (ERK1/2) were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: N-methyl-D-aspartate induced a
      significant increase in TUNEL-positive nuclei and a dose-dependent loss of RGCs.
      Mice deficient in sigmaR1 showed greater RGC loss (~80%) than WT animals (~50%).
      (+)-Pentazocine treatment promoted neuronal survival, and this effect was
      prevented by deletion of sigmaR1. (+)-Pentazocine treatment resulted in enhanced
      activation of ERK at the 6-hour time point following NMDA injection. The (+)
      pentazocine-induced ERK activation was diminished in sigmaR1 KO mice.
      CONCLUSIONS: Targeting sigmaR1 activation prevented RGC death while enhancing
      activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), ERK1/2. Sigma-1
      receptor is a promising therapeutic target for retinal neurodegenerative
      diseases.

PMID- 26868748
TI  - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Concentration Is Underestimated by
      Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in the Presence of Anti-VEGF Drugs.
AB  - PURPOSE: Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits
      are often used to monitor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in
      exudative age-related macular degeneration. To test their accuracy, this study
      performed measurements using the ELISA kits in the presence of anti-VEGF drugs.
      METHODS: The concentrations of bevacizumab, pegaptanib, or ranibizumab at 28 days
      and aflibercept at 28 and 56 days after an injection were estimated based on
      previous pharmacokinetic studies. Vascular endothelial growth factor
      concentrations were measured with two widely used VEGF ELISA kits in the presence
      of anti-VEGF drugs or control mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). The monocyte
      chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) ELISA kit was used as a non-VEGF ELISA control kit.
      RESULTS: The concentrations of aflibercept, bevacizumab, pegaptanib, and
      ranibizumab were estimated at 0.14 to 7.2, 4.9, 8.6, and 0.11 to 1.1 MUg/mL,
      respectively. ELISA underestimated the VEGF concentration 2- to 100-fold lower in
      the presence of an anti-VEGF drug, except for pegaptanib, at all VEGF
      concentrations tested (7.8-1500 pg/mL). Vascular endothelial growth factor at
      1000 pg/mL was measured as 92, 150, and 170 pg/mL in the presence of aflibercept
      (7.2 MUg/mL), bevacizumab (4.9 MUg/mL), and ranibizumab (1.1 MUg/mL),
      respectively (all P < 0.0001), and the measured VEGF concentration decreased
      proportionately by 90% to 92% with aflibercept, 85% to 94% with bevacizumab, and
      83% to 99% with ranibizumab. The control mouse IgG did not interfere with the
      measurement of VEGF. Ranibizumab did not affect the measurements with MCP-1
      ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: Investigators should exercise caution when interpreting
      measurements of VEGF ELISA in patients being treated with an anti-VEGF drug.

PMID- 26868750
TI  - All-Optical Method to Assess Stromal Concentration of Riboflavin in Conventional
      and Accelerated UV-A Irradiation of the Human Cornea.
AB  - PURPOSE: We investigated the concentration of riboflavin in human donor corneas
      during corneal cross-linking using two-photon optical microscopy and
      spectrophotometry. METHODS: Eight corneal tissues were de-epithelialized and
      soaked with 20% dextran-enriched 0.1% riboflavin solution for 30 minutes. After
      stromal soaking, three tissues were irradiated using a 3 mW/cm2 UV-A device for
      30 minutes and three tissues irradiated using a 10 mW/cm2 device for 9 minutes.
      Two additional tissues were used as positive controls. A Ti:sapphire laser at 810
      nm was used to perform two-photon emission fluorescence (TPEF) and second
      harmonic generation axial scanning measurements in all specimens before and after
      stromal soaking and after UV-A irradiation. In addition, spectrophotometry was
      used to collect the absorbance spectra of each tissue at the same time intervals.
      Analysis of the absorbance spectra and TPEF signals provided measures of the
      concentration depth profile of riboflavin in corneal stroma. RESULTS: After
      stromal soaking, the average peak concentration of riboflavin (0.020% +/- 0.001%)
      was found between a stromal depth of 100 and 250 MUm; the concentration of
      riboflavin was almost constant up to 320 +/- 53 MUm depth, then decreased toward
      the endothelium, though riboflavin was still enriched in the posterior stroma
      (0.016%% +/- 0.001%). After conventional and accelerated UV-A irradiation, the
      concentration of riboflavin decreased uniformly 87% +/- 2% and 67% +/- 3% (P <
      0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of two-photon optical
      microscopy and spectrophotometry provides relevant information for investigating
      the concentration of riboflavin in corneal stroma. The method can assist with the
      assessment of novel riboflavin formulations and different UV-A irradiation
      protocols.

PMID- 26868749
TI  - Extrafoveal Cone Packing in Eyes With a History of Retinopathy of Prematurity.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study the density and packing geometry of the extrafoveal cone
      photoreceptors in eyes with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We
      used a multimodal combination of adaptive optics (AO) scanning light
      ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Cones were
      identified in subjects (aged 14-26 years) with a history of ROP that was either
      severe and treated by laser ablation of avascular peripheral retina (TROP; n = 5)
      or mild and spontaneously resolved, untreated (UROP; n = 5), and in term-born
      controls (CT; n = 8). The AO-SLO images were obtained at temporal eccentricities
      4.5 degrees , 9 degrees , 13.5 degrees , and 18 degrees  using both confocal and
      offset apertures with simultaneous, colocal OCT images. Effects of group,
      eccentricity, and aperture were evaluated and the modalities compared. RESULTS:
      In the SLO images, cone density was lower and the packing pattern less regular in
      TROP, relative to CT and UROP retinae. Although SLO image quality appeared lower
      in TROP, root mean square (RMS) wavefront error did not differ among the groups.
      In TROP eyes, cone discrimination was easier in offset aperture images. There was
      no evidence of cone loss in the TROP OCT images. CONCLUSIONS: Low cone density in
      TROP confocal SLO images may have resulted from lower image quality. Since AO
      correction in these eyes was equivalent to that of the control group, and OCT
      imaging showed no significant cone loss, the optical properties of the inner
      retina or properties of the cones themselves are likely altered in a way that
      affects photoreceptor imaging.

PMID- 26868751
TI  - A Problem of Proportions in OCT-Based Morphometry and a Proposed Solution.

PMID- 26868752
TI  - The Characteristics of Lamina Cribrosa Defects in Myopic Eyes With and Without
      Open-Angle Glaucoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: We investigated the lamina cribrosa (LC) structural characteristics of
      myopic eyes with and without open-angle glaucoma (OAG) using enhanced depth
      imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT). METHODS:
      Defects in the LC in myopic eyes with and without OAG and normal eyes without
      myopia were evaluated using EDI SD-OCT. Among the two types of LC defects,
      disinsertion type and hole type, the associations among disinsertion type LC
      defects, myopia-related parameters of axial length (AL), maximal gamma-zone
      peripapillary atrophy (PPA) length, disc tilt angle, and the presence of glaucoma
      were evaluated. In addition, disinsertion type LC defects were divided into two
      subtypes, complete detachment type and triangular wedge type, and the numbers of
      the subtypes in myopic eyes with and without OAG were investigated. RESULTS:
      Defects in the LC were found more in myopic eyes with than without OAG (65.7% vs.
      27.8%, P < 0.001). Of LC defects, disinsertion-type LC defects were found at the
      location of the gamma-zone PPA (R = 0.71, P < 0.001), while the location of hole
      type LC defects did not correlate with the location of the gamma-zone PPA (R =
      0.07, P = 0.73). Of disinsertion-type LC defects, complete detachment-type
      defects predominated in myopic eyes with OAG, while triangular wedge-type defects
      were the most common in myopic eyes without OAG (P < 0.001; P < 0.001,
      respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, disinsertion-type LC
      defects in myopic eyes were associated with AL, maximal PPA length, and disc tilt
      angle, as well as the presence of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Given the strong
      correlation of disinsertion type LC defects with glaucoma and parameters related
      to myopia, such defects should be considered as biomarkers of glaucoma in myopic
      eyes.

PMID- 26868753
TI  - Ocular Outcomes Comparison Between 14- and 70-Day Head-Down-Tilt Bed Rest.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare ocular outcomes in healthy subjects undergoing 14- and/or 70
      day head-down-tilt (HDT) bed rest (BR). METHODS: Participants were selected by
      using NASA standard screening procedures. Standardized NASA BR conditions were
      implemented. Subjects maintained a 6 degrees  HDT position for 14 and/or 70
      consecutive days. Weekly ophthalmologic examinations were performed in the
      sitting (pre/post-BR only) and HDT positions. Mixed-effects linear models
      compared pre- and post-HDT BR observations between 14- and 70-day HDT BR in best
      corrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure (IOP),
      Spectralis OCT retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, peripapillary and macular
      retinal thicknesses. RESULTS: Sixteen and six subjects completed the 14- and 70
      day HDT BR studies, respectively. The magnitude of HDT BR-induced changes was not
      significantly different between the two studies for all outcomes, except the
      superior (mean pre/post difference of 14- vs. 70-day HDT BR: +4.69 MUm versus
      +11.50 MUm), nasal (+4.63 MUm versus +11.46 MUm), and inferior (+4.34 MUm versus
      +10.08 MUm) peripapillary retinal thickness. A +1.42 mm Hg and a +1.79 mm Hg
      iCare IOP increase from baseline occurred during 14- and 70-day HDT BR,
      respectively. Modified Amsler grid, red dot test, confrontational visual field,
      color vision, and stereoscopic fundus photography were unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS:
      Seventy-day HDT BR induced greater peripapillary retinal thickening than 14-day
      HDT BR, suggesting that time may affect the amount of optic disc swelling.
      Spectralis OCT detected retinal nerve fiber layer thickening post BR, without
      clinical signs of optic disc edema. A small IOP increase during BR subsided post
      HDT BR. Such changes may have resulted from BR-induced cephalad fluids shift. The
      HDT BR duration may be critical for replicating microgravity-related
      ophthalmologic changes observed in astronauts on >=6-month spaceflights.

PMID- 26868754
TI  - Involvement of AMPA Receptor and Its Flip and Flop Isoforms in Retinal Ganglion
      Cell Death Following Oxygen/Glucose Deprivation.
AB  - PURPOSE: The alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA)
      receptors (AMPAR) subunits can be posttranscriptionally modified by alternative
      splicing forming flip and flop isoforms. We determined if an ischemia-like insult
      to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) increases AMPAR susceptibility to s-AMPA
      mediated excitotoxicity through changes in posttranscriptional modified isoforms.
      METHODS: Purified neonatal rat RGCs were subjected to either glucose deprivation
      (GD) or oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions followed by treatment with
      either 100 MUM s-AMPA or Kainic acid. A live-dead assay and caspase 3 assay was
      used to assess cell viability and apoptotic changes, respectively. We used JC-1
      dye and dihydroethidium to measure mitochondria depolarization and reactive
      oxygen species (ROS), respectively. Calcium imaging with fura-2AM was used to
      determine intracellular calcium, while the fluorescently-labeled probe,
      Nanoprobe1, was used to detect calcium-permeable AMPARs. Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
      analysis was done to determine RNA editing sites AMPAR isoforms. RESULTS: Glucose
      deprivation, as well as an OGD insult followed by AMPAR stimulation, produced a
      significant increase in RGC death. Retinal ganglion cell death was independent of
      caspase 3/7 activity, but was accompanied by increased mitochondrial
      depolarization and increased ROS production. This was associated with an elevated
      intracellular Ca(2+) and calcium permeable-AMPARs. The mRNA expression of GLUA2
      and GLUA3 flop isoform decreased significantly, while no appreciable changes were
      found in the corresponding flip isoforms. There were no changes in the Q/R
      editing of GLUA2, while R/G editing of GLUA2 flop declined under these
      conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Following oxidative injury, RGCs become more susceptible
      to AMPAR-mediated excitotoxicity. RNA editing and changes in alternative spliced
      flip and flop isoforms of AMPAR subunits may contribute to increased RGC death.

PMID- 26868755
TI  - Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Swelling Predicts Peripapillary Atrophy
      in a Primate Model of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber
      layer (PRNFL) swelling and eventual PRNFL atrophy, and between PRNFL
      swelling/atrophy and neural function, in a nonhuman primate model of nonarteritic
      anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (pNAION). METHODS: pNAION was induced in five
      normal, adult male rhesus monkeys by laser activation of intravenously injected
      rose bengal at the optic nerve head. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography
      measurements of the PRNFL were performed at baseline; 1 day; 1, 2, and 4 weeks;
      and several later times over a period of an additional 2 to 3 months.
      Simultaneous pattern-reversal electroretinograms (PERGs) and visual evoked
      potentials (VEPs) were recorded and color fundus photographs taken at the same
      time points. RESULTS: In all cases, initial PRNFL swelling was associated with
      atrophy, and the greater the initial swelling, the greater the degree of eventual
      atrophy (r = 0.65, P = 0.0002). The change in PRNFL thickness closely correlated
      with VEP amplitude loss (r = 0.90), although this relationship was only a strong
      trend (P = 0.083). Furthermore, VEP amplitude loss closely correlated with PERG
      N95 amplitude loss (r = 0.80, P = 0.00002). CONCLUSIONS: In our model of human
      NAION, the degree of initial PRNFL swelling correlated with the severity of
      atrophy. Areas that did not swell developed little to no atrophy. The amount of
      PRNFL loss was reflected in VEP and PERG N95 amplitude reductions.

PMID- 26868757
TI  - The complete mitochondrial genome of the Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) and
      implications for the phylogeny of Canidae.
AB  - Canidae is a family of carnivores comprises about 36 extant species that have
      been defined as three distinct monophyletic groups based on multi-gene data sets.
      The Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) is a member of the family Canidae that is
      endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and has seldom been in the focus of phylogenetic
      analyses. To clarify the phylogenic relationship of V. ferrilata between other
      canids, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome and firstly attempted to clarify
      the relative phylogenetic position of V. ferrilata in canids using the complete
      mitochondrial genome data. The mitochondrial genome of the Tibetan fox was 16,667
      bp, including 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA, and 22 tRNA) and a
      control region. A comparison analysis among the sequenced data of canids
      indicated that they shared a similar arrangement, codon usage, and other aspects.
      A phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the nearly complete mtDNA genomes of
      canids agreed with three monophyletic clades, and the Tibetan fox was highly
      supported as a sister group of the corsac fox within Vulpes. The estimation of
      the divergence time suggested a recent split between the Tibetan fox and the
      corsac fox and rapid evolution in canids. There was no genetic evidence for
      positive selection related to high-altitude adaption for the Tibetan fox in mtDNA
      and following studies should pay more attention to the detection of positive
      signals in nuclear genes involved in energy and oxygen metabolisms.

PMID- 26868756
TI  - The production of human glucocerebrosidase in glyco-engineered Nicotiana
      benthamiana plants.
AB  - For the production of therapeutic proteins in plants, the presence of beta1,2
      xylose and core alpha1,3-fucose on plants' N-glycan structures has been debated
      for their antigenic activity. In this study, RNA interference (RNAi) technology
      was used to down-regulate the endogenous N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GNTI)
      expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. One glyco-engineered line (NbGNTI-RNAi)
      showed a strong reduction of plant-specific N-glycans, with the result that as
      much as 90.9% of the total N-glycans were of high-mannose type. Therefore, this
      NbGNTI-RNAi would be a promising system for the production of therapeutic
      glycoproteins in plants. The NbGNTI-RNAi plant was cross-pollinated with
      transgenic N. benthamiana expressing human glucocerebrosidase (GC). The
      recombinant GC, which has been used for enzyme replacement therapy in patients
      with Gaucher's disease, requires terminal mannose for its therapeutic efficacy.
      The N-glycan structures that were presented on all of the four occupied N
      glycosylation sites of recombinant GC in NbGNTI-RNAi plants (GC(gnt1) ) showed
      that the majority (ranging from 73.3% up to 85.5%) of the N-glycans had mannose
      type structures lacking potential immunogenic beta1,2-xylose and alpha1,3-fucose
      epitopes. Moreover, GC(gnt1) could be taken up into the macrophage cells via
      mannose receptors, and distributed and taken up into the liver and spleen, the
      target organs in the treatment of Gaucher's disease. Notably, the NbGNTI-RNAi
      line, producing GC, was stable and the NbGNTI-RNAi plants were viable and did not
      show any obvious phenotype. Therefore, it would provide a robust tool for the
      production of GC with customized N-glycan structures.

PMID- 26868759
TI  - Mitochondria in mesenchymal stem cell biology and cell therapy: From cellular
      differentiation to mitochondrial transfer.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are characterized to have the capacity of self
      renewal and the potential to differentiate into mesoderm, ectoderm-like and
      endoderm-like cells. MSCs hold great promise for cell therapies due to their
      multipotency in vitro and therapeutic advantage of hypo-immunogenicity and lower
      tumorigenicity. Moreover, it has been shown that MSCs can serve as a vehicle to
      transfer mitochondria into cells after cell transplantation. Mitochondria produce
      most of the energy through oxidative phosphorylation in differentiated cells. It
      has been increasingly clear that the switch of energy supply from glycolysis to
      aerobic metabolism is essential for successful differentiation of MSCs. Post
      translational modifications of proteins have been established to regulate
      mitochondrial function and metabolic shift during MSCs differentiation. In this
      article, we review and provide an integrated view on the roles of different
      protein kinases and sirtuins in the maintenance and differentiation of MSCs.
      Importantly, we provide evidence to suggest that alteration in the expression of
      Sirt3 and Sirt5 and relative changes in the acylation levels of mitochondrial
      proteins might be involved in the activation of mitochondrial function and
      adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived MSCs. We summarize their roles in
      the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism, oxidative responses
      and differentiation of MSCs. On the other hand, we discuss recent advances in the
      study of mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial transfer as well as their roles
      in the differentiation and therapeutic application of MSCs to improve cell
      function in vitro and in animal models. Accumulating evidence has substantiated
      that the therapeutic potential of MSCs is conferred not only by cell replacement
      and paracrine effects but also by transferring mitochondria into injured tissues
      or cells to modulate the cellular metabolism in situ. Therefore, elucidation of
      the underlying mechanisms in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism of MSCs
      may ultimately improve therapeutic outcomes of stem cell therapy in the future. 

PMID- 26868758
TI  - Energy metabolism in the acquisition and maintenance of stemness.
AB  - Energy metabolism is traditionally considered a reactive homeostatic system
      addressing stage-specific cellular energy needs. There is however growing
      appreciation of metabolic pathways in the active control of vital cell functions.
      Case in point, the stem cell lifecycle--from maintenance and acquisition of
      stemness to lineage commitment and specification--is increasingly recognized as a
      metabolism-dependent process. Indeed, metabolic reprogramming is an early
      contributor to the orchestrated departure from or reacquisition of stemness.
      Recent advances in metabolomics have helped decipher the identity and dynamics of
      metabolic fluxes implicated in fueling cell fate choices by regulating the
      epigenetic and transcriptional identity of a cell. Metabolic cues, internal
      and/or external to the stem cell niche, facilitate progenitor pool restitution,
      long-term tissue renewal or ensure adoption of cytoprotective behavior.
      Convergence of energy metabolism with stem cell fate regulation opens a new
      avenue in understanding primordial developmental biology principles with future
      applications in regenerative medicine practice.

PMID- 26868761
TI  - Relevance of Damped Harmonic Oscillation for Modeling the Training Effects on
      Daily Physical Performance Capacity in Team Sport.
AB  - CONTEXT: Positive and negative effects of training induce apparent oscillations
      of performance, suggesting that the delayed cumulative effects of training on
      daily performance capacity (DPC) are best fitted by sine waves damped over time.
      PURPOSE: To compare the criterion validity of the impulse-response (IR) model of
      Banister et al and the damped harmonic oscillation (DHO) model for quantifying
      the training load (TL)-DPC relationship. METHODS: Six female professional
      volleyball players (20.8 +/- 2.4 y) were monitored using the session rating of
      perceived exertion (sRPE) for 9 mo to quantify TL. Countermovement-jump (CMJ) and
      4-step-approach-CMJ (4sCMJ) performances were recorded once a month. Parameters
      of models were determined by minimizing residual-sum squares between predicted
      and real performances with a nonlinear regression. RESULTS: DPC was best fitted
      by the DHO model rather than the IR model (CMJ, R2 = .80 +/-.08 and.69 +/-.20,
      respectively; 4sCMJ, R2 = .86 +/- .09 and .67 +/- .29, respectively). The damping
      parameter theta and the period T were positively correlated with age (rho = 0.81,
      P < .05, and rho = 0.86, P < .02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The DHO model is a
      useful tool for modeling DPC as the sum of the delayed DPCs from the consecutive
      training and recovery days. DPC could be considered the expression of the
      individual process of accumulation and dissipation of fatigue induced by
      training. DHO-model parameters were correlated with age, which prompts one to
      postulate that expertise has a major influence on DPC. The DHO model will help
      coaches develop a greater understanding of training effects and make monitoring
      of the training process more effective.

PMID- 26868760
TI  - Development of a Reading Accessibility Index Using the MNREAD Acuity Chart.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: We define a Reading Accessibility Index for evaluating reading in
      individuals with normal and low vision. OBJECTIVE: To compare the Reading
      Accessibility Index with data from the Impact of Cataracts on Mobility (ICOM)
      study. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This investigation was a secondary data
      analysis from the ICOM study performed between July 1, 2014, and September 20,
      2015, at 12 eye clinics in Alabama from October 1, 1994, through March 31, 1996.
      Participants were 321 adults with cataract (n = 92), pseudophakia (n = 131), or
      natural crystalline lenses without cataract (n = 98). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
      The Reading Accessibility Index (hereafter referred to using the abbreviation ACC
      for the first 3 letters of Accessibility) is defined as an individual's mean
      reading speed measured across the 10 largest print sizes on the MNREAD Acuity
      Chart (Precision Vision) (0.4-1.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution at
      40 cm), normalized by 200 words per minute, which was the mean value for a group
      of 365 normally sighted young adults. The ACC is a single-value measure that
      captures an individual's range of accessible print sizes and reading fluency
      within this range. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 321 participants. Their
      age range was 55 to 85 years, and 157 (48.9%) were female. The ACCs for the ICOM
      study participants ranged from 0.19 to 1.33, where 1.00 is the mean value for
      normally sighted young adults. The ACC for the cataract group (mean [SD], 0.65
      [0.18]) was significantly lower than that for the pseudophakia group (mean [SD],
      0.77 [0.16]) and the control group (mean [SD], 0.76 [0.19]) (P < .001 for both).
      The correlation between the ACC and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study
      visual acuity (r = -0.22) and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (r = 0.20) was
      weaker than that with a reading-related measure of instrumental activities of
      daily living (r = -0.60) (P < .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The ACC
      represents an individual's access to text across the range of print sizes found
      in everyday life. Its calculation does not rely on curve fitting and provides a
      direct comparison with the performance of normally sighted individuals. Changes
      in an individual's ACC might be used to evaluate the effect of ophthalmic
      treatment, rehabilitation programs, or assistive technology on reading
      accessibility. Data from the ICOM study show that the ACC reflects
      characteristics of reading performance in everyday life and is sensitive to
      improved reading accessibility for pseudophakic eyes.

PMID- 26868762
TI  - Correction to "Effect of Age on The Hepatocellularity Number for Wistar Rats".

PMID- 26868763
TI  - Microstructural Characterization of Fried Potato Disks Using X-Ray Micro Computed
      Tomography.
AB  - Microstructural properties play a key role to affect oil uptake and product
      quality during frying of foods. The objective of this study was to observe the
      complex microstructural changes and mass transfer mechanisms in potato disks
      during frying. The potato disks of 1.65 mm thickness were fried at 190  degrees C
      for 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 s. X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was used for 3
      dimensional (3D) imaging of microstructure of porous potato disks. Total
      porosity, pore size distribution, oil content, and air content of potato disks
      were calculated from resulting 3D data sets. Oil and air content measured by
      analysis of micro-CT images followed trends similar to Soxtec and gas pycnometry
      methods, respectively. Image analysis showed a significant change in pore size
      distribution as a function of frying time. Frying time was also observed to have
      an effect on tortuosity, which is an important microstructural fluid transport
      property. Tortuosity was measured by path length ratio method from 3D data sets
      obtained from image analysis. A linear inverse relationship was observed between
      porosity and tortuosity where tortuosity decreased with the increase of porosity.
      It was also observed that during frying, oil content increased with the decrease
      of tortuosity. This phenomenon indicated that the lower tortuosity created a less
      complicated and sinuous path, thus resulting in less resistance to oil
      penetration. Micro-CT technique can serve as an effective tool for elucidating
      microstructure of fried foods, and can provide complementary information to
      conventional lab techniques. 

PMID- 26868765
TI  - AAP President's Address.

PMID- 26868766
TI  - Multiple Barriers to the Evolution of Alternative Gene Orders in a Positive
      Strand RNA Virus.
AB  - The order in which genes are organized within a genome is generally not conserved
      between distantly related species. However, within virus orders and families,
      strong conservation of gene order is observed. The factors that constrain or
      promote gene-order diversity are largely unknown, although the regulation of gene
      expression is one important constraint for viruses. Here we investigate why gene
      order is conserved for a positive-strand RNA virus encoding a single polyprotein
      in the context of its authentic multicellular host. Initially, we identified the
      most plausible trajectory by which alternative gene orders could evolve.
      Subsequently, we studied the accessibility of key steps along this evolutionary
      trajectory by constructing two virus intermediates: (1) duplication of a gene
      followed by (2) loss of the ancestral gene. We identified five barriers to the
      evolution of alternative gene orders. First, the number of viable positions for
      reordering is limited. Second, the within-host fitness of viruses with gene
      duplications is low compared to the wild-type virus. Third, after duplication,
      the ancestral gene copy is always maintained and never the duplicated one.
      Fourth, viruses with an alternative gene order have even lower fitness than
      viruses with gene duplications. Fifth, after more than half a year of evolution
      in isolation, viruses with an alternative gene order are still vastly inferior to
      the wild-type virus. Our results show that all steps along plausible evolutionary
      trajectories to alternative gene orders are highly unlikely. Hence, the
      inaccessibility of these trajectories probably contributes to the conservation of
      gene order in present-day viruses.

PMID- 26868767
TI  - A Segregating Inversion Generates Fitness Variation in Yellow Monkeyflower
      (Mimulus guttatus).
AB  - Polymorphic chromosomal rearrangements can bind hundreds of genes into single
      genetic loci with diverse effects. Rearrangements are often associated with local
      adaptation and speciation and may also be an important component of genetic
      variation within populations. We genetically and phenotypically characterize a
      segregating inversion (inv6) in the Iron Mountain (IM) population of Mimulus
      guttatus (yellow monkeyflower). We initially mapped inv6 as a region of
      recombination suppression in three F2 populations resulting from crosses among IM
      plants. In each case, the F1 parent was heterozygous for a derived haplotype,
      homogenous across markers spanning over 5 Mb of chromsome 6. In the three F2
      populations, inv6 reduced male and female fitness components. In addition,i nv6
      carriers suffered an ~30% loss of pollen viability in the field. Despite these
      costs, inv6 exists at moderate frequency (~8%) in the natural population,
      suggesting counterbalancing fitness benefits that maintain the polymorphism.
      Across 4 years of monitoring in the field, inv6 had an overall significant
      positive effect on seed production (lifetime female fitness) of carriers. This
      benefit was particularly strong in harsh years and may be mediated (in part) by
      strong positive effects on flower production. These data suggest that opposing
      fitness effects maintain an intermediate frequency, and as a consequence, inv6
      generates inbreeding depression and high genetic variance. We discuss these
      findings in relation to the theory of inbreeding depression and the maintenance
      of fitness variation.

PMID- 26868768
TI  - Estimating Modifying Effect of Age on Genetic and Environmental Variance
      Components in Twin Models.
AB  - Twin studies have been adopted for decades to disentangle the relative genetic
      and environmental contributions for a wide range of traits. However, heritability
      estimation based on the classical twin models does not take into account dynamic
      behavior of the variance components over age. Varying variance of the genetic
      component over age can imply the existence of gene-environment (G*E) interactions
      that general genome-wide association studies (GWAS) fail to capture, which may
      lead to the inconsistency of heritability estimates between twin design and GWAS.
      Existing parametricG*Einteraction models for twin studies are limited by assuming
      a linear or quadratic form of the variance curves with respect to a moderator
      that can, however, be overly restricted in reality. Here we propose spline-based
      approaches to explore the variance curves of the genetic and environmental
      components. We choose the additive genetic, common, and unique environmental
      variance components (ACE) model as the starting point. We treat the component
      variances as variance functions with respect to age modeled by B-splines or P
      splines. We develop an empirical Bayes method to estimate the variance curves
      together with their confidence bands and provide an R package for public use. Our
      simulations demonstrate that the proposed methods accurately capture dynamic
      behavior of the component variances in terms of mean square errors with a data
      set of >10,000 twin pairs. Using the proposed methods as an alternative and major
      extension to the classical twin models, our analyses with a large-scale Finnish
      twin data set (19,510 MZ twins and 27,312 DZ same-sex twins) discover that the
      variances of the A, C, and E components for body mass index (BMI) change
      substantially across life span in different patterns and the heritability of BMI
      drops to ~50% after middle age. The results further indicate that the decline of
      heritability is due to increasing unique environmental variance, which provides
      more insights into age-specific heritability of BMI and evidence
      ofG*Einteractions. These findings highlight the fundamental importance and
      implication of the proposed models in facilitating twin studies to investigate
      the heritability specific to age and other modifying factors.

PMID- 26868769
TI  - Single Molecule Microscopy Reveals an Increased Hyaluronan Diffusion Rate in
      Synovial Fluid from Knees Affected by Osteoarthritis.
AB  - Osteoarthritis is a common and progressive joint disorder. Despite its
      widespread, in clinical practice only late phases of osteoarthritis that are
      characterized by severe joint damage are routinely detected. Since osteoarthritis
      cannot be cured but relatively well managed, an early diagnosis and thereby early
      onset of disease management would lower the burden of osteoarthritis. Here we
      evaluated if biophysical parameters of small synovial fluid samples extracted by
      single molecule microscopy can be linked to joint damage. In healthy synovial
      fluid (ICRS-score < 1) hyaluronan showed a slower diffusion (2.2 MUm(2)/s, N = 5)
      than in samples from patients with joint damage (ICRS-score > 2) (4.5 MUm(2)/s, N
      = 16). More strikingly, the diffusion coefficient of hyaluronan in healthy
      synovial fluid was on average 30% slower than expected by sample viscosity. This
      effect was diminished or missing in samples from patients with joint damage.
      Since single molecule microscopy needs only microliters of synovial fluid to
      extract the viscosity and the specific diffusion coefficient of hyaluronan this
      method could be of use as diagnostic tool for osteoarthritis. 

PMID- 26868770
TI  - Knowledge-guided mutation in classification rules for autism treatment efficacy.
AB  - Data mining methods in biomedical research might benefit by combining genetic
      algorithms with domain-specific knowledge. The objective of this research is to
      show how the evolution of treatment rules for autism might be guided. The
      semantic distance between two concepts in the taxonomy is measured by the number
      of relationships separating the concepts in the taxonomy. The hypothesis is that
      replacing a concept in a treatment rule will change the accuracy of the rule in
      direct proportion to the semantic distance between the concepts. The method uses
      a patient database and autism taxonomies. Treatment rules are developed with an
      algorithm that exploits the taxonomies. The results support the hypothesis. This
      research should both advance the understanding of autism data mining in
      particular and of knowledge-guided evolutionary search in biomedicine in general.

PMID- 26868771
TI  - Thioxanthone in apolar solvents: ultrafast internal conversion precedes fast
      intersystem crossing.
AB  - The photophysics of thioxanthone dissolved in cyclohexane was studied by
      femtosecond fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. From these
      experiments two time constants of ~400 fs and ~4 ps were retrieved. With the aid
      of quantum chemically computed spectral signatures and rate constants for
      intersystem crossing, the time constants were assigned to the underlying
      processes. Ultrafast internal conversion depletes the primarily excited (1)pipi*
      state within ~400 fs. The (1)npi* state populated thereby undergoes fast
      intersystem crossing (~4 ps) yielding the lowest triplet state of (3)pipi*
      character. 

PMID- 26868773
TI  - The history of everything, dental.

PMID- 26868772
TI  - Prevalence of HPV infection among 28,457 Chinese women in Yunnan Province,
      southwest China.
AB  - Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a key role in the development of
      cervical cancer. The aim of the current study was to investigate the HPV type
      distribution in Chinese women from Yunnan Province, southwest China. A total of
      28,457 individuals ranging in age from 17-84 years were recruited from 13
      clinical hospitals located in 10 different regions of Yunnan Province.
      Cervicovaginal swabs were collected from each participant, and HPV screening was
      performed using Luminex xMAP technology. Our results showed that the HPV
      prevalence was 12.9% in Yunnan Province. Overall, 10.6% of the individuals were
      positive for a single HPV type, and 2.3% were positive for multiple types. Among
      the individuals who tested positive for a single HPV type and multiple HPV types,
      the three most prevalent high-risk types were 52, 16, and 58. Age subgroup
      analysis showed two peaks for the frequencies of single and multiple HPV
      infections, one for the group of women under 25 years old, and the other for the
      group over 56 years old. Here, we present data regarding the prevalence and type
      distribution of HPV infection, which will aid in the estimation of the potential
      clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of HPV screening and vaccination in
      China.

PMID- 26868774
TI  - Special care dentistry: Treating autistic children.

PMID- 26868775
TI  - Dental impressions: Metal rim lock trays.

PMID- 26868776
TI  - Emergency dentistry: Three primary reasons.

PMID- 26868777
TI  - Endodontics: Gross misinterpretation.

PMID- 26868778
TI  - Blatant ignorance.

PMID- 26868779
TI  - Hansrani responds.

PMID- 26868780
TI  - Dental volunteering: Rewarding and affirming.

PMID- 26868781
TI  - Dental public health: The late Professor Aubrey Sheiham.

PMID- 26868782
TI  - Accidental cheek fistula.

PMID- 26868783
TI  - Campaign launched to reduce kids' hefty sugar intake.

PMID- 26868784
TI  - Landmark collaboration reviews links between general and oral health.

PMID- 26868785
TI  - First dental clinical leadership fellowships launched.

PMID- 26868786
TI  - Investigation: Building a platform for better oral health.

PMID- 26868788
TI  - Tim explores the link between caries and patient behaviour.

PMID- 26868789
TI  - A dentist's life: Making people smile is the best part of my job.

PMID- 26868790
TI  - Foundation dentist spots fake.

PMID- 26868791
TI  - Simon Rogers: 'Ultimately we need better access for patients'.

PMID- 26868792
TI  - Heather Pope: 'A challenge will be managing expectations of what can
      realistically be done'.

PMID- 26868793
TI  - Surgery: a patient's perspective and lessons learnt.
AB  - This article discusses a hospital experience from the point of view of a patient,
      in this case a healthcare worker herself - a dental student. The author relates
      her experience of a three-day hospital stay and appendectomy, during which time
      she experienced the breaking of bad news, the consent process, and the importance
      of good communication - all from the patient's viewpoint. 

PMID- 26868794
TI  - Medical risk assessment in dentistry: use of the American Society of
      Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medical risk assessment is essential to safe patient management and
      the delivery of appropriate dental care. The American Society of
      Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) Classification is widely used within
      medicine and dentistry, but has received significant criticism. This is the first
      UK survey to assess the consistency of medical risk assessment in dentistry.
      AIMS: (i) To determine the use and consistency of the ASA PS among dentists and
      anaesthetists. (ii) To consider the appropriateness of the ASA PS in relation to
      dental treatment planning and delivery of care. METHOD: A cross-sectional online
      questionnaire was distributed to anaesthetists and dental practitioners in
      general practice, community and hospital dental services. Questions focused on
      professional backgrounds, use of the ASA PS, alternative approaches to risk
      assessment in everyday practice and scoring of eight hypothetical patients using
      ASA PS. RESULTS: There were 101 responses, 82 were complete. Anaesthetists
      recorded ASA PS score more frequently than dental practitioners and found it more
      useful. Inconsistencies were evident in the assignment of ASA PS scores both
      between and within professional groups. CONCLUSION: Many dental practitioners did
      not use or find ASA PS helpful, with significant inconsistencies in its use. An
      awareness of alternative assessment scales may be useful across settings.
      Accepting its limitations, it would be helpful for all dentists to be educated in
      ASA PS and its use in medical risk assessment, particularly in relation to
      conscious sedation.

PMID- 26868795
TI  - Removal techniques for failed implants.
AB  - The use of dental implants is an accepted and predictable way of replacing
      missing or lost teeth. However, implants can and will fail and there are a
      variety of reasons why this occurs, which the practitioner should understand. In
      some instances failed implants may require removal and, therefore, practitioners
      should be aware of techniques that can be used to remove failed implants to
      potentially enable future rehabilitation of an edentulous region. 

PMID- 26868800
TI  - Articaine buccal infiltration vs lidocaine inferior dental block - a review of
      the literature.
AB  - AIM: This paper aims to compare the effectiveness of articaine buccal
      infiltrations (BIs) and lidocaine inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) for
      inducing pulpal anaesthesia in mandibular molars. METHOD: Studies which compared
      articaine BIs with lidocaine IANBs were identified by completing a full
      literature search using the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials databases. Only studies that used permanent mandibular molars
      were included. Two papers were accepted for appraisal. RESULTS: It was found that
      55.6-69.2% and 65.4-70.4% of lidocaine IANBs and articaine BIs were successful,
      respectively. Neither study was able to determine a significant difference
      between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Articaine BIs are no more effective than
      lidocaine IANBs and the decision of which method to practice should be based on
      patient selection, cost and time efficiency. The studies present a number of
      weaknesses in their design, hence, the level of evidence they provide is
      inconclusive. Further investigation in this field is warranted.

PMID- 26868801
TI  - Oral health promotion: the economic benefits to the NHS of increased use of
      sugarfree gum in the UK.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The effect of sugarfree gum (SFG) on the prevention of dental
      caries has been established for some time. With increased constraints placed on
      healthcare budgets, the importance of economic considerations in decision-making
      about oral health interventions has increased. The aim of this study was to
      demonstrate the potential cost savings in dental care associated with increased
      levels of SFG usage. METHODS: The analysis examined the amount of money which
      would hypothetically be saved if the UK 12-year-old population chewed more SFG.
      The number of sticks chewed per year and the caries risk reduction were modelled
      to create a dose response curve. The costs of tooth restoration, tooth extraction
      in primary care settings and under general anaesthetic were considered, and the
      effects of caries reduction on these costs calculated. RESULTS: If all members of
      the UK 12-year-old population chewed SFG frequently (twice a day), the potential
      cost savings for the cohort over the course of one year were estimated to range
      from L1.2 to L3.3 million and if they chewed three times a day, L8.2 million
      could be saved each year. Sensitivity analyses of the key parameters demonstrated
      that cost savings would still be likely to be observed even in scenarios with
      less significant increases in SFG use. CONCLUSION: This study shows that if
      levels of SFG usage in the teenage population in the UK could be increased,
      substantial cost savings might be achieved.

PMID- 26868802
TI  - Developing assessment: involving the sessional clinical teacher.
AB  - Assessment development is a fundamental element of curriculum management and a
      requirement for providers of education to consistently demonstrate attainment of
      educational standards. Development of authentic, valid and reliable assessment
      is, however, both challenging and resource intensive. In the UK, dental education
      standards are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). The 'safe beginner'
      is the threshold determined by the GDC for the passing student - but how do we
      apply this? This article describes an approach the School of Dental Sciences at
      Newcastle University has adopted to address the challenges associated with
      developing assessments. Sessional clinical teachers contribute a significant
      proportion of the clinical supervision within the BDS programme and also have a
      good appreciation of both the standard and concept of the 'safe beginner'. By
      implementing a process of active timetable management, we have identified time
      where this group could contribute to assessment development. We believe that
      aspects, which could be enhanced by their involvement, include writing,
      validation, standard-setting and utilisation of assessment. To achieve this, we
      recognise a requirement for investment in careful manpower planning and training,
      but consider that it is realistic and beneficial to include sessional clinical
      teachers in this essential part of learning and teaching. 

PMID- 26868803
TI  - Dental witness seminars: dentistry in the UK since 1948.
AB  - Witness seminars attempt to get behind the scenes of advances and developments to
      find out what really happened at certain times; they are not intended to provide
      a detailed history of events. This paper presents highlights from the five John
      McLean Archive witness seminars, providing an instructional collection of
      memories and insights into the world of dentistry in the UK since the late 1940s.
      It is concluded that future change will be seen as a welcome constant to be used
      for the benefit of the profession and the patients and communities it serves. 

PMID- 26868815
TI  - Aubrey Sheiham.

PMID- 26868816
TI  - Headache of neurally mediated syncope.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurally mediated syncope and migraine have a complex relationship.
      AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients developing syncope
      in the laboratory would experience migraine. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive
      patients were evaluated for precipitation of headache during head-up tilt (HUT)
      induced syncope (reduction of systolic blood pressure [SBP] >20 mmHg and
      prodromal symptoms with or without loss of consciousness). Autonomic functions
      were assessed using heart rate response to deep breathing (HRDB), Valsalva
      maneuver and HUT. Blood pressure and heart rate (via electrocardiography) were
      continuously monitored. Headache diagnosis was based on ICHD-3 criteria. RESULTS:
      Eighteen patients (58%) experienced syncope without headache and 13 (42%) had
      syncope and headache (SH). No difference was observed in time of syncope onset,
      reduction in SBP, Valsalva ratio, HRDB or tachycardia during initial 10 minutes
      of HUT. Of the 13 SH patients, 11 (85%) had a past history of migraine. Two
      reported headache just before tilt, eight developed headache during tilt and
      three developed headache only after tilt. Headache resolved within 1-15 minutes
      in 10 out of 13 patients. No patient experienced migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Syncope
      did not precipitate migraine. Headache during syncope may be due to cerebral
      hypoperfusion, and cerebral hyperperfusion may cause post-syncopal headache.

PMID- 26868817
TI  - Cardiac monitoring of high-dose verapamil in cluster headache: An international
      Delphi study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In many patients, high-dose verapamil (HDV) is the only effective
      prophylactic treatment for cluster headache. Although cardiac adverse events and
      EKG abnormalities are relatively common, evidence-based guidelines for screening
      and monitoring patients on HDV are lacking. GOAL AND METHODS: Using the Delphi
      approach, we interviewed 22 international clinical experts in cardiac rhythm
      disorders to formulate EKG guidelines for the pretreatment screening and
      monitoring of cluster headache patients using HDV. RESULTS: The panel agreed only
      on performing pretreatment EKG to screen for pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia.
      Pretreatment EKG was deemed not necessary by most panel members for patients who
      did not have cardiac adverse events during a previous period of cluster headache
      attacks treated with HDV. Half the panel advised Holter EKG for patients on
      verapamil >= 480 mg/day. The highest recommended daily doses varied between 240
      and 960 mg. Contraindications for use of verapamil largely followed FDA
      guidelines. DISCUSSION: Experts in cardiac rhythm disorders agreed on
      pretreatment EKG monitoring, but no consensus was reached on EKG monitoring
      during HDV treatment and around dose adjustments.

PMID- 26868818
TI  - Migraine and endothelial function: The HUNT3 Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reduced endothelial function is associated with elevated risk of
      cardiovascular disease, but evidence on the association between migraine and
      endothelial function is conflicting. The aim of this population-based study was
      to examine the relationship between flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and migraine
      with aura, migraine without aura and tension-type headache. METHODS: In the third
      Nord-Trondelag Healthy Study (HUNT3) FMD was measured by ultrasound during
      reactive hyperaemia of the brachial artery in a sample of 4739 healthy adult
      participants, 3929 of whom answered headache questions. The cross-sectional
      association between different headache diagnoses and FMD was evaluated by
      logistic regression, using a categorical approach. RESULTS: Mean FMD did not
      differ between the headache groups and headache-free controls. In multi-adjusted
      analyses, no consistent association was found between FMD quintiles and headache
      groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between FMD and migraine or other
      headache diagnoses in this large cross-sectional study of otherwise healthy
      respondents including freedom from pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.

PMID- 26868819
TI  - Paenibacillus baekrokdamisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of crater lake.
AB  - A novel bacterial strain, Back-11T, was isolated from sediment soil of a crater
      lake, Baekrokdam, Hallasan, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain Back-11T
      were Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and oxidase- and
      catalase-positive. It contained anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acid,
      menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone,
      diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and four
      unidentified aminophospholipids as the main polar lipids, and meso-diaminopimelic
      acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C
      content was 45.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing,
      showed that strain Back-11T was most closely related to Paenibacillus taihuensis
      THMBG22T (95.5 % similarity) and fell into a clade in the genus Paenibacillus. On
      the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain Back-11T
      represents a novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name
      Paenibacillus baekrokdamisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Back-11T (
      = KCTC 33723T = CECT 8890T). 

PMID- 26868821
TI  - Hypoxic conditions increases H2S-induced ER stress in A2870 cells.
AB  - Hypoxia - a state of lower oxygen demand-is responsible for a higher
      aggressiveness of tumors and therefore a worse prognosis. During hypoxia, several
      metabolic pathways are re-organized, e.g., energetic metabolism, modulation of
      pH, and calcium transport. Calcium is an important second messenger that
      regulates variety of processes in the cell. Thus, aim of this work was to compare
      H2S modulation of the intracellular calcium transport systems in hypoxia and in
      cells grown in standard culture conditions. For all experiments, we used ovarian
      cancer cell line (A2780). H2S is a novel gasotransmitter, known to be involved in
      a modulation of several calcium transport systems, thus resulting in altered
      calcium signaling. Two models of hypoxia were used in our study-chemical (induced
      by dimethyloxallyl glycine) and 2 % O2 hypoxia, both combined with a treatment
      using a slow H2S donor GYY4137. In hypoxia, we observed rapid changes in
      cytosolic and reticular calcium levels compared to cells grown in standard
      culture conditions, and these changes were even more exagerrated when combined
      with the GYY4137. Changes in a calcium homeostasis result from IP3 receptor's up
      regulation and down-regulation of the SERCA 2, which leads to a development of
      the endoplasmic reticulum stress. Based on our results, we propose a higher
      vulnerability of calcium transport systems to H2S regulation under hypoxia.

PMID- 26868822
TI  - Induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha by BDNF protects retinoblastoma
      cells against chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
AB  - Alternations of environment signals such as neurotrophins may be the basis for
      malignant transformation of retinoblastoma (Rb), the most common primary
      intraocular malignancy in children. The aim of this study is to investigate the
      ability of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to decrease the
      chemosensitivity of Rb cells to the common chemotherapeutic agents and to explore
      the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in such cellular
      process. The results showed that BDNF could induce higher expression of HIF
      1alpha via activation of TrkB in human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells, which
      consequently contributed to its effect against chemotherapeutic agent-induced
      cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis. However, this protective effect could be
      potently reversed by knockdown of HIF-1alpha. Furthermore, BDNF strikingly
      prevented chemotherapeutic agent-induced alternations of apoptosis-related
      molecules, which could also be attenuated by silencing HIF-1alpha. Therefore, our
      findings demonstrated that BDNF could contribute to chemoresistance of Rb via
      modulation of HIF-1alpha expression, indicating that targeting at the BDNF
      TrkB/HIF-1alpha signaling pathway might be a promising strategy for the treatment
      of retinoblastoma in the future. 

PMID- 26868823
TI  - [Macroscopic and functional anatomy of the apophyseal plate].
AB  - Apophyses are growth zones attached to the shaft (corpus) of larger bones. They
      vary in size and develop their own ossification centres or form as part of an
      usually fibrocartilaginous tendon or ligament insertion. The structure of the
      cartilaginous apophyseal plate is very similar to that of an epiphyseal growth
      plate and like these they are adapted to withstand perpendicular compressive
      forces without becoming harmed. This is best highlighted by the fact that their
      mineralized borders always orient themselves perpendicular to the overall
      resulting force vector. The edges of the apophyseal plates are characteristically
      bent which allows them to resist moderate shear forces. Like the epiphyseal
      plates the apophyseal plates exhibit a zonal organization which is not very well
      adapted to permanently withstand shear forces, especially if they occur under
      dynamic conditions. In these situations the tendinous insertions with their
      collagen fibre anchoring system have to provide compensation when balancing the
      load transmitted across the system.

PMID- 26868824
TI  - Tyrosine kinase-mediated axial motility of basal cells revealed by intravital
      imaging.
AB  - Epithelial cells are generally considered to be static relative to their
      neighbours. Basal cells in pseudostratified epithelia display a single long
      cytoplasmic process that can cross the tight junction barrier to reach the lumen.
      Using in vivo microscopy to visualize the epididymis, a model system for the
      study of pseudostratified epithelia, we report here the surprising discovery that
      these basal cell projections--which we call axiopodia--periodically extend and
      retract over time. We found that axiopodia extensions and retractions follow an
      oscillatory pattern. This movement, which we refer to as periodic axial motility
      (PAM), is controlled by c-Src and MEK1/2-ERK1/2. Therapeutic inhibition of
      tyrosine kinase activity induces a retraction of these projections. Such
      unexpected cell motility may reflect a novel mechanism by which specialized
      epithelial cells sample the luminal environment.

PMID- 26868825
TI  - Full-field electroretinogram in autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - PURPOSE: To explore early findings that individuals with autism spectrum disorder
      (ASD) have reduced scotopic ERG b-wave amplitudes. METHODS: Light-adapted (LA)
      and dark-adapted (DA) ERGs were produced by a range of flash strengths that
      included and extended the ISCEV standard from two subject groups: a high
      functioning ASD group N = 11 and a Control group N = 15 for DA and N = 14 for LA
      ERGs who were matched for mean age and range. Flash strengths ranged from DA -4.0
      to 2.3 log phot cd s m(-2) and LA -0.5 to 1.0 log phot cd s m(-2), and Naka
      Rushton curves were fitted to DA b-wave amplitude over the first growth limb (
      4.0 to -1.0 log phot cd s m(-2)). The derived parameters (V max, K m and n) were
      compared between groups. Scotopic 15-Hz flicker ERGs (14.93 Hz) were recorded to
      10 flash strengths presented in ascending order from -3.0 to 0.5 log Td s to
      assess the slow and fast rod pathways, respectively. LA 30-Hz flicker ERGs,
      oscillatory potentials (OPs) and the responses to prolonged 120-ms ON-OFF stimuli
      were also recorded. RESULTS: The ISCEV LA b-wave amplitude produced by 0.5 log
      phot cd s m(-2) was lower in the ASD group (p < 0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA
      for the LA b-wave amplitude series forming the photopic hill was significantly (p
      = 0.01) different between groups. No group differences were observed for the
      distributions of the time to peaks of LA a-wave, b-wave or the photopic negative
      responses (phNR) (p > 0.08) to the single flash stimuli, but there was a
      significant difference in the distribution for the LA b-wave amplitudes
      (corrected p = 0.006). The prolonged 120-ms ON responses were smaller in the ASD
      group (corrected p = 0.003), but the OFF response amplitude (p > 0.6) and ON and
      OFF times to peaks (p > 0.4) were similar between groups. The LA OPs showed an
      earlier bifurcation of OP2 in the younger ASD participants; however, no other
      differences were apparent in the OPs or 30-Hz flicker waveforms. DA b-wave
      amplitudes fell below the control 5th centile of the controls for some
      individuals including four ASD participants (36 %) at the 1.5 log phot cd s m(-2)
      flash strength and two (18%) ASD participants at the lower -2 log phot cd s m(-2)
      flash strength. However, across the 13 flash strengths, there were no significant
      group differences for b-wave amplitude's growth (repeated measures ANOVA p =
      0.83). Nor were there any significant differences between the groups for the Naka
      Rushton parameters (p > 0.09). No group differences were observed in the 15-Hz
      scotopic flicker phase or amplitude (p > 0.1), DA ERG a-wave amplitude or time to
      peak (p > 26). The DA b-wave time to peak at 0.5 log phot cd s m(-2) was longer
      in the ASD group (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Under LA conditions, the b-wave is
      reduced across the ASD group, along with the ON response of the prolonged flash
      ERG. Some ASD individuals also show subnormal DA ERG b-wave amplitudes. These
      exploratory findings suggest there is altered cone-ON bipolar signalling in ASD.

PMID- 26868827
TI  - [Design of the ORCA module in the OCEAN study : Evaluation of SD-OCT results in
      daily routine practice].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of blindness as defined by law could be reduced by the
      introduction of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Because
      the treatment is governed by patient needs, mostly using morphological criteria,
      imaging diagnostics are of particular importance. The non-interventional OCEAN
      study investigates the treatment with ranibizumab in the clinical routine
      practice. In a subgroup of patients the interpretation of spectral domain optical
      coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans by the treating physicians will be analyzed
      (ORCA module). METHODS: Over a period of 24 months data from patients with
      exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema due to retinal
      vein occlusion or diabetes mellitus, who are receiving intravitreal injections of
      ranibizumab, will be assessed. Information on examinations, visual acuity,
      treatment and recordings from imaging techniques will be documented using a
      questionnaire. The SD-OCT scans, fluorescence angiography and fundus photography
      will be independently analyzed by the ophthalmologist of the study center and by
      three reading centers (CIRCL Cologne, GRADE Bonn and M3 Munster). Automated
      measurements of retinal thickness by the manufacturers' software will be checked
      and if necessary manually corrected. A qualitative interpretation in terms of
      morphological criteria for (further) treatment will be performed. CONCLUSION: A
      thorough assessment of SD-OCT images during anti-VEGF therapy provides the basis
      for the best possible needs-oriented treatment regimen. The control of the
      quality of data from daily routine practice may indicate possible weaknesses
      allowing explicit training and therefore optimization of patient treatment.

PMID- 26868826
TI  - Bioresorbable scaffolds: a new paradigm in percutaneous coronary intervention.
AB  - Numerous advances and innovative therapies have been introduced in interventional
      cardiology over the recent years, since the first introduction of balloon
      angioplasty, but bioresorbable scaffold is certainly one of the most exciting and
      attracting one. Despite the fact that the metallic drug-eluting stents have
      significantly diminished the re-stenosis ratio, they have considerable
      limitations including the hypersensitivity reaction to the polymer that can cause
      local inflammation, the risk of neo-atherosclerotic lesion formation which can
      lead to late stent failure as well as the fact that they may preclude surgical
      revascularization and distort vessel physiology. Bioresorbable scaffolds overcome
      these limitations as they have the ability to dissolve after providing temporary
      scaffolding which safeguards vessel patency. In this article we review the recent
      developments in the field and provide an overview of the devices and the evidence
      that support their efficacy in the treatment of CAD. Currently 3 devices are CE
      marked and in clinical use. Additional 24 companies are developing these kind of
      coronary devices. Most frequently used material is PLLA followed by magnesium. 

PMID- 26868828
TI  - [Treatment of corneal endothelial disorders by DMEK and UT-DSAEK. Indications,
      complications, results and follow-up].
AB  - Various techniques for posterior lamellar keratoplasty have been established for
      the clinical routine and continuously improved during the last 15 years so that
      an extremely rapid recovery of vision is possible due to very thin transplants.
      Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is the method of choice for
      simple corneal endothelial diseases and has already been applied in complex
      conditions of the anterior segment. The learning curve for DMEK is comparatively
      long and the risk of complications in complex anterior segment pathologies is
      higher than in Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK);
      however, DMEK results in better visual outcome and less graft rejections than
      DSAEK. The latest evolution in posterior lamellar transplant surgery is ultrathin
      DSAEK (UT-DSAEK), where the grafted lamella is much thinner than in conventional
      DSAEK. Currently available data suggest that the resulting visual acuity after UT
      DSAEK is close to the visual acuity seen after DMEK; however, studies comparing
      the results after DMEK and UT-DSAEK are so far lacking. Whether the
      transplantation of these very thin DSAEK grafts also results in endothelial cell
      densities and graft rejection rates comparable to DMEK has to be proven. 

PMID- 26868829
TI  - Group affiliation in self-management: support or threat to identity?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Self-management is considered important in chronic illness, and
      contemporary health policy recommends participation in support groups for
      individuals with chronic conditions. Although withdrawal from or non
      participation in support groups is an important problem, there is limited
      knowledge about individuals' own motivation for participation in or withdrawal
      from self-management support groups. OBJECTIVES: To investigate how individuals
      with type 2 diabetes perceive participation in group-based self-management
      support. DESIGN: This is a qualitative focus group study using a semi-structured
      interview guide. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen participants diagnosed with
      type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Individuals with and without group
      affiliations were mixed in three focus groups to trigger discussions. In the
      analysis, reoccurring themes of engagement and discussions between participants
      were focused within a theoretical frame of institutional logic. The focus groups
      are seen as social spaces where participants construct identity. RESULTS: Both
      participation and non-participation in group-based self-management support are
      associated with dealing with the stigma of having type 2 diabetes. Negotiations
      contribute to constructing an illness dignity as a response to the logic of moral
      responsibility for the disease. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Contemporary policy
      contributes to societal understandings of individuals with type 2 diabetes as
      morally inadequate. Our study shows that group-based self-management support may
      counteract blame and contribute in negotiations of identity for individuals with
      type 2 diabetes. This mechanism makes participation in groups beneficial for some
      but stigma inducing for others.

PMID- 26868830
TI  - Detection of frailty in elderly cancer patients: Improvement of the G8 screening
      test.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The G8 is a screening test to identify frail elderly patients with
      cancer. Objectives were to design and evaluate the performance of alternative
      tests taking into account other predictive domains for frailty. METHODS: We
      conducted a literature review to identify predictive factors of frailty. Using a
      Delphi consensus, we collected 24 European experts' opinions to validate the most
      relevant items to improve the G8. Alternative tests were created and performance
      assessed on a development population (ONCODAGE cohort). The highest performing
      test was compared to the G8, and validated through both an internal and an
      external population validation (Aquitaine Geriatric Oncology cohort). RESULTS:
      The study population consisted of 1435 patients (ONCODAGE cohort) and 364
      patients (Aquitaine Geriatric Oncology cohort). Twenty-three experts validated
      two items with a strong consensus (>75%): modification of the threshold for the
      G8 polypharmacy item to six drugs per day and replacement of the G8 item on
      neuropsychological problems by four Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
      (IADL) items predictive of incident dementia, creating three modified G8 tests
      (addition of either item, or both). Only the G8 IADL-modified test had better
      performance than the G8 when tested on the ONCODAGE cohort: sensitivity=77%,
      specificity=67%. This test was validated on the internal (sensitivity=78%,
      specificity=71%) and external (sensitivity=88%, specificity=69%) validation
      populations. CONCLUSION: Adding the four IADL items improves the performance of
      the G8. We have developed and validated a G8-modified test that is more specific
      than the G8 to detect frail elderly, while still sensitive and feasible in less
      than 10 min.

PMID- 26868831
TI  - Thrombocytopaenia as a Prognostic Indicator in Heart Failure with Reduced
      Ejection Fraction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that thrombocytopaenia is associated with a higher
      mortality in several diseases. Little is known about the effect of low platelet
      count on mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
      (HFrEF). The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of
      thrombocytopaenia in these patients by assessing all-cause mortality. METHODS: A
      total of 1,907 patients with HFrEF, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction
      <40% on echocardiography, were analysed in this multi-centre retrospective study.
      All patients were on medical therapy with a beta-blocker and an angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitor. Patients were categorised into two groups based on
      platelet count measured within one month of the diagnosis of HFrEF: normal to
      mild thrombocytopaenia (platelet count 100,000-450,000 per uL); and moderate to
      severe thrombocytopaenia (platelet count <100,000 per uL). One-year all-cause
      mortality was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 65+/-15
      years and 62% of patients were male. Overall one-year mortality was 17.2% with
      higher mortality among patients with HFrEF and moderate/severe thrombocytopaenia
      compared to those with normal/mild thrombocytopaenia (33.0% vs. 15.4%, p <0.001).
      After adjusting for baseline characteristics, patients with HFrEF and
      moderate/severe thrombocytopaenia had a higher mortality compared to patients
      with normal/mild thrombocytopaenia (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.33-2.56, p <0.001).
      CONCLUSION: In patients with HFrEF, higher degree of thrombocytopaenia is
      associated with higher all-cause mortality. These findings may support the use of
      platelet counts as a prognostic marker in the assessment of the patient with
      HFrEF.

PMID- 26868832
TI  - The interplay among temperament, neuropsychological abilities, and global
      functioning in young hyperactive/inattentive children.
AB  - Cognition and emotion have been shown to interact and influence psychological
      functioning. However, to date these interactions have only been examined cross
      sectionally among inattentive and/or hyperactive/impulsive children. This study
      investigated the moderating effects of neuropsychological functioning at age 3-4
      years on the relation between negative emotionality at age 3-4 years and global
      functioning 1 year later, at age 4-5 years. Hyperactive/inattentive (H/I; n =
      114) preschoolers entered the study (BL: baseline) and were seen again 1 year
      later (F1). Children's BL scores on a neuropsychological test (NEPSY) and their
      temperament as rated by parents (Child Behavior Questionnaire) and teachers
      (Temperament Assessment Battery for Children-Revised) were obtained, as were
      clinicians' ratings of their global functioning (Children's Global Assessment
      Scale) at F1. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that BL
      temperament variables accounted for significant variance in F1 Global
      Functioning. Significant interactions indicated that higher Verbal Executive
      abilities were associated with better child functioning when parent-rated
      Effortful Control was high, but not when Effortful Control was low. Additionally,
      high levels of Nonverbal Executive skills were associated with higher child
      global functioning when both parent- and teacher-rated negative affect was low,
      but not when negative affect was high.

PMID- 26868820
TI  - Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale variants in mild
      cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease: change over time and the
      effect of enrichment strategies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Development of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has
      broadened into early interventions in individuals with modest cognitive
      impairment and a slow decline. The 11-item version of the Alzheimer's Disease
      Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) was originally developed to
      measure cognition in patients with mild to moderate AD. Attempts to improve its
      properties for early AD by removing items prone to ceiling and/or by adding
      cognitive measures known to be impaired early have yielded a number of ADAS-Cog
      variants. Using Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data, we compared the
      performance of the 3-, 5-, 11- and 13-item ADAS-Cog variants in subjects with
      early AD. Given the interest in enrichment strategies, we also examined this
      aspect with a focus on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers. METHODS: Subjects with
      mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild AD with available ADAS-Cog 13 and CSF
      data were analysed. The decline over time was defined by change from baseline.
      Direct cross-comparison of the ADAS-Cog variants was performed using the signal
      to-noise ratio (SNR), with higher values reflecting increased sensitivity to
      detect change over time. RESULTS: The decline over time on any of the ADAS-Cog
      variants was minimal in subjects with MCI. Approximately half of subjects with
      MCI fulfilled enrichment criteria for positive AD pathology. The impact of
      enrichment was detectable but subtle in MCI. The annual decline in mild AD was
      more pronounced but still modest. More than 90 % of subjects with mild AD had
      positive AD pathology. SNRs were low in MCI but greater in mild AD. The
      numerically largest SNRs were seen for the ADAS-Cog 5 in MCI and for both the 5-
      and 13-item ADAS-Cog variants in mild AD, although associated confidence
      intervals were large. CONCLUSIONS: The possible value of ADAS-Cog expansion or
      reduction is less than compelling, particularly in MCI. In mild AD, adding items
      known to be impaired at early stages seems to provide more benefit than removing
      items on which subjects score close to ceiling.

PMID- 26868833
TI  - [Planned children--supporting and inhibiting influences on the development of
      personality and relationships after technology-assisted reproduction].
AB  - In the western industrial countries more and more couples with an unfulfilled
      desire for a child use assisted reproductive technology (ART). This focusses on
      physical processes and doesn't sufficiently provide necessary supportive
      psychological/psychotherapeutic guidance.Neglecting the psychological dimension
      causes ART to enhance the risk for negative processes of emotional development of
      a child.After a brief overview of prevalence and summarizing the legal situation
      three areas will be discussed which involve a high risk potential and their
      influences on relationship- and personality development will be described: * The
      psychological burden for potential parents during the treatment. * Wishes of
      perfection and high expectations concerning the child which can turn normative
      crises into severe problems. * The frequent handling of the treatment as a taboo
      which can become a destructive family secret between parents and child.The paper
      will conclude with thoughts concerning prevention and treatment.Every person
      working in the field of childhood and adolescence can contribute to a healthy
      psychological development of these children. This means acknowledging and working
      through the emotional burden and the wishes and explaining about the dangers of
      taboos like in foster care and adoption.

PMID- 26868834
TI  - Quality of care and its determinants in longer term mental health facilities
      across Europe; a cross-sectional analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Quality Indicator for Rehabilitative Care (QuIRC) is an
      international, standardised quality tool for the evaluation of mental health
      facilities that provide longer term care. Completed by the service manager, it
      comprises 145 items that assess seven domains of care: living environment;
      treatments and interventions; therapeutic environment; self-management and
      autonomy; social interface; human rights; and recovery based practice. We used
      the QuIRC to investigate associations between characteristics of longer term
      mental health facilities across Europe and the quality of care they delivered to
      service patients. METHODS: QuIRC assessments were completed for 213 longer term
      mental health units in ten countries that were at various stages of
      deinstitutionalisation of their mental health services. Associations between
      QuIRC domain scores and unit descriptive variables were explored using simple and
      multiple linear regression that took into account clustering at the unit and
      country level. RESULTS: We found wide variation in QuIRC domain scores between
      individual units, but across countries, fewer than a quarter scored below 50 % on
      any domains. The quality of care was higher in units that were smaller, of mixed
      sex, that had a defined expected maximum length of stay and in which not all
      patients were severely disabled. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time longer term
      mental health units across a number of European countries have been compared
      using a standardised measure. Further use of the QuIRC will allow greater
      understanding of the quality of care in these units across Europe and provide an
      opportunity to monitor pan-European quality standards of care for this vulnerable
      patient group.

PMID- 26868836
TI  - Subtropical Potential Vorticity Intrusion Drives Increasing Tropospheric Ozone
      over the Tropical Central Pacific.
AB  - Drawn from multiple reanalysis datasets, an increasing trend and westward shift
      in the number of Potential Vorticity intrusion events over the Pacific are
      evident. The increased frequency can be linked to a long-term trend in upper
      tropospheric equatorial westerly wind and subtropical jets during boreal winter
      to spring. These may be resulting from anomalous warming and cooling over the
      western Pacific warm pool and the tropical eastern Pacific, respectively. The
      intrusions brought dry and ozone rich air of stratospheric origin deep into the
      tropics. In the tropical upper troposphere, interannual ozone variability is
      mainly related to convection associated with El Nino/Southern Oscillation. Zonal
      mean stratospheric overturning circulation organizes the transport of ozone rich
      air poleward and downward to the high and midlatitudes leading there to higher
      ozone concentration. In addition to these well described mechanisms, we observe a
      long-term increasing trend in ozone flux over the northern hemispheric outer
      tropical (10-25 degrees N) central Pacific that results from equatorward
      transport and downward mixing from the midlatitude upper troposphere and lower
      stratosphere during PV intrusions. This increase in tropospheric ozone flux over
      the Pacific Ocean may affect the radiative processes and changes the budget of
      atmospheric hydroxyl radicals. 

PMID- 26868835
TI  - Psychometric properties of the positive mental health instrument among people
      with mental disorders: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Positive Mental Health (PMH) instrument was developed and
      validated to assess the level of PMH and its six dimensions in a multi-ethnic
      general population sample. This cross-sectional study examines the psychometric
      properties of the instrument for assessing the level of PMH among help-seeking
      patients with mental disorders. METHODS: The PMH instrument was tested among 360
      out-patients with schizophrenia, depression or anxiety spectrum disorders,
      seeking treatment at a tertiary psychiatric hospital and its affiliated clinics
      in Singapore. All participants completed the PMH instrument along with measures
      of life satisfaction, mental and overall health and happiness. Reliability
      (internal consistency), construct (Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling
      (ESEM)) and criterion (convergent and divergent) validity of the PMH instrument
      were tested in this population. Items were also tested for item response theory
      and differential item functioning (IRT-DIF). RESULTS: ESEM on the PMH instrument
      showed good fit with the model reflecting six factors (general coping, personal
      growth and autonomy, spirituality, interpersonal skills, emotional support, and
      global affect). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha >0.85) for the
      instrument and its six subscales. The PMH instrument fulfilled expected
      correlations with related constructs and demonstrated adequate item
      discrimination and difficulty estimates; however, significant DIF was noted for
      few items for age, gender and ethnicity groups. CONCLUSIONS: The PMH instrument
      is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring PMH dimensions in patients with
      mental disorders. Further studies in larger samples are needed to assess the
      impact of DIF on PMH scores. The implications for the shift in focus from just
      the negative aspects of mental disorders to including positive components in the
      assessment of patients with mental disorders are immense, and can be applied in
      routine mental health practice and policy making.

PMID- 26868837
TI  - What to Think About Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Infective Endocarditis.

PMID- 26868838
TI  - The Role of Regional Oxygen Saturation Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Blood
      Lactate Levels as Early Predictors of Outcome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between
      regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) desaturation score (calculated by multiplying
      the rSO2 < 50% by time in seconds the preoperative baseline value) measured with
      near-infrared spectroscopy and the peak of lactate with postoperative major
      morbidities in pediatric patients who undergo cardiac surgery. METHODS: We
      retrospectively analyzed the postoperative course of 152 patients between January
      2012 and December 2013, for whom we continuously monitored cerebral rSO2 using
      near-infrared spectroscopy and serial arterial blood lactate levels for at least
      48 hours. RESULTS: The median age at surgery was 128 days (interquartile range
      [IQR], 17-537 days). Thirty-nine patients had a single ventricle physiology (26%)
      and 135 patients (89%) required the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (median time of
      130 minutes; IQR, 93-172 minutes). Median postoperative peak lactate level was 3
      mmol/L (IQR, 2-5.3 mmol/L); 52 patients (34%) had a postoperative lactate level >
      4.6 mmol/L. The median postoperative rSO2 desaturation score was 157 (IQR, 0
      2050); 62 patients (41%) had an rSO2 desaturation score > 345. Fifty-seven
      patients (37%) had postoperative major morbidities. Using a multivariable
      regression model only rSO2 desaturation score > 345 was independently associated
      with major morbidities after surgery (odds ratio, 27.26; 95% confidence interval,
      10.18-73.00). The proportion of patients with an rSO2 desaturation score > 345
      within 240 minutes after surgery was higher than the rate of those who showed a
      peak of lactate > 4.6 mmol/L (84% vs 59%; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The
      postoperative rSO2 desaturation score has a stronger association with major
      postoperative morbidities than lactate and it also provides an earlier warning
      sign of hemodynamic or metabolic compromise.

PMID- 26868839
TI  - Risks and Benefits of Exercise Training in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - Exercise capacity in adults with various forms of congenital heart disease is
      substantially lower than that of the general population. Although the underlying
      congenital heart defect, and its sequelae, certainly contribute to observed
      exercise limitations, there is evidence suggesting that deconditioning and a
      sedentary lifestyle are important implicated factors. The prevalence of acquired
      cardiovascular comorbidities is on the increase in the aging population with
      congenital heart disease, such that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle confer
      increased risk. Health fears and misconceptions are common barriers to regular
      physical activity in adults with congenital heart disease, despite evidence
      linking lower functional capacity to poor outcomes, and data supporting the
      safety and efficacy of exercise in bestowing numerous physical and psychosocial
      rewards. With few exceptions, adults with congenital heart disease should be
      counselled to exercise regularly. In this contemporary review, we provide a
      practical approach to assessing adults with congenital heart disease before
      exercise training. We examine available evidence supporting the safety and
      benefits of exercise training. Risks associated with exercise training in adults
      with congenital heart disease are discussed, particularly with regard to sudden
      cardiac death. Finally, recommendations for exercise training are provided, with
      consideration for the type of congenital heart disease, the nature (ie, static vs
      dynamic) and intensity (ie, low, medium, high) of the physical activity, and
      associated factors such as systemic ventricular dysfunction and residual defects.
      Further research is required to determine optimal exercise regimens and to
      identify effective strategies to implement exercise training as a key determinant
      of healthy living. 

PMID- 26868840
TI  - Infective Endocarditis Hospitalizations Before and After the 2007 American Heart
      Association Prophylaxis Guidelines.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2007, the American Heart Association (AHA) published revised
      guidelines for infective endocarditis (IE) prophylaxis. Population-based data
      with respect to the potential impact of these revised guidelines are lacking.
      METHODS: The Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract
      Database was used to identify all hospitalizations between April 2002 and March
      2013 having IE as a primary diagnosis. Hospitalization rates were determined
      using age-specific population data from Statistics Canada. Interrupted time
      series analysis was used to evaluate changes in the slope of hospitalization
      rates after the AHA guidelines were published. RESULTS: There were 9431
      hospitalizations during the study period among 8055 patients (63% male patients).
      Time trend analysis showed an increase of 0.05 IE hospitalizations per 10 million
      population per month (95% confidence interval, 0.005-0.09; P = 0.029) from April
      2002-March 2007 and an increase of 0.07 IE hospitalizations per 10 million
      population per month from April 2007-March 2013 (interaction P = 0.5213). Change
      point analysis showed that a change in the slope occurred in April 2011, 4 years
      after publication of the revised AHA guidelines. Staphylococcus aureus was the
      most commonly reported organism (29.4%). Streptococcal infections decreased over
      time, beginning before the 2007 guidelines (P < 0.0001). The presence of a
      pacemaker or defibrillator was an increasingly prevalent risk factor over time
      (4% increase per year; P = 0.0178). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of IE hospitalizations
      increased in Canada before and after the publication of the 2007 AHA guidelines,
      with no significant change in slope after 2007. These guidelines had no impact on
      the incidence of IE hospitalizations.

PMID- 26868842
TI  - The relationship between the sensation of incomplete voiding and a high postvoid
      residual volume.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that voiding symptoms do not correlate with a high
      postvoid residual volume. It is important to have clinical tools that help make
      early and effective decisions during the initial consultation. OBJECTIVE: To
      assess the validity and degree of concordance between the sensation of incomplete
      voiding and high postvoid residual volume. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional
      study of patients who underwent uroflowmetry (UFM) and postvoid residual volume
      (PVR) measurement due to lower urinary tract symptoms, with simultaneous scoring
      of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the International Consultation on
      Incontinence Questionnaire - Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) or
      Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-MLUTS) during 2014-2015. We analysed the
      relationship between these data and the postvoid residual volume. RESULTS: The
      study included 303 patients, 75 (24.8%) of whom were women and 228 (75.2%) of
      whom were men. The mean age was 60.9 years (SD, 15.8), and the mean Qmax was
      14.47mL/s (SD, 9.6). Sixty (19.8%) patients had a high PVR. We detected 240
      (79.2%) patients with sensations of incomplete voiding (SIV), but its presence
      was not associated with a high PVR in the population. For the SIV, the
      sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive
      and negative likelihood ratios were 81.6%, 21.3%, 20.4%, 82.5%, 1.03 and 0.85,
      respectively. The area under the curve for the frequency of SIV was 0.52 (95%CI,
      0.44-0.60, P=.5). The degree of concordance between SIV and high PVR was 0.014
      (P=.6). In the ICIQ-MLUTS, PVR correlated with intermittence (Rho=0.132, P=.043)
      but not with SIV (Rho=0.09, P=.15). In the ICIQ-FLUTS, the frequency of urinary
      incontinence was positively correlated with PVR (Rho=0.216, P=.026). CONCLUSIONS:
      The sensation of incomplete voiding is not associated with a high postvoid
      residual volume. Other variables such as symptom severity, urinary effort and
      total score for voiding symptoms can be associated with a high residual urine
      volume.

PMID- 26868841
TI  - Selective inhibition of EZH2 by ZLD1039 blocks H3K27 methylation and leads to
      potent anti-tumor activity in breast cancer.
AB  - Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a candidate oncogenic driver due to its
      prevalent overexpression and aberrant repression of tumor suppressor genes in
      diverse cancers. Therefore, blocking EZH2 enzyme activity may present a valid
      therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancers with EZH2 overexpression
      including breast cancers. Here, we described ZLD1039 a potent, highly selective,
      and orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of EZH2, which inhibited breast
      tumor growth and metastasis. ZLD1039 considerably inhibited EZH2
      methyltransferase activity with nanomolar potency, decreased global histone-3
      lysine-27 (H3K27) methylation, and reactivated silenced tumor suppressors
      connected to increased survival of patients with breast cancer. Comparable to
      conditional silencing of EZH2, its inhibition by ZLD1039 decreased cell
      proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and induced apoptosis. Comparably, treatment of
      xenograft-bearing mice with ZLD1039 led to tumor growth regression and metastasis
      inhibition. These data confirmed the dependency of breast cancer progression on
      EZH2 activity and the usefulness of ZLD1039 as a promising treatment for breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26868843
TI  - Artemia salina as a new index for assessment of acute cytotoxicity during co
      composting of sewage sludge and lignocellulose waste.
AB  - Considering the necessity to constantly monitor the safety of use of sewage
      sludge, we have focused on evaluating the toxicity of raw sludge and sludge
      treated by co-composting with date palm waste using an in vitro assessment of
      cytotoxicity based on Artemia salina larvae as a simple new sensitive and
      reliable routine test. The efficiency of co-composting in decreasing sludge
      toxicity was evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity abatement reaching 100% by the
      second month of composting for mixture A (1/3 sludge+2/3 date palm waste) and the
      third month for mixture B (1/2 sludge+1/2 date palm waste). Cytotoxicity
      abatement was confirmed by the increase of germination index, which reached over
      100% with positive correlation for lettuce (R(2)=0.81 and 0.86) and for turnip
      (R(2)=0.87 and 0.74) for mixtures A and B respectively. A strong correlation
      between the proposed cytotoxicity test and the evolution of regulatory physical
      chemical approaches was found, (R(2)=0.88 and 0.89) for NH4(+)/NO3(-) and
      (R(2)=0.80 and 0.88) for C/N respectively for mixture A and B. These findings
      allow the inexpensive bioassay reported to be used as a highly sensitive test to
      determine the cytotoxicity and maturity of composts. 

PMID- 26868844
TI  - Content-based image retrieval system for solid waste bin level detection and
      performance evaluation.
AB  - This paper presents a CBIR system to investigate the use of image retrieval with
      an extracted texture from the image of a bin to detect the bin level. Various
      similarity distances like Euclidean, Bhattacharyya, Chi-squared, Cosine, and EMD
      are used with the CBIR system for calculating and comparing the distance between
      a query image and the images in a database to obtain the highest performance. In
      this study, the performance metrics is based on two quantitative evaluation
      criteria. The first one is the average retrieval rate based on the precision
      recall graph and the second is the use of F1 measure which is the weighted
      harmonic mean of precision and recall. In case of feature extraction, texture is
      used as an image feature for bin level detection system. Various experiments are
      conducted with different features extraction techniques like Gabor wavelet
      filter, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), and gray level aura matrix (GLAM)
      to identify the level of the bin and its surrounding area. Intensive tests are
      conducted among 250 bin images to assess the accuracy of the proposed feature
      extraction techniques. The average retrieval rate is used to evaluate the
      performance of the retrieval system. The result shows that, the EMD distance
      achieved high accuracy and provides better performance than the other distances.

PMID- 26868845
TI  - Characterizing the variability of food waste quality: A need for efficient
      valorisation through anaerobic digestion.
AB  - In order to determine the variability of food waste (FW) characteristics and the
      influence of these variable values on the anaerobic digestion (AD) process, FW
      characteristics from 70 papers were compiled and analysed statistically. Results
      indicated that FW characteristics values are effectively very variable and that
      24% of these variations may be explained by the geographical origin, the type of
      collection source and the season of the collection. Considering the whole range
      of values for physicochemical characteristics (especially volatile solids (VS),
      chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biomethane potential (BMP)), FW show good
      potential for AD treatment. However, the high carbohydrates contents (36.4%VS)
      and the low pH (5.1) might cause inhibitions by the rapid acidification of the
      digesters. As regards the variation of FW characteristics, FW categories were
      proposed. Moreover, the adequacy of FW characteristics with AD treatment was
      discussed. Four FW categories were identified with critical characteristics
      values for AD performance: (1) the high dry matter (DM) and total ammonia
      nitrogen (TAN) content of FW collected with green waste, (2) the high cellulose
      (CEL) content of FW from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, (3) the
      low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of FW collected during summer, (4) the high
      value of TAN and Na of FW from Asia. For these cases, an aerobic pre-treatment or
      a corrective treatment seems to be advised to avoid instabilities along the
      digestion. Finally, the results of this review-paper provide a data basis of
      values for FW characteristics that could be used for AD process design and
      environmental assessment. 

PMID- 26868846
TI  - Optimal management of substrates in anaerobic co-digestion: An ant colony
      algorithm approach.
AB  - Sewage sludge (SWS) is inevitably produced in urban wastewater treatment plants
      (WWTPs). The treatment of SWS on site at small WWTPs is not economical;
      therefore, the SWS is typically transported to an alternative SWS treatment
      center. There is increased interest in the use of anaerobic digestion (AnD) with
      co-digestion as an SWS treatment alternative. Although the availability of
      different co-substrates has been ignored in most of the previous studies, it is
      an essential issue for the optimization of AnD co-digestion. In a pioneering
      approach, this paper applies an Ant-Colony-Optimization (ACO) algorithm that
      maximizes the generation of biogas through AnD co-digestion in order to optimize
      the discharge of organic waste from different waste sources in real-time. An
      empirical application is developed based on a virtual case study that involves
      organic waste from urban WWTPs and agrifood activities. The results illustrate
      the dominate role of toxicity levels in selecting contributions to the AnD input.
      The methodology and case study proposed in this paper demonstrate the usefulness
      of the ACO approach in supporting a decision process that contributes to
      improving the sustainability of organic waste and SWS management. 

PMID- 26868847
TI  - Evaluation of a new pulping technology for pre-treating source-separated organic
      household waste prior to anaerobic digestion.
AB  - A new technology for pre-treating source-separated organic household waste prior
      to anaerobic digestion was assessed, and its performance was compared to existing
      alternative pre-treatment technologies. This pre-treatment technology is based on
      waste pulping with water, using a specially developed screw mechanism. The pre
      treatment technology rejects more than 95% (wet weight) of non-biodegradable
      impurities in waste collected from households and generates biopulp ready for
      anaerobic digestion. Overall, 84-99% of biodegradable material (on a dry weight
      basis) in the waste was recovered in the biopulp. The biochemical methane
      potential for the biopulp was 469 +/- 7 mL CH4/g ash-free mass. Moreover, all
      Danish and European Union requirements regarding the content of hazardous
      substances in biomass intended for land application were fulfilled. Compared to
      other pre-treatment alternatives, the screw-pulping technology showed higher
      biodegradable material recovery, lower electricity consumption and comparable
      water consumption. The higher material recovery achieved with the technology was
      associated with greater transfer of nutrients (N and P), carbon (total and
      biogenic) but also heavy metals (except Pb) to the produced biomass. The data
      generated in this study could be used for the environmental assessment of the
      technology and thus help in selecting the best pre-treatment technology for
      source separated organic household waste.

PMID- 26868848
TI  - 13C Pathway Analysis for the Role of Formate in Electricity Generation by
      Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 Using Lactate in Microbial Fuel Cells.
AB  - Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for direct electricity
      generation from organics by microorganisms. The type of electron donors fed into
      MFCs affects the electrical performance, and mechanistic understanding of such
      effects is important to optimize the MFC performance. In this study, we used a
      model organism in MFCs, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and (13)C pathway analysis to
      investigate the role of formate in electricity generation and the related
      microbial metabolism. Our results indicated a synergistic effect of formate and
      lactate on electricity generation, and extra formate addition on the original
      lactate resulted in more electrical output than using formate or lactate as a
      sole electron donor. Based on the (13)C tracer analysis, we discovered decoupled
      cell growth and electricity generation in S. oneidensis MR-1 during co
      utilization of lactate and formate (i.e., while the lactate was mainly
      metabolized to support the cell growth, the formate was oxidized to release
      electrons for higher electricity generation). To our best knowledge, this is the
      first time that (13)C tracer analysis was applied to study microbial metabolism
      in MFCs and it was demonstrated to be a valuable tool to understand the metabolic
      pathways affected by electron donors in the selected electrochemically-active
      microorganisms.

PMID- 26868849
TI  - Short-term chemical pretreatment cannot replace curettage in photodynamic
      therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Guidelines for photodynamic therapy (PDT) recommend pretreatment with
      curettage/debulking to enhance intracellular formation of protoporphyrin IX
      (PpIX). However, studies suggest that new chemical pretreatment procedures may
      replace curettage/debulking. PURPOSE: To investigate how pretreatment with
      curettage and two combination ointments containing calcipotriol/betamethasone and
      salicylic acid/betamethasone affect PpIX fluorescence after the application of
      methyl aminolevulinate MAL and 5-aminolevulinic acid (BF-200 ALA). METHODS: Four
      fields on the forearms of 30 healthy volunteers were pretreated with curettage or
      short-term application of calcipotriol/betamethasone or salicylic
      acid/betamethasone for 20 min. Two fields were not pretreated, thus serving as
      reference. After pretreatment, MAL or BF-200 ALA was applied for 24 h, and PpIX
      fluorescence was measured hourly from 1 to 5 h and after 18, 21 and 24 h.
      RESULTS: Curettage significantly enhanced PpIX fluorescence for MAL from 1 to 21
      h (P < 0.0041). For BF-200 ALA, curettage enhanced fluorescence from 1 to 5 h (P
      < 0.000064), while fluorescence was lower from 18 to 24 h. Pretreatment with
      salicylic acid/betamethasone and calcipotriol/betamethasone before BF-200 ALA
      application did not increase PpIX fluorescence from 1 to 5 h compared to no
      pretreatment, and both were significantly inferior to curettage (P < 0.0017 and
      0.0024, respectively). CONCLUSION: Curettage significantly enhances PpIX
      fluorescence from 1 to 5 h and is superior to short-term chemical pretreatment.
      Our results support curettage as standard pretreatment in PDT.

PMID- 26868850
TI  - Image-Guided High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy in Cervix Carcinoma Using Balloon
      Catheter and Belt Immobilization System.
AB  - PURPOSE: The efficacy of image-guided high-dose rate brachytherapy for cervical
      cancer is limited by the ineffective rectal sparing devices available
      commercially and the potential applicator movement. We developed a novel device
      using a balloon catheter and a belt immobilization system, serving for rectal
      dose reduction and applicator immobilization purposes, respectively. METHODS: The
      balloon catheter is constructed by gluing a short inflatable tube to a long
      regular open-end catheter. Contrast agent (10) cm3 is injected into the
      inflatable end, which is affixed to the tandem and ring applicator, to displace
      the posterior vaginal wall. The belt immobilization system consists of a
      specially designed bracket that can hold and fix itself to the applicator, a
      diaper-like Velcro fastener package used for connecting the patient's pelvis to
      the bracket, and a buckle that holds the fasteners to stabilize the whole system.
      The treatment data for 21 patients with cervical cancer using both balloon
      catheter and belt immobilization system were retrospectively analyzed. Computed
      tomography and magnetic resonance images, acquired about 30 minutes apart, were
      registered to evaluate the effectiveness of the immobilization system. RESULTS:
      In comparison with a virtual rectal blade, the balloon decreased the rectal point
      dose by 34% +/- 4.2% (from 276 +/- 57 to 182 +/- 38 cGy), corresponding to an
      extra sparing distance of 7.9 +/- 1.1 mm. The maximum sparing distance variation
      per patient is 1.4 +/- 0.6 mm, indicating the high interfractional
      reproducibility for rectum sparing. With the immobilization system, the mean
      translational and rotational displacements of the applicator set are <3 mm and
      <1.5 degrees , respectively, in all directions. CONCLUSIONS: The rectal balloon
      provides significant dose reduction to the rectum and it may potentially minimize
      patient discomfort. The immobilization system permits almost no movement of the
      applicator during treatment. This work has the potential to be promoted as a
      standardized solution for high-dose rate treatment of cervical cancer.

PMID- 26868852
TI  - [Acute pain therapy: no resting on our laurels].

PMID- 26868851
TI  - miR-139 Functions as An Antioncomir to Repress Glioma Progression Through
      Targeting IGF-1 R, AMY-1, and PGC-1beta.
AB  - Gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis,
      characterized by a highly heterogeneous cell population, extensive proliferation,
      and migration. A lot of molecular mechanisms regulate gliomas development and
      invasion, including abnormal expression of oncogenes and variation of epigenetic
      modification. MicroRNAs could affect cell growth and functions. Several reports
      have demonstrated that miR-139 plays multifunctions in kinds of solid tumors
      through different pathways. However, the antitumor mechanisms of this miR-139 are
      not unveiled in detail. In this study, we not only validated the low expression
      level of miR-139 in glioma tissues and cell lines but also detected the effect of
      miR-139 on modulating gliomas proliferation and invasion both in vitro and in
      vivo. We identified insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, associate of Myc 1,
      and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1beta as direct
      targets of miR-139 and the levels of them were all inversely correlated with miR
      139 in gliomas. Insulin like growth factor 1 receptor promoted gliomas invasion
      through Akt signaling and increased proliferation in the peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor gamma coactivator 1beta-dependent way. Associate of Myc 1 also
      facilitated gliomas progression by activating c-Myc pathway. Overexpression of
      the target genes could retrieve the antitumor function of miR-139, respectively,
      in different degrees. The nude mice transplantation tumor experiment displayed
      that glioma cells stably expressed miR-139 growth much slower in vivo than the
      negative control cells. Taken together, these findings suggested miR-139 acted as
      a favorable factor against gliomas progression and uncovered a novel regulatory
      mechanism, which may provide a new evidenced prognostic marker and therapeutic
      target for gliomas.

PMID- 26868853
TI  - [How organized acute pain therapy in Germany began].

PMID- 26868854
TI  - [Therapy recommendations in a pediatric outpatient pain clinic : Adherence and
      effectiveness of implementation].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Supplementary pain-related recommendations for the treatment of
      chronic pain in children and adolescents are an essential component of multimodal
      pain treatment. Studies are scarce regarding adherence to these recommendations
      and their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient
      adherence to pain-related recommendations and their effectiveness 12 months after
      initial presentation of children and adolescents with chronic pain to a pediatric
      outpatient pain clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 413 patients were
      assessed using a structured telephone interview. The assessment included pain
      characteristics during the last 4 weeks as well as information regarding the
      implementation of the pain-related recommendations and the effectiveness. Due to
      different recommendations given to migraine patients this subgroup was dealt with
      separately. RESULTS: Patients reported significant improvements 12 months after
      the initial presentation and 29.5 % of the patients were pain free. Adherence
      levels and estimated effectiveness regarding recommendations, such as change of
      lifestyle, multimodal inpatient treatment and use of medication were high. Other
      recommendations, such as active relaxation and outpatient psychotherapy had low
      adherence levels and low estimated effectiveness. Migraine patients had a
      significantly higher adherence rate and estimated effectiveness regarding the
      recommendation use of medication than non-migraine patients. CONCLUSION: The
      adherence level as well as the estimated effectiveness regarding the majority of
      pain-related recommendations was high. Some recommendations had low adherence
      rates and low estimated effectiveness. These results can help to further improve
      the performance of outpatient clinics for children and adolescents with chronic
      pain.

PMID- 26868855
TI  - Tightening slip knots in raw and degummed silk to increase toughness without
      losing strength.
AB  - Knots are fascinating topological elements, which can be found in both natural
      and artificial systems. While in most of the cases, knots cannot be loosened
      without breaking the strand where they are tightened, herein, attention is
      focused on slip or running knots, which on the contrary can be unfastened without
      compromising the structural integrity of their hosting material. Two different
      topologies are considered, involving opposite unfastening mechanisms, and their
      influence on the mechanical properties of natural fibers, as silkworm silk raw
      and degummed single fibers, is investigated and quantified. Slip knots with
      optimized shape and size result in a significant enhancement of fibers energy
      dissipation capability, up to 300-400%, without affecting their load bearing
      capacity. 

PMID- 26868856
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26868857
TI  - Painful Violaceous Purpura on a 44-Year-Old Woman.

PMID- 26868858
TI  - Eyelid Swelling and Proptosis with Systemic Implications.

PMID- 26868859
TI  - A Rare Cause of Large Bowel Obstruction.

PMID- 26868860
TI  - Fabrication of Thickness-Controllable Micropatterned Polyelectrolyte
      Film/Nanoparticle Surfaces by Using the Plasma Oxidation Method.
AB  - We have demonstrated a novel way to form thickness-controllable polyelectrolyte
      film/nanoparticle patterns by using a plasma etching technique to form, first, a
      patterned self-assembled monolayer surface, followed by layer-by-layer assembly
      of polyelectrolyte-films/nanoparticles. Octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS) and (3
      aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were used
      for polyelectrolyte-film and nanoparticle patterning, respectively. The
      resolution of the proposed patterning method can easily reach approximately 2.5
      MUm. The height of the groove structure was tunable from approximately 2.5 to 150
      nm. The suspended lipid membrane across the grooves was fabricated by incubating
      the patterned polyelectrolyte groove arrays in solutions of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn
      glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The method
      demonstrated here reveals a new path to create patterned 2D or 3D structures. 

PMID- 26868861
TI  - Post-Gastric Bypass Hypoglycemia.
AB  - Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Obesity-related illnesses,
      such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia,
      stroke, sleep apnea, and several forms of cancer (endometrial, breast, and
      colon), contribute to a significant number of deaths in the USA. Bariatric
      surgery, including the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedure, has
      demonstrated significant improvements in obesity and obesity-related co
      morbidities and is becoming more popular as the number of obese individuals
      rises. Despite the reported benefits of bariatric surgery, there are potential
      complications that physicians need to be aware of as the number of patients
      undergoing these procedures continues to increase. One challenging and
      potentially life-threatening complication that to date is not well understood is
      post-RYGB surgery hypoglycemia (PGBH). In this review, we will present the
      definition, historical perspective, diagnostic approach, currently available
      treatment options, and anecdotal assessment and treatment algorithm for this
      disorder. 

PMID- 26868862
TI  - Alcohol use among Native Americans compared to whites: Examining the veracity of
      the 'Native American elevated alcohol consumption' belief.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study uses national survey data to examine the veracity of the
      longstanding belief that, compared to whites, Native Americans (NA) have elevated
      alcohol consumption. METHODS: The primary data source was the National Survey on
      Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2009 to 2013: whites (n=171,858) and NA
      (n=4,201). Analyses using logistic regression with demographic covariate
      adjustment were conducted to assess differences in the odds of NA and whites
      being alcohol abstinent, light/moderate drinkers (no binge/heavy consumption),
      binge drinkers (5+ drinks on an occasion 1-4 days), or heavy drinkers (5+ drinks
      on an occasion 5+ days) in the past month. Complementary alcohol abstinence,
      light/moderate drinking and excessive drinking analyses were conducted using
      Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2011 to 2013: whites
      (n=1,130,658) and NA (n=21,589). RESULTS: In the NSDUH analyses, the majority of
      NA, 59.9% (95% CI: 56.7-63.1), abstained, whereas a minority of whites, 43.1%
      (CI: 42.6-43.6), abstained-adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.64 (CI: 0.56-0.73).
      Approximately 14.5% (CI: 12.0-17.4) of NA were light/moderate-only drinkers,
      versus 32.7% (CI: 32.2-33.2) of whites (AOR: 1.90; CI: 1.51-2.39). NA and white
      binge drinking estimates were similar-17.3% (CI: 15.0-19.8) and 16.7% (CI: 16.4
      17.0), respectively (AOR: 1.00; CI: 0.83-1.20). The two populations' heavy
      drinking estimates were also similar-8.3% (CI: 6.7-10.2) and 7.5% (CI: 7.3-7.7),
      respectively (AOR: 1.06; CI: 0.85-1.32). Results from the BRFSS analyses
      generally corroborated those from NSDUH. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the 'Native
      American elevated alcohol consumption' belief, Native Americans compared to
      whites had lower or comparable rates across the range of alcohol measures
      examined.

PMID- 26868863
TI  - Binge drinking and subsequent depressive symptoms in young women in Australia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The long-term impact of binge drinking on subsequent depressive
      symptoms is unclear. The aims were to identify longitudinal patterns of binge
      drinking and whether binge drinking preceded depressive symptoms in the short
      term (1-6 years) and long-term (10-15 years). METHODS: Longitudinal data from
      1996, 2000 and 2009 mailed surveys of 8,197 women in the 1973-78 cohort of the
      Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Latent class analysis was used
      to identify binge drinking patterns and logistic regression to estimate
      associations with subsequent depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Five binge drinking
      trajectories were identified with predicted proportions of women who were very
      infrequent (24%), fluctuating infrequent (17%), frequent (17%), very frequent
      (26%) or extremely frequent binge drinkers (16%) between 16 and 21 years. At 22
      27 years, depressive symptoms were significantly higher for extremely frequent
      binge drinkers (31% versus 21% in the short-term; 22% versus 16%-18% in the long
      term) than for less frequent bingers. Unadjusted odds of depressive symptoms were
      1.70 (95%CI:1.38;2.08) times for extremely frequent binge drinkers than very
      infrequent bingers and were 1.30 (95%CI:1.04;1.63) after adjusting for
      demographics, relationships and experience of violence. At 31-36 years, the odds
      of depressive symptoms were 1.34 (95%CI:1.09-1.64) times for extremely frequent
      than very infrequent binge drinkers, but were not significant after adjusting for
      relationships and violence. CONCLUSIONS: Extremely frequent binge drinking (more
      than weekly) in late adolescence appears to elevate the risk of subsequent
      depressive symptoms in young women in their early twenties and thirties,
      emphasising the need for preventive strategies to curb binge drinking.

PMID- 26868864
TI  - MRI findings of spinal arteriovenous fistulas: focusing on localisation of
      fistulas and differentiation between spinal dural and perimedullary arteriovenous
      fistulas.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of spinal
      arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) to predict their locations and types. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Patients who underwent spinal angiography for suspected spinal AVF
      between April 2003 and April 2013 were enrolled. Spine MRI images were analysed
      by two radiologists in consensus focusing on the distribution patterns of flow
      void pial vessels (FVPVs): longitudinal distribution pattern along the spinal
      level (even or uneven, with description of the most crowded level in uneven
      cases) and axial distribution pattern in relation to the cord (ventral, dorsal,
      or co-dominance). Spinal angiography served as the reference standard for the
      locations and types of fistulas. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (M:F=24:8, mean
      age, 53 years; range, 2-74 years) were included. There were 18 patients with
      spinal dural AVFs (SDAVFs), seven with perimedullary AVFs, four with epidural
      AVFs, and three diagnosed as normal. In 12 of 15 longitudinally uneven AVFs, the
      most crowded levels of FVPVs corresponded to the true fistulous levels within two
      level differences. While dorsal dominance was predominant in SDAVFs (13/18),
      ventral dominance was predominant in perimedullary AVFs (5/7; p<0.01).
      CONCLUSION: Fistulous levels may be predicted to be within two levels of the most
      crowded levels of FVPVs. The dorsal dominance pattern of FVPVs favours SDAVFs,
      whereas ventral dominance suggests perimedullary AVFs.

PMID- 26868865
TI  - Screening and Treatment of Intestinal Rotational Abnormalities in Heterotaxy: A
      Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of screening and prophylactic surgery for
      intestinal rotational abnormalities (IRAs) in asymptomatic patients with
      heterotaxy. STUDY DESIGN: PubMed, Embase, and Cinahl were searched electronically
      to determine the overall incidence of IRAs in heterotaxy; the detection rate of
      IRAs associated with screening; the incidence of midgut volvulus in patients
      without screening; and the incidence of morbidity and mortality after
      prophylactic and emergency Ladd procedures. Relevant data were computed with a
      meta-analysis of proportions. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed with the
      I(2) statistic. RESULTS: From 276 papers identified, 24 studies with a total of
      1433 patients with heterotaxy were included for systematic review. No randomized
      study was identified. True incidence of IRA in heterotaxy could not be
      ascertained through meta-analysis. In patients who underwent screening, the
      incidence of IRA was 58%. Acute midgut volvulus occurred in 5.8% of those who did
      not undergo screening. Postoperative mortality after Ladd procedure mainly was
      associated with cardiac insufficiency, and overall it was significantly greater
      in the emergency group compared with the prophylactic group (18% vs 5.6%). The
      complication rate also was greater in case of emergency vs prophylactic abdominal
      surgery (27% vs 16%); adhesional small bowel obstruction was the most common
      complication overall (6%). CONCLUSION: The screen-detected incidences of IRA and
      acute midgut volvulus were significantly greater in heterotaxy than the normal
      population. Prophylactic Ladd procedure was associated with less morbidity and
      mortality compared with emergency surgery. A long-term prospective randomized
      trial is needed to define the indication for screening and prophylactic treatment
      of IRA in heterotaxy.

PMID- 26868866
TI  - Cellulose conjugated FITC-labelled mesoporous silica nanoparticles: intracellular
      accumulation and stimuli responsive doxorubicin release.
AB  - Herein, we design novel cellulose conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (CLS
      MSP) based nanotherapeutics for stimuli responsive intracellular doxorubicin
      (DOX) delivery. DOX molecules are entrapped in pores of the fabricated mesoporous
      silica nanoparticles (MSPs) while cellulose is used as an encapsulating material
      through esterification on the outlet of the pores of the MSPs to avoid premature
      DOX release under physiological conditions. In in vitro studies, stimuli
      responsive DOX release is successfully achieved from DOX loaded cellulose
      conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DOX/CLS-MSPs) by pH and cellulase
      triggers. Intracellular accumulation of DOX/CLS-MSPs in human liver cancer cells
      (HepG2 cells) is investigated through confocal microscope magnification. Cell
      viability of HepG2 cells is determined as the percentage of the cells incubated
      with DOX/CLS-MSPs compared with that of non-incubated cells through an MTT assay.

PMID- 26868867
TI  - The role of immune system exhaustion on cancer cell escape and anti-tumor immune
      induction after irradiation.
AB  - Immune surveillance seems to represent an effective tumor suppressor mechanism.
      However, some cancer cells survive and become variants, being poorly immunogenic
      and able to enter a steady-state phase. These cells become functionally dormant
      or remain hidden clinically throughout. Neoplastic cells seem to be able to
      instruct immune cells to undergo changes promoting malignancy. Radiotherapy may
      act as a trigger of the immune response. After radiotherapy a sequence of
      reactions occurs, starting in the damage of oncogenic cells by multiple
      mechanisms, leading to the immune system positive feedback against the tumor. The
      link between radiotherapy and the immune system is evident. T cells, macrophages,
      Natural Killer cells and other immune cells seem to have a key role in
      controlling the tumor. T cells may be dysfunctional and remain in a state of T
      cell exhaustion, nonetheless, they often retain a high potential for successful
      defense against cancer, being able to be mobilized to become highly functional.
      The lack of clinical trials on a large scale makes data a little robust, in spite
      of promising information, there are still many variables in the studies relating
      to radiation and immune system. The clarification of the mechanisms underlying
      immune response to radiation exposure may contribute to treatment improvement,
      gain of life quality and span of patients. 

PMID- 26868868
TI  - Re: 'Hemothorax Management After Endovascular Treatment for Thoracic Aortic
      Rupture'.

PMID- 26868869
TI  - Re: 'Hemothorax Management After Endovascular Treatment For Thoracic Aortic
      Rupture'.

PMID- 26868870
TI  - Diet-induced changes in maternal gut microbiota and metabolomic profiles
      influence programming of offspring obesity risk in rats.
AB  - Maternal obesity and overnutrition during pregnancy and lactation can program an
      increased risk of obesity in offspring. In this context, improving maternal
      metabolism may help reduce the intergenerational transmission of obesity. Here we
      show that, in Sprague-Dawley rats, selectively altering obese maternal gut
      microbial composition with prebiotic treatment reduces maternal energy intake,
      decreases gestational weight gain, and prevents increased adiposity in dams and
      their offspring. Maternal serum metabolomics analysis, along with satiety hormone
      and gut microbiota analysis, identified maternal metabolic signatures that could
      be implicated in programming offspring obesity risk and highlighted the potential
      influence of maternal gut microbiota on maternal and offspring metabolism. In
      particular, the metabolomic signature of insulin resistance in obese rats
      normalized when dams consumed the prebiotic. In summary, prebiotic intake during
      pregnancy and lactation improves maternal metabolism in diet-induced obese rats
      in a manner that attenuates the detrimental nutritional programming of offspring
      associated with maternal obesity. Overall, these findings contribute to our
      understanding of the maternal mechanisms influencing the developmental
      programming of offspring obesity and provide compelling pre-clinical evidence for
      a potential strategy to improve maternal and offspring metabolic outcomes in
      human pregnancy. 

PMID- 26868872
TI  - NSAIDs versus opioids and chest tube size in pleurodesis.

PMID- 26868871
TI  - Traffic-Related Air Pollution Contributes to Development of Facial Lentigines:
      Further Epidemiological Evidence from Caucasians and Asians.

PMID- 26868873
TI  - Metal-Free Oxidation of Primary Amines to Nitriles through Coupled Catalytic
      Cycles.
AB  - Synergism among several intertwined catalytic cycles allows for selective, room
      temperature oxidation of primary amines to the corresponding nitriles in 85-98%
      isolated yield. This metal-free, scalable, operationally simple method employs a
      catalytic quantity of 4-acetamido-TEMPO (ACT; TEMPO=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine
      N-oxide) radical and the inexpensive, environmentally benign triple salt oxone as
      the terminal oxidant under mild conditions. Simple filtration of the reaction
      mixture through silica gel affords pure nitrile products.

PMID- 26868874
TI  - RNA interference screening of interferon-stimulated genes with antiviral
      activities against classical swine fever virus using a reporter virus.
AB  - Classical swine fever (CSF) caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a
      highly contagious and often fatal disease of pigs, which leads to significant
      economic losses in many countries. Viral infection can induce the production of
      interferons (IFNs), giving rise to the transcription of hundreds of IFN
      stimulated genes (ISGs) to exert antiviral effects. Although numerous ISGs have
      been identified to possess antiviral activities against different viruses, rare
      anti-CSFV ISGs have been reported to date. In this study, to screen anti-CSFV
      ISGs, twenty-one ISGs reported previously were individually knocked down using
      small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) followed by infection with a reporter CSFV
      expressing Renilla luciferase (Rluc). As a result, four novel anti-CSFV ISGs were
      identified, including natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein 1
      (NRAMP1), cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase III A (NT5C3A), chemokine C-X-C motif ligand
      10 (CXCL10), and 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), which were further
      verified to exhibit antiviral activities against wild-type CSFV. We conclude that
      the reporter virus is a useful tool for efficient screening anti-CSFV ISGs. 

PMID- 26868876
TI  - Density Functional Theory Modeling of Low-Loss Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy
      in Wurtzite III-Nitride Ternary Alloys.
AB  - In the present work, the dielectric response of III-nitride semiconductors is
      studied using density functional theory (DFT) band structure calculations. The
      aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the features in the low-loss
      electron energy-loss spectra of ternary alloys, but the results are also relevant
      to optical and UV spectroscopy results. In addition, the dependence of the most
      remarkable features with composition is tested, i.e. applying Vegard's law to
      band gap and plasmon energy. For this purpose, three wurtzite ternary alloys,
      from the combination of binaries AlN, GaN, and InN, were simulated through a wide
      compositional range (i.e., Al x Ga1-x N, In x Al1-x N, and In x Ga1-x N, with
      x=[0,1]). For this DFT calculations, the standard tools found in Wien2k software
      were used. In order to improve the band structure description of these
      semiconductor compounds, the modified Becke-Johnson exchange-correlation
      potential was also used. Results from these calculations are presented, including
      band structure, density of states, and complex dielectric function for the whole
      compositional range. Larger, closer to experimental values, band gap energies are
      predicted using the novel potential, when compared with standard generalized
      gradient approximation. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the collective
      excitation features in the dielectric response reveals their compositional
      dependence, which sometimes departs from a linear behavior (bowing). Finally, an
      advantageous method for measuring the plasmon energy dependence from these
      calculations is explained.

PMID- 26868875
TI  - Statins can exert dual, concentration dependent effects on HCV entry in vitro.
AB  - Statins are used daily by a large and increasing number of individuals worldwide.
      They were initially designed as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase
      (HMG-CoAR) inhibitors to treat patients with hypercholesterolemia. Recent studies
      on HCV chronically infected individuals have suggested that their use in vivo in
      combination with PEG-IFN and ribavirin favor the sustained viral response (SVR).
      Herein, we describe the effects of a set of statins on HCV entry and on HCV key
      entry factors in vitro. Our results suggest that all tested statins exert a
      proviral effect through the upregulation of LDLR. Interestingly, at higher
      concentration, we also provide evidence of a yet unknown competing antiviral
      effect of statins (except for pravastatin) through the downregulation of CLDN-1.
      Importantly, this work enlightens the blunt proviral effect of pravastatin at the
      entry step of HCV in vitro.

PMID- 26868877
TI  - Editorial: Medical anthropology at home: Creating distance.

PMID- 26868878
TI  - The repatriation of anthropology: Some observations on Endo-ethnography.
AB  - For a few decades, anthropologists have increasingly turned to the study of their
      own society and culture. This article addresses the problems and the relative
      advantages and disadvantages of endogenous ethnography. It devotes special
      attention to the experiences of medical anthropologists who have conducted
      fieldwork at home. It is concluded that anthropology at home has no special
      epistemological position compared with anthropological research abroad, though
      there may be differences at the practical level of fieldwork and publishing. 

PMID- 26868879
TI  - Anthropology at home via anthropology abroad: The problematic heritage.
AB  - Medical anthropology 'at home' owes an important debt to the methodological,
      epistemological, and theoretical research traditions developed by anthropologists
      working 'abroad'. One cannot deny this heritage. In turn, medical anthropology
      'at home' has much to offer to social anthropology as a whole, since the field
      brings afresh gaze to familiar phenomena. By constructing new objects of research
      and new methods, and in particular through the effort of distancing-which is both
      more crucial and also harder to achieve at home than abroad-the study of medical
      anthropology in one's own society suggests new pathways towards the understanding
      of the individual in society. 

PMID- 26868880
TI  - Strangers on terra cognita: Authors of the other in a mental hospitala.
AB  - Two important interrelated activities of medical anthropology at home are
      discussed: being at home in one's culture and the making of the Other. The author
      illustrates with ethnographic data from her fieldwork in a mental hospital how
      the anthropologist and the people in the hospital 'make' each other. Effects of
      this process are discussed. Making the other implies involvement in an arena in
      which morality and moral claims are contested and difference is constructed. This
      construction could serve uneven ends. Therefore, it is argued that making the
      other not only serves the construction of difference, but also sameness,
      understanding and bonding in human suffering. The process could serve as a bridge
      between psychiatric and anthropological practices if its written representations
      become part of the dialogue between the two disciplines and the informants. What
      are you writing? Are you writing down your findings? Fine! But do write about ME!
      (a woman from the hospital). Aber das Eigene soll ebenso gelernt werden wie das
      Fremde (Holderlin). 

PMID- 26868881
TI  - Resonating to pain: Introspection as a tool in medical anthropology 'at home'.
AB  - The author has been involved in anthropological research on epilepsy in the
      setting of Swaziland and The Netherlands. This article explores the differences
      between those research experiences. It specifically describes an affective aspect
      of medical anthropological fieldwork at home: the idea that one's emotional
      response may alert to socio-cultural issues in a similar way to a
      psychotherapist's countertransference may alert to core issues. It is argued that
      finding a balance between distance and proximity is not only problematic on the
      level of cognition. Being 'at home' refers to the conceptional as well as
      emotional. 

PMID- 26868884
TI  - Courses in medical anthropology: Switzerland.

PMID- 26868882
TI  - Locating difference: A medical anthropology 'at home'?
AB  - Although medical anthropologists have been doing research in Western societies
      for at least two decades, such research has only recently been labelled 'at
      home'. This paper investigates the usefulness of 'at home' as a programmatic
      concept for medical anthropology. Some of the developments regarding the
      heightened concern with Western societies and the prominent 'we-others' dualism
      in general social/cultural anthropology and medical anthropology since the
      beginning of the 1980s are outlined. By employing Henrietta Moore's ideas about
      'difference between ' and 'difference within ', it is shown that 'at home ', as a
      relational term, gets its meanings in relation to its counterparts, most
      prominently 'abroad', and that it is based on the problematic 'we-others'
      dualism. The paper concludes that 'at home' is an unfavourable starting point for
      conceptualizing medical anthropological research in Western settings. Instead, in
      order to avoid the trap of reifying differences between 'we' and 'others', we
      rather need to take up positions of enquiry from which such categories can emerge
      as 'differences within '. 

PMID- 26868887
TI  - Perception of light source distance from shading patterns.
AB  - Varying the distance of a light source from an object alters both the intensity
      and spatial distribution of surface shading patterns. We tested whether observers
      can use such cues to infer light source distance. Participants viewed
      stereoscopic renderings of rough objects with diffuse and glossy surfaces, which
      were illuminated by a point source at a range of distances. In one task, they
      adjusted the position of a small probe dot in three dimensions to report the
      apparent location of the light in the scene. In a second task, they adjusted the
      shading on one object (by moving an invisible light source) until it appeared to
      be illuminated from the same distance as another object. Participants' responses
      increased linearly with the true light source distance, suggesting that they have
      clear intuitions about how light source distance affects shading patterns for a
      variety of different surfaces. However, there were also systematic errors:
      Subjects overestimated light source distance in the probe adjustment task, and in
      both experiments, roughness and glossiness affected responses. We find the
      pattern of results is predicted surprisingly well by a simplistic model based
      only on the area of the image that exceeds a certain intensity threshold. Thus,
      although subjects can report light source distance, they may rely on simple-
      sometimes erroneous--heuristics to do so.

PMID- 26868888
TI  - Foveal and parafoveal contrast suppression are different: Mechanisms revealed by
      the study of healthy aging.
AB  - Visual contextual effects enable inference regarding neural mechanisms of
      cortical function, principally because of similarities between the stimulus
      properties influencing human perception and those modifying primate visual
      cortical neural responses. Most neurophysiology assesses nonfoveal cellular
      function and circuitry, while most human studies are foveal. Here we use
      parafoveal stimuli to measure center-surround perception of contrast in older and
      younger adults. We measure the influence of both near and far surround because
      neurophysiology demonstrates different circuitry for these areas. Contrast
      suppression from the near surround was reduced in older observers, while that
      from the far surround was intact. Our results are consistent with reduced
      intracortical inhibition with age and normal extrastriate feedback.
      Interestingly, in the same older observers, foveal surround suppression of
      contrast was strengthened relative to younger adults, demonstrating a clear
      distinction between foveal and parafoveal center-surround behavior. We assume
      that underlying alterations in cortical neurotransmitter levels with age should
      not differ substantially between the areas of visual cortex representing foveal
      and near foveal regions. Consequently, our results suggest regional differences
      in center-surround circuitry. That older adults have varied contextual effects of
      visual contrast as a function of retinal eccentricity suggests complex effects of
      aging on scene and object perception.

PMID- 26868889
TI  - Tilt representation beyond the retinotopic level.
AB  - We perceive a stable visual world, which enables successful interaction with our
      environment, despite movements of the eyes, head, and body. How are such
      perceptions formed? One possibility is that retino-centric visual input is
      transformed into representations at higher levels, such as head-, body-, or world
      centered representations. We investigated this hypothesis using the tilt
      aftereffect in a balanced adaptation paradigm designed to isolate head-, body-,
      and world-centered aftereffects. Observers adapted to two oppositely tilted
      stimuli, each contingent on one of two different gaze, head, or body directions.
      We found aftereffects contingent on gaze direction, but not head or body
      direction. This demonstrates that adaptable tilt representations exist in a head
      centric frame but not in higher reference frames. These aftereffects may be
      attributed to adaptation of retinotopic tilt-sensitive neurons whose responses
      are modulated by gaze direction (gain fields). Such neurons could support
      functionally head-centric tilt representations and are found as early as V1. On
      the basis of our results we would not expect activity in tilt-sensitive neurons
      to be modulated by head or body direction. The balanced adaptation paradigm is a
      useful tool for examining properties of the process responsible for gaze
      modulation of activity in visual neurons. 

PMID- 26868890
TI  - Incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into proteins in yeast.
AB  - Non-canonical amino acids add extraordinary chemistries to proteins when they
      gain access to translation. In yeast, they can be incorporated into proteins by
      replacing a canonical amino acid or in a site-specific manner in response to an
      amber stop codon. The first approach simply exploits the natural substrate
      tolerance of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in an auxotrophic host. The latter
      requires the co-expression of an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that is
      specific for the non-canonical amino acid together with an amber suppressor tRNA.
      This review briefly recaps the residue- and site-specific incorporation
      techniques for non-canonical amino acids in yeast. It describes the selection
      system for orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/suppressor tRNA pairs and
      compares the different expression systems for these pairs. Numerous examples
      illustrate the application of non-canonical amino acids for protein engineering
      in yeast. The compilation includes the chemical structures of the amino acid
      analogs, the orthogonal pairs that were used for their incorporation and the
      titers of the labeled variant proteins. 

PMID- 26868891
TI  - Rapidly Growing Vascular Mass Within the Thyroid. Angiosarcoma.

PMID- 26868892
TI  - Treatment strategies for early neurological deficits related to malpositioned
      pedicle screws in the lumbosacral canal: A pilot study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To employ a simple and fast method to evaluate those patients with
      neurological deficits and misplaced screws in relatively safe lumbosacral spine,
      and to determine if it is necessary to undertake revision surgery. METHODS: A
      total of 316 patients were treated by fixation of lumbar and lumbosacral
      transpedicle screws at our institution from January 2011 to December 2012. We
      designed the criteria for post-operative revision scores of pedicle screw
      malpositioning (PRSPSM) in the lumbosacral canal. We recommend the revision of
      the misplaced pedicle screw in patients with PRSPSM = 5' as early as possible.
      However, patients with PRSPSM < 5' need to follow the next consecutive assessment
      procedures. A total of 15 patients were included according to at least three
      stage follow-up. RESULTS: Five patients with neurological complications (PRSPSM =
      5') underwent revision surgery at an early stage. The other ten patients with
      PRSPSM < 5' were treated by conservative methods for seven days. At three-month
      follow-up, only one patient showed delayed onset of neurological complications
      (PRSPSM 7') while refusing revision. Seven months later, PRSPSM decreased to 3'
      with complete rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significance
      of consecutively dynamic assessments of PRSPSMs, which are unlike previous
      implementations based on purely anatomical assessment or early onset of
      neurological deficits.and also confirms our hypothesis that patients with early
      neurological complications may not need revision procedures in the relatively
      broad margin of the lumbosacral canal.Cite this article: X-J. Lin. Treatment
      strategies for early neurological deficits related to malpositioned pedicle
      screws in the lumbosacral canal: A pilot study. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:46-51.

PMID- 26868893
TI  - Increased expression of inducible co-stimulator on CD4+ T-cells in the peripheral
      blood and synovial fluid of patients with failed hip arthroplasties.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: T-cells are considered to play an important role in the inflammatory
      response causing arthroplasty failure. The study objectives were to investigate
      the composition and distribution of CD4+ T-cell phenotypes in the peripheral
      blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients undergoing revision surgery for
      failed metal-on-metal (MoM) and metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) hip arthroplasties,
      and in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: In this prospective
      case-control study, PB and SF were obtained from 22 patients (23 hips) undergoing
      revision of MoM (n = 14) and MoP (n = 9) hip arthroplasties, with eight controls
      provided from primary hip osteoarthritis cases awaiting arthroplasty. Lymphocyte
      subtypes in samples were analysed using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentages
      of CD4+ T-cell subtypes in PB were not different between groups. The CD4+ T-cells
      in the SF of MoM hips showed a completely different distribution of phenotypes
      compared with that found in the PB in the same patients, including significantly
      decreased CD4+ T-central memory cells (p < 0.05) and increased T-effector memory
      cells (p < 0.0001) in the SF. Inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) was the only co
      stimulatory molecule with different expression on CD4+ CD28+ cells between
      groups. In PB, ICOS expression was increased in MoM (p < 0.001) and MoP (p <
      0.05) cases compared with the controls. In SF, ICOS expression was increased in
      MoM hips compared with MoP hips (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of
      ICOS on CD4+ T-cells in PB and SF of patients with failed arthroplasties suggests
      that these cells are activated and involved in generating immune responses.
      Variations in ICOS expression between MoM and MoP hips may indicate different
      modes of arthroplasty failure.Cite this article: Professor P. A. Revell.
      Increased expression of inducible co-stimulator on CD4+ T-cells in the peripheral
      blood and synovial fluid of patients with failed hip arthroplasties. Bone Joint
      Res 2016;5:52-60. doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000574.

PMID- 26868894
TI  - Fitness Field Tests' Correlation With Game Performance in U-19-Category
      Basketball Referees.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine the relation between game performance, physiological
      responses, and field-test results in Tunisian basketball referees. METHODS:
      Computerized time-motion analysis, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate
      concentration [La-] were measured in 15 referees during 8 competitive games
      (under-19-y-old Tunisian league). Referees also performed a repeated-sprint test
      (RSA), Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (YYIRTL1), agility T-test, and 30
      m sprint with 10-m lap time. Computerized video analysis determined the time
      spent in 5 locomotor activities (standing, walking, jogging, running, and
      sprint), then grouped in high-, moderate-, and low-intensity activities (HIAs,
      MIAs, and LIAs, respectively). RESULTS: YYIRTL1 performance correlated with (1)
      total distance covered during the 4th quarter (r = .52, P = .04) and (2) distance
      covered in LIA during all game periods (P < .05). Both distance covered and time
      spent in MIA during the 1st quarter were negatively correlated with the YYIRTL1
      performance (r = -.53, P = .035; r = -.67, P = .004, respectively). A negative
      correlation was found between distance covered at HIA during the 2nd half (3rd
      quarter + 4th quarter) and fatigue index of the RSA test (r = -.54, P = .029).
      Mean HR (expressed as %HRpeak) during all game periods was correlated with
      YYIRTL1 performance (.61 <= r < .67, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed
      that (1) the YYIRTL1 performance is a moderate predictor of game physical
      performance in U-19 basketball referees and (2) referees' RSA correlates with the
      amount of HIA performed during the 2nd half, which represents the ability to keep
      up with play.

PMID- 26868895
TI  - Physicochemical Properties of Microencapsulated omega-3 Salmon Oil with Egg White
      Powder.
AB  - The objective of this study was to produce microencapsulated omega(omega)-3 fatty
      acids (PUFAs) fortified egg white (EW) powders and to characterize their
      nutritional and physical properties. Stable emulsions (E-SO-EW) containing 3.43
      (g/100 g) salmon oil (SO), 56.21 (g/100 g) EW, and 40.36 (g/100 g) water and a
      control (E-EW) containing EW and water were prepared. E-SO-EW and E-EW were
      separately spray dried at 130, 140, and 150  degrees C inlet air temperatures.
      This resulted in 3 microencapsulated SO fortified EW powders (SO-EW), and 3 dried
      EW powders (DEW). The powders were analyzed for microencapsulation efficiency
      (ME), color, fatty acids methyl esters, protein, fat, moisture, ash, amino acids,
      minerals, microstructure, and particle size. The EPA and DHA content of SO and
      the ME of the powders were not affected by the inlet air temperature. The crude
      protein content of SO-EW powders was approximately 24 (g/100 g) lower than dried
      EW powders. Leucine was the most abundant essential amino acid found in all the
      powders. Most of the powders' median particle size ranged from 15 to 30 MUm. The
      study demonstrated that microencapsulated omega-3 salmon oil with high quality EW
      protein can be produced by spray drying. 

PMID- 26868896
TI  - Superficial and Deep Scapulothoracic Muscle Electromyographic Activity During
      Elevation Exercises in the Scapular Plane.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. BACKGROUND: In scapular rehabilitation
      training, exercises that include a humeral elevation component in the scapular
      plane are commonly implemented. While performing humeral elevation, the scapula
      plays an important role, as it has to create a stable basis for the glenohumeral
      joint. However, a comparison of both deep and superficial muscle activity of the
      scapula between different types of elevation exercises is lacking and would be
      helpful for the clinician in choosing exercises. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate
      scapulothoracic muscle activity during different types of elevation exercises in
      the scapular plane. METHODS: Scapulothoracic muscle activity was measured in 21
      healthy subjects, using fine-wire electromyography in the levator scapulae,
      pectoralis minor, and rhomboid major muscles and surface electromyography in the
      upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior
      muscles. Measurements were conducted while the participants performed the
      following elevation tasks in the scapular plane: scaption (elevation in the
      scapular plane), towel wall slide, and elevation with external rotation (Thera
      Band). The exercises were performed without and with additional load. Possible
      differences between the exercises and the load were studied with a linear mixed
      model. RESULTS: Performing elevation in the scapular plane with an external
      rotation component resulted in higher middle trapezius and lower trapezius
      activity compared to the scaption and wall slide exercises. The upper trapezius
      was maximally activated during scaption. The pectoralis minor and serratus
      anterior showed the highest activity during the towel wall slide. The towel wall
      slide activated the retractors to a lesser degree (middle trapezius, lower
      trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboid major). Adding load resulted in higher
      muscle activity in all muscles, with some muscles showing a different activation
      pattern between the elevation exercises, depending on the load condition.
      CONCLUSION: Scaption maximally activated the upper trapezius. The addition of an
      extra external-rotation component may be used when the goal is to activate the
      lower trapezius and middle trapezius. The towel wall slide exercise was found to
      increase pectoralis minor activity. Adding load resulted in higher muscle
      activity. Some muscles showed a different activation pattern between the
      elevation exercises, depending on the loading condition. The findings of this
      study give information about which elevation exercises a clinician can choose
      when the aim is to facilitate specific muscle scapulothoracic activity.

PMID- 26868897
TI  - Manual Therapy and Exercise for a Patient With Neck-Tongue Syndrome: A Case
      Report.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Case report. BACKGROUND: Neck-tongue syndrome (NTS) is defined as
      neck and/or head pain accompanied by ipsilateral dysesthesia of the tongue with
      sudden rotation of the head. Proposed causes include compression or irritation of
      the C2 nerve root as it courses behind the atlantoaxial joint or hypertrophy of
      the inferior oblique muscle. The primary purpose of this case report was to
      describe the conservative physical therapy treatment of a patient with
      uncomplicated NTS. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 13-year-old girl who
      reported insidious onset of sharp pain in the neck, numbness/tingling of the
      ipsilateral tongue/face, and tinnitus with cervical rotation. Symptoms occurred
      several times a week for approximately 10 seconds. Examination revealed impaired
      function, increased forward head posture, decreased cervical range of motion, and
      positive neurodynamic assessment. The patient's treatment included manual therapy
      and exercise for postural stabilization. OUTCOMES: Following 8 visits, pain of
      the neck and tongue numbness had resolved. Score on the Patient-Specific
      Functional Scale (PSFS), cervical range of motion, and posture had also improved.
      At the 22-month follow-up, infrequent, momentary symptoms in the neck and
      dysesthesia of the tongue were reported. The PSFS remained the same. Objective
      measures were normal. DISCUSSION: This case report describes the physical therapy
      management of an individual with NTS. The management strategy followed a protocol
      similar to that used for cervicogenic headaches, due to the involvement of the
      upper cervical spine with both NTS and cervicogenic headache and the lack of
      evidence for the treatment of NTS. Level of Evidence Therapy, level 4.

PMID- 26868899
TI  - Quantum dynamical investigation of the isotope effect in H2 formation on graphite
      at cold collision energies.
AB  - The Eley-Rideal abstraction of hydrogen atoms on graphitic surfaces at cold
      collision energies was investigated using a time-dependent wave packet method
      within the rigid-flat surface approximation, with a focus on hydrogen-deuterium
      isotopic substitutions. It is found that the marked isotope effect of collinear
      collisions disappears when the full dimensionality of the problem is taken into
      account, thereby suggesting that abstraction is less direct than commonly
      believed and proceeds through glancing rather than head-on collisions. In
      contrast, a clear isotope effect is observed for "hot-atom" formation, which
      appears to be strongly favored for heavy projectiles because of their higher
      density of physisorbed states. Overall, the dynamics is essentially classical and
      reasonably well described by quasi-classical trajectory methods at all but the
      lowest energies (?10 meV). A comparison of the results obtained in the
      (substrate) adiabatic and diabatic limits suggests that the reaction is only
      marginally affected by the lattice dynamics, but highlights the importance of
      including energy dissipation processes in order to accurately describe the
      internal excitation of the product molecules. 

PMID- 26868898
TI  - Combined Effect of Free Nitrous Acid Pretreatment and Sodium Dodecylbenzene
      Sulfonate on Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production from Waste Activated Sludge.
AB  - Free nitrous acid (FNA) serving as a pretreatment is an effective approach to
      accelerate sludge disintegration. Also, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), a
      type of surfactants, has been determined at significant levels in sewage sludge,
      which thereby affects the characteristics of sludge. Both FNA pretreatment and
      sludge SDBS levels can affect short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) generation from
      sludge anaerobic fermentation. To date, however, the combined effect of FNA
      pretreatment and SDBS presence on SCFA production as well as the corresponding
      mechanisms have never been documented. This work therefore aims to provide such
      support. Experimental results showed that the combination of FNA and SDBS
      treatment not only improved SCFA accumulation but also shortened the fermentation
      time. The maximal SCFA accumulation of 334.5 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/g
      volatile suspended solids (VSS) was achieved at 1.54 mg FNA/L treatment and 0.02
      g/g dry sludge, which was respectively 1.79-fold and 1.41-fold of that from FNA
      treatment and sludge containing SDBS alone. Mechanism investigations revealed
      that the combined FNA pretreatment and SDBS accelerated solubilization,
      hydrolysis, and acidification steps but inhibited the methanogenesis. All those
      observations were in agreement with SCFA enhancement. 

PMID- 26868900
TI  - In-depth 2-DE reference map of Aspergillus fumigatus and its proteomic profiling
      on exposure to itraconazole.
AB  - Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a medically important opportunistic
      fungus that may lead to invasive aspergillosis in humans with weak immune system.
      Proteomic profiling of this fungus on exposure to itraconazole (ITC), an azole
      antifungal drug, may lead to identification of its molecular targets and better
      understanding on the development of drug resistance against ITC in A. fumigatus.
      Here, proteome analysis was performed using 2-DE followed by mass spectrometric
      analysis which resulted in identification of a total of 259 unique proteins.
      Further, proteome profiling of A. fumigatus was carried out on exposure to ITC,
      0.154 MUg/ml, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50). Image analysis showed
      altered levels of 175 proteins (66 upregulated and 109 downregulated) of A.
      fumigatus treated with ITC as compared to the untreated control. Peptide mass
      fingerprinting led to the identification of 54 proteins (12 up-regulated and 42
      down-regulated). The differentially expressed proteins include proteins related
      to cell stress, carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. We also
      observed four proteins, including nucleotide phosphate kinase (NDK), that are
      reported to interact with calcineurin, a protein involved in regulation of cell
      morphology and fungal virulence. Comparison of differentially expressed proteins
      on exposure to ITC with artemisinin (ART), an antimalarial drug with antifungal
      activity(1), revealed a total of 26 proteins to be common among them suggesting
      that common proteins and pathways are targeted by these two antifungal agents.
      The proteins targeted by ITC may serve as important leads for development of new
      antifungal drugs. 

PMID- 26868901
TI  - Phylogenetic analysis of dermatophyte species using DNA sequence polymorphism in
      calmodulin gene.
AB  - Use of phylogenetic species concepts based on rDNA internal transcribe spacer
      (ITS) regions have improved the taxonomy of dermatophyte species; however,
      confirmation and refinement using other genes are needed. Since the calmodulin
      gene has not been systematically used in dermatophyte taxonomy, we evaluated its
      intra- and interspecies sequence variation as well as its application in
      identification, phylogenetic analysis, and taxonomy of 202 strains of 29
      dermatophyte species. A set of primers was designed and optimized to amplify the
      target followed by bilateral sequencing. Using pairwise nucleotide comparisons, a
      mean similarity of 81% was observed among 29 dermatophyte species, with inter
      species diversity ranging from 0 to 200 nucleotides (nt). Intraspecies nt
      differences were found within strains of Trichophyton interdigitale, Arthroderma
      simii, T. rubrum and A. vanbreuseghemii, while T. tonsurans, T. violaceum,
      Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, M. audouinii, M. cookei, M.
      racemosum, M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes, T schoenleinii, and A. benhamiae were
      conserved. Strains of E. floccosum/M. racemosum/M. cookei, A. obtosum/A.
      gertleri, T. tonsurans/T. equinum and a genotype of T. interdigitale had
      identical calmodulin sequences. For the majority of the species, tree topology
      obtained for calmodulin gene showed a congruence with coding and non-coding
      regions including ITS, BT2, and Tef-1alpha. Compared with the phylogenetic tree
      derived from ITS, BT2, and Tef-1alpha genes, some species such as E. floccosum
      and A. gertleri took relatively remote positions. Here, characterization and
      obtained dendrogram of calmodulin gene on a broad range of dermatophyte species
      provide a basis for further discovery of relationships between species. Studies
      of other loci are necessary to confirm the results. 

PMID- 26868902
TI  - Antifungal activity of plant-derived essential oils on Candida tropicalis
      planktonic and biofilms cells.
AB  - Dental prosthesis supports Candida species growth and may predispose the oral
      cavity to lesions. C. tropicalis has emerged as a colonizer of prosthesis and has
      shown resistance to clinically used antifungal agents, which has increased the
      search for new antifungals. This work describes the effectiveness of fifteen
      essential oils (EOs) against C. tropicalis The EOs were obtained by
      hydrodistillation and were chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry. The antifungal activities of the EOs were evaluated by the
      microdilution method and showed that Pelargonium graveolens (Geraniaceae) (PG-EO)
      was the most effective oil. Geraniol and linalool were the major constituents of
      PG-EO. The 2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5
      Carboxanilide (XTT) assay showed that all the clinical C. tropicalis strains
      formed viable biofilms. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the biofilms
      revealed a complex architecture with basal layer of yeast cells and an upper
      layer of filamentous cells. Treatments with PG-EO, linalool, and geraniol
      significantly reduced the number of viable biofilm cells and inhibited biofilm
      formation after exposure for 48 h. PG-EO, geraniol, and linalool were not toxic
      to normal human lung fibroblasts (GM07492A) at the concentrations they were
      active against C. tropicalis Together, our results indicated that C. tropicalis
      is susceptible to treatment with PG-EO, geraniol, and linalool, which could
      become options to prevent or treat this infection. 

PMID- 26868903
TI  - Biofilm production and antifungal susceptibility of co-cultured Malassezia
      pachydermatis and Candida parapsilosis isolated from canine seborrheic
      dermatitis.
AB  - The yeasts Malassezia (M.) pachydermatis and Candida (C.) parapsilosis are often
      co-isolated in case of canine seborrhea dermatitis (SD) and also are emerging as
      opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised human beings. Increased information
      about how their relationship results in biofilm production and an antifungal
      response would be useful to inform treatment and control. This study was designed
      to investigate biofilm production derived from co-culture of M. pachydermatis and
      C. parapsilosis from dog skin and to determine their in vitro antifungal
      susceptibility. We demonstrated that regardless of yeast strain or origin all
      single and dual cultures produced biofilms within 24 hours, and the greatest
      amount was present after 72 hours. Biofilm production from mixed cultures was
      greater than for single strains (P < .05). All sessile forms of the single and
      dual cultures were resistant to the tested antifungals itraconazole and
      ketoconazole, whereas planktonic forms were susceptible. The study suggests that
      dual cultures produce stronger biofilms that are likely to enhance persistence in
      skin lesions in dogs and result in greater resistance to antifungal treatment. 

PMID- 26868904
TI  - Antifungal susceptibility of invasive Candida bloodstream isolates from the Asia
      Pacific region.
AB  - Bloodstream infections caused by Candida species are of increasing importance and
      associated with significant mortality. We performed a multi-centre prospective
      observational study to identify the species and antifungal susceptibilities of
      invasive bloodstream isolates of Candida species in the Asia-Pacific region. The
      study was carried out over a two year period, involving 13 centers from Brunei,
      Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
      Identification of Candida species was performed at each study center, and
      reconfirmed at a central laboratory. Susceptibility testing was performed using a
      commercial broth dilution panel (Sensititre YeastOne YST-010, Thermofisher,
      United Kingdom) with susceptibility categorisation (S = susceptible, S-DD =
      susceptible dose-dependent) applied using breakpoints from the Clinical
      Laboratory Standards Institute. Eight hundred and sixty-one Candida isolates were
      included in the study. The most common species were C. albicans (35.9%), C.
      tropicalis (30.7%), C. parapsilosis (15.7%), and C. glabrata (13.6%). Non
      albicans species exceeded C. albicans species in centers from all countries
      except Taiwan. Fluconazole susceptibility was almost universal for C. albicans (S
      = 99.7%) but lower for C. tropicalis (S = 75.8%, S-DD = 6.1%), C. glabrata (S-DD
      = 94.9%), and C. parapsilosis (S = 94.8%). Echinocandins demonstrated high rates
      of in vitro susceptibility (S>99%) against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C.
      parapsilosis This study demonstrates that non-albicans species are the most
      common isolates from bloodstream infections in most countries in the Asia-Pacific
      region, with C. tropicalis as the predominant species. Because of the prevalence
      of reduced susceptibility to fluconazole in non-albicans species, the study
      indicates that echinocandins should be the antifungal of choice in clinically
      unstable or high-risk patients with documented candidemia. 

PMID- 26868905
TI  - Posaconazole oral suspension primary prophylaxis in acute leukemia and allogeneic
      stem cell transplant patients: can it be used without measurement of plasma
      concentration?
AB  - Posaconazole oral suspension (PCZ-susp) can display a variable degree of inter
      and intra-individual absorption. However, there is no agreement on the need of
      plasma-posaconazole-concentration (PPC) monitoring as a routine practice in
      patients receiving PCZ-susp. In this prospective, multicenter study we evaluated
      the variability of PPCs in hematologic patients receiving PCZ-susp prophylaxis
      with the aim to define conditions at different risk of subtherapeutic PPCs.
      Overall, 103 acute leukemia (AL) patients submitted to intensive chemotherapy
      (115 courses) and 46 allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) recipients (47
      courses) receiving PCZ-susp prophylaxis were considered. The adequacy of PPC
      pattern after the steady state (>=day 7 of treatment) in courses with two or more
      PPC measurements was defined as follows: inadequate pattern: PPC < 0.5 mcg/ml at
      least once; borderline pattern: PPC always >=0.5mcg/ml but < 0.7 mcg/ml at least
      once; adequate pattern: PPC always >=0.7 mcg/ml. The PPC pattern was evaluable in
      83 and 37 AL and allo-SCT patients, respectively. It was adequate, borderline and
      inadequate in 63.9%, 14.5%, and 21.7% of courses, respectively, in AL, and in
      62.2%, 10.8%, and 27.0% of courses, respectively, in allo-SCT. In both groups, an
      inadequate PPC pattern was associated with the development of diarrhea. In
      absence of diarrhea, the probability of an inadequate PPC pattern was 11.9% in AL
      and 17.2% in allo-SCT patients. PCZ-susp might be used without stringent need of
      PPC monitoring in patients without diarrhea. 

PMID- 26868906
TI  - Application of imaging mass spectrometry for the molecular diagnosis of human
      breast tumors.
AB  - Distinguishing breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and breast ductal carcinoma
      in situ (DCIS) is a key step in breast surgery, especially to determine whether
      DCIS is associated with tumor cell micro-invasion. However, there is currently no
      reliable method to obtain molecular information for breast tumor analysis during
      surgery. Here, we present a novel air flow-assisted ionization (AFAI) mass
      spectrometry imaging method that can be used in ambient environments to
      differentiate breast cancer by analyzing lipids. In this study, we demonstrate
      that various subtypes and histological grades of IDC and DCIS can be
      discriminated using AFAI-MSI: phospholipids were more abundant in IDC than in
      DCIS, whereas fatty acids were more abundant in DCIS than in IDC. The
      classification of specimens in the subtype and grade validation sets showed 100%
      and 78.6% agreement with the histopathological diagnosis, respectively. Our work
      shows the rapid classification of breast cancer utilizing AFAI-MSI. This work
      suggests that this method could be developed to provide surgeons with nearly real
      time information to guide surgical resections. 

PMID- 26868908
TI  - A genome scale RNAi screen identifies GLI1 as a novel gene regulating vorinostat
      sensitivity.
AB  - Vorinostat is an FDA-approved histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) that has
      proven clinical success in some patients; however, it remains unclear why certain
      patients remain unresponsive to this agent and other HDACis. Constitutive STAT
      (signal transducer and activator of transcription) activation, overexpression of
      prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins and loss of HR23B have been identified as potential
      biomarkers of HDACi resistance; however, none have yet been used to aid the
      clinical utility of HDACi. Herein, we aimed to further elucidate vorinostat
      resistance mechanisms through a functional genomics screen to identify novel
      genes that when knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi) sensitized cells to
      vorinostat-induced apoptosis. A synthetic lethal functional screen using a whole
      genome protein-coding RNAi library was used to identify genes that when knocked
      down cooperated with vorinostat to induce tumor cell apoptosis in otherwise
      resistant cells. Through iterative screening, we identified 10 vorinostat
      resistance candidate genes that sensitized specifically to vorinostat. One of
      these vorinostat-resistance genes was GLI1, an oncogene not previously known to
      regulate the activity of HDACi. Treatment of vorinostat-resistant cells with the
      GLI1 small-molecule inhibitor, GANT61, phenocopied the effect of GLI1 knockdown.
      The mechanism by which GLI1 loss of function sensitized tumor cells to vorinostat
      induced apoptosis is at least in part through interactions with vorinostat to
      alter gene expression in a manner that favored apoptosis. Upon GLI1 knockdown and
      vorinostat treatment, BCL2L1 expression was repressed and overexpression of
      BCL2L1 inhibited GLI1-knockdown-mediated vorinostat sensitization. Taken
      together, we present the identification and characterization of GLI1 as a new
      HDACi resistance gene, providing a strong rationale for development of GLI1
      inhibitors for clinical use in combination with HDACi therapy.

PMID- 26868909
TI  - Transcription factor C/EBP-beta induces tumor-suppressor phosphatase PHLPP2
      through repression of the miR-17-92 cluster in differentiating AML cells.
AB  - PHLPP2, a member of the PH-domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP)
      family, which targets oncogenic kinases, has been actively investigated as a
      tumor suppressor in solid tumors. Little is known, however, regarding its
      regulation in hematological malignancies. We observed that PHLPP2 protein
      expression, but not its mRNA, was suppressed in late differentiation stage acute
      myeloid leukemia (AML) subtypes. MicroRNAs (miR or miRNAs) from the miR-17-92
      cluster, oncomir-1, were shown to inhibit PHLPP2 expression and these miRNAs were
      highly expressed in AML cells that lacked PHLPP2 protein. Studies showed that miR
      17-92 cluster regulation was, surprisingly, independent of transcription factors
      c-MYC and E2F in these cells; instead all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), a drug used
      for terminally differentiating AML subtypes, markedly suppressed miR-17-92
      expression and increased PHLPP2 protein levels and phosphatase activity. Finally,
      we demonstrate that the effect of ATRA on miR-17-92 expression is mediated
      through its target, transcription factor C/EBPbeta, which interacts with the
      intronic promoter of the miR-17-92 gene to inhibit transactivation of the
      cluster. These studies reveal a novel mechanism for upregulation of the
      phosphatase activity of PHLPP2 through C/EBPbeta-mediated repression of the miR
      17-92 cluster in terminally differentiating myeloid cells.

PMID- 26868910
TI  - Evolutionary divergence of the necroptosis effector MLKL.
AB  - The pseudokinase, MLKL (mixed-lineage kinase domain-like), is the most terminal
      obligatory component of the necroptosis cell death pathway known. Phosphorylation
      of the MLKL pseudokinase domain by the protein kinase, receptor interacting
      protein kinase-3 (RIPK3), is known to be the key step in MLKL activation. This
      phosphorylation event is believed to trigger a molecular switch, leading to
      exposure of the N-terminal four-helix bundle (4HB) domain of MLKL, its
      oligomerization, membrane translocation and ultimately cell death. To examine how
      well this process is evolutionarily conserved, we analysed the function of MLKL
      orthologues. Surprisingly, and unlike their mouse, horse and frog counterparts,
      human, chicken and stickleback 4HB domains were unable to induce cell death when
      expressed in murine fibroblasts. Forced dimerization of the human MLKL 4HB domain
      overcame this defect and triggered cell death in human and mouse cell lines.
      Furthermore, recombinant proteins from mouse, frog, human and chicken MLKL, all
      of which contained a 4HB domain, permeabilized liposomes, and were most effective
      on those designed to mimic plasma membrane composition. These studies demonstrate
      that the membrane-permeabilization function of the 4HB domain is evolutionarily
      conserved, but reveal that execution of necroptotic death by it relies on
      additional factors that are poorly conserved even among closely related species.

PMID- 26868907
TI  - Fate decision of mesenchymal stem cells: adipocytes or osteoblasts?
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a non-hematopoietic stem cell population first
      discovered in bone marrow, are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into
      mature cells of several mesenchymal tissues, such as fat and bone. As common
      progenitor cells of adipocytes and osteoblasts, MSCs are delicately balanced for
      their differentiation commitment. Numerous in vitro investigations have
      demonstrated that fat-induction factors inhibit osteogenesis, and, conversely,
      bone-induction factors hinder adipogenesis. In fact, a variety of external cues
      contribute to the delicate balance of adipo-osteogenic differentiation of MSCs,
      including chemical, physical, and biological factors. These factors trigger
      different signaling pathways and activate various transcription factors that
      guide MSCs to commit to either lineage. The dysregulation of the adipo-osteogenic
      balance has been linked to several pathophysiologic processes, such as aging,
      obesity, osteopenia, osteopetrosis, and osteoporosis. Thus, the regulation of MSC
      differentiation has increasingly attracted great attention in recent years. Here,
      we review external factors and their signaling processes dictating the reciprocal
      regulation between adipocytes and osteoblasts during MSC differentiation and the
      ultimate control of the adipo-osteogenic balance.

PMID- 26868911
TI  - Deadly dowry: how engulfment pathways promote cell killing.

PMID- 26868914
TI  - Emotional Consequences of Finasteride: Fool's Gold.
AB  - Androgenetic alopecia, the gradual, progressive loss of hair frequently results
      in psychological despair, in part related to changes in self-image. Current
      androgenetic alopecia treatments are limited to hair transplantation and
      medications that inhibit dihydrotestosterone, a potent androgen associated with
      follicular micronization. Users of finasteride, which prevents
      dihydrotestosterone production, report serious physical and emotional adverse
      effects, collectively known as post-finasteride syndrome. Psychiatric illnesses
      and personality traits, specifically neuroticism influence emotional well-being.
      Limited research exists exploring the psychological corollaries of post
      finasteride syndrome and preexisting Axis I and Axis II mental health conditions.
      The aim of this study was to explore how having a preexisting personal and/or
      familial history of a psychiatric diagnosis and certain personality traits may
      influence anxiety and depression among finasteride users. Participants in this
      online survey completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety
      Inventory, and Ten-Item Personality Inventory. An important finding in this study
      was that almost 57% ( n = 97) of men reported a psychiatric diagnosis and 28% ( n
      = 27) had a first-degree relative with a mental health disorder, of this group 17
      only had a family history. Nearly 50% of the men surveyed reported clinically
      significant depression as evidenced by Beck Depression Inventory score and 34%
      experienced anxiety on the Beck Anxiety Inventory. There were no statistically
      significant trends in personality traits reported. Results provide evidence on
      the need to screen for psychiatric history and counseling patients about the
      potential psychological consequences of finasteride. Prescribing clinicians
      should carefully weigh the risk/benefit ratio with these patients.

PMID- 26868913
TI  - Inflammasome-dependent IL-1beta release depends upon membrane permeabilisation.
AB  - Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is a critical regulator of the inflammatory
      response. IL-1beta is not secreted through the conventional ER-Golgi route of
      protein secretion, and to date its mechanism of release has been unknown.
      Crucially, its secretion depends upon the processing of a precursor form
      following the activation of the multimolecular inflammasome complex. Using a
      novel and reversible pharmacological inhibitor of the IL-1beta release process,
      in combination with biochemical, biophysical, and real-time single-cell confocal
      microscopy with macrophage cells expressing Venus-labelled IL-1beta, we have
      discovered that the secretion of IL-1beta after inflammasome activation requires
      membrane permeabilisation, and occurs in parallel with the death of the secreting
      cell. Thus, in macrophages the release of IL-1beta in response to inflammasome
      activation appears to be a secretory process independent of nonspecific leakage
      of proteins during cell death. The mechanism of membrane permeabilisation leading
      to IL-1beta release is distinct from the unconventional secretory mechanism
      employed by its structural homologues fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) or IL
      1alpha, a process that involves the formation of membrane pores but does not
      result in cell death. These discoveries reveal key processes at the initiation of
      an inflammatory response and deliver new insights into the mechanisms of protein
      release.

PMID- 26868912
TI  - Cell death, clearance and immunity in the skeletal muscle.
AB  - The skeletal muscle is an immunologically unique tissue. Leukocytes, virtually
      absent in physiological conditions, are quickly recruited into the tissue upon
      injury and persist during regeneration. Apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy coexist
      in the injured/regenerating muscles, including those of patients with
      neuromuscular disorders, such as inflammatory myopathies, dystrophies, metabolic
      and mitochondrial myopathies and drug-induced myopathies. Macrophages are able to
      alter their function in response to microenvironment conditions and as a
      consequence coordinate changes within the tissue from the early injury throughout
      regeneration and eventual healing, and regulate the activation and the function
      of stem cells. Early after injury, classically activated macrophages ('M1')
      dominate the picture. Alternatively activated M2 macrophages predominate during
      resolution phases and regulate the termination of the inflammatory responses. The
      dynamic M1/M2 transition is increasingly felt to be the key to the homeostasis of
      the muscle. Recognition and clearance of debris originating from damaged
      myofibers and from dying stem/progenitor cells, stromal cells and leukocytes are
      fundamental actions of macrophages. Clearance of apoptotic cells and M1/M2
      transition are causally connected and represent limiting steps for muscle
      healing. The accumulation of apoptotic cells, which reflects their defective
      clearance, has been demonstrated in various tissues to prompt autoimmunity
      against intracellular autoantigens. In the muscle, in the presence of type I
      interferon, apoptotic myoblasts indeed cause the production of autoantibodies,
      lymphocyte infiltration and continuous cycles of muscle injury and regeneration,
      mimicking human inflammatory myopathies. The clearance of apoptotic cells thus
      modulates the homeostatic response of the skeletal muscle to injury. Conversely,
      defects in the process may have deleterious local effects, guiding maladaptive
      tissue remodeling with collagen and fat accumulation and promoting autoimmunity
      itself. There is strong promise for novel treatments based on new knowledge of
      cell death, clearance and immunity in the muscle.

PMID- 26868917
TI  - Examining the Relationship Between Past Orientation and US Suicide Rates: An
      Analysis Using Big Data-Driven Google Search Queries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Internet search query data reflect the attitudes of the users, using
      which we can measure the past orientation to commit suicide. Examinations of past
      orientation often highlight certain predispositions of attitude, many of which
      can be suicide risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between
      past orientation and suicide rate by examining Google search queries. METHODS: We
      measured the past orientation using Google search query data by comparing the
      search volumes of the past year and those of the future year, across the 50 US
      states and the District of Columbia during the period from 2004 to 2012. We
      constructed a panel dataset with independent variables as control variables; we
      then undertook an analysis using multiple ordinary least squares regression and
      methods that leverage the Akaike information criterion and the Bayesian
      information criterion. RESULTS: It was found that past orientation had a positive
      relationship with the suicide rate (P <= .001) and that it improves the goodness
      of-fit of the model regarding the suicide rate. Unemployment rate (P <= .001 in
      Models 3 and 4), Gini coefficient (P <= .001), and population growth rate (P <=
      .001) had a positive relationship with the suicide rate, whereas the gross state
      product (P <= .001) showed a negative relationship with the suicide rate.
      CONCLUSIONS: We empirically identified the positive relationship between the
      suicide rate and past orientation, which was measured by big data-driven Google
      search query.

PMID- 26868916
TI  - Structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in two-dimensional
      materials induced by electrostatic gating.
AB  - Dynamic control of conductivity and optical properties via atomic structure
      changes is of technological importance in information storage. Energy consumption
      considerations provide a driving force towards employing thin materials in
      devices. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are nearly atomically thin
      materials that can exist in multiple crystal structures, each with distinct
      electrical properties. By developing new density functional-based methods, we
      discover that electrostatic gating device configurations have the potential to
      drive structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transitions in some monolayer
      transition metal dichalcogenides. Here we show that the semiconductor-to
      semimetal phase transition in monolayer MoTe2 can be driven by a gate voltage of
      several volts with appropriate choice of dielectric. We find that the transition
      gate voltage can be reduced arbitrarily by alloying, for example, for Mo(x)W(1
      x)Te2 monolayers. Our findings identify a new physical mechanism, not existing in
      bulk materials, to dynamically control structural phase transitions in two
      dimensional materials, enabling potential applications in phase-change electronic
      devices.

PMID- 26868915
TI  - Merida virus, a putative novel rhabdovirus discovered in Culex and Ochlerotatus
      spp. mosquitoes in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
AB  - Sequences corresponding to a putative, novel rhabdovirus [designated Merida virus
      (MERDV)] were initially detected in a pool of Culex quinquefasciatus collected in
      the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The entire genome was sequenced, revealing 11
      798 nt and five major ORFs, which encode the nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein
      (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L).
      The deduced amino acid sequences of the N, G and L proteins have no more than 24,
      38 and 43 % identity, respectively, to the corresponding sequences of all other
      known rhabdoviruses, whereas those of the P and M proteins have no significant
      identity with any sequences in GenBank and their identity is only suggested based
      on their genome position. Using specific reverse transcription-PCR assays
      established from the genome sequence, 27 571 C. quinquefasciatus which had been
      sorted in 728 pools were screened to assess the prevalence of MERDV in nature and
      25 pools were found positive. The minimal infection rate (calculated as the
      number of positive mosquito pools per 1000 mosquitoes tested) was 0.9, and
      similar for both females and males. Screening another 140 pools of 5484
      mosquitoes belonging to four other genera identified positive pools of
      Ochlerotatus spp. mosquitoes, indicating that the host range is not restricted to
      C. quinquefasciatus. Attempts to isolate MERDV in C6/36 and Vero cells were
      unsuccessful. In summary, we provide evidence that a previously undescribed
      rhabdovirus occurs in mosquitoes in Mexico.

PMID- 26868918
TI  - Complicated abdominal pregnancy with placenta feeding off sacral plexus and
      subsequent multiple ectopic pregnancies during a 4-year follow-up: a case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abdominal pregnancy (pregnancy in the peritoneal cavity) is a very
      rare and serious type of extrauterine gestation that accounts for approximately
      1.4% of all ectopic pregnancies. It also represents one of the few times an
      ectopic pregnancy can be carried to term. Early strategic diagnosis and
      management decisions can make a critical difference with regards to severity of
      morbidity and mortality risk. After an extensive search of the English language
      medical literature, we are unaware of any case of abdominal pregnancy in which
      the placenta was receiving its vascular supply from the sacral plexus. CASE
      PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old African-American woman, primigravida, at 16 weeks 4
      days' gestation, presented to our Emergency Department with abdominal pain. She
      did not complain of any vaginal bleeding. A physical examination revealed mild
      abdominal tenderness and no blood in the vaginal vault. Laboratory findings
      corresponded to an increased level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin; magnetic
      resonance imaging confirmed an abdominal pregnancy. She underwent feticide,
      administration of methotrexate and a laparotomy was done which was immediately
      deferred due to perceived increased bleeding risk. She was found to have an intra
      abdominal ectopic pregnancy with the placenta attached to her omentum, cul-de-sac
      and rectosigmoid, with unusual and extensive vascularity from the sacral plexus.
      A repeat laparotomy was performed 11 weeks later, aimed at removal of the
      gestational sac and placenta that were left in situ on the first laparotomy. This
      time, we achieved successful removal of the peritoneal gestation, lysis of
      adhesions, ligation of vascular supply and cautery of the diminished vasculature.
      Subsequently, she had two ectopic pregnancies, which were managed with both
      medical and surgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic pregnancies should be
      identified early and evaluated for the etiology of the presentation. Rarely, an
      ectopic pregnancy implants at an extratubal location. Today, early intervention
      saves lives and reduces morbidity, but ectopic pregnancy still accounts for 4 to
      10% of pregnancy-related deaths and leads to a high incidence of ectopic site
      gestations in future pregnancies. Medical management has emerged as a safe
      alternative to surgery and holds promise for preservation of future fertility;
      however, surgery remains an acceptable modality. We found that careful and
      strategic choice of management pathway can make all the difference to a favorable
      outcome. As emergency physicians, we need to be aware of the possibility of
      abdominal ectopic pregnancy in such presentations and its severe consequences if
      it remains undiagnosed.

PMID- 26868919
TI  - Loss of PPARalpha perpetuates sex differences in stroke reflected by peripheral
      immune mechanisms.
AB  - Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a nuclear
      receptor transcription factor that plays a role in immune regulation. Because of
      its expression in cerebral tissue and immune cells, PPARalpha has been examined
      as an important regulator in immune-based neurological diseases. Many studies
      have indicated that pre-treatment of animals with PPARalpha agonists induces
      protection against stroke. However, our previous reports indicate that protection
      is only in males, not females, and can be attributed to different PPARalpha
      expression between the sexes. In the current study, we examine how loss of
      PPARalpha affects male and female mice in experimental stroke. Male and female
      PPARalpha knockout mice were subject to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)
      or sham surgery, and the ischemic (local) or spleen specific (peripheral) immune
      response was examined 96 h after reperfusion. We found that loss of PPARalpha
      perpetuated sex differences in stroke, and this was driven by the peripheral, not
      local, immune response. Specifically we observed an increase in peripheral pro
      inflammatory and adhesion molecule gene expression in PPARalpha KO males after
      MCAO compared to females. Our data supports previous evidence that PPARalpha
      plays an important role in sex differences in the immune response to disease,
      including stroke.

PMID- 26868920
TI  - Understanding the Haldane effect.

PMID- 26868921
TI  - Thirty-year trends in heart failure hospitalization and mortality rates and the
      prognostic impact of co-morbidity: a Danish nationwide cohort study.
AB  - AIMS: We examined 30-year nationwide trends in heart failure hospitalization and
      mortality rates, and the prognostic impact of co-morbidity. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      We conducted a population-based cohort study of 317 161 patients with first-time
      inpatient hospitalizations for heart failure during 1983-2012. We computed the
      standardized hospitalization rate and 5-year mortality risk. Co-morbidity levels
      and calendar periods of diagnosis were compared by means of mortality rate ratios
      (MRRs) based on Cox regression. The standardized hospitalization rate (per 100
      000 persons) decreased between 1983 and 2012 by 25% for women (from 192 to 144)
      and by 14% for men (from 217 to 186). The decrease reflected an average annual 1%
      increase until 2000 and a 3.5% decline thereafter. Between 1983-1987 and 2008
      2012, 1-year mortality declined from 45% to 33% and 1- to 5-year mortality from
      59% to 43%. The decline occurred independently of patients' co-morbidity levels.
      Comparing 2008-2012 with 1983-1987, the 5-year age-, sex-, and co-morbidity
      adjusted MRR was 0.57 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.58]. Using low co
      morbidity as reference, the adjusted 5-year MRR in 2003-2007 was increased by 43%
      for moderate, 66% for severe, and 2.2-fold for very severe co-morbidity. The
      magnitude of co-morbidity-associated mortality increased over time and was
      highest in the youngest patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization rates for heart
      failure have declined markedly since 2000 in Denmark. One- and five-year
      mortality declined >40% over the last three decades. The decline in mortality
      occurred for patients with all levels of co-morbidity, but co-morbidity burden
      was a strong prognostic factor.

PMID- 26868922
TI  - Resting heart rate, physiological stress and disadvantage in Aboriginal and
      Torres Strait Islander Australians: analysis from a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lower socioeconomic status has been linked to long-term stress, which
      can manifest in individuals as physiological stress. The aim was to explore the
      relationship between low socioeconomic status and physiological stress in
      Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. METHODS: Using data from the
      eGFR Study (a cross-sectional study of 634 Indigenous Australians in urban and
      remote areas of northern and central Australia), we examined associations between
      resting heart rate and demographic, socioeconomic, and biomedical factors. An
      elevated resting heart rate has been proposed as a measure of sustained stress
      activation and was used as a marker of physiological stress. Relationships were
      assessed between heart rate and the above variables using univariate and multiple
      regression analyses. RESULTS: We reported a mean resting heart rate of 74
      beats/min in the cohort (mean age 45 years). On multiple regression analysis,
      higher heart rate was found to be independently associated with Aboriginal
      ethnicity, being a current smoker, having only primary level schooling, higher
      HbA1c and higher diastolic blood pressure (model R(2) 0.25). CONCLUSIONS:
      Elevated resting heart rate was associated with lower socioeconomic status and
      poorer health profile in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
      Higher resting heart rate may be an indicator of stress and disadvantage in this
      population at high risk of chronic diseases.

PMID- 26868924
TI  - The final moments of landing in bumblebees, Bombus terrestris.
AB  - In comparison to other insects, like honeybees, bumblebees are very effective
      pollinators. Even though landing is a crucial part of pollination, little is
      known about how bumblebees orchestrate the final, critical moments of landing.
      Here, we use high-speed recordings to capture the fine details of the landing
      behaviour of free-flying bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), while landing on a flat
      platform with different orientations. We find that the bees have a fairly
      constant body and head orientation at the moment of leg extension, irrespective
      of platform tilt. At the same moment in time, the distance to the platform is
      held constant at around 8 mm (with the exception of low platform tilts). The
      orientation of the antennae and the first appendage that touches the platform
      vary between platform orientations, while the duration of the hover phase does
      not. Overall, the final moments of landing in bumblebees and their close
      relatives, the honeybees, are similar. However, the distance to the platform at
      the moment of leg extension and the duration of the hover phase are different in
      bumblebees and honeybees, suggesting that they are primarily adapted to land on
      surfaces with different orientations.

PMID- 26868923
TI  - Visual response properties of neurons in four areas of the avian pallium.
AB  - In the present study we investigate the visual responsiveness of neurons in the
      entopallium, arcopallium, nidopallium, and hippocampus of pigeons. Pigeons were
      presented with 12 different stimuli, including three stimuli of a pigeon (a
      portrait of a pigeon's face, a profile view of a pigeon's face, and a picture of
      a whole pigeon). A total of 53 cells were recorded from the entopallium, 65 from
      the arcopallium, 32 from the nidopallium, and 67 from the hippocampus. Although a
      number of neurons were selective for certain colours and shapes, no neurons were
      solely selective for the three pigeon stimuli. This finding contrasts with
      previous studies across a range of mammals demonstrating selective firing to
      images of conspecifics. Rather than reflecting an absence of these cells in
      pigeons, we argue our findings may reflect the difficulty pigeons have in
      understanding the correspondence between 2D representations of 3D stimuli. 

PMID- 26868925
TI  - A survey of mindset theories of intelligence and medical error self-reporting
      among pediatric housestaff and faculty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intelligence theory research has illustrated that people hold either
      "fixed" (intelligence is immutable) or "growth" (intelligence can be improved)
      mindsets and that these views may affect how people learn throughout their
      lifetime. Little is known about the mindsets of physicians, and how mindset may
      affect their lifetime learning and integration of feedback. Our objective was to
      determine if pediatric physicians are of the "fixed" or "growth" mindset and
      whether individual mindset affects perception of medical error reporting. 
      METHODS: We sent an anonymous electronic survey to pediatric residents and
      attending pediatricians at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Respondents
      completed the "Theories of Intelligence Inventory" which classifies individuals
      on a 6-point scale ranging from 1 (Fixed Mindset) to 6 (Growth Mindset).
      Subsequent questions collected data on respondents' recall of medical errors by
      self or others. RESULTS: We received 176/349 responses (50 %). Participants were
      equally distributed between mindsets with 84 (49 %) classified as "fixed" and 86
      (51 %) as "growth". Residents, fellows and attendings did not differ in terms of
      mindset. Mindset did not correlate with the small number of reported medical
      errors. CONCLUSIONS: There is no dominant theory of intelligence (mindset)
      amongst pediatric physicians. The distribution is similar to that seen in the
      general population. Mindset did not correlate with error reports.

PMID- 26868926
TI  - Interferon-gamma enhances the efficacy of autogenous bone grafts by inhibiting
      postoperative bone resorption in rat calvarial defects.
AB  - PURPOSE: Interferon (IFN)-gamma is a major cytokine produced by immune cells that
      plays diverse roles in modulating both the immune system and bone metabolism, but
      its role in autogenous bone grafting remains unknown. Here, we present that local
      IFN-gamma administration improved the efficacy of autogenous bone graft treatment
      in an experimental rat model. METHODS: An autogenous bone graft model was
      prepared with critically sized rat calvariae defects. Four weeks (w) after bone
      graft implantation, rats were treated locally with IFN-gamma or were not treated.
      The effect of IFN-gamma on bone formation was evaluated for up to 8w with micro
      computed tomography, quantitative histomorphometry, and Von Kossa staining.
      Osteoclastogenesis was assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining.
      Immunohistochemistry staining or quantitative polymerase chain reactions were
      used to estimate the expression of osteoclast differentiation factor and
      inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a well-known
      stimulant of osteoclastogenesis and an inhibitor of osteoblast activity, in
      defects. RESULTS: Newly formed bone gradually replaced the autogenous bone grafts
      within 4w, although severe bone resorption with osteoclastogenesis and TNF-alpha
      expression occurred after 6w in the absence of IFN-gamma administration. IFN
      gamma administration markedly attenuated bone loss, osteoclastogenesis, and TNF
      alpha expression, while it enhanced bone formation at 8w. CONCLUSION: Local IFN
      gamma administration promoted bone formation in autogenous bone grafts possibly
      via regulating osteoclastogenesis and TNF-alpha expression. The data provide
      insights into the potential roles of IFN-gamma in autogenous bone grafting.

PMID- 26868927
TI  - A digital approach for one-step formation of the supra-implant emergence profile
      with an individualized CAD/CAM healing abutment.
AB  - PURPOSE: This Technical Procedure describes a novel workflow for a one-step
      formation of the supra-implant emergence profile in the esthetic zone - the
      'Digitally Flip Technique' (DFT). METHODS: After implant placement, a post
      operative intra-oral optical scan (IOS) was performed to capture the final three
      dimensional implant position. Based on the superimposition of the digitally slice
      wise DICOM-segmentation of the digitally flipped (mirrored) contra-lateral tooth
      and the STL-file of the IOS, an individualized healing abutment was CAD/CAM
      fabricated out of PMMA-based restoration material in a fully digital workflow and
      seated at the stage of reopening surgery. One single treatment step was necessary
      for final modulation of the supra-implant mucosa architecture in order to mimic
      the morphological emergence profile of the contra-lateral tooth within a short
      span time frame of four days after insertion of the individualized healing
      abutment. CONCLUSIONS: The implant crown emergence profile could be shaped
      immediately after reopening according to the three-dimensional radiographic
      contour of the digitally flipped contra-lateral tooth. Estimating the emergence
      profile or time-consuming step-by-step conditioning of the mucosa through an
      additionally produced implant provisional was therefore avoided.

PMID- 26868928
TI  - Survey of uniparental genetic markers in the Maltese cattle breed reveals a
      significant founder effect but does not indicate local domestication.

PMID- 26868930
TI  - Receipt of evidence-based brief cessation interventions by health professionals
      and use of cessation assisted treatments among current adult cigarette-only
      smokers: National Adult Tobacco Survey, 2009-2010.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Helping tobacco smokers to quit during a medical visit is a clinical
      and public health priority. Research suggests that most health professionals
      engage their patients in at least some of the '5 A's' of the brief cessation
      intervention recommended in the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice
      Guideline, but information on the extent to which patients act on this
      intervention is uncertain. We assessed current cigarette-only smokers' self
      reported receipt of the 5 A's to determine the odds of using optimal cessation
      assisted treatments (a combination of counseling and medication). METHODS: Data
      came from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS), a nationally
      representative landline and mobile phone survey of adults aged >=18 years. Among
      current cigarette-only smokers who visited a health professional in the past 12
      months, we assessed patients' self-reported receipt of the 5 A's, use of the
      combination of counseling and medication for smoking cessation, and use of other
      cessation treatments. We used logistic regression to examine whether receipt of
      the 5 A's during a recent clinic visit was associated with use of cessation
      treatments (counseling, medication, or a combination of counseling and
      medication) among current cigarette-only smokers. RESULTS: In this large sample
      (N = 10,801) of current cigarette-only smokers who visited a health professional
      in the past 12 months, 6.3 % reported use of both counseling and medication for
      smoking cessation within the past year. Other assisted cessation treatments used
      to quit were: medication (19.6 %); class or program (3.8 %); one-on-one
      counseling (3.7 %); and telephone quitline (2.6 %). Current cigarette-only
      smokers who reported receiving all 5 A's during a recent clinic visit were more
      likely to use counseling (odds ratio [OR]: 11.2, 95 % confidence interval [CI]:
      7.1-17.5), medication (OR: 6.2, 95 % CI: 4.3-9.0), or a combination of counseling
      and medication (OR: 14.6, 95 % CI: 9.3-23.0), compared to smokers who received
      one or none of the 5 A's components. CONCLUSIONS: Receipt of the '5 A's'
      intervention was associated with a significant increase in patients' use of
      recommended counseling and medication for cessation. It is important for health
      professionals to deliver all 5 A's when conducting brief cessation interventions
      with patients who smoke.

PMID- 26868931
TI  - Two new lipid-regulating drugs.
AB  - ?Evolocumab (Repatha-Amgen Ltd) and ?alirocumab (Praluent-Sanofi) are the first
      in a novel class of lipid-regulating drugs, proprotein convertase
      subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, to be licensed in the UK. Both drugs
      have marketing authorisation for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia
      (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia and are
      administered by subcutaneous injection. Here we consider the evidence for
      evolocumab and alirocumab in the management of primary hypercholesterolaemia and
      dyslipidaemias.

PMID- 26868929
TI  - Structure of ring-shaped Abeta42 oligomers determined by conformational
      selection.
AB  - The oligomerization of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides into soluble non-fibrillar
      species plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
      However, it has been challenging to characterize the tertiary and quaternary
      structures of Abeta peptides due to their disordered nature and high aggregation
      propensity. In this work, replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations were
      used to explore the conformational space of Abeta42 monomer. Among the most
      populated transient states, we identified a particular conformation which was
      able to generate ring-shaped pentamers and hexamers, when docked onto itself. The
      structures of these aggregates were stable during microsecond all-atom MD
      simulations in explicit solvent. In addition to high resolution models of these
      oligomers, this study provides support for the conformational selection mechanism
      of Abeta peptide self-assembly. 

PMID- 26868932
TI  - Total ankle joint replacement.
AB  - Ankle arthritis results in a stiff and painful ankle and can be a major cause of
      disability. For people with end-stage ankle arthritis, arthrodesis (ankle fusion)
      is effective at reducing pain in the shorter term, but results in a fixed joint,
      and over time the loss of mobility places stress on other joints in the foot that
      may lead to arthritis, pain and dysfunction. Another option is to perform a total
      ankle joint replacement, with the aim of giving the patient a mobile and pain
      free ankle. In this article we review the efficacy of this procedure, including
      how it compares to ankle arthrodesis, and consider the indications and
      complications.

PMID- 26868933
TI  - Quantitative profiling of sphingolipids in wild Cordyceps and its mycelia by
      using UHPLC-MS.
AB  - In the present study, 101 sphingolipids in wild Cordyceps and its five mycelia
      were quantitatively profiled by using a fully validated UHPLC-MS method. The
      results revealed that a general rank order for the abundance of different classes
      of sphingolipids in wild Cordyceps and its mycelia is sphingoid bases/ceramides >
      phosphosphingolipids > glycosphingolipids. However, remarkable sphingolipid
      differences between wild Cordyceps and its mycelia were observed. One is that
      sphingoid base is the dominant sphingolipid in wild Cordyceps, whereas ceramide
      is the major sphingolipid in mycelia. Another difference is that the abundance of
      sphingomyelins in wild Cordyceps is almost 10-folds higher than those in most
      mycelia. The third one is that mycelia contain more inositol phosphorylceramides
      and glycosphingolipids than wild Cordyceps. Multivariate analysis was further
      employed to visualize the difference among wild Cordyceps and different mycelia,
      leading to the identification of respective sphingolipids as potential chemical
      markers for the differentiation of wild Cordyceps and its related mycelia. This
      study represents the first report on the quantitative profiling of sphingolipids
      in wild Cordyceps and its related mycelia, which provided comprehensive chemical
      evidence for the quality control and rational utilization of wild Cordyceps and
      its mycelia. 

PMID- 26868934
TI  - [Methods can influence the value of copeptin to rule-out acute myocardial
      infarction without ST segment elevation].

PMID- 26868935
TI  - An electrochemical biosensor to simultaneously detect VEGF and PSA for early
      prostate cancer diagnosis based on graphene oxide/ssDNA/PLLA nanoparticles.
AB  - Early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is critical for the prevention of
      metastasis and for early treatment; therefore, a simple and accurate device must
      be developed for this purpose. In this study, we reported a novel fabrication
      method for producing a dual-modality biosensor that can simultaneously detect
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in
      human serum for early diagnosis of PCa. This biosensor was constructed by coating
      graphene oxide/ssDNA (GO-ssDNA) on an Au-electrode for VEGF detection, and
      incorporated with poly-L-lactide nanoparticles (PLLA NPs) for signal
      amplification and PSA detection. The results showed that this biosensor has wide
      liner detection ranges (0.05-100ng/mL for VEGF and 1-100ng/mL for PSA), as well
      as high levels of sensitivity and selectivity (i.e., resisting interference from
      external factors, such as glucose, ascorbic acid human serum protein,
      immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M), and demonstrated a high correlation with
      an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for sample detection in patients. Therefore,
      this biosensor could be utilized for early clinical diagnosis of PCa in the
      future.

PMID- 26868937
TI  - Photoaggravated pompholyx.

PMID- 26868936
TI  - Effect of crop plants on fitness costs associated with resistance to Bacillus
      thuringiensis toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab in cabbage loopers.
AB  - Fitness costs associated with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins
      critically impact the development of resistance in insect populations. In this
      study, the fitness costs in Trichoplusia ni strains associated with two
      genetically independent resistance mechanisms to Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab,
      individually and in combination, on four crop plants (cabbage, cotton, tobacco
      and tomato) were analyzed, in comparison with their near-isogenic susceptible
      strain. The net reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) of the
      T. ni strains, regardless of their resistance traits, were strongly affected by
      the host plants. The ABCC2 gene-linked mechanism of Cry1Ac resistance was
      associated with relatively low fitness costs, while the Cry2Ab resistance
      mechanism was associated with higher fitness costs. The fitness costs in the
      presence of both resistance mechanisms in T. ni appeared to be non-additive. The
      relative fitness of Bt-resistant T. ni depended on the specific resistance
      mechanisms as well as host plants. In addition to difference in survivorship and
      fecundity, an asynchrony of adult emergence was observed among T. ni with
      different resistance mechanisms and on different host plants. Therefore,
      mechanisms of resistance and host plants available in the field are both
      important factors affecting development of Bt resistance in insects. 

PMID- 26868940
TI  - Relationship between diagonal earlobe creases and coronary artery disease as
      determined via angiography.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the prevalence of unilateral and
      bilateral diagonal earlobe creases (DELCs) with respect to the diagnosis of
      coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A total of 558 consecutive participants
      (402 males and 156 females) aged 36-91 years who underwent coronary angiography
      were enrolled in this study. The participants were classified as being without a
      DELC, having a unilateral DELC and having bilateral DELCs; participants with
      either a unilateral DELC or bilateral DELCs were defined as participants with
      DELCs. Significant CHD was defined as at least one major vessel with >50%
      stenosis, and coronary atherosclerosis severity was defined using the Gensini
      scoring system. RESULTS: In the present study, bilateral DELCs were more
      frequently among male (p=0.001), CHD (p=0.000), older people (p=0.000) and those
      with more severe coronary artery atherosclerosis (p=0.000). The results of the
      multiple regression analyses indicated that DELCs (OR, 4.861; 95% CI 3.093 to
      7.642, p=0.000) remained independently associated with a risk of CHD. It was
      assumed that participants without a DELC have a certain background risk for CHD
      (OR is assumed to be 1); the results of the multivariate logistic regression
      indicated that the relative risk of CHD among participants with bilateral DELCs
      was 5.690 among all participants (OR, 5.690; 95% CI 3.450 to 9.384, p=0.000),
      5.436 among male participants (OR, 5.436; 95% CI 2.808 to 10.523, p=0.000) and
      7.148 among female participants (OR, 7.148; 95% CI 3.184 to 16.049, p=0.000).
      Moreover, a positive association between DELC and age (SI=1.21, SIM=1.65, AP
      =0.132), gender (SI=2.09, SIM=0.81, AP=0.49) and smoking status (SI=1.49,
      SIM=0.73, AP=0.29) was found, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the
      present study indicated that DELCs are a simple and a feasible means of
      identifying CHD. However, the exact mechanism underlying the relationship between
      DELCs and CHD warrants further study.

PMID- 26868941
TI  - New South Wales Child Development Study (NSW-CDS): an Australian multiagency,
      multigenerational, longitudinal record linkage study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The initial aim of this multiagency, multigenerational record linkage
      study is to identify childhood profiles of developmental vulnerability and
      resilience, and to identify the determinants of these profiles. The eventual aim
      is to identify risk and protective factors for later childhood-onset and
      adolescent-onset mental health problems, and other adverse social outcomes, using
      subsequent waves of record linkage. The research will assist in informing the
      development of public policy and intervention guidelines to help prevent or
      mitigate adverse long-term health and social outcomes. PARTICIPANTS: The study
      comprises a population cohort of 87,026 children in the Australian State of New
      South Wales (NSW). The cohort was defined by entry into the first year of full
      time schooling in NSW in 2009, at which time class teachers completed the
      Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) on each child (with 99.7% coverage in
      NSW). The AEDC data have been linked to the children's birth, health, school and
      child protection records for the period from birth to school entry, and to the
      health and criminal records of their parents, as well as mortality databases.
      FINDINGS TO DATE: Descriptive data summarising sex, geographic and socioeconomic
      distributions, and linkage rates for the various administrative databases are
      presented. Child data are summarised, and the mental health and criminal records
      data of the children's parents are provided. FUTURE PLANS: In 2015, at age 11
      years, a self-report mental health survey was administered to the cohort in
      collaboration with government, independent and Catholic primary school sectors. A
      second record linkage, spanning birth to age 11 years, will be undertaken to link
      this survey data with the aforementioned administrative databases. This will
      enable a further identification of putative risk and protective factors for
      adverse mental health and other outcomes in adolescence, which can then be tested
      in subsequent record linkages.

PMID- 26868943
TI  - Decision analytic model exploring the cost and cost-offset implications of street
      triage.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine if street triage is effective at reducing the total
      number of people with mental health needs detained under section 136, and is
      associated with cost savings compared to usual police response. DESIGN: Routine
      data from a 6-month period in the year before and after the implementation of a
      street triage scheme were used to explore detentions under section 136, and to
      populate a decision analytic model to explore the impact of street triage on the
      cost to the NHS and the criminal justice sector of supporting people with a
      mental health need. SETTING: A predefined area of Sussex, South East England, UK.
      PARTICIPANTS: All people who were detained under section 136 within the
      predefined area or had contact with the street triage team. INTERVENTIONS: The
      street triage model used here was based on a psychiatric nurse attending
      incidents with a police constable. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      primary outcome was change in the total number of detentions under section 136
      between the before and after periods assessed. Secondary analysis focused on
      whether the additional costs of street triage were offset by cost savings as a
      result of changes in detentions under section 136. RESULTS: Detentions under
      section 136 in the street triage period were significantly lower than in the
      usual response period (118 vs 194 incidents, respectively; chi(2) (1df) 18.542,
      p<0.001). Total NHS and criminal justice costs were estimated to be L1043 in the
      street triage period compared to L1077 in the usual response period. CONCLUSIONS:
      Investment in street triage was offset by savings as a result of reduced
      detentions under section 136, particularly detentions in custody. Data available
      did not include assessment of patient outcomes, so a full economic evaluation was
      not possible.

PMID- 26868942
TI  - Development of a clinical prediction rule to improve peripheral intravenous
      cannulae first attempt success in the emergency department and reduce post
      insertion failure rates: the Vascular Access Decisions in the Emergency Room
      (VADER) study protocol.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) insertion is one of the most
      common clinical interventions performed in emergency care worldwide. However,
      factors associated with successful PIVC placement and maintenance are not well
      understood. This study seeks to determine the predictors of first time PIVC
      insertion success in emergency department (ED) and identify the rationale for
      removal of the ED inserted PIVC in patients admitted to the hospital ward.
      Reducing failed insertion attempts and improving peripheral intravenous
      cannulation practice could lead to better staff and patient experiences, as well
      as improving hospital efficiency. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We propose an
      observational cohort study of PIVC insertions in a patient population presenting
      to ED, with follow-up observation of the PIVC in subsequent admissions to the
      hospital ward. We will collect specific PIVC observational data such as;
      clinician factors, patient factors, device information and clinical practice
      variables. Trained researchers will gather ED PIVC insertion data to identify
      predictors of insertion success. In those admitted from the ED, we will determine
      the dwell time of the ED-inserted PIVC. Multivariate regression analyses will be
      used to identify factors associated with insertions success and PIVC failure and
      standard statistical validation techniques will be used to create and assess the
      effectiveness of a clinical predication rule. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The
      findings of our study will provide new evidence to improve insertion success
      rates in the ED setting and identify strategies to reduce premature device
      failure for patients admitted to hospital wards. Results will unravel a
      complexity of factors that contribute to unsuccessful PIVC attempts such as
      patient and clinician factors along with the products, technologies and infusates
      used. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12615000588594; Pre-results.

PMID- 26868944
TI  - Continuing reductions in HPV 16/18 in a population with high coverage of bivalent
      HPV vaccination in England: an ongoing cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in England was
      introduced in 2008. Monitoring changes in type-specific HPV prevalence allows
      assessment of the population impact of this vaccination programme. METHODS:
      Residual vulva-vaginal swab specimens were collected from young sexually active
      women (aged 16-24 years) attending for chlamydia screening across England.
      Specimens were collected between 2010 and 2013 for type-specific HPV-DNA testing.
      HPV prevalence was compared to a similar survey conducted in 2008 prior to the
      introduction of HPV vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 7321 specimens collected in
      the postvaccination period, and 2354 specimens from the prevaccination period
      were included in this analysis. Among the individuals aged 16-18 years, with an
      estimated vaccination coverage of 67%, the prevalence of HPV16/18 infection
      decreased from 17.6% in 2008 to 6.1% in the postvaccination period. Within the
      postvaccination period, there was a trend towards lower HPV16/18 prevalence with
      higher vaccination coverage and increasing time since vaccine introduction from
      8.5% in the period 2-3 years postvaccination to 4.0% in the period 4-5 years
      postvaccination. The prevalence of HPV31 reduced from 3.7% in the prevaccination
      period to 0.9% after vaccine introduction, although this no longer reached
      statistical significance after additional consideration of the uncertainty due to
      the assay change. Smaller reductions were seen in the individuals aged 19-21
      years with lower estimated vaccination coverage, but there was no evidence of a
      reduction in the older unvaccinated women. Some overall increase in non-vaccine
      types was seen in the youngest age groups (ORs (95% CI); 1.3 (1.0 to 1.7) and 1.5
      (1.1 to 2.0) for individuals aged 16-18 and 19-21 years, respectively, when
      adjusted for known population changes and the change in assay) although this
      should be interpreted with caution given the potential unmasking effect.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a reduction in the HPV vaccine types in the
      age group with the highest HPV vaccination coverage.

PMID- 26868945
TI  - Population characteristics, mechanisms of primary care and premature mortality in
      England: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Health systems with strong primary care tend to have better
      population outcomes, but in many countries demand for care is growing. We sought
      to identify mechanisms of primary care that influence premature mortality.
      DESIGN: We developed a conceptual model of the mechanisms by which primary care
      influences premature mortality, and undertook a cross-sectional study in which
      population and primary care variables reflecting the model were used to explain
      variations in mortality of those aged under 75 years. The premature standardised
      mortality ratios (SMRs) for each practice, available from the Department of
      Health, had been calculated from numbers of deaths in the 5 years from 2006 to
      2010. A regression model was undertaken with explanatory variables for the year
      2009/2010, and repeated to check stability using data for 2008/2009 and
      2010/2011. SETTING: All general practices in England were eligible for inclusion
      and, of the total of 8290, complete data were available for 7858. RESULTS:
      Population variables, particularly deprivation, were the most powerful predictors
      of premature mortality, but the mechanisms of primary care depicted in our model
      also affected mortality. The number of GPs/1000 population and detection of
      hypertension were negatively associated with mortality. In less deprived
      practices, continuity of care was also negatively associated with mortality.
      CONCLUSIONS: Greater supply of primary care is associated with lower premature
      mortality even in a health system that has strong primary care (England). Health
      systems need to sustain the capacity of primary care to deliver effective care,
      and should assist primary care providers in identifying and meeting the needs of
      socioeconomically deprived groups.

PMID- 26868946
TI  - What is a medical decision? A taxonomy based on physician statements in hospital
      encounters: a qualitative study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The medical literature lacks a comprehensive taxonomy of decisions
      made by physicians in medical encounters. Such a taxonomy might be useful in
      understanding the physician-centred, patient-centred and shared decision-making
      in clinical settings. We aimed to identify and classify all decisions emerging in
      conversations between patients and physicians. DESIGN: Qualitative study of video
      recorded patient-physician encounters. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 380 patients in
      consultations with 59 physicians from 17 clinical specialties and three different
      settings (emergency room, ward round, outpatient clinic) in a Norwegian teaching
      hospital. A randomised sample of 30 encounters from internal medicine was used to
      identify and classify decisions, a maximum variation sample of 20 encounters was
      used for reliability assessments, and the remaining encounters were analysed to
      test for applicability across specialties. RESULTS: On the basis of physician
      statements in our material, we developed a taxonomy of clinical decisions--the
      Decision Identification and Classification Taxonomy for Use in Medicine (DICTUM).
      We categorised decisions into 10 mutually exclusive categories: gathering
      additional information, evaluating test results, defining problem, drug-related,
      therapeutic procedure-related, legal and insurance-related, contact-related,
      advice and precaution, treatment goal, and deferment. Four-coder inter-rater
      reliability using Krippendorff's alpha was 0.79. CONCLUSIONS: DICTUM represents a
      precise, detailed and comprehensive taxonomy of medical decisions communicated
      within patient-physician encounters. Compared to previous normative frameworks,
      the taxonomy is descriptive, substantially broader and offers new categories to
      the variety of clinical decisions. The taxonomy could prove helpful in studies on
      the quality of medical work, use of time and resources, and understanding of why,
      when and how patients are or are not involved in decisions.

PMID- 26868947
TI  - Impact of high ambient temperature on unintentional injuries in high-income
      countries: a narrative systematic literature review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Given the likelihood of increased hot weather due to climate change,
      it is crucial to have prevention measures in place to reduce the health burden of
      high temperatures and heat waves. The aim of this review is to summarise and
      evaluate the evidence on the effects of summertime weather on unintentional
      injuries in high-income countries. DESIGN: 3 databases (Global Public Health,
      EMBASE and MEDLINE) were searched by using related keywords and their truncations
      in the title and abstract, and reference lists of key studies were scanned.
      Studies reporting heatstroke and intentional injuries were excluded. RESULTS: 13
      studies met our inclusion criteria. 11 out of 13 studies showed that the risk of
      unintentional injuries increases with increasing ambient temperatures. On days
      with moderate temperatures, the increased risk varied between 0.4% and 5.3% for
      each 1  degrees C increase in ambient temperature. On extreme temperature days,
      the risk of injuries decreased. 2 out of 3 studies on occupational accidents
      found an increase in work-related accidents during high temperatures. For trauma
      hospital admissions, 6 studies reported an increase during hot weather, whereas 1
      study found no association. The evidence for impacts on injuries by subgroups
      such as children, the elderly and drug users was limited and inconsistent.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present review describes a broader range of types of
      unintentional fatal and non-fatal injuries (occupational, trauma hospital
      admissions, traffic, fire entrapments, poisoning and drug overdose) than has
      previously been reported. Our review confirms that hot weather can increase the
      risk of unintentional injuries and accidents in high-income countries. The
      results are useful for injury prevention strategies.

PMID- 26868948
TI  - Drinking patterns of adolescents who develop alcohol use disorders: results from
      the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We identify drinking styles that place teens at greatest risk of later
      alcohol use disorders (AUD). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING:
      Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A representative sample of 1943 adolescents
      living in Victoria in 1992. OUTCOME MEASURES: Teen drinking was assessed at 6
      monthly intervals (5 waves) between mean ages 14.9 and 17.4 years and summarised
      across waves as none, one, or two or more waves of: (1) frequent drinking (3+
      days in the past week), (2) loss of control over drinking (difficulty stopping,
      amnesia), (3) binge drinking (5+ standard drinks in a day) and (4) heavy binge
      drinking (20+ and 11+ standard drinks in a day for males and females,
      respectively). Young Adult Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) was assessed at 3 yearly
      intervals (3 waves) across the 20s (mean ages 20.7 through 29.1 years). RESULTS:
      We show that patterns of teen drinking characterised by loss of control increase
      risk for AUD across young adulthood: loss of control over drinking (one wave OR
      1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.8; two or more waves OR 1.9, CI 1.4 to 2.7); binge drinking
      (one wave OR 1.7, CI 1.3 to 2.3; two or more waves OR 2.0, CI 1.5 to 2.6), and
      heavy binge drinking (one wave OR 2.0, CI 1.4 to 2.8; two or more waves OR 2.3,
      CI 1.6 to 3.4). This is not so for frequent drinking, which was unrelated to
      later AUD. Although drinking was more common in males, there was no evidence of
      sex differences in risk relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Our results extend previous
      work by showing that patterns of drinking that represent loss of control over
      alcohol consumption (however expressed) are important targets for intervention.
      In addition to current policies that may reduce overall consumption, emphasising
      prevention of more extreme teenage bouts of alcohol consumption appears
      warranted.

PMID- 26868949
TI  - Evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of a behaviour change intervention
      for lowering cardiovascular disease risk for people with severe mental illnesses
      in primary care (PRIMROSE study): study protocol for a cluster randomised
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illnesses die up to 20 years earlier than
      the general population, with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of
      death. National guidelines recommend that the physical care of people with severe
      mental illnesses should be the responsibility of primary care; however, little is
      known about effective interventions to lower cardiovascular disease risk in this
      population and setting. Following extensive peer review, funding was secured from
      the United Kingdom National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to deliver the
      proposed study. The aim of the trial is to test the effectiveness of a
      behavioural intervention to lower cardiovascular disease risk in people with
      severe mental illnesses in United Kingdom General Practices. METHODS/DESIGN: The
      study is a cluster randomised controlled trial in 70 GP practices for people with
      severe mental illnesses, aged 30 to 75 years old, with elevated cardiovascular
      disease risk factors. The trial will compare the effectiveness of a behavioural
      intervention designed to lower cardiovascular disease risk and delivered by a
      practice nurse or healthcare assistant, with standard care offered in General
      Practice. A total of 350 people will be recruited and followed up at 6 and 12
      months. The primary outcome is total cholesterol level at the 12-month follow-up
      and secondary outcomes include blood pressure, body mass index, waist
      circumference, smoking status, quality of life, adherence to treatments and
      services and behavioural measures for diet, physical activity and alcohol use. An
      economic evaluation will be carried out to determine the cost effectiveness of
      the intervention compared with standard care. DISCUSSION: The results of this
      pragmatic trial will provide evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of
      the intervention on lowering total cholesterol and addressing multiple
      cardiovascular disease risk factors in people with severe mental illnesses in GP
      Practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN13762819. Date of
      Registration: 25 February 2013. Date and Version Number: 27 August 2014 Version
      5.

PMID- 26868950
TI  - Perceived diagnostic delay and cancer-related distress: a cross-sectional study
      of patients with colorectal cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effect of perceived diagnostic delay
      on cancer-related distress and determine whether fear of cancer-recurrence and
      quality of life mediate this relationship. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in
      which 311 colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors in Scotland completed a survey, which
      included questions on cancer-related distress (IES-R), perceived diagnostic
      delay, quality of life (trial outcome index of the FACT-C: FACT-C TOI) and fear
      of cancer recurrence. Fifteen patients withheld consent to data matching with
      medical records, leaving a sample size of 296. Participants were an average of 69
      years old (range 56 to 81) and between 3.5 and 12 years post-diagnosis. Multiple
      regressions were used to test predictors of distress and regression and
      bootstrapping to test for mediation. RESULTS: Perceived diagnostic delay was
      correlated with higher cancer-related distress, while objective markers of
      diagnostic delay (disease stage at diagnosis and treatment received) were not.
      Some of the relationship between perceived diagnostic delay and cancer-related
      distress was mediated by quality of life, but not by fear of cancer recurrence.
      CONCLUSIONS: Perceived diagnostic delay was associated with higher cancer-related
      distress among CRC survivors. While poorer quality of life partly explained such
      associations, fear of cancer recurrence, stage at diagnosis and treatment did
      not. The exact features of diagnostic delay that are associated with cancer
      related distress remain unclear. Future research should examine the experiences
      patients go through prior to diagnosis that may increase distress, in an effort
      to improve our understanding of the factors affecting emotional wellbeing among
      CRC survivors. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26868951
TI  - Suicidal ideation in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery: prevalence and risk
      factors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Suicidal ideation (SI) is an important complication in cancer patients
      that should be promptly recognized and adequately managed. We investigated the
      prevalence rate and correlates of pre-operative SI in brain tumor (BT) patients
      admitted for elective BT surgery. METHODS: Two hundred and eleven consecutive
      patients (70 % women; mean age 55.9 +/- 15.4 years) scheduled for BT surgery were
      evaluated for SI ("suicidal thought" item from the Beck Depression Inventory-II),
      depressive/anxiety symptom severity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale
      (HADS)), health-related quality of life (SF-36 scale), functional status (Barthel
      Index), and psychiatric histories and treatments. The majority of patients were
      diagnosed with meningioma (39 %) and high-grade glioma (17 %). RESULTS: SI was
      self-reported by 12 (6 %) patients. Patients expressing SI were most commonly
      diagnosed with meningioma (50 %). Patients with SI were more likely to have a
      past history of psychiatric disorders, scored higher on the HADS anxiety
      subscale, and reported worse health-related quality of life across physical and
      mental health domains. In multivariate regression analyses, worse perceived
      mental health was associated with increased risk for SI independently from
      clinical, sociodemographic, and other patient-oriented variables considered in
      the study. CONCLUSIONS: SI was self-reported by 6 % of BT patients before
      surgical intervention and was associated with a past history of psychiatric
      disorders and worse perceived health status. Poor mental health was an
      independent correlate of SI. The perception of health status by a patient should
      be considered as an important determinant of poor mental health in BT patients.

PMID- 26868953
TI  - Which pain intensity scale from the Brief Pain Inventory correlates most highly
      with functional interference scores in patients experiencing taxane-induced
      arthralgia and myalgia?
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess which pain intensity dimension
      scale (worst, least, average, or current pain) from the Brief Pain Inventory
      (BPI) correlates most highly with functional interference scores in patients
      experiencing taxane-induced arthralgia and myalgia. METHODS: Breast cancer
      patients scheduled to receive docetaxel, paclitaxel, or albumin-bound paclitaxel
      (nab-paclitaxel) were enrolled in the study. Patients completed an initial
      baseline questionnaire and subsequently filled out a diary based on the BPI on
      days 1-7, 14, and 21 for three consecutive treatment cycles. Pain scores for
      worst, least, average, and current pain intensity dimensions as well as pain
      interference scores were recorded in the diaries and questionnaires using the
      BPI. Worst, least, average, and current pain scores were correlated with
      functional pain interference scores using Spearman's rank correlation
      coefficients. A general linear mixed model of each functional interference
      measure was performed over time for cycles 1-3 with each pain intensity dimension
      scale. RESULTS: Among worst, average, least, and current joint pain dimensions,
      average joint pain scores correlated best with all BPI interference responses
      while average muscle pain scores correlated best with all BPI interference
      responses except for sleeping probability and normal work. CONCLUSION: We
      recommend the BPI scale measuring average pain for future studies evaluating pain
      scores in patients experiencing taxane-induced arthralgia and myalgia.

PMID- 26868952
TI  - Spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage in critically ill patients with
      malignancies.
AB  - PURPOSE: Limited data are available on the intracranial haemorrhage (ICH)
      developed in critically ill cancer patients during their stay in the intensive
      care unit (ICU). METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent brain CT for
      suspicion of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) with acute neurologic
      symptoms or signs developed during their ICU stay were retrospectively evaluated
      to identify predictors of ICH. RESULTS: Over the study period, a total of 273
      patients underwent brain CT scanning for suspicion of ICH, with altered mentality
      in 202 (74 %), seizure in 43 (16 %), and hemiparesis in 34 (13 %). However, only
      49 (18 %) patients had a final diagnosis of ICH. The most common type of
      haemorrhage was intracerebral in 34 patients (69 %), followed by subarachnoidal
      haemorrhage in 17 (35 %). In multiple logistic regression analysis, anisocoric
      pupils or abnormal pupil reflex (adjusted OR 7.939; 95 % CI, 2.315-27.228) was an
      independent predictor of ICH. In addition, higher positive end-expiratory
      pressure (adjusted OR 1.204; 95 % CI, 1.065-1.361) was significantly associated
      with ICH. However, platelet count was inversely associated with ICH (adjusted OR
      0.993; 95 % CI 0.988-0.999). CONCLUSION: Brain CT scanning should be performed
      even in critically ill cancer patients, especially with risk factors and acute
      neurologic changes.

PMID- 26868954
TI  - Optical brush: Imaging through permuted probes.
AB  - The combination of computational techniques and ultrafast imaging have enabled
      sensing through unconventional settings such as around corners, and through
      diffusive media. We exploit time of flight (ToF) measurements to enable a
      flexible interface for imaging through permuted set of fibers. The fibers are
      randomly distributed in the scene and are packed on the camera end, thus making a
      brush-like structure. The scene is illuminated by two off-axis optical pulses.
      Temporal signatures of fiber tips in the scene are used to localize each fiber.
      Finally, by combining the position and measured intensity of each fiber, the
      original input is reconstructed. Unlike conventional fiber bundles with packed
      set of fibers that are limited by a narrow field of view (FOV), lack of
      flexibility, and extended coaxial precalibration, the proposed optical brush is
      flexible and uses off-axis calibration method based on ToF. The enabled brush
      form can couple to other types of ToF imaging systems. This can impact probe
      based applications such as, endoscopy, tomography, and industrial imaging and
      sensing. 

PMID- 26868955
TI  - Dynamic Range Across Music Genres and the Perception of Dynamic Compression in
      Hearing-Impaired Listeners.
AB  - Dynamic range compression serves different purposes in the music and hearing-aid
      industries. In the music industry, it is used to make music louder and more
      attractive to normal-hearing listeners. In the hearing-aid industry, it is used
      to map the variable dynamic range of acoustic signals to the reduced dynamic
      range of hearing-impaired listeners. Hence, hearing-aided listeners will
      typically receive a dual dose of compression when listening to recorded music.
      The present study involved an acoustic analysis of dynamic range across a cross
      section of recorded music as well as a perceptual study comparing the efficacy of
      different compression schemes. The acoustic analysis revealed that the dynamic
      range of samples from popular genres, such as rock or rap, was generally smaller
      than the dynamic range of samples from classical genres, such as opera and
      orchestra. By comparison, the dynamic range of speech, based on recordings of
      monologues in quiet, was larger than the dynamic range of all music genres
      tested. The perceptual study compared the effect of the prescription rule NAL-NL2
      with a semicompressive and a linear scheme. Music subjected to linear processing
      had the highest ratings for dynamics and quality, followed by the semicompressive
      and the NAL-NL2 setting. These findings advise against NAL-NL2 as a prescription
      rule for recorded music and recommend linear settings. 

PMID- 26868956
TI  - Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients Who have In-Transit Melanoma
      Metastases Treated with Isolated Limb Perfusion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing, and up to 5 % of
      patients will experience in-transit metastases. Normally, the initial treatment
      is surgical excision, but when not possible, locoregional treatment options such
      as isolated limb perfusion (ILP) are an alternative. This study aimed to assess
      health-related quality of life (HRQoL) prospectively for patients whose in
      transit metastases is treated with ILP. More specifically, the study aimed to
      describe HRQoL for patients with in-transit extremity melanoma metastases, to
      describe changes in HRQoL after ILP, and to correlate HRQoL with local toxicity
      and clinical response after ILP. METHODS: The Functional Assessment of Cancer
      Therapy-Melanoma (FACT-M) consists of 51 items comprising the Functional
      Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), the melanoma subscale , and the
      melanoma surgery scale. Forty-five patients answered the FACT-M questionnaire
      before ILP (52 procedures) and at 3, 6 and 12 months after ILP. Response and
      toxicity were analyzed and correlated with the changes in the HRQoL of the
      patients. RESULTS: Patients with in-transit metastasis have an HRQoL mainly
      influenced by tumor burden, defined as more or <10 tumors (FACT-M: 142.5 vs.
      128.4 points; p = 0.02). After ILP, there was a trend toward a decrease in FACT-G
      (+0.1 vs. -7.3 points; p = 0.05) and FACT-M (+1.6 vs. -8.9 points; p = 0.08) when
      Wieberdink classifications 1-2 and 3-4 were compared at 3 months. A significant
      difference in FACT-G (+1.0 vs. -13.0 points; p = 0.04) was observed 12 months
      after ILP as well as a trend for FACT-M (+1.7 vs. -14.6 points; p = 0.08) when
      the patients who had a complete response were compared with those who did not.
      CONCLUSION: This study found that patients with in-transit metastases have an
      HRQoL mainly influenced by tumor burden. After ILP, there is an initial decrease
      in HRQoL due to local toxicity. After 12 months, the patients with a complete
      response maintained an HRQoL at baseline level, strengthening the use of ILP as a
      palliative treatment.

PMID- 26868957
TI  - Frequency of Resection After Preoperative Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy for
      Gastric Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in stage and
      resection rates for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma managed with upfront
      surgery, preoperative chemotherapy, or preoperative chemoradiation therapy .
      METHODS: The medical records of 8382 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal
      cancer treated from January 1995 to November 2014 were reviewed. Chi square and
      logistic regression analysis was used to identify differences in treatment groups
      and variables associated with resection. RESULTS: Of 533 patients evaluated for
      gastrectomy, 174 patients underwent upfront surgery, 90 underwent preoperative
      chemotherapy, and 269 underwent preoperative chemoradiation therapy. Patients
      treated with preoperative therapy had more advanced endoscopic ultrasound and
      computed tomography imaging findings. Preoperative treatment was completed in 81
      % of patients administered chemotherapy and 93 % of patients administered
      chemoradiation. Progressive, unresectable, or metastatic disease was identified
      in 27 % of preoperative chemotherapy and 26 % of chemoradiation patients.
      Toxicity or worsening comorbidities associated with an inability to undergo
      resection were identified in 2 % of chemotherapy patients and 6 % of
      chemoradiation patients. Potentially curative resection was performed in 92, 71,
      and 64 % of patients treated with upfront surgery, preoperative chemotherapy, and
      preoperative chemoradiation, respectively. For patients treated with
      chemoradiation, the absence of regional lymphadenopathy on imaging was the only
      pretreatment variable associated with resection (odds ratio 1.77, 95 % confidence
      interval 1.04-3.03; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with preoperative
      therapy often have more advanced disease prior to treatment initiation and
      therefore potential for disease progression. However, toxicity that prevents
      resection is rare, which is an important consideration in selecting preoperative
      treatment.

PMID- 26868958
TI  - Down-Regulation of microRNA-132 is Associated with Poor Prognosis of Colorectal
      Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Given the role of microRNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, we
      explored the association between microRNA (miRNA) expression and CRC-related
      prognosis. METHODS: Three types of tissue samples (primary CRC lesions without
      liver metastasis, primary lesions with liver metastasis, and liver metastatic
      tissues) were used for miRNA profiling to identify differentially expressed
      miRNA. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine miRNA expression in CRC
      cells and in tumor tissues. RESULTS: MiR-132 was significantly down-regulated in
      primary CRC tissues with liver metastasis and liver metastatic lesions compared
      to primary lesions without liver metastasis. Multivariate analysis for overall
      survival indicated that low miR-132 expression was an independent prognostic
      factor for CRC patients (overall survival P = 0.040, disease-free survival P =
      0.015). Ectopic expression of miR-132 significantly inhibited cell proliferation
      and cell invasion. The luciferase reporter assay revealed that anoctamin 1 (ANO1)
      was a direct target of miR-132. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that high
      ANO1 expression was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival of
      patients with CRC (P = 0.0344). CONCLUSIONS: Down-regulation of miR-132 is
      associated with poor prognosis in CRC. ANO1 could be one of the crucial targets
      of miR-132 in CRC.

PMID- 26868959
TI  - Intraretinal Hyperreflective Foci in Acquired Vitelliform Lesions of the Macula:
      Clinical and Histologic Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the natural course, visual outcomes, and anatomic changes
      and provide histologic correlates in eyes with intraretinal hyperreflective foci
      associated with acquired vitelliform lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study
      and imaging-histology correlation in a single donor eye. METHODS: participants:
      Patients with intraretinal hyperreflective foci and acquired vitelliform lesions
      from 2 tertiary referral centers were evaluated from January 2002 to January
      2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The chronology of clinical and imaging features of
      retinal anatomic changes and the pattern of intraretinal hyperreflective foci
      migration were documented using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography
      (OCT). One donor eye with intraretinal hyperreflective foci was identified in a
      pathology archive by ex vivo OCT and was studied with high-resolution light and
      electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Intraretinal hyperreflective foci were
      associated with acquired vitelliform lesions in 25 of 254 eyes (9.8%) with a
      strong female preponderance (86% of patients). Focal disruptions to the ellipsoid
      zone and external limiting membrane overlying the acquired vitelliform lesions
      were observed prior to the occurrence of intraretinal hyperreflective foci in 75%
      of cases. Histologic evaluation showed that intraretinal hyperreflective foci
      represent cells of retinal pigment epithelium origin that are similar to those
      found in the vitelliform lesions themselves and contain lipofuscin granules,
      melanolipofuscin granules, and melanosomes. The occurrence of intraretinal
      hyperreflective foci was not a significant determinant of final visual acuity (P
      = .34), but development of outer retinal atrophy was (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS:
      Intraretinal hyperreflective foci associated with acquired vitelliform lesions
      are of retinal pigment epithelium origin, and the natural course and functional
      changes are described.

PMID- 26868960
TI  - Normal weight dyslipidemia: Is it all about the liver?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The liver coordinates lipid metabolism and may play a vital role in
      the development of dyslipidemia, even in the absence of obesity. Normal weight
      dyslipidemia (NWD) and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who
      do not have obesity constitute a unique subset of individuals characterized by
      dyslipidemia and metabolic deterioration. This review examined the available
      literature on the role of the liver in dyslipidemia and the metabolic
      characteristics of patients with NAFLD who do not have obesity. METHODS: PubMed
      was searched using the following keywords: nonobese, dyslipidemia, NAFLD, NWD,
      liver, and metabolically obese/unhealthy normal weight. Additionally, article
      bibliographies were screened, and relevant citations were retrieved. Studies were
      excluded if they had not measured relevant biomarkers of dyslipidemia. RESULTS:
      NWD and NAFLD without obesity share a similar abnormal metabolic profile. When
      compared with patients with NAFLD who have obesity, the metabolic abnormalities
      of NAFLD without obesity are similar or less severe. Furthermore, hepatic lesions
      develop independent of obesity, and the extent of dyslipidemia seems comparable.
      CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD may impair hepatic lipid handling, causing faulty lipid
      homeostasis, and serves as a likely starting point for initiation and propagation
      of dyslipidemia along with associated comorbidities in patients without obesity.

PMID- 26868961
TI  - Digital approach to planning computer-guided surgery and immediate
      provisionalization in a partially edentulous patient.
AB  - This report describes a digital approach for computer-guided surgery and
      immediate provisionalization in a partially edentulous patient. With diagnostic
      data obtained from cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral digital diagnostic
      scans, a digital pathway of virtual diagnostic waxing, a virtual prosthetically
      driven surgical plan, a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing
      (CAD/CAM) surgical template, and implant-supported screw-retained interim
      restorations were realized with various open-architecture CAD/CAM systems. The
      optional CAD/CAM diagnostic casts with planned implant placement were also
      additively manufactured to facilitate preoperative inspection of the surgical
      template and customization of the CAD/CAM-fabricated interim restorations. 

PMID- 26868962
TI  - Accuracy of a CAD/CAM-guided template for locating abutment screws for cement
      retained implant-supported restorations.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The accuracy of computer-assisted design and computer
      assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) screw channel drilling guide for locating the
      abutment screw has not been demonstrated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro
      study was to evaluate the accuracy of a CAD/CAM guide for drilling the screw
      access channel in angled implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen students
      prepared screw access channels through the crowns and abutments of implants
      placed at 0-, 15-, and 30-degree angulations in the mandibular second molar on
      dental casts. Experimental and control groups differed in the use of a CAD/CAM
      screw channel drilling guide, and each group was subdivided according to implant
      angulation. The accuracy of the screw channel was evaluated with regard to
      position and angle. Surface and volume losses of crowns and abutments were used
      to evaluate damage to the implanted prostheses. Statistical significance was
      assessed using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Tukey honestly
      significant difference (HSD) test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The implant angulation
      significantly influenced the effect of the drilling guide with regard to the
      accuracy of the screw channel (F=8.319, P<.001) and crown volume loss (F=4.474,
      P=.014). For the 30-degree angulation, the guided drilling group exhibited
      smaller screw access holes than the freehand drilling group (P<.001), whereas no
      statistical differences were found between the groups for the 0- or 15-degree
      angulation. Guided drilling groups showed smaller standard lateral deviations
      than the freehand drilling groups. No significant differences were found in
      abutment volume loss among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A CAD/CAM guide significantly
      enhanced the accuracy of drilling the screw channel and reduced damage to the
      crown and abutment, particularly at an implant angulation of 30 degrees.

PMID- 26868963
TI  - Effect of fiber posts on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated
      anterior teeth with cervical cavities: An in vitro study.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: How the placement of fiber posts affects the fracture
      resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical
      cavities is not well documented. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was
      to evaluate the effect of fiber posts on the fracture resistance of
      endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical cavities.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty extracted human maxillary central incisors were
      selected and divided into 5 test groups (n=10) according to the restoration
      strategy: GHT, control group; endodontically treated teeth (ETT) without
      endodontic posts; GCV, ETT with cervical cavities simulating coronal destruction;
      GCF, ETT with cervical cavities and carbon fiber posts; GGF, ETT with cervical
      cavities and glass fiber posts; and GCP, ETT with cervical cavities and composite
      resin posts. After the fiber posts had been cemented with a resin cement and the
      foundations had been placed, all specimens were quasi statically loaded at 45
      degrees in a universal testing machine until fracture. All specimens were
      evaluated for fracture modes. The data were then analyzed by 1-way ANOVA,
      followed by multiple comparisons with the Tukey HSD test (alpha=.05). The mode of
      failure was determined by visual inspection. RESULTS: The mean +/-SD failure
      loads for the groups ranged from 718.2 +/-89.8 N to 943.8 +/-93.1 N. In a 1-way
      ANOVA followed by post hoc testing, GGFs had a higher fracture strength than all
      other groups (P<=.05). However, GCPs had a lower fracture strength than all other
      groups. Statistically significant differences were observed among groups
      (P<=.05), except between the GHT group and the GCF and GGF groups (P=.075,
      P=.226). All groups except GHT showed complete favorable fracture mode within the
      cervical third of the roots. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this in vitro
      study, placement of glass fiber posts significantly improved the fracture
      resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical
      cavities.

PMID- 26868964
TI  - Outcome of zirconia partial fixed dental prostheses made by predoctoral dental
      students: A clinical retrospective study after 3 to 7 years of clinical service.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Zirconia has an established role in fixed prosthodontics,
      especially for single crowns. Whether it is durable enough for fixed dental
      prostheses (FDPs) in the long term is yet unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this
      retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of FDPs made by predoctoral
      students after 3 to 7 years of clinical service. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of
      102 patients received 120 zirconia FDPs (range, 3-12 units; mean, 4.5 units)
      between 2007 and 2010. Materials used were Zirkonzahn Zirconia (Zirkonzahn),
      NobelProcera Zirconia (Nobel Biocare), and Prettau Zirconia (Zirkonzahn).
      Veneering porcelain was hand-layered on Zirkonzahn Zirconia (GC Initial Zr; GC
      Europe) and Nobel Procera Zirconia (VITA VM 9; VITA Zahnfabrik). Prettau Zirconia
      was monolithic and had no veneering porcelain. Success and survival rates were
      calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Ethics approval was obtained
      from the Ethical Committee of the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District
      (100/2013). RESULTS: The 76 participants examined (75%) had received 88 zirconia
      FDPs. The mean follow-up period was 4.9 years (range, 3-7 years). The most common
      complication was chipping of the veneering porcelain in 13 of 88 FDPs (14.7%).
      The success rate of the zirconia-based partial FDPs after 4.9 years was 89%, and
      the survival rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of the zirconia-based
      partial FDPs after 4.9 years was 89%, and the survival rate was 100%.

PMID- 26868965
TI  - Randomized clinical trial of the influence of impression technique on the
      fabrication of cast metal posts.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Direct and indirect techniques are used for intracanal
      impression and fabrication of cast metal posts. However, whether those techniques
      affect the accuracy of cast metal posts is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this
      randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the accuracy of cast metal posts
      depending on tooth position and impression technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Endodontically treated teeth (anterior or posterior) planned to receive cast
      metal posts and complete crowns were randomized according to impression technique
      (direct or indirect). Impressions were made by 2 operators, and time for the
      impression was recorded. All impressions and cast metal posts were photographed
      to assess any possible differences between techniques in length of the cast metal
      post. RESULTS: All cast metal posts were shorter than the impressions. The mean
      reduction for the metal posts was 2.3% for direct in anterior teeth, 5.7% for
      direct in posterior teeth, 6.3% for indirect in anterior teeth, and 7.2% for
      indirect in posterior teeth (all P<.05). Statistically significant differences
      were found between time of technique and tooth position (P=.031), with the direct
      technique more time consuming than the indirect technique (P<.001) for both tooth
      positions. For the indirect technique, the impression times for both tooth groups
      were similar (P=.459). CONCLUSIONS: Both of the intracanal impression techniques
      resulted in cast posts that were shorter than the impressed post space. The
      discrepancy was greatest for the indirect technique. Nevertheless, all posts were
      considered clinically acceptable and were cemented.

PMID- 26868966
TI  - Analysis of the relation between health statistics and eating habits in Japanese
      prefectures using fuzzy robust regression model.
AB  - In recent years, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare is working
      to improve citizen's lifestyle and social environment to improve their health.
      This is because of the following reasons. Diseases related to lifestyle such as
      malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease account for about
      60% of the deaths in 2013. In addition, 32% of all medical expenditures are made
      on lifestyle-related disease. Lifestyle-related diseases can be prevented by
      daily exercise, a well-balanced diet, and not smoking. This ministry is promoting
      measures such as dietary education, physical activity, and exercise. Improvement
      of diet is the easiest way to reduce the occurrence of lifestyle-related
      diseases. Thus, in this paper, we analyze the relation between health and diet
      using our fuzzy robust regression model.

PMID- 26868967
TI  - Lead-free 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 nanowires for energy
      harvesting.
AB  - Lead-free piezoelectric nanowires (NWs) show strong potential in sensing and
      energy harvesting applications due to their flexibility and ability to convert
      mechanical energy to electric energy. Currently, most lead-free piezoelectric NWs
      are produced through low yield synthesis methods and result in low
      electromechanical coupling, which limit their efficiency as energy harvesters. In
      order to alleviate these issues, a scalable method is developed to synthesize
      perovskite type 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT-BCT) NWs with high
      piezoelectric coupling coefficient. The piezoelectric coupling coefficient of the
      BZT-BCT NWs is measured by a refined piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) testing
      method and shows the highest reported coupling coefficient for lead-free
      piezoelectric nanowires of 90 +/- 5 pm V(-1). Flexible nanocomposites utilizing
      dispersed BZT-BCT NWs are fabricated to demonstrate an energy harvesting
      application with an open circuit voltage of up to 6.25 V and a power density of
      up to 2.25 MUW cm(-3). The high electromechanical coupling coefficient and high
      power density demonstrated with these lead-free NWs produced via a scalable
      synthesis method shows the potential for high performance NW-based devices. 

PMID- 26868968
TI  - Sex differences in the outcome of juvenile social isolation on HPA axis function
      in rats.
AB  - Women are more likely than men to suffer from anxiety disorders and major
      depression. These disorders share hyperresponsiveness to stress as an etiological
      factor. Thus, sex differences in brain arousal systems and their regulation by
      chronic stress may account for the increased vulnerability to these disorders in
      women. Social isolation is a model of early life stress that results in
      neurobiological alterations leading to increased anxiety-like and depressive-like
      behaviors. Here we investigated the sex difference in the effects of post-weaning
      social isolation on acute stress sensitivity and behavior in rats. In both sexes,
      social isolation at weaning reduced basal levels of the neuroactive steroid
      allopregnanolone in the brain and of corticosterone in plasma. Moreover, acute
      stress increased plasma corticosterone levels in both group-housed and socially
      isolated male and female rats; however this effect was greater in male than
      female rats subjected to social isolation. Intriguingly, group-housed female rats
      showed no change in plasma and brain levels of allopregnanolone after acute foot
      shock stress. The absence of stress-induced effects on allopregnanolone synthesis
      might be due to the physiologically higher levels of this hormone in females vs.
      males. Accordingly, increasing allopregnanolone levels in male rats blunted the
      response to foot-shock stress in these animals. Socially isolated male, but not
      female, rats also display depressive-like behavior and increased hippocampal
      brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The ovarian steroids could "buffer" the
      effect of this adverse experience in females on these parameters. Finally, the
      dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test indicated that the chronic stress associated
      with social isolation impairs feedback inhibition in both sexes in which an
      increase in the abundance of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the hippocampus
      was found. Altogether, these results demonstrate that social isolation affects
      neuroendocrine reactivity to stress, plasticity and emotionality in a sexually
      dimorphic manner. 

PMID- 26868969
TI  - Involvement of dorsal striatal alpha1-containing GABAA receptors in
      methamphetamine-associated rewarding memories.
AB  - Rewarding memories induced by addictive drugs may contribute to persistent drug
      seeking behaviors, which is an important contributing factor to drug addiction.
      However, the biological mechanisms underlying drug-associated rewarding memories
      have not yet been fully understood, especially the new synthetic drugs, such as
      amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). In this study, using the rat-conditioned place
      preference (CPP) model, a classic animal model for the reward-associated effects
      of addictive drugs, we found that the expression level of GABAA alpha1 subunits
      was significantly decreased in the dorsal striatum (Dstr) after conditioned
      methamphetamine (METH) pairing, and no significant differences were observed in
      the other four rewarding memory-associated areas (medial prefrontal cortex
      (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), amygdala (Amy), and dorsal hippocampus (DH)).
      Intra-Dstr injection of either the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol or the
      specific alpha1GABAA receptor-preferring benzodiazepine (BDZ) agonist zolpidem
      significantly abolished METH CPP formation. Thus, this study extends previous
      findings by showing that GABAA receptors, particularly the alpha1-containing
      GABAA receptors, may be strongly implicated in METH-associated rewarding
      memories. This work provides us with a new perspective on the goal of treating
      ATS addiction. 

PMID- 26868971
TI  - Heterogeneous expression of extracellular matrix molecules in the red nucleus of
      the rat.
AB  - Previous studies in our laboratory showed that the organization and heterogeneous
      molecular composition of extracellular matrix is associated with the variable
      cytoarchitecture, connections and specific functions of the vestibular nuclei and
      two related areas of the vestibular neural circuits, the inferior olive and
      prepositus hypoglossi nucleus. The aim of the present study is to reveal the
      organization and distribution of various molecular components of extracellular
      matrix in the red nucleus, a midbrain premotor center. Morphologically and
      functionally the red nucleus is comprised of the magno- and parvocellular parts,
      with overlapping neuronal population. By using histochemical and
      immunohistochemical methods, the extracellular matrix appeared as perineuronal
      net, axonal coat, perisynaptic matrix or diffuse network in the neuropil. In both
      parts of the red nucleus we have observed positive hyaluronan, tenascin-R, link
      protein, and lectican (aggrecan, brevican, versican, neurocan) reactions.
      Perineuronal nets were detected with each of the reactions and the aggrecan
      showed the most intense staining in the pericellular area. The two parts were
      clearly distinguished on the basis of neurocan and HAPLN1 expression as they have
      lower intensity in the perineuronal nets of large cells and in the neuropil of
      the magnocellular part. Additionally, in contrast to this pattern, the aggrecan
      was heavily labeled in the magnocellular region sharply delineating from the
      faintly stained parvocellular area. The most characteristic finding was that the
      appearance of perineuronal nets was related with the neuronal size independently
      from its position within the two subdivisions of red nucleus. In line with these
      statements none of the extracellular matrix molecules were restricted exclusively
      to the magno- or parvocellular division. The chemical heterogeneity of the
      perineuronal nets may support the recently accepted view that the red nucleus
      comprises more different populations of neurons than previously reported. 

PMID- 26868970
TI  - Neuropeptide Y signaling in the dorsal raphe nucleus inhibits male sexual
      behavior in mice.
AB  - Animals change their biological activities depending on their nutritional state.
      Reproductive functions, including sexual behavior, are suppressed under low
      energy conditions; however, the underlying neuronal mechanism is poorly
      understood. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an orexigenic molecule released in response
      to low-energy conditions and has an inhibitory effect on sexual behavior. We
      examined how NPY is involved in energy state-dependent regulation of male sexual
      behavior. Mounting, intromission, and ejaculation were evaluated as parameters of
      sexual behavior. Almost all parameters indicated that fasting for 24h suppressed
      male sexual behavior. Intracerebroventricular injection of NPY inhibited sexual
      behavior in males that free-fed for 8h following 24-h fasting (fed males). We
      next examined whether the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), in which serotonergic (5
      HT) neurons are distributed, is involved in NPY-mediated inhibition of male
      sexual behavior. NPY-positive processes immunoreactive for a presynaptic marker,
      synaptophysin, were distributed in the DRN of both fed and fasted males.
      Expression of the NPY Y1 receptor in 5-HT neurons was also observed. Direct
      injection of NPY or 8-OH-DPAT (a 5-HT1A receptor agonist that inhibits the
      activity of 5-HT neurons) into the DRN inhibited male sexual behavior in fed
      males. In contrast, injection of BIBP-3226, a NPY Y1 receptor antagonist, or (+)
      DOI hydrochloride (DOI), a 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist that activates 5-HT
      neurons, into the DRN partially recovered male sexual behavior in 24-h fasted
      males. These results suggest that NPY inhibits serotonergic neuronal activity via
      the Y1 receptor in the DRN, resulting in suppression of male sexual behavior in
      low-energy conditions. 

PMID- 26868972
TI  - Prostaglandin E2-mediated upregulation of neuroexcitation and persistent
      tetrodotoxin-resistant Na(+) currents in Ah-type trigeminal ganglion neurons
      isolated from adult female rats.
AB  - Prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) is a very important inflammatory mediator and PGE2
      mediated neuroexcitation in sex-specific distribution of Ah-type trigeminal
      ganglion neurons (TGNs) isolated from adult female rats is not fully addressed.
      The whole-cell patch-clamp experiment was performed to verify the effects of
      PGE2, forskolin, and GPR30-selective agonist (G-1) on action potential (AP) and
      tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na(+) currents in identified Ah-type TGNs. The
      results showed that the firing frequency was increased in Ah- and C-types by
      PGE2, which was simulated by forskolin and inhibited by Rp-cyclic adenosine
      monophosphate (cAMP), while G-1 mimicked this effect only in Ah-types, which was
      abolished by GPR30-selective antagonist (G-15). Although the amplitude of AP was
      increased in Ah- and C-types, increased maximal upstroke velocity was confirmed
      only in Ah-types, suggesting distinct alternations in current density and/or
      voltage-dependent property of Na(+) channels. With 1.0 MUM PGE2, TTX-R Na(+)
      currents were upregulated without changing the current-voltage relationship and
      voltage-dependent activation in C-types, however, the TTX-R Na(+) current was
      augmented in Ah-types, peaked voltage and the voltage-dependent activation were
      both shifted toward hyperpolarized direction with faster slope. Intriguingly, the
      low-threshold persistent TTX-R component was activated from -60 mV and increased
      almost double at -30 mV compared with ~30-40% increment of TTX-R component being
      activated at ~-10 mV. Additionally, the change in TTX-R component of Ah-types was
      equivalent well with that in C-type TGNs. Taken these data together, we conclude
      that PGE2 modulates the neuroexcitation via cAMP-mediated upregulation of TTX-R
      Na(+) currents in both cell-types with hormone-dependent feature, especially
      persistent TTX-R Na(+) currents in sex-specific distribution of myelinated Ah
      type TGNs.

PMID- 26868973
TI  - Mutations of glucocerebrosidase gene and susceptibility to Parkinson's disease:
      An updated meta-analysis in a European population.
AB  - This meta-analysis aims to investigate the association between mutations of
      glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene and susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD) in a
      European population. Several electronic databases were extensively searched. Odds
      ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the
      association. In total, fourteen published papers screening L444P, N370S and other
      GBA variants were identified. The GBA mutations were significantly associated
      with PD in the European population. Subgroup analysis stratified by the age of
      onset (AAO) revealed that the association between GBA mutations and PD existed in
      the patients with age at onset ?50 years but did not exist in the patients with
      age at onset >50 years. Furthermore, the associations between N370S, and L444P
      with PD were also analyzed to explore the roles of the two most frequent GBA
      mutations in the development of PD. The results showed that significant
      associations between N370S, and L444P with PD were observed, respectively.
      Overall, the study supported that GBA mutations were a risk factor for PD in the
      European population. Patients with early-onset were more likely to carry GBA
      mutations than those with late-onset. Moreover, both L444P and N370S were
      associated with increased PD risk.

PMID- 26868974
TI  - Midline thalamic reuniens lesions improve executive behaviors.
AB  - The role of the thalamus in complex cognitive behavior is a topic of increasing
      interest. Here we demonstrate that lesions of the nucleus reuniens (NRe), a
      midline thalamic nucleus interconnected with both hippocampal and prefrontal
      circuitry, lead to enhancement of executive behaviors typically associated with
      the prefrontal cortex. Rats were tested on four behavioral tasks: (1) the
      combined attention-memory (CAM) task, which simultaneously assessed attention to
      a visual target and memory for that target over a variable delay; (2) spatial
      memory using a radial arm maze, (3) discrimination and reversal learning using a
      touchscreen operant platform, and (4) decision-making with delayed outcomes.
      Following NRe lesions, the animals became more efficient in their performance,
      responding with shorter reaction times but also less impulsively than controls.
      This change, combined with a decrease in perseverative responses, led to focused
      attention in the CAM task and accelerated learning in the visual discrimination
      task. There were no observed changes in tasks involving either spatial memory or
      value-based decision making. These data complement ongoing efforts to understand
      the role of midline thalamic structures in human cognition, including the
      development of thalamic stimulation as a therapeutic strategy for acquired
      cognitive disabilities (Schiff, 2008; Mair et al., 2011), and point to the NRe as
      a potential target for clinical intervention.

PMID- 26868975
TI  - Regulation of functional KCNQ1OT1 lncRNA by beta-catenin.
AB  - Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in many biological processes
      through epigenetic mechanisms. We previously reported that KCNQ1OT1, an imprinted
      antisense lncRNA in the human KCNQ1 locus on chromosome 11p15.5, is involved in
      cis-limited silencing within an imprinted KCNQ1 cluster. Furthermore, aberration
      of KCNQ1OT1 transcription was observed with a high frequency in colorectal
      cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of the transcriptional regulation and
      the functional role of KCNQ1OT1 in colorectal cancer remain unclear. Here, we
      show that the KCNQ1OT1 transcriptional level was significantly increased in human
      colorectal cancer cells in which beta-catenin was excessively accumulated in the
      nucleus. Additionally, overexpression of beta-catenin resulted in an increase in
      KCNQ1OT1 lncRNA-coated territory. On the other hand, knockdown of beta-catenin
      resulted in significant decrease of KCNQ1OT1 lncRNA-coated territory and an
      increase in the mRNA expression of the SLC22A18 and PHLDA2 genes that are
      regulated by KCNQ1OT1. We showed that beta-catenin can promote KCNQ1OT1
      transcription through direct binding to the KCNQ1OT1 promoter. Our evidence
      indicates that beta-catenin signaling may contribute to development of colorectal
      cancer by functioning as a novel lncRNA regulatory factor via direct targeting of
      KCNQ1OT1.

PMID- 26868976
TI  - Evaluating mitochondrial autophagy in the mouse heart.
AB  - Mitochondrial autophagy plays an important role in mediating mitochondrial
      quality control. Evaluating the extent of mitochondrial autophagy is challenging
      in the adult heart in vivo. Keima is a fluorescent protein that emits different
      colored signals at acidic and neutral pHs. Keima targeted to mitochondria (Mito
      Keima) is useful in evaluating the extent of mitochondrial autophagy in
      cardiomyocytes in vitro. In order to evaluate the level of mitochondrial
      autophagy in the heart in vivo, we generated adeno-associated virus (AAV)
      serotype 9 harboring either Mito-Keima or Lamp1-YFP. AAV9-Mito-Keima and AAV9
      Lamp1-YFP were administered intravenously and mice were subjected to either forty
      eight hours of fasting or normal chow. Thin slices of the heart prepared within
      cold PBS were subjected to confocal microscopic analyses. The acidic dots Mito
      Keima elicited by 561nm excitation were co-localized with Lamp1-YFP dots
      (Pearson's correlation, 0.760, p<0.001), confirming that the acidic dots of Mito
      Keima were localized in lysosomes. The area co-occupied by Mito-Keima puncta with
      561nm excitation and Lamp1-YFP was significantly greater 48h after fasting.
      Electron microscopic analyses indicated that autophagosomes containing only
      mitochondria were observed in the heart after fasting. The mitochondrial DNA
      content and the level of COX1/GAPDH, indicators of mitochondrial mass, were
      significantly smaller in the fasting group than in the control group, consistent
      with the notion that lysosomal degradation of mitochondria is stimulated after
      fasting. In summary, the level of mitochondrial autophagy in the adult heart can
      be evaluated with intravenous injection of AAV-Mito-Keima and AAV-Lamp1-YFP and
      confocal microscopic analyses. 

PMID- 26868977
TI  - Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, March/April 2016.

PMID- 26868978
TI  - Innovation in capacity building of primary-care physicians in diabetes management
      in India: a new slant in medical education.

PMID- 26868979
TI  - Dynamic Permutational Isomerism in a closo-Cluster.
AB  - Permutational isomers of trigonal bipyramidal [W2RhIr2(CO)9(eta(5)-C5H5)2(eta(5)
      C5HMe4)] result from competitive capping of either a W2Ir or a WIr2 face of the
      tetrahedral cluster [W2Ir2(CO)10(eta(5)-C5 H5)2] from its reaction with
      [Rh(CO)2(eta(5)-C5HMe4)]. The permutational isomers slowly interconvert in
      solution by a cluster metal vertex exchange that is proposed to proceed by Rh-Ir
      and Rh-W bond cleavage and reformation, and via the intermediacy of an edge
      bridged tetrahedral transition state. The permutational isomers display differing
      chemical and physical properties: replacement of CO by PPh3 occurs at one
      permutational isomer only, while the isomers display distinct optical power
      limiting behavior.

PMID- 26868980
TI  - Evolution of the microtubular cytoskeleton (flagellar apparatus) in parasitic
      protists.
AB  - The microtubular cytoskeleton of most single-celled eukaryotes radiates from an
      organizing center called the flagellar apparatus, which is essential for
      locomotion, feeding and reproduction. The structure of the flagellar apparatus
      tends to be conserved within diverse clades of eukaryotes, and modifications of
      this overall structure distinguish different clades from each other.
      Understanding the unity and diversity of the flagellar apparatus provides
      important insights into the evolutionary history of the eukaryotic cell.
      Diversification of the flagellar apparatus is particularly apparent during the
      multiple independent transitions to parasitic lifestyles from free-living
      ancestors. However, our understanding of these evolutionary transitions is
      hampered by the lack of detailed comparisons of the microtubular root systems in
      different lineages of parasitic microbial eukaryotes and those of their closest
      free-living relatives. Here we help to establish this comparative context by
      examining the unity and diversity of the flagellar apparatus in six major clades
      containing both free-living lineages and endobiotic (parasitic and symbiotic)
      microbial eukaryotes: stramenopiles (e.g., Phytophthora), fornicates (e.g.,
      Giardia), parabasalids (e.g., Trichomonas), preaxostylids (e.g.,
      Monocercomonoides), kinetoplastids (e.g., Trypanosoma), and apicomplexans (e.g.,
      Plasmodium). These comparisons enabled us to address some broader patterns
      associated with the evolution of parasitism, including a general trend toward a
      more streamlined flagellar apparatus.

PMID- 26868981
TI  - Inactivation of the cytosolic and mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyl transferase
      genes in Leishmania major.
AB  - Leishmania has two serine hydroxylmethyl transferase (SHMT) genes, one coding for
      a cytosolic and the other for a mitochondrial enzyme. Trypanosoma cruzi has only
      the gene coding for the cytosolic enzyme and Trypanosoma brucei has no SHMT. We
      tested whether these genes were dispensable for growth in Leishmania major. By
      gene inactivation we succeeded in generating three cells lines one without the
      cytosolic cSHMT, one without the mitochondrial mSHMT, and finally one L. major
      line without any SHMT. SHMT is thus dispensable for growth of Leishmania in rich
      medium. The ability of the various shmt null mutants to grow in defined medium
      was tested and the growth of the shmt null mutant was dependent on the presence
      of serine. Overall this work has shown that SHMT is dispensable for Leishmania
      growth but it may be necessary when growing in environments poor in serine. 

PMID- 26868983
TI  - Lying, misery and illness: Towards a medical anthropology of the lie.

PMID- 26868982
TI  - Genetic associations between maternal traits and aggressive behaviour in Large
      White sows.
AB  - The present study examined the possibilities and consequences of selecting pigs
      for reduced aggression and desirable maternal behaviour. Data were recorded from
      798 purebred Large White gilts, with an age of 217+/-17.7 (mean+/-SD) days, which
      were observed at mixing with unfamiliar conspecifics. The reaction of the sows
      towards separation from their litter was assessed for 2022 litters from 848 Large
      White sows. Sows' performance during their time in the farrowing unit was scored
      based on the traits farrowing behaviour (i.e. need of birth assistance), rearing
      performance (i.e. litter quality at day 10 postpartum (pp)), usability (i.e.
      additional labour input during lactation period e.g. for treatments) and udder
      quality of the sow (i.e. udder attachment). For agonistic behaviour, traits
      heritabilities of h 2=0.11+/-0.04 to h 2=0.28+/-0.06 were estimated. For the
      sow's reaction towards separation from her litter low heritabilities were found
      (h 2=0.03+/-0.03 for separation test on day 1 pp and h 2=0.02+/-0.03 for
      separation test on day 10 pp). Heritabilities for lactating sow's performance
      (farrowing behaviour, rearing performance, usability of the sow and udder
      quality) in the farrowing unit ranged from h 2=0.03+/-0.02 to h 2=0.19+/-0.03.
      Due to these results it can be assumed that selection for these traits, for
      example, for udder quality or reduced aggression, is possible. Antagonistic
      associations were found between separation test on day 1 pp and different
      measures of aggressiveness (r g =-0.22+/-0.26 aggressive attack and r g =-0.41+/
      0.33 reciprocal fighting). Future studies should determine economic as well as
      welfare-related values of these traits in order to decide whether selection for
      these traits will be reasonable. 

PMID- 26868984
TI  - Inventing a new death and making it believable.
AB  - This article shows how the concept of 'brain death' was created in order that the
      routinization of solid organ transplantation could take place. The concept
      permitted individuals diagnosed as brain-dead but whose respiration and heartbeat
      continued through technological assistance to be counted as no longer alive, and
      therefore organs could be retrieved from them without legal reprisals. It is
      shown how, because the condition of brain-dead bodies is ambiguous--they are at
      once dead and alive--discursive practices must be put to work in both medicine
      and law to justify their status as dead. Despite an apparent consensus within the
      medical world about the concept of brain death, disagreement remains among
      various countries about how best to make the diagnosis. Moreover, professionals
      working with brain-dead patients draw on a Cartesian split between mind and body
      in order to allow themselves to count such patients as dead; this maneuver is
      justified because the minds of brain-dead patients no longer function, although
      their bodies clearly remain very much alive. Without the legal fiction of brain
      death the transplant world would be severely hampered. 

PMID- 26868985
TI  - Lying, secrecy and power within the doctor-patient relationship.
AB  - Based on ethnographic research from two distinct French settings, the author
      examines the lying of doctors, and the lying of patients. The first situation is
      that of medical practitioners, specialists in the treatment of alcoholism, who
      affirm to ex-drinkers that it is impossible to drink normally again after
      treatment, without falling back into dependency, whilst knowing of the existence
      of contradictory cases. The second situation is that in which a certain number of
      patients find themselves, and who lead their doctors to believe that they have
      been taking their medication and dissimulate their real behaviour, that of non
      observance of prescription. The author argues that lying, in the context of
      secrecy, is the expression of and the indication of a power relationship.
      Moreover, the rationalisation that accompanies the lie does not stop it from
      producing effects in contradiction to its motivation, thus exposing the conflict
      between therapeutic logic and social logic: the paradoxical character of lying. 

PMID- 26868986
TI  - Theatres of the lie: 'crazy' deception and lying as drama.
AB  - In this article, the author argues that lying is drama, theatre, which brings
      about transition, reflection, reversal and involvement of the participants in the
      drama. By means of ethnographic data of a psychiatric ward, the author shows that
      lying of mental patients is not pathological, but a ritual of affliction. By
      using Turner's theory about rituals and performance and Goffman's theory about
      presentation of the self it will be showed that lying serves the redefinition of
      reciprocity and solidarity. With the help of Bakhtin's work on Rabelais, the
      author discusses the nature of the drama of the lie. It is concluded that a
      perspective on lying as theatre may be of use outside psychiatric wards and will
      occur in imbalanced power relationships. 

PMID- 26868987
TI  - Disease or deception: Munchausen by Proxy as a weapon of the weak.
AB  - This paper aims to trouble certain assumptions about the clinical nature of
      Munchausen by Proxy (MBP), which has been described in the medical literature as
      a rare "culture bound syndrome" having surfaced at a particular moment, late
      modernity, and in a particular "place", Europe and North America and their
      extensions. At the heart of this disorder is a lie perpetrated by disturbed
      mothers who masquerade as the concerned and anxious caretakers of one or more
      long-suffering children who are plagued by fictive or maternally-incited
      illnesses and, in the worst instance, who are subjected to death by maternal
      design. MBP is positioned within a broader comparative context as an extreme pole
      along a continuum of (mal-) adaptive maternal behaviors in response to
      unrecognized and unmet needs, not all of which are pathological. Second, the
      locus of the pathology is expanded to include not only the disturbed and troubled
      mother-child dyad, but also the relationship between mother and her doctors and
      other caregivers and protectors. In these medicalized transactions - shot through
      with power, love, and pain - the child emerges as an almost incidental or
      "transitional object", a mere pretext that gives voice and substance to the
      adults' (mothers' and professionals') narcissistic needs. Finally, the social and
      moral uses of illness as drama, performance, and pageantry, and as a passively
      aggressive "weapon of the weak", are identified as a key structure of MBP
      disease. Based on decades of research on maternal thinking and practice (often
      under extreme conditions) the paper is an attempt to demonstrate what a
      "critically applied and cross-cultural medical anthropology" can add to the
      clinical picture and to a broader social understanding of this seemingly bizarre,
      rare, and contested syndrome. 

PMID- 26868988
TI  - Gade deceptions and lies told by the ill: The Caribbean sociocultural
      construction of truth in patient-healer encounters.
AB  - A constructivist approach in medical anthropology suggests that the boundary
      between lies and truth in sickness narratives is thin. Based on fieldwork in the
      French (Martinique) and English (Saint-Lucia) Carribbean with gade and
      quimboiseurs (local folk healers), this paper addresses the gap between naive
      romanticism and radical cynicism in the anthropological analysis of patient
      healer encounters. Is the sick person lying when she accuses evil spirits for her
      behaviour or sickness? Is the quimboiseur who is building a meaningful
      explanation or diagnosis simply a liar taking advantage of his client's
      credulity? The challenge for anthropology is not to determine whether or not a
      person is lying when attributing their ill fortune to witchcraft. Instead, in
      this paper, the author approaches lying as a language-game played by both
      patients and folk healers. Concepts of lying as games, tactical lies, pragmatic
      creativity, and constructive lies are introduced here as a perspective for a
      reconsideration of lying as a pertinent research object. 

PMID- 26868990
TI  - Memoriam: Roy Porter (1946-2002).

PMID- 26868991
TI  - Short-term hypothermic preservation of human testicular tissue: the effect of
      storage medium and storage period.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To optimize the storage medium and period during short-term
      preservation of human testicular tissue. DESIGN: First, human testicular tissue
      fragments from five patients were kept at 4 degrees C for 3 days in different
      media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM]/F12, DMEM/F12 + 20% human serum
      albumin [HSA], DMEM/F12 + 50% HSA, and HSA). Secondly, fragments from four
      patients were kept in DMEM/F12 for 3, 5, or 8 days at 4 degrees C. SETTING:
      Laboratory research environment. PATIENT(S): Adult human testicular tissue.
      INTERVENTION(S): Biopsy and short-term storage of human testicular tissue at
      different conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Viability, general tissue
      morphology, Sertoli cell morphology, number of spermatogonia, and apoptosis. The
      experimental conditions were compared with fresh control samples. RESULT(S):
      Storing human testicular tissue in DMEM/F12 did not alter any of the investigated
      parameters. In most conditions containing HSA, tissue morphology was altered, and
      in all of them the Sertoli cell morphology was affected. The number of
      spermatogonia was only affected when tissue was stored in 100% HSA. In the second
      part of the study, tissue morphology deteriorated significantly as of 5 days of
      hypothermic storage, and Sertoli cell morphology after 8 days. CONCLUSION(S):
      Human testicular tissue can be preserved for 3 days at 4 degrees C in DMEM/F12
      without altering tissue morphology, Sertoli cell morphology, number of
      spermatogonia, or number of apoptotic cells.

PMID- 26868992
TI  - Effects of maternal age on euploidy rates in a large cohort of embryos analyzed
      with 24-chromosome single-nucleotide polymorphism-based preimplantation genetic
      screening.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of maternal age on the average number of
      euploid embryos retrieved during oocyte harvest as part of an in vitro
      fertilization (IVF) cycle, including the probability of retrieving at least one
      euploid embryo in a cohort (PrE). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING:
      Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) laboratory. PATIENT(S): Women aged 18 to
      48 years undergoing IVF treatment. INTERVENTION(S): Use of 24-chromosome single
      nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based PGS of day-3 and day-5 embryo biopsies. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Relationships between maternal age and the rate of embryos
      that tested as euploid (hereafter referred to as "euploid embryos"), the average
      number and proportion of euploid embryos per IVF cycle, and PrE. RESULT(S): We
      analyzed 22,599 day-3 embryos and 15,112 day-5 embryos. In women aged 27 to 35
      years, the median proportion of euploid embryos in each cycle remained constant
      at ~35% in day-3 biopsies and ~55% in day-5 biopsies, but it decreased rapidly
      after age 35. On average, women in their late 20s had four euploid embryos (day 3
      or day 5) per cycle, but this number decreased linearly (R(2) >= 0.983) after 35
      years of age. The effect of maternal age on PrE was similar, with a rapid
      exponential decline (R(2) = 0.986). Across all maternal ages, the euploid
      proportion and number of embryos per cycle were counterbalanced, so the number of
      euploid embryos per cycle was the same for day-3 and day-5 biopsies. This
      suggests that the loss of embryos from day 3 to day 5 was primarily due to
      aneuploidy. CONCLUSION(S): Our results confirm the known inverse relationship
      between advanced maternal age (>35 years) and embryo euploidy, demonstrating that
      equal numbers of euploid embryos are available at day 3 and day 5.

PMID- 26868993
TI  - Higher PDCD4 expression is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, lipid
      metabolism disorders, and granulosa cell apoptosis in polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of programmed
      cell death 4 (PDCD4), a novel metabolism-associated gene, during polycystic ovary
      syndrome (PCOS) pathogenesis. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University
      hospital. PATIENT(S): A total of 77 PCOS patients and 67 healthy women as matched
      controls. INTERVENTION(S): PDCD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and apoptosis of
      granulosa cells (GCs) detected by flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl
      transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and small-interfering RNA. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURE(S): PDCD4 expression, body mass index (BMI), insulin 0, insulin
      120, glucose 120, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),
      homeostasis model assessment for beta-cell function (HOMA-beta), triglycerides,
      high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and GC apoptosis. RESULT(S): The PCOS patients
      had higher PDCD4 expression, but BMI was similar as matched with the obese group,
      which positively correlated with BMI, insulin 0, insulin 120, glucose 120, HOMA
      IR, HOMA-beta, triglycerides and negatively correlated with HDL (P<.05). After
      metformin treatment, PDCD4 expression was distinctly down-regulated for the obese
      women with PCOS with insulin resistance. Compared with the healthy controls, the
      apoptosis percentage of GCs was higher in the PCOS group and was decreased by
      knocking down PDCD4. Furthermore, expression of proapotosis factor Bax and the
      Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were lower, whereas the expression of antiapoptosis factor Bcl-2
      was increased. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the level of PDCD4
      expression independently related to the odds of PCOS risk after controlling for
      estradiol and insulin 120 (odds ratio 1.318). CONCLUSION(S): Our study suggests
      for the first time that higher PDCD4 expression might play an important role in
      PCOS pathogenesis by affecting obesity, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism
      disorders, and GC apoptosis.

PMID- 26868994
TI  - Discriminant analysis forecasting model of first trimester pregnancy outcomes
      developed by following 9,963 infertile patients after in vitro fertilization.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate a forecasting method developed to predict first
      trimester pregnancy outcomes using the first routine ultrasound scan for early
      pregnancy on days 27-29 after ET and to determine whether to perform a repeated
      scan several days later based on this forecasting method. DESIGN: Prospective
      analysis. SETTING: Infertile patients at an assisted reproductive technology
      center. PATIENT(S): A total of 9,963 patients with an early singleton pregnancy
      after in vitro fertilization (IVF)-ET. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURE(S): Ongoing pregnancy >12 weeks of gestation. RESULT(S): The
      classification score of ongoing pregnancy was equal to (1.57 * Maternal age) +
      (1.01 * Mean sac diameter) + (-0.19 * Crown-rump length) + 25.15 (if cardiac
      activity is present) + 1.30 (if intrauterine hematomas are present) - 47.35. The
      classification score of early pregnancy loss was equal to (1.66 * Maternal age) +
      (0.84 * Mean sac diameter) + (-0.38 * Crown-rump length) + 8.69 (if cardiac
      activity is present) + 1.60 (if intrauterine hematomas are present) - 34.77. In
      verification samples, 94.44% of cases were correctly classified using these
      forecasting models. CONCLUSION(S): The discriminant forecasting models are
      accurate in predicting first trimester pregnancy outcomes based on the first scan
      for early pregnancy after ET. When the predictive result is ongoing pregnancy, a
      second scan can be postponed until 11-14 weeks if no symptoms of abdominal pain
      or vaginal bleeding are present. When the predictive results suggest early
      pregnancy loss, repeated scans are imperative to avoid a misdiagnosis before
      evacuating the uterus.

PMID- 26868995
TI  - Potential role of circulating microRNAs as a biomarker for unexplained recurrent
      spontaneous abortion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare circulating microRNA (miRNA) profiles between unexplained
      recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and normal early pregnancies (NEP) and to
      evaluate the potential role of circulating miRNA as a biomarker for URSA. DESIGN:
      Laboratory study using human plasma samples. SETTING: Special hospital and
      research institutes. PATIENT(S): From September 2012 to April 2013, samples of
      plasma were obtained from 27 URSA patients and 28 NEP patients at 6-10 weeks of
      gestation at the Department of Reproductive Immunology in Family Planning Special
      Hospital of Guangdong Province. INTERVENTION(S): Differential miRNA profiling
      analysis of plasma collected from URSA and NEP patients was performed with the
      use of microarray. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The circulating miRNA expression
      profile was assessed by means of microarray and real-time quantitative reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. RESULT(S): Twenty
      five circulating miRNAs were expressed differentially in URSA compared with NEP.
      Of these, nine were overexpressed and 16 down-regulated. Six differentially
      expressed circulating miRNAs were selected to validate the microarray results,
      and qRT-PCR data confirmed the reliability of the microarray results. Further
      analysis showed that four circulating miRNAs (miR-320b, miR-146b-5p, miR-221-3p,
      miR-559) were up-regulated. In URSA, one circulating miRNA (miR-101-3p) was down
      regulated in other larger scale samples according to qRT-PCR. Based on target
      gene analysis, we speculate that these circulating miRNAs regulate URSA by
      targeting immune, apoptosis, and angiogenic gene functions. CONCLUSION(S):
      Circulating microRNAs may be involved in URSA pathogenesis and provide a
      promising new diagnostic biomarker for URSA.

PMID- 26868999
TI  - Differing Perspectives on Breast Cancer Chemoprevention.

PMID- 26869000
TI  - Differing Perspectives on Breast Cancer Chemoprevention.

PMID- 26869001
TI  - Clarifying Assumptions and Outcomes in Cost-effectiveness Analyses.

PMID- 26869002
TI  - Differing Perspectives on Breast Cancer Chemoprevention--Reply.

PMID- 26869003
TI  - Clarifying Assumptions and Outcomes in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses--Reply.

PMID- 26869004
TI  - Missing Middle Initial in Author's Name.

PMID- 26869005
TI  - Error in Corresponding Author Address.

PMID- 26869007
TI  - Modified Hydrogels to Enhance Cellular Therapy for AKI: A Translational
      Challenge.

PMID- 26869006
TI  - IGF-1 C Domain-Modified Hydrogel Enhances Cell Therapy for AKI.
AB  - Low cell retention and engraftment after transplantation limit the successful
      application of stem cell therapy for AKI. Engineered microenvironments consisting
      of a hydrogel matrix and growth factors have been increasingly successful in
      controlling stem cell fate by mimicking native stem cell niche components. Here,
      we synthesized a bioactive hydrogel by immobilizing the C domain peptide of IGF-1
      (IGF-1C) on chitosan, and we hypothesized that this hydrogel could provide a
      favorable niche for adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and thereby
      enhance cell survival in an AKI model. In vitro studies demonstrated that
      compared with no hydrogel or chitosan hydrogel only, the chitosan-IGF-1C hydrogel
      increased cell viability through paracrine effects. In vivo, cotransplantation of
      the chitosan-IGF-1C hydrogel and ADSCs in ischemic kidneys ameliorated renal
      function, likely by the observed promotion of stem cell survival and
      angiogenesis, as visualized by bioluminescence imaging and attenuation of
      fibrosis. In conclusion, IGF-1C immobilized on a chitosan hydrogel provides an
      artificial microenvironment for ADSCs and may be a promising therapeutic approach
      for AKI.

PMID- 26869010
TI  - Strigolactones: how far is their commercial use for agricultural purposes?
AB  - Strigolactones are a class of natural and synthetic compounds that in the past
      decade have been exciting the scientific community not only for their intriguing
      biological properties but also for their potential applications in agriculture.
      These applications range from their use as hormones to modify and/or manage plant
      architecture, to their use as stimulants to induce seed germination of parasitic
      weeds and thus control their infestation by a reduced seed bank, to their use as
      'biostimulants' of plant root colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,
      improving plant nutritional capabilities, to other still unknown effects on
      microbial soil communities. More recently, these compounds have also been
      attracting the interest of agrochemical companies. In spite of their biological
      attractiveness, practical applications are still greatly hampered by the low
      product yields obtainable by plant root exudates, by the costs of their
      synthesis, by the lack of knowledge of their off-target effects and by the not
      yet specified or properly identified legislation that could regulate the use of
      these compounds, depending on the agricultural purposes. The aim of this article
      is to discuss, in the light of current knowledge, the different scenarios that
      might play out in the near future with regard to the practical application of
      strigolactones. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26869011
TI  - Virgibacillus kapii sp. nov., isolated from Thai shrimp paste (Ka-pi).
AB  - A Gram-reaction-positive and rod-shaped bacterium, designated KN3-8-4T, was
      isolated from shrimp paste collected from a market in Nakhon Sri Thammarat
      province, Thailand. Strain KN3-8-4T was a strictly aerobic, motile bacterium that
      produced ellipsoidal endospores at a terminal position. The isolate grew at pH
      4.5-10 (optimum pH 7.5), at 11-42  degrees C (optimum 37  degrees C) and in the
      presence of 0-15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1-5%). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene
      sequences, strain KN3-8-4T belonged to the genus Virgibacillus and showed highest
      similarity with Virgibacillus olivae JCM 30551T (97.85% 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarity). The diamino acid found in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso
      diaminopimelic acid and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Strain KN3-8-4T
      contained anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0 as major cellular fatty acids and had
      phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids and one
      glycolipid as polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 43.5 mol%. Strain KN3-8-4T
      showed low DNA-DNA relatedness (20.44%) with V. olivae JCM 30551T. On the basis
      of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data and phylogenetic analyses, strain KN3-8-4T
      represents a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus for which the name
      Virgibacillus kapii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KN3-8-4T (=JCM
      30071T=LMG 28282T=TISTR 2279T=PCU 345T).

PMID- 26869008
TI  - Recombinant N-Terminal Slit2 Inhibits TGF-beta-Induced Fibroblast Activation and
      Renal Fibrosis.
AB  - Fibrosis and inflammation are closely intertwined injury pathways present in
      nearly all forms of CKD for which few safe and effective therapies exist. Slit
      glycoproteins signaling through Roundabout (Robo) receptors have been described
      to have anti-inflammatory effects through regulation of leukocyte cytoskeletal
      organization. Notably, cytoskeletal reorganization is also required for
      fibroblast responses to TGF-beta Here, we examined whether Slit2 also controls
      TGF-beta-induced renal fibrosis. In cultured renal fibroblasts, which we found to
      express Slit2 and Robo-1, the bioactive N-terminal fragment of Slit2 inhibited
      TGF-beta-induced collagen synthesis, actin cytoskeletal reorganization, and
      Smad2/3 transcriptional activity, but the inactive C-terminal fragment of Slit2
      did not. In mouse models of postischemic renal fibrosis and obstructive uropathy,
      treatment with N-terminal Slit2 before or after injury inhibited the development
      of renal fibrosis and preserved renal function, whereas the C-terminal Slit2 had
      no effect. Our data suggest that administration of recombinant Slit2 may be a new
      treatment strategy to arrest chronic injury progression after ischemic and
      obstructive renal insults by not only attenuating inflammation but also, directly
      inhibiting renal fibrosis.

PMID- 26869012
TI  - Effects of short-term quetiapine treatment on emotional processing, sleep and
      circadian rhythms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that can stabilise mood from
      any index episode of bipolar disorder. This study investigated the effects of
      seven-day quetiapine administration on sleep, circadian rhythms and emotional
      processing in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers received 150
      mg quetiapine XL for seven nights and 20 matched controls received placebo. Sleep
      wake actigraphy was completed for one week both pre-dose and during drug
      treatment. On Day 8, participants completed emotional processing tasks. RESULTS:
      Actigraphy revealed that quetiapine treatment increased sleep duration and
      efficiency, delayed final wake time and had a tendency to reduce within-day
      variability. There were no effects of quetiapine on subjective ratings of mood or
      energy. Quetiapine-treated participants showed diminished bias towards positive
      words and away from negative words during recognition memory. Quetiapine did not
      significantly affect facial expression recognition, emotional word
      categorisation, emotion-potentiated startle or emotional word/faces dot-probe
      vigilance reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: These changes in sleep timing and
      circadian rhythmicity in healthy volunteers may be relevant to quetiapine's
      therapeutic actions. Effects on emotional processing did not emulate the effects
      of antidepressants. The effects of quetiapine on sleep and circadian rhythms in
      patients with bipolar disorder merit further investigation to elucidate its
      mechanisms of action.

PMID- 26869013
TI  - Four-Duct Ligation for the Treatment of Sialorrhea in Children.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: The 4-duct ligation procedure has appeal for its surgical simplicity
      and limited invasiveness in the management of pediatric sialorrhea. However, more
      information is required to understand the benefits, risks, success rates, and
      long-term effects of this intervention. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical
      outcomes of the 4-duct ligation procedure in pediatric patients diagnosed as
      having sialorrhea and the associated complication rates and to characterize
      patient and caregiver satisfaction in a consecutive series. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: This investigation was a retrospective cohort study at an academic
      tertiary pediatric center and pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Patients
      included 38 children with neurological impairment who underwent a 4-duct salivary
      gland ligation (parotid and submandibular glands) between January 1, 2004, and
      July 31, 2012. The dates of the analysis were August 2013 through February 2015.
      MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Posttreatment assessments included duration of
      effect, severity and frequency of drooling before and after the procedure,
      patient complications, caregiver satisfaction, caregiver recommendation of the
      procedure, and caregiver overall assessment of the child's quality of life.
      Clinical and outcome measures were collected before the procedure, 1 month after
      the procedure, 1 year after the procedure, and at the most recent follow-up
      (range, 3-8 years). RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 38 participants. Their
      median age was 11 years (age range, 5-17 years), and 37% (14 of 38) were female.
      The mean (SD) duration of effect was 52.6 (20.4) months. Patients with previous
      sialorrhea management were more likely to demonstrate an improvement in their
      drooling frequency score at 1 year. Thirteen complications were documented in 12
      patients. The most common complications were persistent facial swelling and
      aspiration pneumonia. Eighty percent (28 of 35) of caregivers reported an
      improvement in their child's drooling at 1 month, while 69% (25 of 36) and 71%
      (24 of 34) stated that there was an improvement at the 1-year follow-up and the
      most recent follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The 4-duct
      ligation procedure offers a simple, effective, and minimally invasive approach to
      the management of sialorrhea in children.

PMID- 26869014
TI  - Effect of rituximab on pulmonary function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rituximab (RTX), a B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody is
      increasingly used in several antibody-mediated diseases. It has been reported to
      cause pulmonary toxicity, though mainly during polychemotherapy of malignant
      lymphoma. Prospective data on RTX-induced pulmonary complications in patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are lacking. METHODS AND METHODS: Serial
      spirometries and measurements of diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon
      monoxide (DLCO) in patients with RA before and 2, 4, 8, and 26 weeks after
      treatment with RTX were performed. A reduction from baseline of forced vital
      capacity (FVC) of >=10%, or >=15% of DLCO was defined as indicative for pulmonary
      toxicity. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (mean (SD) age 59 (12) years, 27% males)
      were included. Mean (SD) FVC predicted and DLCO predicted at baseline were 108%
      (18%) and 88% (18%), respectively. In contrast to FVC, DLCO showed a progressive
      decline during follow-up with a maximum reduction of 6.1% (95%CI 2.5%, 9.7%; p =
      0.001) at 26 weeks compared with baseline. After 26 weeks, 22% of the patients
      had a >=15% DLCO decline. None of the patients reported increased dyspnea during
      follow-up. Risk factors for pulmonary function changes after treatment with RTX
      were cigarette smoking, repeated administration of the drug, and co-medication
      with Prednisone. CONCLUSION: Although no cases of symptomatic lung injury were
      observed, the progressive DLCO decline seems to indicate the presence of
      subclinical RTX-induced pulmonary toxicity.

PMID- 26869015
TI  - Effectiveness of Computer Tailoring Versus Peer Support Web-Based Interventions
      in Promoting Physical Activity Among Insufficiently Active Canadian Adults With
      Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a major challenge for Canadian public health
      authorities, and regular physical activity is a key factor in the management of
      this disease. Given that less than half of people with type 2 diabetes in Canada
      are sufficiently active to meet the Canadian Diabetes Association's guidelines,
      effective programs targeting the adoption of regular physical activity are in
      demand for this population. Many researchers have argued that Web-based
      interventions targeting physical activity are a promising avenue for
      insufficiently active populations; however, it remains unclear if this type of
      intervention is effective among people with type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: This
      research project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two Web-based
      interventions targeting the adoption of regular aerobic physical activity among
      insufficiently active adult Canadian Francophones with type 2 diabetes. METHODS:
      A 3-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial with 2 experimental groups and 1
      control group was conducted in the province of Quebec, Canada. A total of 234
      participants were randomized at a 1:1:1 ratio to receive an 8-week, fully
      automated, computer-tailored, Web-based intervention (experimental group 1); an 8
      week peer support (ie, Facebook group) Web-based intervention (experimental group
      2); or no intervention (control group) during the study period. RESULTS: The
      primary outcome of this study is self-reported physical activity level (total
      min/week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity). Secondary outcomes are
      attitude, social influence, self-efficacy, type of motivation, and intention. All
      outcomes are assessed at baseline and 3 and 9 months after baseline with a self
      reported questionnaire filled directly on the study websites. CONCLUSIONS: By
      evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of 2 Web-based interventions
      characterized by different behavior change perspectives, findings of this study
      will contribute to advances in the field of physical activity promotion in adult
      populations with type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard
      Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): ISRCTN15747108;
      http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN15747108 (Archived by WebCite at
      http://www.webcitation.org/6eJTi0m3r).

PMID- 26869016
TI  - VDR and VDBP genes polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis
      in a Han Taiwanese population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The active metabolite (1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) of vitamin D
      (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) leads to the activation of macrophages and the
      deficiency of vitamin D seems to be involved in the risk of tuberculosis (TB).
      The effects of vitamin D are exerted by interaction with the vitamin D receptor
      (VDR) and vitamin D receptor binding protein (VDBP) may be influenced by
      polymorphisms in the VDR and VDBP genes. In this study, variation in the VDR and
      VDBP genes was investigated in a Taiwanese population with TB. METHODS: We typed
      four VDR polymorphisms of restriction endonuclease sites for ApaI, TaqI, BsmI,
      and FokI and three VDBP polymorphisms-Thr420Lys, Asp416Glu, and Cys299Cys-in 198
      patients with TB and 170 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: VDR TaqI, VDR BsmI, and
      VDBP Asp416Glu were significantly associated with TB susceptibility. Odd ratios
      of risk genotypes of the above three polymorphisms were 2.16 (95% confidence
      interval 1.01, 4.65), 2.14 (95% confidence interval 1.06, 4.31), and 2.24 (95%
      confidence interval 1.04, 4.80), respectively. VDBP haplotype analysis showed
      Gc1f carriers associated to TB. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms in the VDR and VDBP
      genes appeared to be responsible for host susceptibility to human TB in a
      Taiwanese population.

PMID- 26869017
TI  - The role of endothelial microparticles in autoimmune disease patients with
      Raynaud's phenomenon.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a microvascular disorder
      characterized by episodic peripheral vasospasm and ischemia and is commonly found
      in patients with autoimmune diseases (AID). The vasomotor homoeostasis and
      endothelial cells damage are involved in RP. Endothelial microparticles (EMPs)
      may act as a biomarker for endothelial damage. The aim of this study is to
      investigate the correlation between the levels of microparticles (MPs) and
      microvasculopathy in AID with RP. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with AID and RP
      (RP group) and 27 patients with AID but without RP (non-RP group) were enrolled.
      The microvasculopathy score of RP was graded by nailfold capillary microscopy.
      The plasma levels of MPs were measured by flow cytometry utilizing specific
      labels for endothelial MPs (CD105 and CD144) and annexin V staining for
      phosphatidylserine bearing-MPs (annexin V+MPs). RESULTS: The levels of
      circulating EMPs (CD105+ p = 0.005, CD144+ p = 0.004), and the annexin V+ MPs (p
      < 0.001) were significantly elevated in the RP group compared with the non-RP
      group. Moreover, the high microvasculopathy scores were closely related with
      annexinV+ MPs levels in the RP group (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of
      circulating EMPs and annexin V+ MPs are elevated in AID patients with RP indicate
      the endothelial damage and endothelial dysfunctions. In addition, levels of
      annexin V+ MPs can predict the severity of microvasculopathy in AID with RP.

PMID- 26869018
TI  - Bioelectric modulation of macrophage polarization.
AB  - Macrophages play a critical role in regulating wound healing and tissue
      regeneration by changing their polarization state in response to local
      microenvironmental stimuli. The native roles of polarized macrophages encompass
      biomaterials and tissue remodeling needs, yet harnessing or directing the
      polarization response has been largely absent as a potential strategy to exploit
      in regenerative medicine to date. Recent data have revealed that specific
      alteration of cells' resting potential (Vmem) is a powerful tool to direct
      proliferation and differentiation in a number of complex tissues, such as limb
      regeneration, craniofacial patterning and tumorigenesis. In this study, we
      explored the bioelectric modulation of macrophage polarization by targeting ATP
      sensitive potassium channels (KATP). Glibenclamide (KATP blocker) and pinacidil
      (KATP opener) treatment not only affect macrophage polarization, but also
      influence the phenotype of prepolarized macrophages. Furthermore, modulation of
      cell membrane electrical properties can fine-tune macrophage plasticity.
      Glibenclamide decreased the secretion and gene expression of selected M1 markers,
      while pinacidil augmented M1 markers. More interestingly, glibencalmide promoted
      macrophage alternative activation by enhancing certain M2 markers during M2
      polarization. These findings suggest that control of bioelectric properties of
      macrophages could offer a promising approach to regulate macrophage phenotype as
      a useful tool in regenerative medicine.

PMID- 26869019
TI  - Storage Stability of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water and Circulating
      Electrolyzed Water and Their Property Changes after Application.
AB  - Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been recognized as an effective
      bactericidal agent with free chlorine, but its limitations include its
      instability and its great dependence on equipment. Newly developed circulating
      electrolyzed water (CEW) with a higher available chlorine concentration (ACC)
      could successfully overcome these limitations. In this study, SAEW (ACC of 20
      mg/L), CEW1 (ACC of 200 mg/L), and CEW2 (ACC of 20 mg/L) were evaluated for
      changes in properties (pH, oxidization reduction potential [ORP], and ACC) during
      storage in open or closed glass bottles under light or dark conditions at room
      temperature (approximately 20  degrees C) and after washing pork and lettuce.
      Additionally, the washed pork and lettuce were evaluated for total viable counts,
      pH and general appearance. The results showed that CEW1 with a higher ACC has
      better stability than SAEW with a lower ACC for the storage and washing
      experiments, and CEW still remained stable after dilution with distilled water.
      The property indices of EW were greatly affected for the pork-washing experiments
      compared with the lettuce-washing experiments, probably due to the existence of
      alkaline and organic materials on the surface of pork. Furthermore, EWs were more
      effective for inactivating microbes in lettuce than in pork, while there was no
      significant difference in tissue pH and the general appearance of pork and
      lettuce. These findings indicated that CEW with a higher ACC shows potential for
      reducing foodborne pathogens on pork and lettuce without effects on their
      physicochemical characteristics, and it can be applied in a diluted form. 

PMID- 26869020
TI  - Two Weeks of Repeated-Sprint Training in Soccer: To Turn or Not to Turn?
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 2 repeated-sprint training programs on fitness
      in soccer. METHODS: Fifteen semiprofessional soccer players (age: 24 +/- 4 y;
      body mass: 77 +/- 8 kg) completed 6 repeated-sprint training sessions over a 2
      week period. Players were assigned to a straight-line (STR) (n = 8; 3-4 sets of 7
      * 30 m) or change of direction (CoD) (n = 7; 3-4 sets of 7 * 20-m) repeated
      sprint training group. Performance measures included 5-, 10-, and 20-m sprints,
      countermovement jump, Illinois agility, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test
      level 1 (YYIRTL1) performance. Internal (heart rate) and external (global
      positioning system-derived measures) training loads were monitored throughout.
      Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. RESULTS: Internal and
      external loads were higher in the STR group than in the CoD group with large
      differences in maximum velocity (28.7%; +/-90% confidence limits, 3.3%), moderate
      differences in mean heart rates (7.0%; +/-1.4%) and PlayerLoad (17.6%; +/-8.6%),
      and small differences in peak heart rates (3.0%; +/-1.6%). Large improvements in
      5-m (STR: 9.6%; +/-7.0% and CoD: 9.4%; +/-3.3%), 10-m (STR: 6.6%; +/-4.6% and
      CoD: 6.7%; +/-2.2%), and 20-m (STR: 3.6; +/-4.0% and CoD: 4.0; +/-1.7%) sprints
      were observed. Large and moderate improvements in YYIRTL1 performance were
      observed in the STR (24.0%; +/-9.3%) and CoD (31.0%; +/-7.5%), respectively.
      Between-groups differences in outcome measures were unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Two
      weeks of repeated-sprint training stimulates improvements in acceleration, speed,
      and high-intensity running performance in soccer players. Despite STR inducing
      higher internal and external training loads, training adaptations were unclear
      between training modes, indicating a need for further research.

PMID- 26869022
TI  - Mauritia flexuosa L. protects against deficits in memory acquisition and
      oxidative stress in rat hippocampus induced by methylmercury exposure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most toxic form of mercury that can affect
      humans through the food chain by bioaccumulation. Human organism is capable of
      triggering visual and cognitive disorders, neurodegeneration, as well as
      increased production of reactive species of O2 and depletion of natural anti
      oxidant agents. In this context, Mauritia flexuosa L., a fruit rich in compounds
      with anti-oxidant properties, emerged as an important strategy to prevent the
      MeHg damages. So, this work has aimed to elucidate the protective effect of
      Mauritia flexuosa L. on the damage caused by the exposure of rats to MeHg.
      METHODS: In order to evaluate the effect of MeHg on rat aversive memory
      acquisition and panic-like behavior, we have used elevated T-maze apparatus and
      after behavioral test, the hippocampus was removed to perfom lipid peroxidation.
      RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the exposure to MeHg caused deficits in
      inhibitory avoidance acquisition (aversive conditioning) and in the learning
      process, and increased levels of lipid peroxidation in hippocampus tissue.
      However, the pretreatment with feed enriched with Mauritia flexuosa L. showed a
      protective effect against cognitive deficits caused by MeHg and also prevented
      the occurrence of cytoplasmic membrane damage induced by lipid peroxidation in
      the hippocampal region. DISCUSSION: Therefore, this study suggests that Mauritia
      flexuosa L. represents an important strategy to prevent neurocytotoxics and
      behavioral effects of MeHg.

PMID- 26869021
TI  - Expansion and stress responses of AP2/EREBP superfamily in Brachypodium
      distachyon.
AB  - APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding protein (AP2/EREBP) transcription
      factors constitute one of the largest and most conserved gene families in plant,
      and play essential roles in growth, development and stress response. Except a few
      members, the AP2/EREBP family has not been characterized in Brachypodium
      distachyon, a model plant of Poaceae. We performed a genome-wide study of this
      family in B. distachyon by phylogenetic analyses, transactivation assays and
      transcript profiling. A total of 149 AP2/EREBP genes were identified and divided
      into four subfamilies, i.e., ERF (ethylene responsive factor), DREB (dehydration
      responsive element binding gene), RAV (related to ABI3/VP) and AP2. Tandem
      duplication was a major force in expanding B. distachyon AP2/EREBP (BdAP2/EREBP)
      family. Despite a significant expansion, genomic organizations of BdAP2/EREBPs
      were monotonous as the majority of them, except those of AP2 subfamily, had no
      intron. An analysis of transcription activities of several closely related and
      duplicated BdDREB genes showed their functional divergence and redundancy in
      evolution. The expression of BdAP2/EREBPs in different tissues and the expression
      of DREB/ERF subfamilies in B. distachyon, wheat and rice under abiotic stresses
      were investigated by next-generation sequencing and microarray profiling. Our
      results are valuable for further function analysis of stress tolerant AP2/EREBP
      genes in B. distachyon. 

PMID- 26869023
TI  - Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone
      for overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced
      and/or metastatic colorectal cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with advanced or
      metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) where surgical resection of metastases is not
      an option. Both irinotecan (IRI) and fluoropyrimidines are often included in
      first- or second- line chemotherapy treatment regimens in such patients. However,
      it is not clear whether combining these agents is superior to irinotecan alone.
      OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of two chemotherapeutic regimens,
      irinotecan monotherapy or irinotecan in combination with fluoropyrimidines, for
      patients with advanced CRC when administered in the first or second-line
      settings. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following electronic databases to
      identify randomized controlled trials: Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group
      Specialised Register (January 13, 2016), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials (CENTRAL)(The Cochrane Library Issue 12, 2016), Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to
      January 13, 2016), Ovid EMBASE (1974 to January 13, 2016), registers of
      controlled trials in progress, references cited in relevant publications and
      conference proceedings in related fields (BioMed Central and Medscape's
      Conference). The key authors or investigators of all eligible studies, and
      professionals in the field were contacted when necessary. The search from January
      2016 identified one eligible study, an ongoing trial currently presented as an
      abstract, to be considered in an update of this review. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy and safety of IRI
      chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidine compared with IRI alone for the
      treatment of patients with advanced CRC, regardless of treatment line settings.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Study eligibility and methodological quality were
      assessed independently by the two authors, and any disagreement was solved by a
      third author. The data collected from the studies were reviewed qualitatively and
      quantitatively using the Cochrane Collaboration statistical software RevMan 5.3.
      MAIN RESULTS: Five studies were included in this review with a total of 1,726
      patients. The top-up search resulted in an additional ongoing trial, the results
      of which have not been incorporated in this review. Among five included studies,
      no reduction in all-cause mortality was observed in the combination arm, with a
      summary hazard ratio (HR) of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81-1.02). Longer progression-free
      survival was observed in those treated with the combination chemotherapy (HR:
      0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.87), however, this result may have been driven by findings
      from the single first-line treatment setting study.The quality of evidence for
      overall survival was low and for progression-free survival was moderate, mainly
      due to study limitation from the lack of information on randomisation methods and
      allocation concealment.There were higher risks of toxicity outcomes grade 3 or 4
      diarrhoea and grade 1 or 2 alopecia, and a lower risk of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia
      in controls compared to the invervention group. Evidence for toxicity has been
      assessed to be low to moderate quality. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was no
      overall survival benefit of the irinotecan and fluoropyrimidine treatment over
      irinotecan alone, thus both regimens remain reasonable options in treating
      patients with advanced or metastatic CRC. Given the low and moderate quality of
      the evidence, future studies with sufficient numbers of patients in each
      treatment arms are needed to clarify the benefit observed in progression-free
      survival with combination irinotecan and fluoropyrimidines.

PMID- 26869024
TI  - Size and zeta-Potential Measurement of Silica Nanoparticles in Serum Using
      Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing.
AB  - The contact of nanoparticles with biological fluids such as serum results in
      rapid adsorption of proteins at the nanoparticle surface in a layer known as the
      "protein corona". Protein coatings modify and control the behavior of the
      nanoparticles potentially altering the aggregation state and cellular response,
      which may influence their fate and hazard to human health. Cells are likely to
      interact with the protein interface rather than with bare surface; therefore it
      is important to study the protein layer and develop appropriate measurement
      tools. In this study we investigate how adsorbed proteins from serum affect the
      size and the surface charge of plain and aminated silica nanoparticles. Particle
      size and size distributions in buffer and serum-based biological media were
      studied using tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS), as well as differential
      centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Average and
      single particle zeta-potentials (related to surface charge) were also measured by
      electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) and TRPS, respectively. Size measurements
      showed an increase in size of the nanoparticles upon acquisition of a protein
      layer, thus allowing an estimation of its thickness. DLS proved incapable of
      providing an accurate measurement of the nanoparticles' size in serum due to the
      presence of agglomerates. The ability of TRPS to measure sample agglomeration was
      investigated by comparison with the high resolution technique of DCS. Particle-by
      particle zeta-potential measurements by TRPS were consistent with those performed
      with ELS and allowed a description of the zeta-potential distribution within the
      samples. 

PMID- 26869025
TI  - Differentiation of human gingival mesenchymal stem cells into neuronal lineages
      in 3D bioconjugated injectable protein hydrogel construct for the management of
      neuronal disorder.
AB  - The success of regeneration attempt is based on an ideal combination of stem
      cells, scaffolding and growth factors. Tissue constructs help to maintain stem
      cells in a required area for a desired time. There is a need for easily
      obtainable cells, potentially autologous stem cells and a biologically acceptable
      scaffold for use in humans in different difficult situations. This study aims to
      address these issues utilizing a unique combination of stem cells from gingiva
      and a hydrogel scaffold, based on a natural product for regenerative application.
      Human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (HGMSCs) were, with due induction,
      differentiated to neuronal lineages to overcome the problems associated with
      birth tissue-related stem cells. The differentiation potential of neuronal
      lineages was confirmed with suitable specific markers. The properties of
      mesenchymal stem cells in encapsulated form were observed to be similar to free
      cells. The encapsulated cells (3D) were then subjected to differentiation into
      neuronal lineages with suitable inducers, and the morphology and gene expression
      of transient cells were analyzed. HGMSCs was differentiated into neuronal
      lineages as both free and encapsulated forms without any significant differences.
      The presence of Nissl bodies and the neurite outgrowth confirm the
      differentiation. The advantages of this new combination appear to make it a
      promising tissue construct for translational application. 

PMID- 26869026
TI  - Biophysical evaluation of protein structural flexibility for ligand
      biorecognition in solid solution.
AB  - Ligand-protein recognition is increasingly explored through different biophysical
      approaches, but the effects of protein flexibility are frequently neglected in
      many applications. The main goal of this contribution is to comparatively study
      the flexibility and dynamics of homologous model proteins, i.e. human serum
      albumin/bovine serum albumin (HSA/BSA), in biopolymer-ligand recognition by using
      computational chemistry based on multispectroscopic data. The results of
      spectroscopic analyses showed that the recognition of a ligand by a protein
      formed a noncovalent adduct with a stoichiometry of 1 : 1, and a ligand was
      situated stably at the subdomain IIA of protein, which corroborates that time
      resolved fluorescence displaying the autoregulation/transition of protein
      conformation occurred and this phenomenon has further been proved by circular
      dichroism. In light of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we
      may confirm that the overall stability of proteins strengthens facilely as the
      recognition ability of homologous proteins for ligands grows larger. Conversely,
      if the recognition capability is relatively small, the stability of some amino
      acid residues can also be enhanced, but the stability of integrally homologous
      proteins (complexed proteins) did not increase significantly. Furthermore, via
      careful examination of free energy decomposition, we could find that the
      electrostatic interactions in the HSA-ligand are pronouncedly greater than the
      BSA-ligand system; however, the van der Waals forces in the BSA-ligand have the
      most remarkable energy contributions to the protein-ligand reaction. This
      suggests that the interaction energy of the two biological systems possesses
      quite notable discrepancies. Probably the results obtained herein would help in
      revealing the influences of inherent structural features such as flexibility and
      dynamics of proteins on biomacromolecule-ligand recognition. 

PMID- 26869027
TI  - Sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure.
AB  - Sleep-disordered breathing-comprising obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), central
      sleep apnoea (CSA), or a combination of the two-is found in over half of heart
      failure (HF) patients and may have harmful effects on cardiac function, with
      swings in intrathoracic pressure (and therefore preload and afterload), blood
      pressure, sympathetic activity, and repetitive hypoxaemia. It is associated with
      reduced health-related quality of life, higher healthcare utilization, and a poor
      prognosis. Whilst continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of
      choice for patients with daytime sleepiness due to OSA, the optimal management of
      CSA remains uncertain. There is much circumstantial evidence that the treatment
      of OSA in HF patients with CPAP can improve symptoms, cardiac function,
      biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, and quality of life, but the quality of
      evidence for an improvement in mortality is weak. For systolic HF patients with
      CSA, the CANPAP trial did not demonstrate an overall survival or hospitalization
      advantage for CPAP. A minute ventilation-targeted positive airway therapy,
      adaptive servoventilation (ASV), can control CSA and improves several surrogate
      markers of cardiovascular outcome, but in the recently published SERVE-HF
      randomized trial, ASV was associated with significantly increased mortality and
      no improvement in HF hospitalization or quality of life. Further research is
      needed to clarify the therapeutic rationale for the treatment of CSA in HF.
      Cardiologists should have a high index of suspicion for sleep-disordered
      breathing in those with HF, and work closely with sleep physicians to optimize
      patient management.

PMID- 26869028
TI  - Regulation of de novo translation of host cells by manipulation of PERK/PKR and
      GADD34-PP1 activity during Newcastle disease virus infection.
AB  - Viral infections result in cellular stress responses, which can trigger protein
      translation shutoff via phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha
      (eIF2alpha). Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes severe disease in poultry and
      selectively kills human tumour cells. In this report, we determined that
      infection of HeLa human cervical cancer cells and DF-1 chicken fibroblast cells
      with NDV maintained protein at early infection times, 0-12 h post-infection
      (p.i.), and gradually inhibited global protein translation at late infection
      times, 12-24 h p.i. Mechanistic studies showed that translation inhibition at
      late infection times was accompanied by phosphorylation of eIF2alpha, a
      checkpoint of translation initiation. Meanwhile, the eIF2alpha kinase, PKR, was
      upregulated and activated by phosphorylation and another eIF2alpha kinase, PERK,
      was phosphorylated and cleaved into two fragments. Pharmacological inhibition
      experiments revealed that only PKR activity was required for eIF2alpha
      phosphorylation, suggesting that recognition of viral dsRNA by PKR was
      responsible for translation shutoff. High levels of phospho-eIF2alpha led to
      preferential translation of the transcription factor ATF4 and an increase in
      GADD34 expression. Functionally, GADD34, in conjunction with PP1,
      dephosphorylated eIF2a and restored protein translation, benefiting virus protein
      synthesis. However, PP1 was degraded at late infection times, functionally
      counteracting the upregulation of GADD34. Taken together, our data support that
      NDV-induced translation shutoff at late infection times was attributed to
      sustaining phosphorylation of eIF2alpha, which is mediated by continual
      activation of PKR and degradation of PP1. 

PMID- 26869029
TI  - PTEN modulates EGFR late endocytic trafficking and degradation by
      dephosphorylating Rab7.
AB  - Tumour suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10
      (PTEN) is a lipid phosphatase that negatively regulates growth factor-induced
      survival signalling. Here, we demonstrate that PTEN attenuates epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR) signalling by promoting late endosome maturation by virtue
      of its protein phosphatase activity. Loss of PTEN impairs the transition of
      ligand-bound EGFR from early to late endosomes. We unveil Rab7, a critical GTPase
      for endosome maturation, as a functional PTEN interacting partner. PTEN
      dephosphorylates Rab7 on two conserved residues S72 and Y183, which are necessary
      for GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI)-dependent recruitment of Rab7 on to late
      endosomes and subsequent maturation. Thus, our findings reveal PTEN-dependent
      endosome maturation through phosphoregulation of Rab7 as an important route of
      controlling EGFR signalling. 

PMID- 26869030
TI  - Tensile properties of a split quadriceps graft for ACL reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: Anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction can be performed using
      different grafts, such as quadriceps tendon. Grafts can be split in either
      coronal or sagittal planes to approximate the two bundles of the native ACL, but
      it is unknown whether a difference exists in the graft tensile properties
      depending on splitting plane. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
      tensile properties of split human quadriceps tendon-bone grafts. METHODS: Twenty
      full-thickness quadriceps tendon-bone grafts were prepared to mimic grafts for
      double-bundle ACL reconstruction. Ten grafts were split in the sagittal plane,
      and ten were split in the coronal plane. Each graft underwent cyclic creep
      testing and load-to-failure testing to compare creep, ultimate load, ultimate
      elongation, stiffness, and tangent modulus between splitting planes. All
      parameters were compared between splitting groups (significance p < 0.05).
      RESULTS: Lateral halves of grafts split in the sagittal plane exhibited a percent
      creep of 42.5 +/- 12.4 %, ultimate load of 445 +/- 210 N, ultimate elongation of
      7.3 +/- 1.9 mm, stiffness of 75.7 +/- 19.9 N/mm, and tangent modulus of 174.0 +/-
      99.8 MPa. No differences were found between halves within split tendons or
      between splitting planes (n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, splitting quadriceps
      tendon grafts for anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction results in similar
      tensile properties regardless of splitting plane. Surgeons can split quadriceps
      tendon in either splitting plane, but should take care to preserve fibres as much
      as possible. This study provides data that support the use of both coronal and
      sagittal splits of quadriceps tendons for anatomic double-bundle ACL
      reconstruction.

PMID- 26869031
TI  - Knee biomechanics during walking in recurrent lateral patellar dislocation are
      normalized by 1 year after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: Gait kinematics and kinetics of the knee before and after medial
      patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction in patients with recurrent lateral
      patellar dislocation (RPD) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to measure
      knee kinematics and kinetics during gait before and 1 year after anatomical MPFL
      reconstruction in patients with RPD and compare the results to healthy
      individuals. METHODS: Eleven RPD patients were treated using an anatomical MPFL
      reconstruction procedure. Gait analysis was conducted before and at 3, 6, and 12
      months after surgery. For comparison, 15 healthy volunteers with no history of
      orthopaedic problems in their lower limbs were included as the control group.
      Knee kinematics and kinetics were analysed during gait. RESULTS: Before surgery,
      the internal knee extension moment in RPD patients was significantly lower than
      in controls (P = 0.025). At 3 months post-operatively, there was an additional
      decrease in knee extension moment compared to before surgery, and so it was still
      significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01). One year post
      operatively, knee extension moment in the RPD group was significantly increased
      compared to 3 months post-operatively (P < 0.01). The knee flexion angle in the
      early stance phase in the RPD group at 3 months post-operatively was
      significantly lower than that of controls (P < 0.01). Knee kinematics and
      kinetics were similar to that of controls 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION:
      Initially, RPD patients had lower knee extension moments during gait compared
      with controls, but by 1 year after MPFL reconstruction, knee kinematics and
      kinetics of gait in the RPD patients had returned to normal. These observations
      indicate that MPFL reconstruction may help to delay prospective knee OA as long
      as possible by restoring the conformation of the patellofemoral joint and gait
      biomechanics by surgery.

PMID- 26869033
TI  - Computer-assisted navigation decreases the change in the tibial posterior slope
      angle after closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to compare the change in tibial
      posterior slope angle (PSA) between patients treated via computer-assisted and
      conventional closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy (CWHTO). It was hypothesized that
      a decrease in the PSA would be less in the computer-assisted group than in the
      conventional group. METHODS: Data on a total of 75 computer-assisted CWHTOs (60
      patients) and 75 conventional CWHTOs (49 patients) were retrospectively compared
      using matched pair analysis. The pre- and postoperative mechanical axis (MA) and
      the PSA were radiographically evaluated. The parallel angle was defined as the
      angle between the joint line and the osteotomy surface. The data were compared
      between the two groups. RESULTS: The postoperative radiographic MA averaged 1.3
      degrees  +/- 2.6 degrees  valgus in the computer-assisted group and 0.3 degrees 
      +/- 3.1 degrees  varus in the conventional group. The change in PSA averaged -0.8
      degrees  +/- 0.9 degrees  in the computer-assisted group and -4.0 degrees  +/-
      2.2 degrees  in the conventional group. The parallel angle averaged 0.2 degrees 
      +/- 3.0 degrees  in the computer-assisted group and 6.2 degrees  +/- 5.3 degrees 
      in the conventional group. CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted CWHTO using four guide
      pins could avoid inadvertent change in the PSA. The navigation can be used in
      anticipation of decreasing the risk of change in the PSA in CWHTO, especially in
      patients whose preoperative PSA is small. The special attention should be paid to
      locate the hinge axis acutely and to make the parallel proximal and distal
      osteotomy surfaces during CWHTO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

PMID- 26869032
TI  - Minimally invasive surgical treatment for chronic ankle instability: a systematic
      review.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the evidence-based support
      for the treatment for chronic ankle instability (CAI) using minimally invasive
      surgery (MIS) techniques. METHODS: A systematic comprehensive review of the
      literature was performed on 4 September 2015 using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane
      databases and Web of Science along with the two search concepts: lateral ligament
      of the ankle (patients) and minimally invasive surgical procedure (intervention).
      Articles of clinical study on MIS for CAI were included in this review and
      classified into four MIS categories (arthroscopic repair, non-arthroscopic
      minimally invasive repair, arthroscopic reconstruction and non-arthroscopic
      minimally invasive reconstruction) based on the adopted surgical procedure.
      Included articles were reviewed and assigned a classification according to the
      research method quality of evidence (Level I-V evidence). Analysis of these
      studies was then conducted to provide a grade of recommendation for each MIS
      category. RESULTS: The systematic literature review generated 430 articles, and
      33 articles met our inclusion criteria. The highest recommendation was Grade C
      (poor-quality evidence) to support the use of the arthroscopic repair,
      arthroscopic reconstruction and non-arthroscopic minimally invasive
      reconstruction. Insufficient evidence was currently available to make any
      recommendation (Grade I) for non-arthroscopic minimally invasive repair category.
      CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent increases in publications on MIS for the treatment
      for CAI, there was currently poor quality of evidence that was insufficient to
      allow a high grade of recommendation to support the use of the MIS. This paper
      should stimulate those surgeons performing higher quality studies in the form of
      prospective and preferably randomized comparative studies that will be necessary
      to allow better recommendations for the treatment for CAI with MIS. The present
      study showed thorough evidence-based recommendation for the clinical use of the
      MIS based on the comprehensive review of the literature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Systematic review, Level IV.

PMID- 26869034
TI  - Ischiofemoral impingement: defining the lesser trochanter-ischial space.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define changes in the ischial-lesser
      trochanteric space associated with medial and lateral hip rotation in neutral and
      10 degrees  of extension and adduction. METHODS: Twenty-five hip joints from 14
      embalmed cadavers (7 males and 7 females) were used for this study. The pelvic
      region of each cadaver was skeletonized, and the hip capsule released distally.
      With the hip joint in 0 degrees  flexion-extension/abduction-adduction, the
      distance between the lesser trochanter and ischium was measured in: neutral
      rotation, 40 degrees  medial rotation, and 60 degrees  lateral rotation. A one
      way ANOVA with post hoc analysis determined the difference in the ischiofemoral
      space in these three positions. An additional position was then tested by
      laterally rotating the femur with the hip joint positioned in 10 degrees 
      extension and adduction. RESULTS: The average distance between the lesser
      trochanter and ischium was different (p < .0005) in neutral rotation, 40 degrees 
      medial rotation, and 60 degrees  lateral rotation at 2.8 cm (SD 1.1), 4.3 cm (SD
      1.2), and 1.4 cm (SD 0.7), respectively. With the hip joint laterally rotated
      from a starting position of 10 degrees  extension and adduction, 21 of 25 (84 %)
      hips made contact between the lesser trochanter and ischium at an average
      position of 29 degrees  (SD 20) of lateral rotation. CONCLUSIONS: The lesser
      trochanter is closest to the ischium in lateral rotation and is furthest away in
      medial rotation when the hip is in neutral flexion-extension/abduction-adduction.
      The lesser trochanter approximates the ischium when the hip is laterally rotated
      in 10 degrees  extension and adduction. The information gained through this
      investigation helps to define the pathomechanics associated with ischiofemoral
      impingement and validate clinical tests to diagnose ischiofemoral impingement.

PMID- 26869036
TI  - Changes in anteroposterior stability and proprioception after different types of
      knee arthroplasty.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare different types of knee arthroplasty, in selected patients
      with a knee score above 80 points, for their post-operative changes in
      anteroposterior (AP) laxity and proprioception. METHODS: Four groups of each ten
      patients were tested for AP translation after different types of arthroplasty
      with a KT-1000 device at 30 degrees , 60 degrees  and 90 degrees  of flexion.
      Proprioception of the joint was evaluated by joint position sense with three
      different tests. Clinical outcome of stability and proprioceptive testing was
      analysed by comparing the results of three (KSS, KOOS and FJS-12) patient
      reported outcome measurement scores (PROMS) for each of the different implant
      types. RESULTS: Anteroposterior laxity was observed at 30 degrees  and 90 degrees
      of flexion for the two PS TKA designs included in this study, but not for the
      UKA or the medial pivot design. All knee designs, except UKA, had an increased
      laxity at 60 degrees  of flexion. Proprioceptive testing was inconclusive. PROMS
      were not able to identify differences in clinical outcome among different knee
      designs in these selected patients, despite observed differences in AP laxity.
      CONCLUSION: Increased AP laxity is a result of the surgical procedure in knee
      arthroplasty. UKA is the only design mimicking native laxity of the knee. A
      medial pivot design can obtain the same result as UKA at 30 degrees  and 90
      degrees  of flexion, but not at the importantly cited 60 degrees  of flexion as
      tested under non-load-bearing conditions. The clinical relevance of this study is
      that despite of an important range of AP translations among the different knee
      designs, good-to-excellent patient-reported outcome was observed within the
      findings of this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

PMID- 26869035
TI  - Diagnostic validity of alternative manual stress radiographic technique detecting
      subtalar instability with concomitant ankle instability.
AB  - PURPOSE: To incorporate a diagnostic technique for measuring subtalar motion,
      namely "talar rotation", into the manual supination-anterior drawer stress
      radiographs for evaluation of the severity of rotational instability, and to
      determine its clinical relevance. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with combined
      injuries of the anterior talofibular (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL)
      underwent three bilateral manual stress radiographs, and mean increments of
      anterior talar translation (mm), talar tilt ( degrees ), and talar rotation (%)
      in the injured ankle compared to the normal opposite side were measured with the
      technique. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability of each measure was
      assessed, and the difference in the degree of increments was compared according
      to the presence of additional cervical ligament insufficiency. RESULTS: Ankle
      stress radiographic intraobserver and interobserver agreement was ICC = 0.91 and
      0.82 for talar rotation (%), ICC = 0.64 and 0.51 for anterior talar translation,
      and ICC = 0.78 and 0.71 for talar tilt angle, respectively. In group 2 including
      patients with combined injuries of the ATFL and CFL along with additional
      cervical ligament insufficiency, a significantly higher increment of talar
      rotation, mean 6.4% (SD 3.4%), was observed compared to that of talar rotation,
      mean 4.1% (SD 2.7 ), in the other group (group 1) with an intact cervical
      ligament (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A new comprehensive stress radiographic
      technique for diagnosis of chronic lateral ankle instability presented in this
      study might be a reliable and representable measurement tool to assess additional
      injury or instability of the subtalar joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective
      cohort study, Level II.

PMID- 26869038
TI  - In Search of Concomitant Alterations of Dopaminergic and Neurotensinergic Systems
      in Stress Conditions.
AB  - The aim of the present article is to review experimental evidence which suggest
      joint involvement of both the dopaminergic and neurotensinergic systems in stress
      conditions. At present, the concept of stress refers to an environmental demand
      exceeding the normal regulatory ability of an organism, particularly during
      unpredictable and uncontrollable situations. Chronic stress yields devastating
      effects including cognitive and working memory dysfunctions, for which
      neurotransmission mediated by the catecholamines dopamine and noradrenaline is
      crucial. Catecholamine synthesis depends on the rate-limiting enzyme, tyrosine
      hydroxylase, whose expression is associated with working memory and the response
      to chronic stress. Neurotensin is a tridecapeptide widely distributed in the
      nervous system, at both central and peripheral levels, which behaves as a
      neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. It mediates diverse biological actions
      including reward, locomotion, pain modulation and stress. Neurotensin and its
      high affinity NTS1 receptor are densely localized in areas that process emotion
      (amygdala nucleus), cognition (such as hippocampal nuclei and cortical areas) and
      the response to stress (hypothalamic nucleus). Experimental evidence indicates a
      crosstalk between the dopaminergic and the neurotensinergic systems either from
      an anatomical or a biochemical point of view. It is suggested that a concomitant
      alteration of dopaminergic and neurotensinergic systems takes place in diverse
      stress conditions. 

PMID- 26869037
TI  - Autophagy in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Metal Neurotoxicity.
AB  - Autophagy generally refers to cell catabolic and recycling process in which
      cytoplasmic components are delivered to lysosomes for degradation. During the
      last two decades, autophagy research has experienced a recent boom because of a
      newfound connection between this process and many human diseases. Autophagy plays
      a significant role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and protects cells from
      varying insults, including misfolded and aggregated proteins and damaged
      organelles, which is particularly crucial in neuronal survival. Mounting evidence
      has implicated autophagic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of several major
      neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and
      Huntington's disease, where deficient elimination of abnormal and toxic protein
      aggregates promotes cellular stress, failure and death. In addition, autophagy
      has also been found to affect neurotoxicity induced by exposure to essential
      metals, such as manganese, copper, and iron, and other heavy metals, such as
      cadmium, lead, and methylmercury. This review examines current literature on the
      role of autophagy in the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis amongst common
      neurodegenerative disorders and of metal-induced neurotoxicity.

PMID- 26869039
TI  - Keratan Sulfate Regulates the Switch from Motor Neuron to Oligodendrocyte
      Generation During Development of the Mouse Spinal Cord.
AB  - Keratan sulfate (KS) is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan and has been shown to bind
      to sonic hedgehog (Shh), which act as a morphogen to regulate the embryonic
      spinal cord development. We found highly sulfated KS was present in the floor
      plate (including lateral floor plate) and the notochord . This expression
      colocalized with Shh expression. To understand the roles of KS, we analyzed the
      embryonic spinal cord of GlcNAc6ST-1, KS chain synthesizing enzyme, knock-out
      (KO) mice. At E12.5, the pMN domain, whose formation is controlled by Shh
      signaling, became shifted ventrally in GlcNAc6ST-1 KO mice. In addition, the
      expression patterns of Patched1 and Gli1, two Shh signaling reporter genes,
      differed between wild type (WT) and GlcNAc6ST-1 KO mice at E12.5. Next, we
      focused on cell types generated from the pMN domain; namely, motor neurons and
      subsequently oligodendrocytes. The number of PDGFRalpha(+) [a marker for
      oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs)] cells was low in the E12.5 mutant spinal
      cord, while motor neuron production was increased. Thus the switch from motor
      neuron generation to OPC generation was delayed in the pMN domain. Furthermore,
      we investigated the cause for this delayed switch in the pMN domain. The number
      of Olig2, Nkx2.2 double-positive cells was less in GlcNAc6ST-1 KO mice than in WT
      mice. In contrast, the number of Olig2, Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) double-positive cells
      related to the motor neuron specification was significantly greater in the KO
      mice. These results indicate that KS is important for the late phase Shh
      signaling and contributes to motor neuron to OPC generation switch.

PMID- 26869040
TI  - Rutin Inhibits Neuroinflammation and Provides Neuroprotection in an Experimental
      Rat Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Possibly Through Suppressing the RAGE-NF
      kappaB Inflammatory Signaling Pathway.
AB  - As is known to all, neuroinflammation plays a vital role in early brain injury
      pathogenesis following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It has been shown that
      rutin have a property of inhibiting inflammation in many kinds of animal models.
      However, the effect of rutin on neuroinflammation after SAH remains
      uninvestigated. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of rutin on
      neuroinflammation and the underlying mechanism in an experimental rat model of
      SAH performed by endovascular perforation. Adult male SD rats were randomly
      divided into three groups, including sham group, SAH + vehicle group and SAH +
      rutin group (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered at 30 min after SAH.
      After sacrificed at 24 h after SAH, all rats were examined by following tests,
      including neurologic scores, blood-brain barrier permeability, brain water
      content and neuronal cell death in cerebral cortex. The level of inflammation in
      brain was estimated by means of multiple molecules, including RAGE, NF-kappaB,
      and inflammation cytokines. Our results indicated that rutin could significantly
      downregulate the increased level of REGE, NF-kappaB and inflammatory cytokines in
      protein level. In addition, rutin could also ameliorate a series of secondary
      brain injuries such as brain edema, destruction of blood-brain barrier,
      neurological deficits and neuronal death. This study indicated that rutin
      administration had a neuroprotective effect in an experimental rat model of SAH,
      possibly through inhibiting RAGE-NF-kappaB mediated inflammation signaling
      pathway. 

PMID- 26869041
TI  - Gastrodin Attenuates Cognitive Deficits Induced by 3,3'-Iminodipropionitrile.
AB  - 3,3'-Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), one of the nitrile derivatives, can induce
      persistent neurotoxicity, and therefore cause dyskinesia and cognitive
      impairments. Gastrodin, a main bioactive ingredient of Gastrodia elata Blume, is
      shown to greatly improve cognitive function. The aim of this study was to further
      determine whether administration of gastrodin can ameliorate IDPN-induced
      cognitive deficits in the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition
      (NOR) task, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that
      exposure to IDPN (100 mg/kg/day, for 8 days) significantly impaired spatial and
      object recognition memory and that repeated treatment with gastrodin (150
      mg/kg/day, for 6 weeks) could effectively alleviate the IDPN-induced cognitive
      impairments as indicated by increased spatial memory and discrimination ratio in
      the MWM and NOR tests. Gastrodin treatment also reverted IDPN-induced decreases
      of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels and increases of a2 GABAA receptor
      protein expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of IDPN-treated rats.
      These results suggest that gastrodin treatment may provide a novel
      pharmacological strategy for IDPN-induced cognitive deficits, which was mediated,
      at least in part, by normalizing the GABAergic system. 

PMID- 26869042
TI  - Neuroprotective Effects of Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase Inhibitor Olaparib in
      Transient Cerebral Ischemia.
AB  - Olaparib was the first poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase inhibitor approved by Food and
      Drug Administration for oncology treatment. However, its neuroprotective effects
      have not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of olaparib in
      transient cerebral ischemia. A mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery
      occlusion was used. Reperfusion was performed at 2 h after ischemia. Different
      doses of olaparib (1, 3, 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally
      immediately after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after ischemia, the neurological
      score was assessed, and grip and string tests were performed to evaluate the
      behavioral deficits in the mice. Cresyl violet staining was used to assess
      cerebral edema and the lesion volume. Immunohistochemistry was performed to
      evaluate the expression of blood-brain barrier proteins collagen IV and claudin
      5, as well as extravasation of IgG. Ischemia induced a neurological deficit,
      which was significantly ameliorated by olaparib at 3 and 5 mg/kg. However, this
      neuroprotective effect was not observed in mice treated with either low-dose or
      high-dose olaparib. Both 3 and 5 mg/kg olaparib markedly reduced cerebral
      infarction volume, but not cerebral edema. The expression of collagen IV
      decreased after cerebral ischemia, which was improved by olaparib at 3 and 5
      mg/kg. These results were confirmed by the reduction of IgG extravasation with
      olaparib. Olaparib showed clear neuroprotective effects in transient ischemic
      mice mainly through the reduction of cerebral infarction and blood-brain barrier
      damage. 

PMID- 26869044
TI  - [Hypokalemia, a key clinical data for diagnosing primary hyperaldosteronism].
AB  - We report a case of a 37 year-old man with a long history of hypertension under
      treatment, who was admitted at our institution with intense fatigue and weakness
      of lower limbs. The laboratory results at Emergency Department showed severe
      hypokalemia. A study of secondary hypertension was carried out. With the initial
      suspicion of primary hyperaldosteronism, complete blood test was done including
      plasma renine activity, which was completely suppressed, and plasma aldosterone
      concentration, which resulted normal. Likewise, an abdomen CT was performed and
      revealed a left adrenal mass consistent of suprarrenal adenoma. Therefore, a salt
      loading suppression test was done with subsequent measure of plasmatic renine
      activity, which was still suppressed, plasma aldosterone concentration, that
      persisted normal, and a 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion rate, which was
      clearly high, supporting the suspected diagnosis. After the adrenalectomy, the
      patient remained asymptomatic with normal blood pressure without treatment and
      with normal serum potassium levels. 

PMID- 26869045
TI  - Residue level and dissipation pattern of spiromesifen in cabbage and soil from 2
      year field study.
AB  - Spiromesifen is a new class of insecticide used for the control of whiteflies and
      mites which have developed resistance to the more commonly used neonicotinoids.
      Dissipation pattern of spiromesifen on cabbage was evaluated over 2 years by
      conducting supervised field studies as per good agricultural practices. Cabbage
      and soil samples were extracted and purified using modified QuEChERS method and
      analyzed through gas chromatography (GC). Confirmatory studies were carried out
      by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The recoveries of
      spiromesifen from cabbage and soil were between 85.44 and 103.37% with the
      relative standard deviation (RSD) between 3.2 and 9.4% (n = 6). The limit of
      detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.003 MUg mL(-1) and 0.01
      mg kg(-1), respectively. The measurement uncertainties (MUs) were within 9.9
      14.9%. Initial residues of spiromesifen on cabbage were 0.640 and 1.549 mg kg(-1)
      during 2013 and 0.723 and 1.438 mg kg(-1) during 2014 from treatments at standard
      and double doses of 125 and 250 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha(-1), respectively.
      Spiromesifen residue dissipation followed first-order rate kinetics, and it
      degraded within the half-lives of 2.9 and 3.9 days during 2013 and 3.2 and 4.5
      days during 2014. The residue levels reached below the maximum residue limit
      (MRL; 0.02 mg kg(-1)) within 15-17 days at the standard dose and 24-27 days at
      the double dose. The field soil analyzed at harvest (30 days) was free from
      spiromesifen residues. Metabolite spiromesifen-enol was not detected in any
      sample which was confirmed through LC-MS/MS analysis.

PMID- 26869043
TI  - Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells differ in their attachment to
      fibronectin-derived peptides from term placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal
      cells.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be isolated from
      different sources including bone marrow and term placenta. These two populations
      display distinct patterns of proliferation and differentiation in vitro. Since
      proliferation and differentiation of cells are modulated by cell-matrix
      interactions, we investigated the attachment of MSCs to a set of peptide-coated
      surfaces and explored their interactions with peptides in suspension. METHODS:
      Human MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and term placenta and expanded. Binding
      of MSCs to peptides was investigated by a cell-attachment spot assay, by blocking
      experiments and flow cytometry. The integrin expression pattern was explored by a
      transcript array and corroborated by quantitative reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Expanded placenta-derived
      MSCs (pMSCs) attached well to surfaces coated with fibronectin-derived peptides
      P7, P15, and P17, whereas bone marrow-derived MSCs (bmMSCs) attached to P7, but
      barely to P15 and P17. The binding of bmMSCs and pMSCs to the peptides was
      mediated by beta1 integrins. In suspension, expanded bmMSCs barely bind to P7,
      P13, P15, and less to P14 and P17. Ex vivo, bmMSCs failed to bind P7, but
      displayed a weak interaction with P13, P14, and P15. In suspension, expanded
      pMSCs displayed binding to many peptides, including P4, P7, P13, P14, P15, and
      P17. The differences observed in binding of bmMSCs and pMSCs to the peptides were
      associated with significant differences in expression of integrin alpha2-, alpha4
      , and alpha6-chains. CONCLUSIONS: Human bmMSCs and pMSCs show distinct patterns
      of attachment to defined peptides and maintain differences in expression of
      integrins in vitro. Interactions of ex vivo bmMSCs with a given peptide yield
      different staining patterns compared to expanded bmMSCs in suspension. Attachment
      of expanded MSCs to peptides on surfaces is different from interactions of
      expanded MSCs with peptides in suspension. Studies designed to investigate the
      interactions of human MSCs with peptide-augmented scaffolds or peptides in
      suspension must therefore regard these differences in cell-peptide interactions.

PMID- 26869046
TI  - Leaching potential of silver from nanosilver-treated textile products.
AB  - The use of nanosilver as an antibacterial agent for various products has
      increased, especially so, in textiles. This study aims to investigate the
      potential of Ag to leach from commercial products which contain nano-Ag by using
      the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test in accordance with
      USEPA method 1311. Eight nano-Ag products were purchased from the market. Only
      those products that are likely to be disposed of in a landfill after end use were
      selected. Nano-Ag fabrics of different concentrations were also prepared at the
      laboratory scale, and the TCLP test was performed on them as well. The current
      study assumes that the new products were discarded without use. The Ag content
      was quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and
      ranged from 0.95 to 2.82 MUg/g of the product in the commercial products and from
      1.49 to 350 MUg/g of the product in the lab-prepared fabrics. In the TCLP test
      results, Ag concentrations ranged from 4.3 to 64.9 MUg/L in the commercial
      products and from 28.9 to 28,381 MUg/L in the lab-prepared fabrics. The results
      also indicate that the amount of Ag released depends on the type of the fabrics.
      Additionally, the size of the nano-Ag released in percentage is different for
      each prepared fabric. This study can help in understanding the amount of Ag
      released during the disposal phase of a product in a landfill. 

PMID- 26869047
TI  - Relationships between trace elements in Posidonia oceanica shoots and in sediment
      fractions along Latium coasts (northwestern Mediterranean Sea).
AB  - The Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica is widely used as a
      sensitive bioindicator of trace elements (TEs) in the coastal environment.
      Therefore, a bulk of data exist on TE levels from impacted versus unpolluted
      sites while only recent studies started comparing TE accumulation in plant
      compartments versus both water column and sediment characteristics. In this
      study, six TEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb) were analyzed in P. oceanica shoots
      related to depth (-10 and -20 m) and to TE concentrations in the different grain
      size fractions of the sediment, from two Sites of Community interest (SIC) in the
      central Tyrrhenian Sea. TE concentrations in both shoots and sediment were
      generally low, except for Cr. Cu was the only element showing significantly
      different concentrations at the two sites while As differed significantly between
      samples taken at different depths. TE concentrations in the unsieved sediment
      were found uncorrelated to TEs in shoots except for the important nutrient Cu
      (positive correlation). The finest sediment fractions were enriched in TEs and
      significantly correlated to Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations in the shoots. 

PMID- 26869048
TI  - Perchlorate levels found in tap water collected from several cities in Turkey.
AB  - Perchlorate is an inorganic anion that inhibits iodide transport to the thyroid
      by sodium-iodide transporters. Because perchlorate is highly soluble, stable, and
      mobile in water, drinking water is a potential source of perchlorate exposure.
      When exposed to perchlorate, thyroid dysfunction can be observed in sensitive
      populations (pregnant woman, infants, and children), especially those with iodide
      deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine the perchlorate levels in tap
      water from five cities in Turkey. Perchlorate concentrations of 145 tap water
      samples collected from Ankara, Isparta, Istanbul, Kayseri, and Sakarya were
      determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean and median
      values were found to be 0.15 and 0.07 MUg/L, respectively. The median values (25
      75 % percentile) of Istanbul, Ankara, Sakarya, Isparta, and Kayseri were 0.08
      MUg/L (0.04-0.09 MUg/L), 0.07 MUg/L (0.07-0.21 MUg/L), 0.04 MUg/L (0.04-0.04
      MUg/L), 0.03 MUg/L (0.02-0.07 MUg/L), and 0.25 MUg/L (0.23-0.31 MUg/L),
      respectively. The median perchlorate level observed in Kayseri was significantly
      higher than those found at other cities (p < 0.05). Perchlorate concentrations in
      water samples were lower than the interim drinking water health advisory level
      (15 MUg/L) determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This study
      showed that perchlorate in drinking water is not the main source of exposure in
      these cities. Future studies should be performed to determine perchlorate levels
      in other potential sources, such as food products. 

PMID- 26869050
TI  - Neoadjuvant nab-paclitaxel in breast cancer: trial results and patient care.

PMID- 26869049
TI  - Nab-paclitaxel versus solvent-based paclitaxel in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for
      early breast cancer (GeparSepto-GBG 69): a randomised, phase 3 trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In metastatic breast cancer, nab-paclitaxel has been shown to
      significantly increase progression-free survival compared with solvent-based
      paclitaxel. The GeparSepto (GBG 69) trial assessed whether weekly nab-paclitaxel
      could increase the proportion of patients achieving pathological complete
      response compared with weekly solvent-based paclitaxel, both followed by
      epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant treatment. METHOD: In a phase 3
      randomised trial, we enrolled patients with previously untreated unilateral or
      bilateral primary invasive breast cancer and randomly assigned them in a 1:1
      ratio using dynamic allocation and Pocock minimisation by breast cancer subtype,
      Ki67 and SPARC expression. Patients were treated for 12 weeks with either
      intravenous nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2) (after study amendment, 125 mg/m(2)) on
      days 1, 8, and 15 for four 3-week cycles, or solvent-based intravenous paclitaxel
      80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 for four 3-week cycles. Taxane treatment was
      followed in both groups by intravenous epirubicin 90 mg/m(2) plus intravenous
      cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) on day 1 for four 3-week cycles. Patients with HER2
      positive tumours received concurrent trastuzumab 6 mg/kg (loading dose 8 mg/kg)
      and pertuzumab 420 mg (loading dose 840 mg) on day 1 of every 3-week cycle.
      Trastuzumab and pertuzumab were given every 3 weeks concomitantly with
      chemotherapy for all cycles. This report is the final analysis of the primary
      endpoint, pathological complete response (ypT0 ypN0), analysed for all patients
      who started treatment (modified intention to treat). We used a closed test
      procedure to test for non-inferiority, with the nab-paclitaxel group calculated
      as non-inferior to the solvent-based paclitaxel group if the lower 95% CI for the
      OR was above 0.858 (OR equivalent to pathological complete response [33%] minus a
      10% non-inferiority margin [3.3%]; 29.7%). We planned to test for superiority
      only in case of a positive non-inferiority test, using an alpha of 0.05. Safety
      was assessed in all patients who received study drug. The trial is registered
      with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01583426. FINDINGS: Between July 30, 2012, and
      Dec 23, 2013, we randomly assigned 1229 women, of whom 1206 started treatment
      (606 with nab-paclitaxel and 600 with solvent-based paclitaxel). The nab
      paclitaxel dose was reduced after enrolment of 464 participants to 125 mg/m(2)
      due to increased treatment discontinuation and sensory neuropathy in this group.
      Pathological complete response occurred more frequently in the nab-paclitaxel
      group (233 [38%, 95% CI 35-42] patients) than in the solvent-based paclitaxel
      group (174 [29%, 25-33] patients; OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.20-1.95; unadjusted
      p=0.00065). The incidence of grade 3-4 anaemia (13 [2%] of 605 patients in the
      nab-paclitaxel group vs four [1%] of patients in the solvent-based paclitaxel
      group; p=0.048) and peripheral sensory neuropathy grade 3-4 (63 [10%] patients
      receiving any nab-paclitaxel dose; 31 [8%] of patients starting with 125 mg/m(2)
      and 32 [15%] of patients starting with 150 mg/m(2); vs 16 [3%] in the solvent
      based paclitaxel group, p<0.001) was significantly higher for nab-paclitaxel than
      for solvent-based paclitaxel. Overall, 283 (23%) patients were noted to have at
      least one serious adverse event (based on study drug received), 156 (26%) in the
      nab-paclitaxel group and 127 (21%) in the solvent-based paclitaxel group
      (p=0.057). There were three deaths (during epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide
      treatment) in the nab-paclitaxel group (due to sepsis, diarrhoea, and accident
      unrelated to the trial) versus one in the solvent-based paclitaxel group (during
      paclitaxel treatment; cardiac failure). INTERPRETATION: Substituting solvent
      based paclitaxel with nab-paclitaxel significantly increases the proportion of
      patients achieving a pathological complete response rate after anthracycline
      based chemotherapy. These results might lead to an exchange of the preferred
      taxane, solvent-based paclitaxel, for nab-paclitaxel in therapy for primary
      breast cancer. FUNDING: Celgene, Roche.

PMID- 26869051
TI  - Estimating effectiveness in HIV prevention trials with a Bayesian hierarchical
      compound Poisson frailty model.
AB  - Inconsistent results in recent HIV prevention trials of pre-exposure prophylactic
      interventions may be due to heterogeneity in risk among study participants.
      Intervention effectiveness is most commonly estimated with the Cox model, which
      compares event times between populations. When heterogeneity is present, this
      population-level measure underestimates intervention effectiveness for
      individuals who are at risk. We propose a likelihood-based Bayesian hierarchical
      model that estimates the individual-level effectiveness of candidate
      interventions by accounting for heterogeneity in risk with a compound Poisson
      distributed frailty term. This model reflects the mechanisms of HIV risk and
      allows that some participants are not exposed to HIV and, therefore, have no risk
      of seroconversion during the study. We assess model performance via simulation
      and apply the model to data from an HIV prevention trial. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26869052
TI  - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease increases the mortality from acute coronary
      syndrome: an observational study from Sri Lanka.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is an independent risk factor for
      coronary artery disease. But its effect on acute coronary syndrome is not clear.
      We performed this study to identify the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with ACS
      admitted to a tertiary care center in Sri Lanka. We also described the
      association of NAFLD with the severity of ACS predicted by the GRACE score.
      METHODS: We performed a descriptive study including all consecutive patients with
      non-fatal ACS admitted to Colombo South Teaching Hospital from 01/02/2014 to
      30/04/2014. Patients with excessive alcohol consumption, established cirrhosis
      and patients with identified risk factors for liver disease were excluded from
      the study. All patients underwent ultrasound scan of liver. RESULTS: There were
      120 participants, 75 (62.5%) males and 45 (37.5%) females with acute coronary
      syndrome. Average age was 61.28 +/- 11.83 years. NAFLD was seen in 56 (46.7%)
      patients with ACS. Patients with NAFLD had a higher GRACE score than patients
      without NAFLD (120.2 +/- 26.9 Vs 92.3 +/- 24.2, p < 0.001). Increased age and
      presence of NAFLD conferred a higher mortality risk from ACS as predicted by
      GRACE score. Patients with NAFLD had a higher predicted mortality during in-ward
      stay (adjusted OR 31.3, CI 2.2-439.8, p = 0.011) and at 6 months after discharge
      (adjusted OR 15.59, CI 1.6-130.6, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NAFLD
      have a higher predicted mortality from acute coronary syndrome and thus require
      aggressive treatment of CAD. It is important to consider this novel risk factor
      when risk stratifying patients with ACS.

PMID- 26869053
TI  - Spontaneous regression and complete disappearance of the vein of Galen aneurysmal
      malformation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Thrombosis is frequently observed in Galen malformation, but
      propagation of thrombosis resulting in the disappearance of the aneurysmal
      malformation is a very rare clinical condition. CASE REPORT: A rare case of
      spontaneous regression and disappearance of the vein of Galen aneurysmal
      malformation (VoGAM) in a pediatric patient with repeated generalized seizure,
      increased head circumference, and congestive heart failure is recorded. The
      course of regression from infancy to 8 years of age has been depicted.
      Radiological studies initially demonstrated VoGAM complicated by an intra
      cerebral hemorrhage and hydrocephalus, which later underwent spontaneous
      regression. Long-term clinical and radiological follow-up is presented.
      DISCUSSION: Different conditions including hemodynamic alteration, compression of
      adjacent hematoma, and narrowing of related vascular structures have been
      described to cause thrombosis of VoGAM. The relevant literature to address
      possible mechanism is reviewed.

PMID- 26869054
TI  - Comparison of heart rate changes with ictal tachycardia seizures in adults and
      children.
AB  - PURPOSE: Lower heart rate variability (HRV) is known to make patients more
      susceptible to tachycardia and possibly sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
      (SUDEP). The heart rate (HR) at which tachycardia is present may vary by age. To
      date, no study has been done comparing adult and child seizures at different time
      points. The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of HR changes with
      ictal tachycardia (IT) seizures at different time points in adults versus
      children. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the changes in the HR of 99 IT
      seizures in children and 96 IT seizures in adults. The difference between adults
      and children in gender, hemispheric lateralization or sleep/wakefulness, or
      seizure type on the HR changes and the difference between children and adults
      during 10 s preictal, ictal onset, and ictal and 60 s postictal were separately
      assessed. RESULTS: The HR difference and maximum HR increase with aging in
      children. The seizure duration in adults lasted longer as compared with that in
      children. There are higher HR at different points and HR difference at 10 s
      preictal as compared to baseline in children. CONCLUSIONS: The study illustrates
      that age and duration were respectively related to HR differences distinguishing
      children from adults. There may be an age-related effect of HR changes associated
      with seizures, with higher HR at different times and HR difference at 10 s before
      seizure onset as compared to baseline in children, which might explain that
      children are more likely to predict epileptic seizures than adults, contributing
      to subclinical seizures and treatment efficiency in refractory patients.

PMID- 26869055
TI  - Iatrogenic intradiploic cerebrospinal fluid collection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cases of intradiploic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collections have been
      previously reported in the literature with various underlying causes. We focus
      specifically on the iatrogenic cases of this rare but possible neurosurgical
      complication discussing the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and management
      strategy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old boy was admitted in our institute with
      recurrent headache and worsening attention deficits. He was previously treated
      twice for a Chiari malformation type I. The performed imaging showed the
      persisting lower position of the cerebellar tonsils with a syrinx within the
      cervical spinal cord and a fluid collection within the occipital bone with
      thinning of outer and inner table. Occipital bone decompression with resection of
      the intradiploic cavity and enlarging duraplasty was performed. Postoperative
      imaging confirmed the removal of the iatrogenic-induced focal bone alteration.
      DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic intradiploic focal fluid accumulation can
      occur when a dural defect combines with an inner table defect of the calvaria or
      vertebral bones. Though rare, such a complication should be taken into account
      when postoperative imaging suggests a focal fluid collection inside the theca.
      The surgical excision of the lesion is mandatory due to the natural history of
      progression.

PMID- 26869056
TI  - Mapping of the biomedical literature evaluation competencies based on pharmacy
      students' feedback.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aims to map the learned curriculum based on students'
      feedback regarding the biomedical literature evaluation competencies in a
      pharmacy curriculum, to evaluate teaching methods and to report students'
      longitudinal self-assessment of their achievement of related learning outcomes as
      they progress from didactic to experiential courses. METHODS: The biomedical
      literature evaluation competencies were mapped in three courses delivered during
      different pharmacy professional years (PPY): Drug Information and Literature
      Evaluation (PHA421) offered in the second PPY, Pharmacoeconomics (PHA557) and
      Professional Pharmacy Practice Experience-Hospital/Drug Information Services
      (PHA570) offered in the third PPY. A unified survey was developed to collect
      information from students at the beginning and completion of these courses.
      Survey results were then compared to school assessment data of identified courses
      for triangulation of findings. RESULTS: Listed student learning outcomes are
      consistently achieved through all three courses with more assertion from the
      students at the completion of the applied experiential course PHA 570 (>90 %
      agree or strongly agree). In terms of delivery methods, 84 % of students
      perceived the benefits of active learning methods in reinforcing acquired skills
      and increasing confidence in knowledge and critical thinking in a less stressful
      learning environment. Results shown at the end of each course indicate a
      favorable student response from one course to the next where almost all students
      replied with 'agree to strongly agree' to survey questions assessing their
      readiness to critically evaluating trials (72 %, 96 % and 92 %) in PHA421, PHA557
      and PHA570, respectively. Study findings are in congruence with school assessment
      database of the selected courses. CONCLUSION: Formative assessment results
      demonstrated acquisition of required analytical skills, and completion of course
      learning outcomes as students progressed from introductory to advanced courses
      covering the biomedical literature component.

PMID- 26869057
TI  - The time course of visuo-spatial working memory updating revealed by a retro
      cuing paradigm.
AB  - We investigated the influence of non-cued working memory representations on
      further information processing. A retro-cue indicated if items on the left or
      right side of a previous memory array remained relevant. Subsequently, a central
      probe item was presented with a varying stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA: 300, 400,
      600, 1,000, 1,800 ms). Participants had to state whether this stimulus was shown
      on the cued side of the memory array. The probe was either a cued, non-cued or
      new item. Non-cued probes were associated with delayed response times and an
      increased frontal negativity from 400-600 ms indicating a higher processing
      conflict compared to new probes. These effects were strongest for the 300 and 400
      ms SOAs and decreased in longer SOA conditions, pointing toward a benefit when
      there was sufficient time for working memory updating. Furthermore, contralateral
      negativities at posterior (PCN) and anterior sites (ADAN) reflected the
      attentional orienting toward cued information while selective retention was
      associated with a sustained suppression of posterior induced alpha power
      contralateral to retro-cue direction. Results suggest that retro-cue induced
      updating of visuo-spatial working memory requires about 500 ms to transfer the
      non-cued contents into a passive and fragile short-term memory state with less
      impact on ongoing information processing.

PMID- 26869059
TI  - Does Hemophilia Increase the Risk of Postoperative Blood Transfusion After Lower
      Extremity Total Joint Arthroplasty?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemophilia can lead to the development of arthropathies secondary to
      recurrent hemarthroses. However, given these patients' bleeding tendencies,
      postoperative complications associated with blood loss are a considerable
      concern. METHODS: We identified men in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample who
      underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty between January 1998 and December 2010.
      We used propensity scores to match 332 hemophiliacs (267 hemophilia A, 65
      hemophilia B) to a comparison cohort of 996 patients in a 1:3 ratio, according to
      the site of arthroplasty, year of admission, age, race, and Charlson and Deyo
      score. RESULTS: The incidence of any postoperative transfusion was 15.06% for
      hemophiliacs, compared with 9.84% for the matched comparison cohort (P = .012).
      For hemophiliacs, the odds ratio was 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11
      2.31; P = .013) for any transfusion, 1.90 (95% CI = 1.24-2.92; P = .003) for
      allogenic transfusion, and 1.05 (95% CI = 0.56-1.95; P = .888) for autogenic
      transfusion. CONCLUSION: Hemophilia is associated with an increased risk of blood
      transfusion after lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. Patients and
      providers should discuss these risks before surgery, and insurers should consider
      incorporating this comorbidity into bundled payments for total hip and knee
      arthroplasty.

PMID- 26869060
TI  - Perioperative Predictors of Length of Stay After Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies had examined whether specific patient variables or
      performance on functional testing can predict length of stay (LOS) after total
      hip arthroplasty (THA). Such tools would enable providers to minimize prolonged
      LOS by planning appropriate discharge dispositions preoperatively. METHODS: We
      prospectively recruited 120 patients undergoing a THA through an anterior (n =
      40), posterior (n = 40), or lateral (n = 40) approach. Patients performed a timed
      up-and-go (TUG) test preoperatively to determine if it was predictive of hospital
      LOS after THA. Other variables of interest included patient age, body mass index,
      age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, mean procedure time, and time spent in
      the postanesthetic care unit. A logistic regression analysis was performed to
      determine which variables predicted LOS greater than 48 hours, which is our
      institution's target time to discharge. RESULTS: The TUG test was predictive of
      LOS beyond 48 hours. For every 5-second interval increase in TUG time, patients
      were twice as likely to stay in hospital beyond 48 hours (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02,
      95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-4.01, P = .043). Patient age (OR = 0.97, 95%
      CI = 0.90-1.05, P = .46), body mass index (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.86-1.18, P =
      .90), Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.68-2.44, P = .44), mean
      procedure time (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.97-1.14, P = .27), and mean time in the
      postanesthetic care unit (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99-1.00, P = .94) were not
      predictive of increased LOS. CONCLUSION: The TUG test was predictive of hospital
      LOS after THA. It is a simple functional test that can be used to assist with
      discharge planning preoperatively to minimize extended hospital stays.

PMID- 26869058
TI  - Compliance with Sport Injury Prevention Interventions in Randomised Controlled
      Trials: A Systematic Review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sport injury prevention studies vary in the way compliance with an
      intervention is defined, measured and adjusted for. OBJECTIVE: The objective of
      this systematic review was to assess the extent to which sport injury prevention
      randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have defined, measured and adjusted results
      for compliance with an injury prevention intervention. METHODS: An electronic
      search was performed in MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cochrane Center of Controlled
      Trials, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), PEDro
      (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and SPORTDiscus. English RCTs, quasi-RCTs and
      cluster-RCTs were considered eligible. Trials that involved physically active
      individuals or examined the effects of an intervention aimed at the prevention of
      sport- or physical activity-related injuries were included. RESULTS: Of the total
      of 100 studies included, 71.6 % mentioned compliance or a related term, 68.8 %
      provided details on compliance measurement and 51.4 % provided compliance data.
      Only 19.3 % analysed the effect of compliance rates on study outcomes. While
      studies used heterogeneous methods, pooled effects could not be presented.
      CONCLUSIONS: Studies that account for compliance demonstrated that compliance
      significant affects study outcomes. The way compliance is dealt with in
      preventions studies is subject to a large degree of heterogeneity. Valid and
      reliable tools to measure and report compliance are needed and should be matched
      to a uniform definition of compliance.

PMID- 26869061
TI  - Vascular Complications After Total Knee Arthroplasty-A Single Institutional
      Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vascular complications during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are
      uncommon but potentially devastating. We evaluated cases of vascular complication
      during TKA in our high-volume, community hospital system. METHODS: Patients were
      identified by cross-referencing billing codes for TKA with diagnosis codes for
      vascular complication during the same hospital stay between January 1, 2010 and
      December 31, 2014. Clinical and radiographic data, time to diagnosis,
      intervention, and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: We identified 13 vascular
      complications in 9951 TKAs (0.13%). Average age was 66.2 years (95% CI: 5.55;
      range: 54.1-87.9), 12 (92.3%) were female, average body mass index was 32.3
      (5.17; 20-50), and average Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.08 (1.03; 2-7). Black
      females (relative risk = 18.33, 95% CI: 6.20-54.22) were at particularly high
      risk. Preoperatively, 6 knees exhibited varus coronal malalignment and 2 valgus
      malalignment (only 1 >15 degrees ). None had flexion contracture >10 degrees .
      Four knees exhibited vascular calcifications on preoperative radiographs. Twelve
      were diagnosed and treated the same day as index TKA and 1 on postoperative day
      2. All underwent interventions: 9 stents, 2 endarterectomies, 1 thrombectomy, and
      1 bypass. One patient sustained a peroneal nerve injury; 3 had persistent
      stiffness postoperatively that improved after manipulation. There were no
      revision surgeries, further vascular intervention, compartment syndrome,
      periprosthetic joint infection, amputation, or mortality. CONCLUSION: Incidence
      of vascular complications at our community-based hospital system is in line with
      previous reports. Black race and female gender were significant risk factors.
      Although outcomes were remarkable for a high rate of stiffness and one peroneal
      neuropathy, the devastating complications of amputation, compartment syndrome,
      periprosthetic joint infection, or early mortality were not observed.

PMID- 26869062
TI  - Reduction Osteotomy vs Pie-Crust Technique as Possible Alternatives for Medial
      Release in Total Knee Arthroplasty and Compared in a Prospective Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To compare the gap change between the pie-crust technique and
      reduction osteotomy to determine their effects on flexion and extension gaps and
      their success rates in achieving ligament balancing during total knee
      arthroplasty. METHODS: In a prospective randomized controlled trial, 106 total
      knee arthroplasties were allocated to each group with 53 cases. If there was a
      narrow medial gap with an imbalance of >=3 mm after the initial limited medial
      release, either reduction osteotomy or pie-crust technique was performed. The
      changes of extension and flexion medial gaps along with the success rate of
      mediolateral balancing were compared. RESULTS: There was a significant difference
      in the change of medial gap in knee extension with mean changes of 3.5 +/- 0.5 mm
      and 2.3 +/- 0.8 mm in the reduction osteotomy and pie-crust groups, respectively
      (P < .001). For flexion gap, greater change was found in the pie-crust group
      compared with the reduction osteotomy group; the mean medial gap changes in knee
      flexion were 1.1 +/- 0.5 mm and 2.3 +/- 1.2 mm in the reduction osteotomy and pie
      crust groups, respectively. The success rates were 90.6% and 67.9% in reduction
      osteotomy and pie-crust groups, respectively (P = .007). CONCLUSION: As an
      alternative medial release method, reduction osteotomy was more effective in
      extension gap balancing, and pie-crust technique was more effective in flexion
      gap balancing. The overall success rate of mediolateral ligament balancing was
      higher in the reduction osteotomy group than in the pie-crust group.

PMID- 26869063
TI  - No Increased Risk of Knee Arthroplasty Failure in Patients With Positive Skin
      Patch Testing for Metal Hypersensitivity: A Matched Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether a positive skin patch test for metal allergy in
      patients with skin hypersensitivity to metals is associated with an increased
      risk of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) failure. Our aim was to determine whether
      patients with a history of metal allergy who had a positive skin patch test
      (SPT+) had worse outcomes after primary TKA compared with those with a negative
      skin patch test and compared with controls. METHODS: Over 12 years, 127 patients
      underwent 161 TKA after skin patch testing (SPT; 56 were positive). Cases were
      matched by age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists
      score, implant type, and implant manufacturer to 161 control knee arthroplasties
      without any prior history of metal allergy and no SPT. Median follow-up was 5.3
      years. Differences in outcome measures were assessed between groups. RESULTS:
      Patients with a SPT+ to metal did not have a higher complication, reoperation, or
      revision rates compared with patients with a SPT- and matched controls.
      Survivorship free of revision at 5 years was 98.1% for SPT+; 100% for SPT-; 97.6%
      for SPT+ controls, 99.0% for SPT- controls. There was no statistically
      significant difference in postoperative pain between SPT+ and SPT- patients and
      matched controls. CONCLUSION: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of
      metal hypersensitivity on TKA outcomes and the role of SPT in patients before
      TKA. In this study, a SPT+ for metals was of little practical value in predicting
      the midterm outcome after TKA and cannot be strongly recommended as a method to
      guide the selection of implant type.

PMID- 26869064
TI  - Topical Tranexamic Acid May Improve Early Functional Outcomes of Primary Total
      Knee Arthroplasty.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces postoperative anemia and
      blood transfusion requirements. We investigated if these beneficial effects
      improve the early outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: We
      retrospectively studied 166 consecutive patients (179 TKAs) who received topical
      TXA (3 g before tourniquet deflation). This "study group" was compared with a
      "control group" of 197 consecutive patients (209 TKAs) in whom no TXA was used.
      We captured outcomes during the first 4 postoperative months. Knee Society score
      (KSS) was determined preoperatively, 6 weeks, and 4 months postoperatively. The
      outcomes were compared using univariate analysis. Multiple logistic regressions
      were calculated to assess differences between groups in KSS at 6 weeks and 4
      months, controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative KSS. RESULTS:
      Postoperative hemoglobin was significantly higher in the study than that in the
      control group on day 1, day 2, and at discharge (P < .0001). Blood transfusions
      were required in 5% and 22% of patients (P < .001), respectively. Six weeks
      postoperatively, the functional KSS and its 5 categories (ability to walk,
      negotiate stairs up and down, stand up from a chair, and the use of support) were
      significantly higher in the study than those in the control group (P <= .001).
      Four months postoperatively, there was no difference in the KSS between the
      groups. DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that the clinical benefit of topical TXA
      administration extends beyond the hospitalization period. Its use may improve
      knee function during the first 6 postoperative weeks. This beneficial clinical
      effect seems to be negligible afterward.

PMID- 26869065
TI  - Surgical Site Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Risk Factors in Patients
      With Timely Administration of Systemic Prophylactic Antibiotics.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is
      a catastrophic complication. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics within 60
      minutes before surgery is a well-established strategy to prevent SSI. The study
      is aimed to identify the risk factors for SSI regarding primary TKA in patients
      with timely administration of systemic prophylactic antibiotics. METHODS: A
      retrospective review of patients with primary TKA between 2009 and 2013 was
      conducted. Patients who had prophylactic antibiotics administered after skin
      incision or >60 minutes before skin incision were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 3152
      patients enrolled, the incidence of SSI and deep-implant SSI was 1.52% and 0.79%,
      respectively. Charlson Comorbidity Index >=3 was an independent risk factor for
      both SSI (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-4.44, P =
      .01) and deep-implant SSI (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.52-7.91, P < .01). Optimal dose of
      systemic antibiotics adjusted by patients' body weight for prophylaxis (OR, 0.29;
      95% CI, 0.17-0.62, P < .01) and using antibiotic-laden bone cement (OR, 0.33; 95%
      CI, 0.17-0.64, P < .01) were significant protective factors for SSI. Meanwhile,
      using antibiotic-laden bone cement (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13-0.76, P = .01) also
      significantly decreased the risk of deep-implant SSI. CONCLUSION: Our findings
      highlight the importance of appropriate dosage of prophylactic antibiotics and
      use of antibiotic-laden cement in preventing SSI after primary TKA. For
      prevention of deep-implant SSI, using antibiotic-laden bone cement seems to be an
      advisable strategy.

PMID- 26869066
TI  - Perioperative Dexamethasone Administration Does Not Increase the Incidence of
      Postoperative Infection in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective
      Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone is frequently used for the treatment of postoperative
      nausea and vomiting and as an adjunct in multimodal postoperative analgesia after
      total joint arthroplasty; however, the incidence of periprosthetic joint
      infection (PJI) after the use of perioperative dexamethasone in total joint
      arthroplasty has yet to be fully elucidated. METHODS: A retrospective chart
      review was conducted of all patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty
      (N = 6294) between January 1, 2002 and January 31, 2014. The primary outcome was
      PJI requiring surgical intervention. Patients were subdivided into 2 cohorts;
      patients who received perioperative dexamethasone, a single 4- to 10-mg
      intravenous dose, as prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting (Dex
      group; N = 557) and those that did not receive perioperative dexamethasone (No
      Dex group; N = 5737). Secondary measures included timing of infection, culture
      data, and the type and number of subsequent procedures. Statistical analysis was
      performed using a chi-square or Fisher's exact test where appropriate. RESULTS:
      Seventy-four joints of the 6294 joints included in this analysis ultimately
      developed a PJI for an overall incidence of infection of 1.2%. Seven of the 557
      joints (1.3%) in the Dex group developed a PJI; 67 of the 5737 joints (1.2%) in
      the No Dex group developed an infection. This difference was not significant (P =
      .8022). No significant difference in the timing of infection or the number of
      subsequent procedures was seen. CONCLUSION: A single intravenous perioperative
      dose of dexamethasone had no statistically significant difference in the rate of
      PJI after total hip or knee arthroplasty.

PMID- 26869067
TI  - Burden of stroke attributable to selected lifestyle risk factors in rural South
      Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rural South Africa (SA) is undergoing a rapid health transition
      characterized by increases in non-communicable diseases; stroke in particular.
      Knowledge of the relative contribution of modifiable risk factors on disease
      occurrence is needed for public health prevention efforts and community-oriented
      health promotion. Our aim was to estimate the burden of stroke in rural SA that
      is attributable to high blood pressure, excess weight and high blood glucose
      using World Health Organization's comparative risk assessment (CRA) framework.
      METHODS: We estimated current exposure distributions of the risk factors in rural
      SA using 2010 data from the Agincourt health and demographic surveillance system
      (HDSS). Relative risks of stroke per unit of exposure were obtained from the
      Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. We used data from the Agincourt HDSS to
      estimate age-, sex-, and stroke specific deaths and disability adjusted life
      years (DALYs). We estimated the proportion of the years of life lost (YLL) and
      DALY loss attributable to the risk factors and incorporate uncertainty intervals
      into these estimates. RESULTS: Overall, 38 % of the documented stroke burden was
      due to high blood pressure (12 % males; 26 % females). This translated to 520 YLL
      per year (95 % CI: 325-678) and 540 DALYs (CI: 343-717). Excess Body Mass Index
      (BMI) was calculated as responsible for 20 % of the stroke burden (3.5 % males;
      16 % females). This translated to 260 YLLs (CI: 199-330) and 277 DALYs (CI: 211
      350). Burden was disproportionately higher in young females when BMI was
      assessed. CONCLUSIONS: High blood pressure and excess weight, which both have
      effective interventions, are responsible for a significant proportion of the
      stroke burden in rural SA; the burden varies across age and sex sub-groups. The
      most effective way forward to reduce the stroke burden requires both population
      wide policies that have an impact across the age spectra and targeted (health
      promotion/disease prevention) interventions on women and young people.

PMID- 26869069
TI  - Early assessment of a rapid alternative method for the estimation of the
      biomethane potential of sewage sludge.
AB  - This short communication briefly presents a rapid method using a fluorescent
      redox indicator, similar to resazurin, in order to estimate the biodegradability
      of sewage sludge during anaerobic digestion (AD). The biodegradability and by
      extension the Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of nineteen municipal sludge
      samples (primary, biological and tertiary) were investigated and estimated in
      only 48 h. Results showed the relevance to follow the metabolic activity of
      anaerobic sludge by the kinetic of probe reduction. The extended lag phase of
      inoculum indicated an impact of pre-treatments on enzyme activity. The comparison
      with Automatic Methane Potential Test System II (AMPTS) confirmed the estimated
      values of BMP according to an uncertainty limit of 25%. These first results
      highlight the interest of this rapid assay as a preliminary tool of the
      biodegradability of sewage sludge in anaerobic digestion.

PMID- 26869070
TI  - Microbiological methods for surveillance of carrier status of multiresistant
      bacteria.
AB  - The presence of colonised patients is one of the main routes for the spread of
      multiresistant bacteria, and its containment is a clinical and public health
      priority. Surveillance studies are essential for early detection of colonisation
      by these bacteria. This article discusses the different microbiological methods,
      both based on culturing and molecular methods, for detection of carriers of
      multiresistant bacteria. Those species with a high clinical/epidemiological
      impact or generating therapeutic difficulties are included: Methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp. resistant to glycopeptides,
      enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases and plasmid
      mediated AmpC, carbapenemases producing enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter
      baumannii and multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The information in this
      document should be considered as a structure matrix to be tailored to the
      specific needs of each centre.

PMID- 26869068
TI  - Drosophila screen connects nuclear transport genes to DPR pathology in c9ALS/FTD.
AB  - Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 are the most common cause of
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)
      (c9ALS/FTD). Unconventional translation of these repeats produces dipeptide
      repeat proteins (DPRs) that may cause neurodegeneration. We performed a modifier
      screen in Drosophila and discovered a critical role for importins and exportins,
      Ran-GTP cycle regulators, nuclear pore components, and arginine methylases in
      mediating DPR toxicity. These findings provide evidence for an important role for
      nucleocytoplasmic transport in the pathogenic mechanism of c9ALS/FTD.

PMID- 26869071
TI  - Characterisation of carbapenem-resistance mechanisms in clinical Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa isolates recovered in a Spanish hospital.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Carbapenems are the beta-lactam antibiotics with the best spectrum
      of activity in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. The objective
      of this study was to molecularly characterise a collection of carbapenem
      resistant P. aeruginosa isolates (PARC). METHODS: A total of 85 PARC isolates
      were recovered from 60patients in the Hospital San Pedro, Logrono (period 2008
      2011). Clonal relationship was determined using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
      (PFGE), susceptibility testing to 15anti-pseudomonal agents was performed using
      the disk diffusion method, and alterations in oprD, characterisation of integrons
      and molecular typing (MLST) using PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: The 85 PARC were
      classified into 35 different PFGE profiles. Of the 61selected strains from
      60patients all of them were multiresistant, although none of them showed a
      carbapenemase phenotype. High polymorphism was detected in OprD, emphasising that
      59% of the strains had a premature stop codon. ISPa1328 and ISPsp4 insertion
      sequences truncated oprD gene into 2 strains (GenBank KF517097 and KF517098). Two
      thirds (67%) of the strains showed class 1 integrons with genes encoding
      aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, and 2 of them carried a new integron: aac(3)
      Ia+aadA1h, named In272, GenBank GQ144317. Four sequence types were detected
      (Strain Nos.): ST175 (35), ST308 (3), ST235 (2), and ST639 (1). CONCLUSION:
      Multidrug resistance, high polymorphism in oprD, a high percentage of integrons,
      moderate clonal relationship of strains, and the high epidemic dissemination of
      high-risk clones are clinical aspects of great concern in order to eradicate the
      spread of PARC.

PMID- 26869072
TI  - Genetic diversity at the Dhn3 locus in Turkish Hordeum spontaneum populations
      with comparative structural analyses.
AB  - We analysed Hordeum spontaneum accessions from 21 different locations to
      understand the genetic diversity of HsDhn3 alleles and effects of single base
      mutations on the intrinsically disordered structure of the resulting polypeptide
      (HsDHN3). HsDHN3 was found to be YSK2-type with a low-frequency 6-aa deletion in
      the beginning of Exon 1. There is relatively high diversity in the intron region
      of HsDhn3 compared to the two exon regions. We have found subtle differences in K
      segments led to changes in amino acids chemical properties. Predictions for
      protein interaction profiles suggest the presence of a protein-binding site in
      HsDHN3 that coincides with the K1 segment. Comparison of DHN3 to closely related
      cereals showed that all of them contain a nuclear localization signal sequence
      flanking to the K1 segment and a novel conserved region located between the S and
      K1 segments [E(D/T)DGMGGR]. We found that H. vulgare, H. spontaneum, and Triticum
      urartu DHN3s have a greater number of phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C
      than other cereal species, which may be related to stress adaptation. Our results
      show that the nature and extent of mutations in the conserved segments of K1 and
      K2 are likely to be key factors in protection of cells.

PMID- 26869073
TI  - Bone Mineral Density, 25-OH Vitamin D and Inflammation in Patients with
      Psoriasis.
AB  - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Low levels of vitamin D may play a role in the pathogenesis
      of psoriasis and is related to increased risk of osteoporosis. There are a few
      studies showing increased rate of osteoporosis in patients with psoriasis;
      however, none of them investigated impact of vitamin D levels and gender status
      together. We aimed to evaluate relationship between vitamin D and osteoporosis in
      psoriasis patients with an emphasis on gender difference. METHODS: Forty-three
      psoriasis patients without arthritis and 41 healthy controls were enrolled. All
      patients were <50 years, and women were premenopausal. Participants were
      questioned about demographic features, sun exposure, regular physical exercise,
      and smoking status. The serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, C
      reactive protein, parathyroid hormone, total alkaline phosphatase, and
      sedimentation rate were measured. Body mass index was calculated. We determined
      the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femur using dual-energy X-ray
      absorptiometry. RESULTS: Femur neck Z score and lumbar spine total Z score were
      lower in psoriasis group than those of the control group. Additionally, total
      femoral Z score, lumbar spine total T, and Z scores were lower in female patients
      with psoriasis than female controls, whereas for male subjects there was not a
      remarkable difference between the groups. There was no significant difference
      between the two groups regarding vitamin D levels. The latter was significantly
      lower in psoriasis group than in controls for females; however, there was no
      significant difference between the two groups of males. Patients with psoriasis
      had higher CRP level and sedimentation rate, than control subjects. Female
      patients had also higher CRP level and sedimentation rate, than female controls,
      but there were no significant differences between male patients and controls.
      CONCLUSION: As osteoporosis has multifactorial etiology, psoriasis may be among
      the triggering or facilitating factors for osteoporosis particularly in psoriatic
      women via several mechanisms such as low blood level of vitamin D and increased
      inflammation.

PMID- 26869074
TI  - beta-catenin and Kras/Foxm1 signaling pathway are critical to restrict Sox9 in
      basal cells during pulmonary branching morphogenesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung morphogenesis is regulated by interactions between the canonical
      Wnt/beta-catenin and Kras/ERK/Foxm1 signaling pathways that establish proximal
      peripheral patterning of lung tubules. How these interactions influence the
      development of respiratory epithelial progenitors to acquire airway as compared
      to alveolar epithelial cell fate is unknown. During branching morphogenesis, SOX9
      transcription factor is normally restricted from conducting airway epithelial
      cells and is highly expressed in peripheral, acinar progenitor cells that serve
      as precursors of alveolar type 2 (AT2) and AT1 cells as the lung matures.
      RESULTS: To identify signaling pathways that determine proximal-peripheral cell
      fate decisions, we used the SFTPC gene promoter to delete or overexpress key
      members of Wnt/beta-catenin and Kras/ERK/Foxm1 pathways in fetal respiratory
      epithelial progenitor cells. Activation of beta-catenin enhanced SOX9 expression
      in peripheral epithelial progenitors, whereas deletion of beta-catenin inhibited
      SOX9. Surprisingly, deletion of beta-catenin caused accumulation of atypical SOX9
      positive basal cells in conducting airways. Inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin
      signaling by Kras(G12D) or its downstream target Foxm1 stimulated SOX9 expression
      in basal cells. Genetic inactivation of Foxm1 from Kras(G12D) -expressing
      epithelial cells prevented the accumulation of SOX9-positive basal cells in
      developing airways. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between the Wnt/beta-catenin and
      the Kras/ERK/Foxm1 pathways are essential to restrict SOX9 expression in basal
      cells. Developmental Dynamics 245:590-604, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26869075
TI  - Dynamic mesolimbic dopamine signaling during action sequence learning and
      expectation violation.
AB  - Prolonged mesolimbic dopamine concentration changes have been detected during
      spatial navigation, but little is known about the conditions that engender this
      signaling profile or how it develops with learning. To address this, we monitored
      dopamine concentration changes in the nucleus accumbens core of rats throughout
      acquisition and performance of an instrumental action sequence task. Prolonged
      dopamine concentration changes were detected that ramped up as rats executed each
      action sequence and declined after earned reward collection. With learning,
      dopamine concentration began to rise increasingly earlier in the execution of the
      sequence and ultimately backpropagated away from stereotyped sequence actions,
      becoming only transiently elevated by the most distal and unexpected reward
      predictor. Action sequence-related dopamine signaling was reactivated in well
      trained rats if they became disengaged in the task and in response to an
      unexpected change in the value, but not identity of the earned reward. Throughout
      training and test, dopamine signaling correlated with sequence performance. These
      results suggest that action sequences can engender a prolonged mode of dopamine
      signaling in the nucleus accumbens core and that such signaling relates to
      elements of the motivation underlying sequence execution and is dynamic with
      learning, overtraining and violations in reward expectation. 

PMID- 26869076
TI  - Investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive behavioural
      suicide prevention therapy for people in acute psychiatric wards (the 'INSITE'
      trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Suicide is a major cause of preventable death, and suicidal behaviour
      is prevalent in acute psychiatric wards. People admitted to acute psychiatric
      wards often experience repeated episodes of suicidal behaviour, causing great
      distress and heavy use of NHS services. There is little research investigating
      effective psychological treatments for suicidal patients in inpatient settings
      although previous research has found support for psychological therapies which
      specifically target suicidal behaviour. This paper describes the protocol of a
      single blind RCT to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of a cognitive
      behavioural intervention targeting suicidality (CBSP) for suicidal people in
      acute psychiatric wards. METHODS/DESIGN: A single blind RCT comparing treatment
      as usual (TAU) to TAU plus Cognitive Behavioural Suicide Prevention (CBSP)
      therapy (TAU + CBSP). Sixty participants (aged 18-65 years) who are suicidal, or
      have been within the past 3 months, will be recruited from NHS trusts in the
      North West of England. Our primary objective is to determine whether CBSP is
      feasible, acceptable and efficacious when compared to patients who receive TAU
      alone. Secondary aims are the impact of CBSP on suicidal thinking, behaviours,
      functioning, quality of life, service use and psychological factors associated
      with suicide. Assessments take place at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months (end of
      treatment). The analysis will report on the feasibility and acceptability of
      CBSP. Qualitative data from staff and service users will inform feasibility and
      acceptability data. DISCUSSION: Psychiatric inpatients are a high-risk group and
      the use of psychological therapies in these settings is rare and requires
      evaluation. This study is essential to investigate the unique contextual
      challenges involved in delivering psychological therapy to suicidal inpatients
      and to identify any necessary modifications required within inpatient settings.
      The findings will inform a larger, definitive trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 15 March
      2012, PB-PG-1111-26026, NIHR ISRCTN17890126 .

PMID- 26869077
TI  - Cervical cages placed bilaterally in the facet joints from a posterior approach
      significantly increase foraminal area.
AB  - PURPOSE: Foraminal stenosis is a common cause of cervical radiculopathy.
      Posterior cervical cages can indirectly increase foraminal area and decompress
      the nerve root. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of bilateral
      posterior cervical cages on the surface area and shape of the neural foramen.
      METHODS: Radiographic analysis was performed on 43 subjects enrolled in a
      prospective, multi-center study. CT scans were obtained at baseline and 6- and 12
      months after cervical fusion using bilateral posterior cervical cages. The
      following measurements were performed on CT scan: foraminal area (A), theoretical
      area (TA), height (H), superior diagonal (DSI), inferior diagonal (DIS), and
      inferior diagonal without implant (DISI). Comparisons were performed using R
      ANOVA with a significance of alpha < 0.05. RESULTS: Foraminal area, height, TA
      and DISI were significantly greater following placement of the implant. The mean
      (SD) A increased from 4.01 (1.09) mm(2) before surgery to 4.24 (1.00) mm(2) at 6
      months, and 4.18 (1.05) mm(2) at 12 months after surgery (p < 0.0001). Foraminal
      height (H) increased from mean (SD) 9.20 (1.08) mm at baseline to 9.65 (1.06) mm
      and 9.55 (1.14) mm at 6- and 12-months post-operatively, respectively (p <
      0.0001). The mean DIS did not change significantly. There was a significant
      decrease in DSI: 6.18 (1.59) mm pre-operatively, 5.95 (1.47) mm and 5.73 (1.46)
      mm at 6- and 12-months (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of bilateral
      posterior cervical cages can increase foraminal area and may indirectly
      decompress the nerve roots. Correlation between increase in foraminal area and
      clinical outcomes needs further investigation.

PMID- 26869078
TI  - A RCT comparing 7-year clinical outcomes of one level symptomatic cervical disc
      disease (SCDD) following ProDisc-C total disc arthroplasty (TDA) versus anterior
      cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this trial was to compare the safety and efficacy of
      TDA using the ProDisc-C implant to ACDF in patients with single-level SCDD
      between C3 and C7. METHODS: We report on the single-site results from a larger
      multicenter trial of 13 sites using an approved US Food and Drug Administration
      protocol (prospective, randomized controlled non-inferiority design). Patients
      were randomized one-to-one to either the ProDisc-C device or ACDF. All enrollees
      were evaluated pre- and post-operatively at regular intervals through month 84.
      Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain/intensity, Neck Disability Index
      (NDI), Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-two
      patients were randomized to each arm of the study. Nineteen additional patients
      received the ProDisc-C via continued access. NDI improved with the ProDisc-C more
      than with ACDF. Total range of motion was maintained with the ProDisc-C, but
      diminished with ACDF. Neck and arm pain improved more in the ProDisc-C than ACDF
      group. Patient satisfaction remained higher in the ProDisc-C group at 7 years. SF
      36 scores were higher in the TDA group than ACDF group at 7 years; the difference
      was not clinically significant. Six additional operations (two at the same level;
      four at an adjacent level) were performed in the ACDF, but none in the ProDisc-C
      group. CONCLUSIONS: The ProDisc-C implant appears to be safe and effective for
      the treatment of SCDD. Patients with the implant retained motion at the involved
      segment and had a lower reoperation rate than those with an ACDF.

PMID- 26869079
TI  - Publication rate of paper and podium presentations from the European Section of
      the Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting.
AB  - PURPOSE: The Cervical Spine Research Society Europe (CSRS-E) actively promotes
      scientific activities, the annual meeting being the most evident of them. The
      publication rate of oral and poster presentations at the annual meeting could be
      a measure for the success of the promotional activities. The publication rates of
      abstracts presented at the annual European meetings of the CSRS are unknown. The
      quality of the abstracts presented at a conference is reflected by the
      publication rate. A high publication rate is usually interpreted as
      representative of high scientific value of the conference. METHODS: Poster and
      podium presentations from the 2007 to 2012 annual meetings were identified.
      Pubmed was used to search for the abstract title and/or the combination of
      authors to verify whether the data were published in a peer-reviewed journal.
      Abstracts were considered published if the data presented at the meeting were
      identical to that in the publication. The journals in which the data were
      published were identified, as well as the origin of the research centre. RESULTS:
      From 2007 to 2012 826 abstracts were featured at the CSRS Europe annual meetings.
      There were 236 podium presentations and 590 poster presentations. 42 % of the
      podium presentations resulted in a publication, and 28 % of the poster
      presentations led to a publication. Overall, 32 % of accepted abstracts
      effectuated a publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Abstracts from
      European research groups had a publication rate of 29 % compared to 34 % for
      abstracts from non-European research groups. Spine, European Spine Journal,
      Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques and J Neurosurgery Spine were the most
      common publication journals for the abstracts. The mean impact factor of the
      journals in which was published was 2.2. CONCLUSION: 42 % of the abstracts that
      were accepted for podium presentation at the CSRS Europe resulted in a
      publication in peer-reviewed MEDLINE indexed journals. Publication rates are at
      the high end of the publication rate spectrum of abstracts accepted for European
      scientific meetings.

PMID- 26869081
TI  - Development of a heat-mediated protein blotting method.
AB  - Western blotting is a significant tool employed for the detection of cell
      proteins. High-molecular-weight proteins have proven a challenge to detect by
      western blotting, but proteins even of 100 KDa can still present difficulties in
      detection. This work reports the development of a heat transfer method that is
      suitable for both low- and high-molecular-weight proteins. The procedure involves
      the use of a constant temperature at 78  degrees C in a dedicated heat transfer
      module. Through the use of this protocol the neuronal adaptor protein X11alpha
      (120 KDa), which prior to this methodology was undetectable endogenously in the
      neuroblastoma cell line (N2a), was successfully detected in the N2a cell line.
      The procedure provides a reproducible protocol that can be adapted for other high
      molecular-weight proteins, and it provides the advantage that low-molecular
      weight proteins are not sacrificed by the methodology.

PMID- 26869082
TI  - A label-free turn-on fluorescence probe for rapidly distinguishing cysteine over
      glutathione in water solution.
AB  - A novel label-free fluorescent chemodosimeter (C1) was synthesized, based on
      coumarin and N-(4-aminobenzoyl)-beta-alanine, for the selective detection of
      cysteine (Cys) over glutathione (GSH), which involved a click reaction of Cys to
      CN of a Schiff base. The probe C1 featured a fast response (about 3 min),
      emission in the visible region, and high selectivity. Addition of Cys in HEPES
      NaOH solution (pH 7.4) to C1 in water resulted in the appearance of a new
      emission peak at 445 nm, in company with remarkable enhancement of fluorescence
      intensity, while other amino acids did not induce any significant fluorescence
      change. Meanwhile, the addition reaction of Cys to C1 elicited 90.8-fold
      fluorescence intensity enhancement, which resulted in a change of emission color
      from orange to blue. 

PMID- 26869083
TI  - Optimization of surface plasmon resonance experiments: Case of high mobility
      group box 1 (HMGB1) interactions.
AB  - Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a powerful technique for evaluating protein
      protein interactions in real time. However, inappropriately optimized experiments
      can often lead to problems in the interpretation of data, leading to unreliable
      kinetic constants and binding models. Optimization of SPR experiments involving
      "sticky" proteins, or proteins that tend to aggregate, represents a typical
      scenario where it is important to minimize errors in the data and the kinetic
      analysis of those data. This is the case of High Mobility Group Box 1 and the
      receptor of advanced glycation end products. A number of improvements in protein
      purification, buffer composition, immobilization conditions, and the choice of
      flow rate are shown to result in substantial improvements in the accurate
      characterization of the interactions of these proteins and the derivation of the
      corresponding kinetic constants. 

PMID- 26869084
TI  - An electrochemical aptasensor electrocatalyst for detection of thrombin.
AB  - This work reports a novel signal amplification strategy based on three
      dimensional ordered macroporous C60-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-1-butyl-3
      methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (3DOM C60-PEDOT-[BMIm][BF6]) for
      ultrasensitive detection of thrombin by cascade catalysis of Au-PEDOT@SiO2
      microspheres and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Au-PEDOT@SiO2 microspheres were
      constructed not only as nanocarriers to anchor the large amounts of secondary
      thrombin aptamers but also as nanocatalysts to catalyze the oxidation of ethanol
      efficiently. Significantly, the electrochemical signal was greatly enhanced based
      on cascade catalysis: First, ADH catalyzed the oxidation of ethanol to
      acetaldehyde with the concomitant generation of NADH in the presence of beta
      nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrate (NAD(+)). Then, gold nanoparticles
      (AuNPs) as nanocatalysts could effectively catalyze NADH to produce NAD(+) with
      the help of PEDOT as redox probe. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed
      aptasensor exhibits a linear range of 2 * 10(-13) to 2 * 10(-8) M with a low
      detection limit of 2 * 10(-14) M for thrombin detection and shows high
      sensitivity and good specificity. 

PMID- 26869085
TI  - Cellular signalling of cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor variants CysLT1
      G300S and CysLT1-I206S.
AB  - Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are pro-inflammatory lipid mediators, involved in allergic
      asthma, that bind the G-protein-coupled receptors CysLT1, CysLT2 and GPR99. A
      polymorphism in one of these receptors, CysLT1-G300S was strongly associated with
      atopy, whereas the CysLT1-I206S polymorphism was not. In the present work, our
      aim was to characterize these two variants by studying their cellular signalling.
      Cell surface expression of mutant receptors in transfected HEK-293 cells was
      comparable to that of the wild-type receptor. Compared to CysLT1-WT, production
      of inositol phosphates as well as IL-8 and IL-13 promoter transactivation in
      response to either LTD4 or LTC4 was significantly increased in CysLT1-G300S
      transfected cells. Moreover, LTD4-induced phosphorylation of the signalling
      effector Erk, but not p38, p65 or c-Jun was higher in CysLT1-G300S-transfected
      cells. On the other hand, the variant CysLT1-I206S did not show a significant
      difference in its signal transduction compared to the wild-type receptor. Taken
      together, our results indicate that the variant CysLT1-G300S can induce a greater
      signal than the CysLT1-WT receptor, a feature that may be relevant to its
      association with atopy. 

PMID- 26869086
TI  - Associations between a fatty acid desaturase gene polymorphism and blood
      arachidonic acid compositions in Japanese elderly.
AB  - We investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism rs174547 (T/C) of the
      fatty acid desaturase-1 gene, FADS1, is associated with changes in erythrocyte
      membrane and plasma phospholipid (PL) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid
      (LCPUFA) composition in elderly Japanese participants (n=124; 65 years or older;
      self-feeding and oral intake). The rs174547 C-allele carriers had significantly
      lower arachidonic acid (ARA; n-6 PUFA) and higher linoleic acid (LA, n-6 PUFA
      precursor) levels in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL (15% and 6% ARA
      reduction, respectively, per C-allele), suggesting a low LA to ARA conversion
      rate in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL of C-allele carriers. alpha-linolenic
      acid (n-3 PUFA precursor) levels were higher in the plasma PL of C-allele
      carriers, whereas levels of the n-3 LCPUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or
      docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were unchanged in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL.
      Thus, rs174547 genotypes were significantly associated with different ARA
      compositions of the blood of elderly Japanese. 

PMID- 26869087
TI  - Iron and a mixture of DHA and EPA supplementation, alone and in combination,
      affect bioactive lipid signalling and morbidity of iron deficient South African
      school children in a two-by-two randomised controlled trial.
AB  - We recently reported that iron supplementation increased respiratory morbidity in
      iron deficient South African children. This increase, however, was attenuated
      when iron was provided in combination with a mixture of DHA/EPA. To explore
      potential underlying mechanisms, we examined the effects of iron and DHA/EPA,
      alone and in combination, on plasma lipid-derived immune modulator concentrations
      and related gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). DHA/EPA
      decreased inflammatory 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and tended to increase
      anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA),
      while iron decreased 17-HDHA. However, in combination with iron, the anti
      inflammatory effect of DHA/EPA was maintained. These biochemical changes may
      explain the prevention of iron-induced respiratory morbidity that we observed
      when iron was supplemented in combination with DHA/EPA during the 8.5 month
      randomised controlled trial and might lead to a safer approach of delivering iron
      supplementation. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01092377. 

PMID- 26869089
TI  - Association between breast milk fatty acids and HIV-1 transmission through
      breastfeeding.
AB  - A residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding persists
      despite prophylaxis. We identified breast milk fatty acids (FA) associated with
      postnatal HIV transmission through breastfeeding in a case-control study. Cases
      (n=23) were HIV-infected women with an infant who acquired HIV after 6 weeks of
      age. Controls (n=23) were matched on infant's age at sample collection. Adjusting
      for maternal antenatal plasma CD4 T cell count, cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) and
      eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-3) were associated with HIV transmission in opposite
      dose-response manner: OR (tertile 3 versus tertile 1): 10.8 and 0.16, p for
      trend=0.02 and 0.03, respectively. These fatty acids correlated with HIV RNA
      load, T helper-1 related cytokines, IL15, IP10, and beta2 microglobulin,
      positively for cis-vaccenic acid, negatively for eicosatrienoic acid. These
      results suggested a change in FA synthesis by mammary gland cells leading to
      increased cis-vaccenic acid in milk of mothers who transmitted HIV to their
      infant during breastfeeding. 

PMID- 26869093
TI  - Image-Guided Development of Biomaterials: Enabling Technologies Shaping and
      Expediting the Future of Materials in Medicine.

PMID- 26869088
TI  - Threshold changes in rat brain docosahexaenoic acid incorporation and
      concentration following graded reductions in dietary alpha-linolenic acid.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study tested the dietary level of alpha-linolenic acid (alpha
      LNA, 18:3n-3) required to maintain brain (14)C-Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n
      3) metabolism and concentration following graded alpha-LNA reduction. METHODS:
      Fischer-344 (CDF) male rat pups (18-21 days old) were randomized to the AIN-93G
      diet containing as a % of total fatty acids, 4.6% ("n-3 adequate"), 3.6%, 2.7%,
      0.9% or 0.2% ("n-3 deficient") alpha-LNA for 15 weeks. Rats were intravenously
      infused with (14)C-DHA to steady state for 5 min, serial blood samples collected
      to obtain plasma, and brains excised following microwave fixation. Labeled and
      unlabeled DHA concentrations were measured in plasma and brain to calculate the
      incorporation coefficient, k*, and incorporation rate, J(in). RESULTS: Compared
      to 4.6% alpha-LNA controls, k* was significantly increased in ethanolamine
      glycerophospholipids in the 0.2% alpha-LNA group. Circulating unesterified DHA
      and brain incorporation rates (J(in)) were significantly reduced at 0.2% alpha
      LNA. Brain total lipid and phospholipid DHA concentrations were reduced at or
      below 0.9% alpha-LNA. CONCLUSION: Threshold changes for brain DHA metabolism and
      concentration were maintained at or below 0.9% dietary alpha-LNA, suggesting the
      presence of homeostatic mechanisms to maintain brain DHA metabolism when dietary
      alpha-LNA intake is low.

PMID- 26869094
TI  - Water flux management and phytoplankton communities in a Mediterranean coastal
      lagoon. Part I: How to promote dinoflagellate dominance?
AB  - The Biguglia lagoon is a shallow Mediterranean coastal ecosystem where
      eutrophication is increasing for years. A channel supplying freshwater was
      cleared in 2009 to enhance lagoon water circulation and alleviate dystrophic
      crises. Monthly monitoring was started in 2010 to document the impacts of this
      action on abiotic characteristics and phytoplankton communities. Three stations
      were surveyed (by microscopy and HPLC). Evidence suggests that this operation had
      an unexpected outcome. Salinity footprints indicated the succession of three main
      hydrological sequences that depended on rainfall and circulation pattern. Diatoms
      and dinoflagellates dominated the first sequence, characterized by heavy
      rainfall, while Prorocentrum minimum became progressively the dominant species in
      the second period (increasing salinities) with extensive bloom over the whole
      lagoon (5.93*10-(5) cells.L(-1)) during the third period. These phytoplankton
      successions and community structures underline the risk of pernicious effects
      arising from remediation efforts, in the present case based on increasing
      freshwater inputs.

PMID- 26869095
TI  - Suspended particulate matter fluxes along with their associated metals, organic
      matter and carbonates in a coastal Mediterranean area affected by mining
      activities.
AB  - A study of suspended particulate matter (SPM) fluxes along with their associated
      metals, organic matter and carbonates, was conducted off the Mejerda River outlet
      in May 2011 and in March and July 2012 at depths of 10, 20 and 40 m using
      sediment traps. SPM fluxes are more significant near the Mejerda outlet,
      especially in winter, but dissipate further offshore. Normalization reveals that
      the Mejerda is a major source of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Co, all of which are the
      result of human activities. In contrast, Fe, Mn and N are of authigenic origin.
      The enrichment factor shows that Pb, Zn and especially Cd are the most highly
      polluting metals off the Mejerda outlet. This confirms the trend observed on the
      shores of the Mejerda prodelta and is consistent with the type of mining
      activities conducted in the Mejerda catchment.

PMID- 26869096
TI  - Mechanisms of cephalosporin resistance in indicator Escherichia coli isolated
      from food animals.
AB  - Resistance to beta-lactams is considered one of the major global problems and
      recently it became the most frequently studied topic in the area of antimicrobial
      resistance. The study was focused on phenotypic and genetic characterisation of
      commensal Escherichia coli (E. coli), including those producing
      cephalosporinases, isolated from gut flora of healthy slaughter animals. E. coli
      were cultured simultaneously on MacConkey agar (MCA) and cefotaxime supplemented
      MCA. The isolates were confirmed with ONPG and indol tube tests as well as PCR
      targeting uspA gene. Microbroth dilution method was applied for determination of
      Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations and interpreted according to EUCAST
      epidemiological cut-off values. Cephalosporin resistance phenotypes were defined
      by E-tests (BioMerieux) and relevant gene amplicons from selected strains were
      sequenced. A total of 298 E. coli isolates with cephalosporin resistance (ESC)
      found in 99 ones, were obtained from 318 cloacal or rectal swabs deriving from
      broilers, layers, turkeys, pigs and cattle. Both extended spectrum beta-lactamase
      (ESBL) and ampC-cephalosporinase resistance phenotypes were noted in all tested
      animal species but cattle. At least one of the analysed genes was identified in
      90 out of 99 cephalosporin-resistant isolates: blaTEM (n=44), blaCMY (n=38),
      blaCTX-M (n=33) and blaSHV (n=12). None of the phenotypes was identified in nine
      isolates. Sequencing of PCR products showed occurrence of ESBL-genes: blaCTX-M-1/
      61, blaSHV-12, blaTEM-1,-52/-92,-135 and ampC-gene blaCMY-2. They were located on
      numerous and diverse plasmids and resistance transferability was proved by
      electroporation of blaSHV-12 and blaCTX-M-1/-61 located on X1 plasmids. Detection
      of cephalosporin resistant E. coli confirms the existence of resistance genes
      reservoir in farm animals and their possible spread (i.e. via IncX1 plasmids) to
      other bacteria including human and animal pathogens. The identified genetic
      background indicates on ecological aspects of selection and dissemination of
      cephalosporin resistance in E. coli isolated from food-producing animals rather
      than its potential role for public health threats.

PMID- 26869097
TI  - MRSA in equine hospitals and its significance for infections in humans.
AB  - MRSA infections in equine clinics were reported from Northern America, Europe,
      Australia, and Japan. The majority of nosocomial infections in horses is
      obviously associated with particular MRSA clonal lineages. As already observed
      for epidemic MRSA in human hospitals more than 10 years ago, a dynamics of MRSA
      clonal lineages is also observed in European equine clinics: clonal lineages
      belonging to clonal complex (CC) 8 are on the retreat whereas MRSA attributed to
      CC398 become increasingly prevalent. The majority of CC398 isolates belong to a
      subpopulation which is particularly associated with equine hospitals as indicated
      by molecular typing. When emerging in equine clinics, MRSA from horses were also
      found as nasal colonizers of veterinary personnel. MRSA exhibiting the typing
      characteristics of MRSA known from equine clinics are obviously rare among MRSA
      from infections in humans. Although rare so far epidemic MRSA from human
      hospitals (HA-MRSA, e.g., ST22, ST225) have been isolated from nosocomial
      infections in horses and need particular attention in further surveillance.

PMID- 26869098
TI  - Synthesis of octahedral, truncated octahedral, and cubic Rh2Ni nanocrystals and
      their structure-activity relationship for the decomposition of hydrazine in
      aqueous solution to hydrogen.
AB  - We developed a co-reduction method to synthesize octahedral, truncated
      octahedral, and cubic Rh2Ni nanocrystals. The shape/size distribution, structural
      characteristics, and composition of the Rh2Ni nanocrystals are investigated, and
      their possible formation mechanism at high temperatures in margaric acid/1
      aminoheptadecane solution in the presence of tetraethylgermanium and borane
      trimethylamine complexes is proposed. A preliminary probing of the structure
      activity dependence of the surface "clean" Rh2Ni nanocrystals supported on carbon
      towards hydrazine (N2H4) in aqueous solution dehydrogenation revealed that the
      higher the percentage of {111} facets, the higher is the activity and H2
      selectivity of the nanocrystals. This result was attributed to the {111} facets
      not only introducing more basic sites, but also weakening the interaction between
      the produced adspecies (including H2 and NHx) and surface metal atoms in
      comparison with those of {100} facets. Furthermore, the as-prepared Rh2Ni
      nanooctahedra exhibited 100% H2 selectivity and high activity at room temperature
      for H2 generation via N2H4 decomposition. The activation energy of the Rh2Ni
      nanooctahedra was 41.6 +/- 1.2 kJ mol(-1). The Rh2Ni nanooctahedra were stable
      catalysts for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of N2H4, providing 27 723 total
      turnovers in 30 h. Our work provides a new perspective concerning the possibility
      of constructing hydrogen-producing systems based on N2H4 and surface "clean"
      Rh2Ni nanocrystal catalysts with defined shapes supported on carbon that possess
      a competitive performance in comparison with NaBH4 and NH3BH3 hydrogen-producing
      systems for fuel cell applications. 

PMID- 26869099
TI  - Cytotoxic nor-dammarane triterpenes from Viburnum hainanense Merr. et Chun.
AB  - Five new nor-dammarane triterpenes, 12beta-O-acetyl-17beta-hydoxy-3,15-dioxo
      20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (1), 12beta-hydoxy-17beta-methoxy-3,15
      dioxo-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (2), 12beta-O-acetyl-3,15-dioxo-17
      en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (3), 12beta-hydoxy-15alpha-O-acetyl-3
      oxo-17-en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (4) and 3beta-hydoxy-17-oxo-12
      en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (5), were obtained from the ethanol
      extract of the whole plants of Viburnum hainanense Merr. et Chun. Structural
      elucidation of all the compounds was performed by spectral methods such as 1D and
      2D NMR, IR, UV, and HRESIMS. The isolated compounds were tested in vitro for
      cytotoxic potential against seven tumor cell lines (Hep-2, SCL-1, CAL-27, UMSCC
      1, Detroit-562, SCC-PKU, and TCA-83). As result, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited
      cytotoxic activities with IC50 values less than 10 MUM.

PMID- 26869101
TI  - New Biological Insights from Better Structure Models.
AB  - Structure validation is a key component of all steps in the structure
      determination process, from structure building, refinement, deposition, and
      evaluation all the way to post-deposition optimisation of structures in the
      Protein Data Bank (PDB) by re-refinement and re-building. Today, many aspects of
      protein structures are understood better than 10years ago, and combined with
      improved software and more computing power, the automated PDB_REDO procedure can
      significantly improve about 85% of all X-ray structures ever deposited in the
      PDB. We review structure validation, structure improvement, and a series of
      validation resources and facilities that give access to improved PDB files and to
      reports on the quality of the original and the improved structures. Post
      deposition optimisation generally leads to improved protein structures and a
      series of examples will illustrate how that, in turn, leads to improved or even
      novel biological insights.

PMID- 26869100
TI  - Changes in membrane sphingolipid composition modulate dynamics and adhesion of
      integrin nanoclusters.
AB  - Sphingolipids are essential constituents of the plasma membrane (PM) and play an
      important role in signal transduction by modulating clustering and dynamics of
      membrane receptors. Changes in lipid composition are therefore likely to
      influence receptor organisation and function, but how this precisely occurs is
      difficult to address given the intricacy of the PM lipid-network. Here, we
      combined biochemical assays and single molecule dynamic approaches to demonstrate
      that the local lipid environment regulates adhesion of integrin receptors by
      impacting on their lateral mobility. Induction of sphingomyelinase (SMase)
      activity reduced sphingomyelin (SM) levels by conversion to ceramide (Cer),
      resulting in impaired integrin adhesion and reduced integrin mobility. Dual
      colour imaging of cortical actin in combination with single molecule tracking of
      integrins showed that this reduced mobility results from increased coupling to
      the actin cytoskeleton brought about by Cer formation. As such, our data
      emphasizes a critical role for the PM local lipid composition in regulating the
      lateral mobility of integrins and their ability to dynamically increase receptor
      density for efficient ligand binding in the process of cell adhesion. 

PMID- 26869102
TI  - Transparency in a world of complexity: Basic guidelines for improved statistical
      reporting.

PMID- 26869105
TI  - Editorial: The Journal of Dairy Research.

PMID- 26869104
TI  - VRK1 phosphorylates and protects NBS1 from ubiquitination and proteasomal
      degradation in response to DNA damage.
AB  - NBS1 is an early component in DNA-Damage Response (DDR) that participates in the
      initiation of the responses aiming to repair double-strand breaks caused by
      different mechanisms. Early steps in DDR have to react to local alterations in
      chromatin that are induced by DNA damage. NBS1 participates in the early
      detection of DNA damage and functions as a platform for the recruitment and
      assembly of components that are sequentially required for the repair process. In
      this work we have studied whether the VRK1 chromatin kinase can affect the
      activation of NBS1 in response to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation. VRK1
      is forming a basal preassembled complex with NBS1 in non-damaged cells. Knockdown
      of VRK1 resulted in the loss of NBS1 foci induced by ionizing radiation, an
      effect that was also detected in cell-cycle arrested cells and in ATM (-/-)
      cells. The phosphorylation of NBS1 in Ser343 by VRK1 is induced by either
      doxorubicin or IR in ATM (-/-) cells. Phosphorylated NBS1 is also complexed with
      VRK1. NBS1 phosphorylation by VRK1 cooperates with ATM. This phosphorylation of
      NBS1 by VRK1 contributes to the stability of NBS1 in ATM (-/-) cells, and the
      consequence of its loss can be prevented by treatment with the MG132 proteasome
      inhibitor of RNF8. We conclude that VRK1 regulation of NBS1 contributes to the
      stability of the repair complex and permits the sequential steps in DDR. 

PMID- 26869103
TI  - Grb7 and Hax1 may colocalize partially to mitochondria in EGF-treated SKBR3 cells
      and their interaction can affect Caspase3 cleavage of Hax1.
AB  - Growth factor receptor bound protein 7 (Grb7) is a signal-transducing adaptor
      protein that mediates specific protein-protein interactions in multiple signaling
      pathways. Grb7, with Grb10 and Grb14, is members of the Grb7 protein family. The
      topology of the Grb7 family members contains several protein-binding domains that
      facilitate the formation of protein complexes, and high signal transduction
      efficiency. Grb7 has been found overexpressed in several types of cancers and
      cancer cell lines and is presumed involved in cancer progression through
      promotion of cell proliferation and migration via interactions with the
      erythroblastosis oncogene B 2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
      receptor, focal adhesion kinase, Ras-GTPases, and other signaling partners. We
      previously reported Grb7 binds to Hax1 (HS1 associated protein X1) isoform 1, an
      anti-apoptotic protein also involved in cell proliferation and calcium
      homeostasis. In this study, we confirm that the in vitro Grb7/Hax1 interaction is
      exclusive to these two proteins and their interaction does not depend on Grb7
      dimerization state. In addition, we report Grb7 and Hax1 isoform 1 may colocalize
      partially to mitochondria in epidermal growth factor-treated SKBR3 cells and
      growth conditions can affect this colocalization. Moreover, Grb7 can affect
      Caspase3 cleavage of Hax1 isoform 1 in vitro, and Grb7 expression may slow
      Caspase3 cleavage of Hax1 isoform 1 in apoptotic HeLa cells. Finally, Grb7 is
      shown to increase cell viability in apoptotic HeLa cells in a time-dependent
      manner. Taken together, these discoveries provide clues for the role of a
      Grb7/Hax1 protein interaction in apoptosis pathways involving Hax1. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26869106
TI  - Genetically engineering milk.
AB  - It has been thirty years since the first genetically engineered animal with
      altered milk composition was reported. During the intervening years, the world
      population has increased from 5bn to 7bn people. An increasing demand for protein
      in the human diet has followed this population expansion, putting huge stress on
      the food supply chain. Many solutions to the grand challenge of food security for
      all have been proposed and are currently under investigation and study. Amongst
      these, genetics still has an important role to play, aiming to continually enable
      the selection of livestock with enhanced traits. Part of the geneticist's tool
      box is the technology of genetic engineering. In this Invited Review, we indicate
      that this technology has come a long way, we focus on the genetic engineering of
      dairy animals and we argue that the new strategies for precision breeding demand
      proper evaluation as to how they could contribute to the essential increases in
      agricultural productivity our society must achieve. 

PMID- 26869107
TI  - Minor milk constituents are affected by protein concentration and forage
      digestibility in the feed ration.
AB  - The present study was conducted in order to investigate if selected minor milk
      components would be indicative for the nutritional situation of the cow. Forty
      eight dairy cows were offered a high digestible ration vs. a lower digestible
      ration combined with 2 protein levels in a 4 * 4 Latin square design. Milk
      glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, cholesterol, triacylglycerides (TAG), uric acid and
      beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) were measured and correlated mutually and towards
      other milking parameters (yield, h since last milking, days in milk (DIM), urea,
      etc). The variation range of the suggested variables were broad, a fact that may
      support their utilisation as predictive parameters. The content of milk
      metabolites was significantly affected by the change in rations as milk glucose,
      glucose-6-phosphate, uric acid, and the ratio cholesterol: triacylglycerides
      increased with higher energy intake while BHBA and TAG decreased. The content of
      some of the milk metabolites changed during 24 h day/night periods: BHBA,
      cholesterol, uric acid and TAG increased whereas free glucose decreased in the
      night period. Certain associations between milk metabolites and calculated energy
      parameters like ECM, body condition score (BCS), and body weight gain were found,
      however, these associations were to some extent explained by an interaction with
      DIM, just as changes in milk metabolites during a 24 h period seems to interfere.
      It is concluded that the practical use of the suggested milk variables should be
      based on more than one metabolite and that stage of lactation and possibly time
      of the day where the milk is collected should be incorporated in predictive
      models. 

PMID- 26869108
TI  - Effects of alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diets on gene expression of key
      inflammatory mediators in immune and milk cells obtained from Holstein dairy
      cows.
AB  - Immune system and inflammatory responses are affected by alpha-linolenic acid
      (alphaLA: 18:3 omega-3). The objective of this study was to determine the effects
      of alphaLA-enriched rations on gene expression of systemic (blood) and local
      (mammary gland) inflammatory markers in Holstein dairy cattle. Further, the
      effect of dietary treatments was evaluated on the concentration of alphaLA in
      serum phospholipids. Camelina (Camelina sativa) meal (containing 24.2% alphaLA)
      was fed at 0, 3, 6, and 9% (dry matter basis) replacing canola meal (rich in 18:1
      omega-9) to provide rations with incremental concentrations of alphaLA. Lactating
      primiparous Holstein cows (n = 18) were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence
      in a 4 * 4 Latin square design. Each period lasted 16 d and milk and blood
      samples were collected during the final 2 d of each period. Peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells (PBMC) and milk cells (MC) were harvested, and RNA extracted
      and converted to complementary DNA for quantitative real time PCR analysis. The
      effect of dietary treatments (alphaLA) on the relative abundance of pro- and anti
      inflammatory genes in the PBMC and MC was tested by the MIXED procedure of SAS.
      Expression of pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in MC was
      linearly reduced (up to 40%) as dietary alphaLA increased. Expression of pro
      inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha was reduced (29,
      20, and 27%, respectively) in PBMC isolated from cows fed 6% camelina meal ration
      as compared with cows fed 0% (control). Expression of IL-6 was, however,
      increased with inclusion of camelina meal. Greater dietary alphaLA linearly
      increased serum phospholipids alphaLA contents, and when fed up to 6% DM down
      regulated expression of some of the local (milk) and systemic (blood) pro
      inflammatory markers in vivo.

PMID- 26869109
TI  - Effect of ruminally unprotected Echium oil on milk yield, composition and fatty
      acid profile in mid-lactation goats.
AB  - This study investigated the effects on goat milk yield and composition of a diet
      supplemented with Echium plantagineum oil (EPO). Twenty-four mid-lactation
      multiparous Camosciata goats were divided into two balanced groups and fed for 44
      d a diet based on hay and concentrate, supplemented (EPO group, Echium) or not
      (CON group, control) with 40 ml of ruminally unprotected EPO. Individual milk
      yield was recorded and individual milk samples were collected at 11, 22, 33, and
      44 d after supplementation. Milk samples were analysed for milk components and
      fatty acids (FA). Data were statistically analysed by repeated-measures analysis
      of variance. Milk yield, protein and lactose contents were significantly higher
      in EPO than CON group. The inclusion of EPO significantly decreased total
      saturated FA and total branched-chain FA, and contemporarily sharply increased
      trans biohydrogenation intermediates (P ? 0.001). Milk concentration of alpha
      linolenic, stearidonic and gamma-linolenic acids increased by 23, 1000 and 67%,
      respectively (P ? 0.001). Due to extensive ruminal biohydrogenation, their
      apparent transfer rate was less than 3%. As a consequence, the milk
      concentrations of very long-chain (VLC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such
      as eicosapentaenoic (20:5 n-3) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic (20:3 n-6) acids,
      significantly increased with EPO treatment, but values remained very low.
      Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) was undetectable in all analysed milk samples.
      Results show that ruminally unprotected EPO can enhance milk yield and protein
      and improve the overall goat milk FA profile. However, this kind of
      supplementation cannot be considered a valuable strategy to develop goat
      functional dairy products enriched with VLC n-3 PUFA for human consumption.

PMID- 26869110
TI  - Fatty acid profiles of milk and Minas frescal cheese from lactating grazed cows
      supplemented with peanut cake--ERRATUM.

PMID- 26869111
TI  - High levels of acetoacetate and glucose increase expression of cytokines in
      bovine hepatocytes, through activation of the NF-kappaB signalling pathway.
AB  - Elevated levels of blood interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and
      tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increase insulin resistance and result
      in inflammation. It is not clear whether elevated blood level of acetoacetate
      (ACAC) and decreased blood level of glucose, which are the predominant
      characteristics of clinical biochemistry in ketotic dairy cows, increase
      proinflammatory cytokines and subsequent inflammation. The objective of this
      study was to test the hypothesis that ACAC and glucose activate the NF-kappaB
      signalling pathway to regulate cytokines expression in bovine hepatocytes. Bovine
      hepatocytes were cultured with ACAC (0-4.8 mm) and glucose (0-5.55 mm) with or
      without NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC for 24 h. The secretion and mRNA levels of
      cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real
      time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The NF-kappaB
      signalling pathway activation was evaluated by western blotting. Results showed
      that the secretion and expression of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha increased in an
      ACAC dose-dependent manner. Additionally, there was an increase in the secretion
      and mRNA expression of these three cytokines in glucose treatment group, which
      increased significantly when the glucose concentrations exceed 3.33 mm.
      Furthermore, both ACAC and glucose upregulated NF-kappaB p65 protein expression
      and IkappaBalpha phosphorylation levels. However, these effects were reduced by
      PDTC. These results demonstrate that elevated levels of ACAC and glucose increase
      the synthesis and expression of proinflammatory factors by activating NF-kappaB
      signalling pathway in hepatocytes, which may contribute to inflammation injury in
      ketotic dairy cows.

PMID- 26869112
TI  - Covariance structures of fat and protein influence the estimation of IgG in
      bovine colostrum.
AB  - On-farm instruments for assessing colostrum quality are needed in order to ensure
      that the calf is supplied with enough IgG to avoid failure of passive transfer.
      The aim of this study was to evaluate methods for estimating the IgG
      concentration in cows' colostrum. This research included 126 colostrum samples
      from 21 Danish farms with different breeds, ensuring a broad variation pattern in
      IgG, total protein and fat concentration. Approximately one third of the samples
      did not fulfil the recommendation of >50 g IgG/l colostrum, and the IgG
      concentration decreased with time from calving to milking. The ratio of IgG to
      total protein varied from 6 to 61%, however IgG and total protein were correlated
      with r2 = 0.70. The variation in fat was independent of variations in protein and
      IgG. The IgG concentration was measured by ELISA and compared to fast
      measurements by specific gravity by colostrometer, Brix by refractometer and
      prediction from infrared spectroscopy. The three fast methods were all correlated
      to the total protein concentration of colostrum; however specific gravity was
      also influenced by the fat concentration. Furthermore, specific gravity generally
      overestimated the IgG concentration, and the cut-off level should be raised to
      1050 in order to ensure adequate IgG in colostrum. None of the methods estimated
      IgG concentration better than the correlation of total protein and IgG, meaning
      that they all depended on the indirect correlation between total protein and IgG.
      The results suggest that using a refractometer for quality control of colostrum
      is an easy and feasible method, and a cut-off level of Brix 22 seems sufficient
      to assure adequate IgG concentration in colostrum fed to the calf.

PMID- 26869113
TI  - Production and chemical composition of two dehydrated fermented dairy products
      based on cow or goat milk.
AB  - The aim of this study was to identify the differences between the main macro and
      micronutrients including proteins, fat, minerals and vitamins in cow and goat
      dehydrated fermented milks. Fermented goat milk had higher protein and lower ash
      content. All amino acids (except for Ala), were higher in fermented goat milk
      than in fermented cow milk. Except for the values of C11:0, C13:0, C16:0, C18:0,
      C20:5, C22:5 and the total quantity of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids,
      all the other fatty acid studied were significantly different in both fermented
      milks. Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Se were higher in fermented goat milk. Fermented
      goat milk had lower amounts of folic acid, vitamin E and C, and higher values of
      vitamin A, D3, B6 and B12. The current study demonstrates the better nutritional
      characteristics of fermented goat milk, suggesting a potential role of this dairy
      product as a high nutritional value food. 

PMID- 26869114
TI  - Comparative study of microbiological, chemical and sensory properties of kefirs
      produced in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
AB  - In the current study the microbiological, sensory and chemical properties of 24
      kefirs (12 producers) from Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian retail market were
      determined using gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC-MS/MS-Q-TOF and LC-ion trap MS/MS), spectrophotometry and other methods.
      Antihypertensive, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting, antioxidant and
      antibacterial peptides were found in the kefir samples. According to the results
      of principal component analysis of 200 most abundant compounds obtained with HPLC
      MS/MS-Q-TOF analysis, Estonian kefirs differed from the rest. Kefirs of Latvian
      and Lithuanian origin showed similarities in several characteristics, probably
      related to the starter cultures and technological processes. The fatty acids
      composition of all Baltic kefirs was uniform. The antioxidant capacity of the
      kefirs varied slightly, whereas intermediate positive correlation (r = 0.32, P <
      0.05) was found between antioxidativity and total bacterial count. The lipid
      oxidation level, estimated as the content of linoleic and oleic acid primary
      oxidation products, oxylipins, was very low in all studied kefirs. Only one third
      of analysed kefirs met the requirements of the minimum sum of viable
      microorganisms, indicated in the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks.

PMID- 26869115
TI  - Whey cheese: membrane technology to increase yields.
AB  - Sweet cheese whey has been used to obtain whey cheese without the addition of
      milk. Pre-treated whey was concentrated by nanofiltration (NF) at different
      concentration ratios (2, 2.5 and 2.8) or by reverse osmosis (RO) (2-3 times).
      After the concentration, whey was acidified with lactic acid until a final pH of
      4.6-4.8, and heated to temperatures between 85 and 90  degrees C. The coagulated
      fraction (supernatant) was collected and freely drained over 4 h. The cheese-whey
      yield and protein, fat, lactose and ash recoveries in the final product were
      calculated. The membrane pre-concentration step caused an increase in the whey
      cheese yield. The final composition of products was compared with traditional
      cheese-whey manufacture products (without membrane concentration). Final cheese
      yields found were to be between 5 and 19.6%, which are higher than those achieved
      using the traditional 'Requeson' process.

PMID- 26869117
TI  - Introduction.

PMID- 26869116
TI  - Modulating the textural characteristics of whey protein nanofibril gels with
      different concentrations of calcium chloride.
AB  - Protein nanofibrils with 10-20 nm diameters were formed by heating whey protein
      solution at pH 2.0. Nanofibrils solution was deacidified slowly through dialysis
      followed by adding different amounts of CaCl2 (0-80 mM) into the dialysis water
      resulting in formation of a soft viscoelastic gel over time. The gel fabricated
      from the nanofibrils solution dialyzed against distilled water with 0 mM CaCl2
      had zero ash content. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy revealed a change
      in the pattern of hydrogen bond formation in gel network by calcium chloride. The
      higher the ash content of gels, the lower was the storage modulus and fracture
      stress of samples. Gels with higher ash contents had a more porous microstructure
      which was attributed to the diminished hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen
      bonding among nanofibrils by the action of chloride. Higher ash contents also led
      to higher water holding capacity of gels which was attributed to the influence of
      the strongly hydrated calcium ions that interacted with the non-charged regions
      of proteins via site-specific interactions.

PMID- 26869118
TI  - Ayurvedic patients in Germany.
AB  - In the sociology of health and illness, the heterogeneous field of heterodox
      medicine is often conceptualised as a more or less homogeneous entity. All kinds
      of heterodox modes of treatment are pooled together in order to discover the
      heterodox patient. In this way, differences between several heterodox modes of
      treatment are lost and the emerging picture remains vague. In this paper, we
      concentrate on one particular mode of treatment: Ayurveda. Based on 14 semi
      structured interviews conducted with the patients of German Ayurvedic physicians,
      we examine the paths that lead patients to this form of Asian medicine, and how
      they process Ayurvedic concepts and make sense of them. It will be a story of how
      trust in heterodox medicine is built and confirmed, a story of how foreign
      knowledge is creatively received, modified and thus glocalised. We will also
      explore the patients' perception of their relationships with their physicians,
      for the success of heterodox medicine is often traced to a more satisfying,
      personal relationship with the physician when compared to the rather brief and
      technical consultations common in biomedicine. Finally, it is argued that
      Ayurvedic patients do not readily fit the notion that heterodox patients are
      active consumers. 

PMID- 26869119
TI  - Shiatsu in Britain and Japan: Personhood, holism and embodied aesthetics.
AB  - In this paper, globalisation processes are examined through the prism of shiatsu,
      an originally Japanese, touch-based therapy, now practised in Europe, Japan,
      North America, and many other places. Examining this emergent plane of
      therapeutic practice provides an opportunity to reflect on categories of
      personhood, notably that of the individual, and its place within processes of
      globalisation. The article is divided into two parts. In the first part the
      holisms inherent to East Asian medical practice and underlying notions of
      personhood in Japan and Britain are critically examined. The seemingly
      reductionistic practice of 'bodily holism' in Japan is shown to reflect socio
      centred notions of the person. The concept of holism animating shiatsu in a
      British school in London, far from being Japanese, 'ancient', or 'timeless', is
      shown to reflect individualism characteristic of the New Age movement. In the
      second part of the paper, using an auto-phenomenological approach, a description
      of practitioner (my own) and client's lived experience of shiatsu is given in
      case study form. This illustrates how 'holism' is felt within the context of a
      shiatsu treatment. The aesthetic form of the shiatsu touch described is shown to
      be implicitly individualising. This has, it is argued, profound implications for
      understanding the embodied dimensions of practitioner-patient encounters, the
      potential efficacy of treatment, and more generally the practice of globalised
      East Asian 'holistic' therapies in Britain and other settings. 

PMID- 26869120
TI  - Buddhism, science, and market: The globalisation of Tibetan medicine.
AB  - In this paper I discuss the processes by which Tibetan medicine has become
      globalised, and the ways in which these have come to determine, constrain, and,
      ultimately, transform local practices of healing in both Tibet and the West. I
      examine the degree to which globalisation, in particular international market
      capitalism, operating in this case through the Chinese state, structures the
      content of primary medical resources, confers legitimacy to certain technologies,
      and sets the ground rules by which the healers in charge of deploying such
      technologies are set into conversation with one another. I also argue that the
      cultural dimensions of globalisation enter the local context through the multiple
      stranded flows of people, images, and ideas, and contribute to redefinitions of
      identity, suffering, and body praxis among patients/consumers in diverse local
      contexts. I proceed within two registers of analysis. In the first, I analyse
      these movements in the context of Tibetan medicine as it has been transformed,
      practised, and used, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. In the second, the
      analytic lens shifts to a focus on Tibetan medicine as a 'global' alternative
      medicine in North America and Europe. The focus throughout is on the global-local
      dialectic: how Tibetan medicine is both produced as global commodity and consumed
      as 'local' tradition. 

PMID- 26869121
TI  - "The medicine from China has rapid effects": Chinese medicine patients in
      Tanzania.
AB  - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves both biomedical and traditional
      medical training, which makes well-trained TCM doctors inexpensive health care
      providers for primary health care. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Ministry
      of Commerce recognised this potential, and in the mid-1990s issued short-term
      licences for private TCM enterprises. In Dar es Salaam, some of these practices
      experienced a period of considerable growth, but by the year 2000 a degree of
      ambivalence if not resentment existed against Chinese medical doctors who were
      accused of unlawfully using biomedical medication, and the government refused to
      issue further licences. In addition, some 'doctors' had insufficient training or
      minimal clinical experience (though I also met some notable exceptions). This
      article asks why Tanzanian patients turn to the Chinese for medical treatment,
      and what patients know about Chinese medicine and medication. One of the chief
      findings is that the Swahili term dawa ya Kichina is vague, which allows patients
      to transfer their positive experiences with Chinese biomedical doctors during the
      period of socialist orientation onto the current, entrepreneurial TCM doctors.
      Dawa ya Kichina is often considered a rapidly effective 'advanced' 'traditional'
      medicine; its ready-made patent formulas, which make it look 'scientific' and
      'modern', are easy to consume; and its entrepreneurial set-up has several
      advantages over the bureaucratic structures of 'hospital medicine'. Chinese anti
      malarials, artesiminin derivatives, reduce malarial fevers within hours, and
      though, strictly speaking, they are biomedical drugs, they are indeed dawa ya
      Kichina . Moreover, patients of TCM doctors sometimes experience rapid recovery,
      mostly due to skilled integration of biomedical and Chinese medical treatment.
      Further research is recommended to investigate the primary health care potential
      of such integrated Chinese and biomedical treatment. 

PMID- 26869122
TI  - Korean medicine in Kazakhstan: Ideas, practices and patients.
AB  - Since the 1990s, after gaining independence by the Republic of Kazakhstan,
      various complementary therapies have grown rapidly there. Korean medicine in its
      several forms belongs among them. There is an important population of Korean
      deportees from Stalinist times, but this paper will show that the various forms
      of Korean medicine practised in Almaty, Kazakhstan's former capital, do not
      primarily cater for ethnic Koreans. Rather, as the paper demonstrates, it is
      important to see that there are different forms of Korean medicine attractive to
      clientele from different strata of society. Thus, there are, apart from the most
      traditional treatment practised at the Korean-Kazakhstani clinic in Almaty, two
      other newly invented modifications of Korean medicine: soo-jok and soo-ji . The
      paper embeds Korean medicine into the context of the drastic deterioration of the
      state health care system and general dissatisfaction with its services, on the
      one hand, and a generally supportive attitude of government authorities to
      complementary medicine, on the other. My empirical data suggest that in
      Kazakhstan people of different ethnic background, sex, age and education choose
      complementary therapies. The growing popularity of these therapies is not only
      attributed to public confidence in the methods that are perceived as
      'traditional' but more importantly to the extremely difficult economic conditions
      which have made people search for cheaper treatment. The paper presents data that
      are critical of a purely culturalist interpretation of explaining the arrival of
      Korean medicine in Kazakhstan and suggests that it is the political economy of
      Korean medicine as a non-costly therapy which has made it attractive to a wide
      range of clients. 

PMID- 26869123
TI  - Healing efficacy and the construction of charisma: A family's journey through the
      multiple medical field in Russia.
AB  - In the varieties of non-biomedical healing in Russia, the efficacy of treatment
      is based on the patient's recognition of the healer's charismatic legitimacy that
      translates directly into the power to change the lived reality of the ailing
      body. This paper considers charismatic healing power as emerging in the dyadic
      relationship between a healer and a patient, and analyses aesthetic and social
      elements of the charismatic bond between healer and patient. The paper is based
      on the ethnography of the multiple medical field in contemporary Russia,
      reflected in the narrative of a family's encounters with its various
      representatives in search for treatment alternatives for an incurable chronic
      disease. The acceptance of a healer's charisma is shown to build on an immediate
      embodied experience, but it is also suggested that this experience cannot be
      understood if divorced from its social diacritics. 

PMID- 26869127
TI  - Legal Blindness From Severe Optic Nerve Head Drusen.

PMID- 26869128
TI  - Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia.

PMID- 26869130
TI  - Glaucoma Tube Changes After Suture Lysis Assessed by High-Resolution Anterior
      Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

PMID- 26869129
TI  - Two-Year Follow-up of a Prepapillary Vascular Loop-Related Branch Retinal Artery
      Occlusion.

PMID- 26869131
TI  - The Suspected Macrosomic Fetus at Term: A Clinical Dilemma.
AB  - Estimation of fetal weight is an important component of antenatal and intrapartum
      management of pregnant women. While many clinicians use ultrasound estimates of
      fetal weight to assess fetal growth, there are inherent challenges in both the
      diagnosis and management of suspected fetal macrosomia. Given the inaccuracy in
      estimating fetal weight, and the risks that accompany cesarean birth or induction
      of labor, the management of suspected fetal macrosomia requires open
      communication and shared decision making between the woman and her health care
      providers. This case study and literature review highlight the current management
      and recommendations for suspected fetal macrosomia. 

PMID- 26869135
TI  - Association of Compliance With Process-Related Quality Metrics and Improved
      Survival in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Quality metrics for patients with head and neck cancer are available,
      but it is unknown whether compliance with these metrics is associated with
      improved patient survival. OBJECTIVE: To identify whether compliance with various
      process-related quality metrics is associated with improved survival in patients
      with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who receive definitive surgery with or
      without adjuvant therapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective
      cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center among 192
      patients with previously untreated oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who
      underwent definitive surgery with or without adjuvant therapy between January 1,
      2003, and December 31, 2010. Data analysis was performed from January 26 to
      August 7, 2015. INTERVENTIONS: Surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Compliance with a collection of process-related quality
      metrics possessing face validity that covered pretreatment evaluation, treatment,
      and posttreatment surveillance was evaluated. Association between compliance with
      these quality metrics and overall survival, disease-specific survival, and
      disease-free survival was calculated using univariable and multivariable Cox
      proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: Among 192 patients, compliance with the
      individual quality metrics ranged from 19.7% to 93.6% (median, 82.8%). No
      pretreatment or surveillance metrics were associated with improved survival.
      Compliance with the following treatment-related quality metrics was associated
      with improved survival: elective neck dissection with lymph node yield of 18 or
      more, no unplanned surgery within 14 days of the index surgery, no unplanned 30
      day readmissions, and referral for adjuvant radiotherapy for pathologic stage III
      or IV disease. Increased compliance with a "clinical care signature" composed of
      these 4 metrics was associated with improved overall survival, disease-specific
      survival, and disease-free survival on univariable analysis (log-rank test; P <
      .05 for each). On multivariable analysis controlling for pT stage, pN stage,
      extracapsular spread, margin status, and comorbidity, increased compliance with
      these 4 metrics was associated with improved overall survival (100% vs <=50%
      compliance: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.2; 95% CI, 2.1-8.5; 100% vs 51%-99%
      compliance: aHR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-3.1), improved disease-specific survival (100%
      vs <=50% compliance: aHR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.7-9.0; 100% vs 51%-99%: aHR, 1.3; 95%
      CI, 0.6-2.9), and improved disease-free survival (100% vs <=50% compliance: aHR,
      3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-5.8; 100% vs 51%-99% compliance: aHR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.7).
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Compliance with a core set of process-related quality
      metrics was associated with improved survival for patients with surgically
      managed oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Multi-institutional validation of
      these metrics is warranted.

PMID- 26869136
TI  - Expression of holo-proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
AB  - Retinal-based photosynthesis may contribute to the free energy conversion needed
      for growth of an organism carrying out oxygenic photosynthesis, like a
      cyanobacterium. After optimization, this may even enhance the overall efficiency
      of phototrophic growth of such organisms in sustainability applications. As a
      first step towards this, we here report on functional expression of the archetype
      proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Upon use of the moderate-strength
      psbA2 promoter, holo-proteorhodopsin is expressed in this cyanobacterium, at a
      level of up to 10(5) molecules per cell, presumably in a hexameric quaternary
      structure, and with approximately equal distribution (on a protein-content basis)
      over the thylakoid and the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. These results also
      demonstrate that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has the capacity to synthesize all
      trans-retinal. Expressing a substantial amount of a heterologous opsin membrane
      protein causes a substantial growth retardation Synechocystis, as is clear from a
      strain expressing PROPS, a non-pumping mutant derivative of proteorhodopsin.
      Relative to this latter strain, proteorhodopsin expression, however, measurably
      stimulates its growth. 

PMID- 26869138
TI  - [Cardiovascular screening prior to sport practice in children and adolescents].

PMID- 26869137
TI  - Development of a Decision Aid for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Involving
      Intensive Care Unit Patients' and Health Professionals' Participation Using User
      Centered Design and a Wiki Platform for Rapid Prototyping: A Research Protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an intervention used in cases
      of cardiac arrest to revive patients whose heart has stopped. Because cardiac
      arrest can have potentially devastating outcomes such as severe neurological
      deficits even if CPR is performed, patients must be involved in determining in
      advance if they want CPR in the case of an unexpected arrest. Shared decision
      making (SDM) facilitates discussions about goals of care regarding CPR in
      intensive care units (ICUs). Patient decision aids (DAs) are proven to support
      the implementation of SDM. Many patient DAs about CPR exist, but they are not
      universally implemented in ICUs in part due to lack of context and cultural
      adaptation. Adaptation to local context is an important phase of implementing any
      type of knowledge tool such as patient DAs. User-centered design supported by a
      wiki platform to perform rapid prototyping has previously been successful in
      creating knowledge tools adapted to the needs of patients and health
      professionals (eg, asthma action plans). This project aims to explore how user
      centered design and a wiki platform can support the adaptation of an existing DA
      for CPR to the local context. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective is to use an
      existing DA about CPR to create a wiki-based DA that is adapted to the context of
      a single ICU and tailorable to individual patient's risk factors while employing
      user-centered design. The secondary objective is to document the use of a wiki
      platform for the adaptation of patient DAs. METHODS: This study will be conducted
      in a mixed surgical and medical ICU at Hotel-Dieu de Levis, Quebec, Canada. We
      plan to involve all 5 intensivists and recruit at least 20 alert and oriented
      patients admitted to the ICU and their family members if available. In the first
      phase of this study, we will observe 3 weeks of daily interactions between
      patients, families, intensivists, and other allied health professionals. We will
      specifically observe 5 dyads of attending intensivists and alert and oriented
      patients discussing goals of care concerning CPR to understand how a patient DA
      could support this decision. We will also conduct individual interviews with the
      5 intensivists to identify their needs concerning the implementation of a DA. In
      the second phase of the study, we will build a first prototype based on the needs
      identified in Phase I. We will start by translating an existing DA entitled
      "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a decision aid for patients and their families."
      We will then adapt this tool to the needs we identified in Phase I and archive
      this first prototype in a wiki. Building on the wiki's programming architecture,
      we intend to integrate the Good Outcome Following Attempted Resuscitation risk
      calculator into our DA to determine personal risks and benefits of CPR for each
      patient. We will then present the first prototype to 5 new patient-intensivist
      dyads. Feedback about content and visual presentation will be collected from the
      intensivists through short interviews while longer interviews will be conducted
      with patients and their family members to inform the visual design and content of
      the next prototype. After each rapid prototyping cycle, 2 researchers will
      perform qualitative content analysis of data collected through interviews and
      direct observations. We will attempt to solve all content and visual design
      issues identified before moving to the next round of prototyping. In all, we will
      conduct 3 prototyping cycles with a total of 15 patient-intensivist dyads.
      RESULTS: We expect to develop a multimedia wiki-based DA to support goals of care
      discussions about CPR adapted to the local needs of patients, their family
      members, and intensivists and tailorable to individual patient risk factors. The
      final version of the DA as well as the development process will be housed in an
      open-access wiki and free to be adapted and used in other contexts. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study will shed new light on the development of DAs adapted to local context
      and tailorable to individual patient risk factors employing user-centered design
      and a wiki to support rapid prototyping of content and visual design issues.

PMID- 26869139
TI  - [Renal artery dissection after abdominal injury].

PMID- 26869140
TI  - [Prolactinomas in a paediatric population].

PMID- 26869141
TI  - [Epidemiology and risk factors in injuries due to fall in infants under one year
      old].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of unintentional
      injuries due to falls in children under one year and to analyse the risk factors
      associated with severe injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicentre,
      observational and cross-sectional study included all children less than one year
      treated for unintentional fall in the Emergency Departments of 8 Spanish
      Hospitals, belonging to the "Unintentional Paediatric Injury Workshop" of the
      Spanish Paediatric Emergency Society, between March 1st, 2014 and February 28th,
      2015. RESULTS: Out of 289,887 emergency department cases, 1,022 were due to
      unintentional falls. The median age was 8 months and 52.5% were males. Fall
      injuries were more frequent among children aged 9-12 months (37.6%), and 83.5%
      occurred at home. The most common mechanism was fall from nursery equipment
      (69.4%), and 47.8% occurred from a height under 50cm. More than two-thirds (68%)
      of falls were witnessed, but in half of the cases (329) the caregiver was not in
      area. Serious injuries were seen in 12% of cases. In this study, a fall height
      greater than 50cm, falls in the street, from the arms of the carer, and from the
      stairs were identified as independent risk factors for worse outcomes.
      CONCLUSIONS: The most serious injuries occur in children <3 months and from a
      height of >50cm, though not related to unwitnessed falls. Because the most common
      serious injury mechanism is the fall from the arms of the carer, from stairs, and
      falls in the street, these facts should be highlighted in order to avoid
      morbidity.

PMID- 26869142
TI  - Oceanobacillus halophilus sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium from
      a hypersaline lake.
AB  - A moderately halophilic bacterium was isolated from a brine sample of a
      hypersaline lake, Aran-Bidgol, in Iran. The strain, designated J8BT, was Gram
      stain-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, motile and
      produced cream colonies. Strain J8BT grew in NaCl at between 3.0-15.0 % (w/v)
      (optimally at 7.5 % NaCl, w/v), between pH 6.5-9.0 (optimally at pH 8.0) and
      between 20-45  degrees C (optimally at 35  degrees C). Phylogenetic analysis,
      based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain J8BT is a member of the
      genus Oceanobacillus and most closely related to Oceanobacillus profundus CL
      MP28T, Oceanobacillus polygoni SA9T and Oceanobacillus oncorhynchi R-2T (96.9 %,
      96.3 % and 96.2 % similarities, respectively). The level of DNA-DNA relatedness
      between the novel isolate and O. profundus IBRC-M 10567T was 10 %. The major
      cellular fatty acids of the isolate were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso
      C17 : 0. The polar lipid pattern of strain J8BT consisted of
      phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, five phospholipids, two aminolipids
      and two glycoaminolipids. It contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and
      meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The G+C content of the
      genomic DNA of this strain was 39.2 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics,
      phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data suggest that this strain
      represents a novel species of the genus Oceanobacillus, for which the name
      Oceanobacillus halophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain J8BT (
      = IBRC-M 10444T = DSM 23996T).

PMID- 26869145
TI  - Novel Radiofrequency-Assisted Thermal Processing Improves the Gelling Properties
      of Standard Egg White Powder.
AB  - Effect of radiofrequency (RF)-assisted thermal processing on quality and
      functional properties of high-foaming standard egg white powder (std. EWP, pH
      approximately 7.0) was investigated and compared with traditional processing
      (heat treatment in a hot room at 58  degrees C for at least 14 d). The RF
      assisted thermal treatments were selected to meet the pasteurization requirements
      and to improve the functional properties of the std. EWP. The treatment
      conditions were: RF heating to 60, 70, 80, and 90  degrees C followed by holding
      in a hot air oven at those temperatures for different periods ranging from 4 h at
      90  degrees C to 72 h at 60  degrees C. The quality (color and solubility) and
      functional properties (foaming properties: foaming capacity and foam stability;
      and gelling properties: water holding capacity and gel-firmness) of the std. EWP
      were investigated. RF-assisted thermal processing did not affect the color and
      solubility of std. EWP at any of the treatment conditions. In general, the
      foaming and gelling properties of RF-assisted thermally processed std. EWP
      increased with an increase in temperature and treatment duration. The optimal RF
      assisted treatment conditions to produce std. EWP with similar functional
      properties as the traditionally processed (hot room processed) std. EWP were 90 
      degrees C for >=8 h. These optimal conditions were similar to those for high gel
      egg white powder (HG-EWP, pH approximately 9.5). The RF-assisted thermal
      pasteurization improved the gelling properties of std. EWP to the levels of HG
      EWP, leading to newer applications of this functionally improved safe product.
      The RF-assisted thermal processing allows the processor to produce a HG-EWP from
      std. EWP subsequent to processing while simultaneously pasteurizing the product,
      thus assuring the product safety. 

PMID- 26869144
TI  - Factors associated with telemonitoring use among patients with chronic heart
      failure.
AB  - Background In adults with chronic heart failure (HF; defined as people with
      previously diagnosed left ventricular dysfunction) telemonitoring randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) failed to consistently demonstrate improved clinical
      outcomes. We aimed to examine if patient and HF characteristics are associated
      with device preferences and use. Methods Using a cross-sectional, multicenter,
      international design, ambulatory and hospitalized adults with HF in Ohio,
      California, and Denmark viewed a six-minute video of telemonitoring
      configurations (tablet, smart phone, and key fob) and completed questionnaires.
      Comparative analyses were performed and when significant, pairwise comparisons
      were performed using Bonferroni-adjusted significance levels. Results Of 206
      participants, 48.2% preferred smart phones for telemonitoring, especially when
      traveling (54.8%), with new/worsening symptoms (50%), for everyday use (50%), and
      connecting with doctors (48.5%). Participants preferred two-way communication and
      a screen with words over voice or number pads. Of device purposes, allowing for
      nurse communication ranked highest, followed by maintaining overall health. Very
      few patient and HF factors were associated with device preferences. Patients with
      higher health literacy ( p = 0.007), previous/current device use history ( p =
      0.008), higher education level ( p = 0.035), and married/cohabitating status ( p
      = 0.023) had higher perceptions of ease of using devices. Those who were
      asymptomatic or had mild HF had higher self-confidence for health devices ( p =
      0.024) and non-white patients perceived devices as more useful ( p = 0.033).
      Conclusion Telemonitoring use may be enhanced by simple plug-and-play type
      devices, two-way communication, and features that meet patients' personal
      learning and use needs.

PMID- 26869143
TI  - Engineering a Carbohydrate-processing Transglycosidase into Glycosyltransferase
      for Natural Product Glycodiversification.
AB  - Glycodiversification broadens the scope of natural product-derived drug
      discovery. The acceptor substrate promiscuity of glucosyltransferase-D (GTF-D), a
      carbohydrate-processing enzyme from Streptococcus mutans, was expanded by protein
      engineering. Mutants in a site-saturation mutagenesis library were screened on
      the fluorescent substrate 4-methylumbelliferone to identify derivatives with
      improved transglycosylation efficiency. In comparison to the wild-type GTF-D
      enzyme, mutant M4 exhibited increased transglycosylation capabilities on
      flavonoid substrates including catechin, genistein, daidzein and silybin, using
      the glucosyl donor sucrose. This study demonstrated the feasibility of developing
      natural product glycosyltransferases by engineering transglycosidases that use
      donor substrates cheaper than NDP-sugars, and gave rise to a series of alpha
      glucosylated natural products that are novel to the natural product reservoir.
      The solubility of the alpha-glucoside of genistein and the anti-oxidant
      capability of the alpha-glucoside of catechin were also studied.

PMID- 26869147
TI  - Electronic structures of greigite (Fe3S4): A hybrid functional study and
      prediction for a Verwey transition.
AB  - Greigite (Fe3S4) is a ferrimagnetic mineral with vital functions in both the bio
      geochemical cycle and novel technological applications. However, the ground state
      electronic structure of this material has not been fully characterized by either
      experiment or theory. In the present study, ab initio calculations using the
      hybrid functional method have been performed to investigate the electronic
      structure and magnetic properties. It is found that the cubic structure observed
      under ambient temperature is a half metal and is metastable. A more stable
      monoclinic structure slightly distorted from the cubic form is found. The
      structural distortion is induced by charge ordering and associated with a metal
      to-insulator transition, resulting in a semiconductive ground state with a
      bandgap of ~0.8 eV and a magnetic moment of 4 MUB per formula unit. The results
      predict, similar to the magnetite (Fe3O4), a Verwey transition may exist in
      greigite, although it has not yet been observed experimentally. 

PMID- 26869146
TI  - Energetics of Table Tennis and Table Tennis-Specific Exercise Testing.
AB  - PURPOSE: To test the hypotheses that the metabolic profile of table tennis is
      dominantly aerobic, anaerobic energy is related to the accumulated duration and
      intensity of rallies, and activity and metabolic profile are interrelated with
      the individual fitness profile determined via table tennis-specific tests.
      METHODS: Eleven male experienced table tennis players (22 +/- 3 y, 77.6 +/- 18.9
      kg, 177.1 +/- 8.1 cm) underwent 2 simulated table tennis matches to analyze
      aerobic (WOXID) energy, anaerobic glycolytic (WBLC) energy, and phosphocreatine
      breakdown (WPCr); a table tennis-specific graded exercise test to measure
      ventilatory threshold and peak oxygen uptake; and an exhaustive supramaximal
      table tennis effort to determine maximal accumulated deficit of oxygen. RESULTS:
      WOXID, WBLC, and WPCr corresponded to 96.5% +/- 1.7%, 1.0% +/- 0.7%, and 2.5% +/-
      1.4%, respectively. WOXID was interrelated with rally duration (r = .81) and
      number of shots per rally (r = .77), whereas match intensity was correlated with
      WPCr (r = .62) and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (r = .58). CONCLUSIONS: The
      metabolic profile of table tennis is predominantly aerobic and interrelated with
      the individual fitness profile determined via table tennis-specific tests. Table
      tennis-specific ventilatory threshold determines the average oxygen uptake and
      overall WOXID, whereas table tennis-specific maximal accumulated oxygen deficit
      indicates the ability to use and sustain slightly higher blood lactate
      concentration and WBLC during the match.

PMID- 26869148
TI  - Acute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on
      attention.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: l-theanine is a constituent of tea which is claimed to enhance
      cognitive functions. We aimed to determine whether theanine and theanine-caffeine
      combination have acute positive effects on cognitive and neurophysiological
      measures of attention, compared to caffeine (a positive control) and a placebo in
      healthy individuals. DESIGN: In a placebo-controlled, five-way crossover trial in
      20 healthy male volunteers, we compared the effects of l-theanine (200 mg),
      caffeine (160 mg), their combination, black tea (one cup) and a placebo
      (distilled water) on cognitive (simple [SVRT] and recognition visual reaction
      time [RVRT]) and neurophysiological (event-related potentials [ERPs]) measures of
      attention. We also recorded visual (VEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to
      examine any effects of treatments on peripheral visual and motor conduction,
      respectively. RESULTS: Mean RVRT was significantly improved by theanine (P =
      0.019), caffeine (P = 0.043), and theanine-caffeine combination (P = 0.001), but
      not by tea (P = 0.429) or placebo (P = 0.822). VEP or MEP latencies or SVRT did
      not show significant inter-treatment differences. Theanine (P = 0.001) and
      caffeine (P = 0.001) elicited significantly larger mean peak-to-peak N2-P300 ERP
      amplitudes than the placebo, whereas theanine-caffeine combination elicited a
      significantly larger mean N2-P300 amplitude than placebo (P < 0.001), theanine (P
      = 0.029) or caffeine (P = 0.005). No significant theanine * caffeine interaction
      was observed for RVRT or N2-P300 amplitude. DISCUSSION: A dose of theanine
      equivalent of eight cups of back tea improves cognitive and neurophysiological
      measures of selective attention, to a degree that is comparable with that of
      caffeine. Theanine and caffeine seem to have additive effects on attention in
      high doses.

PMID- 26869149
TI  - Piracetam for reducing the incidence of painful sickle cell disease crises.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is one of the most common genetic disorders.
      Sickle cell crises in which irregular and dehydrated cells contribute to blocking
      of blood vessels are characterised by episodes of pain. Treatment is mainly
      supportive and symptomatic. In vitro studies with piracetam indicate that it has
      the potential for inhibition and a reversal of the process of sickling of
      erythrocytes. This is an update of a previously published Cochrane review.
      OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of piracetam for reducing the incidence
      of painful sickle cell disease crises. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane
      Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register
      which comprises of references identified from comprehensive electronic database
      searches and handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference
      proceedings.Last search of the Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register: 21
      September 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing orally
      administered piracetam to placebo or standard care in people, of all ages and
      both sexes, with sickle cell disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors
      independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Trial authors were
      contacted for additional information. Adverse effects data were collected from
      the trials. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials involving 169 participants were included
      in the review. A limited amount of data addressing some of the primary and some
      of the secondary outcomes were provided, but data were incomplete and based on un
      validated assumptions used in the evaluation of outcomes. One trial reported a
      reduction in the number of pain crises and their severity with active
      intervention than placebo but presented no data to confirm these results. A
      second trial presented a monthly global pain score based on the number of sickle
      cell crises and severity of pain but included no separate data for these primary
      outcomes. Although there was no significant difference between the piracetam and
      placebo periods for the number of days of hospitalisation (P = 0.87) in one
      trial, inconsistencies in the criteria necessary for hospitalisation during
      sickle crises did not permit accurate conclusions to be drawn. Two of the trials
      reported participant satisfaction with piracetam but provided no details as to
      how this satisfaction had been assessed. There were no reports of toxicity or
      adverse effects with piracetam other than one participant who experienced
      dizziness. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The small number of included trials and their
      poor methodological quality provided insufficient reliable evidence to support
      the routine use of this medication for preventing the incidence of painful sickle
      cell disease crises.We will continue to run searches to identify any potentially
      relevant trials; however, we do not plan to update other sections of the review
      until new trials are published.

PMID- 26869150
TI  - Pathology of the Aging Brain in Domestic and Laboratory Animals, and Animal
      Models of Human Neurodegenerative Diseases.
AB  - According to the WHO, the proportion of people over 60 years is increasing and
      expected to reach 22% of total world's population in 2050. In parallel, recent
      animal demographic studies have shown that the life expectancy of pet dogs and
      cats is increasing. Brain aging is associated not only with molecular and
      morphological changes but also leads to different degrees of behavioral and
      cognitive dysfunction. Common age-related brain lesions in humans include brain
      atrophy, neuronal loss, amyloid plaques, cerebrovascular amyloid angiopathy,
      vascular mineralization, neurofibrillary tangles, meningeal osseous metaplasia,
      and accumulation of lipofuscin. In aging humans, the most common
      neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which progressively
      impairs cognition, behavior, and quality of life. Pathologic changes comparable
      to the lesions of AD are described in several other animal species, although
      their clinical significance and effect on cognitive function are poorly
      documented. This review describes the commonly reported age-associated neurologic
      lesions in domestic and laboratory animals and the relationship of these lesions
      to cognitive dysfunction. Also described are the comparative interspecies
      similarities and differences to AD and other human neurodegenerative diseases
      including Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, and the
      spontaneous and transgenic animal models of these diseases. 

PMID- 26869151
TI  - Chronic Kidney Disease in Aged Cats: Clinical Features, Morphology, and Proposed
      Pathogeneses.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common metabolic disease of domesticated
      cats, with most affected cats being geriatric (>12 years of age). The prevalence
      of CKD in cats exceeds that observed in dogs, and the frequency of the diagnosis
      of CKD in cats has increased in recent decades. Typical histologic features
      include interstitial inflammation, tubular atrophy, and fibrosis with secondary
      glomerulosclerosis. In contrast to people and dogs, primary glomerulopathies with
      marked proteinuria are remarkably rare findings in cats. Although a variety of
      primary renal diseases have been implicated, the disease is idiopathic in most
      cats. Tubulointerstitial changes, including fibrosis, are present in the early
      stages of feline CKD and become more severe in advanced disease. A variety of
      factors-including aging, ischemia, comorbid conditions, phosphorus overload, and
      routine vaccinations-have been implicated as factors that could contribute to the
      initiation of this disease in affected cats. Factors that are related to
      progression of established CKD, which occurs in some but not all cats, include
      dietary phosphorus intake, magnitude of proteinuria, and anemia. Renal fibrosis,
      a common histologic feature of aged feline kidneys, interferes with the normal
      relationship between peritubular capillaries and renal tubules. Experimentally,
      renal ischemia results in morphologic changes similar to those observed in
      spontaneous CKD. Renal hypoxia, perhaps episodic, may play a role in the
      initiation and progression of this disease. 

PMID- 26869152
TI  - Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle.
AB  - Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is a multifactorial
      condition that represents a major healthcare concern for the elderly population.
      Although its morphologic features have been extensively studied in humans, animal
      models, and domestic and wild animals, only a few reports about spontaneous
      sarcopenia exist in other long-lived animals. In this work, muscle samples from
      60 healthy Podolica-breed old cows (aged 15-23 years) were examined and compared
      with muscle samples from 10 young cows (3-6 years old). Frozen sections were
      studied through standard histologic and histoenzymatic procedures, as well as by
      immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis. The most
      prominent age-related myopathic features seen in the studied material included
      angular fiber atrophy (90% of cases), mitochondrial alterations (ragged red
      fibers, 70%; COX-negative fibers, 60%), presence of vacuolated fibers (75%),
      lymphocytic (predominantly CD8+) inflammation (40%), and type II selective fiber
      atrophy (40%). Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of major
      histocompatibility complex I in 36 cases (60%) and sarcoplasmic accumulations of
      beta-amyloid precursor protein-positive material in 18 cases (30%). In aged cows,
      muscle atrophy was associated with accumulation of myostatin. Western blot
      analysis indicated increased amount of both proteins-myostatin and beta-amyloid
      precursor protein-in muscles of aged animals compared with controls. These
      findings confirm the presence of age-related morphologic changes in cows similar
      to human sarcopenia and underline the possible role of amyloid deposition and
      subsequent inflammation in muscle senescence. 

PMID- 26869154
TI  - A Comparative Review of Animal Models of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
      Coronavirus Infection.
AB  - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was initially isolated
      from a Saudi Arabian man with fatal pneumonia. Since the original case in 2012,
      MERS-CoV infections have been reported in >1500 humans, and the case fatality
      rate is currently 35%. This lineage C betacoronavirus has been reported to cause
      a wide range of disease severity in humans, ranging from asymptomatic to
      progressive fatal pneumonia that may be accompanied by renal or multiorgan
      failure. Although the clinical presentation of human MERS-CoV infection has been
      documented, many facets of this emerging disease are still unknown and could be
      studied with animal models. Several animal models of MERS-CoV have been
      developed, including New Zealand white rabbits, transduced or transgenic mice
      that express human dipeptidyl peptidase 4, rhesus macaques, and common marmosets.
      This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on human MERS
      CoV infections, the probable origin of MERS-CoV, and the available animal models
      of MERS-CoV infection. Evaluation of the benefits and limitations of these models
      will aid in appropriate model selection for studying viral pathogenesis and
      transmission, as well as for testing vaccines and antivirals against MERS-CoV. 

PMID- 26869155
TI  - Interaction of the ionic liquid [BMP][TFSA] with rutile TiO2(110) and coadsorbed
      lithium.
AB  - Aiming at a fundamental understanding of the processes at the electrode|ionic
      liquid interface in Li ion batteries, we investigated the interaction of the
      ionic liquid n-butyl-n-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide
      [BMP][TFSA] and of Li with a reduced rutile TiO2(110) (1 * 1) surface as well as
      the interaction between [BMP][TFSA] and Li on the TiO2(110) surface under
      ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and
      scanning tunnelling microscopy. Between 80 K and 340 K [BMP][TFSA] adsorbs
      molecularly on the surface and at higher temperatures decomposition is observed,
      resulting in products such as Sad, Fad and TiNx. The decomposition pattern is
      compared to proposals based on theory. Small amounts of Li intercalate even at 80
      K into TiO2(110), forming Li(+) and Ti(3+) species. The stoichiometry in the near
      surface region corresponds to Li7Ti5O12. For higher coverages in the range of
      several monolayers part of the Li remains on the surface, forming a Li2O cover
      layer. At 300 K, Ti(3+) species become sufficiently mobile to diffuse into the
      bulk. Li post-deposition on a [BMP][TFSA] covered TiO2(110) surface at 80 K
      results in two competing reactions, Li intercalation and reaction with the IL,
      resulting in the decomposition of the IL. Upon warming up, the Ti(3+) formed at
      low T is consumed by reaction with the IL adlayer and intermediate decomposition
      products. Post-deposition of [BMP][TFSA] (300 K) on a surface pre-covered with a
      Li2O/Li7Ti5O12 layer results in the partial reaction of [BMP][TFSA] with the
      Li(+) and Ti(3+) species, which gets completed at higher temperatures. 

PMID- 26869157
TI  - Reply to 'Comment on: Intravitreal aflibercept for macular oedema secondary to
      central retinal vein occlusion in patients with prior treatment with bevacizumab
      or ranibizmab'.

PMID- 26869156
TI  - Neuroretinal alterations in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - PurposeTo study neuroretinal alterations in patients affected by type 2 diabetes
      with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) or mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
      (NPDR) and without any sign of diabetic macular edema.Patients and methodsIn
      total, 150 type 2 diabetic patients with no (131 eyes) or mild NPDR (19 eyes) and
      50 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. All underwent a complete
      ophthalmologic examination, including Spectral-Domain optical coherence
      tomography (SD-OCT). Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and retinal
      nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness values were calculated after automated
      segmentation of SD-OCT scans.ResultsMean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.0+/
      0.0 LogMAR in all the groups. Mean GC-IPL thickness was 80.6+/-8.1 MUm in
      diabetic patients and 85.3+/-9.9 MUm in healthy controls, respectively (P=0.001).
      Moreover, evaluating the two different diabetic groups, GC-IPL thickness was
      80.7+/-8.1 MUm and 79.7+/-8.8 MUm in no-DR and mild-NPDR group (P=0.001 and
      P=0.022 compared with healthy controls, respectively). Average RNFL thickness was
      86.1+/-10.1 MUm in diabetes patients and 91.2+/-7.3 MUm in controls, respectively
      (P=0.003). RNFL thickness was 86.4+/-10.2 MUm in no-DR group and 84.1+/-9.4 MUm
      in mild-NPDR group (P=0.007 and P=0.017 compared with healthy controls,
      respectively).ConclusionWe demonstrated a significantly reduced GC-IPL and RNFL
      thickness values in both no-DR and mild-NPDR groups compared with healthy
      controls. These data confirmed neuroretinal alterations are early in diabetes,
      preceding microvascular damages.

PMID- 26869158
TI  - Anterior lamellar recession, blepharoplasty, and supratarsal fixation for
      cicatricial upper eyelid entropion without lagophthalmos.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the results of anterior lamellar recession, blepharoplasty,
      and supratarsal fixation procedure in patients with upper eyelid cicatricial
      entropion without lagophthalmos. METHODS: In a prospective interventional case
      series, 52 eyelids (32 patients) were included (April 2009-December 2010).
      Excluded were patients with previous eyelid surgeries, lagophthalmos, and <12
      months of follow-up. Using a microscope, after recessing anterior lamella 3-4 mm
      above the eyelid margin, it was fixed with 4-5 interrupted 6-0 vicryl sutures.
      Excess anterior lamella was then excised (blepharoplasty), supratarsal fixation
      sutures (6-0 vicryl) were put and the skin was closed with 6-0 nylon sutures.
      Success and failure defined based upon eyelash-globe touch on the last follow-up
      visit (at least 12 months), respectively. RESULTS: There were 21 females (65.6%)
      and 11 males (34.4%) with a mean age of 69.7 years (SD=6.9) and mean follow-up of
      21.06 months (SD=8.26). Success was observed in 39 (75%) and failure in 13 (25%).
      Mean time of failure was 4.5 months (SD=3). Although re-treatment with radio
      frequency electrolysis (eight eyelids) and re-anterior lamellar recession (two
      eyelids) resulted in success in 12 eyelids with failure, two patients (three
      eyelids) declined further procedure. Except for thickened eyelid margin, no
      complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Anterior lamellar recession,
      blepharoplasty, and supratarsal fixation procedure is an effective and safe
      technique for the treatment of the upper eyelid cicatricial entropion without
      lagophthalmos.

PMID- 26869153
TI  - Contributions of Nonhuman Primates to Research on Aging.
AB  - Aging is the biological process of declining physiologic function associated with
      increasing mortality rate during advancing age. Humans and higher nonhuman
      primates exhibit unusually longer average life spans as compared with mammals of
      similar body mass. Furthermore, the population of humans worldwide is growing
      older as a result of improvements in public health, social services, and health
      care systems. Comparative studies among a wide range of organisms that include
      nonhuman primates contribute greatly to our understanding about the basic
      mechanisms of aging. Based on their genetic and physiologic relatedness to
      humans, nonhuman primates are especially important for better understanding
      processes of aging unique to primates, as well as for testing intervention
      strategies to improve healthy aging and to treat diseases and disabilities in
      older people. Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques are the predominant monkeys used in
      studies on aging, but research with lower nonhuman primate species is increasing.
      One of the priority topics of research about aging in nonhuman primates involves
      neurologic changes associated with cognitive decline and neurodegenerative
      diseases. Additional areas of research include osteoporosis, reproductive
      decline, caloric restriction, and their mimetics, as well as immune senescence
      and chronic inflammation that affect vaccine efficacy and resistance to
      infections and cancer. The purpose of this review is to highlight the findings
      from nonhuman primate research that contribute to our understanding about aging
      and health span in humans. 

PMID- 26869159
TI  - Involution patterns of retinopathy of prematurity after treatment with
      intravitreal bevacizumab: implications for follow-up.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe involution patterns following monotherapy with intravitreal
      bevacizumab injection (IVB) for type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in zone I
      or zone II posterior. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of infants treated
      with IVB from January 2010-April 2014. Infants with minimum of 82 weeks
      postmenstrual age at last follow-up were included. Primary outcome was timing of
      involution of type 1 ROP for the first 12 weeks post treatment. Secondary
      outcomes were development of any recurrence and structural outcome at last follow
      up. Retinal examination records, fundus, and flourescein angiography images were
      reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight eyes were included. Average follow-up post
      treatment was 33.9+/-9.7 months (range 21.4-61.9). Cumulative frequency of
      regression of plus disease was seen in 73.3, 86.7, and 100% of eyes by days 3, 5,
      and 8, respectively. Regression of both stage 3 and plus disease was observed in
      29, 82, 88, and 100% by weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Within the first 3
      months, 17/28 eyes developed recurrence to stage 1 or 2 after regression. None
      developed recurrence of plus disease. By the end of 3 months 18% of eyes
      vascularized into zone III. At a mean of 24+/-17.3 months, 39% of eyes were not
      vascularized into zone III as seen on flourescein angiography with scleral
      indentation. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests regression of plus disease and
      stage 3 are expected within the first 4 weeks after bevacizumab treatment.
      Recurrence may occur despite initial regression and requires careful follow-up.

PMID- 26869160
TI  - Comment on: 'Intravitreal aflibercept for macular oedema secondary to central
      retinal vein occlusion in patients with prior treatment with bevacizumab or
      ranibizumab'.

PMID- 26869161
TI  - A prospective outcome study of membranous and solid distal common canalicular
      obstructions.
AB  - PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the surgical outcomes of membranous and solid
      distal common canalicular obstructions (CCOs) following endoscopic
      dacryocystorhinostomy (EnDCR) and lacrimal intubation combined with either
      membranotomy or trephination. METHODS: This was a prospective, non-randomized,
      consecutive interventional case series. Inclusion criteria included patients
      undergoing EnDCR with evidence of a membranous block or more solid obstruction of
      the distal common canaliculus, treated with membranotomy or canalicular
      trephination. Complete CCO was confirmed pre-operatively using dacryocystography
      and dacryoscintigraphy. All patients received bicanalicular intubation for 3
      months with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Functional and anatomical success
      was assessed at 4 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months following surgery. Functional
      success was defined as subjective improvement of epiphora and anatomical success
      as the presence of a patent ostium and a positive dye test on nasal endoscopy.
      RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included in the study with a mean age of 58
      years. Twenty-one patients (72%) received a membranotomy and eight (28%) required
      trephination. At 12 months, the functional and anatomical success rate in the
      membranotomy group was 90% (19/21) and 100% (21/21), respectively, and in
      trephination group the functional and anatomical success rate was 63% (5/8).
      There were no intra-operative or lacrimal stent-related complications.
      CONCLUSIONS: Identifying and excising distal CCOs in association with EnDCR and
      lacrimal intubation is associated with a high degree of functional (83%) and
      anatomical (90%) success. The success of membranous obstructions appear be
      superior to outcomes for solid obstructions of the distal common canaliculus that
      require trephination.

PMID- 26869162
TI  - Post-traumatic endophthalmitis in 143 eyes of children and adolescents from
      India.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe clinical features, risk
      factors, causative organisms, treatment options, and outcomes of post-traumatic
      endophthalmitis in children and adolescents. METHODS: Retrospective
      interventional case series. Case records of 143 consecutive eyes presenting with
      post-traumatic endophthalmitis between 1997 and 2007 were reviewed. Univariate
      and multivariate analysis were done to analyze factors associated with adverse
      outcomes. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 9.2 years (median 8 years, range:
      2 months to 18 years). Broomstick and hypodermic needle were most common causes
      for injuries. Common presenting features were cataract (n=51), hypopyon (n=45)
      and retinal detachment (n=29). Corneal abscess (n=21; OR: 5, CI: 1.4-18.7) and
      retinal detachment (n=29, OR: 5, CI: 1.6-11.3) were independent risk factors for
      poor outcome (P=0.04 and 0.012, respectively). Gram-positive bacteria were
      isolated in 54% (n=31) of culture-positive cases. Forty-nine (34%) patients had
      ambulatory vision at final visit. Patients who received treatment within 24 h
      were 3.6 and 9 times more likely to have better anatomical outcome than those
      treated at 2-7 days, or >7 days, respectively (P=0.0001). Patients undergoing
      early vitrectomy were 27 times more likely to have better outcome (P=0.0001).
      CONCLUSION: Post-traumatic endophthalmitis in children is more common in boys <10
      years of age and most often caused by injury with organic matter. Corneal abscess
      and retinal detachment are associated with poor outcome. E. fecalis is the most
      common causative organism. Early vitrectomy results in better outcomes.

PMID- 26869164
TI  - Physisorption of alpha-chymotrypsin on SiO2 and TiO2: A comparative study via
      experiments and molecular dynamics simulations.
AB  - In order to understand fundamental interactions at the interface between
      immobilized enzymes and ceramic supports, the authors compare the adsorption
      features of chymotrypsin on SiO2 and TiO2 colloidal particles by means of a
      combination of adsorption experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. While
      the dependency of the adsorption amount on pH is consistent with the trend
      predicted the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory, other effects can only be
      rationalized if the atomic-scale details of the water-mediated protein-surface
      interactions are considered. On both surfaces, a clear driving force for the
      formation of a double monolayer at the saturation coverage is found. Although
      nearly equal free energies of adsorption are estimated on the two materials via a
      Langmuir adsorption analysis, about 50% more proteins per unit of surface can be
      accommodated on TiO2 than on SiO2. This is probably due to the lower surface
      diffusion mobility of the adsorbed protein in the latter case. Surface anchoring
      is realized by a combination of direct ionic interactions between charged
      proteins and surface sites (more pronounced for SiO2) and distinct structuring of
      the surface hydration layers in which the contact residues are embedded (more
      pronounced for TiO2). Finally, normalization of the data with respect to particle
      surface areas accessible to the proteins, rather than determined by means of the
      Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen adsorption isotherm, is crucial for a correct
      interpretation of the results. 

PMID- 26869163
TI  - Central retinal vein occlusion: modifying current treatment protocols.
AB  - Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a common retinal vascular disorder that
      can result in severe visual acuity loss. The randomized control study, CRUISE,
      helped establish anti-VEGFs as the standard of care in cases with CRVO. The
      extension studies for CRUISE; HORIZON and RETAIN showed that not all visual gains
      are maintained beyond the first year. In addition, patients showed different
      behavior patterns; with some patients showing complete response with few
      recurrences, whereas others showed partial or even no response with multiple
      recurrences. Long-term follow-up demonstrated that patients responding poorly to
      anti-VEGFs tended to do so early in the course of treatment. It also demonstrated
      the effectiveness of a pro re nata (PRN) protocol for improving vision and
      maintaining these gains over long-term follow-ups. The SHORE study further
      illustrated this point by demonstrating that there were minimal differences in
      visual outcomes between patients receiving monthly injections and patients being
      treated PRN. In this review we analyzed the data from the major randomized
      clinical trials (RCT) that looked at anti-VEGFs as the primary treatment modality
      in patients with CRVO (CRUISE and the extension studies HORIZON and RETAIN for
      ranibizumab as well as GALILEO and COPERNICUS for aflibercept). In addition, we
      looked at SCORE and GENEVA to help determine whether there is a place for
      steroids as a first line therapy in current treatment practice. We then explored
      alternative treatment regimens such as laser therapy and switching between anti
      VEGF agents and/or steroids for non or partially responding patients. Finally, we
      propose a simplified modified treatment algorithm for patients with CRVO for
      better long-term outcomes in all types of responders. 

PMID- 26869165
TI  - Inkjet deposition of itraconazole onto poly(glycolic acid) microneedle arrays.
AB  - Poly(glycolic acid) microneedle arrays were fabricated using a drawing
      lithography process; these arrays were modified with a drug release agent and an
      antifungal agent by piezoelectric inkjet printing. Coatings containing
      poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride), a water-soluble drug release layer,
      and itraconazole (an antifungal agent), were applied to the microneedles by
      piezoelectric inkjet printing. Microscopic evaluation of the microneedles
      indicated that the modified microneedles contained the piezoelectric inkjet
      printing-deposited agents and that the surface coatings were released in porcine
      skin. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry aided in confirmation that the
      piezoelectric inkjet printing-deposited agents were successfully applied to the
      desired target areas of the microneedle surface. Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of the component materials in the
      piezoelectric inkjet printing-deposited material. Itraconazole-modified
      microneedle arrays incubated with agar plates containing Candida albicans
      cultures showed zones of growth inhibition. 

PMID- 26869166
TI  - Acinetobacter plantarum sp. nov. isolated from wheat seedlings plant.
AB  - Strain THG-SQM11(T), a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, coccus-shaped
      bacterium, was isolated from wheat seedlings plant in P. R. China. Strain THG
      SQM11(T) was closely related to members of the genus Acinetobacter and showed the
      highest 16S rRNA sequence similarities with Acinetobacter junii (97.9 %) and
      Acinetobacter kookii (96.1 %). DNA-DNA hybridization showed 41.3 +/- 2.4 % DNA
      reassociation with A. junii KCTC 12416(T). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that
      strain THG-SQM11(T) possesses ubiquinone-9 as the predominant respiratory
      quinone, C18:1 omega9c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 omega7c and/or C16:1 omega6c),
      and C16:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were found to be
      diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and
      phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G+C content was 41.7 mol %. These data, together
      with phenotypic characterization, suggest that the isolate represents a novel
      species, for which the name Acinetobacter plantarum sp. nov. is proposed, with
      THG-SQM11(T) as the type strain (=CCTCC AB 2015123(T) =KCTC 42611(T)). 

PMID- 26869167
TI  - Conditioned umbilical cord tissue provides a natural three-dimensional storage
      compartment as in vitro stem cell niche for human mesenchymal stroma/stem cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of large amounts of human multipotent mesenchymal stroma/stem
      cells (MSC) for cell therapies represents a desirable property in tissue
      engineering and banking in the field of regenerative medicine. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Whereas cryo-storage of umbilical cord (UC) tissue pieces in liquid
      nitrogen without ingredients was associated with predominant appearance of
      apoptotic cells after thawing and re-culture, progressive growth of MSC was
      observed following use of cryo-medium. Moreover, conditioning of UC tissue pieces
      by initial explant culture and subsequent cryo-storage with cryo-medium
      accelerated a further MSC culture after thawing. These findings suggested that
      conditioning of UC tissue pieces provides an in vitro stem cell niche by
      maintenance of a 3-dimensional natural microenvironment for continuous MSC
      outgrowth and expansion. Indeed, culture of GFP-labeled UC tissue pieces was
      accompanied by increased outgrowth of GFP-labeled cells which was accelerated in
      conditioned UC tissue after cryo-storage. Moreover, cryopreserved conditioned UC
      tissue pieces in cryo-medium after thawing and explant culture could be
      cryopreserved again demonstrating renewed MSC outgrowth after repeated thawing
      with similar population doublings compared to the initial explant culture. Flow
      cytometry analysis of outgrowing cells revealed expression of the typical MSC
      markers CD73, CD90, and CD105. Furthermore, these cells demonstrated little if
      any senescence and cultures revealed stem cell-like characteristics by
      differentiation along the adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages.
      CONCLUSIONS: Expression of MSC markers was maintained for at least 10
      freeze/thaw/explant culture cycles demonstrating that repeated cryopreservation
      of conditioned UC tissue pieces provided a reproducible and enriched stem cell
      source.

PMID- 26869168
TI  - Augmenting the logrank test in the design of clinical trials in which non
      proportional hazards of the treatment effect may be anticipated.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most randomized controlled trials with a time-to-event outcome are
      designed assuming proportional hazards (PH) of the treatment effect. The sample
      size calculation is based on a logrank test. However, non-proportional hazards
      are increasingly common. At analysis, the estimated hazards ratio with a
      confidence interval is usually presented. The estimate is often obtained from a
      Cox PH model with treatment as a covariate. If non-proportional hazards are
      present, the logrank and equivalent Cox tests may lose power. To safeguard power,
      we previously suggested a 'joint test' combining the Cox test with a test of non
      proportional hazards. Unfortunately, a larger sample size is needed to preserve
      power under PH. Here, we describe a novel test that unites the Cox test with a
      permutation test based on restricted mean survival time. METHODS: We propose a
      combined hypothesis test based on a permutation test of the difference in
      restricted mean survival time across time. The test involves the minimum of the
      Cox and permutation test P-values. We approximate its null distribution and
      correct it for correlation between the two P-values. Using extensive simulations,
      we assess the type 1 error and power of the combined test under several scenarios
      and compare with other tests. We investigate powering a trial using the combined
      test. RESULTS: The type 1 error of the combined test is close to nominal. Power
      under proportional hazards is slightly lower than for the Cox test. Enhanced
      power is available when the treatment difference shows an 'early effect', an
      initial separation of survival curves which diminishes over time. The power is
      reduced under a 'late effect', when little or no difference in survival curves is
      seen for an initial period and then a late separation occurs. We propose a method
      of powering a trial using the combined test. The 'insurance premium' offered by
      the combined test to safeguard power under non-PH represents about a single-digit
      percentage increase in sample size. CONCLUSIONS: The combined test increases
      trial power under an early treatment effect and protects power under other
      scenarios. Use of restricted mean survival time facilitates testing and
      displaying a generalized treatment effect.

PMID- 26869169
TI  - Evaluation of laboratory perspectives on hereditary cancer panels.
AB  - Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility is a rapidly
      evolving field and partly a result of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allowing
      analysis of multiple cancer susceptibility genes simultaneously. This qualitative
      study explored laboratory perspectives on hereditary cancer panels. Semi
      structured interviews were conducted with representatives of clinical
      laboratories offering hereditary cancer panels via NGS. Several themes emerged
      from the responses pertaining to hereditary cancer panel development, the
      importance of communication of panel properties with patients, variant reporting
      policies, and the future of hereditary cancer gene testing. Clinical utility was
      discussed as primary consideration during panel development. In addition, while
      participants indicated gene and syndrome overlap prompted panel development in
      general, laboratories differed in their opinions of whether phenotypic overlap
      warrants offering pan-cancer panels only versus cancer specific panels.
      Participants stressed the importance of patients understanding implications of
      panel testing, including what is tested for and limitations of testing. While all
      laboratories discussed the limitations of a variant of uncertain significance
      result, they differed significantly in their reporting methods. This study
      provides healthcare providers information on the laboratory approach to panel
      testing, highlighting both commonalities and differences in laboratory
      approaches, and may allow providers to make more informed decisions when ordering
      hereditary cancer panels.

PMID- 26869171
TI  - Is rationale to decrease serum osteoprotegerin and fetuin-A in type 2 diabetes
      mellitus patients?
AB  - Fetuin-A and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are considered biomarkers of atherosclerosis,
      vascular calcification, inflammation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) with possible predictive value. Recent clinical studies have been shown
      that fetuin-A and OPG could be helpful for cardiovascular risk stratification in
      T2DM. Therefore, fetuin-A and OPG may offer protection against atherosclerosis
      and vascular calcification. However, clinical implication of decreased serum
      concentrations of these biomarkers in T2DM during treatment with
      thiazolidinediones, in particular pioglitazone, and metformin is not fully
      understood. The relation of thiazolidinediones- and metformin- induced post
      treatment serum levels of fetuin-A and OPG to changes in CV risk requires more
      investigations. 

PMID- 26869170
TI  - Controversies in the surgery of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and
      Lynch syndrome.
AB  - Dominantly inherited syndromes of colorectal cancer predisposition are
      characterized by multifocal neoplasia with an early age of onset. The risk of
      colorectal cancer is high in affected patients and care of the patients is based
      on the aims of cancer prevention and cancer cure. At the same time, quality of
      life should be disturbed as little as possible. Because patients are generally
      young, the stakes are high. Injudicious decision-making can have unfortunate
      effects on patients and families. In this article the controversial aspects of
      surgery in familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome are discussed.
      Specifically the controversies in familial adenomatous polyposis include the
      timing and the type of surgery while for Lynch syndrome discussion revolves about
      prophylactic surgery, primary, secondary and tertiary.

PMID- 26869172
TI  - MicroRNAs in heart failure: from biomarker to target for therapy.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized to play important roles in
      cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. These small, non-coding RNAs
      have been identified in tissue and are involved in several pathophysiological
      processes related to heart failure, such as cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy. As
      a result, miRNAs have become interesting novel drug targets, leading to the
      development of miRNA mimics and antimirs. MicroRNAs are also detected in the
      circulation, and are proposed as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers
      in heart failure. However, their role and function in the circulation remains to
      be resolved. Here, we review the potential roles of miRNAs as circulating
      biomarkers and as targets for therapy.

PMID- 26869173
TI  - Exploration of Antiemetics for Osteoporosis Therapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
      Using PET Molecular Imaging Analysis to Gastrointestinal Pharmacokinetics.
AB  - PURPOSE: To select appropriate antiemetics relieving teriparatide-induced nausea
      and vomiting during osteoporosis treatment using PET molecular imaging and
      pharmacokinetic analysis. METHODS: Rats were pretreated with subcutaneous
      teriparatide, followed by oral administration of antiemetics with different
      pharmacological effects. The pharmacokinetics of antiemetics were assessed by
      oral administration of 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ([(18)F]FDG) under free
      moving conditions in vivo. The effect of teriparatide on the permeability of Caco
      2 cell membranes to [(18)F]FDG was assessed in vitro. The effects of antiemetics
      on teriparatide-induced suppression of gastrointestinal motility in vivo was
      assayed by positron emission tomography (PET) using orally administered
      [(18)F]FDG. RESULTS: Teriparatide delayed the time-radioactivity profile of
      [(18)F]FDG in blood and significantly reduced its absorption rate constant (k a
      ), determined from non-compartmental analysis, to 60% of control. In contrast, co
      administration of granisetron or mosapride restored the time-radioactivity
      profile and k a of [(18)F]FDG to control levels. Teriparatide had no effect on
      Caco-2 membrane permeability to [(18)F]FDG. Pharmacokinetic PET imaging data
      analysis quantitatively showed the pharmacological effects of teriparatide
      induced suppression of upper gastrointestinal motility and its restoration by
      granisetron and mosapride. CONCLUSIONS: Teriparatide-induced abdominal discomfort
      might be attributed to GI motility, and PET imaging analysis is a useful tool to
      for the selection of appropriate antiemetics.

PMID- 26869175
TI  - Effects of Pump Pulsation on Hydrodynamic Properties and Dissolution Profiles in
      Flow-Through Dissolution Systems (USP 4).
AB  - PURPOSE: To clarify the effects of pump pulsation and flow-through cell (FTC)
      dissolution system settings on the hydrodynamic properties and dissolution
      profiles of model formulations. METHODS: Two FTC systems with different cell
      temperature control mechanisms were used. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was
      used to analyze the hydrodynamic properties of test solutions in the flow-through
      dissolution test cell. Two pulsation pumps (semi-sine, full-sine) and a non
      pulsatile pump were used to study the effects of varied flows on the dissolution
      profiles of United States Pharmacopeia standard tablets. RESULTS: PIV analysis
      showed periodic changes in the aligned upward fluid flow throughout the
      dissolution cell that was designed to reduce the temperature gradient during pump
      pulsation (0.5 s/pulse). The maximum instantaneous flow from the semi-sine pump
      was higher than that of the full-sine pump under all conditions. The flow from
      the semi-sine wave pump showed faster dissolution of salicylic acid and
      prednisone tablets than those from other pumps. The semi-sine wave pump flow
      showed similar dissolution profiles in the two FTC systems. CONCLUSIONS:
      Variations in instantaneous fluid flow caused by pump pulsation that meets the
      requirements of pharmacopoeias are a factor that affects the dissolution profiles
      of tablets in FTC systems.

PMID- 26869174
TI  - Evaluation of Time Dependent Inhibition Assays for Marketed Oncology Drugs:
      Comparison of Human Hepatocytes and Liver Microsomes in the Presence and Absence
      of Human Plasma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate an alternative in vitro system which can provide more
      quantitatively accurate drug drug interaction (DDI) prediction for 10 protein
      kinase inhibitors for which DDI risk was over-predicted by inhibition data
      generated in human liver microsomes (HLM). METHODS: Three cryopreserved human
      hepatocyte (hHEP) systems: 1) plated hHEPs; 2) hHEPs suspended in Dulbecco's
      Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and 3) hHEPs suspended in human plasma (plasma
      hHEPs) were developed to detect CYP3A time dependent inhibition, and the static
      mechanistic model was used to predict clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A general trend
      was observed in the CYP3A inactivation potency (k inact /K I, app ) as HLM >
      plated > DMEM >= plasma hHEPs. Using the static mechanistic model, DDIs predicted
      using parameters estimated from plated, DMEM and plasma hHEPs had 84, 74 and 95%
      accuracy (out of 19 clinical interaction studies) within 2-fold of the reported
      interaction, respectively. They demonstrated significant improvement compared to
      the DDIs predicted using parameters estimated from HLMs where 58% accuracy was
      obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Based on 19 DDIs, plasma hHEPs demonstrate a more reliable
      clinical DDI prediction for 10 protein kinase inhibitors and prototypical CYP3A
      time dependent inhibitors.

PMID- 26869179
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26869178
TI  - In vivo regeneration of bladder muscular wall using decellularized colon matrix:
      an experimental study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Finding a proper scaffold for augmentation is a serious challenge in
      bladder tissue engineering. We hereby aimed to determine the histological aspects
      of a decellularized colon graft for bladder augmentation in healthy rats.
      METHODS: Rat colon tissues were decellularized using perfusion-based method.
      After partial cystectomy, bladders were grafted with a patch of decellularized
      colon. Bladder specimens were investigated in 12 rats at 1, 3, and 9 months
      postoperatively for further histological changes and immunohistochemistry
      analyses were also performed. RESULTS: One month after implantation, partial
      seeding of new cells was observed. After 3 months continuity of transitional
      epithelium of natural bladder on the decellularized grafted colon tissue was
      confirmed with histological and immunohistochemical examinations. All augmented
      bladders demonstrated a spherical shape without stone formation, necrosis or
      graft rejection. The presence of urothelium with similar morphology to the
      natural urothelium and visible blood vessels were found within 3 months of
      operation. All immunohistochemical markers (except markers of colonic stem cells)
      were expressed in biopsies obtained 3 months after surgery demonstrating a
      progressive vascular and smooth muscle cell infiltration into the graft after
      implantation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that decellularized colon may
      provide a viable material for bladder augmentation in rats to pave the road for
      future applications of this natural collagen scaffold.

PMID- 26869177
TI  - Facilitators for the development and implementation of health promoting policy
      and programs - a scoping review at the local community level.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health promotion, with a focus on multidimensional upstream factors
      and an ecological, life-course approach, is establishing itself as the guiding
      philosophy for addressing public health. Action at the political and programmatic
      level on the Social Determinants of Health has proven effective for promoting and
      building public health at all levels but has been particularly evident at the
      national and international levels - due in large part to available documents and
      guidelines. Although research and experience establish that health promotion is
      most effective when settings-based, the development of health promoting policies
      and programs at the local level is still difficult. This study intended to
      investigate available knowledge on the development and implementation of health
      promoting policies and programs at the local level and identify factors most
      important for facilitating capacity building and outcome achievement. METHODS: We
      used a scoping review in order to review the current literature on local policy
      development and program implementation. Keywords were chosen based on results of
      a previous literature review. A total of 53 articles were divided into two
      categories: policy and implementation. Critical analysis was conducted for each
      article and a summary assembled. Data was charted with specific focus on the aims
      of the study, data acquisition, key theories/concepts/frameworks used, outcome
      measures, results, and conclusions. RESULTS: The articles included in this study
      primarily focused on discussing factors that facilitate the development of health
      promoting policy and the implementation of health promotion programs. Most
      significant facilitators included: collaborative decision-making, agreement of
      objectives and goals, local planning and action, effective leadership, building
      and maintaining trust, availability of resources, a dynamic approach, a realistic
      time-frame, and trained and knowledgeable staff. Within each of these important
      facilitating factors, various elements supporting implementation were discussed
      and highlighted in this study. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that clear and
      consistent facilitators exist for supporting health promoting policy development
      and program implementation at the local level. These results offer a starting
      point for local action on the Social Determinants of Health and have the
      potential to contribute to the development of a framework for improving action at
      the local level.

PMID- 26869176
TI  - Bipolar disorder and antithyroid antibodies: review and case series.
AB  - Mood disorders and circulating thyroid antibodies are very prevalent in the
      population and their concomitant occurrence may be due to chance. However,
      thyroid antibodies have been repeatedly hypothesized to play a role in specific
      forms of mood disorders. Potentially related forms include treatment-refractory
      cases, severe or atypical depression, and depression at specific phases of a
      woman's life (early gestation, postpartum depression, perimenopausal). With
      regard to bipolar disorder, studies of specific subgroups (rapid cycling, mixed,
      or depressive bipolar) have reported associations with thyroid antibodies.
      Offspring of bipolar subjects were found more vulnerable to develop thyroid
      antibodies independently from the vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders.
      A twin study suggested thyroid antibodies among possible endophenotypes for
      bipolar disorder. Severe encephalopathies have been reported in association with
      Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Cases with pure psychiatric presentation are being
      reported, the antithyroid antibodies being probably markers of some other
      autoimmune disorders affecting the brain. Vasculitis resulting in abnormalities
      in cortical perfusion is one of the possible mechanisms. 

PMID- 26869180
TI  - Land use imperils plant and animal community stability through changes in
      asynchrony rather than diversity.
AB  - Human land use may detrimentally affect biodiversity, yet long-term stability of
      species communities is vital for maintaining ecosystem functioning. Community
      stability can be achieved by higher species diversity (portfolio effect), higher
      asynchrony across species (insurance hypothesis) and higher abundance of
      populations. However, the relative importance of these stabilizing pathways and
      whether they interact with land use in real-world ecosystems is unknown. We
      monitored inter-annual fluctuations of 2,671 plant, arthropod, bird and bat
      species in 300 sites from three regions. Arthropods show 2.0-fold and birds 3.7
      fold higher community fluctuations in grasslands than in forests, suggesting a
      negative impact of forest conversion. Land-use intensity in forests has a
      negative net impact on stability of bats and in grasslands on birds. Our findings
      demonstrate that asynchrony across species--much more than species diversity
      alone--is the main driver of variation in stability across sites and requires
      more attention in sustainable management.

PMID- 26869182
TI  - Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of body psychotherapy in the
      treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a multicentre randomised
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia significantly impact on
      quality of life and social functioning, and current treatment options are
      limited. In this study the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of group
      body psychotherapy as a treatment for negative symptoms were compared with an
      active control. DESIGN: A parallel-arm, multisite randomised controlled trial.
      Randomisation was conducted independently of the research team, using a 1 : 1
      computer-generated sequence. Assessors and statisticians were blinded to
      treatment allocation. Analysis was conducted following the intention-to-treat
      principle. In the cost-effectiveness analysis, a health and social care
      perspective was adopted. PARTICIPANTS:  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: age 18-65 years;
      diagnosis of schizophrenia with symptoms present at > 6 months; score of >= 18 on
      Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative symptoms subscale; no
      change in medication type in past 6 weeks; willingness to participate; ability to
      give informed consent; and community outpatient. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: inability to
      participate in the groups and insufficient command of English. SETTINGS:
      Participants were recruited from NHS mental health community services in five
      different Trusts. All groups took place in local community spaces. INTERVENTIONS:
      Control intervention: a 10-week, 90-minute, 20-session group beginners' Pilates
      class, run by a qualified Pilates instructor. Treatment intervention: a 10-week,
      90-minute, 20-session manualised group body psychotherapy group, run by a
      qualified dance movement psychotherapist. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the
      PANSS negative symptoms subscale score at end of treatment. Secondary outcomes
      included measures of psychopathology, functional, social, service use and
      treatment satisfaction outcomes, both at treatment end and at 6-month follow-up.
      RESULTS: A total of 275 participants were randomised (140 body psychotherapy
      group, 135 Pilates group). At the end of treatment, 264 participants were
      assessed (137 body psychotherapy group, 127 Pilates group). The adjusted
      difference in means of the PANSS negative subscale at the end of treatment was
      0.03 [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.11 to 1.17], showing no advantage of the
      intervention. In the secondary outcomes, the mean difference in the Clinical
      Assessment Interview for negative symptoms expression subscale at the end of
      treatment was 0.62 (95% CI -1.23 to 0.00), and in extrapyramidal movement
      disorder symptoms -0.65 (95% CI -1.13 to -0.16) at the end of treatment and -0.58
      (95% CI -1.07 to -0.09) at 6 months' follow-up, showing a small significant
      advantage of body psychotherapy. No serious adverse events related to the
      interventions were reported. The total costs of the intervention were comparable
      with the control, with no clear evidence of cost-effectiveness for either
      condition. LIMITATIONS: Owing to the absence of a treatment-as-usual arm, it is
      difficult to determine whether or not both arms are an improvement over routine
      care. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with an active control, group body psychotherapy
      does not have a clinically relevant beneficial effect in the treatment of
      patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. These findings conflict with
      the review that led to the current National Institute for Health and Care
      Excellence guidelines suggesting that arts therapies may be an effective
      treatment for negative symptoms. FUTURE WORK: Determining whether or not this
      lack of effectiveness extends to all types of art therapies would be informative.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN842165587. FUNDING: This
      project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health
      Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health
      Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 11. See the NIHR Journals Library website for
      further project information.

PMID- 26869181
TI  - Improving access to primary care for Aboriginal babies in Western Australia:
      study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite a decade of substantial investments in programs to improve
      access to primary care for Aboriginal mothers and infants, more than 50% of
      Western Australian Aboriginal babies are still not receiving primary and
      preventative care in the early months of life. Western Australian hospitals now
      input birth data into the Western Australian electronic clinical management
      system within 48 hours of birth. However, difficulties have arisen in ensuring
      that the appropriate primary care providers receive birth notification and
      clinical information by the time babies are discharged from the hospital. No
      consistent process exists to ensure that choices about primary care are discussed
      with Aboriginal families. METHODS/DESIGN: We will undertake a population-based,
      stepped wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial of an enhanced model of early
      infant primary care. The intervention is targeted support and care coordination
      for Aboriginal families with new babies starting as soon as possible during the
      antenatal period or after birth. Dedicated health professionals and research
      staff will consult with families about the families' healthcare needs, provide
      information about healthcare in the first 3 months of life, offer assistance with
      birth and Medicare forms, consult with families about their choice for primary
      care provider, offer to notify the chosen primary care provider about the baby's
      health needs, and offer assistance with healthcare coordination at the time of
      discharge from the hospital. We will evaluate this model of care using a rigorous
      stepped wedge approach. Our primary outcome measure is a reduced hospitalization
      rate in infants younger than 3 months of age. Secondary outcome measures include
      completed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health screening
      assessments, immunization coverage, and satisfaction of the families about early
      infant primary care. We will also assess the cost effectiveness of the model of
      care. DISCUSSION: This study will be conducted over a 4-year period in
      partnership with birthing hospitals and primary care providers including Western
      Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and the new Primary
      Health Networks. The results of our trial will be used to develop improved
      primary care models and to improve health outcomes for all Aboriginal infants.
      These are vital steps toward more equitable health service delivery for the
      Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Registration number:
      ACTRN12615000976583 Date registered: 17 September 2015.

PMID- 26869185
TI  - Factors Associated with HIV Testing among African American Female Adolescents in
      Juvenile Detention Centers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about sexual and psychosocial factors associated with
      HIV testing among detained African American female adolescents-an understudied
      group at risk for HIV. METHODS: 188 detained African American female adolescents
      completed assessments on HIV testing, sexual risk behaviors, and psychosocial
      factors. RESULTS: Unprotected vaginal sex, history of STI-positivity or
      pregnancy, higher STI knowledge, and lower partner availability were associated
      with a higher likelihood of ever being tested for HIV. DISCUSSION: HIV testing is
      the gateway to important services for high-risk HIV-positive and HIV-negative
      adolescents. More research is needed to address barriers and to inform
      programmatic changes to increase testing among youth.

PMID- 26869183
TI  - Prostaglandin I2 Attenuates Prostaglandin E2-Stimulated Expression of Interferon
      gamma in a beta-Amyloid Protein- and NF-kappaB-Dependent Mechanism.
AB  - Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been recently identified as being involved in the
      pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the role of an important COX-2
      metabolic product, prostaglandin (PG) I2, in AD development remains unknown.
      Using mouse-derived astrocytes as well as APP/PS1 transgenic mice as model
      systems, we firstly elucidated the mechanisms of interferon gamma (IFNgamma)
      regulation by PGE2 and PGI2. Specifically, PGE2 accumulation in astrocytes
      activated the ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB signaling pathways by phosphorylation, which
      resulted in IFNgamma expression. In contrast, the administration of PGI2
      attenuated the effects of PGE2 on stimulating the production of IFNgamma via
      inhibiting the translocation of NF-kappaB from the cytosol to the nucleus. Due to
      these observations, we further studied these prostaglandins and found that both
      PGE2 and PGI2 increased Abeta1-42 levels. In detail, PGE2 induced IFNgamma
      expression in an Abeta1-42-dependent manner, whereas PGI2-induced Abeta1-42
      production did not alleviate cells from IFNgamma inhibition by PGI2 treatment.
      More importantly, our data also revealed that not only Abeta1-42 oligomer but
      also fibrillar have the ability to induce the expression of IFNgamma via
      stimulation of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in astrocytes of APP/PS1 mice. The
      production of IFNgamma finally accelerated the deposition of Abeta1-42 in beta
      amyloid plaques.

PMID- 26869184
TI  - Prognostic indicators based on inflammatory and nutritional factors after
      pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: We evaluated prognostic indicators based on inflammatory and nutritional
      factors, namely, the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), the Prognostic
      Nutritional Index (PNI), the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the
      platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), to determine their efficiency and significance
      after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The subjects of
      this study were 46 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic
      cancer between October 2007 and December 2014. Patients were divided into
      preoperative mGPS (0/1 and 2), PNI (<40 and >=40), NLR (<2.5 and >=2.5), and PLR
      (<200 and >=200) groups, to evaluate various perioperative outcomes. RESULTS:
      Hemoglobin concentrations were significantly lower (P = 0.019), whereas intra
      abdominal bleeding was significantly higher (P = 0.040) in the PNI (<40) group
      than in the PNI (>=40) group. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was
      significantly higher in the mGPS (2) group (P = 0.009), and surgical
      complications greater than grade 3 (Clavien-Dindo classification) were
      significantly increased in the NLR (>=2.5) group (P = 0.041). Overall survival
      rates in the PNI (<40) (P = 0.019), NLR (>=2.5) (P = 0.001), and PLR (>=200) (P <
      0.001) groups were significantly lower than those in the other groups. The PLR
      was the only independent prognostic indicator (P = 0.002) according to
      multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The mGPS, PNI, and NLR were effective
      predictive indicators of postoperative complications. The PLR was the most useful
      prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer patients after
      pancreaticoduodenectomy.

PMID- 26869186
TI  - Re-evaluation of batoid pectoral morphology reveals novel patterns of diversity
      among major lineages.
AB  - Batoids (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea) are a diverse group of cartilaginous fishes
      which comprise a monophyletic sister lineage to all neoselachians or modern
      sharks. All species in this group possess anteroposteriorly expanded-pectoral
      fins, giving them a unique disc-like body form. Reliance on pectoral fins for
      propulsion ranges from minimal (sawfish) to almost complete dependence (skates
      and rays). A recent study on the diversity of planform pectoral fin shape in
      batoids compared overall patterns of morphological variation within the group.
      However, inconsistent pectoral homology prevented the study from accurately
      representing relationships within and among major batoid taxa. With previous work
      in mind, we undertook an independent investigation of pectoral form in batoids
      and evaluated the implications of shape diversity on locomotion and lifestyle,
      particularly in the skates (Rajoidei) and rays (Myliobatoidei). We used geometric
      morphometrics with sliding semilandmarks to analyze pectoral fin outlines and
      also calculate fin aspect ratios (AR), a functional trait linked to locomotion.
      In agreement with previous work, our results indicated that much of the evolution
      of batoid pectoral shape has occurred along a morphological axis that is closely
      related to AR. For species where kinematic data were available, both shape and AR
      were associated with swimming mode. This work further revealed novel patterns of
      shape variation among batoids, including strong bimodality of shape in rays, an
      intermediate location of skate species in the morphospace between
      benthic/demersal and pelagic rays, and approximately parallel shape trajectories
      in the benthic/demersal rays and skates. Finally, manipulation of landmarks
      verified the need for a consistent and accurate definition of homology for the
      outcome and efficacy of analyses of pectoral form and function in batoids.

PMID- 26869187
TI  - Origin of colossal dielectric permittivity of rutile Ti0.9In0.05Nb0.05O2: single
      crystal and polycrystalline.
AB  - In this paper, we investigated the dielectric properties of (In + Nb) co-doped
      rutile TiO2 single crystal and polycrystalline ceramics. Both of them showed
      colossal, up to 10(4), dielectric permittivity at room temperature. The single
      crystal sample showed one dielectric relaxation process with a large dielectric
      loss. The voltage-dependence of dielectric permittivity and the impedance
      spectrum suggest that the high dielectric permittivity of single crystal
      originated from the surface barrier layer capacitor (SBLC). The impedance
      spectroscopy at different temperature confirmed that the (In + Nb) co-doped
      rutile TiO2 polycrystalline ceramic had semiconductor grains and insulating grain
      boundaries, and that the activation energies were calculated to be 0.052 eV and
      0.35 eV for grain and grain boundary, respectively. The dielectric behavior and
      impedance spectrum of the polycrystalline ceramic sample indicated that the
      internal barrier layer capacitor (IBLC) mode made a major contribution to the
      high ceramic dielectric permittivity, instead of the electron-pinned defect
      dipoles.

PMID- 26869189
TI  - Stem Cells Antigen-1 Enriches for a Cancer Stem Cell-Like Subpopulation in Mouse
      Gastric Cancer.
AB  - There is a strong need to identify markers to enrich gastric cancer stem cells
      (CSCs). However, CSC enrichment markers for mouse gastric cancers have not yet
      been determined. In our previous study, we generated primary mouse gastric cancer
      cell line NCC-S1 (S1) established from a Villin-cre;Smad4(F/F) ;Trp53(F/F)
      ;Cdh1(F/wt) mouse and its metastatic variant cell line NCC-S1M (S1M).
      Interestingly, S1M cells exhibited CSC-like features, such as increased
      tumorigenic potential and chemoresistance. By comparing gene expression profiles
      between S1 and S1M cells, we identified Stem Cells Antigen-1 (Sca-1) as a cell
      surface marker, which was mostly upregulated in S1M. Sca-1 was upregulated in
      tumorspheres from S1 cells or after cisplatin treatment in S1 cells.
      Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis showed that approximately 7% of cancer cells
      exhibited positivity for Sca-1 in primary mouse gastric cancer tissues. An in
      vivo-limiting dilution assay showed that Sca-1(high) mouse gastric cancer cells
      demonstrated increased tumorigenicity compared with Sca-1(negative) cells. The
      Sca-1 expression was downregulated by TGF-beta pathway activation and Wnt pathway
      inhibition in mouse gastric cancer cells. Sca-1(high) cells showed relatively low
      TGF-beta reporter activity and high TCF/LEF1 reporter activity compared with Sca
      1(negative) cells. A chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that Sca
      1 was a beta-catenin/LEF1 target gene. Sca-1(high) allografts were more resistant
      to cisplatin/fluorouracil chemotherapy than Sca-1(negative) allografts, and
      overexpressed Bcl-xL. Eighty-five mouse genes overexpressed in Sca-1(high) S1
      cells compared with Sca-1(negative) cells clustered 123 pretreatment gastric
      cancer patient samples according to survival following chemotherapy. Taken
      together, Sca-1 is a novel CSC enrichment marker that mediates TGF-beta and
      Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in mouse gastric cancer. Stem Cells 2016;34:1177-1187.

PMID- 26869188
TI  - Health Services Research and Regionalization of Care-From Policy to Practice: the
      Ontario Experience in Head and Neck Cancer.
AB  - Patients being treated at higher case volume hospitals or by higher case volume
      physicians appear to have better outcomes. This volume-outcome relationship is
      reviewed for oncologic and non-oncologic surgery with a focus on head and neck
      oncology. The impact of these research findings on health policy and health-care
      organization in Ontario, Canada, is then outlined. Lastly, future directions for
      quality improvement in surgical oncology are reviewed in the context of a
      universal health-care system. These include surgeon report cards, pre-operative
      checklists, linking funding and remuneration to the quality of delivered care,
      and the use of process improvement techniques. 

PMID- 26869190
TI  - New Formulations of Old Analgesics and Repurposing of Old Drugs as "New"
      Analgesics.

PMID- 26869192
TI  - Improvement of Pediatric Drug Development: Regulatory and Practical Frameworks.
AB  - PURPOSE: A dearth in pediatric drug development often leaves pediatricians with
      no alternative but to prescribe unlicensed or off-label drugs with a resultant
      increased risk of adverse events. We present the current status of pediatric drug
      development and, based on our data analysis, clarify the problems in this area.
      Further action is proposed to improve the drug development that has pediatric
      therapeutic orphan status. METHODS: We analyzed all Phase II/III and Phase III
      trials in ClinicalTrials.gov that only included pediatric participants (<18 years
      old) between 2006 and 2014. Performance index, an indicator of pediatric drug
      development, was calculated by dividing the annual number of pediatric clinical
      trials by million pediatric populations acquired from Census.gov. Effects of the
      2 Japanese premiums introduced in 2010, for the enhancement of pediatric drug
      development, were analyzed by comparing mean performance index prepremiums (2006
      2009) and postpremiums (2010-2014) among Japan, the European Union, and the
      United States. The European Union Clinical Trials Register and published reports
      from the European Medicines Agency were also surveyed to investigate the
      Paediatric Committee effect on pediatric clinical trials in the European Union.
      FINDINGS: Mean difference of the performance index in prepremiums and
      postpremiums between Japan and the European Union were 0.296 (P < 0.001) and
      0.066 (P = 0.498), respectively. Those between Japan and the United States were
      0.560 (P < 0.001) and 0.281 (P = 0.002), indicating that pediatric drug
      development in Japan was more active after the introduction of these premiums,
      even reaching the level of the European Union. The Pediatric Regulation and the
      Paediatric Committee promoted pediatric drug development in the European Union.
      The registered number of clinical trials that includes at least 1 participants
      <18 years old in the European Union Clinical Trials Register increased by 247
      trials (from 672) in the 1000 days after regulation. The ratio of pediatric
      clinical trials with an approved Paediatric Investigation Plan increased to >15%
      after 2008. IMPLICATIONS: Recruitment and ethical obstacles make conducting
      pediatric clinical trials challenging. An improved operational framework for
      conducting clinical trials should mirror the ever-improving regulatory framework
      that incentivizes investment in pediatric clinical trials. Technological
      approaches, enhancements in electronic medical record systems, and community
      approaches that actively incorporate input from physicians, researchers, and
      patients could offer a sustainable solution to recruitment of pediatric study
      participants. The key therefore is to improve pediatric pharmacotherapy
      collaboration among industry, government, academia, and community. Expanding the
      regulatory steps taken in the European Union, United States, and Japan and using
      innovative clinical trial tools can move pediatric pharmacotherapy out of its
      current therapeutic orphan state.

PMID- 26869191
TI  - Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Effects of Multiple-dose Administration of
      Omarigliptin, a Once-weekly Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor, in Obese
      Participants With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - PURPOSE: Omarigliptin (MK-3102) is a potent, oral, long-acting dipeptidyl
      peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor approved in Japan and in global development as a once
      weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was
      to investigate the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of
      omarigliptin in obese participants with and without T2DM. METHODS: This was a
      Phase I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose study of 50
      mg omarigliptin administered once weekly for 4 weeks. Participants included 24
      obese but otherwise healthy subjects (panel A; omarigliptin, n = 18; placebo, n =
      6) and 8 obese patients with T2DM (treatment naive, hemoglobin A1c >= 6.5% and <=
      10.0% [panel B]; omarigliptin, n = 6; placebo, n = 2). Participants were 45 to 65
      years of age with a body mass index of >= 30 and <= 40 kg/m(2). Blood sampling
      occurred at select time points, depending on the study panel, to evaluate the PK
      properties of omarigliptin, DPP-4 activity, active glucagon-like peptide 1
      levels, and plasma glucose concentrations. Body weight was an exploratory end
      point. Due to sparse sampling in panel A, a thorough PK analysis was performed in
      obese patients with T2DM (panel B) only. PD analyses were performed in the
      overall study population (pooled panels A and B). FINDINGS: PK profiles in obese
      participants with and without T2DM were similar to those observed in nonobese
      reference subjects (historical data). Steady state was achieved after 1 or 2
      weekly doses in obese participants with and without T2DM. In obese patients with
      T2DM, omarigliptin was rapidly absorbed, with a median Tmax of 1 to 2.5 hours
      (days 1 and 22). Compared with those in reference subjects, the geometric mean
      ratios (95% CI) (Obese T2DM/reference) for steady-state plasma AUC0-168h, Cmax,
      and C168h were 0.80 (0.65-0.98), 0.86 (0.53-1.41), and 1.08 (0.88-1.33),
      respectively. Trough DPP-4 activity was inhibited by ~90%; postprandial (PP) 4
      hour weighted mean active GLP-1 concentrations were increased ~2-fold; and PP
      glucose was significantly reduced with omarigliptin versus placebo in the pooled
      population. Omarigliptin was generally well-tolerated in the pooled population,
      and there were no hypoglycemic events. Consistent with other DPP-4 inhibitors,
      omarigliptin had no effect on body weight in this short-duration study.
      IMPLICATIONS: The administration of omarigliptin was generally well-tolerated in
      obese participants with and without T2DM, and the favorable PK and PD profiles
      support once-weekly dosing. Omarigliptin may provide an important once-weekly
      treatment option for patients with T2DM. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:
      NCT01088711.

PMID- 26869193
TI  - In silico to in vitro screening of hydroxypyridinones as acetylcholinesterase
      inhibitors.
AB  - We have previously shown the improved acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of
      a model hydroxypyridinone compound transforming the hydroxyl group on the main
      ring into an N,N-dimethylcarbamate group; in the course of that study we
      developed a computational model to screen compounds for enzymatic activity.
      Herein we report development of second generation libraries. Candidates that
      adhere to drug-like criteria from a virtual library of compounds were tested
      using computational docking studies. Synthesis and characterization of chosen
      test compounds and their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity are presented. 

PMID- 26869194
TI  - A phenotypic drug discovery study on thienodiazepine derivatives as inhibitors of
      T cell proliferation induced by CD28 co-stimulation leads to the discovery of a
      first bromodomain inhibitor.
AB  - A phenotypic screening of thienodiazepines derived from a hit compound found
      through a binding assay targeting co-stimulatory molecules on T cells and antigen
      presenting cells successfully led to the discovery of a thienotriazolodiazepine
      compound (7f) possessing potent immunosuppressive activity. A chemical biology
      approach has succeeded in revealing that 7f is a first inhibitor of epigenetic
      bromodomain-containing proteins. 7f is expected to become an anti-cancer agent as
      well as an immunosuppressive agent. 

PMID- 26869195
TI  - Floorball-related eye injuries: The impact of protective eyewear.
AB  - Several previous studies have shown that floorball belongs to a high-risk group
      of sports in terms of eye injuries. Protective eyewear is available, but the
      extent of its use and impact on eye injuries are unknown. The purpose of this
      study was to investigate the current incidence of eye injuries caused by
      floorball and to compare it with the present use of protective eyewear. Medical
      records were used to identify all eye injuries suffered while playing floorball
      in Jonkoping County from 2008 to 2011 (N = 167). All these patients were sent a
      questionnaire that included inquiries about the use of protective eyewear. The
      study shows that floorball caused more eye injuries than all other sports
      combined (56%). Prolonged decreased visual acuity was very unusual (0.5%), but
      moderate eye injuries with some risk of future problems were seen in 62% of the
      sample. More than one fifth of the injured patients reported some kind of vision
      related problem 2-7 years after the original injury. Only one player had been
      using protective eyewear at the time of injury. Our results underline the
      importance of protective eyewear to prevent floorball-related injuries.

PMID- 26869196
TI  - Premenstrual symptoms and smoking-related expectancies.
AB  - Given that prior research implicates smoking abstinence in increased premenstrual
      symptoms, tobacco withdrawal, and smoking behaviors, it is possible that women
      with more severe premenstrual symptoms have stronger expectancies about the
      effects of smoking and abstaining from smoking on mood and withdrawal. However,
      such relations have not been previously explored. This study examined relations
      between premenstrual symptoms experienced in the last month and expectancies that
      abstaining from smoking results in withdrawal (i.e., smoking abstinence
      withdrawal expectancies), that smoking is pleasurable (i.e., positive
      reinforcement smoking expectancies), and smoking relieves negative mood (i.e.,
      negative reinforcement smoking expectancies). In a cross-sectional design, 97 non
      treatment seeking women daily smokers completed self-report measures of smoking
      reinforcement expectancies, smoking abstinence withdrawal expectancies,
      premenstrual symptoms, mood symptoms, and nicotine dependence. Affect
      premenstrual symptoms were associated with increased negative reinforcement
      smoking expectancies, but not over and above covariates. Affect and pain
      premenstrual symptoms were associated with increased positive reinforcement
      smoking expectancies, but only affect premenstrual symptoms remained significant
      in adjusted models. Affect, pain, and water retention premenstrual symptoms were
      associated with increased smoking abstinence withdrawal expectancies, but only
      affect premenstrual symptoms remained significant in adjusted models. Findings
      from this study suggest that addressing concerns about withdrawal and
      alternatives to smoking may be particularly important in women who experience
      more severe premenstrual symptoms, especially affect-related changes. 

PMID- 26869198
TI  - EDITORIAL.

PMID- 26869197
TI  - Responses of soil nitrogen fixation to Spartina alterniflora invasion and
      nitrogen addition in a Chinese salt marsh.
AB  - Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the major natural process of nitrogen (N)
      input to ecosystems. To understand how plant invasion and N enrichment affect
      BNF, we compared soil N-fixation rates and N-fixing microbes (NFM) of an invasive
      Spartina alterniflora community and a native Phragmites australis community in
      the Yangtze River estuary, with and without N addition. Our results indicated
      that plant invasion relative to N enrichment had a greater influence on BNF. At
      each N level, the S. alterniflora community had a higher soil N-fixation rate but
      a lower diversity of the nifH gene in comparison with the native community. The
      S. alterniflora community with N addition had the highest soil N-fixation rate
      and the nifH gene abundance across all treatments. Our results suggest that S.
      alterniflora invasion can increase soil N fixation in the high N-loading
      estuarine ecosystem, and thus may further mediate soil N availability. 

PMID- 26869199
TI  - Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator activation by the solvent
      ethanol: implications for topical drug delivery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Decreased cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)
      mediated chloride (Cl) secretion across mucosal surfaces contributes to the
      development of airway disease by depleting airway surface liquid, increasing
      mucus viscosity and adhesion, and consequently hindering mucociliary clearance.
      We serendipitously discovered during testing of drugs solubilized in low
      concentrations ethanol (0.25%, 43 mM) that the control vehicle produced robust
      activation of CFTR-mediated Cl(-) transport. The objective of the current study
      is to investigate low concentrations of ethanol for effects on Cl(-) secretion
      and ciliary beat frequency (CBF). METHODS: Wild-type (WT) and transgenic CFTR(-/
      ) primary murine nasoseptal epithelial (MNSE) cultures and WT and F508del/F508del
      human sinonasal epithelial (HSNE) cultures were subjected to transepithelial ion
      transport measurements using pharmacologic manipulation in Ussing chambers. CBF
      activation was also monitored. Murine nasal potential difference (NPD) was
      measured in vivo. RESULTS: Ussing chamber tracings revealed ethanol activated
      CFTR-mediated Cl transport in a dose-dependent fashion in WT MNSE (n = 4, p <
      0.05) and HSNE (n = 4, p < 0.05). Ethanol also significantly increased CBF (fold
      change) in WT MNSE cultures in a dose-dependent fashion (phosphate-buffered
      saline [PBS], 1.33 +/- 0.04; 0.25% ethanol, 1.37 +/- 0.09; 0.5% ethanol, 1.53 +/-
      0.06 [p < 0.05]; 1% ethanol, 1.62 +/- 0.1 [p < 0.05]). Lack of stimulation in
      CFTR(-/-) and F508del/F508del cultures indicated activity was dependent on the
      presence of intact functional CFTR. Ethanol perfusion (0.5%) resulted in a
      significant -3.5-mV mean NPD polarization when compared to control solution (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: The observation that brief exposure of ethanol stimulated Cl(
      ) secretion via CFTR-mediated pathways indicates its possible use as topical
      aerosol delivered alone or in combination with other CFTR activators for diseases
      of dysfunctional mucociliary clearance (MCC) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

PMID- 26869202
TI  - Comments on "Role of intestinal microbiota in the development of multiple
      sclerosis".

PMID- 26869201
TI  - Mitochondrial dysfunction in fibroblasts derived from patients with Niemann-Pick
      type C disease.
AB  - Mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes lead to Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, a
      rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration.
      These mutations result in cholesterol and glycosphingolipid accumulation in the
      late endosomal/lysosomal compartment. Complications in the storage of cholesterol
      in NPC1 mutant cells are associated with other anomalies, such as altered
      distribution of intracellular organelles and properties of the plasma membrane.
      The pathomechanism of NPC disease is largely unknown. Interestingly, other
      storage diseases such as Gaucher and Farber diseases are accompanied by severe
      mitochondrial dysfunction. This prompted us to investigate the effect of absence
      or dysfunction of the NPC1 protein on mitochondrial properties to confirm or deny
      a putative relationship between NPC1 mutations and mitochondrial function. This
      study was performed on primary skin fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies of two
      NPC patients, carrying mutations in the NPC1 gene. We observed altered
      organization of mitochondria in NPC1 mutant cells, significant enrichment in
      mitochondrial cholesterol content, increased respiration, altered composition of
      the respiratory chain complex, and substantial reduction in cellular ATP level.
      Thus, a primary lysosomal defect in NPC1 mutant fibroblasts is accompanied by
      deregulation of the organization and function of the mitochondrial network. 

PMID- 26869200
TI  - Functionally conservative substitutions at cardiac troponin I S43/45.
AB  - A phospho-null Ala substitution at protein kinase C (PKC)-targeted cardiac
      troponin I (cTnI) S43/45 reduces myocyte and cardiac contractile function. The
      goal of the current study was to test whether cTnIS43/45N is an alternative,
      functionally conservative substitution in cardiac myocytes. Partial and more
      extensive endogenous cTnI replacement was similar at 2 and 4 days after gene
      transfer, respectively, for epitope-tagged cTnI and cTnIS43/45N. This replacement
      did not significantly change thin filament stoichiometry. In functional studies,
      there were no significant changes in the amplitude and/or rates of contractile
      shortening and re-lengthening after this partial (2 days) and extensive (4 days)
      replacement with cTnIS43/45N. The cTnIS43/45N substitution also was not
      associated with adaptive changes in the myocyte Ca(2+) transient or in
      phosphorylation of the protein kinase A and C-targeted cTnIS23/24 site. These
      results provide evidence that cTnIS43/45N is a functionally conservative
      substitution, and may be appropriate for use as a phospho-null in rodent models
      designed for studies on PKC modulation of cardiac performance.

PMID- 26869203
TI  - A semi-synthetic natural product blocks collagen induced arthritis by
      preferentially suppressing the production of IL-6.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune-inflammatory disease is characterized by
      dysregulation of signal transduction pathways, increased production of pro
      inflammatory cytokines, enhanced leukocyte infiltration into synovial
      microvascular endothelium, extensive formation of hyper proliferative pannus,
      degradation of cartilage and bone erosion. Several compounds that abrogate
      cytokine production demonstrate a therapeutic effect in experimental models of
      arthritis. In this study, we report that a novel semi-synthetic natural product
      (Compound A) being a preferential IL-6 inhibitor, is efficacious in a murine
      model of arthritis. In vitro evaluations of pro-inflammatory cytokine production
      reveal that Compound A preferentially inhibits induced production of IL-6 and not
      TNF-alpha from THP-1 cells and isolated human monocytes. Furthermore, Compound A
      robustly inhibits the spontaneous production of IL-6 from pathologically relevant
      synovial tissue cells isolated from patients with active RA. In a physiologically
      relevant assay, Compound A selectively inhibits the activated T cell contact
      mediated production of IL-6 from human monocytes. Compound A, at
      pharmacologically efficacious concentrations, does not significantly curtail the
      LPS-induced activation of p38 MAPKs. In the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)
      mouse model (i) macroscopic observations demonstrate that Compound A,
      administered subcutaneously in a therapeutic regimen, significantly and dose
      dependently inhibits disease associated increases in articular index and paw
      thickness; (ii) histological analyses of paw tissues reveal that Compound A
      prominently diminishes joint destruction, hyperproliferative pannus formation and
      infiltration of inflammatory cells. Collectively, these results provide direct
      evidence that Compound A, a novel preferential IL-6 inhibitor, suppresses
      collagen-induced arthritis, and may be a potential therapeutic for treating
      patients with active RA. 

PMID- 26869205
TI  - Immune Adaptation to Environmental Influence: The Case of NK Cells and HCMV.
AB  - The immune system of an individual human is determined by heritable traits and a
      continuous process of adaptation to a broad variety of extrinsic, non-heritable
      factors such as viruses, bacteria, dietary components and more. Cytomegalovirus
      (CMV) successfully infects the majority of the human population and establishes
      latency, thereby exerting a life-long influence on the immune system of its host.
      CMV has been shown to influence the majority of immune parameters in healthy
      individuals. Here we focus on adaptive changes induced by CMV in subsets of
      Natural Killer (NK) cells, changes that question our very definition of adaptive
      and innate immunity by suggesting that adaptations of immune cells to
      environmental influences occur across the entire human immune system and not
      restricted to the classical adaptive branch of the immune system. 

PMID- 26869204
TI  - HIV-1 Envelope Trimer Design and Immunization Strategies To Induce Broadly
      Neutralizing Antibodies.
AB  - The identification of multiple broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against
      the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer has facilitated its structural
      characterization and guided Env immunogen design. Several recent studies
      constitute progress in utilizing this knowledge for the development of an HIV-1
      vaccine that induces bNAbs. Native-like Env trimers can induce autologous NAb
      responses against resistant (Tier-2) viruses in several animal models. Here we
      review recent studies aimed at addressing the challenge of driving the strong but
      narrowly focused NAb responses to Env trimers towards ones with much greater
      breadth. Among strategies that merit pursuing are using multiple trimers as
      sequential or simultaneous immunogens, targeting the germline precursors of
      bNAbs, delivering sequential lineages of trimers derived from infected
      individuals who developed bNAbs, and presenting trimers as particulate antigens. 

PMID- 26869206
TI  - [Status of cardiac resynchronization therapy in Catalonia, Spain: Results of the
      prospective multicentric study TRC-CAT].
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Results of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
      have been extensively published. However, there is limited data in unselected
      populations. The objective of the study was to analyse the efficacy and safety of
      CRT in Catalonia. METHODS: A prospective study was performed of consecutive
      patients implanted with CRT over one year in 7 university hospitals in Catalonia,
      representing 90% of the implanted patients. Echocardiographic reverse remodelling
      was defined as 5 points improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and
      clinical responders were defined as patients with an increase>10% of six-minute
      walk test or one point of New York Heart Association functional class at 12
      months. Patients were followed up for one year and hospital admissions and
      mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients included in the study, 99%
      met the indications of the current CRT clinical guidelines and 68% received CRT
      with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The rate of complications was 12.5%.
      During follow-up 16 patients (8%) died. Fifty-two percent (104) of the population
      was considered to respond clinically and 62% (124) presented improved
      echocardiographic parameters. Compared to the year prior to implant, hospital
      admissions decreased by 82% (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In an unselected population of
      Catalonia, we observe that CRT was effective and decreased the number of hospital
      admissions.

PMID- 26869209
TI  - Selection for uterine capacity improves lifetime productivity of sows.
AB  - Selection for 11 generations for uterine capacity (UC) increased litter size in
      gilts by 1.6 more fully formed pigs at birth compared to an unselected control
      line (CO) despite averaging one less ovulation. The objective of the present
      study was to quantify line by parity interactions and characterize litter
      performance traits of sows in each line at later parities. Gilts farrowed in
      contemporary groups of 19 litters and were maintained through four parities if
      successfully mated in that contemporary group. A total of 243 litters and 2639
      piglets were analyzed. Fixed effects of farrowing group, line, parity (1-4), and
      two-way interactions involving line were fitted. Sire (n=57) of the sow within
      farrowing group and line was fitted as a random effect. No significant line by
      parity interactions were observed. Parity effects were detected (P<0.01) for
      individual piglet birth weight, pre-weaning gain, and weaning weight. Parity
      effects were also detected (P<0.05) for total number born, average and total
      litter birth weight, and average and total litter weaning weight. Selection line
      differences for litter traits were detected (P<0.05) for number stillborn piglets
      and approached significance (P=0.06) for number of piglets weaned. Retention of
      sows in the herd was greater (P<0.05) with an average of 2.33 parities for the UC
      line females compared to 1.87 parities for the CO line. This resulted in
      favorable cumulative lifetime productivity of the UC line for total number of
      piglets born, number of piglets born alive, litter birth weight, number of
      piglets weaned and litter weaning weight. 

PMID- 26869208
TI  - Pilocarpine-induced seizures trigger differential regulation of microRNA
      stability related genes in rat hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Epileptogenesis in the temporal lobe elicits regulation of gene expression and
      protein translation, leading to reorganization of neuronal networks. In this
      process, miRNAs were described as being regulated in a cell-specific manner,
      although mechanistics of miRNAs activity are poorly understood. The specificity
      of miRNAs on their target genes depends on their intracellular concentration,
      reflecting the balance of biosynthesis and degradation. Herein, we confirmed that
      pilocarpine application promptly (<30 min) induces status epilepticus (SE) as
      revealed by changes in rat electrocorticogram particularly in fast-beta range (21
      30 Hz). SE simultaneously upregulated XRN2 and downregulated PAPD4 gene
      expression in the hippocampus, two genes related to miRNA degradation and
      stability, respectively. Moreover, SE decreased the number of XRN2-positive cells
      in the hilus, while reduced the number of PAPD4-positive cells in CA1. XRN2 and
      PAPD4 levels did not change in calretinin- and CamKII-positive cells, although it
      was possible to determine that PAPD4, but not XRN2, was upregulated in
      parvalbumin-positive cells, revealing that SE induction unbalances the
      accumulation of these functional-opposed proteins in inhibitory interneurons that
      directly innervate distinct domains of pyramidal cells. Therefore, we were able
      to disclose a possible mechanism underlying the differential regulation of miRNAs
      in specific neurons during epileptogenesis.

PMID- 26869211
TI  - Synthesis of indoles and tryptophan derivatives via photoinduced nitrene C-H
      insertion.
AB  - Functionalized indoles and tryptophans can be obtained from stannylated alkenes
      and o-iodoanilines via Stille coupling. Subsequent azidation and photochemical
      nitrene generation results in the formation of the heterocyclic ring systems via
      C-H insertion. 

PMID- 26869210
TI  - Control of Multilayer Networks.
AB  - The controllability of a network is a theoretical problem of relevance in a
      variety of contexts ranging from financial markets to the brain. Until now,
      network controllability has been characterized only on isolated networks, while
      the vast majority of complex systems are formed by multilayer networks. Here we
      build a theoretical framework for the linear controllability of multilayer
      networks by mapping the problem into a combinatorial matching problem. We found
      that correlating the external signals in the different layers can significantly
      reduce the multiplex network robustness to node removal, as it can be seen in
      conjunction with a hybrid phase transition occurring in interacting Poisson
      networks. Moreover we observe that multilayer networks can stabilize the fully
      controllable multiplex network configuration that can be stable also when the
      full controllability of the single network is not stable. 

PMID- 26869212
TI  - Double-layer clustering method to predict protein complexes based on power-law
      distribution and protein sublocalization.
AB  - Identifying protein complexes from Protein-protein Interaction Networks (PINs) is
      fundamental for understanding protein functions and activities in cell. Based on
      the assumption that protein complexes are highly connected areas in PINs, many
      algorithms were proposed to identify protein complexes from PINs. However, most
      of these approaches neglected that not all proteins in complexes are highly
      connected, and proteins in PINs with different topological properties may form
      protein complexes in different ways and should be treated differently. In this
      paper, we proposed a double-layer clustering method based on the power-law
      distribution (PLCluster). To calculate the centrality scores of nodes, we
      proposed a Dense-Spread Centrality method. The centrality scores calculated by
      Dense-Spread Centrality method follow a power-law distribution. Based on the
      power-law distribution of the centrality scores, PLCluster divides the nodes into
      two categories: the nodes with very high centrality scores and the nodes with
      lower centrality scores. Then different strategies are applied to nodes in
      different categories for detecting protein complexes from the PIN, respectively.
      Furthermore, the predicted protein complexes, which are inconsistent with the
      fact that all proteins in a protein complex should be in the same subcellular
      compartment, are filtered out. Compared with other nine existing methods on a
      high reliable yeast PIN, PLCluster shows great advantages in terms of the number
      of known complexes that are identified, Sensitivity, Specificity, f-measure and
      the number of perfect matches. 

PMID- 26869213
TI  - Honesty through repeated interactions.
AB  - In the study of signaling, it is well known that the cost of deception is an
      essential element for stable honest signaling in nature. In this paper, we show
      how costs for deception can arise endogenously from repeated interactions between
      individuals. Utilizing the Sir Philip Sidney game as an illustrative case, we
      show that repeated interactions can sustain honesty with no observable signal
      costs, even when deception cannot be directly observed. We provide a number of
      potential experimental tests for this theory which distinguish it from the
      available alternatives. 

PMID- 26869214
TI  - Game theoretic treatments for the differentiation of functional roles in the
      transition to multicellularity.
AB  - Multicellular organisms are characterised by role specialisation, brought about
      by the epigenetic differentiation of their constituent parts. Conventional game
      theoretic studies of cooperation do not account for this division of labour, nor
      do they allow for the possibility of the plastic expression of phenotype. We
      address these issues by extending the notion of cooperative dilemmas to account
      for such interaction in which heterogeneous roles are advantageous and present an
      extended dynamical model of selection that allows for the possibility of
      conditional expression of phenotype. We use these models to investigate
      systematically when selection will favour an adaptive diversification of roles.
      We argue that such extensions to models and concepts are necessary to understand
      the origins of multicellularity and development. 

PMID- 26869216
TI  - Phosphine oxide surfactants revisited.
AB  - This review summarizes everything we currently know about the nonionic
      surfactants alkyl dimethyl (C(n)DMPO) and alkyl diethyl (C(n)DEPO) phosphine
      oxide (PO surfactants). The review starts with the synthesis and the general
      properties (Section 2) of these compounds and continues with their interfacial
      properties (Section 3) such as surface tension, surface rheology, interfacial
      tension and adsorption at solid surfaces. We discuss studies on thin liquid films
      and foams stabilized by PO surfactants (Section 4) as well as studies on their
      self-assembly into lyotropic liquid crystals and microemulsions, respectively
      (Section 5). We aim at encouraging colleagues from both academia and industry to
      take on board PO surfactants whenever possible and feasible because of their
      broad variety of excellent properties.

PMID- 26869215
TI  - A theoretical framework to identify invariant thresholds in infectious disease
      epidemiology.
AB  - Setting global strategies and targets for disease prevention and control often
      involves mathematical models. Model structure is typically subject to intense
      scrutiny, such as confrontation with empirical data and alternative formulations,
      while a less frequently challenged aspect is the widely adopted reduction of
      parameters to their average values. Focusing on endemic diseases, we use a
      general transmission model to explain how mean field approximations decrease the
      estimated R0 from prevalence data, while threshold phenomena - such as the
      epidemic and reinfection thresholds - remain invariant. This results in an
      underestimation of the effort required to control disease, which may be
      particularly severe when the approximation inappropriately places transmission
      estimates below important thresholds. These concepts are widely applicable across
      endemic pathogen systems. 

PMID- 26869217
TI  - Dimensional assessment of behavioral changes in the cuprizone short-term exposure
      model for psychosis.
AB  - Recent clinical studies have suggested a role for immune/inflammatory responses
      in the pathophysiology of psychosis. However, a mechanistic understanding of this
      process and its application for drug discovery is underdeveloped. Here we
      assessed our recently developed cuprizone short-term exposure (CSE) mouse model
      across behavioral domains targeting neurocognitive and neuroaffective systems. We
      propose that the CSE model may be useful for understanding the mechanism
      associating inflammation and psychosis, with applications for drug discovery in
      that context. 

PMID- 26869220
TI  - I saw where you have been--The topography of human demonstration affects dogs'
      search patterns and perseverative errors.
AB  - Performance in object search tasks is not only influenced by the subjects' object
      permanence ability. For example, ostensive cues of the human manipulating the
      target markedly affect dogs' choices. However, the interference between the
      target's location and the spatial cues of the human hiding the object is still
      unknown. In a five-location visible displacement task, the experimental groups
      differed in the hiding route of the experimenter. In the 'direct' condition he
      moved straight towards the actual location, hid the object and returned to the
      dog. In the 'indirect' conditions, he additionally walked behind each screen
      before returning. The two 'indirect' conditions differed from each other in that
      the human either visited the previously baited locations before (proactive
      interference) or after (retroactive interference) hiding the object. In the
      'indirect' groups, dogs' performance was significantly lower than in the 'direct'
      group, demonstrating that for dogs, in an ostensive context, spatial cues of the
      hider are as important as the observed location of the target. Based on their
      incorrect choices, dogs were most attracted to the previously baited locations
      that the human visited after hiding the object in the actual trial. This
      underlines the importance of retroactive interference in multiple choice tasks. 

PMID- 26869219
TI  - Assessment of health in human faces is context-dependent.
AB  - When making decisions between options, humans are expected to choose the option
      that returns the highest benefit. In practice, however, adding inferior
      alternatives to the choice set can alter these decisions. Here we investigated
      whether decisions over the facial features that people find healthy looking can
      also be affected by the context in which they see those faces. To do this we
      examined the effect of choice set on the perception of health of images of faces
      of light-skinned Caucasian females. We manipulated apparent facial health by
      changing yellowness of the skin: the healthy faces were moderately yellow and the
      less healthy faces were either much more yellow or much less yellow. In each
      experiment, two healthy faces were presented along with a third, less healthy
      face. When the third face was much more yellow, participants chose the more
      yellow of the two healthy faces more often as the most healthy. However, when the
      third face was the least yellow, participants chose the less yellow of the two
      healthy faces more often. A further experiment confirmed that this result is not
      due to a generalised preference for an intermediate option. These results extend
      our understanding of context-dependent decision-making in humans, and suggest
      that comparative evaluation may be a common feature across many different kinds
      of choices that humans have to make. 

PMID- 26869218
TI  - The chloride-channel blocker 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid reduces the nonlinear
      capacitance of prestin-associated charge movement.
AB  - The basis of the extraordinary sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the
      cochlea is a chloride-sensitive protein called prestin which can produce an
      electromechanical response and which resides in the basolateral plasma membrane
      of outer hair cells (OHCs). The compound 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-AC), an
      inhibitor of chloride channels, has been found to reduce the electromechanical
      response of the cochlea and the OHC mechanical impedance. To elucidate these 9-AC
      effects, the functional electromechanical status of prestin was assayed by
      measuring the nonlinear capacitance of OHCs from the guinea-pig cochlea and of
      prestin-transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells. Extracellular
      application of 9-AC caused reversible, dose-dependent and chloride-sensitive
      reduction in OHC nonlinear charge transfer, Qmax . Prestin-transfected cells also
      showed reversible reduction in Qmax . For OHCs, intracellular 9-AC application as
      well as reduced intracellular pH had no detectable effect on the reduction in
      Qmax by extracellularly applied 9-AC. In the prestin-transfected cells, cytosolic
      application of 9-AC approximately halved the blocking efficacy of extracellularly
      applied 9-AC. OHC inside-out patches presented the whole-cell blocking
      characteristics. Disruption of the cytoskeleton by preventing actin
      polymerization with latrunculin A or by decoupling of spectrin from actin with
      diamide did not affect the 9-AC-evoked reduction in Qmax . We conclude that 9-AC
      acts on the electromechanical transducer principally by interaction with prestin
      rather than acting via the cytoskeleton, chloride channels or pH. The 9-AC block
      presents characteristics in common with salicylate, but is almost an order of
      magnitude faster. 9-AC provides a new tool for elucidating the molecular dynamics
      of prestin function. 

PMID- 26869221
TI  - A clinical comparison of extraoral panoramic and intraoral radiographic
      modalities for detecting proximal caries and visualizing open posterior
      interproximal contacts.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare extraoral panoramic
      bitewings (BWs) to intraoral photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate BWs for the
      detection of proximal surface caries and to establish if there was any difference
      between extraoral BWs, intraoral BWs and panoramic radiographs in visualizing
      open posterior interproximal contacts. METHODS: Extraoral panoramic and intraoral
      BW images were acquired on each of 20 patients, resulting in 489 total non
      restored, readable surfaces that were evaluated by 4 observers. The ANOVA
      analysis to determine diagnostic variability between and within each subject was
      utilized. The surfaces included in the study extended from the distal of each
      canine to the last posterior contact in each arch with non-readable proximal
      surfaces excluded (i.e.surfaces where over half the enamel layer was overlapped
      or where those surfaces were not visible in one or both modalities). RESULTS: The
      statistical analysis indicated that the overall mean area under the receiver
      operating characteristic curves across all observers for the intraoral BWs and
      extraoral panoramic BWs were 0.832 and 0.827, respectively, and the difference of
      0.005 was not significant at p = 0.7781. The percentage of non-readable proximal
      surfaces across the three modalities was 4.1% for intraoral BWs, 18.3% for
      extraoral panoramic BWs and 51.5% for the standard panoramic images. CONCLUSIONS:
      The investigators concluded there was no significant difference in posterior
      proximal surface caries detection between the modalities. Extraoral panoramic BWs
      were much better than panoramic radiographs in visualizing open posterior
      interproximal contacts, 81.7% vs 48.5%, but below the 95.9% value for intraoral
      BWs.

PMID- 26869222
TI  - Nuclear envelope expansion is crucial for proper chromosomal segregation during a
      closed mitosis.
AB  - Here, we screened a 10,371 library of diverse molecules using a drug-sensitive
      fission yeast strain to identify compounds which cause defects in chromosome
      segregation during mitosis. We identified a phosphorium-ylide-based compound
      Cutin-1 which inhibits nuclear envelope expansion and nuclear elongation during
      the closed mitosis of fission yeast, and showed that its target is the beta
      subunit of fatty acid synthase. A point mutation in the dehydratase domain of
      Fas1 conferred in vivo and in vitro resistance to Cutin-1. Time-lapse
      photomicrography showed that the bulk of the chromosomes were only transiently
      separated during mitosis, and nucleoli separation was defective. Subsequently
      sister chromatids re-associated leading to chromosomal mis-segregation. These
      segregation defects were reduced when the nuclear volume was increased and were
      increased when the nuclear volume was reduced. We propose that there needs to be
      sufficient nuclear volume to allow the nuclear elongation necessary during a
      closed mitosis to take place for proper chromosome segregation, and that
      inhibition of fatty acid synthase compromises nuclear elongation and leads to
      defects in chromosomal segregation. 

PMID- 26869223
TI  - The CD44s splice isoform is a central mediator for invadopodia activity.
AB  - The ability for tumor cells to spread and metastasize to distant organs requires
      proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). This activity is mediated
      by invadopodia, actin-rich membrane protrusions that are enriched for proteases.
      However, the mechanisms underlying invadopodia activity are not fully understood.
      Here, we report that a specific CD44 splice isoform, CD44s, is an integral
      component in invadopodia. We show that CD44s, but not another splice isoform
      CD44v, is localized in invadopodia. Small hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated depletion of
      CD44s abolishes invadopodia activity, prevents matrix degradation and decreases
      tumor cell invasiveness. Our results suggest that CD44s promotes cortactin
      phosphorylation and recruits MT1-MMP (also known as MMP14) to sites of matrix
      degradation, which are important activities for invadopodia function.
      Importantly, we show that depletion of CD44s inhibits breast cancer cell
      metastasis to the lung in animals. These findings suggest a crucial mechanism
      underlying the role of the CD44s splice isoform in breast cancer metastasis. 

PMID- 26869225
TI  - The Parkinson's-disease-associated receptor GPR37 undergoes metalloproteinase
      mediated N-terminal cleavage and ectodomain shedding.
AB  - The G-protein-coupled receptor 37 ( GPR37) has been implicated in the juvenile
      form of Parkinson's disease, in dopamine signalling and in the survival of
      dopaminergic cells in animal models. The structure and function of the receptor,
      however, have remained enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that although GPR37
      matures and is exported from the endoplasmic reticulum in a normal manner upon
      heterologous expression in HEK293 and SH-SY5Y cells, its long extracellular N
      terminus is subject to metalloproteinase-mediated limited proteolysis between
      E167 and Q168. The proteolytic processing is a rapid and efficient process that
      occurs constitutively. Moreover, the GPR37 ectodomain is released from cells by
      shedding, a phenomenon rarely described for GPCRs. Immunofluorescence microscopy
      further established that although full-length receptors are present in the
      secretory pathway until the trans-Golgi network, GPR37 is expressed at the cell
      surface predominantly in the N-terminally truncated form. This notion was
      verified by flow cytometry and cell surface biotinylation assays. These new
      findings on the GPR37 N-terminal limited proteolysis may help us to understand
      the role of this GPCR in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease and in
      neuronal function in general. 

PMID- 26869224
TI  - Suppression of microtubule assembly kinetics by the mitotic protein TPX2.
AB  - TPX2 is a widely conserved microtubule-associated protein that is required for
      mitotic spindle formation and function. Previous studies have demonstrated that
      TPX2 is required for the nucleation of microtubules around chromosomes; however,
      the molecular mechanism by which TPX2 promotes microtubule nucleation remains a
      mystery. In this study, we found that TPX2 acts to suppress tubulin subunit off
      rates during microtubule assembly and disassembly, thus allowing for the support
      of unprecedentedly slow rates of plus-end microtubule growth, and also leading to
      a dramatically reduced microtubule shortening rate. These changes in microtubule
      dynamics can be explained in computational simulations by a moderate increase in
      tubulin-tubulin bond strength upon TPX2 association with the microtubule lattice,
      which in turn acts to reduce the departure rate of tubulin subunits from the
      microtubule ends. Thus, the direct suppression of tubulin subunit off-rates by
      TPX2 during microtubule growth and shortening could provide a molecular mechanism
      to explain the nucleation of new microtubules in the presence of TPX2. 

PMID- 26869226
TI  - HDAC6 regulates the dynamics of lytic granules in cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
AB  - HDAC6 is a tubulin deacetylase involved in many cellular functions related to
      cytoskeleton dynamics, including cell migration and autophagy. In addition, HDAC6
      affects antigen-dependent CD4(+)T cell activation. In this study, we show that
      HDAC6 contributes to the cytotoxic function of CD8(+)T cells. Immunization
      studies revealed defective cytotoxic activity in vivo in the absence of HDAC6.
      Adoptive transfer of wild-type or Hdac6(-/-)CD8(+)T cells to Rag1(-/-)mice
      demonstrated specific impairment in CD8(+)T cell responses against vaccinia
      infection. Mechanistically, HDAC6-deficient cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) showed
      defective in vitro cytolytic activity related to altered dynamics of lytic
      granules, inhibited kinesin-1-dynactin-mediated terminal transport of lytic
      granules to the immune synapse and deficient exocytosis, but not to target cell
      recognition, T cell receptor (TCR) activation or interferon (IFN)gamma
      production. Our results establish HDAC6 as an effector of the immune cytotoxic
      response that acts by affecting the dynamics, transport and secretion of lytic
      granules by CTLs.

PMID- 26869227
TI  - CAPS1 effects on intragranular pH and regulation of BDNF release from secretory
      granules in hippocampal neurons.
AB  - The secretory protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is assumed to be a
      key factor for the induction of synaptic plasticity processes in neurons.
      However, the molecular mechanisms for activity-dependent release of the protein
      largely remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate the relevance of the priming factor
      CAPS1 (also known as CADPS) for the maturation and exocytosis of BDNF-containing
      secretory granules, as well as for neurotransmitter release from synaptic
      vesicles. Using live-cell imaging and RNA silencing methods, we show that CAPS1
      has a previously unrecognized function in regulating the intragranular pH of BDNF
      containing secretory granules. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that acute
      single-cell knockdown of CAPS1 with unaltered expression in neighboring neurons
      leads to a strong reduction in the number of fusion-competent secretory granules
      and to a significant decrease of released BDNF following exocytosis in dendrites
      of CAPS1-deficient neurons. In addition, our results show a reduction in synaptic
      vesicle turnover after CAPS1 knockdown without affecting the density of active
      boutons in hippocampal neurons. Thus, our results reveal new functions of
      endogenous CAPS1 in the BDNF secretory granule life cycle, thereby representing a
      new mechanism of neuronal plasticity. 

PMID- 26869229
TI  - Patients' Evaluation of Intervention by a Medical Clown Visit or by Viewing a
      Humorous Film Following In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer.
AB  - This study compared responses to an in-person clown visit and a humorous film
      following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Intervention was a 10
      minute clown visit (n = 101) or 10-minute humorous video clip (n = 99).
      Demographic and fertility-related data and preintervention anxiety scores were
      collected. Participants completed an Evaluation of Intervention form
      postintervention. There were no group differences on demographic or fertility
      related data or anxiety scores. Findings indicate while participants viewed the
      intervention positively, the clown visit offered a higher degree of satisfaction
      in more patients than did the film. Median evaluation scores were significantly
      higher for the clown visit, specifically reducing anxiety level and being more
      distracting. Both groups reported that the exposure made the clinic experience
      more pleasant and did not bother them, and most would recommend incorporating the
      intervention in routine treatment. However, free-text comments clearly expressed
      greater enthusiasm to the in-person clown intervention than to the film.

PMID- 26869228
TI  - Mechanistic insights into the inhibition of Sec61-dependent co- and post
      translational translocation by mycolactone.
AB  - The virulence factor mycolactone is responsible for the immunosuppression and
      tissue necrosis that characterise Buruli ulcer, a disease caused by infection
      with Mycobacterium ulcerans In this study, we confirm that Sec61, the protein
      conducting channel that coordinates entry of secretory proteins into the
      endoplasmic reticulum, is a primary target of mycolactone, and characterise the
      nature of its inhibitory effect. We conclude that mycolactone constrains the
      ribosome-nascent-chain-Sec61 complex, consistent with its broad-ranging
      perturbation of the co-translational translocation of classical secretory
      proteins. In contrast, the effect of mycolactone on the post-translational
      ribosome-independent translocation of short secretory proteins through the Sec61
      complex is dependent on both signal sequence hydrophobicity and the translocation
      competence of the mature domain. Changes to protease sensitivity strongly suggest
      that mycolactone acts by inducing a conformational change in the pore-forming
      Sec61alpha subunit. These findings establish that mycolactone inhibits Sec61
      mediated protein translocation and highlight differences between the co- and post
      translational routes that the Sec61 complex mediates. We propose that mycolactone
      also provides a useful tool for further delineating the molecular mechanisms of
      Sec61-dependent protein translocation.

PMID- 26869230
TI  - Nurses as Leaders in Disaster Preparedness and Response--A Call to Action.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop a vision for the future of disaster nursing, identify
      barriers and facilitators to achieving the vision, and develop recommendations
      for nursing practice, education, policy, and research. DESIGN AND METHODS: A
      series of semistructured conference calls were conducted with 14 national subject
      matter experts to generate relevant concepts regarding national nursing workforce
      preparedness. An invitational daylong workshop hosted by the Veterans Emergency
      Management Evaluation Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was held in
      December 2014 to expand and refine these concepts. Workshop participants included
      70 nurses, emergency managers, and a broad range of public health professionals.
      Conference call notes and audiotapes of the workshop were transcribed and
      thematic analysis conducted to outline a vision for the future of nursing in
      disaster preparedness and response, and to articulate an agenda for nursing
      practice, education, policy, and research to achieve that vision. FINDINGS: The
      group developed a vision for the future of disaster nursing, and identified
      current barriers and opportunities to advance professional disaster nursing. A
      broad array of recommendations for nursing practice, education, policy, and
      research, as well as implementation challenges, are summarized in this article.
      CONCLUSIONS: This project represents an important step toward enhancing nurses'
      roles as leaders, educators, responders, policymakers, and researchers in
      disaster preparedness and response. Nurses and the health and human service
      organizations that employ them are encouraged to engage in an expansive national
      dialogue regarding how to best incorporate the vision and recommendations into
      their individual lives and the organizations for which they work. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Nurses comprise the largest healthcare workforce, and opportunities
      exist to strengthen disaster readiness, enhance national surge capacity, and
      build community resiliency to disasters.

PMID- 26869232
TI  - Introducing SQUIRE 2.0, the Updated Publication Guidelines for Scientific
      Reporting of Health Care Improvement Projects: What the Guidelines Mean for
      Otolaryngologists.

PMID- 26869234
TI  - Haglund's syndrome. Two case reports.
AB  - Haglund's syndrome produces posterior impingement of the heel, which is caused by
      a posterosuperior calcaneal exostosis, known as Haglund's deformity, associated
      with Achilles tendinitis and retrocalcaneal bursitis. Its pathogenesis is
      unknown. We report two cases that were diagnosed clinically and confirmed
      radiographically. One patient was treated conservatively and the other underwent
      surgery. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs and radiological images, using
      the measurement of the parallel pitch lines, in a lateral radiograph of the
      ankle. Initial treatment is usually conservative and includes anti-inflammatory
      or analgesic agents, physiotherapy and low-heeled, open-heeled shoes. If
      conservative treatment does not relieve the pain, surgery may be necessary.

PMID- 26869235
TI  - Glacial lake drainage in Patagonia (13-8 kyr) and response of the adjacent
      Pacific Ocean.
AB  - Large freshwater lakes formed in North America and Europe during deglaciation
      following the Last Glacial Maximum. Rapid drainage of these lakes into the Oceans
      resulted in abrupt perturbations in climate, including the Younger Dryas and 8.2
      kyr cooling events. In the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere major glacial
      lakes also formed and drained during deglaciation but little is known about the
      magnitude, organization and timing of these drainage events and their effect on
      regional climate. We use 16 new single-grain optically stimulated luminescence
      (OSL) dates to define three stages of rapid glacial lake drainage in the Lago
      General Carrera/Lago Buenos Aires and Lago Cohrane/Pueyrredon basins of Patagonia
      and provide the first assessment of the effects of lake drainage on the Pacific
      Ocean. Lake drainage occurred between 13 and 8 kyr ago and was initially gradual
      eastward into the Atlantic, then subsequently reorganized westward into the
      Pacific as new drainage routes opened up during Patagonian Ice Sheet
      deglaciation. Coupled ocean-atmosphere model experiments using HadCM3 with an
      imposed freshwater surface "hosing" to simulate glacial lake drainage suggest
      that a negative salinity anomaly was advected south around Cape Horn, resulting
      in brief but significant impacts on coastal ocean vertical mixing and regional
      climate.

PMID- 26869236
TI  - Effect on tomato plant and fruit of the application of biopolymer-oregano
      essential oil coatings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oregano essential oil (EO) was incorporated into film-forming
      dispersions (FFDs) based on biopolymers (chitosan and/or methylcellulose) at two
      different concentrations. The effect of the application of the FFDs was evaluated
      on tomato plants (cultivar Micro-Tom) at three different stages of development,
      and on pre-harvest and postharvest applications on tomato fruit. RESULTS: The
      application of the FFDs at '3 Leaves' stage caused phytotoxic problems, which
      were lethal when the EO was applied without biopolymers. Even though plant growth
      and development were delayed, the total biomass and the crop yield were not
      affected by biopolymer-EO treatments. When the FFDs were applied in the 'Fruit'
      stage the pre-harvest application of FFDs had no negative effects. All FFDs
      containing EO significantly reduced the respiration rate of tomato fruit and
      diminished weight loss during storage. Moreover, biopolymer-EO FFDs led to a
      decrease in the fungal decay of tomato fruit inoculated with Rhizopus stolonifer
      spores, as compared with non-treated tomato fruit and those coated with FFDs
      without EO. CONCLUSION: The application of biopolymer-oregano essential oil
      coatings has been proven to be an effective treatment to control R. stolonifer in
      tomato fruit. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26869237
TI  - An Incremental Shuttle Wheel Test for Wheelchair Tennis Players.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between outcomes of the shuttle wheel test
      (SWT) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during that test and whether SWT and
      VO2peak can discriminate between different skill levels of wheelchair tennis
      players. METHODS: Fifteen wheelchair tennis players performed an SWT on a tennis
      court while VO2 was measured continuously. Outcome measures were VO2peak and
      achieved stage. Relations between outcomes and Dutch wheelchair tennis ranking
      were calculated with Spearman correlation. Independent t tests were used to test
      for differences between national and international players. RESULTS: Moderate
      correlations were found between VO2peak and SWT outcome (r = .40-.47). The tennis
      ranking correlated weakly with VO2peak (r = -.35) and strongly with SWT outcome
      (r = -.80). A significant difference was found between national and international
      players for achieved stage (P = .027) and VO2peak (P = .027). CONCLUSIONS: The
      SWT outcome only explained a small part of the variance in VO2peak among players,
      so it cannot be considered a valid test for aerobic capacity. However, SWT
      outcomes are related to the skill level of the player and give a good indication
      of the overall peak wheelchair performance.

PMID- 26869233
TI  - Mechanism of ciliary disassembly.
AB  - As motile organelles and sensors, cilia play pivotal roles in cell physiology,
      development and organ homeostasis. Ciliary defects are associated with a class of
      cilia-related diseases or developmental disorders, termed ciliopathies. Even
      though the presence of cilia is required for diverse functions, cilia can be
      removed through ciliary shortening or resorption that necessitates disassembly of
      the cilium, which occurs normally during cell cycle progression, cell
      differentiation and in response to cellular stress. The functional significance
      of ciliary resorption is highlighted in controlling the G1-S transition during
      cell cycle progression. Internal or external cues that trigger ciliary resorption
      initiate signaling cascades that regulate several downstream events including
      depolymerization of axonemal microtubules, dynamic changes in actin and the
      ciliary membrane, regulation of intraflagellar transport and posttranslational
      modifications of ciliary proteins. To ensure ciliary resorption, both the active
      disassembly of the cilium and the simultaneous inhibition of ciliary assembly
      must be coordinately regulated. 

PMID- 26869238
TI  - Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of the
      halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum.
AB  - A novel, salt-dependent, non-motile, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative and non
      endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain Cs16bT, was isolated from the
      rhizosphere of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, a halophytic plant at the Lebrija
      marshes (Seville, Spain). Strain Cs16bT was catalase- and oxidase-positive, and
      able to hydrolyse casein. Growth occurred from 15-40  degrees C, at pH 6.0-10.0
      and with 1-6% (w/v) NaCl. Q-8 was identified as the major ubiquinone and the
      predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1cis8, iso-C11:0 3-OH,
      iso-C17:0, C17:0 cyclo and iso-C11:0. The polar lipids profile consisted of
      phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycophospholipids,
      an unknown aminoglycophospholipid, an unknown aminophospholipid and an unknown
      phospholipid. The 16S rRNA gene of strain Cs16bT showed 98.1%, 97.8%, and 97.6%
      sequence similarity with Microbulbifer maritimus CIP 108504T, Microbulbifer
      taiwanensis DSM 24146T and Microbulbifer gwangyangensis JCM 17800T, respectively.
      Based on the phenotypic and genotypic features, it is concluded that strain
      Cs16bT represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer, for which the name
      Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Cs16bT (=DSM
      28920T=CECT 8799T).

PMID- 26869239
TI  - Antibacterial synergic effect of honey from two stingless bees: Scaptotrigona
      bipunctata Lepeletier, 1836, and S. postica Latreille, 1807.
AB  - Several studies have tested antimicrobial activity of combinations of honey and
      various substances. In this study, we tested a combination of two stingless bee
      honeys against various bacterial strains. In particular: the antibacterial
      activity of honeys produced by Scaptotrigona bipunctata (SB) and Scaptotrigona
      postica (SP) was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial
      strains by agar well diffusion assays, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
      assessment, construction of growth and viability curves and scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM). The interaction of the two honeys was also evaluated by the
      checkerboard assay. Inhibition zones ranged from 8 to 22 mm. The MIC values of
      the individual honeys ranged from 0.62 to 10% (v v(-1)) and decreased to 1/4 to
      1/32 when the honeys were combined. SEM images showed division inhibition and
      cell wall disruption for the SB and SP honeys, respectively, and these
      alterations were observed in same field when the SB and SP honeys were combined.
      This study demonstrated that the natural honeys possess in vitro antimicrobial
      activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug
      resistant strains. Combination of the SB and SP honeys could lead to the
      development of new broad-spectrum antimicrobials that have the potential to
      prevent the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. 

PMID- 26869240
TI  - The relationship between pain and mood following spinal cord injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between pain and mood during spinal cord
      injury rehabilitation, and to discuss clinical implications to optimize
      rehabilitation outcomes. DESIGN: Repeated measures, retrospective cohort study.
      SETTING: Tertiary care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS:
      Patients (N = 509) who completed both Needs Assessment Checklist (NAC) 1 and NAC2
      between February 2008 and February 2015. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. OUTCOME
      MEASURE: Pain ratings (0-10) and mood scores (0-24) were obtained from the Needs
      Assessment Checklist (NAC). NAC1 is completed within 4 weeks post-mobilization
      and NAC2 upon the patient moving to the pre-discharge ward. RESULTS: There were
      statistically significant improvements in both pain and mood from NAC1 to NAC2.
      There were significant correlations between pain and mood at both NAC1 and NAC2
      (a decrease in pain was associated with an improvement in mood). Individuals who
      reported that pain interfered with their rehabilitation had higher pain scores
      and lower mood scores at both NAC1 and NAC2. CONCLUSIONS: Pain and mood evidently
      interact following spinal cord injury, and the nature of this relationship is
      complex. The current study provides some support for the bidirectional causality
      hypothesis, suggesting that pain and mood exert an effect upon each other. It is
      important to address pain and psychological issues early and together in the post
      injury phase to optimize rehabilitation outcomes.

PMID- 26869241
TI  - Is internal jugular vein extensibility associated with indices of fluid
      responsiveness in ventilated patients?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ultrasound of the inferior vena cava provides rapid and non-invasive
      assessment of fluid responsiveness. We hypothesized that the extensibility of the
      internal jugular vein (IJV) as well reflects intravascular volume state. We
      assessed IJV dimensions together with pulse pressure variation (PPV) as dynamic
      index for fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: Of
      50 patients after cardiac surgery were assessed. Ultrasound of IJV dimensions as
      well as collection of hemodynamic data were performed in 30 degrees  and
      horizontal (0 degrees ) position, and the ventilator- and position-induced IJV
      extensibilities (E-IJV) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean ventilator-induced E-IJV
      in 30 degrees  position was 56%, and mean PPV in 30 degrees  position was 13.7%.
      Changing the patient's position from 30 degrees  to 0 degrees  significantly
      reduced ventilator-induced E-IJV as well as PPV. Pearson's correlation test
      revealed significant association between ventilator-induced E-IJV and fluid
      responsiveness deduced from PPV in 0 degrees  position (r = 0.43, P < 0.005). An
      E-IJV threshold >5% identified patients with significantly elevated PPV values.
      CONCLUSION: Ultrasound of the IJV and PPV as a dynamic index for fluid
      responsiveness can be associated under certain defined conditions. Whether or not
      ultrasound of the IJV can be useful to predict patient intravascular volume state
      should be further studied using invasive cardiac output monitoring.

PMID- 26869242
TI  - Neutral, heteroleptic copper(i)-4H-imidazolate complexes: synthesis and
      characterization of their structural, spectral and redox properties.
AB  - Facile synthetic access to four novel, neutral, heteroleptic copper(i)-complexes,
      incorporating 4H-imidazolates as well as the phosphane ligands XantPhos and
      DPEPhos is reported. The complexes were characterized in the solid state as well
      as in solution by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction as well as NMR
      spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The copper(i)-4H
      imidazolate complexes show a broad intense absorption that spans almost the
      entire visible range. TD-DFT calculations revealed the charge transfer character
      of the underlying transitions. NMR as well as electrochemical investigations and
      UV-Vis absorption suggest a polarization of the complexes with the negative
      charge pushed towards the 4H-imidazolate moiety. 

PMID- 26869243
TI  - Effect of weight loss on operational lung volumes and oxygen cost of breathing in
      obese women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effects of moderate weight loss on operational lung volumes
      during exercise and the oxygen (O2) cost of breathing are unknown in obese women
      but could have important implications regarding exercise endurance. METHODS: In
      29 obese women (33+/-8 years, 97+/-14 kg, body mass index: 36+/-4 kg m(-2), body
      fat: 45.6+/-4.5%; means+/-s.d.), body composition, fat distribution (by magnetic
      resonance imaging), pulmonary function, operational lung volumes during exercise
      and the O2 cost of breathing during eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (([Vdot ]O2) vs
      ([Vdot ]E) slope) were studied before and after a 12-week diet and resistance
      exercise weight loss program. RESULTS: Participants lost 7.5+/-3.1 kg or ~8% of
      body weight (P<0.001), but fat distribution remained unchanged. After weight
      loss, lung volume subdivisions at rest were increased (P<0.05) and were
      moderately associated (P<0.05) with changes in weight. End-expiratory lung volume
      (percentage of total lung capacity) increased at rest and during constant load
      exercise (P<0.05). O2 cost of breathing was reduced by 16% (2.52+/-1.02-2.11+/
      0.72 ml l(-1); P=0.003). As a result, O2 uptake of the respiratory muscles ([Vdot
      ]O2Resp), estimated as the product of O2 cost of breathing and exercise ([Vdot
      ]E) during cycling at 60 W, was significantly reduced by 27+/-31 ml (P<0.001),
      accounting for 46% of the reduction in total body ([Vdot ]O2) during cycling at
      60 W. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate weight loss yields important improvements in
      respiratory function at rest and during submaximal exercise in otherwise healthy
      obese women. These changes in breathing load could have positive effects on the
      exercise endurance and adherence to physical activity.

PMID- 26869244
TI  - Effect of low-glycemic-sugar-sweetened beverages on glucose metabolism and
      macronutrient oxidation in healthy men.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sugar-sweetened-beverages (SSB) provide high amounts of
      rapidly absorbable sugar and have been shown to impair insulin sensitivity and
      promote weight gain. We hypothesized that when compared with high-glycemic index
      (GI) SSB low-GI SSB lead to lower insulin secretion and thus an improved
      preservation of insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation during an inactive phase.
      SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a controlled cross-over dietary intervention 13 healthy men
      (age: 23.7+/-2.2 years, body mass index: 23.6+/-1.9 kg m(-)(2)) consumed low-GI
      (isomaltulose) or high-GI (75% maltodextrin+25% sucrose, adapted for sweetness)
      SSBs providing 20% of energy requirement for 7 days. During this phase,
      participant's habitual high physical activity (11 375+/-3124 steps per day) was
      reduced (2363+/-900 steps per day). The provided ad libitum diet comprised 55%
      CHO, 30% fat and 15% protein. Glycemic and insulinemic responses were assessed:
      Day-long (7-day continuous interstitial glucose monitoring, 24-h-urinary c
      peptide excretion), during meal test (37 g isomaltulose vs 28 g maltodextrin+9g
      sucrose) and measures of insulin sensitivity (basal: homeostasis model assessment
      of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), postprandial: Matsuda-ISI). Macronutrient
      oxidation was assessed by non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) in the fasted
      state (npRQfasting) and postprandial as the area under the npRQ-curve during meal
      test (npRQtAUC-meal). RESULTS: Day-long glycemia was lower with low-GI compared
      with high-GI SSB (-5%, P<0.05). Low-GI SSB led to lower insulin secretion during
      meal test (-28%, P<0.01) and throughout the day (-31%, P<0.01), whereas
      postprandial glucose levels did not differ between low-GI and high-GI SSBs.
      Insulin sensitivity deteriorated on inactivity with both SSBs, but was better
      preserved with low-GI isomaltulose compared with high-GI maltodextrin-sucrose
      (DeltaHOMA-IR: +0.37+/-0.52 vs +0.85+/-0.86; DeltaMatsuda-ISI: -5.1+/-5.5 vs 
      9.6+/-5.1, both P<0.05). Both, fasting and postprandial fat oxidation declined on
      inactivity, with no difference between high-GI and low-GI SSBs. CONCLUSIONS:
      Compared with high-GI SSB, 7-day consumption of beverages sweetened with low-GI
      isomaltulose had beneficial effects on inactivity-induced impairment of glucose
      metabolism without effecting fuel selection.

PMID- 26869245
TI  - The Role of Trait Anxiety and Preoccupation With Reading Disabilities of Children
      and Their Mothers in Predicting Children's Reading Comprehension.
AB  - This study investigated the relationship between reading comprehension (RC),
      trait anxiety, and preoccupation with reading disability (RD) in 88 school
      children in Grades 3 through 5 and in their mothers. Children's trait anxiety had
      a significant direct negative relationship with RC and also mediated the
      association between preoccupation with RD and RC. Mothers' preoccupation with
      their children's RDs had a direct negative association with their children's RC.
      This association was also mediated through children's trait anxiety. No
      association was found between mothers' trait anxiety and children's RC. In a
      final model, RC was explained significantly by children's word reading fluency
      and trait anxiety as well as by their mothers' preoccupation with their
      children's RDs. This study extends our understanding of multicomponential models
      of RC by shedding light on the significant role played by anxiety- and
      preoccupation-related factors involving both children with RDs and their mothers.

PMID- 26869246
TI  - Divergent Outcomes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adult
      Depression.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although the average depressed patient benefits moderately from
      cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or pharmacotherapy, some experience divergent
      outcomes. The authors tested frequencies, predictors, and moderators of negative
      and unusually positive outcomes. METHOD: Sixteen randomized clinical trials
      comparing CBT and pharmacotherapy for unipolar depression in 1,700 patients
      provided individual pre- and posttreatment scores on the Hamilton Depression
      Rating Scale (HAM-D) and/or Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The authors examined
      demographic and clinical predictors and treatment moderators of any deterioration
      (increase >=1 HAM-D or BDI point), reliable deterioration (increase >=8 HAM-D or
      >=9 BDI points), extreme nonresponse (posttreatment HAM-D score >=21 or BDI score
      >=31), superior improvement (HAM-D or BDI decrease >=95%), and superior response
      (posttreatment HAM-D or BDI score of 0) using multilevel models. RESULTS: About
      5%-7% of patients showed any deterioration, 1% reliable deterioration, 4%-5%
      extreme nonresponse, 6%-10% superior improvement, and 4%-5% superior response.
      Superior improvement on the HAM-D only (odds ratio=1.67) and attrition (odds
      ratio=1.67) were more frequent in pharmacotherapy than in CBT. Patients with
      deterioration or superior response had lower pretreatment symptom levels, whereas
      patients with extreme nonresponse or superior improvement had higher levels.
      CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration and extreme nonresponse and, similarly, superior
      improvement and superior response, both occur infrequently in randomized clinical
      trials comparing CBT and pharmacotherapy for depression. Pretreatment symptom
      levels help forecast negative and unusually positive outcomes but do not guide
      selection of CBT versus pharmacotherapy. Pharmacotherapy may produce clinician
      rated superior improvement and attrition more frequently than does CBT.

PMID- 26869247
TI  - Opioid Modulation With Buprenorphine/Samidorphan as Adjunctive Treatment for
      Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder has been associated with dysregulation of
      the endogenous opioid system. The authors sought to determine whether opioid
      modulation achieved through administration of ALKS 5461, a combination of a MU-
      and kappa-opioid partial agonist, buprenorphine, and a MU-opioid antagonist,
      samidorphan, would exhibit antidepressant activity in patients with major
      depression. METHOD: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
      two-stage sequential parallel comparison design study was conducted in adults
      with major depression who had an inadequate response to one or two courses of
      antidepressant treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to receive
      adjunctive treatment with 2 mg/2 mg of buprenorphine/samidorphan (the 2/2 dosage
      group), 8 mg/8 mg of buprenorphine/samidorphan (the 8/8 dosage group), or
      placebo. Antidepressant effect was measured based on change from baseline to the
      end of 4 weeks of treatment on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM
      D), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Clinical
      Global Impressions severity scale (CGI-S). RESULTS: Compared with the placebo
      group, there were significantly greater improvements in the 2/2 dosage group
      across the three depression outcome measures (HAM-D: -2.8, 95% CI=-5.1, -0.6;
      MADRS: -4.9, 95% CI=-8.2, -1.6; CGI-S: -0.5, 95% CI=-0.9, -0.1). There was also
      evidence of improvement in the 8/8 dosage group, although it did not achieve
      statistical significance. Overall, the buprenorphine/samidorphan combinations
      were well tolerated, and there was no evidence of opioid withdrawal on treatment
      discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: The buprenorphine/samidorphan combination is a
      novel and promising candidate for treatment of major depressive disorder in
      patients who have an inadequate response to standard antidepressants.

PMID- 26869248
TI  - Fluidity of the Subsyndromal Phenomenology of Borderline Personality Disorder
      Over 16 Years of Prospective Follow-Up.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the cumulative rates of 2-
      and 4-year remission, and the recurrences that follow them, of 24 symptoms of
      borderline personality disorder over 16 years of prospective follow-up. METHOD: A
      total of 290 inpatients meeting rigorous criteria for borderline personality
      disorder and 72 axis II comparison subjects were assessed during their index
      admission using a series of semistructured diagnostic interviews. The same
      instruments were readministered at eight contiguous 2-year time periods. RESULTS:
      The 12 acute symptoms (e.g., self-mutilation, help-seeking suicide attempts) of
      borderline personality disorder were more likely to remit for a period of 2 years
      and for a period of 4 years than the 12 temperamental symptoms (e.g., chronic
      anger/frequent angry acts, intolerance of aloneness) of this disorder. They were
      also less likely to recur after a remission lasting 2 years or a remission
      lasting 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the symptoms of borderline
      personality disorder are quite fluid, with remissions and recurrences being
      common. However, the more clinically urgent acute symptoms of borderline
      personality disorder seem to have a better prognosis than the less turbulent
      temperamental symptoms of the disorder.

PMID- 26869249
TI  - Applying principles from the game theory to acute stroke care: Learning from the
      prisoner's dilemma, stag-hunt, and other strategies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute stroke care represents a challenge for decision makers.
      Decisions based on erroneous assessments may generate false expectations of
      patients and their family members, and potentially inappropriate medical advice.
      Game theory is the analysis of interactions between individuals to study how
      conflict and cooperation affect our decisions. AIMS: We reviewed principles of
      game theory that could be applied to medical decisions under uncertainty.
      SUMMARY: Medical decisions in acute stroke care are usually made under
      constrains: short period of time, with imperfect clinical information, limit
      understanding about patients and families' values and beliefs. Game theory brings
      some strategies to help us manage complex medical situations under uncertainty.
      For example, it offers a different perspective by encouraging the consideration
      of different alternatives through the understanding of patients' preferences and
      the careful evaluation of cognitive distortions when applying 'real-world' data.
      The stag-hunt game teaches us the importance of trust to strength cooperation for
      a successful patient-physician interaction that is beyond a good or poor clinical
      outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The application of game theory to stroke care may improve
      our understanding of complex medical situations and help clinicians make
      practical decisions under uncertainty.

PMID- 26869250
TI  - Associations of Apelin, Visfatin, and Urinary 8-Isoprostane With Severe
      Hypertension in African Americans: The MH-GRID Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Apelin is an adipokine directly associated with adiposity, insulin
      resistance, and decreased blood pressure. Urinary 8-isoprostane is a marker of
      chronic oxidative endothelial stress. Visfatin, an adipokine that acts by binding
      and activating the insulin receptor, has been associated with hypertension. As
      severe hypertension (SH) is highly prevalent among African Americans (AA), we
      aimed to assess the association of these biomarkers with SH status. METHODS: A
      sample of 250 AA participants (134 normotensive controls and 116 with SH
      (including 98 treatment controlled, SCH: severe controlled hypertension, and 18
      treatment resistant, SRH: severe resistant hypertension)) from the Minority
      Health Genomics and Translational Research Bio-Repository Database (MH-GRID) in
      metro Atlanta had blood analyzed for apelin and visfatin and urine for 8
      isoprostane. T-tests, sex-specific age-adjusted correlation coefficients, and
      multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association of
      biomarkers with hypertensive status. RESULTS: Levels of apelin and 8-isoprostane
      were not statistically different between controls and SCH or SRH. Statistically
      significant differences were present in levels of visfatin between controls
      (1.03+/-0.84 pg/ml), SCH (1.34+/-1.14 pg/ml), and SRH (1.59+/-0.85 pg/ml). After
      multivariable adjustment, categorization in the middle 2 quartiles of urinary 8
      isoprostane were associated with SH. In similar models, categorization into the
      highest quartile of visfatin was associated with SH (odds ratio = 2.80; 95%
      confidence interval: 1.02-7.02). A continuous association of visfatin with SH was
      present. CONCLUSION: In our community sample of AA, there were increased odds of
      SH with increased levels of urinary 8-isoprostane and visfatin, but not with
      apelin.

PMID- 26869257
TI  - Accelerating Lead Compound Optimization.
AB  - Chemists at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, and Pfizer's La Jolla
      Laboratories have devised a new way to rapidly synthesize strained-ring
      structures, which are increasingly favored to optimize potential drugs. With this
      method, strain-release amination, Pfizer researchers were able to produce
      sufficient quantities of a particular structure they needed to evaluate a
      promising cancer drug candidate. 

PMID- 26869251
TI  - Psychosocial Correlates of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping in African Americans:
      The Jackson Heart Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: African Americans exhibit a lower degree of nocturnal blood pressure
      (BP) dipping compared with Whites, but the reasons for reduced BP dipping in this
      group are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify
      psychosocial factors associated with BP dipping in a population-based cohort of
      African Americans. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 668 Jackson Heart
      Study (JHS) participants with valid 24-hour ambulatory BP data and complete data
      on psychosocial factors of interest including stress, negative emotions, and
      psychosocial resources (e.g., perceived support). The association of each
      psychosocial factor with BP dipping percentage and nondipping status (defined as
      <10% BP dipping) was assessed using linear and Poisson regression models,
      respectively, with progressive adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic,
      biomedical, and behavioral factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of nondipping was
      64%. Higher depressive symptoms, higher hostility, and lower perceived social
      support were associated with a lower BP dipping percentage in unadjusted models
      and after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and mean 24-hour systolic BP
      (P < 0.05). Only perceived support was associated with BP dipping percentage in
      fully adjusted models. Also, after full multivariable adjustment, the prevalence
      ratio for nondipping BP associated with 1 SD (7.1 unit) increase in perceived
      support was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88-0.99). No other psychosocial factors were
      associated with nondipping status. CONCLUSIONS: Lower perceived support was
      associated with reduced BP dipping in this study. The role of social support as a
      potentially modifiable determinant of nocturnal BP dipping warrants further
      investigation.

PMID- 26869252
TI  - Use of evidence-based therapy and survival in heart failure in Sweden 2003-2012.
AB  - AIMS: In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, drug and device therapy
      improve survival. We studied contemporary trends in utilization of evidence-based
      therapy and associated survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 5908 patients
      with NYHA class II-IV heart failure, EF <30%, and duration of heart failure >=6
      months registered in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry between 2003 and 2012.
      Regression using generalized estimation equations was used to examine temporal
      trends in crude and risk-adjusted rates of utilization of evidence-based heart
      failure therapy and 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year survival. In 2003 vs. 2012, the
      risk-adjusted use of therapy and P-values for trends were as follows: renin
      angiotensin system antagonists, 88% vs. 86% (P = 0.091); beta-blockers, 85% vs.
      93% (P = 0.008); mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, 53% vs. 42% (P < 0.001);
      CRT, 2.4% vs. 8.2% (P = 0.074); and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, 4.0%
      vs. 10.7% (P = 0.004). During the same period, the risk-adjusted 30-day, 1-year,
      and 3-year survival was 92% vs. 94% (P = 0.532), 81% vs. 77% (P = 0.260), and 58%
      vs. 54% (P = 0.425), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this large nationwide
      registry, over the last decade the use of evidence-based drug therapy was high
      and remained stable over time, but, despite an increased use of device therapy,
      the absolute use was poor. This was associated with an absence of improvement in
      survival. The improvements in therapy and prognosis over the last generation may
      be levelling off, and efforts should be directed at improving implementation of
      evidence-based therapy.

PMID- 26869258
TI  - Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube: a tympanometric outcomes analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common medical issue,
      occurring in at least 1% of the adult population. Patients suffering from ET
      dysfunction typically present with complaints of hearing loss or sensation of
      pressure or plugged ear, which can lead to impaired quality of life. Over time
      ETD can result in conductive hearing loss or choleastatoma formation. Effective
      theraputic options for ET dysfunction are few. Eustachian tube balloon dilation
      is a novel surgical technique being used to treat ETD. The aim of our study is to
      objectively measure the success of Eustachian tube balloon dilation by comparing
      pre and post-operative middle ear pressures using tympanometric testing. METHODS:
      RA retrospective chart review was preformed on all patients who underwent balloon
      dilation of the Eustachian tube by authors NC or MB from 2010 to 2014. Pre and
      post-operative tympanograms were analyzed and categorized based on type (Type A,
      Type B, Type C). Success was defined by an improvement in tympanogram type: Type
      B or C to Type A, or Type B to type C. Pre and post-operative tympanograms were
      further analyzed using middle ear pressure values. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 15
      months. RESULTS: Twenty-five ears (18 patients) were included in the study.
      Overall 36% of ears had improvement in tympanogram type, and 32% had
      normalization of tympanogram post-operatively. The Jerger tympanogram type
      improved significantly following the procedure (p = 0.04). Patients also had
      statistically significant improvement in measured middle ear pressure post
      operatively (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The natural history of Eustachian tube
      dysfunction is poorly understood, and evidence for current treatments are
      limited. Eustachian tube balloon dilation is a safe procedure, and produces
      significant improvement in tympanogram values up to 15 months post-operatively.
      Further refinement of patient selection and standardization of technique is
      required to optimize the effect of this therapy. Longterm follow-up data will
      clarify the persistence of the effect.

PMID- 26869259
TI  - Involvement of older people in the development of fall detection systems: a
      scoping review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The involvement of users is recommended in the development of health
      related technologies, in order to address their needs and preferences and to
      improve the daily usage of these technologies. The objective of this literature
      review was to identify the nature and extent of research involving older people
      in the development of fall detection systems. METHODS: A scoping review according
      to the framework of Arksey and O'Malley was carried out. A key term search was
      employed in eight relevant databases. Included articles were summarized using a
      predetermined charting form and subsequently thematically analysed. RESULTS: A
      total of 53 articles was included. In 49 of the 53 articles, older people were
      involved in the design and/or testing stages, and in 4 of 53 articles, they were
      involved in the conceptual or market deployment stages. In 38 of the 53 articles,
      the main focus of the involvement of older people was technical aspects. In 15 of
      the 53 articles, the perspectives of the elderly related to the fall detection
      system under development were determined using focus groups, single interviews or
      questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Until presently, involvement of older people in the
      development of fall detection systems has focused mainly on technical aspects.
      Little attention has been given to the specific needs and views of older people
      in the context of fall detection system development and usage.

PMID- 26869260
TI  - Interstitial telomeric sites and Robertsonian translocations in species of
      Ipheion and Nothoscordum (Amaryllidaceae).
AB  - The genera Nothoscordum and Ipheion (Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae) are
      cytologically characterized by a dysploid series with variable numbers of
      metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes typical of karyotypes rearranged by
      Robertsonian translocations (RT). Since they have large chromosomes, low diploid
      numbers, and possess two telomeric motifs [the vertebrate-type (TTAGGG) n and the
      Arabidopsis-type (TTTAGGG) n ] they are suitable for investigating the occurrence
      and possible role of interstitial telomeric sites (ITS) associated with RT. We
      analyzed the distributions of telomeric sites in 12 species of Nothoscordum and
      Ipheion and found that both telomeric probes colocalized in all chromosome
      termini. Cloning and sequencing PCR products obtained using both telomeric
      primers simultaneously revealed long stretches of (TTAGGG) n and (TTTAGGG) n
      sequences together with degenerated telomeric sequences. Most acrocentric
      chromosomes have a 45S rDNA site at the terminal region of the short arms
      adjacent to the most distal telomeric sites. Telomeric signals were found at all
      chromosome ends, but ITS were also detected in a few proximal and subterminal
      regions in some Nothoscordum species. Although RT are common in this group of
      plants, our findings suggest that proximal positioning of telomeric motifs are
      not necessarily related to that kind of rearrangement. Rather, transposition of
      telomeric sequences followed by amplification, could better explain the presence
      of (TTAGGG) n and (TTTAGGG) n repeats at those sites. Furthermore, a few small
      interstitial sites found in some Nothoscordum species indicate that dispersion of
      these sequences was not restricted to the proximal region.

PMID- 26869261
TI  - Identification and functional characterization of the pepper CaDRT1 gene involved
      in the ABA-mediated drought stress response.
AB  - Plants are constantly challenged by various environmental stresses, including
      high salinity and drought, and they have evolved defense mechanisms to counteract
      the deleterious effects of these stresses. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA)
      regulates plant growth and developmental processes and mediates abiotic stress
      responses. Here, we identified the Capsicum annuum DRought Tolerance 1 (CaDRT1)
      gene from pepper leaves treated with ABA. CaDRT1 was strongly expressed in pepper
      leaves in response to environmental stresses and after ABA treatment, suggesting
      that the CaDRT1 protein functions in the abiotic stress response. Knockdown
      expression of CaDRT1 via virus-induced gene silencing resulted in a high level of
      drought susceptibility, and this was characterized by increased transpirational
      water loss via decreased stomatal closure. CaDRT1-overexpressing (OX) Arabidopsis
      plants exhibited an ABA-hypersensitive phenotype during the germinative,
      seedling, and adult stages. Additionally, these CaDRT1-OX plants exhibited a
      drought-tolerant phenotype characterized by low levels of transpirational water
      loss, high leaf temperatures, increased stomatal closure, and enhanced expression
      levels of drought-responsive genes. Taken together, our results suggest that
      CaDRT1 is a positive regulator of the ABA-mediated drought stress response.

PMID- 26869262
TI  - A wheat superoxide dismutase gene TaSOD2 enhances salt resistance through
      modulating redox homeostasis by promoting NADPH oxidase activity.
AB  - Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is believed to enhance abiotic stress resistance by
      converting superoxide radical (O2 (-)) to H2O2 to lower ROS level and maintain
      redox homeostasis. ROS level is controlled via biphasic machinery of ROS
      production and scavenging. However, whether the role of SOD in abiotic stress
      resistance is achieved through influencing the biophasic machinery is not well
      documented. Here, we identified a wheat copper-zinc (Cu/Zn) SOD gene, TaSOD2, who
      was responsive to NaCl and H2O2. TaSOD2 overexpression in wheat and Arabidopsis
      elevated SOD activities, and enhanced the resistance to salt and oxidative
      stress. TaSOD2 overexpression reduced H2O2 level but accelerated O2 (-)
      accumulation. Further, it improved the activities of H2O2 metabolic enzymes,
      elevated the activity of O2 (-) producer NADPH oxidase (NOX), and promoted the
      transcription of NOX encoding genes. The inhibition of NOX activity and the
      mutation of NOX encoding genes both abolished the salt resistance of TaSOD2
      overexpression lines. These data indicate that Cu/Zn SOD enhances salt
      resistance, which is accomplished through modulating redox homeostasis via
      promoting NOX activity.

PMID- 26869266
TI  - Solitary Infantile Myofibroma of Left Ethmoid Sinus With Intracranial Extension.

PMID- 26869263
TI  - Loss of UBE3A from TH-expressing neurons suppresses GABA co-release and enhances
      VTA-NAc optical self-stimulation.
AB  - Motivated reward-seeking behaviours are governed by dopaminergic ventral
      tegmental area projections to the nucleus accumbens. In addition to dopamine,
      these mesoaccumbal terminals co-release other neurotransmitters including
      glutamate and GABA, whose roles in regulating motivated behaviours are currently
      being investigated. Here we demonstrate that loss of the E3-ubiquitin ligase,
      UBE3A, from tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons impairs mesoaccumbal, non
      canonical GABA co-release and enhances reward-seeking behaviour measured by
      optical self-stimulation. 

PMID- 26869265
TI  - The accuracy and completeness for receipt of colorectal cancer care using
      Veterans Health Administration administrative data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of
      Clinical Oncology have established guidelines for the treatment and surveillance
      of colorectal cancer (CRC), respectively. Considering these guidelines, an
      accurate and efficient method is needed to measure receipt of care. METHODS: The
      accuracy and completeness of Veterans Health Administration (VA) administrative
      data were assessed by comparing them with data manually abstracted during the
      Colorectal Cancer Care Collaborative (C4) quality improvement initiative for 618
      patients with stage I-III CRC. RESULTS: The VA administrative data contained
      gender, marital, and birth information for all patients but race information was
      missing for 62.1% of patients. The percent agreement for demographic variables
      ranged from 98.1-100%. The kappa statistic for receipt of treatments ranged from
      0.21 to 0.60 and there was a 96.9% agreement for the date of surgical resection.
      The percentage of post-diagnosis surveillance events in C4 also in VA
      administrative data were 76.0% for colonoscopy, 84.6% for physician visit, and
      26.3% for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test. CONCLUSIONS: VA administrative
      data are accurate and complete for non-race demographic variables, receipt of CRC
      treatment, colonoscopy, and physician visits; but alternative data sources may be
      necessary to capture patient race and receipt of CEA tests.

PMID- 26869267
TI  - Rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis Under the DSM-5 Criteria Compared to
      DSM-IV-TR Criteria in a Hospital-Based Clinic.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine whether there was a decrease in the number of
      children diagnosed on the autism spectrum after the implementation of the new
      diagnostic criteria as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
      Mental Health Disorders Fifth Edition published in May 2013. METHOD: We reviewed
      1552 charts of children evaluated at the Women and Children's Hospital of
      Buffalo, Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic. A comparison was made of children
      diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (autism, Asperger disorder, pervasive
      developmental disorder-not otherwise specified) from 2010 to May 2013 using the
      Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Fourth Edition, Text
      Revision criteria with children diagnosed from June 2013 through June 2015 under
      the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Fifth Edition.
      RESULTS: Using chi(2) analysis, the 2013-2015 rate of autism spectrum disorder
      diagnosis (39%) was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than the 2010 to May 2013
      sample years rate (50%). CONCLUSION: The rate of autism spectrum disorder
      diagnosis was significantly lower under the recently implemented Diagnostic and
      Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders Fifth Edition criteria.

PMID- 26869264
TI  - Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells-a key mediator for regeneration after perinatal
      morbidity?
AB  - Perinatal complications in both term- and preterm-born infants are a leading
      cause of neonatal morbidities and mortality. Infants face different challenges in
      the neonatal intensive care unit with long-term morbidities such as perinatal
      brain injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia being particularly devastating. While
      advances in perinatal medicine have improved our understanding of the
      pathogenesis, effective therapies to prevent and/or reduce the severity of these
      disorders are still lacking. The potential of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)
      therapy has emerged during the last two decades, and an increasing effort is
      conducted to address brain- and lung-related morbidities in neonates at risk.
      Various studies support the notion that MSCs have protective effects. MSCs are an
      easy source and may be readily available after birth in a clinical setting. MSCs'
      mechanisms of action are diverse, including migration and homing, release of
      growth factors and immunomodulation, and the potential to replace injured cells.
      Here, we review the pathophysiology of perinatally acquired brain and lung
      injuries and focus on MSCs as potential candidates for therapeutic strategies
      summarizing preclinical and clinical evidence. 

PMID- 26869269
TI  - Protecting the properties of monolayer MoS2 on silicon based substrates with an
      atomically thin buffer.
AB  - Semiconducting 2D materials, like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), have
      gained much attention for their potential in opto-electronic devices,
      valleytronic schemes, and semi-conducting to metallic phase engineering. However,
      like graphene and other atomically thin materials, they lose key properties when
      placed on a substrate like silicon, including quenching of photoluminescence,
      distorted crystalline structure, and rough surface morphology. The ability to
      protect these properties of monolayer TMDs, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2),
      on standard Si-based substrates, will enable their use in opto-electronic devices
      and scientific investigations. Here we show that an atomically thin buffer layer
      of hexagonal-boron nitride (hBN) protects the range of key opto-electronic,
      structural, and morphological properties of monolayer MoS2 on Si-based
      substrates. The hBN buffer restores sharp diffraction patterns, improves
      monolayer flatness by nearly two-orders of magnitude, and causes over an order of
      magnitude enhancement in photoluminescence, compared to bare Si and SiO2
      substrates. Our demonstration provides a way of integrating MoS2 and other 2D
      monolayers onto standard Si-substrates, thus furthering their technological
      applications and scientific investigations.

PMID- 26869268
TI  - Maternal urinary manganese and risk of low birth weight: a case-control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for humans, but exposure to
      high levels has been associated with adverse developmental outcomes. Early
      epidemiological studies evaluating the effect of Mn on fetal growth are
      inconsistent. METHODS: We investigated the association between maternal urinary
      Mn during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Mn concentrations in
      maternal urine samples collected before delivery were measured in 816 subjects
      (204 LBW cases and 612 matched controls) recruited between 2012 and 2014 in Hubei
      Province, China. RESULTS: The median Mn concentration in maternal urine was 0.69
      MUg/g creatinine. Compared to the medium tertile of Mn levels, an increased risk
      of LBW was observed for the lowest tertile (<=0.30 MUg/g creatinine) [adjusted
      odds ratio (OR) = 1.28; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.67, 2.45], and a
      significantly increased risk of LBW was observed for the highest tertile (>=1.16
      MUg/g creatinine) [adjusted OR = 2.04; 95 % CI = 1.12, 3.72]. A curvilinear
      relationship between maternal urinary Mn and risk of LBW was observed, showing
      that the concentration at 0.43 MUg/g creatinine was the point of inflection.
      Similar associations were observed among the mothers with female infants and
      among the younger mothers < 28 years old. However, among the mothers with male
      infants or the older mothers >= 28 years old, only higher levels of Mn were
      positively associated with LBW. CONCLUSIONS: Lower or higher levels of maternal
      urinary Mn are associated with LBW, though only the association of LBW risk and
      higher levels of Mn was statistically significant. The findings also show that
      the associations may vary by maternal age and infant sex, but require
      confirmation in other populations.

PMID- 26869271
TI  - [Subjective time left in life and precautionary relocation planning in the last
      half of life].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many people wish to remain in current residence for as long as
      possible. Nonetheless, they do think about their residential future. For older
      people the question of where to live must be considered with respect to age
      related changes and continuity. So far only little research has been focused on
      the influence of the subjective perception of remaining lifetime until death on
      plans for the future, for example regarding relocation. OBJECTIVE: This study
      investigated the influence of the subjective perception of time left to live on
      relocation planning and its timing in the further course of life. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The data were obtained from a paper-pencil questionnaire including 2156
      persons aged 50 years and older (average age  65.5 years, SD = 9.7 years, range
      50-94 years, 51.1 % female) who were asked about their wishes and plans for the
      future, particularly about their relocation considerations and the subjective
      perception of remaining time until death. RESULTS: Approximately 39 % of the
      subjects considered relocation in the further course of life. Besides social
      demographics, current housing and the state of health, the subjective time left
      in life had a significant influence on the consideration of relocation and its
      timing in the further course of life. Persons who perceived their time horizon as
      limited considered relocation later in life (temporizing relocation planning)
      than persons who perceived themselves to have more time left in life. Their
      temporal occurrence of precautionary relocation planning is embedded earlier in
      the course of life. CONCLUSION: Thoughts about the residential future of older
      people should be considered not only in connection with the content of these
      wishes but also related to the future time perspective and the timing in the
      further course of life. This can be of assistance in consultation and decision
      making situations.

PMID- 26869270
TI  - [Depression in old age, part 2 : Comorbidity and treatment].
AB  - Depression in later life unfavorably impacts on the prognosis of comorbid somatic
      medical conditions. There are mutually reciprocal risk relationships with several
      frequently occurring medical conditions, such as diabetes, ischemic heart
      disease, stroke and Parkinson's disease. A wide range of psychological and
      psychosocial interventions, drug treatment and other biological interventions are
      available for treatment, including special interventions for enhancement of
      effectiveness and therapy resistance. 

PMID- 26869272
TI  - [Mobile dementia counseling as low-threshold assistance for caregiving
      relatives].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Comprehensive and easily accessible information and counseling for
      people with dementia and their caregivers can improve home care in many ways;
      however, for various reasons the affected persons rarely seek help and advice.
      When advice is sought the caregiving situation at home is mostly already in a
      crisis. The Rhine-Erft district, a rural area in Germany, improved its network of
      dementia care services by establishing a mobile gerontopsychiatric counseling
      service with a special focus on dementia. A multiprofessional and
      interdisciplinary team consisting of professional and voluntary personnel in a
      specially equipped bus offers free counseling at several public places in the
      district at least once a month. OBJECTIVES: The project was accompanied and
      scientifically evaluated by the authors of this article from 2012 to 2015. The
      German Ministry of Health funded the evaluation. The main objective of the
      scientific evaluation was to examine how to implement the mobile counseling in
      order to improve the situation for people with dementia and their informal
      caregivers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A mixture of quantitative (e.g. standardized
      questionnaires) and qualitative (e.g. semi-structured interviews) methods was
      employed. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The data show that the mobile counseling service
      fulfills an important role in the navigation into the healthcare system and
      contributes to the easing of caregiver burden. In particular, the low threshold
      of the service proved to be very effective. The mobile counseling service can
      reach those caregivers who would have sought professional advice too late or not
      at all.

PMID- 26869273
TI  - Cytoprotective mechanism of ferulic acid against high glucose-induced oxidative
      stress in cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid, is a potential therapy for
      diabetes mellitus. FA has been shown to protect against hepatic and myocardial
      injury and oxidative stress in obese rats with late-stage diabetes, but the
      mechanism of the antioxidative activity of FA is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The
      aim of this study was to elucidate whether FA can prevent damage to
      cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes caused by high glucose (HG)-induced oxidative
      stress and whether the protection effects of FA on these cells are related to the
      Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathways. DESIGN: Cells were divided into four groups: a
      control group (cultured with normal medium), an HG group (medium containing 80
      mmol/L glucose), an FA+HG group (medium containing 80 mmol/L glucose and 1, 5, or
      10 ug/mL FA), and a dimethylbiguanide (DMBG)+HG group (medium containing 80
      mmol/L glucose and 50 ug/mL DMBG). RESULTS: FA treatment significantly increased
      cell viability and significantly decreased cell apoptosis compared with the HG
      treated group. Moreover, FA down-regulated the expression of Keap1 protein and up
      regulated the expression of Nrf2 protein and gene transcription of HO-1 and
      glutathione S-transferase (GST) in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: FA
      alleviated the HG-induced oxidative stress and decreased cell apoptosis in
      hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. These effects were associated with the Keap1-Nrf2
      ARE signaling pathway.

PMID- 26869274
TI  - Ontogeny of head and caudal fin shape of an apex marine predator: The tiger shark
      (Galeocerdo cuvier).
AB  - How morphology changes with size can have profound effects on the life history
      and ecology of an animal. For apex predators that can impact higher level
      ecosystem processes, such changes may have consequences for other species. Tiger
      sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are an apex predator in tropical seas, and, as adults,
      are highly migratory. However, little is known about ontogenetic changes in their
      body form, especially in relation to two aspects of shape that influence
      locomotion (caudal fin) and feeding (head shape). We captured digital images of
      the heads and caudal fins of live tiger sharks from Southern Florida and the
      Bahamas ranging in body size (hence age), and quantified shape of each using
      elliptical Fourier analysis. This revealed changes in the shape of the head and
      caudal fin of tiger sharks across ontogeny. Smaller juvenile tiger sharks show an
      asymmetrical tail with the dorsal (upper) lobe being substantially larger than
      the ventral (lower) lobe, and transition to more symmetrical tail in larger
      adults, although the upper lobe remains relatively larger in adults. The heads of
      juvenile tiger sharks are more conical, which transition to relatively broader
      heads over ontogeny. We interpret these changes as a result of two ecological
      transitions. First, adult tiger sharks can undertake extensive migrations and a
      more symmetrical tail could be more efficient for swimming longer distances,
      although we did not test this possibility. Second, adult tiger sharks expand
      their diet to consume larger and more diverse prey with age (turtles, mammals,
      and elasmobranchs), which requires substantially greater bite area and force to
      process. In contrast, juvenile tiger sharks consume smaller prey, such as fishes,
      crustaceans, and invertebrates. Our data reveal significant morphological shifts
      in an apex predator, which could have effects for other species that tiger sharks
      consume and interact with.

PMID- 26869276
TI  - Updating our approach to the difficult and failed airway: time to "stop and
      think".

PMID- 26869277
TI  - Job shortages in anesthesia: a pro or con?

PMID- 26869275
TI  - A synergistic blocking effect of Mg2+ and spermine on the inward rectifier K+
      (Kir2.1) channel pore.
AB  - Inward rectifier K(+) channels (Kir2.1) exhibit an extraordinary rectifying
      feature in the current-voltage relationship. We have previously showed that the
      bundle-crossing region of the transmembrane domain constitutes the crucial
      segment responsible for the polyamine block. In this study, we demonstrated that
      the major blocking effect of intracellular Mg(2+) on Kir2.1 channels is also
      closely correlated with K(+) current flow, and the coupled movements of Mg(2+)
      and K(+) seem to happen in the same flux-coupling segment of the pore as
      polyamines. With a preponderant outward K(+) flow, intracellular Mg(2+) would
      also be pushed to and thus stay at the outermost site of a flux-coupling segment
      in the bundle-crossing region of Kir2.1 channels to block the pore, although with
      a much lower apparent affinity than spermine (SPM). However, in contrast to the
      evident possibilities of outward exit of SPM through the channel pore especially
      during strong membrane depolarization, intracellular Mg(2+) does not seem to
      traverse the Kir2.1 channel pore in any case. Intracellular Mg(2+) and SPM
      therefore may have a synergistic action on the pore-blocking effect, presumably
      via prohibition of the outward exit of the higher-affinity blocking SPM by the
      lower-affinity Mg(2+). 

PMID- 26869279
TI  - Genome organization and host range of a Brazilian isolate of johnsongrass mosaic
      virus.
AB  - This work reports the complete genome sequence, production of a polyclonal
      antiserum, and host range of a Brazilian strain of johnsongrass mosaic virus
      (JGMV) found infecting Panicum maximum in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The
      complete genome sequence of this potyvirus, comprising 9874 nucleotides, showed
      82 % amino acid sequence identity in the polyprotein to that of an isolate of
      JGMV from Australia. The experimental host range of this virus included mainly
      fodder species. Cultivated species such as rice, oats, sugarcane, rye, corn and
      wheat were not infected, suggesting that current isolates of this potyvirus do
      not represent a threat to these crops in Brazil.

PMID- 26869278
TI  - Interleukin-6 trans-signalling induces vascular endothelial growth factor
      synthesis partly via Janus kinases-STAT3 pathway in human mesothelial cells.
AB  - AIMS: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a vital inflammatory factor in the peritoneal
      cavity of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Because intraperitoneal inflammation
      is closely associated with angiogenesis, we sought to explore the effect of IL-6
      on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis and its transduction
      pathway in mesothelial cells. METHODS: Human mesothelial cells (Met-5A) were
      incubated with different concentrations of glucose and mannitol, and the effect
      of glucose and mannitol on the expression of IL-6 was determined. Then, the cells
      were stimulated by IL-6 with or without two soluble receptors of IL-6 (sIL-6R or
      sgp130), and VEGF synthesis was detected. Finally, the cells were incubated with
      IL-6/sIL-6R combined with or without the inhibitor of Janus kinases (JAK) AG490.
      The phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
      (STAT3) and its intracellular translocation were examined. RESULTS: 1. High
      glucose and mannitol could upregulate IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 secretion in
      mesothelial cells significantly, and there was no difference of its effect
      between high glucose and mannitol. 2. Met-5A was a cell line with a single IL-6
      receptor. The IL-6/sIL-6R complex induced VEGF synthesis of mesothelial cells,
      which was alleviated by sgp130 or AG490. IL-6 trans-signalling could induce the
      phosphorylation of STAT3, which is recruited to the cellular nucleus of Met-5A
      cells. CONCLUSION: The present study might provide evidence that high glucose
      upregulates IL-6 synthesis in Met-5A cells, to some extent, depending on its
      osmolality and that IL-6 trans-signalling could induce VEGF synthesis partly
      dependent on the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

PMID- 26869280
TI  - Comparative dose response using the intravenous versus enteral route of
      administration for potassium replenishment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the change in potassium concentration (dose-response) using
      the intravenous versus enteral route for potassium replenishment. RESEARCH
      METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of individual potassium chloride
      doses with resulting changes in plasma potassium concentrations in intensive care
      patients. Potassium chloride was administered according to potassium
      replenishment protocols. For inclusion, doses were required to have pre- and post
      dose plasma potassium concentrations obtained within 8hours of administration.
      SETTING: Medical and surgical intensive care units of a United States Veterans
      Affairs Medical Center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the dose
      response slope for intravenous versus enteral potassium administration as
      estimated by linear regression analysis. Multivariable linear regression was
      employed to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: The sample had 278
      potassium chloride doses administered to 142 patients. The potassium
      concentration change per 20mmol of potassium chloride was similar for intravenous
      and enteral routes, 0.25mmol/L (95% confidence interval 0.16-0.33) versus
      0.27mmol/L (0.15-0.39) respectively (p=0.73). Multivariable linear regression did
      not alter results. The success of achieving a minimum potassium concentration
      defined by the specific protocol was similar for intravenous (61%) and enteral
      (59%) administration. Overall, 77% of potassium chloride doses were administered
      at a time when patients were eligible to receive an enteral dosage form.
      CONCLUSION: The enteral route was as effective as the intravenous route in
      increasing the plasma potassium concentration. The enteral route was widely
      available for potassium replenishment. Despite enteral route availability and the
      well-known reliability of potassium chloride absorption, the majority of doses
      were administered intravenously.

PMID- 26869281
TI  - WNT-activated medulloblastoma with melanotic and myogenic differentiation: Report
      of a rare case.
AB  - Medulloblastoma (MB) with melanotic and myogenic differentiation, previously
      known as melanotic medullomyoblastoma, is an extremely rare histological variant
      of MB showing melanocytic as well as skeletal muscle differentiation. Only 10
      cases of this rare tumor have been reported in the literature to date. We report
      this case of a 2-year-old male child who presented with a midline cerebellar
      mass, which on histopathological examination showed classic MB intermixed with
      cells containing melanin pigment, along with rhabdomyoblasts, spindle cells and
      occasional strap cells, which corresponded to WNT subgroup on molecular
      classification. The cell of origin of this MB variant is likely to be neural
      crest-derived stem cells which are capable of multilineage differentiation.
      Significant findings from previous reports and important differential diagnoses
      are discussed. Documentation of these tumors is important to characterize the
      clinical behaviour and to identify distinct genetic features, if any. 

PMID- 26869282
TI  - Estimating the impact of various pathway parameters on tenderness, flavour and
      juiciness of pork using Monte Carlo simulation methods.
AB  - Monte Carlo simulation was investigated as a potential methodology to estimate
      sensory tenderness, flavour and juiciness scores of pork following the
      implementation of key pathway interventions known to influence eating quality.
      Correction factors were established using mean data from published studies
      investigating key production, processing and cooking parameters. Probability
      distributions of correction factors were developed for single pathway parameters
      only, due to lack of interaction data. Except for moisture infusion, ageing
      period, aitchbone hanging and cooking pork to an internal temperature of >74
      degrees C, only small shifts in the mean of the probability distributions of
      correction factors were observed for the majority of pathway parameters
      investigated in this study. Output distributions of sensory scores, generated
      from Monte Carlo simulations of input distributions of correction factors and for
      individual pigs, indicated that this methodology may be useful in estimating both
      the shift and variability in pork eating traits when different pathway
      interventions are applied. 

PMID- 26869283
TI  - Consented Autopsy and the Middle-East.
AB  - Consented autopsy is almost non-existent in the Middle-East where established
      social and cultural beliefs regarding the procedure might discourage family
      members from requesting a consented autopsy. Evidence suggests that new
      information is obtained from consented autopsies. It would not be in the best
      interest of medicine if social and cultural misconceptions succeed in erasing the
      existence of consented autopsies entirely.

PMID- 26869286
TI  - Whole-Body and Local Muscle Vibration Immediately Improve Quadriceps Function in
      Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the immediate effects of a single session of whole-body
      vibration (WBV) and local muscle vibration (LMV) on quadriceps function in
      individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). DESIGN: Singe
      blind, randomized crossover trial. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS:
      Population-based sample of individuals with ACLR (N=20; mean age +/- SD, 21.1+/
      1.2y; mean mass +/- SD, 68.3+/-14.9kg; mean time +/- SD since ACLR, 50.7+/
      21.3mo; 14 women; 16 patellar tendon autografts, 3 hamstring autografts, 1
      allograft). INTERVENTIONS: Participants performed isometric squats while being
      exposed to WBV, LMV, or no vibration (control). Interventions were delivered in a
      randomized order during separate visits separated by 1 week. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Quadriceps active motor threshold (AMT), motor-evoked potential (MEP)
      amplitude, Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) amplitude, peak torque (PT), rate of torque
      development (RTD), electromyographic amplitude, and central activation ratio
      (CAR) were assessed before and immediately after a WBV, LMV, or control
      intervention. RESULTS: There was an increase in CAR (+4.9%, P=.001) and
      electromyographic amplitude (+16.2%, P=.002), and a reduction in AMT (-3.1%,
      P<.001) after WBV, and an increase in CAR (+2.7%, P=.001) and a reduction in AMT
      (-2.9%, P<.001) after LMV. No effect was observed after WBV or LMV in H-reflex,
      RTD, or MEP amplitude. AMT (-3.7%, P<.001), CAR (+5.7%, P=.005), PT (+.31Nm/kg,
      P=.004), and electromyographic amplitude (P=.002) in the WBV condition differed
      from the control condition postapplication. AMT (-3.0% P=.002), CAR (+3.6%,
      P=.005), and PT (+.30Nm/kg, P=.002) in the LMV condition differed from the
      control condition postapplication. No differences were observed between WBV and
      LMV postapplication in any measurement. CONCLUSIONS: WBV and LMV acutely improved
      quadriceps function and could be useful modalities for restoring quadriceps
      strength in individuals with knee pathologies.

PMID- 26869285
TI  - Machine learning-based classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients
      by eight gene expression profiles.
AB  - Gene expression profiling (GEP) had divided the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
      (DLBCL) into molecular subgroups: germinal center B-cell like (GCB), activated B
      cell like (ABC), and unclassified (UC) subtype. However, this classification with
      prognostic significance was not applied into clinical practice since there were
      more than 1000 genes to detect and interpreting was difficult. To classify cancer
      samples validly, eight significant genes (MYBL1, LMO2, BCL6, MME, IRF4, NFKBIZ,
      PDE4B, and SLA) were selected in 414 patients treated with CHOP/R-CHOP
      chemotherapy from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets. Cutoffs for each gene
      were obtained using receiver-operating characteristic curves (ROC) new model
      based on the support vector machine (SVM) estimated the probability of membership
      into one of two subgroups: GCB and Non-GCB (ABC and UC). Furtherly, multivariate
      analysis validated the model in another two cohorts including 855 cases in all.
      As a result, patients in the training and validated cohorts were stratified into
      two subgroups with 94.0%, 91.0%, and 94.4% concordance with GEP, respectively.
      Patients with Non-GCB subtype had significantly poorer outcomes than that with
      GCB subtype, which agreed with the prognostic power of GEP classification.
      Moreover, the similar prognosis received in the low (0-2) and high (3-5) IPI
      scores group demonstrated that the new model was independent of IPI as well as
      GEP method. In conclusion, our new model could stratify DLBCL patients with
      CHOP/R-CHOP regimen matching GEP subtypes effectively.

PMID- 26869287
TI  - Risk Factors for Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety One Year Poststroke: A
      Longitudinal Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the relative contribution of psychological factors next to
      sociodemographic and premorbid/stroke-related factors to the risk of developing
      symptoms of depression and anxiety after stroke. DESIGN: Multicenter,
      longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Patients after stroke from 6 general
      hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=331) were included at stroke onset and
      followed up 2 and 12 months after stroke. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic and premorbid/stroke-related information was
      recorded during hospital admission, whereas psychological characteristics were
      determined with postal questionnaires 2 months poststroke. Symptoms of depression
      and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) 2
      and 12 months poststroke. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to
      analyze the influence of sociodemographic, premorbid/stroke-related, and
      psychological characteristics on depressive symptoms (depression subscale of HADS
      >7) and symptoms of anxiety (anxiety subscale of HADS >7) 1 year after stroke.
      RESULTS: Early depression, stroke severity, posterior cerebral artery stroke, and
      neuroticism independently explained the variance of depressive symptoms 1 year
      poststroke (discriminative power, 83%; adjusted R(2) value, 36%). Neuroticism and
      early anxiety independently explained the variance of symptoms of anxiety 1 year
      poststroke (discriminative power, 88%; adjusted R(2) value, 44%). Based on these
      predictive models, nomograms were constructed to visually reflect the individual
      contribution of each risk factor to the development of long-term mood disorders
      after stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological characteristics are important risk
      factors for poststroke symptoms of depression and anxiety.

PMID- 26869284
TI  - Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and 'real world' adherence to guidelines
      in the Balkan Region: The BALKAN-AF Survey.
AB  - Data on the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the Balkan Region are
      limited. The Serbian AF Association (SAFA) prospectively investigated
      contemporary 'real-world' AF management in clinical practice in Albania,
      Bosnia&Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia through a
      14-week (December 2014-February 2015) prospective, multicentre survey of
      consecutive AF patients. We report the results pertinent to stroke prevention
      strategies. Of 2712 enrolled patients, 2663 (98.2%) with complete data were
      included in this analysis (mean age 69.1 +/- 10.9 years, female 44.6%). Overall,
      1960 patients (73.6%) received oral anticoagulants (OAC) and 762 (28.6%) received
      antiplatelet drugs. Of patients given OAC, 17.2% received non-vitamin K
      antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). CHA2DS2-VASc score was not significantly
      associated with OAC use. Of the 'truly low-risk' patients (CHA2DS2-VASc = 0
      [males], or 1 [females]) 56.5% received OAC. Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) was
      available in only 18.7% of patients (mean TTR: 49.5% +/- 22.3%). Age >= 80 years,
      prior myocardial infarction and paroxysmal AF were independent predictors of OAC
      non-use. Our survey shows a relatively high overall use of OAC in AF patients,
      but with low quality of vitamin K antagonist therapy and insufficient adherence
      to AF guidelines. Additional efforts are needed to improve AF-related
      thromboprophylaxis in clinical practice in the Balkan Region.

PMID- 26869288
TI  - Short-Term Improvement in Physical Activity and Body Composition After Supervised
      Exercise Training Program in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of participating in a 12-week supervised
      exercise training (ET) program on physical activity and body composition in
      patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). DESIGN: Randomized controlled
      trial assessing physical activity and body composition at baseline, after 12-week
      intervention, and at 11 months follow-up. SETTING: Outpatient hospital.
      PARTICIPANTS: Patients with IPF (N=34; mean age, 68+/-8y) recruited for this
      study; 32 patients completed the 12-week intervention (ET group: n=15; control
      group: n=17) and 28 patients (14 in each group) reassessed at 11-month follow-up
      from baseline. INTERVENTIONS: Participation in a 12-week supervised ET program or
      regular medical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in physical activity
      levels as measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS:
      After the 12-week intervention, physical activity levels were significantly
      increased in the ET group whereas the control group showed a trend toward
      deterioration (median difference between the groups, 2164MET-min/wk
      [interquartile range, 1576MET-min/wk]; MET = metabolic equivalent; P<.001). Body
      composition was also significantly improved in the ET group, whereas the control
      group showed an opposite trend. At 11-month follow-up, no significant differences
      were observed between the 2 groups in all variables. The ET group lost most of
      the achieved improvements in the outcomes and returned to near baseline levels,
      whereas the control group showed a trend toward worsened outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:
      Physical activity and body composition in patients with IPF were improved after a
      12-week supervised ET program, although the benefits were not sustained at 11
      month follow-up. These results may support the efficacy of participation in
      supervised ET to improve physical activity and body composition in patients with
      IPF; however, maintenance strategies are warranted to preserve the improved
      outcomes.

PMID- 26869289
TI  - Oncogenic Gene Fusion FGFR3-TACC3 Is Regulated by Tyrosine Phosphorylation.
AB  - Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) are critical for cell proliferation and
      differentiation. Mutation and/or translocation of FGFRs lead to aberrant
      signaling that often results in developmental syndromes or cancer growth. As
      sequencing of human tumors becomes more frequent, so does the detection of FGFR
      translocations and fusion proteins. The research conducted in this article
      examines a frequently identified fusion protein between FGFR3 and transforming
      acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 (TACC3), frequently identified in
      glioblastoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer, oral cancer, head and neck squamous
      cell carcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and cervical cancer. Using titanium dioxide
      based phosphopeptide enrichment (TiO2)-liquid chromatography (LC)-high mass
      accuracy tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), it was demonstrated that the fused
      coiled-coil TACC3 domain results in constitutive phosphorylation of key
      activating FGFR3 tyrosine residues. The presence of the TACC coiled-coil domain
      leads to increased and altered levels of FGFR3 activation, fusion protein
      phosphorylation, MAPK pathway activation, nuclear localization, cellular
      transformation, and IL3-independent proliferation. Introduction of K508R FGFR3
      kinase-dead mutation abrogates these effects, except for nuclear localization
      which is due solely to the TACC3 domain. IMPLICATIONS: These results demonstrate
      that FGFR3 kinase activity is essential for the oncogenic effects of the FGFR3
      TACC3 fusion protein and could serve as a therapeutic target, but that
      phosphorylated tyrosine residues within the TACC3-derived portion are not
      critical for activity. Mol Cancer Res; 14(5); 458-69. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26869290
TI  - SGK Kinase Activity in Multiple Myeloma Cells Protects against ER Stress
      Apoptosis via a SEK-Dependent Mechanism.
AB  - To assess the role of the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK) kinase
      in multiple myeloma, we ectopically expressed wild type or a phosphomimetic
      version of SGK into multiple myeloma cell lines. These cells were specifically
      resistant to the ER stress inducers tunicamycin, thapsigargin, and bortezomib. In
      contrast, there was no alteration of sensitivity to dexamethasone, serum
      starvation, or mTORC inhibitors. Mining of genomic data from a public database
      indicated that low baseline SGK expression in multiple myeloma patients
      correlated with enhanced ability to undergo a complete response to subsequent
      bortezomib treatment and a longer time to progression and overall survival
      following treatment. SGK overexpressing multiple myeloma cells were also
      relatively resistant to bortezomib in a murine xenograft model. Parental/control
      multiple myeloma cells demonstrated a rapid upregulation of SGK expression and
      activity (phosphorylation of NDRG-1) during exposure to bortezomib and an SGK
      inhibitor significantly enhanced bortezomib-induced apoptosis in cell lines and
      primary multiple myeloma cells. In addition, a multiple myeloma cell line
      selected for bortezomib resistance demonstrated enhanced SGK expression and SGK
      activity. Mechanistically, SGK overexpression constrained an ER stress-induced
      JNK proapoptotic pathway and experiments with a SEK mutant supported the notion
      that SGK's protection against bortezomib was mediated via its phosphorylation of
      SEK (MAP2K4) which abated SEK/JNK signaling. These data support a role for SGK
      inhibitors in the clinical setting for myeloma patients receiving treatment with
      ER stress inducers like bortezomib. IMPLICATIONS: Enhanced SGK expression and
      activity in multiple myeloma cells contributes to resistance to ER stress,
      including bortezomib challenge.

PMID- 26869292
TI  - [Parkinsonian syndrome].

PMID- 26869291
TI  - [Efficiency and good tolerance of rituximab for idiopathic thrombocytopenic
      purpura revealing a 22q11 deletion syndrome].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: 22q11 deletion is a common genetic disorder which associates a
      polymalformative syndrome to dysimmune features. Autoimmunity and immune
      deficiency manifestations are often associated, resulting in a therapeutic
      challenge for this disease. CASE REPORT: We report a 28-year-old patient who
      presented with hemorrhagic manifestations leading to the diagnosis of severe
      thrombocytopenia (15,000/mm3), of both central and peripheral origin. Patient
      history, cardio-facial malformative syndrome, hypoparathyroidism and partial
      immune deficiency led to the molecular diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome.
      After failure of polyvalent immunoglobulin infusions, rituximab alone allowed the
      increase of platelets to their usual level of 100-120,000/mm3 within 4 weeks and
      a complete clinical remission of the hemorrhagic syndrome, without any infectious
      complication after a 4-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Rituximab may be an
      alternative to corticosteroid for the treatment of auto-immune manifestations
      associated with minor forms of 22q11 deletion syndrome without significant
      worsening of the immune deficiency.

PMID- 26869294
TI  - [Cutaneous lesion].

PMID- 26869293
TI  - [Therapeutic endovascular procedures in aortitis].
AB  - Aortitis is an inflammation of the aortic wall with an infectious or non
      infectious origin, which often progresses to vascular complications. The open
      surgical approach is a high-risk procedure for these pathologies. Endovascular
      interventions have improved the prognosis of patients with aortitis
      complications. This manuscript describes the pathophysiology responsible for
      vascular complications and the role of endovascular approach for their treatment.

PMID- 26869295
TI  - [Three cases of Jaccoud's arthropathy during systemic sclerosis].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Jaccoud's arthropathy (JA) is a chronic and non-erosive deforming
      arthropathy, usually affecting the hands. JA pathophysiology is poorly known but
      involves periarticular structures such as tendons and the joint capsule. JA is
      associated with various conditions including the connective tissue disease,
      especially systemic lupus erythematosis. JA has been rarely described and studied
      in systemic sclerosis. CASE REPORTS: We report the clinical histories of 3
      patients with systemic sclerosis (ScS) who developed JA. One patient had a
      systemic limited disease and the 2 others a cutaneous limited disease ; mean age
      of the patients was 79.3 years. Systemic sclerosis was diagnosed respectively 19,
      1 and 21 years prior to the development of JA. One of the 3 patients had a past
      clinical history of discoid lupus. For 1 out of the 3 patients, JA appeared
      whereas the ScS was completely stable. The disease was still active in the 2
      remaining patients, with concurrent pulmonary hypertension diagnosis. Deformities
      increased during years (Z thumbs, ulnar deviation), leading to mild to severe
      disability. No benefit from either prednisone (n=2) or a combination of
      prednisone and methotrexate (n=1) was obtained. CONCLUSION: We described 3 cases
      of Jaccoud's arthropathy among our scleroderma cohort of 296 patients (1%). This
      arthropathy worsens hand functional disability. Its pathophysiology is unknown
      and optimal therapeutic approach remains to establish.

PMID- 26869296
TI  - Quantitative determination of nine urinary metabolites of organophosphate flame
      retardants using solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid
      chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).
AB  - Over the last few years, the use of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) has
      been on the rise; however, there are knowledge gaps in both the human health
      effects of OPFRs and levels of human exposure. Currently, human biomonitoring
      data on the levels of OPFR metabolites in the Canadian population are still non
      existent. Herein we describe a novel method to measure nine urinary OPFR
      metabolites using solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid
      chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The method
      detection limits were between 0.08 and 0.25ng/mL for target metabolites. The
      newly developed and validated method was applied to the analysis of 24 urine
      samples collected in 2010-12 from pregnant Canadian women. The most frequently
      detected OPFR metabolite in urine of study participants (detection frequency:
      97%) was diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), with concentrations ranging between <0.13
      25.2ng/mL, followed (75%) by the sum of two metabolites (DoCP: Di-o-cresyl
      phosphate and DpCP: Di-p- cresyl phosphate) of tricresyl phosphate, with
      concentrations between <0.13-4.38ng/mL. With the exception of desbutyl-tris-(2
      butoxy-ethyl) phosphate which was not detected in any of the samples, all other
      OPFR metabolites measured were found among study participants with variable
      detection frequency, suggesting pregnant Canadian women may be exposed to OPFRs. 

PMID- 26869297
TI  - Molecular Risk Factors for Schizophrenia.
AB  - Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex and strongly heritable mental disorder, which is
      also associated with developmental-environmental triggers. As opposed to most
      diagnosable diseases (yet similar to other mental disorders), SZ diagnosis is
      commonly based on psychiatric evaluations. Recently, large-scale genetic and
      epigenetic approaches have been applied to SZ research with the goal of
      potentially improving diagnosis. Increased computational analyses and applied
      statistical algorithms may shed some light on the complex genetic and epigenetic
      pathways contributing to SZ pathogenesis. This review discusses the latest
      advances in molecular risk factors and diagnostics for SZ. Approaches such as
      these may lead to a more accurate definition of SZ and assist in creating
      extended and reliable clinical diagnoses with the potential for personalized
      treatment. 

PMID- 26869298
TI  - Improving quality in healthcare: What makes a satisfied patient?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To update the metric properties of a perceived quality questionnaire
      for patients admitted to hospital medical departments, to determine the level of
      patient satisfaction achieved, and to identify the variables which predict
      satisfaction. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaire completed at home
      following patient discharge, using a questionnaire prepared by the authors on a
      sample of 7207 users of medical departments in 9 public hospitals during the
      years 2006-2009. A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was
      performed. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency coefficient. An
      analysis was made of the compliance with each indicator reported by respondents.
      A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the perceived quality
      dimensions which predicted overall patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The results of
      the reliability analysis indicated good coefficients for interpersonal manner
      (0.94) and professional competence (0.85) dimensions, and moderate values for the
      other dimensions (comfort 0.55, information 0.38, and organisation 0.37). Factor
      analyses showed single factors in each of the perceived quality dimensions, with
      a percentage of explained variance greater than 35% for information,
      interpersonal manner, professional competence, and comfort, and less than 30% for
      organisation. The dimensions which predicted satisfaction were interpersonal
      manner of healthcare staff, professional competence, and information.
      CONCLUSIONS: The metric properties of the questionnaire used have been updated,
      yielding a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing patient satisfaction in
      quality management programmes, both for internal purposes and for conducting
      external comparisons. A positive relationship was obtained between the level of
      patient satisfaction and level of professional competence, interpersonal manner
      of healthcare staff, and information received.

PMID- 26869300
TI  - Erratum: Importance of Oceanian small mountainous rivers (SMRs) in global land-to
      ocean output of lignin and modern biospheric carbon.

PMID- 26869299
TI  - SOHLH2 is essential for synaptonemal complex formation during spermatogenesis in
      early postnatal mouse testes.
AB  - Spermatogenesis- and oogenesis-specific helix-loop-helix transcription factor 2
      (SOHLH2) is exclusively expressed in germ cells of the gonads. Previous studies
      show that SOHLH2 is critical for spermatogenesis in mouse. However, the
      regulatory mechanism of SOHLH2 during early spermatogenesis is poorly understood.
      In the present study, we analyzed the gene expression profile of the Sohlh2
      deficient testis and examined the role of SOHLH2 during spermatogenesis. We found
      513 genes increased in abundance, while 492 genes decreased in abundance in 14
      day-old Sohlh2-deficient mouse testes compared to wildtype mice. Gene ontology
      analysis revealed that Sohlh2 disruption effects the relative abundance of
      various meiotic genes during early spermatogenesis, including Spo11, Dmc1, Msh4,
      Prdm9, Sycp1, Sycp2, Sycp3, Hormad1, and Hormad2. Western blot analysis and
      immunostaining showed that SYCP3, a component of synaptonemal complex, was
      significantly less abundant in Sohlh2-deficient spermatocytes. We observed a lack
      of synaptonemal complex formation during meiosis in Sohlh2-deficient
      spermatocytes. Furthermore, we found that SOHLH2 interacted with two E-boxes on
      the mouse Sycp1 promoter and Sycp1 promoter activity increased with ectopically
      expressed SOHLH2. Taken together, our data suggest that SOHLH2 is critical for
      the formation of synaptonemal complexes via its regulation of Sycp1 expression
      during mouse spermatogonial differentiation.

PMID- 26869302
TI  - Dameshek W. Some speculations on the myeloproliferative syndromes [editorial].
      Blood. 1951;6(4):372-375.

PMID- 26869301
TI  - Simple assembly of polysubstituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles via ring closure-ring
      opening domino reaction of 3-acyl-4,5-dihydrofurans with hydrazines and
      hydroxylamine.
AB  - A convenient general approach to 2-(pyrazol-4-yl)- and 2-(isoxazol-4-yl)ethanols
      based on the Bronsted acid-initiated reaction of 3-acyl-4,5-dihydrofurans with
      hydrazines or hydroxylamine was developed. Further transformation of the alcohol
      moiety in 2-(pyrazolyl)ethanols affording 2-(pyrazolyl)ethylamine as potent
      bioactive compounds as well as pyrazole-substituted derivatives of antitumor
      alkaloid crispine A was elaborated. 

PMID- 26869303
TI  - Platelet antibody identification: toward a solution.

PMID- 26869304
TI  - BCR-ABL1 mutation ? ponatinib resistance.

PMID- 26869305
TI  - B cells help CD8+ T-cell responses.

PMID- 26869306
TI  - FOXO discriminates tonic from chronic in DLBCL.

PMID- 26869307
TI  - Origin of stem cells in the BM niche: new clues from mastocytosis.

PMID- 26869308
TI  - Gas6 fueling tumor-mediated thrombosis.

PMID- 26869309
TI  - Adult patients with parapneumonic empyema who may not require pleural drainage.

PMID- 26869310
TI  - (18)F-FDG-PET/CT in a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

PMID- 26869311
TI  - Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome after Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A
      Randomized Single-Blind Clinical Trial Evaluating the Impact of Irrigation
      Pressure.
AB  - PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of intraoperative irrigation pressures on the
      risk of systemic inflammatory response after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2014 and March 2015, 90 patients with
      renal stones planned for percutaneous nephrolithotomy were randomized between low
      (80 mm Hg) and high (200 mm Hg) irrigation pressure. Patient demographics,
      perioperative outcomes and systemic inflammatory response incidence rates were
      compared using the chi-square and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: Mean
      patient age, gender, body mass index and other perioperative outcomes were
      similar in both arms. High pressure irrigation was associated with a higher risk
      of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (46%) compared to low pressure
      irrigation (11%, p=0.0002). On multivariate analysis only high irrigation
      pressure, paraplegia or neurogenic bladder and nonquinolone perioperative
      medication were predictive of postoperative systemic inflammatory response
      syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: High pressure fluid irrigation fluid increases the risk of
      postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome after percutaneous
      nephrolithotomy.

PMID- 26869312
TI  - Approximal and occlusal carious lesions: Restorative treatment decisions by
      California dentists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Investigators use questionnaire surveys to evaluate treatment
      philosophies in dental practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      management strategies California dentists use for approximal and occlusal carious
      lesions. METHODS: In May 2013, the authors e-mailed a questionnaire that
      addressed approximal and occlusal carious lesion management (detection and
      restorative threshold, preferred preparation type, and restorative materials) to
      16,960 dentists in California. The authors performed a chi(2) statistical
      analysis to investigate the relationship between management strategies and
      respondent demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The authors received responses
      from 1,922 (11.3%) dentists; 42.6% of the respondents would restore approximal
      lesions at the dentinoenamel junction, and 33.4% would wait until the lesion
      reached the outer one-third of dentin. The preferred preparation type was the
      traditional Class II preparation. Dentists who graduated more recently (20 years
      or less) were more likely to delay approximal restorations (P < .0001); 49.9% of
      the more recent graduates would wait to restore an occlusal lesion until the
      outer one-third of dentin was involved, and 42.6% would restore a lesion confined
      to enamel. CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variety among California dentists regarding
      their restorative treatment decisions, with most dentists restoring a tooth
      earlier than the literature would advise. More recent dental graduates were more
      likely to place their restorative threshold at deeper lesions for approximal
      carious lesions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinical evidence shows that
      noncavitated carious lesions can be remineralized; therefore, early restorative
      treatment may no longer be necessary or appropriate. Noninvasive and minimally
      invasive measures should be taken into consideration.

PMID- 26869314
TI  - Improving the thermostability and enhancing the Ca(2+) binding of the
      maltohexaose-forming alpha-amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.
AB  - The thermostability of the maltohexaose-forming alpha-amylase from Bacillus
      stearothermophilus (AmyMH) without added Ca(2+) was improved through structure
      based rational design in this study. Through comparison of a homologous model
      structure of AmyMH with the crystal structure of the thermostable alpha-amylase
      from Bacillus licheniformis, Ser242, which located at the beginning of fourth
      alpha-helix of the central (beta/alpha)8 barrel was selected for mutation to
      improve thermostability. In addition, an amide-containing side chain (Asn193) and
      a loop in domain B (DeltaIG mutation), which have been proven to be important for
      thermostability in corresponding position of other alpha-amylases, were also
      investigated. Five mutants carrying the mutations DeltaIG, N193F, S242A,
      DeltaIG/N193F, and DeltaIG/N193F/S242A were generated and their proteins
      characterized. The most thermostable mutant protein, DeltaIG/N193F/S242A,
      exhibited a 26-fold improvement in half-life at 95 degrees C compared to the wild
      type enzyme without added Ca(2+). Mutant DeltaIG/N193F/S242A also exhibited
      substantially better activity and stability in the presence of the chelator EDTA,
      demonstrating enhanced Ca(2+) binding. These results suggest that mutant
      DeltaIG/N193F/S242A has potential for use in the industrial liquefaction of
      starch. 

PMID- 26869313
TI  - Network burst dynamics under heterogeneous cholinergic modulation of neural
      firing properties and heterogeneous synaptic connectivity.
AB  - The characteristics of neural network activity depend on intrinsic neural
      properties and synaptic connectivity in the network. In brain networks, both of
      these properties are critically affected by the type and levels of
      neuromodulators present. The expression of many of the most powerful
      neuromodulators, including acetylcholine (ACh), varies tonically and phasically
      with behavioural state, leading to dynamic, heterogeneous changes in intrinsic
      neural properties and synaptic connectivity properties. Namely, ACh significantly
      alters neural firing properties as measured by the phase response curve in a
      manner that has been shown to alter the propensity for network synchronization.
      The aim of this simulation study was to build an understanding of how
      heterogeneity in cholinergic modulation of neural firing properties and
      heterogeneity in synaptic connectivity affect the initiation and maintenance of
      synchronous network bursting in excitatory networks. We show that cells that
      display different levels of ACh modulation have differential roles in generating
      network activity: weakly modulated cells are necessary for burst initiation and
      provide synchronizing drive to the rest of the network, whereas strongly
      modulated cells provide the overall activity level necessary to sustain burst
      firing. By applying several quantitative measures of network activity, we further
      show that the existence of network bursting and its characteristics, such as
      burst duration and intraburst synchrony, are dependent on the fraction of cell
      types providing the synaptic connections in the network. These results suggest
      mechanisms underlying ACh modulation of brain oscillations and the modulation of
      seizure activity during sleep states.

PMID- 26869316
TI  - Genetic data: The new challenge of personalized medicine, insights for rheumatoid
      arthritis patients.
AB  - Rapid advances in genotyping technology, analytical methods, and the
      establishment of large cohorts for population genetic studies have resulted in a
      large new body of information about the genetic basis of human rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). Improved understanding of the root pathogenesis of the disease
      holds the promise of improved diagnostic and prognostic tools based upon this
      information. In this review, we summarize the nature of new genetic findings in
      human RA, including susceptibility loci and gene-gene and gene-environment
      interactions, as well as genetic loci associated with sub-groups of patients and
      those associated with response to therapy. Possible uses of these data are
      discussed, such as prediction of disease risk as well as personalized therapy and
      prediction of therapeutic response and risk of adverse events. While these
      applications are largely not refined to the point of clinical utility in RA, it
      seems likely that multi-parameter datasets including genetic, clinical, and
      biomarker data will be employed in the future care of RA patients. 

PMID- 26869315
TI  - Structure, expression and functions of MTA genes.
AB  - Metastatic associated proteins (MTA) are integrators of upstream regulatory
      signals with the ability to act as master coregulators for modifying gene
      transcriptional activity. The MTA family includes three genes and multiple
      alternatively spliced variants. The MTA proteins neither have their own enzymatic
      activity nor have been shown to directly interact with DNA. However, MTA proteins
      interact with a variety of chromatin remodeling factors and complexes with
      enzymatic activities for modulating the plasticity of nucleosomes, leading to the
      repression or derepression of target genes or other extra-nuclear and nucleosome
      remodeling and histone deacetylase (NuRD)-complex independent activities. The
      functions of MTA family members are driven by the steady state levels and
      subcellular localization of MTA proteins, the dynamic nature of modifying signals
      and enzymes, the structural features and post-translational modification of
      protein domains, interactions with binding proteins, and the nature of the
      engaged and resulting features of nucleosomes in the proximity of target genes.
      In general, MTA1 and MTA2 are the most upregulated genes in human cancer and
      correlate well with aggressive phenotypes, therapeutic resistance, poor prognosis
      and ultimately, unfavorable survival of cancer patients. Here we will discuss the
      structure, expression and functions of the MTA family of genes in the context of
      cancer cells.

PMID- 26869318
TI  - Molecular characterization of a human matrix attachment region that improves
      transgene expression in CHO cells.
AB  - Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells offer many advantages for recombinant gene
      expression, including proper folding and post-translational modification of the
      recombinant protein. However, due to positional effects resulting from the
      neighboring chromatin, transgenes are often expressed at low levels in these
      cells. While previous studies demonstrated that matrix attachment regions (MARs)
      can be utilized to increase transgene expression by buffering transgene
      silencing, the mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood. We therefore
      performed a deletion analysis of the human beta-globin MAR sequence to
      characterize the regions that are necessary to enhance transgene expression in
      CHO cells. Our results indicate that of the six beta-globin MAR fragments tested
      (MAR-1-6; nucleotides 1-540, 420-1020, 900-1500, 1380-1980, 1860-2460, and 2340
      2999, respectively), MAR-2, followed by MAR-3, was the most effective region for
      promoting stable and elevated transgene expression. Meanwhile, bioinformatic
      analyses demonstrated that these fragments encode a MAR-like motif and several
      transcription factor binding sites, including special AT-rich binding protein 1
      (SATB1), CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP), CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF),
      and Glutathione (GSH) binding motifs, indicating that these elements may
      contribute to the MAR-mediated enhancement of transgene expression. In addition,
      we found that truncated MAR derivatives yield more stable transgene expression
      levels than transgenes lacking the MAR. We concluded that the MAR-mediated
      transcriptional activation of transgenes requires a specific AT-rich sequence, as
      well as specific transcription factor-binding motifs.

PMID- 26869317
TI  - Expression analysis and characterization of an autosome-localized tesk1 gene in
      half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).
AB  - Testis-specific protein kinase 1 (tesk1) represents a conserved gene family
      functioning in many cellular processes. In this study, we cloned and
      characterized an autosome-localized tesk1 gene (Altesk1) from Cynoglossus
      semilaevis. The open reading frame consists of 2088 nucleotides and encodes a 665
      amino acid polypeptide. Phylogenetic analyses show that vertebrate Tesk1s are
      divided into two clusters based on protein length and AlTesk1 belongs to "long
      type" group. Semi-quantitative PCR reveals that Altesk1 is predominantly
      expressed in ovary, despite of relatively low detection in some other tissues.
      Among different development stages, Altesk1 transcripts are only observed in
      ovary samples of 210-day and 1-year fish. In situ hybridization analyses have
      further confirmed its major localization in oocyte cells. Comparison of
      methylation patterns in different sexual genotypes reveals the low methylation
      level of Altesk1 promoter in female, which is consistent with Altesk1 high
      expression level in female. Taken together, this is the first time that tesk1
      gene has been found to show female-biased expression and in view of this, we
      postulate that AlTesk1 might be involved in some cellular processes specific in
      ovary, e.g. oogenesis.

PMID- 26869319
TI  - Phage M13 for the treatment of Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
AB  - The studies of microbes have been instrumental in combatting infectious diseases,
      but they have also led to great insights into basic biological mechanism like DNA
      replication, transcription, and translation of mRNA. In particular, the studies
      of bacterial viruses, also called bacteriophage, have been quite useful to study
      specific cellular processes because of the ease to isolate their DNA, mRNA, and
      proteins. Here, I review the recent discovery of how properties of the
      filamentous phage M13 emerge as a novel approach to combat neurodegenerative
      diseases. 

PMID- 26869323
TI  - Framework for Evaluating the Impact of Advanced Practice Nursing Roles.
AB  - PURPOSE: To address the gap in evidence-based information required to support the
      development of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles in Switzerland, stakeholders
      identified the need for guidance to generate strategic evaluation data. This
      article describes an evaluation framework developed to inform decisions about the
      effective utilization of APN roles across the country. APPROACH: A participatory
      approach was used by an international group of stakeholders. Published literature
      and an evidenced-based framework for introducing APN roles were analyzed and
      applied to define the purpose, target audiences, and essential elements of the
      evaluation framework. Through subsequent meetings and review by an expert panel,
      the framework was developed and refined. FINDINGS: A framework to evaluate
      different types of APN roles as they evolve to meet dynamic population health,
      practice setting, and health system needs was created. It includes a matrix of
      key concepts to guide evaluations across three stages of APN role development:
      introduction, implementation, and long-term sustainability. For each stage,
      evaluation objectives and questions examining APN role structures, processes, and
      outcomes from different perspectives (e.g., patients, providers, managers, policy
      makers) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: A practical, robust framework based on well
      established evaluation concepts and current understanding of APN roles can be
      used to conduct systematic evaluations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The evaluation
      framework is sufficiently generic to allow application in developed countries
      globally, both for evaluation as well as research purposes.

PMID- 26869327
TI  - Increased Reach of Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment as a Tool for Precision
      Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer.

PMID- 26869328
TI  - Kingella kingae-Associated Pediatric Osteoarticular Infections: An Overview of
      566 Reported Cases.
AB  - This study aimed to summarize clinical experience with Kingella kingae-associated
      pediatric osteoarticular infections (OAIs). We reviewed 566 cases in the English
      literature from 2000 to June 2014. More than 80% of the patients were diagnosed
      between 4 months and 4 years of age, and the male to female ratio was 1.14:1. The
      most frequent preceding illness was upper respiratory tract infections (82%). The
      top 3 OAIs types were septic arthritis (73.1%), osteomyelitis (15.7%), and
      spondylodiscitis (5.4%), and the most affected sites of these types were knee
      (46%), calcaneus (20%), and L4/5 disc (70%). All cases where polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR) technique was used were PCR positive, no reported cases of
      positive cultures for K kingae with negative PCR. The duration of antibiotics use
      ranged from 2 to 4 weeks. Beta-lactam antibiotics were the most frequently used
      intravenously and orally. The clinical efficacy was favorable.

PMID- 26869329
TI  - Multidrug co-crystals: towards the development of effective therapeutic hybrids.
AB  - Co-crystals have garnered the interest of the pharmaceutical industry with the
      introduction of regulatory guidelines by the US Food and Drug Administration
      (FDA) as a result of expanded patent portfolios. The Phase II clinical success of
      tramadol and celecoxib co-crystal for the treatment of acute pain followed by a
      recent reflection paper published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have
      further boosted the development of drug-drug co-crystals. Here, we shed light on
      the developments of drug-drug co-crystals and highlight future perspectives for
      exploring new therapeutic hybrids deploying drug-drug, drug-nutraceuticals and
      drug-inorganic salt combinations with improved pharmaceutical and
      biopharmaceutical performance. 

PMID- 26869331
TI  - [In Germany too many ICD implantations are performed: pro].
AB  - Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) have undoubtedly developed into one
      of the most successful therapies in the field of cardiology over the last
      decades; however, a significant number of ICD operations are carried out in
      patients who do not benefit from ICD therapy despite significant left ventricular
      dysfunction. These patients can easily be identified. An ICD therapy does not
      prolong life in the setting of significant chronic kidney disease. In elderly
      patients the benefit of prophylactic ICD therapy is very small. Simple risk
      scores can identify other patients who do not benefit from this treatment. The
      number of ICD operations can also be significantly reduced by the use of devices
      with an extended longevity. 

PMID- 26869330
TI  - [Hemodynamics and physical capacity in patients with left ventricular assist
      devices : An overview].
AB  - In the course of time implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) has
      become an alternative to heart transplantation due to the enormous technical
      developments and miniaturization of these systems. Following implantation most
      patients show a significant improvement in their clinical condition and exercise
      capacity as measured by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification;
      nevertheless, exercise tolerance remains clearly limited even after LVAD
      implantation. The complex physiological and hemodynamic changes in LVAD patients
      both at rest and during exercise are ultimately not completely understood. The
      aim of this article is to describe the current state of scientific knowledge with
      respect to the physical capacity of patients with terminal heart failure after
      LVAD implantation at rest and during exercise. The influence of increasing the
      pump speed and continuous physical exercise training on the physical capacity in
      the long-term course is reviewed. The significance of new diagnostic tools, such
      as the non-invasive inert gas rebreathing method for measurement of cardiac
      output and arteriovenous oxygen difference (AVDO2) in assessment of the
      performance of LVAD patients is discussed. 

PMID- 26869332
TI  - Gestational diabetic transcriptomic profiling of microdissected human
      trophoblast.
AB  - Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the most common metabolic complication of
      pregnancy, is influenced by the placenta, and its prevalence directly increases
      with obesity. Therefore, to define the aetiology of GDM requires that the
      confounding influence of obesity and the heterogeneous nature of the placenta
      impairing accurate quantitative studies be accounted for. Using laser capture
      microdissection (LCM), we optimized RNA extraction from human placental
      trophoblast, the metabolic cellular interface between mother and foetus. This
      allowed specific transcriptomic profiling of trophoblast isolated from GDM, and
      obese and normal human placentae. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was
      performed on the RNA extracted from the trophoblast of GDM and obese and normal
      placentae. Forty-five differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specifically
      discriminated GDM from matched obese subjects. Two genes previously linked with
      GDM, pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein 6 (PSG6) and placental system A
      sodium-dependent transporter system (SLC38A1), were significantly increased in
      GDM. A number of these DEGs (8 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBE) splice
      variants (UBE2D3 variants 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9) and UBE2V1 variant 4)) were
      involved in RNA processing and splicing, and a significant number of the DEGs,
      including the UBE variants, were associated with increased maternal fasting
      plasma glucose.It is concluded that DEGs discriminating GDM from obese subjects
      were pinpointed. Our data indicate a biological link between genes involved in
      RNA processing and splicing, ubiquitination, and fasting plasma glucose in GDM
      taking into account obesity as the confounder.

PMID- 26869333
TI  - Sfrp5 mediates glucose-induced proliferation in rat pancreatic beta-cells.
AB  - The cellular and molecular mechanisms of glucose-stimulated beta-cell
      proliferation are poorly understood. Recently, secreted frizzled-related protein
      5 (encoded by Sfrp5; a Wnt signaling inhibitor) has been demonstrated to be
      involved in beta-cell proliferation in obesity. A previous study demonstrated
      that glucose enhanced Wnt signaling to promote cell proliferation. We
      hypothesized that inhibition of SFRP5 contributes to glucose-stimulated beta-cell
      proliferation. In this study, we found that the Sfrp5 level was significantly
      reduced in high glucose-treated INS-1 cells, primary rat beta-cells, and islets
      isolated from glucose-infused rats. Overexpression of SFRP5 diminished glucose
      stimulated proliferation in both INS-1 cells and primary beta-cells, with a
      concomitant inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway and decreased cyclin D2
      expression. In addition, we showed that glucose-induced Sfrp5 suppression was
      modulated by the PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, we conclude that glucose inhibits
      Sfrp5 expression via the PI3K/AKT pathway and hence promotes rat pancreatic beta
      cell proliferation.

PMID- 26869334
TI  - Luteimonas tolerans sp. nov., isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane-contaminated
      soil.
AB  - A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, yellow pigmented
      bacterial strain (UM1T) was isolated from the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)
      contaminated dumpsite located at Ummari village in Lucknow, India. Phylogenetic
      analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain UM1T belongs to
      the genus Luteimonas with Luteimonas aestuarii B9T as the closest neighbour
      (97.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain UM1T was
      64.3 mol%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG),
      phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Main fatty acids
      were iso-C15:0, iso-C11:0, iso-C11:0 3-OH, iso-C17:0 and summed feature 9 (C16:0
      10-methyl and/or iso-C17:1omega9c). Ubiquinone (Q-8) was the only respiratory
      quinone. Spermidine was detected as the major polyamine. The DNA-DNA relatedness
      value of strain UM1T with respect to its closest neighbour Luteimonas aestuarii
      B9T was well below 70 % (~49%). Thus, data obtained from phylogenetic analysis,
      DNA-DNA hybridization, and chemotaxonomical and biochemical analyses supports
      classification of strain UM1T as representative of a novel species of the genus
      Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas tolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type
      strain is UM1T (=DSM 28473T=MCC 2572T=KCTC 42936T).

PMID- 26869335
TI  - Structural Insights into the Tetrameric State of Aspartate-beta-semialdehyde
      Dehydrogenases from Fungal Species.
AB  - Aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) catalyzes the second reaction
      in the aspartate pathway, a pathway required for the biosynthesis of one fifth of
      the essential amino acids in plants and microorganisms. Microarray analysis of a
      fungal pathogen T. rubrum responsible for most human dermatophytoses identified
      the upregulation of ASADH (trASADH) expression when the fungus is exposed to
      human skin, underscoring its potential as a drug target. Here we report the
      crystal structure of trASADH, revealing a tetrameric ASADH with a GAPDH-like
      fold. The tetramerization of trASADH was confirmed by sedimentation and SAXS
      experiments. Native PAGE demonstrated that this ASADH tetramerization is
      apparently universal in fungal species, unlike the functional dimer that is
      observed in all bacterial ASADHs. The helical subdomain in dimeric bacteria ASADH
      is replaced by the cover loop in archaeal/fungal ASADHs, presenting the
      determinant for this altered oligomerization. Mutations that disrupt the
      tetramerization of trASADH also abolish the catalytic activity, suggesting that
      the tetrameric state is required to produce the active fungal enzyme form. Our
      findings provide a basis to categorize ASADHs into dimeric and tetrameric
      enzymes, adopting a different orientation for NADP binding and offer a structural
      framework for designing drugs that can specifically target the fungal pathogens.

PMID- 26869336
TI  - The signaling pathways by which the Fas/FasL system accelerates oocyte aging.
AB  - In spite of great efforts, the mechanisms for postovulatory oocyte aging are not
      fully understood. Although our previous work showed that the FasL/Fas signaling
      facilitated oocyte aging, the intra-oocyte signaling pathways are unknown.
      Furthermore, the mechanisms by which oxidative stress facilitates oocyte aging
      and the causal relationship between Ca2+ rises and caspase-3 activation and
      between the cell cycle and apoptosis during oocyte aging need detailed
      investigations. Our aim was to address these issues by studying the intra-oocyte
      signaling pathways for Fas/FasL to accelerate oocyte aging. The results indicated
      that sFasL released by cumulus cells activated Fas on the oocyte by increasing
      reactive oxygen species via activating NADPH oxidase. The activated Fas triggered
      Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum by activating phospholipase C-gamma
      pathway and cytochrome c pathway. The cytoplasmic Ca2+ rises activated
      calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and caspase-3. While
      activated CaMKII increased oocyte susceptibility to activation by inactivating
      maturation-promoting factor (MPF) through cyclin B degradation, the activated
      caspase-3 facilitated further Ca2+releasing that activates more caspase-3 leading
      to oocyte fragmentation. Furthermore, caspase-3 activation and fragmentation were
      prevented in oocytes with a high MPF activity, suggesting that an oocyte must be
      in interphase to undergo apoptosis. 

PMID- 26869337
TI  - Fibroblast Growth Factor-10 (FGF-10) Mobilizes Lung-resident Mesenchymal Stem
      Cells and Protects Against Acute Lung Injury.
AB  - FGF-10 can prevent or reduce lung specific inflammation due to traumatic or
      infectious lung injury. However, the exact mechanisms are poorly characterized.
      Additionally, the effect of FGF-10 on lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR
      MSCs) has not been studied. To better characterize the effect of FGF-10 on LR
      MSCs, FGF-10 was intratracheally delivered into the lungs of rats. Three days
      after instillation, bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and plastic-adherent
      cells were cultured, characterized and then delivered therapeutically to rats
      after LPS intratracheal instillation. Immunophenotyping analysis of FGF-10
      mobilized and cultured cells revealed expression of the MSC markers CD29, CD73,
      CD90, and CD105, and the absence of the hematopoietic lineage markers CD34 and
      CD45. Multipotency of these cells was demonstrated by their capacity to
      differentiate into osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Delivery of LR-MSCs
      into the lungs after LPS injury reduced the inflammatory response as evidenced by
      decreased wet-to-dry ratio, reduced neutrophil and leukocyte recruitment and
      decreased inflammatory cytokines compared to control rats. Lastly, direct
      delivery of FGF-10 in the lungs of rats led to an increase of LR-MSCs in the
      treated lungs, suggesting that the protective effect of FGF-10 might be mediated,
      in part, by the mobilization of LR-MSCs in lungs. 

PMID- 26869338
TI  - Quantification and identification of microorganisms found on shell and kernel of
      fresh edible chestnuts in Michigan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chestnut is a relatively new cultivated crop for Michigan, and
      postharvest loss due to decay has been problematic as production has increased
      each year. In 2007, more than 25% of chestnuts were lost to postharvest decay,
      equivalent to approximately 5300 kg of fresh product. To determine the organisms
      responsible for decay, a microbiological survey was performed in 2006 and 2007 to
      identify microorganisms involved in postharvest shell (external surface) mold and
      internal kernel (edible portion) decay of chestnuts. RESULTS: Filamentous fungi
      including Penicillium expansum, Penicillium griseofulvum, Penicillium
      chrysogenum, Coniophora puteana, Acrospeira mirabilis, Botryosphaeria ribis,
      Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botryotinia fuckeliana (anamorph Botrytis cinerea) and
      Gibberella sp. (anamorph Fusarium sp.) were the predominant microorganisms that
      negatively impacted fresh chestnuts. Populations of microorganisms varied between
      farms, harvesting methods and chestnut parts. CONCLUSION: Chestnuts harvested
      from the orchard floor were significantly (P < 0.05) more contaminated than
      chestnuts harvested directly from the tree, by more than 2 log colony-forming
      units (CFU) g(-1) . In addition, a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the
      microbial population was seen between chestnuts submitted by different growers,
      with average count ranges of fungi, mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) and yeasts
      equal to 4.75, 4.59 and 4.75 log CFU g(-1) respectively. (c) 2016 Society of
      Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26869340
TI  - Spectroscopic investigations into the binding of hydrogen sulfide to synthetic
      picket-fence porphyrins.
AB  - The reversible binding of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to hemeprotein sites has been
      attributed to several factors, likely working in concert, including the protected
      binding pocket environment, proximal hydrogen bond interactions, and iron
      ligation environment. To investigate the importance of a sterically-constrained,
      protected environment on sulfide reactivity with heme centers, we report here the
      reactivity of H2S and HS(-) with the picket-fence porphyrin system. Our results
      indicate that the picket-fence porphyrin does not bind H2S in the ferric or
      ferrous state. By contrast, reaction of the ferric scaffold with HS(-) results in
      reduction to the ferrous species, followed by ligation of one equivalent of HS(
      ), as evidenced by UV-vis, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies.
      Measurement of the HS(-) binding affinities in the picket-fence or tetraphenyl
      porphyrin systems revealed identical binding. Taken together, these results
      suggest that the protected, sterically-constrained binding pocket alone is not
      the primary contributor for stabilization of ferric H2S/HS(-) species in model
      systems, but that other interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, must play a
      critical role in facilitation of reversible interactions in ferric hemes. 

PMID- 26869339
TI  - Auricular acupuncture for spinal cord injury related neuropathic pain: a pilot
      controlled clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To obtain preliminary data on the effects of an auricular acupuncture
      protocol, Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), on self-reported pain intensity in
      persons with chronic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain. DESIGN: Pilot
      randomized delayed entry single center crossover clinical trial at an outpatient
      rehabilitation and integrative medicine hospital center. METHODS: Chronic (> one
      year post injury) ASIA impairment scale A through D individuals with SCI with
      injury level from C3 through T12 and below level neuropathic pain with at least
      five on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were recruited. Twenty-four subjects were
      randomized to either an eight-week once weekly ten-needle BFA protocol (n = 13)
      or to a waiting list followed by the BFA protocol (n = 11). OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      primary outcome measure was change in the pain severity NRS. Secondary outcome
      was the Global Impression of Change. RESULTS: Demographically there were no
      significant differences between groups. Mean pain scores at baseline were higher
      in acupuncture than control subjects (7.75 +/- 1.54 vs. 6.25 +/- 1.04, P =
      0.027). Although both groups reported significant reduction in pain during the
      trial period, the BFA group reported more pain reduction than the delayed entry
      group (average change in NRS at eight weeks -2.92 +/- 2.11 vs. -1.13 +/- 2.14, P
      = 0.065). There was a significant difference in groups when a group-by-time
      interaction in a mixed-effect repeated measures model (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION:
      This pilot study has provided proof of concept that BFA has clinically meaningful
      effect on the modulation of SCI neuropathic pain.

PMID- 26869341
TI  - A sensitive method for the determination of hordenine in human serum by ESI+ UPLC
      MS/MS for forensic toxicological applications.
AB  - We present the determination of the alkaloid hordenine and its forensic relevance
      as a qualitative and quantitative marker for beer consumption. A simple, rapid
      and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-tandem mass
      spectrometry (MS/MS) method for the determination of hordenine in human serum
      samples was developed and validated. The application was tested with serum
      samples after enzymatic cleavage. After addition of the synthesized internal
      standard hordenine-D 4, a liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane and
      diethyl ether was performed. Chromatographic separation was conducted with a
      Waters Acquity(r) UPLC system with gradient elution on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18
      column (4.6 mm * 150 mm, 5-MUm particle size). For quantification, a Waters
      Acquity(r) TQ detector (version SNC 627) with a positive electrospray ionization
      probe and multiple reaction monitoring mode was used. A flow rate of 0.4 ml/min
      was applied. The retention time for both the analyte and the internal standard
      was 3.67 min. Linearity was demonstrated from 0.2 to 16 ng/ml (R(2) > 0.999). The
      lower limit of quantification was 0.3 ng/ml in serum. Matrix effects and
      extraction recoveries for low and high concentrations were within acceptable
      limits of 75-125% and 50%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge there is no
      corresponding method for the determination of hordenine by UPLC-MS/MS in serum.
      By our drinking studies we demonstrate that beer consumption leads to detectable
      hordenine concentrations in serum and observed a linear elimination of total
      hordenine correlating to blood alcohol concentration, which shows that hordenine
      can be used as a reliable qualitative and quantitative marker for beer
      consumption. The validated method was successfully applied to serum from actual
      forensic cases.

PMID- 26869342
TI  - Metabolites profiling of 10 bufadienolides in human liver microsomes and their
      cytotoxicity variation in HepG2 cell.
AB  - Bufadienolides, a class of polyhydroxy steroids, exhibit significant antitumor
      activity. In this study, a total of 39 metabolites from 10 bufadienolides were
      detected and identified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)
      coupled with an LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The results showed that
      hydroxylation and dehydrogenation were the major metabolic pathways of
      bufadienolides in human liver microsomes (HLMs). CYP3A4 was found to be the major
      metabolic enzyme and CYP2D6 only mediated the dehydrogenation reaction. A
      systematic validated cytotoxicity evaluation method for bufadienolide metabolites
      at equal equivalents was established. Hellebrigenin (1), hellebrigenol (2),
      arenobufagin (3), bufotalin (5), and bufalin (6) were selected to determine their
      cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells before and after incubation in HLMs. All the
      test samples were enriched by a validated solid-phase extraction (SPE) method.
      Although the cytotoxicities of metabolites were weaker than those of the parent
      compounds to different degrees, their effects were still strong.

PMID- 26869343
TI  - Simultaneous electrochemical determination of dopamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic
      acid in urine using a screen-printed graphite electrode modified with gold
      nanoparticles.
AB  - The authors describe a disposable screen-printed graphite electrode (SPGE)
      modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The electrode, designated as AuNPs
      SPGE, was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance
      spectroscopy. The AuNPs-SPGE combines the electrochemical features of graphite
      and the disposability of screen-printed electrodes. It displays excellent
      electrocatalytic activity towards dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5
      HIAA). Two well-defined, sharp, and fully resolved voltammetric peaks (at 525 mV
      for DA and at 415 mV for 5-HIAA, both vs. Ag/AgCl) were found. Square wave
      voltammetry was used to simultaneously determine DA and 5-HIAA in mixtures and in
      urine. The linear working range extends from 0.1 to 120.0 MUM for both DA and 5
      HIAA, and the limits of detection (based on 3* the baseline noise) are 14.0 and
      5.7 nM, respectively. The fabrication method for the AuNPs-SPGE is highly
      reproducible. The performance of the AuNPs-SPGE was evaluated by analyzing spiked
      human urine, and the recoveries were found to be well over 94.0 % for both
      compounds. These results indicate that the AuNPs-SPGE represents a highly
      selective and sensitive sensor for simultaneous determination of DA and 5-HIAA in
      urine. Graphical Abstract Fabrication, characterization and electrochemical
      behavior of gold nanoparticles modified screen-printed graphite electrode towards
      dopamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in human urine.

PMID- 26869344
TI  - Evaluation of a reconfigurable portable instrument for copper determination based
      on luminescent carbon dots.
AB  - A portable reconfigurable platform for copper (Cu(II)) determination based on
      luminescent carbon dot (Cdots) quenching is described. The electronic setup
      consists of a light-emitting diode (LED) as the carbon dot optical exciter and a
      photodiode as a light-to-current converter integrated in the same instrument.
      Moreover, the overall analog conditioning is simply performed with one integrated
      solution, a field-programmable analog array (FPAA), which makes it possible to
      reconfigure the filter and gain stages in real time. This feature provides
      adaptability to use the platform as an analytical probe for carbon dots coming
      from different batches with some variations in luminescence characteristics. The
      calibration functions obtained that fit a modified Stern-Volmer equation were
      obtained using luminescence signals from Cdots quenching by Cu(II). The
      analytical applicability of the reconfigurable portable instrument for Cu(II)
      using Cdots has been successfully demonstrated in tap water analysis. 

PMID- 26869345
TI  - Comparative study of organic matter chemical characterization using negative and
      positive mode electrospray ionization ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry.
AB  - The chemical characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is critical for
      understanding carbon sequestration processes in soils. This work evaluated the
      use of electrospray ionization in both negative ion mode (ESI-) and positive ion
      mode (ESI+) for the characterization of DOM extracted from nine terrestrial
      sources using Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). The
      compositing of the peaks from ESI- to ESI+ modes increased the total assigned
      formulas from 23 to 63 % as compared to the traditional use of ESI- alone for DOM
      characterization. In general, there was a preferential increase in the number of
      assignments for the aliphatic and carbohydrate-like DOM components in the ESI+
      mode. The soil-extracted DOM specifically exhibited greater increases in the
      aliphatic and carbohydrate-like DOM components with the combined use of ESI- and
      ESI+ modes likely due to the greater presence of aromatic DOM molecules that
      suppressed the ionization of these entities in ESI- mode. On the basis of these
      findings, we show that improved characterization of DOM is possible through the
      combined use of ESI- and ESI+ modes for FT-ICR-MS analysis, especially for
      samples rich in condensed aromatic and aromatic molecules. 

PMID- 26869346
TI  - Electrochemical simulation of metabolic reactions of the secondary fungal
      metabolites alternariol and alternariol methyl ether.
AB  - Mycotoxins are secondary plant metabolites that have been found to cause severe
      diseases in humans and livestock. Exposure can take place on a daily basis since
      mycotoxins can be found not only in food, animal food, and dietary supplements
      but also in materials used in buildings. For this work, the Alternaria toxins
      alternariol (AOH) and alternariol methyl ether (AME) are chosen as
      representatives for this relevant compound class and are investigated regarding
      their oxidative phase I metabolism using a combination of electrochemical (EC)
      oxidation and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI
      MS). This previously established method has been proven to be a valuable tool for
      the electrochemical simulation of certain phase I metabolic reactions. A
      comparison of the electrochemically generated products with those formed during
      microsomal incubation demonstrates the potential of the method for the successful
      prediction of the main phase I metabolic reactions of mycotoxins. It can thus
      find use as a supportive method in the elucidation of the metabolic pathways of
      various mycotoxins.

PMID- 26869347
TI  - The genetic background of Parkinson's disease: current progress and future
      prospects.
AB  - Almost two decades of genetic research in Parkinson's disease (PD) have
      remarkably increased our knowledge regarding the genetic basis of PD with
      numerous genes and genetic loci having been found to cause familial PD or affect
      the risk for PD. Approximately 5-10% of PD patients have monogenic forms of the
      disease, exhibiting a classical Mendelian type of inheritance, however, the
      majority PD cases are sporadic, probably caused by a combination of genetic and
      environmental risk factors. Nowadays, six genes, alpha synuclein, LRRK2, VPS35,
      Parkin, PINK1 and DJ-1, have definitely been associated with an autosomal
      dominant or recessive PD mode of inheritance. The advent of genome-wide
      association studies (GWAS) and the implementation of new technologies, like next
      generation sequencing (NGS) and exome sequencing has undoubtedly greatly aided
      the identification on novel risk variants for sporadic PD. In this review, we
      will summarize the current progress and future prospects in the field of PD
      genetics.

PMID- 26869348
TI  - Living donor liver transplantation in maple syrup urine disease - Case series and
      world's youngest domino liver donor and recipient.
AB  - MSUD occurs due to deficiency of enzyme BCKAD required for metabolism of leucine,
      isoleucine, and valine leading to the accumulation of these and their ketoacids
      causing acute metabolic decompensation manifesting as encephalopathy or sudden
      death. The patient requires special protein-restricted diet to survive. As this
      enzyme is expressed in liver, liver transplantation has been successfully
      performed as a cure. We report two patients of MSUD who underwent LDLT while
      their livers were used as a domino graft for other biliary cirrhotic patients. A
      22-month-old male child diagnosed as a case of classic MSUD underwent LDLT from
      an altruistic aunt as donor following which his serum leucine levels normalized
      on an unrestricted protein diet. His liver was used as a domino graft. A 38-month
      old female child with diagnosed MSUD underwent LDLT from a swap donor, and her
      liver was used as a domino graft. Her DQ improved post-transplant. LDLT from non
      heterozygous donors is a cure for classical MSUD. Their livers can be used as
      domino grafts for non-MSUD cases. 

PMID- 26869350
TI  - Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission and NOX2 Expression Prevent NLRP3
      Inflammasome Activation in the Endothelium: The Role of Corosolic Acid Action in
      the Amelioration of Endothelial Dysfunction.
AB  - AIMS: Corosolic acid (CRA) is a natural triterpenoid with antioxidative activity.
      This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism through which CRA protected
      vessel endothelial homeostasis by combating oxidative stress. RESULTS: In
      endothelial cells, CRA induced dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) phosphorylation
      at Ser637 and thus inhibited mitochondrial fission in response to oxidative
      stress. It promoted AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in an LKB1
      dependent manner, and silencing AMPK abrogated its inhibitory effect on Drp1
      activation and mitochondrial fission. CRA inhibited the translocation of
      p47(phox) and p67(phox) and the overexpression of gp91(phox) induced by palmitate
      (PA), demonstrating its action in suppression of NOX2 activation. Drp1 knockdown
      reduced PA-induced gp91(phox) expression, while Drp1 induction was also
      diminished by gp91(phox) knockdown, suggesting the reciprocal relationship
      between NOX2 and Drp1. Knockdown Drp1 or gp91(phox) attenuated PA-induced NLRP3
      induction and enhanced inhibitory effects of CRA. Oral administration of CRA in
      high-fat diet mice reproduced similar regulation in the aorta endothelium,
      further confirming its protection on endothelial homeostasis in vivo. INNOVATION:
      This study demonstrated that the defect in mitochondrial morphology is associated
      with the oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the endothelium.
      Drp1 and NOX2 regulated each other and worked together to induce NLRP3
      inflammasome activation, suggesting that modulation of Drp1 phosphorylation
      (Ser637) might be a potential therapeutic target for combating oxidative stress
      in vessel diseases. CONCLUSION: CRA prevented mitochondrial fission by regulation
      of Drp1 phosphorylation (Ser637) in an AMPK-dependent manner, and this action
      contributed to blocking NOX2 oxidase signaling and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome
      activation in the endothelium. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 24, 893-908.

PMID- 26869349
TI  - The mRNA-edited form of GABRA3 suppresses GABRA3-mediated Akt activation and
      breast cancer metastasis.
AB  - Metastasis is a critical event affecting breast cancer patient survival. To
      identify molecules contributing to the metastatic process, we analysed The Cancer
      Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer data and identified 41 genes whose expression
      is inversely correlated with survival. Here we show that GABAA receptor alpha3
      (Gabra3), normally exclusively expressed in adult brain, is also expressed in
      breast cancer, with high expression of Gabra3 being inversely correlated with
      breast cancer survival. We demonstrate that Gabra3 activates the AKT pathway to
      promote breast cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Importantly, we
      find an A-to-I RNA-edited form of Gabra3 only in non-invasive breast cancers and
      show that edited Gabra3 suppresses breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis. A
      to-I-edited Gabra3 has reduced cell surface expression and suppresses the
      activation of AKT required for cell migration and invasion. Our study
      demonstrates a significant role for mRNA-edited Gabra3 in breast cancer
      metastasis. 

PMID- 26869351
TI  - Obesity-Associated Alterations in Inflammation, Epigenetics, and Mammary Tumor
      Growth Persist in Formerly Obese Mice.
AB  - Using a murine model of basal-like breast cancer, we tested the hypothesis that
      chronic obesity, an established breast cancer risk and progression factor in
      women, induces mammary gland epigenetic reprogramming and increases mammary tumor
      growth. Moreover, we assessed whether the obesity-induced epigenetic and protumor
      effects are reversed by weight normalization. Ovariectomized female C57BL/6 mice
      were fed a control diet or diet-induced obesity (DIO) regimen for 17 weeks,
      resulting in a normal weight or obese phenotype, respectively. Mice on the DIO
      regimen were then randomized to continue the DIO diet or were switched to the
      control diet, resulting in formerly obese (FOb) mice with weights comparable with
      control mice. At week 24, all mice were orthotopically injected with MMTV-Wnt-1
      mouse mammary tumor cells. Mean tumor volume, serum IL6 levels, expression of
      proinflammatory genes in the mammary fat pad, and mammary DNA methylation
      profiles were similar in DIO and FOb mice and higher than in controls. Many of
      the genes found to have obesity-associated hypermethylation in mice were also
      found to be hypermethylated in the normal breast tissue of obese versus nonobese
      human subjects, and nearly all of these concordant genes remained hypermethylated
      after significant weight loss in the FOb mice. Our findings suggest that weight
      normalization may not be sufficient to reverse the effects of chronic obesity on
      epigenetic reprogramming and inflammatory signals in the microenvironment that
      are associated with breast cancer progression. Cancer Prev Res; 9(5); 339-48.
      (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26869352
TI  - Site-specific and linkage analyses of fucosylated N-glycans on haptoglobin in
      sera of patients with various types of cancer: possible implication for the
      differential diagnosis of cancer.
AB  - Fucosylation is an important type of glycosylation involved in cancer, and
      fucosylated proteins could be employed as cancer biomarkers. Previously, we
      reported that fucosylated N-glycans on haptoglobin in the sera of patients with
      pancreatic cancer were increased by lectin-ELISA and mass spectrometry analyses.
      However, an increase in fucosylated haptoglobin has been reported in various
      types of cancer. To ascertain if characteristic fucosylation is observed in each
      cancer type, we undertook site-specific analyses of N-glycans on haptoglobin in
      the sera of patients with five types of operable gastroenterological cancer
      (esophageal, gastric, colon, gallbladder, pancreatic), a non-gastroenterological
      cancer (prostate cancer) and normal controls using ODS column LC-ESI MS.
      Haptoglobin has four potential glycosylation sites (Asn184, Asn207, Asn211,
      Asn241). In all cancer samples, monofucosylated N-glycans were significantly
      increased at all glycosylation sites. Moreover, difucosylated N-glycans were
      detected at Asn 184, Asn207 and Asn241 only in cancer samples. Remarkable
      differences in N-glycan structure among cancer types were not observed. We next
      analyzed N-glycan alditols released from haptoglobin using graphitized carbon
      column LC-ESI MS to identify the linkage of fucosylation. Lewis-type and core
      type fucosylated N-glycans were increased in gastroenterological cancer samples,
      but only core-type fucosylated N-glycan was relatively increased in prostate
      cancer samples. In metastatic prostate cancer, Lewis-type fucosylated N-glycan
      was also increased. These data suggest that the original tissue/cell producing
      fucosylated haptoglobin is different in each cancer type and linkage of
      fucosylation might be a clue of primary lesion, thereby enabling a differential
      diagnosis between gastroenterological cancers and non-gastroenterological
      cancers.

PMID- 26869353
TI  - Fatigue, patient reported outcomes, and objective measurement of physical
      activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Fatigue is a common symptom in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and
      engaging in physical activity may reduce fatigue. We aimed to characterize
      relationships between fatigue, other health status measures assessed with the
      Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instruments,
      and accelerometer-based physical activity measurements in patients with SLE. The
      internal consistency of each PROMIS measure in our SLE sample was also evaluated.
      METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 123 adults with SLE. The primary
      fatigue outcome was Fatigue Severity Scale score. Secondary outcomes were PROMIS
      standardized T-scores in seven health status domains. Accelerometers were worn
      for seven days, and mean daily minutes of light, moderate/vigorous, and bouted
      (10 minutes) moderate/vigorous physical activity were estimated. Cronbach's alpha
      was determined for each PROMIS measure to assess internal consistency.
      Relationships between Fatigue Severity Scale, PROMIS, and physical activity were
      summarized with Spearman partial correlation coefficients (r), adjusted for
      average daily accelerometer wear time. RESULTS: Mean Fatigue Severity Scale score
      (4.3, SD 1.6) was consistent with clinically relevant levels of fatigue. Greater
      daily and bouted moderate/vigorous physical activity minutes correlated with
      lower Mean Fatigue Severity Scale score (r = -0.20, p = 0.03 and r = -0.30, p =
      0.0007, respectively). For PROMIS, bouted moderate/vigorous physical activity
      minutes correlated with less fatigue (r = -0.20, p = 0.03). PROMIS internal
      consistency was excellent, with Cronbach's alpha > 0.90 for each domain. Mean
      PROMIS T-scores for fatigue, pain interference, anxiety, sleep disturbance, sleep
      related impairment, and physical function were worse than reported for the
      general US population. More moderate/vigorous physical activity minutes were
      associated with less pain interference (r = -0.22, p = 0.01). Both light physical
      activity and moderate/vigorous physical activity minutes correlated with better
      physical function (r = 0.19, p = 0.04 and r = 0.25, p = 0.006, respectively).
      CONCLUSION: More time spent in moderate/vigorous physical activity was associated
      with less fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale and PROMIS), less pain interference,
      and better physical function (PROMIS). PROMIS had excellent internal consistency
      in our SLE sample, and six of seven PROMIS measures indicated poorer average
      health status in SLE patients compared with the general US population.

PMID- 26869354
TI  - Glycolipid analyses of light-harvesting chlorosomes from envelope protein mutants
      of Chlorobaculum tepidum.
AB  - Chlorosomes are large and efficient light-harvesting organelles in green
      photosynthetic bacteria, and they characteristically contain large numbers of
      bacteriochlorophyll c, d, or e molecules. Self-aggregated bacteriochlorophyll
      pigments are surrounded by a monolayer envelope membrane comprised of glycolipids
      and Csm proteins. Here, we analyzed glycolipid compositions of chlorosomes from
      the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum mutants lacking one, two, or
      three Csm proteins by HPLC equipped with an evaporative light-scattering
      detector. The ratio of monogalactosyldiacylglyceride (MGDG) to
      rhamnosylgalactosyldiacylglyceride (RGDG) was smaller in chlorosomes from mutants
      lacking two or three proteins in CsmC/D/H motif family than in chlorosomes from
      the wild-type, whereas chlorosomes lacking CsmIJ showed relatively less RGDG than
      MGDG. The results suggest that the CsmC, CsmD, CsmH, and other chlorosome
      proteins are involved in organizing MGDG and RGDG and thereby affect the size and
      shape of the chlorosome. 

PMID- 26869357
TI  - Biosurfactant as a Promoter of Methane Hydrate Formation: Thermodynamic and
      Kinetic Studies.
AB  - Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are solid non-stoichiometric compounds often regarded
      as a next generation energy source. Successful commercialization of NGH is
      curtailed by lack of efficient and safe technology for generation, dissociation,
      storage and transportation. The present work studied the influence of environment
      compatible biosurfactant on gas hydrate formation. Biosurfactant was produced by
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain A11 and was characterized as rhamnolipids. Purified
      rhamnolipids reduced the surface tension of water from 72 mN/m to 36 mN/m with
      Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of 70 mg/l. Use of 1000 ppm rhamnolipids
      solution in C type silica gel bed system increased methane hydrate formation rate
      by 42.97% and reduced the induction time of hydrate formation by 22.63% as
      compared to water saturated C type silica gel. Presence of rhamnolipids also
      shifted methane hydrate formation temperature to higher values relative to the
      system without biosurfactant. Results from thermodynamic and kinetic studies
      suggest that rhamnolipids can be applied as environment friendly methane hydrate
      promoter.

PMID- 26869356
TI  - PPARalpha modulates gene expression profiles of mitochondrial energy metabolism
      in oral tumorigenesis.
AB  - Metabolic reprogramming plays a crucial role in the development of cancer. The
      aim of this study was to explore the effect of fenofibrate, an agonist of
      peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), on gene expression
      profiles of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Our results showed that PPARalpha
      expression was negatively correlated with tumor progression in an oral cancer
      mouse model. Activation of PPARalpha through fenofibrate suppressed migration of
      oral cancer cells. Differential protein profiling demonstrated that expressions
      of genes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism were either up-regulated
      (Atp5g3, Cyc1, Ndufa5, Ndufa10, and Sdhd) or down-regulated (Cox5b, Ndufa1,
      Ndufb7, and Uqcrh) through PPARalpha activation and response. Our results
      indicate that PPARalpha exhibits a great potential for anti-oral cancer therapies
      by modulating cancer cell mitochondrial energy metabolism. 

PMID- 26869358
TI  - Effects of the Histamine 1 Receptor Antagonist Cetirizine on the Osteoporotic
      Phenotype in H(+) /K(+) ATPase Beta Subunit KO Mice.
AB  - Epidemiological studies suggest increased fracture risk in patients using proton
      pump inhibitors (PPIs). We have previously shown that the H(+) /K(+) ATPase beta
      subunit knockout (KO) mouse, which is a model of PPI-use, have lower bone mineral
      density (BMD) and impaired bone quality compared to wild type (WT) mice. Like PPI
      users, these KO mice display elevated gastric pH and hypergastrinemia, which in
      turn stimulates gastric histamine release. Previous studies have suggested a
      negative effect of histamine on bone, thus, we wanted to study whether a
      histamine 1 receptor (H1R) antagonist could improve bone quality in KO mice.
      Female KO and WT mice aged 8 weeks received either an H1R antagonist (cetirizine)
      or polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 6 months. At the end of the study, KO mice
      displayed elevated plasma histamine levels compared to WT. As demonstrated
      previously, the KO mice also exhibited lower whole body BMD, reduced mechanical
      bone strength, and impaired bone quality assessed by MUCT. No significant
      differences, however, were found between the KO groups receiving cetirizine or
      PEG for any of the measured bone parameters. In vitro gene expression analyses of
      histamine receptors revealed the presence of H1R and H2R both in osteoblasts and
      osteoclasts, and H3R in late stage osteoblasts. In conclusion, administration of
      the H1R antagonist cetirizine in a concentration of 3 mg/kg did not rescue the
      osteoporotic phenotype in H(+) /K(+) ATPase beta subunit KO mice. It can,
      however, not be ruled out that histamine may influence bone via other receptors.
      J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2089-2096, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26869355
TI  - Epigenetics, TET proteins, and hypoxia in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and
      tumorigenesis.
AB  - Hypoxia in tumors is primarily a pathophysiologic consequence of structurally and
      functionally disturbed microcirculation with inadequate supply of oxygen. Tumor
      hypoxia is strongly associated with tumor propagation, malignant progression, and
      resistance to therapy. Aberrant epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in the
      process of hypoxia-driven malignant progression. Convert of 5-methylcytosine
      (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) by ten-eleven translocation (TET) family
      enzymes plays important biological functions in embryonic stem cells,
      development, aging and disease. Recent reports showed that level of 5hmC and TET
      proteins was altered in various types of cancers. There is a strong correlation
      between loss of 5hmC and cancer development but research to date indicates that
      loss of TET activity is associated with the cancer phenotype but it is not clear
      whether TET proteins function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. While loss of
      TET1 and TET2 expression is associated with solid cancers, implying a tumor
      suppressor role, TET1 exhibits a clear oncogenic role in the context of genomic
      rearrangements such as in MLL-fusion rearranged leukemia. Interestingly, hypoxia
      increases global 5hmC levels and upregulates TET1 expression in a HIF1alpha
      dependent manner. Recently, hypoxia-induced TET1 has been demonstrated to play
      another important role for regulating hypoxia-responsive gene expression and
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by serving as a transcription co
      activator. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced TET1 also regulates glucose metabolism
      and hypoxia-induced EMT through enhancing the expression of insulin induced gene
      1 (INSIG1). The roles and mechanisms of action of 5hmC and TET proteins in ES
      cell biology and during embryonic development, as well as in cancer biology, will
      be the main focus in this review. 

PMID- 26869360
TI  - Out-coupling of Longitudinal Photoacoustic Pulses by Mitigating the Phase
      Cancellation.
AB  - Waves of any kinds, including sound waves and light waves, can interfere
      constructively or destructively when they are overlapped, allowing for myriad
      applications. However, unlike continuous waves of a single frequency,
      interference of photoacoustic pulses is often overlooked because of their
      broadband characteristics and short pulse durations. Here, we study cancellation
      of two symmetric photoacoustic pulses radiated in the opposite direction from the
      same photoacoustic sources near a free surface. The cancellation occurs when one
      of the two pulses is reflected with polarity reversal from the free surface and
      catches up with the other. The cancellation effect, responsible for reduced
      signal amplitudes, is systematically examined by implementing a thin transparent
      matching medium of the same acoustic impedance. By changing the thickness of the
      transparent layer, the overlap of the two symmetric pulses is controlled. For
      optimized matching layers, the cancellation effect can be significantly reduced,
      while the resulting output waveform remains unchanged. Similar to the planar
      absorber, different dimensional absorbers including cylinders and spheres also
      exhibit the cancellation between the outward and inward waves. This work could
      provide further understanding of photoacoustic generation and a simple strategy
      for increasing photoacoustic signal amplitudes. 

PMID- 26869359
TI  - People living with HIV travel farther to access healthcare: a population-based
      geographic analysis from rural Uganda.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The availability of specialized HIV services is limited in rural
      areas of sub-Saharan Africa where the need is the greatest. Where HIV services
      are available, people living with HIV (PLHIV) must overcome large geographic,
      economic and social barriers to access healthcare. The objective of this study
      was to understand the unique barriers PLHIV face when accessing healthcare
      compared with those not living with HIV in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa
      with limited availability of healthcare infrastructure. METHODS: We conducted a
      population-based cross-sectional study of 447 heads of household on Bugala
      Island, Uganda. Multiple linear regression models were used to compare travel
      time, cost and distance to access healthcare, and log binomial models were used
      to test for associations between HIV status and access to nearby health services.
      RESULTS: PLHIV travelled an additional 1.9 km (95% CI (0.6, 3.2 km), p=0.004) to
      access healthcare compared with those not living with HIV, and they were 56% less
      likely to access healthcare at the nearest health facility to their residence, so
      long as that facility lacked antiretroviral therapy (ART) services (aRR=0.44, 95%
      CI (0.24 to 0.83), p=0.011). We found no evidence that PLHIV travelled further
      for care if the nearest facility supplies ART services (aRR=0.95, 95% CI (0.86 to
      1.05), p=0.328). Among those who reported uptake of care at one of two facilities
      on the island that provides ART (81% of PLHIV and 68% of HIV-negative
      individuals), PLHIV tended to seek care at a higher tiered facility that provides
      ART, even when this facility was not their closest facility (30% of PLHIV
      travelled further than the closest ART facility compared with 16% of HIV-negative
      individuals), and travelled an additional 2.2 km (p=0.001) to access that
      facility, relative to HIV-negative individuals (aRR=1.91, 95% CI (1.00 to 3.65),
      p=0.05). Among PLHIV, residential distance was associated with access to
      facilities providing ART (RR=0.78, 95% CI (0.61 to 0.99), p=0.044, comparing
      residential distances of 3-5 km to 0-2 km; RR=0.71, 95% CI (0.58 to 0.87),
      p=0.001, comparing residential distances of 6-10 km to 0-2 km). CONCLUSIONS:
      PLHIV travel longer distances for care, a phenomenon that may be driven by both
      the limited availability of specialized HIV services and preference for higher
      tiered facilities.

PMID- 26869361
TI  - Low-dose paclitaxel ameliorates renal fibrosis by suppressing transforming growth
      factor-beta1-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 signaling.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the effect of microtubule stabilization with low-dose
      paclitaxel on renal fibrosis, focusing on the transforming growth factor-beta1
      (TGF-beta1)-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) signaling cascade.
      METHODS: Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham/vehicle,
      sham/paclitaxel, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)/vehicle and
      UUO/paclitaxel. Rats were treated with a 0.3 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of
      paclitaxel or vehicle twice per week for 14 days. Half of the rats in each group
      were sacrificed respectively on day 7 and 14 after operation. Inner medullar
      collecting duct (IMCD) cells stimulated with TGF-beta1 were incubated with 0, 1
      and 2 nM paclitaxel for 24 and 72 hours. Histological changes were assessed using
      periodic acid-Schiff and Masson's trichrome. The TGF-beta1-induced PAI-1
      signaling and status of extracellular matrix proteins were evaluated by western
      blot analysis. RESULTS: In the UUO kidneys, paclitaxel significantly attenuated
      tubular damage and interstitial collagen deposition, as well as alpha-smooth
      muscle actin (alpha-SMA), TGF-beta1 and PAI-1 protein expression. Paclitaxel also
      inhibited the UUO-induced activation of Smad2/3 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase
      (JNK). However, paclitaxel treatment did not inhibit extracellular signal
      regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) or p38 expression. In TGF-beta1-treated IMCD cells,
      treatment with 1 and 2 nM paclitaxel for 72 h reduced fibronectin, alpha-SMA and
      PAI-1 protein expression. Moreover, a 2 nM dose of paclitaxel for 24 h
      significantly inhibited the TGF-beta1-stimulated activation of Smad2/3, JNK and
      ERK1/2 in IMCD cells. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel at low non-cytotoxic doses
      ameliorates renal fibrosis by inhibiting multiple steps in the TGF-beta1-induced
      PAI-1 signaling including Smads and mitogen-activated protein kinases.

PMID- 26869362
TI  - Dissociating emotional and cognitive empathy in pre-clinical and clinical
      Huntington's disease.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is centrally characterized by motor, neurocognitive and
      psychiatric symptoms, but impaired emotional decoding abilities have also been
      reported. However, more complex affective abilities are still to be explored, and
      particularly empathy, which is essential for social relations and is impaired in
      various psychiatric conditions. This study evaluates empathic abilities and
      social skills in pre-clinical and clinical HD, and explores the distinction
      between two empathy sub-components (emotional-cognitive). Thirty-six HD patients
      (17 pre-clinical) and 36 matched controls filled in the Empathy Quotient Scale,
      while controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. At the clinical stage of
      HD, no global empathy impairment was observed but rather a specific deficit for
      the cognitive sub-component, while emotional empathy was preserved. A deficit was
      also observed for social skills. Pre-clinical HD was not associated with any
      empathy deficit. Emotional deficits in clinical HD are thus not limited to basic
      emotion decoding but extend towards complex interpersonal abilities. The
      dissociation between impaired cognitive and preserved emotional empathy in
      clinical HD reinforces the proposal that empathy subtypes are sustained by
      distinct processes. Finally, these results underline the extent of distinct
      affective and social impairments in HD and the need to grasp them in clinical
      contexts. 

PMID- 26869363
TI  - Stereotactic radiosurgery for intramedullary spinal arteriovenous malformations.
AB  - Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are rare lesions associated with
      recurrent hemorrhage and progressive ischemia. Occasionally a favorable location,
      size or vascular anatomy may allow management with endovascular embolization
      and/or microsurgical resection. For most, however, there is no good treatment
      option. Between 1997 and 2014, we treated 37 patients (19 females, 18 males,
      median age 30years) at our institution diagnosed with intramedullary spinal cord
      AVM (19 cervical, 12 thoracic, and six conus medullaris) with CyberKnife
      (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) stereotactic radiosurgery. A history of hemorrhage
      was present in 50% of patients. The mean AVM volume of 2.3cc was treated with a
      mean marginal dose of 20.5Gy in a median of two sessions. Clinical and MRI follow
      up were carried out annually, and spinal angiography was repeated at 3years. We
      report an overall obliteration rate of 19% without any post-treatment hemorrhagic
      events. In those AVM that did not undergo obliteration, significant volume
      reduction was noted at 3years. Although the treatment paradigm for spinal cord
      AVM continues to evolve, radiosurgical treatment is capable of safely
      obliterating or significantly shrinking most intramedullary spinal cord AVM. 

PMID- 26869364
TI  - Consenting postpartum women for use of routinely collected biospecimens and/or
      future biospecimen collection.
AB  - The National Children's Study (NCS) Harris County, Texas Study Center
      participated in the NCS Provider Based Sampling (PBS) substudy of the NCS
      Vanguard Phase pilot. As part of the hospital-based birth cohort component of the
      PBS substudy, we conducted a secondary data analysis to evaluate the proportion
      of postpartum women who consented to future biospecimen collection alone and to
      both future collection and use of residual birth biospecimens. In phase 1, 32
      postpartum women at one hospital were asked to consent only to maternal future
      biospecimen collection. In phase 2, 40 other postpartum women from the same
      hospital were asked for an additional consent to use residual clinical
      biospecimens from the birth event that otherwise would be discarded, including
      cord blood and maternal blood and urine. Among 103 eligible women, a total of 72
      participated. They were 28.3 +/- 5.9 years old on average; 58 % were Hispanic; 63
      % consented in English, and 37 % in Spanish; 39 % had some college education; 42
      % were married; 60 % had an annual family income <$30,000; and 51 % were
      employed. In phase 1, 59 % consented to future biospecimen collection, and in
      phase 2, 95 % consented to both future collection and use of at least one
      residual birth biospecimen, with a difference between phases of 36 % [95 % CI 17
      54 %]. Demographic characteristics did not differ among those who did and did not
      consent. Postpartum women were significantly more likely to grant consent for use
      of future and residual hospital-obtained biospecimens than future biospecimen
      collection alone. 

PMID- 26869365
TI  - Hyperkeratosis in human lower limb lymphedema: the effect of stagnant tissue
      fluid/lymph.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hyperkeratosis of skin in lower limb lymphedema is one of the
      sequelae of tissue fluid/lymph (TF/L) stasis, but its mechanisms remain unknown.
      It is noteworthy, nonetheless, that human TF/L contains high levels of growth
      factors and cytokines, and may serve as the physiological environment for
      keratinocyte (KC) proliferation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to
      investigate the effect of human TF/L on human KC proliferation, differentiation
      and on the expression of epidermal stem cell markers on them. METHODS: KC were
      isolated from lymphedema and normal skin, and cultured for 1-14 days in TF/L with
      neutralized Interleukin 1beta, Interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) or tumour growth factor beta (TGF-beta).
      Alternatively, KC receptors for these factors were blocked. RESULTS: The number
      of KC cultured in TF/L was increased, as was the percentage of mitotic figures.
      There was a higher percentage of p63, CD29, Ki67, PCNA, CK6, CK17, CK16 and a
      lower of CK10, CK14, filaggrin and involucrin-positive KC. Neutralization of TF/L
      IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and KGF as well as blockage of their receptors resulted
      in decreased percentage of mitotic KC. TGF-beta had a limited effect on KC
      proliferation. CONCLUSION: Hyperkeratosis in lymphedema may be the effect of a
      high concentration of cytokines in the stagnant TF/L tissue, but not because of
      presumed changes in the KC.

PMID- 26869366
TI  - Cyanobacterial origin of plant phytochromes.
AB  - Phytochromes are widely distributed photoreceptors with similar domain
      arrangements. The evolutionary origin of plant and green algal phytochromes is
      currently under debate. We used different algorithms to generate multiple
      phylogenetic trees for the N-terminal chromophore module and the C-terminal
      histidine kinase domains. The evolution of the chromophore module and the
      histidine kinase (like) regions follows different patterns, indicating several
      rearrangements between both parts of the protein. Out of 22 trees, 19 revealed a
      close relationship between cyanobacteria and Archaeplastida, the group
      encompassing plants and green algae. Opposed to other studies, a cyanobacterial
      origin of plant phytochromes is strongly supported by our results.

PMID- 26869367
TI  - CT myocardial perfusion and coronary CT angiography: Influence of coronary
      calcium on a stress-rest protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High amounts of coronary artery calcium limit image quality and
      diagnostic accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography (CTA)
      regarding the assessment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). CT
      myocardial perfusion imaging may represent an opportunity to overcome this
      limitation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the additive value of CT myocardial perfusion
      to CTA depending on the patient's calcium score and in comparison to the
      reference standard of invasive coronary angiography plus fractional flow reserve
      (FFR) measurement. METHODS: Symptomatic patients with intermediate pretest
      probability of CAD were prospectively recruited and underwent both cardiac MDCT
      (64-slice scanner, retrospectively-gated stress-rest protocol) and invasive
      coronary angiography including FFR assessment. We defined hemodynamically
      significant CAD by the presence of occlusive or subocclusive (99%) stenosis, >50%
      stenosis in left main or FFR<=0.80. Stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging was
      performed in all patients in addition to CTA. The additive value of CT myocardial
      perfusion to rule in or rule out the presence of hemodynamically relevant
      stenosis on a per-patient basis was assessed and analyzed relative to the
      patient's calcium score. RESULTS: 95 patients were included in the analysis (62
      +/- 8.2 years, 68%males). Hemodynamically significant CAD was present in 42
      patients. Sixty-four patients had a fully evaluable CTA examination. Per-patient,
      CTA alone had a sensitivity, specificity and AUC of 100%, 59% and 0.79
      respectively (77% patients correctly classified). Adding CT myocardial perfusion
      to evaluate uninterpretable vessel territories in CTA in 66 patients with a
      calcium score>100 yielded a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 74% and an AUC
      of 0.81 (81% patients correctly classified), and in 52 patients with a calcium
      score>400 sensitivity was 91%, specificity 70%, and AUC 0.80 (82% patients
      correctly classified, p = 0.733 versus using perfusion imaging in all patients).
      CONCLUSIONS: From a pragmatic standpoint, limiting the use of CT perfusion to
      individuals with a calcium score above 400 might be a feasible strategy to
      optimize the diagnostic accuracy of CT imaging for diagnosis of obstructive CAD.

PMID- 26869369
TI  - Corrigendum: Point-of-service, quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in aqueous
      humor for evaluating anterior globe integrity.

PMID- 26869368
TI  - Left Atrial Area and Right Ventricle Dimensions in Non-gated Axial Chest CT can
      Differentiate Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease from Other Causes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether axial non-gated CT can distinguish World Health
      Organization Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary hypertension due to left
      heart disease) from non-Group 2 pulmonary hypertension. OBJECTIVE: The study was
      performed to identity imaging parameters in non-gated chest CT that differentiate
      Group 2 from non-Group 2 pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Among 158 patients who
      underwent right heart catheterization for evaluation of pulmonary hypertension,
      112 had sufficient data and chest CT for review. Invasive hemodynamic data and
      numerous variables obtained from axial CT images (maximum diameters of main,
      right, left pulmonary arteries, ascending aorta, main pulmonary artery to
      ascending aorta diameter ratio, right atrial diameter, left atrial area and right
      ventricular size) were collected. CT variables were validated against hemodynamic
      data to identify parameters that would allow to differentiate pulmonary
      hypertension due to left heart disease (Group 2) from non-Group 2 pulmonary
      hypertension. RESULTS: Based on right heart catheterization data, we identified
      53 patients with Group 2 pulmonary hypertension, 50 patients with non-Group 2
      pulmonary hypertension, and 9 subjects with no pulmonary hypertension. In
      patients with a dilated pulmonary artery (n = 84), the ROC curve for left atrial
      area (area under the ROC curve 0.76 +/- 0.06) independently distinguished
      patients with Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (n = 42) from patients with non
      Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (n = 42). A dilated left atrium (>20 mm(2)) in
      combination with a normal right ventriuclar size had a sensitivity of 77% and
      specificity of 94% for Group 2 pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: In patients
      with a dilated pulmonary artery on chest CT, left atrial area and right
      ventricular dimensions may aid to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and to
      distinguish underlying cardiac disease from other causes.

PMID- 26869370
TI  - Parkinson's Disease with Fatigue: Clinical Characteristics and Potential
      Mechanisms Relevant to alpha-Synuclein Oligomer.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical
      characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in
      Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. METHODS: PD patients
      (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and
      nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins-alpha-synuclein
      oligomer, beta-amyloid (Abeta)1-42, and tau-were measured in 102 cerebrospinal
      fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were
      performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed
      pathological proteins in PD patients. RESULTS: The frequency of fatigue in the PD
      patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety,
      depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of alpha-synuclein oligomer
      was higher and that of Abeta1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non
      fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was
      significantly and positively correlated with the alpha-synuclein oligomer level
      in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: PD
      patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have
      worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with
      an increased alpha-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF.

PMID- 26869371
TI  - Cardiovagal Baroreflex Sensitivity in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple-System
      Atrophy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple-system atrophy of
      the parkinsonian type (MSA-P) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that in
      addition to dysfunction of the motor system also present with features of
      dysautonomia, frequently manifesting as orthostatic hypotension (OH). The
      pathophysiology of OH has been proposed to differ between these two disorders.
      This study investigated the spontaneous and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity
      (BRS) in Parkinson's disease patients with orthostatic hypotension (PD(OH)) and
      multiple system atrophy of Parkinsonian type with orthostatic hypotension in an
      attempt to differentiate the two disorders. METHODS: Two methods were used for
      determining the BRS: a spontaneous method (spontaneous BRS) and the reflexive
      baroreflex gain (cardiovagal BRS) from phases II and IV of the Valsalva maneuver
      (VM) in PD(OH) and MSA-P(OH). RESULTS: The spontaneous BRS (5.04+/-0.66 ms/mm Hg
      vs. 4.78+/-0.64 ms/mm Hg, p=0.54) and the cardiovagal BRS from phase II of the VM
      (0.96+/-0.75 ms/mm Hg vs. 1.34+/-1.51 ms/mm Hg, p=0.76) did not differ between
      PD(OH) and MSA-P(OH), but the cardiovagal BRS from phase IV of the VM (0.03+/
      0.07 ms/mm Hg vs. 2.86+/-2.39 ms/mm Hg, p=0.004) was significantly lower in
      PD(OH). CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovagal BRS from phase IV of the VM has potential
      for differentiating PD(OH) and MSA-P(OH), indicating a difference in the
      pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the autonomic dysfunction in the two
      disorders.

PMID- 26869372
TI  - Babinski's Lost Legacy: A Remarkable Case of a Not-So-New Clinical Construct.

PMID- 26869373
TI  - Intrinsic Functional Hypoconnectivity in Core Neurocognitive Networks Suggests
      Central Nervous System Pathology in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A
      Pilot Study.
AB  - Exact low resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) was recorded from
      nineteen EEG channels in nine patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and 9
      healthy controls to assess current source density and functional connectivity, a
      physiological measure of similarity between pairs of distributed regions of
      interest, between groups. Current source density and functional connectivity were
      measured using eLORETA software. We found significantly decreased eLORETA source
      analysis oscillations in the occipital, parietal, posterior cingulate, and
      posterior temporal lobes in Alpha and Alpha-2. For connectivity analysis, we
      assessed functional connectivity within Menon triple network model of
      neuropathology. We found support for all three networks of the triple network
      model, namely the central executive network (CEN), salience network (SN), and the
      default mode network (DMN) indicating hypo-connectivity in the Delta, Alpha, and
      Alpha-2 frequency bands in patients with ME compared to controls. In addition to
      the current source density resting state dysfunction in the occipital, parietal,
      posterior temporal and posterior cingulate, the disrupted connectivity of the
      CEN, SN, and DMN appears to be involved in cognitive impairment for patients with
      ME. This research suggests that disruptions in these regions and networks could
      be a neurobiological feature of the disorder, representing underlying neural
      dysfunction.

PMID- 26869374
TI  - Does Brachial Plexus Blockade Result in Improved Pain Scores After Distal Radius
      Fracture Fixation? A Randomized Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Distal radius fractures are very common injuries and surgical
      treatment for them can be painful. Achieving early pain control may help improve
      patient satisfaction and improve functional outcomes. Little is known about which
      anesthesia technique (general anesthesia versus brachial plexus blockade) is most
      beneficial for pain control after distal radius fixation which could
      significantly affect patients' postoperative course and experience.
      QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We asked: (1) Did patients receiving general anesthesia or
      brachial plexus blockade have worse pain scores at 2, 12, and 24 hours after
      surgery? (2) Was there a difference in operative suite time between patients who
      had general anesthesia or brachial plexus blockade, and was there a difference in
      recovery room time? (3) Did patients receiving general anesthesia or brachial
      plexus blockade have higher narcotic use after surgery? (4) Do patients receiving
      general anesthesia or brachial plexus blockade have higher functional assessment
      scores after distal radius fracture repair at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after surgery?
      METHODS: A randomized controlled study was performed between February, 2013 and
      April, 2014 at a multicenter metropolitan tertiary-care referral center. Patients
      who presented with acute closed distal radius fractures (Orthopaedic Trauma
      Association 23A-C) were potentially eligible for inclusion. During the study
      period, 40 patients with closed, displaced, and unstable distal radius fractures
      were identified as meeting inclusion criteria and offered enrollment and
      randomization. Three patients (7.5%), all with concomitant injuries, declined to
      participate at the time of randomization as did one additional patient (2.5%) who
      chose not to participate, leaving a final sample of 36 participants. There were
      no dropouts after randomization, and analyses were performed according to an
      intention-to-treat model. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups,
      general anesthesia or brachial plexus blockade, and among the 36 patients
      included, 18 were randomized to each group. Medications administered in the
      postanesthesia care unit were recorded. Patients were discharged receiving
      oxycodone and acetaminophen 5/325 mg for pain control, and VAS forms were
      provided. Patients were called at predetermined intervals postoperatively (2
      hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours) to gather
      pain scores, using the VAS, and to document the doses of analgesics consumed. In
      addition, patients had regular followups at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Pain
      scores were again recorded using the VAS at these visits. RESULTS: Patients who
      received general anesthesia had worse pain scores at 2 hours postoperatively
      (general anesthesia 6.7 +/- 2.3 vs brachial plexus blockade 1.4 +/- 2.3; mean
      difference, 5.381; 95% CI, 3.850-6.913; p < 0.001); whereas reported pain was
      worse for patients who received a brachial plexus blockade at 12 hours (general
      anesthesia 3.8 +/- 1.9 vs brachial plexus blockade 6.3 +/- 2.4; mean difference, 
      2.535; 95% CI, -4.028 to -1.040; p = 0.002) and 24 hours (general anesthesia 3.8
      +/- 2.2 vs brachial plexus blockade 5.3 +/- 2.5; mean difference, -1.492; 95% CI,
      -3.105 to 0.120; p = 0.031).There was no difference in operative suite time
      (general anesthesia 119 +/- 16 minutes vs brachial plexus blockade 125 +/- 23
      minutes; p = 0.432), but time in the recovery room was greater for patients who
      received general anesthesia (284 +/- 137 minutes vs 197 +/- 90; p = 0.0398).
      Patients who received general anesthesia consumed more fentanyl (64 MUg +/- 93
      MUg vs 6.9 MUg +/- 14 MUg; p < 0.001) and morphine (2.9 MUg +/- 3.6 MUg vs 0.0
      MUg; p < 0.001) than patients who received brachial plexus blockade. Functional
      outcome scores did not differ at 6 weeks (data, with mean and SD for both groups,
      and p value) or 12 weeks postoperatively (data, with mean and SD for both groups,
      and p value). CONCLUSIONS: Brachial plexus blockade pain control during the
      immediate perioperative period was not significantly different from that of
      general anesthesia in patients undergoing operative fixation of distal radius
      fractures. However, patients who received a brachial plexus blockade experienced
      an increase in pain between 12 to 24 hours after surgery. Acknowledging "rebound
      pain" after the use of regional anesthesia coupled with patient counseling
      regarding early narcotic administration may allow patients to have more effective
      postoperative pain control. It is important to have a conversation with patients
      preoperatively about what to expect regarding rebound pain, postoperative pain
      control, and to advise them about being aggressive with taking pain medication
      before the waning of regional anesthesia to keep one step ahead in their pain
      control management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1, therapeutic study.

PMID- 26869375
TI  - "Super-quenching" state protects Symbiodinium from thermal stress - Implications
      for coral bleaching.
AB  - The global rise in sea surface temperatures causes regular exposure of corals to
      high temperature and high light stress, leading to worldwide disastrous coral
      bleaching events (loss of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) from reef
      building corals). Our picosecond chlorophyll fluorescence experiments on cultured
      Symbiodinium clade C cells exposed to coral bleaching conditions uncovered the
      transformations of the alga's photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) that activate an
      extremely efficient non-photochemical "super-quenching" mechanism. The mechanism
      is associated with a transition from an initially heterogeneous photosystem II
      (PSII) pool to a homogeneous "spillover" pool, where nearly all excitation energy
      is transferred to photosystem I (PSI). There, the inherently higher stability of
      PSI and high quenching efficiency of P(700)(+) allow dumping of PSII excess
      excitation energy into heat, resulting in almost complete cessation of
      photosynthetic electron transport (PET). This potentially reversible "super
      quenching" mechanism protects the PSA against destruction at the cost of a loss
      of photosynthetic activity. We suggest that the inhibition of PET and the
      consequent inhibition of organic carbon production (e.g. sugars) in the symbiotic
      Symbiodinium provide a trigger for the symbiont expulsion, i.e. bleaching.

PMID- 26869376
TI  - Group B streptococcus vaccination in pregnant women with or without HIV in
      Africa: a non-randomised phase 2, open-label, multicentre trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonates born to women infected with HIV are at increased risk for
      invasive group B streptococcus (GBS) disease. We aimed to compare safety and
      immunogenicity of trivalent glycoconjugate GBS vaccine in pregnant women with and
      without HIV in Malawi and South Africa. METHODS: In our non-randomised phase 2,
      open-label, multicentre study, we recruited pregnant women attending two
      antenatal clinics, one in Blantyre, Malawi, and one in Soweto, Johannesburg,
      South Africa. Participants were divided into three groups on the basis of their
      HIV infection status (no infection, infection and high CD4 cell count [>350 cells
      per MUL], and infection and low CD4 cell count [>50 to <=350 cells per MUL]) and
      received a 5 MUg dose of glycoconjugate GBS vaccine (serotypes Ia, Ib, and III,
      with CRM197 [Novartis Vaccines, Siena, Italy]) intramuscularly at 24-35 weeks'
      gestation. GBS serotype-specific antibody concentrations were measured before
      vaccination (day 1), day 15, day 31, and at delivery, and in infants at birth and
      day 42 of life. The primary outcomes were safety in mothers and infants and the
      amount of placental transfer of GBS serotype-specific antibodies from mothers to
      their infants. All immunogenicity and safety analyses were done on the full
      analysis set, including participants who, or whose mother, correctly received the
      vaccine and who provided at least one valid assessable serum sample. This study
      is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01412801. FINDINGS: 270 women
      and 266 infants were enrolled between Sept 26, 2011, and Dec 4, 2012 (90 women
      and 87 infants without HIV, 89 and 88 with HIV and high CD4 cell counts, and 91
      and 91 with HIV and low CD4 cell counts, respectively). Seven women were lost to
      follow-up, six withdrew consent, one died, and two relocated. Eight infants died
      or were stillborn and two were lost to follow-up. Across serotypes, fold change
      in antibody concentrations were higher for the HIV-uninfected group than the HIV
      infected groups. Transfer ratios were similar across all three groups (0.49-0.72;
      transfer ratio is infant geometric mean antibody concentration in blood collected
      within 72 h of birth divided by maternal geometric mean antibody concentration in
      blood collected at delivery); however, at birth, maternally derived serotype
      specific antibody concentrations were lower for infants born to women infected
      with HIV (0.52-1.62 MUg/mL) than for those born to women not infected with HIV
      (2.67-3.91 MUg/mL). 151 (57%) of 265 women reported at least one solicited
      adverse reaction: 39 (45%) of 87 women with HIV and low CD4 cell counts, 52 (59%)
      of 88 women with HIV and high CD4 cell counts, and 60 (67%) of 90 women in the
      HIV-uninfected group. 49 (18%) of 269 women had at least one adverse event deemed
      possibly related to the vaccine (six [7%] in the HIV and low CD4 cell count
      group, 12 [13%] in the HIV and high CD4 cell count group, and 21 [23%] in the HIV
      uninfected group), as did three (1%) of 266 neonates (zero, two [1%], and one
      [1%]); none of these events was regarded as serious. INTERPRETATION: The vaccine
      was less immunogenic in women infected with HIV than it was in those not
      infected, irrespective of CD4 cell count, resulting in lower levels of serotype
      specific maternal antibody transferred to infants, which could reduce vaccine
      protection against invasive GBS disease. A validated assay and correlate of
      protection is needed to understand the potential protective value of this
      vaccine. FUNDING: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics division (now part of the
      GlaxoSmithKline group of companies), Wellcome Trust UK, Medical Research Council:
      Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit.

PMID- 26869378
TI  - En route towards prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal disease.

PMID- 26869377
TI  - Safety of artemisinins in first trimester of prospectively followed pregnancies:
      an observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Artemisinins, the most effective antimalarials available, are not
      recommended for falciparum malaria during the first trimester of pregnancy
      because of safety concerns. Therefore, quinine is used despite its poor
      effectiveness. Assessing artemisinin safety requires weighing the risks of
      malaria and its treatment. We aimed to assess the effect of first-trimester
      malaria and artemisinin treatment on miscarriage and major congenital
      malformations. METHODS: In this observational study, we assessed data from
      antenatal clinics on the Thai-Myanmar border between Jan 1, 1994, and Dec 31,
      2013. We included women who presented to antenatal clinics during their first
      trimester with a viable fetus. Women were screened for malaria, and data on
      malaria, antimalarial treatment, and birth outcomes were collected. The
      relationship between artemisinin treatments (artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, or
      artemether) and miscarriage or malformation was assessed using Cox regression
      with left-truncation and time-varying exposures. FINDINGS: Of 55 636 pregnancies
      registered between 1994 and 2013, 25 485 pregnancies were analysed for first
      trimester malaria and miscarriage, in which 2558 (10%) had first-trimester
      malaria. The hazard of miscarriage increased 1.61-fold after an initial first
      trimester falciparum episode (95% CI 1.32-1.97; p<0.0001), 3.24-fold following
      falciparum recurrence (2.24-4.68; p<0.0001), and 2.44-fold (1.01-5.88; p=0.0473)
      following recurrent symptomatic vivax malaria. No difference was noted in
      miscarriage in first-line falciparum treatments with artemisinin (n=183) versus
      quinine (n=842; HR 0.78 [95% CI 0.45-1.34]; p=0.3645) or in risk of major
      congenital malformations (two [2%] of 109 [95% CI 0.22-6.47] versus eight (1%) of
      641 [0.54-2.44], respectively). INTERPRETATION: First-trimester falciparum and
      vivax malaria both increase the risk of miscarriage. We noted no evidence of an
      increased risk of miscarriage or of major congenital malformations associated
      with first-line treatment with an artemisinin derivative compared with quinine.
      In view of the low efficacy of quinine and wide availability of highly effective
      artemisinin-based combination therapies, it is time to reconsider first-trimester
      antimalarial treatment recommendations. FUNDING: The Wellcome Trust and The Bill
      & Melinda Gates Foundation.

PMID- 26869379
TI  - Mounting evidence for use of artemisinin derivatives for malaria in early
      pregnancy.

PMID- 26869381
TI  - Resting energy expenditure in adult patients with Crohn's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disorder of
      unknown etiology involving any section of the gastrointestinal tract often
      associated with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Increased resting energy
      expenditure (REE) unmatched by adequate dietary intake is amongst the
      pathogenetic mechanisms proposed for PEM. Aim of this study was to evaluate REE
      in CD patients receiving or not immuno-suppressive therapy as compared to
      controls. METHODS: 36 CD patients (22 M and 14 F, age range 18-55 years)
      clinically stable and without complications since at least 6 month were studied.
      REE was evaluated by indirect calorimetry and body composition by BIA. Full
      biochemistry was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1 =
      12 patients) without and Group 2 (G2 = 24 patients) with immuno-suppressive
      therapy. RESULTS: The two groups were similar for age, height and BMI whereas
      significantly differed for weight (G1 vs G2: 56.9 +/- 7.44 vs 62.3 +/- 8.34 kg),
      fat free mass (FFM: 40.4 +/- 5.73 vs 48.2 +/- 7.06 kg), fat mass (FM: 17.0 +/-
      3.55 vs 13.9 +/- 5.54 kg) and phase angle (PA: 5.6 +/- 1.4 vs 6.5 +/- 1.0 degrees
      ). Serum inflammation parameters were significantly higher in G1 than in G2: hs
      PCR: 7.76 +/- 14.2 vs 7.16 +/- 13.4 mg/dl; alfa 2-protein: 11.7 +/- 3.69 vs 9.74
      +/- 2.08 mg/dl; fibrinogen: 424 +/- 174 vs 334 +/- 118 mg/dl (p < 0.05). REE was
      higher in G2 vs G1: 1383 +/- 267 vs 1582 +/- 253kcal/die (p < 0.05) both in men:
      1579 +/- 314 vs 1640 +/- 203 and women: 1267 +/- 140 vs 1380 +/- 132.
      Nevertheless, when corrected for FFM, REE resulted higher in G1 than G2 (34.8 +/-
      4.89 vs 33.0 +/- 4.35 kcal/kg, p < 0.05) group, also higher compared to our, age
      and sex matched, control population (REE/FFM: 30.9 +/- 4.5 kcal/kg). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our preliminary results show that REE when adjusted for FFM is increased in
      clinically stable CD patients and mildly reduced by immunosuppressive therapy
      possibly through a direct action on inflammation and on body composition
      characteristics.

PMID- 26869380
TI  - Placental MFSD2a transporter is related to decreased DHA in cord blood of women
      with treated gestational diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Maternal-fetal transfer of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is
      impaired by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the underlying mechanisms
      are still unknown. MFSD2a was recently recognized as a lyso-phospholipid (lyso
      PL) transporter that facilitates DHA accretion in brain. The role of this
      transporter in placenta is uncertain. We evaluated effects of GDM and its
      treatment (diet or insulin) on phospholipid species, fatty acid profile in women,
      cord blood and placental fatty acid carriers. METHODS: Prospective observational
      study of pregnant women recruited in the third trimester (25 controls, 23 GDM
      diet, 20 GDM-insulin). Fetal ultrasound was performed at gestational week 38. At
      delivery, maternal and neonatal anthropometry was performed, and fatty acids in
      total lipids and phospholipid species were analyzed in placenta, maternal and
      venous cord blood. Western-blot analyses were performed for placental fatty acid
      carriers. RESULTS: Fetal abdominal circumference z-score at 38 weeks tended to
      higher values in GDM (P = 0.071), pointing toward higher fetal fat accretion in
      these babies. DHA percentage in cord serum total lipids (P = 0.029) and lyso-PL
      (P = 0.169) were reduced in GDM. Placental MFSD2a was reduced in both GDM groups
      and was positively correlated to DHA values in cord serum total lipids (r =
      0.388, P = 0.003). Among established placental lipid carriers, only FATP4 was
      correlated to DHA concentration in placental lyso-PL. In all compartments, DHA
      percentage was inversely correlated to fetal abdominal circumference.
      CONCLUSIONS: In offspring of women with GDM treated either with diet or insulin,
      higher fetal fat accretion and lower placental MFSD2a contribute to reduce DHA
      availability. Lyso-PL appear to contribute to materno-fetal DHA transport.

PMID- 26869382
TI  - Public health vulnerability to wintertime weather: time-series regression and
      episode analyses of national mortality and morbidity databases to inform the Cold
      Weather Plan for England.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To inform development of Public Health England's Cold Weather Plan
      (CWP) by characterizing pre-existing relationships between wintertime weather and
      mortality and morbidity outcomes, and identification of groups most at risk.
      STUDY DESIGN: Time-series regression analysis and episode analysis of daily
      mortality, emergency hospital admissions, and accident and emergency visits for
      each region of England. METHODS: Seasonally-adjusted Poisson regression models
      estimating the percent change in daily health events per 1  degrees C fall in
      temperature or during individual episodes of extreme weather. RESULTS: Adverse
      cold effects were observed in all regions, with the North East, North West and
      London having the greatest risk of cold-related mortality. Nationally, there was
      a 3.44% (95% CI: 3.01, 3.87) increase in all-cause deaths and 0.78% (95% CI:
      0.53, 1.04) increase in all-cause emergency admissions for every 1  degrees C
      drop in temperature below identified thresholds. The very elderly and people with
      COPD were most at risk from low temperatures. A&E visits for fractures were
      elevated during heavy snowfall periods, with adults (16-64 years) being the most
      sensitive age-group. Since even moderately cold days are associated with adverse
      health effects, by far the greatest health burdens of cold weather fell outside
      of the alert periods currently used in the CWP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      indicate that levels 0 ('year round planning') and 1 ('winter preparedness and
      action') are crucial components of the CWP in comparison to the alerts. Those
      most vulnerable during winter may vary depending on the type of weather
      conditions being experienced. Recommendations are made for the CWP.

PMID- 26869383
TI  - Purification and comparison of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in Candida albicans
      isolates from Malaysian and Iranian patients and infected mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to purify and compare the
      concentration ratios of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in clinical isolates of
      Candida albicans (C. albicans) obtained from Malaysian and Iranian patients and
      infected mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hsp90 was extracted using glass beads and
      ultracentrifugation from yeast cells and purified by ion exchange chromatography
      (DEAE-cellulose) and followed by affinity chromatography (hydroxyapatite). Purity
      of Hsp90 was controlled by SDS-PAGE and its identification was realized by
      immunoblotting test. RESULTS: The graphs of ion exchange and affinity
      chromatography showed one peak in all C. albicans isolates obtained from both
      Malaysian and Iranian samples, infected mice and under high-thermal (42 degrees
      C) and low-thermal (25 degrees C) shock. In immunoblotting, the location of Hsp90
      fragments was obtained around 47, 75 and 82kDa. The least average concentration
      ratios of Hsp90 were 0.350 and 0.240mg/g for Malaysian and Iranian isolates at 25
      degrees C, respectively, while the highest average concentration ratios of Hsp90
      were 3.05 and 2.600mg/g for Malaysian and Iranian isolates at 42 degrees C,
      respectively. There were differences in the ratio amount of Hsp90 between
      Malaysian isolates (1.01+/-0.07mg/g) and mice kidneys (1.23+/-0.28mg/g) as well
      as between Iranian isolates (0.70+/-0.19mg/g) and mice kidneys (1.00+/-0.28mg/g)
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed differences in all situations tested
      including Iranian and Malaysian isolates, samples treated with temperatures (25
      degrees C or 42 degrees C) and before and after infecting the mice (37 degrees
      C), indicating higher virulent nature of this yeast species in high temperature
      in human and animal models.

PMID- 26869384
TI  - Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet and Incidence of Stroke: Results
      From 2 Prospective Cohorts.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop
      Hypertension (DASH) diet is associated with lower risk of hypertension, the major
      risk factor for stroke. We examined whether adherence to the DASH diet is
      inversely associated with the incidence of stroke. METHODS: The study population
      comprised 74 404 men and women (45-83 years of age), without stroke at baseline,
      from the Cohort of Swedish Men and the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Diet was
      assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. A modified DASH diet score was
      created based on consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, whole
      grains, low-fat dairy, red meat and processed meat, and sweetened beverages.
      Stroke cases were identified through linkage to the Swedish National Patient and
      Cause of Death Registers. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were
      estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: During 882
      727 person-years (mean, 11.9 years) of follow-up, 3896 ischemic strokes, 560
      intracerebral hemorrhages, and 176 subarachnoid hemorrhages were ascertained. The
      modified DASH diet score was statistically significantly inversely associated
      with the risk of ischemic stroke (P for trend=0.002), with a multivariable
      relative risk of 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.94) for the highest versus
      the lowest quartile of the score. The modified DASH diet score was
      nonsignificantly inversely associated with intracerebral hemorrhage
      (corresponding relative risk=0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.05) but was
      not associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate
      that high adherence to the DASH diet is associated with a reduced risk of
      ischemic stroke. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.
      Unique identifiers: NCT01127698 and NCT01127711 for the Swedish Mammography
      Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, respectively.

PMID- 26869385
TI  - Trends in Age of First-Ever Stroke Following Increased Incidence and Life
      Expectancy in a Low-Income Chinese Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated secular trends in the age of stroke onset
      and stroke incidence in a low-income population in rural China. METHODS: The
      study population was recruited from a population-based stroke surveillance study
      conducted in a township in Tianjin, China, from 1992 to 2014. The trends in mean
      age and incidence of first-ever stroke were assessed by sex and stroke subtype.
      Risk factor surveys were conducted in the same population in both 1991 and 2011.
      RESULTS: A total of 1053 patients experienced first-ever stroke from 1992 to
      2014. The mean age of stroke onset in men significantly decreased by 0.28 years
      annually overall, by 0.56 years for intracerebral hemorrhage, and by 0.22 years
      for ischemic stroke (P<0.05). However, a similar trend was not observed in women.
      The age-standardized first-ever stroke incidence in the same population
      significantly increased across sex and stroke subtypes, increased by 6.3%
      overall, 5.5% for men, 7.9% for women, 4.6% for intracerebral hemorrhage, and
      7.3% for ischemic stroke (P<0.05) during 1992 to 2014. Concurrently, the
      prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, current smoking, and
      alcohol consumption increased significantly in young and middle-aged adults from
      1991 to 2011. CONCLUSIONS: The age of stroke onset tends to be younger among low
      income population in China after the dramatic increased incidence of stroke
      during the gradual extension of life expectancy of population in China. These
      findings suggested that stroke burden will continue to increase in the long time,
      unless the risk factors in low-income populations are effectively controlled.

PMID- 26869386
TI  - Risk Score for Neurological Complications After Endovascular Treatment of
      Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Procedure-related neurological complications are common
      after endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We aimed to
      develop a score to quantify individual patient risk. METHODS: We retrospectively
      analyzed consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for unruptured
      intracranial aneurysms between January 2012 and September 2015. After excluding
      those who lost to follow-up and those with fusiform unruptured intracranial
      aneurysms, included patients were randomly divided into a derivation group (60%)
      and a validation group (40%). A neurological complication was defined as any
      transient or permanent increase in the modified Rankin Scale score after aneurysm
      embolization. A risk score for neurological complications was derived from
      multivariable logistic regression analyses in the derivation group and validated
      in the validation group. RESULTS: Overall, 1060 patients were included (636 in
      the derivation group and 424 in the validation group). The incidence of
      neurological complications was 5.5% (95% confidence interval, 3.8%-7.4%). A 3
      point risk score (S-C-C) was derived to predict neurological complications (size
      [>=10 mm=1], core areas [yes=1], and cerebral ischemic comorbidity [yes=1]). The
      incidence of neurological complications varied from 2.2% in 0-point patients to
      25.0% in 3-point patients. The score demonstrated significant discrimination (C
      statistic, 0.714; 95% confidence interval, 0.624-0.804) and calibration (McFadden
      R(2), 0.102) in the derivation group. Excellent prediction, discrimination, and
      calibration properties were reproduced in the validation group. CONCLUSIONS: One
      in 20 patients will develop neurological complications after endovascular
      treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The S-C-C score may be useful for
      predicting these adverse outcomes based on variables in daily practice.

PMID- 26869389
TI  - Elevated CO2 as a driver of global dryland greening.
AB  - While recent findings based on satellite records indicate a positive trend in
      vegetation greenness over global drylands, the reasons remain elusive. We
      hypothesize that enhanced levels of atmospheric CO2 play an important role in the
      observed greening through the CO2 effect on plant water savings and consequent
      available soil water increases. Meta-analytic techniques were used to compare
      soil water content under ambient and elevated CO2 treatments across a range of
      climate regimes, vegetation types, soil textures and land management practices.
      Based on 1705 field measurements from 21 distinct sites, a consistent and
      statistically significant increase in the availability of soil water (11%) was
      observed under elevated CO2 treatments in both drylands and non-drylands, with a
      statistically stronger response over drylands (17% vs. 9%). Given the inherent
      water limitation in drylands, it is suggested that the additional soil water
      availability is a likely driver of observed increases in vegetation greenness. 

PMID- 26869387
TI  - Role of Lipocalin-2 in Thrombin-Induced Brain Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thrombin and lipocalin-2 (LCN2) contribute to
      intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury. Thrombin-induced brain damage is
      partially through a thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor-1. LCN2 is
      involved in cellular iron transport and neuroinflammation. This study
      investigated the role of LCN2 in thrombin-induced brain injury. METHODS: There
      were 3 parts in this study. First, male adult C57BL/6 wild-type or LCN2 knockout
      (LCN2 KO) mice had an intracaudate injection of thrombin (0.4 U) or saline.
      Second, LCN2 KO mice had an injection of thrombin (0.4 U) with recombinant mouse
      LCN2 protein (1 MUg) into the right caudate. Third, protease-activated receptor-1
      KO or wild-type mice had an intracaudate injection of thrombin or saline. All
      mice had T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tests. Brains were
      used for histology, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. RESULTS:
      Intracerebral thrombin injection caused LCN2 upregulation and brain injury in
      mice. Thrombin-induced brain swelling, blood-brain barrier disruption, neuronal
      death, and neurological deficits were markedly less in LCN2 KO mice (P<0.05) and
      were exacerbated by exogenous LCN2 coinjection. In addition, thrombin injection
      resulted in less LCN2 expression and brain injury in protease-activated receptor
      1 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombin upregulates LCN2 through protease-activated
      receptor-1 activation and causes brain damage.

PMID- 26869390
TI  - Segregation of "isotope" particles within colloidal molecules.
AB  - Clusters of spherical particles are called "colloidal molecules" because they
      adopt structures that resemble those of true molecules. In this analogy, the
      particles are the atoms, the attractive interactions between them are bonds, and
      the different structures that appear in equilibrium are isomers. We take this
      analogy a step further by doping colloidal molecules with colloidal "isotopes,"
      particles that have the same size but different bonding energies from the other
      particles in the system. Our molecules are two-dimensional clusters consisting of
      polystyrene and silica microspheres held together by depletion interactions.
      Using a combination of optical microscopy and particle tracking, we examine an
      ensemble of 4- and 5-particle molecules at different isotope ratios. We find that
      the isotopes tend to segregate to particular positions in the various isomers. We
      explain these findings using a statistical mechanical model that accounts for the
      rotational entropy of the isomers and the different interaction potentials
      between the different types of particles. The model shows how to optimize the
      yield of any particular isomer, so as to put the isotopes in desired locations.
      Our experiments and models show that even in systems of particles with isotropic
      interactions, the structures of self-assembled molecules can in principle be
      controlled to a surprisingly high extent. 

PMID- 26869388
TI  - Salusin-beta as a powerful endogenous antidipsogenic neuropeptide.
AB  - Salusin-beta is an endogenous parasympathomimetic peptide, predominantly
      localized to the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary. Subcutaneously
      administered salusin-beta (50 nmol/mouse) significantly increased water intake
      but did not affect locomotor activity or food intake. The salusin-beta-induced
      increase in water intake was completely abrogated by pretreatment with muscarinic
      antagonist, atropine sulphate. In contrast, intracerebroventricular injection of
      salusin-beta, at lower doses (10-100 fmol/mouse) caused a long-lasting decrease
      in water intake and locomotor activity throughout the entire dark phase of the
      diurnal cycle. Pre-injection of intracerebroventricular anti-salusin-beta IgG
      completely abrogated the central salusin-beta mediated suppression of water
      intake and locomotor activity. These results demonstrate contrasting actions of
      salusin-beta in the control of water intake via the central and peripheral
      systems and highlight it as a potent endogenous antidipsogenic neuropeptide.

PMID- 26869391
TI  - Fructose consumption induces hypomethylation of hepatic mitochondrial DNA in
      rats.
AB  - AIMS: Fructose may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome
      (MetS). However, the pathogenic mechanism of the fructose-induced MetS has not
      yet been investigated fully. Recently, several reports have investigated the
      association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and MetS. We examined the effect of
      fructose-rich diets on mtDNA content, transcription, and epigenetic changes. MAIN
      METHODS: Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were offered a 20% fructose
      solution for 14weeks. We quantified mRNAs for hepatic mitochondrial genes and
      analyzed the mtDNA methylation (5-mC and 5-hmC) levels using ELISA kits. KEY
      FINDINGS: Histological analysis revealed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD) in fructose-fed rats. Hepatic mtDNA content and transcription were higher
      in fructose-fed rats than in the control group. Global hypomethylation of mtDNA
      was also observed in fructose-fed rats. SIGNIFICANCE: We showed that fructose
      consumption stimulates hepatic mtDNA-encoded gene expression. This phenomenon
      might be due to epigenetic changes in mtDNA. Fructose-induced mitochondrial
      epigenetic changes appear to be a novel mechanism underlying the pathology of
      MetS and NAFLD.

PMID- 26869392
TI  - Carotid Plaque Characterization, Stenosis, and Intima-Media Thickness According
      to Age and Gender in a Large Registry Cohort.
AB  - Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a well-established predictor of
      cardiovascular disease events. Not well described, however, is the prevalence of
      plaque and stenosis severity and how this varies according to extent of CIMT,
      age, and gender. We evaluated the extent of carotid plaque and stenosis severity
      according to CIMT, age, and gender in a large CIMT screening registry. We studied
      9,347 women and 12,676 men (n = 22,023) who received carotid ultrasound scans.
      The presence and severity of both carotid plaque and stenosis was compared
      according to extent of CIMT (>=1 mm vs <1 mm), age, and gender using the chi
      square test of proportions. Among those aged <45 to >=80 years, the prevalence of
      CIMT >=1 mm ranged from 0.13% to 29.3% in women and 0.6% to 40.1% in men,
      stenosis >=50% from 0.1% to 14.9% in women and 0.1% to 13.2% in men, and mixed
      and/or soft plaque from 7.1% to 66.5% in women, and 9.2% to 65.8% in men (all p
      <0.001 across age groups). Even when CIMT levels were <1 mm, >30% of patients
      demonstrated mixed or soft plaque potentially prone to rupture. Of those with
      CIMT >=1 mm, more than 70% had such mixed or soft plaque and more than 40%
      demonstrated stenoses of 30% or greater. In conclusion, we describe in a large
      CIMT registry study a substantial age-related increase in both men and women of
      increased CIMT, plaque presence, and severity, and stenosis. Even in those with
      normal CIMT, mixed or soft plaque was common, further demonstrating the value in
      assessing for plaque when doing carotid ultrasound.

PMID- 26869393
TI  - Impact of Genotype on the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With
      Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Genes associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) are not uniformly
      expressed in the atrial myocardium. Whether this may impact susceptibility to
      atrial fibrillation (AF) is unresolved. To analyze the prevalence and clinical
      correlates of AF in relation to genotype in a large HC cohort, prevalence and
      clinical profile of AF were assessed in 237 patients with HC, followed for 14 +/-
      10 years. Patients were divided into 3 genetic subgroups: (1) MYBPC3 (58%), (2)
      MYH7 (28%), and (3) "other genotypes" (14%; comprising TNNT2, TNNI3, TPM1, MYL2,
      complex genotypes, Z-line, and E-C coupling genes). Left atrial size was similar
      in the 3 subsets. AF occurred in 74 patients with HC (31%), with no difference
      among groups (31% in MYBPC3, 37% in MYH7 and 18% in other genotypes, p = 0.15),
      paroxysmal/persistent AF (12%, 18%, and 12%, respectively; p = 0.53),
      paroxysmal/persistent evolved to permanent (12%, 12%, and 3%, p = 0.36) or
      permanent AF (7%, 7%, and 3%, p = 0.82). Age at AF onset was younger in the group
      with other genotypes (37 +/- 10 years) compared to the first 2 groups (53 +/- 14
      and 51 +/- 17, respectively; p = 0.05) because of early onset associated with
      complex genotypes and a specific JPH2 mutation associated with abnormal
      intracellular calcium handling. At multivariate analysis, independent predictors
      of AF were atrial diameter (p <=0.05) and age at diagnosis (p = 0.09), but not
      genetic subtype (p = 0.35). In conclusion, in patients with HC, genetic testing
      cannot be used in clinical decision making with regard to management strategies
      for AF. Genotype is not predictive of onset or severity of AF, which appears
      rather driven by hemodynamic determinants of atrial dilatation. Exceptions are
      represented by rare genes suggesting specific molecular pathways for AF in
      genetic cardiomyopathies.

PMID- 26869394
TI  - Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome.

PMID- 26869395
TI  - The ability to cross the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier is a generic property
      of acute lymphoblastic leukemia blasts.
AB  - Prevention of central nervous system (CNS) relapse is critical for cure of
      childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Despite this,
      mechanisms of CNS infiltration are poorly understood, and the timing, frequency,
      and properties of BCP-ALL blasts entering the CNS compartment are unknown. We
      investigated the CNS-engrafting potential of BCP-ALL cells xenotransplanted into
      immunodeficient NOD.Cg- ITALIC! Prkdc (ITALIC! scid) ITALIC! Il2rg (ITALIC!
      tm1Wjl)/SzJ mice. CNS engraftment was seen in 23 of 29 diagnostic samples (79%):
      2 of 2 from patients with overt CNS disease and 21 of 27 from patients thought to
      be CNS negative by diagnostic lumbar puncture. Histologic findings mimic human
      pathology and demonstrate that leukemic cells transit the blood-cerebrospinal
      fluid barrier situated close to the dural sinuses, the site of recently
      discovered CNS lymphatics. Retrieval of blasts from the CNS showed no evidence
      for chemokine receptor-mediated selective trafficking. The high frequency of
      infiltration and lack of selective trafficking led us to postulate that CNS
      tropism is a generic property of leukemic cells. To test this, we performed
      serial dilution experiments which showed CNS engraftment in 5 of 6 mice after
      transplant of as few as 10 leukemic cells. Clonal tracking techniques confirmed
      the polyclonal nature of CNS-infiltrating cells, with multiple clones engrafting
      in both the CNS and periphery. Overall, these findings suggest that subclinical
      seeding of the CNS is likely to be present in most BCP-ALL patients at original
      diagnosis, and efforts to prevent CNS relapse should concentrate on effective
      eradication of disease from this site rather than targeting entry mechanisms. 

PMID- 26869396
TI  - Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma with extensive Langerhans' cell reaction and
      its significance: a case initially diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

PMID- 26869397
TI  - Generation of recombinant rabies viruses encoding NanoLuc luciferase for
      antiviral activity assays.
AB  - Rabies is an invariably fatal disease caused by Rabies virus (RABV), a member of
      the family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus. Once central nervous infection occurs
      and symptoms develop, the case fatality rate approaches 100% despite availability
      of post-exposure prophylaxis. Therefore, new antiviral therapies for rabies are
      urgently required. Antivirals which can inhibit virus replication can be
      identified through screening of small compounds, however, as RABV infection does
      not generate easily discernible cytopathic effects in vitro, cell viability
      assays may not be feasible to observe antiviral activity of small compounds
      against RABV. In this study, recombinant RABVs (rRABVs) encoding NanoLuc
      luciferase (NanoLuc) were generated to facilitate the screening of small compound
      libraries. NanoLuc expression was confirmed in single-step growth cures of virus
      infection and showed that the rRABVs were capable of viral replication without
      decrease of luciferase activity through ten serial passages. Furthermore, the
      rRABVs were able to quantify the antiviral activity of the nucleoside analogue
      ribavirin against RABV in vitro. These findings confirm the potential of the
      rRABV encoding NanoLuc system to facilitate screening of small compounds to
      inhibit RABV infection. 

PMID- 26869398
TI  - Solvent-shift strategy to identify suitable polymers to inhibit humidity-induced
      solid-state crystallization of lacidipine amorphous solid dispersions.
AB  - The solvent-shift strategy was used to identify appropriate polymers that inhibit
      humidity-induced solid-state crystallization of amorphous solid dispersions
      (ASDs). Lacidipine with the polymers, PVP-K30, HPMC-E5 or Soluplus, were combined
      to form amorphous solid dispersions prepared by solvent evaporation. The
      formulations were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),
      powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT
      IR) and were subjected to in vitro dissolution testing. The moisture had a
      significant impact on the amount dissolved for the solid dispersions. Molecular
      docking studies established that hydrogen bonding was critical for the
      stabilization of the solid dispersions. The rank order of the binding energy of
      the drug-polymer association was Soluplus (-6.21 kcal/mol)>HPMC-E5 (-3.21
      kcal/mol)>PVP-K30 (-2.31 kcal/mol). PVP-K30 had the highest water uptake among
      the polymers, as did ASD system of lacidipine-PVP-K30 ASDs. In the Soluplus ASDs,
      with its strong drug-polymer interactions and low water uptake, moisture-induced
      solid-state crystallization was not observed.

PMID- 26869399
TI  - Dipicrylamine Modulates GABArho1 Receptors through Interactions with Residues in
      the TM4 and Cys-Loop Domains.
AB  - Dipicrylamine (DPA) is a commonly used acceptor agent in Forster resonance energy
      transfer experiments that allows the study of high-frequency neuronal activity in
      the optical monitoring of voltage in living cells. However, DPA potently
      antagonizes GABAA receptors that contain alpha1 and beta2 subunits by a mechanism
      which is not clearly understood. In this work, we aimed to determine whether DPA
      modulation is a general phenomenon of Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs),
      and whether this modulation depends on particular amino acid residues. For this,
      we studied the effects of DPA on human homomeric GABArho1, alpha7 nicotinic, and
      5-HT3A serotonin receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Our results indicate
      that DPA is an allosteric modulator of GABArho1 receptors with an IC50 of 1.6 uM,
      an enhancer of alpha7 nicotinic receptors at relatively high concentrations of
      DPA, and has little, if any, effect on 5-HT3A receptors. DPA antagonism of
      GABArho1 was strongly enhanced by preincubation, was slightly voltage-dependent,
      and its washout was accelerated by bovine serum albumin. These results indicate
      that DPA modulation is not a general phenomenon of LGICs, and structural
      differences between receptors may account for disparities in DPA effects. In
      silico modeling of DPA docking to GABArho1, alpha7 nicotinic, and 5-HT3A
      receptors suggests that a hydrophobic pocket within the Cys-loop and the M4
      segment in GABArho1, located at the extracellular/membrane interface, facilitates
      the interaction with DPA that leads to inhibition of the receptor. Functional
      examinations of mutant receptors support the involvement of the M4 segment in the
      allosteric modulation of GABArho1 by DPA. 

PMID- 26869400
TI  - Voltage-Independent Inhibition of the Tetrodotoxin-Sensitive Sodium Currents by
      Oxotremorine and Angiotensin II in Rat Sympathetic Neurons.
AB  - Tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na(+) currents have been extensively studied because they
      play a major role in neuronal firing and bursting. In this study, we showed that
      voltage-dependent Na(+) currents are regulated in a slow manner by oxotremorine
      (oxo-M) and angiotensin II in rat sympathetic neurons. We found that these
      currents can be readily inhibited through a signaling pathway mediated by G
      proteins and phospholipase C (PLC) beta1. This inhibition is slowly established,
      pertussis toxin-insensitive, partially reversed within tens of seconds after oxo
      M washout, and not relieved by a strong depolarization, suggesting a voltage
      insensitive mechanism of inhibition. Specificity of the M1 receptor was tested by
      the MT-7 toxin. Activation and inactivation curves showed no shift in the voltage
      dependency under the inhibition by oxo-M. This inhibition is blocked by a PLC
      inhibitor (U73122, 1-(6-{[(17beta)-3-Methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17
      yl]amino}hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione), and recovery from inhibition is prevented
      by wortmannin, a PI3/4 kinase inhibitor. Hence, the pathway involves Gq/11 and is
      mediated by a diffusible second messenger. Oxo-M inhibition is occluded by
      screening phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)-negative charges with poly
      l-lysine and prevented by intracellular dialysis with a PIP2 analog. In addition,
      bisindolylmaleimide I, a specific ATP-competitive protein kinase C (PKC)
      inhibitor, rules out that this inhibition may be mediated by this protein kinase.
      Furthermore, oxo-M-induced suppression of Na(+) currents remains unchanged when
      neurons are treated with calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor that targets the
      diacylglycerol-binding site of the kinase. These results support a general
      mechanism of Na(+) current inhibition that is widely present in excitable cells
      through modulation of ion channels by specific G protein-coupled receptors. 

PMID- 26869401
TI  - Editorial: guidelines for oral and maxillofacial radiology.

PMID- 26869404
TI  - AREG and EREG as Predictive Biomarkers for RAS Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer
      Treated With Panitumumab: A Fresh Approach to an Old Puzzle.

PMID- 26869405
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26869403
TI  - Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting endoplasmic
      reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat
      model.
AB  - Ginsenoside Rg1 has been demonstrated to have cardiovascular protective effects.
      However, whether the cardioprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are mediated by
      endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis remain unclear. In this
      study, among 80 male Wistar rats, 15 rats were randomly selected as controls; the
      remaining 65 rats received a diet rich in fat and sugar content for 4 weeks,
      followed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) to
      establish a diabetes model. Seven days after STZ injection, 10 rats were randomly
      selected as diabetic model (DM) controls, 45 eligible diabetic rats were
      randomized to three treatment groups and administered ginsenoside Rg1 in a dosage
      of 10, 15 or 20 mg/kg/day, respectively. After 12 weeks of treatment, rats were
      killed and serum samples obtained to determine cardiac troponin (cTn)-I.
      Myocardial tissues were harvested for morphological analysis to detect myocardial
      cell apoptosis, and to analyse protein expression of glucose-regulated protein 78
      (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and Caspase-12. Treatment with
      ginsenoside Rg1 (10-20 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum cTnI levels compared
      with DM control group (all P < 0.01). Ginsenoside Rg1 (15 and 20 mg/kg)
      significantly reduced the percentage of apoptotic myocardial cells and improved
      the parameters of cardiac function. Haematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining
      indicated that ginsenoside Rg1 could attenuate myocardial lesions and myocardial
      collagen volume fraction. Additionally, ginsenoside Rg1 significantly reduced
      GRP78, CHOP, and cleaved Caspase-12 protein expression in a dose-dependent
      manner. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 appeared to ameliorate
      diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis in diabetic
      rats.

PMID- 26869406
TI  - Physical and Chemical Stability of Antibody Drug Conjugates: Current Status.
AB  - Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of chemotherapeutic cancer
      treatment agents that combine the targeting specificity of antibodies with the
      efficient cell-killing potential of cytotoxic drugs. Unlike their protein and
      small-molecule therapeutic counterparts, the stability and degradation properties
      of ADCs are relatively unknown. Theoretically, ADC stability could be governed by
      properties and processes stemming from both the antibody and the linker-toxin
      chemistry. Recently, systematic studies of intrinsic ADC molecule stability have
      been presented in the primary literature. As there are burgeoning industrial and
      academic efforts aimed at developing optimized conjugation chemistries and
      antibody engineering approaches for next-generation ADCs, it is important to
      capture the current state of understanding of ADC stability. In this minireview,
      we discuss aspects of physical and chemical stability of ADCs gathered from a
      survey of the literature and illustrate how investigations into stability enable
      the development of more effective ADC molecules for the future. 

PMID- 26869407
TI  - Stroke and Drug Delivery--In Vitro Models of the Ischemic Blood-Brain Barrier.
AB  - Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Both cerebral
      hypoperfusion and focal cerebral infarcts are caused by a reduction of blood flow
      to the brain, leading to stroke and subsequent brain damage. At present, only few
      medical treatments of stroke are available, with the Food and Drug Administration
      approved tissue plasminogen activator for treatment of acute ischemic stroke
      being the most prominent example. A large number of potential drug candidates for
      treatment of ischemic brain tissue have been developed and subsequently failed in
      clinical trials. A deeper understanding of permeation pathways across the barrier
      in ischemic and postischemic brain endothelium is important for development of
      new medical treatments. The blood-brain barrier, that is, the endothelial
      monolayer lining the brain capillaries, changes properties during an ischemic
      event. In vitro models of the blood-brain barrier are useful tools to investigate
      the effects of induced ischemia under controlled conditions. In the present mini
      review, we aim to give a brief overview of the in vitro models of ischemia.
      Special focus is given to the expression of uptake and efflux transport pathways
      in the ischemic and postischemic endothelium. Finally, we will point toward
      future challenges within the field of in vitro models of brain ischemia.

PMID- 26869409
TI  - Immunogenicity of Therapeutic Protein Aggregates.
AB  - Therapeutic proteins have a propensity for aggregation during manufacturing,
      shipping, and storage. The presence of aggregates in protein drug products can
      induce adverse immune responses in patients that may affect safety and efficacy,
      and so it is of concern to both manufacturers and regulatory agencies. In this
      vein, there is a lack of understanding of the physicochemical determinants of
      immunological responses and a lack of standardized analytical methods to survey
      the molecular properties of aggregates associated with immune activation. In this
      review, we provide an overview of the basic immune mechanisms in the context of
      interactions with protein aggregates. We then critically examine the literature
      with emphasis on the underlying immune mechanisms as they relate to aggregate
      properties. Finally, we highlight the gaps in our current understanding of this
      issue and offer recommendations for future research. 

PMID- 26869410
TI  - Explication of Definitional Description and Empirical Use of Fraction of Orally
      Administered Drugs Absorbed From the Intestine (Fa) and Intestinal Availability
      (Fg): Effect of P-glycoprotein and CYP3A on Fa and Fg.
AB  - Conventionally, it is believed that the fraction of orally administered drugs
      absorbed from the intestine (Fa) and intestinal availability (Fg) are
      independently determined by the apical membrane permeation and intestinal
      metabolism, respectively. However, the validity of this belief has not been well
      discussed, and Fa and Fg are often used without careful definition. In this
      review, Fa and Fg are mathematically described based on their definitions under
      the linear kinetics of metabolism and transport. Even considering with different
      models, intestinal metabolic enzymes such as cytochrome P450 3A affected both Fa
      and Fg, whereas apical efflux transporters including P-glycoprotein had no
      influence on Fg at least under the linear condition. To determine whether Fa and
      Fg calculated using different clinical methods are identical, empirical Fa and Fg
      were mathematically described based on "feces method" and "grapefruit juice
      method" and compared with their definitions. Fa and Fg obtained by the feces
      method corresponded with their definitions whereas the grapefruit juice method
      provided smaller Fa and larger Fg particularly for dual substrates of P
      glycoprotein and cytochrome P450 3A with low membrane permeability. Our analyses
      suggest that the definitions and calculation methods of Fa and Fg should be
      considered when we intend to separately determine these values. 

PMID- 26869408
TI  - Toward Carbon Monoxide-Based Therapeutics: Critical Drug Delivery and
      Developability Issues.
AB  - Carbon monoxide (CO) is an intrinsic signaling molecule with importance on par
      with that of nitric oxide. During the past decade, pharmacologic studies have
      amply demonstrated the therapeutic potential of carbon monoxide. However, such
      studies were mostly based on CO inhalation and metal-based CO-releasing
      molecules. The field is now at the stage that a major effort is needed to develop
      pharmaceutically acceptable forms of CO for delivery via various routes such as
      oral, injection, infusion, or topical applications. This review examines the
      state of the art, discusses the existing hurdles to overcome, and proposes
      developmental strategies necessary to address remaining drug delivery issues. 

PMID- 26869412
TI  - PEGylation of Biopharmaceuticals: A Review of Chemistry and Nonclinical Safety
      Information of Approved Drugs.
AB  - Modification of biopharmaceutical molecules by covalent conjugation of
      polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules is known to enhance pharmacologic and
      pharmaceutical properties of proteins and other large molecules and has been used
      successfully in 12 approved drugs. Both linear and branched-chain PEG reagents
      with molecular sizes of up to 40 kDa have been used with a variety of different
      PEG derivatives with different linker chemistries. This review describes the
      properties of PEG itself, the history and evolution of PEGylation chemistry, and
      provides examples of PEGylated drugs with an established medical history. A trend
      toward the use of complex PEG architectures and larger PEG polymers, but with
      very pure and well-characterized PEG reagents is described. Nonclinical
      toxicology findings related to PEG in approved PEGylated biopharmaceuticals are
      summarized. The effect attributed to the PEG part of the molecules as observed in
      5 of the 12 marketed products was cellular vacuolation seen microscopically
      mainly in phagocytic cells which is likely related to their biological function
      to absorb and remove particles and macromolecules from blood and tissues.
      Experience with marketed PEGylated products indicates that adverse effects in
      toxicology studies are usually related to the active part of the drug but not to
      the PEG moiety. 

PMID- 26869413
TI  - Why Does the Intestine Lack Basolateral Efflux Transporters for Cationic
      Compounds? A Provocative Hypothesis.
AB  - Transport proteins in intestinal epithelial cells facilitate absorption of
      nutrients/compounds that are organic anions, cations, and zwitterions. For two
      decades, we have studied intestinal absorption and transport of hydrophilic ionic
      compounds, with specific focus on transport properties of organic cations and
      their interactions with intestinal transporters and tight junction proteins. Our
      data reveal how complex interactions between a compound and transporters in
      intestinal apical/basolateral (BL) membranes and tight junction proteins define
      oral absorption, and that the BL membrane lacks an efflux transporter that can
      transport positively charged compounds. Based on our investigations of transport
      mechanisms of zwitterionic, anionic, and cationic compounds, we postulate that
      physicochemical properties of these ionic species, in relation to the intestinal
      micro pH environment, have exerted evolutionary pressure for development of
      transporters that can handle apical uptake/efflux of all 3 ionic species and BL
      efflux of anions and zwitterions, but such evolutionary pressure is lacking for
      development of a BL efflux transporter for cationic compounds. This review
      provides an overview of intestinal uptake/efflux transporters and describes our
      studies on intestinal transport of cationic, anionic, and zwitterionic drugs that
      led to hypothesize that there are no cation-selective BL efflux transporters in
      the intestine. 

PMID- 26869414
TI  - N+1 Engineering of an Aspartate Isomerization Hotspot in the Complementarity
      Determining Region of a Monoclonal Antibody.
AB  - Aspartate (Asp) isomerization is a common degradation pathway and a potential
      critical quality attribute that needs to be well characterized during the
      optimization and development of therapeutic antibodies. A putative Asp-serine
      (Ser) isomerization motif was identified in the complementarity-determining
      region of a humanized monoclonal antibody and shown to be a developability risk
      using accelerated stability analyses. To address this issue, we explored
      different antibody engineering strategies. Direct engineering of the Asp residue
      resulted in a greater than 5* loss of antigen-binding affinity and bioactivity,
      indicating a critical role for this residue. In contrast, rational engineering of
      the Ser residue at the n+1 position had a negligible impact on antigen binding
      affinity and bioactivity compared with the parent molecule. Furthermore, the n+1
      engineering strategy effectively eliminated Asp isomerization as determined by
      accelerated stability analysis. This outcome affirms that the rate of Asp
      isomerization is strongly dependent on the identity of the n+1 residue. This
      report highlights a systematic antibody engineering strategy for mitigating an
      Asp isomerization developability risk during lead optimization. 

PMID- 26869415
TI  - No Touching! Abrasion of Adsorbed Protein Is the Root Cause of Subvisible
      Particle Formation During Stirring.
AB  - This study addressed the effect of contact sliding during stirring of a
      monoclonal antibody solution on protein aggregation, in particular, in the
      nanometer and micrometer size range. An overhead stirring set-up was designed in
      which the presence and magnitude of the contact between the stir bar and the
      container could be manipulated. A solution of 0.1 mg/mL of a monoclonal antibody
      (IgG) in phosphate buffered saline was stirred at 300 rpm at room temperature. At
      different time points, samples were taken and analyzed by nanoparticle tracking
      analysis, flow imaging microscopy, and size-exclusion chromatography. In contrast
      to non-contact-stirred and unstirred samples, the contact-stirred sample
      contained several-fold more particles and showed a significant loss of monomer.
      No increase in oligomer content was detected. The number of particles formed was
      proportional to the contact area and the magnitude of the normal pressure between
      the stir bar and the glass container. Extrinsic 9-(2,2-dicyanovinyl) julolidine
      fluorescence indicated a conformational change for contact-stirred protein
      samples. Presence of polysorbate 20 inhibited the formation of micron-sized
      aggregates. We suggest a model in which abrasion of the potentially destabilized,
      adsorbed protein leads to aggregation and renewal of the surface for adsorption
      of a fresh protein layer. 

PMID- 26869411
TI  - Sandwich-Cultured Hepatocytes as a Tool to Study Drug Disposition and Drug
      Induced Liver Injury.
AB  - Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes (SCH) are metabolically competent and have proper
      localization of basolateral and canalicular transporters with functional bile
      networks. Therefore, this cellular model is a unique tool that can be used to
      estimate biliary excretion of compounds. SCH have been used widely to assess
      hepatobiliary disposition of endogenous and exogenous compounds and metabolites.
      Mechanistic modeling based on SCH data enables estimation of metabolic and
      transporter-mediated clearances, which can be used to construct physiologically
      based pharmacokinetic models for prediction of drug disposition and drug-drug
      interactions in humans. In addition to pharmacokinetic studies, SCH also have
      been used to study cytotoxicity and perturbation of biological processes by drugs
      and hepatically generated metabolites. Human SCH can provide mechanistic insights
      underlying clinical drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In addition, data generated
      in SCH can be integrated into systems pharmacology models to predict potential
      DILI in humans. In this review, applications of SCH in studying hepatobiliary
      drug disposition and bile acid-mediated DILI are discussed. An example is
      presented to show how data generated in the SCH model were used to establish a
      quantitative relationship between intracellular bile acids and cytotoxicity, and
      how this information was incorporated into a systems pharmacology model for DILI
      prediction. 

PMID- 26869416
TI  - Addition of Monovalent Electrolytes to Improve Storage Stability of Freeze-Dried
      Protein Formulations.
AB  - This study investigates the effect of low levels of electrolytes on storage
      stability in freeze-dried sucrose-based protein formulations. Both bovine serum
      albumin and recombinant human serum albumin were freeze dried with sucrose and
      alkali halides (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl) at selected low levels. All
      formulations were stored at 50  degrees C and 65  degrees C up to 2 months and
      then assayed for protein aggregation. The data demonstrate that low levels of
      LiCl and NaCl enhance stability. No obvious correlations with either protein
      secondary structure or global dynamics (structural relaxation time) were found.
      However, good correlations were found between stability and both free-volume hole
      size via positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and fast dynamics by
      neutron scattering. Volume changes on mixing and the partial molal volume of salt
      were also studied in an effort to detect decreases in free volume. These data did
      not support the hypothesis that reduction in free volume was the primary
      mechanism for salt-induced stabilization. Finally, a positive effect of
      postlyophilization annealing on stability was demonstrated. In summary, we find
      that small amounts of LiCl and NaCl significantly stabilize these proteins, which
      is a result at variance with conventional formulation wisdom.

PMID- 26869417
TI  - Quality and Batch-to-Batch Consistency of Original and Biosimilar Epoetin
      Products.
AB  - Comprehensive physicochemical characterization and biological assays are
      essential parts in assessing quality attributes of biologicals. Here, we compared
      the quality of different marketed recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin)
      products: originators, Eprex and NeoRecormon as well as 2 biosimilars, Retacrit
      and Binocrit. In addition, assessment of batch-to-batch variability was included
      by collecting 2 or more batches of each product. Common assays which included
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high-performance size
      exclusion chromatography, asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation, capillary
      zone electrophoresis, and potency testing were used. Of the tested products and
      among batches of single products, variations in epoetin content, isoform
      profiles, and potency were found. Ultimately, this study demonstrated the high
      quality of epoetin products with some degree of variation among products and
      batches, confirming the "similar but not identical" paradigm of biologicals. 

PMID- 26869418
TI  - Characterization of Sizes of Aggregates of Insulin Analogs and the Conformations
      of the Constituent Protein Molecules: A Concomitant Dynamic Light Scattering and
      Raman Spectroscopy Study.
AB  - To generate aggregates, 3 insulin analogs, lispro, aspart, and glulisine, were
      incubated without phenolic preservatives for 30 days at 37  degrees C. As a
      function of incubation time, aggregation was quantified with size exclusion
      chromatography, and the sizes of aggregates and the conformations of the
      constituent molecules were characterized with concomitant dynamic light
      scattering and Raman spectroscopy. During incubation, lispro was progressively
      converted into soluble aggregates with hydrodynamic diameters of circa 15 nm, and
      95% of the native protein had aggregated at day 30. Raman spectroscopy documented
      that aggregation resulted in conversion of a large fraction of native alpha helix
      into nonnative beta sheet structure and a distortion of disulfide bonds. In
      contrast, for aspart and glulisine only 20% of the native proteins aggregated
      after 30 days, and minimal structural perturbations were detected. In addition,
      consistent with the relative aggregation rates during isothermal incubation,
      Raman spectroscopy showed that during heating the onset temperature for secondary
      structural perturbations of lispro occurred 7  degrees C-10  degrees C lower than
      those for aspart or glulisine. Overall the results of this study demonstrated
      that-as in the case during formation of amyloid fibrils from insulin-formation of
      soluble aggregates of lispro resulted in a high level of conversion of alpha
      helix into beta sheet.

PMID- 26869419
TI  - Production, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Well-Defined IgG1 Fc
      Glycoforms as a Model System for Biosimilarity Analysis.
AB  - Four different well-defined IgG1 Fc glycoforms are proposed as a model system to
      examine important biological and physicochemical features for protein drug
      biosimilar analyses. The IgG1 Fc glycoforms were produced by yeast expression
      combined with in vitro enzymatic synthesis as a series of sequentially truncated
      high-mannose IgG1 Fc glycoforms with an anticipated range of biological activity
      and structural stability. Initial characterization with mass spectrometry, SDS
      PAGE, size exclusion HPLC, and capillary isoelectric focusing confirmed that the
      glycoproteins are overall highly similar with the only major difference being
      glycosylation state. Binding to the activating Fc receptor, FcgammaRIIIa was used
      to evaluate the potential biological activity of the IgG1 Fc glycoproteins. Two
      complementary methods using biolayer interferometry, 1 with protein G-immobilized
      IgG1 Fc and the other with streptavidin-immobilized FcgammaRIIIa, were developed
      to assess FcgammaRIIIa affinity in kinetic binding studies. The high-mannose IgG1
      Fc and Man5-IgG1 Fc glycoforms were highly similar to one another with high
      affinity for FcgammaRIIIa, whereas GlcNAc-Fc had weak affinity, and the
      nonglycosylated N297Q-Fc had no measurable affinity for FcgammaRIIIa. These 4
      IgG1 Fc glycoforms were also evaluated in terms of physical and chemical
      stability profiles and then used as a model system to mathematically assess
      overall biosimilarity, as described in a series of companion articles.

PMID- 26869421
TI  - Correlating the Impact of Well-Defined Oligosaccharide Structures on Physical
      Stability Profiles of IgG1-Fc Glycoforms.
AB  - As part of a series of articles in this special issue describing 4 well-defined
      IgG1-Fc glycoforms as a model system for biosimilarity analysis (high mannose-Fc,
      Man5-Fc, GlcNAc-Fc and N297Q-Fc aglycosylated), the focus of this work is
      comparisons of their physical properties. A trend of decreasing apparent
      solubility (thermodynamic activity) by polyethylene glycol precipitation (pH 4.5,
      6.0) and lower conformational stability by differential scanning calorimetry (pH
      4.5) was observed with reducing size of the N297-linked oligosaccharide
      structures. Using multiple high-throughput biophysical techniques, the physical
      stability of the Fc glycoproteins was then measured in 2 formulations (NaCl and
      sucrose) across a wide range of temperatures (10 degrees C-90 degrees C) and pH
      (4.0-7.5) conditions. The data sets were used to construct 3-index empirical
      phase diagrams and radar charts to visualize the regions of protein structural
      stability. Each glycoform showed improved stability in the sucrose (vs. salt)
      formulation. The HM-Fc and Man5-Fc displayed the highest relative stability,
      followed by GlcNAc-Fc, with N297Q-Fc being the least stable. Thus, the overall
      physical stability profiles of the 4 IgG1-Fc glycoforms also show a correlation
      with oligosaccharide structure. These data sets are used to develop a
      mathematical model for biosimilarity analysis (as described in a companion
      article by Kim et al. in this issue). 

PMID- 26869420
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of the Chemical Stability of 4 Well-Defined Immunoglobulin
      G1-Fc Glycoforms.
AB  - As part of a series of articles in this special issue evaluating model IgG1-Fc
      glycoforms for biosimilarity analysis, 3 well-defined IgG1-Fc glycoforms (high
      mannose-Fc, Man5-Fc, and N-acetylglucosamine-Fc) and a nonglycosylated Fc protein
      (N297Q-Fc) were examined in this work to elucidate chemical degradation pathways.
      The 4 proteins underwent a combination of accelerated thermal stability studies
      and 4 independent forced degradation studies (UV light, metal-catalyzed
      oxidation, peroxyl radicals, and hydrogen peroxide) at pH 6.0. Our results
      highlight chemical degradations at Asn315, Met428, Trp277, and Trp313. A cross
      comparison of the different Fc glycoforms, stress conditions, and the observed
      chemical reactions revealed that both the deamidation of Asn315 and the
      transformation of Trp277 into glycine hydroperoxide were glycan dependent during
      incubation for 3 months at 40  degrees C. Our data will show that different
      glycans not only affect chemical degradation differently but also do lead to
      different impurity profiles, which can affect chemical degradation.

PMID- 26869423
TI  - Development and Characterization of Sodium Hyaluronate Microparticle-Based
      Sustained Release Formulation of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Prepared by
      Spray-Drying.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize a sodium hyaluronate
      microparticle-based sustained release formulation of recombinant human growth
      hormone (SR-rhGH) prepared by spray-drying. Compared to freeze-drying, spray
      dried SR-rhGH showed not only prolonged release profiles but also better particle
      property and injectability. The results of size-exclusion high-performance liquid
      chromatography showed that no aggregate was detected, and dimer was just about 2%
      and also did not increase with increase of inlet temperature up to 150  degrees
      C. Meanwhile, the results of reversed-phase high-performance liquid
      chromatography revealed that related proteins increased slightly from 4.6% at 100
      degrees C to 6.3% at 150  degrees C. Thermal mapping test proved that product
      temperature did not become high to cause protein degradation during spray-drying
      because thermal energy was used for the evaporation of surface moisture of
      droplets. The structural characterization by peptide mapping, sodium dodecyl
      sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and circular dichroism revealed that
      the primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of rhGH in SR-rhGH were highly
      comparable to those of reference somatropin materials. The biological
      characterization by rat weight gain and cell proliferation assays provided that
      bioactivity of SR-rhGH was equivalent to that of native hGH. These data establish
      that spray-dried SR-rhGH is highly stable by preserving intact rhGH and
      hyaluronate microparticle-based formulation by spray-drying can be an alternative
      delivery system for proteins.

PMID- 26869422
TI  - Biosimilarity Assessments of Model IgG1-Fc Glycoforms Using a Machine Learning
      Approach.
AB  - Biosimilarity assessments are performed to decide whether 2 preparations of
      complex biomolecules can be considered "highly similar." In this work, a machine
      learning approach is demonstrated as a mathematical tool for such assessments
      using a variety of analytical data sets. As proof-of-principle, physical
      stability data sets from 8 samples, 4 well-defined immunoglobulin G1-Fragment
      crystallizable glycoforms in 2 different formulations, were examined (see More et
      al., companion article in this issue). The data sets included triplicate
      measurements from 3 analytical methods across different pH and temperature
      conditions (2066 data features). Established machine learning techniques were
      used to determine whether the data sets contain sufficient discriminative power
      in this application. The support vector machine classifier identified the 8
      distinct samples with high accuracy. For these data sets, there exists a minimum
      threshold in terms of information quality and volume to grant enough
      discriminative power. Generally, data from multiple analytical techniques,
      multiple pH conditions, and at least 200 representative features were required to
      achieve the highest discriminative accuracy. In addition to classification
      accuracy tests, various methods such as sample space visualization, similarity
      analysis based on Euclidean distance, and feature ranking by mutual information
      scores are demonstrated to display their effectiveness as modeling tools for
      biosimilarity assessments.

PMID- 26869424
TI  - The Effect of Capsaicin Derivatives on Tight-Junction Integrity and Permeability
      of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells.
AB  - Capsaicin is known to interfere with tight junctions (TJs) of epithelial cells
      and therefore to enhance paracellular permeability of poorly absorbable drugs.
      However, due to its low water solubility, pungency, and cytotoxicity, its
      pharmacologic use is limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of
      capsaicin derivatives of synthetic (e.g., 10-hydroxy-N-(4-hydroxy-3
      methoxybenzyl)decanamide, etc.) and natural (olvanil and dihydrocapsaicin) origin
      on Madin-Darby Canine Kidney-C7 cells. Impedance spectroscopy was used to
      determine the transepithelial electrical resistance and the capacitance.
      Permeability assays with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran were carried out to
      evaluate the impact on cell permeability. The results show that lipophilicity
      could play an important role for the interference with TJ and that the mechanism
      is independent from the ion channel TRPV-1 and hence on the flux of calcium into
      the cells. In summary, we synthesized 4 derivatives of capsaicin of lower
      lipophilicity and compared their properties with other well-known vanilloids. We
      show that these compounds are able to enhance the permeability of a hydrophilic
      macromolecule, by opening the TJ for a shorter time than capsaicin. This behavior
      is dependent on the lipophilicity of the molecule. Understanding of these
      phenomena may lead to better control of administration of therapeutic molecules. 

PMID- 26869425
TI  - Preclinical Evaluation of an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted
      Doxorubicin-Peptide Conjugate: Toxicity, Biodistribution, and Efficacy in Mice.
AB  - Doxorubicin (DOX) is known to induce apoptosis and necrosis in healthy tissue
      resulting in unwanted toxicities. To improve the ability of DOX to more
      specifically target tumors and minimize undesirable side effects, conjugation of
      DOX with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)--binding peptide (DOX-EBP) has
      been developed to deliver DOX to EGFR-overexpressing neoplastic cells. Here, we
      investigated whether DOX-EBP was able to reduce toxicity and enhance anticancer
      efficacy in vivo through receptor-mediated targeted delivery system. Nude mice
      were treated with DOX or DOX-EBP to estimate general toxicity, normal tissue
      damage, biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy. In addition, the expression
      levels of EGFR in tumor tissues and normal organs were investigated by Western
      blotting, and their mRNA expression was analyzed by reverse transcription PCR.
      This study demonstrated that DOX-EBP was able to effectively decrease the
      distribution of DOX in normal tissues without EGFR overexpressing and reduce DOX
      induced toxicity. On the other hand, the research also confirmed that DOX-EBP was
      able to preferentially accumulate DOX in EGFR-overexpressing tumor tissues and
      showed the enhanced anticancer efficacy over free DOX. DOX-EBP could be used for
      receptor-targeted chemotherapy with less toxicity and greater efficacy of tumor
      cells overexpressing EGFR. DOX-EBP conjugate is a good therapeutic agent for
      cancer treatment.

PMID- 26869426
TI  - Pulmonary Delivery of the Kv1.3-Blocking Peptide HsTX1[R14A] for the Treatment of
      Autoimmune Diseases.
AB  - HsTX1[R14A] is a potent and selective Kv1.3 channel blocker peptide with the
      potential to treat autoimmune diseases. Given the typically poor oral
      bioavailability of peptides, we evaluated pulmonary administration of HsTX1[R14A]
      in rats as an alternative route for systemic delivery. Plasma concentrations of
      HsTX1[R14A] were measured by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass
      spectrometry in rats receiving intratracheal administration of HsTX1[R14A] in
      solution (1-4 mg/kg) or a mannitol-based powder (1 mg/kg) and compared with
      plasma concentrations after intravenous administration (2 mg/kg). HsTX1[R14A]
      stability in rat plasma and lung tissue was also determined. HsTX1[R14A] was more
      stable in plasma than in lung homogenate, with more than 90% of the HsTX1[R14A]
      remaining intact after 5 h, compared with 40.5% remaining in lung homogenate. The
      terminal elimination half-life, total clearance, and volume of distribution of
      HsTX1[R14A] after intravenous administration were 79.6 +/- 6.5 min, 8.3 +/- 0.6
      mL/min/kg, and 949.8 +/- 71.0 mL/kg, respectively (mean +/- SD). After
      intratracheal administration, HsTX1[R14A] in solution and dry powder was absorbed
      to a similar degree, with absolute bioavailability values of 39.2 +/- 5.2% and
      44.5 +/- 12.5%, respectively. This study demonstrated that pulmonary
      administration is a promising alternative for systemically delivering HsTX1[R14A]
      for treating autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 26869427
TI  - Applicability and Limitations of Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Noncovalent Mucosal
      Drug or Carrier Delivery Systems.
AB  - Our recent studies show that cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have potential to
      improve the intestinal absorption of peptide and protein drugs safely and
      effectively when used in the noncovalent drug--CPP approach. To clarify the
      applicability and limitations of this strategy, the present study examined the
      effects of cargo size on the absorption-stimulatory effect of CPPs. Different
      sizes of hydrophilic macromolecular dextran (4.4, 10, and 70 kDa) and polystyrene
      based nanoparticles (20, 100, and 200 nm) were chosen as the model cargos in this
      study. In an in situ rat intestinal absorption study, CPPs (octaarginine, Tat,
      penetratin, and PenetraMax) increased the intestinal absorption of dextran, and
      the efficiency varied according to the molecular size of dextran. Among the CPPs,
      D-penetratin showed an enhancing effect even when coadministered with the largest
      dextran (70 kDa). By contrast, an in vitro study of Caco-2 cell uptake showed
      that the ability of CPPs to deliver nanoparticles into epithelial cells was
      dependent on their particle size and that the relatively poor internalization of
      200-nm nanoparticles could be facilitated by coincubation with CPPs. These
      findings suggest that the intrinsic uptake properties of macromolecules and
      particulate cargos determine the effectiveness of their intestinal mucosal
      delivery using the noncovalent CPP method.

PMID- 26869428
TI  - Reversible Opening of Intercellular Junctions of Intestinal Epithelial and Brain
      Endothelial Cells With Tight Junction Modulator Peptides.
AB  - The intercellular junctions restrict the free passage of hydrophilic compounds
      through the paracellular clefts. Reversible opening of the tight junctions of
      biological barriers is investigated as one of the ways to increase drug delivery
      to the systemic circulation or the central nervous system. Six peptides, ADT-6,
      HAV-6, C-CPE, 7-mer (FDFWITP, PN-78), AT-1002, and PN-159, acting on different
      integral membrane and linker junctional proteins were tested on Caco-2 intestinal
      epithelial cell line and a coculture model of the blood-brain barrier. All
      peptides tested in nontoxic concentrations showed a reversible tight junctions
      modulating effect and were effective to open the paracellular pathway for the
      marker molecules fluorescein and albumin. The change in the structure of cell
      cell junctions was verified by immunostaining for occludin, claudin-4,-5, ZO-1,
      beta-catenin, and E-cadherin. Expression levels of occludin and claudins were
      measured in both models. We could demonstrate a selectivity of C-CPE, ADT-6, and
      HAV-6 peptides for epithelial cells and 7-mer and AT-1002 peptides for brain
      endothelial cells. PN-159 was the most effective modulator of junctional
      permeability in both models possibly acting via claudin-1 and -5. Our results
      indicate that these peptides can be effectively and selectively used as potential
      pharmaceutical excipients to improve drug delivery across biological barriers. 

PMID- 26869429
TI  - Application of Magnesium Pyrophosphate-Based Sponge-Like Microparticles to
      Enhance the Delivery Efficiency and Adjuvant Effects of Polyriboinosinic
      Polyribocytidylic Acid in Immune Cells.
AB  - The magnesium pyrophosphate particle (MgPP) is a unique and safe carrier that is
      prepared by simply mixing magnesium chloride and sodium pyrophosphate. In this
      study, we investigated whether MgPP can be used to deliver nucleic acid-based
      adjuvants to immune cells. Polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (polyI:C), a
      ligand for toll-like receptor 3, was selected as a model nucleic acid-based
      adjuvant. PolyI:C-loaded MgPP (polyI:C-MgPP) was prepared by adding polyI:C
      during the MgPP preparation process. Efficient loading of polyI:C into MgPP was
      confirmed by measuring the absorbance at 260 nm after disruption of polyI:C-MgPP
      by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that
      both MgPP and polyI:C-MgPP had a unique sponge-like shape with a diameter of
      approximately 1 MUm. PolyI:C-MgPP was more efficiently taken up by toll-like
      receptor 3-positive RAW264.7 cells than naked polyI:C, and its uptake stimulated
      increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. When the presentation of
      ovalbumin (OVA), a model antigen, was evaluated after the addition of OVA along
      with naked polyI:C or polyI:C-MgPP to mouse dendritic DC2.4 cells, polyI:C-MgPP
      substantially increased OVA presentation. These results indicate that MgPP is a
      useful delivery vehicle for polyI:C and that polyI:C-MgPP is an effective immune
      cell adjuvant. 

PMID- 26869430
TI  - Comparison of Linear and Cyclic His-Ala-Val Peptides in Modulating the Blood
      Brain Barrier Permeability: Impact on Delivery of Molecules to the Brain.
AB  - The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of peptide cyclization on the
      blood-brain barrier (BBB) modulatory activity and plasma stability of His-Ala-Val
      peptides, which are derived from the extracellular 1 domain of human E-cadherin.
      The activities to modulate the intercellular junctions by linear HAV4 (Ac-SHAVAS
      NH2), cyclic cHAVc1 (Cyclo(1,8)Ac-CSHAVASC-NH2), and cyclic cHAVc3 (Cyclo(1,6)Ac
      CSHAVC-NH2) were compared in in vitro and in vivo BBB models. Linear HAV4 and
      cyclic cHAVc1 have the same junction modulatory activities as assessed by in
      vitro MDCK monolayer model and in situ rat brain perfusion model. In contrast,
      cyclic cHAVc3 was more effective than linear HAV4 in modulating MDCK cell
      monolayers and in improving in vivo brain delivery of Gd-DTPA on i.v.
      administration in Balb/c mice. Cyclic cHAVc3 (t1/2 = 12.95 h) has better plasma
      stability compared with linear HAV4 (t1/2 = 2.4 h). The duration of the BBB
      modulation was longer using cHAVc3 (2-4 h) compared with HAV4 (<1 h). Both HAV4
      and cHAVc3 peptides also enhanced the in vivo brain delivery of IRdye800cw-PEG
      (25 kDa) as detected by near IR imaging. The result showed that cyclic cHAVc3
      peptide had better activity and plasma stability than linear HAV4 peptide.

PMID- 26869431
TI  - Methylation, Glucuronidation, and Sulfonation of Daphnetin in Human Hepatic
      Preparations In Vitro: Metabolic Profiling, Pathway Comparison, and Bioactivity
      Analysis.
AB  - Our previous study demonstrated that daphnetin is subject to glucuronidation in
      vitro. However, daphnetin metabolism is still poorly documented. This study aimed
      to investigate daphnetin metabolism and its consequent effect on the bioactivity.
      Metabolic profiles obtained by human liver S9 fractions and human hepatocytes
      showed that daphnetin was metabolized by glucuronidation, sulfonation, and
      methylation to form 6 conjugates which were synthesized and identified as 7-O
      glucuronide, 8-O-glucuronide, 7-O-sulfate and 8-O-sulfate, 8-O-methylate, and 7-O
      suflo-8-O-methylate. Regioselective 8-O-methylation of daphnetin was investigated
      using in silico docking calculations, and the results suggested that a close
      proximity (2.03 A) of 8-OH to the critical residue Lysine 144 might be the
      responsible mechanism. Compared with glucuronidation and sulfonation pathways,
      the methylation of daphnetin had a high clearance rate (470 MUL/min/mg) in human
      liver S9 fractions and contributed to a large amount (37.3%) of the methyl
      derived metabolites in human hepatocyte. Reaction phenotyping studies showed the
      major role of SULT1A1, -1A2, and -1A3 in daphnetin sulfonation, and soluble COMT
      in daphnetin 8-O-methylation. Of the metabolites, only 8-O-methyldaphnetin
      exhibited an inhibitory activity on lymphocyte proliferation comparable to that
      of daphnetin. In conclusion, methylation is a crucial pathway for daphnetin
      clearance and might be involved in pharmacologic actions of daphnetin in humans.

PMID- 26869432
TI  - The Proteome of Filter-Grown Caco-2 Cells With a Focus on Proteins Involved in
      Drug Disposition.
AB  - Caco-2 cells are widely used in studies of intestinal cell physiology and drug
      transport. Here, the global proteome of filter-grown Caco-2 cells was quantified
      using the total protein approach and compared with the human colon and jejunum
      proteomes. In total, 8096 proteins were identified. In-depth analysis of proteins
      defining enterocyte differentiation-including brush-border hydrolases, integrins,
      and adherens and tight junctions-gave near-complete coverage of the expected
      proteins. Three hundred twenty-seven absorption, distribution, metabolism and
      excretion proteins were identified, including 112 solute carriers and 20 ATP
      binding cassette transporters. OATP2B1 levels were 16-fold higher in Caco-2 cells
      than in jejunum. To investigate the impact of this difference on in vitro-in vivo
      extrapolations, we studied the uptake kinetics of the OATP2B1 substrate
      pitavastatin in Caco-2 monolayers, and found that the contribution of OATP2B1 was
      60%-70% at clinically relevant intestinal concentrations. Pitavastatin kinetics
      was combined with transporter concentrations to model the contribution of active
      transport and membrane permeation in the jejunum. The lower OATP2B1 expression in
      jejunum led to a considerably lower transporter contribution (<5%), suggesting
      that transmembrane diffusion dominates pitavastatin absorption in vivo. In
      conclusion, we present the first in-depth quantification of the filter-grown Caco
      2 proteome. We also demonstrate the crucial importance of considering transporter
      expression levels for correct interpretation of drug transport routes across the
      human intestine.

PMID- 26869433
TI  - Usefulness of A Model-Based Approach for Estimating In Vitro P-Glycoprotein
      Inhibition Potency in a Transcellular Transport Assay.
AB  - In vitro half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) is a key parameter for
      accurately predicting the potential risk for P-glycoprotein (P-gp)--mediated drug
      -drug interactions. We aimed to compare the IC50 values estimated by different
      approaches and determine the usefulness of model-based approaches. Transcellular
      transport of digoxin across Caco-2 monolayer was investigated using various
      concentrations of P-gp inhibitors, quinidine, verapamil, and zosuquidar. To
      calculate IC50 values, 3 traditional parameters were used: apical-to-basal (AtoB)
      and basal-to-apical (BtoA) clearance (CL) with inhibitors (CLAtoB,i and CLBtoA,i)
      and the difference between the efflux ratios (ERs) with P-gp inhibitors (ERi) and
      those under complete P-gp inhibition [ER(-P-gp)]. Furthermore, a new model-based
      approach was applied that uses the difference between the reciprocals of CLAtoB
      with P-gp inhibitors (1/CLAtoB,i) and those under complete P-gp inhibition
      [1/CLAtoB(-P-gp)] as parameters. IC50 values obtained from 2 model-based
      approaches [ERi - ER(-P-gp) and 1/CLAtoB,i - 1/CLAtoB(-P-gp)] were comparable,
      whereas 2.6- to 6.6-fold larger IC50 values were estimated from empirical
      approaches (CLAtoB,i and CLBtoA,i). The reason for such difference in IC50 values
      is that indicators for model-based approaches, but not empirical approaches,
      directly reflect the P-gp function. Our new approach [1/CLAtoB,i - 1/CLAtoB(-P
      gp)] based on only AtoB transcellular transport could substitute for current
      estimation methods using ER.

PMID- 26869434
TI  - The Disposition of Oxymatrine in the Vascularly Perfused Rat Intestine-Liver
      Preparation and Its Metabolism in Rat Liver Microsomes.
AB  - The study was aimed to investigate the absorption and metabolism of oxymatrine
      (OMT) which contributed to its poor bioavailability. Determinations of OMT
      absorption and metabolism in rats were evaluated using techniques of the in situ
      perfused rat intestine-liver preparation and recirculated intestine preparation.
      Furthermore, chemical inhibition experiments in rat liver microsomes were used to
      determine the principal cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms involved in OMT
      metabolism. In the intestine-liver preparation, the steady state liver extraction
      ratio (0.753 +/- 0.054) of OMT was 33 times higher than that for the intestine
      (0.023 +/- 0.002). The portal vein mainly consisted of OMT, and was devoid of the
      metabolite matrine, whereas both OMT and matrine were detected in hepatic vein.
      With the intestine preparation, the extent of OMT absorption at the end of 120
      min of perfusion was 4.79 +/- 0.352%. The first-order rate constant for OMT
      absorption was 0.05 +/- 0.003 min(-1). The inhibitor of CYP3A2 had strong
      inhibitory effect on OMT metabolism in a concentration-dependent manner, and
      value was reduced to 29.73% of control. The 2 perfusion techniques indicated that
      poor bioavailability of OMT in rats is due mostly to poor absorption and higher
      hepatic elimination and CYP3A2 appears to contribute to OMT metabolism in rat
      liver. 

PMID- 26869435
TI  - Quantitative and Mechanistic Assessment of Model Lipophilic Drugs in Micellar
      Solutions in the Transport Kinetics Across MDR1-MDCK Cell Monolayers.
AB  - An approach to characterizing P-glycoprotein (Pgp) interaction potential for
      sparingly water-soluble compounds was developed using bidirectional transport
      kinetics in MDR1-MDCK cell monolayers. Paclitaxel, solubilized in a dilute
      polysorbate 80 (PS80) micellar solution, was used as a practical example.
      Although the passage of paclitaxel across the cell monolayer was initially
      governed by the thermodynamic activity of the micelle-solubilized drug solution,
      Pgp inhibition was sustained by the thermodynamic activity (i.e., critical
      micelle concentration) of the PS80 micellar solution bathing the apical (ap)
      membrane. The mechanistic understanding of the experimental strategies and
      treatment of data was supported by a biophysical model expressed in the form of
      transport events occurring at the ap and basolateral (bl) membranes in series
      whereas the vectorial directions of the transcellular kinetics were accommodated.
      The derived equations permitted the stepwise quantitative delineation of the Pgp
      efflux activity (inhibited and uninhibited by PS80) and the passive permeability
      coefficient of the ap membrane, the passive permeability at the bl membrane and,
      finally, the distinct coupling of these with efflux pump activity to identify the
      rate-determining steps and mechanisms. The Jmax/KM(*) for paclitaxel was in the
      order of 10(-4) cm/s and the ap- and bl-membrane passive permeability
      coefficients were asymmetric, with bl-membrane permeability significantly greater
      than ap. 

PMID- 26869436
TI  - Application of a Human Intestinal Epithelial Cell Monolayer to the Prediction of
      Oral Drug Absorption in Humans as a Superior Alternative to the Caco-2 Cell
      Monolayer.
AB  - A human small intestinal epithelial cell (HIEC) monolayer was recently
      established in our laboratories as a novel system to evaluate the Papp (apparent
      permeability coefficient) of compounds during their absorption in humans. An
      effusion-based analysis using polyethylene glycol oligomers with molecular
      weights ranging from 194-898 indicated that HIEC and Caco-2 cell monolayers both
      had paracellular pores with 2 distinct radiuses (~ 5 and 9-14 A), whereas the
      porosity of large pores was 11-fold higher in the HIEC monolayer (44 * 10(-8))
      than in the Caco-2 cells (4 * 10(-8)). A comparison between the fraction-absorbed
      (Fa) values observed in humans and those predicted from Papp values in both
      monolayers indicated that the HIEC monolayer had markedly higher precision to
      predict Fa values with root mean square error of 9.40 than the Caco-2 cells (root
      mean square error = 16.90) for 10 paracellularly absorbed compounds. Furthermore,
      the accuracy of the HIEC monolayer to classify the absorption of 23 test drugs
      with diverse absorption properties, including different pathways in the presence
      or absence of susceptibility to efflux transporters, was higher than that of the
      Caco-2 cell monolayer. In conclusion, the HIEC monolayer exhibited advantages
      over Caco-2 cells in the ranking and prediction of absorption of compounds in
      humans.

PMID- 26869438
TI  - Genetically Modified Caco-2 Cells With Improved Cytochrome P450 Metabolic
      Capacity.
AB  - The human intestinal Caco-2 cell line has been extensively used as a model of
      small intestinal absorption but it lacks expression and function of cytochrome
      P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4 and CYP2C9, which are normally expressed in the
      intestinal epithelium. In order to increase the expression and activity of CYP
      isozymes in these cells, we created 2 novel Caco-2 sublines expressing chimeric
      constitutive androstane or pregnane X receptors and characterized these cells for
      their metabolic and absorption properties. In spite of elevated mRNA expression
      of transporters and differentiation markers, the permeation properties of the
      modified cell lines did not significantly differ from those of the wild-type
      cells. In contrast, the metabolic activity was increased beyond the currently
      used models. Specifically, CYP3A4 activity was increased up to 20-fold as
      compared to vitamin D treated wild-type Caco-2 cells. 

PMID- 26869437
TI  - Carrier-Mediated Prodrug Uptake to Improve the Oral Bioavailability of Polar
      Drugs: An Application to an Oseltamivir Analogue.
AB  - The goal of this study was to improve the intestinal mucosal cell membrane
      permeability of the poorly absorbed guanidino analogue of a neuraminidase
      inhibitor, oseltamivir carboxylate (GOC) using a carrier-mediated strategy. Valyl
      amino acid prodrug of GOC with isopropyl-methylene-dioxy linker (GOC-ISP-Val) was
      evaluated as the potential substrate for intestinal oligopeptide transporter,
      hPEPT1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes heterologously expressing hPEPT1, and an
      intestinal mouse perfusion system. The diastereomers of GOC-ISP-Val were assessed
      for chemical and metabolic stability. Permeability of GOC-ISP-Val was determined
      in Caco-2 cells and mice. Diastereomer 2 was about 2 times more stable than
      diastereomer 1 in simulated intestinal fluid and rapidly hydrolyzed to the parent
      drug in cell homogenates. The prodrug had a 9 times-enhanced apparent
      permeability (P(app)) in Caco-2 cells compared with the parent drug. Both
      diastereomer exhibited high effective permeability (P(eff)) in mice, 6.32 +/-
      3.12 and 5.20 +/- 2.81 * 10(-5) cm/s for diastereomer 1 and 2, respectively. GOC
      ISP-Val was found to be a substrate of hPEPT1. Overall, this study indicates that
      the prodrug, GOC-ISP-Val, seems to be a promising oral anti-influenza agent that
      has sufficient stability at physiologically relevant pHs before absorption,
      significantly improved permeability via hPEPT1 and potentially rapid activation
      in the intestinal cells.

PMID- 26869440
TI  - Insights From an Integrated Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Brain
      Penetration.
AB  - Central-nervous-system, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models
      predict exposure profiles in the brain, that is, the rate and extent of
      distribution. The current work develops one such model and presents improved
      methods for determining key input parameters. A simple linear regression
      statistical model estimates the passive permeability at the blood-brain barrier
      from brain uptake index data and descriptors, and a novel analysis extracts the
      relative active transport parameter from in vitro assays taking into
      consideration both paracellular transport and unstirred water layers. The
      integrated PBPK model captures the concentration profiles of both rate-restricted
      and effluxed compounds with high passive permeability. In many cases, compounds
      distribute rapidly into the brain and are, therefore, not rate limited. The PBPK
      model is then simplified to a straightforward equation to describe brain-to
      plasma ratios at steady state. The equation can estimate brain penetration either
      from in vitro efflux data or from in vivo results from another species and,
      therefore, is a valuable tool in the discovery setting.

PMID- 26869439
TI  - Co-culture of Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells as an In Vitro Model of Inflammation
      and Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity.
AB  - Immune-mediated drug-induced hepatotoxicity is often unrecognized as a potential
      mode of action due to the lack of appropriate in vitro models. We have
      established an in vitro rat donor-matched hepatocyte and Kupffer cell co-culture
      (HKCC) model to study immune-related responses to drug exposure. Optimal cell
      culture conditions were identified for the maintenance of co-cultures based on
      cell longevity, monolayer integrity, and cytokine response after
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Hepatocyte monocultures and HKCCs were then
      used to test a subset of compounds associated with hepatotoxic effects with or
      without LPS. Cytokine levels and metabolic activity (cytochrome P450 3A [Cyp3A])
      were measured after a 48-h exposure to monitor endotoxin-induced changes in acute
      phase and functional end points. LPS-activated HKCCs, but not hepatocyte
      monocultures, treated with trovafloxacin or acetaminophen, compounds associated
      with immune-mediated hepatotoxicity, showed LPS-dependent decreases in
      interleukin-6 production with concomitant increases in Cyp3A activity.
      Differential endotoxin- and model-dependent alterations were observed in cytokine
      profiles and Cyp3A activity levels that corresponded to specific compounds. These
      results indicate the utility of the HKCC model system to discern compound
      specific effects that may lead to enhanced or mitigate hepatocellular injury due
      to innate or adaptive immune responses.

PMID- 26869443
TI  - Correlating Hemodynamic Changes and Occlusion Time after Flow Diverter Treatment
      of Bilateral Large Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

PMID- 26869442
TI  - Complete Knockout of Endogenous Mdr1 (Abcb1) in MDCK Cells by CRISPR-Cas9.
AB  - Madin-Darby canine kidney II cells transfected with one or several transport
      proteins are commonly used models to study drug transport. In these cells,
      however, endogenous transporters such as canine Mdr1/P-glycoprotein (Abcb1)
      complicate the interpretation of transport studies. The aim of this investigation
      was to establish a Madin-Darby canine kidney II cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 gene
      editing technology to knock out endogenous canine Mdr1 (cMdr1) expression. CRISPR
      Cas9-mediated Abcb1 homozygous disruption occurred at frequencies of around 20%
      and resulted in several genotypes. We selected 1 clonal cell line, cMdr1 KO Cl2,
      for further examination. Consistent with an on-target effect of CRISPR-Cas9 in
      specific regions of the endogenous canine Abcb1 gene, we obtained a cell clone
      with Abcb1 gene alterations and without any cMdr1 expression, as confirmed by
      genome sequencing and quantitative protein analysis. Functional studies of these
      cells, using digoxin and other prototypic MDR1 substrates, showed close to
      identical transport in the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical
      directions, resulting in efflux ratios indistinguishable from unity. 

PMID- 26869441
TI  - Quantitation of Polymyxin-Lipopolysaccharide Interactions Using an Image-Based
      Fluorescent Probe.
AB  - The frequency of polymyxin-resistant pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria appearing
      in the clinic is increasing, and the consequences are largely mediated by
      modification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane. As polymyxins
      exert their antibacterial effect by binding to LPS, understanding their mode of
      binding will prove highly valuable for new antibiotic discovery. In this study,
      we assess the potential of MIPS-9451, a fluorescent polymyxin analogue designed
      for imaging studies, as a fluorescent reporter molecule, titrating it against 17
      different Gram-negative species and/or strains of LPS. MIPS-9451 bound to the
      various species and/or strains of LPS with a dissociation constant ranging
      between 0.14 +/- 0.01 MUM (Escherichia coli) and 0.90 +/- 0.42 MUM (Porphyromonas
      gingivalis; mean +/- standard error). Furthermore, we assessed the applicability
      of MIPS-9451 to rank affinities of polymyxin B to different LPS species in a
      displacement assay which yielded inhibition constants of 6.2 MUM +/- 33%, 7.2 MUM
      +/- 30%, and 0.95 MUM +/- 13% for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
      and Salmonella enterica, respectively (mean +/- coefficient of variation). The
      results from this study are concordant with those observed with similarly
      structured polymyxin probes, confirming the potential of MIPS-9451 for
      quantitation of polymyxin-LPS affinities in discovery programs of novel polymyxin
      antibiotics.

PMID- 26869444
TI  - Anatomic and Quantitative Temporal Bone CT for Preoperative Assessment of
      Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome.
AB  - We describe the temporal bone computed tomography (CT) findings of an unusual
      case of branchio-oto-renal syndrome with ectopic ossicles that are partially
      located in the middle cranial fossa. We also describe quantitative temporal bone
      CT assessment pertaining to cochlear implantation in the setting of anomalous
      cochlear anatomy associated with this syndrome.

PMID- 26869445
TI  - Application of a Dedicated Surface Coil in Dental MRI Provides Superior Image
      Quality in Comparison with a Standard Coil.
AB  - PURPOSE: Purpose of our research was the evaluation of a dedicated dental surface
      coil in comparison with a standard head and neck coil for the improvement of
      dental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Axial T1-weighted
      spin echo MRI was performed by using a newly developed dental coil for MRI and a
      standard head and neck coil on five volunteers. In addition, MRI was implemented
      with dental coil on five patients. Using the Wilcoxon test, we compared the
      volunteers' signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a variety of anatomical structures
      (e.g., hard tooth tissue, pulp tissue, bone, muscle tissue). Also subjective
      evaluation of image quality was performed on both volunteers and patients.
      RESULTS: Compared with the head and neck coil, the mean SNR was 3.5-fold higher
      on an average with the dental coil (range: from 2.7 [masseter muscle] to  4.6
      [pulp tissue]). That difference was statistically significant for all evaluated
      structures. The higher SNR also resulted in a superior image quality as
      determined by subjective evaluation. CONCLUSION: Dental MRI benefits profoundly
      from using a dedicated dental coil.

PMID- 26869446
TI  - Linoleic acid permeabilizes gastric epithelial cells by increasing connexin 43
      levels in the cell membrane via a GPR40- and Akt-dependent mechanism.
AB  - Linoleic acid (LA) is known to activate G-protein coupled receptors and connexin
      hemichannels (Cx HCs) but possible interlinks between these two responses remain
      unexplored. Here, we evaluated the mechanism of action of LA on the membrane
      permeability mediated by Cx HCs in MKN28 cells. These cells were found to express
      connexins, GPR40, GPR120, and CD36 receptors. The Cx HC activity of these cells
      increased after 5 min of treatment with LA or GW9508, an agonist of GPR40/GPR120;
      or exposure to extracellular divalent cation-free solution (DCFS), known to
      increase the open probability of Cx HCs, yields an immediate increase in Cx HC
      activity of similar intensity and additive with LA-induced change. Treatment with
      a CD36 blocker or transfection with siRNA-GPR120 maintains the LA-induced Cx HC
      activity. However, cells transfected with siRNA-GPR40 did not show LA-induced Cx
      HC activity but activity was increased upon exposure to DCFS, confirming the
      presence of activatable Cx HCs in the cell membrane. Treatment with AKTi (Akt
      inhibitor) abrogated the LA-induced Cx HC activity. In HeLa cells transfected
      with Cx43 (HeLa-Cx43), LA induced phosphorylation of surface Cx43 at serine 373
      (S373), site for Akt phosphorylation. HeLa-Cx43 but not HeLa-Cx43 cells with a
      S373A mutation showed a LA-induced Cx HC activity directly related to an increase
      in cell surface Cx43 levels. Thus, the increase in membrane permeability induced
      by LA is mediated by an intracellular signaling pathway activated by GPR40 that
      leads to an increase in membrane levels of Cx43 phosphorylated at serine 373 via
      Akt.

PMID- 26869448
TI  - Crystal structure of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae monoglyceride lipase Yju3p.
AB  - Monoglyceride lipases (MGLs) are a group of alpha/beta-hydrolases that catalyze
      the hydrolysis of monoglycerides (MGs) into free fatty acids and glycerol. This
      reaction serves different physiological functions, namely in the last step of
      phospholipid and triglyceride degradation, in mammalian endocannabinoid and
      arachidonic acid metabolism, and in detoxification processes in microbes.
      Previous crystal structures of MGLs from humans and bacteria revealed
      conformational plasticity in the cap region of this protein and gave insight into
      substrate binding. In this study, we present the structure of a MGL from
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae called Yju3p in its free form and in complex with a
      covalently bound substrate analog mimicking the tetrahedral intermediate of MG
      hydrolysis. These structures reveal a high conservation of the overall shape of
      the MGL cap region and also provide evidence for conformational changes in the
      cap of Yju3p. The complex structure reveals that, despite the high structural
      similarity, Yju3p seems to have an additional opening to the substrate binding
      pocket at a different position compared to human and bacterial MGL. Substrate
      specificities towards MGs with saturated and unsaturated alkyl chains of
      different lengths were tested and revealed highest activity towards MG containing
      a C18:1 fatty acid. 

PMID- 26869449
TI  - Lipid accumulation stimulates the cap-independent translation of SREBP-1a mRNA by
      promoting hnRNP A1 binding to its 5'-UTR in a cellular model of hepatic
      steatosis.
AB  - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease characterized by
      accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Enhanced release of non-esterified
      fatty acids from adipose tissue accounts for a remarkable fraction of accumulated
      lipids. However, the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is also implicated in the etiology
      of the NAFLD. Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a
      transcription factor modulating the expression of several lipogenic enzymes. In
      the present study, in order to investigate the effect of lipid droplet
      accumulation on DNL, we used a cellular model of steatosis represented by HepG2
      cells cultured in a medium supplemented with free oleic and palmitic fatty acids
      (FFAs). We report that FFA supplementation induces the expression of genes coding
      for enzymes involved in the DNL as well as for the transcription factor SREBP-1a.
      The SREBP-1a mRNA translation, dependent on an internal ribosome entry site
      (IRES), and the SREBP-1a proteolytic cleavage are activated by FFAs. Furthermore,
      FFA treatment enhances the expression and the nucleus-cytosolic shuttling of
      hnRNP A1, a trans-activating factor of SREBP-1a IRES. The binding of hnRNP A1 to
      the SREBP-1a IRES is also increased upon FFA supplementation. The relocation of
      hnRNP A1 and the consequent increase of SREBP-1a translation are dependent on the
      p38 MAPK signal pathway, which is activated by FFAs. By RNA interference
      approach, we demonstrate that hnRNP A1 is implicated in the FFA-induced
      expression of SREBP-1a and of its target genes as well as in the lipid
      accumulation in cells. 

PMID- 26869447
TI  - miRNAs and High-Density Lipoprotein metabolism.
AB  - Altered lipoprotein metabolism plays a key role during atherogenesis. For over
      50years, epidemiological data have fueled the proposal that HDL-cholesterol (HDL
      c) in circulation is inversely correlated to cardiovascular risk. However, the
      atheroprotective role of HDL is currently the focus of much debate and remains an
      active field of research. The emerging picture from research in the past decade
      suggests that HDL function, rather than HDL-c content, is important in disease.
      Recent developments demonstrate that miRNAs play an important role in fine-tuning
      the expression of key genes involved in HDL biogenesis, lipidation, and
      clearance, as well as in determining the amounts of HDL-c in circulation. Thus,
      it has been proposed that miRNAs that affect HDL metabolism might be exploited
      therapeutically in patients. Whether HDL-based therapies, alone or in combination
      with LDL-based treatments (e.g. statins), provide superior outcomes in patients
      has been recently questioned by human genetics studies and clinical trials. The
      switch in focus from "HDL-cholesterol" to "HDL function" opens a new paradigm to
      understand the physiology and therapeutic potential of HDL, and to find novel
      modulators of cardiovascular risk. In this review we summarize the current
      knowledge on the regulation of HDL metabolism and function by miRNAs. This
      article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MicroRNAs and lipid/energy
      metabolism and related diseases edited by Carlos Fernandez-Hernando and Yajaira
      Suarez.

PMID- 26869450
TI  - How did nature engineer the highest surface lipid accumulation among plants?
      Exceptional expression of acyl-lipid-associated genes for the assembly of
      extracellular triacylglycerol by Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) fruits.
AB  - Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) fruits are covered with a remarkably thick layer
      of crystalline wax consisting of triacylglycerol (TAG) and diacylglycerol (DAG)
      esterified exclusively with saturated fatty acids. As the only plant known to
      accumulate soluble glycerolipids as a major component of surface waxes, Bayberry
      represents a novel system to investigate neutral lipid biosynthesis and lipid
      secretion by vegetative plant cells. The assembly of Bayberry wax is distinct
      from conventional TAG and other surface waxes, and instead proceeds through a
      pathway related to cutin synthesis (Simpson and Ohlrogge, 2016). In this study,
      microscopic examination revealed that the fruit tissue that produces and secretes
      wax (Bayberry knobs) is fully developed before wax accumulates and that wax is
      secreted to the surface without cell disruption. Comparison of transcript
      expression to genetically related tissues (Bayberry leaves, M. rubra fruits),
      cutin-rich tomato and cherry fruit epidermis, and to oil-rich mesocarp and seeds,
      revealed exceptionally high expression of 13 transcripts for acyl-lipid
      metabolism together with down-regulation of fatty acid oxidases and desaturases.
      The predicted protein sequences of the most highly expressed lipid-related enzyme
      encoding transcripts in Bayberry knobs are 100% identical to the sequences from
      Bayberry leaves, which do not produce surface DAG or TAG. Together, these results
      indicate that TAG biosynthesis and secretion in Bayberry is achieved by both up
      and down-regulation of a small subset of genes related to the biosynthesis of
      cutin and saturated fatty acids, and also implies that modifications in gene
      expression, rather than evolution of new gene functions, was the major mechanism
      by which Bayberry evolved its specialized lipid metabolism. This article is part
      of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Lipid Biology edited by Kent D. Chapman and
      Ivo Feussner.

PMID- 26869451
TI  - Seasonal variability of faecal indicator bacteria numbers and die-off rates in
      the Red River basin, North Viet Nam.
AB  - The Red River is the second largest river in Viet Nam and constitutes the main
      water source for a large percentage of the population of North Viet Nam. Here we
      present the results of an annual survey of Escherichia coli (EC) and Total
      Coliforms (TC) in the Red River basin, North Viet Nam. The objective of this work
      was to obtain information on faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) numbers over an
      annual cycle and, secondly, to determine the die-off rates of these bacterial
      indicators. Monthly observations at 10 stations from July 2013-June 2014 showed
      that TC and EC reached as high as 39100 cfu (colony forming units) 100 ml(-1) and
      15300 colonies 100 ml(-1), respectively. We observed a significant seasonal
      difference for TC (p < 0.05) with numbers being higher during the wet season. In
      contrast, no significant seasonal difference was found for EC. The FIB die-off
      rates ranged from 0.01 d(-1) to a maximum of 1.13 d(-1) for EC and from 0.17 d(
      1) to 1.33 d(-1) for TC. Die-off rates were significantly higher for free
      bacteria than for total (free + particle attached) bacteria, suggesting that
      particle attachment provided a certain level of protection to FIB in this system.

PMID- 26869452
TI  - Description of Leucobacter holotrichiae sp. nov., isolated from the gut of
      Holotrichia oblita larvae.
AB  - A Gram-stain-positive bacterium, designated T14T, was isolated from the gut of
      Holotrichia oblita larvae and was subjected to a taxonomic study. The isolate was
      rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and yellow-pigmented.
      Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated that
      the isolate is related to the genus Leucobacter. Its closest neighbours were the
      type strains 'Leucobacter kyeonggiensis' F3-P9 (96.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarity), Leucobacter celer NAL101T (96.2%) and Leucobacter chironomi DSM
      19883T (95.5%). The DNA G+C content of strain T14T was 69.3 mol%, and DNA-DNA
      hybridization values with closely related strains were <32%. The predominant
      cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (49.3%), iso-C16:0 (16.4%) and anteiso
      C17:0 (16.8%). The major polar lipids were aminolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid, phosphoglycolipid and unidentified
      glycolipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-11. Based on these
      phylogenetic and phenotypic results, strain T14T can be clearly distinguished
      from all of the recognized species of the genus Leucobacter and is considered to
      represent a novel species of the genus Leucobacter. The name Leucobacter
      holotrichiae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain T14T (=DSM 28968T=JCM
      30245T).

PMID- 26869454
TI  - Two in one: switchable ion conductivity and white light emission integrated in an
      iodoplumbate-based twin chain hybrid crystal.
AB  - An iodoplumbate-based hybrid, [C7-Apy][PbI3] (1), where C7-Apy(+) = 1-heptyl-4
      aminopyridinium, was prepared using a simple solution process. Three sequential
      phase transitions occur in the range of 402-443 K. In both the lowest and highest
      temperature phases, hybrid crystal 1 is composed of discrete [Pb2I6]infinity twin
      chains surrounded by C7-Apy(+) cations. The connectivity between PbI6 octahedra
      within a [Pb2I6]infinity twin chain and the arrangement of cations are quite
      difference between the lowest and highest temperature phases. Hybrid crystal 1
      shows switchable ion conductivity due to the structural phase transition and
      white light emission attributed to the broad band semiconductor emission of the
      twin chain. The former functionality has potential application in ion conductor
      devices; the single-phase white light emitter is a useful material in low-cost,
      easily-made, high-efficiency white light-emitting diodes. 

PMID- 26869453
TI  - Supra-nutritional levels of alpha-tocopherol maintain the oxidative stability of
      n-3 long-chain fatty acid enriched subcutaneous fat and frozen loin, but not of
      dry fermented sausage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Meat products enriched with n-3 fatty acids are more prone to
      oxidation. The aim was to investigate whether supra-nutritional levels of alpha
      tocopherol can enhance the colour and lipid oxidative stability of n-3 fatty
      acids enriched dry fermented sausages, frozen loins and subcutaneous fat. Pigs
      were fed a diet supplemented with 18 g kg(-1) fish oil and 50, 150 or 300 mg kg(
      1) alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The control group received 12 g kg(-1) soy oil and
      150 mg kg(-1) alpha-tocopheryl acetate. RESULTS: alpha-Tocopherol levels of the
      frozen loin, dry fermented sausage and subcutaneous fat were elevated as a result
      of the dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation. Lipid oxidation occurred to the
      same extend in the n-3 fatty acid enriched frozen loins when compared to the
      control group. In the subcutaneous fat enriched with n-3 fatty acids reduced
      lipid oxidation was found when comparing 50 mg kg(-1) versus 150 and 300 mg kg(
      1) . However, in the dry fermented sausages no such effect was observed and
      higher TBARS values were found in the n-3 fatty acid enriched sausages compared
      to the control group. Colour parameters of the loin and subcutaneous fat were not
      affected, whereas some significant differences in the dry fermented sausages were
      found. The colour stability of the frozen loins was not affected by the dietary
      treatments. CONCLUSION: Supra-nutritional levels of alpha-tocopherol maintain the
      oxidative stability of n-3 fatty acid enriched frozen loins and subcutaneous fat,
      but not of dry fermented sausages. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26869455
TI  - Prospective association of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverage
      intake with risk of hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have suggested that high consumption of
      sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) is
      associated with increased blood pressure, but this relationship has not been
      investigated comprehensively. AIMS: To quantitatively examine the association
      between sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverage intake and risk of
      hypertension. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of
      eligible prospective cohort studies, identified by searching PubMed, Embase and
      Web of Science databases up to May 2015. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model, and
      generalized least-squares trend estimation was used to assess dose-response
      relationships. RESULTS: Six studies (246,822 subjects and 80,628 incident cases
      of hypertension) were identified for the meta-analysis of SSBs and hypertension.
      The pooled RR of hypertension in the highest category of SSB consumption (>=1
      serving/day, mean) compared with the lowest category of SSB (<0.6 serving/month,
      mean) was 1.12 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.17). In a dose-response analysis, a 1 serving/day
      increase in SSB intake was associated with an 8% increased risk of hypertension
      (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.11). Four studies (227,254 subjects and 78,177
      incident cases of hypertension) were included in the meta-analysis of ASBs and
      hypertension. The pooled RRs were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.18) for highest versus
      lowest analysis and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.11) for every additional 1 serving/day
      increase in ASB consumption. The positive association did not vary significantly
      by sex, duration of follow-up or adjustment for body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings indicate that high SSB and ASB consumption is associated with an
      increased risk of hypertension.

PMID- 26869456
TI  - Anthraquinone Glycoside Aloin Induces Osteogenic Initiation of MC3T3-E1 Cells:
      Involvement of MAPK Mediated Wnt and Bmp Signaling.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a bone pathology leading to increased fracture risk and
      challenging the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect
      of an anthraquinone glycoside, aloin, on osteogenic induction of MC3T3-E1 cells.
      Aloin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an early differentiation
      marker of osteoblasts. Aloin also increased the ALP activity in adult human
      adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC), indicating that the action of aloin was not
      cell-type specific.Alizarin red S staining revealed a signifiant amount of
      calcium deposition in cells treated with aloin. Aloin enhanced the expression of
      osteoblast differentiation genes, Bmp-2, Runx2 and collagen 1a, in a dose
      dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that noggin and inhibitors of
      p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signals attenuated aloin-promoted expressions of Bmp-2 and
      Runx2 proteins. siRNA mediated blocking of Wnt-5a signaling pathway also annulled
      the influenceof aloin, indicating Wnt-5a dependent activity. Inhibition of the
      different signal pathways abrogated the influenceof aloin on ALP activity,
      confirmingthat aloin induced MC3T3-E1 cells into osteoblasts through MAPK
      mediated Wnt and Bmp signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26869457
TI  - Mitochondria-Targeted Vitamin E Protects Skin from UVB-Irradiation.
AB  - Mitochondria-targeted vitamin E (MVE) is designed to accumulate within
      mitochondria and is applied to decrease mitochondrial oxidative damage. However,
      the protective effects of MVE in skin cells have not been identified. We
      investigated the protective effect of MVE against UVB in dermal fibroblasts and
      immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). In addition, we studied the
      wound-healing effect of MVE in animal models. We found that MVE increased the
      proliferation and survival of fibroblasts at low concentration (i.e., nM ranges).
      In addition, MVE increased collagen production and downregulated matrix
      metalloproteinase1. MVE also increased the proliferation and survival of HaCaT
      cells. UVB increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fibroblasts and
      HaCaT cells, while MVE decreased ROS production at low concentration. In an
      animal experiment, MVE accelerated wound healing from laser-induced skin damage.
      These results collectively suggest that low dose MVE protects skin from UVB
      irradiation. Therefore, MVE can be developed as a cosmetic raw material. 

PMID- 26869458
TI  - Transplant related ocular surface disorders: Advanced techniques for ocular
      surface rehabilitation after ocular complications secondary to hematopoietic stem
      cell transplantation.
AB  - HSCT has been linked to the development of an assortment of ocular surface
      complications with the potential to lead to permanent visual impairment if left
      untreated or if not treated early in the course of disease. Strategies for
      therapy include maintenance of lubrication and tear preservation, prevention of
      evaporation, decreasing inflammation, and providing epithelial support. The
      ultimate aim of treatment is to prevent permanent ocular sequelae through prompt
      ophthalmology consultation and the use of advanced techniques for ocular surface
      rehabilitation. We describe several rehabilitation options of ocular surface
      complications occurring secondarily during the post-HSCT course. 

PMID- 26869460
TI  - Long term impact of one daily unit of physical exercise at school on
      cardiovascular risk factors in school children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity and physical inactivity in children correlate with the
      presence of cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this prospective, randomised,
      interventional study was to examine the long term impact of additional physical
      exercise lessons at school on fitness and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS:
      We randomly assigned 366 5th and 6th grade students class-wise into an
      intervention group that participated in one-daily physical exercise unit at
      school and a control group, participating in conventional school sports twice a
      week. The intervention duration was 4 years. At baseline and yearly follow-up,
      anthropometric measurements, body coordination tests, spiroergometry,
      questionnaires and blood samples were performed. RESULTS: A total of 236 children
      qualified for analysis of the intervention effect after 4 years. At the beginning
      students of the intervention and control groups had similar values for fitness
      assessed by peak oxygen uptake. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly better in
      the intervention group at first and second follow-up. After 4 years we found no
      difference in fitness any longer. Students in the intervention group were more
      likely to have healthy body mass index percentiles in comparison to the control
      group (within 10th to 90th percentile: intervention 86.4%, control 78.2%, P =
      0.13). CONCLUSION: Over a period of 1-2 years, additional physical exercise
      lessons at school resulted in an improvement of fitness. However, long-term
      follow-up failed to demonstrate ongoing improvement of performance in the
      intervention compared with the control group. Nevertheless, the intervention
      group had lower rates of body mass index above the 90th percentile throughout the
      entire follow-up. Therefore more physical exercise units at school seem
      justified.

PMID- 26869459
TI  - The impact of multiple single day blood pressure readings on cardiovascular risk
      estimation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of change in estimated
      cardiovascular disease risk when multiple same day blood pressure measurements
      are used in estimating coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke risks.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Black and White participants, N = 11,129, enrolled in the
      Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (mean age 53.9 +/- 5.7 (SD) years) were
      included. Each participant had three sitting, five supine, and six standing blood
      pressure measures during one day. Main outcome measures were changes in estimated
      coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke risk when using the different
      blood pressure measures. Mean sitting, standing and supine systolic blood
      pressure values of the study population were 120.8 +/- 18.6, 124.9 +/- 20 and
      124.7 +/- 19.6 mmHg, respectively. The substitution of the second sitting
      systolic blood pressure with the third sitting systolic blood pressure (taken ~5
      min later) in two separate coronary heart disease risk models reclassified 3.3%
      to 5.1% of study participants. Similar substitutions for heart failure and stroke
      risk prediction models led to reclassification of 1.9% and 2.7% of participants
      respectively. When mean sitting systolic blood pressure was replaced with mean
      standing systolic blood pressure 5.4% to 11.6% of the participants were
      reclassified. Maximum upward and downward change in an individual's estimated
      risk was 31% and 26% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Estimated risks of coronary heart
      disease, heart failure, and stroke for an individual can change significantly
      within a day due to changes in systolic blood pressure. Given recommendations to
      use estimated risk for therapeutic decisions, our study has implications for the
      use of a single systolic blood pressure in cardiovascular risk estimation.

PMID- 26869461
TI  - Age-stratified trends in 20 years of stress incontinence surgery in Australia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common, debilitating condition
      in Australian women. Since its introduction in 1998-1999, the less invasive mid
      urethral sling (MUS) procedure has become the new standard for surgical
      correction of SUI and overall numbers of continence procedures increased. Trends
      since 2009 have not been analysed. AIMS: To identify patterns in the surgical
      treatment of women with SUI in Australia from January 1994 to December 2014
      stratified by age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gender- and age-specific data from
      Medicare Australia between January 1994 and December 2014 were extracted and the
      patterns of SUI surgery analysed for the 20-year period. Data on gynaecologists
      and urologists performing MUS and colposuspension were collected from Department
      of Human Services. RESULTS: Following the introduction of MUS, total SUI
      operations increased with the peak in 2002, a plateau between 2006 and 2011, and
      a new decline from 2012 onwards. There has been a sustained 51.7% increase in
      total SUI operations in 75- to 84-year-old women, and a 105.2% increase in women
      aged over 84. However, SUI operations in 45- to 64-year-olds decreased below pre
      MUS baseline in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-urethral sling has become the standard SUI
      procedure being performed in Australia since its introduction in 1999. SUI
      operations have increased each year for patients aged over 65, with the greatest
      increase seen in patients aged over 84 - indicating expanded eligibility for SUI
      surgery in older women. However, since 2010, there has been a fall in SUI
      operations to below the pre-MUS baseline.

PMID- 26869462
TI  - Chromogranin A Is Preferentially Cleaved into Proangiogenic Peptides in the Bone
      Marrow of Multiple Myeloma Patients.
AB  - Angiogenesis has been postulated to be critical for the pathogenesis of multiple
      myeloma, a neoplastic disease characterized by abnormal proliferation of
      malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). Cleavage of the N- and C-terminal
      regions of circulating chromogranin A (CgA, CHGA), classically an antiangiogenic
      protein, can activate latent antiangiogenic and proangiogenic sites,
      respectively. In this study, we investigated the distribution of CgA-derived
      polypeptides in multiple myeloma patients and the subsequent implications for
      disease progression. We show that the ratio of pro/antiangiogenic forms of CgA is
      altered in multiple myeloma patients compared with healthy subjects and that this
      ratio is higher in BM plasma compared with peripheral plasma, suggesting enhanced
      local cleavage of the CgA C-terminal region. Enhanced cleavage correlated with
      increased VEGF and FGF2 BM plasma levels and BM microvascular density. Using the
      Vk*MYC mouse model of multiple myeloma, we further demonstrate that exogenously
      administered CgA was cleaved in favor of the proangiogenic form and was
      associated with increased microvessel density. Mechanistic studies revealed that
      multiple myeloma and proliferating endothelial cells can promote CgA C-terminal
      cleavage by activating the plasminogen activator/plasmin system. Moreover,
      cleaved and full-length forms could also counter balance the pro/antiangiogenic
      activity of each other in in vitro angiogenesis assays. These findings suggest
      that the CgA-angiogenic switch is activated in the BM of multiple myeloma
      patients and prompt further investigation of this CgA imbalance as a prognostic
      or therapeutic target. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1781-91. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26869463
TI  - "Bringing Taxonomy to the Service of Genetics": Edgar Anderson and Introgressive
      Hybridization.
AB  - In introgressive hybridization (the repeated backcrossing of hybrids with
      parental populations), Edgar Anderson found a source for variation upon which
      natural selection could work. In his 1953 review article "Introgressive
      Hybridization," he asserted that he was "bringing taxonomy to the service of
      genetics" whereas distinguished colleagues such as Theodosius Dobzhansky and
      Ernst Mayr did the precise opposite. His work as a geneticist particularly
      focused on linkage and recombination and was enriched by collaborations with
      Missouri Botanical Garden colleagues interested in taxonomy as well as with
      cytologists C.D. Darlington and Karl Sax. As the culmination of a biosystemtatic
      research program, Anderson's views challenged the mainstream of the Evolutionary
      Synthesis.

PMID- 26869464
TI  - Remembering Our Forebears: Albert Jan Kluyver and the Unity of Life.
AB  - The Dutch microbiologist/biochemist Albert Jan Kluyver (1888-1956) was an early
      proponent of the idea of biochemical unity, and how that concept might be
      demonstrated through the careful study of microbial life. The fundamental
      relatedness of living systems is an obvious correlate of the theory of evolution,
      and modern attempts to construct phylogenetic schemes support this relatedness
      through comparison of genomes. The approach of Kluyver and his scientific
      descendants predated the tools of modern molecular biology by decades. Kluyver
      himself is poorly recognized today, yet his influence at the time was profound.
      Through lens of today however, it has been argued that the focus by Kluyver and
      others to create taxonomic and phylogenetic schemes using morphology and
      biochemistry distorted and hindered progress of the discipline of microbiology,
      because of a perception that the older approaches focused too much on a
      reductionist worldview. This essay argues that in contrast the careful
      characterization of fundamental microbial metabolism and physiology by Kluyver
      made many of the advances of the latter part of the twentieth century possible,
      by offering a framework which in many respects anticipated our current view of
      phylogeny, and by directly and indirectly training a generation of scientists who
      became leaders in the explosive growth of biotechnology.

PMID- 26869465
TI  - Imaging Signs in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Prevalence and
      Relationship to CSF Pressure.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension often
      exhibit low CSF pressure and changes on brain MR imaging and/or evidence of CSF
      leak on myelography. We investigated whether individual imaging signs of
      spontaneous intracranial hypotension correlate with measured CSF pressure and how
      frequently these 2 markers of spontaneous intracranial hypotension were
      concordant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional
      study of 99 subjects with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Prevalence of
      brain and myelographic imaging signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension was
      recorded. CSF pressure among subjects with or without individual imaging signs
      was compared by using a 2-tailed t test and ANOVA. Concordance between low CSF
      pressure (<=6 cm H2O) and imaging was defined as the presence of the sign in a
      subject with low CSF pressure or absence of the sign when pressure was not low.
      RESULTS: Dural enhancement, brain sagging, and venous distension sign were
      present in 83%, 61%, and 75% of subjects, respectively, and myelographic evidence
      of CSF leak was seen in 55%. Marginal correlations between CSF pressure and brain
      sagging (P = .046) and the venous distension sign (P = .047) were found. Dural
      enhancement and myelographic evidence of leak were not significantly correlated
      with CSF pressure. Rates of concordance between imaging signs and low CSF
      pressure were generally low, ranging from 39% to 55%. CONCLUSIONS: Brain and
      myelographic signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension correlate poorly with
      CSF pressure. These findings reinforce the need to base the diagnosis of
      spontaneous intracranial hypotension on multiple diagnostic criteria and suggest
      the presence of patient-specific variables that influence CSF pressure in these
      individuals.

PMID- 26869466
TI  - Radiation Dose Reduction by Indication-Directed Focused z-Direction Coverage for
      Neck CT.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The American College of Radiology-American Society of
      Neuroradiology-Society for Pediatric Radiology Practice Parameter for a neck CT
      suggests that coverage should be from the sella to the aortic arch. It also
      recommends using CT scans judiciously to achieve the clinical objective. Our
      purpose was to analyze the potential dose reduction by decreasing the scan length
      of a neck CT and to assess for any clinically relevant information that might be
      missed from this modified approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective
      study included 126 children who underwent a neck CT between August 1, 2013, and
      September 30, 2014. Alteration of the scan length for the modified CT was
      suggested on the topographic image on the basis of the indication of the study,
      with the reader blinded to the images and the report. The CT dose index volume of
      the original scan was multiplied by the new scan length to calculate the dose
      length product of the modified study. The effective dose was calculated for the
      original and modified studies by using age-based conversion factors from the
      American Association of Physicists in Medicine Report No. 96. RESULTS: Decreasing
      the scan length resulted in an average estimated dose reduction of 47%. The
      average reduction in scan length was 10.4 cm, decreasing the overall coverage by
      48%. The change in scan length did not result in any missed findings that altered
      management. Of the 27 abscesses in this study, none extended to the mediastinum.
      All of the lesions in question were completely covered. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing
      the scan length of a neck CT according to the indication provides a significant
      savings in radiation dose, while not altering diagnostic ability or management.

PMID- 26869467
TI  - Prediction of Stent-Retriever Thrombectomy Outcomes by Dynamic Multidetector CT
      Angiography in Patients with Acute Carotid T or MCA Occlusions.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The selection of patients for endovascular therapy is an
      important issue in stroke imaging. The aim of this study was to determine the
      predictive value of 3 different dynamic CT angiography parameters, occlusion
      length, collateralization extent, and time delay to maximum enhancement, for
      latest generation of stent retriever thrombectomy recanalization outcomes in
      patients with acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study,
      subjects were selected from an initial cohort of 2059 consecutive patients who
      had undergone multiparametric CT, including whole-brain CT perfusion. We included
      all patients with a complete occlusion of the M1 segment of the MCA or the
      carotid T and subsequent intra-arterial stent retriever thrombectomy. Dynamic CT
      angiography was reconstructed from whole-brain CT perfusion raw datasets.
      Angiographic outcome was scored by using the modified TICI scale; and clinical
      outcome, by using the modified Rankin Scale. Logistic regression analyses were
      performed to determine independent predictors of a favorable angiographic (mTICI
      = 3) and clinical outcome (mRS <=2). RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (mean age, 68
      +/- 14 years; 46% men) were included for statistical analysis. In the regression
      analysis, a short occlusion length was an independent predictor of favorable
      angiographic outcome (OR, 0.41; P < .05). Both collateralization grade (OR, 1.00;
      P > .05) and time delay to peak enhancement (OR, 0.90; P > .05) failed to predict
      a favorable angiographic outcome. None of the dynamic CT angiography predictors
      were significantly associated with clinical outcome on discharge (OR, 0.664
      1.011; P = .330-.953) or at 90 days (OR, 0.779-1.016; P = .130-.845).
      CONCLUSIONS: A short occlusion length as determined by dynamic CT angiography is
      an independent predictor of a favorable angiographic outcome of stent retriever
      thrombectomy in patients with ischemic stroke.

PMID- 26869468
TI  - Differentiating Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of
      the Temporal Bone by Imaging Appearance.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rhabdomyosarcoma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis are
      malignant lesions that can affect the skull base with similar radiographic
      characteristics on CT and MR imaging. We hypothesized that location within the
      temporal bone determined radiographically can provide useful adjunctive
      information in differentiating these distinct neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      We identified patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis and rhabdomyosarcoma by
      using an imaging data base and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth
      Revision codes at a tertiary care academic medical center. Cross-sectional images
      were reviewed by a neurotologist and neuroradiologist, who evaluated the location
      of the lesions and scored each subsite-middle ear, mastoid, petrous apex,
      retrosigmoid/posterior fossa-on a scale of 0 (no involvement), 1 (partial), or 2
      (complete involvement). RESULTS: We identified 12 patients representing 14 cases
      of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and 9 patients representing 9 cases of
      rhabdomyosarcoma. For patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, mastoid
      involvement was rated 23/28 (82%) compared with 6/18 (33%) with rhabdomyosarcoma
      (P = .001). Langerhans cell histiocytosis was present in only the anterior
      portion of the temporal bone (petrous apex and middle ear) in 1 case (7.1%) and
      in the anterior portion of the temporal bone only in 5/9 (55%) cases of
      rhabdomyosarcoma (P = .018). The cortical bone was more commonly involved in
      Langerhans cell histiocytosis, 11/28 (39%) of cases compared with 2/18 (11%)
      cases in rhabdomyosarcoma (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that
      lesions involving only the anterior portion of the temporal bone (petrous apex
      and middle ear) are more likely to be rhabdomyosarcoma. Lesions involving the
      mastoid are more likely to be Langerhans cell histiocytosis. This difference in
      primary location may be helpful in predicting the pathology of these lesions on
      the basis of imaging.

PMID- 26869469
TI  - Brain MR Imaging Findings of Cardiac-Type Fabry Disease with an IVS4+919G>A
      Mutation.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A high incidence of cardiac-type Fabry disease with an
      alpha-galactosidase A mutation, IVS4 + 919 G>A, has been identified in the
      Taiwanese population. The neurologic manifestation has not been understood in
      this specific cardiac variant. This study aimed to investigate the typical
      imaging features of classic Fabry disease in patients with IVS4 Fabry disease.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with IVS4-type Fabry disease (20 men
      and 6 women; age range, 43-71 years; median age, 61 years) and 26 age- and sex
      matched healthy controls (age range, 44-68 years; median age, 60 years) were
      analyzed for white matter hyperintensities, the pulvinar sign, and basilar artery
      diameter. The volumes of white matter hyperintensities were calculated by
      comparison with an in-house data base of 276 controls. RESULTS: Infarctions were
      found in 9 patients with IVS4 Fabry disease (35%) and in none of the healthy
      controls (P = .001). A pulvinar sign was found in 8 patients with IVS4 Fabry
      disease (30%) and in none of the healthy controls (P = .002). No significant
      difference was found in Fazekas scale scores for white matter hyperintensities;
      however, white matter hyperintensity volume in the deep white matter was higher
      in patients with IVS4 Fabry disease than in those from the healthy control data
      base (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Along with its involvement of the cardiac system,
      IVS4-type Fabry disease has features similar to those of classic Fabry disease
      and a higher frequency of deep white matter hyperintensities and a higher
      incidence of infarctions and pulvinar signs than in healthy controls.

PMID- 26869470
TI  - The "Hyperdense Paraspinal Vein" Sign: A Marker of CSF-Venous Fistula.
AB  - CSF-venous fistula is a recently reported cause of spontaneous intracranial
      hypotension that may occur in the absence of myelographic evidence of CSF leak.
      Information about this entity is currently very limited, but it is of potential
      importance given the large percentage of cases of spontaneous intracranial
      hypotension associated with negative myelography findings. We report 3 additional
      cases of CSF-venous fistula and describe the "hyperdense paraspinal vein" sign,
      which may aid in its detection.

PMID- 26869471
TI  - New Clinically Feasible 3T MRI Protocol to Discriminate Internal Brain Stem
      Anatomy.
AB  - Two new 3T MR imaging contrast methods, track density imaging and echo modulation
      curve T2 mapping, were combined with simultaneous multisection acquisition to
      reveal exquisite anatomic detail at 7 canonical levels of the brain stem.
      Compared with conventional MR imaging contrasts, many individual brain stem
      tracts and nuclear groups were directly visualized for the first time at 3T. This
      new approach is clinically practical and feasible (total scan time = 20 minutes),
      allowing better brain stem anatomic localization and characterization.

PMID- 26869472
TI  - Multicenter Prospective Trial of Stent Placement in Patients with Symptomatic
      High-Grade Intracranial Stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: On the basis of the high 1-month stroke and/or death
      (14.7%) rates associated with stent placement in the Stenting versus Aggressive
      Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis
      trial, modifications in patient selection and procedural aspects for intracranial
      stent placement have been recommended. We performed a multicenter prospective
      single-arm trial to determine whether such modifications would result in lower
      rates of periprocedural stroke and/or death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study
      enrolled patients with recent transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke
      (excluding perforator ischemic events) related to high-grade (70%-99% in
      severity) stenosis of a major intracranial artery. Patients were treated by using
      angioplasty and self-expanding stents 3 weeks after the index ischemic event at 1
      of the 10 high-volume centers in China. An independent neurologist ascertained
      the occurrence of any stroke and/or death within 1 month after the procedure.
      RESULTS: A total of 100 consecutive patients were recruited. The target lesions
      were located in the middle cerebral artery (M1) (n = 38, 38%), intracranial
      internal carotid artery (n = 17, 17%), intradural vertebral artery (n = 18, 18%),
      and basilar artery (n = 27, 27%). The technical success rate of stent deployment
      with residual stenosis of <50% was 100%. The overall 1-month stroke and/or death
      rate was 2% (95% confidence interval, 0.2%-7.0%). Two ischemic strokes occurred
      in the pontine region (perforator distribution) in patients following angioplasty
      and stent placement for basilar artery stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this
      prospective multicenter study demonstrated that modifications in patient
      selection and procedural aspects can substantially reduce the 1-month stroke
      and/or death rate following intracranial stent placement.

PMID- 26869473
TI  - Relationship between M100 Auditory Evoked Response and Auditory Radiation
      Microstructure in 16p11.2 Deletion and Duplication Carriers.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deletion and duplication of chromosome 16p11.2 (BP4-BP5)
      have been associated with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum
      disorders, and deletion subjects exhibit a large (20-ms) delay of the auditory
      evoked cortical response as measured by magnetoencephalography (M100 latency).
      The purpose of this study was to use a multimodal approach to test whether
      changes in white matter microstructure are associated with delayed M100 latency.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty pediatric deletion carriers, 9 duplication
      carriers, and 39 control children were studied with both magnetoencephalography
      and diffusion MR imaging. The M100 latency and auditory system DTI measures were
      compared between groups and tested for correlation. RESULTS: In controls, white
      matter diffusivity significantly correlated with the speed of the M100 response.
      However, the relationship between structure and function appeared uncoupled in
      16p11.2 copy number variation carriers. The alterations to auditory system white
      matter microstructure in the 16p11.2 deletion only partially accounted for the 20
      ms M100 delay. Although both duplication and deletion groups exhibit abnormal
      white matter microstructure, only the deletion group has delayed M100 latency.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that gene dosage impacts factors other than
      white matter microstructure, which modulate conduction velocity.

PMID- 26869474
TI  - Development and validation of the Zurich chronic middle ear inventory (ZCMEI-21):
      an electronic questionnaire for assessing quality of life in patients with
      chronic otitis media.
AB  - Because existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) specific for chronic
      otitis media (COM) are lacking certain relevant symptoms and dimensions of health
      related quality of life (HRQoL), we aimed to develop and validate a new
      questionnaire for comprehensively measuring HRQoL in adult patients with COM. An
      expert panel and patients were involved in developing the first version of the
      Zurich chronic middle ear inventory, containing 33 items (ZCMEI-33). An
      electronic application was chosen not only to provide maximal data quality, but
      also to facilitate and accelerate data analysis. Item reduction was performed by
      testing the questionnaire in a first cohort (n = 85). Using sequential
      statistical analysis, the ZCMEI-33 was reduced to 21 items (ZCMEI-21).
      Subsequently, the ZCMEI-21 was validated in a second cohort (n = 76). Validation
      revealed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91, indicating excellent internal consistency.
      Moreover, the ZCMEI-21 was able to discriminate between patients with COM and
      healthy participants (p < 0.0001), thus possessing good discrimination validity.
      Assessing criterion validity, the ZCMEI-21 total score was compared to a question
      directly addressing HRQoL and the EQ-5D descriptive system score, a generic
      measure of HRQoL. Whereas the ZCMEI-21 total score and the EQ-5D descriptive
      system score were only moderately correlated (r = 0.60, p < 0.0001), the ZCMEI-21
      total score and the question directly addressing HRQoL showed a strong
      correlation (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, sufficient information on
      reliability and validity was obtained to propagate the application of the ZCMEI
      21 to quantify HRQoL in patients with COM. 

PMID- 26869476
TI  - Comparative study of millennials' (age 20-34 years) grip and lateral pinch with
      the norms.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional research design. INTRODUCTION: Clinical practice
      continues to use normative data for grip and pinch measurements that were
      established in 1985. There is no updated norms despite different hand usage
      patterns in today's society. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Measuring and comparing grip
      and pinch strengths with normative data is a valid method to determine hand
      function. This research was implemented to compare the grip and pinch
      measurements obtained from healthy millennials to the established norms and to
      describe hand usage patterns for millennials. METHODS: Grip and lateral pinch
      measurements were obtained from a sample of 237 healthy millennials (ages 20-34
      years). RESULTS: Strength scores were statistically lower that older normative
      data in all millennial grip strengths, with the exception of the women in the age
      group of 30-34 years. Specifically, this statistically significant trend was
      observed in all male grip strengths, as well as in women in the age group of 20
      24 years (bilateral grip) and 25-29 years (right grip). However, the lateral
      pinch data reflected was similar to the older norms with variances of 0.5-1 kg.
      CONCLUSION: Current data reflect statistically significant differences from the
      norms for all male grip measurements, as well as for women in the age group of 20
      24 years (bilateral grip) and 25-29 years (right grip). No statistical
      significance was observed in the independent-sample t tests for the lateral pinch
      in men of all age groups. Statistical significance was noted for lateral pinch
      for female age groups for the left hand (20-24 years) and for bilateral lateral
      pinches (30-34 years). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID- 26869475
TI  - Stationary facial nerve paresis after surgery for recurrent parotid pleomorphic
      adenoma: a follow-up study of 219 cases in Denmark in the period 1985-2012.
AB  - The purpose was to assess degree of permanent facial nerve dysfunction after
      surgery for recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) of the parotid gland, including
      variables that might influence re-operation outcomes. Nationwide retrospective
      longitudinal cohort study including a questionnaire survey of patients undergoing
      surgery for RPA. Of 219 living patients, 198 (92 %) responded and 127 (63 %)
      reported no facial dysfunction. Statistically significant associations were found
      between number of surgeries and permanent facial nerve dysfunction of all degrees
      (OR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.16-1.78, p = 0.001). A not significant tendency for females
      to be associated with worse outcome was found (p = 0.073). Risks of different
      degrees of paresis after the second-fourth surgeries were found (OR 1.86-2.19, p
      < 0.05). Our study demonstrates a significant correlation between number of
      surgeries for RPA of the parotid and severity of facial nerve paresis. This is
      important when informing and planning treatment of these patients. 

PMID- 26869479
TI  - Salvador Luria and Max Delbruck on Random Mutation and Fluctuation Tests.

PMID- 26869477
TI  - Health-related quality-of-life improvements during 98 weeks of infliximab therapy
      in patients with plaque-type psoriasis in real-world practice.
AB  - PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of plaque-type psoriasis on health-related
      quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who received infliximab (IFX) in real-world
      clinical settings. METHODS: REALITY was a prospective, observational, open-label
      study of the efficacy and safety of up to 98 weeks of IFX (5 mg/kg infused at
      weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter) in patients with moderate-to-severe
      plaque-type psoriasis. Patients with >=25 % Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)
      improvement (PASI 25) at week 50 were eligible for the Extended Treatment Phase
      (treatment to week 98). Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of plaque-type
      psoriasis, age >=18 years, decision to start IFX, and patient consent. Key
      secondary efficacy outcomes included the Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI;
      mean DLQI scores, attainment of DLQI 0/1), which was analyzed over 98 weeks. Post
      hoc analyses examined improvement in DLQI and the relationship between PASI and
      DLQI. RESULTS: In the Treatment Phase, patients (n = 516, 66.0 % men, mean age
      46.4 years) had a mean baseline PASI of 18.1. Mean DLQI improved from 12.7 at
      baseline to 4.7 [mean change (95 % CI); -8.0 (-8.9, -7.1)] at week 50; 64.0 %
      (229/358) of patients improved by >=5 DLQI points. At week 50 (n = 362), 37.6 %
      (95 % CI; 32.7, 42.7) achieved a DLQI of 0. In the Extended Treatment Phase,
      patients (n = 167, 68.3 % men, mean age 46.6 years) had a mean baseline PASI of
      20.4. Mean DLQI improved from 12.3 at baseline to 2.8 at week 98 [mean change (95
      % CI); -9.4 (-10.8, -8.0)]; 68.6 % (96/140) of patients improved by >=5 DLQI
      points. At week 98 (n = 141), 47.5 % (95 % CI; 39.4, 55.7) achieved a DLQI of 0.
      CONCLUSIONS: Patients with plaque-type psoriasis who received treatment with IFX
      for 50 weeks or up to 98 weeks reported substantial HRQoL improvement.

PMID- 26869478
TI  - Mucosal immunoglobulins at respiratory surfaces mark an ancient association that
      predates the emergence of tetrapods.
AB  - Gas-exchange structures are critical for acquiring oxygen, but they also
      represent portals for pathogen entry. Local mucosal immunoglobulin responses
      against pathogens in specialized respiratory organs have only been described in
      tetrapods. Since fish gills are considered a mucosal surface, we hypothesized
      that a dedicated mucosal immunoglobulin response would be generated within its
      mucosa on microbial exposure. Supporting this hypothesis, here we demonstrate
      that following pathogen exposure, IgT(+) B cells proliferate and generate
      pathogen-specific IgT within the gills of fish, thus providing the first example
      of locally induced immunoglobulin in the mucosa of a cold-blooded species.
      Moreover, we demonstrate that gill microbiota is predominantly coated with IgT,
      thus providing previously unappreciated evidence that the microbiota present at a
      respiratory surface of a vertebrate is recognized by a mucosal immunoglobulin.
      Our findings indicate that respiratory surfaces and mucosal immunoglobulins are
      part of an ancient association that predates the emergence of tetrapods. 

PMID- 26869480
TI  - Hermann Muller on Measuring Mutation Rates.

PMID- 26869481
TI  - Pick Your Poisson: An Educational Primer for Luria and Delbruck's Classic Paper.
AB  - The origin of beneficial mutations is fundamentally important in understanding
      the processes by which natural selection works. Using phage-resistant mutants in
      Escherichia coli as their model for identifying the origin of beneficial
      mutations, Luria and Delbruck distinguished between two different hypotheses.
      Under the first hypothesis, which they termed "acquired immunity," the phages
      induced bacteria to mutate to immunity; this predicts that none of the resistant
      mutants were present before infection by the phages. Under the second hypothesis,
      termed "mutation to immunity," resistant bacteria arose from random mutations
      independent of the presence of the phages; this predicts that resistant bacteria
      were present in the population before infection by the phages. These two
      hypotheses could be distinguished by calculating the frequencies at which
      resistant mutants arose in separate cultures infected at the same time and
      comparing these frequencies to the theoretical results under each model. The data
      clearly show that mutations arise at a frequency that is independent of the
      presence of the phages. By inference, natural selection reveals the genetic
      variation that is present in a population rather than inducing or causing this
      variation. 

PMID- 26869482
TI  - Human Complex Trait Genetics in the 21st Century.

PMID- 26869484
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26869483
TI  - Bias-Variance Tradeoffs in Recombination Rate Estimation.
AB  - In 2013, we and coauthors published a paper characterizing rates of recombination
      within the 2.1-megabase garnet-scalloped (g-sd) region of the Drosophila
      melanogaster X chromosome. To extract the signal of recombination in our high
      throughput sequence data, we adopted a nonparametric smoothing procedure,
      reducing variance at the cost of biasing individual recombination rates. In doing
      so, we sacrificed accuracy to gain precision-precision that allowed us to detect
      recombination rate heterogeneity. Negotiating the bias-variance tradeoff enabled
      us to resolve significant variation in the frequency of crossing over across the
      garnet-scalloped region. 

PMID- 26869485
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26869487
TI  - 3, 3', 5-triiodo-L-thyronine Increases In Vitro Chondrogenesis of Mesenchymal
      Stem Cells From Human Umbilical Cord Stroma Through SRC2.
AB  - Our group focuses on the study of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human
      umbilical cord stroma or Warthons jelly and their directed differentiation toward
      chondrocyte-like cells capable of regenerating damaged cartilage when
      transplanted into an injured joint. This study aimed to determine whether
      lactogenic hormone prolactin (PRL) or 3, 3', 5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), the
      active thyroid hormone, modulates chondrogenesis in our in vitro model of
      directed chondrogenic differentiation, and whether Wnt signalling is involved in
      this modulation. MSCs from human umbilical cord stroma underwent directed
      differentiation toward chondrocyte-like cells by spheroid formation. The addition
      of T3 to the chondrogenic medium increased the expression of genes linked to
      chondrogenesis like collagen type 2, integrin alpha 10 beta 1, and Sox9 measured
      by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Levels of
      collagen type 2 and aggrecane analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and staining by
      Safranin O were increased after 14 days in spheroid culture with T3 compared to
      those without T3 or only with PRL. B-catenin, Frizzled, and GSK-3beta gene
      expressions were significantly higher in spheroids cultured with chondrogenic
      medium (CM) plus T3 compared to CM alone after 14 days in culture. The increase
      of chondrogenic differentiation was inhibited when the cells were treated with T3
      plus ML151, an inhibitor of the T3 steroid receptor. This work demonstrates, for
      first time, that T3 promotes differentiation towards chondrocytes-like cells in
      our in vitro model, that this differentiation is mediated by steroid receptor co
      activator 2 (SRC2) and does not induce hypertrophy. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2097
      2108, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26869490
TI  - Higher oxygen saturation targets are safer for preterm infants, trials show.

PMID- 26869488
TI  - Fenestrated and Chimney Technique for Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm: A Systematic
      Review and Pooled Data Analysis.
AB  - Juxtarenal aortic aneurysms (JAA) account for approximately 15% of abdominal
      aortic aneurysms. Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) and chimney
      endovascular aneurysm repair (CH-EVAR) are both effective methods to treat JAAs,
      but the comparative effectiveness of these treatment modalities is unclear. We
      searched the PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify English
      language articles published between January 2005 and September 2013 on management
      of JAA with fenestrated and chimney techniques to conduct a systematic review to
      compare outcomes of patients with juxtarenal aortic aneurysm (JAA) treated with
      the two techniques. We compared nine F-EVAR cohort studies including 542 JAA
      patients and 8 CH-EVAR cohorts with 158 JAA patients regarding techniques success
      rates, 30-day mortality, late mortality, endoleak events and secondary
      intervention rates. The results of this systematic review indicate that both
      fenestrated and chimney techniques are attractive options for JAAs treatment with
      encouraging early and mid-term outcomes.

PMID- 26869489
TI  - Taxonomist's Nightmare ... Evolutionist's Delight : An Integrative Approach
      Resolves Species Limits in Jumping Bristletails Despite Widespread Hybridization
      and Parthenogenesis.
AB  - Accurate species delimitation is fundamental to biology. Traditionally, species
      were delimited based on morphological characters, sometimes leading to taxonomic
      uncertainty in morphologically conserved taxa. Recently, multiple taxonomically
      challenging cases have benefited from integrative taxonomy-an approach that
      highlights congruence among different disciplines and invokes evolutionary
      explanations for incongruence, acknowledging that different methods can mirror
      different stages of the speciation continuum. Here, we used a cohesive protocol
      for integrative taxonomy to revise species limits in 20 nominal species and 4
      morphospecies of an ancestrally wingless insect group, the jumping bristletail
      genus Machilis from the European Eastern Alps. Even though morphologically
      conserved, several small-scale endemic species have been described from the
      Eastern Alps based on variation in hypodermal pigmentation patterns-a highly
      questionable character. As valuable as these endemics are for conservation, they
      have never been verified by alternative methods. Using traditional morphometrics,
      mitochondrial DNA, ribosomal DNA, and amplified fragment-length polymorphism
      markers, we identify six nominal species as taxonomic junior synonyms (Machilis
      alpicola Janetschek, 1953 syn. n. under M. vagans Wygodzinsky, 1941; M. ladensis
      Janetschek, 1950 syn. n., M. robusta Wygodzinsky, 1941 syn. n., and M. vicina
      Wygodzinsky, 1941 syn. n. under M. inermis Wygodzinsky, 1941; M. aleamaculata
      Wygodzinsky, 1941 syn. n. under M. montana Wygodzinsky, 1941; M. pulchra
      Janetschek, 1950 syn. n. under M. helleri Verhoeff, 1910) and describe two new
      species (Machilis cryptoglacialis sp. n. and Machilis albida sp. n.), one
      uncovered from morphological crypsis and one never sampled before. Building on
      numerous cases of incongruence among data sources, we further shed light on
      complex evolutionary histories including hybrid speciation, historical and recent
      hybridization, and ongoing speciation. We hypothesize that an inherent affinity
      to hybridization, combined with parallel switches to parthenogenesis and repeated
      postglacial colonization events may have boosted endemicity in Eastern Alpine
      Machilis We thus emphasize the importance of integrative taxonomy for rigorous
      species delimitation and its implication for evolutionary research and
      conservation in taxonomically challenging taxa.

PMID- 26869492
TI  - Current management options for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: Non
      operative, ORIF, minimally invasive reduction and fixation or primary ORIF and
      subtalar arthrodesis. A contemporary review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Management of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures (DIACFs)
      continues to be technically demanding. The literature has not been definitive in
      its guidance for surgeons dealing with these injuries. Recent publications have
      further added to the lack of clarity. This review is intended to summarise the
      present state of knowledge, and provide some genuine guidance for clinicians.
      OBJECTIVES: To review previous research, focussing on articles published within
      the last fifteen years, and summarise the findings to aid surgeons in managing
      DIACFs with choosing best management for patients. METHODS: We reviewed the best
      evidence and literature, focussing on articles published within the last fifteen
      years, and summarised findings into workable recommendations. Variables of (1)
      patient, (2) the associated soft tissue injury and (3) the fracture
      characteristics were used to aid surgeons in choosing the best of the available
      options for each patient that presents with a DIACF. AUTHORS SUMMARY: Management
      of DIACFs can best be divided into four broad categories: (i) non-operative
      management, (ii) open reduction and internal fixation, (iii) minimally invasive
      reduction and fixation, and (iv) primary subtalar arthrodesis. The evolution of
      the literature would suggest orthopaedic surgeons managing calcaneus fractures
      should have an expert's knowledge, surgical expertise and the latest techniques
      to cover these four options, to tailor the treatment of DIACFs to the individual
      patient.

PMID- 26869491
TI  - Overexpression of RNF2 Is an Independent Predictor of Outcome in Patients with
      Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder Undergoing Radical Cystectomy.
AB  - RNF2 (ring finger protein 2) is frequently overexpressed in several types of
      human cancer, but the status of RNF2 amplification and expression in urothelial
      carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) and its clinical/prognostic significance is
      unclear. In this study, immunohistochemical analysis and fluorescence in situ
      hybridization (FISH) were used to examine the expression and amplification of
      RNF2 in 184 UCB patients after radical cystectomy. Overexpression of RNF2 was
      observed in 44.0% of UCBs and was found to significantly associate with shortened
      overall and cancer-specific survival (P < 0.001). In different subsets of UCBs,
      RNF2 overexpression was also identified as a prognostic indicator in patients
      with pT1, pT2, pN(-), and/or negative surgical margins (P < 0.05). Importantly,
      RNF2 overexpression together with pT status and surgical margin status provided
      significant independent prognostic parameters in multivariate analysis (P <
      0.01). FISH results showed amplification of RNF2 in 8/79 (10.1%) of informative
      UCB cases. Additionally, RNF2 overexpression was significantly associated with
      RNF2 gene amplification (P = 0.004) and cell proliferation (P = 0.003). These
      findings suggested that overexpression of RNF2, as examined by
      immunohistochemical analysis, might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and
      potential therapeutic target for UCB patients who undergo radical cystectomy.

PMID- 26869493
TI  - What factors predict the need for further intervention following corticosteroid
      injection of Morton's neuroma?
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated factors that may predict the need for
      Morton's neuroma (MN) to undergo further treatment within 2 years of a single
      ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection. METHODS: A retrospective study was
      undertaken over a three-year period. The data was stratified into two groups:
      Group A - did not receive further intervention and Group B - received further
      treatment. We investigated age, gender, neuroma size and presence of other
      forefoot pathology or ipsilateral neuromas. RESULTS: 54 patients (57 feet) were
      reviewed. 29 feet (51%) required further treatment within 2 years (11 repeat
      injections, 18 surgical excisions). Binary logistic regression showed that larger
      neuromas (p=0.011) and younger patients (p=0.007) predicted the need for further
      intervention but not gender (p=0.272). The distribution of concomitant forefoot
      pathology and ipsilateral neuromas were similar between the two groups.
      CONCLUSION: Size and age appear to be predictors for further treatment of MN
      within 2 years of corticosteroid injection.

PMID- 26869494
TI  - Distraction osteogenesis of fourth brachymetatarsia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brachymetatarsia is a rare congenital or developmental condition that
      results in a short metatarsal. The condition most commonly affects the fourth
      metatarsal of young and adolescent females. It does not usually produce a
      functional problem. However, it may produce a significant cosmetic problem
      especially in young women. The authors present their experience in gradual
      distraction of the fourth metatarsal to tackle this problem in adults. METHODS:
      That was done using a monolateral frame in 11 feet of female patients with an
      average age of 23 years. Evaluation depended upon the achievement of the target
      length, angulation, pain, and satisfaction of the patient. RESULTS: There were
      eight excellent and three good results after an average follow up of 2.6 years.
      Aside from nine cases of mild pin-tract infection, complications were few and
      minor. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend distraction osteogenesis as the treatment of
      choice for brachymetatarsia of the fourth toe.

PMID- 26869495
TI  - Midfoot arthrodesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgery for midfoot arthritis is challenging and technically
      demanding, especially in the presence of deformity. METHODS: Thirty patients (30
      feet) with symptomatic midfoot arthritis and deformities, underwent arthrodesis,
      along with adjuvant procedures to realign the hindfoot and forefoot where needed.
      RESULTS: Union was achieved in 28 out of 30 (93.3%) patients. Mean time to union
      was 12.9 weeks (range 10-18). Five patients (16.6%) developed postoperative
      complications and six patients (20%) required unplanned surgical procedures.
      Orthotics was needed postoperatively in 14 patients (34%). Fourteen out of 30
      patients rated their outcome as excellent (47%), 13 out of 30 as good (43%) and 3
      out of 30 (10%) as fair or poor. CONCLUSIONS: Although the vast majority of
      patients rated their outcome as good or excellent, the foot is not completely
      normal, with residual pain from the adjacent joints, need for unplanned surgery
      and use of orthotics postoperatively.

PMID- 26869496
TI  - Open wedge metatarsal osteotomy versus crescentic osteotomy to correct severe
      hallux valgus deformity - A prospective comparative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Different techniques of proximal osteotomies have been introduced to
      correct severe hallux valgus. The open wedge osteotomy is a newly introduced
      method for proximal osteotomy. The aim of this prospective randomized study was
      to compare the radiological and clinical results after operation for severe
      hallux valgus, comparing the open wedge osteotomy to the crescentic osteotomy
      which is our traditional treatment. METHODS: Forty-five patients with severe
      hallux valgus (hallux valgus angle >35, and intermetatarsal angle >15) were
      included in this study. The treatment was proximal open wedge osteotomy and
      fixation with plate (Hemax), group 1, or operation with proximal crescentic
      osteotomy and fixation with a 3mm cannulated screw, group 2. The mean age was 52
      years (19-71). Forty-one females and four males were included. Clinical and
      radiological follow-ups were performed 4 and 12 months after the operation.
      RESULTS: In group 1 the hallux valgus angle decreased from 39.0 to 24.1 after 4
      months and 27.9 after 12 months. In group 2 the angle decreased from 38.3 to 21.4
      after 4 months and 27.0 after 12 months. The intermetatarsal angle in group 1 was
      19.0 preoperatively, 11.6 after 4 months and 12.6 after 12 months. In group 2 the
      mean intermetatarsal angle was 18.9 preoperatively, 12.0 after 4 months and 12.6
      after 12 months. The AOFAS score improved from 59.3 to 81.5 in group 1 and from
      61.8 to 84.8 in group 2 respectively measured 12 months postoperatively. The
      relative length of the 1 metatarsal compared to 2 metatarsal bone was 0.88 and
      0.87 preoperatively and 0.88 and 0.86 for group 1 and 2 respectively measured
      after 12 months. CONCLUSION: Crescentic osteotomy and open wedge osteotomy
      improve AOFAS score and VAS scores on patients operated with severe hallux
      valgus. No significant difference was found in the two groups looking at the
      postoperative improvement of HVA and IMA measured 4 and 12 months
      postoperatively. The postoperative VAS score and AOFAS score were comparable for
      the two groups with no significant difference. An expected tendency to gain
      better length of the first metatarsal using the open wedge osteotomy compared to
      the crescentic osteotomy was not found. Even though the IMA and HVA reduction was
      only suboptimal the improvement in AOFAS score was comparable to other similar
      clinical trials.

PMID- 26869497
TI  - Total ankle replacement and contralateral ankle arthrodesis in 16 patients from
      the Swedish Ankle Registry: Self-reported function and satisfaction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle arthrodesis do show some
      problems in long-term studies. To choose either of these surgical options is a
      delicate task. There are no randomized studies reported in the literature and no
      previous studies in which patients constitute the own controls. METHODS: Patients
      with a TAR and a contralateral ankle arthrodesis were identified in the Swedish
      Ankle Register. A self-reported foot and ankle specific questionnaire (SEFAS) was
      sent to these patients who also were asked to report their grade of satisfaction
      from 1 to 5. RESULTS: The median SEFAS score was 32 (16-44) for the prostheses
      and 27 (14-47) for the arthrodeses. The median satisfaction score was 2 (1-4) for
      the prostheses and 2 (1-5) for the arthrodeses. There were no statistically
      significant difference between the prosthetic side and the fused side regarding
      these scores. CONCLUSION: Patients who had undergone ankle arthrodesis on one
      side and had the contralateral ankle replaced, were equally satisfied with both
      procedures.

PMID- 26869498
TI  - The effect of posture on the osseous relations in the foot.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Discrepancies observed between clinical findings and a weightbearing
      foot X-ray might be caused by a patients' positioning. This study's main
      objective was to determine the effect of a subjects' posture on the osseous
      relations of the foot. METHODS: Anatomical markers were placed on the skin of the
      foot of 17 subjects. A plantar pressure plate assessed the percentage weight on
      the foot and weight distribution over the foot. Medial longitudinal foot angles
      were derived from the markers and compared between the 10 postures. The effect of
      percentage weight and weight distribution on the foot angles was determined by
      multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The foot angles were significantly
      affected by the postures. The multiple regression analysis revealed the weight on
      the foot and the mediolateral weight distribution over the foot as important
      factors for the foot angles. CONCLUSION: A subjects posture significantly
      influences the osseous relations in the foot.

PMID- 26869499
TI  - The peroneus brevis tendon at its insertion site on fifth metatarsal bone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The differences at the attachment site of peroneus brevis (PB) to the
      fifth metatarsal bone is important in terms of the forces exerted on the bone and
      hence the mechanism of fractures involving this structure. In this study, we
      investigated the anatomical properties of PB at the insertion site to the base of
      fifth metatarsal bone, its possible intertendinous connections with peroneus
      tertius (PT) and their possible effects on the fracture occurrence at the bony
      attachment site. METHODS: The length and the width of PB tendons at their mid-
      and end-points were measured and classified according to the insertion types.
      Besides, the length and the width of the base of fifth metatarsal bone were
      assessed. The slips extending from the PB tendons and their relationship with PT
      were also evaluated. The data was compared statistically with each other and
      between the right and left sides. RESULTS: The length of PB tendon was measured
      79.57+/-15.40mm on the right side; 81.48+/-14.31mm on the left. The width of PB
      tendon at the mid-point was 4.46+/-0.80mm on the right side; 4.42+/-0.94mm on the
      left. The width of the tendon at its insertion point was measured 14.85+/-3.40mm
      and 15.16+/-3.42mm on the right and left sides respectively. PB was divided into
      three types according to its attachment to base of fifth metatarsal bone (5thMB).
      Type I, Type II and Type III were observed at the rates of 59.5%, 28.6% and 11.5%
      respectively. It was observed that the slips to the bone were extending more
      commonly from PB than from PT and that the large majority of them were single
      having their insertions on the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth toe.
      CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the width and insertional types of PB aids in understanding
      the mechanism of fractures at the site of bony attachment. The existence of slips
      may help the surgeon in the procedures involving PB or the lateral side of the
      forefoot.

PMID- 26869500
TI  - Is it too early to move to full electronic PROM data collection?: A randomized
      controlled trial comparing PROM's after hallux valgus captured by e-mail,
      traditional mail and telephone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient reported outcome measures (PROM's) after hallux valgus
      surgery are used to rate the effectiveness as perceived by the patient. The
      interpretability of these PROM's is highly dependent on participation rate. Data
      capture method may be an important factor contributing to the response rate. We
      investigated the effect on response rate of traditional paper mail, telephone and
      e-mail PROM's after hallux valgus surgery. METHODS: All consecutive patients
      operated between January and September 2013, were identified. Included patients
      were randomized by envelope in three groups: traditional pen and paper mail, e
      mail and telephone. They were asked to fill in a FFI and EQ-5D. Two weeks later
      non-responders were sent a reminder. RESULTS: Of the 73 included patients, 25
      were approached by mail, 24 by e-mail and 24 patients by telephone. The response
      rate on traditional mail was highest (88%), while response on e-mail was lowest
      (33%). Response rate on telephone was also high (79%). Response rate on
      traditional mail and telephone was significantly higher (p<0.001) than response
      on e-mail. CONCLUSIONS: Though electronic data collection has enormous potential,
      this study shows that e-mail yields unacceptable low response rates. It is too
      early to replace traditional pen-and-paper PROM's by electronic questionnaires.

PMID- 26869501
TI  - Biomechanical evaluation of a second generation headless compression screw for
      ankle arthrodesis in a cadaver model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many types of screws, plates, and strut grafts have been utilized for
      ankle arthrodesis. Biomechanical testing has shown that these constructs can have
      variable stiffness. More recently, headless compression screws have emerged as an
      evolving method of achieving compression in various applications but there is
      limited literature regarding ankle arthrodesis. The aim of this study was to
      determine the biomechanical stability provided by a second generation fully
      threaded headless compression screw compared to a standard headed, partially
      threaded cancellous screw in a cadaveric ankle arthrodesis model. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Twenty fresh frozen human cadaver specimens were subjected to simulated
      ankle arthrodesis with either three standard cancellous-bone screws (InFix 7.3mm)
      or with three headless compression screws (Acumed Acutrak 2 7.5mm). The specimens
      were subjected to cyclic loading and unloading at a rate of 1Hz, compression of
      525 Newtons (N) and distraction of 20N for a total of 500 cycles using an
      electromechanical load frame (Instron). The amount of maximum distraction was
      recorded as well as the amount of motion that occurred through 1, 10, 50, 100,
      and 500 cycles. RESULTS: No significant difference (p=0.412) was seen in the
      amount of distraction that occurred across the fusion site for either screw. The
      average maximum distraction after 500 cycles was 201.9MUm for the Acutrak 2 screw
      and 235.4MUm for the InFix screw. No difference was seen throughout each cycle
      over time for the Acutrak 2 screw (p-value=0.988) or the InFix screw (p
      value=0.991). CONCLUSION: Both the traditional InFix type screw and the second
      generation Acumed Acutrak headless compression screws provide adequate fixation
      during ankle arthrodesis under submaximal loads. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is no
      demonstrable difference between traditional cannulated partially threaded screws
      and headless compression screws studied in this model.

PMID- 26869502
TI  - Clinical profile and surgical management of diabetic foot in Benghazi, Libya.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to outline the patterns and management of
      diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and compare our experience with other published data.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients admitted to Al-Jala Hospital with
      diabetic foot from June, 2008 to May, 2013 were reviewed retrospectively.
      RESULTS: A total of 542 patients were studied, Wagner's grade III ulcers were the
      most prevalent (31%), followed by grade II (25%). About 10% of patients underwent
      major amputations and 24.2% underwent minor amputations. The amputation rate was
      34%, and the mortality rate was 2%. CONCLUSION: Diabetic foot infections cause
      significant morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes in Benghazi.
      There is a need to establish a diabetic foot clinic in Benghazi with a
      multidisciplinary team to reduce the rates of hospital admission and amputation,
      as well as hospital stay duration.

PMID- 26869503
TI  - Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Spanish Manchester-Oxford Foot
      Questionnaire (MOXFQ) in patients with foot or ankle surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) has been validated
      in Spanish for use in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: 120
      patients completed the MOXFQ and the SF-36 before surgery and 6 and 12 months
      postoperative. Surgeons completed the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
      (AOFAS) Clinical Rating System. Psychometric properties were assessed for all
      three MOXFQ dimensions, and for the MOXFQ Index. RESULTS: The Spanish MOXFQ
      demonstrated consistency with Cronbach's alpha values between 0.65 and 0.90, and
      reliability ([ICCs] >0.95). It shows a moderate to strong correlation between the
      Walking/standing dimension and the related domains of the SF-36 (|r|>0.6), the
      AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (|r|>0.47) and Hallux-MTP-IP Scale (|r|>0.64).
      Responsiveness was excellent, (effect sizes >2.1). The respective minimal
      detectable change (MDC90) was 14.18 for the MOXFQ Index. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish
      version of the MOXFQ showed good psychometric properties in patients with foot
      and ankle disorders.

PMID- 26869504
TI  - Flexion of the foot changes tension on the anterior neurovascular bundle.

PMID- 26869506
TI  - Remnant-preserving, selective single-bundle augmentation of the anterior cruciate
      ligament using a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft: A technical note.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, there has been no detailed study on
      bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) grafts for remnant-preserving, selective-bundle
      anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) augmentation. Therefore, we aimed to develop
      such a technique using a BTB graft. METHOD: A total of five patients underwent
      surgery using the presented procedure. These patients were young, male, and with
      high body mass index, and hence required very high durability of reconstructed
      ACL. A femoral bone tunnel was created using the inside-out technique via an
      accessory far-medial portal, protecting the remnant using a probe, regardless of
      the presence of an anteromedial (AM) or posterolateral (PL) tunnel. A single
      tibial tunnel was drilled at the center of the AM or PL attachment and two
      transverse skin incisions were made in the ipsilateral knee. The central third of
      the patellar tendon attached to a patellar and tibial bone plug autograft with a
      width of seven millimeters was harvested by subcutaneous tunneling. The femoral
      side was fixed using a cortical fixation device for BTB and the tibial bone plug
      was fixed using an interference screw with the knee at an angle of 20 degrees  of
      flexion by applying maximal manual traction. RESULTS: Bone tunnel enlargement,
      which was measured by computed digital radiography, was not observed in all
      cases. A BTB autograft for remnant-preserving, selective-bundle ACL augmentation
      offers reduced risk of tunnel enlargement. CONCLUSION: The presented procedure
      might be considered one of the potentially available options for patients with
      ACL partial tear who require very high durability of reconstructed ACL. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 5.

PMID- 26869507
TI  - Successful Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection While Receiving Concurrent
      Chemotherapy for AL Amyloidosis.

PMID- 26869508
TI  - Residual force enhancement following shortening is speed-dependent.
AB  - The steady-state isometric force following active muscle shortening or
      lengthening is smaller (force depression; FD) or greater (residual force
      enhancement; RFE) than a purely isometric contraction at the corresponding
      length. The mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not explained within the
      context of the cross-bridge theory and are rarely studied in concert. Previous
      studies have shown RFE to be speed-independent. In the present study, we
      investigated if RFE preceded by active shortening is time-dependent by
      electrically evoking RFE in the human adductor pollicis muscle. The results shown
      that a slow stretch following FD fully re-established RFE compared to higher
      speeds of stretch. The mechanism(s) responsible for the recovery of RFE following
      a preceding shortening contraction (FD) might be associated with the recovery of
      cross-bridge based force and/or the re-engagement of a passive structural element
      (titin). Voluntary interaction with one's environment involves highly coordinated
      shortening and lengthening muscle contractions. Therefore comprehending these
      history-dependent muscle properties in the context of movement control is
      paramount in understanding the behavior of in vivo motor control. 

PMID- 26869505
TI  - The Sigma-1 Receptor as a Pluripotent Modulator in Living Systems.
AB  - The sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein that
      resides specifically in the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
      membrane (MAM), an interface between ER and mitochondria. In addition to being
      able to translocate to the plasma membrane (PM) to interact with ion channels and
      other receptors, Sig-1R also occurs at the nuclear envelope, where it recruits
      chromatin-remodeling factors to affect the transcription of genes. Sig-1Rs have
      also been reported to interact with other membranous or soluble proteins at other
      loci, including the cytosol, and to be involved in several central nervous system
      (CNS) diseases. Here, we propose that Sig-1R is a pluripotent modulator with
      resultant multiple functional manifestations in living systems. 

PMID- 26869509
TI  - Tessaracoccus flavus sp. nov., isolated from the drainage system of a lindane
      producing factory.
AB  - Strain RP1T, a Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, coccus-shaped
      bacterium, was isolated from drainage of India Pesticides Limited, a lindane
      producing unit situated at Chinhat, Lucknow, India. 16S rRNA gene sequence
      analysis revealed that strain RP1T belongs to the family Propionibacteriaceae and
      was closely related to the members of the genus Tessaracoccus with a similarity
      range of 95.4-97.6%. Strain RP1T was facultatively anaerobic, oxidase-negative,
      catalase-positive and capable of nitrate reduction. Strain RP1T contained
      peptidoglycan type A3gamma', with ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic
      diamino acid and glycine at position 1 of the peptide subunit. The major cellular
      fatty acid of strain RP1T was anteiso-C15 : 0 but a significant amount of iso
      C14:0 was also detected. MK-9(H4) was the major respiratory quinone and
      polyamines detected were spermine and spermidine. The polar lipids included
      diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycolipids and two
      unknown phospholipids. The G+C content of the DNA was 66.7 mol%. The levels of
      DNA-DNA relatedness between RP1T and Tessaracoccus lubricantis KSS-17SeT,
      Tessaracoccus oleiagri SL014B-20A1T and Tessaracoccus flavescens SST-39T were
      49.8, 34.8 and 23.5%, respectively. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data
      presented, strain RP1T can be differentiated from previously described species of
      the genus Tessaracoccus, and thus represents a novel species, for which the name
      Tessaracoccus flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RP1T (=DSM
      100159T=MCC 2769T=KCTC 39686T).

PMID- 26869510
TI  - Effects of forage offering method on performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient
      digestibility and nutritional behaviour in Holstein dairy calves.
AB  - The potential effect of dietary forage supplementation on the performance and
      rumen development in dairy calves is well established. However, limited research
      has been directed to the comparative effects of forage offering methods on calf
      performance. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of
      forage provision methods (total mixed ration or free choice) on the performance,
      nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and nutritional behaviour in newborn
      calves. Forty-five Holstein dairy calves (3 days of age and 41 +/- 2 kg of body
      weight) were assigned to the following three groups (n = 15): (i) starter without
      forage provision (CON), (ii) starter supplemented with 10% alfalfa hay (AH) as a
      total mixed ration (AH-TMR) and (iii) starter and AH as a free-choice provision
      (AH-FC) for a period of 70 days. All the calves were offered 5 l of milk/day from
      day 3 to 50, and 2.5 l/day from day 50 until weaning on day 56. Dry matter intake
      (DMI) was greater (p < 0.01) in the AH-TMR and AH-FC treatments than in the CON
      during the pre- and post-weaning periods. Calves fed the AH-FC diet showed the
      highest post-weaning DMI among the treatments. The calves receiving ad libitum
      forage tended (p = 0.08) to increase crude protein digestibility and overall
      volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations in the rumen. No differences were
      observed among the treatments at the time spent on standing, lying, eating and
      performing non-nutritive oral behaviours. Compared to CON calves, animals in the
      AH-TMR treatment spent more time (p < 0.05) ruminating. In conclusion, our data
      suggest that forage supplementation in both forage offering methods increased
      total DMI, ruminal pH and ruminating time in dairy calves. Hence, there is no
      benefit in the free-choice provision of AH in dairy calves. 

PMID- 26869511
TI  - Large-scale proteome analysis of abscisic acid and ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3
      dependent proteins related to desiccation tolerance in Physcomitrella patens.
AB  - Desiccation tolerance is an ancestral feature of land plants and is still
      retained in non-vascular plants such as bryophytes and some vascular plants.
      However, except for seeds and spores, this trait is absent in vegetative tissues
      of vascular plants. Although many studies have focused on understanding the
      molecular basis underlying desiccation tolerance using transcriptome and proteome
      approaches, the critical molecular differences between desiccation tolerant
      plants and non-desiccation plants are still not clear. The moss Physcomitrella
      patens cannot survive rapid desiccation under laboratory conditions, but if cells
      of the protonemata are treated by the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) prior to
      desiccation, it can survive 24 h exposure to desiccation and regrow after
      rehydration. The desiccation tolerance induced by ABA (AiDT) is specific to this
      hormone, but also depends on a plant transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID
      INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3). Here we report the comparative proteomic analysis of AiDT
      between wild type and ABI3 deleted mutant (Deltaabi3) of P. patens using iTRAQ
      (Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification). From a total of 1980
      unique proteins that we identified, only 16 proteins are significantly altered in
      Deltaabi3 compared to wild type after desiccation following ABA treatment. Among
      this group, three of the four proteins that were severely affected in Deltaabi3
      tissue were Arabidopsis orthologous genes, which were expressed in maturing seeds
      under the regulation of ABI3. These included a Group 1 late embryogenesis
      abundant (LEA) protein, a short-chain dehydrogenase, and a desiccation-related
      protein. Our results suggest that at least three of these proteins expressed in
      desiccation tolerant cells of both Arabidopsis and the moss are very likely to
      play important roles in acquisition of desiccation tolerance in land plants.
      Furthermore, our results suggest that the regulatory machinery of ABA- and ABI3
      mediated gene expression for desiccation tolerance might have evolved in
      ancestral land plants before the separation of bryophytes and vascular plants. 

PMID- 26869512
TI  - Genome-wide survey of Aux/IAA gene family members in potato (Solanum tuberosum):
      Identification, expression analysis, and evaluation of their roles in tuber
      development.
AB  - The Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) genes encode short-lived nuclear
      proteins that are known to be involved in the primary cellular responses to
      auxin. To date, systematic analysis of the Aux/IAA genes in potato (Solanum
      tuberosum) has not been conducted. In this study, a total of 26 potato Aux/IAA
      genes were identified (designated from StIAA1 to StIAA26), and the distribution
      of four conserved domains shared by the StIAAs were analyzed based on multiple
      sequence alignment and a motif-based sequence analysis. A phylogenetic analysis
      of the Aux/IAA gene families of potato and Arabidopsis was also conducted. In
      order to assess the roles of StIAA genes in tuber development, the results of RNA
      seq studies were reformatted to analyze the expression patterns of StIAA genes,
      and then verified by quantitative real-time PCR. A large number of StIAA genes
      (12 genes) were highly expressed in stolon organs and in during the tuber
      initiation and expansion developmental stages, and most of these genes were
      responsive to indoleacetic acid treatment. Our results suggested that StIAA genes
      were involved in the process of tuber development and provided insights into
      functional roles of potato Aux/IAA genes. 

PMID- 26869513
TI  - In vivo effects of diabetes, insulin and oleanolic acid on enzymes of glycogen
      metabolism in the skin of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley
      rats.
AB  - The skin is the largest organ in the body and diabetes induces pathologic changes
      on the skin that affect glucose homeostasis. Changes in skin glycogen and glucose
      levels can mirror serum glucose levels and thus the skin might contribute to
      whole body glucose metabolism. This study investigated the in vivo effects of
      diabetes, insulin and oleanolic acid (OA) on enzymes of glycogen metabolism in
      skin of type 1 diabetic rats. Diabetic and non-diabetic adult male Sprague-Dawley
      rats were treated with a single daily dose of insulin (4 IU/kg body weight), OA
      (80 mg/kg body weight) and a combination of OA + insulin for 14 days. Glycogen
      phosphorylase (GP) expression; and GP, glycogen synthase (GS) and hexokinase
      activities as well glycogen levels were evaluated. The results suggest that
      diabetes lowers hexokinase activity, GP activity and GP expression with no change
      in GS activity whilst the treatments increased GP expression and the activities
      of hexokinase, GP and GS except for the GS activity in OA treated rats. Glycogen
      levels were increased slightly by diabetes as well as OA treatment. In conclusion
      diabetes, OA and insulin can lead to changes in GS and GP activities in skin
      without significantly altering the glycogen content. We suggest that the skin may
      contribute to whole body glucose homeostasis particularly in disease states. 

PMID- 26869514
TI  - Transferrin receptor regulates pancreatic cancer growth by modulating
      mitochondrial respiration and ROS generation.
AB  - The transferrin receptor (TfR1) is upregulated in malignant cells and its
      expression is associated with cancer progression. Because of its pre-eminent role
      in cell proliferation, TfR1 has been an important target for the development of
      cancer therapy. Although TfR1 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancers, what it
      carries out in these refractory cancers remains poorly understood. Here we report
      that TfR1 supports mitochondrial respiration and ROS production in human
      pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, which is required for their
      tumorigenic growth. Elevated TfR1 expression in PDAC cells contributes to
      oxidative phosphorylation, which allows for the generation of ROS. Importantly,
      mitochondrial-derived ROS are essential for PDAC growth. However, exogenous iron
      supplement cannot rescue the defects caused by TfR1 knockdown. Moreover, we found
      that TfR1 expression determines PDAC cells sensitivity to oxidative stress.
      Together, our findings reveal that TfR1 can contribute to the mitochondrial
      respiration and ROS production, which have essential roles in growth and survival
      of pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26869515
TI  - Ethyl-2, 5-dihydroxybenzoate displays dual activity by promoting osteoblast
      differentiation and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.
AB  - The interplay between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts is
      essential for balanced bone remodeling. In this study, we evaluate the ability of
      ethyl-2, 5-dihyrdoxybenzoate (E-2, 5-DHB) to affect both osteoblast and
      osteoclast differentiation for bone regeneration. Osteogenic differentiation of
      human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was quantified by measuring alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition. To evaluate osteoclast
      differentiation, we investigated the effect of E-2, 5-DHB on RANKL-activated
      osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells. E-2, 5-DHB enhanced ALP activity and
      inhibited RAW 264.7 cell osteoclastogenesis in vitro. To assess the in vivo
      activity of E-2, 5-DHB, hMSCs were delivered subcutaneosuly alone or in
      combination with E-2, 5-DHB in an alginate gel into the backs of nude-mice.
      Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation showed significantly higher
      calcium deposition in the E-2, 5-DHB group. Osteocalcin (OCN) was highly
      expressed in cells implanted in the gels containing E-2, 5-DHB. Our results
      suggest that E-2, 5-DHB can effectively enhance osteoblast differentiation and
      inhibit osteoclast differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. Understanding the
      dual function of E-2, 5-DHB on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation will aid
      in future development of E-2, 5-DHB as a material for bone tissue engineering. 

PMID- 26869517
TI  - Cancer drug troglitazone stimulates the growth and response of renal cells to
      hypoxia inducible factors.
AB  - Troglitazone has been used to suppress the growth of a number of tumors through
      apoptosis and autophagy. However, previous in vitro studies have employed very
      high concentrations of troglitazone (>=10(-5) M) in order to elicit growth
      inhibitory effects. In this report, when employing lower concentrations of
      troglitazone in defined medium, troglitazone was observed to stimulate the growth
      of primary renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells. Rosiglitazone, like troglitazone,
      is a thiazolidinedione (TZD) that is known to activate Peroxisome Proliferator
      Activated Receptor Upsilon (PPARUpsilon). Notably, rosiglitazone also stimulates
      RPT cell growth, as does Upsilon-linolenic acids, another PPARUpsilon agonist.
      The PPARUpsilon antagonist GW9662 inhibited the growth stimulatory effect of
      troglitazone. In addition, troglitazone stimulated transcription by a PPAR
      Response Element/Luciferase construct. These results are consistent with the
      involvement of PPARUpsilon as a mediator of the growth stimulatory effect of
      troglitazone. In a number of tumor cells, the expression of hypoxia inducible
      factor (HIF) is increased, promoting the expression of HIF inducible genes, and
      vascularization. Troglitazone was observed to stimulate transcription by a
      HIF/luciferase construct. These observations indicate that troglitazone not only
      promotes growth, also the survival of RPT cells under conditions of hypoxia. 

PMID- 26869516
TI  - Recognition of alternatively spliced cassette exons based on a hybrid model.
AB  - Alternative splicing (AS) is an important mechanism of gene regulation that
      contributes to protein diversity. It is of great significance to recognize
      different kinds of AS accurately so as to understand the mechanism of gene
      regulation. Many in silico methods have been applied to detecting AS with vast
      features, but the result is far from satisfactory. In this paper, we used the
      features proven to be useful in recognizing AS in previous literature and
      proposed a hybrid method combining Gene Expression Programming (GEP) and Random
      Forests (RF) to classify the constitutive exons and cassette exons which is the
      most common AS phenomenon. GEP will firstly make prediction to the samples of
      strong signal, and the other samples of weak signal will be distinguished with a
      more complex classifier based on RF. The experiment result indicates that this
      method can highly improve the recognition level in this issue. 

PMID- 26869518
TI  - Advances made in resuscitation: current status.

PMID- 26869519
TI  - Patterns of surgical presentation at an African regional referral hospital:
      surveillance as a step towards improving access to care.
AB  - PURPOSE: Surgical disease is being increasingly recognized as a significant
      health burden in Africa. Efforts have been made to describe surgical disease and
      capacity at the district hospital level. Little is known about patterns seen at
      regional hospitals supporting the district hospital network. METHODS: This
      retrospective study was conducted at Uganda's Soroti Regional Referral Hospital,
      serving eight districts. Data were collected from July 2010 to March 2012 using
      operative and inpatient records as available. Univariate and bivariate analyses
      were performed to explore patterns of procedures performed and in-patient
      diagnoses. RESULTS: There were 8511 procedures recorded in the operative log
      between July 2010 and June 2011, averaging 709 per month. Caesarian sections (41
      %), dilation and evacuations (28 %), and laparotomies (19 %) were most frequent.
      Referrals to Soroti averaged 260 per month, while transfers out averaged 5
      patients per month. Inpatient records documented 2949 surgically related
      diagnoses between July 2010 and May 2011. In patients >4 years old, 21 % of
      mortality was due to surgical disease, 29 % of which was trauma-related. Women
      comprised 80 % of violent injury. Common hospital record elements, such as
      demographic data, important clinical information, and operative notes were absent
      from these data sources. CONCLUSIONS: The World Health Assembly recently
      recognized strengthening of first referral hospitals as a crucial element to
      achieving universal health coverage. Inconsistencies in recordkeeping despite the
      large volume of surgical disease suggest that sustainable surveillance systems
      and capacity building at the referral hospital level are potential building
      blocks to improving access to surgical care.

PMID- 26869520
TI  - Impacts of manure application on soil environment, rainfall use efficiency and
      crop biomass under dryland farming.
AB  - Because of inadequate nutrient and water supply, soils are often unproductive in
      Northwest China. We studied the effects of manure application at low (LM 7.5  t
      ha(-1)), medium (MM 15 t ha(-1)), and high (HM 22.5 t ha(-1)) rates combined with
      fixed levels of chemical fertilizers on maize growth and rainfall use efficiency
      compared with chemical fertilizers (CK) under semi-arid conditions over a three
      year period. HM and MM treatments could significantly increase soil water storage
      (0-120 cm) at tasseling stage of maize compared with LM treatment and CK (P <
      0.05). Dry matter accumulation and rainfall use efficiency increased as manure
      application rate increasing (P < 0.05). HM treatment significantly increased
      rainfall use efficiency by 6.5-12.7% at big trumpeting - tasseling stage compared
      with LM and MM treatments. HM and MM treatments increased rainfall use efficiency
      by 8.6-18.1% at tasseling - grain filling stage compared with CK. There was no
      significant difference on biomass between HM and MM treatments at grain filling
      and maturity stages of maize in 2009 and 2010.

PMID- 26869521
TI  - Spondylodiscitis.
AB  - Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the spine that has been known since ancient
      times. Its incidence is rising, due to the increases in life expectancy and
      debilitating conditions. Its age distribution is bimodal, affecting persons
      younger than 20 years of age or persons aged 50-70 years. According to its
      origin, it is classified as pyogenic, granulomatous or parasitic, though the
      first form is the most common, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus or
      Escherichia coli. The clinical presentation is insidious, resulting in a delayed
      diagnosis, particularly in tuberculous spondylodiscitis. The initial onset
      usually involves inflammatory back pain, though the disease may course with
      fever, asthenia and neurological deficit, these being the most severe
      complications. Diagnosis is based on clinical, radiological, laboratory,
      microbiological and histopathological data. Magnetic resonance imaging is the
      technique of choice for the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis. The differential
      diagnosis involves, among other conditions, intervertebral erosive
      osteochondrosis, tumour, axial spondyloarthropathy, haemodialysis
      spondyloarthropathy, Modic type 1 endplate changes and Charcot's axial
      neuroarthropathy. Treatment is based on eliminating the infection with
      antibiotics, preventing spinal instability with vertebral fixation, and ample
      debridement of infected tissue to obtain samples for analysis. 

PMID- 26869522
TI  - Case of ovarian hyperstimulation and oocyte pick-up during very early period of
      unnoticed pregnancy followed by ongoing normal pregnancy.
AB  - We report a case of unnoticed pregnancy that was maintained during low estrogen
      and progesterone circumstances, that showed menses-like bleeding, and was then
      discovered after ovarian hyperstimulation during the next period. The patient was
      39 years old and primigravid. She underwent intrauterine insemination, followed
      by luteal support with human chorionic gonadotrophin and progestin; however, she
      experienced menstruation-like bleeding 15 days later. As low estradiol and
      progesterone levels were confirmed on the 2nd day of bleeding, ovarian
      hyperstimulation of short protocol for in vitro fertilization was commenced.
      Although 13 mature follicles were observed, only six oocytes were retrieved and
      one developed into a blastocyst. Four days after oocyte pick-up, a gestational
      sac was seen in utero. The fetus is currently growing uneventfully. This case
      suggests that pregnancy can be maintained during ovarian hyperstimulation, even
      if menstruation-like bleeding is shown in low-progesterone circumstances. 

PMID- 26869523
TI  - Aspirin-Triggered Resolvin D1 Inhibits TGF-beta1-Induced EndMT through Increasing
      the Expression of Smad7 and Is Closely Related to Oxidative Stress.
AB  - The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to be involved in the
      transformation of vascular endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EndMT has been
      confirmedthat occur in various pathologic conditions. Transforming growth factor
      beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent stimulator of the vascular endothelial to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (ATRvD1) has been
      known to be involved in the resolution of inflammation,but whether it has effects
      on TGF-beta1-induced EndMT is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the
      effects of AT-RvD1 on the EndMT of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial
      cells line (HUVECs). Treatment with TGF-beta1 reduced the expression of Nrf2 and
      enhanced the level of F-actin, which is associated with paracellular
      permeability. The expression of endothelial marker VE-cadherin in HUVEC cells was
      reduced, and the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin was enhanced. AT-RvD1
      restored the expression of Nrf2 and vimentin and enhanced the expression of VE
      cadherin. AT-RvD1 did also affect the migration of HUVEC cells. Inhibitory kappaB
      kinase 16 (IKK 16), which is known to inhibit the NF-kB pathway, had an ability
      to increase the expression of Nrf2 and was associated with the inhibition effect
      of AT-RvD1 on TGF-beta1-induced EndMT, but it had no effect on TGF-beta1-induced
      EndMT alone. Smad7, which is a key regulator of TGF-beta/Smads signaling by
      negative feedback loops, was significantlyincreased with the treatment of AT
      RvD1. These results suggest the possibility that AT-RvD1 suppresses the TGF-beta1
      induced EndMT through increasing the expression of Smad7 and is closely related
      to oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26869524
TI  - Long-Duration Three-Dimensional Spheroid Culture Promotes Angiogenic Activities
      of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer significant therapeutic promise for various
      regenerative therapies. However, MSC-based therapy for injury exhibits low
      efficacy due to the pathological environment in target tissues and the
      differences between in vitro and in vivo conditions. To address this issue, we
      developed adipose-derived MSC spheroids as a novel delivery method to preserve
      the stem cell microenvironment. MSC spheroids were generated by suspension
      culture for 3 days, and their sizes increased in a time-dependent manner. After
      re-attachment of MSC spheroids to the plastic dish, their adhesion capacity and
      morphology were not altered. MSC spheroids showed enhanced production of hypoxia
      induced angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),
      stromal cell derived factor (SDF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In
      addition, spheroid culture promoted the preservation of extracellular matrix
      (ECM) components, such as laminin and fibronectin, in a culture time- and
      spheroid size-dependent manner. Furthermore, phosphorylation of AKT, a cell
      survival signal, was significantly higher and the expression of pro-apoptotic
      molecules, poly (ADP ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and cleaved caspase-3, was
      markedly lower in the spheroids than in MSCs in monolayers. In the murine
      hindlimb ischemia model, transplanted MSC spheroids showed better proliferation
      than MSCs in monolayer. These findings suggest that MSC spheroids promote MSC
      bioactivities via secretion of angiogenic cytokines, preservation of ECM
      components, and regulation of apoptotic signals. Therefore, MSC spheroid-based
      cell therapy may serve as a simple and effective strategy for regenerative
      medicine. 

PMID- 26869525
TI  - iRhoms; Its Functions and Essential Roles.
AB  - In Drosophila, rhomboid proteases are active cardinal regulators of epidermal
      growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. iRhom1 and iRhom2, which are
      inactive homologs of rhomboid intramembrane serine proteases, are lacking
      essential catalytic residues. These are necessary for maturation and
      traffickingof tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) converting enzyme (TACE)
      from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to plasma membrane through Golgi, and associated
      with the fates of various ligands for EGFR. Recent studies have clarifiedthat the
      activation or downregulation of EGFR signaling pathways by alteration of iRhoms
      are connected to several human diseases including tylosis with esophageal cancer
      (TOC) which is the autosomal dominant syndrom, breast cancer, and Alzheimer's
      disease. Thus, this review focuses on our understanding of iRhoms and the
      involved mechanisms in the cellular processes. 

PMID- 26869526
TI  - Changes of immunogenic profiles between a single dose and one booster influenza
      vaccination in hemodialysis patients - an 18-week, open-label trial.
AB  - Annual influenza vaccination is recommended, but its efficacy in dialysis
      population is still controversial. Here we aimed to compare the dynamic changes
      of immune response between various influenza vaccination protocols in
      hemodialysis patients. A 18-week open label, non-randomized, controlled trial was
      conducted during 2011-2012. The efficacy between unvaccinated, one- and two-dose
      regimens were evaluated in 175 hemodialysis patients. Immunogenic profiles were
      assessed by hemagglutination-inhibition assays. At 3-9 weeks post-vaccination,
      antibody responses were similar between the one- and two-dose regimens, while the
      seroprotection rates (antibody titer >=1:40) for influenza A were 55.6-82.5% in
      the adult (18-60 years) and 33.3-66.7% in the elderly (>60 years). Meanwhile, the
      seroprotection rates for influenza B were low (4.0-25.0%). By 18 weeks post
      vaccination, the seroprotection rates for influenza A and B declined (0.0-33.3%)
      in both the adult and elderly receiving one- or two-dose regimens. Of dialysis
      patients, at most 2.4% developed moderate to severe adverse effects(myalgia and
      headache) after vaccination. In conclusion, the two-dose regimen could not
      improve immune responses than the one-dose regimen in hemodialysis patients;
      meanwhile the induced protective antibodies of both regimens could not be
      maintained for more than 4 months. Modification of current influenza vaccination
      strategy in dialysis population should be re-considered. 

PMID- 26869527
TI  - The cognitive reserve theory in the setting of pediatric-onset multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study of cognitive reserve (CR) in relationship with cognitive
      impairment (CI) in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) may provide cues to
      identifying subjects at higher risk of impairment and scope for therapeutic
      strategies. OBJECTIVES: To assess the potential impact of CR on cognition in a
      cohort of POMS patients. METHODS: In all, 48 POMS patients were followed up for
      4.7 +/- 0.4 years. CI was defined as the failure of ?3 tests on an extensive
      neuropsychological battery. Change of neuropsychological performance was assessed
      through the Reliable Change Index (RCI) method. At baseline, CR was estimated by
      measuring the intelligence quotient (IQ). The relationships were assessed through
      multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: At baseline, CI was detected in 14/48
      (29.2%) patients. Two out of 57 healthy control (HC; 3.5%) met the same criteria
      of CI (p < 0.001). A deteriorating cognitive performance using the RCI method was
      observed in 18/48 patients (37.6%). Among the 34 cases who were cognitively
      preserved at baseline, a higher reserve predicted stable/improving performance
      (odds ratio (OR) = 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.20; p = 0.006).
      CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that higher CR in POMS patients may protect from
      CI, particularly in subjects with initial cognitive preservation, providing
      relevant implications for counseling and rehabilitation strategies.

PMID- 26869528
TI  - False positivity of anti aquaporin-4 antibodies in natalizumab-treated patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) represent a
      differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Detection of anti-aquaporin-4
      antibodies (AQP4-Ab) is the strongest argument to confirm NMOSD. Diagnosing NMOSD
      is a major concern because specific MS disease modifying drugs can lead to
      neurological worsening. OBJECTIVE: To report the case of two natalizumab (NTZ)
      treated patients who presented a false positive result for AQP4-Ab. METHODS: A
      retrospective analysis of NTZ-treated patients who were tested positive for AQP4
      Ab in our MS center. RESULTS: Two patients treated by NTZ presented a false
      positive result. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of potential technical
      issues in detecting AQP4-Ab in NTZ-treated patients leading to false positive
      results.

PMID- 26869529
TI  - Screening for MOG-IgG and 27 other anti-glial and anti-neuronal autoantibodies in
      'pattern II multiple sclerosis' and brain biopsy findings in a MOG-IgG-positive
      case.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Histopathological studies have revealed four different
      immunopathological patterns of lesion pathology in early multiple sclerosis (MS).
      Pattern II MS is characterised by immunoglobulin and complement deposition in
      addition to T-cell and macrophage infiltration and is more likely to respond to
      plasma exchange therapy, suggesting a contribution of autoantibodies. OBJECTIVE:
      To assess the frequency of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), anti
      M1-aquaporin-4 (AQP4), anti-M23-AQP4, anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate
      receptors (NMDAR) and 25 other anti-neural antibodies in pattern II MS. METHODS:
      Thirty-nine serum samples from patients with MS who had undergone brain biopsy (n
      = 24; including 13 from patients with pattern II MS) and from histopathologically
      non-classified MS patients (n = 15) were tested for anti-MOG, anti-M1-AQP4, anti
      M23-AQP4, anti-NMDAR, anti-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic
      acid receptor-type glutamate receptors (AMPAR), anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid
      receptors (GABABR), anti-leucine-rich, glioma-activated protein 1 (LGI1), anti
      contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2), anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein-6
      (DPPX), anti-Tr/Delta/notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor (DNER),
      anti-Hu, anti-Yo, anti-Ri, anti-Ma1/Ma2, anti-CV2/collapsin response mediator
      protein 5 (CRMP5), anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), anti-amphiphysin, anti
      Ca/RhoGTPase-activating protein 26 (ARHGAP26), anti-Sj/inositol-1,4,5
      trisphosphate receptor 1 (ITPR1), anti-Homer3, anti-carbonic anhydrase-related
      protein (CARPVIII), anti-protein kinase gamma (PKCgamma), anti-glutamate receptor
      delta 2 (GluRdelta2), anti-metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) and anti
      mGluR5, as well as for anti-glial nuclei antibodies (AGNA) and Purkinje cell
      antibody 2 (PCA2). RESULTS: Antibodies to MOG belonging to the complement
      activating immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) subclass were detected in a patient with
      pattern II MS. Detailed brain biopsy findings are shown. CONCLUSION: This is the
      largest study on established anti-neural antibodies performed in MS so far. MOG
      IgG may play a role in a small percentage of patients diagnosed with pattern II
      MS.

PMID- 26869530
TI  - Children with multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis and antibodies to the
      myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG): Extending the spectrum of MOG antibody
      positive diseases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies have been
      described in children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), recurrent
      optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and more recently in
      children with multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis (MDEM). OBJECTIVE: To
      delineate the clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and radiological features of
      paediatric MDEM with MOG antibodies. METHODS: Clinical course, serum antibodies,
      CSF, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and outcome of paediatric MDEM
      patients were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 8 children with two or more episodes
      of ADEM were identified from a cohort of 295 children with acute demyelinating
      events. All children had persisting MOG antibodies (median titre: 1:1280). All
      ADEM episodes included encephalopathy, polyfocal neurological signs and a typical
      MRI. Apart from ADEM episodes, three children had further clinical attacks
      without encephalopathy. Median age at initial presentation was 3 years (range: 1
      7 years) and median follow-up 4 years (range: 1-8 years). New ADEM episodes were
      associated with new neurological signs and new MRI lesions. Clinical outcome did
      range from normal (four of the eight) to mild or moderate impairment (four of the
      eight). A total of four children received monthly immunoglobulin treatment during
      the disease course. CONCLUSION: Children with MDEM and persisting MOG antibodies
      constitute a distinct entity of relapsing demyelinating events and extend the
      spectrum of MOG antibody-associated diseases.

PMID- 26869531
TI  - The relationship of age with the clinical phenotype in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical course and relapses frequency
      before progression vary widely. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of age on
      the MS phenotype. METHODS: Among 751 primary progressive (PP = 217) and secondary
      progressive (SP = 534) MS patients from the London Ontario database, we assessed
      the relationship of age on the relapse frequency and on the progressive phase
      evolution, and the impact of relapses on the age at onset of progression.
      RESULTS: Age at onset did not influence the early attacks frequency, but patients
      younger at onset had larger number of total attacks before progression (age =
      27.4, 31.0 and 32.8 mean years; ?4, 2-3 and 1 relapses, respectively) and longer
      latency to SP. Although frequent early relapses predicted younger age at SP
      onset, patients with no attacks (primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)),
      or 1, 2-3 and ?4 relapses during the relapsing-remitting phase started
      progressing at similar age (38.6, 41.3, 41.4 and 39.2 mean years, respectively).
      The age at onset of progressive phase did not affect its evolution. CONCLUSIONS:
      Age strongly influences the phenotype before progression. Relapsing-remitting
      patients younger at onset are more likely to display a predominantly inflammatory
      course, yet relapses number does not affect the age at onset of progression.

PMID- 26869532
TI  - Dengue and chikungunya seroprevalence in Gabonese infants prior to major
      outbreaks in 2007 and 2010: A sero-epidemiological study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Apart from outbreak reports, little is known about the endemicity of
      dengue and chikungunya virus in African countries. We investigated serum samples
      collected in Gabon before major outbreaks in 2007 and 2010 in order to identify
      pre-outbreak-circulation of both viruses. METHODS: Serum samples from Gabonese
      infants (162) were analyzed at 3, 9, 15 and 30 months of age by commercial ELISA
      for dengue and chikungunya IgG-antibodies. If samples were positive medical
      records of participants were analyzed for symptoms concordant with dengue and
      chikungunya infections during the time period of assumed seroconversion. RESULTS:
      IgG-antibodies against dengue were found in 12.3%, and IgG-antibodies against
      chikungunya in 0.6% of infants tested. Using the four measuring time points, we
      estimated corresponding incidences of 51/1.000 person-years and 2.5/1.000 person
      years, respectively. Symptoms in positive-tested infants were mostly non
      specific. CONCLUSION: Seropositivity suggests that both viruses circulated before
      the well-noticed outbreaks. Clinical diagnosis of dengue and chikungunya is
      difficult especially in infants, underscoring the need for accurate and reliable
      diagnostic tests as well as awareness of medical personnel. CLINICAL TRIALS
      REGISTRATION: NCT00167843.

PMID- 26869533
TI  - Diagnosis of arboviral infections--A quagmire of cross reactions and
      complexities.

PMID- 26869534
TI  - Grading of follicular lymphoma in cytological samples.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) depends on its grade. The
      current World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 Classification of Tumours of
      Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues recommends the grading of FL on histological
      samples according to the Mann and Berard method, taking into consideration the
      number of centroblasts. There is no generally accepted method for the grading of
      FL in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples. The aim of the present study
      was to devise a grading system for FL in cytological samples. METHODS: Flow
      cytometry (FC) was performed on 60 FNAB samples of patients with primary FL. We
      assumed that FL cells larger than reactive T lymphocytes on FC histograms
      corresponded to centroblasts. The percentage of large cells was calculated and
      compared with histological grade, proliferative activity and number of
      centroblasts per high-power field (HPF) on histological slides, and with
      survival. RESULTS: The histological analysis of lymph nodes revealed 20 patients
      with high-grade and 40 patients with low-grade FL. The percentage of large cells
      in FNAB samples correlated significantly with histological grade (P = 0.02), MIB1
      status (P < 0.001) and the number of centroblasts per HPF (P < 0.001). An age
      over 60 years and a percentage of large cells over 50% in FNAB samples were found
      to have a statistically significant impact on survival by univariate analysis (P
      = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of large
      lymphoma cells in FNAB samples of FL determined by FC can be used as a reliable
      method for FL grading, as it is comparable with the histological grading system.

PMID- 26869535
TI  - The effectiveness of e-learning in pediatric medical student education.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electronic learning allows individualized education and may improve
      student performance. This study assessed the impact of e-modules about infection
      control and congenital infections on medical knowledge. METHODS: A descriptive
      study was conducted involving third-year medical students on pediatric clerkship.
      e-Module content in three different formats was developed: a text monograph, a
      PowerPoint presentation, and a narrated PowerPoint lecture. Students' use of the
      e-modules was tracked, as was participation in the infectious disease rotation
      and the order of pediatric rotation. Pre- and posttests specific to the e-module
      content and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) pediatric exam scores were
      recorded. RESULTS: Among 67 participants, 63% of them visited at least one e
      module. Neither accessing any e-modules, timing of pediatric clerkship, nor
      assignment to ID rotation resulted in improved posttest nor NBME scores. Seventy
      percent of students rated the e-modules as satisfactory and reported usage
      improved their confidence with the congenital infections topic. DISCUSSION: e
      Modules did not improve student performance on NBME or posttest; however, they
      were perceived as satisfactory and to have improved confidence among those who
      used them. This study underscores the importance of formally evaluating
      electronic and other innovative curricula when implemented within existing
      medical education frameworks.

PMID- 26869536
TI  - Protein function prediction based on data fusion and functional
      interrelationship.
AB  - One of the challenging tasks of bioinformatics is to predict more accurate and
      confident protein functions from genomics and proteomics datasets. Computational
      approaches use a variety of high throughput experimental data, such as protein
      protein interaction (PPI), protein sequences and phylogenetic profiles, to
      predict protein functions. This paper presents a method that uses transductive
      multi-label learning algorithm by integrating multiple data sources for
      classification. Multiple proteomics datasets are integrated to make inferences
      about functions of unknown proteins and use a directed bi-relational graph to
      assign labels to unannotated proteins. Our method, bi-relational graph based
      transductive multi-label function annotation (Bi-TMF) uses functional correlation
      and topological PPI network properties on both the training and testing datasets
      to predict protein functions through data fusion of the individual kernel result.
      The main purpose of our proposed method is to enhance the performance of
      classifier integration for protein function prediction algorithms. Experimental
      results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of Bi-TMF on multi-sources
      datasets in yeast, human and mouse benchmarks. Bi-TMF outperforms other recently
      proposed methods. 

PMID- 26869537
TI  - Domino effect: An unusual case of six fatal hydrogen sulfide poisonings in quick
      succession.
AB  - Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the most serious toxic gases encountered in
      forensic practice. Aside from being a by-product of many industrial processes,
      this gas is naturally produced during the putrefaction of organic substances. We
      report six autopsy cases of fatal H2S poisonings from inhalation of H2S gas after
      an occupational accident. These six men died during the unblocking of a
      wastewater cistern. The first worker died shortly after clearing the obstruction,
      the other five died, one by one, as they attempted to help their colleagues. The
      macroscopic and histological findings are discussed here to provide useful
      information for future cases. Greenish discoloration of the skin and of internal
      organs (liver, trachea, esophagus, stomach) was observed, and one case showed
      signs typical of drowning. We present a very unusual incident, complete with rare
      photographs and toxicological analysis. In these cases, based on both macroscopic
      and microscopic findings, the cause of death was most likely an inhibitory effect
      on cellular cytochrome oxidase causing respiratory failure. 

PMID- 26869540
TI  - Ectopic pregnancy in an undescended fallopian tube: a diagnostic challenge.
AB  - Uterine malformations are the most frequent anomalies of the Mullerian ducts, but
      undescended ovaries and fallopian tubes are very rare congenital defects.
      Pregnancy in these misplaced organs may occur, frequently posing a diagnostic
      challenge. A case of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy in an undescended fallopian
      tube associated with other genital malformations is presented. This case provides
      evidence for the recognised phenomenon of peritoneal gametes or embryo
      transmigration. 

PMID- 26869541
TI  - Influence of Eyelid Pressure on Fluorescein Staining of Ocular Surface in Dry
      Eyes.

PMID- 26869542
TI  - Documenting the indigenous knowledge on medicinal flora from communities residing
      near Swat River (Suvastu) and in high mountainous areas in Swat-Pakistan.
AB  - AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge
      on medicinal flora from the local communities residing near Swat River and high
      mountainous areas in Swat, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Field study was
      carried out in 2013-14. The area was visited 17 times, and semi-structured and
      open-ended interviews were conducted in both the plain area nearby the Swat River
      (4 villages) and mountains (7 villages). A total of 83 erudite informants
      participated in the interviews with their prior consent. The collected data were
      analysed through quantitative indices viz., medicinal use value (MUV), relative
      frequency citation (RFC), family use value (FUV), informant consensus factor
      (ICF) and fidelity level (FL). RESULTS: A total of 78 species belonging to 45
      vascular plant families were documented as medicinally important. Lamiaceae was
      observed the dominant medicinal plant family with 11 species, leaf was the most
      used part, and powder the most preferred preparation type. Maximum MUV (1) was
      shared by 15 species while maximum RFC (0.385) was demonstrated by both Brassica
      juncea and Lepidium sativum. Smaller families with mostly 1 species showed higher
      FUV while among the larger families Amaryllidaceae and Papaveraceae showed
      maximum FUV of 0.89 and 0.87, respectively. Highest FL was shown by Mentha
      arvensis (70%) against gastrointestinal diseases. Highest ICF was demonstrated by
      hepatic disorders (0.93). Furthermore, we revealed 108 indigenous herbal
      medicinal recipes, 6 plants added to the medicinal plant trade list, 1 species
      (Vincetoxicum arnottianum) reported for the first time as medicinal plant, and
      several new uses for 49 well known medicinal plants. CONCLUSION: The present
      survey documents diverse plant species that are utilised by local communities for
      treating a broad spectrum of disorders. Quantitative indices helped in marking
      important and most preferred plants. To conclude, we recommend the plants for
      pharmacological studies, documenting new uses, especially Vincetoxicum
      arnottianum, never screened before.

PMID- 26869543
TI  - Isolated flavonoids from Ficus racemosa stem bark possess antidiabetic,
      hypolipidemic and protective effects in albino Wistar rats.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ficus racemosa (FR) has been used for thousands
      of years in Ayurvedic system of medicine in India and is closely associated with
      prevention, treatment and cure of various human ailments like obesity and
      diabetes. It is popularly known as gular. A vast and wide range of chemical
      compounds like polyphenols, friedelane-type triterpenes, norfriedelane type
      triterpene, eudesmane-type sesquiterpene including various glycosides had been
      isolated from this plant. However, no detail studies related to isolation of
      flavonoids has been reported previously with their antidiabetic, hypolipidemic
      and toxicological consequences. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was
      undertaken to evaluate antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and toxicological assessments
      of flavonoids isolated from Ficus racemosa (FR) stem bark. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      We isolated four flavonoids from stem bark of FR and structures were confirmed by
      Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (both 1D and 2D),
      mass spectroscopy (MS). Later, these flavonoids were administered to
      streptozotocin (STZ) rats once in a day for a period of seven days at 100mg/kg
      dose. We measured blood glucose level and body weight changes at different days
      (1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days). Serum lipid profiles were also estimated to
      investigate the hypolipidemic potential of flavonoids in the similar experiment.
      Various oxidative stress parameters in pancreas and liver and hepatic biomarker
      enzymes in plasma were also determined to investigate the toxicity potential of
      isolated flavonoids. Finally, we performed docking studies to find out the
      mechanism of action. RESULTS: Our results collectively suggested that four
      flavonoids reduced blood glucose level and restored body weight, signifying
      antidiabetic action. There were reduction of other lipid profile parameters and
      increase of high density lipoprotein (HDL) during administration of flavonoids,
      also signifying hypolipidemic action. Various oxidative stress biomarkers and
      hepatic enzymes levels were also normalized with respect to diabetic control at
      the same time. Docking studies revealed that isolated flavonoids showed their
      antidiabetic potential via binding to PPARgamma and GLUT1 receptors. CONCLUSION:
      The isolated four flavonoids demonstrated good antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and
      antioxidant properties in STZ diabetic rats which supported the use of FR stem
      bark as useful supplementary drug for future antidiabetic therapy.

PMID- 26869544
TI  - Ethnopharmacological survey of plant species used in folk medicine against
      central nervous system disorders in Togo.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Neurological diseases are rising all around the
      world. In a developing country such as Togo, although plant-based medicines are
      the only means, still very little is known regarding the nature and efficiency of
      medicinal plants used by indigenous people to manage central nervous system (CNS)
      disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study, an ethnobotanical survey, aimed to
      report plant species used in traditional medicine (TM) for the management of
      various CNS disorders in Togo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 52 traditional actors (TA)
      including 33 traditional healers (TH) and 19 medicinal plant sellers (MPS) were
      interviewed, using a questionnaire mentioning informants' general data and uses
      of medicinal plants. RESULTS: The present study reports 44 medicinal plant
      species distributed into 26 families, mentioning scientific and common local
      names, plant organs used, preparation method, root of administration and putative
      applications. CONCLUSION: It appears that there is a real knowledge on medicinal
      plants used for traditional treatment of CNS disorders in Togo and that the local
      flora abounds of potentially neuroactive plants which could be useful for the
      discovery of antipsychotic or neuroprotective molecules.

PMID- 26869545
TI  - Traditional Arabic Palestinian ethnoveterinary practices in animal health care: A
      field survey in the West Bank (Palestine).
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Palestine, medicinal plants have continued to play a vital role in
      fulfilling animal healthcare needs of rural communities. However, these valuable
      resources are being depleted mainly due to over-harvesting, inappropriate
      agricultural practices (e.g., over use of herbicides), agricultural expansion,
      and over-grazing. Therefore, immediate action is required to conserve these
      resources and document the associated knowledge. The purpose of this study was,
      thus, to document and analyze information associated with medicinal plants that
      are used in managing animal health problems in the West Bank, Palestine.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected from Apr 2012 to Feb
      2014 mainly using semi-structured interviews with informants sampled using
      purposive sampling technique and through field observations. RESULTS: The study
      revealed the use of 138 medicinal plant species in the West Bank for the
      treatment of several livestock diseases, of these 75 species representing 70
      genera and 33 families were reported by 3 independent informants or above.
      Classification of the ethnoveterinary plant species cited by three informants or
      above used in a rank-order priority (ROP) based on their claimed relative healing
      potential has demonstrated that the following are the plants with the highest
      efficacy: Camellia sinenses, Teucrium capitatum, and Salvia fruticosa with ROPs
      of 97.1, 93.2, and 91.4, respectively, are used primarily to relieve gastric
      disorders. Gastrointestinal disorders is the disease group in the study area that
      scored the highest Informant consensus factor (ICF) value (0.90), followed by
      urinary, and reproductive disorders (0.89). CONCLUSION: Our study provided
      evidence that medicinal plants are still playing important role in the management
      of livestock diseases, and showed that ethnoveterinary plants used in animal
      health care in Palestine have been also recorded in human Traditional Arabic
      Palestinian Herbal Medicine (TAPHM), and demonstrated a strong link between human
      and veterinary medical practices. This survey has identified a number of
      important medicinal plants used by the Palestinian farmers of the West Bank area
      for the treatment of various animal ailments. It provides a baseline for future
      phytochemical and pharmacological investigations into the beneficial medicinal
      properties of such plants.

PMID- 26869546
TI  - Feasibility of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives as diagnostic drug carriers for
      tumor imaging.
AB  - Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is an artificial but biocompatible hydrophilic
      polymer that has been widely used in clinical products. To evaluate the
      feasibility of using PEG derivative itself as a tumor imaging carrier via an
      enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, we prepared indium-111-labeled
      PEG ((111)In-DTPA-PEG) and indocyanine green (ICG)-labeled PEG (ICG-PEG) with PEG
      molecular weights of 5-40kDa and investigated their in vivo biodistribution in
      colon26 tumor-bearing mice. Thereafter, single-photon emission computed
      tomography (SPECT) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging studies were performed. The in
      vivo biodistribution studies demonstrated increased tumor uptake and a
      prolongation of circulation half-life as the molecular weight of PEG increased.
      Although the observed differences in in vivo biodistribution were dependent on
      the labeling method ((111)In or ICG), the tumor-to-normal tissue ratios were
      comparable. Because PEG-based probes with a molecular weight of 20kDa (PEG20)
      showed a preferable biodistribution (highest accumulation among tissues excised
      and relatively high tumor-to-blood ratios), an imaging study using (111)In-DTPA
      PEG20 and ICG-PEG20 was performed. Colon26 tumors inoculated in the right
      shoulder were clearly visualized by SPECT 24h after administration. Furthermore,
      PA imaging using ICG-PEG20 also detected tumor regions, and the detected PA
      signals increased in proportion with the injected dose. These results suggest
      that PEG derivatives (20kDa) serve as robust diagnostic drug carriers for tumor
      imaging. 

PMID- 26869547
TI  - Reciprocal Effects of Life Satisfaction and Depressive Symptoms Within Long-Wed
      Couples Over Time.
AB  - Objectives: This study was undertaken to examine bidirectional effects of well
      being over time in long-wed couples. Method: We recruited 125 couples 50+ years
      of age who had been married 20+ years. Both spouses reported life satisfaction
      and depressive symptoms independently at three annual points over 2 years. We
      computed actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) to identify concomitant and
      longitudinal bidirectional effects between long-wed spouses. Where parallel
      associations were found between models of life satisfaction and depressive
      symptoms, we undertook invariance analyses to compare the relative strength of
      associations. Results: We observed a significant association between wives' and
      their husbands' life satisfaction at baseline; a concomitant crossover effect was
      also evident from wives to husbands at 1- and 2-year follow-up, such that wives'
      life satisfaction predicted changes in their husbands' life satisfaction beyond
      that previously and concomitantly reported. Discussion: Our findings suggest that
      older wives influence their husbands after decades of marriage; the relative
      effect of this crossover on older husbands is comparatively equivalent for life
      satisfaction and depressive symptoms. These findings stand in contrast to prior
      research with younger couples suggesting that long-wed couples may be a distinct
      subset of the population of all married couples (i.e., those who have not
      divorced).

PMID- 26869548
TI  - Ebola's legacy: UK deficits and their global lessons.

PMID- 26869549
TI  - Breastfeeding: achieving the new normal.

PMID- 26869550
TI  - US drug overdose deaths: a global challenge.

PMID- 26869551
TI  - Modest global achievements in maternal survival: more focus on sub-Saharan Africa
      is needed.

PMID- 26869553
TI  - Breastfeeding: a smart investment in people and in economies.

PMID- 26869552
TI  - Spotlight on infant formula: coordinated global action needed.

PMID- 26869554
TI  - Retraction--Effect of vitamin and trace-element supplementation on immune
      responses and infection in elderly subjects.

PMID- 26869556
TI  - Australia commits funds to curb hepatitis C epidemic.

PMID- 26869557
TI  - HIV in Mozambique: starting, and staying on, treatment.

PMID- 26869558
TI  - Profile: Boston University School of Public Health at 40.

PMID- 26869560
TI  - Charlotte Watts: from pure maths to HIV and gender-based violence.

PMID- 26869561
TI  - The body politic.

PMID- 26869562
TI  - Robert L Spitzer.

PMID- 26869563
TI  - Faith-based health care.

PMID- 26869564
TI  - Faith-based health care.

PMID- 26869565
TI  - Faith-based health care.

PMID- 26869566
TI  - Climate change and health.

PMID- 26869567
TI  - Climate change and health.

PMID- 26869568
TI  - Climate change and health.

PMID- 26869569
TI  - Climate change and health.

PMID- 26869570
TI  - Prophylactic antibiotics to reduce pneumonia after acute stroke.

PMID- 26869571
TI  - Prophylactic antibiotics to reduce pneumonia after acute stroke.

PMID- 26869572
TI  - The promise of personalised medicine.

PMID- 26869573
TI  - Prophylactic antibiotics to reduce pneumonia after acute stroke - Author's reply.

PMID- 26869574
TI  - Frailty in emergency departments.

PMID- 26869575
TI  - Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect.
AB  - The importance of breastfeeding in low-income and middle-income countries is well
      recognised, but less consensus exists about its importance in high-income
      countries. In low-income and middle-income countries, only 37% of children
      younger than 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed. With few exceptions,
      breastfeeding duration is shorter in high-income countries than in those that are
      resource-poor. Our meta-analyses indicate protection against child infections and
      malocclusion, increases in intelligence, and probable reductions in overweight
      and diabetes. We did not find associations with allergic disorders such as asthma
      or with blood pressure or cholesterol, and we noted an increase in tooth decay
      with longer periods of breastfeeding. For nursing women, breastfeeding gave
      protection against breast cancer and it improved birth spacing, and it might also
      protect against ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes. The scaling up of
      breastfeeding to a near universal level could prevent 823,000 annual deaths in
      children younger than 5 years and 20,000 annual deaths from breast cancer. Recent
      epidemiological and biological findings from during the past decade expand on the
      known benefits of breastfeeding for women and children, whether they are rich or
      poor.

PMID- 26869577
TI  - Heteroatom-Containing Porous Carbons Derived from Ionic Liquid-Doped Alkali
      Organic Salts for Supercapacitors.
AB  - A simple strategy for the synthesis of heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials
      (CMs) via using ionic liquid (IL)-doped alkali organic salts as small molecular
      precursors is developed. Doping of alkali organic salts (such as sodium
      glutamate, sodium tartrate, and sodium citrate) with heteroatoms containing ILs
      (including 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorine and 3-butyl-4
      methythiazolebromination) not only incorporates the heteroatoms into the carbon
      frameworks but also highly improves the carbonization yield, as compared with
      that of either alkali organic salts or ILs as precursors. The porous structure of
      CMs can be tuned by adjusting the feed ratio of ILs. The porous CMs derived from
      1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorine-doped sodium glutamate exhibit high charge
      storage capacity with a specific capacitance of 287 F g(-1) and good stability
      over 5000 cycles in 6 m KOH at a current density of 1 A g(-1) for
      supercapacitors. This strategy opens a simple and efficient method for the
      synthesis of heteroatom-doped porous CMs. 

PMID- 26869576
TI  - Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices?
AB  - Despite its established benefits, breastfeeding is no longer a norm in many
      communities. Multifactorial determinants of breastfeeding need supportive
      measures at many levels, from legal and policy directives to social attitudes and
      values, women's work and employment conditions, and health-care services to
      enable women to breastfeed. When relevant interventions are delivered adequately,
      breastfeeding practices are responsive and can improve rapidly. The best outcomes
      are achieved when interventions are implemented concurrently through several
      channels. The marketing of breastmilk substitutes negatively affects
      breastfeeding: global sales in 2014 of US$44.8 billion show the industry's large,
      competitive claim on infant feeding. Not breastfeeding is associated with lower
      intelligence and economic losses of about $302 billion annually or 0.49% of world
      gross national income. Breastfeeding provides short-term and long-term health and
      economic and environmental advantages to children, women, and society. To realise
      these gains, political support and financial investment are needed to protect,
      promote, and support breastfeeding. 

PMID- 26869578
TI  - Voluntary pulmonary function screening identifies high rates of undiagnosed
      asymptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is projected to be the third leading
      cause of death by 2020. Early detection and screening may alter the course and
      prognosis associated with lung disease. We investigated the effectiveness of a
      voluntary public lung function screening program and factors that had a
      predictive value for asymptomatic COPD in Xi'an, China. Pulmonary function
      testing (PFT) was conducted on volunteers recruited from four community centers
      in Xi'an, China, between July and August 2012. Participants underwent three
      forced vital capacity maneuvers. The maneuver with the best forced expiratory
      volume in first second was retained. Participants filled out a medical history
      and environmental exposure survey before undergoing the PFT. Patients who self
      reported lung disease on the health survey were excluded from the analysis.
      Logistical regression was used to determine associations with airway obstruction.
      A total of 803 volunteers participated in this study, and 33 subjects were
      excluded as the participants did not meet the requirements of PFT. Of the 770
      volunteers, 44 participants had been diagnosed with chronic respiratory diseases
      previously, and 144 participants (18.7%) met COPD criteria. Four hundred forty
      four participants did not self-report any respiratory symptoms, and the remaining
      282 participants self-reported respiratory symptoms. Of the asymptomatic
      participants, 98 volunteers had PFT results that were consistent with COPD and
      68.1% of asymptomatic participants were undiagnosed. A greater percentage of
      women than men had moderate or severe airway obstruction (p = 0.004).Only smoking
      status (odds ratio = 2.64, 95% confidence interval 1.20-6.04) was associated with
      asymptomatic COPD. Voluntary public lung function screening programs in China are
      likely to identify a large number of undiagnosed, asymptomatic COPD. Smoking
      status is associated with airway obstruction and a greater percentage of women
      than men had moderate or severe airway obstruction. 

PMID- 26869580
TI  - Fall in 1:1 nursing ratios in neonatal ICUs is linked to higher death rate.

PMID- 26869579
TI  - Comparison of the six-minute walk test with a cycle-based cardiopulmonary
      exercise test in people following curative intent treatment for non-small cell
      lung cancer.
AB  - This study is aimed to (i) compare both the magnitude of impairment in exercise
      capacity and exercise responses measured during the six-minute walk test (6MWT)
      and the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and (ii) investigate the effect of
      test repetition on six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in people following curative
      intent treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twenty participants (67
      +/- 10 years; 14 females), 6-10 weeks following lobectomy, underwent a CPET and
      two 6MWTs. Peak exercise responses, dyspnoea and leg fatigue, as well as heart
      rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the 6MWT, were compared to those
      during the CPET. Compared with exercise capacity when expressed as peak rate of
      oxygen consumption (%pred) measured during the CPET, exercise capacity when
      expressed as 6MWD (%pred) was less impaired (81 +/- 10 vs. 63 +/- 15 %pred; p <
      0.001). Compared with the CPET, the 6MWT elicited lower peak HR (119 +/- 15 vs.
      128 +/- 18 beats minute(-1); p = 0.02), lower SpO2 (93 +/- 2 vs. 95 +/- 3%; p <
      0.05), less dyspnoea (3.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 6.9 +/- 2.6; p < 0.01) and less leg fatigue
      (2.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 6.8 +/- 2.4; p < 0.01). The 6MWD increased 19 +/- 19 metre (4 +/
      4%) with test repetition (p < 0.001). In people following curative intent
      treatment for NSCLC, the 6MWT appears to elicit sub-maximal exercise responses
      when compared with the CPET. There is a significant effect of test repetition on
      6MWD. 

PMID- 26869581
TI  - High-flow nasal cannula: Mechanisms, evidence and recommendations.
AB  - The use of high-flow nasal cannula (HF) therapy as respiratory support for
      preterm infants is rapidly increasing, due to its perceived ease of use and other
      potential benefits over the standard 'non-invasive' respiratory support,
      continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The evidence from randomized trials
      suggests that HF is an alternative to CPAP for post-extubation support of preterm
      infants. Limited data are available from randomized trials comparing HF with CPAP
      as primary support, and few trials have included extremely preterm infants. This
      review discusses the proposed mechanisms of action of HF, the evidence from
      clinical trials of HF use in preterm infants, and proposes recommendations for
      evidence-based practice.

PMID- 26869582
TI  - The crystal structure of human GlnRS provides basis for the development of
      neurological disorders.
AB  - Cytosolic glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) is the singular enzyme responsible
      for translation of glutamine codons. Compound heterozygous mutations in GlnRS
      cause severe brain disorders by a poorly understood mechanism. Herein, we present
      crystal structures of the wild type and two pathological mutants of human GlnRS,
      which reveal, for the first time, the domain organization of the intact enzyme
      and the structure of the functionally important N-terminal domain (NTD).
      Pathological mutations mapping in the NTD alter the domain structure, and
      decrease catalytic activity and stability of GlnRS, whereas missense mutations in
      the catalytic domain induce misfolding of the enzyme. Our results suggest that
      the reduced catalytic efficiency and a propensity of GlnRS mutants to misfold
      trigger the disease development. This report broadens the spectrum of brain
      pathologies elicited by protein misfolding and provides a paradigm for
      understanding the role of mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in neurological
      diseases. 

PMID- 26869584
TI  - Association of Macroeconomic Factors With Nonrelapse Mortality After Allogeneic
      Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia:
      An Analysis From the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT.
AB  - PURPOSE: From a global perspective, the rates of allogeneic hematopoietic cell
      transplantation (alloHCT) are closely related to the economic status of a
      country. However, a potential association with outcome has not yet been
      documented. The goal of this study was to evaluate effects of health care
      expenditure (HCE), Human Development Index (HDI), team density, and center
      experience on nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after HLA-matched sibling alloHCT for
      adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of
      983 patients treated with myeloablative alloHCT between 2004 and 2008 in 24
      European countries were included. RESULTS: In a univariate analysis, the
      probability of day 100 NRM was increased for countries with lower current HCE (8%
      vs. 3%; p = .06), countries with lower HDI (8% vs. 3%; p = .02), and centers with
      less experience (8% vs. 5%; p = .04). In addition, the overall NRM was increased
      for countries with lower current HCE (21% vs. 17%; p = .09) and HDI (21% vs. 16%;
      p = .03) and for centers with lower activity (21% vs. 16%; p = .07). In a
      multivariate analysis, the strongest predictive model for day 100 NRM included
      current HCE greater than the median (hazard ratio [HR], 0.39; p = .002). The
      overall NRM was mostly predicted by HDI greater than the median (HR, 0.65; p =
      .01). Both lower current HCE and HDI were associated with decreased probability
      of overall survival. CONCLUSION: Both macroeconomic factors and the socioeconomic
      status of a country strongly influence NRM after alloHCT for adults with ALL. Our
      findings should be considered when clinical studies in the field of alloHCT are
      interpreted.

PMID- 26869583
TI  - Discovering hotspots in functional genomic data superposed on 3D chromatin
      configuration reconstructions.
AB  - The spatial organization of the genome influences cellular function, notably gene
      regulation. Recent studies have assessed the three-dimensional (3D) co
      localization of functional annotations (e.g. centromeres, long terminal repeats)
      using 3D genome reconstructions from Hi-C (genome-wide chromosome conformation
      capture) data; however, corresponding assessments for continuous functional
      genomic data (e.g. chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) peak
      height) are lacking. Here, we demonstrate that applying bump hunting via the
      patient rule induction method (PRIM) to ChIP-seq data superposed on a
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3D genome reconstruction can discover 'functional 3D
      hotspots', regions in 3-space for which the mean ChIP-seq peak height is
      significantly elevated. For the transcription factor Swi6, the top hotspot by P
      value contains MSB2 and ERG11 - known Swi6 target genes on different chromosomes.
      We verify this finding in a number of ways. First, this top hotspot is relatively
      stable under PRIM across parameter settings. Second, this hotspot is among the
      top hotspots by mean outcome identified by an alternative algorithm, k-Nearest
      Neighbor (k-NN) regression. Third, the distance between MSB2 and ERG11 is smaller
      than expected (by resampling) in two other 3D reconstructions generated via
      different normalization and reconstruction algorithms. This analytic approach can
      discover functional 3D hotspots and potentially reveal novel regulatory
      interactions. 

PMID- 26869585
TI  - While We're at It, Let's Whack the FDA.

PMID- 26869586
TI  - Daily reduction of oral malodor with the use of a sonic tongue brush combined
      with an antibacterial tongue spray in a randomized cross-over clinical
      investigation.
AB  - The objective of this clinical investigation was to test the effectiveness on
      breath odor of a newly designed sonic tongue brush (TongueCare+, TC). It consists
      of a soft silicone brush optimally designed based on the tongue's anatomy to
      remove bacterial biofilm from the tongue's complex surface, and it is coupled
      with a sonic power toothbrush handle. TC was used in combination with an
      antibacterial tongue spray (BreathRx, BRx) containing 0.09% cetylpyridinium
      chloride and 0.7% zinc gluconate. A total of 21 participants with oral malodor
      exceeding the threshold for recognition took part in this cross-over clinical
      investigation, which consisted of a single use of four treatment arms with one
      week washout period in between. The treatments consisted of: (1) TC  +  BRx, (2)
      TC  +  water, (3) BRx and (4) water. Malodor levels and bacterial density were
      monitored up to 6 h by organoleptic scoring and selective plating, respectively.
      The organoleptic score and bacterial density were significantly lower after using
      TC  +  BRx compared to all alternative treatments at all time points. A
      significant decrease in both parameters was detected after a single use of TC  + 
      BRx, from levels characteristic of high oral malodor, to barely noticeable levels
      after treatment and this was maintained up to 6 h. Moreover, we identified a
      significant positive correlation between bacterial density and organoleptic
      score, confirming that bacterial tongue biofilm is the root cause of oral malodor
      in these subjects. The results of this clinical investigation demonstrated that
      the combined treatment of a sonic tongue brush with the antibacterial tongue
      spray is able to deliver more than 6 h of fresh breath following a single use.
      The clinical investigation was registered at the ISRCTN registry under study
      identification number ISRCTN38199132. 

PMID- 26869587
TI  - Junior contract will be imposed, Hunt announces.

PMID- 26869588
TI  - The benefit of surgical resection in recurrent glioblastoma.

PMID- 26869589
TI  - The validity of health-related quality of life questionnaires in bronchiectasis:
      a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A range of questionnaires have been used to assess health-related
      quality of life (HRQOL) in bronchiectasis. A systematic review was conducted to
      evaluate their psychometric properties and assess associations between HRQOL and
      clinical measures. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched. Studies
      eligible for inclusion were those that investigated the validity of HRQOL
      questionnaires and/or their association with other outcomes in adults with
      bronchiectasis. Patients with cystic fibrosis were excluded. The identified
      questionnaires were assessed for convergent, discriminant and cross-cultural
      translation validity; missing data, floor and ceiling effects, internal
      consistency, responsiveness and test-retest reliability. A meta-analysis was
      conducted to estimate the strength of associations between HRQOL and clinical
      measures. RESULTS: From 1918 studies identified, 43 studies were included in the
      systematic review, of which 38 were suitable for the meta-analysis. Nine HRQOL
      questionnaires were identified, with the most widely used being: St George's
      Respiratory Questionnaire, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, Quality of Life
      Bronchiectasis and Short Form-36. HRQOL questionnaires had moderate to good
      internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. Only 8 of 18 studies that
      used translated HRQOL questionnaires reported or referred to the validity of the
      translated questionnaire. There was a stronger correlation (mean r (95% CI))
      between HRQOL and subjective outcome measures, such as dyspnoea (0.55 (0.41 to
      0.68)) and fatigue (0.42 (0.23 to 0.58)) compared with objective measures;
      exercise capacity (-0.41 (-0.54 to -0.24)), FEV1% predicted (-0.31 (-0.40 to 
      0.23)) and extent of bronchiectasis on CT scan (0.35 (0.03 to 0.61)); all
      p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: This review supports most HRQOL questionnaires used in
      bronchiectasis have good psychometric properties. There was a weak to moderate
      association between HRQOL and objective outcome measures. This suggests that
      HRQOL questionnaires assess a unique aspect of health not captured by objective
      measures.

PMID- 26869595
TI  - Play-based interventions improve physical function for people with adult-acquired
      brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled
      trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the
      effectiveness of play-based interventions compared to traditional therapy in
      rehabilitation of adults with adult-acquired brain injury. DATA SOURCES: The
      search was performed using Medline; Cinahl Plus; Health Source (Nursing/Academic
      Edition); Psychology and behavioural sciences collection; Biomedical reference
      collection (basic). REVIEW METHODS: Studies included were randomised controlled
      trials that investigated the effect of play-based interventions on physical
      function of adults with adult acquired brain injury. Two independent reviewers
      identified eligible studies and assessed methodological quality using a modified
      Downs and Black. Meta-analysis compared standardised differences in means, to
      determine effect sizes for grouped functional outcome measures. The GRADE scoring
      system was used to determine the level of clinical evidence. RESULTS: Thirty
      studies met the inclusion criteria, 13 were considered high quality and 17
      moderate quality. Studies predominantly involved post-stroke participants, with
      only three studies including participants with traumatic brain injury. When
      compared to traditional therapy, dose-matched studies of play-based interventions
      showed a significant effect on independence (Effect size (ES) = 0.6) and physical
      performance (ES = 0.43), as measured using the Fugl -Meyer. For non-dose matched
      studies, play-based interventions showed a significant improvement for balance
      (ES = 0.76) compared with traditional therapy. In all studies that measured
      participant enjoyment, play-based therapy was rated as more enjoyable than
      traditional therapy. CONCLUSION: Play-based interventions for people with adult
      acquired brain injury are more effective in improving balance and independence,
      which may be due to them being more enjoyable than traditional therapy.

PMID- 26869596
TI  - Effects of training with a passive hand orthosis and games at home in chronic
      stroke: a pilot randomised controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare user acceptance and arm and hand function changes after
      technology-supported training at home with conventional exercises in chronic
      stroke. Secondly, to investigate the relation between training duration and
      clinical changes. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Training at
      home, evaluation at research institute. SUBJECTS: Twenty chronic stroke patients
      with severely to mildly impaired arm and hand function. INTERVENTIONS:
      Participants were randomly assigned to six weeks (30 minutes per day, six days a
      week) of self-administered home-based arm and hand training using either a
      passive dynamic wrist and hand orthosis combined with computerised gaming
      exercises (experimental group) or prescribed conventional exercises from an
      exercise book (control group). MAIN MEASURES: Main outcome measures are the
      training duration for user acceptance and the Action Research Arm Test for arm
      and hand function. Secondary outcomes are the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory,
      Fugl-Meyer assessment, Motor Activity Log, Stroke Impact Scale and grip strength.
      RESULTS: The control group reported a higher training duration (189 versus 118
      minutes per week, P = 0.025). Perceived motivation was positive and equal between
      groups ( P = 0.935). No differences in clinical outcomes over training between
      groups were found (P ? 0.165). Changes in Box and Block Test correlated
      positively with training duration ( P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions
      were accepted. An additional benefit of technology-supported arm and hand
      training over conventional arm and hand exercises at home was not demonstrated.
      Training duration in itself is a major contributor to arm and hand function
      improvements.

PMID- 26869597
TI  - Risk of invasive cervical cancer after atypical glandular cells in cervical
      screening: nationwide cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risks of invasive cervical cancer after detection
      of atypical glandular cells (AGC) during cervical screening. DESIGN: Nationwide
      population based cohort study. SETTING: Cancer and population registries in
      Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 3,054,328 women living in Sweden at any time between 1
      January 1980 and 1 July 2011 who had any record of cervical cytological testing
      at ages 23-59. Of these, 2,899,968 women had normal cytology results at the first
      screening record. The first recorded abnormal result was atypical glandular cells
      (AGC) in 14 625, high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 65 633, and
      low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in 244 168. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Cumulative incidence of invasive cervical cancer over 15.5 years;
      proportion of invasive cervical cancer within six months of abnormality
      (prevalence); crude incidence rates for invasive cervical cancer over 0.5-15.5
      years of follow-up; incidence rate ratios compared with women with normal
      cytology, estimated with Poisson regression adjusted for age and stratified by
      histopathology of cancer; distribution of clinical assessment within six months
      after the abnormality. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical cancer was 1.4% for
      women with AGC, which was lower than for women with HSIL (2.5%) but higher than
      for women with LSIL (0.2%); adenocarcinoma accounted for 73.2% of the prevalent
      cases associated with AGC. The incidence rate of invasive cervical cancer after
      AGC was significantly higher than for women with normal results on cytology for
      up to 15.5 years and higher than HSIL and LSIL for up to 6.5 years. The incidence
      rate of adenocarcinoma was 61 times higher than for women with normal results on
      cytology in the first screening round after AGC, and remained nine times higher
      for up to 15.5 years. Incidence and prevalence of invasive cervical cancer was
      highest when AGC was found at ages 30-39. Only 54% of women with AGC underwent
      histology assessment within six months, much less than after HSIL (86%). Among
      women with histology assessment within six months, the incidence rate of cervical
      cancer after AGC was significantly higher than that after HSIL for up to 6.5
      years. CONCLUSIONS: AGC found at cervical screening is associated with a high and
      persistent risk of cervical cancer for up to 15 years, particularly for cervical
      adenocarcinoma and women with AGC at age 30-39. Compared with the reduction in
      risk of cancer seen after HSIL management, management of AGC seems to have been
      suboptimal in preventing cervical cancer. Research to optimise management is
      needed, and a more aggressive assessment strategy is warranted.

PMID- 26869599
TI  - Covalent Immobilization of Penicillin G Acylase onto Fe3O4@Chitosan Magnetic
      Nanoparticles.
AB  - Penicillin G acylase (PGA) was immobilized on magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan
      nanoparticles through the Schiff base reaction. The immobilization conditions
      were optimized as follows: enzyme/support 8.8 mg/g, pH 6.0, time 40 min, and
      temperature 25 degrees C. Under these conditions, a high immobilization
      efficiency of 75% and a protein loading of 6.2 mg/g-support were obtained.
      Broader working pH and higher thermostability were achieved by the
      immobilization. In addition, the immobilized PGA retained 75% initial activity
      after ten cycles. Kinetic parameters Vmax and Km of the free and immobilized PGAs
      were determined as 0.91 mmol/min and 0.53 mmol/min, and 0.68 mM and 1.19 mM,
      respectively. Synthesis of amoxicillin with the immobilized PGA was carried out
      in 40% ethylene glycol at 25 degrees C and a conversion of 72% was obtained.
      These results showed that the immobilization of PGA onto magnetic chitosan
      nanoparticles is an efficient and simple way for preparation of stable PGA. 

PMID- 26869598
TI  - Secondhand smoke exposure at home among one billion children in 21 countries:
      findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Children are vulnerable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure because of
      limited control over their indoor environment. Homes remain the major place where
      children may be exposed to SHS. Our study examines the magnitude, patterns and
      determinants of SHS exposure in the home among children in 21 countries (19 low
      income and middle-income countries and 2 high-income countries). METHODS: Global
      Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data, a household survey of people 15 years of age or
      older. Data collected during 2009-2013 were analysed to estimate the proportion
      of children exposed to SHS in the home. GATS estimates and 2012 United Nations
      population projections for 2015 were also used to estimate the number of children
      exposed to SHS in the home. RESULTS: The proportion of children younger than 15
      years of age exposed to SHS in the home ranged from 4.5% (Panama) to 79.0%
      (Indonesia). Of the approximately one billion children younger than 15 years of
      age living in the 21 countries under study, an estimated 507.74 million were
      exposed to SHS in the home. China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the
      Philippines accounted for almost 84.6% of the children exposed to SHS. The
      prevalence of SHS exposure was higher in countries with higher adult smoking
      rates and was also higher in rural areas than in urban areas, in most countries.
      CONCLUSIONS: A large number of children were exposed to SHS in the home.
      Encouraging of voluntary smoke-free rules in homes and cessation in adults has
      the potential to reduce SHS exposure among children and prevent SHS-related
      diseases and deaths.

PMID- 26869600
TI  - Microbial Community Composition in the Marine Sediments of Jeju Island: Next
      Generation Sequencing Surveys.
AB  - Marine sediments are a microbial biosphere with an unknown physiology, and the
      sediments harbor numerous distinct phylogenetic lineages of Bacteria and Archaea
      that are at present uncultured. In this study, the structure of the archaeal and
      bacterial communities was investigated in the surface and subsurface sediments of
      Jeju Island using a next-generation sequencing method. The microbial communities
      in the surface sediments were distinct from those in the subsurface sediments;
      the relative abundance of sequences for Thaumarchaeota, Actinobacteria,
      Bacteroides, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were higher in the
      surface than subsurface sediments, whereas the sequences for Euryarchaeota,
      Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Deltaproteobacteria were relatively more abundant
      in the subsurface than surface sediments. This study presents detailed
      characterization of the spatial distribution of benthic microbial communities of
      Jeju Island and provides fundamental information on the potential interactions
      mediated by microorganisms with the different biogeochemical cycles in coastal
      sediments. 

PMID- 26869601
TI  - Effects of the Antibiotics Growth Promoter Tylosin on Swine Gut Microbiota.
AB  - Tylosin has been used as a livestock feed additive and antibiotic growth promoter
      for many years. However, the mode of action by which tylosin enhances animal
      growth is unclear. We used high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to
      investigate the effects of tylosin as a feed additive on swine gut microbiota. No
      significant difference in the rate of weight increase was observed between
      control and tylosin-treated pigs during a 10-week feeding trial. However, tylosin
      treated pigs showed rapid increases in the relative abundance of the phylum
      Firmicutes. Increases in Firmicutes species are associated with (so-called) obese
      type gut microbiota. The abundance of species of four families of the phylum
      Firmicutes (Streptococcaceae, Peptococcaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and
      Clostridiaceae) correlated positively with host weight gain. The abundance of
      Streptococcaceae family bacteria was least affected by tylosin treatment.
      Distribution analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed that both
      control and tylosin-treated pigs exhibited similar OTU alterations during growth.
      However, the tylosin-treated group showed distinctive alterations in gut
      microbiota when the host weighed approximately 60 kg, whereas similar alterations
      occurred at around 80 kg in the control group. Our results suggest that use of
      tylosin accelerates maturation of swine gut microbiota rather than altering its
      composition. 

PMID- 26869602
TI  - Duration-Related Variations in Archaeal Communities after a Change from Upland
      Fields to Paddy Fields.
AB  - Archaea substantially contribute to global geochemical cycling and energy cycling
      and are impacted by land-use change. However, the response of archaeal
      communities to a change from upland field to paddy field has been poorly
      characterized. Here, soil samples were collected at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40
      cm) from one upland field and six paddy fields that were established on former
      upland fields at different times (1, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 years before the
      study). Barcoded pyrosequencing was employed to assess the archaeal communities
      from the samples at taxonomic resolutions from phylum to genus levels. The total
      archaeal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness showed a significant positive
      correlation with the land-use change duration. Two phyla, Euryarchaeota and
      Crenarchaeota, were recorded throughout the study. Both the relative abundance
      and OTU richness of Euryarchaeota increased at both depths but increased more
      steadily at the subsurface rather than at the surface. However, these data of
      Crenarchaeota were the opposite. Additionally, the archaeal composition exhibited
      a significant relationship with C/N ratios, total phosphorus, soil pH, Olsen
      phosphorus, and the land-use change duration at several taxonomic resolutions.
      Our results emphasize that after a change from upland fields to paddy fields, the
      archaeal diversity and composition changed, and the duration is an important
      factor in addition to the soil chemical properties. 

PMID- 26869603
TI  - Increasing the Triacylglycerol Content in Dunaliella tertiolecta through
      Isolation of Starch-Deficient Mutants.
AB  - The production cost of biodiesel from microalgae is still not competitive,
      compared with that of petroleum fuels. The genetic improvement of microalgal
      strains to increase triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation is one way to reduce
      production costs. One of the most promising approaches is the isolation of starch
      deficient mutants, which have been reported to successfully increase TAG yields.
      To date, such a stable mutant is not available in an oleaginous marine microalga,
      despite several advantages of using marine species for biodiesel production.
      Algae in the genus Dunaliella are known to tolerate high salt concentration and
      other environmental stresses. In addition, the cultivation processes for large
      scale outdoor commercialization have been well established for this genus. In
      this study, Dunaliella tertiolecta was used to screen for starch-deficient
      mutants, using an iodine vapor-staining method. Four out of 20,016 UV-mutagenized
      strains showed a substantial reduction of starch content. A significantly higher
      TAG content, up to 3-fold of the wild-type level, was observed in three of the
      mutants upon induction by nitrogen depletion. The carotenoid production and
      growth characteristics of these mutants, under both normal and oxidative stress
      conditions, were not compromised, suggesting that these processes are not
      necessarily affected by starch deficiency. The results from this work open up new
      possibilities for exploring Dunaliella for biodiesel production. 

PMID- 26869604
TI  - Screening Rice Cultivars for Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight.
AB  - Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one
      of the most serious threats to rice production. In this study, screening of rice
      for resistance to BLB was carried out at two different times and locations; that
      is, in a greenhouse during winter and in an open field during summer. The
      pathogenicity of Xoo race K1 was tested on 32 Korean rice cultivars. Inoculation
      was conducted at the maximum tillering stage, and the lesion length was measured
      after 14 days of inoculation. Five cultivars, Hanareum, Namcheon, Samgdeok,
      Samgang, and Yangjo, were found to be resistant in both the greenhouse and open
      field screenings. Expression of the plant defense-related genes JAmyb, OsNPR1,
      OsPR1a, OsWRKY45, and OsPR10b was observed in resistant and susceptible cultivars
      by qRT-PCR. Among the five genes tested, only OsPR10b showed coherent expression
      with the phenotypes. Screening of resistance to Xoo in rice was more accurate
      when conducted in open fields in the summer cultivation period than in
      greenhouses in winter. The expression of plant defenserelated genes after
      bacterial inoculation could give another perspective in elucidating defense
      mechanisms by using both resistant and susceptible individuals. 

PMID- 26869605
TI  - The Photoheterotrophic Growth of Bacteriochlorophyll Synthase-Deficient Mutant of
      Rhodobacter sphaeroides Is Restored by I44F Mutant Chlorophyll Synthase of
      Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
AB  - Chlorophyll synthase (ChlG) and bacteriochlorophyll synthase (BchG) have a high
      degree of substrate specificity. The BchG mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, BG1
      strain, is photosynthetically incompetent. When BG1 harboring chlG of
      Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was cultured photoheterotrophically, colonies arose at
      a frequency of approximately 10(-8). All the suppressor mutants were determined
      to have the same mutational change, ChlGI44F. The mutated enzyme ChlGI44F showed
      BchG activity. Remarkably, BchGF28I, which has the substitution of F at the
      corresponding 28(th) residue to I, showed ChlG activity. The Km values of
      ChlGI44F and BchGF28I for their original substrates, chlorophyllide (Chlide) a
      and bacteriochlorophyllide (Bchlide) a, respectively, were not affected by the
      mutations, but the Km values of ChlGI44F and BchGF28I for the new substrates
      Bchlide a and Chlide a, respectively, were more than 10-fold larger than those
      for their original substrates, suggesting the lower affinities for new
      substrates. Taken together, I44 and F28 are important for the substrate
      specificities of ChlG and BchG, respectively. The BchG activity of ChlGI44F and
      the ChlG activity of BchGF28I further suggest that ChlG and BchG are
      evolutionarily related enzymes. 

PMID- 26869606
TI  - Cloning and Characterization of Filamentous Fungal S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase
      from Aspergillus nidulans.
AB  - S-Nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) metabolizes S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)
      and has been shown to play important roles in regulating cellular signaling and
      formulating host defense by modulating intracellular nitric oxide levels. The
      enzyme has been found in bacterial, yeast, mushroom, plant, and mammalian cells.
      However, to date, there is still no evidence of its occurrence in filamentous
      fungi. In this study, we cloned and investigated a GSNOR-like enzyme from the
      filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The enzyme occurred in native form as a
      homodimer and exhibited low thermal stability. GSNO was an ideal substrate for
      the enzyme. The apparent Km and kcat values were 0.55 mM and 34,100 min(-1),
      respectively. Substrate binding sites and catalytic center amino acid residues
      based on those from known GSNORs were conserved in this enzyme, and the
      corresponding roles were verified using site-directed mutagenesis. Therefore, we
      demonstrated the presence of GSNOR in a filamentous fungus for the first time. 

PMID- 26869608
TI  - Id-1, Id-2, and Id-3 co-expression correlates with prognosis in stage I and II
      lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.
AB  - Inhibitors of DNA binding/inhibitors of differentiation (Id) protein family have
      been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis. However, the roles of Id during lung
      adenocarcinoma (ADC) progression remain unclear. Eighty-eight ADC samples were
      evaluated for Id-1,2,3 level and angiogenesis (CD 34 and VEGF microvessel
      density) by immunohistochemistry and morphometry. The impact of these markers was
      tested on follow-up until death or recurrence. A significant difference between
      tumor and normal tissue was found for Id-1,2,3 expression (P < 0.01). In
      addition, high levels of nuclear Id-1 were associated with higher angiogenesis in
      the tumor stroma (P < 0.01). Equally significant was the association between
      patients in T1-stage and low cytoplasmic Id-2, as well as patients in stage-IIb
      and low Id-3. High cytoplasm Id-3 expression was also directly associated to
      lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.05). Patients at stages I to III, with low Id-1 and
      Id-3 cytoplasm histoscores showed significant long metastasis-free survival time
      than those with high Id-1 or Id-3 expression (P = 0.04). Furthermore, high MVD
      CD34 and MVD-VEGF expression were associated with short recurrence-free survival
      compared to low MVD-CD34 and MVD-VEGF expressions (P = 0.04). Cox model analyses
      controlled for age, lymph node metastasis, and adjuvant treatments showed that
      nuclear Id-1, cytoplasmic Id-3, and MVD-CD34 were significantly associated with
      survival time. Median score for nuclear Id-1 and cytoplasmic Id-3 divided
      patients in two groups, being that those with increased Id-1 and Id-3 presented
      higher risk of death. Ids showed an independent prognostic value in patients with
      lung ADC, regardless of disease stage. Id-1 and Id-3 should be considered new
      target candidates in the development of personalized therapy in lung ADC.

PMID- 26869609
TI  - Refeeding Low Weight Hospitalized Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: A
      Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Refeeding patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with high
      morbidity and mortality. A lack of evidence from interventional studies has
      hindered refeeding practice and led to worldwide disparities in management
      recommendations. In the first randomized controlled trial in this area, we tested
      the hypothesis that refeeding adolescents with AN with a higher energy intake
      than what many guidelines recommend improved anthropometric outcomes without
      adversely affecting cardiac and biochemical markers associated with refeeding.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants aged 10-16 years with a body mass index (BMI)
      <78% of the median (mBMI) for age and sex were recruited from 6 UK hospitals and
      randomly allocated to start refeeding at 1200 kcal/d (n = 18, intervention) or
      500 kcal/d (n = 18, control). RESULTS: Compared with controls, adolescents
      randomized to high energy intake had greater weight gain (mean difference between
      groups after 10 days of refeeding, -1.2% mBMI; 95% confidence interval, -2.4% to
      0.0%; P = .05), but randomized groups did not differ statistically in QTc
      interval and other outcomes. The nadir in postrefeeding phosphate concentration
      was significantly related to percentage mBMI at the start of refeeding (baseline;
      P = .04) and baseline white blood cell count (P = .005) but not to baseline
      energy intake (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: Refeeding adolescents with AN with a higher
      energy intake was associated with greater weight gain but without an increase in
      complications associated with refeeding when compared with a more cautious
      refeeding protocol-thus challenging current refeeding recommendations.

PMID- 26869610
TI  - Association of the Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness With Clinical Outcomes in
      Intensive Care Unit Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Different parameters may be used to evaluate the nutrition status of
      individuals. However, their use in the critically ill is problematic, since the
      interference of acute disease or therapeutic measures on their results can affect
      their interpretation. The aim of this study was to assess whether measuring the
      adductor pollicis muscle is useful in identifying malnutrition and clinical
      outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 127
      patients were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Serum albumin
      levels, anthropometrics, adductor pollicis muscle (APM) thickness, and Acute
      Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score were measured for
      each patient upon admission. APM thickness (APMT) was measured while the
      patient's elbow was flexed at a 90-degree angle and the forearm resting on the
      patient's torso. RESULTS: The dominant and nondominant APMT were significantly
      correlated with all anthropometric measurements (r = 0.41-0.68, P < .001 and r =
      0.42-0.66, P < .001 respectively). Multivariate regression analysis adjusted by
      other risk factors, including APACHE II score, serum albumin, and age, showed
      that among all anthropometric variables, the APMT has the highest correlation
      with mortality (odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.12; P
      < .001), length of stay >10 days (OR, 11.3; 95% CI, 4.42-29.1; P < .001), and
      organ failure (OR, 14.5; 95% CI, 6.5-38.4; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results
      showed that APMT is a low-cost, reliable, and easy method to assess nutrition
      status and to predict the patient's outcomes in the ICU.

PMID- 26869611
TI  - The Role of Probiotics on the Microbiota: Effect on Obesity.
AB  - The microbiota and the human host maintain a symbiotic association. Nowadays,
      metagenomic analyses are providing valuable knowledge on the diversity and
      functionality of the gut microbiota. However, with regard to the definition of a
      "healthy microbiota" and the characterization of the dysbiosis linked to obesity,
      there is still not a clear answer. Despite this fact, attempts have been made to
      counteract obesity through probiotic supplementation. A literature search of
      experimental studies relevant to the topic was performed in PubMed database with
      the keywords "probiotic" and "obesity" and restricted to those with
      "Lactobacillus" or "Bifidobacterium" in the title. So far, evidence of an
      antiobesity effect of different lactobacilli and bifidobacteria has been mainly
      obtained from animal models of dietary-induced obesity. Using these experimental
      models, a substantial number of studies have reported reductions in weight gain
      and, in particular, fat tissue mass at different locations following
      administration of bacteria, as compared with controls. Antiatherogenic and anti
      inflammatory effects-including regulation of expression of lipogenic and
      lipolytic genes in the liver, reduction in liver steatosis, improvement of blood
      lipid profile and glucose tolerance, decreased endotoxemia, and regulation of
      inflammatory pathways-are also reported in many of them. The number of human
      studies focused on probiotic administration for obesity management is still very
      scarce, and it is too soon to judge their potential efficacy, especially when
      considering the fact that the actions of probiotics are always strain specific
      and the individual response varies according to intrinsic factors, the overall
      composition of diet, and their interactions. 

PMID- 26869607
TI  - Disordered haematopoiesis and athero-thrombosis.
AB  - Atherosclerosis, the major underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, is
      characterized by a lipid-driven infiltration of inflammatory cells in large and
      medium arteries. Increased production and activation of monocytes, neutrophils,
      and platelets, driven by hypercholesterolaemia and defective high-density
      lipoproteins-mediated cholesterol efflux, tissue necrosis and cytokine production
      after myocardial infarction, or metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes,
      contribute to atherogenesis and athero-thrombosis. This suggests that in addition
      to traditional approaches of low-density lipoproteins lowering and anti-platelet
      drugs, therapies directed at abnormal haematopoiesis, including anti-inflammatory
      agents, drugs that suppress myelopoiesis, and excessive platelet production, rHDL
      infusions and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic agents, may help to prevent athero
      thrombosis. 

PMID- 26869612
TI  - Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment of Wernicke Encephalopathy: Report of 2
      Cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a medical emergency caused by
      thiamine deficiency, characterized by cerebellar ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and
      cognitive disturbances that may progress to Korsakoff amnesia. We describe 2
      patients with WE who needed high-dose and long-term treatment with thiamine to
      obtain neurological improvement and recovery. CASE DESCRIPTION: The first patient
      was a woman diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After a gastrointestinal
      infection, she developed depression, memory loss, disorientation, behavioral
      changes, and ataxic paraplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed
      bilateral alterations in thalamic, frontal, and periaqueductal regions,
      suggestive of WE. The second patient was a man who lost 10 kg after surgical
      gastrectomy; he developed diplopia, ophthalmoplegia, cerebellar ataxia, lower
      limb paresthesias, and amnesia. A brain MRI demonstrated contrast enhancement of
      mammillary bodies, compatible with WE. OUTCOME: The patients were treated with
      intramuscular (IM) thiamine (1200 mg/d for 2 months and 900 mg/d for a month,
      respectively) with gradual cognitive and behavioral improvement and brain MRI
      normalization, while ataxia and oculomotion improved in following months. In both
      patients, thiamine was gradually reduced to IM 200 mg/d and continued for a year,
      without clinical relapses. CONCLUSIONS: There is no consensus about dosage,
      frequency, route, and duration of thiamine administration in WE treatment. Based
      on our cases, we recommend treating patients with WE with higher doses of IM
      thiamine for a longer time than suggested (900-1200 mg/d for 1-2 months, in our
      cases) and to gradually reduce dosage after clinical and radiological
      improvement, maintaining IM 200 mg/d dosage for at least 1 year.

PMID- 26869613
TI  - Hypophosphatemia, Hypomagnesemia, and Hypokalemia in Pediatric Patients Before
      and During Exclusive Individualized Parenteral Nutrition.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypokalemia occur in patients
      receiving parenteral nutrition (PN), mainly when the body's stores are depleted
      due to fasting or inflammation. Although these disorders are potentially fatal,
      few studies have reported the incidence in the pediatric population. METHODS:
      This study evaluated, in a historical cohort of pediatric patients, the
      prevalence of hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesaemia until 48 hours
      before initiation of PN infusion (P1) and from days 1-4 (P2) and days 5-7 (P3) of
      PN infusion and investigated if malnutrition, calories, and protein infusion were
      correlated to these disorders. RESULTS: Malnutrition was present in 32.8% (n =
      119) of the subjects; 66.4% of the patients were in the pediatric intensive care
      unit. Survival rate was 86.6%. P1 had the highest prevalence of mineral
      disorders, with 54 events (58.1%; P2, n = 35, 37.6%; P3, n = 4, 4.3%).
      Hypokalemia events were related to malnutrition (odds ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.09-7.14; P = .045). In the first 7 days, infused calories were below
      the amount recommended by current guidelines in up to 84.9% of patients, and
      protein infused was adequate in up to 75.7%. Protein infused above the
      recommendation in the first 4 days was related to hypomagnesaemia (odds ratio,
      5.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-25.79; P = .033). CONCLUSION:
      Hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia were frequent in hospitalized
      pediatric patients before and during the first 4 days of PN infusion. Patients
      with malnutrition had more chances of having hypokalemia, and those who received
      high protein infusion had an increased chance of developing hypomagnesemia.

PMID- 26869614
TI  - Treasury bails out England's health department.

PMID- 26869615
TI  - Positive and Negative Affect in Children Living in Refugee Camps: Assessing the
      Psychometric Proprieties and Factorial Invariance of the PANAS-C in the Gaza
      Strip.
AB  - In the present study, we assessed the psychometric proprieties of the Positive
      and Negative Affect Scale-Child Version (PANAS-C) in a large sample of
      Palestinian children (N = 1,376) of different age ranges living in refugee camps.
      In particular, we used standard confirmatory factor analysis to test competing
      factor structures for the PANAS-C, with a view to developing a stable version of
      the instrument, suitable for speedy administration in applied and research
      settings in the contexts of military violence. Four alternative models of the
      PANAS-C were evaluated: unidimensional; two-dimensional with independent PA and
      NA scales and covariance of item-level errors unallowed; two-dimensional with
      dependent PA and NA scales and covariance of item-level errors unallowed; and two
      dimensional with dependent PA and NA scales and covariance of item-level errors.
      The results of the statistical analysis supported a 20-item measurement model
      comprising the PANAS-C20 Arabic version for children. The items in this best
      fitting model loaded on two different and negatively correlated factors. These
      findings encourage full adoption of the PANAS-C20 as a tool for assessing both PA
      and NA in Palestinian children living in contexts of warfare.

PMID- 26869616
TI  - Atypical glandular cells on cervical cytology.

PMID- 26869617
TI  - Efficient Genome Editing in Chicken DF-1 Cells Using the CRISPR/Cas9 System.
AB  - In recent years, genome engineering technology has provided unprecedented
      opportunities for site-specific modification of biological genomes. Clustered
      regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas)
      9 is one such means that can target a specific genome locus. It has been applied
      in human cells and many other organisms. Meanwhile, to efficiently enrich
      targeted cells, several surrogate systems have also been developed. However, very
      limited information exists on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in chickens. In this
      study, we employed the CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce mutations in the peroxisome
      proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), ATP synthase epsilon subunit
      (ATP5E), and ovalbumin (OVA) genes in chicken DF-1 cells. The results of T7E1
      assays showed that the mutation rate at the three different loci was 0.75%, 0.5%,
      and 3.0%, respectively. In order to improve the mutation efficiency, we used the
      Puro(R) gene for efficient enrichment of genetically modified cells with the
      surrogate reporter system. The mutation rate, as assessed via the T7E1 assay,
      increased to 60.7%, 61.3%, and 47.3%, and subsequent sequence analysis showed
      that the mutation efficiency increased to 94.7%, 95%, and 95%, respectively. In
      addition, there were no detectable off-target mutations in three potential off
      target sites using the T7E1 assay. As noted above, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is a
      robust tool for chicken genome editing.

PMID- 26869618
TI  - Detecting and Quantifying Changing Selection Intensities from Time-Sampled
      Polymorphism Data.
AB  - During his well-known debate with Fisher regarding the phenotypic dataset of
      Panaxia dominula, Wright suggested fluctuating selection as a potential
      explanation for the observed change in allele frequencies. This model has since
      been invoked in a number of analyses, with the focus of discussion centering
      mainly on random or oscillatory fluctuations of selection intensities. Here, we
      present a novel method to consider nonrandom changes in selection intensities
      using Wright-Fisher approximate Bayesian (ABC)-based approaches, in order to
      detect and evaluate a change in selection strength from time-sampled data. This
      novel method jointly estimates the position of a change point as well as the
      strength of both corresponding selection coefficients (and dominance for diploid
      cases) from the allele trajectory. The simulation studies of this method reveal
      the combinations of parameter ranges and input values that optimize performance,
      thus indicating optimal experimental design strategies. We apply this approach to
      both the historical dataset of P. dominula in order to shed light on this
      historical debate, as well as to whole-genome time-serial data from influenza
      virus in order to identify sites with changing selection intensities in response
      to drug treatment.

PMID- 26869619
TI  - Accuracy of Genomic Prediction in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Improved by
      Accounting for Linkage Disequilibrium.
AB  - Switchgrass is a relatively high-yielding and environmentally sustainable biomass
      crop, but further genetic gains in biomass yield must be achieved to make it an
      economically viable bioenergy feedstock. Genomic selection (GS) is an attractive
      technology to generate rapid genetic gains in switchgrass, and meet the goals of
      a substantial displacement of petroleum use with biofuels in the near future. In
      this study, we empirically assessed prediction procedures for genomic selection
      in two different populations, consisting of 137 and 110 half-sib families of
      switchgrass, tested in two locations in the United States for three agronomic
      traits: dry matter yield, plant height, and heading date. Marker data were
      produced for the families' parents by exome capture sequencing, generating up to
      141,030 polymorphic markers with available genomic-location and annotation
      information. We evaluated prediction procedures that varied not only by learning
      schemes and prediction models, but also by the way the data were preprocessed to
      account for redundancy in marker information. More complex genomic prediction
      procedures were generally not significantly more accurate than the simplest
      procedure, likely due to limited population sizes. Nevertheless, a highly
      significant gain in prediction accuracy was achieved by transforming the marker
      data through a marker correlation matrix. Our results suggest that marker-data
      transformations and, more generally, the account of linkage disequilibrium among
      markers, offer valuable opportunities for improving prediction procedures in GS.
      Some of the achieved prediction accuracies should motivate implementation of GS
      in switchgrass breeding programs.

PMID- 26869620
TI  - Evolution of Plant Phenotypes, from Genomes to Traits.

PMID- 26869622
TI  - Unusual presentation of a familiar pathology: chronic appendicitis.
AB  - We present a case of a man who experienced night sweats, abdominal pain and fever
      for over 3 months, with incomplete response to broad-spectrum intravenous
      antibiotics. Although CT imaging was insufficient to identify the cause for his
      chronic abdominal pain, the abnormality of a 'misty mesentery' was crucial in
      guiding further investigation. The final diagnosis of chronic appendicitis was
      made through laparoscopic and pathological examination. This case highlights the
      utility of a collaborative diagnostic effort between disciplines. Chronic
      appendicitis can cause lingering abdominal pain. Early recognition and
      appropriate referral can save patients months and even years of unnecessary
      suffering. 

PMID- 26869621
TI  - Whole Genome Comparison Reveals High Levels of Inbreeding and Strain Redundancy
      Across the Spectrum of Commercial Wine Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Humans have been consuming wines for more than 7000 yr . For most of this time,
      fermentations were presumably performed by strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      that naturally found their way into the fermenting must . In contrast, most
      commercial wines are now produced by inoculation with pure yeast monocultures,
      ensuring consistent, reliable and reproducible fermentations, and there are now
      hundreds of these yeast starter cultures commercially available. In order to
      thoroughly investigate the genetic diversity that has been captured by over 50 yr
      of commercial wine yeast development and domestication, whole genome sequencing
      has been performed on 212 strains of S. cerevisiae, including 119 commercial wine
      and brewing starter strains, and wine isolates from across seven decades.
      Comparative genomic analysis indicates that, despite their large numbers,
      commercial strains, and wine strains in general, are extremely similar
      genetically, possessing all of the hallmarks of a population bottle-neck, and
      high levels of inbreeding. In addition, many commercial strains from multiple
      suppliers are nearly genetically identical, suggesting that the limits of
      effective genetic variation within this genetically narrow group may be
      approaching saturation.

PMID- 26869623
TI  - Traumatic brain injury and the evidence for its management.
AB  - A 29-year-old man presented to a major trauma centre with traumatic brain injury.
      Following cranial decompression, the patient was admitted to the intensive care
      unit for medical management and monitoring. This case report reviews the evidence
      for the management of traumatic brain injury. 

PMID- 26869625
TI  - An 86-year-old man with acute abdominal pain.
AB  - An 86-year-old man presented with severe pain in the upper abdomen along with
      fever. On physical examination, we found an arterial blood pressure of 84/43 mm
      Hg, a heart rate of 80 bpm and a temperature of 38.3 degrees C. The abdomen was
      painful and peristalsis was absent. Empiric antibiotic therapy for sepsis was
      started with amoxicillin/clavulanate and gentamicin. CT scan of the abdomen
      revealed an emphysematous cholecystitis. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided
      cholecystostomy was applied. Bile cultures revealed Clostridium perfringens.
      Emphysematous cholecystitis is a life-threatening form of acute cholecystitis
      that occurs as a consequence of ischaemic injury to the gallbladder, followed by
      translocation of gas-forming bacteria (ie, C. perfringens, Escherichia coli,
      Klebsiella and Streptococci). The mortality associated with emphysematous
      cholecystitis is higher than in non-emphysematous cholecystitis (15% vs 4%).
      Therefore, early diagnosis with radiological imaging is of vital importance.

PMID- 26869624
TI  - Spontaneous lymphocoele: an unusual cause of an axillary mass.
AB  - A lymphocoele or cystic hygroma is a benign lymphatic malformation that usually
      presents as a congenital mass in infancy. These masses are most common in the
      cervicofacial region and more rarely occur elsewhere in the body. Spontaneous,
      atraumatic presentation in adulthood is extremely rare. We present a case of a 59
      year-old woman who presented with a fluctuant mass in the axilla, which was
      diagnosed as a lymphocoele. Initial management by ultrasound-guided aspiration of
      the cyst proved unsuccessful due to recurrence. Surgical excision of the cyst was
      then successfully performed and histological analysis proved the diagnosis. The
      incidence of adult-onset lymphocoele without a history of prior trauma or
      operation is rare. This case report adds to the literature and reviews the
      various management strategies that have been successfully employed. 

PMID- 26869626
TI  - CT findings in type IV hiatus hernia involving the pancreas.

PMID- 26869627
TI  - Dysphagia and aspiration as the only manifestations of a stroke.
AB  - A 56-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital, presenting with dysphagia as
      the only symptom. He was very concerned about this difficulty in swallowing.
      Diseases of the upper digestive tract were suspected, but further investigations
      revealed a neurological disorder. He had suffered a brain stem stroke and, as a
      consequence, developed an aspiration pneumonia. What seemed a digestive disorder
      was indeed a brain stem stroke, therefore we had to deal with the diverse impacts
      of this condition. 

PMID- 26869628
TI  - Trismus, the first symptom in a challenging diagnosis of Tetanus.
AB  - Tetanus is a severe, life-threatening infectious disease present worldwide. The
      incidence of this disease is very low in developed countries, and practitioners
      are unfamiliar with its symptoms and signs, resulting in late diagnosis and low
      recovery rate. Furthermore, main symptoms, such as trismus, are often associated
      with several confounding factors: these may lead the physician to send patients
      towards an incorrect diagnostic management and the calling on of wrong
      specialists. This case focuses on the importance of considering tetanus in the
      differential diagnosis of trismus associated with systemic symptoms, and
      discusses the clinical implications of an initial wrong diagnostic pathway. 

PMID- 26869629
TI  - Acute myeloid leukemia patients' clinical response to idasanutlin (RG7388) is
      associated with pre-treatment MDM2 protein expression in leukemic blasts.

PMID- 26869632
TI  - Heartbeat: Biomarkers and pulmonary artery hypertension.

PMID- 26869631
TI  - Risk assessment of relapse by lineage-specific monitoring of chimerism in
      children undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia.
AB  - Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is required as rescue therapy
      in about 20% of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However,
      the relapse rates are considerable, and relapse confers a poor outcome. Early
      assessment of the risk of relapse is therefore of paramount importance for the
      development of appropriate measures. We used the EuroChimerism approach to
      investigate the potential impact of lineage-specific chimerism testing for
      relapse-risk analysis in 162 pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a multicenter study based on
      standardized transplantation protocols. Within a median observation time of 4.5
      years, relapses have occurred in 41/162 patients at a median of 0.6 years after
      transplantation (range, 0.13-5.7 years). Prospective screening at defined
      consecutive time points revealed that reappearance of recipient-derived cells
      within the CD34(+) and CD8(+) cell subsets display the most significant
      association with the occurrence of relapses with hazard ratios of 5.2 (P=0.003)
      and 2.8 (P=0.008), respectively. The appearance of recipient cells after a period
      of pure donor chimerism in the CD34(+) and CD8(+) leukocyte subsets revealed
      dynamics indicative of a significantly elevated risk of relapse or imminent
      disease recurrence. Assessment of chimerism within these lineages can therefore
      provide complementary information for further diagnostic and, potentially,
      therapeutic purposes aiming at the prevention of overt relapse. This study was
      registered at clinical. TRIALS: gov with the number NC01423747.

PMID- 26869633
TI  - The quest for biomarker discovery in pulmonary arterial hypertension: the right
      takes lessons from the left.

PMID- 26869630
TI  - Reduced intensity haplo plus single cord transplant compared to double cord
      transplant: improved engraftment and graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free
      survival.
AB  - Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants are commonly used in adults lacking
      HLA-identical donors. Delays in hematopoietic recovery contribute to mortality
      and morbidity. To hasten recovery, we used co-infusion of progenitor cells from a
      partially matched related donor and from an umbilical cord blood graft (haplo
      cord transplant). Here we compared the outcomes of haplo-cord and double-cord
      transplants. A total of 97 adults underwent reduced intensity conditioning
      followed by haplo-cord transplant and 193 patients received reduced intensity
      conditioning followed by double umbilical cord blood transplantation. Patients in
      the haplo-cord group were more often from minority groups and had more advanced
      malignancy. Haplo-cord recipients received fludarabine-melphalan-anti-thymocyte
      globulin. Double umbilical cord blood recipients received fludarabine
      cyclophosphamide and low-dose total body irradiation. In a multivariate analysis,
      haplo-cord had faster neutrophil (HR=1.42, P=0.007) and platelet (HR=2.54,
      P<0.0001) recovery, lower risk of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease
      (HR=0.26, P<0.0001) and chronic graft-versus-host disease (HR=0.06, P<0.0001).
      Haplo-cord was associated with decreased risk of relapse (HR 0.48, P=0.001).
      Graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free survival was superior with haplo
      cord (HR 0.63, P=0.002) but not overall survival (HR=0.97, P=0.85). Haplo-cord
      transplantation using fludarabine-melphalan-thymoglobulin conditioning hastens
      hematopoietic recovery with a lower risk of relapse relative to double umbilical
      cord blood transplantation using the commonly used fludarabine-cyclophosphamide
      low-dose total body irradiation conditioning. Graft-versus-host disease-free and
      relapse-free survival is significantly improved. Haplo-cord is a readily
      available graft source that improves outcomes and access to transplant for those
      lacking HLA-matched donors. Trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifiers
      00943800 and 01810588.

PMID- 26869634
TI  - Ultrasound contrast during stress echo: for obese patients, but not only.

PMID- 26869635
TI  - Galectin-3 and aldosterone as potential tandem biomarkers in pulmonary arterial
      hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have identified circulating biomarkers to be
      associated with the presence and severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension
      (PAH). Recent evidence supports a role for galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the
      mineralcorticoid aldosterone in left ventricular failure. However, studies on
      aldosterone together with Gal-3 in PAH are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We investigated a
      novel Aldosterone-galectin-3 (Gal-3) tandem and several other potential PAH
      biomarkers and their association with the disease severity. METHODS: A total of
      57 patients, 41 with idiopathic PAH. (IPAH) and 16 with PAH associated with
      connective tissue disease (CTD), and 8 age-matched, non-relative controls were
      studied. Gal-3, aldosterone and other potential protein plasma concentrations
      were measured by single ELISA and multi-array MSD (Meso Scale Discovery)
      technology. RESULTS: Gal-3 values were increased in both patients with IPAH
      (12.2+/-0.6 ng/mL; p<0.05) and with PAH-CTD (14.1+/-1.6 ng/mL; p<0.05) versus
      control (8.5+/-0.9 ng/mL), while aldosterone was significantly elevated in IPAH
      only (248.5+/-38.8 pg/mL vs control 71.9+/-18.2 pg/mL; p<0.05). In addition,
      aldosterone, Gal-3, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)
      values were all higher in patients in WHO functional class II-III versus PAH
      functional class I or controls. The vascular injury marker intercellular adhesion
      molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was increased in IPAH and PAH-CTD versus controls (559.5+/
      18.2 pg/mL and 734.1+/-59.4 pg/mL vs controls 394.8+/-39.3 pg/mL, p<0.05,
      p<0.0001, respectively), whereas vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and
      proinflammatory, anti-angiogenic interleukin-12 (IL-12) were elevated in PAH-CTD
      only (879.5+/-110.0 pg/mL and 391.2+/-70.3 pg/mL vs controls 489.8+/-44.6 pg/mL,
      p<0.01, and 102.1+/-15.2 pg/mL, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Heightened
      Gal-3 and aldosterone plasma concentrations in PAH patients indicate a role for
      Gal-3 signalling in the pathobiology of IPAH and PAH-CTD, and may serve as
      biomarkers for functional status and progression of disease.

PMID- 26869640
TI  - Early versus late surgical intervention or medical management for infective
      endocarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Infective endocarditis is associated with high morbidity and mortality
      and optimal timing for surgical intervention is unclear. We performed a
      systematic review and meta-analysis to compare early surgical intervention with
      conservative therapy in patients with infective endocarditis. METHODS: PubMed,
      Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL and Google-scholar databases were searched from January
      1960 to April 2015. Randomised controlled trials, retrospective cohorts and
      prospective observational studies comparing outcomes between early surgery at 20
      days or less and conservative management for infective endocarditis were
      analysed. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included. OR of all-cause mortality
      for early surgery was 0.61 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.74, p<0.001) in unmatched groups and
      0.41 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.54, p<0.001) in the propensity-matched groups (matched for
      baseline variables). For patients who had surgical intervention at 7 days or
      less, OR of all-cause mortality was 0.61 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.96, p=0.034) and in
      those who had surgical intervention within 8-20 days, the OR of mortality was
      0.64 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.86, p=0.003) compared with conservative management. In
      propensity-matched groups, the OR of mortality in patients with surgical
      intervention at 7 days or less was 0.30 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.54, p<0.001) and in the
      subgroup of patients who underwent surgery between 8 and 20 days was 0.51 (95% CI
      0.35 to 0.72, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in in-hospital
      mortality, embolisation, heart failure and recurrence of endocarditis between the
      overall unmatched cohorts. CONCLUSION: The results of our meta-analysis suggest
      that early surgical intervention is associated with significantly lower risk of
      mortality in patients with infective endocarditis.

PMID- 26869641
TI  - Trimethylamine N-oxide and prognosis in acute heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with high mortality and
      morbidity. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite, has reported
      association with mortality risk in chronic HF but this association in AHF is
      still unknown. The present study investigated TMAO in patients admitted to
      hospital with AHF, and association of circulating levels with prognosis. METHODS:
      In total, 972 plasma samples were analysed for TMAO concentration by liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry. Associations with in-hospital mortality (72
      events), all-cause mortality (death, 268 events) and a composite of death or
      rehospitalisation due to HF (death/HF, 384 events) at 1 year were examined.
      RESULTS: TMAO improved risk stratification for in-hospital mortality in
      combination with current clinical scorings (OR>=1.13, p<=0.014). TMAO tertile
      analyses reported a graded risk in adverse outcome within 1 year (OR>=1.61,
      p<=0.004) and improved outcome prediction when stratified as none, one or both
      biomarker(s) elevated in combination with N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic
      peptide (NT-proBNP) (OR>=2.15, p<=0.007). TMAO was independently predictive for
      death and death/HF when corrected for cardiac risk factors (HR>=1.16, p<=0.037);
      however, this ability was weakened when indices of renal function were included,
      possibly due to multicollinearity. CONCLUSIONS: TMAO contributed additional
      information on patient stratification for in-hospital mortality of AHF admissions
      using available clinical scores that include renal indices. Furthermore, elevated
      levels were associated with poor prognosis at 1 year and combination of TMAO and
      NT-proBNP provided additional prognostic information. TMAO was a univariate
      predictor of death and death/HF, and remained an independent predictor until
      adjusted for renal confounders.

PMID- 26869643
TI  - Demographics of the US Oncology Workforce.

PMID- 26869645
TI  - Targeting Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 in Lymphoma: A Game
      Changer.

PMID- 26869644
TI  - Where Do Programmed Death-1 Inhibitors Fit in the Management of Malignant
      Lymphoma?
AB  - Tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells have the capacity to target and eradicate
      malignant B cells in patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; however,
      multiple mechanisms, including regulatory T cells, immunosuppressive ligands, and
      immune exhaustion, suppress an effective antitumor immune response. One mechanism
      that is used by malignant cells to inhibit the immune response is overexpression
      of programmed death ligand 1 or 2 (PD-L1 or PD-L2) on the cancer cell surface.
      These ligands interact with the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor expressed on
      intratumoral T cells and provide an inhibitory signal, thereby suppressing the
      antitumor immune response. Monoclonal antibodies that block PD-1 signaling
      prevent T-cell inhibition and promote a T-cell-mediated antilymphoma response.
      Blocking antibodies that are directed against PD-1 or PD-L1 are currently being
      tested in patients with lymphoma and have shown remarkable efficacy, particularly
      in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. On the basis of the promising
      activity of this approach, PD-1 inhibitors are being used as single-agent therapy
      in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma, and these inhibitors are also being
      tested in combination with standard chemotherapy or targeted agents in ongoing
      clinical trials. 

PMID- 26869642
TI  - ALS-linked protein disulfide isomerase variants cause motor dysfunction.
AB  - Disturbance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteostasis is a common feature of
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs)
      areERfoldases identified as possibleALSbiomarkers, as well as neuroprotective
      factors. However, no functional studies have addressed their impact on the
      disease process. Here, we functionally characterized fourALS-linked mutations
      recently identified in two majorPDIgenes,PDIA1 andPDIA3/ERp57. Phenotypic
      screening in zebrafish revealed that the expression of thesePDIvariants induce
      motor defects associated with a disruption of motoneuron connectivity. Similarly,
      the expression of mutantPDIs impaired dendritic outgrowth in motoneuron cell
      culture models. Cellular and biochemical studies identified distinct molecular
      defects underlying the pathogenicity of thesePDImutants. Finally, targetingERp57
      in the nervous system led to severe motor dysfunction in mice associated with a
      loss of neuromuscular synapses. This study identifiesERproteostasis imbalance as
      a risk factor forALS, driving initial stages of the disease. 

PMID- 26869646
TI  - Immune Checkpoint Inhibition: A New Era in Lymphoma Treatment.

PMID- 26869647
TI  - Multimodality Therapy for Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - Limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) occurs in only one third of patients
      with SCLC, but it is potentially curable. Combined-modality therapy (chemotherapy
      and radiotherapy) has long been the mainstay of therapy for this condition, but
      more recent data suggest a role for surgery in early-stage disease. Prophylactic
      cranial irradiation seems to improve outcomes in patients who have responded to
      initial therapy. This review addresses the practical aspects of staging and
      treatment of patients with limited-stage SCLC. 

PMID- 26869648
TI  - Small-Cell Lung Cancer: New Directions for Systemic Therapy.

PMID- 26869649
TI  - Is This As Good As It Gets?

PMID- 26869650
TI  - Breast Cancer in Women Older Than 80 Years.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence that rises
      dramatically with age. The average age at diagnosis of breast cancer is 61 years,
      and the majority of woman who die of breast cancer are age 65 years and older.
      Major improvements in public health and medical care have resulted in dramatic
      increases in longevity. The oldest old (those age 80 years and older) are a
      rapidly expanding group and now comprise 9 million members of the US population.
      The treatment of individuals who are age 80 years and older is complex and
      involves clearly defining the goals and value of treatment while also weighing
      risks, such as the potential effects of treatment on functional loss and quality
      of life. Limited evidence-based treatment guidelines exist for the caring of this
      older cohort of patients with breast cancer. Data from clinical trials that
      enroll primarily younger patients lack the information needed to estimate the
      likelihood of toxicities that can be life changing in older adults. Clinicians
      who make treatment recommendations should place the available evidence in the
      context of the patient's life expectancy and geriatric assessment results that
      include an evaluation of a patient's functional status, comorbidities, cognition,
      social support, nutritional status, and psychological state. Furthermore, these
      decisions should be placed in the context of the patient's goals for treatment,
      preferences, and values. This review summarizes the current literature and
      focuses on the role of geriatric assessment in treatment recommendations for
      patients age 80 years and older with early and metastatic breast cancer. 

PMID- 26869651
TI  - Treatment of Breast Cancer in Women Older Than 80 Years Is a Complex Task.

PMID- 26869652
TI  - Geriatricizing Oncology Care: Older Women With Breast Cancer.

PMID- 26869653
TI  - Cancer Staging in Electronic Health Records: Strategies to Improve Documentation
      of These Critical Data.

PMID- 26869654
TI  - Benefits and Pitfalls of Using Administrative Data to Study Hospitalization
      Patterns in Patients With Cancer Treated With Chemotherapy.

PMID- 26869655
TI  - ReCAP: Hospitalizations in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer: The Role of
      Chemotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Hospital readmissions are often cited as a marker of poor quality of
      care. Limited data suggest some readmissions may be preventable depending upon
      definitions and available outpatient support. METHODS: General criteria to define
      preventable and not preventable admissions were developed before data collection
      began. The records of sequential nonsurgical oncology readmissions were reviewed
      independently by two reviewers. When the reviewers disagreed about assigning
      admissions as preventable or not preventable, a third reviewer was the tie
      breaker. The reasons for assigning admissions as preventable or not preventable
      were analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-two readmissions occurring among 69 patients were
      analyzed. The first two reviewers agreed that 18 (25%) of 72 were preventable and
      that 29 (40%) of 72 were not. A third reviewer found four of the split 25 cases
      to be preventable; therefore, the consensus preventability rate was 22 (31%) of
      72. The most common causes of preventability were overwhelming symptoms in
      patients who qualified for hospice but were not participating in hospice and
      insufficient communication between patients and the care team about symptom
      burden. The most common reason for assignment of a not preventable admission was
      a high symptom burden among patients without strong indications for hospice or
      for whom aggressive outpatient management was inadequate. The median survival
      after readmission was 72 days. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of oncology
      readmissions could be prevented with better anticipation of symptoms in high-risk
      ambulatory patients and enhanced communication about symptom burden between
      patients and physicians before an escalation that leads to an emergency
      department visit. Managing symptoms in patients who are appropriate for hospice
      is challenging. Readmission is a marker of poor prognosis.

PMID- 26869657
TI  - Meningeal Myelomatosis.

PMID- 26869656
TI  - ReCAP: Detection of Potentially Avoidable Harm in Oncology From Patient Medical
      Records.
AB  - PURPOSE: Widespread consensus exists about the importance of addressing patient
      safety issues in oncology, yet our understanding of the frequency, spectrum, and
      preventability of adverse events (AEs) across cancer care is limited. METHODS: We
      developed a screening tool to detect AEs across cancer care settings through
      medical record review. Members of the study team reviewed the scientific
      literature and obtained structured input from an external multidisciplinary panel
      of clinicians by using a modified Delphi process. RESULTS: The screening tool
      comprises 76 triggers-readily identifiable findings to screen for possible AEs
      that occur during cancer care. Categories of triggers are general care, vital
      signs, medication related, laboratory tests, other orders, and consultations.
      CONCLUSION: Although additional testing is required to assess its performance
      characteristics, this tool may offer an efficient mechanism for identifying
      possibly preventable AEs in oncology and serve as an instrument for quality
      improvement.

PMID- 26869661
TI  - Multidisciplinary Management of Chronic Pain. A Practical Guide for Clinicians.

PMID- 26869658
TI  - Reducing the Time From Diagnosis to Treatment of Patients With Stage II/III
      Rectal Cancer at a Large Public Hospital.
AB  - Curative-intent therapy for stage II/III rectal cancer is necessarily complex.
      Current guidelines by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend
      preoperative concurrent chemoradiation followed by resection and additional
      adjuvant chemotherapy. We used standard quality improvement methodology to
      implement a cost-effective intervention that reduced the time from diagnosis to
      treatment of patients with stage II/III rectal cancer by approximately 30% in a
      large public hospital in Houston, Texas. Implementation of the program resulted
      in a reduction in time from pathologic diagnosis to treatment of 29% overall,
      from 62 to 44 days. These gains were cost neutral and resulted from improvements
      in scheduling and coordination of care alone. Our results suggest that: (1)
      quality improvement methodology can be successfully applied to multidisciplinary
      cancer care, (2) effective interventions can be cost neutral, and (3) effective
      strategies can overcome complexities such as having multiple sites of care, high
      staff turnover, and resource limitations. 

PMID- 26869662
TI  - Outcomes of minimally invasive lung transplantation in a single centre: the
      routine approach for the future or do we still need clamshell incision?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive lung transplantation (MILT) via bilateral anterior
      thoracotomies has emerged as a novel surgical strategy with potential patient
      benefits when compared with transverse thoracosternotomy (clamshell incision,
      CS). The aim of this study is to compare MILT with CS by focusing on operative
      characteristics, postoperative organ function and support and mid-term clinical
      outcomes at Harefield Hospital. METHODS: It was a retrospective observational
      study evaluating all bilateral sequential lung transplants between April 2010 and
      November 2013. RESULTS: CS was performed in 124 patients and MILT in 70 patients.
      Skin-to-skin surgical time was less in the MILT group [285 (265, 339) min]
      compared with CS [380 (306, 565) min] and MILT-cardiopulmonary bypass [426 (360,
      478) min]. Ischaemic time was significantly longer (502 +/- 116 vs 395 +/- 145
      min) in the MILT group compared with CS (P < 0.01). Early postoperative
      physiological variables were similar between groups. Patients in the MILT group
      required less blood [2 (0, 4) vs 3 (1, 5) units, P = 0.16] and platelet
      transfusion [0 (0, 1) vs 1 (0, 2) units, P < 0.01]. The median duration of
      mechanical ventilation was shorter (26 vs 44 h, P < 0.01) and intensive therapy
      unit stay was 2 days shorter (5 vs 7) in the MILT group. While overall survival
      was similar, fraction of expired volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity
      (FVC) were consistently higher in the MILT group compared with CS during mid-term
      follow-up after transplantation. Specifically, FEV1 and FVC were, respectively,
      86 +/- 21 and 88 +/- 18% predicted in the MILT group compared with 74 +/- 21 and
      74 +/- 19% predicted in the CS group (P < 0.01) at the 6-month follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: MILT was successfully introduced at our centre as a novel operative
      strategy. Despite longer ischaemic times and a more complex operation and
      management, MILT appears to offer early postoperative and mid-term clinical
      benefits compared with our traditional approach of clamshell operations. These
      observations warrant larger definite studies to further evaluate the impact of
      MILT on physiological, clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

PMID- 26869663
TI  - Two-stage operation for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection originating from
      Kommerell's diverticulum.
AB  - We report a rare case of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection involving an
      aberrant right subclavian artery and originating from Kommerell's diverticulum in
      a 52-year old man. Initially, as an emergency measure, total arch replacement and
      right axillary artery reconstruction were performed. However, due to the
      subsequent enlargement of the false lumen, thoracic endovascular aortic repair
      and right subclavian artery coiling were performed successfully 5 months after
      the first operation. Herein, we describe surgical management approaches for the
      treatment of a Stanford type A acute aortic dissection with aberrant right
      subclavian artery.

PMID- 26869664
TI  - Understanding the Areas and Correlates of Diabetes-Related Distress in Parents of
      Teens With Type 1 Diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the unique areas of diabetes-related distress (DD) for
      parents of teens with type 1 diabetes and parent and teen characteristics
      associated with DD. METHODS: Areas of DD were developed from structured
      interviews and translated into 46 survey items. Items were analyzed with
      exploratory factor analysis (EFA). RESULTS: An EFA with 332 parents (88% mothers)
      reduced items to four Parent Diabetes Distress Scale (PDDS) factors (20 items,
      alpha = .94): Personal, Teen Management, Parent/Teen Relationship, and Healthcare
      Team Distress. Parent DD was higher among fathers, younger or single parents,
      parents of teens with higher hemoglobin A1c or severe low blood glucose levels,
      authoritarian parenting, depressive symptoms, and low emotional support.
      CONCLUSIONS: 4 areas of parent DD were identified using a newly developed
      measure, the PDDS. DD was associated with family demographic, teen diabetes
      status, and parent contextual factors, and can help identify parents who may be
      more vulnerable to DD.

PMID- 26869665
TI  - Examining Biopsychosocial Factors in Relation to Multiple Pain Features in
      Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine biopsychosocial variables in relation to multiple pain
      features in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: 76 children with SCD (M
      = 14.05, SD = 3.26), ages 8-19 years, and 70 caregivers completed measures of
      coping, mood, and family functioning and reported on multiple pain features via
      retrospective interviews during routine hematological visits. Sickle cell
      genotype and health care utilization were collected via medical record review.
      Using hierarchical regression, biological (genotype), child psychological (coping
      and mood), and social factors (caregiver coping and family functioning) were
      evaluated in relation to multiple pain features. RESULTS: Genotype was associated
      with pain intensity, and child psychological factors were associated with pain
      frequency. Multiple biopsychosocial factors were related to health care
      utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsychosocial factors may have distinct relationships
      with pain features in pediatric SCD. Understanding these relationships may refine
      the biopsychosocial model and inform integrated medical and psychosocial
      approaches in SCD.

PMID- 26869666
TI  - Paid family leave's effect on hospital admissions for pediatric abusive head
      trauma.
AB  - Paediatric abusive head trauma (AHT) is a leading cause of fatal child
      maltreatment among young children. Current prevention efforts have not been
      consistently effective. Policies such as paid parental leave could potentially
      prevent AHT, given its impacts on risk factors for child maltreatment. To explore
      associations between California's 2004 paid family leave (PFL) policy and
      hospital admissions for AHT, we used difference-in-difference analyses of 1995
      2011 US state-level data before and after the policy in California and seven
      comparison states. Compared with seven states with no PFL policies, California's
      2004 PFL showed a significant decrease in AHT admissions in both <1 and <2-year
      olds. Analyses using additional data years and comparators could yield different
      results.

PMID- 26869667
TI  - Inhibition of KV7 Channels Protects the Rat Heart against Myocardial Ischemia and
      Reperfusion Injury.
AB  - The voltage-gated KV7 (KCNQ) potassium channels are activated by ischemia and
      involved in hypoxic vasodilatation. We investigated the effect of KV7 channel
      modulation on cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury and its interaction with
      cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Reverse-transcription
      polymerase chain reaction revealed expression of KV7.1, KV7.4, and KV7.5 in the
      left anterior descending rat coronary artery and all KV7 subtypes (KV7.1-KV7.5)
      in the left and right ventricles of the heart. Isolated hearts were subjected to
      no-flow global ischemia and reperfusion with and without IPC. Infarct size was
      quantified by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Two blockers of KV7
      channels, XE991 [10,10-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone] (10 uM) and
      linopirdine (10 uM), reduced infarct size and exerted additive infarct reduction
      to IPC. An opener of KV7 channels, flupirtine (10 uM) abolished infarct size
      reduction by IPC. Hemodynamics were measured using a catheter inserted in the
      left ventricle and postischemic left ventricular recovery improved in accordance
      with reduction of infarct size and deteriorated with increased infarct size.
      XE991 (10 uM) reduced coronary flow in the reperfusion phase and inhibited
      vasodilatation in isolated small branches of the left anterior descending
      coronary artery during both simulated ischemia and reoxygenation. KV7 channels
      are expressed in rat coronary arteries and myocardium. Inhibition of KV7 channels
      exerts cardioprotection and opening of KV7 channels abrogates cardioprotection by
      IPC. Although safety issues should be further addressed, our findings suggest a
      potential role for KV7 blockers in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury. 

PMID- 26869668
TI  - Elucidation of the Mechanisms through Which the Reactive Metabolite Diclofenac
      Acyl Glucuronide Can Mediate Toxicity.
AB  - We have previously reported that mice lacking the efflux transporter Mrp3 had
      significant intestinal injury after toxic diclofenac (DCF) challenge, and
      proposed that diclofenac acyl glucuronide (DCF-AG), as a substrate of Mrp3,
      played a part in mediating injury. Since both humans and mice express the uptake
      transporter OATP2B1 in the intestines, OATP2B1 was characterized for DCF-AG
      uptake. In vitro assays using human embryonic kidney (HEK)-OATP2B1 cells
      demonstrated that DCF-AG was a substrate with a maximal velocity (Vmax) and Km of
      17.6 +/- 1.5 pmol/min per milligram and 14.3 +/- 0.1 MUM, respectively. Another
      key finding from our in vitro assays was that DCF-AG was more cytotoxic compared
      with DCF, and toxicity occurred within 1-3 hours of exposure. We also report that
      1 mM DCF-AG caused a 6-fold increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 3 hours.
      Investigation of oxidative stress through inhibition of superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) revealed that DCF-AG had 100% inhibition of SOD at the highest tested dose
      of 1 mM. The SOD and ROS results strongly suggest DCF-AG induced oxidative stress
      in vitro. Lastly, DCF-AG was screened for pharmacologic activity against COX-1
      and COX-2 and was found to have IC50 values of 0.620 +/- 0.105 and 2.91 +/- 0.36
      MUM, respectively, which represents a novel finding. Since cyclooxygenase (COX)
      inhibition can lead to intestinal ulceration, it is plausible that DCF-AG can
      also contribute to enteropathy via COX inhibition. Taken in context, the work
      presented herein demonstrated the multifactorial pathways by which DCF-AG can act
      as a direct contributor to toxicity following DCF administration. 

PMID- 26869670
TI  - Inhibition of Pim1 kinase, new therapeutic approach in virus-induced asthma
      exacerbations.
AB  - Therapeutic options to treat virus-induced asthma exacerbations are limited and
      urgently needed. Therefore, we tested Pim1 kinase as potential therapeutic target
      in human rhinovirus (HRV) infections. We hypothesised that inhibition of Pim1
      kinase reduces HRV replication by augmenting the interferon-induced anti-viral
      response due to increased activity of the janus kinase-signal transducer and
      activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway.Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures
      of primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) from healthy individuals and
      moderate-to-severe asthmatic volunteers were infected with HRV-16 with or without
      a specific Pim1 inhibitor; viral replication and induction of anti-viral
      responses were measured using RT-qPCR. Viral titres were measured by 50% tissue
      culture infective dose and release of interferon-gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10)
      and RANTES protein assessed by ELISA. Phosphorylation of STAT-1 was determined
      using western blotting.Viral replication was reduced in ALI cultures of healthy
      and asthmatic PBECs treated with the Pim1 inhibitor. Using cultures from healthy
      donors, enhanced STAT-1 phosphorylation upon inhibition of Pim1 kinase activity
      resulted in increased mRNA expression of interferon-beta, interleukin-29, IP-10
      and RANTES 12 h after infection and increased protein levels of IP-10 and RANTES
      24 h after infection.We have identified Pim1 kinase as novel target to reduce
      viral replication in ALI cultures of PBECs. This may open new avenues for
      therapeutic interventions in virus-induced asthma exacerbations. 

PMID- 26869671
TI  - Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of mortality in COPD.
AB  - Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have higher incidence
      and prevalence of other chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory
      bowel disease (IBD). We assessed whether IBD onset increases mortality risk in
      patients with COPD or asthma-associated COPD.Two population-based cohorts of COPD
      and asthma-COPD subjects were identified using the administrative health
      databases in Quebec, Canada, 1990-2007. Death records were retrieved from the
      death certificate registry. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess
      the impact of newly developed IBD on mortality risk.The COPD and asthma-COPD
      cohorts included 273 208 and 26 575 patients, respectively, of which 697 and 119
      developed IBD. IBD increased the risk of all-cause mortality in both COPD (hazard
      ratio 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.4) and asthma-COPD (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% CI 1.23
      2.22). In asthma-COPD patients, IBD increased the risk of mortality from
      respiratory conditions (hazard ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.31-3.64); in COPD patients,
      IBD increased the risk of death from digestive conditions (hazard ratio 4.45, 95%
      CI 2.39-8.30).IBD is a risk factor for mortality in patients with pre-existing
      COPD or asthma-COPD. IBD increased mortality by respiratory and digestive
      conditions in patients with asthma-COPD and COPD, respectively.

PMID- 26869673
TI  - Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor polymorphisms and airway remodelling in
      asthma.

PMID- 26869672
TI  - Activin-A is overexpressed in severe asthma and is implicated in angiogenic
      processes.
AB  - Activin-A is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates allergic inflammation. Its
      role in the regulation of angiogenesis, a key feature of airways remodelling in
      asthma, remains unexplored. Our objective was to investigate the expression of
      activin-A in asthma and its effects on angiogenesis in vitro.Expression of
      soluble/immunoreactive activin-A and its receptors was measured in serum,
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and endobronchial biopsies from 16 healthy
      controls, 19 patients with mild/moderate asthma and 22 severely asthmatic
      patients. In vitro effects of activin-A on baseline and vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF)-induced human endothelial cell angiogenesis, signalling and
      cytokine release were compared with BALF concentrations of these cytokines in
      vivo.Activin-A expression was significantly elevated in serum, BALF and bronchial
      tissue of the asthmatics, while expression of its protein receptors was reduced.
      In vitro, activin-A suppressed VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation and
      angiogenesis, inducing autocrine production of anti-angiogenic soluble VEGF
      receptor (R)1 and interleukin (IL)-18, while reducing production of pro
      angiogenic VEGFR2 and IL-17. In parallel, BALF concentrations of soluble VEGFR1
      and IL-18 were significantly reduced in severe asthmatics in vivo and inversely
      correlated with angiogenesis.Activin-A is overexpressed and has anti-angiogenic
      effects in vitro that are not propagated in vivo, where reduced basal expression
      of its receptors is observed particularly in severe asthma. 

PMID- 26869674
TI  - Assessing small airway impairment in mild-to-moderate smoking asthmatic patients.

PMID- 26869675
TI  - Fertility outcomes in asthma: a clinical study of 245 women with unexplained
      infertility.
AB  - Evidence is increasing of an association between asthma and aspects of female
      reproduction. However, current knowledge is limited and furthermore relies on
      questionnaire studies or small populations. In a prospective observational cohort
      study to investigate whether time to pregnancy, the number of fertility
      treatments, and the number of successful pregnancies differ significantly between
      women with unexplained infertility with and without asthma.245 women with
      unexplained infertility (aged 23-45 years) underwent questionnaires and asthma
      and allergy testing while undergoing fertility treatment. 96 women entering the
      study had either a former doctor's diagnosis of asthma or were diagnosed with
      asthma when included. After inclusion they were followed for a minimum of 12
      months in fertility treatment, until they had a successful pregnancy, stopped
      treatment, or the observation ended.The likelihood of achieving pregnancy was
      lower in women with asthma compared with those without asthma: median total time
      to pregnancy was 32.3 months in non-asthmatic women versus 55.6 months in those
      with asthma, hazard ratio 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.34-0.74) p<0.001.Women
      with asthma had fewer successful pregnancies during fertility treatment, 39.6
      versus 60.4% (p=0.002). Increasing age was of negative importance for expected
      time to pregnancy, especially among asthmatic women (interaction between age and
      asthma on time to pregnancy, p=0.001). Female asthmatics had a longer time to
      pregnancy and less often became pregnant than non-asthmatic women. Increasing age
      reduced the chances of conceiving especially among asthmatic women. The causal
      relationship between asthma and subfertility remains unclear.

PMID- 26869676
TI  - High-flow nasal oxygen for bronchoalveolar lavage in acute respiratory failure
      patients.

PMID- 26869677
TI  - First independent evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Plus performance.

PMID- 26869678
TI  - Recombinant human pentraxin-2 therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary
      fibrosis: safety, pharmacokinetics and exploratory efficacy.
AB  - Abnormal fibrogenic repair response upon alveolar injury is believed to play an
      important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). PRM
      151 (recombinant human pentraxin-2, also known as serum amyloid P), has been
      shown to reduce fibrosis in preclinical lung fibrosis models, and was well
      tolerated with a favourable pharmacokinetic profile in an earlier single-dose
      phase I study.A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending
      dose trial was performed to assess the tolerability and pharmacokinetic and
      pharmacodynamic characteristics of multiple doses of PRM-151 in IPF patients.
      Subjects in three successive cohorts (1, 5, or 10 mg.kg(-1) versus placebo)
      received intravenous study drug on days 1, 3, 5, 8 and 15, and were followed-up
      to day 57.PRM-151 was well tolerated at all dose levels, with no serious adverse
      reactions. Administration of PRM-151 resulted in two- to eight-fold dose
      dependent increases in circulating pentraxin-2 levels. Forced vital capacity and
      6-min walk test showed trends towards improvement in the combined PRM-151 dose
      groups. On high-resolution computed tomography scans, stable or improved lung
      volume unoccupied by interstitial lung abnormality was noted in some PRM-151
      subjects compared to placebo subjects on day 57.The efficacy of PRM-151 in IPF
      remains to be investigated in dedicated future trials. 

PMID- 26869680
TI  - A 3-week multimodal intervention involving high-intensity interval training in
      female cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - To compare the effects of a 3-week multimodal rehabilitation involving supervised
      high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on female breast cancer survivors with
      respect to key variables of aerobic fitness, body composition, energy
      expenditure, cancer-related fatigue, and quality of life to those of a standard
      multimodal rehabilitation program. A randomized controlled trial design was
      administered. Twenty-eight women, who had been treated for cancer were randomly
      assigned to either a group performing exercise of low-to-moderate intensity
      (LMIE; n = 14) or a group performing high-intensity interval training (HIIT; n =
      14) as part of a 3-week multimodal rehabilitation program. No adverse events
      related to the exercise were reported. Work economy improved following both HIIT
      and LMIE, with improved peak oxygen uptake following LMIE. HIIT reduced mean
      total body fat mass with no change in body mass, muscle or fat-free mass (best P
      < 0.06). LMIE increased muscle and total fat-free body mass. Total energy
      expenditure (P = 0.45) did not change between the groups, whereas both improved
      quality of life to a similar high extent and lessened cancer-related fatigue.
      This randomized controlled study demonstrates that HIIT can be performed by
      female cancer survivors without adverse health effects. Here, HIIT and LMIE both
      improved work economy, quality of life and cancer-related fatigue, body
      composition or energy expenditure. Since the outcomes were similar, but HIIT
      takes less time, this may be a time-efficient strategy for improving certain
      aspects of the health of female cancer survivors. 

PMID- 26869679
TI  - Effects of midodrine and L-NAME on systemic and cerebral hemodynamics during
      cognitive activation in spinal cord injury and intact controls.
AB  - We previously showed that increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) following
      administration of midodrine hydrochloride (MH) and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester
      (L-NAME) resulted in increased mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MFV) during
      head-up tilt in hypotensive individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and
      question if this same association was evident during cognitive activation.
      Herein, we report MAP and MFV during two serial subtraction tasks (SSt) given
      before (predrug) and after (postdrug) administration of MH; (10 mg), L-NAME (1
      mg/kg) or no drug (ND) in 15 subjects with SCI compared to nine able-bodied (AB)
      controls. Three-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) models were used to
      determine significant main and interaction effects for group (SCI, AB), visit
      (MH, L-NAME, ND), and time (predrug, postdrug) for MAP and MFV during the two
      SSt. The three-way interaction was significant for MAP (F = 4.262; P = 0.020);
      both MH (30 +/- 26 mmHg; P < 0.05) and L-NAME (27 +/- 22 mmHg; P < 0.01)
      significantly increased MAP in the SCI group, but not in the AB group. There was
      a significant visit by time interaction for MFV suggesting an increase from
      predrug to postdrug following L-NAME (6 +/- 8 cm/sec; P < 0.05) and MH (4 +/- 7
      cm/sec; P < 0.05), regardless of study group, with little change following ND (3
      +/- 3 cm/sec). The relationship between change in MAP and MFV was significant in
      the SCI group following administration of MH (r(2) = 0.38; P < 0.05) and L-NAME
      (r(2) = 0.32; P < 0.05). These antihypotensive agents, at the doses tested,
      raised MAP, which was associated with an increase MFV during cognitive activation
      in hypotensive subjects with SCI. 

PMID- 26869681
TI  - Isolated neonatal rat papillary muscles: a new model to translate neonatal rat
      myocyte signaling into contractile mechanics.
AB  - Isolated cardiac tissue allows investigators to study mechanisms underlying
      normal and pathological conditions, which would otherwise be difficult or
      impossible to perform in vivo. Cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiac myocytes
      (NRVM) are widely used to study signaling and growth mechanisms in the heart,
      primarily due to the versatility, economy, and convenience of this in vitro
      model. However, the lack of a well-defined longitudinal cellular axis greatly
      hampers the ability to measure contractile function in these cells, and therefore
      to associate signaling with mechanical function. In these methods, we demonstrate
      that this limitation can be overcome by using papillary muscles isolated from
      neonatal rat hearts. In the methods we describe procedures for isolation of right
      ventricular papillary muscles from 3-day-old neonatal rats and effects of
      mechanical and humoral stimuli on contraction and relaxation properties of these
      tissues. 

PMID- 26869682
TI  - Modulation of gamma and alpha spinal motor neurons activity by trans-spinal
      direct current stimulation: effects on reflexive actions and locomotor activity.
AB  - Spontaneous and evoked spinal activities interact to set the characteristics of
      emergent motor responses. Gamma motor neurons have feedforward and feedback
      functions in motor control, which are crucial for transforming motor commands
      into action. Meanwhile, the intrinsic excitability and functional connectivity of
      alpha motor neurons determine the accuracy of actions. In this study, we
      investigated the effects of trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on
      spontaneous and cortically evoked activity of well-isolated single units of gamma
      and alpha motor neurons in mice. We also investigated the effects of tsDCS on
      reflexive and locomotor actions. In general, motor neurons showed increased
      responses to cathodal tsDCS (c-tsDCS) and decreased responses to anodal tsDCS (a
      tsDCS). These effects were observed for cortically evoked discharges and
      spontaneous firing rates of gamma motor neurons, cortically evoked discharges of
      larger alpha motor neurons, and spontaneous firing rates of smaller alpha motor
      neurons. An exception was that spontaneous firing rates of larger alpha motor
      neurons showed the opposite pattern of reduction by c-tsDCS and increase by a
      tsDCS. Reflexive and voluntary behavior were also increased by c-tsDCS and
      reduced by a-tsDCS. Specifically, the amplitude and duration of crossed and tail
      pinch reflexes in decerebrate animals and the quality of ground and treadmill
      walking patterns in healthy awake animals showed this pattern. These polarity
      specific changes in behavior could be attributed to polarity-mediated modulation
      of alpha and gamma motor neuron activity and spinal circuitry. The results reveal
      an important principle: effects of tsDCS on spinal motor neurons depend on
      current polarity and cell size. 

PMID- 26869683
TI  - PGC-1alpha promotes exercise-induced autophagy in mouse skeletal muscle.
AB  - Recent evidence suggests that exercise stimulates the degradation of cellular
      components in skeletal muscle through activation of autophagy, but the time
      course of the autophagy response during recovery from exercise has not been
      determined. Furthermore, the regulatory mechanisms behind exercise-induced
      autophagy remain unclear, although the muscle oxidative phenotype has been linked
      with basal autophagy levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate
      the role of the key regulator of muscle oxidative capacity, PGC-1alpha, in
      exercise-induced autophagy at several time points during recovery. Mice with
      transgenic muscle-specific overexpression (TG) or knockout (MKO) of PGC-1alpha
      and their respective littermate controls were subjected to a single 1 h bout of
      treadmill running and euthanized immediately (0 h), 2, 6, and 10 h after
      exercise. In the PGC-1alpha MKO strain, quadriceps protein content of the
      autophagy marker LC3II was increased from 2 h into recovery in lox/lox control,
      but not in MKO mice. In the PGC-1alpha TG strain, quadriceps protein content of
      LC3II was increased from 2 h after exercise in TG, but not in WT. Although AMPK
      and ACC phosphorylation was increased immediately following exercise, the
      observed exercise-induced autophagy response was not associated with
      phosphorylation of the AMPK-target ULK1. However, lower protein carbonyl content
      was observed in lox/lox and TG mice after exercise coinciding with the increased
      LC3 lipidation. In conclusion, the present results suggest a role of skeletal
      muscle PGC-1alpha in coordinating several exercise-induced adaptive responses
      including autophagic removal of damaged cellular components. 

PMID- 26869684
TI  - Piezo1 haploinsufficiency does not alter mechanotransduction in mouse cochlear
      outer hair cells.
AB  - The mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channels located at the stereocilia tip of
      cochlear hair cells are crucial to convert the mechanical energy of sound into
      receptor potentials, but the identity of its pore-forming subunits remains
      uncertain. Piezo1, which has been identified in the transcriptome of mammalian
      cochlear hair cells, encodes a transmembrane protein that forms mechanosensitive
      channels in other tissues. We investigated the properties of the MET channel in
      outer hair cells (OHCs) of Piezo1 mice (postnatal day 6-9). The MET current was
      elicited by deflecting the hair bundle of OHCs using sinewave and step stimuli
      from a piezo-driven fluid jet. Apical and basal OHCs were investigated because
      the properties of the MET channel vary along the cochlea. We found that the
      maximal MET current amplitude and the resting open probability of the MET channel
      in OHCs were similar between Piezo1(+/-) haploinsufficient mice and wild-type
      littermates. The sensitivity to block by the permeant MET channel blocker
      dihydrostreptomycin was also similar between the two genotypes. Finally, the
      anomalous mechano-gated current, which is activated by sheer force and which is
      tip-link independent, was unaffected in OHCs from Piezo1(+/-) haploinsufficient
      mice. Our results suggest that Piezo1 is unlikely to be a component of the MET
      channel complex in mammalian cochlear OHCs. 

PMID- 26869685
TI  - The effects of group and single housing and automated animal monitoring on
      urinary corticosterone levels in male C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - Mice are used extensively in physiological research. Automated home-cage systems
      have been developed to study single-housed animals. Increased stress by different
      housing conditions might affect greatly the results when investigating metabolic
      responses. Urinary corticosteroid concentration is considered as a stress marker.
      The aim of the study was to compare the effects of different housing conditions
      and an automated home-cage system with indirect calorimetry located in an
      environmental chamber on corticosterone levels in mice. Male mice were housed in
      different conditions and in automated home-cage system to evaluate the effects of
      housing and measuring conditions on urine corticosterone levels. Corticosterone
      levels in single-housed mice in the laboratory animal center were consistently
      lower compared with the group-housed mice. Single-housed mice in a separate,
      small animal unit showed a rise in their corticosterone levels a day after they
      were separated to their individual cages, which decreased during the following 2
      days. The corticosterone levels of group-housed mice in the same unit were
      increased during the first 7 days and then decreased. On day 7, the
      corticosterone concentrations of group-housed mice were significantly higher
      compared with that of single-housed mice, including the metabolic measurement
      protocol. In conclusion, single housing caused less stress when compared with
      group-housed mice. In addition, the urine corticosterone levels were decreased in
      single-housed mice before the metabolic measurement started. Thus, stress does
      not affect the results when utilizing the automated system for measuring
      metabolic parameters like food and water intake and calorimetry. 

PMID- 26869686
TI  - Exercise training and alpha1-adrenoreceptor-mediated sympathetic vasoconstriction
      in resting and contracting skeletal muscle.
AB  - Exercise training (ET) increases sympathetic vasoconstrictor responsiveness and
      enhances contraction-mediated inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction (i.e.,
      sympatholysis) through a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism. Changes in alpha2
      adrenoreceptor vasoconstriction mediate a portion of these training adaptations,
      however the contribution of other postsynaptic receptors remains to be
      determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of
      ET on alpha1-adrenoreceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in resting and contracting
      muscle. It was hypothesized that alpha1-adrenoreceptor-mediated sympatholysis
      would be enhanced following ET. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to
      sedentary (S; n = 12) or heavy-intensity treadmill ET (n = 11) groups.
      Subsequently, rats were anesthetized and instrumented for lumbar sympathetic
      chain stimulation and measurement of femoral vascular conductance (FVC) at rest
      and during muscle contraction. The percentage change in FVC in response to
      sympathetic stimulation was measured in control, alpha1-adrenoreceptor blockade
      (Prazosin; 20 MUg, IV), and combined alpha1 and NO synthase (NOS) blockade (l
      NAME; 5 mg.kg(-1) IV) conditions. Sympathetic vasoconstrictor responsiveness was
      increased (P < 0.05) in ET compared to S rats at low, but not high (P > 0.05)
      stimulation frequencies at rest (S: 2 Hz: -25 +/- 4%; 5 Hz: -45 +/- 5 %; ET: 2
      Hz: -35 +/- 7%, 5 Hz: -52 +/- 7%), whereas sympathetic vasoconstrictor
      responsiveness was not different (P > 0.05) between groups during contraction (S:
      2 Hz: -11 +/- 8%; 5 Hz: -26 +/- 11%; ET: 2 Hz: -10 +/- 7%, 5 Hz: -27 +/- 12%).
      Prazosin blunted (P < 0.05) vasoconstrictor responsiveness in S and ET rats at
      rest and during contraction, and abolished group differences in vasoconstrictor
      responsiveness. Subsequent NOS blockade increased vasoconstrictor responses (P <
      0.05) in S at rest and during contraction, whereas in ET vasoconstriction was
      increased (P < 0.05) in response to sympathetic stimulation at 2 Hz at rest and
      unchanged (P > 0.05) during contraction. ET enhanced (P < 0.05) sympatholysis,
      however the training-mediated improvements in sympatholysis were abolished by
      alpha1-adrenoreceptor blockade. Subsequent NOS inhibition did not alter (P >
      0.05) sympatholysis in S or ET rats. In conclusion, ET augmented alpha1
      adrenoreceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in resting skeletal muscle and enhanced
      alpha1-adrenoreceptor-mediated sympatholysis. Furthermore, these data suggest
      that NO is not required to inhibit alpha2-adrenoreceptor- and nonadrenoreceptor
      mediated vasoconstriction during exercise. 

PMID- 26869687
TI  - Human atrial fibroblasts and their contribution to supraventricular arrhythmia.

PMID- 26869688
TI  - Combinations of mutations in envZ, ftsI, mrdA, acrB and acrR can cause high-level
      carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The worldwide spread of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae has led to
      an increased use of carbapenems, the group of beta-lactams with the broadest
      spectrum of activity. Bacterial resistance to carbapenems is mainly due to
      acquired carbapenemases or a combination of ESBL production and reduced drug
      influx via loss of outer-membrane porins. Here, we have studied the development
      of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli in the absence of beta-lactamases.
      METHODS: We selected mutants with high-level carbapenem resistance through
      repeated serial passage in the presence of increasing concentrations of meropenem
      or ertapenem for ~60 generations. Isolated clones were whole-genome sequenced,
      and the order in which the identified mutations arose was determined in the
      passaged populations. Key mutations were reconstructed, and bacterial growth
      rates of populations and isolated clones and resistance levels to 23 antibiotics
      were measured. RESULTS: High-level resistance to carbapenems resulted from a
      combination of downstream effects of envZ mutation and target mutations in AcrAB
      TolC-mediated drug export, together with PBP genes [mrdA (PBP2) after meropenem
      exposure or ftsI (PBP3) after ertapenem exposure]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show
      that antibiotic resistance evolution can occur via several parallel pathways and
      that new mechanisms may appear after the most common pathways (i.e. beta
      lactamases and loss of porins) have been eliminated. These findings suggest that
      strategies to target the most commonly observed resistance mechanisms might be
      hampered by the appearance of previously unknown parallel pathways to resistance.

PMID- 26869689
TI  - Projecting the epidemiological effect, cost-effectiveness and transmission of HIV
      drug resistance in Vietnam associated with viral load monitoring strategies.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential
      epidemiological impact of viral load (VL) monitoring and its cost-effectiveness
      in Vietnam, where transmitted HIV drug resistance (TDR) prevalence has increased
      from <5% to 5%-15% in the past decade. METHODS: Using a population-based
      mathematical model driven by data from Vietnam, we simulated scenarios of various
      combinations of VL testing coverage, VL thresholds for second-line ART initiation
      and availability of HIV drug-resistance tests. We assessed the cost per
      disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for each scenario. RESULTS:
      Projecting expected ART scale-up levels, to approximately double the number of
      people on ART by 2030, will lead to an estimated 18 510 cases (95% CI: 9120-34
      600 cases) of TDR and 55 180 cases (95% CI: 40 540-65 900 cases) of acquired drug
      resistance (ADR) in the absence of VL monitoring. This projection corresponds to
      a TDR prevalence of 16% (95% CI: 11%-24%) and ADR of 18% (95% CI: 15%-20%).
      Annual or biennial VL monitoring with 30% coverage is expected to relieve 12%-31%
      of TDR (2260-5860 cases), 25%-59% of ADR (9620-22 650 cases), 2%-6% of HIV
      related deaths (360-880 cases) and 19 270-51 400 DALYs during 2015-30. The 30%
      coverage of VL monitoring is estimated to cost US$4848-5154 per DALY averted. The
      projected additional cost for implementing this strategy is US$105-268 million
      over 2015-30. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that a programmatically achievable
      30% coverage of VL monitoring can have considerable benefits for individuals and
      leads to population health benefits by reducing the overall national burden of
      HIV drug resistance. It is marginally cost-effective according to common
      willingness-to-pay thresholds.

PMID- 26869690
TI  - Plasma and intracellular ribavirin concentrations are not significantly altered
      by abacavir in hepatitis C virus-infected patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of abacavir
      on intracellular ribavirin triphosphate and plasma ribavirin trough
      concentrations. METHODS: Hepatitis C virus-infected subjects who had been cured
      or failed prior treatment were randomized to 8 weeks of ribavirin alone (N = 14;
      weight-based dosing) or weight-based ribavirin + abacavir (N = 14; 300 mg orally
      every 12 h). Ribavirin trough concentrations were measured on days 14, 28, 42 and
      56; PBMCs for ribavirin triphosphate determination were sampled on days 28 and
      56, pre-dose and at 6 and 12 h post-dose. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01052701.
      RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects completed the study (24 males, 17 Caucasians, median
      age 52 years); 2 were excluded for missed pharmacokinetic visits. Fourteen
      subjects received ribavirin + abacavir and 12 received ribavirin alone. Mean +/-
      SD plasma ribavirin trough concentrations (MUg/mL) on days 14, 28, 42 and 56,
      respectively, were not significantly different with coadministration of abacavir
      (1.54 +/- 0.60, 1.93 +/- 0.54, 2.14 +/- 0.73 and 2.54 +/- 1.05) compared with
      ribavirin alone (1.48 +/- 0.32, 2.08 +/- 0.41, 2.32 +/- 0.47 and 2.60 +/- 0.62)
      (P > 0.40). Mean ribavirin triphosphate intracellular concentrations (pmol/10(6)
      cells) on days 28 and 56, respectively, did not differ statistically between
      abacavir users (11.98 +/- 9.86 and 15.87 +/- 12.52) and non-users (15.91 +/-
      15.58 and 15.93 +/- 12.69) (P > 0.4). Adverse events were mild or moderate,
      except for three grade 3 occurrences of transaminitis, cholecystitis and low
      absolute neutrophil count that resolved and were judged not attributable to study
      medications. CONCLUSIONS: Abacavir did not significantly alter ribavirin or
      ribavirin triphosphate concentrations.

PMID- 26869691
TI  - Toxin B PCR cycle threshold as a predictor of poor outcome of Clostridium
      difficile infection: a derivation and validation cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Prediction of patients with poor outcome is necessary in order to
      plan the proper management of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI); however,
      clinical criteria are insufficient. In a previous study, we observed that high
      toxigenic C. difficile cfu stool counts at diagnosis were associated with a poor
      outcome. Our objective was to investigate the role of the PCR toxin B
      amplification cycle threshold (Ct) in the prediction of CDI poor outcome and to
      derive and validate a high-risk prediction rule using this marker. METHODS: We
      prospectively included patients with CDI (derivation cohort, January 2013 to June
      2014; and validation cohort, December 2014 to May 2015), who were followed for at
      least 2 months after their last episode/recurrence. All samples were tested with
      XpertTM C. difficile. RESULTS: For the derivation cohort (n = 129) toxin B Ct was
      independently associated with poor outcome (P < 0.001). The receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curve yielded an AUC of 0.816. Using a cut-off of <23.5
      cycles for high risk of poor outcome, the diagnostic accuracy was 81.4%, the
      sensitivity was 46.5% (95% CI 32.5-61.1) and the specificity was 98.8% (95% CI
      93.7-99.8). For the validation cohort (n = 170), the diagnostic accuracy was
      81.8%, the sensitivity was 88.4% (95% CI 75.5-94.9) and the specificity was 79.5%
      (95% CI 71.7-85.6). The ROC curve yielded an AUC of 0.857. CONCLUSIONS: Low toxin
      B Ct values from samples collected at the initial moment of diagnosis appears to
      be a strong marker for poor outcome. This available test may identify, at an
      early stage, patients who are at higher risk of a poor outcome CDI.

PMID- 26869692
TI  - Piperacillin population pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients with multiple
      organ dysfunction syndrome receiving continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration:
      effect of type of dialysis membrane on dosing requirements.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This multicentre study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of
      piperacillin in critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
      (MODS) receiving continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), to identify
      the sources of PK variability and evaluate different dosing regimens to develop
      recommendations based on clinical parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen
      patients with MODS and CVVHDF receiving piperacillin/tazobactam were enrolled
      from three tertiary hospitals (95 plasma samples). Population PK modelling and
      Monte Carlo simulations were performed using NONMEM v7.3((r)). RESULTS: Patients'
      median age was 70 years (range 39-82), median weight was 80 kg (45-129), median
      APACHE II score at admission was 21 (13-33) and median SOFA score on the day of
      study was 11 (8-21). The final population PK model was characterized by CL (L/h)
      = 6.11 * [weight (kg)/80](1.39) * CLMEMB. If membrane = 1.5 m(2) AN69ST, CLMEMB =
      1; if membrane = 0.9 m(2) AN69, CLMEMB = 0.51. Monte Carlo simulations showed
      that: (i) to maintain unbound piperacillin concentrations above the MIC for the
      bacteria for 100% of dosing interval T (100%fuT>MIC), patients receiving CVVHDF
      with 1.5 m(2) AN69ST membranes required doses of 4000 mg q8h for the treatment of
      bacteria with a susceptibility to piperacillin close to the clinical breakpoint
      (MIC = 8-16 mg/L) (2000 mg q8h was sufficient for patients with CVVHDF using 0.9
      m(2) AN69 membranes); and (ii) for the treatment of bacteria with high
      susceptibility to piperacillin (MIC <4 mg/L) or for the attainment of a more
      traditional pharmacodynamic target (50%fuT>MIC), 2000 mg q8h sufficed regardless
      of type of membrane and body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that type
      of membrane and body weight should be considered for piperacillin dose titration
      in critically ill patients with MODS and CVVHDF requirement.

PMID- 26869694
TI  - Pharmacy workers' knowledge and provision of medication for termination of
      pregnancy in Kenya.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess pharmacy workers' knowledge and provision of abortion
      information and methods in Kenya. METHODS: In 2013 we interviewed 235 pharmacy
      workers in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu about the medical abortion services they
      provide. We also used mystery clients, who made 401 visits to pharmacies to
      collect first-hand information on abortion practices. RESULTS: The majority
      (87.5%) of pharmacy workers had heard of misoprostol but only 39.2% had heard of
      mifepristone. We found that pharmacy workers had limited knowledge of correct
      medical abortion regimens, side effects and complications and the legal status of
      abortion drugs. 49.8% of pharmacy workers reported providing abortion information
      to clients and 4.3% reported providing abortion methods. 75.2% of pharmacies
      referred mystery clients to another provider, though 64.2% of pharmacies advised
      mystery clients to continue with their pregnancy. Pharmacy workers reported that
      they were experiencing demand for abortion services from clients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Pharmacy workers are important providers of information and referrals for women
      seeking abortion, however their medical abortion knowledge is limited. Training
      pharmacy workers on medical abortion may improve the quality of information
      provided and access to safe abortion.

PMID- 26869693
TI  - Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship interventions recommended by national
      toolkits in primary and secondary healthcare sectors in England: TARGET and Start
      Smart Then Focus.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship
      (AMS) interventions recommended within the national AMS toolkits, TARGET and
      Start Smart Then Focus, in English primary and secondary healthcare settings in
      2014, to determine the prevalence of cross-sector engagement to drive AMS
      interventions and to propose next steps to improve implementation of AMS.
      METHODS: Electronic surveys were circulated to all 211 clinical commissioning
      groups (CCGs; primary sector) and to 146 (out of the 159) acute trusts (secondary
      sector) in England. Response rates were 39% and 63% for the primary and secondary
      sectors, respectively. RESULTS: The majority of CCGs and acute trusts reported
      reviewing national AMS toolkits formally or informally (60% and 87%,
      respectively). However, only 13% of CCGs and 46% of acute trusts had developed an
      action plan for the implementation of these toolkits. Only 5% of CCGs had
      antimicrobial pharmacists in post; however, the role of specialist antimicrobial
      pharmacists continued to remain embedded within acute trusts, with 83% of
      responding trusts having an antimicrobial pharmacist at a senior grade.
      CONCLUSIONS: The majority of healthcare organizations review national AMS
      toolkits; however, implementation of the toolkits, through the development of
      action plans to deliver AMS interventions, requires improvement. For the first
      time, we report the extent of cross-sector and multidisciplinary collaboration to
      deliver AMS interventions in both primary and secondary care sectors in England.
      Results highlight that further qualitative and quantitative work is required to
      explore mutual benefits and promote best practice. Antimicrobial pharmacists
      remain leaders for implementing AMS interventions across both primary and
      secondary healthcare sectors.

PMID- 26869695
TI  - Socioeconomic inequalities in injuries treated in primary care in Madrid, Spain.
AB  - Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in injury morbidity are an important yet
      understudied issue in Southern Europe. This study analysed the injuries treated
      in primary care in the Community of Madrid, Spain, by socioeconomic status (SES),
      sex and age. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of injuries registered in
      the primary care electronic medical records of the Madrid Health Service in 2012.
      Incidence stratified by sex, SES and type of injury were calculated. Poisson
      regression was performed. Results: A statistically significant upward trend in
      global injury incidence was observed with decreasing SES in all age groups. By
      type of injury, the largest differences were observed in injuries by foreign body
      in men aged 15-44 and in poisonings in girls under 15 years of age. Burns risk
      also stood out in the group of girls under 15 years of age with the lowest SES.
      In the group above 74 years of age, wounds, bruises and sprains had the lowest
      SES differences in both sexes, and the risk of fractures was lower in the most
      socioeconomically advantaged group. Conclusion: People with lower SES were at a
      greater risk of injury. The relationship between SES and injury varies by type of
      injury and age.

PMID- 26869698
TI  - The Plant Cell Reviews Small RNA and Chromatin Dynamics: From Small Genetic
      Circuits to Complex Genomes.

PMID- 26869697
TI  - The First Rule of Plant Transposable Element Silencing: Location, Location,
      Location.
AB  - Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile units of DNA that comprise large portions
      of plant genomes. Besides creating mutations via transposition and contributing
      to genome size, TEs play key roles in chromosome architecture and gene
      regulation. TE activity is repressed by overlapping mechanisms of chromatin
      condensation, epigenetic transcriptional silencing, and targeting by small
      interfering RNAs. The specific regulation of different TEs, as well as their
      different roles in chromosome architecture and gene regulation, is specified by
      where on the chromosome the TE is located: near a gene, within a gene, in a
      pericentromere/TE island, or at the centromere core. In this Review, we
      investigate the silencing mechanisms responsible for inhibiting TE activity for
      each of these chromosomal contexts, emphasizing that chromosomal location is the
      first rule dictating the specific regulation of each TE. 

PMID- 26869699
TI  - RNAi in Plants: An Argonaute-Centered View.
AB  - Argonaute (AGO) family proteins are effectors of RNAi in eukaryotes. AGOs bind
      small RNAs and use them as guides to silence target genes or transposable
      elements at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional level. Eukaryotic AGO
      proteins share common structural and biochemical properties and function through
      conserved core mechanisms in RNAi pathways, yet plant AGOs have evolved
      specialized and diversified functions. This Review covers the general features of
      AGO proteins and highlights recent progress toward our understanding of the
      mechanisms and functions of plant AGOs. 

PMID- 26869701
TI  - Creating Order from Chaos: Epigenome Dynamics in Plants with Complex Genomes.
AB  - Flowering plants have strikingly distinct genomes, although they contain a
      similar suite of expressed genes. The diversity of genome structures and
      organization is largely due to variation in transposable elements (TEs) and whole
      genome duplication (WGD) events. We review evidence that chromatin modifications
      and epigenetic regulation are intimately associated with TEs and likely play a
      role in mediating the effects of WGDs. We hypothesize that the current structure
      of a genome is the result of various TE bursts and WGDs and it is likely that the
      silencing mechanisms and the chromatin structure of a genome have been shaped by
      these events. This suggests that the specific mechanisms targeting chromatin
      modifications and epigenomic patterns may vary among different species. Many crop
      species have likely evolved chromatin-based mechanisms to tolerate silenced TEs
      near actively expressed genes. These interactions of heterochromatin and
      euchromatin are likely to have important roles in modulating gene expression and
      variability within species. 

PMID- 26869703
TI  - SUMO Is a Critical Regulator of Salt Stress Responses in Rice.
AB  - SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) conjugation onto target proteins has emerged
      as a very influential class of protein modification systems. SUMO1/2 double
      mutant plants are nonviable, underlining the importance of SUMO conjugation to
      plant survival. Once covalently bound, SUMO can alter a conjugated protein's
      stability and/or function. SUMO conjugation is a highly dynamic process that can
      be rapidly reversed by the action of SUMO proteases. The balance between the
      conjugated/deconjugated forms is a major determinant in the modulation of SUMO
      target function. Despite the important mechanistic role of SUMO proteases in
      model plants, until now the identity or the function of these regulatory enzymes
      has not been defined in any crop plant. In this report, we reveal the ubiquitin
      like protease class of SUMO protease gene family in rice (Oryza sativa) and
      demonstrate a critical role for OsOTS1 SUMO protease in salt stress. OsOTS-RNAi
      rice plants accumulate high levels of SUMO-conjugated proteins during salt stress
      and are highly salt sensitive; however, in non-salt conditions, they are
      developmentally indistinguishable from wild-type plants. Transgenic rice plants
      overexpressing OsOTS1 have increased salt tolerance and a concomitant reduction
      in the levels of SUMOylated proteins. We demonstrate that OsOTS1 confers salt
      tolerance in rice by increasing root biomass. High salinity triggers OsOTS1
      degradation, indicating that increased SUMO conjugation in rice plants during
      salt stress is in part achieved by down-regulation of OTS1/2 activity. OsOTS1 is
      nuclear localized indicating a direct requirement of OsOTS1-dependent
      deSUMOylation activity in rice nuclei for salt tolerance.

PMID- 26869702
TI  - expVIP: a Customizable RNA-seq Data Analysis and Visualization Platform.
AB  - The majority of transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) expression studies in plants
      remain underutilized and inaccessible due to the use of disparate transcriptome
      references and the lack of skills and resources to analyze and visualize these
      data. We have developed expVIP, an expression visualization and integration
      platform, which allows easy analysis of RNA-seq data combined with an intuitive
      and interactive interface. Users can analyze public and user-specified data sets
      with minimal bioinformatics knowledge using the expVIP virtual machine. This
      generates a custom Web browser to visualize, sort, and filter the RNA-seq data
      and provides outputs for differential gene expression analysis. We demonstrate
      expVIP's suitability for polyploid crops and evaluate its performance across a
      range of biologically relevant scenarios. To exemplify its use in crop research,
      we developed a flexible wheat (Triticum aestivum) expression browser (www.wheat
      expression.com) that can be expanded with user-generated data in a local virtual
      machine environment. The open-access expVIP platform will facilitate the analysis
      of gene expression data from a wide variety of species by enabling the easy
      integration, visualization, and comparison of RNA-seq data across experiments.

PMID- 26869700
TI  - Small Genetic Circuits and MicroRNAs: Big Players in Polymerase II
      Transcriptional Control in Plants.
AB  - RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) regulatory cascades involving transcription factors
      (TFs) and their targets orchestrate the genetic circuitry of every eukaryotic
      organism. In order to understand how these cascades function, they can be
      dissected into small genetic networks, each containing just a few Pol II
      transcribed genes, that generate specific signal-processing outcomes. Small RNA
      regulatory circuits involve direct regulation of a small RNA by a TF and/or
      direct regulation of a TF by a small RNA and have been shown to play unique roles
      in many organisms. Here, we will focus on small RNA regulatory circuits
      containing Pol II transcribed microRNAs (miRNAs). While the role of miRNA
      containing regulatory circuits as modular building blocks for the function of
      complex networks has long been on the forefront of studies in the animal kingdom,
      plant studies are poised to take a lead role in this area because of their
      advantages in probing transcriptional and posttranscriptional control of Pol II
      genes. The relative simplicity of tissue- and cell-type organization, miRNA
      targeting, and genomic structure make the Arabidopsis thaliana plant model
      uniquely amenable for small RNA regulatory circuit studies in a multicellular
      organism. In this Review, we cover analysis, tools, and validation methods for
      probing the component interactions in miRNA-containing regulatory circuits. We
      then review the important roles that plant miRNAs are playing in these circuits
      and summarize methods for the identification of small genetic circuits that
      strongly influence plant function. We conclude by noting areas of opportunity
      where new plant studies are imminently needed. 

PMID- 26869706
TI  - Common mechanisms for the adaptive responses to exercise and heat stress.

PMID- 26869704
TI  - The Thioredoxin GbNRX1 Plays a Crucial Role in Homeostasis of Apoplastic Reactive
      Oxygen Species in Response to Verticillium dahliae Infection in Cotton.
AB  - Examining the proteins that plants secrete into the apoplast in response to
      pathogen attack provides crucial information for understanding the molecular
      mechanisms underlying plant innate immunity. In this study, we analyzed the
      changes in the root apoplast secretome of the Verticillium wilt-resistant island
      cotton cv Hai 7124 (Gossypium barbadense) upon infection with Verticillium
      dahliae Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted
      laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis
      identified 68 significantly altered spots, corresponding to 49 different
      proteins. Gene ontology annotation indicated that most of these proteins function
      in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and defense response. Of the ROS
      related proteins identified, we further characterized a thioredoxin, GbNRX1,
      which increased in abundance in response to V. dahliae challenge, finding that
      GbNRX1 functions in apoplastic ROS scavenging after the ROS burst that occurs
      upon recognition of V. dahliae Silencing of GbNRX1 resulted in defective
      dissipation of apoplastic ROS, which led to higher ROS accumulation in
      protoplasts. As a result, the GbNRX1-silenced plants showed reduced wilt
      resistance, indicating that the initial defense response in the root apoplast
      requires the antioxidant activity of GbNRX1. Together, our results demonstrate
      that apoplastic ROS generation and scavenging occur in tandem in response to
      pathogen attack; also, the rapid balancing of redox to maintain homeostasis after
      the ROS burst, which involves GbNRX1, is critical for the apoplastic immune
      response.

PMID- 26869707
TI  - Increased ventilatory variability and complexity in patients with
      hyperventilation disorder.
AB  - It has been hypothesized that hyperventilation disorders could be characterized
      by an abnormal ventilatory control leading to enhanced variability of resting
      ventilation. The variability of tidal volume (VT) often depicts a nonnormal
      distribution that can be described by the negative slope characterizing augmented
      breaths formed by the relationship between the probability density distribution
      of VT and VT on a log-log scale. The objectives of this study were to describe
      the variability of resting ventilation [coefficient of variation (CV) of VT and
      slope], the stability in respiratory control (loop, controller and plant gains
      characterizing ventilatory-chemoresponsiveness interactions) and the chaotic-like
      dynamics (embedding dimension, Kappa values characterizing complexity) of resting
      ventilation in patients with a well-defined dysfunctional breathing pattern
      characterized by air hunger and constantly decreased PaCO2 during a
      cardiopulmonary exercise test. Compared with 14 healthy subjects with similar
      anthropometrics, 23 patients with hyperventilation were characterized by
      increased variability of resting tidal ventilation (CV of VT median
      [interquartile]: 26% [19-35] vs. 36% [28-48], P = 0.020; slope: -6.63 [-7.65; 
      5.36] vs. -3.88 [-5.91; -2.66], P = 0.004) that was not related to increased
      chemical drive (loop gain: 0.051 [0.039-0.221] vs. 0.044 [0.012-0.087], P =
      0.149) but that was related to an increased ventilatory complexity (Kappa values,
      P < 0.05). Plant gain was decreased in patients and correlated with complexity
      (with Kappa 5 - degree 5: Rho = -0.48, P = 0.006). In conclusion, well-defined
      patients suffering from hyperventilation disorder are characterized by increased
      variability of their resting ventilation due to increased ventilatory complexity
      with stable ventilatory-chemoresponsiveness interactions.

PMID- 26869708
TI  - High-phosphorus diet maximizes and low-dose calcitriol attenuates skeletal muscle
      changes in long-term uremic rats.
AB  - Although disorders of mineral metabolism and skeletal muscle are common in
      chronic kidney disease (CKD), their potential relationship remains unexplored.
      Elevations in plasma phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblastic growth
      factor 23 together with decreased calcitriol levels are common features of CKD.
      High-phosphate intake is a major contributor to progression of CKD. This study
      was primarily aimed to determine the influence of high-phosphate intake on muscle
      and to investigate whether calcitriol supplementation counteracts negative
      skeletal muscle changes associated with long-term uremia. Proportions and
      metabolic and morphological features of myosin-based muscle fiber types were
      assessed in the slow-twitch soleus and the fast-twitch tibialis cranialis muscles
      of uremic rats (5/6 nephrectomy, Nx) and compared with sham-operated (So)
      controls. Three groups of Nx rats received either a standard diet (0.6%
      phosphorus, Nx-Sd), or a high-phosphorus diet (0.9% phosphorus, Nx-Pho), or a
      high-phosphorus diet plus calcitriol (10 ng/kg 3 day/wk ip, Nx-Pho + Cal) for 12
      wk. Two groups of So rats received either a standard diet or a high-phosphorus
      diet (So-Pho) over the same period. A multivariate analysis encompassing all
      fiber-type characteristics indicated that Nx-Pho + Cal rats displayed skeletal
      muscle phenotypes intermediate between Nx-Pho and So-Pho rats and that uremia
      induced skeletal muscle changes were of greater magnitude in Nx-Pho than in Nx-Sd
      rats. In uremic rats, treatment with calcitriol preserved fiber-type composition,
      cross-sectional size, myonuclear domain size, oxidative capacity, and capillarity
      of muscle fibers. These data demonstrate that a high-phosphorus diet potentiates
      and low-dose calcitriol attenuates adverse skeletal muscle changes in long-term
      uremic rats.

PMID- 26869705
TI  - Genome-Wide Association Mapping and Genomic Prediction Elucidate the Genetic
      Architecture of Morphological Traits in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Quantitative traits in plants are controlled by a large number of genes and their
      interaction with the environment. To disentangle the genetic architecture of such
      traits, natural variation within species can be explored by studying genotype
      phenotype relationships. Genome-wide association studies that link phenotypes to
      thousands of single nucleotide polymorphism markers are nowadays common practice
      for such analyses. In many cases, however, the identified individual loci cannot
      fully explain the heritability estimates, suggesting missing heritability. We
      analyzed 349 Arabidopsis accessions and found extensive variation and high
      heritabilities for different morphological traits. The number of significant
      genome-wide associations was, however, very low. The application of genomic
      prediction models that take into account the effects of all individual loci may
      greatly enhance the elucidation of the genetic architecture of quantitative
      traits in plants. Here, genomic prediction models revealed different genetic
      architectures for the morphological traits. Integrating genomic prediction and
      association mapping enabled the assignment of many plausible candidate genes
      explaining the observed variation. These genes were analyzed for functional and
      sequence diversity, and good indications that natural allelic variation in many
      of these genes contributes to phenotypic variation were obtained. For ACS11, an
      ethylene biosynthesis gene, haplotype differences explaining variation in the
      ratio of petiole and leaf length could be identified.

PMID- 26869709
TI  - Nitric oxide-mediated vascular function in sepsis using passive leg movement as a
      novel assessment: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - Post-cuff occlusion flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a proposed indicator of
      nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and vascular function. FMD is reduced in
      patients with sepsis and may be a marker of end organ damage and mortality.
      However, FMD likely does not solely reflect NO-mediated vasodilation, is
      technically challenging, and often demonstrates poor reproducibility. In
      contrast, passive leg movement (PLM), a novel methodology to assess vascular
      function, yields a hyperemic response that is predominately NO-dependent,
      reproducible, and easily measured. This study evaluated PLM as an approach to
      assess NO-mediated vascular function in patients with sepsis. We hypothesized
      that PLM-induced hyperemia, quantified by the increase in leg blood flow (LBF),
      would be attenuated in sepsis. In a cross-sectional study, 17 subjects in severe
      sepsis or septic shock were compared with 16 matched healthy controls. Doppler
      ultrasound was used to assess brachial artery FMD and the hyperemic response to
      PLM in the femoral artery. FMD was attenuated in septic compared with control
      subjects (1.1 +/- 1.7% vs. 6.8 +/- 1.3%; values are means +/- SD). In terms of
      PLM, baseline LBF (196 +/- 33 ml/min vs. 328 +/- 20 ml/min), peak change in LBF
      from baseline (133 +/- 28 ml/min vs. 483 +/- 86 ml/min), and the LBF area under
      the curve (16 +/- 8.3 vs. 143 +/- 33) were all significantly attenuated in septic
      subjects. Vascular function, as assessed by both FMD and PLM, is attenuated in
      septic subjects compared with controls. These data support the concept that NO
      bioavailability is attenuated in septic subjects, and PLM appears to be a novel
      and feasible approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function in sepsis.

PMID- 26869710
TI  - Analogs of microgravity: head-down tilt and water immersion.
AB  - This article briefly reviews the fidelity of ground-based methods used to
      simulate human existence in weightlessness (spaceflight). These methods include
      horizontal bed rest (BR), head-down tilt bed rest (HDT), head-out water immersion
      (WI), and head-out dry immersion (DI; immersion with an impermeable elastic cloth
      barrier between subject and water). Among these, HDT has become by far the most
      commonly used method, especially for longer studies. DI is less common but well
      accepted for long-duration studies. Very few studies exist that attempt to
      validate a specific simulation mode against actual microgravity. Many fundamental
      physical, and thus physiological, differences exist between microgravity and our
      methods to simulate it, and between the different methods. Also, although
      weightlessness is the salient feature of spaceflight, several ancillary factors
      of space travel complicate Earth-based simulation. In spite of these
      discrepancies and complications, the analogs duplicate many responses to 0 G
      reasonably well. As we learn more about responses to microgravity and
      spaceflight, investigators will continue to fine-tune simulation methods to
      optimize accuracy and applicability. 

PMID- 26869711
TI  - Hindlimb unloading: rodent analog for microgravity.
AB  - The rodent hindlimb unloading (HU) model was developed in the 1980s to make it
      possible to study mechanisms, responses, and treatments for the adverse
      consequences of spaceflight. Decades before development of the HU model,
      weightlessness was predicted to yield deficits in the principal tissues
      responsible for structure and movement on Earth, primarily muscle and bone.
      Indeed, results from early spaceflight and HU experiments confirmed the expected
      sensitivity of the musculoskeletal system to gravity loading. Results from human
      and animal spaceflight and HU experiments show that nearly all organ systems and
      tissues studied display some measurable changes, albeit sometimes minor and of
      uncertain relevance to astronaut health. The focus of this review is to examine
      key HU results for various organ systems including those related to stress; the
      immune, cardiovascular, and nervous systems; vision changes; and wound healing.
      Analysis of the validity of the HU model is important given its potential value
      for both hypothesis testing and countermeasure development.

PMID- 26869712
TI  - Hypercapnia is more important than hypoxia in the neuro-outcomes of sleep
      disordered breathing.

PMID- 26869713
TI  - Chronic central serotonin depletion attenuates ventilation and body temperature
      in young but not adult Tph2 knockout rats.
AB  - Genetic deletion of brain serotonin (5-HT) neurons in mice leads to ventilatory
      deficits and increased neonatal mortality during development. However, it is
      unclear if the loss of the 5-HT neurons or the loss of the neurochemical 5-HT led
      to the observed physiologic deficits. Herein, we generated a mutant rat model
      with constitutive central nervous system (CNS) 5-HT depletion by mutation of the
      tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) gene in dark agouti (DA(Tph2-/-)) rats. DA(Tph2-/
      ) rats lacked TPH immunoreactivity and brain 5-HT but retain dopa decarboxylase
      expressing raphe neurons. Mutant rats were also smaller, had relatively high
      mortality (~50%), and compared with controls had reduced room air ventilation and
      body temperatures at specific postnatal ages. In adult rats, breathing at rest
      and hypoxic and hypercapnic chemoreflexes were unaltered in adult male and female
      DA(Tph2-/-) rats. Body temperature was also maintained in adult DA(Tph2-/-) rats
      exposed to 4 degrees C, indicating unaltered ventilatory and/or thermoregulatory
      control mechanisms. Finally, DA(Tph2-/-) rats treated with the 5-HT precursor 5
      hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) partially restored CNS 5-HT and showed increased
      ventilation (P < 0.05) at a developmental age when it was otherwise attenuated in
      the mutants. We conclude that constitutive CNS production of 5-HT is critically
      important to fundamental homeostatic control systems for breathing and
      temperature during postnatal development in the rat.

PMID- 26869715
TI  - Improved Chiral Separation of Methamphetamine Enantiomers Using CSP-LC-MS-MS.
AB  - To determine the true enantiomeric composition of methamphetamine urine drug
      testing results, chiral separation of dextro (D) and levo (L) enantiomers is
      necessary. While enantiomeric separation of methamphetamine has traditionally
      been accomplished using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), chiral
      separation of D- and L-methamphetamine by chiral stationary phase (CSP) liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) has proved more
      reliable. Chirally selective detection of methamphetamine by GC-MS is often
      performed using L-N-trifluoroacetyl-prolyl chloride (TPC). L-TPC, a chiral
      compound, is known to have impurities that can affect the chiral composition
      percentages of the methamphetamine sample, potentially leading to inaccurate
      patient results. The comparative analysis of the samples run by GC and LC methods
      showed preferential bias of the GC method for producing error rates, consistent
      with previous research, of 8-19%. The CSP-LC-MS-MS method produces percent
      deviation errors of <2%. Additionally, the GC method failed to produce results
      that were 100% D- or L-isomer even for enantiomerically pure standards. A higher
      rate of D- and L-methamphetamine isomer racemization is seen in samples when
      analyzed by GC-MS using L-TPC-derivatizing agent. This racemization is not seen
      when these samples are tested with CSP-LC-MS-MS. Thus, a more accurate method of
      enantiomeric analysis is provided by CSP-LC-MS-MS.

PMID- 26869714
TI  - Cytosolic calcium transients are a determinant of contraction-induced HSP72
      transcription in single skeletal muscle fibers.
AB  - The intrinsic activating factors that induce transcription of heat shock protein
      72 (HSP72) in skeletal muscle following exercise remain unclear. We hypothesized
      that the cytosolic Ca(2+) transient that occurs with depolarization is a
      determinant. We utilized intact, single skeletal muscle fibers from Xenopus
      laevis to test the role of the cytosolic Ca(2+) transient and several other
      exercise-related factors (fatigue, hypoxia, AMP kinase, and cross-bridge cycling)
      on the activation of HSP72 transcription. HSP72 and HSP60 mRNA levels were
      assessed with real-time quantitative PCR; cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration
      ([Ca(2+)]cyt) was assessed with fura-2. Both fatiguing and nonfatiguing
      contractions resulted in a significant increase in HSP72 mRNA. As expected, peak
      [Ca(2+)]cyt remained tightly coupled with peak developed tension in contracting
      fibers. Pretreatment with N-benzyl-p-toluene sulfonamide (BTS) resulted in
      depressed peak developed tension with stimulation, while peak [Ca(2+)]cyt
      remained largely unchanged from control values. Despite excitation-contraction
      uncoupling, BTS-treated fibers displayed a significant increase in HSP72 mRNA.
      Treatment of fibers with hypoxia (Po2: <3 mmHg) or AMP kinase activation had no
      effect on HSP72 mRNA levels. These results suggest that the intermittent
      cytosolic Ca(2+) transient that occurs with skeletal muscle depolarization
      provides a sufficient activating stimulus for HSP72 transcription. Metabolic or
      mechanical factors associated with fatigue development and cross-bridge cycling
      likely play a more limited role.

PMID- 26869716
TI  - CD8+CD122+CD49dlow regulatory T cells maintain T-cell homeostasis by killing
      activated T cells via Fas/FasL-mediated cytotoxicity.
AB  - The Fas/FasL (CD95/CD178) system is required for immune regulation; however, it
      is unclear in which cells, when, and where Fas/FasL molecules act in the immune
      system. We found that CD8(+)CD122(+) cells, which are mostly composed of memory T
      cells in comparison with naive cells in the CD8(+)CD122(-) population, were
      previously shown to include cells with regulatory activity and could be separated
      into CD49d(low) cells and CD49d(high) cells. We established in vitro and in vivo
      experimental systems to evaluate the regulatory activity of CD122(+) cells.
      Regulatory activity was observed in CD8(+)CD122(+)CD49d(low) but not in
      CD8(+)CD122(+)CD49d(high) cells, indicating that the regulatory cells in the
      CD8(+)CD122(+) population could be narrowed down to CD49d(low) cells.
      CD8(+)CD122(-) cells taken from lymphoproliferation (lpr) mice were resistant to
      regulation by normal CD122(+) Tregs. CD122(+) Tregs taken from generalized
      lymphoproliferative disease (gld) mice did not regulate wild-type CD8(+)CD122(-)
      cells, indicating that the regulation by CD122(+) Tregs is Fas/FasL-dependent.
      CD122(+) Tregs taken from IL-10-deficient mice could regulate CD8(+)CD122(-)
      cells as equally as wild-type CD122(+) Tregs both in vitro and in vivo. MHC class
      I-missing T cells were not regulated by CD122(+) Tregs in vitro. CD122(+) Tregs
      also regulated CD4(+) cells in a Fas/FasL-dependent manner in vitro. These
      results suggest an essential role of Fas/FasL as a terminal effector of the
      CD122(+) Tregs that kill activated T cells to maintain immune homeostasis. 

PMID- 26869718
TI  - The impact of clinical maturity on competency in evidence-based medicine: a mixed
      methods study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify whether the clinical maturity of medical trainees impacts
      upon the level of trainee competency in evidence-based medicine (EBM). MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Undergraduate and graduate-entry medical trainees entering their
      first year of training in the clinical environment were recruited for this study.
      Competency in EBM was measured using a psychometrically validated instrument. EBM
      competency scores were analysed using Student's t tests, in order to
      differentiate between undergraduate and graduate-entry trainee performance. Ten
      focus group discussions were conducted with undergraduate and graduate-entry
      trainees. Audio transcripts were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Data on a total
      of 885 medical trainees were collected over a 5-year period. Undergraduate
      trainees had significantly higher EBM competency scores during years in which the
      programme was presented in a didactic format (mean difference (MD)=1.24 (95%
      CI)CI 0.21 to 2.26; 1.78 (0.39 to 3.17); 2.13 (1.16 to 3.09)). Graduate trainee
      EBM competency scores increased when a blended learning approach to EBM was
      adopted, demonstrating no significant difference in EBM competency scores between
      undergraduate and graduate cohorts (-0.27 (-1.38 to 0.85); -0.39 (-1.57 to 0.79).
      Qualitative findings indicated that differences in learning and teaching
      preference among undergraduate and graduate-entry trainees influenced the level
      of competency obtained in EBM. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical maturity is the only one
      factor that may influence medical trainees' competency in EBM. Other predictors
      of EBM competency may include previous training and exposure to epidemiology,
      biostatistics and information literacy. While graduate-entry medical students may
      have more 'life' experience, or maturity, it does not necessarily translate into
      clinical maturity and integration into the clinical environment.

PMID- 26869719
TI  - The global reach of public health.

PMID- 26869717
TI  - Interaction of TAPBPR, a tapasin homolog, with MHC-I molecules promotes peptide
      editing.
AB  - Peptide loading of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules is
      central to antigen presentation, self-tolerance, and CD8(+) T-cell activation.
      TAP binding protein, related (TAPBPR), a widely expressed tapasin homolog, is not
      part of the classical MHC-I peptide-loading complex (PLC). Using recombinant MHC
      I molecules, we show that TAPBPR binds HLA-A*02:01 and several other MHC-I
      molecules that are either peptide-free or loaded with low-affinity peptides.
      Fluorescence polarization experiments establish that TAPBPR augments peptide
      binding by MHC-I. The TAPBPR/MHC-I interaction is reversed by specific peptides,
      related to their affinity. Mutational and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)
      studies confirm the structural similarities of TAPBPR with tapasin. These results
      support a role of TAPBPR in stabilizing peptide-receptive conformation(s) of MHC
      I, permitting peptide editing. 

PMID- 26869720
TI  - Brexit: a confused concept that threatens public health.

PMID- 26869721
TI  - New Cochrane protocols and reviews of relevance to health promotion and public
      health, published in November 2015-January 2016 of The Cochrane Library.

PMID- 26869722
TI  - Entomological journals and publishing in Japan.
AB  - Here I present an overview of entomological journals and publishing in Japan,
      thereby providing a convenient portal to the valuable scientific resources for
      the world's entomological researchers and scientific communities. Currently,
      except for several international journals published fully in English such as
      Applied Entomology and Zoology and Entomological Science, many entomological and
      entomology-related journals in Japan are not indexed by major scientific
      databases like Web of Science, and therefore they are neither conveniently
      recognizable nor accessible for the world's entomological communities. However, I
      point out that many of the contents of such journals are freely available via
      Japan's public platforms for electronic scientific literature, Japan Science and
      Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-stage) or Citation Information
      by National Institute of Informatics (CiNii). Here I list 32 entomological and
      entomology-related societies and their 45 journals, the majority of which belong
      to either the Union of Japanese Societies for Insect Sciences (UJSIS), the Union
      of the Japanese Societies for Systematic Biology (UJSSB), the Union of Japanese
      Societies for Natural History (UJSNH), or the Union of Japanese Societies for
      Biological Science (UJSBS), with their respective URL and open-access
      availability.

PMID- 26869723
TI  - Acoustic particle palpation for measuring tissue elasticity.
AB  - We propose acoustic particle palpation-the use of sound to press a population of
      acoustic particles against an interface-as a method for measuring the qualitative
      and quantitative mechanical properties of materials. We tested the feasibility of
      this method by emitting ultrasound pulses across a tunnel of an elastic material
      filled with microbubbles. Ultrasound stimulated the microbubble cloud to move in
      the direction of wave propagation, press against the distal surface, and cause
      deformations relevant for elasticity measurements. Shear waves propagated away
      from the palpation site with a velocity that was used to estimate the material's
      Young's modulus.

PMID- 26869724
TI  - Quantitative contrast-enhanced optical coherence tomography.
AB  - We have developed a model to accurately quantify the signals produced by
      exogenous scattering agents used for contrast-enhanced Optical Coherence
      Tomography (OCT). This model predicts distinct concentration-dependent signal
      trends that arise from the underlying physics of OCT detection. Accordingly, we
      show that real scattering particles can be described as simplified ideal
      scatterers with modified scattering intensity and concentration. The relation
      between OCT signal and particle concentration is approximately linear at
      concentrations lower than 0.8 particle per imaging voxel. However, at higher
      concentrations, interference effects cause signal to increase with a square root
      dependence on the number of particles within a voxel. Finally, high particle
      concentrations cause enough light attenuation to saturate the detected signal.
      Predictions were validated by comparison with measured OCT signals from gold
      nanorods (GNRs) prepared in water at concentrations ranging over five orders of
      magnitude (50 fM to 5 nM). In addition, we validated that our model accurately
      predicts the signal responses of GNRs in highly heterogeneous scattering
      environments including whole blood and living animals. By enabling particle
      quantification, this work provides a valuable tool for current and future
      contrast-enhanced in vivo OCT studies. More generally, the model described herein
      may inform the interpretation of detected signals in modalities that rely on
      coherence-based detection or are susceptible to interference effects.

PMID- 26869725
TI  - Multifunctional-layered materials for creating membrane-restricted nanodomains
      and nanoscale imaging.
AB  - Experimental platform that allows precise spatial positioning of biomolecules
      with an exquisite control at nanometer length scales is a valuable tool to study
      the molecular mechanisms of membrane bound signaling. Using micromachined thin
      film gold (Au) in layered architecture, it is possible to add both optical and
      biochemical functionalities in in vitro. Towards this goal, here, I show that
      docking of complementary DNA tethered giant phospholiposomes on Au surface can
      create membrane-restricted nanodomains. These nanodomains are critical features
      to dissect molecular choreography of membrane signaling complexes. The excited
      surface plasmon resonance modes of Au allow label-free imaging at diffraction
      limited resolution of stably docked DNA tethered phospholiposomes, and lipid
      detergent bicelle structures. Such multifunctional building block enables
      realizing rigorously controlled in vitro set-up to model membrane anchored
      biological signaling, besides serving as an optical tool for nanoscale imaging.

PMID- 26869726
TI  - Searching for trans ethyl methyl ether in Orion KL.
AB  - We report on the tentative detection of trans ethyl methyl ether (tEME), t
      CH3CH2OCH3, through the identification of a large number of rotational lines from
      each one of the spin states of the molecule towards Orion KL. We also search for
      gauche-trans-n-propanol, Gt-n-CH3CH2CH2OH, an isomer of tEME in the same source.
      We have identified lines of both species in the IRAM 30 m line survey and in the
      ALMA Science Verification data. We have obtained ALMA maps to establish the
      spatial distribution of these species. Whereas tEME mainly arises from the
      compact ridge component of Orion, Gt-n-propanol appears at the emission peak of
      ethanol (south hot core). The derived column densities of these species at the
      location of their emission peaks are <=(4.0 +/- 0.8) * 1015 cm-2 and <=(1.0 +/-
      0.2)* 1015 cm-2 for tEME and Gt-n-propanol, respectively. The rotational
      temperature is ~100 K for both molecules. We also provide maps of CH3OCOH,
      CH3CH2OCOH, CH3OCH3, CH3OH, and CH3CH2OH to compare the distribution of these
      organic saturated O-bearing species containing methyl and ethyl groups in this
      region. Abundance ratios of related species and upper limits to the abundances of
      non-detected ethers are provided. We derive an abundance ratio N(CH3OCH3)/N(tEME)
      >= 150 in the compact ridge of Orion.

PMID- 26869727
TI  - Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from the Albanian Alps (Kosovo, Montenegro).
AB  - 396 taxa (381 species) of lichenized and 45 species of lichenicolous fungi from
      the upper montane, subalpine and alpine belts of the Albanian Alps (= Prokletije
      Mountain Range, Bjeshket e Nemuna) are presented. 92 lichenized and 26
      lichenicolous fungi are new to Montenegro, 165 lichenized and 24 lichenicolous
      fungi are new to Kosovo, and 25 lichenized fungi (23 species) are new for the
      Balkan Peninsula.

PMID- 26869729
TI  - Numerical simulation of endocytosis: Viscous flow driven by membranes with non
      uniformly distributed curvature-inducing molecules.
AB  - The formation of membrane vesicles from a larger membrane that occurs during
      endocytosis and other cell processes are typically orchestrated by curvature
      inducing molecules attached to the membrane. Recent reports demonstrate that
      vesicles can form de novo in a few milliseconds. Membrane dynamics at these
      scales are strongly influenced by hydrodynamic interactions. To study this
      problem, we develop new diffuse interface models for the dynamics of inextensible
      vesicles in a viscous fluid with stiff, curvature-inducing molecules. The model
      couples the Navier-Stokes equations with membrane-induced bending forces that
      incorporate concentration-dependent bending stiffness coefficients and
      spontaneous curvatures, with equations for molecule transport and for a Lagrange
      multiplier to enforce local inextensibility. Two forms of surface transport
      equations are considered: Fickian surface diffusion and Cahn-Hilliard surface
      dynamics, with the former being more appropriate for small molecules and the
      latter being better for large molecules. The system is solved using adaptive
      finite element methods in 3D axisymmetric geometries. The results demonstrate
      that hydrodynamics can indeed enable the rapid formation of a small vesicle
      attached to the membrane by a narrow neck. When the Fickian model is used, this
      is a transient state with the steady state being a flat membrane with a uniformly
      distributed molecule concentration due to diffusion. When the Cahn-Hilliard model
      is used, molecule concentration gradients are sustained, the neck stabilizes and
      the system evolves to a steady-state with a small, compact vesicle attached to
      the membrane. By varying the membrane coverage of molecules in the Cahn-Hilliard
      model, we find that there is a critical (smallest) neck radius and a critical
      (fastest) budding time. These critical points are associated with changes in the
      vesicle morphology from spherical to mushroom-like as the molecule coverage on
      the membrane is increased.

PMID- 26869728
TI  - 3D Printing for Tissue Engineering.
AB  - Tissue engineering aims to fabricate functional tissue for applications in
      regenerative medicine and drug testing. More recently, 3D printing has shown
      great promise in tissue fabrication with a structural control from micro- to
      macro-scale by using a layer-by-layer approach. Whether through scaffold-based or
      scaffold-free approaches, the standard for 3D printed tissue engineering
      constructs is to provide a biomimetic structural environment that facilitates
      tissue formation and promotes host tissue integration (e.g., cellular
      infiltration, vascularization, and active remodeling). This review will cover
      several approaches that have advanced the field of 3D printing through novel
      fabrication methods of tissue engineering constructs. It will also discuss the
      applications of synthetic and natural materials for 3D printing facilitated
      tissue fabrication.

PMID- 26869731
TI  - An extensive analysis of the parity of broken 3-diamond partitions.
AB  - In 2007, Andrews and Paule introduced the family of functions [Formula: see text]
      which enumerate the number of broken k-diamond partitions for a fixed positive
      integer k. Since then, numerous mathematicians have considered partitions
      congruences satisfied by [Formula: see text] for small values of k. In this work,
      we provide an extensive analysis of the parity of the function [Formula: see
      text], including a number of Ramanujan-like congruences modulo 2. This will be
      accomplished by completely characterizing the values of [Formula: see text]
      modulo 2 for [Formula: see text] and any value of [Formula: see text]. In
      contrast, we conjecture that, for any integers [Formula: see text], [Formula: see
      text] and [Formula: see text] is infinitely often even and infinitely often odd.
      In this sense, we generalize Subbarao's Conjecture for this function [Formula:
      see text]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first generalization of
      Subbarao's Conjecture in the literature.

PMID- 26869730
TI  - Response to Instruction in Preschool: Results of Two Randomized Studies with
      Children At Significant Risk of Reading Difficulties.
AB  - Although response-to-instruction (RTI) approaches have received increased
      attention, few studies have evaluated the potential impacts of RTI approaches
      with preschool populations. This manuscript presents results of two studies
      examining impacts of Tier II instruction with preschool children. Participating
      children were identified as substantially delayed in the acquisition of early
      literacy skills despite exposure to high-quality, evidence-based classroom
      instruction. Study 1 included 93 children (M age = 58.2 months; SD = 3.62)
      attending 12 Title I preschools. Study 2 included 184 children (M age = 58.2
      months; SD = 3.38) attending 19 Title I preschools. The majority of children were
      Black/African American, and about 60% were male. In both studies, eligible
      children were randomized to receive either 11 weeks of need-aligned, small-group
      instruction or just Tier I. Tier II instruction in Study 1 included variations of
      activities for code- and language-focused domains with prior evidence of efficacy
      in non-RTI contexts. Tier II instruction in Study 2 included instructional
      activities narrower in scope, more intensive, and delivered to smaller groups of
      children. Impacts of Tier II instruction in Study 1 were minimal; however, there
      were significant and moderate-to-large impacts in Study 2. These results identify
      effective Tier II instruction but indicate that the context in which children are
      identified may alter the nature of Tier II instruction that is required. Children
      identified as eligible for Tier II in an RTI framework likely require more
      intensive and more narrowly focused instruction than do children at general risk
      of later academic difficulties.

PMID- 26869732
TI  - Sylow p-groups of polynomial permutations on the integers mod [Formula: see
      text].
AB  - We enumerate and describe the Sylow p-groups of the groups of polynomial
      permutations of the integers mod [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and
      of the pro-finite group which is the projective limit of these groups.

PMID- 26869733
TI  - Conjugation morphology of Zygogonium ericetorum (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta)
      from a high alpine habitat.
AB  - Reproductive characteristics are important for defining taxonomic groups of
      filamentous Zygnematophyceae, but they have not been fully observed in the genus
      Zygogonium. Specimens of Z. ericetorum previously studied and used to clarify the
      generic concept lacked fertile material, which was obtained recently. This study
      illustrates for the first time, using color light microscopic and fluorescence
      images, a consequent conjugation stage in Z. ericetorum, including completely
      developed zygospores and purple cytoplasmic residue content left outside the
      zygospores, similar to aplanospore formation. Structures confirmed earlier
      reports and provided new observation informative regarding phylogenetically
      relevant reproductive characters of Z. ericetorum.

PMID- 26869734
TI  - What Counts as Scientific Data? A Relational Framework.
AB  - This paper proposes an account of scientific data that makes sense of recent
      debates on data-driven research, while also building on the history of data
      production and use particularly within biology. In this view, 'data' is a
      relational category applied to research outputs that are taken, at specific
      moments of inquiry, to provide evidence for knowledge claims of interest to the
      researchers involved. They do not have truth-value in and of themselves, nor can
      they be seen as straightforward representations of given phenomena. Rather, they
      are fungible objects defined by their portability and their prospective
      usefulness as evidence.

PMID- 26869735
TI  - You Cannot be Partially Pregnant: A Comparison of Divisible and Nondivisible
      Outcomes in Delay and Probability Discounting Studies.
AB  - Research by The Psychological Record, 64(3), 433-440. doi:10.1007/s40732-014-0052
      9, (2014) demonstrated the novel finding that the magnitude effect for medical
      outcomes does not reverse across delay and probability discounting as it does for
      monetary outcomes. We suggest that a possible reason for the lack of a reverse
      magnitude effect in nonmonetary outcomes is incomparable divisibility of
      discounted alternatives. To test whether the lack of a reverse magnitude effect
      in probability discounting of medical outcomes is due to incomparable
      divisibility of treatment effects, 4 studies were conducted. In the replication
      study, the effect observed by The Psychological Record, 64(3), 433-440.
      doi:10.1007/s40732-014-0052-9, (2014) was marginally not significant, although it
      was directionally consistent with their prediction of steeper discounting of
      small medical outcomes (as compared to large, defined as brain cancer) both in
      time and probability discounting. Our manipulation by substituting a divisible
      outcome (body paralysis) for an indivisible one (brain cancer) did not, however,
      bring expected results. We discuss the explanations and possible implications of
      introduced division for divisible and nondivisible medical outcomes.

PMID- 26869736
TI  - Terricolous Lichens in the Glacier Forefield of the Gaisbergferner (Eastern Alps,
      Tyrol, Austria).
AB  - The investigation of lichens on soil, plant debris and terricolous mosses in the
      glacier forefield of the Gaisbergferner yielded 41 lichen taxa (39 species and 2
      varieties) and one lichenicolous fungus. Three sampling sites were established at
      increasing distance from the glacier, in order to compare species diversity,
      abundance and composition.

PMID- 26869737
TI  - Terricolous Lichens in the Glacier Forefield of the Rotkees (Eastern Alps, South
      Tyrol, Italy).
AB  - The investigation of lichens on soil, plant debris and terricolous mosses in the
      glacier forefield of the Rotkees yielded 31 lichen taxa (29 species and 2
      varieties) and one lichenicolous fungus. Micarea incrassata Hedl. (Lecanorales)
      is new to Italy. Three sampling sites were established at increasing distance
      from the glacier, in order to compare species diversity, abundance and
      composition.

PMID- 26869738
TI  - When glaciers and ice sheets melt: consequences for planktonic organisms.
AB  - The current melting of glaciers and ice sheets is a consequence of climatic
      change and their turbid meltwaters are filling and enlarging many new proglacial
      and ice-contact lakes around the world, as well as affecting coastal areas.
      Paradoxically, very little is known on the ecology of turbid glacier-fed aquatic
      ecosystems even though they are at the origin of the most common type of lakes on
      Earth. Here, I discuss the consequences of those meltwaters for planktonic
      organisms. A remarkable characteristic of aquatic ecosystems receiving the
      discharge of meltwaters is their high content of mineral suspensoids, so-called
      glacial flour that poses a real challenge for filter-feeding planktonic taxa such
      as Daphnia and phagotrophic groups such as heterotrophic nanoflagellates. The
      planktonic food-web structure in highly turbid meltwater lakes seems to be
      truncated and microbially dominated. Low underwater light levels leads to
      unfavorable conditions for primary producers, but at the same time, cause less
      stress by UV radiation. Meltwaters are also a source of inorganic and organic
      nutrients that could stimulate secondary prokaryotic production and in some cases
      (e.g. in distal proglacial lakes) also phytoplankton primary production. How
      changes in turbidity and in other related environmental factors influence
      diversity, community composition and adaptation have only recently begun to be
      studied. Knowledge of the consequences of glacier retreat for glacier-fed lakes
      and coasts will be crucial to predict ecosystem trajectories regarding changes in
      biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles and function.

PMID- 26869739
TI  - Intensified Religious Pluralism and De-differentiation: the British Example.
AB  - Drawing on surveys of religion and values in Great Britain, this paper suggests
      that Peter Berger's paradigm of two pluralisms can be usefully supplemented by
      taking account of a third kind of intensified pluralism. This involves the
      breakdown of the boundaries between religions, and between the religious and the
      secular, and is therefore a pluralism of de-differentiation. It helps explain
      many features of contemporary religion and identity, including the rise of the
      "nones" and the increasing reluctance of each new generation to identify with
      religious (and secular) labels and packages.

PMID- 26869740
TI  - Promoting Birth Parents' Relationships with their Toddlers upon Reunification:
      Results from Promoting First Relationships(r) Home Visiting Program.
AB  - Birth parents, once reunified with their child after a foster care placement, are
      in need of in-home support services to prevent reoccurrence of maltreatment and
      reentry into foster care, establish a strong relationship with their child, and
      enhance child well-being. Few studies have addressed the efficacy of home
      visiting services for reunified birth parents of toddlers. This study reports on
      the findings from a randomized control trial of a 10-week home visiting program,
      Promoting First Relationships(r) (Kelly, Sandoval, Zuckerman, & Buehlman, 2008),
      for a subsample of 43 reunified birth parents that were part of the larger trial.
      We describe how the elements of the intervention align with the needs of parents
      and children in child welfare. Although the sample size was small and most of the
      estimates of intervention effects were not statistically significant, the effect
      sizes and the pattern of results suggest that the intervention may have improved
      both observed parenting sensitivity and observed child behaviors as well as
      decreased parent report of child behavior problems. Implications are that
      providing in-home services soon after a reunification may be efficacious in
      strengthening birth parents' capacity to respond sensitively to their children as
      well as improving child social and emotional outcomes and well-being.

PMID- 26869741
TI  - Angiographic analysis for phantom simulations of endovascular aneurysm treatments
      with a new fully retrievable asymmetric flow diverter.
AB  - Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is the main diagnostic tool for
      intracranial aneurysms (IA) flow-diverter (FD) assisted treatment. Based on
      qualitative contrast flow evaluation, interventionists decide on subsequent
      steps. We developed a novel fully Retrievable Asymmetric Flow-Diverter (RAFD)
      which allows controlled deployment, repositioning and detachment achieve optimal
      flow diversion. The device has a small low porosity or solid region which is
      placed such that it would achieve maximum aneurysmal in-jet flow deflection with
      minimum impairment to adjacent vessels. We tested the new RAFD using a flow-loop
      with an idealized and a patient specific IA phantom in carotid-relevant
      physiological conditions. We positioned the deflection region at three locations:
      distally, center and proximally to the aneurysm orifice and analyzed aneurysm
      dome flow using DSA derived maps for mean transit time (MTT) and bolus arrival
      times (BAT). Comparison between treated and untreated (control) maps quantified
      the RAFD positioning effect. Average MTT, related to contrast presence in the
      aneurysm dome increased, indicating flow decoupling between the aneurysm and
      parent artery. Maximum effect was observed in the center and proximal position
      (~75%) of aneurysm models depending on their geometry. BAT maps, correlated well
      with inflow jet direction and magnitude. Reduction and jet dispersion as high as
      about 50% was observed for various treatments. We demonstrated the use of DSA
      data to guide the placement of the RAFD and showed that optimum flow diversion
      within the aneurysm dome is feasible. This could lead to more effective and a
      safer IA treatment using FDs.

PMID- 26869743
TI  - Lichenized fungi of a chestnut grove in Livari (Rumija, Montenegro).
AB  - Sixty taxa (59 species and 1 variety) of lichenized fungi are reported from a
      chestnut grove in Livari. The majority of them (55 species and 1 variety)
      occurred on Castanea sativa. The recently described Xylographa soralifera is new
      to the Balkan Peninsula. The lichenicolous fungus Monodictys epilepraria growing
      on Lepraria rigidula is new to Montenegro. The lichen mycota is compared with
      similar localities in Italy and Switzerland. The species composition in Livari is
      most similar to the Montieri site in Tuscany.

PMID- 26869742
TI  - Micro-Computed tomography (CT) based assessment of dental regenerative therapy in
      the canine mandible model.
AB  - High-resolution 3D bone-tissue structure measurements may provide information
      critical to the understanding of the bone regeneration processes and to the bone
      strength assessment. Tissue engineering studies rely on such nondestructive
      measurements to monitor bone graft regeneration area. In this study, we measured
      bone yield, fractal dimension and trabecular thickness through micro-CT slices
      for different grafts and controls. Eight canines underwent surgery to remove a
      bone volume (defect) in the canine's jaw at a total of 44 different locations. We
      kept 11 defects empty for control and filled the remaining ones with three
      regenerative materials; NanoGen (NG), a FDA-approved material (n=11), a novel
      NanoCalcium Sulfate (NCS) material (n=11) and NCS alginate (NCS+alg) material
      (n=11). After a minimum of four and eight weeks, the canines were sacrificed and
      the jaw samples were extracted. We used a custom-built micro-CT system to acquire
      the data volume and developed software to measure the bone yield, fractal
      dimension and trabecular thickness. The software used a segmentation algorithm
      based on histograms derived from volumes of interest indicated by the operator.
      Using bone yield and fractal dimension as indices we are able to differentiate
      between the control and regenerative material (p<0.005). Regenerative material
      NCS showed an average 63.15% bone yield improvement over the control sample,
      NCS+alg showed 55.55% and NanoGen showed 37.5%. The bone regeneration process and
      quality of bone were dependent upon the position of defect and time period of
      healing. This study presents one of the first quantitative comparisons using non
      destructive Micro-CT analysis for bone regenerative material in a large animal
      with a critical defect model. Our results indicate that Micro-CT measurement
      could be used to monitor in-vivo bone regeneration studies for greater
      regenerative process understanding.

PMID- 26869744
TI  - Risananeiza crassaparies n. sp. from the upper Chattian of Porto Badisco
      (southern Apulia, Italy).
AB  - A new species of Rotaliidae, Risananeiza crassaparies n. sp., is described from
      the upper Chattian of the Porto Badisco Calcarenites (Salento Peninsula, Southern
      Italy). The studied specimens are assigned to the foraminiferal genus Risananeiza
      based on the presence of vertical canals in both the ventral and dorsal side of
      the test, and an intraseptal canal system that evolves into marginal sutural
      canals. The new species differs from the type species of the genus, R. pustulosa,
      in having a lower chamber lumen, and smaller dimension.

PMID- 26869745
TI  - Cultivation of shear stress sensitive and tolerant microalgal species in a
      tubular photobioreactor equipped with a centrifugal pump.
AB  - The tolerance to shear stress of Tetraselmis suecica, Isochrysis galbana,
      Skeletonema costatum, and Chaetoceros muelleri was determined in shear cylinders.
      The shear tolerance of the microalgae species strongly depends on the strain. I.
      galbana, S. costatum, and C. muelleri exposed to shear stress between 1.2 and 5.4
      Pa resulted in severe cell damage. T. suecica is not sensitive to stresses up to
      80 Pa. The possibility to grow these algae in a tubular photobioreactor (PBR)
      using a centrifugal pump for recirculation of the algae suspension was studied.
      The shear stresses imposed on the algae in the circulation tubes and at the
      pressure side of the pump were 0.57 and 1.82 Pa, respectively. The shear stress
      tolerant T. suecica was successfully cultivated in the PBR. Growth of I. galbana,
      S. costatum, and C. muelleri in the tubular PBR was not observed, not even at the
      lowest pumping speed. For the latter shear sensitive strains, the encountered
      shear stress levels were in the order of magnitude of the determined maximum
      shear tolerance of the algae. An equation was used to simulate the effect of
      possible damage of microalgae caused by passages through local high shear zones
      in centrifugal pumps on the total algae culture in the PBR. This simulation shows
      that a culture of shear stress sensitive species is bound to collapse after only
      limited number of passages, confirming the importance of considering shear stress
      as a process parameter in future design of closed PBRs for microalgal
      cultivation.

PMID- 26869746
TI  - Secure transport and adaptation of MC-EZBC video utilizing H.264-based transport
      protocols.
AB  - Universal Multimedia Access (UMA) calls for solutions where content is created
      once and subsequently adapted to given requirements. With regard to UMA and
      scalability, which is required often due to a wide variety of end clients, the
      best suited codecs are wavelet based (like the MC-EZBC) due to their inherent
      high number of scaling options. However, most transport technologies for
      delivering videos to end clients are targeted toward the H.264/AVC standard or,
      if scalability is required, the H.264/SVC. In this paper we will introduce a
      mapping of the MC-EZBC bitstream to existing H.264/SVC based streaming and
      scaling protocols. This enables the use of highly scalable wavelet based codecs
      on the one hand and the utilization of already existing network technologies
      without accruing high implementation costs on the other hand. Furthermore, we
      will evaluate different scaling options in order to choose the best option for
      given requirements. Additionally, we will evaluate different encryption options
      based on transport and bitstream encryption for use cases where digital rights
      management is required.

PMID- 26869748
TI  - Lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from the valley 'Ochsental' (Eastern Alps,
      Vorarlberg, Austria).
AB  - A list of 100 lichen species and 4 lichenicolous fungi from the valley
      'Ochsental' is presented. Lecidea laboriosa is new to Austria. Lecanora swartzii,
      Orphniospora moriopsis, Protothelenella corrosa and the lichenicolous fungus
      Cercidospora stereocaulorum are new to the province of Vorarlberg.

PMID- 26869747
TI  - Neuromuscular development in Patellogastropoda (Mollusca: Gastropoda) and its
      importance for reconstructing ancestral gastropod bodyplan features.
AB  - Within Gastropoda, limpets (Patellogastropoda) are considered the most basal
      branching taxon and its representatives are thus crucial for research into
      evolutionary questions. Here, we describe the development of the neuromuscular
      system in Lottia cf. kogamogai. In trochophore larvae, first serotonin-like
      immunoreactivity (lir) appears in the apical organ and in the prototroch nerve
      ring. The arrangement and number of serotonin-lir cells in the apical organ
      (three flask-shaped, two round cells) are strikingly similar to those in
      putatively derived gastropods. First, FMRFamide-lir appears in veliger larvae in
      the Anlagen of the future adult nervous system including the cerebral and pedal
      ganglia. As in other gastropods, the larvae of this limpet show one main and one
      accessory retractor as well as a pedal retractor and a prototroch muscle ring. Of
      these, only the pedal retractor persists until after metamorphosis and is part of
      the adult shell musculature. We found a hitherto undescribed, paired muscle that
      inserts at the base of the foot and runs towards the base of the tentacles. An
      apical organ with flask-shaped cells, one main and one accessory retractor muscle
      is commonly found among gastropod larvae and thus might have been part of the
      last common ancestor.

PMID- 26869749
TI  - Merging Policy Initiatives and Developmental Perspectives in Early Intervention.
AB  - The provision of early intervention services for vulnerable children and their
      families is now both accepted and expected by the international community. This
      article considers the importance of a developmental perspective as an essential
      guide to early intervention service systems. Emphasized in this framework are
      three critical features: relationship formation, the continuity of interventions,
      and the comprehensiveness of interventions. Guidance to early intervention
      systems design with respect to structural and values principles is also
      discussed. Future advances in early intervention may well depend upon the merging
      of these perspectives to create policy initiatives to enhance early intervention
      systems.

PMID- 26869750
TI  - The suprachoroidal space: from potential space to a space with potential.
AB  - Recent advances have made it possible to image the suprachoroidal space, and the
      understanding of its clinical applications is currently being greatly expanded.
      This opinion piece covers the advances in imaging techniques that enable the
      demonstration of the suprachoroidal space, and its implication in various retinal
      pathologies. It also reviews its potential uses as a route for drug delivery for
      the treatment of retinal diseases, and its use in innovative surgical techniques.
      Current research is leading the way for the suprachoroidal space to be an aspect
      of retinal disease diagnosis, monitoring, medical treatment, and surgical
      manipulation. 

PMID- 26869752
TI  - Erratum: Delayed manifestation of bilateral scleral thinning after I-BRITE((r))
      procedure and review of literature for cosmetic eye-whitening procedures
      [Corrigendum].
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 445 in vol. 9, PMID: 25784790.]. 

PMID- 26869751
TI  - Role of steroids in the treatment of bacterial keratitis.
AB  - Bacterial keratitis can lead to severe visual impairment from corneal ulceration,
      subsequent scarring, and possible perforation. The mainstay of treatment is
      topical antibiotics, whereas the use of adjunctive topical corticosteroid drops
      remains a matter of debate. Herein, we review the rationale for and against the
      use of topical corticosteroids and we assess their effectiveness and safety in
      the published randomized controlled trials that have evaluated their role as
      adjunctive therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. In the largest study to date,
      the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial, topical corticosteroid drops were neither
      helpful nor harmful for the 500 participants as a whole. However, subgroup
      analyses suggested that topical corticosteroids may be beneficial upon early
      administration (within 2-3 days after starting antibiotics) for more central
      corneal ulcers with poorer vision at presentation, for invasive Pseudomonas
      strains, and for non-Nocardia ulcers. These results are discussed within the
      limitations of the study. 

PMID- 26869754
TI  - Comparison of surgical time and IOP spikes with two ophthalmic viscosurgical
      devices following Visian STAAR (ICL, V4c model) insertion in the immediate
      postoperative period.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the effect of two ocular viscosurgical devices (OVDs) on
      intraocular pressure (IOP) and surgical time in immediate postoperative period
      after bilateral implantable collamer lens (using the V4c model) implantation.
      METHODS: A total of 20 eligible patients were randomized to receive 2%
      hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) in one eye and 1% hyaluronic acid in fellow
      eye. Time taken for complete removal of OVD and total surgical time were
      recorded. At the end of surgery, IOP was adjusted between 15 and 20 mmHg in both
      the eyes. RESULTS: Mean time for complete OVD evacuation and total surgical time
      were significantly higher in the HPMC group (P=0.00). Four eyes in the HPMC group
      had IOP spike, requiring treatment. IOP values with noncontact tonometry at 1, 2,
      4, 24, and 48 hours were not statistically significant (P>0.05) for both the
      groups. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that 1% hyaluronic acid significantly
      reduces total surgical time, and incidence of acute spikes may be lower compared
      to 2% HPMC when used for implantable collamer lens (V4c model).

PMID- 26869753
TI  - Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: current status and future prospects.
AB  - Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery aims to provide a medication-sparing,
      conjunctival-sparing, ab interno approach to intraocular pressure reduction for
      patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma that is safer than traditional incisional
      glaucoma surgery. The current approaches include: increasing trabecular outflow
      (Trabectome, iStent, Hydrus stent, gonioscopy-assisted transluminal
      trabeculotomy, excimer laser trabeculotomy); suprachoroidal shunts (Cypass micro
      stent); reducing aqueous production (endocyclophotocoagulation); and
      subconjunctival filtration (XEN gel stent). The data on each surgical procedure
      for each of these approaches are reviewed in this article, patient selection
      pearls learned to date are discussed, and expectations for the future are
      examined. 

PMID- 26869756
TI  - Electronic medical record and glaucoma medications: connecting the medication
      reconciliation with adherence.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate consistency in documentation of glaucoma medications in the
      electronic medical record and identify which regimen patients adhere to when
      inconsistencies exist. Factors contributing to medication nonadherence are also
      explored. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of medication adherence
      encompassing 200 patients from three glaucoma physicians at a tertiary referral
      center over a 1-month period. Adherence was determined by the consistency between
      a patients stated medication regimen and either the active medication list in the
      electronic medical record, or the physicians planned medication regimen in the
      preceding clinic visit. Patient charts were also reviewed for patient sex, age,
      primary language, race, and total number of medications. RESULTS: A total of 160
      charts showed consistency in documentation between the physician note and
      electronic medication reconciliation. Of those patients, 83.1% reported adherence
      with their glaucoma medication schedule. When there was a discrepancy in
      documentation (40 charts), 72.5% patients followed the physician-stated regimen
      vs 20% who followed neither vs 7.5% who followed the medical record (P<0.01). No
      difference in adherence was observed based on sex (P=0.912) or total number of
      medications taken (P=0.242). Language, both English- (P=0.075) and Haitian
      (P=0.10) -speaking populations, as well as race, Caucasian (P=0.31), African
      American (P=0.54), and Hispanic (P=0.58), had no impact on medication adherence.
      Patients over 80 years of age were more nonadherent as compared to other decades
      (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Inconsistent documentation between the electronic medical
      record physician note and medication regimen may contribute to patient medication
      nonadherence. Patients over 80 years of age were associated with higher rates of
      nonadherence, while sex, total number of medications, race, and language had no
      interaction with medication adherence.

PMID- 26869755
TI  - Effect of coffee (caffeine) against human cataract blindness.
AB  - Previous biochemical and morphological studies with animal experiments have
      demonstrated that caffeine given topically or orally to certain experimental
      animal models has significant inhibitory effect on cataract formation. The
      present studies were undertaken to examine if there is a correlation between
      coffee drinking and incidence of cataract blindness in human beings. That has
      been found to be the case. Incidence of cataract blindness was found to be
      significantly lower in groups consuming higher amounts of coffee in comparison to
      the groups with lower coffee intake. Mechanistically, the caffeine effect could
      be multifactorial, involving its antioxidant as well as its bioenergetic effects
      on the lens. 

PMID- 26869757
TI  - Sutureless intrascleral intraocular lens fixation with lamellar dissection of
      scleral tunnel.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the results of sutureless scleral fixation of a posterior
      chamber intraocular lens (IOL) by using our developed simple technique. METHODS:
      We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 48 eyes of 47 patients who
      underwent sutureless intrascleral IOL fixation by using our modified technique. A
      25-gauge microvitreoretinal knife was used to perform sclerotomies and create
      limbus-parallel scleral tunnels with lamellar dissection in which the haptics
      were fixed. RESULTS: The IOLs were fixed and centered well. The mean follow-up
      period was 26.7 months. Postoperative complications included smooth vitreous
      hemorrhage in four eyes (8.3%), cystoid macular edema in two eyes (4.2%), and
      iris capture of the IOL in two eyes (4.2%). No other complications, such as
      breakage of the IOL, spontaneous IOL dislocation, or retinal detachment, were
      detected during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The lamellar dissection of the
      limbus-parallel scleral tunnel can simplify the forceps-assisted introduction of
      the haptics into the scleral tunnel, and this technique seemed to be safe.

PMID- 26869758
TI  - Bromfenac 0.09% bioavailability in aqueous humor, prophylactic effect on cystoid
      macular edema, and clinical signs of ocular inflammation after
      phacoemulsification in a Mexican population.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the aqueous humor
      bioavailability and clinical efficacy of bromfenac 0.09% vs nepafenac on the
      presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after phacoemulsification. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: A Phase II, double-blind, masked, active-controlled, multicenter,
      clinical trial of 139 subjects, randomized to either a bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic
      solution (n=69) or nepafenac 0.1% (n=70). Subjects instilled a drop three times a
      day for a period of 30 days. Follow-up visits were on days 2, 7, 15, 30, and 60.
      Biomicroscopy, clinical ocular signs, and assessment of posterior segment were
      performed. The primary efficacy endpoints included the presence of CME evaluated
      by optical coherence tomography. Safety evaluation included intraocular pressure,
      transaminase enzymes, lissamine green, and fluorescein stain. RESULTS: The
      demographic and efficacy variables were similar between groups at baseline. The
      presence of pain, photophobia, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, cellularity, and
      corneal edema disappeared by day 30 in both groups. The central retinal thickness
      did not show significant changes after treatment when compared to baseline as
      follows: in the bromfenac group (247.2+/-32.9 vs 252.0+/-24.9 MUm; P=0.958) and
      in nepafenac group (250.8+/-34 vs 264.0+/-34.1 MUm; P=0.137), respectively. A
      statistically significant difference was observed between bromfenac and nepafenac
      group: (252.0+/-24.9 vs 264.0+/-34.1 MUm; P=0.022), at day 30, respectively; even
      though there was no clinical relevance in the presentation of CME. There were no
      significant alterations in intraocular pressure, either lissamine green or
      fluorescein stains. The adverse events were not related to the interventions.
      CONCLUSION: Bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution showed similar clinical efficacy
      to reduce the presentation of CME after phacoemulsification compared to nepafenac
      0.01%.

PMID- 26869759
TI  - Vitrectomy in patients over 90 years of age.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate vitrectomy procedures performed in
      patients over 90 years of age at the Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital
      (Koshigaya, Japan). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Vitrectomies were performed in nine
      eyes of nine patients who were over 90 years of age between May 2010 and March
      2015. Factors such as the underlying vitreoretinal disease, preoperative and
      postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), surgical time, postoperative
      body position, need for a second surgery, systemic disease, and intraoperative
      changes in systemic conditions have been evaluated. RESULTS: The most common
      cause of the underlying vitreoretinal disease was vitreous hemorrhage derived
      from age-related macular degeneration and posterior dislocation of the lens
      secondary to a posterior capsular rupture (two cases each). The mean values for
      the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA were 2.15 preoperatively
      and 1.46 postoperatively (P=0.020, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The mean surgical
      time was 109 minutes. Prone position was needed in two cases, and no second
      surgeries were needed. The most common cause of systemic disease was
      hypertension, which was found in six cases. Transient hypertension was found in
      two cases during surgery, and these patients were treated using intravenous
      calcium blocker injections. CONCLUSION: Patients over 90 years of age who
      underwent vitrectomy procedures did not have serious problems, except transient
      hypertension during surgery. The BCVA significantly improved. These results
      indicated that vitrectomies could be performed successfully in patients over 90
      years of age.

PMID- 26869760
TI  - Evaluation of an oral telomerase activator for early age-related macular
      degeneration - a pilot study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Telomere attrition and corresponding cellular senescence of the retinal
      pigment epithelium contribute to the changes of age-related macular degeneration.
      Activation of the enzyme telomerase can add telomeric DNA to retinal pigment
      epithelium chromosomal ends and has been proposed as a treatment for age-related
      macular degeneration. We report the use of a small molecule, oral telomerase
      activator (TA)-65 in early macular degeneration. This study, focusing on early
      macular degeneration, provides a model for the use of TAs in age-related disease.
      METHOD: Thirty-eight (38) patients were randomly assigned to a 1-year, double
      blinded, placebo-controlled interventional study with arms for oral TA-65 or
      placebo. Macular functions via micro-perimetry were the primary measured
      outcomes. RESULTS: The macular function in the arm receiving the TA-65 showed
      significant improvement relative to the placebo control. The improvement was
      manifest at 6 months and was maintained at 1 year: macular threshold sensitivity
      (measured as average dB [logarithmic decibel scale of light attenuation])
      improved 0.97 dB compared to placebo (P-value 0.02) and percent reduced
      thresholds lessened 8.2% compared to the placebo arm (P-value 0.04). CONCLUSION:
      The oral TA significantly improved the macular function of treatment subjects
      compared to controls. Although this study was a pilot and a larger study is being
      planned, it is noteworthy in that it is, to our knowledge, the first randomized
      placebo-controlled study of a TA supplement.

PMID- 26869761
TI  - Antibiotic prophylaxis: different practice patterns within and outside the United
      States.
AB  - Endophthalmitis remains a rare but important cause of visual loss. Prophylaxis
      strategies are important to reduce rates of endophthalmitis after cataract
      surgery, intravitreal injection, and other procedures. There is substantial
      variability between the US and the rest of the world. During cataract surgery,
      intracameral antibiotics are commonly used in many nations, especially in Europe,
      but are less commonly used in the US. A randomized clinical trial from the
      European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons reported an approximately
      fivefold reduction in endophthalmitis rates associated with intracameral
      cefuroxime but these results are controversial. There are no randomized clinical
      trials regarding endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal injection. Topical
      antibiotics are commonly used in many nations, but are less commonly used in the
      US. At this time, there is no global consensus and it appears unlikely that
      additional major clinical trials will conclusively define the optimal
      endophthalmitis prophylaxis techniques. 

PMID- 26869762
TI  - Emerging treatments in Castleman disease - a critical appraisal of siltuximab.
AB  - Castleman disease (CD) is a rare, heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder for
      which no standard of care currently exists. Evidence that the pathophysiology of
      CD is fueled by excessive interleukin-6 (IL-6) has led to considerable interest
      in therapeutic targeting of this cytokine. Siltuximab, a chimeric monoclonal
      antibody to IL-6, has thus emerged as a promising treatment option in a disease
      lacking efficacious therapy. Here, we review the findings of recent studies
      evaluating single-agent siltuximab treatment in CD, including the first-ever
      randomized clinical trial in this disease. Although much more work is needed to
      establish a standardized treatment approach, siltuximab appears to be a safe and
      effective treatment for patients with newly diagnosed and previously treated CD. 

PMID- 26869765
TI  - Erratum: Efficacy of trabectedin in advanced soft tissue sarcoma: beyond lipo-
      and leiomyosarcoma [Corrigendum].
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 5785 in vol. 9.]. 

PMID- 26869764
TI  - In vitro stress effect on degradation and drug release behaviors of basic
      fibroblast growth factor--poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) microsphere.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the degradation and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)
      release activity of bFGF - poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) microsphere (bFGF-PLGA
      MS) under stress in vitro, including the static pressure and shearing force
      simulating mechanical environment of the joint cavity. METHOD: First, bFGF-PLGA
      MSs were created. Meanwhile, two self-made experimental instruments (static
      pressure and shearing force loading instruments) were initially explored to
      provide stress-simulating mechanical environment of the joint cavity. Then, bFGF
      PLGA MSs were loaded into the two instruments respectively, to study microsphere
      degradation and drug release experiments. In the static pressure loading
      experiment, normal atmospheric pressure loading (approximately 0.1 MPa), 0.35
      MPa, and 4.0 MPa pressure loading and shaking flask oscillation groups were
      designed to study bFGF-PLGA MS degradation and bFGF release. In the shearing
      force loading experiment, a pulsating pump was used to give the experimental
      group an output of 1,000 mL/min and the control group an output of 10 mL/min to
      carry out bFGF-PLGA MS degradation and drug release experiments. Changes of bFGF
      PLGA MSs, including microsphere morphology, quality, weight-average molecular
      weight of polymer, and microsphere degradation and bFGF release, were analyzed
      respectively. RESULTS: In the static pressure loading experiment, bFGF-PLGA MSs
      at different pressure were stable initially. The trend of molecular weight
      change, quality loss, and bFGF release was consistent. Meanwhile, microsphere
      degradation and bFGF release rates in the 4.0 MPa pressure loading group were
      faster than those in the normal and 0.35 MPa pressure loading groups. It was the
      fastest in the shaking flask group, showing a statistically significant
      difference (P<0.0001). In the shearing force loading experiment, there were no
      distinctive differences in the rates of microsphere degradation and bFGF release
      between experimental and control group. Meanwhile, microsphere degradation and
      bFGF release rates by shaking flask oscillation were obviously faster than those
      by shearing force only (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: There are significant effects on
      bFGF-PLGA MS degradation and bFGF release due to the interaction between
      extraction stress and time. Static pressure has a conspicuous influence on bFGF
      PLGA MS degradation and release, especially at a pressure of 4.0 MPa. The
      shearing force has a slight effect on bFGF-PLGA MS degradation and drug release.
      On the contrary, shaking flask oscillation has a significantly distinctive
      effect.

PMID- 26869763
TI  - Formulation, optimization, and pharmacodynamic evaluation of
      chitosan/phospholipid/beta-cyclodextrin microspheres.
AB  - Cholinergic neurotransmission loss is the main cause of cognitive impairment in
      patients with Alzheimer's disease. Phospholipids (PLs) play an essential role in
      memory and learning abilities. Moreover, PLs act as a source of choline in
      acetylcholine synthesis. This study aimed to prepare and optimize the formulation
      of chitosan/phospholipid/beta-cyclodextrin (CTS/PL/beta-CD) microspheres that can
      improve cognitive impairment. The CTS/PL/beta-CD microspheres were prepared by
      spray drying, and optimized with an orthogonal design. These microspheres were
      also characterized in terms of morphology, structure, thermostability, drug
      loading, and encapsulation efficiency. The spatial learning and memory of rats
      were evaluated using the Morris water maze test, and the neuroprotective effects
      of the CTS/PL/beta-CD micro-spheres were investigated by immunohistochemistry.
      Scanning electron microscopic images showed that the CTS/PL/beta-CD microspheres
      were spherical with slightly wrinkled surfaces. Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry proved that PLs formed
      hydrogen bonds with the amide group of CTS and the hydroxyl group of beta-CD. The
      learning and memory abilities of rats in the treated group significantly improved
      compared with those in the model group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed
      that treatment with the CTS/PL/beta-CD microspheres attenuated the expression of
      protein kinase C-delta and inhibited the activation of microglias. These results
      suggest that the optimized microspheres have the potential to be used in the
      treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26869766
TI  - Amelioration of concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis by magnesium
      isoglycyrrhizinate through inhibition of CD4(+)CD25(-)CD69(+) subset
      proliferation.
AB  - Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MGL) is a new stereoisomer of glycyrrhizic acid,
      which is clinically used as a hepatoprotective medicine with more potent effects
      and less side effects than glycyrrhizic acid. This study was designed to evaluate
      the protective effects and possible mechanism of MGL against concanavalin A (Con
      A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatitis was induced by Con A in C57/6J mice
      with or without MGL administration; injury score and serum ALT were evaluated.
      The CD4(+) T-cells were isolated from splenocytes and challenged with Con A after
      coculturing with MGL. The injury score was significantly improved in MGL-treated
      mice after Con A challenging for 12 and 24 hours compared with those merely
      challenged with Con A. Similar trends were observed in the serum levels of ALT
      and AST. The most interesting result was that MGL administration significantly
      decreased the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(-)CD69(+) T-cells rather than
      CD4(+)CD25(+)CD69(+) T-cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, after Con A
      challenging 12 and 24 hours. Moreover, the serum ALT levels were markedly
      correlated with the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(-)CD69(+) cells, but only weakly
      correlated with CD4(+)CD25(+)CD69(+) cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
      More importantly, MGL (5 mg/mL) almost completely eliminated the proliferation of
      the CD25(-)CD69(+) subset in primary CD4(+) T-cells after Con A challenge.
      Compared with merely Con A-challenged mice, those with MGL administration
      significantly demonstrated decreased NALP3, NLRP6, and caspase-3 expression, in
      which the NALP3 and caspase-3 downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. Our
      results indicate that MGL may have potential as a therapeutic agent in autoimmune
      hepatitis by ameliorating liver injury. Its molecular mechanism may be involved
      in inhibiting CD4(+)CD25(-)CD69(+) subset proliferation and downregulating
      inflammasome expression in liver tissue.

PMID- 26869767
TI  - Determination of the binding mode for anti-inflammatory natural product
      xanthohumol with myeloid differentiation protein 2.
AB  - It is recognized that myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2), a coreceptor of
      toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) for innate immunity, plays an essential role in
      activation of the lipopolysaccharide signaling pathway. MD-2 is known as a
      neoteric and suitable therapeutical target. Therefore, there is great interest in
      the development of a potent MD-2 inhibitor for anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
      Several studies have reported that xanthohumol (XN), an anti-inflammatory natural
      product from hops and beer, can block the TLR4 signaling by binding to MD-2
      directly. However, the interaction between MD-2 and XN remains unknown. Herein,
      our work aims at characterizing interactions between MD-2 and XN. Using a
      combination of experimental and theoretical modeling analysis, we found that XN
      can embed into the hydrophobic pocket of MD-2 and form two stable hydrogen bonds
      with residues ARG-90 and TYR-102 of MD-2. Moreover, we confirmed that ARG-90 and
      TYR-102 were two necessary residues during the recognition process of XN binding
      to MD-2. Results from this study identified the atomic interactions between the
      MD-2 and XN, which will contribute to future structural design of novel MD-2
      targeting molecules for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 26869769
TI  - Treatment of osteoporosis with eldecalcitol, a new vitamin D analog: a
      comprehensive review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Eldecalcitol (ELD) is an active form of vitamin D analog that has been
      approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. Over recent years, a number
      of multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trials have been conducted. Our
      goal is to comprehensively summarize the results from these studies. METHODS: We
      searched the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials up to February 28, 2015. Each database was searched using
      search terms "Eldecalcitol" and "ED-71" and the results were combined. The
      retrieved data from three independent clinical trials included a total of 1,332
      patients with osteoporosis. After the data were pooled from three trials, RevMan
      software was used to conduct meta-analyses to determine the effects of ELD on
      bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover marker (BTM) type I collagen amino
      terminal telopeptide (NTX). Effects of ELD on some of the bone formation and bone
      resorption parameters, incidence of vertebral fractures at the lower spine, and
      health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with osteoporosis were also
      summarized. RESULTS: With a test for overall effect Z=6.35, ELD could increase
      lumbar BMD (P<0.00001). In comparison with alphacalcidol, ELD suppressed the NTX
      level to a greater degree (test for overall effect Z=3.82,P<0.0001). ELD was also
      found to suppress bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) by 19% (P<0.01) and
      osteocalcin by 19% (P<0.01) at the dose of 0.75 MUg/day. Compared to
      alfacalcidol, ELD showed higher potency in suppressing serum BALP (26+/-9 vs 32+/
      11 U/L,P<0.05) and amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen I (PINP) (42+/-15 vs
      59+/-23 ng/mL,P<0.05). In addition, ELD was found to be more effective in
      reducing the incidence of vertebral fractures at the lower spine (P=0.029).
      CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis showed that ELD was more potent than alphacalcidol
      in reducing BTM (NTX). Clinical data together suggest that ELD is efficient in
      treating osteoporosis by increasing lumbar BMD; suppressing BTMs, including NTX,
      BALP, osteocalcin, and PINP; resulting in the reduction in the incidence of
      vertebral fractures at the lower spine; and increasing the HRQOL in patients with
      osteoporosis.

PMID- 26869770
TI  - Barriers to uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services
      among mothers of vertically infected HIV-seropositive infants in Makurdi,
      Nigeria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      continues in Nigeria because of the poor use of prevention of mother-to-child
      transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services. This study reports on the barriers
      preventing mothers of vertically infected HIV-seropositive infants to use the
      PMTCT services at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Nigeria. METHODS: This is
      a descriptive study conducted between January and April, 2014. A quantitative
      survey was applied to detect barriers along the PMTCT services cascade among 52
      mothers of vertically infected HIV-seropositive infants. This includes 22 women
      who attended antenatal care at the Federal Medical Centre (designated as Group A
      mothers) and 30 women who did not receive any form of PMTCT service (Group B
      mothers). The study was supplemented with a focused group discussion involving 12
      discussants from the two groups. RESULTS: In the quantitative assessment: among
      the Group A mothers, falling asleep was the most common reason (n=22, 100%) for
      missing therapeutic/prophylactic antiretroviral medicine; financial constraint
      (n=22, 100%) was the most common reason for antenatal care visit defaults; and a
      lot of the mothers (n=11, 50.0%) did not give nevirapine to their newborns
      because they delivered at home. Among Group B mothers, unawareness of HIV
      seropositive status was the most common reason (n=28, 93.3%) given for not
      accessing PMTCT services. In the qualitative study: noninvolvement of male
      partners, stigma and discrimination experienced by HIV-seropositive mothers,
      financial constraints in couples, involvement of traditional birth attendants in
      antenatal care and delivery of HIV-infected women, unawareness of HIV
      seropositive status by pregnant women, poor health system, and the lack of
      funding for PMTCT services at private and rural health facilities were the major
      barriers preventing the use of PMTCT services. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the
      missed opportunities for PMTCT interventions in Makurdi and by extension the
      Benue State it represents in Nigeria, strong political and financial commitments
      are needed to overcome the identified barriers.

PMID- 26869768
TI  - Preparation, characterization, and potential application of chitosan, chitosan
      derivatives, and chitosan metal nanoparticles in pharmaceutical drug delivery.
AB  - Naturally occurring polymers, particularly of the polysaccharide type, have been
      used pharmaceutically for the delivery of a wide variety of therapeutic agents.
      Chitosan, the second abundant naturally occurring polysaccharide next to
      cellulose, is a biocompatible and biodegradable mucoadhesive polymer that has
      been extensively used in the preparation of micro-as well as nanoparticles. The
      prepared particles have been exploited as a potential carrier for different
      therapeutic agents such as peptides, proteins, vaccines, DNA, and drugs for
      parenteral and nonparenteral administration. Therapeutic agent-loaded chitosan
      micro- or nanoparticles were found to be more stable, permeable, and bioactive.
      In this review, we are highlighting the different methods of preparation and
      characterization of chitosan micro- and nanoparticles, while reviewing the
      pharmaceutical applications of these particles in drug delivery. Moreover, the
      roles of chitosan derivatives and chitosan metal nanoparticles in drug delivery
      have been illustrated.

PMID- 26869771
TI  - Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism using apixaban - patient perspectives
      and considerations. Should more attention be given to females?
AB  - BACKGROUND: New oral anticoagulant agents, such as apixaban, rivaroxaban,
      dabigatran, or endoxaban, have recently become for patients an alternative option
      to conventional treatment in the therapy of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Thus,
      we aimed to review the available information on adverse events (AEs) of apixaban
      compared to conventional therapy (heparin or vitamin K antagonists) in randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) on patients treated for VTE, with a particular attention
      to sex subgroups. METHODS: An electronic search in MEDLINE and Embase was
      performed by using the keywords "apixaban" and "venous thromboembolism". All RCTs
      focused on apixaban in the treatment and prevention of VTE were evaluated for the
      presence of AEs. AEs were classified as serious, bleeding, and cause of
      discontinuation. Moreover, we also searched by using the keywords "gender" and
      "venous thromboembolism" and "anticoagulants". RESULTS: Considering all subjects
      enrolled in the eleven RCTs as a whole to investigate the occurrence of AEs, we
      extrapolated an events/subjects rate of 57.8% for AEs (6,445/11,144), 7.7% for
      serious AEs (975/12,647), 9.1% for bleeding events (1,229/13,454), and 3.2% for
      discontinuation of apixaban (421/13,039). The percentage of AEs was lower in
      subjects treated with apixaban than in those treated with conventional VTE
      therapy (53% vs 56.3%, respectively). However, only one study provided data on
      separate analysis by sex of either efficacy or safety of apixaban. CONCLUSION:
      Under the patient's perspective, apixaban could represent a good choice in the
      treatment of VTE, due to its pharmacological, economical, and safety profile.
      These positive aspects are certainly present in both sexes, since the available
      studies include a correct percentage of women, but data with separate analyses by
      sex are extremely limited. Future clinical trials should include in their results
      on clinical impact and outcomes a stratification by sex, and studies aimed to
      evaluate possible sex-related differences for these drugs should be strongly
      encouraged.

PMID- 26869772
TI  - Patterns of analgesic adherence predict health care utilization among outpatients
      with cancer pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies in chronic noncancer pain settings have found that opioid use
      increases health care utilization. Despite the key role of analgesics,
      specifically opioids, in the setting of cancer pain, there is no literature to
      our knowledge about the relationship between adherence to prescribed around-the
      clock (ATC) analgesics and acute health care utilization (hospitalization) among
      patients with cancer pain. PURPOSE: To identify adherence patterns over time for
      cancer patients taking ATC analgesics for pain, cluster these patterns into
      adherence types, combine the types into an adherence risk factor for
      hospitalization, identify other risk factors for hospitalization, and identify
      risk factors for inconsistent analgesic adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data
      from a 3-month prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with solid
      tumors or multiple myeloma, having cancer-related pain, and having at least one
      prescription of oral ATC analgesics were collected. Adherence data were collected
      electronically using the medication event-monitoring system. Analyses were
      conducted using adaptive modeling methods based on heuristic search through
      alternative models controlled by likelihood cross-validation scores. RESULTS: Six
      adherence types were identified and combined into the risk factor for
      hospitalization of inconsistent versus consistent adherence over time. Twenty
      other individually significant risk factors for hospitalization were identified,
      but inconsistent analgesic adherence was the strongest of these predictors (ie,
      generating the largest likelihood cross-validation score). These risk factors
      were adaptively combined into a model for hospitalization based on six pairwise
      interaction risk factors with exceptional discrimination (ie, area under the
      receiver-operating-characteristic curve of 0.91). Patients had from zero to five
      of these risk factors, with an odds ratio of 5.44 (95% confidence interval 3.09
      9.58) for hospitalization, with a unit increase in the number of such risk
      factors. CONCLUSION: Inconsistent adherence to prescribed ATC analgesics,
      specifically the interaction of strong opioids and inconsistent adherence, is a
      strong risk factor for hospitalization among cancer outpatients with pain.

PMID- 26869773
TI  - What influences patients' acceptance of a blood pressure telemonitoring service
      in primary care? A qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring of home blood pressure (BP) is found to have a
      positive effect on BP control. Delivering a BP telemonitoring service in primary
      care offers primary care physicians an innovative approach toward management of
      their patients with hypertension. However, little is known about patients'
      acceptance of such service in routine clinical care. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed
      to explore patients' acceptance of a BP telemonitoring service delivered in
      primary care based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). METHODS: A
      qualitative study design was used. Primary care patients with uncontrolled office
      BP who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled into a BP telemonitoring
      service offered between the period August 2012 and September 2012. This service
      was delivered at an urban primary care clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Twenty
      patients used the BP telemonitoring service. Of these, 17 patients consented to
      share their views and experiences through five in-depth interviews and two focus
      group discussions. An interview guide was developed based on the TAM. The
      interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was
      used for analysis. RESULTS: Patients found the BP telemonitoring service easy to
      use but struggled with the perceived usefulness of doing so. They expressed
      confusion in making sense of the monitored home BP readings. They often thought
      about the implications of these readings to their hypertension management and
      overall health. Patients wanted more feedback from their doctors and suggested
      improvement to the BP telemonitoring functionalities to improve interactions.
      Patients cited being involved in research as the main reason for their intention
      to use the service. They felt that patients with limited experience with the
      internet and information technology, who worked out of town, or who had an
      outdoor hobby would not be able to benefit from such a service. CONCLUSION:
      Patients found BP telemonitoring service in primary care easy to use but needed
      help to interpret the meanings of monitored BP readings. Implementations of BP
      telemonitoring service must tackle these issues to maximize the patients'
      acceptance of a BP telemonitoring service.

PMID- 26869774
TI  - Japanese physicians' preferences for decision making in rheumatoid arthritis
      treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex chronic illness requiring
      continued medical care. During the past decade, the therapeutic options for RA
      have increased significantly; these often have a higher risk of adverse effects
      and are more expensive than traditional drugs. Rheumatologists may hence face
      difficulties when deciding on the optimal modality in initiating or changing
      treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the Japanese physicians' usual
      style of and preferences for decision making regarding RA treatment. METHODS:
      This was a cross-sectional study conducted using an Internet survey. Respondents
      were asked about their usual style of making treatment decisions (perceived
      style), and their perception of the importance of physicians' actions and
      patients' attitudes. RESULTS: Of the 485 physicians who were sent the
      questionnaire, 157 responded completely (response rate: 32.3%). Ninety-two
      percent of the respondents were men, and 57% were clinicians with more than 20
      years of experience. Their specialties were general medicine (29%), rheumatology
      (27%), orthopedics (31%), and rehabilitation (12%). Sixty-one (39%) stated that
      they usually presented multiple treatment options to their patients and selected
      a decision for them, 42 (27%) shared the decision making with their patients, 34
      (22%) let their patients choose the treatment, and 20 (13%) made the treatment
      decision for the patients. Physicians using the shared decision making (SDM)
      style desired for their patients to have supportive family and friends, to
      discuss with nurses, and to follow the doctors' directions more strongly compared
      with physicians using the other styles. There were no significant differences in
      sex, duration of clinical experience, major place of clinical work, and number of
      patients per month by the styles. More number of rheumatologists and physicians
      with specialist qualifications stated that they practiced SDM. CONCLUSION: To
      enhance patient participation, physicians need to recognize the importance of
      discussing treatment options with patients in addition to giving them
      information.

PMID- 26869775
TI  - Ratio between carotid artery stiffness and blood flow - a new ultrasound index of
      ischemic leukoaraiosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ischemic leukoaraiosis (ILA) is associated with cognitive decline and
      aging. Its pathophysiology is believed to be ischemic in origin due to its
      association with cerebrovascular risk factors and similarity in location to
      lacunar infarctions. ILA diagnosis is still based on magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) as well as exclusion of other causes of white matter hyperintensities. So
      far, there are no known confirming diagnostic tests of ILA. Ultrasound studies
      have recently shown increased large artery stiffness, increased cerebrovascular
      resistance, and lower cerebral blood flow in patients with ILA. Increased
      arterial stiffness and decreased blood flow could have a synergistic effect, and
      their ratio could be a useful diagnostic index of ILA. METHODS: In this post hoc
      analysis, we introduced new ILA indices (ILAi) that are ratios of the carotid
      stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity beta [PWVbeta], pressure-strain
      elasticity modulus [Ep], beta index), and diastolic and mean blood flows in the
      internal carotid artery: Q-ICAd and Q-ICAm. We compared the ILAi of 52 patients
      with ILA and 44 sex- and risk factor-matched controls with normal MRI of the
      head. ILA diagnosis was based on MRI and exclusion of other causes of white
      matter hyperintensities. The diagnostic significance of ILAi for the prediction
      of ILA was analyzed. RESULTS: All ILAi significantly differed between the groups;
      the most significant were PWVbeta/Q-ICAd (ILA group: 1.96+/-0.64 vs control
      group: 1.56+/-0.40, P=0.001) and PWVbeta/Q-ICAm (ILA group: 1.13+/-0.32 vs
      control group: 0.94+/-0.25, P=0.003). All ILAi were significantly associated with
      ILA (P<0.01) and were significant independent predictors of ILA. All ILAi were
      also sensitive and specific for predicting ILA (area under the curve: 0.632
      0.683, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The new ultrasound indices significantly differed
      between patients with ILA and the control group and were significant predictors
      of ILA. A combination of lower carotid blood flow and increased carotid stiffness
      represented as ILAi probably has a diagnostic value in patients with ILA.

PMID- 26869776
TI  - Physicians' use of computerized clinical decision supports to improve medication
      management in the elderly - the Seniors Medication Alert and Review Technology
      intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elderly people (aged 65 years or more) are at increased risk of
      polypharmacy (five or more medications), inappropriate medication use, and
      associated increased health care costs. The use of clinical decision support
      (CDS) within an electronic medical record (EMR) could improve medication safety.
      METHODS: Participatory action research methods were applied to preproduction
      design and development and postproduction optimization of an EMR-embedded CDS
      implementation of the Beers' Criteria for medication management and the Cockcroft
      Gault formula for estimating glomerular filtration rates (GFR). The "Seniors
      Medication Alert and Review Technologies" (SMART) intervention was used in
      primary care and geriatrics specialty clinics. Passive (chart messages) and
      active (order-entry alerts) prompts exposed potentially inappropriate
      medications, decreased GFR, and the possible need for medication adjustments.
      Physician reactions were assessed using surveys, EMR simulations, focus groups,
      and semi-structured interviews. EMR audit data were used to identify eligible
      patient encounters, the frequency of CDS events, how alerts were managed, and
      when evidence links were followed. RESULTS: Analysis of subjective data revealed
      that most clinicians agreed that CDS appeared at appropriate times during patient
      care. Although managing alerts incurred a modest time burden, most also agreed
      that workflow was not disrupted. Prevalent concerns related to clinician
      accountability and potential liability. Approximately 36% of eligible encounters
      triggered at least one SMART alert, with GFR alert, and most frequent medication
      warnings were with hypnotics and anticholinergics. Approximately 25% of alerts
      were overridden and ~15% elicited an evidence check. CONCLUSION: While most SMART
      alerts validated clinician choices, they were received as valuable reminders for
      evidence-informed care and education. Data from this study may aid other attempts
      to implement Beers' Criteria in ambulatory care EMRs.

PMID- 26869777
TI  - Potential contribution of diabetes mellitus to orthostatic blood pressure fall
      and conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

PMID- 26869778
TI  - Can we do better? Economic analysis of human resource investment to improve home
      care service for the elderly in Serbia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Social services aimed at the elderly are facing great challenges
      caused by progressive aging of the global population but also by the constant
      pressure to spend funds in a rational manner. PURPOSE: This paper focuses on
      analyzing the investments into human resources aimed at enhancing home care for
      the elderly since many countries have recorded progress in the area over the past
      years. The goal of this paper is to stress the significance of performing an
      economic analysis of the investment. METHODS: This paper combines statistical
      analysis methods such as correlation and regression analysis, methods of economic
      analysis, and scenario method. RESULTS: The economic analysis of investing in
      human resources for home care service in Serbia showed that the both scenarios of
      investing in either additional home care hours or more beneficiaries are cost
      efficient. However, the optimal solution with the positive (and the highest)
      value of economic net present value criterion is to invest in human resources to
      boost the number of home care hours from 6 to 8 hours per week and increase the
      number of the beneficiaries to 33%. CONCLUSION: This paper shows how the
      statistical and economic analysis results can be used to evaluate different
      scenarios and enable quality decision-making based on exact data in order to
      improve health and quality of life of the elderly and spend funds in a rational
      manner.

PMID- 26869780
TI  - A possible pathological link among swallowing dysfunction, gastro-esophageal
      reflex, and sleep apnea in acute exacerbation in COPD patients.

PMID- 26869779
TI  - An exploratory intervention study suggests clinical benefits of training in
      chronic stroke to be paralleled by changes in brain activity using repeated fMRI.
AB  - PURPOSE: Previous studies demonstrated changes in sensorimotor network activation
      over time after stroke that have been interpreted as partly compensatory.
      Locomotor and balance trainings may improve both mobility and cognition even in
      chronic stroke and thereby impact on cerebral activation patterns. We here aimed
      at testing these assumptions in an exploratory study to inform subsequent larger
      intervention studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients (73.3+/-4.4 years)
      with a chronic lacunar stroke (mean interval 3.7 years after the acute event with
      a range from 2 to 4 years) and residual leg paresis leading to gait disturbance
      received a guided 5-week training focusing on mobility, endurance, and
      coordination. Before and afterward, they underwent clinical, neuropsychological,
      and gait assessments and brain MRI at 3 T including a functional ankle movement
      paradigm. Sixteen healthy controls (HCs; 68.8+/-5.4 years) followed the same
      protocol without intervention. RESULTS: After training, patients had improved in
      mobility, memory, and delayed recall of memory. While cerebral activations in HC
      remained completely unaltered, patients showed increased activations in the right
      precentral gyrus, the right and left superior frontal gyri, and the right frontal
      lobe, with bipedal ankle movements after training. CONCLUSION: In this
      exploratory study of chronic stroke, we found not only significant effects of
      physical training on mobility but also distinct aspects of cognition already with
      a small number of highly selected patients. These improvements were paralleled by
      alterations in cerebral activity possibly reflecting neuronal plasticity. Larger
      studies including randomization are needed.

PMID- 26869781
TI  - Sex differences in reported and objectively measured sleep in COPD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess and compare reported sleep disturbances and
      objectively measured sleep in men and women with COPD compared with controls and
      also explore sex differences. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with COPD and 90
      age- and sex-matched controls answered a sleep questionnaire, underwent
      ambulatory polysomnography, a post-bronchodilatory spirometry, and blood
      sampling. RESULTS: Of the patients with COPD, 51% reported sleep disturbances as
      compared with 31% in controls (P=0.008). Sleep disturbances were significantly
      more prevalent in males with COPD compared with controls, whereas there was no
      significant difference in females. The use of hypnotics was more common among
      patients with COPD compared with controls, both in men (15% vs 0%, P=0.009) and
      women (36% vs 16%, P=0.03). The men with COPD had significantly longer recorded
      sleep latency than the male control group (23 vs 9.3 minutes, P<0.001), while no
      corresponding difference was found in women. In men with COPD, those with
      reported sleep disturbances had lower forced vital capacity, higher C-reactive
      protein, myeloperoxidase, and higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis.
      CONCLUSION: The COPD was associated with impaired sleep in men while the
      association was less clear in women. This was also confirmed by recorded longer
      sleep latency in male subjects with COPD compared with controls.

PMID- 26869782
TI  - Effect of salmeterol/fluticasone combination on the dynamic changes of lung
      mechanics in mechanically ventilated COPD patients: a prospective pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The combined therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta
      2 agonists for mechanically ventilated patients with COPD has never been
      explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate their dynamic
      effects on lung mechanics and gas exchange. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten
      mechanically ventilated patients with resolution of the causes of acute
      exacerbations of COPD were included. Four puffs of salmeterol 25 MUg/fluticasone
      125 MUg combination therapy were administered. Lung mechanics, including maximum
      resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs), end-inspiratory static compliance,
      peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), plateau pressure, and mean airway pressure along
      with gas exchange function were measured and analyzed. RESULTS:
      Salmeterol/fluticasone produced a significant improvement in Rrs and PIP after 30
      minutes. With regard to changes in baseline values, salmeterol/fluticasone
      inhalation had a greater effect on PIP than Rrs. However, the therapeutic effects
      seemed to lose significance after 3 hours of inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting
      beta-2 agonist administration. CONCLUSION: The combination of
      salmeterol/fluticasone-inhaled therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with
      COPD had a significant benefit in reducing Rrs and PIP.

PMID- 26869783
TI  - The changing nature of chronic care and coproduction of care between primary care
      professionals and patients with COPD and their informal caregivers.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate whether care delivery in accordance with
      a care model is associated with co-productive relationships between professionals
      and COPD patients and their informal caregivers. A co-productive relationship
      refers to productive patient-professional interaction or shared decision making.
      This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 among 411 patients (out of 981)
      enrolled in the Dutch COPD care program Kennemer Lucht and 62 professionals
      treating them (out of 97). Kennemer Lucht COPD involved multicomponent
      interventions within all six dimensions of the chronic care model (organizational
      support, community, self-management, decision support, delivery system design,
      and information and communications technology) to improve the quality of care for
      patients with COPD. This approach was expected to improve relational coproduction
      of care between professionals and patients with COPD and their informal
      caregivers. Results show clearly that the perceived quality of chronic care
      delivery is related significantly to productive interaction/relational
      coproduction of care. The strength of the relationship between perceptions of
      quality of chronic care and relational coproduction among patients is strong
      (r=0.5; P<=0.001) and among professionals moderate (r=0.4; P<=0.001 relational
      coproduction with patients and informal caregivers). Furthermore, patients'
      perceptions of the quality of chronic care were associated with the existence of
      productive interaction with health care professionals (beta=0.7; P<=0.001). The
      changing nature of chronic care is associated with coproduction of care, leading
      to the development of more productive relationships between primary care
      professionals and COPD patients and their informal caregivers. Further research
      is necessary to determine how best to sustain these developments. 

PMID- 26869785
TI  - A novel type of self-assembled nanoparticles as targeted gene carriers: an
      application for plasmid DNA and antimicroRNA oligonucleotide delivery.
AB  - In this study, a new type of amphiphilic cetylated polyethyleneimine (PEI) was
      synthesized, and then polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/cetylated PEI/hyaluronic
      acid nanoparticles (PCPH NPs) were developed by self-assembly as a novel type of
      gene-delivering vehicle. The PCPH NPs showed good DNA-condensation ability by
      forming polyplexes with small particle size and positive zeta potential. The
      transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of PCPH NPs were evaluated as plasmid
      DNA vectors to transfect HepG2 in vitro. PCPH NPs exhibited much lower
      cytotoxicity and higher gene-transfection efficiency than PEI (25,000) and
      commercial transfection reagents. Furthermore, PCPH NPs were used as an anti-miR
      221 vector for transfecting HepG2 cells, and anti-miR-221 was effectively
      transfected into cells and produced a greater inhibitory effect on cancer-cell
      growth by PCPH NPs. These results demonstrate that PCPH NPs can be a promising
      nonviral vector for gene-delivery systems. 

PMID- 26869784
TI  - Differences in the effects of Asian dust on pulmonary function between adult
      patients with asthma and those with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      overlap syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Asian dust (AD) exposure exacerbates pulmonary dysfunction in
      patients with asthma. Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap
      syndrome (ACOS), characterized by coexisting symptoms of asthma and chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease, is considered a separate disease entity.
      Previously, we investigated the effects of AD on pulmonary function in adult
      patients with asthma. Here, we present the findings of our further research on
      the differences in the effects of AD exposure on pulmonary function between
      patients with asthma alone and those with ACOS. METHODS: Between March and May
      2012, we conducted a panel study wherein we monitored daily peak expiratory flow
      (PEF) values in 231 adult patients with asthma. These patients were divided into
      190 patients with asthma alone and 41 patients with ACOS in this study. Daily AD
      particle levels were measured using light detection and ranging systems. Two
      heavy AD days (April 23 and 24) were determined according to the Japan
      Meteorological Agency definition. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the
      association between PEF and AD exposure. RESULTS: Increments in the interquartile
      range of AD particles (0.018 km(-1)) led to PEF changes of -0.50 L/min (95%
      confidence interval, -0.98 to -0.02) in patients with asthma alone and -0.11
      L/min (-0.11 to 0.85) in patients with ACOS. The PEF changes after exposure to
      heavy AD were -2.21 L/min (-4.28 to -0.15) in patients with asthma alone and 
      2.76 L/min (-6.86 to 1.35) in patients with ACOS. In patients with asthma alone,
      the highest decrease in PEF values was observed on the heavy AD day, with a
      subsequent gradual increase over time. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the
      effects of AD exposure on pulmonary function differ between patients with asthma
      alone and ACOS, with the former exhibiting a greater likelihood of decreased
      pulmonary function after AD exposure.

PMID- 26869786
TI  - Enhanced osteogenic activity and anti-inflammatory properties of Lenti-BMP-2
      loaded TiO2 nanotube layers fabricated by lyophilization following trehalose
      addition.
AB  - To enhance biocompatibility and osseointegration between titanium implants and
      surrounding bone tissue, numerous efforts have been made to modify the surface
      topography and composition of Ti implants. In this paper, Lenti-BMP-2-loaded TiO2
      nanotube coatings were fabricated by lyophilization in the presence of trehalose
      to functionalize the surface. We characterized TiO2 nanotube layers in terms of
      the following: surface morphology; Lenti-BMP-2 and trehalose release; their
      ability to induce osteogenesis, proliferation, and anti-inflammation in vitro;
      and osseointegration in vivo. The anodized TiO2 nanotube surfaces exhibited an
      amorphous glassy matrix perpendicular to the Ti surface. Both Lenti-BMP-2 and
      trehalose showed sustained release over the course of 8 days. Results from real
      time quantitative polymerase chain reaction studies demonstrated that lyophilized
      Lenti-BMP-2/TiO2 nanotubes constructed with trehalose (Lyo-Tre-Lenti-BMP-2)
      significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells
      but not their proliferation. In addition, Lyo-Tre-Lenti-BMP-2 nanotubes
      effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1beta and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha production. In vivo, the formulation also promoted
      osseointegration. This study presents a promising new method for surface
      modifying biomedical Ti-based implants to simultaneously enhance their osteogenic
      potential and anti-inflammatory properties, which can better satisfy clinical
      needs. 

PMID- 26869787
TI  - Miconazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: formulation and evaluation of a
      novel formula with high bioavailability and antifungal activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Miconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug that has
      poor aqueous solubility (<1 ug/mL); as a result, a reduction in its therapeutic
      efficacy has been reported. The aim of this study was to formulate and evaluate
      miconazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (MN-SLNs) for oral administration to
      find an innovative way to alleviate the disadvantages associated with
      commercially available capsules. METHODS: MN-SLNs were prepared by hot
      homogenization/ultrasonication. The solubility of miconazole in different solid
      lipids was measured. The effect of process variables, such as surfactant types,
      homogenization and ultrasonication times, and the charge-inducing agent on the
      particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were determined.
      Furthermore, in vitro drug release, antifungal activity against Candida albicans,
      and in vivo pharmacokinetics were studied in rabbits. RESULTS: The MN-SLN,
      consisting of 1.5% miconazole, 2% Precirol ATO5, 2.5% Cremophor RH40, 0.5%
      Lecinol, and 0.1% Dicetylphosphate, had an average diameter of 23 nm with a 90.2%
      entrapment efficiency. Furthermore, the formulation of MN-SLNs enhanced the
      antifungal activity compared with miconazole capsules. An in vivo pharmacokinetic
      study revealed that the bioavailability was enhanced by >2.5-fold. CONCLUSION: MN
      SLN was more efficient in the treatment of candidiasis with enhanced oral
      bioavailability and could be a promising carrier for the oral delivery of
      miconazole.

PMID- 26869788
TI  - Liver-targeting Resibufogenin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-D-alpha
      tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate nanoparticles for liver cancer
      therapy.
AB  - Liver cancer remains a major problem around the world. Resibufogenin (RBG) is a
      major bioactive compound that was isolated from Chansu (also called toad venom or
      toad poison), which is a popular traditional Chinese medicine that is obtained
      from the skin secretions of giant toads. RBG has strong antitumor effects, but
      its poor aqueous solubility and its cardiotoxicity have limited its clinical use.
      The aim of this study was to formulate RBG-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)
      (PLGA)-D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate nanoparticle (RPTN)
      to enhance the treatment of liver cancer. RPTN, RBG-loaded PLGA nanoparticle
      (RPN), and RBG/coumarin-6-loaded PLGA-D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000
      succinate nanoparticle (RCPTN) were prepared. The cellular uptake of RCPTN by
      HepG2 and HCa-F cells was analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy.
      Apoptosis was induced in HepG2 cells by RPTN, RBG solution (RS), and 5
      fluorouracil solution (used as the negative controls), as assayed using flow
      cytometry. LD50 (median lethal dose) values were determined for RS and RPTN, and
      the liver-targeting properties were determined for RCPTN in intravenously
      injected mice. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted in rats, and the in vivo
      therapeutic effects of RPTN, RPN, and RS were examined in a mouse tumor model.
      The results showed that RCPTN simultaneously delivered both coumarin-6 and RBG
      into HepG2 and HCa-F cells. The ratio of apoptotic cells was increased in the
      RPTN group. The LD50 for RPTN was 2.02-fold higher than the value for RS.
      Compared to RS, RPTN and RPN both showed a significant difference in vivo not
      only in the pharmacodynamic study but also in anticancer efficacy, and RPTN
      performed much better than RPN. The detection indexes for drug concentration and
      fluorescence inversion microscopy images both demonstrated that RCPTN was much
      better at targeting the liver than RS. The liver-targeting RPTN, which displayed
      enhanced pharmacological effects and decreased toxicity for the loaded drug RBG,
      is therefore a promising intravenous dosage form that may be useful in the
      treatment of liver cancer.

PMID- 26869791
TI  - Mania following ketamine abuse.
AB  - Ketamine, a noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
      receptor, has multiple clinical uses. On the other hand, ketamine abuse or
      recreational use has been gaining increasing attention. Induction of mania and
      psychotic symptoms has been reported in a patient receiving IV ketamine therapy
      for reflex sympathetic dystrophy. We here report a 26 year-old man who abused
      ketamine by inhalation for 12 months and developed manic-like symptoms after
      ketamine use. This case suggests a possible relationship between manic symptoms
      and ketamine abuse. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first report
      regarding mania after recreational use of ketamine. 

PMID- 26869790
TI  - Examining Dark Triad traits in relation to mental toughness and physical activity
      in young adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Dark Triad (DT) describes a set of three closely related
      personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Mental
      toughness (MT) refers to a psychological construct combining confidence,
      commitment, control, and challenge. High MT is related to greater physical
      activity (PA) and, relative to men, women have lower MT scores. The aims of the
      present study were 1) to investigate the association between DT, MT, and PA, and
      2) to compare the DT, MT, and PA scores of men and women. METHODS: A total of 341
      adults (M=29 years; 51.6% women; range: 18-37 years) took part in the study.
      Participants completed a series of questionnaires assessing DT, MT, and PA.
      RESULTS: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy were all significantly
      associated with higher MT scores (rs =0.45, 0.50, and 0.20, respectively). DT
      traits and MT were associated with more vigorous PA. Compared to men, women
      participants had lower scores for DT traits (overall score and psychopathy),
      while no differences were found for MT or PA in both sexes. CONCLUSION: DT
      traits, high MT, and vigorous PA are interrelated. This pattern of results might
      explain why, for instance, successful professional athletes can at the same time
      be tough and ruthless.

PMID- 26869792
TI  - Electroencephalogram characteristics in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics in patients
      with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using brain electrical activity mapping
      (BEAM) and EEG nonlinear dynamical analysis. METHODS: Forty-seven outpatients
      were selected over a 3-month period and divided into an observation group (24
      outpatients) and a control group (23 outpatients) by using the non-probability
      sampling method. All the patients were given a routine EEG. The BEAM and the
      correlation dimension changes were analyzed to characterize the EEG features.
      RESULTS: 1) BEAM results indicated that the energy values of delta, theta, and
      alpha1 waves significantly increased in the observation group, compared with the
      control group (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively), which suggests that the brain
      electrical activities in CFS patients were significantly reduced and stayed in an
      inhibitory state; 2) the increase of delta, theta, and alpha1 energy values in
      the right frontal and left occipital regions was more significant than other
      encephalic regions in CFS patients, indicating the region-specific encephalic
      distribution; 3) the correlation dimension in the observation group was
      significantly lower than the control group, suggesting decreased EEG complexity
      in CFS patients. CONCLUSION: The spontaneous brain electrical activities in CFS
      patients were significantly reduced. The abnormal changes in the cerebral
      functions were localized at the right frontal and left occipital regions in CFS
      patients.

PMID- 26869789
TI  - Local delivery of controlled-release simvastatin to improve the biocompatibility
      of polyethylene terephthalate artificial ligaments for reconstruction of the
      anterior cruciate ligament.
AB  - The Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System has recently been widely used as the
      primary graft of choice in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. But
      the biological graft-bone healing still remains a problem. Previous studies have
      shown that simvastatin (SIM) stimulates bone formation. The objective of this
      study was to investigate whether surface coating with collagen containing low
      dose SIM microsphere could enhance the surface biocompatibility of polyethylene
      terephthalate (PET) artificial ligaments to accelerate graft-to-bone healing. The
      in vitro studies demonstrated that bone marrow stromal cells on the collagen
      coated PET scaffolds (COL/PET) and simvastatin/collagen-coated PET scaffolds
      (SIM/COL/PET) proliferated vigorously. Compared with the PET group and the
      COL/PET group, SIM could induce bone marrow stromal cells' osteoblastic
      differentiation, high alkaline phosphatase activity, more mineralization
      deposition, and more expression of osteoblast-related genes, such as osteocalcin,
      runt-related transcription factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein-2, and vascular
      endothelial growth factor, in the SIM/COL/PET group. In vivo, rabbits received
      ACL reconstruction with different scaffolds. Histological analysis demonstrated
      that graft-bone healing was significantly greater with angiogenesis and
      osteogenesis in the SIM/COL/PET group than the other groups. In addition,
      biomechanical testing at the eighth week demonstrated a significant increase in
      the ultimate failure load and stiffness in the SIM/COL/PET group. The low dose of
      SIM-sustained release from SIM/COL/PET promoted the graft-bone healing via its
      effect on both angiogenesis and osteogenesis. This study suggested that collagen
      containing low-dose SIM microsphere coating on the surface of PET artificial
      ligaments could be potentially applied for ACL reconstruction. 

PMID- 26869793
TI  - Safety and efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA as a potential treatment for
      poststroke spasticity.
AB  - Spasticity is a common disabling symptom for several neurological conditions.
      Botulinum toxin type A injection represents the gold standard treatment for focal
      spasticity after stroke showing efficacy, reversibility, and low prevalence of
      complications. In recent years, incobotulinumtoxinA, a new Botulinum toxin type A
      free of complexing proteins, has been used for treating several movement
      disorders with safety and efficacy. IncobotulinumtoxinA is currently approved for
      treating spasticity of the upper limb in stroke survivors, even if several
      studies described the use also in lower limb muscles. In the present review
      article, we examine the safety and effectiveness of incobotulinumtoxinA for the
      treatment of spasticity after stroke. 

PMID- 26869794
TI  - A new modified technique of laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy: a 2-year
      follow-up study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish a modified technique for
      performing laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy. METHODS: From May 2011 to
      October 2013, laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy was performed in 21
      patients with esophageal cancer. During the procedure, jejunal inflation was
      performed via a percutaneous 20-gauge intravenous catheter to facilitate the
      subsequent puncture of the jejunal wall by the catheter needle. The success rate,
      procedure time, complications, and short-term outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS:
      All laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomies were technically successful, with
      no perioperative mortality or conversion to a laparotomy. The operation required
      a mean time of 51.4+/-14.2 (range 27-80) minutes, and operative bleeding range
      was 5-20 mL. There was one reoperation required for one patient on postoperative
      day 5, because the feeding tube was accidentally pulled out during sleep, by
      patient himself, and the second laparoscopic jejunostomy for this patient was
      performed successfully. One patient had puncture site pain and was successfully
      treated with oral analgesics. Other complications, such as gastrointestinal
      bleeding, intestinal perforation, intestinal obstruction, tube dysfunction,
      pericatheter leakage, and infection at the skin insertion site, were not
      observed. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.8% (one out of 21), which was not
      attributed to the procedure. Enteral nutrition was gradually administered 24-48
      hours after operation. CONCLUSION: The novel modified technique of laparoscopic
      needle catheter jejunostomy is a technically feasible, with a high technical
      success rate and low complication rate. Its specific advantage is simplicity and
      safety, and this modified approach can be considered for routine clinical use
      after long-term outcome evaluation.

PMID- 26869796
TI  - Facebook as a tool for communication, collaboration, and informal knowledge
      exchange among members of a multisite family health team.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To implement and evaluate a private Facebook group for members of a
      large Ontario multisite Family Health Team (FHT) to facilitate improved
      communication and collaboration. DESIGN: Program implementation and subsequent
      survey of team members. SETTING: A large multisite FHT in Toronto, Ontario.
      PARTICIPANTS: Health professionals of the FHT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Usage
      patterns and self-reported perceptions of the Facebook group by team members.
      RESULTS: At the time of the evaluation survey, the Facebook group had 43 members
      (37.4% of all FHT members). Activity in the group was never high, and posts by
      team members who were not among the researchers were infrequent throughout the
      study period. The content of posts fell into two broad categories: 1) information
      that might be useful to various team members and 2) questions posed by team
      members that others might be able to answer. Of the 26 team members (22.6%) who
      completed the evaluation survey, many reported that they never logged into the
      Facebook page (16 respondents), and never used it to communicate with team
      members outside of their own site of practice (19 respondents). Only six
      respondents reported no concerns with using Facebook as a professional
      communication tool; the most frequent concerns were regarding personal and
      patient privacy. CONCLUSION: The use of social media by health care practitioners
      is becoming ubiquitous. However, the issues of privacy concerns and determining
      how to use social media without adding to provider workload must be addressed to
      make it a useful tool in health care.

PMID- 26869797
TI  - Oct-4 is associated with gastric cancer progression and prognosis.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of Oct-4 in the development and
      progression of gastric cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze
      Oct-4 expression in 412 gastric cancer cases. Oct-4 protein levels were
      upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous
      tissues. RESULTS: Positive expression of Oct-4 correlated with age, depth of
      invasion, Lauren classification, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and
      TNM stage. In stages I, II, and III, the 5-year survival rate of patients with
      high expression of Oct-4 was significantly lower than that in patients with low
      expression of Oct-4. In stage IV, Oct-4 expression did not correlate with the 5
      year survival rate. Furthermore, multivariate analysis suggested that the depth
      of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, TNM stage, and
      upregulation of Oct-4 were independent prognostic factors of gastric cancer.
      CONCLUSION: Oct-4 protein is a useful marker in predicting tumor progression and
      prognosis.

PMID- 26869795
TI  - A critical appraisal of paliperidone long-acting injection in the treatment of
      schizoaffective disorder.
AB  - Schizoaffective disorder (SCA) is a chronic and disabling mental illness that
      presents with mixed symptoms of schizophrenia and affective disorders. SCA is
      recognized as a discrete disorder, but with greater heterogeneity and symptom
      overlap, leading to difficulty and delay in diagnosis. Although the overall
      prognosis is intermediate between schizophrenia and mood disorders, SCA is
      associated with higher rates of suicide and hospitalization than schizophrenia.
      No treatment guidelines exist for SCA, and treatment is frequently complex,
      involving off-label use and polypharmacy (typically combinations of
      antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants). Oral paliperidone
      extended-release was the first agent to be approved for the treatment of SCA. As
      in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, adherence to oral medications is poor,
      further contributing to suboptimal outcomes. The use of an antipsychotic in a
      long-acting injection (LAI) addresses adherence issues, thus potentially reducing
      relapse. Paliperidone palmitate represents the LAI formulation of paliperidone.
      In a long-term, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of adult patients
      (n=334; intent-to-treat [ITT]) with SCA, paliperidone long-acting injection
      (PLAI) significantly delayed risk of relapse compared to placebo (hazard ratio
      2.49, 95% confidence interval, 1.55-3.99; P<0.001). This study demonstrated the
      efficacy and safety of PLAI when used as either monotherapy or adjunctive therapy
      for the maintenance treatment of SCA. The results are consistent with a similarly
      designed study conducted in patients with schizophrenia, which suggests a benefit
      in the long-term control of not only psychotic but also affective symptoms. No
      new safety signals were observed. When used in monotherapy, PLAI simplifies
      treatment by reducing complex pharmacotherapy and obviating the necessity for
      daily oral medications. PLAI is the second agent, and the first LAI, to be
      approved for the treatment of SCA; as an LAI formulation, there is the advantage
      of improved adherence and simplified treatment in the long-term management of
      SCA. 

PMID- 26869798
TI  - Conservative treatment of coexisting microinvasive squamous and adenocarcinoma of
      the cervix: report of two cases and literature review.
AB  - Coexistence of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (MISCC) and microinvasive
      adenocarcinoma (MIAC) of the cervix is a rare phenomenon with very few clinically
      significant cases described in the literature. While a conservative approach has
      been studied, and may be effective in MISCC, a lower number of studies that
      recommend conservative treatment are available for MIAC. We report two cases of
      synchronous cervix lesions in two separate foci, MISCC and MIAC, who underwent
      fertility-sparing treatment with long-term follow-up. We describe clinical,
      histological, and immunohistochemical features of the two cases. The first case
      is a 41-year-old female with a diagnosis of MIAC of endocervical type, grade 1
      differentiation, with a stromal invasion, associated with a separate area of
      squamous cell carcinoma (International Federation of Gynecology and
      Obstetrics/TNM stage: pT1a1G1). The second case is a 45-year-old female with a
      diagnosis of plurifocal MISCC, associated with an MIAC of endocervical type with
      a stromal invasion (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics/TNM
      stage: pT1a1G1). After multidisciplinary counseling, both patients accepted
      conization as definitive treatment. Eleven years after the conization, all tests
      (Papanicolaou smear, colposcopy, cervical curettage, and hybrid capture 2-human
      papillomavirus test) planned quarterly in the first year and every 6 months in
      the subsequent years were negative in both patients. In women affected by stage
      IA1 squamous cervical cancer coexisting with stage IA1 adenocarcinoma
      endocervical type, with clear margins, and without lymphovascular space invasion,
      cervical conization may be considered a fertility-preserving, safe, and
      definitive therapeutic option. 

PMID- 26869799
TI  - Immunocompromised and immunocompetent mouse models for head and neck squamous
      cell carcinoma.
AB  - Mouse models can closely mimic human oral squamous epithelial carcinogenesis,
      greatly expand the in vivo research possibilities, and play a critical role in
      the development of diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of head and neck squamous
      cell carcinoma. With the development of the recent research on the contribution
      of immunity/inflammation to cancer initiation and progression, mouse models have
      been divided into two categories, namely, immunocompromised and immunocompetent
      mouse models. And thus, this paper will review these two kinds of models applied
      in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to provide a platform to understand the
      complicated histological, molecular, and genetic changes of oral squamous
      epithelial tumorigenesis. 

PMID- 26869800
TI  - Biomarkers predicting resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted
      therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer with wild-type KRAS.
AB  - EGFR pathway is an important therapeutic target in human tumors, including
      metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The advent of EGFR-targeted monoclonal
      antibodies panitumumab and cetuximab has generated promise for the treatment of
      mCRC and has largely improved patients' progression-free survival (PFS) and
      overall survival (OS). However, treatment with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies is
      only effective in a subset of mCRC patients with wild-type KRAS. This indicates
      that there are other factors affecting the efficacy of anti-EGFR monoclonal
      antibodies. Existing studies have demonstrated that among colorectal cancer
      patients with wild-type KRAS, harboring mutations of BRAF, PIK3CA, NRAS, or PTEN
      null may demonstrate resistance to anti-EGFR-targeted therapy, and biomarkers
      detection can provide better-personalized treatment for mCRC patients. How to
      identify and reverse the secondary resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody
      therapy is also another great challenge to improve the anti-EGFR efficacy in wild
      type KRAS mCRC patients. Finally, both of the molecular mechanisms of response
      and acquired resistance would be important for the directions of future research.
      This review focuses on how to further improve the predictive value of anti-EGFR
      therapies and how to also try and avoid futile treatment for wild-type KRAS
      colorectal cancer patients. 

PMID- 26869802
TI  - Correlation between XRCC1 Arg399Gln genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to
      bladder cancer: a meta-analysis.
AB  - The relationship between XRCC1 polymorphisms and bladder cancer has been widely
      studied. Here, our meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlations
      between common genetic polymorphisms in XRCC1 and susceptibility to bladder
      cancer. In order to derive a more precise estimation of the association, 27
      clinical case-control studies (which met all the inclusion criteria) were
      included in this meta-analysis. A total of 8,539 cancer cases and 10,750 controls
      were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, no significant association was
      detected in allelic model (A allele vs T allele odds ratio [OR] =0.87, 95%
      confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.06), homozygote comparison (AA vs GG OR =1.12,
      95% CI, 0.68-1.85), heterozygote comparison (AT vs TT OR =1.01, 95% CI, 0.81
      1.26), dominant model (AA + AG vs GG OR =0.93, 95% CI, 0.85-1.02), and recessive
      model (AA vs AG + GG OR =1.01, 95% CI, 0.88-1.15), but a moderately significant
      association was found for AG vs GG (OR =0.241, 95% CI =0.17-0.35). Subgroup
      analysis based on ethnicity. Ethnicity analysis suggested that genetic
      polymorphisms in XRCC1 were not correlated with increased bladder cancer risk
      among Asians (all P>0.05). Therefore, we concluded that XRCC1 genetic
      polymorphism may not contribute to bladder cancer susceptibility in the present
      meta-analysis, and further well-designed studies with a large sample size are
      warranted to validate our conclusion. 

PMID- 26869801
TI  - Association between interleukin-6 polymorphisms and urinary system cancer risk:
      evidence from a meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine
      involved in cancer initiation and progression. Numerous studies have investigated
      the associations between IL-6 polymorphisms (IL-6 -174G>C, -592G>C, -597G>A) and
      risk of urinary system cancers, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and
      renal cell cancer. However, conclusions from these studies were controversial.
      Thus, we conducted the current meta-analysis to obtain the comprehensive profile
      regarding the association between IL-6 polymorphisms and urinary system cancer
      risk. METHODS: According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, the associations of
      IL-6 polymorphisms with urinary system cancer were searched from database and
      analyzed using STATA 12.0 statistical software. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the associations.
      RESULTS: A total of 20 previous publications consisting of 15,033 cases and
      17,655 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Significant association was
      observed in overall population regarding IL-6 -592G>C polymorphisms (G vs C: OR
      =0.1.30, 95% CI =1.13-2.52; GG vs CC: OR =1.81, 95% CI =1.31-2.52; GG vs GC + CC:
      OR =1.33, 95% CI =1.02-1.75; GG + GC vs CC: OR =1.41, 95% CI =1.09-1.83). In the
      stratified analyses by ethnicity, the significant associations were found among
      Asian (GG vs CC: OR =1.89, 95% CI =1.34-2.66; GG + GC vs CC: OR =1.43, 95% CI
      =1.09-1.87) and Black population (GC vs CC: OR =0.20, 95% CI =0.05-0.82) rather
      than Caucasian men. Likewise, there were noticeable associations in almost all
      the other subanalyses such as cancer types, control sources, genotyped methods,
      and sample sizes. However, no significant associations were identified between
      any of IL-6 -174G>C polymorphisms with urinary system cancer, except for Asian
      population (G vs C: OR =0.81, 95% CI =0.70-0.95; GG vs CC: OR =0.51, 95% CI =0.35
      0.74; GC vs CC: OR =0.49, 95% CI =0.33-0.72; GG + GC vs CC: OR =0.50, 95% CI
      =0.35-0.72; respectively). In addition, no significant associations were detected
      between IL-6 -597G>A polymorphism and urinary system cancer, regardless of whole
      or subgroups. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis presents a relatively comprehensive
      view of the associations between IL-6 polymorphism and urinary system cancer risk
      to explore the carcinogenic mechanisms, which will help shed light on the
      clinical diagnosis and therapy for urinary system cancer. However, further
      detailed studies are needed to verify our conclusion.

PMID- 26869803
TI  - Long-term outcomes of different bortezomib-based regimens in Chinese myeloma
      patients.
AB  - Bortezomib has significantly increased the response rates in multiple myeloma
      (MM), but optimal bortezomib-based regimens for initial MM therapy have not yet
      been defined. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 128 patients newly
      diagnosed with symptomatic MM who received either bortezomib combined with
      dexamethasone (PD) or three-drug combinations of PD with liposomal doxorubicin
      (PAD) or thalidomide (PTD). The overall response rate (ORR), very good partial
      response (VGPR) rate, and complete remission CR/near-complete remission (nCR)
      results were better for the PAD and PTD regimens than for the PD group. Three
      year overall survival (OS) was 80.1%, 72.5%, and 61.8% with PAD, PTD, and PD
      regimens, respectively. The 3-year OS rate of PAD and PTD was significantly
      higher than that of PD (80.1% vs 61.8%, P=0.024; 72.5% vs 61.8%, P=0.035), but
      the difference was not statistically significant between PAD and PTD (80.1% vs
      72.5%, P=0.843). Similarly, the PAD and PTD regimens resulted in significantly
      superior 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates. The patients in the PTD
      arm were more frequently observed with grade 1-3 peripheral neuropathy (PN),
      compared to those in the PAD and PD groups, especially grade 2-3 PN. PN developed
      less frequently without sacrificing the efficacy when bortezomib was administered
      subcutaneously rather than intravenously. Our experience suggests that the three
      drug combinations PAD and PTD produce a better outcome than PD, especially with
      respect to PAD, with fewer adverse events. 

PMID- 26869804
TI  - Advances in dosimetry and biological predictors of radiation-induced esophagitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress about the dosimetry and biological
      predictors of radiation-induced esophagitis. METHODS: We performed a systematic
      literature review addressing radiation esophagitis in the treatment of lung
      cancer published between January 2009 and May 2015 in the PubMed full-text
      database index systems. RESULTS: Twenty-eight eligible documents were included in
      the final analysis. Many clinical factors were related to the risk of radiation
      esophagitis, such as elder patients, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and the
      intense radiotherapy regimen (hyperfractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic body
      radiotherapy). The parameters including Dmax, Dmean, V20, V30, V50, and V55 may
      be valuable in predicting the occurrence of radiation esophagitis in patients
      receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Genetic variants in inflammation-related
      genes are also associated with radiation-induced toxicity. CONCLUSION: Dosimetry
      and biological factors of radiation-induced esophagitis provide clinical
      information to decrease its occurrence and grade during radiotherapy. More
      prospective studies are warranted to confirm their prediction efficacy.

PMID- 26869805
TI  - Intravenous chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy to treat T1G3
      bladder urothelial carcinoma after transurethral resection of bladder tumor:
      results of a retrospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The management of stage 1 and grade 3 (T1G3) bladder cancer continues
      to be controversial. Although the transurethral resection of bladder tumor
      (TURBT) followed by intravesical chemotherapy is a conservative strategy for
      treatment of T1G3 bladder cancer, a relatively high risk of tumor recurrence and
      progression remains regarding the therapy. This study aimed to compare the
      efficacy of intravenous chemotherapy combined with intravesical chemotherapy
      versus intravesical chemotherapy alone for T1G3 bladder cancer after TURBT
      surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 457 patients who were
      newly diagnosed with T1G3 bladder urothelial carcinoma between January 2009 and
      March 2014. After TURBT, 281 patients received intravesical chemotherapy alone,
      whereas 176 patients underwent intravesical chemotherapy in combination with
      intravenous chemotherapy. Tumor recurrence and progression were monitored
      periodically by urine cytology and cystoscopy in follow-up. Recurrence-free
      survival and progression-free survival of the two chemotherapy strategies
      following TURBT were analyzed. Univariable and multivariable Cox hazards analyses
      were performed to predict the prognostic factors for tumor recurrence and
      progression. RESULTS: The tumor recurrence rate was 36.7% for patients who
      received intravesical chemotherapy alone after TURBT, compared with 19.9% for
      patients who received intravenous chemotherapy combined with intravesical
      chemotherapy after TURBT (P<0.001). The progression rate was 10.6% for patients
      who underwent intravesical chemotherapy alone and 2.3% for patients who underwent
      the combined chemotherapies (P=0.003). Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant
      differences in recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival between the
      two treatment strategies, with a log-rank P-value of <0.001 and 0.003,
      respectively. Multivariable analyses revealed that intravenous chemotherapy was
      the independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and progression in the
      cohort. CONCLUSION: Intravenous chemotherapy combined with intravesical
      chemotherapy offers a better oncologic outcome than the intravesical chemotherapy
      alone for patients with T1G3 bladder urothelial carcinoma after TURBT, and it may
      be considered as a new therapy strategy for T1G3 bladder cancer.

PMID- 26869806
TI  - Examination of hospital length of stay in Canada among patients with acute
      bacterial skin and skin structure infection caused by methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - PURPOSE: Skin infections, particularly those caused by resistant pathogens,
      represent a clinical burden. Hospitalization associated with acute bacterial skin
      and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major contributor to the economic burden of the
      disease. This study was conducted to provide current, real-world data on
      hospitalization patterns for patients with ABSSSI caused by MRSA across multiple
      geographic regions in Canada. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort
      study evaluated length of stay (LOS) for hospitalized patients with ABSSSI due to
      MRSA diagnosis across four Canadian geographic regions using the Discharge
      Abstract Database. Patients with ICD-10-CA diagnosis consistent with ABSSSI
      caused by MRSA between January 2008 and December 2014 were selected and assigned
      a primary or secondary diagnosis based on a prespecified ICD-10-CA code
      algorithm. RESULTS: Among 6,719 patients, 3,273 (48.7%) and 3,446 (51.3%) had a
      primary and secondary diagnosis, respectively. Among patients with a primary or
      secondary diagnosis, the cellulitis/erysipelas subtype was most common. The
      majority of patients presented with 0 or 1 comorbid condition; the most common
      comorbidity was diabetes. The mean LOS over the study period varied by geographic
      region and year; in 2014 (the most recent year analyzed), LOS ranged from 7.7
      days in Ontario to 13.4 days in the Canadian Prairie for a primary diagnosis and
      from 18.2 days in Ontario to 25.2 days in Atlantic Canada for a secondary
      diagnosis. A secondary diagnosis was associated with higher rates of continuing
      care compared with a primary diagnosis (10.6%-24.2% vs 4.6%-12.1%). CONCLUSION:
      This study demonstrated that the mean LOS associated with ABSSSI due to MRSA in
      Canada was minimally 7 days. Clinical management strategies, including medication
      management, which might facilitate hospital discharge, have the potential to
      reduce hospital LOS and related economic burden associated with ABSSSI caused by
      MRSA.

PMID- 26869807
TI  - Assessment of vitamin D levels in newly diagnosed children with type 1 diabetes
      mellitus comparing two methods of measurement: a facility's experience in the
      Middle Eastern country of Bahrain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The number of children being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus
      (T1DM) is on the rise and has more than doubled in the past 10 years in Bahrain.
      Some studies have linked low vitamin D levels with an increased risk of diabetes.
      There are concerns regarding the variations in circulating 25(OH)D levels
      measured by different laboratories and by using different analytical techniques.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D levels of newly
      diagnosed children with T1DM using the "gold standard method" with high-pressure
      liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods compared to the
      chemiluminescence micro-particle immunoassay (CMIA) used in a hospital
      laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eighteen children, aged 6-12 years, who received a
      confirmed diagnosis of T1DM in 2014 were chosen as subjects. METHODS: Serum
      vitamin D levels were assessed in a hospital, while an extra aliquot of blood
      collected during routine blood collection after acquiring informed written
      consents from the subjects, and sent to Princess Al-Jawhara Center for Molecular
      Medicine and Inherited Disorders to be analyzed by ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). RESULTS: The mean age of
      the study group was 9+/-2 years. The mean total of 25(OH)D levels (D3 and D2)
      assessed by UPLC-MS/MS was 49.7+/-18.8, whereas the mean total of 25(OH)D levels
      obtained from the CMIA assay was 44.60+/-13.20. The difference in classification
      between the two methods was found to be statistically significant (P=0.004). A
      Bland-Altman plot showed a poor level of agreement between the two assay methods.
      The CMIA overestimated insufficient values and underestimated deficiency, when
      compared to UPLC-MS/MS. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant
      difference between the two assay methods with CMIA overestimating vitamin D
      insufficiency. Clinicians should be prudent in their assessment of a single
      vitamin D reading, when the gold standard method is not available or feasible.

PMID- 26869809
TI  - Terminology of chronic pain: the need to "level the playing field".

PMID- 26869808
TI  - Fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome share many
      symptoms. While irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disorder for which
      no specific treatment is available, the range of effective therapies for IBD is
      evolving rapidly. Accurate diagnosis of IBD is therefore essential. Clinical
      assessment, together with various imaging modalities and endoscopy, has been the
      mainstay of diagnosis for many years. Fecal biomarkers of gastrointestinal
      inflammation have appeared in the past decade, of which calprotectin, a
      neutrophil cytosolic protein, has been studied the most. Crohn's disease and
      ulcerative colitis are chronic remitting and relapsing diseases, and objective
      assessment of disease activity and response to treatment are important. This
      review focuses on the use of fecal calprotectin measurements in the diagnosis and
      monitoring of patients with IBD. 

PMID- 26869810
TI  - Clinical use of extended-release oral treprostinil in the treatment of pulmonary
      arterial hypertension.
AB  - The development of parenteral prostacyclin therapy marked a dramatic breakthrough
      in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Intravenous (IV)
      epoprostenol was the first PAH specific therapy and to date, remains the only
      treatment to demonstrate a mortality benefit. Because of the inherent
      complexities and risks of treating patients with continuous infusion IV therapy,
      there is great interest in the development of an oral prostacyclin analog that
      could mimic the benefits of IV therapy. Herein, we highlight the development of
      oral prostacyclin therapy, focusing on oral treprostinil, the only US Food and
      Drug Administration approved oral prostacyclin. Recent Phase III clinical trials
      have shown the drug to improve exercise tolerance in treatment-naive PAH
      patients, but not patients on background oral therapy. Oral treprostinil appears
      to be most efficacious at higher doses, but its side effect profile and
      complexities with dosing complicate its use. While oral treprostinil's current
      therapeutic role in PAH remains unclear, ongoing studies of this class of
      medication should help clarify their role in the treatment of PAH. 

PMID- 26869811
TI  - The effect of aged garlic extract on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk
      factors in uncontrolled hypertensives: the AGE at Heart trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension affects 30% of adults worldwide. Garlic supplements have
      shown promise in the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension, and the mechanism of
      action is biologically plausible. Our trial is the first to assess the effect of
      aged garlic extract on central blood pressure and arterial stiffness, regarded as
      important risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A
      total of 88 general practice patients and community members with uncontrolled
      hypertension completed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of 12
      weeks investigating the effect of daily intake of aged garlic extract (1.2 g
      containing 1.2 mg S-allylcysteine) or placebo on blood pressure, and secondary
      outcome measures of central-hemodynamics and other cardiovascular markers,
      including cholesterol, homocysteine, platelet function, and inflammatory markers.
      RESULTS: Mean blood pressure was significantly reduced by 5.0+/-2.1 mmHg
      (P=0.016) systolic, and in responders by 11.5+/-1.9 mmHg systolic and 6.3+/-1.1
      mmHg diastolic compared to placebo (P<0.001). Central hemodynamic-measures tended
      to improve in the garlic group more than in the placebo group, including central
      blood pressure, central pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, augmentation
      pressure, pulse-wave velocity, and arterial stiffness. While changes in other
      cardiovascular markers did not reach significance due to small numbers in
      subgroups with elevated levels, trends in beneficial effects of garlic on the
      inflammatory markers TNFalpha, total cholesterol, low-density lipid cholesterol,
      and apolipoproteins were observed. Aged garlic extract was highly tolerable and
      acceptable, and did not increase the risk of bleeding in patients on blood
      thinning medication. CONCLUSION: Our trial suggests that aged garlic extract is
      effective in reducing peripheral and central blood pressure in a large proportion
      of patients with uncontrolled hypertension, and has the potential to improve
      arterial stiffness, inflammation, and other cardiovascular markers in patients
      with elevated levels. Aged garlic extract was highly tolerable with a high safety
      profile as a stand-alone or adjunctive antihypertensive treatment.

PMID- 26869812
TI  - Chronic resveratrol reverses a mild angiotensin II-induced pressor effect in a
      rat model.
AB  - Resveratrol is reported to reduce blood pressure in animal models of
      hypertension, but the mechanisms are unknown. We have shown that resveratrol
      infusion increases sodium excretion. We hypothesized that chronic ingestion of
      resveratrol would reduce angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced increases in blood
      pressure by decreasing oxidative stress and by also decreasing sodium
      reabsorption through a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism. We infused rats with
      vehicle or 80 MUg Ang II/d over 4 weeks. Vehicle or Ang II-infused rats were
      individually housed, pair fed, and placed on a diet of normal chow or normal chow
      plus 146 mg resveratrol/d. Groups included 1) control, 2) resveratrol-fed, 3) Ang
      II-treated, and 4) Ang II plus resveratrol. Systolic blood pressure was measured
      by tail cuff. During the 4th week, rats were placed in metabolic caging for urine
      collection. NO2/NO3 and 8-isoprostane excretion were measured. Ang II increased
      systolic blood pressure in the 1st week by +14+/-5 mmHg (P<0.05) in Group 3 and
      +10+/-3 mmHg (P<0.05) in Group 4, respectively. Blood pressure was unchanged in
      Groups 1 and 2. After 4 weeks, blood pressure remained elevated in Group 3 rats
      with Ang II (+9+/-3 mmHg, P<0.05), but in Group 4, blood pressure was no longer
      elevated (+2+/-2 mmHg). We found no significant differences between the groups in
      sodium excretion or cumulative sodium balance (18.49+/-0.12, 17.75+/-0.16,
      17.97+/-0.17, 18.46+/-0.18 MUEq Na+/7 d in Groups 1-4, respectively). Urinary
      excretion of NO2/NO3 in the four groups was 1) 1631+/-207 MUmol/24 h, 2) 1045+/
      236 MUmol/24 h, 3) 1490+/-161 MUmol/24 h, and 4) 609+/-17 MUmol/24 h. 8
      Isoprostane excretion was 1) 63.85+/-19.39 nmol/24 h, 2) 73.57+/-22.02 nmol/24 h,
      3) 100.69+/-37.62 nmol/24 h, and 4) 103.00+/-38.88 nmol/24 h. We conclude that
      chronic resveratrol supplementation does not blunt Ang II-increased blood
      pressure, and while resveratrol has mild depressor effects, these do not seem to
      be due to natriuresis or enhanced renal nitric oxide synthesis. 

PMID- 26869813
TI  - The COLOFOL trial: study design and comparison of the study population with the
      source cancer population.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The COLOFOL trial, a prospective randomized multicenter trial
      comparing two follow-up regimes after curative surgical treatment for colorectal
      cancer, focuses on detection of asymptomatic recurrences. This paper aims to
      describe the design and recruitment procedure in the COLOFOL trial, comparing
      demographic characteristics between randomized patients and eligible patients not
      included in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COLOFOL was designed as a pragmatic
      trial with wide inclusion criteria and few exclusion criteria, in order to obtain
      a sample reflecting the general patient population. To be eligible, patients had
      to be 75 years or younger and curatively resected for stage II or III colorectal
      cancer. Exclusion criteria were hereditary colorectal cancer, no signed consent,
      other malignancy, and life expectancy less than 2 years due to concomitant
      disease. In four of the 24 participating centers, we scrutinized hospital
      inpatient data to identify all colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery,
      in order to ascertain all eligible patients who were not included in the study
      and to compare them with enrolled patients. RESULTS: Of a total of 4,445 eligible
      patients, 2,509 patients were randomized (56.4% inclusion rate). A total of 1,221
      eligible patients were identified in the scrutinized hospitals, of which 684
      (56%) were randomized. No difference in age or sex distribution was observed
      between randomized and nonrandomized eligible patients. However, a difference was
      noted in tumor location and stage distribution, with 5.6% more patients in the
      randomized group having colon cancer and 6.7% more patients having stage II
      disease. CONCLUSION: Patients in the two study arms were not only demographically
      similar, but also similar to nonincluded eligible patients, apart from stage and
      localization. The analyses will be stratified by these variables. Taken together,
      we conclude that our trial results will be robust and possible to extrapolate to
      the target population.

PMID- 26869814
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus in Yemen.
AB  - PURPOSE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) continues to be a significant health
      disorder triggering harmful complications in pregnant women and fetuses. Our
      knowledge of GDM epidemiology in Yemen is largely based on very limited data. The
      aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence and risk factors of
      GDM among pregnant women in Dhamar governorate, Yemen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A
      total of 311 subjects were randomly selected for this cross sectional survey.
      Health history data and blood samples were collected using a pretested
      questionnaire. To determine the prevalence of GDM, the fasting and random blood
      glucose techniques were applied according to the recommendations of the American
      Diabetes Association, using alternative methods that are more convenient to the
      targeted population. Poisson's regression model incorporating robust sandwich
      variance was utilized to assess the association of potential risk factors in
      developing GDM. RESULTS: The prevalence of GDM was found to be 5.1% among the
      study population. Multivariate analysis confirmed age >=30 years, previous GDM,
      family history of diabetes, and history of polycystic ovary syndrome as
      independent risk factors for GDM prevalence. However, body mass index >=30
      kg/m(2) and previous macrosomic baby were found to be dependent risk factors.
      CONCLUSION: This study reports new epidemiological information about the
      prevalence and risk factors of GDM in Yemen. Introduction of proper maternal and
      neonatal medical care and health education are important in order to save the
      mother and the baby.

PMID- 26869815
TI  - Amniotic membrane-assisted trabeculectomy for refractory glaucoma with corneal
      disorders.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the cases of six consecutive patients who underwent amniotic
      membrane (AM)-assisted trabeculectomy (TLE) to treat refractory glaucoma with
      severe corneal disorders. METHODS: This study involved six patients (three males
      and three females, mean age: 69.5+/-15.8 years) with refractory glaucoma and
      severe corneal disorders. The surgical procedure for each patient involved
      trabecular tissue being excised, and human AM then being placed epithelial side
      up on the corneal surface, sutured at the limbal sclera, and flipped over onto
      the sclera to cover the TLE area. The remaining edge of the AM was then inserted
      into the subconjunctival space and sutured. Medical records of all cases were
      reviewed with regard to intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, and condition
      of the filtering bleb and ocular surface. RESULTS: The mean observation period
      was 69.5+/-15.8 months, and mean IOP at presurgery and at 1, 3, and 7 years
      postoperative was 40.3+/-6.9, 23.0+/-12.1, 25.6+/-12.8, and 28.5+/-19.1 mmHg,
      respectively. Glaucoma medications decreased from 3.0+/-1.1 drugs (presurgery) to
      0.8+/-1.0 drugs (7 years postoperative). However, in some cases, ocular surface
      conditions or visual acuity worsened during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION:
      Using AM as an internal patch for TLE, moderately good IOP control was obtained
      initially for the refractory glaucoma with severe corneal disorders; however,
      ocular surface conditions required special care, and the long-term IOP control
      was limited in some cases.

PMID- 26869816
TI  - Good outcomes in a patient with a Duret hemorrhage from an acute subdural
      hematoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Secondary brain stem injury is associated with transtentorial
      herniation, and manifests as "Duret" hemorrhages. Such an injury has been
      considered a terminal brain stem event with a high morbidity and mortality,
      sometimes discouraging continuation of care. However, there have been rare
      instances where patients have had reasonable recovery. We report another case,
      emphasizing that such an injury by itself should not deter aggressive measures,
      as good outcomes remain a possibility. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old male
      sustained a right subdural hematoma after a mechanical fall while intoxicated. He
      presented initially with a Glasgow Coma Scale 15. Three days later, he exhibited
      acute neurological deterioration to Glasgow Coma Scale 4, requiring intubation
      and mannitol. Repeat scan demonstrated enlarging right subdural hematoma with
      worsening shift; brain stem hemorrhage was noted at pontomesencephalic junction.
      Patient was immediately taken for subdural hematoma evacuation. The following
      day, patient was able to sluggishly follow commands in all four extremities. He
      had a short stay for inpatient rehabilitation and underwent autologous
      cranioplasty at 3 months. On examination, he was awake, alert, and oriented to
      self, time, and location; he exhibited dysarthric speech, right ptosis, but
      followed commands in all four extremities with no focal motor weakness.
      CONCLUSION: In contrast to the common belief, patients suffering from a "Duret"
      hemorrhage can still have a good outcome. "Duret" hemorrhages may not represent a
      fatal injury. The finding from this paper suggests the finding of "Duret"
      hemorrhages on imaging should not deter aggressive measures especially in
      patients with lesions causing significant mass effects. Overall clinical status
      should drive surgical options and clinical course.

PMID- 26869817
TI  - Chronic sleep disturbance and neural injury: links to neurodegenerative disease.
AB  - Sleep-wake disruption is frequently observed and often one of the earliest
      reported symptoms of many neurodegenerative disorders. This provides insight into
      the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders, as sleep-wake abnormalities
      are often accompanied by neurodegenerative or neurotransmitter changes. However,
      in addition to being a symptom of the underlying neurodegenerative condition,
      there is also emerging evidence that sleep disturbance itself may contribute to
      the development and facilitate the progression of several of these disorders. Due
      to its impact both as an early symptom and as a potential factor contributing to
      ongoing neurodegeneration, the sleep-wake cycle is an ideal target for further
      study for potential interventions not only to lessen the burden of these diseases
      but also to slow their progression. In this review, we will highlight the sleep
      phenotypes associated with some of the major neurodegenerative disorders,
      focusing on the circadian disruption associated with Alzheimer's disease, the
      rapid eye movement behavior disorder and sleep fragmentation associated with
      Parkinson's disease, and the insomnia and circadian dysregulation associated with
      Huntington's disease. 

PMID- 26869818
TI  - Slow sleep spindle and procedural memory consolidation in patients with major
      depressive disorder.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Evidence has accumulated, which indicates that, in healthy
      individuals, sleep enhances procedural memory consolidation, and that sleep
      spindle activity modulates this process. However, whether sleep-dependent
      procedural memory consolidation occurs in patients medicated for major depressive
      disorder remains unclear, as are the pharmacological and physiological mechanisms
      that underlie this process. METHODS: Healthy control participants (n=17) and
      patients medicated for major depressive disorder (n=11) were recruited and
      subjected to a finger-tapping motor sequence test (MST; nondominant hand)
      paradigm to compare the averaged scores of different learning phases (presleep,
      postsleep, and overnight improvement). Participants' brain activity was recorded
      during sleep with 16 electroencephalography channels (between MSTs). Sleep
      scoring and frequency analyses were performed on the electroencephalography data.
      Additionally, we evaluated sleep spindle activity, which divided the spindles
      into fast-frequency spindle activity (12.5-16 Hz) and slow-frequency spindle
      activity (10.5-12.5 Hz). RESULT: Sleep-dependent motor memory consolidation in
      patients with depression was impaired in comparison with that in control
      participants. In patients with depression, age correlated negatively with
      overnight improvement. The duration of slow-wave sleep correlated with the
      magnitude of motor memory consolidation in patients with depression, but not in
      healthy controls. Slow-frequency spindle activity was associated with reduction
      in the magnitude of motor memory consolidation in both groups. CONCLUSION:
      Because the changes in slow-frequency spindle activity affected the
      thalamocortical network dysfunction in patients medicated for depression,
      dysregulated spindle generation may impair sleep-dependent memory consolidation.
      Our findings may help to elucidate the cognitive deficits that occur in patients
      with major depression both in the waking state and during sleep.

PMID- 26869819
TI  - Urology - a specialty that will be faced by all future doctors.

PMID- 26869820
TI  - Chemical diversity of ginseng saponins from Panax ginseng.
AB  - Ginseng, a perennial plant belonging to the genus Panax of the Araliaceae family,
      is well known for its medicinal properties that help alleviate pathological
      symptoms, promote health, and prevent potential diseases. Among the active
      ingredients of ginseng are saponins, most of which are glycosides of triterpenoid
      aglycones. So far, numerous saponins have been reported as components of Panax
      ginseng, also known as Korean ginseng. Herein, we summarize available information
      about 112 saponins related to P. ginseng; >80 of them are isolated from raw or
      processed ginseng, and the others are acid/base hydrolysates, semisynthetic
      saponins, or metabolites. 

PMID- 26869822
TI  - Kinetic study for the optimization of ginsenoside Rg3 production by heat
      treatment of ginsenoside Rb1.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginsenoside Rg3 is a promising anticancer agent. It is usually
      produced by heat treatment of ginseng, in which ginsenoside Rb1 is the major
      ginsenoside. A kinetic study was conducted to optimize ginsenoside Rg3 production
      by the heat treatment of ginsenoside Rb1. METHODS: Ginsenoside Rb1 was heated
      using an isothermal machine at 80 degrees C and 100 degrees C and analyzed using
      HPLC. The kinetic parameters were calculated from the experimental results. The
      activation energy was estimated and used to simulate the process. The optimized
      parameters of ginsenoside Rg3 production are suggested based on the simulation.
      RESULTS: The rate constants were 0.013 h(-1) and 0.073 h(-1) for the degradation
      of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at 80 degrees C, respectively. The corresponding rate
      constants at 100 degrees C were 0.045 h(-1) and 0.155 h(-1). The estimated
      activation energies of degradation of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 were 69.2 kJ/mol
      and 40.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The rate constants at different temperatures were
      evaluated using the estimated activation energies, and the kinetic profiles of
      ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at each temperature were simulated based on the proposed
      kinetic model of consecutive reaction. The optimum strategies for producing
      ginsenoside Rg3 from ginsenoside Rb1 are suggested based on the simulation. With
      increased temperature, a high concentration of ginsenoside Rg3 is formed rapidly.
      However, the concentration decreases quickly after the reaching the maximal
      concentration value. CONCLUSION: The optimum temperature for producing
      ginsenoside Rg3 should be the highest temperature technically feasible below 180
      degrees C, in consideration of the cooling time. The optimum reaction time for
      heat treatment is 30 min.

PMID- 26869821
TI  - Ginsenoside Rd and ischemic stroke; a short review of literatures.
AB  - Panax ginseng is a well-known economic medical plant that is widely used in
      Chinese traditional medicine. This species contains a unique class of natural
      products-ginsenosides. Recent clinical and experimental studies have presented
      numerous lines of evidence on the promising role of ginsenosides on different
      diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and
      certain types of cancer. Nowadays, most of the attention has focused on
      ginsenoside Rd as a neuroprotective agent to attenuate ischemic stroke damages.
      Some of the evidence showed that ginsenoside Rd ameliorates ischemic stroke
      induced damages through the suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation.
      Ginsenoside Rd can prolong neural cells' survival through the upregulation of the
      endogenous antioxidant system, phosphoinositide-3-kinase/AKT and extracellular
      signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 pathways, preservation of mitochondrial
      membrane potential, suppression of the nuclear factor-kappa B, transient receptor
      potential melastatin, acid sensing ion channels 1a, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase
      1, protein tyrosine kinase activation, as well as reduction of cytochrome c
      releasing and apoptosis-inducing factor. In the current work, we review the
      available reports on the promising role of ginsenoside Rd on ischemic stroke. We
      also discuss its chemistry, source, and the molecular mechanism underlying this
      effect. 

PMID- 26869823
TI  - Ginsenoside Re inhibits pacemaker potentials via adenosine triphosphate-sensitive
      potassium channels and the cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide-dependent
      pathway in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal from mouse small intestine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginseng belongs to the genus Panax. Its main active ingredients are
      the ginsenosides. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells of
      the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To understand the effects of ginsenoside Re
      (GRe) on GI motility, the authors investigated its effects on the pacemaker
      activity of ICCs of the murine small intestine. METHODS: Interstitial cells of
      Cajal were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The
      whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in
      cultured ICCs. Changes in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) content induced
      by GRe were investigated. RESULTS: Ginsenoside Re (20-40MUM) decreased the
      amplitude and frequency of ICC pacemaker activity in a concentration-dependent
      manner. This action was blocked by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate [a
      guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein inhibitor] and by glibenclamide
      [an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K(+) channel blocker]. To study the
      GRe-induced signaling pathway in ICCs, the effects of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3
      a]quinoxalin-1-one (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and RP-8-CPT-cGMPS (a protein
      kinase G inhibitor) were examined. Both inhibitors blocked the inhibitory effect
      of GRe on ICC pacemaker activity. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (100MUM), which
      is a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, blocked the effects of
      GRe on ICC pacemaker activity and GRe-stimulated cGMP production in ICCs.
      CONCLUSION: In cultured murine ICCs, GRe inhibits the pacemaker activity of ICCs
      via the ATP-sensitive potassium (K(+)) channel and the cGMP/NO-dependent pathway.
      Ginsenoside Re may be a basis for developing novel spasmolytic agents to prevent
      or alleviate GI motility dysfunction.

PMID- 26869824
TI  - Inhibitory mechanism of Korean Red Ginseng on GM-CSF expression in UVB-irradiated
      keratinocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: UV-irradiated keratinocytes secrete various proinflammatory
      cytokines. UV-induced skin damage is mediated by growth factors and
      proinflammatory cytokines such as granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating
      factor (GM-CSF). In a previous study, we found that the saponin of Korean Red
      Ginseng (SKRG) decreased the expression of GM-CSF in UVB-irradiated SP-1
      keratinocytes. In this study, we attempted to find the inhibitory mechanism of
      SKRG on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. METHODS: We
      investigated the inhibitory mechanism of SKRG and ginsenosides from Panax ginseng
      on UVB-induced GM-CSF expression in SP-1 keratinocytes. RESULTS: Treatment with
      SKRG decreased the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein induced by irradiation
      of UVB in SP-1 keratinocytes. The phosphorylation of ERK was induced by UVB at 10
      min, and decreased with SKRG treatment in SP-1 keratinocytes. In addition,
      treatment with SKRG inhibited the UVB-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR), which is known to be an upstream signal of ERK. From
      these results, we found that the inhibition of GM-CSF expression by SKRG was
      derived from the decreased phosphorylation of EGFR. To identify the specific
      compound composing SKRG, we tested fifteen kinds of ginsenosides. Among these
      compounds, ginsenoside-Rh3 decreased the expression of GM-CSF protein and mRNA in
      SP-1 keratinocytes. CONCLUSION: Taken together, we found that treatment with SKRG
      decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK in UVB-irradiated SP-1
      keratinocytes and subsequently inhibited the expression of GM-CSF. Furthermore,
      we identified ginsenoside-Rh3 as the active saponin in Korean Red Ginseng.

PMID- 26869825
TI  - Insulin sensitivity improvement of fermented Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
      mediated by insulin resistance hallmarks in old-aged ob/ob mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The biological actions of various ginseng extracts have been studied
      for treating obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, few studies have evaluated
      the effects of fermented Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) on metabolic
      syndrome. The present study evaluated the antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of
      fermented red ginseng (FRG) on old-aged, obese, leptin-deficient (B6.V-Lepob,
      "ob/ob") mice. METHODS: The animals were divided into three groups and given
      water containing 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% FRG for 16 wk. The effect of FRG on ob/ob
      mice was determined by measuring changes in body weight, levels of blood glucose,
      serum contents of triglycerides, total cholesterol and free fatty acids,
      messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of key factors associated with insulin action,
      such as insulin receptor (IR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), glucose transporter 1
      and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR
      gamma), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver and in muscle,
      and histology of the liver and pancreas. RESULTS: FRG-treated mice had decreased
      body weight and blood glucose levels compared with control ob/ob mice. However,
      anti-obesity effect of FRG was not evident rather than hypoglycemic effect in old
      aged ob/ob mice. The hyperlipidemia in control group was attenuated in FRG
      treated ob/ob mice. The mRNA expressions of IR, LPL, GLUT1, GLUT4, PPAR-gamma,
      and PEPCK in the liver and in muscle were increased in the FRG-treated groups
      compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FRG may
      play a vital role in improving insulin sensitivity relative to reducing body
      weight in old-aged ob/ob mice.

PMID- 26869826
TI  - Accumulation characteristics and correlation analysis of five ginsenosides with
      different cultivation ages from different regions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginseng (the roots of Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-known
      traditional Oriental medicine and is now widely used as a health food. It
      contains several types of ginsenosides, which are considered the major active
      medicinal components of ginseng. It has recently been reported that the
      qualitative and quantitative properties of ginsenosides found in ginseng may
      differ, depending on cultivation regions, ages, species, and so on. Therefore, it
      is necessary to study these variations with respect to cultivation ages and
      regions. METHODS: In this study, 3-6-yr-old roots of P. ginseng were collected
      from three different cultivation regions. The contents of five ginsenosides (Rb1,
      Rd, Rc, Re, and Rgl) were measured by rapid resolution liquid chromatography
      coupled with quadruple-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The Kruskal-Wallis Rank
      sum test and multiple t test were used for comparative analysis of the data to
      evaluate the dynamic changes in the accumulation of these ginsenosides affected
      by cultivation regions and ages. RESULTS: The content and composition of
      ginsenosides varied significantly among specimens collected from different
      cultivation regions and having different cultivation ages. For all samples, the
      content of Rg1 and Re ginsenosides increases with age and this rate of increase
      is different for each sample. The contents of Rb1, Rc, and Rd varied with
      cultivation ages in samples from different cultivation regions; especially, Rb1
      from a 6-yr-old root showed approximately twofold variation among the samples
      from three cultivation regions. Furthermore, the content of Rb1 highly correlated
      with that of Rd (r = 0.89 across all locations and ages). CONCLUSION: In our
      study, only the contents of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re were affected by the root
      age. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, and Rd varied widely with ages in samples from
      different cultivation regions.

PMID- 26869827
TI  - Photosynthesis rates, growth, and ginsenoside contents of 2-yr-old Panax ginseng
      grown at different light transmission rates in a greenhouse.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginseng is a semishade perennial plant cultivated in sloping, sun
      shaded areas in Korea. Recently, owing to air-environmental stress and various
      fungal diseases, greenhouse cultivation has been suggested as an alternative.
      However, the optimal light transmission rate (LTR) in the greenhouse has not been
      established. METHODS: The effect of LTR on photosynthesis rate, growth, and
      ginsenoside content of ginseng was examined by growing ginseng at the greenhouse
      under 6%, 9%, 13%, and 17% of LTR. RESULTS: The light-saturated net
      photosynthesis rate (A sat) and stomatal conductance (g s) of ginseng increased
      until the LTR reached 17% in the early stage of growth, whereas they dropped
      sharply owing to excessive leaf chlorosis at 17% LTR during the hottest summer
      period in August. Overall, 6-17% of LTR had no effect on the aerial part of plant
      length or diameter, whereas 17% and 13% of LRT induced the largest leaf area and
      the highest root weight, respectively. The total ginsenoside content of the
      ginseng leaves increased as the LTR increased, and the overall content of
      protopanaxatriol line ginsenosides was higher than that of protopanaxadiol line
      ginsenosides. The ginsenoside content of the ginseng roots also increased as the
      LTR increased, and the total ginsenoside content of ginseng grown at 17% LTR
      increased by 49.7% and 68.3% more than the ginseng grown at 6% LTR in August and
      final harvest, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that 13-17% of
      LTR should be recommended for greenhouse cultivation of ginseng.

PMID- 26869829
TI  - Upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 by ginsenoside Ro attenuates lipopolysaccharide
      induced inflammation in macrophage cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of ginsenoside species have been well
      demonstrated in a number of studies. However, the function of ginsenoside Ro
      (GRo), an oleanane-type saponin, has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus,
      the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of
      GRo in vitro using the Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line treated with
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to clarify the possible mechanism of GRo involving
      heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which itself plays a critical role in self-defense in
      the presence of inflammatory stress. METHODS: Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated
      with GRo (up to 200MUM) for 1 h before treatment with 1 MUg/mL LPS, and both cell
      viability and inflammatory markers involving HO-1 were evaluated. RESULTS: GRo
      significantly increased cell viability in a dose dependent manner following
      treatment with LPS, and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric
      oxide. GRo decreased inflammatory cytokines such as nitric oxide synthase and
      cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Moreover, GRo increased the expression of HO-1
      in a dose dependent manner. Cotreatment of GRo with tin protoporphyrin IX, a
      selective inhibitor of HO-1, not only inhibited upregulation of HO-1 induced by
      GRo, but also reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of GRo in LPS treated Raw
      264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: GRo induces anti-inflammatory effects following
      treatment with LPS via upregulation of HO-1.

PMID- 26869828
TI  - Inhibitory effects of total saponin from Korean Red Ginseng on [Ca(2+)]i
      mobilization through phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent
      protein kinase catalytic subunit and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type I
      in human platelets.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intracellular Ca(2+)([Ca(2+)]i) is a platelet aggregation-inducing
      molecule. Therefore, understanding the inhibitory mechanism of [Ca(2+)]i
      mobilization is very important to evaluate the antiplatelet effect of a
      substance. This study was carried out to understand the Ca(2+)-antagonistic
      effect of total saponin from Korean Red Ginseng (KRG-TS). METHODS: We
      investigated the Ca(2+)-antagonistic effect of KRG-TS on cyclic nucleotides
      associated phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type I
      (IP3RI) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA)
      in thrombin (0.05 U/mL)-stimulated human platelet aggregation. RESULTS: The
      inhibition of [Ca(2+)]i mobilization by KRG-TS was increased by a PKA inhibitor
      (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS), which was more stronger than the inhibition by a cyclic
      guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor (Rp-8-Br
      cGMPS). In addition, Rp-8-Br-cAMPS inhibited phosphorylation of PKA catalytic
      subunit (PKAc) (Thr(197)) by KRG-TS. The phosphorylation of IP3RI (Ser(1756)) by
      KRG-TS was very strongly inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS compared with that by Rp-8-Br
      cGMPS. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of [Ca(2+)]i mobilization
      by KRG-TS is more strongly dependent on a cAMP/PKA pathway than a cGMP/PKG
      pathway. KRG-TS also inhibited the release of adenosine triphosphate and
      serotonin. In addition, only G-Rg3 of protopanaxadiol in KRG-TS inhibited
      thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. CONCLUSION: These results strongly
      indicate that KRG-TS is a potent beneficial compound that inhibits [Ca(2+)]i
      mobilization in thrombin-platelet interactions, which may result in the
      prevention of platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

PMID- 26869830
TI  - Drying characteristics and quality of red ginseng using far-infrared rays.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The current typical drying methods for red ginseng are sun drying and
      hot-air drying. The purpose of this study was to investigate drying
      characteristics of red ginseng by using far-infrared drying. METHODS: The far
      infrared drying tests on red ginseng were conducted at two drying stages: (1)
      high temperature for 24 h drying and (2) low temperature drying until the final
      moisture content was 13 +/- 0.5% (wet basis). The high temperature drying stage
      included three drying chamber temperature conditions of 60 degrees C, 65 degrees
      C, and 70 degrees C. The low temperature drying stage was conducted at
      temperatures of 45 degrees C and 50 degrees C. Drying characteristics were
      analyzed based on factors such as drying rate, color changes, energy consumption,
      and saponin content. The results were compared with those of the hot-air and sun
      drying methods. RESULTS: The results revealed that increases in drying
      temperature caused a decrease in drying time and energy consumption for far
      infrared drying. The saponin content decreased under all drying conditions after
      drying, the highest value (11.34 mg/g) was observed at drying conditions of 60~50
      degrees C. The sun drying condition showed the lowest color difference value when
      compared with far-infrared and hot-air drying. CONCLUSION: The far-infrared
      drying showed a faster drying rate, higher saponin content, lower color
      difference value, and a decrease in energy consumption than seen in hot-air
      drying.

PMID- 26869831
TI  - Protective effect of wild ginseng cambial meristematic cells on d-galactosamine
      induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng has a wide range of biological activities including
      anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Wild ginseng
      cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) were obtained from P. ginseng cambium. This
      study examined the protective mechanism of wild ginseng CMCs against d
      galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. GalN, a well-known hepatotoxicant,
      causes severe hepatocellular inflammatory damage and clinical features similar to
      those of human viral hepatitis in experimental animals. METHODS: Hepatotoxicity
      was induced in rats using GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.). Wild ginseng CMCs was
      administered orally once a day for 2 wks, and then 2 h prior to and 6 h after
      GalN injection. RESULTS: Wild ginseng CMCs attenuated the increase in serum
      aminotransferase activity that occurs 24 h after GalN injection. Wild ginseng
      CMCs also attenuated the GalN-induced increase in serum tumor necrosis factor
      alpha, interleukin-6 level, and hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 protein and mRNA
      expression. Wild ginseng CMCs augmented the increase in serum interleukin -10 and
      hepatic heme oxygenase-1 protein and mRNA expression that was induced by GalN,
      inhibited the increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-kappa B, and
      enhanced the increase in NF-E2-related factor 2. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest
      that wild ginseng CMCs protects liver against GalN-induced inflammation by
      suppressing proinflammatory mediators and enhancing production of anti
      inflammatory mediators.

PMID- 26869832
TI  - Characterization of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer): History,
      preparation method, and chemical composition.
AB  - It has been reported that Korean Red Ginseng has been manufactured for 1,123 y as
      described in the GoRyeoDoGyeong record. The Korean Red Ginseng manufactured by
      the traditional preparation method has its own chemical component
      characteristics. The ginsenoside content of the red ginseng is shown as Rg1: 3.3
      mg/g, Re: 2.0 mg/g, Rb1: 5.8 mg/g, Rc:1.7 mg/g, Rb2: 2.3 mg/g, and Rd: 0.4 mg/g,
      respectively. It is known that Korean ginseng generally consists of the main root
      and the lateral or fine roots at a ratio of about 75:25. Therefore, the red
      ginseng extract is prepared by using this same ratio of the main root and lateral
      or fine roots and processed by the historical traditional medicine prescription.
      The red ginseng extract is prepared through a water extraction (90( degrees )C
      for 14-16 h) and concentration process (until its final concentration is 70-73
      Brix at 50-60( degrees )C). The ginsenoside contents of the red ginseng extract
      are shown as Rg1: 1.3 mg/g, Re: 1.3 mg/g, Rb1: 6.4 mg/g, Rc:2.5 mg/g, Rb2: 2.3
      mg/g, and Rd: 0.9 mg/g, respectively. Arginine-fructose-glucose (AFG) is a
      specific amino-sugar that can be produced by chemical reaction of the process
      when the fresh ginseng is converted to red ginseng. The content of AFG is 1.0
      1.5% in red ginseng. Acidic polysaccharide, which has been known as an immune
      activator, is at levels of 4.5-7.5% in red ginseng. Therefore, we recommended
      that the chemical profiles of Korean Red Ginseng made through the defined
      traditional method should be well preserved and it has had its own chemical
      characteristics since its traditional development. 

PMID- 26869833
TI  - Changes in the ginsenoside content during the fermentation process using
      microbial strains.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Red ginseng (RG) is processed from Panax ginseng via several methods
      including heat treatment, mild acid hydrolysis, and microbial conversion to
      transform the major ginsenosides into minor ginsenosides, which have greater
      pharmaceutical activities. During the fermentation process using microbial
      strains in a machine for making red ginseng, a change of composition occurs after
      heating. Therefore, we confirmed that fermentation had occurred using only
      microbial strains and evaluated the changes in the ginsenosides and their
      chemical composition. METHODS: To confirm the fermentation by microbial strains,
      the fermented red ginseng was made with microbial strains (w-FRG) or without
      microbial strains (n-FRG), and the fermentation process was performed to tertiary
      fermentation. The changes in the ginsenoside composition of the self-manufactured
      FRG using the machine were evaluated using HPLC, and the 20 ginsenosides were
      analyzed. Additionally, we investigated changes of the reducing sugar and
      polyphenol contents during fermentation process. RESULTS: In the fermentation
      process, ginsenosides Re, Rg1, and Rb1 decreased but ginsenosides Rh1, F2, Rg3,
      and Compound Y (C.Y) increased in primary FRG more than in the raw ginseng and
      RG. The content of phenolic compounds was high in FRG and the highest in the
      tertiary w-FRG. Moreover, the reducing sugar content was approximately three
      times higher in the tertiary w-FRG than in the other n-FRG. CONCLUSION: As the
      results indicate, we confirmed the changes in the ginsenoside content and the
      role of microbial strains in the fermentation process.

PMID- 26869834
TI  - A brief method for preparation of gintonin-enriched fraction from ginseng.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginseng has been used as a tonic for invigoration of the human body.
      In a previous report, we identified a novel candidate responsible for the tonic
      role of ginseng, designated gintonin. Gintonin induces [Ca(2+)]i transient in
      animal cells via lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation. Gintonin-mediated
      [Ca(2+)]i transient is linked to anti-Alzheimer's activity in transgenic
      Alzheimer's disease animal model. The previous method for gintonin preparation
      included multiple steps. The aim of this study is to develop a simple method of
      gintonin fraction with a high yield. METHODS: We developed a brief method to
      obtain gintonin using ethanol and water. We extracted ginseng with fermentation
      ethanol and fractionated the extract with water to obtain water-soluble and water
      insoluble fractions. The water-insoluble precipitate, rather than the water
      soluble supernatant, induced a large [Ca(2+)]i transient in primary astrocytes.
      We designated this fraction as gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF). RESULTS: The
      yield of GEF was approximately 6-fold higher than that obtained in the previous
      gintonin preparation method. The apparent molecular weight of GEF, determined
      using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was equivalent
      to that obtained in the previous gintonin preparation method. GEF induced
      [Ca(2+)]i transient in cortical astrocytes. The effective dose (ED50) was 0.3 +/-
      0.09 MUg/mL. GEF used the same signal transduction pathway as gintonin during
      [Ca(2+)]i transient induction in mouse cortical astrocytes. CONCLUSION: Because
      GEF can be prepared through water precipitation of ginseng ethanol extract and is
      easily reproducible with high yield, it could be commercially utilized for the
      development of gintonin-derived functional health food and natural medicine.

PMID- 26869835
TI  - Leaf-specific pathogenesis-related 10 homolog, PgPR-10.3, shows in silico binding
      affinity with several biologically important molecules.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis-related 10 (PR-10) proteins are small, cytosolic
      proteins with a similar three-dimensional structure. Crystal structures for
      several PR-10 homologs have similar overall folding patterns, with an unusually
      large internal cavity that is a binding site for biologically important
      molecules. Although structural information on PR-10 proteins is substantial,
      understanding of their biological function remains limited. Here, we showed that
      one of the PgPR-10 homologs, PgPR-10.3, shares binding properties with
      flavonoids, kinetin, emodin, deoxycholic acid, and ginsenoside Re (1 of the
      steroid glycosides). METHODS: Gene expression patterns of PgPR-10.3 were analyzed
      by quantitative real-time PCR. The three-dimensional structure of PgPR-10
      proteins was visualized by homology modeling, and docking to retrieve
      biologically active molecules was performed using AutoDock4 program. RESULTS:
      Transcript levels of PgPR-10.3 expressed in leaves, stems, and roots of 3-wk-old
      ginseng plantlets were on average 86-fold lower than those of PgPR-10.2. In
      mature 2-yr-old ginseng plants, the mRNA of PgPR-10.3 is restricted to leaves.
      Ginsenoside Re production is especially prominent in leaves of Panax ginseng
      Meyer, and the binding property of PgPR-10.3 with ginsenoside Re suggests that
      this protein has an important role in the control of secondary metabolism.
      CONCLUSION: Although ginseng PR-10.3 gene is expressed in all organs of 3-wk-old
      plantlets, its expression is restricted to leaves in mature 2-yr-old ginseng
      plants. The putative binding property of PgPR-10.3 with Re is intriguing. Further
      verification of binding affinity with other biologically important molecules in
      the large hydrophobic cavity of PgPR-10.3 may provide an insight into the
      biological features of PR-10 proteins.

PMID- 26869836
TI  - Effects of Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate against pathogen
      populations in poultry litters.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean Red
      Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate as litter amendments on ammonia, soluble
      reactive phosphorus, and pathogen populations in poultry litters. METHODS:
      Increasing levels of Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate were applied
      onto the surface of rice hull as a top-dress application; untreated rice hulls
      served as controls. RESULTS: Treatment with Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum
      sulfate or aluminum sulfate alone resulted in lower litter pH (p < 0.05), as
      compared with that of the controls. There were some differences (p < 0.05)
      between treatments with Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate or aluminum
      sulfate alone and controls at 2-4 wk (not at 1 wk). Ammonia levels reduced on an
      average by 29%, 30%, and 32% for 10 g, 20 g Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum
      sulfate, and aluminum sulfate alone, respectively, as compared with controls at 4
      wk. During the experiment, Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate or
      aluminum sulfate treatment had an effect (p < 0.05) on soluble reactive
      phosphorus content, as compared with the controls (not at 4 wk). A decrease in
      Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli was observed (p < 0.05) in litter
      amended with both Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate and aluminum
      sulfate alone, as compared with the control, except at 1-3 wk for Salmonella
      enterica and 1 wk and 4 wk for Escherichia coli, respectively. CONCLUSION: The
      results showed that using Korean Red Ginseng marc with aluminum sulfate (blends),
      which act as acidifying agents by reducing the pH of the litter, was equally
      effective as aluminum sulfate in reducing the environmental impact.

PMID- 26869837
TI  - Emotional processing needs further study in major psychiatric diseases.
AB  - Emotions are largely affected in many psychiatric diseases. A better
      understanding of the neural networks involved in emotion processing is an
      important way to be able to improve dysfunctions in emotion recognition, as well
      as expression, associated with major psychiatric disorders. 

PMID- 26869838
TI  - Affective preclinical modeling of psychiatric disorders: taking imbalanced primal
      emotional feelings of animals seriously in our search for novel antidepressants.
AB  - Preclinical animal models of psychiatric disorders are of critical importance for
      advances in development of new psychiatric medicine. Regrettably, behavior-only
      models have yielded no novel targeted treatments during the past half-century of
      vigorous deployment. This may reflect the general neglect of experiential aspects
      of animal emotions, since affective mental states of animals supposedly cannot be
      empirically monitored. This supposition is wrong-to the extent that the rewarding
      and punishing aspects of emotion circuit arousals reflect positive and negative
      affective states. During the past decade, the use of such affective neuroscience
      based animal modeling has yielded three novel antidepressants (i) via the
      alleviation of psychic pain with low doses of buprenorphine; (ii) via the
      amplification of enthusiasm by direct stimulation of the medial forebrain
      bundle); and (iii) via the facilitation of the capacity for social joy with play
      facilitators such as rapastinel (GLYX13). All have progressed to successful human
      testing. For optimal progress, it may be useful for preclinical investigators to
      focus on the evolved affective foundations of psychiatrically relevant brain
      emotional disorders for optimal animal modeling.

PMID- 26869839
TI  - Affiliative and prosocial motives and emotions in mental health.
AB  - This paper argues that studies of mental health and wellbeing can be
      contextualized within an evolutionary approach that highlights the coregulating
      processes of emotions and motives. In particular, it suggests that, although many
      mental health symptoms are commonly linked to threat processing, attention also
      needs to be directed to the major regulators of threat processing, ie, prosocial
      and affiliative interactions with self and others. Given that human sociality has
      been a central driver for a whole range of human adaptations, a better
      understanding of the effects of prosocial interactions on health is required, and
      should be integrated into psychiatric formulations and interventions. Insight
      into the coregulating processes of motives and emotions, especially prosocial
      ones, offers improved ways of understanding mental health difficulties and their
      prevention and relief.

PMID- 26869840
TI  - Emotor control: computations underlying bodily resource allocation, emotions, and
      confidence.
AB  - Emotional processes are central to behavior, yet their deeply subjective nature
      has been a challenge for neuroscientific study as well as for psychiatric
      diagnosis. Here we explore the relationships between subjective feelings and
      their underlying brain circuits from a computational perspective. We apply recent
      insights from systems neuroscience-approaching subjective behavior as the result
      of mental computations instantiated in the brain-to the study of emotions. We
      develop the hypothesis that emotions are the product of neural computations whose
      motor role is to reallocate bodily resources mostly gated by smooth muscles. This
      "emotor" control system is analagous to the more familiar motor control
      computations that coordinate skeletal muscle movements. To illustrate this
      framework, we review recent research on "confidence." Although familiar as a
      feeling, confidence is also an objective statistical quantity: an estimate of the
      probability that a hypothesis is correct. This model-based approach helped reveal
      the neural basis of decision confidence in mammals and provides a bridge to the
      subjective feeling of confidence in humans. These results have important
      implications for psychiatry, since disorders of confidence computations appear to
      contribute to a number of psychopathologies. More broadly, this computational
      approach to emotions resonates with the emerging view that psychiatric nosology
      may be best parameterized in terms of disorders of the cognitive computations
      underlying complex behavior.

PMID- 26869841
TI  - What develops during emotional development? A component process approach to
      identifying sources of psychopathology risk in adolescence.
AB  - Adolescence is a phase of the lifespan associated with widespread changes in
      emotional behavior thought to reflect both changing environments and stressors,
      and psychological and neurobiological development. However, emotions themselves
      are complex phenomena that are composed of multiple subprocesses. In this paper,
      we argue that examining emotional development from a process-level perspective
      facilitates important insights into the mechanisms that underlie adolescents'
      shifting emotions and intensified risk for psychopathology. Contrasting the
      developmental progressions for the antecedents to emotion, physiological
      reactivity to emotion, emotional regulation capacity, and motivation to
      experience particular affective states reveals complex trajectories that
      intersect in a unique way during adolescence. We consider the implications of
      these intersecting trajectories for negative outcomes such as psychopathology, as
      well as positive outcomes for adolescent social bonds.

PMID- 26869842
TI  - The rise of moral emotions in neuropsychiatry.
AB  - Clinical psychopathology has largely ignored the developments in the field of
      social neuroscience. The so-called moral emotions are a group of affective
      experiences thought to promote cooperation, group cohesion, and reorganization.
      In this review, we: (i) briefly describe a provisional taxonomy of a limited set
      of moral emotions and their neural underpinnings; and (ii) discuss how disgust,
      guilt, anger/indignation, and shame/embarrassment can be conceptualized as key
      affective experiences in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on a concise
      review of the literature linking moral emotions, psychopathology, and
      neuropsychiatry, we have devised a simple and preliminary scheme where we
      conjecture how specific moral emotions can be implicated in some categories of
      DSM-5 diagnoses, potentially helping to bridge psychopathology and
      neurobiologically plausible variables, in line with the Research Domain Criteria
      initiative. We hope this stimulates new empirical work exploring how moral
      emotional changes and their underlying neurobiology can help elucidating the
      neural underpinnings of mental disorders.

PMID- 26869844
TI  - Emotional responses to interpersonal rejection.
AB  - A great deal of human emotion arises in response to real, anticipated,
      remembered, or imagined rejection by other people. Because acceptance by other
      people improved evolutionary fitness, human beings developed biopsychological
      mechanisms to apprise them of threats to acceptance and belonging, along with
      emotional systems to deal with threats to acceptance. This article examines seven
      emotions that often arise when people perceive that their relational value to
      other people is low or in potential jeopardy, including hurt feelings, jealousy,
      loneliness, shame, guilt, social anxiety, and embarrassment. Other emotions, such
      as sadness and anger, may occur during rejection episodes, but are reactions to
      features of the situation other than low relational value. The article discusses
      the evolutionary functions of rejection-related emotions, neuroscience evidence
      regarding the brain regions that mediate reactions to rejection, and behavioral
      research from social, developmental, and clinical psychology regarding
      psychological and behavioral concomitants of interpersonal rejection.

PMID- 26869845
TI  - Compound facial expressions of emotion: from basic research to clinical
      applications.
AB  - Emotions are sometimes revealed through facial expressions. When these natural
      facial articulations involve the contraction of the same muscle groups in people
      of distinct cultural upbringings, this is taken as evidence of a biological
      origin of these emotions. While past research had identified facial expressions
      associated with a single internally felt category (eg, the facial expression of
      happiness when we feel joyful), we have recently studied facial expressions
      observed when people experience compound emotions (eg, the facial expression of
      happy surprise when we feel joyful in a surprised way, as, for example, at a
      surprise birthday party). Our research has identified 17 compound expressions
      consistently produced across cultures, suggesting that the number of facial
      expressions of emotion of biological origin is much larger than previously
      believed. The present paper provides an overview of these findings and shows
      evidence supporting the view that spontaneous expressions are produced using the
      same facial articulations previously identified in laboratory experiments. We
      also discuss the implications of our results in the study of psychopathologies,
      and consider several open research questions.

PMID- 26869846
TI  - Measuring facial expression of emotion.
AB  - Research into emotions has increased in recent decades, especially on the subject
      of recognition of emotions. However, studies of the facial expressions of emotion
      were compromised by technical problems with visible video analysis and
      electromyography in experimental settings. These have only recently been
      overcome. There have been new developments in the field of automated computerized
      facial recognition; allowing real-time identification of facial expression in
      social environments. This review addresses three approaches to measuring facial
      expression of emotion and describes their specific contributions to understanding
      emotion in the healthy population and in persons with mental illness. Despite
      recent progress, studies on human emotions have been hindered by the lack of
      consensus on an emotion theory suited to examining the dynamic aspects of emotion
      and its expression. Studying expression of emotion in patients with mental health
      conditions for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes will profit from theoretical
      and methodological progress.

PMID- 26869843
TI  - Emotional and cognitive dysregulation in schizophrenia and depression:
      understanding common and distinct behavioral and neural mechanisms.
AB  - Emerging behavioral and neuroimaging studies in schizophrenia (SCZ) and major
      depressive disorder (MD) are mapping mechanisms of co-occurring and distinct
      affective disturbances across these disorders. This constitutes a critical goal
      towards developing rationally guided therapies for upstream neural pathways that
      contribute to comorbid symptoms across disorders. We highlight the current state
      of the art in our understanding of emotional dysregulation in SCZ versus MD by
      focusing on broad domains of behavioral function that can map onto underlying
      neural systems, namely deficits in hedonics, anticipatory behaviors, computations
      underlying value and effort, and effortful goal-directed behaviors needed to
      pursue rewarding outcomes. We highlight unique disturbances in each disorder that
      may involve dissociable neural systems, but also possible interactions between
      affect and cognition in MD versus SCZ. Finally, we review computational and
      translational approaches that offer mechanistic insight into how cellular-level
      disruptions can lead to complex affective disturbances, informing development of
      therapies across MD and SCZ.

PMID- 26869848
TI  - The effects of drugs on human models of emotional processing: an account of
      antidepressant drug treatment.
AB  - Human models of emotional processing suggest that the direct effect of successful
      antidepressant drug treatment may be to modify biases in the processing of
      emotional information. Negative biases in emotional processing are documented in
      depression, and single or short-term dosing with conventional antidepressant
      drugs reverses these biases in depressed patients prior to any subjective change
      in mood. Antidepressant drug treatments also modulate emotional processing in
      healthy volunteers, which allows the consideration of the psychological effects
      of these drugs without the confound of changes in mood. As such, human models of
      emotional processing may prove to be useful for testing the efficacy of novel
      treatments and for matching treatments to individual patients or subgroups of
      patients. 

PMID- 26869849
TI  - QTL mapping for bacterial wilt resistance in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).
AB  - Bacterial wilt (BW) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a serious, global,
      disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), but it is especially destructive in
      China. Identification of DNA markers linked to the resistance to this disease
      will help peanut breeders efficiently develop resistant cultivars through
      molecular breeding. A F2 population, from a cross between disease-resistant and
      disease-susceptible cultivars, was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL)
      associated with the resistance to this disease in the cultivated peanut. Genome
      wide SNPs were identified from restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing tags
      using next-generation DNA sequencing technology. SNPs linked to disease
      resistance were determined in two bulks of 30 resistant and 30 susceptible plants
      along with two parental plants using bulk segregant analysis. Polymorphic SSR and
      SNP markers were utilized for construction of a linkage map and for performing
      the QTL analysis, and a moderately dense linkage map was constructed in the F2
      population. Two QTL (qBW-1 and qBW-2) detected for resistance to BW disease were
      located in the linkage groups LG1 and LG10 and account for 21 and 12 % of the
      bacterial wilt phenotypic variance. To confirm these QTL, the F8 RIL population
      with 223 plants was utilized for genotyping and phenotyping plants by year and
      location as compared to the F2 population. The QTL qBW-1 was consistent in the
      location of LG1 in the F8 population though the QTL qBW-2 could not be clarified
      due to fewer markers used and mapped in LG10. The QTL qBW-1, including four
      linked SNP markers and one SSR marker within 14.4-cM interval in the F8, was
      closely related to a disease resistance gene homolog and was considered as a
      candidate gene for resistance to BW. QTL identified in this study would be useful
      to conduct marker-assisted selection and may permit cloning of resistance genes.
      Our study shows that bulk segregant analysis of genome-wide SNPs is a useful
      approach to expedite the identification of genetic markers linked to disease
      resistance traits in the allotetraploidy species peanut.

PMID- 26869850
TI  - Systematic analysis of the use of amphipathic polymers for studies of outer
      membrane proteins using mass spectrometry.
AB  - Membrane proteins (MPs) are essential for numerous important biological
      processes. Recently, mass spectrometry (MS), coupled with an array of related
      techniques, has been used to probe the structural properties of MPs and their
      complexes. Typically, detergent micelles have been employed for delivering MPs
      into the gas-phase, but these complexes have intrinsic properties that can limit
      the utility of structural studies of MPs using MS methods. Amphipols (APols) have
      advantages over detergent micelles and have been shown to be capable of
      delivering native MPs into the gas-phase. Comparing six different APols which
      vary in mass and charge, and the detergent n-dodecyl-beta-d-maltopyranoside, we
      aimed to determine which APols are most efficient for delivery of native outer
      membrane proteins (OMPs) into the gas-phase. We show that maintaining the
      solution-phase folding and global structures of three different OMPs (PagP, OmpT
      and tOmpA) are independent of the APol used, but differences in OMP activity can
      result from the different APol:OMP complexes. ESI-IMS-MS analysis of OMP:APol
      complexes shows that the A8-35 APol is most proficient at liberating all three
      OMPs into the gas-phase, without altering their gas-phase conformations.

PMID- 26869847
TI  - Oxytocin in the socioemotional brain: implications for psychiatric disorders.
AB  - The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), highly conserved during evolution, is an
      important modulator of social and emotional processes across many species. During
      the last decade, a large body of literature has revealed its effects on different
      aspects of social behavior, including social stress and anxiety, social memory,
      affiliation and bonding, emotion recognition, mentalizing, empathy, and
      interpersonal trust. In addition, as impairments in these social domains can be
      observed in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, social
      anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder,
      the role of OXT in mental disorders and their treatment has been intensively
      studied. The present paper gives a short overview of these lines of research and
      shows how OXT has become a promising target for novel treatment approaches for
      mental disorders characterized by social impairments.

PMID- 26869851
TI  - Protein profiling of mefloquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum using mass
      spectrometry-based proteomics.
AB  - Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease caused by protozoa of genus
      Plasmodium. There are five species of Plasmodium that are found to infect humans.
      Plasmodium falciparum can cause severe malaria leading to higher morbidity and
      mortality of malaria than the other four species. Antimalarial resistance is the
      major obstacle to control malaria. Mefloquine was used in combination with
      Artesunate for uncomplicated P. falciparum in South East Asia and it has
      developed and established mefloquine resistance in this region. Here, gel
      enhanced liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GeLC-MS/MS)-based
      proteomics and label-free quantification were used to explore the protein
      profiles of mefloquine-sensitive and -induced resistant P. falciparum. A Thai P.
      falciparum isolate (S066) was used as a model in this research. Our data revealed
      for the first time that 69 proteins exhibited at least 2-fold differences in
      their expression levels between the two parasite lines. Of these, 36 were up
      regulated and 33 were down-regulated in the mefloquine-resistant line compared
      with the mefloquine-sensitive line. These findings are consistent with those of
      past studies, where the multidrug resistance protein Pgh1 showed an up-regulation
      pattern consistent with that expected from its average 3-copy pfmdr1 gene number.
      Pgh1 and eight other up-regulated proteins (i.e., histo-aspartyl protease
      protein, exportin 1, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit 8,
      peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, serine rich protein homologue, exported
      protein 1, ATP synthase beta chain and phospholipid scramblase 1) were further
      validated for their expression levels using reverse transcriptase quantitative
      real-time PCR. The data support the up-regulation status in the mefloquine
      resistant parasite line of all the candidate genes referred to above. Therefore,
      GeLC-MS/MS-based proteomics combined with label-free quantification is a reliable
      approach for exploring mefloquine resistance biomarkers in P. falciparum.
      Identification of these proteins leads to better understanding of mefloquine
      resistant mechanisms in malaria parasites.

PMID- 26869853
TI  - Evaluation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a mobile phase additive during top 3
      label-free quantitative proteomics.
AB  - Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been advocated as a beneficial additive to
      electrospray solvents for peptide analysis due to the improved ionisation
      efficiency conferred. Previous reports have shown that the resultant improvements
      in peptide ion signal intensities are non-uniform. As a result, it was
      hypothesised that inclusion of DMSO in electrospray solvents could be detrimental
      to the outcome of intensity-based label-free absolute quantification approaches,
      specifically the top 3 method. The effect of DMSO as a mobile phase additive in
      top 3 label-free quantification was therefore evaluated. We show that inclusion
      of DMSO enhances data quality, improving the precision and number of proteins
      quantified, with no significant change to the quantification values observed in
      its absence.

PMID- 26869852
TI  - Evaluating the use of HILIC in large-scale, multi dimensional proteomics: Horses
      for courses?
AB  - Despite many recent advances in instrumentation, the sheer complexity of
      biological samples remains a major challenge in large-scale proteomics
      experiments, reflecting both the large number of protein isoforms and the wide
      dynamic range of their expression levels. However, while the dynamic range of
      expression levels for different components of the proteome is estimated to be
      ~107-8, the equivalent dynamic range of LC-MS is currently limited to ~106.
      Sample pre-fractionation has therefore become routinely used in large-scale
      proteomics to reduce sample complexity during MS analysis and thus alleviate the
      problem of ion suppression and undersampling. There is currently a wide range of
      chromatographic techniques that can be applied as a first dimension separation.
      Here, we systematically evaluated the use of hydrophilic interaction liquid
      chromatography (HILIC), in comparison with hSAX, as a first dimension for peptide
      fractionation in a bottom-up proteomics workflow. The data indicate that in
      addition to its role as a useful pre-enrichment method for PTM analysis, HILIC
      can provide a robust, orthogonal and high-resolution method for increasing the
      depth of proteome coverage in large-scale proteomics experiments. The data also
      indicate that the choice of using either HILIC, hSAX, or other methods, is best
      made taking into account the specific types of biological analyses being
      performed.

PMID- 26869856
TI  - Mitchel Seruya, MD.

PMID- 26869854
TI  - Characterisation of bioenergetic pathways and related regulators by multiple
      assays in human tumour cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alterations in cellular metabolism are considered as hallmarks of
      cancers, however, to recognize these alterations and understand their mechanisms
      appropriate techniques are required. Our hypothesis was to determine whether
      dominant bioenergetic mechanism may be estimated by comparing the substrate
      utilisation with different methods to detect the labelled carbon incorporation
      and their application in tumour cells. METHODS: To define the bioenergetic
      pathways different metabolic tests were applied: (a) measuring CO2 production
      from [1-(14)C]-glucose and [1-(14)C]-acetate; (b) studying the effect of glucose
      and acetate on adenylate energy charge; (c) analysing glycolytic and TCA cycle
      metabolites and the number of incorporated (13)C atoms after [U-(13)C]-glucose/[2
      (13)C]-acetate labelling. Based on [1-(14)C]-substrate oxidation two selected
      cell lines out of seven were analysed in details, in which the highest difference
      was detected at their substrate utilization. To elucidate the relevance of
      metabolic characterisation the expression of certain regulatory factors,
      bioenergetic enzymes, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes (C1/C2) and
      related targets as important elements at the crossroad of cellular signalling
      network were also investigated. RESULTS: Both [U-(13)C]-glucose and [1-(14)C]
      substrate labelling indicated high glycolytic capacity of tumour cells. However,
      the ratio of certain (13)C-labelled metabolites showed detailed metabolic
      differences in the two selected cell lines in further characterisation. The
      detected differences of GAPDH, beta-F1-ATP-ase expression and adenylate energy
      charge in HT-1080 and ZR-75.1 tumour cells also confirmed the altered metabolism.
      Moreover, the highly limited labelling of citrate by [2-(13)C]-acetate
      representing a novel functional test in malignant cells-confirmed the defect of
      TCA cycle of HT-1080 in contrast to ZR-75.1 cells. Noteworthy, the impaired TCA
      cycle in HT-1080 cells were associated with high mTORC1 activity, negligible
      protein level and activity of mTORC2, high expression of interleukin-1beta,
      interleukin-6 and heme oxygenase-1 which may contribute to the compensatory
      mechanism of TCA deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The applied methods of energy substrate
      utilisation and other measurements represent simple assay system using (13)C
      acetate and glucose to recognize dominant bioenergetic pathways in tumour cells.
      These may offer a possibility to characterise metabolic subtypes of human tumours
      and provide guidelines to find biomarkers for prediction and development of new
      metabolism related targets in personalized therapy.

PMID- 26869855
TI  - Feasibility of Undertaking Off-Site Infant Eye-Tracking Assessments of Neuro
      Cognitive Functioning in Early-Intervention Centres.
AB  - Recent work suggests that differences in functional brain development are already
      identifiable in 6- to 9-month-old infants from low socio-economic status (SES)
      backgrounds. Investigation of early SES-related differences in neuro-cognitive
      functioning requires the recruitment of large and diverse samples of infants, yet
      it is often difficult to persuade low-SES parents to come to a university
      setting. One solution is to recruit infants through early intervention children's
      centres (CCs). These are often located in areas of high relative deprivation to
      support young children. Given the increasing portability of eye-tracking
      equipment, assessment of large clusters of infants could be undertaken in centres
      by suitably trained early intervention staff. Here, we report on a study
      involving 174 infants and their parents, carried out in partnership with CCs,
      exploring the feasibility of this approach. We report the processes of setting up
      the project and participant recruitment. We report the diversity of sample
      obtained on the engagement of CC staff in training and the process of assessment
      itself. We report the quality of the data obtained, and the levels of engagement
      of parents and infants. We conclude that this approach has great potential for
      recruiting large and diverse samples worldwide, provides sufficiently reliable
      data and is engaging to staff, parents and infants.

PMID- 26869857
TI  - Pediatric Upper Limb Spasticity.

PMID- 26869858
TI  - Grading and Quantification of Upper Extremity Function in Children with
      Spasticity.
AB  - The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning,
      Disability and Health (ICF) provides an ideal framework within which to
      conceptualize grading and quantification of upper extremity function for children
      with spasticity. In this article the authors provide an overview of assessments
      and classification tools used to (1) understand upper extremity function
      associated with spasticity and the factors that contribute to dysfunction, (2)
      guide the selection of appropriate interventions, (3) identify specific muscles
      to target using surgical interventions and botulinum toxin-A injections, and (4)
      measure the outcomes of upper extremity interventions. Assessments of upper
      extremity function are briefly described and categorized as to whether they (1)
      measure children's best ability or actual performance in daily life, (2) are
      clinician administered or are a child/proxy report, (3) assist in planning
      intervention and/or measuring outcomes, and (4) evaluate unimanual or bimanual
      ability. In addition, measures of spasticity and hypertonicity, and
      classifications of static and dynamic upper extremity postures are summarized. 

PMID- 26869860
TI  - Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Pediatric Upper Limb Spasticity.
AB  - Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the mainstays in the treatment of pediatric
      spasticity and dystonia. When considering initiation of BoNT treatment for
      spasticity, treatment goals and responses to prior conservative measures such as
      passive range of motion exercises, splinting, and other medication trials should
      be reviewed. As a general rule, children should be engaged in therapy services
      around the time of the injections and have a robust home program in place. When
      managing spasticity in children with BoNT injections, the practitioner should be
      well versed in functional anatomy with specialized training in injection
      techniques. Localization techniques in addition to anatomical landmarks are
      recommended for improved efficacy and include limited electromyography,
      electrical stimulation, and/or ultrasound guidance. A follow-up visit for the
      purpose of reassessment during the peak effect of the drug is advised. It is
      known that BoNT is effective at reducing spasticity and improving range of
      motion, but it remains to be determined to what degree this translates into
      improved function, activity, and participation. 

PMID- 26869859
TI  - Review of Therapeutic Interventions for the Upper Limb Classified by Manual
      Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - The aim of this literature review was to assemble an inventory of intervention
      strategies utilized for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) based on the
      Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). The purpose of the inventory is to
      guide physicians and therapists in intervention selection aimed at improving
      upper limb function in children with CP. The following databases were searched:
      CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane
      Database of Systematic Reviews, ERIC (Educational Research Information Center),
      Google Scholar, OTSeeker (Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of
      Evidence), OVID (Ovid Technologies, Inc.), and PubMed. Inclusion criteria were
      whether the study (1) identified MACS levels of participants, and (2) addressed
      the effectiveness of intervention on upper limb function. Overall, 74 articles
      met the inclusion criteria. The summarized data identified 10 categories of
      intervention. The majority of participants across studies were MACS level II. The
      most frequently cited interventions were constraint-induced movement therapy
      (CIMT), bimanual training, and virtual reality and computer-based training.
      Multiple interventions demonstrated effectiveness for upper limb improvement at
      each MACS level. However, there is a need for additional research for
      interventions appropriate for MACS levels IV and V. To fully develop an
      intervention inventory based on manual ability, future studies need to report
      MACS levels of participants, particularly for splinting and therapy interventions
      used in combination with surgery. 

PMID- 26869861
TI  - Surgical Treatment of Pediatric Upper Limb Spasticity: The Wrist and Hand.
AB  - The wrist and hand are essential in the placement of the upper extremity in a
      functional position for grasp, pinch, and release activities. This depends on the
      delicate balance between the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the wrist and
      hand. Spasticity alters this equilibrium, limiting the interaction of the upper
      limb with the environment. Classically, pediatric patients with upper limb
      spasticity present with a flexed wrist, thumb-in-palm, and flexed finger posture.
      These contractures are typically secondary to spasticity of the extrinsic flexor
      muscles of the wrist and hand and intrinsic muscles of the thumb and digits.
      Tendon release, lengthening, or transfer procedures may help correct the
      resultant abnormal postures. A total wrist arthrodesis with or without proximal
      row carpectomy may help address the severely flexed wrist deformity. With proper
      diagnosis, a well-executed surgical plan, and a consistent hand rehabilitation
      regimen, successful surgical outcomes can be achieved. 

PMID- 26869862
TI  - Spastic Paralysis of the Elbow and Forearm.
AB  - As the physiologic recovery period concludes, the patient is evaluated for
      surgical procedures that may rebalance muscle function and correct deformity.
      Upper extremity function is the product of complex and highly sophisticated
      mechanisms working in unison, and a careful, systematic preoperative evaluation
      is critical. A good function of the hand cannot be achieved without adequate
      position of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist. The goals of surgery must be
      practical and clearly understood by the patient and the family. 

PMID- 26869863
TI  - Surgical Treatment of Pediatric Upper Limb Spasticity: The Shoulder.
AB  - The shoulder joint is essential for placing the hand in a functional position for
      reach and overhead activities. This depends on the delicate balance between
      abductor/adductor and internal/external rotator muscles. Spasticity alters this
      equilibrium, limiting the interaction of the upper limb with the environment.
      Classically, pediatric patients with upper limb spasticity present with an
      adduction and internal rotation contracture of the shoulder. These contractures
      are typically secondary to spasticity of the pectoralis major and subscapularis
      muscles and sometimes attributed to the latissimus dorsi muscle. Fractional
      lengthening, Z-step lengthening, or tendon release of the contributing muscle
      groups may help correct the adduction and internal rotation contractures. With
      proper diagnosis, a well-executed surgical plan, and a consistent hand
      rehabilitation regimen, successful surgical outcomes can be achieved. 

PMID- 26869864
TI  - Transmitting Chinese Medicine: Changing Perceptions of Body, Pathology, and
      Treatment in Late Imperial China.
AB  - Historians of Chinese medicine acknowledge the plurality of Chinese medicine
      along both synchronic and diachronic dimensions. Yet, there remains a tendency to
      think of tradition as being defined by some unchanging features. The Chinese
      medical body is a case in point. This is assumed to have been formalised by the
      late Han dynasty around a system of internal organs, conduits, collaterals, and
      associated body structures. Although criticism was voiced from time to time, this
      body and the micro/macrocosmic cosmological resonances that underpin it are seen
      to persist until the present day. I challenge this view by attending to attempts
      by physicians in China and Japan in the period from the mid 16th to the late 18th
      century to reimagine this body. Working within the domain of cold damage
      therapeutics and combining philological scholarship, empirical observations, and
      new hermeneutic strategies these physicians worked their way towards a new
      territorial understanding of the body and of medicine as warfare that required an
      intimate familiarity with the body's topography. In late imperial China this new
      view of the body and medicine was gradually re-absorbed into the mainstream. In
      Japan, however, it led to a break with this orthodoxy that in the Republican era
      became influential in China once more. I argue that attending further to the
      innovations of this period from a transnational perspective - commonly portrayed
      as one of decline - may help to go beyond the modern insistence to frame East
      Asian medicines as traditional.

PMID- 26869867
TI  - Development and characterization of a new human hepatic cell line.
AB  - The increasing demand and hampered use of primary human hepatocytes for research
      purposes have urged scientists to search for alternative cell sources, such as
      immortalized hepatic cell lines. The aim of this study was to develop a human
      hepatic cell line using the combined overexpression of TERT and the cell cycle
      regulators cyclin D1 and mutant isoform CDK4R24C. Following transduction of adult
      human primary hepatocytes with the selected immortalization genes, cell growth
      was triggered and a cell line was established. When cultured under appropriate
      conditions, the cell line expressed several hepatocytic markers and liver
      enriched transcription factors at the transcriptional and/or translational level,
      secreted liver-specific proteins and showed glycogen deposition. These results
      suggest that the immortalization strategy applied to primary human hepatocytes
      could generate a novel hepatic cell line that seems to retain some key hepatic
      characteristics. 

PMID- 26869865
TI  - A systematic review of the cardiotoxicity of methadone.
AB  - Methadone is one of the most popular synthetic opioids in the world with some
      favorable properties making it useful both in the treatment of moderate to severe
      pain and for opioid addiction. Increased use of methadone has resulted in an
      increased prevalence of its toxicity, one aspect of which is cardiotoxicity. In
      this paper, we review the effects of methadone on the heart as well as cardiac
      concerns in some special situations such as pregnancy and childhood. METHODS: We
      searched for the terms methadone, toxicity, poisoning, cardiotoxicity, heart,
      dysrhythmia, arrhythmia, QT interval prolongation, torsade de pointes, and
      Electrocardiogram (ECG) in bibliographical databases including TUMS digital
      library, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This review includes relevant
      articles published between 2000 and 2013. The main cardiac effects of methadone
      include prolongation of QT interval and torsade de pointes. Other effects include
      changes in QT dispersion, pathological U waves, Taku-Tsubo syndrome (stress
      cardiomyopathy), Brugada-like syndrome, and coronary artery diseases. The aim of
      this paper is to inform physicians and health care staff about these adverse
      effects. Effectiveness of methadone in the treatment of pain and addiction should
      be weighed against these adverse effects and physicians should consider the ways
      to lessen such undesirable effects. This article presents some recommendations to
      prevent heart toxicity in methadone users.

PMID- 26869866
TI  - Plants with potential use on obesity and its complications.
AB  - Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional disease and a growing public health
      problem worldwide. This disease is a causal component of the metabolic syndrome
      related with abnormalities, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension,
      inflammation, among others. There are anti-obesity drugs, affecting the
      fundamental processes of the weight regulation; however they have shown serious
      side effects, which outweigh their beneficial effects. Most recent studies on the
      treatment of obesity and its complications have focused on the potential role of
      different plants preparation that can exert a positive effect on the mechanisms
      involved in this pathology. For instance, anti-obesity effects of green tea and
      its isolated active principles have been reported in both in vitro (cell
      cultures) and in vivo (animal models) that possess healthy effects, decreasing
      adipose tissue through reduction of adipocytes differentiation and proliferation.
      A positive effect in lipid profile, and lipid and carbohydrates metabolisms were
      demonstrated as well. In addition, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities
      were studied. However, the consumption of green tea and its products is not that
      common in Western countries, where other plants with similar bioactivity
      predominate; nevertheless, the effect extension has not been analyzed in depth,
      despite of their potential as alternative treatment for obesity. In this review
      the anti-obesity potential and reported mechanisms of action of diverse plants
      such as: Camellia sinensis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Hypericum perforatum, Persea
      americana, Phaseolus vulgaris, Capsicum annuum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ilex
      paraguariensis, Citrus paradisi, Citrus limon, Punica granatum, Aloe vera,
      Taraxacum officinale and Arachis hypogaea is summarized. We consider the
      potential of these plants as natural alternative treatments of some metabolic
      alterations associated with obesity. 

PMID- 26869868
TI  - Synergistic effects of nitric oxide and exercise on revascularisation in the
      infarcted ventricle in a murine model of myocardial infarction.
AB  - It has been shown that density of microvessels decreases in the left ventricular
      after myocardial infarction (MI). The change of angiogenic and angiostatic
      factors as the main factors in revascularisation after exercise training in area
      at risk is not determined yet in MI. Therefore, the aim of the present study was
      the effect of exercise training and L-arginine supplementation on area at risk
      angiogenesis in myocardial infarction rat. Four weeks after surgery (Left
      Anterior Descending Coronary artery Ligation), myocardial infarction rats were
      divided into 4 groups: Sedentary rats (Sed-MI); L-arginine supplementation (La
      MI); Exercise training (Ex-MI) and Exercise + L-arginine (Ex+La). Exercise
      training (ET) lasted for 10 weeks at 17 m/min for 10-50 min day(-1). Rats in the
      L-arginine-treated groups drank water containing 4 % L-arginine. After ET and L
      arginine supplementation, ventricular function was evaluated and angiogenic and
      angiostatic indices were measured at ~1 mm from the edge of scar tissue (area at
      risk). Statistical analysis revealed that gene expression of VEGF as an
      angiogenic factor, angiostatin as an angiostatic factor and caspase-3 at area at
      risk decrease significantly in response to exercise training compared to the
      sedentary group. The capillary and arteriolar density in the Ex groups were
      significantly higher than those of the Sed groups. Compared to the Ex-MI group,
      the Ex+La group showed a markedly increase in capillary to fiber ratio. No
      significant differences were found in infarct size among the four groups, but
      cardiac function increased in response to exercise. Exercise training increases
      revascularization at area at risk by reduction of angiostatin. L-arginine
      supplementation causes additional effects on exercise-induced angiogenesis by
      preventing more reduction of VEGF gene expression in response to exercise. These
      improvements, in turn, increase left ventricular systolic function and decrease
      mortality in myocardial infarction rats. 

PMID- 26869869
TI  - Functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a continuous wave type based system for
      human frontal lobe studies.
AB  - Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an optical non-invasive brain
      monitoring technology that registers changes in hemodynamic responses within the
      cortex of the human brain. Over the last decades fNIRS became a promising method
      in neurosciences: it is non-invasive, portable and can be used in long term
      studies. All these advantages make it suitable for educational purposes as well.
      This paper presents basic methodological concept of optical engineering
      principles and suitable applications of fNIRS. We represent a continuous wave (cw
      fNIRS) system that could be used for frontal lobe studies in human adults or as
      demonstration equipment for physiological measurements. This system has been
      validated by comparing it with commercial device fNIR400 from Biopac. A
      comparison of geometry, data and statistical analyses suggests similar
      hemodynamic responses recorded by both devices. Our study suggests that this
      system can be used for further development and as a guideline for researchers to
      develop a specific tool for applications in human brain studies. 

PMID- 26869870
TI  - Solid-Phase Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles with a
      Reusable Template - "Plastic Antibodies".
AB  - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are generic alternatives to antibodies in
      sensors, diagnostics and separations. To displace biomolecules without radical
      changes in infrastructure in device manufacture, MIPs should share their
      characteristics (solubility, size, specificity and affinity, localized binding
      domain) whilst maintaining the advantages of MIPs (low-cost, short development
      time and high stability) hence the interest in MIP nanoparticles. Herein we
      report a reusable solid-phase template approach (fully compatible with
      automation) for the synthesis of MIP nanoparticles and their precise manufacture
      using a prototype automated UV photochemical reactor. Batches of nanoparticles
      (30-400 nm) with narrow size distributions imprinted with: melamine (d = 60 nm,
      Kd = 6.3 * 10-8 m), vancomycin (d = 250 nm, Kd = 3.4 * 10-9 m), a peptide (d =
      350 nm, Kd = 4.8 * 10-8 m) and proteins have been produced. Our instrument uses a
      column packed with glass beads, bearing the template. Process parameters are
      under computer control, requiring minimal manual intervention. For the first time
      we demonstrate the reliable re-use of molecular templates in the synthesis of
      MIPs (>= 30 batches of nanoMIPs without loss of performance). NanoMIPs are
      produced template-free and the solid-phase acts both as template and affinity
      separation medium.

PMID- 26869871
TI  - Effects of smoking cessation on serum leptin and adiponectin levels.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence on the association of leptin and adiponectin and smoking is
      limited and discordant. Leptin and adiponectin represent the most abundant
      adipokines in human plasma that play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of
      metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. Leptin up-regulates
      the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and is increased upon weight
      gain. Adiponectin has been shown to possess insulin sensitizing, anti 
      inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties and is increased upon weight
      reduction. Our aim was to assess the effects of smoking cessation on serum leptin
      and adiponectin levels. METHODS: We assessed the changes in serum leptin and
      adiponectin levels, serum CRP levels and BMI in apparently healthy smokers after
      3 and 6 months of abstinence from smoking. Successful cessation was confirmed by
      an exhaled carbon monoxide measurement. 26 healthy non-smokers were recruited as
      controls. RESULTS: Among the sample group, 32 subjects had quitted smoking at 3
      months and 29 subjects at 6 months. Samples' leptin increased significantly from
      baseline to three months (mean change 3.76 ng/ml [95 % CI 0.89, 6.64], p =0.012)
      and then decreased significantly from three to six months of smoking cessation
      (mean change -4,29 ng/ml [95 % CI -7.34, -6.64], p = 0.008). Samples' adiponectin
      increased significantly from baseline to three months of abstinence from smoking
      (mean change 2.34 [95 % CI -0.05, 4.73], p -0.05). BMI was significantly
      increased (mean change 2.03 kg/m(2) [95 % CI 1.60, 2.46], p <0.05), while CRP
      decreased significantly from baseline to 6 months of smoking cessation (mean
      change -0.68 mg/dl [95 % CI -1.06, -0.30], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking
      quitters' leptin levels appear to increase 3 months after smoking cessation and
      then decrease from 3 to 6 months of abstinence from smoking. Adiponectin levels
      increase during the first trimester of smoking cessation. The decrease in CRP
      levels indicates that the low grade inflammation observed in smokers is gradually
      restored. The alterations of serum leptin and adiponectin after 6 months of
      smoking cessation suggest the same but do not reach statistically significant
      levels. Weight gain and changes in fat distribution may attenuate the beneficial
      effects of smoking cessation.

PMID- 26869872
TI  - Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Alters Local Respiratory Circuit Function at the
      Level of the preBotzinger Complex.
AB  - Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a common state experienced in several
      breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and apneas of
      prematurity. Unraveling how CIH affects the CNS, and in turn how the CNS
      contributes to apneas is perhaps the most challenging task. The preBotzinger
      complex (preBotC) is a pre-motor respiratory network critical for inspiratory
      rhythm generation. Here, we test the hypothesis that CIH increases irregular
      output from the isolated preBotC, which can be mitigated by antioxidant
      treatment. Electrophysiological recordings from brainstem slices revealed that
      CIH enhanced burst-to-burst irregularity in period and/or amplitude.
      Irregularities represented a change in individual fidelity among preBotC neurons,
      and changed transmission from preBotC to the hypoglossal motor nucleus (XIIn),
      which resulted in increased transmission failure to XIIn. CIH increased the
      degree of lipid peroxidation in the preBotC and treatment with the antioxidant,
      5,10,15,20-Tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-21H,23H-porphyrin manganese(III)
      pentachloride (MnTMPyP), reduced CIH-mediated irregularities on the network
      rhythm and improved transmission of preBotC to the XIIn. These findings suggest
      that CIH promotes a pro-oxidant state that destabilizes rhythmogenesis
      originating from the preBotC and changes the local rhythm generating circuit
      which in turn, can lead to intermittent transmission failure to the XIIn. We
      propose that these CIH-mediated effects represent a part of the central mechanism
      that may perpetuate apneas and respiratory instability, which are hallmark traits
      in several dysautonomic conditions. 

PMID- 26869873
TI  - Structural Brain Network Characteristics Can Differentiate CIS from Early RRMS.
AB  - Focal demyelinated lesions, diffuse white matter (WM) damage, and gray matter
      (GM) atrophy influence directly the disease progression in patients with multiple
      sclerosis. The aim of this study was to identify specific characteristics of GM
      and WM structural networks in subjects with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) in
      comparison to patients with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
      Twenty patients with CIS, 33 with RRMS, and 40 healthy subjects were investigated
      using 3 T-MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging was applied, together with probabilistic
      tractography and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps for WM and cortical thickness
      correlation analysis for GM, to determine the structural connectivity patterns. A
      network topology analysis with the aid of graph theoretical approaches was used
      to characterize the network at different community levels (modularity, clustering
      coefficient, global, and local efficiencies). Finally, we applied support vector
      machines (SVM) to automatically discriminate the two groups. In comparison to CIS
      subjects, patients with RRMS were found to have increased modular connectivity
      and higher local clustering, highlighting increased local processing in both GM
      and WM. Both groups presented increased modularity and clustering coefficients in
      comparison to healthy controls. SVM algorithms achieved 97% accuracy using the
      clustering coefficient as classifier derived from GM and 65% using WM from
      probabilistic tractography and 67% from modularity of FA maps to differentiate
      between CIS and RRMS patients. We demonstrate a clear increase of modular and
      local connectivity in patients with early RRMS in comparison to CIS and healthy
      subjects. Based only on a single anatomic scan and without a priori information,
      we developed an automated and investigator-independent paradigm that can
      accurately discriminate between patients with these clinically similar disease
      entities, and could thus complement the current dissemination-in-time criteria
      for clinical diagnosis. 

PMID- 26869874
TI  - Memory Efficient PCA Methods for Large Group ICA.
AB  - Principal component analysis (PCA) is widely used for data reduction in group
      independent component analysis (ICA) of fMRI data. Commonly, group-level PCA of
      temporally concatenated datasets is computed prior to ICA of the group principal
      components. This work focuses on reducing very high dimensional temporally
      concatenated datasets into its group PCA space. Existing randomized PCA methods
      can determine the PCA subspace with minimal memory requirements and, thus, are
      ideal for solving large PCA problems. Since the number of dataloads is not
      typically optimized, we extend one of these methods to compute PCA of very large
      datasets with a minimal number of dataloads. This method is coined multi power
      iteration (MPOWIT). The key idea behind MPOWIT is to estimate a subspace larger
      than the desired one, while checking for convergence of only the smaller subset
      of interest. The number of iterations is reduced considerably (as well as the
      number of dataloads), accelerating convergence without loss of accuracy. More
      importantly, in the proposed implementation of MPOWIT, the memory required for
      successful recovery of the group principal components becomes independent of the
      number of subjects analyzed. Highly efficient subsampled eigenvalue decomposition
      techniques are also introduced, furnishing excellent PCA subspace approximations
      that can be used for intelligent initialization of randomized methods such as
      MPOWIT. Together, these developments enable efficient estimation of accurate
      principal components, as we illustrate by solving a 1600-subject group-level PCA
      of fMRI with standard acquisition parameters, on a regular desktop computer with
      only 4 GB RAM, in just a few hours. MPOWIT is also highly scalable and could
      realistically solve group-level PCA of fMRI on thousands of subjects, or more,
      using standard hardware, limited only by time, not memory. Also, the MPOWIT
      algorithm is highly parallelizable, which would enable fast, distributed
      implementations ideal for big data analysis. Implications to other methods such
      as expectation maximization PCA (EM PCA) are also presented. Based on our
      results, general recommendations for efficient application of PCA methods are
      given according to problem size and available computational resources. MPOWIT and
      all other methods discussed here are implemented and readily available in the
      open source GIFT software. 

PMID- 26869875
TI  - Spatial Noise in Coupling Strength and Natural Frequency within a Pacemaker
      Network; Consequences for Development of Intestinal Motor Patterns According to a
      Weakly Coupled Phase Oscillator Model.
AB  - Pacemaker activities generated by networks of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC),
      in conjunction with the enteric nervous system, orchestrate most motor patterns
      in the gastrointestinal tract. It was our objective to understand the role of
      network features of ICC associated with the myenteric plexus (ICC-MP) in the
      shaping of motor patterns of the small intestine. To that end, a model of weakly
      coupled oscillators (oscillators influence each other's phase but not amplitude)
      was created with most parameters derived from experimental data. The ICC network
      is a uniform two dimensional network coupled by gap junctions. All ICC generate
      pacemaker (slow wave) activity with a frequency gradient in mice from 50/min at
      the proximal end of the intestine to 40/min at the distal end. Key features of
      motor patterns, directly related to the underlying pacemaker activity, are
      frequency steps and dislocations. These were accurately mimicked by reduction of
      coupling strength at a point in the chain of oscillators. When coupling strength
      was expressed as a product of gap junction density and conductance, and gap
      junction density was varied randomly along the chain (i.e., spatial noise) with a
      long-tailed distribution, plateau steps occurred at pointsof low density. As gap
      junction conductance was decreased, the number of plateaus increased, mimicking
      the effect of the gap junction inhibitor carbenoxolone. When spatial noise was
      added to the natural interval gradient, as gap junction conductance decreased,
      the number of plateaus increased as before but in addition the phase waves
      frequently changed direction of apparent propagation, again mimicking the effect
      of carbenoxolone. In summary, key features of the motor patterns that are
      governed by pacemaker activity may be a direct consequence of biological noise,
      specifically spatial noise in gap junction coupling and pacemaker frequency. 

PMID- 26869876
TI  - Design and Analysis of a Neuromemristive Reservoir Computing Architecture for
      Biosignal Processing.
AB  - Reservoir computing (RC) is gaining traction in several signal processing
      domains, owing to its non-linear stateful computation, spatiotemporal encoding,
      and reduced training complexity over recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Previous
      studies have shown the effectiveness of software-based RCs for a wide spectrum of
      applications. A parallel body of work indicates that realizing RNN architectures
      using custom integrated circuits and reconfigurable hardware platforms yields
      significant improvements in power and latency. In this research, we propose a
      neuromemristive RC architecture, with doubly twisted toroidal structure, that is
      validated for biosignal processing applications. We exploit the device mismatch
      to implement the random weight distributions within the reservoir and propose
      mixed-signal subthreshold circuits for energy efficiency. A comprehensive
      analysis is performed to compare the efficiency of the neuromemristive RC
      architecture in both digital(reconfigurable) and subthreshold mixed-signal
      realizations. Both Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electromyogram (EMG) biosignal
      benchmarks are used for validating the RC designs. The proposed RC architecture
      demonstrated an accuracy of 90 and 84% for epileptic seizure detection and EMG
      prosthetic finger control, respectively. 

PMID- 26869877
TI  - A Toolkit for Orthogonal and in vivo Optical Manipulation of Ionotropic Glutamate
      Receptors.
AB  - The ability to optically manipulate specific neuronal signaling proteins with
      genetic precision paves the way for the dissection of their roles in brain
      function, behavior, and disease. Chemical optogenetic control with
      photoswitchable tethered ligands (PTLs) enables rapid, reversible and
      reproducible activation or block of specific neurotransmitter-gated receptors and
      ion channels in specific cells. In this study, we further engineered and
      characterized the light-activated GluK2 kainate receptor, LiGluR, to develop a
      toolbox of LiGluR variants. Low-affinity LiGluRs allow for efficient optical
      control of GluK2 while removing activation by native glutamate, whereas variant
      RNA edited versions enable the synaptic role of receptors with high and low
      Ca(2+) permeability to be assessed and spectral variant photoswitches provide
      flexibility in illumination. Importantly, we establish that LiGluR works
      efficiently in the cortex of awake, adult mice using standard optogenetic
      techniques, thus opening the door to probing the role of specific synaptic
      receptors and cellular signals in the neural circuit operations of the mammalian
      brain in normal conditions and in disease. The principals developed in this study
      are widely relevant to the engineering and in vivo use of optically controllable
      proteins, including other neurotransmitter receptors. 

PMID- 26869878
TI  - Editorial: Molecular Mechanisms for Reprogramming Hippocampal Development and
      Function by Early-Life Stress.

PMID- 26869879
TI  - Expression of Tgfbeta1 and Inflammatory Markers in the 6-hydroxydopamine Mouse
      Model of Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by
      loss of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN).
      Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has been described as a common hallmark of
      PD and is believed to further trigger the progression of neurodegenerative
      events. Injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) are widely used to induce
      degeneration of mDA neurons in rodents as an attempt to mimic PD and to study
      neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation as well as potential therapeutic approaches.
      In the present study, we addressed microglia and astroglia reactivity in the SN
      and the caudatoputamen (CPu) after 6-OHDA injections into the medial forebrain
      bundle (MFB), and further analyzed the temporal and spatial expression patterns
      of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in this mouse model of PD. We
      provide evidence that activated microglia as well as neurons in the lesioned SN
      and CPu express Transforming growth factor beta1 (Tgfbeta1), which overlaps with
      the downregulation of pro-inflammatory markers Tnfalpha, and iNos, and
      upregulation of anti-inflammatory markers Ym1 and Arg1. Taken together, the data
      presented in this study suggest an important role for Tgfbeta1 as a lesion
      associated factor that might be involved in regulating microglia activation
      states in the 6-OHDA mouse model of PD in order to prevent degeneration of
      uninjured neurons by microglia-mediated release of neurotoxic factors such as
      Tnfalpha and nitric oxide (NO). 

PMID- 26869881
TI  - Fluoxetine Requires the Endfeet Protein Aquaporin-4 to Enhance Plasticity of
      Astrocyte Processes.
AB  - Morphological alterations in astrocytes are characteristic for post mortem brains
      of patients affected by major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, a significant
      reduction in the coverage of blood vessels (BVs) by aquaporin-4 (AQP-4)-positive
      astrocyte endfeet has been shown in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of MDD patients,
      suggesting that either alterations in the morphology of endfeet or in AQP-4
      distribution might be responsible for the disease phenotype or constitute a
      consequence of its progress. Antidepressant drugs (ADs) regulate the expression
      of several proteins, including astrocyte-specific ones. Thus, they may target AQP
      4 to induce morphological changes in astrocytes and restore their proper shape or
      relocate AQP-4 to endfeet. Using an animal model of depression, rats selectively
      bred for high anxiety-like behavior (HAB), we confirmed a reduced coverage of BVs
      in the adult PFC by AQP-4-immunoreactive (AQP-4-IR) astrocyte processes with
      respect to non-selected Wistar rats (NAB), thereby validating it for our study. A
      further evaluation of the morphology of astrocyte in brain slices (ex vivo) and
      in vitro using an antibody against the astrocyte-specific cytoskeletal protein
      glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed that HAB astrocytes extended less
      processes than NAB cells. Furthermore, short-term drug treatment in vitro with
      the AD fluoxetine (FLX) was sufficient to increase the plasticity of astrocyte
      processes, enhancing their number in NAB-derived cells and recovering their basal
      number in HAB-derived cells. This enhanced FLX-dependent plasticity occurred,
      however, only in the presence of intact AQP-4, as demonstrated by the lack of
      effect after the downregulation of AQP-4 with RNAi in both NAB and HAB cells.
      Nonetheless, a similar short-term treatment did neither modulate the coverage of
      BVs with AQP-4-positive astrocyte endfeet in NAB nor in HAB rats, although dosage
      and time of treatment were sufficient to fully recover GFAP expression in HAB
      brains. Thus, we suggest that longer treatment regimes may be needed to properly
      restore the coverage of BVs or to relocate AQP-4 to astrocyte endfeet. In
      conclusion, FLX requires AQP-4 to modulate the plasticity of astrocyte processes
      and this effect might be essential to re-establish a functional glia-vasculature
      interface necessary for a physiological communication between bloodstream and
      brain parenchyma. 

PMID- 26869880
TI  - Overexpression of Isoforms of Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 Adaptor Protein, Encoded by
      a Risk Gene for Schizophrenia, Alters Actin Dynamics and Synaptic Function.
AB  - Proper communication between neurons depends upon appropriate patterning of
      dendrites and correct distribution and structure of spines. Schizophrenia is a
      neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by alterations in dendrite branching and
      spine density. Nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP), a risk gene for
      schizophrenia, encodes proteins that are upregulated in the dorsolateral
      prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of individuals with schizophrenia. To elucidate the
      effects of NOS1AP overexpression observed in individuals with schizophrenia, we
      investigated changes in actin dynamics and spine development when a long (NOS1AP
      L) or short (NOS1AP-S) isoform of NOS1AP is overexpressed. Increased NOS1AP-L
      protein promotes the formation of immature spines when overexpressed in rat
      cortical neurons from day in vitro (DIV) 14 to DIV 17 and reduces the amplitude
      of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). In contrast, increased
      NOS1AP-S protein increases the rate of actin polymerization and the number of
      immature and mature spines, which may be attributed to a decrease in total Rac1
      expression and a reduction in the levels of active cofilin. The increase in the
      number of mature spines by overexpression of NOS1AP-S is accompanied by an
      increase in the frequency of mEPSCs. Our findings show that overexpression of
      NOS1AP-L or NOS1AP-S alters the actin cytoskeleton and synaptic function.
      However, the mechanisms by which these isoforms induce these changes are
      distinct. These results are important for understanding how increased expression
      of NOS1AP isoforms can influence spine development and synaptic function. 

PMID- 26869882
TI  - How to Properly Measure a Current-Voltage Relation?-Interpolation vs. Ramp
      Methods Applied to Studies of GABAA Receptors.
AB  - The relation between current and voltage, I-V relation, is central to functional
      analysis of membrane ion channels. A commonly used method, since the introduction
      of the voltage-clamp technique, to establish the I-V relation depends on the
      interpolation of current amplitudes recorded at different steady voltages. By a
      theoretical computational approach as well as by experimental recordings from
      GABAA-receptor mediated currents in mammalian central neurons, we here show that
      this interpolation method may give reversal potentials and conductances that do
      not reflect the properties of the channels studied under conditions when ion flux
      may give rise to concentration changes. Therefore, changes in ion concentrations
      may remain undetected and conclusions on changes in conductance, such as during
      desensitization, may be mistaken. In contrast, an alternative experimental
      approach, using rapid voltage ramps, enable I-V relations that much better
      reflect the properties of the studied ion channels. 

PMID- 26869883
TI  - Genetic Deletion of TREK-1 or TWIK-1/TREK-1 Potassium Channels does not Alter the
      Basic Electrophysiological Properties of Mature Hippocampal Astrocytes In Situ.
AB  - We have recently shown that a linear current-to-voltage (I-V) relationship of
      membrane conductance (passive conductance) reflects the intrinsic property of
      K(+) channels in mature astrocytes. While passive conductance is known to
      underpin a highly negative and stable membrane potential (V M) essential for the
      basic homeostatic function of astrocytes, a complete repertoire of the involved
      K(+) channels remains elusive. TREK-1 two-pore domain K(+) channel (K2P) is
      highly expressed in astrocytes, and covalent association of TREK-1 with TWIK-1,
      another highly expressed astrocytic K2P, has been reported as a mechanism
      underlying the trafficking of heterodimer TWIK-1/TREK-1 channel to the membrane
      and contributing to astrocyte passive conductance. To decipher the individual
      contribution of TREK-1 and address whether the appearance of passive conductance
      is conditional to the co-expression of TWIK-1/TREK-1 in astrocytes, TREK-1 single
      and TWIK-1/TREK-1 double gene knockout mice were used in the present study. The
      relative quantity of mRNA encoding other astrocyte K(+) channels, such as Kir4.1,
      Kir5.1, and TREK-2, was not altered in these gene knockout mice. Whole-cell
      recording from hippocampal astrocytes in situ revealed no detectable changes in
      astrocyte passive conductance, V M, or membrane input resistance (R in) in either
      kind of gene knockout mouse. Additionally, TREK-1 proteins were mainly located in
      the intracellular compartments of the hippocampus. Altogether, genetic deletion
      of TREK-1 alone or together with TWIK-1 produced no obvious alteration in the
      basic electrophysiological properties of hippocampal astrocytes. Thus, future
      research focusing on other K(+) channels may shed light on this long-standing and
      important question in astrocyte physiology. 

PMID- 26869884
TI  - BID Mediates Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation-Induced Neuronal Injury in Organotypic
      Hippocampal Slice Cultures and Modulates Tissue Inflammation in a Transient Focal
      Cerebral Ischemia Model without Changing Lesion Volume.
AB  - The BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (BID) is a pro-apoptotic protein
      involved in death receptor-induced and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Recently,
      it has also been suggested that BID is involved in the regulation of inflammatory
      responses in the central nervous system. We found that BID deficiency protected
      organotypic hippocampal slice cultures in vitro from neuronal injury induced by
      oxygen-glucose deprivation. In vivo, BID-knockout (KO) mice and wild type (WT)
      mice were subjected to 60 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion
      (tMCAO) to induce focal cerebral ischemia, and allowed to recover for 24 h.
      Infarct volumes and functional outcome were assessed and the inflammatory
      response was evaluated using immunofluorescence, Western blotting, quantitative
      PCR (qPCR) and Mesoscale multiplex analysis. We observed no difference in the
      infarct volume or neurological outcome between BID-KO and WT mice. The
      inflammatory response was reduced by BID deficiency as indicated by a change in
      microglial/leukocyte response. In conclusion, our data suggest that BID
      deficiency is neuroprotective in an in vitro model and modulates the inflammatory
      response to focal cerebral ischemia in vivo. However, this is not translated into
      a robust neuroprotection in vivo. 

PMID- 26869885
TI  - Rescue of Cyclic AMP Mediated Long Term Potentiation Impairment in the
      Hippocampus of Mecp2 Knockout (Mecp2(-/y) ) Mice by Rolipram.
AB  - Rett syndrome (RTT) patients experience learning difficulties and memory loss.
      Analogous deficits of hippocampal plasticity are reported in mouse models of RTT.
      To elucidate the underlying pathophysiology, we studied long term potentiation
      (LTP) at the CA3 to CA1 synapses in the hippocampus in acute brain slices from WT
      and Mecp2(-/y) mice, by either activating cAMP dependent pathway or using high
      frequency stimulation, by means of patch clamp. We have observed that, the NMDA
      channel current characteristics remain unchanged in the Mecp2(-/y) mice. The
      adenylyl cyclase (AC) agonist forskolin evoked a long lasting potentiation of
      evoked EPSCs in WT CA1 neurons, but only minimally enhanced the EPSCs in the
      Mecp2(-/y) mice. This weaker potentiation in Mecp2 (-/) (y) mice was ameliorated
      by application of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor rolipram. The hyperpolarization
      activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel current (I h) was potentiated to
      similar extent by forskolin in both phenotypes. Multiple tetanus induced cAMP
      dependent plasticity was also impaired in the Mecp2 (-/) (y) mice, and was also
      partially rescued by rolipram. Western blot analysis of CA region of Mecp2 (-/)
      (y) mice hippocampus revealed more than twofold up-regulation of protein kinase A
      (PKA) regulatory subunits, while the expression of the catalytic subunit remained
      unchanged. We hypothesize that the overexpressed PKA regulatory subunits buffer
      cAMP and restrict the PKA mediated phosphorylation of target proteins necessary
      for LTP. Blocking the degradation of cAMP, thereby saturating the regulatory
      subunits alleviated this defect. 

PMID- 26869886
TI  - Through the Immune Looking Glass: A Model for Brain Memory Strategies.
AB  - The immune system (IS) and the central nervous system (CNS) are complex cognitive
      networks involved in defining the identity (self) of the individual through
      recognition and memory processes that enable one to anticipate responses to
      stimuli. Brain memory has traditionally been classified as either implicit or
      explicit on psychological and anatomical grounds, with reminiscences of the
      evolutionarily-based innate-adaptive IS responses. Beyond the multineuronal
      networks of the CNS, we propose a theoretical model of brain memory integrating
      the CNS as a whole. This is achieved by analogical reasoning between the
      operational rules of recognition and memory processes in both systems, coupled to
      an evolutionary analysis. In this new model, the hippocampus is no longer
      specifically ascribed to explicit memory but rather it both becomes part of the
      innate (implicit) memory system and tightly controls the explicit memory system.
      Alike the antigen presenting cells for the IS, the hippocampus would integrate
      transient and pseudo-specific (i.e., danger-fear) memories and would drive the
      formation of long-term and highly specific or explicit memories (i.e., the taste
      of the Proust's madeleine cake) by the more complex and recent, evolutionarily
      speaking, neocortex. Experimental and clinical evidence is provided to support
      the model. We believe that the singularity of this model's approximation could
      help to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms operating in brain memory
      strategies from a large-scale network perspective. 

PMID- 26869888
TI  - Whole-Brain Mapping of Neuronal Activity in the Learned Helplessness Model of
      Depression.
AB  - Some individuals are resilient, whereas others succumb to despair in repeated
      stressful situations. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying such divergent
      behavioral responses remain unclear. Here, we employed an automated method for
      mapping neuronal activity in search of signatures of stress responses in the
      entire mouse brain. We used serial two-photon tomography to detect expression of
      c-FosGFP - a marker of neuronal activation - in c-fosGFP transgenic mice
      subjected to the learned helplessness (LH) procedure, a widely used model of
      stress-induced depression-like phenotype in laboratory animals. We found that
      mice showing "helpless" behavior had an overall brain-wide reduction in the level
      of neuronal activation compared with mice showing "resilient" behavior, with the
      exception of a few brain areas, including the locus coeruleus, that were more
      activated in the helpless mice. In addition, the helpless mice showed a strong
      trend of having higher similarity in whole-brain activity profile among
      individuals, suggesting that helplessness is represented by a more stereotypic
      brain-wide activation pattern. This latter effect was confirmed in rats subjected
      to the LH procedure, using 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission
      tomography to assess neural activity. Our findings reveal distinct brain activity
      markings that correlate with adaptive and maladaptive behavioral responses to
      stress, and provide a framework for further studies investigating the
      contribution of specific brain regions to maladaptive stress responses. 

PMID- 26869887
TI  - Brain and Retinal Pericytes: Origin, Function and Role.
AB  - Pericytes are specialized mural cells located at the abluminal surface of
      capillary blood vessels, embedded within the basement membrane. In the vascular
      network these multifunctional cells fulfil diverse functions, which are
      indispensable for proper homoeostasis. They serve as microvascular stabilizers,
      are potential regulators of microvascular blood flow and have a central role in
      angiogenesis, as they for example regulate endothelial cell proliferation.
      Furthermore, pericytes, as part of the neurovascular unit, are a major component
      of the blood-retina/brain barrier. CNS pericytes are a heterogenic cell
      population derived from mesodermal and neuro-ectodermal germ layers acting as
      modulators of stromal and niche environmental properties. In addition, they
      display multipotent differentiation potential making them an intriguing target
      for regenerative therapies. Pericyte-deficiencies can be cause or consequence of
      many kinds of diseases. In diabetes, for instance, pericyte-loss is a severe
      pathological process in diabetic retinopathy (DR) with detrimental consequences
      for eye sight in millions of patients. In this review, we provide an overview of
      our current understanding of CNS pericyte origin and function, with a special
      focus on the retina in the healthy and diseased. Finally, we highlight the role
      of pericytes in de- and regenerative processes. 

PMID- 26869889
TI  - Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity at Interneuronal Synapses Could Sculpt Rhythmic
      Motor Patterns.
AB  - The output of a neuronal network depends on the organization and functional
      properties of its component cells and synapses. While the characterization of
      synaptic properties has lagged cellular analyses, a potentially important aspect
      in rhythmically active networks is how network synapses affect, and are in turn
      affected by, network activity. This could lead to a potential circular
      interaction where short-term activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is both
      influenced by and influences the network output. The analysis of synaptic
      plasticity in the lamprey locomotor network was extended here to characterize the
      short-term plasticity of connections between network interneurons and to try and
      address its potential network role. Paired recordings from identified
      interneurons in quiescent networks showed synapse-specific synaptic properties
      and plasticity that supported the presence of two hemisegmental groups that could
      influence bursting: depression in an excitatory interneuron group, and
      facilitation in an inhibitory feedback circuit. The influence of activity
      dependent synaptic plasticity on network activity was investigated experimentally
      by changing Ringer Ca(2+) levels, and in a simple computer model. A potential
      caveat of the experimental analyses was that changes in Ringer Ca(2+) (and
      compensatory adjustments in Mg(2+) in some cases) could alter several other
      cellular and synaptic properties. Several of these properties were tested, and
      while there was some variability, these were not usually significantly affected
      by the Ringer changes. The experimental analyses suggested that depression of
      excitatory inputs had the strongest influence on the patterning of network
      activity. The simulation supported a role for this effect, and also suggested
      that the inhibitory facilitating group could modulate the influence of the
      excitatory synaptic depression. Short-term activity-dependent synaptic plasticity
      has not generally been considered in spinal cord models. These results provide
      further evidence for short-term plasticity between locomotor network
      interneurons. As this plasticity could influence the patterning of the network
      output it should be considered as a potential functional component of spinal cord
      networks. 

PMID- 26869890
TI  - Natural Vocalizations in the Mammalian Inferior Colliculus are Broadly Encoded by
      a Small Number of Independent Multi-Units.
AB  - How complex natural sounds are represented by the main converging center of the
      auditory midbrain, the central inferior colliculus, is an open question. We
      applied neural discrimination to determine the variation of detailed encoding of
      individual vocalizations across the best frequency gradient of the central
      inferior colliculus. The analysis was based on collective responses from several
      neurons. These multi-unit spike trains were recorded from guinea pigs exposed to
      a spectrotemporally rich set of eleven species-specific vocalizations. Spike
      trains of disparate units from the same recording were combined in order to
      investigate whether groups of multi-unit clusters represent the whole set of
      vocalizations more reliably than only one unit, and whether temporal response
      correlations between them facilitate an unambiguous neural representation of the
      vocalizations. We found a spatial distribution of the capability to accurately
      encode groups of vocalizations across the best frequency gradient. Different
      vocalizations are optimally discriminated at different locations of the best
      frequency gradient. Furthermore, groups of a few multi-unit clusters yield
      improved discrimination over only one multi-unit cluster between all tested
      vocalizations. However, temporal response correlations between units do not yield
      better discrimination. Our study is based on a large set of units of
      simultaneously recorded responses from several guinea pigs and electrode
      insertion positions. Our findings suggest a broadly distributed code for
      behaviorally relevant vocalizations in the mammalian inferior colliculus.
      Responses from a few non-interacting units are sufficient to faithfully represent
      the whole set of studied vocalizations with diverse spectrotemporal properties. 

PMID- 26869892
TI  - Principles of Intelligence: On Evolutionary Logic of the Brain.
AB  - Humans and animals may encounter numerous events, objects, scenes, foods and
      countless social interactions in a lifetime. This means that the brain is
      constructed by evolution to deal with uncertainties and various possibilities.
      What is the architectural abstraction of intelligence that enables the brain to
      discover various possible patterns and knowledge about complex, evolving worlds?
      Here, I discuss the Theory of Connectivity-a "power-of-two" based, operational
      principle that can serve as a unified wiring and computational logic for
      organizing and constructing cell assemblies into the microcircuit-level building
      block, termed as functional connectivity motif (FCM). Defined by the power-of-two
      based equation, N = 2 (i) -1, each FCM consists of the principal projection
      neuron cliques (N), ranging from those specific cliques receiving specific
      information inputs (i) to those general and sub-general cliques receiving various
      combinatorial convergent inputs. As the evolutionarily conserved logic, its
      validation requires experimental demonstrations of the following three major
      properties: (1) Anatomical prevalence-FCMs are prevalent across neural circuits,
      regardless of gross anatomical shapes; (2) Species conservancy-FCMs are conserved
      across different animal species; and (3) Cognitive universality-FCMs serve as a
      universal computational logic at the cell assembly level for processing a variety
      of cognitive experiences and flexible behaviors. More importantly, this Theory of
      Connectivity further predicts that the specific-to-general combinatorial
      connectivity pattern within FCMs should be preconfigured by evolution, and emerge
      innately from development as the brain's computational primitives. This proposed
      design-principle can also explain the general purpose of the layered cortex and
      serves as its core computational algorithm. 

PMID- 26869893
TI  - Mathematical Modeling in Neuroscience: Neuronal Activity and Its Modulation by
      Astrocytes.

PMID- 26869891
TI  - Neuromuscular Junctions as Key Contributors and Therapeutic Targets in Spinal
      Muscular Atrophy.
AB  - Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a recessive autosomal neuromuscular disease,
      representing the most common fatal pediatric pathology. Even though, classically
      and in a simplistic way, it is categorized as a motor neuron (MN) disease, there
      is an increasing general consensus that its pathogenesis is more complex than
      expected. In particular, neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are affected by dramatic
      alterations, including immaturity, denervation and neurofilament accumulation,
      associated to impaired synaptic functions: these abnormalities may in turn have a
      detrimental effect on MN survival. Here, we provide a description of NMJ
      development/maintenance/maturation in physiological conditions and in SMA,
      focusing on pivotal molecules and on the time-course of pathological events.
      Moreover, since NMJs could represent an important target to be exploited for
      counteracting the pathology progression, we also describe several therapeutic
      strategies that, directly or indirectly, aim at NMJs. 

PMID- 26869894
TI  - Damage to Fronto-Parietal Networks Impairs Motor Imagery Ability after Stroke: A
      Voxel-Based Lesion Symptom Mapping Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mental practice with motor imagery has been shown to promote motor
      skill acquisition in healthy subjects and patients. Although lesions of the
      common motor imagery and motor execution neural network are expected to impair
      motor imagery ability, functional equivalence appears to be at least partially
      preserved in stroke patients. AIM: To identify brain regions that are mandatory
      for preserved motor imagery ability after stroke. METHOD: Thirty-seven patients
      with hemiplegia after a first time stroke participated. Motor imagery ability was
      measured using a Motor Imagery questionnaire and temporal congruence test. A
      voxelwise lesion symptom mapping approach was used to identify neural correlates
      of motor imagery in this cohort within the first year post-stroke. RESULTS: Poor
      motor imagery vividness was associated with lesions in the left putamen, left
      ventral premotor cortex and long association fibers linking parieto-occipital
      regions with the dorsolateral premotor and prefrontal areas. Poor temporal
      congruence was otherwise linked to lesions in the more rostrally located white
      matter of the superior corona radiata. CONCLUSION: This voxel-based lesion
      symptom mapping study confirms the association between white matter tract lesions
      and impaired motor imagery ability, thus emphasizing the importance of an intact
      fronto-parietal network for motor imagery. Our results further highlight the
      crucial role of the basal ganglia and premotor cortex when performing motor
      imagery tasks.

PMID- 26869895
TI  - Ethological Evaluation of the Effects of Social Defeat Stress in Mice: Beyond the
      Social Interaction Ratio.
AB  - In rodents, repeated exposure to unavoidable aggression followed by sustained
      sensory treat can lead to prolonged social aversion. The chronic social defeat
      stress model explores that phenomenon and it has been used as an animal model for
      human depression. However, some authors have questioned whether confounding
      effects may arise as the model also boosts anxiety-related behaviors. Despite its
      wide acceptance, most studies extract limited information from the behavior of
      the defeated animal. Often, the normalized occupancy around the social stimulus,
      the interaction zone, is taken as an index of depression. We hypothesized that
      this parameter is insufficient to fully characterize the behavioral consequences
      of this form of stress. Using an ethological approach, we showed that repeated
      social defeat delayed the expression of social investigation in long (10 min)
      sessions of social interaction. Also, the incidence of defensive behaviors,
      including stretched-attend posture and high speed retreats, was significantly
      higher in defeated mice in comparison to controls. Interestingly, a subpopulation
      of defeated mice showed recurrent and non-habituating stretched-attend posture
      and persistent flights during the entire session. Two indexes were created based
      on defensive behaviors to show that only recurrent flights correlates with
      sucrose intake. Together, the present study corroborates the idea that this model
      of social stress can precipitate a myriad of behaviors not readily disentangled.
      We propose that long sessions (>150 s) and detailed ethological evaluation during
      social interaction tests are necessary to provide enough information to correctly
      classify defeated animals in terms of resilience and susceptibility to social
      defeat stress. 

PMID- 26869896
TI  - Network-Based Analysis Reveals Functional Connectivity Related to Internet
      Addiction Tendency.
AB  - Preoccupation and compulsive use of the internet can have negative psychological
      effects, such that it is increasingly being recognized as a mental disorder. The
      present study employed network-based statistics to explore how whole-brain
      functional connections at rest is related to the extent of individual's level of
      internet addiction, indexed by a self-rated questionnaire. We identified two
      topologically significant networks, one with connections that are positively
      correlated with internet addiction tendency, and one with connections negatively
      correlated with internet addiction tendency. The two networks are interconnected
      mostly at frontal regions, which might reflect alterations in the frontal region
      for different aspects of cognitive control (i.e., for control of internet usage
      and gaming skills). Next, we categorized the brain into several large regional
      subgroupings, and found that the majority of proportions of connections in the
      two networks correspond to the cerebellar model of addiction which encompasses
      the four-circuit model. Lastly, we observed that the brain regions with the most
      inter-regional connections associated with internet addiction tendency replicate
      those often seen in addiction literature, and is corroborated by our meta
      analysis of internet addiction studies. This research provides a better
      understanding of large-scale networks involved in internet addiction tendency and
      shows that pre-clinical levels of internet addiction are associated with similar
      regions and connections as clinical cases of addiction. 

PMID- 26869897
TI  - Impaired Communication Between the Dorsal and Ventral Stream: Indications from
      Apraxia.
AB  - Patients with apraxia perform poorly when demonstrating how an object is used,
      particularly when pantomiming the action. However, these patients are able to
      accurately identify, and to pick up and move objects, demonstrating intact
      ventral and dorsal stream visuomotor processing. Appropriate object manipulation
      for skilled use is thought to rely on integration of known and visible object
      properties associated with "ventro-dorsal" stream neural processes. In apraxia,
      it has been suggested that stored object knowledge from the ventral stream may be
      less readily available to incorporate into the action plan, leading to an over
      reliance on the objects' visual affordances in object-directed motor behavior.
      The current study examined grasping performance in left hemisphere stroke
      patients with (N = 3) and without (N = 9) apraxia, and in age-matched healthy
      control participants (N = 14), where participants repeatedly grasped novel
      cylindrical objects of varying weight distribution. Across two conditions, object
      weight distribution was indicated by either a memory-associated cue (object
      color) or visual-spatial cue (visible dot over the weighted end). Participants
      were required to incorporate object-weight associations to effectively grasp and
      balance each object. Control groups appropriately adjusted their grasp according
      to each object's weight distribution across each condition, whereas throughout
      the task two of the three apraxic patients performed poorly on both the memory
      associated and visual-spatial cue conditions. A third apraxic patient seemed to
      compensate for these difficulties but still performed differently to control
      groups. Patients with apraxia performed normally on the neutral control condition
      when grasping the evenly weighted version. The pattern of behavior in apraxic
      patients suggests impaired integration of visible and known object properties
      attributed to the ventro-dorsal stream: in learning to grasp the weighted object
      accurately, apraxic patients applied neither pure knowledge-based information
      (the memory-associated condition) nor higher-level information given in the
      visual-spatial cue condition. Disruption to ventro-dorsal stream predicts that
      apraxic patients will have difficulty learning to manipulate new objects on the
      basis of information other than low-level visual cues such as shape and size. 

PMID- 26869898
TI  - Modification of Brain Oscillations via Rhythmic Light Stimulation Provides
      Evidence for Entrainment but Not for Superposition of Event-Related Responses.
AB  - The functional relevance of brain oscillations in the alpha frequency range (8-13
      Hz) has been repeatedly investigated through the use of rhythmic visual
      stimulation. The underlying mechanism of the steady-state visual evoked potential
      (SSVEP) measured in EEG during rhythmic stimulation, however, is not known. There
      are two hypotheses on the origin of SSVEPs: entrainment of brain oscillations and
      superposition of event-related responses (ERPs). The entrainment but not the
      superposition hypothesis justifies rhythmic visual stimulation as a means to
      manipulate brain oscillations, because superposition assumes a linear summation
      of single responses, independent from ongoing brain oscillations. Here, we
      stimulated participants with a rhythmic flickering light of different frequencies
      and intensities. We measured entrainment by comparing the phase coupling of brain
      oscillations stimulated by rhythmic visual flicker with the oscillations induced
      by arrhythmic jittered stimulation, varying the time, stimulation frequency, and
      intensity conditions. In line with a theoretical concept of entrainment (the so
      called Arnold tongue), we found the phase coupling to be more pronounced with
      increasing stimulation intensity as well as at stimulation frequencies closer to
      each participant's intrinsic frequency. Only inside the Arnold tongue did the
      conditions significantly differ from the jittered stimulation. Furthermore, even
      in a single sequence of an SSVEP, we found non-linear features (intermittency of
      phase locking) that contradict the linear summation of single responses, as
      assumed by the superposition hypothesis. Our findings provide unequivocal
      evidence that visual rhythmic stimulation entrains brain oscillations, thus
      validating the approach of rhythmic stimulation as a manipulation of brain
      oscillations. 

PMID- 26869899
TI  - Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Language Preoperative
      Planning.
AB  - Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a well-known non-invasive
      technique for the study of brain function. One of its most common clinical
      applications is preoperative language mapping, essential for the preservation of
      function in neurosurgical patients. Typically, fMRI is used to track task-related
      activity, but poor task performance and movement artifacts can be critical
      limitations in clinical settings. Recent advances in resting-state protocols open
      new possibilities for pre-surgical mapping of language potentially overcoming
      these limitations. To test the feasibility of using resting-state fMRI instead of
      conventional active task-based protocols, we compared results from fifteen
      patients with brain lesions while performing a verb-to-noun generation task and
      while at rest. Task-activity was measured using a general linear model analysis
      and independent component analysis (ICA). Resting-state networks were extracted
      using ICA and further classified in two ways: manually by an expert and by using
      an automated template matching procedure. The results revealed that the automated
      classification procedure correctly identified language networks as compared to
      the expert manual classification. We found a good overlay between task-related
      activity and resting-state language maps, particularly within the language
      regions of interest. Furthermore, resting-state language maps were as sensitive
      as task-related maps, and had higher specificity. Our findings suggest that
      resting-state protocols may be suitable to map language networks in a quick and
      clinically efficient way. 

PMID- 26869900
TI  - Effective Connectivity within the Default Mode Network: Dynamic Causal Modeling
      of Resting-State fMRI Data.
AB  - The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a brain system that mediates internal modes of
      cognitive activity, showing higher neural activation when one is at rest.
      Nowadays, there is a lot of interest in assessing functional interactions between
      its key regions, but in the majority of studies only association of Blood-oxygen
      level dependent (BOLD) activation patterns is measured, so it is impossible to
      identify causal influences. There are some studies of causal interactions (i.e.,
      effective connectivity), however often with inconsistent results. The aim of the
      current work is to find a stable pattern of connectivity between four DMN key
      regions: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the posterior cingulate cortex
      (PCC), left and right intraparietal cortex (LIPC and RIPC). For this purpose
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 30 healthy subjects (1000
      time points from each one) was acquired and spectral dynamic causal modeling
      (DCM) on a resting-state fMRI data was performed. The endogenous brain
      fluctuations were explicitly modeled by Discrete Cosine Set at the low frequency
      band of 0.0078-0.1 Hz. The best model at the group level is the one where
      connections from both bilateral IPC to mPFC and PCC are significant and
      symmetrical in strength (p < 0.05). Connections between mPFC and PCC are
      bidirectional, significant in the group and weaker than connections originating
      from bilateral IPC. In general, all connections from LIPC/RIPC to other DMN
      regions are much stronger. One can assume that these regions have a driving role
      within the DMN. Our results replicate some data from earlier works on effective
      connectivity within the DMN as well as provide new insights on internal DMN
      relationships and brain's functioning at resting state. 

PMID- 26869901
TI  - Viewing Instructions Accompanying Action Observation Modulate Corticospinal
      Excitability.
AB  - Action observation interventions may have the potential to contribute to improved
      motor function in motor (re)learning settings by promoting functional activity
      and plasticity in the motor regions of the brain. Optimal methods for delivering
      such interventions, however, have yet to be established. This experiment
      investigated the effect on corticospinal excitability of manipulating the viewing
      instructions provided to participants (N = 21) prior to action observation.
      Specifically, motor evoked potential responses measured from the right hand
      muscles following single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the
      left motor cortex were compared when participants were instructed to observe
      finger-thumb opposition movement sequences: (i) passively; (ii) with the intent
      to imitate the observed movement; or (iii) whilst simultaneously and actively
      imagining that they were performing the movement as they observed it. All three
      action observation viewing instructions facilitated corticospinal excitability to
      a greater extent than did observation of a static hand. In addition, the extent
      to which corticospinal excitability was facilitated was greater during combined
      observation and imagery, compared to passive observation. These findings have
      important implications for the design of action observation interventions in
      motor (re)learning settings, where instructions that encourage observers to
      simultaneously imagine themselves performing the observed movement may offer the
      current optimal method for improving motor function through action observation. 

PMID- 26869902
TI  - Bilateral Knee Extensor Fatigue Modulates Force and Responsiveness of the
      Corticospinal Pathway in the Non-fatigued, Dominant Elbow Flexors.
AB  - Exercise-induced fatigue affects muscle performance and modulates corticospinal
      excitability in non-exercised muscles. The purpose of this study was to
      investigate the effect of bilateral knee extensor fatigue on dominant elbow
      flexor (EF) maximal voluntary force production and corticospinal excitability.
      Transcranial magnetic, transmastoid electrical and brachial plexus electrical
      stimulation (BPES) were used to investigate corticospinal, spinal, and muscle
      excitability of the dominant EF before and after a bilateral knee extensor
      fatiguing protocol or time matched rest period (control). For both sessions three
      stimuli were delivered every 1.5 s during the three pre-test time points and
      during the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th post-test 5 s EF isometric maximal
      voluntary contractions (MVC). In both conditions, overall, EF MVC force (p <
      0.001) decreased progressively from repetition #1 to #12 during the post-test MVC
      protocol. EF MVC force (p < 0.001, ES = 0.9, Delta10.3%) decrements were more
      pronounced in the knee extensor fatigue intervention condition. In addition,
      there were no significant differences between conditions for biceps brachii
      electromyographic (EMG) activity (p = 0.43), motor evoked potentials (MEPs)
      amplitude (p = 0.908) or MEP silent period (SP; p = 0.776). However, the fatigue
      condition exhibited a lower MEP/cervicomedullary MEP (CMEP) ratio (p = 0.042, ES
      = 2.5, Delta25%) and a trend toward higher CMEP values (p = 0.08, ES = 0.5,
      Delta20.4%). These findings suggest that bilateral knee extensor fatigue can
      impair performance and modulate corticospinal excitability of the EF. 

PMID- 26869903
TI  - A Comparative Study of the Impact of Theta-Burst and High-Frequency Stimulation
      on Memory Performance.
AB  - The transformation of the information stored in the working memory into the
      system of long-term memory depends on the physiological mechanism, long-term
      potential (LTP). In a large number of experimental studies, theta-burst
      stimulation (TBS) and high-frequency stimulation (HFS) are LTP induction
      protocols. However, they have not been adapted to the model related to memory. In
      this paper, the improved Camperi-Wang (C-W) model with Ca(2+) subsystem-induced
      bi-stability was adopted, and TBS and HFS were simulated to act as the initial
      stimuli of this working memory model. Evaluating the influence of stimuli
      properties (cycle, amplitude, duty ration) on memory mechanism of the model, it
      is found that both TBS and HFS can be adopted to activate working memory model
      and produce long-term memory. Moreover, the different impacts of two types of
      stimuli on the formation of long-term memory were analyzed as well. Thus, the
      importance of this study lies firstly in describing the link and interaction
      between working memory and long-term memory from the quantitative view, which
      provides a theoretical basis for the study of neural dynamics mechanism of long
      term memory formation in the future. 

PMID- 26869905
TI  - General Markers of Conscious Visual Perception and Their Timing.
AB  - Previous studies have observed different onset times for the neural markers of
      conscious perception. This variability could be attributed to procedural
      differences between studies. Here we show that the onset times for the markers of
      conscious visual perception can strongly vary even within a single study. A
      heterogeneous stimulus set was presented at threshold contrast. Trials with and
      without conscious perception were contrasted on 100 balanced subsets of the data.
      Importantly, the 100 subsets with heterogeneous stimuli did not differ in
      stimulus content, but only with regard to specific trials used. This approach
      enabled us to study general markers of conscious visual perception independent of
      stimulus content, characterize their onset and its variability within one study.
      N200 and P300 were the two reliable markers of conscious visual perception common
      to all perceived stimuli and absent for all non-perceived stimuli. The estimated
      mean onset latency for both markers was shortly after 200 ms. However, the onset
      latency of these markers was associated with considerable variability depending
      on which subsets of the data were considered. We show that it is first and
      foremost the amplitude fluctuation in the condition without conscious perception
      that explains the observed variability in onset latencies of the markers of
      conscious visual perception. 

PMID- 26869904
TI  - The Interface between Neuroscience and Neuro-Psychoanalysis: Focus on Brain
      Connectivity.
AB  - Over the past 20 years, the advent of advanced techniques has significantly
      enhanced our knowledge on the brain. Yet, our understanding of the physiological
      and pathological functioning of the mind is still far from being exhaustive. Both
      the localizationist and the reductionist neuroscientific approaches to
      psychiatric disorders have proven to be largely unsatisfactory and are outdated.
      Accruing evidence suggests that psychoanalysis can engage the neurosciences in a
      productive and mutually enriching dialogue that may further our understanding of
      psychiatric disorders. In particular, advances in brain connectivity research
      have provided evidence supporting the convergence of neuroscientific findings and
      psychoanalysis and helped characterize the circuitry and mechanisms that underlie
      higher brain functions. In the present paper we discuss how knowledge on brain
      connectivity can impact neuropsychoanalysis, with a particular focus on
      schizophrenia. Brain connectivity studies in schizophrenic patients indicate
      complex alterations in brain functioning and circuitry, with particular emphasis
      on the role of cortical midline structures (CMS) and the default mode network
      (DMN). These networks seem to represent neural correlates of psychodynamic
      concepts central to the understanding of schizophrenia and of core
      psychopathological alterations of this disorder (i.e., ego disturbances and
      impaired primary process thinking). 

PMID- 26869906
TI  - Does Rubella Cause Autism: A 2015 Reappraisal?
AB  - In the 1970s, Stella Chess found a high prevalence of autism in children with
      congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), 200 times that of the general population at
      the time. Many researchers quote this fact to add proof to the current theory
      that maternal infection with immune system activation in pregnancy leads to
      autism in the offspring. This rubella and autism association is presented with
      the notion that rubella has been eliminated in today's world. CRS cases are no
      longer typically seen; yet, autistic children often share findings of CRS
      including deafness, congenital heart defects, and to a lesser extent visual
      changes. Autistic children commonly have hyperactivity and spasticity, as do CRS
      children. Both autistic and CRS individuals may develop type 1 diabetes as young
      adults. Neuropathology of CRS infants may reveal cerebral vasculitis with
      narrowed lumens and cerebral necrosis. Neuroradiological findings of children
      with CRS show calcifications, periventricular leukomalacia, and dilated
      perivascular spaces. Neuroradiology of autism has also demonstrated
      hyperintensities, leukomalacia, and prominent perivascular spaces. PET studies of
      autistic individuals exhibit decreased perfusion to areas of the brain similarly
      affected by rubella. In both autism and CRS, certain changes in the brain have
      implicated the immune system. Several children with autism lack antibodies to
      rubella, as do children with CRS. These numerous similarities increase the
      probability of an association between rubella virus and autism. Rubella and
      autism cross many ethnicities in many countries. Contrary to current belief,
      rubella has not been eradicated and globally affects up to 5% of pregnant women.
      Susceptibility continues as vaccines are not given worldwide and are not fully
      protective. Rubella might still cause autism, even in vaccinated populations. 

PMID- 26869907
TI  - Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations in Multiple-Frequency Bands in Acute Mild
      Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - Functional disconnectivity during the resting state has been observed in mild
      traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients during the acute stage. However, it
      remains largely unknown whether the abnormalities are related to specific
      frequency bands of the low-frequency oscillations (LFO). Here, we used the
      amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) to examine the amplitudes of LFO
      in different frequency bands (slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz; slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz; and
      typical: 0.01-0.08 Hz) in patients with acute mTBI. A total of 24 acute mTBI
      patients and 24 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls participated
      in this study. In the typical band, acute mTBI patients showed lower standardized
      ALFF in the right middle frontal gyrus and higher standardized ALFF in the right
      lingual/fusiform gyrus and left middle occipital gyrus. Further analyses showed
      that the difference between groups was concentrated in a narrower (slow-4)
      frequency band. In the slow-5 band, mTBI patients only exhibited higher
      standardized ALFF in the occipital areas. No significant correlation between the
      mini-mental state examination score and the standardized ALFF value was found in
      any brain region in the three frequency bands. Finally, no significant
      interaction between frequency bands and groups was found in any brain region. We
      concluded that the abnormality of spontaneous brain activity in acute mTBI
      patients existed in the frontal lobe as well as in distributed brain regions
      associated with integrative, sensory, and emotional roles, and the abnormal
      spontaneous neuronal activity in different brain regions could be better detected
      by the slow-4 band. These findings might contribute to a better understanding of
      local neural psychopathology of acute mTBI. Future studies should take the
      frequency bands into account when measuring intrinsic brain activity of mTBI
      patients. 

PMID- 26869908
TI  - Involvement of the Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Learning Others' Bad
      Reputations and Indelible Distrust.
AB  - A bad reputation can persistently affect judgments of an individual even when it
      turns out to be invalid and ought to be disregarded. Such indelible distrust may
      reflect that the negative evaluation elicited by a bad reputation transfers to a
      person. Consequently, the person him/herself may come to activate this negative
      evaluation irrespective of the accuracy of the reputation. If this theoretical
      model is correct, an evaluation-related brain region will be activated when
      witnessing a person whose bad reputation one has learned about, regardless of
      whether the reputation is deemed valid or not. Here, we tested this neural
      hypothesis with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants
      memorized faces paired with either a good or a bad reputation. Next, they viewed
      the faces alone and inferred whether each person was likely to cooperate, first
      while retrieving the reputations, and then while trying to disregard them as
      false. A region of the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), which may be
      involved in negative evaluation, was activated by faces previously paired with
      bad reputations, irrespective of whether participants attempted to retrieve or
      disregard these reputations. Furthermore, participants showing greater activity
      of the left ventrolateral prefrontal region in response to the faces with bad
      reputations were more likely to infer that these individuals would not cooperate.
      Thus, once associated with a bad reputation, a person may elicit evaluation
      related brain responses on their own, thereby evoking distrust independently of
      their reputation. 

PMID- 26869909
TI  - Modulation of Cortical Inhibitory Circuits after Cathodal Transcranial Direct
      Current Stimulation over the Primary Motor Cortex.
AB  - Here, we aimed to evaluate whether cathodal transcranial direct current
      stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) and primary somatosensory
      cortex (S1) can modulate cortical inhibitory circuits. Sixteen healthy subjects
      participated in this study. Cathodal tDCS was positioned over the left M1 (M1
      cathodal) or left S1 (S1 cathodal) with an intensity of 1 mA for 10 min. Sham
      tDCS was applied for 10 min over the left M1 (sham). Motor evoked potentials
      (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were recorded from the
      right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle before the intervention (pre) and 10
      and 30 min after the intervention (post 1 and post 2, respectively). Cortical
      inhibitory circuits were evaluated using short-interval intracortical inhibition
      (SICI) and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI). M1 cathodal decreased single
      pulse MEP amplitudes at post 1 and decreased SAI at post 1 and post 2; however,
      SICI did not exhibit any change. S1 cathodal and sham did not show any changes in
      MEP amplitudes at any of the three time points. These results demonstrated that
      cathodal tDCS over the M1 not only decreases the M1 excitability but also affects
      the cortical inhibitory circuits related to SAI. 

PMID- 26869910
TI  - Commentary: Lessons from the Analysis of Non-human Primates for Understanding
      Human Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

PMID- 26869911
TI  - 1-Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Posterior Parietal
      Cortex Modulates Spatial Attention.
AB  - Lesion and neuroimaging studies have suggested that regions in the posterior
      parietal cortex (PPC) are involved in visual spatial attention. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the potential effects on spatial attention resulting
      from a transient parietal impairment induced by 1-Hz repetitive transcranial
      magnetic stimulation (rTMS). We examined 50 healthy subjects using the attention
      network test (ANT) after first applying rTMS to right or left PPC. The right
      parietal rTMS, but not left PPC rTMS, caused a significant slowing in the mean
      reaction time (RT) to target presentation following a spatial cue during the ANT
      test. There were no significant effects of rTMS on mean RT under the no-cue,
      center-cue, and double-cue conditions, or for each flanker type among the
      experimental groups. Moreover, after rTMS to the right PPC, test subjects
      displayed deficits in networks related to alerting and orienting, whereas they
      exhibited improvement following rTMS to the left PPC. These findings indicate
      that the right PPC serves an important function in spatial orienting and the
      alerting activities. We interpreted the enhancement in alerting and spatial
      orienting function following low-frequency rTMS of left PPC as reflecting a
      disinhibition of right PPC via an inter-hemispheric inhibition account. 

PMID- 26869912
TI  - Striatal Activity is Associated with Deficits of Cognitive Control and Aberrant
      Salience for Patients with Schizophrenia.
AB  - A recent meta-analysis has shown that a large dopamine abnormality exists in the
      striatum when comparing patients with schizophrenia and controls, and this
      abnormality is thought to contribute to aberrant salience assignment (or a
      misattribution of relevance to irrelevant stimuli). This abnormality may also
      disrupt striatal contributions to cognitive control processing. We examined the
      relationship between striatal involvement in cognition and aberrant salience
      symptoms using a task of cognitive control that involves updating, interference
      control, and simple maintenance. The current study included a sample of 22
      patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls and used a slow event-related
      fMRI design. We predicted that (1) aberrant salience symptoms would be greater
      for patient's, (2) patients would demonstrate increased errors during
      interference control trials, given that patients may be inappropriately assigning
      salience to distracters, and (3) striatal activity during those errors would be
      correlated with aberrant salience symptoms. We found a trend toward a significant
      difference between patients and controls on aberrant salience symptoms, and a
      significant difference between groups on select task conditions. During
      interference control trials, patients were more likely to inappropriately encode
      distracters. For patients, both prefrontal and striatal activity was
      significantly greater when patients inappropriately identified the distracter as
      correct compared to activity during distracter rejection. During updating,
      patient prefrontal and striatal activity was significantly lower for incorrect
      than correct updating trials. Finally, as predicted, for patients the increase of
      activity during incorrect distracter trials was positively correlated with
      aberrant salience symptoms, but only for the striatal region. These relationships
      may have implications for treatments that improve cognitive function and reduce
      symptom expression. 

PMID- 26869913
TI  - Geometry Shapes Propagation: Assessing the Presence and Absence of Cortical
      Symmetries through a Computational Model of Cortical Spreading Depression.
AB  - Cortical spreading depression (CSD), a depolarization wave which originates in
      the visual cortex and travels toward the frontal lobe, has been suggested to be
      one neural correlate of aura migraine. To the date, little is known about the
      mechanisms which can trigger or stop aura migraine. Here, to shed some light on
      this problem and, under the hypothesis that CSD might mediate aura migraine, we
      aim to study different aspects favoring or disfavoring the propagation of CSD. In
      particular, by using a computational neuronal model distributed throughout a
      realistic cortical mesh, we study the role that the geometry has in shaping CSD.
      Our results are two-fold: first, we found significant differences in the
      propagation traveling patterns of CSD, both intra and inter-hemispherically,
      revealing important asymmetries in the propagation profile. Second, we developed
      methods able to identify brain regions featuring a peculiar behavior during CSD
      propagation. Our study reveals dynamical aspects of CSD, which, if applied to
      subject-specific cortical geometry, might shed some light on how to differentiate
      between healthy subjects and those suffering migraine. 

PMID- 26869914
TI  - Suboptimal Muscle Synergy Activation Patterns Generalize their Motor Function
      across Postures.
AB  - We used a musculoskeletal model to investigate the possible biomechanical and
      neural bases of using consistent muscle synergy patterns to produce functional
      motor outputs across different biomechanical conditions, which we define as
      generalizability. Experimental studies in cats demonstrate that the same muscle
      synergies are used during reactive postural responses at widely varying
      configurations, producing similarly-oriented endpoint force vectors with respect
      to the limb axis. However, whether generalizability across postures arises due to
      similar biomechanical properties or to neural selection of a particular muscle
      activation pattern has not been explicitly tested. Here, we used a detailed cat
      hindlimb model to explore the set of feasible muscle activation patterns that
      produce experimental synergy force vectors at a target posture, and tested their
      generalizability by applying them to different test postures. We used three
      methods to select candidate muscle activation patterns: (1) randomly-selected
      feasible muscle activation patterns, (2) optimal muscle activation patterns
      minimizing muscle effort at a given posture, and (3) generalizable muscle
      activation patterns that explicitly minimized deviations from experimentally
      identified synergy force vectors across all postures. Generalizability was
      measured by the deviation between the simulated force direction of the candidate
      muscle activation pattern and the experimental synergy force vectors at the test
      postures. Force angle deviations were the greatest for the randomly selected
      feasible muscle activation patterns (e.g., >100 degrees ), intermediate for
      effort-wise optimal muscle activation patterns (e.g., ~20 degrees ), and smallest
      for generalizable muscle activation patterns (e.g., <5 degrees ). Generalizable
      muscle activation patterns were suboptimal in terms of effort, often exceeding
      50% of the maximum possible effort (cf. ~5% in minimum-effort muscle activation
      patterns). The feasible muscle activation ranges of individual muscles associated
      with producing a specific synergy force vector was reduced by ~45% when
      generalizability requirements were imposed. Muscles recruited in the
      generalizable muscle activation patterns had less sensitive torque-producing
      characteristics to changes in postures. We conclude that generalization of
      function across postures does not arise from limb biomechanics or a single
      optimality criterion. Muscle synergies may reflect acquired motor solutions
      globally tuned for generalizability across biomechanical contexts, facilitating
      rapid motor adaptation. 

PMID- 26869917
TI  - A Quantitative Study of Network Robustness in Resting-State fMRI in Young and
      Elder Adults.
AB  - Brain connectivity analysis has shown great promise in understanding how aging
      affects functional connectivity; however, an explanatory framework to study
      healthy aging in terms of network efficiency is still missing. Here, we study
      network robustness, i.e., resilience to perturbations, in resting-state
      functional connectivity networks (rs-fMRI) in young and elder subjects. We apply
      analytic measures of network communication efficiency in the human brain to
      investigate the compensatory mechanisms elicited in aging. Specifically, we
      quantify the effect of "lesioning" (node canceling) of either single regions of
      interest (ROI) or whole networks on global connectivity metrics (i.e.,
      efficiency). We find that young individuals are more resilient than old ones to
      random "lesioning" of brain areas; global network efficiency is over 3 times
      lower in older subjects relative to younger subjects. On the other hand, the
      "lesioning" of central and limbic structures in young subjects yield a larger
      efficiency loss than in older individuals. Overall, our study shows a more
      idiosyncratic response to specific brain network "lesioning" in elder compared to
      young subjects, and that young adults are more resilient to random deletion of
      single nodes compared to old adults. 

PMID- 26869915
TI  - Pain Related Cortical Oscillations: Methodological Advances and Potential
      Applications.
AB  - Alongside the time-locked event-related potentials (ERPs), nociceptive
      somatosensory inputs can induce modulations of ongoing oscillations, appeared as
      event-related synchronization or desynchronization (ERS/ERD) in different
      frequency bands. These ERD/ERS activities are suggested to reflect various
      aspects of pain perception, including the representation, encoding, assessment,
      and integration of the nociceptive sensory inputs, as well as behavioral
      responses to pain, even the precise details of their roles remain unclear.
      Previous studies investigating the functional relevance of ERD/ERS activities in
      pain perception were normally done by assessing their latencies, frequencies,
      magnitudes, and scalp distributions, which would be then correlated with
      subjective pain perception or stimulus intensity. Nevertheless, these temporal,
      spectral, and spatial profiles of stimulus induced ERD/ERS could only partly
      reveal the dynamics of brain oscillatory activities. Indeed, additional
      parameters, including but not limited to, phase, neural generator, and cross
      frequency couplings, should be paid attention to comprehensively and systemically
      evaluate the dynamics of oscillatory activities associated with pain perception
      and behavior. This would be crucial in exploring the psychophysiological
      mechanisms of neural oscillation, and in understanding the neural functions of
      cortical oscillations involved in pain perception and behavior. Notably, some
      chronic pain (e.g., neurogenic pain and complex regional pain syndrome) patients
      are often associated with the occurrence of abnormal synchronized oscillatory
      brain activities, and selectively modulating cortical oscillatory activities has
      been showed to be a potential therapy strategy to relieve pain with the
      application of neurostimulation techniques, e.g., repeated transcranial magnetic
      stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Thus,
      the investigation of the oscillatory activities proceeding from phenomenology to
      function, opens new perspectives to address questions in human pain
      psychophysiology and pathophysiology, thereby promoting the establishment of
      rational therapeutic strategy. 

PMID- 26869916
TI  - Using Make for Reproducible and Parallel Neuroimaging Workflow and Quality
      Assurance.
AB  - The contribution of this paper is to describe how we can program neuroimaging
      workflow using Make, a software development tool designed for describing how to
      build executables from source files. A makefile (or a file of instructions for
      Make) consists of a set of rules that create or update target files if they have
      not been modified since their dependencies were last modified. These rules are
      processed to create a directed acyclic dependency graph that allows multiple
      entry points from which to execute the workflow. We show that using Make we can
      achieve many of the features of more sophisticated neuroimaging pipeline systems,
      including reproducibility, parallelization, fault tolerance, and quality
      assurance reports. We suggest that Make permits a large step toward these
      features with only a modest increase in programming demands over shell scripts.
      This approach reduces the technical skill and time required to write, debug, and
      maintain neuroimaging workflows in a dynamic environment, where pipelines are
      often modified to accommodate new best practices or to study the effect of
      alternative preprocessing steps, and where the underlying packages change
      frequently. This paper has a comprehensive accompanying manual with lab
      practicals and examples (see Supplemental Materials) and all data, scripts, and
      makefiles necessary to run the practicals and examples are available in the
      "makepipelines" project at NITRC. 

PMID- 26869918
TI  - Assessing Visuospatial Abilities in Healthy Aging: A Novel Visuomotor Task.
AB  - This study examined the efficacy of a novel reaching-and-grasping task in
      determining visuospatial abilities across adulthood. The task required male and
      female young (18-25 years) and older adults (60-82 years) to replicate a series
      of complex models by locating and retrieving the appropriate building blocks from
      an array. The task allows visuospatial complexity to be manipulated independently
      from the visuomotor demands. Mental rotation and spatial visualization abilities
      were assessed. The results showed that the time taken to complete the tasks
      increased with increased mental rotation complexity. Patterns of hand use were
      also influenced by the complexity of the models being constructed with right hand
      use being greater for the less complex models. In addition, although older adults
      consistently performed the visuomotor tasks slower than the younger adults, their
      performance was comparable when expressed as the percent change in task demands.
      This is suggestive that spatial abilities are preserved in older adults. Given
      the ecologically validity, the described task is an excellent candidate for
      investigating: (1) developmental; (2) sex-based; and (3) pathology-based
      differences in spatial abilities in the visuomotor domain. 

PMID- 26869920
TI  - Commentary: Possible involvement of lysosomal dysfunction in pathological changes
      of the brain in aged progranulin-deficient mice.

PMID- 26869921
TI  - Motor Performance is Impaired Following Vestibular Stimulation in Ageing Mice.
AB  - Balance and maintaining postural equilibrium are important during stationary and
      dynamic movements to prevent falls, particularly in older adults. While our sense
      of balance is influenced by vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual information,
      this study focuses primarily on the vestibular component and its age-related
      effects on balance. C57Bl/6J mice of ages 1, 5-6, 8-9 and 27-28 months were
      tested using a combination of standard (such as grip strength and rotarod) and
      newly-developed behavioral tests (including balance beam and walking trajectory
      tests with a vestibular stimulus). In the current study, we confirm a decline in
      fore-limb grip strength and gross motor coordination as age increases. We also
      show that a vestibular stimulus of low frequency (2-3 Hz) and duration can lead
      to age-dependent changes in balance beam performance, which was evident by
      increases in latency to begin walking on the beam as well as the number of times
      hind-feet slip (FS) from the beam. Furthermore, aged mice (27-28 months) that
      received continuous access to a running wheel for 4 weeks did not improve when
      retested. Mice of ages 1, 10, 13 and 27-28 months were also tested for changes in
      walking trajectory as a result of the vestibular stimulus. While no linear
      relationship was observed between the changes in trajectory and age, 1-month-old
      mice were considerably less affected than mice of ages 10, 13 and 27-28 months.
      CONCLUSION: this study confirms there are age-related declines in grip strength
      and gross motor coordination. We also demonstrate age-dependent changes to finer
      motor abilities as a result of a low frequency and duration vestibular stimulus.
      These changes showed that while the ability to perform the balance beam task
      remained intact across all ages tested, behavioral changes in task performance
      were observed.

PMID- 26869922
TI  - Aberrant Functional Connectivity and Structural Atrophy in Subcortical Vascular
      Cognitive Impairment: Relationship with Cognitive Impairments.
AB  - Abnormal structures in the cortical and subcortical regions have been identified
      in subcortical vascular cognition impairment (SVCI). However, little is known
      about the functional alterations in SVCI, and no study refers to the functional
      connectivity in the prefrontal and subcortical regions in this context. The
      medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is an important region of the executive network
      and default mode network, and the subcortical thalamus plays vital roles in
      mediating or modulating these two networks. To investigate both thalamus- and
      MPFC-related functional connectivity as well as its relationship with cognition
      in SVCI, 32 SVCI patients and 23 control individuals were administered
      neuropsychological assessments. They also underwent structural and functional
      magnetic resonance imaging scans. Voxel-based morphometry and functional
      connectivity analysis were performed to detect gray matter (GM) atrophy and to
      characterize the functional alterations in the thalamus and the MPFC. For
      structural data, we observed that GM atrophy was distributed in both cortical
      regions and subcortical areas. For functional data, we observed that the thalamus
      functional connectivity in SVCI was significantly decreased in several cortical
      regions [i.e., the orbitofrontal lobe (OFL)], which are mainly involved in
      executive function and memory function. However, connectivity was increased in
      several frontal regions (i.e., the inferior frontal gyrus), which may be induced
      by the compensatory recruitment of the decreased functional connectivity. The
      MPFC functional connectivity was also decreased in executive- and memory-related
      regions (i.e., the anterior cingulate cortex) along with a motor region (i.e.,
      the supplementary motor area). In addition, the cognitive performance was closely
      correlated with functional connectivity between the left thalamus and the left
      OFL in SVCI. The present study, thus, provides evidence for an association
      between structural and functional alterations, and sheds light on the underlying
      neural mechanisms of executive dysfunction in SVCI. 

PMID- 26869919
TI  - Molecular Pathways Bridging Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Psychiatric
      Disorders.
AB  - The overlap of symptoms between neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases has
      been reported. Neuropsychiatric alterations are commonly observed in dementia,
      especially in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), which is
      the most common clinical FTD subtype. At the same time, psychiatric disorders,
      like schizophrenia (SCZ), can display symptoms of dementia, including features of
      frontal dysfunction with relative sparing of memory. In the present review, we
      discuss common molecular features in these pathologies with a special focus on
      FTD. Molecules like Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and progranulin are
      linked to the pathophysiology of both neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
      In these brain-associated illnesses, the presence of disease-associated variants
      in BDNF and progranulin (GRN) genes cause a reduction of circulating proteins
      levels, through alterations in proteins expression or secretion. For these
      reasons, we believe that prevention and therapy of psychiatric and neurological
      disorders could be achieved enhancing both BDNF and progranulin levels thanks to
      drug discovery efforts. 

PMID- 26869923
TI  - A Humanized Clinically Calibrated Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Model for
      Hypokinetic Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - The current treatment of Parkinson's disease with dopamine-centric approaches
      such as L-DOPA and dopamine agonists, although very successful, is in need of
      alternative treatment strategies, both in terms of disease modification and
      symptom management. Various non-dopaminergic treatment approaches did not result
      in a clear clinical benefit, despite showing a clear effect in preclinical animal
      models. In addition, polypharmacy is common, sometimes leading to unintended
      effects on non-motor cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. To explore novel targets
      for symptomatic treatment and possible synergistic pharmacodynamic effects
      between different drugs, we developed a computer-based Quantitative Systems
      Pharmacology (QSP) platform of the closed cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical
      basal ganglia loop of the dorsal motor circuit. This mechanism-based simulation
      platform is based on the known neuro-anatomy and neurophysiology of the basal
      ganglia and explicitly incorporates domain expertise in a formalized way. The
      calculated beta/gamma power ratio of the local field potential in the subthalamic
      nucleus correlates well (R (2) = 0.71) with clinically observed extra-pyramidal
      symptoms triggered by antipsychotics during schizophrenia treatment (43 drug-dose
      combinations). When incorporating Parkinsonian (PD) pathology and reported
      compensatory changes, the computer model suggests a major increase in b/g ratio
      (corresponding to bradykinesia and rigidity) from a dopamine depletion of 70%
      onward. The correlation between the outcome of the QSP model and the reported
      changes in UPDRS III Motor Part for 22 placebo-normalized drug-dose combinations
      is R (2) = 0.84. The model also correctly recapitulates the lack of clinical
      benefit for perampanel, MK-0567 and flupirtine and offers a hypothesis for the
      translational disconnect. Finally, using human PET imaging studies with placebo
      response, the computer model predicts well the placebo response for chronic
      treatment, but not for acute treatment in PD. 

PMID- 26869924
TI  - Mechanisms Underlying the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau
      Extracts: Inhibition of Cytokine Production and Toll-Like Receptor-4 Activation.
AB  - Clinacanthus nutans has had a long history of use in folk medicine in Malaysia
      and Southeast Asia; mostly in the relief of inflammatory conditions. In this
      study, we investigated the effects of different extracts of C. nutans upon
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in order to identify its mechanism
      of action. Extracts of leaves and stem bark of C. nutans were prepared using
      polar and non-polar solvents to produce four extracts, namely polar leaf extract
      (LP), non-polar leaf extract (LN), polar stem extract (SP), and non-polar stem
      extracts (SN). The extracts were standardized by determining its total phenolic
      and total flavonoid contents. Its anti-inflammatory effects were assessed on LPS
      induced nitrite release in RAW264.7 macrophages and Toll-like receptor (TLR-4)
      activation in TLR-4 transfected human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-Blue(TM)-hTLR4
      cells). The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL
      6, IL-12p40, and IL-17) in treated RAW264.7 macrophages were quantified to verify
      its anti-inflammatory effects. Western blotting was used to investigate the
      effect of the most potent extract (LP) on TLR-4 related inflammatory proteins
      (p65, p38, ERK, JNK, IRF3) in RAW264.7 macrophages. All four extracts produced a
      significant, concentration-dependent reduction in LPS-stimulated nitric oxide,
      LPS-induced TLR-4 activation in HEK-Blue(TM)-hTLR4 cells and LPS-stimulated
      cytokines production in RAW264.7 macrophages. The most potent extract, LP, also
      inhibited all LPS-induced TLR-4 inflammatory proteins. These results provide a
      basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying the previously demonstrated
      anti-inflammatory activity of C. nutans extracts. 

PMID- 26869925
TI  - Editorial: Serotonin and Memory.

PMID- 26869926
TI  - Editorial: 5-HT2A/2B/2C Receptors, Memory, and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

PMID- 26869927
TI  - Syndecans as Cell Surface Receptors in Cancer Biology. A Focus on their
      Interaction with PDZ Domain Proteins.
AB  - Syndecans are transmembrane receptors with ectodomains that are modified by
      glycosaminoglycan chains. The ectodomains can interact with a wide variety of
      molecules, including growth factors, cytokines, proteinases, adhesion receptors,
      and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The four syndecans in mammals are
      expressed in a development-, cell-type-, and tissue-specific manner and can
      function either as co-receptors with other cell surface receptors or as
      independent adhesion receptors that mediate cell signaling. They help regulate
      cell proliferation and migration, angiogenesis, cell/cell and cell/ECM adhesion,
      and they may participate in several key tumorigenesis processes. In some cancers,
      syndecan expression regulates tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, motility, and
      other functions, and may be a prognostic marker for tumor progression and patient
      survival. The short cytoplasmic tail is likely to be involved in these events
      through recruitment of signaling partners. In particular, the conserved carboxyl
      terminal EFYA tetrapeptide sequence that is present in all syndecans binds to
      some PDZ domain-containing proteins that may function as scaffold proteins that
      recruit signaling and cytoskeletal proteins to the plasma membrane. There is
      growing interest in understanding these interactions at both the structural and
      biological levels, and recent findings show their high degree of complexity.
      Parameters that influence the recruitment of PDZ domain proteins by syndecans,
      such as binding specificity and affinity, are the focus of active investigations
      and are important for understanding regulatory mechanisms. Recent studies show
      that binding may be affected by post-translational events that influence
      regulatory mechanisms, such as phosphorylation within the syndecan cytoplasmic
      tail. 

PMID- 26869929
TI  - Spectrum-Effect Relationships Between Chemical Fingerprints and Antibacterial
      Effects of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos Base on UPLC and
      Microcalorimetry.
AB  - The traditional Chinese medicines Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF, Jinyinhua in
      Chinese) and Lonicerae Flos (LF, Shanyinhua in Chinese) refer to the flower buds
      of five plants belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family. Until 2000, all of these
      were officially listed as a single item, LJF (Jinyinhua), in the Chinese
      Pharmacopoeia. However, there have recently been many academic controversies
      concerning the separation and combination of LJF and LF in administrative
      regulation. Till now there has been little work completed evaluating the
      relationships between biological activity and chemical properties among these
      drugs. Microcalorimetry and UPLC were used along with principal component
      analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and canonical correlation
      analysis (CCA) to investigate the relationships between the chemical ingredients
      and the antibacterial effects of LJF and LF. Using multivariate statistical
      analysis, LJF and LF could be initially separated according to their chemical
      fingerprints, and the antibacterial effects of the two herbal drugs were divided
      into two clusters. This result supports the disaggregation of LJF and LF by the
      Pharmacopoeia Committee. However, the sample of Lonicera fulvotomentosa Hsu et S.
      C. Cheng turned out to be an intermediate species, with similar antibacterial
      efficacy as LJF. The results of CCA indicated that chlorogenic acid and 3,4
      Dicaffeoylquinic acid were the major components generating antibacterial effects.
      Furthermore, 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid could be used as a new marker ingredient
      for quality control of LJF and LF. 

PMID- 26869931
TI  - Poly-Cross-Linked PEI Through Aromatically Conjugated Imine Linkages as a New
      Class of pH-Responsive Nucleic Acids Packing Cationic Polymers.
AB  - Cationic polyimines polymerized through aromatically conjugated bis-imine
      linkages and intra-molecular cross-linking were found to be a new class of
      effective transfection materials for their flexibility in structural
      optimization, responsiveness to intracellular environment, the ability to
      facilitate endosome escape and cytosol release of the nucleic acids, as well as
      self-metabolism. When three phthalaldehydes of different substitution positions
      were used to polymerize highly branched low-molecular weight polyethylenimine
      (PEI 1.8K), the product through ortho-phthalimines (named PPOP) showed
      significantly higher transfection activity than its two tere- and iso-analogs
      (named PPTP and PPIP). Physicochemical characterization confirmed the similarity
      of three polyimines in pH-responded degradability, buffer capacity, as well as
      the size and Zeta potential of the polyplexes formed from the polymers. A
      mechanistic speculation may be that the ortho-positioned bis-imine linkage of
      PPOP may only lead to the straight trans-configuration due to steric hindrance,
      resulting in larger loops of intra-polymer cross-linking and more flexible
      backbone. 

PMID- 26869928
TI  - Matricryptins Network with Matricellular Receptors at the Surface of Endothelial
      and Tumor Cells.
AB  - The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a source of bioactive fragments called
      matricryptins or matrikines resulting from the proteolytic cleavage of
      extracellular proteins (e.g., collagens, elastin, and laminins) and proteoglycans
      (e.g., perlecan). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cathepsins, and bone
      morphogenetic protein-1 release fragments, which regulate physiopathological
      processes including tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis, a pre-requisite
      for tumor growth. A number of matricryptins, and/or synthetic peptides derived
      from them, are currently investigated as potential anti-cancer drugs both in
      vitro and in animal models. Modifications aiming at improving their efficiency
      and their delivery to their target cells are studied. However, their use as drugs
      is not straightforward. The biological activities of these fragments are mediated
      by several receptor families. Several matricryptins may bind to the same
      matricellular receptor, and a single matricryptin may bind to two different
      receptors belonging or not to the same family such as integrins and growth factor
      receptors. Furthermore, some matricryptins interact with each other, integrins
      and growth factor receptors crosstalk and a signaling pathway may be regulated by
      several matricryptins. This forms an intricate 3D interaction network at the
      surface of tumor and endothelial cells, which is tightly associated with other
      cell-surface associated molecules such as heparan sulfate, caveolin, and
      nucleolin. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the behavior of this
      network is required in order to optimize the development of matricryptins as anti
      cancer agents. 

PMID- 26869930
TI  - Metabolomics Coupled with Multivariate Data and Pathway Analysis on Potential
      Biomarkers in Cholestasis and Intervention Effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PLP) is a classical
      Chinese herbal medicine that has been used to treat hepatic disease for 1000s of
      years. Our previous work suggested that PLP can be used to treat hepatitis with
      severe cholestasis. This study explored the mechanism by which PLP affects ANIT
      induced cholestasis in rats using a metabolomics approach. METHODS: The effects
      of PLP on serum indices (TBIL, DBIL, AST, ALT, ALP, and TBA) and the
      histopathology of the liver were analyzed. Moreover, UHPLC-Q-TOF was performed to
      identify the possible effect of PLP on metabolites. The pathway analysis was
      conducted to illustrate the pathways and network by which PLP treats cholestasis.
      RESULT: High-dose PLP remarkably down-regulated the serum indices and alleviated
      histological damage to the liver. Metabolomics analyses showed that the
      therapeutic effect of high-dose PLP is mainly associated with the regulation of
      several metabolites, such as glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid,
      glycochenodeoxycholic acid, L(D)-arginine, and L-tryptophan. A pathway analysis
      showed that the metabolites were related to bile acid secretion and amino acid
      metabolism. In addition, the significant changes in bile acid transporters also
      indicated that bile acid metabolism might be involved in the therapeutic effect
      of PLP on cholestasis. Moreover, a principal component analysis indicated that
      the metabolites in the high-dose PLP group were closer to those of the control,
      whereas those of the moderate dose or low-dose PLP group were closer to those of
      the ANIT group. This finding indicated that metabolites may be responsible for
      the differences between the effects of low-dose and moderate-dose PLP.
      CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of high-dose PLP on cholestasis is possibly
      related to regulation of bile acid secretion and amino acid metabolism. Moreover,
      these findings may help better understand the mechanisms of disease and provide a
      potential therapy for cholestasis.

PMID- 26869932
TI  - Mismatch Negativity Affects Muscle Fatigue during Repeated Contraction Trials of
      Different Durations.
AB  - We examined the effect of involuntary attention switching (related to mismatch
      negativity generation in the oddball paradigm) on fatigue development during
      trials of different durations. The experiment consisted of two trials, long (40
      min) and short (15 min), and two experimental conditions in each trial: the
      simple reaction task (deviants-only paradigm) and the stimuli recognition task
      (oddball paradigm). In each condition, a participant responded to each target
      acoustic stimulus by squeezing a handgrip dynamometer. We found the significantly
      lower rates of fatigue development in the short-trial deviants-only paradigm
      compared to the long trial. The short- and the long-trial oddball paradigms
      differed significantly from both the short- and the long-trial deviants-only
      paradigms. The results demonstrated that the fatigue developed differently
      depending on the expected trial duration. The involuntary activation of attention
      broke this subconscious regulative mechanism leading to increase of the
      compression force during the long trial and its decrease during the short. 

PMID- 26869933
TI  - Strong Ion Regulatory Abilities Enable the Crab Xenograpsus testudinatus to
      Inhabit Highly Acidified Marine Vent Systems.
AB  - Hydrothermal vent organisms have evolved physiological adaptations to cope with
      extreme abiotic conditions including temperature and pH. To date, acid-base
      regulatory abilities of vent organisms are poorly investigated, although this
      physiological feature is essential for survival in low pH environments. We report
      the acid-base regulatory mechanisms of a hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus
      testudinatus, endemic to highly acidic shallow-water vent habitats with average
      environment pH-values ranging between 5.4 and 6.6. Within a few hours, X.
      testudinatus restores extracellular pH (pHe) in response to environmental
      acidification of pH 6.5 (1.78 kPa pCO2) accompanied by an increase in blood
      [Formula: see text] levels from 8.8 +/- 0.3 to 31 +/- 6 mM. Branchial Na(+)/K(+)
      ATPase (NKA) and V-type H(+)-ATPase (VHA), the major ion pumps involved in
      branchial acid-base regulation, showed dynamic increases in response to acidified
      conditions on the mRNA, protein and activity level. Immunohistochemical analyses
      demonstrate the presence of NKA in basolateral membranes, whereas the VHA is
      predominantly localized in cytoplasmic vesicles of branchial epithelial- and
      pillar-cells. X. testudinatus is closely related to other strong osmo-regulating
      brachyurans, which is also reflected in the phylogeny of the NKA. Accordingly,
      our results suggest that the evolution of strong ion regulatory abilities in
      brachyuran crabs that allowed the occupation of ecological niches in euryhaline,
      freshwater, and terrestrial habitats are probably also linked to substantial acid
      base regulatory abilities. This physiological trait allowed X. testudinatus to
      successfully inhabit one of the world's most acidic marine environments. 

PMID- 26869934
TI  - Heart Rate and Extracellular Sodium and Potassium Modulation of Gap Junction
      Mediated Conduction in Guinea Pigs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggested that cardiac conduction in murine hearts
      with narrow perinexi and 50% reduced connexin43 (Cx43) expression is more
      sensitive to relatively physiological changes of extracellular potassium
      ([K(+)]o) and sodium ([Na(+)]o). PURPOSE: Determine whether similar [K(+)]o and
      [Na(+)]o changes alter conduction velocity (CV) sensitivity to pharmacologic gap
      junction (GJ) uncoupling in guinea pigs. METHODS: [K(+)]o and [Na(+)]o were
      varied in Langendorff perfused guinea pig ventricles (Solution A: [K(+)]o = 4.56
      and [Na(+)]o = 153.3 mM. Solution B: [K(+)]o = 6.95 and [Na(+)]o = 145.5 mM). Gap
      junctions were inhibited with carbenoxolone (CBX) (15 and 30 MUM). Epicardial CV
      was quantified by optical mapping. Perinexal width was measured with transmission
      electron microscopy. Total and phosphorylated Cx43 were evaluated by western
      blotting. RESULTS: Solution composition did not alter CV under control conditions
      or with 15MUM CBX. Decreasing the basic cycle length (BCL) of pacing from 300 to
      160 ms decreased CV uniformly with both solutions. At 30 MUM CBX, a change in
      solution did not alter CV either longitudinally or transversely at BCL = 300 ms.
      However, reducing BCL to 160 ms caused CV to decrease more in hearts perfused
      with Solution B than A. Solution composition did not alter perinexal width, nor
      did it change total or phosphorylated serine 368 Cx43 expression. These data
      suggest that the solution dependent CV changes were independent of altered
      perinexal width or GJ coupling. Action potential duration was always shorter in
      hearts perfused with Solution B than A, independent of pacing rate and/or CBX
      concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Increased heart rate and GJ uncoupling can unmask
      small CV differences caused by changing [K(+)]o and [Na(+)]o. These data suggest
      that modulating extracellular ionic composition may be a novel anti-arrhythmic
      target in diseases with abnormal GJ coupling, particularly when heart rate cannot
      be controlled.

PMID- 26869936
TI  - Benefits of Group Living Include Increased Feeding Efficiency and Lower Mass Loss
      during Desiccation in the Social and Inbreeding Spider Stegodyphus dumicola.
AB  - Group living carries a price: it inherently entails increased competition for
      resources and reproduction, and may also be associated with mating among
      relatives, which carries costs of inbreeding. Nonetheless, group living and
      sociality is found in many animals, and understanding the direct and indirect
      benefits of cooperation that override the inherent costs remains a challenge in
      evolutionary ecology. Individuals in groups may benefit from more efficient
      management of energy or water reserves, for example in the form of reduced water
      or heat loss from groups of animals huddling, or through reduced energy demands
      afforded by shared participation in tasks. We investigated the putative benefits
      of group living in the permanently social spider Stegodyphus dumicola by
      comparing the effect of group size on standard metabolic rate, lipid/protein
      content as a body condition measure, feeding efficiency, per capita web
      investment, and weight/water loss and survival during desiccation. Because
      energetic expenditure is temperature sensitive, some assays were performed under
      varying temperature conditions. We found that feeding efficiency increased with
      group size, and the rate of weight loss was higher in solitary individuals than
      in animals in groups of various sizes during desiccation. Interestingly, this was
      not translated into differences in survival or in standard metabolic rate. We did
      not detect any group size effects for other parameters, and group size effects
      did not co-vary with experimental temperature in a predictive manner. Both
      feeding efficiency and mass loss during desiccation are relevant ecological
      factors as the former results in lowered predator exposure time, and the latter
      benefits social spiders which occupy arid, hot environments. 

PMID- 26869935
TI  - The Role of NADPH Oxidases (NOXs) in Liver Fibrosis and the Activation of
      Myofibroblasts.
AB  - Chronic liver injury, resulted from different etiologies (e.g., virus infection,
      alcohol abuse, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cholestasis) can lead to
      liver fibrosis characterized by the excess accumulation of extracellular matrix
      (ECM) proteins (e.g., type I collagen). Hepatic myofibroblasts that are activated
      upon liver injury are the key producers of ECM proteins, contributing to both the
      initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and
      to a lesser extent, portal fibroblast, are believed to be the precursor cells
      that give rise to hepatic myofibroblasts in response to liver injury. Although,
      much progress has been made toward dissecting the lineage origin of
      myofibroblasts, how these cells are activated and become functional producers of
      ECM proteins remains incompletely understood. Activation of myofibroblasts is a
      complex process that involves the interactions between parenchymal and non
      parenchymal cells, which drives the phenotypic change of HSCs from a quiescent
      stage to a myofibroblastic and active phenotype. Accumulating evidence has
      suggested a critical role of NADPH oxidase (NOX), a multi-component complex that
      catalyzes reactions from molecular oxygen to reactive oxygen species (ROS), in
      the activation process of hepatic myofibroblasts. NOX isoforms, including NOX1,
      NOX2 and NOX4, and NOX-derived ROS, have all been implicated to regulate HSC
      activation and hepatocyte apoptosis, both of which are essential steps for
      initiating liver fibrosis. This review highlights the importance of NOX isoforms
      in hepatic myofibroblast activation and the progression of liver fibrosis, and
      also discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting NOXs for liver fibrosis and
      associated hepatic diseases. 

PMID- 26869938
TI  - Coordinated Development of Muscles and Tendon-Like Structures: Early Interactions
      in the Drosophila Leg.
AB  - The formation of the musculoskeletal system is a remarkable example of tissue
      assembly. In both vertebrates and invertebrates, precise connectivity between
      muscles and skeleton (or exoskeleton) via tendons or equivalent structures is
      fundamental for movement and stability of the body. The molecular and cellular
      processes underpinning muscle formation are well-established and significant
      advances have been made in understanding tendon development. However, the
      mechanisms contributing to proper connection between these two tissues have
      received less attention. Observations of coordinated development of tendons and
      muscles suggest these tissues may interact during the different steps in their
      development. There is growing evidence that, depending on animal model and muscle
      type, these interactions can take place from progenitor induction to the final
      step of the formation of the musculoskeletal system. Here, we briefly review and
      compare the mechanisms behind muscle and tendon interaction throughout the
      development of vertebrates and Drosophila before going on to discuss our recent
      findings on the coordinated development of muscles and tendon-like structures in
      Drosophila leg. By altering apodeme formation (the functional Drosophila
      equivalent of tendons in vertebrates) during the early steps of leg development,
      we affect the spatial localization of subsequent myoblasts. These findings
      provide the first evidence of the developmental impact of early interactions
      between muscle and tendon-like precursors, and confirm the appendicular
      Drosophila muscle system as a valuable model for studying these processes. 

PMID- 26869937
TI  - Targeting MicroRNA Function in Respiratory Diseases: Mini-Review.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that modulate expression of
      the majority of genes by inhibiting protein translation. Growing literature has
      identified functional roles for miRNAs across a broad range of biological
      processes. As such, miRNAs are recognized as potential disease biomarkers and
      novel targets for therapies. While several miRNA-targeted therapies are currently
      in clinical trials (e.g., for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection and
      cancer), no therapies have targeted miRNAs in respiratory diseases in the clinic.
      In this mini-review, we review the current knowledge on miRNA expression and
      function in respiratory diseases, intervention strategies to target miRNA
      function, and considerations specific to respiratory diseases. Altered miRNA
      expression profiles have been reported in a number of respiratory diseases,
      including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and
      idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These include alterations in isolated lung tissue,
      as well as sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and peripheral blood or serum.
      The observed alterations in easily accessible body fluids (e.g., serum) have been
      proposed as new biomarkers that may inform disease diagnosis and patient
      management. In a subset of studies, miRNA-targeted interventions also improved
      disease outcomes, indicating functional roles for altered miRNA expression in
      disease pathogenesis. In fact, direct administration of miRNA-targeting molecules
      to the lung has yielded promising results in a number of animal models. The
      ability to directly administer compounds to the lung holds considerable promise
      and may limit potential off-target effects and side effects caused by the
      systemic administration required to treat other diseases. 

PMID- 26869940
TI  - Utility of a Novel Biofeedback Device for Within-Breath Modulation of Heart Rate
      in Rats: A Quantitative Comparison of Vagus Nerve vs. Right Atrial Pacing.
AB  - In an emerging bioelectronics era, there is a clinical need for physiological
      devices incorporating biofeedback that permits natural and demand-dependent
      control in real time. Here, we describe a novel device termed a central pattern
      generator (CPG) that uses cutting edge analog circuitry producing temporally
      controlled, electrical stimulus outputs based on the real time integration of
      physiological feedback. Motivated by the fact that respiratory sinus arrhythmia
      (RSA), which is the cyclical changes in heart rate every breath, is an essential
      component of heart rate variability (HRV) (an indicator of cardiac health), we
      have explored the versatility and efficiency of the CPG for producing respiratory
      modulation of heart rate in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats.
      Diaphragmatic electromyographic activity was used as the input to the device and
      its output connected to either the right cervical vagus nerve or the right atrium
      for pacing heart rate. We found that the CPG could induce respiratory related
      heart rate modulation that closely mimicked RSA. Whether connected to the vagus
      nerve or right atrium, the versatility of the device was demonstrated by
      permitting: (i) heart rate modulation in any phase of the respiratory cycle, (ii)
      control of the magnitude of heart rate modulation, and (iii) instant adaptation
      to changes in respiratory frequency. Vagal nerve pacing was only possible
      following transection of the nerve limiting its effective use chronically. Pacing
      via the right atrium permitted better flexibility and control of heart rate above
      its intrinsic level. This investigation now lays the foundation for future
      studies using this biofeedback technology permitting closer analysis of both the
      function and dysfunction of RSA. 

PMID- 26869939
TI  - Mechanical Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Critical Illness Myopathy.
AB  - The complete loss of mechanical stimuli of skeletal muscles, i.e., the loss of
      external strain, related to weight bearing, and internal strain, related to the
      contraction of muscle cells, is uniquely observed in pharmacologically paralyzed
      or deeply sedated mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The
      preferential loss of myosin and myosin associated proteins in limb and trunk
      muscles is a significant characteristic of critical illness myopathy (CIM) which
      separates CIM from other types of acquired muscle weaknesses in ICU patients.
      Mechanical silencing is an important factor triggering CIM. Microgravity or
      ground based microgravity models form the basis of research on the effect of
      muscle unloading-reloading, but the mechanisms and effects may differ from the
      ICU conditions. In order to understand how mechanical tension regulates muscle
      mass, it is critical to know how muscles sense mechanical information and convert
      stimulus to intracellular biochemical actions and changes in gene expression, a
      process called cellular mechanotransduction. In adult skeletal muscles and muscle
      fibers, this process may differ, the same stimulus can cause divergent response
      and the same fiber type may undergo opposite changes in different muscles.
      Skeletal muscle contains multiple types of mechano-sensors and numerous
      structures that can be affected differently and hence respond differently in
      distinct muscles. 

PMID- 26869941
TI  - The Addictive Model of Self-Harming (Non-suicidal and Suicidal) Behavior.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Behavioral addictions such as gambling, sun-tanning, shopping,
      Internet use, work, exercise, or even love and sex are frequent, and share many
      characteristics and common neurobiological and genetic underpinnings with
      substance addictions (i.e., tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse). Recent
      literature suggests that both non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal
      behavior (SB) can also be conceptualized as addictions. The major aim of this
      mini review is to review the literature and explore the neurobiological and
      psychological mechanisms underlying the addiction to self-harming behaviors.
      METHOD: This is a narrative review. The authors performed literature searches in
      PubMed and Google for suicidal behavior, self-harming, addiction, and "major
      repeaters." Given the scarce literature on the topic, a subset of the most
      closely related studies was selected. The authors also focused on three empirical
      studies testing the hypothesis that major repeaters (individuals with >=5
      lifetime suicide attempts) represent a distinctive suicidal phenotype and are the
      individuals at risk of developing an addiction to SB. RESULTS: The authors
      reviewed the concept of behavioral addictions and major repeaters, current
      empirical evidence testing concerning whether or not NSSI and SB can be
      understood as "addictions," and the putative mechanisms underlying them.
      CONCLUSION: Our review suggests that both NSSI and SB can be conceptualized as
      addictions. This is relevant because if some individual's self-harming behaviors
      are better conceptualized as an addiction, treatment approaches could be tailored
      to this addiction.

PMID- 26869942
TI  - "Cognitus & Moi": A Computer-Based Cognitive Remediation Program for Children
      with Intellectual Disability.
AB  - Attentional, visuospatial, and social cognition deficits have a negative impact
      on children's adaptative and social competences and, as a result, on their
      ability to achieve a normal functioning and behavior. Until now and despite the
      frequency of those deficits, there is a lack of children's specific cognitive
      remediation tools specifically dedicated to attentional and visuospatial areas.
      The "Cognitus & Moi" program involves a variety of exercises in a paper and/or
      pencil (n = 30) or a computerized format (n = 29) and a strategy coaching
      approach. Each module of "Cognitus & Moi" targets a single impaired cognitive
      area, within the limits of cognitive domains' overlapping. The little cartoon
      character named Cognitus, who illustrates the program, is supposed to be very
      friendly and kind toward children. Cognitus will accompany them throughout the
      program for an effective and positive reinforcement. The main goal of "Cognitus &
      Moi" is to adjust to children's difficulties in daily life. Moreover, since the
      cognitive remediation benefit is complex to apply in daily life, the program is
      based on a metacognitive strategy. After a complete neuropsychological assessment
      and a psychoeducational session (with the child and the parents), 16 1-h-sessions
      of cognitive remediation with the therapist are proposed. Each session is
      composed of three parts: (1) computerized tasks focusing on specific attentional
      or visuospatial components (20 min). The attentional module targets hearing,
      visual, and divided attention. A double attention task is also proposed. The
      visuospatial module targets eye tracking and gaze direction, spatial orientation,
      visuospatial memory and construction, and mental imagery; (2) pen and paper tasks
      focusing on the same processes (20 min) and a facial emotion recognition task;
      (3) a proposal of a home-based task (during 20 min). Weekly, specific attentional
      and visuospatial home tasks are proposed to the child and analyzed with the
      parents and the therapist. Indeed, home exercises are useful to promote the
      transfer of strategies to daily life and their subsequent automation. The
      heterogeneity of cognitive deficits in intellectual deficiency necessitates an
      individualized cognitive remediation therapy. In this regard, "Cognitus & Moi"
      seems to be a promising tool. 

PMID- 26869943
TI  - The Richness of Inner Experience: Relating Styles of Daydreaming to Creative
      Processes.
AB  - Psychologists have long hypothesized that daydreaming (i.e., engaging in stimulus
      independent, task-unrelated thoughts and images) may facilitate creativity, but
      evidence for this hypothesis has been mixed. We propose that, to fully understand
      the relationship between daydreaming and creativity, it is essential to
      distinguish between different creative processes as well as between alternative
      styles of daydreaming. A prominent distinction in creativity research is that
      between analytic problem solving, which involves incremental and largely
      conscious processes, and insight, which is characterized by the spontaneity with
      which an idea springs to mind. In this aspect, insight resembles daydreaming.
      Indeed, recent evidence has linked daydreaming to creative performance. But like
      creativity, daydreaming is a multifaceted concept. Daydreams vary in style and
      content, a fact that is receiving little attention in contemporary research. Not
      all kinds of daydreaming are likely to have the same effects on creativity. We
      discuss different factors prevalent in people's daydreaming, such as mood,
      attentional focus, and intentionality, and consider how these factors may be
      related to creative processes. We further discuss implications for ways to
      enhance creativity through deliberate daydreaming practice. 

PMID- 26869944
TI  - Auditory Perceptual Learning in Adults with and without Age-Related Hearing Loss.
AB  - Introduction : Speech recognition in adverse listening conditions becomes more
      difficult as we age, particularly for individuals with age-related hearing loss
      (ARHL). Whether these difficulties can be eased with training remains debated,
      because it is not clear whether the outcomes are sufficiently general to be of
      use outside of the training context. The aim of the current study was to compare
      training-induced learning and generalization between normal-hearing older adults
      and those with ARHL. Methods : Fifty-six listeners (60-72 y/o), 35 participants
      with ARHL, and 21 normal hearing adults participated in the study. The study
      design was a cross over design with three groups (immediate-training, delayed
      training, and no-training group). Trained participants received 13 sessions of
      home-based auditory training over the course of 4 weeks. Three adverse listening
      conditions were targeted: (1) Speech-in-noise, (2) time compressed speech, and
      (3) competing speakers, and the outcomes of training were compared between normal
      and ARHL groups. Pre- and post-test sessions were completed by all participants.
      Outcome measures included tests on all of the trained conditions as well as on a
      series of untrained conditions designed to assess the transfer of learning to
      other speech and non-speech conditions. Results : Significant improvements on all
      trained conditions were observed in both ARHL and normal-hearing groups over the
      course of training. Normal hearing participants learned more than participants
      with ARHL in the speech-in-noise condition, but showed similar patterns of
      learning in the other conditions. Greater pre- to post-test changes were observed
      in trained than in untrained listeners on all trained conditions. In addition,
      the ability of trained listeners from the ARHL group to discriminate minimally
      different pseudowords in noise also improved with training. Conclusions : ARHL
      did not preclude auditory perceptual learning but there was little generalization
      to untrained conditions. We suggest that most training-related changes occurred
      at higher level task-specific cognitive processes in both groups. However, these
      were enhanced by high quality perceptual representations in the normal-hearing
      group. In contrast, some training-related changes have also occurred at the level
      of phonemic representations in the ARHL group, consistent with an interaction
      between bottom-up and top-down processes. 

PMID- 26869945
TI  - Multiple Grammars and the Logic of Learnability in Second Language Acquisition.
AB  - The core notion of modern Universal Grammar is that language ability requires
      abstract representation in terms of hierarchy, movement operations, abstract
      features on words, and fixed mapping to meaning. These mental structures are a
      step toward integrating representational knowledge of all kinds into a larger
      model of cognitive psychology. Examining first and second language at once
      provides clues as to how abstractly we should represent this knowledge. The
      abstract nature of grammar allows both the formulation of many grammars and the
      possibility that a rule of one grammar could apply to another grammar. We argue
      that every language contains Multiple Grammars which may reflect different
      language families. We develop numerous examples of how the same abstract rules
      can apply in various languages and develop a theory of how language modules (case
      marking, topicalization, and quantification) interact to predict L2 acquisition
      paths. In particular we show in depth how Germanic Verb-second operations, based
      on Verb-final structure, can apply in English. The argument is built around how
      and where V2 from German can apply in English, seeking to explain the crucial
      contrast: "nothing" yelled out Bill/(*)"nothing" yelled Bill out in terms of the
      necessary abstractness of the V2 rule. 

PMID- 26869947
TI  - Can Gender-Fair Language Reduce Gender Stereotyping and Discrimination?
AB  - Gender-fair language (GFL) aims at reducing gender stereotyping and
      discrimination. Two principle strategies have been employed to make languages
      gender-fair and to treat women and men symmetrically: neutralization and
      feminization. Neutralization is achieved, for example, by replacing male
      masculine forms (policeman) with gender-unmarked forms (police officer), whereas
      feminization relies on the use of feminine forms to make female referents visible
      (i.e., the applicant... he or she instead of the applicant... he). By integrating
      research on (1) language structures, (2) language policies, and (3) individual
      language behavior, we provide a critical review of how GFL contributes to the
      reduction of gender stereotyping and discrimination. Our review provides a basis
      for future research and for scientifically based policy-making. 

PMID- 26869948
TI  - How to Set Focal Categories for Brief Implicit Association Test? "Good" Is Good,
      "Bad" Is Not So Good.
AB  - Three studies were conducted to examine the validity of the four versions of
      BIATs that are supposed to measure the same construct but differ in shared focal
      category. Study 1 investigated the criterion validity of four BIATs measuring
      attitudes toward flower versus insect. Study 2 examined the experimental
      sensitivity of four BIATs by considering attitudes toward induced ingroup versus
      outgroup. Study 3 examined the predictive power of the four BIATs by
      investigating attitudes toward the commercial beverages Coke versus Sprite. The
      findings suggested that for the two attributes "good" and "bad," "good" rather
      than "bad" proved to be good as a shared focal category; for two targets, so long
      as they clearly differed in goodness or valence, the "good" rather than "bad"
      target emerged as good for a shared focal category. Beyond this case, either
      target worked well. These findings may facilitate the understanding of the BIAT
      and its future applications. 

PMID- 26869946
TI  - What Is Specific and What Is Shared Between Numbers and Words?
AB  - Reading and spelling performance have a significant correlation with number
      transcoding, which is the ability to establish a relationship between the verbal
      and Arabic representations of numbers, when a conversion of numerical symbols
      from one notation to the other is necessary. The aim of the present study is to
      reveal shared and non-shared mechanisms involved in reading and writing of words
      and Arabic numerals in Brazilian school-aged children. One hundred and seventy
      two children from second to fourth grades were evaluated. All of them had normal
      intelligence. We conducted a series of hierarchical regression models using
      scores on word spelling and reading single words and Arabic numerals, as
      dependent variables. As predictor variables we investigated intelligence, the
      phonological and visuospatial components of working memory (WM) and phonemic
      awareness. All of the writing and reading tasks (single word spelling and reading
      as well as number reading and number writing) were significantly correlated to
      each other. In the regression models, phonological WM was specifically associated
      to word reading. Phonemic awareness was the only cognitive variable that
      systematically predicted all of the school skills investigated, both numerical
      and word tasks. This suggests that phonemic awareness is a modular cognitive
      ability shared by several school tasks and might be an important factor
      associated to the comorbidity between dyslexia and dyscalculia. 

PMID- 26869949
TI  - Modulation of Recognition Memory for Emotional Images by Vertical Vection.
AB  - Our previous research showed that vertical vection could modulate human mood. We
      further examined this possibility by using memory recognition task of positive,
      negative and neutral emotional images with high and low arousal levels. Those
      images were remembered accidentally while the participants did visual dummy task,
      and later presented together with novel images during vertical vection-inducing
      or neutral visual stimuli. The results showed that downward vection facilitated
      the recognition of negative images and inhibited the recognition of positive
      ones. These modulations of incidental memory task provide an additional evidence
      for vection influence on cognitive and emotional processing, and also provide a
      new paradigm that can be used in future vection and embodied cognition research. 

PMID- 26869952
TI  - The Development of Reference Realization and Narrative in an Australian Contact
      Language, Wumpurrarni English.
AB  - The development of narrative skill has been investigated extensively in a wide
      range of languages, cross-linguistically and in multilingual settings (Berman and
      Slobin, 1994b; Severing and Verhoeven, 2001; Hickmann, 2004; Stromqvist and
      Verhoeven, 2004). The present study investigates the development of reference
      realization in narrative among Indigenous children in a remote urban township in
      Central Australia. The children, aged between 5 and 14 years, are speakers of a
      contact language, Wumpurrarni English. Language development is rarely
      investigated among speakers of minority languages, whose language development is
      often appraised in the majority language, with little attention to language
      performance in the speaker's home variety. The present study addresses this gap
      through a fine-grained qualitative analysis of the development of reference in
      narrative, drawing on a complex stimulus and a model of discourse strategy. The
      results show (a) a developmental trajectory similar to that found in other
      languages, with children aged eight and under producing simpler and less globally
      organized narratives than older speaker groups, and (b) vulnerability to the
      changing demands of the stimulus among these younger speakers. In addition, a
      subset of narrations were produced in "school variety," a style more like
      Standard Australian English. The results for this set showed that the narrative
      content and global organization of the productions by 10- and 12-year-olds were
      more similar to the productions of younger children, than like-aged speakers, who
      narrated in their home variety. Analysis of speaker responses to two factors of
      complexity, the stimulus and code choice, illuminated mechanisms for discourse
      production and development, and suggest that constructing discourse requires co
      ordination of an underlying schema and on-line construction of a particular
      story, through the deployment of linguistic devices in a particular narrative
      context. The analysis showed that these two skills are tightly interdependent,
      and indeed co-constructing. 

PMID- 26869951
TI  - Mathematics Anxiety, Working Memory, and Mathematics Performance in Secondary
      School Children.
AB  - Mathematics anxiety (MA) has been defined as "a feeling of tension and anxiety
      that interferes with the manipulation of numbers and the solving of math problems
      in a wide variety of ordinary life and academic situations." Previous studies
      have suggested that a notable proportion of children in primary and secondary
      school suffer from MA, which is negatively correlated with calculation skills.
      The processing efficiency and attentional control theories suggest that working
      memory (WM) also plays an important part in such anxious feelings. The present
      study aimed to analyze the academic achievement and cognitive profiles of
      students with high math anxiety (HMA) and low math anxiety (LMA). Specifically,
      32 students with HMA and 34 with LMA matched for age, gender, generalized
      anxiety, and vocabulary attending sixth to eighth grades were selected from a
      larger sample. The two groups were tested on reading decoding, reading
      comprehension, mathematics achievement, and on verbal short-term memory and WM.
      Our findings showed that HMA students were weak in several measures of
      mathematics achievement, but not in reading and writing skills, and that students
      with HMA reported lower scores on short-term memory and WM performances (with
      associated difficulties in inhibiting irrelevant information) than children with
      LMA. In addition, a logistic regression showed that weaknesses in inhibitory
      control and fact retrieval were the strongest variables for classifying children
      as having HMA or LMA. 

PMID- 26869950
TI  - Fusiform Gyrus Dysfunction is Associated with Perceptual Processing Efficiency to
      Emotional Faces in Adolescent Depression: A Model-Based Approach.
AB  - While the extant literature has focused on major depressive disorder (MDD) as
      being characterized by abnormalities in processing affective stimuli (e.g.,
      facial expressions), little is known regarding which specific aspects of
      cognition influence the evaluation of affective stimuli, and what are the
      underlying neural correlates. To investigate these issues, we assessed 26
      adolescents diagnosed with MDD and 37 well-matched healthy controls (HCL) who
      completed an emotion identification task of dynamically morphing faces during
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We analyzed the behavioral data
      using a sequential sampling model of response time (RT) commonly used to
      elucidate aspects of cognition in binary perceptual decision making tasks: the
      Linear Ballistic Accumulator (LBA) model. Using a hierarchical Bayesian
      estimation method, we obtained group-level and individual-level estimates of LBA
      parameters on the facial emotion identification task. While the MDD and HCL
      groups did not differ in mean RT, accuracy, or group-level estimates of
      perceptual processing efficiency (i.e., drift rate parameter of the LBA), the MDD
      group showed significantly reduced responses in left fusiform gyrus compared to
      the HCL group during the facial emotion identification task. Furthermore, within
      the MDD group, fMRI signal in the left fusiform gyrus during affective face
      processing was significantly associated with greater individual-level estimates
      of perceptual processing efficiency. Our results therefore suggest that affective
      processing biases in adolescents with MDD are characterized by greater perceptual
      processing efficiency of affective visual information in sensory brain regions
      responsible for the early processing of visual information. The theoretical,
      methodological, and clinical implications of our results are discussed. 

PMID- 26869954
TI  - Structural Priming and Frequency Effects Interact in Chinese Sentence
      Comprehension.
AB  - Previous research in several European languages has shown that the language
      processing system is sensitive to both structural frequency and structural
      priming effects. However, it is currently not clear whether these two types of
      effects interact during online sentence comprehension, especially for languages
      that do not have morphological markings. To explore this issue, the present study
      investigated the possible interplay between structural priming and frequency
      effects for sentences containing the Chinese ambiguous construction V NP1 de NP2
      in a self-paced reading experiment. The sentences were disambiguated to either
      the more frequent/preferred NP structure or the less frequent VP structure. Each
      target sentence was preceded by a prime sentence of three possible types: NP
      primes, VP primes, and neutral primes. When the ambiguous construction V NP1 de
      NP2 was disambiguated to the dispreferred VP structure, participants experienced
      more processing difficulty following an NP prime relative to following a VP prime
      or a neutral baseline. When the ambiguity was resolved to the preferred NP
      structure, prime type had no effect. These results suggest that structural
      priming in comprehension is modulated by the baseline frequency of alternative
      structures, with the less frequent structure being more subject to structural
      priming effects. These results are discussed in the context of the error-based,
      implicit learning account of structural priming. 

PMID- 26869955
TI  - Why are Some Games More Addictive than Others: The Effects of Timing and Payoff
      on Perseverance in a Slot Machine Game.
AB  - Manipulating different behavioral characteristics of gambling games can
      potentially affect the extent to which individuals persevere at gambling, and
      their transition to problematic behaviors. This has potential impact for mobile
      gambling technologies and responsible gambling interventions. Two laboratory
      models pertinent to this are the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE)
      and the trial spacing effect. Both of these might speed up or delay the
      acquisition and extinction of conditioned behavior. We report an experiment that
      manipulated the rate of reinforcement and inter trial interval (ITI) on a
      simulated slot machine where participants were given the choice between gambling
      and skipping on each trial, before perseverative gambling was measured in
      extinction, followed by measurements of the illusion of control, depression and
      impulsivity. We hypothesized that longer ITI's in conjunction with the low rates
      of reinforcement observed in gambling would lead to greater perseverance. We
      further hypothesized, given that timing is known to be important in displaying
      illusory control and potentially in persevering in gambling, that prior exposure
      to longer intervals might affect illusions of control. An interaction between ITI
      and rate of reinforcement was observed, as low reinforced gamblers with a long
      ITI gambled for longer. Respondents also displayed extinction and a PREE.
      Gamblers exposed to a higher rate of reinforcement gambled for longer in
      acquisition. Impulsivity was associated with extended perseverance in extinction,
      and more depressed gamblers in the high reinforcement short ITI group persevered
      for longer. Performance in the contingency judgment failed to support the second
      hypothesis: the only significant contrast observed was that participants became
      better calibrated as the task progressed. 

PMID- 26869953
TI  - Temporal Attention as a Scaffold for Language Development.
AB  - Language is one of the most fascinating abilities that humans possess. Infants
      demonstrate an amazing repertoire of linguistic abilities from very early on and
      reach an adult-like form incredibly fast. However, language is not acquired all
      at once but in an incremental fashion. In this article we propose that the
      attentional system may be one of the sources for this developmental trajectory in
      language acquisition. At birth, infants are endowed with an attentional system
      fully driven by salient stimuli in their environment, such as prosodic
      information (e.g., rhythm or pitch). Early stages of language acquisition could
      benefit from this readily available, stimulus-driven attention to simplify the
      complex speech input and allow word segmentation. At later stages of development,
      infants are progressively able to selectively attend to specific elements while
      disregarding others. This attentional ability could allow them to learn distant
      non-adjacent rules needed for morphosyntactic acquisition. Because non-adjacent
      dependencies occur at distant moments in time, learning these dependencies may
      require correctly orienting attention in the temporal domain. Here, we gather
      evidence uncovering the intimate relationship between the development of
      attention and language. We aim to provide a novel approach to human development,
      bridging together temporal attention and language acquisition. 

PMID- 26869956
TI  - Working Memory Training and CBT Reduces Anxiety Symptoms and Attentional Biases
      to Threat: A Preliminary Study.
AB  - Research indicates that cognitive processes linked to the detection of threat
      stimuli are associated with poor attentional control, placing children and
      adolescents at increased risk for the development of anxious affect. The current
      study aimed to provide preliminary data to assess whether an intervention
      designed to improve attentional control (via working memory; WM) would lead to
      better performance in tests of WM and would be associated with positive changes
      in symptoms of trait and test anxiety, increased inhibitory control and reduced
      attention to threat. Forty adolescents aged 11-14 years who reported elevated
      anxiety and low attentional control were randomly allocated to a WM training or
      an active cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) control group. Post intervention,
      WM training was associated with greater improvements (versus. CBT) in trained WM
      tasks. Both groups, however, reported fewer anxiety symptoms, demonstrated
      increased inhibitory control and a reduction in attentional biases to threat post
      intervention and these results were maintained at follow up. The study provides
      indicative evidence which suggests that WM training has similar benefits to a
      more traditional CBT intervention on reduced anxiety and attentional biases for
      threat. Future research should aim to replicate the findings in a large sample
      size and explore the broader impact of training on day-to-day functioning. In
      addition, further research is needed to identify which participants benefit most
      from different interventions (using baseline characteristics) on treatment
      compliance and outcome. 

PMID- 26869957
TI  - An Inner Barrier to Career Development: Preconditions of the Impostor Phenomenon
      and Consequences for Career Development.
AB  - The impostor phenomenon (IP) is increasingly recognized as an important
      psychological construct for career development, yet empirical research on how it
      functions in this domain is sparse. We investigated in what way impostor feelings
      are related to the fear of failure, fear of success, self-esteem, and the career
      development aspects career planning, career striving, and the motivation to lead.
      We conducted two studies with independent samples of university students (N =
      212) in a laboratory study and working professionals (N = 110) in an online
      study. In both samples, impostor feelings were fostered by fear of failure, fear
      of success, and low self-esteem and they decreased career planning, career
      striving, and the motivation to lead. A path analysis showed that impostor
      feelings had the most negative effects on career planning and career striving in
      students and on the motivation to lead in working professionals. The results
      suggest that the IP is relevant to career development in different ways at
      different career stages. Practical implications and interventions to reduce the
      negative effects of impostor feelings on career development are discussed. 

PMID- 26869958
TI  - The Asymmetry Bias in Me, We-Others Distance Ratings. The Role of Social
      Stereotypes.

PMID- 26869959
TI  - Differential Gaze Patterns on Eyes and Mouth During Audiovisual Speech
      Segmentation.
AB  - Speech is inextricably multisensory: both auditory and visual components provide
      critical information for all aspects of speech processing, including speech
      segmentation, the visual components of which have been the target of a growing
      number of studies. In particular, a recent study (Mitchel and Weiss, 2014)
      established that adults can utilize facial cues (i.e., visual prosody) to
      identify word boundaries in fluent speech. The current study expanded upon these
      results, using an eye tracker to identify highly attended facial features of the
      audiovisual display used in Mitchel and Weiss (2014). Subjects spent the most
      time watching the eyes and mouth. A significant trend in gaze durations was found
      with the longest gaze duration on the mouth, followed by the eyes and then the
      nose. In addition, eye-gaze patterns changed across familiarization as subjects
      learned the word boundaries, showing decreased attention to the mouth in later
      blocks while attention on other facial features remained consistent. These
      findings highlight the importance of the visual component of speech processing
      and suggest that the mouth may play a critical role in visual speech
      segmentation. 

PMID- 26869960
TI  - Fluency Expresses Implicit Knowledge of Tonal Symmetry.
AB  - The purposes of the present study were twofold. First, we sought to establish
      whether tonal symmetry produces processing fluency. Second, we sought to explore
      whether symmetry and chunk strength express themselves differently in fluency, as
      an indication of different mechanisms being involved for sub- and supra-finite
      state processing. Across two experiments, participants were asked to listen to
      and memorize artificial poetry showing a mirror symmetry (an inversion, i.e., a
      type of cross serial dependency); after this training phase, people completed a
      four-choice RT task in which they were presented with new artificial poetry.
      Participants were required to identify the stimulus displayed. We found that
      symmetry sped up responding to the second half of strings, indicating a fluency
      effect. Furthermore, there was a dissociation between fluency effects arising
      from symmetry vs. chunk strength, with stronger fluency effects for symmetry
      rather than chunks in the second half of strings. Taken together, we conjecture a
      divide between finite state and supra-finite state mechanisms in learning
      grammatical sequences. 

PMID- 26869962
TI  - Commentary: Does Cognitive Behavior Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) show a
      sustainable effect on delusions? A meta-analysis.

PMID- 26869961
TI  - Executive Functions and the Improvement of Thinking Abilities: The Intervention
      in Reading Comprehension.
AB  - In this paper, we propose a preliminary theory of executive functions that
      address in a specific way their relationship with working memory (WM) and higher
      level cognition. It includes: (a) four core on-line WM executive functions that
      are involved in every novel and complex cognitive task; (b) two higher order off
      line executive functions, planning and revision, that are required to resolving
      the most complex intellectual abilities; and (c) emotional control that is
      involved in any complex, novel and difficult task. The main assumption is that
      efficiency on thinking abilities may be improved by specific instruction or
      training on the executive functions necessary to solving novel and complex tasks
      involved in these abilities. Evidence for the impact of our training proposal on
      WM's executive functions involved in higher-level cognitive abilities comes from
      three studies applying an adaptive program designed to improve reading
      comprehension in primary school students by boosting the core WM's executive
      functions involved in it: focusing on relevant information, switching (or
      shifting) between representations or tasks, connecting incoming information from
      text with long-term representations, updating of the semantic representation of
      the text in WM, and inhibition of irrelevant information. The results are
      consistent with the assumption that cognitive enhancements from the training
      intervention may have affected not only a specific but also a more domain-general
      mechanism involved in various executive functions. We discuss some methodological
      issues in the studies of effects of WM training on reading comprehension. The
      perspectives and limitations of our approach are finally discussed. 

PMID- 26869963
TI  - "Food Addiction" in Patients with Eating Disorders is Associated with Negative
      Urgency and Difficulties to Focus on Long-Term Goals.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate if eating disorder patients
      differ in specific personality traits depending on a positive screening of food
      addiction (FA) and to find a model to predict FA in eating disorder patients
      using measures of personality and impulsivity. METHODS: Two hundred seventy eight
      patients, having an eating disorder, self-reported on FA, impulsivity,
      personality, eating and general psychopathology. Patients were then split into
      two groups, depending on a positive or negative result on the FA screening.
      Analysis of variance was used to compare means between the two groups. Stepwise
      binary logistic regression was used to obtain a predictive model for the presence
      of FA. RESULTS: Patients with FA had lower self-directedness, and more negative
      urgency and lack of perseverance than patients not reporting addictive eating.
      The probability of FA can be predicted by high negative urgency, high reward
      dependence, and low lack of premeditation. CONCLUSION: Eating disorder patients
      who have more problems to pursue tasks to the end and to focus on long-term goals
      seem to be more likely to develop addictive eating patterns.

PMID- 26869965
TI  - Two Polarities of Attention in Social Contexts: From Attending-to-Others to
      Attending-to-Self.
AB  - Social attention is one special form of attention that involves the allocation of
      limited processing resources in a social context. Previous studies on social
      attention often regard how attention is directed toward socially relevant stimuli
      such as faces and gaze directions of other individuals. In contrast to attending
      to-others, a different line of researches has shown that self-related information
      such as own face and name automatically captures attention and is preferentially
      processed comparing to other-related information. These contrasting behavioral
      effects between attending-to-others and attending-to-self prompt me to consider a
      synthetic viewpoint for understanding social attention. I propose that social
      attention operates at two polarizing states: In one extreme, individual tends to
      attend to the self and prioritize self-related information over others', and, in
      the other extreme, attention is allocated to other individuals to infer their
      intentions and desires. Attending-to-self and attending-to-others mark the two
      ends of an otherwise continuum spectrum of social attention. For a given
      behavioral context, the mechanisms underlying these two polarities will interact
      and compete with each other in order to determine a saliency map of social
      attention that guides our behaviors. An imbalanced competition between these two
      behavioral and cognitive processes will cause cognitive disorders and
      neurological symptoms such as autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome. I
      have reviewed both behavioral and neural evidence that support the notion of
      polarized social attention, and have suggested several testable predictions to
      corroborate this integrative theory for understanding social attention. 

PMID- 26869964
TI  - The Development of Musical Skills of Underprivileged Children Over the Course of
      1 Year: A Study in the Context of an El Sistema-Inspired Program.
AB  - Developmental research in music has typically centered on the study of single
      musical skills (e.g., singing, listening) and has been conducted with middle
      class children who learn music in schools and conservatories. Information on the
      musical development of children from different social strata, who are enrolled in
      community-based music programs, remains elusive. This study examined the
      development of musical skills in underprivileged children who were attending an
      El Sistema-inspired program in Los Angeles. We investigated how children,
      predominantly of Latino ethnicity, developed musically with respect to the
      following musical skills - pitch and rhythmic discrimination, pitch matching,
      singing a song from memory, and rhythmic entrainment - over the course of 1 year.
      Results suggested that participation in an El Sistema-inspired program affects
      children's musical development in distinct ways; with pitch perception and
      production skills developing faster than rhythmic skills. Furthermore, children
      from the same ethnic and social background, who did not participate in the El
      Sistema-inspired music program, showed a decline in singing and pitch
      discrimination skills over the course of 1 year. Taken together, these results
      are consistent with the idea of musical development as a complex, spiraling and
      recursive process that is influenced by several factors including type of musical
      training. Implications for future research are outlined. 

PMID- 26869967
TI  - Effects of Presentation Type and Visual Control in Numerosity Discrimination:
      Implications for Number Processing?
AB  - Performance in a non-symbolic comparison task in which participants are asked to
      indicate the larger numerosity of two dot arrays, is assumed to be supported by
      the Approximate Number System (ANS). This system allows participants to judge
      numerosity independently from other visual cues. Supporting this idea, previous
      studies indicated that numerosity can be processed when visual cues are
      controlled for. Consequently, distinct types of visual cue control are assumed to
      be interchangeable. However, a previous study showed that the type of visual cue
      control affected performance using a simultaneous presentation of the stimuli in
      numerosity comparison. In the current study, we explored whether the influence of
      the type of visual cue control on performance disappeared when sequentially
      presenting each stimulus in numerosity comparison. While the influence of the
      applied type of visual cue control was significantly more evident in the
      simultaneous condition, sequentially presenting the stimuli did not completely
      exclude the influence of distinct types of visual cue control. Altogether, these
      results indicate that the implicit assumption that it is possible to compare
      performances across studies with a differential visual cue control is unwarranted
      and that the influence of the type of visual cue control partly depends on the
      presentation format of the stimuli. 

PMID- 26869966
TI  - Temporal and Spatial Predictability of an Irrelevant Event Differently Affect
      Detection and Memory of Items in a Visual Sequence.
AB  - We examined how the temporal and spatial predictability of a task-irrelevant
      visual event affects the detection and memory of a visual item embedded in a
      continuously changing sequence. Participants observed 11 sequentially presented
      letters, during which a task-irrelevant visual event was either present or
      absent. Predictabilities of spatial location and temporal position of the event
      were controlled in 2 * 2 conditions. In the spatially predictable conditions, the
      event occurred at the same location within the stimulus sequence or at another
      location, while, in the spatially unpredictable conditions, it occurred at random
      locations. In the temporally predictable conditions, the event timing was fixed
      relative to the order of the letters, while in the temporally unpredictable
      condition; it could not be predicted from the letter order. Participants
      performed a working memory task and a target detection reaction time (RT) task.
      Memory accuracy was higher for a letter simultaneously presented at the same
      location as the event in the temporally unpredictable conditions, irrespective of
      the spatial predictability of the event. On the other hand, the detection RTs
      were only faster for a letter simultaneously presented at the same location as
      the event when the event was both temporally and spatially predictable. Thus, to
      facilitate ongoing detection processes, an event must be predictable both in
      space and time, while memory processes are enhanced by temporally unpredictable
      (i.e., surprising) events. Evidently, temporal predictability has differential
      effects on detection and memory of a visual item embedded in a sequence of
      images. 

PMID- 26869968
TI  - Editorial: Variability and Individual Differences in Early Social Perception and
      Social Cognition.

PMID- 26869969
TI  - The Impact of Instrument-Specific Musical Training on Rhythm Perception and
      Production.
AB  - Studies comparing musicians and non-musicians have shown that musical training
      can improve rhythmic perception and production. These findings tell us that
      training can result in rhythm processing advantages, but they do not tell us
      whether practicing a particular instrument could lead to specific effects on
      rhythm perception or production. The current study used a battery of four rhythm
      perception and production tasks that were designed to test both higher- and lower
      level aspects of rhythm processing. Four groups of musicians (drummers, singers,
      pianists, string players) and a control group of non-musicians were tested.
      Within-task differences in performance showed that factors such as meter,
      metrical complexity, tempo, and beat phase significantly affected the ability to
      perceive and synchronize taps to a rhythm or beat. Musicians showed better
      performance on all rhythm tasks compared to non-musicians. Interestingly, our
      results revealed no significant differences between musician groups for the vast
      majority of task measures. This was despite the fact that all musicians were
      selected to have the majority of their training on the target instrument, had on
      average more than 10 years of experience on their instrument, and were currently
      practicing. These results suggest that general musical experience is more
      important than specialized musical experience with regards to perception and
      production of rhythms. 

PMID- 26869970
TI  - Self-Determination and Meaningful Work: Exploring Socioeconomic Constraints.
AB  - This study examined a model of meaningful work among a diverse sample of working
      adults. From the perspectives of Self-Determination Theory and the Psychology of
      Working Framework, we tested a structural model with social class and work
      volition predicting SDT motivation variables, which in turn predicted meaningful
      work. Partially supporting hypotheses, work volition was positively related to
      internal regulation and negatively related to amotivation, whereas social class
      was positively related to external regulation and amotivation. In turn, internal
      regulation was positively related to meaningful work, whereas external regulation
      and amotivation were negatively related to meaningful work. Indirect effects from
      work volition to meaningful work via internal regulation and amotivation were
      significant, and indirect effects from social class to meaningful work via
      external regulation and amotivation were significant. This study highlights the
      important relations between SDT motivation variables and meaningful work,
      especially the large positive relation between internal regulation and meaningful
      work. However, results also reveal that work volition and social class may play
      critical roles in predicting internal regulation, external regulation, and
      amotivation. 

PMID- 26869971
TI  - Memory Updating and Mental Arithmetic.
AB  - Is domain-general memory updating ability predictive of calculation skills or are
      such skills better predicted by the capacity for updating specifically numerical
      information? Here, we used multidigit mental multiplication (MMM) as a measure
      for calculating skill as this operation requires the accurate maintenance and
      updating of information in addition to skills needed for arithmetic more
      generally. In Experiment 1, we found that only individual differences with regard
      to a task updating numerical information following addition (MUcalc) could
      predict the performance of MMM, perhaps owing to common elements between the task
      and MMM. In Experiment 2, new updating tasks were designed to clarify this: a
      spatial updating task with no numbers, a numerical task with no calculation, and
      a word task. The results showed that both MUcalc and the spatial task were able
      to predict the performance of MMM but only with the more difficult problems,
      while other updating tasks did not predict performance. It is concluded that
      relevant processes involved in updating the contents of working memory support
      mental arithmetic in adults. 

PMID- 26869974
TI  - Subjective Significance Shapes Arousal Effects on Modified Stroop Task
      Performance: A Duality of Activation Mechanisms Account.
AB  - Activation mechanisms such as arousal are known to be responsible for slowdown
      observed in the Emotional Stroop and modified Stroop tasks. Using the duality of
      mind perspective, we may conclude that both ways of processing information
      (automatic or controlled) should have their own mechanisms of activation, namely,
      arousal for an experiential mind, and subjective significance for a rational
      mind. To investigate the consequences of both, factorial manipulation was
      prepared. Other factors that influence Stroop task processing such as valence,
      concreteness, frequency, and word length were controlled. Subjective significance
      was expected to influence arousal effects. In the first study, the task was to
      name the color of font for activation charged words. In the second study,
      activation charged words were, at the same time, combined with an incongruent
      condition of the classical Stroop task around a fixation point. The task was to
      indicate the font color for color-meaning words. In both studies, subjective
      significance was found to shape the arousal impact on performance in terms of the
      slowdown reduction for words charged with subjective significance. 

PMID- 26869973
TI  - Fancy Citrus, Feel Good: Positive Judgment of Citrus Odor, but Not the Odor
      Itself, Is Associated with Elevated Mood during Experienced Helplessness.
AB  - Aromatherapy claims that citrus essential oils exert mood lifting effects.
      Controlled studies, however, have yielded inconsistent results. Notably, studies
      so far did not control for odor pleasantness, although pleasantness is a critical
      determinant of emotional responses to odors. This study investigates mood lifting
      effects of d-(+)-limonene, the most prominent substance in citrus essential oils,
      with respect to odor quality judgments. Negative mood was induced within 78
      participants using a helplessness paradigm (unsolvable social discrimination
      task). During this task, participants were continuously (mean duration: 19.5 min)
      exposed to d-(+)-limonene (n = 25), vanillin (n = 26), or diethyl phthalate (n =
      27). Participants described their mood (Self-Assessment-Manikin, basic emotion
      ratings) and judged the odors' quality (intensity, pleasantness, unpleasantness,
      familiarity) prior to and following the helplessness induction. The participants
      were in a less positive mood after the helplessness induction (p < 0.001),
      irrespective of the odor condition. Still, the more pleasant the participants
      judged the odors, the less effective the helplessness induction was in reducing
      happiness (p = 0.019). The results show no odor specific mood lifting effect of d
      (+)-limonene, but indicate a positive effect of odor pleasantness on mood. The
      study highlights the necessity to evaluate odor judgments in aromatherapy
      research. 

PMID- 26869972
TI  - Frontal Cortical Asymmetry May Partially Mediate the Influence of Social Power on
      Anger Expression.
AB  - When irritated by other people, powerful people usually tend to express their
      anger explicitly and directly, whereas people in less powerful positions are more
      likely not to show their feelings freely. The neural mechanism behind power and
      its influence on expression tendency has been scarcely explored. This study
      recorded frontal EEG activity at rest and frontal EEG activation while
      participants were engaged in a writing task describing an anger-eliciting event,
      in which they were irritated by people with higher or lower social power.
      Participants' anger levels and expression inclination levels were self-reported
      on nine-point visual analog Likert scales, and also rated by independent raters
      based on the essays they had written. The results showed that high social power
      was indeed associated with greater anger expression tendency and greater left
      frontal activation than low social power. This is in line with the approach
      inhibition theory of power. The mid-frontal asymmetric activation served as a
      partial mediator between social power and expression inclination. This effect may
      relate to the functions of the prefrontal cortex, which is in charge of
      information integration and evaluation and the control of motivation direction,
      as reported by previous studies. 

PMID- 26869975
TI  - How to Best Name a Place? Facilitation and Inhibition of Route Learning Due to
      Descriptive and Arbitrary Location Labels.
AB  - Establishing verbal memory traces for non-verbal stimuli was reported to
      facilitate or inhibit memory for the non-verbal stimuli. We show that these
      effects are also observed in a domain not indicated before-wayfinding. Fifty
      three participants followed a guided route in a virtual environment. They were
      asked to remember half of the intersections by relying on the visual impression
      only. At the other 50% of the intersections, participants additionally heard a
      place name, which they were asked to memorize. For testing, participants were
      teleported to the intersections and were asked to indicate the subsequent
      direction of the learned route. In Experiment 1, intersections' names were
      arbitrary (i.e., not related to the visual impression). Here, participants
      performed more accurately at unnamed intersections. In Experiment 2,
      intersections' names were descriptive and participants' route memory was more
      accurate at named intersections. Results have implications for naming places in a
      city and for wayfinding aids. 

PMID- 26869976
TI  - A Pronoun Analysis of Couples' Support Transactions.
AB  - The present study collected data about couples' level of relationship quality and
      their usage of pronouns that express we-ness or separateness in the context of
      support interactions. The sample consisted of 48 couples in a long-term
      relationship who provided questionnaire data and participated in two videotaped
      social support interaction tasks. Couples' videotaped interactions were
      subsequently coded for the number of personal pronouns-we-words (e.g., we, ours,
      ourselves) versus you and me-words (e.g., me, mine, you, yours)-used by both
      partners. 

PMID- 26869977
TI  - The Adapting Mind in the Genomic Era.
AB  - Genomics and molecular biology has added substantial methods and knowledge to
      nearly all fields of biology and medicine. In this review we try to demonstrate
      how genomics and molecular biology is also on the way to have a profound impact
      on behavioral anthropology, evolutionary psychology, evolutionary sociology, and
      bio-sociology. We propose that particularly studies on "selection and adaptation"
      will be influenced profoundly by genomics, for instance via identification of the
      partially genetic basis of human behavior by "candidate gene studies" and by
      "genome wide association studies." In addition, epigenetics will lead to a deeper
      study of the interaction of the genetic basis of a behavior and its environmental
      regulation. We argue that the "genomic revolution" is much more than merely a new
      methodological approach, but will change our concepts of human behavior and its
      development in the evolution of homo. 

PMID- 26869978
TI  - Providing Extrinsic Reward for Test Performance Undermines Long-Term Memory
      Acquisition.
AB  - Based on numerous studies showing that testing studied material can improve long
      term retention more than restudying the same material, it is often suggested that
      the number of tests in education should be increased to enhance knowledge
      acquisition. However, testing in real-life educational settings often entails a
      high degree of extrinsic motivation of learners due to the common practice of
      placing important consequences on the outcome of a test. Such an effect on the
      motivation of learners may undermine the beneficial effects of testing on long
      term memory because it has been shown that extrinsic motivation can reduce the
      quality of learning. To examine this issue, participants learned foreign language
      vocabulary words, followed by an immediate test in which one-third of the words
      were tested and one-third restudied. To manipulate extrinsic motivation during
      immediate testing, participants received either monetary reward contingent on
      test performance or no reward. After 1 week, memory for all words was tested. In
      the immediate test, reward reduced correct recall and increased commission
      errors, indicating that reward reduced the number of items that can benefit from
      successful retrieval. The results in the delayed test revealed that reward
      additionally reduced the gain received from successful retrieval because memory
      for initially successfully retrieved words was lower in the reward condition.
      However, testing was still more effective than restudying under reward conditions
      because reward undermined long-term memory for concurrently restudied material as
      well. These findings indicate that providing performance-contingent reward in a
      test can undermine long-term knowledge acquisition. 

PMID- 26869980
TI  - "How Much is that Player in the Window? The One with the Early Birthday?"
      Relative Age Influences the Value of the Best Soccer Players, but Not the Best
      Businesspeople.

PMID- 26869979
TI  - Am I Overweight? A Longitudinal Study on Parental and Peers Weight-Related
      Perceptions on Dietary Behaviors and Weight Status Among Adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: An investigation of the interplay between various types of
      adolescents' perceptions of weight status in predicting adolescents' nutrition
      behavior and their body mass was conducted. In particular, it was hypothesized
      that the relationship between parental and peers' perceptions of their own weight
      status (reported by adolescents) and objectively measured weight status of
      adolescents would be mediated by three types of adolescents' weight status
      perceptions (adolescents' own weight perceptions, parental perceptions of
      adolescents' weight status perceived by participants, and peers' perceptions of
      adolescents' weight status perceived by participants) and by adolescents'
      nutrition behaviors. DESIGN: Data were collected twice, with a 13-month follow
      up. Participants (N = 1096) were aged 14-20, with BMI ranging from 16.20 to
      41.21. Multiple mediation analysis with two sequential mediators was applied.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At the baseline adolescents completed the questionnaire
      assessing their nutrition behaviors and weight status perceptions. Weight and
      height were measured objectively at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Two types of
      weight perceptions (adolescents' own weight status perceptions, peers'
      perceptions of adolescents' weight status reported by participants), and
      adolescents' nutrition behaviors mediated the relationship between the others'
      own weight perceptions and adolescents' weight status. No indirect effects of
      others' own weight perceptions on adolescents' weight status through parental
      perceptions were found. CONCLUSION: Adolescents' nutrition behaviors and body
      weight status depend on what they think about their own weight status and what
      they think of their peers' perceptions, but do not depend on what adolescents
      think of their parents' perceptions.

PMID- 26869981
TI  - Modeling the Relations Among Morphological Awareness Dimensions, Vocabulary
      Knowledge, and Reading Comprehension in Adult Basic Education Students.
AB  - This study extended the findings of Tighe and Schatschneider (2015) by
      investigating the predictive utility of separate dimensions of morphological
      awareness as well as vocabulary knowledge to reading comprehension in adult basic
      education (ABE) students. We competed two- and three-factor structural equation
      models of reading comprehension. A three-factor model of real word morphological
      awareness, pseudoword morphological awareness, and vocabulary knowledge emerged
      as the best fit and accounted for 79% of the reading comprehension variance. The
      results indicated that the constructs contributed jointly to reading
      comprehension; however, vocabulary knowledge was the only potentially unique
      predictor (p = 0.052), accounting for an additional 5.6% of the variance. This
      study demonstrates the feasibility of applying a latent variable modeling
      approach to examine individual differences in the reading comprehension skills of
      ABE students. Further, this study replicates the findings of Tighe and
      Schatschneider (2015) on the importance of differentiating among dimensions of
      morphological awareness in this population. 

PMID- 26869982
TI  - Getting under the Skin: Report from the International Psoriasis Council Workshop
      on the Role of Stress in Psoriasis.
AB  - Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with significant physical and
      psychosocial comorbidity. A workshop of leading experts in dermatology and
      psychology with the purpose of better understanding the current role of
      psychological comorbidities in psoriasis was held by the International Psoriasis
      Council in November 2013. The role of stress reactivity with a focus on the
      hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was emphasized. While cognitive behavioral
      therapy remains the most extensively studied and successful treatment strategy in
      patients with psoriasis and various psychological comorbidities, new and
      innovative interventions such as online-based therapies have recently emerged.
      Strategies and recommendations toward approaching psychological comorbidities are
      discussed. 

PMID- 26869983
TI  - Subgroup Analysis in Burnout: Relations Between Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression.
AB  - Several authors have suggested that burned out patients do not form a homogeneous
      group and that subgroups should be considered. The identification of these
      subgroups may contribute to a better understanding of the burnout construct and
      lead to more specific therapeutic interventions. Subgroup analysis may also help
      clarify whether burnout is a distinct entity and whether subgroups of burnout
      overlap with other disorders such as depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. In
      a group of 113 clinically diagnosed burned out patients, levels of fatigue,
      depression, and anxiety were assessed. In order to identify possible subgroups,
      we performed a two-step cluster analysis. The analysis revealed two clusters that
      differed from one another in terms of symptom severity on the three
      aforementioned measures. Depression appeared to be the strongest predictor of
      group membership. These results are considered in the light of the scientific
      debate on whether burnout can be distinguished from depression and whether
      burnout subtyping is useful. Finally, implications for clinical practice and
      future research are discussed. 

PMID- 26869984
TI  - From Self to Nonself: The Nonself Theory.
AB  - The maintenance/strength of self is a very core concept in Western psychology and
      is particularly relevant to egoism, a process that draws on the hedonic principle
      in pursuit of desires. Contrary to this and based on Buddhism, a nonself
      cultivating process aims to minimize or extinguish the self and avoid desires,
      leading to egolessness or selflessness. The purpose of this paper is to present
      the Nonself Theory (NT). The universal Mandala Model of Self (MMS) was developed
      to describe the well-functioning self in various cultures. The end goal of the
      self is to attain authentic and durable happiness. Given that the nonself is
      considered a well-functioning self, the MMS is suitable for constructing the NT.
      The ego and nonself aspects of psychological self-functioning and their
      underlying processes are compared, drawing on the four concepts of the MMS:
      biology, ideal person, knowledge/wisdom and action. The ego engages in
      psychological activities to strengthen the self, applying the hedonic principle
      of seeking desire-driven pleasure. In contrast, a nonself approach involves
      execution of the self-cultivation principle, which involves three ways: giving up
      desires, displaying compassion, practicing meditation and seeking understanding
      Buddhist wisdom. These three ways have the goal of seeing through and overcoming
      the illusion of the self to achieve a deep transformation integrally connected to
      the experience of eliminating the sense of self and its psychological structures.
      In addition, the NT provides a comprehensive framework to account for nonself
      plus-compassion-related activities or experiences such as altruism, mindfulness,
      mediation, mysterious/peak experiences, elimination of death anxiety and moral
      conduct. The NT offers possible answers that might lead to a more comprehensive
      understanding of human beings and the deeper meaning of life, toward the ultimate
      goal of a well-functioning self. An examination of possible clinical applications
      and theoretical directions for future research in nonself psychology are
      provided. 

PMID- 26869985
TI  - Corrigendum: Arousal and exposure duration affect forward step initiation.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 1667 in vol. 6, PMID: 26579048.]. 

PMID- 26869986
TI  - Cerebral Microcirculation during Experimental Normovolaemic Anemia.
AB  - Anemia is accepted among critically ill patients as an alternative to elective
      blood transfusion. This practice has been extrapolated to head injury patients
      with only one study comparing the effects of mild anemia on neurological outcome.
      There are no studies quantifying microcirculation during anemia. Experimental
      studies suggest that anemia leads to cerebral hypoxia and increased rates of
      infarction, but the lack of clinical equipoise, when testing the cerebral effects
      of transfusion among critically injured patients, supports the need of
      experimental studies. The aim of this study was to quantify cerebral
      microcirculation and the potential presence of axonal damage in an experimental
      model exposed to normovolaemic anemia, with the intention of describing possible
      limitations within management practices in critically ill patients. Under non
      recovered anesthesia, six Merino sheep were instrumented using an intracardiac
      transeptal catheter to inject coded microspheres into the left atrium to ensure
      systemic and non-chaotic distribution. Cytometric analyses quantified cerebral
      microcirculation at specific regions of the brain. Amyloid precursor protein
      staining was used as an indicator of axonal damage. Animals were exposed to
      normovolaemic anemia by blood extractions from the indwelling arterial catheter
      with simultaneous fluid replacement through a venous central catheter.
      Simultaneous data recording from cerebral tissue oxygenation, intracranial
      pressure, and cardiac output was monitored. A regression model was used to
      examine the effects of anemia on microcirculation with a mixed model to control
      for repeated measures. Homogeneous and normal cerebral microcirculation with no
      evidence of axonal damage was present in all cerebral regions, with no temporal
      variability, concluding that acute normovolaemic anemia does not result in short
      term effects on cerebral microcirculation in the ovine brain. 

PMID- 26869987
TI  - A Rare Cervical Dystonia Mimic in Adults: Congenital Muscular Torticollis
      (Fibromatosis colli), a Follow-up.
AB  - Neglected or undiagnosed congenital muscular torticollis in adults is quite rare,
      although it is the third most common congenital deformity in the newborn (1).
      When left untreated at an early age, deficits in lateral and rotational range of
      motion can occur along with irreversible facial and skeletal deformities that
      develop over time. Subtle cases can go unnoticed until early adulthood, with
      predominant fibrotic replacement in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) making physical
      therapy and chemodenervation mostly ineffective. Surgical intervention, in these
      cases, can prove effective in alleviating pain, improving function and cosmesis
      (2). We report an update on a previously reported case, misdiagnosed as cervical
      dystonia, which had undergone partial myectomy of the anterior belly of the SCM
      with some relief of symptoms but without total resolution after the correct
      diagnosis of fibromatosis colli (3). 

PMID- 26869989
TI  - A Non-inflammatory Role for Microglia in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
AB  - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by
      deficits in social interaction, difficulties with language, and
      repetitive/restricted behaviors. The etiology of ASD is still largely unclear,
      but immune dysfunction and abnormalities in synaptogenesis have repeatedly been
      implicated as contributing to the disease phenotype. However, an understanding of
      how and if these two processes are related has not firmly been established. As
      non-inflammatory roles of microglia become increasingly recognized as critical to
      normal neurodevelopment, it is important to consider how dysfunction in these
      processes might explain the seemingly disparate findings of immune dysfunction
      and aberrant synaptogenesis seen in ASD. In this review, we highlight research
      demonstrating the importance of microglia to the development of normal neural
      networks, review recent studies demonstrating abnormal microglia in autism, and
      discuss how the relationship between these processes may contribute to the
      development of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders at the cellular
      level. 

PMID- 26869990
TI  - Cellular High-Energy Cavitation Trauma - Description of a Novel In Vitro Trauma
      Model in Three Different Cell Types.
AB  - The mechanisms involved in traumatic brain injury have yet to be fully
      characterized. One mechanism that, especially in high-energy trauma, could be of
      importance is cavitation. Cavitation can be described as a process of
      vaporization, bubble generation, and bubble implosion as a result of a decrease
      and subsequent increase in pressure. Cavitation as an injury mechanism is
      difficult to visualize and model due to its short duration and limited spatial
      distribution. One strategy to analyze the cellular response of cavitation is to
      employ suitable in vitro models. The flyer-plate model is an in vitro high-energy
      trauma model that includes cavitation as a trauma mechanism. A copper fragment is
      accelerated by means of a laser, hits the bottom of a cell culture well causing
      cavitation, and shock waves inside the well and cell medium. We have found the
      flyer-plate model to be efficient, reproducible, and easy to control. In this
      study, we have used the model to analyze the cellular response to microcavitation
      in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma, Caco-2, and C6 glioma cell lines. Mitotic activity in
      neuroblastoma and glioma was investigated with BrdU staining, and cell numbers
      were calculated using automated time-lapse imaging. We found variations between
      cell types and between different zones surrounding the lesion with these methods.
      It was also shown that the injured cell cultures released S-100B in a dose
      dependent manner. Using gene expression microarray, a number of gene families of
      potential interest were found to be strongly, but differently regulated in
      neuroblastoma and glioma at 24 h post trauma. The data from the gene expression
      arrays may be used to identify new candidates for biomarkers in cavitation
      trauma. We conclude that our model is useful for studies of trauma in vitro and
      that it could be applied in future treatment studies. 

PMID- 26869988
TI  - Toward Precision Psychiatry: Statistical Platform for the Personalized
      Characterization of Natural Behaviors.
AB  - There is a critical need for new analytics to personalize behavioral data
      analysis across different fields, including kinesiology, sports science, and
      behavioral neuroscience. Specifically, to better translate and integrate basic
      research into patient care, we need to radically transform the methods by which
      we describe and interpret movement data. Here, we show that hidden in the
      "noise," smoothed out by averaging movement kinematics data, lies a wealth of
      information that selectively differentiates neurological and mental disorders
      such as Parkinson's disease, deafferentation, autism spectrum disorders, and
      schizophrenia from typically developing and typically aging controls. In this
      report, we quantify the continuous forward-and-back pointing movements of
      participants from a large heterogeneous cohort comprising typical and
      pathological cases. We empirically estimate the statistical parameters of the
      probability distributions for each individual in the cohort and report the
      parameter ranges for each clinical group after characterization of healthy
      developing and aging groups. We coin this newly proposed platform for
      individualized behavioral analyses "precision phenotyping" to distinguish it from
      the type of observational-behavioral phenotyping prevalent in clinical studies or
      from the "one-size-fits-all" model in basic movement science. We further propose
      the use of this platform as a unifying statistical framework to characterize
      brain disorders of known etiology in relation to idiopathic neurological
      disorders with similar phenotypic manifestations. 

PMID- 26869991
TI  - Multiple Pituitary Adenomas: A Systematic Review.
AB  - PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection databases were systematically
      searched for studies reporting synchronous double or multiple pituitary adenomas
      (MPA), a rare clinical condition, with a vague pathogenesis. Multiple adenomas of
      the pituitary gland are referred to as morphologically and/or
      immunocytochemically distinct tumors that are frequently small-sized and
      hormonally non-functional, to account for the low detection rate. There is no
      general agreement on how to classify MPA, various criteria, such as tumor
      contiguity, immunoreactivity, and clonality analysis are being used. Among the
      component tumors, prolactin (PRL)-immunopositive adenomas are highly prevalent,
      albeit mute in the majority of cases. The most frequent clinical presentation of
      MPA is Cushing's syndrome, given the fact that in more than 50% of reported cases
      at least one lesion stains for adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Plurihormonal
      hyperactivity may be diagnosed in a patient with MPA when more than one tumor is
      clinically active (e.g., ACTH and PRL) or in cases with at least one composite
      tumor (e.g., GH and PRL), to complicate the clinical scenario. Specific
      challenges associated with MPA include high surgical failure rates, enforcing
      second-look surgery in certain cases, and difficult preoperative
      neuroradiological imaging evaluation, with an overall sensitivity of only 25% for
      magnetic resonance imaging to detect distinct multiple tumors. Alternatively,
      minor pituitary imaging abnormalities may raise suspicion, as these are not
      uncommon. Postoperative immunohistochemistry is mandatory and in conjunction to
      electron microscopy scanning and testing for transcription factors (i.e., Pit-1,
      T-pit, and SF-1) accurately define and classify the distinct cytodifferentiation
      of MPA. 

PMID- 26869992
TI  - Fenofibrate Induces Ketone Body Production in Melanoma and Glioblastoma Cells.
AB  - Ketone bodies [beta-hydroxybutyrate (bHB) and acetoacetate] are mainly produced
      in the liver during prolonged fasting or starvation. bHB is a very efficient
      energy substrate for sustaining ATP production in peripheral tissues;
      importantly, its consumption is preferred over glucose. However, the majority of
      malignant cells, particularly cancer cells of neuroectodermal origin such as
      glioblastoma, are not able to use ketone bodies as a source of energy. Here, we
      report a novel observation that fenofibrate, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor alpha (PPARa) agonist, induces bHB production in melanoma and
      glioblastoma cells, as well as in neurospheres composed of non-transformed cells.
      Unexpectedly, this effect is not dependent on PPARa activity or its expression
      level. The fenofibrate-induced ketogenesis is accompanied by growth arrest and
      downregulation of transketolase, but the NADP/NADPH and GSH/GSSG ratios remain
      unaffected. Our results reveal a new, intriguing aspect of cancer cell biology
      and highlight the benefits of fenofibrate as a supplement to both canonical and
      dietary (ketogenic) therapeutic approaches against glioblastoma. 

PMID- 26869993
TI  - Possible Role of GnIH as a Mediator between Adiposity and Impaired Testicular
      Function.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the roles of gonadotropin-inhibitory
      hormone (GnIH) as an endocrine link between increasing adiposity and impaired
      testicular function in mice. To achieve this, the effect of GnIH on changes in
      nutrients uptake and hormonal synthesis/action in the adipose tissue and testis
      was investigated simultaneously by in vivo study and separately by in vitro
      study. Mice were treated in vivo with different doses of GnIH for 8 days. In the
      in vitro study, adipose tissue and testes of mice were cultured with different
      doses of GnIH with or without insulin or LH for 24 h at 37 degrees C. The GnIH
      treatment in vivo showed increased food intake, upregulation of glucose
      transporter 4 (GLUT4), and increased uptake of triglycerides (TGs) in the adipose
      tissue. These changes may be responsible for increased accumulation of fat in
      white adipose tissue, resulting in increase in the body mass. Contrary to the
      adipose tissue, treatment with GnIH both in vivo and in vitro showed decreased
      uptake of glucose by downregulation of glucose transporter 8 (GLUT8) expressions
      in the testis, which in turn resulted in the decreased synthesis of testosterone.
      The GnIH treatment in vivo also showed the decreased expression of insulin
      receptor protein in the testis, which may also be responsible for the decreased
      testicular activity in the mice. These findings thus suggest that GnIH increases
      the uptake of glucose and TGs in the adipose tissue, resulting in increased
      accumulation of fat, whereas simultaneously in the testis, GnIH suppressed the
      GLUT8-mediated glucose uptake, which in turn may be responsible for decreased
      testosterone synthesis. This study thus demonstrates GnIH as mediator of
      increasing adiposity and impaired testicular function in mice. 

PMID- 26869994
TI  - In Utero Bisphenol A Exposure Induces Abnormal Neuronal Migration in the Cerebral
      Cortex of Mice.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) has been known to have endocrine-disrupting activity to induce
      reproductive and behavioral abnormalities in offspring of laboratory animal
      species. However, morphological basis of this abnormality during brain
      development is largely unknown. Cerebral cortex plays a crucial role in higher
      brain function, and its precisely laminated structure is formed by neuronal
      migration. In the present study, transfecting a plasmid (pCAG-mCherry) by in
      utero electroporation (IUE), we visualized developing neurons and investigated
      the possible effects of in utero BPA exposure on neuronal migration. Pregnant
      mice were exposed to BPA by osmotic pump at estimated daily doses of 0, 40 (BPA
      40), or 400 (BPA-400) MUg/kg from embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) to E18.5. IUE was
      performed at E14.5 and neuronal migration was analyzed at E18.5. Compared with
      the control group, neuronal migration in the cortical plate was significantly
      decreased in the BPA-40 group; however, there was no significant difference in
      the BPA-400 group. Among several neuronal migration-related genes and cortical
      layer-specific genes, TrkB in the BPA-400 group was found significantly
      upregulated. In conclusion, in utero exposure to low BPA dose was found to
      disrupt neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex in a dose-specific manner. 

PMID- 26869996
TI  - Isolation and Identification of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria from
      Cucumber Rhizosphere and Their Effect on Plant Growth Promotion and Disease
      Suppression.
AB  - Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are the rhizosphere bacteria that may
      be utilized to augment plant growth and suppress plant diseases. The objectives
      of this study were to identify and characterize PGPR indigenous to cucumber
      rhizosphere in Bangladesh, and to evaluate their ability to suppress Phytophthora
      crown rot in cucumber. A total of 66 isolates were isolated, out of which 10
      (PPB1, PPB2, PPB3, PPB4, PPB5, PPB8, PPB9, PPB10, PPB11, and PPB12) were selected
      based on their in vitro plant growth promoting attributes and antagonism of
      phytopathogens. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences identified these
      isolates as new strains of Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus subtilis,
      Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The selected
      isolates produced high levels (26.78-51.28 MUg mL(-1)) of indole-3-acetic acid,
      while significant acetylene reduction activities (1.79-4.9 MUmole C2H4 mg(-1)
      protein h(-1)) were observed in eight isolates. Cucumber plants grown from seeds
      that were treated with these PGPR strains displayed significantly higher levels
      of germination, seedling vigour, growth, and N content in root and shoot tissue
      compared to non-treated control plants. All selected isolates were able to
      successfully colonize the cucumber roots. Moreover, treating cucumber seeds with
      these isolates significantly suppressed Phytophthora crown rot caused by
      Phytophthora capsici, and characteristic morphological alterations in P. capsici
      hyphae that grew toward PGPR colonies were observed. Since these PGPR inoculants
      exhibited multiple traits beneficial to the host plants, they may be applied in
      the development of new, safe, and effective seed treatments as an alternative to
      chemical fungicides. 

PMID- 26869997
TI  - Sulfur Biogeochemistry of an Oil Sands Composite Tailings Deposit.
AB  - Composite tailings (CT), an engineered, alkaline, saline mixture of oil sands
      tailings (FFT), processed sand and gypsum (CaSO4; 1 kg CaSO4 per m(3) FFT) are
      used as a dry reclamation strategy in the Alberta Oil Sands Region (AOSR). It is
      estimated that 9.6 * 10(8) m(3) of CT are either in, or awaiting emplacement in
      surface pits within the AOSR, highlighting their potential global importance in
      sulfur cycling. Here, in the first CT sulfur biogeochemistry investigation,
      integrated geochemical, pyrosequencing and lipid analyses identified high aqueous
      concentrations of ?H2S (>300 MUM) and highly altered sulfur compounds
      composition; low cell biomass (3.3 * 10(6)- 6.0 * 10(6) cells g(-1)) and modest
      bacterial diversity (H' range between 1.4 and 1.9) across 5 depths spanning 34 m
      of an in situ CT deposit. Pyrosequence results identified a total of 29,719
      bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences, representing 131 OTUs spanning19 phyla
      including 7 candidate divisions, not reported in oil sands tailings pond studies
      to date. Legacy FFT common phyla, notably, gamma and beta Proteobacteria,
      Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were represented. However, overall CT
      microbial diversity and PLFA values were low relative to other contexts. The
      identified known sulfate/sulfur reducing bacteria constituted at most 2% of the
      abundance; however, over 90% of the 131 OTUs identified are capable of sulfur
      metabolism. While PCR biases caution against overinterpretation of pyrosequence
      surveys, bacterial sequence results identified here, align with phospholipid
      fatty acid (PLFA) and geochemical results. The highest bacterial diversities were
      associated with the depth of highest porewater [?H2S] (22-24 m) and joint
      porewater co-occurrence of Fe(2+) and ?H2S (6-8 m). Three distinct bacterial
      community structure depths corresponded to CT porewater regions of (1) shallow
      evident Fe((II)) (<6 m), (2) co-occurring Fe((II)) and ?H2S (6-8 m) and (3)
      extensive ?H2S (6-34 m) (UniFrac). Candidate divisions GNO2, NKB19 and Spam were
      present only at 6-8 m associated with co-occurring [Fe((II))] and [?H2S].
      Collectively, results indicate that CT materials are differentiated from other
      sulfur rich environments by modestly diverse, low abundance, but highly sulfur
      active and more enigmatic communities (7 candidate divisions present within the
      19 phyla identified). 

PMID- 26869998
TI  - Race Against Antimicrobial Resistance Requires Coordinated Action - An Overview.
AB  - Resistance developed by microbes is challenging success stories of treatment of
      infectious diseases with anti-microbials. Developing new antimicrobials against
      these resistant organisms does not progress at the same speed. In an effort to
      address this key issue, this work overviews the role of different stakeholders
      and discusses preventative and control measures for effective management of
      available resources. Roles and concerns of physicians, pharmacists and the public
      are also discussed. More than anything, this situation requires immediate action
      to establish antimicrobial stewardship program, control over the counter sale and
      promote public awareness. The paper also confronts the idea of curbing the use of
      antimicrobials using mass media, while detailing the consequences of non
      therapeutic use. The role of policy makers in taking global action is essential
      to establishing authority or agency for formulating national guidelines and
      regulations for prudently using antimicrobials. To do this, this paper recommend
      the establishment of a global fund. In conclusion, the race against resistance is
      a collective responsibility requiring coordinated action at local, national,
      regional and international levels to ensure sustained utilization of
      antimicrobials. 

PMID- 26869995
TI  - The Role of Steroid Hormones in the Modulation of Neuroinflammation by Dietary
      Interventions.
AB  - Steroid hormones, such as sex hormones and glucocorticoids, have been
      demonstrated to play a role in different cellular processes in the central
      nervous system, ranging from neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration. Environmental
      factors, such as calorie intake or fasting frequency, may also impact on such
      processes, indicating the importance of external factors in the development and
      preservation of a healthy brain. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and
      glucocorticoid activity play a role in neurodegenerative processes, including in
      disorders such as in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Sex hormones have also
      been shown to modulate cognitive functioning. Inflammation is a common feature in
      neurodegenerative disorders, and sex hormones/glucocorticoids can act to regulate
      inflammatory processes. Intermittent fasting can protect the brain against
      cognitive decline that is induced by an inflammatory stimulus. On the other hand,
      obesity increases susceptibility to inflammation, while metabolic syndromes, such
      as diabetes, are associated with neurodegeneration. Consequently, given that
      gonadal and/or adrenal steroids may significantly impact the pathophysiology of
      neurodegeneration, via their effect on inflammatory processes, this review
      focuses on how environmental factors, such as calorie intake and intermittent
      fasting, acting through their modulation of steroid hormones, impact on
      inflammation that contributes to cognitive and neurodegenerative processes. 

PMID- 26869999
TI  - Transmission Dynamics of Rift Valley Fever Virus: Effects of Live and Killed
      Vaccines on Epizootic Outbreaks and Enzootic Maintenance.
AB  - Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arthropod-borne viral pathogen that causes
      significant morbidity and mortality in small ruminants throughout Africa and the
      Middle East. Due to the sporadic and explosive nature of RVF outbreaks,
      vaccination has proved challenging to reduce RVFV infection in the ruminant
      population. Currently, there are two available types of vaccines, live and
      killed, in endemic areas. In this study, two mathematical models have been
      developed to explore the impact of live and killed vaccines on the transmission
      dynamics of RVFV. We demonstrate in general that vaccination helps reduce the
      severity of RVF outbreaks and that less delay in implementation and more
      vaccination attempts and effective vaccines can reduce the outbreak magnitude and
      the endemic number of RVFV. However, an introduction of a number of ruminants
      vaccinated by live vaccines in RVFV-free areas may cause an outbreak and RVFV may
      become endemic if there is sustained use of live vaccines. Other factors that are
      the important determinants of RVF outbreaks include: unsustained vaccination
      programs, recruitment of susceptible ruminants, and the seasonal abundance of
      mosquitoes. 

PMID- 26870000
TI  - Potentiating the Heat Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef
      Patties by Natural Antimicrobials.
AB  - Escherichia coli O157: H7 (EHEC) is a major foodborne pathogen largely
      transmitted to humans through the consumption of undercooked ground beef. This
      study investigated the efficacy of two food-grade, plant-derived antimicrobials,
      namely rutin (RT), and resveratrol (RV) with or without chitosan (CH) in
      enhancing EHEC inactivation in undercooked hamburger patties. Further, the effect
      of aforementioned treatments on beef color and lipid oxidation was analyzed.
      Additionally, the deleterious effects of these antimicrobial treatments on EHEC
      was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ground beef was
      inoculated with a five-strain mixture of EHEC (7.0 log CFU/g), followed by the
      addition of RT (0.05%, 0.1% w/w) or RV (0.1, 0.2% w/w) with or without CH (0.01%
      w/w). The meat was formed into patties (25 g) and stored at 4 degrees C for 5
      days. On days 1, 3, and 5, the patties were cooked (65 degrees C, medium rare)
      and surviving EHEC was enumerated. The effect of these treatments on meat color
      and lipid oxidation during storage was also determined as per American Meat
      Science Association guidelines. The study was repeated three times with duplicate
      samples of each treatment. Both RT and RV enhanced the thermal destruction of
      EHEC, and reduced the pathogen load by at least 3 log CFU/g compared to control
      (P < 0.05). The combination of RT or RV with CH was found to be more effective,
      and reduced EHEC by 5 log CFU/g (P < 0.05). EHEC counts in uncooked patties did
      not decline during storage for 5 days (P > 0.05). Moreover, patties treated with
      RV plus CH were more color stable with higher a(*) values (P < 0.05). SEM results
      revealed that heat treatment with antimicrobials (CH + RV 0.2%) resulted in
      complete destruction of EHEC cells and extrusion of intracellular contents.
      Results suggest that the aforementioned antimicrobials could be used for
      enhancing the thermal inactivation of EHEC in undercooked patties; however,
      detailed sensory studies are warranted. 

PMID- 26870002
TI  - Editorial: Computational Systems Biology of Pathogen-Host Interactions.

PMID- 26870001
TI  - A Critical Role of Bacterioferritin in Salmonella pullorum-Induced IFN-beta
      Expression in DF-1 Cells.
AB  - Salmonella enterica serovar Pullorum (S. pullorum) causes pullorum disease in
      poultry and results in great economic losses to the poultry industry. Although an
      eradication program has been successfully performed in some countries, it remains
      a major threat to countries with poor poultry disease surveillance. Currently
      there are no effective control measures for pullorum disease except eradication.
      In particular, the pathogenesis of S. pullorum infection is still largely
      unknown. Here we identified bacterioferritin (Bfr) as a major antigen of S.
      pullorum to elicit a humoral immune response. Furthermore, we demonstrate that
      Bfr induces activation of IFN-beta promoter and mRNA expression in DF-1 cells,
      and that the amino acids 1-50 form a critical domain involved in IFN-beta
      expression. Moreover, we found that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway was essential
      for Bfr-induced IFN-beta expression. Importantly, S. pullorum-induced IFN-beta
      expression was totally abolished by deficiency of Bfr in the bacteria, indicating
      that Bfr plays a critical role in S. pullorum induced IFN-beta expression in DF-1
      cells. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the
      host response to S. pullorum infection. 

PMID- 26870004
TI  - VirusTAP: Viral Genome-Targeted Assembly Pipeline.
AB  - Although next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides a comprehensive
      means with which to identify potential pathogens from clinical specimens, simple
      and user-friendly bioinformatics pipelines are expected to obtain the entire
      viral genome sequence, subsequently providing traceability, based on extensive
      molecular phylogenetic analyses. We have developed a web-based integrated NGS
      analysis tool for the viral genome (virus genome-targeted assembly pipeline:
      VirusTAP), which includes extensive sequence subtraction of host- or bacteria
      related NGS reads prior to de novo assembly, leading to the prompt and accurate
      assembly of viral genome sequences from metagenomic NGS reads. The VirusTAP web
      site is at https://gph.niid.go.jp/cgi-bin/virustap/index.cgi/. 

PMID- 26870003
TI  - Ig Constant Region Effects on Variable Region Structure and Function.
AB  - The adaptive humoral immune response is responsible for the generation of
      antimicrobial proteins known as immunoglobulin molecules or antibodies.
      Immunoglobulins provide a defense system against pathogenic microbes and toxins
      by targeting them for removal and/or destruction. Historically, antibodies have
      been thought to be composed of distinct structural domains known as the variable
      and constant regions that are responsible for antigen binding and mediating
      effector functions such as opsonization and complement activation, respectively.
      These domains were thought to be structurally and functionally independent.
      Recent work has revealed however, that in some families of antibodies, the two
      regions can influence each other. We will discuss the body of work that led to
      these observations, as well as the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain
      how these two different antibody regions may interact in the function of antigen
      binding. 

PMID- 26870006
TI  - Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Integration and Modeling of Enrofloxacin in
      Swine for Escherichia coli.
AB  - The aim of this study was to optimize the dose regimens of enrofloxacin to reduce
      the development of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli (E.coli) using
      pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling approach. The single dose (2.5
      mg/kg body weight) of enrofloxacin was administered intramuscularly (IM) to the
      healthy pigs. Using cannulation, the pharmacokinetic properties, including peak
      concentration (C max), time to reach C max (T max), and area under the curve
      (AUC), were determined in plasma and ileum content. The C max, T max, and AUC in
      the plasma were 1.09 +/- 0.11 MUg/mL, 1.27 +/- 0.35 h, and 12.70 +/- 2.72
      MUg.h/mL, respectively. While in ileum content, the C max, T max, and AUC were
      7.07 +/- 0.26 MUg/mL, 5.54 +/- 0.42 h, and 136.18 +/- 12.50 MUg.h/mL,
      respectively. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data of 918 E.
      coli isolates, an E. coli O101/K99 strain (enrofloxacin MIC = 0.25 MUg/mL) was
      selected for pharmacodynamic studies. The in vitro minimum bactericidal
      concentration (MBC), mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and ex vivo time
      killing curves for enrofloxacin in ileum content were established against the
      selected E. coli O101/K99 strain. Integrating the in vivo pharmacokinetic data
      and ex vivo pharmacodynamic data, a sigmoid E max (Hill) equation was established
      to provide values for ileum content of AUC24h/MIC producing, bactericidal
      activity (52.65 h), and virtual eradication of bacteria (78.06 h). A dosage
      regimen of 1.96 mg/kg every 12 h for 3 days should be sufficient in the treatment
      of E. coli. 

PMID- 26870005
TI  - Local Inflammation, Dissemination and Coalescence of Lesions Are Key for the
      Progression toward Active Tuberculosis: The Bubble Model.
AB  - The evolution of a tuberculosis (TB) infection toward active disease is driven by
      a combination of factors mostly related to the host response. The equilibrium
      between control of the bacillary load and the pathology generated is crucial as
      regards preventing the growth and proliferation of TB lesions. In addition, some
      experimental evidence suggests an important role of both local endogenous
      reinfection and the coalescence of neighboring lesions. Herein we propose a
      mathematical model that captures the essence of these factors by defining three
      hypotheses: (i) lesions grow logistically due to the inflammatory reaction; (ii)
      new lesions can appear as a result of extracellular bacilli or infected
      macrophages that escape from older lesions; and (iii) lesions can merge when they
      are close enough. This model was implemented in Matlab to simulate the dynamics
      of several lesions in a 3D space. It was also fitted to available microscopy data
      from infected C3HeB/FeJ mice, an animal model of active TB that reacts against
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis with an exaggerated inflammatory response. The results
      of the simulations show the dynamics observed experimentally, namely an initial
      increase in the number of lesions followed by fluctuations, and an exponential
      increase in the mean area of the lesions. In addition, further analysis of
      experimental and simulation results show a strong coincidence of the area
      distributions of lesions at day 21, thereby highlighting the consistency of the
      model. Three simulation series removing each one of the hypothesis corroborate
      their essential role in the dynamics observed. These results demonstrate that
      three local factors, namely an exaggerated inflammatory response, an endogenous
      reinfection, and a coalescence of lesions, are needed in order to progress toward
      active TB. The failure of one of these factors stops induction of the disease.
      This mathematical model may be used as a basis for developing strategies to stop
      the progression of infection toward disease in human lungs. 

PMID- 26870007
TI  - The TCA Pathway is an Important Player in the Regulatory Network Governing Vibrio
      alginolyticus Adhesion Under Adversity.
AB  - Adhesion is a critical step in the initial stage of Vibrio alginolyticus
      infection; therefore, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms
      governing the adhesion of V. alginolyticus and determine if environmental factors
      have any effect. A greater understanding of this process may assist in developing
      preventive measures for reducing infection. In our previous research, we
      presented the first RNA-seq data from V. alginolyticus cultured under stress
      conditions that resulted in reduced adhesion. Based on the RNA-seq data, we found
      that the Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA pathway) might be closely related to
      adhesion. Environmental interactions with the TCA pathway might alter adhesion.
      To validate this, bioinformatics analysis, quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR),
      RNAi, and in vitro adhesion assays were performed, while V. alginolyticus was
      treated with various stresses including temperature, pH, salinity, and
      starvation. The expression of genes involved in the TCA pathway was confirmed by
      qPCR, which reinforced the reliability of the sequencing data. Silencing of these
      genes was capable of reducing the adhesion ability of V. alginolyticus. Adhesion
      of V. alginolyticus is influenced substantially by environmental factors and the
      TCA pathway is sensitive to some environmental stresses, especially changes in pH
      and starvation. Our results indicated that (1) the TCA pathway plays a key role
      in V. alginolyticus adhesion: (2) the TCA pathway is sensitive to environmental
      stresses. 

PMID- 26870009
TI  - Editorial: Advances in Aspergillus fumigatus Pathobiology.

PMID- 26870011
TI  - Metabolic Capabilities of Microorganisms Involved in and Associated with the
      Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane.
AB  - In marine sediments the anaerobic oxidation of methane with sulfate as electron
      acceptor (AOM) is responsible for the removal of a major part of the greenhouse
      gas methane. AOM is performed by consortia of anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea
      (ANME) and their specific partner bacteria. The physiology of these organisms is
      poorly understood, which is due to their slow growth with doubling times in the
      order of months and the phylogenetic diversity in natural and in vitro AOM
      enrichments. Here we study sediment-free long-term AOM enrichments that were
      cultivated from seep sediments sampled off the Italian Island Elba (20 degrees C;
      hereon called E20) and from hot vents of the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California,
      cultivated at 37 degrees C (G37) or at 50 degrees C (G50). These enrichments were
      dominated by consortia of ANME-2 archaea and Seep-SRB2 partner bacteria (E20) or
      by ANME-1, forming consortia with Seep-SRB2 bacteria (G37) or with bacteria of
      the HotSeep-1 cluster (G50). We investigate lipid membrane compositions as
      possible factors for the different temperature affinities of the different ANME
      clades and show autotrophy as characteristic feature for both ANME clades and
      their partner bacteria. Although in the absence of additional substrates methane
      formation was not observed, methanogenesis from methylated substrates (methanol
      and methylamine) could be quickly stimulated in the E20 and the G37 enrichment.
      Responsible for methanogenesis are archaea from the genus Methanohalophilus and
      Methanococcoides, which are minor community members during AOM (1-70/00 of
      archaeal 16S rRNA gene amplicons). In the same two cultures also sulfur
      disproportionation could be quickly stimulated by addition of zero-valent
      colloidal sulfur. The isolated partner bacteria are likewise minor community
      members (1-90/00 of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons), whereas the dominant
      partner bacteria (Seep-SRB1a, Seep-SRB2, or HotSeep-1) did not grow on elemental
      sulfur. Our results support a functioning of AOM as syntrophic interaction of
      obligate methanotrophic archaea that transfer non-molecular reducing equivalents
      (i.e., via direct interspecies electron transfer) to obligate sulfate-reducing
      partner bacteria. Additional katabolic processes in these enrichments but also in
      sulfate methane interfaces are likely performed by minor community members. 

PMID- 26870010
TI  - Biological Stability of Drinking Water: Controlling Factors, Methods, and
      Challenges.
AB  - Biological stability of drinking water refers to the concept of providing
      consumers with drinking water of same microbial quality at the tap as produced at
      the water treatment facility. However, uncontrolled growth of bacteria can occur
      during distribution in water mains and premise plumbing, and can lead to hygienic
      (e.g., development of opportunistic pathogens), aesthetic (e.g., deterioration of
      taste, odor, color) or operational (e.g., fouling or biocorrosion of pipes)
      problems. Drinking water contains diverse microorganisms competing for limited
      available nutrients for growth. Bacterial growth and interactions are regulated
      by factors, such as (i) type and concentration of available organic and inorganic
      nutrients, (ii) type and concentration of residual disinfectant, (iii) presence
      of predators, such as protozoa and invertebrates, (iv) environmental conditions,
      such as water temperature, and (v) spatial location of microorganisms (bulk
      water, sediment, or biofilm). Water treatment and distribution conditions in
      water mains and premise plumbing affect each of these factors and shape bacterial
      community characteristics (abundance, composition, viability) in distribution
      systems. Improved understanding of bacterial interactions in distribution systems
      and of environmental conditions impact is needed for better control of bacterial
      communities during drinking water production and distribution. This article
      reviews (i) existing knowledge on biological stability controlling factors and
      (ii) how these factors are affected by drinking water production and distribution
      conditions. In addition, (iii) the concept of biological stability is discussed
      in light of experience with well-established and new analytical methods, enabling
      high throughput analysis and in-depth characterization of bacterial communities
      in drinking water. We discussed, how knowledge gained from novel techniques will
      improve design and monitoring of water treatment and distribution systems in
      order to maintain good drinking water microbial quality up to consumer's tap. A
      new definition and methodological approach for biological stability is proposed. 

PMID- 26870012
TI  - Identification of Conserved and Potentially Regulatory Small RNAs in
      Heterocystous Cyanobacteria.
AB  - Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a growing class of non-protein-coding transcripts that
      participate in the regulation of virtually every aspect of bacterial physiology.
      Heterocystous cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic organisms that exhibit
      multicellular behavior and developmental alternatives involving specific
      transcriptomes exclusive of a given physiological condition or even a cell type.
      In the context of our ongoing effort to understand developmental decisions in
      these organisms we have undertaken an approach to the global identification of
      sRNAs. Using differential RNA-Seq we have previously identified transcriptional
      start sites for the model heterocystous cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. PCC 7120. Here
      we combine this dataset with a prediction of Rho-independent transcriptional
      terminators and an analysis of phylogenetic conservation of potential sRNAs among
      89 available cyanobacterial genomes. In contrast to predictive genome-wide
      approaches, the use of an experimental dataset comprising all active
      transcriptional start sites (differential RNA-Seq) facilitates the identification
      of bona fide sRNAs. The output of our approach is a dataset of predicted
      potential sRNAs in Nostoc sp. PCC 7120, with different degrees of phylogenetic
      conservation across the 89 cyanobacterial genomes analyzed. Previously described
      sRNAs appear among the predicted sRNAs, demonstrating the performance of the
      algorithm. In addition, new predicted sRNAs are now identified that can be
      involved in regulation of different aspects of cyanobacterial physiology,
      including adaptation to nitrogen stress, the condition that triggers
      differentiation of heterocysts (specialized nitrogen-fixing cells). Transcription
      of several predicted sRNAs that appear exclusively in the genomes of
      heterocystous cyanobacteria is experimentally verified by Northern blot. Cell
      specific transcription of one of these sRNAs, NsiR8 (nitrogen stress-induced RNA
      8), in developing heterocysts is also demonstrated. 

PMID- 26870014
TI  - Human Microbiota of the Argentine Population- A Pilot Study.
AB  - The human microbiota is the collection of microorganisms living in or on the
      human body. An imbalance or dysbiosis in these microbial communities can be
      associated with a wide variety of human diseases (Petersen and Round, 2014; Pham
      and Lawley, 2014; Zaura et al., 2014). Moreover, when the microbiota of the same
      body sites is compared between different healthy individuals, specific microbial
      community features are apparent (Li et al., 2012; Yatsunenko et al., 2012; Oh et
      al., 2014; Relman, 2015). In addition, specific selective pressures are found at
      distinct body sites leading to different patterns in microbial community
      structure and composition (Costello et al., 2009; Consortium, 2012b; Zhou et al.,
      2013). Because of these natural variations, a comprehensive characterization of
      the healthy microbiota is critical for predicting alterations related to
      diseases. This characterization should be based on a broad healthy population
      over time, geography, and culture (Yatsunenko et al., 2012; Shetty et al., 2013;
      Leung et al., 2015; Ross et al., 2015). The study of healthy individuals
      representing different ages, cultural traditions, and ethnic origins will enable
      to understand how the associated microbiota varies between populations and
      respond to different lifestyles. It is important to address these natural
      variations in order to later detect variations related to disease. 

PMID- 26870008
TI  - Bacterial Toxins as Pathogen Weapons Against Phagocytes.
AB  - Bacterial toxins are virulence factors that manipulate host cell functions and
      take over the control of vital processes of living organisms to favor microbial
      infection. Some toxins directly target innate immune cells, thereby annihilating
      a major branch of the host immune response. In this review we will focus on
      bacterial toxins that act from the extracellular milieu and hinder the function
      of macrophages and neutrophils. In particular, we will concentrate on toxins from
      Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that manipulate cell signaling or induce
      cell death by either imposing direct damage to the host cells cytoplasmic
      membrane or enzymatically modifying key eukaryotic targets. Outcomes regarding
      pathogen dissemination, host damage and disease progression will be discussed. 

PMID- 26870015
TI  - Callose Deposition in Plasmodesmata and Viroid Invasion of the Shoot Apical
      Meristem.

PMID- 26870013
TI  - Reservoirs of Non-baumannii Acinetobacter Species.
AB  - Acinetobacter spp. are ubiquitous gram negative and non-fermenting coccobacilli
      that have the ability to occupy several ecological niches including environment,
      animals and human. Among the different species, Acinetobacter baumannii has
      evolved as global pathogen causing wide range of infection. Since the
      implementation of molecular techniques, the habitat and the role of non-baumannii
      Acinetobacter in human infection have been elucidated. In addition, several new
      species have been described. In the present review, we summarize the recent data
      about the natural reservoir of non-baumannii Acinetobacter including the novel
      species that have been described for the first time from environmental sources
      and reported during the last years. 

PMID- 26870017
TI  - Comparative Genomic Analysis of the ICESa2603 Family ICEs and Spread of erm(B)-
      and tet(O)-Carrying Transferable 89K-Subtype ICEs in Swine and Bovine Isolates in
      China.
AB  - Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) of the ICESa2603 family have been
      isolated from several species of Streptococcus spp.; however, the comparative
      genomic and evolutionary analyses of these particular ICEs are currently only at
      their initial stages. By investigating 13 ICEs of the ICESa2603 family and two
      ICESa2603 family-like ICEs derived from diverse hosts and locations, we have
      determined that ICEs comprised a backbone of 30 identical syntenic core genes and
      accessory genes that were restricted to the intergenic sites or the 3'-end of the
      non-conserved domain of core genes to maintain its function. ICESa2603 family
      integrase IntICE Sa 2603 specifically recognized a 15-bp att sequence
      (TTATTTAAGAGTAAC) at the 3'-end of rplL, which was highly conserved in genus
      Streptococcus. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that extensive
      recombination/insertion and the occurrence of a hybrid/mosaic in the ICESa2603
      family were responsible for the significant increase in ICE diversity, thereby
      broadening its host range. Approximately 42.5 and 38.1% of the tested
      Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus agalactiae clinical isolates respectively
      contained ICESa2603 family Type IV secretion system (T4SS) genes, and 80.5 and
      62.5% of which also respectively carried int ICE Sa 2603, indicating that
      ICESa2603 family is widely distributed across these bacteria. Sequencing and
      conjugation transfer of a novel sequence type ST303 clinical S. suis isolate
      HB1011 demonstrated that the 89K-subtype ICESsuHB1011 retained its transferrable
      function, thereby conferring tetracycline and macrolide resistance. 

PMID- 26870018
TI  - Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Symbiotic Relationship among Bacteria in Microcystis
      Dominated Community.
AB  - Microcystis bloom, a cyanobacterial mass occurrence often found in eutrophicated
      water bodies, is one of the most serious threats to freshwater ecosystems
      worldwide. In nature, Microcystis forms aggregates or colonies that contain
      heterotrophic bacteria. The Microcystis-bacteria colonies were persistent even
      when they were maintained in lab culture for a long period. The relationship
      between Microcystis and the associated bacteria was investigated by a metagenomic
      approach in this study. We developed a visualization-guided method of binning for
      genome assembly after total colony DNA sequencing. We found that the method was
      effective in grouping sequences and it did not require reference genome sequence.
      Individual genomes of the colony bacteria were obtained and they provided
      valuable insights into microbial community structures. Analysis of metabolic
      pathways based on these genomes revealed that while all heterotrophic bacteria
      were dependent upon Microcystis for carbon and energy, Vitamin B12 biosynthesis,
      which is required for growth by Microcystis, was accomplished in a cooperative
      fashion among the bacteria. Our analysis also suggests that individual bacteria
      in the colony community contributed a complete pathway for degradation of
      benzoate, which is inhibitory to the cyanobacterial growth, and its ecological
      implication for Microcystis bloom is discussed. 

PMID- 26870019
TI  - A Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Precursor Induces Mortality in the Marine
      Coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi.
AB  - Interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria play a central role in mediating
      biogeochemical cycling and food web structure in the ocean. However, deciphering
      the chemical drivers of these interspecies interactions remains challenging.
      Here, we report the isolation of 2-heptyl-4-quinolone (HHQ), released by
      Pseudoalteromonas piscicida, a marine gamma-proteobacteria previously reported to
      induce phytoplankton mortality through a hitherto unknown algicidal mechanism.
      HHQ functions as both an antibiotic and a bacterial signaling molecule in cell
      cell communication in clinical infection models. Co-culture of the bloom-forming
      coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi with both live P. piscicida and cell-free
      filtrates caused a significant decrease in algal growth. Investigations of the P.
      piscicida exometabolome revealed HHQ, at nanomolar concentrations, induced
      mortality in three strains of E. huxleyi. Mortality of E. huxleyi in response to
      HHQ occurred slowly, implying static growth rather than a singular loss event
      (e.g., rapid cell lysis). In contrast, the marine chlorophyte, Dunaliella
      tertiolecta and diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum were unaffected by HHQ
      exposures. These results suggest that HHQ mediates the type of inter-domain
      interactions that cause shifts in phytoplankton population dynamics. These
      chemically mediated interactions, and other like it, ultimately influence large
      scale oceanographic processes. 

PMID- 26870020
TI  - Long-Term Oil Contamination Alters the Molecular Ecological Networks of Soil
      Microbial Functional Genes.
AB  - With knowledge on microbial composition and diversity, investigation of within
      community interactions is a further step to elucidate microbial ecological
      functions, such as the biodegradation of hazardous contaminants. In this work,
      microbial functional molecular ecological networks were studied in both
      contaminated and uncontaminated soils to determine the possible influences of oil
      contamination on microbial interactions and potential functions. Soil samples
      were obtained from an oil-exploring site located in South China, and the
      microbial functional genes were analyzed with GeoChip, a high-throughput
      functional microarray. By building random networks based on null model, we
      demonstrated that overall network structures and properties were significantly
      different between contaminated and uncontaminated soils (P < 0.001). Network
      connectivity, module numbers, and modularity were all reduced with contamination.
      Moreover, the topological roles of the genes (module hub and connectors) were
      altered with oil contamination. Subnetworks of genes involved in alkane and
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation were also constructed. Negative co
      occurrence patterns prevailed among functional genes, thereby indicating probable
      competition relationships. The potential "keystone" genes, defined as either
      "hubs" or genes with highest connectivities in the network, were further
      identified. The network constructed in this study predicted the potential effects
      of anthropogenic contamination on microbial community co-occurrence interactions.

PMID- 26870016
TI  - KSHV Genome Replication and Maintenance.
AB  - Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is a
      major etiological agent for multiple severe malignancies in immune-compromised
      patients. KSHV establishes lifetime persistence in the infected individuals and
      displays two distinct life cycles, generally a prolonged passive latent, and a
      short productive or lytic cycle. During latent phase, the viral episome is
      tethered to the host chromosome and replicates once during every cell division.
      Latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) is a predominant multifunctional
      nuclear protein expressed during latency, which plays a central role in episome
      tethering, replication and perpetual segregation of the episomes during cell
      division. LANA binds cooperatively to LANA binding sites (LBS) within the
      terminal repeat (TR) region of the viral episome as well as to the cellular
      nucleosomal proteins to tether viral episome to the host chromosome. LANA has
      been shown to modulate multiple cellular signaling pathways and recruits various
      cellular proteins such as chromatin modifying enzymes, replication factors,
      transcription factors, and cellular mitotic framework to maintain a successful
      latent infection. Although, many other regions within the KSHV genome can
      initiate replication, KSHV TR is important for latent DNA replication and
      possible segregation of the replicated episomes. Binding of LANA to LBS favors
      the recruitment of various replication factors to initiate LANA dependent DNA
      replication. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms relevant to KSHV
      genome replication, segregation, and maintenance of latency. 

PMID- 26870021
TI  - Unique Flap Conformation in an HIV-1 Protease with High-Level Darunavir
      Resistance.
AB  - Darunavir (DRV) is one of the most powerful protease inhibitors (PIs) for
      treating human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection and presents a
      high genetic barrier to the generation of resistant viruses. However, DRV
      resistant HIV-1 infrequently emerges from viruses exhibiting resistance to other
      protease inhibitors. To address this resistance, researchers have gathered
      genetic information on DRV resistance. In contrast, few structural insights into
      the mechanism underlying DRV resistance are available. To elucidate this
      mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of the ligand-free state of a
      protease with high-level DRV resistance and six DRV resistance-associated
      mutations (including I47V and I50V), which we generated by in vitro selection.
      This crystal structure showed a unique curling conformation at the flap regions
      that was not found in the previously reported ligand-free protease structures.
      Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the curled flap conformation
      altered the flap dynamics. These results suggest that the preference for a unique
      flap conformation influences DRV binding. These results provide new structural
      insights into elucidating the molecular mechanism of DRV resistance and aid to
      develop PIs effective against DRV-resistant viruses. 

PMID- 26870022
TI  - The Cell Wall Protein Ecm33 of Candida albicans is Involved in Chronological Life
      Span, Morphogenesis, Cell Wall Regeneration, Stress Tolerance, and Host-Cell
      Interaction.
AB  - Ecm33 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein in the human pathogen
      Candida albicans. This protein is known to be involved in fungal cell wall
      integrity (CWI) and is also critical for normal virulence in the mouse model of
      hematogenously disseminated candidiasis, but its function remains unknown. In
      this work, several phenotypic analyses of the C. albicans ecm33/ecm33 mutant
      (RML2U) were performed. We observed that RML2U displays the inability of
      protoplast to regenerate the cell wall, activation of the CWI pathway,
      hypersensitivity to temperature, osmotic and oxidative stresses and a shortened
      chronological lifespan. During the exponential and stationary culture phases,
      nuclear and actin staining revealed the possible arrest of the cell cycle in
      RML2U cells. Interestingly, a "veil growth," never previously described in C.
      albicans, was serendipitously observed under static stationary cells. The cells
      that formed this structure were also observed in cornmeal liquid cultures. These
      cells are giant, round cells, without DNA, and contain large vacuoles, similar to
      autophagic cells observed in other fungi. Furthermore, RML2U was phagocytozed
      more than the wild-type strain by macrophages at earlier time points, but the
      damage caused to the mouse cells was less than with the wild-type strain.
      Additionally, the percentage of RML2U apoptotic cells after interaction with
      macrophages was fewer than in the wild-type strain. 

PMID- 26870023
TI  - Immune-Enhancing Effects of Taishan Pinus massoniana Pollen Polysaccharides on
      DNA Vaccine Expressing Bordetella avium ompA.
AB  - Bordetella avium is the causative agent of bordetellosis, which remains to be the
      cause of severe losses in the turkey industry. Given the lack of vaccines that
      can provide good protection, developing a novel vaccine against B. avium
      infection is crucial. In this study, we constructed a eukaryotic expression
      plasmid, which expressed the outer membrane protein A (ompA) of B. avium, to
      prepare a B. avium recombinant ompA-DNA vaccine. Three concentrations (low,
      middle, and high) of Taishan Pinus massoniana pollen polysaccharides (TPPPS), a
      known immunomodulator, were used as adjuvants, and their immune conditioning
      effects on the developed DNA vaccine were examined. The pure ompA-DNA vaccine,
      Freund's incomplete adjuvant ompA-DNA vaccine, and the empty plasmid served as
      the controls. The chickens in each group were separately inoculated with these
      vaccines three times at 1, 7, and 14 days old. Dynamic changes in antibody
      production, cytokine secretion, and lymphocyte count were then determined from 7
      to 49 days after the first inoculation. Protective rates of the vaccines were
      also determined after the third inoculation. Results showed that the pure DNA
      vaccine obviously induced the production of antibodies, the secretion of
      cytokines, and the increase in CD(4+) and CD(8+) T lymphocyte counts in
      peripheral blood, as well as provided a protective rate of 50% to the B. avium
      challenged chickens. The chickens inoculated with the TPPPS adjuvant ompA-DNA
      vaccine and Freund's adjuvant ompA-DNA vaccine demonstrated higher levels of
      immune responses than those inoculated with pure ompA-DNA vaccine, whereas only
      the ompA-DNA vaccine with 200 mg/mL TPPPS completely protected the chickens
      against B. avium infection. These findings indicate that the B. avium ompA-DNA
      vaccine combined with TPPPS is a potentially effective B. avium vaccine. 

PMID- 26870024
TI  - Applications of Bayesian Phylodynamic Methods in a Recent U.S. Porcine
      Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Outbreak.
AB  - Classical phylogenetic methods such as neighbor-joining or maximum likelihood
      trees, provide limited inferences about the evolution of important pathogens and
      ignore important evolutionary parameters and uncertainties, which in turn limits
      decision making related to surveillance, control, and prevention resources.
      Bayesian phylodynamic models have recently been used to test research hypotheses
      related to evolution of infectious agents. However, few studies have attempted to
      model the evolutionary dynamics of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
      virus (PRRSV) and, to the authors' knowledge, no attempt has been made to use
      large volumes of routinely collected data, sometimes referred to as big data, in
      the context of animal disease surveillance. The objective of this study was to
      explore and discuss the applications of Bayesian phylodynamic methods for
      modeling the evolution and spread of a notable 1-7-4 RFLP-type PRRSV between 2014
      and 2015. A convenience sample of 288 ORF5 sequences was collected from 5 swine
      production systems in the United States between September 2003 and March 2015.
      Using coalescence and discrete trait phylodynamic models, we were able to infer
      population growth and demographic history of the virus, identified the most
      likely ancestral system (root state posterior probability = 0.95) and revealed
      significant dispersal routes (Bayes factor > 6) of viral exchange among systems.
      Results indicate that currently circulating viruses are evolving rapidly, and
      show a higher level of relative genetic diversity over time, when compared to
      earlier relatives. Biological soundness of model results is supported by the
      finding that sow farms were responsible for PRRSV spread within the systems. Such
      results cannot be obtained by traditional phylogenetic methods, and therefore,
      our results provide a methodological framework for molecular epidemiological
      modeling of new PRRSV outbreaks and demonstrate the prospects of phylodynamic
      models to inform decision-making processes for routine surveillance and,
      ultimately, to support prevention and control of food animal disease at local and
      regional scales. 

PMID- 26870026
TI  - Cytotoxic Potential of Bacillus cereus Strains ATCC 11778 and 14579 Against Human
      Lung Epithelial Cells Under Microaerobic Growth Conditions.
AB  - Bacillus cereus, a food poisoning bacterium closely related to Bacillus
      anthracis, secretes a multitude of virulence factors including enterotoxins,
      hemolysins, and phospholipases. However, the majority of the in vitro experiments
      evaluating the cytotoxic potential of B. cereus were carried out in the
      conditions of aeration, and the impact of the oxygen limitation in conditions
      encountered by the microbe in natural environment such as gastrointestinal tract
      remains poorly understood. This research reports comparative analysis of ATCC
      strains 11778 (BC1) and 14579 (BC2) in aerobic and microaerobic (static) cultures
      with regard to their toxicity for human lung epithelial cells. We showed that BC1
      increased its toxicity upon oxygen limitation while BC2 was highly cytotoxic in
      both growth conditions. The combined effect of the pore-forming, cholesterol
      dependent hemolysin, cereolysin O (CLO), and metabolic product(s) such as
      succinate produced in microaerobic conditions provided substantial contribution
      to the toxicity of BC1 but not BC2 which relied mainly on other toxins. This
      mechanism is shared between CB1 and B. anthracis. It involves the
      permeabilization of the cell membrane which facilitates transport of toxic
      bacterial metabolites into the cell. The toxicity of BC1 was potentiated in the
      presence of bovine serum albumin which appeared to serve as reservoir for
      bacteria-derived nitric oxide participating in the downstream production of
      reactive oxidizing species with the properties of peroxynitrite. In agreement
      with this the BC1 cultures demonstrated the increased oxidation of the indicator
      dye Amplex Red catalyzed by peroxidase as well as the increased toxicity in the
      presence of externally added ascorbic acid. 

PMID- 26870027
TI  - Multilocus Sequence Typing and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni
      Isolated from Dairy Calves in Austria.
AB  - Human campylobacteriosis is primarily associated with poultry but also cattle. In
      this study, 55 Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from 382 dairy calves' feces
      were differentiated by multilocus sequence typing and tested for antimicrobial
      resistance. The most prevalent sequence type (ST) was ST883 (20.0%), followed by
      ST48 (14.5%), and ST50 (9.1%). In contrast to ST48 and ST50, ST883 has rarely
      been described in cattle previously. Furthermore, risk factor analysis was
      performed for the presence of the most prevalent STs in these calves. Multiple
      regression analysis revealed that the type of farm (organic vs. conventional) and
      calf housing (place, and individual vs. group) were identified as significantly
      (p < 0.05) associated with the presence of ST883 in calves, and ST50 was
      associated with calf diarrhea. Antimicrobial resistance was detected in 58.2% of
      the isolates. Most of the resistant isolates (81.3%) were resistant to more than
      one antimicrobial. Most frequently, resistance to ciprofloxacin (49.1%), followed
      by nalidixic acid (42.8%), and tetracycline (14.5%) was observed. The results of
      the present study support the hypothesis that dairy calves may serve as a
      potential reservoir for C. jejuni and pose a risk for transmission, including
      antimicrobial resistant isolates to the environment and to humans. 

PMID- 26870029
TI  - Radiolytic Hydrogen Production in the Subseafloor Basaltic Aquifer.
AB  - Hydrogen (H2) is produced in geological settings by dissociation of water due to
      radiation from radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium ((238)U, (235)U),
      thorium ((232)Th) and potassium ((40)K). To quantify the potential significance
      of radiolytic H2 as an electron donor for microbes within the South Pacific
      subseafloor basaltic aquifer, we use radionuclide concentrations of 43 basalt
      samples from IODP Expedition 329 to calculate radiolytic H2 production rates in
      basement fractures. The samples are from three sites with very different basement
      ages and a wide range of alteration types. U, Th, and K concentrations vary by up
      to an order of magnitude from sample to sample at each site. Comparison of our
      samples to each other and to the results of previous studies of unaltered East
      Pacific Rise basalt suggests that significant variations in radionuclide
      concentrations are due to differences in initial (unaltered basalt)
      concentrations (which can vary between eruptive events) and post-emplacement
      alteration. However, there is no clear relationship between alteration type and
      calculated radiolytic yields. Local maxima in U, Th, and K produce hotspots of H2
      production, causing calculated radiolytic rates to differ by up to a factor of 80
      from sample to sample. Fracture width also greatly influences H2 production,
      where microfractures are hotspots for radiolytic H2 production. For example, H2
      production rates normalized to water volume are 190 times higher in 1 MUm wide
      fractures than in fractures that are 10 cm wide. To assess the importance of
      water radiolysis for microbial communities in subseafloor basaltic aquifers, we
      compare electron transfer rates from radiolysis to rates from iron oxidation in
      subseafloor basalt. Radiolysis appears likely to be a more important electron
      donor source than iron oxidation in old (>10 Ma) basement basalt. Radiolytic H2
      production in the volume of water adjacent to a square cm of the most radioactive
      SPG basalt may support as many as 1500 cells. 

PMID- 26870025
TI  - Using "Omics" and Integrated Multi-Omics Approaches to Guide Probiotic Selection
      to Mitigate Chytridiomycosis and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases.
AB  - Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife are responsible for massive population
      declines. In amphibians, chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium
      dendrobatidis, Bd, has severely affected many amphibian populations and species
      around the world. One promising management strategy is probiotic bioaugmentation
      of antifungal bacteria on amphibian skin. In vivo experimental trials using
      bioaugmentation strategies have had mixed results, and therefore a more informed
      strategy is needed to select successful probiotic candidates. Metagenomic,
      transcriptomic, and metabolomic methods, colloquially called "omics," are
      approaches that can better inform probiotic selection and optimize selection
      protocols. The integration of multiple omic data using bioinformatic and
      statistical tools and in silico models that link bacterial community structure
      with bacterial defensive function can allow the identification of species
      involved in pathogen inhibition. We recommend using 16S rRNA gene amplicon
      sequencing and methods such as indicator species analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov
      Measure, and co-occurrence networks to identify bacteria that are associated with
      pathogen resistance in field surveys and experimental trials. In addition to 16S
      amplicon sequencing, we recommend approaches that give insight into symbiont
      function such as shotgun metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, or metabolomics to
      maximize the probability of finding effective probiotic candidates, which can
      then be isolated in culture and tested in persistence and clinical trials. An
      effective mitigation strategy to ameliorate chytridiomycosis and other emerging
      infectious diseases is necessary; the advancement of omic methods and the
      integration of multiple omic data provide a promising avenue toward conservation
      of imperiled species. 

PMID- 26870028
TI  - Antibodies Against Glycolipids Enhance Antifungal Activity of Macrophages and
      Reduce Fungal Burden After Infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
AB  - Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic in Latin America. Polyclonal
      antibodies to acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
      opsonized yeast forms in vitro increasing phagocytosis and reduced the fungal
      burden of infected animals. Antibodies to GSL were active in both prophylactic
      and therapeutic protocols using a murine intratracheal infection model.
      Pathological examination of the lungs of animals treated with antibodies to GSL
      showed well-organized granulomas and minimally damaged parenchyma compared to the
      untreated control. Murine peritoneal macrophages activated by IFN-gamma and
      incubated with antibodies against acidic GSLs more effectively phagocytosed and
      killed P. brasiliensis yeast cells as well as produced more nitric oxide compared
      to controls. The present work discloses a novel target of protective antibodies
      against P. brasiliensis adding to other well-studied mediators of the immune
      response to this fungus. 

PMID- 26870030
TI  - Integrated Translatomics with Proteomics to Identify Novel Iron-Transporting
      Proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) is a major human pathogen causing
      morbidity and mortality worldwide. Efficiently acquiring iron from the
      environment is critical for S. pneumoniae to sustain growth and cause infection.
      There are only three known iron-uptake systems in Streptococcal species
      responsible for iron acquisition from the host, including ABC transporters
      PiaABC, PiuABC, and PitABC. Besides, no other iron-transporting system has been
      suggested. In this work, we employed our newly established translating mRNA
      analysis integrated with proteomics to evaluate the possible existence of novel
      iron transporters in the bacterium. We simultaneously deleted the iron-binding
      protein genes of the three iron-uptake systems to construct a piaA/piuA/pitA
      triple mutant (Tri-Mut) of S. pneumoniae D39, in which genes and proteins related
      to iron transport should be regulated in response to the deletion. With ribosome
      associated mRNA sequencing-based translatomics focusing on translating mRNA and
      iTRAQ quantitative proteomics based on the covalent labeling of peptides with
      tags of varying mass, we indeed observed a large number of genes and proteins
      representing various coordinated biological pathways with significantly altered
      expression levels in the Tri-Mut mutant. Highlighted in this observation is the
      identification of several new potential iron-uptake ABC transporters
      participating in iron metabolism of Streptococcus. In particular, putative
      protein SPD_1609 in operon 804 was verified to be a novel iron-binding protein
      with similar function to PitA in S. pneumoniae. These data derived from the
      integrative translatomics and proteomics analyses provided rich information and
      insightful clues for further investigations on iron-transporting mechanism in
      bacteria and the interplay between Streptococcal iron availability and the
      biological metabolic pathways. 

PMID- 26870032
TI  - De Novo Analysis of Wolfiporia cocos Transcriptome to Reveal the Differentially
      Expressed Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) Genes During the Early Stage of
      Sclerotial Growth.
AB  - The sclerotium of Wolfiporia cocos has been used as an edible mushroom and/or a
      traditional herbal medicine for centuries. W. cocos sclerotial formation is
      dependent on parasitism of the wood of Pinus species. Currently, the sclerotial
      development mechanisms of W. cocos remain largely unknown and the lack of pine
      resources limit the commercial production. The CAZymes (carbohydrate-active
      enzymes) play important roles in degradation of the plant cell wall to provide
      carbohydrates for fungal growth, development, and reproduction. In this study,
      the transcript profiles from W. cocos mycelium and 2-months-old sclerotium, the
      early stage of sclerotial growth, were specially analyzed using de novo
      sequencing technology. A total of 142,428,180 high-quality reads of mycelium and
      70,594,319 high-quality reads of 2-months-old sclerotium were obtained.
      Additionally, differentially expressed genes from the W. cocos mycelium and 2
      months-old sclerotium stages were analyzed, resulting in identification of 69
      CAZymes genes which were significantly up-regulated during the early stage of
      sclerotial growth compared to that of in mycelium stage, and more than half of
      them belonged to glycosyl hydrolases (GHs) family, indicating the importance of
      W. cocos GHs family for degrading the pine woods. And qRT-PCR was further used to
      confirm the expression pattern of these up-regulated CAZymes genes. Our results
      will provide comprehensive CAZymes genes expression information during W. cocos
      sclerotial growth at the transcriptional level and will lay a foundation for
      functional genes studies in this fungus. In addition, our study will also
      facilitate the efficient use of limited pine resources, which is significant for
      promoting steady development of Chinese W. cocos industry. 

PMID- 26870033
TI  - Future Applications of Biotechnology to the Energy Industry.

PMID- 26870031
TI  - Using the Ferret as an Animal Model for Investigating Influenza Antiviral
      Effectiveness.
AB  - The concern of the emergence of a pandemic influenza virus has sparked an
      increased effort toward the development and testing of novel influenza
      antivirals. Central to this is the animal model of influenza infection, which has
      played an important role in understanding treatment effectiveness and the effect
      of antivirals on host immune responses. Among the different animal models of
      influenza, ferrets can be considered the most suitable for antiviral studies as
      they display most of the human-like symptoms following influenza infections, they
      can be infected with human influenza virus without prior viral adaptation and
      have the ability to transmit influenza virus efficiently between one another.
      However, an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of an antiviral treatment in
      ferrets is dependent on three major experimental considerations encompassing
      firstly, the volume and titer of virus, and the route of viral inoculation.
      Secondly, the route and dose of drug administration, and lastly, the different
      methods used to assess clinical symptoms, viral shedding kinetics and host immune
      responses in the ferrets. A good understanding of these areas is necessary to
      achieve data that can accurately inform the human use of influenza antivirals. In
      this review, we discuss the current progress and the challenges faced in these
      three major areas when using the ferret model to measure influenza antiviral
      effectiveness. 

PMID- 26870034
TI  - Antiglutamate Receptor Antibodies and Cognitive Impairment in Primary
      Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
AB  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome have an
      increased risk to develop cognitive impairment. A possible role for
      antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and antiglutamate receptor (anti-NMDA)
      antibodies in the pathogenesis of neurological manifestations of these two
      conditions, have been suggested. In particular, the role of anti-NMDA antibodies
      in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric SLE is supported by several experimental
      studies in animal models and by the finding of a correlation between anti-NMDA
      positivity in cerebrospinal fluid and neurological manifestations of SLE.
      However, data from the literature are controversial, as several studies have
      reported a correlation of these antibodies with mild cognitive impairment in SLE,
      but more recent studies have not confirmed this finding. The synergism between
      anti-NMDA and other concomitant autoantibodies, such as aPL, can be hypothesized
      to play a role in inducing the tissue damage and eventually the functional
      abnormalities. In line with this hypothesis, we have found a high incidence of at
      least one impaired cognitive domain in a small cohort of patients with primary
      APS (PAPS) and SLE. Interestingly, aPL were associated with low scoring for
      language ability and attention while anti-NMDA titers and mini-mental state
      examination scoring were inversely correlated. However, when patients were
      stratified according to the presence/absence of aPL, the correlation was
      confirmed in aPL positive patients only. Should those findings be confirmed, the
      etiology of the prevalent defects found in PAPS patients as well as the synergism
      between aPL and anti-NMDA antibodies would need to be explored. 

PMID- 26870035
TI  - Cytokines Induce Faster Membrane Diffusion of MHC Class I and the Ly49A Receptor
      in a Subpopulation of Natural Killer Cells.
AB  - Cytokines have the potential to drastically augment immune cell activity. Apart
      from altering the expression of a multitude of proteins, cytokines also affect
      immune cell dynamics. However, how cytokines affect the molecular dynamics within
      the cell membrane of immune cells has not been addressed previously. Molecular
      movement is a vital component of all biological processes, and the rate of motion
      is, thus, an inherent determining factor for the pace of such processes. Natural
      killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes, which belong to the innate immune
      system. By fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we investigated the influence
      of cytokine stimulation on the membrane density and molecular dynamics of the
      inhibitory receptor Ly49A and its ligand, the major histocompatibility complex
      class I allele H-2D(d), in freshly isolated murine NK cells. H-2D(d) was densely
      expressed and diffused slowly in resting NK cells. Ly49A was expressed at a lower
      density and diffused faster. The diffusion rate in resting cells was not altered
      by disrupting the actin cytoskeleton. A short-term stimulation with interleukin-2
      or interferon-alpha + beta did not change the surface density of moving H-2D(d)
      or Ly49A, despite a slight upregulation at the cellular level of H-2D(d) by
      interferon-alpha + beta, and of Ly49A by IL-2. However, the molecular diffusion
      rates of both H-2D(d) and Ly49A increased significantly. A multivariate analysis
      revealed that the increased diffusion was especially marked in a subpopulation of
      NK cells, where the diffusion rate was increased around fourfold compared to
      resting NK cells. After IL-2 stimulation, this subpopulation of NK cells also
      displayed lower density of Ly49A and higher brightness per entity, indicating
      that Ly49A may homo-cluster to a larger extent in these cells. A faster diffusion
      of inhibitory receptors could enable a faster accumulation of these molecules at
      the immune synapse with a target cell, eventually leading to a more efficient NK
      cell response. It has previously been assumed that cytokines regulate immune
      cells primarily via alterations of protein expression levels or posttranslational
      modifications. These findings suggest that cytokines may also modulate immune
      cell efficiency by increasing the molecular dynamics early on in the response. 

PMID- 26870036
TI  - T Cells and Cancer: How Metabolism Shapes Immunity.
AB  - Tumor microenvironment is characterized by a consistent reduction in oxygen and
      blood-borne nutrients that significantly affects the metabolism of distinct cell
      subsets. Immune cells populating malignant lesions need to activate alternative
      pathways to overcome tumor-prolonged nutrient deprivation. In particular, the
      metabolic switch occurring in transforming tissues dramatically impacts on tumor
      infiltrating T cell biology. Remarkably, the recruitment and activation of T cell
      within cancers are instrumental for effective antitumor response. Therefore, T
      cell metabolic adaptation acts as crucial checkpoint hijacked by tumors to dampen
      antitumor immunity. 

PMID- 26870037
TI  - Immunogenicity to Biotherapeutics - The Role of Anti-drug Immune Complexes.
AB  - Biological molecules are increasingly becoming a part of the therapeutics
      portfolio that has been either recently approved for marketing or those that are
      in the pipeline of several biotech and pharmaceutical companies. This is largely
      based on their ability to be highly specific relative to small molecules.
      However, by virtue of being a large protein, and having a complex structure with
      structural variability arising from production using recombinant gene technology
      in cell lines, such therapeutics run the risk of being recognized as foreign by a
      host immune system. In the context of immune-mediated adverse effects that have
      been documented to biological drugs thus far, including infusion reactions, and
      the evolving therapeutic platforms in the pipeline that engineer different
      functional modules in a biotherapeutic, it is critical to understand the
      interplay of the adaptive and innate immune responses, the pathophysiology of
      immunogenicity to biological drugs in instances where there have been immune
      mediated adverse clinical sequelae and address technical approaches for their
      laboratory evaluation. The current paradigm in immunogenicity evaluation has a
      tiered approach to the detection and characterization of anti-drug antibodies
      (ADAs) elicited in vivo to a biotherapeutic; alongside with the structural,
      biophysical, and molecular information of the therapeutic, these analytical
      assessments form the core of the immunogenicity risk assessment. However, many of
      the immune-mediated adverse effects attributed to ADAs require the formation of a
      drug/ADA immune complex (IC) intermediate that can have a variety of downstream
      effects. This review will focus on the activation of potential immunopathological
      pathways arising as a consequence of circulating as well as cell surface bound
      drug bearing ICs, risk factors that are intrinsic either to the therapeutic
      molecule or to the host that might predispose to IC-mediated effects, and review
      the recent literature on prevalence and intensity of established examples of type
      II and III hypersensitivity reactions that follow the administration of a
      biotherapeutic. Additionally, we propose methods for the study of immune
      parameters specific to the biology of ICs that could be of use in conjunction
      with the detection of ADAs in circulation. 

PMID- 26870038
TI  - Expression of TLR-7, MyD88, NF-kB, and INF-alpha in B Lymphocytes of Mayan Women
      with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Mexico.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory
      autoimmune disease involving multiple organs. It is currently accepted that
      several genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors are contributing to its
      development. Innate immunity may have a great influence in autoimmunity through
      Toll-like receptors. TLR-7 recognizing single-strand RNA has been involved in
      SLE. Its activation induces intracellular signal with attraction of MyD88 and NF
      kBp65, leading to IFN-alpha synthesis which correlate with disease activity.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess the expression of TLR-7, MyD88, and NF-kBp65 in B
      lymphocytes of Mayan women with SLE. METHODS: One hundred patients with SLE and
      100 healthy controls, all of them Mayan women, were included. TLR-7 was analyzed
      on B and T lymphocytes, and MyD88 and NF-kB only in B lymphocytes. Serum INF
      alpha level was evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: Significant expression (p < 0.0001)
      of TLR-7 in B and T lymphocytes and serum IFN-alpha increased (p = 0.034) was
      observed in patients. MyD88 and NF-kBp65 were also increased in B lymphocytes of
      patients. TLR-7 and NF-kBp65 expression correlated, but no correlation with INF
      alpha and disease activity was detected. CONCLUSION: Data support the role of TLR
      7 and signal proteins in the pathogenesis of SLE in the Mayan population of
      Yucatan.

PMID- 26870042
TI  - Editorial: Searching for Immune Tolerance Manipulating New Molecules and
      Exploiting New Concepts on Lymphocyte Biology.

PMID- 26870041
TI  - B Cells Negatively Regulate the Establishment of CD49b(+)T-bet(+) Resting Memory
      T Helper Cells in the Bone Marrow.
AB  - During an immune reaction, some antigen-experienced CD4 T cells relocate from
      secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) to the bone marrow (BM) in a CD49b-dependent
      manner and reside and rest there as professional memory CD4 T cells. However, it
      remains unclear how the precursors of BM memory CD4 T cells are generated in the
      SLOs. While several studies have so far shown that B cell depletion reduces the
      persistence of memory CD4 T cells in the spleen, we here show that B cell
      depletion enhances the establishment of memory CD4 T cells in the BM and that B
      cell transfer conversely suppresses it. Interestingly, the number of antigen
      experienced CD4 T cells in the BM synchronizes the number of CD49b(+)T-bet(+)
      antigen-experienced CD4 T cells in the spleen. CD49b(+)T-bet(+) antigen
      experienced CD4 T cells preferentially localize in the red pulp area of the
      spleen and the BM in a T-bet-independent manner. We suggest that B cells
      negatively control the generation of CD49b(+)T-bet(+) precursors of resting
      memory CD4 T cells in the spleen and may play a role in bifurcation of activated
      effector and resting memory CD4 T cell lineages. 

PMID- 26870043
TI  - GPR41 and GPR43 in Obesity and Inflammation - Protective or Causative?
AB  - GPR41 and GPR43 are a pair of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
      expressed in human adipocytes, colon epithelial cells, and peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells. These receptors are activated by short-chain fatty acids
      (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate - which are produced during
      dietary fiber fermentation by resident gut bacteria. This unique ligand
      specificity suggests that GPR41 and GPR43 may mediate the interaction between the
      human host and the gut microbiome. Indeed, studies on knockout mice implicate
      GPR41 and GPR43 in chronic inflammatory disorders such as obesity, colitis,
      asthma and arthritis. However, whether GPR41 and GPR43 are protective or
      causative is inconsistent between studies. This discrepancy may be due to
      differences in the disease models used, the inbred mouse strains, or non-specific
      knockout effects. Here, we review the latest findings on GPR41 and GPR43,
      highlighting contradictory observations. With GPR41 and GPR43 being considered as
      drug targets, it is pertinent that their role is fully elucidated. We propose
      that future studies on human tissues, ex vivo, may allow us to confirm the role
      of GPR41 and GPR43 in humans, be it protective or causative. 

PMID- 26870039
TI  - Staphylococcal Superantigens Spark Host-Mediated Danger Signals.
AB  - Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) of Staphylococcus aureus, and related
      superantigenic toxins produced by myriad microbes, are potent stimulators of the
      immune system causing a variety of human diseases from transient food poisoning
      to lethal toxic shock. These protein toxins bind directly to specific Vbeta
      regions of T-cell receptors (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
      class II on antigen-presenting cells, resulting in hyperactivation of T
      lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. Activated host cells produce excessive
      amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, especially tumor necrosis
      factor alpha, interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-2, interferon gamma (IFNgamma), and
      macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 causing clinical symptoms of fever,
      hypotension, and shock. Because of superantigen-induced T cells skewed toward TH1
      helper cells, and the induction of proinflammatory cytokines, superantigens can
      exacerbate autoimmune diseases. Upon TCR/MHC ligation, pathways induced by
      superantigens include the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and cytokine
      receptor signaling, resulting in activation of NFkappaB and the phosphoinositide
      3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Various mouse models exist to
      study SEB-induced shock including those with potentiating agents, transgenic mice
      and an "SEB-only" model. However, therapeutics to treat toxic shock remain
      elusive as host response genes central to pathogenesis of superantigens have only
      been identified recently. Gene profiling of a murine model for SEB-induced shock
      reveals novel molecules upregulated in multiple organs not previously associated
      with SEB-induced responses. The pivotal genes include intracellular DNA/RNA
      sensors, apoptosis/DNA damage-related molecules, immunoproteasome components, as
      well as antiviral and IFN-stimulated genes. The host-wide induction of these, and
      other, antimicrobial defense genes provide evidence that SEB elicits danger
      signals resulting in multi-organ damage and toxic shock. Ultimately, these
      discoveries might lead to novel therapeutics for various superantigen-based
      diseases. 

PMID- 26870044
TI  - The Challenge and Potential of Metagenomics in the Clinic.
AB  - The bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on and in us have a tremendous impact
      on our day-to-day health and are often linked to many diseases, including
      autoimmune disorders and infections. Diagnosing and treating these disorders
      relies on accurate identification and characterization of the microbial
      community. Current sequencing technologies allow the sequencing of the entire
      nucleic acid complement of a sample providing an accurate snapshot of the
      community members present in addition to the full genetic potential of that
      microbial community. There are a number of clinical applications that stand to
      benefit from these data sets, such as the rapid identification of pathogens
      present in a sample. Other applications include the identification of antibiotic
      resistance genes, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, and many
      other diseases associated with bacterial, viral, and fungal microbiomes.
      Metagenomics also allows the physician to probe more complex phenotypes such as
      microbial dysbiosis with intestinal disorders and disruptions of the skin
      microbiome that may be associated with skin disorders. Many of these disorders
      are not associated with a single pathogen but emerge as a result of complex
      ecological interactions within microbiota. Currently, we understand very little
      about these complex phenotypes, yet clearly they are important and in some cases,
      as with fecal microbiota transplants in Clostridium difficile infections,
      treating the microbiome of the patient is effective. Here, we give an overview of
      metagenomics and discuss a number of areas where metagenomics is applicable in
      the clinic, and progress being made in these areas. This includes (1) the
      identification of unknown pathogens, and those pathogens particularly hard to
      culture, (2) utilizing functional information and gene content to understand
      complex infections such as Clostridium difficile, and (3) predicting
      antimicrobial resistance of the community using genetic determinants of
      resistance identified from the sequencing data. All of these applications rely on
      sophisticated computational tools, and we also discuss the importance of skilled
      bioinformatic support for the implementation and use of metagenomics in the
      clinic. 

PMID- 26870040
TI  - Cell Type-Specific Regulation of Immunological Synapse Dynamics by B7 Ligand
      Recognition.
AB  - B7 proteins CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) are expressed on most antigen-presenting
      cells and provide critical co-stimulatory or inhibitory input to T cells via
      their T-cell-expressed receptors: CD28 and CTLA-4. CD28 is expressed on effector
      T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and CD28-dependent signals are required
      for optimum activation of effector T cell functions. CD28 ligation on effector T
      cells leads to formation of distinct molecular patterns and induction of
      cytoskeletal rearrangements at the immunological synapse (IS). CD28 plays a
      critical role in recruitment of protein kinase C (PKC)-theta to the effector T
      cell IS. CTLA-4 is constitutively expressed on the surface of Tregs, but it is
      expressed on effector T cells only after activation. As CTLA-4 binds to B7
      proteins with significantly higher affinity than CD28, B7 ligand recognition by
      cells expressing both receptors leads to displacement of CD28 and PKC-theta from
      the IS. In Tregs, B7 ligand recognition leads to recruitment of CTLA-4 and PKC
      eta to the IS. CTLA-4 plays a role in regulation of T effector and Treg IS
      stability and cell motility. Due to their important roles in regulating T-cell
      mediated responses, B7 receptors are emerging as important drug targets in
      oncology. In this review, we present an integrated summary of current knowledge
      about the role of B7 family receptor-ligand interactions in the regulation of
      spatial and temporal IS dynamics in effector and Tregs. 

PMID- 26870046
TI  - Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of Cytosine-5 DNA
      Methyltransferase and Demethylase Families in Wild and Cultivated Peanut.
AB  - DNA methylation plays important roles in genome protection, regulation of gene
      expression and is associated with plants development. Plant DNA methylation
      pattern was mediated by cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferase and demethylase.
      Although the genomes of AA and BB wild peanuts have been fully sequenced, these
      two gene families have not been studied. In this study we report the
      identification and analysis of putative cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferases (C5
      MTases) and demethylases in AA and BB wild peanuts. Cytosine-5 DNA
      methyltransferases in AA and BB wild peanuts could be classified in MET, CMT, and
      DRM2 groups based on their domain organization. This result was supported by the
      gene and protein structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. We found
      that some wild peanut DRM2 members didn't contain UBA domain which was different
      from other plants such as Arabidopsis, maize and soybean. Five DNA demethylase
      encoding genes were found in AA genome and five in BB genome. The selective
      pressure analysis showed that wild peanut C5-MTase genes mainly underwent
      purifying selection but many positive selection sites can be detected.
      Conversely, DNA demethylase genes mainly underwent positive selection during
      evolution. Additionally, the expression dynamic of cytosine-5 DNA
      methyltransferase and demethylase genes in different cultivated peanut tissues
      were analyzed. Expression result showed that cold, heat or PEG stress could
      influence the expression level of C5-MTase and DNA demethylase genes in
      cultivated peanut. These results are useful for better understanding the
      complexity of these two gene families, and will facilitate epigenetic studies in
      peanut in the future. 

PMID- 26870045
TI  - Alloantibody Generation and Effector Function Following Sensitization to Human
      Leukocyte Antigen.
AB  - Allorecognition is the activation of the adaptive immune system to foreign human
      leukocyte antigen (HLA) resulting in the generation of alloantibodies. Due to a
      high polymorphism, foreign HLA is recognized by the immune system following
      transplant, transfusion, or pregnancy resulting in the formation of the germinal
      center and the generation of long-lived alloantibody-producing memory B cells.
      Alloantibodies recognize antigenic epitopes displayed by the HLA molecule on the
      transplanted allograft and contribute to graft damage through multiple
      mechanisms, including (1) activation of the complement cascade resulting in the
      formation of the MAC complex and inflammatory anaphylatoxins, (2) transduction of
      intracellular signals leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement, growth, and
      proliferation of graft vasculature, and (3) immune cell infiltration into the
      allograft via FcgammaR interactions with the FC portion of the antibody. This
      review focuses on the generation of HLA alloantibody, routes of sensitization,
      alloantibody specificity, and mechanisms of antibody-mediated graft damage. 

PMID- 26870047
TI  - Global Analysis of WRKY Genes and Their Response to Dehydration and Salt Stress
      in Soybean.
AB  - WRKY proteins are plant specific transcription factors involved in various
      developmental and physiological processes, especially in biotic and abiotic
      stress resistance. Although previous studies suggested that WRKY proteins in
      soybean (Glycine max var. Williams 82) involved in both abiotic and biotic stress
      responses, the global information of WRKY proteins in the latest version of
      soybean genome (Wm82.a2v1) and their response to dehydration and salt stress have
      not been reported. In this study, we identified 176 GmWRKY proteins from soybean
      Wm82.a2v1 genome. These proteins could be classified into three groups, namely
      group I (32 proteins), group II (120 proteins), and group III (24 proteins). Our
      results showed that most GmWRKY genes were located on Chromosome 6, while
      chromosome 11, 12, and 20 contained the least number of this gene family. More
      GmWRKY genes were distributed on the ends of chromosomes to compare with other
      regions. The cis-acting elements analysis suggested that GmWRKY genes were
      transcriptionally regulated upon dehydration and salt stress. RNA-seq data
      analysis indicated that three GmWRKY genes responded negatively to dehydration,
      and 12 genes positively responded to salt stress at 1, 6, and 12 h, respectively.
      We confirmed by qRT-PCR that the expression of GmWRKY47 and GmWRKY 58 genes was
      decreased upon dehydration, and the expression of GmWRKY92, 144 and 165 genes was
      increased under salt treatment. 

PMID- 26870048
TI  - Specific and Efficient Targeting of Cyanobacterial Bicarbonate Transporters to
      the Inner Envelope Membrane of Chloroplasts in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Installation of cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporters to the inner envelope
      membrane (IEM) of chloroplasts in C3 plants has been thought to improve
      photosynthetic performance. However, the method to deliver cyanobacterial
      bicarbonate transporters to the chloroplast IEM remains to be established. In
      this study, we provide evidence that the cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporters,
      BicA and SbtA, can be specifically installed into the chloroplast IEM using the
      chloroplast IEM targeting signal in conjunction with the transit peptide. We
      fused the transit peptide and the mature portion of Cor413im1, whose targeting
      mechanism to the IEM has been characterized in detail, to either BicA or SbtA
      isolated from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Among the seven chimeric constructs
      tested, we confirmed that four chimeric bicarbonate transporters, designated as
      BicAI, BicAII, SbtAII, and SbtAIII, were expressed in Arabidopsis. Furthermore,
      these chimeric transporters were specifically targeted to the chloroplast IEM.
      They were also resistant to alkaline extraction but can be solubilized by Triton
      X-100, indicating that they are integral membrane proteins in the chloroplast
      IEM. One of the transporters, BicA, could reside in the chloroplast IEM even
      after removal of the IEM targeting signal. Taken together, our results indicate
      that the addition of IEM targeting signal, as well as the transit peptide, to
      bicarbonate transporters allows us to efficiently target nuclear-encoded chimeric
      bicarbonate transporters to the chloroplast IEM. 

PMID- 26870049
TI  - Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules.
AB  - Cannabis sativa L. is an important herbaceous species originating from Central
      Asia, which has been used in folk medicine and as a source of textile fiber since
      the dawn of times. This fast-growing plant has recently seen a resurgence of
      interest because of its multi-purpose applications: it is indeed a treasure trove
      of phytochemicals and a rich source of both cellulosic and woody fibers. Equally
      highly interested in this plant are the pharmaceutical and construction sectors,
      since its metabolites show potent bioactivities on human health and its outer and
      inner stem tissues can be used to make bioplastics and concrete-like material,
      respectively. In this review, the rich spectrum of hemp phytochemicals is
      discussed by putting a special emphasis on molecules of industrial interest,
      including cannabinoids, terpenes and phenolic compounds, and their biosynthetic
      routes. Cannabinoids represent the most studied group of compounds, mainly due to
      their wide range of pharmaceutical effects in humans, including psychotropic
      activities. The therapeutic and commercial interests of some terpenes and
      phenolic compounds, and in particular stilbenoids and lignans, are also
      highlighted in view of the most recent literature data. Biotechnological avenues
      to enhance the production and bioactivity of hemp secondary metabolites are
      proposed by discussing the power of plant genetic engineering and tissue culture.
      In particular two systems are reviewed, i.e., cell suspension and hairy root
      cultures. Additionally, an entire section is devoted to hemp trichomes, in the
      light of their importance as phytochemical factories. Ultimately, prospects on
      the benefits linked to the use of the -omics technologies, such as metabolomics
      and transcriptomics to speed up the identification and the large-scale production
      of lead agents from bioengineered Cannabis cell culture, are presented. 

PMID- 26870050
TI  - Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Homeodomain Leucine Zipper
      Subfamily IV (HDZ IV) Gene Family from Musa accuminata.
AB  - The homeodomain zipper family (HD-ZIP) of transcription factors is present only
      in plants and plays important role in the regulation of plant-specific processes.
      The subfamily IV of HDZ transcription factors (HD-ZIP IV) has primarily been
      implicated in the regulation of epidermal structure development. Though this gene
      family is present in all lineages of land plants, members of this gene family
      have not been identified in banana, which is one of the major staple fruit crops.
      In the present work, we identified 21 HDZIV encoding genes in banana by the
      computational analysis of banana genome resource. Our analysis suggested that
      these genes putatively encode proteins having all the characteristic domains of
      HDZIV transcription factors. The phylogenetic analysis of the banana HDZIV family
      genes further confirmed that after separation from a common ancestor, the banana,
      and poales lineages might have followed distinct evolutionary paths. Further, we
      conclude that segmental duplication played a major role in the evolution of
      banana HDZIV encoding genes. All the identified banana HDZIV genes expresses in
      different banana tissue, however at varying levels. The transcript levels of some
      of the banana HDZIV genes were also detected in banana fruit pulp, suggesting
      their putative role in fruit attributes. A large number of genes of this family
      showed modulated expression under drought and salinity stress. Taken together,
      the present work lays a foundation for elucidation of functional aspects of the
      banana HDZIV encoding genes and for their possible use in the banana improvement
      programs. 

PMID- 26870051
TI  - Characterizing Variation of Branch Angle and Genome-Wide Association Mapping in
      Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).
AB  - Changes in the rapeseed branch angle alter plant architecture, allowing more
      efficient light capture as planting density increases. In this study, a natural
      population of rapeseed was grown in three environments and evaluated for branch
      angle trait to characterize their phenotypic patterns and genotype with a 60K
      Brassica Infinium SNP array. Significant phenotypic variation was observed from
      20 to 70 degrees . As a result, 25 significant quantitative trait loci (QTL)
      associated with branch angle were identified on chromosomes A2, A3, A7, C3, C5,
      and C7 by the MLM model in TASSEL 4.0. Orthologs of the functional candidate
      genes involved in branch angle were identified. Among the key QTL, the peak SNPs
      were close to the key orthologous genes BnaA.Lazy1 and BnaC.Lazy1 on A3 and C3
      homologous genome blocks. With the exception of Lazy (LA) orthologous genes,
      SQUMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE 14 (SPL14) and an auxin-responsive GRETCHEN
      HAGEN 3 (GH3) genes from Arabidopsis thaliana were identified close to two
      clusters of SNPs on the A7 and C7 chromosomes. These findings on multiple novel
      loci and candidate genes of branch angle will be useful for further understanding
      and genetic improvement of plant architecture in rapeseed. 

PMID- 26870053
TI  - Identification of MicroRNAs and Their Targets Associated with Fruit-Bagging and
      Subsequent Sunlight Re-exposure in the "Granny Smith" Apple Exocarp Using High
      Throughput Sequencing.
AB  - Bagged fruits of green apple cultivar "Granny Smith" have been found to turn
      cardinal red after debagging during fruit-ripening in the Loess Plateau region of
      China. To understand this phenomenon at post-transcriptional level, we have
      investigated the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in response to debagging. Three
      small RNA libraries were primarily constructed from peels of "Granny Smith"
      apples subjected to bagging followed by sunlight re-exposure treatments (0, 6 h,
      1 day) (debagging), and from peels of apples without any bagging treatments (0, 6
      h, 1 day). 201 known miRNAs belonging to 43 miRNA families and 220 novel miRNAs
      were identified via high-throughput sequencing. Some miRNAs were found to be
      differentially expressed after debagging, which indicated that miRNAs affected
      anthocyanin accumulation through their target genes in mature apple. To further
      explore the effect of debagging on miRNAs regulating the expression of
      anthocyanin regulatory genes, four miRNAs and their target genes regulating
      anthocyanin accumulation, miR156, miR828, miR858, and miR5072, were compared
      between green cultivar "Granny Smith" and red cultivar "Starkrimson." Results
      showed that mdm-miR828 and mdm-miR858 regulated anthocyanin contents in both
      apple cultivars, while mdm-miR156 only affected anthocyanin accumulation in
      "Granny Smith," and miR5072 affected anthocyanin accumulation in "Starkrimson."
      Additional analysis of gene ontology for the differentially expressed miRNAs
      after debagging treatments and their predicted target genes showed that they were
      involved in photo-protective response after debagging from 0 h to 1 day; they
      might play important roles in fruit development and adaptation to high light
      stress. 

PMID- 26870052
TI  - Ethylene and Metal Stress: Small Molecule, Big Impact.
AB  - The phytohormone ethylene is known to mediate a diverse array of signaling
      processes during abiotic stress in plants. Whereas many reports have demonstrated
      enhanced ethylene production in metal-exposed plants, the underlying molecular
      mechanisms are only recently investigated. Increasing evidence supports a role
      for ethylene in the regulation of plant metal stress responses. Moreover,
      crosstalk appears to exist between ethylene and the cellular redox balance,
      nutrients and other phytohormones. This review highlights our current
      understanding of the key role ethylene plays during responses to metal exposure.
      Moreover, particular attention is paid to the integration of ethylene within the
      broad network of plant responses to metal stress. 

PMID- 26870054
TI  - Nitrogen Source and External Medium pH Interaction Differentially Affects Root
      and Shoot Metabolism in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Ammonium nutrition often represents an important growth-limiting stress in
      plants. Some of the symptoms that plants present under ammonium nutrition have
      been associated with pH deregulation, in fact external medium pH control is known
      to improve plants ammonium tolerance. However, the way plant cell metabolism
      adjusts to these changes is not completely understood. Thus, in this work we
      focused on how Arabidopsis thaliana shoot and root respond to different
      nutritional regimes by varying the nitrogen source ([Formula: see text] and
      [Formula: see text]), concentration (2 and 10 mM) and pH of the external medium
      (5.7 and 6.7) to gain a deeper understanding of cell metabolic adaptation upon
      altering these environmental factors. The results obtained evidence changes in
      the response of ammonium assimilation machinery and of the anaplerotic enzymes
      associated to Tricarboxylic Acids (TCA) cycle in function of the plant organ, the
      nitrogen source and the degree of ammonium stress. A greater stress severity at
      pH 5.7 was related to [Formula: see text] accumulation; this could not be
      circumvented in spite of the stimulation of glutamine synthetase, glutamate
      dehydrogenase, and TCA cycle anaplerotic enzymes. Moreover, this study suggests
      specific functions for different gln and gdh isoforms based on the nutritional
      regime. Overall, [Formula: see text] accumulation triggering ammonium stress
      appears to bear no relation to nitrogen assimilation impairment. 

PMID- 26870057
TI  - Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Internalized by Arabidopsis Plants Using
      Single Particle ICP-MS Analysis.
AB  - Plants act as a crucial interface between humans and their environment. The wide
      use of nanoparticles (NPs) has raised great concerns about their potential
      impacts on crop health and food safety, leading to an emerging research theme
      about the interaction between plants and NPs. However, up to this day even the
      basic issues concerning the eventual fate and characteristics of NPs after
      internalization are not clearly delineated due to the lack of a well-established
      technique for the quantitative analysis of NPs in plant tissues. We endeavored to
      combine a quantitative approach for NP analysis in plant tissues with TEM to
      localize the NPs. After using an enzymatic digestion to release the NPs from
      plant matrices, single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP
      ICP-MS) is employed to determine the size distribution of silver nanoparticles
      (Ag NPs) in tissues of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana after exposure to 10
      nm Ag NPs. Our results show that Macerozyme R-10 treatment can release Ag NPs
      from Arabidopsis plants without changing the size of Ag NPs. The characteristics
      of Ag NPs obtained by SP-ICP-MS in both roots and shoots are in agreement with
      our transmission electron micrographs, demonstrating that the combination of an
      enzymatic digestion procedure with SP-ICP-MS is a powerful technique for
      quantitative determination of NPs in plant tissues. Our data reveal that Ag NPs
      tend to accumulate predominantly in the apoplast of root tissues whereby a minor
      portion is transported to shoot tissues. Furthermore, the fact that the measured
      size distribution of Ag NPs in plant tissue is centered at around 20.70 nm, which
      is larger than the initial 12.84 nm NP diameter, strongly implies that many
      internalized Ag NPs do not exist as intact individual particles anymore but are
      aggregated and/or biotransformed in the plant instead. 

PMID- 26870056
TI  - Changes in the Proteome of Xylem Sap in Brassica oleracea in Response to Fusarium
      oxysporum Stress.
AB  - Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conlutinans (Foc) is a serious root-invading and xylem
      colonizing fungus that causes yellowing in Brassica oleracea. To comprehensively
      understand the interaction between F. oxysporum and B. oleracea, composition of
      the xylem sap proteome of the non-infected and Foc-infected plants was
      investigated in both resistant and susceptible cultivars using liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after in-solution digestion of
      xylem sap proteins. Whole genome sequencing of Foc was carried out and generated
      a predicted Foc protein database. The predicted Foc protein database was then
      combined with the public B. oleracea and B. rapa protein databases downloaded
      from Uniprot and used for protein identification. About 200 plant proteins were
      identified in the xylem sap of susceptible and resistant plants. Comparison
      between the non-infected and Foc-infected samples revealed that Foc infection
      causes changes to the protein composition in B. oleracea xylem sap where
      repressed proteins accounted for a greater proportion than those of induced in
      both the susceptible and resistant reactions. The analysis on the proteins with
      concentration change > = 2-fold indicated a large portion of up- and down
      regulated proteins were those acting on carbohydrates. Proteins with leucine-rich
      repeats and legume lectin domains were mainly induced in both resistant and
      susceptible system, so was the case of thaumatins. Twenty-five Foc proteins were
      identified in the infected xylem sap and 10 of them were cysteine-containing
      secreted small proteins that are good candidates for virulence and/or avirulence
      effectors. The findings of differential response of protein contents in the xylem
      sap between the non-infected and Foc-infected samples as well as the Foc
      candidate effectors secreted in xylem provide valuable insights into B. oleracea
      Foc interactions. 

PMID- 26870055
TI  - Creating Completely Both Male and Female Sterile Plants by Specifically Ablating
      Microspore and Megaspore Mother Cells.
AB  - Although genetically modified (GM) plants have improved commercially important
      traits, such as biomass and biofuel production, digestibility, bioremediation,
      ornamental value, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, there remain
      economic, political, or social concerns over potential ecological effects of
      transgene flow from GM plants. The current solution for preventing transgene flow
      from GM plants is genetically engineering sterility; however, approaches to
      generating both male and female sterility are limited. In addition, existing
      strategies for creating sterility lead to loss or modifications of entire flowers
      or floral organs. Here, we demonstrate that instead of the 1.5-kb promoter, the
      entire SOLO DANCERS (SDS) gene is required for its meiocyte-specific expression.
      We then developed an efficient method to specifically ablate microspore and
      megaspore mother cells using the SDS and BARNASE fusion gene, which resulted in
      complete sterility in both male and female reproductive organs in Arabidopsis
      (Arabidopsis thaliana) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), but did not affect plant
      growth or development, including the formation of all flower organs. Therefore,
      our research provides a general and effective tool to prevent transgene flow in
      GM plants. 

PMID- 26870058
TI  - Evolution and Functional Insights of Different Ancestral Orthologous Clades of
      Chitin Synthase Genes in the Fungal Tree of Life.
AB  - Chitin synthases (CHSs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of chitin, an
      important structural component of fungal cell walls that can trigger innate
      immune responses in host plants and animals. Members of CHS gene family perform
      various functions in fungal cellular processes. Previous studies focused
      primarily on classifying diverse CHSs into different classes, regardless of their
      functional diversification, or on characterizing their functions in individual
      fungal species. A complete and systematic comparative analysis of CHS genes based
      on their orthologous relationships will be valuable for elucidating the evolution
      and functions of different CHS genes in fungi. Here, we identified and compared
      members of the CHS gene family across the fungal tree of life, including 18
      divergent fungal lineages. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the fungal CHS
      gene family is comprised of at least 10 ancestral orthologous clades, which have
      undergone multiple independent duplications and losses in different fungal
      lineages during evolution. Interestingly, one of these CHS clades (class III) was
      expanded in plant or animal pathogenic fungi belonging to different fungal
      lineages. Two clades (classes VIb and VIc) identified for the first time in this
      study occurred mainly in plant pathogenic fungi from Sordariomycetes and
      Dothideomycetes. Moreover, members of classes III and VIb were specifically up
      regulated during plant infection, suggesting important roles in pathogenesis. In
      addition, CHS-associated networks conserved among plant pathogenic fungi are
      involved in various biological processes, including sexual reproduction and plant
      infection. We also identified specificity-determining sites, many of which are
      located at or adjacent to important structural and functional sites that are
      potentially responsible for functional divergence of different CHS classes.
      Overall, our results provide new insights into the evolution and function of
      members of CHS gene family in the fungal kingdom. Specificity-determining sites
      identified here may be attractive targets for further structural and experimental
      studies. 

PMID- 26870059
TI  - Maintaining Epigenetic Inheritance During DNA Replication in Plants.
AB  - Biotic and abiotic stresses alter the pattern of gene expression in plants.
      Depending on the frequency and duration of stress events, the effects on the
      transcriptional state of genes are "remembered" temporally or transmitted to
      daughter cells and, in some instances, even to offspring (transgenerational
      epigenetic inheritance). This "memory" effect, which can be found even in the
      absence of the original stress, has an epigenetic basis, through molecular
      mechanisms that take place at the chromatin and DNA level but do not imply
      changes in the DNA sequence. Many epigenetic mechanisms have been described and
      involve covalent modifications on the DNA and histones, such as DNA methylation,
      histone acetylation and methylation, and RNAi dependent silencing mechanisms.
      Some of these chromatin modifications need to be stable through cell division in
      order to be truly epigenetic. During DNA replication, histones are recycled
      during the formation of the new nucleosomes and this process is tightly
      regulated. Perturbations to the DNA replication process and/or the recycling of
      histones lead to epigenetic changes. In this mini-review, we discuss recent
      evidence aimed at linking DNA replication process to epigenetic inheritance in
      plants. 

PMID- 26870060
TI  - Cell Wall Pectin and its Methyl-esterification in Transition Zone Determine Al
      Resistance in Cultivars of Pea (Pisum sativum).
AB  - The initial response of plants to aluminum (Al) is the inhibition of root
      elongation, while the transition zone is the most Al sensitive zone in the root
      apex, which may sense the presence of Al and regulate the responses of root to Al
      toxicity. In the present study, the effect of Al treatment (30 MUM, 24 h) on root
      growth, Al accumulation, and properties of cell wall of two pea (Pisum sativum
      L.) cultivars, cv Onward (Al-resistant) and cv Sima (Al-sensitive), were studied
      to disclose whether the response of root transition zone to Al toxicity
      determines Al resistance in pea cultivars. The lower relative root elongation
      (RRE) and higher Al content were founded in cv Sima compared with cv Onward,
      which were related to Al-induced the increase of pectin in root segments of both
      cultivars. The increase of pectin is more prominent in Al-sensitive cultivar than
      in Al-resistant cultivar. Aluminum toxicity also induced the increase of pectin
      methylesterases (PME), which is 2.2 times in root transition zone in Al-sensitive
      cv Sima to that of Al resistant cv Onward, thus led to higher demethylesterified
      pectin content in root transition zone of Al-sensitive cv Sima. The higher
      demethylesterified pectin content in root transition zone resulted in more Al
      accumulation in the cell wall and cytosol in Al-sensitive cv Sima. Our results
      provide evidence that the increase of pectin content and PME activity under Al
      toxicity cooperates to determine Al sensitivity in root transition zone that
      confers Al resistance in cultivars of pea (Pisum sativum). 

PMID- 26870061
TI  - Gene Inactivation by CRISPR-Cas9 in Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 Suspension Cells.
AB  - Plant suspension cells are interesting hosts for the heterologous production of
      pharmacological proteins such as antibodies. They have the advantage to
      facilitate the containment and the application of good manufacturing practices.
      Furthermore, antibodies can be secreted to the extracellular medium, which makes
      the purification steps much simpler. However, improvements are still to be made
      regarding the quality and the production yield. For instance, the inactivation of
      proteases and the humanization of glycosylation are both important targets which
      require either gene silencing or gene inactivation. To this purpose, CRISPR-Cas9
      is a very promising technique which has been used recently in a series of plant
      species, but not yet in plant suspension cells. Here, we sought to use the CRISPR
      Cas9 system for gene inactivation in Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 suspension cells. We
      transformed a transgenic line expressing a red fluorescent protein (mCherry) with
      a binary vector containing genes coding for Cas9 and three guide RNAs targeting
      mCherry restriction sites, as well as a bialaphos-resistant (bar) gene for
      selection. To demonstrate gene inactivation in the transgenic lines, the mCherry
      gene was PCR-amplified and analyzed by electrophoresis. Seven out of 20
      transformants displayed a shortened fragment, indicating that a deletion occurred
      between two target sites. We also analyzed the transformants by restriction
      fragment length polymorphism and observed that the three targeted restriction
      sites were hit. DNA sequencing of the PCR fragments confirmed either deletion
      between two target sites or single nucleotide deletion. We therefore conclude
      that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used in N. tabacum BY2 cells. 

PMID- 26870062
TI  - Editorial: Branching and Rooting Out with a CT Scanner: The Why, the How, and the
      Outcomes, Present and Possibly Future.

PMID- 26870063
TI  - Identification of a 467 bp Promoter of Maize Phosphatidylinositol Synthase Gene
      (ZmPIS) Which Confers High-Level Gene Expression and Salinity or Osmotic Stress
      Inducibility in Transgenic Tobacco.
AB  - Salinity and drought often affect plant growth and crop yields. Cloning and
      identification of salinity and drought stress inducible promoters is of great
      significance for their use in the genetic improvement of crop resistance.
      Previous studies showed that phosphatidylinositol synthase is involved in plant
      salinity and drought stress responses but its promoter has not been characterized
      by far. In the study, the promoter (pZmPIS, 1834 bp upstream region of the
      translation initiation site) was isolated from maize genome. To functionally
      validate the promoter, eight 5' deletion fragments of pZmPIS in different lengths
      were fused to GUS to produce pZmPIS::GUS constructs and transformed into tobacco,
      namely PZ1-PZ8. The transcription activity and expression pattern obviously
      changed when the promoter was truncated. Previous studies have demonstrated that
      NaCl and PEG treatments are usually used to simulate salinity and drought
      treatments. The results showed that PZ1-PZ7 can respond well upon NaCl and PEG
      treatments, while PZ8 not. PZ7 (467 bp) displayed the highest transcription
      activity in all tissues of transgenic tobacco amongst 5' deleted promoter
      fragments, which corresponds to about 20 and 50% of CaMV35S under normal and NaCl
      or PEG treatment, respectively. This implied that PZ7 is the core region of
      pZmPIS which confers high-level gene expression and NaCl or PEG inducible nature.
      The 113 bp segment between PZ7 and PZ8 (-467 to -355 bp) was considered as the
      key sequence for ZmPIS responding to NaCl or PEG treatment. GUS transient assay
      in tobacco leaves showed that this segment was sufficient for the NaCl or PEG
      stress response. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the 113 bp sequence may
      contain new elements that are crucial for ZmPIS response to NaCl or PEG stress.
      These results promote our understanding on transcriptional regulation mechanism
      of ZmPIS and the characterized PZ7 promoter fragment would be an ideal candidate
      for the overexpression of drought and salinity responsive gene to improve crop
      resistance. 

PMID- 26870064
TI  - Hydrogen Peroxide Alleviates Nickel-Inhibited Photosynthetic Responses through
      Increase in Use-Efficiency of Nitrogen and Sulfur, and Glutathione Production in
      Mustard.
AB  - The response of two mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cultivars differing in
      photosynthetic capacity to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
      or nickel (Ni) was evaluated. Further, the effect of H2O2 on photosynthetic
      responses of the mustard cultivars grown with or without Ni stress was studied.
      Application of 50 MUM H2O2 increased photosynthesis and growth more prominently
      in high photosynthetic capacity cultivar (Varuna) than low photosynthetic
      capacity cultivar (RH30) grown without Ni stress. The H2O2 application also
      resulted in alleviation of photosynthetic inhibition induced by 200 mg Ni kg(-1)
      soil through increased photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), sulfur-use
      efficiency (SUE), and glutathione (GSH) reduced production together with
      decreased lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage in both the cultivars.
      However, the effect of H2O2 was more pronounced in Varuna than RH30. The greater
      increase in photosynthetic-NUE and SUE and GSH production with H2O2 in Varuna
      resulted from higher increase in activity of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S)
      assimilation enzymes, nitrate reductase and ATP-sulfurylase, respectively
      resulting in enhanced N and S assimilation. The increased N and S content
      contributed to the higher activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase under
      Ni stress. Application of H2O2 also regulated PS II activity and stomatal
      movement under Ni stress for maintaining higher photosynthetic potential in
      Varuna. Thus, H2O2 may be considered as a potential signaling molecule for
      augmenting photosynthetic potential of mustard plants under optimal and Ni stress
      conditions. It alleviates Ni stress through the regulation of stomatal and non
      stomotal limitations, and photosynthetic-NUE and -SUE and GSH production. 

PMID- 26870065
TI  - Savanna Tree Seedlings are Physiologically Tolerant to Nighttime Freeze Events.
AB  - Freeze events can be important disturbances in savanna ecosystems, yet the
      interactive effect of freezing with other environmental drivers on plant
      functioning is unknown. Here, we investigated physiological responses of South
      African tree seedlings to interactions of water availability and freezing
      temperatures. We grew widely distributed South African tree species
      (Colophospermum mopane, Combretum apiculatum, Acacia nigrescens, and Cassia
      abbreviata) under well-watered and water-limited conditions and exposed
      individuals to nighttime freeze events. Of the four species studied here, C.
      mopane was the most tolerant of lower water availability. However, all species
      were similarly tolerant to nighttime freezing and recovered within one week
      following the last freezing event. We also show that water limitation somewhat
      increased freezing tolerance in one of the species (C. mopane). Therefore, water
      limitation, but not freezing temperatures, may restrict the distribution of these
      species, although the interactions of these stressors may have species-specific
      impacts on plant physiology. Ultimately, we show that unique physiologies can
      exist among dominant species within communities and that combined stresses may
      play a currently unidentified role in driving the function of certain species
      within southern Africa. 

PMID- 26870066
TI  - A Review of Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) in Plants.
AB  - Auxin is a key regulator of virtually every aspect of plant growth and
      development from embryogenesis to senescence. Previous studies have indicated
      that auxin regulates these processes by controlling gene expression via a family
      of functionally distinct DNA-binding auxin response factors (ARFs). ARFs are
      likely components that confer specificity to auxin response through selection of
      target genes as transcription factors. They bind to auxin response DNA elements
      (AuxRE) in the promoters of auxin-regulated genes and either activate or repress
      transcription of these genes depending on a specific domain in the middle of the
      protein. Genetic studies have implicated various ARFs in distinct developmental
      processes through loss-of-function mutant analysis. Recent advances have provided
      information on the regulation of ARF gene expression, the role of ARFs in growth
      and developmental processes, protein-protein interactions of ARFs and target
      genes regulated by ARFs in plants. In particular, protein interaction and
      structural studies of ARF proteins have yielded novel insights into the molecular
      basis of auxin-regulated transcription. These results provide the foundation for
      predicting the contributions of ARF genes to the biology of other plants. 

PMID- 26870067
TI  - Genetic Adaptation vs. Ecophysiological Plasticity of Photosynthetic-Related
      Traits in Young Picea glauca Trees along a Regional Climatic Gradient.
AB  - Assisted population migration (APM) is the intentional movement of populations
      within a species range to sites where future environmental conditions are
      projected to be more conducive to growth. APM has been proposed as a proactive
      adaptation strategy to maintain forest productivity and to reduce the
      vulnerability of forest ecosystems to projected climate change. The validity of
      such a strategy will depend on the adaptation capacity of populations, which can
      partially be evaluated by the ecophysiological response of different genetic
      sources along a climatic gradient. This adaptation capacity results from the
      compromise between (i) the degree of genetic adaptation of seed sources to their
      environment of origin and (ii) the phenotypic plasticity of functional trait
      which can make it possible for transferred seed sources to positively respond to
      new growing conditions. We examined phenotypic variation in morphophysiological
      traits of six seed sources of white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) along a
      regional climatic gradient in Quebec, Canada. Seedlings from the seed sources
      were planted at three forest sites representing a mean annual temperature (MAT)
      gradient of 2.2 degrees C. During the second growing season, we measured height
      growth (H2014) and traits related to resources use efficiency and photosynthetic
      rate (A max). All functional traits showed an adaptive response to the climatic
      gradient. Traits such as H2014, A max, stomatal conductance (g s ), the ratio of
      mesophyll to stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and photosynthetic
      nitrogen-use efficiency showed significant variation in both physiological
      plasticity due to the planting site and seed source variation related to local
      genetic adaptation. However, the amplitude of seed source variation was much less
      than that related to plantation sites in the area investigated. The six seed
      sources showed a similar level of physiological plasticity. H2014, A max and g s
      , but not carboxylation capacity (V cmax), were correlated and decreased with a
      reduction of the average temperature of the growing season at seed origin. The
      clinal variation in H2014 and A max appeared to be driven by CO2 conductance. The
      presence of locally adapted functional traits suggests that the use of APM may
      have advantages for optimizing seed source productivity in future local climates.

PMID- 26870068
TI  - RNA-SEQ Reveals Transcriptional Level Changes of Poplar Roots in Different Forms
      of Nitrogen Treatments.
AB  - Poplar has emerged as a model plant for better understanding cellular and
      molecular changes accompanying tree growth, development, and response to
      environment. Long-term application of different forms of nitrogen (such as
      [Formula: see text]-N and [Formula: see text]-N) may cause morphological changes
      of poplar roots; however, the molecular level changes are still not well-known.
      In this study, we analyzed the expression profiling of poplar roots treated by
      three forms of nitrogen: S1 ([Formula: see text]), S2 (NH4NO3), and S3 ([Formula:
      see text]) by using RNA-SEQ technique. We found 463 genes significantly
      differentially expressed in roots by different N treatments, of which a total of
      112 genes were found to differentially express between S1 and S2, 171 genes
      between S2 and S3, and 319 genes between S1 and S3. A cluster analysis shows
      significant difference in many transcription factor families and functional genes
      family under different N forms. Through an analysis of Mapman metabolic pathway,
      we found that the significantly differentially expressed genes are associated
      with fermentation, glycolysis, and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), secondary
      metabolism, hormone metabolism, and transport processing. Interestingly, we did
      not find significantly differentially expressed genes in N metabolism pathway,
      mitochondrial electron transport/ATP synthesis and mineral nutrition. We also
      found abundant candidate genes (20 transcription factors and 30 functional genes)
      regulating morphology changes of poplar roots under the three N forms. The
      results obtained are beneficial to a better understanding of the potential
      molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating root morphology changes under
      different N treatments. 

PMID- 26870069
TI  - Response: A commentary on "Eucalyptus obliqua seedling growth in organic vs.
      mineral soil horizons".

PMID- 26870071
TI  - Effects of Diffuse Light on Radiation Use Efficiency of Two Anthurium Cultivars
      Depend on the Response of Stomatal Conductance to Dynamic Light Intensity.
AB  - The stimulating effect of diffuse light on radiation use efficiency (RUE) of
      crops is often explained by the more homogeneous spatial light distribution,
      while rarely considering differences in temporal light distribution at leaf
      level. This study investigated whether diffuse light effects on crop RUE can be
      explained by dynamic responses of leaf photosynthesis to temporal changes of
      photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Two Anthurium andreanum cultivars
      ('Pink Champion' and 'Royal Champion') were grown in two glasshouses covered by
      clear (control) and diffuse glass, with similar light transmission. On clear
      days, diffusing the light resulted in less temporal fluctuations of PPFD.
      Stomatal conductance (g s) varied strongly in response to transient PPFD in
      'Royal Champion,' whereas it remained relatively constant in 'Pink Champion.'
      Instantaneous net leaf photosynthesis (P n) in both cultivars approached steady
      state P n in diffuse light treatment. In control treatment this only occurred in
      'Pink Champion.' These cultivar differences were reflected by a higher RUE (8%)
      in 'Royal Champion' in diffuse light treatment compared with control, whereas no
      effect on RUE was observed in 'Pink Champion.' We conclude that the stimulating
      effect of diffuse light on RUE depends on the stomatal response to temporal PPFD
      fluctuations, which response is cultivar dependent. 

PMID- 26870070
TI  - BdCESA7, BdCESA8, and BdPMT Utility Promoter Constructs for Targeted Expression
      to Secondary Cell-Wall-Forming Cells of Grasses.
AB  - Utility vectors with promoters that confer desired spatial and temporal
      expression patterns are useful tools for studying gene and cellular function and
      for industrial applications. To target the expression of DNA sequences of
      interest to cells forming plant secondary cell walls, which generate most of the
      vegetative biomass, upstream regulatory sequences of the Brachypodium distachyon
      lignin biosynthetic gene BdPMT and the cellulose synthase genes BdCESA7 and
      BdCESA8 were isolated and cloned into binary vectors designed for Agrobacterium
      mediated transformation of monocots. Expression patterns were assessed using the
      beta-glucuronidase gene GUSPlus and X-glucuronide staining. All three promoters
      showed strong expression levels in stem tissue at the base of internodes where
      cell wall deposition is most active, in both vascular bundle xylem vessels and
      tracheids, and in interfascicular tissues, with expression less pronounced in
      developmentally older tissues. In leaves, BdCESA7 and BdCESA8 promoter-driven
      expression was strongest in leaf veins, leaf margins, and trichomes; relatively
      weaker and patchy expression was observed in the epidermis. BdPMT promoter-driven
      expression was similar to the BdCESA promoters expression patterns, including
      strong expression in trichomes. The intensity and extent of GUS staining varied
      considerably between transgenic lines, suggesting that positional effects
      influenced promoter activity. Introducing the BdPMT and BdCESA8 Open Reading
      Frames into BdPMT and BdCESA8 utility promoter binary vectors, respectively, and
      transforming those constructs into Brachypodium pmt and cesa8 loss-of-function
      mutants resulted in rescue of the corresponding mutant phenotypes. This work
      therefore validates the functionality of these utility promoter binary vectors
      for use in Brachypodium and likely other grass species. The identification, in
      Bdcesa8-1 T-DNA mutant stems, of an 80% reduction in crystalline cellulose levels
      confirms that the BdCESA8 gene is a secondary-cell-wall-forming cellulose
      synthase. 

PMID- 26870072
TI  - Chloroplast DNA Copy Number Changes during Plant Development in Organelle DNA
      Polymerase Mutants.
AB  - Chloroplast genome copy number is very high in leaf tissue, with upwards of
      10,000 or more copies of the chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) per leaf cell. This is often
      promoted as a major advantage for engineering the plastid genome, as it provides
      high gene copy number and thus is expected to result in high expression of
      foreign proteins from integrated genes. However, it is also known that ctDNA copy
      number and ctDNA integrity decrease as cells age. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) allows
      measurement of organelle DNA levels relative to a nuclear gene target. We have
      used this approach to determine changes in copy number of ctDNA relative to the
      nuclear genome at different ages of Arabidopsis plant growth and in organellar
      DNA polymerase mutants. The mutant plant lines have T-DNA insertions in genes
      encoding the two organelle localized DNA polymerases (PolIA and PolIB). Each of
      these mutant lines exhibits some delay in plant growth and development as
      compared to wild-type plants, with the PolIB plants having a more pronounced
      delay. Both mutant lines develop to maturity and produce viable seeds. Mutants
      for both proteins were observed to have a reduction in ctDNA and mtDNA copy
      number relative to wild type plants at all time points as measured by qPCR. Both
      DNA polymerase mutants had a fairly similar decrease in ctDNA copy number, while
      the PolIB mutant had a greater effect of reduction in mtDNA levels. However,
      despite similar decreases in genome copy number, RT-PCR analysis of PolIA mutants
      show that PolIB expression remains unchanged, suggesting that PolIA may not be
      essential to plant survival. Furthermore, genotypic analysis of plants from
      heterozygous parents display a strong pressure to maintain two functioning copies
      of PolIB. These results indicate that the two DNA polymerases are both important
      in ctDNA replication, and they are not fully redundant to each other, suggesting
      each has a specific function in plant organelles. 

PMID- 26870073
TI  - Regulation of WRKY46 Transcription Factor Function by Mitogen-Activated Protein
      Kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are central signaling pathways
      activated in plants after sensing internal developmental and external stress
      cues. Knowledge about the downstream substrate proteins of MAPKs is still limited
      in plants. We screened Arabidopsis WRKY transcription factors as potential
      targets downstream of MAPKs, and concentrated on characterizing WRKY46 as a
      substrate of the MAPK, MPK3. Mass spectrometry revealed in vitro phosphorylation
      of WRKY46 at amino acid position S168 by MPK3. However, mutagenesis studies
      showed that a second phosphosite, S250, can also be phosphorylated. Elicitation
      with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as the bacterial
      flagellin-derived flg22 peptide led to in vivo destabilization of WRKY46 in
      Arabidopsis protoplasts. Mutation of either phosphorylation site reduced the PAMP
      induced degradation of WRKY46. Furthermore, the protein for the double
      phosphosite mutant is expressed at higher levels compared to wild-type proteins
      or single phosphosite mutants. In line with its nuclear localization and
      predicted function as a transcriptional activator, overexpression of WRKY46 in
      protoplasts raised basal plant defense as reflected by the increase in promoter
      activity of the PAMP-responsive gene, NHL10, in a MAPK-dependent manner. Thus,
      MAPK-mediated regulation of WRKY46 is a mechanism to control plant defense. 

PMID- 26870074
TI  - OsSRO1a Interacts with RNA Binding Domain-Containing Protein (OsRBD1) and
      Functions in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Yeast.
AB  - SRO1 is an important regulator of stress and hormonal response in plants and
      functions by interacting with transcription factors and several other proteins
      involved in abiotic stress response. In the present study, we report OsRBD1, an
      RNA binding domain 1- containing protein as a novel interacting partner of
      OsSRO1a from rice. The interaction of OsSRO1a with OsRBD1 was shown in yeast as
      well as in planta. Domain-domain interaction study revealed that C-terminal RST
      domain of OsSRO1a interacts with the N-terminal RRM1 domain of OsRBD1 protein.
      Both the proteins were found to co-localize in nucleus. Transcript profiling
      under different stress conditions revealed co-regulation of OsSRO1a and OsRBD1
      expression under some abiotic stress conditions. Further, co-transformation of
      both OsSRO1a and OsRBD1 in yeast conferred enhanced tolerance toward salinity,
      osmotic, and methylglyoxal treatments. Our study suggests that the interaction of
      OsSRO1a with OsRBD1 confers enhanced stress tolerance in yeast and may play an
      important role under abiotic stress responses in plants. 

PMID- 26870077
TI  - Editorial: Genomics and Effectomics of the Crop Killer Xanthomonas.

PMID- 26870075
TI  - Efficient Rutin and Quercetin Biosynthesis through Flavonoids-Related Gene
      Expression in Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. Hairy Root Cultures with UV-B
      Irradiation.
AB  - Transformed hairy roots had been efficiently induced from the seedlings of
      Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. due to the infection of Agrobacterium rhizogenes.
      Hairy roots were able to display active elongation with high root branching in
      1/2 MS medium without growth regulators. The stable introduction of rolB and aux1
      genes of A. rhizogenes WT strain 15834 into F. tataricum plants was confirmed by
      PCR analysis. Besides, the absence of virD gene confirmed hairy root was bacteria
      free. After six different media and different sources of concentration were
      tested, the culturing of TB7 hairy root line in 1/2 MS liquid medium supplemented
      with 30 g l(-1) sucrose for 20 days resulted in a maximal biomass accumulation
      (13.5 g l(-1) fresh weight, 1.78 g l(-1) dry weight) and rutin content (0.85 mg
      g(-1)). The suspension culture of hairy roots led to a 45-fold biomass increase
      and a 4.11-fold rutin content increase in comparison with the suspension culture
      of non-transformed roots. The transformation frequency was enhanced through
      preculturing for 2 days followed by infection for 20 min. The UV-B stress
      treatment of hairy roots resulted in a striking increase of rutin and quercetin
      production. Furthermore, the hairy root lines of TB3, TB7, and TB28 were chosen
      to study the specific effects of UV-B on flavonoid accumulation and flavonoid
      biosynthetic gene expression by qRT-PCR. This study has demonstrated that the UV
      B radiation was an effective elicitor that dramatically changed in the transcript
      abundance of ftpAL, FtCHI, FtCHS, FtF3H, and FtFLS-1 in F. tataricum hairy roots.

PMID- 26870078
TI  - Petunia, Your Next Supermodel?
AB  - Plant biology in general, and plant evo-devo in particular would strongly benefit
      from a broader range of available model systems. In recent years, technological
      advances have facilitated the analysis and comparison of individual gene
      functions in multiple species, representing now a fairly wide taxonomic range of
      the plant kingdom. Because genes are embedded in gene networks, studying
      evolution of gene function ultimately should be put in the context of studying
      the evolution of entire gene networks, since changes in the function of a single
      gene will normally go together with further changes in its network environment.
      For this reason, plant comparative biology/evo-devo will require the availability
      of a defined set of 'super' models occupying key taxonomic positions, in which
      performing gene functional analysis and testing genetic interactions ideally is
      as straightforward as, e.g., in Arabidopsis. Here we review why petunia has the
      potential to become one of these future supermodels, as a representative of the
      Asterid clade. We will first detail its intrinsic qualities as a model system.
      Next, we highlight how the revolution in sequencing technologies will now finally
      allows exploitation of the petunia system to its full potential, despite that
      petunia has already a long history as a model in plant molecular biology and
      genetics. We conclude with a series of arguments in favor of a more diversified
      multi-model approach in plant biology, and we point out where the petunia model
      system may further play a role, based on its biological features and molecular
      toolkit. 

PMID- 26870080
TI  - Effects of NO2 and Ozone on Pollen Allergenicity.
AB  - This mini-review summarizes the available data of the air pollutants NO2 and
      ozone on allergenic pollen from different plant species, focusing on potentially
      allergenic components of the pollen, such as allergen content, protein release,
      IgE-binding, or protein modification. Various in vivo and in vitro studies on
      allergenic pollen are shown and discussed. 

PMID- 26870079
TI  - Bioaugmentation with Endophytic Bacterium E6S Homologous to Achromobacter
      piechaudii Enhances Metal Rhizoaccumulation in Host Sedum plumbizincicola.
AB  - Application of hyperaccumulator-endophyte symbiotic systems is a potential
      approach to improve phytoremediation efficiency, since some beneficial endophytic
      bacteria are able to detoxify heavy metals, alter metal solubility in soil, and
      facilitate plant growth. The objective of this study was to isolate multi-metal
      resistant and plant beneficial endophytic bacteria and to evaluate their role in
      enhancing plant growth and metal accumulation/translocation. The metal resistant
      endophytic bacterial strain E6S was isolated from stems of the Zn/Cd
      hyperaccumulator plant Sedum plumbizincicola growing in metalliferous mine soils
      using Dworkin and Foster salts minimal agar medium with 1-aminocyclopropane-1
      carboxylate (ACC) as the sole nitrogen source, and identified as homologous to
      Achromobacter piechaudii based on morphological and biochemical characteristics,
      partial 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Strain E6S showed high level
      of resistance to various metals (Cd, Zn, and Pb). Besides utilizing ACC, strain
      E6S exhibited plant beneficial traits, such as solubilization of phosphate and
      production of indole-3-acetic acid. Inoculation with E6S significantly increased
      the bioavailability of Cd, Zn, and Pb in soil. In addition, bacterial cells bound
      considerable amounts of metal ions in the following order: Zn > Cd >Pb.
      Inoculation of E6S significantly stimulated plant biomass, uptake and
      bioaccumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb. However, E6S greatly reduced the root to shoot
      translocation of Cd and Zn, indicating that bacterial inoculation assisted the
      host plant to uptake and store heavy metals in its root system. Inoculation with
      the endophytic bacterium E6S homologous to A. piechaudii can improve
      phytostabilization of metalliferous soils due to its effective ability to enhance
      in situ metal rhizoaccumulation in plants. 

PMID- 26870076
TI  - Different Modes of Hydrogen Peroxide Action During Seed Germination.
AB  - Hydrogen peroxide was initially recognized as a toxic molecule that causes damage
      at different levels of cell organization and thus losses in cell viability. From
      the 1990s, the role of hydrogen peroxide as a signaling molecule in plants has
      also been discussed. The beneficial role of H2O2 as a central hub integrating
      signaling network in response to biotic and abiotic stress and during
      developmental processes is now well established. Seed germination is the most
      pivotal phase of the plant life cycle, affecting plant growth and productivity.
      The function of hydrogen peroxide in seed germination and seed aging has been
      illustrated in numerous studies; however, the exact role of this molecule remains
      unknown. This review evaluates evidence that shows that H2O2 functions as a
      signaling molecule in seed physiology in accordance with the known biology and
      biochemistry of H2O2. The importance of crosstalk between hydrogen peroxide and a
      number of signaling molecules, including plant phytohormones such as abscisic
      acid, gibberellins, and ethylene, and reactive molecules such as nitric oxide and
      hydrogen sulfide acting on cell communication and signaling during seed
      germination, is highlighted. The current study also focuses on the detrimental
      effects of H2O2 on seed biology, i.e., seed aging that leads to a loss of
      germination efficiency. The dual nature of hydrogen peroxide as a toxic molecule
      on one hand and as a signal molecule on the other is made possible through the
      precise spatial and temporal control of its production and degradation. Levels of
      hydrogen peroxide in germinating seeds and young seedlings can be modulated via
      pre-sowing seed priming/conditioning. This rather simple method is shown to be a
      valuable tool for improving seed quality and for enhancing seed stress tolerance
      during post-priming germination. In this review, we outline how seed
      priming/conditioning affects the integrative role of hydrogen peroxide in seed
      germination and aging. 

PMID- 26870081
TI  - Strategies for Integrated Analysis of Genetic, Epigenetic, and Gene Expression
      Variation in Cancer: Addressing the Challenges.
AB  - The development and progression of cancer, a collection of diseases with complex
      genetic architectures, is facilitated by the interplay of multiple etiological
      factors. This complexity challenges the traditional single-platform study design
      and calls for an integrated approach to data analysis. However, integration of
      heterogeneous measurements of biological variation is a non-trivial exercise due
      to the diversity of the human genome and the variety of output data formats and
      genome coverage obtained from the commonly used molecular platforms. This review
      article will provide an introduction to integration strategies used for analyzing
      genetic risk factors for cancer. We critically examine the ability of these
      strategies to handle the complexity of the human genome and also accommodate
      information about the biological and functional interactions between the elements
      that have been measured-making the assessment of disease risk against a composite
      genomic factor possible. The focus of this review is to provide an overview and
      introduction to the main strategies and to discuss where there is a need for
      further development. 

PMID- 26870083
TI  - What ails medical research in Pakistan? Role of institutions.

PMID- 26870084
TI  - Anorexia nervosa among teenage girls: Emerging or prevalent?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To find out frequency of anorexia nervosa (AN) among teenage girls
      (TG) and to find out the knowledge and practice regarding anorexia nervosa among
      teenage girls. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted at higher secondary
      public school, Rawalpindi from June 2013 till December 2013. A sample of 100
      female students of the age group 13-19 years were inducted by systematic sampling
      technique. Mixed pretested questionnaire was filled after informed verbal
      consent. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS:
      Participants mean age was 15.81 +/- 1.323 years. Mean weight, mean height and
      mean body mass index were found to be 50.34 +/- 10.445 kg, 160.14 +/- 7.846 cm
      and 19.675 +/- 4.1477 kg/m(2) respectively. Anorexia nervosa was found in 42
      (42%) teenage girls while 58 (58%) were not having anorexia nervosa. Sufficient
      knowledge and positive practice were found to be present in 57 (57%) and 49 (49%)
      respectively. Statistically no significant association was found between KP and
      AN (p=0.73). CONCLUSION: Anorexia nervosa is an emerging health concern in
      Pakistan. Anorexia prevalent behaviour was observed in almost half of the teenage
      girls.

PMID- 26870082
TI  - Genetic Susceptibility to Vitiligo: GWAS Approaches for Identifying Vitiligo
      Susceptibility Genes and Loci.
AB  - Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component, characterized
      by areas of depigmented skin resulting from loss of epidermal melanocytes.
      Genetic factors are known to play key roles in vitiligo through discoveries in
      association studies and family studies. Previously, vitiligo susceptibility genes
      were mainly revealed through linkage analysis and candidate gene studies.
      Recently, our understanding of the genetic basis of vitiligo has been rapidly
      advancing through genome-wide association study (GWAS). More than 40 robust
      susceptible loci have been identified and confirmed to be associated with
      vitiligo by using GWAS. Most of these associated genes participate in important
      pathways involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Many susceptible loci with
      unknown functions in the pathogenesis of vitiligo have also been identified,
      indicating that additional molecular mechanisms may contribute to the risk of
      developing vitiligo. In this review, we summarize the key loci that are of genome
      wide significance, which have been shown to influence vitiligo risk. These
      genetic loci may help build the foundation for genetic diagnosis and personalize
      treatment for patients with vitiligo in the future. However, substantial
      additional studies, including gene-targeted and functional studies, are required
      to confirm the causality of the genetic variants and their biological relevance
      in the development of vitiligo. 

PMID- 26870085
TI  - The effect of Ramadan fasting on fetal development.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on fetal development and
      outcomes of pregnancy. METHODS: We performed this study in Antakya State Hospital
      of Obstetrics and Child Care, between 28 June 2014 and 27 July 2014 (during the
      month of Ramadan). A total of two hundred forty healthy pregnant women who were
      fasting during Ramadan, were included in the groups. The three groups were
      divided according to the trimesters. The each group was consisted of 40 healthy
      pregnant women with fasting and 40 healthy pregnant women without fasting. For
      evaluating the effects of Ramadan on fetus, ultrasonography was performed on all
      pregnant women in the beginning and the end of Ramadan. We used the essential
      parameters for the following measurements: increase of fetal biparietal diameter
      (BPD), increase of fetal femur length (FL), increase of estimated fetal body
      weight (EFBW), fetal biophysical profile (BPP), amniotic fluid index (AFI), and
      umbilical artery systole/diastole (S/D) ratio. RESULTS: No significant difference
      was found between the two groups for the fetal age, maternal weight gain
      (kilogram), estimated fetal weight gain (EFWG), fetal BPP, AFI, and umbilical
      artery S/D ratio. On the other hand, a statistically significant increase was
      observed in maternal weight in the second and third trimesters and a significant
      increase was observed in the amniotic fluid index in second trimester.
      CONCLUSION: In Ramadan there was no bad fetal outcome between pregnant women with
      fasting and pregnant women without fasting. Pregnant women who want to be with
      fast, should be examined by doctors, adequately get breakfast before starting to
      fast and after the fasting take essential calori and hydration. More
      comprehensive randomized studies are needed to explain the effects of fasting on
      the pregnancy and fetal outcomes.

PMID- 26870086
TI  - Predictor of cardiovascular risks in end stage renal failure patients on
      maintenance dialysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of morbidity and
      premature mortality in end stage renal failure patients (ESRD) receiving
      dialysis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of various risk factors
      in this group of high CVD risk patients in local population. METHODS: We carried
      out a cross-sectional retrospective study in a single hospital. A total of 136
      ESRF patients, consisted of 43 haemodialysis (HD) and 93 continuous ambulatory
      peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, were recruited and followed up for 36 months
      duration. Midweek clinical and laboratory data were collected. The occurrence of
      existing and new CVD events was recorded. RESULTS: Multiple Logistic Regression
      showed pre-existing cardiovascular event (odds ratio, 4.124; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.990 to 17.187), elevated total cholesterol level (odds ratio,
      0.550; 95% CI, 0.315 to 0.963), elevated serum phosphate level (odds ratio,
      5.862; 95% CI, 1.041 to 33.024) and elevated random blood glucose level (odds
      ratio, 1.193; 95% CI, 1.012 to 1.406) were significantly associated with
      occurrence of CVD events. CONCLUSIONS: History of cardiovascular event before the
      initiation of dialysis, elevated level of serum phosphate and random blood
      glucose levels are the risk factors of CVD whereas paradoxically a high total
      cholesterol level has CVD protective effect towards the ESRF patients.

PMID- 26870087
TI  - Longtime soaking of high concentration tranexamic acid in total hip arthroplasty:
      A prospective randomized controlled trial in 224 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular Soaking of
      high concentration Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: From
      March 2013 to March 2014, 224 patients who underwent unilateral primary THA in
      our hospital was enrolled in this randomized, prospective double-blinded study.
      The patients were allocated into two groups according to intra-articular solution
      received: Intra-articular soaking of TXA group, Control group (physiologic
      saline). The solution was injected from intermuscular space following fixation of
      the implants and closure of articular capsule, short external rotators. Total
      blood loss, total volume of drainage and transfusion were recorded. Postoperative
      deep vein thrombosis and other complications was also measured. RESULTS: The mean
      total blood loss was 730+/-296 ml in intra-articular soaking of TXA group
      compared with 1048+/-295ml in control group (P<0.05). The postoperative mean
      total volume of drainage was 93+/-50 mL in intra-articular soaking of TXA group
      versus 312+/-136 mL in control group.22 patients (19.8%, control) and 6 patients
      (5.3%, Intra-articular soaking of TXA) required transfusion (P=0.001).
      Postoperative deep vein thrombosis and other complications were no statistical
      significance between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular soaking of high
      concentration TXA with 2-hour clamping drain can reduce the total blood loss and
      transfusion rates in primary THA without significant increase in postoperative
      thrombotic complications.

PMID- 26870088
TI  - Dysmenorrhea among female medical students in King Abdulaziz University:
      Prevalence, Predictors and outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, predictors and outcome of dysmenorrhea
      among female medical students in King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi
      Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 medical students
      at KAU, Jeddah selected through stratified random sample method. A pre
      constructed, validated, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect
      personal and socio-demographic information. Data about menstrual history, stress,
      smoking were also collected. The severity of dysmenorrhea was scored by the
      "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)". Descriptive and analytical statistics were
      conducted. RESULTS: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 60.9%. Logistic regression
      showed that heavy period was the first predictor of dysmenorrhea (aOR=1.94; 95%
      CI: 1.29- 2.91), followed by stress (aOR=1.90; 95% C.I.: 1.19-3.07). The
      prevalence of severe dysmenorrhea among the sufferers was 38.6%. Depressed mood
      was the commonest (80.8%) symptom accompanying dysmenorrhea. Regarding the
      outcome of dysmenorrhea, 67.5% of the sufferes reported emotional instability,
      while 28.3% reported absenteeism from the university. CONCLUSIONS: A high
      prevalence of dysmenorrhea was prevalent among medical students in King Abdulaziz
      University (KAU), Health promotion, screening programs, and stress management
      courses are recommended.

PMID- 26870089
TI  - New modification of modified bentall procedure (A single centre experience).
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Modified Bentall procedure has become a gold standard
      in the treatment of combined aortic root and aortic valve diseases. Bleeding is
      an important predictor of morbidity and mortality after the Bentall operation.
      Our objective was to evaluate the early outcomes of Modified Button-Bentall
      procedure with cuff technique for aortic root replacement surgery regarding
      hemostasis. METHODS: A total number of 32 patients who underwent elective Bentall
      operation from January 2008 to December 2014 were included in the study. In 18
      patients (Group I) modified Button-Bentall procedure with formation of cuff was
      used and in 14 patients (Group II) Modified Button technique without cuff
      formation was used for aortic root replacement. Data was analyzed using SPSS V16.
      Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test and independent sample t-test was used to
      analyze Qualitative and Quantitative variables. RESULTS: Three patients in Group
      II and two patients in group I was in congestive cardiac failure pre-operatively.
      Out of thirty two patients two patients were having Aortic root dissection one in
      each group. Total bypass time and cross-clamp time were significantly high in
      Group I. There was no significant difference regarding duration of inotropic
      support, ventilation time, ICU stay and hospital stay time in patients of Group I
      and Group II. But post-op Chest drainage was very high in Group II 1158+451.25 ml
      versus 488.89+168.27 ml in group I (p-value <0.0001). There was one in hospital
      death in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Formation of cuff of remnant of aorta during
      proximal anastomosis results in significant reduction in post-operative bleeding
      and was better in hospital outcomes.

PMID- 26870090
TI  - Comparison of emergency surgeries for obstructed colonic cancer with elective
      surgeries: A retrospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Colon cancer patients presented with obstruction were known to have
      worse postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, but conflicting data has been
      reported in recent years. We aimed to investigate postoperative complication
      rates, and short and long-term oncological outcomes in patients with colon cancer
      treated with either emergency surgery due to obstruction or elective surgery.
      METHODS: Two hundred fifty two patients were analyzed. Patients presented with
      obstruction and underwent an emergency surgery, and patients operated under
      elective circumstances were compared according to their demographic variables,
      tumor characteristics, and short and long term treatment outcomes. RESULTS:
      Distribution of age, gender and comorbidities were similar between both the
      groups. Need for an end colostomy was significantly higher in obstructed patients
      (22.7% vs 1.6%, respectively). Obstructed patients were tending to be at an
      advanced stage. Postoperative morbidity and mortality, and prognosis of colon
      cancer patients presented with obstruction is worse than patients operated under
      elective circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: Colon cancer patients presented with
      obstruction constitutes more than one quarter of all patients. These patients
      have significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates. Obstructed colon cancer
      usually appears at advanced stage. Primary resection and anastomosis is safe in
      most of the cases.

PMID- 26870091
TI  - Association of vitamin D receptor gene BsmI (A>G) and FokI (C>T) polymorphism in
      gestational diabetes among Saudi Women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism have a role in diabetes
      mellitus pathogenesis. Present study was conducted to determine VDR gene variants
      among Saudi gestational diabetics (GDM) in Madina, KSA. METHODS: This cross
      sectional study was conducted on 112 GDM patients and 218 normal healthy control.
      Age, body mass index and blood pressure levels were recorded. Serum triglycerides
      (mg/dl), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, fasting blood
      glucose FBG and post-prandial blood glucose PPBG were estimated. Extracted DNA
      template was amplified by PCR reaction and genotyped for single nucleotide
      polymorphism of BsmI and FokI by restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR
      (RFLP-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: FBG and PPBG levels in GDM patients were
      significantly elevated by +48.6% and +50%, respectively (P=0.005). Serum
      triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) levels in GDM
      patients were elevated significantly by +40.5% (P=0.005), +16% (P=0.01) and
      +30.8% (P=0.005), respectively. Serum HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) showed significant
      decline by -10.5%. FokI VDR genotypes showed association with PPBG (P=0.05) among
      GDM patients. The Ff, FF and ff genotype percentage among GDM patients was 48.2%,
      30.4% and 21.4%, respectively. FokI (F and f) and BsmI (B and b) alleles
      frequency showed no significant difference between GDM patients and control.
      Percentage BsmI and FokI total homozygous and heterozygous variants among GDM was
      45.5% and 81.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: VDR BsmI and FokI polymorphic marker
      not associated with Saudi GDM.

PMID- 26870092
TI  - Beneficial effects of silver foam dressing on healing of wounds with ulcers and
      infection control of burn patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the beneficial effects of silver foam dressing on the
      healing of wounds with ulcers and infection control of burn patients. METHODS:
      Eighty-four second-degree burn patients were selected and divided into a study
      group and a control group (n=42). After disinfection and cleaning, wound beds of
      the study group were covered with silver-containing soft-silicone foam dressing,
      and wound surfaces of the control group were wiped with 1% silver sulfadiazine
      cream (60 g/100 cm(2)). The two groups were checked weekly to observe wound
      healing progress and adverse reactions of the skin around wounds. Wound
      secretions were collected and subjected to bacterial culture. Related indices
      were recorded and quantified. RESULTS: Thirty seven cases of the study group
      (88.1%) and 36 cases of the control group (85.7%) recovered to normal, and 3
      (7.1%) and 2 cases (4.8%) in the two groups failed to recover. The recovery rates
      of the two groups were similar (P>0.05), but unrecovered patients in the study
      group had significantly higher proportions of repaired wounds (P<0.05). Wounds of
      the study group were healed significantly more rapidly than those of the control
      group (22.3+/-3.1 vs. 25.1+/-4.4, P<0.05). The study group had significantly
      higher proportions of repaired wounds from Day 7 to Day 21 (P<0.05), but the
      difference became less obvious with extended time to Day 28. The bacterial
      culture-positive (exceeding 10(5) organisms per gram of tissue) rates of both
      groups significantly reduced after treatment (Day 7 for the study group and Day
      14 for the control group), and the rate of the study group was significantly
      lower at last (P<0.05). The study and control groups were observed 134 and 149
      person-times respectively, with the normal wound-surrounding skin rates of 96.3%
      (129/134) and 88.6% (132/149) (P>0.05 except for on Day 14). Except for on Day
      28, the study group had significantly lower pain scores than those of the control
      group (P<0.05), especially on Day 7 and Day 14 (P<0.01). From Day 7 to Day 28,
      the study group was significantly less prone to burning sensation than the
      control group (P<0.05), but both groups felt anxious during dressing change
      (P>0.05). Dressing of the study group was changed significantly more easily
      (P<0.05), but the fixing outcomes were similar (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Silver foam
      dressing rapidly, easily and safely resisted wound bacteria, promoted wound
      healing and shortened recovery time, effectively relieving the pain of patients.

PMID- 26870093
TI  - Screening for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 in Enterobacteriaceae: Is there
      a role for the modified Hodge test?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) enzyme is a plasmid
      encoded enzyme that inactivates carbapenem antibiotics. This study aims to
      ascertain if the modified Hodge test (MHT) has a role in screening for NDM-1 in
      Enterobacteriaceae with reduced carbapenem susceptibility. METHODS: Over a period
      of one year, all Enterobacteriaceae isolates from all clinical specimens with
      reduced susceptibility to at least one carbapenem were subjected to MHT and
      conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of the NDM-1 gene.
      RESULTS: A total of 13,098 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were screened and 63
      (0.48%) had reduced susceptibility to at least one carbapenem. Out of the 63
      isolates, 45 (71.4%) were MHT-positive. The NDM-1 gene was detected in 18 of the
      63 isolates (28.6%). All 18 PCR-positive isolates were also MHT-positive. Thus,
      the sensitivity and specificity of the MHT in detecting NDM-1 in
      Enterobacteriaceae with reduced carbapenem susceptibility are 100% and 40%,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: The MHT is a useful test to screen for the presence of
      NDM-1 in Enterobacteriaceae with reduced carbapenem susceptibility. However, due
      to its rather low specificity, all MHT-positive isolates should be subjected to
      alternative tests (e.g. PCR) for confirmation, especially if other types of
      carbapenemases (e.g. KPC) are prevalent.

PMID- 26870094
TI  - Concomitant presence of culture-proven active pulmonary tuberculosis in patients
      with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - A hospital based study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To find out the prevalence of concomitant active pulmonary
      Tuberculosis (TB) in patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
      using the gold standard liquid and solid culture media for the detection of acid
      fast bacillus. METHODS: Eighty clinically and radiologically diagnosed cases of
      COPD of any severity, >=40 years of age with no previous history of anti
      tuberculous therapy were selected from department of Pulmonology, Jinnah
      Hospital, Lahore. Detailed demographic profile, clinical symptomatology and
      history of smoking were recorded. Sputum samples of these patients were subjected
      to ZiehlNeelsen (ZN) stain and culture on Lowenstein-Jensen (L.J) medium and
      Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) for the detection and isolation of
      Mycobacteriumtuberculosis (MTB). RESULTS: Out of 80 COPD patients, 6 (7.5%) were
      culture positive for acid fast bacillus consistent with active tuberculous
      infection. The concomitance was more prevalent in elderly, male, smokers. MGIT
      was a more sensitive and a rapid technique to detect the presence of
      mycobacterium as compared to LJ culture media and ZN stain. CONCLUSION: The
      prevalence of active TB in COPD patients was 7.5%. Detection was improved when
      liquid culture media was employed for the detection of acid fast bacillus.
      Regular monitoring and screening of patients with COPD for PTB should be
      routinely carried out in susceptible cohort to avoid cross spreading of infection
      and appropriate management.

PMID- 26870095
TI  - An evaluation of the effects of perioperatively administered fluids on
      ischemia/reperfusion injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of normal saline (0.9% NaCl) and 6%
      Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4(HES) solution on Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury in
      patients undergoing knee arthroscopy operations with spinal anesthesia using a
      tourniquet. METHODS: The study comprised 48 ASA I-II patients undergoing knee
      arthroscopy with spinal anesthesia using a tourniquet. The patients were
      randomised into two groups and after standard monitoring two venous lines were
      introduced to obtain blood samples and to give intravenous therapy. In the
      control group (Group A) (n=21) 0.9% NaCl, 10 ml/kg/hours and in the study group
      (Group B) (n=19) 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4, 10 ml/kg/hours infusion were
      administered. Spinal anesthesia was applied with 12.5 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine
      to all patients. The tourniquet was applied and the operation was started when
      the sensorial block level reached T10 dermatome. Blood xanthine oxidase (XO) and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an indicator of ischemia and reperfusion injury
      were measured in samples before fluid infusion (t1), before tourniquet
      application (t2), 1 minute before tourniquet release (t3), and at 5 (t4) and 15
      (t5) minutes after tourniquet release. RESULTS: No difference was observed
      between the two groups in respect of demographic parameters, the highest block
      level, duration before tourniquet application and tourniquet duration (p>0.05).
      The MDA level after tourniquet application and 15 minutes after tourniquet
      release was lower in Group B (p<0.05). XO levels were not different (p>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: In this study 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 solution reduced MDA
      level which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation. 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4
      solution may be beneficial for Ischemia/reperfusion injuries.

PMID- 26870096
TI  - Achieving fertility control through woman's autonomy and access to maternal
      healthcare: Are we on track? In-depth analysis of PDHS-2012-13.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fertility control preferences and maternal healthcare
      have recently become a major concern for developing nations with evidence
      suggesting that low fertility control rates and poor maternal healthcare are
      among major obstructions in ensuring health and social status for women. Our
      objective was toanalyze the factors that influence women's autonomy, access to
      maternal healthcare, and fertility control preferences in Pakistan. METHODS: Data
      consisted of 11,761 ever-married women of ages 15-49 years from PDHS, 2012-13.
      Variables included socio-demographics, women's autonomy, fertility control
      preferences and access to maternal healthcare. RESULTS: Findings from
      multivariate analysis showed that women's younger age, having less than three
      number of children and independent or joint decision-making (indicators of high
      autonomy) remained the most significant predictors for access to better quality
      maternal healthcare and better fertility control preferences when other variables
      were controlled. CONCLUSION: Women's access to good quality maternal health care
      and fertility control preferences are directly and indirectly influenced by their
      demographic characteristics and decision-making patterns in domestic affairs.

PMID- 26870097
TI  - Comparison of outcomes between endoscopic surgery and conventional nasal packing
      for epistaxis in the posterior fornix of the inferior nasal meatus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of epistaxis in the posterior
      fornix of the inferior nasal meatus and compare the treatment outcomes of
      endoscopic surgery and conventional nasal packing for this intractable form of
      epistaxis. METHODS: Between August 2011 and August 2014, the medical records of
      53 adult patients with idiopathic epistaxis in the posterior fornix of the
      inferior nasal meatus diagnosed by nasal endoscopy were obtained from our
      department. Of these, 38 patients underwent endoscopic surgery (surgery group)
      and 15 received a nasal pack (packing group). The patients' background
      characteristics, incidence of re-bleeding, extent of discomfort after treatment
      as assessed using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS) and incidence of nasal
      cavity adhesion after treatment were analysed. RESULTS: There were no significant
      differences in background characteristics between the two groups. The incidence
      of re-bleeding (0/38 vs. 4/15, surgery vs. control, P = 0.001), VAS score for
      discomfort (2.4 +/- 1.4 vs. 7.6 +/- 1.0, surgery vs. control, P = 0.001) and
      incidence of nasal cavity adhesion after treatment (2/38 vs. 7/15, surgery vs.
      control, P = 0.007) were significantly lower in the surgery group than in the
      packing group. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surgery is superior to conventional nasal
      packing for the management of epistaxis in the posterior fornix of the inferior
      nasal meatus. During surgery, it is crucial to expose the bleeding sites by
      shifting the inferior turbinate inward by fracture.

PMID- 26870098
TI  - Feasibility of using Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to
      assess anxiety and depression among patients attending Accident and Emergency at
      a University Hospital setting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using Arabic Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depression and anxiety among patients attending
      accident and emergency (A & E) at a University Hospital setting in Riyadh, Saudi
      Arabia. METHODS: In this prospective observational study translated questionnaire
      of HADS was used for patients aged 18 years or above who presented to A & E at
      King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included 257
      patients as per an agreed inclusion criteria. The study quantified depression and
      anxiety and its association with demographic and or illness related variables
      using SPSS. RESULTS: Out of 257 participants, the dominant age group, ranged
      between 18-30 years (40.9%) with female participants (55.3%) outweigh the male
      among all. The overall occurrence of depression was 27.2% (95% Confidence
      Interval (CI): 21.8 % to 32.6%) and anxiety was 23% (17.8% to 28.2%CI). Marital,
      educational and economic status of participants, were statistically significantly
      associated (p<0.05) with the levels of anxiety whereas age, marital, education,
      economic and employment status were associated (p<0.05) with the levels of
      depression. CONCLUSION: In the A & E setting at University Hospital in Saudi
      Arabia, comorbid depression and anxiety is not uncommon as enumerated by using
      HADS. The identified cases could then be sent for appropriate psychiatric
      treatment promptly not only to improve quality of individual care but also to
      reduce the overall health care costs in local context.

PMID- 26870099
TI  - Comparison for efficacy of general exercises with and without mobilization
      therapy for the management of adhesive capsulitis of shoulder - An interventional
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise
      with manual therapy and exercise alone in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.
      METHOD: This randomized study was conducted at institute of physical medicine and
      rehabilitation Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi between January, 2014
      and July, 2014. Forty four participant age between 25-40 years were recruited.
      Twenty two participants were allocated to exercise and manual therapy group and
      22 participants were allocated to exercise only group. Exercise and manual
      therapy group received general exercises and Maitland mobilization on shoulder
      joint whereas exercise group only received general exercises. Both interventions
      were carried out 3 times a week for 5 consecutive weeks. Pre and post
      intervention scores of Visual analogue scale (VAS), range of movement and
      Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPDI) were recorded. Paired sample t-test was
      used to analyze the results within groups. RESULTS: After 5 weeks of intervention
      both groups made significant improvements in all outcome measures (p < 0.001).
      Intra group analysis showed no significant difference between two groups (p >
      0.05). Mean VAS and SPADI difference was 2.23 and 22 in General exercise & manual
      therapy group and 2.33 and 23 in General exercise group respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Both exercises with manual therapy and exercises alone are equally effective in
      the management of adhesive capsulits of the shoulder joint.

PMID- 26870100
TI  - Alarming high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Jordanian adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and the individual components of metabolic
      syndrome (MetS) in Jordanian adults. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 630
      adult subjects (308 men and 322 women) aged between 20-70 years were recruited
      from the clinics at the King Hussein Medical Center. The diagnosis of MetS was
      made according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria-2005.
      Blood samples were collected after 10-12 hours overnight fasting and serum was
      obtained for biochemical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome
      according to IDF criteria was 51% (46.4% in men and 55.3% in women). Prevalence
      of increased waist circumference in the total sample was 71.6%, 46% for high
      blood pressure, 42.4% for elevated fasting blood glucose, 43.5% for low high
      density lipoprotein, and 50.2% for hypertriglyceridemia. CONCLUSION: The
      prevalence and individual components of MetS in Jordan were high. Screening of
      MetS is needed at national level to reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

PMID- 26870101
TI  - Resistance patterns of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in an ICU of a
      tertiary care hospital, Malaysia.
AB  - BACKGROUNDS & OBJECTIVE: Antimicrobial resistance is a major health problem
      worldwide in hospitals. The main contributing factors are exposures to broad
      spectrum antimicrobials and cross-infections. Understanding the extent and type
      of antimicrobial use in tertiary care hospitals will aid in developing national
      antimicrobial stewardship priorities. METHODS: In this study, we have analyzed
      the antimicrobial agents' usage for acquisition of multidrug resistant using
      retrospective, cross-sectional, single-centre study in a multidisciplinary ICU at
      tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) was isolated in
      various specimens from 662 patients. From these, 136 patients who were diagnosed
      with Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by ACB were included into the
      study. In our study, MDR strain accounts for 51% of all VAP cases caused by ACB.
      The development of ACB VAP were 10.5 + 6.4 days for MDR strains compared to
      susceptible organism (7.8 + 4.5 days) and had significantly longer ICU stay.
      CONCLUSION: The study concludes that prudent use of antimicrobial agents is
      important to reduce acquisition of MDR ACB.

PMID- 26870102
TI  - Use of recombinant factor VIIa in uncontrolled gastrointestinal bleeding after
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation among patients with thrombocytopenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recombinant-activated factor VII (rVIIa) is a vitamin K
      dependent glycoprotein that is an analog of the naturally occurring protease. It
      has an off-label use to control life-threatening bleeding that is refractory to
      other measures and was shown to decrease transfusion requirements.
      Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a severe complication following hematopoietic
      stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with thrombocytopenia, while
      hemostatic measures based on antifibrinolytic or transfusion therapy may not
      always be successful. The present study investigated the treatment with rFVIIa in
      severe GI bleeding among thrombocytopenia patients undergoing HSCT. METHODS:
      rFVIIa was given as a single dose of 60MUg/kg in patients with GI bleeding
      following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). RESULTS: Among all
      patients enrolled, 12 (75%) of 16 patients obtained a response, of which 5
      achieved a complete response and 7 achieved a partial response. The 4 remiaing
      patients (25%) had no response. Nine patients (56.3%) died in a follow-up of 90
      days. No thromboembolic events wereassociated with the drug administration
      occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that rFVIIa may represent an additional
      therapeutic option in such cases.

PMID- 26870103
TI  - Frequency and determinants of Hepatitis B and C virus in general population of
      Farash Town, Islamabad.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Both Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus
      (HCV) infections are rapidly spreading in the developing countries. Both of them
      are blood borne and are transmitted through un-screened blood transfusion,
      inadequately sterilized needles and equipment. According to WHO's criteria of
      endemicity, Pakistan has high disease burden of Hepatitis B and C. The present
      study was planned to determine the frequency and to identify the risk factors of
      hepatitis B and C virus in the general community of Farash town. METHODS: This
      descriptive study was carried out in Al Nafees Medical Hospital Lab, from January
      2013 to December 2013. Both the genders and all age groups were included in the
      study. All the patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria had given a written
      consent. Data was collected through questionnaire and was analyzed on Statistical
      Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. RESULTS: Three-hundred and forty
      five patients were studied. Among these 92 (27%) were males and 253(73%) were
      female, 33% of them had hepatitis C, 9% had hepatitis B. History of injections
      was reported in all of the patients. Visit to community barbers was present in
      58.6% and 41% cases of hepatitis B and C. History of dental procedures was
      obtained in 7(24%) and 15(13%) patients of hepatitis B and C. CONCLUSION: Major
      contributors for Hepatitis B and C in Farash town are use of unsterilized
      therapeutic injections and visit to community barbers. Education of the barbers
      regarding sterilization may help in reducing the burden of infection in this
      community.

PMID- 26870104
TI  - Validity of moyers mixed dentition analysis for Saudi population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the applicability of Moyers probability tables and to
      formulate more accurate mixed dentition prediction tables in the Saudi
      population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of
      Dentistry, Kind Saud University, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected from 410
      (203 males and 207 females) orthodontic study models, which had erupted
      mandibular permanent incisors, maxillary, mandibular canines and premolars. The
      mesiodistal widths were measured using a digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01
      mm. Student's paired t-test was used to compare the mean width values derived
      from this study with the values derived using the Moyers table. Simple linear
      regression was used to evaluate the linear relationship between the combined
      mesiodistal widths of the mandibular permanent incisors and the canine-premolar
      segments in each dental arch. RESULTS: The regression equations for the maxillary
      canine-premolar segment (males: Y=10.27+0.48X; females: Y=11.71 + 0.39X) and the
      mandibular canine-premolar segment (males: Y=9.71 + 0.40X; females: 11.28 +
      0.39X) were used to formulate new probability tables on the Moyers pattern.
      Statistically significant differences were observed between predicted widths in
      our subjects and the widths obtained using Moyers tables. CONCLUSIONS: The new
      prediction tables derived in this study provided a more precise mixed dentition
      space analysis than Moyers prediction tables in estimating tooth dimensions in
      the Saudi population.

PMID- 26870105
TI  - Reconstruction of post burn scalp alopecia by using expanded hair-bearing scalp
      flaps.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tissue expansion is a time-tested and frequently used
      procedure for utilizing local tissue to replace large defects. We aimed to assess
      the success & complications of tissue expansion in correction of post burn scalp
      alopecia. METHODS: In this study, 30 patients of scalp burn alopecia of 5 to 35
      years age group were treated with tissue expansion of the scalp at Bahawal
      Victoria Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014. The area of the scalp loss
      was within 1/5 to 2/5. Our technique employed an insertion site distal to the
      area needed to be expanded, attempting to minimize complication like extrusion &
      wound dehiscence. The patients were followed-up weekly during first month and
      then fortnightly for next four months. RESULT: Our study involved 8 male (26.67%)
      and 22 female subjects (73.33%) with a mean age of 21years. Flame burn accounted
      for the mostly 53.3% (n=16) of scalp burns & parieto-temporal region was most
      commonly affected in 33.4% (n=10) of subjects. Desired aesthetic results were
      achieved in all the patients without any major complication. Minor complication
      included mild infection in 8 (26.67%), seroma in 4 (13.33%) & wound dehiscence in
      2 (6.67%) patients. CONCLUSION: Tissue expansion is a simple, safe, & efficient
      technique for aesthetic scalp reconstruction. With a simple modification of
      distal incision and tunneling, we succeeded in minimizing complications.
      Versatile design of the expanded scalp flap can distribute the expanded hair
      bearing scalp properly in the reconstructed recipient site.

PMID- 26870106
TI  - Polymorphisms in NF-kappaB pathway genes & their association with risk of lung
      cancer in the Chinese population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG, NFKBIA 
      826C>T and NFKBIA -881A>G polymorphisms with risk of lung cancer in a Chinese
      population. METHODS: Genotyping of the polymorphisms were performed on 1,436
      subjects (718 cases and 718 controls) by using PCR-RFLP technique, followed by
      DNA sequencing. RESULTS: We found a significant risk reduction associated with
      heterozygous ins/del (OR=0.705, 95% CI=0.566-0.878, P=0.002) and variant del/del
      (OR=0.342, 95% CI=0.221-0.528, P<0.001) genotypes of the NFKB1 polymorphism. In
      contrast, the heterozygous and variantgenotypes of theNFKBIA polymorphisms showed
      association with increased lung cancer risk (NFKBIA -826 CT,OR=1.256, 95%CI=1.004
      1.572, P=0.046; TT,OR=1.773, 95% CI=1.131-2.778, P=0.013; NFKBIA -881
      AG,OR=1.277, 95% CI=1.023-1.599, P=0.031; GG,OR=1.801, 95% CI=1.169-2.775,
      P=0.008). Several genotypic combinations of the three polymorphisms also showed
      significant association with lung cancer risk. The risk association of NFKB1
      polymorphism remained significant when analyses were done according to gender and
      smoking status (P<0.05). The significance of NFKBIA risk association was not
      observed when gender-specific analyses were made (P>0.05), while only NFKBIA -881
      GG genotype showed significant risk association among smokers when analyzed
      according to smoking status (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in NFKB1 and
      NFKBIAgenes were associated with risk of lung cancer.

PMID- 26870107
TI  - Association between thyroid hormone levels and insulin resistance and body mass
      index.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown an association between thyroid function
      and insulin resistance and obesity. We compared insulin resistance and body mass
      index (BMI) in patients with normal TSH levels (2.5-4.2 uIU/mL), patients
      diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, and healthy control subjects. METHODS:
      The study included 104 subjects and was conducted at the Taksim Education and
      Research Hospital. The subjects were divided into three groups according to TSH
      levels: Group 1 (high-normal), TSH levels were 2.5-4.2 uIU/mL (n=33); Group 2
      (subclinical hypothyroidism), TSH levels were 4.2-10 uIU/mL (n=42); and Group 3
      (healthy control), TSH levels were 0.27-2.5 uIU/mL (n=29). The fT3 and fT4 levels
      were within normal limits in all groups. Insulin resistance and BMI were compared
      among groups. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)
      was used to estimate insulin resistance. RESULTS: HOMA-IR and BMI were not
      significantly different among groups (p>0.05). A significant positive correlation
      was found between BMI and HOMA-IR in the high-normal TSH (p>0.059) and
      subclinical hypothyroidism (p>0.05) groups. CONCLUSIONS: HOMA-IR and BMI are
      important for the assessment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We found no
      significant difference in HOMA-IR and BMI values among the three TSH reference
      range groups.

PMID- 26870108
TI  - Epidemiology of intestinal parasitic infections in school children in Ghazni
      Province, eastern Afghanistan.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their species
      in Afghan school children and to establish appropriate treatment methods for
      detected pathogens. METHODS: Parasitological examination of stool samples
      collected from 1369 children aged 8-18, students of the Jahan Malika High School
      in Ghazni Province in eastern Afghanistan, was conducted in the period November
      2013-April 2014. Three stool samples were collected from each patient every
      second day; the samples were fixed in 10% formalin and tested by light microscopy
      using the methods of direct smear in Lugol's solution, decantation in distilled
      water, and Fulleborn's flotation. RESULTS: Of 535 examined children (39.1% of the
      study group) were infected with nematodes (n=324), cestodes (n=118), trematodes
      (n=12), and protozoa (n=228), 132 were diagnosed with co-infections (mainly
      ascariasis+giardiasis, ascariasis+hymenolepiasis) and received single or combined
      therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The Afghan community is an example of population
      characterized by a high rate of parasitic infections. Owing to high prevalence of
      multiple infections among inhabitants of Afghanistan, it seems that a mass
      deworming campaign with a single-dose chemotherapy may prove ineffective in
      eradicating intestinal parasites in the local population.

PMID- 26870109
TI  - Breast cancer recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To look into the pattern of breast cancer recurrence following
      mastectomy, breast conservative surgery and radiotherapy or chemotherapy after
      SLNB at our institution. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2014, all
      patients diagnosed with breast cancer with clinically negative axilla, underwent
      SLNB. We reviewed their medical records to identify pattern of cancer recurrence.
      RESULTS: The median follow-up was 35.5 months. Eighty five patients (70.8%) had a
      negative sentinel lymph node (SLN) and subsequently had no further axillary
      treatment, one of them (1.2%) developed axillary recurrence 25 months
      postoperatively. Twenty five patients (20.8%) had a positive SLN
      (macrometastases) and subsequently had immediate axillary lymph node dissection
      (ALND). Ten patients (8.3%) had a positive SLN (micrometastases). In the positive
      SLN patients (macrometastases and micrometastases), there were two ipsilateral
      breast recurrences (5.7%), seen three and four years postoperatively. Also in
      this group, there was one (2.9%) distant metastasis to bone three years
      postoperatively. CONCLUSION: In this series, the clinical axillary false negative
      rate for SLNB was 1.2% which is in accordance with the published literature. This
      supports the use of SLNB as the sole axillary staging procedure in breast cancer
      patients with negative SLNB. Axillary lymph node dissection can be safely omitted
      in patients with micrometastases in their sentinel lymph node(s).

PMID- 26870110
TI  - Gender differences among discrimination & stigma experienced by depressive
      patients in Pakistan.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine Gender Difference in the level of
      Discrimination and Stigma experienced by people diagnosed with Major Depressive
      Disorder in Pakistan. It was hypothesized that Women diagnosed with Depression
      are likely to be experiencing more Discrimination and Internalized Stigma in
      comparison to Men. METHODS: This is a Cross Sectional Study. Thirty eight
      patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder recruited from different
      Government Sector Hospitals of Lahore; were approached after obtaining informed
      consent. Discrimination and Stigma were measured through Discrimination and
      Stigma Scale and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory respectively.
      RESULTS: Both Men and Women experience considerably high level of associated
      Stigma and Discrimination due to their Mental Illness. However, Women in
      comparison to Men experience significantly greater level of Internalized Stigma
      especially in domains of Discrimination Experience and Social Withdrawal.
      CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the fact that people with
      Depression can be more benefited with psychological treatment if dealing with
      Stigma and Discrimination is also addressed in Intervention Plans.

PMID- 26870111
TI  - The predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer: A
      clinical study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To detect the clinicopathological factors associated with lymph node
      metastases in early gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the
      distribution of metastatic nodes in 198 patients with early gastric cancer
      treated in our hospital between May 2008 and January 2015, the
      clinicopathological factors including age, gender, tumor location, tumor size,
      macroscopic type, depth of invasion, histological type and venous invasion were
      studied, and the relationship between various parameters and lymph node
      metastases was analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, one hundred and ninety-eight
      patients with early gastric cancer were included, and lymph node metastasis was
      detected in 28 patients. Univariate analysis revealed a close relationship
      between tumor size, depth of invasion, histological type, venous invasion, local
      ulceration and lymph node metastases. Multivariate analysis revealed that the
      five factors were independent risk factors for lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION:
      The clinicopathological parameters including tumor size, depth of invasion, local
      ulceration, histological type and venous invasion are closely correlated with
      lymph node metastases, should be paid high attention in early gastric cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26870114
TI  - Four-year follow-up of corneal aberrations and visual functions of myopic
      patients after laser in situ keratomileusis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report on 4-year follow-up of corneal higher-order aberrations and
      daily visual functions of myopic patients after laser in situ keratomileusis
      (LASIK). METHODS: One hundred thirty four eyes of 67 patients who underwent LASIK
      guided by aspherical ablation were included in this study. The vision, corneal
      spherical aberration (SphA) and Coma were recorded before LASIK and at 6 month
      and 4 year after LASIK. The evaluation of the questionnaire about daily visual
      functions was performed by the same physician after LASIK. RESULTS: No eye
      decreased the BCVA during 4 year follow-up. The effect index and safety index
      were 1.08+/-0.16, 1.11+/-0.17 and 1.12+/-0.16, 1.13+/-0.14 respectively at 6
      month and 4 year post-LASIK. After LASIK the corneal SphA and Coma were
      significantly increased, however the difference between 6 month and 4 year post
      LASIK was no statistical significance. Most patients (94.3%-92.4%) felt
      satisfaction or high satisfaction about the ability to perform each daily visual
      function after LASIK. Meanwhile there was still about 7.4%-9.2% patients who
      complained that they could not drive at night. Further analysis showed that the
      score of driving at night was negative correlation with corneal SphA (r=-0.645,
      p=0.040; r=-0.688, p=0.040 at 6 month and 4 year post-LASIK respectively).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our four-year follow-up outcomes indicated that the myopic patients
      after LASIK had the long-term stable corneal aberration and satisfaction of daily
      visual functions.

PMID- 26870112
TI  - Ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients with intensive
      antibiotic usage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection with high
      mortality and morbidity that prolongs the length of stay in the intensive care
      unit (ICU) and hospitalisation. VAP is one of the most common infections in
      critically ill patients. This study aimed to prospectively determine the VAP rate
      and associated factors in critically ill patients with intensive antibiotic usage
      during a one-year period. METHODS: In total, 125 out of 360 patients admitted to
      the intensive care unit during the one-year study period (September 2010-2011)
      were included for follow-up for VAP diagnosis. Demographic data, APACHE II
      scores, diagnoses on admission, clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS), CRP,
      procalcitonin, risk factors for infection, time to VAP diagnosis, and
      bacteriological culture results were recorded. All data were assessed in terms of
      ICU, hospital and 28-day mortality. RESULTS: In total, 56 (45%) out of 125
      patients were diagnosed with VAP. In addition, 91% of patients diagnosed with VAP
      were administered antibiotics before diagnosis. In the VAP patients, the
      mortality rates were 48, 68 and 71% for 28-day, ICU and hospital mortality,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: The coexistence of clinical and microbiological
      parameters should not be sought when diagnosing VAP in patients who use
      antibiotics intensively. VAP can be diagnosed when CPIS<=6 in cases with
      sufficient microbiological evidence. This strategy may decrease mortality by
      preventing a delay in therapy.

PMID- 26870113
TI  - Factors associated with utilization of antenatal care services in Balochistan
      province of Pakistan: An analysis of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)
      2010.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to identify factors affecting the utilization
      of Antenatal Care (ANC) in Balochistan Province, Pakistan. METHODS: Data on ANC
      utilization, together with social and economic determinants, were derived from a
      Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in Balochistan in 2010. The
      analysis was conducted including 2339 women who gave birth in last two years
      preceding the survey. The researchers established a model to identify influential
      factors contributing to the utilization of ANC by logistic regression; model
      selection was by Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information
      Criterion (BIC). RESULTS: Household wealth, education, health condition, age at
      first marriage, number of children and spouse violence justification were found
      to be significantly associated with ANC coverage. Literate mothers are 2.45 times
      more likely to have ANC, and women whose newborns showed symptoms of illness at
      birth that needed hospitalization are 0.47 times less likely to access ANC. Women
      with an increase in the number of surviving children are 1.07 times less likely
      to have ANC, and those who think their spouse violence is socially justified are
      1.36 times less likely to have ANC. The results draw attention towards evidence
      based planning of factors associated with utilization of ANC in the Balochistan
      province. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that women from high wealth index and
      having education had more chances to get ANC. Factors like younger age of the
      women at first marriage, increased number of children, symptoms of any illness to
      neonates at birth that need hospitalization and women who justify spouse violence
      had less chances to get ANC. Among components of ANC urine sampling and having
      tetanus toxoid (TT) in the last pregnancy increased the frequency of visits. ANC
      from a doctor decreased the number of visits. There is dire need to reduce
      disparities for wealth index, education and urban/rural living.

PMID- 26870115
TI  - The association between coping method and distress in infertile woman: A cross
      sectional study from Turkey.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the distress level in infertile women and their coping
      skills. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven infertile women who had been
      referred to the Family Planning and Infertility Research and Practice Center
      (IRPC) of a university hospital to receive therapy between June 2012-2013 were
      enrolled in this study. Several surveys, including the "Infertile Woman
      Identification Form", the "Infertility Distress Scale (IDS)" and the "Ways of
      Coping Inventory (WCI)," were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: The mean
      age of the women who participated in the study was 32.34 +/- 5.44. They had been
      on therapy for 3.95 +/- 3.21 years and had been referred for therapy 2.73 +/-
      1.76 times. The mean score of the IDS was determined to be 37.0 +/- 9.7 (23-66),
      and the mean score of the WCI subscale was 1.86 +/- 0.55 (0.5-3.0). In the IDS
      and WCI subscales, statistically significant negative relationships were detected
      between "Optimism" (r=-0.327), "Seeking Social Support" (r=-0.255), and "Self
      Confidence" (r=-0.305), whereas there were statistically significant positive
      relationships between "Helplessness" (r=0.376) and "Submissiveness" (r=0.278)
      (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The women who developed negative coping strategies had
      higher infertility distress scores than other women.

PMID- 26870116
TI  - Clinical characteristics of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis at the Intensive
      Care Unit of a University Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were assessing the frequency of clinical
      characteristics of patients with severe Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) who were
      admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and investigating the relationship
      between paraclinical (glucose, anion gap, and serum bicarbonate) and clinical
      parameters in patients with severe DKA. METHOD: A retrospective chart review of
      all adult patients with DKA who were admitted to the ICU at King Abdulaziz
      University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between January 2012 and December 2013.
      The data collected include the demographic data, clinical presentation,
      precipitating factors, duration of hospital stay and mortality rate. The data
      were analyzed using STAT software. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included.
      Of these, 50 were men (83.3%). The median age was 23 years (ranging 18-29 years).
      Newly diagnosed diabetics accounted for 15 (25%) of the cases; the remainder were
      previously known patients of type1 diabetes on treatment. The main precipitating
      factors of DKA were insulin treatment cessation (87.5%) and infection/sepsis
      (39.6%). Serum blood glucose, serum bicarbonate level, and the calculated anion
      gap did not significantly correlate with clinical parameters of severe DKA.
      CONCLUSION: Most patients with severe DKA who were admitted to the ICU of our
      institution presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. Non-compliance to insulin
      therapy was the main precipitating factor of DKA.

PMID- 26870117
TI  - Fatty acid composition of diets of early school-age children and its health
      implications.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the amount and type
      of fat consumed by early school-age children per day. Dietary fat intake as a
      percentage of the total calorie intake was also estimated. METHODS: The study was
      conducted in Lublin, the largest city in south-east Poland, between January 2014
      and April 2014, on 702 randomly selected children, i.e. 3% of the total
      population of early school-age children in the research area. The parents were
      asked to provide information about the type and amount of food consumed by their
      children daily. A standard food frequency questionnaire was used. RESULTS:
      Dietary levels of saturated fat were elevated in the analyzed populations and
      were the source of 13.33% of daily calorie intake. In the studied population, the
      ratio of saturated to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids was
      determined at 3.25: 2.95: 1. Dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) reached
      1.057 +/- 0.55 g (0.63% of daily calorie intake) on average, and dietary intake
      of linoleic acid (LA) was determined at 3.86 +/- 2.51 g (2.31% of daily calorie
      intake). CONCLUSIONS: The average total calorie intake of children aged 6-11
      years was 1445.66 calories per day. Average fat intake was 29.64 % of the total
      calorie intake. The highest intake of SFAs was found in the youngest age group of
      6- to 8-year-olds. The type of food consumed by children affected the amount and
      type of dietary fat in all age groups.

PMID- 26870118
TI  - Plasmodium Vivax causing acute kidney injury: A foe less addressed.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report patients developing acute kidney injury (AKI) after Vivax
      malaria. METHODS: An observational cohort of patients identified as having acute
      kidney injury (AKI) after Plasmodium vivax infection. AKI was defined according
      to RIFLE criteria with sudden rise in creatinine or decline in urine output or
      both. All patients had normal size non obstructed kidneys on ultrasonography,
      with no previous co morbids. Malarial parasite Vivax was seen on blood peripheral
      film in all patients. RESULTS: From January 1990 - December 2014, total 5623
      patients with AKI were registered in our institute, of these 671 (11.93%)
      developed AKI in association with malarial infection, furthermore, Vivax was
      species in 109 patients. Average age of patients was 33.49+/-14.67 (range 8-78
      years) with 66 male and 43 female. Oligo-anuria and vomiting were most common
      associated symptoms with fever. Renal replacement therapy required in 82 (75.22%)
      patients. Complete recovery was seen in 69 (63.30%), while 14 (12.84%) expired
      during acute phase of illness. Jaundice, thrombocytopenia, central nervous system
      involvement, mechanical ventilation requirement and hematuria were the factors
      significantly associated with high mortality. CONCLUSION: Malaria still causing
      significant morbidity and mortality in our part of world. Vivax malaria can
      present with hemolysis, thrombocytopenia and kidney failure in remarkable number
      of patients.

PMID- 26870119
TI  - Effects of early enteral micro-feeding on neonatal serum Vitamin D levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of early enteral micro-feeding on neonatal
      serum vitamin D levels, and to analyze the application value of glutamine.
      METHODS: One hundred ninty neonates enrolled in intensive care unit were randomly
      divided into a treatment group and a control group (n=95) that were both given
      enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Meanwhile, the treatment group was fed
      formula milk containing 0.3 g/(kg.d) glutamine as enteral nutrition support for
      14 days. RESULTS: The weight of the treatment group increased significantly
      faster than that of the control group did (P<0.05). The treatment group had
      significantly higher milk amount and calorie intake than those of the control
      group (P<0.05), and neonates in the treatment group who reached calorie intake of
      50/80/100 kcal/kg/d were significantly younger (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the treatment
      group was significantly less prone to feeding intolerance than the control group
      (P<0.05). After 14 days of feeding, the serum motilin, gastrin and vitamin D
      levels of both groups all increased, with significant intra-group and inter-group
      differences. Such levels of the treatment group significantly exceeded those of
      the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementing early enteral micro-feeding
      with glutamine promoted the absorption of neonatal routine nutrients and vitamin
      D, obviously regulated gastrointestinal hormones, and elevated weight as a
      result.

PMID- 26870120
TI  - Refractive errors in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder that
      involves the small blood vessels, often causing widespread damage to tissues,
      including the eyes' optic refractive error. In patients with newly diagnosed
      diabetes mellitus who have unstable blood glucose levels, refraction may be
      incorrect. We aimed to investigate refraction in patients who were recently
      diagnosed with diabetes and treated at our centre. METHODS: This prospective
      study was performed from February 2013 to January 2014. Patients were diagnosed
      with diabetes mellitus using laboratory biochemical tests and clinical
      examination. Venous fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels were measured along with
      refractive errors. Two measurements were taken: initially and after four weeks.
      The last difference between the initial and end refractive measurements were
      evaluated. RESULTS: Our patients were 100 males and 30 females who had been newly
      diagnosed with type II DM. The refractive and fpg levels were measured twice in
      all patients. The average values of the initial measurements were as follows: fpg
      level, 415 mg/dl; average refractive value, +2.5 D (Dioptres). The average end of
      period measurements were fpg, 203 mg/dl; average refractive value, +0.75 D. There
      is a statistically significant difference between after four weeks measurements
      with initially measurements of fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels (p<0.05) and
      there is a statistically significant relationship between changes in fpg changes
      with glasses ID (p<0.05) and the disappearance of blurred vision (to be greater
      than 50% success rate) were statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, were
      detected upon all these results the absence of any age and sex effects (p>0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Refractive error is affected in patients with newly diagnosed
      diabetes mellitus; therefore, plasma glucose levels should be considered in the
      selection of glasses.

PMID- 26870121
TI  - Influence of mouth rinses on the surface hardness of dental resin nano-composite.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to assess the effect of mouth rinses with
      and without alcohol on the hardness of dental nano-filled composite. METHODS: The
      micro-hardness of fifty circular disk shaped specimens of 7 mm x 2 mm were
      measured after 14 days. Specimens were immersed into alcohol containing
      (Listerine and Colgate Perioguard) and alcohol-free (Prodent and Sensodyne Oral
      antiseptic) mouth rinse solutions. Artificial saliva served as the control.
      Vickers Micro-hardness was measured with a 30gram load for 30 seconds dwell time
      by using a diamond indenter. Significant differences were represented by p<0.05,
      whereas highly significant difference represented by p<0.01. The level of
      significance (p) was calculated with the help of repeated measure ANOVA. For
      multiple comparisons, Tukey's multiple comparison test was used. RESULTS:
      Statistical analysis revealed highly significant difference between specimens
      immersed in artificial saliva (control) and Listerine (p<0.01). Whereas
      significant difference were observed between control and Colgate Periogard
      (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed on comparing Prodent
      and Sensodyne Oral antiseptic mouth rinses with control group(p>0.05). Control
      specimens depicted highest value of micro-hardness(60.5746 +/- 3.2703) compared
      to the lowest value seen in specimens immersed in Listerine solvent(54.4687 +/-
      1.0937). CONCLUSION: Alcohol containing mouth rinsing solutions have more
      deleterious effect on hardness of nano composites as compared to alcohol-free
      mouth rinses.

PMID- 26870122
TI  - Effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes on interventional
      treatment of uterine fibroids.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of embolic agents with different particle sizes
      on interventional treatment of uterine fibroids (UFs). METHODS: One-hundred and
      thirty patients with UFs were divided into a treatment group and a control group
      (n=65) by random draw. All patients were treated by uterine artery embolization,
      with the treatment group using 200 MUm polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles and the
      control group using 500 MUm PVA particles. RESULTS: The success rate of
      embolization was 100%. After intervention, the treatment group was significantly
      less prone to complications such as lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting
      and bleeding than the control group (P<0.05). The follicle-stimulating hormone
      levels of both groups were similar before and after intervention, and there were
      also no significant inter-group differences. The uterine and UF volumes of both
      groups significantly decreased six months after intervention (P<0.05), and those
      of the treatment group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The two groups had
      similar physical function, role-physical, bodily pain and general health scores
      before intervention, but the treatment group scored significantly higher than the
      control group did six months after intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Interventional embolization can well treat UFs, without apparently affecting
      ovarian functions. Small-sized PVA particles can improve the quality of life by
      shrinking the uterus and UFs as well as by reducing the risks of complications.

PMID- 26870123
TI  - Comparison of two main treatment modalities for acute ankle sprain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in emergency
      departments. Immobilization is widely accepted as the basic treatment modality
      for acute ankle sprains; however, immobilization method remains controversial. In
      this study, we aimed to compare two treatment modalities: splint and elastic
      bandage for the management of acute ankle sprains. METHODS: This prospective
      study was conducted in the emergency department. Fifty-one consecutive patients
      who were admitted to the emergency department owing to the complaint of ankle
      sprain and who were treated with an elastic bandage or a splint were included in
      the study. After bone injury was ruled out, treatment choice was left to the on
      shift physicians' discretion. The extent of edema was evaluated before and after
      the treatment by using a small, graduated container filled with warm water.
      Volume differences were calculated by immersing both lower extremities in a
      container filled to a constant level. Pain was evaluated using the visual
      analogue scale. RESULTS: There were 25 patients in the elastic bandage group and
      26 patients in the splint group. VAS scores of these groups before and after the
      treatment were similar. Although edema size before and after the treatment were
      similar between the groups, edema size reduction was significantly more in the
      elastic bandage group [p=0,025]. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that treatment of
      acute ankle sprains with an elastic bandage was more effective than splint in
      reducing edema. Therefore, an elastic bandage could be preferred over a splint
      for the treatment of acute ankle sprains.

PMID- 26870124
TI  - Emergency contraception: Awareness, attitudes and barriers of Saudi Arabian
      Women.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess knowledge, attitude, and barriers about emergency
      contraception (EC) among married women of child bearing age. METHODS: A
      quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period,
      commencing in March 2013 at Family Practice Clinics of King Khalid University
      Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a structured
      pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical
      software. RESULT: A total of 242 women were enrolled in the study. Only 6.2%
      (15/242) had some knowledge of EC and of these only two had ever used it. Health
      care professionals were the least reported source of EC information (6.6%, n=1).
      Majority (73.3%) had negative attitude toward EC being available over-the-counter
      without a prescription. The most common barriers to using EC were concerns about
      possible health effects. Only two women (13.3%) considered religious belief as a
      major hindrance to its use. CONCLUSION: Awareness of emergency contraception is
      very low among women of Saudi Arabia. Health care professionals were the least
      reported source of information, which is a cause for concern. Our findings reveal
      an urgent need to educate women about EC, keeping in view the social norms and
      the Islamic values.

PMID- 26870125
TI  - Comparison of frequency of insulin resistance in patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease with normal controls.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare mean homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance
      (HOMA-IR) in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      (COPD). METHODS: A Case control analytic study was conducted in medical
      outpatient department of Medial Unit-II of Dow University of Health Sciences from
      April 2013 to September 2013. All patients with the diagnosis of COPD were
      included as cases. Controls were age match healthy individuals with minor
      illnesses. Age, weight, height and forced expiratory volume in one second to
      forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio were documented. Fasting blood glucose and
      fasting insulin levels were done. Body mass index (BMI) and IR was calculated
      using the formulas. HOMA-IR was compared between cases and controls. RESULTS:
      Forty COPD patients were compared with thirty five age match controls. HOMA-IR
      was found to be higher in cases as compared to controls (2.85 v/s 2.00) with a p
      value <0.000. CONCLUSION: COPD is one of the chronic debilitating diseases in our
      region with various extra-pulmonary complications. We found IR to be present
      higher in COPD patients compared with healthy controls. Evaluating the pulmonary
      function as well as systemic metabolic parameters, may contribute to minimizing
      mortality and morbidity.

PMID- 26870126
TI  - Developing a novel risk-scoring system for predicting relapse in patients with
      ulcerative colitis: A prospective cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) follows a natural clinical course of relapses
      and remissions. The aim of this study was to construct a risk-scoring formula in
      order to enable predicting relapses in patients with UC. METHODS: From October
      2012 to October 2013, 157 patients from Shiraz, southern Iran who were diagnosed
      with UC and in remission were enrolled. At 3-month intervals, multiple risk
      factors of hemoglobin, complete blood counts, serum iron and albumin, erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate, and faecal calprotectin levels, sex, age, cigarette smoking,
      positive family history of inflammatory bowel diseases, past history of
      appendectomy, extra-intestinal accompanying diseases, extent of disease at the
      beginning of study, number of previous relapses, duration of disease and duration
      of remission before the study were assessed. Univariate and multivariate logistic
      regression were applied to fit the final model. The new risk-scoring system
      accuracy was assessed using receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curve
      analysis. RESULTS: Seventy four patients (48.1%) experienced a relapse.
      Multivariate analysis revealed that relapses could significantly be predicted by
      the level of fecal calprotectin (OR=8.1), age (OR=9.2), the Seo activity index
      (OR=52.7), and the number of previous relapses (OR=4.2). The risk scoring formula
      was developed using the regression coefficient values of the aforementioned
      variables. CONCLUSION: Four predictor variables were significant in the final
      model and were used in our risk-scoring formula. It is recommended that patients
      who achieve high scores are diligently observed, treated, and followed up.

PMID- 26870127
TI  - Multiple cannulated screw fixation of young femoral neck fractures.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We wanted to analyze the factors affecting the results of multiple
      cannulated screws fixation in patients less than 60 years old with femoral neck
      fracture (FNF). METHODS: We reviewed 52 patients (30 males, 22 females) who were
      treated with multiple cannulated screws fixation for FNFs. They were followed up
      for more than one year during January 2002 to December 2012. They were classified
      by Garden's classification. The anatomic reduction was evaluated by Garden's
      alignment index on hip both anteroposterior and lateral images. Postoperative
      complications were analyzed during follow up periods. RESULTS: By Garden's
      classification, 6 cases were in stage I, 13 cases in stage II, 30 cases in stage
      III and 3 cases in stage IV. During follow up periods, avascular necrosis of the
      femoral head was observed in 12 cases (23%) and nonunion was observed in 5 cases
      (9%). The 16 patients who had complications underwent total hip arthroplasty
      (31%). In non-displaced fracture groups (Garde I, II) did not have AVN nor
      nonunion. The incidence of complications in displaced fracture group was 51.5%.
      The complicated cases showed tendency for increased apex anterior angulation of
      femoral neck on hip lateral images and the result was statistically significant.
      (p=0.0260). CONCLUSION: The patients less than 60 years old who were treated with
      multiple cannulated screws fixation for displaced FNFs showed the incidence of
      complications was more than 50%. It needs a cautious approach for anatomical
      reduction, especially related to anterior angulation on hip lateral image.

PMID- 26870128
TI  - Increased Body Mass Index may lead to Hyperferritinemia Irrespective of Body Iron
      Stores.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Obesity causes subclinical inflammation which results in the secretion
      of various bioactive peptides that are key players in metabolic regulation of
      iron homeostasis. We sought to establish correlation of one such peptide
      (ferritin) with marker of subclinical inflammation (CRP) in various BMI. METHODS:
      Total 150 subjects between the ages of 20-60 years were included in the cross
      sectional study conducted at Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post
      Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated
      by weight (kg) /height (m(2)). The given values were used as reference for Group
      A: normal weight (18.0-22.9 kg/m2), Group B: overweight (23.0-24.9 kg/m2), Group
      C: obese (>25.0 kg/m2) according to South Asian criteria. Serum Iron, Total Iron
      Binding Capacity, serum Transferrin Saturation, serum Ferritin and C-reactive
      protein were measured by commercially available kits. ANNOVA with Tukey's minimum
      significant difference and Spearman Rho correlation were used considering p<0.05
      significant. RESULTS: The results identified an increased serum Ferritin and CRP
      in obese versus lean subjects (p < 0.001). BMI showed significantly positive
      correlation with serum CRP (r = 0.815; p-value < 0.01) and Ferritin (r = 0.584; p
      value < 0.01). However, serum Iron levels and Transferrin saturation decreased in
      obese versus normal weight individuals (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This integrated
      new data reveals that individuals with high BMI had high levels of Serum Ferritin
      despite low levels of iron with high levels of C- reactive protein. This might be
      caused due to inflammatory conditions prevailing in the presence of increased
      adipose tissue.

PMID- 26870129
TI  - Is it possible to objectify the visual pain scale?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To test our hypothesis that a new modified VAS (mVAS) is superior and
      more objective than VAS in evaluating pain perception and treatment response
      between genders who have renal colic pain. METHODS: The individuals in patient
      and control groups were first asked to mark the pain perceived during access of
      IV line (VASIV score). Then the patients with renal colic were asked to mark the
      pain they experienced before treatment (VASRC score) and at 15 and 30 minutes
      after the administration of the first analgesic drug. The modified VAS scores
      (mVAS score) were obtained by subtracting the VASIV score from VASRC score.
      RESULTS: When VAS was used, the female patients had significantly higher level of
      pain at 0, 15, and 30(th) minutes than men (p = 0.012, p = 0.001, and p = 0.003,
      respectively). However, there was not any significant difference at 0 and 30(th)
      min between sexes while female patients had significantly higher level of pain
      scores only at 15(th) minute according to mVAS scores (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: We
      think that the mVAS is superior and more objective than VAS in evaluating pain
      perception and abolished the difference in the perceived level of pain due to
      gender.

PMID- 26870130
TI  - Packed cell volume Platelet count, PT, PTTK and Fibrinogen concentration of HIV
      positive patients on antiretroviral drugs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This is aimed at investigating some coagulation and haematologic
      profile of HIV positive patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in
      patients attending clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. METHODS:
      This is a correlation study comprising fifty (50) HIV positive patients on HAART
      between 6 - 12 months as test subjects and fifty (50) HIV positive patients who
      have not began HAART as control subjects. Five millilitres of blood was withdrawn
      from each group by venepuncture into ethylene diaminetetracetic and sodium
      citrate anticoagulant containers. Platelet counts were estimated manually using
      ammonium oxalate solution, packed cell volume by the microhaematocrit method
      while Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated partial thrombroplastin time and
      fibrinogen concentration were done by methods described by Monica Chessbrough.
      RESULTS: This is presented as mean +/- standard error of mean. There were
      reduction in PCV and platelet count between test and control subjects although
      not statistically significant (P> 0.05) while there was a significant increase in
      PT and PTTK between test and control groups (P<0.05). No significant change was
      observed in fibrinogen concentration in HIV patients on HAART and those not on
      HAART. CONCLUSION: HAART increases PT and PTTK in HIV infection.

PMID- 26870131
TI  - Perception of content and non-content expert facilitators of PBL according to
      students' performance levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centred learning system that
      involves multidisciplinary fields focused on problem solving. Facilitators of PBL
      are not necessarily content experts but little is known on how this concept has
      affected the outcomes of PBL sessions in learning Medical Biochemistry. We aimed
      to evaluate the impact of having the content expert as a facilitator in
      conducting PBL. METHODS: A total of 150 first and second year medical students
      from the University Kebangsaan Malaysia were interviewed with a validated set of
      questions to acquire their views on the roles of facilitators in PBL in learning
      Medical Biochemistry. Their achievement were evaluated through their essay marks
      derived from various PBL packages. RESULTS: All respondents agreed that PBL
      sessions associated with Medical Biochemistry are best appreciated when conducted
      by a content-expert facilitator. Their exam marks reflected well on their
      perception. CONCLUSION: PBL sessions related to Medical Biochemistry is best
      facilitated by Biochemistry lecturers as the content experts.

PMID- 26870132
TI  - Recurrent mutation in CDMP1 in a family with Grebe chondrodysplasia: broadening
      the phenotypic manifestation of syndrome in Pakistani population.
AB  - Grebe syndrome (OMIM-200700) is a very rare type of acromesomelic dysplasia with
      autosomal recessive inheritance. We studied a Pakistani family with two affected
      individuals having typical features of Grebe chondrodysplasia. Patients were
      observed with short and deformed limbs having a proximo-distal gradient of
      severity. Hind-limbs were more severely affected than fore-limbs. Digits on
      autopods were very short and nonfunctional. Index subject also had
      nearsightedness. However, symptoms in the craniofacial and axial skeleton were
      minimal. Genetic analysis revealed four base pair insertion mutation
      (c.1114insGAGT) in gene coding cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP1).
      This mutation was predicted to cause premature stop codon. The clinical
      presentation in this study broadens the range of phenotypes associated with CDMP1
      mutation in Pakistani population. 

PMID- 26870133
TI  - Pulmonary renal syndrome in a patient with vasculitis: Case report and review of
      literature.
AB  - Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) previously known as Wegner's
      granulomatosis, is a small vessel vasculitis that preferentially involves
      capillaries, arterioles and venules, presenting as multisystemic disease
      classically with alveolar haemorrhage and renal insufficiency. We report a case
      of GPA diagnosed on history, clinical findings and supported by imaging and very
      high levels of C-ANCA. Renal biopsy confirmed the typical histopathological
      findings. We discuss herein the management of the case and review of literature. 

PMID- 26870134
TI  - Disorders associated with malabsorption of iron: A critical review.
AB  - Malabsorption is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that leads to defective
      digestion, absorption and transport of important nutrients across the intestinal
      wall. Small intestine is the major site where most of the nutrients are absorbed.
      There are three main mechanisms of malabsorption; premucosal, mucosal and
      postmucosal. Premucosal malabsorption is the inadequate digestion due to improper
      mixing of gastrointestinal enzymes and bile with chyme. This could be because of
      surgical resection of the small intestine or a congenital deficiency of the
      enzymes and bile responsible for digestion e.g. postgastrectomy, chronic
      pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, gallstones, cholangitis etc.
      Mucosal malabsorption occurs in celiac disease, tropical sprue, Crohn's disease
      etc. Postmucosal condition arises due to impaired nutrients transport e.g.
      intestinal lymphangiectasia, macroglobulinemia etc. Disorders of malabsorption
      lead to decreased iron absorption and produce iron deficiency anemia. Using the
      index terms malabsorption, postgastrectomy, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic
      cancer, cystic fibrosis, gallstones, cholangitis, celiac disease, tropical sprue,
      Crohn's disease intestinal lymphangiectasia, macroglobulinemia and iron
      deficiency anemia the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Additional data
      sources included bibliographies and references of identified articles. 

PMID- 26870135
TI  - Outcome of pediatric procedural sedation & analgesia in a tertiary care hospital
      in Pakistan.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is
      pharmacologically induced state which allows patients to tolerate painful
      procedures while maintaining protective reflexes. It is the standard of care but
      there is limited data from Pakistan. Our objective was to assess the safety of
      the procedural sedation and analgesia in pediatric population at a tertiary care
      setting. METHODS: A retrospective notes and record review was conducted at the
      Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi over 4 years from April 2010 to August
      2014. Patients were between ages 6 months to 16 years and were in low risk
      category. The combination of Ketamine and Propofol were used. Data collected on
      the standardized hospital PSA form. All procedures were performed by two trained
      persons. RESULTS: A total of 3489 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were
      performed. Satisfactory level of sedation was achieved for 3486 (99%) of
      procedures. Adverse events occurred in 21 (0.6%) patients including: 12 (0.3%)
      episodes of hypoxia, 07 (0.2%) episodes of apnea, 02 (0.06%) episodes of post
      sedation hallucination. No major events were noted. CONCLUSION: Procedural
      sedation & analgesia for children using Propofol and Ketamine is found safe and
      effective in our setting.

PMID- 26870136
TI  - The bread and butter of statistical analysis "t-test": Uses and misuses.

PMID- 26870137
TI  - Etiological and clinical characteristics of central diabetes insipidus in
      children: a single center experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) results from a number of conditions
      affecting the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system to cause vasopressin
      deficiency. Diagnosis of CDI is challenging, and clinical data and guidelines for
      management are lacking. We aim to characterize clinical and radiological
      characteristics of a cohort of pediatric patients with CDI. METHODS: A chart
      review of 35 patients with CDI followed at North Carolina Children's Hospital
      from 2000 to 2015 was undertaken. The frequencies of specific etiologies of CDI
      and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were determined. The
      presence of additional hormone deficiencies at diagnosis and later in the disease
      course was ascertained. Patient characteristics and management strategies were
      evaluated. RESULTS: The cohort included 14 female and 21 male patients with a
      median age of 4.7 years (range, less than 1 month to 16 years) at diagnosis.
      Median duration of follow-up was 5 years (range, 2 months to 16 years). The cause
      of CDI was intracranial mass in 13 patients (37.2 %), septo-optic dysplasia in 9
      patients (25.7 %), holoprosencephaly in 5 patients (14.2 %), Langerhans cell
      histiocytosis in 3 patients (8.6 %), isolated pituitary hypoplasia in 2 patients
      (5.7 %), and encephalocele in 1 patient (2.9 %). Patients were symptomatic for a
      mean of 6.3 months (range, less than 1 month to 36 months) prior to diagnosis of
      CDI. Growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),
      and gonadotropin deficiencies were present at diagnosis in 34, 23, 23, and 6 % of
      patients, respectively. GH, TSH, ACTH, and gonadotropin deficiencies were
      diagnosed during follow-up in 23, 40, 37, and 14 % of patients, respectively. In
      patients with structural CNS abnormalities, development of additional hormone
      deficiencies occurred anywhere from 2 months to 13 years after the time of
      initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS: All patients in our cohort had an underlying
      organic etiology for CDI, with intracranial masses and CNS malformations being
      most common. Therefore, MRI of the brain is indicated in all pediatric patients
      with CDI. Other pituitary hormone deficiencies should be investigated at
      diagnosis as well as during follow-up.

PMID- 26870139
TI  - Clinco-Pathological Patterns in Women with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The term dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) refers to any abnormal
      bleeding from the uterus, unassociated with tumour, inflammation and pregnancy.
      The histological diagnosis of DUB is very essential for adequate management
      especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal females. The present study was
      undertaken with the aim of evaluating DUB in various age groups, carry out
      histopathological study of the endometrium and analyze its clinic-pathological
      patterns. METHODS: The study included 500 cases of atypical uterine bleeding, out
      of which 120 cases of DUB were included based on clinical features and detailed
      investigations. Study was conducted in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh
      Muslim University, between March 2003 to December 2004 Endometrial tissue was
      collected by D&C procedure and the samples were sent for histopathological
      evaluation by pathologist. RESULT: Hyperplasia was the commonest endometrial
      pathology (20.5%) followed by luteal phase insufficiency (15.6%) and secretory
      endometrium (13.7%). Endometritis including tubercular endometritis (12.7%), post
      abortal (5.8%), proliferative (6.8%), polyp (3.9%), atrophic (3.9%), exogenous
      hormone changes (2.9%) and anovulatory cycles (6.8%) made up for the remaining
      lesions. CONCLUSION: DUB occurs secondary to a wide variety of functional and
      structural abnormalities, warranting a thorough evaluation especially in
      perimenoupausal females. Menorrhagia is a common symptom and the most likely
      etiology relates to the patient's age. Significant number of endometrial samples
      revealed pathology rendering endometrial curetting and biopsy an important
      procedure. Cervical cytology is a valuable adjunct however histopathology remains
      the gold standard in diagnosis.

PMID- 26870138
TI  - Thyroid Papillary Microcarcinoma: Etiology, Clinical Manifestations,Diagnosis,
      Follow-up, Histopathology and Prognosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thyroid carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the endocrine
      system. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid
      cancer, accounting for 70-90% of well-differentiated thyroid malignancies.
      Thyroid papillary microcarcinoma is a subtype of papillary carcinoma that
      included tumors with less than 10mm diameter. As a result of diagnostic methods
      improvement, prevalence of this tumor is increasing. In this study we reviewed
      different characteristics of tumor. METHODS: We searched various factors about
      this tumor in different databases (PubMed, Ovid, Google scholar, Iran medex and
      SID databases, from July 2012 until August 2013), after that, the articles were
      classified. Data of each article were extracted and sorted in tables. Data of
      each factor in different articles were summarized. RESULTS: Etiology, clinical
      presentation, prognosis, histopathology, follow-up, diagnosis and also age,
      gender, tumor size and treatment were factors about this tumor described in
      details here. CONCLUSION: Awareness and better understanding of the
      characteristics of this tumor and manage it as an individual and valuable tumor
      can take an effective step in promoting public health practice.

PMID- 26870140
TI  - Clinical Characteristic of the HIV/AIDS Patients with Cryptosporidiosis Referring
      to Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran in
      2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium is known as an opportunist disease-causing agent in
      man in recent decades. It causes diarrhea and intestinal disorders in the immune
      deficit and immune competent individuals. This study was aimed to investigate the
      clinical characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients with cryptosporidiosis infection.
      METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 53 HIV/AIDS
      patients referred to the Behavior Disease Consultation Center of Imam Khomeini
      Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2013. First, the patients were studied clinically and
      the context data were recorded in a questionnaire for parasitological examination
      and referred to the laboratory for eosinophil count, and CD4 count per ml of
      blood. RESULTS: Cryptosporidiosis was observed in 4 (7.6%) of the total 53
      HIV/AIDS patients. The highest prevalence of infection was observed in the age
      range of 30-39 yr. It was observed in different sexes as 5.7% of male and 1.9% of
      female, but statistically was insignificant (P=0.163).75% of patients had no
      intestinal symptom, 11.4% with acute diarrhea and 3.8% with chronic diarrhea.
      Cryptosporidiosis cases were observed in 5.7% of patients without intestinal
      symptom. CONCLUSION: Practitioners in the clinical examination for the detection
      of the opportunistic intestinal protozoan infection should use clinical and
      paraclinical characteristics of the HIV/AIDS patients for the diagnostic of
      Cryptosporidium and other opportunistic parasitic diseases.

PMID- 26870141
TI  - Enzymatic Digestion Pattern of Varicella Zoster Virus ORF38 and ORF54 in
      Chickenpox Patients Using RFLP Technique.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox in children and zoster
      (zona) in the elderly. Using RFLP-PCR method for detection of VZV specific SNPs
      ORF38, 54 and 62 could distinguish the profile of VZV isolates. The aim of this
      study was to investigate enzymatic digestion pattern of VZV ORF38 and ORF54 in
      chickenpox patients using RFLP technique. METHODS: Thirty-eight chickenpox
      patients, who referred to the hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences in
      Tehran from May 2010 to June 2015 were enrolled in this cross sectional study.
      After the DNA extraction, PCR amplification of 38 VZV isolates performed by
      specific primers of ORFs 38 and 54, then RFLP assay and digestion carried out by
      PstI (for ORF38) and BglI (for ORF54) restriction enzymes. RESULTS: Of 38
      positive VZV DNA, the mean age (yr)+/-SD was 34.4+/-23.3 (range: 7-89). 22
      (57.9%) were female and 16 (42.1%) were male. The predominant VZV profile of
      BglI(+) PstI(+) were 89.5% (34/38) followed by 10.5% (4/38) PstI(+) BglI?.
      Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between
      genotype, age, sex, and year of infection variables (P value> 0.05). The common
      VZV genotype among Iranian patients with chickenpox and zona infection is
      genotype BglI(+) PstI(+) followed by PstI(+) BglI?. CONCLUSION: There are
      different VZV circulating genotypes that call for for more research on this field
      by widely population and other methods such as nucleotide sequencing to justify
      the accurate VZV genotype prevalence in Iran.

PMID- 26870142
TI  - Developing Michigan Cancer Foundation 7 Cells with Stable Expression of E7 Gene
      of Human Papillomavirus Type 16.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for the development of
      cervical neoplasia. Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is a
      major risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. The virus encodes three
      oncoproteins (E5, E6 and E7), of which, the E7 oncoprotein is the major protein
      involved in cell immortalization and transformation of the infected cells. The
      aim of the current study was to develop Michigan Cancer Foundation 7 (MCF7)
      cells, which could stably express E7 protein of HPV type 16. METHODS: E7 gene of
      HPV type 16 was introduced into MCF7 cells by Lipofectamine 2000 reagent and the
      transfected cells were treated with G418 antibiotic. After antibiotic selection
      of the transfected cells, stable expression of E7 gene of HPV16 was confirmed by
      reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Antibiotic
      selections of transfected cells were performed and transfected cells were alive
      in cytotoxic concentration of the antibiotic. RNA was extracted from transfected
      cells and E7 gene of HPV16 was amplified by RT-PCR method and a 350-bp band
      corresponds to E7 was observed. CONCLUSION: Results confirmed the stable
      transfection of cells. The stably transfected cells can be used as a useful tool
      in future studies on HPV16 and cancers caused by this virus.

PMID- 26870143
TI  - Relation between Resistance to Antipseudomonal beta-Lactams and ampC and mexC
      Genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In order to select a better antibiotic choice for treatment of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, this study was conducted to determine the
      frequency of resistance to some antipseudomonal beta-lactams in P. aeruginosa
      isolates from patients in Tehran, Iran. In addition, the relation between
      presence of genes known to be responsible for resistance to beta-lactams (ampC,
      mexC 1,2, and mexC 3,4 genes) and resistance phenotype among P. aeroginosa
      isolates was evaluated. METHODS: P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and
      identified by routine methods and PCR for oprL gene. Disk diffusion method was
      employed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern according to CLSI
      recommendations. PCR was used to detect the resistance genes. RESULTS: Among 100
      isolates of P. aeruginosa, 82% had ampC, 86% mexC 1,2 and 89% mexC 3,4 genes and
      combinations of these genes were seen in most of isolates and only 3% of isolates
      had none of these genes. Resistance to mezlocillin, cefepime, ceftazidime and
      piperacillin/ tazobactam was seen in 46%, 41%, 36% and 29% of isolates,
      respectively. Significant relation (P value <=0.05 by Chi-square or Fisher Exact
      test) was observed between the presence of ampC gene and resistance to all the
      studied beta-lactams in this study. No relation was observed for mexC genes,
      although many of isolates containing these two genes were phenotypically
      resistant. DISCUSSION: This study had shown for the first time, the presence of
      ampC and mexC genes in significant percent of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa
      in Tehran, Iran, and relation between presence of ampC gene and resistance to
      beta-lactams.

PMID- 26870144
TI  - Clinico-Pathological Study of Cutaneous Granulomatous Lesions- a 5 yr Experience
      in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Granulomatous dermatoses are common skin pathology, often need
      histopathological confirmation for diagnosis. Histologically six sub-types of
      granulomas found in granulomatous skin diseases- tuberculoid, sarcoidal,
      necrobiotic, suppurative, foreign body & histoid type. The aims of the present
      study were clinico-pathological evaluation of granulomatous skin lesions and
      their etiological classification based on histopathological examination. METHODS:
      It was a five years (Jan 2009- Dec 2013) retrospective study involving all the
      skin biopsies. Detailed clinical and histopathological features were analyzed and
      granulomatous skin lesions were categorized according to type of granuloma &
      etiology. Special stains were used in few cases for diagnostic purpose. RESULTS:
      Among 1280 skin biopsies, 186 cases (14.53%) were granulomatous skin lesions with
      a ratio 1:24. In histopathological sub-typing, tuberculoid granuloma was most
      common type (126 cases, 67.74%). Most common etiology of granuloma in the study
      was leprosy (107 cases, 57.52%). Other etiologies were cutaneous tuberculosis,
      foreign body granulomas, fungal lesions, cutaneous leishmaniasis, sarcoidosis and
      granuloma annulare. CONCLUSION: Histopathology is established as gold standard
      investigation for diagnosis, categorization and clinico-pathological correlation
      of granulomatous skin lesions.

PMID- 26870145
TI  - Ovarian Hemangioma: a Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Ovarian hemangiomas are benign and rare tumors of female genital tract with less
      than 60 reported cases in the literature. A 38- yr- old woman was admitted to
      Be'sat Hospital, Tehran, Iran in 2012, due to severe abdominal pain. Ultrasound
      evaluation revealed a 6 cm left ovarian cystic mass and serum tumor markers were
      normal. Then, left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed for the patient.
      Microscopic examination revealed a follicular cyst and an incidental cavernous
      hemangioma consisting thin-walled vascular channels filled with blood that lined
      with flatten endothelial cells. In IHC staining strong immunoreactivity for CD31
      and CD34 were seen, finally, the diagnosis of primary ovarian hemangioma,
      cavernous-type was made. The clinicopathologic presentation of this unusual
      benign tumor is discussed. 

PMID- 26870146
TI  - Immature Teratoma with Embryonal Carcinoma; a Rare Malignant Mixed Germ Cell
      Tumor in a 13-Year-Old Girl.
AB  - Malignant mixed germ cell tumors,though rare overall, are the most common type of
      malignant ovarian neoplasms in young and adolescent girls. These tumors are
      rapidly growing and can metastasize. We report a case of 13-yr-old girl who
      presented at SHKM GMC, Nalhar, Mewat, Haryana, India in December 2013 with huge
      abdominal lump of a malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both immature
      teratoma and embryonal carcinoma. This report illustrates the aggressiveness of
      this tumor and emphasises the need of early diagnosis and treatment. 

PMID- 26870147
TI  - The Report of KRAS Mutation and NRAS Wild Type in a Patient with Thyroid
      Metastasis from Colon Cancer: a Rare Case Report.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis to the thyroid gland is rare. Here we report a
      45 yr-old man in western Iran referred to Hematology Clinic, Kermanshah City,
      Iran in March 2014 with complaint of exertional dyspnea, multi-nodular goiter as
      well as complaint of exertional dyspnea, and multi-nodular goiter. His history
      included a low anterior resection of rectum in 9 months ago for a high-risk stage
      II rectal adenocarcinoma. He did not show clinical signs of hyperthyroidism other
      than thyroid enlargement. In thyroid nodule the FNA cytology, pathology reported
      anaplastic thyroid malignancy. Pathologists reported final diagnosis of
      colorectal metastasis of thyroid gland. Then due to metastatic pattern of
      disease, his pathology was evaluated for RAS molecular assay. In the patients of
      metastatic CRC, RAS testing is the first step to identify those patients that
      could benefit from anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies treatment. 

PMID- 26870148
TI  - Solitary Psoas Muscle Metastasis of Gastroesphageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Metastasis of gastroesphageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in skeletal muscle is
      rare and primary sites for skeletal muscle metastases are usually lung, renal and
      colorectal cancer. We have encountered with the first case report of solitary
      psoas muscle metastasis of GEJ adenocarcinoma. Here we describe a 65 years old
      man was diagnosed with GEJ adenocarcinoma in Gastroenterology Department, Imam
      Hussein Hospital, Tehran, Iran in February 2014. We were not able to use PET
      techniques due to lack of access. Staging CT scans demonstrated a small mass
      lateral to right psoas muscle. A CT-guided core needle biopsy of right psoas
      muscle was performed that supported a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma consistent with
      primary adenocarcinoma of the GEJ. Distant metastasis to skeletal muscle rarely
      occurs in patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma, but heightened awareness to these
      soft tissue lesions is warranted. CT or MR imaging could show findings suggestive
      of metastatic disease, although PET is preferable modality. 

PMID- 26870149
TI  - Congenital Anaplastic Rhabdomyosarcoma Presenting As Abdominal Wall Mass.
AB  - Rhabdomyosarcoma encompasses a group of malignant myogenic neoplasms expressing a
      multitude of clinical and pathological diversities. It is the commonest soft
      tissue sarcoma of childhood but neonates are rarely affected. Embryonal subtype
      is the most frequent. Head-neck and genitourinary tracts are predominant sites,
      while trunk is considered among the unusual sites of rhabdomyosarcoma. Herein we
      report a case of anaplastic rhabdomyosarcoma in a newborn girl presenting, at the
      Pediatric Surgery Outpatient Department of North Bengal Medical College and
      Hospital, India in 2013 with a large tumor mass in the left flank region, arising
      from abdominal wall muscles. 

PMID- 26870150
TI  - Sarcomatoid Transrormation of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PMID- 26870151
TI  - Drivers of hibernation in the brown bear.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hibernation has been a key area of research for several decades,
      essentially in small mammals in the laboratory, yet we know very little about
      what triggers or ends it in the wild. Do climatic factors, an internal biological
      clock, or physiological processes dominate? Using state-of-the-art tracking and
      monitoring technology on fourteen free-ranging brown bears over three winters, we
      recorded movement, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), body
      temperature (Tb), physical activity, ambient temperature (TA), and snow depth to
      identify the drivers of the start and end of hibernation. We used behavioral
      change point analyses to estimate the start and end of hibernation and convergent
      cross mapping to identify the causal interactions between the ecological and
      physiological variables over time. RESULTS: To our knowledge, we have built the
      first chronology of both ecological and physiological events from before the
      start to the end of hibernation in the field. Activity, HR, and Tb started to
      drop slowly several weeks before den entry. Bears entered the den when snow
      arrived and when ambient temperature reached 0  degrees C. HRV, taken as a proxy
      of sympathetic nervous system activity, dropped dramatically once the bear
      entered the den. This indirectly suggests that denning is tightly coupled to
      metabolic suppression. During arousal, the unexpected early rise in Tb (two
      months before den exit) was driven by TA, but was independent of HRV. The
      difference between Tb and TA decreased gradually suggesting that bears were not
      thermoconforming. HRV increased only three weeks before exit, indicating that
      late activation of the sympathetic nervous system likely finalized restoration of
      euthermic metabolism. Interestingly, it was not until TA reached the presumed
      lower critical temperature, likely indicating that the bears were seeking
      thermoneutrality, that they exited the den. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that brown
      bear hibernation was initiated primarily by environmental cues, but terminated by
      physiological cues.

PMID- 26870152
TI  - Multivitamins and minerals modulate whole-body energy metabolism and cerebral
      blood-flow during cognitive task performance: a double-blind, randomised, placebo
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The brain is by far the most metabolically active organ in the body,
      with overall energy expenditure and local blood-supply closely related to neural
      activity. Both energy metabolism and cerebral vaso-dilation are dependent on
      adequate micronutrient status. This study investigated whether supplementation
      with ascending doses of multi-vitamin/minerals could modulate the metabolic and
      cerebral blood-flow consequences of performing cognitive tasks that varied in
      difficulty. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
      parallel-groups study 97 healthy females (25-49 y), who were not selected on the
      basis of any nutritional parameters, received either placebo or one of two doses
      of multivitamins/minerals. Cerebral blood-flow (CBF) parameters in the frontal
      cortex, and total energy expenditure (TotalEnergy), carbohydrate and fat
      oxidation (CarbOxi/FatOxi), were measured during 5 tasks of graded cognitive
      difficulty and a control task (5 min per task) using Near-infrared spectroscopy
      (NIRS) and Indirect calorimetry of exhaled pulmonary gas (ICa) respectively.
      Assessments took place 60 min after the first dose and following eight weeks
      supplementation. RESULTS: During task performance supplementation with the first
      dose of micronutrients led to a dose-dependent increase in TotalEnergy and FatOxi
      throughout the post-dose assessment period following the higher dose, and
      increases in the total concentration of haemoglobin, a proxy measure for CBF,
      during task performance following the lower dose of vitamins/minerals (also
      containing coenzyme-Q10). Chronic supplementation over 8 weeks led to a dose
      dependent increase in TotalEnergy during the task period. There were no
      interpretable effects on mood or cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results show that acute supplementation with micronutrients in healthy adults can
      modulate metabolic parameters and cerebral blood flow during cognitive task
      performance, and that the metabolic consequences are sustained during chronic
      supplementation. These findings suggest that both brain function and metabolism
      are amenable to micronutrient supplementation, even in adults who are assumed to
      have nutritional status typical of the population. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT02381964.

PMID- 26870154
TI  - Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Novel Somatic Mutations in Chinese Breast
      Cancer Patients.
AB  - Most breast cancer genomes harbor complex mutational landscapes. Somatic
      alterations have been predominantly discovered in breast cancer patients of
      European ancestry; however, little is known about somatic aberration in patients
      of other ethnic groups including Asians. In the present study, whole-exome
      sequencing (WES) was conducted in DNA extracted from tumor and matched adjacent
      normal tissue samples from eleven early onset breast cancer patients who were
      included in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study. We discovered 159 somatic missense
      and ten nonsense mutations distributed among 167 genes. The most frequent 50
      somatic mutations identified by WES were selected for validation using Sequenom
      MassARRAY system in the eleven breast cancer patients and an additional 433 tumor
      and 921 normal tissue/blood samples from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study. Among
      these 50 mutations selected for validation, 32 were technically validated. Within
      the validated mutations, somatic mutations in the TRPM6, HYDIN, ENTHD1, and
      NDUFB10 genes were found in two or more tumor samples in the replication stage.
      Mutations in the ADRA1B, CBFB, KIAA2022, and RBM25 genes were observed once in
      the replication stage. To summarize, this study identified some novel somatic
      mutations for breast cancer. Future studies will need to be conducted to
      determine the function of these mutations/genes in the breast carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26870153
TI  - Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion.
AB  - The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in Photosynthesis
      takes place in the reaction center where the absorbed excitation energy is
      converted into a stable charge separated state by ultrafast electron transfer
      events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near unity quantum
      efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in
      determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II
      reaction centre (PSII RC) by comprehensively combining experiment (two
      dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the
      presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and
      charge transfer states which we argue to be maintained by vibrational modes.
      Furthermore, we present evidence for the strong correlation between the degree of
      electronic coherence and efficient and ultrafast charge separation. We propose
      that this coherent mechanism will inspire the development of new energy
      technologies.

PMID- 26870155
TI  - Study of the occurrence of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment
      syndrome in patients of blunt abdominal trauma and its correlation with the
      clinical outcome in the above patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurements have been identified as
      essential for diagnosis and management of both intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH)
      and Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). It has gained prominent status in ICUs
      worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the utility of measurement of rise in bladder
      pressure to assess IAP levels in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) patients. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Thirty patients of BAT with solid organ injuries were included in
      this study. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured through a Foleys bladder
      catheter throughout their stay. Bladder pressure was compared with clinical
      parameters like mean arterial pressures(MAP), respiratory rate(RR), serum
      creatinine(SC) and abdominal girth(AG) and also with outcome in terms of
      intervention whether operative(OI) or non-operative(NOI). RESULTS: Bladder
      pressure showed significant correlation with MAP (R = -0.418; P = 0.022), AG (R =
      0.755; P = 0.000), SC (R = 0.689; P = 0.000) and RR (R = 0.537; P = 0.002).
      Bladder pressure (R = 0.851; P = 0.000), SC (R = 0.625; P = 0.000), MAP (R = 
      0.350; P = 0.058) and maximum AG difference (R = 0.634; P = 0.000) showed
      significant correlation with intervention. In total, 17 patients (56 %) required
      intervention, 9 patients (30 %) underwent NOI (pigtailing or aspiration) while 8
      (27 %) needed OI. More than 3 derailed parameters were associated with 100 %
      intervention (Mean 3.47, SD-1.23). High APACHE III score on admission (>40) was
      associated with increased intervention (p = 0.001). Intervention correlates well
      with Grade of injury (p = 0.000) and not with number of organs injured (p =
      0.061). Blood transfusion of 2 or more units of blood was associated with
      increased intervention (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Increased bladder pressure and
      other clinical parameters (MAP, SC, RR and change in AG) correlates well with
      intervention. Elevated bladder pressure correlates well with other clinical
      parameters in patients with BAT. Bladder pressure, SC, MAP, RR and AG difference
      can be used to determine the group of patients that can be managed conservatively
      and those that would benefit with minimal intervention or exploration. During Non
      operative management (NOM) of patients with BAT and multiple solid organ
      injuries, IAP monitoring may be a simple and objective guideline to suggest
      further intervention whether NOI or OI. Although routine bladder pressure
      measurements will result in unnecessary monitoring of large number of patients it
      is hoped that patients with IAH can be detected early and subsequent ACS with
      morbid abdominal exploration can be prevented. However the criterion for non
      operative failure and the point of decompression needs further refinement to
      prevent an increase of nontherapeutic operations.

PMID- 26870158
TI  - Characteristics of non-diabetic foot ulcers in Western Sydney, Australia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are few studies investigating the characteristics, risk factors
      and socioeconomic status of patients with non-diabetic foot ulcers. The aim of
      this study was to explore the characteristics of non-diabetic foot ulcers in a
      large tertiary referral outpatient hospital setting in Western Sydney, Australia.
      METHODS: From 2011 to 2013, data from 202 patients with non-diabetic foot ulcers
      during their initial visit were retrospectively extracted for analysis from
      Westmead Hospital's Foot Wound Clinic Registry. Data including demographics,
      socioeconomic status and foot ulcer characteristics were recorded on a
      standardised data collection form. RESULTS: Demographics and physical
      characteristics were: 54 % male, median age 78 years [interquartile range (IQR):
      64-87], median body mass index (BMI) of 23.8 kg/m(2) (IQR: 20-26.9), 35 % had
      loss of protective sensation and the median postcode score for socioeconomic
      status was 996 (IQR: 935-1034). Foot ulcer characteristics were: median cross
      sectional area of 1.2 cm(2) (IQR: 0.3-5.0), 30.5 % plantar and 27 % dorsal, 22.1
      % University of Texas (UT) Wound Classification for Diabetic Foot Ulcers Grade of
      1C-3C (with ischaemia). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike diabetic foot ulcers, non-diabetic
      foot ulcers largely affected older males and females. In accordance with diabetic
      foot ulcer characteristics, socioeconomic status was not related to non-diabetic
      foot ulcers in Western Sydney. Based on the findings of this study the
      epidemiological pattern of non-diabetic foot ulceration and its pathogenesis
      requires further investigation.

PMID- 26870159
TI  - Long-term release of a thiobenzamide from a backbone functionalized poly(lactic
      acid).
AB  - Hydrogen sulfide is emerging as a critically important molecule in medicine, yet
      there are few methods for the long-term delivery of molecules that degrade to
      release H2S. In this paper the first long-term release of a thiobenzamide that
      degrades to release H2S is described. A series of polymers were synthesized by
      the copolymerization of L-lactide and a lactide functionalized with 4
      hydroxythiobenzamide. A new method to attach functional groups to a derivative of
      L-lactide is described based on the addition of a thiol to an alpha,beta
      unsaturated lactide using catalytic I2. This reaction proceeded under mild
      conditions and did not ring-open the lactone. The copolymers had molecular
      weights from 8 to 88 kg mol-1 with PDIs below 1.50. Two sets of microparticles
      were fabricated from a copolymer; the average diameters of the microparticles
      were 0.53 and 12 MUm. The degradation of the smaller microparticles was
      investigated in buffered water to demonstrate the slow release of thiobenzamide
      over 4 weeks. Based on the ability to synthesize polymers with different loadings
      of thiobenzamide and that thiobenzamide is a known precursor to H2S, these
      particles provide a polymer-based method to deliver H2S over days to weeks.

PMID- 26870160
TI  - Molecular-targeted therapy for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung
      cancer.
AB  - Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in men and
      women. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents close to 90% of all lung
      cancers. When diagnosed, >50% of patients are >65 years old. Through an improved
      understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in lung oncogenesis, molecular
      targeted approaches have become an essential element for the treatment of
      patients with NSCLC. As the toxicity profiles of the techniques are definitely
      more favorable compared with chemotherapy, they are particularly attractive for
      use in elderly patients, who are potentially more susceptible to the toxicity of
      systemic oncological therapies. However, studies on the activity of molecular
      targeted agents in this aged patient setting are much more limited compared with
      those in their younger counterparts. In the present review, the literature on
      molecular-targeted therapy for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC is discussed.
      It is concluded that bevacizumab should be reserved only for highly select
      elderly patients with advanced NSCLC when the clinician deems it useful in the
      face of acceptable toxicities. In elderly patients with advanced epidermal growth
      factor receptor mutation-positive NSCLC, erlotinib and gefitinib appear to repeat
      the same favorable performance as that documented on a larger scale in the
      overall population of patients with activating mutations. A good toxicity profile
      is also confirmed for active molecules on different pathways, such as crizotinib.

PMID- 26870162
TI  - Endometriosis and breast cancer: A survey of the epidemiological studies.
AB  - Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease with a wide spectrum of clinical
      manifestations that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age.
      Recent reviews have demonstrated the connection between endometriosis and breast
      cancer, which represents the most frequently diagnosed female cancer and the most
      common cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The aim of this
      study was to conduct a survey of available published epidemiological studies
      indicating the association between endometriosis and breast cancer, and
      simultaneously to categorize the results based on the strength of the
      association, with the intention of the critical evaluation of the existing data.
      We performed a rigorous search of the PubMed/Medline database, using the key
      words 'endometriosis' and 'breast cancer' for all studies published in the
      English language until September 2015. We found 4 retrospective cohort studies, 4
      case-control studies and 3 case-cohort studies that demonstrated a notable risk
      for developing breast cancer among women with endometriosis. By contrast, we also
      found 5 case-control studies, 1 prospective cohort study, 1 case-cohort study and
      1 cross-sectional study that demonstrated a negative association between
      endometriosis and breast cancer. In conclusion, as regards the clarification of a
      'robust' or 'weak' association between endometriosis and breast cancer, no
      definite conclusions could be drawn, due to the limited number of studies and the
      limitations of each of these studies. New well-designed, prospective cohort or
      randomized control trials with long-term follow-up are warranted in order to
      provide evidence-based clinical recommendations for proper counseling, screening
      and treatment strategies for patients with endometriosis, and hence to improve
      public health.

PMID- 26870161
TI  - Use of genetically engineered stem cells for glioma therapy.
AB  - Glioblastoma, the most common and most malignant type of primary brain tumor, is
      associated with poor prognosis, even when treated using combined therapies,
      including surgery followed by concomitant radiotherapy with temozolomide-based
      chemotherapy. The invasive nature of this type of tumor is a major reason
      underlying treatment failure. The tumor-tropic ability of neural and mesenchymal
      stem cells offers an alternative therapeutic approach, where these cells may be
      used as vehicles for the invasion of tumors. Stem cell-based therapy is
      particularly attractive due to its tumor selectivity, meaning that the stem cells
      are able to target tumor cells without harming healthy brain tissue, as well as
      the extensive tumor tropism of stem cells when delivering anti-tumor substances,
      even to distant tumor microsatellites. Stem cells have previously been used to
      deliver cytokine genes, suicide genes and oncolytic viruses. The present review
      will summarize current trends in experimental studies of stem cell-based gene
      therapy against gliomas, and discuss the potential concerns for translating these
      promising strategies into clinical use.

PMID- 26870163
TI  - CT pelvimetry and clinicopathological parameters in evaluation of the technical
      difficulties in performing open rectal surgery for mid-low rectal cancer.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of pelvic anatomical and
      clinicopathological parameters for use in the estimation of the likely technical
      difficulties that may be encountered when performing open rectal surgery for mid
      low rectal cancer. Sixty consecutive patients, undergoing open rectal surgery for
      mid-low rectal cancer were recruited between June 2009 and April 2014. All of the
      surgical procedures conducted, were low anterior resection (LAR) or
      abdominoperineal resection (APR). The operations were performed by the same
      surgeon and surgical team. Pelvic dimensions and angles were measured using three
      dimensional reconstruction of spiral computerized tomography (CT) images.
      Operative time and intraoperative blood loss were used as indicators of operative
      difficulty. The independent variables were pelvic anatomical and
      clinicopathological parameters, and the dependent variables were operative time
      and intraoperative blood loss. Univariate and multivariate analyses were
      performed in order to determine the predictive significance of these variables.
      The pelvis width was significantly wider in females than in males (P<0.05), while
      the sacrococcygeal bending degree was significantly greater in males than in
      females (P<0.05). No significant difference were detected between the pelvis
      depth of females and males (P>0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that body mass
      index (BMI), tumor height, lymph node metastasis, anteroposterior diameter of the
      pelvic inlet, anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic outlet, height of the pubic
      symphysis, the sacrococcygeal distance, sacrococcygeal-pubic angle and diameter
      of the upper pubis to the coccyx were the main factors affecting the operative
      time (all P<0.05), while the maximum diameter of the tumor was the primary factor
      affecting intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). Between the two procedures, the
      clinicopathological parameters appeared to be more valuable for predicting
      difficulty in LAR, in which operative time was associated with tumor height and
      tumor staging (RC2=0.312; P<0.001). By contrast, the pelvic anatomical parameters
      appeared to be more valuable predictors of variation in APR, in which
      intraoperative blood loss was associated with the anteroposterior diameter of the
      mid-pelvis, the anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic outlet, the interspinous
      diameter, the depth of the sacral curvature and the sacropubic distance
      (RC2=0.608; P=0.002). BMI, tumor height and the maximum diameter of the tumor may
      be used to predict the operative difficulty in performing open rectal surgery for
      mid-low rectal cancer. In addition to the associated clinicopathological
      parameters, wider, shallower and less curved pelvises may make the greatest
      contribution to reducing operative time and intraoperative blood loss. Operative
      difficulty is likely to be increased in deeper and narrower pelvises, or in those
      with greater sacrococcygeal curvature.

PMID- 26870164
TI  - Obstructive hydrocephalus as a result of giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine:
      A case report.
AB  - Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare bone tumors that account for ~5% of all primary
      bone tumors. When GCTs occur in the spine, patients usually present with
      localized pain and neurological symptoms, such as radiating pain or
      hyperesthesia. In the current report, an unusual case of a GCT of the thoracic
      spine associated with hydrocephalus is described. A 48-year-old male presented
      with urinary retention, loss of sensation in the lower limbs and inability to
      walk. The patient eventually developed hydrocephalus combined with altered
      consciousness, indicated by an inability to follow simple commands. Magnetic
      resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated the presence of a soft tissue mass at the T2
      level, and biopsy examination of the tissue confirmed that it was a GCT. The
      patient experienced a sudden loss of consciousness due to an acute episode of
      obstructive hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal shunting procedure was
      performed to treat the hydrocephalus, and the patient regained normal
      consciousness, although the paraplegia persisted. An MR examination performed 30
      months following surgery demonstrated that the tumor size was stable, consistent
      with the slow growth that is characteristic of GCTs. Diagnosis of GCTs may be
      challenging, and relies on radiographic and histopathologic findings. Although
      rare, acute hydrocephalus as a result of GCTs should not be excluded from a
      differential diagnosis.

PMID- 26870165
TI  - Aberrant expression of hSef and Sprouty4 in endometrial adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2-mediated signaling of the mitogen-activated
      protein kinase/RAS/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway is a
      critical modulator in angiogenesis and is therefore essential for the
      pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma. Human similar expression to FGFs (hSef)
      and Sprouty4 have each been reported to be negative regulators of FGF signaling.
      The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of hSef and
      Sprouty4 in human endometrial adenocarcinoma. Using immunohistochemistry
      analysis, the expression of hSef and Sprouty4 was detected in human endometrial
      adenocarcinomas. Increased hSef expression was found to be present in endometrial
      adenocarcinomas. In addition, decreased hSef expression was identified in the
      blood vessels of endometrial adenocarcinoma samples. However, the expression of
      Sprouty4 was downregulated in human endometrial adenocarcinoma. Aberrant
      expression of hSef and Sprouty4 are involved in the pathogenesis of human
      endometrial adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26870166
TI  - Identification of potential therapeutic targets for papillary thyroid carcinoma
      by bioinformatics analysis.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to identify potential therapeutic targets for
      papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to investigate the possible mechanism
      underlying this disease. The gene expression profile, GSE53157, was downloaded
      from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Only 10 chips, including 3 specimens
      of normal thyroid tissues and 7 specimens of well-differentiated thyroid
      carcinomas, were analyzed in the present study. Differentially-expressed genes
      (DEGs) between PTC patients and normal individuals were identified. Next, Gene
      Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses of DEGs
      were performed. Modules in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were
      identified. Significant target genes were selected from the microRNA (miRNA)
      regulatory network. Furthermore, the integrated network was constructed with the
      miRNA regulatory and PPI network modules, and key target genes were screened. A
      total of 668 DEGs were identified. Modules M1, M2 and M3 were identified from the
      PPI network. From the modules, DEGs of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, S100
      calcium binding protein A6 (S100A6), dual specificity phosphatase 5, keratin 19,
      met proto-oncogene (MET) and lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 were included
      in the Malacards database. In the miRNA regulatory and integrated networks, genes
      of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C), peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor gamma, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, basic helix-loop-helix
      family, member e40 and reticulon 1 were the key target genes. S100A6, MET and
      CDKN1C may exhibit key roles in the progression and development of PTC, and may
      be used as specific therapeutic targets in the treatment of PTC. However, further
      experiments are required to confirm these results.

PMID- 26870167
TI  - High mobility group box 1 regulates tumor metastasis in cutaneous squamous cell
      carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.
AB  - The present study examined the mechanisms of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)
      induced cell migration in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) SCC13
      cells. Western blotting, a chemotaxis assay and ELISA were performed to analyze
      HMGB1 level in SCC13 cells and its ability to regulate tumor metastasis. The
      results demonstrated a significantly higher level of HMGB1 in the SCC13 cell
      supernatant compared with the human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell supernatant.
      Administration of HMGB1 to the SCC13 cells caused cell migration, which occurred
      in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, HMGB1 significantly activated the
      phosphosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase
      (MAPK) signaling pathways by an increased level of phosphorylation in p85PI3K,
      AKT, p38 and p42/44 MAPK. Taken together, these data suggest that HMGB1 regulates
      tumor metastasis in CSCC via the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.

PMID- 26870168
TI  - MMP-1/2 and TIMP-1/2 expression levels, and the levels of collagenous and elastic
      fibers correlate with disease progression in a hamster model of tongue cancer.
AB  - In the present study, the presence of extracellular matrix components, including
      collagenous and elastic fibers, and the expression of their key regulating
      enzymes, were investigated in different stages of hamster tongue carcinoma
      development. Immunohistochemical and computer-assisted morphological analyses
      were performed to quantify the staining intensity and area (integral optical
      density) of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -2, tissue inhibitors of
      metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2, and the extent of elastic and collagenous
      fibers in histological sections. MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression
      levels gradually increased with tongue cancer progression, and were associated
      with disease pathology staging (r=0.705, 0.633, 0.759 and 0.751, respectively).
      By contrast, elastic fiber levels gradually decreased with cancer progression and
      were negatively correlated with disease staging (r=-0.881). The levels of
      collagenous fibers gradually increased with cancer progression and showed a
      positive correlation (r=0.619). In summary, the study demonstrated that MMP1/2
      and TIMP1/2 expression levels, and collagenous and elastic fiber levels were
      significantly correlated with disease progression in a hamster model of tongue
      cancer.

PMID- 26870169
TI  - Expression and prognostic value of SFRP1 and beta-catenin in patients with
      glioblastoma.
AB  - The roles of secreted frizzled-related protein-1 (SFRP1) and beta-catenin in
      human cancer have been widely studied, and it has recently been demonstrated that
      these proteins are associated with numerous human carcinomas. However, their
      clinical significance in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has not been examined. The
      current study aimed to analyze the correlation between the expression of SFRP1
      and beta-catenin, and clinicopathological characteristics in GBM patients. The
      expression of SFRP1 and beta-catenin was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 113
      samples of GBM and 40 normal brain tissues. Compared with normal brain tissues,
      GBM tissues exhibited significantly lower expression of SFRP1, and higher
      expression of beta-catenin (both P<0.05). A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that
      patients with positive SFRP1 expression had a significantly longer overall
      survival (OS) time relative to those with negative SFRP1 expression (P<0.000),
      and that patients with positive beta-catenin expression had a shorter OS time
      than those with negative beta-catenin expression (P<0.000). A multivariate Cox
      regression analysis indicated that adjuvant treatment, SFRP1 expression and beta
      catenin expression were independent prognostic factors for OS (P<0.000, P=0.008
      and P=0.001, respectively) in patients with GBM. The current data suggest that
      expression of SFRP1 and beta-catenin may be considered significant prognostic
      indicators for patients with GBM.

PMID- 26870170
TI  - Effect of overexpression of HOX genes on its invasive tendency in cerebral
      glioma.
AB  - Transcription factors encoded by HOX genes are vital in the determination of cell
      fate and identity during embryonic development. In certain malignancies, HOX
      genes also behave as oncogenes. The present study demonstrated suppression of the
      invasive tendency of glioblastoma multiforme U-118 and U-138 cells by the
      introduction of the antisense fragments of HOXA6 and B13 genes using
      electroporation. The invasion index indicated 79 and 72% reductions in the
      invasive ability of antisense HOXA6 and B13, respectively. No significant
      differences in the invasive index of the parental and mock cells of each HOX gene
      were observed (invasive index, 0.75-0.91; P=0.05). A reduction in invasion
      tendency was also observed following betulinic acid (BA) treatment: The results
      from the matrigel assay analysis clearly demonstrated a significant inhibition in
      the invasive behaviour of U-118 and U-138 cell lines from day 15 following BA
      treatment, with a maximum effect on day 30. The invasion index demonstrated 62
      and 65% reductions in invasion ability in the U-118 and U-138 cell lines,
      respectively. The suppression of HOXC6 and B13 expression by the introduction of
      the corresponding antisense fragments in addition to BA reduced invasion tendency
      in U-118 and U-138 cell lines. The mechanism underlying the association between
      the HOX gene and invasive behavior in glioma cells is yet to be understood.
      However, the anti-invasive behavior of BA may aid understanding of the mechanism
      in future studies.

PMID- 26870171
TI  - Alveolar soft-part sarcoma in the left forearm with cardiac metastasis: A case
      report and literature review.
AB  - Alveolar soft-part sarcoma (ASPS) is an uncommon soft-tissue neoplasm, which is
      commonly found in the deep soft tissues of the extremities, with a propensity for
      recurrence and metastasis. However, the metastasis of ASPS to the heart is
      exceedingly rare. The present study reports such a rare case with cardiac
      metastasis. Using computed tomography, a 37-year-old man was diagnosed with
      brain, lung and spleen metastases from a previously treated ASPS in the left
      forearm. Cardiac metastasis was then diagnosed 1 month later. Despite
      chemotherapy and palliative whole-brain radiotherapy, the patient succumbed to
      the disease shortly after. This case suggests that the widespread metastases and
      cardiac involvement of ASPS may result in a poor outcome.

PMID- 26870172
TI  - Immunosuppressant therapy successfully improved regorafenib-induced severe
      hepatic injury in a patient with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A
      case report.
AB  - A 75-year-old man diagnosed with ileal gastrointestinal tumor with peritoneal
      dissemination was subjected to salvage treatment with regorafenib at 120 mg/day.
      Following the initiation of the treatment, liver dysfunction appeared on day 28,
      and continued to worsen despite termination of the treatment. Since no increase
      in the levels of serum immunoglobulins of the patient was observed, and negative
      results were obtained for the analysis of viral markers and autoantibodies, a
      diagnosis of regorafenib-induced hepatitis was suggested. In consequence, the
      patient received steroid pulse therapy and continuous administration of
      prednisolone, without sufficient improvement. Liver biopsy revealed interface
      hepatitis with prominent plasma cell infiltration, suggesting regorafenib-induced
      autoimmune hepatitis. The patient was then administered azathioprine and
      prednisolone, which improved the hepatic injury. The present case represents the
      first report of successful treatment of regorafenib-induced severe hepatic injury
      by the use of an immunosuppressant.

PMID- 26870173
TI  - Primary alveolar soft part sarcoma of the right femur and primary lymphoma of the
      left femur: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare soft tissue tumor, particularly in
      bone, which usually affects young patients. Primary lymphoma of bone (PLB) is a
      rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma that occurs primarily in bone. In the present
      report, the case of a 42-year-old woman affected by ASPS and PLB in the left and
      right femur, respectively, is presented. The radiological features of digital
      radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examination are
      discussed, and compared with previous findings reported in the literature. To the
      best of our knowledge, the present study is the first case of ASPS and PLB
      occurring concomitantly in a patient.

PMID- 26870174
TI  - Malignant renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma: A case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Malignant renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) is rare, and currently there is
      no malignant criteria for its pathological diagnosis. In the present study, the
      case of a patient who suffered malignant renal EAML and underwent nephrectomy is
      reported. The histological patterns of the tumor were composed of sheets or nests
      of large polygonal epithelioid cells and thick-walled blood vessels, with clear
      mitoses. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the epithelioid and smooth muscle
      cells characteristically expressed human melanoma black-45, epithelial membrane
      antigen and actin. Pathological evaluation revealed malignant EAML with regional
      lymph node metastases. Magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray examination
      identified multiple liver and lung nodules at 16 months post-surgery. Since the
      patient did not respond to the initial treatment with doxorubicin and cisplatin,
      sorafenib was subsequently administered. However, the treatment was not
      effective, and the patient succumbed to multiple metastases six months later.

PMID- 26870175
TI  - Phosphorylation of BMK1 induces prostatic carcinoma cell proliferation by
      promoting entry into the S phase of the cell cycle.
AB  - Big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (BMK1) is activated by mitogens and
      oncogenic signals, and is strongly implicated in tumorigenesis. In the present
      study, it was demonstrated that the activation of BMK1, but not extracellular
      signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, can induce proliferation in prostate cancer
      cells. It was found that the proliferation of epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      treated cells was accelerated by 40% compared with non-treated cells using a CCK8
      assay. In addition, cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry showed that the
      proportion of cells in the S phase increased significantly in the BMK1-activated
      PC-3 cells, suggesting that the activation of BMK1 promotes entry into the S
      phase of the cell cycle in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, western blot
      analysis indicated that EGF-mediated activation of BMK1, but not ERK1/2,
      participates in the proliferation and cell cycle regulation in prostate cancer
      cells. Furthermore, the effects of cell cycle regulation by the activation of
      BMK1 were associated with the increased expression levels of cyclin A and cyclin
      E, whereas the expression of cyclin B and cyclin D1 was unchanged in this
      process. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the activation of BMK1
      can induce proliferation by promoting entry into the S phase through the
      upregulation of cyclin A and cyclin E expression levels in prostate cancer cells.

PMID- 26870176
TI  - Identification of a novel frameshift mutation of the EXT2 gene in a family with
      multiple osteochondroma.
AB  - Multiple osteochondroma (MO), also known as multiple hereditary exostoses, is an
      autosomal dominant skeletal disorder with characteristic multiple cartilage
      capped tumours (osteochondromas or exostoses) growing outward from the
      metaphyseal region of the long tubular bones. Mutations in exostosin
      glycosyltransferase 1 (EXT1) or EXT2 are the most commonly associated mutations
      with MO and are responsible for 70-95% of cases. In the present study, a genetic
      analysis was performed on a large family with MO using polymerase chain reaction
      and direct DNA sequencing of the entire coding regions of EXT1 and EXT2. Sanger
      sequencing identified a novel heterozygous frameshift mutation, c.119_120delCT
      (p.Thr40ArgfsX15), in exon 2 of the EXT2 gene in the proband and all other
      affected individuals, while this deleterious mutation was not detected in the
      healthy family members and normal controls. The c.119_120delCT mutation is
      located in the transmembrane region of the EXT2 protein and results in a
      truncated EXT2 protein lacking 665 amino acids at the C-terminus, which includes
      the critical exostosin and glycosyltransferase family 64 domains. Thus, the
      present study identified a novel causative frameshift mutation in EXT2 from a
      large MO family. This study is useful for extending the known mutational spectrum
      of EXT2, for understanding the genetic basis of MO in the patients studied, and
      for further application of mutation screening in the genetic counseling and
      subsequent prenatal diagnosis of this family.

PMID- 26870177
TI  - Correlation between the expression of hTERT gene and the clinicopathological
      characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to detect the expression levels of the human
      telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),
      and investigate its significance in the incidence and development of the cancer.
      HCC tissues and corresponding para-carcinoma liver tissues were surgically
      collected from 78 patients with HCC who presented to Shandong Provincial Hospital
      (Jinan, Shandong, China). hTERT expression at the protein and mRNA levels were
      detected by immunohistochemistry (streptavidin peroxidase method) and reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively, in the HCC tissues and
      corresponding para-carcinoma liver tissues of 78 HCC patients and in 12 samples
      of normal liver tissue. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 statistical
      software, and employing chi2 tests and t-tests. hTERT protein was mainly
      expressed in the HCC cell cytoplasm, but was occasionally observed in the cell
      nucleus. The positive rates of hTERT protein and mRNA expression in the HCC
      patients were 84.62% (66/78) and 78.21% (61/78), respectively, which was
      significantly higher compared with the rates of 10.26% (8/78) and 8.97% (7/78) in
      the paired para-carcinoma liver tissues (P<0.01). hTERT protein and mRNA were not
      expressed in the normal liver tissues (0/12). chi2 test and t-test analysis
      revealed that hTERT gene expression was correlated with tumor grade, the
      presence/absence of a portal vein tumor thrombus, hepatitis B surface antigen
      positivity and a high alpha-fetoprotein level (P<0.05) rather than patient age,
      gender or tumor size. Expression of the hTERT gene may play a pivotal role in the
      incidence and development of HCC. The hTERT gene potentially serves as an
      important molecular and biological index for diagnosing and predicating the
      biological behavior of HCC.

PMID- 26870178
TI  - Expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor is associated with a good
      prognosis and is correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes
      in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma.
AB  - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal event in the progression of
      cancer towards metastasis. Given that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF)
      inhibits angiogenesis, the present study analyzed whether PEDF expression is
      associated with EMT and prognosis in invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC).
      Immunohistochemical analysis was used to examine the expression levels of PEDF, E
      cadherin, vimentin, Snail and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in 119 cases of
      IDC. Correlations between PEDF expression and EMT-related genes, and
      clinicopathological features and clinical prognosis were analyzed. E-cadherin,
      vimentin, Snail and NF-kappaB expression was correlated with tumor size, lymph
      node metastasis and clinicopathological stage. PEDF expression was closely
      associated with tumor size. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed a
      positive correlation between PEDF and E-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and NF-kappaB
      expression (P<0.05). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated
      that the five-year survival rate was higher for patients with PEDF- and E
      cadherin-positive tumors, but was lower for those with vimentin-, Snail- and NF
      kappaB-positive tumors. Vimentin, E-cadherin and NF-kappaB levels were dependent
      prognostic factors of favorable outcomes in IDC, as determined by Cox
      multivariate analysis. PEDF expression in breast cancer was significantly
      associated with EMT-related genes, suggesting that it may be an EMT suppressor.
      However, its potential as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer warrants
      further investigation.

PMID- 26870179
TI  - Gene expression profiling analysis of MENX-associated rat pituitary adenomas
      contributes to understand molecular mechanisms of human pituitary adenomas.
AB  - The present study aimed to screen potential genes associated with pituitary
      adenomas to obtain further understanding with regard to the pathogenesis of
      pituitary adenomas. The microarray GSE23207 dataset, containing 16 pituitary
      adenoma samples from multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome-associated rats and 5
      normal pituitary tissue samples, was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. The
      Linear Models for Microarray Data package was used to identify the differentially
      expressed genes (DEGs) with the cut-off criteria of a |log2fold change (FC)|>1
      and adjusted P-values of <0.05. The potential functions of the DEGs were
      predicted by functional and pathway enrichment analysis with the Database for
      Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Furthermore, the interaction
      associations of the up- and downregulated DEGs obtained from the Search Tool for
      the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database were respectively revealed by the
      protein-protein interaction networks visualized with Cytoscape. A total of 391
      upregulated and 238 downregulated DEGs in were screened in the pituitary adenoma
      samples. The upregulated DEGs with a higher degree in the protein-protein
      interaction network (e.g., CCNA2, CCNB1 and CDC20) were significantly involved in
      cell cycle and cell division. Notably, PTTG1 was enriched in every functional
      term. These DEGs interacted with each other. The downregulated DEGs (e.g.,
      GABRA1, GABRA4 and GABRB1) also interacted with each other, and were relevant to
      neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction; the DEG POU1F1, interacting with POMC,
      was correlated with the development of the pituitary gland, adenohypophysis and
      endocrine system. Certain DEGs, including CCNB1, CCNA2, CDC20, GABRA1, GABRA4,
      GABRB1, POU1F1 and POMC, and particularly PTTG1, were shown to be closely
      involved in the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas.

PMID- 26870180
TI  - MicroRNA-183-5p promotes the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of human
      pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.
AB  - The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential role of microRNA
      183-5p (miR-183-5p) in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of pancreatic
      cancer, and to identify promising target genes of oncogenic miR-183-5p. Western
      blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to
      investigate whether these oncogenic microRNAs may be useful as biomarkers in
      pancreatic carcinoma (PaCa). Potential target genes were verified using miRDB,
      PicTar and TargetSCAN, and qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-183 and
      suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS-6; a potential target of miR-183) in
      PANC-1 PaCa cells and in the HPDE6-C7 pancreatic ductal cell line for comparison.
      The function of miR-183 in cell proliferation, wound healing, invasion and
      migration was also investigated using a miR-183 inhibitor. Western blot analysis
      was used to confirm SOCS-6 as a tumor suppressor and qPCR was used to detect and
      confirm that this potential target gene is directly regulated by miR-183. The
      results indicated that the expression of miR-183 in PANC-1 cells was upregulated
      compared with that in HPDE6-C7 cells, whilst the expression of SOCS-6 was
      downregulated. SOCS-6 expression was also significantly lower in PaCa tissues
      compared with that in matched normal pancreatic tissues from PaCa patients.
      Furthermore, expression of miR-183 was inversely correlated with that of SOCS-6.
      miR-183 knockdown decreased cell growth and motility in pancreatic cancer cells
      and significantly increased the expression of SOCS-6. These data suggest that
      oncogenic miR-183 may be useful as a pancreatic cancer biomarker. In addition,
      inhibition of miR-183 expression may be beneficial as PaCa treatment. SOCS-6 is a
      potential target gene of miR-183.

PMID- 26870181
TI  - De-escalation of radiation dose for human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal
      head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and preclinical and clinical
      literature review.
AB  - Traditionally, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been considered
      to be a relatively homogeneous disease. However, recent data have demonstrated
      that human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative disease are two
      different clinical entities associated with different outcomes. Preclinical and
      clinical studies have reported a divergence in treatment strategies as well as
      prognostic outcomes for HNSCCs that are HPV-positive versus HPV-negative. The
      present study describes the case of a 52-year-old man who presented with stage
      IVB cT2N3M0 right tonsillar HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma. Induction
      chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF), followed by
      chemoradiation therapy with carboplatin and 70 Gray (Gy) radiation in daily
      fractions was recommended. The patient completed the TPF and carboplatin
      treatment; however, he was unable to tolerate the radiation course, receiving a
      final dose of 46 Gy. A 60-day follow-up right neck salvage dissection was
      subsequently performed. Despite having received a partial radiation treatment of
      46 Gy, the patient had no pathological evidence of disease at 60 days post
      radiation treatment. Repeat positron emission tomography-computed tomography at
      32 months after the right neck dissection revealed no evidence of disease. The
      present study also discusses the current preclinical in vitro and in vivo targets
      for HPV-positive HNSCC and the obstacles presented in advancing clinical
      treatment modalities. Previous preclinical models investigating radiation
      sensitivity have yielded mixed results. Thus, it is important to understand and
      establish representative preclinical models for studying HPV and HNSCC to improve
      clinical research and therapeutic development. This review may guide future
      understanding of the role of HPV in HNSCC.

PMID- 26870182
TI  - Gallic acid as a selective anticancer agent that induces apoptosis in SMMC-7721
      human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
AB  - Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid; GA) is a naturally occurring plant
      polyphenol, isolated from water caltrop, which has been reported to exert
      anticancer effects. The present study investigated the antiproliferative effects
      of GA on the HepG2 and SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines
      using MTT and colony formation assays. In particular, the underlying mechanism of
      GA-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells was studied in vitro by flow cytometry
      and western blotting. The results of the present study indicated that GA was
      capable of inhibiting the proliferation of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells in a time-
      and dose-dependent manner, as well as inducing the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells.
      GA induced caspase-3, caspase-9 and reactive oxygen species activity, elevated
      the expression of apoptosis regulator Bcl-2-like protein 4 and reduced the
      mitochondrial membrane potential in SMMC-7721 cells. When compared with HL-7702
      normal human hepatocytes, GA demonstrated selective toxicity for HCC cells. In
      conclusion, GA is able to induce apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells in vitro via
      mitochondrial-mediated pathways, and may possess the potential to be a novel
      therapeutic compound for use in the treatment of HCC.

PMID- 26870183
TI  - Downregulation of survivin expression exerts antitumoral effects on mouse breast
      cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Metastasis constantly occurs in the majority of cases of primary breast cancer at
      late stage or following surgical treatment. Survivin, a member of the inhibitor
      of apoptosis protein family, has long been recognized as a promising anticancer
      target, but its antitumor effects remain largely unexplored. In order to
      elucidate the role of survivin in breast cancer metastasis, short interfering RNA
      (siRNA) was used in the present study to specifically downregulate survivin
      expression in the murine breast cancer cell line 4T1. The results demonstrated
      that blocking the expression of survivin by siRNA inhibited the proliferation,
      migration and invasion abilities of murine breast cancer cells in vitro. Vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C is a lymphatic endothelial cell-stimulating
      factor that may lead to the formation of lymphatic vessels in lymph nodes. In the
      present study, the inhibition of survivin by siRNA was able to reduce the
      overexpression of VEGF-C in 4T1 cells. Furthermore, intratumoral injections of
      the survivin-siRNA significantly inhibited the growth of orthotopically
      transplanted 4T1 tumors in vivo. In addition, the number of pulmonary metastases
      and the microlymphatic vessel density were significantly reduced in vivo,
      following transfection with survivin-siRNA. The results of the present study
      suggested that the Akt/hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha signaling pathway
      participates in the survivin-mediated downregulation of VEGF-C expression
      observed in breast cancer cells treated with survivin-siRNA. Therefore, the use
      of siRNA specifically targeting survivin may be a potential anticancer method in
      the future.

PMID- 26870184
TI  - Knockdown of protein phosphatase 5 inhibits ovarian cancer growth in vitro.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynecological cancer-related
      mortality. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5, PPP5C) has been
      recognized to be involved in the regulation of multiple cellular signaling
      cascades that control diverse cellular processes, including cell growth,
      differentiation, proliferation, motility and apoptosis. In this study, to
      evaluate the functional role of PP5 in ovarian cancer cells, lentivirus-mediated
      RNA interference (RNAi) was applied to silence PPP5C in the human ovarian cancer
      cell line CAOV-3. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell colony forming ability was measured by
      colony formation. Cell cycle progression was determined by propidium iodide
      staining and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that lentivirus-mediated
      RNAi specifically suppressed the expression of PPP5C at the mRNA and protein
      levels in CAOV-3 cells. Further investigations revealed that PP5 knockdown
      significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of CAOV-3 cells.
      Moreover, the cell cycle of CAOV-3 cells was arrested at the G0/G1 phase
      following PP5 knockdown. This study highlights the crucial role of PP5 in
      promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation, and provides a foundation for
      further study into the clinical potential of lentiviral-mediated delivery of PP5
      RNAi therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

PMID- 26870185
TI  - Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and gene copy number analysis in
      gastric carcinoma samples from Chinese patients.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and gene copy number have been
      observed to be associated with a positive clinical response to EGFR inhibitors.
      The present study aimed to evaluate EGFR expression and gene copy number in
      samples of gastric carcinoma (GC) from Chinese patients. EGFR expression and gene
      copy number were detected using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ
      hybridization, in tissue array slides containing 150 individual samples of GC
      tissue. The association between EGFR status, clinicopathological features and
      overall patient survival was analyzed. Out of the 150 cases of GC evaluated, 63
      (42.00%) demonstrated weak EGFR expression and 20 (13.33%) demonstrated EGFR
      overexpression. EGFR expression was observed to be associated with tumor location
      (P<0.05). Out of 104 cases of GC, which produced a clear FISH signal, 6 (5.77%)
      exhibited EGFR gene amplification and 5 (4.80%) exhibited balanced polysomy.
      Patients exhibiting GC, who demonstrated weak EGFR expression, EGFR
      overexpression or increased EGFR gene copy number, possessed an unfavorable
      prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that EGFR expression,
      tumor/node/metastasis stage and tumor location were potential independent
      unfavorable prognostic factors for GC patients. In conclusion, EGFR
      overexpression, gene amplification and polysomy were observed in GC patients and
      were associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Evaluation of EGFR status may
      therefore facilitate the identification of a subset of GC patients sensitive to
      treatment with EGFR-targeted therapies.

PMID- 26870186
TI  - Anti-tumor activity of the TRPM8 inhibitor BCTC in prostate cancer DU145 cells.
AB  - The present study investigated the anti-tumor activity of N-(4
      tertiarybutylphenyl)-4-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)tetrahydropyrazine-1(2H)-carbox
      amide (BCTC), a potent and specific inhibitor of transient receptor potential
      cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) in prostate cancer (PCa) DU145 cells.
      TRPM8 expression in DU145 and normal prostate PNT1A cells was detected by reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The effect of
      BCTC on DU145 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis, and MTT, scratch
      motility and Transwell invasion assays. The molecular mechanism through which
      BCTC acts was investigated by western blot analysis. TRPM8 expression was
      increased in DU145 cells compared with PNT1A cells at the mRNA and protein
      levels. The present study provided evidence that inhibition of TRPM8 by BCTC
      reduced the viability of DU145 cells, but not PNT1A cells. In addition, BCTC
      inhibited cell cycle progression, migration and invasion in DU145 cells. Cell
      cycle-associated proteins, including phosphorylated protein kinase B, cyclin D1,
      cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 2 and CDK6 were downregulated by BCTC, while
      phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3beta was upregulated. However,
      investigations in the present study revealed that BCTC failed to trigger
      apoptosis in DU145 cells. In addition, in BCTC-treated DU145 cells,
      phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 was downregulated
      substantially while phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) and phosphorylated c-Jun N
      terminal kinases (p-JNK) were upregulated. The anti-proliferative activity of
      BCTC on DU145 cells was attenuated by p38 and JNK-specific inhibitors, suggesting
      that MAPK pathways are involved. Overall, the TRPM8 specific antagonist BCTC
      demonstrated excellent anti-tumor activity in PCa DU145 cells, and therefore has
      the potential to become a targeted therapeutic strategy against PCa.

PMID- 26870187
TI  - Large cell neuroendocrine cervical tumor treated by radical surgery and adjuvant
      chemotherapy: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the uterine cervix are rare, but extremely
      aggressive, gynecological malignancies that are associated with an overall poor
      prognosis. The present study reports the case of a 41-year-old patient diagnosed
      with large cell neuroendocrine cervical tumor. A radical total hysterectomy with
      bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic and lymph node dissection was performed. The post
      operative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on post-operative
      day 8.

PMID- 26870188
TI  - Association between the rs11614913 variant of miRNA-196a-2 and the risk of
      epithelial ovarian cancer.
AB  - Polymorphisms in microRNA (miR) genes and their target sites are a distinct
      classification of variation in the human genome, which are rapidly being
      identified and investigated in human cancer. A polymorphism in the miR-196a-2
      locus has demonstrated significant associations with various types of cancer,
      including lung, breast, esophageal and gastric tumors. However, miR-196a-2 has
      not been fully explored in ovarian cancer, which shares similar biological
      characteristics with other types of cancer. Therefore, the present study aimed to
      elucidate the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the
      mature sequence of miR-196a-2 (rs11614913, T/C) and the clinical features of 479
      Chinese patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In addition, the
      biological significance of this polymorphism was investigated in the OVCAR3
      ovarian cancer cell line. Risk association was evaluated in 479 cases of EOC
      patients and 431 controls. SNPs were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction
      based restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. miR-196a expression was
      evaluated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The influence of
      miR-196a-2 rs11614913 T/C on EOC cell migration and invasion ability was further
      investigated in vitro. The results revealed significant differences in the
      homozygous CC genotype distribution in patients with EOC (n=479), compared with
      that of the control subjects (n=431; P=0.026). Analysis of the association
      between genotype and the risk of EOC revealed that individuals who carried the
      homozygous CC genotype were 1.34-fold more susceptible to EOC, compared with
      those carrying the wild-type TT and heterozygous CT genotypes [odds ratio, 1.34;
      95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.17; P=0.023]. In addition, the role of this
      polymorphism in the production of mature miR-196a was investigated. Significantly
      enhanced production of mature miR-196a was revealed in the C-allelic compared
      with that of the T-allelic miR-196a-2 precursor (P<0.05). Further examination
      indicated that miR-196a significantly promoted cell migration and invasion
      ability in the human OVCAR3 ovarian cell line (P<0.05). In conclusion, the
      results indicated that the miR-196a-2 rs11614913 CC genotype may increase the
      risks of ovarian cancer by affecting the expression of mature miR-196a and
      enhancing cell migration/invasion. The current results provided evidence that the
      T>C polymorphism in the miR-196a-2 precursor may influence tumorigenesis and
      metastasis in EOC, and suggested that the functional SNP rs11614913 in the
      promoter region of pri-miR-196a-2 may be a potential indicator of EOC
      susceptibility in the population analyzed.

PMID- 26870189
TI  - Loss of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in oral squamous cell
      carcinoma is associated with invasiveness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
AB  - Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling has emerged as a
      novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma
      (OSCC). The EGFR-directed inhibitor cetuximab is currently the only approved
      targeted therapy for the treatment of OSCC. EGFR status may affect the patient
      response to cetuximab treatment. In the present study, via analysis of the
      immunomarker for EGFR, it was revealed that 58.3% of the total cases investigated
      stained positively for EGFR expression, and furthermore, that invasiveness was
      inversely correlated with EGFR expression. Expression levels of EGFR were
      quantified, and the correlation between EGFR expression and cetuximab sensitivity
      was investigated using three varying grades of invasive human OSCC line. EGFR
      expression in high-grade invasive cells was significantly downregulated compared
      with that of low-grade invasive cells. There was no significant antiproliferative
      effect in the high-grade invasive cells treated with various concentrations of
      cetuximab. The EMT-associated genes, N-cadherin, vimentin and Snail, were
      upregulated in the high-grade invasive cells. The low-grade invasive cells
      exhibited characteristics of typical epithelial cells, including the expression
      of E-cadherin and absence of the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and Snail.
      Transforming growth factor-beta induced low-grade invasive cells to undergo an
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated gene switch, which resulted in
      low levels of EGFR expression. The results of the present study suggested that
      loss of EGFR expression in OSCC was associated with EMT, and may have functional
      implications with regard to tumor invasiveness and the resistance to cetuximab
      treatment.

PMID- 26870190
TI  - Evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for hepatocellular carcinoma
      prior to and following stereotactic body radiation therapy using the
      CyberKnife(r) system: A preliminary report.
AB  - The CyberKnife(r) is expected to be a novel local treatment for hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC), however, a long-term follow-up using dynamic computed tomography
      and magnetic resonance imaging is required to determine the effect of treatment
      in a number of the affected patients. Therefore, there is a requirement to
      evaluate procedures for early determination of the effect of CyberKnife
      treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in the hemodynamics of
      the tumors and the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor prior to and
      following CyberKnife treatment for HCC. A total of 4 HCC patients were enrolled
      in this study. These patients underwent CyberKnife treatment and were evaluated
      by image analysis prior to and following treatment using contrast-enhanced
      ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid. CEUS was performed prior to treatment, at 2
      and 4 weeks post-treatment, and every 4 weeks thereafter for as long as possible.
      The dynamics of the enhancement of the tumor and the hepatic parenchyma
      surrounding the tumor in the vascular phase, and the presence or absence of a
      hypoechoic area in the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor in the post
      vascular phase were assessed. Results showed that: i) In the patient with earlier
      changes, hemodynamic changes were evident in the tumor at 4 weeks and in the
      hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor at 2 weeks post-treatment, respectively;
      ii) the tumor showed hypoenhancement in all patients; and iii) with regard to
      findings in the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor, strong hyperenhancement
      appeared in the vascular phase initially, followed by a hypoechoic area in the
      post-vascular phase. Evaluation of the hemodynamics of tumors and hepatic
      parenchyma surrounding the tumor using CEUS with Sonazoid may be therapeutically
      applicable, as it is less invasive than dynamic computed tomography (CT) and
      provides an early evaluation of the effectiveness of CyberKnife treatment.

PMID- 26870191
TI  - Anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein expression predicts micrometastases and
      prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) status in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate whether abnormalities in
      expression were associated with patient prognosis. ALK status was investigated
      using immunohistochemistry (IHC), reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays in
      342 HCC patients. In addition, rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends
      coupled PCR sequencing was performed, in order to confirm the presence of ALK
      abnormalities in patients exhibiting ALK messenger RNA (mRNA) overexpression. The
      correlation between ALK expression and the clinicopathological features and
      prognosis of the HCC patients was statistically analyzed. The results of the
      present study revealed overexpression of ALK protein and mRNA; furthermore, ALK
      gene copy number gains were observed via IHC (44.7%; 153/342), RT-qPCR (47.4%;
      162/342) and FISH (32.7%; 112/342) analyses, although ALK rearrangement or
      mutation was not demonstrated in the results of any of these assays. ALK protein
      expression levels were significantly associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV)
      status (P<0.001) and the presence of micrometastases (P=0.011). Within the entire
      patient cohort, ALK expression was associated with poor progression-free survival
      (PFS; P=0.041). Subsequent analysis in patient subgroups that demonstrated
      hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, HCV negativity, stage III-IV disease,
      recurrence and micrometastasis positivity revealed that overall survival (OS) and
      PFS were significantly reduced in those patients exhibiting ALK expression
      compared with those patients who were negative for ALK expression. Multivariate
      analysis revealed that ALK expression was an independent risk factor for OS
      (P=0.042) and PFS (P=0.033), particularly for patients with stage III-IV tumors.
      Thus, ALK may serve as a novel indicator for the metastatic behavior and
      prognosis of HCC.

PMID- 26870193
TI  - Early tumor cavitation with regorafenib in metastatic colorectal cancer: A case
      report.
AB  - Tumoral cavity formation is a characteristic phenomenon reported in anti
      angiogenic therapy in lung lesions. A 57-year-old male with multiple pulmonary
      metastases from colorectal cancer treated with an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor,
      regorafenib, exhibited a characteristic cavity formation after the first two
      cycles. The decrease in the size of tumors was calculated as 38%, and there were
      associated decreases in the serum concentrations of the tumor markers
      carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9. After eight cycles of treatment, the cavity
      gradually disappeared through filling-in. This unique morphological response is
      not only reported in lung cancer but also in liver metastasis in colorectal
      cancer. However, the association between morphological changes including cavity
      formation and clinical benefit remains controversial. Pulmonary hemorrhage and
      pneumothorax are well-known consequences of cavitation, as reported with the
      other anti-angiogenic inhibitors. Early tumor cavitation in lung metastasis may
      demonstrate the predictive potential of regorafenib in colorectal cancer,
      although it is necessary to be mindful of toxicity.

PMID- 26870192
TI  - Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of metastasis-associated protein
      1 expression and its correlation with angiogenesis in lung invasive
      adenocarcinomas, based on the 2011 IASLC/ATS/ERS classification.
AB  - Based on previous findings regarding the angiogenic activities and prognostic
      roles of metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) in early-stage non-small cell
      lung cancer, the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of MTA1 protein
      expression, and its correlation with angiogenesis in lung invasive
      adenocarcinoma, were further assessed in the present study, according to the 2011
      International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic
      Society/European Respiratory Society classification. High protein expression
      levels of MTA1 were commonly observed in patients with lung invasive
      adenocarcinoma, and were significantly correlated with tumor size (P=0.030),
      lymph node metastasis (P=0.021) and microvessel density (P=0.015). Survival
      analysis demonstrated that patients with high protein expression levels of MTA1
      exhibited significantly shorter five-year disease-free and overall survival than
      those patients whose protein expression levels of MTA1 were low (24.5% vs. 48.7%,
      P=0.001, and 34.7% vs. 59.2%, P=0.005, respectively). In addition, Cox regression
      multivariate analysis demonstrated that high protein expression levels of MTA1
      significantly correlated with unfavorable five-year disease-free survival
      (P=0.024). These findings indicate that MTA1 protein expression may possess
      clinical potential as an indicator of progressive phenotype. Therefore, MTA1 is a
      promising prognostic predictor to identify subgroups of patients with high risk
      of relapse, and a potentially novel therapeutic target for antiangiogenesis in
      patients with lung invasive adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26870194
TI  - Expression and clinical significance of Oct-4 and E-cad in non-small-cell lung
      cancer.
AB  - Non-small-lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant tumor and is a leading cause
      of cancer mortality. Tumor stem cells are associated with tumor pathogenesis and
      development as well as invastion and metastasis. In the present study, the
      expression and correlation of tumor stem cell markers, octamer-binding
      transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) and E-cadherin (E-cad) in NSCLC and normal lung
      tissue were investigated. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms of invasion and
      metastasis of NSCLC were assessed. The expression of Oct-4 and E-cad was examined
      in 65 pathologically diagnosed cases of NSCLC using immunohistochemistry. The
      correlation between Oct-4 and E-cad, as well as the association with pathological
      grade and clinical staging were also analyzed. Fifteen cases of normal lung
      tissues served as the control. The positive expression of Oct-4 and abnormal
      expression of E-cad was higher in the NSCLC tissue compared to the normal lung
      tissue, and increased as NSCLC malignancy increased. The differences in each
      grade each stage were statistically significant (P<0.05). A correlation was
      identified between the abnormal expression of Oct-4 and E-cad (P<0.05,
      coefficient of contingency C=0.439). In conclusion, the expression of Oct-4
      promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer.

PMID- 26870195
TI  - Magnifying chromoendoscopic and endocytoscopic findings of juvenile polyps in the
      colon and rectum.
AB  - A precise endoscopic diagnosis is necessary for endoscopic therapy for neoplastic
      and non-neoplastic lesions, including juvenile polyps (JPs). Therefore, the
      present study aimed to clarify the characteristic endoscopic findings of JPs. A
      total of 154 JPs were evaluated by magnifying chromoendoscopy, 20 of which were
      also assessed by endocytoscopy using an ultra-high magnification endoscope.
      Endoscopic images were evaluated in terms of gross appearance, color, pit
      pattern, surface inflammatory changes and vascularity of polyps. Endocytoscopic
      images were evaluated with regard to the morphology of glandular cavities, nuclei
      of glandular cells and interstitial features. Reddish surfaces (98.1%), surface
      erosion (92.2%), open pits (90.3%) and low pit density (90.3%) were observed in
      the majority of JPs by chromoendoscopy. In addition, dilated ductal openings
      surrounded by normal glandular cells (100%), greater distances between gland
      basal layers (100%) and interstitial infiltration by inflammatory cells (100%)
      were observed in all JPs examined by endocytoscopy. These findings indicate that
      there is a tetralogy of magnifying chromoendoscopic findings characteristic of
      JPs: Reddish surfaces, surface erosion, open pits and low pit density. There is
      also a triad of endocytoscopic findings characteristic of JPs, namely dilated
      ductal openings surrounded by normal glandular cells, greater distances between
      gland basal layers, and interstitial infiltration by inflammatory cells. The
      aforementioned magnifying chromoendoscopic and endocytoscopic characteristics of
      JPs may be useful factors for diagnosing JPs.

PMID- 26870196
TI  - Disappearance of giant cells and presence of newly formed bone in the pulmonary
      metastasis of a sacral giant-cell tumor following denosumab treatment: A case
      report.
AB  - A giant-cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) is a benign but locally aggressive bone
      tumor. Recently, the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB (RANK) ligand
      inhibitor, denosumab, has demonstrated activity against giant-cell tumors. The
      current study reports a case of a sacral GCTB with lung metastasis. A 19-year-old
      male patient presented with right buttock pain and right lower leg pain, and a
      sacral GCTB was diagnosed based on the histological analysis of a biopsy
      specimen. The patient was successfully treated with neoadjuvant denosumab
      therapy, which allowed curettage. In addition, the pulmonary nodule reduced in
      size following denosumab administration, and surgical resection was performed.
      Since the operation, the patient has been managed with the continued use of
      denosumab with no sign of recurrence. Microscopic findings from the surgical
      specimen following denosumab treatment revealed that the giant cells had
      disappeared and woven bone had formed. The specimen from the pulmonary nodule
      exhibited similar findings to the surgical specimen. It was reported that
      denosumab treatment was able to reduce the number of giant cells and RANK
      positive stromal cells, and cause the formation of new bone in the primary
      lesion. The present study reports the first case to demonstrate the efficiency of
      denosumab in treating pulmonary metastasis of GCTB.

PMID- 26870197
TI  - Treatment of bone defect with calcium phosphate cement subsequent to tumor
      curettage in pediatric patients.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the mid- to long-term clinical
      performance of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) in the treatment of benign bone
      tumors in pediatric patients with a follow-up of at least 2-years. The cases of
      33 patients with benign bone tumors treated by curettage and subsequent
      implantation of CPC were retrospectively reviewed. The patients consisted of 13
      males and 20 females, with a median age of 13 years and median follow-up time of
      79 months. All patients were alive at the time of review. No toxicity was
      detected in routine blood tests. Radiography was used to confirm that CPC was
      well adapted to the surrounding host bone, although the resorbability of CPC was
      not obtained for all patients at the final follow-up. Local tumor recurrence
      occurred in 4 patients. None of the patients reported post-operative fractures.
      In total, 6 patients required a second surgical procedure, as follows: 4 patients
      in whom local tumor recurrence occurred; 1 patient with post-operative
      superficial wound infection, who underwent wound debridement; and 1 patient that
      required the removal of CPC due to deep infection at the proximal humerus. All
      patients had regained full physical function without any pain at the final follow
      up. The present study recommends that the properties of CPC should be taken into
      consideration and applied to the reconstruction of bone defects subsequent to
      curettage of bone tumors.

PMID- 26870198
TI  - Askin's tumor: 11 cases and a review of the literature.
AB  - Askin's tumor is a peripheral primitive neruoectodermal tumor within the
      thoracopulmonary region, which primarily occurs in children and young adults. In
      addition, Askin's tumor is commonly misdiagnosed, as it is rare and easily
      mistaken for other small round-cell tumors. The present study aimed to
      investigate the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment
      outcomes of patients diagnosed with Askin's tumor. Computed tomography (CT)
      scans, histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis were used for diagnosis.
      Patients were treated with combined (surgery-chemotherapy-radiotherapy) or mono
      therapy (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) methods. A total of 11 consecutive
      patients with Askin's tumor (aged 8-22 years) were treated at the First
      Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between April 2010 and June 2013;
      nine patients underwent combined therapy and two patients were treated using mono
      therapy. Chest lumps, swelling and pain were the most common presenting symptoms.
      Patients were followed up for <=24 months post surgery and the results revealed
      that the median survival time of the combined and mono-therapy treatment groups
      were 15 and 7 months, respectively. Primary tumor size, metastasis, lactate
      dehydrogenase indicators and tumor stages were found to be important prognostic
      factors affecting patient outcome. In conclusion, the results of the present
      study demonstrated that the combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
      resulted in the optimal outcome for Askin's tumor patients.

PMID- 26870199
TI  - Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ureter: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the ureter is a rare entity, with few
      cases reported in the literature. These tumors are usually locally aggressive and
      are associated with a poor prognosis due to the thin walls of the ureter. This is
      the case report of a 69-year-old male patient who presented with left flank pain
      and gross hematuria. Following diagnosis of ureteral carcinoma,
      nephroureterectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient refused
      chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and succumbed to extensive metastases after 12
      months of follow-up. The aim of the present study was to provide a literature
      review of NEC and its clinical and pathological characteristics, diagnostic
      methods and latest modifications in therapy.

PMID- 26870200
TI  - Clinical and computed tomography imaging features of renal medullary carcinoma: A
      report of six cases.
AB  - Patients with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) have a poor prognosis, usually due
      to late diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) analysis may aid the differentiation
      between RMC and other types of renal cell carcinoma, in order to establish an
      accurate early diagnosis. There is a limited number of reports in the literature
      focusing on clinical and multi-slice CT (MSCT) imaging findings of RMC.
      Consequently, the present study aimed to characterize the clinical and MSCT
      imaging features of RMC. For this purpose, the MSCT imaging findings of 6
      patients with RMC were retrospectively studied. The patients were subjected to
      MSCT in order to investigate the characteristics of the tumors, including
      location, size, density, calcification, cystic or solid appearance, capsule sign,
      enhancement pattern and presence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. The
      tumors in the current study presented a mean diameter of 7.48+/-3.25 cm, and were
      observed to be solitary and heterogeneous with necrotic components. The majority
      of the tumors did not contain calcifications (5/6); displayed an ill-defined
      margin (4/6); were centered in the medulla; extended into the renal pelvis or
      peripelvic tissues (6/6); and did not exhibit a fibrous capsule. Localized
      caliectasis was observed in 3 of the 6 cases. The attenuation of the solid region
      of the RMC on unenhanced CT was equal to that of the renal cortex or medulla
      (42.3+/-2.7 vs. 40.7+/-3.6 and 41.2+/-3.9 Hounsfield units, respectively; P>0.05)
      while, on enhanced CT, the enhancement of the tumor was lower than that of the
      normal renal cortex and medulla during all phases (cortical phase, 52.6+/-4.8 vs.
      l99.5+/-9.7 and 72.7+/-6.4; medullary phase, 58.6+/-5.7 vs. 184.6+/-10.8 and
      93.5+/-7.8; delayed phase, 56.8+/-6.1 vs. 175.7+/-8.5 and 96.5+/-7.9,
      respectively; P<0.05). In conclusion, RMC tends to be an infiltrative, ill
      defined heterogeneous mass with intratumoral necrosis, which arises from the
      renal medulla, and displays lower enhancement than the renal cortex and medulla
      during all phases on enhanced CT. Despite its rarity in adults, RMC should be
      included in a differential diagnosis when CT imaging reveals these features.

PMID- 26870202
TI  - Double primary hepatic cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic
      cholangiocarcinoma) in a single patient: A case report.
AB  - Double primary hepatic cancer, consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and
      intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) located separately within a single liver
      simultaneously, is extremely rare. The present study reports a case of double
      hepatic nodules, in which HCC and ICC occurred simultaneously in the right
      hepatic lobe. The 47-year-old male patient, who was a carrier of hepatitis B
      virus, was admitted to our hospital for physical examination, which revealed two
      liver masses. The results of initial laboratory tests, including liver function
      tests, were within normal limits, with the exception of mildly elevated aspartate
      aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and decreased albumin levels.
      alpha-fetoprotein was in the normal range, while carbohydrate antigen 19-9 was
      marginally elevated. Abdominal ultrasonography and enhanced computed tomography
      revealed two tumors located in segments (S) VI and VII of the liver,
      respectively, with malignant behavior. Examination of the two masses following
      resection of S VI and VII confirmed a diagnosis of combined HCC and ICC. After 8
      months of follow-up, no signs of recurrence have been observed with chemical
      therapy.

PMID- 26870201
TI  - Differential effect of psoralidin in enhancing apoptosis of colon cancer cells
      via nuclear factor-kappaB and B-cell lymphoma-2/B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X
      protein signaling pathways.
AB  - Worldwide, colon cancer is the third most common cancer in terms of incidence,
      following lung and breast cancer. Resistance to psoralidin frequently occurs
      following its use as an anticancer treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying
      the effects of psoralidin on colon cancer, remain to be elucidated. Hence, the
      present study investigated the anticancer effects and potential mechanism of
      action of psoralidin on SW480 human colon cancer cells. In the present study, an
      MTT assay was performed to measure the viability of SW480 cells. Additionally, an
      Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide apoptosis detection kit,
      DAPI staining assay and caspase-3 colorimetric assay kits were used to analyze
      the cellular apoptosis of SW480 cells. The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65
      activity and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) protein
      expression of SW480 cells was detected using NF-kappaB colorimetric assay kits
      and western blot analysis, respectively. Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 was added to
      SW480 cells and the subsequent effects and mechanism of action of psoralidin on
      SW480 colon cancer cells was studied. In the present study, psoralidin reduced
      SW480 cell viability and enhanced the cellular apoptosis of SW480 cells in a dose
      dependent manner. Caspase-3 activity of SW480 cells was increased following
      treatment with psoralidin. Additionally, psoralidin was able to reduce the NF
      kappaB p65 activity of SW480 cells. Furthermore, psoralidin was able to reduce
      Bcl-2 protein expression and increase Bax protein expression in SW480 cells.
      Notably, Bcl-2 inhibitor was observed to enhance the effects of psoralidin on
      SW480 cells. The results of the present study suggest that psoralidin may be a
      candidate drug for the treatment of colon cancer by inhibition of the NF-kappaB
      and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways.

PMID- 26870203
TI  - GADD45A expression is correlated with patient prognosis in esophageal cancer.
AB  - The prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer remains poor, and the tumor-node
      metastasis classification system is not sufficient for predicting patient
      prognoses. Therefore, the identification of novel predictive markers for
      esophageal cancer is required. The present study investigated the
      clinicopathological significance of growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible
      45alpha (GADD45A) and p53 in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
      (ESCC). The study consisted of 62 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent
      surgery between 2001 and 2007. The expression of the GADD45A gene product
      (GADD45A) and the p53 protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The
      correlations among GADD45A expression, clinicopathological factors and prognosis
      were then analyzed in the patients with ESCC. GADD45A and p53 were expressed in
      56.5% (35/62) and 48.4% (30/62) of patients, respectively. The expression of
      GADD45A did not show a marked correlation with that of p53. However, GADD45A
      expression correlated with pathological stage (stage 0-I vs. stages II-IV;
      P=0.014) and did not correlate with the tumor (T) or node (N) status.
      Furthermore, patients who were positive for GADD45A exhibited a significantly
      higher survival rate than those who were negative for GADD45A (log-rank test,
      P=0.009). Multivariate analysis indicated that T status, N status and GADD45A
      expression were significant variables predicting survival (hazard ratio, 2.486;
      95% confidence interval, 1.168-5.290; P=0.018). Overall, GADD45A expression
      significantly affected the survival of patients with ESCC, and the reduced
      expression of GADD45A was correlated with a poor prognosis following curative
      surgery in these patients.

PMID- 26870204
TI  - Giant recurrent dumbbell-shaped hypoglossal schwannoma in an elderly male: A case
      report.
AB  - Dumbbell-shaped hypoglossal Schwannomas of the 12th cranial nerve are extremely
      rare, and complete removal of these tumors is difficult, particularly in elderly
      patients with recurrent tumors. The present study reports the case of a 61-year
      old male with a giant recurrent dumbbell-shaped hypoglossal schwannoma that arose
      extracranially. The recurrent tumor was completely removed in a one-stage
      surgical procedure via the far lateral suboccipital approach in combination with
      the transcervical approach. To the best of our knowledge, such a lesion has not
      been reported previously. The life expectancy and natural course of the disease
      are important factors to take into account when considering the individual end
      point of surgery in patients. More studies on hypoglossal schwannomas are
      required, particularly cases in which the hypoglossal schwannoma was not totally
      resected, not only in order to develop more definitive and secure surgical
      treatments, but also to reduce the resultant unnecessary suffering of patients.

PMID- 26870205
TI  - Recombinant adenovirus expressing hIFN-lambda1 inhibits gastric adenocarcinoma
      cell line SGC-7901 proliferation.
AB  - The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of a recombinant
      plasmid adenovirus (pAd) expressing human interferon-lambda1 (hIFN-lambda1) on
      the proliferation of the gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901. For this
      purpose, human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells were infected with
      recombinant pAd-hIFN-lambda1, pAd-LacZ and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS),
      respectively, and the subsequent effects on the proliferation of the infected
      cells were compared. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, while mRNA
      and protein expression of hIFN-lambda1 were detected by reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. In
      addition, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick
      end labeling assay and flow cytometry were conducted to analyze the rate of cell
      apoptosis. The results indicated that the proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma
      SGC-7901 cells was significantly inhibited by pAd-hIFN-lambda1. Furthermore, the
      apoptosis rate and the mRNA and protein expression levels of hIFN-lambda1 were
      higher in pAd-hIFN-lambda1-transfected cells, compared with the pAd-LacZ and PBS
      control groups. In conclusion, recombinant pAd-hIFN-lambda1 induced the
      expression of hIFN-lambda1 in gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells, and
      significantly inhibited cell proliferation by promoting apoptosis in these cancer
      cells.

PMID- 26870206
TI  - Expression of high mobility group box 1 protein predicts a poorer prognosis for
      patients with osteosarcoma.
AB  - The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein functions as an extracellular
      signaling molecule that is critical in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The HMGB1
      protein is actively secreted by natural killer cells, monocytes and macrophages,
      and acts as an inflammatory cytokine. The present study enrolled 174 patients
      that underwent a tumorectomy between 2006 and 2013 in Shandong Provincial
      Hospital. The age of the patients ranged between 13 and 74 years, with a median
      age of 27 years. The tumors of the patients were staged according to the Union
      for International Cancer Control 2009 tumor-node-metastasis tumor staging system.
      Nuclear grading was based on the Fuhrman grading system. In the osteosarcoma
      tissue samples, HMGB1 expression was detected in 84 samples (48.3%) with a low
      immunoreactivity and in 90 samples (51.7%) with a high immunoreactivity. The
      association between clinicopathological characteristics and tumor cell HMGB1
      expression (low vs. high) was summarized. The association between HMGB1
      expression and tumor size, tumor stage and nuclear grade was statistically
      significant (P=0.034, 0.008 and 0.019, respectively). There was no significant
      association between HMGB1 expression and the age of the patients (P=0.335; Table
      I). The current study demonstrated that patients with a high HMGB1 expression
      (>50% cells expressing HMGB1) had poorer survival rates, and therefore a poorer
      prognosis, compared with patients with low HMGB1 immunostaining (10-50% cells
      expressing HMGB1). The results of the present study suggest that higher
      expression levels of HMGB1 are significantly associated with a poorer prognosis
      and may act as a marker for prognosis in osteosarcoma, particularly osteosarcoma
      recurrence. Additional studies investigating the biological features of HMGB1 may
      confirm the potential role of HMGB1 as a novel target for anticancer therapy in
      osteosarcoma.

PMID- 26870207
TI  - Analysis of ERCC1, BRCA1, RRM1 and TUBB3 as predictors of prognosis in patients
      with non-small cell lung cancer who received cisplatin-based adjuvant
      chemotherapy: A prospective study.
AB  - Although adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy has been demonstrated to improve
      survival in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),
      individualized approaches to therapy are urgently required to improve the
      treatment efficacy and reduce unnecessary toxicity. It was hypothesized in the
      present study that the protein levels of excision repair cross-complementation
      group 1 (ERCC1), breast cancer 1 (BRCA1), ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) and
      class III beta-tubulin (TUBB3) may influence the therapeutic effect of adjuvant
      cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The expression of ERCC1, BRCA1, RRM1 and TUBB3 in
      tissues obtained from 84 patients with NSCLC was analyzed in the present non
      interventional study by immunohistochemistry prior to adjuvant chemotherapy. All
      patients received adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint in
      the present study was disease free survival (DFS). Out of the 84 tumors, the
      expression of ERCC1, BRCA1, RRM1 and TUBB3 was identified in 46 (55%), 11 (13%),
      73 (87%) and 76 (90%) tissues, respectively. A beneficial response to adjuvant
      cisplatin-based chemotherapy in DFS was associated with the absence of the
      expression of ERCC1 [hazard ratio (HR), 2.166; 95% confidence interval (CI),
      1.049-4.474; P=0.037] and BRCA1 (HR, 2.419; 95% CI, 1.127-5.193; P=0.023), but
      not with the expression status of RRM1 (HR, 0.568; 95% CI, 0.234-1.379; P=0.212)
      or TUBB3 (HR, 1.874; 95% CI, 0.448-7.842; P=0.39). In addition, patients lacking
      the expression of ERCC1 and BRCA1 benefited more from adjuvant cisplatin-based
      chemotherapy compared with patients that expressed either ERCC1 or BRCA1 (HR,
      3.102; 95% CI, 1.343-7.163; P=0.008). The expression of ERCC1 and BRCA1 was
      significantly associated with the DFS time in patients with NSCLC treated with
      adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy, respectively. The combination of the ERCC1
      and BRCA1 expression levels may be a promising prognostic prediction for adjuvant
      cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

PMID- 26870208
TI  - Slug overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in thymoma patients.
AB  - Slug, a member of the Snail family of transcriptional factors, is a newly
      identified suppressive transcriptional factor of E-cadherin. The present study
      investigated the expression pattern of Slug in thymomas to evaluate its clinical
      significance. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression pattern
      of the Slug protein in archived tissue sections from 100 thymoma and 60
      histologically normal thymus tissue samples. The associations between Slug
      expression and clinicopathological factors, such as prognosis, were analyzed.
      Positive expression of Slug was detected in a greater proportion of thymoma
      samples [51/100 (51%) patients, P<0.001] compared with normal thymus tissues
      [9/60 (15%) cases]. Of the 100 patients with thymoma, 42 (42%) displayed high
      levels of Slug expression (high-level group) and 58 (58%) displayed low levels of
      Slug expression (low-level group). The 10-year survival rate was improved for
      patients in the low-level group when compared with those in the high-level group
      (P=0.002). A multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression
      model demonstrated that Slug overexpression was not an independent prognostic
      factor. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that Slug overexpression
      was associated with poor prognosis in patients with thymoma. Therefore, Slug may
      be a potential diagnostic biomarker and a predictor of poor prognosis in thymoma
      patients.

PMID- 26870209
TI  - Periosteal osteosarcoma and Marfan's syndrome: A case report and literature
      review.
AB  - Periosteal osteosarcoma (POS) is a rare primary malignant bone tumor arising from
      the surface of long bones. In addition, Marfan's syndrome (MFS) is an infrequent
      hereditary autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder with high penetrance and
      variable phenotypes, which primarily affects the ocular, skeletal and
      cardiovascular systems. The present study reported a case of POS and MFS co
      occurring in a child. A 6-year-old girl with MFS presented with pain, swelling
      and deformity in the right thigh following a fall. The patient was diagnosed with
      a right femoral shaft fracture and underwent open internal fixation surgery at a
      local hospital. At 2 weeks following surgery, the patient's parents observed
      increased swelling in the right thigh and thus, revisited the clinic. X-ray
      examination revealed extensive osteotylus around the fracture site and the
      clinician decided to remove the internal fixation. Following removal of the
      implant, aggravated swelling and superficial venous engorgement were observed.
      The patient was then admitted to Nanfang Hospital, where magnetic resonance
      imaging was performed, which identified symptoms of an abnormal periosteal
      reaction with bone erosion, indicating POS. The patient underwent a wide
      resection of the tumor and the histopathological examination confirmed the
      diagnosis of POS. No recurrence was identified at 9 months postoperatively. In
      conclusion, the present case report may result in increased awareness of the
      possibility of malignant bone tumors in a hereditary patient with osteotylus
      overgrowth following fracture surgery; in addition, the present case indicated a
      possible correlation between POS and MFS.

PMID- 26870210
TI  - 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT for detection of disease in patients with prostate
      specific antigen relapse following radical treatment of a local-stage prostate
      cancer.
AB  - The present study aimed to retrospectively review the contribution of 18F
      fluorodeoxygluose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG
      PET/CT) in the assessment of biochemical recurrence in patients with a diagnosis
      of local-stage prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) or
      received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). A total of 28 patients who
      underwent RP or received EBRT for PCa between July 2007 and April 2013, and who
      underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning for re-staging due to biochemical recurrence
      were included in the present study. The mean age of the patients was 65.07 years
      and the standard deviation was 7.51 years (range, 51-82 years). Of the 28
      patients, 23 (82.1%) underwent RP and 5 (17.9%) received definitive EBRT. Prior
      to scanning, all patients were required to fast for 6 h, and ~1 h after the
      intravenous injection of 555 MBq 18F-FDG, whole-body PET scans were performed
      from the skull base to the upper thighs. Whole-body CT scans were performed in
      the craniocaudal direction. 18F-FDG PET images were reconstructed using CT data
      for attenuation correction. Histopathology examination or clinical follow-up was
      used to confirm any suspicious recurrent or metastatic lesions. The sensitivity,
      specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of
      18F-FDG PET/CT were 61.6, 75.0, 61.6, 75.0 and 71.4%, respectively. 18F-FDG
      PET/CT can detect local and distant metastases with a high accuracy in the
      assessment of biochemical recurrence, thus detecting occult metastases and
      allowing the re-staging of PCa in the patients receiving definitive treatment. It
      is considered that 18F-FDG PET/CT may be useful in re-assessing the patients with
      PCa receiving definitive treatment.

PMID- 26870211
TI  - Molecular determinants for lymph node metastasis in clinically early-stage
      endometrial cancer.
AB  - Patients with occult lymph node metastasis in endometrioid-type endometrial
      cancer (EC) are prone to the development of recurrences and have worse outcomes
      compared with patients without lymph node metastasis. In the current study, the
      aim was to identify molecular parameters associated with lymph node metastasis in
      EC clinically early-stage disease. A univariate analysis of differentially
      expressed genes, proteins and clinicopathological parameters (including
      myometrial invasion and tumor grade) was performed, comparing EC patients with
      and without lymph node metastasis (n=262 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas).
      Significant parameters were introduced in a multivariate model and a gene
      expression pathway analysis. Lymph node metastasis was associated with expression
      of 268 unique genes (P<0.001), 19 unique proteins (P<0.05), tumor grade and
      myometrial invasion in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated 10
      genes independently associated with lymph node metastasis and 4 independently
      associated proteins. Myometrial invasion was the only independent
      clinicopathological parameter associated with lymph node status. The enrichment
      pathway analysis demonstrated that expression of epidermal growth factor
      receptor, Bcl2 antagonist of cell death and phosphatase and tensin homolog
      pathways were significantly involved in lymph node metastasis (P<=0.001). A gene
      expression signature to predict lymph node status in EC was created for future
      validation. Few studies have focused on the association between EC's molecular
      characteristics and nodal metastasis. Defining molecular risk factors for EC
      lymphatic nodal metastasis may help to individualize treatment and improve
      patient outcomes.

PMID- 26870213
TI  - Mesonephric carcinoma of the uterine corpus: A report of two cases.
AB  - Mesonephric carcinoma of the uterine corpus is an extremely rare malignancy that
      originates from the mesonephric remnant of the female reproductive tract. There
      have been no previous reports of mesonephric carcinoma accompanied by a
      sarcomatous component. The current study presents two cases of uterine corpus
      mesonephric carcinoma with sarcomatous components that occurred in postmenopausal
      women. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were positive for vimentin and
      CD10. The tumours of these patients were located in the uterine myometrium;
      therefore, treatment was similar to that for endometrial cancer. Although the
      follow-up period was short in the current cases, no metastatic disease was
      identified in the second case and thus, this may increase clinical knowledge with
      regard to the biological behavior of these rare malignancies.

PMID- 26870212
TI  - Expression of Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 in cervical cancer: Association
      with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis.
AB  - Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) encodes a secretory glycoprotein, and
      has previously been identified as upregulated in a series of cancers. However,
      the clinical significance of EBI3 in cervical cancer and the potential of EBI3 as
      a therapeutic target for this disease have not been elucidated. In the present
      study, EBI3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 90
      clinicopathologically characterized cervical cancer tissue samples. The
      association between EBI3 expression and survival of patients with cervical cancer
      was also analyzed. The expression level of EBI3 in cervical cancer tissues was
      found to be significantly increased compared with the expression levels in the
      normal squamous epithelium. In addition, EBI3 expression was significantly
      correlated with the clinical stage and size of tumors (P<0.05). Furthermore, the
      presence of EBI3 expression was associated with a poor prognosis compared with
      patients without EBI3 expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that EBI3
      expression was an independent predictor of overall survival (hazard ratio, 4.032;
      95% confidence interval, 1.538-7.436; P=0.035). To the best of our knowledge, the
      present results indicate for the first time that EBI3 expression is significantly
      associated with the progression and poor prognosis of cervical cancer. EBI3 may
      be a potential prognostic marker and a therapeutic target in cervical cancer.

PMID- 26870214
TI  - Angiotensin II type 2 receptor-interacting protein 3a suppresses proliferation,
      migration and invasion in tongue squamous cell carcinoma via the extracellular
      signal-regulated kinase-Snai2 pathway.
AB  - Our previous studies demonstrated that the downregulation of microtubule
      associated tumor suppressor 1/angiotensin II type 2 receptor-interacting protein
      (MTUS1/ATIP) is associated with poor differentiation and prognosis in tongue
      squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), and that ATIP1 exerts an antiproliferative effect
      on TSCC. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the anticancer
      effect of MTUS1/ATIP3a in TSCC. It was observed that UM1 cells (a TSCC cell line
      with high migration and invasion ability) exhibited lower expression of ATIP3a
      compared with UM2 cells (a TSCC cell line with lower migration and invasion
      ability). Restoration of ATIP3a expression in UM1 cells exerted antiproliferative
      effects and inhibited migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of ATIP3a
      promoted proliferation, migration and invasion in UM2 cells. Restoration of
      ATIP3a expression inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and the expression of Snai2 and vimentin in UM1 cells,
      whereas knockdown of ATIP3a promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and the
      expression of Snai2 and vimentin in UM2 cells. Therefore, MTUS1/ATIP3a was found
      to suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of TSCC cells via the
      ERK1/2-Snai2 pathway.

PMID- 26870215
TI  - Expression of microRNA-10a, microRNA-342-3p and their predicted target gene TIAM1
      in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in different
      types of human cancer. T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1
      (TIAM1) participates in the development of several types of human cancer.
      However, the expression of miRNAs and TIAM1 in extranodal natural killer (NK)/T
      cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL) remains poorly understood. In the present
      study, the association between the expression levels of miR-10a and miR-342-3p
      and the protein expression levels of TIAM1 was examined in ENKTCL tissues. The
      expression levels of miR-10a, miR-22, miR-340, miR-342-3p and miR-590-5p in 15
      primary ENKTCL tissues were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction, and the protein expression levels of TIAM1 in 21 primary ENKTCL tissues
      were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of miR-10a and
      miR-342-3p were lower in ENKTCL tissues than in normal NK cells, but no
      significant differences were observed in the expression levels of miR-22, miR-340
      and miR-590-5p in ENKTCL tissues, compared with normal NK cells. The low
      expression levels of miR-10a detected in the tissues of patients with ENKTCL were
      inversely correlated with the age of the patients, whereas the low expression
      levels of miR-342-3p measured in these samples were not correlated with any
      demographic or clinical features of the patients. The protein expression levels
      of TIAM1 were higher in ENKTCL tissues than in normal and reactive lymph node
      hyperplasia tissues, and positively correlated with the Ann Arbor stage and
      international prognostic index score of the tumors. Furthermore, the expression
      levels of miRNA-10a and miRNA-342-3p were inversely correlated with the protein
      expression levels of TIAM1 in ENKTCL tissues. These data suggest that TIAM1 may
      contribute to the pathogenesis of ENKTCL, and miRNA-10a and miRNA-342-3p may be
      involved in the development of ENKTCL via the TIAM1 pathway.

PMID- 26870216
TI  - A metanephric adenoma of the kidney associated with polycythemia: A case report.
AB  - Metanephric adenoma (MA) of the kidney is a rare and frequently benign tumor with
      a favorable prognosis that is often diagnosed following surgical treatment. In
      the present study, a 54-year-old female patient presented with complaints of
      intermittent right-flank pain and anterior abdominal pain occurring over 2 years
      and sporadic gross hematuria occurring over 3 months. Ultrasonography and
      computerized tomography imaging revealed a neoplasm lesion localized in the right
      kidney. Successful open approach radical nephrectomy was performed and post
      surgical histopathological examination verified the lesion as a MA of the kidney.
      Radical nephrectomy, cryoablation or radiofrequency may used to treat MA and a
      selective panel of immunostains, including WT1, EMA and AMACR, may be useful for
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26870217
TI  - Efficacy and safety of homoharringtonine plus cytarabine and aclarubicin for
      patients with myelodysplastic syndrome-RAEB.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of
      homoharringtonine, cytarabine (AraC) and aclarubicin combination therapy as
      induction treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes-refractory anemia with excess
      blasts (MDS-RAEB). A total of 24 patients with MDS-RAEB who were aged between 18
      and 66 years were treated with homoharringtonine, AraC and aclarubicin (HAA
      regimen). The HAA regimen consisted of homoharringtonine (2 mg/m2 intramuscularly
      twice daily, days 1-3), AraC (75 mg/m2 injected subcutaneously twice daily, days
      1-7) and aclarubicin (12 mg/m2, days 1-7). The overall response rate was 79% with
      a complete remission rate of 58.3% and partial remission rate of 20.7%. There was
      no evidence of early mortality in this group of patients. The median overall
      survival (OS) was 36.2 months (95% confidence interval, 24.6-47.4 months), and
      the estimated three year overall survival rate was 45.8%. In conclusion, HAA
      combination therapy is a suitable induction regimen for patients with MDS-RAEB,
      which may improve the outcome for de novo higher-risk MDS patients, particularly
      of those with favorable and intermediate cytogenetics.

PMID- 26870218
TI  - CXCL12/CXCR4 display an inverse mRNA expression profile in gastric carcinoma that
      correlates with tumor progression.
AB  - Chemokines and their receptors have been shown to contribute to tumor growth and
      metastatic spread in various gastrointestinal cancer entities. In the present
      study, the mRNA expression profiles and clinical significance of chemokine ligand
      CXCL12 and its corresponding receptor CXCR4 were investigated in patients with
      gastric cancer (GC). Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the expression
      profile of CXCL12/CXCR4 was analyzed in resection specimens from the patients
      with GC (n=66) and in corresponding normal gastric tissues. Upon investigating
      CXCL12/CXCR4 mRNA expression levels in the GC tissues, significant downregulation
      of CXCL12 expression was demonstrated (P<0.05), whereas CXCR4 mRNA expression was
      shown to be significantly upregulated (P<0.05). Likewise, in gastric carcinoma
      patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, CXCR4 expression was found to be
      significantly upregulated (P<0.05), whereas in GC patients with lymph and vein
      infiltration, CXCL12 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated (P<0.05).
      These results demonstrate a significant inverse association between the
      development and progress of GC and CXCL12/CXCR4 mRNA expression. CXCR4 mRNA
      upregulation was promoted under the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to
      surgery in GC patients, whereas higher tumor stages with lymph and vein
      infiltration negatively affected CXCL12 mRNA expression.

PMID- 26870219
TI  - Overexpression of MCPH1 inhibits uncontrolled cell growth by promoting cell
      apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle in S and G2/M phase in lung cancer cells.
AB  - Microcephalin (MCPH1/BRIT1) is a large nuclear protein that is involved in the
      early cellular response to DNA damage, the expression of which is reduced in a
      variety of types of human tumors. A recent study by our group demonstrated that
      MCPH1 expression is markedly decreased in lung cancer. However, it remains
      unclear whether inducing the expression of MCPH1 may ameliorate lung cancer, and,
      if so, which mechanisms underlie this process. The results of the present study
      demonstrated that MCPH1 expression was downregulated in lung cancer tissues
      compared with that in normal lung tissues. Furthermore, MCPH1 overexpression in
      A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma cells, successfully inhibited cell
      proliferation via arrest of the cell cycle in the S and G2/M phases. In addition,
      MCPH1 overexpression promoted cell apoptosis, in association with a significant
      increase in the quantities of Bax and active caspase-3, as well as a decrease in
      the level of Bcl-2. In conclusion the present results indicated that MCPH1 is
      involved in the regulation of apoptosis and entry into mitosis, suggesting that
      MCPH1 may function as a tumor suppressor and that it may be important in the
      pathogenesis of lung cancer.

PMID- 26870220
TI  - Quantitative assessment of the association between glutathione S-transferase M1
      polymorphism and the risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer.
AB  - Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) participate in the detoxification and
      elimination of electrophilic carcinogens by conjugating them to glutathione.
      Previous studies have reported a potential association between GSTM1 polymorphism
      and the risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). However, those findings
      remain controversial. In the present study, a meta-analysis was conducted by
      pooling the odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals
      (CIs) of all the available case-control studies on NPC. A comprehensive search of
      PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure
      databases up to May 13th, 2014 was performed to identify eligible studies. A
      total of 12 separate publications, involving 1,593 cases of NPC and 2,868
      controls, were included in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that the
      null genotype of GSTM1 was significantly associated with increased risk of
      developing NPC (OR=1.530, 95% CI=1.348-1.737, Pheterogeneity=0.370). Subgroup
      analysis by ethnicity suggested that Asian carriers of the GSTM1 null genotype
      were more susceptible to NPC than individuals from other ethnic groups (OR=1.516,
      95% CI=1.328-1.731, Pheterogeneity=0.270). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the
      stability of these observations. In conclusion, the results from the present meta
      analysis indicated that the GSTM1 polymorphism may be involved in the development
      of NPC, particularly in Asians.

PMID- 26870221
TI  - Analysis of factors affecting endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer.
AB  - The present study aimed to identify the factors involved in the resistance to
      endocrine therapy in breast cancer (BC) patients with a positive estrogen
      receptor status via the collection of clinical, pathological and
      immunohistochemical indices. A retrospective survey was performed in patients who
      experienced the relapse and metastasis of BC between November 2007 and March
      2013. A total of 45 patients were enrolled, and the observational duration was 7
      84 months. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to create a survival curve, while the
      log-rank test was used to analyze the survival curve and the Cox regression
      analysis was used to investigate the associated factors contributing to the
      resistance to endocrine therapy. Univariate analysis showed that the age of
      onset, the use of radiotherapy, the endocrine treatment program, and the
      expression levels of progesterone receptor (PR) and CerbB2 affected the impact of
      endocrine treatment. The Cox regression analysis indicated that the age of onset,
      the use of radiotherapy, and the expression levels of PR and CerbB2 affected the
      disease-free survival time after endocrine therapy. A young age of onset, not
      receiving radiotherapy, a low expression level of PR and a high expression level
      of CerbB2 were the risk factors involved in the resistance to endocrine therapy
      in patients with BC.

PMID- 26870222
TI  - Signal transduction by M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in prostate cancer.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms used during
      signal transduction by M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRM3) in prostate
      cancer. The microarray datasets of GSE3325, including 5 clinically localized
      primary prostate cancers and 4 benign prostate tissues, were downloaded from the
      Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in
      primary prostate cancer tissues compared with benign controls were screened using
      the Limma package. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed
      using the Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Next, a
      protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Additionally,
      microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with DEGs were predicted and miRNA-target DEG
      analysis was performed using a Web-based Gene Set Analysis Toolkit. Finally, the
      PPI network and the miRNA-target DEG network were integrated using Cytoscape. In
      total, 224 DEGs were screened in the prostate cancer tissues, including 113
      upregulated and 111 downregulated genes. CHRM3 and epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      were enriched in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. EGF and v-myc avian
      myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (Myc) were enriched in the mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. EGF with the highest degree of
      connectivity was the hub node in the PPI network, and miR-34b could interact with
      Myc directly in the miRNA-target DEG network. EGF and Myc may exhibit significant
      roles in the progression of prostate cancer via regulation of the actin
      cytoskeleton and the MAPK signaling pathway. CHRM3 may activate these two
      pathways in prostate cancer progression. Thus, these two key factors and pathways
      may be crucial mechanisms during signal transduction by CHRM3 in prostate cancer.

PMID- 26870223
TI  - Epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 p.S768I mutation in non-small cell lung
      carcinoma: A case report combined with a review of the literature and
      investigation of clinical significance.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a significant role in non-small
      cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent form of lung cancer worldwide.
      Therefore, EGFR may be a useful molecular target for personalized therapy
      utilizing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Somatic activating EGFR mutations
      may be used to identify tumors sensitive to the effects of small-molecule EGFR
      TKIs (gefitinib and erlotinib), and alternative, less frequently observed
      mutations, including the majority of mutations identified within exon 20, may be
      associated with a lack of response to TKIs. However, due to the comparative
      rarity of EGFR exon 20 mutations, clinical information concerning the association
      between EGFR exon 20 mutations and responsiveness to TKIs has been limited within
      the relevant literature, particularly for certain rare mutations, including
      p.S768I. The current study reports the case of a patient with NSCLC harboring a
      p.S768I mutation in the EGFR gene [a substitution at codon 768 of exon 20
      (c.2303G>T, p.S768I)], as well as a mutation at codon 719, exon 18 (p.G719A). The
      relevant literature concerning this rare EGFR somatic mutation is also reviewed.

PMID- 26870224
TI  - Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in canine
      oral squamous cell carcinomas.
AB  - Angiogenesis is crucial for the growth and metastasis of malignant tumours, and
      various proangiogenic factors promote this process. One of these factors is
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which appears to play a key role in
      tumour angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess whether VEGF
      expression is associated with angiogenesis, disease progression and neoplastic
      proliferation in canine oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue. VEGF
      immunoreactivity was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 30 specimens,
      including normal oral mucosa and OSCC tissues graded as well, moderately or
      poorly differentiated. VEGF expression was correlated with tumour cell
      proliferation, as assessed using the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)
      marker and microvessel density (data already published). The present results
      revealed that VEGF and PCNA expression increased significantly between normal
      oral tissue and neoplastic tissue, and between well and moderately/poorly
      differentiated tumours. In addition, VEGF expression was strongly correlated with
      PCNA expression and microvessel density. It was concluded that VEGF may promote
      angiogenesis through a paracrine pathway, stimulating endothelial cell
      proliferation and, similarly, may induce tumour cell proliferation through an
      autocrine pathway. The present results suggest that the evaluation of VEGF may be
      a useful additional criterion for estimating malignancy and growth potential in
      canine OSCCs.

PMID- 26870225
TI  - MicroRNA-147 suppresses proliferation, invasion and migration through the
      AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in breast cancer.
AB  - The Akt/mTOR pathway is considered to be the most frequently aberrantly activated
      pathway in human tumors. It is activated in a variety of types of tumor, and is
      therefore an attractive target for study, including it's potential regulation by
      microRNAs. A number of microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to target the
      Akt/mTOR pathway. A previous study reported that miR-147 targets the EGFR-driven
      cell-cycle protein network in breast cancer. EGFR serves a crucial role upstream
      to Akt/mTOR. To define the function and mechanism of miR-147 in breast cancer,
      the present study assessed miR-147 expression in a normal mammary epithelial cell
      line and three breast cancer cell lines, and observed that miR-147 expression was
      markedly low in the highly invasive cell line, MDA-MB-231. Ectopic expression of
      miR-147 in MDA-MB-231 resulted in a reduction of the phosphorylation of crucial
      molecules in the Akt/mTOR pathway and the proliferation, invasion and migration
      of the cell line was also reduced. The effects of miR-147 expression are similar
      to that of shRNA which is specifically designed to silence the expression of Akt.
      The findings of the present study indicate that miR-147 suppressed the
      proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells through targeting
      the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. As a new microRNA targeting Akt/mTOR pathway.
      Using miR-147 may therefore provide an effective therapeutic approach to suppress
      tumorigenicity in breast cancer.

PMID- 26870226
TI  - Sinomenine, a COX-2 inhibitor, induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits growth of
      human colon carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may possess anti-tumorigenic
      effects in certain cancer cell types. Sinomenine (SIN) is an alkaloid from
      Sinomenium acutum, a Chinese medicinal plant that inhibits inflammatory reactions
      and that has been used in the treatment of neuralgia and rheumatic diseases. In
      this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of SIN against colorectal
      cancer in vitro and in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The effects of
      SIN on proliferation, cell cycle progression and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2
      expression were examined in human colorectal cancer-derived SW1116 cells. The in
      vivo effects of SIN were examined in a model of SW1116 tumor xenograft growth in
      athymic nude mice. Changes in COX-2 expression induced by the biological effects
      of SIN were analyzed by western blot analysis. The effects of SIN treatment on G1
      phase cell cycle regulators in xenografts were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
      Our findings demonstrate that SIN inhibits the proliferation of SW1116 cells by
      promoting their accumulation in the G1 phase, with concomitant suppression of COX
      2 expression. Time- and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth and reduced
      toxicity were observed in nude mice administered daily intraperitoneal injections
      of SIN at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. SIN-treated tumors also exhibited
      reduced COX-2 expression, a marked increase in Cip1/p21 protein levels and a
      decrease in the levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E. SIN may be an effective
      chemopreventive agent against colorectal cancer. The growth inhibitory properties
      of SIN against colorectal cancer may be mediated via a COX-2 inhibitory effect
      and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase.

PMID- 26870227
TI  - Tongue lipoma in an older male: A case report and literature review of patients
      with tongue lipoma reported in China.
AB  - Lipoma is the most common benign tumor that occurs at any region where adipose
      tissue is present. However, as the tongue is devoid of adipocyte it is an
      extremely rare site for a lipoma to develop, particularly in China. The present
      study reports the presence of a tongue lipoma in a 78-year-old man that measured
      2.2*2.0*1.5 cm and was located on the left ventral region of the tongue. The
      tumor was completely excised, and subsequent to 4 years of follow-up, there was
      no recurrence of the lesion. In addition, the present study reviewed the
      literature concerning tongue lipomas in China and analyzed 18 other cases of
      patients with tongue lipomas in the past 30 years, between 1 January 1985 and 31
      December 2014.

PMID- 26870228
TI  - Circulating microRNA-125b and microRNA-130a expression profiles predict
      chemoresistance to R-CHOP in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.
AB  - Numerous studies have reported the aberrant expression profiles of microRNAs
      (miRNAs) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although very few of these
      studies were concerned with chemoresistance to R-CHOP in DLBCL patients. This
      study was designed to assess the correlation between circulating miRNA expression
      and chemoresistance and prognosis in DLBCL patients. At the start of the study,
      we demonstrated that miRNA expression levels in serum were significantly
      associated with those in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, which
      indicated that circulating miRNAs may be powerful, non-invasive biomarkers
      reflecting miRNAs levels isolated from tumor tissue. Then from eight potential
      drug-resistant miRNAs which were deregulated in DLBCL and which had been reported
      to be associated with drug resistance in other carcinomas, we screened out the
      circulating miR-125b and miR-130a, which may related to R-CHOP resistance.
      Dynamic monitoring of the levels of circulating miR-125b and miR-130a further
      demonstrated that they were involved in recurrence, progression and
      chemoresistance in DLBCL patients. Finally, we demonstrated that high miR-125b
      indicated poor prognosis, as patients with higher miR-125b levels had a shorter
      overall survival. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that
      miR-125b and miR-130a are associated with the risk of chemoresistance in DLBCL
      patients, and that dynamic monitoring of the levels of circulating miR-125b and
      miR-130a predicts the therapeutic response and disease status of DLBCL patients.

PMID- 26870230
TI  - Management of pathological femoral fracture secondary to breast cancer in
      pregnancy: A case report.
AB  - Bone metastasis resulting from breast cancer in pregnancy is rare. In the
      literature there are few reports regarding osteolytic lesions in pregnancy and no
      data on the treatment of such femoral fractures. The present study reports a case
      of a 29-week primigravida presenting with severe lumbosciatica in the left side,
      refractory to medical therapy. During neurosurgical examination a spontaneous
      pathological fracture of the left femur occurred. Damage control orthopedic
      principals were applied and a biopsy specimen from the femoral lesion was
      obtained, providing a diagnosis of metastases from breast adenocarcinoma.
      Cesarean section was performed at 32 gestational weeks. Following delivery, an
      internal fixator was placed in the left femur for definitive treatment of the
      fracture and staging of cancer was conducted. Subsequently, adjuvant treatment
      comprising left mastectomy and percutaneous radiofrequency thermoablation of the
      sacroiliac lesion were performed. A follow-up one-year following percutaneous
      radiofrequency thermoablation of the sacroiliac lesion detected no metastatic
      bone pain, and identified a stable sacroiliac lesion.

PMID- 26870229
TI  - MicroRNA-101 suppresses migration and invasion via targeting vascular endothelial
      growth factor-C in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs 18-25 nucleotides in length,
      which play important roles in the regulation of cancer progression through gene
      silencing. miRNA (miR)-101 has been suggested to be associated with
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the detailed role of miR-101 in HCC
      metastasis and the underlying mechanism remain largely unclear. The present study
      demonstrated that the expression of miR-101 was significantly reduced in HCC
      tissues compared with that in matched normal adjacent tissues. miR-101 was also
      found to be downregulated in four HCC cell lines compared with its expression in
      a normal liver cell line. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C was further
      identified as a direct target of miR-101, and the protein expression of VEGF-C
      was downregulated by miR-101 in HepG2 HCC cells. Furthermore, the overexpression
      of miR-101 and the knockdown of VEGF-C significantly inhibited HepG2 cell
      migration and invasion, while restoration of VEGF-C reversed the inhibitory
      effect of miR-101 overexpression on HepG2 cell migration and invasion. Finally,
      the expression of VEGF-C was notably increased in HCC tissues and cell lines.
      These findings suggest that miR-101 exerts a suppressive effect on HCC cell
      migration and invasion, at least in part through the direct inhibition of VEGF-C
      protein expression. Therefore, the miR-101/VEGF-C axis may serve as a potential
      therapeutic target for HCC metastasis.

PMID- 26870231
TI  - Expression of stem cell markers nanog and PSCA in gastric cancer and its
      significance.
AB  - The present study aimed to determine the expression of stem cell markers Nanog
      compared with PSCA in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and to
      investigate the association between tumor stem cells and initiation, progression,
      metastasis, and prognosis of gastric cancer. One hundred chemotherapy- and
      radiotherapy-naive patients with pathologically confirmed gastric cancer were
      enrolled from the General Surgery Department and Surgical Oncology Department of
      the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University (Hohhot, P.R.
      China), between October 2011 and June 2013. Surgically resected specimens of
      cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues (>5 cm from the boundary of cancerous
      component) were collected. The mRNA expression levels of Nanog and PSCA in those
      tissues was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-qPCR). The correlation between the expression of stem cell markers
      Nanog and PSCA in gastric cancer tissues and clinicopathological factors was
      analyzed. The qPCR results demonstrated that the relative expression of Nanog was
      increased in gastric cancer tissues compared with in the adjacent tissues
      (P<0.05); and relative expression of PSCA was reduced in gastric cancer tissues
      compared with adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The expression of Nanog and PSCA in
      gastric cancer tissues was associated with tumor differentiation. The expression
      of Nanog was increased in poorly-differentiated and undifferentiated tumors
      compared with moderately- and well-differentiated tumors (P<0.05). The expression
      of PSCA was reduced in poorly differentiated and undifferentiated tumors compared
      with moderately- and well-differentiated tumors (P<0.05). However, the expression
      of Nanog and PSCA was not associated with age, gender, tumor size, TNM stage,
      depth of invasion, or lymph node metastasis. Therefore, Nanog and PSCA may have
      potential as molecular markers to reflect the differentiation status of gastric
      cancer.

PMID- 26870232
TI  - Helicobacter pylori-infected MSCs acquire a pro-inflammatory phenotype and induce
      human gastric cancer migration by promoting EMT in gastric cancer cells.
AB  - Accumulating clinical and experimental evidence has suggested that Helicobacter
      pylori (H. pylori) infection-associated gastric cancer (GC) is associated with
      high rates of mortality and serious health effects. The majority of patients
      succumb to H. pylori infection-associated GC due to metastasis. Mesenchymal stem
      cells (MSCs), which have multipotent differentiation potential, may be recruited
      into the tumor-associated stroma. MSCs are crucial components of the H. pylori
      infection-associated GC microenvironment, and may be critical for GC cell
      migration. In this study, an MSCs/H. pylori co-culture model was designed, and
      the effect of H. pylori-infected MSCs on the migration of GC cells was evaluated
      using a Transwell migration assay. H. pylori-infected MSC cytokine expression was
      evaluated using Luminex/ELISA. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) markers in the GC cells treated with supernatants from H. pylori
      infected MSCs were detected by western blot analysis. The results demonstrated
      that the interaction between MSCs and H. pylori may induce GC cell migration,
      through secretion of a combination of cytokines that promote EMT in GC cells. The
      expression of phosphorylated forms of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was
      observed to be increased in MSCs by H. pylori. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation
      by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate blocked the effects of H. pylori-infected MSCs on
      SGC-7901 human stomach adenocarcinoma cell migration. Overall, the results of the
      present study suggest that H. pylori-infected MSCs acquire a pro-inflammatory
      phenotype through secretion of a combination of multiple cytokines, a number of
      which are NF-kappaB-dependent. These cytokines enhance H. pylori infection
      associated GC cell migration by promoting EMT in GC cells. The results of the
      present study provide novel evidence for the modulatory effect of MSCs in the
      tumor microenvironment and provide insight into the significance of stromal cell
      involvement in GC progression.

PMID- 26870233
TI  - Epidural angiomatous meningioma of the thoracic spine: A case report.
AB  - Spinal epidural angiomatous meningiomas (AMs) are extremely rare lesions. Here,
      we report on a case of an epidural AM of the thoracic spine with chronic but
      severe cord compression. The patient underwent a T6-T8 laminectomy through the
      posterior approach. En bloc resection was achieved, and histopathological
      examination demonstrated an AM. Delayed paraplegia occurred 4 h postoperatively.
      The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, hyperbaric oxygen and
      rehabilitation. Gradually, over the next six months, the bilateral leg strength
      was improved compared with the preoperative status, and no tumor recurrence was
      noted. Although epidural AM is extremely rare, it should be included in the
      differential diagnosis of spinal epidural lesions. A definitive diagnosis is
      difficult based on magnetic resonance imaging alone due to the nonspecific
      characteristics of the tumor. Since AM is a histologically benign and highly
      vascularized tumor, timely gross total resection (GTR) is the most effective
      treatment. A good clinical outcome may be expected following GTR (Simpson grade I
      and II resection).

PMID- 26870234
TI  - Costimulation with anti-cluster of differentiation 3 and anti-cluster of
      differentiation 28 reduces the activity of mucin 1-stimulated human mononuclear
      cells.
AB  - Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation and extension of the cell life span is
      necessary in order to enable immunotherapy to perform effectively against cancer.
      In the present study, mucin 1 (MUC1)-stimulated human mononuclear cells (M1SHMCs)
      were costimulated with bead-attached monoclonal antibodies specific for cluster
      of differentiation (CD)3 and CD28 receptors. The study was undertaken to
      determine whether costimulation was capable of enhancing the killing of cancer
      cells in vitro and of protecting non-obese diabetic severe combined
      immunodeficient mice from tumor development. Lysis of MCF-7 tumor cells by
      M1SHMCs was reduced following costimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28.
      Furthermore, costimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 eliminated the protective
      effects of M1SHMCs on MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth in the non-obese diabetic
      severe combined immunodeficient mice. The present study suggested that
      costimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 is not advisable following antigen
      activation of lymphocytes under the conditions used here. Using a lower anti
      CD3/CD28 bead to T-cell ratio may prevent immune suppression, however, further
      studies are required to support this hypothesis.

PMID- 26870235
TI  - Intramuscular myxoma of the paraspinal muscles: A case report and systematic
      review of the literature.
AB  - Intramuscular myxoma (IM) is a rare mesenchymal tumor of the head and neck
      region. The current study reports a case of a 45-year-old man who presented with
      a painless neck mass. Imaging showed involvement of the levator scapulae and
      scalene muscles. Core needle biopsy was consistent with intramuscular myxoma.
      Surgical excision was performed and follow-up for 30 months showed no recurrence.
      The present study includes a systematic review of head and neck IMs, with a
      summary of the clinical and demographic parameters of all reported cases in the
      head and neck region. Surgery was curative in 28 of the 29 published cases, as
      well as in the current case (96.7%), with the lone recurrent tumor cured
      following re-resection. Females constituted 57% of the cases and the mean age was
      49.7+/-20.4 years. Although uncommon, IM should be considered in the differential
      diagnosis of deep neck masses, and surgical excision is the treatment of choice
      with a low risk of recurrence.

PMID- 26870236
TI  - The effects of buthionine sulfoximine on the proliferation and apoptosis of
      biliary tract cancer cells induced by cisplatin and gemcitabine.
AB  - Patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) have a poor prognosis. Advanced BTC
      patients have been treated with cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine,
      however, the treatment has had little impact on survival rates, and more
      effective treatments are urgently required for this disease. Previous studies
      discovered that buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a potent inhibitor of glutathione
      (GSH) synthesis, was able to enhance the cytotoxic effect of various drugs in
      cancer cells. Phase I studies demonstrated that continuous-infusion of BSO was
      relatively non-toxic and resulted in the depletion of tumor GSH. However, the
      synergistic effect of BSO and cisplatin in BTC cells remains unknown, and no
      reports are available regarding sensitization to gemcitabine by BSO. In the
      present study, the effect of BSO in combination with cisplatin or gemcitabine in
      the treatment of BTC cells was examined in vitro. Cytotoxic effects were measured
      using an MTT assay, Annexin V assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting
      analysis. Antiapoptotic protein expression levels were examined using western
      blot analysis. The results revealed that a sub-toxic concentration of BSO was
      capable of significantly enhancing cisplatin-induced apoptosis in BTC cells. The
      mechanisms of BSO's effect on BTC cells may be attributable to the reduction of
      GSH levels and downregulation of the expression of antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-2,
      Bcl-xL and Mcl-1). Furthermore, BSO enhanced the antiproliferative effect of
      gemcitabine. In conclusion, the present data are the first results to indicate
      that BSO may sensitize BTC cells to standard first-line chemotherapeutic agents
      (cisplatin and gemcitabine). Combining BSO with cisplatin and gemcitabine is a
      promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of BTC.

PMID- 26870237
TI  - Peptic ulcers accompanied with gastrointestinal bleeding, pylorus obstruction and
      cholangitis secondary to choledochoduodenal fistula: A case report.
AB  - Peptic ulcers are an extremely common condition, usually occurring in the stomach
      and proximal duodenum. However, cases of peptic ulcers accompanied with multiple
      complications are extremely rare and hard to treat. The present case reinforces
      the requirement for the early recognition and correct treatment of peptic ulcers
      accompanied with multiple complications. A 67-year-old man presented with
      recurrent abdominal pain, fever and melena. The laboratory results showed anemia
      (hemoglobin 62 g/l) and hypoproteinemia (23 g/l). Abdominal imaging examinations
      revealed stones in the gallbladder and right liver, with air in the dilated
      intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography failed due to a deformed pylorus. The patient was
      finally diagnosed with peptic ulcers accompanied with gastrointestinal (GI)
      bleeding, pylorus obstruction and cholangitis secondary to a choledochoduodenal
      fistula during an emergency pancreatoduodenectomy, which was performed due to a
      massive hemorrhage of the GI tract. The patient recovered well after the surgery.

PMID- 26870238
TI  - Resveratrol suppresses human glioblastoma cell migration and invasion via
      activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.
AB  - Numerous studies have demonstrated that resveratrol has a potential use in cancer
      prevention and treatment. However, the effects of resveratrol on cancer cell
      motility and invasiveness remain unclear. The current study aimed to examine the
      effects of resveratrol on cell migration and invasion in human glioblastoma
      cells, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. In wound-healing and
      Matrigel transwell assays, resveratrol was found to significantly inhibit the
      migration and invasion of U87MG, T98G and U251 glioblastoma cells in vitro.
      Results from western blot analysis and gelatin zymography revealed that
      resveratrol also suppressed the expression and activity of matrix
      metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2; P<0.05), an important mediator of cell migration and
      invasion. Furthermore, using a pull-down assay, increased activation of RhoA was
      observed in glioblastoma cells treated with resveratrol vs. controls (P<0.05).
      Notably, inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway by C3
      transferase or Y-27362 was found to attenuate the resveratrol-induced reductions
      in cell migration and invasion (P<0.05), and also partially rescued the decreased
      expression and activity of MMP-2 induced by resveratrol (P<0.05). Taken together,
      the results suggest that resveratrol may inhibit glioblastoma cell motility and
      invasiveness via activating the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

PMID- 26870239
TI  - Effect of CPU-XT-008, a combretastatin A-4 analogue, on the proliferation,
      apoptosis and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic
      fibroblast growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
AB  - The present study investigated the effect of the combretastatin A-4 analogue CPU
      XT-008 on the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The proliferation capacity of HUVECs
      was analyzed with a cell viability assay, while their apoptosis and migration
      abilities were evaluated via flow cytometry and monolayer denudation assay,
      respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 in these
      cells were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and
      cell-based ELISA, western blotting and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The
      results demonstrated that CPU-XT-008 inhibited proliferation and migration, and
      induced apoptosis in HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CPU-XT-008
      downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 in these
      cells. These findings suggest that CPU-XT-008 exerts anti-angiogenic effects in
      HUVECs, which may explain the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration,
      induction of apoptosis, and reduction in the mRNA and protein expression levels
      of VEGF and FGF-2 observed in the present study.

PMID- 26870241
TI  - Recurrence rate and progression of chondrosarcoma is correlated with heat shock
      protein expression.
AB  - Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are involved in tumour immunity, and are correlated
      with survival and drug resistance in numerous types of cancer. The present study
      investigated the expression of HSPs and multiple drug resistance (MDR) in human
      chondrosarcoma. HSP and P-glycoprotein (the MDR1 gene product) expression was
      evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded sections obtained
      from 37 patients with chondrosarcoma (19 male and 18 female; aged 33-85 years;
      mean age, 48.5 years). HSP73 and 90 were significantly overexpressed in patients
      with local recurrence: HSP73 was expressed in 7/7 patients (100%) with local
      recurrence and 9/18 patients (50%) without recurrence (P<0.02), while HSP90 was
      expressed in all patients with recurrence but only 8/18 (44%) without recurrence
      (P<0.02). A marked association was also identified between HSP expression and
      survival. HSP72 and 73 were significantly overexpressed in tumours from patients
      who succumbed to the disease (all positive for HSP72 and 73; P<0.05). No
      differences were observed between HSP27, 73 or 90-positive or -negative tumours
      according to age or gender. In addition, HSP72 expression was correlated with
      differentiation of the tumours (P<0.02). These results indicate that HSP72, 73
      and 90 may function as novel prognostic markers for chondrosarcoma, and initiate
      further studies regarding the use of such markers for the identification of
      patients with poor prognosis.

PMID- 26870240
TI  - Immunosuppression of breast cancer cells mediated by transforming growth factor
      beta in exosomes from cancer cells.
AB  - Exosomes derived from tumor cells are essential for processes involved in tumor
      progression, including angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and
      immunoregulation. In addition, exosome secretion may contribute to the mechanisms
      of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and metastasis of tumors. In the present study,
      as it is one of the most common cancers in females, breast cancer, cell lines
      were cultured under hypoxic (1% O2) and normoxic conditions to evaluate the
      effects of hypoxia on exosome production. Under hypoxic conditions an increase in
      the number of exosomes in the medium, determined by CD63 immunoblotting, was
      observed. Application of these exosomes to T cells revealed that they were able
      to suppress T cell proliferation. As transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta),
      interleukin-10, and prostaglandin E2 are important factors in the mediation of T
      cell suppression, the exosomes were subsequently treated with antibodies against
      these three factors. The results revealed that anti-TGF-beta was capable of
      ameliorating the immunosuppressive effects of exosomes. These data demonstrate
      that hypoxia enhances the secretion of exosomes by breast cancer cells, which
      acts to suppress T cell proliferation via TGF-beta. The findings have significant
      implications for understanding the underlying mechanisms of immunosuppression in
      tumor microenvironments, and for the potential development of cancer therapies.

PMID- 26870242
TI  - Identification of key genes associated with gastric cancer based on DNA
      microarray data.
AB  - The present study aimed to identify genes with a differential pattern of
      expression in gastric cancer (GC), and to find novel molecular biomarkers for GC
      diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. The gene expression profile of GSE19826,
      including 12 GC samples and 15 normal controls, was downloaded from the Gene
      Expression Omnibus database. Differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were screened
      in the GC samples compared with the normal controls. Two-way hierarchical
      clustering of DEGs was performed to distinguish the normal controls from the GC
      samples. The co-expression coefficient was analyzed among the DEGs using the data
      from COXPRESdb. The gene co-expression network was constructed based on the DEGs
      using Cytoscape software, and modules in the network were analyzed by ClusterOne
      and Bingo. Furthermore, enrichment analysis of the DEGs in the modules was
      performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated
      Discovery. In total, 596 DEGs in the GC samples and 57 co-expression gene pairs
      were identified. A total of 7 genes were enriched in the same module, for which
      the function was phosphate transport and which was annotated to participate in
      the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway. These genes were collagen,
      type VI, alpha3 (COL6A3), COL1A2, COL1A1, COL5A2, thrombospondin 2, COL11A1 and
      COL5A1. Overall, the present study identified several biomarkers for GC using the
      gene expression profiling of human GC samples. The COL family is a promising
      prognostic marker for GC. Gene expression products represent candidate biomarkers
      endowed with great potential for the early screening and therapy of GC patients.

PMID- 26870243
TI  - Successful mucosal incision-assisted biopsy for the histological diagnosis of
      duodenal lymphoma: A case report.
AB  - Tissue sampling of primary duodenal lymphoma is essential for its histological
      diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), which
      is frequently used for submucosal tumor (SMT)-like duodenal tumors, is adequate
      for cytological diagnosis, but not for histological diagnosis. Therefore, in the
      present study, a mucosal incision-assisted biopsy (MIAB) was performed in an 81
      year-old woman for the diagnosis of an SMT-like duodenal mass, as tissue sampling
      for histological analysis using a regular endoscopic biopsy had failed to
      establish a definite diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. EUS-FNA had also led to
      poor tissue sampling due to the difficult location of the duodenal tumor. The
      pathological examination of biopsy samples using MIAB revealed the presence of a
      diffuse proliferation of atypical lymphocytes, and the expression of cluster of
      differentiation (CD)20 and CD79a, but no expression of CD3 in the tumor
      specimens. The patient was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. To the
      best of knowledge, this is first report of a case using MIAB as a sampling method
      for the histological diagnosis of SMT-like primary duodenal lymphoma. This case
      suggests that MIAB may be an essential method for obtaining tissue samples from
      SMT-like duodenal tumors.

PMID- 26870244
TI  - Integrin beta1-mediated acquired gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung
      cancer cells occurs via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent pathway.
AB  - The present study aimed to explore the role of integrin beta1 and the relevant
      signaling pathways in acquired gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC). The inhibitory effects of gefitinib, with or without LY294002, on
      cellular proliferation were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were
      analyzed by flow cytometry, while western blotting was used to evaluate the
      expression of EGFR, phosphorylated (phospho)-EGFR, protein kinase B (Akt),
      phospho-Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and phospho-Erk. The
      gene expression profiles of PC9 and PC9/G cells were determined by DNA
      microarray. Integrin beta1 was knocked down in PC9/G cells by transiently
      transfected short interfering RNA (siRNA). A scrambled siRNA sequence was used as
      a control. Apoptosis of transfected cells was determined by Annexin V
      phycoerythrin-Cy5/propidium iodide staining. Sequencing products were amplified
      by nested PCR. The resistant index of PC9/G cells to gefitinib was ~138- to 256
      fold higher than that of PC9 cells, and this resistance was accompanied by
      significant increase in integrin beta1 expression in PC9/G cells. Knockdown of
      integrin beta1 with short hairpin RNA in PC9/G cells markedly inhibited
      proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in response to gefitinib, restoring the
      sensitivity of PC9/G cells gefitinib. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt
      activation was observed in PC9/G cells in the presence of gefitinib and the
      sensitivity of PC9/G cells to gefitinib was also able to be restored by PI3K/Akt
      pathway inhibitor LY294002. Finally, knockdown of integrin beta1 significantly
      reduced the levels of phospho-Akt. These findings suggest that integrin beta1
      signaling via the PI3K/Akt pathway may be a significant mechanism underlying
      gefitinib resistance, and may potentially present an alternative therapeutic
      target for the treatment of NSCLC unresponsive to EGFR inhibitors.

PMID- 26870245
TI  - miR-135b inhibits tumour metastasis in prostate cancer by targeting STAT6.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that participate in several cellular
      functions and tumour progression. A previous microarray study demonstrated that
      miR-135b is downregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) cells, but the role and
      molecular mechanism of miR-135b in the regulation of tumour metastasis remain to
      be elucidated. In the present study, significant downregulation of miR-135b in
      PCa tissues, compared with noncancerous tissues, was detected by reverse
      transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the expression
      of miR-135b was demonstrated to be associated with the pathological stage and the
      levels of total and free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in PCa cells. In
      addition, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) was
      identified as a target of miR-135b in PCa cells by luciferase activity and
      western blot assays. The upregulation of miR-135b in PCa cells led to reduced
      expression of STAT6 in the cytoplasm and nucleus of these cells, while the
      overexpression of miR-135b and knockdown of STAT6 were able to inhibit the
      migration and invasion abilities of PCa cells in vitro. Therefore, the results of
      the present study indicate that miR-135b suppresses tumour metastasis by
      targeting STAT6.

PMID- 26870246
TI  - BRIP1 inhibits the tumorigenic properties of cervical cancer by regulating RhoA
      GTPase activity.
AB  - Breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1)-interacting protein 1 (BRIP1), a DNA
      dependent adenosine triphosphatase and DNA helicase, is required for BRCA
      associated DNA damage repair functions, and may be associated with the
      tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of various cancers. The present study
      investigated the expression of BRIP1 in normal cervix tissues and cervical
      carcinoma via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT
      qPCR) and immunohistochemistry assays. BRIP1 expression was observed to be
      reduced in squamous cancer tissue and adenocarcinoma compared with normal cervix
      tissue, and there were significant correlations between the reduction in BRIP1
      expression and unfavorable variables, including the International Federation of
      Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage and presence of lymph node metastases. In
      order to elucidate the role of BRIP1 in cervical cancer, a BRIP1 recombinant
      plasmid was constructed and overexpressed in a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa).
      The ectopic expression of BRIP1 markedly inhibited the tumorigenic properties of
      HeLa cells in vitro, as demonstrated by decreased cell growth, invasion and
      adhesion, and increased cell apoptosis. In addition, it was identified that the
      inhibitory tumorigenic properties of BRIP1 may be partly attributed to the
      attenuation of RhoA GTPase activity. The present study provides a novel insight
      into the essential role of BRIP1 in cervical cancer, and suggests that BRIP1 may
      be a useful therapeutic target for the treatment of this common malignancy.

PMID- 26870247
TI  - Expression of PTEN and KAI1 tumor suppressor genes in pancreatic carcinoma and
      its association with different pathological factors.
AB  - Pancreatic carcinoma is a common cancer type with a poor prognosis. The aim of
      the present study was to examine the expression of tumor suppressor genes
      phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) and KAI1 in
      pancreatic carcinoma and its association with clinical pathological factors. A
      total of 50 hospitalized cases of pancreatic cancer including 28 males and 22
      females aged 31-82 years were included in the present study. Ten cases of normal
      pancreatic tissue were obtained from cadavers and served as the controls. The
      pancreatic specimens were embedded in paraffin blocks and slides were prepared
      for immunohistochemical analysis to determine the expression of PTEN and KAI1 in
      normal pancreatic tissue and pancreatic carcinoma samples. The positive
      expression rate of PTEN in the normal pancreatic tissue was higher than that in
      pancreatic carcinoma (P<0.05), while the positive expression rate of KAI1 in the
      normal pancreatic tissue was lower than that in pancreatic carcinoma (P<0.05).
      Pathological factors such as clinical stage of disease, histological grade and
      the presence or absence of lymphatic metastasis significantly affected the
      expression of PTEN and KAI1 (P<0.05). In conclusion, the positive expression of
      PTEN and KAI1 in pancreatic carcinoma is closely associated with the development
      of pancreatic carcinoma.

PMID- 26870248
TI  - Surgical resection of solitary omental metastasis from non-small cell lung
      cancer: Report of three cases.
AB  - In the present study we report three cases of solitary omental metastasis from
      non-small cell lung cancer, which had been surgically resected at our institute.
      The primary site was resected in one patient (case 1) and the other two patients
      were treated with chemotherapy and demonstrated complete response (cases 2 and
      3). The omental metastasis appeared 4 months after pneumonectomy in case 1. Two
      metachronous omental tumors appeared 55 and 79 months after the initial
      chemotherapy in case 2. In Case 3, an omental tumor appeared 6 months after
      chemotherapy. Case 1 succumbed to recurrence 8 months after the resection of the
      omental tumor. Case 2 survives with recurrent disease 8 months after resection of
      the second omental metastasis, and case 3 survives 6 months after resection of
      the omental tumor. Although omental metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer is
      extremely rare, it should be considered when a patient with history of lung
      cancer has a tumor around the stomach.

PMID- 26870250
TI  - Expression profile of cathepsins indicates the potential of cathepsins B and D as
      prognostic factors in breast cancer patients.
AB  - Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in women and
      contributes to 32% of all female cancer cases. Cathepsins, a family of proteins,
      are known to have a critical role in human cancers. However, previous studies on
      the systematic analysis of the role of cathepsin family members in breast cancer
      are limited. The aim of the present study was to identify biological markers to
      predict prognosis and treatment response of breast cancer patients, as well as to
      elucidate novel therapeutic targets. The present study analyzed the expression of
      six members of cathepsin family, including cathepsins B, G, D, K, L and V in 188
      breast cancer tissue specimens using immunohistochemistry. The data showed that
      all members of the tested cathepsin families featured cytoplasmic staining.
      Notably, expression of cathepsin L was associated with advanced tumor stages,
      while cathepsins B and K expression levels were associated with positive estrogen
      receptor expression; in addition, cathepsin K expression was also demonstrated to
      be associated with progesterone receptor expression. Cathepsins V and D
      expression levels were found to be associated with breast cancer metastasis,
      while the expression levels of cathepsins B and D were associated with poor
      disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. In addition, univariate analysis
      demonstrated that breast cancer metastasis to the bone and the expression of
      cathepsin B protein were associated with poor disease-free survival. In
      conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the altered
      expression of cathepsins, in particular cathepsins B and D, contributed to the
      progression of breast cancer and poor disease-free survival in breast cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26870249
TI  - Identification of metastasis-associated genes in colorectal cancer using metaDE
      and survival analysis.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to detect the candidate genes involved in the
      metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Gene expression profiles of primary and
      metastatic CRC samples in the GSE14297 and GSE49355 datasets were downloaded from
      the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Subsequent to processing, Fishers exact
      test and the metaDE package in R language were applied to screen the
      differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between primary and metastatic CRC samples.
      In addition, function and pathway enrichment analysis was performed using online
      tools in the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery
      resource and common DEGs in GSE14297 and GSE49355 were identified. Their
      expression values in another dataset, GSE29621, were then collected in order to
      screen the genes with high standard deviations between primary and metastatic
      samples, which were considered as candidate metastasis-associated genes.
      Candidate genes were finally verified by performing survival analysis via the log
      rank test. A total of 370 DEGs were screened in GSE14297 and GSE49355, and 77
      common DEGs were identified. Upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the immune,
      energy metabolism and drug metabolism-associated functions. Downregulated DEGs
      were mainly enriched in cell adhesion-associated functions. A total of 12 genes,
      including the carbonic anhydrase II (CA2), carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell
      adhesion molecule 7 (CEACAM7), Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G binding protein
      (FCGBP), and placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8), were the candidate metastasis
      associated genes, among which FCGBP expression significantly decreased the
      overall survival time of patients. The selected candidate metastasis-associated
      gene, FCGBP, may be used as a potential therapeutic target in patients with
      metastatic CRC.

PMID- 26870251
TI  - The development of tumours under a ketogenic diet in association with the novel
      tumour marker TKTL1: A case series in general practice.
AB  - Since the initial observations by Warburg in 1924, it has become clear in recent
      years that tumour cells require a high level of glucose to proliferate.
      Therefore, a ketogenic diet that provides the body with energy mainly through fat
      and proteins, but contains a reduced amount of carbohydrates, has become a
      dietary option for supporting tumour treatment and has exhibited promising
      results. In the present study, the first case series of such a treatment in
      general practice is presented, in which 78 patients with tumours were treated
      within a time window of 10 months. The patients were monitored regarding their
      levels of transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1), a novel tumour marker associated with
      aerobic glycolysis of tumour cells, and the patients' degree of adherence to a
      ketogenic diet. Tumour progression was documented according to oncologists'
      reports. Tumour status was correlated with TKTL1 expression (Kruskal-Wallis test,
      P<0.0001), indicating that more progressed and aggressive tumours may require a
      higher level of aerobic glycolysis. In palliative patients, a clear trend was
      observed in patients who adhered strictly to a ketogenic diet, with one patient
      experiencing a stagnation in tumour progression and others an improvement in
      their condition. The adoption of a ketogenic diet was also observed to affect the
      levels of TKTL1 in those patients. In conclusion, the results from the present
      case series in general practice suggest that it may be beneficial to advise
      tumour patients to adopt a ketogenic diet, and that those who adhere to it may
      have positive results from this type of diet. Thus, the use of a ketogenic diet
      as a complementary treatment to tumour therapy must be further studied in
      rigorously controlled trials.

PMID- 26870252
TI  - Genetic heterogeneity of RPMI-8402, a T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line.
AB  - Thorough examination of genetic heterogeneity of cell lines is uncommon. In order
      to address this issue, the present study analyzed the genetic heterogeneity of
      RPMI-8402, a T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line. For this purpose,
      traditional techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization and
      immunocytochemistry were used, in addition to more advanced techniques, including
      cell sorting, Sanger sequencing and massive parallel sequencing. The results
      indicated that the RPMI-8402 cell line consists of several genetically different
      cell subpopulations. Furthermore, massive parallel sequencing of RPMI-8402
      provided insight into the evolution of T-ALL carcinogenesis, since this cell line
      exhibited the genetic heterogeneity typical of T-ALL. Therefore, the use of cell
      lines for drug testing in future studies may aid the progress of anticancer drug
      research.

PMID- 26870253
TI  - Sentinel lymph node biopsy in T1/T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue: A
      prospective study.
AB  - Commonly used staging procedures often cannot predict the absence of cervical
      metastases (CM) in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the oral cavity. Due to the
      high incidence of occult CM in numerous N0 cases in the clinic, an elective neck
      dissection (ND) is performed. The sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) is a common
      concept in the modern surgical therapy of malignancies. The present study
      evaluates the applicability of this concept for T1/T2-SCC of the tongue. In a
      prospective clinical study, 10 consecutive patients with T1/T2-SCC of the tongue
      and cN0 necks, were enrolled. Following sentinel lymph node (SLN) scintigraphy,
      all patients underwent SNB with a gamma-probe and a subsequent ND. SNB specimens
      were compared with histopathological assessments of surgical specimens from the
      ND. A total of 5 female and 5 male patients (mean age, 52 years; women, 62 years;
      men, 42 years), with a median follow-up time of 33.5 months (range, 10-40
      months), were treated. All patients presented with detectable SLNs. In 7 cases,
      the SLN(s) and the residual ND were negative for CM. In 3 cases, the SLN(s) were
      positive without further CM in the other neck nodes. Furthermore, 1 patient
      showed additional CMs after 10 months in the contralateral neck and lung
      metastasis after 18 months, but none at the time of the initial treatment. The
      concept of an SNB appears to be applicable to the management of the cN0 neck in
      small SCC of the tongue. The role of SNB in the management of SCC requires
      further investigation by prospective trials with larger patient numbers.

PMID- 26870254
TI  - Intraluminal superior vena cava metastasis from adenosquamous carcinoma of the
      duodenum: A case report.
AB  - In 2013, a 76-year-old male with a cardiac pacemaker was diagnosed with
      adenosquamous carcinoma of the duodenum. Subsequently, a pancreatoduodenectomy
      and lymph node dissection were performed, and 12 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy
      (modified FOLFOX6 regimen), which consisted of fluorouracil, leucovorin and
      oxaliplatin, were administered via a central venous catheter. At 5 months after
      the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient experienced the sudden onset
      of severe pain at the back right of the ear, edema of the right side of the face
      and right jugular vein dilatation. Computed tomography (CT) revealed filling
      defects in the superior vena cava (SVC) and right brachiocephalic vein,
      indicating catheter-induced venous thrombosis. Although the catheter was removed
      and anti-coagulation therapy, aspiration of the thrombosis and ballooning
      dilatation were performed immediately, the patient's symptoms were not
      ameliorated. Notably, histological examination following thrombus aspiration
      revealed metastatic cancer cells, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission
      tomography/CT identified metabolically active nodules in the SVC at locations
      consistent with the initial duodenal tumors detected by CT and in the first
      thoracic vertebrae. The tumor thrombus rapidly increased in size and resulted in
      worsening dyspnea. Subsequently, radiotherapy was performed, followed by
      chemotherapy, which relieved the systemic symptoms and suppressed the tumor
      growth. Adenosquamous carcinoma of the duodenum is extremely rare, and to the
      best of our knowledge, intraluminal SVC metastasis as a result of adenosquamous
      carcinoma of the duodenum has not been reported previously. The placement of a
      cardiac pacemaker, central venous catheter and tumor cells possessing high
      metastatic potential are hypothesized to have contributed to this rare case of
      metastasis.

PMID- 26870255
TI  - Melittin suppresses cathepsin S-induced invasion and angiogenesis via blocking of
      the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2/MEK1/ERK1/2 pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Melittin, a significant constituent of Apis mellifera (honeybee) venom, is a
      water-soluble toxic peptide that has traditionally been used as an antitumor
      agent. However, the underlying mechanisms by which it inhibits tumor cell growth
      and angiogenesis remain to be elucidated. In the present study, screening for
      increased cathepsin S (Cat S) expression levels was performed in MHCC97-H cells
      and various other hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines by reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. A pcDNA3.1-small hairpin RNA
      (shRNA)-Cat S vector was stably transfected into MHCC97-H cells (shRNA/MHCC97-H)
      in order to knockdown the expression of Cat S. The effects resulting from the
      inhibition of Cat S-induced proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis by melittin
      were examined using cell proliferation, cell viability, flat plate colony
      formation, migration, wound healing, Transwell migration and ELISA assays. In
      order to substantiate the evidence for melittin-mediated inhibition of Cat S
      induced angiogenesis, Cat S RNA was transfected into primary human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (Cat S-HUVECs) to induce overexpression of the Cat S gene. The
      effects of melittin on HUVECs were examined using Transwell migration and tube
      formation assays. The findings demonstrated that melittin was able to
      significantly suppress MHCC97-H cell (Mock/MHCC97-H) proliferation, invasion and
      angiogenesis, as well as capillary tube formation of Cat S-HUVECs, in a dose
      dependent manner. However, proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis in
      shRNA/MHCC97-H and in native HUVECs (Mock-HUVECs) were unaffected. In addition,
      melittin specifically decreased the expression of phosphorylated (activated) Cat
      S, and components of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/VEGF
      receptor 2 (VEGFR-2)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1
      (MEK1)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway in
      Mock/MHCC97-H cells. In conclusion, the inhibition of tumor cell growth and anti
      angiogenic activity exerted by melittin may be associated with anti-Cat S
      actions, via the inhibition of VEGF-A/VEGFR-2/MEK1/ERK1/2 signaling.

PMID- 26870256
TI  - Novel method for the detection and quantification of malignant cells in the CSF
      of patients with leptomeningeal metastasis of lung cancer.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to discuss a novel method for the detection of
      malignant tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), by observing tumor marker
      immunostaining fluorescence in situ hybridization (TM-iFISH) enrichment and by
      counting CSF malignant tumor cells in patients with lung cancer leptomeningeal
      metastasis (LM). A total of 10 CSF samples were collected from 6 patients that
      presented with lung cancer LM. For each patient, 20 ml CSF was obtained through a
      lumbar puncture, of which 7.5 ml was used to count the number of malignant tumor
      cells in the CSF using TM-iFISH enrichment. Cytological and biochemical
      examinations were conducted on the remaining 10 ml and 2.5 ml CSF, respectively.
      The 10 CSF samples were successfully analyzed by TM-iFISH, and the tumor cell
      count range was 3-1,823 cells/7.5 ml CSF in 7 of the samples detected. There were
      no tumor cells detected in the remaining 3 samples. Tumor cells were revealed in
      3 of the samples through the CSF cytological examinations, and albumin protein
      levels were indicated to be greater than the normal range (normal range, 0.15
      0.45 g/l), in 9 of the samples using CSF biochemical examinations. Additionally,
      TM-iFISH was performed again to count the CSF malignant tumor cells in 3 of the
      patients following intrathecal injection of chemotherapy (methotrexate 10 mg and
      dexamethasone 5 mg). The results indicated that the malignant tumor cell count of
      2 of the patients had decreased in comparison to the pre-treatment cell count. As
      it is capable of enriching and counting CSF malignant tumor cells in patients
      with lung cancer LM, TM-iFISH may be an effective method to diagnose lung cancer
      LM and to evaluate its efficacy.

PMID- 26870257
TI  - Nine susceptibility loci for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma
      identified by a pilot two-stage genome-wide association study.
AB  - Previous studies have indicated that complex interactions among viral,
      environmental and genetic factors lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To
      identify susceptibility alleles for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC, the
      present study conducted a pilot two-phase genome-wide association study (GWAS) in
      660 Han Chinese individuals. In phase 1, a total of 500,447 single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 50 HCC cases and 50 controls using
      Affymetrix GeneChip 500k Array Set. In phase 2, 1,152 SNPs were selected from
      phase 1 and genotyped in 282 cases and 278 controls using the Illumina GoldenGate
      platform. The prior probability of HCC in control subjects was assigned at 0.01,
      and false-positive report probability (FPRP) was utilized to evaluate the
      statistical significance. In phase 1, one SNP (rs2212522) showed a significant
      association with HCC (Pallele=5.23*10-8; ORallele=4.96; 95% CI, 2.72-9.03). In
      phase 2, among 27 SNPs with unadjusted Pallele<0.05, 9 SNPs were associated with
      HCC based on FPRP criteria (FPRP <0.20). The strongest statistical evidence for
      an association signal was with rs2120243 (combined ORallele=1.76; 95% CI, 1.39
      2.22; P=2.00*10-6), which maps within the fourth intron of VEPH1. The second
      strongest statistical evidence for an association was identified for rs1350171
      (combined ORallele=1.66; 95% CI, 1.33-2.07; P=6.48*10-6), which maps to the
      region downstream of the FZD4 gene. The other potential susceptibility genes
      included PCDH9, PRMT6, LHX1, KIF2B and L3MBTL4. In conclusion, this pilot two
      phase GWAS provides the evidence for the existence of common susceptibility loci
      for HCC. These genes involved various signaling pathways, including those
      associated with transforming growth factor beta, insulin/phosphoinositide 3
      kinase, Wnt and epidermal growth factor receptor. These associations must be
      replicated and validated in larger studies.

PMID- 26870259
TI  - Effects of plant-derived anti-leukemic drugs on individualized leukemic cell
      population profiles in Egyptian patients.
AB  - Leukemias are a group of cancer types that originate from blood-forming tissues.
      In this disease, an abnormally large number of immature white blood cells is
      produced by the bone marrow. The relationship between treatments with plant
      derived drugs and leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIPs) of clinically
      isolated leukemia cells has yet to be established. The aim of the present study
      was to develop a preliminary clinical prognostic map for commonly expressed LAIPs
      in patients clinically diagnosed with leukemia, as well as to assess the
      potential involvement of LAIPs in the response rate to 10 natural products of
      plant origin. An increased expression of LAIPs, including CD4, CD14, CD33 and
      CD34, was considered a surrogate marker of the desired response of leukemia cells
      to treatment with plant-derived drugs. By contrast, the increased expression of
      the LAIPs, MPO and DR, was associated with poor prognostic outcomes following
      treatment with the plant-derived drugs. The results showed that 5 of the 10 plant
      derived drugs tested induced the expression of several desirable LAIPs
      biomarkers. These findings clearly highlight the potential treatment efficacy of
      certain plant-derived drugs against leukemic cell types.

PMID- 26870258
TI  - Globular adiponectin enhances invasion in human breast cancer cells.
AB  - Every year, a large number of women succumb to metastatic breast cancer due to a
      lack of curative approaches for this disease. Adiponectin (AdipoQ) is the most
      abundant of the adipocyte-secreted adipokines. In recent years, there has been an
      interest in the use of AdipoQ and AdipoQ receptor agonists as therapeutic agents
      for the treatment of breast cancer. However, while multiple epidemiological
      studies have previously indicated that low levels of circulating plasma AdipoQ
      portend poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer, recent studies have
      reported that elevated expression levels of AdipoQ in breast tissue are
      correlated with advanced stages of the disease. Thus, the aim of the present
      study was to clarify the mechanism by which AdipoQ in breast tissue acts directly
      on tumor cells to regulate the early steps of breast cancer metastasis. In the
      present study, the effects of different AdipoQ isoforms on the metastatic
      potential of human breast cancer cells were investigated. The results revealed
      that globular adiponectin (gAd) promoted invasive cell morphology and
      significantly increased the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer
      cells, whereas full-length adiponectin (fAd) had no effect on these cells.
      Additionally, gAd, but not fAd, increased the expression levels of microtubule
      associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3B)-II and intracellular LC3B puncta,
      which are indicators of autophagosome formation, thus suggesting autophagic
      induction by gAd. Furthermore, the inhibition of autophagic function by autophagy
      related protein 7 knockdown attenuated the gAd-induced increase in invasiveness
      in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the results of the present study suggested
      that a specific AdipoQ isoform may enhance breast cancer invasion, possibly via
      autophagic induction. Understanding the roles of the different AdipoQ isoforms as
      microenvironmental regulatory molecules may aid the development of effective
      AdipoQ-based treatments for breast cancer.

PMID- 26870260
TI  - Pathological confirmation of 4 cases with isolated cortical vein thrombosis
      previously misdiagnosed as brain tumor.
AB  - Isolated cortical vein thrombosis (ICoVT) is a rare form of cerebral venous
      thrombosis and is easily misdiagnosed as brain tumor due to its atypical clinical
      presentations and radiological findings similar to brain tumors. The present
      study focused on 4 patients with ICoVT, 2 men and 2 women. In the 2 male
      patients, the onset of disease was insidious, with progressive numbness and
      weakness in limbs as the major symptoms. By contrast, 2 female patients suffered
      from acute onset of symptoms, presenting with headache and seizures. Brain
      computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed large hemorrhagic
      lesions surrounded by massive edemas in the 4 patients. Brain biopsies were
      performed in the 4 patients due to concern for brain tumors. However, the
      pathological results supported the diagnosis of ICoVT, and the subsequent
      anticoagulant treatment administered was effective for all 4 patients. In
      conclusion, ICoVT can be easily misdiagnosed as brain tumor because of the
      atypical clinical and imaging features. The results suggested that the
      possibility of ICoVT always be considered in patients with neuroimaging showing
      cortical hemorrhagic lesions with massive edemas.

PMID- 26870261
TI  - Mantle cell lymphoma with multiple lymphomatous polyposis and intussusception: A
      case report.
AB  - Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare malignant lymphoma of the gastrointestinal
      (GI) tract that may present as multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP); however,
      MLP with intussusception is rarely reported in MCL. In the present study, a 54
      year-old male patient was diagnosed with MCL, presenting with numerous polypoid
      lesions of the complete GI tract combined with ileocecal intussusception. Right
      hemicolectomy was performed in order to prevent complicated intussusception and
      for tumor debulking. In addition, 6 cycles of chemotherapy were performed with
      the rituximab plus hyper-CVAD regimen. Subsequent to the planned chemotherapy
      cycles, follow-up examination demonstrated a complete response and the remission
      lasted for 3 years until the present time.

PMID- 26870263
TI  - Clinicopathological features of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
AB  - Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a superficial cutaneous tumor of low
      malignant potential characterized by a high rate of local recurrence. The
      histopathological appearance shows uniform spindle neoplastic cells arranged in a
      predominantly storiform pattern, typically with positive staining for cluster of
      differentiation (CD)34 and vimentin on immunohistochemistry. A minority of cases
      of DFSP have areas of sarcomatous transformation. Wide surgical excision is the
      cornerstone of treatment for DFSP. The objective of the present study was to
      determine the clinicopathological features of DFSP. Pathological records were
      searched for cases of DFSP in the database of the Department of Pathology,
      Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital (Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand)
      between 1994 and 2013. The results showed 68 cases with DFSP. The mean age at
      diagnosis was 40 years (range, 3-86 years). Among this group of patients, 26
      cases (38.2%) experienced local recurrence and 6 (8.8%) exhibited sarcomatous
      transformation of DFSP. The factors that predict the recurrence of DFSP are an
      incorrect first pathological diagnosis and an inadequate surgical margin. The
      factors that predict the sarcomatous transformation of DFSP are a larger tumor
      size and an incorrect first pathological diagnosis. In patients who have tumors
      with spindle cells arranged in a storiform pattern, CD34 immunohistochemical
      staining provides the definitive diagnosis. Exact histopathological
      categorization is important to select the appropriate treatment and predict the
      clinical outcome.

PMID- 26870262
TI  - Epidermal inclusion cyst of the breast: A literature review.
AB  - An epidermal inclusion cyst (EIC) of the breast is a rare, benign condition that
      may potentially be malignant. The present study conducted a systematic review of
      the literature in order to identify pathological hypotheses, clinical
      characteristics, and diagnostic and treatment options. A search for relevant
      studies was conducted through the Scopus, Embase and Medline databases during
      September 2014. The search term employed was ?epidermal inclusion cyst breast?.
      Studies were selected if they contained adequate information regarding symptoms
      at presentation, diagnostic tools, pathology, characteristics, type of procedure
      performed and follow-up routines. A total of 35 papers describing 91 patients
      affected by EIC of the breast were identified. Following this, a total of 82
      patients, including an additional case supplied from the present study, were
      selected for further analysis. EIC of the breast typically occurs during the
      fifth decade of life. A palpable mass of the breast was present in 65 (79%)
      patients. Ultrasonographic imaging was consistently utilized as a diagnostic tool
      in all the cases analyzed, whereas fine-needle aspiration cytology was used in
      70% of the cases and mammography in 65%. No tumor recurrence was reported at a
      mean follow-up time of 53 months. The present study demonstrated that elliptical
      excision is the preferred treatment for EIC of the breast, with pathological
      analysis required to exclude malignancy.

PMID- 26870264
TI  - Sigmoid colonic metastasis by lymphatic spread occurring with unilateral
      Krukenberg tumor considered to be caused by stage IA early gastric cancer: A case
      report.
AB  - Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies in Asia, and the second
      most common cause of cancer-associated mortality in Japan. Colorectal metastases
      originating from gastric adenocarcinoma are extremely rare. The present study
      reports an unusual case of lymphogenous sigmoid metastasis of gastric
      adenocarcinoma occurring in a 58-year-old female patient. Endoscopic and
      radiological findings were indicative of 0-IIc+IIa early gastric cancer, and
      radical distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was performed. The
      pathological diagnosis was stage IA gastric adenocarcinoma (T1bN0M0), according
      to the Japanese classification of gastric cancer. A follow-up examination at 18
      months post surgery revealed a recurrence of paraaortic lymph node metastasis,
      detected by abdominal computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography
      (PET)/CT. The patient received chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin. Subsequently,
      radiotherapy was administered to the paraaortic lymph nodes at levels Th11-L3.
      Follow-up abdominal CT and PET/CT revealed an enlarged left ovary, and abnormal
      uptake in the left ovary and sigmoid colon. An oophorectomy and sigmoidectomy
      with D3 lymph node dissection were performed. The pathological diagnosis was
      metastatic adenocarcinoma; this was identical to the gastric pathology in the
      previous pathological report. The patient continued treatment with chemotherapy.
      Although sigmoid colonic metastasis from gastric cancer is extremely rare,
      metastasis from gastric cancer must be considered during the differential
      diagnosis of cases involving a colorectal mass and a previous history of gastric
      cancer.

PMID- 26870265
TI  - Nicotine enhances hepatocyte growth factor-mediated lung cancer cell migration by
      activating the alpha7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor and phosphoinositide kinase
      3-dependent pathway.
AB  - Cigarette smoking not only promotes lung carcinogenesis, but it has also been
      demonstrated to promote the progression of lung cancer. Despite nicotine being a
      major component of cigarette smoke, it is not carcinogenic when acting alone.
      Instead, it is believed to function as a tumor promoter. Due to the fatal
      consequences of lung cancer being primarily associated with the processes of
      invasion and metastasis, the present study aimed to determine the effect of
      nicotine on the migratory activity of lung cancer cells. The effect of nicotine
      on the migration of lung cancer A549 cells was evaluated by a wound healing
      assay. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was used as a pro-migratory stimulus.
      During several of the experiments, specific inhibitors of alpha7-nicotine
      acetylcholine receptor (alpha7-nAchR), phosphoinositide kinase-3 (PI3K) and
      extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 were included. The phosphorylation
      levels of Akt and ERK1/2 were examined using a cell-based protein phosphorylation
      assay. It was observed that nicotine did not induce cell migration by itself, but
      that it instead promoted HGF-induced cell migration. The effects of nicotine were
      inhibited by the pretreatment of the cells with the alpha7-nAchR inhibitor,
      methyllycaconitine, and the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. The mitogen-activated
      protein kinase/ERK kinase kinase inhibitor exerted modest, but non-significant
      inhibitory activity on the effect of nicotine. Nicotine did not induce Akt
      phosphorylation by itself, but instead promoted the HGF-induced phosphorylation
      of Akt. It was also observed that nicotine had no effect on ERK1/2
      phosphorylation. The results from the present study indicate that nicotine, when
      alone, does not have a pro-migratory function, but instead enhances
      responsiveness to the pro-migratory stimulus emitted by HGF. The current study
      provides an insight into the mechanism of tumor promotion by demonstrating that
      nicotine and alpha7-nAchRs act in synergy with the HGF-induced PI3K/Akt signaling
      pathway, increasing the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to HGF, and thereby
      promoting cell migration, a vital step in invasion and metastasis.

PMID- 26870266
TI  - Downregulation of Pygopus 2 inhibits vascular mimicry in glioma U251 cells by
      suppressing the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.
AB  - Gliomas are the most common type of malignant primary brain tumor, and the Wnt
      signaling pathway is associated with glioma malignancy. Pygopus protein plays an
      important role in developmental brain patterning, and has been identified to be a
      component of the Wnt signaling pathway. In the present study, the Pygopus 2
      (Pygo2) protein was examined in 80 glioma tissue samples. Short hairpin (sh)RNA
      Pygo2 was transfected into glioma U251 cells, and the cell proliferation, colony
      formation and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation were analyzed. Western blot
      analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to detect
      the expression of Pygo2. A vascular mimicry assay was performed to examine the
      vascular mimicry of U251 cells. A luciferase reporter assay was used to detect
      the beta-catenin/Wnt system. The cyclin D1 protein was also detected using
      western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that inhibition of the expression
      of Pygo2 significantly triggered the decrease of cell proliferation, colony
      formation and BrdU incorporation compared with the cells treated with scramble
      control shRNA (shRNA-Scr). shRNA-Pygo2 transfection was found to inhibit vascular
      mimicry and block the Wnt signaling pathway compared to the cells transfected
      with shRNA-Scr. The transfection of shRNA-Pygo2 also decreased the expression of
      the Wnt target gene cyclin D1. In conclusion, shRNA-Pygo2 suppressed glioma cell
      proliferation effectively and inhibited vascular mimicry by inhibiting the
      expression of cyclin D1 in the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in brain glioma
      cells.

PMID- 26870268
TI  - Decitabine for the treatment of atypical chronic myeloid leukemia: A report of
      two cases.
AB  - Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) is a hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell
      disorder, predominantly involving neutrophils. At present, a limited number of
      studies regarding the treatment of aCML have been published, and the therapies
      that are currently available exhibit unsatisfactory outcomes. In the present
      study, the cases of two aCML patients treated with decitabine (DCA) therapy who
      achieved remission are presented. A 48-year-old male, who presented with fatigue
      and a cough that had lasted two months, and a 69-year-old male who presented with
      dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath with exercise, were diagnosed with
      aCML following bone marrow examination, flow cytometry and chromosome banding
      analysis. The two patients were treated with four cycles of DCA chemotherapy (20
      mg/m2, days 1-5) and remission was achieved in each patient. The present study
      evaluated the clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and relevant treatment
      regimens of aCML, which may provide insights for the treatment of affected
      patients. Routine blood and bone marrow examinations were performed weekly prior
      to each cycle. Symptoms were relieved in both patients after the first cycle and
      the two patients were followed up for 3 months after completion of the final
      cycle. The findings of the current case report indicate that DCA may present an
      efficacious treatment for aCML.

PMID- 26870267
TI  - Baicalein inhibits the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via
      suppression of the AKT signaling pathway.
AB  - The anticancer effect of baicalein has been known for a number of years. However,
      its anti-metastatic effect and associated mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC)
      remain unclear. The present study investigated the hypothesis that treatment with
      baicalein may inhibit the proliferation, motility and invasion of human CRC cell
      lines via regulation of the protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Baicalein
      was demonstrated to significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of CRC cells
      (P=0.01). Additionally, after treatment with baicalein for 24 h, the protein
      expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in CRC cells
      were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner (P=0.01). Furthermore,
      treatment with baicalein significantly reduced the expression levels of
      phosphorylated AKT (P=0.01). In conclusion, baicalein appears to inhibit CRC cell
      migration and invasion by reducing the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via
      suppression of the AKT signaling pathway. Thus, baicalein is a potential novel
      therapeutic agent for patients with CRC.

PMID- 26870269
TI  - Expression and clinical significance of cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-32 in
      primary gastric B-cell lymphoma.
AB  - Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-32 (IL-32) expression has been examined
      in various carcinomas and inflammations, and has been suggested to be significant
      in tumor progression and prognosis. The present study was conducted to
      investigate the expression of COX-2 and IL-32 in primary gastric B-cell lymphoma
      in order to define their clinical significance and their association with
      Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. COX-2 and IL-32 protein expression was
      detected in 31 primary gastric B-cell lymphoma patients and 19 chronic gastritis
      patients with immunohistochemistry. COX-2 and IL-32 expression was significantly
      higher in primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) tissues compared with gastritis tissues
      (51.6 vs. 21.1% for COX-2, P=0.032; and 58.1 vs. 26.3% for IL-32, P=0.029) and
      was significantly higher in Hp+ lymphoma tissues compared with Hp- lymphoma
      tissues (66.7 vs. 20% for COX-2, P=0.015; and 71.4 vs. 30% for IL-32, P=0.029).
      In the PGL tissues, the expression level of COX-2 was positively correlated with
      the expression level of IL-32, and the two were each positively correlated with
      Hp infection (P=0.004 for COX-2 and IL-32; P=0.01 for COX-2 and Hp infection; and
      P=0.003 for IL-32 and Hp infection). COX-2 expression was found to be
      significantly associated (P<0.05) with an aggressive tumor type, higher
      expression of Ki-67, frequent lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. IL-32
      expression was found to be significantly correlated (P<0.05) with frequent lymph
      node metastasis and an advanced stage. The survival time was longer in the COX-2-
      and IL-32- lymphoma patients compared with the COX-2+ and IL-32+ lymphoma
      patients, but these differences were not statistically significant. These results
      suggested that Hp infection and the expression of COX-2 and IL-32 were closely
      linked with each other, and that the overexpression of COX-2 and IL-32 was
      correlated with tumor progression in primary gastric B-cell lymphoma, thus
      indicating potential novel therapeutic target.

PMID- 26870270
TI  - Upregulation of ULK1 expression in PC-3 cells following tumor protein P53
      transfection by sonoporation.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ultrasound combined with
      microbubbles was able to enhance liposome-mediated transfection of genes into
      human prostate cancer cells, and to examine the association between autophagy and
      tumor protein P53 (P53). An MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability, while
      flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to measure gene transfection
      efficiency. Autophagy was observed using transmission electron microscopy.
      Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot
      analysis were used to assess the expression of autophagy-associated genes. The
      results of the present study revealed that cell viability was significantly
      reduced following successfully enhanced transfection of P53 by ultrasound
      combined with microbubbles. In addition, serine/threonine-protein kinase ULK1
      levels were simultaneously upregulated. Castration-resistant prostate cancer is
      difficult to treat and is investigated in the present study. P53 has a
      significant role in a number of key biological functions, including DNA repair,
      apoptosis, cell cycle, autophagy, senescence and angiogenesis. Prior to the
      present study, to the best of our knowledge, increased transfection efficiency
      and reduced side effects have been difficult to achieve. Ultrasound is considered
      to be a 'gentle' technique that may be able to achieve increased transfection
      efficiency and reduced side effects. The results of the present study highlight a
      potential novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer.

PMID- 26870271
TI  - Establishment and molecular characterization of cell lines from Japanese patients
      with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
AB  - Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive disease that is resistant
      to conventional therapies. Cell lines are useful models for studying the
      biological characteristics of tumors; therefore, the establishment of MPM cell
      lines is valuable for exploring novel therapeutic strategies for MPM. In the
      present study, 4 MPM cell lines (YUMC8, YUMC44, YUMC63, and YUMC64) were
      established, which consisted of 2 epithelioid and 2 sarcomatoid mesothelioma
      histological subtypes, from Japanese patients with MPM. The DNA methylation
      status, mutations, copy number gains, protein expression of representative genes,
      and the sensitivity to several drugs were examined in these 4 cell lines.
      Methylation of P16 was demonstrated in 3/4 cell lines, in which the protein
      expression of p16 was lost. Methylation of RASSF1A was observed in 3/4 cell
      lines. Copy number gains of EGFR, HER2 or MET were not detected in the 4 cell
      lines. Mutations in various genes, including EGFR, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, and PIK3CA,
      which are frequently detected in non-small cell lung cancer, were not detected in
      the 4 cell lines. microRNA-34b/c is a direct transcriptional target of p53 and is
      often silenced in MPM by promoter methylation. In the present study, miR-34b/c
      was heavily methylated in 2/4 established MPM cell lines. For cell adhesion
      molecules, E-cadherin expression was detected in the 2 epithelioid MPM cell
      lines, whereas N-cadherin expression was detected in all 4 established cell lines
      by western blotting. Vimentin was strongly expressed in the 2 sarcomatoid MPM
      cell lines. None of the established MPM cell lines demonstrated significant
      responses to the drugs tested, including NVP-AUY922, 17-DMAG, Trichostatin A, and
      Vorinostat. Although novel molecular findings were not observed in the current
      characterization of these MPM cell lines, these lines will be useful for future
      extensive analyses of the biological behavior of MPM and the development of novel
      therapeutic strategies.

PMID- 26870272
TI  - Solitary recurrence of castration-resistant prostate cancer with low or
      undetectable levels of prostate specific antigen salvaged with local ablative
      radiation therapy: A case report.
AB  - Prostate cancer recurrences are usually first detected by increased levels of
      prostate specific antigen (PSA), and systemic therapy is often initiated if
      distant metastasis is confirmed. However, low or nearly undetectable levels of
      PSA in the modern era of ultrasensitive PSA assay may be difficult to interpret
      in patients with a history of prostate cancer. Deciding whether to initiate
      additional systemic therapy in limited indolent metastatic disease while
      balancing the quality of life of the patient and ensuring the oncologic control
      of the disease may be challenging. In the present study, the case of a biopsy
      confirmed solitary spine recurrence of prostate cancer with nearly undetectable
      but persistent levels of PSA (0.05 ng/ml) is reported. Treatment of the
      recurrence with local ablative radiotherapy improved the pain experienced by the
      patient, and reduced his levels of PSA to undetectable limits (<0.05 ng/ml).
      Repeated imaging analysis, PSA assay and clinical assessment demonstrated durable
      control of the disease without the requirement for additional systemic
      treatments. The present case highlighted the importance of initiating appropriate
      work-up according to the clinical scenario. Local treatment for solitary or
      oligometastatic recurrence of prostate cancer may enhance the effectiveness of
      current therapeutic strategies and benefit certain patients.

PMID- 26870273
TI  - Pantoprazole inhibits human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells by
      downregulating the expression of pyruvate kinase M2.
AB  - The Warburg effect is important in tumor growth. The human M2 isoform of pyruvate
      kinase (PKM2) is a key enzyme that regulates aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells.
      Recent studies have demonstrated that PKM2 is a potential target for cancer
      therapy. The present study investigated the effects of pantoprazole (PPZ)
      treatment and PKM2 transfection on human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells in
      vitro. The present study revealed that PPZ inhibited the proliferation of tumor
      cells, induced apoptosis and downregulated the expression of PKM2, which
      contributes to the current understanding of the functional association between
      PPZ and PKM2. In summary, PPZ may suppress tumor growth as a PKM2 protein
      inhibitor.

PMID- 26870274
TI  - Prognostic implications of survivin and lung resistance protein in advanced non
      small cell lung cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
AB  - Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC), but the chemotherapy often results in the development of
      chemoresistance. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic implications
      of survivin and lung resistance protein (LRP) in advanced NSCLC treated with
      platinum-based chemotherapy. Tumor samples were collected from 61 hospitalized
      patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC that underwent platinum-based chemotherapy. All
      patient samples were collected in the Oncology Department of the Third Affiliated
      Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between January 2006 and January 2011.
      Cytoplasmic survivin and LRP expression were evaluated using
      immunohistochemistry. The expression of LRP and survivin reached 77% (47/61) and
      76% (45/61), respectively. Positive expression of survivin was associated with a
      lower median progression-free survival (PFS) time (4 vs. 9 months; P=0.038) and a
      lower median overall survival (OS) time compared with the absence of survivin
      expression (9 vs. 16 months; P=0.039). Patients with LRP and survivin expression
      (n=41) demonstrated a median PFS time of 4 months. However, patients with either
      LRP or survivin expression (n=10) demonstrated a median PFS time of 8 months,
      which is similar to the median PFS time of the 10 patients with no expression of
      LRP and survivin (9 months; P=0.022). Either the expression of survivin or the
      combined expression of LRP and survivin is associated with a poor prognosis in
      advanced NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

PMID- 26870275
TI  - Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and c-Met is characteristic of alpha
      fetoprotein-producing colorectal adenocarcinoma: A report of three cases.
AB  - alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing colorectal adenocarcinoma is rare and typically
      not well recognized. In the present study, 3 cases of AFP-producing colorectal
      cancer are described. All 3 of these cases demonstrated increased levels of blood
      AFP associated with disease progression. Only case 2 exhibited classical
      histological hepatoid features. Following immunohistochemical tissue staining,
      all 3 cases were observed to be positive for AFP expression. In addition, the
      expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), c-Met receptor and the
      transcription factor c-Myc were identified to be associated with the expression
      of AFP. The 3 cases demonstrated resistance to multiple drugs, including
      epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, despite the presence of wild-type
      Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-RAS; codons 12 and 13),
      neuroblastoma-RAS (codons 12 and 13) and B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine
      kinase (V600E). We propose that hepatoid histological features or a positive AFP
      finding by immunohistochemistry are sufficient for a diagnosis of AFP-producing
      colorectal adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, we speculates that autocrine HGF/c-Met
      activation may be capable of inducing the dedifferentiation of common
      adenocarcinoma cells, reverting them to a cancer stem cell state and producing
      AFP or hepatoid differentiation. Consequently, therapy targeted to the HGF/c-Met
      signaling pathway may potentially be effective for the treatment of AFP-producing
      colorectal adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26870276
TI  - CCR7 as a predictive biomarker associated with computed tomography for the
      diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in bladder carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the expression levels of
      CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) combined with computed tomography (CT) was
      associated with lymph node metastasis in bladder transitional cell carcinoma
      (BTCC). For this purpose, 115 cases of BTCC were analyzed at the Department of
      Urology of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (Changsha, China).
      Preoperative CT scans of abdomen and pelvis, immunohistochemistry of CCR7
      expression in the tumor specimens and pathological findings for lymph node
      metastasis were assessed. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy
      of CCR7 and CT for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in BTCC were evaluated
      separately and jointly. The expression levels of CCR7 were observed to be
      significantly higher in BTCC than in normal controls (P<0.01). Multivariate
      analysis indicated that the overexpression of CCR7 was an independent predictor
      for lymph node metastasis in BTCC (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and
      accuracy of CCR7 combined with CT scan for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis
      in BTCC were 92.3, 83.6 and 70.0%, respectively. By contrast, the sensitivity,
      specificity and accuracy of CCR7 alone were 88.1, 69.9 and 76.5%, respectively,
      while the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT alone were 52.4, 79.5 and
      69.6%, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that CCR7 is an
      independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in BTCC. Therefore, the use of
      CCR7 combined with CT may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of lymph node
      metastasis in BTCC.

PMID- 26870277
TI  - Spontaneous acute epidural hematoma developed due to skull metastasis of
      hepatocelluar carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Acute epidural hematoma (AEDH) is one of the most common pathological types of
      head trauma, and may develop without an accidental event, although this is
      uncommon. The present study reports the case of a 41-year-old male patient that
      developed spontaneous AEDH due to skull metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC). The man was admitted to Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and
      Medical School due to drowsiness and right-sided hemiparesis. A computed
      tomography scan of the head revealed the presence of a large AEDH and a lytic
      bone lesion in the left posterior fossa and parieto-occipital region, which
      exhibited heterogeneous enhancement. The perioperative findings revealed a large
      amount of mixed-stage epidural hematoma and a soft hemorrhagic mass that
      exhibited lytic change on the occipital bone. No evidence of head trauma, such as
      skull fracture or scalp contusion, was detected. The pathological diagnosis was
      hematoma with metastatic HCC. The current study reports the rare case of a
      patient with a metastatic tumor located in the skull that resulted in the
      development of spontaneous AEDH. Once a sudden and unpredicted neurological
      deficit occurs in a patient with HCC that is also diagnosed with skull
      metastasis, the possibility of spontaneous AEDH developing from the metastasis
      should be considered.

PMID- 26870278
TI  - Expression levels of HER2 and MRP1 are not prognostic factors of long-term
      survival in 829 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the eighth most frequent neoplasm in
      China. However, the expression levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
      (HER2) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) in patients with ESCC remain to
      be determined. In the present study, 829 ESCC cases were evaluated using
      immunohistochemistry. The association between the expression levels of HER2 and
      MRP1 and the patient's clinicopathological factors was analyzed using Fisher's
      exact test or chi2 test. Univariate analysis was performed via Kaplan-Meier
      survival curves, while the Cox proportional hazard model was used for
      multivariate analysis. A significant correlation was observed between the
      expression levels of HER2 and the patient's gender (P<0.050), tumor size
      (P=0.013) and venous/lymphatic invasion (P=0.039). However, no significant
      correlation was identified between the expression levels of MRP1 and the
      clinicopathological factors of the patients. In univariate analysis, gender,
      differentiation, depth of invasion, clinical stage, adjuvant radiotherapy or
      chemotherapy and lymph node metastasis were significantly correlated with
      progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with ESCC
      (P<0.050). The graphical representation of the Kaplan-Meier estimate curves
      suggested that the expression levels of HER2 or MRP1 did not exert any influence
      on prognosis (log-rank test, P>0.050). In multivariate analysis, tumor location,
      gender, clinical stage, differentiation and lymph node metastasis were identified
      as independent factors of prognosis in patients with ESCC (P<0.050). However, the
      expression levels of HER2 or MRP1 were not independently associated with PFS or
      OS in these patients. In conclusion, the present large-scale study demonstrates
      that the protein expression levels of HER2 and MRP1 does not exert any influence
      on the prognosis of ESCC.

PMID- 26870279
TI  - Hepatocyte growth factor increases the invasive potential of PC-3 human prostate
      cancer cells via an ERK/MAPK and Zeb-1 signaling pathway.
AB  - Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) in numerous types of cancer. However, to the best of our
      knowledge, there has been no previous evidence that HGF has a role in prostate
      cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HGF on EMT and
      invasive potential, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, in a human
      prostate cancer cell line. Therefore, PC-3 cells were treated with various
      concentrations of HGF for varying durations. EMT-associated proteins, including E
      cadherin and vimentin, were examined by western blot analysis. The effects of HGF
      on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorigenicity were assessed using
      MTT, wound-healing, Transwell and soft-agar assays. Subsequently, the role of c
      Met in the mediation of EMT-like changes was investigated using reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and gene knockdown
      by small interfering RNA. Finally, western blot analysis was used to quantify the
      expression of a downstream transcription factor and extracellular signal-related
      kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling pathway proteins.
      The results indicated that treatment with HGF induced EMT-like changes and
      enhanced the invasive potential of PC-3 cells. There was an increase in the
      expression of ERK, phosphorylated-ERK and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox-1
      (Zeb-1), suggesting that EMT-like changes may be mediated through the ERK/MAPK
      and Zeb-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, HGF-mediated EMT-like changes were
      associated with c-Met activation, and these changes were able to be blocked by c
      Met knockdown. The present study demonstrated that HGF-induced EMT increased the
      invasive potential of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells through activating the
      ERK/MAPK and Zeb-1 signaling pathway.

PMID- 26870280
TI  - Activating transcription factor 2 expression mediates cell proliferation and is
      associated with poor prognosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma.
AB  - Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) is a member of the cAMP response element
      binding protein family that heterodimerizes and activates other transcription
      factors involved in stress and DNA damage responses, growth, differentiation and
      apoptosis. ATF2 has been investigated as a potential carcinogenic biomarker in
      certain types of cancer, such as melanoma. However, its function and clinical
      significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well studied.
      Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the association between
      ATF2/phosphorylated (p)-ATF2 expression and NSCLC malignant behavior, and discuss
      its clinical significance. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction and western blotting were used to detect the expression of ATF2 in NSCLC
      cell lines and fresh NSCLC tissue samples. In addition, immunohistochemistry
      (IHC) was performed to identify the location and expression of ATF2 and p-ATF2
      (threonine 71) in paraffin-embedded sections of NSCLC and adjacent normal tissue.
      The results demonstrated that ATF2 was markedly overexpressed in the NSCLC cells
      and significantly overexpressed in the fresh NSCLC tissues compared with the
      control cells and samples (86 paraffin-embedded tissue sections), respectively
      (P<0.01). Further data demonstrated that ATF2 expression levels were
      significantly increased in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues and ATF2 was
      located in the cytoplasm and nucleus. ATF2 expression was closely associated with
      adverse clinical characteristics such as TNM stage (P=0.002), tumor size
      (P=0.018) and metastasis (P=0.027). In addition, nuclear p-ATF2 staining was
      positive in 65/86 samples of NSCLC. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier analysis
      indicated that patients with high levels of ATF2 and p-ATF2 expression had a
      significantly shorter overall survival compared with patients exhibiting a low
      expression (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Subsequent in vitro experiments
      revealed that cell growth decreased following knockdown of ATF2 expression using
      RNA interference, indicating that ATF2 may suppress cell proliferation. Taken
      together, the results of the present study demonstrated that ATF2 and p-ATF2 were
      significantly overexpressed in NSCLC tissues, and ATF2 and p-ATF2 overexpression
      predicted significantly worse outcomes for patients with NSCLC.

PMID- 26870281
TI  - Retroperitoneal laparoscopic management of a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma
      associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: A case report.
AB  - Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare malignant tumor that is characterized
      by a malignant plasma cell neoplasm. Such neoplasms in human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV)-infected patients are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge,
      the present study describes the first case of a solitary adrenal EMP in a patient
      with HIV. A 35-year-old male who had been diagnosed with HIV 3 months previously
      presented with a 2-week history of intermittent right flank pain. Abdominal
      computed tomography revealed a soft-tissue density mass in the right adrenal
      gland area. The patient subsequently underwent a retroperitoneal laparoscopic
      adrenalectomy. Post-operative pathological diagnosis revealed a solitary EMP.
      Although the patient refused to undergo post-operative radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy, no recurrence was detected after 2 years of follow-up. The present
      case illustrates the fact that this rare type of solitary EMP associated with
      acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can occur in the adrenal glands, and
      that retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of the tumor may be a good method to
      manage this condition. In addition, although rare, solitary EMP should be
      considered in the differential diagnosis of an adrenal mass in HIV-infected
      patients.

PMID- 26870282
TI  - Fusion of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta to CEV14 gene in chronic
      myelomonocytic leukemia: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Myeloid tumor possessing platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRbeta)
      gene rearrangement is a rare hematological malignancy, which presents with
      typical characteristics of myeloid proliferation disorders and eosinophilia. In
      the present study, an elderly chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patient was
      diagnosed with chromosome rearrangement. Fluorescence in situ hybridization
      (FISH) was conducted with a PDGFRbeta isolate probe, and gene translocation
      between PDGFRbeta on chromosome 5 and genes on the chromosomes of group D (13-15)
      was detected. Karyotype analysis revealed a chromosome 5 break, and PDGFRbeta
      thyroid hormone receptor interactor 11 (CEV14) gene fusion was confirmed via
      reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which additionally
      revealed the chromosome rearrangement t(5;14)(q33;q32). Due to the correlation
      between PDGFRbeta-CEV14 expression and effectiveness of treatment with tyrosine
      kinase inhibitors, this fusion gene is considered to be an oncogene. In the
      present study, an elderly patient was diagnosed with a myeloid tumor associated
      with the fusion gene PDGFRbeta-CEV14, using the methods of FISH and RT-PCR. These
      methods were confirmed to be of significant value in improving diagnosis, guiding
      treatment and increasing the cure rate of patients, due to their ability to
      detect multiple rearrangement genes associated with PDGFRbeta in myelodysplastic
      and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

PMID- 26870283
TI  - Photodynamic therapy with a novel porphyrin-based photosensitizer against human
      gastric cancer.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of novel porphyrin
      based photosensitizer meso-5-[rho-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-
      aminophenyl]-10,15,20-triphenyl-porphyrin (DTP)-mediated photodynamic therapy
      (PDT) on the HGC27 and SNU-1 human gastric cancer cell lines. The absorption
      spectrum of DTP was analyzed using a microplate spectrophotometer. The HGC27 or
      SNU-1 cells were incubated with DTP and exposed to illumination by a 650-nm
      laser. The experiments were divided into four groups: A blank control, cells
      treated with DTP without light, cells exposed to laser light without DTP and
      cells treated with a combination of DTP and light together. The phototoxicity of
      DTP was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium
      bromide assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342
      staining. In addition, the intracellular distribution of DTP was investigated by
      laser scanning confocal microscopy. DTP-PDT demonstrated marked phototoxicity
      towards HGC27- and SNU-1 cells. The rate of cell death increased significantly in
      a DTP concentration-dependent and light dose-dependent manner, with maximum
      mortality rates of 74.14 and 67.76%, respectively. There were significant
      differences between the therapeutic and control groups (P<0.01). In addition, the
      growth of cells treated with DTP or laser light alone was not inhibited. Further
      evaluation revealed that, following DTP-PDT, HGC27 and SNU-1 cells demonstrated
      notable apoptotic changes, including condensed chromatin, fragmented nuclei and
      apoptotic bodies, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher
      than that of the control groups (P<0.01). Furthermore, confocal laser scanning
      microscopy revealed that DTP localized to the lysosomes but not mitochondria in
      the two types of tumor cell. In conclusion, significant phototoxicity and reduced
      cytotoxicity in dark conditions make the novel photosensitizer DTP a promising
      potential PDT drug for future use in the treatment of human gastric cancer.

PMID- 26870284
TI  - Evolution and prognosis of breast osteosarcoma: A case report.
AB  - Breast osteosarcoma is a rare malignancy of unknown etiology, with no standard
      adjuvant treatment at present. The prognosis of the disease is poor, and it has a
      high propensity for recurrence and metastasis. The current report presents the
      case of a 52-year-old woman, in whom adenomyoepithelioma gradually developed into
      breast osteosarcoma following three separate surgeries. The patient survived for
      41 months from the initial lesion occurrence and resection in the left breast;
      during this time, she underwent surgery and chemotherapy (liposomal doxorubicin
      and cisplatin) for the treatment of disease recurrence and lung metastasis, along
      with molecular-targeted therapy (sunitinib). However, the patient eventually
      succumbed to respiratory failure due to progressive disease. The present case
      underwent a clear pathological transformation process, and may provide a basis
      for an improved understanding of the clinical characteristics and treatment of
      breast osteosarcoma.

PMID- 26870285
TI  - Prostatic adenocarcinoma presenting with metastases to the testis and epididymis:
      A case report.
AB  - Few cases of testicular metastases from prostate carcinoma have been reported,
      and asymptomatic metastases of prostate carcinoma to both the testis and
      epididymis are extremely rare. The current study presents the case of a 69-year
      old male with testicular and epididymal metastases from prostate carcinoma. The
      patient was admitted to The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang with a 2-year history
      of lower urinary tract symptoms. Digital rectal examination revealed an enlarged
      multinodular prostate, and the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was
      >100 ng/ml. Magnetic resonance imaging showed prostate carcinoma with seminal
      vesicle involvement. A prostate biopsy showed prostate gland adenocarcinoma. The
      Gleason score was 3+3. The immunohistochemistry results were as follows:
      Prostatic acid phosphatase (+++), PSA (+++), P504s (+++), p63 (-) and cytokeratin
      34betaE12 (-), with a Ki-67 of ~5%. The patient was treated with a bilateral
      orchiectomy. The testicular pathology showed that the right testis and epididymis
      were invaded with metastatic adenocarcinoma. The left testis and epididymis were
      normal. The patient was treated with conventional flutamide endocrine therapy. At
      present the patient remains in a stable condition after 24 months of follow-up.

PMID- 26870286
TI  - Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with chromosome duplications detected by
      fluorescence in situ hybridization in urine exfoliated cells: A case report.
AB  - Paragangliomas of the urinary bladder are rare neoplasms derived from chromaffin
      tissue with a chromosomal imbalance. Their preoperative diagnosis and assessment
      of malignant potential remain significant challenges for urologists. The current
      report presents the case of a 34-year-old male who presented with a history of
      paroxysmal gross hematuria lasting for 7 months. Chromosome duplications were
      detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in urine exfoliated cells,
      and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology following a transurethral
      resection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of
      urinary bladder paraganglioma in which chromosomal duplications were detected by
      FISH in urine exfoliated cells. This may be helpful to its differential diagnosis
      and malignant potential determination.

PMID- 26870287
TI  - Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura induced by percutaneous ethanol
      injection during treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report.
AB  - Percutaneous ethanol injection is an important localized treatment method for
      patients presenting with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among the advantages of
      percutaneous ethanol injection are its minimal invasiveness, simplicity, low cost
      and low risk of complications. However, the increasing popularity of percutaneous
      ethanol injection has resulted in serious adverse effects attributed to
      individual variations. The present study describes the case of a patient who
      exhibited acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura, caused by
      percutaneous ethanol injection treatment for HCC. This complication was promptly
      identified, and platelet transfusion and injection of recombinant human
      interleukin-11 resulted in a rapid recovery of the patient's platelet count.
      Attention should be given to this rare complication in patients administered
      percutaneous ethanol injection treatment for HCC.

PMID- 26870288
TI  - Role of deregulated microRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer progression using
      fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples.
AB  - Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for the highest number of
      cancer-associated mortalities worldwide, and the five-year survival rate is <15%
      following the initial diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve important functions in
      a number of human diseases, including cancer. The present study investigated the
      expression status, clinical relevance and functional role of miRNA in NSCLC.
      miRNA expression profiling was performed in lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent
      unaffected lung tissues using 47 groups of fresh-frozen (FF) and 45 of formalin
      fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from 11 pulmonary bulla. miR-21, -30e, 
      363 and -623 were further examined for differential expression in two independent
      cohorts. Other miRNAs, including miR-5100 and miR-650, were upregulated, while
      miR-10a and -26b were downregulated in FF NSCLC tissues. The associations between
      these miRNAs and their clinicopathological features were also investigated. miR
      363, -10a and -145 were associated with lymph node status (P=0.002, 0.005 and
      0.007, respectively) and miR-650 and -145 were associated with differentiation
      (P=0.01 and 0.05, respectively). No associations were identified for the other
      miRNAs examined. In the FFPE NSCLC samples, miR-30e-5p correlated with the
      differentiation of the tissue (P=0.011). The present study indicates that these
      miRNAs may be appropriate candidates for molecular diagnostic and prognostic
      markers in NSCLC.

PMID- 26870289
TI  - Myeloid-derived suppressor cells enhance the expression of melanoma-associated
      antigen A4 in a Lewis lung cancer murine model.
AB  - The cancer-testis (CT) family of antigens are expressed in multiple types of
      malignant neoplasm and are silent in normal tissues, apart from the testis.
      Immunotherapy targeting CT antigens is a promising therapeutic strategy for
      treatment of solid tumors. One member of this family, melanoma-associated antigen
      A4 (MAGE-A4), has been demonstrated to be expressed in melanomas and lung cancer.
      Patients with tumors expressing the MAGE-A4 antigen exhibit specific cellular and
      humoral immune responses to the antigen, resulting in a favorable prognosis.
      Conversely, the expression of MAGE-A4 is associated with poor survival in lung
      cancer. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population
      of immunosuppressive cells, which are upregulated in the cancer microenvironment.
      Little is known regarding any potential correlation between the expression of
      MAGE-A4 antigens and the accumulation of MDSCs. The present study aimed to
      examine the association between circulating MDSC levels and MAGE-A4 expression in
      a mouse model of Lewis lung cancer. The expression of MAGE-A4 in tumor cells or
      tissues was evaluated using western blotting, while the percentage of MDSCs
      (CD11b+Gr-1+) in the blood was detected by flow cytometry. In addition, the
      suppressive capacity of MDSCs and the effectiveness of MDSC depletion were
      assessed in C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice. MDSCs were demonstrated to upregulate
      MAGE-A4 expression via the phosphosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of
      transcription 3705 pathway, while depletion of MDSCs decreased the tumor growth
      rate, prolonged median survival and enhanced the recognition of MAGE-A4 by CD8+ T
      cells. These findings indicated that immunotherapeutic strategies involving
      induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that target MAGE-A4, in combination with
      MDSC depletion, may be an effective approach to immunotherapy for cancer types
      with high expression of MAGE-A4.

PMID- 26870290
TI  - Mangiferin inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human
      prostate cancer cells is correlated with downregulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 and
      upregulation of microRNA-182.
AB  - Mangiferin, a flavonoid extracted from the mango tree, possesses anti
      inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-herpes simplex and antitumor activity, and is
      able to affect immune function. The present study investigated the anticancer
      effects of mangiferin treatment on PC3 human prostate cancer cells, and the
      potential underlying mechanisms. In the present study, an MTT assay was used to
      analyze the proliferation of PC3 cells. Subsequently, flow cytometry and
      colorimetric assay kits were utilized to measure the PC3 cell apoptotic rate. The
      expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and microRNA-182 (miR-182) were
      detected using western blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Finally, miR-182 and anti-miR-182 were
      transfected into PC3 cells, which were used to investigate the effects of
      mangiferin. Mangiferin treatment reduced the proliferation of PC3 human prostate
      cancer cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition,
      mangiferin was able to promote apoptosis and induce the caspase-3 activity of PC3
      human prostate cancer cells. Mangiferin treatment was also able to significantly
      reduce Bcl-2 expression levels and enhance miR-182 expression in PC3 cells.
      Finally, it was observed that mangiferin inhibited proliferation and induced
      apoptosis in PC3 human prostate cancer cells, and this effect was correlated with
      downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of miR-182.

PMID- 26870291
TI  - Pretreatment levels of serum osteoprotegerin and p53 protein and urine telomerase
      as prognostic factors affecting survival in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.
AB  - A non-invasive marker is required for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients
      with bladder cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential
      prognostic significance of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), p53 protein and urine
      telomerase in patients with bladder cancer. For all patients, serum levels of OPG
      and p53 protein were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),
      and urine telomerase was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction ELISA
      technique. Patients were assigned into group 1 (cystectomy and adjuvant
      radiotherapy) or group 2 (transurethral resection and chemoradiotherapy). The
      results revealed that serum OPG and p53, and urine telomerase levels were
      significantly higher in bladder cancer patients compared with in healthy
      individuals (P<0.0001). High serum OPG was associated with significantly lower
      overall survival and disease-free survival rates (both P=0.001), and was
      correlated with advanced tumor stages (P<0.0001), high tumor grades (P<0.0001)
      and the occurrence of disease relapse (P=0.001). Serum p53 and urine telomerase
      did not demonstrate prognostic significance. These findings indicate that serum
      OPG level may be used as a diagnostic tool and a prognostic variable for patients
      with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Future trials are required to elucidate its
      therapeutic role in such patients.

PMID- 26870292
TI  - Appropriate use of tumour biomarkers for treatment with innovative drugs: A
      retrospective study.
AB  - Performing randomised clinical trials to address the clinical usefulness of
      predictive and prognostic tumour markers is a complex process for several
      reasons, and observational experiences may thus play an important role. The
      present study performed an observational retrospective analysis in Area Vasta
      Romagna, Italy, collecting information on tumour marker determination in 760
      consecutive patients who started a new line of anticancer therapy between January
      and June 2010. The determination of well-known biomarkers was requested for all
      gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) patients (n=13) and for almost all breast
      cancer patients (n=369), and targeted therapies were consequently prescribed.
      Conversely, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) determination in
      colon cancer patients (n=177) was requested in ~50% of advanced cases, while
      epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) determination was required in slightly
      more than 30% of the same patients. EGFR and KRAS determinations were requested
      in only 15% and 7.5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (n=201),
      respectively. There would appear to be greater appropriateness of tumour marker
      determination for breast cancer and GISTs than for colon cancer and NSCLC.
      Resources can be further optimised by standardising tumour marker determinations
      in terms of the timing of requests and the consequent use of the results for
      tailored treatment planning.

PMID- 26870293
TI  - Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: A report of 4
      cases and a review of the literature.
AB  - To investigate the clinicopathological features, management and prognosis of
      villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma (VGPA) of the uterine cervix, the current
      study presents 4 cases of VGPA of the uterine cervix. The median age of the
      patients was 55 years (range, 47-70 years), with all 4 patients presenting with
      stage Ib disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was detected in 3
      patients; this was mainly HPV-16. No history of oral contraceptive use was found
      in these cases. While 2 of the patients underwent a radical hysterectomy with
      bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy plus bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, 1 patient
      underwent a radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and the
      remaining patient received a simple total hysterectomy plus post-operative
      radiotherapy. Of these patients, only 1 had been correctly diagnosed pre
      operatively. In 2 patients, the biopsy results had been interpreted as cervical
      adenocarcinoma, and in the third, the biopsy result was of cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia. All 4 patients presented with cervical wall invasion,
      including invasion of the inner two-thirds in 1 patient. No lymphovascular space
      invasion or lymph node metastasis was detected. The follow-up time ranged from 49
      to 83 months (median, 64 months), and the patients are currently alive and well,
      with no evidence of recurrent disease. Taking these results as a whole, VGPA is
      an uncommon type of cervical adenocarcinoma, characterized by its excellent
      prognosis. HPV infection is associated with the molecular pathogenesis of VGPA,
      while oral contraceptive use can be excluded. As the disease has a low pre
      operative diagnostic accuracy, frequent cervical wall invasion and concomitant
      lesions, conservative treatment strategies should be carefully considered.

PMID- 26870294
TI  - DNA hypermethylation of the vimentin gene inversely correlates with vimentin
      expression in intestinal- and diffuse-type gastric cancer.
AB  - The vimentin gene is a hallmark of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and has
      been observed to be overexpressed in various types of tumor cell line and tissue.
      Previous studies have reported correlations between vimentin DNA methylation
      levels and subsequent vimentin expression levels in solid tumors, including
      breast and colorectal cancer; however, to the best of our knowledge, such a
      correlation has not been reported for gastric cancer (GC) using Lauren
      classification. Therefore, the present study aimed to quantify DNA methylation
      levels of the vimentin gene using quantitative (q) methylation-specific
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in intestinal-type GC cell lines (MKN-28, AGS and
      MKN-1), diffuse-type GC cell lines (SGC-7901, SNU-5 and KATO III), the GES-1
      immortalized human non-neoplastic gastric epithelial cell line, as well as in
      tumor and paratumor normal tissue samples. Furthermore, the present study
      analyzed the messenger RNA expression of the vimentin gene in these cell lines
      and tissues by reverse transcription-qPCR. A comparison of the
      clinicopathological features was conducted between patients, grouped according to
      the Lauren classification. The present study identified that the vimentin
      promoter region was hypermethylated in all GC cell lines and tumor tissue samples
      when compared with immortalized normal gastric epithelial cells and paratumor
      normal tissues. In addition, vimentin promoter methylation levels were observed
      to be higher in intestinal-type cell lines when compared with those of diffuse
      type lines and tissues. Correspondingly, vimentin expression levels were lower in
      intestinal-type gastric cell lines compared with those of diffuse-type cell lines
      and tissues, and were lowest in the non-neoplastic gastric cell line and
      paratumor normal tissues. Patients with diffuse-type GC were on average younger
      (P=0.023), and exhibited higher tumor (P=0.020), node (P=0.032) and TNM
      classification of malignant tumor stage (P=0.039) than those with intestinal-type
      GC. Following treatment of AGS cells (which demonstrated the highest methylation
      level of the vimentin gene) with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, vimentin expression was
      restored significantly. Thus, the present study revealed that vimentin promoter
      methylation levels are inversely correlated with vimentin expression levels in GC
      (according to Lauren classification). High levels of methylation in the vimentin
      gene promoter region may be involved in carcinogenesis and the development of GC,
      and may provide a novel molecular classification for GC.

PMID- 26870295
TI  - Radiation dose to the lymph drainage area in esophageal cancer with involved
      field irradiation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to quantify the radiation dose to the corresponding
      lymph drainage area in esophageal cancer using three-dimensional conformal
      radiation therapy (3D-CRT) with involvED-field IRradiation (IFI) and to analyze
      associated factors. A retrospective analysis oF 81 patients with esophageal
      cancer was conducted. According to the location of the lesions, the lymph
      drainage area was delineated and the dosimetric parameters were calculated. The 1
      , 3-, 5- and 8-year survival rates of the patients were 67.90, 33.33, 20.99 and
      11.11%, respectively. Based on the dose-volume histogram in the treatment plan,
      we calculated the volume percentage of the planning target volume including
      clinically positive lymph nodes (PTV-N) receiving radiation doses of 30, 35, 40,
      45 and 50 Gy (VPTV-N30-50). The median values of VPTV-N30-50 were 73, 70, 67, 64
      and 58%, respectively. The prescribed dose size exhibited no correlation with
      VPTV-N30-35, but did exhibit a significant correlation with VPTV-N40-50; the
      radiation field was not correlated with VPTV-N30-45, but exhibited a significant
      correlation with VPTV-N50; The length of the lesion on esophageal barium meal X
      ray and the PTV were significantly correlated with VPTV-N30-50. The analysis of
      variance revealed that the VPTV-NX value in the upper thoracic segment was higher
      compared with that in the middle and lower thoracic segments; VPTV-N30-35 values
      differed significantly according to the different locations of the lesions,
      whereas VPTV-N40-50 values exhibited no significant differences. The value of
      VPTV-NX exerted no significant effect on long-term patient survival. Therefore,
      the corresponding lymph drainage area of esophageal cancer IS subjected to a
      certain Radiation dose when patients undergo 3D-CRT with IFI, which may play a
      role in the prevention of regional nodal metastasis. However, this hypothesis
      requires confirmation by further clinical studies.

PMID- 26870296
TI  - Central nervous system recurrence of desmoplastic small round cell tumor
      following aggressive multimodal therapy: A case report.
AB  - Patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) have an extremely
      poor outcome despite the use of aggressive therapy. The current study presents
      the case of 16-year-old male with metastatic DSRCT, in which multimodal therapy,
      including intensive chemotherapies using frequent autologous stem cell support,
      gross resection of primary and metastatic lesions, and whole abdominopelvic
      intensity-modulated radiation therapy, was administered. Subsequent to these
      treatments, there was no evidence of active disease. However, cerebellar and
      pineal body lesions, and bone metastasis to the left humerus were detected 1 year
      and 2 months after the initial diagnosis. Combination chemotherapy with
      irinotecan and temozolomide was initially effective against the central nervous
      system (CNS) metastatic lesions; however, the patient succumbed due to
      progressive CNS disease after seven courses of combination chemotherapy.
      Additional studies are required to accumulate information regarding CNS
      recurrence of DSRCT.

PMID- 26870297
TI  - Loss of GATA5 expression due to gene promoter methylation induces growth and
      colony formation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
AB  - GATA5 is a transcription factor that is capable of suppressing the development of
      various types of human cancer. The present study investigated the expression of
      GATA5 and GATA4, and examined their roles in the proliferation and colony
      formation ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cells. The GATA4
      and GATA5 expression levels and gene promoter methylation of HCC tissue samples
      from 38 patients and HCC cell lines were analyzed using reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and methylation-specific PCR (MSP),
      respectively. The effects of GATA4 and GATA5 overexpression on the proliferation
      and colony forming ability of HCC cells were also assessed using cell viability
      and colony formation assays. A luciferase reporter assay was utilized to
      investigate the transcriptional interaction of GATA4 and GATA5 with canonical Wnt
      signaling. The results indicated that the expression levels of GATA4 and GATA5
      were lost or reduced following methylation of gene promoters in HCC tissues and
      cell lines. Treatment with a demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA),
      restored GATA4 and GATA5 expression in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, methylation
      of the GATA5 promoter was observed to be associated with the age of patients
      exhibiting HCC. Restoration of GATA4 and GATA5 expression inhibited colony
      formation and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro. The present study
      concluded that the expression levels of GATA4 and GATA5 were reduced in HCC
      tissues and cell lines. Treatment with 5-AZA restored GATA4 and GATA5 expression
      in HCC cell lines, suppressing tumor cell growth and colony formation, as well as
      inducing apoptosis.

PMID- 26870298
TI  - Truncated neurokinin-1 receptor is an ubiquitous antitumor target in
      hepatoblastoma, and its expression is independent of tumor biology and stage.
AB  - The substance P (SP; also known as TAC1)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R; also known
      as TACR1) complex is a critical part in the development of cancer. Therefore,
      NK1R antagonists, such as the clinical drug aprepitant, are currently under
      investigation as future anticancer agents. In a previous study, NK1R (TACR1) was
      identified as a potent anticancer target in hepatoblastoma (HB). However, little
      is known regarding the exact distribution of this target among HB subsets and
      whether it correlates with clinical features and prognosis. In the present study,
      mRNA was isolated from 47 children with HB, and reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on the samples to analyze
      the expression of full-length-TACR1 (fl-TACR1) and truncated-TACR1 (tr-TACR1).
      These data were correlated with data obtained from 9 tumor-free controls, as well
      as with the presence of metastasis, PRETEXT, vascular invasion, histology, age of
      diagnosis, multifocality, CTNNB1 mutation, gender and overall survival.
      Additionally, the present study investigated a recently described 16-gene
      signature characterizing HB known to correlate with prognosis. Compared with
      tumor-free liver tissue, tumorous tissue expressed TACR1 significantly higher for
      the truncated version (P=0.0301), and by trend also for the full-length version.
      Accordingly, the expression of fl-TACR1 correlated with the expression of the
      truncated version (P=0.0074). Furthermore, a low expression of fl-TACR1
      correlated with characteristics of the 16-gene signature known to predict
      prognosis (P=0.0222). However, there was no correlation between tr-TACR1 and the
      tumor characteristics investigated, including outcome, although a clear trend was
      observed for some tumor characteristics. The current results reinforced the
      previously described findings that in HB, tr-TACR1 is overexpressed compared with
      tumor-free liver tissue. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, the present
      study demonstrated for the first time that tr-TACR1 is expressed ubiquitously
      among the different subsets of HB. Therefore, NK1R may serve as a potent
      anticancer target in a large variety of patients with HB, independent of tumor
      biology and clinical stage.

PMID- 26870299
TI  - Predicting the failure of retrograde ureteral stent insertion for managing
      malignant ureteral obstruction in outpatients.
AB  - Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is an unpropitious sign that is commonly
      observed in patients with advanced incurable cancer. The present study aimed to
      evaluate predictive factors for the failure of retrograde ureteral stent
      insertion in the management of MUO in outpatients. A total of 164 patients with
      MUO were retrospectively assessed in this study. Clinical factors, including age,
      gender, type of malignancy, level of obstruction, cause of obstruction, pre
      operative creatinine level, degree of hydronephrosis, condition of the
      contralateral ureter, prior radiotherapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
      performance status (ECOG PS), bladder wall invasion and technical failure, were
      recorded for each case. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses
      were used to investigate the risk factors for predicting the failure of
      retrograde ureteral stent insertion. In total, 38 out of 164 patients experienced
      bilateral obstruction, therefore, a total of 202 ureteral units were available
      for data analysis. The rate of insertion failure in MUO was 34.65%. Multivariate
      analyses identified ECOG PS, degree of hydronephrosis and bladder wall invasion
      as independent predictors for insertion failure. Overall, the present study found
      that rate of retrograde ureteral stent insertion failure is high in outpatients
      with MUO, and that ECOG PS, degree of hydronephrosis and bladder invasion are
      potential independent predictors of insertion failure.

PMID- 26870300
TI  - Non-invasive detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma using saliva surface-enhanced
      Raman spectroscopy.
AB  - The present study evaluated the use of saliva surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
      (SERS) for the detection of non-invasive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). SERS
      measurements were taken from 62 saliva samples, of which 32 were from NPC
      patients and 30 from healthy volunteers. Notable biochemical Raman bands in the
      SERS spectra were tentatively assigned to various saliva components. The saliva
      SERS spectra obtained from the NPC patients and the healthy volunteers were also
      analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques based on principal component
      analysis and linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA). Significant differences were
      observed between the saliva SERS spectral intensities for NPC patients and
      healthy volunteers, particularly at 447, 496, 635, 729, 1134, 1270 and 1448 cm-1,
      which primarily contained signals associated with proteins, nucleic acids, fatty
      acids, glycogen and collagen. The classification results based on the PCA-LDA
      method provided a relatively high diagnostic sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of
      81.3% and diagnostic accuracy of 83.9% for NPC identification. The results from
      the present study demonstrate that saliva SERS analysis used in conjunction with
      PCA-LDA diagnostic algorithms possesses a promising clinical application for the
      non-invasive detection of NPC.

PMID- 26870301
TI  - Re-evaluation of various molecular targets located on CD34+CD38-Lin- leukemia
      stem cells and other cell subsets in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.
AB  - Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are hypothesized to be capable of driving the
      development of leukemia, and are responsible for disease relapse. Antibody
      therapy targeting cell surface antigens has significantly improved the treatment
      outcomes of leukemia. Therefore, it is important to identify cell surface markers
      that are expressed on LSCs, and that are unexpressed or expressed at reduced
      levels on normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), in order to establish novel
      therapeutic targets. In the present study, the immunophenotypic characteristics
      of cluster of differentiation (CD)34+CD38-lineage (Lin)- stem cells were
      analyzed, and antigen expression levels were compared with the expression of
      other cell components, using multicolor flow cytometry, in 54 patients with newly
      diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 11 control patients with immune
      thrombocytopenia. The findings indicated that CD133 and human leukocyte antigen
      (HLA)-DR were expressed on normal HSCs and on AML LSCs, with no significant
      difference (P>0.05). By contrast, CD33, CD123 and CD44 were highly expressed on
      AML LSCs, and demonstrated significant differences compared with their expression
      on normal HSCs (CD33, 81.7 vs. 18.3%; CD123, 75.8 vs. 19.1%; CD44, 97.7 vs.
      84.4%). Among the aforementioned antigens, CD33 and CD123 were promising
      candidates for targeted therapy for the treatment of AML. This was particularly
      evident for CD123 in immature AML subtype cells, which may require additional
      investigation within a clinical trial setting. CD44, CD133 and HLA-DR may not be
      suitable for leukemia targeting due to their broad and high expression levels on
      normal HSCs and other tissues.

PMID- 26870302
TI  - Refractory hypoglycemia controlled by systemic chemotherapy with advanced
      hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report.
AB  - Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is an uncommon but serious complication
      of malignancy. Patients with NICTH may appear unwell due to the underlying tumor,
      particularly when the mechanism of hypoglycemia is extensive tumor burden in the
      liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reported to be the second most common
      cause of NICTH. The therapeutic strategies used in treating NICTH involve
      reduction of the tumor mass or tumor load, and palliative treatment of symptoms
      if curative attempts fail. In the present study we report the successful control
      of hypoglycemia using systemic chemotherapy in an advanced HCC patient who
      presented with refractory NICTH.

PMID- 26870303
TI  - Solitary fibrous tumor of the salivary gland: A case report.
AB  - Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare soft-tissue tumors of mesenchymal origin.
      Occasionally, these lesions have been indicated to associate with the salivary
      glands. Through the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging sequences, the present
      study reports a case of a solitary salivary gland lesion, demonstrating a well
      circumscribed, soft-tissue tumor with marked signal changes and homogenous
      enhancement. SFT should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a solid
      mass exhibiting hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2
      weighted images has been detected in the salivary gland. Due to the potentially
      malignant nature of SFTs, it is necessary for radiologists to improve their
      understanding of such lesions.

PMID- 26870304
TI  - miR-128 regulates the apoptosis and proliferation of glioma cells by targeting
      RhoE.
AB  - In this study, we investigate whether miR-128 is capable of regulating the
      apoptosis and proliferation of human U251 glioma cells by downregulating RhoE.
      The expression of miR-128 was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction
      in normal brain tissue and glioma samples. A significant downregulation of the
      expression of miR-128 was detected in glioma in contrast to normal brain tissue.
      Following the transfection of pre-miR-128 and anti-miR-128 into U251 cells, the
      high expression of miR-128 could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in
      U251 cells, and those effects could be restored by miR-128 knockdown. To analyze
      the regulation mechanism of miR-128, TargetScan, miRanda and PicTar were used to
      ascertain whether RhoE was a potential target gene. Next, luciferase activity
      assay and western blot analysis confirmed that RhoE was a direct and specific
      target gene of miR-128. The advanced effects of pre-miR-128 on the apoptosis and
      proliferation of U251 cells were reversed by the upregulation of RhoE expression.
      In summary, aberrantly expressed miR-128 regulates apoptosis and proliferation in
      human glioma U251 cells partly by directly targeting RhoE. This finding may offer
      a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of glioma.

PMID- 26870305
TI  - Route knowledge and configural knowledge in typical and atypical development: a
      comparison of sparse and rich environments.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and individuals with Williams
      syndrome (WS) have poor navigation skills, which impact their potential to become
      independent. Two aspects of navigation were investigated in these groups, using
      virtual environments (VE): route knowledge (the ability to learn the way from A
      to B by following a fixed sequence of turns) and configural knowledge (knowledge
      of the spatial relationships between places within an environment). METHODS:
      Typically developing (TD) children aged 5 to 11 years (N = 93), individuals with
      DS (N = 29) and individuals with WS (N = 20) were presented with a sparse and a
      rich VE grid maze. Within each maze, participants were asked to learn a route
      from A to B and a route from A to C before being asked to find a novel shortcut
      from B to C. RESULTS: Performance was broadly similar across sparse and rich
      mazes. The majority of participants were able to learn novel routes, with poorest
      performance in the DS group, but the ability to find a shortcut, our measure of
      configural knowledge, was limited for all three groups. That is, 59 % TD
      participants successfully found a shortcut, compared to 10 % participants with DS
      and 35 % participants with WS. Differences in the underlying mechanisms
      associated with route knowledge and configural knowledge and in the developmental
      trajectories of performance across groups were observed. Only the TD participants
      walked a shorter distance in the last shortcut trial compared to the first,
      indicative of increased configural knowledge across trials. The DS group often
      used an alternative strategy to get from B to C, summing the two taught routes
      together. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate impaired configural knowledge in
      DS and in WS, with the strongest deficit in DS. This suggests that these groups
      rely on a rigid route knowledge based method for navigating and as a result are
      likely to get lost easily. Route knowledge was also impaired in both DS and WS
      groups and was related to different underlying processes across all three groups.
      These are discussed with reference to limitations in attention and/or visuo
      spatial processing in the atypical groups.

PMID- 26870306
TI  - An ultra-sensitive dual-mode imaging system using metal-enhanced fluorescence in
      solid phantoms.
AB  - In this study we developed a highly sensitive dual modal imaging system designed
      for gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugated to various fluorophores in solid
      phantoms. The system consists of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
      for surface imaging, diffusion reflection (DR) for deep tissue imaging (up to
      1cm), and metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF). We detected quenching in fluorescent
      intensity (FI) for the conjugation of gold nanospheres (GNS) as well as gold
      nanorods (GNRs) to Fluorescein, which has an excitation peak at a wavelength
      shorter than the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of both types of GNPs, and
      enhanced FI in conjugation to Rhodamine B and Sulforhodamine B, both with
      excitation peaks in the GNPs' SPR. The enhanced FI was detected in solution as
      well as in solid phantoms from FLIM measurements. DR measurements detected GNR
      presence within the solid phantoms by recording dropped rates of light scattering
      using wavelengths corresponding to the GNRs' absorption. With the inclusion of
      MEF, this promising dual modal imaging technique enables efficient and sensitive
      molecular and functional imaging.

PMID- 26870307
TI  - Prevalence of Quinolone Resistance Genes Among Extended-Spectrum B-Lactamase
      Producing Escherichia coli in Mashhad, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is an important bacterial species based on incidence
      and associated infection severity. Some E. coli strains produce extended-spectrum
      beta lactamase (ESBL) and are called ESBL-producing E. coli. These strains are
      resistant to most classes of cephalosporin and a number of other classes of
      antibiotics. Plasmids carrying qnr genes have been found to transmit quinolone
      resistance. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of
      qnr genes in ESBL-producing and non-ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from
      outpatient and hospitalized patient clinical specimens from Imam Reza hospital in
      Mashhad, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred E. coli strains, isolated from
      different clinical specimens were used. ESBL-producing E. coli were detected by
      determining susceptibility to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and cefpodoxime with the
      phenotypic confirmatory test (PCT). PCR analysis was employed to detect the qnrA,
      qnrB, qnrS, bla TEM , and bla SHV genes. RESULTS: Eighty-six (43%) isolates were
      ciprofloxacin-resistant. The PCT identified 85 (42.5%) of 200 E. coli isolates as
      ESBL-producing. The bla TEM , bla SHV , qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS gene were found in
      65 (76.47%), 23 (27%), 63 (31%), 34 (17%), and 14 (7%) isolates, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of quinolone resistance genes, which indicates
      antibiotic resistance, in the Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad is a major concern.
      Hence, the antibiotics prescription policy should be revised, and infection
      control measures should be improved.

PMID- 26870308
TI  - The Cytoplasmic and Periplasmic Expression Levels and Folding of Organophosphorus
      Hydrolase Enzyme in Escherichia coli.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) is a type of organophosphate
      degrading enzyme which is widely used in the bioremediation process. OBJECTIVES:
      In this study, the periplasmic and cytoplasmic productions and the activity of
      recombinant OPH in Escherichia coli were investigated and compared using two pET
      systems (pET21a and pET26b). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sequence encoding the opd
      gene was synthesized and expressed in the form of inclusion body using pET21a-opd
      and in the periplasmic space in pET26b-opd. RESULTS: Sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed a band of about 37
      kDa with a maximum expression level at 30 degrees C from pET21a-opd.However, the
      obtained results of the periplasmic space extraction of OPH (pET26b-opd) showed a
      very weak band, while the cytoplasmic expression of OPH (pET21a-opd) produced a
      strong protein band. CONCLUSIONS: The activities studied by the production of PNP
      were determined by following the increase at 410 nm. The maximum PNP was produced
      at 30 degrees C with an optical density of 10.62 in the presence of cytoplasmic
      expression of OPH (pET21a-opd). Consequently, our results suggest cytoplasmic
      expression system as an appropriate candidate with a high amount of OPH in spite
      of inclusion body formation, which needs an additional refolding step.

PMID- 26870309
TI  - Production of Monoclonal Antibody Against Recombinant Polypeptide From the Erns
      Coding Region of the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an economically important cattle
      disease with a worldwide distribution. Detection and elimination of animals
      persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is essential
      for the control of BVD and eradication of BVDV. There are usually no
      pathognomonic clinical signs of BVDV infection. Diagnostic investigations
      therefore rely on laboratory-based detection of the virus, or virus-induced
      antigens or antibodies. OBJECTIVES: Erns as an immunogenic protein of BVDV, is
      genetically and antigenically conserved among different isolates and therefore,
      is a candidate antigen for development of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
      (ELISA) for serological studies or identification of PI animals. The aim of this
      study was to produce a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against recombinant Erns.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, recombinant maltose-binding protein
      (MBP)-Erns protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using amylose
      resin chromatography column and used as an antigen in MAb production. Spleen
      cells of the immunized mice with the recombinant antigen were fused with SP2/0
      myeloma cells. Next, culture supernatants of primary clones of fused cells were
      screened by indirect ELISA. After three rounds of cloning, the reactivity of the
      MAbs with recombinant and natural antigen was established by Western blotting.
      RESULTS: Based on our results, MAb against recombinant Erns was produced and
      reacted successfully with recombinant and natural antigens. CONCLUSIONS: With
      regards to the role of Erns in the identification of PI animals, it appears that
      Erns recombinant antigen and the specific monoclonal antibodies produced against
      it may be suitable for developing BVDV laboratory diagnostic assays.

PMID- 26870310
TI  - Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare histiocytic
      proliferation of unknown etiology. It is characterized by granuloma-like
      proliferation of Langerhans-type dendritic cells and mainly affects young
      children. Although multiple investigators have suggested the possible role of
      viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), Herpes
      simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the pathogenesis
      of LCH, it remains, however, debated. OBJECTIVES: The EBV infection is reported
      to be associated with LCH. Nevertheless, no report could be found about involved
      Iranian children in English medical literature. In this study, we investigated
      the presence of EBV in Iranian children with LCH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this
      retrospective study, in which we investigated the prevalence of presence of EBV
      DNA in LCH, using paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 30 patients with LCH and 30
      age and tissue-matched controls, who were operated for reasons other than
      infectious diseases (between the years 2002 and 2012), by real-time polymerase
      chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, in the department of pediatric pathology. No
      ethical issues arose in the study, because only the pathology reports were
      reviewed, retrospectively, and the patients were anonymous. RESULTS: There was a
      significant difference in prevalence of EBV presence between patients and
      controls. The EBV was found by RT-PCR in 19 (63.33%) out of 30 patients and only
      in eight (26.7%) of 30 control samples. The P = 0.004, was calculated using chi
      square test (OR: 4.75; 95% CI: 1.58 - 14.25). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first
      investigation performed on patients with LCH and its possible association with
      EBV in Iran. Considering the P = 0.004, which is statistically significant, the
      findings do support the hypothesis of a possible role for EBV in the pathogenesis
      of LCH. These results are in accordance with several previous investigations,
      with positive findings.

PMID- 26870311
TI  - Optimization of Recombinant Expression of Synthetic Bacterial Phytase in Pichia
      pastoris Using Response Surface Methodology.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli phytase is an acidic histidine phytase with great
      specific activity. Pichia pastoris is a powerful system for the heterologous
      expression of active and soluble proteins which can express recombinant proteins
      in high cell density fermenter without loss of product yield and efficiently
      secrete heterologous proteins into the media. Recombinant protein expression is
      influenced by expression conditions such as temperature, concentration of
      inducer, and pH. By optimization, the yield of expressed proteins can be
      increase. Response surface methodology (RSM) has been widely used for the
      optimization and studying of different parameters in biotechnological processes.
      OBJECTIVES: In this study, the expression of synthetic appA gene in P. pastoris
      was greatly improved by adjusting the expression condition. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The appA gene with 410 amino acids was synthesized by P. pastoris codon
      preference and cloned in expression vector pPinkalpha-HC, under the control of
      AOX1 promoter, and it was transformed into P. pastoris GS115 by electroporation.
      Recombinant phytase was expressed in buffered methanol-complex medium (BMMY) and
      the expression was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and enzymatic assay. To achieve the highest level of
      expression, methanol concentration, pH and temperature were optimized via RSM.
      Finally, the optimum pH and temperature for recombinant phytase activity was
      determined. RESULTS: Escherichia coli phytase was expressed in P. pastoris under
      different cultivation conditions (post-induction temperature, methanol
      concentration, and post-induction pH). The optimized conditions by RSM using face
      centered central composite design were 1% (v/v) methanol, pH = 5.8, and 24.5
      degrees C. Under the optimized conditions, appA was successfully expressed in P.
      pastoris and the maximum phytase activity was 237.2 U/mL after 72 hours of
      expression. CONCLUSIONS: By optimization of recombinant phytase expression in
      shake flask culture, we concluded that P. pastoris was a suitable host for high
      level expression of phytase and it can possess high potential for industrial
      applications.

PMID- 26870312
TI  - Seroepidemiology of Rubella in Women Under 25 Years Old Attending Medical Centers
      in Ahvaz, Iran in 2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rubella is a mild viral infection affecting women of reproductive
      age, and the fetus in early pregnancy, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth and
      Congenital Rubella Syndrome. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess serum
      level of anti-rubella antibodies in women younger than 25 years attending medical
      centers in Ahvaz city. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional
      study was conducted on 760 women younger than 25 years attending medical centers
      in Ahvaz. A sample of 3 mL of venous blood was taken from each woman and ELISA
      method was used to assess anti-rubella IgG levels. Antibody level more than 11
      IU/mL was considered safe. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using Chi-square,
      ANOVA and Pearson Correlation tests. RESULTS: Of total samples, 683 women (88.9%)
      had immunity against rubella, 80 (10.4%) no immunity and 5 (0.7%) intermediate
      levels of antibody. Immunity to rubella increased significantly with aging (P =
      0.001) and a significant association was found between age and antibody titer (P
      = 0.001, r = 0.261). CONCLUSIONS: More than 95% of 15 to 25 year-old women (main
      reproductive age in Iran) are within acceptable immunity range. Level of immunity
      to rubella in women of reproductive age in this region appears satisfactory.

PMID- 26870313
TI  - Assay of Blood and Synovial Fluid of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis for
      Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin D: Absence of Bacteria But Presence of Its
      Toxin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic inflammatory
      disease. The staphylococcal superantigens are considered as the causative agent
      of RA disease. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the presence of
      staphylococcal enterotoxin D in synovial fluid and blood of patients with RA.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 blood and SF samples of patients with RA
      were studied. Bacterial culture, primer pairs design, polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods have been used to
      assess of the staphylococcal enterotoxin D. The data were analyzed through
      descriptive statistics. RESULTS: During this study and after sequential
      subcultures, only 5 bacterial strains were isolated. The results of PCR showed
      the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin D gene in almost 50% of SF and also in
      48.4% of blood samples of patients with RA. Similarly, the ELISA method detected
      staphylococcal enterotoxin D in 36.16% of SF and in 33.33% of blood of patients
      with RA. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study showed that a high percentage of
      patients with RA have shown staphylococcal enterotoxin D (superantigen D) or entD
      gene in SF and in blood. However, the origin of this superantigen was not
      clarified and no Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin D producer was isolated. This
      finding indicates other role of this superantigen besides its intoxication.
      Therefore, staphylococcal enterotoxin D as a biomarker may provide a good model
      for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with RA.

PMID- 26870314
TI  - Mannose-Binding Lectin Serum Levels in Patients With Candiduria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Candida species are normal mycoflora of human body which are capable
      to cause urinary tract infection (UTI). Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a kind of
      innate immune system and decreasing plasma levels of MBL may disrupt the natural
      immune response and increase susceptibility to infections. OBJECTIVES: The aim of
      the present study was to assess MBL in the serum of patients with candiduria and
      compare them with control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The blood and urine samples were
      collected from 335 patients (hospitalized in Golestan hospital, Ahvaz) using
      standard methods and the growing colonies on CHROMagar were identified using
      routine diagnostic tests. MBL activity in the serum of 45 patients with
      candiduria and 45 controls was measured using Eastbiopharm enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. RESULTS: In this study, 45 (13.4 %) urine
      samples were positive for Candida species (17 males and 28 females). The most
      common isolated yeast was Candida albicans (34%), followed by C. glabrata
      (32.1%), C. tropicalis (9.4%), other Candida species (22.6%), and Rhodotorula
      species (1.9%). The mean serum levels of MBL were 0.85 +/- 0.01 ng/mL and 1.02 +/
      0.03 ng/mL among candiduric patients and controls, respectively, and there was
      no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results showed that there was no significant relationship between MBL serum
      levels and candiduria.

PMID- 26870316
TI  - Evaluating sex as a biological variable in preclinical research: the devil in the
      details.
AB  - Translating policy into action is a complex task, with much debate surrounding
      the process whereby US and Canadian health funding agencies intend to integrate
      sex and gender science as an integral component of methodological rigor and
      reporting in health research. Effective January 25, 2016, the US National
      Institutes of Health implemented a policy that expects scientists to account for
      the possible role of sex as a biological variable (SABV) in vertebrate animal and
      human studies. Applicants for NIH-funded research and career development awards
      will be asked to explain how they plan to factor consideration of SABV into their
      research design, analysis, and reporting; strong justification will be required
      for proposing single-sex studies. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is
      revising their peer review accreditation process to ensure that peer reviewers
      are skilled in applying a critical lens to protocols that should be incorporating
      sex and gender science. The current paper outlines the components that peer
      reviewers in North America will be asked to assess when considering whether SABV
      is appropriately integrated into research designs, analyses, and reporting.
      Consensus argues against narrowly defining rules of engagement in applying SABV,
      with criteria provided for reviewers as guidance only. Scores will not be given
      for each criterion; applications will be judged on the overall merit of
      scientific innovation, rigor, reproducibility, and potential impact. 

PMID- 26870315
TI  - Y-chromosome phylogeographic analysis of the Greek-Cypriot population reveals
      elements consistent with Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The archeological record indicates that the permanent settlement of
      Cyprus began with pioneering agriculturalists circa 11,000 years before present,
      (ca. 11,000 y BP). Subsequent colonization events followed, some recognized
      regionally. Here, we assess the Y-chromosome structure of Cyprus in context to
      regional populations and correlate it to phases of prehistoric colonization.
      RESULTS: Analysis of haplotypes from 574 samples showed that island-wide
      substructure was barely significant in a spatial analysis of molecular variance
      (SAMOVA). However, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) of haplogroups using 92
      binary markers genotyped in 629 Cypriots revealed that the proportion of variance
      among the districts was irregularly distributed. Principal component analysis
      (PCA) revealed potential genetic associations of Greek-Cypriots with neighbor
      populations. Contrasting haplogroups in the PCA were used as surrogates of
      parental populations. Admixture analyses suggested that the majority of G2a-P15
      and R1b-M269 components were contributed by Anatolia and Levant sources,
      respectively, while Greece Balkans supplied the majority of E-V13 and J2a-M67.
      Haplotype-based expansion times were at historical levels suggestive of recent
      demography. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of Cypriot haplogroup data are consistent with
      two stages of prehistoric settlement. E-V13 and E-M34 are widespread, and PCA
      suggests sourcing them to the Balkans and Levant/Anatolia, respectively. The
      persistent pre-Greek component is represented by elements of G2-U5(xL30)
      haplogroups: U5*, PF3147, and L293. J2b-M205 may contribute also to the pre-Greek
      strata. The majority of R1b-Z2105 lineages occur in both the westernmost and
      easternmost districts. Distinctively, sub-haplogroup R1b- M589 occurs only in the
      east. The absence of R1b- M589 lineages in Crete and the Balkans and the presence
      in Asia Minor are compatible with Late Bronze Age influences from Anatolia rather
      than from Mycenaean Greeks.

PMID- 26870317
TI  - YeATS - a tool suite for analyzing RNA-seq derived transcriptome identifies a
      highly transcribed putative extensin in heartwood/sapwood transition zone in
      black walnut.
AB  - The transcriptome provides a functional footprint of the genome by enumerating
      the molecular components of cells and tissues. The field of transcript discovery
      has been revolutionized through high-throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Here,
      we present a methodology that replicates and improves existing methodologies, and
      implements a workflow for error estimation and correction followed by genome
      annotation and transcript abundance estimation for RNA-seq derived transcriptome
      sequences (YeATS - Yet Another Tool Suite for analyzing RNA-seq derived
      transcriptome). A unique feature of YeATS is the upfront determination of the
      errors in the sequencing or transcript assembly process by analyzing open reading
      frames of transcripts. YeATS identifies transcripts that have not been merged,
      result in broken open reading frames or contain long repeats as erroneous
      transcripts. We present the YeATS workflow using a representative sample of the
      transcriptome from the tissue at the heartwood/sapwood transition zone in black
      walnut. A novel feature of the transcriptome that emerged from our analysis was
      the identification of a highly abundant transcript that had no known homologous
      genes (GenBank accession: KT023102). The amino acid composition of the longest
      open reading frame of this gene classifies this as a putative extensin. Also, we
      corroborated the transcriptional abundance of proline-rich proteins, dehydrins,
      senescence-associated proteins, and the DNAJ family of chaperone proteins. Thus,
      YeATS presents a workflow for analyzing RNA-seq data with several innovative
      features that differentiate it from existing software. 

PMID- 26870318
TI  - Double-Blinding and Bias in Medication and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Trials
      for Major Depressive Disorder.
AB  - While double-blinding is a crucial aspect of study design in an interventional
      clinical trial of medication for a disorder with subjective endpoints such as
      major depressive disorder, psychotherapy clinical trials, particularly cognitive
      behavioral therapy trials, cannot be double-blinded. This paper highlights the
      evidence-based medicine problem of double-blinding in the outcome research of a
      psychotherapy and opines that psychotherapy clinical trials should be called,
      "partially-controlled clinical data" because they are not double-blinded. The
      implications for practice are, 1. For practitioners to be clear with patients the
      level of rigor to which interventions have been studied, 2. For authors of
      psychotherapy outcome studies to be clear that the problem in the inability to
      blind a psychotherapy trial severely restricts the validity of any conclusions
      that can be drawn, and 3. To petition National Health Insurance plans to use
      caution in approving interventions studied without double-blinded confirmatory
      trials as they may lead patients to avoid other treatments shown to be effective
      in double-blinded trials. 

PMID- 26870319
TI  - Predictors of psychiatric rehospitalization among elderly patients.
AB  - The population of Hong Kong and the proportion of elderly people have been
      increasing rapidly. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to determine
      predictive factors for psychiatric rehospitalization within 2 years among elderly
      patients who were discharged from psychiatric wards, in attempt to reduce their
      rehospitalization rate and to reintegrate them into the community. Patients aged
      65 and over, who were discharged from psychiatric wards of Pamela Youde
      Nethersole Eastern Hospital from 1 March 2010 to 29 February 2012, were
      identified. Rehospitalization within 2 years after discharge was the primary
      outcome measure, and the time to rehospitalization was measured as the secondary
      outcome. Patients were subgrouped into readmitted and non-readmitted groups.
      Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were applied to the potential
      predictive factors with odds ratios and hazard ratios obtained, respectively, for
      the significant findings. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted for graphical
      representation of the study results in survival analysis. 368 individuals
      satisfying the study criteria were identified. The same four factors were shown
      to be significantly associated with rehospitalization in both multiple logistic
      regression and Cox regression survival analysis. Referral to other psychiatric
      disciplines upon discharge (p< 0.001, OR=0.325, HR=0.405) was associated with a
      lower rehospitalization risk and correlated to a longer time to
      rehospitalization. History of suicidal behaviors (p< 0.001, OR=4.906, HR=3.161),
      history of violent behaviors (p< 0.001, OR=5.443, HR=3.935) and greater number of
      previous psychiatric admissions (p< 0.001, OR=1.250, HR=1.121)  were associated
      with a higher rehospitalization risk and predicted earlier rehospitalization. The
      rehospitalization rate of elderly patients was 5.2% at 1 month, 9.5% at 3 months,
      15.0% at 6 months, 17.1% at 1 year, 18.8% at 1.5 year and 20.9% at 2 years. 

PMID- 26870320
TI  - A three-dimensional model of the human blood-brain barrier to analyse the
      transport of nanoparticles and astrocyte/endothelial interactions.
AB  - The aim of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human
      blood-brain barrier in vitro, which mimics the cellular architecture of the CNS
      and could be used to analyse the delivery of nanoparticles to cells of the CNS.
      The model includes human astrocytes set in a collagen gel, which is overlaid by a
      monolayer of human brain endothelium (hCMEC/D3 cell line). The model was
      characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence
      microscopy and flow cytometry. A collagenase digestion method could recover the
      two cell types separately at 92-96% purity.  Astrocytes grown in the gel matrix
      do not divide and they have reduced expression of aquaporin-4 and the endothelin
      receptor, type B compared to two-dimensional cultures, but maintain their
      expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein. The effects of conditioned media
      from these astrocytes on the barrier phenotype of the endothelium was compared
      with media from astrocytes grown conventionally on a two-dimensional (2D)
      substratum. Both induce the expression of tight junction proteins zonula
      occludens-1 and claudin-5 in hCMEC/D3 cells, but there was no difference between
      the induced expression levels by the two media. The model has been used to assess
      the transport of glucose-coated 4nm gold nanoparticles and for leukocyte
      migration. TEM was used to trace and quantitate the movement of the nanoparticles
      across the endothelium and into the astrocytes. This blood-brain barrier model is
      very suitable for assessing delivery of nanoparticles and larger biomolecules to
      cells of the CNS, following transport across the endothelium. 

PMID- 26870321
TI  - Optical characterization of epidermal cells and their relationship to DNA
      recovery from touch samples.
AB  - The goal of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of different
      cellular and genetic components to biological samples created by touch or contact
      with a surface - one of the most challenging forms of forensic evidence. Touch
      samples were generated by having individuals hold an object for five minutes and
      analyzed for quantity of intact epidermal cells, extracellular DNA, and DNA from
      pelleted cell material after elution from the collection swab. Comparisons were
      made between samples where individuals had washed their hands immediately prior
      to handling and those where hand washing was not controlled. The vast majority
      (84-100%) of DNA detected in these touch samples was extracellular and was
      uncorrelated to the number of epidermal cells detected. Although little to no
      extracellular or cell pellet-associated DNA was detected when individuals washed
      their hands prior to substrate handling, we found that a significant number of
      epidermal cells (between ~5x10 (3) and ~1x10 (5)) could still be recovered from
      these samples, suggesting that other types of biological information may be
      present even when no amplifiable nuclear DNA is present. These results help to
      elucidate the biological context for touch samples and characterize factors that
      may contribute to patterns of transfer and persistence of genetic material in
      forensic evidence. 

PMID- 26870322
TI  - Measuring the primary cilium length: improved method for unbiased high-throughput
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary cilia are cellular protrusions involved in mechanic and
      chemical sensing on almost all cells of our body. Important signaling pathways,
      including Hedgehog, TGFbeta, and Ca(2+), are linked to cilia and/or cilia
      function. Cilia can vary in length, which has functional implications. To measure
      these lengths correctly, a standardized method with high reliability and
      throughput is required. To date, methods for length measurements in cultured
      cells after fluorescent staining for ciliary components are error prone with a
      possible human selection bias, primarily caused by the orientation of cilia with
      respect of the imaging plane. In tissue sections, accurate measurements become an
      even larger challenge due to additional random sectioning plane. Cilia can be
      reconstructed in 3D and measured one by one, but this is a labor-intensive
      procedure. Therefore, we developed a new, high-throughput method with less
      selection bias. RESULTS: To identify the optimal type of measurement of straight
      and relatively short cilia, three methods were compared. The first method is
      based on maximum intensity projection (MIP), the second method is based on the
      Pythagorean theorem (PyT), and the third is based on 3D alternative angled
      slicing (DAAS). We investigated whether cilia visible in the plane of focus
      ('flat cilia'), and the ones that are angled with respect to the plane of focus
      are represented differently among the various methods. To test the agreement
      between the methods, intraclass correlations are calculated. To measure flat
      cilia, MIP and DAAS provided representative results, with the MIP method allowing
      for higher throughput. However, when measuring the angled cilia with MIP, the
      actual cilium length is overtly underestimated. DAAS and PyT are exchangeable
      methods for length measurements of the angled cilia, while PyT exhibits higher
      throughput and is therefore the preferred method for measuring the length of an
      angled cilium. CONCLUSION: PyT is a universal measuring method to measure
      straight cilia, without selection bias. MIP provides similar results for flat
      cilia, but underestimates the length of angled cilia. In addition, PyT
      facilitates high-throughput length measurements. Manual tracking or
      reconstruction will be the method of choice to measure irregularly shaped cilia.

PMID- 26870323
TI  - Colib'read on galaxy: a tools suite dedicated to biological information
      extraction from raw NGS reads.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the life sciences
      face a deluge of raw data. Classical analysis processes for such data often begin
      with an assembly step, needing large amounts of computing resources, and
      potentially removing or modifying parts of the biological information contained
      in the data. Our approach proposes to focus directly on biological questions, by
      considering raw unassembled NGS data, through a suite of six command-line tools.
      FINDINGS: Dedicated to 'whole-genome assembly-free' treatments, the Colib'read
      tools suite uses optimized algorithms for various analyses of NGS datasets, such
      as variant calling or read set comparisons. Based on the use of a de Bruijn graph
      and bloom filter, such analyses can be performed in a few hours, using small
      amounts of memory. Applications using real data demonstrate the good accuracy of
      these tools compared to classical approaches. To facilitate data analysis and
      tools dissemination, we developed Galaxy tools and tool shed repositories.
      CONCLUSIONS: With the Colib'read Galaxy tools suite, we enable a broad range of
      life scientists to analyze raw NGS data. More importantly, our approach allows
      the maximum biological information to be retained in the data, and uses a very
      low memory footprint.

PMID- 26870324
TI  - Colorectal cancer survival in Jamaica.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the intermediate and long-term survival of patients
      diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and to determine factors that affect
      survival. METHOD: Patients were identified from a prospectively maintained
      colonoscopy database. All patients who underwent colonoscopy during the period
      January 2008 to December 2012 and had histologically confirmed invasive carcinoma
      were included. These patients were contacted at the end of 2013 to determine
      their survival status. In addition to demographics, variables analyzed included
      presenting complaint and tumor site and stage at presentation. RESULTS: Of 1757
      patients being subjected to colonoscopy, 118 had endoscopic and histologic
      documentation of invasive CRC. Of these the survival status of 102 was determined
      as of December 2013 and they formed the basis of our study. The mean age of the
      group was 62 years with approximately 20% of the group being age 50 years or
      younger. Females (54%) slightly outnumbered males. Anemia or overt rectal
      bleeding was a dominant indication (44%) and 65% of the tumours were left sided.
      There were 58 (57%) deaths and the median overall survival time was two years
      post diagnosis. Log rank tests for equality of survivorship looking at age,
      gender, tumor site and presentation revealed that only presenting complaint was a
      predictor of survivorship (p < 0.001). Patients presenting with bleeding or
      anemia have the best survival. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival from colorectal
      cancer remains poor with only about 33% of patients being alive five years after
      their diagnosis.

PMID- 26870325
TI  - Mixture models detect large effect QTL better than GBLUP and result in more
      accurate and persistent predictions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate evaluation of SNP effects is important for genome wide
      association studies and for genomic prediction. The genetic architecture of
      quantitative traits differs widely, with some traits exhibiting few if any
      quantitative trait loci (QTL) with large effects, while other traits have one or
      several easily detectable QTL with large effects. METHODS: Body weight in
      broilers and egg weight in layers are two examples of traits that have QTL of
      large effect. A commonly used method for genome wide association studies is to
      fit a mixture model such as BayesB that assumes some known proportion of SNP
      effects are zero. In contrast, the most commonly used method for genomic
      prediction is known as GBLUP, which involves fitting an animal model to
      phenotypic data with the variance-covariance or genomic relationship matrix among
      the animals being determined by genome wide SNP genotypes. Genotypes at each SNP
      are typically weighted equally in determining the genomic relationship matrix for
      GBLUP. We used the equivalent marker effects model formulation of GBLUP for this
      study. We compare these two classes of models using egg weight data collected
      over 8 generations from 2,324 animals genotyped with a 42 K SNP panel. RESULTS:
      Using data from the first 7 generations, both BayesB and GBLUP found the largest
      QTL in a similar well-recognized QTL region, but this QTL was estimated to
      account for 24 % of genetic variation with BayesB and less than 1 % with GBLUP.
      When predicting phenotypes in generation 8 BayesB accounted for 36 % of the
      phenotypic variation and GBLUP for 25 %. When using only data from any one
      generation, the same QTL was identified with BayesB in all but one generation but
      never with GBLUP. Predictions of phenotypes in generations 2 to 7 based on only
      295 animals from generation 1 accounted for 10 % phenotypic variation with BayesB
      but only 6 % with GBLUP. Predicting phenotype using only the marker effects in
      the 1 Mb region that accounted for the largest effect on egg weight from
      generation 1 data alone accounted for almost 8 % variation using BayesB but had
      no predictive power with GBLUP. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, In the presence of
      large effect QTL, BayesB did a better job of QTL detection and its genomic
      predictions were more accurate and persistent than those from GBLUP.

PMID- 26870326
TI  - Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in treating cancer.
AB  - The morbidity associated with cancer has rapidly increased in recent years, and
      in the previous 5 years has had a tendency to be the leading cause of fatality
      compared with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, effective measures are required
      with an aim to reduce the incidence. Based on the results of clinical
      investigation, a multidisciplinary treatment strategy for cancer, which includes
      radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, are
      prominently used in clinical practice. However, the therapies are insufficient
      due to multidrug resistance, adverse effects and the presence of the root of the
      cancer. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop more effective or adjunctive
      therapies for cancer prevention and treatment. Cancer is now widely recognized as
      a systemic humoral disease. Similarly, the function of herbal drugs is to
      modulate the whole body system in a more holistic way. Recently, herbal drugs
      have been applied to one of the efficient approaches for cancer therapy.
      Furthermore, there is evidence that various herbal medicines have been proven to
      be useful and effective in sensitizing the conventional agents against the
      various factors at the cellular and molecular levels that are associated with the
      occurrence of cancer and in prolonging survival time, alleviating side effects of
      chemotherapy and radiotherapy and improving the quality of life in cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26870328
TI  - Substance-P in symptomatic mediopatellar plica as a predictor of patellofemoral
      pain.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the expression of a neuropeptide of
      symptomatic mediopatellar plica (MP) to prove that there was a significant
      correlation between the expression of substance-P (SP) in MP and patellofemoral
      pain. The specimens of synovial plica were obtained by knee arthroscopy. Semi
      quantitative analysis was used to investigate the expression of SP, and compared
      the innervation density of SP among the three groups: Blank control (asymptomatic
      plica), positive control (symptomatic plica with other injuries) and experimental
      (symptomatic plica without other injuries) groups by the paired t-test, one-way
      analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test in 60 patients. The expression
      levels of SP nerve fibers in the superior plica were 24.60+/-26.17, 117.36+/
      73.62 and 59.06+/-44.06 in the blank control, positive control and experimental
      groups, respectively. The density of nerve fibers in medial plica was 23.23+/
      18.41 in the blank control group, 268.00+/-71.60 in the positive control group
      and 255.44+/-87.91 in the experimental group. The density of nerve fibers of MP
      was higher compared to that of the superior plica. The density was highest in the
      positive control group, and lowest in the blank control group in MP. There was a
      close correlation between the density of SP expression and the degree of
      patellofemoral pain. The SP expression intensity has an important role in the
      incidence of patellofemoral pain and is responsible for the pathogenesis of
      symptomatic MP.

PMID- 26870327
TI  - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: Risk factors and control measures for the
      infection abatement.
AB  - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a vector-borne viral disease, widely
      distributed in different regions of the world. The fever is caused by the CCHF
      virus (CCHFV), which belongs to the Nairovirus genus and Bunyaviridae family. The
      virus is clustered in seven genotypes, which are Africa-1, Africa-2, Africa-3,
      Europe-1, Europe-2, Asia-1 and Asia-2. The virus is highly pathogenic in nature,
      easily transmissible and has a high case fatality rate of 10-40%. The reservoir
      and vector of CCHFV are the ticks of the Hyalomma genus. Therefore, the
      circulation of this virus depends upon the distribution of the ticks. The virus
      can be transmitted from tick to animal, animal to human and human to human. The
      major symptoms include headache, high fever, abdominal pain, myalgia, hypotension
      and flushed face. As the disease progresses, severe symptoms start appearing,
      which include petechiae, ecchymosis, epistaxis, bleeding gums and emesis. Enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, antigen
      detection, serum neutralization and isolation of the virus by cell culture are
      the diagnostic techniques used for this viral infection. There is no specific
      antiviral therapy available thus far. However, ribavirin has been approved by the
      World Health Organization for the treatment of CCHFV infection. Awareness
      campaigns regarding the risk factors and control measures can aid in reducing the
      spread of this disease to a greater extent, particularly in developing countries.

PMID- 26870329
TI  - Ex vivo induction of antitumor DEC-205+ CD11c+ cells in a murine neuroblastoma
      model by co-stimulation with doxorubicin, lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-4.
AB  - The antigen-presenting capacity of specific cells and tumor immunogenicity
      involved in innate cellular immunity are important for initiating an antitumor
      response to advanced neuroblastoma. The present study was performed to establish
      a method of producing antigen-presenting cells that induced an immune response to
      murine neuroblastoma cells through culture with neuroblastoma cells that had
      undergone immunogenic cell death. Immunogenic death of neuro-2a murine
      neuroblastoma cells was induced by exposure to doxorubicin. Mouse bone marrow
      cells were cultured in medium containing granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor, followed by the addition of doxorubicin-treated neuro-2a
      cells to the culture with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or interleukin
      4. Subsequently, cluster of differentiation (CD) 8alpha+ lymphocytes were co
      cultured with neuro-2a cells and the adherent bone marrow cells obtained by the
      above procedure to evaluate CD8alpha+ lymphocyte proliferation and interferon
      gamma production. Furthermore, the surface antigen profile of adherent bone
      marrow cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. When adherent bone marrow cells were
      treated with LPS and/or interleukin-4, followed by co-culture with CD8alpha+
      lymphocytes and neuro-2a cells, interferon-gamma production by the CD8alpha+
      cells increased in response to anti-CD3/CD28 antibody stimulation. CD11c major
      histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) double-positive cells were increased among
      adherent cells derived from cultured bone marrow cells. These cells were positive
      for DEC-205, but not CD8alpha. These findings suggest that co-culture of bone
      marrow-derived cells with tumor cells (that have undergone immunogenic death by
      exposure to doxorubicin) plus stimulation by LPS and interleukin-4 induces
      antigen-presenting cells that can evoke an immune response to neuroblastoma. Bone
      marrow-derived DEC-205+ CD11c+ MHC II+ dendritic cells are key antigen-presenting
      cells in the induction of an immune response following phagocytosis of
      doxorubicin-treated neuroblastoma cells.

PMID- 26870330
TI  - Dietary effects of mead acid on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary cancers in
      female Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - The effect of mead acid (MA; 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid) on the suppression of
      the development and growth of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary cancer
      in female Sprague-Dawley rats was examined. The MA diet (2.4% MA) or control
      (CTR) diet (0% MA) was started at 6 weeks of age, MNU was injected
      intraperitoneally at 7 weeks of age, and the rats were maintained on the
      respective diets for the whole experimental period (until 19 weeks of age). All
      induced mammary tumors were luminal A subtype carcinomas (estrogen and
      progesterone receptor positive and HER2/neu negative). The MA diet significantly
      suppressed the initiation and promotion phases of mammary carcinogenesis; MA
      suppressed the development (incidence, 61.5 vs. 100%; multiplicity, 2.1 vs. 4.5)
      and the growth (final tumor weight, 427.1 vs. 1,796.3 mg) of mammary cancers by
      suppressing cell proliferation, but not by accelerating cell death. There were
      evident changes in the major fatty acid composition of n-3, n-6, and n-9 fatty
      acids in the serum of the MA diet group; there was a significant increase in MA
      and significant decreases in oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and
      docosahexaenoic acid. In non-tumorous mammary tissue, there was a significant
      increase in MA and a significant decrease in OA in the MA diet group. The n-6/n-3
      ratios in serum and mammary tissue of the MA diet group were significantly
      decreased. The MA diet suppressed MNU-induced luminal A mammary cancer by
      lowering cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, MA may be a chemopreventive and
      chemotherapeutic agent. In addition to hormone therapy, MA supplementation may be
      a beneficial chemotherapeutic agent for the luminal A subtype of breast cancer.

PMID- 26870331
TI  - Comparison of the influence on renal function between cefepime and cefpirome.
AB  - Although known for their broad spectrum and curative efficacy on drug-resistant
      pathogens and as nephrotoxicity-free, impairments were observed on renal function
      during clinical treatment of the two most commonly used fourth-generation
      cephalosporins: Cefpirome and cefepime. The present study aimed to further
      explore the exact influences of them on renal function. In vitro, the cell
      viability of renal cells cultured in drug-combined medium was tested for six
      dilutions. In vivo, a clinical cohort study was carried out to detect the
      influence of cefpirome and cefepime on the serum creatinine (SCr) level of
      patients. Cefpirome had an inhibition rate with half maximal inhibitory
      concentration (IC50) of 143.5 umol/l on renal mesangial cells, which was greater
      compared to the IC50 of 7.702 umol/l for cefepime. The clinical cohort study data
      revealed that cefpirome treatment could lead to a greater increase of the average
      SCr level compared to cefepime on days 3 and 7 during therapy, and in addition, a
      greater incidence of SCr >445 umol/l, an indicator of clinical renal failure.
      Furthermore, patients with an average age >65 years were observed as more
      susceptible to an SCr rise caused by either cefpirome or cefepime, with a larger
      augment in the average SCr, as well as a higher incidence of SCr >445 umol/l
      compared to patients aged <65 years. In conclusion, cefpirome may have more
      potential to cause renal impairment compared to cefepime, therefore, more caution
      and comprehensive analysis of patient conditions is required during the clinical
      choice of fourth-generation cephalosporins.

PMID- 26870333
TI  - Mechanical characteristics of the pulmonary artery in beagle dogs with
      hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension.
AB  - The continuous changes in pulmonary hemodynamic properties in hepatopulmonary
      syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) have not been fully
      characterized in large animal models of HPS and PoPH. Beagle dog models of HPS
      and PoPH were induced by chronic common bile duct ligation and Sephadex
      microspheres, respectively. The model was validated by catheter examination and
      pathological analyses, and the hemodynamic characteristics of the models were
      observed. The results revealed that the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel
      was significantly increased in HPS models, but it was significantly decreased in
      the PoPH models. Furthermore, the resistance of pulmonary circulation was
      elevated in models of HPS, but it was decreased in models of PoPH. The present
      findings renew the traditional view that pulmonary hypertension is due to the
      enhanced peripheral resistance.

PMID- 26870332
TI  - Comparison of the effects of melatonin and genistein on radiation-induced
      nephrotoxicity: Results of an experimental study.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of melatonin and
      genistein on radiation-induced nephrotoxicity (RIN). A total of 70 Swiss Albino
      mice were divided into 7 groups. Five control groups were defined, which were
      sham irradiation (C, G1), radiation therapy only (RT, G2), melatonin (M, G3),
      genistein (G, G4) and polyethylene glycol-400 (G5), respectively. The co
      treatment groups were the RT plus melatonin (RT+M, G6) and RT plus genistein
      (RT+G, G7) groups. Irradiation was applied using a cobalt-60 teletherapy machine
      (80-cm fixed source-to-surface distance, 2.5-cm depth). Melatonin was
      administered (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) 30 min before the single dose
      of irradiation, whereas genistein was administered (200 mg/kg, subcutaneous
      injection) 1 day before the single dose of irradiation. All the mice were
      sacrificed 6 months after irradiation. As an end point, the extent of renal
      tubular atrophy for each mouse was quantified with image analysis of histological
      sections of the kidney. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured in
      each animal. In the histopathological examination of the mouse kidneys, there was
      a statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) in the presence of tubular atrophy
      between the RT+M and RT+G groups and the RT group. There was a statistically
      significant increase in MDA levels in the irradiated versus sham groups (RT vs.
      C; P<0.05); however, MDA levels were significantly decreased by co-treatment with
      melatonin or genistein vs. RT alone (RT+M and RT+G vs. RT; P<0.05). In
      conclusion, the present experimental study showed that melatonin and genistein
      supplementation prior to irradiation-protected mice against RIN, which may have
      therapeutic implications for radiation-induced injuries.

PMID- 26870334
TI  - Professional oral health care reduces the duration of hospital stay in patients
      undergoing orthognathic surgery.
AB  - The present study reviewed the records of 58 patients who underwent orthognathic
      surgery [sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), Le Fort I osteotomy, genioplasty,
      anterior maxillary alveolar osteotomy] between 2010 and 2015. To investigate the
      influence of preoperative oral health care on postoperative inflammation,
      infection and length of hospital stay in those patients, white blood cell (WBC)
      count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared between patients who
      received and did not receive preoperative oral care. The mean CRP level
      throughout the postoperative term was lower in the oral care group as compared to
      the non-oral care group. By contrast, the oral care group had a lower occurrence
      of postoperative infectious complications (surgical site infection, anastomotic
      leak) (13.6 vs. 20.8%) and a shorter average length of hospital stay (16.2+/-3.8
      vs. 21.2+/-7.4 days). These results suggest that preoperative professional oral
      health care decreases the duration of hospital stay following orthognathic
      surgery by inhibiting inflammation and infectious complications during the
      postoperative stage.

PMID- 26870335
TI  - Effect of interleukin-2 treatment combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia on
      Lewis lung cancer-bearing mice.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of interleukin-2
      (IL-2) treatment combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) on Lewis lung
      cancer-bearing mice. Magnetic fluids were prepared in vitro and directly injected
      into the tumors in the mice, which were subjected to an alternating magnetic
      field. The temperature in the tumor reached 43 degrees C and was maintained by
      controlling the strength of magnetic field for 30 min. Twenty-four hours later,
      IL-2 was injected directly into the tumors. Mice were divided into four groups:
      Group I (control), II (MFH), III (IL-2) and IV (IL-2+MFH). The tumor grew
      gradually in groups II and IV (both P<0.05) compared to the control group.
      Histological analysis showed that the tumor cells underwent apoptosis and
      necrosis. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that heat-shock protein 70
      and cluster of differentiation (CD) 8-positive and CD4-positive T cells were
      strongly expressed following hypothermia. Therefore, the present study provided
      evidence that IL-2 treatment combined with MFH improves the therapeutic effect on
      lung cancer-bearing mice.

PMID- 26870336
TI  - CXC chemokine receptor 7 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
AB  - Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as transformation and
      dysplasia of cervical intraepithelial cells, is the precancerous lesion of
      squamous cell carcinoma. CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) has been indicated in
      tumor development and metastasis of multiple malignancies or precancerous lesion.
      However, the protein expression and function of CXCR7 in different stages of
      human CIN remains unclear. The present study examined CXCR7 protein expression in
      cervical tissue samples from 34 patients, including 7 patients with normal
      cervical tissues (negative control), 10 patients with stage I of CIN (CIN I), 8
      patients with CIN II and 9 patients with CIN III. Receiver operating
      characteristic curves (ROC) were established to evaluate the prognostic value of
      CXCR7 in differentiating various stages of CIN. Immunohistochemical staining
      showed that protein expression of CXCR7 was higher in CIN tissues compared with
      the normal cervical epithelium (P<0.05). High-grade CIN tissues expressed a
      higher level of CXCR7 compared to low-grade samples. The ROC curve of integral
      optical density analysis showed that CXCR7 could discriminate CIN I-III from
      normal cervical epithelium with 88.9% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity, and CIN
      II-III from the negative control and CIN I with 92.7% sensitivity and 50.0%
      specificity. ROC curve of area analysis also showed that CXCR7 could discriminate
      CIN I-III from normal cervical epithelium with 70.4% sensitivity and 100.0%
      specificity, and CIN II-III from the negative control and CIN I with 50.0%
      sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. An increase in CXCR7 expression may represent
      a novel predictor of CIN. The wide expression of CXCR7 in CIN also supports the
      assumption that CXCR7 plays a role in precancerous lesion progression, as well as
      proliferation, migration and angiogenesis.

PMID- 26870337
TI  - Dyslipidemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Association with
      disease activity and B-type natriuretic peptide levels.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the levels
      of lipids and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE) patients with heart failure (HF). A total of 46 patients with active SLE
      and 40 healthy, age-matched control subjects were studied. BNP was measured by an
      immunofluorescence assay in fresh plasma. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides
      (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo) B, ApoA-I and lipoprotein(a) were assessed.
      Compared with the control subjects, HDL-C and ApoA-I levels were considerably
      decreased and TG level increased markedly from SLE patients. The average
      concentration of HDL-C and ApoA-I in the SLE group with HF was significantly
      reduced compared to those patients without HF. The results showed that the levels
      of HDL-C and ApoA-I in SLE patients were negatively correlated with BNP. Disease
      activity was associated with the TC and TG levels. The present data indicated the
      presence of a cardiovascular (CV) risk in active SLE with high disease activity,
      which was demonstrated by the high frequency of dyslipidemia and higher BNP
      concentrations. Therefore, dyslipoproteinemia may underlie some of the increased
      risk for CV disease and HF in patients with SLE.

PMID- 26870338
TI  - ADAMTS13 and 15 are not regulated by the full length and N-terminal domain forms
      of TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4.
AB  - A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) 13 and 15
      are secreted zinc proteinases involved in the turnover of von Willebrand factor
      and cancer suppression. In the present study, ADAMTS13 and 15 were subjected to
      inhibition studies with the full-length and N-terminal domain forms of tissue
      inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)-1 to -4. TIMPs have no ability to inhibit
      the ADAMTS proteinases in the full-length or N-terminal domain form. While
      ADAMTS13 is also not sensitive to the hydroxamate inhibitors, batimastat and
      ilomastat, ADAMTS15 can be effectively inhibited by batimastat (Kiapp 299 nM). In
      conclusion, the present results indicate that TIMPs are not the regulators of
      these two ADAMTS proteinases.

PMID- 26870339
TI  - Apoptosis-mediated antiproliferative activity of friedolanostane triterpenoid
      isolated from the leaves of Garcinia celebica against MCF-7 human breast cancer
      cell lines.
AB  - The leaves of Garcinia celebica strongly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human
      breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. The present study focused on investigating the
      active anticancer and antiproliferative compound from the G. celebica leaves and
      assessing its mechanism of action. Ethanol extracts of G. celebica were
      fractionated based on their polarity using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and water. The
      antiproliferative properties were tested in vitro against MCF-7 human breast
      cancer cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
      bromide assay. The active compound was subsequently isolated using column
      chromatography and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The characterized
      compound was also tested for its antiproliferative properties and the mechanism
      by which it induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by western blot analysis of the
      activated apoptotic proteins. This resulted in the isolation of a friedolanostane
      triterpenoid, which was determined to be methyl-3alpha, 23-dihydroxy-17,14
      friedolanstan-8,14,24-trien-26-oat. This compound inhibited MCF-7 cell
      proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 82 and 70
      uM for the 24 and 48 h treatments, respectively. Furthermore, the western blot
      analysis suggested that the compound exerted its anticancer activities by
      promoting apoptosis through the inhibition of the oncogenic protein Akt, thereby
      increasing the expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. These
      results suggest that methyl-3alpha,23-dihydroxy-17,14-friedolanstan-8,14,24-trien
      26-oat is the anticancer compound found in G. celebica, providing a basis for its
      potential use in cancer disease management.

PMID- 26870340
TI  - Internal tandem duplication and tyrosine kinase domain mutations in FLT3 alter
      the response to daunorubicin in Ba/F3 cells.
AB  - Internal tandem duplication (ITD) and activating point mutations, mainly at
      aspartic acid 835 in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD), are frequently identified
      in the Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) receptor gene in acute myeloid
      leukemia. The ITD in FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) confers resistance to several
      chemotherapeutic drugs; however, the relative effects of FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD
      mutations on the efficacy of these drugs have not been reported. In the present
      study, ITD or TKD mutant forms of FLT3 in Ba/F3 cells were expressed, as in the
      absence of interleukin-3 (IL-3) the growth of these cells is completely dependent
      on FLT3 oncogenic signals. As a result, the 50% effective dose for daunorubicin
      was significantly higher in both Ba/F3-FLT3-ITD clones, and also in one of the
      two Ba/F3-FLT3-TKD clones when cells were cultured without IL-3. This phenomenon
      was not observed for cytarabine in either Ba/F3-FLT3-ITD or Ba/F3-FLT3-TKD cells.
      Collectively, these results indicate that ITD and TKD mutations in FLT3 may
      confer daunorubicin resistance in Ba/F3 cells.

PMID- 26870341
TI  - Study of the biological features of in vitro cultured gammadelta T cells.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological features of in
      vitro cultured gammadelta T cells. The gammadelta T cells were in vitro cultured
      and on different culture days cell proliferation, phenotype, killing activity and
      the secretion of cytokines were analyzed. Cell numbers were counted by an
      automated cell counter, phenotype of the cells and cytokines were analyzed by
      flow cytometry, and killing activities of the cells against gastric cancer SGC
      7901 cells were tested using the cell counting kit-8. From days 7 to 14, in vitro
      cultured gammadelta T cells enter the exponential phase. On day 14, maximum
      proliferation fold was observed, and on day 10, the maximum specific growth rate
      umax was achieved. Flow phenotype cluster of differentiation 3+-T-cell receptor
      gammadelta+ of the gammadelta T cells in the first 7-17 days achieved a higher
      proportion and showed no significant differences between 10 days. Secretion of
      the cytokines interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gradually
      increased in the first 7-14 days. The maximum was achieved on day 14, and
      subsequently began to decrease. The cytolytic activity of the gammadelta T cells
      to kill the SGC-7901 cells in the first 7-14 days had an improved killing effect,
      a slight decline from the first 17 days; in the effector cell to target cell
      (E:T) ratio 20:1, 10:1 and 5:1 conditions, gammadelta T cells kill SGC-7901 cells
      more effectively than 1:1 and 1:2. In conclusion, gammadelta T cells cultured in
      the first 7-14 days are suitable for clinical transfusion, and the optimal
      transfusion time is day 10. An E:T ratio >5:1 is preferred.

PMID- 26870342
TI  - Association between vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the
      risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: Systematic review.
AB  - Emerging evidence has shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene
      polymorphisms are the key initiators that regulate the expression of the VEGF
      protein, which has a vital role in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). The
      aim of the present study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of the VEGF
      genes are associated with the occurrence of ONFH. A comprehensive search was
      performed on MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and China National Knowledge
      Infrastructure databases before June 2015. Meta-analyses were carried out for the
      VEGF gene -634G/C polymorphisms (single-nucleotide polymorphism with 3 eligible
      studies). The pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to
      evaluate the strength of the association. All the eligible studies, involving
      1,564 individuals, were identified. According to the inclusion criteria, 3 case
      control studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The present meta
      analysis indicates that the VEGF gene -634G/C polymorphism [CC+GC vs. GG:
      Response rate (RR)=0.79; 95% CI, 0.67-0.92; GG vs. GC: RR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.72
      0.97; GG vs. CC: RR=0.82; 95% CI, 0.72-0.93] is associated with the occurrence of
      ONFH, and the association with the male subgroup (RR=0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.94;
      P=0.009) is more evident. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis suggests that
      the VEGF gene -634G/C polymorphism has a significant association with ONFH
      occurrence among the investigated patients (P<0.01).

PMID- 26870343
TI  - Formation of size-controllable spheroids using gingiva-derived stem cells and
      concave microwells: Morphology and viability tests.
AB  - Human mesenchymal stem cells have previously been isolated and characterized from
      the gingiva, and gingiva-derived stem cells have been applied for tissue
      engineering purposes. The present study was performed to generate size
      controllable stem cell spheroids using concave microwells. Gingiva-derived stem
      cells were isolated, and the stem cells of 1*105 (group A) or 2*105 (group B)
      cells were seeded in polydimethylsiloxane-based, concave micromolds with 600 um
      diameters. The morphology of the microspheres was viewed under an inverted
      microscope, and the changes in the diameter and cell viability were analyzed. The
      gingiva-derived stem cells formed spheroids in the concave microwells. The
      diameters of the spheroids were larger in group A compared to group B. No
      significant changes in shape or diameter were noted with increases in incubation
      time. Cell viability was higher in group B at each time point when compared with
      group A. Within the limits of the study, the size-controllable stem cell
      spheroids could be generated from gingival cells using microwells. The shape of
      the spheroids and their viability were clearly maintained during the experimental
      periods.

PMID- 26870344
TI  - Tamoxifen induces hepatotoxicity and changes to hepatocyte morphology at the
      early stage of endocrinotherapy in mice.
AB  - Clinically, hepatotoxicity is an inevitable side effect during long-term
      endocrinotherapy in breast cancer patients. Various studies have reported the
      specific mechanism and protective methods for this long-term hepatotoxicity,
      however, the short-term influences of tamoxifen (TAM) on hepatocytes remain to be
      elucidated. The previous study investigated TAM-induced liver injury at the early
      stage of endocrine treatment. Mice were assigned into 2 groups: The experiment
      group was administrated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 6 mg/kg/day TAM
      for 2 weeks, and the control group was administrated with i.p. injection of
      physiological saline of the same dose. Body weights in each group were detected
      every day, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels
      were measured every 3 days. Small pieces of the liver tissues were obtained and
      processed for protein extraction, biochemical detection and histopathological
      analysis 2 weeks later. The results indicated that TAM decreased the mice body
      weights. Morphologically, with the treatment of TAM for only 2 weeks, at the
      microscopic and ultrastructural levels the structure of hepatic cords became
      blurred in sections of the regions, although the lobules of the liver remained
      visible. Partially, hepatic cells were swelled in spherical shapes. Nuclei
      appeared to be pyknotic and exhibited uneven chromatin distribution. In addition,
      it was observed in the transmission electron microscopy analysis that nuclei
      became pyknotic and unevenly distributed. The majority of the nuclei were endowed
      with distinct heterochromatin and thick nucleoli. The mitochondrial cristae
      became vague and disorganized. Finally, western blotting was used and detected a
      significant increase of the caspase-3 level in the liver tissues. In conclusion,
      the experiments elucidated that TAM (6 mg/kg/day) would cause hepatotoxicity at
      the early stage of endocrine treatment in mice, and the underlying mechanism was
      involved with hepatocyte apoptosis.

PMID- 26870345
TI  - Assessment of biochemical parameters and characterization of TNFalpha -308G/A and
      PTPN22 +1858C/T gene polymorphisms in the risk of obesity in adolescents.
AB  - Obesity is currently considered an inflammatory condition associated with
      autoimmune diseases, suggesting a common origin. Among other factors, candidate
      genes may explain the development of this disease. Polymorphisms in the tumor
      necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and lymphoid protein tyrosine phosphatase
      (PTPN22) genes lead to an increased risk to development of immune and
      inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyze the
      biochemical parameters and the effect of the TNFalpha -308G/A and PTPN22 +1858C/T
      polymorphisms in the susceptibility of adolescents to obesity. A group of 253
      adolescent subjects were recruited and classified as obese, overweight or normal
      weight according to their nutritional status. Anthropometric measurements,
      clinical and biochemical data were analyzed. DNA was extracted from peripheral
      blood samples by the phenol-chloroform method, and TNFalpha -308G/A and PTPN22
      1858C/T polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction
      fragment length polymorphism assays. Clinical, genetic and biochemical parameters
      were analyzed to determine the existence of a possible association with the
      development of obesity. Statistically significant differences in body mass index,
      insulin, triglyceride levels and homeostatic model assessment for insulin
      resistance (HOMA-IR) index were observed among the three groups analyzed
      (P<=0.05). The studied polymorphisms did not confer a risk for developing obesity
      in the analyzed population (P>0.05); however, significantly low levels of insulin
      and decreased rates of HOMA-IR were observed in the 1858 CT genotype carriers of
      the PTPN22 gene. In conclusion, no association between the TNFalpha -308G/A and
      PTPN22 +1858C/T polymorphisms and the risk to development of obesity in the
      adolescent population analyzed was observed. However, the 1858 CT genotype of the
      PTPN22 gene was associated with variations of certain biochemical parameters
      analyzed.

PMID- 26870346
TI  - V-PYRRO/NO downregulates mRNA expression levels of leukotriene C4 synthase during
      hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in rats via inhibition of the nuclear factor
      kappaB activation pathway.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanism underlying the effects
      of a selective liver nitric oxide (NO) donor, O2-vinyl1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-diazen
      1-ium-1,2-diolate (V-PYRRO/NO), on the gene expression of leukotriene C4 synthase
      (LTC4S) during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats
      were divided into 3 groups: Sham (control), I/R and V-PYRRO/NO + I/R groups. The
      liver was subjected to 1 h of partial hepatic ischemia followed by 5 h of
      reperfusion, saline or V-PYRRO/NO (1.06 umol/kg/h) administered intravenously.
      The mRNA expression levels of LTC4S in rat liver tissue were examined by the
      reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method, the protein expression
      levels of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65, p50 and IkappaBalpha in liver
      cell lysates and nuclear extracts were detected by western blot analysis. Hepatic
      mRNA expression of LTC4S was lower in V-PYRRO/NO + I/R group compared to the I/R
      group. In addition, the protein expression levels of NF-kappaB p65 and p50 in the
      nucleus extract were lower in the V-PYRRO/NO + I/R group when compared with the
      I/R group. However, the IkappaBalpha protein in the 3 groups was not changed.
      Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the I/R liver exhibited strong
      cytoplasmic and nuclear staining for NF-kappaB p65; however, the V-PYRRO/NO + I/R
      group liver presented slight cytoplasmic and nuclear staining. In conclusion, V
      PYRRO/NO may downregulate LTC4S mRNA expression by inhibiting NF-kappaB
      activation independent of IkappaBalpha during hepatic I/R injury.

PMID- 26870347
TI  - Effect of 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzene-sulfonamide on
      calcium influx in three contraction models.
AB  - 2,4,6-Trimethyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS)
      activates phospholipase C and stimulates apoptosis; however, in smooth muscle
      cells it may increase the perfusion pressure. The main aim of the present study
      was to evaluate the physiological effect of direct stimulation of phospholipase C
      on vascular smooth muscle reactivity using three contraction models. Experiments
      were performed on the isolated and perfused tail artery of Wistar rats. The
      contraction force in the present model was measured by an increased level of
      perfusion pressure with a constant flow. Concentration-response curves (CRCs)
      obtained for phenylephrine, arg-vasopressin, mastoparan-7 and Bay K8644 presented
      a sigmoidal association. In comparison to the control curves, CRCs in the
      presence of m-3M3FBS were significantly shifted to the left except for Bay K8644.
      Analyses of calcium influx suggest that in the presence of m-3M3FBS the calcium
      influx from intra- and extracellular calcium stores was significantly higher. The
      results of the present experiments suggest that m-3M3FBS significantly increases
      the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle stimulated with metabotropic receptors
      or G-protein by an increase in calcium influx from intra- and extracellular
      calcium stores. The current knowledge regarding the apoptotic pathway shows the
      significance of calcium ions involved in this process, thus, m-3M3FBS may induce
      apoptosis by an increase of cytoplasmic calcium concentration; however,
      simultaneously, the use of this mechanism in therapy must be preceded by a
      molecular modification that eliminates a possible vasoconstriction effect.

PMID- 26870348
TI  - Mass spectrometric signatures of the blood plasma metabolome for disease
      diagnostics.
AB  - In metabolomics, a large number of small molecules can be detected in a single
      run. However, metabolomic data do not include the absolute concentrations of each
      metabolite. Generally, mass spectrometry analyses provide metabolite
      concentrations that are derived from mass peak intensities, and the peak
      intensities are strictly dependent on the type of mass spectrometer used, as well
      as the technical characteristics, options and protocols applied. To convert mass
      peak intensities to actual concentrations, calibration curves have to be
      generated for each metabolite, and this represents a significant challenge
      depending on the number of metabolites that are detected and involved in
      metabolome-based diagnostics. To overcome this limitation, and to facilitate the
      development of diagnostic tests based on metabolomics, mass peak intensities may
      be expressed in quintiles. The present study demonstrates the advantage of this
      approach. The examples of diagnostic signatures, which were designed in
      accordance to this approach, are provided for lung and prostate cancer (leading
      causes of mortality due to cancer in developed countries) and impaired glucose
      tolerance (which precedes type 2 diabetes, the most common endocrinology disease
      worldwide).

PMID- 26870349
TI  - Impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms on radiation pneumonitis in cancer
      patients.
AB  - Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is one of the most important dose-limiting toxicities
      in the radiotherapy of thoracic tumors, which reduces the rate of local tumor
      control and overall survival and severely affects the patients' quality of life.
      Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have recently attracted increasing
      attention as biomarkers for predicting the development of RP. SNPs in
      inflammation-related, DNA repair-related, stress response-related and
      angiogenesis-related genes were proved to be associated with RP, with different
      underlying mechanisms. Radiogenomics focuses on the differences in
      radiosensitivity caused by gene sequence variation, which may prove helpful in
      investigating the abovementioned associations. In this review, we aimed to
      investigate the associations between RP and SNPs reported in recent studies and
      highlight the main content and prospects of radiogenomics.

PMID- 26870350
TI  - Expression of zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox factor 1 in epithelial ovarian
      cancer: A clinicopathological analysis of 238 patients.
AB  - A growing body of evidence indicates that aberrant activation of epithelial-to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor cell invasion and
      metastasis. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox factor 1 (ZEB1), as a crucial
      mediator of EMT, contributes to the malignant progression of various epithelial
      tumors. To determine whether ZEB1 is involved in the progression of ovarian
      cancer, we immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of ZEB1 in 238 cases of
      epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and analyzed its associations with
      clinicopathological parameters. Positive expression of ZEB1 was observed in 32.8%
      (78/238) of EOCs and it was found to be significantly associated with advanced
      tumor stage (P=0.001). The survival analysis indicated that the expression of
      ZEB1 was associated with a poor 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.021).
      A similar tendency was also observed between the expression of ZEB1 and 5-year
      overall survival, although it did not reach statistical significance (P=0.118).
      Moreover, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that ZEB1 expression was an
      independent risk factor for 5-year PFS in ovarian cancer. Taken together, our
      data provide evidence that ZEB1 may play a crucial role in promoting aggressive
      ovarian carcinoma progression. Therefore, ZEB1 may serve as an effectively
      predictive marker and a potential target for therapeutic intervention in EOC.

PMID- 26870351
TI  - CXCL10/CXCR3 overexpression as a biomarker of poor prognosis in patients with
      stage II colorectal cancer.
AB  - The CXCL10/CXCR3 axis of inflammatory mediators is one of the most important
      groups of chemokine axes, which has been proven to be a lymphocyte-associated
      metastasis mediator in several tumors. The term inflammatory adhesions refers to
      tumors found to be attached to the surrouding tissues during surgery, although no
      cancer cell infiltration is later identified on pathological examination. The aim
      of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of stage II
      colorectal cancer (CRC) and determine the correlation between the CXCL10/CXCR3
      axis, inflammatory adhesions and prognosis. Clinicohistopathological data were
      collected from 401 CRC patients who had undergone R0 resection. Statistical
      analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0 software. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was
      applied to measure the expression of CXCL10 and CXCR3 in 71 recurrent CRC
      patients, 72 non-recurrent CRC patients and 10 samples from normal peritumoral
      tissues, all retrieved from the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and
      Hospital, Tianjin, China. Inflammatory adhesions, tumor location and size and the
      number of high-risk factors for reccurrence were more significantly associated
      with overall survival (OS) rather than disease-free survival in all the patients
      as determined by the log-rank and Cox's regression hazard analysis. Further
      analysis demonstrated that only the presence of inflammatory adhesions (P=0.025)
      was associated with the OS of recurrent patients. Patients with recurrence
      exhibited higher CXCR3 (P<0.001) and CXCL10 (P<0.001) expression compared with
      non-recurrent patients, as determined by IHC. The correlation between
      clinicopathological variables, CXCL10/CXCR3 expression and survival was also
      analyzed: Inflammatory adhesions and general tumor type (ulcerated vs. elevated)
      exhibited a significant correlation with CXCR3; however, the expression of CXCL10
      was not significantly correlated with tumor location, histological type, size,
      gender, or preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and hemoglobin levels.
      Furthermore, patients exhibiting a high expression of CXCR3 presented with a
      higher risk of relapse; among those, patients with inflammatory adhesions always
      exhibited worse survival. However, no such association was identified for CXCL10
      expression. In conclusion, CXCR3 expression may be used as a prognostic marker
      and may contribute to the prediction of clinical outcome in stage II CRC
      patients.

PMID- 26870353
TI  - Tubular adenoma of the common bile duct with uptake in 18F-FDG PET: A case
      report.
AB  - A 64-year-old man presented with epigastric discomfort and nausea. Laboratory
      analyses revealed increased levels of total and direct bilirubin, and increased
      levels of aminotransferases. Computed tomography revealed the presence of a mass
      in the distal common bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
      and intraductal ultrasonography revealed a 25 mm filling defect in the distal
      common bile duct, and biopsy of the lesion disclosed the presence of tubular
      adenoma. Using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F
      FDG PET) revealed an increased accumulation of the tracer in the lesion, with a
      maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 3.3. The patient received a pylorus
      preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. The histopathological examination revealed a
      tubular adenoma with low-grade atypia. The patient remains alive 15 months
      following the surgery, with no evidence of recurrence of the adenoma. 18F-FDG PET
      has been successfully applied in clinical practice to detect a wide variety of
      tumor types, including lymphoma, lung, colon and bile duct cancer. In the present
      study, a case of bile duct adenoma with low-grade atypia was reported, revealing
      the uptake of 18F-FDG. 18F-FDG PET may be able to detect premalignant tumors of
      the bile duct, although whether 18F-FDG PET is able to differentially
      discriminate between diagnoses of adenoma and carcinoma of the bile duct remains
      to be fully elucidated, and the assessment of further case studies is required.

PMID- 26870354
TI  - Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas arising in an intraductal papillary mucinous
      neoplasm: A case report.
AB  - We herein report a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas arising in an
      intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). A 68-year-old Japanese woman was
      admitted to our hospital complaining of fatigue. Computed tomography revealed an
      irregular mass in the pancreatic head, which displayed high-signal intensity on
      diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Accordingly, the patient was
      diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. The
      histopathological findings revealed intraductal papillary proliferative changes
      involving the main and branch ducts of the pancreatic head. Based on the
      immunohistochemistry results, the intraductal lesion was diagnosed as IPMN. The
      pathological diagnosis for the invasive carcinoma was anaplastic giant-cell
      carcinoma of the pancreas (ACP), and the focus of IPMN dedifferentiation to ACP
      was found to be located at the periphery of the IPMN. At 18 months
      postoperatively, the patient remains disease-free.

PMID- 26870355
TI  - Feasibility of intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with gemcitabine and S-1
      for patients with pancreatic cancer.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to establish whether intensity-modulated
      radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent gemcitabine and S-1 is a feasible treatment
      option for patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
      Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were prospectively enrolled. An
      IMRT dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with concurrent gemcitabine at a dose of 600
      mg/m2 and S-1 at a dose of 60 mg were administrated. Adverse events and
      associated dosimetric factors were assessed. Between February 2012 and January
      2014, 17 patients with borderline resectable and 4 with unresectable pancreatic
      cancer were enrolled. None of the patients experienced grade 3 or worse nausea
      and vomiting. The planning target volume (>=200 vs. <200 ml) was a statistically
      significant predictive factor for neutrocytopenia (>=500 vs. 500/ul, P=0.02).
      Concurrent IMRT with gemcitabine and S-1 for patients with locally advanced
      pancreatic cancer is feasible, with tolerable hematological toxicities and low
      gastrointestinal toxicities.

PMID- 26870352
TI  - Presentation of multiple myeloma mimicking bone metastasis from colon
      adenocarcinoma: A case report and literature review.
AB  - We herein present the case report of a 83-year-old female patient who had
      undergone right colon resection for adenocarcinoma 2 years earlier, and developed
      osteolytic lesions of the right femur 6 months ago. A roentgenogram of the right
      thigh, technetium-99m phosphate bone scintigraphy and combined 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy
      D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging were
      performed, and the results revealed multiple osteolytic lesions in the humerus
      bilaterally, the right scapula and the right femur. The lesions were suspected to
      be colon cancer metastases. To improve the quality of life of the patient,
      palliative surgery was performed. However, the intraoperative biopsy of the focal
      lesions and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed multiple myeloma (MM).
      Chemotherapy was administered 2 weeks after surgery and the patient recovered
      uneventfully. The manifestations of MM and bone metastases are occasionally
      similar. Although the coexistence of the two diseases is rare, both conditions
      should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic lesions.

PMID- 26870356
TI  - Examination of the clinical efficacy of eribulin and trastuzumab in HER2-positive
      recurrent breast cancer.
AB  - There are limited studies reported that describe the efficacy of eribulin and
      trastuzumab in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer. The present study
      examined the therapeutic efficacy of eribulin and trastuzumab in the treatment of
      recurrent breast cancer. Between October 2011 and August 2013, 5 recurrent breast
      cancer patients who were treated with eribulin and trastuzumab were included in
      the study. The cancer stages in the 5 women who received this regimen were stage
      IIIB in 1 (20%) and stage IV in 4 (80%). The sites of recurrence were the lung in
      3 patients, liver in 2, bone in 1, brain in 1, supraclavicular lymph nodes in 1,
      infraclavicular lymph nodes in 1 and mediastinal lymph nodes in 1. The median
      number of prior treatment regimens was 5 (range, 5-11). Complete response was
      achieved in 0 patients, 1 achieved partial response, 3 had stable disease, and 1
      had progressive disease. The overall response rate was 20%, and the clinical
      benefit rate was 80%. Patients also reported grade 3/4 neutropenia (80.0%).
      However, hematological toxicity was reversible and manageable. The most common
      grade 3/4 nonhematological toxicities were fatigue (20.0%), peripheral neuropathy
      (20.0%) and appetite loss (20.0%). No patients withdrew from treatment, and
      favorable compliance was achieved in the study. The results indicated that
      eribulin and trastuzumab have the potential to be one of the drugs for treatment
      of recurrent breast cancer.

PMID- 26870357
TI  - Determination of prognosis of Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative
      neoplasms with a simple clinical examination: Retrospective analysis of 71
      patients in a single institution.
AB  - Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including
      polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis (ET) and primary myelofibrosis
      (PMF), are clonal hematopoietic diseases. A single-institution retrospective
      analysis was performed, including 71 MPN patients diagnosed at the Hakodate
      Municipal Hospital between April, 2001 and April, 2014, and certain clinical
      characteristics were identified as effective prognostic factors. The patients
      were categorized by risk factor scoring based on age, number of abnormal blood
      cell lineages and splenomegaly at diagnosis, and the association between this
      categorization and prognosis was analyzed using a statistical procedure. The
      effect of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation on prognosis was also
      investigated. The MPN patients were consolidated into three risk groups based on
      the margin of intergroup survival differences: i) Score 1-2 (n=23), ii) score 3
      (n=24) and iii) score 4-5 (n=24). MPN patients with scores of 4 or 5 exhibited
      poorer overall survival (OS) compared with those with lower scores (P<0.001). In
      addition, there were significant differences in event-free survival (EFS) among
      scoring groups (P=0.0059). PV and ET had a better prognosis compared with PMF,
      although this analysis suggested that PV and ET patients with scores of 4 or 5
      may have a poorer prognosis in terms of OS (P=0.0052) and EFS (P=0.022) and
      should be closely followed up. We observed no significant prognostic effect of
      the JAK2V167F mutation for OS (P=0.28) or EFS (P=0.17). Our results suggested
      that a simple scoring system based on age, blood cell counts and presence of
      splenomegaly at diagnosis may be used for the long-term prognosis of MPN
      patients.

PMID- 26870358
TI  - Epiglottic diffuse B-cell malignant lymphoma: A case report.
AB  - A 55-year-old male patient was admitted to our department with complaints of
      dysphagia and throat soreness for 2 months. A tumor of the left epiglottis, with
      an irregular surface, was identified by video laryngoscopy. The diagnosis of
      malignant lymphoma was confirmed by biopsy during laryngomicrosurgery. The
      atypical diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma was positive for CD20 and Bcl-2, and
      negative for CD3, CD10 and Bcl-1. The diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell
      malignant lymphoma. The patient was treated with eight cycles of rituximab with
      cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine + prednisolone (R-CHOP regimen).
      This is a rare case of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurring in the
      epiglottis.

PMID- 26870359
TI  - TERT promoter mutations are rare in bone and soft tissue sarcomas of Japanese
      patients.
AB  - Recurrent hot-spot mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)
      promoter have been reported in various types of tumor. In several tumor types,
      TERT promoter mutations are associated with poor clinical outcomes. TERT promoter
      mutations are reported to be rare in soft tissue tumors, with the exception of
      myxoid liposarcoma (MLS). Our previous study reported that TERT promoter
      mutations occurred in a subset of solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) and were
      associated with adverse clinical outcomes in Japanese individuals. The site
      specific frequency (e.g. central nervous or soft tissue origin) of TERT promoter
      mutations in our SFT cases appeared to be different from previously reported
      values in a European population. These findings prompted the present study to
      elucidate the potential role of ethnic background in the different frequencies of
      TERT promoter mutations in bone and soft tissue sarcomas. In the present study,
      TERT promoter mutations were examined in 180 cases of bone and soft tissue
      sarcomas. TERT promoter region mutations were identified in 10 cases [5 SFTs, 3
      MLSs, 1 undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and 1 malignant granular cell
      tumor]. All mutations were C228T. The frequencies of TERT promoter mutation in
      MLS and UPS were 23.1 (3/13) and 5% (1/20), respectively. Only 1/5 patients with
      TERT-mutated tumors experienced local recurrence or distant metastasis. The
      present study revealed the first case of a malignant granular cell tumor with a
      TERT promoter mutation and revealed that the frequency of TERT promoter mutations
      in MLSs of Japanese patients is lower compared with that reported in German
      patients, providing evidence of a possible ethnic difference in the frequency of
      TERT promoter mutations.

PMID- 26870360
TI  - Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 in osteosarcoma.
AB  - Metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) has been associated with the
      pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate mGluR4
      expression and its clinical significance in osteosarcoma patients. mGluR4
      expression was investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 58 osteosarcomas
      and 32 giant-cell tumors of bone. The correlations between mGluR4 expression and
      clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed with the Chi-squared test and
      survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The IHC results
      demonstrated that 20.69% (12/58) of the osteosarcomas and 43.75% (14/32) of the
      giant-cell tumors were mGluR4-positive. The statistical analysis revealed that
      mGluR4 expression was correlated with gender, age, Enneking stage and tumor
      volume in osteosarcomas (P<0.05). In the multivariate stepwise Cox regression
      analysis, Enneking stage was found to be statistically significantly associated
      with survival (P<0.05) and the survival analysis demonstrated that the survival
      probability was significantly higher in patients with higher mGluR4 expression
      compared with those with lower expression (P<0.05). Therefore, mGluR4 expression
      may be used to estimate the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients.

PMID- 26870361
TI  - Management of the N0 neck in recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - The most effective therapeutic approach for the node-negative (N0) neck in
      patients with recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains a subject
      of dispute. In the present study, the records of 163 patients with recurrent
      laryngeal SCC were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had a N0 neck at
      recurrence. At the time of recurrence, the N0 neck was managed using a wait-and
      see strategy (observation group) or treatment (treatment group). A total of 125
      (76.7%) patients accepted the wait-and-see strategy and 38 (23.3%) patients
      underwent treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The
      Kaplan-Meier method with the computation of log-rank was used for analysis of
      survival. The t-test, chi2 test or Fisher's exact test was used for comparisons
      of non-survival data in the groups. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a
      statistically significant difference in the two-sided tests. The 3- and 5-year
      overall survival rates after recurrence were 64.5 and 54.6% for the observation
      group, and 49.9 and 42.5% for the treatment group, respectively (P=0.011). The
      present study suggests that a wait-and-see policy is a satisfactory management
      option for the N0 neck in recurrent laryngeal SCC.

PMID- 26870362
TI  - Prognostic value of cancer stem cell marker CD133 expression in esophageal
      carcinoma: A meta-analysis.
AB  - CD133 has been identified as a putative neoplastic stem cell marker in esophageal
      carcinoma. However, the prognostic value of CD133 overexpression in patients with
      esophageal carcinoma remains controversial. A meta-analysis of previous studies
      was performed, in order to assess the association of CD133 overexpression with
      the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal carcinoma patients. A total
      of 7 studies, including 538 patients, were subjected to the final analysis. Our
      results indicated that a positive CD133 expression was significantly associated
      with lymph node metastasis [odds ratio (OR)=3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI):
      1.93-4.95; P<0.00001], clinical stage (OR=4.26, 95% CI: 1.55-11.73; P=0.005) and
      histopathological grade (OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.16-4.94; P=0.02). There was no
      statistically significant association of CD133 with depth of invasion (OR=1.89,
      95% CI: 0.42-8.43; P=0.41). Based on the results of this study, we concluded that
      CD133 is an efficient prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma. Higher CD133
      expression is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage
      and histopathological grade.

PMID- 26870363
TI  - Outcomes and toxicity of radiotherapy for refractory bone and soft tissue
      sarcomas.
AB  - Surgical resection is a well-established treatment option for sarcoma. However,
      anatomical barriers often hamper radical surgical procedures. The treatment of
      unresectable sarcoma, including local or distant failures following initial
      treatment, is challenging. The aim of the present study was to analyze the
      outcome of radiotherapy (RT) for refractory sarcoma, including unresectable,
      metastatic and recurrent disease, following radical treatment. We retrospectively
      reviewed a total of 67 tumors in 28 patients who were treated with RT between
      2007 and 2014. Clinical target volume (CTV) was generally not defined in a
      preventive manner; therefore, in the majority of the cases, CTV equaled the gross
      tumor volume. The total delivered dose, number of fractions and biological
      equivalent dose were 52 (range, 40-69), 10 (range, 4-24) and 92.2 (range, 56
      119.6) Gy, respectively. Only 1 patient developed local failure, with a median
      follow-up of 11 months (range, 1-59 months). Therefore, the 12-month progression
      free survival rate for 67 sites was 96.8%. The overall survival rates at 12 and
      36 months were 75.8 and 30.2%, respectively. A total of 2 patients developed
      grade >2 toxicities, including grade 3 mucositis and grade 4 pericardial
      effusion. Our results demonstrated that radical RT using modern techniques is
      highly feasible, achieves excellent local control, and may be an effective
      treatment option for refractory sarcoma.

PMID- 26870364
TI  - Unplanned discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid
      leukemia.
AB  - This study was conducted to investigate the outcomes of patients with chronic
      myeloid leukemia (CML) who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)
      treatment. A single-center retrospective analysis was performed, including 46
      chronic-phase (CP) CML patients who achieved complete molecular response (CMR)
      with TKIs. TKI treatment was discontinued in 13 patients based on their requests.
      The BCR-ABL transcript levels were monitored in the peripheral blood by
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis following treatment
      discontinuation. Of the 13 patients who discontinued TKI treatment, 7 remained in
      CMR, with a median follow-up of 26 months (range, 10-60 months). The remaining 6
      patients lost CMR following TKI discontinuation; 2 of these patients achieved a
      second CMR following re-administration of TKIs, 2 patients spontaneously achieved
      CMR and 2 remained in complete hematological response (CHR) without TKI treatment
      with a median follow-up of 29.5 months (range, 10-52 months). In conclusion, the
      survival of patients who lost CMR following TKI discontinuation may not be
      affected, even without re-administration of TKIs. Vigilant observation is
      recommended for such patients. The limitations of this study included the small
      patient sample, retrospective design and patient heterogeneity. Therefore, the
      results must be interpreted with caution.

PMID- 26870365
TI  - Clinical pretreatment risk factors and prediction of outcome using gallium 67
      scintigraphy in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
AB  - This study was conducted to investigate the prognostic effect and implications of
      gallium 67 scintigraphy (gallium scan) at mid-treatment and at the end of first
      line treatment in patients with early- and advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma
      (HL). A total of 216 HL patients were included in the study. Gallium scan was
      performed at mid-treatment and at the end of first-line treatment. The overall
      survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were calculated using the Kaplan
      Meier method. The log-rank test was used to identify univariate predictors of EFS
      and OS. For early-stage disease, bulky mediastinal involvement (yes vs. no, 98
      vs. 79%, respectively; P=0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (good vs. adverse,
      98 vs. 88%, respectively; P=0.03), presence of B symptoms (no vs. yes, 94 vs.
      78%, respectively; P=0.006), post-chemotherapy disease status [complete response
      (CR) vs. unconfirmed CR (uCR) vs. partial response (PR) vs. progressive disease
      (PGR), 95 vs. 90 vs. 87 vs. 0%, respectively; P<0.01] and gallium scan at mid
      treatment and at the end of treatment (negative vs. positive, 88 vs. 20%,
      P<0.001; and 85 vs. 10%, P<0.001, respectively) significantly affected the EFS.
      In addition, age (<50 vs. >=50 years, 96 vs. 78%, respectively; P=0.01), presence
      of B symptoms (no vs. yes, 97 vs. 87%, respectively; P=0.03), post-chemotherapy
      disease status (CR vs. uCR vs. PR vs. PGR, 95 vs. 90 vs. 90 vs. 0%, respectively;
      P<0.01) and gallium scan results at mid-treatment and at the end of treatment
      (negative vs. positive, 87 vs. 60%, P<0.001; and 95 vs. 0%, P<0.001,
      respectively) significantly affected the OS. For advanced-stage disease,
      Hassenclever index (1-3 vs. 4-6, 80 vs. 57%, respectively; P=0.05) and gallium
      scan results at mid-treatment and at the end of treatment (negative vs. positive,
      84 vs. 18%, P<0.001; and 84 vs. 0%, P<0.001, respectively) significantly affected
      the EFS, whereas age at diagnosis (<50 vs. >=50 years, 92 vs. 78%, respectively;
      P=0.04), Hassenclever index (1-3 vs. 4-6, 86 vs. 61%, respectively; P=0.04) and
      gallium scan results at mid-treatment and at the end of treatment (negative vs.
      positive, 98 vs. 40%, P<0.001; and 97 vs. 23%, P<0.001, respectively)
      significantly affected the OS. On the multivariate analysis, gallium scan at the
      end of first-line treatment retained statistical significance in terms of EFS and
      OS. In conclusion, post-chemotherapy gallium scan is an important prognostic
      factor in patients with early- or advanced-stage HL and a predictor of adverse
      outcome.

PMID- 26870366
TI  - Prognostic role of the long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung
      adenocarcinoma transcript 1 in various cancers: A meta-analysis.
AB  - Several studies have investigated the correlation between the expression of
      metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and cancer
      prognosis, with inconsistent results. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to
      identify the potential correlation after pooling data from eligible studies.
      PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library electronic databases were
      searched for eligible studies on the prognostic role of MALAT1 in cancer, from
      inception to January, 2015. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) were calculated to summarize the effect. A total of 1,198
      patients from 10 studies were included in the analysis. The results suggested
      that MALAT1 expression was significantly associated with overall survival
      (HR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.67-2.56), disease-free survival (HR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.69-4.00)
      and recurrence-free survival (HR=3.28, 95% CI: 1.52-7.09). MALAT1 was also found
      to be significantly associated with tumor size (P=0.013). Overall, MALAT1
      expression may be considered as a potential prognostic factor for cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26870367
TI  - Novel agent induction therapy alone or followed by autologous stem cell
      transplantation in younger patients with multiple myeloma: A single-center
      retrospective study of 114 cases.
AB  - To define the role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in newly
      diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) in the era of novel agents, we analyzed follow-up
      data of patients treated by these agents alone or followed by ASCT. From January,
      2008 to December, 2012, 136 patients with de novo MM, aged <65 years, completed
      bortezomib- or thalidomide-based induction therapy and 114 patients achieved at
      least a partial response (PR). A total of 42 patients underwent ASCT. After a
      median follow-up of 39 months (range, 5-74 months), the median progression-free
      survival (PFS) was 23 months in the non-ASCT group vs. 42 months in the ASCT
      group (P=0.001), and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 58.9 vs. 81.2%,
      respectively (P=0.03). The multivariate analysis revealed that complete response
      (CR) and maintenance therapy (MT) were independent factors of improved OS in both
      groups. Moreover, a subgroup analysis was performed according to the response
      status to evaluate the role of ASCT and MT. In the CR subgroup, neither ASCT nor
      MT exerted a significant effect on PFS or OS. In the very good PR subgroup, ASCT
      after MT (ASCT/MT) significantly improved PFS, but not OS. In patients exhibiting
      PR, ASCT/MT significantly prolonged PFS and OS. Therefore, ASCT in the era of
      novel agents maintains an important role in younger MM patients, particularly
      those achieving a PR after induction therapy. Furthermore, MT is a key factor
      associated with long-term survival in all MM patients.

PMID- 26870368
TI  - Follicular cholangitis associated with focal biliary stricture treated with left
      hepatectomy after 8 years of follow-up: A rare case report.
AB  - Follicular cholangitis may lead to severe focal biliary stricture, which is
      difficult to distinguish from cholangiocarcinoma. This is the report of a rare
      case of follicular cholangitis associated with an intrahepatic focal biliary
      stricture in a 69-year-old woman. The patient visited our hospital for upper
      abdominal pain in 2006. Computed tomography revealed common bile duct stones and
      focal stricture of the left intrahepatic duct. Endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography revealed a severe B3 stricture and dilation of the
      peripheral biliary tract. Repeated cytology revealed no malignancy. The patient
      was followed up for 8 years and repeated attacks of cholangitis severely
      compromised her quality of life. A left hepatectomy was performed, and the
      pathological findings were consistent with follicular cholangitis. It is
      generally difficult to make a definitive diagnosis after identifying a biliary
      stricture, and the stricture is often treated with surgical resection. The
      clinical presentation and radiological findings of follicular cholangitis are
      similar to those of cholangiocarcinoma; therefore, if a conservative approach is
      selected, frequent follow-up is recommended. The present case suggests that
      follicular cholangitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
      biliary stricture.

PMID- 26870369
TI  - Adequacy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration
      samples processed as histopathological samples for genetic mutation analysis in
      lung adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Phenotyping non-small-cell lung cancer is becoming increasingly important with
      the advent of molecular testing. Tumours harbouring somatic mutations in the gene
      that encodes for the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor
      receptor (EGFR) have been found to increase responsiveness to tyrosine kinase
      inhibitors. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration
      (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive technique for mediastinal node sampling. The
      available prospective data on EBUS-TBNA sample suitability for molecular
      profiling are currently limited. The aim of this prospective study was to
      evaluate the adequacy of EBUS-TBNA samples for EGFR and anaplastic lymphoma
      kinase (ALK) genetic mutation analysis in confirmed primary lung adenocarcinomas.
      We conducted a prospective analysis of 410 consecutive patients referred for EBUS
      TBNA between 2010 and 2014. Rapid on-site cytological evaluation was not used.
      The samples were obtained using 21-gauge (21G) or 22G needles and were prepared
      as histopathological samples. A total of 91 samples were confirmed as lung
      adenocarcinomas and 80 of these samples were sent for EGFR mutation analysis.
      EBUS-TBNA had a diagnostic accuracy of 98.3% for malignancy. EGFR mutation
      testing was possible in 79/80 cases (98.75%). EGFR mutations were detected in
      5/80 (6.3%) samples. ALK gene analysis, which became available during the study
      period, was requested and successfully performed in 21/21 samples (100%). The
      total combined genotyping success rate was 100/101 (99.0%). This UK study
      confirmed the high clinical utility of EBUS-TBNA samples processed as
      histopathological specimens for EGFR and ALK genotyping in primary lung
      adenocarcinoma. The needle gauge did not affect genotyping efficacy.

PMID- 26870370
TI  - Angiomyolipoma of the rib: A rare case report.
AB  - Angiomyolipoma is a benign mesenchymal tumor, most commonly arising from the
      kidney. With the exception of the liver, extrarenal angiomyolipoma is an
      infrequent entity that may be misdiagnosed as other tumors. Angiomyolipoma
      occurring in the skeleton is an extremely rare occurrence and often difficult to
      differentiate from other bone diseases. We herein present a case of
      angiomyolipoma in the rib of a 44-year-old male patient, a highly unusual
      location for this type of tumor. Angiomyolipoma of the skeleton usually exhibits
      an infiltrative tendency. Although this clinical entity is rare, angiomyolipoma
      should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skeletal lesions,
      particularly in patients presenting with imaging findings of fat within the
      lesions.

PMID- 26870371
TI  - Clinical outcome of immunotherapy with dendritic cell vaccine and cytokine
      induced killer cell therapy in hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic effects of adoptive
      immunotherapy following dendritic cell (DC) vaccine and cytokine-induced killer
      (CIK) cell therapy and evaluate its cytotoxicity, survival benefits and quality
      of life (QOL) changes in patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer (HPC).
      We performed a retrospective analysis of 407 clinical cases, including 77
      patients with HPC who received immunotherapy with DC vaccine and CIK cells (I
      group) and 330 patients with similar characteristics who underwent baseline
      treatment but did not receive immunotherapy [non-immunotherapy (NI) group)] as
      the control group. After a follow-up period of 294+/-207.5 days, the median
      survival time (MST) of the two groups was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method.
      In the I group, 61% of the patients developed a positive, delayed-type
      hypersensitivity response and 65% of the patients exhibited an improvement in
      QOL. The most notable adverse events included fever (28%), insomnia (25%),
      anorexia (17%), skin rash (12%) and arthralgia (31%). No severe toxicities were
      observed in patients in the I group; in addition, the MST was significantly
      longer in the I group compared with that in the NI group (P=0.014). Thus, the DC
      vaccine and CIK cell therapy was associated with mild adverse effects, but was
      able to induce an immune response and effectively eliminate tumor cells, thereby
      improving the QOL and prolonging the MST of the patients.

PMID- 26870372
TI  - Increased erythropoietin levels as a biomarker of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A
      case report.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers commonly diagnosed at an
      advanced stage. Early diagnosis is crucial for the timely and potentially
      curative treatment of this highly fatal disease. Although screening tests have
      improved the survival rate in malignancies such as colon, breast, cervical and
      prostate cancer, there is currently no effective screening method available for
      the early detection of pancreatic cancer. As the sensitivity and specificity of
      existing biomarkers, such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9, for the early detection
      of pancreatic cancer is low, there is a pressing need for the identification of
      novel cancer markers. An increase in erythropoietin (EPO) levels has been
      observed in several cases of pancreatic neoplasms. However, the potential role of
      EPO as a biomarker of pancreatic cancer or malignant transformation requires
      further investigation. We herein present a case of increased EPO levels in an
      adult male patient with stage IV pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26870373
TI  - Asymptomatic Paget's disease of bone in a 62-year-old Nigerian man: three years
      post-alendronate therapy.
AB  - Paget's disease is a chronic and progressive disorder of bone characterized by
      focal areas of excessive osteoclastic resorption accompanied by a secondary
      increase in the osteoblastic activity. Paget's disease of bone (PBD) is a rare
      endocrine disease especially among Africans and Asians. Hence the detection of a
      case in a middle-aged Nigerian is of interest. We present the case of a 62-year
      old Nigerian man in apparent good health who was found to have a markedly
      elevated serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of 1179 U/l (reference range, 40
      115 U/l) 4 years ago during a routine medical check-up in the USA. He had no
      history suggestive of PDB and also had no known family history of bone disease.
      Examination findings were not remarkable except for a relatively large head. A
      repeat ALP in our centre was 902 U/l (reference range, 40-120 U/l). Cranial CT
      scan showed diffuse cranial vault thickening consistent with Paget's disease
      which was confirmed by Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate. He was placed on 40
      mg alendronate tablets daily for 6 months. The patient has remained asymptomatic
      and has been in continuing biochemical remission during the 3-year follow-up
      period. The most recent ALP result is 88 U/l (reference range, 30-132 U/l) in
      April 2015. LEARNING POINTS: Serum total alkaline phosphatase remains a sensitive
      marker of bone turnover and an isolated increase above the upper limit of normal
      warrants more intense scrutiny in form of investigations targeted at excluding
      PD.Paget's disease is very rare but can occur in the Africans as seen in this
      Nigerian man and most patients are asymptomatic.Asymptomatic patients can benefit
      from treatment if disease is active, polyostotic or the lesions are located in
      bones with future risk of complications such as long bones, vertebrae and
      skull.Bisphosphonates are still the mainstay of treatment and alendronate is a
      useful therapeutic option for treatment.

PMID- 26870374
TI  - Crystal engineering and IUCrJ.
AB  - Crystal engineering is discussed, along with its three key concepts: crystal
      packing; the design of solids; and physical and chemical properties. 

PMID- 26870375
TI  - CryoEM at IUCrJ: a new era.
AB  - In this overview, we briefly outline recent advances in electron cryomicroscopy
      (cryoEM) and explain why the journal IUCrJ, published by the International Union
      of Crystallography, could provide a natural home for publications covering many
      present and future developments in the cryoEM field. 

PMID- 26870376
TI  - Perovskites take the lead in local structure analysis.
AB  - Materials with the much-loved perovskite structure are being used to develop and
      test new methods for interpreting local structural arrangements in crystals, and
      these methods are in turn uncovering unexpected new structural insight. 

PMID- 26870377
TI  - Peptide binding to a bacterial signal peptidase visualized by peptide tethering
      and carrier-driven crystallization.
AB  - Bacterial type I signal peptidases (SPases) are membrane-anchored serine
      proteases that process the signal peptides of proteins exported via the Sec and
      Tat secretion systems. Despite their crucial importance for bacterial virulence
      and their attractiveness as drug targets, only one such enzyme, LepB from
      Escherichia coli, has been structurally characterized, and the transient nature
      of peptide binding has stymied attempts to directly visualize SPase-substrate
      complexes. Here, the crystal structure of SpsB, the type I signal peptidase from
      the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, is reported, and a peptide
      tethering strategy that exploits the use of carrier-driven crystallization is
      described. This enabled the determination of the crystal structures of three SpsB
      peptide complexes, both with cleavable substrates and with an inhibitory peptide.
      SpsB-peptide interactions in these complexes are almost exclusively limited to
      the canonical signal-peptide motif Ala-X-Ala, for which clear specificity pockets
      are found. Minimal contacts are made outside this core, with the variable side
      chains of the peptides accommodated in shallow grooves or exposed faces. These
      results illustrate how high fidelity is retained despite broad sequence
      diversity, in a process that is vital for cell survival. 

PMID- 26870378
TI  - Total scattering and pair distribution function analysis in modelling disorder in
      PZN (PbZn1/3Nb2/3O3).
AB  - The ability of the pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of total scattering
      (TS) from a powder to determine the local ordering in ferroelectric PZN
      (PbZn1/3Nb2/3O3) has been explored by comparison with a model established using
      single-crystal diffuse scattering (SCDS). While X-ray PDF analysis is discussed,
      the focus is on neutron diffraction results because of the greater extent of the
      data and the sensitivity of the neutron to oxygen atoms, the behaviour of which
      is important in PZN. The PDF was shown to be sensitive to many effects not
      apparent in the average crystal structure, including variations in the B-site-O
      separation distances and the fact that <110> Pb(2+) displacements are most
      likely. A qualitative comparison between SCDS and the PDF shows that some
      features apparent in SCDS were not apparent in the PDF. These tended to pertain
      to short-range correlations in the structure, rather than to interatomic
      separations. For example, in SCDS the short-range alternation of the B-site
      cations was quite apparent in diffuse scattering at (1/2 1/2 1/2), whereas it was
      not apparent in the PDF. 

PMID- 26870379
TI  - Comparison between diffraction contrast tomography and high-energy diffraction
      microscopy on a slightly deformed aluminium alloy.
AB  - The grain structure of an Al-0.3 wt%Mn alloy deformed to 1% strain was
      reconstructed using diffraction contrast tomography (DCT) and high-energy
      diffraction microscopy (HEDM). 14 equally spaced HEDM layers were acquired and
      their exact location within the DCT volume was determined using a generic
      algorithm minimizing a function of the local disorientations between the two data
      sets. The microstructures were then compared in terms of the mean crystal
      orientations and shapes of the grains. The comparison shows that DCT can detect
      subgrain boundaries with disorientations as low as 1 degrees  and that HEDM and
      DCT grain boundaries are on average 4 um apart from each other. The results are
      important for studies targeting the determination of grain volume. For the case
      of a polycrystal with an average grain size of about 100 um, a relative deviation
      of about <=10% was found between the two techniques. 

PMID- 26870380
TI  - Protein crystal structure from non-oriented, single-axis sparse X-ray data.
AB  - X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have inspired the development of serial
      femtosecond crystallography (SFX) as a method to solve the structure of proteins.
      SFX datasets are collected from a sequence of protein microcrystals injected
      across ultrashort X-ray pulses. The idea behind SFX is that diffraction from the
      intense, ultrashort X-ray pulses leaves the crystal before the crystal is
      obliterated by the effects of the X-ray pulse. The success of SFX at XFELs has
      catalyzed interest in analogous experiments at synchrotron-radiation (SR)
      sources, where data are collected from many small crystals and the ultrashort
      pulses are replaced by exposure times that are kept short enough to avoid
      significant crystal damage. The diffraction signal from each short exposure is so
      'sparse' in recorded photons that the process of recording the crystal intensity
      is itself a reconstruction problem. Using the EMC algorithm, a successful
      reconstruction is demonstrated here in a sparsity regime where there are no Bragg
      peaks that conventionally would serve to determine the orientation of the crystal
      in each exposure. In this proof-of-principle experiment, a hen egg-white lysozyme
      (HEWL) crystal rotating about a single axis was illuminated by an X-ray beam from
      an X-ray generator to simulate the diffraction patterns of microcrystals from
      synchrotron radiation. Millions of these sparse frames, typically containing only
      ~200 photons per frame, were recorded using a fast-framing detector. It is shown
      that reconstruction of three-dimensional diffraction intensity is possible using
      the EMC algorithm, even with these extremely sparse frames and without knowledge
      of the rotation angle. Further, the reconstructed intensity can be phased and
      refined to solve the protein structure using traditional crystallographic
      software. This suggests that synchrotron-based serial crystallography of
      micrometre-sized crystals can be practical with the aid of the EMC algorithm even
      in cases where the data are sparse. 

PMID- 26870381
TI  - Rapid experimental SAD phasing and hot-spot identification with halogenated
      fragments.
AB  - Through X-ray crystallographic fragment screening, 4-bromopyrazole was discovered
      to be a 'magic bullet' that is capable of binding at many of the ligand 'hot
      spots' found in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). The binding locations can be in
      pockets that are 'hidden' in the unliganded crystal form, allowing rapid
      identification of these sites for in silico screening. In addition to hot-spot
      identification, this ubiquitous yet specific binding provides an avenue for X-ray
      crystallographic phase determination, which can be a significant bottleneck in
      the determination of the structures of novel proteins. The anomalous signal from
      4-bromopyrazole or 4-iodopyrazole was sufficient to determine the structures of
      three proteins (HIV-1 RT, influenza A endonuclease and proteinase K) by single
      wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) from single crystals. Both compounds are
      inexpensive, readily available, safe and very soluble in DMSO or water, allowing
      efficient soaking into crystals. 

PMID- 26870382
TI  - Yes, one can obtain better quality structures from routine X-ray data collection.
AB  - Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structural results for benzidine
      dihydrochloride, hydrated and protonated N,N,N,N-peri(dimethylamino)naphthalene
      chloride, triptycene, dichlorodimethyltriptycene and decamethylferrocene have
      been analysed. A critical discussion of the dependence of structural and thermal
      parameters on resolution for these compounds is presented. Results of refinements
      against X-ray data, cut off to different resolutions from the high-resolution
      data files, are compared to structural models derived from neutron diffraction
      experiments. The Independent Atom Model (IAM) and the Transferable Aspherical
      Atom Model (TAAM) are tested. The average differences between the X-ray and
      neutron structural parameters (with the exception of valence angles defined by H
      atoms) decrease with the increasing 2thetamax angle. The scale of differences
      between X-ray and neutron geometrical parameters can be significantly reduced
      when data are collected to the higher, than commonly used, 2thetamax diffraction
      angles (for Mo Kalpha 2thetamax > 65 degrees ). The final structural and thermal
      parameters obtained for the studied compounds using TAAM refinement are in better
      agreement with the neutron values than the IAM results for all resolutions and
      all compounds. By using TAAM, it is still possible to obtain accurate results
      even from low-resolution X-ray data. This is particularly important as TAAM is
      easy to apply and can routinely be used to improve the quality of structural
      investigations [Dominiak (2015 ?). LSDB from UBDB. University of Buffalo, USA].
      We can recommend that, in order to obtain more adequate (more accurate and
      precise) structural and displacement parameters during the IAM model refinement,
      data should be collected up to the larger diffraction angles, at least, for Mo
      Kalpha radiation to 2thetamax = 65 degrees  (sin thetamax/lambda < 0.75 A(-1)).
      The TAAM approach is a very good option to obtain more adequate results even
      using data collected to the lower 2thetamax angles. Also the results of
      translation-libration-screw (TLS) analysis and vibrational entropy values are
      more reliable for 2thetamax > 65 degrees . 

PMID- 26870383
TI  - Advanced electron crystallography through model-based imaging.
AB  - The increasing need for precise determination of the atomic arrangement of non
      periodic structures in materials design and the control of nanostructures
      explains the growing interest in quantitative transmission electron microscopy.
      The aim is to extract precise and accurate numbers for unknown structure
      parameters including atomic positions, chemical concentrations and atomic
      numbers. For this purpose, statistical parameter estimation theory has been shown
      to provide reliable results. In this theory, observations are considered purely
      as data planes, from which structure parameters have to be determined using a
      parametric model describing the images. As such, the positions of atom columns
      can be measured with a precision of the order of a few picometres, even though
      the resolution of the electron microscope is still one or two orders of magnitude
      larger. Moreover, small differences in average atomic number, which cannot be
      distinguished visually, can be quantified using high-angle annular dark-field
      scanning transmission electron microscopy images. In addition, this theory allows
      one to measure compositional changes at interfaces, to count atoms with single
      atom sensitivity, and to reconstruct atomic structures in three dimensions. This
      feature article brings the reader up to date, summarizing the underlying theory
      and highlighting some of the recent applications of quantitative model-based
      transmisson electron microscopy. 

PMID- 26870385
TI  - Correction.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2015-000123.]. 

PMID- 26870384
TI  - Complications of indwelling pleural catheter use and their management.
AB  - The growing utilisation of indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) has put forward a
      new era in the management of recurrent symptomatic pleural effusions. IPC use is
      safe compared to talc pleurodesis, though complications can occur. Pleural
      infection affects <5% of patients, and is usually responsive to antibiotic
      treatment without requiring catheter removal or surgery. Pleural loculations
      develop over time, limiting drainage in 10% of patients, which can be improved
      with intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy. Catheter tract metastasis can occur with
      most tumours but is more common in mesothelioma. The metastases usually respond
      to analgaesics and/or external radiotherapy. Long-term intermittent drainage of
      exudative effusions or chylothorax can potentially lead to loss of nutrients,
      though no data exist on any clinical impact. Fibrin clots within the catheter
      lumen can result in blockage. Chest pain following IPC insertion is often mild,
      and adjustments in analgaesics and drainage practice are usually all that are
      required. As clinical experience with the use of IPC accumulates, the profile and
      natural course of complications are increasingly described. We aim to summarise
      the available literature on IPC-related complications and the evidence to support
      specific strategies. 

PMID- 26870386
TI  - Comparative effects of long-acting and short-acting loop diuretics on cardiac
      sympathetic nerve activity in patients with chronic heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Short-acting loop diuretics are known to enhance cardiac sympathetic
      nerve activity (CSNA) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The effects
      of two loop diuretics-long-acting azosemide and short-acting furosemide-on CSNA
      were evaluated using (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy in
      patients with CHF. METHODS: The present study was a subanalysis of our previously
      published study, which had reported that serial (123)I-MIBG studies were the most
      useful prognostic indicator in patients with CHF. Patients with CHF (n=208, left
      ventricular ejection fraction <45%) but no history of cardiac events for at least
      5 months prior to the study were identified according to their histories of acute
      decompensated heart failure requiring hospitalisation. Patients underwent (123)I
      MIBG scintigraphy immediately before hospital discharge and at a 6-month follow
      up. The delayed % denervation, delayed heart/mediastinum count (H/M) ratio and
      washout rate (WR) were determined using (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy. A total of 108
      patients were selected, and propensity score matching was used to compare
      patients treated with either oral azosemide (n=54) or furosemide (n=54). RESULTS:
      After treatment, (123)I-MIBG scintigraphic parameters improved in both groups.
      However, the degree of change in % denervation was -13.8+/-10.5 in the azosemide
      group and -5.7+/-12.7 in the furosemide group (p<0.01), the change in H/M ratio
      was 0.20+/-0.16 in the azosemide group and 0.06+/-0.19 in the furosemide group
      (p<0.01), and the change in WR was -11.3+/-9.2% in the azosemide group and -3.0+/
      12.7% in the furosemide group (p<0.01). Moreover, multivariate analysis showed an
      independent and significant positive relationship between furosemide and delta-WR
      from hospital discharge to 6 months after treatment in patients with CHF
      (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that azosemide suppresses CSNA
      compared with furosemide in patients with CHF. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:
      UMIN000000626 (UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial).

PMID- 26870387
TI  - Clinical, ECG and echocardiographic clues to the diagnosis of TTR-related
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Signs of cardiac transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR) in patients
      with echocardiographic increase in interventricular septal thickness (IVST) are
      lacking. OBJECTIVES: To identify clinical and ECG/echocardiographic signs
      associated with increased IVST in ATTR. METHODS: Analysis of patients with
      baseline echocardiography in the Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey
      (THAOS) registry (N=1682). Patients were categorised into IVST classes according
      to the American Society of Echocardiography classification adapted to gender (ie,
      normal, mild, moderate, severe); then into two combined IVST classes (normal-mild
      and moderate-severe). RESULTS: 425 patients were included: 336 with a TTR
      mutation (m-TTR) and 89 with wild-type TTR (WT-TTR). 72% were men. Median (25th,
      75th centile) age was 62 (45, 72) years. Non-Val30Met and WT-TTR were frequent in
      moderate (41% and 35%) and severe (50% and 33%) IVST classes. Median IVST was 15
      mm (14, 16) (moderate) and 20 mm (18, 22) (severe). In the combined moderate
      severe class, 85% of patients were >=55 years of age; 81% were men; 86% had blood
      pressure <140 mm Hg; and 77% had increased right ventricle thickness (>=7 mm). Up
      to 66% of patients had cardiac sparkling. Systolic dysfunction (left ventricular
      ejection fraction <50%), restrictive pattern and low voltage were less frequent,
      and observed in 49%, 18% and 33% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      Increased IVST, especially in men >=55 years with normal systolic blood pressure,
      increase in right ventricle free wall and valve thicknesses, and sparkling,
      should alert practitioners to the possibility of ATTR. Absence of restrictive
      pattern and low voltage should not rule out the suspicion. TRIAL REGISTRATION
      NUMBER: NCT00628745 (clinicaltrials.gov).

PMID- 26870388
TI  - Stress-coping skills and neuroticism in apical ballooning syndrome
      (Takotsubo/stress cardiomyopathy).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) is typically associated with an
      antecedent stressful situation. Affected patients have been reported to have
      higher frequencies of premorbid affective disorders. We hypothesised that
      patients with ABS would have elevated levels of neuroticism (tendency to
      experience negative affect) and greater vulnerability to stress. METHODS: In this
      cross-sectional study, all active participants in the Mayo Clinic ABS prospective
      follow-up registry were invited to complete the third edition of the NEO
      Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-3). The NEO-PI-3 is the universally accepted
      measure of the 'Five-Factor Model' of personality. Inventory responses were
      scored using the NEO-PI-3 computer program and the data were compared with US
      normative sample used in standardisation of the inventory. Significance was set
      at 0.0014 to account for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Of 106 registry
      participants approached, 53 completed the inventory. There was no difference in
      age, gender, time from ABS diagnosis, type of antecedent stressor (emotional,
      physical or none) or severity of initial illness between the responders and non
      responders. Responders had mean Neuroticism T-scores of 48.0+/-10.6 (95% CI 45.1
      to 50.9); p=0.18, when compared with the normal mean of 50. There was also no
      significant difference in the facet scale of Vulnerability: 46.9+/-8.4 (44.6 to
      49.2), p=0.038, at alpha=0.0014. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis,
      patients with ABS do not manifest higher levels of neuroticism and do not have
      greater vulnerability to stress than the general population. These findings have
      implications for the clinicians' perception of, and approach to, patients with
      ABS.

PMID- 26870390
TI  - Does the timing of cardiac rehabilitation impact fitness outcomes? An
      observational analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the characteristics associated with delayed cardiac
      rehabilitation (CR) and determine if an association between CR timing and fitness
      outcomes exists in patients receiving routine care. METHODS: The study used data
      from the UK National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation, a data set which captures
      information on routine CR practice and patient outcomes. Data from 1 January 2012
      to 8 September 2015 were included. Logistic regression models were used to
      explore the relationship between timing of CR and fitness-related outcomes as
      measured by patient-reported exercise level (150 min/week: yes/no), Dartmouth
      quality of life physical fitness scale and the incremental shuttle-walk test.
      RESULTS: Based on UK data current CR practice shows that programmes do not always
      adhere to recommendations on the start of prompt CR, that is, start CR within 28
      days of referral (42 days for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)). Wait time
      exceeded recommendations in postmyocardial infarction (post-MI), elective
      percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), MI-PCI and post-CABG surgery patients.
      This was particularly pronounced in the medically managed post-MI group, median
      wait time 40 days. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed that delayed CR
      significantly impacts fitness outcomes. For every 1-day increase in CR wait time,
      patients were 1% less likely to improve across all fitness-related measures
      (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the potential for suboptimal patient outcome if
      starting CR is delayed, efforts should be made to identify and overcome barriers
      to timely CR provision.

PMID- 26870391
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus and primary fibromyalgia can be distinguished by
      testing for cell-bound complement activation products.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish the performance of cell-bound complement
      activation products (CB-CAPs) as a diagnostic tool to distinguish primary
      fibromyalgia (FM) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 75
      SLE and 75 primary FM adult subjects who fulfilled appropriate classification
      criteria were enrolled prospectively. CB-CAPs (erythrocyte-C4d (EC4d) and B
      lymphocyte-C4d (BC4d)) were determined by flow cytometry. Antinuclear antibodies
      (ANAs) were determined using indirect immunofluorescence while other
      autoantibodies were determined by solid-phase assays. The CB-CAPs in a multi
      analyte assay with algorithm (MAAA) relied on two consecutive tiers of analysis
      that was reported as an overall positive or negative assessment. Test performance
      was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood
      ratio (LR). RESULTS: ANAs yielded 80% positives for SLE and 33% positives for FM.
      High CB-CAP expression (EC4d >14 units or BC4d >60 units) was 43% sensitive and
      96% specific for SLE. The CB-CAPs in MAAA assessment was evaluable in 138 of the
      150 subjects enrolled (92%) and yielded 60% sensitivity (CI 95% 48% to 72%) for
      SLE with no FM patient testing positive (100% specificity). A positive test
      result was associated with a strong positive LR for SLE (>24, CI 95%; 6 to 102),
      while a negative test result was associated with a moderate negative LR (0.40; CI
      95% 0.30 to 0.54). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that CB-CAPs in MAAA can
      distinguish FM from SLE.

PMID- 26870389
TI  - Pentoxifylline for vascular health: a brief review of the literature.
AB  - Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative that has been used for several
      decades in the symptomatic management of intermittent claudication. For reasons
      that remain fairly obscure, this drug benefits blood rheology in a number of
      complementary ways: decreasing blood and plasma viscosity, lowering plasma
      fibrinogen while promoting fibrinolysis, and improving blood filterability by
      enhancing erythrocyte distensibility and lessening neutrophil activation. Anti
      inflammatory effects on neutrophils and macrophage/monocytes-some of them
      attributable to pentoxifylline metabolites-appear to play a mediating role in
      this regard. Although clinical trials with pentoxifylline have often been too
      small in size to reach statistically significant findings regarding impacts on
      hard end points, a review of the existing literature suggests that pentoxifylline
      may have potential for slowing the progression of atherosclerosis, stabilising
      plaque, reducing risk for vascular events, improving the outcome of vascular
      events, dampening the systemic inflammatory response following cardiopulmonary
      bypass, providing symptomatic benefit in angina and intermittent claudication,
      enhancing cerebral blood flow in patients with cerebrovascular disease while
      slowing progression of vascular dementia, improving prognosis in congestive heart
      failure, and aiding diabetes control. This safe and usually well-tolerated drug
      works in ways quite distinct from other drugs more commonly used for
      cardiovascular protection, and hence may confer complementary benefit when used
      in conjunction with them. Major clinical trials of adequate statistical power are
      now needed to confirm the scope of benefits that pentoxifylline can confer;
      studies evaluating hard end points in acute coronary syndrome, stroke/transient
      ischaemic attack and systolic heart failure might be particularly valuable. 

PMID- 26870392
TI  - Key design considerations on comparative clinical efficacy studies for
      biosimilars: adalimumab as an example.
AB  - The global development of a biosimilar product is a methodologically complex
      affair, lined with potential design pitfalls and operational missteps to be
      avoided. Without careful attention to experimental design and meticulous
      execution, a development programme may fail to demonstrate equivalence, as would
      be anticipated for a biosimilar product, and not receive regulatory approval
      based on current guidance. In order to demonstrate similarity of a biosimilar
      product versus the originator (ie, the branded product), based on regulatory
      guidance, a stepwise approach is usually taken, starting with a comprehensive
      structural and functional characterisation of the new biological moiety. Given
      the sequential nature of the review process, the extent and nature of the non
      clinical in vivo studies and the clinical studies to be performed depend on the
      level of evidence obtained in these previous step(s). A clinical efficacy trial
      is often required to further demonstrate biosimilarity of the two products
      (biosimilar vs branded) in terms of comparative safety and effectiveness. Owing
      to the focus on demonstrating biosimilarity and not safety and efficacy de novo,
      designing an adequate phase III (potentially pivotal) clinical efficacy study of
      a biosimilar may present some unique challenges. Using adalimumab as an example,
      we highlight design elements that may deserve special attention. 

PMID- 26870393
TI  - Social Role Participation Questionnaire for patients with ankylosing spondylitis:
      translation into Dutch, reliability and construct validity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Social Role Participation Questionnaire (SRPQ) assesses the
      influence of health on participation in 11 specific and one general participation
      role across 4 participation dimensions: 'importance', 'satisfaction with time',
      'satisfaction with performance' and 'physical difficulty'. This study aimed to
      translate the SRPQ into Dutch, and assess the clinimetric properties and aspects
      of its validity among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS:
      Translation was performed using the dual panel approach. For each participation
      dimension, internal consistency, test-retest reliability (n=31), and construct
      validity were assessed in 246 patients with AS. RESULTS: The translation required
      only minor adaptations. Cronbach alphas were alpha>=0.7. A strong correlation was
      present between satisfaction with 'time' and 'performance'(r=0.85). Test-retest
      reliability was satisfactory (kappa=0.79-0.95). Correlations with participation
      domains of the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36), the WHO Disease Assessment
      Score II, and generic as well as disease-specific health outcomes (Physical and
      Mental component scale of the SF-36, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Bath
      Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis
      Functioning Index (BASFI)) were at least moderate (r=-0.41 to 0.75) for all
      dimensions except for 'role importance' where correlations were weak (r<=40).
      Discriminative ability across 5 self-reported health states was good for all
      dimensions (p<0.01). The 'general participation' role showed similar reliability
      and validity for each dimension, as the average of the all 11 roles. CONCLUSIONS:
      The Dutch version of the SRPQ is available to help understand social role
      participation of patients with AS. The dimension 'role importance' measures a
      distinct aspect of participation. The general participation item was a good
      global measure of participation.

PMID- 26870394
TI  - Factors associated with a bad functional prognosis in early inflammatory back
      pain: results from the DESIR cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a heterogeneous disease with hardly
      predictable potential courses. We aimed at determining prognostic factors of bad
      functional outcome at 2 years in patients with early inflammatory back pain
      (IBP). METHODS: Data from patients included in the French multicentre devenir des
      spondylarthropathies indifferenciees recentes (DESIR) cohort, that is, suffering
      from IBP starting before 50 years of age and lasting for 3-36 months, were used.
      A bad functional outcome at 24 months was defined as an increase in bath
      ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), or BASFI at 2 years higher than
      the 75th centile in the cohort. Demographic, clinical, biological and
      radiological data collected at inclusion were compared in patients with bad
      functional outcome versus others, by chi(2) test, then by a multivariate logistic
      regression model with stepwise selection of relevant factors. RESULTS: 513
      patients (54.4% females, 72.2% fulfilling ASAS criteria) were assessed. Of those,
      130 (25.3%) fulfilled the aforementioned criteria of a bad functional outcome
      (BASFI increase >=4 units or >=36 at 2 years). Multivariate analysis revealed
      that not fulfilling ASAS criteria, female sex, age >33 years, lower educational
      level, active smoking status and high disease activity according to bath
      ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) at baseline were
      independently associated with a bad functional outcome at 24 months. Sensitivity
      analyses restricted to patients fulfilling ASAS criteria for SpA resulted in
      similar results. CONCLUSION: We observed, in a large prospective cohort of
      patients with early IBP, formerly described bad prognostic factors, especially a
      low educational level, an older age and a high disease activity at onset, and
      revealed that active smoking status and female sex were also independently
      associated with a poor outcome. Fulfilment of ASAS criteria, on the other hand,
      was predictive of a better outcome, most likely due to the more consensual
      management of a defined disease.

PMID- 26870395
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-p-anizidinegossypol with an unknown solvate.
AB  - The title compound, C44H44N2O8, (systematic name: 1,1',6,6'-tetra-hydroxy-5,5'
      diisopropyl-8,8'-bis-{[(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)iminium-yl]meth-yl}-3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'
      bi-naphthalene-7,7'-diolate) has been obtained by the addition of p-anizidine to
      gossypol dissolved in di-chloro-methane. In the solid state, the title compound
      exists in the enamine or quinoid form. The two naphthyl moieties are inclined to
      one another by 72.08 (5) degrees . The pendant phenyl rings are inclined at 22.26
      (14) and 23.86 (13) degrees  to the corresponding naphthyl rings. In the crystal,
      mol-ecules are incorporated into layers through inversion-related pairs of O-H?O
      inter-actions [graph sets R 2 (2)(20) and R 2 (2)(10)] and translation-related O
      H?O inter-actions [graph set C(15)]. The packing of these layers in the crystal
      structure gives rise to channels in the [011] direction, with hydro-phobic inter
      actions occurring between adjacent layers. The channels are 5-7 A wide, and the
      void volume of each cell is 655 A(3), corresponding to 26.6% of the cell volume.
      Disordered guest mol-ecules, probably solvent and water mol-ecules, occupy these
      voids of the crystal; their contribution to the scattering was removed with the
      SQUEEZE routine [Spek (2015 ?). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18] of PLATON [Spek (2009 ?).
      Acta Cryst. D65, 148-155]. 

PMID- 26870396
TI  - Crystal structure and computational study of 3,4-dihy-droxy-3-hy-droxy-methyl-9
      methyl-6-methyl-idene-3a,4,5,6,6a,9,9a,9b-octa-hydro-azuleno[4,5-b]furan
      2,8(3H,7H)-dione.
AB  - In the mol-ecule of title compound, C15H20O6, also known as cynarinin A, the
      cyclo-pentane ring having twist conformation and a gamma-lactone ring assuming an
      envelope conformation are trans- and cis-fused, respectively, to a cyclo-heptane
      ring adopting a twist-chair conformation. In the crystal, O-H?O hydrogen bonds
      link neighbouring mol-ecules, forming a three-dimensional network. Theoretical
      calculations of the mol-ecular structure using the CNDO approximation and MOPAC
      PM3 geometry optimization are in satisfactory agreement with the results of the X
      ray structure analysis. 

PMID- 26870397
TI  - Crystal structure of 1,3-bis-(2,3-di-methyl-quinoxalin-6-yl)benzene.
AB  - The title compound, C26H22N4 (I), was synthesized by C-H iridium-catalyzed
      borylation followed by Suzuki coupling. The mol-ecular structure of (I) consists
      of a central benzene ring with 3-di-methyl-quinoxalin-6-yl groups at the 1 and 3
      positions. These 2,3-di-methyl-quinoxalin-6-yl groups twist significantly out of
      the plane of the benzene ring. There are inter-molecular pi-pi inter-actions
      which result in a two-dimensional extended structure. The layers extend parallel
      to the ab plane and stack along the c axis. 

PMID- 26870398
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-{[(E)-(4-anilinophen-yl)iminium-yl]meth-yl}-5-(di-ethyl
      amino)-phenolate.
AB  - The title compound, C23H25N3O, crystallized with one single mol-ecule in the
      asymmetric unit and is present in the zwitterionic form. There is an intra
      molecular N-H?O hydrogen bond in the mol-ecule with the phenol ring being
      inclined to the central benzene ring by 20.67 (14) degrees . The terminal amino
      phenyl ring forms a dihedral angle of 54.21 (14) degrees  with the central
      benzene ring. The two outer aromatic rings are inclined to one another by 74.54
      (14) degrees . In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected by N-H?O hydrogen
      bonds, with adjacent molecules related by a 21 screw axis, generating -A-B-A-B-
      zigzag chains extending along [010]. The chains are linked via C-H?pi and pi-pi
      inter-actions [with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.444 (3) A] between the
      benzene ring and the imino group of symmetry-related mol-ecules, forming slabs
      lying parallel to (100). 

PMID- 26870399
TI  - Crystal structure of hydrazine iron(III) phosphate, the first transition metal
      phosphate containing hydrazine.
AB  - The title compound, poly[(MU2-hydrazine)(MU4-phosphato)iron(III)],
      [Fe(PO4)(N2H4)] n , was prepared under hydro-thermal conditions. Its asymmetric
      unit contains one Fe(III) atom located on an inversion centre, one P atom located
      on a twofold rotation axis, and two O, one N and two H atoms located on general
      positions. The Fe(III) atom is bound to four O atoms of symmetry-related PO4
      tetra-hedra and to two N atoms of two symmetry-related hydrazine ligands,
      resulting in a slightly distorted FeO4N2 octa-hedron. The crystal structure
      consists of a three-dimensional hydrazine/iron phoshate framework whereby each
      PO4 tetra-hedron bridges four Fe(III) atoms and each hydrazine ligand bridges two
      Fe(III) atoms. The H atoms of the hydrazine ligands are also involved in moderate
      N-H?O hydrogen bonding with phosphate O atoms. The crystal structure is isotypic
      with the sulfates [Co(SO4)(N2H4)] and [Mn(SO4)(N2H4)]. 

PMID- 26870400
TI  - Crystal structure of 2,2''-bis-(2,7-di-chloro-9-hy-droxy-9H-fluoren-9-yl)
      1,1':4',1''-terphenyl tri-ethyl-amine trisolvate.
AB  - In the title solvate, C44H26Cl4O2.3C6H15N, the asymmetric part of the unit cell
      comprises two halves of the diol mol-ecules, 2,2''-bis-(2,7-di-chloro-9-hy-droxy
      9H-fluoren-9-yl)-1,1':4',1''-terphenyl, and three mol-ecules of tri-ethyl-amine,
      i. e. the diol mol-ecules are located on crystallographic symmetry centres. Two
      of the solvent mol-ecules are disordered over two positions [occupancy ratios of
      0.567 (3):0.433 (3) and 0.503 (3):0.497 (3)]. In the diol mol-ecules, the outer
      rings of the 1,1':4',1''-terphenyl elements are twisted with reference to their
      central arene ring and the mean planes of the fluorenyl moieties are inclined
      with respect to the terphenyl ring to which they are connected, the latter making
      dihedral angles of 82.05 (8) and 82.28 (8) degrees . The presence of two 9
      fluoren-9-ol units attached at positions 2 and 2'' of the terphenyl moiety
      induces a 'folded' geometry which is stabilized by intra-molecular C-H?O hydrogen
      bonds and pi-pi stacking inter-actions, the latter formed between the fluorenyl
      units and the central ring of the terphenyl unit [centroid-centroid distances =
      3.559 (1) and 3.562 (1) A]. The crystal is composed of 1:2 complex units, in
      which the solvent mol-ecules are associated with the diol mol-ecules via O-H?N
      hydrogen bonds, while the remaining solvent mol-ecule is linked to the host by a
      C-H?N hydrogen bond. The given pattern of inter-molecular inter-actions results
      in formation of chain structures extending along [010]. 

PMID- 26870401
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(piperidinium) hydrogen sulfate sulfate.
AB  - In the title molecular salt, 3C5H12N(+).HSO4 (-).SO4 (2-), each cation adopts a
      chair conformation. In the crystal, the hydrogen sulfate ion is connected to the
      sulfate ion by a strong O-H?O hydrogen bond. The packing also features a number
      of N-H?O hydrogen bonds, which lead to a three-dimensional network structure. The
      hydrogen sulfate anion accepts four hydrogen bonds from two cations, whereas the
      sulfate ion, as an acceptor, binds to five separate piperidinium cations, forming
      seven hydrogen bonds. 

PMID- 26870402
TI  - Crystal structures of bis- and hexakis[(6,6'-di-hydroxy-bipyridine)copper(II)]
      nitrate coordination complexes.
AB  - Two multinuclear complexes synthesized from Cu(NO3)2 and 6,6'-di-hydroxy
      bipyridine (dhbp) exhibit bridging nitrate and hydroxide ligands. The dinuclear
      complex (6,6'-di-hydroxy-bipyridine-2kappa(2) N,N')[MU-6-(6-hy-droxy-pyridin-2
      yl)pyridin-2-olato-1:2kappa(3) N,N':O (2)](MU-hydroxido-1:2kappa(2) O:O')(MU
      nitrato-1:2kappa(2) O:O')(nitrato-1kappaO)dicopper(II),
      [Cu2(C10H7N2O2)(OH)(NO3)2(C10H8N2O2)] or [Cu(6-OH-6'-O-bpy)(NO3)(MU-OH)(MU
      NO3)Cu(6,6'-dhbp)], (I), with a 2:1 ratio of nitrate to hydroxide anions and one
      partially deprotonated dhbp ligand, forms from a water-ethanol mixture at neutral
      pH. The hexa-nuclear complex bis-(MU3-bi-pyridine-2,2'-diolato-kappa(3)
      O:N,N':O')tetra-kis-(6,6'-di-hydroxy-bipyridine-kappa(2) N,N')tetra-kis-(MU
      hydroxido-kappa(2) O:O')bis-(methanol-kappaO)tetra-kis-(MU-nitrato-kappa(2)
      O:O')hexa-copper(II), [Cu6(C10H6N2O2)2(CH4O)2(OH)4(NO3)4(C10H8N2O2)4] or [Cu(6,6'
      dhbp)(MU-NO3)2(MU-OH)Cu(6,6'-O-bpy)(MU-OH)Cu(6,6'dhbp)(CH3OH)]2, (II), with a 1:1
      NO3-OH ratio and two fully protonated and fully deprotonated dhbp ligands, was
      obtained by methanol recrystallization of material obtained at pH 3. Complex (II)
      lies across an inversion center. Complexes (I) and (II) both display intra
      molecular O-H?O hydrogen bonding. Inter-molecular O-H?O hydrogen bonding links
      symmetry-related mol-ecules forming chains along [100] for complex (I) with pi
      stacking along [010] and [001]. Complex (II) forms inter-molecular O-H?O hydrogen
      bonded chains along [010] with pi-stacking along [100] and [001]. 

PMID- 26870403
TI  - Crystal structure of 4,4'-di-bromo-2',5'-dimeth-oxy-[1,1'-biphen-yl]-2,5-dione
      (BrHBQBr).
AB  - In the title compound, C14H10Br2O4, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings
      is 67.29 (19) degrees . Both meth-oxy-group C atoms lie close to the plane of
      their attached ring [deviations = -0.130 (4) and 0.005 (5) A]. In the crystal,
      mol-ecules pack in a centrosymmetric fashion and inter-act via a mixture of weak
      pi-pi stacking inter-actions [centroid-centoid separations = 4.044 (2) and 4.063
      (3) A], weak C-H?O hydrogen bonding, and Br?Br halogen bonding. This induces a
      geometry quite different than that predicted by theory. 

PMID- 26870404
TI  - Crystal structures of two erbium(III) complexes with 4-amino-benzoic acid and 4
      chloro-3-nitro-benzoic acid.
AB  - The crystal structures of two erbium(III) complexes with 4-amino-benzoic acid (4
      ABAH), namely bis-(MU2-4-amino-benzoato-kappa(2) O:O')bis-[bis(4-amino-benzoato
      kappa(2) O,O')di-aqua-erbium(III)] dihydrate, [Er2(C7H6NO2)6(H2O)4].2H2O, (I),
      and 4-chloro-3-nitro-benzoic acid (CLNBAH), namely poly[hexa-kis-(MU2-4-chloro-3
      nitro-benzoato-kappa(2) O:O')bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide-kappaO)dierbium(III)],
      [Er2(C7H3ClNO4)6(C2H6OS)2] n , (II), have been determined. In the structure of
      solvatomorphic compound (I), the symmetry-related irregular ErO8 coordination
      polyhedra in the discrete centrosymmetric dinuclear complex comprise two
      monodentate water mol-ecules and six carboxyl-ate O-atom donors, four from two
      bidentate carboxyl-ate O,O'-chelate groups and two from the bis-monodentate O:O'
      bridging group of the third 4-ABA anion. The Er-O bond-length range is 2.232 (3)
      2.478 (3) A and the Er?Er separation in the dinuclear complex unit is 4.7527 (4)
      A. One of the coordinating water mol-ecules is involved in an intra-unit O-H?O
      hydrogen-bonding association with an inversion-related carboxyl-ate O-atom
      acceptor. In contrast, the anhydrous compound (II) is polymeric, based on
      centrosymmetric dinuclear repeat units comprising ErO7 coordination polyhedra
      which involve four O-atom donors from two bidentate O:O'-bridging carboxyl-ate
      groups, one O-atom donor from the monodentate dimethyl sulfoxide ligand and two O
      atom donors from the third bridging CLNBA anion. The latter provides the inter
      unit link in the one-dimensional coordination polymer extending along [100]. The
      Er-O bond-length range in (II) is 2.239 (6)-2.348 (6) A and the Er?Er separation
      within the dinuclear unit is 4.4620 (6) A. In the crystal of (I), extensive inter
      dimer O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving both the
      coordinating water mol-ecules and the solvent water mol-ecules, as well as the
      amine groups of the 4-ABA anions, give an overall three-dimensional network
      structure. Within this structure are also weak pi-pi ring inter-actions between
      two of the coordinating ligands [ring-centroid separations = 3.676 (3) and 3.711
      (2) A]. With (II), only weak intra-polymer C-H?O, C-H?Cl and C-H?S inter-actions
      are present. 

PMID- 26870405
TI  - Crystal structures of three mercury(II) complexes [HgCl2 L] where L is a
      bidentate chiral imine ligand.
AB  - The crystal structures of three complexes [HgCl2 L] were determined, namely, (S)
      (+)-di-chlorido-[1-phenyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene)ethyl-amine-kappa(2)
      N,N']mercury(II), [HgCl2(C14H14N2)], (S)-(+)-di-chlorido-[1-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-N
      (pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene)ethyl-amine-kappa(2) N,N']mercury(II),
      [HgCl2(C15H16N2)], and (1S,2S,3S,5R)-(+)-di-chlorido-[N-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl
      idene)isopino-camph-eyl-amine-kappa(2) N,N']mercury(II), [HgCl2(C16H22N2)]. The
      complexes consist of a bidentate chiral imine ligand coordinating to HgCl2 and
      crystallize with four independent mol-ecules in the first complex and two
      independent mol-ecules in the other two. The coordination geometry of mercury is
      tetra-hedral, with strong distortion towards a disphenoidal geometry, as a
      consequence of the imine bite angle being close to 70 degrees . The Cl-Hg-Cl
      angles span a large range, 116.0 (2)-138.3 (3) degrees , which is related to the
      aggregation state in the crystals. For small Cl-Hg-Cl angles, complexes have a
      tendency to form dimers, via inter-molecular Hg?Cl contacts. These contacts
      become less significant in the third complex, which features the largest intra
      molecular Cl-Hg-Cl angles. 

PMID- 26870406
TI  - Crystal structure of di-MU-aqua-MU-(pyrazine N,N'-dioxide)-kappa(2) O:O-bis-(di
      aqua-sodium) tetra-phenyl-borate dihydrate pyrazine N,N'-dioxide monosolvate.
AB  - The search for novel lanthanide coordination networks using pyrazine N,N'-dioxide
      (pzdo, C4H4N2O2) as a structure-directing unit, led to the synthesis and the
      structure determination of the title compound,
      [Na2(C4H4N2O2)(H2O)6][B(C6H5)4]2.C4H4N2O2.2H2O. The crystal structure is
      comprised of discrete [{Na(H2O)2}2(MU-H2O)2(MU-pzdo)](2+) cations and tetra
      phenyl-borate anions, as well as pzdo and H2O solvent mol-ecules. The dinuclear
      cation is located about a twofold rotation axis, and the symmetry-related Na(I)
      atoms display a distorted square-pyramidal coordination sphere defined by two O
      atoms of terminal water ligands, two O atoms of bridging water ligands and one O
      atom of a bridging pzdo ligand. In the crystal, O-H?O hydrogen bonds link the
      dinuclear cation and solvent pzdo mol-ecules (point-group symmetry -1) into
      rectangular grid-like layers parallel to the bc plane. Additional C-H?O, O-H?O, C
      H?pi and O-H?pi inter-actions link the anion and solvent water mol-ecules to the
      layers. The layers are further linked into a three-dimensional network through a
      combination of C-H?pi and O-H?pi hydrogen bonds involving the tetra-phenyl-borate
      anion. 

PMID- 26870407
TI  - Crystal structure of (2',3,6'-tri-chloro-biphenyl-2-yl)boronic acid tetra-hydro
      furan monosolvate.
AB  - The title compound, C12H8BCl3O2.C4H8O, crystallizes as a tetra-hydro-furan
      monosolvate. The boronic acid group adopts a syn-anti conformation and is
      significantly twisted along the carbon-boron bond by 69.2 (1) degrees , due to
      considerable steric hindrance from the 2',6'-di-chloro-phenyl group that is
      located ortho to the boronic acid substituent. The phenyl rings of the biphenyl
      are almost perpendicular to one another, with a dihedral angle of 87.9 (1)
      degrees  between them. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are linked via O-H?O
      inter-actions to form centrosymmetric dimers with R 2 (2)(8) motifs, which have
      recently been shown to be energetically very favourable. The hy-droxy groups are
      in an anti conformation and are also engaged in hydrogen-bonding inter-actions
      with the O atom of the tetra-hydro-furan solvent mol-ecule. Cl?Cl halogen-bonding
      inter-actions [Cl?Cl = 3.464 (1) A] link neigbouring dimers into chains running
      along [010]. Further aggregation occurs due to an additional Cl?Cl halogen bond
      [Cl?Cl = 3.387 (1) A]. 

PMID- 26870408
TI  - Crystal structure of 9,10-bis-(1,3-di-thiol-2-yl-idene)-9,10-di-hydro-anthracene.
AB  - The crystal structure of the well-studied 9,10-bis-(1,3-di-thiol-2-yl-idene)-9,10
      di-hydro-anthracene mol-ecule, C20H12S4, (I), also known as exTTF, is reported.
      The mol-ecular structure of (I) consists of a di-hydro-anthracene moiety with two
      1,3-di-thiol-2-yl-idene substituents. This is a saddle-shaped mol-ecule, which
      inter-acts with a close neighbor through various pi-pi and C-H?pi contacts to
      form a 'dimer'. These 'dimers' inter-act through a series of C-H?S and C-H?pi
      contacts to construct a complex three-dimensional extended structure. 

PMID- 26870409
TI  - The crystal structures of tetra-kis-(MU-n-butyrato-kappa(2)
      O:O')bis[bromidorhenium(III)] and tetra-kis-(MU-n-butyrato-kappa(2)
      O:O')bis[chlorido-rhenium(III)] aceto-nitrile disolvate.
AB  - The title complexes, [Re2Br2(O2CC3H7)4], (1), and [Re2(O2CC3H7)4Cl2].2CH3CN, (2),
      both exhibit paddlewheel structures with four carboxyl-ate ligands bridging two
      Re(III) atoms. The Re-Re distances are 2.2325 (2) and 2.2299 (3) A, indicating
      quadruple bonds between the Re(III) atoms in each complex. Both complexes contain
      an inversion center at the mid-point of the Re-Re bond. The Re-Br bond [2.6712
      (3) A] in (1) is 0.1656 (6) A longer than the Re-Cl distance [2.5056 (5) A] of
      (2). In (2), the N atom of each co-crystallized aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecule
      is nearly equidistant between and in close contact with two carboxyl-ate C atoms.

PMID- 26870410
TI  - Crystal structure of {6,6'-dibenzoyl-4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-[(ethane-1,2-di
      yl)di-nitrilo-bis-(phenyl-methanylyl-idene)]diphenolato-kappa(4) O (1),N,N',O
      (1')}nickel(II).
AB  - The mononuclear title complex, [Ni(C50H46N2O4)], crystallizes in the triclinic
      space group P-1, with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit (Z' = 2). Each Ni(II)
      atom has a slightly distorted square-planar geometry [omega = 3.91 (5) degrees 
      and 2.04 (7) degrees ] defined by the two phenolate O and two imine N atoms of
      the tetra-dentate Schiff base ligand. The dihedral angles between the central
      phenolate ring and peripheral phenyl rings are 60.5 (2)/70.0 (2) and 86.4
      (2)/56.1 (2) degrees  in mol-ecule A, and 89.43 (19)/18.0 (2) and 63.87 (19)/68.2
      (2) degrees  in mol-ecule B. The two central phenolate rings are twisted by
      angles of 19.37 (19) and 19.36 (18) degrees  in the two mol-ecules. The packing
      is stabilized through intra- and inter-molecular C-H?O and C-H?pi inter-actions,
      forming chains parallel to the b axis. The tert-butyl groups in one of the two
      mol-ecules are positionally disordered with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.707
      (13):0.293 (13). 

PMID- 26870411
TI  - Crystal structures of 3,5-bis-[(E)-3-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene]-1-methyl-piperidin-4
      one and 3,5-bis-[(E)-2-chloro-benzyl-idene]-1-methyl-piperidin-4-one.
AB  - The title compounds, C20H19NO3, (1), and C20H17Cl2NO, (2), are the 3-hy-droxy
      benzyl-idene and 2-chloro-benzyl-idene derivatives, respectively, of curcumin
      [systematic name: (1E,6E)-1,7-bis-(4-hy-droxy-3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1,6-hepta-diene
      3,5-dione]. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings in each compound are
      21.07 (6) degrees  for (1) and 13.4 (3) degrees  for (2). In both compounds, the
      piperidinone rings adopt a sofa confirmation and the methyl group attached to the
      N atom is in an equatorial position. In the crystal of (1), two pairs of O-H?N
      and O-H?O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules, forming chains along [10-1]. The
      chains are linked via C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming undulating sheets parallel to
      the ac plane. In the crystal of (2), mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H?Cl
      hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the [204] direction. The chains are linked
      along the a-axis direction by pi-pi inter-actions [inter-centroid distance =
      3.779 (4) A]. For compound (2), the crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin
      with the refined ratio of the twin components being 0.116 (6):0.886 (6). 

PMID- 26870412
TI  - Crystal structure of di-chlorido-bis-(1,3-diazinane-2-thione-kappaS)cadmium.
AB  - In the structure of the title compound, [CdCl2(C4H8N2S)2], the Cd(II) atom is
      coordinated by two chloride ions and two 1,3-diazinane-2-thione (Diaz) mol-ecules
      through their S atoms. The geometry around the Cd(II) atom is distorted tetra
      hedral, with bond angles in the range 101.55 (7)-117.91 (8) degrees . The CH2
      groups of one Diaz ligand are disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy
      ratio of 0.711 (12):0.289 (12). The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by intra
      molecular N-H?Cl hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, generating a butterfly syn
      conformation. Inter-molecular N-H?Cl and N-H?S inter-actions lead to the
      formation of a three-dimensional network structure. The structure has been
      determined from a crystal twinned by nonmerohedry, by a 180 degrees  rotation
      around the reciprocal c axis. The twin ratio refined to 0.8866 (6):0.1134 (6). 

PMID- 26870413
TI  - Crystal structure of nitridobis(tri-methyl-silanolato)[1,1,1-trimethyl-N-(tri
      methyl-sil-yl)silanaminato]molybdenum(VI).
AB  - In the title compound, [Mo(C6H18NSi2)(C3H9OSi)2N], the Mo(VI) cation is located
      on a mirror plane and is coordinated by a nitride anion, a 1,1,1-trimethyl-N-(tri
      methyl-sil-yl)silanaminate anion and two tri-methyl-silanolate anions in a
      distorted tetra-hedral geometry; the N atom and two Si atoms of the 1,1,1
      trimethyl-N-(tri-methyl-sil-yl)silanaminato anionic ligand are also located on
      the mirror plane. The Mo N bond length of 1.633 (6) A is much shorter than the Mo
      N single-bond length of 1.934 (7) A. No hydrogen bonding is observed in the
      crystal structure. 

PMID- 26870414
TI  - Crystal structure of N-(2,2,2-tri-chloro-1-hy-droxy-eth-yl)formamide.
AB  - The title compound, C3H4Cl3NO2, crystallized with two independent mol-ecules (A
      and B) in the asymmetric unit. The two mol-ecules have the same conformation; the
      mol-ecular overlap gives weighted and unit-weight r.m.s. fits of 0.047 and 0.043
      A, respectively. The conformation of the N-(hydroxeth-yl)formamide chains are
      very similar, as indicated by the C-N(H)-C=O and C-N(H)-C-O(H) torsion angles,
      which are, respectively, -1.8 (3) and -91.5 (2) degrees  for mol-ecule A, and 
      2.1 (3) and -95.7 (2) degrees  for mol-ecule B. In the crystal, individual mol
      ecules are linked by pairs of O-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming A-A and B-B inversion
      dimers with R 2 (2)(12) ring motifs. The dimers are linked via N-H?O hydrogen
      bonds, forming alternating layers of A and B mol-ecules parallel to the bc plane.
      Within the layers of B mol-ecules, there are weak C-H?Cl hydrogen bonds present. 

PMID- 26870415
TI  - Crystal structures of two bis-(iodo-meth-yl)benzene derivatives: similarities and
      differences in the crystal packing.
AB  - The isomeric derivatives 1,2-bis-(iodo-meth-yl)benzene, (I), and 1,3-bis-(iodo
      meth-yl)benzene (II), both C8H8I2, were prepared by metathesis from their di
      bromo analogues. The ortho-derivative, (I), lies about a crystallographic twofold
      axis that bis-ects the C-C bond between the two iodo-methyl substituents. The
      packing in (I) relies solely on C-H?I hydrogen bonds supported by weak parallel
      slipped pi-pi stacking inter-actions [inter-centroid distance = 4.0569 (11) A,
      inter-planar distance = 3.3789 (8) A and slippage = 2.245 A]. While C-H?I
      hydrogen bonds are also found in the packing of (II), type II, I?I halogen bonds
      [I?I = 3.8662 (2) A] and C-H?pi contacts feature prominently in stabilizing the
      three-dimensional structure. 

PMID- 26870416
TI  - Crystal structure of 10a-hy-droxy-9-(3-nitro-phen-yl)-3,6-diphenyl
      3,4,5,6,7,8a,9,10a-octa-hydro-1H-xanthene-1,8(2H)-dione.
AB  - In the octa-hydroxanthenedione unit of the title compound, C31H27NO6, the central
      di-hydro-pyran ring shows an envelope conformation, while the bilateral cyclo
      hexene and cyclo-hexane rings adopt a half-boat conformation and a chair
      conformation, respectively. The nitro-benzene ring is twisted with respect to the
      two benzene rings, making dihedral angles of 63.1 (1) and 63.0 (1) degrees . In
      the crystal, O-H?O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into supra-molecular chains
      propagating along the a-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870417
TI  - Crystal structure of (3E,5E)-3,5-bis-[4-(di-ethyl-aza-nium-yl)benzyl-idene]-1
      methyl-4-oxopiperidin-1-ium trichloride dihydrate: a potential biophotonic
      material.
AB  - In the trication of the title hydrated mol-ecular salt, C28H40N3O(3+).3Cl(
      ).2H2O, the central heterocyclic ring adopts a sofa conformation, with the
      exocyclic N-C bond in an equatorial orientation. The dihedral angles between the
      planar part of this heterocyclic ring and the two almost flat side-chain
      fragments, which include the aromatic ring and bridging atoms, are 28.8 (1) and
      41.1 (1) degrees . Both di-ethyl-aza-niumyl substituents have a tetra-hedral
      geometry, while the dihedral angles between the above-mentioned flat part of the
      aryl fragments and the imaginary planes drawn through atoms C-N-C of the di-ethyl
      aza-niumyl substituents are 86.3 (2) and 80.4 (1) degrees , respectively. In the
      crystal, N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into [100] chains. The
      chains are cross-linked by numerous C-H?O and C-H?Cl inter-actions, generating a
      three-dimensional network. One of the chloride ions is disordered over two
      adjacent positions in a 0.895 (4):0.105 (4) ratio. 

PMID- 26870418
TI  - Crystal structures of two 2,9-di-thia-13-aza-dispiro-[4.1.4(7).3(5)]tetra-decan-6
      ones.
AB  - In the title compounds 4,11-dihy-droxy-13-methyl-1,8-di-p-tolyl-2,9-di-thia-13-
      aza-dispiro-[4.1.4(7).3(5)]tetra-decan-6-one, C26H31NO3S2, (I), and 13-benzyl
      4,11-dihy-droxy-1,8-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-2,9-di-thia-13-aza-dispiro
      [4.1.4(7).3(5)]tetradecan-6-one, C32H35NO3S2, (II), the piperidine rings adopt
      distorted chair conformations. The thio-phene rings in (I) have envelope
      conformations, with the spiro C atoms as the flaps. In (II), one thio-phene ring
      (D) has an envelope conformation, with the hy-droxy-substituted C atom as the
      flap, while the other thio-phene ring (E) has a twisted conformation on the C-C
      bond involving the spiro C atom and the toluyl-substituted C atom. In (I), the
      mean plane of the piperidine ring makes dihedral angles of 75.16 (9) and 73.33
      (8) degrees  with the mean planes of the thio-phene rings (D and E),
      respectively. In (II), the corresponding dihedral angles are 70.95 (11) and 77.43
      (12) degrees . In both compounds, there is an intra-molecular O-H?O hydrogen bond
      forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal of (I), mol-ecules are linked via O
      H?N and C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [010]. There are also pi-pi
      inter-actions present involving inversion-related benzene rings, linking the
      chains to form slabs parallel to (100). In the crystal of (II), mol-ecules are
      linked via O-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with an R 4 (4)(8) ring
      motif. The dimers are linked by C-H?pi inter-actions, forming slabs parallel to
      (001). 

PMID- 26870419
TI  - Crystal structure of N-[(1S,2S)-2-amino-cyclo-hex-yl]-2,4,6-tri-methyl-benzene
      sulfonamide.
AB  - The title compound, C15H24N2O2S, was synthesized via a substitution reaction
      between the enanti-opure (1S,2S)-(+)-1,2-di-amino-cyclo-hexane and 2,4,6-tri
      methyl-benzene-1-sulfonyl chloride. The cyclo-hexyl and phenyl substituents are
      oriented gauche around the sulfonamide S-N bond. In the crystal, mol-ecules are
      linked via N-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [100]. 

PMID- 26870420
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-({(1E,2E)-3-[3-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)-1-isopropyl-1H-indol-2
      yl]allyl-idene}amino)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the titled compound, C22H20FN5S, comprises two independent
      mol-ecules (A and B), both of which have a trans conformation with respect to the
      methene C=C [1.342 (2) and 1.335 (2) A] and the acyclic N=C [1.283 (2) and 1.281
      (2) A] bonds. In mol-ecule A, the triazole ring makes dihedral angles of 55.01
      (12) and 18.17 (9) degrees  with the benzene and indole rings, respectively. The
      corresponding dihedral angles for mol-ecule B are 54.54 (11) and 14.60 (10)
      degrees , respectively. In the crystal, mol-ecules are consolidated into -A-B-A-B
      chains along [010] via N-H?N hydrogen bonds. The chains are further linked into
      layers parallel to the ac plane via pi-pi inter-actions involving inversion
      related triazole rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.3436 (11)-3.4792 (13) A].

PMID- 26870421
TI  - Crystal structure of (+/-)-(5SR,6SR)-6-ethenyl-1-[(RS)-1-phenyl-eth-oxy]-1-aza
      spiro-[4.5]decan-2-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C19H25NO2, the pyrrolidine ring adopts an envelope form,
      with the spiro C atom as the flap, while the cyclo-hexane ring shows a chair
      form. A weak intra-molecular C-H?O inter-action supports the mol-ecular
      conformation, generating an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, pairs of C-H?O inter
      actions connect the mol-ecules into inversion dimers with an R 2 (2)(16) ring
      motif. The dimers are linked by a second pair of C-H?O inter-actions, enclosing
      an R 4 (2)(12) ring motif, into a tape structure along the b axis. 

PMID- 26870422
TI  - Crystal structures of tris-[1-oxo-pyridine-2-olato(1-)]silicon(IV) chloride
      chloro-form-d 1 disolvate, tris-[1-oxo-pyridine-2-olato(1-)]silicon(IV) chloride
      aceto-nitrile unqu-anti-fied solvate, and fac-tris-[1-oxo-pyridine-2-thiol-ato(1
      )]silicon(IV) chloride chloro-form-d 1 disolvate.
AB  - The cations in the title salts, [Si(OPO)3]Cl.2CDCl3, (I), [Si(OPO)3]Cl.xCH3CN,
      (II), and fac-[Si(OPTO)3]Cl.2CDCl3, (III) (OPO = 1-oxo-2-pyridin-one, C5H4NO2,
      and OPTO = 1-oxo-2-pyridine-thione, C5H4NOS), have distorted octa-hedral
      coordination spheres. The first two structures contain the same cation and anion,
      but different solvents of crystallization led to different solvates and packing
      arrangements. In structures (I) and (III), the silicon complex cations and
      chloride anions are well separated, while in (II), there are two C-H?Cl distances
      that fall just within the sum of the van der Waals radii of the C and Cl atoms.
      The pyridine portions of the OPO ligands in (I) and (II) are modeled as
      disordered with the planar flips of themselves [(I): 0.574 (15):0.426 (15), 0.696
      (15):0.304 (15), and 0.621 (15):0.379 (15); (II): 0.555 (13):0.445 (13), 0.604
      (14):0.396 (14) and 0.611 (13):0.389 (13)], demonstrating that both fac and mer
      isomers are co-crystallized. In (II), highly disordered solvent, located in two
      independent channels along [100], was unable to be modeled. Reflection
      contributions from this solvent were fixed and added to the calculated structure
      factors using the SQUEEZE [Spek (2015 ?). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18] function of
      program PLATON, which determined there to be 54 electrons in 225 A(3) accounted
      for per unit cell (25 electrons in 109 A(3) in one channel, and 29 electrons in
      115 A(3) in the other). In (I) and (II), all species lie on general positions. In
      (III), all species are located along crystallographic threefold axes. 

PMID- 26870423
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-13-(pyrimidin-5-yl)parthenolide.
AB  - The title compound, C19H22N2O3, {systematic name (1aR,4E,7aS,8E,10aS,10bR)-1a,5
      dimethyl-8-[(pyrimidin-5-yl)-methylid-ene]-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa-hydro
      oxireno[2',3':9,10]cyclo-deca-[1,2-b]furan-9(1aH)-one} was obtained from the
      reaction of parthenolide [systematic name (1aR,7aS,10aS,10bR,E)-1a,5-dimethyl-8
      methyl-ene-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa-hydro-oxireno[2',3':9,10]cyclodeca-[1,2
      b]furan-9(1aH)-one] with 5-bromo-pyrimidine under Heck reaction conditions, and
      was identified as an E isomer. The mol-ecule possesses ten-, five- (lactone) and
      three-membered (epoxide) rings with a pyrimidine group as a substituent. The ten
      membered ring displays an approximate chair-chair conformation, while the lactone
      ring shows a flattened envelope-type conformation. The dihedral angle between the
      pyrimidine moiety and the lactone ring system is 29.43 (7) degrees . 

PMID- 26870424
TI  - Crystal structure of racemic cis-2-amino-1,2-di-phenyl-ethanol (ADE).
AB  - In the title racemic compound, C14H15NO, the hy-droxy and amino groups form a
      bent tweezer-like motif towards the phenyl groups. In the crystal, enanti-omers
      aggregate with each other and are linked by O-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming chiral
      21-helical columnar structures from C(5) chains along the b-axis direction. Left-
      and right-handed 21 helices are formed from (1S,2R)-2-amino-1,2-di-phenyl-ethanol
      and (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-di-phenyl-ethanol, respectively. 

PMID- 26870425
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-O-benzyl-4(R)-C-(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1,2-O-iso
      propyl-idene-alpha-d-erythro-furan-ose.
AB  - The title compound, C23H25N3O4, {systematic name: 1-benzyl-4-[(3aR,5R,6R,6aR)-6
      benz-yloxy-2,2-di-methyl-tetra-hydro-furo[2,3-d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl]-1H-1,2,3
      triazole}, consists of a substituted 2,2-di-methyl-tetra-hydro-furo[2,3
      d][1,3]dioxole. The furan-ose ring adopts an envelope conformation close to C 3
      exo, where the C atom substituted by the benz-yloxy group is the flap. The fused
      dioxolane ring also adopts an envelope conformation, with the methyl-ene C atom
      as the flap. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds,
      forming zigzag chains along [010]. 

PMID- 26870426
TI  - Crystal structure of 7-{[bis-(pyridin-2-ylmeth-yl)amino]-meth-yl}-5-chloro
      quinolin-8-ol.
AB  - In the title compound, C22H19ClN4O, the quinolinol moiety is almost planar
      [r.m.s. deviation = 0.012 A]. There is an intra-molecular O-H?N hydrogen bond
      involving the hy-droxy group and a pyridine N atom forming an S(9) ring motif.
      The dihedral angles between the planes of the quinolinol moiety and the pyridine
      rings are 44.15 (9) and 36.85 (9) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked
      via C-H?O hydrogen bonds forming inversion dimers with an R 4 (4)(10) ring motif.
      The dimers are linked by C-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons along [01-1]. The
      ribbons are linked by C-H?pi and pi-pi inter-actions [inter-centroid distance =
      3.7109 (11) A], forming layers parallel to (01-1). 

PMID- 26870427
TI  - Ca4As3 - a new binary calcium arsenide.
AB  - The crystal structure of the binary compound tetra-calcium triarsenide, Ca4As3,
      was investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ca4As3 crystallizes in the
      Ba4P3 structure type and is thus a homologue of isotypic Sr4As3. The unit cell
      contains 32 Ca(2+) cations, 16 As(3-) isolated anions and four centrosymmetric
      [As2](4-) dumbbells. The As atoms in each of the dumbbells are connected by a
      single bond, thus this calcium arsenide is a Zintl phase. 

PMID- 26870428
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(acetonyltri-phenyl-phospho-nium) tetra-chlorido
      cobaltate(II).
AB  - The complex title salt, (C21H20OP)2[CoCl4], is the reaction product of CoCl2 with
      acetonyltri-phenyl-phospho-nium chloride in aceto-nitrile. In the anion, the
      Co(II) atom exhibits a typical tetra-hedral environment, with Co-Cl distances
      ranging from 2.2721 (6) to 2.2901 (6) A, and with Cl-Co-Cl angles ranging from
      106.12 (2) to 112.24 (2) degrees . The two phospho-nium cations likewise show the
      expected tetra-hedral configuration, with P-C distances ranging from 1.785 (2) to
      1.8059 (18) A and C-P-C angles ranging from 106.98 (8) to 112.85 (15) degrees .
      The mol-ecules inter-act in the lattice mainly through Coulombic and van der
      Waals forces because there is no particular polarity to the charges carried by
      the cations or anion. In the crystal, the cations and anions are arranged in
      sheets parallel to (001). 

PMID- 26870429
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-{MU-1-[(E)-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2
      olato-kappa(3) N (2),O:O}bis-({1-[(E)-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2
      olato-kappa(2) N (2),O}copper(II)).
AB  - The title dinuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu2(C17H13N2O2)4], is located on an
      inversion centre. The Cu(II) atoms are each five-coordinated in a distorted
      square-pyramidal geometry by two N atoms and two O atoms from two bidentate
      ligands and one bridging O atom from another ligand. In the dinuclear complex,
      the Cu?Cu separation is 3.366 (3) A. In the crystal, complex mol-ecules are
      linked via weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming a layer parallel to (-101). 

PMID- 26870430
TI  - Crystal structure of 1,1'-bis-(2-meth-oxy-carbonyl-2-methyl-prop-yl)ferrocene.
AB  - The Fe atom in the title ferrocene derivative, [Fe(C11H15O2)2], is situated on an
      inversion centre. As a result of the point-group symmetry -1 of the mol-ecule,
      the ferrocene moiety adopts a staggered conformation. The average Fe-C(Cp) bond
      length (Cp is cyclo-penta-dien-yl) is 2.045 (4) A, in agreement with that of
      other disubstituted ferrocenes. The Fe-C bond length involving the substituted C
      atom is slightly longer [2.0521 (17) A] than the remaining Fe-C bond lengths
      caused by the inductive effect of the methyl-ene group on the Cp ring. Apart from
      van der Waals forces, no significant inter-molecular inter-actions are observed
      in the crystal packing. 

PMID- 26870431
TI  - Crystal structure of di-aqua-[5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(4-meth-oxy-phen
      yl)porphyrinato-kappa(4) N]iron(III) di-aqua-(18-crown-6)potassium bis-(tri
      fluoro-methane-sulfonate)-18-crown-6 (1/2).
AB  - In the title compound,
      [Fe(III)(C48H36N4O2)(H2O)2][K(C12H24O6)(H2O)2](SO3CF3)2.2C12H24O6, the Fe(III)
      atom is situated on an inversion centre and is octa-hedrally coordin-ated by four
      pyrrole N atoms of the deprotenated 5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(4-meth-oxy-phen
      yl)porphyrinate ligand and two water mol-ecules. The average equatorial Fe
      N(pyrrole) bond length [2.043 (6) A] is consistent with a high-spin (S = 5/2)
      iron(III) metalloporphyrin derivative. The K(+) cation, which also lies on an
      inversion centre, is chelated by the six O atoms of one 18-crown-6 mol-ecule and
      is additionally coordinated by two water mol-ecules in a distorted hexa-gonal
      bipyramidal geometry. In the crystal, the cations, anions and one non
      coordinating 18-crown-6 mol-ecule are linked by classical O-H?O hydrogen bonds
      and non-conventional C-H?O hydrogen bonds, leading to a one-dimensional supra
      molecular architecture along [10-1]. The crystal packing is further stabilized by
      weak C-H?pi inter-actions involving pyrrole and phenyl rings of the porphyrins,
      as well as weak C-H?F contacts involving the (SO3CF3)(-) counter-ion and the 18
      crown-6 mol-ecules. 

PMID- 26870432
TI  - Crystal structure of di-MU-acetato-di-acetatobis-(MU-6,6'-dimeth-oxy-2,2'
      {[(propane-1,3-diylbis(aza-nylyl-idene)]bis-(methanylyl-idene)}diphenolato)tetra
      zinc.
AB  - The tetra-nuclear title complex, [Zn4(C19H20N2O4)2(CH3COO)4], is formed from two
      dinuclear motifs related by an inversion centre. The two crystallographically
      independent Zn(II) ions in the asymmetric unit are in different coordination
      environments. One is square-based pyramidal with one O atom of an acetate group
      occupying the axial position and two N and O atoms of one bmspd [H2bmspd = N,N'
      bis-(3-meth-oxy-salicyl-idene)propyl-ene-1,3-di-amine] Schiff base ligand forming
      the basal plane. The other Zn(II) atom is six-coordinated by four O atoms of the
      bmspd ligand forming the equatoral plane and two O atoms of different acetate
      groups located in the axial positions. As a result, the two phenolic planes of
      the bicompartmental Schiff base ligand are distorted slightly. However, the
      planes of the two Schiff base ligands are parallel. In addition, the Zn-N and Zn
      O bond lengths span the reasonable ranges 2.062 (2)-2.073 (2) and 1.9261 (15)
      2.4356 (16) A, respectively. The Zn?Zn distances separated by phenolic O atoms
      are 3.2466 (4) A while the Zn?Zn distances bridged by acetate groups are 5.9835
      (6) A. The tetra-nuclear moieties are connected by van der Waals interactions,
      and form a chain along c axis. 

PMID- 26870433
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-{MU2-[(2-imino-cyclo-pentyl-idene)methyl-idene]aza-nido
      kappa(2) N:N'}bis-[(eta(5)-penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)zirconium(IV)] hexane
      monosolvate.
AB  - The title compound, [Zr2(C10H15)4(C6H6N2)2].C6H14, was obtained by the
      stoichiometric reaction of adipo-nitrile with [Zr(C10H15)2(eta(2)-Me3SiC2SiMe3)].
      Intra-molecular nitrile-nitrile couplings and deprotonation of the substrate
      produced the (1-imino-2-enimino)-cyclo-pentane ligand, which functions as a five
      membered bridge between the two metal atoms. The Zr(IV) atom exhibits a distorted
      tetra-hedral coordination sphere defined by two penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dienyl
      ligands, by the imino unit of one (1-imino-2-enimino)-cyclo-pentane and by the
      enimino unit of the second (1-imino-2-enimino)-cyclo-pentane. The cyclo-pentane
      ring of the ligand shows an envelope conformation. The asymmetric unit contains
      one half of the complex and one half of the hexane solvent mol-ecule, both being
      completed by the application of inversion symmetry. One of the penta-methyl-cyclo
      penta-dienyl ligands is disordered over two sets of sites with a refined
      occupancy ratio of 0.8111 (3):0.189 (3). In the crystal, the complex mol-ecules
      are packed into rods extending along [100], with the solvent mol-ecules located
      in between. The rods are arranged in a distorted hexa-gonal packing. 

PMID- 26870434
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(4-acetyl-anilinium) tetra-chlorido-cobaltate(II).
AB  - The structure of the title salt, (C8H10NO)2[CoCl4], is isotypic with the
      analogous cuprate(II) structure. The asymmetric unit contains one 4-acetyl
      anilinium cation and one half of a tetra-chlorido-cobaltate(II) anion for which
      the Co(II) atom and two Cl(-) ligands lie on a mirror plane. The Co-Cl distances
      in the distorted tetra-hedral anion range from 2.2519 (6) to 2.2954 (9) A and the
      Cl-Co-Cl angles range from 106.53 (2) to 110.81 (4) degrees . In the crystal,
      cations are self-assembled by inter-molecular N-H?O hydrogen-bonding inter
      actions, leading to a C(8) chain motif with the chains running parallel to the b
      axis. pi-pi stacking inter-actions between benzene rings, with a centroid-to
      centroid distance of 3.709 A, are also observed along this direction. The CoCl4
      (2-) anions are sandwiched between the cationic chains and inter-act with each
      other through inter-molecular N-H?Cl hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, forming a
      three-dimensional network structure. 

PMID- 26870435
TI  - Crystal structure of tri-aqua-(2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine-kappaN (4))bis-(thio
      cyanato-kappaN)manganese(II) 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine disolvate.
AB  - In the crystal structure of the title complex, [Mn(NCS)2(C6H8N2)(H2O)3].2C6H8N2,
      the Mn(II) cation is coordinated by two terminally N-bonded thio-cyanate anions,
      three water mol-ecules and one 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligand within a slightly
      distorted N3O3 octa-hedral geometry; the entire complex mol-ecule is generated by
      the application of a twofold rotation axis. The asymmetric unit also contains an
      uncoordinating 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine ligand in a general position. Obviously,
      the coordination to the 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligand is preferred because
      coordination to the 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine is hindered due to the bulky methyl
      group proximate to the N atom. The discrete complexes are linked by water-O
      H?N(2,6-di-methyl-pyzazine/2,5-di-methyl-pyza-zine) hydrogen bonding, forming a
      three-dimensional network. In the crystal, mol-ecules are arranged in a way that
      cavities are formed in which unspecified, disordered solvent molecules reside.
      These were modelled employing the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2015 ?). Acta
      Cryst. C71, 9-18]. The composition of the unit cell does not take into account
      the presence of the unspecified solvent. 

PMID- 26870436
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(N-methyl-salicylaldiminato-kappa(2) N,O)vanadium(III).
AB  - The structure of the title complex, [V(C8H8NO)3], comprises neutral and discrete
      complexes, in which the V(III) cation is coordinated by three anionic N-methyl
      alicylaldiminate ligands within a slightly distorted mer-N3O3 octa-hedral
      geometry. In the crystal structure, the mol-ecules are linked via C-H?O hydrogen
      bonds into supra-molecular chains that extend along the c axis. 

PMID- 26870437
TI  - Crystal structure of bis(bis{(E)-[(6-{(E)-[(4-fluorobenzyl)imino]methyl}pyridin-2
      yl)methylidene](4-fluorophenyl)amine}nickel(II)) tetra-bromide nona-hydrate.
AB  - In the title complex, [Ni(C21H17F2N3)2]2Br4.9H2O, there are two independent metal
      complexes per asymmetric unit and two ligands per metal complex. The structural
      features (bond lengths and angles) of the two complexes are almost identical. In
      each complex, the nickel(II) ion is coordinated in an octa-hedral environment by
      six N atoms from two chelating (9E)-N-({6-[(E)-(4-fluoro-benzyl-imino)-meth
      yl]pyridin-2-yl}methyl-ene)(4-fluoro-phen-yl)methanammine ligands. The Ni-N bond
      lengths range from 1.973 (2) to 2.169 (2) A, while the chelate N-Ni-N angles
      range from 77.01 (10) to 105.89 (9) degrees . Additionally, there are four
      bromide anions and nine solvent water mol-ecules within the asymmetric unit. The
      water mol-ecules form a hydrogen-bonded network, displaying C-H?O, C-H?Br, O
      H?Br, O-H?O and O-H?F inter-actions into layers parallel to (111). In each unit,
      the fluoro-phenyl rings of one ligand are stacked with the central ring of the
      other ligand via pi-pi inter-actions, with the closest centroid-to-plane
      distances being 3.445 (5), 3.636 (5), 3.397 (5) and 3.396 (5) A. 

PMID- 26870438
TI  - Crystal structure of a third polymorph of tris-(acetyl-acetonato-kappa(2)
      O,O')iron(III).
AB  - In the structure of the title complex, [Fe(C5H7O2)3] or Fe(acac)3, the asymmetric
      unit contains one mol-ecule in a general position. The coordination sphere of the
      Fe(III) atom is that of a slightly distorted octahedron. The crystal under
      investigation was a two-component pseudo-merohedral twin in the monoclinic system
      with a beta angle close to 90 degrees . Twin law [100/0-10/00-1] reduced the R1
      residual [I > 2sigma(I)] from 0.0769 to 0.0312, and the mass ratio of twin
      components refined to 0.8913 (5):0.1087 (5). In the crystal, mol-ecules are
      arranged in sheets normal to [001] via non-classical C-H?O hydrogen bonding. No
      other significant inter-molecular inter-actions are observed. The structure is a
      new polymorph of Fe(acac)3 and is isotypic with one polymorph of its gallium
      analog. 

PMID- 26870439
TI  - Crystal structure of [1-(3-eth-oxy-2-oxido-benzyl-idene-kappaO (2))-4-phenyl-thio
      semicarbazidato-kappa(2) N (1),S](tri-phenylphosphane-kappaP)nickel(II).
AB  - In the title complex, [Ni(C16H15N3O2S)(C18H15P)], the Ni(II) atom has a distorted
      tetra-hedral coordination geometry, comprised of N, S, O and P atoms of the
      tridentate thiosemicarbazide ligand and the P atom of the triphenylphosphane
      ligand. The benzene ring makes a dihedral angle of 53.08 (11) degrees  with the
      phenyl ring of the phenyl-thio-semicarbazide moiety and dihedral angles of 73.69
      (11), 20.38 (11) and 71.30 (11) degrees  with the phenyl rings of tri-phenyl
      phosphane ligand. A pair of N-H?N hydrogen bonds generates an R 2 (2)(8) ring
      graph-set motif. The eth-oxy group is disordered over two positions, with site
      occupancies of 0.631 (9) and 0.369 (9). The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by
      a weak intra-molecular C-H?O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, weak N-H?N and C-H?pi
      inter-actions connect the mol-ecules, forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870440
TI  - Crystal structure of trans-di-aqua-bis-(1H-pyrazole-3-carboxyl-ato-kappa(2)
      N,O)copper(II) dihydrate.
AB  - In the title compound, [Cu(C4H3N2O2)2(H2O)2].2H2O, the Cu(II) ion is located on
      an inversion centre and exhibits an axially elongated octa-hedral coordination
      geometry. The equatorial plane is formed by two N,O-bidentate 1H-pyrazole-3
      carboxyl-ate ligands in a trans configuration. The axial positions are occupied
      by two water mol-ecules. The mononuclear complex mol-ecules are arranged in
      layers parallel to the ab plane. Each complex mol-ecule is linked to four
      adjacent species through inter-molecular O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen bonds that are
      established between the coordinating water mol-ecules and carboxyl-ate O atoms or
      protonated N atoms of the organic ligands. These layers are further connected
      into a three-dimensional network by additional hydrogen bonds involving solvent
      water mol-ecules and non-coordinating carboxyl-ate O atoms. 

PMID- 26870441
TI  - Crystal structure of cis-bis-{4-phenyl-1-[(3R)-1,7,7-tri-methyl-2-oxobi-cyclo
      [2.2.1]heptan-3-ylidene]thio-semicarbazidato-kappa(3) O,N (1),S}cadmium(II) with
      an unknown solvent mol-ecule.
AB  - The reaction between the racemic mixture of the camphor-4-phenyl-thio
      semicarbazone derivative and cadmium acetate dihydrate yielded the title
      compound, [Cd(C17H20N3OS)2]. The Cd(II) ion is six-coordinated in a distorted
      octa-hedral environment by two deprotonated thio-semicarbazone ligands acting as
      an O,N,S-donor in a tridentate chelating mode, forming five-membered chelate
      rings. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected via pairs of N-H?S and C-H?S
      inter-actions, building centrosymmetric dimers. One of the ligands is disordered
      in the campher unit over two sets of sites with site-occupancy factors of 0.7 and
      0.3. The structure contains additional solvent mol-ecules, which are disordered
      and for which no reasonable split model was found. Therefore, the data were
      corrected for disordered solvent using the SQUEEZE routine [Spek (2015 ?). Acta
      Cryst. C71, 9-18] in PLATON. Since the disordered solvents were removed by data
      processing, and the number of solvent entities was a suggestion only, they were
      not considered in the chemical formula and subsequent chemical or crystal
      information. 

PMID- 26870442
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(4-acetyl-anilinium) tetra-chlorido-mercurate(II).
AB  - The structure of the title salt, (C8H10NO)2[HgCl4], is isotypic with that of the
      cuprate(II) and cobaltate(II) analogues. The asymmetric unit contains one 4
      acetyl-anilinium cation and one half of a tetra-chlorido-mercurate(II) anion
      (point group symmetry m). The Hg-Cl distances are in the range 2.4308 (7)-2.5244
      (11) A and the Cl-Hg-Cl angles in the range of 104.66 (2)-122.94 (4) degrees ,
      indicating a considerable distortion of the tetra-hedral anion. In the crystal,
      cations are linked by an inter-molecular N-H?O hydrogen-bonding inter-action,
      leading to a C(8) chain motif with the chains extending parallel to the b axis.
      There is also a pi-pi stacking inter-action with a centroid-to-centroid distance
      of 3.735 (2) A between neighbouring benzene rings along this direction. The
      anions lie between the chains and inter-act with the cations through inter
      molecular N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional
      network structure. 

PMID- 26870443
TI  - The crystal structure of a new polymorph of hexa-aqua-nickel(II) bis-(6-oxo-1,6
      di-hydro-pyridine-3-carboxyl-ate).
AB  - In a new polymorph of the title salt, [Ni(H2O)6](C6H4NO3)2, the metal atom of the
      cationic complex lies on a symmetry centre and is coordinated by six water mol
      ecules to provide a quite regular octa-hedral coordination environment. These
      cations inter-act with 6-oxo-1,6-di-hydro-pyridine-3-carboxyl-ate anions through
      electrostatic inter-actions and by means of O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen bonds
      involving the carboxyl-ate, keto and protonated imine groups of the anion, and
      the coordinating water mol-ecules from the cationic complex entity to generate a
      supra-molecular three-dimensional architecture. The previously reported polymorph
      of this compound presents a network of hydrogen bonds, in which the organic
      anions establish mutual hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving their keto and
      protonated imine groups. 

PMID- 26870444
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(1,3-di-amino-propane-kappa(2) N,N')bis-[2-(4-nitro-phen
      yl)acetato-kappaO]zinc(II).
AB  - In the structure of the title compound, [Zn(C8H6NO4)2(C3H10N2)2], the Zn(II) atom
      is located on a center of symmetry with one independent Zn-O distance of 2.199
      (2) A, and two Zn-N distances of 2.157 (2) and 2.144 (2) A. The overall
      coordination geometry around the Zn(II) atom is octa-hedral. Several types of
      hydrogen-bonding inter-actions are evident. Both intra-molecular [2.959 (3) A]
      and inter-molecular [3.118 (3) and 3.124 (3) A inter-actions occur between the O
      atoms of the acetate group and the amino N atoms, and weak inter-molecular C-H-O
      inter-actions involving the nitro groups, leading to an extended chain of the
      molecules aligned along the ac plane. 

PMID- 26870445
TI  - Crystal structure of di-aqua-bis-(2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine-kappaN (4))bis-(thio
      cyanato-kappaN)cobalt(II) 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine monosolvate.
AB  - In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Co(NCS)2(C6H8N2)2(H2O)2].C6H8N2,
      the Co(II) cation is coordinated by the N atoms of two terminal thio-cyanate
      anions, the O atoms of two water mol-ecules and two N atoms of two 2,6-di-methyl
      pyrazine ligands. The coordination sphere of the resulting discrete complex is
      that of a slightly distorted octa-hedron. The asymmetric unit comprises a Co(II)
      cation and half of a 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine ligand, both of which are located on
      centres of inversion, and a water ligand, a 2,6-di--methyl-pyrazine ligand and
      one thio-cyanate anion in general positions. In the crystal, the discrete
      complexes are arranged in such a way that cavities are formed in which the 2,5-di
      methyl-pyrazine solvent mol-ecules are located. The coordination of the 2,5-di
      methyl-pyrazine mol-ecules to the metal is apparently hindered due to the bulky
      methyl groups in vicinal positions to the N atoms, leading to a preferential
      coordination of the 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligands. The discrete complexes are
      linked by O-H?N hydrogen bonds between one water H atom and the non-coordinating
      N atom of the 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligands. The remaining water H atom is
      hydrogen bonded to one N atom of the 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine solvent mol-ecule.
      This arrangement leads to the formation of a two-dimensional network extending
      parallel to (010). 

PMID- 26870446
TI  - Redetermination of the crystal structure of 3,5-di-methyl-pyrazolium beta-octa
      molybdate tetra-hydrate.
AB  - The title compound, (C5H9N2)4[Mo8O26].4H2O, was reported previously from a room
      temperature data collection from which only the metal atoms could be refined
      anisotropically [FitzRoy et al. (1989 ?). Inorg. Chim. Acta, 157, 187-194]. The
      current redetermination at 180 (2) K models all the non-H atoms with anisotropic
      displacement parameters and fully describes the supra-molecular N-H?O and O-H?O
      hydrogen-bonded network connecting the 3,5-di-methyl-pyrazolium cations, the
      water mol-ecules of crystallization and the beta-octa-molybdate anion. All H
      atoms involved in the three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network could be located
      from difference Fourier maps, with the exception of those of one disordered water
      mol-ecule, firstly seen in this structural report [refined over two distinct
      locations with site-occupancy factors of 0.65 (2) and 0.35 (2)]. The complete
      beta-octa-molybdate anion is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre. 

PMID- 26870447
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-{N-[(di-ethyl-amino)-dimethyl-sil-yl]anilido-kappa(2)
      N,N'}zinc.
AB  - The title zinc amide, [Zn(C12H21N2Si)2], was prepared by the metathetical
      reaction of [LiN(SiMe2NEt2)(C6H5)]2 with zinc dichloride. It is mononuclear and
      the mol-ecule is generated by twofold rotation symmetry. The central Zn(II) atom
      is N,N'-chelated by each of the two N-silylated anilide ligands in a highly
      distorted tetra-hedral environment. Two N-Si-N ligands are arranged in a cis
      fashion around the Zn(II) atom. The Zn-Namine bonds [2.2315 (12) A] are much
      longer than the Zn-Nanilide bonds [1.9367 (11) A]. 

PMID- 26870448
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(N-methyl-salicyl-aldiminato-kappa(2)
      N,O)chromium(III).
AB  - The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cr(C8H8NO)3], is isotypic with the
      vanadium(III) analogue. The asymmetric unit consists of one Cr(3+) cation and
      three N-methyl-salicylaldiminate anions. The metal cation is octa-hedrally
      coordinated by three N,O-chelating N-methyl-salicylaldiminate ligands, leading to
      discrete and neutral complexes. In the crystal, neighbouring complexes are linked
      via C-H?O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions into chains propagating parallel to the
      c axis. 

PMID- 26870449
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-[MU-S-hexyl 3-(2-oxido-benzyl-idene)di-thio-carbazato
      kappa(4) O,N (3),S:O]dicopper(II).
AB  - The title compound, [Cu2(C14H18N2OS2)2], is a binuclear copper(II) complex of an
      oxybenzyl-idenedi-thio-carbazate ligand. The ligand coordinates in a tridentate
      manner through N-, S- and O-donor atoms. Each O atom also bridges to a second
      Cu(II) ion to form the binuclear species. It has a central Cu2O2 rhomboid moiety
      and a metal-to-metal separation of 2.9923 (6) A. In the crystal, the binuclear
      complexes stack along the a axis with all the hexyl chains located side-by-side,
      forming a hydro-phobic region. The complexes are linked via C-H?N hydrogen bonds,
      forming chains along the c-axis direction. One Cu(II) atom has the S atom of a
      symmetry-related complex located approximately in the apical position at 2.9740
      (11) A. This weak inter-action links the chains to form slabs parallel to the ac
      plane. 

PMID- 26870450
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(1,3-di-meth-oxy-imidazolin-2-yl-idene)silver(I) hexa
      fluorido-phosphate, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex.
AB  - The title salt, [Ag(C5H8N2O2)2]PF6, was obtained by deprotonation and metalation
      of 1,3-di-meth-oxy-imidazolium hexa-fluorido-phosphate using silver(I) oxide in
      methanol. The C-Ag-C angle in the cation is 178.1 (2) degrees , and the N-C-N
      angles are 101.1 (4) and 100.5 (4) degrees . The meth-oxy groups adopt an anti
      conformation. In the crystal, anions (A) are sandwiched between cations (C) in a
      layered arrangement {C...A...C} n stacked along [001]. Within a C...A...C layer,
      the hexafluoridophosphate anions accept several C-H?F hydrogen bonds from the
      cationic complex. 

PMID- 26870451
TI  - Crystal structure of {bis-[(1H-benzimid-azol-2-yl-kappaN (3))meth
      yl]sulfane}dichloridomercury(II).
AB  - In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, [HgCl2(C16H14N4S)], the Hg(II)
      cation is linked to two Cl atoms and two imidazole N atoms of the chelating bis
      [(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)meth-yl]sulfane ligand, forming a slightly distorted tetra
      hedral environment. The substitued imidazole rings of the ligand are almost
      perfectly planar [with maximum deviations of 0.017 (3) and 0.012 (3) A] and form
      a dihedral angle of 42.51 (5) degrees . The crystal packing can be described as
      alternating layers parallel to (010). In this arrangement, N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds
      between the N-H groups of the benzimidazole moieties and chloride ligands are
      responsible for the formation of the chain-like packing pattern along [010]
      exhibiting a C(6) graph-set motif. 

PMID- 26870452
TI  - Crystal structure of catena-poly[1,3-di-benzyl-benzimidazolium [[chlorido
      mercurate(II)]-di-MU-chlorido]].
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the polymeric title compound, {(C21H19N2)[HgCl3]} n ,
      comprises one-half of the cationic mol-ecule, the other half being generated by
      application of twofold rotation symmetry, one Hg and two Cl atoms. The Hg(II)
      atom, lying on a twofold rotation axis, exhibits a distorted triangular
      coordination environment and is surrounded by three Cl atoms with Hg-Cl distances
      in the range 2.359 (2)-2.4754 (13) A. Two additional longer distances [Hg?Cl =
      3.104 (14) A] lead to the formation of polymeric [HgCl1/1Cl4/2](-) chains
      extending along [001]. The crystal packing can be described by cationic layers
      alternating parallel to (-110) with the anionic chains located between the
      layers. The packing is consolidated by pi-pi stacking inter-actions between the
      benzene rings of the central benzimidazole entities, with centroid-to-centroid
      distances of 3.643 (3) A. 

PMID- 26870453
TI  - Crystal structure of dimethyl-1kappa(2) C-bis(MU-4-methylphenolato-1:2kappa(2)
      O:O)(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine-2kappa(2) N,N')indium(III)lithium(I).
AB  - The mixed bimetallic title compound, [InLi(CH3)2(C7H7O)2(C6H16N2)] or [(tmeda)Li
      MU-(4-MeC6H4O)2InMe2] (tmeda is N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-ethylenedi-amine),
      exhibits a four-membered LiO2In ring core via bridging 4-methyl-phenolate groups.
      The Li and In atoms are in distorted tetra-hedral N2O2 and C2O2 bonding
      environments, respectively. The Li atom is further chelated by a tmeda group,
      yielding a spiro-cyclic structure. 

PMID- 26870454
TI  - Crystal structure of di-MU2-chlorido-bis-[(1-aza-4-azoniabi-cyclo-[2.2.2]octane
      kappaN (1))di-chlorido-dicadmium].
AB  - In the structure of the binuclear title compound, [Cd2(C6H13N2)2Cl6], two Cd(II)
      atoms are bridged by two Cl(-) ligands, defining a centrosymmetric Cd2Cl2 motif.
      Each metal cation is additionally coordinated by two Cl(-) ligands and the N atom
      of a protonated 1,4-di-aza-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octane (H-DABCO)(+) ligand, leading to
      an overall trigonal-bipyramidal coordination environment with one of the bridging
      Cl(-) ligands and the N atom at the apical sites. In the crystal, the neutral
      dimers are linked via N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network
      expanding parallel to (100). 

PMID- 26870455
TI  - Crystal structure of 8-iodo-quinolinium tetra-chlorido-aurate(III).
AB  - The structure of the title salt, (C9H7IN)[AuCl4], is comprised of planar 8-iodo
      quinolinium cations (r.m.s. deviation = 0.05 A) and square-planar tetra-chlorido
      aurate(III) anions. The asymmetric unit contains one 8-iodo-quinolinium cation
      and two halfs of [AuCl4](-) anions, in each case with the central Au(III) atom
      located on an inversion center. Inter-molecular halogen-halogen contacts were
      found between centrosymmetric pairs of I [3.6178 (4) A] and Cl atoms [3.1484
      (11), 3.3762 (13), and 3.4935 (12) A]. Inter-molecular N-H?Cl and C-H?Cl hydrogen
      bonding is also found in the structure. These inter-actions lead to the formation
      of a three-dimensional network. Additionally, there is an intra-molecular N-H?I
      hydrogen bond between the aromatic iminium and iodine. There are no aurophilic
      inter-actions or short contacts between I and Au atoms, and there are no notable
      pi-stacking inter-actions between the aromatic cations. 

PMID- 26870456
TI  - Crystal structure of di-bromido-tetra-kis(propan-2-ol-kappaO)nickel(II).
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the mononuclear title complex, [NiBr2(C3H8O)4], comprises
      a Ni(II) cation located on a centre of inversion, one Br(-) anion and two propan
      2-ol ligands. The Ni(II) cation exhibits a distorted trans-Br2O4 environment.
      There are O-H?Br hydrogen bonds connecting neighbouring mol-ecules into rows
      along [100]. These rows are arranged in a distorted hexa-gonal packing and are
      held together by van der Waals forces only. 

PMID- 26870457
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(MU-2-benzoyl-benzoato-kappa(2) O:O')bis-[bis-(2,2'-bi
      pyridine-kappa(2) N,N')manganese(II)] bis-(perchlorate).
AB  - The title compound, [Mn2(C6H5COC6H4COO)2(C10H8N2)4](ClO4)2, comprises a
      centrosymmetric binuclear cation and two perchlorate anions. In the complex
      cation, two Mn(II) atoms are bridged by two O atoms of two different 2-benzoyl
      benzoate ligands, each Mn(II) atom being further coordinated by two 2,2'-bi
      pyridine (bipy) ligands in a distorted octa-hedral environment. Within the
      binuclear mol-ecule, the Mn?Mn separation is 4.513 (7) A. Inter-molecular C-H?O
      and C-H? pi inter-actions link the mol-ecules into a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870458
TI  - Crystal structure of a one-dimensional coordination polymer of tin(IV) bromide
      with 1,4-di-thiane.
AB  - The title compound, [SnBr4(C4H8S2)] {systematic name: catena
      poly[[tetrabromidotin(IV)]-MU-1,4-dithiane-kappa(2) S:S']}, represents the first
      1,4-di-thiane complex with tin as coordination centre. The asymmetric unit
      consist of half a formula unit with the tin(IV) atom at the centre of symmetry at
      0,0,1/2 (Wyckoff symbol b) and a centrosymmetric 1,4-di-thiane mol-ecule with the
      centre of symmetry in 1/2,0,1 (Wyckoff symbol c). The tin(IV) atom is coordinated
      in a distorted octa-hedral manner by the four bromine atoms and two sulfur atoms
      of two 1,4-di-thiane mol-ecules in a trans-position. Sn-Br [mean value: 2.561 (5)
      A] and Sn-S distances [2.6546 (6) A] are in the typical range for octa-hedrally
      coordinated tin(IV) atoms and the di-thiane mol-ecule adopts a chair
      conformation. The one-dimensional polymeric chains propagate along the [101]
      direction with weak inter-molecular Br?Br [3.5724 (4) A] between parallel chains
      and weak Br?H inter-actions [2.944-2.993 A] within the chains. 

PMID- 26870459
TI  - Crystal structure of di-aqua-bis-(2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine-kappaN)bis-(thio-cyanato
      kappaN)cobalt(II) 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine tris-olvate.
AB  - In the crystal structure of the title compound,
      [Co(NCS)2(C6H8N2)2(H2O)2].3C6H8N2, the Co(II) cation is coordinated by two
      terminally N-bound thio-cyanate anions, two water mol-ecules and two 2,6-di
      methyl-pyrazine ligands, forming a discrete complex with a slightly distorted
      octa-hedral N4O2 coordination environment. The asymmetric unit contains one
      Co(II) cation and three halves of 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine solvate mol-ecules, all
      entities being completed by inversion symmetry, as well as one thio-cyanate
      anion, an aqua ligand and a 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligand, all in general
      positions. In the crystal, discrete complexes are arranged in a way that cavities
      are formed where the noncoordinating 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine mol-ecules are
      located. The coordination of the latter to the metal is prevented due to the
      bulky methyl groups in vicinal positions to the N atoms, leading to a
      preferential coordination through the 2,6-di-methyl-pyrazine ligands. The complex
      mol-ecules are linked by O-H?N hydrogen bonds between the water H atoms and the N
      atoms of 2,5-di-methyl-pyrazine solvent mol-ecules, leading to a layered
      structure extending parallel to (100). 

PMID- 26870460
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(MU-bis-{4-[(pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene)amino]-phen
      yl}methane-kappa(4) N,N':N'',N''')dizinc tetra-kis-(tetra-fluorido-borate) aceto
      nitrile tris-olvate.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Zn2(C25H20N4)3](BF4)4.3CH3CN,
      consists of one dinuclear Zn(II) complex cation with a triple-helical [Zn2 L
      3](4+) motif (L is bis-{4-[(pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene)amino]-phen-yl}methane),
      four BF4 (-) anions and three CH3CN solvent mol-ecules. The Zn?Zn separation is
      11.3893 (14) A and the ligands wrap around the two Zn(II) atoms, forming a triple
      helix as defined by the Zn-N-N-Zn torsion angles of 104.05 (18), 99.06 (19) and
      101.40 (19) degrees . The Zn-N(pyrid-yl) distances in the octahedral ZnN6
      coordination sphere are in the range 2.128 (5)-2.190 (5) A and the Zn-N(imine)
      distances are in the range 2.157 (5)-2.277 (5) A. 

PMID- 26870461
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(quinolin-1-ium) tetra-chlorido-ferrate(III) chloride.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title hybrid compound, (C9H8N)[FeCl4]Cl, comprises a
      tetra-hedral tetra-chlorido-ferrate(III) anion, [FeCl4](-), a Cl(-) anion and two
      quinolinium cations. There are N-H?Cl hydrogen-bonding inter-actions between the
      protonated N atoms of the quinolinium cations and the chloride anion, which
      together with pi-pi stacking between adjacent quinolinium rings [centroid-to
      centroid distances between C6 and C5N rings in adjacent stacked quinolinium
      cations of 3.609 (2) and 3.802 (2) A] serve to hold the structure together. 

PMID- 26870462
TI  - Crystal structure of tri-hydrogen bis-{[1,1,1-tris-(2-oxido-ethyl-amino-meth
      yl)ethane]-cobalt(III)} trinitrate.
AB  - The title compound, [Co2(L)2](3+).3NO3 (-) [where L = CH3C(CH2NHCH2CH2OH1/2)3],
      has been synthesized from the ligand 1,1,1-tris-(2-hy-droxy-ethyl-amino-meth
      yl)ethane. The cobalt(III) dimer has an inter-esting and uncommon O-H?O hydrogen
      bonding motif with the three bridging hy-droxy H atoms each being equally
      disordered over two positions. In the dimeric trication, the octa-hedrally
      coordinated Co(III) atoms and the capping C atoms lie on a threefold rotation
      axis. The N atoms of two crystallographically independent nitrate anions also lie
      on threefold rotation axes. N-H?O hydrogen bonding between the complex cations
      and nitrate anions leads to the formation of a three-dimensional network
      structure. The compound is a racemic conglomerate of crystals containing either d
      or l mol-ecules. The crystal used for this study is a d crystal. 

PMID- 26870463
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-5-benz-yloxy-2-{[(4-nitro-phen-yl)imino]-meth-yl}phenol.
AB  - In the title compound, C20H16N2O4, the mol-ecule adopts an E conformation about
      the N=C bond. There is an intra-molecular O-H?N hydrogen bond forming an S(6)
      ring motif. The nitro-benzene and benz-yloxy rings are inclined to the central
      benzene ring by 4.34 (10) and 27.66 (11) degrees , respectively, and to one
      another by 31.40 (12) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via C-H?O
      hydrogen bonds, forming zigzag chains along [001]. Within the chains there are C
      H?pi inter-actions present. The chains are linked via pi-pi inter-actions [inter
      centroid distance = 3.7048 (15) A], forming slabs parallel to the bc plane. 

PMID- 26870464
TI  - Crystal structure of (tert-butyl-carbamo-yl)(4-chloro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3
      yl)methyl acetate.
AB  - In the title compound, C17H18ClNO5, which was synthesized by reacting 4-chloro-3
      formyl-coumarin, acetic acid and tert-butyl isocyanide, the acetamido side chain
      is convoluted with ring-to-side chain C-C-C-C, C-C-C-N and C-C-N-C torsion angles
      of -123.30 (14), -135.73 (12) and 176.10 (12) degrees , respectively. In the
      crystal, N-H?O and weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds are present, which together with pi
      pi coumarin-ring inter-actions [ring centroid separations = 3.4582 (8) and 3.6421
      (9) A], give rise to a layered structure lying parallel to (001). 

PMID- 26870465
TI  - Crystal structure of 3,4-dimethyl 2-(tert-butyl-amino)-5-[2-oxo-4-(thio-morpholin
      4-yl)-2H-chromen-3-yl]furan-3,4-di-carboxyl-ate ethyl acetate hemisolvate.
AB  - In the title hemisolvate, C25H28N2O7S.0.5C4H8O2, the thio-morpholine ring adopts
      a chair conformation, with the exocyclic N-C bond in an equatorial orientation.
      The dihedral angle between the coumarin ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.044 A)
      and the furan ring is 64.84 (6) degrees . An intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen bond
      closes an S(6) ring. The ethyl acetate solvent mol-ecule is disordered about a
      crystallographic inversion centre. In the crystal, the components are linked by C
      H?O and C-H?S hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870466
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-oxo-N'-phenyl-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide.
AB  - In the title compound, C16H12N2O3, the 2H-chromene moiety is essentially planar,
      with an r.m.s. deviation of the nine constituent atoms from the mean plane of
      0.0093 A, and makes a dihedral angle of 76.84 (3) degrees  with the pendant
      phenyl ring. An intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen bond helps to determine the
      conformation of the side chain. In the crystal, N-H?O and N-H?N hydrogen bonds
      link the mol-ecules, forming [100] chains. 

PMID- 26870467
TI  - Crystal structure of cyproconazole.
AB  - The title compound [systematic name: 2-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-3-cyclo-propyl-1-(1H
      1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol], C15H18ClN3O, is a conazole fungicide. The
      asymmetric unit comprises two enanti-omeric pairs (mol-ecules A and B) in which
      the dihedral angles between the chloro-phenyl and triazole rings are 46.54 (9)
      (mol-ecule A) and 67.03 (8) degrees  (mol-ecule B). In the crystal, C-H?O, O-H?N
      and C-H?Cl hydrogen bonds and weak C-H?pi inter-actions [3.473 (2) A] link
      adjacent mol-ecules, forming columns along the a axis. 

PMID- 26870468
TI  - Crystal structure of a methimazole-based ionic liquid.
AB  - The structure of 1-methyl-2-(prop-2-en-1-ylsulfan-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium bromide,
      C7H11N2S(+).Br(-), has monoclinic (P21/c) symmetry. In the crystal, the
      components are linked by N-H?Br and C-H?Br hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure
      of the title compound undeniably proves that methimazole reacts through the
      thione tautomer, rather than the thiol tautomer in this system. 

PMID- 26870469
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-3-allyl-5-(3-bromo-benzyl-idene)-2-sulfanyl-idene-1,3
      thia-zolidin-4-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C13H10BrNOS2, the rhodanine (systematic name: 2-sulfanyl
      idene-1,3-thia-zolidin-4-one) and the 3-bromo-benzyl-idene ring systems are
      inclined slightly, forming a dihedral angle of 5.86 (12) degrees . The rhodanine
      moiety is linked to an allyl group at the N atom and to the 3-bromo-benzyl-idene
      ring system. The allyl group, C=C-C, is nearly perpendicular to the mean plane
      through the rhodanine ring, maling a dihedral angle of 87.2 (5) degrees . In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming
      inversion dimers with an R 2 (2)(10) ring motif. 

PMID- 26870470
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-3-allyl-5-(4-chloro-benzyl-idene)-2-sulfanyl-idene-1,3
      thia-zolidin-4-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C13H10ClNOS2, the dihedral angle between the rhodanine
      (r.m.s. deviation = 0.008 A) and 4-chloro-benzyl-idene rings is 1.79 (11) degrees
      . The allyl group attached to the N atom, which lies almost perpendicular to the
      rhodanine ring, is disordered over two orientations in a 0.519 (13):0.481 (13)
      ratio. A short intra-molecular C-H?S inter-action closes an S(6) ring. In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pi-pi stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid
      separation = 3.600 (15) A], generating inversion dimers. 

PMID- 26870471
TI  - Crystal structure of (1R,3S,8R,11R)-11-acetyl-3,7,7-trimethyl-10-oxatri-cyclo
      [6.4.0.0(1,3)]dodecan-9-one.
AB  - The title compound, C16H24O3, is built up from three fused rings, a six-membered,
      a seven-membered and a three-membered ring. The absolute configuration of the
      title compound was determined as (1R,3S,8R,11R) based on the synthetic pathway.
      The six-membered ring has an half-chair conformation whereas the seven-membered
      ring displays a boat conformation. In the cyrstal, C-H?O hydrogen bonds build up
      a two-dimensional network parallel to (0 0 1). The crystal studied was an
      inversion twin with a minor twin component of 34%. 

PMID- 26870472
TI  - Crystal structure of (tert-butyl-dimethyl-sil-yl)tri-phenyl-germane, Ph3Ge
      SiMe2(t-Bu).
AB  - In the title compound, Ph3Ge-SiMe2(t-Bu) or C24H30GeSi, the Si and Ge atoms both
      possess a tetra-hedral coordination environment with C-E-C (E = Si, Ge) angles in
      the range 104.47 (5)-114.67 (5) degrees . The mol-ecule adopts an eclipsed
      conformation, with three torsion angles less than 29.5 degrees . In the crystal,
      neighbouring mol-ecules are combined to dimers by six T-shaped C-H?pi inter
      actions, forming sixfold phenyl embraces (6PE). 

PMID- 26870473
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-amino-4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbo
      nitrile.
AB  - In the title compound, C21H16N2O2, the naphthalene fragment is twisted slightly,
      as indicated by the dihedral angle of 3.2 (2) degrees  between the two six
      membered rings. The pendant 4-meth-oxy-phenyl ring makes a dihedral angle of
      86.08 (6) degrees  with the central six-membered ring of the 4H-benzo[g]chromene
      ring system. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H?N hydrogen
      bonds, forming inversion dimers which are linked into chains propagating in the b
      axis direction by N-H?O hydrogen bonds. 

PMID- 26870474
TI  - Crystal structure of 3,4-di-meth-oxy-phenol.
AB  - The title compound, C8H10O3, has two planar mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit
      possessing mean deviations from planarity of 0.051 and 0.071 A. In the crystal,
      there are two distinct infinite chains, both along [010]. The chains are formed
      by O-H?O inter-actions between the phenol and both the 3-meth-oxy and the 4-meth
      oxy groups. 

PMID- 26870475
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-5-[(E)-2-phenyl-ethen-yl]-1H
      pyrazole.
AB  - In the title compound, C24H20N2, the dihedral angles between the pyrazole ring
      and the pendant phenyl, toluoyl and phenyl-ethenyl rings are 41.50 (8), 4.41 (8)
      and 31.07 (8) degrees , respectively. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by
      a pi-pi stacking inter-actions between the phenyl-ethenyl rings are observed
      [centroid-centroid separation = 3.5857 (9) A]. 

PMID- 26870476
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-oxy)benzaldehyde.
AB  - The title compound, C14H12O3, was synthesized via the nucleophilic addition of 4
      meth-oxy-phenol to 4-fluoro-benzaldehyde. The dihedral angle between the least
      squares planes of the benzene rings is 71.52 (3) degrees  and the C-O-C angle at
      the central O atom is 118.82 (8) degrees . In the crystal, weak C-H?O hydrogen
      bonds link the molecules to generate supra-molecular layers in the bc plane. The
      layers are linked by weak C-H?pi inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870477
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-ethyl 2-{5-[(2-benzyl-idene-3-oxo-2,3-di-hydro
      benzo[b][1,4]thia-zin-4-yl)meth-yl]-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl}acetate.
AB  - The title compound, C22H20N4O3S, features two fused six-membered rings linked to
      a 1,2,3-triazole ring which is attached to an ethyl acetate group. The
      heterocycle in the benzo-thia-zine residue has an envelope conformation with the
      S atom being the flap. The conformation of the ethyl acetate side chain, which is
      directed to the same side of the mol-ecule as the C6 ring of the fused-ring
      system, may be partially established by a pair of weak intra-molecular C
      H?O(carbon-yl) inter-actions. The three-dimensional packing is aided by inter
      molecular C-H?O and C-H?N inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870478
TI  - Crystal structure of 5-bromo-1-ethyl-indoline-2,3-dione.
AB  - The title compound, C10H8BrNO2, crystallizes with two independent molcules (A and
      B) in the asymmetric unit. In each mol-ecule, the indoline ring system is almost
      planar, with the largest deviation from the mean plane being 0.016 (2) A in mol
      ecule A and 0.040 (13) A in mol-ecule B. In each mol-ecule, the ethyl group is
      nearly perpendicular to the indoline ring system with C-C-N-C torsion angles of 
      94.8 (3) and 93.0 (3) degrees  in mol-ecules A and B, respectively. In the
      crystal, the two mol-ecules are inclined to each other, making a dihedral angle
      of 6.28 (8) degrees . In the molecular packing, the A and B mol-ecules are linked
      by C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming -A-B-A-B- chains along [01-1]. Parallel chains
      are linked via a weak slipped parallel pi-pi inter-action [inter-centroid
      distance = 3.6107 (14) A] and a short Br?O contact [3.183 (2) A], forming a three
      dimensional structure. 

PMID- 26870479
TI  - Crystal structure of N''-(2-eth-oxy-2-oxoeth-yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-N''-[3
      (1,3,3-tri-methyl-ureido)prop-yl]guanidinium tetra-phenyl-borate.
AB  - In the title salt, C16H34N5O3 (+).C24H20B(-), the C-N bond lengths in the cation
      are 1.3368 (16), 1.3375 (18) and 1.3594 (17) A, indicating partial double-bond
      character. The central C atom is bonded to the three N atoms in a nearly ideal
      trigonal-planar geometry and the positive charge is delocal-ized in the CN3
      plane. In the crystal, weak C-H?O contacts are observed between neighbouring
      guanidinium ions and between guanidinium ions and tetra-phenyl-borate anions. In
      addition, C-H?pi inter-actions involving guanidinium H atoms and aromatic rings
      of the anion are present. The phenyl rings form aromatic pockets, in which the
      cations are embedded. This leads to the formation of a two-dimensional
      supramolecular pattern along the ab plane. 

PMID- 26870480
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 3-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-5-[(E)-2-(di-methyl-amino)-ethen
      yl]-1,2-oxazole-4-carboxyl-ate.
AB  - In the title compound, C16H17ClN2O3, two mol-ecules, A and B, with different
      conformations, comprise the asymmetric unit. In mol-ecule A, the C=O group of the
      ester points away from the benzene ring [C-C-C=O = -170.8 (3) degrees ], whereas
      in mol-ecule B, it points back towards the benzene ring [C-C-C=O = 17.9 (4)
      degrees ]. The dihedral angles betweeen the oxazole and benzene rings also differ
      somewhat [46.26 (13) for mol-ecule A and 41.59 (13) for mol-ecule B]. Each mol
      ecule features an intra-molecular C-H?O inter-action, which closes an S(6) ring.
      In the crystal, the B mol-ecules are linked into [001] C(12) chains by weak C
      H?Cl inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870481
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-diethyl 2-[(1-phenyl-sulfonyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methyl
      idene]succinate.
AB  - In the title compound, C23H23NO6S, the phenyl ring is perpendicular [dihedral
      angle = 89.34 (9) degrees ] to the indole ring system. In the mol-ecule, the eth
      oxy groups are each disordered over two sets of sites with occupancy ratios of
      0.671 (6):0.329 (6) and 0.75 (3):0.25 (3). The mol-ecular conformation is
      consolidated by a weak C-H?O interaction, which generates an S(6) graph-set
      motif. The packing of the mol-ecules in the crystal structure features weak C
      H?pi inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870482
TI  - Crystal structure of 5-[4-(di-methyl-amino)-phen-yl]-3-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-4,5-di
      hydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbaldehyde.
AB  - The title compound, C19H21N3O, comprises a central pyrazole ring which is N
      connected to an aldehyde group and C-connected twice to substituted benzene
      rings. The pyrazole ring is twisted on the C-C single bond, and the least-squares
      plane through this ring forms dihedral angles of 82.44 (5) and 4.52 (5) degrees 
      with the (di-methyl-amino)-benzene and p-tolyl rings, respectively. In the
      crystal, weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds link mol-ecules into supra-molecular tubes
      along the b axis. 

PMID- 26870483
TI  - Crystal structure of pyrazoxyfen.
AB  - The title compound, C20H16Cl2N2O3 (systematic name: 2-{[4-(2,4-di-chloro-benzo
      yl)-1,3-di-methyl-pyrazol-5-yl}-oxy}-1-phenyl-ethan-1-one), is the benzoyl
      pyrazole herbicide pyrazoxyfen. The asymmetric unit comprises two independent mol
      ecules, A and B, in which the pyrazole ring makes dihedral angles of 80.29 (10)
      and 61.70 (10) degrees  and 87.60 (10) and 63.92 (8) degrees , respectively, with
      the di-chloro-phenyl and phenyl rings. In the crystal, C-H?O and C-H?N hydrogen
      bonds, and C-H?pi and pi-pi [3.646 (2) A] inter-actions link adjacent mol-ecules,
      forming a two-dimensional network parellel to (011). In addition, the networks
      are linked by weak inter-molecular C-Cl?pi [3.356 (2), 3.950 (2), 3.250 (2) and
      3.575 (2) A] inter-actions, resulting in a three-dimensional architecture. 

PMID- 26870484
TI  - Crystal structure of benzobi-cyclon.
AB  - In the title compound, C22H19ClO4S2 [systematic name: 3-(2-chloro-4-mesylbenzo
      yl)-4-(phenyl-sulfan-yl)bi-cyclo-[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one], which is an unclassified
      herbicide, the dihedral angle between the plane of the phenyl and chloro-benzene
      rings is 19.9 (2) degrees . In the crystal, C-H?O hydrogen bonds link adjacent
      mol-ecules, generating two-dimensional networks extending parellel to (011). 

PMID- 26870485
TI  - Crystal structure of 13-phenyl-2,3,4,13-tetra-hydro-1H-indazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine
      1,6,11-trione.
AB  - The title compound, C21H16N2O3, consists of an indazolone moiety, bearing a
      phenyl group, fused to a phthalazine ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.018 A).
      The phenyl ring is almost normal to the mean plane of the five-membered ring of
      the indazolone moiety, making a dihedral angle of 89.64 (7) degrees . The six
      membered ring of the indazolone moiety has an envelope conformation, with the
      central methyl-ene C atom as the flap. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via
      C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming slabs parallel to the bc plane. The slabs are
      linked via C-H?pi and pi-pi inter-actions [the shortest inter-centroid distance
      involving rings of pyrazolo-phthalazine moieties is 3.6430 (8) A], forming a
      three-dimensional structure. 

PMID- 26870486
TI  - Crystal structure of 4'-(2-meth-oxy-quinolin-3-yl)-1'-methyl-dispiro-[indan-2,2'
      pyrrolidine-3',3''-indoline]-1,3,2''-trione.
AB  - In the title compound, C30H23N3O4, the central 1-methyl-pyrrolidine ring adopts a
      twist conformation on the N-CH2 bond. The pyrrolidin-2-one ring of the indolin-2
      one ring system also has a twist conformation on the C-C bond involving the spiro
      C atom and the carbonyl C atom. The five-membered ring of the indene-1,3-dione
      moiety has an envelope conformation with the spiro C atom as the flap. The
      quinoline ring system adopts an almost planar conformation (r.m.s. deviation =
      0.04 A). The mean planes of the indolin-2-one ring system, the indene-1,3-dione
      ring system and the the quinoline ring system are inclined to the mean plane of
      the central 1-methyl-pyrrolidine ring by 77.97 (7), 86.98 (7) and 46.58 (6)
      degrees , respectively. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H?N hydrogen
      bonds, forming chains along the b axis. The chains are linked via a number of C
      H?O hydrogen bonds, and C-H?pi and pi-pi inter-actions [inter-centroid distance =
      3.7404 (9) A], forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870487
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-(benzyl-idene)(pyridin-2-ylmeth-yl)amine.
AB  - In the title mol-ecule, C13H12N2, all non-H atoms, except for those of the
      pyridine ring, are essentially coplanar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.025 A. The
      mean plane of these atoms forms a dihedral angle of 80.98 (4) degrees  with the
      pyridine ring. In the crystal, weak C-H?pi inter-actions link the mol-ecules,
      forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870488
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-mesityl-3-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium iodide.
AB  - In the cation of the title salt, C18H20N3 (+).I(-), the mesityl and phenyl rings
      are inclined to the central triazolium ring by 61.39 (16) and 30.99 (16) degrees
      , respectively, and to one another by 37.75 (15) degrees . In the crystal, mol
      ecules are linked via C-H?I hydrogen bonds, forming slabs parallel to the ab
      plane. Within the slabs there are weak pi-pi inter-actions present involving the
      mesityl and phenyl rings [inter-centroid distances are 3.8663 (18) and 3.8141
      (18) A]. 

PMID- 26870489
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-amino-3-cyano-4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-4H-1-benzo-thieno[3,2
      b]pyran.
AB  - The three fused five- and six-membered rings in the title compound, C19H14N2O2S,
      are virtually coplanar, with the maximum deviation from the mean plane being
      0.060 (1) A. This benzothieno[3,2-b]pyran ring system is nearly perpendic-ular to
      the plane of the 4-meth-oxy-phenyl ring, forming a dihedral angle of 83.65 (5)
      degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H?N hydrogen bonds
      into inversion dimers. The dimeric units are further connected by an N-H?O
      hydrogen bond into a tape running along the b axis. The tapes are linked together
      by C-H?N and pi-pi inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.7743 (8) A],
      forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870490
TI  - Crystal structure of N-[3-(di-methyl-amino)-prop-yl]-N',N',N'',N''-tetra-methyl-N
      (N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-form-amid-in-ium-yl)guanidinium bis-(tetra-phenyl
      borate).
AB  - In the title salt, C15H36N6 (2+).2C24H20B(-), the three N-C bond lengths in the
      central C3N unit of the bis-amidinium ion range between 1.388 (3) and 1.506 (3)
      A, indicating single- and double-bond character. Furthermore, four C-N bonds have
      double-bond character. Here, the bond lengths range from 1.319 (3) to 1.333 (3)
      A. Delocalization of the positive charges occurs in the N/C/N and C/N/C planes.
      The dihedral angle between both N/C/N planes is 70.5 (2) degrees . In the
      crystal, C-H?pi inter-actions between H atoms of the cation and the benzene rings
      of both tetra-phenyl-borate ions are present. The benzene rings form aromatic
      pockets, in which the bis-amidinium ion is embedded. This leads to the formation
      of a two-dimensional supra-molecular pattern along the ab plane. 

PMID- 26870491
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-{(Z)-[(2E)-3-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-prop-2-en-1-yl
      idene]amino}-3-ethyl-thio-urea.
AB  - In the title thio-semicarbazone compound, C18H18ClN3S, the CN3S residue is almost
      planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0031 A) and forms dihedral angles of 65.99 (7) and
      34.60 (10) degrees  with the phenyl and chloro-benzene rings, respectively; the
      dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 85.13 (8) degrees . The conformation
      about the C=N bond is Z, and that about the C=C bonds is E. The imine N and ethyl
      N atoms are syn and are linked by an eth-yl-imine N-H?N hydrogen bond. This H
      atom also forms an inter-molecular hydrogen bond to the thione S atom, resulting
      in a supra-molecular helical chain propagating along the b axis. The chains are
      consolidated into a three-dimensional architecture by phenyl-C-H?Cl contacts and
      weak pi-pi inter-actions between centrosymmetrically related chloro-benzene rings
      [inter-centroid distance = 3.9127 (15) A]. 

PMID- 26870492
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 2-(2-{1-[N-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-2-oxo-2-phenyl-acetamido]
      2-tert-butyl-amino-2-oxo-ethyl}-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)acetate.
AB  - In the title compound, C28H30BrN3O5, there is an intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen
      bond and an intra-molecular C-H?O hydrogen bond, both forming S(9) ring motifs.
      The planes of the 4-bromo-phenyl ring and the phenyl ring are inclined to that of
      the pyrrole ring by 48.05 (12) and 77.45 (14) degrees , respectively, and to one
      another by 56.25 (12) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via C-H?O
      hydrogen bonds and C-H?pi inter-actions, forming slabs parallel to (10-1). 

PMID- 26870493
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-methyl-sulfanyl-2-(2H-tetra-zol-2-yl)pyrimidine.
AB  - The title compound, C6H6N6S, crystallized with two independent mol-ecules (A and
      B) in the asymmetric unit. The conformation of the two mol-ecules differs
      slightly. While the tetra-zole ring is inclined to the pyrim-idene ring by 5.48
      (7) and 4.24 (7) degrees  in mol-ecules A and B, respectively, the N-C-S-C
      torsion angles of the thio-methyl groups differ by ca 180 degrees . In the
      crystal, the A and B mol-ecules are linked via a C-H?N hydrogen bond. They stack
      along the b-axis direction forming columns within which there are weak pi-pi
      inter-actions present [shortest inter-centroid distance = 3.6933 (13) A]. 

PMID- 26870494
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-(5-meth-oxy-1-benzo-furan-3-yl)acetic acid.
AB  - The benzo-furan residue in the title compound, C11H10O4, is essentially planar
      (the r.m.s. deviation for the nine non-H atoms = 0.011 A). While the meth-oxy
      group is coplanar with the fused ring system [C-C-O-C torsion angle = 3.1 (3)
      degrees ], the acetic acid residue occupies a position almost prime [C-C-C-C =
      77.0 (2) degrees ]. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol-ecules are
      linked by O-H?O hydrogen bonds to form eight-membered {?HOCO}2 synthons. The
      dimeric aggregates assemble into supra-molecular layers in the ab plane via
      benzene-C-H?O(ring) inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870495
TI  - Crystal structure of methyl (2R,3S)-3-[(tert-butyl-sulfin-yl)amino]-2-fluoro-3
      phenyl-propano-ate.
AB  - The title compound, C14H20FNO3S, contains two chiral carbon centres and the
      absolute configuration has been confirmed as (2R,3S). In the crystal, adjacent
      mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds, generating zigzag chains
      along the a-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870496
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-(5-amino-2H-tetra-zol-2-yl)-2-methyl-propan-2-ol.
AB  - The title compound, C5H11N5O, crystallized with two independent mol-ecules in the
      asymmetric unit. The two mol-ecules differ in the orientation of the 2-methyl
      propan-2-ol unit, with the hy-droxy H atoms pointing in opposite directions. In
      the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming
      ribbons propagating along [10-1]. The ribbons are linked via N-H?N hydrogen
      bonds, forming a three-dimensional structure. 

PMID- 26870498
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-bromo-3-di-methyl-amino-N,N,N',N',4-penta-methyl-4-(tri
      methyl-sil-yloxy)pent-2-eneamidinium bromide.
AB  - The reaction of the ortho-amide 1,1,1-tris-(di-methyl-amino)-4-methyl-4-(tri
      methyl-sil-yloxy)pent-2-yne with bromine in benzene, yields the title salt,
      C15H33BrN3OSi(+).Br(-). The C-N bond lengths in the amidinium unit are 1.319 (6)
      and 1.333 (6) A, indicating double-bond character, pointing towards charge
      delocalization within the NCN plane. The C-Br bond length of 1.926 (5) A is
      characteristic for a C-Br single bond. Additionally, there is a bromine-bromine
      inter-action [3.229 (3) A] present involving the anion and cation. In the
      crystal, weak C-H?Br inter-actions between the methyl H atoms of the cation and
      the bromide ions are present. 

PMID- 26870497
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-7,8-di-chloro-4-(2-oxo-propyl-idene)-4,5-di-hydro-1H-1,5
      benzodiazepin-2(3H)-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C12H10Cl2N2O2, the seven-membered heterocycle displays a
      half-chair conformation. The mean plane through the oxo-propyl-idene group makes
      a dihedral angle of 36.44 (9) degrees  with the fused benzene ring. An intra
      molecular N-H?O hydrogen bond to close an S(6) loop is noted. An important
      feature of the mol-ecular packing are N-H?O hydrogen bonds that lead to the
      formation of helical supra-molecular chains along the b axis. 

PMID- 26870499
TI  - Crystal structure of (1Z,2E)-cinnamaldehyde oxime.
AB  - The title compound, C9H9NO, crystallized with two independent mol-ecules (A and
      B) in the asymmetric unit. The conformation of the two mol-ecules differs
      slightly with the phenyl ring in mol-ecule A, forming a dihedral angle of 15.38
      (12) degrees  with the oxime group (O-N=C), compared to the corresponding angle
      of 26.29 (11) degrees  in mol-ecule B. In the crystal, the A and B mol-ecules are
      linked head-to-head by O-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming -A-B-A-B- zigzag chains
      along [010]. Within the chains and between neighbouring chains there are C-H?pi
      inter-actions present, forming a three-dimensional structure. 

PMID- 26870500
TI  - Crystal structure of 4,8-di-tert-butyl-6,6-di-chloro-13-ethyl-2,10-dimethyl-13,14
      di-hydro-12H-dibenzo[d,i][1,3,7,2]dioxaza-silecine toluene 0.25-solvate.
AB  - The coordination polyhedron at the silicon atom in the title compound,
      C26H37Cl2NO2Si.0.25C7H8, is typical for penta-coordinated silicon derivatives and
      represents a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramid with an N atom and a Cl atom
      in the apical positions and the two O atoms and the other Cl atom occupying the
      equatorial sites. There are two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit.
      The N-Si-Cl fragment in each is close to linear [178.24 (5) and 178.71 (5)
      degrees ], in good agreement with 4e-3c theory, as is the elongation of the
      apical bond lengths [Si-Cl = 2.1663 (7) and 2.1797 (7) A] in comparison with the
      equatorial bonds [Si-Cl = 2.0784 (7) and 2.0748 (7) A]. Orthogonal least-squares
      fitting of the two independent mol-ecules resulted in r.m.s. deviation of 0.017
      A. The conformations of the two mol-ecules are almost the same, with
      corresponding torsion angles differing by less than 5.5 degrees . The toluene
      solvent mol-ecule is disordered about an inversion centre. 

PMID- 26870501
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-bromo-9-ethyl-9H-carbazole.
AB  - In the title compound, C14H12BrN, the tricyclic ring system is essentially planar
      (r.m.s. deviation 0.026 A). The carbon atoms of the ethyl group deviate from the
      mean plane by 0.148 (9) (CH2) and 1.59 (1) A (CH3). In the crystal, H?pi contacts
      [2.698-2.898 A] shorter than the van der Waals contact distance of 3.70 A are
      observed. A scalable to gram quantities selective synthesis of mono-bromine
      substituted carbazole derivatives was developed. 

PMID- 26870502
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-{2-[4-(di-methyl-amino)-phen-yl]diazen-1-yl}-1-methyl
      pyridinium iodide.
AB  - The mol-ecular geometry of the ionic title compound, C14H17N4 (+).I(-) or
      DAZOP(+).I(-), is essentially featureless. Regarding the crystal structure, in
      addition to the obvious cation-anion Coulombic inter-actions, the packing is
      mostly directed by non-covalent inter-actions involving both ring systems, as
      well as the iodide anion. It consists of cationic mol-ecules aligned along [101]
      and disposed in an anti-parallel fashion while linked into pi-bonded dimeric
      entities by a stacking contact involving symmetry-related phenyl rings, with a
      centroid-centroid distance of 3.468 (3) A and a slippage of 0.951 A. The dimers
      are, in addition, sustained by a number of C-H?I and I?pi (I?centroid = 3.876 A)
      inter-actions involving the anion. Finally, inter-dimeric contacts are of the C
      H?I and C-H?pi types. 

PMID- 26870503
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-4-methylbenzyl 3-[1-(5-methylpyridin-2
      yl)ethylidene]dithiocarbazate.
AB  - In the title di-thio-carbazate compound, C17H19N3S2, the central CN2S2 residue is
      essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0288 A) and forms dihedral angles of
      9.77 (8) and 77.47 (7) degrees  with the substituted-pyridyl and p-tolyl rings,
      respectively, indicating a highly twisted mol-ecule; the dihedral angle between
      the rings is 85.56 (8) degrees . The configuration about the C=N bond is Z, which
      allows for the formation of an intra-molecular N-H?N(pyrid-yl) hydrogen bond. The
      packing features tolyl-methyl-C-H?N(imine), pyridyl-C-H?pi(tol-yl) and pi-pi
      inter-actions [between pyridyl rings with a distance = 3.7946 (13) A], which
      generates jagged supra-molecular layers that stack along the b axis with no
      directional inter-actions between them. 

PMID- 26870504
TI  - Crystal structure of 4,6-di-chloro-5-methyl-pyrimidine.
AB  - The title compound, C5H4Cl2N2, is essentially planar with an r.m.s. deviation for
      all non-H atoms of 0.009 A. The largest deviation from the mean plane is 0.016
      (4) A for an N atom. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of C-H?N
      hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers, enclosing an R (2) 2(6) ring motif. 

PMID- 26870505
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-(di-ethyl-amino)-phenol.
AB  - The title compound, C10H15NO, has two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. Each mol
      ecule has a near-planar C8NO unit excluding H atoms and the terminal methyl
      groups on the di-ethyl-amino groups, with mean deviations from planarity of 0.036
      and 0.063 A. In the crystal, hydrogen bonding leads to four-membered O-H?O-H?O
      H.. rings. No pi-pi inter-actions were observed in the structure. 

PMID- 26870506
TI  - Crystal structure of N,N,N',N',N'',N''-hexa-methyl-guanidinium cyanate 1.5
      hydrate.
AB  - The title hydrated salt, C7H18N3 (+).OCN(-).1.5H2O, was synthesized starting from
      N,N,N',N',N'',N''-hexa-methyl-guanidinium chloride by a twofold anion-exchange
      reaction. The asymmetric unit contains two cations, two cyanate anions and three
      water mol-ecules. One cation shows orientational disorder and two sets of N-atom
      positions were found related by a 60 degrees  rotation, with an occupancy ratio
      of 0.852 (6):0.148 (6). The C-N bond lengths in both guanidin-ium ions range from
      1.329 (2) to 1.358 (10) A, indicating double-bond character, pointing towards
      charge delocalization within the NCN planes. Strong O-H?N hydrogen bonds between
      the crystal water mol-ecules and the cyanate ions and strong O-H?O hydrogen bonds
      between the water mol-ecules are present, resulting in a two-dimensional hydrogen
      bonded network running parallel to the (001) plane. The hexa-methyl-guanidinium
      ions are packed in between the layers built up by water mol-ecules and cyanate
      ions. 

PMID- 26870507
TI  - Crystal structure of N-[3-(di-methyl-aza-nium-yl)prop-yl]-N',N',N'',N''-tetra
      methyl-N-(N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-form-am-id-in-ium-yl)-guanidinium dibromide
      hydroxide monohydrate.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title hydrated salt, C15H37N6 (3+).2Br(-).OH(-).H2O,
      contains one cation, three partial-occupancy bromide ions, one hydroxide ion and
      one water mol-ecule. Refinement of the site-occupancy factors of the three
      disordered bromide ions converges with occupancies 0.701 (2), 0.831 (2) and 0.456
      (2) summing to approximately two bromide ions per formula unit. The structure was
      refined as a two-component inversion twin with volume fractions 0.109 (8):0.891
      (8) for the two domains. The central C3N unit of the bis-amidinium ion is linked
      to the aliphatic propyl chain by a C-N single bond. The other two bonds in this
      unit have double-bond character as have the four C-N bonds to the outer NMe2
      groups. In contrast, the three C-N bonds to the central N atom of the (di-methyl
      aza-nium-yl)propyl group have single-bond character. Delocalization of the two
      positive charges occurs in the N/C/N and C/N/C planes, while the third positive
      charge is localized on the di-methyl-ammonium group. The crystal structure is
      stabilized by O-H?O, N-H?Br, O-H?Br and C-H?Br hydrogen bonds, forming a three
      dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870508
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-3-[4-(benzyl-idene-amino)-5-sulfanyl-idene-3-(p-tol-yl)
      4,5-di-hydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-3-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1-phenyl-propan-1-one.
AB  - The title compound, C32H28N4O2S, crystallizes as a racemate. In the mol-ecule,
      the bond-angle sum at the C atom of the sulfanyl-idene entity bound to the
      triazole ring is 360 degrees , with an annular N-C-N bond angle of 102.6 (2)
      degrees  and two larger N-C-S angles of 127.3 (2) and 130.1 (2) degrees . The
      essentially planar 1,2,4-triazole ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.013 A) is nearly
      perpendicular to the phenylpropanone and methoxyphenyl rings , making dihedral
      angles of 76.9 (2) and 85.2 (2) degrees , respectively and subtends dihedral
      angles of 17.6 (2) and 40.3 (2) degrees  with the tolyl and benzylideneamino
      rings, respectively. There is no pi-pi stacking between the mol-ecules. The
      crystal packing is dominated by weak C-H?O and C-H?N inter-actions, leading to a
      three-dimensional network structure. An intra-molecular C-H?S inter-action also
      occurs. 

PMID- 26870509
TI  - Crystal structure of (9S,10S)-10-eth-oxy-9-hy-droxy-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl
      7,8,9,10-tetra-hydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-1-yl 4-methyl-benzene-sulfonate.
AB  - In the structure of the title compound, C30H40O6S, the cyclo-hexene and
      heterocyclic rings are linked by a double bond. The cyclo-hexene ring has a half
      chair conformation (the methyl-ene group adjacent to the hy-droxy substituent
      lies above the remaining atoms) and the hy-droxy and eth-oxy groups have
      equatorial and bis-ectional dispositions, respectively. The heterocyclic ring has
      an envelope conformation (with the CMe2 C atom being the flap). The dihedral
      angle between the aromatic rings is 53.88 (10) degrees . A long intra-molecular C
      H?S inter-action is noted. In the mol-ecular packing, hy-droxy-O-H?O(sulfonate)
      hydrogen bonds lead to a helical chain along [010]. Connections between chains
      are of the type methyl-C-H?O(sulfonate) and lead to supra-molecular layers that
      lie parallel to (001). The studied crystal was an inversion twin. 

PMID- 26870510
TI  - Crystal structure of piperazine-1,4-diium bis-(4-amino-benzene-sulfonate).
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C4H12N2 (2+).2C6H6NO3S(-), consists of
      half a piperazindiium dication, located about an inversion centre, and a 4-amino
      benzene-sulfonate anion. The piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation. In the
      crystal, the cations and anions are linked via N-H?O and C-H?O hydrogen bonds,
      forming a three-dimensional framework. Within the framework there are C-H?pi
      inter-actions and the N-H?O hydrogen bonds result in the formation of R 4 (4)(22)
      and R 3 (4)(13) ring motifs. 

PMID- 26870511
TI  - Crystal structure of N''-benzyl-N''-[3-(benzyl-dimethyl-aza-nium-yl)prop-yl]
      N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-guanidinium bis-(tetra-phenyl-borate).
AB  - In the crystal structure of the title salt, C24H38N4 (2+).2C24H20B(-), the C-N
      bond lengths in the central CN3 unit of the guanidinium ion are 1.3364 (13),
      1.3407 (13) and 1.3539 (13) A, indicating partial double-bond character. The
      central C atom is bonded to the three N atoms in a nearly ideal trigonal-planar
      geometry and the positive charge is delocalized in the CN3 plane. The bonds
      between the N atoms and the terminal methyl groups of the guanidinium moiety and
      the four C-N bonds to the central N atom of the (benzyl-dimethyl-aza-nium
      yl)propyl group have single-bond character. In the crystal, C-H?pi inter-actions
      between the guanidin-ium H atoms and the phenyl C atoms of the tetra-phenyl
      borate ions are present, leading to the formation of a two-dimensional supra
      molecular pattern parallel to the ac plane. 

PMID- 26870512
TI  - Crystal structure of methyl (2Z)-2-{[N-(2-formyl-phen-yl)-4-methyl-benzene
      sulfonamido]-meth-yl}-3-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)prop-2-enoate.
AB  - In the title compound, C26H25NO6S, the S atom shows a distorted tetra-hedral
      geometry, with O-S-O [119.46 (9) degrees ] and N-S-C [107.16 (7) degrees ] angles
      deviating from ideal tetra-hedral values, a fact attributed to the Thorpe-Ingold
      effect. The sulfonyl-bound phenyl ring forms dihedral angles of 41.1 (1) and 83.3
      (1) degrees , respectively, with the formyl-phenyl and phenyl rings. The dihedral
      angle between formyl-phenyl and phenyl rings is 47.6 (1) degrees . The crystal
      packing features C-H?O hydrogen-bond inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870513
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-4,4,4-tri-fluoro-3-phenyl-but-2-enoic acid.
AB  - In the title compound, C10H7F3O2, the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and
      the ethyl-ene plane is 76.34 (11) degrees . In the crystal, O-H?O hydrogen bonds
      link the mol-ecules into C(4) chains propagating in [010]. 

PMID- 26870514
TI  - Crystal structure of 15-(2-chloro-phen-yl)-6b-hy-droxy-17-methyl-6b,7,16,17-tetra
      hydro-7,14a-methanona-phtho[1',8':1,2,3]pyrrolo-[3',2':8,8a]azuleno[5,6
      b]quinolin-14(15H)-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C34H25ClN2O2, the fused pyrrolidine ring adopts an
      envelope conformation with the N atom as the flap. The two adjacent cyclo-pentane
      rings also adopt envelope conformations. The mean plane of the pyrrolidine ring
      makes dihedral angles of 40.53 (10) and 80.23 (10) degrees  with the mean planes
      of the cyclo-pentane rings. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the
      cyclo-pentane rings is 46.71 (9) degrees . An intra-molecular O-H?N hydrogen bond
      is observed. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H?O, C-H?N and C-H?pi
      inter-actions, forming a layer parallel to (10-2). 

PMID- 26870515
TI  - Crystal structure of 5-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-3-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-4,5-di-hydro-1H
      pyrazole-1-carbaldehyde.
AB  - In the title compound, C18H18N2O2, the pyrazole ring has a twisted conformation
      on the CH-CH2 bond. The tolyl ring and the 4-meth-oxy-phenyl ring are inclined to
      the mean plane of the pyrazole ring by 4.40 (9) and 86.22 (9) degrees ,
      respectively, while the two aromatic rings are inclined to one another by 88.75
      (9) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via bifurcated C-H?(O,O)
      hydrogen bonds and C-H?pi inter-actions, forming sheets lying parallel to the ab
      plane. 

PMID- 26870516
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-{3-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-5-[(E)-2-phenyl-ethen-yl]-4,5-di
      hydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one.
AB  - The title compound, C20H20N2O, was studied as a part of our work on pyrazoline
      derivatives. It represents a trans-isomer. The central pyrazoline ring adopts an
      envelope conformation with the asymmetric C atom having the largest deviation of
      0.107 (1) A from the mean plane. It forms dihedral angles of 6.2 (1) and 86.4 (1)
      degrees  with the adjacent p-tolyl and styrene groups, respectively. In the
      crystal, C-H?O inter-actions link mol-ecules into infinite chains along the c
      axis. 

PMID- 26870517
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-methyl-N-{(E)-meth-yl[(3aR,8aS)-2-oxo-3,3a,8,8a-tetra
      hydro-2H-indeno-[1,2-d][1,3]oxazol-3-yl]-lambda(4)-sulfanyl-idene}benzene
      sulfonamide.
AB  - The formulation that the title compound, C18H18N2O4S2, adopts is a zwitterionic
      core with the charge separated to the sulfilimine S and N atoms and is supported
      by the two different S-N bond distances about the sulfinimine N atom [1.594 (2)
      and 1.631 (2) A, respectively] that are typical for such bonds. The notably
      unusual bond is S-N(oxazolidinone) [1.692 (2) A] that is longer than a typical S
      N bond [1.603 (18) A, Mogul analysis; Macrae et al. (2008 ?). J. Appl. Cryst. 41,
      466-470]. The bond-angle sum about sulfilimine sulfur (308.35 degrees ) reflects
      the trigonal-pyramidal geometry of this atom. Two of the angles are less than 100
      degrees . Despite the pyramidalization of this sulfur, there are no significant
      inter-molecular inter-actions, beyond usual van der Waals contacts, in the
      crystal packing. 

PMID- 26870518
TI  - Crystal structure of 1,3-bis-{[4-(acetyl-sulfanyl)phenyl]ethynyl}azulene.
AB  - In the title compound, C30H20O2S2, the dihedral angles between the central
      azulene ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.039 A) and the pendant benzene rings
      are 28.96 (7) and 55.15 (7) degrees . The dihedral angles between the benzene
      rings and their attached acetyl-sulfanyl groups are 59.60 (10) and 84.79 (10)
      degrees . The expected pi-pi stacking inter-actions are not observed in the
      crystal structure; instead, the packing features C-H?O hydrogen bonds, which link
      the mol-ecules into C(12) [010] chains, which are supported by weak C-H?pi
      contacts. 

PMID- 26870519
TI  - Crystal structure of N'-[(E)-(1S,3R)-(3-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-oxo-cyclo-pent
      yl)methyl-idene]-4-methyl-benzene-sulfono-hydrazide.
AB  - The title compound, C17H24N2O3S, was synthesized in order to determine the
      relative configuration of the corresponding beta-keto aldehyde. In the U-shaped
      mol-ecule, the five-membered ring approximates an envelope, with the methyl-ene C
      atom adjacent to the quaternary C atom being the flap, and the methyl and
      isopropyl substituents lying to the same side of the ring. The dihedral angles
      between the four nearly coplanar atoms of the five-membered ring and the flap and
      the aromatic ring are 35.74 (15) and 55.72 (9) degrees , respectively. The bond
      angles around the S atom are in the range from 103.26 (12) to 120.65 (14) degrees
      . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming a chain
      along the a axis. 

PMID- 26870520
TI  - Crystal structure of (Z)-3-allyl-5-(4-methyl-benzyl-idene)-2-sulfanyl-idene-1,3
      thia-zolidin-4-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C14H13NOS2, the atoms of the allyl group are disordered
      over two sets of sites, with an occupancy ratio of 0.559 (10):0.441 (10). The
      rhodanine ring makes a dihedral angle of 5.51 (12) degrees  with the mean plane
      through the p-tolyl group. There are no specific inter-molecular inter-actions in
      the crystal packing. 

PMID- 26870521
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 5-[3-(di-methyl-amino)-acrylo-yl]-2-{[(di-methyl
      amino)-methyl-idene]-amino}-4-methylthio-phene-3-carb-oxy-late.
AB  - In the title compound, C16H23N3O3S, the dihedral angles between the thio-phene
      ring and the almost planar di-methyl-amino-methyl-ene-amino (r.m.s. deviation =
      0.005 A) and di-methyl-amino-acryloyl (r.m.s. deviation = 0.033 A) substituents
      are 6.99 (8) and 6.69 (7) degrees , respectively. The ester CO2 group subtends a
      dihedral angle of 44.92 (18) degrees  with the thio-phene ring. An intra
      molecular C-H?O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, inversion
      dimers linked by pairs of C-H?O hydrogen bonds generate R (2) 2(14) loops. In
      addition, a weak C-H?pi inter-action is observed. 

PMID- 26870522
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-[2-phenyl-1-(phenyl-sulfon-yl)eth-yl]-1-phenyl-sulfonyl-1H
      indole.
AB  - In the title compound, C28H23NO4S2, the indole ring system (r.m.s. deviation =
      0.007 A) subtends dihedral angles of 78.69 (13) and 38.97 (13) degrees  with the
      planes of the N- and C-bonded sulfonyl-benzene rings, respectively, and these two
      benzene rings are inclined to each other at an angle of 65.45 (16) degrees . The
      methyl-ene-linked phenyl ring is twisted at an angle of 81.80 (13) degrees  from
      the indole ring. The mol-ecular structure features two short intra-molecular C
      H?O contacts, which both generate S(6) rings. In the crystal, mol-ecules are
      linked by C-H?O hydrogen bonds and C-H?pi inter-actions, generating a three
      dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870523
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-[(E)-(4-fluoro-benzyl-idene)amino]-3-methyl-1H-1,2,4
      triazole-5(4H)-thione.
AB  - The title compound, C10H9FN4S, crystallizes with two mol-ecules (A and B) in the
      asymmetric unit. The dihedral angle between the planes of the trizole and fluoro
      benzene rings is 7.3 (3) degrees  in mol-ecule A and 41.1 (3) degrees  in mol
      ecule B. Mol-ecule A features an intra-molecular C-H?S hydrogen bond, which
      closes an S(6) ring. In the crystal, A+B dimers linked by pairs of N-H?S hydrogen
      bonds occur, generating R 2 (2)(8) loops. Weak pi-pi stacking contacts [centroid
      centroid separation = 3.739 (6) A] are also observed. 

PMID- 26870524
TI  - Crystal structure of N-(1-acetyl-3-chloro-1H-indazol-6-yl)-4-meth-oxy-benzene
      sulfonamide.
AB  - In the title compound, C16H14ClN3O4S, the six-membered ring of the indazole group
      is connected to a sulfonamide group. The indazole system is essentially planar,
      with the greatest deviation from the mean plane being 0.007 (2) A. The dihedral
      angle between the two six-membered rings is 74.99 (9) degrees . The crystal
      structure exhibits inversion dimers in which mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N
      H?O and C-H?O hydrogen bonds. 

PMID- 26870525
TI  - Crystal structure of (eth-oxy-ethyl-idene)di-methyl-aza-nium ethyl sulfate.
AB  - In the title salt, C6H14NO(+).C2H5SO4 (-), the C-N bond lengths in the cation are
      1.2981 (14), 1.4658 (14) and 1.4707 (15) A, indicating double- and single-bond
      character, respectively. The C-O bond length of 1.3157 (13) A shows double-bond
      character, indicating charge delocalization within the NCO plane of the iminium
      ion. In the crystal, C-H?O hydrogen bonds between H atoms of the cations and O
      atoms of neighbouring ethyl sulfate anions are present, generating a three
      dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870526
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 2-{2-[(1Z)-1-hy-droxy-3-(4-nitro-phen-yl)-3-oxoprop-1
      en-1-yl]phen-oxy}acetate.
AB  - The title compound, C19H17NO7, crystallized in a ratio of about 6:4 of the two
      possible keto-enol forms. This was observed as disorder over the central C3H2O2
      unit. The dihedral angle between the rings is 8.2 (2) degrees .The mol-ecules
      pack by C-H?O interactions in a layered fashion parallel to (-104). 

PMID- 26870527
TI  - Crystal structure of (5Z)-5-(5-bromo-2-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)-1,3-thia-zolidine
      2,4-dione.
AB  - In the title compound, C10H6BrNO3S, the dihedral angle between the thia-zolidine
      ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.014 A) and the benzene ring is 5.78 (14) degrees . The
      S atom of the heterocyclic ring is syn to the OH group attached to the benzene
      ring. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of N-H?O hydrogen bonds
      generate R 2 (2)(8) loops. The dimers are linked into [001] ribbons by pairwise O
      H?O hydrogen bonds with R 2 (2)(18) motifs. There are no short contacts involving
      the Br atom. 

PMID- 26870528
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-hy-droxy-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidin-1-ium tri-fluoro
      methane-sulfonate.
AB  - In the cation of the title salt, C9H20NO(+).CF3O3S(-), the six-membered
      heterocyclic ring displays a chair conformation. In the crystal, centrosymmetric
      pairs of cations and anions are linked by N-H?O and O-H?O hydrogen bonds to form
      rings with a R 4 (4)(14) graph-set motif. 

PMID- 26870529
TI  - Crystal structure of 2,5-bis-(di-phenyl-phosphan-yl)furan.
AB  - In the title compound, C28H22OP2, each of the P atoms has an almost perfect
      pyramidal geometry, with C-P-C angles varying from 100.63 (10) to 102.65 (9)
      degrees . In the crystal, neighbouring mol-ecules are linked via weak C-H?pi
      inter-actions, forming supra-molecular chains along the b-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870530
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-(cyclo-pentyl-idene-amino)-3-(prop-2-en-1-yl)thio-urea.
AB  - In the title compound, C9H15N3S, the cyclo-pentyl ring adopts an envelope
      conformation with one of the methyl-ene C atoms as the flap. The thio
      semicarbazide fragment is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.038 A) and a short
      intra-molecular N-H?N contact occurs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into
      helical (41 symmetry) chains propagating in [001] by N-H?N and N-H?S hydrogen
      bonds. A very weak C-H?S inter-action is also observed. 

PMID- 26870531
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-(thio-phen-3-yl)ethyl pyrene-1-carboxyl-ate.
AB  - In the title compound, C23H16O2S, the thio-phene group is rotationally disordered
      into two fractions almost parallel to each other, with occupation factors of
      0.523 (7) and 0.477 (7), and subtending dihedral angles of 10.5 (5) and 9.3 (5)
      degrees , respectively, to the thio-phene group. The mol-ecules are held together
      by weak C-H?O and C-H?pi hydrogen bonds, producing a laminar arrangement, which
      are further connected in a perpendicular fashion by S?pi contacts [S?centroid =
      3.539 (8) and 3.497 (8) A]. In spite of the presence of the entended pyrene
      group, the structure does not present any parallel pi-pi stacking inter-actions.
      The structure was refined as an inversion twin. 

PMID- 26870532
TI  - Crystal structure of (7-fluoro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)methyl morpholine-4-carbodi
      thio-ate.
AB  - In the title compound, C15H14FNO3S2, the 2H-chromene ring system is close to
      being planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.024 A) and the morpholine ring adopts a chair
      conformation. The dihedral angle between the 2H-chromene ring system and the
      morpholine ring (all atoms) is 88.21 (11) degrees . In the crystal, inversion
      dimers linked by pairs of very weak C-H?F hydrogen bonds generate R 2 (2)(8)
      loops; C-H?O hydrogen bonds connect the dimers into [010] chains. Weak aromatic
      pi-pi stacking inter-actions between the pyran rings of the chromene systems
      [centroid-centroid distance = 3.6940 (16) A] are also observed. 

PMID- 26870533
TI  - Crystal structure of (2E)-1-(5-bromo-thio-phen-2-yl)-3-(2-chloro-phen-yl)prop-2
      en-1-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C13H8BrClOS, the thienyl ring is not coplanar with the
      benzene ring, their planes forming a dihedral angle of 13.2 (4) degrees . In the
      crystal, mol-ecules stack along the a axis, with the inter-planar separation
      between thienyl rings and between benzene rings being 3.925 (6) A. The sample is
      an inversion twin. 

PMID- 26870534
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-(2,4-di-nitro-phen-yl)-3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole.
AB  - In the title mol-ecule, C21H14N4O4, the phenyl rings make dihedral angles of
      39.61 (8) and 9.4 (1) degrees , respectively, with the central pyrazole ring. The
      dihedral angle between the pyrazole and di-nitro-phenyl rings is 46.95 (5)
      degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules pack in helical stacks parallel to the a
      axis aided by weak C-H?O inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870535
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-benzyl-1-[(cyclo-hexyl-idene)amino]-thio-urea.
AB  - The conformation of the title compound, C14H19N3S, is partially determined by an
      intra-molecular N-H?N hydro-gen-bond inter-action, although the N-H?N angle of
      108 degrees  is quite small. The cyclo-hexyl-idene ring has a chair conformation
      and its mean plane is inclined to the benzene ring by 46.30 (8) degrees . In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H?S hydrogen bonds, forming
      inversion dimers, with an R 2 (2)(8) ring motif. The dimers are reinforced by
      pairs of C-H?S hydrogen bonds, and are linked by further weak C-H?S hydrogen
      bonds, forming chains propagating along [100]. 

PMID- 26870536
TI  - Crystal structure of 1,1'-[selanediyl-bis(4,1-phenyl-ene)]bis-(2-chloro-ethan-1
      one).
AB  - In the title mol-ecule, C16H12Cl2O2Se, the C-Se-C angle is 100.05 (14) degrees ,
      with the dihedral angle between the planes of the benzene rings being 69.92 (17)
      degrees . The average endocyclic angles (Se-Car-Car; ar = aromatic) facing the Se
      atom are 120.0 (3) and 119.4 (3) degrees . The Se atom is essentially coplanar
      with the benzene rings, with Se-Car-Car-Car torsion angles of -179.2 (3) and 
      179.7 (3) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via C-H?O hydrogen
      bonds forming chains propagating along the a-axis direction. The chains are
      linked via C-H?pi inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870537
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-N'-[(E)-4-chloro-benzyl-idene]propano
      hydrazide.
AB  - In the title compound, C22H18ClN3O, the carbazole ring system is essentially
      planar (r.m.s deviation = 0.003 A), and makes a dihedral angle of 9.01 (8)
      degrees  with the plane of the chloro-phenyl ring. In the crystal, neighbouring
      mol-ecules are linked into centrosymmetric R 2 (2)(8) dimers by pairs of N-H?O
      inter-actions and into a three-dimensional network by C-H?pi inter-actions. The
      dimers are arranged into layers parallel to (010). 

PMID- 26870538
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 2,4-di-chloro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate.
AB  - In the crystal structure of the title compound, C12H9Cl2NO2, the mean planes
      through the quinoline and carboxyl-ate groups have r.m.s. deviations of 0.006 and
      0.021 A, respectively, and form a dihedral angle of 87.06 (19) degrees . In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked via very weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming
      chains, which propagate along the c-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870539
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-formyl-2-nitro-phenyl 4-chloro-2-nitro-benzoate.
AB  - In the title compound, C14H7ClN2O7, the central ester moiety is essentially
      planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0113 A. The ester group is twisted away
      from the chloro- and formyl-substituted rings by 84.60 (9) and 88.55 (9) degrees
      , respectively. The crystal packing shows inter-molecular C-H?O inter-actions.
      These inter-actions generate R 2 (2)(20) and R 4 (4)(22) edge-fused rings
      parallel to (20-2). 

PMID- 26870540
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-N-[(2-meth-oxy-naphthalen-1-yl)methyl-idene]-3-nitro
      aniline.
AB  - In the title compound, C18H14N2O3, the dihedral angle between the naphthalene
      ring system and the benzene ring is 59.99 (13) degrees . A short intra-molecular
      C-H?N contact closes an S(6) ring. The nitro group is disordered over two
      orientations in a statistical ratio. In the crystal, weak C-H?O hydrogen bonds
      and very weak pi-pi stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid separation = 3.9168
      (17) A] are observed. 

PMID- 26870541
TI  - Crystal structure of N-(2-hy-droxy-5-methyl-phen-yl)benzamide.
AB  - In the title compound, C14H13NO2, the mean plane of the non-H atoms of the
      central amide fragment C-N-C(=O)-C (r.m.s. deviation = 0.029 A) forms dihedral
      angles of 5.63 (6) and 10.20 (5) degrees  with the phenyl and hy-droxy-phenyl
      rings, respectively. A short intra-molecular N-H?O contact is present. In the
      crystal, the mol-ecules are linked by O-H?O hydrogen bonds to generate C(7)
      chains along [100]. The chains are reinforced by weak C-H?O contacts, which
      together with the O-H?O bonds lead to R 2 (2)(7) loops. Very weak N-H?O inter
      actions link the mol-ecules into inversion dimers. 

PMID- 26870542
TI  - Crystal structure of the bora-benzene-2,6-lutidine adduct.
AB  - In the title compound, C12H14BN, the complete mol-ecule is generated by a
      crystallographic twofold axis, with two C atoms, the B atom and the N atom lying
      on the rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the bora-benzene and pyridine
      rings is 81.20 (6) degrees . As well as dative electron donation from the N atom
      to the B atom [B-N = 1.5659 (18) A], the methyl substituents on the lutidine ring
      shield the B atom, which further stabilizes the mol-ecule. In the crystal, weak
      aromatic pi-pi stacking between the pyridine rings [centroid-centroid separation
      = 3.6268 (9) A] is observed, which generates [001] columns of mol-ecules. 

PMID- 26870543
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole
      dihydrate.
AB  - The title compound, C12H11N5.2H2O, which crystallizes as a dihydrate, was
      obtained by Cu(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cyclo-addition from 2-azido-1-methyl
      imidazole and phenyl-ethyne. The dihedral angles between the central triazole
      ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.004 A) and the pendant imidazole (r.m.s. deviation =
      0.006 A) and phenyl rings are 12.3 (2) and 2.54 (19) degrees , respectively. In
      the crystal, the water mol-ecules are connected into [010] chains by O-H?O
      hydrogen bonds, while O-H?N hydrogen bonds connect the water mol-ecules to the
      organic mol-ecules, generating corrugated (100) sheets. 

PMID- 26870544
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-[(E)-(4-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl
      1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C18H17N3O2, comprises three
      independent mol-ecules (1, 2 and 3). In mol-ecule 1, the dihedral angles between
      the pyrazolone ring and the pendant phenyl and hydroxybenzene rings are 54.43 (6)
      and 28.72 (6) degrees , respectively. The corresponding data for mol-ecule 2 are
      86.84 (6) and 25.69 (5) degrees , respectively, and for mol-ecule 3 are 47.41 (7)
      and 17.09 (7) degrees , respectively. The three mol-ecules feature an intra
      molecular C-H?O inter-action, which closes an S(6) ring in each case. In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H?O hydrogen bonds, which generate [100]
      chains incorporating all three asymmetric mol-ecules. Two weak C-H?O interactions
      connect three independent molecules to each other along the c-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870545
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-amino-4-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-1-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-5-oxo
      1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-quinoline-3-carbo-nitrile.
AB  - In the title compound, C23H20ClN3O, each of the cyclo-hexene and 1,4-di-hydro
      pyridine rings of the 1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-quinoline ring system adopts a
      twisted-boat conformation. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is
      11.52 (7) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked through a pair of amino
      nitrile N-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. These assemble into a
      three-dimensional network via C-H?O and C-H?pi inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870546
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-[(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)meth-yl]-2-(thia-zol-4
      yl)-1H-benzimidazole.
AB  - The benzimidazole ring in the title compound, C16H17N3O2S, is almost planar, with
      the greatest deviation from the mean plane being 0.032 (1) A. The fused-ring
      system makes dihedral angles of 19.91 (7) and 24.51 (8) degrees  with the best
      plane through each of the thia-zol-4-yl and 1,3-dioxolan-4-yl rings,
      respectively; the latter exhibits an envelope conformation with the methyl-ene C
      atom being the flap. Finally, the thia-zol-4-yl ring makes a dihedral angle of
      33.85 (9) degrees  with the 1,3-dioxolan-4-yl ring. In the crystal, mol-ecules
      are connected by a pair of C-H?pi(imidazole) inter-actions to form
      centrosymmetric aggregates. 

PMID- 26870547
TI  - Crystal structure of 2,6-bis-(2-hy-droxy-5-methyl-phen-yl)-4-phenyl-pyridinium
      bromide di-chloro-methane hemisolvate hemihydrate.
AB  - The asymmetric unit in the structure of the title compound, C25H22NO2 (+).Br (
      ).0.5CH2Cl2.0.5H2O, comprises two pseudosymmetry-related cations, two bromide
      anions, a di-chloro-methane molecule and a water mol-ecule of solvation. The two
      independent cations are conformationally similar with the comparative dihedral
      angles between the central pyridine ring and the three benzene substituent rings
      being 3.0 (2), 36.4 (1) and 24.2 (1) degrees , and 3.7 (2), 36.5 (1) and 24.8 (1)
      degrees , respectively. In the crystal, the cations, anions and water mol-ecules
      are linked through O-H?O and O-H?Br hydrogen bonds, forming an insular unit.
      Within the cations there are also intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen bonds. Adjacent
      centrosymmetrically related aggregates are linked by pi-pi stacking inter-actions
      between the pyridine ring and a benzene ring in both cations [ring-centroid
      separations = 3.525 (3) and 3.668 (3) A], forming chains extending across the ac
      diagonal. Voids between these chains are filled by dichloromethane molecules. 

PMID- 26870548
TI  - Crystal structure of hexa-prop-2-en-1-yl 4,4',4'',4''',4'''',4'''''
      [1,3,5,2lambda(5),4lambda(5),6lambda(5)-tri-aza-triphosphinine-2,2,4,4,6,6-hexa
      yl-hexa-kis-(-oxy)]hexa-benzoate.
AB  - In the title compound, C60H54N3O18P3, the central phosphazene ring is essentially
      planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of the six fitted atoms of 0.068 A. The P-N bond
      lengths are within the narrow range 1.575 (2)-1.585 (2) A, indicating the
      electrons are delocalized within the ring. The two ethenyl benzoate substituents
      on each P atom are located up and down with respect to the plane of the central
      P3N3 ring. The atoms of two terminal propenyl groups are disordered over two sets
      of sites, with refined site-occupancy ratios of 0.249 (12):0.751 (12) and 0.476
      (9):0.524 (9). No intermolecular interactions are observed. 

PMID- 26870549
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-(2,3-di-methyl-anilino)-N'-[(1E)-2-hy-droxy-benzyl
      idene]benzohydrazide.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C22H21N3O2, consists of two
      independent mol-ecules (A and B) having differing conformations. The differences
      mainly concern the dihedral angles which the hy-droxy-phenyl and di-methyl-phenyl
      rings subtend to the central phenyl-ene ring, these being 30.16 (6) and 58.60 (6)
      degrees  in mol-ecule A and 13.42 (7) and 60.31 (7) degrees  in B. With the
      exception of the dimethyphenyl substituent, the conformations of the rest of each
      mol-ecule are largely determined by intra-molecular O-H?N and N-H?O hydrogen
      bonds. In the crystal, N-H?O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains
      extending parallel to the a axis in which the types of mol-ecules alternate in an
      ...A...B...A...B... fashion. 

PMID- 26870550
TI  - Crystal structure of 5,5'-bis-(di-methyl-amino)-N,N'-(3-methyl-3-aza-pentane-1,5
      di-yl)di(naphthalene-1-sulfonamide).
AB  - In the title compound, C29H37N5O4S2, two arms substituted with dansyl derivatives
      are connected to a central tertiary amine, where the dihedral angle between the
      planes of two dansyl units is 56.39 (4) degrees . Each arm contains a sulfonamide
      functional group and both N-H groups in the compound are pointed to the same
      side. The central part of the mol-ecule is disordered over three sets of sites
      with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.547 (4):0.328 (4):0.125 (3). No intra
      molecular pi-pi or hydrogen-bonding inter-actions are observed. In the crystal,
      mol-ecules are linked via pairs of N-H?O inter-actions involving the same
      acceptor atom, forming inversion dimers. In addition, C-H?O inter-actions exist
      between molecules, providing further stabilization of dimers. 

PMID- 26870551
TI  - Crystal structure of 1,2,3,4-di-O-methyl-ene-alpha-d-galacto-pyran-ose.
AB  - The title compound, C8H12O6, was synthesized by de-acetyl-ation of 6-acetyl
      1,2,3,4-di-O-methyl-ene-alpha-d-galactose with sodium methoxide. The central part
      of the mol-ecule consists of a six-membered C5O pyran-ose ring with a twist-boat
      conformation. Both fused dioxolane rings adopt an envelope conformation with C
      and O atoms as the flap. In the crystal, O-H?O and C-H?O hydrogen bonds are
      present between adjacent mol-ecules, generating a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870552
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-[9-(2-hy-droxy-phen-yl)-1,8-dioxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
      deca-hydro-acridin-10-yl]acetic acid.
AB  - The title compound, C21H21NO5, crystallizes with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric
      unit. In each mol-ecule, the central 1,4-di-hydro-pyridine ring adopts a shallow
      sofa conformations (with the C atom bearing the phenol ring as the flap), whereas
      the pendant cyclo-hexene rings both have twisted-boat conformations. Each mol
      ecule features an intra-molecular O-H?O hydrogen bond, which closes an S(8) ring.
      In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked by O-H?O, C-H?O and C-H?pi inter
      actions, forming a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870553
TI  - Crystal structure of (5Z)-5-(2-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)-1,3-thia-zolidine-2,4
      dione.
AB  - The title compound, C10H7NO3S, crystallizes with four independent mol-ecules in
      the asymmetric unit with slightly different conformations; the dihedral angles
      between the six- and five-membered rings are 2.6 (1), 1.09 (9), 8.6 (1) and 6.2
      (1) degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen
      bonds, forming sheets lying parallel to (101). 

PMID- 26870554
TI  - Crystal structure of N'-[bis-(ethyl-sulfan-yl)methyl-idene]-2-hy-droxy-4-meth-oxy
      benzohydrazide.
AB  - In the title compound, C13H18N2O3S2, the amide group is in the plane of the 
      benzoyl ring with a C-N-N-C torsion angle of 177.63 (12) degrees . The two di
      thio-ate groups are in an anti conformation [torsion angles = 173.68 (8) and 
      9.98 (10) degrees ]. An intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen bond is observed. In the
      crystal, an O-H?O hydrogen bond and a weak C-H?O contact involving the same
      acceptor atom generate an S(6) ring motif and give rise to chains along [010]. 

PMID- 26870555
TI  - Crystal structure of phenyl N-(4-nitro-phen-yl)carbamate.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C13H10N2O4, contains two independent
      mol-ecules (A and B). The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 48.18 (14)
      degrees  in mol-ecule A and 45.81 (14) degrees  in mol-ecule B. The mean plane of
      the carbamate N-C(=O)-O group is twisted slightly from the attached benzene and
      phenyl rings, making respective dihedral angles of 12.97 (13) and 60.93 (14)
      degrees  in A, and 23.11 (14) and 59.10 (14) degrees  in B. In the crystal, A and
      B mol-ecules are arranged alternately through N-H?O hydrogen bonds and C-H?pi
      inter-actions, forming chains along the a axis. The chains are further linked by
      C-H?O hydrogen bonds into a double-chain structure. 

PMID- 26870556
TI  - Crystal structure of 5-(5,6-di-hydro-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-6-yl)-2
      meth-oxy-phenol.
AB  - In the mol-ecule of the title compound, C21H17N3O2, the 5,6-di-hydro
      benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline moiety is disordered over two orientations about a
      pseudo-mirror plane, with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.863 (2):0.137 (2). The
      dihedral angles formed by the benzimidazole ring system and the benzene ring of
      the quinazoline group are 14.28 (5) and 4.7 (3) degrees  for the major and minor
      disorder components, respectively. An intra-molecular O-H?O hydrogen bond is
      present. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming
      chains running parallel to [10-1]. 

PMID- 26870557
TI  - Crystal structure of 1-bromo-4-methane-sulfonyl-2,3-di-methyl-benzene.
AB  - The title compound, C9H11BrO2S, is an important inter-mediate in the synthesis of
      the herbicide Topramezone. In the crystal, there are weak inter-molecular Br?O
      inter-actions of 3.286 (4) A. The dihedral angle between the plane of the benzene
      ring and that defined by the O-S-O atoms of the methane-sulfonyl group is 49.06
      (3) degrees . 

PMID- 26870558
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-benzyl-1-[(1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-naphthalen-1-yl
      idene)amino]-thio-urea.
AB  - In the title compound, C18H19N3S, the dihedral angle between the planes of the
      benzene rings is 58.63 (8) degrees . The six-membered ring bonded to the thio
      semicarbazide group (r.m.s. deviation = 0.038 A) adopts a sofa conformation, with
      one of the methyl-ene-group C atoms as the flap. A short intra-molecular N-H?N
      contact is observed. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak N-H?S inter
      actions to generate C(4) chains propagating in the [010] direction, with adjacent
      mol-ecules related by glide symmetry. 

PMID- 26870559
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1-{[(1E)-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-naphthalen-1
      yl-idene]amino}-thio-urea.
AB  - In the title compound, C14H17N3S, the dihedral angle between the planes of the
      benzene ring and the thio-semicarbazone group (r.m.s. deviation = 0.031 A) is
      8.45 (4) degrees . A short intra-molcular N-H?N contact is seen. In the crystal,
      weak N-H?S hydrogen bonds connect the mol-ecules into C(4) chains propagating in
      the [010] direction, with adjacent mol-ecules in the chain related by 21 screw
      axis symmetry. 

PMID- 26870560
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-butyl-sulfanyl-4,6-bis-[(E)-4-(di-methyl-amino)-styr
      yl]pyrimidine.
AB  - In the title compound, C28H34N4S, the dihedral angles between the pyrimidine ring
      and the pendant 4-(di-methyl-amino)-benzene rings are 14.20 (5) and 14.56 (4)
      degrees . The butyl side chain adopts an anti conformation [C-C-C-C = -171.53
      (13) degrees ]. No directional inter-actions beyond van der Waals contacts occur
      in the crystal structure The title mol-ecule has a D-A-D structure, in which the
      pyrimidine ring is the electron-withdrawing part and the 4-(di-methyl-amino)
      benzene rings are the electron-donating parts. 

PMID- 26870561
TI  - Crystal structure of 2-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-6-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3
      carbaldehyde.
AB  - In the title compound, C15H11N3O4, the imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine ring system is
      almost planar [r.m.s. deviation = 0.028 (2) A]. Its mean plane makes dihedral
      angles of 33.92 (7) and 34.56 (6) degrees  with the meth-oxy-phenyl ring and the
      nitro group, respectively. The cohesion of the crystal structure is ensured by C
      H?N and C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming layers almost parallel to the ac plane. 

PMID- 26870563
TI  - Crystal structure of (E)-3-(4-hy-droxy-benz-yl)-4-{[4-(methyl-sulfan-yl)benzyl
      idene]amino}-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione.
AB  - In the title compound, C17H16N4OS2, the triazole and methyl-thio-benzyl-idene
      rings are nearly coplanar, making a dihedral angle of 6.52 (12) degrees . An
      intra-molecular C-H?S hydrogen bond forms an S(6) ring motif. The hy-droxy-benzyl
      ring is almost normal to the triazole and methyl-thio-benzyl-idene rings, making
      dihedral angles of 78.56 (12) and 84.79 (11) degrees , respectively. In the
      crystal, mol-ecules are linked through O-H?N and N-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming
      layers parallel to the ac plane. The layers are linked via C-H?N hydrogen bonds,
      forming a three-dimensional structure. In addition, a short pi-pi inter-action is
      observed [inter-centroid distance = 3.764 (3) A], involving inversion-related
      methyl-thio-benzyl-idene rings. 

PMID- 26870562
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-4',4'-dimethyl-3-p-tolyl-3',4'-di
      hydro-1'H,3H-spiro-[isoxazole-5,2'-naphthalen]-1'-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C28H27NO3, the cyclo-hexa-none and isoxazole rings have
      envelope conformations, with the methyl-ene and spiro C atoms as the flaps,
      respectively. The mean plane of the isoxazole ring is inclined slightly to the p
      tolyl ring, making a dihedral angle of 14.20 (9) degrees , and is nearly
      perpendicular to the mean plane through the tetra-lone moiety and to the meth-oxy
      phenyl ring [dihedral angles = 83.41 (8) and 72.12 (9) degrees , respectively].
      The crystal packing is stabilized mainly by van der Waals forces. 

PMID- 26870564
TI  - Crystal structure of (1-eth-oxy-ethyl-idene)di-methyl-aza-nium tetra-phenyl
      borate.
AB  - In the cation of the title salt, C6H14NO(+).C24H20B(-), the C-N bond lengths are
      1.297 (2), 1.464 (2) and 1.468 (2) A, indicating double- and single-bond
      character, respectively. The C-O bond length of 1.309 (2) A shows double-bond
      character, pointing towards charge delocalization within the NCO plane of the
      iminium ion. In the crystal, C-H?pi inter-actions between the iminium H atoms and
      the phenyl C atoms of the anion are present. The phenyl rings form aromatic
      pockets, in which the iminium ions are embedded. 

PMID- 26870565
TI  - Crystal structure of 4,4'-[(1,3,5,7-tetra-oxo-1,3,3a,4,4a,5,7,7a,8,8a-deca-hydro
      4,8-etheno-pyrrolo-[3,4-f]iso-indole-2,6-di-yl)bis-(methyl-ene)]bis-(pyridin-1
      ium) dinitrate.
AB  - In the title salt, C24H22N4O4 (2+).2NO3 (-), the cation is U-shaped with the two
      iso-indole dione rings inclined to one another by 60.41 (13) degrees , while the
      two outer pyridine rings are inclined to one another by 2.77 (12) degrees . The
      dihedral angles between the pyridine ring and the adjacent iso-indole dione ring
      are 71.82 (12) and 86.44 (13) degrees . In the crystal, each nitrate anion is
      linked to a protonated pyridine ring by N-H?O hydrogen bonds. These units are
      linked by a series of C-H?O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional
      structure. 

PMID- 26870566
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl 2-[9-(5-bromo-2-hy-droxy-phen-yl)-1,8-dioxo
      1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-deca-hydro-acridin-10-yl]acetate.
AB  - In the title compound, C23H24BrNO5, the central 1,4-di-hydro-pyridine ring of the
      1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-deca-hydro-acridine ring system adopts a half-chair
      conformation. The two cyclo-hexene rings fused to the central ring both have a
      twisted-boat conformation. The mean planes of the bromo-hydroxy-phenyl ring and
      the major and minor components of the disordered ethyl amino-acetate moiety make
      dihedral angles of 78.99 (12), 85.9 (2) and 88.3 (9) degrees , respectively, with
      the 1,4-di-hydro-pyridine ring. The terminal ethyl group of the ethyl amino
      acetate moiety is disordered over two sets of sites with refined occupancies of
      0.768 (17) and 0.232 (17). The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra
      molecular O-H?O hydrogen bond, forming an S(8) ring motif. In the crystal, C-H?O
      hydrogen bonds connect the mol-ecules into layers parallel to (001), enclosing R
      1 (2)(7) ring motifs. 

PMID- 26870567
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-bromo-2-(1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)phenol.
AB  - In the title compound, C12H8BrN3O, the 4-bromo-phenol ring is coplanar with the
      planar imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine moiety (r.m.s deviation = 0.015 A), making a
      dihedral angle of 1.8 (2) degrees . There is an intra-molecular O-H?N hydrogen
      bond forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H?N
      and O-H?Br hydrogen bonds, forming undulating sheets parallel to (10-2). The
      sheets are linked by pi-pi inter-actions [inter-centroid distance = 3.7680 (17)
      A], involving inversion-related mol-ecules, forming a three-dimensional
      structure. 

PMID- 26870568
TI  - Crystal structure of 6-de-oxy-alpha-l-psico-furan-ose.
AB  - The title compound, C6H12O5, was crystallized from an aqueous solution of 6-de
      oxy-l-psicose (6-de-oxy-l-allulose, (3S,4S,5S)-1,3,4,5-tetra-hydroxy-hexan-2
      one), and the mol-ecule was confirmed as alpha-furan-ose with a (3) T 4 (or E 4)
      conformation, which is a predominant tautomer in solution. This five-membered
      furan-ose ring structure is the second example in the field of the 6-de-oxy
      ketohexose family. The cell volume of the title compound [742.67 (7) A(3), Z = 4
      at room temperature] is only 1.4% smaller than that of beta-d-psico-pyran-ose,
      C6H12O6 (753.056 A(3), Z = 4 at room temperature). 

PMID- 26870569
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-{[(2,4-di-hydroxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-meth-yl}cyclo-hexane
      carb-oxy-lic acid.
AB  - In the title compound, C15H19NO4, the cyclo-hexyl ring adopts a chair
      conformation with both exocyclic C-C bonds in equatorial orientations. The
      dihedral angle between the basal plane of cyclo-hexyl ring and the 2,4-di-hydroxy
      benzaldehyde moiety is 84.13 (13) degrees . An intra-molecular O-H?N hydrogen
      bonds closes an S(6) ring. In the crystal, Oc-H?Op (c = carb-oxy-lic acid, p =
      phenol) hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into [100] C(13) chains whereas an Op
      H?Oc hydrogen bond generates [101] C(15) chains. Together, these bonds generate
      (010) sheets incorporating R 2 (2)(20) loops. Weak C-H?O and C-H?pi inter-actions
      also occur. 

PMID- 26870570
TI  - Crystal structure of (4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)[(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)phospho
      nato]dioxidophosphate(1-) 2-amino-6-benzyl-3-eth-oxy-carbon-yl-4,5,6,7-tetra
      hydro-thieno[2,3-c]pyridin-6-ium.
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title mol-ecular salt, C17H21N2O2S(+).C14H15O7P2 (-),
      comprises two cations and two anions. Each cation features an intra-molecular N
      H?O hydrogen bond, which closes an S(6) ring; in each case the hydro-pyridine
      ring adopts a half-chair conformation. In the anions, the dihedral angles between
      the aromatic rings are 64.1 (2) and 54.9 (2) degrees . In each case, the
      diphosphate groups are close to eclipsed [C-P?P-C pseudo-torsion angles = 11.6
      (2) and -19.3 (2) degrees ]. One of the meth-oxy groups in each anion is
      disordered over two orientations in a 0.539 (18):0.461 (18) ratio in one anion
      and 0.82 (2):0.18 (2) in the other. In the crystal, O-H?O and N-H?O hydrogen
      bonds link the components into [100] chains. Numerous C-H?O inter-actions cross
      link the chains into a three-dimensional network. 

PMID- 26870571
TI  - Crystal structure of 4-benzyl-2H-benzo[b][1,4]thia-zin-3(4H)-one.
AB  - In the title compound, C15H13NOS, the thia-zine ring adopts a twisted boat
      conformation and the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 86.54 (4)
      degrees . In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H?O inter-actions,
      resulting in chains along [010]. 

PMID- 26870572
TI  - Crystal structure of catena-poly[N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-guanidinium [(chlorido
      cadmate)-di-MU-chlorido]].
AB  - In the structure of the title salt, {(C5H14N3)[CdCl3]} n , the Cd(II) atom of the
      complex anion is five-coordinated by one terminal and four bridging Cl atoms. The
      corresponding coordination polyhedron is a distorted trigonal bipyramid, with Cd
      Cl distances in the range 2.4829 (4)-2.6402 (4) A. The bipyramids are condensed
      into a polyanionic zigzag chain extending parallel to [101]. The tetra-methyl
      guanidinium cations are situated between the polyanionic chains and are linked to
      them through N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a layered network parallel to (010). 

PMID- 26870573
TI  - Crystal structure of aqua-bis-(hepta-fluoro-butano-ato-kappaO)(1,10'
      phenanthroline-kappa(2) N,N')copper(II).
AB  - The title compound, [Cu(C4F7O2)2(C12H8N2)(H2O)], is mononuclear and contains a
      penta-coordinated Cu(II) ion. The geometry of Cu(II) ion can be described as
      distorted square-pyramidal with two O atoms of two butano-ate anions and two N
      atoms of the o-phenanthroline ligand occupying the basal plane, and a water O
      atom located at the axial position. In the crystal, C-H?(O,F) and O-H?(O,F)
      hydrogen bonds and pi-pi inter-actions [centroid-to-centroid distance 3.533 (2)
      A] link the mol-ecules into a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure. 

PMID- 26870574
TI  - Crystal structures of ethyl 6-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxyl-ate
      and ethyl 6-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxyl-ate.
AB  - The crystal structures of two chromone derivatives, viz. ethyl 6-(4-methyl-phen
      yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxyl-ate, C19H16O4, (1), and ethyl 6-(4-fluoro-phen
      yl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxyl-ate C18H13FO4, (2), have been determined: (1)
      crystallizes with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. A comparison of the
      dihedral angles beween the mean planes of the central chromone core with those of
      the substituents, an ethyl ester moiety at the 2-position and a para-substituted
      phenyl ring at the 6-position shows that each mol-ecule differs significantly
      from the others, even the two independent mol-ecules (a and b) of (1). In all
      three mol-ecules, the carbonyl groups of the chromone and the carboxyl-ate are
      trans-related. The supra-molecular structure of (1) involves only weak C-H?pi
      inter-actions between H atoms of the substituent phenyl group and the phenyl
      group, which link mol-ecules into a chain of alternating mol-ecules a and b, and
      weak pi-pi stacking inter-actions between the chromone units. The packing in (2)
      involves C-H?O inter-actions, which form a network of two inter-secting ladders
      involving the carbonyl atom of the carboxyl-ate group as the acceptor for H atoms
      at the 7-position of the chromone ring and from an ortho-H atom of the exocyclic
      benzene ring. The carbonyl atom of the chromone acts as an acceptor from a meta-H
      atom of the exocyclic benzene ring. pi-pi inter-actions stack the mol-ecules by
      unit translation along the a axis. 

PMID- 26870575
TI  - Crystal structure of MU-fluorido-bis-{(eta(4)-cyclo-octa-diene)[hexa-fluorido
      anti-monato(V)]platinum(II)} hexa-fluorido-anti-monate(V) hydrogen fluoride 0.75
      solvate.
AB  - In the complex cation of the binuclear solvated title salt,
      [Pt2F(SbF6)2(C8H12)2]SbF6.0.75HF, an F atom bridges the two platinum(II) atoms
      with a bond angle of 123.3 (2) degrees . The corresponding Pt-F bond lengths are
      in the range of other fluorine-bridged binuclear platinum(II) complexes. Two of
      the three SbF6 (-) anions each coordinate with one F atom to one platinum(II)
      atom. Including the eta(4)-bound cyclo-octa-diene (COD) ligands, the overall
      coordination sphere of each platinum(II) atom is square-planar. The third SbF6 (
      ) anion is not bound to the complex. Hydrogen fluoride is present in the crystal
      structure as a solvent disordered over three positions, each with an occupancy of
      0.25. F?F distances of 2.5512 (7), 2.6076 (8) and 3.2215 (10) A to surrounding
      SbF6 (-) anions are indicative of F-H?F hydrogen-bonding inter-actions although
      no H atoms could be localized for the disordered solvent mol-ecules. The
      resulting hydrogen-bonded network is three-dimensional. 

PMID- 26870576
TI  - Crystal structure of the coordination compound of triiodidomethyltin(IV) with
      2,2'-bi-pyridine, MeSnI3.bipy.
AB  - The title compound, (2,2'-bi-pyridine-kappa(2) N,N')tri-iodido-meth-yltin(IV),
      [Sn(CH3)I3(C10H8N2)], crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric ortho-rhom-bic
      space group Pca21 as an inversion twin, represents one of the few structurally
      characterized coordination compounds of an organotin(IV) trihalide with 2,2'
      biypridine. Its distorted octa-hedral geometry shows a meridional arrangement of
      the I atoms and the methyl group is in-plane with the five-membered chelate ring.
      Asymmetric bonding of the biypridine ligand to the tin(IV) atom is reflected by
      different Sn-N bond lengths [2.268 (4) A versus 2.293 (4) A] and caused by the
      static trans effect of the methyl group. Sn-I bond lengths show some differences
      with respect to their orientation to the methyl group or the bi-pyridine ligand,
      respectively. Angular distortions in the coordination sphere of the Sn(IV) atom
      mainly arise from the large I atoms. Distortion of the 2,2'-bi-pyridine ligand as
      a result of its coordination to the Sn(IV) atom are described by the twisting
      angle of 2.5 (2) degrees  between the least-squares planes of the two pyridine
      rings, as well as by the angle of 6.2 (2) degrees  between the two lines through
      the pyridine-connecting C atoms and the para-orientated C atoms. Directional
      inter-molecular inter-actions are restricted to weak I?H van der Waals contacts. 

PMID- 26870577
TI  - Crystal structure of poly[di-aqua-(MU-2-carb-oxy-acetato-kappa(3) O,O':O'')(2
      carb-oxy-acetato-kappaO)di-MU-chlorido-dicobalt(II)].
AB  - The asymmetric unit of the title polymer, [Co2(C3H3O4)2Cl2(H2O)2] n , comprises
      one Co(II) atom, one water mol-ecule, one singly deprotonated malonic acid mol
      ecule (HMal(-); systematic name 2-carb-oxy-acetate) and one Cl(-) anion. The
      Co(II) atom is octa-hedrally coordinated by the O atom of a water mol-ecule, by
      one terminally bound carboxyl-ate O atom of an HMal(-) anion and by two O atoms
      of a chelating HMal(-) anion, as well as by two Cl(-) anions. The Cl(-) anions
      bridge two Co(II) atoms, forming a centrosymmetric Co2Cl2 core. Each malonate
      ligand is involved in the formation of six-membered chelate rings involving one
      Co(II) atom of the dinuclear unit and at the same time is coordinating to another
      Co(II) atom of a neighbouring dinuclear unit in a bridging mode. The combination
      of chelating and bridging coordination modes leads to the formation of a two
      dimensional coordination polymer extending parallel to (001). Within a layer, O
      Hwater?Cl and O-Hwater?O hydrogen bonds are present. Adjacent layers are linked
      through O-H?O=C hydrogen bonds involving the carb-oxy-lic acid OH and carbonyl
      groups. 

PMID- 26870578
TI  - Crystal structures of [Ln(NO3)3(MU2-bpydo)2], where Ln = Ce, Pr or Nd, and bpydo
      = 4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide: layered coordination networks containing 4(4)
      grids.
AB  - Three isostructural coordination networks of Ce, Pr, and Nd nitrate with 4,4'-bi
      pyridine N,N'-dioxide (bpydo) are reported, namely poly[[tris-(nitrato-kappa(2)
      O,O')cerium(III)]-bis-(MU2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide-kappa(2) N:N')],
      [Ce(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2], poly[[tris-(nitrato-kappa(2) O,O')praeseodymium(III)]-bis
      (MU2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide-kappa(2) N:N')], [Pr(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2], and
      poly[[tris(nitrato-kappa(2) O,O')neodymium(III)]-bis-(MU2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'
      dioxide-kappa(2) N:N'], [Nd(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2]. All three compounds are
      isostructural to the previously reported La analogue. The asymmetric unit of
      [Ln(NO3)3(MU2-bpydo)2] contains one lanthanide cation, two bpydo ligands, and
      three nitrate anions. Both bpydo ligands act as end-to-end MU2-bridges and
      display nearly ideal cis and gauche conformations, respectively. The bpydo
      ligands link the ten-coordinate Ln (III) cations, forming inter-digitating 4(4)
      grid-like layers extending parallel to (-101), where inter-digitation of layers
      is promoted by C-H?O inter-actions between nitrate anions and bpydo ligands. The
      inter-digitated layers are linked to sets of neighboring layers via further C-H?O
      and pi-pi inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870579
TI  - Crystal structure of ethyl (1RS,6SR)-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-6-(2,3,5
      tri-chloro-phen-yl)cyclo-hex-3-ene-1-carboxyl-ate.
AB  - The title compound, C19H17Cl3N2O3, has been prepared in a cyclo-condensation
      reaction between 2,3,5-tri-chloro-benzaldehye and 4-acetyl-2-methyl-1H-imidazole.
      The cyclo-hexenone ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom
      substituted by the tri-chloro-phenyl ring as the flap. The mutually trans ester
      and aryl substituents both occupy equatorial sites. In the crystal, a combination
      of N-H?O and C-H?N hydrogen bonds links the mol-ecules into ribbons of edge-fused
      centrosymmetric rings, which enclose R 2 (2)(14) and R 4 (4)(16) alternate ring
      motifs, propagating along the b-axis direction. 

PMID- 26870580
TI  - Crystal structures of three complexes of zinc chloride with tri-tert-butyl
      phosphane.
AB  - Under anhydrous conditions and in the absence of a Lewis-base solvent, a zinc
      chloride complex with tri-tert-butyl-phosphane as the MU-bridged dimer is formed,
      viz. di-MU-chlorido-bis-[chlorido-bis-(tri-tert-butyl-phosphane)zinc],
      [ZnCl4(C12H27P)2], (1), which features a nearly square-shaped (ZnCl)2 cyclic core
      and whose Cl atoms inter-act weakly with C-H groups on the phosphane ligand. In
      the presence of THF, monomeric di-chlorido-(tetra-hydro-furan-kappaO)(tri-tert
      butyl-phosphane-kappaP)zinc, [ZnCl2(C4H8O)(C12H27P)] or [P(tBu3)(THF)ZnCl2], (2),
      is formed. This slightly distorted tetra-hedral Zn complex has weak C-H?Cl inter
      actions between the Cl atoms and phosphane and THF C-H groups. Under ambient
      conditions, the hydrolysed complex tri-tert-butyl-phospho-nium aqua-tri-chlorido
      zincate 1,2-di-chloro-ethane monosolvate, (C12H28P)[ZnCl3(H2O)].C2H4Cl2 or
      [HPtBu3](+) [(H2O)ZnCl3](-).C2H4Cl2, (3), is formed. This complex forms chains of
      [(H2O)ZnCl3](-) anions from hydrogen-bonding inter-actions between the water H
      atoms and Cl atoms that propagate along the b axis. 

PMID- 26870581
TI  - Crystal structure of the thermochromic bis-(di-ethyl-ammonium) tetra-chlorido
      cuprate(II) complex.
AB  - In the structure of the title complex salt, (Et2NH2)2[CuCl4], the asymmetric unit
      consists of four unique di-ethyl-ammonium cations and three unique tetra-chlorido
      cuprate anions. Two of the three anions are located with their copper atoms on
      independent crystallographic twofold axes, while the remaining tetra-chlorido
      cuprate is located at a general position of the ortho-rhom-bic space group
      P21212. Two of the three Cu atoms adopt a distorted square-planar/disphenoidal
      geometry and the third Cu atom has a regular square-planar coordination
      environment. The di-ethyl-ammonium cations form an extensive hydrogen-bonded
      network through N-H?Cl inter-actions with the tetra-chlorido-cuprate anions,
      resulting in a two-dimensional sheet-like hydrogen-bonded network parallel to the
      ab direction. The complex was observed to undergo a color shift from deep green
      at room temperature to pale yellow at temperatures above 328 K. 

PMID- 26870582
TI  - Investigations into the construction of the penta-substituted ring C of
      Neosurugatoxin - a crystallographic study.
AB  - The crystal structures of three cyclo-penta-[c]furans with various substituents
      at the 4-, 5- and 6-positions of the ring system are reported, namely, (+/-)
      (3aR,4S,5S,6aS)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-hexa-hydro-1H-cyclo-penta-[c]furan-4,5-diol,
      C14H18O3, (I), (+/-)-(3aR,4S,5S,6aS)-4-benz-yloxy-4-methyl-5-phenyl-hexa-hydro-1H
      cyclo-penta-[c]furan-5-ol, C21H24O3, (II), and (+/-)-(1aR,1bS,4aR,5S,5aR)-5-benz
      yloxy-5-methyl-5a-phenyl-hexa-hydro-2H-oxireno[2',3':3,4]cyclopenta-[1,2-c]furan,
      C21H22O3, (III). The dominant inter-action in (I) and (II) is an O-H?O hydrogen
      bond across the bicyclic 5,5-ring system between the non-functionalized hy-droxy
      group and the tetra-hydro-furan O atom, which appears to influence the envelope
      conformations of the fused five-membered rings, whereas in (III), the rings have
      different conformations. A weak intra-molecular C-H?O inter-action appears to
      influence the degree of tilt of the phenyl ring attached to the 5-position and is
      different in (I) compared to (II) and (III). 

PMID- 26870583
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(trans-1,2-di-amino-cyclo-hexane-kappa(2)
      N,N')cobalt(III) trichloride monohydrate.
AB  - The synthesis of the title hydrated complex salt, [Co(C6H14N2)3]Cl3.H2O, from
      racemic trans-1,2-di-amino-cyclo-hexane and [CoCl(NH3)5]Cl2 and its structural
      characterization are presented in this paper. The product was synthesized in the
      inter-est of understanding the hydrogen-bonding patterns of coordination
      complexes. Previous characterizations of the product in the I-42d space group
      have not yielded coordinates; thus, this paper provides the first coordinates for
      this complex in this space group. The octahedrally coordinated cation adopts
      twofold rotation symmetry, with outer-sphere chloride counter-ions and solvent
      water mol-ecules forming a hydrogen-bonded network with amine H atoms. 

PMID- 26870584
TI  - Crystal structure of the co-crystal butyl-paraben-isonicotinamide (1/1).
AB  - The title 1:1 co-crystal, C11H14O3.C6H6N2O [systematic name: butyl 4-hy-droxy
      benzoate-isonicotinamide (1/1)], crystallizes with one mol-ecule of butyl-paraben
      (BPN) and one mol-ecule of isonicotinamide (ISN) in the asymmetric unit. In the
      crystal, BPN and ISN mol-ecules form hydrogen-bonded (O-H?N and N-H?O) dimers of
      paired BPN and ISN mol-ecules. These dimers are further connected to each other
      via N-H?O=C hydrogen bonds, creating ribbons in [011] which further stack along
      the a axis to form a layered structure with short C?C contacts of 3.285 (3) A.
      Packing inter-actions within the crystal structure were assessed using PIXEL
      calculations. 

PMID- 26870585
TI  - Crystal structure of a new hybrid compound based on an iodido-plumbate(II)
      anionic motif.
AB  - Crystals of the one-dimensional organic-inorganic lead iodide-based compound
      catena-poly[bis-(piperazine-1,4-diium) [[tetra-iodido-plumbate(II)]-MU-iodido]
      iodide monohydrate], (C4N2H12)2[PbI5]I.H2O, were obtained by slow evaporation at
      room temperature of a solution containing lead iodide and piperazine in a 1:2
      molar ratio. Inorganic lead iodide chains, organic (C4N2H12)(2+) cations, water
      mol-ecules of crystallization and isolated I(-) anions are connected through N
      H?.I, N-H?OW and OW-H?I hydrogen-bond inter-actions. Zigzag chains of corner
      sharing [PbI6](4-) octa-hedra with composition [PbI4/1I2/2](3-) running parallel
      to the a axis are present in the structure packing. 

PMID- 26870586
TI  - Crystal structure of N-{4-[(6-chloro-pyridin-3-yl)meth-oxy]phen-yl}-2,6-di-fluoro
      benzamide.
AB  - In the title compound, C19H13ClF2N2O2, the conformation of the N-H bond in the
      amide segment is anti to the C=O bond. The mol-ecule is not planar, with dihedral
      angles between the central benzene ring and the outer benzene and pyridyl rings
      of 73.35 (7) and 81.26 (6) degrees , respectively. A weak intra-molecular C-H?O
      hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, N-H?N, C-H?O and C-H?F hydrogen bonds lead
      to the formation of dimers. The N-H?N inversion dimers are linked by pi-pi
      contacts between adjacent pyridine rings [centroid-centroid = 3.8541 (12) A] and
      C-H?pi inter-actions. These contacts combine to stack the mol-ecules along the a
      axis. 

PMID- 26870587
TI  - Crystal structure of K0.75[Fe(II) 3.75Fe(III) 1.25(HPO3)6].0.5H2O, an open
      framework iron phosphite with mixed-valent Fe(II)/Fe(III) ions.
AB  - Single crystals of the title compound, potassium hexa-phosphito-penta
      ferrate(II,III) hemihydrate, K0.75[Fe(II) 3.75Fe(III) 1.25(HPO3)6].0.5H2O, were
      grown under mild hydro-thermal conditions. The crystal structure is isotypic with
      Li1.43[Fe(II) 4.43Fe(III) 0.57(HPO3)6].1.5H2O and (NH4)2[Fe(II) 5(HPO3)6] and
      exhibits a [Fe(II) 3.75Fe(III) 1.25(HPO3)6](0.75-) open framework with disordered
      K(+) (occupancy 3/4) as counter-cations. The anionic framework is based on (001)
      sheets of two [FeO6] octa-hedra (one with point group symmetry 3.. and one with
      point group symmetry .2.) linked along [001] through [HPO3](2-) oxoanions. Each
      sheet is constructed from 12-membered rings of edge-sharing [FeO6] octa-hedra,
      giving rise to channels with a radius of ca 3.1 A where the K(+) cations and
      likewise disordered water mol-ecules (occupancy 1/4) are located. O?O contacts
      between the water mol-ecule and framework O atoms of 2.864 (5) A indicate
      hydrogen-bonding inter-actions of medium strength. The infrared spectrum of the
      compound shows vibrational bands typical for phosphite and water groups. The
      Mossbauer spectrum is in accordance with the presence of Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions.

PMID- 26870588
TI  - Crystal structure of di-chlorido-bis-(dimethyl N-cyano-dithio-imino
      carbonate)cobalt(II).
AB  - The structure of the mononuclear title complex, [{(H3CS)2C=NC  N}2CoCl2],
      consists of a Co(II) atom coordinated in a distorted tetra-hedral manner by two
      Cl(-) ligands and the terminal N atoms of two dimethyl N-cyano-dithio-imino
      carbonate ligands. The two organic ligands are almost coplanar, with a dihedral
      angle of 5.99 (6) degrees  between their least-squares planes. The crystal
      packing features pairs of inversion-related complexes that are held together
      through C-H?Cl and C-H?S inter-actions and pi-pi stacking [centroid-to-centroid
      distance = 3.515 (su?) A]. Additional C-H?Cl and C-H?S inter-actions, as well as
      Cl?S contacts < 3.6 A, consolidate the crystal packing. 

PMID- 26870589
TI  - Crystal structure of (RS)-(4-chloro-phen-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanol.
AB  - In the title racemic compound, C12H10ClNO, the dihedral angle between the benzene
      and pyridine rings is 74.34 (6) degrees . In the crystal, the mol-ecules are
      linked by O-H?N hydrogen bonds, forming zigzag C(5) [001] chains in which
      alternating R- and S-configuration mol-ecules are related by c-glide symmetry. In
      addition, inversion-related pairs of mol-ecules are linked into dimers by pairs
      of weak C-Cl?pi(pyrid-yl) inter-actions, which link the hydrogen-bonded chains
      into (100) sheets. Structural comparisons are drawn with a number of related
      compounds. 

PMID- 26870590
TI  - Crystal structure of tris-(di-methyl-amido-kappaN)-bis-(di-methyl-amine-kappaN)
      zirconium(IV) iodide.
AB  - Zirconium amides have become increasingly popular and useful due to their
      widespread use as precursors to other zirconium complexes and their use in the
      production of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Herein we report the mol-ecular
      structure of tris-(di-methyl-amido)-bis-(di-methyl-amine)-zirconium(IV) iodide,
      [Zr(C2H6N)3(C2H7N)2]I. The bond lengths and bond angles are consistent with a
      slightly distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry around the metal
      atom. N?I contacts of 3.6153 (15) and 3.5922 (14) A are consistent with the
      presence of N-H?I inter-actions. These N-H?I inter-actions link the complex
      cations and iodide anions into extended chains that propagate parallel to the a
      axis. 

PMID- 26870591
TI  - A 2:1 co-crystal of p-nitro-benzoic acid and N,N'-bis-(pyridin-3-ylmeth
      yl)ethanedi-amide: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis.
AB  - The title 2:1 co-crystal, 2C7H5NO4.C14H14N4O2, in which the complete di-amide mol
      ecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry, features a three-mol
      ecule aggregate sustained by hydroxyl-O-H?N(pyrid-yl) hydrogen bonds. The p-nitro
      benzoic acid mol-ecule is non-planar, exhibiting twists of both the carb-oxy-lic
      acid and nitro groups, which form dihedral angles of 10.16 (9) and 4.24 (4)
      degrees , respectively, with the benzene ring. The di-amide mol-ecule has a
      conformation approximating to a Z shape, with the pyridyl rings lying to either
      side of the central, almost planar di-amide residue (r.m.s. deviation of the
      eight atoms being 0.025 A), and forming dihedral angles of 77.22 (6) degrees 
      with it. In the crystal, three-mol-ecule aggregates are linked into a linear
      supra-molecular ladder sustained by amide-N-H?O(nitro) hydrogen bonds and
      orientated along [10-4]. The ladders are connected into a double layer via
      pyridyl- and benzene-C-H?O(amide) inter-actions, which, in turn, are connected
      into a three-dimensional architecture via pi-pi stacking inter-actions between
      pyridyl and benzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.6947 (8) A]. An evaluation
      of the Hirshfeld surfaces confirm the importance of inter-molecular inter-actions
      involving oxygen atoms as well as the pi-pi inter-actions. 

PMID- 26870592
TI  - Crystal structure of [bis-(2-amino-ethyl-kappaN)(2-{[4-(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)benzyl
      idene]amino}-eth-yl)amine-kappaN]di-chlorido-copper(II).
AB  - The Cu(II) atom in the title compound, [CuCl2(C14H21F3N4)], adopts a coordination
      geometry that is between distorted square-based pyramidal and very Jahn-Teller
      elongated octa-hedral. It is coordinated by three N atoms from the bis-(2-amino
      eth-yl)(2-{[4-(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)benzyl-idene]amino}-eth-yl)amine and two
      chloride ligands. The two crystallographically unique copper complexes present in
      the asymmetric unit exhibit noticeable differences in the coordination bond
      lengths. Considering the Cu(II) atoms as having square-pyramidal geometry, the
      basal Cu-Cl bond lengths are typical [2.2701 (12) and 2.2777 (12) A], while the
      apical distances are considerably elongated [2.8505 (12) and 2.9415 (12) A]. For
      each mol-ecule, a Cu(II) atom from inversion-related mol-ecules are in nearby
      proximity to the remaining axial Cu(II) sites, but the Cu?Cl distances are very
      long [3.4056 (12) and 3.1645 (12) A], attributable to van der Waals contacts.
      Nonetheless, these contacts appear to have some structure-directing properties,
      leading to association into dimers. These dimers associate via stacking of the
      aromatic rings to form extended zigzag chains. 

PMID- 26870593
TI  - Crystal structure of a mixed-ligand terbium(III) coordination polymer containing
      oxalate and formate ligands, having a three-dimensional fcu topology.
AB  - The title compound, poly[(MU 3-formato)(MU 4-oxalato)terbium(III)],
      [Tb(CHO2)(C2O4)] n , is a three-dimensional coordination polymer, and is isotypic
      with the La(III), Ce(III) and Sm(III) analogues. The asymmetric unit contains one
      Tb(III) ion, one formate anion (CHO2 (-)) and half of an oxalate anion (C2O4 (2
      )), the latter being completed by application of inversion symmetry. The Tb(III)
      ion is nine-coordinated in a distorted tricapped trigonal-prismatic manner by two
      chelating carboxyl-ate groups from two C2O4 (2-) ligands, two carboxyl-ate oxygen
      atoms from another two C2O4 (2-) ligands and three oxygen atoms from three CHO2 (
      ) ligands, with the Tb-O bond lengths and the O-Tb-O bond angles ranging from
      2.4165 (19) to 2.478 (3) A and 64.53 (6) to 144.49 (4) degrees , respectively.
      The CHO2 (-) and C2O4 (2-) anions adopt MU 3-bridging and MU 4-chelating-bridging
      coordination modes, respectively, linking adjacent Tb(III) ions into a three
      dimensional 12-connected fcu topology with point symbol (3(24).4(36).5(6)). The
      title compound exhibits thermal stability up to 623 K, and also displays strong
      green photoluminescence in the solid state at room temperature. 

PMID- 26870594
TI  - Crystal structure of 3-ferrocenyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole, [Fe(eta(5)-C5H4 (c) C4H3
      NPh)(eta(5)-C5H5)].
AB  - The mol-ecular structure of the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C15H12N)], consists of
      a ferrocene moiety with an N-phenyl-pyrrole heterocycle bound to one cyclo-penta
      dienyl ring. The 1,3-disubstitution of the pyrrole results in an L-shaped
      arrangement of the mol-ecule with plane inter-sections of 2.78 (17) degrees 
      between the pyrrole and the N-bonded phenyl ring and of 8.17 (18) degrees 
      between the pyrrole and the cyclo-penta-dienyl ring. In the crystal, no
      remarkable inter-molecular inter-actions are observed. 

PMID- 26870595
TI  - Crystal structures of [Mn(bdc)(Hspar)2(H2O)0.25].2H2O containing MnO6+1 capped
      trigonal prisms and [Cu(Hspar)2](bdc).2H2O containing CuO4 squares (Hspar =
      sparfloxacin and bdc = benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ate).
AB  - The syntheses and crystal structures of 0.25-aqua-(benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ato
      kappa(2) O,O')bis-(sparfloxacin-kappa(2) O,O')manganese(II) dihydrate,
      [Mn(C8H4O4)(C19H22F2N4O3)2(H2O)0.25].2H2O or [Mn(bdc)(Hspar)2(H2O)0.25].2H2O,
      (I), and bis-(sparfloxacin-kappa(2) O,O')copper(II) benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ate
      dihydrate, [Cu(C19H22F2N4O3)2](C8H4O4).2H2O or [Cu(Hspar)2](bdc).2H2O, (II), are
      reported (Hspar = sparfloxacin and bdc = benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ate). The Mn(2+)
      ion in (I) is coordinated by two O,O'-bidentate Hspar neutral mol-ecules (which
      exist as zwitterions) and an O,O'-bidentate bdc dianion to generate a distorted
      MnO6 trigonal prism. A very long bond [2.580 (12) A] from the Mn(2+) ion to a
      0.25-occupied water mol-ecule projects through a square face of the prism. In
      (II), the Cu(2+) ion lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and a CuO4
      square-planar geometry arises from its coordination by two O,O'-bidentate Hspar
      mol-ecules. The bdc dianion acts as a counter-ion to the cationic complex and
      does not bond to the metal ion. The Hspar ligands in both (I) and (II) feature
      intra-molecular N-H?O hydrogen bonds, which close S(6) rings. In the crystals of
      both (I) and (II), the components are linked by N-H?O, O-H?O and C-H?O hydrogen
      bonds, generating three-dimensional networks. 

PMID- 26870596
TI  - Crystal structure of bis-(benzyl-amine-kappaN)[5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(4-chloro
      phen-yl)porphyrinato-kappa(4) N]iron(II) n-hexane monosolvate.
AB  - In the title compound, [Fe(II)(C44H24Cl4N4)(C6H5CH2NH2)2].C6H14 or [Fe(II)(TPP
      Cl)(BzNH2)2].n-hexane [where TPP-Cl and BzNH2 are 5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(4-chloro
      phen-yl)porphyrinate and benzyl-amine ligands, respectively], the Fe(II) cation
      lies on an inversion centre and is octa-hedrally coordinated by the four pyrrole
      N atoms of the porphyrin ligand in the equatorial plane and by two amine N atoms
      of the benzyl-amine ligand in the axial sites. The crystal structure also
      contains one inversion-symmetric n-hexane solvent mol-ecule per complex mol
      ecule. The average Fe-Npyrrole bond length [1.994 (3) A] indicates a low-spin
      complex. The crystal packing is sustained by N-H?Cl and C-H?Cl hydrogen-bonding
      inter-actions and by C-H?pi inter-molecular inter-actions, leading to a three
      dimensional network structure. 

PMID- 26870597
TI  - Crystal structure of 7,8,9,10-tetra-hydro-benzo[b]naphtho-[2,1-d]furan.
AB  - In the title compound, C16H14O, the cyclo-hexene ring has a half-chair
      conformation. The mean plane, calculated through all non-H atoms of the mol
      ecule, except for the central CH2 atoms of the cyclo-hexene ring, which deviate
      by 0.340 (3) and -0.369 (3) A from this mean plane, has an r.m.s. deviation of
      0.012 A. In the crystal, there are C-H?pi contacts present, resulting in the
      formation of zigzag chains propagating along the [010] direction. 

PMID- 26870598
TI  - The continuing transformation of Acta Crystallographica Section E and the launch
      of IUCrData.

PMID- 26870599
TI  - Face Basosquamous Carcinoma, a Case Report.
AB  - Face basosquamous or metatypical carcinoma is a rare and controversial form of
      skin cancer. It is characterized by increased incidence of recurrence and distant
      metastases. We present the case of a patient of 71 years with an ulcerative
      lesion of 3/4 cm in the nasal pyramid. The injury occurred due to trauma to the
      nasal pyramid, produced 13 years ago. After investigation, which included ORL
      examination, imaging and oncology exam, surgery was decided to completely ablate
      tumor formation. The resulted defect of 4/5 cm was covered by mobilizing a
      forehead flap based on right supratrohleare artery pedicle. Histopathological
      examination revealed the diagnosis of basosquamous or metatypical carcinoma. The
      patient was referred to the oncology service for treatment. 

PMID- 26870600
TI  - Surgical Repair of Abdominal Aortic and Renal Artery Aneurysms in Takayasu's
      Arteritis.
AB  - Takayasu's arteritis is a large vessel vasculitis that can be a challenging
      diagnosis to make and has a varied clinical presentation. Management largely
      depends on affected vessel disease severity and individual patient
      considerations. The diagnosis must be considered in a young patient with large
      vessel aneurysms. We present a case of a 30 year-old woman of Pacific Islander
      descent who presented to the Tripler Army medical Center Vascular Surgery
      Department in Honolulu, Hawai'i seeking repair of her abdominal aortic and renal
      artery aneurysms prior to conception. A 30 year-old Pacific Islander woman with a
      history of a saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal artery aneurysms
      presented to our clinic seeking vascular surgery consultation prior to a planned
      pregnancy. She had a renal artery stent placed at an outside institution for
      hypertension. She met the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis by Sharma's criteria.
      Physical exam was significant for a palpable, pulsatile, abdominal mass and CT
      angiography revealed a saccular irregular-appearing infra-renal abdominal aortic
      aneurysm, extending to the aortic bifurcation, with a maximum diameter of 3.3 cm.
      A right renal artery aneurysm was also identified proximally, contiguous with the
      aorta, with a maximal transverse diameter of 1.7 cm. The patient underwent a
      supraceliac bypass to the right renal artery with a 7 mm Dacron graft, as well as
      excision of the right renal artery aneurysm. The abdominal aortic aneurysm was
      replaced using a Hemashield Dacron bifurcated 14 mm x 7 mm bypass graft.
      Intraoperative measurements of the renal artery aneurysm were 1.5 x 1.5 cm and
      the saccular appearing distal abdominal aortic aneurysm measured 3.6 x 3.3 cm.
      The patient was discharged from the hospital 7 days post-operatively. At 1-year
      follow up, CT scan of the abdominal aorta revealed the repair was without any
      evidence of aneurysm formation, anastomotic pseudoaneurysm formation, or areas of
      stenosis. She has remained normotensive with a normal serum creatinine 18 months
      after her repair. She has since delivered her second child. It is rare for
      Takayasu's arteritis to present with aneurysmal disease. It is much more common
      to present with stenosis or occlusion. It has yet to be proven that Takayasu's
      truly has a higher incidence in those of Asian descent. Takayasu's can be a
      difficult diagnosis to make but can be aided with the use of Sharma's criteria.
      Our particular patient posed unique considerations on the effects of the
      physiology of pregnancy on her aneurysms and repair. Managing the active phases
      of disease is imperative, and though medical management is first line, surgical
      intervention may be necessary. Surgical intervention should be performed in a
      quiescent period of disease if possible given that biological inflammation at the
      time of intervention increases the complication rate. Repair of aneurysmal
      disease in a young female should also be considered prior to pregnancy.

PMID- 26870601
TI  - The Paradox of Discrimination, the "Aloha Spirit," and Symptoms of Depression in
      Hawai'i.
AB  - It remains to be determined whether the "aloha spirit" is a cultural resource
      that influences psychological well-being in Hawai'i. Thus, the purpose of this
      study is to investigate whether the aloha spirit is associated with levels of
      psychological distress and the risk of depression, while taking into account
      various risk factors. Data for this study were drawn from an anonymous survey of
      undergraduate students (N = 1,028) at the University of Hawai'i. Regression
      results revealed that having learned the aloha spirit was associated with
      significantly lower levels (b = -1.76; P < .01) of psychological distress and a
      reduced odds of depression (OR = .69; P < .01) over and above the effects of
      perceived discrimination, local identity, levels of ethnic identification,
      race/ethnicity, immigrant status, duration of residence in Hawai'i, and other
      sociodemographic factors. In contrast, everyday discrimination was associated
      with significantly higher levels (b = 0.41; P < .001) of psychological distress
      and a greater odds of depression (OR = 1.08; P < .001). Together, these findings
      highlight the paradox of discrimination and the aloha spirit in Hawai'i by
      documenting their distinct relationships with mental health. Overall, this study
      contributes to medical and public health research on mental health disparities
      during the transition to adulthood by delving into the social context of daily
      life in the understudied, multicultural location of Hawai'i. 

PMID- 26870603
TI  - Medical School Hotline: Cultural Competency in Serving the Homeless in Hawai'i at
      the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

PMID- 26870602
TI  - Colonoscopy Screening among Native Hawaiians at Queen's Medical Center between
      August 2011 and January 2013.
AB  - A retrospective chart review in the Endoscopy Department at Queen's Medical
      Center identified 358 Native Hawaiian patients who had completed a colonoscopy
      screening procedure between August 2011 and January 2013, through either the
      Direct Referral Colonoscopy program or its Traditional Referral program. The
      differences in the characteristics of Native Hawaiian patients were summarized
      and compared between the two referral programs to identify potential barriers for
      future interventions and increase colorectal cancer screening. The combined
      colonoscopy screening rate among Native Hawaiians was 13%. Younger patients and
      those with private insurance were found to be undergoing colonoscopy screening
      through the Direct Referral program. The findings of this study underscore the
      need to reduce disparities in colonoscopy screening among Native Hawaiians. 

PMID- 26870604
TI  - Insights in Public Health: Building Well-Being: Linking the Built Environment to
      Health.

PMID- 26870605
TI  - The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Scripts: Prescription Drug Pricing.
AB  - Prescription drugs have reduced morbidity and mortality and improved the quality
      of life of millions of Americans. Yet, concerns over drug price increases loom.
      Drug spending has risen relatively slowly over the past decade because many of
      the most popular brand-name medicines lost patent protection. In the near future,
      there will be fewer low-cost generics coming into the market to offset the rising
      prices of brand-name drugs. Drug expenditures are influenced by both volume and
      price. This article focuses on how drug prices are set in the United States and
      current trends. Drug prices are determined through an extremely complicated set
      of interactions between pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers,
      insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), managed care organizations,
      hospitals, chain stores, and consumers. The process differs depending on the type
      of drug and place of delivery. Rising drug prices have come under increased
      scrutiny due to increased cost inflation and because many price increases come as
      a result of mergers and acquisitions of generic drug companies or changes in
      ownership of brand name drug manufacturers. Other countries have reigned in drug
      prices by negotiating with or regulating pharmaceutical manufacturers. The best
      long-term solution to rising drug prices is yet to be determined but the United
      States will continue to debate this issue and the discussions will get more
      heated if drug expenditures continue to rise at a rapid rate (ie, increasing 13%
      in 2014 from the previous year). 

PMID- 26870607
TI  - Can we set a global threshold age to define mature forests?
AB  - Globally, mature forests appear to be increasing in biomass density (BD). There
      is disagreement whether these increases are the result of increases in
      atmospheric CO2 concentrations or a legacy effect of previous land-use. Recently,
      it was suggested that a threshold of 450 years should be used to define mature
      forests and that many forests increasing in BD may be younger than this. However,
      the study making these suggestions failed to account for the interactions between
      forest age and climate. Here we revisit the issue to identify: (1) how climate
      and forest age control global forest BD and (2) whether we can set a threshold
      age for mature forests. Using data from previously published studies we modelled
      the impacts of forest age and climate on BD using linear mixed effects models. We
      examined the potential biases in the dataset by comparing how representative it
      was of global mature forests in terms of its distribution, the climate space it
      occupied, and the ages of the forests used. BD increased with forest age, mean
      annual temperature and annual precipitation. Importantly, the effect of forest
      age increased with increasing temperature, but the effect of precipitation
      decreased with increasing temperatures. The dataset was biased towards northern
      hemisphere forests in relatively dry, cold climates. The dataset was also clearly
      biased towards forests <250 years of age. Our analysis suggests that there is not
      a single threshold age for forest maturity. Since climate interacts with forest
      age to determine BD, a threshold age at which they reach equilibrium can only be
      determined locally. We caution against using BD as the only determinant of forest
      maturity since this ignores forest biodiversity and tree size structure which may
      take longer to recover. Future research should address the utility and cost
      effectiveness of different methods for determining whether forests should be
      classified as mature. 

PMID- 26870608
TI  - A comparison of rumen microbial profiles in dairy cows as retrieved by 454 Roche
      and Ion Torrent (PGM) sequencing platforms.
AB  - Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology is a widely accepted tool used by
      microbial ecologists to explore complex microbial communities in different
      ecosystems. As new NGS platforms continue to become available, it becomes
      imperative to compare data obtained from different platforms and analyze their
      effect on microbial community structure. In the present study, we compared
      sequencing data from both the 454 and Ion Torrent (PGM) platforms on the same DNA
      samples obtained from the rumen of dairy cows during their transition period.
      Despite the substantial difference in the number of reads, error rate and length
      of reads among both platforms, we identified similar community composition
      between the two data sets. Procrustes analysis revealed similar correlations (M
      (2) = 0.319; P = 0.001) in the microbial community composition between the two
      platforms. Both platforms revealed the abundance of the same bacterial phyla
      which were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes; however, PGM recovered an additional
      four phyla. Comparisons made at the genus level by each platforms revealed
      differences in only a few genera such as Prevotella, Ruminococcus,
      Succiniclasticum and Treponema (p < 0.05; chi square test). Collectively, we
      conclude that the output generated from PGM and 454 yielded concurrent results,
      provided stringent bioinformatics pipelines are employed. 

PMID- 26870609
TI  - PhyloPythiaS+: a self-training method for the rapid reconstruction of low-ranking
      taxonomic bins from metagenomes.
AB  - Background. Metagenomics is an approach for characterizing environmental
      microbial communities in situ, it allows their functional and taxonomic
      characterization and to recover sequences from uncultured taxa. This is often
      achieved by a combination of sequence assembly and binning, where sequences are
      grouped into 'bins' representing taxa of the underlying microbial community.
      Assignment to low-ranking taxonomic bins is an important challenge for binning
      methods as is scalability to Gb-sized datasets generated with deep sequencing
      techniques. One of the best available methods for species bins recovery from deep
      branching phyla is the expert-trained PhyloPythiaS package, where a human expert
      decides on the taxa to incorporate in the model and identifies 'training'
      sequences based on marker genes directly from the sample. Due to the manual
      effort involved, this approach does not scale to multiple metagenome samples and
      requires substantial expertise, which researchers who are new to the area do not
      have. Results. We have developed PhyloPythiaS+, a successor to our PhyloPythia(S)
      software. The new (+) component performs the work previously done by the human
      expert. PhyloPythiaS+ also includes a new k-mer counting algorithm, which
      accelerated the simultaneous counting of 4-6-mers used for taxonomic binning 100
      fold and reduced the overall execution time of the software by a factor of three.
      Our software allows to analyze Gb-sized metagenomes with inexpensive hardware,
      and to recover species or genera-level bins with low error rates in a fully
      automated fashion. PhyloPythiaS+ was compared to MEGAN, taxator-tk, Kraken and
      the generic PhyloPythiaS model. The results showed that PhyloPythiaS+ performs
      especially well for samples originating from novel environments in comparison to
      the other methods. Availability. PhyloPythiaS+ in a virtual machine is available
      for installation under Windows, Unix systems or OS X on:
      https://github.com/algbioi/ppsp/wiki. 

PMID- 26870610
TI  - miR-27b attenuates apoptosis induced by transmissible gastroenteritis virus
      (TGEV) infection via targeting runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1).
AB  - Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), belonging to the coronaviridae
      family, is the key cause of the fatal diarrhea of piglets and results in many
      pathological processes. microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the regulation of
      virus-induced apoptosis. During the process of apoptosis induced by TGEV
      infection in PK-15 cells, the miR-27b is notably down-regulated. Thus, we
      speculate that miR-27b is involved in regulating the process of apoptosis in PK
      15 cells. In this study we demonstrated that the over-expression of miR-27b led
      to the inhibition of TGEV-induced apoptosis, reduction of Bax protein level, and
      decrease of caspase-3 and -9 activities. Conversely, silencing of miR-27b by miR
      27b inhibitors enhanced apoptosis via up-regulating Bax expression and promoting
      the activities of caspase-3 and -9 in TGEV-infected cells. Subsequently, the runt
      related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) is a candidate target of miR-27b predicted
      by bioinformatics search. We further identified that the miR-27b directly bound
      to the 3' UTR of RUNX1 mRNA and suppressed RUNX1 expression, which indicates
      RUNX1 is the direct target gene of miR-27b. The over-expression of RUNX1
      increased apoptosis and knockdown RUNX1blocked apoptosis of viral-infected cells
      via regulating Bax expression and the activities of caspase-3 and -9. Our data
      reveal that miR-27b may repress the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis by
      targeting RUNX1, indicating that TGEV may induce apoptosis via down-regulating
      miR-27b and that miR-27b may act as a target for therapeutic intervention. 

PMID- 26870611
TI  - Inside-out flowers of Lacandonia brasiliana (Triuridaceae) provide new insights
      into fundamental aspects of floral patterning.
AB  - Background and Aims. A recently described Brazilian species, Lacandonia
      brasiliana, shares with its longer established putative sister species from
      Mexico, L. schismatica, inverted floral patterning (carpels surrounding stamens)
      that is almost unique among angiosperms. We present a detailed ontogenetic study
      of L. brasiliana for comparison with other members of the tribe Triurideae
      (Triuridaceae) to explore the possible evolutionary origins of "inside-out"
      flowers. Methods. Wild-source populations of L. brasiliana were compared
      morphologically and ontogenetically with related species of Triurideae, using
      light and scanning electron microscopy. Key Results. Relatively few morphological
      differences separate flowers of L. brasiliana and L. schismatica. Both species
      have tepals with late-developing subapical appendages. In both species, the three
      central (almost sessile) anthers develop precociously with respect to the
      carpels; the anthers remain closed, and fertilization is achieved via pollen-tube
      growth from germinating pollen grains of the same cleistogamous flower. Carpels
      are initiated on fascicles. Conclusions. The close similarity between the two
      Lacandonia species makes it unlikely that they arose independently from two
      separate homeotic transformation events; they could either represent sister
      species or two populations of a single disjunct species. Our study underlines the
      problematic generic and species boundaries within Triurideae. We present an
      evolutionary scenario of character evolution in Triuridaceae. The inside-out
      Lacandonia flower could have resulted from a stabilized homeotic transformation;
      this hypothesis is not in conflict with constrasting theories of the origin of
      the Triuridaceae flower, which coincided with a shift to unisexuality. The
      unisexual yet highly plastic flowers that are typical of Triuridaceae could have
      pre-adapted the origin of the extraordinary Lacandonia morphology. 

PMID- 26870612
TI  - Gene expression changes in diapause or quiescent potato cyst nematode, Globodera
      pallida, eggs after hydration or exposure to tomato root diffusate.
AB  - Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) need to be adapted to survive in the absence of a
      suitable host or in hostile environmental conditions. Various forms of
      developmental arrest including hatching inhibition and dauer stages are used by
      PPN in order to survive these conditions and spread to other areas. Potato cyst
      nematodes (PCN) (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis) are frequently in an
      anhydrobiotic state, with unhatched nematode persisting for extended periods of
      time inside the cyst in the absence of the host. This paper shows fundamental
      changes in the response of quiescent and diapaused eggs of G. pallida to
      hydration and following exposure to tomato root diffusate (RD) using microarray
      gene expression analysis encompassing a broad set of genes. For the quiescent
      eggs, 547 genes showed differential expression following hydration vs.
      hydratation and RD (H-RD) treatment whereas 708 genes showed differential
      regulation for the diapaused eggs following these treatments. The comparison
      between hydrated quiescent and diapaused eggs showed marked differences, with
      2,380 genes that were differentially regulated compared with 987 genes following
      H-RD. Hydrated quiescent and diapaused eggs were markedly different indicating
      differences in adaptation for long-term survival. Transport activity is highly up
      regulated following H-RD and few genes were coincident between both kinds of
      eggs. With the quiescent eggs, the majority of genes were related to ion
      transport (mainly sodium), while the diapaused eggs showed a major diversity of
      transporters (amino acid transport, ion transport, acetylcholine or other
      molecules). 

PMID- 26870613
TI  - Molecular characterisation of the Chlamydia pecorum plasmid from porcine, ovine,
      bovine, and koala strains indicates plasmid-strain co-evolution.
AB  - Background. Highly stable, evolutionarily conserved, small, non-integrative
      plasmids are commonly found in members of the Chlamydiaceae and, in some species,
      these plasmids have been strongly linked to virulence. To date, evidence for such
      a plasmid in Chlamydia pecorum has been ambiguous. In a recent comparative
      genomic study of porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala C. pecorum isolates, we
      identified plasmids (pCpec) in a pig and three koala strains, respectively.
      Screening of further porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala C. pecorum isolates for
      pCpec showed that pCpec is common, but not ubiquitous in C. pecorum from all of
      the infected hosts. Methods. We used a combination of (i) bioinformatic mining of
      previously sequenced C. pecorum genome data sets and (ii) pCpec PCR-amplicon
      sequencing to characterise a further 17 novel pCpecs in C. pecorum isolates
      obtained from livestock, including pigs, sheep, and cattle, as well as those from
      koala. Results and Discussion. This analysis revealed that pCpec is conserved
      with all eight coding domain sequences (CDSs) present in isolates from each of
      the hosts studied. Sequence alignments revealed that the 21 pCpecs show 99%
      nucleotide sequence identity, with 83 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
      shown to differentiate all of the plasmids analysed in this study. SNPs were
      found to be mostly synonymous and were distributed evenly across all eight pCpec
      CDSs as well as in the intergenic regions. Although conserved, analyses of the 21
      pCpec sequences resolved plasmids into 12 distinct genotypes, with five shared
      between pCpecs from different isolates, and the remaining seven genotypes being
      unique to a single pCpec. Phylogenetic analysis revealed congruency and co
      evolution of pCpecs with their cognate chromosome, further supporting
      polyphyletic origin of the koala C. pecorum. This study provides further
      understanding of the complex epidemiology of this pathogen in livestock and koala
      hosts and paves the way for studies to evaluate the function of this putative C.
      pecorum virulence factor. 

PMID- 26870614
TI  - A model for HIV disclosure of a parent's and/or a child's illness.
AB  - HIV prevalence in Kenya remains steady at 5.6% for adults 15 years and older, and
      0.9% among children aged below 14 years. Parents and children are known to
      practice unprotected sex, which has implications for continued HIV spread within
      the country. Additionally, due to increased accessibility of antiretroviral
      therapy, more HIV-positive persons are living longer. Therefore, the need for HIV
      disclosure of a parent's and/or a child's HIV status within the country will
      continue for years to come. We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study to
      understand the entire process of disclosure from the time of initial HIV
      diagnosis of an index person within an HIV-affected family, to the time of full
      disclosure of a parent's and/or a child's HIV status to one or more HIV-positive,
      negative, or untested children within these households. Participants were
      purposively selected and included 16 HIV-positive parents, seven HIV-positive
      children, six healthcare professionals (physician, clinical officer,
      psychologist, registered nurse, social worker, and a peer educator), and five HIV
      negative children. All participants underwent an in-depth individualized
      semistructured interview that was digitally recorded. Interviews were transcribed
      and analyzed in NVivo 8 using the modified Van Kaam method. Six themes emerged
      from the data indicating that factors such as HIV testing, living with HIV,
      evolution of disclosure, questions, emotions, benefits, and consequences of
      disclosure interact with each other and either impede or facilitate the HIV
      disclosure process. Kenya currently does not have guidelines for HIV disclosure
      of a parent's and/or a child's HIV status. HIV disclosure is a process that may
      result in poor outcomes in both parents and children. Therefore, understanding
      how these factors affect the disclosure process is key to achieving optimal
      disclosure outcomes in both parents and children. To this end, we propose an HIV
      disclosure model incorporating these six themes that is geared at helping
      healthcare professionals provide routine, clinic-based, targeted, disclosure
      related counseling/advice and services to HIV-positive parents and their HIV
      positive, HIV-negative, and untested children during the HIV disclosure process.
      The model should help improve HIV disclosure levels within HIV-affected
      households. Future researchers should test the utility and viability of our HIV
      disclosure model in different settings and cultures. 

PMID- 26870615
TI  - LPS- or Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mediated activation of the macrophage TLR4
      signaling cascade depends on membrane lipid composition.
AB  - It is well known that PUFA impede the LPS-mediated activation of the
      transcription factor NFkappaB. However, the underlying mode of action has not
      been clarified yet. To address this issue in a comprehensive approach, we used
      the monocyte/macrophage cell line RAW264.7 to investigate the consequences of a
      PUFA supplementation on the TLR4 pathway with a focus on (i) the gene expression
      of TLR4 itself as well as of its downstream mediators, (ii) the membrane
      microdomain localization of TLR4 and CD14, (iii) the stimulation-induced
      interaction of TLR4 and CD14. Our data indicate that the impairment of the TLR4
      mediated cell activation by PUFA supplementation is not due to changes in gene
      expression of mediator proteins of the signaling cascade. Rather, our data
      provide evidence that the PUFA enrichment of macrophages affects the TLR4 pathway
      at the membrane level. PUFA incorporation into membrane lipids induces a
      reordering of membrane microdomains thereby affecting cellular signal
      transduction. It is important to note that this remodeling of macrophage rafts
      has no adverse effect on cell viability. Hence, microdomain disruption via
      macrophage PUFA supplementation has a potential as non-toxic strategy to
      attenuate inflammatory signaling. 

PMID- 26870616
TI  - Role of heparan sulfate in mediating CXCL8-induced endothelial cell migration.
AB  - CXCL8 (Interleukin-8, IL-8) plays an important role in angiogenesis and wound
      healing by prompting endothelial cell migration. It has been suggested that
      heparan sulfate (HS) could provide binding sites on endothelial cells to retain
      and activate highly diffusible cytokines and inflammatory chemokines. In the
      present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that HS is essential for
      enhancement of endothelial cell migration by CXCL8, and to explore the underlying
      mechanism by detecting the changes in expression and activity of Rho GTPases and
      in the organization of actin cytoskeleton after enzymatic removal of HS on human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by using heparinase III. Our results
      revealed that the wound healing induced by CXCL8 was greatly attenuated by
      removal of HS. The CXCL8-upregulated Rho GTPases including Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA,
      and CXCL8-increased Rac1/Rho activity were suppressed by removal of HS. The
      polymerization and polarization of actin cytoskeleton, and the increasing of
      stress fibers induced by CXCL8 were also abolished by heparinase III. Taken
      together, our results demonstrated an essential role of HS in mediating CXCL8
      induced endothelial cell migration, and highlighted the biological importance of
      the interaction between CXCL8 and heparan sulfate in wound healing. 

PMID- 26870617
TI  - Identification of fibrillogenic regions in human triosephosphate isomerase.
AB  - Background. Amyloid secondary structure relies on the intermolecular assembly of
      polypeptide chains through main-chain interaction. According to this, all
      proteins have the potential to form amyloid structure, nevertheless, in nature
      only few proteins aggregate into toxic or functional amyloids. Structural
      characteristics differ greatly among amyloid proteins reported, so it has been
      difficult to link the fibrillogenic propensity with structural topology. However,
      there are ubiquitous topologies not represented in the amyloidome that could be
      considered as amyloid-resistant attributable to structural features, such is the
      case of TIM barrel topology. Methods. This work was aimed to study the
      fibrillogenic propensity of human triosephosphate isomerase (HsTPI) as a model of
      TIM barrels. In order to do so, aggregation of HsTPI was evaluated under native
      like and destabilizing conditions. Fibrillogenic regions were identified by
      bioinformatics approaches, protein fragmentation and peptide aggregation.
      Results. We identified four fibrillogenic regions in the HsTPI corresponding to
      the beta3, beta6, beta7 y alpha8 of the TIM barrel. From these, the beta3-strand
      region (residues 59-66) was highly fibrillogenic. In aggregation assays, HsTPI
      under native-like conditions led to amorphous assemblies while under partially
      denaturing conditions (urea 3.2 M) formed more structured aggregates. This
      slightly structured aggregates exhibited residual cross-beta structure, as
      demonstrated by the recognition of the WO1 antibody and ATR-FTIR analysis.
      Discussion. Despite the fibrillogenic regions present in HsTPI, the enzyme
      maintained under native-favoring conditions displayed low fibrillogenic
      propensity. This amyloid-resistance can be attributed to the three-dimensional
      arrangement of the protein, where beta-strands, susceptible to aggregation, are
      protected in the core of the molecule. Destabilization of the protein structure
      may expose inner regions promoting beta-aggregation, as well as the formation of
      hydrophobic disordered aggregates. Being this last pathway kinetically favored
      over the thermodynamically more stable fibril aggregation pathway. 

PMID- 26870618
TI  - Durable Disease Control with MEK Inhibition in a Patient with NRAS-mutated
      Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) and chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL)
      are rare hematologic neoplasms characterized by leukocytosis and a hypercellular
      bone marrow. Although recurrent mutations in the colony-stimulating factor 3
      receptor (CSF3R) are frequently observed in patients with (CNL), the mutational
      landscape in (aCML) is less well-defined. In this report, we describe an 81-year
      old male who was diagnosed with aCML. He presented with leukocytosis and anemia
      but no significant clinical symptoms. Standard laboratory studies revealed the
      absence of the Philadelphia chromosome. Massively parallel sequencing
      demonstrated no mutations in CSF3R, but the presence of a heterozygous NRAS-G12D
      variant (47% allele frequency). The patient was started on treatment with
      trametinib, an MEK1/2 inhibitor with Food and Drug Administration approval for
      malignant melanoma. Therapy with trametinib resulted in exceptional improvements
      in his blood counts and continued disease control with 14 months of follow-up.
      This case highlights the need for clinical trials evaluating the safety and
      efficacy of MEK1/2 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with
      NRAS-mutated aCML/CNL. 

PMID- 26870620
TI  - Policy Address.

PMID- 26870619
TI  - Extended Survival after Complete Pathological Response in Metastatic Pancreatic
      Ductal Adenocarcinoma Following Induction Chemotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, and a
      Novel Immunotherapy Agent, IMM-101.
AB  - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has an extremely poor prognosis. Median
      survival for metastatic patients is six to nine months and survivors beyond one
      year are exceptional. Pancreatic cancer is resistant to conventional chemotherapy
      and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. However, immunotherapy is a rapidly
      advancing new treatment modality, which shows promise in many solid tumor types.
      We present a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer who underwent a
      synchronous resection of the primary tumour (pancreatoduodenectomy) and
      metastatic site (left hepatectomy) after multimodality neoadjuvant treatment with
      gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and immunotherapy backbone with IMM-101 (an
      intradermally applied immunomodulator), as well as consolidation chemoradiation.
      Pathology of the specimens showed a complete response in both sites of the
      disease. The patient remains alive four years from the initial diagnosis and
      continues on maintenance immunotherapy. This exceptional response to initial
      chemo-immunotherapy was followed by a novel and off-protocol approach of low-dose
      capecitabine and IMM-101 as a maintenance strategy. The survival benefit and
      sustained performance status could set this as a new paradigm for the treatment
      of oligometastatic pancreatic cancer following response to systemic therapy and
      immunotherapy.. 

PMID- 26870621
TI  - Health Literacy Training for Public Health Nurses in Fukushima: A Multi-site
      Program Evaluation.
AB  - Public health nurses (PHNs) are community residents' access points to health
      information and services in Japan. After the Fukushima nuclear accident, they
      were challenged to communicate radiation-related health information to best meet
      community needs. We previously developed and evaluated the outcome of a single
      site health literacy training program to augment PHNs' ability to improve
      community residents' access to written health information. This paper presents an
      evaluation of an identical training program using data combined from multiple
      sites, and further included proximal and distal evaluations to document the
      impact of health literacy training in a post-disaster setting. A total of 64
      participants, primarily experienced PHNs, attended one of three multi-session
      health literacy workshops conducted in multiple sites across Fukushima.
      Quantitative and qualitative data on PHNs' training satisfaction, self-evaluation
      of achievements regarding training goals, and application of learned skills were
      collected and analyzed. Each workshop consisted of two 2-hour sessions
      introducing health literacy and assessment tools and developing skills to improve
      written materials, followed by a one-month follow-up assessment on PHNs'
      application of the gained skills in the field. Post-training evaluations on the
      appropriateness and usefulness of the workshop were highly positive. At the end
      of the one-month follow-up, 45% of participants had gained confidence in
      assessing and revising written materials and had applied the skills they had
      gained to develop and communicate health information in various settings and
      modes. This increase in confidence was associated with further application of the
      learned skills at the municipal level. However, participants reported
      difficulties in explaining risks, and the need to learn more about plain language
      to be able to paraphrase professional terms. This paper highlighs the positive
      outcomes of health literacy training among PHNs. Practical strategies to
      reinforce their skills to use plain language and communicate the epidemiological
      concept of risk are also recommended. 

PMID- 26870623
TI  - Looking Back on My 44 Years with Japan: Connecting with Medicine, Public Health,
      and International Health.

PMID- 26870622
TI  - Study of Global Health Strategy Based on International Trends: -Promoting
      Universal Health Coverage Globally and Ensuring the Sustainability of Japan's
      Universal Coverage of Health Insurance System: Problems and Proposals.
AB  - The Japanese government at present is implementing international health and
      medical growth strategies mainly from the viewpoint of business. However, the
      United Nations is set to resolve the Post-2015 Development Agenda in the fall of
      2015; the agenda will likely include the achievement of universal health coverage
      (UHC) as a specific development goal. Japan's healthcare system, the foundation
      of which is its public, nationwide universal health insurance program, has been
      evaluated highly by the Lancet. The World Bank also praised it as a global model.
      This paper presents suggestions and problems for Japan regarding global health
      strategies, including in regard to several prerequisite domestic preparations
      that must be made. They are summarized as follows. (1) The UHC development should
      be promoted in coordination with the United Nations, World Bank, and Asian
      Development Bank. (2) The universal health insurance system of Japan can be a
      global model for UHC and ensuring its sustainability should be considered a
      national policy. (3) Trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
      should not disrupt or interfere with UHC, the form of which is unique to each
      nation, including Japan. (4) Japan should disseminate information overseas,
      including to national governments, people, and physicians, regarding the course
      of events that led to the establishment of the Japan's universal health insurance
      system and should make efforts to develop international human resources to
      participate in UHC policymaking. (5) The development of separate healthcare
      programs and UHC preparation should be promoted by streamlining and centralizing
      maternity care, school health, infectious disease management such as for
      tuberculosis, and emergency medicine such as for traffic accidents. (6) Japan
      should disseminate information overseas about its primary care physicians
      (kakaritsuke physicians) and develop international human resources. (7) Global
      health should be developed in integration with global environment problem
      management. (8) Support systems, such as for managing large-scale disasters of
      international scale or preventing the spread of infectious diseases, should be
      developed and maintained. (9) International healthcare policy, which the Japanese
      government is trying to promote in accordance with international trends, and
      international development of Japanese healthcare industry should be reconsidered.

PMID- 26870624
TI  - Participation in Relief Activities in the Aftermath of the Great Nepal Earthquake
      and Disaster Reconstruction Assistance.

PMID- 26870625
TI  - Report from the Junior Doctors Network on the WMA Council Session and JDN
      Meeting, Oslo 2015.

PMID- 26870626
TI  - Managing a Narrow Escape from Death.

PMID- 26870627
TI  - From the Editor's Desk.

PMID- 26870634
TI  - For 'Physitians of the Soule': The Roles of 'Flight' and 'Hatred of Abomination'
      in Thomas Wright's The Passions of the Minde in Generall.
AB  - This article attempts to understand how Thomas Wright's 1604 work, The Passions
      of the Minde in Generall, might have fitted into his overall mission as an
      English Catholic preacher, particularly when read via Wright's understanding of
      Thomas Aquinas's passion of fuga seu abominatio. Some historians claim that
      Wright was a controversialist, previously describing The Passions as either a
      radical departure from Wright's mission, or the work of a different Thomas
      Wright. Earlier attempts to find a missionary element within The Passions have
      been inadequate. Through a close reading of The Passions, specifically analysing
      Wright's interpretation of fuga seu abominatio within the context of Wright's
      intended readership, the main message of The Passions, and his background, this
      article suggests a possible reading of the text as a work aimed specifically at
      fellow English Catholics. To Wright, the passions of hatred of abomination and
      flight or detestation, derived primarily from Aquinas's fuga seu abominatio, were
      not simply a form of disgust, as often assumed, but the potential worldly or
      otherworldly harm that someone we love, such as a neighbour, might face from the
      abominable evil of sin and damnation. By linking hatred of abomination, flight or
      detestation, and Wright's particular view of sin together, Wright was teaching
      English Catholics how these passions might be used to cure diseased souls,
      turning the work into a guide for preaching.

PMID- 26870635
TI  - Ly6G-mediated depletion of neutrophils is dependent on macrophages.
AB  - Antibody-mediated depletion of neutrophils is commonly used to study neutropenia.
      However, the mechanisms by which antibodies deplete neutrophils have not been
      well defined. We noticed that mice deficient in complement and macrophages had
      blunted neutrophil depletion in response to anti-Ly6G monoclonal antibody (MAb)
      treatment. In vitro, exposure of murine neutrophils to anti-Ly6G MAb in the
      presence of plasma did not result in significant depletion of cells, either in
      the presence or absence of complement. In vivo, anti-Ly6G-mediated neutrophil
      depletion was abrogated following macrophage depletion, but not complement
      depletion, indicating a requirement for macrophages to induce neutropenia by this
      method. These results inform the use and limitations of anti-Ly6G antibody as an
      experimental tool for depleting neutrophils in various immunological settings. 

PMID- 26870636
TI  - Capsular Plication for Treatment of Iatrogenic Hip Instability.
AB  - The most commonly reported reasons for persistent hip pain after hip arthroscopy
      are residual femoroacetabular impingement, dysplasia and dysplasia variants, or
      extra-articular impingement. There are some cases in which the underlying osseous
      pathomorphology has been appropriately treated, and the cause of persistent hip
      pain can be soft-tissue injuries such as chondrolabral tears or capsular
      abnormalities. Capsular defects after hip arthroscopy may suggest an alteration
      of the biomechanical properties of the iliofemoral ligament and lead to
      iatrogenically induced hip instability. There are a growing number of
      biomechanical and clinical studies showing the importance of capsular management
      during hip arthroscopy. We describe the workup, examination under anesthesia,
      diagnostic arthroscopy, and technique of capsular plication for iatrogenic
      instability of the hip. 

PMID- 26870637
TI  - Arthroscopic Scapulothoracic Decompression for Snapping Scapula Syndrome.
AB  - Snapping scapula syndrome at the superomedial corner of the scapula can lead to
      significant shoulder dysfunction. Bursectomy with or without partial scapulectomy
      is currently the most beneficial primary method of treatment in patients in whom
      nonoperative therapy fails. Arthroscopic access to the scapulothoracic space is
      simple and reproducible with the technique described in this report. The bursal
      tissue can be cleared, optimizing visualization of the scapulothoracic space and
      the anatomic structures. Arthroscopic decompression of the scapulothoracic bursa
      and resection of the superomedial corner of the scapula are highlighted in a
      video example. 

PMID- 26870638
TI  - Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction for Treatment of Massive
      Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears.
AB  - Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears have been troublesome entities to treat,
      especially in younger patients. Few good options exist, leaving most patients in
      recent years receiving a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Reverse shoulder
      arthroplasty carries serious risks, a limited lifespan, and no other viable
      options should it fail. Recent biomechanical studies have shown that the superior
      capsule is critical to containing the glenohumeral joint reduced, allowing the
      larger muscles like the deltoid and pectoralis major to function properly. The
      superior capsular reconstruction is an anatomic reconstruction of the superior
      capsule to restore the normal restraint to superior translation that occurs with
      a deficient rotator cuff. The technique described in this article is an
      arthroscopic reconstruction of the superior capsule with dermal allograft. 

PMID- 26870639
TI  - Inside-Out Trans-Arthroscopic Drain Application During Knee Joint Arthroscopy.
AB  - Although knee joint arthroscopy is one of the most frequently performed surgical
      procedures worldwide, there is no consensus on how to apply a drain in the joint
      if it is decided to use one. Therefore we describe a simple technique to safely
      apply a drain intra-articularly under full arthroscopic control, avoiding
      placement of the drain through the arthroscopic portal. 

PMID- 26870640
TI  - Arthroscopic Treatment of Annular Drive Through and Radial Lateral Collateral
      Ligament Articular-Side Tear of the Elbow.
AB  - An elongation or partial articular-sided tear of the radial lateral collateral
      ligament (R-LCL) is a rare injury causing disability and instability of the
      elbow. In our experience this condition is often associated with a pathologic
      sign of the annular ligament named the "annular drive through" caused by a
      redundancy of the ligament. The benefits of performing an arthroscopic procedure
      for surgical stabilization of the R-LCL include smaller incisions with less soft
      tissue dissection, better visualization of the joint, better repair
      accessibility, and elimination of the annular drive-through sign. The main steps
      of the operation are as follows: evaluation of annular drive through, inspection
      of the radial side of the joint, anterior capsulotomy, insertion of a suture
      anchor through the anterolateral portal, shuttling of the suture anchor through
      the ligament, and elimination of the annular drive-through sign. By use of this
      technique, it is possible to repair a lesion of the R-LCL with a suture anchor
      that ensures an anatomic repair and, at the same time, returns the annular
      ligament to its physiological tension. 

PMID- 26870641
TI  - Endoscopic Ganglionectomy of the Elbow.
AB  - Resection of the ganglion of the elbow is indicated if the size or location of
      the cyst impairs function or causes significant pain. Arthroscopic decompression
      or endoscopic resection of the cyst is the minimally invasive surgical option. It
      has the potential advantage of better cosmetic results and less soft-tissue
      dissection. Endoscopic resection is indicated if the cyst is not communicating
      with the joint or the communication is not identifiable arthroscopically or if
      there is a long and narrow communication placing the cyst away from the elbow
      joint. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging is essential for surgical
      planning. 

PMID- 26870642
TI  - Arthroscopic-Assisted Management of Unstable Distal-Third Clavicle Fractures:
      Conoid Ligament Reconstruction and Fracture Cerclage With Sutures.
AB  - Surgical treatment is usually indicated for the management of Neer type IIB
      fractures of the distal third of the clavicle. These unstable injuries have shown
      a rate of nonunion that oscillates around 30% to 45% when managed conservatively,
      and surgical strategies often require a second operation for implant removal. We
      describe an arthroscopic-assisted technique for the treatment of Neer type IIB
      unstable distal-third clavicle fractures that overcomes the issues related to
      open surgery, metal hardware, and implant irritation. This technique increases
      the load to failure of the construct by means of adding a synthetic conoid
      ligament reconstruction with a nonrigid suspension device, and it allows the
      diagnosis and treatment of associated glenohumeral injuries. Our technique
      incorporates a fracture interfragmentary fixation with sutures, thus avoiding a
      second operation for implant removal. 

PMID- 26870643
TI  - Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus With Bone Marrow Stimulation and
      Chitosan-Glycerol Phosphate/Blood Implants (BST-CarGel).
AB  - Bone marrow stimulation (BMS) techniques represent the first-line treatment for
      unstable osteochondral lesions of the talus or after conservative treatment
      failure. These techniques are intended to penetrate the subchondral bone to
      elicit bleeding and allow precursor cells and cytokines from bone marrow to
      populate the lesion. However, the fibrocartilaginous repair tissue arising after
      marrow stimulation confers inferior mechanical and biological properties compared
      with the original hyaline cartilage. The limitations of BMS can be overcome by
      the use of the soluble chitosan-based polymer BST-CarGel (Piramal Life Sciences,
      Laval, Quebec, Canada). When mixed with freshly drawn autologous whole blood and
      applied to a lesion surgically prepared by BMS, BST-CarGel acts as a natural
      bioscaffold that increases the quantity and improves the residency of the blood
      clot formed in the cartilage lesion, enhancing the local healing response. The
      use of BST-CarGel has been previously described in the knee and hip joints with
      successful results. We describe the arthroscopic technique for BST-CarGel
      application in combination with BMS techniques for the treatment of osteochondral
      lesions of the talus. 

PMID- 26870644
TI  - Arthroscopic Repair of a Posterior Bony Bankart Lesion.
AB  - Posterior bony defects of the glenoid rim, particularly those associated with
      instability, are often a frustrating challenge for arthroscopists because of the
      defects' inaccessibility from standard portals. This challenge is enhanced when
      the lesion is chronic and fibrous malunion of the fragment makes mobilization
      difficult. We present our technique for arthroscopic repair of the relatively
      uncommon chronic posterior bony Bankart lesion. By use of lateral positioning and
      a standard anterior viewing portal and posterior working portal, as well as a
      strategically placed posterolateral accessory portal, the lesion is first freed
      from its malreduced position and ultimately repaired using suture anchor fixation
      of the bony fragment along with its associated labrum directly to the remaining
      glenoid rim. This technique, facilitated by precise portal placement, results in
      satisfactory fragment reduction, appropriate capsular tension, and restoration of
      anatomy. 

PMID- 26870645
TI  - Hip Arthroscopic Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation for Treating
      Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Femoral Head.
AB  - Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the femoral head is not a common source of hip
      pain. Hip arthroscopy is becoming a more frequent indication for intra-articular
      pathologies of the hip. Osteochondral autologous transplantation is a promising
      technique that theoretically can reconstruct osteochondral lesions of the femoral
      head. We describe our technique for arthroscopic antegrade osteochondral
      autologous transplantation for the treatment of OCD of the femoral head. The
      advantages of this technique include that it is a less invasive method with the
      ability to assess and treat intra-articular pathologies associated with OCD of
      the femoral head at same time. Case series and outcomes after this technique are
      not currently reported in the literature; however, it could be a less invasive
      method and provide favorable clinical outcomes for patients with OCD lesions of
      the femoral head. 

PMID- 26870646
TI  - Arthroscopically Assisted Treatment of Acute Dislocations of the
      Acromioclavicular Joint.
AB  - Arthroscopically assisted treatments for dislocations of the acromioclavicular
      joint combine the advantages of exact and visually controlled coracoid tunnel
      placement with the possibility of simultaneous treatment of concomitant injuries.
      The clinical results of previous arthroscopically assisted techniques have been
      favorable at midterm and long-term follow-up. The presented surgical technique
      combines the advantages of arthroscopically positioned coracoclavicular
      stabilization with an additional suture cord cerclage of the acromioclavicular
      joint capsule for improved horizontal stability. 

PMID- 26870647
TI  - Medial Closing-Wedge Distal Femoral Osteotomy: Fixation With Proximal Tibial
      Locking Plate.
AB  - Distal femoral varus osteotomy is a well-established procedure for the treatment
      of lateral compartment cartilage lesions and degenerative disease, correcting
      limb alignment and decreasing the progression of the pathology. Surgical
      techniques can be performed with a lateral opening-wedge or medial closing-wedge
      correction of the deformity. Fixation methods for lateral opening-wedge
      osteotomies are widely available, and there are various types of implants that
      can be used for fixation. However, there are currently only a few options of
      implants for fixation of a medial closing-wedge osteotomy on the market. This
      report describes a medial, supracondylar, V-shaped, closing-wedge distal femoral
      osteotomy using a locked anterolateral proximal tibial locking plate that fits
      anatomically to the medial side of the distal femur. This is a great option as a
      stable implant for a medial closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy. 

PMID- 26870648
TI  - Eversion-Inversion Labral Repair and Reconstruction Technique for Optimal Suction
      Seal.
AB  - Labral tears are a significant cause of hip pain and are currently the most
      common indication for hip arthroscopy. Compared with labral debridement, labral
      repair has significantly better outcomes in terms of both daily activities and
      athletic pursuits in the setting of femoral acetabular impingement. The classic
      techniques described in the literature for labral repair all use loop or pass
      through intrasubstance labral sutures to achieve a functional hip seal. This hip
      seal is important for hip stability and optimal joint biomechanics, as well as in
      the prevention of long-term osteoarthritis. We describe a novel eversion
      inversion intrasubstance suturing technique for labral repair and reconstruction
      that can assist in restoration of the native labrum position by re-creating an
      optimal seal around the femoral head. 

PMID- 26870649
TI  - Arthroscopic Hip Labral Reconstruction and Augmentation Using Knotless Anchors.
AB  - Biomechanical stability is the primary function of the acetabular labrum. It
      provides a hip suction seal and optimal joint function. Labral tears are a common
      reason for hip arthroscopy, to improve patient function and to prevent long-term
      degenerative arthropathy. Arthroscopic labral repair has shown significantly
      better outcomes in return to premorbid activity levels when compared with labral
      debridement. Injury to the acetabular labrum is a challenge and can lead to long
      term complications. In this scenario, arthroscopic labral reconstruction has
      shown good results regarding patient subjective and objective outcomes. We
      describe a technique for complete arthroscopic labral reconstruction using tensor
      fascia lata allograft. 

PMID- 26870650
TI  - Arthroscopic Lysis of Arthrofibrosis of the Fifth Tarsometatarsal Joint.
AB  - Loss of motion of the fifth tarsometatarsal joint can be a cause of lateral foot
      pain after Lisfranc fracture-dislocation or fracture of the fifth metatarsal
      tubercle. Arthroscopic lysis of the joint can be an effective surgical treatment
      with the advantage of minimal soft-tissue trauma and early vigorous mobilization
      of the joint. The lysis can be extended to the fourth tarsometatarsal joint and
      the adjacent tendons if indicated. 

PMID- 26870651
TI  - Arthroscopic Anterior Capsular Reconstruction of the Hip for Recurrent
      Instability.
AB  - Symptomatic anterior instability of the hip is typically iatrogenic in nature and
      poses a challenging problem for the orthopaedist. With early recognition,
      capsular repair and plication are often effective in restoring stability. Cases
      involving multiple instability episodes or those with delayed presentation,
      however, may have patulous and deficient capsular tissue precluding successful
      capsulorrhaphy. Capsular reconstruction may play an important role in restoring
      stability in these difficult cases. We present an arthroscopic technique for
      iliofemoral ligament reconstruction, with Achilles tendon allograft, to address
      instability of the hip due to anterior capsular deficiency. 

PMID- 26870652
TI  - Primary Frozen Shoulder Syndrome: Arthroscopic Capsular Release.
AB  - Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis, or primary frozen shoulder syndrome, is a fairly
      common orthopaedic problem characterized by shoulder pain and loss of motion. In
      most cases, conservative treatment (6-month physical therapy program and intra
      articular steroid injections) improves symptoms and restores shoulder motion. In
      refractory cases, arthroscopic capsular release is indicated. This surgical
      procedure carries several advantages over other treatment modalities. First, it
      provides precise and controlled release of the capsule and ligaments, reducing
      the risk of traumatic complications observed after forceful shoulder
      manipulation. Second, release of the capsule and the involved structures with a
      radiofrequency device delays healing, which prevents adhesion formation. Third,
      the technique is straightforward, and an oral postoperative steroid program
      decreases pain and allows for a pleasant early rehabilitation program. Fourth,
      the procedure is performed with the patient fully awake under an interscalene
      block, which boosts the patient's confidence and adherence to the physical
      therapy protocol. In patients with refractory primary frozen shoulder syndrome,
      arthroscopic capsular release emerges as a suitable option that leads to a faster
      and long-lasting recovery. 

PMID- 26870654
TI  - Creating and Closing the T-Capsulotomy for Improved Visualization During
      Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement.
AB  - Treatment of femoroacetabular impingement through an arthroscopic approach has
      gained widespread popularity in recent years. Although outcomes are generally
      favorable, one of the most common reasons for failure is incomplete resection of
      cam lesions of the femoral neck. As a result, the T-capsulotomy has been
      introduced as a method for improving access to the femoral head-neck junction,
      which is not always visible through a standard interportal capsulotomy. The T
      capsulotomy has the benefits of improving arthroscopic visualization of the
      femoral neck, reducing overall fluoroscopy exposure for the patient and surgeon,
      and facilitating capsular plication. We present a reliable and efficient method
      for creating and repairing the T-capsulotomy. We routinely perform this technique
      in patients with cam lesions that are too large or too distal to safely visualize
      and decompress through an interportal capsulotomy. 

PMID- 26870653
TI  - Horizontal and Vertical Stabilization of Acute Unstable Acromioclavicular Joint
      Injuries Arthroscopy-Assisted.
AB  - We describe the technical aspects of an arthroscopy-assisted procedure indicated
      for the management of acute unstable acromioclavicular joint injuries, consisting
      of a synthetic augmentation of both the coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular
      ligaments, that anatomically reproduces the coracoclavicular biomechanics and
      offers fixation that keeps the torn ends of the ligaments facing one another,
      thus allowing healing of the native structures without the need for a second
      surgical procedure for metal hardware removal. 

PMID- 26870655
TI  - A Simple Technique for Capsular Repair After Hip Arthroscopy.
AB  - Capsulotomy is typically performed during arthroscopic treatment for
      femoroacetabular impingement. As the frequency of hip arthroscopy continues to
      expand rapidly, increased attention is being paid to the implications of
      interportal capsulotomy and the need for repair. To minimize the risk of
      postoperative instability, capsular closure has been recommended to restore the
      anatomy and biomechanical function of the capsule. We present a reliable,
      efficient, and effective method for arthroscopic closure of the interportal
      capsulotomy after hip arthroscopy. 

PMID- 26870656
TI  - Anterior Cruciate Ligament Remnant-Preserving Reconstruction Using a "Lasso-Loop"
      Knot Configuration.
AB  - Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture predisposes to altered kinematics and
      possible knee joint degeneration. Graft fiber maturation and ligamentization may
      eliminate this risk during ACL reconstruction procedures. ACL remnant-sparing
      techniques support the theory that the preserved tissue enhances
      revascularization, preserves the mechanoreceptors, and leads to anatomic
      remodeling. The purpose of this article is to present a simple and reproducible
      technique of tensioning the preserved ACL remnant over the femur. A nonabsorbable
      suture is passed through the ACL remnant with a "lasso-loop" technique using a
      curved rotator cuff hook. Femoral and tibial tunnel preparation is performed
      according to a standard surgical technique for the EndoButton device (Smith &
      Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA). The free ends of the ACL remnant suture are
      retrieved through the tibial tunnel and passed through each outside hole of the
      EndoButton device. The hamstring graft is passed through the tibial and femoral
      tunnels and fixed to the femoral cortex by flipping the EndoButton and to the
      tibia by an interference screw. Finally, non-sliding half-stitch locking knots
      are made to secure the ACL remnant suture on the EndoButton device, by use of a
      knot pusher. This technique offers simple and secure tensioning of the ACL
      remnant on the fixation device. 

PMID- 26870657
TI  - Perineal Post Padding Technique to Improve Hip Distraction in Tall Patients.
AB  - Hip distraction is necessary for safe arthroscopic entry into the hip joint.
      Achieving sufficient distraction is difficult in exceedingly tall patients
      (>190.5 cm) because of size limitations of currently available hip distraction
      systems. Inadequate distraction can delay the surgical procedure and potentially
      lead to complications. By repurposing a foam head-positioning block, we report a
      safe and inexpensive positioning technique for extending the traction distance
      for tall patients by 2 inches. 

PMID- 26870658
TI  - An unexpected and devastating adverse event of dasatinib: Rhabdomyolysis.
AB  - We, herein, describe a 52-year-old male whom developed rhabdomyolysis and acute
      renal failure likely related to dasatinib shortly after the administration of
      treatment. After withdrawal of dasatinib, the myalgia reduced, and his CK
      returned to normal levels within a week. On follow-up acute renal failure did
      resolve without requiring dialysis, but unfortunately the patient died of severe
      respiratory distress. We recommend that musculoskeletal symptoms should be
      monitorized during therapy with dasatinib, and CML patients with musculoskeletal
      symptoms should have CK levels checked in order to prevent this unexpected but
      devastating adverse event. 

PMID- 26870659
TI  - Four hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma cases of Japanese patients.
AB  - Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL), a rare type of gammadelta T-cell lymphoma,
      is characterized by hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenias. It is associated with
      immunodeficiency and its age of onset is reportedly between the 20s and 30s. We
      herein report 4 Japanese HSTCL cases. Three of them, including an elderly case
      that was 74 years of age, were not at adolescence. No cases had a history of
      immunodeficiency. All other disease phenotypes were similar to the typical HSTCL
      cases. These findings suggest that there are a certain proportion of HSTCL
      patients who presented after middle age. 

PMID- 26870662
TI  - Hypothermia associated with clobazam use in adult epilepsy.
AB  - Clobazam, a 1,5-benzodiazepine FDA-approved in 2011, is commonly used to treat
      anxiety and epilepsy. It has not associated with hypothermia until very recently,
      in a case report involving two pediatric patients. Here, we report the first case
      of hypothermia development in an adult patient with epilepsy associated with
      clobazam use. A couple months after starting clobazam, the patient started
      developing episodes of hypothermia every several weeks, with temperatures ranging
      from 90  degrees F-95  degrees F. Normothermia was achieved with Bair Hugger
      therapy. Thyroid-stimulating hormone and cortisol levels were normal, and there
      was no evidence of infection in most instances. After 11 total episodes of
      hypothermia over a year of clobazam use, the drug was discontinued. It has now
      been 7 months after discontinuation, and the patient has not experienced any more
      episodes of hypothermia. Early recognition of the link between clobazam and
      hypothermia may prevent avoidable Emergency Department visits and
      hospitalizations. 

PMID- 26870660
TI  - An affected core drives network integration deficits of the structural connectome
      in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
AB  - Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is a genetic disease known to lead
      to cerebral structural alterations, which we study using the framework of the
      macroscopic white-matter connectome. We create weighted connectomes of 44
      patients with 22q11DS and 44 healthy controls using diffusion tensor magnetic
      resonance imaging, and perform a weighted graph theoretical analysis. After
      confirming global network integration deficits in 22q11DS (previously identified
      using binary connectomes), we identify the spatial distribution of regions
      responsible for global deficits. Next, we further characterize the
      dysconnectivity of the deficient regions in terms of sub-network properties, and
      investigate their relevance with respect to clinical profiles. We define the
      subset of regions with decreased nodal integration (evaluated using the closeness
      centrality measure) as the affected core (A-core) of the 22q11DS structural
      connectome. A-core regions are broadly bilaterally symmetric and consist of
      numerous network hubs - chiefly parietal and frontal cortical, as well as
      subcortical regions. Using a simulated lesion approach, we demonstrate that these
      core regions and their connections are particularly important to efficient
      network communication. Moreover, these regions are generally densely connected,
      but less so in 22q11DS. These specific disturbances are associated to a rerouting
      of shortest network paths that circumvent the A-core in 22q11DS, "de
      centralizing" the network. Finally, the efficiency and mean connectivity strength
      of an orbito-frontal/cingulate circuit, included in the affected regions,
      correlate negatively with the extent of negative symptoms in 22q11DS patients,
      revealing the clinical relevance of present findings. The identified A-core
      overlaps numerous regions previously identified as affected in 22q11DS as well as
      in schizophrenia, which approximately 30-40% of 22q11DS patients develop. 

PMID- 26870661
TI  - Increased frontal sleep slow wave activity in adolescents with major depression.
AB  - Sleep slow wave activity (SWA), the major electrophysiological characteristic of
      deep sleep, mirrors both cortical restructuring and functioning. The incidence of
      Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) substantially rises during the vulnerable
      developmental phase of adolescence, where essential cortical restructuring is
      taking place. The goal of this study was to assess characteristics of SWA
      topography in adolescents with MDD, in order to assess abnormalities in both
      cortical restructuring and functioning on a local level. All night high-density
      EEG was recorded in 15 patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD and 15 sex- and
      age-matched healthy controls. The actual symptom severity was assessed using the
      Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R). Topographical power maps
      were calculated based on the average SWA of the first non-rapid eye movement
      (NREM) sleep episode. Depressed adolescents exhibited significantly more SWA in a
      cluster of frontal electrodes compared to controls. SWA over frontal brain
      regions correlated positively with the CDRS-R subscore "morbid thoughts". Self
      reported sleep latency was significantly higher in depressed adolescents compared
      to controls whereas sleep architecture did not differ between the groups. Higher
      frontal SWA in depressed adolescents may represent a promising biomarker tracing
      cortical regions of intense use and/or restructuring. 

PMID- 26870664
TI  - Compliance to Care Guidelines for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: International care guidelines for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
      were published in 2010, but compliance in clinical practice is unknown.
      OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to compare real-world DMD care in
      Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US with the clinical recommendations. METHODS:
      DMD patients from Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US were identified through
      Translational Research in Europe - Assessment & Treatment of Neuromuscular
      Diseases (TREAT-NMD) registries and invited with a caregiver to complete a
      questionnaire with questions regarding DMD-related healthcare. Estimates of care
      were stratified by disease stage (early/late ambulatory/non-ambulatory) and
      compared against the care guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 770 patients (173
      German, 122 Italian, 191 UK, and 284 US) completed the questionnaire. Poor
      compliance to guidelines of routine follow-up by neuromuscular, cardiac, and
      respiratory specialists, physiotherapy, and access to medical devices and aids
      were observed in all countries. Less than 27% (209 of 770) of patients met all
      absolute recommendations, ranging from 9% (11 of 122) in Italy to 37% (70 of 191)
      in the UK, and from 49% (76 of 155) in the early ambulatory class to 16% (33 of
      205) in the late non-ambulatory class. CONCLUSIONS: We show that the medical
      management of DMD varies substantially between Germany, Italy, the UK, and the
      US. Experience of real-world DMD care appears to be in poor agreement with the
      DMD clinical guidelines and increased compliance is urgently needed to improve
      treatment outcomes and enable patients to lead fulfilling, independent lives into
      adulthood.

PMID- 26870663
TI  - Mutations in the Mitochondrial Citrate Carrier SLC25A1 are Associated with
      Impaired Neuromuscular Transmission.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital myasthenic syndromes are rare inherited
      disorders characterized by fatigable weakness caused by malfunction of the
      neuromuscular junction. We performed whole exome sequencing to unravel the
      genetic aetiology in an English sib pair with clinical features suggestive of
      congenital myasthenia. METHODS: We used homozygosity mapping and whole exome
      sequencing to identify the candidate gene variants. Mutant protein expression and
      function were assessed in vitro and a knockdown zebrafish model was generated to
      assess neuromuscular junction development. RESULTS: We identified a novel
      homozygous missense mutation in the SLC25A1 gene, encoding the mitochondrial
      citrate carrier. Mutant SLC25A1 showed abnormal carrier function. SLC25A1 has
      recently been linked to a severe, often lethal clinical phenotype. Our patients
      had a milder phenotype presenting primarily as a neuromuscular (NMJ) junction
      defect. Of note, a previously reported patient with different compound
      heterozygous missense mutations of SLC25A1 has since been shown to suffer from a
      neuromuscular transmission defect. Using knockdown of SLC25A1 expression in
      zebrafish, we were able to mirror the human disease in terms of variable brain,
      eye and cardiac involvement. Importantly, we show clear abnormalities in the
      neuromuscular junction, regardless of the severity of the phenotype. CONCLUSIONS:
      Based on the axonal outgrowth defects seen in SLC25A1 knockdown zebrafish, we
      hypothesize that the neuromuscular junction impairment may be related to pre
      synaptic nerve terminal abnormalities. Our findings highlight the complex
      machinery required to ensure efficient neuromuscular function, beyond the
      proteomes exclusive to the neuromuscular synapse.

PMID- 26870665
TI  - Muscle-Derived Proteins as Serum Biomarkers for Monitoring Disease Progression in
      Three Forms of Muscular Dystrophy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identifying translatable, non-invasive biomarkers of muscular
      dystrophy that better reflect the disease pathology than those currently
      available would aid the development of new therapies, the monitoring of disease
      progression and the response to therapy. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to
      evaluate a panel of serum protein biomarkers with the potential to specifically
      detect skeletal muscle injury. METHOD: Serum concentrations of skeletal troponin
      I (sTnI), myosin light chain 3 (Myl3), fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) and
      muscle-type creatine kinase (CKM) proteins were measured in 74 Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy (DMD), 38 Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and 49 Limb-girdle muscular
      dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) patients and 32 healthy controls. RESULTS: All four
      proteins were significantly elevated in the serum of these three muscular
      dystrophy patient populations when compared to healthy controls, but,
      interestingly, displayed different profiles depending on the type of muscular
      dystrophy. Additionally, the effects of patient age, ambulatory status, cardiac
      function and treatment status on the serum concentrations of the proteins were
      investigated. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between the serum
      concentrations and certain clinical endpoints including forced vital capacity in
      DMD patients and the time to walk ten meters in LGMD2B patients. Serum
      concentrations of these proteins were also elevated in two preclinical models of
      muscular dystrophy, the mdx mouse and the golden-retriever muscular dystrophy
      dog. CONCLUSIONS: These proteins, therefore, are potential muscular dystrophy
      biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response in both
      preclinical and clinical studies.

PMID- 26870666
TI  - Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes with Predominant Limb Girdle Weakness.
AB  - Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of genetically
      determined disorders characterized by impaired neuromuscular transmission. They
      usually present from birth to childhood and are characterised by exercise induced
      weakness and fatigability. Genotype-phenotype correlations are difficult.
      However, in some patients particular phenotypic aspects may point towards a
      specific genetic defect. The absence of ptosis and ophthalmoparesis in patients
      with limb-girdle weakness makes the diagnosis of a neuromuscular transmission
      defect particularly challenging (LG-CMS). This is illustrated by a well
      documented case published by Walton in 1956. The diagnosis of LG-CMS is secured
      by demonstrating a neuromuscular transmission defect with single fibre EMG or
      repetitive nerve stimulation, in the absence of auto-antibodies. Ultimately, a
      genetic test is required to identify the underlying cause and assure counselling
      and optimization of treatment. LG-CMS are inherited in autosomal recessive
      traits, and are often associated with mutations in DOK7 and GFPT1, and less
      frequently with mutations in COLQ, ALG2, ALG14 and DPAGT. Genetic
      characterization of CMS is of the upmost importance when choosing the adequate
      treatment. Some of the currently used drugs can either ameliorate or aggravate
      the symptoms depending on the underlying genetic defect. The drug most frequently
      used for the treatment of CMS is pyridostigmine an acetylcholinesterase
      inhibitor. However, pyridostigmine is not effective or is even detrimental in
      DOK7- and COLQ-related LG-CMS, while beta-adrenergic agonists (ephedrine,
      salbutamol) show some sustained benefit. Standard clinical trials may be
      difficult, but standardized follow-up of patients and international collaboration
      may help to improve the standards of care of these conditions.

PMID- 26870667
TI  - Dispensing apparatus for use in a cued food delivery task.
AB  - Neurobiological models of obesity postulate that obese individuals have
      difficulty regulating food intake partly because they attribute excessive
      salience to stimuli signaling food availability. Typically, human studies that
      investigate the relationship between brain responses to food-related stimuli and
      obesity present food cues without subsequent delivery of food. However, in order
      to identify the brain correlates of cue reactivity, we must record brain
      responses to food-related cues signaling food availability. Therefore, we have
      developed a dispensing apparatus for use in a cued-food delivery task in which
      event-related potentials (ERPs) to food-related images predicting food delivery
      and images not predicting food delivery can be recorded. Here, we describe a
      method where:*The experimental apparatus dispenses an edible item (i.e., a
      chocolate candy) which may or may not be eaten, or a non-edible control item
      (e.g., a plastic bead).*Deposit boxes are available to store uneaten candies and
      the non-edible control items.*The dispensing mechanism is capable of recording
      the exact timestamp when each delivery event occurs (e.g., release from the
      dispenser, arrival in the receptacle, storage in the deposit box). 

PMID- 26870668
TI  - Analysis of hair cortisol levels in captive chimpanzees: Effect of various
      methods on cortisol stability and variability.
AB  - Hair cortisol has been reported to be a useful measure of long-term hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation in several species. It serves as a
      practical tool for long-term stress assessment, but it is important to understand
      the methodological factors that can affects hair cortisol assays to avoid
      methodological artifacts. To that end, we tested several procedures for measuring
      cortisol levels in hair collected from captive chimpanzees. The results showed
      that reproducibility was high, and we found no differences in cortisol levels
      among the various storage, drying, and sampling methods. However, the fineness of
      homogenized hair, sample weight, and extraction time affected absolute hair
      cortisol concentration. Although hair cortisol levels were stable over time,
      factors that may influence measurement results should be kept constant throughout
      a study.*We modified and validated a methodology involving enzyme immunoassays to
      reliably measure the hair cortisol levels of captive chimpanzees.*The results
      revealed that the fineness of homogenized hair, sample weight, and extraction
      time caused variations in absolute hair cortisol concentrations in chimpanzees.
      In contrast, storage, drying, and sampling from similar body parts did not affect
      the results. 

PMID- 26870670
TI  - Modelling the prevalence of hepatitis C virus amongst blood donors in Libya: An
      investigation of providing a preventive strategy.
AB  - AIM: To determine hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence among the Libyan
      population using blood donors and applying the autoregressive integrated moving
      average (ARIMA) model to predict future trends and formulate plans to minimize
      the burden of HCV infection. METHODS: HCV positive cases were collected from
      1008214 healthy blood donors over a 6-year period from 2008 to 2013. Data were
      used to construct the ARIMA model to forecast HCV seroprevalence among blood
      donors. The validity of the model was assessed using the mean absolute percentage
      error between the observed and fitted seroprevalence. The fitted ARIMA model was
      used to forecast the incidence of HCV beyond the observed period for the year
      2014 and further to 2055. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HCV among blood
      donors was 1.8%, varying over the study period from 1.7% to 2.5%, though no
      significant variation was found within each calendar year. The ARIMA model showed
      a non-significant auto-correlation of the residuals, and the prevalence was
      steady within the last 3 years as expressed by the goodness-of-fit test. The
      forecast incidence showed an increase in HCV seropositivity in 2014, ranging from
      500 to 700 per 10000 population, with an overall prevalence of 2.3%-2.7%. This
      may be extended to 2055 with minimal periodical variation within each 6-year
      period. CONCLUSION: The applied model was found to be valuable in evaluating the
      seroprevalence of HCV among blood donors, and highlighted the growing burden of
      such infection on the Libyan health care system. The model may help in
      formulating national policies to prevent increases in HCV infection and plan
      future strategies that target the consequences of the infection.

PMID- 26870671
TI  - Pathogenicity of a currently circulating Chinese variant pseudorabies virus in
      pigs.
AB  - AIM: To test the pathogenicity of pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant HN1201 and
      compare its pathogenicity with a classical PRV Fa strain. METHODS: The
      pathogenicity of the newly-emerging PRV variant HN1201 was evaluated by different
      inoculating routes, virus loads, and ages of pigs. The classical PRV Fa strain
      was then used to compare with HN1201 to determine pathogenicity. Clinical
      symptoms after virus infection were recorded daily and average daily body weight
      was used to measure the growth performance of pigs. At necropsy, gross pathology
      and histopathology were used to evaluate the severity of tissue damage caused by
      virus infection. RESULTS: The results showed that the efficient infection method
      of RPV HN1201 was via intranasal inoculation at 10(7) TCID50, and that the virus
      has high pathogenicity to 35- to 127-d old pigs. Compared with Fa strain, pigs
      infected with HN1201 showed more severe clinical symptoms and pathological
      lesions. Immunochemistry results revealed HN1201 had more abundant antigen
      distribution in extensive organs. CONCLUSION: All of the above results suggest
      that PRV variant HN1201 was more pathogenic to pigs than the classical Fa strain.

PMID- 26870669
TI  - Infected cell protein 0 functional domains and their coordination in herpes
      simplex virus replication.
AB  - Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that establishes
      latent infection in ganglia neurons. Its unique life cycle requires a balanced
      "conquer and compromise" strategy to deal with the host anti-viral defenses. One
      of HSV-1 alpha (immediate early) gene products, infected cell protein 0 (ICP0),
      is a multifunctional protein that interacts with and modulates a wide range of
      cellular defensive pathways. These pathways may locate in different cell
      compartments, which then migrate or exchange factors upon stimulation, for the
      purpose of a concerted and effective defense. ICP0 is able to simultaneously
      attack multiple host pathways by either degrading key restrictive factors or
      modifying repressive complexes. This is a viral protein that contains an E3
      ubiquitin ligase, translocates among different cell compartments and interacts
      with major defensive complexes. The multiple functional domains of ICP0 can work
      independently and at the same time coordinate with each other. Dissecting the
      functional domains of ICP0 and delineating the coordination of these domains will
      help us understand HSV-1 pathogenicity as well as host defense mechanisms. This
      article focuses on describing individual ICP0 domains, their biochemical
      properties and their implication in HSV-1 infection. By putting individual domain
      functions back into the picture of host anti-viral defense network, this review
      seeks to elaborate the complex interactions between HSV-1 and its host. 

PMID- 26870672
TI  - Neuropathology of JC virus infection in progressive multifocal
      leukoencephalopathy in remission.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the neuropathology of the brain in a rare case of remission
      following diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). METHODS:
      Consent from the family for an autopsy was obtained, clinical records and
      radiograms were retrieved. A complete autopsy was performed, with brain
      examination after fixation and coronal sectioning at 1 cm intervals. Fourteen
      regions were collected for paraffin embedding and staining for microscopic
      analysis. Histologic sections were stained with Luxol blue, hematoxylin/eosin,
      and immunostained for myelin basic protein, neurofilament, SV40 T antigen and
      p53. The biopsy material was also retrieved and sections were stained with
      hematoxylin/eosin and immunostained for SV40 and p53. Sections were examined by
      American Board of Pathology certified pathologists and images captured digitally.
      RESULTS: Review of the clinical records was notable for a history of ulcerative
      colitis resulting in total colectomy in 1977 and a liver transplant in 1998
      followed by immune-suppressive therapy. Neurological symptoms presented
      immediately, therefore a biopsy was obtained which was diagnosed as PML.
      Immunotherapy was adjusted and clinical improvement was noted. No subsequent
      progression was reported. Review of the biopsy demonstrated atypical astrocytes
      and enlarged hyperchromatic oligodendroglial cells consistent with JC virus
      infection. Strong SV40 and p53 staining was found in glial cells and regions of
      dense macrophage infiltration were present. On gross examination of the post
      mortem brain, a lesion in the same site as the original biopsy in the cerebellum
      was identified but no other lesions in the brain were found. Microscopic analysis
      of this cerebellar lesion revealed a loss of myelin and axons, and evidence of
      axonal damage. This single burned-out lesion was equivocally positive for SV40
      antigen with little p53 staining. Examination of thirteen other brain regions
      found no other occult sites. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals residual damage, rare
      macrophages or other inflammation and minimal evidence of persistent virus. This
      case demonstrates the possibility of complete remission of PML.

PMID- 26870673
TI  - Rosa damascena as holy ancient herb with novel applications.
AB  - Rosa damascena as an ornamental plant is commonly known as "Gole Mohammadi" in
      Iran. Iranian people have been called this plant, the flower of Prophet
      "Mohammad". R. damascena is traditionally used for treatment of abdominal and
      chest pains, strengthening the heart, menstrual bleeding, digestive problems and
      constipation. This paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and
      pharmaceutical investigations on R. damascena. All relevant databases and local
      books on ethnopharmacology of R. damascena were probed without limitation up to
      31st March 2015 and the results of these studies were collected and reviewed. R.
      damascena has an important position in Iranian traditional medicine. It is
      economically a valuable plant with therapeutic applications in modern medicine.
      The antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and
      anti-depressant properties of R. damascena have been confirmed. Citronellol and
      geraniol as the main components of R. damascena essential oil are responsible for
      pharmacological activities. Overall, R. damascena as holy ancient plant with
      modern pharmacological investigations should be more investigated as traditional
      uses in large preclinical and clinical studies. 

PMID- 26870674
TI  - Nitrate-containing beetroot enhances myocyte metabolism and mitochondrial
      content.
AB  - Beetroot ( tian cai) juice consumption is of current interest for improving
      aerobic performance by acting as a vasodilator and possibly through alterations
      in skeletal muscle metabolism and physiology. This work explored the effects of a
      commercially available beetroot supplement on metabolism, gene expression, and
      mitochondrial content in cultured myocytes. C2C12 myocytes were treated with
      various concentrations of the beetroot supplement for various durations.
      Glycolytic metabolism and oxidative metabolism were quantified via measurement of
      extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption, respectively. Metabolic gene
      expression was measured using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction, and mitochondrial content was assessed with flow cytometry and confocal
      microscopy. Cells treated with beetroot exhibited significantly increased
      oxidative metabolism, concurrently with elevated metabolic gene expression
      including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha,
      nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and glucose
      transporter 4, leading to increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Our data show that
      treatment with a beetroot supplement increases basal oxidative metabolism. Our
      observations are also among the first to demonstrate that beetroot extract is an
      inducer of metabolic gene expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. These
      observations support the need for further investigation into the therapeutic and
      pharmacological effects of nitrate-containing supplements for health and athletic
      benefits. 

PMID- 26870675
TI  - Effects of auditory stimulation with music of different intensities on heart
      period.
AB  - Various studies have indicated that music therapy with relaxant music improves
      cardiac function of patients treated with cardiotoxic medication and heavy-metal
      music acutely reduces heart rate variability (HRV). There is also evidence that
      white noise auditory stimulation above 50 dB causes cardiac autonomic responses.
      In this study, we aimed to evaluate the acute effects of musical auditory
      stimulation with different intensities on cardiac autonomic regulation. This
      study was performed on 24 healthy women between 18 and 25 years of age. We
      analyzed HRV in the time [standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals
      (SDNN), percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration >50 ms
      (pNN50), and root-mean square of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals
      in a time interval (RMSSD)] and frequency [low frequency (LF), high frequency
      (HF), and LF/HF ratio] domains. HRV was recorded at rest for 10 minutes.
      Subsequently, the volunteers were exposed to baroque or heavy-metal music for 5
      minutes through an earphone. The volunteers were exposed to three equivalent
      sound levels (60-70, 70-80, and 80-90 dB). After the first baroque or heavy-metal
      music, they remained at rest for 5 minutes and then they were exposed to the
      other music. The sequence of songs was randomized for each individual. Heavy
      metal musical auditory stimulation at 80-90 dB reduced the SDNN index compared
      with control (44.39 +/- 14.40 ms vs. 34.88 +/- 8.69 ms), and stimulation at 60-70
      dB decreased the LF (ms(2)) index compared with control (668.83 +/- 648.74 ms(2)
      vs. 392.5 +/- 179.94 ms(2)). Baroque music at 60-70 dB reduced the LF (ms(2))
      index (587.75 +/- 318.44 ms(2) vs. 376.21 +/- 178.85 ms(2)). In conclusion, heavy
      metal and baroque musical auditory stimulation at lower intensities acutely
      reduced global modulation of the heart and only heavy-metal music reduced HRV at
      higher intensities. 

PMID- 26870676
TI  - Exploratory studies on the therapeutic effects of Kumarabharana Rasa in the
      management of chronic tonsillitis among children at a tertiary care hospital of
      Karnataka.
AB  - The effect of an Ayurvedic poly-herbo-mineral formulation Kumarabharana Rasa (KR)
      in the management of chronic tonsillitis (Tundikeri) in children has been
      assessed in this study. This clinical study was a double-arm study with a pre-
      and post-test design at the outpatient level in a tertiary Ayurveda hospital
      attached to a teaching institute located in district headquarters in Southern
      India. Patients (n = 40) with chronic tonsillitis satisfying diagnostic criteria
      and aged between 5 and 10 years were selected from the outpatient Department of
      Kaumarbhritya, SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan. Among them, 20
      patients were treated with Kumarabharana rasa (tablet form) at a dose of 500 mg
      once daily for 30 days (Group A). The other 20 patients were treated with Godhuma
      Vati (placebo) at a dose of 500 mg once daily for 30 days (Group B). In both
      groups, Madhu was the Anupana advised. After completion of 30 days of treatment,
      the patients were assessed on the following day and another investigation took
      place 15 days later. Statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) in the
      reduction of all signs and symptoms of chronic tonsillitis after KR treatment
      were observed. These results indicate that Kumarabharana Rasa has an ameliorative
      effect in reducing the signs and symptoms of chronic tonsillitis. 

PMID- 26870677
TI  - Immediate effect of yogic visual concentration on cognitive performance.
AB  - The ancient Indian yoga text, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describes six cleansing
      techniques. The objective of cleansing techniques is to purify and prepare the
      body for the practice of yoga postures, breath regulation, and meditation. Yogic
      visual concentration technique (trataka) is one of these techniques. A previous
      study showed an increase in critical flicker fusion (CFF) following yogic visual
      concentration (trataka). The present study planned to assess the immediate effect
      of trataka on cognitive performance using the Stroop color-word test. Performance
      on the Stroop color-word test was assessed in 30 healthy male volunteers with
      ages ranging from 18 years to 31 years old (22.57 +/- 3.65 years). The
      participants were tested before and after yogic visual concentration (trataka)
      and during a control session on two separate days. There was a significant
      improvement in performance on the Stroop color-word test after trataka compared
      to the control session [repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) with
      Bonferroni adjustment; p < 0.001]. Performance on the Stroop color-word test was
      better after trataka compared to the control session suggesting that the trataka
      technique increased the selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and response
      inhibition. 

PMID- 26870678
TI  - Efficacy of Dragon's blood cream on wound healing: A randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled clinical trial.
AB  - The blood-red sap of Dragon's blood has been used in folk medicine for fractures,
      wounds, inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatism, blood circulation
      dysfunctions, and cancer. Existing in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of this herb
      on different mechanisms of healing shows strong potential of this sap in wound
      healing. This clinical trial study was designated to evaluate the wound healing
      effect of Dragon's blood on human wounds. Sixty patients, between the ages of 14
      65 years, who were referred to remove their skin tag, were assigned to this
      double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial and received either
      Dragon's blood or a placebo cream. They were visited on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th,
      14th, and 20th day of the trial to check the process of healing and to measure
      the wound's surface. At the end of trial, there was a significant difference in
      the mean duration of wound healing between the two groups (p = 0.0001). The
      phenolic compounds and the alkaloid taspine, which exist in Dragon's-blood resin,
      are probably the main reasons for the wound healing property of this plant. Being
      natural accessible, safe, and affordable makes Dragon's blood cream, a good
      choice for addition to the wound healing armamentarium. Further studies on wounds
      with different causes and among larger populations are suggested to ensure the
      effectiveness and safety of Dragon's blood. 

PMID- 26870679
TI  - Isolation and characterization of bioactive components from Mirabilis jalapa L.
      radix.
AB  - The present investigation was carried out to isolate and characterize bioactive
      components from Mirabilis jalapa L. radix ( zi mo li gen). Thin-layer
      chromatography was used for the separation of spots from fractions of the crude
      extract. Separated spots were collected for identification of their activities.
      Free-radical scavenging activity was evaluated by spraying thin-layer
      chromatography plates (spotted with fractions) with 0.2% of 2,2-diphenyl-1
      picrylhydrazyl solution. Activity against human pathogens such as Staphylococcus
      aureus and Candida albicans were determined using the agar diffusion method.
      Potential spots were subjected to infrared (IR) analysis and gas chromatography
      for characterization. Two spots (5F1 and 1F3) showed free-radical scavenging
      activity. The 1F3 spot was active against both S. aureus and C. albicans, whereas
      the 5F1 spot was active against S. aureus only. IR spectral analysis indicated
      that 5F1 spot to be a triterpenoid. Using IR spectral analysis and an IR library
      search, the 1F3 spot was identified to be a flavone, which may have a hydroxyl
      group in ring "A" of the flavone nucleus. Our results indicated that the 1F3 and
      5F1 spots are potential free-radical scavengers. Both 1F3 and 5F1 exhibited
      antimicrobial activity. IR spectral analysis coupled with an IR library search
      indicated 1F3 and 5F1 to be a flavone and a triterpenoid, respectively. 

PMID- 26870680
TI  - Antcin K, an active triterpenoid from the fruiting bodies of basswood cultivated
      Antrodia cinnamomea, induces mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress
      mediated apoptosis in human hepatoma cells.
AB  - Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan as per the
      2011 statistics and ranks fourth in cancer-related mortality in the world. Recent
      researches have shown that Antrodia cinnamomea, a Taiwan-specific medicinal
      mushroom, has biological activities, including hepatoprotection, anti
      inflammation, antihepatitis B virus activity, and anticancer activity. In the
      present study, the antiproliferative activity and molecular mechanisms of antcin
      K, the most abundant ergostane triterpenoid from the fruiting bodies of basswood
      cultivated A. cinnamomea, were investigated using human hepatoma Hep 3B cells.
      The results showed that antcin K effectively reduced Hep 3B cells viability
      within 48 hours. Antcin K induced phosphatidylserine exposure, chromatin
      condensation, and DNA damage, but did not significantly increase autophagosome
      content or cause cell expansion and cell lysis. Thus, the principal mode of Hep
      3B cells death induced by antcin K was apoptosis, rather than autophagy or
      necrosis. In-depth investigation of the molecular mechanisms revealed that antcin
      K first promoted reactive oxygen species generation and adenosine triphosphate
      depletion, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress and resulting in mitochondrial
      membrane permeability changes. After losing the mitochondrial membrane potential,
      caspase-independent and caspase-dependent apoptosis-related proteins were
      released, including HtrA2, apoptotic-induced factor, endonuclease G, and
      cytochrome c. Cytochrome c activated caspase-9 and caspase-3, and cut downstream
      protein PARP, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis. These results suggested that
      antcin K induced mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated
      apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. Coupled with these findings, antcin K has a
      potential to be a complementary agent in liver cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26870681
TI  - Effects of the natural compounds embelin and piperine on the biofilm-producing
      property of Streptococcus mutans.
AB  - We aimed to evaluate the effects of the natural compounds embelin and piperine on
      the biofilm-formation property of Streptococcus mutans. A total of 30 clinical
      isolates were identified as S. mutans and screened for biofilm formation using
      the microtiter plate method. The strongest biofilm producer (SM03) was used for
      identifying both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biofilm
      inhibitory concentration (MBIC). We subsequently used this concentration against
      each of the strong biofilm producer isolates at A 492 < 0.5 optical density (OD).
      Of the 30 isolates screened for biofilm formation, 18 isolates showed strong
      biofilm formation, 09 isolates showed moderate formation, and 03 isolates showed
      poor/nonbiofilm formation. The MIC of embelin for the strongest biofilm producer
      (SM03) was 0.55 +/- 0.02, whereas that of piperine was 0.33 +/- 0.02. The MBIC of
      embelin was 0.0620 +/- 0.03, whereas that of piperine was 0.0407 +/- 0.03, which
      was lower than that of embelin. At OD492 < 0.5, the MBIC of both compounds
      significantly inhibited biofilm formation of all the 18 strong biofilm-forming
      isolates. The results of this study demonstrate a significant antibiofilm effect
      of the natural compounds embelin and piperine, which can contribute towards the
      development of a database for novel drug candidates for treating oral infections
      caused by S. mutans. 

PMID- 26870682
TI  - Comparison of efficacy of alternative medicine with allopathy in treatment of
      oral fungal infection.
AB  - This clinical study assessed and compared the efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO), an
      alternative form of medicine, with clotrimazole (i.e., allopathy) and a
      conservative form of management in the treatment of oral fungal infection. In
      this interventional, observational, and comparative study, we enrolled 36
      medically fit individuals of both sexes who were aged 20-60 years old. The
      participants were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I was given TTO (0.25%
      rinse) as medicament, Group II was given clotrimazole, and Group III was managed
      with conservative treatment. The results were analyzed from the clinical
      evaluation of lesions, changes in four most common clinical parameters of
      lesions, and subjective symptoms on periodic follow-up. Based on the results, the
      percentage efficiency of the two groups were taken and compared through a bar
      graph on the scale of 1. No toxicity to TTO was reported. Group I (TTO) was found
      to be more efficient than the other two groups, as changes in four parameter
      indices of lesions were noted, and results for all three groups were compared on
      a percentage basis. The study concluded that TTO, being a natural product, is a
      better nontoxic modality compared to clotrimazole, in the treatment of oral
      fungal infection and has a promising future for its potential application in oral
      health products. 

PMID- 26870684
TI  - Quality standards for Hutabhugadi curna (Ayurvedic Formulary of India).
AB  - In India, herbal medicines are mainly based on the Ayurvedic system. The main
      drawback of traditional medicines is a lack of standardized products.
      Standardization of any herbal formulation is essential in order to assess the
      quality, purity, safety, and efficacy of drugs based on the analysis of their
      active properties. Testing of Ayurvedic preparations using scientific
      methodologies will add to quality and authenticity of the product. This article
      reports standardization parameters for Hutabhugadi curna (HC) used traditionally
      in the treatment of Agnimandya (digestive impairment), Pandu (anemia), Sopha
      (edema), and Arsa (piles). The formulation was prepared as per Ayurvedic
      Formulary of India, and it was standardized by organoleptic characterization,
      macro-microscopic evaluation, physicochemical testing, and thin-layer
      chromatography/high-performance thin-layer chromatography profiling employing a
      standard methodology. Results of the experiments conducted provided diagnostic
      characteristics to identify and standardize the formulation prepared using
      official ingredients of HC. Based on the data obtained, a monograph on quality
      standards for HC is proposed. The monograph based on the present investigation
      results would serve as a document to control the quality of HC. 

PMID- 26870683
TI  - Effects of white rice containing enriched gamma-aminobutyric acid on blood
      pressure.
AB  - Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter with beneficial
      effects including antihypertension and antistress properties. In this study, we
      examined the effects of GABA-enriched white rice (GABA rice) on blood pressure
      (BP) in 39 mildly hypertensive adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo
      controlled study. The participants were divided into a test group (n = 22) who
      consumed rice with 11.2 mg GABA/100 g of rice and a placebo group (n = 17) who
      consumed rice with 2.7 mg GABA/100 g of rice. For 8 weeks, the participants took
      150 g of either the GABA rice or the placebo rice. Hematological examinations
      were performed on both groups at 0, 4, and 8 weeks after the start of rice
      consumption. Home BP was self-measured two times daily, morning and evening, from
      1 weeks before to 2 weeks after the intervention. Although the hospital BP and
      evening BP measurements of the participants showed no significant change,
      consumption of the GABA rice improved the morning BP compared with the placebo
      rice after the 1(st) week and during the 6(th) and 8(th) weeks. These results
      showed the possibility that the GABA rice improves morning hypertension. 

PMID- 26870685
TI  - Effect of total hydroalcholic extract of Nigella sativa and its n-hexane and
      ethyl acetate fractions on ACHN and GP-293 cell lines.
AB  - Medicinal plants are noted for their many advantages including the ability to
      treat diseases such as cancer. In this study, we examined the antitumor effect of
      the medicinal plant Nigella sativa on the morphology, survival, and apoptosis of
      ACHN (human renal adenocarcinoma) and GP-293 (normal renal epithelial) cell
      lines. From a hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa, n-hexane and ethyl acetate
      fractions were extracted. Cells were treated with various concentrations of total
      hydroalcholic extract and n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions; cell viability,
      morphological changes, and apoptosis were then determined. Results were presented
      as mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM). One-way analysis of variance
      (ANOVA) was applied for the statistical analysis of the data. The total extract
      and the fractions in a dose- and time-dependent manner reduced the cell viability
      in ACHN with no effect on the GP-293 cell line. In addition, the total extract
      resulted in more morphological changes in the ACHN cells compared to the GP-293
      cells. The effect of the total extract in inducing apoptosis after 48 hours in
      the ACHN cell line was greater than in GP-293. In addition, the effect of the two
      fractions was lower than the total extract at all used concentrations. Therefore,
      the effect of total extract and n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of N. sativa
      on cell viability and apoptosis in the ACHN cell line is greater than in the GP
      293 cell line. However, the effect of the total extract is higher than either of
      the two fractions on their own. 

PMID- 26870686
TI  - Exploration of the anticandidal mechanism of Cassia spectabilis in debilitating
      candidiasis.
AB  - Candida albicans has become resistant to the commercially available, toxic, and
      expensive anti-Candida agents that are on the market. These factors force the
      search for new antifungal agents from natural resources. Cassia spectabilis had
      been traditionally employed by healers for many generations. The possible
      mechanisms of the C. spectabilis leaf extract were determined by potassium
      leakage study and the effect of the extract on the constituents of the cell wall
      and enzymes as well as the morphological changes on C. albicans cells were
      studied along with cytotoxicity assays. The cytotoxicity result indicated that
      the extract is nontoxic as was clearly substantiated by a half maximal inhibitory
      concentration (IC50) value of 59.10 MUg/mL. The treated cells (C. spectabilis
      extract) demonstrated potassium leakage of 1039 parts per million (ppm) compared
      to Amphotericin B (AmpB)-treated cells with a released potassium value of 1115
      ppm. The effects of the extract on the cell wall proteins illustrated that there
      were three major types of variations in the expression of treated cell wall
      proteins: the presence of new proteins, the absence of proteins, and the amount
      of expressed protein. The activities of two enzymes, alpha-glucosidase and
      proteinase, were determined to be significantly high, thereby not fully
      coinciding with the properties of the antifungal reaction triggered by C.
      spectabilis. The morphology of C. albicans cells treated with the C. spectabilis
      extract showed that the cells had abnormalities and were damaged or detached
      within the microcolonies. Our study verifies C. spectabilis leaf extract as an
      effective anti-C. albicans agent. 

PMID- 26870687
TI  - Preparation and chemical characteristics of Karunguruvai Khadi used in the
      traditional Siddha formulation of herbo-mineral-based medicine.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Khadi is an extract that has been used in the preparation of
      Pooneeru (muppu) in Siddha medicine, but it has not been scientifically evaluated
      for modern medicinal purposes. The present study examines the preparation and
      chemical composition of Khadi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to the method of
      the palm leaf literature, Karunguruvai and Samba paddy grains were selected for
      the preparation of Khadi. After removing the husk of the paddies, the cleaned
      Karunguruvai and Samba rice were processed according to the methods of Swami and
      Ramasamy Khon. The processed Khadi of Karunguruvai and Samba were analyzed for
      chemical constituents and were microbiologically assessed. The chemical
      composition of the paddy grains was also evaluated to compare with the Khadi
      constituents. RESULTS: The major elements of the paddy grains of Karunguruvai and
      Samba were calcium (CaO) and sodium (Na2O). The predominant trace elements in the
      Samba rice were nickel and cadmium, whereas Karunguruvai rice contained arsenic,
      nickel, copper, and cadmium. Samba Khadi contained the trace elements mercury,
      chromium, lead, copper, and cobalt, whereas Karunguruvai Khadi had a high content
      of mercury, vanadium, arsenic, nickel, copper, cadmium, barium, and strontium.
      Karunguruvai Khadi also contained silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3),
      iron oxide (FeO), manganese oxide (MnO), calcium oxide (CaO), and sodium
      carbonate (Na2O). By contrast, Samba Khadi contained only ferrous oxide (FeO),
      calcium oxide (CaO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon dioxide (CO2), which were
      chemical constituents of the Samba rice. DISCUSSION: The composition of
      Karunguruvai rice was compared with Samba rice and it is identified the absence
      of heavy metals in Samba as well as Karunguruvai rice. Both of rice powders have
      more or less similar chemical compounds except phosphorous content. Karunguruvai
      rice possesses more CaO than Samba rice. The bacterial and fungal activities were
      assessed during the different stages of Khadi preparation-no activities were
      found in any form of the Khadi. This suggests that Khadi may have a preventive
      effect against fungal and bacterial infections. CONCLUSION: The result of the
      chemical analysis of Khadi extracts showed that Khadi prepared from the
      Karunguruvai paddy grains (rice) was the best base solvent for ion exchange in
      the preparation of muppu than Samba Khadi. The analysis of the composition of
      these two types of Karunguruvai Khadi show that it is a good solvent for the
      elimination of heavy metals and for the enrichment of elements in Pooneeru powder
      (muppu), the chuurnam of Siddha drugs. These characteristics enhance the
      therapeutic potential and safety of the drugs for healing chronic diseases.

PMID- 26870688
TI  - Evaluation of Senna singueana leaf extract as an alternative or adjuvant therapy
      for malaria.
AB  - The emergence of malarial resistance to most antimalarial drugs is the main
      factor driving the continued effort to identify/discover new agents for combating
      the disease. Moreover, the unacceptably high mortality rate in severe malaria has
      led to the consideration of adjuvant therapies. Senna singueana leaves are
      traditionally used against malaria and fever. Extracts from the leaves of this
      plant demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities, which in turn
      could reduce the severity of malaria. Extracts from the root bark of this plant
      exhibited antiplasmodial activity; however, the leaves are the more sustainable
      resource. Thus, S. singueana leaf was selected for in vivo evaluation as a
      potential alternative or adjuvant therapy for malaria. Using malaria [Plasmodium
      berghei ANKA, chloroquine (CQ) sensitive]-infected Swiss albino mice of both
      sexes, 70% ethanol extract of S. singueana leaves (alone and in combination with
      CQ) was tested for antimalarial activity and adjuvancy potential. The 4-day
      suppressive test was used to evaluate antimalarial activity. The dose of S.
      singueana extract administered was safe to mice and exhibited some parasite
      suppression effect: extract doses of 200 mg/kg/d, 400 mg/kg/d, and 800 mg/kg/d
      caused 34.54%, 44.52%, and 47.32% parasite suppression, respectively. Concurrent
      administration of the extract with CQ phosphate at varied dose levels indicated
      that the percentage of parasite suppression of this combination was higher than
      administering CQ alone, but less than the sum of the effects of the extract and
      CQ acting separately. In conclusion, the study indicated that 70% ethanol extract
      of S. singueana leaf was safe to mice and possessed some parasite suppression
      effect. Coadministration of the extract with CQ appeared to boost the overall
      antimalarial effect, indicating that the combination may have a net health
      benefit if used as an adjuvant therapy. 

PMID- 26870689
TI  - Ethnoveterinary medicine of the Shervaroy Hills of Eastern Ghats, India as
      alternative medicine for animals.
AB  - The Eastern Ghats of India is well known for its wealth of natural vegetation and
      Shervaroy is a major hill range of the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.
      Ethnomedicinal studies in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu or the Shervaroy Hills
      have been carried out by various researchers. However, there is not much
      information available on ethnoveterinary medicine in the Eastern Ghats of India.
      The aim of this study was to examine the potential use of folk plants as
      alternative medicine for cattle to cure various diseases in the Shervaroy Hills
      of the Eastern Ghats. Based on interactions with traditional medicine
      practitioners, it has been observed that a total of 21 medicinal plants belonging
      to 16 families are used to cure various diseases such as mastitis, enteritis,
      arthritis, stomatitis, salivation from the mouth, wounding, and conjunctivitis in
      animals. It has been observed that the traditional knowledge of ethnoveterinary
      medicine is now confined only among the surviving older people and a few
      practitioners in the tribal communities of the Shervaroy Hills. Unfortunately, no
      serious attempts have been made to document and preserve this immense treasure of
      traditional knowledge. 

PMID- 26870690
TI  - Clinical efficacy and tolerability of Gosha-jinki-gan, a Japanese traditional
      herbal medicine, for nocturia.
AB  - We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of Gosha-jinki-gan (GJG; ji sheng shen
      qi wan) in 30 cases of nocturia ( ye niao) unresponsive to alpha1-blockers or
      antimuscarinic drugs. All patients received GJG extract powder (2.5 g) three
      times a day for 12 weeks as an add-on therapy to alpha1-blockers or
      antimuscarinic drugs. Subjective outcomes assessed by the International Prostate
      Symptom Score-quality of life, and the benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index
      and objective outcomes assessed by urinary frequency and the urine production
      rate at night showed significant improvement after treatment. Moreover, other
      objective outcomes assessed by maximum flow rates, postvoid residual, serum human
      atrial natriuretic peptide levels, and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels
      did not change. Adverse events were observed in 10% of cases; however, these
      events were mild. GJG appears to be a safe and effective potential therapeutic
      alternative for patients with nocturia unresponsive to alpha1-blockers or
      antimuscarinic drugs. Further clinical investigations are required to elucidate
      the precise pathophysiologic mechanisms of GJG in nocturia. 

PMID- 26870691
TI  - Effect of Coleus forskohlii and its major constituents on cytochrome P450
      induction.
AB  - Coleus forskohlii Briq. has been used traditionally for the treatment of several
      ailments since antiquity in Ayurveda. In the present study, an approach has been
      made to evaluate the effect of C. forskohlii and its major constituents on
      cytochrome P450 (CYP3A, CYP2B, and CYP2C) mRNA expression in rat hepatocytes. To
      gain better understanding of the herb-drug interaction potential of the chemical
      constituents present in C. forskohlii, the extract was subjected to column
      chromatography followed by standardization with respect to forskolin, 1
      deoxyforskolin, and 1,9-dideoxyforskolin using reversed-phase high-performance
      liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Hepatocytes were treated with extracts,
      fractions, and phytoconstituents, followed by extraction and purification of
      total mRNA. Study of mRNA expression was carried out through reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis.
      Results revealed that the test substances did not show any significant mRNA
      expression compared to the control against CYP3A, CYP2B, and CYP2C. Positive
      controls such as dexamethasone and rifampin showed significantly high (p < 0.001)
      induction potential compared to the control. It can be concluded that C.
      forskohlii and its major constituents may not be involved in CYP450 induction
      based drug interaction. 

PMID- 26870692
TI  - Report from the Second International Conference of Traditional and Complementary
      Medicine on Health 2015.
AB  - The Second International Conference of Traditional and Complementary Medicine on
      Health was held from October 24th through 27th at the GIS National Taiwan
      University Convention Center in Taipei. Twenty-seven invited speakers,
      representative of fourteen Countries, delivered their lecture in front of an
      audience of more than two hundreds of attendees. In addition, a poster exhibition
      with seventy-two presenters completed the scientific sessions. The leitmotif of
      the Conference was to promote a common platform in which all medical knowledge is
      integrated to improve the health care system. Traditional medicine and
      complementary medicine are characterized by a holistic approach to prevent and
      cure diseases, making use of natural products and/or physical manipulations. In
      this context, the Conference emphasized the importance of the Quality Control and
      of standardized methods for the authentication, preparation and characterization
      of the herbal products and nutrient supplements, as well as the need for
      controlled clinical trials and for experimental studies to demonstrate the
      efficacy and to understand the underlying mechanisms of the preventive and
      curative treatments. In this report, we highlight the novel findings and the
      perspectives in Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM; chuan tong ji hu bu
      yi xue) that emerged during the conference. 

PMID- 26870693
TI  - First Images of a Three-Layer Compton Telescope Prototype for Treatment
      Monitoring in Hadron Therapy.
AB  - A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy is under development at
      IFIC. The system consists of three layers of LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon
      photomultiplier arrays. (22)Na sources have been successfully imaged
      reconstructing the data with an ML-EM code. Calibration and temperature
      stabilization are necessary for the prototype operation at low coincidence rates.
      A spatial resolution of 7.8 mm FWHM has been obtained in the first imaging tests.

PMID- 26870694
TI  - Potential of Induced Metabolic Bioluminescence Imaging to Uncover Metabolic
      Effects of Antiangiogenic Therapy in Tumors.
AB  - Tumor heterogeneity at the genetic level has been illustrated by a multitude of
      studies on the genomics of cancer, but whether tumors can be heterogeneous at the
      metabolic level is an issue that has been less systematically investigated so
      far. A burning-related question is whether the metabolic features of tumors can
      change either following natural tumor progression (i.e., in primary tumors versus
      metastasis) or therapeutic interventions. In this regard, recent findings by
      independent teams indicate that antiangiogenic drugs cause metabolic
      perturbations in tumors as well as metabolic adaptations associated with
      increased malignancy. Induced metabolic bioluminescence imaging (imBI) is an
      imaging technique that enables detection of key metabolites associated with
      glycolysis, including lactate, glucose, pyruvate, and ATP in tumor sections.
      Signals captured by imBI can be used to visualize the topographic distribution of
      these metabolites and quantify their absolute amount. imBI can be very useful for
      metabolic classification of tumors as well as to track metabolic changes in the
      glycolytic pathway associated with certain therapies. Imaging of the metabolic
      changes induced by antiangiogenic drugs in tumors by imBI or other emerging
      technologies is a valuable tool to uncover molecular sensors engaged by metabolic
      stress and offers an opportunity to understand how metabolism-based approaches
      could improve cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26870695
TI  - Validation of Claims Algorithms for Progression to Metastatic Cancer in Patients
      with Breast, Non-small Cell Lung, and Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Validated algorithms for identifying progression to metastatic cancer
      could permit the use of administrative claims databases for research in this
      area. OBJECTIVE: To identify simple algorithms that could accurately detect
      cancer progression to metastatic breast, non-small cell lung, and colorectal
      cancer (CRC) using medical and pharmacy claims data. METHODS: Adults with stage I
      III breast, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or CRC in the Geisinger Health
      System from 2004 to 2011 were selected. Evidence of progression was extracted via
      manual chart review as the reference standard. In addition to secondary
      malignancy diagnosis (ICD-9 code for metastases), diagnoses, procedures, and
      treatments were selected with clinician input as indicators of cancer
      progression. Random forests models provided variable importance scores. In
      addition to codes for secondary malignancy, several more complex algorithms were
      constructed and performance measures calculated. RESULTS: Among those with breast
      cancer [17/502 (3.4%) progressed], the performance of a secondary malignancy code
      was suboptimal [sensitivity: 64.7%; specificity: 86.0%; positive predictive value
      (PPV): 13.9; negative predictive value (NPV): 98.6%]; requiring malignancy at
      another site or initiation of immunotherapy increased PPV and specificity but
      decreased sensitivity. For NSCLC [61/236 (25.8%) progressed], codes for secondary
      malignancy alone (PPV: 47.4%; NPV: 84.8%; sensitivity: 60.7%; specificity: 76.6%)
      performed similarly or better than more complex algorithms. For CRC [33/276
      (12.0%) progressed], secondary malignancy codes had good specificity (92.7%) and
      NPV (92.3%) but low sensitivity (42.4%) and PPV (43.8%); an algorithm with change
      in chemotherapy increased sensitivity but decreased other metrics. CONCLUSION:
      Selected algorithms performed similarly to the presence of a secondary tumor
      diagnosis code, with low sensitivity/PPV and higher specificity/NPV. Accurate
      identification of cancer progression likely requires verification through chart
      review.

PMID- 26870696
TI  - Preventing Cervical Cancer in the United States: Barriers and Resolutions for HPV
      Vaccination.
AB  - Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates for preadolescent and adolescent
      girls in the United States are far behind those of other developed nations. These
      rates differ substantially by region and state, socioeconomic status, and
      insurance status. In parents and young women, a lack of awareness and a
      misperception of the risk of this vaccine drive low vaccination rates. In
      physicians, lack of comfort with discussion of sexuality and the perception that
      the vaccine should be delayed to a later age contribute to low vaccination rates.
      Patient- and physician-targeted educational campaigns, systems-based
      interventions, and school-based vaccine clinics offer a variety of ways to
      address the barriers to HPV vaccination. A diverse and culturally appropriate
      approach to promoting vaccine uptake has the potential to significantly improve
      vaccination rates in order to reach the Healthy People 2020 goal of over 80%
      vaccination in adolescent girls. This article reviews the disparities in HPV
      vaccination rates in girls in the United States, the influences of patients',
      physicians', and parents' attitudes on vaccine uptake, and the proposed
      interventions that may help the United States reach its goal for vaccine
      coverage. 

PMID- 26870697
TI  - Radiation Metabolomics: Current Status and Future Directions.
AB  - Human exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) disrupts normal metabolic processes in
      cells and organs by inducing complex biological responses that interfere with
      gene and protein expression. Conventional dosimetry, monitoring of prodromal
      symptoms, and peripheral lymphocyte counts are of limited value as organ- and
      tissue-specific biomarkers for personnel exposed to radiation, particularly,
      weeks or months after exposure. Analysis of metabolites generated in known stress
      responsive pathways by molecular profiling helps to predict the physiological
      status of an individual in response to environmental or genetic perturbations.
      Thus, a multi-metabolite profile obtained from a high-resolution mass
      spectrometry-based metabolomics platform offers potential for identification of
      robust biomarkers to predict radiation toxicity of organs and tissues resulting
      from exposures to therapeutic or non-therapeutic IR. Here, we review the status
      of radiation metabolomics and explore applications as a standalone technology, as
      well as its integration in systems biology, to facilitate a better understanding
      of the molecular basis of radiation response. Finally, we draw attention to the
      identification of specific pathways that can be targeted for the development of
      therapeutics to alleviate or mitigate harmful effects of radiation exposure. 

PMID- 26870698
TI  - Targeting of Mutant p53 and the Cellular Redox Balance by APR-246 as a Strategy
      for Efficient Cancer Therapy.
AB  - TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in cancer. The p53 protein activates
      transcription of genes that promote cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, or regulate
      cell metabolism, and other processes. Missense mutations in TP53 abolish specific
      DNA binding of p53 and allow evasion of apoptosis and accelerated tumor
      progression. Mutant p53 often accumulates at high levels in tumor cells.
      Pharmacological reactivation of mutant p53 has emerged as a promising strategy
      for improved cancer therapy. Small molecules that restore wild type activity of
      mutant p53 have been identified using various approaches. One of these molecules,
      APR-246, is a prodrug that is converted to the Michael acceptor methylene
      quinuclidinone (MQ) that binds covalently to cysteines in p53, leading to
      refolding and restoration of wild type p53 function. MQ also targets the cellular
      redox balance by inhibiting thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1) and depleting
      glutathione. This dual mechanism of action may account for the striking synergy
      between APR-246 and platinum compounds. APR-246 is the only mutant p53-targeting
      compound in clinical development. A phase I/IIa clinical trial in hematological
      malignancies and prostate cancer showed good safety profile and clinical effects
      in some patients. APR-246 is currently tested in a phase Ib/II trial in patients
      with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. 

PMID- 26870699
TI  - Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome: Pathogenesis and Clinical Picture.
AB  - Hantaan virus (HTNV) causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which
      is a zoonosis endemic in eastern Asia, especially in China. The reservoir host of
      HTNV is field mouse (Apodemus agraricus). The main manifestation of HFRS,
      including acute kidney injury, increases vascular permeability, and coagulation
      abnormalities. In this paper, we review the current knowledge of the pathogenesis
      of HFRS including virus factor, immunity factor and host genetic factors.
      Furthermore, the treatment and prevention will be discussed. 

PMID- 26870700
TI  - Encephalitozoon intestinalis Inhibits Dendritic Cell Differentiation through an
      IL-6-Dependent Mechanism.
AB  - Microsporidia are a group of intracellular pathogens causing self-limited and
      severe diseases in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals,
      respectively. A cellular type 1 adaptive response, mediated by IL-12, IFNgamma,
      CD4+, and CD8+ T cells has been shown to be essential for host resistance, and
      dendritic cells (DC) play a key role at eliciting anti-microsporidial immunity.
      We investigated the in vitro response of DC and DC precursors/progenitors to
      infection with Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Ei), a common agent of human
      microsporidosis. Ei-exposed DC cultures up-regulated the surface expression of
      MHC class II and the costimulatory molecules CD86 and CD40, only when high loads
      of spores were used. A vigorous secretion of IL-6 but not of IL-1beta or IL-12p70
      was also observed in these cultures. Ei-exposed DC cultures consisted of immature
      infected and mature bystander DC, as assessed by MHC class II and costimulatory
      molecules expression, suggesting that intracellular Ei spores deliver inhibitory
      signals in DC. Moreover, Ei selectively inhibited the secretion of IL-12p70 in
      LPS-stimulated DC. Whereas Ei-exposed DC promoted allogeneic naive T cell
      proliferation and IL-2 and IFNgamma secretion in DC-CD4+ T cell co-cultures,
      separated co-cultures with bystander or infected DCs showed stimulation or
      inhibition of IFNgamma secretion, respectively. When DC precursors/progenitors
      were exposed to Ei spores, a significant inhibition of DC differentiation was
      observed without shifting the development toward cells phenotypically or
      functionally compatible with myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Neutralization
      experiments demonstrated that this inhibitory effect is IL-6-dependent.
      Altogether this investigation reveals a novel potential mechanism of immune
      escape of microsporidian parasites through the modulation of DC differentiation
      and maturation. 

PMID- 26870702
TI  - Effect of Abstinence on Audio-Visual Reaction Time in Chronic Smokers Pursuing a
      Professional Course.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It has now been proven that tobacco abuse is the leading cause for
      various carcinomas such as oral, lung and oesophageal. It also leads to
      atherosclerosis of major vessels, development of hypertension, autoimmune
      disorders, COPD, bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, etc. Most smokers are
      dependent on nicotine and abstinence from smoking results in tobacco withdrawal
      and craving. It also affects cognitive skills and reaction time. Many students in
      professional college have the habit of smoking. In spite of awareness programmes
      carried out in schools, colleges and having ban on smoking, prevalence of smoking
      is rising in India. AIM: To observe the effect of abstinence on audiovisual
      reaction time and to note the cause for reverting to smoking by the students
      pursing professional course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty male volunteers in the
      age group of 18-25 years participated in the study. The volunteers were divided
      in to two groups (control group and study group). Cigarette smokers consuming at
      least 10-19 cigarettes per day for more than 2-3 years were included as subjects
      in study group. The study was conducted using a audiovisual reaction time
      apparatus in a quiet and bright lit room. All volunteers were subjected to
      baseline readings after demonstrating working of the apparatus. Auditory (high
      pitched and low pitched sound) and visual (red light and green light) reaction
      time was recorded. Thirty students in study group were subjected to these tests
      immediately after smoking and after 12 hours of abstinence. After all the
      individuals were tested, the recorded values were compared by Student's t-test.
      RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was recorded in auditory and visual
      reaction time in study group subjects immediately after smoking and after 12
      hours of abstinence as compared to base line readings. CONCLUSION: It was
      observed that auditory and visual reaction time was prolonged in chronic smokers
      after 12 hours of abstinence.

PMID- 26870701
TI  - MicroRNAs in the Host-Apicomplexan Parasites Interactions: A Review of
      Immunopathological Aspects.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding regulatory RNAs, have been
      detected in a variety of organisms ranging from ancient unicellular eukaryotes to
      mammals. They have been associated with numerous molecular mechanisms involving
      developmental, physiological and pathological changes of cells and tissues.
      Despite the fact that miRNA-silencing mechanisms appear to be absent in some
      Apicomplexan species, an increasing number of studies have reported a role for
      miRNAs in host-parasite interactions. Host miRNA expression can change following
      parasite infection and the consequences can lead, for instance, to parasite
      clearance. In this context, the immune system signaling appears to have a crucial
      role. 

PMID- 26870703
TI  - A Prospective Comparative Study of the Toxicity Profile of 5-Flurouracil,
      Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide Regime VS Adriamycin, Paclitaxel Regime in Patients
      with Locally Advanced Breast Carcinoma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A 5-flurouracil, Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide (FAC) and Adriamycin,
      Paclitaxel (AT) are two popular chemotherapeutic regimens for treatment of breast
      carcinoma. The most time tested and popular regimen is FAC. It is extensively
      studied for efficacy and toxicity. But data regarding toxicity profile and
      efficacy of AT regimen is sparse. AIM: To study the toxicity profile, severity of
      toxicities and clinical response rate of FAC and AT regimens in patients with
      locally advanced breast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective
      observational study with 50 patients in each treatment arm. Study duration was 12
      months from November 2012 to October 2013. Consecutive patients with locally
      advanced breast carcinoma receiving treatment with either FAC or AT regimen,
      satisfying inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study after getting informed
      written consent. Prior to initiation of treatment detailed medical history was
      taken from all patients. General clinical examination, examination of organ
      systems and local examination of breast lump were done. After each cycle of
      chemotherapy and after completion of treatment patients were interviewed and
      examined for clinical response and toxicities. Toxicities were graded with WHO
      toxicity grading criteria. All data were entered in a structured proforma. At
      least 50% reduction in tumour size was taken as adequate clinical response.
      STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data was analysed using Chi-square test with help of Excel
      2007 and SPSS-16 statistical software. RESULTS: Different pattern of toxicities
      were seen with FAC and AT regimens. Anaemia, thrombocytopenia, stomatitis,
      hyperpigmentation, photosensitivity and diarrhoea were more common with patients
      receiving FAC regimen. Leucopenia, peripheral neuropathy, myalgia, arthralgia,
      vomiting and injection site reactions were more common in AT regimen. Both FAC
      and AT regimens gave 100% clinical response. CONCLUSION: FAC and AT regimens are
      equally efficacious but have different toxicity profiles. Patient's
      predisposition to toxicities may govern the selection of a particular regime.

PMID- 26870704
TI  - Diuretic Activity of Ethanolic Root Extract of Mimosa Pudica in Albino Rats.
AB  - INTRODUCATION: Diuretics are the drugs which increase the urine output. This
      property is useful in various pathological conditions of fluid overload. The
      presently available diuretics have lot of adverse effects. Our study has
      evaluated the diuretic activity of ethanolic root extract of Mimosa pudica as an
      alternative/new drug which may induce diuresis. AIM: To evaluate the diuretic
      activity of ethanolic root extract of Mimosa pudicaa in albino rats. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Ethanolic root extract of Mimosa pudica (EEMP) was prepared using
      soxhlet's apparatus. Albino rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each. Group
      I (Control) received distilled water 25ml/kg orally. Group-II (Standard) received
      Furosemide 20mg/kg orally. Group-III received EEMP 100 mg/kg, Group-IV received
      EEMP 200 mg/kg and Group-V received EEMP 400 mg/kg. The urine samples were
      collected for all the groups upto 5 hours after dosing and urine volume was
      measured. Urine was analysed for electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-). ANOVA, Dunnet's
      test and p-values were measured and data was analysed. RESULTS: EEMP exhibited
      significant diuretic activity by increasing urine volume and also by enhancing
      elimination of Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+) and Chloride (Cl-) at doses of 100
      and 200mg/kg. CONCLUSION: EEMP possesses significant diuretic activity and has a
      beneficial role in volume overload conditions.

PMID- 26870705
TI  - Frequency of Anxiety in Patients With Drug Poisoning in Rafsanjan City, Iran, in
      2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Expansion of technology and progression of sciences have led to wider
      access to agricultural and industrial drugs and chemicals, which has resulted in
      many problems. Both in wanted and unwanted ways people may take these toxic
      agents, which perhaps may be along with many unpredictable, life-threatening and
      mortal outcomes. Based on many studies, most of intentional poisonings arise from
      an origin of patients' psychological backgrounds, which confirms necessity and
      importance of the recent study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to study the
      prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with drug poisoning. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 116 cases of poisoning
      referred to emergency room of Ali-Ebn-Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan city, Iran,
      were randomly selected. Frequency of anxiety among participants was evaluated
      through the Spielberger questionnaire. A past history of depression and obsession
      was also evaluated through interview by a psychiatrist based on diagnostic and
      statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) criteria. All data were then
      collected and analyzed using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Anxiety, as the second
      most common reason of psychiatric disorders in cases of poisoning, with a
      prevalence of 12.1% in form of mild, 75.9% moderate and 12.1% severe, was
      confirmed among the participants of this study. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of
      anxiety among cases of poisoning with both drugs and chemicals are noticeably
      higher than general population. This fact strongly suggests the necessity of in
      advance consultation and treatment of any underlying psychiatric disorders of
      patients to prevent prospective complications.

PMID- 26870706
TI  - Temperament and Character Dimensions: Correlates of Impulsivity in Morphine
      Addicts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Given the role of temperament and character dimensions on impulsivity
      in addicts, the purpose of this study was to temperament and character
      dimensions: correlates of impulsivity in morphine addicts. OBJECTIVES: The aim of
      this study was to determine and verify the association of temperament and
      character dimensions with impulsivity in morphine addicts. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      The research method was descriptive and correlational. The study sample consisted
      of 120 morphine addicts referred to drug addiction treatment centers in Ardabil
      city in 2013. The participants were selected through convenience sampling method
      from 5 centers. We used impulsivity scale as well as temperament and character
      inventory to collect data. RESULTS: The results showed that significant
      relationship existed between impulsivity and characteristics such as novelty
      seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, and
      cooperativeness, while no significant relationship between impulsivity and self
      transcendence was observed. The results of the multiple regression analysis
      showed that 47% of the impulsivity variance was explained by temperament and
      character dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that temperament and
      character dimensions are associated with impulsivity. The findings also have
      important implications for prevention, pathology, and treatment in the morphine
      addicts.

PMID- 26870707
TI  - Effectiveness of Hope Therapy Protocol on Depression and Hope in Amphetamine
      Users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Addiction has surpassed the boundaries of health and treatment and
      turned into a social crisis and a debilitating and major concern in today's
      world. Amphetamine, one of the addictive drugs, is classified as psycho
      stimulants drugs, which increase arousal, alertness, and motor activity. Humans
      report that this drug produces a significant euphoria and is highly addictive.
      OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hope therapy
      protocol (HTP) on depression reduction and hope increase in amphetamine users.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study has a quasi-experimental design with
      experimental and control groups. The sample included all amphetamine consumers
      referring to day drug addiction treatment center in Ray City, Iran, selected with
      convenience method. In order to analyze the data, multivariate analysis of
      covariance (MANCOVA) was applied using SPSS software. RESULTS: The results showed
      that F value of mean scores in depression and hope post-tests of the experimental
      and control groups are 24.94 and 25.73, respectively, which are significant (P <
      0.01). Therefore, hope therapy training could reduce depressive symptoms in
      amphetamine consumers and improve their hope. CONCLUSIONS: Performing HTP can
      improve hopefulness and symptoms of patients, specially addicted ones. In
      addition, it can prevent substance abusers from returning to drugs and leaving
      the treatment period unfinished.

PMID- 26870708
TI  - Quality of Life in Methadone Maintenance Treated Patients in Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Measurement of life quality as an index of health status has a
      widespread application in health care domain. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed
      to determine the quality of life of referents to addiction cessation centers of
      Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 988 addicts who had
      referred to addiction cessation centers in Shahroud were studied through SF-36
      questionnaire. The data were analyzed using linear regression in structural
      equation modeling and STATA 12 statistical software. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD age
      of the participants was 41.2 +/- 11.8 years. Most of the referents used smoking
      followed by eating method of opium abuse. The mean +/- SD score of life quality
      was 67.8 +/- 17.2, the mean +/- SD score of life quality in physical health
      dimension was 76.9 +/- 26.7, and the mean +/- SD score in mental health dimension
      was 64.5 +/- 18.4. Univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between
      life quality and gender, place of residence, education, occupation, marital
      status, and income (P <= 0.05). However, in multivariate analysis a significant
      relationship was observed only between gender, socioeconomic status, and quality
      of life score. CONCLUSIONS: Although most studies have reported low and weak
      quality of life in addicts, the findings of this study shows that the life
      quality score of addicts is rather good. It seems that the maintenance treatment
      that addicts receive in addiction cessation centers has been effective in
      improving the quality of life of the patients. Hence, expanding methadone
      treatment centers can play a leading role in the improvement of life quality in
      addicts.

PMID- 26870709
TI  - Iran's Activities on Prevention, Treatment and Harm Reduction of Drug Abuse.
AB  - CONTEXT: In the present review study, authors investigated Iran's activities
      regarding prevention, abuse and harm reduction of drugs nationwide. The issue
      appears to be important in order to show the trend of activities in the country.
      EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: In this report, authors gathered data from different
      Farsi/English peer review journals issued both in printed and online versions.
      These journals have been indexed in PubMed, ISI, ISC, SID, Magiran, UN, etc.
      These are among the most referred and cited databases. RESULTS: Summarizing the
      data led to three distinguished sections: 1) drug supply reduction activities; 2)
      drug demand reduction activities; 3) harm reduction activities. CONCLUSIONS: As
      the results showed, the trend of activities was encouraging and some additional
      activities could be included to future programs relying on early-onset
      preventions.

PMID- 26870710
TI  - Sleep Quality and Sexual Function in Patients Under Methadone Maintenance
      Treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Methadone maintenance has remained the main modality of treatment for
      opioid dependent subjects. Side effects of methadone treatment may be potential
      obstacles to its continuation. Sleep quality and sexual function are two culture
      based concerns, directly related to patients' compliance with methadone
      maintenance treatment (MMT) program. OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to
      examine the frequency of sleep disparity and sexual dysfunction in patients under
      MMT referring to MMT clinics of Kerman, Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross
      sectional study, 198 adult subjects under MMT for more than 6 months were
      enrolled. Measurement tool consisted of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI),
      Arizona sexual experience scale (ASEX), the 12-item general health questionnaire
      (GHQ-12), and a demographic questionnaire. The questionnaires were self
      completed, except where individuals were illiterate. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD age of
      the subjects was 41.2 +/- 7.9 years and 93.4% of them were male. More than half
      of them used heroin. Prevalence of poor sleeping and sexual dysfunction in
      patients under MMT were 67.7% and 18.2%, respectively. There was no association
      between sleep quality or sexual dysfunction and demographics or methadone dose.
      However, a significant correlation was observed between mental health and sleep
      quality (r =0.16, P = 0.033), and sexual function (r = 0.18, P = 0.011).
      CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality showed a poorer profile than sexual function.
      Therefore, more emphasis should be laid on treatment of sleep disparity during
      follow up of MMT patients comparing to their sexual function. Patients should be
      reassured that probable sexual dysfunctions should not be regarded as a
      consequence of MMT.

PMID- 26870711
TI  - Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Risk (HIV/AIDS)
      Taking Behavior and HIV/AIDS Knowledge With African-American Women.

PMID- 26870712
TI  - Role of Temperament, Personality Traits and Onset Age of Smoking in Predicting
      Opiate Dependence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: According to drug gateway theory, smoking cigarettes, especially, low
      onset age of smoking, is one of the risk factors for future use. OBJECTIVES: The
      present study aimed to compare nicotine and opiate addicts to identify the
      differences in personality traits and onset age of smoking in the two groups that
      cause some individuals to appeal to other substances after starting to use
      cigarettes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two groups of opiate and nicotine addicts were
      randomly selected. Revised version of the Cloninger temperament inventory
      questionnaire, the Fagrastrom nicotine dependence and the Maudsley addiction
      profile were used. ANOVA and logistic regression were applied for data analysis.
      RESULTS: Opiate addicts had higher scores in novelty seeking dimension and lower
      scores in cooperativeness compared to nicotine addicts. The onset age of smoking
      cigarette in opiate addicts was lower than nicotine addicts. CONCLUSIONS: Low
      onset age of smoking cigarettes, high novelty seeking and low cooperativeness in
      opiate dependents are among the important personality traits in future use of
      drugs that can predict the subsequent onset of using opiate drugs.

PMID- 26870714
TI  - Internet Gaming Addiction: A Technological Hazard.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Internet is considered a beneficial tool in research,
      communication, and information. Still, its excessive and prolonged use has the
      potential of causing addiction. The presentation of this technological hazard may
      range from a mild socio-personal distress to a gross disorganization in behavior
      and self-care. No reported study on Internet gaming addiction is available from
      India. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of two brothers, diagnosed with
      Internet gaming addiction, who showed grossly disorganized behavior and severely
      compromised self-care. The condition was managed by pharmacological and non
      pharmacological therapies, with sustained improvement after 6 months follow up.
      CONCLUSIONS: Internet gaming addiction may cause severe personal, social, and
      occupational problems. Despite the range of severity and various presentations of
      this disorder, DSM-5 lacks the severity classifier. Early identification and
      management may result in complete recovery.

PMID- 26870713
TI  - Developing a Brief Scale to Measure HIV Transmission Risk Among Injecting Drug
      Users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: One of the main concerns of policymakers is to measure the impact of
      harm reduction programs and different interventions on the risk of HIV
      transmission among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs). Looking simultaneously at
      multiple factors and conditions that affect the risk of HIV transmission may
      provide policymakers a better insight into the mixed nature of HIV transmission.
      OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to design a simple, brief, and multi
      dimensional scale for measuring HIV transmission risk among IDUs. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: From October 2013 to March 2014, we conducted face-to-face interviews
      with 147 IDUs. Eligible participants were individuals 18 years or older who had
      injected drugs at least once during the last year and had not participated in
      similar studies within the 2 months before the interview. To design a scale for
      measuring HIV transmission risk, we specified 11 items, which address different
      dimensions of HIV risk taking behaviors/situations based on experts' opinion. We
      applied exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal component extraction to
      develop scales. Eigen values greater than 1 were used as a criterion for factor
      extraction. RESULTS: We extracted 7 items based on first factor, which were
      accounted for 21% of the variations. The final scale contained 7 items: 4 items
      were related to injecting practice and 3 items related to sexual behaviors. The
      Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.66, acceptable for such a brief scale.
      CONCLUSIONS: Applying a simple and brief scale that incorporates the different
      dimensions of HIV transmission risk may provide policymakers and harm
      reductionists with a better understanding of HIV transmission in this key group
      and may be advantageous for evaluating intervention programs.

PMID- 26870715
TI  - Galectin-3 Serum Levels Are Independently Associated With Microalbuminuria in
      Chronic Heart Failure Outpatients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a novel biomarker reflecting inflammation
      status and fibrosis involving worsening of both cardiac and renal functions.
      OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Gal-3
      serum levels and microalbuminuria in a group of chronic heart failure (CHF)
      outpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled CHF outpatients having stable
      clinical conditions and receiving conventional therapy. All patients underwent
      clinical evaluation, routine chemistry analysis, echocardiography, and evaluation
      of the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR). RESULTS: Among the patients
      enrolled, 61 had microalbuminuria (UACR, 30-299) and 133 normoalbuminuria (UACR,
      < 30). Patients with normoalbuminuria showed significantly higher levels of Gal-3
      than those without (19.9 +/- 8.8 vs. 14.6 +/- 5.5 ng/mL). The stepwise regression
      analysis indicated that Gal-3 was the first determinant of microalbuminuria (odds
      ratio [OR]: 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 - 1.14, P = 0.012), followed
      by diabetes (OR 2.14; 95% CI: 1.00 - 4.57; P = 0.049) and high central venous
      pressure (OR 2.80; 95% CI: 1.04 - 7.58; P= 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      indicate an independent association between Gal-3 levels and microalbuminuria, an
      early marker of altered renal function. This suggests the possible role of Gal-3
      in the progression of cardiorenal syndrome in CHF outpatients.

PMID- 26870716
TI  - Detection of AR-V7 mRNA in whole blood may not predict the effectiveness of novel
      endocrine drugs for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
AB  - A splice variant of androgen receptor (AR), AR-V7, lacks in androgen-binding
      portion and leads to aggressive cancer characteristics. Reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and subsequent nested PCRs for the
      amplification of AR-V7 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) transcripts were done
      for whole blood of patients with prostate cancer and male controls. With primary
      reverse transcription PCRs, AR-V7 and PSA were detected in 4.5% and 4.7% of
      prostate cancer, respectively. With nested PCRs, AR-V7 messenger RNA (mRNA) was
      positive in 43.8% of castration-sensitive prostate cancer and 48.1% of castration
      resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), while PSA mRNA was positive in 6.3% of
      castration-sensitive prostate cancer and 18.5% of CRPC. Whole-blood samples of
      controls showed AR-V7 mRNA expression by nested PCR. Based on multivariate
      analysis, expression of AR-V7 mRNA in whole blood was not significantly
      correlated with clinical parameters and PSA mRNA in blood, while univariate
      analysis showed a correlation between AR-V7 mRNA and metastasis at initial
      diagnosis. Detection of AR-V7 mRNA did not predict the reduction of serum PSA in
      patients with CRPC following abiraterone and enzalutamide administration. In
      conclusion, AR-V7 mRNA expression in normal hematopoietic cells may have
      annihilated the manifestation of aggressiveness of prostate cancer and the
      prediction of the effectiveness of abiraterone and enzalutamide by the assessment
      of AR-V7 mRNA in blood. 

PMID- 26870717
TI  - Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in metastatic breast cancer
      patients: a review of 25 cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intravenous bisphosphonates have been used in metastatic breast
      cancer patients to reduce pathologic bone fracture and bone pain. However,
      necrosis of the jaw has been reported in those who received intravenous
      bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is
      caused by dental extraction, dental implant surgery, and denture wearing;
      however, it occurs spontaneously. The purpose of this study was to report BRONJ
      in metastatic breast cancer patients. METHODS: Consecutive 25 female patients
      were referred from the Department of Oncology from 2008 to 2014 for jaw bone
      discomfort. Staging of breast cancer, history of bisphosphonate infusion,
      etiology of BRONJ, and treatment results were reviewed. Average age of the
      patients was 55.4 years old (38-74). Twelve maxillae and 16 mandibles were
      involved. Conservative treatments such as irrigation, antibiotic medication,
      analgesics, and oral gargle were applied for all patients for the initial
      treatment. Patients who had sequestrum underwent debridement and primary closure.
      RESULTS: The etiologies of BRONJ were dental extraction (19 cases), dental
      implant (2 cases), and endodontic treatment (1 case). However, three patients did
      not have any risk factors to cause BRONJ. Three patients died of progression of
      metastasis during follow-up periods. Surgical debridement was performed in 21
      patients with success in 18 patients. Three patients showed recurred bone
      exposure and infection after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of the BRONJ is
      critical in metastatic breast cancer patients. Conservative treatment to reduce
      pain, discomfort, and infection is recommended for the initial therapy. However,
      if there is a sequestrum, surgical debridement and primary closure is the key to
      treat the BRONJ.

PMID- 26870718
TI  - Editorial: Current Challenges in Immune and Other Acquired Cytopenias of
      Childhood.

PMID- 26870719
TI  - Dietary Prebiotics, Milk Fat Globule Membrane, and Lactoferrin Affects Structural
      Neurodevelopment in the Young Piglet.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and lactoferrin have been
      identified as two components that have potential to affect neurodevelopment.
      While concentrations of some MFGM constituents in infant formulas are within
      human milk range, they may not be present at optimal or clinically effective
      levels. However, lactoferrin levels of infant formulas are consistently reported
      to be lower than human milk. This study sought to provide a novel combination of
      prebiotics, bovine-derived MFGM, and lactoferrin and assess their influence on
      neurodevelopment. METHODS: Twenty-four male piglets were provided either TEST (n
      = 12) or CONT (n = 12) diet from 2 to 31 days of age. Piglets underwent spatial T
      maze assessment starting at 17 days of age, were subjected to magnetic resonance
      imaging at 30 days of age, and were euthanized for tissue collection at 31 days
      of age. RESULTS: Diffusion tensor imaging revealed differences in radial (P =
      0.032) and mean (P = 0.028) diffusivities in the internal capsule, where CONT
      piglets had higher rates of diffusion compared with TEST piglets. Voxel-based
      morphometry indicated larger (P < 0.05) differences in cortical gray and white
      matter concentrations, with CONT piglets having larger tissue clusters in these
      regions compared with TEST piglets. In the spatial T-maze assessment, CONT
      piglets exhibited shorter latency to choice compared with TEST piglets on day 2
      of acquisition and days 3 and 4 of reversal. CONCLUSION: Observed differences in
      microstructure maturation of the internal capsule and cortical tissue
      concentrations suggest that piglets provided TEST diet were more advanced
      developmentally than piglets provided CONT diet. Therefore, supplementation of
      infant formula with prebiotics, MFGM, and lactoferrin may support
      neurodevelopment in human infants.

PMID- 26870720
TI  - Experience with Quality Assurance in Two Store-and-Forward Telemedicine Networks.
AB  - Despite the increasing use of telemedicine around the world, little has been done
      to incorporate quality assurance (QA) into these operations. The purpose of the
      present study was to examine the feasibility of QA in store-and-forward
      teleconsulting using a previously published framework. During a 2-year study
      period, we examined the feasibility of using QA tools in two mature telemedicine
      networks [Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and New Zealand Teledermatology (NZT)].
      The tools included performance reporting to assess trends, automated follow-up of
      patients to obtain outcomes data, automated surveying of referrers to obtain user
      feedback, and retrospective assessment of randomly selected cases to assess
      quality. In addition, the senior case coordinators in each network were
      responsible for identifying potential adverse events from email reports received
      from users. During the study period, there were 149 responses to the patient
      follow-up questions relating to the 1241 MSF cases (i.e., 12% of cases), and
      there were 271 responses to the follow-up questions relating to the 639 NZT cases
      (i.e., 42% of cases). The collection of user feedback reports was combined with
      the collection of patient follow-up data, thus producing the same response rates.
      The outcomes data suggested that the telemedicine advice proved useful for the
      referring doctor in the majority of cases and was likely to benefit the patient.
      The user feedback was overwhelmingly positive, over 90% of referrers in the two
      networks finding the advice received to be of educational benefit. The feedback
      also suggested that the teleconsultation had provided cost savings in about 20%
      of cases, either to the patient/family, or to the hospital/clinic treating the
      patient. Various problems were detected by regular monitoring, and certain
      adverse events were identified from email reports by the users. A single aberrant
      quality reading was detected by using a process control chart. The present study
      demonstrates that a QA program is feasible in store-and-forward telemedicine, and
      shows that it was useful in two different networks, because certain problems were
      detected (and then solved) that would not have been identified until much later.
      It seems likely that QA could be used much more widely in telemedicine generally
      to benefit patient care. 

PMID- 26870721
TI  - Corrigendum: Examining the Correlation between Objective Injury Parameters,
      Personality Traits and Adjustment Measures among Burn Victims.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 49 in vol. 3, PMID: 25874193.]. 

PMID- 26870723
TI  - Employing the Precautionary Principle to Evaluate the Use of E-Cigarettes.
AB  - Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have emerged onto the public market as an
      alternative to tobacco cigarettes; however, science is inconclusive as e
      cigarettes have not been thoroughly investigated, including their short- and long
      term risks and benefits (1, 2). The question arises of whether e-cigarettes will
      become the future tobacco crisis. This paper connects the precautionary principle
      to the use of e-cigarettes in an effort to guide decision-makers in the
      prevention of adverse health outcomes and societal costs. 

PMID- 26870722
TI  - Biosurveillance in Central Asia: Successes and Challenges of Tick-Borne Disease
      Research in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
AB  - Central Asia is a vast geographic region that includes five former Soviet Union
      republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The
      region has a unique infectious disease burden, and a history that includes Silk
      Road trade routes and networks that were part of the anti-plague and biowarfare
      programs in the former Soviet Union. Post-Soviet Union biosurveillance research
      in this unique area of the world has met with several challenges, including lack
      of funding and resources to independently conduct hypothesis driven, peer-review
      quality research. Strides have been made, however, to increase scientific
      engagement and capability. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are examples of countries
      where biosurveillance research has been successfully conducted, particularly with
      respect to especially dangerous pathogens. In this review, we describe in detail
      the successes, challenges, and opportunities of conducting biosurveillance in
      Central Asia as exemplified by our recent research activities on ticks and tick
      borne diseases in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. 

PMID- 26870724
TI  - Asthma 101 for Schools: Successes and Challenges in Transitioning to Online
      Delivery.
AB  - Florida Asthma Program staff worked with evaluators from the Florida State
      University College of Medicine to assess participation and quality of the
      American Lung Association's Asthma 101 asthma management education program for
      school faculty and staff between 2011 and 2014. This included transitioning the
      program to an online training format for the 2013-2014 school year. Asthma 101
      helps school personnel master the basics of asthma physiology and management,
      with content tailored specifically for elementary and secondary educational
      settings. The program is assessed with questionnaires at multiple timepoints,
      yielding a quasi-experimental evaluation design. Evaluators reviewed quantitative
      data from pretests and qualitative and quantitative data from post-program
      satisfaction questionnaires. Program spreadsheets listing the dates for delivery
      and number of attendees were also reviewed. Overall, evaluation findings were
      positive. In the 2011-2012 program year, 16 different course sessions were
      offered, and more than half of enrolled participants came from Title I schools. A
      total of 228 people were trained. In the 2012-2013 program year, 19 different
      course sessions were offered. Enrollment totals (638) and matching pre- and
      posttest totals (562) soundly exceeded the target metric of 425. At least 170
      (27%) of a total of 638 participants could be verified as coming from the target
      demographic of Title I school faculty and staff. In the 2013-2014 program year,
      the course was offered online on a rolling basis via the Florida TRAIN course
      management system. Enrollment remained high and learner outcomes remained
      consistently strong across all content areas for knowledge and satisfaction. A
      total of 406 people participated in the training; complete pre- and posttest data
      were available for 341 of these individuals; and satisfaction data were available
      for 325. Of the 406 trainees, 199 (49%) reported working for Title I schools.
      Evaluation yielded very positive results. An overwhelming majority of
      participants reported finding the course consistently strong across the board and
      highly impactful for their own ability to help students manage their asthma
      effectively. Most participants also reported that they would change/improve their
      asthma management behaviors in the workplace. Recommendations were developed to
      help expand future program reach. 

PMID- 26870726
TI  - Experiences in Engaging the Public on Biotechnology Advances and Regulation.
AB  - Public input is often sought as part of the biosafety decision-making process.
      Information and communication about the advances in biotechnology are part of the
      first step to engagement. This step often relies on the developers and
      introducers of the particular innovation, for example, an industry-funded website
      has hosted various authorities to respond to questions from the public.
      Alternative approaches to providing information have evolved, as demonstrated in
      sub-Saharan Africa where non-governmental organizations and associations play
      this role in some countries and subregions. Often times, those in the public who
      choose to participate in engagement opportunities have opinions about the overall
      biosafety decision process. Case-by-case decisions are made within defined
      regulatory frameworks, however, and in general, regulatory consultation does not
      provide the opportunity for input to the overall decision-making process. The
      various objectives on both sides of engagement can make the experience
      challenging; there are no clear metrics for success. The situation is challenging
      because public input occurs within the context of the local legislative
      framework, regulatory requirements, and the peculiarities of the fairly recent
      biosafety frameworks, as well as of public opinion and individual values. Public
      engagement may be conducted voluntarily, or may be driven by legislation. What
      can be taken into account by the decision makers, and therefore what will be
      gathered and the timing of consultation, also may be legally defined. Several
      practical experiences suggest practices for effective engagement within the
      confines of regulatory mandates: (1) utilizing a range of resources to facilitate
      public education and opportunities for understanding complex technologies; (2)
      defining in advance the goal of seeking input; (3) identifying and communicating
      with the critical public groups from which input is needed; (4) using a clearly
      defined approach to gathering and assessing what will be used in making the
      biosafety decision; and (5) communicating using clear and simple language. These
      practices create a foundation for systematic methods to gather, acknowledge,
      respond to, and even incorporate public input. Applying such best practices will
      increase transparency and optimize the value of input from the public. 

PMID- 26870727
TI  - Editorial: Cyanobacteria: The Green E. coli.

PMID- 26870725
TI  - Detecting Aquaporin Function and Regulation.
AB  - Water is the major component of cells and tissues throughout all forms of life.
      Fluxes of water and solutes through cell membranes and epithelia are essential
      for osmoregulation and energy homeostasis. Aquaporins are membrane channels
      expressed in almost every organism and involved in the bidirectional transfer of
      water and small solutes across cell membranes. Aquaporins have important
      biological roles and have been implicated in several pathophysiological
      conditions suggesting a great translational potential in aquaporin-based
      diagnostics and therapeutics. Detecting aquaporin function is critical for
      assessing regulation and screening for new activity modulators that can prompt
      the development of efficient medicines. Appropriate methods for functional
      analysis comprising suitable cell models and techniques to accurately evaluate
      water and solute membrane permeability are essential to validate aquaporin
      function and assess short-term regulation. The present review describes
      established assays commonly used to assess aquaporin function in cells and
      tissues, as well as the experimental biophysical strategies required to reveal
      functional regulation and identify modulators, the first step for aquaporin drug
      discovery. 

PMID- 26870728
TI  - A Comparative Data-Based Modeling Study on Respiratory CO2 Gas Exchange during
      Mechanical Ventilation.
AB  - The goal of this study is to derive a minimally complex but credible model of
      respiratory CO2 gas exchange that may be used in systematic design and pilot
      testing of closed-loop end-tidal CO2 controllers in mechanical ventilation. We
      first derived a candidate model that captures the essential mechanisms involved
      in the respiratory CO2 gas exchange process. Then, we simplified the candidate
      model to derive two lower-order candidate models. We compared these candidate
      models for predictive capability and reliability using experimental data
      collected from 25 pediatric subjects undergoing dynamically varying mechanical
      ventilation during surgical procedures. A two-compartment model equipped with
      transport delay to account for CO2 delivery between the lungs and the tissues
      showed modest but statistically significant improvement in predictive capability
      over the same model without transport delay. Aggregating the lungs and the
      tissues into a single compartment further degraded the predictive fidelity of the
      model. In addition, the model equipped with transport delay demonstrated superior
      reliability to the one without transport delay. Further, the respiratory
      parameters derived from the model equipped with transport delay, but not the one
      without transport delay, were physiologically plausible. The results suggest that
      gas transport between the lungs and the tissues must be taken into account to
      accurately reproduce the respiratory CO2 gas exchange process under conditions of
      wide-ranging and dynamically varying mechanical ventilation conditions. 

PMID- 26870729
TI  - Spatio-Temporal Detection of the Thiomonas Population and the Thiomonas Arsenite
      Oxidase Involved in Natural Arsenite Attenuation Processes in the Carnoules Acid
      Mine Drainage.
AB  - The acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted creek of the Carnoules mine (Southern
      France) is characterized by acid waters with a high heavy metal content. The
      microbial community inhabiting this AMD was extensively studied using isolation,
      metagenomic and metaproteomic methods, and the results showed that a natural
      arsenic (and iron) attenuation process involving the arsenite oxidase activity of
      several Thiomonas strains occurs at this site. A sensitive quantitative Selected
      Reaction Monitoring (SRM)-based proteomic approach was developed for detecting
      and quantifying the two subunits of the arsenite oxidase and RpoA of two
      different Thiomonas groups. Using this approach combined with FISH and
      pyrosequencing-based 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, it was established here for
      the first time that these Thiomonas strains are ubiquitously present in minor
      proportions in this AMD and that they express the key enzymes involved in natural
      remediation processes at various locations and time points. In addition to these
      findings, this study also confirms that targeted proteomics applied at the
      community level can be used to detect weakly abundant proteins in situ. 

PMID- 26870730
TI  - Tolerance to Excess-Boron Conditions Acquired by Stabilization of a BOR1 Variant
      with Weak Polarity in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Boron (B) is a metalloid that is essential for plant growth but is toxic when
      present in excess. Arabidopsis BOR1 is a borate exporter, facilitating B
      translocation from root to shoot under limited-B conditions. BOR1 shows stele
      side polar localization in the plasma membrane of various root cells, presumably
      to support B translocation toward the stele. BOR1 is degraded under high-B supply
      through vacuolar sorting via ubiquitination at the K590 residue to prevent the
      accumulation of B to a toxic level in shoots. A previous study showed that
      overexpression of BOR1 under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA
      promoter improved the growth of Arabidopsis under limited-B conditions without
      affecting the growth under sufficient-to-excess-B conditions. In this study, we
      unexpectedly found that ubiquitous expression of a stabilized BOR1 variant
      improved tolerance to excess-B in Arabidopsis. We established transgenic plants
      expressing BOR1-GFP fused with hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) and
      BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT under control of the ubiquitin 10 promoter. BOR1-GFP-HPT and
      BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT were expressed in various cell types in leaves and roots and
      showed weak polar localization in root tip cells. BOR1-GFP-HPT, but not
      BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT, was degraded through an endocytic pathway under high-B
      conditions. Transgenic plants with the stabilized variant BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT
      showed improved root and shoot growth under excess-B conditions. The
      concentration of B was greater in the shoots of plants with BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT
      or BOR1-GFP-HPT than in those of untransformed wild-type plants. These results
      suggest that BOR1(K590A)-GFP-HPT confers tolerance to excess-B by excluding B
      from the cytosol of shoot cells. Results from this study indicate the potential
      for engineering the trafficking properties of a transporter to produce plants
      that are tolerant to mineral stress. 

PMID- 26870731
TI  - Virtual Nuclear Envelope Breakdown and Its Regulators in Fission Yeast Meiosis.
AB  - Ran, a small GTPase, is required for the spindle formation and nuclear envelope
      (NE) formation. After NE breakdown (NEBD) during mitosis in metazoan cells, the
      Ran-GTP gradient across the NE is lost and Ran-GTP becomes concentrated around
      chromatin, thus affecting the stability of microtubules and promoting the
      assembly of spindle microtubules and segregation of chromosomes. Mitosis in which
      chromosomes are segregated subsequent to NEBD is called "open mitosis." In
      contrast, many fungi undergo a process termed "closed mitosis" in which
      chromosome segregation and spindle formation occur without NEBD. Although the
      fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe undergoes a closed mitosis, it exhibits a
      short period during meiosis (anaphase of the second meiosis; called "anaphase
      II") when nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins are mixed in the presence of intact NE
      and nuclear pore complexes (NPC). This "virtual" nuclear envelope breakdown
      (vNEBD) involves changes in the localization of RanGAP1, an activator of Ran-GTP
      hydrolysis. Recently, Nup132, a component of the structural core Nup107-160
      subcomplex of the NPC, has been shown to be involved in the maintenance of the
      nuclear cytoplasmic barrier in yeast meiosis. In this review, we highlight the
      possible roles of RanGAP1 and Nup132 in vNEBD and discuss the biological
      significance of vNEBD in S. pombe meiosis. 

PMID- 26870732
TI  - High Light Intensity Leads to Increased Peroxule-Mitochondria Interactions in
      Plants.
AB  - Peroxules are thin protrusions from spherical peroxisomes produced under low
      levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Whereas, stress mitigation favors
      peroxule retraction, prolongation of the ROS stress leads to the elongation of
      the peroxisome into a tubular form. Subsequently, the elongated form becomes
      constricted through the binding of proteins such as dynamin related proteins 3A
      and 3B and eventually undergoes fission to increase the peroxisomal population
      within a cell. The events that occur in the short time window between peroxule
      initiation and the tubulation of the entire peroxisome have not been observed in
      living plant cells. Here, using fluorescent protein aided live-imaging, we show
      that peroxules are formed after only 4 min of high light (HL) irradiation during
      which there is a perceptible increase in the cytosolic levels of hydrogen
      peroxide. Using a stable, double transgenic line of Arabidopsis thaliana
      expressing a peroxisome targeted YFP and a mitochondrial targeted GFP probe, we
      observed sustained interactions between peroxules and small, spherical
      mitochondria. Further, it was observed that the frequency of HL-induced
      interactions between peroxules and mitochondria increased in the Arabidopsis
      anisotropy1 mutant that has reduced cell wall crystallinity and where we show
      accumulation of higher H2O2 levels than wild type plants. Our observations
      suggest a testable model whereby peroxules act as interaction platforms for ROS
      distressed mitochondria that may release membrane proteins and fission factors.
      These proteins might thus become easily available to peroxisomes and facilitate
      their proliferation for enhancing the ROS-combating capability of a plant cell. 

PMID- 26870733
TI  - The Effect of a Combination Treatment Using Palonosetron, Promethazine, and
      Dexamethasone on the Prophylaxis of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and QTc
      Interval Duration in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy under General Anesthesia: A
      Pilot Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a displeasing
      experience that distresses surgical patients during the first 24 h after a
      surgical procedure. The incidence of postoperative nausea occurs in about 50%,
      the incidence of postoperative vomiting is about 30%, and in high-risk patients,
      the PONV rate could be as high as 80%. Therefore, the study design of this single
      arm, non-randomized, pilot study assessed the efficacy and safety profile of a
      triple therapy combination with palonosetron, dexamethasone, and promethazine to
      prevent PONV in patients undergoing craniotomies under general anesthesia.
      METHODS: The research protocol was approved by the institutional review board and
      40 subjects were provided written informed consent. At induction of anesthesia, a
      triple therapy of palonosetron 0.075 mg IV, dexamethasone 10 mg IV, and
      promethazine 25 mg IV was given as PONV prophylaxis. After surgery, subjects were
      transferred to the surgical intensive care unit or post anesthesia care unit as
      clinically indicated. Ondansetron 4 mg IV was administered as primary rescue
      medication to subjects with PONV symptoms. PONV was assessed and collected every
      24 h for 5 days via direct interview and/or medical charts review. RESULTS: The
      overall incidence of PONV during the first 24 h after surgery was 30% (n = 12).
      The incidence of nausea and emesis 24 h after surgery was 30% (n = 12) and 7.5%
      (n = 3), respectively. The mean time to first emetic episode, first rescue, and
      first significant nausea was 31.3 (+/-33.6), 15.1 (+/-25.8), and 21.1 (+/-25.4)
      hours, respectively. The overall incidence of nausea and vomiting after 24-120 h
      period after surgery was 30% (n = 12). The percentage of subjects without emesis
      episodes over 24-120 h postoperatively was 70% (n = 28). No subjects presented a
      prolonged QTc interval >=500 ms before and/or after surgery. CONCLUSION: Our data
      demonstrated that this triple therapy regimen may be an adequate alternative
      regimen for the treatment of PONV in patients undergoing neurological surgery
      under general anesthesia. More studies with a control group should be performed
      to demonstrate the efficacy of this regimen and that palonosetron is a low risk
      for QTc prolongation. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02635828
      (https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02635828).

PMID- 26870734
TI  - Pathophysiological Factors in the Relationship between Chronological Age and
      Calculated Lung Age as Detected in a Screening Setting in Community-Dwelling
      Subjects.
AB  - AIM: To explore the relationship between pathophysiological factors and premature
      lung aging in a cohort of community-dwelling subjects in a health-screening
      setting. METHODS: 16,107 pharmacy customers in Germany (5954 males, 10,153
      females; mean age 59.7 years) participated in a lung function screening project
      by providing demographic data, including smoking status and known airway
      conditions and performing spirometry with a Vitalograph, a spirometry screening
      device. Lung age was calculated from the spirometric findings, and the difference
      between chronological age and calculated lung age was analyzed in its
      relationship to the demographic data in general linear models. RESULTS: In the
      overall cohort, calculated lung age exceeded chronological age by 10.0 years.
      Based on the subset of non-smokers not reporting any airway conditions,
      Vitalograph data in this setting may underestimate FEV1 to some degree, but this
      apparently had little impact on the detection of association of lung age with
      pathophysiological factors or the corresponding effect sizes. The most important
      factors associated with greater lung age based on strength of association were
      presence of dyspnea, being a smoker, and reporting a history of COPD or asthma.
      Corresponding effect sizes for the difference between age and lung age were 6.5,
      5.7, 13.9, and 8.3 years over the chronological age. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:
      These data confirm the usefulness of screening devices of lung function testing
      for epidemiological but potentially also for pharmaco-epidemiological studies.

PMID- 26870736
TI  - Multifunctional Gold-Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposites for Enhanced Two-Photon
      Imaging and Therapy of Cancer Cells.
AB  - Three dimensional sub-micron resolution has made two-photon nanomedicine a very
      promising medical tool for cancer treatment since current techniques cause
      significant side effects for lack of spatial selectivity. Two-photon-excited
      (TPE) photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been achieved via mesoporous nanoscaffolds,
      but the efficiency of the treatment could still be improved. Herein, we
      demonstrate the enhancement of the treatment efficiency via gold-mesoporous
      organosilica nanocomposites for TPE-PDT in cancer cells when compared to
      mesoporous organosilica particles. We performed the first comparative study of
      the influence of the shape and spatial position of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)
      with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) functionalized with thiol groups and
      doped with a two-photon electron donor (2PS). The resulting multifunctional
      nanocarriers displayed TPE-fluorescence and were imaged inside cells.
      Furthermore, mesoporous organosilica NPs decorated gold nanospheres (AuNSs)
      induced 63 percent of selective killing on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This study
      thus provides insights for the design of more effective multifunctional two
      photon-sensitive nanocomposites via AuNPs for biomedical applications. 

PMID- 26870735
TI  - Effect of Housing Types on Growth, Feeding, Physical Activity, and Anxiety-Like
      Behavior in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Animal welfare and accurate data collection are equally important in
      rodent research. Housing influences study outcomes and can challenge studies that
      monitor feeding, so housing choice needs to be evidence-based. The goal of these
      studies was to (1) compare established measures of well-being between rodents
      housed in wire grid-bottom floors with a resting platform compared to solid
      bottom floors with bedding and (2) determine whether presence of a chewable
      device (Nylabone) affects orexin-A-induced hyperphagia. METHODS: Rodents were
      crossed over to the alternate housing twice after 2-week periods. Time required
      to complete food intake measurements was recorded as an indicator of feasibility.
      Food intake stimulated by orexin-A was compared with and without the Nylabone.
      Blood corticosterone and hypothalamic BDNF were assessed. RESULTS: Housing had no
      effect on growth, energy expenditure, corticosterone, hypothalamic BDNF,
      behavior, and anxiety measures. Food intake was disrupted after housing cross
      over. Time required to complete food intake measurements was significantly higher
      for solid-bottom bedded cages. The Nylabone had no effect on orexin-A-stimulated
      feeding. CONCLUSION: Well-being is not significantly different between rodents
      housed on grid-bottom floors and those in solid-bottom-bedded cages based on
      overall growth and feeding but alternating between housing confounds measures of
      feeding.

PMID- 26870737
TI  - Commentary: Heart Fat Infiltration in Subjects With and Without Coronary Artery
      Disease.

PMID- 26870738
TI  - Spatial and Functional Organization of Pig Trade in Different European Production
      Systems: Implications for Disease Prevention and Control.
AB  - Understanding the complexity of live pig trade organization is a key factor to
      predict and control major infectious diseases, such as classical swine fever
      (CSF) or African swine fever (ASF). Whereas the organization of pig trade has
      been described in several European countries with indoor commercial production
      systems, little information is available on this organization in other systems,
      such as outdoor or small-scale systems. The objective of this study was to
      describe and compare the spatial and functional organization of live pig trade in
      different European countries and different production systems. Data on premise
      characteristics and pig movements between premises were collected during 2011
      from Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Spain, which swine industry is representative
      of most of the production systems in Europe (i.e., commercial vs. small-scale and
      outdoor vs. indoor). Trade communities were identified in each country using the
      Walktrap algorithm. Several descriptive and network metrics were generated at
      country and community levels. Pig trade organization showed heterogeneous spatial
      and functional organization. Trade communities mostly composed of indoor
      commercial premises were identified in western France, northern Italy, northern
      Spain, and north-western Bulgaria. They covered large distances, overlapped in
      space, demonstrated both scale-free and small-world properties, with a role of
      trade operators and multipliers as key premises. Trade communities involving
      outdoor commercial premises were identified in western Spain, south-western and
      central France. They were more spatially clustered, demonstrated scale-free
      properties, with multipliers as key premises. Small-scale communities involved
      the majority of premises in Bulgaria and in central and Southern Italy. They were
      spatially clustered and had scale-free properties, with key premises usually
      being commercial production premises. These results indicate that a disease might
      spread very differently according to the production system and that key premises
      could be targeted to more cost-effectively control diseases. This study provides
      useful epidemiological information and parameters that could be used to design
      risk-based surveillance strategies or to more accurately model the risk of
      introduction or spread of devastating swine diseases, such as ASF, CSF, or foot
      and-mouth disease. 

PMID- 26870739
TI  - Practices and Perceptions of Animal Contact and Associated Health Outcomes in
      Pregnant Women and New Mothers.
AB  - Companion animals play an important role in our society. However, pregnant women
      and new mothers might have specific concerns about animal-associated health
      outcomes because of their altered immune function and posture as well as their
      newborn babies. The study was conducted to collect baseline data for developing
      an evidence-based intervention for pregnant women and new mothers to help them
      adopt certain behaviors to prevent adverse animal-associated health outcomes. A
      survey, using the Health Belief Model as the theoretical framework, was developed
      and administered to 326 women attending the Women, Infants, and Children programs
      in Illinois and Indiana in 2015. Prevalence of dog and cat ownership was
      estimated to be 39% (95% CI: 33-45%) and 26% (95% CI: 21-31%), respectively.
      Regardless of pet ownership, 74% of the respondents reported having some type of
      animal contact in the past month. Pregnancy or the birth of a child altered some
      animal contact practices among the study participants; particularly a
      discontinuation or decrease in cleaning cat litter boxes. Reports of diseases
      contracted from animals were low (4%) in this study. By contrast, animal
      associated injuries were prevalent (42%), and the majority were caused by animals
      the respondents owned (56%). Overall, respondents indicated that they appreciated
      the benefits of a program addressing animal-associated health outcomes and did
      not indicate strong resistance to adopt certain behaviors. The majority
      recognized human health-care providers as a source of information about animal
      contact and associated health outcomes but less frequently identified
      veterinarians as a source for such information. In addition, although most of the
      respondents felt that health-care providers and veterinarians should initiate
      discussions about preventing animal-associated illness and injuries, only 41%
      among those who had visited doctors or prenatal care services reported that their
      health-care providers discussed these issues with them. The results indicate the
      importance of an intervention concerning animal contact and associated health
      outcomes for the target population and provide insights to the potential
      implications of program implementation. 

PMID- 26870740
TI  - Simulation of Spread of African Swine Fever, Including the Effects of Residues
      from Dead Animals.
AB  - To study the spread of African swine fever (ASF) within a pig unit and the impact
      of unit size on ASF spread, a simulation model was created. In the model, an
      animal can be in one of the following stages: susceptible, latent, subclinical,
      clinical, or recovered. Animals can be infectious during the subclinical stage
      and are fully infectious during the clinical stage. ASF virus (ASFV) infection
      through residues of dead animals in the slurries was also modeled in an
      exponentially fading-out pattern. Low and high transmission rates for ASFV were
      tested in the model. Robustness analysis was carried out in order to study the
      impact of uncertain parameters on model predictions. The results showed that the
      disease may fade out within the pig unit without a major outbreak. Furthermore,
      they showed that spread of ASFV is dependent on the infectiousness of subclinical
      animals and the residues of dead animals, the transmission rate of the virus, and
      importantly the unit size. Moreover, increasing the duration of the latent or the
      subclinical stages resulted in longer time to disease fade out. The proposed
      model is a simple and robust tool simulating the spread of ASFV within a pig
      house taking into account dynamics of ASFV spread and the unit size. The tool can
      be implemented in simulation models of ASFV spread between herds. 

PMID- 26870741
TI  - Modeling Classical Swine Fever Outbreak-Related Outcomes.
AB  - The study was carried out to estimate classical swine fever (CSF) outbreak
      related outcomes, such as epidemic duration and number of infected, vaccinated,
      and depopulated premises, using defined most likely CSF outbreak scenarios. Risk
      metrics were established using empirical data to select the most likely CSF
      outbreak scenarios in Indiana. These scenarios were simulated using a stochastic
      between-premises disease spread model to estimate outbreak-related outcomes. A
      total of 19 single-site (i.e., with one index premises at the onset of an
      outbreak) and 15 multiple-site (i.e., with more than one index premises at the
      onset of an outbreak) outbreak scenarios of CSF were selected using the risk
      metrics. The number of index premises in the multiple-site outbreak scenarios
      ranged from 4 to 32. The multiple-site outbreak scenarios were further classified
      into clustered (N = 6) and non-clustered (N = 9) groups. The estimated median
      (5th, 95th percentiles) epidemic duration (days) was 224 (24, 343) in the single
      site and was 190 (157, 251) and 210 (167, 302) in the clustered and non-clustered
      multiple-site outbreak scenarios, respectively. The median (5th, 95th
      percentiles) number of infected premises was 323 (0, 488) in the single-site
      outbreak scenarios and was 529 (395, 662) and 465 (295, 640) in the clustered and
      non-clustered multiple-site outbreak scenarios, respectively. Both the number and
      spatial distributions of the index premises affected the outcome estimates. The
      results also showed the importance of implementing vaccinations to accommodate
      depopulation in the CSF outbreak controls. The use of routinely collected
      surveillance data in the risk metrics and disease spread model allows end users
      to generate timely outbreak-related information based on the initial outbreak's
      characteristics. Swine producers can use this information to make an informed
      decision on the management of swine operations and continuity of business, so
      that potential losses could be minimized during a CSF outbreak. Government
      authorities might use the information to make emergency preparedness plans for
      CSF outbreak control. 

PMID- 26870742
TI  - Wavefront-optimized surface retreatments of refractive error following previous
      laser refractive surgery: a retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Retreatments are sometimes necessary to correct residual or induced
      refractive errors following refractive surgery. Many different combinations of
      primary treatment methods and retreatment techniques have been studied, however,
      few studies have investigated wavefront-optimized (WFO) technology for
      retreatment following primary refractive surgery. This study aimed to report the
      outcomes of WFO photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) retreatments of refractive
      error following previous laser refractive surgery with PRK, laser in situ
      keratomileusis (LASIK), or laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK).
      METHODS: We reviewed records of patients who underwent WFO PRK retreatments using
      the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q 400 Hz Excimer Laser System (Alcon Surgical) between
      January 2008 and April 2011 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Madigan Army
      Medical Center. Outcomes were recorded in terms of uncorrected distance visual
      acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), corrected
      distance visual acuity (CDVA), and complications at 1 month (M), 3 M, and 6 M
      post-op. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (120 eyes) underwent WFO PRK retreatment
      during the study period. Primary surgery was surface ablation in 87 eyes (78 PRK,
      9 LASEK) and LASIK in 33 eyes. The mean spherical equivalent before retreatment
      was -0.79 +/- 0.94 D (-3.00 to 1.88 D). UDVA was >= 20/20 in 69 eyes (60.0 %) at
      1 M, 54 eyes (71.1 %) at 3 M, and 27 eyes (73.0 %) at 6 M follow-up. MRSE was
      within +/-0.50 D of emmetropia in 78 eyes (67.8 %) at 1 M, 59 eyes (77.6 %) at 3
      M, and 25 eyes (67.6 %) at 6 M follow-up. CDVA was maintained within +/-1 line of
      pre-op in 113 of 115 eyes (98.3 %) at 1 M, 74 of 76 eyes (97.4 %) at 3 M, and 37
      eyes (100 %) at 6 M follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although follow-up was limited beyond
      3 M, WFO PRK retreatments in patients with residual refractive error may be a
      safe and effective procedure. Further studies are necessary to determine the long
      term safety and stability of outcomes.

PMID- 26870743
TI  - Guiding Principles for Data Architecture to Support the Pathways Community HUB
      Model.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Pathways Community HUB Model provides a unique strategy to
      effectively supplement health care services with social services needed to
      overcome barriers for those most at risk of poor health outcomes. Pathways are
      standardized measurement tools used to define and track health and social issues
      from identification through to a measurable completion point. The HUB use
      Pathways to coordinate agencies and service providers in the community to
      eliminate the inefficiencies and duplication that exist among them. PATHWAYS
      COMMUNITY HUB MODEL AND FORMALIZATION: Experience with the Model has brought out
      the need for better information technology solutions to support implementation of
      the Pathways themselves through decision-support tools for care coordinators and
      other users to track activities and outcomes, and to facilitate reporting. Here
      we provide a basis for discussing recommendations for such a data infrastructure
      by developing a conceptual model that formalizes the Pathway concept underlying
      current implementations. REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA ARCHITECTURE TO SUPPORT THE
      PATHWAYS COMMUNITY HUB MODEL: The main contribution is a set of core
      recommendations as a framework for developing and implementing a data
      architecture to support implementation of the Pathways Community HUB Model. The
      objective is to present a tool for communities interested in adopting the Model
      to learn from and to adapt in their own development and implementation efforts.
      PROBLEMS WITH QUALITY OF DATA EXTRACTED FROM THE CHAP DATABASE: Experience with
      the Community Health Access Project (CHAP) data base system (the core
      implementation of the Model) has identified several issues and remedies that have
      been developed to address these issues. Based on analysis of issues and remedies,
      we present several key features for a data architecture meeting the just
      mentioned recommendations. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEATURES: Presentation of features
      is followed by a practical guide to their implementation allowing an organization
      to consider either tailoring off-the-shelf generic systems to meet the
      requirements or offerings that are specialized for community-based care
      coordination. DISCUSSION: Looking to future extensions, we discuss the utility
      and prospects for an ontology to include care coordination in the Unified Medical
      Language System (UMLS) of the National Library of Medicine and other existing
      medical and nursing taxonomies. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Pathways
      structures are an important principle, not only for organizing the care
      coordination activities, but also for structuring the data stored in electronic
      form in the conduct of such care. We showed how the proposed architecture
      encourages design of effective decision support systems for coordinated care and
      suggested how interested organizations can set about acquiring such systems.
      Although the presentation focuses on the Pathways Community HUB Model, the
      principles for data architecture are stated in generic form and are applicable to
      any health information system for improving care coordination services and
      population health.

PMID- 26870744
TI  - Improved pulmonary nodule classification utilizing quantitative lung parenchyma
      features.
AB  - Current computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) models for determining pulmonary nodule
      malignancy characterize nodule shape, density, and border in computed tomography
      (CT) data. Analyzing the lung parenchyma surrounding the nodule has been
      minimally explored. We hypothesize that improved nodule classification is
      achievable by including features quantified from the surrounding lung tissue. To
      explore this hypothesis, we have developed expanded quantitative CT feature
      extraction techniques, including volumetric Laws texture energy measures for the
      parenchyma and nodule, border descriptors using ray-casting and rubber-band
      straightening, histogram features characterizing densities, and global lung
      measurements. Using stepwise forward selection and leave-one-case-out cross
      validation, a neural network was used for classification. When applied to 50
      nodules (22 malignant and 28 benign) from high-resolution CT scans, 52 features
      (8 nodule, 39 parenchymal, and 5 global) were statistically significant. Nodule
      only features yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.918 (including nodule
      size) and 0.872 (excluding nodule size). Performance was improved through
      inclusion of parenchymal (0.938) and global features (0.932). These results show
      a trend toward increased performance when the parenchyma is included, coupled
      with the large number of significant parenchymal features that support our
      hypothesis: the pulmonary parenchyma is influenced differentially by malignant
      versus benign nodules, assisting CAD-based nodule characterizations. 

PMID- 26870745
TI  - Association of computerized texture features on MRI with early treatment response
      following laser ablation for neuropathic cancer pain: preliminary findings.
AB  - Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has recently emerged as a new treatment
      modality for cancer pain management that targets the cingulum (pain center in the
      brain) and has shown promise over radio frequency (RF)-based ablation, due to
      magnetic resonance image (MRI) guidance that allows for precise ablation. Since
      laser ablation for pain management is currently exploratory and is only performed
      at a few centers worldwide, its short- and long-term effects on the cingulum are
      currently unknown. Traditionally, treatment effects for neurological conditions
      are evaluated by monitoring changes in intensities and/or volume of the ablation
      zone on post-treatment Gadolinium-contrast T1-w (Gd-T1) MRI. However, LITT
      introduces subtle localized changes corresponding to tissues response to
      treatment, which may not be appreciable on visual inspection of volumetric or
      intensity changes. Additionally, different MRI protocols [Gd-T1, T2w, gradient
      echo sequence (GRE), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)] are known to
      capture complementary diagnostic information regarding the patient's response to
      treatment; the utility of these MRI protocols has so far not been investigated to
      evaluate early and localized response to LITT treatment in the context of
      neuropathic cancer pain. In this work, we present the first attempt at (a)
      examining early treatment-related changes on a per-voxel basis via quantitative
      comparison of computer-extracted texture descriptors across pre- and post-LITT
      multiparametric (MP-MRI) (Gd-T1, T2w, GRE, FLAIR), subtle microarchitectural
      texture changes that may not be appreciable on original MR intensities or
      volumetric differences, and (b) investigating the efficacy of different MRI
      protocols in accurately capturing immediate post-treatment changes reflected (1)
      within and (2) outside the ablation zone. A retrospective cohort of four patient
      studies comprising pre- and immediate (24 h) post-LITT 3 Tesla Gd-T1, T2w, GRE,
      and FLAIR acquisitions was considered. Our quantitative approach first involved
      intensity standardization to allow for grayscale MR intensities acquired pre- and
      post-LITT to have a fixed tissue-specific meaning within the same imaging
      protocol, the same body region, and within the same patient. An affine
      registration was then performed on individual post-LITT MRI protocols to a
      reference MRI protocol pre-LITT. A total of 78 computerized texture features (co
      occurrence matrix homogeneity, neighboring gray-level dependence matrix, Gabor)
      are then extracted from pre- and post-LITT MP-MRI on a per-voxel basis.
      Quantitative, voxelwise comparison of the changes in MRI texture features between
      pre- and post-LITT MRI indicate that (a) Gabor texture features at specific
      orientations were highly sensitive as well as specific in predicting subtle
      microarchitectural changes within and around the ablation zone pre- and post
      LITT, (b) FLAIR was identified as the most sensitive MRI protocol in identifying
      early treatment changes yielding a normalized percentage change of 360% within
      the ablation zone relative to its pre-LITT value, and (c) GRE was identified as
      the most sensitive MRI protocol in quantifying changes outside the ablation zone
      post-LITT. Our preliminary results thus indicate potential for noninvasive
      computerized MP-MRI features over volumetric features in determining localized
      microarchitectural early focal treatment changes post-LITT for neuropathic cancer
      pain treatment. 

PMID- 26870747
TI  - Consistency of visual assessments of mammographic breast density from vendor
      specific "for presentation" images.
AB  - Discussions of percent breast density (PD) and breast cancer risk implicitly
      assume that visual assessments of PD are comparable between vendors despite
      differences in technology and display algorithms. This study examines the extent
      to which visual assessments of PD differ between mammograms acquired from two
      vendors. Pairs of "for presentation" digital mammography images were obtained
      from two mammography units for 146 women who had a screening mammogram on one
      vendor unit followed by a diagnostic mammogram on a different vendor unit. Four
      radiologists independently visually assessed PD from single left mediolateral
      oblique view images from the two vendors. Analysis of variance, intra-class
      correlation coefficients (ICC), scatter plots, and Bland-Altman plots were used
      to evaluate PD assessments between vendors. The mean radiologist PD for each
      image was used as a consensus PD measure. Overall agreement of the PD assessments
      was excellent between the two vendors with an ICC of 0.95 (95% confidence
      interval: 0.93 to 0.97). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated narrow upper and lower
      limits of agreement between the vendors with only a small bias (2.3 percentage
      points). The results of this study support the assumption that visual assessment
      of PD is consistent across mammography vendors despite vendor-specific
      appearances of "for presentation" images. 

PMID- 26870746
TI  - Image toggling saves time in mammography.
AB  - When two images are perfectly aligned, even subtle differences are readily
      detected when the images are "toggled" back and forth in the same location.
      However, substantial changes between two photographs can be missed if the images
      are misaligned ("change blindness"). Nevertheless, recent work from our lab,
      testing nonradiologists, suggests that toggling misaligned photographs leads to
      superior performance compared to side-by-side viewing (SBS). In order to
      determine if a benefit of toggling misaligned images may be observed in clinical
      mammography, we developed an image toggling technique where pairs of new and
      prior breast imaging exam images could be efficiently toggled back and forth.
      Twenty-three radiologists read 10 mammograms evenly divided in toggle and SBS
      modes. The toggle mode led to a 6-s benefit in reaching a decision [[Formula: see
      text], [Formula: see text]]. The toggle viewing mode also led to a 5% improvement
      in diagnostic accuracy, though in our small sample this effect was not
      statistically reliable. Time savings were found even though successive mammograms
      were not perfectly aligned. Given the ever-increasing caseload for radiologists,
      this simple manipulation of how the images are viewed could save valuable time in
      clinical practice, allowing radiologists to read more cases or spend more time on
      difficult cases. 

PMID- 26870748
TI  - Radiologists remember mountains better than radiographs, or do they?
AB  - Expertise with encoding material has been shown to aid long-term memory for that
      material. It is not clear how relevant this expertise is for image memorability
      (e.g., radiologists' memory for radiographs), and how robust over time. In two
      studies, we tested scene memory using a standard long-term memory paradigm. One
      compared the performance of radiologists to naive observers on two image sets,
      chest radiographs and everyday scenes, and the other radiologists' memory with
      immediate as opposed to delayed recognition tests using musculoskeletal
      radiographs and forest scenes. Radiologists' memory was better than novices for
      images of expertise but no different for everyday scenes. With the heterogeneity
      of image sets equated, radiologists' expertise with radiographs afforded them
      better memory for the musculoskeletal radiographs than forest scenes. Enhanced
      memory for images of expertise disappeared over time, resulting in chance level
      performance for both image sets after weeks of delay. Expertise with the material
      is important for visual memorability but not to the same extent as idiosyncratic
      detail and variability of the image set. Similar memory decline with time for
      images of expertise as for everyday scenes further suggests that extended
      familiarity with an image is not a robust factor for visual memorability. 

PMID- 26870749
TI  - Teaching search patterns to medical trainees in an educational laboratory to
      improve perception of pulmonary nodules.
AB  - The goal of this research is to demonstrate that teaching healthcare trainees a
      formal search or scan pattern for evaluation of the lungs improves their ability
      to identify pulmonary nodules on chest radiographs (CXRs). A group of physician
      assistant trainees were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups.
      Each group was shown two sets of CXRs, each set with a nodule prevalence of
      approximately 50%. The experimental group received search pattern training
      between case sets, whereas the control group did not. Both groups were asked to
      mark nodules when present and indicate their diagnostic confidence. Subject
      performance at nodule detection was quantified using changes in area under the
      localization receiver operating characteristic curve ([Formula: see text]). There
      was no significant improvement in performance between case sets for the control
      group. There was a significant improvement in subject performance after training
      for the experimental group, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. These
      results demonstrate that teaching a search pattern to trainees improves their
      ability to identify nodules and decreases the number of perceptual errors in
      nodule identification, and suggest that our knowledge of medical image perception
      may be used to develop rational tools for the education of healthcare trainees. 

PMID- 26870750
TI  - Brightness-preserving fuzzy contrast enhancement scheme for the detection and
      classification of diabetic retinopathy disease.
AB  - The contrast enhancement of retinal image plays a vital role for the detection of
      microaneurysms (MAs), which are an early sign of diabetic retinopathy disease. A
      retinal image contrast enhancement method has been presented to improve the MA
      detection technique. The success rate on low-contrast noisy retinal image
      analysis shows the importance of the proposed method. Overall, 587 retinal input
      images are tested for performance analysis. The average sensitivity and
      specificity are obtained as 95.94% and 99.21%, respectively. The area under curve
      is found as 0.932 for the receiver operating characteristics analysis. The
      classifications of diabetic retinopathy disease are also performed here. The
      experimental results show that the overall MA detection method performs better
      than the current state-of-the-art MA detection algorithms. 

PMID- 26870751
TI  - Early age at menarche and wheezing in adolescence. The 1993 Pelotas (Brazil)
      birth cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of menarche before 11 years of age on the
      incidence of wheezing/asthma in girls 11 to 18 years of age. METHODS: The study
      sample comprised 1,350 girls from a birth cohort that started in 1993 in the
      urban area of the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil; this cohort was followed
      until 18 years of age. We assessed wheezing by the question, "Have you ever had
      wheezing in the chest at any time in the past?," from the International Study of
      Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Early menarche was
      defined as occurring before 11 years of age. We estimated the cumulative
      incidence of wheezing excluding from the analysis all those participants who
      reported wheezing before age of 11 years. We performed the chi-square test to
      assess the association between ever wheezing and independent variables. Poisson
      regression models with robust variance were used to estimate cumulative incidence
      ratios. RESULTS: The average age at menarche in the cohort girls was 12 years
      (95% CI: 11.1-12.1). The prevalence of early menarche before 11 years of age was
      11% (95% CI: 9.7-12.3). The cumulative incidence of wheezing from 11 to 18 years
      of age was 33.5% (95% CI: 30.9- 36.0). The crude association between ever
      wheezing in adolescence and early menarche before age 11 was 1.19 (95% CI: 0.96
      1.48). After adjusting for early childhood and contemporaneous variables, no
      significant association for early menarche before 11 years of age and wheezing
      during adolescence was found (CIR: 1.18; CI95%: 0.93-1.49). CONCLUSION: Early
      menarche before 11 years of age is not associated with an increased risk of
      wheezing during adolescence.

PMID- 26870752
TI  - Proteomic data on the nuclear interactome of human MCM9.
AB  - We present data relating to the interactome of MCM9 from the nuclei of human
      cells. MCM9 belongs to the AAA+ superfamily, and contains an MCM domain and
      motifs that may confer DNA helicase activity. MCM9 has been shown to bind MCM8,
      and has been implicated in DNA replication and homologous recombination. However,
      the mechanistic basis of MCM9's role in DNA repair is poorly understood, and
      proteins with which it interacts were hitherto unknown. We performed tandem
      affinity purification of MCM9 and its interacting proteins from nuclear extracts
      of human cells, followed by proteomic analysis, thereby generating a set of mass
      spectrometry data corresponding to the MCM9 interactome [1]. The proteomic data
      set comprises 29 mass spectrometry RAW files, deposited to the ProteomeXchange
      Consortium, and freely available from the PRIDE partner repository with the data
      set identifier PXD000212. A set of 22 interacting proteins identified from the
      proteomic data was used to create an MCM9-centered interactive network diagram,
      using the Cytoscape program. These data allow the scientific community to access,
      mine and explore the human nuclear MCM9 interactome. 

PMID- 26870753
TI  - Functionality and stability data of detergent purified nAChR from Torpedo using
      lipidic matrixes and macroscopic electrophysiology.
AB  - The presented data provides additional information about the assessment of
      affinity purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) rich membrane
      solubilized with long chain (16 saturated carbons) lysophospholipid with glycerol
      headgroup (LFG-16). The assessment of stability and functionality of solubilized
      membrane protein is a critical step prior to further crystallization trails. One
      of the key factors for this task is the appropriate choice of a detergent that
      can support nAChR activity and stability comparable to the crude membranes. The
      stability of the nAChR-LFG-16 complex incorporated into lipid cubic phase (LCP)
      was monitored for a period of 30 days by means of fluorescence recovery after
      photobleaching (FRAP) and the functionality was evaluated after its incorporation
      into Xenopus oocyte by means of the two electrode voltage clamp technique. 

PMID- 26870754
TI  - Data for the crystal structure of APRIL-BAFF-BAFF heterotrimer.
AB  - The TNF family ligands B cell activation factor (BAFF) and a proliferation
      inducing ligand (APRIL) modulate B cell function by forming homotrimers and
      heterotrimers. To determine the structure of a heterotrimer of BAFF and APRIL,
      these ligands were expressed as a single chain protein in HEK 293 cells, purified
      by affinity and size exclusion chromatographies, and crystallized. Crystals
      belonging to the orthorhombic crystal system with a space group of C2221
      diffracted to 2.43 A. Initial structural solution was obtained by the molecular
      replacement method, and the structure was further refined to an R factor of 0.179
      and free R factor of 0.234. The atomic coordinates and structure factors have
      been deposited into the Protein Data Bank (accession code 4ZCH). 

PMID- 26870755
TI  - Proteome-wide dataset supporting the study of ancient metazoan macromolecular
      complexes.
AB  - Our analysis examines the conservation of multiprotein complexes among metazoa
      through use of high resolution biochemical fractionation and precision mass
      spectrometry applied to soluble cell extracts from 5 representative model
      organisms Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus,
      Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and Homo sapiens. The interaction network obtained
      from the data was validated globally in 4 distant species (Xenopus laevis,
      Nematostella vectensis, Dictyostelium discoideum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and
      locally by targeted affinity-purification experiments. Here we provide details of
      our massive set of supporting biochemical fractionation data available via
      ProteomeXchange (PXD002319-PXD002328), PPIs via BioGRID (185267); and interaction
      network projections via (http://metazoa.med.utoronto.ca) made fully accessible to
      allow further exploration. The datasets here are related to the research article
      on metazoan macromolecular complexes in Nature [1]. 

PMID- 26870757
TI  - Data on cell viability of human lung fibroblasts treated with polyphenols-rich
      extract from Plinia trunciflora (O. Berg) Kausel).
AB  - Jaboticaba (Plinia trunciflora (O. Berg) Kausel) is a Brazilian native berry,
      which presents high levels of polyphenols. Here we provide data related to the
      effects of the polyphenols-rich extract from jaboticaba on the cell viability,
      mitochondrial complex I (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/CoQ oxidoreductase)
      activity and ATP biosynthesis of human lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5) treated with
      amiodarone. The data presented in this article demonstrate that the polyphenols
      rich extract from jaboticaba was able to reduce cell death as well as the
      decrease in complex I activity and ATP biosynthesis caused by amiodarone in MRC-5
      cells. 

PMID- 26870756
TI  - Dataset for a case report of a homozygous PEX16 F332del mutation.
AB  - This dataset provides a clinical description along with extensive biochemical and
      molecular characterization of a patient with a homozygous mutation in PEX16 with
      an atypical phenotype. This patient described in Molecular Genetics and
      Metabolism Reports was ultimately diagnosed with an atypical peroxisomal disorder
      on exome sequencing. A clinical timeline and diagnostic summary, results of an
      extensive plasma and fibroblast analysis of this patient's peroxisomal profile is
      provided. In addition, a table of additional variants from the exome analysis is
      provided. 

PMID- 26870758
TI  - Thermal sensitivity analysis data utilizing Q10 scanning, Boltzmann slope factor
      and the change of molar heat capacity.
AB  - As a further elaboration of the recently devised Q10 scanning analysis
      ("Exceptionally high thermal sensitivity of rattlesnake TRPA1 correlates with
      peak current amplitude" [1]), the interval between current data points at two
      temperatures was shortened and the resulting parameters representing thermal
      sensitivities such as peak Q10s and temperature points of major thermosensitivity
      events are presented for two TRPA1 orthologues from rattlesnakes and boas. In
      addition, the slope factors from Boltzmann fitting and the change of molar heat
      capacity of temperature-evoked currents were evaluated and compared as
      alternative ways of thermal sensitivity appraisal of TRPA1 orthologues. 

PMID- 26870759
TI  - Data on the standardization of a cyclohexanone-responsive expression system for
      Gram-negative bacteria.
AB  - Engineering of robust microbial cell factories requires the use of dedicated
      genetic tools somewhat different from those traditionally used for laboratory
      adapted microorganisms. We have edited and formatted the ChnR/P chnB regulatory
      node of Acinetobacter johnsonii to ease the targeted engineering of ectopic gene
      expression in Gram-negative bacteria. The proposed compositional standard was
      thoroughly verified with a monomeric and superfolder green fluorescent protein
      (msf*GFP) in Escherichia coli. The expression data presented reflect a tightly
      controlled transcription initiation signal in response to cyclohexanone. Data in
      this article are related to the research paper "Genetic programming of catalytic
      Pseudomonas putida biofilms for boosting biodegradation of haloalkanes" [1]. 

PMID- 26870760
TI  - Exogenous control over intracellular acidification: Enhancement via proton caged
      compounds coupled to gold nanoparticles and an alternative pathway with DMSO.
AB  - Proton caged compounds exhibit a characteristic behavior when directly dosed into
      cells or being coupled to gold nanoparticles prior to the dosing. When irradiated
      in the near ultraviolet region, they release protons that interact with
      intracellular HCO3 (-) to yield H2CO3. The dissociation of carbonic acid, then,
      releases CO2 that can be distinctively singled out in infrared spectra. In the
      process of searching a pathway to augment the intracellular uptake of proton
      caged compounds, we probed the association of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-ethylhexadecyl
      sulfonate (HDNS) with DMSO, an agent to enhance the membrane permeability. We
      found out a different UV-induced protonation mechanism that opens up to new
      conduits of employing of proton caged compounds. Here, we report the infrared
      data we collected in this set of experiments. 

PMID- 26870761
TI  - Validation and application of the personnel factor for the garment used in
      cleanrooms.
AB  - The cleanroom environment has many potential sources of contamination, including:
      operators, equipment, structures, and any surface that can create particles via
      friction, heat, exhaust, outgassing, and static electricity charge. Operatives
      working in the cleanroom are the major source of particles. While cleanroom
      operators work, they emit millions of particles from every activity. Particles
      migrate up the cleanroom garment to the head and drop to the legs during
      cleanroom movements. Specialized textile fabrics have been used in cleanroom
      garments for many years. The need for this type of fabric has increased mainly
      due to the need to protect critical operations in cleanrooms as well as creating
      comfort for operators and other personnel. This study covers the general static
      wind-driven method, the Helmke Drum method and the dispersal chamber to measure
      particle penetration, shedding, and generation, in regards to the filtration
      efficiency of cleanroom fabrics and garments. Firstly, particle penetration is
      shown to increase with increasing face velocity and decreasing particle size
      below 1 MUm. Secondly, that a recommended upper particle-size limit should be 5
      um. Using the Helmke drum test, the size distribution of particles released from
      the garment is shown to follow a power law distribution, with a slope of less
      than 1. Furthermore, the study introduces dynamic body box for testing fabrics as
      well as cleanroom garments. It is more practical and sensitive when compared to
      traditional methods and is based on a more concise technical approach. The life
      time cycle performance of a typical cleanroom garment coverall is examined,
      particularly looking at the implications of pre-use steralization. 

PMID- 26870762
TI  - Increasing Healthspan: Prosper and Live Long.

PMID- 26870763
TI  - Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their Potential for Microengineering the Chondrocyte
      Niche.

PMID- 26870764
TI  - The Colon as the Potassium Target: Entering the Colonic Age of Hyperkalemia
      Treatment?

PMID- 26870765
TI  - Hepatitis E In Transplant Recipients: Why Is This Not A Problem In Japan?

PMID- 26870766
TI  - Improving Exploitation of Whole Genome Sequencing Data for Public Health,
      Forensic Microbiology and Biosafety.

PMID- 26870767
TI  - Linezolid for Treating Tuberculosis: A Delicate Balancing Act.

PMID- 26870768
TI  - Tuberculous Pericarditis: A Complex Puzzle to Put Together.

PMID- 26870769
TI  - Are the Present Doses of Anti Tubercular Drugs Adequate for Severe Disease?

PMID- 26870770
TI  - Bromodomain Blockade for Intimal Hyperplasia--A Good BET?

PMID- 26870771
TI  - Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients: Different Practice Patterns in Everyday
      Clinical Situations.

PMID- 26870772
TI  - Haemoglobin C Promotes Distinct Membrane Properties in Heterozygous HbSC red
      Cells.

PMID- 26870773
TI  - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Lung Cancer: Epithelial
      Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), the Missing Link?

PMID- 26870774
TI  - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Neutrophils and Bacterial Infection: A
      Complex Web Involving IL-17 and IL-22 Unravels.

PMID- 26870775
TI  - Muscle specific iron deficiency has systemic consequences.

PMID- 26870776
TI  - Mimecan: A Newly Identified Adipokine and Regulator of Appetite.

PMID- 26870777
TI  - Famine From Feast: Low Red Cell Vitamin C Levels in Diabetes.

PMID- 26870778
TI  - Emerging Role of VEGFC in Pathological Angiogenesis.

PMID- 26870779
TI  - Syk and Yea Shall Find.

PMID- 26870780
TI  - The pons and human affective processing--Implications for Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26870781
TI  - Predicting Molecular Models: Where Are We Going?

PMID- 26870782
TI  - Arterial or Venous: Where Are the Circulating Tumor Cells?

PMID- 26870783
TI  - Differences in Uptake of Risk Reduction Strategies Among Underserved Populations.

PMID- 26870784
TI  - A Novel Class of Small Molecule Compounds that Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus
      Infection by Targeting the Prohibitin-CRaf Pathway.
AB  - Identification of novel drug targets and affordable therapeutic agents remains a
      high priority in the fight against chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
      Here, we report that the cellular proteins prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and 2 (PHB2) are
      pan-genotypic HCV entry factors functioning at a post-binding step. While
      predominantly found in mitochondria, PHBs localize to the plasma membrane of
      hepatocytes through their transmembrane domains and interact with both EGFR and
      CRaf. Targeting PHB by rocaglamide (Roc-A), a natural product that binds PHB1 and
      2, reduced cell surface PHB1 and 2, disrupted PHB-CRaf interaction, and inhibited
      HCV entry at low nanomolar concentrations. A structure-activity analysis of 32
      synthetic Roc-A analogs indicated that the chiral, racemic version of aglaroxin
      C, a natural product biosynthetically related to Roc-A, displayed improved
      potency and therapeutic index against HCV infection. This study reveals a new
      class of HCV entry inhibitors that target the PHB1/2-CRaf pathway. 

PMID- 26870785
TI  - A Nationwide Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Chronic Hepatitis E in
      Liver Transplant Recipients in Japan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, chronic hepatitis E has been increasingly reported in organ
      transplant recipients in European countries. In Japan, the prevalence of
      hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection after transplantation remains unclear, so we
      conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study to clarify the prevalence of chronic
      HEV infection in Japanese liver transplant recipients. METHODS: A total of 1893
      liver transplant recipients in 17 university hospitals in Japan were examined for
      the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM and IgA classes of anti-HEV
      antibodies, and HEV RNA in serum. FINDINGS: The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG, IgM
      and IgA class antibodies was 2.9% (54/1893), 0.05% (1/1893) and 0% (0/1893),
      respectively. Of 1651 patients tested for HEV RNA, two patients (0.12%) were
      found to be positive and developed chronic infection after liver transplantation.
      In both cases, HEV RNA was also detected in one of the blood products transfused
      at the perioperative period. Analysis of the HEV genomes revealed that the HEV
      isolates obtained from the recipients and the transfused blood products were
      identical in both cases, indicating transfusion-transmitted HEV infection.
      INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of HEV antibodies in liver transplant recipients
      was 2.9%, which is low compared with the healthy population in Japan and with
      organ transplant recipients in European countries; however, the present study
      found, for the first time, two Japanese patients with chronic HEV infection that
      was acquired via blood transfusion during or after liver transplantation.

PMID- 26870786
TI  - Whole Genome Analysis of Injectional Anthrax Identifies Two Disease Clusters
      Spanning More Than 13 Years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anthrax is a rare disease in humans but elicits great public fear
      because of its past use as an agent of bioterrorism. Injectional anthrax has been
      occurring sporadically for more than ten years in heroin consumers across
      multiple European countries and this outbreak has been difficult to trace back to
      a source. METHODS: We took a molecular epidemiological approach in understanding
      this disease outbreak, including whole genome sequencing of Bacillus anthracis
      isolates from the anthrax victims. We also screened two large strain repositories
      for closely related strains to provide context to the outbreak. FINDINGS:
      Analyzing 60 Bacillus anthracis isolates associated with injectional anthrax
      cases and closely related reference strains, we identified 1071 Single Nucleotide
      Polymorphisms (SNPs). The synapomorphic SNPs (350) were used to reconstruct
      phylogenetic relationships, infer likely epidemiological sources and explore the
      dynamics of evolving pathogen populations. Injectional anthrax genomes separated
      into two tight clusters: one group was exclusively associated with the 2009-10
      outbreak and located primarily in Scotland, whereas the second comprised more
      recent (2012-13) cases but also a single Norwegian case from 2000.
      INTERPRETATION: Genome-based differentiation of injectional anthrax isolates
      argues for at least two separate disease events spanning > 12 years. The genomic
      similarity of the two clusters makes it likely that they are caused by separate
      contamination events originating from the same geographic region and perhaps the
      same site of drug manufacturing or processing. Pathogen diversity within single
      patients challenges assumptions concerning population dynamics of infecting B.
      anthracis and host defensive barriers for injectional anthrax. FUNDING: This work
      was supported by the United States Department of Homeland Security grant no.
      HSHQDC-10-C-00,139 and via a binational cooperative agreement between the United
      States Government and the Government of Germany. This work was supported by funds
      from the German Ministry of Defense (Sonderforschungsprojekt 25Z1-S-431,214).
      Support for sequencing was also obtained from Illumina, Inc. These sources had no
      role in the data generation or interpretation, and had not role in the manuscript
      preparation. PANEL 1 RESEARCH IN CONTEXT SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: We searched PubMed
      for any article published before Jun. 17, 2015, with the terms "Bacillus
      anthracis" and "heroin", or "injectional anthrax". Other than our previously
      published work (Price et al., 2012), we found no other relevant studies on
      elucidating the global phylogenetic relationships of B. anthracis strains
      associated with injectional anthrax caused by recreational heroin consumption of
      spore-contaminated drug. There were, however, publically available genome
      sequences of two strains involved (Price et al., 2012, Grunow et al., 2013) and
      the draft genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis UR-1, isolated from a German
      heroin user (Ruckert et al., 2012) with only limited information on the
      genotyping of closely related strains (Price et al., 2012, Grunow et al., 2013).
      LAY PERSON INTERPRETATION: Injectional anthrax has been plaguing heroin drug
      users across Europe for more than 10 years. In order to better understand this
      outbreak, we assessed genomic relationships of all available injectional anthrax
      strains from four countries spanning a > 12 year period. Very few differences
      were identified using genome-based analysis, but these differentiated the
      isolates into two distinct clusters. This strongly supports a hypothesis of at
      least two separate anthrax spore contamination events perhaps during the drug
      production processes. Identification of two events would not have been possible
      from standard epidemiological analysis. These comprehensive data will be
      invaluable for classifying future injectional anthrax isolates and for future
      geographic attribution.

PMID- 26870787
TI  - Distinct Transcriptional and Anti-Mycobacterial Profiles of Peripheral Blood
      Monocytes Dependent on the Ratio of Monocytes: Lymphocytes.
AB  - The ratio of monocytes and lymphocytes (ML ratio) in peripheral blood is
      associated with tuberculosis and malaria disease risk and cancer and
      cardiovascular disease outcomes. We studied anti-mycobacterial function and the
      transcriptome of monocytes in relation to the ML ratio. Mycobacterial growth
      inhibition assays of whole or sorted blood were performed and mycobacteria were
      enumerated by liquid culture. Transcriptomes of unstimulated CD14 + monocytes
      isolated by magnetic bead sorting were characterised by microarray. Transcript
      expression was tested for association with ML ratio calculated from leucocyte
      differential counts by linear regression. The ML ratio was associated with
      mycobacterial growth in vitro (beta = 2.23, SE 0.91, p = 0.02). Using sorted
      monocytes and lymphocytes, in vivo ML ratio (% variance explained R(2) = 11%, p =
      0.02) dominated over in vitro ratios (R(2) = 5%, p = 0.10) in explaining
      mycobacterial growth. Expression of 906 genes was associated with the ML ratio
      and 53 with monocyte count alone. ML-ratio associated genes were enriched for
      type-I and -II interferon signalling (p = 1.2 * 10(- 8)), and for genes under
      transcriptional control of IRF1, IRF2, RUNX1, RELA and ESRRB. The ML-ratio
      associated gene set was enriched in TB disease (3.11-fold, 95% CI: 2.28-4.19, p =
      5.7 * 10(- 12)) and other inflammatory diseases including atopy, HIV, IBD and
      SLE. The ML ratio is associated with distinct transcriptional and anti
      mycobacterial profiles of monocytes that may explain the disease associations of
      the ML ratio.

PMID- 26870788
TI  - Linezolid Trough Concentrations Correlate with Mitochondrial Toxicity-Related
      Adverse Events in the Treatment of Chronic Extensively Drug-Resistant
      Tuberculosis.
AB  - Long-term linezolid use is limited by mitochondrial toxicity-associated adverse
      events (AEs). Within a prospective, randomized controlled trial of linezolid to
      treat chronic extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, we serially monitored the
      translational competence of mitochondria isolated from peripheral blood of
      participants by determining the cytochrome c oxidase/citrate synthase activity
      ratio. We compared this ratio with AEs associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.
      Linezolid trough concentrations were determined for 38 participants at both 600
      mg and 300 mg doses. Those on 600 mg had a significantly higher risk of AE than
      those on 300 mg (HR 3.10, 95% CI 1.23-7 . 86). Mean mitochondrial function levels
      were significantly higher in patients before starting linezolid compared to their
      concentrations on 300 mg (P = 0.004) or 600 mg (P < 0.0001). Increasing mean
      linezolid trough concentrations were associated with lower mitochondrial function
      levels (Spearman's rho = - 0.48; P = 0.005). Mitochondrial toxicity risk
      increased with increasing linezolid trough concentrations, with all patients with
      mean linezolid trough > 2 MUg/ml developing an AE related to mitochondrial
      toxicity, whether on 300 mg or 600 mg. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be useful
      to prevent the development of mitochondrial toxicity associated with long-term
      linezolid use.

PMID- 26870789
TI  - Tuberculous Pericarditis is Multibacillary and Bacterial Burden Drives High
      Mortality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tuberculous pericarditis is considered to be a paucibacillary
      process; the large pericardial fluid accumulation is attributed to an
      inflammatory response to tuberculoproteins. Mortality rates are high. We
      investigated the role of clinical and microbial factors predictive of tuberculous
      pericarditis mortality using the artificial intelligence algorithm termed
      classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. METHODS: Patients were
      prospectively enrolled and followed in the Investigation of the Management of
      Pericarditis (IMPI) registry. Clinical and laboratory data of 70 patients with
      confirmed tuberculous pericarditis, including time-to-positive (TTP) cultures
      from pericardial fluid, were extracted and analyzed for mortality outcomes using
      CART. TTP was translated to log10 colony forming units (CFUs) per mL, and
      compared to that obtained from sputum in some of our patients. FINDINGS: Seventy
      patients with proven tuberculous pericarditis were enrolled. The median patient
      age was 35 (range: 20-71) years. The median, follow up was for 11.97 (range: 0.03
      74.73) months. The median TTP for pericardial fluid cultures was 22 (range: 4-58)
      days or 3.91(range: 0.5-8.96) log10CFU/mL, which overlapped with the range of
      3.24-7.42 log10CFU/mL encountered in sputum, a multi-bacillary disease. The
      overall mortality rate was 1.43 per 100 person-months. CART identified follow-up
      duration of 5.23 months on directly observed therapy, a CD4 + count of <=
      199.5/mL, and TTP <= 14 days (bacillary load >= 5.53 log10 CFU/mL) as predictive
      of mortality. TTP interacted with follow-up duration in a non-linear fashion.
      INTERPRETATION: Patients with culture confirmed tuberculous pericarditis have a
      high bacillary burden, and this bacterial burden drives mortality. Thus proven
      tuberculosis pericarditis is not a paucibacillary disease. Moreover, the severe
      immunosuppression suggests limited inflammation. There is a need for the design
      of a highly bactericidal regimen for this condition.

PMID- 26870790
TI  - Poor Penetration of Antibiotics Into Pericardium in Pericardial Tuberculosis.
AB  - Pericardial tuberculosis (TB) is associated with high therapy failure and high
      mortality rates. Antibiotics have to penetrate to site of infection at sufficient
      non-protein bound concentrations, and then enter bacteria to inhibit
      intracellular biochemical processes. The antibiotic concentrations achieved in
      pericardial fluid in TB pericarditis have never been measured before. We
      recruited two cohorts of patients with TB pericarditis, and left a pigtail
      catheter in-situ for serial drug concentration measurements over 24 h.
      Altogether, 704 drug concentrations were comodeled for pharmacokinetic analyses.
      The drug concentrations achieved in pericardial fluid were compared to the
      minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      isolates. The total rifampicin concentration pericardial-to-serum ratios in 16
      paired samples were 0.19 +/- 0.33. The protein concentrations of the pericardial
      fluid in TB pericarditis were observed to be as high as in plasma. The non
      protein bound rifampicin concentrations in pericardial fluid were 4-fold lower
      than rifampicin MICs in the pilot study, and the peak concentration was 0.125
      versus 0.208 mg/L in the second (p = 0.001). The rifampicin clearance from
      pericardial fluid was 9.45 L/h versus 7.82 L/h in plasma (p = 0.002). Ethambutol
      peak concentrations had a pericardial-to-plasma ratio of 0.55 +/- 0.22; free
      ethambutol peak concentrations were 2.30-lower than MICs (p < 0.001). The
      pericardial fluid pH was 7.34. The median pyrazinamide peak concentrations were
      42.93 mg/L versus a median MIC of 800 mg/L at pH 7.34 (p < 0.0001). There was no
      significant difference between isoniazid pericardial fluid and plasma
      concentrations, and isoniazid peak concentrations were above MIC. This is the
      first study to measure anti-TB drug concentrations, pH and protein in the
      pericardial TB fluid. Pericardial concentrations of the key sterilizing drugs for
      TB were below MIC, which could contribute to poor outcomes. A new regimen that
      overcomes these limitations might need to be crafted.

PMID- 26870791
TI  - BET Bromodomain Blockade Mitigates Intimal Hyperplasia in Rat Carotid Arteries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intimal hyperplasia is a common cause of many vasculopathies. There
      has been a recent surge of interest in the bromo and extra-terminal (BET)
      epigenetic "readers" including BRD4 since the serendipitous discovery of JQ1(+),
      an inhibitor specific to the seemingly undruggable BET bromodomains. The role of
      the BET family in the development of intimal hyperplasia is not known. METHODS:
      We investigated the effect of BET inhibition on intimal hyperplasia using a rat
      balloon angioplasty model. RESULTS: While BRD4 was dramatically up-regulated in
      the rat and human hyperplastic neointima, blocking BET bromodomains with JQ1(+)
      diminished neointima in rats. Knocking down BRD4 with siRNA, or treatment with
      JQ1(+) but not the inactive enantiomer JQ1(-), abrogated platelet-derived growth
      factor (PDGF-BB)-stimulated proliferation and migration of primary rat aortic
      smooth muscle cells. This inhibitory effect of JQ1(+) was reproducible in primary
      human aortic smooth muscle cells. In human aortic endothelial cells, JQ1(+)
      prevented cytokine-induced apoptosis and impairment of cell migration.
      Furthermore, either BRD4 siRNA or JQ1(+) but not JQ1(-), substantially down
      regulated PDGF receptor-alpha which, in JQ1(+)-treated arteries versus vehicle
      control, was also reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Blocking BET bromodomains mitigates
      neointima formation, suggesting an epigenetic approach for effective prevention
      of intimal hyperplasia and associated vascular diseases.

PMID- 26870792
TI  - Practice Patterns for Outpatients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: A Case
      Vignette-based Survey Among French Cardiologists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although medical management of patients with coronary artery disease
      (CAD) is often based on scientific guidelines, a number of everyday clinical
      situations are not specifically covered by recommendations or the level of
      evidence is low. The aim of this study was to assess practice patterns regarding
      routine management of patients with stable CAD. METHODS: A survey comprising six
      questions on two clinical scenarios regarding stable CAD management was sent to
      345 cardiologists from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region (France). We first assessed
      practice patterns globally and then searched for associations with physician
      characteristics (age, gender, sub-specialty, and type of practice). FINDINGS: The
      response rate was 92%. Regarding management of asymptomatic CAD, 86% of the
      cardiologists performed routine exercise testing, before which, 69% withdrew beta
      blockers. After a positive exercise test, 26% immediately performed coronary
      angiography and 67%, further imaging tests. In the absence of left ventricular
      dysfunction or history of myocardial infarction, routine beta-blocker
      prescription for stable CAD was selected by 43%. When anticoagulation was needed
      for atrial fibrillation, 41% initiated direct oral anticoagulants rather than
      vitamin-K antagonists and 50% combined aspirin with anticoagulants. For recurrent
      stable angina in patients with known CAD, 24% performed coronary angiography
      directly, 49% requested a stress test, and 27% opted for medical therapy without
      further diagnostic testing. Age, gender of the cardiologist, academic
      environment, and practice of interventional cardiology were associated with
      certain management patterns. INTERPRETATION: When not guided by high-level
      recommendations, practice patterns for routine clinical situations in stable CAD
      vary considerably. Future clinical trials should address these clinical
      interrogations.

PMID- 26870793
TI  - Cation Homeostasis in Red Cells From Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
      Heterologous for HbS and HbC (HbSC Genotype).
AB  - Sickle cell disease (SCD) in patients of HbSC genotype is considered similar,
      albeit milder, to that in homozygous HbSS individuals--but with little
      justification. In SCD, elevated red cell cation permeability is critical as
      increased solute loss causes dehydration and encourages sickling. Recently, we
      showed that the KCl cotransporter (KCC) activity in red cells from HbSC patients
      correlated significantly with disease severity, but that in HbSS patients did
      not. Two transporters involved in red cell dehydration, the conductive channels
      Psickle and the Gardos channel, behaved similarly in red cells from the two
      genotypes, but were significantly less active in HbSC patients. By contrast, KCC
      activity was quantitatively greater in HbSC red cells. Results suggest that KCC
      is likely to have greater involvement in red cell dehydration in HbSC patients,
      which could explain its association with disease severity in this genotype. This
      work supports the hypothesis that SCD in HbSC patients is a distinct disease
      entity to that in HbSS patients. Results suggest the possibility of designing
      specific treatments of particular benefit to HbSC patients and a rationale for
      the development of prognostic markers, to inform early treatment of children
      likely to develop more severe complications of the disease.

PMID- 26870795
TI  - IL-22 Defect During Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection Triggers Exacerbation of
      Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
AB  - Progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked to episodes
      of exacerbations caused by bacterial infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
      Our objective was to identify during COPD, factors of susceptibility to bacterial
      infections among cytokine network and their role in COPD exacerbations. S.
      pneumoniae was used to sub-lethally challenge mice chronically exposed to air or
      cigarette smoke (CS) and to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
      from non-smokers, smokers and COPD patients. The immune response and the cytokine
      production were evaluated. Delayed clearance of the bacteria and stronger lung
      inflammation observed in infected CS-exposed mice were associated with an altered
      production of IL-17 and IL-22 by innate immune cells. This defect was related to
      a reduced production of IL-1beta and IL-23 by antigen presenting cells.
      Importantly, supplementation with recombinant IL-22 restored bacterial clearance
      in CS-exposed mice and limited lung alteration. In contrast with non-smokers,
      blood NK and NKT cells from COPD patients failed to increase IL-17 and IL-22
      levels in response to S. pneumoniae, in association with a defect in IL-1beta and
      IL-23 secretion. This study identified IL-17 and IL-22 as susceptibility factors
      in COPD exacerbation. Therefore targeting such cytokines could represent a potent
      strategy to control COPD exacerbation. 

PMID- 26870794
TI  - Associated Links Among Smoking, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Small
      Cell Lung Cancer: A Pooled Analysis in the International Lung Cancer Consortium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The high relapse and mortality rate of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)
      fuels the need for epidemiologic study to aid in its prevention. METHODS: We
      included 24 studies from the ILCCO collaboration. Random-effects panel logistic
      regression and cubic spline regression were used to estimate the effects of
      smoking behaviors on SCLC risk and explore their non-linearity. Further, we
      explored whether the risk of smoking on SCLC was mediated through COPD. FINDINGS:
      Significant dose-response relationships of SCLC risk were observed for all
      quantitative smoking variables. Smoking pack-years were associated with a sharper
      increase of SCLC risk for pack-years ranged 0 to approximately 50. The former
      smokers with longer cessation showed a 43%quit_for_5-9 years to 89%quit_for_>= 20
      years declined SCLC risk vs. subjects who had quit smoking < 5 years. Compared
      with non-COPD subjects, smoking behaviors showed a significantly higher effect on
      SCLC risk among COPD subjects, and further, COPD patients showed a 1.86-fold
      higher risk of SCLC. Furthermore, smoking behaviors on SCLC risk were
      significantly mediated through COPD which accounted for 0.70% to 7.55% of total
      effects. INTERPRETATION: This is the largest pooling study that provides improved
      understanding of smoking on SCLC, and further demonstrates a causal pathway
      through COPD that warrants further experimental study.

PMID- 26870796
TI  - Metabolic Catastrophe in Mice Lacking Transferrin Receptor in Muscle.
AB  - Transferrin receptor (Tfr1) is ubiquitously expressed, but its roles in non
      hematopoietic cells are incompletely understood. We used a tissue-specific
      conditional knockout strategy to ask whether skeletal muscle required Tfr1 for
      iron uptake. We found that iron assimilation via Tfr1 was critical for skeletal
      muscle metabolism, and that iron deficiency in muscle led to dramatic changes,
      not only in muscle, but also in adipose tissue and liver. Inactivation of Tfr1
      incapacitated normal energy production in muscle, leading to growth arrest and a
      muted attempt to switch to fatty acid beta oxidation, using up fat stores.
      Starvation signals stimulated gluconeogenesis in the liver, but amino acid
      substrates became limiting and hypoglycemia ensued. Surprisingly, the liver was
      also iron deficient, and production of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin was
      depressed. Our observations reveal a complex interaction between iron homeostasis
      and metabolism that has implications for metabolic and iron disorders. 

PMID- 26870797
TI  - Mimecan, a Hormone Abundantly Expressed in Adipose Tissue, Reduced Food Intake
      Independently of Leptin Signaling.
AB  - Adipokines such as leptin play important roles in the regulation of energy
      metabolism, particularly in the control of appetite. Here, we describe a hormone,
      mimecan, which is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue. Mimecan was observed to
      inhibit food intake and reduce body weight in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of
      a mimecan-maltose binding protein (-MBP) complex inhibited food intake in
      C57BL/6J mice, which was attenuated by pretreatment with polyclonal antibody
      against mimecan. Notably, mimecan-MBP also induced anorexia in A(y)/a and db/db
      mice. Furthermore, the expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 was up
      regulated in the hypothalamus by mimecan-MBP, as well as in N9 microglia cells by
      recombinant mouse mimecan. Taken together, the results suggest that mimecan is a
      satiety hormone in adipose tissue, and that mimecan inhibits food intake
      independently of leptin signaling by inducing IL-1beta and IL-6 expression in the
      hypothalamus. 

PMID- 26870798
TI  - Risperidone-induced weight gain is mediated through shifts in the gut microbiome
      and suppression of energy expenditure.
AB  - Risperidone is a second-generation antipsychotic that causes weight gain. We
      hypothesized that risperidone-induced shifts in the gut microbiome are
      mechanistically involved in its metabolic consequences. Wild-type female C57BL/6J
      mice treated with risperidone (80 MUg/day) exhibited significant excess weight
      gain, due to reduced energy expenditure, which correlated with an altered gut
      microbiome. Fecal transplant from risperidone-treated mice caused a 16% reduction
      in total resting metabolic rate in naive recipients, attributable to suppression
      of non-aerobic metabolism. Risperidone inhibited growth of cultured fecal
      bacteria grown anaerobically more than those grown aerobically. Finally,
      transplant of the fecal phage fraction from risperidone-treated mice was
      sufficient to cause excess weight gain in naive recipients, again through reduced
      energy expenditure. Collectively, these data highlight a major role for the gut
      microbiome in weight gain following chronic use of risperidone, and specifically
      implicates the modulation of non-aerobic resting metabolism in this mechanism.

PMID- 26870799
TI  - Low Red Blood Cell Vitamin C Concentrations Induce Red Blood Cell Fragility: A
      Link to Diabetes Via Glucose, Glucose Transporters, and Dehydroascorbic Acid.
AB  - Strategies to prevent diabetic microvascular angiopathy focus on the vascular
      endothelium. Because red blood cells (RBCs) are less deformable in diabetes, we
      explored an original concept linking decreased RBC deformability to RBC ascorbate
      and hyperglycemia. We characterized ascorbate concentrations from human and mouse
      RBCs and plasma, and showed an inverse relationship between RBC ascorbate
      concentrations and deformability, measured by osmotic fragility. RBCs from
      ascorbate deficient mice were osmotically sensitive, appeared as spherocytes, and
      had decreased beta-spectrin. These aberrancies reversed with ascorbate repletion
      in vivo. Under physiologic conditions, only ascorbate's oxidation product
      dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), a substrate for facilitated glucose transporters, was
      transported into mouse and human RBCs, with immediate intracellular reduction to
      ascorbate. In vitro, glucose inhibited entry of physiologic concentrations of
      dehydroascorbic acid into mouse and human RBCs. In vivo, plasma glucose
      concentrations in normal and diabetic mice and humans were inversely related to
      respective RBC ascorbate concentrations, as was osmotic fragility. Human RBC beta
      spectrin declined as diabetes worsened. Taken together, hyperglycemia in diabetes
      produced lower RBC ascorbate with increased RBC rigidity, a candidate to drive
      microvascular angiopathy. Because glucose transporter expression, DHA transport,
      and its inhibition by glucose differed for mouse versus human RBCs, human
      experimentation is indicated. 

PMID- 26870800
TI  - Inhibition of Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP)-response Element-binding
      Protein (CREB)-binding Protein (CBP)/beta-Catenin Reduces Liver Fibrosis in Mice.
AB  - Wnt/beta-catenin is involved in every aspect of embryonic development and in the
      pathogenesis of many human diseases, and is also implicated in organ fibrosis.
      However, the role of beta-catenin-mediated signaling on liver fibrosis remains
      unclear. To explore this issue, the effects of PRI-724, a selective inhibitor of
      the cAMP-response element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP)/beta-catenin
      interaction, on liver fibrosis were examined using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-
      or bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced mouse liver fibrosis models. Following
      repetitive CCl4 administrations, the nuclear translocation of beta-catenin was
      observed only in the non-parenchymal cells in the liver. PRI-724 treatment
      reduced the fibrosis induced by CCl4 or BDL. C-82, an active form of PRI-724,
      inhibited the activation of isolated primary mouse quiescent hepatic stellate
      cells (HSCs) and promoted cell death in culture-activated HSCs. During the
      fibrosis resolution period, an increase in F4/80(+) CD11b(+) and Ly6C(low)
      CD11b(+) macrophages was induced by CCl4 and was sustained for two weeks
      thereafter, even after having stopped CCl4 treatment. PRI-724 accelerated the
      resolution of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, and this was accompanied by increased
      matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-2, and MMP-8 expression in intrahepatic
      leukocytes. In conclusion, targeting the CBP/beta-catenin interaction may become
      a new therapeutic strategy in treating liver fibrosis. 

PMID- 26870801
TI  - Environmental Enteropathy, Oral Vaccine Failure and Growth Faltering in Infants
      in Bangladesh.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Environmental enteropathy (EE) is a subclinical enteric condition
      found in low-income countries that is characterized by intestinal inflammation,
      reduced intestinal absorption, and gut barrier dysfunction. We aimed to assess if
      EE impairs the success of oral polio and rotavirus vaccines in infants in
      Bangladesh. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of 700
      infants from an urban slum of Dhaka, Bangladesh from May 2011 to November 2014.
      Infants were enrolled in the first week of life and followed to age one year
      through biweekly home visits with EPI vaccines administered and growth monitored.
      EE was operationally defied as enteric inflammation measured by any one of the
      fecal biomarkers reg1B, alpha-1-antitrypsin, MPO, calprotectin, or neopterin.
      Oral polio vaccine success was evaluated by immunogenicity, and rotavirus vaccine
      response was evaluated by immunogenicity and protection from disease. This study
      is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01375647. FINDINGS: EE was
      present in greater than 80% of infants by 12 weeks of age. Oral poliovirus and
      rotavirus vaccines failed in 20.2% and 68.5% of the infants respectively, and
      28.6% were malnourished (HAZ < - 2) at one year of age. In contrast, 0%, 9.0%,
      7.9% and 3.8% of infants lacked protective levels of antibody from tetanus,
      Haemophilus influenzae type b, diphtheria and measles vaccines respectively. EE
      was negatively associated with oral polio and rotavirus response but not
      parenteral vaccine immunogenicity. Biomarkers of systemic inflammation and
      measures of maternal health were additionally predictive of both oral vaccine
      failure and malnutrition. The selected biomarkers from multivariable analysis
      accounted for 46.3% variation in delta HAZ. 24% of Rotarix(r) IgA positive
      individuals can be attributed to the selected biomarkers. INTERPRETATION: EE as
      well as systemic inflammation and poor maternal health were associated with oral
      but not parenteral vaccine underperformance and risk for future growth faltering.
      These results offer a potential explanation for the burden of these problems in
      low-income problems, allow early identification of infants at risk, and suggest
      pathways for intervention. FUNDING: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
      (OPP1017093).

PMID- 26870802
TI  - Cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein Mediates Pathological Retinal
      Neovascularization via Modulating DLL4-NOTCH1 Signaling.
AB  - Retinal neovascularization is the most common cause of moderate to severe vision
      loss in all age groups. Despite the use of anti-VEGFA therapies, this
      complication continues to cause blindness, suggesting a role for additional
      molecules in retinal neovascularization. Besides VEGFA and VEGFB, hypoxia induced
      VEGFC expression robustly. Based on this finding, we tested the role of VEGFC in
      pathological retinal angiogenesis. VEGFC induced proliferation, migration,
      sprouting and tube formation of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells
      (HRMVECs) and these responses require CREB-mediated DLL4 expression and NOTCH1
      activation. Furthermore, down regulation of VEGFC levels substantially reduced
      tip cell formation and retinal neovascularization in vivo. In addition, we
      observed that CREB via modulating the DLL4-NOTCH1 signaling mediates VEGFC
      induced tip cell formation and retinal neovascularization. In regard to upstream
      mechanism, we found that down regulation of p38beta levels inhibited hypoxia
      induced CREB-DLL4-NOTCH1 activation, tip cell formation, sprouting and retinal
      neovascularization. Based on these findings, it may be suggested that VEGFC
      besides its role in the regulation of lymphangiogenesis also plays a role in
      pathological retinal angiogenesis and this effect depends on p38beta and CREB
      mediated activation of DLL4-NOTCH1 signaling. 

PMID- 26870804
TI  - A Pontine Region is a Neural Correlate of the Human Affective Processing Network.
AB  - The in vivo neural activity of the pons during the perception of affective
      stimuli has not been studied despite the strong implications of its role in
      affective processing. To examine the activity of the pons during the viewing of
      affective stimuli, and to verify its functional and structural connectivity with
      other affective neural correlates, a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging
      methodology was employed in this study. We observed the in vivo activity of the
      pons when viewing affective stimuli. Furthermore, small-world connectivity
      indicated that the functional connectivity (FC) between the pons and the cortico
      limbic affective regions was meaningful, with the coefficient lambda being
      positively associated with self-reported emotional reactivity. The FC between the
      pons and the cortico-limbic-striatal areas was related to self-reported negative
      affect. Corroborating this finding was the observation that the tract passing
      through the pons and the left hippocampus was negatively related to self-reported
      positive affect and positively correlated with emotional reactivity. Our findings
      support the framework that the pons works conjunctively with the distributed
      cortico-limbic-striatal systems in shaping individuals' affective states and
      reactivity. Our work paves the path for future research on the contribution of
      the pons to the precipitation and maintenance of affective disorders.

PMID- 26870803
TI  - Stress Granules Modulate SYK to Cause Microglial Cell Dysfunction in Alzheimer's
      Disease.
AB  - Microglial cells in the brains of Alzheimer's patients are known to be recruited
      to amyloid-beta (Abeta) plaques where they exhibit an activated phenotype, but
      are defective for plaque removal by phagocytosis. In this study, we show that
      microglia stressed by exposure to sodium arsenite or Abeta(1-42) peptides or
      fibrils form extensive stress granules (SGs) to which the tyrosine kinase, SYK,
      is recruited. SYK enhances the formation of SGs, is active within the resulting
      SGs and stimulates the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that
      are toxic to neuronal cells. This sequestration of SYK inhibits the ability of
      microglial cells to phagocytose Escherichia coli or Abeta fibrils. We find that
      aged microglial cells are more susceptible to the formation of SGs; and SGs
      containing SYK and phosphotyrosine are prevalent in the brains of patients with
      severe Alzheimer's disease. Phagocytic activity can be restored to stressed
      microglial cells by treatment with IgG, suggesting a mechanism to explain the
      therapeutic efficacy of intravenous IgG. These studies describe a mechanism by
      which stress, including exposure to Abeta, compromises the function of microglial
      cells in Alzheimer's disease and suggest approaches to restore activity to
      dysfunctional microglial cells. 

PMID- 26870806
TI  - A Molecular Model for Predicting Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic
      Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma: Results from CALGB 90206 (Alliance).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prognosis associated with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) can
      vary widely. METHODS: This study used pretreatment nephrectomy specimens from a
      randomized phase III trial. Expression levels of candidate genes were determined
      from archival tumors using the OpenArray(r) platform for TaqMan(r) RT-qPCR. The
      dataset was randomly divided at 2:1 ratio into training (n = 221) and testing (n
      = 103) sets to develop a multigene prognostic signature. FINDINGS: Gene
      expressions were measured in 324 patients. In the training set, multiple models
      testing 424 candidate genes identified a prognostic signature containing 8 genes
      plus MSKCC clinical risk factors. In the testing set, the time dependent (td) AUC
      for a prognostic model containing the 8 genes with and without MSKCC risk factors
      were 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. The tdAUC for the clinical risk factors alone
      was 0.61. Additional primary mRCCs from patients with mRCC (n = 12) were sampled
      in multiple sites and standard deviations of gene expressions within a tumor were
      used as a measure of heterogeneity. All 8 genes in the final prognostic model met
      our criteria for minimal heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: A molecular prognostic
      signature based on 8 genes was developed and is ready for external validation in
      this patient population and other related settings such as nonmetastatic RCC.

PMID- 26870807
TI  - Arterial Blood, Rather Than Venous Blood, is a Better Source for Circulating
      Melanoma Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: CTCs provide prognostic information and their application is under
      investigation in multiple tumor types. Of the multiple variables inherent in any
      such process, none is more important to outcome than the appropriateness of the
      sample source. To address this question, we investigated CTCs in paired
      peripheral venous and arterial blood specimens obtained from stage IV uveal
      melanoma patients. METHODS: Blood specimens were obtained from both common
      femoral arteries and antecubital veins in 17 uveal melanoma patients with
      multiple hepatic metastases for CTC measurements. FINDING: CTCs were detectable
      with greater frequency (100%) and in larger numbers (median 5, range 1 to 168) in
      all arterial blood specimens than in venous samples (52.9%; median 1, range 0 to
      8). Patients with hepatic as well as extra-hepatic metastasis showed higher
      number of arterial CTCs, compared to patients with liver-only metastasis (p =
      0.003). There was no significant association between the number of arterial CTCs
      and the tumor burden within the liver in patients who had liver-only metastases.
      INTERPRETATION: Our data indicate that arterial blood specimens might be a better
      source of circulating uveal melanoma cells. Although less conveniently processed,
      perhaps arterial blood should be evaluated as sample source for measurement of
      CTCs.

PMID- 26870805
TI  - The Sigma-2 Receptor and Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 are Different
      Binding Sites Derived From Independent Genes.
AB  - The sigma-2 receptor (S2R) is a potential therapeutic target for cancer and
      neuronal diseases. However, the identity of the S2R has remained a matter of
      debate. Historically, the S2R has been defined as (1) a binding site with high
      affinity to 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) and haloperidol but not to the
      selective sigma-1 receptor ligand (+)-pentazocine, and (2) a protein of 18-21
      kDa, as shown by specific photolabeling with [(3)H]-Azido-DTG and [(125)I]
      iodoazido-fenpropimorph ([(125)I]-IAF). Recently, the progesterone receptor
      membrane component 1 (PGRMC1), a 25 kDa protein, was reported to be the S2R
      (Nature Communications, 2011, 2:380). To confirm this identification, we created
      PGRMC1 knockout NSC34 cell lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We found that
      in NSC34 cells devoid of or overexpressing PGRMC1, the maximum [(3)H]-DTG binding
      to the S2R (Bmax) as well as the DTG-protectable [(125)I]-IAF photolabeling of
      the S2R were similar to those of wild-type control cells. Furthermore, the
      affinities of DTG and haloperidol for PGRMC1 (KI = 472 MUM and 350 MUM,
      respectively), as determined in competition with [(3)H]-progesterone, were more
      than 3 orders of magnitude lower than those reported for the S2R (20-80 nM).
      These results clarify that PGRMC1 and the S2R are distinct binding sites
      expressed by different genes.

PMID- 26870809
TI  - Erratum to "Efficacy of Adjunctive Tofacitinib Therapy in Mouse Models of
      Tuberculosis" [EBioMedicine 2 (8), August 2015, 868-873].

PMID- 26870808
TI  - Prediction of Cancer Prevention: From Mammogram Screening to Identification of
      BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers in Underserved Populations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The US Preventative Service Task Force recommends that physicians
      perform a genetic risk assessment to identify women at risk for BRCA1/2 mutations
      associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. However,
      outcomes data after a diagnosis of HBOC syndrome especially in diverse
      populations, are minimal. Here we asked if genetic screening of high-risk
      underserved women identified in the mammogram population reduces cancer
      incidence. METHODS: We evaluated 61,924 underserved women at screening
      mammography for family histories suggestive of HBOC syndrome over the course of
      21 months. Data were collected retrospectively from patients at two safety net
      hospitals through chart review. A computer model was used to calculate the long
      term effect of this screening on cancer incidence by assessing both the mutation
      detection rate and the completion of prophylactic surgeries in BRCA1/2 mutation
      carriers. FINDINGS: We identified 20 of the 85 (23.5%) expected BRCA1/2 mutation
      carriers in the underserved population. The frequencies of prophylactic
      mastectomies and oophorectomies in the mutation carriers were 25% and 40%,
      respectively. Using these data, our model predicted only an 8.8% reduction in
      both breast and ovarian cancer in the underserved patients. This contrasts with a
      57% reduction in breast cancer and 51% reduction in ovarian cancer in an insured
      reference population. Our data indicate that underserved patients with HBOC
      syndrome are difficult to identify and when identified are limited in their
      ability to adhere to NCCN guidelines for cancer prevention. INTERPRETATION:
      Screening for women at risk for HBOC syndrome in mammogram populations will only
      prevent cancers if we can increase compliance with management guidelines. This
      study provides prototypic baseline data for step-wise analysis of the efficacy of
      the use of family history analysis in the mammography setting for detection and
      management of HBOC syndrome.

PMID- 26870810
TI  - Towards a Biopsychosocial Model of Gulf War Illness?

PMID- 26870811
TI  - Localization of Viral Antigens Improves Understanding of Congenital Rubella
      Syndrome Pathophysiology.

PMID- 26870812
TI  - Plasma Biomarkers of HIV-associated Cognitive Disease.

PMID- 26870813
TI  - Thiamine Metabolites and Dementia?

PMID- 26870814
TI  - Allergy Associations with the Adult Fecal Microbiota: Cause, Effect or Biomarker?

PMID- 26870816
TI  - Human Leukemic Cells performing Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) Generate an
      Antioxidant Response Independently of Reactive Oxygen species (ROS) Production.
AB  - Tumor cell metabolism is altered during leukemogenesis. Cells performing
      oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) through
      mitochondrial activity. To limit the deleterious effects of excess ROS, certain
      gene promoters contain antioxidant response elements (ARE), e.g. the genes NQO-1
      and HO-1. ROS induces conformational changes in KEAP1 and releases NRF2, which
      activates AREs. We show in vitro and in vivo that OXPHOS induces, both in primary
      leukemic cells and cell lines, de novo expression of NQO-1 and HO-1 and also the
      MAPK ERK5 and decreases KEAP1 mRNA. ERK5 activates the transcription factor MEF2,
      which binds to the promoter of the miR-23a-27a-24-2 cluster. Newly generated miR
      23a destabilizes KEAP1 mRNA by binding to its 3'UTR. Lower KEAP1 levels increase
      the basal expression of the NRF2-dependent genes NQO-1 and HO-1. Hence, leukemic
      cells performing OXPHOS, independently of de novo ROS production, generate an
      antioxidant response to protect themselves from ROS. 

PMID- 26870815
TI  - Amelioration of Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Cognitive Impairments in Mice via a
      Reduction in Dietary Fat Content or Infusion of Non-Diabetic Plasma.
AB  - Obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with
      decreased cognitive function. While weight loss and T2D remission result in
      improvements in metabolism and vascular function, it is less clear if these
      benefits extend to cognitive performance. Here, we highlight the malleable nature
      of MetS-associated cognitive dysfunction using a mouse model of high fat diet
      (HFD)-induced MetS. While learning and memory was generally unaffected in mice
      with type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple cognitive impairments were associated with
      MetS, including deficits in novel object recognition, cued fear memory, and
      spatial learning and memory. However, a brief reduction in dietary fat content in
      chronic HFD-fed mice led to a complete rescue of cognitive function. Cerebral
      blood volume (CBV), a measure of vascular perfusion, was decreased during MetS,
      was associated with long term memory, and recovered following the intervention.
      Finally, repeated infusion of plasma collected from age-matched, low fat diet-fed
      mice improved memory in HFD mice, and was associated with a distinct metabolic
      profile. Thus, the cognitive dysfunction accompanying MetS appears to be amenable
      to treatment, related to cerebrovascular function, and mitigated by systemic
      factors. 

PMID- 26870817
TI  - P-glycoprotein Mediates Ceritinib Resistance in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
      rearranged Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion oncogene is observed in 3%-5% of non
      small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Crizotinib and ceritinib, a next-generation ALK
      tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) active against crizotinib-refractory patients,
      are clinically available for the treatment of ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients, and
      multiple next-generation ALK-TKIs are currently under clinical evaluation. These
      ALK-TKIs exhibit robust clinical activity in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients;
      however, the emergence of ALK-TKI resistance restricts the therapeutic effect. To
      date, various secondary mutations or bypass pathway activation-mediated
      resistance have been identified, but large parts of the resistance mechanism are
      yet to be identified. Here, we report the discovery of p-glycoprotein (P
      gp/ABCB1) overexpression as a ceritinib resistance mechanism in ALK-rearranged
      NSCLC patients. P-gp exported ceritinib and its overexpression conferred
      ceritinib and crizotinib resistance, but not to PF-06463922 or alectinib, which
      are next-generation ALK inhibitors. Knockdown of ABCB1 or P-gp inhibitors
      sensitizes the patient-derived cancer cells to ceritinib, in vitro and in vivo. P
      gp overexpression was identified in three out of 11 cases with in ALK-rearranged
      crizotinib or ceritinib resistant NSCLC patients. Our study suggests that
      alectinib, PF-06463922, or P-gp inhibitor with ceritinib could overcome the
      ceritinib or crizotinib resistance mediated by P-gp overexpression. 

PMID- 26870819
TI  - Reduced Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Protection in Gulf War Illness (GWI).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a disease of unknown etiology with symptoms
      suggesting the involvement of an immune process. Here we tested the hypothesis
      that Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) composition might differ between veterans with
      and without GWI. METHODS: We identified 144 unique alleles of Class I and II HLA
      genes in 82 veterans (66 with and 16 without GWI). We tested the hypothesis that
      a subset of HLA alleles may classify veterans in their respective group using a
      stepwise linear discriminant analysis. In addition, each participant rated
      symptom severity in 6 domains according to established GWI criteria, and an
      overall symptom severity was calculated. FINDINGS: We found 6 Class II alleles
      that classified participants 84.1% correctly (13/16 control and 56/66 GWI). The
      number of copies of the 6 alleles was significantly higher in the control group,
      suggesting a protective role. This was supported by a significant negative
      dependence of overall symptom severity on the number of allele copies, such that
      symptom severity was lower in participants with larger numbers of allele copies.
      INTERPRETATION: These results indicate a reduced HLA protection (i.e. genetic
      susceptibility) in veterans with GWI. FUNDING: University of Minnesota and U.S.
      Department of Veterans Affairs.

PMID- 26870818
TI  - Adjuvant-enhanced CD4 T Cell Responses are Critical to Durable Vaccine Immunity.
AB  - Protein-based vaccines offer a safer alternative to live-attenuated or
      inactivated vaccines but have limited immunogenicity. The identification of
      adjuvants that augment immunogenicity, specifically in a manner that is durable
      and antigen-specific, is therefore critical for advanced development. In this
      study, we use the filovirus virus-like particle (VLP) as a model protein-based
      vaccine in order to evaluate the impact of four candidate vaccine adjuvants on
      enhancing long term protection from Ebola virus challenge. Adjuvants tested
      include poly-ICLC (Hiltonol), MPLA, CpG 2395, and alhydrogel. We compared and
      contrasted antibody responses, neutralizing antibody responses, effector T cell
      responses, and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell frequencies with each adjuvant's
      impact on durable protection. We demonstrate that in this system, the most
      effective adjuvant elicits a Th1-skewed antibody response and strong CD4 T cell
      responses, including an increase in Tfh frequency. Using immune-deficient animals
      and adoptive transfer of serum and cells from vaccinated animals into naive
      animals, we further demonstrate that serum and CD4 T cells play a critical role
      in conferring protection within effective vaccination regimens. These studies
      inform on the requirements of long term immune protection, which can potentially
      be used to guide screening of clinical-grade adjuvants for vaccine clinical
      development. 

PMID- 26870820
TI  - Immunolocalization and Distribution of Rubella Antigen in Fatal Congenital
      Rubella Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An estimated 100,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) occur
      worldwide each year. The reported mortality rate for infants with CRS is up to
      33%. The cellular mechanisms responsible for the multiple congenital defects in
      CRS are presently unknown. Here we identify cell types positive for rubella virus
      (RV) in CRS infants. METHODS: Cells and organs involved in RV replication were
      identified in paraffin-embedded autopsy tissues from three fatal case-patients by
      histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining using a rabbit
      polyclonal RV antibody. Normal rabbit antisera and RV antisera preabsorbed with
      highly purified RV served as negative controls. RESULTS: RV antigen was found in
      interstitial fibroblasts in the heart, adventitial fibroblasts of large blood
      vessels, alveolar macrophages, progenitor cells of the outer granular layer of
      the brain, and in capillary endothelium and basal plate in the placenta. The
      antibody specificity was verified by IHC staining of multiple tissue sections
      from other infectious disease cases. RV infection of each cell type is consistent
      with abnormalities which have been identified in patients with CRS, in the heart,
      large blood vessels, and brain. Antigen distribution was consistent with
      inflammatory response to vascular injury and systemic spread of RV. CONCLUSIONS:
      The identification of RV positive cell types in CRS is important to better
      understand the pathology and pathogenesis of CRS.

PMID- 26870821
TI  - Genetic Variation in NFKBIE Is Associated With Increased Risk of Pneumococcal
      Meningitis in Children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are frequent
      pathogens in life-threatening infections. Genetic variation in the immune system
      may predispose to these infections. Nuclear factor-kappaB is a key component of
      the TLR-pathway, controlled by inhibitors, encoded by the genes NFKBIA, NFKBIE
      and NFKBIZ. We aimed to replicate previous findings of genetic variation
      associated with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and to assess whether
      similar associations could be found in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
      METHODS: Cases with IPD and IMD and controls were identified by linking Danish
      national registries. DNA was obtained from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank.
      The association between SNPs and susceptibility to IPD and IMD, mortality and
      pneumococcal serotypes was investigated. RESULTS: 372 children with pneumococcal
      meningitis, 907 with pneumococcal bacteremia and 1273 controls were included. We
      included 406 cases with meningococcal meningitis, 272 with meningococcal
      bacteremia, and 672 controls. The NFKBIE SNP was associated with increased risk
      of pneumococcal meningitis (aOR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.20-2.36), but not bacteremia (aOR
      1.08; 95% CI: 0.86-1.35). The remaining SNPs were not associated with
      susceptibility to invasive disease. None of the SNPs were associated with risk of
      IMD or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A NFKBIE polymorphism was associated with
      increased risk of pneumococcal meningitis.

PMID- 26870822
TI  - Small Molecule Inhibitors of BAF; A Promising Family of Compounds in HIV-1
      Latency Reversal.
AB  - Persistence of latently infected cells in presence of Anti-Retroviral Therapy
      presents the main obstacle to HIV-1 eradication. Much effort is thus placed on
      identification of compounds capable of HIV-1 latency reversal in order to render
      infected cells susceptible to viral cytopathic effects and immune clearance. We
      identified the BAF chromatin remodeling complex as a key player required for
      maintenance of HIV-1 latency, highlighting its potential as a molecular target
      for inhibition in latency reversal. Here, we screened a recently identified panel
      of small molecule inhibitors of BAF (BAFi's) for potential to activate latent HIV
      1. Latency reversal was strongly induced by BAFi's Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester
      and Pyrimethamine, two molecules previously characterized for clinical
      application. BAFi's reversed HIV-1 latency in cell line based latency models, in
      two ex vivo infected primary cell models of latency, as well as in HIV-1 infected
      patient's CD4 + T cells, without inducing T cell proliferation or activation.
      BAFi-induced HIV-1 latency reversal was synergistically enhanced upon PKC pathway
      activation and HDAC-inhibition. Therefore BAFi's constitute a promising family of
      molecules for inclusion in therapeutic combinatorial HIV-1 latency reversal. 

PMID- 26870824
TI  - Plasma Concentration of the Neurofilament Light Protein (NFL) is a Biomarker of
      CNS Injury in HIV Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) is
      a sensitive marker of neuronal injury in a variety of neurodegenerative
      conditions, including the CNS dysfunction injury that is common in untreated HIV
      infection. However, an important limitation is the requirement for lumbar
      puncture. For this reason, a sensitive and reliable blood biomarker of CNS injury
      would represent a welcome advance in both clinical and research settings.
      METHODS: To explore whether plasma concentrations of NFL might be used to detect
      CNS injury in HIV infection, an ultrasensitive Single molecule array (Simoa)
      immunoassay was developed. Using a cross-sectional design, we measured NFL in
      paired CSF and plasma samples from 121 HIV-infected subjects divided into groups
      according to stage of their systemic disease, presence of overt HIV-associated
      dementia (HAD), and after antiretroviral treatment (ART)-induced viral
      suppression. HIV-negative controls were also examined. FINDINGS: Plasma and CSF
      NFL concentrations were very highly correlated (r = 0.89, P < 0.0001). While NFL
      was more than 50-fold lower plasma than CSF it was within the quantifiable range
      of the new plasma assay in all subjects, including the HIV negatives and the HIV
      positives with normal CSF NFL concentrations. The pattern of NFL changes were
      almost identical in plasma and CSF, both exhibiting similar age-related increases
      in concentrations along with highest values in HAD and substantial elevations in
      ART-naive neuroasymptomatic subjects with low blood CD4(+) T cells.
      INTERPRETATION: These results show that plasma NFL may prove a valuable tool to
      evaluate ongoing CNS injury in HIV infection that may be applied in the clinic
      and in research settings to assess the presence if active CNS injury. Because CSF
      NFL is also elevated in a variety of other CNS disorders, sensitive measures of
      plasma NFL may similarly prove useful in other settings.

PMID- 26870823
TI  - Small CD4 Mimetics Prevent HIV-1 Uninfected Bystander CD4 + T Cell Killing
      Mediated by Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes a progressive
      depletion of CD4 + T cells. Despite its importance for HIV-1 pathogenesis, the
      precise mechanisms underlying CD4 + T-cell depletion remain incompletely
      understood. Here we make the surprising observation that antibody-dependent cell
      mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediates the death of uninfected bystander CD4 + T
      cells in cultures of HIV-1-infected cells. While HIV-1-infected cells are
      protected from ADCC by the action of the viral Vpu and Nef proteins, uninfected
      bystander CD4 + T cells bind gp120 shed from productively infected cells and are
      efficiently recognized by ADCC-mediating antibodies. Thus, gp120 shedding
      represents a viral mechanism to divert ADCC responses towards uninfected
      bystander CD4 + T cells. Importantly, CD4-mimetic molecules redirect ADCC
      responses from uninfected bystander cells to HIV-1-infected cells; therefore, CD4
      mimetic compounds might have therapeutic utility in new strategies aimed at
      specifically eliminating HIV-1-infected cells.

PMID- 26870825
TI  - Hypothermic Preconditioning Reverses Tau Ontogenesis in Human Cortical Neurons
      and is Mimicked by Protein Phosphatase 2A Inhibition.
AB  - Hypothermia is potently neuroprotective, but the molecular basis of this effect
      remains obscure. Changes in neuronal tau protein are of interest, since tau
      becomes hyperphosphorylated in injury-resistant, hypothermic brains. Noting inter
      species differences in tau isoforms, we have used functional cortical neurons
      differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hCNs) to interrogate tau
      modulation during hypothermic preconditioning at clinically-relevant
      temperatures. Key tau developmental transitions (phosphorylation status and
      splicing shift) are recapitulated during hCN differentiation and subsequently
      reversed by mild (32  degrees C) to moderate (28  degrees C) cooling--conditions
      which reduce oxidative and excitotoxic stress-mediated injury in hCNs. Blocking a
      major tau kinase decreases hCN tau phosphorylation and abrogates hypothermic
      neuroprotection, whilst inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A mimics cooling
      induced tau hyperphosphorylation and protects normothermic hCNs from oxidative
      stress. These findings indicate a possible role for phospho-tau in hypothermic
      preconditioning, and suggest that cooling drives human tau towards an earlier
      ontogenic phenotype whilst increasing neuronal resilience to common neurotoxic
      insults. This work provides a critical step forward in understanding how we might
      exploit the neuroprotective benefits of cooling without cooling patients.

PMID- 26870826
TI  - Measurement of Blood Thiamine Metabolites for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brain glucose hypometabolism is an invariant feature and has
      significant diagnostic value for Alzheimer's disease. Thiamine diphosphate (TDP)
      is a critical coenzyme for glucose metabolism and significantly reduced in brain
      and blood samples of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AIMS: To explore the
      diagnostic value of the measurement of blood thiamine metabolites for AD.
      METHODS: Blood TDP, thiamine monophosphate, and thiamine levels were detected
      using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The study included the
      exploration and validation phases. In the exploration phase, the samples of 338
      control subjects and 43 AD patients were utilized to establish the models for AD
      diagnosis assayed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, including the
      variable gamma that represents the best combination of thiamine metabolites and
      age to predict the possibility of AD. In the validation phase, the values of
      models were further tested for AD diagnosis using samples of 861 control
      subjects, 81 AD patients, 70 vascular dementia patients, and 13 frontotemporal
      dementia patients. RESULTS: TDP and the gamma exhibited significant and
      consistent values for AD diagnosis in both exploration and validation phases. TDP
      had 0.843 and 0.837 of the areas under ROC curve (AUCs), 77.4% and 81.5% of
      sensitivities, and 78.1% and 77.2% of specificities respectively in the
      exploration and validation phases. The gamma had 0.938 and 0.910 of AUCs, 81.4%
      and 80.2% of sensitivities, and 90.5% and 87.2% of specificities respectively in
      the exploration and validation phases. TDP and the gamma can effectively
      distinguish AD from vascular dementia (64.3% for TDP, 67.1% for gamma) and
      frontotemporal dementia (84.6% for TDP, 100.0% for gamma). Interpretation. The
      measurement of blood thiamine metabolites by HPLC is an ideal diagnostic test for
      AD with inexpensive, easy to perform, noninvasive merits.

PMID- 26870827
TI  - A Single-blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial of How to Implement an Evidence-based
      Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder [IMPLEMENT]--Effects of Three
      Different Strategies of Implementation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite long-standing calls to disseminate evidence-based treatments
      for generalized anxiety (GAD), modest progress has been made in the study of how
      such treatments should be implemented. The primary objective of this study was to
      test three competing strategies on how to implement a cognitive behavioral
      treatment (CBT) for out-patients with GAD (i.e., comparison of one compensation
      vs. two capitalization models). METHODS: For our three-arm, single-blinded,
      randomized controlled trial (implementation of CBT for GAD [IMPLEMENT]), we
      recruited adults with GAD using advertisements in high-circulation newspapers to
      participate in a 14-session cognitive behavioral treatment (Mastery of your
      Anxiety and Worry, MAW-packet). We randomly assigned eligible patients using a
      full randomization procedure (1:1:1) to three different conditions of
      implementation: adherence priming (compensation model), which had a systematized
      focus on patients' individual GAD symptoms and how to compensate for these
      symptoms within the MAW-packet, and resource priming and supportive resource
      priming (capitalization model), which had systematized focuses on patients'
      strengths and abilities and how these strengths can be capitalized within the
      same packet. In the intention-to-treat population an outcome composite of primary
      and secondary symptoms-related self-report questionnaires was analyzed based on a
      hierarchical linear growth model from intake to 6-month follow-up assessment.
      This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02039193) and is
      closed to new participants. FINDINGS: From June 2012 to Nov. 2014, from 411
      participants that were screened, 57 eligible participants were recruited and
      randomly assigned to three conditions. Forty-nine patients (86%) provided outcome
      data at post-assessment (14% dropout rate). All three conditions showed a highly
      significant reduction of symptoms over time. However, compared with the adherence
      priming condition, both resource priming conditions indicated faster symptom
      reduction. The observer ratings of a sub-sample of recorded videos (n = 100)
      showed that the therapists in the resource priming conditions conducted more
      strength-oriented interventions in comparison with the adherence priming
      condition. No patients died or attempted suicide. INTERPRETATION: To our
      knowledge, this is the first trial that focuses on capitalization and
      compensation models during the implementation of one prescriptive treatment
      packet for GAD. We have shown that GAD related symptoms were significantly faster
      reduced by the resource priming conditions, although the limitations of our study
      included a well-educated population. If replicated, our results suggest that
      therapists who implement a mental health treatment for GAD might profit from a
      systematized focus on capitalization models. FUNDING: Swiss Science National
      Foundation (SNSF-Nr. PZ00P1_136937/1) awarded to CF.

PMID- 26870830
TI  - Engineering Viruses to Fight Cancer.

PMID- 26870828
TI  - Allergy associations with the adult fecal microbiota: Analysis of the American
      Gut Project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alteration of the gut microbial population (dysbiosis) may increase
      the risk for allergies and other conditions. This study sought to clarify the
      relationship of dysbiosis with allergies in adults. METHODS: Publicly available
      American Gut Project questionnaire and fecal 16S rRNA sequence data were
      analyzed. Fecal microbiota richness (number of observed species) and composition
      (UniFrac) were used to compare adults with versus without allergy to foods
      (peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, other) and non-foods (drug, bee sting, dander,
      asthma, seasonal, eczema). Logistic and Poisson regression models adjusted for
      potential confounders. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were
      calculated for lowest vs highest richness tertile. Taxonomy associations
      considered 122 non-redundant taxa (of 2379 total taxa) with >= 0.1% mean
      abundance. RESULTS: Self-reported allergy prevalence among the 1879 participants
      (mean age, 45.5 years; 46.9% male) was 81.5%, ranging from 2.5% for peanuts to
      40.5% for seasonal. Fecal microbiota richness was markedly lower with total
      allergies (P = 10(-9)) and five particular allergies (P <= 10(-4)). Richness odds
      ratios were 1.7 (CI 1.3-2.2) with seasonal, 1.8 (CI 1.3-2.5) with drug, and 7.8
      (CI 2.3-26.5) with peanut allergy. These allergic participants also had markedly
      altered microbial community composition (unweighted UniFrac, P = 10(-4) to 10(
      7)). Total food and non-food allergies were significantly associated with 7 and 9
      altered taxa, respectively. The dysbiosis was most marked with nut and seasonal
      allergies, driven by higher Bacteroidales and reduced Clostridiales taxa.
      INTERPRETATION: American adults with allergies, especially to nuts and seasonal
      pollen, have low diversity, reduced Clostridiales, and increased Bacteroidales in
      their gut microbiota. This dysbiosis might be targeted to improve treatment or
      prevention of allergy.

PMID- 26870829
TI  - Research Investments in Global Health: A Systematic Analysis of UK Infectious
      Disease Research Funding and Global Health Metrics, 1997-2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases account for a significant global burden of
      disease and substantial investment in research and development. This paper
      presents a systematic assessment of research investments awarded to UK
      institutions and global health metrics assessing disease burden. METHODS: We
      systematically sourced research funding data awarded from public and
      philanthropic organisations between 1997 and 2013. We screened awards for
      relevance to infection and categorised data by type of science, disease area and
      specific pathogen. Investments were compared with mortality, disability-adjusted
      life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLD) across three time
      points. FINDINGS: Between 1997-2013, there were 7398 awards with a total
      investment of L3.7 billion. An increase in research funding across 2011-2013 was
      observed for most disease areas, with notable exceptions being sexually
      transmitted infections and sepsis research where funding decreased. Most funding
      remains for pre-clinical research (L2.2 billion, 59.4%). Relative to global
      mortality, DALYs and YLDs, acute hepatitis C, leishmaniasis and African
      trypanosomiasis received comparatively high levels of funding. Pneumonia,
      shigellosis, pertussis, cholera and syphilis were poorly funded across all health
      metrics. Tuberculosis (TB) consistently attracts relatively less funding than HIV
      and malaria. INTERPRETATION: Most infections have received increases in research
      investment, alongside decreases in global burden of disease in 2013. The UK
      demonstrates research strengths in some neglected tropical diseases such as
      African trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis, but syphilis, cholera, shigellosis and
      pneumonia remain poorly funded relative to their global burden. Acute hepatitis C
      appears well funded but the figures do not adequately take into account projected
      future chronic burdens for this condition. These findings can help to inform
      global policymakers on resource allocation for research investment.

PMID- 26870831
TI  - From Ultrasonography to High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Towards an
      Optimal Management Strategy for Vulnerable Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques.

PMID- 26870832
TI  - Keep Harm at Bay: Oxidative Phosphorylation Induces Nrf2-Driven Antioxidant
      Response Via ERK5/MEF2/miR-23a Signaling to Keap-1.

PMID- 26870833
TI  - The Yin and Yang of ADCC-Mediating Antibodies.

PMID- 26870835
TI  - A new approach to predict soil temperature under vegetated surfaces.
AB  - In this article, the setup and the application of an empirical model, based on
      Newton's law of cooling, capable to predict daily mean soil temperature (Tsoil)
      under vegetated surfaces, is described. The only input variable, necessary to run
      the model, is a time series of daily mean air temperature. The simulator employs
      9 empirical parameters, which were estimated by inverse modeling. The model,
      which primarily addresses forested sites, incorporates the effect of snow cover
      and soil freezing on soil temperature. The model was applied to several temperate
      forest sites, managing the split between Central Europe (Austria) and the United
      States (Harvard Forest, Massachusetts; Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire), aiming to
      cover a broad range of site characteristics. Investigated stands differ
      fundamentally in stand composition, elevation, exposition, annual mean
      temperature, precipitation regime, as well as in the duration of winter snow
      cover. At last, to explore the limits of the formulation, the simulator was
      applied to non-forest sites (Illinois), where soil temperature was recorded under
      short cut grass. The model was parameterized, specifically to site and
      measurement depth. After calibration of the model, an evaluation was performed,
      using ~50 % of the available data. In each case, the simulator was capable to
      deliver a feasible prediction of soil temperature in the validation time
      interval. To evaluate the practical suitability of the simulator, the minimum
      amount of soil temperature point measurements, necessary to yield expedient model
      performance was determined. In the investigated case 13-20 point observations,
      uniformly distributed within an 11-year timeframe, have been proven sufficient to
      yield sound model performance (root mean square error <0.9  degrees C, Nash
      Sutcliffe efficiency >0.97). This makes the model suitable for the application on
      sites, where the information on soil temperature is discontinuous or scarce.

PMID- 26870834
TI  - Evolving Therapeutic Strategies for the Classic Philadelphia-Negative
      Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.
AB  - Despite the emergence of JAK inhibitors, there is a need for disease-modifying
      treatments for Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). JAK
      inhibitors ameliorate symptoms and address splenomegaly, but because of the
      heterogeneous contributors to the disease process, JAK inhibitor monotherapy
      incompletely addresses the burden of disease. The ever-growing understanding of
      MPN pathogenesis has provided the rationale for testing novel and targeted
      therapeutic agents, as monotherapies or in combination, in preclinical and
      clinical settings. A number of intriguing options have emerged, and it is hoped
      that further progress will lead to significant changes in the natural history of
      MPNs. 

PMID- 26870837
TI  - Clinical Clarity versus Terminological Order - The Readiness of SNOMED CT Concept
      Descriptors for Primary Care.
AB  - As SNOMED usage becomes more ingrained within applications, its range of concept
      descriptors, and particularly its synonym adequacy, becomes more important. A
      simulated clinical scenario involving various term-based concept searches is used
      to assess whether SNOMED's concept descriptors provide sufficient differentiation
      to enable possible concept selection between similar terms. Four random samples
      from different SNOMED concept populations are utilized. Of particular interest
      are concepts mapped duplicately into UMLS concepts due to shared term patterns.
      While overall synonym problems are rare (1%), some concept populations exhibited
      a high rate of potential problems for clinical use (17-62%). The vast majority of
      issues are due to SNOMED's inherent structure and fine granularity. Many findings
      hint at a lack of clear delineation between reference and interface
      terminological qualities. Closer attention should be given to practical clinical
      use-case scenarios. Reducing SNOMED's structural complexity may alleviate many of
      the described findings and encourage clinical adoption.

PMID- 26870838
TI  - New therapies for antiemetic prophylaxis for chemotherapy.
AB  - A number of new advances have occurred over the past 2 years in the management of
      chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting (CINV). A new neurokinin-1 receptor
      antagonist (NK1RA), netupitant, has been combined with palonosetron in a single
      oral tablet for treating the effects of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC)
      and highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Rolapitant, another NK1RA, unlike
      aprepitant, has a long half-life and does not block CYP-3A4 and therefore has
      fewer drug interactions. Olanzapine reduces nausea more effectively than
      aprepitant in patients who are receiving HEC and is a better rescue antiemetic
      than is metoclopramide. Ginger lacks efficacy as an antiemetic agent for CINV.
      Although there was some evidence in a pilot study of gabapentin as an antiemetic,
      it was no better in reducing CINV than was placebo. Compliance to guidelines in
      multiple settings ranges from 50%-60% but is improved by computerized order entry
      of antiemetics and recommendations displayed with chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26870839
TI  - Management of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-associated rash: a
      systematic review.
AB  - Cancer patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs)
      frequently experience skin toxicities (rash) that can compromise their quality of
      life and lead to dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment. Reflecting the
      need for effective management of EGFRI-associated rash, a number of clinical
      practice guidelines and management recommendations have been developed. The
      objective of this systematic review is to identify and summarize all available
      published recommendations of rash management strategies and evaluate their basis
      of evidence, to describe consensus in the recommendations, and where there is a
      lack of consensus to describe the opportunities for future clinical research to
      improve clinical practice in the management of EGFRI rash. Fifty-nine articles
      published from 2005-2011 were selected for inclusion in the systematic review.
      Common drug recommendations were oral and topical antibiotics, topical
      corticosteroids, and antihistamines; low-grade rash was generally recommended to
      be managed with topical antibiotics or corticosteroids, grade 2 rash with oral
      antibiotics or antihistamines, and severe grades of rash with oral
      corticosteroids or delay/dose reduction of EGFRI. The focus of clinical practice
      guidelines and recommendations was on reactive management. A better understanding
      of pre-emptive versus reactive treatment with the implementation of appropriately
      designed randomized controlled studies could support a more effective management
      of EGFRI-associated rash and improve patient outcomes. Consideration of patients'
      self-reported outcomes and consistent grading of rash toxicity are also
      recommended. Funding/sponsor: Eli Lilly & Co, Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

PMID- 26870836
TI  - Collateral Lethality: A new therapeutic strategy in oncology.
AB  - Genomic deletion of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) is a rite of passage for
      virtually all human cancers. The synthetic lethal paradigm has provided a
      framework for the development of molecular targeted therapeutics that are
      functionally linked to the loss of specific TSG functions. In the course of
      genomic events that delete TSGs, a large number of genes with no apparent direct
      role in tumor promotion also sustain deletion as a result of chromosomal
      proximity to the target TSG. In this perspective, we review the novel concept of
      "collateral lethality", which has served to identify cancer-specific therapeutic
      vulnerabilities resulting from co-deletion of passenger genes neighboring TSG.
      The large number of collaterally deleted genes, playing diverse functions in cell
      homeostasis, offers a rich repertoire of pharmacologically targetable
      vulnerabilities presenting novel opportunities for the development of
      personalized anti-neoplastic therapies.

PMID- 26870840
TI  - Cyclical hypofractionated radiotherapy technique for palliative treatment of
      locally advanced head and neck cancer: institutional experience and review of
      palliative regimens.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effective palliation in patients with locally advanced head and neck
      cancer is important. Cyclical hypofractionated radiotherapy (Quad Shot) is a
      short-course palliative regimen with good patient compliance, low rates of acute
      toxicity, and delayed late fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To review use of the Quad Shot
      technique at our institution in order to quantify the palliative response in
      locally advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: The medical records of 70
      patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who had been treated with the
      Quad Shot technique were analyzed retrospectively (36 had been treated with
      intensity-modulated radiation therapy and 34 with 3-D conformal radiotherapy).
      They had received cyclical hypofractionated radiotherapy administrated as 14.8 Gy
      in 4 fractions over 2 days, twice daily, repeated every 3 weeks for a total of 3
      cycles. The total prescribed dose was 44.4 Gy. Primary endpoints were improvement
      in pain using a verbal numeric pain rating scale (range 1-10, 10 being severe
      pain) and dysphagia using the Food Intake Level Scale, and the secondary
      endpoints included overall survival (OS), local regional recurrence-free survival
      (LRRFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression. RESULTS: Pain
      response occurred in 61% of the patients. The mean pain scores decreased
      significantly from pre to post treatment (5.81 to 2.55, ?? = .009). The mean
      initial dysphagia score improved from 2.20 to 4.77 55 (?? = .045). 26% of
      patients developed mucositis (<= grade 2), with 9% developing grade 3-level
      mucositis. 12 patients had tumor recurrence. The estimated 1-year PFS was 20.7%.
      The median survival was 3.85 months with an estimated 1-year OS of 22.6%. Pain
      response (hazard ratio [HR], 2.69; 95% confidence index [CI], I.552-1.77) and
      completion of all 3 cycles (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.003-2.907) were predictive for
      improved OS. LIMITATIONS: This study is a retrospective analysis. CONCLUSION:
      Quad Shot is an appropriate palliative regimen for locally advanced head and neck
      cancer.

PMID- 26870841
TI  - Impact of surgery for stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer on patient quality of
      life.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of literature comparing quality of life (QoL)
      before and after surgery in stage IA lung cancer, where surgical resection is the
      recommended curative treatment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of surgery on
      physical and mental health-related QoL in patients with stage IA lung cancer
      treated with surgical resection. METHODS: Participants in the I-ELCAP cohort who
      were diagnosed with their first primary pathologic stage IA non-small-cell lung
      cancer, underwent surgery, and provided follow-up information on QoL 1 year later
      were included in the present analysis (N = 107). QoL information was collected
      using the SF-12 (12-item Short Form Health Survey), which generates 2 component
      scores related to mental health and physical health. RESULTS: Statistical
      analyses indicated that physical health QoL was significantly worsened from
      before surgery to after surgery, whereas mental health QoL marginally improved
      from before to after surgery. Physical health QoL worsened for women from
      baseline to follow-up, but not for men. Only lobectomy (not limited resection)
      had an impact on QoL from before to after surgery. LIMITATIONS: Results are
      considered preliminary given the small sample size and multiple comparisons.
      CONCLUSIONS: The current study findings have implications for lung cancer health
      care professionals in regard to how they can most effectively present the
      possible impact of surgery on quality of life to this subset of patients in which
      disease has not yet significantly progressed.

PMID- 26870842
TI  - Thyroid nodule: not as clear-cut as it seems.
AB  - Benign etiologies and primary thyroid cancers are the most common causes of
      incidental thyroid nodules. Clinically evident metastases to the thyroid gland
      are not common and account for 2%-3% of thyroid cancers, though the incidence of
      thyroid metastases reaches 24% in autopsy studies.1 The most common clinically
      detected thyroid metastases originate from renal cell carcinoma (RCC; 48.1%).2 We
      report here a rare case of a man with clear-cell RCC with late recurrence in the
      thyroid gland as a solitary metastasis, 13 years after the primary diagnosis. The
      patient received neo-adjuvant targeted therapy with sunitinib, then underwent
      thyroidectomy. The surgical margins were positive, and the patient had adjuvant
      radiation therapy. He is currently on long-term surveillance. 

PMID- 26870843
TI  - Periodontal Dressing as an Adjunct after Scaling and Root Planing--A Useful
      Preventive Tool?
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the preventive effect of a periodontal dressing containing
      colophony, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide applied after scaling and root planing
      on clinical variables, subgingival bacteria and local immune response in patients
      with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomised prospective
      clinical study, 28 volunteers with generalised moderate chronic periodontitis
      were treated with full-mouth scaling in a split-mouth design. In the test
      quadrants, the periodontal dressing was applied during the first three days. At
      baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks, probing pocket depth (PD), attachment level
      (AL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded, and subgingival plaque samples
      were taken for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: In both groups, PD, AL and BOP were
      significantly reduced (p=0.001). BOP was significantly lower in the control than
      the test group after 6 weeks (p=0.046). Significantly reduced bacterial counts of
      Porphyromonas gingivalis were found in the control group after 12 weeks
      (p=0.013). No differences were found for the microbiological results between the
      groups. After 12 weeks, interleukin (IL)-8 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8
      were significantly higher in the test group (p=0.023 and p=0.003, respectively).
      CONCLUSION: The adjunctive application of a periodontal dressing had no
      additional preventive effect on clinical data 12 weeks after scaling and root
      planing.

PMID- 26870844
TI  - Association of Oral Health-related Quality of Life with Periodontal Status and
      Treatment Needs.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of oral health-related quality of life
      (OHRQoL) with periodontal parameters and treatment needs in a Turkish population
      and compare the OHRQoL of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The present study had a cross-sectional design. The study population
      consisted of 404 patients with periodontitis (n = 130), gingivitis (n = 141) or
      periodontal health (n = 133). Patients' sociodemographic information as well as
      periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP),
      probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and the community periodontal
      index of treatment needs were recorded. The impact of oral health on the
      patients' quality of life was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14
      (OHIP-14) questionnaire. RESULTS: The OHIP-14 scores in subjects with gingivitis
      and periodontitis were higher than in periodontally healthy individuals (p <
      0.05). Although the total OHIP-14 scores in subjects with periodontitis were
      higher than those for the subjects with gingivitis, no statistically significant
      difference existed between the gingivitis and periodontitis groups (p > 0.05).
      When characterised according to periodontal treatment needs (TN), the total and
      individual domain OHIP-14 scores were highest in subjects at the TN3 level. The
      total OHIP-14 scores of subjects correlated with periodontal status, BOP, PD >= 4
      mm (% of sites), CAL >= 4 mm (% of sites) and TN. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      disclosed that the adverse effects on OHRQoL perceived by patients were similar
      in subjects with gingivitis and periodontitis. When planning treatment, it should
      be kept in mind that the pain and physical discomfort domains of the individual
      subscales are of primary importance to the patients. However, longitudinal
      studies are needed to clarify the relationship between periodontal status and
      OHRQoL.

PMID- 26870846
TI  - Effect of an Educational Programme on the Knowledge Level Among an Emergency
      Service Medical Team Regarding Tooth Avulsion.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in
      improving the level of knowledge of tooth avulsion among non-dental healthcare
      professionals of an emergency medical service in Brazil and the maintenance of
      this knowledge after a 6-month period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An intervention
      study was carried out involving the administration of a questionnaire and
      presentation of a lecture to 73 healthcare professionals (11 physicians, 41
      nurses and 21 paramedics) of an emergency medical service in Brazil. The
      questionnaire was administered before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 6 months
      after the lecture (T2). McNemar's test was used to compare the responses, with
      the significance level set at 5% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: A general improvement was
      found regarding the concept of tooth avulsion, replantation, conduct in cases of
      avulsion, ideal time for replantation, ability to perform replantation and
      storage medium prior to replantation between baseline (T0) and the post-lecture
      evaluations (p < 0.05). However, an increase in insecurity regarding replantation
      was found between T1 and T2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The educational intervention
      led to a significant increase in the number of correct answers regarding the
      measures to be taken in cases of tooth avulsion. The professionals' knowledge
      level remained high 6 months after the lecture. However, a certain degree of
      insecurity was found regarding the ability to perform replantation.

PMID- 26870845
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Differences in Self-Reported Periodontal Disease in the Multi
      Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
AB  - PURPOSE: Racial and ethnic disparities in periodontal disease exist in the United
      States. This study examined the prevalence of self-reported periodontal disease,
      and the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in the reported disease were
      reduced or eliminated after controlling for various risk factors in a multi
      ethnic study population of older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information from
      the baseline examination (July 2000-August 2002) of the Multi-Ethnic Study of
      Atherosclerosis (MESA) was used. Study participants (N = 6256) were age 45-84
      years and identified themselves as either: white, black, Hispanic or Chinese.
      Periodontal disease was assessed by self-report; demographic and socioeconomic
      status (SES) indicators, biomedical risk factors and psychosocial stress factors
      were used as predictors of self-reported periodontal disease. RESULTS: Chinese
      displayed the highest prevalence of self-reported periodontal disease (39.8%),
      followed by blacks (32.0%) and whites (26.0%), with Hispanics displaying the
      lowest prevalence (17.4%). Chinese and black participants had a significantly
      higher prevalence of disease compared to whites that persisted after adjusting
      for demographic and SES indicators, biomedical risk factors and psychosocial
      stress factors. After such adjustment, Hispanics did not differ significantly
      from whites in their reporting of disease. CONCLUSION: Racial/ethnic disparities
      in self-reported periodontal disease persisted after adjusting for all study
      covariates. This study highlights the need for continued research into the
      determinants of racial/ethnic disparities in periodontal disease in order to
      better target interventions aimed at reducing the burden of disease in all
      segments of the U.S. population.

PMID- 26870847
TI  - Are Carious Lesions in Previously Sealed Occlusal Surfaces Detected as well on
      Colour Photographs as by Visual Clinical Examination?
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the level of agreement between carious lesion assessments
      according to the visual clinical examination and the colour photograph methods.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on the presence of enamel/dentin carious lesions in
      previously sealed occlusal surfaces in first molars were obtained by two trained
      and calibrated examiners through visual clinical examination and from colour
      photographs 4 years after sealing. Kappa statistics were applied to calculate
      agreement between assessment methods. Data analysis was performed using sign,
      Bowker symmetry and McNemar's tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of dentin carious
      lesions was very low. The kappa coefficients for detecting enamel/dentin carious
      lesions using the two assessment methods were 0.65 (CI: 0.56-0.74) for examiner 1
      and 0.70 (CI: 0.62-0.78) for examiner 2. Examiner 2 observed more enamel/dentin
      carious lesions on colour photographs than did examiner 1 (p = 0.008).
      Sensitivity analyses did not confirm this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There was no
      difference in the detection of enamel/dentin carious lesions in previously sealed
      occlusal surfaces using colour photographs vs visual clinical examination. The
      colour photograph method is therefore equivalent to the visual clinical
      examination in detecting enamel/dentin carious lesions. More studies are
      required.

PMID- 26870848
TI  - Five-year Sealant Retention and Efficacy in a Multi-operated School-based Oral
      Health Programme in Kuwait.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate sealant retention in a multi-operator school-based oral
      health programme and sealant efficacy in preventing caries in a high caries-risk
      population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sealant retention and caries status in
      previously placed sealants on permanent first molars were evaluated in 503
      children ages 6 to 8 years at 20 primary schools. A total of 2538 sealants were
      applied on 876 first permanent molars and evaluated for retention and efficacy in
      preventing caries from 2002 to 2007. These sealants were placed on occlusal and
      buccal or palatal surfaces using a standard protocol after isolation with rubber
      dam or cotton roll. Caries was scored in teeth in which the sealants were
      partially or completely lost. RESULT: 1752 sealants (69%) were examined at the
      end of the fifth year, with 58.3% of the sealants completely retained, 7.4%
      partially lost, 19% completely lost, 6.2% resealed and 9.1% restored. Only 3.1%
      of the previously sealed teeth were carious and 87.8% of previously sealed teeth
      were caries free. In multivariate analysis, occlusal surfaces were 2.0 times more
      likely to retain a sealant than were the buccal and palatal pits (p < 0.0001). No
      differences in sealant retention vs caries by arch, or teeth isolated using
      rubber-dam vs cotton roll were seen. CONCLUSION: The present study shows the
      effectiveness of sealants in caries prevention in a multi-operator school sealant
      programme, and provides evidence supporting their use in such programmes for high
      caries populations.

PMID- 26870849
TI  - Microbiological Distribution of Six Periodontal Pathogens Between Untreated
      Italian and Dutch Periodontal Patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare prevalence and microbial load of six periodontal pathogens
      between Italian and Dutch patients affected by chronic periodontitis, using
      oligonucleotide probe technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque
      samples data from 352 Italians and 115 Dutch periodontal patients were analysed
      and compared. Bleeding on probing, suppuration, probing pocket depth, clinical
      attachment level, age, gender, ethnicities and smoking habits were recorded.
      Presence and level of bacterial species were determined by realtime polymerase
      chain reaction under the identical microbiological protocol. Statistical analysis
      was performed using the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test and binary
      unconditional logistic regression (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Between populations,
      only Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis differed significantly,
      being more prevalent in the Italian group (p = 0.0001). Except for Tannerella
      forsythia, all bacterial loads differed significantly: Treponema denticola (p =
      0.0001) and Prevotella intermedia (p = 0.001) were higher in Italians, while
      Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0.001), Fusobacterium nucleatum (p = 0.03) and
      Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.001) were higher in Dutch patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in prevalence and bacterial load of
      periodontal pathogens exist between Italian and Dutch patients affected by
      chronic periodontitis. The microbiological profile, and particularly the
      bacterial load of pathogens, varied significantly between populations.

PMID- 26870850
TI  - Prevalence and Predictors of Early Childhood Caries in 3- to 6-year-old South
      Indian Children--A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of ECC in 3- to 6
      year-old preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 477 preschool
      children aged 3 to 6 years was randomly selected from the schools in the area of
      study. Caries was recorded according to the WHO criteria from 1997. Information
      regarding demographic data, socioeconomic status, feeding habits, oral hygiene
      practices, birthweight and the children's visits to the dentist was obtained
      through a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using Student's t
      test, the chi-square test and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of early childhood caries in 3- to 6-year-old preschool children was
      found to be 27.3% with a mean dmft of 2.36. ECC increased significantly with age
      and is more predominant in girls. The maxillary arch was more affected than
      mandibular arch and children belonging to the low socioeconomic group showed
      higher caries prevalence. ECC is more prevalent in children accustomed to on
      demand breast feeding, bottle feeding at night, between-meal snacking and
      sweetened pacifier use. Factors such as increased frequency of toothbrushing, use
      of toothbrush and fluoridated dentifrice were found to be the protective factors
      against the risk of ECC. CONCLUSION: A strong correlation between the risk
      factors studied and ECC was found. Health education, proper guidelines on feeding
      and oral hygiene practices and access to early oral health care can substantially
      reduce the risk and prevalence of ECC.

PMID- 26870851
TI  - Soda Consumption Among Methamphetamine Users in the USA: Impact on Oral Health.
AB  - PURPOSE: Dental disease is associated with methamphetamine (MA) use and partly
      attributed to excessive consumption of sugared sodas. Hence, the purpose of this
      study was to verify patterns of sugared soda intake and their relationship to
      oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed assessments with 541 MA users at two
      dental clinics were conducted. Assessment included a lifetime history of
      methamphetamine use, sugared soda consumption and a dental exam. RESULTS:
      Subjects were predominantly male (80.8%; mean age 44.4 years), on average had
      used MA for 11.6 years and drank an average of 35.3 sodas per month. Number of
      days of MA use over the past 30 days was significantly associated with soda
      consumption. Increased years of MA use was associated with the likelihood of
      users reporting less overall satisfaction with life because of their teeth,
      specifically difficulty eating, and dry mouth. This is the first study to show a
      statistically significant association between MA use and sugared soda
      consumption. CONCLUSIONS: MA users' consumption of sugared sodas is higher than
      in the adult general population, and this is the first study to show a
      statistically significant association between MA use and sugared soda
      consumption. In addition, increased soda consumption was associated with more
      dental problems among MA users.

PMID- 26870852
TI  - CAMBRA as a Tool for Caries Risk Prediction Among 12- to 13-year-old
      Institutionalised Children - A Longitudinal Follow-up Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) as a tool for
      caries risk prediction among 12- to 13-year-old institutionalised children and to
      validate it against the new increment of caries lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      longitudinal follow-up study was conducted among 72 institutionalised children.
      Baseline data were collected in the month of August, 2011. Children were
      individually interviewed to record the nonclinical information necessary to
      complete the CAMBRA. Clinical information for the assessment of visible plaque
      was recorded using the Silness and Loe plaque index and evidence of
      decalcification and caries was recorded using ICDAS criteria. The children
      underwent the follow-up examination in August 2013 to determine the new increment
      of dental caries. RESULTS: 19.44% of the subjects were classified as low risk,
      22.22% as moderate risk, and 58.33% as high risk for caries. The highest odds
      ratio (OR) for disease indicators was 7.31 for restorations in the last 3 years.
      The highest OR for pathological factors was 7.15 for mutans streptococci,
      followed by 5.54 for visible heavy plaque. The highest OR for protective factors
      was 0.56, i.e. a negative association of fluoride toothpaste. Among those
      subjects assessed as moderate and high risk for caries at baseline, 37.5% and
      47.6%, respectively, had new cavities at the follow-up examination. Sensitivity
      for CAMBRA was found to be 47.62% with a specificity of 80%, and the area under
      the ROC curve was found to be 0.638. CONCLUSION: CAMBRA was valid and highly
      predictive in determining the caries risk among institutionalised children.

PMID- 26870853
TI  - Comparative Assessment of Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Chronic
      Periodontitis Patients of Rural and Urban Populations in Punjab.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess and compare the oral health related quality of life in
      patients suffering from chronic periodontitis using the short questionnaire of
      oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) in rural and urban populations of Punjab
      state, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients suffering from chronic
      periodontitis were screened and divided into two groups, rural and urban (50
      participants in each group). The clinical parameters plaque index (PI), gingival
      index (GI), pocket probing depth (PPD) and OHIP-14 were assessed in all patients.
      RESULTS: The mean PI (2.11 +/- 0.635), GI (1.61 +/- 0.45), PPD (3.12 +/- 0.692)
      and OHIP-14 (11.49 +/- 9.733) scores were significantly higher in the rural than
      in the urban population (1.69 +/- 0.45, 1.56 +/- 0.355, 3.30 +/- 0.973, 5.88 +/-
      5.588, respectively) suffering from chronic periodontitis. The most affected
      domain in the rural population was functional limitation, whereas psychological
      disability was the most affected in the urban population. A statistically
      significant positive correlation was observed between the periodontal parameters
      and OHIP-14 (p < 0.001) in both groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the
      study, periodontal status and oral health related quality of life are
      significantly correlated with each other in both rural and urban populations.

PMID- 26870854
TI  - beta-Cyclodextrin functionalized carbon quantum dots as sensors for determination
      of water-soluble C60 fullerenes in water.
AB  - A selective photoluminescence method based on Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs)
      functionalized with carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin for the direct determination
      of water-soluble C60 fullerene has been developed. CQDs were synthesized using a
      top-down methodology from multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and further
      functionalized with N-Boc-ethylenediamine to confer monoprotected amine groups
      onto their surface. Once amine-functionalized CQDs were obtained after
      deprotection, an amidation reaction with carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin
      cavitands was achieved and the obtained fluorescent beta-cyclodextrin
      functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots (cd-CQDs) were investigated for the inclusion
      complexation of water-soluble C60. Quenching of their fluorescence was observed
      owing to the non-covalent self-assembly of cd-CQDs and C60, making possible the
      quantification of C60. A method to determine water-soluble C60 is then proposed
      with detection and quantification limits of 0.525 and 1.751 MUg mL(-1),
      respectively. The method was validated by determining soluble C60 fullerene in
      spiked river water. One added value of the paper is the fact that it can be
      ascribed to the "Third Way in Analytical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

PMID- 26870856
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26870855
TI  - Surface modification of strontium-doped porous bioactive ceramic scaffolds via
      poly(DOPA) coating and immobilizing silk fibroin for excellent angiogenic and
      osteogenic properties.
AB  - For bioceramic scaffolds employed in clinical applications, excellent bioactivity
      and tenacity were of great importance. Modifying inorganic SCPP scaffolds with
      biological macromolecules could obviously improve its bioactivity and eliminate
      its palpable brittleness. However, it was hard to execute directly due to
      extremely bad interfacial compatibility between them. In this research, dopamine
      (DOPA) was introduced onto strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP)
      scaffolds, subsequently the preliminary material was successfully further
      modified by silk fibroin (SF). SCPP/D/SF possessed suitable biomechanical
      properties, ability to stimulate angiogenic factor secretion and excellent
      biocompatibility. Biomechanical examination demonstrated that SCPP/D/SF scaffolds
      yielded better compressive strength because of improved interfacial
      compatibility. MTT assay and CLSM observation showed that SCPP/D/SF scaffolds had
      good cytocompatibility and presented better inducing-cell-migration potential
      than pure SCPP scaffolds. Meanwhile, its ability to stimulate angiogenic factor
      secretion was measured through the ELISA assay and immunohistological analysis in
      vitro and in vivo respectively. The results revealed, superior to SCPP, SCPP/D/SF
      could effectively promote VEGF and bFGF expression, possibly leading to enhancing
      angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In a word, SCPP/D/SF could serve as a potential
      bone tissue engineering scaffold for comparable biomechanical properties and
      excellent bioactivity. It provided a novel idea for modification of inorganic
      materials to prepare promising bone tissue engineering scaffolds with the ability
      to accelerate bone regeneration and vascularization. 

PMID- 26870858
TI  - Cough and confusion in an elderly man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PMID- 26870859
TI  - Placental abnormalities. Prenatally undiagnosed vasa previa.

PMID- 26870857
TI  - Matt Griffiths replies.

PMID- 26870860
TI  - Chest X-ray quiz.

PMID- 26870861
TI  - [Acute rheumatic fever and infectious-inflammatory diseases of the  pharynx: the
      relationship, treatment, and prophylaxis].
AB  - The relationship between pharyngeal infections, such as tonsillitis and
      pharyngitis, caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHSA) and acute
      rheumatic fever (ARF) is a well-established fact confirmed by numerous studies
      carried out along the following lines: epidemiological, immunological,
      therapeutic, and prophylactic. The currently available data provide an
      opportunity to discuss the existence of "rheumatogenic" BHSA strains exhibiting a
      number of characteristic clinical and morphological properties. According to the
      current recommendations penicillins remain the means of first-line therapy for
      the treatment of acute forms of BHSA-induced tonsillitis and pharyngitis, whereas
      the macrolides should be applied only as the alternative medications in the
      patients with intolerance to beta-lactam antibiotics. This article contains
      characteristics of BHSA-carrier state and the principal indications for the
      prescription of antibiotics to the patients with these conditions. The key
      principle of secondary medicamental prophylaxis of acute respiratory infections
      are expounded along with the main fines of future research on the problems
      associated with BHSA-induced pharyngeal infections.

PMID- 26870862
TI  - [The modern strategy for the treatment of the patients presenting  with
      odontogenic maxillary   sinusitis and the oroantral fistula].
AB  - The objective of the present study was the comparative analysis of various
      methods for the plastic correction of the oroantral fistula with the use of the
      mucosal flap and the osteoplastic materials based on the data from the literature
      and on-line publkations. The characteristics of an ideal material for the plastic
      correction ot the oroantral fistula and the conditions for carrying out this
      surgery are discussed.

PMID- 26870863
TI  - [Yakov Solomonivich Temkin. The vast mind and the kind heart].

PMID- 26870864
TI  - A Tribute to Franz Halberg, MD.

PMID- 26870865
TI  - Response.

PMID- 26870866
TI  - Response.

PMID- 26870868
TI  - Duty of candour.

PMID- 26870869
TI  - What does revalidation mean for you?

PMID- 26870870
TI  - Smoke screens.

PMID- 26870871
TI  - European influence.

PMID- 26870872
TI  - Bond Activation by Metal-Carbene Complexes in the Gas Phase.
AB  - "Bare" metal-carbene complexes, when generated in the gas phase and exposed to
      thermal reactions under (near) single-collision conditions, exhibit rather unique
      reactivities in addition to the well-known metathesis and cyclopropanation
      processes. For example, at room temperature the unligated [AuCH2](+) complex
      brings about efficient C-C coupling with methane to produce C2Hx (x = 4, 6), and
      the couple [TaCH2](+)/CO2 gives rise to the generation of the acetic acid
      equivalent CH2?C?O. Entirely unprecedented is the thermal extrusion of a carbon
      atom from halobenzenes (X = F, Cl, Br, I) by [MCH2](+) (M = La, Hf, Ta, W, Re,
      Os) and its coupling with the methylene ligand to deliver C2H2 and
      [M(X)(C5H5)](+). Among the many noteworthy C-N bond-forming processes, the
      formation of CH3NH2 from [RhCH2](+)/NH3, the generation of CH2?NH2(+) from
      [MCH2](+)/NH3 (M = Pt, Au), and the production of [PtCH?NH2](+) from
      [PtCH2](+)/NH3 are of particular interest. The latter species are likely to be
      involved as intermediates in the platinum-mediated large-scale production of HCN
      from CH4/NH3 (the DEGUSSA process). In this context, a few examples are presented
      that point to the operation of co-operative effects even at a molecular level.
      For instance, in the coupling of CH4 with NH3 by the heteronuclear clusters
      [MPt](+) (M = coinage metal), platinum is crucial for the activation of methane,
      while the coinage metal M controls the branching ratio between the C-N bond
      forming step and unwanted soot formation. For most of the gas-phase reactions
      described in this Account, detailed mechanistic insight has been derived from
      extensive computational work in conjunction with time-honored labeling and
      advanced mass-spectrometry-based experiments, and often a coherent description of
      the experimental findings has been achieved. As for some transition metals, in
      particular those from the third row, the metal-carbene complexes can be formed
      directly from methane, coupling of the so-generated [MCH2] species with an inert
      molecule such as CH4, CO2, or NH3 constitutes a route to activate and
      functionalize methane under ambient conditions. Clearly, while these gas-phase
      studies cannot be translated directly to formally related processes in solution
      or those that occur at a surface, they nevertheless provide a conceptual
      mechanistic understanding and permit researchers to probe directly the remarkable
      intrinsic features of these elusive molecules and, in a broader context, help to
      identify the active site of a catalyst, the so-called "aristocratic atoms". 

PMID- 26870873
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed Oxy-Alkynylation of Diazo Compounds with Hypervalent Iodine
      Reagents.
AB  - Alkynes have found widespread applications in synthetic chemistry, biology, and
      materials sciences. In recent years, methods based on electrophilic alkynylation
      with hypervalent iodine reagents have made acetylene synthesis more flexible and
      efficient, but they lead to the formation of one equivalent of an iodoarene as
      side-product. Herein, a more efficient strategy involving a copper-catalyzed oxy
      alkynylation of diazo compounds with ethynylbenziodoxol(on)e (EBX) reagents is
      described, which proceeds with generation of nitrogen gas as the only waste. This
      reaction is remarkable for its broad scope in both EBX reagents and diazo
      compounds. In addition, vinyl diazo compounds gave enynes selectively as single
      geometric isomers. The functional groups introduced during the transformation
      served as easy handles to access useful building blocks for synthetic and
      medicinal chemistry. 

PMID- 26870874
TI  - 9-Fluorenylmethyl (Fm) Disulfides: Biomimetic Precursors for Persulfides.
AB  - The development of a functional disulfide, FmSSPy-A (Fm = 9-fluorenylmethyl; Py =
      pyridinyl), is reported. It can effectively convert small molecule and protein
      thiols (-SH) to form -S-SFm adducts under mild conditions. This method allows for
      a H2S-free and biomimetic protocol to generate highly reactive persulfides (in
      their anionic forms). The high nucleophilicity of persulfides toward a number of
      thiol-blocking reagents is also demonstrated. The method holds promise for
      further understanding the chemical biology of persulfides and S-sulfhydration. 

PMID- 26870875
TI  - Quantitation of Key Tastants and Re-engineering the Taste of Parmesan Cheese.
AB  - Targeted quantitation of 65 candidate taste compounds and ranking on the basis of
      dose-over-threshold (DoT) factors, followed by taste re-engineering and omission
      experiments in aqueous solution as well as in a cheese-like model matrix, led to
      the identification of a total of 31 key tastants (amino acids, organic acids,
      fatty acids, biogenic amines, and minerals) with DoT factors >=1.0 and a total of
      15 subthreshold, but kokumi-enhancing, gamma-glutamyl peptides in extraordinarily
      high concentrations of 20468 MUmol/kg. Among the gamma-glutamyl peptides, gamma
      Glu-Gly, gamma-Glu-Ala, gamma-Glu-Thr, gamma-Glu-Asp, gamma-Glu-Lys, gamma-Glu
      Glu, gamma-Glu-Trp, gamma-Glu-Gln, and gamma-Glu-His have been identified for the
      first time in Parmesan cheese. The excellent match of the sensory profile of the
      taste recombinants and the authentic cheese demonstrated the identified taste
      compounds to be fully sufficient to create the characteristic taste profile of
      the Parmesan cheese. This molecular blueprint of a Parmesan's chemosensory
      signature might be a useful molecular target for visualizing analytically the
      changes in taste profiles throughout cheese manufacturing and opens new avenues
      for a more scientifically directed taste improvement of cheese by tailoring
      manufacturing parameters ("molecular food engineering"). 

PMID- 26870876
TI  - Molecular-Scale Study of Aspartate Adsorption on Goethite and Competition with
      Phosphate.
AB  - Knowledge of the interfacial interactions between aspartate and minerals,
      especially its competition with phosphate, is critical to understanding the fate
      and transport of amino acids in the environment. Adsorption reactions play
      important roles in the mobility, bioavailability, and degradation of aspartate
      and phosphate. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR)
      measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to
      investigate the interfacial structures and their relative contributions in single
      adsorbate and competition systems. Our results suggest three dominant mechanisms
      for aspartate: bidentate inner-sphere coordination involving both alpha- and
      gamma-COO(-), outer-sphere complexation via electrostatic attraction and H
      bonding between aspartate NH2 and goethite surface hydroxyls. The interfacial
      aspartate is mainly governed by pH and is less sensitive to changes of ionic
      strength and aspartate concentration. The phosphate competition significantly
      reduces the adsorption capacity of aspartate on goethite. Whereas phosphate
      adsorption is less affected by the presence of aspartate, including the relative
      contributions of diprotonated monodentate, monoprotonated bidentate, and
      nonprotonated bidentate structures. The adsorption process facilitates the
      removal of bioavailable aspartate and phosphate from the soil solution as well as
      from the sediment pore water and the overlying water. 

PMID- 26870877
TI  - Electrocatalytic Currents from Single Enzyme Molecules.
AB  - Single molecule enzymology provides an opportunity to examine details of enzyme
      mechanisms that are not distinguishable in biomolecule ensemble studies. Here we
      report, for the first time, detection of the current produced in an
      electrocatalytic reaction by a single redox enzyme molecule when it collides with
      an ultramicroelectrode. The catalytic process provides amplification of the
      current from electron-transfer events at the catalyst leading to a measurable
      current. This new methodology monitors turnover of a single enzyme molecule. The
      methodology might complement existing single molecule techniques, giving further
      insights into enzymatic mechanisms and filling the gap between fundamental
      understanding of biocatalytic processes and their potential for bioenergy
      production. 

PMID- 26870878
TI  - One-Step Synthesis and Characterization of N-Doped Carbon Nanodots for Sensing in
      Organic Media.
AB  - Photoluminescent nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-doped CNDs) soluble in organic
      media are synthesized in a one-step synthesis from a single-source precursor (an
      amphiphilic polymer), which exhibits a very high quantum yield (QY = 78%),
      excitation wavelength-dependent emission, and upconversion emission properties.
      The evolution of N-doped CND formation is studied via ultraviolet-visible and
      photoluminescence spectroscopy. Their analytical application as an effective
      sensor for the direct determination of nitroaromatic explosives and byproducts is
      shown based on their selective response via a fluorescence quenching mechanism.
      The proposed method is validated in soil samples by directly using the sensor in
      organic media without any further treatment or additional functionalization,
      which is an interesting aspect for practical applications. 

PMID- 26870879
TI  - Inhalational Alzheimer's disease: an unrecognized - and treatable - epidemic.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is one of the most significant healthcare problems today,
      with a dire need for effective treatment. Identifying subtypes of Alzheimer's
      disease may aid in the development of therapeutics, and recently three different
      subtypes have been described: type 1 (inflammatory), type 2 (non-inflammatory or
      atrophic), and type 3 (cortical). Here I report that type 3 Alzheimer's disease
      is the result of exposure to specific toxins, and is most commonly inhalational
      (IAD), a phenotypic manifestation of chronic inflammatory response syndrome
      (CIRS), due to biotoxins such as mycotoxins. The appropriate recognition of IAD
      as a potentially important pathogenetic condition in patients with cognitive
      decline offers the opportunity for successful treatment of a large number of
      patients whose current prognoses, in the absence of accurate diagnosis, are
      grave. 

PMID- 26870880
TI  - The relationships among the levels of oxidative and antioxidative parameters,
      FEV1 and prolidase activity in COPD.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive
      condition characterized by poorly reversible airflow limitations associated with
      an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung. METHODS: We investigated whether
      prolidase levels in serum, total antioxidant status, total oxidative status
      (TOS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were associated with the
      etiopathogenesis of COPD, and whether there is a relationship between prolidase
      activity and oxidative parameters and carotid artery intima-media thickness
      (CIMT) in patients with COPD. This study included 91 patients with COPD and 15
      control cases. Routine haematological and biochemical parameters were determined
      in all patients. All subjects were fully informed about the study and provided
      consent. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with COPD was 61.3 +/- 10.5 years
      and that of the control group was 56.2 +/- 12.1 years. The control group had a
      significantly higher plasma prolidase level than that in the COPD group. TOS and
      OSI levels in the control group were significantly lower than those in the COPD
      group. However, no significant differences were found in TALs or CIMT levels
      between the COPD and control groups. A negative correlation was detected between
      prolidase activity and age; however, no significant difference in age was
      observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that
      prolidase activity decreases in patients with COPD.

PMID- 26870881
TI  - Pentacene on Au(1 1 1), Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1): From physisorption to
      chemisorption.
AB  - We measured the electronic and the molecular surface structure of pentacene
      deposited on the (1 1 1)-surfaces of coinage metals by means of ultraviolet
      photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED).
      Pentacene is almost flat-lying in monolayers on all three substrates and highly
      ordered on Au(1 1 1) and on Cu(1 1 1). On Ag(1 1 1), however, weak chemisorption
      leads to almost disordered monolayers, both, at room temperature and at 78 K. On
      Cu(1 1 1) pentacene is strongly chemisorbed and the lowest unoccupied molecular
      orbital becomes observable in UPS by a charge transfer from the substrate. On
      Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1) multilayers adopt a tilted orientation and a high degree
      of crystallinity. On Au(1 1 1), most likely, also in multilayers the molecular
      short and long axes are parallel to the substrate, leading to a distinctively
      different electronic structure than on Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1). Overall, it could
      be demonstrated that the substrate not only determines the geometric and
      electronic characteristics of molecular monolayer films but also plays a crucial
      role for multilayer film growth. 

PMID- 26870882
TI  - Carbon-dot-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays used for photo/voltage-induced organic
      pollutant degradation and the inactivation of bacteria.
AB  - Photoluminescent carbon dots (c-dots) have recently attracted growing interest as
      a new member of the carbon-nanomaterial family. Here, we report for the first
      time that c-dot-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays (c-dot/TiNTs) exhibit highly
      enhanced abilities regarding photo/voltage-induced organic pollutant degradation
      and bacterial inactivation. By applying UV irradiation (365 nm) or an
      electrochemical potential over 3 V (versus Ag/AgCl), an organic dye and a
      herbicide were efficiently degraded. Moreover, the inactivation of Gram-positive
      S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli bacteria was realized on a c-dot/TiNT film.
      The c-dots were able to absorb light efficiently resulting in multiple exciton
      generation and also a reduction in the recombination of the e(-)/h(+) pair
      produced in c-dot/TiNT film during photo/voltage-induced degradation. It was also
      possible to readily regenerate the surface using ultraviolet light irradiation,
      leaving the whole film structure undamaged and with high reproducibility and
      stability. 

PMID- 26870883
TI  - Correction to "Molecular Dynamics Simulation for the Dynamics and Kinetics of
      Folding Peptides in the Gas Phase".

PMID- 26870884
TI  - A useful tool to improve the case detection rate of primary aldosteronism: the
      aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR)-App.
AB  - The aldosterone-renin ratio is the most popular test for the case detection of
      primary aldosteronism, which entails the most common, albeit overlooked, form of
      endocrine secondary hypertension. A major hindrance to the clinical use of the
      aldosterone-renin ratio depends on the difficulty of achieving the calculation of
      this ratio, given that laboratories provide plasma aldosterone in different units
      of measurement, and renin is measured as plasma renin activity or direct active
      renin. We have therefore developed an App, which can be downloaded from the ESH
      website and the Apple store, to assist practising physicians in performing this
      calculation. Our hope is that this simple tool will help in increasing the
      detection rate of primary aldosteronism and ultimately the long-term cure of many
      hypertensive patients.

PMID- 26870885
TI  - Core-Shell Electrospun Fibers Encapsulating Chromophores or Luminescent Proteins
      for Microscopically Controlled Molecular Release.
AB  - Core-shell fibers are emerging as interesting microstructures for the controlled
      release of drugs, proteins, and complex biological molecules, enabling the fine
      control of microreservoirs of encapsulated active agents, of the release
      kinetics, and of the localized delivery. Here we load luminescent molecules and
      enhanced green fluorescent proteins into the core of fibers realized by coaxial
      electrospinning. Photoluminescence spectroscopy evidences unaltered molecular
      emission following encapsulation and release. Moreover, the release kinetics is
      microscopically investigated by confocal analysis at individual-fiber scale,
      unveiling different characteristic time scales for diffusional translocation at
      the core and at the shell. These results are interpreted by a two stage
      desorption model for the coaxial microstructure, and they are relevant in the
      design and development of efficient fibrous systems for the delivery of
      functional biomolecules.

PMID- 26870886
TI  - Endoscopic Excision of Forehead and Eyebrow Benign Tumors in Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Direct excision of dermoid cysts of the eyebrow and forehead may lead
      to a prominent facial scar. Endoscopic techniques have greatly reduced the
      morbidity of excising benign orbitofacial masses. Access, visualization, and
      dissection of these masses are comparable to open approaches without the use of
      large or conspicuous incisions. This study evaluates the efficacy of the
      endoscopic approach in the treatment of dermoid cysts of the eyebrow and defines
      the place of this approach as an alternative to open surgery. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Between July 2008 and April 2015, a total of 23 pediatric patients (13
      females and 10 males) with dermoid cysts of the brow underwent excision by
      endoscopy. The mean age was 11.9 months (2-32 months). The lesion was located on
      the lateral brow in 17 cases and on the hairless forehead in 6 cases. To assess
      osseous involvement, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging study were
      performed in 22 and 1 case, respectively. Medical photos documentation was done
      systematically. For those children having an excision of cyst by endoscopy, the
      operative time, hystopathological examination, specimen size, and hospital stay
      were evaluated. In addition, parents of these patients were contacted to
      determine satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: All procedures were
      successfully performed endoscopically. The mean operative time was 41 minutes
      (range 17-120 minutes). There was no intraoperative complication. The mean
      specimen size was 12 mm. In postoperative period, 1 patient presented edema on
      the forehead with uneventful course. All procedures were performed on the day
      surgery. The hystopathological examinations were dermoid cysts in 21 cases,
      hemangioma in 1 case, and dermatofibroma in 1 case. The mean follow-up was 45.5
      months (4-84 months). There was no residual mass or recurrence after long follow
      up. Cosmetic results were excellent and all families were pleased with the
      outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic excision of forehead masses and dermoid cysts of
      the eyebrow is safe and it has proven to be an effective and minimally invasive
      alternative to the conventional approach. The main advantage of this procedure is
      the minimization of scar visibility compared with open surgery.

PMID- 26870887
TI  - Changes in blood product utilization in a seven-hospital system after the
      implementation of a patient blood management program: A 9-year follow-up.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To analyze changes in red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT), and
      plasma transfusion volumes 9 years after the implementation of a multifaceted
      patient blood management (PBM) program across multiple hospitals. METHODS:
      Between fiscal years 2007 and 2015, the annual transfusion volumes for seven
      hospitals in a regional healthcare system were analyzed by hospital, and between
      2014 and 2015, by four service lines including emergency department, intensive
      care unit (ICU), medical/surgical ward, and operating room at each hospital. The
      number of units of RBCs administered to transfused recipients on the wards and in
      ICUs was also enumerated. RESULTS: For these seven hospitals combined, there was
      a 29.9% reduction in the number of RBCs transfused between 2007 and 2015, a 24.8%
      reduction in plasma units, and a 25.7% reduction in PLT units. The two largest
      hospitals saw some of the largest reductions in RBC transfusions (40.1, 25.1%),
      and plasma transfusions (26.1, 33.8%), and one of those hospitals had a 49.5%
      reduction in PLT transfusions. Smaller-sized hospitals also had reductions in
      transfusion volumes, while some volumes increased at hospitals when new or
      expanded clinical services were introduced. The number of RBC units per
      transfused recipient was generally between 1.5 and 2 units on the wards and
      slightly higher in the ICUs. DISCUSSION: Although the overall volume of
      transfusions has generally decreased at each hospital site over time, the
      appropriateness of the administered transfusions cannot be evaluated by these
      data. CONCLUSION: The system-wide implementation of a PBM program has reduced
      transfusion volumes.

PMID- 26870888
TI  - Nutrition, gut microbiota and child health outcomes.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diet is one of the main drivers of the composition and
      function of the gut microbiota. The scope of this review is to summarize recent
      studies assessing the role of gut microbiota in clinical pediatric conditions and
      to review studies using nutritional approaches to favorably modify the gut
      microbiota to improve health outcomes in children. RECENT FINDINGS: New studies
      underscore that breastfeeding and infant diet impact the gut microbiome and
      metagenome. A comprehensive study using metagenomic shotgun sequencing, suggests
      that the cessation of breastfeeding rather than the introduction of solid foods,
      drives the functional maturation of the infant gut microbiome toward an adult
      like state. There is further support for the view that a disturbed early gut
      microbiota is implicated in allergic and autoimmune diseases. New studies using
      prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in various pediatric disorders have
      yielded promising results, yet the evidence for specific guidelines on their use
      is still low. SUMMARY: Intestinal dysbiosis is associated with several pediatric
      disorders but a cause-effect relationship remains to be clearly demonstrated in
      most conditions. Future studies using new systems biology approaches are
      anticipated to provide further insight into the functional capacities of the gut
      microbiome and its establishment in childhood. This may then lay the ground for
      improved treatment and prevention strategies targeting the gut microbiota.

PMID- 26870889
TI  - Neuromuscular junction degeneration in muscle wasting.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Denervation is a hallmark of age-related and other types of
      muscle wasting. This review focuses on recent insights and current viewpoints
      regarding the mechanisms and clinical relevance of maintaining the neuromuscular
      junction to counteract muscle wasting resulting from aging or neural
      disease/damage. RECENT FINDINGS: Activity-dependent regulation of autophagy, the
      agrin-muscle specific kinase-Lrp4 signaling axis, and sympathetic modulation are
      principal mechanisms involved in stabilizing the neuromuscular junction. These
      findings are derived from several animal models and were largely confirmed by
      human gene expression analysis as well as insights from rare neuromuscular
      diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and congenital myasthenic
      syndromes. Based on these insights, agrin-derived fragments are currently being
      evaluated as biomarkers for age-related muscle wasting. Tuning of autophagy, of
      the agrin pathway, and of sympathetic input are being studied as clinical
      treatment of muscle wasting disorders. SUMMARY: Basic research has revealed that
      maintenance of neuromuscular junctions and a few signaling pathways are important
      in the context of age-dependent and other forms of muscle wasting. These findings
      have recently started to enter clinical practice, but further research needs to
      substantiate and refine our knowledge.

PMID- 26870890
TI  - Genetic and epigenetic background and protein expression profiles in relation to
      telomerase activation in medullary thyroid carcinoma.
AB  - Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) exhibit telomerase activation in strong
      association with shorter patient survival. To understand the background of
      telomerase activation we quantified TERT copy numbers and TERT promoter
      methylation in 42 MTCs and normal thyroid references. Gain of TERT was
      demonstrated by quantitative PCR in 5/39 sporadic MTC. Increased methylation
      index (MetI) for CpG methylation at the TERT promoter was found in sporadic MTCs
      (P < 0.0001) and in MEN 2 associated MTCs (P = 0.011) vs. normal thyroid tissues.
      MetI correlated positively with TERT gene expression (r = 0.432, P = 0.006) and
      negatively with telomere length (r = -0.343, P = 0.032). MTC cases with MetI
      above the median of 52% had shorter survival as compared to cases with lower MetI
      (P = 0.005 for overall survival and P = 0.007 for disease-related
      survival).Protein expression profiles obtained by mass spectrometry were then
      studied in relation to telomerase activation in MTCs. Comparing protein levels
      between tumors defined by telomerase activity status, 240 proteins were
      associated with telomerase activity. Among telomerase activation positive cases a
      set of proteins was found to discriminate between MTCs with high and low TERT
      gene expression with enrichment for proteins involved in telomerase regulation.
      XRCC5 mRNA expression was found increased in MTCs vs. normal thyroid (P = 0.007).
      In conclusion the findings suggest a role for TERT copy number gain, TERT
      promoter methylation and XRCC5 expression in telomerase activation and telomere
      maintenance of MTC. 

PMID- 26870891
TI  - Molecular spectrum of TP53 mutations in plasma cell dyscrasias by next generation
      sequencing: an Italian cohort study and overview of the literature.
AB  - The prevalence of TP53 mutations greatly varies between tumor types; in multiple
      myeloma (MM) they were rarely detected at presentation, while increased frequency
      was reported with disease progression. Using next-generation sequencing, we
      analyzed TP53 exons 4-9 in a large representative cohort comprising patients with
      MM at diagnosis and more aggressive forms of plasma cell (PC) dyscrasia,
      identifying mutations in 4/129 (3%) MM, 6/24 (25%) primary PC leukemia, and 2/10
      (20%) secondary PC leukemia cases. A similar increase in prevalence associated
      with disease aggressiveness (5%, 29.2% and 44%, respectively) was observed for
      TP53 deletion. Interestingly, in five patients mutations were not concomitant
      with TP53 deletion. Furthermore, longitudinal analysis revealed the acquisition
      of TP53 mutations in three of nineteen cases analyzed at relapse. Identified
      variants were mostly missense mutations concentrated in the DNA binding domain,
      only partly reflecting the pattern globally observed in human cancers. Our data
      confirm that TP53 mutations are rare in MM at presentation and rather represent a
      marker of progression, similarly to del(17p); however, their occurrence even in
      absence of deletions supports the importance of their assessment in patients with
      PC dyscrasia, in terms of both risk stratification and therapeutic implications. 

PMID- 26870892
TI  - RHAMM splice variants confer radiosensitivity in human breast cancer cell lines.
AB  - Biomarkers for prognosis in radiotherapy-treated breast cancer patients are
      urgently needed and important to stratify patients for adjuvant therapies.
      Recently, a role of the receptor of hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM) has been
      suggested for tumor progression. Our aim was (i) to investigate the prognostic
      value of RHAMM in breast cancer and (ii) to unravel its potential function in the
      radiosusceptibility of breast cancer cells. We demonstrate that RHAMM mRNA
      expression in breast cancer biopsies is inversely correlated with tumor grade and
      overall survival. Radiosusceptibility in vitro was evaluated by sub-G1 analysis
      (apoptosis) and determination of the proliferation rate. The potential role of
      RHAMM was addressed by short interfering RNAs against RHAMM and its splice
      variants. High expression of RHAMMv1/v2 in p53 wild type cells (MCF-7) induced
      cellular apoptosis in response to ionizing radiation. In comparison, in p53
      mutated cells (MDA-MB-231) RHAMMv1/v2 was expressed sparsely resulting in
      resistance towards irradiation induced apoptosis. Proliferation capacity was not
      altered by ionizing radiation in both cell lines. Importantly, pharmacological
      inhibition of the major ligand of RHAMM, hyaluronan, sensitized both cell lines
      towards radiation induced cell death. Based on the present data, we conclude that
      the detection of RHAMM splice variants in correlation with the p53 mutation
      status could help to predict the susceptibility of breast cancer cells to
      radiotherapy. Additionally, our studies raise the possibility that the response
      to radiotherapy in selected cohorts may be improved by pharmaceutical strategies
      against RHAMM and its ligand hyaluronan. 

PMID- 26870893
TI  - Knockdown of Golgi phosphoprotein 2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell
      proliferation and motility.
AB  - Golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GP73) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC) cells, where it serves as a biomarker and indicator of disease progression.
      We used MTS assays, anchorage-independent cell colony formation assays and a
      xenograft tumor model to show that GP73-specific siRNAs inhibit HCC proliferation
      in HepG2, SMMC-7721, and Huh7 cell lines and in vivo. Following GP73 silencing,
      levels of p-Rb, a factor related to metastasis, were reduced, but cell cycle
      progression was unaffected. Our results suggest that GP73 silencing may not
      directly suppress proliferation, but may instead inhibit cell motility. Results
      from proliferation assays suggest GP73 reduces expression of epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors and promotes cell motility, while
      transwell migration and invasion assays indicated a possible role in metastasis.
      Immunofluorescence co-localization microscopy and immunoblotting showed that GP73
      decreases expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin, two key factors in EMT, which
      may in turn decrease intracellular adhesive forces and promote cell motility.
      This study confirmed that GP73 expression leads to increased expression of EMT
      related proteins and that GP73 silencing reduces HCC cell migration in vitro.
      These findings suggest that GP73 silencing through siRNA delivery may provide a
      novel low-toxicity therapy for the inhibition of tumor proliferation and
      metastasis. 

PMID- 26870896
TI  - Bacterial vaginosis and inflammatory response showed association with severity of
      cervical neoplasia in HPV-positive women.

PMID- 26870895
TI  - Role of NADPH oxidases in inducing a selective increase of oxidant stress and
      cyclin D1 and checkpoint 1 over-expression during progression to human gastric
      adenocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the main causes of global mortality. Here,
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) could largely contribute to gastric carcinogenesis.
      Hence, the present work was aimed to assess the role of ROS, oxidant status,
      NADPH oxidases (NOXs) expression, during human gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS:
      We obtained subcellular fraction from samples of gastric mucosa taken from
      control subjects (n = 20), and from 40 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, as
      well as samples of distant areas (tumour-free gastric mucosa). RESULTS:
      Parameters indicative of lipid peroxidation and cell proliferation were
      selectively increased in both tumour-free and in cancerous gastric mucosa,
      despite of glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide
      dismutase (SOD) activities were increased in the adenocarcinoma. These high
      levels of antioxidant defences inversely correlated with down-regulated
      expression for NOX2 and 4; however, over-expression of NOX1 occurred with
      increased caspase-3 activity and overexpressed checkpoint 1 (MDC1) and cyclin D1
      proteins. In the tumour-free mucosa an oxidant stress took place, without
      changing total GSH but with decreased activities for GR and mitochondrial SOD;
      moreover, over-expression of checkpoint 1 (MDC1) correlated with lower NOX2 and 4
      expression in this mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: Chronically injured gastric mucosa
      increases lipoperoxidative events and cell proliferation. In the adenocarcinoma,
      cell proliferation was further enhanced, oxidant stress decreased which seemed to
      be linked to NOX1, MDC1 and cyclin D1 over-expression, but with a lower NOXs
      activity leading a 'low tone' of ROS formation. Therefore, our results could be
      useful for early detection and treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26870894
TI  - First in-depth analysis of the novel Th2-type cytokines in salmonid fish reveals
      distinct patterns of expression and modulation but overlapping bioactivities.
AB  - IL-4 and IL-13 are closely related canonical type-2 cytokines in mammals and have
      overlapping bioactivities via shared receptors. They are frequently activated
      together as part of the same immune response and are the signature cytokines
      produced by T-helper (Th)2 cells and type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2),
      mediating immunity against extracellular pathogens. Little is known about the
      origin of type-2 responses, and whether they were an essential component of the
      early adaptive immune system that gave a fitness advantage by limiting collateral
      damage caused by metazoan parasites. Two evolutionary related type-2 cytokines,
      IL-4/13A and IL-4/13B, have been identified recently in several teleost fish that
      likely arose by duplication of an ancestral IL-4/13 gene as a consequence of a
      whole genome duplication event that occurred at the base of this lineage.
      However, studies of their comparative expression levels are largely missing and
      bioactivity analysis has been limited to IL-4/13A in zebrafish. Through
      interrogation of the recently released salmonid genomes, species in which an
      additional whole genome duplication event has occurred, four genomic IL-4/13 loci
      have been identified leading to the cloning of three active genes, IL-4/13A, IL
      4/13B1 and IL-4/13B2, in both rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. Comparative
      expression analysis by real-time PCR in rainbow trout revealed that the IL-4/13A
      expression is broad and high constitutively but less responsive to pathogen
      associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and pathogen challenge. In contrast, the
      expression of IL-4/13B1 and IL-4/13B2 is low constitutively but is highly induced
      by viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSH) infection and during proliferative
      kidney disease (PKD) in vivo, and by formalin-killed bacteria, PAMPs, the T cell
      mitogen PHA, and the T-cell cytokines IL-2 and IL-21 in vitro. Moreover,
      bioactive recombinant cytokines of both IL-4/13A and B were produced and found to
      have shared but also distinct bioactivities. Both cytokines rapidly induce the
      gene expression of antimicrobial peptides and acute phase proteins, providing an
      effector mechanism of fish type-2 cytokines in immunity. They are anti
      inflammatory via up-regulation of IL-10 and down-regulation of IL-1beta and IFN
      gamma. They modulate the expression of cellular markers of T cells, macrophages
      and B cells, the receptors of IFN-gamma, the IL-6 cytokine family and their own
      potential receptors, suggesting multiple target cells and important roles of fish
      type-2 cytokines in the piscine cytokine network. Furthermore both cytokines
      increased the number of IgM secreting B cells but had no effects on the
      proliferation of IgM+ B cells in vitro. Taken as a whole, fish IL-4/13A may
      provide a basal level of type-2 immunity whilst IL-4/13B, when activated,
      provides an enhanced type-2 immunity, which may have an important role in
      specific cell-mediated immunity. To our knowledge this is the first in-depth
      analysis of the expression, modulation and bioactivities of type-2 cytokines in
      the same fish species, and in any early vertebrate. It contributes to a broader
      understanding of the evolution of type-2 immunity in vertebrates, and establishes
      a framework for further studies and manipulation of type-2 cytokines in fish. 

PMID- 26870897
TI  - Long-term follow-up of endoscopic third ventriculostomy performed in the
      pediatric population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an effective treatment for
      obstructive hydrocephalus and avoids the risk for foreign-body infection
      associated with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. The short-term failure rate of
      ETV strongly depends on the indications for its use but is generally thought to
      be lower in the long term than that of VP shunts. However, few studies are
      available with long-term follow-up data of ETV for hydrocephalus in children. The
      authors reviewed the long-term success of ETV at their institution to investigate
      the rate of any late failures of this procedure. METHODS Between April 1998 and
      June 2006, 113 children (including neonates and children up to 16 years old) had
      primary or secondary ETV for different causes of hydrocephalus. The patients'
      medical records and the authors' electronic operation database were reviewed for
      evidence of additional surgery (i.e., repeat ETV or VP shunt insertion). These
      records were checked at both the pediatric and adult neurosurgical hospitals for
      those patients who had their care transferred to adult services. RESULTS The
      median length of follow-up was 8.25 years (range 1 month to 16 years). Long-term
      follow-up data for 96 patients were available, 47 (49%) of whom had additional
      ETV or VP shunt insertion for ETV failure. Twenty patients (21%) had a second
      procedure within 1 month, 17 patients (18%) between 1 and 12 months, 7 patients
      (7%) between 1 and 5 years, and 3 patients (3%) between 5 and 8 years.
      CONCLUSIONS In the authors' series, ETV had an initial early failure rate for the
      treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus as reported previously, and this rate
      significantly depended on patient age and hydrocephalus etiology. Once stabilized
      and effective, ETV appeared to be durable but not guaranteed, and some late
      decline in effectiveness was observed, with some ETV failures occurring many
      years later. Thus, successful ETV in children cannot be guaranteed for life, and
      some form of follow-up is recommended long term into adulthood. 

PMID- 26870899
TI  - Tailored disconnection based on presurgical evidence in catastrophic epilepsy:
      report of 2 cases.
AB  - Catastrophic epilepsy in infants, often due to extensive cortical dysplasia, has
      devastating consequences with respect to brain development. Conventional lobar,
      multilobar, or hemispheric resection in these infants is challenging, carrying an
      increased operative risk compared with that in older children. Removing a larger
      tissue volume versus removing or disconnecting the epileptogenic region does not
      always guarantee better seizure outcome. The authors describe 2 infants with
      catastrophic epilepsy who benefited from individually tailored disconnections
      based on a hypothesized epileptogenic zone following intensive presurgical
      evaluation. Two infants with catastrophic epilepsy and epileptic spasms underwent
      leukotomies between 3 and 12 months of age. They were followed up postoperatively
      for 19-36 months. Both patients had 90%-100% seizure reduction and a
      significantly improved neurodevelopmental outcome without postoperative
      complication. Cortical malformation was seen in both patients. Modifications of
      established surgical disconnection techniques, tailored to each patient's
      specific epileptogenic zone, optimized seizure and neurodevelopmental outcomes
      while minimizing the risks associated with more extensive resections. 

PMID- 26870898
TI  - Mesial temporal lobe morphology in intractable pediatric epilepsy: so-called
      hippocampal malrotation, associated findings, and relevance to presurgical
      assessment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Diagnostic criteria for hippocampal malrotation (HIMAL) on brain MRI
      typically include a rounded hippocampus, vertical collateral sulcus, and
      architectural blurring. Relationship to epileptogenesis remains speculative, and
      usefulness for surgical guidance is unknown. The study was performed to determine
      the prevalence of hippocampal rotational anomalies in a cohort of pediatric
      patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing evaluation for surgery and to
      determine the significance of this finding in the context of surgical planning.
      METHODS Forty-eight surgically treated children with intractable epilepsy were
      compared with matched healthy subjects; reviewers were blinded to surgical side.
      Each temporal lobe was evaluated for rounded hippocampus, blurring, vertical
      collateral sulcus, wide choroidal fissure, enlarged temporal horn, low fornix,
      hippocampal signal, and findings of hippocampal sclerosis. A mesial temporal lobe
      (MTL) score was calculated by summing the number of features, and the collateral
      sulcus angle (CSA) was measured in each temporal lobe. Surgical side,
      pathological diagnosis, and imaging findings elsewhere in the brain were
      tabulated. Presence of HIMAL, associated imaging features, and MTL score were
      compared between sides, between epilepsy and control groups, in relationship to
      side of surgery, and in relationship to postoperative outcome. RESULTS Only 3
      epilepsy patients (6.2%) and no controls exhibited all 3 features of HIMAL (p =
      0.12). Eight of 48 (16.7%) epilepsy versus 2 of 48 (4.6%) control subjects had
      both a rounded hippocampus and vertical collateral sulcus (suggesting HIMAL) (p =
      0.045). In control and epilepsy subjects, most findings were more prevalent on
      the left, and the left CSA was more vertical (p < 0.0001). Epilepsy subjects had
      higher MTL scores (z = -2.95, p = 0.002) and more acute CSAs (p = 0.04) than
      controls. Only lateralizing raw MTL score had a significant association with
      surgical side (p = 0.03, OR 7.33); however, this was not significant when
      hippocampal sclerosis cases were excluded. HIMAL findings were more prevalent and
      MTL scores were higher in patients with resections involving the temporal lobes.
      On group analysis, HIMAL findings did not predict eventual surgical side and did
      not predict outcome, although the numbers are small. In 4 patients the abnormally
      rotated hippocampus was resected and showed hippocampal sclerosis and/or
      dysplastic changes on histopathology. All of these patients had a good outcome
      after surgery. CONCLUSIONS While increased in prevalence in children with
      intractable epilepsy, imaging findings of HIMAL did not have preoperative
      lateralizing utility in this group. Findings of HIMAL (including round
      hippocampus, architectural blurring, and vertical collateral sulcus) did not
      predict outcome after surgery, although the small number of patients with these
      findings limits evaluation. In the small number of patients in which the
      malrotated hippocampus was removed, outcome was good. Further research is needed
      to continue to define this association in children with intractable epilepsy,
      focusing on a temporal lobe cohort. 

PMID- 26870900
TI  - Sweet Dream Liquid Chinese Medicine Ameliorates Learning and Memory Deficit in a
      Rat Model of Paradoxical Sleep Deprivation through the ERK/CREB Signaling
      Pathway.
AB  - Sweet dream oral liquid (SDOL), a traditional Chinese herbal compound contains 17
      traditional Chinese medicines. It has various pharmacological effects, such as
      improving brain dysfunction and increasing sleeping quality. This study
      investigated the neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanisms of SDOL
      impaired hippocampus learning and memory-induced paradoxical sleep deprivation
      (PSD) in rats. Sixty Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups.
      Before PSD, SDOL treatment group rats were intragastrically administered SDOL for
      25 days at dose of 2.1, 4.2, and 8.4 mL/kg body weight per day. Normal control
      group, large platform control group, and PSD groups were treated with normal
      saline instead of SDOL. After 25 days treatment, PSD and SDOL groups were
      deprived of paradoxical sleep for 72 h. Then two behavioral studies were
      conducted to test the spatial learning and memory ability using the open field
      test and Morris water maze test. Expression of the c-fos, c-jun, cyclic AMP
      response element binding protein (CREB), extracellular signal-regulated protein
      kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/ERK kinase (MEK), and p
      CREB, p-ERK, and p-MEK in the hippocampus were also assayed by western blot. In
      this study, PSD decreased the levels of p-CREB, p-ERK, p-MEK, c-fos, and c-jun.
      However, SDOL treatment increased expressions of these proteins. Our results
      showed that SDOL improved 72-h PSD-induced cognitive impairment. These affects
      may be mediated by increasing the contents of c-fos, c-jun, and p-CREB/ERK
      signaling. 

PMID- 26870901
TI  - Role of reactive oxygen species in age-related neuromuscular deficits.
AB  - Although it is now clear that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not the key
      determinants of longevity, a number of studies have highlighted the key role that
      these species play in age-related diseases and more generally in determining
      individual health span. Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is
      a key contributor to physical frailty in older individuals and our current
      understanding of the key areas in which ROS contribute to age-related deficits in
      muscle is through defective redox signalling and key roles in maintenance of
      neuromuscular integrity. This topical review will describe how ROS stimulate
      adaptations to contractile activity in muscle that include up-regulation of short
      term stress responses, an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis and an increase in
      some catabolic processes. These adaptations occur through stimulation of redox
      regulated processes that lead to the activation of transcription factors such as
      NF-kappaB, AP-1 and HSF1 which mediate changes in gene expression. They are
      attenuated during ageing and this appears to occur through an age-related
      increase in mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production. The potential for redox
      mediated cross-talk between motor neurons and muscle is also described to
      illustrate how ROS released from muscle fibres during exercise may help maintain
      the integrity of axons and how the degenerative changes in neuromuscular
      structure that occur with ageing may contribute to mitochondrial ROS generation
      in skeletal muscle fibres. 

PMID- 26870902
TI  - Critical Situations in Daily Life as Experienced by Patients With Inflammatory
      Bowel Disease.
AB  - Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD), are chronic and have a fluctuating clinical course that impacts
      daily life. Daily life with a chronic disease involves thinking and worrying
      about the limitations that chronic disease causes. Knowledge about how patients
      who suffer from IBD manage critical incidents in daily life is lacking. The aim
      of the study was to describe how patients living with IBD experience critical
      incidents in daily life in relation to their disease and symptoms. Thirty adult
      patients were interviewed focusing on critical incidents in daily life. Data were
      analyzed using the critical incident technique. The study comprised 224 critical
      incidents and was grouped into 21 subcategories and 5 categories: losing bowel
      control, having a body that smells, being unable to meet own and others'
      expectations, not being believed or seen, and experiencing frustration due to
      side effects and ineffective treatment. These categories formed one main area
      describing the overall result "The bowels rule life." The uncertain nature of IBD
      created critical incidents in which the bowel ruled life, causing patients to
      avoid social interaction. It also placed considerable demands on the family and
      sometimes had a negative effect on the afflicted person's career. 

PMID- 26870903
TI  - Actinophage R4 integrase-based site-specific chromosomal integration of non
      replicative closed circular DNA.
AB  - The actinophage R4 integrase (Sre)-based molecular genetic engineering system was
      developed for the chromosomal integration of multiple genes in Escherichia coli.
      A cloned DNA fragment containing two attP sites, green fluorescent protein (gfp)
      as a first transgene, and an antibiotic resistance gene as a selection marker was
      self-ligated to generate non-replicative closed circular DNA (nrccDNA) for
      integration. nrccDNA was introduced into attB-inserted E. coli cells harboring
      the plasmid expressing Sre by electroporation. The expressed Sre catalyzed site
      specific integration between one of the two attP sites on nrccDNA and the attB
      site on the E. coli chromosome. The integration frequency was affected by the
      chromosomal location of the target site. A second nrccDNA containing two attB
      sites, lacZalpha encoding the alpha fragment of beta-galactosidase as a
      transgene, and another antibiotic resistance gene was integrated into the
      residual attP site on the gfp-integrated E. coli chromosome via one of the two
      attB sites according to reiterating site-specific recombination. The integrants
      clearly exhibited beta-galactosidase activity and green fluorescence, suggesting
      the simultaneous expression of multiple recombinant proteins in E. coli. The
      results of the present study showed that a step-by-step integration procedure
      using nrccDNA achieved the chromosomal integration of multiple genes. 

PMID- 26870904
TI  - Generalized pustular psoriasis associated with Turner syndrome and dilated
      cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26870905
TI  - Relationship between motivational style and glycemic control in Jordanian
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although, there is increased recognition of the importance of blood
      glucose control and diabetes education in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the
      relationship between motivation and long term outcomes, glycemic control, are
      lacking. The primary aims of the present study were to: (i) describe the
      motivational style of Jordanian patients with T2DM regarding self-care
      management, taking medications, and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), as
      well as following therapeutic dietary instructions and exercising regularly; and
      b) examine the significance of these factors in predicting glycemic control.
      METHODS: A package including a treatment self-regulation questionnaire concerning
      diabetes, was administered to a convenience sample of 110 patients with T2DM. In
      addition, the most recent HbA1c results were extracted from the patients' medical
      records. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients (52.7 %) reported being intrinsically
      motivated with regard to taking medication and regular SMBG, whereas half the
      participants (50 %) were intrinsically motivated to follow therapeutic dietary
      instructions and regular exercise. Patients who were intrinsically motivated were
      8.3-fold more likely (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.44-47.86) to have glycemic
      control than those reporting extrinsic motivation. In addition, those who were
      intrinsically motivated to follow therapeutic dietary instructions and exercise
      regularly were 10.50-fold more likely (95 % CI 2.50-48.78) times more likely to
      report glycemic control than those reporting extrinsic motivation. CONCLUSION:
      Interventional strategies should focus on promoting intrinsic motivation in order
      to enhance glycemic control.

PMID- 26870907
TI  - Aripiprazole Use in Children Diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Comorbid Autism
      Spectrum Disorders.

PMID- 26870906
TI  - Social threat exposure in juvenile mice promotes cocaine-seeking by altering
      blood clotting and brain vasculature.
AB  - Childhood maltreatment is associated with increased severity of substance use
      disorder and frequent relapse to drug use following abstinence. However, the
      molecular and neurobiological substrates that are engaged during early traumatic
      events and mediate the greater risk of relapse are poorly understood and
      knowledge of risk factors is to date extremely limited. In this study, we modeled
      childhood maltreatment by exposing juvenile mice to a threatening social
      experience (social stressed, S-S). We showed that S-S experience influenced the
      propensity to reinstate cocaine-seeking after periods of withdrawal in adulthood.
      By exploring global gene expression in blood leukocytes we found that this
      behavioral phenotype was associated with greater blood coagulation. In parallel,
      impairments in brain microvasculature were observed in S-S mice. Furthermore,
      treatment with an anticoagulant agent during withdrawal abolished the
      susceptibility to reinstate cocaine-seeking in S-S mice. These findings provide
      novel insights into a possible molecular mechanism by which childhood
      maltreatment heightens the risk for relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals.

PMID- 26870908
TI  - Surface etching, chemical modification and characterization of silicon nitride
      and silicon oxide--selective functionalization of Si3N4 and SiO2.
AB  - The ability to selectively chemically functionalize silicon nitride (Si3N4) or
      silicon dioxide (SiO2) surfaces after cleaning would open interesting
      technological applications. In order to achieve this goal, the chemical
      composition of surfaces needs to be carefully characterized so that target
      chemical reactions can proceed on only one surface at a time. While wet
      chemically cleaned silicon dioxide surfaces have been shown to be terminated with
      surficial Si-OH sites, chemical composition of the HF-etched silicon nitride
      surfaces is more controversial. In this work, we removed the native oxide under
      various aqueous HF-etching conditions and studied the chemical nature of the
      resulting Si3N4 surfaces using infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), x-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy ion scattering (LEIS), and contact
      angle measurements. We find that HF-etched silicon nitride surfaces are
      terminated by surficial Si-F and Si-OH bonds, with slightly subsurface Si-OH, Si
      O-Si, and Si-NH2 groups. The concentration of surficial Si-F sites is not
      dependent on HF concentration, but the distribution of oxygen and Si-NH2 displays
      a weak dependence. The Si-OH groups of the etched nitride surface are shown to
      react in a similar manner to the Si-OH sites on SiO2, and therefore no
      selectivity was found. Chemical selectivity was, however, demonstrated by first
      reacting the -NH2 groups on the etched nitride surface with aldehyde molecules,
      which do not react with the Si-OH sites on a SiO2 surface, and then using
      trichloro-organosilanes for selective reaction only on the SiO2 surface (no
      reactivity on the aldehyde-terminated Si3N4 surface). 

PMID- 26870910
TI  - Mid- and long-term anxiety levels associated with presymptomatic testing of
      Huntington's disease, Machado-Joseph disease, and familial amyloid
      polyneuropathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study anxiety as a variable of the mid- and long-term psychological
      impact of pre-symptomatic testing for three autosomal dominant late-onset
      disorders - Huntington's disease (HD), Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) and familial
      amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) TTR V30M - in a Portuguese sample. METHODS: This
      cross-sectional study included 203 participants: 170 (83.7%) underwent pre
      symptomatic testing for FAP, 29 (14.3%) for HD, and 4 (2%) for MJD. Of the 203
      participants, 73 (36.0%) were asymptomatic carriers, 29 (14.5%) were symptomatic
      carriers, 9 (4.5%) were diagnosed with FAP and had a liver transplant, and 89
      (44.5%) were non-carriers. Most were women (58.1%) and married (66.5%). The
      anxiety variable was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS).
      RESULTS: The anxiety scores were higher for symptomatic carriers and for those
      who underwent psychological support consultations over the years. For symptomatic
      carriers, the mean scores were superior to 40 points, which reflects clinical
      anxiety. CONCLUSION: Although it was not possible to differentiate between the
      mid- and long-term psychological impacts, this study supports the conclusion that
      the proximity to the age of symptoms onset might be a trigger for anxiety.

PMID- 26870909
TI  - Cognition and functioning in bipolar depression.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Depressive symptoms are associated with worse outcomes in patients
      with bipolar disorder (BD). However, scarce data are available regarding
      neurocognitive profiles across different areas of functioning among BD patients
      with moderate and severe depression. Our objective was to assess cognition and
      global functioning in a group of patients with bipolar depression. METHODS: Data
      were available for 100 patients with bipolar depression (78% female) and 70
      controls (64% female) paired by age and education level. Cognitive function was
      assessed with a neuropsychological test battery. Functioning was assessed with
      the Functioning Assessment Short Test. RESULTS: In patients, severe depression
      was associated with poorer cognitive performance on measures of executive
      function. Patients with severe depression showed worse global functioning than
      those with moderate depression (z = 2.54, p = 0.011). In patients with severe
      depression, lower global functioning was associated with lower scores in working
      memory (r = -0.200, p = 0.010), and executive function (r = -0.210, p = 0.007;
      and r = 0.293, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest cognitive impairment
      and global functioning impairment are associated with the severity of depressive
      symptoms in bipolar depression. Intensive treatment of depressive symptoms in
      patients with BD is crucial to improve cognitive functioning and, consequently,
      functional outcomes.

PMID- 26870911
TI  - Eating behaviors, body image, perfectionism, and self-esteem in a sample of
      Portuguese girls.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders are an increasingly prevalent health problem among
      adolescent girls. It is well known that biological, psychosocial, and family
      related factors interact in the development of this group of disorders. However,
      the mechanisms underlying the interaction between these variables are still
      poorly understood, especially in Portuguese adolescents. The aim of this study
      was to investigate the relationship between eating behaviors, body
      dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and perfectionism in a sample of Portuguese girls.
      METHOD: A community sample of 575 Portuguese girls attending secondary school,
      answered self-report questionnaires including data on weight, height, and the
      Portuguese versions of the Contour Figures Rating Scale, the Child and Adolescent
      Perfectionism Scale, the Children Eating Attitudes Test, and the Rosenberg Self
      Esteem Scale. SPSS version 20.0 for Windows was used for statistical analyses.
      RESULTS: High scores in the Children Eating Attitudes Test were associated with
      significantly higher levels of body dissatisfaction (r = 0.339), socially
      prescribed perfectionism (r = 0.175), self-oriented perfectionism (r = 0.211),
      and low self-esteem (r = -0.292) (all p < 0.001). Self-oriented perfectionism
      partially mediated the relation between body dissatisfaction and disordered
      eating behaviors. CONCLUSION: In this sample, dysfunctional eating behaviors
      appeared to correlate strongly with body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and
      perfectionism in girls. These themes should be addressed among female adolescents
      in the community.

PMID- 26870912
TI  - Serum BDNF levels in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar
      disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder (BD) patients have been
      investigated for the identification of endophenotypes in an attempt to further
      elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
      (BDNF) is considered to be implicated in the pathophysiology of BD, but its role
      as an endophenotype has been poorly studied. We investigated abnormal serum BDNF
      levels in BD patients, in their unaffected relatives, and in healthy controls.
      METHODS: BDNF levels were obtained from 25 DSM-IV bipolar I disorder patients, 23
      unaffected relatives, and 27 healthy controls. All BD patients were in remission.
      The unaffected subjects were first-degree relatives of the proband who had no
      lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of axis I disorder. BDNF serum levels were determined
      by sandwich ELISA using monoclonal BDNF-specific antibodies. RESULTS: There were
      no statistical differences in BDNF levels among BD patients, relatives, and
      healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Serum BDNF levels may not indicate high genetic
      risk for BD, possibly acting as state markers rather than trait markers of the
      disease.

PMID- 26870913
TI  - Depression, quality of life, and body composition in patients with end-stage
      renal disease: a cohort study.
AB  - Objective:: To prospectively evaluate depressive symptoms, nutritional status,
      and quality of life (QoL) and search for possible associations in patients with
      end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Methods:: A cohort study of 104
      adult patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis was
      conducted. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical variables were evaluated
      after a midweek hemodialysis session. The participants' body composition was
      assessed by direct segmental multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis. The WHOQOL
      Bref questionnaire was used to evaluate QoL. Participants were separated into two
      groups - depressive symptoms and no depressive symptoms - at inclusion and
      evaluated annually for 2 years thereafter using the Beck Depression Inventory.
      Survival analysis used the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis for
      the goodness of fit of associated factors. All-cause mortality was the outcome of
      interest. Results:: Participants' mean age was 55.3+/-15.6 years, 60% were male,
      and the median time on hemodialysis was 17.5 (8.0-36.8) months. Thirty-two
      patients had depressive symptoms and a significantly lower QoL compared with the
      72 patients in the no depressive symptoms group. The fitted outcome model showed
      that lean body mass had a protective effect against all-cause mortality (hazard
      ratio [HR] = 0.89; 95%CI 0.80-0.99; p = 0.038). Conclusion:: Depressive symptoms
      were highly prevalent in the cohort, and correlated with the physical and
      psychological components of the QoL life questionnaire, as well as with C
      reactive protein and phosphorus levels. Lean body mass was protective for the
      assessed outcome.

PMID- 26870914
TI  - Long-term outcome of insulin pump therapy: reduction of hypoglycaemia and impact
      on glycaemic control.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the long-term outcome of continuous subcutaneous insulin
      infusion (CSII) in Type 1 diabetes according to Catalan National Health Service
      indications. METHODS: Retrospective observational study including 178 patients
      with Type 1 diabetes who started CSII treatment in our centre (2003-2008). All
      patients were followed in our CSII programme for outpatients for at least 5
      years. Data on annual HbA1c levels were collected, and the main indication for
      starting CSII was analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of 178 patients were excluded
      because of loss to follow-up or withdrawal from CSII, thus 151 patients (aged
      37.4 +/- 10.5 years, 64% women) were analysed. The main indications for starting
      CSII were suboptimal metabolic control (60.9%), severe
      hypoglycaemia/hypoglycaemia unawareness (25.5%) and others (13.6%). HbA1c was 64
      +/- 13 mmol/mol (8.0 +/- 1.2%) at the start of CSII and 62 +/- 13 mmol/mol (7.8
      +/- 1.2%) after 5 years in the total cohort (P = 0.1). The severe hypoglycaemia
      rates were 0.66 +/- 1.61 and 0.17 +/- 0.42 episodes/patient/year (P < 0.001). In
      patients with suboptimal metabolic control, HbA1c decreased from 68 +/- 12
      mmol/mol (8.4 +/- 1.1%) to 64 +/- 14 mmol/mol (8.0 +/- 1.3%) (P = 0.016), with
      37.4% of those in this group having an HbA1c <= 58 mmol/mol (7.5%) after 5 years.
      In patients starting CSII due to severe hypoglycaemia the problem was considered
      resolved in 93%, and in 64% of those starting CSII because of suboptimal
      glycaemic control, HbA1c improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: CSII therapy
      achieves and maintains its efficacy mainly in terms of reducing severe
      hypoglycaemia. In the whole group of patients, the reduction in HbA1c is
      transient and disappears after 5 years.

PMID- 26870916
TI  - Avoiding the first cesarean section--results of structured organizational and
      cultural changes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In 2006 the overall rates of instrumental deliveries (10%) and
      cesarean sections (CS) (20%) were high in our unit. We decided to improve quality
      of care by offering more women a safe and attractive normal vaginal delivery. The
      target group was primarily nulliparous women at term with spontaneous onset of
      labor and cephalic presentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Implementation of a "nine
      item list" of structured organizational and cultural change in Linkoping 2006-15.
      The nine items include monitoring of obstetric results, recruitment of a midwife
      coordinator, risk classification of women, introduction of three different
      midwife competence levels, improved teamwork, obstetrical morning round, fetal
      monitoring skills, obstetrical skills training, and public promotion of the
      strategy. RESULTS: The CS rate in nulliparous women at term with spontaneous
      onset of labor decreased from 10% in 2006 to 3% in 2015. During the same period
      the overall CS rate dropped from 20% to 11%. The prevalence of children born at
      the unit with umbilical cord pH <7 and Apgar score <4 at 5 min were the same over
      the years studied. At present, 95.2% of women delivering at our unit are
      satisfied with their delivery experience. CONCLUSIONS: The CS rates have declined
      after implementing the nine items of organizational and cultural changes. It
      seems that a specific and persistent multidisciplinary activity with a focus on
      the Robson group 1 can reduce CS rates without increased risk of neonatal
      complications.

PMID- 26870917
TI  - The ethics of complexity. Genetics and autism, a literature review.
AB  - It is commonly believed that the etiology of autism is at least partly explained
      through genetics. Given the complexity of autism and the variability of the
      autistic phenotype, genetic research and counseling in this field are also
      complex and associated with specific ethical questions. Although the ethics of
      autism genetics, especially with regard to reproductive choices, has been widely
      discussed on the public fora, an in depth philosophical or bioethical reflection
      on all aspects of the theme seems to be missing. With this literature review we
      wanted to map the basic questions and answers that exist in the bioethical
      literature on autism genetics, research, counseling and reproduction, and provide
      suggestions as to how the discussion can proceed. We found 19 papers that fitted
      the description of "bioethics literature focusing on autism genetics," and
      analyzed their content to distill arguments and themes. We concluded that because
      of the complexity of autism, and the uncertainty with regard to its status, more
      ethical reflection is needed before definite conclusions and recommendations can
      be drawn. Moreover, there is a dearth of bioethical empirical studies querying
      the opinions of all parties, including people with autism themselves. Such
      empirical bioethical studies should be urgently done before bioethical
      conclusions regarding the aims and desirability of research into autism genes can
      be done. Also, fundamental philosophical reflection on concepts of disease should
      accompany research into the etiology of autism.

PMID- 26870918
TI  - Sarcocystid organisms found in bile from a dog with acute hepatitis: a case
      report and review of intestinal and hepatobiliary Sarcocystidae infections in
      dogs and cats.
AB  - Sarcocystidae is a family of coccidian protozoa from the phylum Apicomplexa that
      includes Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Hammondia, and Besnoitia spp. All
      species undergo a 2-host sexual and asexual cycle. In the definitive host,
      replication is enteroepithelial, and infection is typically asymptomatic or less
      commonly causes mild diarrhea. Clinical disease is most frequently observed in
      the intermediate host, often as an aberrant infection, and is mostly associated
      with neurologic, muscular, or hepatic inflammation. Here, we review the
      literature regarding intestinal Sarcocystidae infections in dogs and cats, with
      emphasis on the life cycle stages and the available diagnostic assays and their
      limitations. We also report the diagnostic findings for an 11-year-old dog with
      acute neutrophilic hepatitis, biliary protozoa, and negative biliary culture.
      Although Toxoplasma and Neospora IgG titers were both high, PCR for these 2
      organisms was negative for bile. The organisms were identified by 18S rDNA PCR as
      most consistent with Hammondia, either H heydorni or H triffittae. This is the
      first report of presumed Hammondia organisms being found in canine bile. 

PMID- 26870920
TI  - Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of indoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazides.
AB  - A novel method to synthesise 2-arylindoles is demonstrated via direct arylation
      of indoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazides. Under the optimized reaction conditions,
      the reaction well tolerates a wide variety of functional groups to afford
      structurally diverse 2-arylindoles in good to excellent yields at 70  degrees C. 

PMID- 26870919
TI  - The role of diet in children's exposure to organophosphate pesticides.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that some of the greatest exposure to OPs in children
      occurs in agricultural communities and various pathways of exposure including the
      take-home pathway, proximity to orchards, and diet have been explored. However,
      the importance of the dietary pathway of exposure for children in agricultural
      communities is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to ascertain whether
      there were associations between measures of OP exposure and apple juice, fruit,
      and vegetable consumption across growing seasons by children of farmworkers and
      non-farmworkers in a rural agricultural setting. METHODS: Study participants were
      children of farmworker (N=100) or non-farmworker (N=100) households from a
      longitudinal cohort study. Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables was assessed
      using a "5-A-Day" abbreviated food frequency questionnaire, and exposure to OPs
      was characterized using three urinary di-methyl and three di-ethyl metabolite
      measurements per child for each of three growing seasons. We used generalized
      estimating equations to examine data. RESULTS: Consumption frequency of fruits
      and vegetables was similar between children of farmworkers and non-farmworkers
      and across seasons. There were a few significant trends between dimethyl
      metabolites (DMAP) and fruit, vegetable or apple juice consumption; however, no
      clear pattern held across seasons or occupation. One difference was found in
      vegetable consumption during the harvest season, where the farmworker families
      showed a significant relationship between vegetable consumption and dimethyl
      metabolite levels (p=0.002). We also found a significant difference in this
      relationship between farmworkers and non-farmworkers (p=0.001). No significant
      trends between fruit and vegetable consumption and diethyl (DEAP) metabolites
      were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the importance of considering season and
      parents' occupation in understanding OP exposure routes among children in an
      agricultural community. The impact of these factors on dietary OP exposure
      requires a more thorough analysis of the availability and consumption of produce
      from different sources including farms using pesticides where parents worked.

PMID- 26870922
TI  - Axial zero-field splitting in mononuclear Co(ii) 2-N substituted N-confused
      porphyrin: Co(2-NC3H5-21-Y-CH2C6H4CH3-NCTPP)Cl (Y = o, m, p) and Co(2-NC3H5-21
      CH2C6H5-NCTPP)Cl.
AB  - The inner C-benzyl- and C-o-xylyl (or m-xylyl, p-xylyl)-substituted cobalt(ii)
      complexes of a 2-N-substituted N-confused porphyrin were synthesized from the
      reaction of 2-NC3H5NCTPPH (1) and CoCl2.6H2O in toluene (or o-xylene, m-xylene, p
      xylene). The crystal structures of diamagnetic chloro(2-aza-2-allyl-5,10,15,20
      tetraphenyl-21-hydrogen-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N',N'')zinc(ii) [Zn(2-NC3H5-21-H
      NCTPP)Cl; 3 ] and paramagnetic chloro(2-aza-2-allyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21
      benzyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N',N'')cobalt(ii) [Co(2-NC3H5-21-CH2C6H5NCTPP)Cl;
      7], and chloro(2-aza-2-allyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-Y-xylyl-21
      carbaporphyrinato-N,N',N'')cobalt(ii) [Co(2-NC3H5-21-Y-CH2C6H4CH3NCTPP)Cl] [Y = o
      (8), m (9), p (10)] were determined. The coordination sphere around the Zn(2+)
      (or Co(2+)) ion in 3 (or 7-10) is a distorted tetrahedron (DT). The free energy
      of activation at the coalescence temperature Tc for the exchange of phenyl ortho
      protons o-H (26) with o-H (22) in 3 in a CDCl3 solvent is found to be DeltaG =
      61.4 kJ mol(-1) through (1)H NMR temperature-dependent measurements. The axial
      zero-field splitting parameter |D| was found to vary from 35.6 cm(-1) in 7 (or
      30.7 cm(-1) in 8) to 42.0 cm(-1) in 9 and 46.9 cm(-1) in 10 through paramagnetic
      susceptibility measurements. The magnitude of |D| can be related to the
      coordination sphere at the cobalt sites. 

PMID- 26870921
TI  - Conformational Fixation of a Rectangular Antiaromatic [28]Hexaphyrin Using
      Rationally Installed Peripheral Straps.
AB  - A rectangular [28]hexaphyrin bearing outer straps at the long side has been
      synthesized by SN Ar reaction of [26]hexaphyrin with allyl alcohol,
      intramolecular olefin metathesis by using Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation
      catalyst, and reduction with NaBH4 . The peripheral straps enforce a rectangular
      conformation for the [28]hexaphyrin, which shows Huckel antiaromatic character,
      as confirmed by its planar X-ray structure, a strong paratropic ring current,
      characteristic UV/Vis/NIR absorption features, small electrochemical HOMO-LUMO
      gap, and very fast S1 decay. 

PMID- 26870923
TI  - Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, March/April 2016.

PMID- 26870924
TI  - Recent advances in understanding the enzymatic reactions of [4+2] cycloaddition
      and spiroketalization.
AB  - Diels-Alder-like [4+2] cycloaddition and ketalization of dihydroxy ketones are
      cyclization reactions with different mechanisms that produce characteristic
      cyclohexene and spiroketal units, respectively. Here, we review newly identified,
      naturally occurring '[4+2] cycloadditionases' and 'spiroketalases' and reveal
      several similarities between the two types of enzymes. During catalysis, these
      enzymes control product stereochemistry or/and enhance the transformation rate.
      They exhibit convergent evolution of [4+2] cycloaddition or spiroketalization
      activity, which is likely dependent on interactions of variable protein folds
      with specialized chemical structures. An understanding of these similarities is
      expected to allow for establishment of the underlying principles for the
      application and catalyst design of associated enzymatic reactions in organic
      chemistry and synthetic biology.

PMID- 26870925
TI  - Intraperitoneal bupivacaine with or without incisional bupivacaine for
      postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Intraperitoneal (IP) bupivacaine provides postoperative analgesia in
      dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OHE) alone or in combination with incisional
      (INC) bupivacaine. This study investigated whether the combination of INC and IP
      bupivacaine is superior to IP bupivacaine alone. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective,
      randomized, blinded clinical study. ANIMALS: Thirty-nine privately owned dogs
      undergoing OHE, aged 25 +/- 23 months and weighing 11.8 +/- 5.7 kg. METHODS: Dogs
      were premedicated with acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1) ) and morphine (0.5 mg kg(-1)
      ) intramuscularly (IM); anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with
      isoflurane in oxygen. Carprofen (4 mg kg(-1) ) was administered subcutaneously
      (SC) after intubation. Bupivacaine (3 mg kg(-1) ) IP was administered before
      complete closure of the linea alba to all dogs. Dogs were randomly assigned into
      two groups: group B received bupivacaine (n = 20; 1 mg kg(-1) ) and group S
      received saline (n = 19; 0.2 mL kg(-1) ) INC as a subcutaneous 'splash' before
      skin closure. Postoperative analgesia was assessed with a dynamic interactive
      visual analogue scale, the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale, and
      mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) measurement at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and
      20 hours after surgery by one blinded observer. Parametric data were tested using
      t-test; nonparametric data were analysed using the two-sample Wilcoxon test (p <
      0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups with regard to
      age, weight, surgical and anaesthetic duration, incision length, sedation and
      pain scores. MNT values decreased in both groups at all time points as compared
      with the baseline. No dog required rescue analgesia. No postoperative
      complications were observed. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bupivacaine IP
      and carprofen SC after morphine IM did provide satisfactory postoperative
      analgesia in dogs undergoing OHE with the anaesthetic protocol used. There
      appears to be no clinical advantage to adding bupivacaine INC. Neither protocol
      could prevent the development of primary hyperalgesia.

PMID- 26870926
TI  - A Farewell to Arms.

PMID- 26870927
TI  - Inheriting a Jewel: A Thrilling Challenge.

PMID- 26870928
TI  - New Therapeutic Strategies for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.
AB  - Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease,
      which in the majority of patients progresses to liver transplantation or death.
      To date, no medical treatment has been proven to be of benefit, although
      ursodeoxycholic acid is widely used. The etiopathogenesis of PSC is unclear,
      although it is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Various hypotheses
      have been suggested, which have led to different therapeutic strategies. Recent
      studies have suggested that the microbiome may play a role in PSC, raising the
      possibility of efficacy of antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation. Gut
      homing T cells may be important in the pathogenesis of PSC, and several agents
      are in development, targeting various receptors, integrins, and ligands on this
      pathway, including VAP-1, MAdCAM-1, alpha4beta7, and CCR9. Nuclear receptor
      agonists such as obeticholic acid and fibrates hold promise, as do other
      therapies that alter bile acid composition such as norUDCA. Antifibrotic agents
      such as Loxl2 inhibitors are also being assessed. In conclusion, it is likely
      that an effective drug therapy for PSC will become available over the next
      decade. 

PMID- 26870929
TI  - Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Beyond Ursodeoxycholic Acid.
AB  - Although ursodeoxycholic acid remains the only approved pharmacotherapy for
      patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, the better characterization of factors
      responsible for the poor response to this drug and the emergence of several new
      putative therapeutic targets now offer significant opportunities to improve the
      management of patients and our capacity to treat them more efficiently. The
      availability of novel treatment options, such as fibrates, budesonide, and
      obeticholic acid, all capable of improving prognostic markers, invites us to
      reconsider our management and treatment strategies. Early identification of high
      risk patients should remain a priority to deliver adjunctive therapies to
      appropriately selected populations and increase their chances of success. Given
      the absence of comparative trials, the choice between second-line treatments
      should be dictated by the biochemical, histological, and expected tolerance
      profiles. Here the author presents a brief overview of what should be known in
      this field and proposes a practical approach to facilitate decision making. 

PMID- 26870931
TI  - Targeting Dysbiosis for the Treatment of Liver Disease.
AB  - The gut microbiome is composed of a vast number of microbes in the
      gastrointestinal tract, which benefit host metabolism, aid in digestion, and
      contribute to normal immune function. Alterations in microbial composition can
      result in intestinal dysbiosis, which has been implicated in several diseases
      including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver diseases. Over the past
      several years, significant interactions between the intestinal microbiota and
      liver have been discovered, with possible mechanisms for the development as well
      as progression of liver disease and promising therapeutic targets to either
      prevent or halt the progression of liver disease. In this review the authors
      examine mechanisms of dysbiosis-induced liver disease; highlight current
      knowledge regarding the role of dysbiosis in nonalcoholic liver disease,
      alcoholic liver disease, and cirrhosis; and discuss potential therapeutic
      targets. 

PMID- 26870932
TI  - Hepatic Encephalopathy: Pharmacological Therapies Targeting Ammonia.
AB  - Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication in patients with
      decompensated cirrhosis, leading to higher readmission rates causing a profound
      burden of disease and considerable health care costs. Because ammonia is thought
      to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HE, therapies directed at reducing
      ammonia levels are now being aggressively developed. Ammonia scavengers such as
      AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent), glycerol phenylbutyrate, sodium
      phenylacetate or sodium benzoate, and ornithine phenylacetate have been used to
      improve HE symptoms. A new approach, bowel cleansing with polyethylene glycol
      3350, appears to be a promising therapy, with a recent study demonstrating a more
      rapid improvement in overt HE (at 24 hours after treatment) than lactulose.
      Extracorporeal devices, although now used primarily in research settings, have
      also been utilized in patients with refractory HE, but are not approved for
      clinical management. 

PMID- 26870930
TI  - Targeting Cell Death and Sterile Inflammation Loop for the Treatment of
      Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease represents a wide spectrum of conditions and is
      currently the most common form of chronic liver disease affecting both adults and
      children in the United States and many other parts of the world. Great effort has
      been focused on the development of novel therapies for those patients with the
      more advanced forms of the disease, in particular those with nonalcoholic
      steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis that can be associated with significant
      morbidity and mortality. In this review, the authors focus on the role of cell
      death and sterile inflammatory pathways as well as the self-perpetuating
      deleterious cycle they may trigger as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment
      of fibrotic NASH. 

PMID- 26870933
TI  - Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment of Alcoholic Hepatitis.
AB  - Acute alcoholic hepatitis is a unique clinical syndrome among patients with
      chronic and active heavy alcohol use. Presenting with acute or chronic liver
      failure, a severe episode has a potential for 30 to 40% mortality at 1 month from
      presentation, if not recognized and left untreated. Alcoholic hepatitis patients
      need supportive therapy for abstinence and nutritional supplementation for those
      patients with markedly reduced caloric intake. Results of the recently published
      STOPAH (Steroids or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis) Study showed only a
      benefit of corticosteroids on short-term mortality without any benefit of
      pentoxifylline. Neither of these two drugs impacts medium- and long-term
      mortality, which is mainly driven by abstinence from alcohol. With the emerging
      data on the benefits of liver transplantation, liver transplantation could be an
      important salvage option for a very highly select group of AH patients. More data
      are needed on the use of liver transplantation in AH as the basis for deriving
      protocols for selecting cases and for posttransplant management. Currently, many
      clinical trials are examining the efficacy and safety of new or repurposed
      compounds in severe AH. These drugs are targeted at various pathways in the
      pathogenesis of AH: the gut-liver axis, the inflammatory cascade, and liver
      injury. With increasing interest of researchers and clinicians, supported by
      funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the future
      seems promising for the development of effective and safe pharmacological
      interventions for severe AH.

PMID- 26870934
TI  - Nuclear Receptor Modulation for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
      Disease.
AB  - Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcriptional regulators of
      several key metabolic processes including hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism,
      bile acid homeostasis, and energy expenditure as well as inflammation, fibrosis,
      and cellular proliferation in the liver. Dysregulation of these processes
      contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver
      disease (NAFLD). This places NRs at the forefront of novel therapeutic approaches
      for NAFLD. Some NRs are already pharmacologically targeted in metabolic disorders
      such as hyperlipidemia (peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha
      [PPARalpha], fibrates) and diabetes (PPARgamma, glitazones) with potential
      applications for NAFLD. Other NRs with potential therapeutic implications are the
      vitamin D receptor (VDR) and xenobiotic sensors such as constitutive androstane
      receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR). Further new perspectives include
      combined ligands for NR isoforms such as PPARalpha/delta ligands. Other novel key
      players represent the nuclear bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR;
      targeted by synthetic FXR ligands such as obeticholic acid) and RAR-related
      orphan receptor gamma two (RORgammat). In this review the authors provide an
      overview of the preclinical and clinical evidence of current and future treatment
      strategies targeting NRs in metabolism, inflammation, and fibrogenesis of NAFLD. 

PMID- 26870935
TI  - Antifibrotic Therapies: Where Are We Now?
AB  - Fibrosis is the wound-healing response of tissues to injury. Extensive
      characterization of organ fibrosis mechanisms has identified common core pathways
      in renal, pulmonary, skin, and liver fibrosis that offer novel antifibrotic
      approaches across tissues, in addition to organ-specific and/or disease-specific
      pathways. A growing number of small molecules and biologics have been identified
      that are reaching clinical trials for one or more fibrotic diseases, making new
      antifibrotic options for liver fibrosis an emerging reality. The accelerating
      pace of drug development, which will also include drug repurposing or combination
      therapies, heightens the need for novel methods for noninvasive fibrosis
      assessment without liver biopsy, which is critical to establishing surrogate
      endpoints for patients in clinical trials who have a low risk of hepatic
      decompensation. In this article the authors review mechanisms of liver fibrosis
      and outline potential therapeutic targets and antifibrotic therapies in
      preclinical studies and clinical trials. 

PMID- 26870936
TI  - An Unusual Cause of Acute Liver Failure: Three Cases of Hemophagocytic
      Lymphohistiocytosis Presenting at a Transplant Center.
AB  - Acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare life-threatening
      disorder of the immune system. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis has been
      associated with infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy. This case
      series describes three patients admitted to an academic liver transplant center
      from February 2014 to February 2015 with acute liver failure (ALF) who were
      ultimately diagnosed with HLH. All cases were female patients (44 to 53 years of
      age) transferred for workup of ALF. All developed fevers and cytopenias and
      underwent rapid evaluation for liver transplant by a multidisciplinary team. A
      complete workup for ALF was negative for intrinsic liver disease and none had
      significant alcohol or toxin exposure. The patients had liver biopsies showing
      diffuse lobular necroinflammation, of which two had evidence of hemophagocytosis
      on histopathology. The diagnosis of HLH was made by bone marrow biopsy featuring
      histiocytes with hemophagocytosis. All cases were treated with chemotherapy, but
      died during their hospitalization. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis can present
      as ALF in adult patients. Given the low success rate of treatment, early
      diagnosis is critical. Therefore, a high degree of suspicion should be exercised
      in patients with unexplained ALF. 

PMID- 26870937
TI  - Distribution of Ticks and the Risk of Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Pathogens
      of Public Health Significance in Ontario, Canada.
AB  - Over the past two decades, the northward spread of Ixodes scapularis across
      Ontario, Canada, has accelerated and the risk of Lyme disease has increased.
      Active surveillance is a recognized and effective method for detecting
      reproducing populations of I. scapularis. In this study, we conducted field
      sampling consistent with an active surveillance approach from May to October 2014
      at 104 sites in central, eastern, and southern Ontario to determine the current
      distribution of I. scapularis and other tick species, and enhance our
      understanding of the geographic risk associated with Borrelia burgdorferi and
      other tick-borne pathogens of public health significance in this region. I.
      scapularis was present at 20 of the 104 sites visited. Individuals of the tick
      species Dermacentor variabilis, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and Ixodes
      dentatus were also collected. I. scapularis was positive by PCR for B.
      burgdorferi at five sites. These sites formed a significant spatial cluster in
      eastern Ontario. No ticks were PCR positive for Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma
      phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. This study provides an up-to-date picture
      of the distribution of I. scapularis and other tick species, and the risk of B.
      burgdorferi and other pathogens of public health significance in central,
      eastern, and southern Ontario. This information may allow for more effective
      surveillance efforts and public health interventions for Lyme disease and other
      tick-borne diseases in this region. 

PMID- 26870938
TI  - From evoked potentials to cortical currents: Resolving V1 and V2 components using
      retinotopy constrained source estimation without fMRI.
AB  - Despite evoked potentials' (EP) ubiquity in research and clinical medicine,
      insights are limited to gross brain dynamics as it remains challenging to map
      surface potentials to their sources in specific cortical regions. Multiple
      sources cancellation due to cortical folding and cross-talk obscures close
      sources, e.g. between visual areas V1 and V2. Recently retinotopic functional
      magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses were used to constrain source
      locations to assist separating close sources and to determine cortical current
      generators. However, an fMRI is largely infeasible for routine EP investigation.
      We developed a novel method that replaces the fMRI derived retinotopic layout
      (RL) by an approach where the retinotopy and current estimates are generated from
      EEG or MEG signals and a standard clinical T1-weighted anatomical MRI. Using the
      EEG-RL, sources were localized to within 2 mm of the fMRI-RL constrained
      localized sources. The EEG-RL also produced V1 and V2 current waveforms that
      closely matched the fMRI-RL's (n = 2) r(1,198)  = 0.99, P < 0.0001. Applying the
      method to subjects without fMRI (n = 4) demonstrates it generates waveforms that
      agree closely with the literature. Our advance allows investigators with their
      current EEG or MEG systems to create a library of brain models tuned to
      individual subjects' cortical folding in retinotopic maps, and should be
      applicable to auditory and somatosensory maps. The novel method developed expands
      EP's ability to study specific brain areas, revitalizing this well-worn
      technique. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1696-1709, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26870939
TI  - Nuclear energy and biodiversity conservation: response to Brook and Bradshaw
      2015.

PMID- 26870940
TI  - Catalytic Response and Stability of Nickel/Alumina for the Hydrogenation of 5
      Hydroxymethylfurfural in Water.
AB  - The catalytic response of Ni on Al2O3 obtained from Ni-Al layered double
      hydroxides was studied for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of hydroxymethyl
      furfural to tetrahydrofuran-2,5-diyldimethanol (THFDM) in water. The successive
      calcination and reduction of the precursors caused the removal of interlayer
      hydroxyl and carbonate groups and the reduction of Ni(2+) to Ni(0). Four reduced
      mixed oxide catalysts were obtained, consisting of different amount of Ni metal
      contents (47-68 wt%) on an Al-rich amorphous component. The catalytic activity
      was linked to Ni content whereas selectivity was mainly affected by reaction
      temperature. THFDM was formed in a stepwise manner at low temperature (353 K)
      whereas 3-hydroxymethyl cyclopentanone was generated at higher temperature. Coke
      formation caused deactivation; however, the catalytic activity can be regenerated
      using heat treatment. The results establish Ni on Al2O3 as a promising catalyst
      for the production of THFDM in water.

PMID- 26870941
TI  - Development of a Topical Treatment for Psoriasis Targeting RORgamma: From Bench
      to Skin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder involving marked
      immunological changes. IL-17-targeting biologics have been successful in reducing
      the disease burden of psoriasis patients with moderate-to-severe disease.
      Unfortunately, the stratum corneum prevents penetration of large molecule weight
      proteins, including monoclonal antibodies. Thus, for the majority of psoriasis
      patients ineligible for systemic treatments, a small molecule targeting
      RORgammat, the master regulator of IL-17 family cytokines, may represent an
      alternative topical medicine with biologic-like efficacy. METHODS AND FINDINGS:
      The preclinical studies described in this manuscript bridge the gap from bench to
      bedside to provide the scientific foundation for a compound entering clinical
      trials for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. In addition to several ex
      vivo reporter assays, primary T cell cultures, and the imiquimod mouse model, we
      demonstrate efficacy in a newly developed human ex vivo skin assay, where Th17
      skewed cytokine expression is induced from skin-resident immune cells.
      Importantly, the skin barrier remains intact allowing for the demonstration of
      topical drug delivery. With the development of this novel assay, we demonstrate
      potent compound activity in the target tissue: human skin. Finally, target
      engagement by this small molecule was confirmed in ex vivo lesional psoriatic
      skin. CONCLUSIONS: Our work describes a progressive series of assays to
      demonstrate the potential clinical value of a novel RORgamma inverse agonist
      small molecule with high potency and selectivity, which will enter clinical
      trials in late 2015 for psoriasis patients.

PMID- 26870942
TI  - Lithium Ameliorates LPS-Induced Astrocytes Activation Partly via Inhibition of
      Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Astrocytes are critical for the development of postoperative
      cognitive dysfunction (POCD). In addition, astrocytes express toll-like receptors
      4 (TLR4) and build up responses to innate immune triggers by releasing pro
      inflammatory molecules. The pathogenesis of neurological disorders often involves
      the activation of astrocytes and associated inflammatory processes. Lithium, a
      primary drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder, has recently been suggested
      to have a role in neuroprotection during neurodegenerative diseases. In this
      study, we aimed to investigate whether lithium can ameliorate LPS-induced
      astrocytes activation via inhibition of TLR4 expression. METHODS: Primary
      astrocytes cells were pretreated with lithium and stimulated with
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cellular activation, cytokine production, and TLR4
      expression, were assessed. RESULTS: Lithium significantly inhibited LPS-induced
      astrocytes activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, as well as LPS
      induced TLR4 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Lithium can inhibit LPS-induced TLR4
      expression and astrocytes activation. These results indicate that lithium plays
      an important role in astrocytes activation and neuroinflammation-related
      diseases, which may open new avenues for neuroscience and biomedical research,
      and also offers new insight into the treatment of POCD.

PMID- 26870943
TI  - The Subjective Sensation of Synchrony: An Experimental Study.
AB  - People performing actions together have a natural tendency to synchronize their
      behavior. Consistently, people doing a task together build internal
      representations not only of their actions and goals, but also of the other people
      performing the task. However, little is known about which are the behavioral
      mechanisms and the psychological factors affecting the subjective sensation of
      synchrony, or "connecting" with someone else. In this work, we sought to find
      which factors induce the subjective sensation of synchrony, combining motion
      capture data and psychological measures. Our results show that the subjective
      sensation of synchrony is affected by performance quality together with task
      category, and time. Psychological factors such as empathy and negative subjective
      affects also correlate with the subjective sensation of synchrony. However, when
      people estimate synchrony as seen from a third person perspective, their
      psychological factors do not affect the accuracy of the estimation. We suggest
      that to feel this sensation it is necessary to, first, have a good joint
      performance and, second, to assume the existence of an attention monitoring
      mechanism that reports that the attention of both participants (self and other)
      is focused on the task. 

PMID- 26870945
TI  - Probing the Catalytic Mechanism of Vibrio harveyi GH20 beta-N
      Acetylglucosaminidase by Chemical Rescue.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vibrio harveyi GH20 beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (VhGlcNAcase) is a
      chitinolytic enzyme responsible for the successive degradation of chitin
      fragments to GlcNAc monomers, activating the onset of the chitin catabolic
      cascade in marine Vibrios. METHODS: Two invariant acidic pairs (Asp303-Asp304 and
      Asp437-Glu438) of VhGlcNAcase were mutated using a site-directed mutagenesis
      strategy. The effects of these mutations were examined and the catalytic roles of
      these active-site residues were elucidated using a chemical rescue approach.
      Enhancement of the enzymic activity of the VhGlcNAcase mutants was evaluated by a
      colorimetric assay using pNP-GlcNAc as substrate. RESULTS: Substitution of
      Asp303, Asp304, Asp437 or Glu438 with Ala/Asn/Gln produced a dramatic loss of the
      GlcNAcase activity. However, the activity of the inactive D437A mutant was
      recovered in the presence of sodium formate. Our kinetic data suggest that
      formate ion plays a nucleophilic role by mimicking the beta-COO-side chain of
      Asp437, thereby stabilizing the reaction intermediate during both the
      glycosylation and the deglycosylation steps. CONCLUSIONS: Chemical rescue of the
      inactive D437A mutant of VhGlcNAcase by an added nucleophile helped to identify
      Asp437 as the catalytic nucleophile/base, and hence its acidic partner Glu438 as
      the catalytic proton donor/acceptor. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Identification of the
      catalytic nucleophile of VhGlcNAcases supports the proposal of a substrate
      assisted mechanism of GH20 GlcNAcases, requiring the catalytic pair Asp437-Glu438
      for catalysis. The results suggest the mechanistic basis of the participation of
      beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the chitin catabolic pathway of marine Vibrios.

PMID- 26870944
TI  - Luteoloside Acts as 3C Protease Inhibitor of Enterovirus 71 In Vitro.
AB  - Luteoloside is a member of the flavonoids family that exhibits several
      bioactivities including anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. However, the
      antiviral activity of luteoloside against enterovirus 71 (EV71) and the potential
      mechanism(s) responsible for this effect remain unknown. In this study, the
      antiviral potency of luteoloside against EV71 and its inhibitory effects on 3C
      protease activity were evaluated. First, we investigated the cytotoxicity of
      luteoloside against rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells, which was the cell line selected
      for an in vitro infection model. In a subsequent antiviral assay, the cytopathic
      effect of EV71 was significantly and dose-dependently relieved by the
      administration of luteoloside (EC50 = 0.43 mM, selection index = 5.3). Using a
      plaque reduction assay, we administered luteoloside at various time points and
      found that the compound reduced EV71 viability in RD cells rather than increasing
      defensive mobilization or viral absorption. Moreover, biochemical studies focused
      on VP1 (a key structural protein of EV71) mRNA transcript and protein levels also
      revealed the inhibitory effects of luteoloside on the EV71 viral yield. Finally,
      we performed inhibition assays using luteoloside to evaluate its effect on
      recombinant 3C protease activity. Our results demonstrated that luteoloside
      blocked 3C protease enzymatic activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 0.36
      mM) that was similar to the effect of rutin, which is a well-known C3 protease
      inhibitor. Collectively, the results from this study indicate that luteoloside
      can block 3C protease activity and subsequently inhibit EV71 production in vitro.

PMID- 26870946
TI  - Genome-Wide Identification of Epigenetic Hotspots Potentially Related to
      Cardiovascular Risk in Adult Women after a Complicated Pregnancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The physiological demands of pregnancy on the maternal cardiovascular
      system can catapult women into a metabolic syndrome that predisposes to
      atherosclerosis in later life. We sought to identify the nature of the epigenomic
      changes associated with the increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adult
      women following pre-eclampsia. FINDINGS: We assessed the genome wide epigenetic
      profile by methyl-C sequencing of monozygotic parous twin sister pairs discordant
      for a severe variant of pre-eclampsia. In the adult twin sisters at risk for CVD
      as a consequence of a complicated pregnancy, a set of 12 differentially
      methylated regions with at least 50% difference in methylation percentage and the
      same directional change was found to be shared between the affected twin sisters
      and significantly different compared to their unaffected monozygous sisters.
      CONCLUSION: The current epigenetic marker set will permit targeted analysis of
      differentially methylated regions potentially related to CVD risk in large
      cohorts of adult women following complicated pregnancies.

PMID- 26870947
TI  - Charged Molecules Modulate the Volume Exclusion Effects Exerted by Crowders on
      FtsZ Polymerization.
AB  - We have studied the influence of protein crowders, either combined or
      individually, on the GTP-induced FtsZ cooperative assembly, crucial for the
      formation of the dynamic septal ring and, hence, for bacterial division. It was
      earlier demonstrated that high concentrations of inert polymers like Ficoll 70,
      used to mimic the crowded cellular interior, favor the assembly of FtsZ into
      bundles with slow depolymerization. We have found, by fluorescence anisotropy
      together with light scattering measurements, that the presence of protein
      crowders increases the tendency of FtsZ to polymerize at micromolar magnesium
      concentration, being the effect larger with ovomucoid, a negatively charged
      protein. Neutral polymers and a positively charged protein also diminished the
      critical concentration of assembly, the extent of the effect being compatible
      with that expected according to pure volume exclusion models. FtsZ polymerization
      was also observed to be strongly promoted by a negatively charged polymer, DNA,
      and by some unrelated polymers like PEGs at concentrations below the crowding
      regime. The influence of mixed crowders mimicking the heterogeneity of the
      intracellular environment on the tendency of FtsZ to assemble was also studied
      and nonadditive effects were found to prevail. Far from exactly reproducing the
      bacterial cytoplasm environment, this approach serves as a simplified model
      illustrating how its intrinsically crowded and heterogeneous nature may modulate
      FtsZ assembly into a functional Z-ring. 

PMID- 26870948
TI  - Artificial Saliva Formulations versus Human Saliva Pretreatment in Dental Erosion
      Experiments.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the erosion-preventive effect of different
      artificial saliva formulations and human saliva in vitro compared to human saliva
      in situ. In the in vitro experiment, bovine enamel and dentin specimens were
      stored in artificial saliva (4 different formulations, each n = 20), deionized
      water (n = 20) or human saliva (n = 6 enamel and dentin specimens/volunteer) for
      120 min. In the in situ experiment, each of the 6 enamel and dentin specimens was
      worn intraorally by 10 volunteers for 120 min. The specimens were then eroded
      (HCl, pH 2.6, 60 s). Half of the specimens were subjected to microhardness
      analysis (enamel) and the determination of calcium release into the acid (enamel
      and dentin), while the other half were again placed in the respective medium or
      worn intraorally, respectively, for 120 min before a second erosion was
      performed. Knoop microhardness of enamel and the calcium release of enamel and
      dentin into the acid were again determined. Statistical analysis was conducted by
      two-way repeated-measures ANOVA or two-way ANOVA (alpha = 0.05). Enamel
      microhardness was not significantly different between all test groups after the
      first and the second erosive challenge, respectively. Enamel calcium loss was
      significantly lower in situ compared to the in vitro experiment, where there was
      no significant difference between all test groups. Dentin calcium loss was
      significantly lower than deionized water only after the first and than all except
      one artificial saliva after the second erosion. Under the conditions of this
      experiment, the use of artificial saliva formulations and human saliva in vitro
      does not reflect the intraoral situation in dental erosion experiments
      adequately. 

PMID- 26870949
TI  - RV-Typer: A Web Server for Typing of Rhinoviruses Using Alignment-Free Approach.
AB  - Rhinoviruses (RV) are increasingly being reported to cause mild to severe
      infections of respiratory tract in humans. RV are antigenically the most diverse
      species of the genus Enterovirus and family Picornaviridae. There are three
      species of RV (RV-A, -B and -C), with 80, 32 and 55 serotypes/types,
      respectively. Antigenic variation is the main limiting factor for development of
      a cross-protective vaccine against RV.Serotyping of Rhinoviruses is carried out
      using cross-neutralization assays in cell culture. However, these assays become
      laborious and time-consuming for the large number of strains. Alternatively,
      serotyping of RV is carried out by alignment-based phylogeny of both protein and
      nucleotide sequences of VP1. However, serotyping of RV based on alignment-based
      phylogeny is a multi-step process, which needs to be repeated every time a new
      isolate is sequenced. In view of the growing need for serotyping of RV, an
      alignment-free method based on "return time distribution" (RTD) of amino acid
      residues in VP1 protein has been developed and implemented in the form of a web
      server titled RV-Typer. RV-Typer accepts nucleotide or protein sequences as an
      input and computes return times of di-peptides (k = 2) to assign serotypes. The
      RV-Typer performs with 100% sensitivity and specificity. It is significantly
      faster than alignment-based methods. The web server is available at
      http://bioinfo.net.in/RV-Typer/home.html. 

PMID- 26870951
TI  - Correction: Niger's Child Survival Success, Contributing Factors and Challenges
      to Sustainability: A Retrospective Analysis.

PMID- 26870950
TI  - Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Counterpulsation during Primary Percutaneous Coronary
      Intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock:
      Insights from the British Columbia Cardiac Registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction
      (STEMI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In the primary
      percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) era, randomized trials have not shown a
      survival benefit with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy. This differs to
      observational data which show a detrimental effect, potentially reflecting bias
      and confounding. Without robust and valid risk adjustment, findings from non
      randomized studies may remain biased. METHODS: We compared long-term mortality
      following IABP therapy in patients with cardiogenic shock undergoing PPCI during
      2008-2013 from the British Columbia Cardiac Registry. We addressed measured and
      unmeasured confounding using propensity score and instrumental variable methods.
      RESULTS: A total of 12,105 patients with STEMI were treated with PPCI during the
      study period. Of these, 700 patients (5.8%) had cardiogenic shock. Of the
      patients with cardiogenic shock, 255 patients (36%) received IABP therapy.
      Multivariable analyses identified IABP therapy to be associated with increased
      mortality up to 3 years (HR = 1.67, 95% CI:1.20-2.67, p<0.001). This association
      was lost in propensity-matched analyses (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.84-1.80, p =
      0.288). When addressing measured and unmeasured confounders, instrumental
      variable analyses demonstrated that IABP therapy was not associated with
      mortality at 3 years (Delta = 16.7%, 95% CI: -12.7%, 46.1%, p = 0.281). Subgroup
      analyses demonstrated IABP was associated with increased mortality in non
      diabetics; patients not undergoing multivessel intervention; patients without
      renal disease and patients not having received prior thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS:
      In this observational analysis of patients with STEMI and cardiogenic shock, when
      adjusting for confounding, IABP therapy had a neutral effect with no association
      with long-term mortality. These findings differ to previously reported
      observational studies, but are in keeping with randomized trial data.

PMID- 26870953
TI  - Anterior Corticospinal Tract Revisited: A Study Using Human Fetuses.
AB  - In the human corticospinal tract (CST), the anterior CST is known to be much
      thinner than the lateral CST, but fetal development of the CST remains obscure.
      In this study, we examined horizontal histological sections of the cervical
      spinal cord from 50 midterm fetuses (crown-rump length, CRL, 70-150 mm; 12-18
      weeks) as well as 15 late-stage fetuses (CRL 230-250 mm; 28-30 weeks). While the
      lateral CST appeared at 14-15 weeks in the cervical cord of the midterm fetuses,
      we found the anterior CST in only 3 fetuses: CRL 117 mm (15 weeks), and CRL 144
      and 150 mm (18 weeks). However, in the late-stage fetuses, the anterior CST
      exhibited a spectrum of variations, including bilaterally thick tracts (3
      fetuses), a unilaterally thick tract (5 fetuses) and a thin or absent tract (7
      fetuses). In the group with the thickest anterior CST, the cross-sectional area
      reached 40% of that of the lateral CST. In contrast to the stable morphology of
      the lateral CST, the shape of the anterior tract varied slightly between the
      cervical segments. Immunohistochemical observations demonstrated no difference
      between the lateral and anterior CSTs: (1) in macrophage infiltration, which
      suggests apoptosis, and (2) in the arrangement of radial glial fibers. Our
      findings indicate that the development of the anterior CST starts later than that
      of the lateral tract, with significant individual variations. The functional
      relevance of the anterior CST, if present, might not be found in an independent
      cortical input to motor neurons but in a remodeling of the ascending tracts. 

PMID- 26870952
TI  - Muscle Logic: New Knowledge Resource for Anatomy Enables Comprehensive Searches
      of the Literature on the Feeding Muscles of Mammals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In recent years large bibliographic databases have made much of the
      published literature of biology available for searches. However, the capabilities
      of the search engines integrated into these databases for text-based
      bibliographic searches are limited. To enable searches that deliver the results
      expected by comparative anatomists, an underlying logical structure known as an
      ontology is required. DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE ONTOLOGY: Here we present
      the Mammalian Feeding Muscle Ontology (MFMO), a multi-species ontology focused on
      anatomical structures that participate in feeding and other oral/pharyngeal
      behaviors. A unique feature of the MFMO is that a simple, computable, definition
      of each muscle, which includes its attachments and innervation, is true across
      mammals. This construction mirrors the logical foundation of comparative anatomy
      and permits searches using language familiar to biologists. Further, it provides
      a template for muscles that will be useful in extending any anatomy ontology. The
      MFMO is developed to support the Feeding Experiments End-User Database Project
      (FEED, https://feedexp.org/), a publicly-available, online repository for
      physiological data collected from in vivo studies of feeding (e.g., mastication,
      biting, swallowing) in mammals. Currently the MFMO is integrated into FEED and
      also into two literature-specific implementations of Textpresso, a text-mining
      system that facilitates powerful searches of a corpus of scientific publications.
      We evaluate the MFMO by asking questions that test the ability of the ontology to
      return appropriate answers (competency questions). We compare the results of
      queries of the MFMO to results from similar searches in PubMed and Google
      Scholar. RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our tests demonstrate that the MFMO is
      competent to answer queries formed in the common language of comparative anatomy,
      but PubMed and Google Scholar are not. Overall, our results show that by
      incorporating anatomical ontologies into searches, an expanded and anatomically
      comprehensive set of results can be obtained. The broader scientific and
      publishing communities should consider taking up the challenge of semantically
      enabled search capabilities.

PMID- 26870955
TI  - Benevolent Ideology and Women's Economic Decision-Making: When Sexism Is Hurting
      Men's Wallet.
AB  - Can ideology, as a widespread "expectation creator," impact economic decisions?
      In two studies we investigated the influence of the Benevolent Sexism (BS)
      ideology (which dictates that men should provide for passive and nurtured women)
      on women's economic decision-making. In Study 1, using a Dictator Game in which
      women decided how to share amounts of money with men, results of a Generalized
      Linear Mixed Model analysis show that higher endorsement of BS and contextual
      expectations of benevolence were associated with more very unequal offers.
      Similarly, in an Ultimatum Game in which women received monetary offers from men,
      Study 2's Generalized Linear Mixed Model's results revealed that BS led women to
      reject more very unequal offers. If women's endorsement of BS ideology and
      expectations of benevolence prove contrary to reality, they may strike back at
      men. These findings show that BS ideology creates expectations that shape male
      female relationships in a way that could be prejudicial to men. 

PMID- 26870954
TI  - A Comparative Study of Variables Influencing Ischemic Injury in the Longa and
      Koizumi Methods of Intraluminal Filament Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in
      Mice.
AB  - The intraluminal filament model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in
      mice and rats has been plagued by inconsistency, owing in part to the multitude
      of variables requiring control. In this study we investigated the impact of
      several major variables on survival rate, lesion volume, neurological scores,
      cerebral blood flow (CBF) and body weight including filament width, time after
      reperfusion, occlusion time and the choice of surgical method. Using the Koizumi
      method, we found ischemic injury can be detected as early as 30 min after
      reperfusion, to a degree that is not statistically different from 24 h post
      perfusion, using 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. We also
      found a distinct increase in total lesion volume with increasing occlusion time,
      with 30-45 min a critical time for the development of large, reproducible
      lesions. Furthermore, although we found no significant difference in total lesion
      volume generated by the Koizumi and Longa methods of MCAO, nor were survival
      rates appreciably different between the two at 4 h after reperfusion, the Longa
      method produces significantly greater reperfusion. Finally, we found no
      statistical evidence to support the exclusion of data from animals experiencing a
      CBF reduction of <70% in the MCA territory following MCAO, using laser-Doppler
      flowmetry. Instead we suggest the main usefulness of laser-Doppler flowmetry is
      for guiding filament placement and the identification of subarachnoid
      haemorrhages and premature reperfusion. In summary, this study provides detailed
      evaluation of the Koizumi method of intraluminal filament MCAO in mice and a
      direct comparison to the Longa method. 

PMID- 26870956
TI  - Meta-Analysis of Tumor Stem-Like Breast Cancer Cells Using Gene Set and Network
      Analysis.
AB  - Generally, cancer stem cells have epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition
      characteristics and other aggressive properties that cause metastasis. However,
      there have been no confident markers for the identification of cancer stem cells
      and comparative methods examining adherent and sphere cells are widely used to
      investigate mechanism underlying cancer stem cells, because sphere cells have
      been known to maintain cancer stem cell characteristics. In this study, we
      conducted a meta-analysis that combined gene expression profiles from several
      studies that utilized tumorsphere technology to investigate tumor stem-like
      breast cancer cells. We used our own gene expression profiles along with the
      three different gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus, which
      we combined using the ComBat method, and obtained significant gene sets using the
      gene set analysis of our datasets and the combined dataset. This experiment
      focused on four gene sets such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction that
      demonstrated significance in both datasets. Our observations demonstrated that
      among the genes of four significant gene sets, six genes were consistently up
      regulated and satisfied the p-value of < 0.05, and our network analysis showed
      high connectivity in five genes. From these results, we established CXCR4, CXCL1
      and HMGCS1, the intersecting genes of the datasets with high connectivity and p
      value of < 0.05, as significant genes in the identification of cancer stem cells.
      Additional experiment using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction showed significant up-regulation in MCF-7 derived sphere cells and
      confirmed the importance of these three genes. Taken together, using meta
      analysis that combines gene set and network analysis, we suggested CXCR4, CXCL1
      and HMGCS1 as candidates involved in tumor stem-like breast cancer cells.
      Distinct from other meta-analysis, by using gene set analysis, we selected
      possible markers which can explain the biological mechanisms and suggested
      network analysis as an additional criterion for selecting candidates. 

PMID- 26870957
TI  - The Epigenomic Landscape of Prokaryotes.
AB  - DNA methylation acts in concert with restriction enzymes to protect the integrity
      of prokaryotic genomes. Studies in a limited number of organisms suggest that
      methylation also contributes to prokaryotic genome regulation, but the prevalence
      and properties of such non-restriction-associated methylation systems remain
      poorly understood. Here, we used single molecule, real-time sequencing to map DNA
      modifications including m6A, m4C, and m5C across the genomes of 230 diverse
      bacterial and archaeal species. We observed DNA methylation in nearly all (93%)
      organisms examined, and identified a total of 834 distinct reproducibly
      methylated motifs. This data enabled annotation of the DNA binding specificities
      of 620 DNA Methyltransferases (MTases), doubling known specificities for
      previously hard to study Type I, IIG and III MTases, and revealing their
      extraordinary diversity. Strikingly, 48% of organisms harbor active Type II
      MTases with no apparent cognate restriction enzyme. These active 'orphan' MTases
      are present in diverse bacterial and archaeal phyla and show motif specificities
      and methylation patterns consistent with functions in gene regulation and DNA
      replication. Our results reveal the pervasive presence of DNA methylation
      throughout the prokaryotic kingdoms, as well as the diversity of sequence
      specificities and potential functions of DNA methylation systems. 

PMID- 26870958
TI  - Sensitive Detection of Plasmodium vivax Using a High-Throughput, Colourimetric
      Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (HtLAMP) Platform: A Potential Novel Tool
      for Malaria Elimination.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Plasmodium vivax malaria has a wide geographic distribution and
      poses challenges to malaria elimination that are likely to be greater than those
      of P. falciparum. Diagnostic tools for P. vivax infection in non-reference
      laboratory settings are limited to microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests but
      these are unreliable at low parasitemia. The development and validation of a high
      throughput and sensitive assay for P. vivax is a priority. METHODS: A high
      throughput LAMP assay targeting a P. vivax mitochondrial gene and deploying
      colorimetric detection in a 96-well plate format was developed and evaluated in
      the laboratory. Diagnostic accuracy was compared against microscopy, antigen
      detection tests and PCR and validated in samples from malaria patients and
      community controls in a district hospital setting in Sabah, Malaysia. RESULTS:
      The high throughput LAMP-P. vivax assay (HtLAMP-Pv) performed with an estimated
      limit of detection of 1.4 parasites/ MUL. Assay primers demonstrated cross
      reactivity with P. knowlesi but not with other Plasmodium spp. Field testing of
      HtLAMP-Pv was conducted using 149 samples from symptomatic malaria patients (64
      P. vivax, 17 P. falciparum, 56 P. knowlesi, 7 P. malariae, 1 mixed P. knowlesi/P.
      vivax, with 4 excluded). When compared against multiplex PCR, HtLAMP-Pv
      demonstrated a sensitivity for P. vivax of 95% (95% CI 87-99%); 61/64), and
      specificity of 100% (95% CI 86-100%); 25/25) when P. knowlesi samples were
      excluded. HtLAMP-Pv testing of 112 samples from asymptomatic community controls,
      7 of which had submicroscopic P. vivax infections by PCR, showed a sensitivity of
      71% (95% CI 29-96%; 5/7) and specificity of 93% (95% CI87-97%; 98/105).
      CONCLUSION: This novel HtLAMP-P. vivax assay has the potential to be a useful
      field applicable molecular diagnostic test for P. vivax infection in elimination
      settings.

PMID- 26870959
TI  - Association of PON1, P2Y12 and COX1 with Recurrent Ischemic Events in Patients
      with Extracranial or Intracranial Stenting.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Short-term combined use of clopidogrel and aspirin
      improves cerebrovascular outcomes in patients with symptomatic extracranial or
      intracranial stenosis. Antiplatelet non-responsiveness is related to recurrent
      ischemic events, but the culprit genetic variants responsible for the non
      responsiveness have not been well studied. We aimed to identify the genetic
      variants associated with poor clinical outcomes. METHODS: Patients with
      symptomatic extracranial or intracranial stenosis scheduled for stenting and
      receiving dual antiplatelets (clopidogrel 75 mg and aspirin 100 mg daily) for at
      least 5 days before intervention were enrolled. Ischemic events including
      recurrent transient ischemic attack, stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular
      related mortality within 12 months follow-up were recorded. We examined the
      influence of genetic polymorphisms on treatment outcome in our patients. RESULTS:
      A total of 268 patients were enrolled into our study and ischemic events were
      observed in 39 patients. For rs662 of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), allele C was
      associated with an increased risk of ischemic events (OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.03
      2.62, P = 0.029). The A-allele carriers of rs2046934 of P2Y12 had a significant
      association with adverse events (OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.10-3.67, P = 0.041). The
      variant T-allele of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) rs1330344 significantly increased the
      risk of recurrent clinical events (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.12-3.03, P = 0.017). The
      other single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) had no association with ischemic
      events. CONCLUSIONS: PON1, P2Y12 and COX1 polymorphisms were associated with
      poorer vascular outcomes. Testing for these polymorphisms may be valuable in the
      identification of patients at risk for recurrent ischemic events.

PMID- 26870960
TI  - EPICE-HIV: An Epidemiologic Cost-Effectiveness Model for HIV Treatment.
AB  - The goal of this research was to establish a new and innovative framework for
      cost-effectiveness modeling of HIV-1 treatment, simultaneously considering both
      clinical and epidemiological outcomes. EPICE-HIV is a multi-paradigm model based
      on a within-host micro-simulation model for the disease progression of HIV-1
      infected individuals and an agent-based sexual contact network (SCN) model for
      the transmission of HIV-1 infection. It includes HIV-1 viral dynamics, CD4+ T
      cell infection rates, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics modeling. Disease
      progression of HIV-1 infected individuals is driven by the interdependent changes
      in CD4+ T cell count, changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA, accumulation of resistance
      mutations and adherence to treatment. The two parts of the model are joined
      through a per-sexual-act and viral load dependent probability of disease
      transmission in HIV-discordant couples. Internal validity of the disease
      progression part of the model is assessed and external validity is demonstrated
      in comparison to the outcomes observed in the STaR randomized controlled clinical
      trial. We found that overall adherence to treatment and the resulting pattern of
      treatment interruptions are key drivers of HIV-1 treatment outcomes. Our model,
      though largely independent of efficacy data from RCT, was accurate in producing
      96-week outcomes, qualitatively and quantitatively comparable to the ones
      observed in the STaR trial. We demonstrate that multi-paradigm micro-simulation
      modeling is a promising tool to generate evidence about optimal policy strategies
      in HIV-1 treatment, including treatment efficacy, HIV-1 transmission, and cost
      effectiveness analysis. 

PMID- 26870962
TI  - Elevated Toll-Like Receptor-Induced CXCL8 Secretion in Human Blood Basophils from
      Allergic Donors Is Independent of Toll-Like Receptor Expression Levels.
AB  - Human blood basophils have recently gained interest in addition to their function
      as allergic effector cells. Previous work suggests the involvement of innate
      immune mechanisms in the development and exacerbation of allergic responses,
      which might be mediated by basophils. We assayed the expression levels of Toll
      like receptor (TLR) 1, 2, 4 and 6 on purified basophils from birch pollen-, house
      dust mite-, and non-allergic individuals. Additionally, we compared cytokine and
      chemokine secretion upon TLR stimulation in these basophil donor groups.
      Expression of TLR4 on the basophils of the allergic donor groups was decreased
      and CXCL8 secretion was elevated upon stimulation of TLR1/2 and TLR2/6 compared
      to the non-allergic donors. Decreased TLR expression and elevated CXCL8 secretion
      may represent possible mechanisms for aggravation of allergic symptoms in case of
      parasitic infection. 

PMID- 26870961
TI  - Chromosome Synapsis Alleviates Mek1-Dependent Suppression of Meiotic DNA Repair.
AB  - Faithful meiotic chromosome segregation and fertility require meiotic
      recombination between homologous chromosomes rather than the equally available
      sister chromatid, a bias that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on the meiotic
      kinase, Mek1. Mek1 is thought to mediate repair template bias by specifically
      suppressing sister-directed repair. Instead, we found that when Mek1 persists on
      closely paired (synapsed) homologues, DNA repair is severely delayed, suggesting
      that Mek1 suppresses any proximal repair template. Accordingly, Mek1 is excluded
      from synapsed homologues in wild-type cells. Exclusion requires the AAA+-ATPase
      Pch2 and is directly coupled to synaptonemal complex assembly. Stage-specific
      depletion experiments further demonstrate that DNA repair in the context of
      synapsed homologues requires Rad54, a repair factor inhibited by Mek1. These data
      indicate that the sister template is distinguished from the homologue primarily
      by its closer proximity to inhibitory Mek1 activity. We propose that once pairing
      or synapsis juxtaposes homologues, exclusion of Mek1 is necessary to avoid
      suppression of all templates and accelerate repair progression. 

PMID- 26870964
TI  - Irisin is Associated with Urotensin II and Protein Energy Wasting in Hemodialysis
      Patients.
AB  - AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Irisin is a newly identified myokine which can promote energy
      expenditure. Urotensin II (UII) is identified as the most potent mammalian
      vasoconstrictor to date. Previous studies showed that UII can aggravate insulin
      resistance while irisin alleviate insulin resistance. Through this study, it is
      our aim to elucidate if UII can induce insulin resistance and also have an
      association with the irisin level in hemodialysis (HD) patients. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients on maintenance hemodialysis
      treatment and forty healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Blood irisin
      concentrations and UII concentrations were measured by ELISA and RIA
      respectively. The body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance.
      RESULTS: The serum irisin levels and UII levels were both significantly lower in
      HD patients in comparison to that of the healthy subjects. The serum irisin
      levels were lower in HD patients with protein energy wasting than those of the
      patients without protein energy wasting. The independent determinants of
      circulating Ln (irisin) (the natural logarithm of irisin) were UII lean body mass
      and patients with protein energy wasting. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are the first
      to provide the clinical evidence of the association among irisin, UII, and
      protein energy wasting. Our results hint that UII and protein energy wasting
      might inhibit the release or synthesis of irisin from skeletal muscles in HD
      patients.

PMID- 26870963
TI  - Do Case Rates Affect Physicians' Clinical Practice in Radiation Oncology?: An
      Observational Study.
AB  - Case rate payments combined with utilization monitoring may have the potential to
      improve the quality of care by reducing over and under-treatment. Thus, a
      national managed care organization introduced case rate payments at one multi
      site radiation oncology provider while maintaining only fee-for-service payments
      at others. This study examined whether the introduction of the payment method had
      an effect on radiation fractions administered when compared to clinical
      guidelines. The number of fractions of radiation therapy delivered to patients
      with bone metastases, breast, lung, prostate, and skin cancer was assessed for
      concordance with clinical guidelines. The proportion of guideline-based care
      ascertained from the payer's claims database was compared before (2011) and after
      (2013) the payment method introduction using relative risks (RR). After the
      introduction of case rates, there were no significant changes in guideline-based
      care in breast, lung, and skin cancer; however, patients with bone metastases and
      prostate cancer were significantly more likely to have received guideline-based
      care (RR = 2.0 and 1.1, respectively, p<0.05). For the aggregate of all cancers,
      the under-treatment rate significantly declined (p = 0.008) from 4% to 0% after
      the introduction of case rate payments, while the over-treatment rate remained
      steady at 9%, with no significant change (p = 0.20). These findings suggest that
      the introduction of case rate payments did not adversely affect the rate of
      guideline-based care at the provider examined. Additional research is needed to
      isolate the effect of the payment model and assess implications in other
      populations. 

PMID- 26870967
TI  - Correction: A Two-Stage Algorithm for Origin-Destination Matrices Estimation
      Considering Dynamic Dispersion Parameter for Route Choice.

PMID- 26870966
TI  - A Generic Mechanism for Enhanced Cytokine Signaling via Cytokine-Neutralizing
      Antibodies.
AB  - Enhancement or inhibition of cytokine signaling and corresponding immune cells
      responses are critical factors in various disease treatments. Cytokine signaling
      may be inhibited by cytokine-neutralizing antibodies (CNAs), which prevents
      further activation of cytokine receptors. However, CNAs may result in enhanced
      instead of inhibitory-cytokine signaling (an "agonistic effect") in various in
      vitro and in vivo experiments. This may lead to lack of efficacy or adverse
      events for cytokine-inhibiting based medicines. Alternatively, cytokine-antibody
      complexes may produce stronger signaling vs. cytokine alone, thereby increasing
      the efficacy of stimulating cytokine-based drugs, at equal or lower cytokine
      doses. In this paper, the effect of cytokine signaling enhancement by a CNA was
      studied in a generic mathematical model of interleukin-4 (IL-4) driven T-cell
      proliferation. The occurrence of the agonistic effect depends upon the antibody
      to-cytokine binding affinity and initial concentrations of antibody and cytokine.
      Model predictions were in agreement with experimental studies. When the cytokine
      receptor consists of multiple subunits with substantially differing affinities
      (e.g., IL-4 case), the choice of the receptor chain to be blocked by the antibody
      is critical, for the agonistic effect to appear. We propose a generic mechanism
      for the effect: initially, binding of the CNA to the cytokine reduces free
      cytokine concentration; yet, cytokine molecules bound within the cytokine-CNA
      complex-and released later and over time-are "rescued" from earlier clearance via
      cellular internalization. Hence, although free cytokine-dependent signalling may
      be less potent initially, it will also be more sustained over time; and given non
      linear dynamics, it will lead ultimately to larger cellular effector responses,
      vs. the same amount of free cytokine in the absence of CNA. We suggest that the
      proposed mechanism is a generic property of {cytokine, CNA, receptor} triads,
      both in vitro and in vivo, and can occur in a predictable fashion for a variety
      of cytokines of the immune system. 

PMID- 26870965
TI  - Impact of Increasing Dietary Calcium Levels on Calcium Excretion and Vitamin D
      Metabolites in the Blood of Healthy Adult Cats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dietary calcium (Ca) concentrations might affect regulatory pathways
      within the Ca and vitamin D metabolism and consequently excretory mechanisms.
      Considering large variations in Ca concentrations of feline diets, the
      physiological impact on Ca homeostasis has not been evaluated to date. In the
      present study, diets with increasing concentrations of dicalcium phosphate were
      offered to ten healthy adult cats (Ca/phosphorus (P): 6.23/6.02, 7.77/7.56,
      15.0/12.7, 19.0/17.3, 22.2/19.9, 24.3/21.6 g/kg dry matter). Each feeding period
      was divided into a 10-day adaptation and an 8-day sampling period in order to
      collect urine and faeces. On the last day of each feeding period, blood samples
      were taken. RESULTS: Urinary Ca concentrations remained unaffected, but faecal Ca
      concentrations increased (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary Ca levels. No effect
      on whole and intact parathyroid hormone levels, fibroblast growth factor 23 and
      calcitriol concentrations in the blood of the cats were observed. However, the
      calcitriol precursors 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3, which are considered the most useful
      indicators for the vitamin D status, decreased with higher dietary Ca levels (P =
      0.013 and P = 0.033). Increasing dietary levels of dicalcium phosphate revealed
      an acidifying effect on urinary fasting pH (6.02) and postprandial pH (6.01) (P <
      0.001), possibly mediated by an increase of urinary phosphorus (P) concentrations
      (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, calcitriol precursors were linearly
      affected by increasing dietary Ca concentrations. The increase in faecal Ca
      excretion indicates that Ca homeostasis of cats is mainly regulated in the
      intestine and not by the kidneys. Long-term studies should investigate the
      physiological relevance of the acidifying effect observed when feeding diets high
      in Ca and P.

PMID- 26870968
TI  - [ULTRASOUND MONITORING FEATURES OF POSTOPERATIVE HEPATIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS].
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate ultrasound features (US) of liver after
      post operative anti-parasite recurrence treatment of patients with
      echinococcosis. The clinical analyses of 50 patients were carried out. It was
      concluded that the use of ultrasound can provide valuable data to the clinician
      to assess and monitor anti parasitic therapy echinococcosis of liver in post
      operative period. During the monitoring the positive dynamics of disease was
      observed in 94,5% of cases, in 5% of cases toxic hepatites with septic
      complication was diagnosed, and in 0,5% of cases the disease recurrence was
      revealed. Ultrasound semiotics of liver after post operative anti-parasite
      recurrence treatment of patients with echinococcosis was presented. Control and
      monitoring of patients in the postoperative period echinococcosis with
      appropriate antirelapse antiparasitic therapy should be held not less than 1-5
      years. 

PMID- 26870969
TI  - EFFECT OF SMOKING ON TRASIENTLY EVOKED OTOACOUSTIC EMISSION.
AB  - Evoked otoacoustic emissions, EOAEs, are proved to be sounds aroused in response
      to external acoustic stimulus by the cochlear outer hair cells. Transiently
      evoked otoacoustic emissions, TEOAEs, are the most clinically utilized EOAEs.
      TEOAEs are detectable in 98% of people with normal hearing, regardless of age or
      sex, while two ears of any individual produce similar TEOAEs waveforms. The
      objective of the presented study was the comparison of TEOAE magnitudes in
      cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. The TEOAE occurrence and characteristics in
      individuals of both samples with audiometrically proved hearing losses and in
      those without were also specifically examined. 30 smokers and and 30 nonsmokers
      within the age range of 30-59 years were involved in the present study after
      informed concent. OAEs were performed to each subject by Madsen Capella's
      OAE/middle ear analyzer-GN Otometrics, (Danmark). After OAE testing each subject
      was performed routine pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry. Obtained results
      were statistically treated by the student's t-distribution. According to our
      results 76.6% of smokers and 3.33% of nonsmokers had marked different level
      decrease in TEOAE amplitude. Audiographic measurments showed altered audiogram in
      6.7% of smokers and in 3.33% of nonsmokers. Based on the above mentioned results
      we suppose that smoking has significant influence on hearing function, especially
      on cochlear apparatus; At the same time, TOEAE, as a sensitive method can be used
      for very early detection of hearing loss, even when there are neither any
      subjective complains nor some changies on audiogram. 

PMID- 26870971
TI  - IMAGING GUIDED PERCUTANEAL CORE BIOPSY OF PULMONARY AND PLEURAL MASSES -
      TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS.
AB  - Paper presents the ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) guided
      percutaneous lung core biopsy technique and procedure associated complications.
      148 percutaneous biopsies of lung and peural lesions were performed in 143
      patients ( in 5 (3.4%) cases the repeated procedure was needed). Procedure was
      guided by US in 42 cases, by CT - in 106 cases. Post-biopsy CT scan was performed
      and patients observed for any complications. No complications were detected after
      US guided procedures; No major complications were detected after CT guided biopsy
      procedures; minor complications (pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemophtysis) were
      detected in 24 (22.6%) cases. In 18 (17.0%) cases pneumothorax, in 1 (0/9%) cases
      - hemothorax and in 5 (4.7%) cases hemophtisis was detected on CT guided
      procedures. All hemothorax and hemophtisis and 13(12.3%) pneumothorax cases
      happened to be self-limited; in 3(2.8%) pneumothorax cases aspiration and in
      2(1.9%) cases - pleural drainage was needed. Ultrasound is the most efficient for
      biopsy guidance if the "target" can be adequately imaged by this technique. If US
      guidance is impossible biopsy should be performed under CT guidance. Pneumothorax
      and hemothoraxs was associated with multiple needle passes, lesion diameter <2 cm
      and larger diameter needle use. Hemoptysis was not associated with multiple
      needle passes, lesioan size and larger diameter needle. No air embolism was
      detected on our study. The safety and biopsy procedure success high rate proves
      the use of imaging guided percutaneal core biopsy of pulmonary and pleural masses
      as a first choice procedure when the lung or pleural mass morphology is needed. 

PMID- 26870970
TI  - IMAGING GUIDED PERCUTANEAL CORE BIOPSY OF THORACIC BONE AND SOFT TISSUE LESIONS -
      TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS.
AB  - The purpose of the paper is to present our experience of Imaging Guided
      Percutaneal Core Biopsy (IGPCB) of thoracic bone and soft tissue lesions in terms
      of procedure planning, biopsy technique, procedure complications and their
      management. The results of investigation of 81 patients are presented. According
      to imaging guidance type the patients were subdivided in two main groups - US
      guided biopsy (26 patients, 26 procedures) and CT guided biopsy (55 patients, 59
      procedures). 85 procedures were performed. In 4 cases the repeated biopsy
      procedure has been performed as the obtained specimen appeared to be non
      informative. Adequate tissue material was obtained at the first attempt in 77
      (95.1 %) cases; in 4 (4.9%) cases the repeated procedure was needed (when the
      target size was above 2-5 or >5 cm using CT guided biopsy and it was due to tumor
      necrosis. Procedure related complications were detected in 1 (%) case (CT guided
      biopsy). In 1 case the significant pain, requiring administration of additional
      analgetics in postprocedure period was mentioned. Percutaneous US and CT guided
      bone and soft tissue lesions biopsy is an effective, highly accurate, and safe
      method of tissue obtaining for the diagnosis of indeterminate lesions. US is
      fast, cheap, avoids ionizing radiation, and allows the needle tip to be monitored
      throughout the procedure. CT has the ability to visualize both bone and soft
      tissue with the advantage of making easier needle localization into lesions too
      deep to see on US. CT also allows for better visualization lesions with a large
      amount of overlying cortex, and deep-seated lesions with extensive overlying soft
      tissue. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is a safe and accurate method. US is the
      preferable tool for biopsy procedure guidance if the target is adequately imaged
      by US. CT should be used in cases when US imaging is not possible due to
      visualization problem. 

PMID- 26870972
TI  - BASAL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD-AND-NECK REGION: A SINGLE CENTER ANALYSIS OF
      1,750 TUMORS.
AB  - Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy in humans with a pre
      dominance for the sun-exposed head-and-neck region. Its incidence is rising world
      wide. Early detection and appropriate treatment ensures an excellent prognosis.
      We analyzed patients with BCC of the head-and-neck region treated at our
      Department from January 2008 to December 2012 with a follow-up between 2 to 6
      years. Data were collected retrospectively. During a 4-year period, 1,750 BCC
      lesions of head-and-neck region were excised from 1,380 patients. Distribution of
      gender among the patients was nearly even. Mean age of patients was 74.3+/-11.4
      years. Solid histological subtype dominated the series. Most tumors were removed
      surgically by delayed MOHS technique (77.0%). The recurrence rate of BCC was
      1.6%. The highest recurrence rate of 15.5% was seen in cases of morphea-like BCC
      compared to 3.9% among solid BCC. The recurrence rate among R0 resected tumors
      was 0.24% compared to 19.8% among R1-resections (Pearson's Chi-square 56.000).
      The majority of recurrences occurred within the first 5 year-interval (64%).
      Multivariate analysis of risk factors for recurrences demonstrated an Odd's ratio
      for recurrences of 54.89 (95% confidence interval, 21.16, 142.37) in case of R1
      resection status. Gender had a minor influence with a slight benefit toward males
      versus females (Odd's ratio 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.28, 0.92). The age
      of the patients had no impact on recurrence rate. Although there is relatively
      low mortality attributable to BCC, the morbidity and cost of treatment are
      significant. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment. For head-and
      neck BCC, delayed MOHS surgery offers significantly lower recurrence in both
      primary BCC and recurrent (secondary) BCC. 

PMID- 26870973
TI  - [ADIPONECTIN AND A VIOLATION OF METABOLIC CONTROL AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF
      NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES].
AB  - One of the urgent problems of Endocrinology is the study of the mechanisms of
      formation and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients
      with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2. Prognosis depends on the stage of NAFLD in
      which the changes occur and secretion of adipocytokines in the first place,
      adiponectin. The aim of the study was to: define adiponectin levels in the
      circulation of patients with type 2 diabetes at different stages of NAFLD and its
      impact on the detection of metabolic changes, the establishment of linkages with
      carbohydrate, lipid, protein metabolism, and liver function. The study determined
      the relevance of the study of pathogenetic mechanisms of NAFLD in the future,
      because the violation of metabolic control and reduce the protective properties
      of adipocytokines in patients with comorbid disorders is of great interest to
      further improve diagnostic capabilities, prevent complications and improve the
      quality of life of these patients. 

PMID- 26870974
TI  - [FREQUENCY OF POLYMORPHISM OF VKORC1 AND CYP2C9 GENES IN TWO REGIONS OF GEORGIA].
AB  - The aim of the research was to study the frequency of VKROC1 and CYP2C9 genes
      different alleles for healthy donors and for patients with thrombosis, in two
      regions of Georgia - in Samegrelo and in Tbilisi and to reveal the
      interdependence of the studied genes products in the treatment of thrombosis with
      warfarin. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, causing the inactivation of the VKORC1
      gene product, which is one of the clotting factors. The protein product of CYP2C9
      gene is involved in the metabolism of warfarin. Genotyping of blood samples for
      studied genes alleles was carried out using a tube scanner (ESE Quant Tube
      Scaner), allowing to identify SNPs. In the studied group of patients with
      thrombosis from Samegrelo region the wild-type homozygotes by the gene VKORC1
      were - 90%; heterozygotes - 10%; mutant homozygotes have not met at all. In the
      studied group of patients with thrombosis from Tbilisi, also predominated
      homozygous wild type (60%); heterozygotes were - 40%; mutant homozygotes were not
      met. The genotypes of healthy donors fromTbilisi does not differed from the same
      indicator of of Samegrelo (homozygous "wild" AA - 37%; genotype AB - 47%; and
      mutant genotype - BB - 16%). In patients with thrombosis, from Samegrelo, wild
      tipe homozygotes and heterozygotes by CYP2C9 gene were almost the same rate (51%
      and 49% -, respectively); mutant homozygotes were not revealed. In patients from
      Tbilisi, the frequency of wild-type homozygotes was 70%, heterozygotes and mutant
      homozygotes was 20% and 10% - respectively. The ratio of the frequencies of
      CYP2C9 gene alleles in healthy donors from Tbilisi and Samegrelo is not different
      - wild-type homozygotes - 77%; heterozygotes - 23%; mutant homozygotes in both
      regions were not met. VKORC1 and / or CYP2C9 genes polymorphisms are presented in
      a number of clinical dosing algorithms and in prospective clinical trials. It is
      revealed the significant variation of genotypes in patients with thrombosis (in
      both studied regions), which indicates the importance of as in treatment process,
      as well as for the prevention of thrombosis. 

PMID- 26870975
TI  - [THE ROLE OF GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 4 AND 7 IN THE CHRONIC
      HEPATITIS C AND GENDER FEATURES OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION].
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of polymorphisms Asp299Gly
      (rs4986790) TLR4 gene and Gln11Leu (rs179008) TLR7 gene in patients with chronic
      hepatitis C in general and in gender distribution. To achieve this goal the study
      using the methods of "case-control", which included 125 patients with chronic
      hepatitis C who were treated in the Poltava Regional Clinical Hospital of
      Infectious Diseases. The group of population control for the study of the
      prevalence of polymorphisms Asp299Gly TLR4 gene included 90 healthy residents of
      the Poltava region, for Gln11Leu gene TLR7 - 85. Gender groups were equivalent.
      The study found that in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype Asp299Gly TLR4
      gene was detected in 15.2%, allele 299Gly - in 7.6%, which is 4.5-4.6 times
      higher than their rate in control group (3.3% and 1.7%, respectively, p<0.01).
      The presence of polymorphism of the TLR4 gene in the genome can be considered as
      a predictor of development of chronic hepatitis C, factors of increased risk are
      the Asp299Gly genotype and the allele 299Gly (OR=5.19, p<0.01 and OR=4.85, p<0.05
      respectively). Rolymorphic genotypes Gln11Leu and Leu11Leu of the TLR7 gene
      recorded in 18.4% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, among them Gln11Leu
      heterozygous genotype was detected in 16.8%, homozygous Leu11Leu - at 1.6%, with
      no statistical difference from the population control (25.9%, 22.4%, 3.5%,
      respectively, p>0.05). "Mutant" genotypes of the TLR7 gene were determined
      significantly more often in women with chronic hepatitis C (27.1%) and in healthy
      people (39.5%) comparing to men (13.0% and 14.9%, respectively, p<0.05). 

PMID- 26870976
TI  - [PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AS A WAY OF CORRECTING MOTIVATIONAL COMPONENTS IN
      PATIENTS WITH PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA WITH ABDOMINAL OBESITY].
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of motivational and
      targeted psychoeducational programs designed for patients with paranoid
      schizophrenia with abdominal obesity. We observed 34 women aged 18-42 with
      continuous-flow type paranoid schizophrenia. All patients had a concomitant
      abdominal obesity, which developed secondarily after long-term administration of
      second generation antipsychotic medications (at least 1 year). Based on clinical
      psychopathological and psychometric methods of assessment and on the analysis of
      Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire we have developed modules for
      psychoeducational programs. Based on the results of the treatment we conclude
      that the application of psychoeducational programs is an effective component of
      complex treatment of patients with paranoid schizophrenia. Abdominal obesity
      should be regarded as an important and the main side effect of long-term therapy
      with atypical antipsychotic medications. It has a marked negative effect on
      subjective assessment of patients and decreases the level of their mental and
      social adaptation. This factor should be the basis for the formation of re
      socialization and compliance-oriented actions. 

PMID- 26870977
TI  - THE CURRENT PROBLEMS OF NONSPECIFIC BACK PAIN.
AB  - The article deals with various aspects of pain in degenerative diseases of the
      spine and with the actual problems of non-specific back pain. The data on the
      mechanisms of pain and analgesic treatment algorithms of the patients with
      radicular syndrome, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies is
      provided. The effect of structural-modifying drugs in relief of nonspecific back
      pain was investigated and compared with a traditional nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy in combination with B vitamins, without
      chondroprotectors. The study population was composed of 85 patients (42 men and
      43 women) aged 38 to 68 years (mean age - (46,3+/-2,6) years) with chronic
      vertebral pain syndromes (VPS). For objectification assessment of pain, severity
      of pain, and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy we used the visual analog
      scale (VAS).The majority (88%) of the patients included in the study, complained
      of a moderately severe pain (from 40 to 70 mm on the VAS). Patients were divided
      into two groups. The first (primary) group consisted of 55 patients (30 men and
      25 women). The following treatment was applied: all patients of the first group,
      in addition to the NSAID administered with hondroprotektror arbitrarily -
      Struktum 1000 mg twice a day or 300 mg Piaskledin once a day for 40-60 days.The
      second (control) group consisted of 30 patients (14 men, 16 women). Patients in
      the control group administered with a traditional NSAID therapy in combination
      with B vitamins, without chondroprotectors. The results of the study on the
      influence of drugs Piaskledin 300, Struktum for the relief of nonspecific back
      pain revealed that in the treatment of vertebral pain, a combination of non
      steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with structure-modifying agents could achieve
      rapid rehabilitation of patients with locomotor activity and improve quality of
      life in general. 

PMID- 26870978
TI  - THE CONTENT OF MICROELEMENTS IN BLOOD SERUM AND ERYTHROCYTES IN CHILDREN WITH
      DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE I DEPENDING ON LEVEL OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to investigate the content of chromium, cobalt and
      nickel in serum and erythrocytes in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus,
      depending on the level of glycemic control. The study was conducted on 68
      children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The patients were divided into four
      groups based on glycemic control. Group I was composed of 9 children with optimal
      level of glycemic control. Group II - 25 children with suboptimal level of
      glycemic control. Group III - 34 children with a high risk to life level of
      glycemic control. Group IV (control group) consisted of 30 healthy children.
      Compensation state of type 1 diabetes was evaluated according to ISPAD (Consensus
      for the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children and Adolescens 2000).
      The content of trace elements in biological agents was determined by atomic
      absorbtion spectrophotometry method with C-115M1 mass-spectrophotometer,
      manufactured by "Selmi" enterprise (Ukraine). It is found that there is a
      decrease in serum concentrations of chromium and erythrocyte content of cobalt in
      patients with optimal level of glycemic control. The deficiency of chromium is
      accompanied by the deficiency of cobalt in patients with suboptimal level of
      glycemic control. The lower levels of cobalt and nickel are recorded
      simultaneously, but there is theexcess of chromium in the erythrocytes of these
      patients. Patients, who suffer from 1 type diabetes mellitus and high risk for
      life level of glycemic control have considerable polideficiency of cobalt, nickel
      and chromium in serum.The increasing level of chromium was recorded only in the
      erythrocytes. The level of glycemic control and the duration of 1 type diabetes
      mellitus are important in the forecasting of the development of chronic diabetic
      complications. It is found that the duration of 1 type diabetes mellitus
      influences the levels of cobalt and nickel in serum mostly, while the level of
      glycemic control influences the chromium content. 

PMID- 26870979
TI  - [CEFTRIAXONE-INDUCED GALLBADDER LITHIASIS IN CASE OF INTENSTINAL BACTERIAL
      INFECTIONS (CASE REPORTS)].
AB  - Ceftriaxone is a third generation cephalosporin antibiotic and is one of the most
      often applicable parenteral drug, which has wide antimicrobial activity range.
      According to the literature gall bladder lithiasis is a complication which is
      described in the first days of the treatment with this antibiotic. The cases are
      seen mostly as undergdiagnosed conditions when ultrasound examination is
      performed due to the abdominal colics. The aim of the study was to observe
      Cholelithiasis in ceftriaxone-treated patients. Last year few cases of
      Cholelithiasis were observed in Children's Infectious Diseases Hospital. All of
      them were related to the dysentery treatment with ceftriaxone. All of the cases
      of Cholelithiasis were diagnosed at the beginning of the antibiotic therapy (in
      first 2-3 days of hospitalization). Gall bladder concernments/sludge were found
      accidentally. Cholelithiasis in these cases was transitory and in 2 weeks
      ultrasound investigation revealed no calculi/sludge in the gall bladder. Further
      findings are supposed to be analyzed on a bigger number of the patients. It is
      necessary to follow up with gall bladder concernments till their absolute
      resolution. 

PMID- 26870980
TI  - [METABOLIC PROCESSES OF ORGANISM IN REMOTE PERIOD AFTER THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF
      RADIATION AND EMOTIONAL STRESS].
AB  - Aim of the research was to study the role of free radical oxidation in the
      tissues of adrenal and immune organs and cells in remote period after combined
      effects of sublethal dose of gamma radiation (6 Gy) and emotional stress. Forty
      male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: I - control; II - exposed to
      emotional stress; III - exposed to radiation; IV - under the combined effects of
      emotional stress and radiation. Emotional stress in groups II and IV was
      simulated by tail suspension. In groups III and IV rats were irradiated once 90
      days before the investigation at 6 Gy via TERAGAM So60 ("ISOTREND spol. s.r.o.",
      Czech Republic). The results of study showed that after the long term exposure
      gamma radiation has inhibitory effect of the radiation factor in the antioxidant
      protection. Ionizing radiation combined with emotional stress in remote period
      has a more pronounced effect on the formation of lipid hyper peroxidation
      syndrome than separately. Influence of the combined effects of emotional stress
      and ionizing radiation resulted in increased levels of DC and MDA, inhibition of
      enzyme activity of catalase and glutathione reductase in almost all the study
      objects, resulting in the development of dual-oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26870981
TI  - SPATIAL MEMORY IMPAIRMENT AND HIPPOCAMPAL CELL LOSS INDUCED BY OKADAIC ACID
      (EXPERIMENTAL STUDY).
AB  - In the present study, we evaluated and compared effect of intracerebroventricular
      (ICV) and intrahippocampal bilateral microinjection of okadaic acid (OA) on
      spatial memory function assessed in one day water maze paradigm and hippocampal
      structure in rats. Rats were divided in following groups: Control(icv) - rats
      injected with ICV and aCSF; Control(hipp) - rats injected intrahippocampally with
      aCSF; OAicv - rats injected with ICV and OA; OAhipp - rats injected
      intrahippocampally with OA. Nissl staining of hippocampal sections showed that
      the pyramidal cell loss in OAhipp group is significantly higher than that in the
      OAicv. The results of behavioral experiments showed that ICV or intrahippocampal
      bilateral microinjection of OA did not affect learning process and short-term
      spatial memory but induced impairment in spatial long-term memory assessed in
      probe test performance 24 h after training. OA-induced spatial memory impairment
      may be attributed to the hippocampal cell death. Based on these results OA
      induced memory deficit and hippocampal cell loss in rat may be considered as a
      potential animal model for preclinical evaluation of antidementic drug activity. 

PMID- 26870982
TI  - [SOME ASPECTS OF URBAN POPULATION AWARENESS ABOUT JOINT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN
      HEALTH].
AB  - One of the key goals of public health policy is to improve the joint
      responsibility of the population in the promotion of their health. In this
      context, the aim of this study was to determine the public opinion poll on
      attitudes to own health and to health care. Total covered 450 people, aged 18 to
      60 years. The share of women was 60.0%, men - 40.0%. Almost half of respondents
      (47.0%) had higher education, 36.0% - specialized secondary education and 17.0% -
      secondary education. More than half (60.0%) of respondents were employed in the
      production of intellectual work, 40.0% - individuals, over 2/3 (67.2%) of the
      respondents at the time of the survey had a family. As a result of self-rated
      health, a third (35.6%) of the respondents rated their health as good to
      excellent. Men are more often evaluated positively their health than women.
      Persons engaged in mental labor rarely considered themselves unhealthy than
      engaged in the production of physical labor. The majority of respondents agree
      that the health - the most important thing in life (82.9%), for young people it
      is not significant and is ranked only third place (4.7%), giving primacy of
      material well-being (73.7%), and the appearance of the human (15.8%). They also
      found that the higher the education level, the more demanding patients to
      themselves as responsible for the health and the quality of medical services
      provided by the clinic. The bulk of the population doesn't want to part with the
      usual attributes inherent in the current system of public health (69.6%) state
      and free. With the introduction of compulsory health insurance of the population
      is afraid of losing with the innovations at least minimal social guarantees for
      the protection of health. 

PMID- 26870983
TI  - [THE LEVEL OF NAPHTHALENE AND ITS DERIVATES IN TOBACCO SMOKE].
AB  - The composition of cigarette smoke in spite of its tremendous complexity is
      relatively known, but little is known about the influence of Ecologic Factors
      (air flows, temperature, light) on the Migration Character of individual and
      specific components of Tobacco Smoke constansate in environmental atmosphere on
      different distance from burning cigarette. Oxidation in air, and photochemical
      reactions can produce many compounds which were not originally present in the
      Tobacco Smoke. Gas liquid Chromatography with high-resolution capillary column is
      applied. The tobacco skome volume was taked and analyzed in the distance of 2,0 m
      and 4,0 m from burning cigarette. The content of naphthalene and its derivates in
      the air samples was revealed. Our data show that distance of exposition from
      burning cigarette can change the structure and volume of each component of
      tobacco smoke. The studies are necessary in different direction. First, this
      phenomen still needs to be explained. The second, it would be interesting to
      investigate the retention of tobacco smoke components in lung tissue, for a
      considerable time after the smoking process. The obtained data is very important
      from the point of ecological assessment of the environment and sensitivity to the
      components of tobacco smoke. 

PMID- 26870984
TI  - ALTERATION OF OXIDATIVE METABOLISM AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS UNDER THE
      INFLUENCE OF UVA RADIATION IN WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGES.
AB  - Purpose of study was to investigate the alteration of oxidative and immunological
      metabolism in blood of reproductive and menopausal age women after UVA
      irradiation. Women of two groups (1 - menopausal, 2 - reproductive age) were
      exposed to radiation with wave length 320-400 nm for 5-10 minutes per session in
      the solarium for the period of 3 months (6 days per month).. Parameters of
      oxidative metabolism - activity of red blood cells (RBC), antioxidant enzymes
      catalase (CAT) and superoxiddismutase (SOD) were studied by spectrophotometric
      method; reactive oxygen (O2-) and lipid (LOO/) free radicals content in whole
      blood were studied by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods with use of
      specific spin-traps - 5,5-Dimethyl-1-Pyrroline-N-Oxide (DMPO) and alpha-phenyl-N
      tert-butylnitrone (PBN) (SIGMA). Parameters of immunological metabolism - IFN
      alpha, IL-2, IL-10 cytokines content in blood were studied by immunoenzymatic
      assay ELISA. The study protocol has been approved by the Ethical Committee of the
      Tbilisi State Medical University. After the course of UVA irradiation in
      menopausal women CAT activity increased by 20%, SOD - by 24%, and EPR signal of
      spin trapped lipoperoxide radicals was detected. No alterations in blood redox
      balance were detected in women of reproductive age. Values of blood immunological
      parameters in menopausal women were not changed under the influence of UV
      radiation; in women of reproductive age IL-10 content increase by 93% (within a
      normal value range) was revealed. Research results have shown that UVA rays cause
      a particularly significant influence on the oxidative metabolism in the women of
      menopausal age. Increase of IL-10 blood levels in women of reproductive age
      (considering its imunosupressing activity) represents an additional risk of
      cancerogenesis. Based on the study results, we recommend avoiding UV (including
      UVA) radiation procedures to women of both reproductive and menopausal ages. 

PMID- 26870985
TI  - Associations Between Dehydration, Cognitive Impairment, and Frailty in Older
      Hospitalized Patients: An Exploratory Study.
AB  - HOW TO OBTAIN CONTACT HOURS BY READING THIS ARTICLE INSTRUCTIONS 1.2 contact
      hours will be awarded by Villanova University College of Nursing upon successful
      completion of this activity. A contact hour is a unit of measurement that denotes
      60 minutes of an organized learning activity. This is a learner-based activity.
      Villanova University College of Nursing does not require submission of your
      answers to the quiz. A contact hour certificate will be awarded once you
      register, pay the registration fee, and complete the evaluation form online at
      http://goo.gl/gMfXaf. To obtain contact hours you must: 1. Read the article,
      "Associations Between Dehydration, Cognitive Impairment, and Frailty in Older
      Hospitalized Patients: An Exploratory Study" found on pages 19-27, carefully
      noting any tables and other illustrative materials that are included to enhance
      your knowledge and understanding of the content. Be sure to keep track of the
      amount of time (number of minutes) you spend reading the article and completing
      the quiz. 2. Read and answer each question on the quiz. After completing all of
      the questions, compare your answers to those provided within this issue. If you
      have incorrect answers, return to the article for further study. 3. Go to the
      Villanova website listed above to register for contact hour credit. You will be
      asked to provide your name; contact information; and a VISA, MasterCard, or
      Discover card number for payment of the $20.00 fee. Once you complete the online
      evaluation, a certificate will be automatically generated. This activity is valid
      for continuing education credit until April 30, 2019. CONTACT HOURS This activity
      is co-provided by Villanova University College of Nursing and SLACK Incorporated.
      Villanova University College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing
      nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on
      Accreditation. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES 1. Describe the incidence of dehydration in
      older hospitalized patients. 2. Identify risk and management strategies related
      to dehydration in older hospitalized patients. DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Neither the
      planners nor the author have any conflicts of interest to disclose. The current
      exploratory study (a) assessed the prevalence of dehydration in older adults (age
      <=60 years) with and without cognitive impairment (CI) admitted to the hospital;
      and (b) examined associations between dehydration, CI, and frailty. Forty-four
      patients participated and dehydration was assessed within 24 hours of admission
      and at Day 4 or discharge (whichever occurred first). Patients' cognitive
      function and frailty statuses were assessed using validated instruments. Twenty
      seven (61%) patients had CI and 61% were frail. Prevalence of dehydration at
      admission was 29% (n = 12) and 19% (n = 6) at study exit, and dehydration status
      did not differ according to CI or frailty status. However, within the non-CI
      group, significantly more frail than fit patients were dehydrated at admission (p
      = 0.03). Findings indicate dehydration is common among older hospitalized
      patients and that frailty may increase the risk for dehydration in cognitively
      intact older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42(5), 19-27.]. 

PMID- 26870986
TI  - Memory Matters: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Mobile Aid to Stimulate
      Reminiscence in Individuals With Memory Loss.
AB  - Reminiscence interventions are potentially effective in improving well-being of
      persons with memory loss (PWMLs) and may also enhance relationships with family
      and professional caregivers. Using a parallel convergent mixed-methods design,
      the feasibility of "Memory Matters" (MM), a mobile device application developed
      to promote reminiscence, was evaluated. Eighteen PWMLs and eight family members
      were enrolled from a long-term care facility and asked to use MM for 4 weeks.
      Participants were observed using MM at enrollment and 2 weeks and completed 1
      month interviews. Six staff participants also completed a system review checklist
      and/or focus group at 1 month. Three qualitative domains were identified: (a)
      context of use, (b) barriers to use, and (c) MM influences on outcomes.
      Participants reported real-time social engagement, ease of use, and other
      benefits. However, PWMLs were unlikely to overcome barriers without assistance.
      Empirical data indicated that family and staff perceived MM favorably.
      Participants agreed that MM could provide stimulating, reminiscence-based
      activity. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42(7), 15-24.]. 

PMID- 26870987
TI  - "It Doesn't Require Much Effort Once You Get to Know Them": Certified Nursing
      Assistants' Views of Communication in Long-Term Care.
AB  - Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide the majority of hands-on care and
      become highly sensitive to residents' communication behaviors. Yet, CNAs feel
      disempowered when communicating residents' concerns to higher levels of
      authority. A grounded theory approach using focus group interviews with 23 CNAs
      was used to describe the communication environment in long-term care (LTC) and
      explore CNAs' perceptions of the acceptability of communication plans, a recent
      Canadian intervention to facilitate resident-staff communication. Findings
      suggest the communication environment in LTC relates to three overlapping
      constructs: (a) CNA and resident communication style; (b) paradox of context; and
      (c) dedication to residents. Although CNAs frequently interact with residents, a
      division between "top and bottom staff" communication was apparent in the
      findings. The current study suggested that communication plans may improve the
      communication environment in LTC settings. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing,
      42(4), 42-51.]. 

PMID- 26870988
TI  - Current Telerehabilitation Research With Older Adults at Home: An Integrative
      Review.
AB  - Increased demand for in-home rehabilitation services for older adults may be met
      through telerehabilitation information and communication technologies. The
      current article reports the results of an integrative literature review
      summarizing current in-home telerehabilitation research with older adults. Nine
      studies from 2006-2015 are included. Six studies employed a remote therapist
      using real-time video. Three studies used text- or web-based messaging and
      electronic surveys. Six studies relied on dial-up Internet service and the
      remaining three studies used broad-band Internet connections. Future research
      should address (a) in-home and wearable sensing technologies to monitor health
      and (b) mobile devices, such as tablet computers, to collect patient self
      reports. Interoperable platforms are needed to integrate disparate devices and
      support continuity of care across post-acute care settings. [Journal of
      Gerontological Nursing, 42(10), 15-20.]. 

PMID- 26870989
TI  - Orbital dependent ultrafast charge transfer dynamics of ferrocenyl-functionalized
      SAMs on gold studied by core-hole clock spectroscopy.
AB  - Understanding the charge transport properties in general of different molecular
      components in a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is of importance for the rational
      design of SAM molecular structures for molecular electronics. In this study, we
      study an important aspect of the charge transport properties, i.e. the charge
      transfer (CT) dynamics between the active molecular component (in this case, the
      ferrocenyl moieties of a ferrocenyl-n-alkanethiol SAM) and the electrode using
      synchrotron-based core-hole clock (CHC) spectroscopy. The characteristic CT times
      are found to depend strongly on the character of the ferrocenyl-derived molecular
      orbitals (MOs) which mediate the CT process. Furthermore, by systemically
      shifting the position of the ferrocenyl moiety in the SAM, it is found that the
      CT characteristics of the ferrocenyl MOs display distinct dependence on its
      distance to the electrode. These results demonstrate experimentally that the
      efficiency and rate of charge transport through the molecular backbone can be
      modulated by resonant injection of charge carriers into specific MOs. 

PMID- 26870990
TI  - 3D periodic multiscale TiO2 architecture: a platform decorated with graphene
      quantum dots for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting.
AB  - Micropatterned TiO2 nanorods (TiO2NRs) via three-dimensional (3D) geometry
      engineering in both microscale and nanoscale decorated with graphene quantum dots
      (GQDs) have been demonstrated successfully. First, micropillar (MP) and microcave
      (MC) arrays of anatase TiO2 films are obtained through the sol-gel based thermal
      nanoimprinting method. Then they are employed as seed layers in hydrothermal
      growth to fabricate the 3D micropillar/microcave arrays of rutile TiO2NRs (NR),
      which show much-improved photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance than
      the TiO2NRs grown on flat seed layer. The zero-dimensional GQDs are sequentially
      deposited onto the surfaces of the microscale patterned nanorods. Owing to the
      fast charge separation that resulted from the favorable band alignment of the
      GQDs and rutile TiO2, the MP-NR-GQDs electrode achieves a photocurrent density up
      to 2.92 mA cm(-2) under simulated one-sun illumination. The incident-photon-to
      current-conversion efficiency (IPCE) value up to 72% at 370 nm was achieved on
      the MP-NR-GQDs electrode, which outperforms the flat-NR counterpart by 69%. The
      IPCE results also imply that the improved photocurrent mainly benefits from the
      distinctly enhanced ultraviolet response. The work provides a cost-effective and
      flexible pathway to develop periodic 3D micropatterned photoelectrodes and is
      promising for the future deployment of high performance optoelectronic devices. 

PMID- 26870992
TI  - Mutual amplification of HNF4alpha and IL-1R1 composes an inflammatory circuit in
      Helicobacter pylori associated gastric carcinogenesis.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is an environmental inducer of gastritis and gastric
      cancer (GC). The immune response to Hp and the associated changes in somatic gene
      expression are key determinants governing the transition from gastritis to GC. We
      show that hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) is upregulated by Hp
      infection via NF-kappaB signaling and that its protein and mRNA levels are
      elevated in GC. HNF4alpha in turn stimulates expression of interleukin-1 receptor
      1(IL-1R1), which amplifies the inflammatory response evoked by its ligand IL
      1beta. IL-1beta/IL-1R1 activates NF-kappaB signaling, thereby increasing
      HNF4alpha expression and forming a feedback loop that sustains activation of the
      NF-kappaB pathway and drives the inflammation towards GC. Examination of clinical
      samples revealed that HNF4alpha and IL-1R1 levels increase with increasing
      severity of Hp-induced gastritis and reach their highest levels in GC. Co
      expression of HNF4alpha and IL-1R1 was a crucial indicator of malignant
      transformation from gastritis to GC, and was associated with a poorer prognosis
      in GC patients. Disruption of the HNF4alpha/IL-1R1/IL-1beta/NF-kappaB circuit
      during Hp infection maybe an effective means of preventing the associated GC. 

PMID- 26870991
TI  - Histone acetyltransferase inhibitor CPTH6 preferentially targets lung cancer stem
      like cells.
AB  - Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in tumor initiation, progression,
      therapeutic failure and tumor relapse. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy
      of the thiazole derivative 3-methylcyclopentylidene-[4-(4'-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2
      yl]hydrazone (CPTH6), a novel pCAF and Gcn5 histone acetyltransferase inhibitor,
      as a small molecule that preferentially targets lung cancer stem-like cells
      (LCSCs) derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Notably,
      although CPTH6 inhibits the growth of both LCSC and NSCLC cell lines, LCSCs
      exhibit greater growth inhibition than established NSCLC cells. Growth inhibitory
      effect of CPTH6 in LCSC lines is primarily due to apoptosis induction. Of note,
      differentiated progeny of LCSC lines is more resistant to CPTH6 in terms of loss
      of cell viability and reduction of protein acetylation, when compared to their
      undifferentiated counterparts. Interestingly, in LCSC lines CPTH6 treatment is
      also associated with a reduction of stemness markers. By using different HAT
      inhibitors we provide clear evidence that inhibition of HAT confers a strong
      preferential inhibitory effect on cell viability of undifferentiated LCSC lines
      when compared to their differentiated progeny. In vivo, CPTH6 is able to inhibit
      the growth of LCSC-derived xenografts and to reduce cancer stem cell content in
      treated tumors, as evidenced by marked reduction of tumor-initiating capacity in
      limiting dilution assays. Strikingly, the ability of CPTH6 to inhibit tubulin
      acetylation is also confirmed in vivo. Overall, our studies propose histone
      acetyltransferase inhibition as an attractive target for cancer therapy of NSCLC.

PMID- 26870993
TI  - Cancer-selective cytotoxic Ca2+ overload in acute myeloid leukemia cells and
      attenuation of disease progression in mice by synergistically acting polyphenols
      curcumin and carnosic acid.
AB  - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy
      characterized by extremely heterogeneous molecular and biologic abnormalities
      that hamper the development of effective targeted treatment modalities. While AML
      cells are highly sensitive to cytotoxic Ca2+ overload, the feasibility of Ca2+-
      targeted therapy of this disease remains unclear. Here, we show that apoptotic
      response of AML cells to the synergistically acting polyphenols curcumin (CUR)
      and carnosic acid (CA), combined at low, non-cytotoxic doses of each compound was
      mediated solely by disruption of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Specifically,
      activation of caspase cascade in CUR+CA-treated AML cells resulted from sustained
      elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+cyt) and was not preceded by endoplasmic
      reticulum stress or mitochondrial damage. The CUR+CA-induced Ca2+cyt rise did not
      involve excessive influx of extracellular Ca2+ but, rather, occurred due to
      massive Ca2+ release from intracellular stores concomitant with inhibition of
      Ca2+cyt extrusion through the plasma membrane. Notably, the CUR+CA combination
      did not alter Ca2+ homeostasis and viability in non-neoplastic hematopoietic
      cells, suggesting its cancer-selective action. Most importantly, co
      administration of CUR and CA to AML-bearing mice markedly attenuated disease
      progression in two animal models. Collectively, our results provide the
      mechanistic and translational basis for further characterization of this
      combination as a prototype of novel Ca2+-targeted pharmacological tools for the
      treatment of AML. 

PMID- 26870994
TI  - Sialylated immunoglobulin G can neutralize influenza virus infection through
      receptor mimicry.
AB  - Influenza viruses possess a great threat to human health, but there is still no
      effective drug to deal with the outbreak of possible new influenza subtypes. In
      this study, we first fractionated sialylated immunoglobulin G (IgG), mainly Fab
      sialylated fraction, with sambucus nigra agglutinin affinity chromatography. We
      then demonstrated that sialylated IgG possessed more effective neutralizing
      activity against 2009 A (H1N1) subtype than that of IgG mixture, and sialosides
      on the Fab is crucial in this neutralization reaction as when such residues were
      removed with neuraminidase A digestion the blocking effect was significantly
      reduced. It appears that sialic acid residues attached to Fab could serve as
      binding moieties to receptor binding site of influenza virus. These findings
      indicate that sialylated IgG probably is an effective anti-influenza broad
      spectrum drug utilizing its receptor mimicry to competitively inhibit the
      attachment of influenza viruses with sialic acid receptors on target cells. This
      property would be particularly useful if it can be applied to prevent newly
      emerged influenza virus strain infections in future epidemics. 

PMID- 26870995
TI  - EPH/ephrin profile and EPHB2 expression predicts patient survival in breast
      cancer.
AB  - The EPH and ephrins function as both receptor and ligands and the output on their
      complex signaling is currently investigated in cancer. Previous work shows that
      some EPH family members have clinical value in breast cancer, suggesting that
      this family could be a source of novel clinical targets. Here we quantified the
      mRNA expression levels of EPH receptors and their ligands, ephrins, in 65 node
      positive breast cancer samples by RT-PCR with TaqMan(r) Micro Fluidics Cards
      Microarray. Upon hierarchical clustering of the mRNA expression levels, we
      identified a subgroup of patients with high expression, and poor clinical
      outcome. EPHA2, EPHA4, EFNB1, EFNB2, EPHB2 and EPHB6 were significantly
      correlated with the cluster groups and particularly EPHB2 was an independent
      prognostic factor in multivariate analysis and in four public databases. The
      EPHB2 protein expression was also analyzed by immunohistochemistry in paraffin
      embedded material (cohort 2). EPHB2 was detected in the membrane and cytoplasmic
      cell compartments and there was an inverse correlation between membranous and
      cytoplasmic EPHB2. Membranous EPHB2 predicted longer breast cancer survival in
      both univariate and multivariate analysis while cytoplasmic EPHB2 indicated
      shorter breast cancer survival in univariate analysis. Concluding: the EPH/EFN
      cluster analysis revealed that high EPH/EFN mRNA expression is an independent
      prognostic factor for poor survival. Especially EPHB2 predicted poor breast
      cancer survival in several materials and EPHB2 protein expression has also
      prognostic value depending on cell localization. 

PMID- 26870996
TI  - Survival benefit of surgery with radiotherapy vs surgery alone to patients with
      T2-3N0M0 stage esophageal adenocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study is designed to analyze survival benefit of (neo-)
      adjuvant radiotherapy to patients with T2-3N0M0 stage esophageal adenocarcinoma
      (EAC). METHODS: T2-3N0M0 stage EAC patients from 2004 to 2012 were searched from
      the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data. Clinical factors
      including age, sex, race were summarized. Univariate, multivariate analysis, and
      stratified cox analysis based on different T stages were performed to explore the
      survival effect of (neo-)adjuvant radiotherapy to T2-3N0M0 stage EAC. RESULTS: T2
      3N0M0 stage EAC patients with surgery were more likely to be white race, T3
      stage. Univariate analysis showed sex, age, and T stage were the prognostic
      factors of survival (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis proved (neo-)adjuvant
      radiotherapy can prolong survival time of T2-3N0M0 stage EAC (P<0.05). Further
      analysis based on different T stages showed that both neoadjuvant radiotherapy
      (HR 0.615; 95% CI 0.475-0.797) and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR 0.597; 95% 0.387
      0.921) significantly reduced the risk of death of T3N0M0 stage EAC, but neither
      of which significantly reduced death risk of T2N0M0 stage EAC (P>0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: sex, age are the independent prognostic factors of T2-3N0M0 EAC.
      Significant survival benefit of (neo-)adjuvant radiotherapy is only observed in
      patients with T3N0M0 stage EAC, but not in those with T2N0M0 stage.

PMID- 26870997
TI  - The status of epidermal growth factor receptor in borderline ovarian tumours.
AB  - The majority of borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) behave in a benign fashion, but
      some may show aggressive behavior. The reason behind this has not been
      elucidated. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is known to contribute to
      cell survival signals as well as metastatic potential of some tumours. EGFR
      expression and gene status have not been thoroughly investigated in BOTs as it
      has in ovarian carcinomas. In this study we explore protein expression as well as
      gene mutations and amplifications of EGFR in BOTs in comparison to a subset of
      other epithelial ovarian tumours. We studied 85 tumours, including 61 BOTs, 10
      low grade serous carcinomas (LGSCs), 9 high grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) and 5
      benign epithelial tumours. EGFR protein expression was studied using
      immunohistochemistry. Mutations were investigated by Sanger sequencing exons 18
      21 of the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR. Cases with comparatively higher protein
      expression were examined for gene amplification by chromogenic in situ
      hybridization. We also studied the tumours for KRAS and BRAF mutations.
      Immunohistochemistry results revealed both cytoplasmic and nuclear EGFR
      expression with variable degrees between tumours. The level of nuclear
      localization was relatively higher in BOTs and LGSCs as compared to HGSCs or
      benign tumours. The degree of nuclear expression of BOTs showed no significant
      difference from that in LGSCs (mean ranks 36.48, 33.05, respectively, p=0.625),
      but was significantly higher than in HGSCs (mean ranks: 38.88, 12.61
      respectively, p< 0.001) and benign tumours (mean ranks: 35.18, 13.00
      respectively, p= 0.010). Cytoplasmic expression level was higher in LGSCs. No
      EGFR gene mutations or amplification were identified, yet different polymorphisms
      were detected. Five different types of point mutations in the KRAS gene and the
      V600E BRAF mutation were detected exclusively in BOTs and LGSCs. Our study
      reports for the first time nuclear localization of EGFR in BOTs. The nuclear
      localization similarities between BOTs and LGSCs and not HGSCs support the
      hypothesis suggesting evolution of LGSCs from BOTs. We also confirm that EGFR
      mutations and amplifications are not molecular events in the pathogenesis of
      BOTs.

PMID- 26870999
TI  - Gypenoside L, Isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Induces Cytoplasmic
      Vacuolation Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Reactive-Oxygen
      Species-Mediated Unfolded Protein Response.
AB  - Exploring novel anticancer agents that can trigger non-apoptotic or non
      autophagic cell death is urgent for cancer treatment. In this study, we screened
      and identified an unexplored anticancer activity of gypenoside L (Gyp-L) isolated
      from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. We showed that treatment with Gyp-L induces non
      apoptotic and non-autophagic cytoplasmic vacuolation death in human
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Mechanically, Gyp-L initially increased the
      intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which, in turn, triggered
      protein ubiquitination and unfolded protein response (UPR), resulting in Ca(2+)
      release from endoplasm reticulum (ER) inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R)
      operated stores and finally cytoplasmic vacuolation and cell death. Interruption
      of the ROS-ER-Ca(2+) signaling pathway by chemical inhibitors significantly
      prevented Gyp-L-induced vacuole formation and cell death. In addition, Gyp-L
      induced ER stress and vacuolation death required new protein synthesis. Overall,
      our works provide strong evidence for the anti-HCC activity of Gyp-L and suggest
      a novel therapeutic option by Gyp-L through the induction of a unconventional ROS
      ER-Ca(2+)-mediated cytoplasmic vacuolation death in human HCC. 

PMID- 26870998
TI  - Integrative microRNA and gene profiling data analysis reveals novel biomarkers
      and mechanisms for lung cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies on the accuracy of microRNAs (miRNAs) in diagnosing non-small
      cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have still controversial. Therefore, we conduct to
      systematically identify miRNAs related to NSCLC, and their target genes
      expression changes using microarray data sets. METHODS: We screened out five
      miRNAs and six genes microarray data sets that contained miRNAs and genes
      expression in NSCLC from Gene Expression Omnibus. RESULTS: Our analysis results
      indicated that fourteen miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in NSCLC. Five of
      them were up-regulated (miR-9, miR-708, miR-296-3p, miR-892b, miR-140-5P) while
      nine were down-regulated (miR-584, miR-218, miR-30b, miR-522, miR486-5P, miR-34c
      3p, miR-34b, miR-516b, miR-592). The integrating diagnosis sensitivity (SE) and
      specificity (SP) were 82.6% and 89.9%, respectively. We also found that 4 target
      genes (p < 0.05, fold change > 2.0) were significant correlation with the 14
      discovered miRNAs, and the classifiers we built from one training set predicted
      the validation set with higher accuracy (SE = 0.987, SP = 0.824). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results demonstrate that integrating miRNAs and target genes are valuable for
      identifying promising biomarkers, and provided a new insight on underlying
      mechanism of NSCLC. Further, our well-designed validation studies surely warrant
      the investigation of the role of target genes related to these 14 miRNAs in the
      prediction and development of NSCLC.

PMID- 26871000
TI  - Molecular Dynamics Study on the Inhibition Mechanisms of Drugs CQ1-3 for
      Alzheimer Amyloid-beta40 Aggregation Induced by Cu(2.).
AB  - The aggregation of amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide induced by Cu(2+) is a key factor
      in development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and metal ion chelation therapy
      enables treatment of AD. Three CQi (i = 1, 2, and 3 with R = H, Cl, and NO2,
      respectively) drugs had been verified experimentally to be much stronger
      inhibitors than the pioneer clioquinol (CQ) in both disaggregation of Abeta40
      aggregate and reduction of toxicity induced by Cu(2+) binding at low pH. Due to
      the multiple morphologies of Cu(2+)-Abeta40 complexes produced at different pH
      states, we performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations to explain the
      structural changes and morphology characteristics as well as intrinsic
      disaggregation mechanisms of three Cu(2+)-Abeta40 models in the presence of any
      of the three CQi drugs at both low and high pH states. Three inhibition
      mechanisms for CQi were proposed as "insertion", "semi-insertion", and "surface"
      mechanisms, based on the morphologies of CQi-model x (CQi-x, x = 1, 2, and 3) and
      the strengths of binding between CQi and the corresponding model x. The insertion
      mechanism was characterized by the morphology with binding strength of more than
      100 kJ/mol and by CQi being inserted or embedded into the hydrophobic cavity of
      model x. In those CQi-x morphologies with lower binding strength, CQi only
      attaches on the surface or inserts partly into Abeta peptide. Given the evidence
      that the binding strength is correlated positively with the effectiveness of drug
      to inhibit Abeta aggregation and thus to reduce toxicity, the data of binding
      strength presented here can provide a reference for one to screen drugs. From the
      point of view of binding strength, CQ2 is the best drug. Because of the special
      role of Asp23 in both Abeta aggregation and stabilizing the Abeta fibril, the
      generation of a H-bond between CQ3 and Asp23 of the Abeta40 peptide is believed
      to be responsible for CQ3 having the strongest disaggregation capacity.
      Therefore, besides strong binding, stronger propensity to H-bond with Asp23 would
      be another key factor to be taken seriously into account in drug screens.
      Meanwhile, the structural characteristics of drug CQi itself are also worthy of
      attention. First, the increasing polarity from CQ1 and CQ2 to CQ3 in turn results
      in increasing probability and strength of the interaction between the drug and
      the N-terminal (NT) region of Abeta40, which obviously inhibits Abeta peptide
      aggregation induced by Cu(2+) binding. Second, both the benzothiazole ring and
      phenol ring of CQi can overcome the activation energy barrier (~16 kJ/mol) to
      rotate flexibly around the intramolecular C7-N14 bond to achieve the maximum
      match and interaction with the ambient Abeta40 residues. Such a structural
      feature of CQi paves the new way for ones in selection and modification of a
      drug.

PMID- 26871001
TI  - Surface Charge Visualization at Viable Living Cells.
AB  - Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is demonstrated to be a powerful
      technique for quantitative nanoscale surface charge mapping of living cells.
      Utilizing a bias modulated (BM) scheme, in which the potential between a quasi
      reference counter electrode (QRCE) in an electrolyte-filled nanopipette and a
      QRCE in bulk solution is modulated, it is shown that both the cell topography and
      the surface charge present at cellular interfaces can be measured simultaneously
      at high spatial resolution with dynamic potential measurements. Surface charge is
      elucidated by probing the properties of the diffuse double layer (DDL) at the
      cellular interface, and the technique is sensitive at both low-ionic strength and
      under typical physiological (high-ionic strength) conditions. The combination of
      experiments that incorporate pixel-level self-referencing (calibration) with a
      robust theoretical model allows for the analysis of local surface charge
      variations across cellular interfaces, as demonstrated on two important living
      systems. First, charge mapping at Zea mays root hairs shows that there is a high
      negative surface charge at the tip of the cell. Second, it is shown that there
      are distinct surface charge distributions across the surface of human adipocyte
      cells, whose role is the storage and regulation of lipids in mammalian systems.
      These are new features, not previously recognized, and their implications for the
      functioning of these cells are highlighted. 

PMID- 26871002
TI  - Material Stock Demographics: Cars in Great Britain.
AB  - Recent literature on material flow analysis has been focused on quantitative
      characterization of past material flows. Fewer analyses exist on past and
      prospective quantification of stocks of materials in-use. Some of these analyses
      explore the composition of products' stocks, but a focus on the characterization
      of material stocks and its relation with service delivery is often neglected. We
      propose the use of the methods of human demography to characterize material
      stocks, defined herein as stock demographics, exploring the insights that this
      approach could provide for the sustainable management of materials. We exemplify
      an application of stock demographics by characterizing the composition and
      service delivery of iron, steel, and aluminum stocks of cars in Great Britain,
      2002-2012. The results show that in this period the stock has become heavier, it
      is traveling less, and it is idle for more time. The visualization of material
      stocks' dynamics demonstrates the pace of product replacement as a function of
      its usefulness and enables the formulation of policy interventions and the
      exploration of future trends. 

PMID- 26871003
TI  - Conjugation of 10 kDa Linear PEG onto Trastuzumab Fab' Is Sufficient to
      Significantly Enhance Lymphatic Exposure while Preserving in Vitro Biological
      Activity.
AB  - The lymphatic system is a major conduit by which many diseases spread and
      proliferate. There is therefore increasing interest in promoting better lymphatic
      drug targeting. Further, antibody fragments such as Fabs have several advantages
      over full length monoclonal antibodies but are subject to rapid plasma clearance,
      which can limit the lymphatic exposure and activity of Fabs against lymph
      resident diseases. This study therefore explored ideal PEGylation strategies to
      maximize biological activity and lymphatic exposure using trastuzumab Fab' as a
      model. Specifically, the Fab' was conjugated with single linear 10 or 40 kDa PEG
      chains at the hinge region. PEGylation led to a 3-4-fold reduction in binding
      affinity to HER2, but antiproliferative activity against HER2-expressing BT474
      cells was preserved. Lymphatic pharmacokinetics were then examined in thoracic
      lymph duct cannulated rats after intravenous and subcutaneous dosing at 2 mg/kg,
      and the data were evaluated via population pharmacokinetic modeling. The Fab'
      displayed limited lymphatic exposure, but conjugation of 10 kDa PEG improved
      exposure by approximately 11- and 5-fold after intravenous (15% dose collected in
      thoracic lymph over 30 h) and subcutaneous (9%) administration, respectively.
      Increasing the molecular weight of the PEG to 40 kDa, however, had no significant
      impact on lymphatic exposure after intravenous (14%) administration and only
      doubled lymphatic exposure after subcutaneous administration (18%) when compared
      to 10 kDa PEG-Fab'. The data therefore suggests that minimal PEGylation has the
      potential to enhance the exposure and activity of Fab's against lymph-resident
      diseases, while no significant benefit is achieved with very large PEGs. 

PMID- 26871004
TI  - In Situ Characterization of Ultrathin Films by Scanning Electrochemical Impedance
      Microscopy.
AB  - Control over the properties of ultrathin films plays a crucial role in many
      fields of science and technology. Although nondestructive optical and electrical
      methods have multiple advantages for local surface characterization, their
      applicability is very limited if the surface is in contact with an electrolyte
      solution. Local electrochemical methods, e.g., scanning electrochemical
      microscopy (SECM), cannot be used as a robust alternative yet because their
      methodological aspects are not sufficiently developed with respect to these
      systems. The recently proposed scanning electrochemical impedance microscopy
      (SEIM) can efficiently elucidate many key properties of the solid/liquid
      interface such as charge transfer resistance or interfacial capacitance. However,
      many fundamental aspects related to SEIM application still remain unclear. In
      this work, a methodology for the interpretation of SEIM data of "charge blocking
      systems" has been elaborated with the help of finite element simulations in
      combination with experimental results. As a proof of concept, the local film
      thickness has been visualized using model systems at various tip-to-sample
      separations. Namely, anodized aluminum oxide (Al2O3, 2-20 nm) and self-assembled
      monolayers based on 11-mercapto-1-undecanol and 16-mercapto-1-hexadecanethiol
      (2.1 and 2.9 nm, respectively) were used as model systems. 

PMID- 26871007
TI  - Self-averaging and ergodicity of subdiffusion in quenched random media.
AB  - We study the self-averaging properties and ergodicity of the mean square
      displacement m(t) of particles diffusing in d dimensional quenched random
      environments which give rise to subdiffusive average motion. These properties are
      investigated in terms of the sample to sample fluctuations as measured by the
      variance of m(t). We find that m(t) is not self-averaging for d<2 due to the
      inefficient disorder sampling by random motion in a single realization. For d>=2
      in contrast, the efficient sampling of heterogeneity by the space random walk
      renders m(t) self-averaging and thus ergodic. This is remarkable because the
      average particle motion in d>2 obeys a CTRW, which by itself displays weak
      ergodicity breaking. This paradox is resolved by the observation that the CTRW as
      an average model does not reflect the disorder sampling by random motion in a
      single medium realization. 

PMID- 26871008
TI  - Control and generation of drifting patterns by asymmetrical Fourier filtering.
AB  - We report the theoretical and experimental demonstration of one-dimensional
      drifting patterns generated by asymmetrical Fourier filtering in the transverse
      plane of an optical feedback system with a Kerr type nonlinearity. We show, with
      good agreement between our theoretical (analytics and numerics) calculations and
      experimental observations that at the primary instability threshold the group
      velocity is always different from zero. Consequently, the system is convective at
      this threshold, then exhibits drifting patterns. 

PMID- 26871009
TI  - Equilibrium microphase separation in the two-leaflet model of lipid membranes.
AB  - Because of the coupling between local lipid composition and the thickness of the
      membrane, microphase separation in two-component lipid membranes can take place;
      such effects may underlie the formation of equilibrium nanoscale rafts. Using a
      kinetic description, this phenomenon is analytically and numerically
      investigated. The phase diagram is constructed through the stability analysis for
      linearized kinetic equations, and conditions for microphase separation are
      discussed. Simulations of the full kinetic model reveal the development of
      equilibrium membrane nanostructures with various morphologies from the initial
      uniform state. 

PMID- 26871010
TI  - Periodically driven DNA: Theory and simulation.
AB  - We propose a generic model of driven DNA under the influence of an oscillatory
      force of amplitude F and frequency nu and show the existence of a dynamical
      transition for a chain of finite length. We find that the area of the hysteresis
      loop, A_{loop}, scales with the same exponents as observed in a recent study
      based on a much more detailed model. However, towards the true thermodynamic
      limit, the high-frequency scaling regime extends to lower frequencies for larger
      chain length L and the system has only one scaling (A_{loop}~nu^{-1}F^{2}).
      Expansion of an analytical expression for A_{loop} obtained for the model system
      in the low-force regime revealed that there is a new scaling exponent associated
      with force (A_{loop}~nu^{-1}F^{2.5}), which has been validated by high-precision
      numerical calculation. By a combination of analytical and numerical arguments, we
      also deduce that for large but finite L, the exponents are robust and independent
      of temperature and friction coefficient. 

PMID- 26871011
TI  - Large deformation of self-oscillating polymer gel.
AB  - A self-oscillating gel is a system that generates an autonomous volume
      oscillation. This oscillation is powered by the chemical energy of the Belousov
      Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, which demonstrates metal ion redox oscillation. A self
      oscillating gel is composed of Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) with a metal
      ion. In this study, we found that the displacement of the volume oscillation in a
      self-oscillating gel could be controlled by its being subjected to a prestraining
      process. We also revealed the driving mechanism of the self-oscillating gel from
      the point of view of thermodynamics. We observed that the polymer-solvent
      interaction parameter chi is altered by the redox changes to the metal ion
      incorporated in the self-oscillating gel. The prestraining process leads to
      changes in chi and changes in enthalpy and entropy when the self-oscillating gel
      is in a reduced and oxidized state. We found that nonprestrained gel samples
      oscillate in a poor solution (chi>0.5) and prestrained gel samples oscillate in a
      good solution (chi<0.5). 

PMID- 26871012
TI  - Microscopic treatment of solute trapping and drag.
AB  - The long wavelength limit of a recent microscopic phase-field crystal (PFC)
      theory of a binary alloy mixture is used to derive an analytical approximation
      for the segregation coefficient as a function of the interface velocity, and
      relate it to the two-point correlation function of the liquid and the
      thermodynamic properties of solid and liquid phases. Our results offer the first
      analytical derivation of solute segregation from a microscopic model, and support
      recent molecular dynamics and numerical PFC simulations. Our results also provide
      an independent framework, motivated from classical density functional theory,
      from which to elucidate the fundamental nature of solute drag, which is still
      highly contested in the literature. 

PMID- 26871013
TI  - Extreme stiffness tunability through the excitation of nonlinear defect modes.
AB  - The incremental stiffness characterizes the variation of a material's force
      response to a small deformation change. In lattices with noninteracting
      vibrational modes, the excitation of localized states does not have any effect on
      material properties, such as the incremental stiffness. We report that, in
      nonlinear lattices, driving a defect mode introduces changes in the static force
      displacement relation of the material. By varying the defect excitation frequency
      and amplitude, the incremental stiffness can be tuned continuously to arbitrarily
      large positive or negative values. Furthermore, the defect excitation parameters
      also determine the displacement region at which the force-displacement relation
      is being tuned. We demonstrate this phenomenon experimentally in a compressed
      array of spheres tuning its incremental stiffness from a finite positive value to
      zero and continuously down to negative infinity. 

PMID- 26871014
TI  - Nonlinear plastic modes in disordered solids.
AB  - We propose a theoretical framework within which a robust micromechanical
      definition of precursors to plastic instabilities, often termed soft spots,
      naturally emerges. They are shown to be collective displacements (modes) z[over ]
      that correspond to local minima of a barrier function b(z[over ]), which depends
      solely on inherent structure information. We demonstrate how some heuristic
      searches for local minima of b(z[over ]) can a priori detect the locus and
      geometry of imminent plastic instabilities with remarkable accuracy, at strains
      as large as gamma_{c}-gamma~10^{-2} away from the instability strain gamma_{c}.
      Our findings suggest that the a priori detection of the entire field of soft
      spots can be effectively carried out by a systematic investigation of the
      landscape of b(z[over ]). 

PMID- 26871015
TI  - Sub-Gaussian behavior of the Townsend-Perry constants in turbulent boundary
      layers.
AB  - A theory is developed to explain the sub-Gaussian behavior of the Townsend-Perry
      constants (A_{p}) recently measured for high-order fluctuation moments in
      turbulent boundary layers. It yields the generalized logarithmic law for high
      order moments and A_{p}/A_{1}=(l^{*})^{zeta_{p}/p-zeta_{1}}C_{p}^{1/p}/C_{1},
      where zeta_{p} are the Kolmogorov-Obukhov-She-Leveque scaling characterizing
      intermittence effects; l^{*}=1/225 is the only free parameter describing a
      specific ratio between inertial and energy-containing eddy sizes; C_{p} are raw
      moments of a Gaussian with unity mean and variance. The predicted A_{p}/A_{1} are
      in good agreement with experimental data. 

PMID- 26871016
TI  - Anomalous dissipation and kinetic-energy distribution in pipes at very high
      Reynolds numbers.
AB  - A symmetry-based theory is developed for the description of (streamwise) kinetic
      energy K in turbulent pipes at extremely high Reynolds numbers (Re's). The theory
      assumes a mesolayer with continual deformation of wall-attached eddies which
      introduce an anomalous dissipation, breaking the exact balance between production
      and dissipation. An outer peak of K is predicted above a critical Re of 10^{4},
      in good agreement with experimental data. The theory offers an alternative
      explanation for the recently discovered logarithmic distribution of K. The
      concept of anomalous dissipation is further supported by a significant
      modification of the k-omega equation, yielding an accurate prediction of the
      entire K profile. 

PMID- 26871017
TI  - From measurements to inferences of physical quantities in numerical simulations.
AB  - We propose a change of style for numerical estimations of physical quantities
      from measurements to inferences. We estimate the most probable quantities for all
      the parameter region simultaneously by using the raw data cooperatively.
      Estimations with higher precisions are made possible. We can obtain a physical
      quantity as a continuous function, which is processed to obtain another quantity.
      We applied the method to the Heisenberg spin-glass model in three dimensions. A
      dynamic correlation-length scaling analysis suggests that the spin-glass and the
      chiral-glass transitions occur at the same temperature with a common exponent nu.
      The value is consistent with the experimental results. We explained a spin
      chirality separation problem by a size-crossover effect. 

PMID- 26871018
TI  - Nonequilibrium behaviors of the three-dimensional Heisenberg model in the
      Swendsen-Wang algorithm.
AB  - Recently, it was shown [Y. Nonomura, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 83, 113001
      (2014)JUPSAU0031-901510.7566/JPSJ.83.113001] that the nonequilibrium critical
      relaxation of the two-dimensional (2D) Ising model from a perfectly ordered state
      in the Wolff algorithm is described by stretched-exponential decay, and a
      universal scaling scheme was found to connect nonequilibrium and equilibrium
      behaviors. In the present study we extend these findings to vector spin models,
      and the 3D Heisenberg model could be a typical example. To evaluate the critical
      temperature and critical exponents precisely using the above scaling scheme, we
      calculate nonequilibrium ordering from the perfectly disordered state in the
      Swendsen-Wang algorithm, and we find that the critical ordering process is
      described by stretched-exponential growth with a comparable exponent to that of
      the 3D XY model. The critical exponents evaluated in the present study are
      consistent with those in previous studies. 

PMID- 26871019
TI  - Exploring percolative landscapes: Infinite cascades of geometric phase
      transitions.
AB  - The evolution of many kinetic processes in 1+1 (space-time) dimensions results in
      2D directed percolative landscapes. The active phases of these models possess
      numerous hidden geometric orders characterized by various types of large-scale
      and/or coarse-grained percolative backbones that we define. For the patterns
      originated in the classical directed percolation (DP) and contact process we show
      from the Monte Carlo simulation data that these percolative backbones emerge at
      specific critical points as a result of continuous phase transitions. These
      geometric transitions belong to the DP universality class and their nonlocal
      order parameters are the capacities of corresponding backbones. The multitude of
      conceivable percolative backbones implies the existence of infinite cascades of
      such geometric transitions in the kinetic processes considered. We present simple
      arguments to support the conjecture that such cascades of transitions are a
      generic feature of percolation as well as of many other transitions with nonlocal
      order parameters. 

PMID- 26871020
TI  - Simple average expression for shear-stress relaxation modulus.
AB  - Focusing on isotropic elastic networks we propose a simple-average expression
      G(t)=MU_{A}-h(t) for the computational determination of the shear-stress
      relaxation modulus G(t) of a classical elastic solid or fluid. Here, MU_{A}=G(0)
      characterizes the shear transformation of the system at t=0 and h(t) the
      (rescaled) mean-square displacement of the instantaneous shear stress tau[over
      ](t) as a function of time t. We discuss sampling time and ensemble effects and
      emphasize possible pitfalls of alternative expressions using the shear-stress
      autocorrelation function. We argue finally that our key relation may be readily
      adapted for more general linear response functions. 

PMID- 26871021
TI  - Random-field Ising model on isometric lattices: Ground states and non-Porod
      scattering.
AB  - We use a computationally efficient graph cut method to obtain ground state
      morphologies of the random-field Ising model (RFIM) on (i) simple cubic (SC),
      (ii) body-centered cubic (BCC), and (iii) face-centered cubic (FCC) lattices. We
      determine the critical disorder strength Delta_{c} at zero temperature with high
      accuracy. For the SC lattice, our estimate (Delta_{c}=2.278+/-0.002) is
      consistent with earlier reports. For the BCC and FCC lattices, Delta_{c}=3.316+/
      0.002 and 5.160+/-0.002, respectively, which are the most accurate estimates in
      the literature to date. The small-r behavior of the correlation function exhibits
      a cusp regime characterized by a cusp exponent alpha signifying fractal
      interfaces. In the paramagnetic phase, alpha=0.5+/-0.01 for all three lattices.
      In the ferromagnetic phase, the cusp exponent shows small variations due to the
      lattice structure. Consequently, the interfacial energy E_{i}(L) for an interface
      of size L is significantly different for the three lattices. This has important
      implications for nonequilibrium properties. 

PMID- 26871022
TI  - Hysteretic and intermittent regimes in the subcritical bifurcation of a quasi-one
      dimensional system of interacting particles.
AB  - In this article, we study the effects of white Gaussian additive thermal noise on
      a subcritical pitchfork bifurcation. We consider a quasi-one-dimensional system
      of particles that are transversally confined, with short-range (non-Coulombic)
      interactions and periodic boundary conditions in the longitudinal direction. In
      such systems, there is a structural transition from a linear order to a staggered
      row, called the zigzag transition. There is a finite range of transverse
      confinement stiffnesses for which the stable configuration at zero temperature is
      a localized zigzag pattern surrounded by aligned particles, which evidences the
      subcriticality of the bifurcation. We show that these configurations remain
      stable for a wide temperature range. At zero temperature, the transition between
      a straight line and such localized zigzag patterns is hysteretic. We have studied
      the influence of thermal noise on the hysteresis loop. Its description is more
      difficult than at T=0 K since thermally activated jumps between the two
      configurations always occur and the system cannot stay forever in a unique
      metastable state. Two different regimes have to be considered according to the
      temperature value with respect to a critical temperature T_{c}(tau_{obs}) that
      depends on the observation time tau_{obs}. An hysteresis loop is still observed
      at low temperature, with a width that decreases as the temperature increases
      toward T_{c}(tau_{obs}). In contrast, for T>T_{c}(tau_{obs}) the memory of the
      initial condition is lost by stochastic jumps between the configurations. The
      study of the mean residence times in each configuration gives a unique
      opportunity to precisely determine the barrier height that separates the two
      configurations, without knowing the complete energy landscape of this many-body
      system. We also show how to reconstruct the hysteresis loop that would exist at
      T=0 K from high-temperature simulations. 

PMID- 26871023
TI  - Absence of absorbing phase transitions in a conserved lattice-gas model in one
      dimension.
AB  - A one-dimensional conserved lattice-gas model is known to undergo continuous
      absorbing phase transitions where some of the critical exponents are exactly
      known. In one dimension, we recently showed that the model is mapped onto a two
      species reaction A+B->0 with diffusion rate of D_{A}>0 and D_{B}=0. In this work,
      it is explicitly shown from the scaling theory for A+B->0 that the observed
      scaling behavior of the conserved lattice-gas model is not associated with the
      absorbing phase transitions. Instead, the model indeed undergoes a crossover
      between two different scaling behaviors of A+B->0, the scaling behaviors of equal
      and unequal initial densities of two species. The crossover is similar to the
      absorbing transitions in many respects but some important features of continuous
      transitions such as the diverging fluctuations of an order parameter are absent. 

PMID- 26871024
TI  - Quantum phase transition in a coupled two-level system embedded in anisotropic
      three-dimensional photonic crystals.
AB  - The quantum phase transition (QPT) describes a sudden qualitative change of the
      macroscopic properties mapped from the eigenspectrum of a quantum many-body
      system. It has been studied intensively in quantum systems with the spin-boson
      model, but it has barely been explored for systems in coupled spin-boson models.
      In this paper, we study the QPT with coupled spin-boson models consisting of
      coupled two-level atoms embedded in three-dimensional anisotropic photonic
      crystals. The dynamics of the system is derived exactly by means of the Laplace
      transform method, which has been proven to be equivalent to the dissipationless
      non-Markovian dynamics. Drawing on methods for analyzing the ground state, we
      obtain the phase diagrams through two exact critical equations and two QPTs are
      found: one QPT is that from the phase without one bound state to the phase with
      one bound state and another is that from one phase with the bound state having
      one eigenvalue to another phase where the bound state has two eigenvalues. Our
      analytical results also suggest a way of control to overcome the effect of
      decoherence by engineering the spectrum of the reservoirs to approach the non
      Markovian regime and to form the bound state of the whole system for quantum
      devices and quantum statistics. 

PMID- 26871025
TI  - Phase transition of anisotropic frustrated Heisenberg model on the square
      lattice.
AB  - We have investigated the J_{1}-J_{2} Heisenberg model with exchange anisotropy on
      a square lattice and focused on possible AF1-AF2 phase transition below the Neel
      point and its dependence on the exchange anisotropy, where AF1 and AF2 represent
      Neel state and collinear state, respectively. We use the double-time Green's
      function method and adopt the random-phase approximation. The less the exchange
      anisotropy, the stronger the quantum fluctuation of the system will be. Both the
      Neel state and collinear state can exist and have the same Neel temperature for
      arbitrary anisotropy and spin quantum number S when J_{2}/J_{1}=0.5. Under such
      parameters, the calculated free energies show that there may occur a first-order
      phase transition between the Neel state and collinear state for an arbitrary S
      when anisotropy is not strong. 

PMID- 26871026
TI  - Superfluid phase transition with activated velocity fluctuations: Renormalization
      group approach.
AB  - A quantum field model that incorporates Bose-condensed systems near their phase
      transition into a superfluid phase and velocity fluctuations is proposed. The
      stochastic Navier-Stokes equation is used for a generation of the velocity
      fluctuations. As such this model generalizes model F of critical dynamics. The
      field-theoretic action is derived using the Martin-Siggia-Rose formalism and path
      integral approach. The regime of equilibrium fluctuations is analyzed within the
      perturbative renormalization group method. The double (epsilon,delta)-expansion
      scheme is employed, where epsilon is a deviation from space dimension 4 and delta
      describes scaling of velocity fluctuations. The renormalization procedure is
      performed to the leading order. The main corollary gained from the analysis of
      the thermal equilibrium regime suggests that one-loop calculations of the
      presented models are not sufficient to make a definite conclusion about the
      stability of fixed points. We also show that critical exponents are drastically
      changed as a result of the turbulent background and critical fluctuations are in
      fact destroyed by the developed turbulence fluctuations. The scaling exponent of
      effective viscosity is calculated and agrees with expected value 4/3. 

PMID- 26871027
TI  - Continuous and discontinuous absorbing-state phase transitions on Voronoi
      Delaunay random lattices.
AB  - We study absorbing-state phase transitions (APTs) in two-dimensional Voronoi
      Delaunay (VD) random lattices with quenched coordination disorder. Quenched
      randomness usually changes the criticality and destroys discontinuous transitions
      in low-dimensional nonequilibrium systems. We performed extensive simulations of
      the Ziff-Gulari-Barshad model, and verified that the VD disorder does not change
      the nature of its discontinuous transition. Our results corroborate recent
      findings of Barghathi and Vojta [H. Barghathi and T. Vojta, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113,
      120602 (2014)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.113.120602], stating the
      irrelevance of topological disorder in a class of random lattices that includes
      VD, and raise the interesting possibility that disorder in nonequilibrium APT
      may, under certain conditions, be irrelevant for the phase coexistence. We also
      verify that the VD disorder is irrelevant for the critical behavior of models
      belonging to the directed percolation and Manna universality classes. 

PMID- 26871028
TI  - Nonequilibrium thermodynamic potentials for continuous-time Markov chains.
AB  - We connect the rare fluctuations of an equilibrium (EQ) process and the typical
      fluctuations of a nonequilibrium (NE) stationary process. In the framework of
      large deviation theory, this observation allows us to introduce NE thermodynamic
      potentials. For continuous-time Markov chains, we identify the relevant pairs of
      conjugated variables and propose two NE ensembles: one with fixed dynamics and
      fluctuating time-averaged variables, and another with fixed time-averaged
      variables, but a fluctuating dynamics. Accordingly, we show that NE processes are
      equivalent to conditioned EQ processes ensuring that NE potentials are Legendre
      dual. We find a variational principle satisfied by the NE potentials that reach
      their maximum in the NE stationary state and whose first derivatives produce the
      NE equations of state and second derivatives produce the NE Maxwell relations
      generalizing the Onsager reciprocity relations. 

PMID- 26871030
TI  - Macroscopic time-reversal symmetry breaking at a nonequilibrium phase transition.
AB  - We study the entropy production in a globally coupled Brownian particles system
      that undergoes an order-disorder phase transition. Entropy production is a
      characteristic feature of nonequilibrium dynamics with broken detailed balance.
      We find that the entropy production rate is subextensive in the disordered phase
      and extensive in the ordered phase. It is found that the entropy production rate
      per particle vanishes in the disordered phase and becomes positive in the ordered
      phase following critical scaling laws. We derive the scaling relations for
      associated critical exponents. The disordered phase exemplifies a case where the
      entropy production is subextensive with the broken detailed balance. 

PMID- 26871029
TI  - Kinetic theory of age-structured stochastic birth-death processes.
AB  - Classical age-structured mass-action models such as the McKendrick-von Foerster
      equation have been extensively studied but are unable to describe stochastic
      fluctuations or population-size-dependent birth and death rates. Stochastic
      theories that treat semi-Markov age-dependent processes using, e.g., the Bellman
      Harris equation do not resolve a population's age structure and are unable to
      quantify population-size dependencies. Conversely, current theories that include
      size-dependent population dynamics (e.g., mathematical models that include
      carrying capacity such as the logistic equation) cannot be easily extended to
      take into account age-dependent birth and death rates. In this paper, we present
      a systematic derivation of a new, fully stochastic kinetic theory for interacting
      age-structured populations. By defining multiparticle probability density
      functions, we derive a hierarchy of kinetic equations for the stochastic
      evolution of an aging population undergoing birth and death. We show that the
      fully stochastic age-dependent birth-death process precludes factorization of the
      corresponding probability densities, which then must be solved by using a
      Bogoliubov--Born--Green--Kirkwood--Yvon-like hierarchy. Explicit solutions are
      derived in three limits: no birth, no death, and steady state. These are then
      compared with their corresponding mean-field results. Our results generalize both
      deterministic models and existing master equation approaches by providing an
      intuitive and efficient way to simultaneously model age- and population-dependent
      stochastic dynamics applicable to the study of demography, stem cell dynamics,
      and disease evolution. 

PMID- 26871032
TI  - Coulomb potential V(r)=1/r problem on the Bethe lattice.
AB  - We study the problem of a particle hopping on the Bethe lattice in the presence
      of a Coulomb potential. We obtain an exact solution to the particle's Green's
      function along with the full energy spectrum. In addition, we present a mapping
      of a generalized radial potential problem defined on the Bethe lattice to an
      infinite number of one-dimensional problems that are easily accessible
      numerically. The latter method is particularly useful when the problem admits no
      analytical solution. 

PMID- 26871031
TI  - Large fluctuations and singular behavior of nonequilibrium systems.
AB  - We present a general geometrical approach to the problem of escape from a
      metastable state in the presence of noise. The accompanying analysis leads to a
      simple condition, based on the norm of the drift field, for determining whether
      caustic singularities alter the escape trajectories when detailed balance is
      absent. We apply our methods to systems lacking detailed balance, including a
      nanomagnet with a biaxial magnetic anisotropy and subject to a spin-transfer
      torque. The approach described within allows determination of the regions of
      experimental parameter space that admit caustics. 

PMID- 26871033
TI  - Connectivity percolation in suspensions of attractive square-well
      spherocylinders.
AB  - We have studied the connectivity percolation transition in suspensions of
      attractive square-well spherocylinders by means of Monte Carlo simulation and
      connectedness percolation theory. In the 1980s the percolation threshold of
      slender fibers has been predicted to scale as the fibers' inverse aspect ratio
      [Phys. Rev. B 30, 3933 (1984)PRBMDO1098-012110.1103/PhysRevB.30.3933]. The main
      finding of our study is that the attractive spherocylinder system reaches this
      inverse scaling regime at much lower aspect ratios than found in suspensions of
      hard spherocylinders. We explain this difference by showing that third virial
      corrections of the pair connectedness functions, which are responsible for the
      deviation from the scaling regime, are less important for attractive potentials
      than for hard particles. 

PMID- 26871034
TI  - Order-parameter scaling in fluctuation-dominated phase ordering.
AB  - In systems exhibiting fluctuation-dominated phase ordering, a single order
      parameter does not suffice to characterize the order, and it is necessary to
      monitor a larger set. For hard-core sliding particles on a fluctuating surface
      and the related coarse-grained depth (CD) models, this set comprises the long
      wavelength Fourier components of the density profile, which capture the breakup
      and remerging of particle-rich regions. We study both static and dynamic scaling
      laws obeyed by the Fourier modes Q_{mL} and find that the mean value obeys the
      static scaling law <Q_{mL}>~L^{-phi}f(m/L) with phi?2/3 and phi?3/5 for Edwards
      Wilkinson (EW) and Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) surface evolution, respectively, and
      phi?3/4 for the CD model. The full probability distribution P(Q_{mL}) exhibits
      scaling as well. Further, time-dependent correlation functions such as the steady
      state autocorrelation and cross-correlations of order-parameter components are
      scaling functions of t/L^{z}, where L is the system size and z is the dynamic
      exponent, with z=2 for EW and z=3/2 for KPZ surface evolution. In addition we
      find that the CD model shows temporal intermittency, manifested in the dynamical
      structure functions of the density and the weak divergence of the flatness as the
      scaled time approaches 0. 

PMID- 26871035
TI  - Non-self-averaging in Ising spin glasses and hyperuniversality.
AB  - Ising spin glasses with bimodal and Gaussian near-neighbor interaction
      distributions are studied through numerical simulations. The non-self-averaging
      (normalized intersample variance) parameter U_{22}(T,L) for the spin glass
      susceptibility [and for higher moments U_{nn}(T,L)] is reported for dimensions
      2,3,4,5, and 7. In each dimension d the non-self-averaging parameters in the
      paramagnetic regime vary with the sample size L and the correlation length
      xi(T,L) as U_{nn}(beta,L)=[K_{d}xi(T,L)/L]^{d} and so follow a renormalization
      group law due to Aharony and Harris [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3700 (1996)PRLTAO0031
      900710.1103/PhysRevLett.77.3700]. Empirically, it is found that the K_{d} values
      are independent of d to within the statistics. The maximum values
      [U_{nn}(T,L)]_{max} are almost independent of L in each dimension, and remarkably
      the estimated thermodynamic limit critical [U_{nn}(T,L)]_{max} peak values are
      also practically dimension-independent to within the statistics and so are
      "hyperuniversal." These results show that the form of the spin-spin correlation
      function distribution at criticality in the large L limit is independent of
      dimension within the ISG family. Inspection of published non-self-averaging data
      for three-dimensional Heisenberg and XY spin glasses the light of the Ising spin
      glass non-self-averaging results show behavior which appears to be compatible
      with that expected on a chiral-driven ordering interpretation but incompatible
      with a spin-driven ordering scenario. 

PMID- 26871036
TI  - On-site residence time in a driven diffusive system: Violation and recovery of a
      mean-field description.
AB  - We investigate simple one-dimensional driven diffusive systems with open
      boundaries. We are interested in the average on-site residence time defined as
      the time a particle spends on a given site before moving on to the next site.
      Using mean-field theory, we obtain an analytical expression for the on-site
      residence times. By comparing the analytic predictions with numerics, we
      demonstrate that the mean-field significantly underestimates the residence time
      due to the neglect of time correlations in the local density of particles. The
      temporal correlations are particularly long-lived near the average shock
      position, where the density changes abruptly from low to high. By using domain
      wall theory, we obtain highly accurate estimates of the residence time for
      different boundary conditions. We apply our analytical approach to residence
      times in a totally asymmetric exclusion process (TASEP), TASEP coupled to
      Langmuir kinetics (TASEP+LK), and TASEP coupled to mutually interactive LK
      (TASEP+MILK). The high accuracy of our predictions is verified by comparing these
      with detailed Monte Carlo simulations. 

PMID- 26871037
TI  - Optimizing work output for finite-sized heat reservoirs: Beyond linear response.
AB  - We uncover an optimization principle for the finite-time heat-work conversion
      process performed between two finite-sized heat reservoirs in the nonlinear
      response regime that is characterized by rather generic flux-force relations. We
      solve the problem of maximizing work output in a given time interval by means of
      the variational method. Moreover, in the limiting case that the cold reservoir is
      infinite, we find the corresponding optimized process can be determined by a
      single quantity, which plays the role similar to that of the Hamiltonian in
      classical mechanics. Some theoretical implications are discussed consequently,
      under the generalized tight-coupling condition which applies to both linear and
      nonlinear response cases. Our results can hopefully help design and control
      realistic thermodynamical processes. 

PMID- 26871038
TI  - Thermostatistics of small nonlinear systems: Poissonian athermal bath.
AB  - We extend an earlier study [W. A. M. Morgado and S. M. Duarte Queiros, Phys. Rev.
      E 90, 022110 (2014)PLEEE81539-375510.1103/PhysRevE.90.022110] to the case of a
      small system subject to nonlinear interaction and in contact with an athermal
      shot-noise reservoir. We first focus on steady state properties, namely, on the
      impact of the singular measure of the reservoir in the steady state energy. We
      introduce the concept of temperatures of higher order, which aim to represent the
      effect produced by the cumulants of the noise of order larger than 2 in the form
      of sources of energy of higher order and new response functions such as high
      order specific heats that zero out when the system is thermal or linear.
      Afterwards, we study the effect of the nature of the noise in the heat and energy
      fluxes and determine asymptotic expressions for its large deviation functions.
      Finally, by analyzing the probabilistics of the injected power, we verify that
      the exponential form of its fluctuation relation is only asymptotically valid,
      whereas in the thermal case it is valid for the injected power at all times. 

PMID- 26871039
TI  - Nonstationary Feller process with time-varying coefficients.
AB  - We study the nonstationary Feller process with time varying coefficients. We
      obtain the exact probability distribution exemplified by its characteristic
      function and cumulants. In some particular cases we exactly invert the
      distribution and achieve the probability density function. We show that for
      sufficiently long times this density approaches a Gamma distribution with time
      varying shape and scale parameters. Not far from the origin the process obeys a
      power law with an exponent dependent of time, thereby concluding that
      accessibility to the origin is not static but dynamic. We finally discuss some
      possible applications of the process. 

PMID- 26871040
TI  - Dynamical phase transitions in totally asymmetric simple exclusion processes with
      two types of particles under periodically driven boundary conditions.
AB  - Driven diffusive systems have provided simple models for nonequilibrium systems
      with nontrivial structures. Steady-state behavior of these systems with constant
      boundary conditions have been studied extensively. Comparatively less work has
      been carried out on the responses of these systems to time-dependent parameters.
      We report the modifications to the probability density function of a two-particle
      exclusion model in response to a periodically changing perturbation to its
      boundary conditions. The changes in the shape of the distribution as a function
      of the frequency of the perturbation contains considerable structure. A dynamical
      phase transition in which the system response changes abruptly as a function of
      perturbation frequency was observed. We interpret this structure to be a
      consequence of the existence of a typical time scale associated with the dynamics
      of density shock profiles within the system. 

PMID- 26871041
TI  - Minimal exactly solved model with the extreme Thouless effect.
AB  - We present and analyze a minimal exactly solved model that exhibits a mixed-order
      phase transition known in the literature as the Thouless effect. Such hybrid
      transitions do not fit into the modest classification of thermodynamic
      transitions and, as such, they used to be overlooked or incorrectly identified in
      the past. The recent series of observations of such transitions in many diverse
      systems suggest that a new taxonomy of phase transitions is needed. The spin
      model we present due to its simplicity and possible experimental designs could
      bring us to this goal. We find the Hamiltonian of the model from which partition
      function is easily calculated. Thermodynamic properties of the model, i.e.,
      discontinuous magnetization and diverging susceptibility, are discussed. Finally,
      its generalizations and further research directions are proposed. 

PMID- 26871042
TI  - Numerical evidence for approximate consistency and Markovianity of some quantum
      histories in a class of finite closed spin systems.
AB  - Closed quantum systems obey the Schrodinger equation, whereas nonequilibrium
      behavior of many systems is routinely described in terms of classical, Markovian
      stochastic processes. Evidently, there are fundamental differences between those
      two types of behavior. We discuss the conditions under which the unitary dynamics
      may be mapped onto pertinent classical stochastic processes. This is first
      principally addressed based on the notions of "consistency" and "Markovianity."
      Numerical data are presented that show that the above conditions are to good
      approximation fulfilled for Heisenberg-type spin models comprising 12-20 spins.
      The accuracy to which these conditions are met increases with system size. 

PMID- 26871043
TI  - Dynamical thermalization in Bose-Hubbard systems.
AB  - We numerically study a Bose-Hubbard ring of finite size with disorder containing
      a finite number of bosons that are subject to an on-site two-body interaction.
      Our results show that moderate interactions induce dynamical thermalization in
      this isolated system. In this regime the individual many-body eigenstates are
      well described by the standard thermal Bose-Einstein distribution for well
      defined values of the temperature and the chemical potential, which depend on the
      eigenstate under consideration. We show that the dynamical thermalization
      conjecture works well at both positive and negative temperatures. The relations
      to quantum chaos, quantum ergodicity, and the Aberg criterion are also discussed.

PMID- 26871044
TI  - Calculating work in weakly driven quantum master equations: Backward and forward
      equations.
AB  - I present a technical report indicating that the two methods used for calculating
      characteristic functions for the work distribution in weakly driven quantum
      master equations are equivalent. One involves applying the notion of quantum jump
      trajectory [Phys. Rev. E 89, 042122 (2014)PLEEE81539
      375510.1103/PhysRevE.89.042122], while the other is based on two energy
      measurements on the combined system and reservoir [Silaev et al., Phys. Rev. E
      90, 022103 (2014)PLEEE81539-375510.1103/PhysRevE.90.022103]. These represent
      backward and forward methods, respectively, which adopt a very similar approach
      to that of the Kolmogorov backward and forward equations used in classical
      stochastic theory. The microscopic basis for the former method is also clarified.
      In addition, a previously unnoticed equality related to the heat is also
      revealed. 

PMID- 26871045
TI  - Probability-current analysis of energy transport in open quantum systems.
AB  - We introduce a probability-current analysis of excitation energy transfer between
      states of an open quantum system. Expressing the energy transfer through currents
      of excitation probability between the states in a site representation enables us
      to gain key insights into the energy transfer dynamics. In particular, the
      analysis yields direct identification of the pathways of energy transport in
      large networks of sites and quantifies their relative weights, as well as the
      respective contributions of unitary dynamics, coherence, dephasing, and
      relaxation and dissipation processes to the energy transfer. It thus provides
      much more information than studying only excitation probabilities of the states
      as a function of time. Our analysis is general and can be readily applied to a
      broad range of dynamical descriptions of open quantum system dynamics with
      coupling to non-Markovian or Markovian environments. 

PMID- 26871046
TI  - Conflict between fastest relaxation of a Markov process and detailed balance
      condition.
AB  - We consider the optimization of Markovian dynamics to pursue the fastest
      convergence to the stationary state. The brachistochrone method is applied to the
      continuous-time master equation for finite-size systems. The principle of least
      action leads to a brachistochrone equation for the transition-rate matrix. Three
      state systems are explicitly analyzed, and we find that the solution violates the
      detailed balance condition. The properties of the solution are studied in detail
      to observe the optimality of the solution. We also discuss the counterdiabatic
      driving for the Markovian dynamics. The transition-rate matrix is then divided
      into two parts, and the state is given by an eigenstate of the first part. The
      second part violates the detailed balance condition and plays the role of a
      counterdiabatic term. 

PMID- 26871047
TI  - Stroboscopic prethermalization in weakly interacting periodically driven systems.
AB  - Time-periodic driving provides a promising route toward engineering nontrivial
      states in quantum many-body systems. However, while it has been shown that the
      dynamics of integrable, noninteracting systems can synchronize with the driving
      into a nontrivial periodic motion, generic nonintegrable systems are expected to
      heat up until they display a trivial infinite-temperature behavior. In this paper
      we show that a quasiperiodic time evolution over many periods can also emerge in
      weakly interacting systems, with a clear separation of the timescales for
      synchronization and the eventual approach of the infinite-temperature state. This
      behavior is the analog of prethermalization in quenched systems. The synchronized
      state can be described using a macroscopic number of approximate constants of
      motion. We corroborate these findings with numerical simulations for the driven
      Hubbard model. 

PMID- 26871048
TI  - Quantum discord length is enhanced while entanglement length is not by
      introducing disorder in a spin chain.
AB  - Classical correlation functions of ground states typically decay exponentially
      and polynomially, respectively, for gapped and gapless short-range quantum spin
      systems. In such systems, entanglement decays exponentially even at the quantum
      critical points. However, quantum discord, an information-theoretic quantum
      correlation measure, survives long lattice distances. We investigate the effects
      of quenched disorder on quantum correlation lengths of quenched averaged
      entanglement and quantum discord, in the anisotropic XY and XYZ spin glass and
      random field chains. We find that there is virtually neither reduction nor
      enhancement in entanglement length while quantum discord length increases
      significantly with the introduction of the quenched disorder. 

PMID- 26871049
TI  - Entropy production of a Brownian ellipsoid in the overdamped limit.
AB  - We analyze the translational and rotational motion of an ellipsoidal Brownian
      particle from the viewpoint of stochastic thermodynamics. The particle's Brownian
      motion is driven by external forces and torques and takes place in an
      heterogeneous thermal environment where friction coefficients and (local)
      temperature depend on space and time. Our analysis of the particle's stochastic
      thermodynamics is based on the entropy production associated with single particle
      trajectories. It is motivated by the recent discovery that the overdamped limit
      of vanishing inertia effects (as compared to viscous fricion) produces a so
      called "anomalous" contribution to the entropy production, which has no
      counterpart in the overdamped approximation, when inertia effects are simply
      discarded. Here we show that rotational Brownian motion in the overdamped limit
      generates an additional contribution to the "anomalous" entropy. We calculate its
      specific form by performing a systematic singular perturbation analysis for the
      generating function of the entropy production. As a side result, we also obtain
      the (well-known) equations of motion in the overdamped limit. We furthermore
      investigate the effects of particle shape and give explicit expressions of the
      "anomalous entropy" for prolate and oblate spheroids and for near-spherical
      Brownian particles. 

PMID- 26871050
TI  - Gauge invariance and geometric phase in nonequilibrium thermodynamics.
AB  - We show the link between U(1) lattice gauge theories and the off-equilibrium
      thermodynamics of a large class of nonlinear oscillators networks. The coupling
      between the oscillators plays the role of a gauge field, or connection, on the
      network. The thermodynamical forces that drive energy flows are expressed in
      terms of the curvature of the connection, analogous to a geometric phase. The
      model, which holds both close and far from equilibrium, predicts the existence of
      persistent energy and particle currents circulating in closed loops through the
      network. The predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations. Possible
      extension of the theory and experimental applications to nanoscale devices are
      briefly discussed. 

PMID- 26871051
TI  - From single-file diffusion to two-dimensional cage diffusion and generalization
      of the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process to higher dimensions.
AB  - A two-dimensional constrained diffusion model is presented and characterized by
      numerical simulations. The model generalizes the one-dimensional single-file
      diffusion model by considering a cage diffusion constraint induced by neighboring
      particles, which is a more stringent condition than volume exclusion. Using
      numerical simulations we characterize the diffusion process and we particularly
      show that asymmetric transition probabilities lead to the two-dimensional Kardar
      Parisi-Zhang universality class. Therefore, this very simple model effectively
      generalizes the one-dimensional totally asymmetric simple exclusion process to
      higher dimensions. 

PMID- 26871052
TI  - Lloyd-model generalization: Conductance fluctuations in one-dimensional
      disordered systems.
AB  - We perform a detailed numerical study of the conductance G through one
      dimensional (1D) tight-binding wires with on-site disorder. The random
      configurations of the on-site energies epsilon of the tight-binding Hamiltonian
      are characterized by long-tailed distributions: For large epsilon,
      P(epsilon)~1/epsilon^{1+alpha} with alpha?(0,2). Our model serves as a
      generalization of the 1D Lloyd model, which corresponds to alpha=1. First, we
      verify that the ensemble average <-lnG> is proportional to the length of the wire
      L for all values of alpha, providing the localization length xi from <
      lnG>=2L/xi. Then, we show that the probability distribution function P(G) is
      fully determined by the exponent alpha and <-lnG>. In contrast to 1D wires with
      standard white-noise disorder, our wire model exhibits bimodal distributions of
      the conductance with peaks at G=0 and 1. In addition, we show that P(lnG) is
      proportional to G^{beta}, for G->0, with beta<=alpha/2, in agreement with
      previous studies. 

PMID- 26871054
TI  - Steepest-entropy-ascent quantum thermodynamic modeling of the relaxation process
      of isolated chemically reactive systems using density of states and the concept
      of hypoequilibrium state.
AB  - This paper presents a study of the nonequilibrium relaxation process of
      chemically reactive systems using steepest-entropy-ascent quantum thermodynamics
      (SEAQT). The trajectory of the chemical reaction, i.e., the accessible
      intermediate states, is predicted and discussed. The prediction is made using a
      thermodynamic-ensemble approach, which does not require detailed information
      about the particle mechanics involved (e.g., the collision of particles).
      Instead, modeling the kinetics and dynamics of the relaxation process is based on
      the principle of steepest-entropy ascent (SEA) or maximum-entropy production,
      which suggests a constrained gradient dynamics in state space. The SEAQT
      framework is based on general definitions for energy and entropy and at least
      theoretically enables the prediction of the nonequilibrium relaxation of system
      state at all temporal and spatial scales. However, to make this not just
      theoretically but computationally possible, the concept of density of states is
      introduced to simplify the application of the relaxation model, which in effect
      extends the application of the SEAQT framework even to infinite energy eigenlevel
      systems. The energy eigenstructure of the reactive system considered here
      consists of an extremely large number of such levels (on the order of 10^{130})
      and yields to the quasicontinuous assumption. The principle of SEA results in a
      unique trajectory of system thermodynamic state evolution in Hilbert space in the
      nonequilibrium realm, even far from equilibrium. To describe this trajectory, the
      concepts of subsystem hypoequilibrium state and temperature are introduced and
      used to characterize each system-level, nonequilibrium state. This definition of
      temperature is fundamental rather than phenomenological and is a generalization
      of the temperature defined at stable equilibrium. In addition, to deal with the
      large number of energy eigenlevels, the equation of motion is formulated on the
      basis of the density of states and a set of associated degeneracies. Their
      significance for the nonequilibrium evolution of system state is discussed. For
      the application presented, the numerical method used is described and is based on
      the density of states, which is specifically developed to solve the SEAQT
      equation of motion. Results for different kinds of initial nonequilibrium
      conditions, i.e., those for gamma and Maxwellian distributions, are studied. The
      advantage of the concept of hypoequilibrium state in studying nonequilibrium
      trajectories is discussed. 

PMID- 26871053
TI  - Survival of interacting diffusing particles inside a domain with absorbing
      boundary.
AB  - Suppose that a d-dimensional domain is filled with a gas of (in general,
      interacting) diffusive particles with density n_{0}. A particle is absorbed
      whenever it reaches the domain boundary. Employing macroscopic fluctuation
      theory, we evaluate the probability P that no particles are absorbed during a
      long time T. We argue that the most likely gas density profile, conditional on
      this event, is stationary throughout most of the time T. As a result, P decays
      exponentially with T for a whole class of interacting diffusive gases in any
      dimension. For d=1 the stationary gas density profile and P can be found
      analytically. In higher dimensions we focus on the simple symmetric exclusion
      process (SSEP) and show that -lnP?D_{0}TL^{d-2}s(n_{0}), where D_{0} is the gas
      diffusivity, and L is the linear size of the system. We calculate the rescaled
      action s(n_{0}) for d=1, for rectangular domains in d=2, and for spherical
      domains. Near close packing of the SSEP s(n_{0}) can be found analytically for
      domains of any shape and in any dimension. 

PMID- 26871055
TI  - Fine structure of the entanglement entropy in the O(2) model.
AB  - We compare two calculations of the particle density in the superfluid phase of
      the O(2) model with a chemical potential MU in 1+1 dimensions. The first relies
      on exact blocking formulas from the Tensor Renormalization Group (TRG)
      formulation of the transfer matrix. The second is a worm algorithm. We show that
      the particle number distributions obtained with the two methods agree well. We
      use the TRG method to calculate the thermal entropy and the entanglement entropy.
      We describe the particle density, the two entropies and the topology of the world
      lines as we increase MU to go across the superfluid phase between the first two
      Mott insulating phases. For a sufficiently large temporal size, this process
      reveals an interesting fine structure: the average particle number and the
      winding number of most of the world lines in the Euclidean time direction
      increase by one unit at a time. At each step, the thermal entropy develops a peak
      and the entanglement entropy increases until we reach half-filling and then
      decreases in a way that approximately mirrors the ascent. This suggests an
      approximate fermionic picture. 

PMID- 26871056
TI  - Pattern density function for reconstruction of three-dimensional porous media
      from a single two-dimensional image.
AB  - Three-dimensional (3D) structures are useful for studying the spatial structures
      and physical properties of porous media. A 3D structure can be reconstructed from
      a single two-dimensional (2D) training image (TI) by using mathematical modeling
      methods. Among many reconstruction algorithms, an optimal-based algorithm was
      developed and has strong stability. However, this type of algorithm generally
      uses an autocorrelation function (which is unable to accurately describe the
      morphological features of porous media) as its objective function. This has
      negatively affected further research on porous media. To accurately reconstruct
      3D porous media, a pattern density function is proposed in this paper, which is
      based on a random variable employed to characterize image patterns. In addition,
      the paper proposes an original optimal-based algorithm called the pattern density
      function simulation; this algorithm uses a pattern density function as its
      objective function, and adopts a multiple-grid system. Meanwhile, to address the
      key point of algorithm reconstruction speed, we propose the use of neighborhood
      statistics, the adjacent grid and reversed phase method, and a simplified
      temperature-controlled mechanism. The pattern density function is a high-order
      statistical function; thus, when all grids in the reconstruction results converge
      in the objective functions, the morphological features and statistical properties
      of the reconstruction results will be consistent with those of the TI. The
      experiments include 2D reconstruction using one artificial structure, and 3D
      reconstruction using battery materials and cores. Hierarchical simulated
      annealing and single normal equation simulation are employed as the comparison
      algorithms. The autocorrelation function, linear path function, and pore network
      model are used as the quantitative measures. Comprehensive tests show that 3D
      porous media can be reconstructed accurately from a single 2D training image by
      using the method proposed in this paper.

PMID- 26871057
TI  - Phase transition of the Ising model on a fractal lattice.
AB  - The phase transition of the Ising model is investigated on a planar lattice that
      has a fractal structure. On the lattice, the number of bonds that cross the
      border of a finite area is doubled when the linear size of the area is extended
      by a factor of 4. The free energy and the spontaneous magnetization of the system
      are obtained by means of the higher-order tensor renormalization group method.
      The system exhibits the order-disorder phase transition, where the critical
      indices are different from those of the square-lattice Ising model. An
      exponential decay is observed in the density-matrix spectrum even at the critical
      point. It is possible to interpret that the system is less entangled because of
      the fractal geometry. 

PMID- 26871058
TI  - Efficiency at maximum power of a discrete feedback ratchet.
AB  - Efficiency at maximum power is found to be of the same order for a feedback
      ratchet and for its open-loop counterpart. However, feedback increases the output
      power up to a factor of five. This increase in output power is due to the
      increase in energy input and the effective entropy reduction obtained as a
      consequence of feedback. Optimal efficiency at maximum power is reached for time
      intervals between feedback actions two orders of magnitude smaller than the
      characteristic time of diffusion over a ratchet period length. The efficiency is
      computed consistently taking into account the correlation between the control
      actions. We consider a feedback control protocol for a discrete feedback flashing
      ratchet, which works against an external load. We maximize the power output
      optimizing the parameters of the ratchet, the controller, and the external load.
      The maximum power output is found to be upper bounded, so the attainable
      extracted power is limited. After, we compute an upper bound for the efficiency
      of this isothermal feedback ratchet at maximum power output. We make this
      computation applying recent developments of the thermodynamics of feedback
      controlled systems, which give an equation to compute the entropy reduction due
      to information. However, this equation requires the computation of the
      probability of each of the possible sequences of the controller's actions. This
      computation becomes involved when the sequence of the controller's actions is non
      Markovian, as is the case in most feedback ratchets. We here introduce an
      alternative procedure to set strong bounds to the entropy reduction in order to
      compute its value. In this procedure the bounds are evaluated in a quasi
      Markovian limit, which emerge when there are big differences between the
      stationary probabilities of the system states. These big differences are an
      effect of the potential strength, which minimizes the departures from the
      Markovianicity of the sequence of control actions, allowing also to minimize the
      departures from the optimal performance of the system. This procedure can be
      applied to other feedback ratchets and, more in general, to other control
      systems. 

PMID- 26871059
TI  - Phase transitions and entropies for synchronizing oscillators.
AB  - We study a generic model of coupled oscillators. In the model there is
      competition between phase synchronization and diffusive effects. For a model with
      a finite number of states we derive how a phase transition occurs when the
      coupling parameter is varied. The phase transition is characterized by a symmetry
      breaking and a discontinuity in the first derivative of the order parameter. We
      quantitatively account for how the synchronized pulse is a low-entropy structure
      that facilitates the production of more entropy by the system as a whole. For a
      model with many states we apply a continuum approximation and derive a potential
      Burgers' equation for a propagating pulse. No phase transition occurs in that
      case. However, positive entropy production by diffusive effects still exceeds
      negative entropy production by the shock formation. 

PMID- 26871060
TI  - Scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the three-dimensional Ising
      model.
AB  - Using the Wilson renormalization group, we show that if no integrated vector
      operator of scaling dimension -1 exists, then scale invariance implies conformal
      invariance. By using the Lebowitz inequalities, we prove that this necessary
      condition is fulfilled in all dimensions for the Ising universality class. This
      shows, in particular, that scale invariance implies conformal invariance for the
      three-dimensional Ising model. 

PMID- 26871061
TI  - Quantum fuel with multilevel atomic coherence for ultrahigh specific work in a
      photonic Carnot engine.
AB  - We investigate scaling of work and efficiency of a photonic Carnot engine with a
      number of quantum coherent resources. Specifically, we consider a generalization
      of the "phaseonium fuel" for the photonic Carnot engine, which was first
      introduced as a three-level atom with two lower states in a quantum coherent
      superposition by M. O. Scully, M. Suhail Zubairy, G. S. Agarwal, and H. Walther
      [Science 299, 862 (2003)SCIEAS0036-807510.1126/science.1078955], to the case of
      N+1 level atoms with N coherent lower levels. We take into account atomic
      relaxation and dephasing as well as the cavity loss and derive a coarse-grained
      master equation to evaluate the work and efficiency analytically. Analytical
      results are verified by microscopic numerical examination of the thermalization
      dynamics. We find that efficiency and work scale quadratically with the number of
      quantum coherent levels. Quantum coherence boost to the specific energy (work
      output per unit mass of the resource) is a profound fundamental difference of
      quantum fuel from classical resources. We consider typical modern resonator set
      ups and conclude that multilevel phaseonium fuel can be utilized to overcome the
      decoherence in available systems. Preparation of the atomic coherences and the
      associated cost of coherence are analyzed and the engine operation within the
      bounds of the second law is verified. Our results bring the photonic Carnot
      engines much closer to the capabilities of current resonator technologies. 

PMID- 26871062
TI  - Effect of geometrical frustration on inverse freezing.
AB  - The interplay between geometrical frustration (GF) and inverse freezing (IF) is
      studied within a cluster approach. The model considers first-neighbor (J_{1}) and
      second-neighbor (J_{2}) intracluster antiferromagnetic interactions between Ising
      spins on a checkerboard lattice and long-range disordered couplings (J) among
      clusters. We obtain phase diagrams of temperature versus J_{1}/J in two cases:
      the absence of J_{2} interaction and the isotropic limit J_{2}=J_{1}, where GF
      takes place. An IF reentrant transition from the spin-glass (SG) to paramagnetic
      (PM) phase is found for a certain range of J_{1}/J in both cases. The J_{1}
      interaction leads to a SG state with high entropy at the same time that can
      introduce a low-entropy PM phase. In addition, it is observed that the cluster
      size plays an important role. The GF increases the PM phase entropy, but larger
      clusters can give an entropic advantage for the SG phase that favors IF.
      Therefore, our results suggest that disordered systems with antiferromagnetic
      clusters can exhibit an IF transition even in the presence of GF. 

PMID- 26871063
TI  - Physical origin of nonequilibrium fluctuation-induced forces in fluids.
AB  - Long-range thermal fluctuations appear in fluids in nonequilibrium states leading
      to fluctuation-induced Casimir-like forces. Two distinct mechanisms have been
      identified for the origin of the long-range nonequilibrium fluctuations in fluids
      subjected to a temperature or concentration gradient. One is a coupling between
      the heat or mass-diffusion mode with a viscous mode in fluids subjected to a
      temperature or concentration gradient. Another one is the spatial inhomogeneity
      of thermal noise in the presence of a gradient. We show that in fluids
      fluctuation-induced forces arising from mode coupling are several orders of
      magnitude larger than those from inhomogeneous noise. 

PMID- 26871064
TI  - Experimental study of stable imbibition displacements in a model open fracture.
      I. Local avalanche dynamics.
AB  - We report the results of an experimental investigation of the spatiotemporal
      dynamics of stable imbibition fronts in a disordered medium, in the regime of
      capillary disorder, for a wide range of experimental conditions. We have used
      silicone oils of various viscosities MU and nearly identical oil-air surface
      tension and forced them to slowly invade a model open fracture at different
      constant flow rates v. In this first part of the study we have focused on the
      local dynamics at a scale below the size of the quenched disorder. Changing MU
      and v independently, we have found that the dynamics is not simply controlled by
      the capillary number Ca~MUv. Specifically, we have found that the wide
      statistical distributions of local front velocities, and their large spatial
      correlations along the front, are indeed controlled by the capillary number Ca.
      However, local velocities exhibit also very large temporal correlations, and
      these correlations depend more strongly on the mean imposed velocity v than on
      the viscosity MU of the invading fluid. Correlations between local velocities
      lead to a burstlike dynamics. Avalanches, defined as clusters of large local
      velocities, follow power-law distributions-both in size and duration-with
      exponential cutoffs that diverge as Ca->0, the pinning-depinning transition of
      stable imbibition displacements. Large data sets have led to reliable statistics,
      from which we have derived accurate values of critical exponents of the relevant
      power-law distributions. We have investigated also the dependence of their
      cutoffs on MU and v and related them to the autocorrelations of local velocities
      in space and time. 

PMID- 26871065
TI  - Experimental study of stable imbibition displacements in a model open fracture.
      II. Scale-dependent avalanche dynamics.
AB  - We report the results of an experimental investigation of the spatiotemporal
      dynamics of stable imbibition fronts in a disordered medium, in the regime of
      capillary disorder, for a wide range of experimental conditions. We have used
      silicone oils of various viscosities MU and nearly identical oil-air surface
      tension, and forced them to slowly invade a model open fracture at very different
      flow rates v. In this second part of the study we have carried out a scale
      dependent statistical analysis of the front dynamics. We have specifically
      analyzed the influence of MU and v on the statistical properties of the velocity
      V_{l}, the spatial average of the local front velocities over a window of lateral
      size l. We have varied l from the local scale defined by our spatial resolution
      up to the lateral system size L. Even though the imposed flow rate is constant,
      the signals V_{l}(t) present very strong fluctuations which evolve systematically
      with the parameters MU, v, and l. We have verified that the non-Gaussian
      fluctuations of the global velocity V_{l}(t) are very well described by a
      generalized Gumbel statistics. The asymmetric shape and the exponential tail of
      those distributions are controlled by the number of effective degrees of freedom
      of the imbibition fronts, given by N_{eff}=l/l_{c} (the ratio of the lateral size
      of the measuring window l to the correlation length l_{c}~1/sqrt[MUv]). The large
      correlated excursions of V_{l}(t) correspond to global avalanches, which reflect
      extra displacements of the imbibition fronts. We show that global avalanches are
      power-law distributed, both in sizes and durations, with robustly defined
      exponents-independent of MU, v, and l. Nevertheless, the exponential upper
      cutoffs of the distributions evolve systematically with those parameters. We have
      found, moreover, that maximum sizes xi_{S} and maximum durations xi_{T} of global
      avalanches are not controlled by the same mechanism. While xi_{S} are also
      determined by l/l_{c}, like the amplitude fluctuations of V_{l}(t), xi_{T} and
      the temporal correlations of V_{l}(t) evolve much more strongly with imposed flow
      rate v than with fluid viscosity MU. 

PMID- 26871066
TI  - Directed percolation process in the presence of velocity fluctuations: Effect of
      compressibility and finite correlation time.
AB  - The direct bond percolation process (Gribov process) is studied in the presence
      of random velocity fluctuations generated by the Gaussian self-similar ensemble
      with finite correlation time. We employ the renormalization group in order to
      analyze a combined effect of the compressibility and finite correlation time on
      the long-time behavior of the phase transition between an active and an absorbing
      state. The renormalization procedure is performed to the one-loop order. Stable
      fixed points of the renormalization group and their regions of stability are
      calculated in the one-loop approximation within the three-parameter (E,y,eta)
      expansion. Different regimes corresponding to the rapid-change limit and frozen
      velocity field are discussed, and their fixed points' structure is determined in
      numerical fashion. 

PMID- 26871067
TI  - Resonant torus-assisted tunneling.
AB  - We report a new type of dynamical tunneling, which is mediated by a resonant
      torus, i.e., a nonisolated periodic orbit. To elucidate the phenomenon, we take
      an open elliptic cavity and show that a pair of resonances localized on two
      classically disconnected tori tunnel through a resonant torus when they interact
      with each other. This so-called resonant torus-assisted tunneling is verified by
      using Husimi functions, corresponding actions, Husimi function distributions, and
      the standard deviations of the actions. 

PMID- 26871068
TI  - Uniform framework for the recurrence-network analysis of chaotic time series.
AB  - We propose a general method for the construction and analysis of unweighted
      epsilon-recurrence networks from chaotic time series. The selection of the
      critical threshold epsilon_{c} in our scheme is done empirically and we show that
      its value is closely linked to the embedding dimension M. In fact, we are able to
      identify a small critical range Deltaepsilon numerically that is approximately
      the same for the random and several standard chaotic time series for a fixed M.
      This provides us a uniform framework for the nonsubjective comparison of the
      statistical measures of the recurrence networks constructed from various chaotic
      attractors. We explicitly show that the degree distribution of the recurrence
      network constructed by our scheme is characteristic to the structure of the
      attractor and display statistical scale invariance with respect to increase in
      the number of nodes N. We also present two practical applications of the scheme,
      detection of transition between two dynamical regimes in a time-delayed system
      and identification of the dimensionality of the underlying system from real-world
      data with a limited number of points through recurrence network measures. The
      merits, limitations, and the potential applications of the proposed method are
      also highlighted. 

PMID- 26871069
TI  - Energy shell structure in a dielectric elliptic microcavity.
AB  - An energy shell structure depending on eccentricity is analyzed in a dielectric
      elliptic microcavity. Through the analysis, it is explicated that the energy
      shell structure is governed by classical constant actions of periodic orbits. For
      clarification, the relation between dominances of the periodic orbits and
      bifurcation behaviors are obtained and the length spectra based on eigenvalues
      computed by a numerical method are compared with the exact lengths of the
      periodic orbits obtained by analytic calculations. By matching effective wave
      numbers obtained from the periodic orbit lengths to exact wave numbers of
      stationary states in closed and open cavities, we find deviations provoked from
      the openness. We show that these deviations are caused by additional phase
      factors in the Einstein-Brillouin-Keller quantization. 

PMID- 26871070
TI  - Chaos in the honeycomb optical-lattice unit cell.
AB  - Natural and artificial honeycomb lattices are of great interest because the band
      structure of these lattices, if properly constructed, contains a Dirac point.
      Such lattices occur naturally in the form of graphene and carbon nanotubes. They
      have been created in the laboratory in the form of semiconductor 2DEGs, optical
      lattices, and photonic crystals. We show that, over a wide energy range, gases
      (of electrons, atoms, or photons) that propagate through these lattices are
      Lorentz gases and the corresponding classical dynamics is chaotic. Thus honeycomb
      lattices are also of interest for understanding eigenstate thermalization and the
      conductor-insulator transition due to dynamic Anderson localization. 

PMID- 26871071
TI  - Chimera states in bursting neurons.
AB  - We study the existence of chimera states in pulse-coupled networks of bursting
      Hindmarsh-Rose neurons with nonlocal, global, and local (nearest neighbor)
      couplings. Through a linear stability analysis, we discuss the behavior of the
      stability function in the incoherent (i.e., disorder), coherent, chimera, and
      multichimera states. Surprisingly, we find that chimera and multichimera states
      occur even using local nearest neighbor interaction in a network of identical
      bursting neurons alone. This is in contrast with the existence of chimera states
      in populations of nonlocally or globally coupled oscillators. A chemical synaptic
      coupling function is used which plays a key role in the emergence of chimera
      states in bursting neurons. The existence of chimera, multichimera, coherent, and
      disordered states is confirmed by means of the recently introduced statistical
      measures and mean phase velocity. 

PMID- 26871072
TI  - Infinite hierarchy of nonlinear Schrodinger equations and their solutions.
AB  - We study the infinite integrable nonlinear Schrodinger equation hierarchy beyond
      the Lakshmanan-Porsezian-Daniel equation which is a particular (fourth-order)
      case of the hierarchy. In particular, we present the generalized Lax pair and
      generalized soliton solutions, plane wave solutions, Akhmediev breathers,
      Kuznetsov-Ma breathers, periodic solutions, and rogue wave solutions for this
      infinite-order hierarchy. We find that "even- order" equations in the set affect
      phase and "stretching factors" in the solutions, while "odd-order" equations
      affect the velocities. Hence odd-order equation solutions can be real functions,
      while even-order equation solutions are always complex. 

PMID- 26871073
TI  - Phase oscillators in modular networks: The effect of nonlocal coupling.
AB  - We study the dynamics of nonlocally coupled phase oscillators in a modular
      network. The interactions include a phase lag, alpha. Depending on the various
      parameters the system exhibits a number of different dynamical states. In
      addition to global synchrony there can also be modular synchrony when each module
      can synchronize separately to a different frequency. There can also be
      multicluster frequency chimeras, namely coherent domains consisting of modules
      that are separately synchronized to different frequencies, coexisting with
      modules within which the dynamics is desynchronized. We apply the Ott-Antonsen
      ansatz in order to reduce the effective dimensionality and thereby carry out a
      detailed analysis of the different dynamical states. 

PMID- 26871074
TI  - Deterministic particle transport in a ratchet flow.
AB  - This study is motivated by the issue of the pumping of particle through a
      periodic modulated channel. We focus on a simplified deterministic model of small
      inertia particles within the Stokes flow framework that we call "ratchet flow." A
      path-following method is employed in the parameter space in order to retrace the
      scenario which from bounded periodic solutions leads to particle transport.
      Depending on whether the magnitude of the particle drag is moderate or large, two
      main transport mechanisms are identified in which the role of the parity symmetry
      of the flow differs. For large drag, transport is induced by flow asymmetry,
      while for moderate drag, since the full transport solution bifurcation structure
      already exists for symmetric settings, flow asymmetry only makes the transport
      effective. We analyzed the scenarios of current reversals for each mechanism as
      well as the role of synchronization. In particular we show that, for large drag,
      the particle drift is similar to phase slip in a synchronization problem. 

PMID- 26871075
TI  - Chimera patterns under the impact of noise.
AB  - We investigate two types of chimera states, patterns consisting of coexisting
      spatially separated domains with coherent and incoherent dynamics, in ring
      networks of Stuart-Landau oscillators with symmetry-breaking coupling, under the
      influence of noise. Amplitude chimeras are characterized by temporally periodic
      dynamics throughout the whole network, but spatially incoherent behavior with
      respect to the amplitudes in a part of the system; they are long-living
      transients. Chimera death states generalize chimeras to stationary inhomogeneous
      patterns (oscillation death), which combine spatially coherent and incoherent
      domains. We analyze the impact of random perturbations, addressing the question
      of robustness of chimera states in the presence of white noise. We further
      consider the effect of symmetries applied to random initial conditions. 

PMID- 26871076
TI  - Correlation functions and correlation widths in quantum-chaotic scattering for
      mesoscopic systems and nuclei.
AB  - We derive analytical expressions for the correlation functions of the electronic
      conductance fluctuations of an open quantum dot under several conditions. Both
      the variation of energy and that of an external parameter, such as an applied
      perpendicular or parallel magnetic fields, are considered in the general case of
      partial openness. These expressions are then used to obtain the ensemble-averaged
      density of maxima, a measure recently suggested to contain invaluable information
      concerning the correlation widths of chaotic systems. The correlation width is
      then calculated for the case of energy variation, and a significant deviation
      from the Weisskopf estimate is found in the case of two terminals. The results
      are extended to more than two terminals. All of our results are analytical. The
      use of these results in other fields, such as nuclei, where the system can only
      be studied through a variation of the energy, is then discussed. 

PMID- 26871077
TI  - Competition between drift and spatial defects leads to oscillatory and excitable
      dynamics of dissipative solitons.
AB  - We have reported in Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 064103 (2013)PRLTAO0031
      900710.1103/PhysRevLett.110.064103 that in systems which otherwise do not show
      oscillatory dynamics, the interplay between pinning to a defect and pulling by
      drift allows the system to exhibit excitability and oscillations. Here we build
      on this work and present a detailed bifurcation analysis of the various dynamical
      instabilities that result from the competition between a pulling force generated
      by the drift and a pinning of the solitons to spatial defects. We show that
      oscillatory and excitable dynamics of dissipative solitons find their origin in
      multiple codimension-2 bifurcation points. Moreover, we demonstrate that the
      mechanisms leading to these dynamical regimes are generic for any system
      admitting dissipative solitons. 

PMID- 26871078
TI  - Experimental and theoretical approach for the clustering of globally coupled
      density oscillators based on phase response.
AB  - We investigated the phase-response curve of a coupled system of density
      oscillators with an analytical approach. The behaviors of two-, three-, and four
      coupled systems seen in the experiments were reproduced by the model considering
      the phase-response curve. Especially in a four-coupled system, the clustering
      state and its incidence rate as functions of the coupling strength are well
      reproduced with this approach. Moreover, we confirmed that the shape of the phase
      response curve we obtained analytically was close to that observed in the
      experiment where a perturbation is added to a single-density oscillator. We
      expect that this approach to obtaining the phase-response curve is general in the
      sense that it could be applied to coupled systems of other oscillators such as
      electrical-circuit oscillators, metronomes, and so on. 

PMID- 26871079
TI  - Generalized Gaussian wave packet dynamics: Integrable and chaotic systems.
AB  - The ultimate semiclassical wave packet propagation technique is a complex, time
      dependent Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin method known as generalized Gaussian wave
      packet dynamics (GGWPD). It requires overcoming many technical difficulties in
      order to be carried out fully in practice. In its place roughly twenty years ago,
      linearized wave packet dynamics was generalized to methods that include sets of
      off-center, real trajectories for both classically integrable and chaotic
      dynamical systems that completely capture the dynamical transport. The
      connections between those methods and GGWPD are developed in a way that enables a
      far more practical implementation of GGWPD. The generally complex saddle-point
      trajectories at its foundation are found using a multidimensional Newton-Raphson
      root search method that begins with the set of off-center, real trajectories.
      This is possible because there is a one-to-one correspondence. The neighboring
      trajectories associated with each off-center, real trajectory form a path that
      crosses a unique saddle; there are exceptions that are straightforward to
      identify. The method is applied to the kicked rotor to demonstrate the accuracy
      improvement as a function of h that comes with using the saddle-point
      trajectories. 

PMID- 26871080
TI  - Breather-to-soliton transitions, nonlinear wave interactions, and modulational
      instability in a higher-order generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
AB  - We study the nonlinear waves on constant backgrounds of the higher-order
      generalized nonlinear Schrodinger (HGNLS) equation describing the propagation of
      ultrashort optical pulse in optical fibers. We derive the breather, rogue wave,
      and semirational solutions of the HGNLS equation. Our results show that these
      three types of solutions can be converted into the nonpulsating soliton
      solutions. In particular, we present the explicit conditions for the transitions
      between breathers and solitons with different structures. Further, we investigate
      the characteristics of the collisions between the soliton and breathers.
      Especially, based on the semirational solutions of the HGNLS equation, we display
      the novel interactions between the rogue waves and other nonlinear waves. In
      addition, we reveal the explicit relation between the transition and the
      distribution characteristics of the modulation instability growth rate. 

PMID- 26871081
TI  - Hopf bifurcation analysis for a dissipative system with asymmetric interaction:
      Analytical explanation of a specific property of highway traffic.
AB  - A dissipative system with asymmetric interaction, the optimal velocity model,
      shows a Hopf bifurcation concerned with the transition from a homogeneous motion
      to the formation of a moving cluster, such as the emergence of a traffic jam. We
      investigate the properties of Hopf bifurcation depending on the particle density,
      using the dynamical system for the traveling cluster solution of the continuum
      system derived from the original discrete system of particles. The Hopf
      bifurcation is revealed as a subcritical one, and the property explains well the
      specific phenomena in highway traffic: the metastability of jamming transition
      and the hysteresis effect in the relation of car density and flow rate. 

PMID- 26871082
TI  - Phase-locked scroll waves defy turbulence induced by negative filament tension.
AB  - Scroll waves in a three-dimensional media may develop into turbulence due to
      negative tension of the filament. Such negative tension-induced instability of
      scroll waves has been observed in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction systems. Here
      we propose a method to restabilize scroll wave turbulence caused by negative
      tension in three-dimensional chemical excitable media using a circularly
      polarized (rotating) external field. The stabilization mechanism is analyzed in
      terms of phase-locking caused by the external field, which makes the effective
      filament tension positive. The phase-locked scroll waves that have positive
      tension and higher frequency defy the turbulence and finally restore order. A
      linear theory for the change of filament tension caused by a generic rotating
      external field is presented and its predictions closely agree with numerical
      simulations. 

PMID- 26871083
TI  - Rogue waves for a system of coupled derivative nonlinear Schrodinger equations.
AB  - Rogue waves (RWs) are unexpectedly strong excitations emerging from an otherwise
      tranquil background. The nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE), a ubiquitous
      model with wide applications to fluid mechanics, optics, plasmas, etc., exhibits
      RWs only in the regime of modulation instability (MI) of the background. For a
      system of multiple waveguides, the governing coupled NLSEs can produce regimes of
      MI and RWs, even if each component has dispersion and cubic nonlinearity of
      opposite signs. A similar effect is demonstrated here for a system of coupled
      derivative NLSEs (DNLSEs) where the special feature is the nonlinear self
      steepening of narrow pulses. More precisely, these additional regimes of MI and
      RWs for coupled DNLSEs depend on the mismatch in group velocities between the
      components, and the parameters for cubic nonlinearity and self-steepening. RWs
      considered in this paper differ from those of the NLSEs in terms of the
      amplification ratio and criteria of existence. Applications to optics and plasma
      physics are discussed. 

PMID- 26871084
TI  - Chimera states in networks of phase oscillators: The case of two small
      populations.
AB  - Chimera states are dynamical patterns in networks of coupled oscillators in which
      regions of synchronous and asynchronous oscillation coexist. Although these
      states are typically observed in large ensembles of oscillators and analyzed in
      the continuum limit, chimeras may also occur in systems with finite (and small)
      numbers of oscillators. Focusing on networks of 2N phase oscillators that are
      organized in two groups, we find that chimera states, corresponding to attracting
      periodic orbits, appear with as few as two oscillators per group and demonstrate
      that for N>2 the bifurcations that create them are analogous to those observed in
      the continuum limit. These findings suggest that chimeras, which bear striking
      similarities to dynamical patterns in nature, are observable and robust in small
      networks that are relevant to a variety of real-world systems. 

PMID- 26871085
TI  - Discrete breathers for a discrete nonlinear Schrodinger ring coupled to a central
      site.
AB  - We examine the existence and properties of certain discrete breathers for a
      discrete nonlinear Schrodinger model where all but one site are placed in a ring
      and coupled to the additional central site. The discrete breathers we focus on
      are stationary solutions mainly localized on one or a few of the ring sites and
      possibly also the central site. By numerical methods, we trace out and study the
      continuous families the discrete breathers belong to. Our main result is the
      discovery of a split bifurcation at a critical value of the coupling between
      neighboring ring sites. Below this critical value, families form closed loops in
      a certain parameter space, implying that discrete breathers with and without
      central-site occupation belong to the same family. Above the split bifurcation
      the families split up into several separate ones, which bifurcate with solutions
      with constant ring amplitudes. For symmetry reasons, the families have different
      properties below the split bifurcation for even and odd numbers of sites. It is
      also determined under which conditions the discrete breathers are linearly
      stable. The dynamics of some simpler initial conditions that approximate the
      discrete breathers are also studied and the parameter regimes where the dynamics
      remain localized close to the initially excited ring site are related to the
      linear stability of the exact discrete breathers. 

PMID- 26871086
TI  - Temporal dynamics of connectivity and epidemic properties of growing networks.
AB  - Traditional mathematical models of epidemic disease had for decades
      conventionally considered static structure for contacts. Recently, an upsurge of
      theoretical inquiry has strived towards rendering the models more realistic by
      incorporating the temporal aspects of networks of contacts, societal and online,
      that are of interest in the study of epidemics (and other similar diffusion
      processes). However, temporal dynamics have predominantly focused on link
      fluctuations and nodal activities, and less attention has been paid to the growth
      of the underlying network. Many real networks grow: Online networks are evidently
      in constant growth, and societal networks can grow due to migration flux and
      reproduction. The effect of network growth on the epidemic properties of networks
      is hitherto unknown, mainly due to the predominant focus of the network growth
      literature on the so-called steady state. This paper takes a step towards
      alleviating this gap. We analytically study the degree dynamics of a given
      arbitrary network that is subject to growth. We use the theoretical findings to
      predict the epidemic properties of the network as a function of time. We observe
      that the introduction of new individuals into the network can enhance or diminish
      its resilience against endemic outbreaks and investigate how this regime shift
      depends upon the connectivity of newcomers and on how they establish connections
      to existing nodes. Throughout, theoretical findings are corroborated with Monte
      Carlo simulations over synthetic and real networks. The results shed light on the
      effects of network growth on the future epidemic properties of networks and
      offers insights for devising a priori immunization strategies. 

PMID- 26871087
TI  - Spontaneous symmetry breaking and phase coexistence in two-color networks.
AB  - We consider an equilibrium ensemble of large Erdos-Renyi topological random
      networks with fixed vertex degree and two types of vertices, black and white,
      prepared randomly with the bond connection probability p. The network energy is a
      sum of all unicolor triples (either black or white), weighted with chemical
      potential of triples MU. Minimizing the system energy, we see for some positive
      MU the formation of two predominantly unicolor clusters, linked by a string of
      N_{bw} black-white bonds. We have demonstrated that the system exhibits critical
      behavior manifested in the emergence of a wide plateau on the N_{bw}(MU) curve,
      which is relevant to a spinodal decomposition in first-order phase transitions.
      In terms of a string theory, the plateau formation can be interpreted as an
      entanglement between baby universes in two-dimensional gravity. We conjecture
      that the observed classical phenomenon can be considered as a toy model for the
      chiral condensate formation in quantum chromodynamics. 

PMID- 26871088
TI  - Community detection in networks with unequal groups.
AB  - Recently, a phase transition has been discovered in the network community
      detection problem below which no algorithm can tell which nodes belong to which
      communities with success any better than a random guess. This result has,
      however, so far been limited to the case where the communities have the same size
      or the same average degree. Here we consider the case where the sizes or average
      degrees differ. This asymmetry allows us to assign nodes to communities with
      better-than-random success by examining their local neighborhoods. Using the
      cavity method, we show that this removes the detectability transition completely
      for networks with four groups or fewer, while for more than four groups the
      transition persists up to a critical amount of asymmetry but not beyond. The
      critical point in the latter case coincides with the point at which local
      information percolates, causing a global transition from a less-accurate solution
      to a more-accurate one. 

PMID- 26871089
TI  - Unwinding the hairball graph: Pruning algorithms for weighted complex networks.
AB  - Empirical networks of weighted dyadic relations often contain "noisy" edges that
      alter the global characteristics of the network and obfuscate the most important
      structures therein. Graph pruning is the process of identifying the most
      significant edges according to a generative null model and extracting the
      subgraph consisting of those edges. Here, we focus on integer-weighted graphs
      commonly arising when weights count the occurrences of an "event" relating the
      nodes. We introduce a simple and intuitive null model related to the
      configuration model of network generation and derive two significance filters
      from it: the marginal likelihood filter (MLF) and the global likelihood filter
      (GLF). The former is a fast algorithm assigning a significance score to each edge
      based on the marginal distribution of edge weights, whereas the latter is an
      ensemble approach which takes into account the correlations among edges. We apply
      these filters to the network of air traffic volume between US airports and
      recover a geographically faithful representation of the graph. Furthermore,
      compared with thresholding based on edge weight, we show that our filters extract
      a larger and significantly sparser giant component. 

PMID- 26871090
TI  - Neural networks with excitatory and inhibitory components: Direct and inverse
      problems by a mean-field approach.
AB  - We study the dynamics of networks with inhibitory and excitatory leak-integrate
      and-fire neurons with short-term synaptic plasticity in the presence of
      depressive and facilitating mechanisms. The dynamics is analyzed by a
      heterogeneous mean-field approximation, which allows us to keep track of the
      effects of structural disorder in the network. We describe the complex behavior
      of different classes of excitatory and inhibitory components, which give rise to
      a rich dynamical phase diagram as a function of the fraction of inhibitory
      neurons. Using the same mean-field approach, we study and solve a global inverse
      problem: reconstructing the degree probability distributions of the inhibitory
      and excitatory components and the fraction of inhibitory neurons from the
      knowledge of the average synaptic activity field. This approach unveils new
      perspectives on the numerical study of neural network dynamics and the
      possibility of using these models as a test bed for the analysis of experimental
      data. 

PMID- 26871091
TI  - Structural inference for uncertain networks.
AB  - In the study of networked systems such as biological, technological, and social
      networks the available data are often uncertain. Rather than knowing the
      structure of a network exactly, we know the connections between nodes only with a
      certain probability. In this paper we develop methods for the analysis of such
      uncertain data, focusing particularly on the problem of community detection. We
      give a principled maximum-likelihood method for inferring community structure and
      demonstrate how the results can be used to make improved estimates of the true
      structure of the network. Using computer-generated benchmark networks we
      demonstrate that our methods are able to reconstruct known communities more
      accurately than previous approaches based on data thresholding. We also give an
      example application to the detection of communities in a protein-protein
      interaction network. 

PMID- 26871092
TI  - Intellectual interchanges in the history of the massive online open-editing
      encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
AB  - Wikipedia is a free Internet encyclopedia with an enormous amount of content.
      This encyclopedia is written by volunteers with various backgrounds in a
      collective fashion; anyone can access and edit most of the articles. This open
      editing nature may give us prejudice that Wikipedia is an unstable and unreliable
      source; yet many studies suggest that Wikipedia is even more accurate and self
      consistent than traditional encyclopedias. Scholars have attempted to understand
      such extraordinary credibility, but usually used the number of edits as the unit
      of time, without consideration of real time. In this work, we probe the formation
      of such collective intelligence through a systematic analysis using the entire
      history of 34534110 English Wikipedia articles, between 2001 and 2014. From this
      massive data set, we observe the universality of both timewise and lengthwise
      editing scales, which suggests that it is essential to consider the real-time
      dynamics. By considering real time, we find the existence of distinct growth
      patterns that are unobserved by utilizing the number of edits as the unit of
      time. To account for these results, we present a mechanistic model that adopts
      the article editing dynamics based on both editor-editor and editor-article
      interactions. The model successfully generates the key properties of real
      Wikipedia articles such as distinct types of articles for the editing patterns
      characterized by the interrelationship between the numbers of edits and editors,
      and the article size. In addition, the model indicates that infrequently referred
      articles tend to grow faster than frequently referred ones, and articles
      attracting a high motivation to edit counterintuitively reduce the number of
      participants. We suggest that this decay of participants eventually brings
      inequality among the editors, which will become more severe with time. 

PMID- 26871093
TI  - Identifying the direct risk source to contain epidemics more effectively.
AB  - We investigate the impact of people's perceptions regarding the risk of an
      epidemic by analyzing the differences between local and global risk perceptions
      on affecting the epidemic threshold. Three issues are introduced to explain such
      differences: the indirect risk source, the heterogeneous global risk, and
      heterogeneity in individuals' intrinsic susceptibilities. When the direct risk
      source is completely undetected, the local risk perception tends to have no
      effect on the epidemic threshold, and the effect of the local risk is nearly
      equivalent to that of the global risk perception, thereby also suggesting a
      reason why global risk perception cannot affect the epidemic threshold. However,
      there is a surprising effect of the global risk perception: When its
      heterogeneity is sufficiently high, an increased epidemic threshold value
      sometimes may lead to a greater infected ratio. 

PMID- 26871094
TI  - Value of peripheral nodes in controlling multilayer scale-free networks.
AB  - We analyze the controllability of a two-layer network, where driver nodes can be
      chosen randomly only from one layer. Each layer contains a scale-free network
      with directed links and the node dynamics depends on the incoming links from
      other nodes. We combine the in-degree and out-degree values to assign an
      importance value w to each node, and distinguish between peripheral nodes with
      low w and central nodes with high w. Based on numerical simulations, we find that
      the controllable part of the network is larger when choosing low w nodes to
      connect the two layers. The control is as efficient when peripheral nodes are
      driver nodes as it is for the case of more central nodes. However, if we assume a
      cost to utilize nodes that is proportional to their overall degree, utilizing
      peripheral nodes to connect the two layers or to act as driver nodes is not only
      the most cost-efficient solution, it is also the one that performs best in
      controlling the two-layer network among the different interconnecting strategies
      we have tested. 

PMID- 26871095
TI  - Models for microtubule cargo transport coupling the Langevin equation to
      stochastic stepping motor dynamics: Caring about fluctuations.
AB  - One-dimensional models coupling a Langevin equation for the cargo position to
      stochastic stepping dynamics for the motors constitute a relevant framework for
      analyzing multiple-motor microtubule transport. In this work we explore the
      consistence of these models focusing on the effects of the thermal noise. We
      study how to define consistent stepping and detachment rates for the motors as
      functions of the local forces acting on them in such a way that the cargo
      velocity and run-time match previously specified functions of the external load,
      which are set on the base of experimental results. We show that due to the
      influence of the thermal fluctuations this is not a trivial problem, even for the
      single-motor case. As a solution, we propose a motor stepping dynamics which
      considers memory on the motor force. This model leads to better results for
      single-motor transport than the approaches previously considered in the
      literature. Moreover, it gives a much better prediction for the stall force of
      the two-motor case, highly compatible with the experimental findings. We also
      analyze the fast fluctuations of the cargo position and the influence of the
      viscosity, comparing the proposed model to the standard one, and we show how the
      differences on the single-motor dynamics propagate to the multiple motor
      situations. Finally, we find that the one-dimensional character of the models
      impede an appropriate description of the fast fluctuations of the cargo position
      at small loads. We show how this problem can be solved by considering two
      dimensional models. 

PMID- 26871096
TI  - Automated inference procedure for the determination of cell growth parameters.
AB  - The growth rate and carrying capacity of a cell population are key to the
      characterization of the population's viability and to the quantification of its
      responses to perturbations such as drug treatments. Accurate estimation of these
      parameters necessitates careful analysis. Here, we present a rigorous
      mathematical approach for the robust analysis of cell count data, in which all
      the experimental stages of the cell counting process are investigated in detail
      with the machinery of Bayesian probability theory. We advance a flexible
      theoretical framework that permits accurate estimates of the growth parameters of
      cell populations and of the logical correlations between them. Moreover, our
      approach naturally produces an objective metric of avoidable experimental error,
      which may be tracked over time in a laboratory to detect instrumentation failures
      or lapses in protocol. We apply our method to the analysis of cell count data in
      the context of a logistic growth model by means of a user-friendly computer
      program that automates this analysis, and present some samples of its output.
      Finally, we note that a traditional least squares fit can provide misleading
      estimates of parameter values, because it ignores available information with
      regard to the way in which the data have actually been collected. 

PMID- 26871097
TI  - Rigidity of transmembrane proteins determines their cluster shape.
AB  - Protein aggregation in cell membrane is vital for the majority of biological
      functions. Recent experimental results suggest that transmembrane domains of
      proteins such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets have different structural
      rigidities. We use molecular dynamics simulation of a coarse-grained model of
      protein-embedded lipid membranes to investigate the mechanisms of protein
      clustering. For a variety of protein concentrations, our simulations under
      thermal equilibrium conditions reveal that the structural rigidity of
      transmembrane domains dramatically affects interactions and changes the shape of
      the cluster. We have observed stable large aggregates even in the absence of
      hydrophobic mismatch, which has been previously proposed as the mechanism of
      protein aggregation. According to our results, semiflexible proteins aggregate to
      form two-dimensional clusters, while rigid proteins, by contrast, form one
      dimensional string-like structures. By assuming two probable scenarios for the
      formation of a two-dimensional triangular structure, we calculate the lipid
      density around protein clusters and find that the difference in lipid
      distribution around rigid and semiflexible proteins determines the one- or two
      dimensional nature of aggregates. It is found that lipids move faster around
      semiflexible proteins than rigid ones. The aggregation mechanism suggested in
      this paper can be tested by current state-of-the-art experimental facilities. 

PMID- 26871098
TI  - Analytical catch-slip bond model for arbitrary forces and loading rates.
AB  - Some biological bonds exhibit a so-called catch regime, where the bond
      strengthens with increasing load. We build upon recent advances in slip-bond
      kinetics to develop an analytically tractable, microscopic catch-slip bond model.
      To facilitate the analysis of force-spectroscopy data, we calculate the bond's
      mean lifetime and the rupture-force distribution for static loading and linear
      force ramps. Our results are applicable for arbitrary forces and loading rates,
      covering the whole range of conditions found in experiments and all-atom
      simulations. A generalization to account for force transducers of finite
      stiffness is also provided. 

PMID- 26871099
TI  - Theory of pinned fronts.
AB  - The properties of a front between two different phases in the presence of a
      smoothly inhomogeneous external field that takes its critical value at the
      crossing point is analyzed. Two generic scenarios are studied. In the first, the
      system admits a bistable solution and the external field governs the rate in
      which one phase invades the other. The second mechanism corresponds to a
      continuous transition that, in the case of reactive systems, takes the form of a
      transcritical bifurcation at the crossing point. We solve for the front shape and
      for the response of competitive fronts to external noise, showing that static
      properties and also some of the dynamical features cannot discriminate between
      the two scenarios. A reliable indicator turns out to be the fluctuation
      statistics. These take a Gaussian form in the bifurcation case and a double
      peaked shape in a bistable system. Our results are discussed in the context of
      biological processes, such as species and communities dynamics in the presence of
      a resource gradient. 

PMID- 26871100
TI  - Chaperone-assisted translocation of flexible polymers in three dimensions.
AB  - Polymer translocation through a nanometer-scale pore assisted by chaperones
      binding to the polymer is a process encountered in vivo for proteins. Studying
      the relevant models by computer simulations is computationally demanding.
      Accordingly, previous studies are either for stiff polymers in three dimensions
      or flexible polymers in two dimensions. Here, we study chaperone-assisted
      translocation of flexible polymers in three dimensions using Langevin dynamics.
      We show that differences in binding mechanisms, more specifically, whether a
      chaperone can bind to a single site or multiple sites on the polymer, lead to
      substantial differences in translocation dynamics in three dimensions. We show
      that the single-binding mode leads to dynamics that is very much like that in the
      constant-force driven translocation and accordingly mainly determined by tension
      propagation on the cis side. We obtain beta~1.26 for the exponent for the scaling
      of the translocation time with polymer length. This fairly low value can be
      explained by the additional friction due to binding particles. The multiple-site
      binding leads to translocation the dynamics of which is mainly determined by the
      trans side. For this process we obtain beta~1.36. This value can be explained by
      our derivation of beta=4/3 for constant-bias translocation, where translocated
      polymer segments form a globule on the trans side. Our results pave the way for
      understanding and utilizing chaperone-assisted translocation where variations in
      microscopic details lead to rich variations in the emerging dynamics. 

PMID- 26871101
TI  - Elastic regimes of subisostatic athermal fiber networks.
AB  - Athermal models of disordered fibrous networks are highly useful for studying the
      mechanics of elastic networks composed of stiff biopolymers. The underlying
      network architecture is a key aspect that can affect the elastic properties of
      these systems, which include rich linear and nonlinear elasticity. Existing
      computational approaches have focused on both lattice-based and off-lattice
      networks obtained from the random placement of rods. It is not obvious, a priori,
      whether the two architectures have fundamentally similar or different mechanics.
      If they are different, it is not clear which of these represents a better model
      for biological networks. Here, we show that both approaches are essentially
      equivalent for the same network connectivity, provided the networks are
      subisostatic with respect to central force interactions. Moreover, for a given
      subisostatic connectivity, we even find that lattice-based networks in both two
      and three dimensions exhibit nearly identical nonlinear elastic response. We
      provide a description of the linear mechanics for both architectures in terms of
      a scaling function. We also show that the nonlinear regime is dominated by fiber
      bending and that stiffening originates from the stabilization of subisostatic
      networks by stress. We propose a generalized relation for this regime in terms of
      the self-generated normal stresses that develop under deformation. Different
      network architectures have different susceptibilities to the normal stress but
      essentially exhibit the same nonlinear mechanics. Such a stiffening mechanism has
      been shown to successfully capture the nonlinear mechanics of collagen networks. 

PMID- 26871102
TI  - Individuality and universality in the growth-division laws of single E. coli
      cells.
AB  - The mean size of exponentially dividing Escherichia coli cells in different
      nutrient conditions is known to depend on the mean growth rate only. However, the
      joint fluctuations relating cell size, doubling time, and individual growth rate
      are only starting to be characterized. Recent studies in bacteria reported a
      universal trend where the spread in both size and doubling times is a linear
      function of the population means of these variables. Here we combine experiments
      and theory and use scaling concepts to elucidate the constraints posed by the
      second observation on the division control mechanism and on the joint
      fluctuations of sizes and doubling times. We found that scaling relations based
      on the means collapse both size and doubling-time distributions across different
      conditions and explain how the shape of their joint fluctuations deviates from
      the means. Our data on these joint fluctuations highlight the importance of cell
      individuality: Single cells do not follow the dependence observed for the means
      between size and either growth rate or inverse doubling time. Our calculations
      show that these results emerge from a broad class of division control mechanisms
      requiring a certain scaling form of the "division hazard rate function," which
      defines the probability rate of dividing as a function of measurable parameters.
      This "model free" approach gives a rationale for the universal body-size
      distributions observed in microbial ecosystems across many microbial species,
      presumably dividing with multiple mechanisms. Additionally, our experiments show
      a crossover between fast and slow growth in the relation between individual-cell
      growth rate and division time, which can be understood in terms of different
      regimes of genome replication control. 

PMID- 26871103
TI  - Swing motion as a diffusion mechanism of lipid bilayers in a gel phase.
AB  - Lipid bilayers are a model system for studying the properties of cell membranes.
      For lipid bilayers of a single lipid component, there is a phase transition from
      a fluid phase to a gel phase as the temperature is decreased. The dynamic
      behavior of lipids in the gel phase is interesting: some models show dynamic
      heterogeneity with a large disparity in timescales between fast and slow
      molecules, and a spatial segregation of the slow molecules. In this paper we
      study the dynamics of coarse-grained models of lipid bilayers using the dry
      Martini, Lennard-Jones Martini, polarizable Martini, and BMW models. All four
      models show similar dynamical behaviors in the gel phase although the transition
      temperature is model-dependent. We find that the primary mode of transport in the
      gel phase is a hopping of the lipid molecules. Hopping is seen in both the
      translational and rotational dynamics, which are correlated, i.e., the lipid
      molecules display a swing-like motion in the gel phase. 

PMID- 26871104
TI  - Single-molecule force measurements of the polymerizing dimeric subunit of von
      Willebrand factor.
AB  - Von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers are large adhesive proteins that are
      essential to the initiation of hemostatic plugs at sites of vascular injury. The
      binding of VWF multimers to platelets, as well as VWF proteolysis, is regulated
      by shear stresses that alter VWF multimeric conformation. We used single molecule
      manipulation with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the effect of high
      fluid shear stress on soluble dimeric and multimeric forms of VWF. VWF dimers are
      the smallest unit that polymerizes to construct large VWF multimers. The
      resistance to mechanical unfolding with or without exposure to shear stress was
      used to evaluate VWF conformational forms. Our data indicate that, unlike
      recombinant VWF multimers (RVWF), recombinant dimeric VWF (RDVWF) unfolding force
      is not altered by high shear stress (100dynes/cm^{2} for 3 min at 37^{?}C). We
      conclude that under the shear conditions used (100dynes/cm^{2} for 3 min at
      37^{?}C), VWF dimers do not self-associate into a conformation analogous to that
      attained by sheared large VWF multimers. 

PMID- 26871105
TI  - Inducing rostrum interfacial waves by fluid-solid coupling in a Chinese river
      dolphin (Lipotesvexillifer).
AB  - Through numerically solving the appropriate wave equations, propagation of
      biosonar signals in a Chinese river dolphin (baiji) was studied. The interfacial
      waves along the rostrum-tissue interfaces, including both compressional
      (longitudinal) and shear (transverse) waves in the solid rostrum through fluid
      solid coupling were examined. The baiji's rostrum was found to effect acoustic
      beam formation not only as an interfacial wave generator but also as a sound
      reflector. The wave propagation patterns in the solid rostrum were found to
      significantly change the wave movement through the bone. Vibrations in the
      rostrum, expressed in solid displacement, initially increased but eventually
      decreased from posterior to anterior sides, indicating a complex physical
      process. Furthermore, the comparisons among seven cases, including the
      combination of (1) the rostrum, melon, and air sacs; (2) rostrum-air sacs; (3)
      rostrum-melon; (4) only rostrum; (5) air sacs-melon; (6) only air sacs; and (7)
      only melon revealed that the cases including the rostrum were better able to
      approach the complete system by inducing rostrum-tissue interfacial waves and
      reducing the differences in main beam angle and -3 dB beam width. The interfacial
      waves in the rostrum were considered complementary with reflection to determine
      the obbligato role of the rostrum in the baiji's biosonar emission. The far-field
      beams formed from complete fluid-solid models and non-fluid-solid models were
      compared to reveal the effects brought by the consideration of shear waves of the
      solid structures of the baiji. The results may provide useful information for
      further understanding the role of the rostrum in this odontocete species. 

PMID- 26871106
TI  - Wavelength selection of rippling patterns in myxobacteria.
AB  - Rippling patterns of myxobacteria appear in starving colonies before they
      aggregate to form fruiting bodies. These periodic traveling cell density waves
      arise from the coordination of individual cell reversals, resulting from an
      internal clock regulating them and from contact signaling during bacterial
      collisions. Here we revisit a mathematical model of rippling in myxobacteria due
      to Igoshin et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 14913 (2001)PNASA60027
      842410.1073/pnas.221579598 and Phys. Rev. E 70, 041911 (2004)PLEEE81539
      375510.1103/PhysRevE.70.041911]. Bacteria in this model are phase oscillators
      with an extra internal phase through which they are coupled to a mean field of
      oppositely moving bacteria. Previously, patterns for this model were obtained
      only by numerical methods, and it was not possible to find their wave number
      analytically. We derive an evolution equation for the reversal point density that
      selects the pattern wave number in the weak signaling limit, shows the validity
      of the selection rule by solving numerically the model equations, and describes
      other stable patterns in the strong signaling limit. The nonlocal mean-field
      coupling tends to decohere and confine patterns. Under appropriate circumstances,
      it can annihilate the patterns leaving a constant density state via a
      nonequilibrium phase transition reminiscent of destruction of synchronization in
      the Kuramoto model. 

PMID- 26871107
TI  - Membrane tubulation from giant lipid vesicles in alternating electric fields.
AB  - We report on the formation of tubular membrane protrusions from giant unilamellar
      vesicles in alternating electric fields. The construction of the experimental
      chamber permitted the application of external AC fields with strength of dozens
      of V/mm and kHz frequency during relatively long time periods (several minutes).
      Besides the vesicle electrodeformation from quasispherical to prolate ellipsoidal
      shape, the formation of long tubular membrane protrusions with length of up to
      several vesicle diameters, arising from the vesicular surface in the field
      direction, was registered and analyzed. The threshold electric field at which the
      electro-induced protrusions appeared was lower than the field strengths inducing
      membrane electroporation. 

PMID- 26871108
TI  - Cell-substrate impedance fluctuations of single amoeboid cells encode cell-shape
      and adhesion dynamics.
AB  - We show systematic electrical impedance measurements of single motile cells on
      microelectrodes. Wild-type cells and mutant strains were studied that differ in
      their cell-substrate adhesion strength. We recorded the projected cell area by
      time-lapse microscopy and observed irregular oscillations of the cell shape.
      These oscillations were correlated with long-term variations in the impedance
      signal. Superposed to these long-term trends, we observed fluctuations in the
      impedance signal. Their magnitude clearly correlated with the adhesion strength,
      suggesting that strongly adherent cells display more dynamic cell-substrate
      interactions. 

PMID- 26871109
TI  - Transient amplification limits noise suppression in biochemical networks.
AB  - Cell physiology is orchestrated, on a molecular level, through complex networks
      of biochemical reactions. The propagation of random fluctuations through these
      networks can significantly impact cell behavior, raising challenging questions
      about how network design shapes the cell's ability to suppress or exploit these
      fluctuations. Here, drawing on insights from statistical physics, fluid dynamics,
      and systems biology, we explore how transient amplification phenomena arising
      from network connectivity naturally limit a biochemical system's ability to
      suppress small fluctuations around steady-state behaviors. We find that even a
      simple system consisting of two variables linked by a single interaction is
      capable of amplifying small fluctuations orders of magnitude beyond the levels
      predicted by linear stability theory. We also find that adding additional
      interactions can promote further amplification, even when these interactions
      implement classic design strategies known to suppress fluctuations. These results
      establish that transient amplification is an essential factor determining
      baseline noise levels in stable intracellular networks. Significantly, our
      analysis is not bound to specific systems or interaction mechanisms: we find that
      noise amplification is an emergent phenomenon found near steady states in any
      network containing sufficiently strong interactions, regardless of its form or
      function. 

PMID- 26871110
TI  - Closed-loop feedback control and bifurcation analysis of epileptiform activity
      via optogenetic stimulation in a mathematical model of human cortex.
AB  - Optogenetics provides a method of neuron stimulation that has high spatial,
      temporal, and cell-type specificity. Here we present a model of optogenetic
      feedback control that targets the inhibitory population, which expresses light
      sensitive channelrhodopsin-2 channels, in a mean-field model of undifferentiated
      cortex that is driven to seizures. The inhibitory population is illuminated with
      an intensity that is a function of electrode measurements obtained via the
      cortical model. We test the efficacy of this control method on seizurelike
      activity observed in two parameter spaces of the cortical model that most closely
      correspond to seizures observed in patients. We also compare the effect of closed
      loop and open-loop control on seizurelike activity using a less-complicated
      ordinary differential equation model of the undifferentiated cortex in parameter
      space. Seizurelike activity is successfully suppressed in both parameter planes
      using optimal illumination intensities less likely to have adverse effects on
      cortical tissue. 

PMID- 26871111
TI  - Nonuniform elastic properties of macromolecules and effect of prestrain on their
      continuum nature.
AB  - Many experimental and theoretical methods have been developed to calculate the
      coarse-grained continuum elastic properties of macromolecules. However, all of
      those methods assume uniform elastic properties. Following the continuum
      mechanics framework, we present a systematic way of calculating the nonuniform
      effective elastic properties from atomic thermal fluctuations obtained from
      molecular dynamics simulation at any coarse-grained scale using a potential of
      the mean-force approach. We present the results for a mutant of Sesbania mosaic
      virus capsid, where we calculate the elastic moduli at different scales and
      observe an apparent problem with the chosen reference configuration in some
      cases. We present a possible explanation using an elastic network model, where
      inducing random prestrain results in a similar behavior. This phenomenon provides
      a novel insight into the continuum nature of macromolecules and defines the
      limits on details that the elasticity theory can capture. Further investigation
      into prestrains could elucidate important aspects of conformational dynamics of
      macromolecules. 

PMID- 26871112
TI  - Determination of linear viscoelastic properties of an entangled polymer melt by
      probe rheology simulations.
AB  - Particle rheology is used to extract the linear viscoelastic properties of an
      entangled polymer melt from molecular dynamics simulations. The motion of a
      stiff, approximately spherical particle is tracked in both passive and active
      modes. We demonstrate that the dynamic modulus of the melt can be extracted under
      certain limitations using this technique. As shown before for unentangled chains
      [Karim et al., Phys. Rev. E 86, 051501 (2012)PLEEE81539
      375510.1103/PhysRevE.86.051501], the frequency range of applicability is
      substantially expanded when both particle and medium inertia are properly
      accounted for by using our inertial version of the generalized Stokes-Einstein
      relation (IGSER). The system used here introduces an entanglement length d_{T},
      in addition to those length scales already relevant: monomer bead size d, probe
      size R, polymer radius of gyration R_{g}, simulation box size L, shear wave
      penetration length Delta, and wave period Lambda. Previously, we demonstrated a
      number of restrictions necessary to obtain the relevant fluid properties:
      continuum approximation breaks down when d?Lambda; medium inertia is important
      and IGSER is required when R?Lambda; and the probe should not experience
      hydrodynamic interaction with its periodic images, L?Delta. These restrictions
      are also observed here. A simple scaling argument for entangled polymers shows
      that the simulation box size must scale with polymer molecular weight as
      M_{w}^{3}. Continuum analysis requires the existence of an added mass to the
      probe particle from the entrained medium but was not observed in the earlier work
      for unentangled chains. We confirm here that this added mass is necessary only
      when the thickness L_{S} of the shell around the particle that contains the added
      mass, L_{S}>d. We also demonstrate that the IGSER can be used to predict particle
      displacement over a given timescale from knowledge of medium viscoelasticity;
      such ability will be of interest for designing nanoparticle-based drug delivery. 

PMID- 26871113
TI  - Nature of the collapse transition in interacting self-avoiding trails.
AB  - We study the interacting self-avoiding trail (ISAT) model on a Bethe lattice of
      general coordination q and on a Husimi lattice built with squares and
      coordination q=4. The exact grand-canonical solutions of the model are obtained,
      considering that up to K monomers can be placed on a site and associating a
      weight omega_{i} with an i-fold visited site. Very rich phase diagrams are found
      with nonpolymerized, regular polymerized, and dense polymerized phases separated
      by lines (or surfaces) of continuous and discontinuous transitions. For a Bethe
      lattice with q=4 and K=2, the collapse transition is identified with a bicritical
      point and the collapsed phase is associated with the dense polymerized
      (solidlike) phase instead of the regular polymerized (liquidlike) phase. A
      similar result is found for the Husimi lattice, which may explain the difference
      between the collapse transition for ISATs and for interacting self-avoiding walks
      on the square lattice. For q=6 and K=3 (studied on the Bethe lattice only), a
      more complex phase diagram is found, with two critical planes and two coexistence
      surfaces, separated by two tricritical and two critical end-point lines meeting
      at a multicritical point. The mapping of the phase diagrams in the canonical
      ensemble is discussed and compared with simulational results for regular
      lattices. 

PMID- 26871114
TI  - Shell formation in short like-charged polyelectrolytes in a harmonic trap.
AB  - Inspired by recent experiments and simulations on pattern formation in
      biomolecules by optical tweezers, a theoretical description based on the
      reference interaction site model (RISM) is developed to calculate the equilibrium
      density profiles of small polyelectrolytes in an external potential. The
      formalism is applied to the specific case of a finite number of Gaussian and
      rodlike polyelectrolytes trapped in a harmonic potential. The density profiles of
      the polyelectrolytes are studied over a range of lengths and numbers of
      polyelectrolytes in the trap, and the strength of the trap potential. For smaller
      polymers we recover the results for point charges. In the mean field limit the
      longer polymers, unlike point charges, form a shell at the boundary layer. When
      the interpolymer correlations are included, the density profiles of the polymers
      show sharp shells even at weaker trap strengths. The implications of these
      results are discussed. 

PMID- 26871115
TI  - Strong-coupling electrostatic theory of polymer counterions close to planar
      charges.
AB  - Strong-coupling phenomena, such as like-charge macroion attraction, opposite
      charged macroion repulsion, charge renormalization, and charge inversion, are
      known to be mediated by multivalent counterions. Most theories treat the
      counterions as point charges and describe the system by a single coupling
      parameter that measures the strength of the Coulomb interactions. In many
      biological systems, the counterions are highly charged and have finite sizes and
      can be well-described by polyelectrolytes. The shapes and orientations of these
      polymer counterions play a major role in the thermodynamics of these systems. In
      this work we apply a field-theoretic description in the strong-coupling regime to
      the polymer counterions in the presence of a fixed charge distribution. We work
      out the special cases of rodlike polymer counterions confined by one, and two
      charged walls, respectively. The effects of the geometry of the rodlike
      counterions and the excluded volume of the walls on the density, pressure, and
      free energy of the rodlike counterions are discussed. 

PMID- 26871116
TI  - Poisson-Boltzmann thermodynamics of counterions confined by curved hard walls.
AB  - We consider a set of identical mobile pointlike charges (counterions) confined to
      a domain with curved hard walls carrying a uniform fixed surface charge density,
      the system as a whole being electroneutral. Three domain geometries are
      considered: a pair of parallel plates, the cylinder, and the sphere. The particle
      system in thermal equilibrium is assumed to be described by the nonlinear Poisson
      Boltzmann theory. While the effectively one-dimensional plates and the two
      dimensional cylinder have already been solved, the three-dimensional sphere
      problem is not integrable. It is shown that the contact density of particles at
      the charged surface is determined by a first-order Abel differential equation of
      the second kind which is a counterpart of Enig's equation in the critical theory
      of gravitation and combustion or explosion. This equation enables us to construct
      the exact series solutions of the contact density in the regions of small and
      large surface charge densities. The formalism provides, within the mean-field
      Poisson-Boltzmann framework, the complete thermodynamics of counterions inside a
      charged sphere (salt-free system). 

PMID- 26871117
TI  - Analysis of spatial correlations in a model two-dimensional liquid through
      eigenvalues and eigenvectors of atomic-level stress matrices.
AB  - Considerations of local atomic-level stresses associated with each atom represent
      a particular approach to address structures of disordered materials at the atomic
      level. We studied structural correlations in a two-dimensional model liquid using
      molecular dynamics simulations in the following way. We diagonalized the atomic
      level stress tensor of every atom and investigated correlations between the
      eigenvalues and orientations of the eigenvectors of different atoms as a function
      of distance between them. It is demonstrated that the suggested approach can be
      used to characterize structural correlations in disordered materials. In
      particular, we found that changes in the stress correlation functions on decrease
      of temperature are the most pronounced for the pairs of atoms with separation
      distance that corresponds to the first minimum in the pair density function. We
      also show that the angular dependencies of the stress correlation functions
      previously reported by Wu et al. [Phys. Rev. E 91, 032301
      (2015)10.1103/PhysRevE.91.032301] do not represent the anisotropic Eshelby's
      stress fields, as it is suggested, but originate in the rotational properties of
      the stress tensors. 

PMID- 26871118
TI  - Theory for the dynamics of dense systems of athermal self-propelled particles.
AB  - We present a derivation of a recently proposed theory for the time dependence of
      density fluctuations in stationary states of strongly interacting, athermal, self
      propelled particles. The derivation consists of two steps. First, we start from
      the equation of motion for the joint distribution of particles' positions and
      self-propulsions and we integrate out the self-propulsions. In this way we derive
      an approximate, many-particle evolution equation for the probability distribution
      of the particles' positions. Second, we use this evolution equation to describe
      the time dependence of steady-state density correlations. We derive a memory
      function representation of the density correlation function and then we use a
      factorization approximation to obtain an approximate expression for the memory
      function. In the final equation of motion for the density correlation function
      the nonequilibrium character of the active system manifests itself through the
      presence of a new steady-state correlation function that quantifies spatial
      correlations of the velocities of the particles. This correlation function enters
      into the frequency term, and thus it describes the dependence of the short-time
      dynamics on the properties of the self-propulsions. More importantly, the
      correlation function of particles' velocities enters into the vertex of the
      memory function and through the vertex it modifies the long-time glassy dynamics.

PMID- 26871119
TI  - Two-scale evolution during shear reversal in dense suspensions.
AB  - We use shear-reversal simulations to explore the rheology of dense, non-Brownian,
      noninertial, suspensions, resolving lubrication forces between neighboring
      particles and modeling particle surface contacts. The transient stress response
      to an abrupt reversal of the direction of shear shows rate-independent,
      nonmonotonic behavior, capturing the salient features of the corresponding
      classical experiments. Based on analyses of the hydrodynamic and particle contact
      stresses and related contact networks, we demonstrate distinct responses at small
      and large strains, associated with contact breakage and structural reorientation,
      respectively, emphasizing the importance of particle contacts. Consequently, the
      hydrodynamic and contact stresses evolve over disparate strain scales and with
      opposite trends, resulting in nonmonotonic behavior when combined. We further
      elucidate the roles of particle roughness and repulsion in determining the
      microstructure and hence the stress response at each scale. 

PMID- 26871120
TI  - Charge reversal at a planar boundary between two dielectrics.
AB  - Despite the ubiquitous character and relevance of the electric double layer in
      the entire realm of interface and colloid science, very little is known of the
      effect that surface heterogeneity exerts on the underlying mechanisms of ion
      adsorption. Herein, computer simulations offer a perspective that, in sharp
      contrast to the homogeneously charged surface, discrete groups promote
      multivalent counterion binding, leading to charge reversal but possibly having
      not a sign change of the electrophoretic mobility. Counterintuitively, the
      introduction of dielectric images yields a significantly greater accumulation of
      counterions, which further facilitates the magnitude of charge reversal. The
      reported results are very sensitive to both the degree of ion hydration and the
      representation of surface charges. Our findings shed light on the mechanism for
      charge reversal over a broad range of coupling regimes operating the adsorption
      of counterions through surface group bridging attraction with their own images
      and provide opportunities for experimental studies and theoretical development. 

PMID- 26871121
TI  - Nonholonomic diffusion of a stochastic sled.
AB  - A sled is a stylized mechanical model of a system which is constrained to move in
      space in a specific orientation, i.e., in the direction of the runners of the
      sled or a blade. The negation of motion transverse to the runners renders the
      sled a nonholonomic mechanical system. In this paper we report on the unexpected
      and fascinating richness of the dynamics of such a sled if it is subject to
      random forces. Specifically we show that the ensuing random dynamics is
      characterized by relatively smooth sections of motion interspersed by episodes of
      persistent tumbling (change of orientation) and sharp reversals resembling the
      random walks of bacterial cells. In the presence of self-propulsion, the
      diffusivity of the sled can be enhanced and suppressed depending on the
      directionality and strength of the propulsive force. 

PMID- 26871123
TI  - Colloidal particles driven across periodic optical-potential-energy landscapes.
AB  - We study the motion of colloidal particles driven by a constant force over a
      periodic optical potential energy landscape. First, the average particle velocity
      is found as a function of the driving velocity and the wavelength of the optical
      potential energy landscape. The relationship between average particle velocity
      and driving velocity is found to be well described by a theoretical model
      treating the landscape as sinusoidal, but only at small trap spacings. At larger
      trap spacings, a nonsinusoidal model for the landscape must be used.
      Subsequently, the critical velocity required for a particle to move across the
      landscape is determined as a function of the wavelength of the landscape.
      Finally, the velocity of a particle driven at a velocity far exceeding the
      critical driving velocity is examined. Both of these results are again well
      described by the two theoretical routes for small and large trap spacings,
      respectively. Brownian motion is found to have a significant effect on the
      critical driving velocity but a negligible effect when the driving velocity is
      high. 

PMID- 26871122
TI  - Improved efficiency of heat generation in nonlinear dynamics of magnetic
      nanoparticles.
AB  - The deterministic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation has been used to investigate
      the nonlinear dynamics of magnetization and the specific loss power in magnetic
      nanoparticles with uniaxial anisotropy driven by a rotating magnetic field. We
      propose a new type of applied field, which is "simultaneously rotating and
      alternating," i.e., the direction of the rotating external field changes
      periodically. We show that a more efficient heat generation by magnetic
      nanoparticles is possible with this new type of applied field and we suggest its
      possible experimental realization in cancer therapy which requires the
      enhancement of loss energies. 

PMID- 26871124
TI  - Quantitative approximation schemes for glasses.
AB  - By means of a systematic expansion around the infinite-dimensional solution, we
      obtain an approximation scheme to compute properties of glasses in low
      dimensions. The resulting equations take as input the thermodynamic and
      structural properties of the equilibrium liquid, and from this they allow one to
      compute properties of the glass. They are therefore similar in spirit to the Mode
      Coupling approximation scheme. Our scheme becomes exact, by construction, in
      dimension d->infinity, and it can be improved systematically by adding more terms
      in the expansion. 

PMID- 26871125
TI  - Gelation in mixtures of polymers and bidisperse colloids.
AB  - We investigated the effects of varying the volume fraction of large particles (r)
      on the linear rheology and microstructure of mixtures of polymers and bidisperse
      colloids, in which the ratio of the small and large particle diameters was
      alpha=0.31 or alpha=0.45. Suspensions formulated at a total volume fraction of
      phi_{T}=0.15 and a constant concentration of polymer in the free volume
      c/c^{*}~0.7 contained solid-like gels for small r and fluids or fluids of
      clusters at large r. The solid-like rheology and microstructure of these
      suspensions changed little with r when r was small, and fluidized only when
      r>0.8. By contrast, dense suspensions with phi_{T}=0.40 and alpha=0.31 contained
      solid-like gels at all concentrations of large particles and exhibited only
      modest rheological and microstructural changes upon varying the volume fraction
      of large particles. These results suggest that the effect of particle-size
      dispersity on the properties of colloid-polymer mixtures are asymmetric in
      particle size and are most pronounced near a gelation boundary. 

PMID- 26871127
TI  - Long-lived anomalous thermal diffusion induced by elastic cell membranes on
      nearby particles.
AB  - The physical approach of a small particle (virus, medical drug) to the cell
      membrane represents the crucial first step before active internalization and is
      governed by thermal diffusion. Using a fully analytical theory we show that the
      stretching and bending of the elastic membrane by the approaching particle
      induces a memory in the system, which leads to anomalous diffusion, even though
      the particle is immersed in a purely Newtonian liquid. For typical cell membranes
      the transient subdiffusive regime extends beyond 10 ms and can enhance residence
      times and possibly binding rates up to 50%. Our analytical predictions are
      validated by numerical simulations. 

PMID- 26871126
TI  - Self-propulsion and interactions of catalytic particles in a chemically active
      medium.
AB  - Enzymatic "machines," such as catalytic rods or colloids, can self-propel and
      interact by generating gradients of their substrates. We theoretically
      investigate the behaviors of such machines in a chemically active environment
      where their catalytic substrates are continuously synthesized and destroyed, as
      occurs in living cells. We show how the kinetic properties of the medium modulate
      self-propulsion and pairwise interactions between machines, with the latter
      controlled by a tunable characteristic interaction range analogous to the Debye
      screening length in an electrolytic solution. Finally, we discuss the effective
      force arising between interacting machines and possible biological applications,
      such as partitioning of bacterial plasmids. 

PMID- 26871129
TI  - Nematic liquid crystals in a spatially step-wise magnetic field.
AB  - We study the molecular reorientation induced by a textured external field in a
      nematic liquid crystal (nLC). In particular, we consider an infinitely wide cell
      with strong planar anchoring boundary conditions, subjected to a spatially
      periodic piecewise magnetic field. In the framework of the Frank's continuum
      theory, we use the perturbation analysis to study in detail the field-induced
      splay-bend Freedericksz transition. A numerical approach, based on the finite
      differences method, is instead employed to solve the fully nonlinear equations.
      At high field strengths, an analytic approach allows us to draw the bulk profile
      of the director in terms of elliptic integrals. Finally, through the application
      of the Bruggeman texture hydrodynamics theory, we qualitatively discuss on the
      LCs piecewise director configuration under sliding interfaces, which can be
      adopted to actively regulate friction. Our study opens the pathway for the
      application of highly controlled nLC texturing for tribotronics. 

PMID- 26871128
TI  - Influence of molecular-weight polydispersity on the glass transition of polymers.
AB  - It is well known that the polymer glass transition temperature T_{g} is dependent
      on molecular weight, but the role of molecular-weight polydispersity on T_{g} is
      unclear. Using molecular-dynamics simulations, we clarify that for polymers with
      the same number-average molecular weight, the molecular-weight distribution
      profile (either in Schulz-Zimm form or in bimodal form) has very little influence
      on the glass transition temperature T_{g}, the average segment dynamics (monomer
      motion, bond orientation relaxation, and torsion transition), and the relaxation
      time spectrum, which are related to the local nature of the glass transition. By
      analyzing monomer motions in different chains, we find that the motion
      distribution of monomers is altered by molecular-weight polydispersity. Molecular
      weight polydispersity dramatically enhances the dynamic heterogeneity of monomer
      diffusive motions after breaking out of the "cage," but it has a weak influence
      on the dynamic heterogeneity of the short time scales and the transient spatial
      correlation between temporarily localized monomers. The stringlike cooperative
      motion is also not influenced by molecular-weight polydispersity, supporting the
      idea that stringlike collective motion is not strongly correlated with chain
      connectivity. 

PMID- 26871130
TI  - Electric-field-induced weakly chaotic transients in ferroelectric liquid
      crystals.
AB  - Nonlinear dynamics induced in surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals by
      strong alternating external electric fields is studied both theoretically and
      experimentally. As has already been shown, molecular reorientations induced by
      sufficiently strong fields of high-enough frequencies can reveal a long transient
      behavior that has a weakly chaotic character. The resulting complex dynamics of
      ferroelectric liquid crystals can be considered not only as a consequence of
      irregular motions of particular molecules but also as a repercussion of a surface
      enforced partial decorrelation of nonlinear molecular motions within smectic
      layers. To achieve more insight into the nature of this phenomenon and to show
      that the underlying complex field-induced behavior of smectic liquid crystals is
      not exceptional, ranges of system parameters for which the chaotic behavior
      occurs are determined. It is proved that there exists a large enough set of
      initial phase trajectory points, for which weakly chaotic long-time transitory
      phenomena occur, and, thereby, it is demonstrated that such a chaotic behavior
      can be regarded as being typical for strongly field-driven thin liquid crystal
      systems. Additionally, the influence of low-amplitude random noise on the
      duration of the transient processes is numerically studied. The strongly
      nonlinear contribution to the electro-optic response, experimentally determined
      for liquid crystal samples at frequencies lower than the actual field frequency,
      is also analyzed for long-time signal sequences. Using a statistical approach to
      distinguish numerically response signals of samples from noise generated by
      measuring devices, it is shown that the distribution of sample signals distinctly
      differs from the device noise. This evidently corroborates the occurrence of the
      nonlinear low-frequency effect, found earlier for different surface stabilized
      liquid crystal samples. 

PMID- 26871131
TI  - Tunable topological valence in nematic shells on spherocylindrical colloidal
      particles.
AB  - We perform molecular dynamics simulations of the orientational ordering on
      nematic shells delimited by spherocylindrical nanoscopic colloidal particles. We
      show that under conditions of degenerate planar anchoring, the equilibrium
      director field structure in these shells exhibits pairs of +1/2 topological
      defects at the poles of spherical cups in the absence of an external electric
      field. In addition, a certain number of pairs of +/-1/2 defects occurs on the
      spherical cups far from the poles, thus resulting in a total of eight valence
      spots. A strong field applied along the main spherocylindrical axis removes the
      +/-1/2 defect pairs while it coalesces the polar ones into a single +1
      topological defect. A strong transverse field destroys all defects on the
      spherical cups but generates four +1/2 defects in the cylindrical part.
      Therefore, an external field can be used to control the number of valence centers
      in spherocylindrical nematic shells, thus unveiling their capability of acting as
      multivalent building blocks for nanophotonic devices. 

PMID- 26871132
TI  - Phases and structures of sunset yellow and disodium cromoglycate mixtures in
      water.
AB  - We study phases and structures of mixtures of two representative chromonic liquid
      crystal materials, sunset yellow FCF (SSY) and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), in
      water. A variety of combinations of isotropic, nematic (N), and columnar (also
      called M) phases are observed depending on their concentrations, and a phase
      diagram is made. We find a tendency for DSCG-rich regions to show higher-order
      phases while SSY-rich regions show lower-order ones. We observe uniform
      mesophases only when one of the materials is sparse in the N phases. Their
      miscibility in M phases is so low that essentially complete phase separation
      occurs. X-ray scattering and spectroscopy studies confirm that SSY and DSCG
      molecules do not mix when they form chromonic aggregates and neither do their
      aggregates when they form M phases. 

PMID- 26871133
TI  - Analytical description of the Saturn-ring defect in nematic colloids.
AB  - We derive an analytical formula for the Saturn-ring configuration around a small
      colloidal particle suspended in nematic liquid crystal. In particular we obtain
      an explicit expression for the ring radius and its dependence on the anchoring
      energy. We work within Landau-de Gennes theory: Nematic alignment is described by
      a tensorial order parameter. For nematic colloids this model had previously been
      used exclusively to perform numerical computations. Our method demonstrates that
      the tensorial theory can also be used to obtain analytical results, suggesting a
      different approach to the understanding of nematic colloidal interactions. 

PMID- 26871134
TI  - Experimental realization of an incompressible Newtonian fluid in two dimensions.
AB  - The Brownian diffusion of micron-scale inclusions in freely suspended smectic-A
      liquid crystal films a few nanometers thick and several millimeters in diameter
      depends strongly on the air surrounding the film. Near atmospheric pressure, the
      three-dimensionally coupled film-gas system is well described by Hughes
      Pailthorpe-White hydrodynamic theory but at lower pressure (p?70 torr), the
      diffusion coefficient increases substantially, tending in high vacuum toward the
      two-dimensional limit where it is determined by film size. In the absence of air,
      the films are found to be a nearly ideal physical realization of a two
      dimensional, incompressible Newtonian fluid. 

PMID- 26871135
TI  - Width and extremal height distributions of fluctuating interfaces with window
      boundary conditions.
AB  - We present a detailed study of squared local roughness (SLRDs) and local extremal
      height distributions (LEHDs), calculated in windows of lateral size l, for
      interfaces in several universality classes, in substrate dimensions d_{s}=1 and
      2. We show that their cumulants follow a Family-Vicsek-type scaling, and, at
      early times, when xi?l (xi is the correlation length), the rescaled SLRDs are
      given by log-normal distributions, with their nth cumulant scaling as (xi/l)^{(n
      1)d_{s}}. This gives rise to an interesting temporal scaling for such cumulants
      as <w_{n}>_{c}~t^{gamma_{n}}, with gamma_{n}=2nbeta+(n-1)d_{s}/z=[2n+(n
      1)d_{s}/alpha]beta. This scaling is analytically proved for the Edwards-Wilkinson
      (EW) and random deposition interfaces and numerically confirmed for other
      classes. In general, it is featured by small corrections, and, thus, it yields
      exponents gamma_{n} (and, consequently, alpha,beta and z) in good agreement with
      their respective universality class. Thus, it is a useful framework for numerical
      and experimental investigations, where it is usually hard to estimate the dynamic
      z and mainly the (global) roughness alpha exponents. The stationary (for xi?l)
      SLRDs and LEHDs of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) class are also investigated,
      and, for some models, strong finite-size corrections are found. However, we
      demonstrate that good evidence of their universality can be obtained through
      successive extrapolations of their cumulant ratios for long times and large l. We
      also show that SLRDs and LEHDs are the same for flat and curved KPZ interfaces. 

PMID- 26871136
TI  - Variational formulation and numerical accuracy of a quantitative phase-field
      model for binary alloy solidification with two-sided diffusion.
AB  - We present the variational formulation of a quantitative phase-field model for
      isothermal low-speed solidification in a binary dilute alloy with diffusion in
      the solid. In the present formulation, cross-coupling terms between the phase
      field and composition field, including the so-called antitrapping current,
      naturally arise in the time evolution equations. One of the essential ingredients
      in the present formulation is the utilization of tensor diffusivity instead of
      scalar diffusivity. In an asymptotic analysis, it is shown that the correct
      mapping between the present variational model and a free-boundary problem for
      alloy solidification with an arbitrary value of solid diffusivity is successfully
      achieved in the thin-interface limit due to the cross-coupling terms and tensor
      diffusivity. Furthermore, we investigate the numerical performance of the
      variational model and also its nonvariational versions by carrying out two
      dimensional simulations of free dendritic growth. The nonvariational model with
      tensor diffusivity shows excellent convergence of results with respect to the
      interface thickness. 

PMID- 26871137
TI  - Protocol dependence of the jamming transition.
AB  - We propose a theoretical framework for predicting the protocol dependence of the
      jamming transition for frictionless spherical particles that interact via
      repulsive contact forces. We study isostatic jammed disk packings obtained via
      two protocols: isotropic compression and simple shear. We show that for
      frictionless systems, all jammed packings can be obtained via either protocol.
      However, the probability to obtain a particular jammed packing depends on the
      packing-generation protocol. We predict the average shear strain required to jam
      initially unjammed isotropically compressed packings from the density of jammed
      packings, shape of their basins of attraction, and path traversed in
      configuration space. We compare our predictions to simulations of shear strain
      induced jamming and find quantitative agreement. We also show that the packing
      fraction range, over which shear strain-induced jamming occurs, tends to zero in
      the large system limit for frictionless packings with overdamped dynamics. 

PMID- 26871138
TI  - Scaling collapse at the jamming transition.
AB  - The jamming transition of particles with finite-range interactions is
      characterized by a variety of critical phenomena, including power-law
      distributions of marginal contacts. We numerically study a recently proposed
      simple model of jamming, which is conjectured to lie in the same universality
      class as the jamming of spheres in all dimensions. We extract numerical estimates
      of the critical exponents, theta=0.451+/-0.006 and gamma=0.404+/-0.004, that
      match the exponents observed in sphere packing systems. We analyze finite-size
      scaling effects that manifest in a subcritical cutoff regime and size-independent
      but protocol-dependent scaling curves. Our results support the conjectured link
      with sphere jamming, provide more precise measurements of the critical exponents
      than previously reported, and shed light on the finite-size scaling behavior of
      continuous constraint satisfiability transitions. 

PMID- 26871139
TI  - Model for the erosion onset of a granular bed sheared by a viscous fluid.
AB  - We study theoretically the erosion threshold of a granular bed forced by a
      viscous fluid. We first introduce a model of interacting particles driven on a
      rough substrate. It predicts a continuous transition at some threshold forcing
      theta_{c}, beyond which the particle current grows linearly J~theta-theta_{c}.
      The stationary state is reached after a transient time t_{conv} which diverges
      near the transition as t_{conv}~|theta-theta_{c}|^{-z} with z~2.5. Both features
      are consistent with experiments. The model also makes quantitative testable
      predictions for the drainage pattern: The distribution P(sigma) of local current
      is found to be extremely broad with P(sigma)~J/sigma, and spatial correlations
      for the current are negligible in the direction transverse to forcing, but long
      range parallel to it. We explain some of these features using a scaling argument
      and a mean-field approximation that builds an analogy with q models. We discuss
      the relationship between our erosion model and models for the plastic depinning
      transition of vortex lattices in dirty superconductors, where our results may
      also apply. 

PMID- 26871140
TI  - Local rheological measurements in the granular flow around an intruder.
AB  - The rheological properties of granular matter within a two-dimensional flow
      around a moving disk is investigated experimentally. Using a combination of
      photoelastic and standard tessellation techniques, the strain and stress tensors
      are estimated at the grain scale in the time-averaged flow field around a large
      disk pulled at constant velocity in an assembly of smaller disks. On the one
      hand, one observes inhomogeneous shear rate and strongly localized shear stress
      and pressure fields. On the other hand, a significant dilation rate, which has
      the same magnitude as the shear strain rate, is reported. Significant deviations
      are observed with local rheology that justify the need of searching for a
      nonlocal rheology. 

PMID- 26871142
TI  - Turning intractable counting into sampling: Computing the configurational entropy
      of three-dimensional jammed packings.
AB  - We present a numerical calculation of the total number of disordered jammed
      configurations Omega of N repulsive, three-dimensional spheres in a fixed volume
      V. To make these calculations tractable, we increase the computational efficiency
      of the approach of Xu et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 245502
      (2011)10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.245502] and Asenjo et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112,
      098002 (2014)10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.098002] and we extend the method to allow
      computation of the configurational entropy as a function of pressure. The
      approach that we use computes the configurational entropy by sampling the
      absolute volume of basins of attraction of the stable packings in the potential
      energy landscape. We find a surprisingly strong correlation between the pressure
      of a configuration and the volume of its basin of attraction in the potential
      energy landscape. This relation is well described by a power law. Our methodology
      to compute the number of minima in the potential energy landscape should be
      applicable to a wide range of other enumeration problems in statistical physics,
      string theory, cosmology, and machine learning that aim to find the distribution
      of the extrema of a scalar cost function that depends on many degrees of freedom.

PMID- 26871141
TI  - Transport coefficients of solid particles immersed in a viscous gas.
AB  - Transport properties of a suspension of solid particles in a viscous gas are
      studied. The dissipation in such systems arises from two sources: inelasticity in
      particle collisions and viscous dissipation due to the effect of the gas phase on
      the particles. Here we consider a simplified case in which the mean relative
      velocity between the gas and solid phases is taken to be zero, such that "thermal
      drag" is the only remaining gas-solid interaction. Unlike the previous, more
      general, treatment of the drag force [Garzo et al., J. Fluid Mech. 712, 129
      (2012)]JFLSA70022-112010.1017/jfm.2012.404, here we take into account
      contributions to the (scaled) transport coefficients eta^{*} (shear viscosity),
      kappa^{*} (thermal conductivity), and MU^{*} (Dufour-like coefficient) coming
      from the temperature dependence of the (dimensionless) friction coefficient
      gamma^{*} characterizing the amplitude of the drag force. At moderate densities,
      the thermal drag model (which is based on the Enskog kinetic equation) is solved
      by means of the Chapman-Enskog method and the Navier-Stokes transport
      coefficients are determined in terms of the coefficient of restitution, the solid
      volume fraction, and the friction coefficient. The results indicate that the
      effect of the gas phase on eta^{*} and MU^{*} is non-negligible (especially in
      the case of relatively dilute systems) while the form of kappa^{*} is the same as
      the one obtained in the dry granular limit. Finally, as an application of these
      results, a linear stability analysis of the hydrodynamic equations is carried out
      to analyze the conditions for stability of the homogeneous cooling state. A
      comparison with direct numerical simulations shows a good agreement for
      conditions of practical interest. 

PMID- 26871143
TI  - Head-on collisions of dense granular jets.
AB  - We study head-on impacts of equal-speed but unequal-width incompressible jets in
      two dimensions with a focus on dense granular jets. We use discrete particle
      simulations to show that head-on impact of granular jets produces a quasi-steady
      state where a fraction of the excess incident momentum from the larger jet is
      captured by an impact center that drifts steadily over time. By varying the
      dissipation in our discrete particle simulations and through additional analogous
      continuum jet impacts of different rheologies, we show that this central drift
      speed is remarkably dependent primarily on the total dissipation rate to the
      power 1.5, and largely independent of the dissipation mechanism. We finish by
      presenting a simple control volume analysis that qualitatively captures the
      emergence of the drift speed but not the scaling. 

PMID- 26871144
TI  - Mechanical impulse propagation in a three-dimensional packing of spheres confined
      at constant pressure.
AB  - Mechanical impulse propagation in granular media depends strongly on the imposed
      confinement conditions. In this work, the propagation of sound in a granular
      packing contained by flexible walls that enable confinement under hydrostatic
      pressure conditions is investigated. This configuration also allows the form of
      the input impulse to be controlled by means of an instrumented impact pendulum.
      The main characteristics of mechanical wave propagation are analyzed, and it is
      found that the wave speed as function of the wave amplitude of the propagating
      pulse obeys the predictions of the Hertz contact law. Upon increasing the
      confinement pressure, a continuous transition from nonlinear to linear
      propagation is observed. Our results show that in the low-confinement regime, the
      attenuation increases with an increasing impulse amplitude for nonlinear pulses,
      whereas it is a weak function of the confinement pressure for linear waves. 

PMID- 26871145
TI  - Conical wave propagation and diffraction in two-dimensional hexagonally packed
      granular lattices.
AB  - Linear and nonlinear mechanisms for conical wave propagation in two-dimensional
      lattices are explored in the realm of phononic crystals. As a prototypical
      example, a statically compressed granular lattice of spherical particles arranged
      in a hexagonal packing configuration is analyzed. Upon identifying the dispersion
      relation of the underlying linear problem, the resulting diffraction properties
      are considered. Analysis both via a heuristic argument for the linear propagation
      of a wave packet and via asymptotic analysis leading to the derivation of a Dirac
      system suggests the occurrence of conical diffraction. This analysis is valid for
      strong precompression, i.e., near the linear regime. For weak precompression,
      conical wave propagation is still possible, but the resulting expanding circular
      wave front is of a nonoscillatory nature, resulting from the complex interplay
      among the discreteness, nonlinearity, and geometry of the packing. The transition
      between these two types of propagation is explored. 

PMID- 26871146
TI  - Reversible plastic events during oscillatory deformation of amorphous solids.
AB  - The effect of oscillatory shear strain on nonaffine rearrangements of individual
      particles in a three-dimensional binary glass is investigated using molecular
      dynamics simulations. The amorphous material is represented by the Kob-Andersen
      mixture at the temperature well below the glass transition. We find that during
      periodic shear deformation of the material, some particles undergo reversible
      nonaffine displacements with amplitudes that are approximately power-law
      distributed. Our simulations show that particles with large amplitudes of
      nonaffine displacement exhibit a collective behavior; namely, they tend to
      aggregate into relatively compact clusters that become comparable with the system
      size near the yield strain. Along with reversible displacements there exist a
      number of irreversible ones. With increasing strain amplitude, the probability of
      irreversible displacements during one cycle increases, which leads to permanent
      structural relaxation of the material. 

PMID- 26871147
TI  - Mechanism of chirality conversion by periodic change of temperature: Role of
      chiral clusters.
AB  - By grinding crystals in a solution, the chirality of crystal structure (and the
      molecular chirality for the case of chiral molecules as well) can be converted,
      and the cause of the phenomenon is attributed to crystal growth with chiral
      clusters. We show that the recently found chirality conversion with a periodic
      change of temperature can also be explained by crystal growth with chiral
      clusters. With the use of a generalized Becker-Doring model, which includes
      enantio-selective incorporation of small chiral clusters to large solid clusters,
      the change of cluster distribution and the mass flow between clusters are
      studied. The chiral clusters act as a reservoir to pump out the minority species
      to the majority, and the exponential amplification of the enantiomeric excess
      found in the experiment is reproduced in the numerical calculation. 

PMID- 26871148
TI  - Probabilistic model of waiting times between large failures in sheared media.
AB  - Using a probabilistic approximation of a mean-field mechanistic model of sheared
      systems, we analytically calculate the statistical properties of large failures
      under slow shear loading. For general shear F(t), the distribution of waiting
      times between large system-spanning failures is a generalized exponential
      distribution, rho_{T}(t)=lambda(F(t))P(F(t))exp[
      ?_{0}^{t}dtaulambda(F(tau))P(F(tau))], where lambda(F(t)) is the rate of small
      event occurrences at stress F(t) and P(F(t)) is the probability that a small
      event triggers a large failure. We study the behavior of this distribution as a
      function of fault properties, such as heterogeneity or shear rate. Because the
      probabilistic model accommodates any stress loading F(t), it is particularly
      useful for modeling experiments designed to understand how different forms of
      shear loading or stress perturbations impact the waiting-time statistics of large
      failures. As examples, we study how periodic perturbations or fluctuations on top
      of a linear shear stress increase impact the waiting-time distribution. 

PMID- 26871149
TI  - Richtmyer-Meshkov instability of a three-dimensional SF_{6}-air interface with a
      minimum-surface feature.
AB  - The Richmyer-Meshkov instability of a three-dimensional (3D) SF_{6}-air single
      mode interface with a minimum-surface feature is investigated experimentally. The
      interface produced by the soap film technique is subjected to a planar shock and
      the evolution of the shocked interface is captured by time-resolved schlieren
      photography. Different from the light-heavy single-mode case, a phase inversion
      occurs in the shock-interface interaction and a bubblelike structure is observed
      behind the shocked interface, which may be ascribed to the difference in pressure
      perturbation at different planes. The superimposition of spikelike forward-moving
      jets forms a complex structure, indicating a distinctly 3D effect.
      Quantitatively, it is also found that the instability at the symmetry plane grows
      much slower than the prediction of two-dimensional linear model, but matches the
      extended 3D linear and nonlinear models accounting for the curvature effects.
      Therefore, the opposite curvatures of the 3D interface are beneficial for
      suppressing the growth of the instability. 

PMID- 26871151
TI  - Infrared properties of the energy spectrum in freely decaying isotropic
      turbulence.
AB  - The low wave number expansion of the energy spectrum takes the well known form
      E(k,t)=E_{2}(t)k^{2}+E_{4}(t)k^{4}+?, where the coefficients are weighted
      integrals against the correlation function C(r,t). We show that expressing E(k,t)
      in terms of the longitudinal correlation function f(r,t) immediately yields
      E_{2}(t)=0 by cancellation. We verify that the same result is obtained using the
      correlation function C(r,t), provided only that f(r,t) falls off faster than r^{
      3} at large values of r. As power-law forms are widely studied for the purpose of
      establishing bounds, we consider the family of model correlations
      f(r,t)=alpha_{n}(t)r^{-n}, for positive integer n, at large values of the
      separation r. We find that for the special case n=3, the relationship connecting
      f(r,t) and C(r,t) becomes indeterminate, and (exceptionally) E_{2}?0, but that
      this solution is unphysical in that the viscous term in the Karman-Howarth
      equation vanishes. Lastly, we show that E_{4}(t) is independent of time, without
      needing to assume the exponential decrease of correlation functions at large
      distances. 

PMID- 26871150
TI  - Hydraulic transport across hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanopores: Flow
      experiments with water and n-hexane.
AB  - We experimentally explore pressure-driven flow of water and n-hexane across
      nanoporous silica (Vycor glass monoliths with 7- or 10-nm pore diameters,
      respectively) as a function of temperature and surface functionalization (native
      and silanized glass surfaces). Hydraulic flow rates are measured by applying
      hydrostatic pressures via inert gases (argon and helium, pressurized up to 70
      bar) on the upstream side in a capacitor-based membrane permeability setup. For
      the native, hydrophilic silica walls, the measured hydraulic permeabilities can
      be quantitatively accounted for by bulk fluidity provided we assume a sticking
      boundary layer, i.e., a negative velocity slip length of molecular dimensions.
      The thickness of this boundary layer is discussed with regard to previous
      capillarity-driven flow experiments (spontaneous imbibition) and with regard to
      velocity slippage at the pore walls resulting from dissolved gas. Water flow
      across the silanized, hydrophobic nanopores is blocked up to a hydrostatic
      pressure of at least 70 bar. The absence of a sticking boundary layer
      quantitatively accounts for an enhanced n-hexane permeability in the hydrophobic
      compared to the hydrophilic nanopores. 

PMID- 26871152
TI  - Critical behavior in the inverse to forward energy transition in two-dimensional
      magnetohydrodynamic flow.
AB  - We investigate the critical transition from an inverse cascade of energy to a
      forward energy cascade in a two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow as the ratio
      of magnetic to mechanical forcing amplitude is varied. It is found that the
      critical transition is the result of two competing processes. The first process
      is due to hydrodynamic interactions and cascades the energy to the large scales.
      The second process couples small-scale magnetic fields to large-scale flows,
      transferring the energy back to the small scales via a nonlocal mechanism. At
      marginality the two cascades are both present and cancel each other. The phase
      space diagram of the transition is sketched. 

PMID- 26871153
TI  - Slip boundary conditions over curved surfaces.
AB  - Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the influence of surface
      curvature on the slip boundary condition for a simple fluid. The slip length is
      measured for flows in planar and cylindrical geometries with a range of wall
      fluid interactions. As wall curvature increases, the slip length decreases
      dramatically for closely packed surfaces and increases for sparse ones. The
      magnitude of the changes depends on the crystallographic orientation and differs
      for flow along and perpendicular to the direction of curvature. These different
      patterns of behavior are related to the curvature-induced variation in the ratio
      of the spacing between fluid atoms to the spacing between minima in the potential
      from the solid surface. The results are consistent with a microscopic theory for
      the viscous friction between fluid and wall that expresses the slip length in
      terms of the lateral response of the fluid to the wall potential and the
      characteristic decay time of this response. 

PMID- 26871154
TI  - Microelectrokinetic turbulence in microfluidics at low Reynolds number.
AB  - There is commonly no turbulence in microfluidics, and the flows are believed to
      be either laminar or chaotic, since Reynolds number (Re) in microflows is usually
      on the order of unity or lower. However, we recently demonstrated that it is
      possible to achieve turbulence with low Re (based on the measured flow velocity
      and the width of the channel entrance) when a pressure-driven flow is
      electrokinetically forced in a quasi T-microchannel. To be able to measure high
      frequency velocity fluctuations in microchannels, a velocimeter with
      submicrometer spatial resolution and microsecond temporal resolution, called a
      laser-induced fluorescence photobleaching anemometer, is developed. Here we
      characterize the microelectrokinetic turbulence and observe some typical and
      important features of high Re flows, such as Kolmogorov -5/3 spectrum of velocity
      fluctuation, which usually can be realized only at very high Re in macroturbulent
      flows. 

PMID- 26871155
TI  - Soluble surfactant spreading: How the amphiphilicity sets the Marangoni
      hydrodynamics.
AB  - Amphiphiles are molecules combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. The way
      they arrange in bulk and at interfaces is related to the balance between these
      two parts, and can be quantified by introducing the critical micellar
      concentration (cmc). Amphiphiles (also named "surfactants") are also at the
      origin of dynamical effects: local gradients of interfacial concentrations create
      the so-called Marangoni flows. Here we study the coupling between the molecule
      amphiphilicity and these Marangoni flows. We investigate in detail a spreading
      configuration, where a local excess of surfactants is locally sustained, and
      follow how these surfactants spread at the interface and diffuse in bulk. We have
      measured the features of this flow (maximal distance and maximal speed), for
      different types of surfactant, and as a function of all experimentally available
      parameters, as well as for two different configurations. In parallel, we propose
      a detailed hydrodynamical model. For all the measured quantities, we have found a
      good agreement between the data and the model, evidencing that we have captured
      the key mechanisms under these spreading experiments. In particular, the cmc
      turns out to be-as for the static picture of a surfactant-a key element even
      under dynamical conditions, allowing us to connect the molecule amphiphilicity to
      its ability to create Marangoni flows. 

PMID- 26871156
TI  - Spreading of turbulence in plane Couette flow.
AB  - We investigate the growth in the spanwise direction of turbulent spots invading a
      laminar flow in a plane Couette flow. Direct numerical simulation is used to
      track the nucleation of streaks during the spot growth. Experiment and direct
      numerical simulation allow us to study the velocity of the spot fronts and of the
      vortices observed at the spots' edges. All these results show that two mechanisms
      are involved when turbulent spots grow: a formerly proposed local growth
      occurring at the spot spanwise tips but also in comparable proportion a global
      growth induced by large-scale advection identified in the present work. 

PMID- 26871157
TI  - Transport of inertial particles by viscous streaming in arrays of oscillating
      probes.
AB  - A mechanism for the transport of microscale particles in viscous fluids is
      demonstrated. The mechanism exploits the trapping of such particles by rotational
      streaming cells established in the vicinity of an oscillating cylinder, recently
      analyzed in previous work. The present work explores a strategy of transporting
      particles between the trapping points established by multiple cylinders
      undergoing oscillations in sequential intervals. It is demonstrated that, by
      controlling the sequence of oscillation intervals, an inertial particle is
      effectively and predictably transported between the stable trapping points.
      Arrays of cylinders in various arrangements are investigated, revealing a
      technique for constructing arbitrary particle trajectories. It is found that the
      domain from which particles can be transported and trapped by an oscillator is
      extended, even to regions in which particles are shielded, by the presence of
      other stationary cylinders. The timescales for transport are examined, as are the
      mechanisms by which particles are drawn away from an obstacle toward the trapping
      point of an oscillator. 

PMID- 26871158
TI  - Power-exponential velocity distributions in disordered porous media.
AB  - Velocity distribution functions link the micro- and macro-level theories of fluid
      flow through porous media. Here we study them for the fluid absolute velocity and
      its longitudinal and lateral components relative to the macroscopic flow
      direction in a model of a random porous medium. We claim that all distributions
      follow the power-exponential law controlled by an exponent gamma and a shift
      parameter u_{0} and examine how these parameters depend on the porosity. We find
      that gamma has a universal value 1/2 at the percolation threshold and grows with
      the porosity, but never exceeds 2. 

PMID- 26871159
TI  - Particle stresses in dilute, polydisperse, two-way coupled turbulent flows.
AB  - Direct numerical simulations are performed of turbulent planar Couette flow which
      are seeded with two-way coupled particles at low volume concentration. Based on
      an understanding of the development of particle stress (horizontal momentum
      carried vertically on average by the particle phase) in monodisperse systems at
      various particle Stokes numbers, several bidisperse and continuously polydisperse
      systems are simulated which are chosen to understand how flows containing blends
      of particle Stokes numbers can be effectively modeled in the dilute regime. Under
      noninteracting conditions, the particle stresses from particles with different
      inertia and different feedback stresses are shown to be linearly additive,
      providing a convenient method for effectively representing dispersed phase stress
      in polydisperse systems. While this is true, it is demonstrated that a single
      effective particle size is in general not sufficient at representing the entire
      mixture. 

PMID- 26871160
TI  - Interparticle collision mechanism in turbulence.
AB  - Direct numerical simulations of particle-laden homogeneous isotropic turbulence
      are performed to investigate interparticle collisions in a wide range of Stokes
      numbers. Dynamics of the particles are described by Stokes drag including
      particle-particle interactions via hard-sphere collisions, while fluid turbulence
      is solved using a pseudospectral method. Particular emphasis is placed on
      interparticle-collision-based conditional statistics of rotation and dissipation
      rates of the fluid experienced by heavy particles, which provide essential
      information on the collision process. We also investigate the collision
      statistics of collision time interval and angle. Based on a Lamb vortex model for
      a vortex structure, we claim that collision events occur in the edge region for
      vortical structures in the intermediate-Stokes-number regime, suggesting that the
      sling effect enhances collision as well as clustering. 

PMID- 26871161
TI  - Structure of sheared and rotating turbulence: Multiscale statistics of Lagrangian
      and Eulerian accelerations and passive scalar dynamics.
AB  - The acceleration statistics of sheared and rotating homogeneous turbulence are
      studied using direct numerical simulation results. The statistical properties of
      Lagrangian and Eulerian accelerations are considered together with the influence
      of the rotation to shear ratio, as well as the scale dependence of their
      statistics. The probability density functions (pdfs) of both Lagrangian and
      Eulerian accelerations show a strong and similar dependence on the rotation to
      shear ratio. The variance and flatness of both accelerations are analyzed and the
      extreme values of the Eulerian acceleration are observed to be above those of the
      Lagrangian acceleration. For strong rotation it is observed that flatness yields
      values close to three, corresponding to Gaussian-like behavior, and for moderate
      and vanishing rotation the flatness increases. Furthermore, the Lagrangian and
      Eulerian accelerations are shown to be strongly correlated for strong rotation
      due to a reduced nonlinear term in this case. A wavelet-based scale-dependent
      analysis shows that the flatness of both Eulerian and Lagrangian accelerations
      increases as scale decreases, which provides evidence for intermittent behavior.
      For strong rotation the Eulerian acceleration is even more intermittent than the
      Lagrangian acceleration, while the opposite result is obtained for moderate
      rotation. Moreover, the dynamics of a passive scalar with gradient production in
      the direction of the mean velocity gradient is analyzed and the influence of the
      rotation to shear ratio is studied. Concerning the concentration of a passive
      scalar spread by the flow, the pdf of its Eulerian time rate of change presents
      higher extreme values than those of its Lagrangian time rate of change. This
      suggests that the Eulerian time rate of change of scalar concentration is mainly
      due to advection, while its Lagrangian counterpart is only due to gradient
      production and viscous dissipation. 

PMID- 26871162
TI  - Grouping behavior of coaxial settling particles in a narrow channel.
AB  - Using numerical simulations, we studied the grouping behaviors of particles
      settling along their line of centers in narrow channels having a Reynolds number
      range of 5 <= Re <= 50. The calculations are based on our previously developed
      lattice Boltzmann direct-forcing-fictitious-domain method. We report the grouping
      behavior and investigate the dependence on the number of particles n, the initial
      interparticle separation h_{0}, and the Reynolds number Re. In particular, the
      mode of grouping is found to be independent of the number of particles when the
      Reynolds numbers is small. The two lowermost particles always come together first
      and form a vertical doublet and then the next two lowest particles form another
      doublet, and so on. Therefore, we observe n/2 doublets or (n-1)/2 doublets when n
      is even or odd, respectively. The uppermost particle is always left behind when n
      is odd. Furthermore, the separation between these doublets remains constant,
      displaying a power-law dependence decreasing from top to bottom. 

PMID- 26871163
TI  - Geometrical properties of turbulent premixed flames and other corrugated
      interfaces.
AB  - This study focuses on the geometrical properties of turbulent flame fronts and
      other interfaces. Toward that end, we use an original tool based on proper
      orthogonal decomposition (POD), which is applied to the interface spatial
      coordinates. The focus is mainly on the degree of roughness of the flame front,
      which is quantified through the scale dependence of its coverage arclength. POD
      is first validated by comparing with the caliper technique. Fractal
      characteristics are extracted in an unambiguous fashion using a parametric
      expression which appears to be impressively well suited for representing
      Richardson plots. Then it is shown that, for the range of Reynolds numbers
      investigated here, the scale-by-scale contribution to the arclength does not
      comply with scale similarity, irrespectively of the type of similarity which is
      invoked. The finite ratios between large and small scales, referred to as finite
      Reynolds number effects, are likely to explain this observation. In this context,
      the Reynolds number that ought to be achieved for a proper inertial range to be
      discernible, and for scale similarity to be likely to apply, is calculated.
      Fractal characteristics of flame folding are compared to available predictions.
      It is confirmed that the inner cutoff satisfactorily correlates with the
      Kolmogorov scale while the outer cutoff appears to be proportional to the
      integral length scale. However, the scaling for the fractal dimension is much
      less obvious. It is argued that much higher Reynolds numbers have to be reached
      for drawing firm statements about the evolution (or constancy) of the fractal
      dimension with respect to flame and flow parameters. Finally, a heuristic
      phenomenology of corrugated interfaces is highlighted. The degree of generality
      of the latter phenomenology is confirmed by comparing the folding of different
      interfaces including a turbulent-nonturbulent interface, a liquid jet
      destabilized by a surrounding air jet, a cavitating flow, and an isoscalar
      evolving in a turbulent medium. The latter outcome is likely to have strong
      implications for modeling the corrugation of turbulent interfaces occurring in
      many physical situations. 

PMID- 26871164
TI  - Evolution of secondary whirls in thermoconvective vortices: Strengthening,
      weakening, and disappearance in the route to chaos.
AB  - The appearance, evolution, and disappearance of periodic and quasiperiodic
      dynamics of fluid flows in a cylindrical annulus locally heated from below are
      analyzed using nonlinear simulations. The results reveal a route of the
      transition from a steady axisymmetric vertical vortex to a chaotic flow. The
      chaotic flow regime is reached after a sequence of successive supercritical Hopf
      bifurcations to periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic flow regimes. A scenario
      similar to the Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse scenario is verified in this convective
      flow. In the transition to chaos we find the appearance of subvortices embedded
      in the primary axisymmetric vortex, flows where the subvortical structure
      strengthens and weakens, that almost disappears before reforming again, leading
      to a more disorganized flow to a final chaotic regime. Results are remarkable as
      they connect to observations describing formation, weakening, and virtual
      disappearance before revival of subvortices in some atmospheric swirls such as
      dust devils. 

PMID- 26871165
TI  - Evolution of the single-mode Rayleigh-Taylor instability under the influence of
      time-dependent accelerations.
AB  - From nonlinear models and direct numerical simulations we report on several
      findings of relevance to the single-mode Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability driven
      by time-varying acceleration histories. The incompressible, direct numerical
      simulations (DNSs) were performed in two (2D) and three dimensions (3D), and at a
      range of density ratios of the fluid combinations (characterized by the Atwood
      number). We investigated several acceleration histories, including acceleration
      profiles of the general form g(t)~t^{n}, with n>=0 and acceleration histories
      reminiscent of the linear electric motor experiments. For the 2D flow, results
      from numerical simulations compare well with a 2D potential flow model and
      solutions to a drag-buoyancy model reported as part of this work. When the
      simulations are extended to three dimensions, bubble and spike growth rates are
      in agreement with the so-called level 2 and level 3 models of Mikaelian [K. O.
      Mikaelian, Phys. Rev. E 79, 065303(R) (2009)10.1103/PhysRevE.79.065303], and with
      corresponding 3D drag-buoyancy model solutions derived in this article. Our
      generalization of the RT problem to study variable g(t) affords us the
      opportunity to investigate the appropriate scaling for bubble and spike
      amplitudes under these conditions. We consider two candidates, the displacement Z
      and width s^{2}, but find the appropriate scaling is dependent on the density
      ratios between the fluids-at low density ratios, bubble and spike amplitudes are
      explained by both s^{2} and Z, while at large density differences the
      displacement collapses the spike data. Finally, for all the acceleration profiles
      studied here, spikes enter a free-fall regime at lower Atwood numbers than
      predicted by all the models. 

PMID- 26871166
TI  - Continuation and stability of convective modulated rotating waves in spherical
      shells.
AB  - Modulated rotating waves (MRW), bifurcated from the thermal-Rossby waves that
      arise at the onset of convection of a fluid contained in a rotating spherical
      shell, and their stability, are studied. For this purpose, Newton-Krylov
      continuation techniques are applied. Nonslip boundary conditions, an Ekman number
      E=10^{-4}, and a low Prandtl number fluid Pr=0.1 in a moderately thick shell of
      radius ratio eta=0.35, differentially heated, are considered. The MRW are
      obtained as periodic orbits by rewriting the equations of motion in the rotating
      frame of reference where the rotating waves become steady states. Newton-Krylov
      continuation allows us to obtain unstable MRW that cannot be found by using only
      time integrations, and identify regions of multistability. For instance, unstable
      MRW without any azimuthal symmetry have been computed. It is shown how they
      become stable in a small Rayleigh-number interval, in which two branches of
      traveling waves are also stable. The study of the stability of the MRW helps to
      locate and classify the large sequence of bifurcations, which takes place in the
      range analyzed. In particular, tertiary Hopf bifurcations giving rise to three
      frequency stable solutions are accurately determined. 

PMID- 26871167
TI  - Metallic-thin-film instability with spatially correlated thermal noise.
AB  - We study the effects of stochastic thermal fluctuations on the instability of the
      free surface of a flat liquid metallic film on a solid substrate. These
      fluctuations are represented by a stochastic noise term added to the
      deterministic equation for the film thickness within the long-wave approximation.
      Unlike the case of polymeric films, we find that this noise, while remaining
      white in time, must be colored in space, at least in some regimes. The
      corresponding noise term is characterized by a nonzero correlation length, l_{c},
      which, combined with the size of the system, leads to a dimensionless parameter
      beta that accounts for the relative importance of the spatial correlation
      (beta~l_{c}^{-1}). We perform the linear stability analysis (LSA) of the film
      both with and without the noise term and find that for l_{c} larger than some
      critical value (depending on the system size), the wavelength of the peak of the
      spectrum is larger than that corresponding to the deterministic case, while for
      smaller l_{c} this peak corresponds to smaller wavelength than the latter.
      Interestingly, whatever the value of l_{c}, the peak always approaches the
      deterministic one for larger times. We compare LSA results with the numerical
      simulations of the complete nonlinear problem and find a good agreement in the
      power spectra for early times at different values of beta. For late times, we
      find that the stochastic LSA predicts well the position of the dominant
      wavelength, showing that nonlinear interactions do not modify the trends of the
      early linear stages. Finally, we fit the theoretical spectra to experimental data
      from a nanometric laser-melted copper film and find that at later times, the
      adjustment requires smaller values of beta (larger space correlations). 

PMID- 26871168
TI  - Diffuse interface method for a compressible binary fluid.
AB  - Multicomponent, multiphase, compressible flows are very important in real life,
      as well as in scientific research, while their modeling is in an early stage. In
      this paper, we propose a diffuse interface model for compressible binary
      mixtures, based on the balance of mass, momentum, energy, and the second law of
      thermodynamics. We show both analytically and numerically that this model is able
      to describe the phase equilibrium for a real binary mixture (CO_{2} + ethanol is
      considered in this paper) very well by adjusting the parameter which measures the
      attraction force between molecules of the two components in the model. We also
      show that the calculated surface tension of the CO_{2} + ethanol mixture at
      different concentrations match measurements in the literature when the mixing
      capillary coefficient is taken to be the geometric mean of the capillary
      coefficient of each component. Three different cases of two droplets in a shear
      flow, with the same or different concentration, are simulated, showing that the
      higher concentration of CO_{2} the smaller the surface tension and the easier the
      drop deforms. 

PMID- 26871169
TI  - Statistics of highly heterogeneous flow fields confined to three-dimensional
      random porous media.
AB  - We present a strong relationship between the microstructural characteristics of,
      and the fluid velocity fields confined to, three-dimensional random porous
      materials. The relationship is revealed through simultaneously extracting
      correlation functions R_{uu}(r) of the spatial (Eulerian) velocity fields and
      microstructural two-point correlation functions S_{2}(r) of the random porous
      heterogeneous materials. This demonstrates that the effective physical transport
      properties depend on the characteristics of complex pore structure owing to the
      relationship between R_{uu}(r) and S_{2}(r) revealed in this study. Further, the
      mean excess plot was used to investigate the right tail of the streamwise
      velocity component that was found to obey light-tail distributions. Based on the
      mean excess plot, a generalized Pareto distribution can be used to approximate
      the positive streamwise velocity distribution. 

PMID- 26871170
TI  - Thin three-dimensional droplets on an oscillating substrate with contact angle
      hysteresis.
AB  - Recent experiments [P. Brunet, J. Eggers, and R. D. Deegan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99,
      144501 (2007)10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.144501] have shown that a liquid droplet on
      an inclined plane can be made to move uphill by sufficiently strong, vertical
      oscillations. In order to investigate this counterintuitive phenomenon we use a
      model in which liquid inertia and viscosity are assumed negligible so that the
      motion of the droplet is dominated by the applied acceleration due to the
      oscillation of the plate, gravity, and surface tension. We explain how the
      leading order motion of the droplet can be separated into a spreading mode and a
      swaying mode. For a linear contact line law, the maximum rise velocity occurs
      when these modes are in phase. We show that, both with and without contact angle
      hysteresis, the droplet can climb uphill and also that, for certain contact line
      laws, the motion of the droplet can produce footprints similar to experimental
      results. We show that if the two modes are out of phase when there is no contact
      angle hysteresis, the inclusion of hysteresis can force them into phase. This in
      turn increases the rise velocity of the droplet and can, in some cases, cause a
      sliding droplet to climb. 

PMID- 26871171
TI  - Nanoscale dynamics of Joule heating and bubble nucleation in a solid-state
      nanopore.
AB  - We present a mathematical model for Joule heating of an electrolytic solution in
      a nanopore. The model couples the electrical and thermal dynamics responsible for
      rapid and extreme superheating of the electrolyte within the nanopore. The model
      is implemented numerically with a finite element calculation, yielding a time and
      spatially resolved temperature distribution in the nanopore region. Temperatures
      near the thermodynamic limit of superheat are predicted to be attained just
      before the explosive nucleation of a vapor bubble is observed experimentally.
      Knowledge of this temperature distribution enables the evaluation of related
      phenomena including bubble nucleation kinetics, relaxation oscillation, and
      bubble dynamics. 

PMID- 26871172
TI  - Spatiotemporal instability of an electrified falling film.
AB  - The linear spatiotemporal response to an infinitesimal disturbance is analyzed
      for an electrified falling film based on the Orr-Sommerfeld boundary value
      problem. Four spatial branches are identified, which lose their spatial symmetry
      in the presence of an electric field. In addition, the absolute and convective
      instabilities are studied within the frameworks of the saddle point approach and
      the collision criterion. The collision criterion offers two unstable branches
      that characterize the exact range of the unstable wave packet that is diminished
      in the presence of an electric field. In contrast, the saddle point approach
      offers only one unstable branch. The associated unstable range of the wave packet
      is similar to that predicted by the collision criterion only when the electric
      field is enhanced. It is shown that the electrified falling film is convectively
      unstable. 

PMID- 26871173
TI  - Phase-field theory of multicomponent incompressible Cahn-Hilliard liquids.
AB  - In this paper, a generalization of the Cahn-Hilliard theory of binary liquids is
      presented for multicomponent incompressible liquid mixtures. First, a
      thermodynamically consistent convection-diffusion-type dynamics is derived on the
      basis of the Lagrange multiplier formalism. Next, a generalization of the binary
      Cahn-Hilliard free-energy functional is presented for an arbitrary number of
      components, offering the utilization of independent pairwise equilibrium
      interfacial properties. We show that the equilibrium two-component interfaces
      minimize the functional, and we demonstrate that the energy penalization for
      multicomponent states increases strictly monotonously as a function of the number
      of components being present. We validate the model via equilibrium contact angle
      calculations in ternary and quaternary (four-component) systems. Simulations
      addressing liquid-flow-assisted spinodal decomposition in these systems are also
      presented. 

PMID- 26871174
TI  - Self-similar propagation of Hermite-Gauss water-wave pulses.
AB  - We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally propagation dynamics of
      surface gravity water-wave pulses, having Hermite-Gauss envelopes. We show that
      these waves propagate self-similarly along an 18-m wave tank, preserving their
      general Hermite-Gauss envelopes in both the linear and the nonlinear regimes. The
      measured surface elevation wave groups enable observing the envelope phase
      evolution of both nonchirped and linearly frequency chirped Hermite-Gauss pulses,
      hence allowing us to measure Gouy phase shifts of high-order Hermite-Gauss pulses
      for the first time. Finally, when increasing pulse amplitude, nonlinearity
      becomes essential and the second harmonic of Hermite-Gauss waves was observed. We
      further show that these generated second harmonic bound waves still exhibit self
      similar Hermite-Gauss shapes along the tank. 

PMID- 26871175
TI  - Gas flow through rough microchannels in the transition flow regime.
AB  - A multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model of Couette flow is developed
      to investigate the rarified gas flow through microchannels with roughness
      characterized by fractal geometry, especially to elucidate the coupled effects of
      roughness and rarefaction on microscale gas flow in the transition flow regime.
      The results indicate that the surface roughness effect on gas flow behavior
      becomes more significant in rarefied gas flow with the increase of Knudsen
      number. We find the gas flow behavior in the transition flow regime is more
      sensitive to roughness height than that in the slip flow regime. In particular,
      the influence of fractal dimension on rarefied gas flow behavior is less
      significant than roughness height. 

PMID- 26871176
TI  - Ferrofluid patterns in Hele-Shaw cells: Exact, stable, stationary shape
      solutions.
AB  - We investigate a quasi-two-dimensional system composed of an initially circular
      ferrofluid droplet surrounded by a nonmagnetic fluid of higher density. These
      immiscible fluids flow in a rotating Hele-Shaw cell, under the influence of an in
      plane radial magnetic field. We focus on the situation in which destabilizing
      bulk magnetic field effects are balanced by stabilizing centrifugal forces. In
      this framing, we consider the interplay of capillary and magnetic normal traction
      effects in determining the fluid-fluid interface morphology. By employing a
      vortex-sheet formalism, we have been able to find a family of exact stationary N
      fold polygonal shape solutions for the interface. A weakly nonlinear theory is
      then used to verify that such exact interfacial solutions are in fact stable. 

PMID- 26871177
TI  - Pair creation in collision of gamma-ray beams produced with high-intensity
      lasers.
AB  - Direct production of electron-positron pairs in two-photon collisions, the Breit
      Wheeler process, is one of the basic processes in the universe. However, it has
      never been directly observed in the laboratory because of the absence of the
      intense gamma-ray sources. Laser-induced synchrotron sources emission may open a
      way to observe this process. The feasibility of an experimental setup using a MeV
      photon source is studied in this paper. We compare several gamma-ray sources and
      estimate the expected number of electron-positron pairs and competing processes
      by using numerical simulations including quantum electrodynamic effects. 

PMID- 26871178
TI  - Avalanche structural rearrangement through cracking-healing in weakly stressed
      cold dusty plasma liquids.
AB  - We experimentally investigate the spatiotemporal dynamical behaviors of the
      avalanche structural rearrangement through micro-cracking-healing in weakly
      stressed cold dusty plasma liquids, and the kinetic origins for their different
      spatial and temporal classifications. The crystalline ordered domains can be
      cracked or temporarily sustain and transfer the weak stress to remote regions for
      cracking-healing. It is found that cracking sites form a fractal network with
      cluster size following power law distribution in the xyt space. The histograms of
      the persistent times for sustaining regional ordered and disordered structure,
      the temporal cracking burst width, and quiescent time between two bursts all
      follow power law decays with fast descending tails. Cracking can be classified
      into a single temporal burst with simple line like spatial patterns and the
      successive cracking fluctuation with densely packed cracking clusters. For an
      ordered region, whether the Burgers vectors of the incoming dislocations from the
      boundary allow direct dislocation reduction is the key for the above two
      classifications through cracking a large ordered domain into medium scale
      corotating ordered domains or small patches. The low regional structural order at
      the end of a cracking burst can be regarded as an alarm for predicting the short
      quiescent period before the next cracking burst. 

PMID- 26871179
TI  - Fast magnetic-field annihilation in the relativistic collisionless regime driven
      by two ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses.
AB  - The magnetic quadrupole structure formation during the interaction of two
      ultrashort high power laser pulses with a collisionless plasma is demonstrated
      with 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The subsequent expansion of
      the quadrupole is accompanied by magnetic-field annihilation in the
      ultrarelativistic regime, when the magnetic field cannot be sustained by the
      plasma current. This results in a dominant contribution of the displacement
      current exciting a strong large scale electric field. This field leads to the
      conversion of magnetic energy into kinetic energy of accelerated electrons inside
      the thin current sheet. 

PMID- 26871180
TI  - Anisotropic confinement effects in a two-dimensional plasma crystal.
AB  - The spectral asymmetry of the wave-energy distribution of dust particles during
      mode-coupling-induced melting, observed for the first time in plasma crystals by
      Couedel et al. [Phys. Rev. E 89, 053108 (2014)PLEEE81539
      375510.1103/PhysRevE.89.053108], is studied theoretically and by molecular
      dynamics simulations. It is shown that an anisotropy of the well confining the
      microparticles selects the directions of preferred particle motion. The observed
      differences in intensity of waves of opposed directions are explained by a
      nonvanishing phonon flux. Anisotropic phonon scattering by defects and Umklapp
      scattering are proposed as possible reasons for the mean phonon flux. 

PMID- 26871181
TI  - Evolution of a plasma vortex in air.
AB  - We report the generation of a vortex-shaped plasma in air by using a capacitively
      coupled dielectric barrier discharge system. We show that a vortex-shaped plasma
      can be produced inside a helium gas vortex and is capable of propagating for 3
      cm. The fluctuation of the plasma ring shows a scaling relation with the Reynolds
      number of the vortex. The transient discharge reveals the property of corona
      discharge, where the conducting channel within the gas vortex and the blur plasma
      emission are observed at each half voltage cycle. 

PMID- 26871182
TI  - Cross-field transport in Goldreich-Sridhar magnetohydrodynamic turbulence.
AB  - I derive analytically the temporal dependence of the perpendicular transport
      coefficient of a charged particle in the three-dimensional anisotropic turbulence
      conjectured by Goldreich-Sridhar by implementing multispacecraft constraints on
      the turbulence power spectrum. The particle motion away from the turbulent local
      field line is assessed as gradient-curvature drift of the guiding center and
      compared with the magnetic field line random walk. At inertial scales much
      smaller than the turbulence outer scale, particles decorrelate from field lines
      in a free-streaming motion, with no diffusion. In the solar wind at 1 AU, for
      energy sufficiently small (<1 keV protons), the perpendicular average
      displacement due to field line tangling generally dominates over two decades of
      turbulent scales. However, for higher energies (?25 MeV protons) within the range
      of multispacecraft measurements, the longitudinal spread originating from
      transport due to gradient-curvature drift reaches up to ?10^{?}-20^{?}. This
      result highlights the role of perpendicular transport in the interpretation of
      interplanetary and interstellar data. 

PMID- 26871183
TI  - Attospiral generation upon interaction of circularly polarized intense laser
      pulses with conelike targets.
AB  - The generation of high-intensity attopulses has been investigated in cylindrical
      geometry by using a three-dimensional particle-in-cell plasma simulation code.
      Due to the rotation-symmetric target, a circularly polarized laser pulse is
      considered, propagating on the axis of a hollow conelike target. The large
      incidence angle and constant ponderomotive pressure lead to nanobunching of
      relativistic electrons responsible for the laser-driven synchrotron emission. A
      numerical method is developed to find the source and direction of the coherent
      radiation that ensures the existence of attopulses. The intensity modulation in
      the harmonic spectrum is well described by the model of coherent synchrotron
      emission extended to the regime of higher order gamma spikes. The spatial
      distribution of the higher harmonics resembles a spiral shape which gets focused
      into a small volume behind the target. 

PMID- 26871184
TI  - Interaction-induced nonlinear refractive-index reduction of gases in the
      midinfrared regime.
AB  - The nonlinear optical response of a dilute atomic gas to ultrashort high
      intensity midinfrared pulse excitation is calculated fully microscopically. The
      optically induced polarization dynamics is evaluated for the interacting many
      electron system in a gas of hydrogen atoms. It is shown that the many-body
      effects during the excitation distinctly influence not only the atomic ionization
      dynamics, but also the nonlinear polarization response in the midinfrared regime.
      The delicate balance between the Kerr focusing and the ionization-induced
      defocusing is dramatically modified and a significant decrease of the nonlinear
      refractive index is predicted for increasing wavelength of the exciting pulse. 

PMID- 26871185
TI  - Molecular dynamics simulations of bubble nucleation in dark matter detectors.
AB  - Bubble chambers and droplet detectors used in dosimetry and dark matter particle
      search experiments use a superheated metastable liquid in which nuclear recoils
      trigger bubble nucleation. This process is described by the classical heat spike
      model of F. Seitz [Phys. Fluids (1958-1988) 1, 2 (1958)PFLDAS0031
      917110.1063/1.1724333], which uses classical nucleation theory to estimate the
      amount and the localization of the deposited energy required for bubble
      formation. Here we report on direct molecular dynamics simulations of heat-spike
      induced bubble formation. They allow us to test the nanoscale process described
      in the classical heat spike model. 40 simulations were performed, each containing
      about 20 million atoms, which interact by a truncated force-shifted Lennard-Jones
      potential. We find that the energy per length unit needed for bubble nucleation
      agrees quite well with theoretical predictions, but the allowed spike length and
      the required total energy are about twice as large as predicted. This could be
      explained by the rapid energy diffusion measured in the simulation: contrary to
      the assumption in the classical model, we observe significantly faster heat
      diffusion than the bubble formation time scale. Finally we examine alpha-particle
      tracks, which are much longer than those of neutrons and potential dark matter
      particles. Empirically, alpha events were recently found to result in louder
      acoustic signals than neutron events. This distinction is crucial for the
      background rejection in dark matter searches. We show that a large number of
      individual bubbles can form along an alpha track, which explains the observed
      larger acoustic amplitudes. 

PMID- 26871186
TI  - Determination of macroscopic transport coefficients of a dissipative particle
      dynamics solvent.
AB  - We present an approach to determine macroscopic transport coefficients of a
      dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) solvent. Shear viscosity, isothermal speed of
      sound, and bulk viscosity result from DPD-model input parameters and can be
      determined only a posteriori. For this reason approximate predictions of these
      quantities are desirable in order to set appropriate DPD input parameters. For
      the purpose of deriving an improved approximate prediction we analyze the
      autocorrelation of shear and longitudinal modes in Fourier space of a DPD solvent
      for Kolmogorov flow. We propose a fitting function with nonexponential properties
      which gives a good approximation to these autocorrelation functions. Given this
      fitting function we improve significantly the capability of a priori
      determination of macroscopic solvent transport coefficients in comparison to
      previously used exponential fitting functions. 

PMID- 26871187
TI  - Multipseudopotential interaction: A consistent study of cubic equations of state
      in lattice Boltzmann models.
AB  - A method is developed to analytically and consistently implement cubic equations
      of state into the recently proposed multipseudopotential interaction (MPI) scheme
      in the class of two-phase lattice Boltzmann (LB) models [S. Khajepor, J. Wen, and
      B. Chen, Phys. Rev. E 91, 023301 (2015)]10.1103/PhysRevE.91.023301. An MPI
      forcing term is applied to reduce the constraints on the mathematical shape of
      the thermodynamically consistent pseudopotentials; this allows the parameters of
      the MPI forces to be determined analytically without the need of curve fitting or
      trial and error methods. Attraction and repulsion parts of equations of state
      (EOSs), representing underlying molecular interactions, are modeled by individual
      pseudopotentials. Four EOSs, van der Waals, Carnahan-Starling, Peng-Robinson, and
      Soave-Redlich-Kwong, are investigated and the results show that the developed MPI
      LB system can satisfactorily recover the thermodynamic states of interest. The
      phase interface is predicted analytically and controlled via EOS parameters
      independently and its effect on the vapor-liquid equilibrium system is studied.
      The scheme is highly stable to very high density ratios and the accuracy of the
      results can be enhanced by increasing the interface resolution. The MPI drop is
      evaluated with regard to surface tension, spurious velocities, isotropy, dynamic
      behavior, and the stability dependence on the relaxation time. 

PMID- 26871188
TI  - Computational dynamics of acoustically driven microsphere systems.
AB  - We propose a computational framework for the self-consistent dynamics of a
      microsphere system driven by a pulsed acoustic field in an ideal fluid. Our
      framework combines a molecular dynamics integrator describing the dynamics of the
      microsphere system with a time-dependent integral equation solver for the
      acoustic field that makes use of fields represented as surface expansions in
      spherical harmonic basis functions. The presented approach allows us to describe
      the interparticle interaction induced by the field as well as the dynamics of
      trapping in counter-propagating acoustic pulses. The integral equation
      formulation leads to equations of motion for the microspheres describing the
      effect of nondissipative drag forces. We show (1) that the field-induced
      interactions between the microspheres give rise to effective dipolar
      interactions, with effective dipoles defined by their velocities and (2) that the
      dominant effect of an ultrasound pulse through a cloud of microspheres gives rise
      mainly to a translation of the system, though we also observe both expansion and
      contraction of the cloud determined by the initial system geometry. 

PMID- 26871189
TI  - Wideband analytical equivalent circuit for one-dimensional periodic stacked
      arrays.
AB  - A wideband equivalent circuit is proposed for the accurate analysis of scattering
      from a set of stacked slit gratings illuminated by a plane wave with transverse
      magnetic or electric polarization that impinges normally or obliquely along one
      of the principal planes of the structure. The slit gratings are printed on
      dielectric slabs of arbitrary thickness, including the case of closely spaced
      gratings that interact by higher-order modes. A Pi-circuit topology is obtained
      for a pair of coupled arrays, with fully analytical expressions for all the
      circuit elements. This equivalent Pi circuit is employed as the basis to derive
      the equivalent circuit of finite stacks with any given number of gratings.
      Analytical expressions for the Brillouin diagram and the Bloch impedance are also
      obtained for infinite periodic stacks. 

PMID- 26871191
TI  - Lattice Boltzmann modeling of three-phase incompressible flows.
AB  - In this paper, based on multicomponent phase-field theory we intend to develop an
      efficient lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for simulating three-phase incompressible
      flows. In this model, two LB equations are used to capture the interfaces among
      three different fluids, and another LB equation is adopted to solve the flow
      field, where a new distribution function for the forcing term is delicately
      designed. Different from previous multiphase LB models, the interfacial force is
      not used in the computation of fluid velocity, which is more reasonable from the
      perspective of the multiscale analysis. As a result, the computation of fluid
      velocity can be much simpler. Through the Chapman-Enskog analysis, it is shown
      that the present model can recover exactly the physical formulations for the
      three-phase system. Numerical simulations of extensive examples including two
      circular interfaces, ternary spinodal decomposition, spreading of a liquid lens,
      and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability are conducted to test the model. It is found
      that the present model can capture accurate interfaces among three different
      fluids, which is attributed to its algebraical and dynamical consistency
      properties with the two-component model. Furthermore, the numerical results of
      three-phase flows agree well with the theoretical results or some available data,
      which demonstrates that the present LB model is a reliable and efficient method
      for simulating three-phase flow problems. 

PMID- 26871190
TI  - Reaction rates for a generalized reaction-diffusion master equation.
AB  - It has been established that there is an inherent limit to the accuracy of the
      reaction-diffusion master equation. Specifically, there exists a fundamental
      lower bound on the mesh size, below which the accuracy deteriorates as the mesh
      is refined further. In this paper we extend the standard reaction-diffusion
      master equation to allow molecules occupying neighboring voxels to react, in
      contrast to the traditional approach, in which molecules react only when
      occupying the same voxel. We derive reaction rates, in two dimensions as well as
      three dimensions, to obtain an optimal match to the more fine-grained
      Smoluchowski model and show in two numerical examples that the extended algorithm
      is accurate for a wide range of mesh sizes, allowing us to simulate systems that
      are intractable with the standard reaction-diffusion master equation. In
      addition, we show that for mesh sizes above the fundamental lower limit of the
      standard algorithm, the generalized algorithm reduces to the standard algorithm.
      We derive a lower limit for the generalized algorithm which, in both two
      dimensions and three dimensions, is of the order of the reaction radius of a
      reacting pair of molecules. 

PMID- 26871192
TI  - Multiscale modeling of dislocation-precipitate interactions in Fe: From molecular
      dynamics to discrete dislocations.
AB  - The stress-driven motion of dislocations in crystalline solids, and thus the
      ensuing plastic deformation process, is greatly influenced by the presence or
      absence of various pointlike defects such as precipitates or solute atoms. These
      defects act as obstacles for dislocation motion and hence affect the mechanical
      properties of the material. Here we combine molecular dynamics studies with three
      dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics simulations in order to model the
      interaction between different kinds of precipitates and a 1/2<111>{110} edge
      dislocation in BCC iron. We have implemented immobile spherical precipitates into
      the ParaDis discrete dislocation dynamics code, with the dislocations interacting
      with the precipitates via a Gaussian potential, generating a normal force acting
      on the dislocation segments. The parameters used in the discrete dislocation
      dynamics simulations for the precipitate potential, the dislocation mobility,
      shear modulus, and dislocation core energy are obtained from molecular dynamics
      simulations. We compare the critical stresses needed to unpin the dislocation
      from the precipitate in molecular dynamics and discrete dislocation dynamics
      simulations in order to fit the two methods together and discuss the variety of
      the relevant pinning and depinning mechanisms. 

PMID- 26871193
TI  - Nonparametric k-nearest-neighbor entropy estimator.
AB  - A nonparametric k-nearest-neighbor-based entropy estimator is proposed. It
      improves on the classical Kozachenko-Leonenko estimator by considering nonuniform
      probability densities in the region of k-nearest neighbors around each sample
      point. It aims to improve the classical estimators in three situations: first,
      when the dimensionality of the random variable is large; second, when near
      functional relationships leading to high correlation between components of the
      random variable are present; and third, when the marginal variances of random
      variable components vary significantly with respect to each other. Heuristics on
      the error of the proposed and classical estimators are presented. Finally, the
      proposed estimator is tested for a variety of distributions in successively
      increasing dimensions and in the presence of a near-functional relationship. Its
      performance is compared with a classical estimator, and a significant improvement
      is demonstrated. 

PMID- 26871194
TI  - Erratum: Transport and diffusion properties of interacting colloidal particles in
      two-dimensional microchannels with a periodic potential [Phys. Rev. E 91, 022313
      (2015)].
AB  - This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.91.022313. 

PMID- 26871195
TI  - Publisher's Note: Curvature-induced crosshatched order in two-dimensional
      semiflexible polymer networks [Phys. Rev. E 92, 060602(R) (2015)].
AB  - This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.060602. 

PMID- 26871196
TI  - Effects of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant
      defense system, and liver damage induced by lead acetate in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Liver is considered a target organ affected by lead toxicity.
      Oxidative stress is among the mechanisms involved in liver damage. Here we
      investigated the effects of the natural alkaloid berberine on oxidative stress
      and hepatotoxicity induced by lead in rats. METHODS: Animals received an aqueous
      solution of lead acetate (500 mg Pb/l in the drinking water) and/or daily oral
      gavage of berberine (50 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Rats were then weighed and used for
      the biochemical, molecular, and histological evaluations. RESULTS: Lead-induced
      oxidative stress, shown by increasing lipid peroxidation along with a concomitant
      decrease in hepatic levels of thiol groups, total antioxidant capacity, the
      activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and
      glutathione-S-transferase, and reduced versus oxidized glutathione ratio.
      Berberine corrected all the disturbances in oxidative stress markers induced by
      lead administration. Berberine also prevented the elevated levels of enzymes
      (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase)
      and the decrease in body weight and albumin. The protective effects of berberine
      were comparable with silymarin. Furthermore, berberine attenuated liver damage,
      shown by decreased necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. DISCUSSION:
      Berberine represents a potential therapeutic option against lead-induced
      hepatotoxicity through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant
      defenses. CONCLUSION: Berberine exerted protective effects on lead-induced
      oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats.

PMID- 26871197
TI  - Combination of low-dose imatinib plus nilotinib for the treatment of chronic
      phase chronic myeloid leukaemia after imatinib failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This is a feasibility study to evaluate whether simultaneous
      administration of low doses of imatinib and nilotinib in chronic-phase chronic
      myeloid leukaemia (CP-CML) patients has the potential for transcript elimination
      after failure to imatinib. METHODS: Ten patients were enrolled; eight had
      cytogenetic relapse and two had confirmed loss of major molecular response (MMR).
      At baseline, BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation was detected in four patients.
      RESULTS: After 6 months of therapy, major cytogenetic response, complete
      cytogenetic response, and MMR were achieved in seven, four, and four patients,
      respectively. Grade 4 thrombocytopenia developed in one patient, and grade 1 skin
      rash in four. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that imatinib
      might have inhibitory effects on the clearance of nilotinib, increasing its
      efficacy. This dual therapy was well tolerated and resulted in improvement of
      cytogenetic and molecular responses in patients with CP-CML after failure to
      imatinib. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01819389.

PMID- 26871198
TI  - Extrapyramidal Symptoms as a Result of Risperidone Discontinuation During
      Combination Therapy with Methylphenidate in a Pediatric Patient.

PMID- 26871199
TI  - Pharmacogenomics of anti-TNF response in psoriasis, where are we?

PMID- 26871200
TI  - Murine liver damage caused by exposure to nano-titanium dioxide.
AB  - Due to its unique physiochemical properties, nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) is
      widely used in all aspects of people's daily lives, bringing it into increasing
      contact with humans. Thus, this material's security issues for humans have become
      a heavily researched subject. Nano-TiO2 can enter the body through the mouth,
      skin, respiratory tract or in other ways, after which it enters the blood
      circulation and is deposited in the liver, changing biochemical indicators and
      causing liver inflammation. Meanwhile, the light sensitivity of these
      nanoparticles allows them to become media-generating reactive oxygen species
      (ROS), causing an imbalance between oxidation and anti-oxidation that leads to
      oxidative stress and liver damage. Nano-TiO2 can be transported into cells via
      phagocytosis, where the nanoparticles bind to the mitochondrial membrane,
      resulting in the disintegration of the membrane and the electron transport chain
      within the mitochondria. Thus, more ROS are produced. Nano-TiO2 can also enter
      the nucleus, where it can directly embed into or indirectly affect DNA, thereby
      causing DNA breakage or affecting gene expression. These effects include
      increased mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammation-related factors and
      decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of IkappaB and IL-2, resulting in
      inflammation. Long-term inflammation of the liver causes HSC cell activation, and
      extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is promoted by multiple signalling
      pathways, resulting in liver fibrosis. In this paper, the latest progress on
      murine liver injury induced by environmental TiO2 is systematically described.
      The toxicity of nano-TiO2 also depends on size, exposure time, surface
      properties, dosage, administration route, and its surface modification.
      Therefore, its toxic effects in humans should be studied in greater depth. This
      paper also provides useful reference information regarding the safe use of nano
      TiO2 in the future. 

PMID- 26871201
TI  - Perioperative pregabalin for reducing pain, analgesic consumption, and anxiety
      and enhancing sleep quality in elective neurosurgical patients: a prospective,
      randomized, double-blind, and controlled clinical study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess in-hospital (immediate)
      postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption (primary goals) and
      preoperative anxiety and sleep quality (secondary goals) in patients who
      underwent craniotomy and were treated with pregabalin (PGL). Whenever possible,
      out-of-hospital pain scores and analgesics usage data were obtained as well.
      METHODS This prospective, randomized, double-blind and controlled study was
      conducted in consenting patients who underwent elective craniotomy for brain
      tumor resection at Tel Aviv Medical Center between 2012 and 2014. Patients
      received either 150 mg PGL (n = 50) or 500 mg starch (placebo; n = 50) on the
      evening before surgery, 1.5 hours before surgery, and twice daily for 72 hours
      following surgery. All patients spent the night before surgery in the hospital,
      and no other premedication was administered. Opioids and nonsteroidal
      antiinflammatory drugs were used for pain, which was self-rated by means of a
      numerical rating scale (score range 0-10). RESULTS Eighty-eight patients
      completed the study. Data on the American Society of Anesthesiologists class,
      age, body weight, duration of surgery, and intraoperative drugs were similar for
      both groups. The pain scores during postoperative Days 0 to 2 were significantly
      lower in the PGL group than in the placebo group (p < 0.01). Analgesic
      consumption was also lower in the PGL group, both immediately and 1 month after
      surgery. There were fewer requests for antiemetics in the PGL group, and the rate
      of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lower. The preoperative anxiety level
      and the quality of sleep were significantly better in the PGL group (p < 0.01).
      There were no PGL-associated major adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative use
      of twice-daily 150 mg pregabalin attenuates preoperative anxiety, improves sleep
      quality, and reduces postoperative pain scores and analgesic usage without
      increasing the rate of adverse effects. Clinical trial registration no.:
      NCT01612832 ( clinicaltrials.gov ).

PMID- 26871203
TI  - One-year outcome in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus:
      comparison of lumboperitoneal shunt to ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is treated with
      cerebrospinal fluid shunting, and implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt
      (VPS) is the current standard treatment. The objective of this study was to
      compare the efficacy and safety of VPSs and lumboperitoneal shunts (LPSs) for
      patients with iNPH. METHODS The authors conducted a prospective multicenter study
      of LPS use for patients with iNPH. Eighty-three patients with iNPH (age 60 to 85
      years) who presented with ventriculomegaly and high-convexity and medial
      subarachnoid space tightness on MR images were recruited from 20 neurological or
      neurosurgical centers in Japan between March 1, 2010, and October 19, 2011. The
      primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 1 year after surgery,
      and the secondary outcome included scores on the iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS). A
      previously conducted VPS cohort study with the same inclusion criteria and
      primary and secondary end points was used as a historical control. RESULTS The
      proportion of patients who achieved a favorable outcome (i.e., improvement of at
      least 1 point in their mRS score) was 63% (95% CI 51%-73%) and was comparable to
      values reported with VPS implantation (69%, 95% CI 59%-78%). Using the iNPHGS,
      the 1-year improvement rate was 75% (95% CI 64%-84%) and was comparable to the
      rate found in the VPS study (77%, 95% CI 68%-84%). The proportion of patients
      experiencing serious adverse events (SAEs) and non-SAEs did not differ
      significantly between the groups at 1 year after surgery (SAEs: 19 [22%] of 87
      LPS patients vs 15 [15%] of 100 VPS patients, p = 0.226; non-SAEs: 24 [27.6%] LPS
      patients vs 20 [20%] VPS patients, p = 0.223). However, shunt revisions were more
      common in LPS-treated patients than in VPS-treated patients (6 [7%] vs 1 [1%]).
      CONCLUSIONS The efficacy and safety rates for LPSs with programmable valves are
      comparable to those for VPSs for the treatment of patients with iNPH. Despite the
      relatively high shunt failure rate, an LPS can be the treatment of choice because
      of its minimal invasiveness and avoidance of brain injury.

PMID- 26871202
TI  - Association of nosocomial infections with delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal
      subarachnoid hemorrhage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a recognized complication of
      aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) that contributes to poor outcome. This
      study seeks to determine the effect of nosocomial infection on the incidence of
      DCI and patient outcome. METHODS An exploratory analysis was performed on 156
      patients with aSAH enrolled in the Cerebral Aneurysm Renin Angiotensin System
      study. Clinical and radiographic data were analyzed with univariate analysis to
      detect risk factors for the development of DCI and poor outcome. Multivariate
      logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of DCI.
      RESULTS One hundred fifty-three patients with aSAH were included. DCI was
      identified in 32 patients (20.9%). Nosocomial infection (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95%
      confidence interval [CI] 1.09-11.2, p = 0.04), ventriculitis (OR 25.3, 95% CI
      1.39-458.7, p = 0.03), aneurysm re-rupture (OR 7.55, 95% CI 1.02-55.7, p = 0.05),
      and clinical vasospasm (OR 43.4, 95% CI 13.1-143.4, p < 0.01) were independently
      associated with the development of DCI. Diagnosis of nosocomial infection
      preceded the diagnosis of DCI in 15 (71.4%) of 21 patients. Patients diagnosed
      with nosocomial infection experienced significantly worse outcomes as measured by
      the modified Rankin Scale score at discharge and 1 year (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS Nosocomial infection is independently associated with
      DCI. This association is hypothesized to be partly causative through the
      exacerbation of systemic inflammation leading to thrombosis and subsequent
      ischemia.

PMID- 26871204
TI  - Involvement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in carotid plaque growth
      and vulnerability.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The roles of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the development of
      carotid plaque are still obscure. This study aimed to clarify this by assessing
      the histological findings of specimens obtained from carotid endarterectomy.
      METHODS This study included 34 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. MR
      imaging was performed to semiquantitatively analyze the components of the carotid
      plaques in all patients. The surgical specimens were subjected to
      immunohistochemistry. The distributions of the CD34-, CD133-, VEGF-2R-positive
      cells in the carotid plaques were precisely analyzed, and their number was
      quantified. Simultaneously, the CD34-positive microvessels were localized.
      RESULTS The plaque component was judged as lipid-rich plaque in 19 patients,
      intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) in 11 patients, and fibrous plaque in 4 patients.
      The CD34-positive microvessels were densely distributed in the plaque shoulder
      and interface-to-media regions. The CD34-, CD133-, and VEGF-2R-positive cells
      were mainly localized around the CD34-positive microvessels. The number of CD34
      positive microvessels significantly correlated with the number of CD34-, CD133-,
      and VEGF-2R-positive cells (R = 0.308, p = 0.009; R = 0.324, p = 0.006; and R =
      0.296, p = 0.013, respectively). Vulnerable plaques (lipid-rich and IPH) had
      significantly higher numbers of the CD34-positive microvessels (p = 0.007) and
      CD34-, CD133-, and VEGF-2R-positive cells than fibrous plaques (p = 0.031, p =
      0.013, and p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS These findings strongly suggest that
      neovascularization in the plaque shoulder and interface-to-media regions may play
      a key role in delivering EPCs from the peripheral blood to the carotid plaque,
      promoting the growth of carotid plaque. Furthermore, the invaded EPCs, especially
      the CD133-positive immature EPCs, may be related to plaque vulnerability.

PMID- 26871205
TI  - Borderline basal ganglia hemorrhage volume: patient selection for good clinical
      outcome after stereotactic catheter drainage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine predisposing factors for
      good clinical outcome in patients with spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage with
      borderline volumes (defined as a hematoma volume between 20 and 50 cm3) who had
      undergone treatment by stereotactic catheter drainage. METHODS From the 298
      patients whose information had been prospectively collected in the institutional
      database between January 2010 and December 2013, 93 patients were included in
      this retrospective study and divided into 2 groups: best medical treatment alone
      (Group A, n = 44) and best medical treatment plus catheterization (Group B, n =
      49). All patients met the following criteria: 1) a diagnosis of spontaneous basal
      ganglia hemorrhage, and 2) a borderline hematoma volume (20 to 50 cm3).
      Postoperative modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and recovery of motor weakness
      were compared between the 2 groups, and predisposing factors for good clinical
      outcome were evaluated. RESULTS Patients in Group B showed earlier recovery of
      motor weakness and improved mRS scores than patients in Group A. The final mRS
      score at 12 months was better in Group B than in Group A (p = 0.006).
      Predisposing factors for a good clinical outcome were a hematoma volume < 30 cm3
      (OR 6.158, 95% CI 1.221-31.053, p = 0.028), an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
      score >= 13 (OR 6.331, 95% CI 1.129-35.507, p = 0.036), the absence of internal
      capsule involvement (OR 4.680, 95% CI 1.152-19.010, p = 0.031), and
      catheterization (OR 13.376, 95% CI 2.423-73.842, p = 0.003) based on logistic
      regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS Good clinical outcome can be expected after
      stereotactic catheter drainage in patients with a hematoma volume between 20 and
      30 cm3, an initial GCS score >= 13, and the absence of internal capsule
      involvement. Among these patients, stereotactic catheter drainage may have a
      beneficial effect on early recovery of motor weakness and functional outcome,
      indicating that lateral-type basal ganglia hematoma compression not involving the
      internal capsule may be better treated using stereotactic catheter drainage than
      treated medically.

PMID- 26871206
TI  - Aneurysm remnant after clipping: the risks and consequences.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The complete clipping of a cerebral aneurysm usually warrants its
      sustained occlusion, while clip remnants may have far-reaching consequences. The
      aim of this study is to identify the risk factors for clip remnants requiring
      retreatment and/or exhibiting growth. METHODS All consecutive patients with
      primary aneurysm clipping performed at University Hospital of Essen between
      January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2013, were eligible for this study. Aneurysm
      occlusion was judged on obligatory postoperative digital subtraction angiography
      and the need for repeated vascular control. The identified clip remnants were
      correlated with various demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients,
      aneurysm features, and surgery-related aspects. RESULTS Of 616 primarily clipped
      aneurysms, postoperative angiography revealed 112 aneurysms (18%) with clip
      remnants requiring further control (n = 91) or direct retreatment (n = 21). Seven
      remnants exhibited growth during follow-up, whereas 2 cases were associated with
      aneurysmal bleeding. Therefore, a total of 28 aneurysms (4.5%) were retreated as
      clip remnants (range 1 day to 67 months after clipping). In the multivariate
      analysis, the need for retreatment of clip remnant was correlated with the
      aneurysm's initial size (> 12 mm; OR 3.22; p = 0.035) and location (anterior
      cerebral artery > internal carotid artery > posterior circulation > middle
      cerebral artery; OR 1.85; p = 0.003). Younger age with a cutoff at 45 years (OR
      33.31; p = 0.004) was the only independent predictor for remnant growth.
      CONCLUSIONS The size and location of the aneurysm are the main risk factors for
      clip remnants requiring retreatment. Because of the risk for growth, younger
      individuals (< 45 years old) with clip remnants require a long-term (> 5 years)
      vascular follow-up. Clinical trial registration no: DRKS00008749 (Deutsches
      Register Klinischer Studien).

PMID- 26871207
TI  - Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for temporal lobe
      epilepsy: a laboratory feasibility study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE In appropriate candidates, the treatment of medication-refractory
      mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is primarily surgical. Traditional anterior
      temporal lobectomy yields seizure-free rates of 60%-70% and possibly higher. The
      field of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an evolving
      field in neurosurgery. There is potential to treat MTLE with MRgFUS; however, it
      has appeared that the temporal lobe structures were beyond the existing treatment
      envelope of currently available clinical systems. The purpose of this study was
      to determine whether lesional temperatures can be achieved in the target tissue
      and to assess potential safety concerns. METHODS Cadaveric skulls with tissue
      mimicking gels were used as phantom targets. An ablative volume was then mapped
      out for a "virtual temporal lobectomy." These data were then used to create a
      target volume on the InSightec ExAblate Neuro system. The target was the
      amygdala, uncus, anterior 20 mm of hippocampus, and adjacent parahippocampal
      gyrus. This volume was approximately 5cm3. Thermocouples were placed on critical
      skull base structures to monitor skull base heating. RESULTS Adequate focusing of
      the ultrasound energy was possible in the temporal lobe structures. Using
      clinically relevant ultrasound parameters (power 900 W, duration 10 sec,
      frequency 650 kHz), ablative temperatures were not achieved (maximum temperature
      46.1 degrees C). Increasing sonication duration to 30 sec demonstrated lesional
      temperatures in the mesial temporal lobe structures of interest (up to 60.5
      degrees C). Heating of the skull base of up to 24.7 degrees C occurred with 30
      sec sonications. CONCLUSIONS MRgFUS thermal ablation of the mesial temporal lobe
      structures relevant in temporal lobe epilepsy is feasible in a laboratory model.
      Longer sonications were required to achieve temperatures that would create
      permanent lesions in brain tissue. Heating of the skull base occurred with longer
      sonications. Blocking algorithms would be required to restrict ultrasound beams
      causing skull base heating. In the future, MRgFUS may present a minimally
      invasive, non-ionizing treatment of MTLE.

PMID- 26871208
TI  - The anconeus epitrochlearis muscle may protect against the development of cubital
      tunnel syndrome: a preliminary study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The authors hypothesized that when the anatomical variant of an
      anconeus epitrochlearis is present, the risk of developing cubital tunnel
      syndrome would be reduced by replacing the normal roof of the cubital tunnel
      (Osborne's ligament) with a more forgiving muscular structure, the anconeus
      epitrochlearis. The authors further hypothesized that when the presence of an
      anconeus epitrochlearis contributes to ulnar neuropathy, it would be secondary to
      muscular hypertrophy, thereby making it more likely to occur in the dominant arm.
      Therefore, the goal of the present study was to evaluate these hypotheses.
      METHODS This retrospective cohort study was performed by reviewing the records of
      all adult patients who underwent operative intervention for cubital tunnel
      syndrome between 2005 and 2014 as the experimental group and all asymptomatic
      patients in the medical literature who were part of a series reporting the
      prevalence of an anconeus epitrochlearis as the control group. The primary
      outcome of interest was the presence of an anconeus epitrochlearis in
      asymptomatic individuals versus patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. RESULTS
      During the study period, 168 patients underwent decompression of the ulnar nerve
      for cubital tunnel syndrome, and an anconeus epitrochlearis was found at surgery
      in 9 (5.4%) patients. The control group consisted of 634 asymptomatic patients
      from the medical literature, and an anconeus epitrochlearis was present in 98
      (15.5%) of these patients. An anconeus epitrochlearis was present significantly
      less frequently in the symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic individuals (p <
      0.001). Among patients undergoing surgical decompression, an anconeus
      epitrochlearis was associated with symptoms in the dominant arm (p = 0.037).
      CONCLUSIONS The authors found that an anconeus epitrochlearis was present
      significantly less often in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome than in
      asymptomatic controls. The mechanism of protection may be that this muscle
      decreases the rigidity of the entrance into the cubital tunnel. When an anconeus
      epitrochlearis does contribute to cubital tunnel syndrome, it is significantly
      more likely to occur in the dominant arm, possibly due to repetitive use and
      hypertrophy of the anconeus epitrochlearis. The presence of an anconeus
      epitrochlearis may be protective against the development of cubital tunnel
      syndrome, although this is a preliminary finding.

PMID- 26871209
TI  - The challenge of the 67th Brazilian Conference of Nursing: In what direction is
      the Brazilian Nursing going?

PMID- 26871210
TI  - Nursing education: training evaluation by graduates, employers and teachers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to support the assessment and the necessary changes in the curriculum
      of an undergraduate degree in Nursing. METHODS: it is a descriptive study
      developed in two stages as an action research. In the first stage, the speeches
      of 19 graduates and 15 employers were interviewed and analyzed; in the second
      stage, five teachers participated in the focus group. For processing the data,
      the content analysis was adopted. RESULTS: based on the assessment of the actors,
      an action plan was created with suggestions regarding the curriculum flexibility,
      content resizing, continuing education, practice enhancement, active
      methodologies and autonomy of the student. CONCLUSION: the participation of
      actors participants of the training process and performance of professional
      nurses in the evaluation of a curriculum pointed aspects to realignment and
      provided concrete benefits to improving the quality of undergraduate course
      curriculum, scenario of this study.

PMID- 26871211
TI  - Evaluation of environmentally sustainable actions in the medication process.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze sustainable actions from an environmental point of view in
      the medication process, from the reception of the prescription of the pharmacy to
      waste discard by nursing. METHOD: study before and after performed through Lean
      Six Sigma methodology. The sample consisted of the amount and type of waste
      resulting from the pharmacy and nursing services of a medical-surgical clinical
      unit. RESULTS: after the intervention was obtained at the pharmacy a reduction of
      74.8% of chemical, infectious and sharps waste, an increase of 33.3% of common
      recyclable and 20% of common non-recyclable. In nursing, there was a reduction of
      22.5% of chemical, infectious and sharps waste, an increase of 22.9% of common
      recyclable and an increase of 20% of common non-recyclable. CONCLUSION: the
      practice of sustainable actions in the hospital is possible, contributing to the
      optimization of resources and waste production with benefits to the institution,
      environment, and health.

PMID- 26871212
TI  - Health indicators of workers of the hospital area.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the health indicators of workers of hospital area for
      exposure to workloads, wear processes and its consequences. METHOD: a
      retrospective, descriptive and exploratory study performed in a hospital in
      southern Brazil. The population consisted of 1,050 workers notifications of
      registered in the Monitoring System of Nursing Workers Health, in 2011. RESULTS:
      80.8% of the records were female workers, with 34.2% aged between 31 to 40 years
      old, corresponding to 2478 working lost days. The results subsidized the
      implementation of nine indicators that showed the prevalence of respiratory and
      osteoarticular problems. CONCLUSION: the results allow the reflection and
      redirection of actions for workers' health, as the processes of becoming ill are
      compounded by exposure to psychic burdens. These indicators, when monitored, can
      contribute to the transformation of the profile of morbidity of these workers.

PMID- 26871213
TI  - Influence of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics at the impact of
      valvular heart disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of
      patients with valvular heart disease and to verify the influence of these
      variables on the impact of valve disease in daily life. METHOD: the study
      involved 86 outpatients. Data collection was performed in two stages - face-to
      face interview for sociodemographic and clinical characterization and through
      telephone contact for the application of the Instrument to Measure the Impact of
      Valvular Heart Disease on Patient's Everyday Life (IDCV). Data were analyzed
      through descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: it was
      noticed that the total score of IDCV and its domains were influenced by age,
      schooling, presence or absence of symptoms, use or not of diuretic. CONCLUSION:
      The impact of the disease was influenced by sociodemographic and clinical
      variables. The results provide subsidies for the design of nursing interventions
      aimed at reducing the impact of the disease on the patient's daily life with
      valve disease.

PMID- 26871214
TI  - Factors associated with inconsistent condom use among people living with
      HIV/Aids.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with inconsistent use
      of condoms among people living with HIV/ Aids (PLWHA). METHOD: it is a cross
      sectional study with 228, with individual interviews conducted in 2011. A
      multivariate analysis was performed with a logistic regression model. RESULTS:
      143 participants met the inclusion criteria, and the prevalence of inconsistent
      condom use was 28.7%. However, there was greater adherence among men (79.3%). In
      the multivariate analysis, the independent variable daily use of alcohol
      (OR=11.02; 95% CI 1.84, 65.92; p = 0.021) was associated with inconsistent condom
      use. The chance of men making consistent condom use was higher than women (OR =
      0.36, 95% CI 0.15, 0.81; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: the prevalence of inconsistent
      condom male use among PLWHA was low, however, evidenced greater compliance among
      men over women with a statistically significant difference and the daily use of
      alcohol was associated with inconsistent condom use.

PMID- 26871215
TI  - Evaluating child care in the Family Health Strategy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the healthcare provided to children under two years old by
      the Family Health Strategy. METHOD: evaluative, quantitative, cross-sectional
      study that used the Primary Care Assessment Tool - Child Version for measuring
      the access, longitudinality, coordination, integrality, family orientation and
      community orientation. RESULTS: a total of 586 adults responsible for children
      under two years old and linked to 33 health units in eleven municipalities of the
      state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were interviewed. The evaluation was positive for
      the attributes longitudinality and coordination, and negative for access,
      integrality, Family orientation and community orientation. CONCLUSION: there are
      discrepancies between health needs of children and what is offered by the
      service; organizational barriers to access; absence of counter-reference;
      predominance of curative and long-standing and individual preventive practices;
      verticalization in organization of actions; and lack of good communication
      between professionals and users.

PMID- 26871216
TI  - Implementation of fast tests for syphilis and HIV in prenatal care in Fortaleza -
      Ceara.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to describe the implementation of the Fast Test (FT) of syphilis and
      HIV in prenatal care in primary healthcare units in Fortaleza, Ceara. METHOD: a
      descriptive study with a quantitative approach. There were training supervisions
      carried out in 24 units between May and August 2014, and the inclusion criterion
      was to have at least one trained professional. RESULTS: the physical space, the
      availability, validity and the performance of FT in prenatal were analyzed. The
      data were presented in simple frequency tables. It was identified adequate space
      in 79.2% of the units, availability of FT in 62.5%, performing the tests in
      37.5%, and of these, 55.6% doing these procedures in routine prenatal care.
      CONCLUSION: the primary units have difficulties in implementing FT in syphilis
      and HIV in the prenatal routine. This activity is seen as an effective strategy
      to reduce vertical transmission of these infections.

PMID- 26871217
TI  - Coping strategies for oncology nurses in high complexity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to identify the coping strategies of oncology services of nurses in
      highly complex hospital care before the person with cancer. METHOD: it is a
      qualitative research, with 18 nurses in inpatient oncology units and/or
      outpatient chemotherapy in two cities in southern Brazil, sampled by a snowball
      and carrying out semi-structured interviews. Data were submitted to thematic
      analysis. RESULTS: three categories emerged that show strategies such as denial
      and resignation in care, for support in the health team and the plurality and
      multiplicity of perspectives on the care, including the patient and his family
      and the search for personal and professional improvement. CONCLUSION: coping
      strategies are expressed in the cultural understanding of what it means to have
      cancer or not and management of health institutions for nurses to work with
      satisfaction. The service in education is a major factor in the development of
      ethical competence.

PMID- 26871218
TI  - Evaluation of quality of life of visually impaired.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the quality of life of visually impaired using WHOQOL-100.
      METHOD: exploratory, descriptive, and quantitative study, performed between April
      and May 2013 with 20 visually impaired of the Blind Association of Ceara, through
      interviews. RESULTS: the analysis showed that males predominated (80%), 41-55
      years (40%), students (50%) and personal income than the minimum wage (70%).
      Participants were self-rated with good quality of life (68.75%). The facets with
      the highest rates were personal relationships (74.06%), sexual activity (66.88%)
      and spirituality/religion/personal beliefs (65%). With lower rates were financial
      (43.44%), physical environment: pollution/noise/traffic/climate (46.88%),
      physical security and protection (37.19%), transport (35.63%) and medication or
      treatment dependency (8.25%). CONCLUSION: these results reflect the importance of
      the nurse to perform health education actions promoting the empowerment, autonomy
      and guaranteed of access in society for this clientele.

PMID- 26871219
TI  - Evaluation of the care program implementation to people with high blood pressure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the implementation of the care program for people with
      hypertension in Maringa-PR. METHOD: it is an evaluative research of cross
      sectional design. Data were collected through structured interviews with 63
      nurses between April and June 2013. RESULTS: as missing or insufficient, there
      were: transportation for outside activities; work equipment; educational
      materials; training resources; inclusion of the family in the care plan; risk
      classification of individuals; determination of therapy from the risk
      classification and referral of the patient to medical and/or specialized tests.
      CONCLUSION: in addition to qualifying structure, there are: the need to identify
      people with hypertension as risk factors, perform risk stratification and
      systematic care planning, establishing an advanced clinical practice, such as
      support for self-care and management cases, accomplish with existing protocols
      and develop collective actions based on information systems.

PMID- 26871220
TI  - Children with special health needs and family: implications for Nursing.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to understand the family experience of children and adolescents with
      myelomeningocele by the discovery of chronic illness and their daily life in the
      realization of needed care to these people. METHOD: qualitative study, developed
      from October 2013 to February 2014, with family, in a pediatric hospital in
      Fortaleza. Data were collected through interviews and checked by analysis
      thematic category. RESULTS: it was found that the diagnosis after the birth of
      the child caused fear and anguish to the families in front of the unknown and the
      unexpected and that over the years they started to deal with many challenges
      conducting the daily care due to the disease sequelae. CONCLUSION: nursing plays
      an important role in the lives of families, children and adolescents, through
      emotional support, guidelines and care inserted in the health care network.

PMID- 26871221
TI  - Assessment of the risk of pressure ulcer development among hospitalized HIV/Aids
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to assess the risk of pressure ulcer development among hospitalized
      HIV/Aids. Metod: study quantitative descriptive with 35 patients admitted to an
      infectious diseases hospital in Curitiba-PR-BR. Characterized clinical and
      epidemiological of patients using a data collection instrument and the Braden
      Scale. Data was compiled using Excel(r) and a simple descriptive analysis.
      RESULTS: two patients were found to have pressure ulcers and the most common
      comorbidities associated with HIV/Aids were pneumocystis pneumonia, caused by
      pneumocisti cariini (16), and pulmonary tuberculosis (13). The lowest scores were
      obtained in the friction and shear subscale, followed by the activity, nutrition,
      mobility and moisture subscales. The highest score was obtained in the sensory
      perception subscale. Two patients were classified as 'very high risk', six as
      'high risk', three as 'low risk', and the rest as 'no risk'. CONCLUSION: risk
      assessment using scales provides objective information to assist with systemized
      and targeted nursing decision-making.

PMID- 26871222
TI  - Defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis "ineffective airway clearance".
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis
      "ineffective airway clearance" in children with acute respiratory infection.
      METHOD: cross-sectional descriptive study, developed in two hospitals specialized
      in care for children. It was held a detailed respiratory evaluation of the child
      to identify the defining characteristics of the diagnosis under study. RESULTS: a
      total of 249 children were evaluated, 55.8% were male and the median age was
      13.76 months. Ineffective airway clearance was identified in 222 children
      (89.2%). The following defining characteristics presented statistically
      significant associations: dyspnea, expectoration, orthopnea, respiratory
      adventitious sounds, decreased breath sounds and ineffective cough. Decreased
      breath sounds, ineffective cough and respiratory adventitious sounds composed the
      logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: the characteristics decreased breath
      sounds, ineffective cough and respiratory adventitious sounds have better
      predictive capacity for the diagnosis "ineffective airway clearance" in children
      with acute respiratory infection.

PMID- 26871223
TI  - Significations of being the caregiver of the companion with cancer: an
      existential look.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to unveil the significances of women who experience being the
      caregiver of their companion with cancer. METHOD: a Heidegger's phenomenological
      research, performed with ten women who are caregivers of their companions with
      cancer in a town in the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil, from December
      2013 to February 2014. The following guiding question was used: "How has it been
      for you to care for your companion with cancer?". RESULTS: from the analysis of
      the speeches the following ontological themes emerged: "Taking responsibility of
      caring for the companion with cancer", "Learning to live with the intimacy
      changes" and "Learning to live with the feelings related to care". The data
      revealed the wives' sense of responsibilities for caring and the influence of
      feelings in the act of caring, including the impact on the couple's intimacy.
      CONCLUSION: in the midst of difficulties, the feelings of affection are the
      driving force behind these women to continue their actions as wife-caregivers.

PMID- 26871224
TI  - Hospitalizations sensitive to primary health care at a regional hospital in the
      Federal District.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to characterize hospitalizations for sensitive conditions to primary
      care of a regional hospital in the Federal District. METHOD: this is a
      descriptive study, such as case series that considered users admitted between
      2008 and 2012 in the Regional Hospital of Ceilandia. The selection of
      hospitalizations was based on the Brazilian List, and the data were obtained from
      the Hospital information System. The descriptive statistics was used in the data
      processing and analysis. RESULTS: ACSC (Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions)
      showed a growth tendency, mainly due to cerebrovascular diseases, lung diseases
      and infections in the kidney and urinary tract. Female and elderly patients
      showed a higher frequency of hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: the results may help
      managers and health professionals to implement actions that aim higher
      solvability of primary care, and contribute to the systematization of nursing
      care and improved health care.

PMID- 26871225
TI  - Exposure and sun protection practices of university students.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to learn exposure and sun protection practices for university
      students. METHOD: a descriptive, cross-sectional study performed at a university
      in Sao Paulo. RESULTS: the sample consisted of 385 young and data collection
      conducted through a form. Of the total, 239 (62%) young people were classified as
      skin type III and IV and 69 (17.9%) affirmed to have a history of skin cancer in
      the family. Most affirmed exposure to the sun between 10 a.m and 04 p.m and for
      more than one hour; 112 (29.1%) informed not employ safeguards. Among those who
      use sunscreen, the minority does so regularly. CONCLUSION: although the sample
      was made up of people with greater access to information, it was found exposure
      and sunscreen improperly. Education, individual and collective actions should be
      strengthened and prioritized given the incidence of skin cancer in the country.

PMID- 26871226
TI  - Quality of life and accession to the pharmacological treatment among elderly
      hypertensive.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to compare variables obtained in adherence and non-adherence to drug
      treatment for hypertension, according to socioeconomic situation, time of
      diagnosis, self-reported morbidities, indicative of depression and quality of
      life. METHOD: cross-sectional analytical study of 524 elderly with adherence and
      505 non-adherence to the treatment. A descriptive analysis, Chi-square test and
      Student t test (p < 0.05) were held. RESULTS: there was higher proportion of
      older subjects, indicative of morbidity and depression among those with
      adherence. Non-adherence subjects had lower scores in all domains and quality of
      life facets. CONCLUSION: actions favoring the adherence to pharmacological
      treatment should be recommended, to minimize the impact of comorbidities and
      improve quality of life.

PMID- 26871227
TI  - Clinical competences of nursing assistants: a strategy for people management.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to identify the clinical competences of nursing assistants in a
      hospital organization and to understand how professional acquired these
      competences. METHOD: an exploratory study of a qualitative approach, performed at
      a private hospital in southern Brazil, through a semi-structured interview, in
      May and June 2013 with 20 nursing assistants. RESULTS: the nursing assistantswho
      worked longer in the same work unit had a higher list of clinical competences.
      The acquisition of clinical competences occurred through interaction with other
      professionals; in daily nursing practice; in previous experiences and in formal
      learning. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the identification of clinical competences and
      the way nursing assistants acquire these competences can be important resources
      for managing people, which can be used by nurse managers to better allocate these
      professionals and provide th e opportunity for their professional development.

PMID- 26871228
TI  - Profile of patients with brain tumors and the role of nursing care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to describe the profile of 200 patients with central nervous system
      tumors (CNST), and the role of the nursing care. METHOD: prospective,
      quantitative and descriptive analysis of medical records of 200 patients with
      TSNC. RESULTS: a total of 61% of our patients had benign CNST and 39% had
      malignant tumors. The extent of patient dependence, according to the Karnofsky
      Performance Status scale, was significantly greater for patients with malignant
      CNST (p < .05), indicating that these patients needed more support with their
      activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: patients with CNST need specialized care,
      with specific guidance regarding their disease and aspects of daily living after
      treatment. Thus, the nurse can function as a key element for the effectiveness of
      care provided to patients and family members with the aim of enhancing the
      quality of life of all those affected, directly or indirectly, by the disease.

PMID- 26871229
TI  - Conditions of functional health literacy of an elderly diabetics group.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the conditions of functional health literacy of an elderly
      diabetics group. METHOD: cross-sectional and descriptive study, with diabetic's
      elderly assisted in the SUS (N = 114). The social and health conditions were
      evaluated as well as functional health literacy by S-TOFHLA test (short version);
      the simple proportions, average, standard deviation and Pearson's Chi-square were
      described by SPSS software (20.0) with alpha = 5% value. RESULTS: the mean age
      was 67.4 years, 74.0% of the elderly were women, had up to four years of
      schooling; 29.8% had a long-standing illness, 64.0% reported having high blood
      pressure, 47.4% smoke or were smokers, 73.7% had low functional health literacy,
      which was associated with schooling p = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: the low functional
      health literacy could be a self-care conditioning and can be influenced by low
      schooling because it implies to have skills to understand and make decisions
      aimed at self-management of health.

PMID- 26871230
TI  - Clinical indicators of sexual dysfunction in pregnant women: integrative
      literature review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to identify the nursing diagnosis clinical indicators of sexual
      dysfunction in pregnant women. METHOD: it is an integrative literature review,
      with research in databases using the keywords "sexual*", "pregnan*" and
      "function*". Studies included had an abstract available for analysis, referring
      to pregnant women over 18 years old, written in Portuguese, French, Spanish and
      English, with publication date between 2010 and 2014. Studies that reporting
      pregnant women with an associated pathology were excluded. RESULTS: sexual
      dysfunction in pregnant women is consistent in the literature. Nine defining
      characteristics were identified and 16 related factors, some not classified in
      NANDA International. CONCLUSION: clinical indicators can be added to the nursing
      diagnosis to favor an accurate diagnosis and effective interventions in the
      surveillance of pregnancy as a period of healthy sexual experience.

PMID- 26871232
TI  - Nurses' performance on primary care in the National Health Service in England.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expansion of nursing roles in primary care in the
      English National Health Service and the implications for professional practice.
      METHOD: qualitative research in case study format, held in London, England, in
      six primary care units. Data were obtained through interviews with nine nurses.
      After the thematic data analysis, two units emerged: the nurses' performance
      characteristics and effects of the expansion of nursing roles. RESULTS: expansion
      of nurses' roles: consultation, diagnosis and drug therapy, case management and
      monitoring of chronic conditions. Repercussions: for the user, there was improved
      access, communication and comprehensive care, increased duration of
      consultations, resulting in greater adherence; for nurses, there was the
      expansion of professional skills, knowledge and professional recognition; to the
      health care system, it resulted in cost savings. CONCLUSION: benefits in
      expanding nursing roles, were visible, contributing to primary care quality.

PMID- 26871231
TI  - Meleis' Nursing Theories Evaluation: integrative review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the application of the theory evaluation model proposed by
      Meleis in Brazilian studies. METHOD: integrative review of online articles
      published from 2002 to 2012 in the databases LILACS and BDENF. RESULTS: the 16
      selected studies confirmed the use of only three of the five stages proposed for
      Meleis' theories analysis: Description of the Theory, Criticism of the Theory and
      Analysis of the Theory, with a predominance of a single unit of analysis in each.
      CONCLUSION: the analysis of nursing theories provides support to nurses in the
      practice, research, education and administration of the different dimensions of
      care. Meleis' model figures as very important by contributing to the development
      of knowledge of nursing discipline, considering that its use as a method allows
      several reflections on theories in order that they be revalidated to support a
      more theoretical and practical applicability.

PMID- 26871233
TI  - Qualitative methodologies in health research: interpretive referential of
      Patricia Benner.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: this article reports on the experience of using the interpretive
      phenomenological framework of Patricia Benner in a Brazilian context. Benner's
      interpretive phenomenology, based on existential and interpretative philosophy,
      aims to understand human experiences in the particular worlds of research
      participants. Data were collected through interviews with nine nurses in November
      and December 2014. RESULTS: data analysis process according to Benner's framework
      consisted of: transcription, coding, thematic analysis, and search for
      paradigmatic cases and examples. Therefore, the prior knowledge of the researcher
      is an important part of the study, consisting in manners of the research
      conduction. CONCLUSION: The use of this methodological framework entailed a great
      challenge for the researcher, however, it also enabled a unique opportunity to
      illuminate important existential phenomena related to the daily lives of research
      participants.

PMID- 26871234
TI  - Nursing process documentation: rationale and methods of analytical study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to describe the methods used to analyze the associations between
      variables of service, nursing and the nursing process documentation in
      institutions of the Department of Health of the State of Sao Paulo. METHOD:
      multilevel analytical study with data obtained in the domains of institution,
      units of the institution and nursing professionals who work there, using
      standardized instruments. The analyses had as axis the degree of completeness of
      the nursing process documentation in units or institutions and their association
      with variables of nursing personnel, of units and of institutions. CONCLUSION:
      This study will provide important empirical evidence on the factors involved in
      the nursing process documentation.

PMID- 26871235
TI  - ERRATUM.

PMID- 26871236
TI  - ERRATUM.

PMID- 26871237
TI  - Regulatory effects of genomic translocations at the human carboxylesterase-1
      (CES1) gene locus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: CES1 encodes carboxylesterase-1, an important drug-metabolizing enzyme
      with high expression in the liver. Previous studies have reported a genomic
      translocation of the 5' region from the poorly expressed pseudogene CES1P1, to
      CES1, yielding the structural variant CES1VAR. The aim of this study was to
      characterize this translocation and its effect on CES1 expression in the human
      liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were conducted in human liver tissues
      and cell culture (HepG2). The promoter and exon 1 of CES1 were sequenced by
      Sanger and Ion Torrent sequencing to identify gene translocations. The effects of
      CES1 5'UTRs on mRNA and protein expression were assessed by quantitative real
      time PCR, allelic ratio mRNA analysis by primer extension (SNaPshot),
      quantitative targeted proteomics, and luciferase reporter gene assays. RESULTS:
      Sequencing of CES1 identified two translocations: first, CES1VAR (17% minor
      allele frequency) comprising the 5'UTR, exon 1, and part of intron 1. A second
      shorter translocation, CES1SVAR, was observed excluding exon 1 and intron 1
      regions (<0.01% minor allele frequency). CES1VAR is associated with 2.6-fold
      decreased CES1 mRNA and ~1.35-fold lower allelic mRNA. Luciferase reporter
      constructs showed that CES1VAR decreases luciferase activity 1.5-fold, whereas
      CES1SVAR slightly increases activity. CES1VAR was not associated with CES1
      protein expression or metabolism of the CES1 substrates enalapril, clopidogrel,
      or methylphenidate in the liver. CONCLUSION: The frequent translocation variant
      CES1VAR reduces mRNA expression of CES1 in the liver by ~30%, but protein
      expression and metabolizing activity in the liver were not detectably altered -
      possibly because of variable CES1 expression masking small allelic effects.
      Whether drug therapies are affected by CES1VAR will require further in-vivo
      studies.

PMID- 26871239
TI  - Progressive Motor Deficits and Psychosis After Stroke: A Case Presentation.

PMID- 26871238
TI  - Effects of Fentanyl and Morphine on Shivering During Spinal Anesthesia in
      Patients Undergoing Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins.
AB  - BACKGROUND We sought to investigate the effect of morphine and fentanyl on
      shivering when used adjunctively with bupivacaine during spinal anesthesia in
      patients undergoing varicose vein surgery on an outpatient basis. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS The study included a total of 90 patients, aged 25-45 years, ASA I-II,
      scheduled to undergo endovenous laser ablation under spinal anesthesia for lower
      extremity venous insufficiency/varicose vein disease. Patients were randomly
      allocated into 3 groups: Group M (morphine group) received 5 mg 0.5% hyperbaric
      bupivacaine + 0.1 mg morphine, Group F (fentanyl group) received 5 mg 0.5%
      hyperbaric bupivacaine + 25 ug fentanyl, and Group C (control group) received 5
      mg 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine + physiologic saline. The level of sensory
      blockade was assessed with pin-prick test and the level of motor blockade was
      assessed with Bromage scale at 5-min intervals. Shivering grade and time to first
      postoperative analgesic requirement was recorded. RESULTS Level and time of
      sensory block showed a slight but insignificant increase in the Morphine Group
      and Fentanyl Group. Time of postoperative analgesic requirement was significantly
      longer in patients who received morphine (p<0.05). Shivering was significantly
      less common in patients who received morphine and fentanyl than in patients who
      are in the Control Group (p<0.02). CONCLUSIONS Morphine or fentanyl may be used
      as adjunctives to spinal anesthesia to prevent shivering in patients undergoing
      venous surgery. 

PMID- 26871240
TI  - Cerebral Mycotic Aneurysm and Infective Endocarditis: A Case Study.
AB  - Neurologic complications occur in 20%-40% of patients with infective
      endocarditis. Mycotic aneurysms are one example of these complications, and
      although rare, they can confound a patient's recovery and increase morbidity and
      mortality. This article will examine one patient's experience and the devastating
      effects that this complication had on his life. The information in this article
      will help to support neurological nurses in refining care and facilitating the
      best possible recovery for patients who develop this condition. 

PMID- 26871241
TI  - Nursing Roles and Functions in the Acute and Subacute Rehabilitation of Patients
      With Stroke: Going All In for the Patient.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The description of nursing roles and functions in rehabilitation of
      patients with stroke remains sparse. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe
      the experienced roles and functions of nurses during in-hospital rehabilitation
      of patients with stroke. METHODS: Within a phenomenological hermeneutic approach,
      19 nurses working with in-hospital rehabilitation of patients with stroke
      participated in three focus group interviews during 2013. FINDINGS: The nurses'
      experiences were described in two themes: (a) the nurse's role and function in
      relation to the patient's needs 24/7 and (b) the nurse's role and function in the
      interdisciplinary team. Getting to know the patient as a person was essential to
      the nurses to care for the patient's basic needs; these must come first working
      with rehabilitation and always include the relatives. Recognition of the team
      members' individual skills with focus on the patient's needs must be the center
      of attention. CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary rehabilitation program actively
      needs to include the patient by integrating the patient's perspective in the
      goals as well as in daily rehabilitation. In the team, nurses had the role of
      coordinator and the patient's voice.

PMID- 26871243
TI  - Preventing Cancer: Bad Luck or Lifestyle?

PMID- 26871244
TI  - Clinical Nurse Specialists' Perceptions of Care for Vulnerable Patients.
AB  - The vulnerable and underserved are populations that have higher risks in health
      care. A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse who
      can help mitigate risks and provide holistic care for these patients. Researching
      clinical nurse specialists' perceptions of their role in caring for the
      vulnerable populations is important to ensuring quality care and filling in
      current practice weaknesses. 

PMID- 26871242
TI  - Parent Perceptions of How Nurse Encounters Can Provide Caring Support for the
      Family in Early Acute Care After Children's Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A child's severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) creates a family crisis
      requiring extensive cultural, informational, psychological, and environmental
      support. Nurses need to understand parents' expectations of caring in early acute
      care so they can tailor their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors appropriately to
      accommodate the family's needs. METHODS: In a previous qualitative study of 42
      parents or caregivers from 37 families of children with moderate-to-severe TBI,
      parents of children with severe TBI (n = 25) described their appraisals of nurse
      caring and uncaring behaviors in early acute care. Swanson's theory of caring was
      used to categorize parents' descriptions to inform nursing early acute care
      practices and family-centered care. RESULTS: Caring nurse encounters included (a)
      involving parents in the care of their child and reflecting on all sociocultural
      factors shaping family resources and responses (knowing); (b) respecting that
      family grief can be co-mingled with resilience and that parents are typically
      competent to be involved in decision making (maintaining belief); (d) actively
      listening and engaging parents to fully understand family values and needs (being
      with); (e) decreasing parents' workload to get information and emotional support
      and provide a safe cultural, psychological, and physical environment for the
      family (doing for); and (f) providing anticipatory guidance to navigate the early
      acute care system and giving assistance to learn and adjust to their situation
      (enabling). CONCLUSION: Application of Swanson's caring theory is prescriptive in
      helping individual nurses and early acute care systems to meet important family
      needs after children's severe TBI.

PMID- 26871245
TI  - Does Telephone Follow-Up and Education Affect Self-Care and Metabolic Control in
      Diabetic Patients?
AB  - The major goal of diabetes control is to assist patients to perform self-care and
      metabolic control. One possible way to achieve this goal is education and regular
      monitoring of patients by telephone. Thus, the present study was conducted with
      the aim of investigating the impact of education and telephone follow-up on self
      care and metabolic control in diabetic patients. This experimental study was
      conducted at a hospital in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, with 88
      diabetic patients including 44 intervention subjects and 44 control subjects.
      After an initial discussion, patients in the intervention group received
      education and telephone follow-up for 3 months. Required approvals were obtained
      before initiation of the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire form
      and the Diabetes Self-Care Scale. The Diabetes Self-Care Scale scores ranged
      between 140 and 210, where higher scores indicated increased self-care activities
      of patients. At the end of the study, the self-care score was found to increase
      from 61.3 +/- 10.9 to 89.9 +/- 12.3 in the intervention group (P < .005), but it
      showed a reduction from 56.5 +/- 7.6 to 54.7 +/- 9.3 after 3-month period in the
      control group. Education and telephone follow-up was also found to reduce the
      values of several variables of metabolic control including hemoglobin A1c, total
      cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic
      blood pressure. In conclusion, education and telephone follow-up of diabetic
      patients led to increased self-care scores and had a positive impact on metabolic
      control variables. In light of these findings, we suggest that education and tele
      health home monitoring may be provided on a continuous basis to help patients
      sustain self-care behaviors that they have adopted during the study period. 

PMID- 26871246
TI  - Amish Culture and Their Utilization of Burns and Wounds Ointment for the
      Treatment of Burns.
AB  - As indicated in the 2010 United States Religion Census, there are approximately
      251,000 Amish people in the United States and Ontario. This census also
      demonstrated that a new Amish community is founded on average about every three
      and-a-half weeks, suggesting that this religious culture is the fastest-growing
      religion throughout the United States. Because of the rapid growth of the Amish
      population, it is essential for health care workers to understand their
      background, cultural, and health care beliefs, especially in the treatment of
      burns. The purpose of this article is to examine the Amish background, cultural,
      and health care beliefs, specifically the utilization of burns and wounds
      ointment and burdock leaves in the treatment of burns.

PMID- 26871247
TI  - Engel's Model as a Conceptual Framework in Nursing Research: Well-being and
      Disability of Patients With Migraine.
AB  - Exploring, selecting, and utilizing an appropriate conceptual framework is a
      vital step in development of a research work. This article discusses the
      application of "Engel's model on biopsychosocial well-being," in exploring the
      relationship between biopsychosocial well-being and disability of patients with
      migraine headaches. 

PMID- 26871248
TI  - A Randomized Controlled Trial of Listening to Recorded Music for Heart Failure
      Patients: Study Protocol.
AB  - AIMS: To describe a conceptual framework and to test the effectiveness of a
      recorded music-listening protocol on symptom burden and quality of life in heart
      failure (HF) patients. BACKGROUND: Heart failure is an important public health
      problem. Many HF patients experience symptoms burden and poor quality of life,
      even with current improvements in pharmacological treatments. Recorded music
      listening has been shown to improve outcomes in cardiovascular patients, but it
      has never been tested on HF patients and with a specific music protocol and a
      randomized controlled trial methodology. METHODS: This study is a multicenter
      blinded randomized controlled trial that will involve 150 patients. Eligible
      patients will have a diagnosis of HF, in New York Heart Association functional
      classification of I to III, and will be recruited from 3 large hospitals in
      Northern Italy. Patients will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive
      recorded music-listening intervention with or without standard care for 3 months.
      Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of the first, second, and third
      month during the intervention, and at 6 months for follow-up. The following
      variables will be collected from HF patients with validated protocols: quality of
      life (primary endpoint), use of emergency services, rehospitalization rates, all
      cause mortality, self-care, somatic symptoms, quality of sleep, anxiety and
      depression symptoms, and cognitive function. DISCUSSION: This study will examine
      the effect of recorded music listening on HF patients and will inform clinical
      practice. If the findings are found to be positive, the protocol could be used as
      a tool for evidence-based applications of recorded music in HF patients. The
      framework developed in this study may be helpful for future research focused on
      the effects of music in HF patients.

PMID- 26871249
TI  - Successful Fecal Bacteria Transplantation and Nurse Management for a Patient With
      Intractable Functional Constipation: A Case Study.
AB  - Intractable functional constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder that
      features persistent difficult defecation, reduced bowel movements, or a feeling
      of incomplete defecation. Despite many therapeutic approaches, there has not been
      an established standard treatment protocol. Fecal microbiota transplantation
      (FMT), an innovative therapy that was introduced recently, has been preliminarily
      shown to have good effects and is expected to have good prospects. However,
      nursing is also of great importance during the process of FMT. An innovative
      nursing care protocol is combined with FMT, with a view to improving the clinical
      symptoms and quality of life of patients with intractable functional dyspepsia.
      This case-based study addresses the effects of nursing interventions used during
      the treatment of one patient with intractable functional constipation who
      received FMT. 

PMID- 26871250
TI  - Echinacea Formula (Echinaforce(r) Hotdrink): Effects of a Proprietary Echinacea
      Formula Compared With Oseltamivir in the Early Treatment of Influenza.

PMID- 26871251
TI  - Supplement Nonchalance Influenced by Supplement Naivete.

PMID- 26871252
TI  - Extracellular matrix proteins in the regulation of thrombus formation.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Exposure of subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins
      to the circulation is the key event that initiates platelet accumulation and clot
      formation after vessel injury. Soluble ECM proteins are also essential for
      support and regulation of these events. This review discusses the current
      understanding of ECM proteins in thrombosis and hemostasis. RECENT FINDINGS:
      Fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (VWF) are considered essential for
      thrombosis and hemostasis. Interestingly, alphaIIbbeta3 integrin-dependent
      thrombus formation persists in the absence of fibrinogen and VWF, suggesting that
      other alphaIIbbeta3 ligand (s), likely ECM proteins, can still mediate
      thrombosis. Fibronectin increases in platelets of fibrinogen-deficient humans and
      mice. This ECM protein can rapidly deposit onto the injured vessel wall prior to
      platelet accumulation. By switching from the soluble to insoluble form, plasma
      fibronectin supports hemostasis and inhibits excessive thrombosis. Fibrin,
      fibronectin, VWF, vitronectin, neutrophil extracellular traps, and other ECM
      proteins in the blood clot form a de-facto ECM, which interacts with various
      types of blood cells to regulate the evolution and resolution of the clot.
      SUMMARY: ECM proteins are intricately involved in major steps of thrombus
      formation. Further investigations of ECM proteins will reveal new therapeutic
      targets for treatment of thrombosis and bleeding disorders. VIDEO ABSTRACT:
      http://links.lww.com/COH/A12

PMID- 26871253
TI  - Metabolic regulation of hematopoietic stem cell commitment and erythroid
      differentiation.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) renewal and lineage
      differentiation are finely tuned processes, regulated by cytokines, transcription
      factors and cell-cell contacts. However, recent studies have shown that fuel
      utilization also conditions HSC fate. This review focuses on our current
      understanding of the metabolic pathways that govern HSC self-renewal, commitment
      and specification to the erythroid lineage. RECENT FINDINGS: HSCs reside in a
      hypoxic bone marrow niche that favors anaerobic glycolysis. Although this
      metabolic pathway is required for stem cell maintenance, other pathways also play
      critical roles. Fatty acid oxidation preserves HSC self-renewal by promoting
      asymmetric division, whereas oxidative phosphorylation induces lineage
      commitment. Committed erythroid progenitors support the production of 2.4 million
      erythrocytes per second in human adults via a synchronized regulation of iron,
      amino acid and glucose metabolism. Iron is indispensable for heme biosynthesis in
      erythroblasts; a process finely coordinated by at least two hormones, hepcidin
      and erythroferrone, together with multiple cell surface iron transporters.
      Furthermore, hemoglobin production is promoted by amino acid-induced mTOR
      signaling. Erythropoiesis is also strictly dependent on glutamine metabolism;
      under conditions where glutaminolysis is inhibited, erythropoietin-signaled
      progenitors are diverted to a myelomonocytic fate. Indeed, the utilization of
      both glutamine and glucose in de-novo nucleotide biosynthesis is a sine qua non
      for erythroid differentiation. SUMMARY: Diverse metabolic networks function in
      concert with transcriptional, translational and epigenetic programs to regulate
      HSC potential and orient physiological as well as pathological erythroid
      differentiation.

PMID- 26871255
TI  - Single donor electronics and quantum functionalities with advanced CMOS
      technology.
AB  - Recent progresses in quantum dots technology allow fundamental studies of single
      donors in various semiconductor nanostructures. For the prospect of applications
      figures of merits such as scalability, tunability, and operation at relatively
      large temperature are of prime importance. Beyond the case of actual dopant atoms
      in a host crystal, similar arguments hold for small enough quantum dots which
      behave as artificial atoms, for instance for single spin control and
      manipulation. In this context, this experimental review focuses on the silicon-on
      insulator devices produced within microelectronics facilities with only very
      minor modifications to the current industrial CMOS process and tools. This is
      required for scalability and enabled by shallow trench or mesa isolation. It also
      paves the way for real integration with conventional circuits, as illustrated by
      a nanoscale device coupled to a CMOS circuit producing a radio-frequency drive on
      chip. At the device level we emphasize the central role of electrostatics in
      etched silicon nanowire transistors, which allows to understand the
      characteristics in the full range from zero to room temperature. 

PMID- 26871254
TI  - Usefulness of Flow Cytometric Mepacrine Uptake/Release Combined with CD63 Assay
      in Diagnosis of Patients with Suspected Platelet Dense Granule Disorder.
AB  - Dense granule disorder is one of the most common platelet abnormalities,
      resulting from dense granule deficiency or secretion defect. This study was aimed
      to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the flow cytometric combination of
      mepacrine uptake/release assay and CD63 expression detection in the management of
      patients with suspected dense granule disorder. Over a period of 5 years,
      patients with abnormal platelet aggregation and/or reduced adenosine triphosphate
      (ATP) secretion suggestive of dense granule disorder were consecutively enrolled.
      The flow cytometric assays were systematically performed to further investigate
      dense granule functionality. Among the 26 included patients, 18 cases showed
      impaired mepacrine uptake/release and reduced CD63 expression on activated
      platelets, consistent with delta-storage pool deficiency (SPD). Another seven
      patients showed decrease in mepacrine release and CD63 expression but mepacrine
      uptake was normal, indicating secretion defect rather than delta-SPD.
      Unfortunately, ATP secretion could not be measured in 7 out of the 26 patients
      due to insufficient sample and/or severe thrombocytopenia. This test combination
      provides a rapid and effective method to detect the heterogeneous abnormalities
      of platelet dense granule by distinguishing between storage and release defects.
      This combination is particularly advantageous for severely thrombocytopenic
      patients and pediatric patients in which only minimal sample is required. 

PMID- 26871256
TI  - Spectroscopy and control of near-surface defects in conductive thin film ZnO.
AB  - The electronic structure of inorganic semiconductor interfaces functionalized
      with extended pi-conjugated organic molecules can be strongly influenced by
      localized gap states or point defects, often present at low concentrations and
      hard to identify spectroscopically. At the same time, in transparent conductive
      oxides such as ZnO, the presence of these gap states conveys the desirable high
      conductivity necessary for function as electron-selective interlayer or electron
      collection electrode in organic optoelectronic devices. Here, we report on the
      direct spectroscopic detection of a donor state within the band gap of highly
      conductive zinc oxide by two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. We show that
      adsorption of the prototypical organic acceptor C60 quenches this state by ground
      state charge transfer, with immediate consequences on the interfacial energy
      level alignment. Comparison with computational results suggests the identity of
      the gap state as a near-surface-confined oxygen vacancy. 

PMID- 26871257
TI  - Towards promising modification of GeSi nanostructures via self-assembly on miscut
      Si(001) substrates.
AB  - Self-assembled GeSi nanostructures on miscut Si(001) substrates are studied
      systematically with regard to the miscut angle and azimuth, the amount of Ge and
      the growth temperature. The comprehensive dependence of the spatial arrangement,
      which can exhibit one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) ordering, as well as the
      shape and density, of GeSi nanostructures on the miscut angle is observed. The
      orientation and side-walls of the 1D ordered in-plane GeSi nanowires on miscut
      Si(001) substrates are intimately associated with the miscut azimuth towards the
      <110> or <010> directions. Furthermore, the unique evolution of the GeSi
      nanostructures with the amount of Ge and the growth temperature on miscut Si
      (001) substrates towards the <010> direction is discovered. Such promising
      features of self-assembled GeSi nanostructures on miscut Si (001) substrates are
      explained in terms of the thermodynamics and growth kinetics, which are both
      affected significantly by the substrate vicinality. These results demonstrate
      that the miscut substrates offer a promising degree of freedom for the feasible
      modification of self-assembled nanostructures. 

PMID- 26871259
TI  - Increase of interleukin-10-producing B cells associated with long-term remission
      after i.v. immunoglobulin treatment for pemphigus.
AB  - We present a refractory case of pemphigus vulgaris that achieved long-term
      remission after i.v. immunoglobulin treatment (IVIG). We evaluated the
      fluctuation of circulating interleukin-10-producing B cells (B10 cells) during
      the course in our case and other three patients with pemphigus treated with IVIG
      without clinical remission. B10 cells were observed predominantly in CD1d(-) ,
      CD5(-) , CD9(-) and CD27(+) populations among CD19(+) cells in healthy controls,
      as well as in patients with pemphigus. The frequency of B10 cells among CD19(+)
      cells increased in our case, but not in the other three patients without clinical
      remission, which leads to speculation on the association between the increase of
      B10 cells and the achievement of long-term remission after IVIG treatment. 

PMID- 26871258
TI  - Studying the features of 57 confirmed CRISPR loci in 29 strains of Escherichia
      coli.
AB  - Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) system is a
      novel type of innate defense system in prokaryotes for destruction of exogenous
      elements. To gain further insight into behavior and organization of the system,
      the extensive analysis of the available sequenced genomes is necessary. The
      dynamic nature of CRISPR loci is possibly valuable for typing and relative
      analyses of strains and microbial population. There are a few orderly
      bioinformatics investigations about the structure of CRISPR sequences in the
      Escherichia coli strains. In this study, 57 CRISPR loci were selected from 32
      Escherichia coli strains to investigate their structural characteristics and
      potential functions using bioinformatics tools. Our results showed that most
      strains contained several loci that mainly included conserved direct repeats,
      while the spacers were highly variable. Moreover, RNA analysis of the sequences
      indicated that all loci could form stable RNA secondary structures and showed
      homology mostly with phages compared to plasmids. Only three strains included cas
      genes around their loci. 

PMID- 26871260
TI  - Investigation and modeling of the effects of light spectrum and incident angle on
      the growth of Chlorella vulgaris in photobioreactors.
AB  - An in-depth investigation of how various illumination conditions influence
      microalgal growth in photobioreactors (PBR) has been presented. Effects of both
      the light emission spectrum (white and red) and the light incident angle (0
      degrees  and 60 degrees ) on the PBR surface were investigated. The experiments
      were conducted in two fully controlled lab-scale PBRs, a torus PBR and a thin
      flat-panel PBR for high cell density culture. The results obtained in the torus
      PBR were used to build the kinetic growth model of Chlorella vulgaris taken as a
      model species. The PBR model was then applied to the thin flat-panel PBR, which
      was run with various illumination conditions. Its detailed representation of
      local rate of photon absorption under various conditions (spectral calculation of
      light attenuation, incident angle influence) enabled the model to take into
      account all the tested conditions with no further adjustment. This allowed a
      detailed investigation of the coupling between radiation field and photosynthetic
      growth. Effects of all the radiation conditions together with pigment
      acclimation, which was found to be relevant, were investigated in depth. (c) 2016
      American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:247-261, 2016.

PMID- 26871261
TI  - Does inflammation induced by ultraviolet B and heat rekindling alter pain-related
      behaviour in rats?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether induction of the ultraviolet B and heat
      rekindling (UVB/HR) model alters burrowing behaviour in rats. STUDY DESIGN:
      Randomized, blinded, prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Sixteen adult male
      Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g. METHODS: In the UVB/HR group (n = 8), UV
      irradiation was delivered to the heel area of the right plantar pelvic limb paw
      at a dose of 1000 mJ cm(-2) , using a narrow-band UVB light source. Twenty-four
      hours later, heat rekindling was performed by placement of a feedback-controlled
      thermode set at a constant temperature of 45  degrees C over the area of UVB
      irradiation for 5 minutes. Both interventions were carried out under
      pentobarbital anaesthesia. The 'sham' group (n = 8) was anaesthetized only. In
      the burrowing test, rats were housed singly for 2 hours in cages furnished with a
      burrow filled with sand. The amount of sand remaining in the burrow after 2 hours
      was weighed and the amount displaced from the burrow calculated. The burrowing
      test was carried out for two consecutive days prior to UVB irradiation (day 0),
      on day 1 prior to HR, on days 2 and 3 after UVB exposure and at equivalent time
      points in the sham group. RESULTS: Rats in the sham group burrowed means (SD) of
      2429 (73) g and 2358 (124) g of sand on days -2 and 3, respectively, while those
      in the UVB/HR group burrowed 2460 (26) and 2419 (58) g on days -2 and 3,
      respectively. There was no significant effect of treatment on the amount of sand
      burrowed at any time point. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pain associated
      with UVB/HR model induction is below the threshold required to affect rat
      burrowing behaviour and therefore questions the face validity of UVB/HR as a
      translational model of inflammatory pain.

PMID- 26871262
TI  - The use of public health e-learning resources by pharmacists in Wales: a
      quantitative evaluation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine how communicable disease e
      learning resources were utilised by pharmacy professionals and to identify
      whether uptake of the resources was influenced by disease outbreaks. METHOD:
      Retrospective analysis of routine data regarding the number of individuals
      completing e-learning resources and statutory notifications of communicable
      disease. RESULTS: A high proportion of pharmacy professionals in Wales (38.8%, n
      = 915/2357) accessed the resources; around one in six completed multiple
      resources (n = 156). The most commonly accessed were those where there had been a
      disease outbreak during the study period. There was a strong positive correlation
      between e-learning uptake and number of disease cases; this was observed both for
      measles and scarlet fever. CONCLUSIONS: Communicable disease e-learning appears
      to be an acceptable method for providing communicable disease information to
      pharmacy professionals. Study findings suggest that e-learning uptake is
      positively influenced by disease outbreaks this reflects well both on pharmacy
      professionals and on the e-learning resources themselves.

PMID- 26871263
TI  - Diffusion tensor imaging of the human kidney: Does image registration permit
      scanning without respiratory triggering?
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate if image registration of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
      allows omitting respiratory triggering for both transplanted and native kidneys
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine kidney transplant recipients and eight healthy
      volunteers underwent renal DTI on a 3T scanner with and without respiratory
      triggering. DTI images were registered using a multimodal nonrigid registration
      algorithm. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), the contribution of perfusion
      (FP ), and the fractional anisotropy (FA) were determined. Relative root mean
      square errors (RMSE) of the fitting and the standard deviations of the derived
      parameters within the regions of interest (SDROI ) were evaluated as quality
      criteria. RESULTS: Registration significantly reduced RMSE in all DTI-derived
      parameters of triggered and nontriggered measurements in cortex and medulla of
      both transplanted and native kidneys (P < 0.05 for all). In addition, SDROI
      values were lower with registration for all 16 parameters in transplanted kidneys
      (14 of 16 SDROI values were significantly reduced, P < 0.04) and for 15 of 16
      parameters in native kidneys (9 of 16 SDROI values were significantly reduced, P
      < 0.05). Comparing triggered versus nontriggered DTI in transplanted kidneys
      revealed no significant difference for RMSE (P > 0.14) and for SDROI (P > 0.13)
      of all parameters. In contrast, in native kidneys relative RMSE from triggered
      scans were significantly lower than those from nontriggered scans (P < 0.02),
      while SDROI was slightly higher in triggered compared to nontriggered
      measurements in 15 out of 16 comparisons (significantly for two, P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Registration improves the quality of DTI in native and transplanted
      kidneys. Diffusion parameters in renal allografts can be measured without
      respiratory triggering. In native kidneys, respiratory triggering appears
      advantageous. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:327-334.

PMID- 26871264
TI  - Radiology in the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011: Challenges, interim
      processes and clinical priorities.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Canterbury earthquake of 22 February 2011 initiated a mass
      casualty event for Christchurch Hospital, which suffered damage itself, and faced
      logistical difficulties in continued operation. Radiology was part of the
      hospital-wide response. This paper reviews the radiology department response and
      surveys opinions of emergency doctors to provide an overview of events of the day
      and thoughts regarding any potential future response. METHODS: Two main
      approaches were undertaken: (i) informal data gathering and discussions with
      staff including radiographers, sonographers, radiologists, emergency doctors and
      others present on the day regarding their experiences; and (ii) survey of
      emergency doctors regarding their experiences and recommendations. A comparison
      with other similar events was also conducted. RESULTS: (1) Diagnostic radiology
      services were initially constrained by a lack of power and lift access. Usual
      imaging and reporting pathways were interrupted. Alternative processes were
      initiated to ensure an ongoing radiology service with available resources.
      Lessons were learned and changes implemented locally.(2) Survey data confirmed
      several primary outcomes: (i) Ultrasound was crucial while CT was down; (ii) all
      available imaging modalities remain important in a disaster response; and (iii)
      preliminary reports from radiologists in the emergency department (ED) were
      useful in the immediate post-earthquake period. CONCLUSION: Although resources
      were limited, a diagnostic radiology service remained operational. The
      Christchurch experience reinforces the need for disaster planning and rehearsal
      of plans.

PMID- 26871265
TI  - Organic Linker Defines the Excited-State Decay of Photocatalytic MIL-125(Ti)-Type
      Materials.
AB  - Recently, MIL-125(Ti) and NH2 -MIL-125(Ti), two titanium-based metal-organic
      frameworks, have attracted significant research attention in the field of
      photocatalysis for solar fuel generation. This work reveals that the differences
      between these structures are not only based on their light absorption range but
      also on the decay profile and topography of their excited states. In contrast to
      MIL-125(Ti), NH2 -MIL-125(Ti) shows markedly longer lifetimes of the charge
      separated state, which improves photoconversion by the suppression of competing
      decay mechanisms. We used spectroelectrochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy to
      demonstrate that upon photoexcitation in NH2 -MIL-125(Ti) the electron is located
      in the Ti-oxo clusters and the hole resides on the aminoterephthalate unit,
      specifically on the amino group. The results highlight the role of the amino
      group in NH2 -MIL-125(Ti), the electron donation of which extends the lifetime of
      the photoexcited state substantially. 

PMID- 26871267
TI  - Veterinary clinical pathology trainees benefit from toxicologic externship
      opportunities in the biopharmaceutical industry.

PMID- 26871266
TI  - Simvastatin improves the homing of BMSCs via the PI3K/AKT/miR-9 pathway.
AB  - Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have great therapeutic
      potential for many diseases. However, the homing of BMSCs to injury sites remains
      a difficult problem. Recent evidence indicates that simvastatin stimulates AKT
      phosphorylation, and p-AKT affects the expression of chemokine (CXC motif)
      receptor-4 (CXCR4). Therefore, simvastatin may improve the expression of CXCR4 in
      BMSCs, and microRNAs (miRs) may participate in this process. In this study, we
      demonstrated that simvastatin increased both the total and the surface expression
      of CXCR4 in BMSCs. Stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha)-induced
      migration of BMSCs was also enhanced by simvastatin, and this action was
      inhibited by AMD 3100(a chemokine receptor antagonist for CXCR4). The PI3K/AKT
      pathway was activated by simvastatin in this process, and LY294002 reversed the
      overexpression of CXCR4 caused by simvastatin. MiR-9 directly targeted CXCR4 in
      rat BMSCs, and simvastatin decreased miR-9 expression. P-AKT affected the
      expression of miR-9; as the phosphorylation of AKT increased, miR-9 expression
      decreased. In addition, LY294002 increased miR-9 expression. Taken together, our
      results indicated that simvastatin improved the migration of BMSCs via the
      PI3K/AKT pathway. MiR-9 also participated in this process, and the
      phosphorylation of AKT affected miR-9 expression, suggesting that simvastatin
      might have beneficial effects in stem cell therapy. 

PMID- 26871268
TI  - A service evaluation comparing CVVH an CVVHD in minimising circuit failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A significant problem during continuous renal replacement therapy is
      premature circuit failure, affecting efficacy and molecular clearance. Techniques
      to improve circuit failure are anticoagulation, access site and modality. A
      modality change was introduced, moving from continuous veno-venous
      haemofiltration to continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration as a result of
      existing issues with failing circuit times and failure rates. AIM: The aim of
      this service evaluation was to ascertain if the use of continuous veno-venous
      haemodiafiltration compared to continuous veno-venous haemofiltration had
      affected failed circuit survival times and rates. METHODS: A service evaluation
      was chosen because the focus was to ascertain what effect a practice change had
      had on a particular service. The service evaluation was registered with the local
      trust's audit department and gained university ethical approval. It was
      anticipated that the data generated would be used to inform, question and improve
      practices. Patients who received renal replacement therapy (RRT) from May 2012 to
      January 2013 were retrospectively identified. Patients received continuous veno
      venous haemofiltration for the duration of their treatment before September 2012
      and continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration after. A total of 78 patients were
      identified as receiving RRT; 41 of these patients had failed circuits. RESULTS: A
      total of 182 failed circuits were analysed. The median duration of failed
      circuits during continuous veno-venous haemofiltration was shorter (2.75 h,
      standard deviation (SD) = 13.82) when compared to continuous veno-venous
      haemodiafiltration (11 h, SD = 15.26, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5
      10). Circuit failure rate in continuous veno-venous haemofiltration was 56%
      compared to 43% in continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration. After performing a
      Cox regression analysis, continuous veno-venous haemofiltration appeared to have
      a 1.87 times (CI 1.18-2.82, p > 0.007) more likely chance of failure. CONCLUSION:
      The use of continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration has had an overall positive
      effect on the haemofiltration service by reducing the number of failed circuits
      and increasing circuit survival times, which may have improved the efficacy of
      the service. Continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration may be a more appropriate
      modality of choice in non-septic patients requiring prolonged continuous RRT
      episodes.

PMID- 26871269
TI  - Likelihood of repeat abortion in a Swedish cohort according to the choice of post
      abortion contraception: a longitudinal study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Despite high access to contraceptive services, 42% of the women who
      seek an abortion in Sweden have a history of previous abortion(s). The reasons
      for this high repeat abortion rate remain obscure. The objective of this study
      was to study the choice of contraceptive method after abortion and related odds
      of repeat abortions within 3-4 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a
      retrospective cohort study based on a medical record review at three hospitals in
      Sweden. We included 987 women who had an abortion during 2009. We reviewed
      medical records from the date of the index abortion until the end of 2012 to
      establish the choice of contraception following the index abortion and the
      occurrence of repeat abortions. We calculated odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI.
      RESULTS: While 46% of the women chose oral contraceptives, 34% chose long-acting
      reversible contraceptives (LARC). LARC was chosen more commonly by women with a
      previous pregnancy, childbirth and/or abortion. During the follow-up period, 24%
      of the study population requested one or more repeat abortion(s). Choosing LARC
      at the time of the index abortion was associated with fewer repeat abortions
      compared with choosing oral contraceptives (13% vs. 26%, OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.24
      0.52). Subdermal implant was as effective as intrauterine device in preventing
      repeat abortions beyond 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Choosing LARC was associated with
      fewer repeat abortions over more than 3 years of follow up.

PMID- 26871270
TI  - Urinary C-peptide analysis in an intervention study: experience from the DEFEND-2
      otelixizumab trial.
AB  - AIMS: To demonstrate that analysis of urinary C-peptide across multiple study
      sites in the context of an intervention trial (DEFEND-2) is a viable alternative
      to mixed meal testing and delivers results that correlate to mixed meal testing
      estimation of endogenous insulin production. METHODS: Second morning void urine
      was collected for analysis and was available from 161 subjects at baseline (55
      placebo, 106 otelixizumab), and 146 subjects (47 placebo, 99 otelixizumab) at
      month 12. Urinary C-peptide concentration was corrected for urinary creatinine
      [urinary C-peptide/creatinine ratio (UCPCR)] and serum C-peptide from the mixed
      meal tolerance test was calculated using area under the plasma concentration-time
      curve (AUC) normalized over 120 min. The correlation between mixed meal
      stimulated C-peptide AUC (mmol/l/min) and UCPCR (nmol/mmol), as well as the
      correlation between insulin use (IU/kg), and HbA1c (%) with UCPCR, was
      determined. RESULTS: UCPCR and mixed meal testing C-peptide AUC were correlated,
      with a correlation coefficient of 0.4172. UCPCR was not correlated with exogenous
      insulin use (r = -0.089) or with HbA1c (r = -0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary C
      peptide estimation should be considered as a measure of endogenous insulin
      production in future Type 1 diabetes mellitus outcome trials. A change in the
      timing for urine collection (to 120 min post standard meal) may provide a tighter
      correlation to C-peptide measured via a traditional mixed meal test.

PMID- 26871271
TI  - Epigenetic regulation of subgenome dominance following whole genome triplication
      in Brassica rapa.
AB  - Subgenome dominance is an important phenomenon observed in allopolyploids after
      whole genome duplication, in which one subgenome retains more genes as well as
      contributes more to the higher expressing gene copy of paralogous genes. To
      dissect the mechanism of subgenome dominance, we systematically investigated the
      relationships of gene expression, transposable element (TE) distribution and
      small RNA targeting, relating to the multicopy paralogous genes generated from
      whole genome triplication in Brassica rapa. The subgenome dominance was found to
      be regulated by a relatively stable factor established previously, then inherited
      by and shared among B. rapa varieties. In addition, we found a biased
      distribution of TEs between flanking regions of paralogous genes. Furthermore,
      the 24-nt small RNAs target TEs and are negatively correlated to the dominant
      expression of individual paralogous gene pairs. The biased distribution of TEs
      among subgenomes and the targeting of 24-nt small RNAs together produce the
      dominant expression phenomenon at a subgenome scale. Based on these findings, we
      propose a bucket hypothesis to illustrate subgenome dominance and hybrid vigor.
      Our findings and hypothesis are valuable for the evolutionary study of
      polyploids, and may shed light on studies of hybrid vigor, which is common to
      most species.

PMID- 26871272
TI  - Hysteroscopic myomectomy outcomes after 3-month treatment with either Ulipristal
      Acetate or GnRH analogues: a retrospective comparative study.
AB  - Ulipristal Acetate (UPA) modifies the endometrium, as well as fibroids, and
      therefore it might make hysteroscopic surgery more difficult. To confirm that pre
      treatment with UPA is as safe and effective an option as pre-treatment with GnRH
      analogues, considered the gold standard. We present the first series of 26
      hysteroscopic myomectomies after 3 months treatment with UPA and we compare the
      results with a series of 24 cases pretreated with GnRH analogues. This was a
      retrospective cohort study between July 2013 and May 2015. We analyszed patients
      with submucous myomas >2.5 in diameter. Hysteroscopic myomectomy was performed
      after 3 months of treatment with either UPA (5mg daily) or the GnRH agonist
      (3.75mg/month). Both groups were similar in age, myoma initial size and
      classification. There were no significant differences between UPA and GnRHa
      treated groups in terms of percentage of myomas resected (93% vs 98%), duration
      of surgery (38 vs 37min), fluid deficit (200 vs 350ml) and complications. In the
      surgeon's subjective opinion, UPA treatment was associated with an easier
      resection. Based on our experience, previous treatment with UPA does not
      difficult Hhysteroscopic myomectomy. Endometrial changes have no impact on
      surgery. Safety and feasibility are comparable to hysteroscopic myomectomies with
      previous treatment with GnRH analogues. This allows us to take advantage of the
      reduction in size of fibroids before surgery with less side effects. 

PMID- 26871273
TI  - The quantitative lung index and the prediction of survival in fetuses with
      congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The lung-to-head ratio (LHR) is routinely used to select the best
      candidates for prenatal surgery and to follow-up the fetuses with congenital
      diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since this index is gestation-dependent, the
      quantitative lung index (QLI) was proposed as an alternative parameter that stays
      constant throughout pregnancy. Our objective was to study the performance of QLI
      to predict survival in fetuses with CDH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational
      retrospective study of fetuses with isolated CDH, referred to our center. LHR was
      originally used for the prenatal surgery evaluation. We calculated the QLI and
      compared the performance of both indexes (QLI and LHR) to predict survival.
      RESULTS: From January-2009 to February-2015 we followed 31 fetuses with isolated
      CDH. The mean QLI was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.57-0.75) for survivors and 0.41 (95% CI:
      0.25-0.58) for non-survivors (p<0.01) and the mean LHR was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.17
      1.60) for survivors and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.57-1.25) for non-survivors (p<0.02). All
      operated fetuses (n=12) had a LHR <1 and a QLI <0.5 and none of them survived
      when the QLI was <0.32. When separately considering the prenatal surgery status,
      the mean values of the QLI (but not those of the LHR) were still significantly
      different between survivors and non-survivors. The comparative ROC curves showed
      a better performance of the QLI with respect to the LHR for the prediction of
      survival, especially in the group of operated fetuses, although differences were
      not statistically significant. COMMENT: The QLI seems to be a better predictor
      for survival than the LHR, especially for the group of fetuses undergoing
      prenatal surgery.

PMID- 26871274
TI  - Differential contribution of orexin receptors within the ventral tegmental area
      to modulation of persistent inflammatory pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Orexinergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) play an
      important role in pain modulation. In addition, ventral tegmental area (VTA) is
      known as a part of descending pain modulatory circuitry. Little is known about
      the interaction between the LH and neural substrates involving in modulation of
      formalin-induced nociception. Accordingly, we aimed to examine the pain
      modulatory role of VTA orexin receptors in the formalin test. METHODS: Seventy
      eight male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with two cannulae above the LH
      and VTA. Intra-VTA administration of SB-334867 (orexin-1 receptor antagonist) or
      TCS OX2 29 (orexin-2 receptor antagonist) was performed 5 min before intra-LH
      microinjection of carbachol (a cholinergic receptor agonist). The procedure was
      followed by subcutaneous injection of formalin after 5-min interval time.
      RESULTS: Carbachol attenuated formalin-induced biphasic pain responses and SB
      334867 or TCS OX2 29 administration dose-dependently antagonized the LH-induced
      analgesia during both phases. Blockade of orexin-1 and -2 receptors had more
      profound effects on the reduction of antinociception during the late phase
      compared to the early phase. Also, contribution of orexin-1 receptors in
      mediation of LH-induced analgesia was greater than orexin-2 receptors during the
      late phase. CONCLUSION: Formalin test, a model of persistent inflammatory pain,
      mimics the conditions encountered in clinical situations. Pain modulatory role of
      orexinergic system in the formalin test through a neural pathway from the LH to
      the VTA provides the evidence that orexins can be useful therapeutic targets for
      chronic pain treatment. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD?: There is a pathway from the
      lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which modulates
      biphasic formalin-induced pain. Blockade of VTA orexin receptors dose-dependently
      reduces LH-induced analgesia during both phases. Anti-analgesic effect of orexin
      receptor antagonists is more considerable during the late phase. Contribution of
      orexin-1 receptors to mediation of LH-induced analgesia is more than orexin-2
      receptors during the late phase.

PMID- 26871275
TI  - Residual trapping of supercritical CO2 in oil-wet sandstone.
AB  - Residual trapping, a key CO2 geo-storage mechanism during the first decades of a
      sequestration project, immobilizes micrometre sized CO2 bubbles in the pore
      network of the rock. This mechanism has been proven to work in clean sandstones
      and carbonates; however, this mechanism has not been proven for the economically
      most important storage sites into which CO2 will be initially injected at
      industrial scale, namely oil reservoirs. The key difference is that oil
      reservoirs are typically oil-wet or intermediate-wet, and it is clear that
      associated pore-scale capillary forces are different. And this difference in
      capillary forces clearly reduces the capillary trapping capacity (residual
      trapping) as we demonstrate here. For an oil-wet rock (water contact angle
      theta=130 degrees ) residual CO2 saturation SCO2,r (~8%) was approximately halved
      when compared to a strongly water-wet rock (theta=0 degrees ; SCO2,r~15%).
      Consequently, residual trapping is less efficient in oil-wet reservoirs. 

PMID- 26871277
TI  - Catalytic reduction-adsorption for removal of p-nitrophenol and its conversion p
      aminophenol from water by gold nanoparticles supported on oxidized mesoporous
      carbon.
AB  - A highly efficient method for removal of p-nitrophenol and its conversion p
      aminophenol from water was proposed using a novel catalyst-adsorbent composite of
      gold nanoparticles supported on functionalized mesoporous carbon (Au@CMK-3-O).
      The immobilized gold nanoparticles presented excellent catalytic ability to
      converse p-nitrophenol into p-aminophenol with the help of sodium borohydride,
      and the oxidized mesoporous carbon (CMK-3-O) serving as both carrier and
      adsorbent also exhibited high efficiency to remove p-aminophenol. The morphology
      and structure of the composite were characterized via SEM, TEM, FTIR and XPS
      analysis. Moreover, the mechanism of reaction process and the parameters of
      kinetics and thermodynamics were investigated. The activation energy was figured
      as 86.8 kJ mol(-1) for the adsorption and reduction of p-nitrophenol to p
      aminophenol. The thermodynamic analysis based on the rate constants evaluated by
      pseudo-first-order model reveals that the adsorption-reduction process is an
      endothermic procedure with the rise of randomness. The anti-oxidation and
      regeneration study indicates that Au@CMK-3-O can be reused for 6 times with more
      than 90% conversion efficiency and keep high activity after exposing in air for 1
      month, which possesses great prospects in application of nitroaromatic pollutant
      removal.

PMID- 26871276
TI  - Magnetically separable and recyclable Fe3O4-polydopamine hybrid hollow
      microsphere for highly efficient peroxidase mimetic catalysts.
AB  - Magnetic Fe3O4-polydopamine (PDA) hybrid hollow microspheres, in which Fe3O4
      nanoparticles were firmly incorporated in the cross-linked PDA shell, have been
      prepared through the formation of core/shell PS/Fe3O4-PDA composites based on
      template-induced covalent assembly method, followed by core removal in a
      tetrahydrofuran solution. The morphology, composition, thermal property and
      magnetic property of the magnetic hybrid hollow microspheres were characterized
      by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively.
      Results revealed that the magnetic hybrid hollow microspheres had about 380 nm of
      inner diameter and about 30 nm of shell thickness, and 13.6 emu g(-1) of
      magnetization saturation. More importantly, the Fe3O4-PDA hybrid hollow
      microspheres exhibited intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, as they could quickly
      catalyze the oxidation of typical substrates 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)
      in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Compared with PDA/Fe3O4 composites where
      Fe3O4 nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of PDA microspheres, the stability
      of Fe3O4-PDA hybrid hollow microspheres was greatly improved. As-prepared
      magnetic hollow microspheres might open up a new application field in
      biodetection, biocatalysis, and environmental monitoring.

PMID- 26871278
TI  - Development of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for the
      quantification of PM01183 (lurbinectedin), a novel antineoplastic agent, in
      mouse, rat, dog, Cynomolgus monkey and mini-pig plasma.
AB  - Lurbinectedin (PM01183) is a new synthetic tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid that
      binds to selected sequences in the minor groove of DNA, inducing PM01183-DNA
      adducts that stall replication, DNA repair and transcription and gives rise to
      double-strand breaks and finally, caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. PM01183
      has demonstrated clinical antitumor activity in platinum resistant/refractory
      ovarian cancer patients. A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass
      spectrometry assay was developed and validated to quantify PM01183 in plasma from
      nonclinical species. The bioanalysis consisted of a supported liquid extraction,
      followed by a gradient phase chromatography and, detection by positive ion
      electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The calibration range for PM01183 was
      established using PM01183 standards from 0.1 to 100 ng/mL in blank plasma. The
      multiple reaction monitoring, based on the transition m/z 767.3->273.0, was
      specific for PM01183, and that based on the transition m/z 771.4->277.0 was
      specific for the internal standard (deuterated PM01183). No endogenous material
      interfered with the analysis of PM01183 and the internal standard from blank
      plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was calculated as 0.025 ng/mL.
      The correlation coefficients for the calibration curves ranged from 0.9937 to
      0.9987. The mean inter-day accuracies for all calibration standards ranged from
      92 to 108% (<=8% bias), and the mean inter-day precision for calibration
      standards was always less than 12%. The mean intra and inter-day assay accuracy
      for all quality control replicates remained between 91 and 109%. The mean intra
      and inter-day assay precision was less than 10% for all QC levels. The method was
      validated to demonstrate the specificity, recovery, limit of quantification,
      accuracy and precision of measurements. The assay has been used to support
      preclinical pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies of PM01183 in nonclinical
      species. The main PK parameters in dogs (3 male and 3 female, respectively) were
      calculated as follows: maximum concentration (Cmax, 12.9+/-0.6 and 10.2+/-3.0
      ng/mL) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC, 24.9+/-0.7
      and 22.6+/-6.1 ng h/mL). The results showed that plasma samples could be
      monitored for PM01183 for long enough to accurately estimate pharmacokinetics
      information.

PMID- 26871279
TI  - Forced degradation of nepafenac: Development and validation of stability
      indicating UHPLC method.
AB  - This paper presents stability study of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
      (NSAID) nepafenac. In order to investigate stability of nepafenac, it was
      subjected to forced degradation under different stress conditions: acid and base
      hydrolysis, oxidation, humidity, heat and light. A novel stability indicating
      reverse phase ultra high performance liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) method
      coupled to ultraviolet detector has been developed to separate nepafenac and all
      related compounds (2-aminobenzophenone, Cl-thionepafenac, thionepafenac, Cl
      nepafenac, hydroxy-nepafenac, and cyclic-nepafenac). Efficient chromatographic
      separation was achieved on a Waters Acquity BEH C18 stationary phase with a
      gradient elution. Quantification was carried out at 235 nm at a flow rate of 0.6
      mL/min(-1). The resolution between nepafenac and six potential impurities is
      found to be greater than 2.0. The developed method was validated with respect to
      specificity, LOD, LOQ, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness. The r(2)
      values for nepafenac and six potential impurities were all greater than 0.999.
      The developed method is capable to detect impurities of nepafenac at a level of
      0.005% with respect to test concentration of 1.0mg/mL. Significant degradation is
      observed in acid, base and oxidative degradation conditions and degradation
      products (DPs) were identified using mass spectrometry analysis; two of them were
      found to be a known process related impurities (hydroxy- and cyclic-nepafenac)
      whereas four degradation products were identified as new degradation impurities.
      The forced degradation samples were assayed against a qualified reference
      standard and the mass balance was found to be close to 99.5%.

PMID- 26871280
TI  - Determination of residual fipronil in chicken egg and muscle by LC-MS/MS.
AB  - A simple, sensitive and reliable method was developed and applied to the residue
      analysis of fipronil in chicken egg and muscle by liquid chromatography-tandem
      mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Chicken egg and muscle samples were extracted with
      acetronitrile, then salting out by dehydration with anhydrous magnesium sulfate
      and sodium chloride. The extracts were purified by the C18 solid phase extraction
      cartridge prior to analysis by LC-MS/MS. The matrix-matched calibration curve
      showed a good linear within the concentration range from 0.01 to 2.00MUgkg(-1)
      (r(2)>=0.999). The average recoveries of fipronil at three spiked levels of 0.01,
      0.1 and 1.0MUgkg(-1) ranged from 79.7% to 98.0%, and the relative standard
      deviations were less than 8.8%. The decision limit (CCalpha) and detection
      capability (CCbeta) of fipronil in chicken egg and muscle matrices were all
      0.002MUgkg(-1) and 0.01MUgkg(-1), respectively. The method has also been
      successfully applied to monitoring fipronil in the real samples. 

PMID- 26871281
TI  - Metabolic profile of anhydrosafflor yellow B in rats by ultra-fast liquid
      chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
AB  - Anhydrosafflor yellow B (AHSYB) is one of the major active water-soluble pigments
      from Carthamus tinctorius, which has been found to inhibit ADP-induced platelet
      aggregation and possess significant antioxidant activity. However, the metabolic
      fate of AHSYB in vivo remains unknown. In order to explore whether AHSYB is
      extensively metabolized, the metabolites of AHSYB in plasma, urine, bile, and
      feces samples after intravenous administration to the rats were investigated by
      ultra-fast liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry
      (UFLC/Qq-TOF-MS/MS) combined with MetabolitepilotTM software. In total, AHSYB and
      22 metabolites including both phase I and phase II metabolism processes were
      found and tentatively identified from the bio-samples. The metabolic pathways
      were involved in oxidation, reduction, hydroxylation, methylation, dimethylation,
      O-acetylation, hydrolyzation, sulfation, glucuronidaton, glutathionation and
      combination with glucose. The results showed that the renal and biliary routes
      play an important role in the clearance and excretion of AHSYB as well as
      hepatocyte metabolism. All of these results were reported for the first time and
      would contribute to a further understanding of the in vivo intermediated
      processes and metabolic mechanism of AHSYB and its analogs. 

PMID- 26871282
TI  - Estrogen receptor-mediated miR-486-5p regulation of OLFM4 expression in ovarian
      cancer.
AB  - Estrogen signaling influences the development and progression of ovarian tumors,
      but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In a previous study we
      demonstrated that impairment of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-mediated
      olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) expression promotes the malignant progression of
      endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and we identified OLFM4 as a potential target of miR
      486-5p. In this study we investigated the role of OLFM4 in ovarian serous
      adenocarcinoma. Ovarian serous adenocarcinoma tissues had reduced OLFM4
      expression. Expression of OLFM4 was positively correlated with ERalpha
      expression, and estrogen (E2) treatment in ovarian cancer cells induced OLFM4
      expression in an ERalpha-dependent manner. In contrast to ERalpha, miR-486-5p
      levels were inversely correlated with OLFM4 expression in ovarian serous
      adenocarcinoma. Ovarian cancer cells transfected with miR-486-5p mimics showed
      decreased OLFM4 mRNA expression, and ovarian cancer cells treated with E2 showed
      reduced cellular miR-486-5p levels. OLFM4 knockdown enhanced proliferation,
      migration, and invasion by ovarian cancer cells. Low expression of OLFM4 was also
      associated with high tumor FIGO stage and poor tumor differentiation. These
      results suggest OLFM4 is downregulated by miR-486-5p, which contributes to
      ovarian cancer tumorigenesis. Conversely, estrogen receptor signaling
      downregulates miR-486-5p and upregulates OLFM4 expression, slowing the
      development and progression of ovarian cancer. 

PMID- 26871284
TI  - Implication of combined PD-L1/PD-1 blockade with cytokine-induced killer cells as
      a synergistic immunotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer.
AB  - Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells represent a realistic approach in cancer
      immunotherapy with confirmed survival benefits in the context of metastatic solid
      tumors. However, therapeutic effects are limited to a fraction of patients. In
      this study, immune-resistance elements and ideal combination therapies were
      explored. Initially, phenotypic analysis was performed to document CD3, CD56,
      NKG2D, DNAM-1, PD-L1, PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, 2B4, and LAG-3 on CIK cells. Upon
      engagement of CIK cells with the tumor cells, expression of PD-1 on CIK cells and
      PD-L1 on both cells were up-regulated. Over-expression of PD-L1 levels on tumor
      cells via lentiviral transduction inhibited tumoricidal activity of CIK cells,
      and neutralizing of PD-L1/PD-1 signaling axis could enhance their tumor-killing
      effect. Conversely, blockade of NKG2D, a major activating receptor of CIK cells,
      largely caused dysfunction of CIK cells. Functional study showed an increase of
      NKG2D levels along with PD-L1/PD-1 blockade in the presence of other immune
      effector molecule secretion. Additionally, combined therapy of CIK infusion and
      PD-L1/PD-1 blockade caused a delay of in vivo tumor growth and exhibited a
      survival advantage over untreated mice. These results provide a preclinical proof
      of-concept for simultaneous PD-L1/PD-1 pathways blockade along with CIK infusion
      as a novel immunotherapy for unresectable cancers. 

PMID- 26871283
TI  - Pinin interacts with C-terminal binding proteins for RNA alternative splicing and
      epithelial cell identity of human ovarian cancer cells.
AB  - Unlike many other human solid tumors, ovarian tumors express many epithelial
      markers at a high level for cell growth and local invasion. The phosphoprotein
      Pinin plays a key role in epithelial cell identity. We showed that clinical
      ovarian tumors and ovarian cancer cell lines express a high level of Pinin when
      compared with normal ovarian tissues and immortalized normal ovarian surface
      epithelial cell lines. Pinin co-localized and physically interacted with
      transcriptional corepressor C-terminal binding proteins, CtBP1 and CtBP2, in the
      nuclei of cancer cells. Knockdown of Pinin in ovarian cancer cells resulted in
      specific reduction of CtBP1 protein expression, cell adhesion, anchorage
      independent growth, and increased drug sensitivity. Whole transcriptomic
      comparison of next-generation RNA sequencing data between control ovarian cancer
      cell lines and cancer cell lines with respective knockdown of Pinin, CtBP1, and
      CtBP2 expression also showed reduced expression of CtBP1 mRNA in the Pinin
      knockdown cell lines. The Pinin knockdown cell lines shared significant overlap
      of differentially expressed genes and RNA splicing aberrations with CtBP1
      knockdown and in a lesser degree with CtBP2 knockdown cancer cells. Hence, Pinin
      and CtBP are oncotargets that closely interact with each other to regulate
      transcription and pre-mRNA alternative splicing and promote cell adhesion and
      other epithelial characteristics of ovarian cancer cells. 

PMID- 26871285
TI  - Therapeutic response and side effects of repeated radioligand therapy with 177Lu
      PSMA-DKFZ-617 of castrate-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.
AB  - Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is highly expressed on prostate
      epithelial cells and strongly up-regulated in prostate cancer (PC), making it an
      optimal target for the treatment of metastasized PC. Radioligand therapy (RLT)
      with 177Lu-PSMA-DKFZ-617 (Lu-PSMA) is a targeted therapy for metastatic PC. In
      this study, we retrospectively analyzed the side effects and the response rate of
      24 hormone and/or chemorefractory PC patients with a mean age of 75.2 years
      (range: 64-82) with distant metastases and progressive disease according to the
      PSA level, who were treated with Lu-PSMA. Median PSA was 522 ng/ml (range: 17
      2360). Forty-six cycles of Lu-PSMA were performed. Of the 24 patients, 22
      received two cycles. Eight weeks after the first cycle of Lu-PSMA therapy 79.1%
      experienced a decline in PSA level. Eight weeks after the second cycle of Lu-PSMA
      therapy 68.2% experienced a decline in PSA relative to the baseline value. Apart
      from two cases of grade 3 anemia, there was no relevant hemato- or nephrotoxicity
      (grade 3 or 4). These results confirmed that Lu-PSMA is a safe treatment option
      for metastatic PC patients and has a low toxicity profile. A positive response to
      therapy in terms of decline in PSA occurs in about 70% of patients. 

PMID- 26871286
TI  - Rad18 is required for functional interactions between FANCD2, BRCA2, and Rad51 to
      repair DNA topoisomerase 1-poisons induced lesions and promote fork recovery.
AB  - Camptothecin (CPT) and its analogues are chemotherapeutic agents that covalently
      and reversibly link DNA Topoisomerase I to its nicked DNA intermediate eliciting
      the formation of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) during replication. The repair of
      these DSB involves multiple DNA damage response and repair proteins. Here we
      demonstrate that CPT-induced DNA damage promotes functional interactions between
      BRCA2, FANCD2, Rad18, and Rad51 to repair the replication-associated DSB through
      homologous recombination (HR). Loss of any of these proteins leads to equal
      disruption of HR repair, causes chromosomal aberrations and sensitizes cells to
      CPT. Rad18 appears to function upstream in this repair pathway as its
      downregulation prevents activation of FANCD2, diminishes BRCA2 and Rad51 protein
      levels, formation of nuclear foci of all three proteins and recovery of stalled
      or collapsed replication forks in response to CPT. Taken together this work
      further elucidates the complex interplay of DNA repair proteins in the repair of
      replication-associated DSB. 

PMID- 26871287
TI  - MicroRNA-34a promotes genomic instability by a broad suppression of genome
      maintenance mechanisms downstream of the oncogene KSHV-vGPCR.
AB  - The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-encoded chemokine receptor
      vGPCR acts as an oncogene in Kaposi's sarcomagenesis. Until now, the molecular
      mechanisms by which the vGPCR contributes to tumor development remain
      incompletely understood. Here, we show that the KSHV-vGPCR contributes to tumor
      progression through microRNA (miR)-34a-mediated induction of genomic instability.
      Large-scale analyses on the DNA, gene and protein level of cell lines derived
      from a mouse model of vGPCR-driven tumorigenesis revealed that a vGPCR-induced
      upregulation of miR-34a resulted in a broad suppression of genome maintenance
      genes. A knockdown of either the vGPCR or miR-34a largely restored the expression
      of these genes and confirmed miR-34a as a downstream effector of the KSHV-vGPCR
      that compromises genome maintenance mechanisms. This novel, protumorigenic role
      of miR-34a questions the use of miR-34a mimetics in cancer therapy as they could
      impair genome stability. 

PMID- 26871288
TI  - Sodium alginate prevents progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver
      carcinogenesis in obese and diabetic mice.
AB  - Obesity and related metabolic abnormalities play a key role in liver
      carcinogenesis. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is often complicated
      with obesity and diabetes mellitus, is associated with the development of
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sodium alginate (SA), which is extracted from
      brown seaweeds, is marketed as a weight loss supplement because of its high
      viscosity and gelling properties. In the present study, we examined the effects
      of SA on the progression of NASH and related liver carcinogenesis in monosodium
      glutamate (MSG)-treated mice, which show obesity, diabetes mellitus, and NASH
      like histopathological changes. Male MSG-mice were intraperitoneally injected
      with diethylnitrosamine at 2 weeks of age, and, thereafter, they received a basal
      diet containing high- or low-molecular-weight SA throughout the experiment (16
      weeks). At sacrifice, control MSG-treated mice fed the basal-diet showed
      significant obesity, hyperinsulinemia, steatosis and hepatic tumor development.
      SA administration suppressed body weight gain; improved insulin sensitivity,
      hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia; attenuated inflammation in the liver and
      white adipose tissue; and inhibited hepatic lipogenesis and progression of NASH.
      SA also reduced oxidative stress and increased anti-oxidant enzyme levels in the
      liver. Development of hepatic tumors, including liver cell adenoma and HCC, and
      hepatic pre-neoplastic lesions was significantly inhibited by SA supplementation.
      In conclusion, oral SA supplementation improves liver steatosis, insulin
      resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, preventing the
      development of liver tumorigenesis in obese and diabetic mice. SA may have
      ability to suppress steatosis-related liver carcinogenesis in obese and diabetic
      subjects. 

PMID- 26871289
TI  - Lipid tethering of breast tumor cells enables real-time imaging of free-floating
      cell dynamics and drug response.
AB  - Free-floating tumor cells located in the blood of cancer patients, known as
      circulating tumor cells (CTCs), have become key targets for studying metastasis.
      However, effective strategies to study the free-floating behavior of tumor cells
      in vitro have been a major barrier limiting the understanding of the functional
      properties of CTCs. Upon extracellular-matrix (ECM) detachment, breast tumor
      cells form tubulin-based protrusions known as microtentacles (McTNs) that play a
      role in the aggregation and re-attachment of tumor cells to increase their
      metastatic efficiency. In this study, we have designed a strategy to spatially
      immobilize ECM-detached tumor cells while maintaining their free-floating
      character. We use polyelectrolyte multilayers deposited on microfluidic
      substrates to prevent tumor cell adhesion and the addition of lipid moieties to
      tether tumor cells to these surfaces through interactions with the cell
      membranes. This coating remains optically clear, allowing capture of high
      resolution images and videos of McTNs on viable free-floating cells. In addition,
      we show that tethering allows for the real-time analysis of McTN dynamics on
      individual tumor cells and in response to tubulin-targeting drugs. The ability to
      image detached tumor cells can vastly enhance our understanding of CTCs under
      conditions that better recapitulate the microenvironments they encounter during
      metastasis. 

PMID- 26871290
TI  - Diallyl disulfide suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and
      proliferation by downregulation of LIMK1 in gastric cancer.
AB  - Diallyl disulfide (DADS) has been shown to have multi-targeted antitumor
      activities. We have previously discovered that it has a repressive effect on LIM
      kinase-1 (LIMK1) expression in gastric cancer MGC803 cells. This suggests that
      DADS may inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating LIMK1,
      resulting in the inhibition of invasion and growth in gastric cancer. In this
      study, we reveal that LIMK1 expression is correlated with tumor differentiation,
      invasion depth, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. DADS
      downregulated the Rac1-Pak1/Rock1-LIMK1 pathway in MGC803 cells, as shown by
      decreased p-LIMK1 and p-cofilin1 levels, and suppressed cell migration and
      invasion. Knockdown and overexpression experiments performed in vitro
      demonstrated that downregulating LIMK1 with DADS resulted in restrained EMT that
      was coupled with decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and increased
      tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) expression. In in vitro and in
      vivo experiments, the DADS-induced suppression of cell proliferation was enhanced
      and antagonized by the knockdown and overexpression of LIMK1, respectively.
      Similar results were observed for DADS-induced changes in the expression of
      vimentin, CD34, Ki-67, and E-cadherin in xenografted tumors. These results
      indicate that downregulation of LIMK1 by DADS could explain the inhibition of
      EMT, invasion and proliferation in gastric cancer cells. 

PMID- 26871292
TI  - Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis identifies protein kinase CK2 as
      a key signaling node in an inflammatory cytokine network in ovarian cancer cells.
AB  - We previously showed how key pathways in cancer-related inflammation and Notch
      signaling are part of an autocrine malignant cell network in ovarian cancer. This
      network, which we named the "TNF network", has paracrine actions within the tumor
      microenvironment, influencing angiogenesis and the immune cell infiltrate.The aim
      of this study was to identify critical regulators in the signaling pathways of
      the TNF network in ovarian cancer cells that might be therapeutic targets. To
      achieve our aim, we used a systems biology approach, combining data from phospho
      proteomic mass spectrometry and gene expression array analysis. Among the
      potential therapeutic kinase targets identified was the protein kinase Casein
      kinase II (CK2).Knockdown of CK2 expression in malignant cells by siRNA or
      treatment with the specific CK2 inhibitor CX-4945 significantly decreased Notch
      signaling and reduced constitutive cytokine release in ovarian cancer cell lines
      that expressed the TNF network as well as malignant cells isolated from high
      grade serous ovarian cancer ascites. The expression of the same cytokines was
      also inhibited after treatment with CX-4945 in a 3D organotypic model. CK2
      inhibition was associated with concomitant inhibition of proliferative activity,
      reduced angiogenesis and experimental peritoneal ovarian tumor growth.In
      conclusion, we have identified kinases, particularly CK2, associated with the TNF
      network that may play a central role in sustaining the cytokine network and/or
      mediating its effects in ovarian cancer. 

PMID- 26871291
TI  - Establishment of an integrated model incorporating standardised uptake value and
      N-classification for predicting metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported a correlation between the maximum
      standardised uptake value (SUVmax) obtained by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)
      positron emission tomography (PET) and distant metastasis in nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma (NPC). However, an integrated model incorporating SUVmax and anatomic
      staging for stratifying metastasis risk has not been reported. RESULTS: The
      median SUVmax for primary tumour (SUV-T) and cervical lymph nodes (SUV-N) was
      13.6 (range, 2.2 to 39.3) and 8.4 (range, 2.6 to 40.9), respectively. SUV-T (HR,
      3.396; 95% CI, 1.451-7.947; P = 0.005), SUV-N (HR, 2.688; 95%CI, 1.250-5.781; P =
      0.011) and N-classification (HR, 2.570; 95%CI, 1.422-4.579; P = 0.001) were
      identified as independent predictors for DMFS from multivariate analysis. Three
      valid risk groups were derived by RPA: low risk (N0-1 + SUV-T <10.45), medium
      risk (N0-1 + SUV-T >10.45) and high risk (N2-3). The three risk groups contained
      100 (22.3%), 226 (50.3%), and 123 (27.4%) patients, respectively, with
      corresponding 3-year DMFS rates of 99.0%, 91.5%, and 77.5% (P <0.001). Moreover,
      multivariate analysis confirmed the RPA-based prognostic grouping as the only
      significant prognostic indicator for DMFS (HR, 3.090; 95%CI, 1.975-4.835; P
      <0.001). METHODS: Data from 449 patients with with histologically-confirmed,
      stage I-IVB NPC treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were
      retrospectively analysed. A prognostic model for distant metastasis-free survival
      (DMFS) was derived by recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) combining independent
      predictors identified by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: SUV-T, SUV-N and N
      classification were identified as independent predictors for DMFS. An integrated
      RPA-based prognostic model for DMFS incorporating SUV-N and N-classification was
      proposed.

PMID- 26871293
TI  - Arsenic trioxide inhibits glioma cell growth through induction of telomerase
      displacement and telomere dysfunction.
AB  - Glioblastomas are resistant to many kinds of treatment, including chemotherapy,
      radiation and other adjuvant therapies. As2O3 reportedly induces ROS generation
      in cells, suggesting it may be able to induce telomerase suppression and telomere
      dysfunction in glioblastoma cells. We show here that As2O3 induces ROS generation
      as well as telomerase phosphorylation in U87, U251, SHG4 and C6 glioma cells. It
      also induces translocation of telomerase from the nucleus to the cytoplasm,
      thereby decreasing total telomerase activity. These effects of As2O3 trigger an
      extensive DNA damage response at the telomere, which includes up-regulation of
      ATM, ATR, 53BP1, gamma-H2AX and Mer11, in parallel with telomere fusion and 3'
      overhang degradation. This ultimately results in induction of p53- and p21
      mediated cell apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence. These
      results provide new insight into the antitumor effects of As2O3 and can perhaps
      contribute to solving the problem of glioblastoma treatment resistance. 

PMID- 26871294
TI  - The relationship between EZH2 expression and microRNA-31 in colorectal cancer and
      the role in evolution of the serrated pathway.
AB  - Polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a methyltransferase
      that correlates with the regulation of invasion and metastasis and is
      overexpressed in human cancers such as colorectal cancer. MicroRNA-31 (miR-31)
      plays an oncogenic role and is associated with BRAF mutation and poor prognosis
      in colorectal cancer. EZH2 is functionally considered to suppress miR-31
      expression in human cancers; however, no study has reported its relationship with
      colon cancer. We therefore evaluated EZH2 expression using immunohistochemistry
      and assessed miR-31 and epigenetic alterations using 301 colorectal carcinomas
      and 207 premalignant lesions. Functional analysis was performed to identify the
      association between EZH2 and miR-31 using cancer cell lines. In the current
      study, negative, weak, moderate, and strong EZH2 expressions were observed in
      15%, 19%, 25%, and 41% of colorectal cancers, respectively. EZH2 was inversely
      associated with miR-31 (P < 0.0001), independent of clinicopathological and
      molecular features. In a multivariate stage-stratified analysis, high EZH2
      expression was related to favorable prognosis (P = 0.0022). Regarding
      premalignant lesions, negative EZH2 expression was frequently detected in sessile
      serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps) (76%; P < 0.0001) compared with hyperplastic
      polyps, traditional serrated adenomas, and non-serrated adenomas (25-36%).
      Functional analysis demonstrated that the knockdown of EZH2 increased miR-31
      expression. In conclusion, an inverse association was identified between EZH2 and
      miR-31 in colorectal cancers. Our data also showed that upregulation of EZH2
      expression may be rare in SSA/Ps. These results suggest that EZH2 suppresses miR
      31 in colorectal cancer and may correlate with differentiation and evolution of
      serrated pathway. 

PMID- 26871296
TI  - Immunogenicity and safety of xenogeneic vascular endothelial growth factor
      receptor-2 DNA vaccination in mice and dogs.
AB  - Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is an attractive target
      in oncology due to its crucial role in angiogenesis. In this study a DNA vaccine
      coding for human VEGFR-2 was evaluated in healthy mice and dogs, administered by
      intradermal injection and electroporation. In mice, three doses and vaccination
      schedules were evaluated. Cellular immune responses were measured by
      intracellular IFN-gamma staining and a cytotoxicity assay and antibodies by
      ELISA. Safety was assessed by measuring regulatory T cells and myeloid derived
      suppressor cells and a wound healing assay. The vaccine was subsequently
      evaluated in dogs, which were vaccinated three times with 100ug. Cellular immune
      responses were measured by intracellular IFN-gamma staining and antibodies by a
      flow cytometric assay. In mice, maximal cellular responses were observed after
      two vaccinations with 5ug. Humoral responses continued to increase with higher
      dose and number of vaccinations. No abnormalities in the measured safety
      parameters were observed. The vaccine was also capable of eliciting a cellular
      and humoral immune response in dogs. No adverse effects were observed, but
      tolerability of the electroporation was poor. This study will facilitate the
      evaluation of the vaccine in tumor bearing animals, ranging from rodent models to
      dogs with spontaneous tumors. 

PMID- 26871297
TI  - Extended-release guanfacine hydrochloride in 6-17-year olds with ADHD: a
      randomised-withdrawal maintenance of efficacy study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extended-release guanfacine hydrochloride (GXR), a selective alpha2A
      adrenergic agonist, is a nonstimulant medication for attention
      deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This phase 3, double-blind, placebo
      controlled, randomised-withdrawal study evaluated the long-term maintenance of
      GXR efficacy in children/adolescents with ADHD. METHODS: Children/adolescents (6
      17 years) with ADHD received open-label GXR (1-7 mg/day). After 13 weeks,
      responders were randomised to GXR or placebo in the 26-week, double-blind,
      randomised-withdrawal phase (RWP). The primary endpoint was the percentage of
      treatment failure (>=50% increase in ADHD Rating Scale version IV total score and
      >=2-point increase in Clinical Global Impression-Severity compared with RWP
      baseline, at two consecutive visits). The key secondary endpoint was time to
      treatment failure (TTF). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
      NCT01081145; EudraCT 2009-018161-12. RESULTS: A total of 528 participants
      enrolled; 316 (59.8%) entered the RWP. Treatment failure occurred in 49.3% of the
      GXR and 64.9% of the placebo group (p = 0.006). TTF was significantly longer in
      GXR versus placebo (p = 0.003). GXR was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Guanfacine
      hydrochloride demonstrated long-term maintenance of efficacy compared with
      placebo in children/adolescents with ADHD. Implications of the placebo
      substitution design and findings with different ADHD medications are discussed.

PMID- 26871298
TI  - Fluorescence-Based Transport Assays Revisited in a Human Renal Proximal Tubule
      Cell Line.
AB  - Apical transport is key in renal function, and the activity of efflux
      transporters and receptor-mediated endocytosis is pivotal in this process. The
      conditionally immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cell line (ciPTEC)
      endogenously expresses these systems. Here, we used ciPTEC to investigate the
      activity of three major efflux transporters, viz., breast cancer resistance
      protein (BCRP), multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4), and P-glycoprotein (P-gp),
      as well as protein uptake through receptor-mediated endocytosis, using a
      fluorescence-based setup for transport assays. To this end, cells were exposed to
      Hoechst33342, chloromethylfluorescein-diacetate (CMFDA), and calcein-AM in the
      presence or absence of model inhibitors for BCRP (KO143), P-gp (PSC833), or MRPs
      (MK571). Overexpression cell lines MDCKII-BCRP and MDCKII-P-gp were used as
      positive controls, and membrane vesicles overexpressing one transporter were used
      to determine substrate and inhibitor specificities. Receptor-mediated endocytosis
      was investigated by determining the intracellular accumulation of fluorescently
      labeled receptor-associated protein (RAP-GST). In ciPTEC, BCRP and P-gp showed
      similar expressions and activities, whereas MRP4 was more abundantly expressed.
      Hoechst33342, GS-MF, and calcein are retained in the presence of KO143, MK571,
      and PSC833, showing clearly redundancy between the transporters. Noteworthy is
      the fact that both KO143 and MK571 can block BCRP, P-gp, and MRPs, whereas PSC833
      appears to be a potent inhibitor for BCRP and P-gp but not the MRPs. Furthermore,
      ciPTEC accumulates RAP-GST in intracellular vesicles in a dose- and time
      dependent manner, which was reduced in megalin-deficient cells. In conclusion,
      fluorescent-probe-based assays are fast and reproducible in determining apical
      transport mechanisms, in vitro. We demonstrate that typical substrates and
      inhibitors are not specific for the designated transporters, reflecting the
      complex interactions that can take place in vivo. The set of tools we describe
      are also compatible with innovative kidney culture models and allows studying
      transport mechanisms that are central to drug absorption, disposition, and
      detoxification.

PMID- 26871295
TI  - miR-451a is underexpressed and targets AKT/mTOR pathway in papillary thyroid
      carcinoma.
AB  - Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent thyroid cancer. Although
      several PTC-specific miRNA profiles have been reported, only few upregulated
      miRNAs are broadly recognized, while less consistent data are available about
      downregulated miRNAs. In this study we investigated miRNA deregulation in PTC by
      miRNA microarray, analysis of a public dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas
      (TCGA), literature review and meta-analysis based on a univocal miRNA identifier
      derived from miRBase v21. A list of 18 miRNAs differentially expressed between
      PTC and normal thyroid was identified and validated in the TCGA dataset.
      Furthermore, we compared our signature with miRNA profiles derived from 15
      studies selected from literature. Then, to select possibly functionally relevant
      miRNA, we integrated our miRNA signature with those from two in vitro cell models
      based on the PTC-driving oncogene RET/PTC1. Through this strategy, we identified
      commonly deregulated miRNAs, including miR-451a, which emerged also by our meta
      analysis as the most frequently reported downregulated miRNA. We showed that
      lower expression of miR-451a correlates with aggressive clinical-pathological
      features of PTC as tall cell variant, advanced stage and extrathyroid extension.
      In addition, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of miR-451a impairs
      proliferation and migration of two PTC-derived cell lines, reduces the protein
      levels of its recognized targets MIF, c-MYC and AKT1 and attenuates AKT/mTOR
      pathway activation.Overall, our study provide both an updated overview of miRNA
      deregulation in PTC and the first functional evidence that miR-451a exerts tumor
      suppressor functions in this neoplasia. 

PMID- 26871299
TI  - Using thermal balance model to determine optimal reactor volume and insulation
      material needed in a laboratory-scale composting reactor.
AB  - A comprehensive model of thermal balance and degradation kinetics was developed
      to determine the optimal reactor volume and insulation material. Biological heat
      production and five channels of heat loss were considered in the thermal balance
      model for a representative reactor. Degradation kinetics was developed to make
      the model applicable to different types of substrates. Simulation of the model
      showed that the internal energy accumulation of compost was the significant heat
      loss channel, following by heat loss through reactor wall, and latent heat of
      water evaporation. Lower proportion of heat loss occurred through the reactor
      wall when the reactor volume was larger. Insulating materials with low densities
      and low conductive coefficients were more desirable for building small reactor
      systems. Model developed could be used to determine the optimal reactor volume
      and insulation material needed before the fabrication of a lab-scale composting
      system. 

PMID- 26871300
TI  - A Novel Mechanistic Study on Ultrasound-Assisted, One-Pot Synthesis of
      Functionalized Benzimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(1H)-ones.
AB  - Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(1H)-ones was
      achieved via piperidine-catalyzed three-component reaction of 2
      aminobenzimidazoles, an aromatic aldehyde, and 1,3-dione in aqueous isopropanol.
      This mechanism was first suspected following our identification of unusual
      reaction intermediates in a one-pot reaction. An unprecedented coupling reaction,
      it involved a nucleophilic attack by 2-aminobenzimidazole on in situ generated
      Michael adduct, followed by electrocyclic ring formation reaction. In contrast to
      the commonly accepted mechanism, that the direct reaction of 2-amino
      benzimidazole with a Knoevenagel adduct cannot deliver target compounds. 

PMID- 26871301
TI  - Life-Cycle Assessment of Advanced Nutrient Removal Technologies for Wastewater
      Treatment.
AB  - Advanced nutrient removal processes, while improving the water quality of the
      receiving water body, can also produce indirect environmental and health impacts
      associated with increases in usage of energy, chemicals, and other material
      resources. The present study evaluated three levels of treatment for nutrient
      removal (N and P) using 27 representative treatment process configurations.
      Impacts were assessed across multiple environmental and health impacts using life
      cycle assessment (LCA) following the Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of
      Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) impact-assessment method.
      Results show that advanced technologies that achieve high-level nutrient removal
      significantly decreased local eutrophication potential, while chemicals and
      electricity use for these advanced treatments, particularly multistage enhanced
      tertiary processes and reverse osmosis, simultaneously increased eutrophication
      indirectly and contributed to other potential environmental and health impacts
      including human and ecotoxicity, global warming potential, ozone depletion, and
      acidification. Average eutrophication potential can be reduced by about 70% when
      Level 2 (TN = 3 mg/L; TP = 0.1 mg/L) treatments are employed instead of Level 1
      (TN = 8 mg/L; TP = 1 mg/L), but the implementation of more advanced tertiary
      processes for Level 3 (TN = 1 mg/L; TP = 0.01 mg/L) treatment may only lead to an
      additional 15% net reduction in life-cycle eutrophication potential. 

PMID- 26871303
TI  - Dyadic Transition to Parenthood: A Longitudinal Assessment of Personal Growth
      among Parents of Pre- and Full-term Infants.
AB  - This study examined the contribution of birth circumstances (premature and full
      term birth) and individual and spousal factors (attachment orientations, parental
      self-efficacy and perceived infant temperament), measured 1 month post-partum, to
      the personal growth of first-time parents (n = 121) 1 and 5 months post-partum.
      The study overcame the limitations of prior research by accurately measuring
      actor effects while controlling for and assessing partner effects, by applying
      the actor-partner interdependence model. The findings confirm that becoming a
      parent, under normative and stressful circumstances, can lead to personal growth
      and parents of premature babies experience higher levels of growth than parents
      of full terms. Moreover, 1 month post-partum, actor effects were found for higher
      attachment anxiety and higher parental self-efficacy. Furthermore, personal
      growth at 1 month post-partum was found to be the strongest predictor of personal
      growth 5 months after childbirth. Five months post-partum, a positive partner
      effect was found for parental self-efficacy. Mothers reported higher growth than
      fathers only 5 months after the birth. It seems time plays an important role as
      to which variables contribute to personal growth. In the early stages of
      parenthood, personal growth is mostly an individual experience. Theoretical and
      clinical implications are discussed. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26871304
TI  - Recent progress in imidoyl radical-involved reactions.
AB  - Much attention has been paid to imidoyl radical-involved reactions in recent
      years. As a divergent reactive intermediate, imidoyl radicals are used for the
      synthesis of functionalized heterocycles, nitriles, imines, amines, etc. This
      review is intended to highlight some recent progress in the past decade. 

PMID- 26871302
TI  - A General Approach for Generating Fluorescent Probes to Visualize Piconewton
      Forces at the Cell Surface.
AB  - Mechanical forces between cells and their extracellular matrix (ECM) are mediated
      by dozens of different receptors. These biophysical interactions play fundamental
      roles in processes ranging from cellular development to tumor progression.
      However, mapping the spatial and temporal dynamics of tension among various
      receptor-ligand pairs remains a significant challenge. To address this issue, we
      have developed a synthetic strategy to generate modular tension probes combining
      the native chemical ligation (NCL) reaction with solid phase peptide synthesis
      (SPPS). In principle, this approach accommodates virtually any peptide or
      expressed protein amenable to NCL. We generated a small library of tension probes
      displaying different ligands, flexible linkers, and fluorescent reporters,
      enabling the mapping of integrin and cadherin tension, and demonstrating the
      first example of long-term (~3 days) molecular tension imaging. This approach
      provides a toolset to better understand mechanotransduction events fundamental to
      cell biology. 

PMID- 26871305
TI  - Digitized morphometric analysis of dental pulp of permanent mandibular second
      molar for age estimation of Davangere population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to estimate the age of Davangere
      population by evaluating the pulp to tooth area ratio (PTR) by using digitized
      intraoral periapical radiographs of permanent mandibular second molar. METHODS:
      400 intraoral periapical radiograph (IOPA) of permanent mandibular 2nd molar of
      both the sexes aged 14-60 years were used. Digital camera was used to image the
      radiographs. Images were computed and PTR was calculated by AUTOCAD software.
      Intra and Inter observer variability was also assessed. Regression analysis was
      used to estimate the age of an individual by taking PTR as dependent variable.
      RESULTS: The mean PTR of males and females was 0.10 +/- 0.02 and 0.09 +/- 0.02
      respectively. Negative correlation was observed, when age was compared with PTR
      {r = -0.441, -0.406 & -0.419 among males, females and total subjects (p <
      0.001)}. Regression analysis showed a Standard Error of Estimate (SEE) of 12
      years. The Kappa coefficient value for the intra and inter examiner variability
      was 0.85 & 0.83 respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that permanent
      mandibular 2(nd) molar can be taken as an index tooth for estimating the age of
      the adults using digitized periapical radiograph and AUTOCAD software. Also high
      differences were observed between estimated and chronological age of 12 years
      which is not in the acceptable range. But it provides a new window for research
      in the forensic sciences in estimating the adult age.

PMID- 26871306
TI  - Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992-2012: A population-based
      study.
AB  - Previous studies have shown decreasing child homicide rates in many countries -
      in Sweden mainly due to a drop in filicide-suicides. This study examines the rate
      of child homicides during 21 years, with the hypothesis that a decline might be
      attributable to a decrease in the number of depressive filicide offenders (as
      defined by a proxy measure). In addition, numerous characteristics of child
      homicide are presented. All homicide incidents involving 0-14-year-old victims in
      Sweden during 1992-2012 (n = 90) were identified in an autopsy database. Data
      from multiple registries, forensic psychiatric evaluations, police reports,
      verdicts and other sources were collected. Utilizing Poisson regression, we found
      a 4% annual decrease in child homicides, in accordance with prior studies, but no
      marked decrease regarding the depressive-offender proxy. Diagnoses from forensic
      psychiatric evaluations (n = 50) included substance misuse (8%), affective
      disorders (10%), autism-spectrum disorders (18%), psychotic disorders (28%) and
      personality disorders (30%). Prior violent offences were more common among
      offenders in filicides than filicide-suicides (17.8% vs. 6.9%); and about 20% of
      offenders in each group had previously received psychiatric inpatient care.
      Aggressive methods of filicide predominated among fathers. Highly lethal methods
      of filicide (firearms, fire) were more commonly followed by same-method suicide
      than less lethal methods. Interestingly, a third of the extra-familial offenders
      had an autism-spectrum disorder. Based on several findings, e.g., the low rate of
      substance misuse, the study concludes that non-traditional risk factors for
      violence must be highlighted by healthcare providers. Also, the occurrence of
      autism-spectrum disorders in the present study is a novel finding that warrants
      further investigation.

PMID- 26871307
TI  - Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Lycoposerramine-Z Using Chiral Phosphoric
      Acid Catalyzed Intramolecular Michael Addition.
AB  - A new enantioselective total synthesis of phlegmarine-type Lycopodium alkaloid
      lycoposerramine-Z (1) has been accomplished, using one-pot chemoselective
      sequential additions of two different Grignard reagents to the bis-Weinreb-amide
      intermediate and an efficient construction of the fully fuctionalized
      cyclohexanone intermediate with a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed
      enantioselective intramolecular Michael addition. 

PMID- 26871308
TI  - Tuning the surface structure of supported PtNi(x) bimetallic electrocatalysts for
      the methanol electro-oxidation reaction.
AB  - The structures of PtNix nanoalloy particles were modified through thermal
      annealing in different atmospheres. The evolution of surface structures was
      uncovered by advanced transmission electron microscopy, and the structure
      function correlation in methanol electro-oxidation was probed. It provided new
      insights into the design and synthesis of highly efficient electrocatalysts. 

PMID- 26871309
TI  - Total facial selectivity of a D-erythrosyl aromatic imine in [4pi + 2pi]
      cycloadditions; synthesis of 2-alkylpolyol 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines.
AB  - Different electron-rich dienophiles were combined with the imine obtained from
      2,4-O-benzylidene-d-erythrose and p-anisidine furnishing enantiomerically pure
      tetrahydroquinolines, by inverse electron-demand [4pi + 2pi] cycloaddition. The
      imine was also reacted with 2-substituted electron-rich 1,3-butadienes giving the
      diastereomeric pure product, resulting from the normal electron demand
      cycloaddition. The facial selectivity of both processes is proposed on the basis
      of a 1,4-relationship between the hydroxyl group and the nitrogen atom in the
      chiral N-(p-methoxyphenyl)imine derivative. 

PMID- 26871311
TI  - Synthesis and spectral measurements of sulphonated graphene: some anomalous
      observations.
AB  - The present report demonstrates how a sulphonation process, a key route for
      synthesizing water soluble graphene, can influence the optical behavior of
      precursor graphene oxide, intermediate reaction products and sulphonated
      graphene. We observed that there is constant emission maximum at 500 nm for
      graphene oxide in the excitation range of 320-450 nm. During sulphonation,
      sulphonated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-SO3H) is initially formed which has an
      emission at 358 nm. However, the reduction of oxygen containing groups in rGO
      SO3H with hydrazine hydrate leading to the formation of SG caused a shift in the
      emission to 430 nm, which has been attributed to the extended delocalization of
      pi-electrons involving the phenyl sulphonate group. In the present investigation,
      we have identified many existing anomalies in the important spectral features of
      these materials, such as violation of Kasha's rule on fluorescence and pH
      dependence emission. Furthermore, it has also been shown that proper care is
      necessary to be taken in monitoring the fluorescence of sulphonated graphene in
      view of possible interference from the components produced during sulphonation. 

PMID- 26871310
TI  - A rock in a hard place: Cement pulmonary emboli after percutaneous
      vertebroplasty.

PMID- 26871312
TI  - Utilizing a Key Aptamer Structure-Switching Mechanism for the Ultrahigh Frequency
      Detection of Cocaine.
AB  - Aptasensing of small molecules remains a challenge as detection often requires
      the use of labels or signal amplification methodologies, resulting in both
      difficult-to-prepare sensor platforms and multistep, complex assays. Furthermore,
      many aptasensors rely on the binding mechanism or structural changes associated
      with target capture by the aptameric probe, resulting in a detection scheme
      customized to each aptamer. It is in this context that we report herein a
      sensitive cocaine aptasensor that offers both real-time and label-free
      measurement capabilities. Detection relies on the electromagnetic piezoelectric
      acoustic sensor (EMPAS) platform. The sensing interface consists of a S-(11
      trichlorosilyl-undecanyl)benzenethiosulfonate (BTS) adlayer-coated quartz disc
      onto which a structure-switching cocaine aptamer (MN6) is immobilized, completing
      the preparation of the MN6 cocaine aptasensor (M6CA). The EMPAS system has
      recently been employed as the foundation of a cocaine aptasensor based on a
      structurally rigid cocaine aptamer variant (MN4), an aptasensor referred to by
      analogy as M4CA. M6CA represents a significant increase in terms of analytical
      performance, compared to not only M4CA but also other cocaine aptamer-based
      sensors that do not rely on signal amplification, producing an apparent K(d) of
      27 +/- 6 MUM and a 0.3 MUM detection limit. Remarkably, the latter is in the
      range of that achieved by cocaine aptasensors relying on signal amplification.
      Furthermore, M6CA proved to be capable not only of regaining its cocaine-binding
      ability via simple buffer flow over the sensing interface (i.e., without the
      necessity to implement an additional regeneration step, such as in the case of
      M4CA), but also of detecting cocaine in a multicomponent matrix possessing
      potentially assay-interfering species. Finally, through observation of the
      distinct shape of its response profiles to cocaine injection, demonstration was
      made that the EMPAS system in practice offers the possibility to distinguish
      between the binding mechanisms of structure-switching (MN6) vs rigid (MN4)
      aptameric probes, an ability that could allow the EMPAS to provide a more
      universal aptasensing platform than what is ordinarily observed in the
      literature.

PMID- 26871313
TI  - Local Scale Transformations on the Lattice with Tensor Network Renormalization.
AB  - Consider the partition function of a classical system in two spatial dimensions,
      or the Euclidean path integral of a quantum system in two space-time dimensions,
      both on a lattice. We show that the tensor network renormalization algorithm [G.
      Evenbly and G. Vidal Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 180405 (2015)] can be used to
      implement local scale transformations on these objects, namely, a lattice version
      of conformal maps. Specifically, we explain how to implement the lattice
      equivalent of the logarithmic conformal map that transforms the Euclidean plane
      into a cylinder. As an application, and with the 2D critical Ising model as a
      concrete example, we use this map to build a lattice version of the scaling
      operators of the underlying conformal field theory, from which one can extract
      their scaling dimensions and operator product expansion coefficients. 

PMID- 26871314
TI  - Permutation Symmetry Determines the Discrete Wigner Function.
AB  - The Wigner function provides a useful quasiprobability representation of quantum
      mechanics, with applications in various branches of physics. Many nice properties
      of the Wigner function are intimately connected with the high symmetry of the
      underlying operator basis composed of phase point operators: any pair of phase
      point operators can be transformed to any other pair by a unitary symmetry
      transformation. We prove that, in the discrete scenario, this permutation
      symmetry is equivalent to the symmetry group being a unitary 2 design. Such a
      highly symmetric representation can only appear in odd prime power dimensions
      besides dimensions 2 and 8. It suffices to single out a unique discrete Wigner
      function among all possible quasiprobability representations. In the course of
      our study, we show that this discrete Wigner function is uniquely determined by
      Clifford covariance, while no Wigner function is Clifford covariant in any even
      prime power dimension. 

PMID- 26871315
TI  - Strong Measurements Give a Better Direct Measurement of the Quantum Wave
      Function.
AB  - Weak measurements have thus far been considered instrumental in the so-called
      direct measurement of the quantum wave function [4J. S. Lundeen, Nature (London)
      474, 188 (2011).]. Here we show that a direct measurement of the wave function
      can be obtained by using measurements of arbitrary strength. In particular, in
      the case of strong measurements, i.e., those in which the coupling between the
      system and the measuring apparatus is maximum, we compared the precision and the
      accuracy of the two methods, by showing that strong measurements outperform weak
      measurements in both for arbitrary quantum states in most cases. We also give the
      exact expression of the difference between the original and reconstructed wave
      function obtained by the weak measurement approach; this will allow one to define
      the range of applicability of such a method. 

PMID- 26871316
TI  - Soluble Model Fluids with Complete Scaling and Yang-Yang Features.
AB  - Yang-Yang (YY) and singular diameter critical anomalies arise in exactly soluble
      compressible cell gas (CCG) models that obey complete scaling with pressure
      mixing. Thus, on the critical isochore rho=rho(c), C(MU)?-Td(2)MU/dT(2) diverges
      as |t|^(-alpha) when t?T-T(c)->0^(-) while rho(d)-rho(c)~|t|^(2beta) where
      rho(d)(T)=1/2[rho(liq)+rho(gas)]. When the discrete local CCG cell volumes
      fluctuate freely, the YY ratio R(MU)=C(MU)/C(V) may take any value 
      infinity<R(MU)<1/2 but "anticorrelated" free volumes are needed for R(MU)>0. More
      general decorated CCGs, including "hydrogen bonding" water models, illuminate
      energy-volume coupling as relevant to R(MU).

PMID- 26871317
TI  - New Features of Gravitational Collapse in Anti-de Sitter Spacetimes.
AB  - Gravitational collapse of a massless scalar field in spherically symmetric anti
      de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes presents a new phenomenology with a series of critical
      points whose dynamics is discretely self-similar as in the asymptotically flat
      case. Each critical point is the limit of a branch of scalar field configurations
      that have bounced off the AdS boundary a fixed number of times before forming an
      apparent horizon. We present results from a numerical study that focus on the
      interfaces between branches. We find that there is a mass gap between branches
      and that subcritical configurations near the critical point form black holes with
      an apparent horizon mass that follows a power law of the form M(AH)-M(g)?(p(c)
      p)^(xi), where M(g) is the mass gap and the exponent xi?0.7 appears to be
      universal.

PMID- 26871318
TI  - Audio-Band Frequency-Dependent Squeezing for Gravitational-Wave Detectors.
AB  - Quantum vacuum fluctuations impose strict limits on precision displacement
      measurements, those of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors among them.
      Introducing squeezed states into an interferometer's readout port can improve the
      sensitivity of the instrument, leading to richer astrophysical observations.
      However, optomechanical interactions dictate that the vacuum's squeezed
      quadrature must rotate by 90 degrees  around 50 Hz. Here we use a 2-m-long, high
      finesse optical resonator to produce frequency-dependent rotation around 1.2 kHz.
      This demonstration of audio-band frequency-dependent squeezing uses technology
      and methods that are scalable to the required rotation frequency and validates
      previously developed theoretical models, heralding application of the technique
      in future gravitational-wave detectors. 

PMID- 26871320
TI  - Dark Matter Halos as Particle Colliders: Unified Solution to Small-Scale
      Structure Puzzles from Dwarfs to Clusters.
AB  - Astrophysical observations spanning dwarf galaxies to galaxy clusters indicate
      that dark matter (DM) halos are less dense in their central regions compared to
      expectations from collisionless DM N-body simulations. Using detailed fits to DM
      halos of galaxies and clusters, we show that self-interacting DM (SIDM) may
      provide a consistent solution to the DM deficit problem across all scales, even
      though individual systems exhibit a wide diversity in halo properties. Since the
      characteristic velocity of DM particles varies across these systems, we are able
      to measure the self-interaction cross section as a function of kinetic energy and
      thereby deduce the SIDM particle physics model parameters. Our results prefer a
      mildly velocity-dependent cross section, from sigma/m~2  cm^{2}/g on galaxy
      scales to sigma/m~0.1  cm^{2}/g on cluster scales, consistent with the upper
      limits from merging clusters. Our results dramatically improve the constraints on
      SIDM models and may allow the masses of both DM and dark mediator particles to be
      measured even if the dark sector is completely hidden from the standard model,
      which we illustrate for the dark photon model. 

PMID- 26871319
TI  - Evidence of Halo Assembly Bias in Massive Clusters.
AB  - We present significant evidence of halo assembly bias for SDSS redMaPPer galaxy
      clusters in the redshift range [0.1, 0.33]. By dividing the 8,648 clusters into
      two subsamples based on the average member galaxy separation from the cluster
      center, we first show that the two subsamples have very similar halo mass of
      M_{200m}?1.9*10^{14}  h^{-1}M_{?} based on the weak lensing signals at small
      radii R?10  h^{-1}Mpc. However, their halo bias inferred from both the large
      scale weak lensing and the projected autocorrelation functions differs by a
      factor of ~1.5, which is a signature of assembly bias. The same bias hypothesis
      for the two subsamples is excluded at 2.5sigma in the weak lensing and 4.4sigma
      in the autocorrelation data, respectively. This result could bring a significant
      impact on both galaxy evolution and precision cosmology. 

PMID- 26871321
TI  - On-Shell Recursion Relations for Effective Field Theories.
AB  - We derive the first ever on-shell recursion relations applicable to effective
      field theories. Based solely on factorization and the soft behavior of
      amplitudes, these recursion relations employ a new rescaling momentum shift to
      construct all tree-level scattering amplitudes in the nonlinear sigma model,
      Dirac-Born-Infeld theory, and the Galileon. Our results prove that all theories
      with enhanced soft behavior are on-shell constructible. 

PMID- 26871326
TI  - Doppler Cooling Trapped Ions with a UV Frequency Comb.
AB  - We demonstrate Doppler cooling of trapped magnesium ions using a frequency comb
      at 280 nm obtained from a frequency tripled Ti:sapphire laser. A comb line cools
      on the 3s_{1/2}-3p_{3/2} transition, while the nearest blue-detuned comb line
      contributes negligible heating. We observe the cooling-heating transition and
      long-term cooling of ion chains with several sympathetically cooled ions. Spatial
      thermometry shows that the ion is cooled to near the Doppler limit. Doppler
      cooling with frequency combs has the potential to open many additional atomic
      species to laser cooling by reaching further into the vacuum and extreme
      ultraviolet via high-harmonic generation and by providing a broad bandwidth from
      which multiple excitation sidebands can be obtained. 

PMID- 26871324
TI  - Observation of Anomalous Internal Pair Creation in ^{8}Be: A Possible Indication
      of a Light, Neutral Boson.
AB  - Electron-positron angular correlations were measured for the isovector magnetic
      dipole 17.6 MeV (J^{pi}=1^{+}, T=1) state->ground state (J^{pi}=0^{+}, T=0) and
      the isoscalar magnetic dipole 18.15 MeV (J^{pi}=1^{+}, T=0) state->ground state
      transitions in ^{8}Be. Significant enhancement relative to the internal pair
      creation was observed at large angles in the angular correlation for the
      isoscalar transition with a confidence level of >5sigma. This observation could
      possibly be due to nuclear reaction interference effects or might indicate that,
      in an intermediate step, a neutral isoscalar particle with a mass of 16.70+/
      0.35(stat)+/-0.5(syst)  MeV/c^{2} and J^{pi}=1^{+} was created. 

PMID- 26871325
TI  - Electron Localization in Dissociating H_{2}^{+} by Retroaction of a Photoelectron
      onto Its Source.
AB  - We investigate the dissociation of H_{2}^{+} into a proton and a H^{0} after
      single ionization with photons of an energy close to the threshold. We find that
      the p^{+} and the H^{0} do not emerge symmetrically in the case of the H_{2}^{+}
      dissociating along the 1ssigma_{g} ground state. Instead, a preference for the
      ejection of the p^{+} in the direction of the escaping photoelectron can be
      observed. This symmetry breaking is strongest for very small electron energies.
      Our experiment is consistent with a recent prediction by Serov and Kheifets
      [Phys. Rev. A 89, 031402 (2014)]. In their model, which treats the photoelectron
      classically, the symmetry breaking is induced by the retroaction of the long
      range Coulomb potential onto the dissociating H_{2}^{+}. 

PMID- 26871327
TI  - Electron Elevator: Excitations across the Band Gap via a Dynamical Gap State.
AB  - We use time-dependent density functional theory to study self-irradiated Si. We
      calculate the electronic stopping power of Si in Si by evaluating the energy
      transferred to the electrons per unit path length by an ion of kinetic energy
      from 1 eV to 100 keV moving through the host. Electronic stopping is found to be
      significant below the threshold velocity normally identified with transitions
      across the band gap. A structured crossover at low velocity exists in place of a
      hard threshold. An analysis of the time dependence of the transition rates using
      coupled linear rate equations enables one of the excitation mechanisms to be
      clearly identified: a defect state induced in the gap by the moving ion acts like
      an elevator and carries electrons across the band gap. 

PMID- 26871328
TI  - Feshbach-Resonance-Enhanced Coherent Atom-Molecule Conversion with Ultranarrow
      Photoassociation Resonance.
AB  - We reveal the existence of high-density Feshbach resonances in the collision
      between the ground and metastable states of ^{171}Yb and coherently produce the
      associated Feshbach molecules by photoassociation. The extremely small transition
      rate is overcome by the enhanced Franck-Condon factor of the weakly bound
      Feshbach molecule, allowing us to observe Rabi oscillations with long decay time
      between an atom pair and a molecule in an optical lattice. We also perform the
      precision measurement of the binding energies, which characterizes the observed
      resonances. The ultranarrow photoassociation will be a basis for practical
      implementation of optical Feshbach resonances. 

PMID- 26871329
TI  - Mechanically Mediated Microwave Frequency Conversion in the Quantum Regime.
AB  - We report the observation of efficient and low-noise frequency conversion between
      two microwave modes, mediated by the motion of a mechanical resonator subjected
      to radiation pressure. We achieve coherent conversion of more than 10^{12} 
      photons/s with a 95% efficiency and a 14 kHz bandwidth. With less than 10^{-1} 
      photons.s^{-1}.Hz^{-1} of added noise, this optomechanical frequency converter is
      suitable for quantum state transduction. We show the ability to operate this
      converter as a tunable beam splitter, with direct applications for photon routing
      and communication through complex quantum networks. 

PMID- 26871330
TI  - Quantum Optics Theory of Electronic Noise in Coherent Conductors.
AB  - We consider the electromagnetic field generated by a coherent conductor in which
      electron transport is described quantum mechanically. We obtain an input-output
      relation linking the quantum current in the conductor to the measured
      electromagnetic field. This allows us to compute the outcome of measurements on
      the field in terms of the statistical properties of the current. We moreover show
      how under ac bias the conductor acts as a tunable medium for the field, allowing
      for the generation of single- and two-mode squeezing through fermionic reservoir
      engineering. These results explain the recently observed squeezing using normal
      tunnel junctions [G. Gasse et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 136601 (2013); J.-C.
      Forgues et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 130403 (2015)]. 

PMID- 26871331
TI  - Coherent Population Trapping of a Single Nuclear Spin Under Ambient Conditions.
AB  - We demonstrate coherent population trapping of a single nuclear spin in a room
      temperature solid. To this end, we exploit a three-level system with a Lambda
      configuration in the microwave domain, which consists of nuclear spin states
      addressed through their hyperfine coupling to the electron spin of a single
      nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond. Moreover, the Lambda-scheme relaxation is
      externally controlled through incoherent optical pumping and separated in time
      from consecutive coherent microwave excitations. Such a scheme allows us (i) to
      monitor the sequential accumulation of population into the dark state and (ii) to
      reach a novel regime of coherent population trapping dynamics for which periodic
      arrays of dark resonances can be observed, owing to multiple constructive
      interferences. This Letter offers new prospects for quantum state preparation,
      information storage in hybrid quantum systems, and metrology. 

PMID- 26871332
TI  - Cavity Light Bullets in Passively Mode-Locked Semiconductor Lasers.
AB  - We demonstrate the existence of stable three-dimensional dissipative localized
      structures in the output of a laser coupled to a distant saturable absorber.
      These phase invariant cavity light bullets are individually addressable and can
      be envisioned for three-dimensional optical information storage. An effective
      theory provides for an intuitive picture and allows us to relate their formation
      to the morphogenesis of static spatial autosolitons and temporal cellular
      patterns. 

PMID- 26871333
TI  - Universal Nature of the Nonlinear Stage of Modulational Instability.
AB  - We characterize the nonlinear stage of modulational instability (MI) by studying
      the longtime asymptotics of the focusing nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation on
      the infinite line with initial conditions tending to constant values at infinity.
      Asymptotically in time, the spatial domain divides into three regions: a far left
      and a far right field, in which the solution is approximately equal to its
      initial value, and a central region in which the solution has oscillatory
      behavior described by slow modulations of the periodic traveling wave solutions
      of the focusing NLS equation. These results demonstrate that the asymptotic stage
      of MI is universal since the behavior of a large class of perturbations
      characterized by a continuous spectrum is described by the same asymptotic state.

PMID- 26871334
TI  - Optical Rogue Waves in Vortex Turbulence.
AB  - We present a spatiotemporal mechanism for producing 2D optical rogue waves in the
      presence of a turbulent state with creation, interaction, and annihilation of
      optical vortices. Spatially periodic structures with bound phase lose stability
      to phase unbound turbulent states in complex Ginzburg-Landau and Swift-Hohenberg
      models with external driving. When the pumping is high and the external driving
      is low, synchronized oscillations are unstable and lead to spatiotemporal vortex
      mediated turbulence with high excursions in amplitude. Nonlinear amplification
      leads to rogue waves close to turbulent optical vortices, where the amplitude
      tends to zero, and to probability density functions (PDFs) with long tails
      typical of extreme optical events. 

PMID- 26871335
TI  - Optimal Phase-Control Strategy for Damped-Driven Duffing Oscillators.
AB  - Phase-control techniques of chaos aim to extract periodic behaviors from chaotic
      systems by applying weak harmonic perturbations with a suitably chosen phase.
      However, little is known about the best strategy for selecting adequate
      perturbations to reach desired states. Here we use experimental measures and
      numerical simulations to assess the benefits of controlling individually the
      three terms of a Duffing oscillator. Using a real-time analog indicator able to
      discriminate on-the-fly periodic behaviors from chaos, we reconstruct
      experimentally the phase versus perturbation strength stability areas when
      periodic perturbations are applied to different terms governing the oscillator.
      We verify the system to be more sensitive to perturbations applied to the
      quadratic term of the double-well Duffing oscillator and to the quartic term of
      the single-well Duffing oscillator. 

PMID- 26871336
TI  - Optimal Parametric Feedback Excitation of Nonlinear Oscillators.
AB  - An optimal parametric feedback excitation principle is sought, found, and
      investigated. The principle is shown to provide an adaptive resonance condition
      that enables unprecedentedly robust movement generation in a large class of
      oscillatory dynamical systems. Experimental demonstration of the theory is
      provided by a nonlinear electronic circuit that realizes self-adaptive parametric
      excitation without model information, signal processing, and control computation.
      The observed behavior dramatically differs from the one achievable using
      classical parametric modulation, which is fundamentally limited by uncertainties
      in model information and nonlinear effects inevitably present in real world
      applications. 

PMID- 26871337
TI  - Displacement of an Electrically Charged Drop on a Vibrating Bath.
AB  - In this work, the manipulation of an electrically charged droplet bouncing on a
      vertically vibrated bath is investigated. When a horizontal, uniform, and static
      electric field is applied to it, a motion is induced. The droplet is accelerated
      when the droplet is small. On the other hand, large droplets appear to move with
      a constant speed that depends linearly on the applied electrical field. In the
      latter regime, high-speed imaging of one bounce reveals that the droplet
      experiences an acceleration due to the electrical force during the flight and
      decelerates to 0 when interacting with the surface of the bath. Thus, the droplet
      moves with a constant average speed on a large time scale. We propose a criterion
      based on the force necessary to move a charged droplet at the surface of the bath
      to discriminate between constant speed and accelerated droplet regimes. 

PMID- 26871338
TI  - Quantum Radiation Reaction: From Interference to Incoherence.
AB  - We investigate quantum radiation reaction in laser-electron interactions across
      different energy and intensity regimes. Using a fully quantum approach which also
      accounts exactly for the effect of the strong laser pulse on the electron motion,
      we identify in particular a regime in which radiation reaction is dominated by
      quantum interference. We find signatures of quantum radiation reaction in the
      electron spectra which have no classical analogue and which cannot be captured by
      the incoherent approximations typically used in the high-intensity regime. These
      signatures are measurable with presently available laser and accelerator
      technology. 

PMID- 26871322
TI  - Observation of B->D(*) pi^(+)pi^(-)l^(-)nu Decays in e^(+)e^(-) Collisions at the
      Upsilon(4S) Resonance.
AB  - We report on measurements of the decays of B- mesons into the semileptonic final
      states B-->D^(*)pi^(+)pi^(-)l^(-)nu-, where D^(*) represents a D or D^(*) meson
      and l^(-) is an electron or a muon. These measurements are based on 471*10^(6) BB
      - pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the SLAC asymmetric B factory PEP-II.
      We determine the branching fraction ratios R_{pi^{+}pi^{-}}^{(*)}=B(B[over -]
      >D^{(*)}pi^{+}pi^{-}l^{-}nu[over -])/B(B[over -]->D^{(*)}l^{-}nu[over -]) using
      events in which the second B meson is fully reconstructed. We find R_{pi^{+}pi^{
      }}=0.067+/-0.010+/-0.008 and R_{pi^{+}pi^{-}}^{*}=0.019+/-0.005+/-0.004, where
      the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Based on these
      results and assuming isospin invariance, we estimate that B[over -]
      >D^{(*)}pipil^{-}nu[over -] decays, where pi denotes either a pi^{+/-} and pi^{0}
      meson, account for up to half the difference between the measured inclusive
      semileptonic branching fraction to charm hadrons and the corresponding sum of
      previously measured exclusive branching fractions.

PMID- 26871339
TI  - Concept of a Contact Spectrum and Its Applications in Atomic Quantum Hall States.
AB  - A unique feature of ultracold atoms is the separation of length scales,
      r_{0}?k_{F}^{-1}, where k_{F} and r_{0} are the Fermi momentum characterizing the
      average particle distance and the range of interaction between atoms,
      respectively. For s-wave scattering, Shina Tan discovered that such diluteness
      leads to universal thermodynamic relations governed by contact. Here, we show
      that the concept of contact can be generalized to an arbitrary partial-wave
      scattering. Contact of all partial-wave scatterings forms a contact spectrum,
      which establishes universal thermodynamic relations with notable differences from
      those in the presence of s-wave scattering alone. Such a contact spectrum is
      particularly useful for characterizing many-body correlations in atomic quantum
      Hall states (QHSs). It has an interesting connection with a special bipartite
      entanglement spectrum of QHSs and enables an intrinsic probe of atomic QHSs using
      short-range two-body correlations. 

PMID- 26871340
TI  - Thermodynamics of an Attractive 2D Fermi Gas.
AB  - Thermodynamic properties of matter are conveniently expressed as functional
      relations between variables known as equations of state. Here we experimentally
      determine the compressibility, density, and pressure equations of state for an
      attractive 2D Fermi gas in the normal phase as a function of temperature and
      interaction strength. In 2D, interacting gases exhibit qualitatively different
      features to those found in 3D. This is evident in the normalized density equation
      of state, which peaks at intermediate densities corresponding to the crossover
      from classical to quantum behavior. 

PMID- 26871341
TI  - Equation of State of Ultracold Fermions in the 2D BEC-BCS Crossover Region.
AB  - We report the experimental measurement of the equation of state of a two
      dimensional Fermi gas with attractive s-wave interactions throughout the
      crossover from a weakly coupled Fermi gas to a Bose gas of tightly bound dimers
      as the interaction strength is varied. We demonstrate that interactions lead to a
      renormalization of the density of the Fermi gas by several orders of magnitude.
      We compare our data near the ground state and at finite temperature with
      predictions for both fermions and bosons from quantum Monte Carlo simulations and
      Luttinger-Ward theory. Our results serve as input for investigations of close-to
      equilibrium dynamics and transport in the two-dimensional system. 

PMID- 26871342
TI  - Cascade of Solitonic Excitations in a Superfluid Fermi gas: From Planar Solitons
      to Vortex Rings and Lines.
AB  - We follow the time evolution of a superfluid Fermi gas of resonantly interacting
      ^{6}Li atoms after a phase imprint. Via tomographic imaging, we observe the
      formation of a planar dark soliton, its subsequent snaking, and its decay into a
      vortex ring, which, in turn, breaks to finally leave behind a single solitonic
      vortex. In intermediate stages, we find evidence for an exotic structure
      resembling the Phi soliton, a combination of a vortex ring and a vortex line.
      Direct imaging of the nodal surface reveals its undulation dynamics and its decay
      via the puncture of the initial soliton plane. The observed evolution of the
      nodal surface represents dynamics beyond superfluid hydrodynamics, calling for a
      microscopic description of unitary fermionic superfluids out of equilibrium. 

PMID- 26871343
TI  - Pairing of Fermions with Unequal Effective Charges in an Artificial Magnetic
      Field.
AB  - Artificial magnetic fields (AMFs) created for ultracold systems depend
      sensitively on the internal structure of the atoms. In a mixture, each component
      experiences a different AMF depending on its internal state. This enables the
      study of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing of fermions with unequal effective
      charges. In this Letter, we investigate the superconducting (SC) transition of a
      system formed by such pairs as a function of field strength. We consider a
      homogeneous two-component Fermi gas of unequal effective charges but equal
      densities with attractive interactions. We find that the phase diagram is altered
      drastically compared to the usual balanced charge case. First, for some AMFs
      there is no SC transition and isolated SC phases are formed, reflecting the
      discrete Landau level (LL) structure. SC phases become reentrant both in AMF and
      temperature. For extremely high fields where both components are confined to
      their lowest LLs, the effect of the charge imbalance is suppressed. Charge
      asymmetry reduces the critical temperature even in the low-field semiclassical
      regime. We discuss a pair breaking mechanism due to the unequal Lorentz forces
      acting on the components of the Cooper pairs to identify the underlying physics. 

PMID- 26871344
TI  - Apparent First-Order Wetting and Anomalous Scaling in the Two-Dimensional Ising
      Model.
AB  - The global phase diagram of wetting in the two-dimensional Ising model is
      obtained through the exact calculation of the surface excess free energy. In
      addition to a surface field for inducing wetting, a surface-coupling enhancement
      is also included. The wetting transition (of second order) is critical for any
      finite ratio of surface coupling J_{s} to bulk coupling J, and becomes of first
      order in the limit J_{s}/J->infinity. However, for J_{s}/J?1, the critical region
      is exponentially small and is practically invisible to numerical studies. A
      distinct preasymptotic regime exists in which the transition displays first-order
      character. In this regime, surprisingly, the surface susceptibility and surface
      specific heat develop a divergence and show anomalous scaling with an exponent
      equal to 3/2. 

PMID- 26871345
TI  - Chern Kondo Insulator in an Optical Lattice.
AB  - We propose to realize and observe Chern Kondo insulators in an optical
      superlattice with laser-assisted s and p orbital hybridization and a synthetic
      gauge field, which can be engineered based on the recent cold atom experiments.
      Considering a double-well square optical lattice, the localized s orbitals are
      decoupled from itinerant p bands and are driven into a Mott insulator due to the
      strong Hubbard interaction. Raman laser beams are then applied to induce
      tunnelings between s and p orbitals, and generate a staggered flux
      simultaneously. Because of the strong Hubbard interaction of s orbital states, we
      predict the existence of a critical Raman laser-assisted coupling, beyond which
      the Kondo screening is achieved, and then a fully gapped Chern Kondo phase
      emerges, with the topology characterized by integer Chern numbers. Being a
      strongly correlated topological state, the Chern Kondo phase is different from
      the single-particle quantum anomalous Hall state, and can be identified by
      measuring the band topology and double occupancy of s orbitals. The experimental
      realization and detection of the predicted Chern Kondo insulator are also
      proposed. 

PMID- 26871346
TI  - Kibble-Zurek Mechanism in Topologically Nontrivial Zigzag Chains of Polariton
      Micropillars.
AB  - We consider a zigzag chain of coupled micropillar cavities, taking into account
      the polarization of polariton states. We show that the TE-TM splitting of
      photonic cavity modes yields topologically protected polariton edge states.
      During the strongly nonadiabatic process of polariton condensation, the Kibble
      Zurek mechanism leads to a random choice of polarization, equivalent to the
      dimerization of polymer chains. We show that dark-bright solitons appear as
      domain walls between polarization domains, analogous to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger
      solitons in polymers. The soliton density scales as a power law with respect to
      the quenching parameter. 

PMID- 26871347
TI  - Kondo Breakdown and Quantum Oscillations in SmB_{6}.
AB  - Recent quantum oscillation experiments on SmB_{6} pose a paradox, for while the
      angular dependence of the oscillation frequencies suggest a 3D bulk Fermi
      surface, SmB_{6} remains robustly insulating to very high magnetic fields.
      Moreover, a sudden low temperature upturn in the amplitude of the oscillations
      raises the possibility of quantum criticality. Here we discuss recently proposed
      mechanisms for this effect, contrasting bulk and surface scenarios. We argue that
      topological surface states permit us to reconcile the various data with bulk
      transport and spectroscopy measurements, interpreting the low temperature upturn
      in the quantum oscillation amplitudes as a result of surface Kondo breakdown and
      the high frequency oscillations as large topologically protected orbits around
      the X point. We discuss various predictions that can be used to test this theory.

PMID- 26871323
TI  - Measurement of Azimuthal Asymmetries in Inclusive Charged Dipion Production in
      e^{+}e^{-} Annihilations at sqrt[s]=3.65  GeV.
AB  - We present a measurement of the azimuthal asymmetries of two charged pions in the
      inclusive process e^{+}e^{-}->pipiX, based on a data set of 62  pb^{-1} at the
      center-of-mass energy of 3.65 GeV collected with the BESIII detector. These
      asymmetries can be attributed to the Collins fragmentation function. We observe a
      nonzero asymmetry, which increases with increasing pion momentum. As our energy
      scale is close to that of the existing semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering
      experimental data, the measured asymmetries are important inputs for the global
      analysis of extracting the quark transversity distribution inside the nucleon and
      are valuable to explore the energy evolution of the spin-dependent fragmentation
      function. 

PMID- 26871349
TI  - Anomalous Coulomb Drag in Electron-Hole Bilayers due to the Formation of
      Excitons.
AB  - Several recent experiments have reported an anomalous temperature dependence of
      the Coulomb drag effect in electron-hole bilayers. Motivated by these puzzling
      data, we study theoretically a low-density electron-hole bilayer, where electrons
      and holes avoid quantum degeneracy by forming excitons. We describe the
      ionization-recombination crossover between the electron-hole plasma and exciton
      gas and calculate both the intralayer and drag resistivity as a function of
      temperature. The latter exhibits a minimum followed by a sharp upturn at low
      temperatures, in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations [see,
      e.g., J. A. Seamons et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 026804 (2009)]. Importantly,
      the drag resistivity in the proposed scenario is found to be rather insensitive
      to a mismatch in electron and hole concentrations, in sharp contrast to the
      scenario of electron-hole Cooper pairing. 

PMID- 26871348
TI  - Quantum Oscillation in Narrow-Gap Topological Insulators.
AB  - The canonical understanding of quantum oscillation in metals is challenged by the
      observation of the de Haas-van Alphen effect in an insulator, SmB_{6} [Tan et al,
      Science 349, 287 (2015)]. Based on a two-band model with inverted band structure,
      we show that the periodically narrowing hybridization gap in magnetic fields can
      induce the oscillation of low-energy density of states in the bulk, which is
      observable provided that the activation energy is small and comparable to the
      Landau level spacing. Its temperature dependence strongly deviates from the
      Lifshitz-Kosevich theory. The nontrivial band topology manifests itself as a
      nonzero Berry phase in the oscillation pattern, which crosses over to a trivial
      Berry phase by increasing the temperature or the magnetic field. Further
      predictions to experiments are also proposed. 

PMID- 26871350
TI  - Quantum Dephasing in a Gated GaAs Triple Quantum Dot due to Nonergodic Noise.
AB  - We extract the phase coherence of a qubit defined by singlet and triplet
      electronic states in a gated GaAs triple quantum dot, measuring on time scales
      much shorter than the decorrelation time of the environmental noise. In this
      nonergodic regime, we observe that the coherence is boosted and several dephasing
      times emerge, depending on how the phase stability is extracted. We elucidate
      their mutual relations, and demonstrate that they reflect the noise short-time
      dynamics. 

PMID- 26871351
TI  - Quantum Transport and Observation of Dyakonov-Perel Spin-Orbit Scattering in
      Monolayer MoS_{2}.
AB  - Monolayers of group 6 transition metal dichalcogenides are promising candidates
      for future spin-, valley-, and charge-based applications. Quantum transport in
      these materials reflects a complex interplay between real spin and pseudospin
      (valley) relaxation processes, which leads to either positive or negative quantum
      correction to the classical conductivity. Here we report experimental observation
      of a crossover from weak localization to weak antilocalization in highly n-doped
      monolayer MoS_{2}. We show that the crossover can be explained by a single
      parameter associated with electron spin lifetime of the system. At low
      temperatures and high carrier densities, the spin lifetime is inversely
      proportional to momentum relaxation time; this indicates that spin relaxation
      occurs via a Dyakonov-Perel mechanism. 

PMID- 26871352
TI  - Magnetostriction and Magnetostructural Domains in Antiferromagnetic YBa2Cu3O6.
AB  - We use high-resolution neutron Larmor diffraction and capacitative dilatometry to
      investigate spontaneous and forced magnetostriction in undoped, antiferromagnetic
      YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6.0}, the parent compound of a prominent family of high
      temperature superconductors. Upon cooling below the Neel temperature T_{N}=420 
      K, Larmor diffraction reveals the formation of magnetostructural domains of
      characteristic size ~240  nm. In the antiferromagnetic state, dilatometry reveals
      a minute (4*10^{-6}) orthorhombic distortion of the crystal lattice in external
      magnetic fields. We attribute these observations to exchange striction and spin
      orbit coupling induced magnetostriction, respectively, and show that they have an
      important influence on the thermal and charge transport properties of undoped and
      lightly doped cuprates. 

PMID- 26871353
TI  - Anisotropic Absorption of Pure Spin Currents.
AB  - Spin transfer in magnetic multilayers offers the possibility of ultrafast, low
      power device operation. We report a study of spin pumping in spin valves,
      demonstrating that a strong anisotropy of spin pumping from the source layer can
      be induced by an angular dependence of the total Gilbert damping parameter,
      alpha, in the spin sink layer. Using lab- and synchrotron-based ferromagnetic
      resonance, we show that an in-plane variation of damping in a crystalline
      Co_{50}Fe_{50} layer leads to an anisotropic alpha in a polycrystalline
      Ni_{81}Fe_{19} layer. This anisotropy is suppressed above the spin diffusion
      length in Cr, which is found to be 8 nm, and is independent of static exchange
      coupling in the spin valve. These results offer a valuable insight into the
      transmission and absorption of spin currents, and a mechanism by which enhanced
      spin torques and angular control may be realized for next-generation spintronic
      devices. 

PMID- 26871354
TI  - Complex Field-Induced States in Linarite PbCuSO4(OH)2 with a Variety of High
      Order Exotic Spin-Density Wave States.
AB  - Low-temperature neutron diffraction and NMR studies of field-induced phases in
      linarite are presented for magnetic fields H?b axis. A two-step spin-flop
      transition is observed, as well as a transition transforming a helical magnetic
      ground state into an unusual magnetic phase with sine-wave-modulated moments ?H.
      An effective J[over ~]_{1}-J[over ~]_{2} single-chain model with a magnetization
      dependent frustration ratio alpha_{eff}=-J[over ~]_{2}/J[over ~]_{1} is proposed.
      The latter is governed by skew interchain couplings and shifted to the vicinity
      of the ferromagnetic critical point. It explains qualitatively the observation of
      a rich variety of exotic longitudinal collinear spin-density wave, SDW_{p},
      states (9>=p>=2). 

PMID- 26871355
TI  - Spatial Evolution of the Ferromagnetic Phase Transition in an Exchange Graded
      Film.
AB  - A combination of experiments and numerical modeling was used to study the spatial
      evolution of the ferromagnetic phase transition in a thin film engineered to have
      a smooth gradient in exchange strength. Mean-field simulations predict, and
      experiments confirm, that a 100 nm Ni_{x}Cu_{1-x} alloy film with Ni
      concentration that varies by 9% as a function of depth behaves predominantly as
      if composed of a continuum of uncoupled ferromagnetic layers with continuously
      varying Curie temperatures. A mobile boundary separating ordered and disordered
      regions emerges as the temperature is increased. We demonstrate continuous
      control of the boundary position with temperature, and reversible control of the
      magnetization on both sides of the boundary with the magnetic field. 

PMID- 26871356
TI  - Parametric Harmonic Generation as a Probe of Unconstrained Spin Magnetization
      Precession in the Shallow Barrier Limit.
AB  - We study the parametric excitation of high orders of magnetization precession in
      ultrathin films having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We observe that for a
      given driving field amplitude the harmonic generation can be increased by
      lowering the barrier with the application of an in-plane magnetic field in the
      manner of the Smit-Beljers effect. In this effect, the magnetic stiffness is
      reduced not by lowering the magnitude of the magnetic field upon which the spins
      precess, but rather by effectively releasing the field's "anchoring" point. This
      results in a shallow energy barrier where the electrons' spin is locally
      unconstrained. While the observation is unveiled in the form of nonlinear high
      harmonic generation, we believe that the physics whereby the barrier is
      suppressed by an external magnetic field may apply to other phenomena associated
      with ultrathin films. In these cases, such unconstrained motion may serve as a
      sensitive probe of the torques associated with proximate spin currents. Moreover,
      our approach may be used as a model system for the study of phase transitions in
      the field of nonlinear dynamics. 

PMID- 26871357
TI  - Density Shock Waves in Confined Microswimmers.
AB  - Motile and driven particles confined in microfluidic channels exhibit interesting
      emergent behavior, from propagating density bands to density shock waves. A
      deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms responsible for these emergent
      structures is relevant to a number of physical and biomedical applications. Here,
      we study the formation of density shock waves in the context of an idealized
      model of microswimmers confined in a narrow channel and subject to a uniform
      external flow. Interestingly, these density shock waves exhibit a transition from
      "subsonic" with compression at the back to "supersonic" with compression at the
      front of the population as the intensity of the external flow increases. This
      behavior is the result of a nontrivial interplay between hydrodynamic
      interactions and geometric confinement, and it is confirmed by a novel
      quasilinear wave model that properly captures the dependence of the shock
      formation on the external flow. These findings can be used to guide the
      development of novel mechanisms for controlling the emergent density distribution
      and the average population speed, with potentially profound implications on
      various processes in industry and biotechnology, such as the transport and
      sorting of cells in flow channels. 

PMID- 26871358
TI  - Solvent Role in the Formation of Electric Double Layers with Surface Charge
      Regulation: A Bystander or a Key Participant?
AB  - The charge formation at interfaces involving electrolyte solutions is due to the
      chemical equilibrium between the surface reactive groups and the potential
      determining ions in the solution (i.e., charge regulation). In this Letter we
      report our findings that this equilibrium is strongly coupled to the precise
      molecular structure of the solution near the charged interface. The neutral
      solvent molecules dominate this structure due to their overwhelmingly large
      number. Treating the solvent as a structureless continuum leads to a
      fundamentally inadequate physical picture of charged interfaces. We show that a
      proper account of the solvent effect leads to an unexpected and complex system
      behavior that is affected by the molecular and ionic excluded volumes and van der
      Waals interactions. 

PMID- 26871359
TI  - Probing the Role of Mobility in the Collective Motion of Nonequilibrium Systems.
AB  - By systematically varying the mobility of self-propelled particles in a 2D
      lattice, we experimentally study the influence of particle mobility on system's
      collective motion. Our system is intrinsically nonequilibrium due to the lack of
      energy equipartition. By constructing the covariance matrix of spatial
      fluctuations and solving for its eigenmodes, we obtain the collective motions of
      the system with various magnitudes. Interestingly, our structurally ordered
      nonequilibrium system exhibits properties almost identical to disordered glassy
      systems under thermal equilibrium: the modes with large overall motions are
      spatially correlated and quasilocalized while the modes with small collective
      motions are highly localized, resembling the low- and high-frequency modes in
      glass. More surprisingly, a peak similar to the boson peak forms in our
      nonequilibrium system as the number of mobile particles increases, revealing the
      possible origin of the boson peak from a dynamic aspect. We further illustrate
      that the spatially correlated large-movement modes can be produced by the
      cooperation of highly active particles above a threshold fraction, while the
      localized small-movement modes can be created by adding individual inactive
      particles. Our study clarifies the role of mobility in collective motions, and
      further suggests a promising possibility of extending the powerful mode analysis
      approach to nonequilibrium systems. 

PMID- 26871360
TI  - Erratum: Vanishing Quantum Discord is Necessary and Sufficient for Completely
      Positive Maps [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 100402 (2009)].

PMID- 26871361
TI  - Erratum: Strong Monogamy Conjecture for Multiqubit Entanglement: The Four-Qubit
      Case [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 110501 (2014)].

PMID- 26871362
TI  - Erratum: Topological Jamming of Spontaneously Knotted Polyelectrolyte Chains
      Driven through a Nanopore [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 118301 (2012)].

PMID- 26871367
TI  - OX130 Monoclonal Antibody Recognizes Human SIRPbeta1 but Cross-Reacts on
      SIRPalpha from One Allele.
AB  - The SIRP family of myeloid-paired receptors are characterized by having both
      activating and inhibiting members with extracellular regions that are relatively
      similar. Making good reagents to these receptors is not straightforward,
      particularly as they are relatively polymorphic. We describe the production of a
      monoclonal antibody (MAb) called OX130 that recognizes both common alleles of the
      human activating SIRPbeta1 receptor but also cross-reacts with one of the common
      alleles of the inhibitory human SIRPalpha receptor. Thus one might get different
      outcomes when this MAb is used in assays from different individuals and shows the
      importance of characterizing SIRP MAb in this way.

PMID- 26871368
TI  - Fusion genes in malignant neoplastic disorders of haematopoietic system.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The new World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of
      haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue neoplasms incorporating the recurrent fusion
      genes as the defining criteria for different haematopoietic malignant phenotypes
      is reviewed. The recurrent fusion genes incorporated in the new WHO's
      classification and other chromosomal rearrangements of haematopoietic and
      lymphoid tissue neoplasms are reviewed. METHODOLOGY: Cytokines and transcription
      factors in haematopoiesis and leukaemic mechanisms are described. Genetic
      features and clinical implications due to the encoded chimeric neoproteins
      causing malignant haematopoietic disorders are reviewed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
      Multiple translocation partner genes are well known for leukaemia such as MYC,
      MLL, RARA, ALK, and RUNX1. With the advent of more sophisticated diagnostic tools
      and bioinformatics algorithms, an exponential growth in fusion genes discoveries
      is likely to increase. CONCLUSION: Demonstration of fusion genes and their
      specific translocation breakpoints in malignant haematological disorders are
      crucial for understanding the molecular pathogenesis and clinical phenotype of
      cancer, determining prognostic indexes and therapeutic responses, and monitoring
      residual disease and relapse status.

PMID- 26871369
TI  - Pharmacogenetics of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in American Indian and Caucasian
      Children Admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system metabolizes many
      psychiatric medications. We compare frequencies of alleles and phenotypes for
      CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 in American Indian (AI) and Caucasian youth treated
      at a psychiatric hospital in the Northwestern United States. METHODS: A
      retrospective chart review evaluated CYP450 pharmacogenetic (PGx) data from the
      Shodair Children's Hospital Clinical Genetic Laboratory between 2006 and 2014.
      CYP2D6 genotyping was performed using the xTAG(r) CYP2D6 Kit (Luminex, Austin,
      TX). CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genotyping was performed by laboratory-developed assays
      using allele-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and/or melt
      curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 123 AIs and 688 Caucasians met criteria for
      inclusion. The overall prevalence of CYP2D6 poor metabolizers was 8.3% (95%
      Confidence Interval [CI] 6.1%, 10.4%), 9.3% in Caucasians (95% CI 7.1%, 11.5%),
      and 2.4% in AIs (95% CI 0%, 5.2%). The overall prevalence of CYP2D6 ultrarapid
      metabolizers was 1.6% (95% CI 0.7%, 2.5%), 1.6% in the Caucasians (95% CI 0.7%,
      2.5%), and 1.6% in AIs (95% CI 0%, 3.9%). The overall prevalence of CYP2C9 poor
      metabolizers was 3% (95% CI 1.7%, 4.2%), 3.2% in Caucasians (95% CI 1.8%, 4.6%),
      and 1.8% in AIs (95% CI 0%, 4.2%). The overall prevalence of CYP2C19 poor
      metabolizers was 2.5% (95% CI 1.3%, 3.6%), 2.9% in Caucasians (95% CI 1.6%,
      4.2%), and 0% in AIs. The overall prevalence of CYP2C19 ultrarapid metabolizers
      was 1.5% (95% CI 0.6%, 2.4%), 1.6% in Caucasians (95% CI 0.6%, 2.6%), and 0.9% in
      AIs (95% CI 0%, 2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to identify
      differences in polymorphism frequencies of the CYP450 system in AIs and Caucasian
      youth admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Our findings warrant further study of
      these populations to determine if these differences are generalizable to the
      larger population of Caucasian and AI/Alaska Native youth in the Northwestern
      United States.

PMID- 26871370
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26871372
TI  - A specific nanomanufacturing challenge.
AB  - For a science to become a technology, a certain level of control has to have been
      established over the way items are fabricated for manufacture and use. Here we
      first consider the challenge of making and using a LEGO((r)) brick scaled down by
      a factor of 10(n) for n = 0-6 in each spatial dimension, i.e. from millimetres to
      nanometres. We consider both the manufacture and the subsequent properties of the
      nanobricks that pertain to their use in constructing and dismantling structures.
      As n increases, the ability to use fails first, to manufacture fails second and
      to fabricate fails last. Applied to the vast literature in nanoscience, this
      process emphasises the unmanufacturability of most nanoscale artefacts.

PMID- 26871373
TI  - Letter to the Editor: A paradigm shift toward MRI-guided and MRI-verified DBS
      surgery.

PMID- 26871371
TI  - Perceptions of pharmacogenetic research to guide tobacco cessation by patients,
      providers and leaders in a tribal healthcare setting.
AB  - AIM: Describe patients,' providers' and healthcare system leaders' perceptions of
      pharmacogenetic research to guide tobacco cessation treatment in an American
      Indian/Alaska Native primary care setting. MATERIALS & METHODS: This qualitative
      study used semistructured interviews with 20 American Indian/Alaska Native
      current or former tobacco users, 12 healthcare providers and nine healthcare
      system leaders. RESULTS: Participants supported pharmacogenetic research to guide
      tobacco cessation treatment provided that a community-based participatory
      research approach be employed, research closely coordinate with existing tobacco
      cessation services and access to pharmacogenetic test results be restricted to
      providers involved in tobacco cessation. CONCLUSION: Despite a history of
      mistrust toward genetic research in tribal communities, participants expressed
      willingness to support pharmacogenetic research to guide tobacco cessation
      treatment.

PMID- 26871374
TI  - Clinical outcomes of middle fossa craniotomy for superior semicircular canal
      dehiscence repair.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is a rare disorder
      characterized by the formation of a third opening in the inner ear between the
      superior semicircular canal and the middle cranial fossa. Aberrant communication
      through this opening causes a syndrome of hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus,
      disequilibrium, and autophony. This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of a
      single-institution series of patients with SSCD undergoing surgical repair by the
      same otolaryngologist and neurosurgeon. METHODS All patients who underwent SSCD
      repair at the University of California, Los Angeles, between March 2011 and
      November 2014 were included. All patients had their SSCD repaired via middle
      fossa craniotomy by the same otolaryngologist and neurosurgeon. Outcomes were
      analyzed with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A total of 18 patients with a mean age
      of 56.2 years (range 27-84 years) and an average follow-up of 5.0 months (range
      0.2-21.8 months) underwent 21 cases of SSCD repair. Following treatment, all
      patients (100%) reported resolution in >= 1 symptom associated with SSCD.
      Autophony (p = 0.0005), tinnitus (p = 0.0059), and sound- and/or pressure-induced
      dizziness (p = 0.0437) showed significant symptomatic resolution. Following
      treatment, 29% (2/7) of patients developed imbalance, 20% (1/5) of patients
      developed sound- and/or pressure-induced dizziness, and 18% (2/11) of patients
      developed aural fullness. Among patients with improved symptoms following
      surgical repair, none reported recurrence of symptoms at subsequent follow-up
      visits. CONCLUSIONS SSCD remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition.
      Surgical repair of SSCD using a middle fossa craniotomy is associated with a high
      rate of symptom resolution. Continued investigation using a larger patient cohort
      and longer-term follow-up could further demonstrate the effectiveness of using
      middle fossa craniotomy for SSCD repair.

PMID- 26871375
TI  - Virtual and stereoscopic anatomy: when virtual reality meets medical education.
AB  - OBJECTIVE The authors sought to construct, implement, and evaluate an interactive
      and stereoscopic resource for teaching neuroanatomy, accessible from personal
      computers. METHODS Forty fresh brains (80 hemispheres) were dissected. Images of
      areas of interest were captured using a manual turntable and processed and stored
      in a 5337-image database. Pedagogic evaluation was performed in 84 graduate
      medical students, divided into 3 groups: 1 (conventional method), 2 (interactive
      nonstereoscopic), and 3 (interactive and stereoscopic). The method was evaluated
      through a written theory test and a lab practicum. RESULTS Groups 2 and 3 showed
      the highest mean scores in pedagogic evaluations and differed significantly from
      Group 1 (p < 0.05). Group 2 did not differ statistically from Group 3 (p > 0.05).
      Size effects, measured as differences in scores before and after lectures,
      indicate the effectiveness of the method. ANOVA results showed significant
      difference (p < 0.05) between groups, and the Tukey test showed statistical
      differences between Group 1 and the other 2 groups (p < 0.05). No statistical
      differences between Groups 2 and 3 were found in the practicum. However, there
      were significant differences when Groups 2 and 3 were compared with Group 1 (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that this method promoted further
      improvement in knowledge for students and fostered significantly higher learning
      when compared with traditional teaching resources.

PMID- 26871376
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Cadaveric CSF reconstitution model for neuroendoscopic
      intraventricular procedures.

PMID- 26871377
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Last call for clipping aneurysms?

PMID- 26871379
TI  - Benefits and Enjoyment of a Swimming Intervention for Youth With Cerebral Palsy:
      An RCT Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate enjoyment and specific benefits of a swimming
      intervention for youth with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Fourteen youth with CP
      (aged 7 to 17 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III)
      were randomly assigned to control and swimming groups. Walking ability, swimming
      skills, fatigue, and pain were assessed at baseline, after a 10-week swimming
      intervention (2/week, 40-50 minutes) or control period, after a 5-week follow-up
      and, for the intervention group, after a 20-week follow-up period. The level of
      enjoyment of each swim-session was assessed. RESULTS: Levels of enjoyment were
      high. Walking and swimming skills improved significantly more in the swimming
      than in the control group (P = .043; P = .002, respectively), whereas fatigue and
      pain did not increase. After 20 weeks, gains in walking and swimming skills were
      retained (P = .017; P = .016, respectively). CONCLUSION: We recommend a swimming
      program for youth with CP to complement a physical therapy program.

PMID- 26871380
TI  - Hope may not be the best component of an exercise regimen.

PMID- 26871378
TI  - Russell Meyers (1905-1999): pioneer of functional and ultrasonic neurosurgery.
AB  - Advances in functional neurosurgery, including neuromodulation and more recently
      ultrasonic ablation of basal ganglia structures, have improved the quality of
      life for patients with debilitating movement disorders. What is little known,
      however, is that both of these neurosurgical advances, which remain on the
      cutting edge, have their origin in the pioneering work of Russell Meyers, whose
      contributions are documented in this paper. Meyers' published work and
      professional correspondence are reviewed, in addition to documents held by the
      Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Iowa. Meyers was born in
      Brooklyn, New York, and received his neurosurgical training at hospitals in New
      York City under Jefferson Browder. In 1939, a chance encounter with a young woman
      with damaged bilateral ventral striata convinced Meyers that the caudate could be
      resected to treat Parkinsonism without disrupting consciousness. Shortly
      thereafter, he performed the first caudate resection for postencephalitic
      Parkinsonism. In 1946, Meyers became the first chairman of neurosurgery at the
      State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa), which led to the
      recruitment of 8 faculty members and the training of 18 residents during his
      tenure (1946-1963). Through collaboration with the Fry brothers at the University
      of Illinois, Meyers performed the first stereotactic ultrasonic ablations of deep
      brain structures to treat tremor, choreoathetosis, dystonia, intractable pain,
      and hypothalamic hamartoma. Meyers left academic neurosurgery in 1963 for reasons
      that are unclear, but he continued clinical neurosurgery work for several more
      years. Despite his early departure from academic medicine, Meyers' contributions
      to functional neurosurgery provided a lasting legacy that has improved the lives
      of many patients with movement disorders.

PMID- 26871381
TI  - Bulldog scalp.

PMID- 26871382
TI  - A 60-year-old man with forehead swelling.

PMID- 26871383
TI  - Can patients opt to turn off implantable cardioverter-defibrillators near the end
      of life?

PMID- 26871384
TI  - The ethics of ICDs: History and future directions.

PMID- 26871385
TI  - Veterans, guilt, and suicide risk: An opportunity to collaborate with chaplains?

PMID- 26871386
TI  - Many shades of guilt.

PMID- 26871387
TI  - A tale of two sisters with liver disease.

PMID- 26871388
TI  - Common neurologic emergencies for nonneurologists: When minutes count.
AB  - Neurologic emergencies arise frequently and, if not diagnosed and treated
      quickly, can have devastating results, with high rates of long-term disability
      and death. Prompt recognition is an important skill. This article provides
      detailed analyses of acute stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, status epilepticus,
      and other neurologic emergencies for physicians who are not neurologists. 

PMID- 26871389
TI  - The intersection of obstructive lung disease and sleep apnea.
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
      have synergistic detrimental effects. Their comorbid association leads to
      compromised gas exchange (hypoxia and hypercapnia) and higher rates of morbidity
      and death. As our understanding of the pathophysiologic processes of sleep
      evolves, the relationship between OSA and obstructive lung diseases such as COPD
      ("overlap syndrome") or asthma ("alternative overlap syndrome") has become more
      apparent. The pathophysiology of the combined conditions and optimal management
      are still being defined, but the effect on quality of life and morbidity
      underscore the importance of proper diagnosis and appropriately tailored
      management in these patients. 

PMID- 26871390
TI  - Prescribing exercise to help your patients lose weight.
AB  - Exercise, in conjunction with diet, is critical to losing weight and maintaining
      health in obese patients. While it can be challenging for an obese person to
      transition to a healthy lifestyle, the physical and emotional benefits of a
      regular exercise program make it worth the effort. 

PMID- 26871391
TI  - Patient information: Obesity and exercise.

PMID- 26871393
TI  - Venous hemodynamic improvement after endovenous radiofrequency ablation of
      saphenous varicose veins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been a viable treatment
      option for patients with saphenous varicose veins. The purpose of our study was
      to assess venous hemodynamic change before and after RFA by using air
      plethysmography (APG). METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the data of consecutive
      91 patients with 124 limbs who underwent RFA for primary varicose veins. Overall
      venous hemodynamics of the limb was assessed using APG. The Venous Filling Index
      (VFI) was determined as a measure of reflux (normal range, <2 mL). Duplex
      scanning were performed to evaluate saphenous vein occlusion, deep venous
      thrombus and endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT). RESULTS: The VFI were
      significantly reduced from 4.1+/-3.1 preoperatively to 1.4+/-1.0, 1.3+/-0.8 and
      1.4+/-1.2 at 1 week, 1 month and 4 month postoperatively, respectively. The
      percentage of the VFI >2 mL/s was 77% preoperatively, while it significantly
      decreased to 17%, 16%, and 18% at 1 week, 1 month, and 4 month postoperatively,
      respectively. Duplex scanning showed 100% of saphenous vein occlusion and no
      significant EHIT II-IV. CONCLUSIONS: Correction or significant improvement of
      venous reflux was achieved by RFA. Together with duplex scanning findings, RFA is
      a safe and hemodynamically effective treatment for varicose veins.

PMID- 26871392
TI  - Transcutaneous oxygen pressure as a surrogate index of lower limb amputation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A large number of clinical trials of therapeutic angiogenesis in
      patients with critical limb ischemia have been conducted in recent years.
      However, limb amputation, which is used as a primary endpoint in such studies, is
      not often required in Japan, which can make it difficult to carry out related
      clinical trials. Transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) is widely used to
      evaluate the severity of limb ischemia, to decide the level of amputation, and to
      predict wound healing after limb amputation. The aim of the present study was to
      elucidate whether TcPO2 can be a surrogate index of limb ischemia, and to define
      an appropriate cutoff value for wound healing after limb amputation using meta
      analysis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A computer search was performed to identify
      studies describing the association between TcPO2 and limb ischemic events. From
      these, studies focused on wound healing after limb amputation were combined and
      analyzed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eleven studies were identified for inclusion in
      this analysis. The analysis demonstrated that TcPO2 20 mmHg was a valid cutoff
      value for limb amputation and TcPO2 30 mmHg would be an appropriate value for
      wound healing after limb amputation. CONCLUSIONS: TcPO2 of 20 and 30 mmHg were
      considered appropriate cutoff values for limb amputation and wound healing after
      amputation, respectively.

PMID- 26871394
TI  - Baroreflex sensitivity and carotid intima-media thickness in risk stratification
      of prehypertensives and hypertensives.
AB  - BACKGROUND? The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical significance of
      baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in risk
      stratification of hypertensives and subjects with high normal blood pressure
      (SHNBP). METHODS? A total of 20 patients (61+/-13 years of age, 10 female/10
      male) with essential, treated hypertension and 20 subjects (59+/-8 years of age,
      10 female/10 male) with high normal blood pressure were enrolled. The
      interrelationship between BRS expressed in ms/mmHg (BRS) and IMT of common
      carotid artery (CCA) in hypertensives and subjects with high normal blood
      pressure (SHNBP, prehypertensives) was evaluated. BRS was determined by the
      sequence and spectral method: a five-minute non-invasive beat-to-beat recording
      of blood pressure (BP) and R-R interval with use of Collin CBM-7000 monitor,
      controlled breathing at a frequency of 0.1 Hz. Duplex ultrasonographic
      examination of the carotid wall and IMT of both CCA and carotid bulb were
      performed in all patients. RESULTS? Essential hypertension was associated with
      decreased BRS (r =-0.53, P<0.001). We found out that there was no significant
      difference between BRS and IMT CCA values in mild treated hypertensives and those
      in SHNBP. This finding was independent of age-dependent decrease of BRS. SHNBP
      and hypertensives with critical value BRS<=5 ms/mmHg have significantly increased
      IMT CCA. CONCLUSIONS? Decreased BRS is an early sign of autonomic dysfunction
      even in prehypertensive period. SHNBP and hypertensives with BRS<=5ms/mmHg have
      significantly increased IMT CCA. The principal result of this study showed that
      BRS and carotid IMT in relatively low-risk hypertensives and SHNBP could identify
      subjects at higher cardiovascular risk.

PMID- 26871395
TI  - Histologic and sonographic features of holmium laser in the treatment of chronic
      venous disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A new holmium laser (HOL) has been introduced to the market. The
      device is able to reduce the great saphenous vein (GSV) caliber in a tumescence
      free procedure, favoring an effective sclerotherapy of large vessels. Aim of the
      present investigation is to provide the first in vivo data about the effect of
      HOL on GSV histology. METHODS: Six chronic venous disease (C2-5, Ep, As, Pr)
      patients (M:F ratio 1:1; age: 57+/-8, BMI 24+/-2 kg/m2) underwent HOL-assisted
      caliber reduction of the GSV, high-ligation and flush ligation of the incompetent
      tributaries. Three cm of proximal great saphenous vein not treated by laser and 3
      cm of a contiguous segment that was just previously treated by HOL were
      harvested. Histological assessments were performed. Patent GSV lumen caliber was
      assessed at the mid-thigh right before, and after the procedure. Periprocedural
      pain was graded by Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS: GSV samples after holmium
      laser therapy showed thickening of the vascular wall with a decreased, yet patent
      lumen. Immunostaining demonstrated intact endothelial lining in both the treated
      and not treated segments. Expansion of collagen fibers was observed in the laser
      treated segments. Collagen appeared more homogeneous than in controls, with an
      amorphous appearance. Laser treated veins showed a reduction in elastic fibers
      with greater fragmentation. Smooth muscle cells appeared swollen. The caliber of
      the mid-thigh great saphenous vein lumen decreased from 8.1+/-0.8 mm to 3.9+/-0.2
      mm (P<0.0001). The average periprocedural pain was 1+/-0.6. CONCLUSIONS: HOL
      significantly reduces the caliber of the GSV. The endothelial lining is spared,
      while the remaining wall is thickened by a hyalinization-like process.

PMID- 26871396
TI  - Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty
      and relevance of biomarkers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a collection of clinical conditions,
      including central obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia.
      The long-term inflammatory and metabolic dysfunction associated with MetS may
      contribute to osteoarthritic processes leading up to total joint arthroplasty
      (TJA). The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of metabolic
      biomarkers and the prevalence of MetS in patients undergoing TJA. METHODS: Under
      IRB approval, citrated plasma samples were collected from 41 patients undergoing
      total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) preoperatively and day 1
      postoperatively. Control group consisted of 25 healthy human plasma samples
      (female and male, 18-35 years old) purchased from George King Biomedical Inc.
      (Overland Park, KS, USA). Samples were profiled for c-peptide, ferritin, IL-6,
      insulin, resistin, TNF-alpha, IL-1a, leptin, and PAI-1 using metabolic biochips
      purchased from RANDOX Co. (Antrim, Northern Ireland). NCEP/ATP III guidelines
      were used to evaluate which patients met MetS criteria. RESULTS: Levels of IL-6,
      resistin, TNF-a, IL-1a, leptin, and PAI-1 were significantly elevated in patients
      undergoing TJA compared to normal. C-peptide and insulin were both decreased in
      TJA compared to normal. No significance was found when comparing TJA to normal
      for ferritin. TNFalpha was significantly lower in TJA+MetS compared to TJA-MetS,
      while other biomarkers showed no difference in TJA+/-MetS populations. Insulin &
      c-peptide both showed a significant decrease in TJA-MetS compared to normal, but
      levels in TJA+MetS patients were not significantly different from controls.
      Resistin showed significant increases in TJA+MetS vs. normal, but not in TJA-MetS
      vs. normal. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the differing metabolic profile seen in
      patients undergoing TJA suggest ongoing metabolic dysfunction. Insulin and c
      peptide patterns among the different test groups hint toward a complex and
      dysfunctional metabolic process involved, with leptin and underlying insulin
      resistance playing a role. Increased resistin in TJA+MetS, but not in TJA-MetS,
      compared to normal, suggests that while elevated resistin levels may be
      associated with the osteoarthritic process, levels are further attenuated by
      MetS, which is highly prevalent in this population. Increased TNFalpha in TJA
      MetS compared to TJA+MetS may be an artifact of differing sample populations or a
      true complication of the complex pathophysiology and medical regimen seen in
      patients with both OA and MetS. The lack of difference seen in the remaining
      biomarkers suggest that having MetS as a comorbidity does not contribute to the
      elevated levels seen in patients undergoing TJA.

PMID- 26871397
TI  - Human classical monocytes display unbalanced M1/M2 phenotype with increased
      atherosclerotic risk and presence of disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Specific monocyte and macrophage subsets have been implicated in
      atherosclerosis, with intermediate monocytes proportionally elevated in
      cardiovascular disease and M1 macrophages abundant in unstable atherosclerotic
      plaques. While several studies have shown altered proportions of these subsets in
      atherosclerosis, studies examining functional and phenotypic subset alterations
      remain scarce. METHODS: We used whole blood flow cytometry to investigate the
      expression of M1 (CD86) and M2 (CD163) markers on monocyte subsets of
      atherosclerotic patients and controls. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic patients had a
      more inflammatory monocyte profile than controls, indicated by increased
      intermediate subset proportions, a higher classical monocyte CD86/CD163 ratio,
      and elevated serum M1-related chemokines. A more inflammatory profile appeared to
      correlate with atherosclerotic risk, as in controls classical monocyte CD86/CD163
      ratio was negatively correlated with HDL and apolipoprotein A1, and positively
      correlated with interleukin-1beta. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that monocyte subsets
      show functional and phenotypic changes in cardiovascular disease and such changes
      are likely to contribute to atherosclerotic progression.

PMID- 26871398
TI  - On Inverse Association Between Helicobacter pylori Gastritis and Microscopic
      Colitis: The European Data.

PMID- 26871399
TI  - Branded name for ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and flawed science.

PMID- 26871401
TI  - What can we gain from increased placebo responses in U.S. clinical trials of
      neuropathic pain?

PMID- 26871400
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26871402
TI  - New therapeutic options for respiratory tract infections.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The progressive increase of respiratory tract infections
      caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has been associated with delays
      in the prescription of an adequate antibiotic treatment and increased mortality,
      representing a major concern in both community and hospital settings. When
      infections because of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are
      suspected, vancomycin still represents the first choice, although its efficacy
      has been recently questioned in favor of new drugs, reported to provide better
      clinical outcomes. Moreover, few therapeutic options are currently available for
      the treatment of severe infections caused by Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram
      negative pathogens, which are frequently resistant to all the available beta
      lactams, including carbapenems. We have reviewed the therapeutic options for the
      treatment of respiratory tract infections that have recently become available
      with promising implications for clinical practice, including ceftaroline,
      ceftrobiprole, tedizolid, telavancin, delafloxacin, eravacycline, and new beta
      lactams/beta-lactamase inhibitors. RECENT FINDINGS: A number of new
      antimicrobials with activity against MDROs have been recently approved for the
      treatment of respiratory tract infections, and other agents are under
      investigation. Recent developments, with a specific focus on the possible
      advantages of new drugs for the management of respiratory tract infections caused
      by MDROs in everyday clinical practice are discussed. SUMMARY: Newly approved and
      investigational drugs for the treatment of respiratory tract infections are
      expected to offer many advantages for the management of patients with suspected
      or confirmed infections caused by MDROs. Most promising features among new
      compounds include the broad spectrum of activity against both MRSA and MDR Gram
      negative bacteria, a limited risk of antimicrobial resistance, the availability
      of oral formulations, and a promising safety profile.

PMID- 26871403
TI  - Varicella zoster virus and giant cell arteritis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a serious disease and the most
      common cause of vasculitis in the elderly. Here, studies describing the recent
      discovery of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the temporal arteries of patients
      with GCA are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: GCA is characterized by severe
      headache/head pain and scalp tenderness. Many patients also have a history of
      vision loss, jaw claudication, polymyalgia rheumatica, fever, night sweats,
      weight loss, and fatigue. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive
      protein are usually elevated. Diagnosis is confirmed by temporal artery biopsy,
      which reveals vessel wall damage and inflammation, with multinucleated giant
      cells and/or epithelioid macrophages. Skip lesions are common. Importantly,
      temporal artery biopsies are pathologically negative in many clinically suspect
      cases. The present review highlights recent virological findings in temporal
      arteries from patients with pathologically verified GCA and in temporal arteries
      from patients who manifest clinical and laboratory features of GCA but whose
      temporal artery biopsies are pathologically negative for GCA. Virological
      analysis revealed that VZV is present in most GCA-positive and GCA-negative
      temporal artery biopsies, particularly in skip areas that correlate with adjacent
      GCA disease. SUMMARY: The presence of VZV in GCA-positive and GCA-negative
      temporal arteries reflects the possible role of VZV in triggering the
      immunopathology of GCA and indicates that both groups of patients should be
      treated with antivirals in addition to corticosteroids. Whether oral antiviral
      agents and steroids are as effective as intravenous acyclovir and steroids, and
      the dosage and duration of treatment, remain to be determined.

PMID- 26871404
TI  - Role of orexin-2 receptors in the nucleus accumbens in antinociception induced by
      carbachol stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in formalin test.
AB  - Orexins, which are mainly produced by orexin-expressing neurons in the lateral
      hypothalamus (LH), play an important role in pain modulation. Previously, it has
      been established that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is involved in the modulation
      of formalin-induced nociceptive responses, a model of tonic pain. In this study,
      the role of intra-accumbal orexin-2 receptors (OX2rs) in the mediation of
      formalin-induced pain was investigated. A volume of 0.5 MUl of 10, 20, and 40
      nmol/l solutions of TCS OX2 29, an OX2r antagonist, were unilaterally
      microinjected into the NAc 5 min before an intra-LH carbachol microinjection (0.5
      MUl of 250 nmol/l solution). After 5 min, animals received a subcutaneous
      injection of formalin 2.5% (50 MUl) into the hind paw. Pain-related behaviors
      were assessed at 5 min intervals during a 60-min test period. The findings showed
      that TCS OX2 29 administration dose dependently blocked carbachol-induced
      antinociception during both phases of formalin-induced pain. The antianalgesic
      effect of TCS OX2 29 was greater during the late phase compared with the early
      phase. These observations suggest that the NAc, as a part of a descending pain
      modulatory circuitry, partially mediates LH-induced analgesia in the formalin
      test through recruitment of OX2rs. This makes the orexinergic system a good
      potential therapeutic target in the control of persistent inflammatory pain.

PMID- 26871406
TI  - A dose-response study of separate and combined effects of the serotonin agonist 8
      OH-DPAT and the dopamine agonist quinpirole on locomotor sensitization, cross
      sensitization, and conditioned activity.
AB  - Chronic treatment with the dopamine D2/D3 agonist, quinpirole, or the serotonin
      1A agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), induces
      behavioral sensitization. It is not known whether both drugs produce
      sensitization through a shared mechanism. Here, we examine whether quinpirole and
      8-OH-DPAT show cross-sensitization and impact sensitization, as would be expected
      from shared mechanisms. Male rats (N=208) were assigned randomly to 16 groups
      formed by crossing four doses of quinpirole (0, 0.03125, 0.0625, or 0.125 mg/kg)
      with four doses of 8-OH-DPAT (0, 0.03125, 0.625, or 0.125 mg/kg). After a course
      of 10 drug treatments administered twice per week in locomotor activity chambers,
      all groups were challenged on separate tests with quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg), 8-OH
      DPAT (0.1 mg/kg), or saline, and locomotor activity was evaluated. Challenge
      tests with quinpirole and 8-OHDPAT showed no cross-sensitization between the
      drugs. Chronic quinpirole (0.125 mg/kg) administration induced a sensitized
      quinpirole response that was attenuated dose-dependently by chronic 8-OH-DPAT
      cotreatment. Cotreatment with quinpirole (0.0625 mg/kg) and 8-OH-DPAT (all doses)
      induced quinpirole sensitization. Chronic 8-OH-DPAT (0.125 mg/kg) induced a
      sensitized 8-OHDPAT response that was prevented by chronic cotreatment with the
      lowest but not the highest dose of quinpirole. Cotreatment with 8-OHDPAT (0.0625)
      and quinpirole (0.125 mg/kg) induced sensitization to 8-OH-DPAT. The saline
      challenge test showed elevated locomotor activity in chronic quinpirole (0.125
      mg/kg) and 8-OHDPAT (0.0625, 0.125 mg/kg) alone groups, and in seven of nine
      cotreated groups. The absence of cross-sensitization suggests separate mechanisms
      of sensitization to quinpirole and 8-OH-DPAT. Cotreatment effects suggest that
      induction of sensitization can be modulated by serotonin 1A and D2/D3 activity.

PMID- 26871405
TI  - Prior nicotine self-administration attenuates subsequent dopaminergic deficits of
      methamphetamine in rats: role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
AB  - Preclinical studies have demonstrated that oral nicotine exposure attenuates long
      term dopaminergic damage induced by toxins, including repeated, high doses of
      methamphetamine. It is suggested that alterations in nicotinic acetylcholine
      receptor (nAChR) expression, including alpha4beta2* and alpha6beta2* subtypes,
      likely contribute to this protection. The current study extended these findings
      by investigating whether nicotine self-administration in male, Sprague-Dawley
      rats (a) attenuates short-term dopaminergic damage induced by methamphetamine and
      (b) causes alterations in levels of alpha4beta2* and alpha6beta2* nAChR subtypes.
      The findings indicate that nicotine self-administration (0.032 mg/kg/infusion for
      14 days) per se did not alter alpha4beta2* and alpha6beta2* nAChR expression or
      dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and function. Interestingly, prior nicotine
      self-administration attenuated methamphetamine-induced decreases in DAT function
      when assessed 24 h, but not 1 h, after methamphetamine treatment (4*7.5
      mg/kg/injection). The ability of nicotine to attenuate the effects of
      methamphetamine on DAT function corresponded with increases in alpha4beta2*, but
      not alpha6beta2*, nAChR binding density. Understanding the role of nAChRs in
      methamphetamine-induced damage has the potential to elucidate mechanisms
      underlying the etiology of disorders involving dopaminergic dysfunction, as well
      as to highlight potential new therapeutic strategies for prevention or reduction
      of dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26871407
TI  - Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography for Liver Disease. A Critical Appraisal of the
      Many Actors on the Stage.
AB  - In the last 12 - 18 months nearly all ultrasound manufacturers have arrived to
      implement ultrasound shear wave elastography modality in their equipment for the
      assessment of chronic liver disease; the few remaining players are expected to
      follow in 2016.When all manufacturers rush to a new technology at the same time,
      it is evident that the clinical demand for this information is of utmost value.
      Around 1990, there was similar demand for color Doppler ultrasound; high demand
      for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was evident at the beginning of this
      century, and around 2010 demand increased for strain elastography. However, some
      issues regarding the new shear wave ultrasound technologies must be noted to
      avoid misuse of the resulting information for clinical decisions. As new articles
      are expected to appear in 2016 reporting the findings of the new technologies
      from various companies, we felt that the beginning of this year was the right
      time to present an appraisal of these issues. We likewise expect that in the
      meantime EFSUMB will release a new update of the existing guidelines 1 2.The
      first ultrasound elastography method became available 13 years ago in the form of
      transient elastography with Fibroscan((r)) 3. It was the first technique
      providing non-invasive quantitive information about the stiffness of the liver
      and hence regarding the amount of fibrosis in chronic liver disease 3. The
      innovation was enormous, since a non-invasive modality was finally available to
      provide findings otherwise achievable only by liver biopsy. In fact, prior to
      ultrasound elastography, a combination of conventional and Doppler ultrasound
      parameters were utilized to inform the physician about the presence of cirrhosis
      and portal hypertension 4. However, skilled operators were required,
      reproducibility and diagnostic accuracy were suboptimal, and it was not possible
      to differentiate the pre-cirrhotic stages of fibrosis. All these limitations were
      substantially improved by transient elastography, performed with Fibroscan((r)),
      a technology dedicated exclusively to liver elastography. Since then, more than
      1300 articles dealing with transient elastography have been listed in PubMed,
      some describing results with more than 10,000 patients 5. The technique has been
      tested in nearly all liver disease etiologies, with histology as the reference
      standard. Meta-analysis of data, available in many etiologies 6, showed good
      performance and reproducibility as well as some situations limiting reliability
      5. Thresholds for the different fibrosis stages (F0 to F4) have been provided by
      many large-scale studies utilizing histology as the reference standard 7.
      Transient elastography tracks the velocity of shear waves generated by the gentle
      hit of a piston on the skin, with the resulting compression wave traveling in the
      liver along its longitudinal axis. The measurement is made in a 4 cm long section
      of the liver, thus able to average slightly inhomogeneous fibrotic deposition.In
      2008 a new modality became available, Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI)
      quantification, and classified by EFSUMB 1 as point shear wave elastography
      (pSWE), since the speed of the shear wave (perpendicular to the longitudinal
      axis) is measured in a small region (a "point", few millimeters) at a freely
      choosen depth within 8 cm from the skin. This technology was the first to be
      implemented in a conventional ultrasound scanner by Siemens((r)) 8. Several
      articles have been published regarding this technology, most with the best
      reference standards 9, some including findings on more than 1000 hepatitis C
      patients 10 or reporting meta-analysis of data 11. Although the correlation
      between Siemens pSWE and transient elastography appeared high 12 13, the
      calculated thresholds for the different fibrosis stages and the stiffness ranges
      between the two techniques are not superimposable.Interestingly, pSWE appears to
      provide greater applicability than transient elastography for measuring both
      liver 13 and spleen stiffness, which is a new application of elastography 14, of
      interest for the prediction of the degree of portal hypertension 15 16.Nowadays
      other companies have started producing equipment with pSWE technology, but only
      very few articles have been published so far, for instance describing the use of
      Philips((r)) equipment, which was the second to provide pSWE. These articles show
      preliminary good results also in comparison with TE 17 18. Not enough evidence is
      currently available in the literature about the elastographic performance of the
      products most recently introduced to the market. Furthermore, with some products
      the shear wave velocities generated by a single ultrasound acoustic push pulse
      can be measured in a bidimensional area (a box in the range of 2 - 3 cm per side)
      rather than in a single small point, producing a so-called bidimensional 2D-SWE
      1. The stiffness is depicted in color within the area and refreshing of the
      measurement occurs every 1 - 2 seconds. Once the best image is acquired, the
      operator chooses a Region Of Interest (ROI) within the color box, where the mean
      stiffness is then calculated. 2D-SWE can be performed as a "one shot" technique
      or as a semi-"real-time" technique for a few seconds (at about 1 frame per
      second) in order to obtain a stable elastogram. With either technique, there
      should be no motion/breathing during image acquisition. A bidimensional averaged
      area should overcome the limitation of pSWE to inadvertently investigate small
      regions of greater or lesser stiffness than average. A shear wave quality
      indicator could be useful to provide real-time feedback and optimize placement of
      the sampling ROIs, a technology recently presented by Toshiba((r)), but which is
      still awaiting validation in the literature.Supersonic Imagine by Aixplorer((r))
      which works with a different modality of insonation and video analysis compared
      to the the previously-mentioned three techniques (i. e., transient elastography,
      pSWE and 2D-SWE), leading to a bidimensional assessment of liver stiffness in
      real time up to 5 Hz and in larger regions; thus this technique is also termed
      real-time 2 D SWE. It has been available on the market for a few years 19 20, and
      many articles have been published showing stiffness values quite similar to those
      of Fibroscan((r)) 21; likewise, defined thresholds based on histological findings
      have appeared in several articles 19 20 21.After this brief summary of the
      technological state of the art we would like to mention the following critical
      issues that we believe every user should note prior to providing liver stiffness
      reports. . The thresholds obtained from the "oldest" techniques for the various
      fibrosis stages based on hundreds of patients with histology as reference
      standard cannot be straightforwardly applied to the new ultrasound elastography
      techniques, even if based on the same principle (e. g. pSWE). In fact, the
      different manufacturers apply proprietary patented calculation modes, which might
      result in slightly to moderately different values. It should be kept in mind that
      the range for intermediate fibrosis stages (F1 to F3) is quite narrow, in the
      order of 2 - 3 kilopascal (over a total range spanning 2 to 75 kPa with
      Fibroscan), so that slightly different differences in outputs could shift the
      assessment of patients from one stage to another. Comparative studies using
      phantoms and healthy volunteers, as well as patients, are eagerly awaited. In
      fact, the equipment might not produce linear correlations of measurements at
      different degrees of severity of fibrosis. As a theoretical example, some
      equipment might well correlate in their values with an older technique, such as
      transient elastography, at low levels of liver fibrosis, but not as well in cases
      of more advanced fibrosis or vice versa. Consequentely, when elastography data
      are included in a report, the equipment utilized for the measurement should be
      clearly specified, and conclusions about the fibrosis stage should be withheld if
      an insufficient number of comparative studies with solid reference standards are
      available for that specific equipment.. . Future studies using histology as a
      reference might be biased in comparison to previous studies, since nowadays fewer
      patients with chronic hepatitis C or hepatitis B undergo biopsy. In fact, due to
      wide availability of effective drugs as well as the use of established
      elastography methods for patients with viral hepatitis, most cases submitted to
      biopsy today have uncertain etiology or inconsistent and inconclusive clinical
      data. Therefore, extrapolated thresholds from such inhomogeneous populations
      applied to more ordinary patients with viral hepatitis might become problematic
      in the future, although no better solution is currently anticipated. This
      situation might lead to the adoption of a standard validated elastographic method
      as reference, but this has to be agreed-upon at an international level.. .
      Ultrasound elastography embedded in conventional scanners usually allows the
      choice of where to place the ROI within the color stiffness box and whether to
      confirm or exclude each single measurement when determining the final value.
      Thus, the operator has a greater potential to influence the final findings than
      with Fibroscan(r), where these choices are not available. This has to be kept in
      mind to avoid the possibility that an operator could, even inadvertently, tend to
      confirm an assumption about that specific patient or to confirm the patient's
      expectations.. . Quality criteria for the new technologies following transient
      elastography are absent (depending on the manufacturer) or have not been
      satisfactorily defined, so that the information potentially inserted in a report
      cannot currently be judged for its reliability by the clinician.. (ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED)

PMID- 26871408
TI  - EFSUMB Guidelines on Interventional Ultrasound (INVUS), Part III - Abdominal
      Treatment Procedures (Short Version).
AB  - The third part of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine
      and Biology (EFSUMB) Guidelines on Interventional Ultrasound assesses the
      evidence for ultrasound-guided and assisted interventions in abdominal treatment
      procedures. Recommendations for clinical practice are presented covering
      indications, contraindications, safety and efficacy of the broad variety of these
      techniques. In particular, drainage of abscesses and fluid collections,
      interventional tumor ablation techniques, interventional treatment of symptomatic
      cysts and echinococcosis, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage,
      percutaneous gastrostomy, urinary bladder drainage, and nephrostomy are addressed
      (short version; a long version is published online). 

PMID- 26871409
TI  - EFSUMB statement on medical student education in ultrasound [short version].
AB  - The European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
      (EFSUMB) recommends that ultrasound should be used systematically as an easy
      accessible and instructive educational tool in the curriculum of modern medical
      schools. Medical students should acquire theoretical knowledge of the modality
      and hands-on training should be implemented and adhere to evidence-based
      principles. In this paper we summarise EFSUMB policy statements on medical
      student education in ultrasound. 

PMID- 26871410
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Shear Wave Elastography May Be Superior to Grayscale Median
      for the Identification of Carotid Plaque Vulnerability: A Comparison with
      Histology.

PMID- 26871411
TI  - Effects of molecule anchoring and dispersion on nanoscopic friction under
      electrochemical control.
AB  - The application of electric fields is a promising strategy for in situ control of
      friction. While there have recently been many experimental studies on friction
      under the influence of electric fields, theoretical understanding is very
      limited. Recently, we introduced a simple theoretical model for friction under
      electrochemical conditions that focused on the interaction of a force microscope
      tip with adsorbed molecules whose orientation was dependent on the applied
      electric field. Here we focus on the effects of anchoring of the molecules on
      friction. We show that anchoring affects the intensity and width of the peak in
      the friction that occurs near a reorientation transition of adsorbed molecules,
      and explain this by comparing the strength of molecule-molecule and molecule-tip
      interactions. We derive a dispersion relation for phonons in the layer of
      adsorbed molecules and demonstrate that it can be used to understand important
      features of the frictional response. 

PMID- 26871412
TI  - Disorder-derived, strong tunneling attenuation in bis-phosphonate monolayers.
AB  - Monolayers of alkyl bisphosphonic acids (bisPAs) of various carbon chain lengths
      (C4, C8, C10, C12) were grown on aluminum oxide (AlO(x)) surfaces from solution.
      The structural and electrical properties of these self-assembled monolayers
      (SAMs) were compared with those of alkyl monophosphonic acids (monoPAs). Through
      contact angle (CA) and Kelvin-probe (KP) measurements, ellipsometry, and infrared
      (IR) and x-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies, it was found that bisPAs form
      monolayers that are relatively disordered compared to their monoPA analogs.
      Current-voltage (J-V) measurements made with a hanging Hg drop top contact show
      tunneling to be the prevailing transport mechanism. However, while the monoPAs
      have an observed decay constant within the typical range for dense monolayers,
      beta(mono)  =  0.85  +/-  0.03 per carbon atom, a surprisingly high value,
      beta(bis) =  1.40  +/-  0.05 per carbon atom, was measured for the bisPAs. We
      attribute this to a strong contribution of 'through-space' tunneling, which
      derives from conformational disorder in the monolayer due to strong interactions
      of the distal phosphonic acid groups; they likely form a hydrogen-bonding network
      that largely determines the molecular layer structure. Since bisPA SAMs attenuate
      tunnel currents more effectively than do the corresponding monoPA SAMs, they may
      find future application as gate dielectric modification in organic thin film
      devices.

PMID- 26871413
TI  - Cross-linking multiwall carbon nanotubes using PFPA to build robust, flexible and
      highly aligned large-scale sheets and yarns.
AB  - Multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) structures, including unidirectionally aligned
      sheets and spun yarns, were fabricated by direct dry-spinning methods from
      spinnable CNT arrays. We improved the mechanical properties of the CNT
      structures. CNTs were tailored in sheets and yarns using perfluorophenyl azide
      (PFPA) as a binding agent. The azide group of PFPA bonds to graphene crystal
      surfaces under UV radiation exposed for 1 h. For the CNT sheet, Young's modulus
      increased from 1.6 to 32.9 GPa and tensile strength increased from 35.9 MPa to
      144.5 MPa. For the CNT yarns Young's modulus increased from 29.5 to 78.0 GPa and
      tensile strength increased from 639.1 to 675.6 MPa. With this treatment, the CNT
      sheets became more robust and more flexible materials. Since cross-linking of
      CNTs by PFPA is a simple and rapid process, it is suitable for fabrication of
      enhanced CNT materials. 

PMID- 26871414
TI  - Cytotoxic amounts of cisplatin induce either checkpoint adaptation or apoptosis
      in a concentration-dependent manner in cancer cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Checkpoint adaptation (entry into mitosis with damaged
      DNA) is a process that links arrest at the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint and cell
      death in cancer cells. It is not known, however, whether cells treated with the
      genotoxic agent, cisplatin, undergo checkpoint adaptation or if checkpoint
      adaptation is a major pathway leading to cell death or not. Therefore, we
      investigated the relationship between treatment with cisplatin and cytotoxicity
      in cancer cells. RESULTS: Treatment of HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma
      cells with cisplatin can induce cell death by one of two different mechanisms.
      Cells treated with a cytotoxic 30 MUM amount of cisplatin died after undergoing
      checkpoint adaptation. Before dying, however, almost all treated cells were
      positive for histone gammaH2AX staining and contained high levels of cyclin B1.
      Rounded cells appeared that were positive for phospho-Ser10 histone H3, with low
      levels of phospho-Tyr15 cyclin-dependent kinase 1, high levels of cyclin
      dependent kinase 1 activity, and checkpoint kinase 1 that was not phosphorylated
      on Ser345. These cells were in mitosis with damaged DNA. Strikingly, with 30 MUM
      cisplatin, 81% of cells had entered mitosis before dying. By contrast, after
      treatment with 100 MUM cisplatin, nearly all cells died but only 7% of cells had
      entered mitosis. Instead, these cells died by apoptosis; they were positive for
      annexin-V staining, contained cleaved caspase 3, cleaved caspase 9 and cleaved
      PARP and did not contain Mcl-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that cancer
      cells treated with cisplatin can undergo one of two modes of cell death depending
      upon concentration used. These findings suggest that checkpoint adaptation is
      likely a primary pathway in genotoxic cell death at pharmacological
      concentrations of cisplatin. SIGNIFICANCE: Checkpoint adaptation might be a
      common biochemical pathway taken by human cancer cells in response to
      pharmacologically relevant, cytotoxic amounts of damaged DNA.

PMID- 26871415
TI  - Enzymatic generation of peptides from potato proteins by selected proteases and
      characterization of their structural properties.
AB  - The use of low grade starting material for the generation of peptides with
      bioactivity properties is of interest. The proteins from the potato starch
      industry byproduct is a promising source, as several health benefits may be
      associated with their hydrolysates. The efficiency of selected proteases (Novo
      Pro-D, Alcalase, Flavourzyme, and Papain), exhibiting different substrate
      specificities and cleavage action modes, to hydrolyze potato protein isolate
      (patatin and protease inhibitors) was investigated. Novo Pro-D resulted in the
      lowest degree of hydrolysis, whereas Alcalase, Flavourzyme, and Papain exhibited
      a high catalytic efficiency for the hydrolysis of potato proteins. The degree of
      hydrolysis behaved in a concentration dependent manner. However, the end-product
      profile (peptides and free amino acids) was dependent not only on the protease
      specificity, its cleavage action mode (endo/exo) and the availability of the
      intermediate substrates but also on the contribution of the protease inhibitors
      to the reaction kinetics through their inhibitory effects. Indeed, the dependence
      of the exo-activity on the catalytic efficiency of the endo-action of protease
      was shown to be significant. Papain generated more unique peptide sequences with
      homology assessment matching several potato proteins when compared with
      Flavourzyme. This can be attributed to the high exo-peptidase activity of
      Flavourzyme resulting in the generation of shorter peptides which were difficult
      to match. Flavourzyme produced more peptides originated from patatin fraction,
      whereas Papain resulted in the release of more peptides corresponding to the
      protease inhibitor fractions. (c) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers
      Biotechnol. Prog., 32:420-429, 2016.

PMID- 26871416
TI  - Intranasal administration of midazolam in blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara araruana):
      evaluation of sedative effects.

PMID- 26871417
TI  - Treatment of Moderate to Severe Pediatric Psoriasis: A Retrospective Case Series.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psoriasis has an estimated prevalence of 0.5% to 2.0% in children.
      There is a paucity of data regarding the management and safety of treatments
      currently available for children with moderate to severe psoriasis. The aim of
      this study was to evaluate the treatment response and safety of systemic
      therapies used to manage moderate to severe pediatric psoriasis in a single
      referral center. Despite a small sample size, it was hypothesized that multiple
      therapeutics used for adult psoriasis would have a similar side-effect profile
      and positive disease response when used in a pediatric population. METHODS: A
      retrospective case series evaluated 51 children with moderate to severe psoriasis
      treated with systemic therapies for adverse event occurrence and for disease
      response using a 5-point Physician Global Assessment scale. RESULTS: Fifty-one
      patients, some of whom used multiple treatment options, produced 80 treatment
      data points. Adverse events were reported in 29 of these 80 treatments, with most
      being minor, subjective side effects. Overall, the most commonly reported side
      effect was fatigue, which was reported in 7.5% of treatments. Because of the
      small sample size, the data collected are limited and may not represent a
      comprehensive safety profile, nor do they allow comparison of efficacy between
      therapies. This case series found that biologic and immunomodulating therapies
      provide well-tolerated treatments with positive disease response for moderate to
      severe pediatric psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Although sample size and study design
      limit the data from this study, the study provides some guidance where little
      exists and helps to support the use of these treatments in this setting.

PMID- 26871419
TI  - Exploring the process of professional socialisation and development during
      pharmacy pre-registration training in England.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the process of professional socialisation in pharmacy
      trainees during pre-registration training. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal
      qualitative design was used. A purposive sample of 20 trainees from community and
      hospital pharmacy in North West England was recruited. A total of 79 semi
      structured interviews were conducted with trainees on three occasions during
      training and once four months after training. Data were analysed thematically
      using template analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Early on in training, non-pharmacists
      played a significant role in socialising trainees into the work setting;
      pharmacists played the stronger role towards the end. Pre-registration tutors
      were strong role models throughout training. Training experiences differed
      between settings, where services provided and patient mix varied. Hospital
      trainees learnt about specialist medicines on ward rotations. Community trainees
      developed knowledge of over-the-counter, and less complex, medicines. In
      hospital, trainees were exposed to a range of role models in comparison to
      community where this was generally limited to a small pharmacy team. Newly
      qualified pharmacists were challenged by having full responsibility and
      accountability. CONCLUSION: This study showed the experiences encountered by
      trainees that affect their professional socialisation. More standardisation
      across training sites may reduce the variation in experiences and professional
      socialisation and development. Formal training for pre-registration tutors and
      support staff that play a key role in supporting trainees could be considered.
      Support for newly qualified pharmacists may allay the challenging transition they
      face when entering practice.

PMID- 26871418
TI  - Listeria monocytogenes wall teichoic acid decoration in virulence and cell-to
      cell spread.
AB  - Wall teichoic acid (WTA) comprises a class of glycopolymers covalently attached
      to the peptidoglycan of gram positive bacteria. In Listeria monocytogenes,
      mutations that prevent addition of certain WTA decorating sugars are attenuating.
      However, the steps required for decoration and the pathogenic process interrupted
      are not well described. We systematically examined the requirement for WTA
      galactosylation in a mouse oral-virulent strain by first creating mutations in
      four genes whose products conferred resistance to a WTA-binding bacteriophage.
      WTA biochemical and structural studies indicated that galactosylated WTA was
      directly required for bacteriophage adsorption and that mutant WTA lacked
      appreciable galactose in all except one mutant - which retained a level ca. 7% of
      the parent. All mutants were profoundly attenuated in orally infected mice and
      were impaired in cell-to-cell spread in vitro. Confocal microscopy of cytosolic
      mutants revealed that all expressed ActA on their cell surface and formed actin
      tails with a frequency similar to the parent. However, the mutant tails were
      significantly shorter - suggesting a defect in actin based motility. Roles for
      the gene products in WTA galactosylation are proposed. Identification and
      interruption of WTA decoration pathways may provide a general strategy to
      discover non-antibiotic therapeutics for gram positive infections. (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26871421
TI  - Influence of gamma-Secretase Inhibitor 24-Diamino-5-Phenylthiazole DAPT on
      Platelet Activation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: DAPT (24-diamino-5-phenylthiazole) inhibits gamma-secretase,
      which cleaves the signaling molecule CD44, a negative regulator of platelet
      activation and apoptosis. CD44 is a co-receptor for macrophage migration
      inhibitory factor (MIF) an anti-apoptotic pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed and
      released from blood platelets. Whether DAPT influences platelet function,
      remained, however, elusive. Activators of platelets include collagen related
      peptide (CRP). The present study thus explored whether DAPT modifies the
      stimulating effect of CRP on platelet function. METHODS: Platelets isolated from
      wild-type mice were exposed for 30 minutes to DAPT (10 uM). Flow cytometry was
      employed to estimate Orai1 abundance with specific antibodies, cytosolic Ca(2+)
      activity ([Ca2+]i) from Fluo-3 fluorescence, platelet degranulation from P
      selectin abundance, integrin activation from alpha(IIb)beta3 integrin abundance,
      generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from DCFDA fluorescence,
      mitochondrial transmembrane potential from TMRE fluorescence, phospholipid
      scrambling of the cell membrane from annexin-V-binding, relative platelet volume
      from forward scatter and aggregation utilizing staining with CD9-APC and CD9-PE.
      RESULTS: Exposure of platelets to 2-5 ug/ml CRP was followed by significant
      increase of Orai1 abundance, [Ca2+]i, and P-selectin abundance, as well as by
      alpha(IIb)beta3 integrin activation, ROS generation, mitochondrial
      depolarization, enhanced annexin-V-binding, decreased cell volume, and
      aggregation. All CRP induced effects were significantly blunted in the presence
      of DAPT. CONCLUSIONS: The gamma-secretase inhibitor DAPT counteracts agonist
      induced platelet activation, apoptosis and aggregation.

PMID- 26871420
TI  - Assessment of the precision and reproducibility of ventricular volume, function,
      and mass measurements with ferumoxytol-enhanced 4D flow MRI.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the precision and interobserver agreement of ventricular
      volume, function, and mass quantification by 3D time-resolved (4D) flow MRI
      relative to cine steady-state free precession (SSFP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: With
      Institutional Research Board approval, informed consent, and HIPAA compliance, 22
      consecutive patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) (10 males, 6.4 +/- 4.8
      years) referred for 3T ferumoxytol-enhanced cardiac MRI were prospectively
      recruited. Complete ventricular coverage with standard 2D short-axis cine SSFP
      and whole chest coverage with axial 4D flow were obtained. Two blinded
      radiologists independently segmented images for left ventricular (LV) and right
      ventricular (RV) myocardium at end systole (ES) and end diastole (ED).
      Statistical analysis included linear regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA),
      Bland-Altman (BA) analysis, and intraclass correlation (ICC). RESULTS:
      Significant positive correlations were found between 4D flow and SSFP for
      ventricular volumes (r = 0.808-0.972, P < 0.001), ejection fraction (EF) (r =
      0.900-928, P < 0.001), and mass (r = 0.884-0.934, P < 0.001). BA relative limits
      of agreement for both ventricles were between -52% to 34% for volumes, -29% to
      27% for EF, and -41% to 48% for mass, with wider limits of agreement for the RV
      compared to the LV. There was no significant difference between techniques with
      respect to mean square difference of ED-ES mass for either LV (F = 2.05, P =
      0.159) or RV (F = 0.625, P = 0.434). Interobserver agreement was moderate to good
      with both 4D flow (ICC 0.523-0.993) and SSFP (ICC 0.619-0.982), with overlapping
      confidence intervals. CONCLUSION: Quantification of ventricular volume, function,
      and mass can be accomplished with 4D flow MRI with precision and interobserver
      agreement comparable to that of cine SSFP. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:383
      392.

PMID- 26871422
TI  - Three Cases of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma Detected in a Biopsy of Skin
      Lesions.
AB  - Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVL) is a rare subtype of extranodal
      malignant lymphoma. The proliferation of neoplastic B cells within small blood
      vessels causes eruptions and other symptoms in a variety of organs. The random
      skin biopsy is useful for diagnosing this condition in its early stages. In order
      to assess the diagnostic utility of this method, we examined 3 cases with the aim
      of comparing the occurrence of tumor cells in lesional and healthy-looking skin
      by performing a random skin biopsy of 32 separate sites. Our findings from the
      total of 32 biopsy specimens collected from the 3 cases indicated that 16 of the
      17 sites on the lesional skin and 1 of the 15 sites on the healthy-looking skin
      were positive for neoplastic cells. This finding suggested that IVL cells
      occurred more frequently in the lesional skin than in the healthy-looking skin. 

PMID- 26871423
TI  - Limitations of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in the Diagnosis of
      Heart Disease among Cancer Patients Who Present with Cardiac or Pulmonary
      Symptoms.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Recognizing heart disease is relevant to oncologists because cancer
      patients are at an increased risk of cardiac mortality due to shared risk factors
      and the adverse effects of cancer therapy. This study assessed the extent to
      which the measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)
      aids in the diagnosis of heart disease in addition to a history of coronary
      artery disease and the presence of atrial fibrillation (composite test). The NT-
      proBNP cutoff value was 100 pg/ml. METHODS: A series of 583 consecutive cancer
      patients (68.4 +/- 11.0 years) who were referred because of cardiac or pulmonary
      symptoms prospectively underwent a diagnostic work-up. Heart disease was
      diagnosed if at least one of the following conditions was present: (a) history of
      coronary artery disease, (b) atrial fibrillation, (c) impaired left ventricular
      systolic function, (d) significant valvular disease, (e) pulmonary hypertension,
      or (f) left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULTS: Except for (a), all 6 conditions
      were associated with NT-proBNP >100 pg/ml. The sensitivity/specificity values of
      the composite test were 0.92/0.50 for any heart disease. Several extracardiac
      covariates were associated with NT-proBNP >100 pg/ml, which contributed to the
      low test specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The low specificity of NT-proBNP limits its
      value for the diagnosis of heart disease in cancer patients.

PMID- 26871424
TI  - Morphometric Analysis of Predictors of Cervical Syrinx Formation in the Setting
      of Chiari I Malformation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: We performed a morphometric analysis of Chiari I malformations
      to look for predictors of cervical syrinx formation. METHODS: Eighteen patients
      with Chiari I malformation and associated cervical syrinx and 16 patients with
      Chiari I malformation without associated cervical syrinx were included in the
      study. Chiari I size was obtained from the radiology report; foramen magnum
      diameter, cerebellar volume, posterior fossa volume and intracranial volume were
      calculated using OsiriX software, and average measurements were compared between
      the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Patients with Chiari I with syrinx had an
      average tonsillar descent of 13.03 +/- 5.31 mm compared to 9.25 +/- 3.31 mm in
      the Chiari I without syrinx group (p < 0.05). Patients with Chiari I and syrinx
      also showed increased cerebellar crowding with a higher cerebellar volume to
      posterior fossa volume ratio; however, this difference was not significant (0.83
      vs. 0.81; p = 0.1872). No difference between groups was found in posterior fossa
      volume, intracranial volume and foramen magnum diameter. Therefore, only Chiari I
      size based on the extent of tonsillar herniation was found to be a determinant of
      cervical syrinx formation.

PMID- 26871425
TI  - Treatment of suicidal depression with ketamine in rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

PMID- 26871426
TI  - Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder: Differences from other acute and transient
      psychoses.

PMID- 26871427
TI  - Comparison of attitudes of the psychiatrists and nurses towards patients with
      mental illness in a Chinese psychiatric hospital: Implications for training.

PMID- 26871428
TI  - Selective and Stable Ethylbenzene Dehydrogenation to Styrene over Nanodiamonds
      under Oxygen-lean Conditions.
AB  - For the first time, significant improvement of the catalytic performance of
      nanodiamonds was achieved for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene
      under oxygen-lean conditions. We demonstrated that the combination of direct
      dehydrogenation and oxidative dehydrogenation indeed occurred on the nanodiamond
      surface throughout the reaction system. It was found that the active sp(2)-sp(3)
      hybridized nanostructure was well maintained after the long-term test and the
      active ketonic carbonyl groups could be generated in situ. A high reactivity with
      40% ethylbenzene conversion and 92% styrene selectivity was obtained over the
      nanodiamond catalyst under oxygen-lean conditions even after a 240 h test,
      demonstrating the potential of this procedure for application as a promising
      industrial process for the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation to styrene without steam
      protection.

PMID- 26871429
TI  - DNA, the central molecule of aging.
AB  - Understanding the molecular mechanism of aging could have enormous medical
      implications. Despite a century of research, however, there is no universally
      accepted theory regarding the molecular basis of aging. On the other hand, there
      is plentiful evidence suggesting that DNA constitutes the central molecule in
      this process. Here, we review the roles of chromatin structure, DNA damage, and
      shortening of telomeres in aging and propose a hypothesis for how their interplay
      leads to aging phenotypes. 

PMID- 26871430
TI  - Genetic variants in multisynthetase complex genes are associated with DNA damage
      levels in Chinese populations.
AB  - Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) and ARS-interacting multi-functional proteins
      (AIMPs) form a multisynthetase complex (MSC) and play an important role in the
      process of DNA damage repair. We hypothesized that genetic variants in key ARSs
      and AIMPs might regulate the DNA damage response. Therefore, we systematically
      screened 23 potentially functional polymorphisms in MSC genes and evaluated the
      association between the genetic variants and DNA damage levels in 307 subjects
      from three cities in southern, central and northern China (Zhuhai, Wuhan and
      Tianjin, respectively). We examined personal 24-h PM2.5 exposure levels and DNA
      damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes for each subject. We found that the
      variant allele of rs12199241 in AIMP3 was significantly associated with DNA
      damage levels (beta=0.343, 95%CI: 0.133-0.554, P=0.001). Meanwhile, the results
      of rs5030754 in EPRS and rs3784929 in KARS indicated their suggestive roles in
      DNA damage processes (beta=0.331, 95%CI: 0.062-0.599, P=0.016 for rs5030754;
      beta=0.192, 95%CI: 0.016-0.368, P=0.033 for rs3784929, respectively). After
      multiple testing, rs12199241 was still significantly associated with DNA damage
      levels. Combined analysis of these three polymorphisms showed a significant
      allele-dosage association between the number of risk alleles and higher DNA
      damage levels (Ptrend<0.001). These findings indicate that genetic variants in
      MSC genes may account for PM2.5-modulated DNA damage levels in Chinese
      populations. 

PMID- 26871432
TI  - Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Three Rapid Tests for the Serodiagnosis
      of Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis in Humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is based primarily on
      imaging, in particular with ultrasound for abdominal CE, complemented by serology
      when imaging results are unclear. In rural endemic areas, where expertise in
      ultrasound may be scant and conventional serology techniques are unavailable due
      to lack of laboratory equipment, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are appealing.
      METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 3
      commercial RDTs for the diagnosis of hepatic CE. Sera from 59 patients with
      single hepatic CE cysts in well-defined ultrasound stages (gold standard) and 25
      patients with non-parasitic cysts were analyzed by RDTs VIRapid HYDATIDOSIS
      (Vircell, Spain), Echinococcus DIGFA (Unibiotest, China), ADAMU-CE (ICST, Japan),
      and by RIDASCREEN Echinococcus IgG ELISA (R-Biopharm, Germany). Sensitivity,
      specificity and ROC curves were compared with McNemar and t-test. For VIRapid and
      DIGFA, correlation between semiquantitative results and ELISA OD values were
      evaluated by Spearman's coefficient. Reproducibility was assessed on 16 randomly
      selected sera with Cohen's Kappa coefficient. Sensitivity and Specificity of
      VIRapid (74%, 96%) and ADAMU-CE (57%, 100%) did not differ from ELISA (69%, 96%)
      while DIGFA (72%, 72%) did (p = 0.045). ADAMU-CE was significantly less sensitive
      in the diagnosis of active cysts (p = 0.019) while DIGFA was significantly less
      specific (p = 0.014) compared to ELISA. All tests were poorly sensitive in
      diagnosing inactive cysts (33.3% ELISA and ADAMU-CE, 42.8% DIGFA, 47.6% VIRapid).
      The reproducibility of all RDTs was good-very good. Band intensity of VIRapid and
      DIGFA correlated with ELISA OD values (r = 0.76 and r = 0.79 respectively,
      p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: RDTs may be useful in resource-poor settings
      to complement ultrasound diagnosis of CE in uncertain cases. VIRapid test appears
      to perform best among the examined kits, but all tests are poorly sensitive in
      the presence of inactive cysts, which may pose problems with accurate diagnosis.

PMID- 26871431
TI  - Expression of Ferritin Light Chain (FTL) Is Elevated in Glioblastoma, and FTL
      Silencing Inhibits Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation via the GADD45/JNK Pathway.
AB  - Accumulating evidence suggests that iron-associated proteins contribute to tumor
      initiation and development. Ferritin light chain (FTL), a key protein in iron
      metabolism, is associated with the survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)
      patients; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain
      largely unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the role of FTL
      in the pathogenesis of GBM. By using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we found that
      expression of FTL was higher in patients with GBM than in those with low-grade
      glioma. Immunofluorescence showed that FTL was mainly localized in the nucleus of
      GBM cells and was closely associated with mitotic spindles. Knockdown of FTL
      resulted in inhibition of cell growth and activation of the GADD45A/JNK pathway
      in GBM cells. Immunoblotting revealed that levels of GADD45A protein decreased in
      GBM cells when FTL expression increased. Furthermore, transfection of GADD45A in
      GBM cells significantly decreased cell viability, and this effect was impeded by
      co-transfection of FTL. Moreover, FTL was found to localize with GADD45A in GBM
      cells, and a coimmunoprecipitation experiment showed that the two proteins
      physically interacted. Taken together, these results demonstrate a novel
      mechanism by which FTL regulates the growth of GBM cells via the GADD45/JNK
      pathway. 

PMID- 26871435
TI  - Experimental Study of the Bending Properties and Deformation Analysis of Web
      Reinforced Composite Sandwich Floor Slabs with Four Simply Supported Edges.
AB  - Web-reinforced composite sandwich panels exhibit good mechanical properties in
      one-way bending, but few studies have investigated their flexural behavior and
      deformation calculation methods under conditions of four simply supported edges.
      This paper studies the bending performance of and deformation calculation methods
      for two-way web-reinforced composite sandwich panels with different web spacing
      and heights. Polyurethane foam, two-way orthogonal glass-fiber woven cloth and
      unsaturated resin were used as raw materials in this study. Vacuum infusion
      molding was used to prepare an ordinary composite sandwich panel and 5 web
      reinforced composite sandwich panels with different spacing and web heights. The
      panels were subjected to two-way panel bending tests with simple support for all
      four edges. The mechanical properties of these sandwich panels during the elastic
      stage were determined by applying uniformly distributed loads. The non-linear
      mechanical characteristics and failure modes were obtained under centrally
      concentrated loading. Finally, simulations of the sandwich panels, which used the
      mechanical model established herein, were used to deduce the formulae for the
      deflection deformation for this type of sandwich panel. The experimental results
      show that webs can significantly improve the limit bearing capacity and flexural
      rigidity of sandwich panels, with smaller web spacing producing a stronger
      effect. When the web spacing is 75 mm, the limit bearing capacity is 4.63 times
      that of an ordinary sandwich panel. The deduced deflection calculation formulae
      provide values that agree well with the measurements (maximum error <15%). The
      results that are obtained herein can provide a foundation for the structural
      design of this type of panel. 

PMID- 26871434
TI  - Maternal Snoring May Predict Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Cohort Study in China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of snoring during pregnancy and its effects
      on key pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Pregnant women were consecutively recruited
      in their first trimester. Habitual snoring was screened by using a questionnaire
      in the 1st and 3rd trimester, respectively. According to the time of snoring,
      participants were divided into pregnancy onset snorers, chronic snorers and non
      snorers. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the associations between
      snoring and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Of 3 079 pregnant women, 16.6% were
      habitual snorers, with 11.7% were pregnancy onset snorers and 4.9% were chronic
      snorers. After adjusting for potential confounders, chronic snorers were
      independently associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (RR 1.66, 95%CI
      1.09-2.53). Both pregnancy onset and chronic snorers were independently
      associated with placental adhesion (RR 1.96, 95%CI 1.17-3.27, and RR 2.33, 95%CI
      1.22-4.46, respectively). Pregnancy onset snorers were at higher risk of
      caesarean delivery (RR 1.37, 95%CI 1.09-1.73) and having macrosomia (RR 1.54,
      95%CI 1.05-2.27) and large for gestational age (LGA) (RR 1.71, 95%CI 1.31-2.24)
      infants. In addition, being overweight or obese before pregnancy plays an
      important role in mediating snoring and adverse pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:
      Maternal snoring may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and being
      overweight or obese before pregnancy with snoring is remarkable for researchers.
      Further studies are still needed to confirm our results.

PMID- 26871436
TI  - The Synthesis of a Coumarin Carbohydrazide Dinuclear Copper Complex Based
      Fluorescence Probe and Its Detection of Thiols.
AB  - Small-molecule thiols, such as cysteine (CYS) and glutathione (GSH), are
      essential for maintaining the cellular redox environment and play important roles
      in regulating various cellular physiological functions. A fluorescence probe
      (compound 1-Cu2+) for thiols based on coumarin carbohydrazide dinuclear copper
      complex was developed. Compound 1 was synthesized from the reaction of 7
      (diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide with 4-tert-butyl-2,6-
      diformylphenol. Accordingly, the copper complex (compound 1-Cu2+) was prepared by
      mixing compound 1 with 2 equivalents copper ions. Compound 1 had strong
      fluorescence while compound 1-Cu2+ hardly possessed fluorescence owing to the
      quenching nature of paramagnetism Cu2+ to the fluorescence molecule excited
      state. However, the fluorescence intensity of compound 1-Cu2+ was increased
      dramatically after the addition of thiol-containing amino acids, but not the
      other non-sulfhydryl amino acids. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra
      indicated that compound 1-Cu2+ had good selectivity and sensitivity for thiols
      such as glutathione in CH3CN:H2O (3:2, v/v) PBS solution. The fluorescence
      imaging experiments implied that compound 1-Cu2+ has potential application in
      thiol-containing amino acids detection in living cells. 

PMID- 26871437
TI  - Progression of Neuronal Damage in an In Vitro Model of the Ischemic Penumbra.
AB  - Improvement of neuronal recovery in the ischemic penumbra around a brain infarct
      has a large potential to advance clinical recovery of patients with acute
      ischemic stroke. However, pathophysiological mechanisms leading to either
      recovery or secondary damage in the penumbra are not completely understood. We
      studied neuronal dynamics in a model system of the penumbra consisting of
      networks of cultured cortical neurons exposed to controlled levels and durations
      of hypoxia. Short periods of hypoxia (pO2~20mmHg) reduced spontaneous activity,
      due to impeded synaptic function. After ~6 hours, activity and connectivity
      partially recovered, even during continuing hypoxia. If the oxygen supply was
      restored within 12 hours, changes in network connectivity were completely
      reversible. For longer periods of hypoxia (12-30 h), activity levels initially
      increased, but eventually decreased and connectivity changes became partially
      irreversible. After ~30 hours, all functional connections disappeared and no
      activity remained. Since this complete silence seemed unrelated to hypoxic
      depths, but always followed an extended period of low activity, we speculate that
      irreversible damage (at least partly) results from insufficient neuronal
      activation. This opens avenues for therapies to improve recovery by neuronal
      activation. 

PMID- 26871439
TI  - Omnivory of an Insular Lizard: Sources of Variation in the Diet of Podarcis
      lilfordi (Squamata, Lacertidae).
AB  - Through 17 years and from a sample of 7,790 faecal pellets and 26,346 prey items,
      we studied the diet of the Balearic lizard Podarcis lilfordi in Aire Island
      (Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain). We analysed the diet in terms of prey
      frequencies, as well as by their volume and biomass contributions. The diet of
      the Balearic lizard was extremely variable through the years, months and areas
      under study. The dominance of small clumped prey, particularly ants, was
      confirmed. However, the main contribution by volume corresponded to beetles, with
      a relevant role for Diplopoda and terrestrial Isopoda during some months and at
      particular areas of the island. Several prey items were probably captured at the
      base of shrubs, under stones or inside rock crevices. Therefore, our estimations
      of electivity would only be reliable for epigeal and flying prey. The capacity of
      the Balearic lizard to include marine subsidies in its diet, such as coastal
      crustaceans, is noteworthy. Also, its consumption of carrion from carcasses of
      gulls and rabbits and leftovers from human visitors is remarkable. Juvenile
      conspecifics can also be a sporadic food resource, especially during the second
      half of summer, whereas the consumption of vegetal matter is constant for each
      whole year. The shifts of vegetal exploitation among areas of the island and
      months take place according to availability of different plant species at each
      area or during a given period. Thus, lizards are able to conduct a thorough
      monitoring of plant phenology, exploiting a large variety of plant species.
      Omnivory does not imply the indiscriminate inclusion of any edible food in its
      diet. Rather, the inclusion of several food items means the adoption of a wide
      range of foraging behaviours adapted to the exploitation of each food resource. 

PMID- 26871438
TI  - MW151 Inhibited IL-1beta Levels after Traumatic Brain Injury with No Effect on
      Microglia Physiological Responses.
AB  - A prevailing neuroinflammation hypothesis is that increased production of
      proinflammatory cytokines contributes to progressive neuropathology, secondary to
      the primary damage caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In support of the
      hypothesis, post-injury interventions that inhibit the proinflammatory cytokine
      surge can attenuate the progressive pathology. However, other post-injury
      neuroinflammatory responses are key to endogenous recovery responses. Therefore,
      it is critical that pharmacological attenuation of detrimental or dysregulated
      neuroinflammatory processes avoid pan-suppression of inflammation. MW151 is a CNS
      penetrant, small molecule experimental therapeutic that restores injury- or
      disease-induced overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines towards homeostasis
      without immunosuppression. Post-injury administration of MW151 in a closed head
      injury model of mild TBI suppressed acute cytokine up-regulation and downstream
      cognitive impairment. Here, we report results from a diffuse brain injury model
      in mice using midline fluid percussion. Low dose (0.5-5.0 mg/kg) administration
      of MW151 suppresses interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) levels in the cortex while
      sparing reactive microglia and astrocyte responses. To probe molecular
      mechanisms, we used live cell imaging of the BV-2 microglia cell line to
      demonstrate that MW151 does not affect proliferation, migration, or phagocytosis
      of the cells. Our results provide insight into the roles of glial responses to
      brain injury and indicate the feasibility of using appropriate dosing for
      selective therapeutic modulation of injurious IL-1beta increases while sparing
      other glial responses to injury. 

PMID- 26871440
TI  - Networking in the Plant Microbiome.
AB  - Almost all higher organisms, including plants, insects, and mammals, are
      colonized by complex microbial communities and harbor a microbiome. Emerging
      studies with plants reveal that these microbiomes are structured and form
      complex, interconnected microbial networks. Within these networks, different taxa
      have different roles, and keystone species have been identified that could be
      crucial for plant health and ecosystem functioning. A new paper in this issue of
      PLOS Biology by Agler et al. highlights the presence of microbial hubs in these
      networks that may act as mediators between the plant and its microbiome. A next
      major frontier is now to link microbiome composition to function. In order to do
      this, we present a number of hypothetical examples of how microbiome diversity
      and function potentially influence host performance. 

PMID- 26871441
TI  - Identification of Cell Cycle Dependent Interaction Partners of the Septins by
      Quantitative Mass Spectrometry.
AB  - The septins are a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins that, in the baker's
      yeast, assemble into a highly ordered array of filaments at the mother bud neck.
      These filaments undergo significant structural rearrangements during the cell
      cycle. We aimed at identifying key components that are involved in or regulate
      the transitions of the septins. By combining cell synchronization and
      quantitative affinity-purification mass-spectrometry, we performed a screen for
      specific interaction partners of the septins at three distinct stages of the cell
      cycle. A total of 83 interaction partners of the septins were assigned.
      Surprisingly, we detected DNA-interacting/nuclear proteins and proteins involved
      in ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis predominantly present in alpha
      factor arrested that do not display an assembled septin structure. Furthermore,
      two distinct sets of regulatory proteins that are specific for cells at S-phase
      with a stable septin collar or at mitosis with split septin rings were
      identified. Complementary methods like SPLIFF and immunoprecipitation allowed us
      to more exactly define the spatial and temporal characteristics of selected hits
      of the AP-MS screen. 

PMID- 26871442
TI  - Hepatitis C Virus Resistance to Carbohydrate-Binding Agents.
AB  - Carbohydrate binding agents (CBAs), including natural lectins, are more and more
      considered as broad-spectrum antivirals. These molecules are able to directly
      inhibit many viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C
      Virus (HCV), Dengue Virus, Ebola Virus or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
      Coronavirus through binding to envelope protein N-glycans. In the case of HIV, it
      has been shown that CBAs select for mutant viruses with N-glycosylation site
      deletions which are more sensitive to neutralizing antibodies. In this study we
      aimed at evaluating the HCV resistance to CBAs in vitro. HCV was cultivated in
      the presence of increasing Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), Cyanovirin-N,
      Concanavalin-A or Griffithsin concentrations, during more than eight weeks. At
      the end of lectin exposure, the genome of the isolated strains was sequenced and
      several potential resistance mutations in the E1E2 envelope glycoproteins were
      identified. The effect of these mutations on viral fitness as well as on
      sensitivity to inhibition by lectins, soluble CD81 or the 3/11 neutralizing
      antibody was assessed. Surprisingly, none of these mutations, alone or in
      combination, conferred resistance to CBAs. In contrast, we observed that some
      mutants were more sensitive to 3/11 or CD81-LEL inhibition. Additionally, several
      mutations were identified in the Core and the non-structural proteins. Thus, our
      results suggest that in contrast to HIV, HCV resistance to CBAs is not directly
      conferred by mutations in the envelope protein genes but could occur through an
      indirect mechanism involving mutations in other viral proteins. Further
      investigations are needed to completely elucidate the underlying mechanisms. 

PMID- 26871444
TI  - Correction: Classifiers for Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation: A Comparison
      Study.

PMID- 26871445
TI  - Correction: Spatial Variation of Phosphorous Retention Capacity in Subsurface
      Flow Constructed Wetlands: Effect of Wetland Type and Inflow Loading.

PMID- 26871443
TI  - Inverse Association of Plasma IgG Antibody to Aggregatibacter
      actinomycetemcomitans and High C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients with
      Metabolic Syndrome and Periodontitis.
AB  - The association between clinically diagnosed periodontitis, a common chronic oral
      infection, and metabolic syndrome has been previously reported. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the association of plasma IgG levels against
      Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella
      intermedia, C-reactive protein, and periodontal status with metabolic syndrome.
      Plasma IgG levels and C-reactive protein were measured by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay, and salivary levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P.
      gingivalis were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
      Among 127 individuals aged 35-76 years, 57 participants had metabolic syndrome
      and severe periodontitis, 25 had metabolic syndrome and an absence of severe
      periodontitis, 17 healthy individuals had severe periodontitis, and 28 healthy
      individuals were without severe periodontitis. Patients with metabolic syndrome
      had reduced humoral immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.008),
      regardless of their salivary levels or periodontitis status compared with healthy
      participants. The IgG antibody response to P. gingivalis, regardless of their
      salivary levels or participants' health condition, was significantly higher in
      severe periodontitis patients (p<0.001). Plasma IgG titers for P. intermedia were
      inconsistent among metabolic syndrome or periodontal participants. Our results
      indicate that the presence of lower levels of IgG antibodies to A.
      actinomycetemcomitans (OR = 0.1; 95%CI 0.0-0.7), but not P. gingivalis, a severe
      periodontitis status (OR = 7.8; 95%CI 1.1-57.0), high C-reactive protein levels
      (OR = 9.4; 95%CI 1.0-88.2) and body mass index (OR = 3.0; 95%CI 1.7-5.2), are
      associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome. The role of the decreased IgG
      antibody response to A. actinomycetemcomitans, increased C-reactive protein
      levels on the association between periodontal disease and metabolic syndrome in a
      group of Thai patients is suggested. 

PMID- 26871446
TI  - Spaceborne SAR Imaging Algorithm for Coherence Optimized.
AB  - This paper proposes SAR imaging algorithm with largest coherence based on the
      existing SAR imaging algorithm. The basic idea of SAR imaging algorithm in
      imaging processing is that output signal can have maximum signal-to-noise ratio
      (SNR) by using the optimal imaging parameters. Traditional imaging algorithm can
      acquire the best focusing effect, but would bring the decoherence phenomenon in
      subsequent interference process. Algorithm proposed in this paper is that SAR
      echo adopts consistent imaging parameters in focusing processing. Although the
      SNR of the output signal is reduced slightly, their coherence is ensured greatly,
      and finally the interferogram with high quality is obtained. In this paper, two
      scenes of Envisat ASAR data in Zhangbei are employed to conduct experiment for
      this algorithm. Compared with the interferogram from the traditional algorithm,
      the results show that this algorithm is more suitable for SAR interferometry
      (InSAR) research and application. 

PMID- 26871447
TI  - Large-Scale Modelling of the Environmentally-Driven Population Dynamics of
      Temperate Aedes albopictus (Skuse).
AB  - The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a highly invasive vector species.
      It is a proven vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses, with the potential to
      host a further 24 arboviruses. It has recently expanded its geographical range,
      threatening many countries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe and North
      America. Here, we investigate the theoretical limitations of its range expansion
      by developing an environmentally-driven mathematical model of its population
      dynamics. We focus on the temperate strain of Ae. albopictus and compile a
      comprehensive literature-based database of physiological parameters. As a novel
      approach, we link its population dynamics to globally-available environmental
      datasets by performing inference on all parameters. We adopt a Bayesian approach
      using experimental data as prior knowledge and the surveillance dataset of Emilia
      Romagna, Italy, as evidence. The model accounts for temperature, precipitation,
      human population density and photoperiod as the main environmental drivers, and,
      in addition, incorporates the mechanism of diapause and a simple breeding site
      model. The model demonstrates high predictive skill over the reference region and
      beyond, confirming most of the current reports of vector presence in Europe. One
      of the main hypotheses derived from the model is the survival of Ae. albopictus
      populations through harsh winter conditions. The model, constrained by the
      environmental datasets, requires that either diapausing eggs or adult vectors
      have increased cold resistance. The model also suggests that temperature and
      photoperiod control diapause initiation and termination differentially. We
      demonstrate that it is possible to account for unobserved properties and
      constraints, such as differences between laboratory and field conditions, to
      derive reliable inferences on the environmental dependence of Ae. albopictus
      populations. 

PMID- 26871448
TI  - A Randomized Controlled Trial of Innovative Postpartum Care Model for Mother-Baby
      Dyads.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and maternal satisfaction of a newly
      established integrative postpartum community-based clinic providing comprehensive
      support for mothers during the first month after discharge from the hospital. Our
      primary interests were breastfeeding rates, readmission and patient satisfaction.
      METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, where 472
      mothers were randomized via a 1:2 ratio to either receive standard of care (n =
      157) or to attend the postpartum breastfeeding clinic (n = 315). Outcome data
      were captured through questionnaires completed by the participants at 2, 4, 12
      and 24 weeks postpartum. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were
      conducted to determine the effect of the intervention on exclusive breastfeeding
      at 12 weeks (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding rate at
      2, 4 and 24 weeks, breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, readmission rate, and
      satisfaction score. RESULTS: More mothers in the intervention group (n = 195,
      66.1%) were exclusively breastfeeding at 12 weeks compared to mothers in the
      control group (n = 81, 60.5%), however no statistically significant difference
      was observed (OR = 1.28; 95% CI:0.84-1.95)). The rate of emergency room visits at
      2 weeks for the intervention group was 11.4% compared to the standard of care
      group (15.2%) (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.39-1.23). The intervention group was
      significantly more satisfied with the overall care they received for
      breastfeeding compared to the control group (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 3.50-6.88)).
      CONCLUSION: This new model of care did not significantly increase exclusive
      breastfeeding at 12 weeks. However, there were clinically meaningful improvements
      in the rate of postnatal problems and satisfaction that support this new service
      delivery model for postpartum care. A community-based multidisciplinary
      postpartum clinic is feasible to implement and can provide appropriate and highly
      satisfactory care to mother-baby dyads. This model of care may be more beneficial
      in a population that is not already predisposed to breastfeed. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02043119.

PMID- 26871449
TI  - Pretreatment Gastric Lavage Reduces Postoperative Bleeding after Endoscopic
      Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Neoplasms.
AB  - AIM: For patients receiving endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), there is
      urgent need pertaining to the prevention of postoperative bleeding. We conducted
      a retrospective propensity score-matched study that evaluated whether pre-ESD
      gastric lavage prevents postoperative bleeding after ESD for gastric neoplasms.
      METHODS: From September 2002 to October 2015, the 760 consecutive patients
      receiving ESD for gastric neoplasm were enrolled and data regarding them were
      retrospectively analyzed. All patients received conventional preventive treatment
      against delayed bleeding after ESD, including the administration of proton pump
      inhibitor and preventive coagulation of visible vessels, at the end of the ESD
      procedure. RESULTS: Pre-ESD risk factors for postoperative bleeding included
      tumor size and no gastric lavage. Using multivariate analysis tumor size >2.0 cm
      (HR 2.90, 95% CI 1.65-5.10, p = 0.0002) and no gastric lavage (HR 3.20, 95% CI
      1.13-9.11, p = 0.029) were found to be independent risk factors. Next, we
      evaluated the effect of gastric lavage on the prevention of post-ESD bleeding
      using a propensity score-matching method. A total of 284 subjects (142 per group)
      were selected. Adjusted odds ratio of gastric lavage for post-ESD bleeding was
      0.25 (95% CI 0.071-0.886, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment gastric lavage
      reduced postoperative bleeding in patients receiving ESD for gastric neoplasm.

PMID- 26871450
TI  - My Early Days with Ari Helenius: Detergents and Viruses.

PMID- 26871451
TI  - Nest Material Shapes Eggs Bacterial Environment.
AB  - Selective pressures imposed by pathogenic microorganisms to embryos have selected
      in hosts for a battery of antimicrobial lines of defenses that includes physical
      and chemical barriers. Due to the antimicrobial properties of volatile compounds
      of green plants and of chemicals of feather degrading bacteria, the use of
      aromatic plants and feathers for nest building has been suggested as one of these
      barriers. However, experimental evidence suggesting such effects is scarce in the
      literature. During two consecutive years, we explored experimentally the effects
      of these nest materials on loads of different groups of bacteria (mesophilic
      bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus) of eggshells in
      nests of spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor) at the beginning and at the end of
      the incubation period. This was also explored in artificial nests without
      incubation activity. We also experimentally increased bacterial density of eggs
      in natural and artificial nests and explored the effects of nest lining
      treatments on eggshell bacterial load. Support for the hypothetical antimicrobial
      function of nest materials was mainly detected for the year and location with
      larger average values of eggshell bacterial density. The beneficial effects of
      feathers and plants were more easily detected in artificial nests with no
      incubation activity, suggesting an active role of incubation against bacterial
      colonization of eggshells. Pigmented and unpigmented feathers reduced eggshell
      bacterial load in starling nests and artificial nest boxes. Results from
      artificial nests allowed us to discuss and discard alternative scenarios
      explaining the detected association, particularly those related to the possible
      sexual role of feathers and aromatic plants in starling nests. All these results
      considered together confirm the antimicrobial functionality mainly of feathers
      but also of plants used as nest materials, and highlight the importance of
      temporally and geographically environmental variation associated with risk of
      bacterial proliferation determining the strength of such effects. Because of
      costs associated to nest building, birds should adjust nest building effort to
      expected bacterial environments during incubation, a prediction that should be
      further explored. 

PMID- 26871452
TI  - Primitive Genepools of Asian Pears and Their Complex Hybrid Origins Inferred from
      Fluorescent Sequence-Specific Amplification Polymorphism (SSAP) Markers Based on
      LTR Retrotransposons.
AB  - Recent evidence indicated that interspecific hybridization was the major mode of
      evolution in Pyrus. The genetic relationships and origins of the Asian pear are
      still unclear because of frequent hybrid events, fast radial evolution, and lack
      of informative data. Here, we developed fluorescent sequence-specific
      amplification polymorphism (SSAP) markers with lots of informative sites and high
      polymorphism to analyze the population structure among 93 pear accessions,
      including nearly all species native to Asia. Results of a population structure
      analysis indicated that nearly all Asian pear species experienced hybridization,
      and originated from five primitive genepools. Four genepools corresponded to four
      primary Asian species: P. betulaefolia, P. pashia, P. pyrifolia, and P.
      ussuriensis. However, cultivars of P. ussuriensis were not monophyletic and
      introgression occurred from P. pyrifolia. The specific genepool detected in
      putative hybrids between occidental and oriental pears might be from occidental
      pears. The remaining species, including P. calleryana, P. xerophila, P.
      sinkiangensis, P. phaeocarpa, P. hondoensis, and P. hopeiensis in Asia, were
      inferred to be of hybrid origins and their possible genepools were identified.
      This study will be of great help for understanding the origin and evolution of
      Asian pears. 

PMID- 26871454
TI  - Sugammadex, airway obstruction, and drifting across the ethical divide: a
      personal account.

PMID- 26871453
TI  - TDM1 Regulation Determines the Number of Meiotic Divisions.
AB  - Cell cycle control must be modified at meiosis to allow two divisions to follow a
      single round of DNA replication, resulting in ploidy reduction. The mechanisms
      that ensure meiosis termination at the end of the second and not at the end of
      first division are poorly understood. We show here that Arabidopsis thaliana
      TDM1, which has been previously shown to be essential for meiotic termination,
      interacts directly with the Anaphase-Promoting Complex. Further, mutations in
      TDM1 in a conserved putative Cyclin-Dependant Kinase (CDK) phosphorylation site
      (T16-P17) dominantly provoked premature meiosis termination after the first
      division, and the production of diploid spores and gametes. The CDKA;1
      CYCA1.2/TAM complex, which is required to prevent premature meiotic exit,
      phosphorylated TDM1 at T16 in vitro. Finally, while CYCA1;2/TAM was previously
      shown to be expressed only at meiosis I, TDM1 is present throughout meiosis.
      These data, together with epistasis analysis, lead us to propose that TDM1 is an
      APC/C component whose function is to ensure meiosis termination at the end of
      meiosis II, and whose activity is inhibited at meiosis I by CDKA;1-TAM-mediated
      phosphorylation to prevent premature meiotic exit. This provides a molecular
      mechanism for the differential decision of performing an additional round of
      division, or not, at the end of meiosis I and II, respectively. 

PMID- 26871455
TI  - Quantitative Proteomics of the Infectious and Replicative Forms of Chlamydia
      trachomatis.
AB  - The obligate intracellular developmental cycle of Chlamydia trachomatis presents
      significant challenges in defining its proteome. In this study we have applied
      quantitative proteomics to both the intracellular reticulate body (RB) and the
      extracellular elementary body (EB) from C. trachomatis. We used C. trachomatis L2
      as a model chlamydial isolate for our study since it has a high
      infectivity:particle ratio and there is an excellent quality genome sequence. EBs
      and RBs (>99% pure) were quantified by chromosomal and plasmid copy number using
      PCR, from which the concentrations of chlamydial proteins per bacterial
      cell/genome were determined. RBs harvested at 15h post infection (PI) were
      purified by three successive rounds of gradient centrifugation. This is the
      earliest possible time to obtain purified RBs, free from host cell components in
      quantity, within the constraints of the technology. EBs were purified at 48h PI.
      We then used two-dimensional reverse phase UPLC to fractionate RB or EB peptides
      before mass spectroscopic analysis, providing absolute amount estimates of
      chlamydial proteins. The ability to express the data as molecules per cell gave
      ranking in both abundance and energy requirements for synthesis, allowing
      meaningful identification of rate-limiting components. The study assigned 562
      proteins with high confidence and provided absolute estimates of protein
      concentration for 489 proteins. Interestingly, the data showed an increase in TTS
      capacity at 15h PI. Most of the enzymes involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis
      were detected along with high levels of muramidase (in EBs) suggesting breakdown
      of peptidoglycan occurs in the non-dividing form of the microorganism. All the
      genome-encoded enzymes for glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway and
      tricarboxylic acid cycle were identified and quantified; these data supported the
      observation that the EB is metabolically active. The availability of detailed,
      accurate quantitative proteomic data will be invaluable for investigations into
      gene regulation and function. 

PMID- 26871456
TI  - The effect of fathers' and mothers' educational level on adult oral health in
      Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that childhood socioeconomic status is
      associated with oral health in adulthood, but these studies have not examined the
      effects of fathers' and mothers' characteristics separately. Our objective was to
      examine the effects of fathers' and mothers' educational level on oral health in
      adulthood. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted for community-dwelling
      adults aged 25-50 years. A total of 4385 agreed to participate and complete the
      survey. Self-rated oral health was used to evaluate current oral health. We
      conducted multiple logistic regression analyses to determine whether the fathers'
      or mothers' education was associated with current oral health after adjusting for
      the respondents' own education, current income, and childhood economic status.
      RESULTS: Among respondents, 29.7% of men and 23.0% of women reported their own
      oral health as fair or poor. Among men, both the fathers' and mothers' education
      were significantly associated with oral health after adjusting for other
      socioeconomic indicators. After including the fathers' and mothers' education
      into the model simultaneously, a significant association remained only for the
      mothers' education; those whose mothers' educational attainment was junior high
      school had significantly higher odds ratio for poor oral health (1.90, 95%
      confidence interval 1.13-3.18) compared with those whose mothers' educational
      attainment was university or higher. Among women, neither the fathers' nor
      mothers' education was associated with oral health. Both childhood and current
      economic statuses were associated with oral health among women. CONCLUSIONS:
      Parental education was associated with adult oral health only among men. Among
      men, the association was stronger for the mothers' education than for the
      fathers' education. Further research should explore underlying mechanisms by
      which parental education, especially the mothers' education, affects their sons'
      oral health in later life.

PMID- 26871457
TI  - Speckle Tracking Based Strain Analysis Is Sensitive for Early Detection of
      Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy.
AB  - Cardiac hypertrophy is a key pathological process of many cardiac diseases.
      However, early detection of cardiac hypertrophy is difficult by the currently
      used non-invasive method and new approaches are in urgent need for efficient
      diagnosis of cardiac malfunction. Here we report that speckle tracking-based
      strain analysis is more sensitive than conventional echocardiography for early
      detection of pathological cardiac hypertrophy in the isoproterenol (ISO) mouse
      model. Pathological hypertrophy was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of
      ISO. Physiological cardiac hypertrophy was established by daily treadmill
      exercise for six weeks. Strain analysis, including radial strain (RS), radial
      strain rate (RSR) and longitudinal strain (LS), showed marked decrease as early
      as 3 days after ISO injection. Moreover, unlike the regional changes in cardiac
      infarction, strain analysis revealed global cardiac dysfunction that affects the
      entire heart in ISO-induced hypertrophy. In contrast, conventional
      echocardiography, only detected altered E/E', an index reflecting cardiac
      diastolic function, at 7 days after ISO injection. No change was detected on
      fractional shortening (FS), E/A and E'/A' at 3 days or 7 days after ISO
      injection. Interestingly, strain analysis revealed cardiac dysfunction only in
      ISO-induced pathological hypertrophy but not the physiological hypertrophy
      induced by exercise. Taken together, our study indicates that strain analysis
      offers a more sensitive approach for early detection of cardiac dysfunction than
      conventional echocardiography. Moreover, multiple strain readouts distinguish
      pathological cardiac hypertrophy from physiological hypertrophy. 

PMID- 26871458
TI  - Association of hearing impairment with insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction
      and impaired fasting glucose before onset of diabetes.
AB  - AIM: Diabetes is a known risk factor for hearing impairment. No study regarding
      the association of insulin resistance (IR), beta-cell dysfunction and impaired
      fasting glucose (IFG) with hearing impairment has been reported in the population
      without diabetes. We examined these associations using a representative sample of
      the Korean population. METHODS: Participants included 1589 males and 2496
      females, who were >= 20 years of age and without diabetes from the Korea National
      Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys of the Korean population (2010).
      Audiometric tests and laboratory examinations were performed. Homeostasis model
      assessments of IR and beta-cell function (HOMA-IR and HOMA-beta) were calculated.
      RESULTS: The prevalence of both high- and low-/mid-frequency hearing impairment
      among subjects with IFG was higher compared with those with normal glycaemia
      (42.2% vs. 24.5%, 14.7% vs. 7.8%, respectively). After adjustment for age, HOMA
      IR and HOMA-beta showed significant association with high-frequency hearing
      impairment in males. In the multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting for
      confounding variables, the presence of IFG, higher HOMA-IR and lower HOMA-beta
      remained as independent risk factors for high-frequency mild hearing impairment
      in males < 70 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.441, 95% confidence interval (95% CI),
      1.056 to 1.967; OR, 1.448, 95% CI, 1.039 to 2.101; and OR, 0.447, 95% CI, 0.274
      to 0.729, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IR, beta-cell dysfunction and IFG
      are associated with high-frequency mild hearing impairment in the male population
      < 70 years before the onset of diabetes.

PMID- 26871459
TI  - Chiral separation on various modified amino alcohol-derived HPLC chiral
      stationary phases.
AB  - 3,5-Dinitrobenzoyl chloride was previously used for the preparation of (R)
      phenylglycinol- and (S)-leucinol-derived chiral stationary phases. In this study,
      3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride, 2-furoyl chloride, 2-theonyl chloride,
      10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine-5-carbonyl chloride, diphenylcarbamoyl
      chloride, and 1-adamantanecarbonyl chloride were used to prepare six new
      phenylglycinol-derived chiral stationary phases (CSPs) and five new leucinol
      derived CSPs. Using these 11 CSPs, chiral separation of nine pi-acidic amino acid
      derivatives and five pi-basic compounds was performed, and the separation results
      were compared. An adamantyl-derived CSP showed good separation.

PMID- 26871461
TI  - Quantification in Hyperpolarized NMR.
AB  - Quantitative aspects of hyperpolarized NMR are analyzed in the present work, and
      it is shown theoretically and experimentally that measured "apparent" signal
      enhancements could deviate significantly from real enhancements of polarization.
      Expressions are given as a function of spin count to deduce real enhancements
      from measured "apparent" enhancements, and vice versa. While the findings are of
      particular relevance to high-field work employing high-Q probes, and to
      analytical applications of hyperpolarized NMR whose objective is the measurement
      of spin count, our experiments demonstrate their significance even for low- and
      moderate-field work with probes of moderate Q-factor. 

PMID- 26871462
TI  - Altered function of intracortical networks in chronic lateral epicondylalgia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lateral epicondylalgia (LE) is a musculotendinous condition
      characterized by persistent pain, sensorimotor dysfunction and motor cortex
      reorganization. Although there is evidence linking cortical reorganization with
      clinical symptoms in LE, the mechanisms underpinning these changes are unknown.
      Here we investigated activity in motor cortical (M1) intracortical inhibitory and
      facilitatory networks in individuals with chronic LE and healthy controls.
      METHODS: Surface electromyography was recorded bilaterally from the extensor
      carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle of 14 LE (4 men, 41.5 +/- 9.9 years) and 14
      control participants (4 men, 42.1 +/- 11.1 years). Transcranial magnetic
      stimulation of M1 was used to evaluate resting and active motor threshold,
      corticomotor output, short- (SICI) and long-latency intracortical inhibition
      (LICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) of both hemispheres. RESULTS: In
      individuals with LE, SICI (p = 0.005), ICF (p = 0.026) and LICI (p = 0.046) were
      less in the M1 contralateral to the affected ECRB muscle compared with healthy
      controls. Motor cortical threshold (rest: p = 0.57, active: p = 0.97) and
      corticomotor output (p = 0.15) were similar between groups. No differences were
      observed between individuals with LE and healthy controls for the M1
      contralateral to the unaffected ECRB muscle. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide
      evidence of less intracortical inhibition mediated by both GABAA and GABAB
      receptors, and less intracortical facilitation in the M1 contralateral to the
      affected ECRB in individuals with LE compared with healthy controls. Similar
      changes were not present in the M1 contralateral to the unaffected ECRB. These
      changes may provide the substrate for M1 reorganization in chronic LE and could
      provide a target for future therapy. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD: Lateral
      epicondylalgia (LE) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by elbow
      pain and sensorimotor dysfunction. The excitability and organization of the motor
      cortical representation of the wrist extensor muscles is altered in LE, but the
      mechanisms that underpin these changes are unknown. evidence of less
      intracortical inhibition mediated by both GABAA and GABAB receptors, and less
      intracortical facilitation mediated by NMDA receptors, in the M1 contralateral to
      the affected extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle in chronic LE compared with
      healthy controls. Altered activity in intracortical networks may contribute to
      altered motor cortex organization in LE and could provide a potential target for
      future treatments.

PMID- 26871460
TI  - Effects of meditation practice on spontaneous eyeblink rate.
AB  - A rapidly growing body of research suggests that meditation can change brain and
      cognitive functioning. Yet little is known about the neurochemical mechanisms
      underlying meditation-related changes in cognition. Here, we investigated the
      effects of meditation on spontaneous eyeblink rates (sEBR), a noninvasive
      peripheral correlate of striatal dopamine activity. Previous studies have shown a
      relationship between sEBR and cognitive functions such as mind wandering,
      cognitive flexibility, and attention-functions that are also affected by
      meditation. We therefore expected that long-term meditation practice would alter
      eyeblink activity. To test this, we recorded baseline sEBR and intereyeblink
      intervals (IEBI) in long-term meditators (LTM) and meditation-naive participants
      (MNP). We found that LTM not only blinked less frequently, but also showed a
      different eyeblink pattern than MNP. This pattern had good to high degree of
      consistency over three time points. Moreover, we examined the effects of an 8
      week course of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sEBR and IEBI, compared to
      an active control group and a waitlist control group. No effect of short-term
      meditation practice was found. Finally, we investigated whether different types
      of meditation differentially alter eyeblink activity by measuring sEBR and IEBI
      after a full day of two kinds of meditation practices in the LTM. No effect of
      meditation type was found. Taken together, these findings may suggest either that
      individual difference in dopaminergic neurotransmission is a self-selection
      factor for meditation practice, or that long-term, but not short-term meditation
      practice induces stable changes in baseline striatal dopaminergic functioning. 

PMID- 26871463
TI  - Family quality of life among families with a child who has a severe
      neurodevelopmental disability: Impact of family and child socio-demographic
      factors.
AB  - We aimed to examine family quality of life (FQOL) of Northern Israeli families
      having a child with a severe neurodevelopmental disability and its relation to
      socio-demographics. The cohort included caregivers of 70 children ages (mean +/-
      standard deviation) 5.36 +/- 3.53 years. Families were two-parent (85.7%), lived
      in the periphery (67.1%) and included Jews (60%), Muslims (18.6%), Druze (14.3%)
      and Christians (7.1%). Religiosity included: secular (38.6%), traditional
      (31.4%), religious (30%). Children's diagnosis included autistic spectrum
      disorder (41.4%), intellectual disability (21.4%), cerebral palsy (17.1%),
      genetic syndromes (17.1%) and sensorineural hearing loss (2.9%). Degree of
      support (1-minimal,5-greatest) required by the child was 3.67 +/- 1.28 for
      physical and 3.49 +/- 1.36 for communication. Primary caregivers completed the
      FQOL Survey. Domain scores were highest for family relations and lowest for
      financial well-being. Dimension scores were highest for importance and lowest for
      opportunities. Overall FQOL approximated average. Jewish families and residents
      of a major urban area reported higher and more religious families reported lower
      overall FQOL. Regression analysis found ethnicity contributing to overall FQOL
      and domain scores with residence contributing to support from services. Ethnicity
      and child dependence contributed to dimension scores. Northern Israeli families
      having a child with a severe neurodevelopmental disability report average FQOL
      scores. However, family and child dependence characteristics affect FQOL scores.
      Professionals working with these families should consider FQOL information when
      making recommendations.

PMID- 26871464
TI  - Developmental and physical-fitness associations with gross motor coordination
      problems in Peruvian children.
AB  - The aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine the developmental
      characteristics (biological maturation and body size) associated with gross motor
      coordination problems in 5193 Peruvian children (2787 girls) aged 6-14 years from
      different geographical locations, and to investigate how the probability that
      children suffer with gross motor coordination problems varies with physical
      fitness. Children with gross motor coordination problems were more likely to have
      lower flexibility and explosive strength levels, having adjusted for age, sex,
      maturation and study site. Older children were more likely to suffer from gross
      motor coordination problems, as were those with greater body mass index. However,
      more mature children were less likely to have gross motor coordination problems,
      although children who live at sea level or at high altitude were more likely to
      suffer from gross motor coordination problems than children living in the jungle.
      Our results provide evidence that children and adolescents with lower physical
      fitness are more likely to have gross motor coordination difficulties. The
      identification of youths with gross motor coordination problems and providing
      them with effective intervention programs is an important priority in order to
      overcome such developmental problems, and help to improve their general health
      status. 

PMID- 26871465
TI  - HIF-3alpha1 promotes colorectal tumor cell growth by activation of JAK-STAT3
      signaling.
AB  - Hypoxic environment is critical in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Most
      studies have mainly focused on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and HIF
      2alpha as the major hypoxic transcription factors in CRC development and
      progression. However, the role of HIF-3alpha in CRC is not clear. Here we found
      that HIF-3alpha protein was increased in colorectal tumors from both mouse models
      and human patients. Moreover, increased HIF-3alpha expression was correlated with
      decreased survival. Overexpression of a long isoform of HIF-3alpha, HIF-3alpha1,
      increased cell growth in two CRC cell lines. Surprisingly, overexpressed HIF
      3alpha1 was localized to the cytosol and increased phosphorylated signal
      transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3). STAT3 inhibition
      effectively reduced p-STAT3 levels and cell growth induced by HIF-3alpha1. The
      activation of p-STAT3 was independent of the transcriptional activity of HIF
      3alpha1. However, the inhibition of the upstream regulator Janus kinase (JAK)
      abolished HIF-3alpha1-induced p-STAT3 and cell growth. Together, these results
      demonstrated that HIF-3alpha1 promotes CRC cell growth by activation of the JAK
      STAT3 signaling pathway through non-canonical transcription-independent
      mechanisms. 

PMID- 26871466
TI  - Intercellular transfer of small RNAs from astrocytes to lung tumor cells induces
      resistance to chemotherapy.
AB  - Brain metastases are resistant to chemotherapy and carry a poor prognosis.
      Studies have shown that tumor cells are surrounded by activated astrocytes, whose
      cytoprotective properties they exploit for protection from chemotherapy-induced
      apoptosis. The mechanism of such astrocytic protection is poorly understood. A
      non-mutational mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy that is receiving
      increased attention is the regulation of gene translation mediated by small
      noncoding RNAs (sRNAs), and particularly microRNAs (miRNAs). With the aim of
      examining the role of astrocytic sRNAs in promoting resistance of human lung
      tumor PC14 cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, here we used a miRNA
      microarray to compare sRNA profiles of human lung tumor cells cultured with and
      without astrocytes. We found that sRNAs are transferred from astrocytes to PC14
      cells in a contact-dependent manner. Transfer was rapid, reaching a plateau after
      only 6 hours in culture. The sRNA transfer was inhibited by the broad-spectrum
      gap-junction antagonist carbenoxolone, indicating that transfer occurs via gap
      junctions. Among the transferred sRNAs were several that are implicated in
      survival pathways. Enforced expression of these sRNAs in PC14 cells increased
      their resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. These novel findings
      might be of clinical relevance for the treatment of patients with brain
      metastases. 

PMID- 26871468
TI  - Mutant p53 protects ETS2 from non-canonical COP1/DET1 dependent degradation.
AB  - Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 contribute to the development of
      approximately half of all human cancers. One mechanism by which mutant p53
      (mtp53) acts is through interaction with other transcription factors, which can
      either enhance or repress the transcription of their target genes. Mtp53
      preferentially interacts with the erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homologue 2
      (ETS2), an ETS transcription factor, and increases its protein stability. To
      study the mechanism underlying ETS2 degradation, we knocked down ubiquitin
      ligases known to interact with ETS2. We observed that knockdown of the
      constitutive photomorphogenesis protein 1 (COP1) and its binding partner De
      etiolated 1 (DET1) significantly increased ETS2 stability, and conversely, their
      ectopic expression led to increased ETS2 ubiquitination and degradation.
      Surprisingly, we observed that DET1 binds to ETS2 independently of COP1, and we
      demonstrated that mutation of multiple sites required for ETS2 degradation
      abrogated the interaction between DET1 and ETS2. Furthermore, we demonstrate that
      mtp53 prevents the COP1/DET1 complex from ubiquitinating ETS2 and thereby marking
      it for destruction. Mechanistically, we show that mtp53 destabilizes DET1 and
      also disrupts the DET1/ETS2 complex thereby preventing ETS2 degradation. Our
      study reveals a hitherto unknown function in which DET1 mediates the interaction
      with the substrates of its cognate ubiquitin ligase complex and provides an
      explanation for the ability of mtp53 to protect ETS2. 

PMID- 26871467
TI  - Clinical and biological significance of HAX-1 overexpression in nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma.
AB  - HS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) is an important marker in many types of
      cancers and contributes to cancer progression and metastasis. We examined the
      expression of HAX-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and experimentally
      manipulated its expression. We observed that HAX-1 expression is elevated in NPC
      and is correlated with lymph node metastasis, M classification, clinical stage,
      and poor prognosis. In addition, overexpression of HAX-1 promoted NPC
      proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Exosomes are potential carriers of pro
      tumorigenic factors that participate in oncogenesis. We found that NPC-derived
      exosomes are enriched in HAX-1 and accelerate NPC tumor growth and angiogenesis
      in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that oncogenic HAX-1
      facilitates the growth of NPC when it is transferred via exosomes to recipient
      human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Oncogenic HAX-1 also increases
      the proliferation, migration, and angiogenic activity of HUVECs. Our findings
      provide unique insight into the pathogenesis of NPC and underscore the need to
      explore novel therapeutic targets such as HAX-1 to improve NPC treatment. 

PMID- 26871469
TI  - Inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha suppresses the growth of
      triple negative breast cancer cells through ROS generation and interaction with
      multiple cell signaling pathways.
AB  - There is an urgent clinical need for targeted therapy approaches for triple
      negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Increasing evidences suggested that the
      expression of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha) was correlate with
      unfavorable clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients. We here show that
      inhibition of ERRalpha by its inverse agonist XCT-790 can suppress the
      proliferation, decrease G2/M phases, and induce mitochondrial-related apoptosis
      of TNBC cells. XCT-790 elevates the proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum
      (ER) stress such as ATF4/6, XBT-1 and CHOP. It also increases the expression of
      growth inhibition related proteins such as p53 and p21. Further, XCT-790 can
      increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in TNBC cells mainly
      through inhibition of SOD1/2. While ROS scavenger NAC abolishes XCT-790 induced
      ER-stress and growth arrest. XCT-790 treatment can rapidly activate the signal
      molecules including ERK1/2, p38-MAPK, JNK, Akt, p65, and IkappaBalpha, while NAC
      attenuates effects of XCT-790 induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38-MAPK and
      Akt. Further, the inhibitors of ERK1/2, JNK, Akt, and NF-kappaB attenuate XCT-790
      induced ROS generation. These data suggest that AKT/ROS and ERK/ROS positive
      feedback loops, NF-kappaB/ROS, and ROS/p38-MAPK, are activated in XCT-790 treated
      TNBC cells. In vivo experiments show that XCT-790 significantly suppresses the
      growth of MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors, which is associated with up regulation of
      p53, p21, ER-stress related proteins while down regulation of bcl-2. The present
      discovery makes XCT-790 a promising candidate drug and lays the foundation for
      future development of ERRalpha-based therapies for TNBC patients. 

PMID- 26871471
TI  - Exploiting machine learning for predicting skeletal-related events in cancer
      patients with bone metastases.
AB  - The aim of the bone metastases (BM) treatment is to prevent the occurrence of
      skeletal-related events (SREs). In clinical, physicians could only predict the
      occurrence of SREs by subjective experience. Machine learning (ML) could be used
      as predictive models in the medical field. But there is no published research
      using ML to predict SREs in cancer patients with BM. The purpose of this study
      was to assess the associations of clinical variables with the occurrence of SREs
      and to subsequently develop prediction models to help identify SREs risk
      groups.We analyzed 1143 cancer patients with BM. We used the statistical package
      of SPSS and SPSS Modeler for data analysis and the development of the prediction
      model. We compared the performance of logistic regression (LR), decision tree
      (DT) and support vector machine(SVM). The results suggested that Visual Analog
      Scale (VAS) scale was a key factor to SREs in LR, DT and SVM model. Modifiable
      factors such as Frankel classification, Mirels score, Ca, aminoterminal
      propeptide of type I collagen (PINP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase
      (BALP) were identified. We found that the result of applying LR, DT and SVM
      classification accuracy was 79.2%, 85.8% and 88.2%, with 9, 4 and 8 variables,
      respectively.In conclusion, DT and SVM achieved higher accuracies with smaller
      number of variables than the number of variables used in LR. ML techniques can be
      used to build model to predict SREs in cancer patients with BM. 

PMID- 26871470
TI  - Association and prognostic significance of BRCA1/2-mutation status with
      neoantigen load, number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and expression of PD
      1/PD-L1 in high grade serous ovarian cancer.
AB  - Immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies) have
      demonstrated remarkable efficacy against hypermutated cancers such as melanomas
      and lung carcinomas. One explanation for this effect is that hypermutated lesions
      harbor more tumor-specific neoantigens that stimulate recruitment of an increased
      number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which is counterbalanced by
      overexpression of immune checkpoints such as PD-1 or PD-L1. Given that BRCA1/2
      mutated high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs) exhibit a higher mutational
      load and a unique mutational signature with an elevated number of larger indels
      up to 50 bp, we hypothesized that they may also harbor more tumor-specific
      neoantigens, and, therefore, exhibit increased TILs and PD-1/PD-L1 expression.
      Here, we report significantly higher predicted neoantigens in BRCA1/2-mutated
      tumors compared to tumors without alterations in homologous recombination (HR)
      genes (HR-proficient tumors). Tumors with higher neoantigen load were associated
      with improved overall survival and higher expression of immune genes associated
      with tumor cytotoxicity such as genes of the TCR, the IFN-gamma and the TNFR
      pathways. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that BRCA1/2
      mutated tumors exhibited significantly increased CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, as well as
      elevated expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in tumor-associated immune cells compared
      to HR-proficient tumors. Survival analysis showed that both BRCA1/2-mutation
      status and number of TILs were independently associated with outcome. Of note,
      two distinct groups of HGSOCs, one with very poor prognosis (HR proficient with
      low number of TILs) and one with very good prognosis (BRCA1/2-mutated tumors with
      high number of TILs) were defined. These findings support a link between BRCA1/2
      mutation status, immunogenicity and survival, and suggesting that BRCA1/2-mutated
      HGSOCs may be more sensitive to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors compared to HR-proficient
      HGSOCs. 

PMID- 26871472
TI  - Loss of MEN1 activates DNMT1 implicating DNA hypermethylation as a driver of MEN1
      tumorigenesis.
AB  - Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome results from mutations in the
      MEN1 gene and causes tumor formation via largely unknown mechanisms. Using a
      novel genome-wide methylation analysis, we studied tissues from MEN1-parathyroid
      tumors, Men1 knockout (KO) mice, and Men1 null mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF)
      cell lines. We demonstrated that inactivation of menin (the protein product of
      MEN1) increases activity of DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) by
      activating retinoblastoma-binding protein 5 (Rbbp5). The increased activity of
      DNMT1 mediates global DNA hypermethylation, which results in aberrant activation
      of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through inactivation of Sox regulatory
      genes. Our study provides important insights into the role of menin in DNA
      methylation and its impact on the pathogenesis of MEN1 tumor development. 

PMID- 26871473
TI  - Effectiveness of the Monte Carlo method in stereotactic radiation therapy applied
      to quasi-homogenous brain tumors.
AB  - This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Monte Carlo (MC) method in
      stereotactic radiotherapy for brain tumor. The difference in doses predicted by
      the conventional Ray-tracing (Ray) and the advanced MC algorithms was
      comprehensively investigated through the simulations for phantom and patient
      data, actual measurement of dose distribution, and the retrospective analysis of
      77 brain tumors patients. These investigations consistently showed that the MC
      algorithm overestimated the dose than the Ray algorithm and the MC overestimation
      was generally increased as decreasing the beams size and increasing the number of
      beams delivered. These results demonstrated that the advanced MC algorithm would
      be inaccurate than the conventional Raytracing algorithm when applied to a (quasi
      ) homogeneous brain tumors. Thus, caution may be needed to apply the MC method to
      brain radiosurgery or radiotherapy. 

PMID- 26871474
TI  - MALAT1 long ncRNA promotes gastric cancer metastasis by suppressing PCDH10.
AB  - EZH2, the catalytic component of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is
      frequently overexpressed in human cancers and contributes to tumor initiation and
      progression, in part through transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes.
      A number of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) recruit EZH2 to specific chromatin loci,
      where they modulate gene expression. Here, we used RNA immunoprecipitation
      sequencing (RIP-seq) to profile EZH2-associated transcripts in human gastric
      cancer cell lines. We identified 8,256 transcripts, including both noncoding and
      coding transcripts, some of which were derived from cancer-related loci. In
      particular, we found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 binds EZH2,
      suppresses the tumor suppressor PCDH10, and promotes gastric cellular migration
      and invasion. Our work thus provides a global view of the EZH2-associated
      transcriptome and offers new insight into the function of EZH2 in gastric
      tumorigenesis. 

PMID- 26871475
TI  - Honokiol bis-dichloroacetate (Honokiol DCA) demonstrates activity in vemurafenib
      resistant melanoma in vivo.
AB  - The majority of human melanomas bears BRAF mutations and thus is treated with
      inhibitors of BRAF, such as vemurafenib. While patients with BRAF mutations often
      demonstrate an initial dramatic response to vemurafenib, relapse is extremely
      common. Thus, novel agents are needed for the treatment of these aggressive
      melanomas. Honokiol is a small molecule compound derived from Magnolia
      grandiflora that has activity against solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms.
      In order to increase the lipophilicity of honokiol, we have synthesized honokiol
      DCA, the dichloroacetate ester of honokiol. In addition, we synthesized a novel
      fluorinated honokiol analog, bis-trifluoromethyl-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-allylphenyl)
      methane (hexafluoro). Both compounds exhibited activity against A375 melanoma in
      vivo, but honokiol DCA was more active. Gene arrays comparing treated with
      vehicle control tumors demonstrated induction of the respiratory enzyme succinate
      dehydrogenase B (SDHB) by treatment, suggesting that our honokiol analogs induce
      respiration in vivo. We then examined its effect against a pair of melanomas,
      LM36 and LM36R, in which LM36R differs from LM36 in that LM36R has acquired
      vemurafenib resistance. Honokiol DCA demonstrated in vivo activity against LM36R
      (vemurafenib resistant) but not against parental LM36. Honokiol DCA and
      hexafluoro inhibited the phosphorylation of DRP1, thus stimulating a phenotype
      suggestive of respiration through mitochondrial normalization. Honokiol DCA may
      act in vemurafenib resistant melanomas to increase both respiration and reactive
      oxygen generation, leading to activity against aggressive melanoma in vivo. 

PMID- 26871476
TI  - Clinical implications of TP53 mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes treated with
      hypomethylating agents.
AB  - We screened TP53 mutations in 168 MDS patients who were treated with HMA and
      evaluated predictive and prognostic value of TP53 mutations. Overall response to
      HMA was not different based on TP53 mutation status (45% vs. 32% in TP53-mutated
      and wild type [WT], respectively, P = 0.13). However, response duration was
      significantly shorter in TP53-mutated patients compared to WT patients (5.7
      months vs. 28.5 months, P = 0.003). Longitudinal analysis of TP53 mutations after
      HMA showed that TP53 mutations almost always persisted at times of disease
      progression. TP53-mutated patients showed significantly worse overall survival
      (OS) compared to WT patients (9.4 months vs. 20.7 months, P <0.001). Further,
      TP53 mutations distinguished prognosis in the subgroup of patients with complex
      karyotype and Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) defined
      very high-risk disease. Multivariate analysis showed that TP53 mutation status is
      significantly prognostic for OS after adjusting prognostic effect from other
      factors. The current study provides evidence that TP53 mutations are
      independently prognostic in MDS patients treated with HMA. While TP53-mutated MDS
      patients initially respond well to HMA, their duration of response is
      significantly shorter than WT patients. Novel strategies to improve duration of
      response in TP53-mutated MDS are urgently needed. 

PMID- 26871477
TI  - MicroRNA-150 suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular
      carcinoma by inhibiting the GAB1-ERK axis.
AB  - MicroRNA-150 (miR-150) is frequently dysregulated in cancer and is involved in
      carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In this study, we found that miR-150 was
      significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues compared to
      adjacent noncancerous tissues. Low levels of miR-150 were significantly
      associated with worse clinicopathological characteristics and a poor prognosis
      for patients with HCC. miR-150 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation,
      migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Further
      experiments indicated that Grb2-associated binding protein 1 (GAB1) was a direct
      target of miR-150 in HCC cells. In addition, GAB1 expression was increased in HCC
      tissues and inversely correlated with miR-150 levels. Knockdown of GAB1 mimicked
      the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-150 overexpression on HCC cells, whereas
      restoration of GAB1 expression partially abolished the inhibitory effects.
      Moreover, miR-150 overexpression decreased GAB1 expression, subsequently
      downregulated phospho-ERK1/2 and suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal-transition
      (EMT). These effects caused by miR-150 overexpression were alleviated by
      exogenous GAB1 expression. Taken together, this study demonstrates that miR-150
      may be useful as a prognostic marker and that the identified miR-150-GAB1-ERK
      axis is a potential therapeutic target for HCC. 

PMID- 26871480
TI  - Cyclic (di)nucleotides: the common language shared by microbe and host.
AB  - Fluency in a common language allows individuals to convey information and carry
      out complex activities that otherwise would be difficult or even impossible
      without the benefit of shared communication. Cyclic (di)nucleotides have recently
      been recognized as such an accessible language understood by both microbe and the
      host, ever since remarkable progresses have revealed the molecular details of
      these nucleotide second messengers used in cellular communication systems. Though
      undergoing separate evolutionary pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, cyclic
      (di)nucleotides enable microbes to influence host cells immediately and fiercely
      by modulating a variety of cellular activities. Here we highlight recent insights
      in cyclic (di)nucleotides and focus on the balancing of these indispensable
      signaling molecules by synthases and phosphodiesterases. 

PMID- 26871479
TI  - G protein-coupled receptor GPR160 is associated with apoptosis and cell cycle
      arrest of prostate cancer cells.
AB  - G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest membrane protein family
      implicated in the therapeutic intervention of a variety of diseases including
      cancer. Exploration of biological actions of orphan GPCRs may lead to the
      identification of new targets for drug discovery. This study investigates
      potential roles of GPR160, an orphan GPCR, in the pathogenesis of prostate
      cancer. The transcription levels of GPR160 in the prostate cancer tissue samples
      and cell lines, such as PC-3, LNCaP, DU145 and 22Rv1 cells, were significantly
      higher than that seen in normal prostate tissue and cells. Knockdown of GPR160 by
      lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA constructs targeting human GPR160 gene
      (ShGPR160) resulted in prostate cancer cell apoptosis and growth arrest both in
      vitro and in athymic mice. Differential gene expression patterns in PC-3 cells
      infected with ShGPR160 or scramble lentivirus showed that 815 genes were
      activated and 1193 repressed. Functional annotation of differentially expressed
      genes (DEGs) revealed that microtubule cytoskeleton, cytokine activity, cell
      cycle phase and mitosis are the most evident functions enriched by the repressed
      genes, while regulation of programmed cell death, apoptosis and chemotaxis are
      enriched significantly by the activated genes. Treatment of cells with GPR160
      targeting shRNA lentiviruses or duplex siRNA oligos increased the transcription
      of IL6 and CASP1 gene significantly. Our data suggest that the expression level
      of endogenous GPR160 is associated with the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26871481
TI  - Survival games at the dinner table: regulation of Enterobacterial virulence
      through nutrient sensing and acquisition.
AB  - The ability of bacterial pathogens to colonize specific host niches is largely
      dependent on acquisition of essential metabolites and co-factors for growth and
      sensing and adapting in response to specific environmental cues. Nutrient
      availability in host environments is strongly influenced by host physiology and
      immunity, diet, and competition with other members of the host microbiota. Rapid
      adaptation to environmental cues and nutrient availability is a hallmark of
      bacterial fitness and virulence. This adaptability requires complex regulatory
      networks that tightly link sensing of nutrient availability to expression of
      virulence genes accordingly. This review focuses on recent findings highlighting
      the ability of bacterial pathogens to compete for nutrient acquisition in the
      host-microbiota environment, and emphasizes key aspects mediating the multi
      tiered regulatory cascades that coordinately control nutrient sensing and
      expression of virulence genes in pathogenic Enterobacteria. 

PMID- 26871478
TI  - Mutanome and expression of immune response genes in microsatellite stable colon
      cancer.
AB  - The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the mutanome in the prognosis
      of microsatellite stable stage II CRC tumors. The exome of 42 stage II,
      microsatellite stable, colon tumors (21 of them relapse) and their paired mucosa
      were sequenced and analyzed. Although some pathways accumulated more mutations in
      patients exhibiting good or poor prognosis, no single somatic mutation was
      associated with prognosis. Exome sequencing data is also valuable to infer tumor
      neoantigens able to elicit a host immune response. Hence, putative neoantigens
      were identified by combining information about missense mutations in each tumor
      and HLAs genotypes of the patients. Under the hypothesis that neoantigens should
      be correctly presented in order to activate the immune response, expression
      levels of genes involved in the antigen presentation machinery were also
      assessed. In addition, CD8A level (as a marker of T-cell infiltration) was
      measured. We found that tumors with better prognosis showed a tendency to
      generate a higher number of immunogenic epitopes, and up-regulated genes involved
      in the antigen processing machinery. Moreover, tumors with higher T-cell
      infiltration also showed better prognosis. Stratifying by consensus molecular
      subtype, CMS4 tumors showed the highest association of expression levels of genes
      involved in the antigen presentation machinery with prognosis. Thus, we
      hypothesize that a subset of stage II microsatellite stable CRC tumors are able
      to generate an immune response in the host via MHC class I antigen presentation,
      directly related with a better prognosis. 

PMID- 26871482
TI  - Cell cycle control in Alphaproteobacteria.
AB  - Alphaproteobacteria include many medically and environmentally important
      organisms. Despite the diversity of their niches and lifestyles, from free-living
      to host-associated, they usually rely on very similar mechanisms to control their
      cell cycles. Studies on Caulobacter crescentus still lay the foundation for
      understanding the molecular details of pathways regulating DNA replication and
      cell division and coordinating these two processes with other events of the cell
      cycle. This review highlights recent discoveries on the regulation and the mode
      of action of conserved global regulators and small molecules like c-di-GMP and
      (p)ppGpp, which play key roles in cell cycle control. It also describes several
      newly identified mechanisms that modulate cell cycle progression in response to
      stresses or environmental conditions. 

PMID- 26871483
TI  - Evaluating differences in Pavlovian fear acquisition and extinction as predictors
      of outcome from cognitive behavioural therapy for anxious children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extinction is a key theoretical model of exposure-based treatments,
      such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This study examined whether
      individual differences in physiological responses and subjective stimulus
      evaluations as indices of fear extinction predicted response to CBT. METHODS:
      Thirty-two nonanxious comparisons and 44 anxious, 7-to-13-year-old children
      completed a Pavlovian conditioning and extinction task. Anxious children then
      completed group-based CBT. Skin conductance responses (SCRs) as well as
      subjective arousal and valence evaluations were measured in response to a
      conditioned stimulus paired with an aversive tone (CS+) and another conditioned
      stimulus presented alone (CS-). Both stimuli were presented alone during
      extinction. Diagnostic and symptom measures were completed before and after
      treatment. RESULTS: Like nonanxious comparisons, treatment responders did not
      acquire conditioned negative stimulus evaluations and displayed elevated SCRs
      that declined significantly across extinction trials. Nonresponders, by contrast,
      showed elevated negative stimulus evaluations of both CSs that were sensitive to
      extinction trials but showed no change in SCRs during extinction. Change in
      physiological but not evaluative indices of fear extinction predicted better
      treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Individual differences in evaluative and
      physiological indices of fear extinction might moderate response to CBT.

PMID- 26871484
TI  - Policy Analysis: Valuation of Ecosystem Services in the Southern Appalachian
      Mountains.
AB  - This study estimates the economic value of an increase in ecosystem services
      attributable to the reduced acidification expected from more stringent air
      pollution policy. By integrating a detailed biogeochemical model that projects
      future ecological recovery with economic methods that measure preferences for
      specific ecological improvements, we estimate the economic value of ecological
      benefits from new air pollution policies in the Southern Appalachian ecosystem.
      Our results indicate that these policies generate aggregate benefits of about
      $3.7 billion, or about $16 per year per household in the region. The study
      provides currently missing information about the ecological benefits from air
      pollution policies that is needed to evaluate such policies comprehensively. More
      broadly, the study also illustrates how integrated biogeochemical and economic
      assessments of multidimensional ecosystems can evaluate the relative benefits of
      different policy options that vary by scale and across ecosystem attributes. 

PMID- 26871485
TI  - A Molten Salt Lithium-Oxygen Battery.
AB  - Despite the promise of extremely high theoretical capacity (2Li + O2 <-> Li2O2,
      1675 mAh per gram of oxygen), many challenges currently impede development of
      Li/O2 battery technology. Finding suitable electrode and electrolyte materials
      remains the most elusive challenge to date. A radical new approach is to replace
      volatile, unstable and air-intolerant organic electrolytes common to prior
      research in the field with alkali metal nitrate molten salt electrolytes and
      operate the battery above the liquidus temperature (>80  degrees C). Here we
      demonstrate an intermediate temperature Li/O2 battery using a lithium anode, a
      molten nitrate-based electrolyte (e.g., LiNO3-KNO3 eutectic) and a porous carbon
      O2 cathode with high energy efficiency (~95%) and improved rate capability
      because the discharge product, lithium peroxide, is stable and moderately soluble
      in the molten salt electrolyte. The results, supported by essential state-of-the
      art electrochemical and analytical techniques such as in situ pressure and gas
      analyses, scanning electron microscopy, rotating disk electrode voltammetry,
      demonstrate that Li2O2 electrochemically forms and decomposes upon cycling with
      discharge/charge overpotentials as low as 50 mV. We show that the cycle life of
      such batteries is limited only by carbon reactivity and by the uncontrolled
      precipitation of Li2O2, which eventually becomes electrically disconnected from
      the O2 electrode. 

PMID- 26871486
TI  - Stimuli-Responsive Codelivery of Oligonucleotides and Drugs by Self-Assembled
      Peptide Nanoparticles.
AB  - Ever more emerging combined treatments exploiting synergistic effects of drug
      combinations demand smart, responsive codelivery carriers to reveal their full
      potential. In this study, a multifunctional stimuli-responsive amphiphilic
      peptide was designed and synthesized to self-assemble into nanoparticles capable
      of co-bearing and -releasing hydrophobic drugs and antisense oligonucleotides for
      combined therapies. The rational design was based on a hydrophobic l-tryptophan-d
      leucine repeating unit derived from a truncated sequence of gramicidin A (gT), to
      entrap hydrophobic cargo, which is combined with a hydrophilic moiety of
      histidines to provide electrostatic affinity to nucleotides. Stimuli
      responsiveness was implemented by linking the hydrophobic and hydrophilic
      sequence through an artificial amino acid bearing a disulfide functional group
      (H3SSgT). Stimuli-responsive peptides self-assembled in spherical nanoparticles
      in sizes (100-200 nm) generally considered as preferable for drug delivery
      applications. Responsive peptide nanoparticles revealed notable nucleotide
      condensing abilities while maintaining the ability to load hydrophobic cargo. The
      disulfide cleavage site introduced in the peptide sequence induced responsiveness
      to physiological concentrations of reducing agent, serving to release the
      incorporated molecules. Furthermore, the peptide nanoparticles, singly loaded or
      coloaded with boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) and/or antisense oligonucleotides,
      were efficiently taken up by cells. Such amphiphilic peptides that led to
      noncytotoxic, reduction-responsive nanoparticles capable of codelivering
      hydrophobic and nucleic acid payloads simultaneously provide potential toward
      combined treatment strategies to exploit synergistic effects. 

PMID- 26871487
TI  - Elevated congenital anomaly rates and incorporated cesium-137 in the Polissia
      region of Ukraine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Investigations soon after the 1986 Chornobyl (Chernobyl in Russian)
      accident of exposed populations residing elsewhere in Europe led government and
      international agencies to conclude that exposures to cesium-137 (Cs-137) were not
      teratogenic. Our observations of elevated population rates of neural tube defects
      (NTDs) and microcephaly and microphthalmia (M/M) in the Rivne Province in
      Ukraine, which were among the highest in Europe, prompted this follow-up
      investigation inclusive of whole-body counts (WBCs) of Cs-137 among ambulatory
      patients and pregnant women residing in Polissia, the most polluted region in
      Rivne. METHODS: Yearly (2000-2012) population rates of NTDs and M/M and WBC
      patterns of ambulatory patients (2001-2010) and pregnant women (2011-2013) in
      Polissia and non-Polissia regions of Rivne were analyzed. RESULTS: The NTD and
      M/M population rates in Rivne remain elevated and are statistically significantly
      higher in Polissia than in non-Polissia. The WBCs among residents in Polissia are
      statistically significantly higher than among those from non-Polissia.
      CONCLUSION: NTD and M/M rates are highest in the Polissia region of Rivne and are
      among the highest in Europe. In Polissia, the WBCs of Cs-137 are above officially
      set permissible upper limits. The results are based on aggregate data of NTDs and
      M/Ms and average WBC values. Further investigations of causality of the high
      rates of NTDs and M/Ms are needed and urgent strengthening policies and
      implementations to reduce exposures to teratogens, in particular radioactive
      nuclides and alcohol, and consumption of folic acid supplements are indicated.

PMID- 26871488
TI  - Effect of tillage system on yield and weed populations of soybean ( Glycin Max
      L.).
AB  - Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research
      Center of Golestan Province, Iran, to determine the effects of tillage system and
      weed management regime on yield and weed populations in soybean ( Glycin max L.).
      The experimental design was a split plot where the whole plot portion was a
      randomized complete block with three replicates. Main plots were tillage system:
      1- No-till row crop seeding, 2- No-till seed drilling, 3- Tillage with disc
      harrow and drill planting, 4- Tillage with chisel packer and drill planting. The
      subplots were weed management regimes: 1-Weed control with herbicide application,
      2- Hand weeding, 3- Herbicide application plus hand weeding, and 4- Non-weeding.
      Results indicated that the main effects of tillage system and weed management
      regime were significant for seed yield, pod number per plant, seed number per
      pod, weed density and biomass, while their interaction were significant only for
      weed density, weed biomass, and seed number per pod. The highest grain yields
      (3838 kg ha-1) were recorded for No-till row crop seeding. The highest seed yield
      (3877 kg ha-1) also was recorded for weed control with herbicide and hand weeding
      treatment, followed by hand weeding (3379 kg ha-1). 

PMID- 26871489
TI  - First report of multiple anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of sheep in
      Colombia.
AB  - This study aimed to report the presence of parasites resistant to the most used
      anthelmintic drugs in sheep in Colombia. Four farms (denominated farm 1, 2, 3 and
      4) were selected where the animals were not treated with anthelmintics for two
      months before the trial. Animals with faecal egg count (FEC) above 150 and of
      different ages were allocated into six groups, each consisting of at least 5
      animals. The drugs and dosages used were: ivermectin 1% (0.2 mg/kg), albendazole
      25% (5 mg/kg), fenbendazole 10% (5 mg/kg), levamisole 10% (5 mg/kg), and
      moxidectin 1% (0.2 mg/kg). Anthelmintic efficacy was determined by the FEC
      reduction test (FECRT) with a second sampling 14 days post-treatment. The
      efficacy of albendazole and fenbendazole at farm 1 was above 95%, which was
      different from the others farms. The FECRT indicated the presence of multidrug
      resistance in the other farms where no tested drugs showed activity higher than
      79% (albendazole: 0 to 55%, fenbendazole: 51.4 to 76.6%, ivermectin: 67.3 to
      93.1%, levamisole: 0 to 78.1%, and moxidectin: 49.2 to 64.1%).Haemonchus
      contortus was the predominant (96%) species, followed by a small presence of
      Trichostrongylus sp. (3%) andCooperia sp. (1%). Therefore, we report for the
      first time the existence of multiple anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal
      nematodes of sheep in Colombia. 

PMID- 26871490
TI  - DNA damage and cytotoxicity in pathology laboratory technicians exposed to
      organic solvents.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate potential DNA damage and cytotoxicity in
      pathology laboratory technicians exposed to organic solvents, mainly xylene.
      Peripheral blood and buccal cells samples were collected from 18 technicians
      occupationally exposed to organic solvents and 11 non-exposed individuals. The
      technicians were sampled at two moments: Monday and Friday. DNA damage and
      cytotoxicity were evaluated using the Comet Assay and the Buccal Micronucleus
      Cytome assay. Fifteen subjects (83.5%) of the exposed group to solvents
      complained about some symptom probably related to contact with vapours of organic
      solvents. DNA damage in the exposed group to solvents was nearly 2-fold higher on
      Friday than on Monday, and in both moments the individuals of this group showed
      higher levels of DNA damage in relation to controls. No statistical difference
      was detected in buccal cell micronucleus frequency between the laboratory
      technicians and the control group. However, in the analysis performed on Friday,
      technicians presented higher frequency (about 3-fold) of karyolytic and apoptotic
      like cells (karyorrhectic and pyknotic) in relation to control group. Considering
      the damage frequency and the working time, a positive correlation was found in
      the exposed group to solvents (r=0.468; p=0.05). The results suggest that
      pathology laboratory workers inappropriately exposed to organic solvents have
      increased levels of DNA damage. 

PMID- 26871491
TI  - Antioxidant effect of simvastatin throught oxidative imbalance caused by
      lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.
AB  - The present study aims to directly investigate the behavioral and antioxidant
      effects of simvastatin in a model of bipolar mania induced by lisdexamfetamine
      dimesylate. Wistar rats were treated for 30 days with simvastatin. On the 24th
      day after the start of treatment, each rat was administered lisdexamfetamine
      dimesylate for 7 days. The results suggest that simvastatin combined with
      lisdexamfetamine dimesylate induced a significant increased locomotion and
      lisdexamfetamine dimesylate administration causes an oxidative imbalance
      determined by an increment in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and
      alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in brain areas; moreover, in
      the presence of simvastatin, most of these effects were prevented. These findings
      contribute to a better understanding of the critical roles of lisdexamfetamine
      dimesylate in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, associated with
      increased oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant enzymatic defense. In view
      of the central role played by lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, the established
      antioxidant effect of simvastatin therapy is of major interest. 

PMID- 26871492
TI  - Bioaccumulation of mercury, cadmium, zinc, chromium, and lead in muscle, liver,
      and spleen tissues of a large commercially valuable catfish species from Brazil.
AB  - The increasing amounts of heavy metals entering aquatic environments can result
      in high accumulation levels of these contaminants in fish and their consumers,
      which pose a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. We investigated the
      concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and lead
      (Pb) in muscle, liver, and spleen tissues of Pseudoplatystoma corruscans
      specimens collected from two sites on the Paraopeba River, Brazil. The level of
      heavy metals concentrations in the tissues was often higher in viscera (i.e.
      liver and spleen) than in muscle, and thus, the viscera should not be considered
      for human consumption. Correlations between metal concentrations and fish size
      were not significant. Although the levels of muscle bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd,
      Zn, Cr, and Pb, generally do not exceed the safe levels for human consumption,
      the constant presence of heavy metals in concentrations near those limits
      considered safe for human consumption, is a reason for concern, and populations
      who constantly consume fish from polluted rivers should be warned. Our findings
      also indicate that in a river network where certain areas are connected to other
      areas with high rates of environmental pollutants, people should be cautious
      about the regular consumption of fish, even when the fish consumed are caught in
      stretches of the basin where contamination levels are considered low, since many
      of the freshwater fish with high commercial value, such as the catfish surubim,
      are migratory. 

PMID- 26871493
TI  - Ethanol reduces ripening of 'Royal Gala' apples stored in controlled atmosphere.
AB  - This work aims at evaluate ethanol effect of acetaldehyde application in post
      storage quality of 'Royal Gala' apples maintenance, and to compare them with
      consolidated storage techniques. Thus two experiments were performed during the
      years of 2008 and 2009. In the first experiment (2008), the application of
      ethanol, acetaldehyde or 1-MCP and ethylene scrubbing were tested. Fruits were
      stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) with 1.0kPa O2 and 2.0kPa CO2 at 0.5 degrees
      C. In the second experiment (2009), the treatments tested were ethanol
      application combined or not with low relative humidity (LRH) and LRH alone. In
      this experiment, apples were stored in CA with 1.2kPa O2 + 2.5kPa CO2 at 0.5
      degrees C. After eight months of storage, 0.5 mL ethanol kg-1 apples month-1 or
      0.25 mL acetaldehyde kg-1 apples month-1 increased mealiness, flesh browning, and
      decays incidence and reduced flesh firmness. In contrast, 0.3 mL ethanol kg-1
      apples month-1, tested on second experiment, prevented fruit softening and
      decreased ACC oxidase activity and ethylene production. Although lower relative
      humidity was not efficient in maintaining post-storage quality, it enhanced the
      positive effect of ethanol application at 0.3 mL kg-1 apples month-1. 

PMID- 26871494
TI  - Morpho-anatomy and ontogeny of the underground system of Chrysolaena simplex
      (Less.) Dematt. (Asteraceae).
AB  - The occurrence of thickened underground systems in Asteraceae is widely reported
      in the literature. Given the great complexity of underground systems, which may
      originate from roots, stems, or both, morpho-anatomical analyses are essential to
      ensure the use of correct terminology. The goals of this study were to describe
      the morpho-anatomy and ontogeny, investigate the occurrence of secondary
      metabolites and evaluate the effects of seasonality on the underground system of
      Chrysolaena simplex (Less.) Dematt. Samples were studied using standard protocols
      of plant anatomy, scanning electron microscopy, histochemical and phytochemical.
      The underground system of C. simplex was categorised as a rhizophore which
      started from cotyledonary node. In adult individuals, with rhizophores completely
      developed, the primary roots degenerated and adventitious radicular systems are
      formed. The buds in the subterranean portions promote the rhizophore growing, and
      form aerial stems when exposed to light. Lipophilic droplets were evident in the
      parenchymatous cells of the cortex and pith, endodermis and buds. Inulin-type
      fructans were observed in the stem axis and buds of the rhizophore. The presence
      of buds, secondary metabolites and the storage of fructans and lipids in the
      rhizophore can be seen as adaptive traits. 

PMID- 26871495
TI  - Cytisus scoparius (Fam. Fabaceae) in southern Brazil - first step of an invasion
      process?
AB  - The occurrence of Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (Fabaceae), is
      reported for the first time in Brazil. The species has been registered in the
      species-rich Campos Sulinos grasslands, in the Campos de Cima da Serra, and in
      the Serra do Sudeste. Naturalizing populations were frequently formed in natural
      habitats near to human settlements, where prevailing land uses and disturbances
      facilitate dispersal and establishment. The plant is an invasive species that has
      globally caused significant damage to biodiversity and economic losses. In
      Brazil, the species has a strong potential for spreading into a wide range of
      ecosystems. The Atlantic Forest biome and part of the Pampa biome, together known
      as the Campos Sulinos, represent optimal areas for the species. Features of the
      observed populations and recommendations for management are presented. 

PMID- 26871496
TI  - High temperatures and absence of light affect the hatching of resting eggs of
      Daphnia in the tropics.
AB  - Temperature and light are acknowledged as important factors for hatching of
      resting eggs. The knowledge of how they affect hatching rates of this type of egg
      is important for the comprehension of the consequences of warming waters in
      recolonization of aquatic ecosystems dependent on dormant populations. This study
      aimed at comparing the influence of different temperature and light conditions on
      hatching rates of Daphnia ambigua andDaphnia laevis resting eggs from tropical
      environments. The ephippia were collected in the sediment of three aquatic
      ecosystems, in southeastern Brazil. For each lake, the resting eggs were exposed
      to temperatures of 20, 24, 28 and 32  degrees C, under light (12 h photoperiod)
      and dark conditions. The results showed that the absence of light and high
      temperatures have a negative influence on the hatching rates. Statistical
      differences for hatching rates were also found when comparing the studied
      ecosystems (ranging from 0.6 to 31%), indicating the importance of local
      environmental factors for diapause and maintenance of active populations. 

PMID- 26871497
TI  - Ecology of the bromeligenous frog Phyllodytes luteolus (Anura, Hylidae) from
      three restinga remnants across Brazil's coast.
AB  - In this study, we analyzed diet, sexual dimorphism and bromeliad use in three
      populations of the hylid frog Phyllodytes luteolus from restinga habitats along
      the Brazilian coast. We found 13 arthropods categories in 161 stomachs. Ants and
      termites were the dominant prey items. The similar trophic niche across
      populations suggests this species has a conservative diet. We found sexual
      dimorphism regarding body size and jaw width. We recordedP. luteolus in five
      bromeliad species, but predominantly inAechmeablanchetiana (35.6% of individuals
      recorded). We recorded solitary individuals in 44% of occupied bromeliads, and
      never found two males sharing the same bromeliad. The data is suggestive that
      populations ofP. luteolus has a conservative diet independent of area, with ants
      and termites the being most relevant prey items. The sexual dimorphism in jaw and
      the solitary males may suggest that this species have territorial behavior. 

PMID- 26871498
TI  - Intra-uterine experimental infection by Ureaplasma diversum induces TNF-alpha
      mediated womb inflammation in mice.
AB  - Ureaplasma diversum is an opportunistic pathogen associated with uterine
      inflammation, impaired embryo implantation, infertility, abortions, premature
      birth of calves and neonatal pneumonia in cattle. It has been suggested that the
      intra-uterine infection by Ureaplasma diversum can cause vascular changes that
      hinder the success of pregnancy. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the
      changes of intrauterine site of A/J mice in estrus or proestrus phase inoculated
      with Ureaplasma diversum. The infection was monitored at 24, 48 and 72 hours by
      the PCR methodology to detect the Ureaplasma in the inoculation site and the
      profile of circulating blood cells. Morphological changes, intensity of
      inflammation and the production of cytokines were compared. The infected mice
      showed local inflammation through the production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.
      Ureaplasma diversum infections in the reproductive tract of studied mice seemed
      to be associated with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in uterine
      parenchyma. The levels of TNF-alpha of infected mice were dependent on the
      bacterial load of inoculated Ureaplasma. Uterine experimental infections by
      Ureaplasma diversum have not been mentioned yet and herein we presented the first
      report of an intrauterine infection model in mice. 

PMID- 26871499
TI  - Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the endophytic actinomycete R18(6)
      against multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria.
AB  - Endophytic actinomycetes are promising sources of antimicrobial substances. This
      study evaluates the activity of metabolites produced by the endophytic
      actinomycete R18(6) against Gram-negative bacteria multiresistant to
      antimicrobials. R18(6) isolate was grown in submerged cultures under different
      conditions: carbon source, temperature, pH and incubation time to optimize
      antimicrobials production. The actinomycete grown in base medium supplemented
      with 1% glucose, pH 6.5 and incubation at 30 oC for 96 h with shaking at 100 rpm,
      exhibited the highest activity against the used Gram-negative bacteria. Minimum
      inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude extract produced by the microorganism
      varied between 1/32 and 1/256. It had bactericide or bacteriostatic activity,
      depending on the Gram-negative organism. The active extract was stable at high
      temperatures, and unstable in medium containing proteolytic enzymes.
      Micromorphology of R18(6) was investigated by optical and scan microscopy,
      revealing that it was morphologically similar to the genusStreptomyces. 

PMID- 26871501
TI  - (4S)-4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone and other chemical constituents from
      Pestalotiopsis sp. EJC07, endophytic fromBauhinia guianensis.
AB  - The present work reports the isolation of eight compounds fromPestalotiopsis sp.
      EJC07 isolated as endophytic fromBauhinia guianensis, a tipical plant of the
      Amazon. The compounds (4S)-4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone (1), uracil (2), uridin (3),
      p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), ergosterol (5), ergosterol peroxide (6), cerevisterol
      (7) and ducitol (8) were isolated by chromatographic procedures and identified by
      spectral methods of 1D and 2D NMR and MS. The compound 1 is being reported for
      the first time in the genusPestalotiopsis. 

PMID- 26871500
TI  - Collaboration Networks in the Brazilian Scientific Output in Evolutionary
      Biology: 2000-2012.
AB  - This article analyzes the existing collaboration networks in the Brazilian
      scientific output in Evolutionary Biology, considering articles published during
      the period from 2000 to 2012 in journals indexed by Web of Science. The
      methodology integrates bibliometric techniques and Social Network Analysis
      resources to describe the growth of Brazilian scientific output and understand
      the levels, dynamics and structure of collaboration between authors, institutions
      and countries. The results unveil an enhancement and consolidation of
      collaborative relationships over time and suggest the existence of key
      institutions and authors, whose influence on research is expressed by the variety
      and intensity of the relationships established in the co-authorship of articles.
      International collaboration, present in more than half of the publications, is
      highly significant and unusual in Brazilian science. The situation indicates the
      internationalization of scientific output and the ability of the field to take
      part in the science produced by the international scientific community. 

PMID- 26871503
TI  - Extremely efficient hydroboration of ketones and aldehydes by copper carbene
      catalysis.
AB  - A readily available copper carbene complex, (IPr)CuOtBu, catalyses the
      hydroboration of ketones and aldehydes even at very low catalyst loadings (0.1
      mol%), in some cases with turnover frequencies exceeding 6000 h(-1). Carbonyl
      reduction occurs selectivitily in the presence of other reducible functional
      groups including alkenes, nitriles, esters, and alkyl chlorides. 

PMID- 26871502
TI  - How does the stressed out ER find relief during virus infection?
AB  - The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi network (ERGN) is vital to most cellular
      biosynthetic processes. Many positive strand RNA viruses depend upon the ERGN for
      replication, maturation, and egress. Viruses induce changes in ER architecture
      and stimulate fatty acid synthesis to create environments that can scaffold
      replication complexes, plant virus movement complexes, or virion maturation.
      Potato virus X (PVX) and Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) each encode small membrane
      binding proteins that embed in the ERGN and activate the unfolded protein
      response (UPR). The UPR ensures ERGN homeostasis in the face of environmental
      assaults that could negatively impact the biosynthetic functions of the ERGN.
      This article explores the relationship between ER stress, the UPR, and membrane
      synthesis occurring during virus infection.

PMID- 26871504
TI  - Development of a Scalable Synthesis of Tofogliflozin.
AB  - An efficient and scalable synthesis of an antidiabetic drug, tofogliflozin (1),
      which was identified as a highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2)
      inhibitor, is described. A key factor in the synthesis of 1 was the selection of
      the purpose-designed protecting group, which plays a strategic role in
      protection, chemoselective activation, and crystalline purification. The
      developed and optimized method made it possible to prepare 1 on a multidecagram
      scale without any column chromatography. 

PMID- 26871505
TI  - Nitrogen redistribution and its relationship with the expression of GmATG8c
      during seed filling in soybean.
AB  - It is well known that some nitrogen in the vegetative organs is redistributed to
      the seeds during seed filling in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill). This
      redistribution is considered to affect the seed yield of soybean. However, it is
      still not clear when the nitrogen moves from the vegetative part to the seeds,
      and the relationship between nitrogen redistribution and leaf senescence has not
      been clarified. The soybean variety Fukuyutaka was grown in the experimental
      field of Saga University, Japan from 22 July to 31 October, 2014. After the first
      flower stage (R1), the plant samples were collected weekly and were separated
      into leaf, petiole, stem, podshell and seed. The nitrogen concentrations in each
      plant part were determined. Fresh leaf samples were provided for the
      determination of soluble protein and autophagy gene GmATG8c expression. The
      nitrogen that accumulated in the vegetative parts reached its highest level at
      60days after sowing (DAS), then began to decrease at 73DAS (R6). This decrease is
      considered to be the consequence of nitrogen redistribution from the vegetative
      parts to the seeds. The movement of nitrogen from the vegetative parts to the
      seeds was estimated to occur at around 73DAS (R6). At this stage, leaf SPAD
      values, leaf nitrogen, and soluble protein concentrations began to decrease
      simultaneously, suggesting the onset of leaf senescence. Furthermore, the
      expression of the autophagy gene GmATG8c in the leaves increased dramatically
      from 73 to 85DAS, which is the duration of nitrogen redistribution. The results
      suggest that the nitrogen redistribution from the vegetative parts to the seeds
      could be one of the initiating factors of leaf senescence, and the autophagy gene
      GmATG8c was associated with this process. 

PMID- 26871506
TI  - Combined NMR and molecular dynamics modeling study of transport properties in
      sulfonamide based deep eutectic lithium electrolytes: LiTFSI based binary
      systems.
AB  - The trend toward Li-ion batteries operating at increased (>4.3 V vs. Li/Li(+))
      voltages requires the development of novel classes of lithium electrolytes with
      electrochemical stability windows exceeding those of LiPF6/carbonate electrolyte
      solutions. Several new classes of electrolytes have been synthesized and
      investigated over the past decade, in the search for LIB electrolytes with
      improved properties (increased hydrolytic stability, improved thermal abuse
      tolerance, higher oxidation voltages, etc.) compared with the present state-of
      the-art LiPF6 and organic carbonates-based formulations. Among these are deep
      eutectic electrolytes (DEEs), which share many beneficial characteristics with
      ionic liquids, such as low vapor pressure and large electrochemical stability
      windows, with the added advantage of a significantly higher lithium transference
      number. The present work presents the pulsed field gradient NMR characterization
      of the transport properties (diffusion coefficients and cation transport numbers)
      of binary DEEs consisting of a sulfonamide solvent and lithium
      bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt. Insights into the structural and
      dynamical properties, which enable one to rationalize the observed ionic
      conductivity behavior were obtained from a combination of NMR data and MD
      simulations. The insights thus gained should assist the formulation of novel DEEs
      with improved properties for LIB applications. 

PMID- 26871507
TI  - Carbon Quantum Dots Induced Ultrasmall BiOI Nanosheets with Assembled Hollow
      Structures for Broad Spectrum Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanism Insight.
AB  - Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) induced ultrasmall BiOI nanosheets with assembled
      hollow microsphere structures were prepared via ionic liquids 1-butyl-3
      methylimidazolium iodine ([Bmim]I)-assisted synthesis method at room temperature
      condition. The composition, structure, morphology, and photoelectrochemical
      properties were investigated by multiple techniques. The CQDs/BiOI hollow
      microspheres structure displayed improved photocatalytic activities than pure
      BiOI for the degradation of three different kinds of pollutants, such as
      antibacterial agent tetracycline (TC), endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol A
      (BPA), and phenol rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light, light above 580 nm, or
      light above 700 nm irradiation, which showed the broad spectrum photocatalytic
      activity. The key role of CQDs for the improvement of photocatalytic activity was
      explored. The introduction of CQDs could induce the formation of ultrasmall BiOI
      nanosheets with assembled hollow microsphere structure, strengthen the light
      absorption within full spectrum, increase the specific surface areas and improve
      the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Benefiting
      from the unique structural features, the CQDs/BiOI microspheres exhibited
      excellent photoactivity. The h(+) was determined to be the main active specie for
      the photocatalytic degradation by ESR analysis and free radicals trapping
      experiments. The CQDs can be further employed to induce other nanosheets be
      smaller. The design of such architecture with CQDs/BiOI hollow microsphere
      structure can be extended to other photocatalytic systems. 

PMID- 26871508
TI  - Diagnostic dilemma of sacral abscess presented with seizure and altered conscious
      level in a patient with spinal cord injury.
AB  - CONTEXT: Infection and septicaemia may clinically presented with seizure and
      altered conscious level. In spinal cord injury (SCI) population, they are at risk
      of having pressure ulcer which can be complicated further with infection and
      septicaemia. FINDINGS: A 40-year-old man with complete T4 SCI and multiple clean
      and non-healing pressure ulcers at sacral and bilateral ischial tuberosity
      regions was initially admitted for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)
      dressing. He had an episode of seizure and subsequently had fluctuating altered
      conscious level before the diagnosis of deep-seated sacral abscess was made and
      managed. Prior investigations to rule out common possible sources of infections
      and management did not resolve the fluctuating event of altered consciousness.
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We presented an unusual case presentation of septicemia in a
      patient with SCI with underlying chronic non-healing pressure ulcer. He presented
      with seizure and fluctuating altered conscious level. Even though a chronic non
      healing ulcer appeared clinically clean, a high index of suspicion for deep
      seated abscess is warranted as one of the possible sources of infection,
      especially when treatment for other common sources of infections fails to result
      in clinical improvement.

PMID- 26871510
TI  - Need for and Steps Toward a Clinical Guideline for the Telemental Healthcare of
      Children and Adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article identifies and describes key considerations toward the
      development of a clinical guideline intended to optimize telemental healthcare
      (TMH) of children and adolescents. METHODS: The literature was searched with key
      terms and title words. Of 2824 articles that met primary or secondary key word
      search criteria, 326 met both criteria, and 118 thematically related directly to
      child and adolescent TMH. Only 44 studies met levels of evidence I-III and expert
      recommendation criteria used in clinical guidelines; review of their references
      found 8 additional studies (52 total). Data from adult, child, and adolescent in
      person psychiatric care and adult TMH were applied to provide context in
      developing the key considerations. RESULTS: TMH guidelines for adults are well
      delineated, and TMH guidelines for children and adolescents are likely to closely
      overlap in terms of general clinical, technical, and administrative issues.
      However, for a child and adolescent focus, modifications of existing general
      guidelines appear necessary; for example, based on developmental status, family
      involvement, and patient-site modifications for space and sound. Additional
      clinical issues include specify who, exactly, is the "patient" (i.e., the
      patient, family, and /or other stakeholders), modalities of care (i.e., age
      related psychotherapies such as play therapy or behavior management), and
      psychopharmacology. CONCLUSIONS: Specific clinical, administrative, and technical
      issues are key considerations - based on the nuances of established child and
      adolescent mental healthcare - and must be considered in developing a clinical
      guideline for TMH of these patients. Developing such guidance should proceed from
      a careful review of the growing evidence base, and through expert consensus
      processes.

PMID- 26871512
TI  - Analysis of aDR5scFv with Specific Identification and Function.
AB  - Death receptor 5 (DR5) can selectively induce cell death in a wide variety of
      tumor cells. However, at least certain versions of the recombinant soluble TRAIL
      (sTRAIL) or anti-DR5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) are also shown to cause apoptosis
      in normal cells (especially in hepatocytes), hampering its clinical use for
      cancer therapy. Recently, the development of small recombinant antibody fragments
      as high-affinity therapeutic reagents with reduced immunogenicity has come under
      the spotlight. A popular format of engineered recombinant antibody fragment is
      the single-chain fixed-variable (scFv) molecule, in which the VH and VL regions
      of the parental antibody are joined by a polypeptide linker. The scFv fragment
      retains the target specificity and antigen binding affinity of the intact
      antibody, whereas it can be genetically designed and produced in large quantities
      by ectopically expressing both VH and VL regions from a single cDNA in cells. In
      this study, an aDR5scFv was constructed and expressed, and it was conformed so
      that it could recognize and bind eDR5 specifically. The therapeutic effects on
      human lung adenocarcinoma cells lines 973 in vitro and in vivo were detected by
      MTT assay, flow cytometry, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and TUNEL assay.
      aDR5scFv was able to induce 973 cell apoptosis in an in vitro system. The protein
      expressions of caspase-3, Bax, and cytochrome c were raised, and aDR5scFv also
      inhibited tumor growth in mice with its effect as well as with radiotherapy. It
      is concluded that aDR5scFv could possibly be considered as a novel therapeutic
      candidate for the treatment of tumors.

PMID- 26871513
TI  - Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against NS1 Protein of
      Duck Tembusu Virus.
AB  - To produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against NS1 protein of duck Tembusu virus
      (TMUV), the NS1 gene sequence was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector
      pET-28a(+). The prokaryotic protein NS1 was successfully expressed in BL21 (DE3)
      and used as the immunogen in mice. Six MAbs against NS1 protein were obtained by
      using the standard hybridoma technique. All MAbs can react with the denatured NS1
      protein in the Western blot assay and the native NS1 protein from the TMUV
      infected BHK-21 cells in the immunofluorescence assay. The ELISA titers of the
      cell supernatants and ascites of MAbs were at a high level. The subtypes of the
      MAbs were determined by the Rapid Mouse Isotyping Kit-Gold series. Six MAbs
      possessed higher specificity and sensitivity, which indicated that MAbs against
      NS1 protein of TMUV may be used as valuable tools for analysis of the protein
      functions and pathogenesis of TMUV.

PMID- 26871511
TI  - Trastuzumab-Resistant Luminal B Breast Cancer Cells Show Basal-Like Cell Growth
      Features Through NF-kappaB-Activation.
AB  - A major clinical problem in the treatment of breast cancer is mortality due to
      metastasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with metastasis
      should aid in designing new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer. Trastuzumab
      is the main therapeutic option for HER2+ breast cancer patients; however, the
      molecular basis for trastuzumab resistance (TZR) and subsequent metastasis is not
      known. Earlier, we found expression of basal-like molecular markers in TZR
      tissues from patients with invasive breast cancer.(( 1 )) The basal-like
      phenotype is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. This observation
      suggests that TZR might contribute to an aggressive phenotype. To understand if
      resistance to TZR can lead to basal-like phenotype, we generated a trastuzumab
      resistant human breast cancer cell line (BT-474-R) that maintained human
      epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression and HER2 mediated
      signaling. Analysis showed that nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) was
      constitutively activated in the BT-474-R cells, a feature similar to the basal
      like tumor phenotype. Pharmacologic inhibition of NF-kappaB improved sensitivity
      of BT-474-R cells to trastuzumab. Interestingly, activation of HER2 independent
      NF-kappaB is not shown in luminal B breast cancer cells. Our study suggests that
      by activating the NF-kappaB pathway, luminal B cells may acquire a HER2+ basal
      like phenotype in which NF-kappaB is constitutively activated; this notion is
      consistent with the recently proposed "progression through grade" or "evolution
      of resistance" hypothesis. Furthermore, we identified IKK-alpha/IKK-beta and
      nuclear accumulation of RelA/p65 as the major determinants in the resistant
      cells. Thus our study additionally suggests that the nuclear accumulation of p65
      may be a useful marker for identifying metastasis-initiating tumor cells and
      targeting RelA/p65 may limit metastasis of breast and other cancers associated
      with NF-kappaB activation.

PMID- 26871514
TI  - Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for 3-(1
      naphthoyl) Indole Derivatives.
AB  - 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole is one of the raw materials that synthesizes a synthetic
      cannabinoid such as 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole (JWH-018) and 1-butyl-3-(1
      naphthoyl) indole (JWH-073). It is important to detect the 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole
      derivatives rapidly, sensitively, and comprehensively. We developed two
      monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole derivatives, named NT1
      (IgG1) and NT2 (IgG1), which were possibly effective for detecting 3-(1
      naphthoyl) indole derivatives. The cross-reactive ability of these MAbs was
      evaluated using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the
      results, we found both of these antibodies recognize 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole and
      its derivatives. However neither of these antibodies recognize naphtoic acid, 4
      methyl-naphtoic acid, and indole. Sixty to 100 nanomole per liter of 3-(1
      naphthoyl) indole derivatives, such as 1-methyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole, 1-ethyl-3
      (1-naphthoyl) indole, and 1-octyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole, can be detected using
      both of the obtained MAbs. Thus, the MAbs produced in this study could be a
      useful tool for the detection of 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole derivatives.

PMID- 26871521
TI  - Tungsten oxide nanowire synthesis from amorphous-like tungsten films.
AB  - A synthesis technique which can lead to direct integration of tungsten oxide
      nanowires onto silicon chips is essential for preparing various devices. The
      conversion of amorphous tungsten films deposited on silicon chips by pulsed layer
      deposition to nanowires by annealing is an apt method in that direction. This
      perspective discusses the ingenious features of the technique reported by
      Dellasega et al on the various aspects of tungsten oxide nanowire synthesis. 

PMID- 26871520
TI  - Personalizing supportive care in oncology patients using pharmacogenetic-driven
      treatment pathways.
AB  - Cancer patients frequently suffer from disease- and treatment-related pain,
      nausea and depression, which severely reduces patients' quality of life. It is
      critical that clinicians are aware of drug-gene interactions and recognize the
      utility of applying pharmacogenetic information to personalize and improve
      supportive care. Pharmacogenetic-based algorithms may enhance clinical outcomes
      by allowing the clinician to select the 'least genetically vulnerable' drug. This
      review summarizes clinically relevant drug-gene interactions and presents
      pharmacogenetic-driven treatment pathways for depression, nausea/vomiting and
      pain. Ideally, this review provides a resource for clinicians to consult when
      selecting pharmacotherapy for a patient who presents with limited pharmacogenetic
      test results, with the hope of better controlling burdensome symptoms and
      improving the quality of life for cancer patients. 

PMID- 26871522
TI  - A State-Level Assessment of Hospital-Based Palliative Care and the Use of Life
      Sustaining Therapies in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unknown how the prevalence of hospitals with palliative care
      programs (PCPs) at the state level in the United States correlates with the
      treatment of critically ill patients. OBJECTIVE: We examined the relationship
      between state-level PCP prevalence and commonly used treatments for critically
      ill patients as well as other public health metrics. METHODS: We compiled state
      level data for the year 2011 from multiple published sources. These included the
      poverty rate from the U.S. Census, public health measures such as the number of
      primary care physicians per 100,000 persons from America's Health Ranking
      website, and state-level rates for a series of validated ICD-9 (International
      Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision) procedure codes used for critically ill
      patients (e.g., prolonged acute mechanical ventilation [PAMV]) from the State
      Inpatient Databases (SID), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and
      Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. State-level percentages of PCPs came
      from a published report by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). We used
      the Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's correlation coefficient for statistical
      inference. RESULTS: State-level poverty rates were negatively correlated with the
      percent of hospitals with PCPs: r = -0.39, p = 0.005. States with more hospital
      based PCPs had significantly lower rates of PAMV, tracheostomies, and
      hemodialysis but higher rates of nutritional support than states with fewer PCPs.
      CONCLUSIONS: States with more poverty and/or at high risk for delivering
      inefficient health care had fewer hospital PCPs. Hospital-based PCPs may
      influence the frequency of some interventions for critically ill patients.

PMID- 26871524
TI  - Notes from the Guest Editor.

PMID- 26871523
TI  - INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA TREATED WITH
      DEXAMETHASONE INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT IN THE 3-YEAR MEAD STUDY.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the occurrence, management, and clinical significance of
      increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with diabetic macular edema
      treated with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant). METHODS:
      Randomized, multicenter, 3-year, Phase III study. Patients (N = 1,048) with
      diabetic macular edema were randomized to DEX implant 0.7-mg, DEX implant 0.35
      mg, or sham procedure with retreatment allowed at >=6-month intervals (seven
      injections maximum). RESULTS: In the DEX implant 0.7-mg, DEX implant 0.35-mg, and
      sham groups, respectively, >=10-mmHg IOP increases from baseline occurred in
      27.7%, 24.8%, and 3.7% of patients, and their frequency did not increase with
      repeat injections. IOP-lowering medication was used by 41.5%, 37.6%, and 9.1% of
      patients. Only one patient (0.3%) in each DEX implant group had filtering surgery
      to manage a steroid-induced IOP increase. Among DEX implant 0.7-mg-treated
      patients with and without a >=10-mmHg IOP increase, 21.9% (21 of 96) and 22.4%
      (57 of 255), respectively, achieved >=15-letter best-corrected visual acuity gain
      at the end of the study, and mean average change in central retinal thickness
      from baseline was -127 MUm and -106 MUm, respectively. CONCLUSION: DEX implant
      demonstrated clear benefit of treatment despite increases in IOP. Sequential
      implants had no cumulative effect on IOP.

PMID- 26871525
TI  - Whose Death Is It Anyway? Perspectives on End-of-Life in Canada.
AB  - People die every minute in Canada, but how they die has become increasingly
      contentious as the demand for physician-assisted death and euthanasia has become
      louder and more widespread. Several events have propelled the debate around
      choice in end-of-life care, including the posthumous release of a video in which
      infectious disease expert Dr. Donald Low expressed his frustrations over his
      inability to control the manner of his death, the passing of Bill 52 in Quebec
      and the Supreme Court's decision to hear the Carter case challenging the
      constitutionality of the law against assisted suicide. Baby boomers are demanding
      more autonomy and choice in dying. Is the medical profession listening? 

PMID- 26871526
TI  - Canadian Medical Association Perspectives on End-of-Life in Canada.
AB  - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the representative body for the
      physicians of Canada. Over the past year, the association has been devoting
      significant time and resources to considering the important issues involved in
      care at the end of life. It has conducted a series of public town hall meetings
      across the country to allow Canadians to express their view on these issues, the
      only organization to have done so. The CMA will be appearing before the Supreme
      Court in the Carter case in October 2014 as a "friend of the court" and will
      continue to represent the views of the medical profession in these complex and
      difficult areas. 

PMID- 26871527
TI  - "Speak Up, We Can't Hear You".
AB  - The author supports the lead authors' call for physicians to be open about their
      support for legalized assisted death. Citing evidence from Canada and
      internationally, the author demonstrates that support for euthanasia is growing
      in the medical community, and that many physicians would like to see legislative
      changes to support this trend. The commentary concludes with a call for
      physicians to educate themselves so that they can advocate more effectively on
      behalf of their patients. 

PMID- 26871528
TI  - Why Don't More Physicians Support Assisted Death?
AB  - In this issue of Healthcare Papers, Maureen Taylor and Sandra Martin make a
      compelling case for the medical community to speak out in favour of physician
      assisted death (PAD) in Canada. As a member of the medical community, I want to
      echo that call to my colleagues. But I also want to explain my own evolution in
      thinking about PAD, in the hope that this will help non-physicians understand why
      this is such a difficult issue for physicians to tackle. I also hope that it will
      convince some of my colleagues to heed Taylor and Martin's call to speak out in
      favour of PAD. 

PMID- 26871529
TI  - Why Am I Here?
AB  - In this essay I reflect on the meaning of death in life. Drawing on experiences
      as a practicing family physician providing care for dying patients and being
      witness to the deaths of family members, I argue for greater efforts to
      explicitly and openly support frank discussions about death and dying. I endorse
      the recommendations of the Royal Society of Canada expert panel, and point out
      remaining challenges that must be met regardless of whether there is a change in
      the legal structures regarding the permissibility of aid in dying. I conclude by
      arguing that understanding death in our lives helps shape its meaning and human
      significance. 

PMID- 26871530
TI  - Assisted Dying in Canada.
AB  - This paper makes an affirmative ethical case in favour of the decriminalization
      of assisted dying in Canada. It then proceeds to defending the affirmative case
      against various slippery-slope arguments that are typically deployed by opponents
      of assisted dying. Finally, a recent case of questionable professional conduct by
      anti-euthanasia campaigners cum academics is flagged as a warning to all of us
      not to permit the quality of the professional debate to deteriorate unacceptably,
      despite the personal emotional investments involved on all sides of the debate. 

PMID- 26871531
TI  - Increasing Interest and Demand? Is Our System Well-Enough Prepared for Policy
      Change?
AB  - The article co-authored by Maureen Taylor and Sandra Martin raises important
      issues that are resulting in new debate and attention in our thinking concerning
      physician-assisted death. It is likely that a change in policy is forthcoming,
      especially with the emerging force of a growing demographic who value personal
      choice and autonomy and are well-versed in the range of medical technologies and
      practices available. The issue of physician-assisted death cannot be understood
      apart from considering current models of healthcare and the role of adequate
      supportive care and psychosocial support. Despite having access to research and
      frameworks to inform quality palliative care, as well as communication
      competencies and guidelines to assist practitioners in the management of
      debilitating symptoms, our current healthcare system consists of healthcare
      professionals who continue to be challenged in their abilities to alleviate
      complex and challenging symptoms and distress. We will need to carefully assess
      our systems and plan well ahead for changes in policy to provide optimal, ethical
      and safe approaches to the offering of services around assisted death as an
      option for end-of-life care. 

PMID- 26871532
TI  - Is It Time to Get MAD?
AB  - Like the rest of Canada, the vast majority of Quebecers do not have access to
      comprehensive, quality, palliative end-of-life care. Nevertheless, despite every
      substantive argument, compelling study, troubling precedent and cautionary tale
      regarding physician-hastened death, the Quebec Government has passed Bill 52 - a
      Bill legalizing euthanasia or what is euphemistically being called medical aid in
      dying (MAD). While the Bill purports to ensure that "everyone may have access,
      throughout the continuum of care, to quality care that is appropriate to their
      needs, including prevention and relief of suffering," it states that
      organizational structures, institutions and palliative care hospices will carry
      out this mandate "within the limits of the human, material and financial
      resources at their disposal." Perhaps, given the limitation of those resources,
      the only detail Bill 52 provides regarding how they will fulfill their mandate
      pertains to the administration and tracking of MAD. How will Quebecers feel when
      they realize that while their healthcare system can offer them euthanasia, it
      cannot assure them or their loved ones, access to healthcare professionals
      proficient in palliative care? All of which begs the question, is it really time
      to get MAD? 

PMID- 26871533
TI  - Educating health professionals about evidence-based practice: still as important
      today as it was 20 years ago.

PMID- 26871534
TI  - Experimental manipulations of pain catastrophizing influence pain levels in
      patients with chronic pain and healthy volunteers.
AB  - Pain catastrophizing (PC) has been related to pain levels in both patients
      experiencing acute or chronic pain and in healthy volunteers exposed to
      experimental pain. Still, it is unclear whether high levels of pain
      catastrophizing lead to high levels of pain or vice versa. We therefore tested
      whether levels of pain catastrophizing could be increased and decreased in the
      same participant through hypnotic suggestions and whether the altered level of
      situation-specific pain catastrophizing was related to increased and decreased
      pain levels, respectively. Using the spontaneous pain of 22 patients with chronic
      tension-type headache and experimentally induced pain in 22 healthy volunteers,
      participants were tested in 3 randomized sessions where they received 3 types of
      hypnotic suggestions: Negative (based on the 13 items in the Pain Catastrophizing
      Scale), Positive (coping-oriented reversion of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale),
      and Neutral (neutral sentence) hypnotic suggestions. The hypnotic suggestions
      significantly increased and decreased situation-specific PC in both patients and
      healthy volunteers (P < 0.001). Also, the levels of pain intensity and pain
      unpleasantness were significantly altered in both patients and healthy volunteers
      (P < 0.001). Furthermore, regression analyses showed that changes in pain
      catastrophizing predicted changes in pain in patients (R = 0.204-0.304; P <
      0.045) and in healthy volunteers (R = 0.328-0.252; P < 0.018). This is the first
      study to successfully manipulate PC in positive and negative directions in both
      patients with chronic pain and healthy volunteers and to show that these
      manipulations significantly influence pain levels. These findings may have
      important theoretical and clinical implications. 

PMID- 26871535
TI  - Brain activations during pain: a neuroimaging meta-analysis of patients with pain
      and healthy controls.
AB  - In response to recent publications from pain neuroimaging experiments, there has
      been a debate about the existence of a primary pain region in the brain. Yet,
      there are few meta-analyses providing assessments of the minimum cerebral
      denominators of pain. Here, we used a statistical meta-analysis method, called
      activation likelihood estimation, to define (1) core brain regions activated by
      pain per se, irrelevant of pain modality, paradigm, or participants and (2)
      activation likelihood estimation commonalities and differences between patients
      with chronic pain and healthy individuals. A subtraction analysis of 138
      independent data sets revealed that the minimum denominator for activation across
      pain modalities and paradigms included the right insula, secondary sensory
      cortex, and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Common activations for healthy
      subjects and patients with pain alike included the thalamus, ACC, insula, and
      cerebellum. A comparative analysis revealed that healthy individuals were more
      likely to activate the cingulum, thalamus, and insula. Our results point toward
      the central role of the insular cortex and ACC in pain processing, irrelevant of
      modality, body part, or clinical experience; thus, furthering the importance of
      ACC and insular activation as key regions for the human experience of pain. 

PMID- 26871536
TI  - Trends and predictors of opioid use after total knee and total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - Few studies have assessed postoperative trends in opioid cessation and predictors
      of persistent opioid use after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip
      arthroplasty (THA). Preoperatively, 574 TKA and THA patients completed validated,
      self-report measures of pain, functioning, and mood and were longitudinally
      assessed for 6 months after surgery. Among patients who were opioid naive the day
      of surgery, 8.2% of TKA and 4.3% of THA patients were using opioids at 6 months.
      In comparison, 53.3% of TKA and 34.7% of THA patients who reported opioid use the
      day of surgery continued to use opioids at 6 months. Patients taking >60 mg oral
      morphine equivalents preoperatively had an 80% likelihood of persistent use
      postoperatively. Day of surgery predictors for 6-month opioid use by opioid-naive
      patients included greater overall body pain (P = 0.002), greater affected joint
      pain (knee/hip) (P = 0.034), and greater catastrophizing (P = 0.010). For both
      opioid-naive and opioid users on the day of surgery, decreases in overall body
      pain from baseline to 6 months were associated with decreased odds of being on
      opioids at 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.72, P = 0.050; aOR = 0.62, P =
      0.001); however, change in affected joint pain (knee/hip) was not predictive of
      opioid use (aOR = 0.99, P = 0.939; aOR = 1.00, P = 0.963). In conclusion, many
      patients taking opioids before surgery continue to use opioids after arthroplasty
      and some opioid-naive patients remained on opioids; however, persistent opioid
      use was not associated with change in joint pain. Given the growing concerns
      about chronic opioid use, the reasons for persistent opioid use and perioperative
      prescribing of opioids deserve further study. 

PMID- 26871537
TI  - Twin-twin transfusion and laser therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is an uncommon, but
      dangerous, complication of monochorionic diamniotic twin gestations. The purpose
      of this review is to provide an update on the evolving treatments in TTTS as it
      pertains primarily to laser photocoagulation, as well as to provide recently
      published information on outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: The Solomon laser technique,
      in which selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation is first performed and then
      followed by laser of the vascular equator from one side of the placenta to the
      other, reduces TTTS complications of twin anemia-polycythemia syndrome and
      recurrent TTTS. The addition of fetal echocardiography to the historical staging
      of TTTS adds important information that may guide future therapies. The postlaser
      ablation rate of neurodevelopmental delay in TTTS has recently been reported to
      be 14%. Cotwin demise is a significant complication of untreated TTTS and
      survival carries a 25% risk of cystic periventricular leukomalacia, middle
      cerebral artery infarction, and injury to other central nervous system structures
      as noted by neuroimaging. SUMMARY: Laser therapy for TTTS is clearly the only
      therapy that halts the disease process, allows both fetuses an opportunity to
      survive and protects a surviving cotwin in the event of the demise of one twin.
      Laser techniques have evolved greatly over the last 25 years and recent reports
      with the addition of the Solomon technique appearing to reduce some postlaser
      complications (twin anemia-polycythemia sequence and recurrent TTTS). Future
      focus of TTTS therapy should be centered on understanding the pathophysiology of
      the disease better with improvement in staging of the disease and on comparison
      of different laser techniques with the overall goal of not only increasing twin
      survival rates but also reducing long term neurodevelopmental morbidity.

PMID- 26871538
TI  - The continuing threat of syphilis in pregnancy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Syphilis in pregnancy continues to be a worldwide threat to
      mothers and their fetuses, and in recent years has been increasing in prevalence.
      The purpose of this short review is to address current issues in the diagnosis
      and management of syphilis complicating pregnancies. RECENT FINDINGS: Maternal
      syphilis infections and congenital syphilis appear to be increasing in both high
      and low resource settings. Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, the causative
      spirochete of syphilis, remains one of the few human infectious pathogens that
      has not been successfully cultured, making identification difficult and research
      in targeted antimicrobial therapies challenging. Fortunately, syphilis remains
      sensitive to penicillin, which remains the foundational therapy for this
      infection. Patients with syphilis and significant penicillin allergies remain a
      specific challenge in treatment. Of concern is the emergence of T. pallidum
      resistant to macrolides such as azithromycin. This will limit options in patients
      with penicillin allergies, and potentially contribute to suboptimal treatment.
      During pregnancy, penicillin is the only known effective treatment for congenital
      syphilis, and pregnant patients with penicillin allergy should be desensitized
      and treated with penicillin. Research focusing on protein expression of the
      genome of T. pallidum may lead to more accurate screening and diagnosis and
      development of novel antibiotic therapies. SUMMARY: Obstetric and pediatric
      providers, public health organizations, and governments should recognize the re
      emergence of syphilis globally and in their local healthcare environments.
      Screening of all pregnant patients with robust treatment and follow-up represents
      the most effective method to reduce congenital syphilis currently available.

PMID- 26871539
TI  - [Intramedullary Stabilisation of Displaced Midshaft Clavicular Fractures in Heavy
      Workers and Complex Fracture Pattern].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The medical literature recommends plate osteosynthesis (PO) for
      complex displaced midshaft clavicular fractures (DMCF) OTA type 15B3 and for
      heavy workers with displaced clavicular fractures. Recovery of DMCF treated with
      intramedullary stabilisation (IMS) will be examined and compared to published
      data for duration of inability to work (DIW) after conservative treatment as well
      as after PO, with respect to the DIW. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 09/2009 and
      07/2015, the DIW of 58 patients (8 f, 50 m, mean age 38.4 [20-59] years) with
      DMCF treated with open reduction and IMS (Titanium Elastic Nail [TEN], Synthes,
      Umkirch, Germany) was determined. Inclusion criteria were the presence of closed
      unilateral DMCF and presence of a job with national insurance at the time of
      accident. DIW was counted in days, starting with the accident, and ending on the
      last day before resumption of full work. All patients were functionally treated
      for 6 weeks postoperatively without weights for the shoulder and with a maximum
      of 90 degrees  abduction/flexion. The workload was classified in accordance with
      REFA criteria: group 0-1 (low physical workload) and group 2-4 (high physical
      workload). Fracture patterns (simple vs. complex) and postoperative physiotherapy
      (yes vs. no) were investigated for both REFA groups, as these factors may
      influence DIW. Fracture classification was performed in accordance with the OTA
      classification, as simple fractures (OTA type 15B1 and 15B2), and complex
      fractures (OTA type 15B3). Effects were concerned significant if p <= 0.05.
      RESULTS: Median DIW was independent of physical workload, with 39.86 (3-150) days
      (n = 58). Patients with low physical workload (REFA 0-1; n = 33) had shorter
      duration of DIW, with an average of 32.48 (3-136) days than patients with higher
      physical workload (REFA 2-4; n = 25), with 49.6 (14-150) days (p = 0.02). The
      fracture type did not influence this significantly (simple fractures [n = 35]:
      average 40.54 [3-150] days; complex fractures [n = 23]: average 38.82 [14-136]
      days, p = 0.85). Within each REFA group, differences in DIW for each fracture
      type were greater, but did not attain statistical significance. Patients without
      postoperative PT (n = 30) had a shorter DIW, with an average of 30.5 (3-84) days,
      than patients with postoperative PT (n = 28), with an average of 49.89 (14-150)
      days (p = 0.021). Within both REFA groups, DIW changed similarly with
      postoperative PT, in some cases with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: DIW
      after IMS of DMCF does not depend on the complexity of the fracture. For heavy
      workers, DIW after IMS is significantly longer than for light physical workers.
      IMS of DMCF permits immediate pain-adapted movement of the shoulder, with a
      maximal abduction/flexion up to 90 degrees , no matter what the fracture type.
      Patients given additional professional PT showed longer DIW than those without
      such treatment.

PMID- 26871540
TI  - [Bone Marrow Lesion - Risk-Factors and Pathophysiological Relevance: Systematic
      Review].
AB  - AIM: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to obtain
      information about risks and associated factors for knee symptoms and the
      progression of osteoarthritis in idiopathic bone marrow lesion (BML). MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The primary search on 31. 12. 2013 included the databases PubMed,
      EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane by the search strategy [[bone marrow edema]
      AND [knee]]. This review was continuously updated up to 31. 10. 2015. RESULTS: A
      total of 30 studies (from 1331 primary findings) were included in the final
      evaluation. The mean frequency of BML in all studies was 37.2 %. The occurrence
      of BML was strongly dependent on the MRI technique used (1.0 to 3.0 T). In
      longitudinal studies, the incidence of BML was 3.2 (95 % CI 1.7-6.3)/1000 person
      months. Weakly associated factors included female gender (OR = 1.3 [95 % CI 1.1
      1.7], p = 0.009), increasing age (OR = 1.05 [95 % CI 0.9-1.3], p = 0.127), and
      overweight or obesity (OR = 1.1 [95 % CI 1.1-1.2]; p < 0.01). BMLs are
      significantly associated with cartilage lesions (OR = 5.5 [95 % CI 1.3-22.5]).
      Radiological osteoarthritis is also significantly associated with the development
      of BML (OR = 3.6 [95 % CI 1.2-10.6]) and the progression of osteoarthritis within
      a 3-year interval (OR = 4.4 [95 % CI 3.1-6.4]). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of
      BML is an important index for severe degenerative pathologies in the knee. It
      appears that MRT symptoms predict the progression of the disease. The clinical
      relevance and possible consequences for treatment are unclear.

PMID- 26871542
TI  - The magnetic monopole and the separation between fast and slow magnetic degrees
      of freedom.
AB  - The Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation that describes the dynamics of a
      macroscopic magnetic moment finds its limit of validity at very short times. The
      reason for this limit is well understood in terms of separation of the
      characteristic time scales between slow degrees of freedom (the magnetization)
      and fast degrees of freedom. The fast degrees of freedom are introduced as the
      variation of the angular momentum responsible for the inertia. In order to study
      the effect of the fast degrees of freedom on the precession, we calculate the
      geometric phase of the magnetization (i.e. the Hannay angle) and the
      corresponding magnetic monopole. In the case of the pure precession (the slow
      manifold), a simple expression of the magnetic monopole is given as a function of
      the slowness parameter, i.e. as a function of the ratio of the slow over the fast
      characteristic times. 

PMID- 26871543
TI  - Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Vitis Cv. Monastrell suspension-cultured
      cells: Determination of critical parameters.
AB  - Although some works have explored the transformation of differentiated,
      embryogenic suspension-cultured cells (SCC) to produce transgenic grapevine
      plants, to our knowledge this is one of the first reports on the efficient
      transformation of dedifferentiated Vitis vinifera cv Monastrell SCC. This
      protocol has been developed using the sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated
      transformation (SAAT) method. A construct harboring the selectable nptII and the
      eyfp/IV2 marker genes was used in the study and transformation efficiencies
      reached over 50 independent transformed SCC per gram of infected cells. Best
      results were obtained when cells were infected at the exponential phase. A high
      density plating (500 mg/dish) gave significantly better results. As selective
      agent, kanamycin was inefficient for the selection of Monastrell transformed SCC
      since wild type cells were almost insensitive to this antibiotic whereas
      application of paromomycin resulted in very effective selection. Selected eyfp
      expressing microcalli were grown until enough tissue was available to scale up a
      new transgenic SCC. These transgenic SCC lines were evaluated molecularly and
      phenotypically demonstrating the presence and integration of both transgenes, the
      absence of Agrobacterium contamination and the ability of the transformed SCC to
      grow in highly selective liquid medium. The methodology described here opens the
      possibility of improving the production of valuable metabolites. (c) 2016
      American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:725-734, 2016.

PMID- 26871544
TI  - Guess who? Children use prosody to infer intended listeners.
AB  - This study examined the relative influence of prosody and semantic content in
      children's inferences about intended listeners. Children (n = 72), who ranged in
      age from 5 to 10 years, heard greetings with prosody and content that was either
      infant or adult directed and chose the intended listener from amongst an infant
      or an adult. While content affected all children's choices, the effect of prosody
      was stronger (at least, for children aged 7-10 years). For conditions in which
      prosodic cues were suggestive of one listener, and content cues, another,
      children aged 7-10 years chose the listener according to prosody. In contrast,
      the youngest age group (5- to 6-year-olds) chose listeners at chance levels in
      these incongruent conditions. While prosodic cues were most influential in
      determining children's choices, their ratings of how certain they felt about
      their choices indicated that content nonetheless influenced their thinking about
      the intended listener. Results are the first to show the unique influence of
      prosody in children's thinking about appropriate speech styles. Findings add to
      work showing children's ability to use prosody to make inferences about speakers'
      communicative intentions.

PMID- 26871545
TI  - Prescribing or dispensing medication represents the best opportunity for GPs and
      pharmacists to engage older people in alcohol-related clinical conversations.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to identify older Australian drinkers' knowledge
      about Australian Alcohol Guidelines and their beliefs about the risks and
      benefits of alcohol; their recall of alcohol-related issues being raised with
      them by their community pharmacist and General Practitioner (GP); and their
      receptiveness to alcohol-related information being provided by either health
      professional. METHODS: This research was conducted in Perth, Western Australia.
      Flyers calling for participants were placed in local health and service centres,
      and advertisements were placed in local media. Participants who met eligibility
      requirements were posted a survey pack (n = 190) including an information letter,
      consent form, quantitative survey, and return addressed, postage paid envelope.
      188 people aged over 60 years returned completed questionnaires. KEY FINDINGS:
      Women were more familiar with national alcohol guidelines, and were more
      conservative about the potential health benefits of alcohol. While 90% of
      participants were receptive to their GP asking about their alcohol use, only 30%
      of men and 20% of women recalled their GP raising this issue with them in the
      prior 12 months. Of these, high-risk drinkers were six times more likely than low
      risk drinkers to have been asked by their GP. Likewise, 50% of men and 65% of
      women were receptive to having alcohol-related health conversations with their
      community pharmacist, but less than 4% recalled their pharmacist raising this
      issue. Participants were most receptive to receiving information about alcohol
      medication interactions. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlights that prescribing
      and dispensing medication represents the ideal opportunity for health
      professionals to deliver alcohol-related information to older people.

PMID- 26871541
TI  - Colonoscopy Surveillance after Colorectal Cancer Resection: Recommendations of
      the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - The US Multi-Society Task Force has developed updated recommendations to guide
      health care providers with the surveillance of patients after colorectal cancer
      (CRC) resection with curative intent. This document is based on a critical review
      of the literature regarding the role of colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy,
      endoscopic ultrasound, fecal testing and CT colonography in this setting. The
      document addresses the effect of surveillance, with focus on colonoscopy, on
      patient survival after CRC resection, the appropriate use and timing of
      colonoscopy for perioperative clearing and for postoperative prevention of
      metachronous CRC, specific considerations for the detection of local recurrence
      in the case of rectal cancer, as well as the place of CT colonography and fecal
      tests in post-CRC surveillance. 

PMID- 26871546
TI  - A one-dimensional statistical mechanics model for nucleosome positioning on
      genomic DNA.
AB  - The first level of folding of DNA in eukaryotes is provided by the so-called '10
      nm chromatin fibre', where DNA wraps around histone proteins (~10 nm in size) to
      form nucleosomes, which go on to create a zig-zagging bead-on-a-string structure.
      In this work we present a one-dimensional statistical mechanics model to study
      nucleosome positioning within one such 10 nm fibre. We focus on the case of
      genomic sheep DNA, and we start from effective potentials valid at infinite
      dilution and determined from high-resolution in vitro salt dialysis experiments.
      We study positioning within a polynucleosome chain, and compare the results for
      genomic DNA to that obtained in the simplest case of homogeneous DNA, where the
      problem can be mapped to a Tonks gas. First, we consider the simple, analytically
      solvable, case where nucleosomes are assumed to be point-like. Then, we perform
      numerical simulations to gauge the effect of their finite size on the nucleosomal
      distribution probabilities. Finally we compare nucleosome distributions and
      simulated nuclease digestion patterns for the two cases (homogeneous and sheep
      DNA), thereby providing testable predictions of the effect of sequence on
      experimentally observable quantities in experiments on polynucleosome chromatin
      fibres reconstituted in vitro.

PMID- 26871547
TI  - What Makes Health Systems Research in Developing Countries Ethical? Application
      of the Emanuel Framework for Clinical Research to Health Systems Research.
AB  - The growing importance of health systems research has opened debate about
      appropriate ethical frameworks and guidelines for the ethical review and conduct
      of health systems research. In this article we consider a detailed proposal from
      Hyder et al. (2014) and consider it in relation to the conventional criteria for
      ethics review of clinical research outlined by Emanuel et al. (2004; 2008) and
      argue that the Emanuel criteria can be usefully applied to the review of health
      systems research to supplement the Hyder et al. proposals. We argue further that
      health systems researchers and reviewers would benefit from many of the debates
      that have characterized the ethics of clinical research over the past three
      decades.

PMID- 26871548
TI  - Importance of different region-of-interest protocols for the apparent diffusion
      coefficient measurement of tumors in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance
      imaging.

PMID- 26871550
TI  - A Pediatric Case of Sclerodermatous Graft-Versus-Host Disease Responsive to
      Ultraviolet A1 Phototherapy.
AB  - Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the major complications after
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is responsible for post-therapeutic
      morbidity, mortality, and poor quality of life of recipients. Sclerodermatous
      graft-versus-host disease (sGVHD) is a rare variant of chronic GVHD characterized
      by deposition of collagen in the skin and other soft tissues and resulting in
      loss of range of motion and functional capabilities. Treatment of sGVHD is
      challenging and largely limited by systemic side effects. Ultraviolet A1
      phototherapy has been reported to be effective in connective tissue disorders,
      including sGVHD. We report a case of sGVHD in a 15-year-old girl that was
      resistant to traditional therapy but showed improvement in cutaneous symptoms
      with ultraviolet A1 phototherapy three times a week for 6 weeks (10 J/cm(2)
      single dose, 180 J/cm(2) cumulative dose). 

PMID- 26871549
TI  - Non-volatile memory devices with redox-active diruthenium molecular compound.
AB  - Reduction-oxidation (redox) active molecules hold potential for memory devices
      due to their many unique properties. We report the use of a novel diruthenium
      based redox molecule incorporated into a non-volatile Flash-based memory device
      architecture. The memory capacitor device structure consists of a
      Pd/Al2O3/molecule/SiO2/Si structure. The bulky ruthenium redox molecule is
      attached to the surface by using a 'click' reaction and the monolayer structure
      is characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to verify the Ru attachment
      and molecular density. The 'click' reaction is particularly advantageous for
      memory applications because of (1) ease of chemical design and synthesis, and (2)
      provides an additional spatial barrier between the oxide/silicon to the
      diruthenium molecule. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy data identified the
      energy of the electronic levels of the surface before and after surface
      modification. The molecular memory devices display an unsaturated charge storage
      window attributed to the intrinsic properties of the redox-active molecule. Our
      findings demonstrate the strengths and challenges with integrating molecular
      layers within solid-state devices, which will influence the future design of
      molecular memory devices. 

PMID- 26871551
TI  - Fc Receptor Inhibition Reduces Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in Human RPE
      Cells Treated with Bevacizumab, but not Aflibercept.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: VEGF-A is induced by oxidative stress, and functions as a
      survival factor for various cell types, including retinal pigment epithelial
      (RPE) cells. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs like
      aflibercept and bevacizumab have shown to be most effective in treating
      neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), however uptake of the drugs
      might lead to interference with cell physiology. Herein, we evaluated the
      significance of the Fc receptor (FcR) within this context and moreover explored
      the impact of VEGF inhibition under normal conditions as well as under oxidative
      stress, in terms of potential adverse effects. METHODS: ARPE-19 (human RPE) cells
      were treated with aflibercept and bevacizumab in presence or absence of H2O2 as
      oxidative stress stimulus. After 24h cells were evaluated for drug uptake, VEGF-A
      expression and secretion, levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      as well as cell proliferation. Experiments were repeated with cells being pre
      incubated with an FcR inhibitor prior to drug application. RESULTS: Both drugs
      inhibited extracellular levels of VEGF-A and were taken up into the RPE,
      resulting in significantly reduced intracellular levels of VEGF-A. When oxidative
      stress was applied, intracellular ROS levels in cells treated with both drugs
      rose, and cell proliferation was reduced. Prior incubation with the FcR inhibitor
      lessened the uptake of bevacizumab, but not aflibercept into RPE cells, and
      simultaneously enhanced cell survival under oxidative stress conditions.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that uptake and accumulation of aflibercept and
      bevacizumab within RPE cells affect the intracellular VEGF-A metabolism
      negatively, leading to a biologically relevant reduced cell survival under
      oxidative stress. The FcR plays a substantial role in the uptake of bevacizumab,
      but not aflibercept, which allows an enhanced RPE cell survival through FcR
      blockage in an environment dominated by oxidative stress, as clinically
      significant for various inflammatory retinal disorders.

PMID- 26871552
TI  - In vivo human corneal deformation analysis with a Scheimpflug camera, a critical
      review.
AB  - Corneal morphological analysis has greatly improved in recent years, providing
      physicians with new and reliable parameters to study. Moreover, today corneal
      functional too is a routine analysis, thanks to biomechanical evaluation allowed
      by an ocular response analyzer (Reichert Ophthalmic Instrument, Depew, NY, USA).
      Corvis ST (OCULUS Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany), that relies on the
      ultrahigh speed Scheimpflug camera, is a new device providing corneal deformation
      parameters measured ny scanning the cornea response to an air puff; it is an
      instrument able to measure intraocular pressure too. This device could open up a
      whole new prospective in screening, detecting and managing corneal diseases,
      intraocular pressure measurement and in evaluating surgical procedures involving
      the cornea. This paper provides a comprehensive explanation of Corvis ST
      measurement principles and parameters and a literature review of scientific
      studies.

PMID- 26871554
TI  - In Situ Fluorine Doping of TiO2 Superstructures for Efficient Visible-Light
      Driven Hydrogen Generation.
AB  - With the aid of breakthroughs in nanoscience and nanotechnology, it is imperative
      to develop metal oxide semiconductors through visible light-driven hydrogen
      generation. In this study, TiOF2 was incorporated as an n-type F-dopant source to
      TiO2 mesocrystals (TMCs) with visible-light absorption during the topotactic
      transformation. The crystal growth, structural change, and dynamic morphological
      evolution, from the initial intermediate NH4 TiOF3 to HTiOF3, TiOF2, and F-doped
      TMCs, were verified through in situ temperature-dependent techniques to elucidate
      the doping mechanism from intermediate TiOF2. The visible-light efficiencies of
      photocatalytic hydrogen were dependent on the contents of the dopant as compared
      with the pure TMC and a controled reference. Using femtosecond time-resolved
      diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the charge-transfer dynamics were monitored to
      confirm the improvement of charge separation after doping.

PMID- 26871553
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Banaba-Moringa oleifera-Green Coffee Bean Extracts and
      Vitamin D3 in a Sustained Release Weight Management Supplement.
AB  - This 60-day, 30-subject pilot study examined a novel combination of ingredients
      in a unique sustained release (Carbopol matrix) tablet consumed twice daily. The
      product was composed of extracts of banaba leaf, green coffee bean, and Moringa
      oleifera leaf and vitamin D3. Safety was assessed using a 45-measurement blood
      chemistry panel, an 86-item self-reported Quality of Life Inventory, bone mineral
      density, and cardiovascular changes. Efficacy was assessed by calculating a body
      composition improvement index (BCI) based on changes in dual energy X-ray
      absorptiometry measured fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) as well as between
      the study group (SG) and a historical placebo group. No changes occurred in any
      blood chemistry measurements. Positive changes were found in the Quality of Life
      (QOL) inventory composite scores. No adverse effects were observed. Decreases
      occurred in FM (p = 0.004) and increases in FFM (p = 0.009). Relative to the
      historical placebo group, the SG lost more FM (p < 0.0001), gained more FFM (p =
      <0.0001), and had a negative BCI of -2.7 lb. compared with a positive BCI in the
      SG of 3.4 lb., a 6.1 discordance (p = 0.0009). The data support the safety and
      efficacy of this unique product and demonstrate importance of using changes in
      body composition versus scale weight and BMI.

PMID- 26871555
TI  - Ambient temperature and risk of cardiovascular hospitalization: An updated
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - The association between temperatures and risk of cardiovascular mortality has
      been recognized but the association drawn from previous meta-analysis was weak
      due to the lack of sufficient studies. This paper presented a review with updated
      reports in the literature about the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in
      relation to different temperature exposures and examined the dose-response
      relationship of temperature-cardiovascular hospitalization by change in units of
      temperature, latitudes, and lag days. The pooled effect sizes were calculated for
      cold, heat, heatwave, and diurnal variation using random-effects meta-analysis,
      and the dose-response relationship of temperature-cardiovascular admission was
      modelled using random-effect meta-regression. The Cochrane Q-test and index of
      heterogeneity (I(2)) were used to evaluate heterogeneity, and Egger's test was
      used to evaluate publication bias. Sixty-four studies were included in meta
      analysis. The pooled results suggest that for a change in temperature condition,
      the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization increased 2.8% (RR, 1.028; 95% CI,
      1.021-1.035) for cold exposure, 2.2% (RR, 1.022; 95% CI, 1.006-1.039) for
      heatwave exposure, and 0.7% (RR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.002-1.012) for an increase in
      diurnal temperature. However no association was observed for heat exposure. The
      significant dose-response relationship of temperature - cardiovascular admission
      was found with cold exposure and diurnal temperature. Increase in one-day lag
      caused a marginal reduction in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for cold
      exposure and diurnal variation, and increase in latitude was associated with a
      decrease in risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations for diurnal temperature only.
      There is a significant short-term effect of cold exposure, heatwave and diurnal
      variation on cardiovascular hospitalizations. Further research is needed to
      understand the temperature-cardiovascular relationship for different climate
      areas. 

PMID- 26871556
TI  - Characteristics of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and pAmpC beta
      lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae of water samples in Tunisia.
AB  - The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and plasmid-mediated AmpC beta
      lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-Eb and pAmpC-Eb, respectively) was
      analyzed in 57 wastewater and 57 surface-water samples in Tunisia. Twenty-four of
      the 57 wastewater samples (42.1%) and one of the 57 surface-water samples (1.7%,
      a river that received effluents of a wastewater-treatment-plant) contained ESBL
      Eb or pAmpC-Eb; one ESBL/pAmpC-Eb per positive sample was further characterized.
      Beta-lactamase genes detected were as follows: blaCTX-M-1 (10 Escherichia
      coli),blaCTX-M-15 (eight E. coli, one Klebsiella pneumoniae, one Citrobacter
      freundii), blaCTX-M-14 (one E. coli) and blaCMY-2 (four E. coli). The blaTEM-1,
      blaOXA-1 or blaSHV-1 genes were also found in 72% of these isolates. The ISEcp1,
      orf477 or IS903 sequences were found upstream or downstream of blaCTX-M genes.
      Class 1 integrons were present in 16 of the 25 ESBL-Eb/pAmpC-Eb strains (64%),
      and contained five different gene-cassette arrays. Most of the strains (76%)
      showed a multiresistant phenotype and qnr genes were identified in four strains.
      Molecular typing of ESBL/CMY-2-producing E. coli isolates showed 23 different
      PFGE-patterns and 15 different sequence-types (ST10, ST46, ST48, ST58, ST69,
      ST101, ST117, ST131, ST141, ST288, ST359, ST399, ST405, ST617, and the new
      ST4530); these strains were ascribed to phylogroups A (11 isolates), B1 (3
      isolates), D (6 isolates) and B2 (3 isolates). From one to five plasmids were
      detected in each strain (size from 30kb to >240kb) and ESBL or pAmpC genes were
      transferred by conjugation in 69.5% of the E. coli strains. In conclusion, ESBL
      Eb and pAmpC-Eb strains are frequently detected in wastewater samples and they
      might be a source for dissemination in other environments with repercussion in
      public health. 

PMID- 26871557
TI  - Control of sulfide and methane production in anaerobic sewer systems by means of
      Downstream Nitrite Dosage.
AB  - Bioproduction of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4) under anaerobic
      conditions in sewer pipes causes detrimental effects on both sewer facilities and
      surrounding environment. Among the strategies used to mitigate the production of
      both compounds, the addition of nitrite (NO2(-)) has shown a greater long-term
      inhibitory effect compared with other oxidants such as nitrate or oxygen. The aim
      of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a new method, the Downstream
      Nitrite Dosage strategy (DNO2D), to control H2S and CH4 emissions in sewers.
      Treatment effectiveness was assessed on H2S and CH4 abatement on the effluent of
      a laboratory sewer pilot plant that mimics a full-scale anaerobic rising sewer.
      The experiment was divided in three different periods: system setup (period 1),
      nitrite addition (period 2) and system recovery (period 3). Different process and
      molecular methods were combined to investigate the impact of NO2(-) addition on
      H2S and CH4 production. Results showed that H2S load was reduced completely
      during nitrite addition when compared to period 1 due to H2S oxidation but
      increased immediately after nitrite addition stopped. The H2S overproduction
      during recovery period was associated with the bacterial reduction of different
      sulfur species (elemental sulfur/thiosulfate/sulfite) accumulated within the
      sewer biofilm matrix. Oxidation of CH4 was also detected during period 2 but,
      contrary to sulfide production, re-establishment of methanogenesis was not
      immediate after stopping nitrite dosing. The analysis of bulk and active
      microbial communities along experimental treatment showed compositional changes
      that agreed with the observed dynamics of chemical processes. Results of this
      study show that DNO2D strategy could significantly reduce H2S and CH4 emissions
      from sewers during the addition period but also suggest that microbial agents
      involved in such processes show a high resilience towards chemical stressors,
      thus favoring the re-establishment of H2S and CH4 production after stopping
      nitrite addition. 

PMID- 26871558
TI  - Prospective Evaluation of a Panel of Plasma Cytokines and Chemokines as Potential
      Markers of Pelvic Endometriosis in Symptomatic Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease for which no accurate
      peripheral diagnostic marker is available. Many cytokines and chemokines have
      been found altered in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis
      compared to healthy controls, but little is known about their diagnostic utility
      to confirm or discard endometriosis among symptomatic women. OBJECTIVE: The study
      aims to assess the diagnostic value of a panel of plasma cytokines and chemokines
      to detect endometriosis in women undergoing laparoscopy for gynecological
      complains. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study evaluating
      simultaneously plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10,
      MCP-1/CCL2, IP-10/CXCL10 and eotaxin/CCL11 in 75 symptomatic women (chronic
      pelvic pain, infertility or ovarian cyst) submitted to laparoscopy. Assays were
      performed by Cytometric Bead Array System. Endometriosis was confirmed by
      histopathological examination of surgical specimens. RESULTS: Plasma IL-2, IL-4,
      IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1/CCL2, IP-10/CXCL10 and eotaxin/CCL11 concentrations were not
      able to distinguish the women who eventually were diagnosed with endometriosis.
      CONCLUSION: Although previously shown to be altered in women with endometriosis
      compared to healthy women, the tested cytokines and chemokines were not useful to
      predict the presence of endometriosis among symptomatic women. This finding
      suggests that inflammatory markers modified by endometriosis may also be altered
      by other conditions associated with similar symptoms, which limits their use in
      clinical practice.

PMID- 26871559
TI  - A Novel SRY Gene Mutation p.F109L in a 46,XY Female with Complete Gonadal
      Dysgenesis.
AB  - 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis (CGD) is a disorder of sexual development that
      can result from different mutations in genes associated with sex determination.
      Patients are phenotypically females, and the disease is often diagnosed in late
      adolescence because of delayed puberty. Here, we present the clinical and
      molecular data of a 46,XY female CGD patient with gonadoblastoma with
      dysgerminoma and incidentally found inherited thrombophilia. The clinical
      significance of the described de novo SRY gene mutation c.325T>C (p.F109L) is
      discussed. This case report supports the critical role of the HGM domain in the
      SRY gene and the need of a multidisciplinary approach for CGD patients. 

PMID- 26871560
TI  - Distribution of Dengue Virus Types 1 and 4 in Blood Components from Infected
      Blood Donors from Puerto Rico.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the four dengue
      viruses (DENV-1 to 4) that can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and organ
      transplantation. The distribution of DENV in the components of blood from
      infected donors is poorly understood. METHODS: We used an in-house TaqMan qRT-PCR
      assay to test residual samples of plasma, cellular components of whole blood
      (CCWB), serum and clot specimens from the same collection from blood donors who
      were DENV-RNA-reactive in a parallel blood safety study. To assess whether DENV
      RNA detected by TaqMan was associated with infectious virus, DENV infectivity in
      available samples was determined by culture in mosquito cells. RESULTS: DENV RNA
      was detected by TaqMan in all tested blood components, albeit more consistently
      in the cellular components; 78.8% of CCWB, 73.3% of clots, 86.7% of sera and
      41.8% of plasma samples. DENV-1 was detected in 48 plasma and 97 CCWB samples
      while DENV-4 was detected in 21 plasma and 31 CCWB samples. In mosquito cell
      cultures, 29/111 (26.1%) plasma and 32/97 (32.7%) CCWB samples were infectious. A
      subset of samples from 29 donors was separately analyzed to compare DENV viral
      loads in the available blood components. DENV viral loads did not differ
      significantly between components and ranged from 3-8 log10 PCR-detectable
      units/ml. CONCLUSIONS: DENV was present in all tested components from most
      donors, and viral RNA was not preferentially distributed in any of the tested
      components. Infectious DENV was also present in similar proportions in cultured
      plasma, clot and CCWB samples, indicating that these components may serve as a
      resource when sample sizes are limited. However, these results suggest that the
      sensitivity of the nucleic acid tests (NAT) for these viruses would not be
      improved by testing whole blood or components other than plasma.

PMID- 26871564
TI  - Course and predictors of pain and physical functioning in patients with hip
      osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To systematically summarize the literature on: (i) the course of pain
      and physical functioning; and (ii) predictors of deterioration of pain and
      physical functioning in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. METHODS: A
      literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO and
      SPORTDiscus up to July 2015. Meta-analyses and qualitative data syntheses were
      performed. RESULTS: Eleven of the 15 included studies were of high quality. With
      regard to the course of pain and physical functioning, high heterogeneity was
      found across studies (I2 > 71%) and within study populations (reflected by large
      standard deviations (SDs) of change scores). Therefore, the course of pain and
      physical functioning was interpreted to be indistinct. Clinical characteristics
      (higher comorbidity count and presence of knee osteoarthritis), health behaviour
      factors (no supervised exercise and physical inactivity) and socio-demographics
      (lower education) were found to predict deterioration of pain (weak evidence).
      Higher comorbidity count and lower vitality were found to predict deterioration
      of physical functioning (strong evidence). For several other predictive factors
      weak evidence was found (e.g. bilateral hip pain, increase in hip pain (change),
      bilateral knee pain, presence of knee osteoarthritis). CONCLUSION: Because of
      high heterogeneity across studies and within study populations, no conclusions
      can be drawn with regard to the course of pain and physical functioning. Several
      clinical characteristics, health behaviours and psychosocial factors
      prognosticate deterioration of pain and physical functioning. These findings may
      guide future research aimed at the identification of subgroups of patients with
      hip osteoarthritis.

PMID- 26871562
TI  - Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Is a Feasible Rescue Therapeutic Option for
      Patients Suffering from Graft Failure after Previous Hematopoietic Stem Cell
      Transplantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important graft source for
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Due to less stringent human
      leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching criteria compared to bone marrow or peripheral
      blood stem cells, UCB enables patients lacking an HLA-matched donor to receive
      potentially curative SCT. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and
      safety of UCB transplantation (UCBT) at our center. RESULTS: Between June 2009
      and June 2015, 27 UCBT were performed in 25 patients. Reasons for the use of UCB
      were lack of adequate related or unrelated stem cell donor (n = 20) and graft
      failure after previous SCT (n = 7). Median time to neutrophil engraftment was 22
      days. Four patients experienced primary graft failure. Thirteen patients
      developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), whereupon 6 subsequently also
      developed chronic GVHD. After a median follow-up time of 19 months, 9 patients
      relapsed and 12 patients died. Cause of death was relapse in 8 and transplant
      related events in 4 patients. Median overall survival and progression-free
      survival have not been reached yet. CONCLUSION: In our experience, UCBT is an
      alternative graft source for patients lacking a suitable related or unrelated
      donor and a feasible treatment option for patients experiencing graft failure
      after previous SCT.

PMID- 26871561
TI  - Decreasing Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Thailand in the Past Decade: Evidence
      from the 2014 National Survey.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects >= 180 million individuals worldwide
      especially those living in developing countries. Recent advances in direct-acting
      therapeutics promise effective treatments for chronic HCV carriers, but only if
      the affected individuals are identified. Good treatment coverage therefore
      requires accurate epidemiological data on HCV infection. In 2014, we determined
      the current prevalence of HCV in Thailand to assess whether over the past decade
      the significant number of chronic carriers had changed. In total, 5964 serum
      samples from Thai residents between 6 months and 71 years of age were obtained
      from 7 provinces representing all 4 geographical regions of Thailand and screened
      for the anti-HCV antibody. Positive samples were further analyzed using RT-PCR,
      sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis to identify the prevailing HCV genotypes.
      We found that 56 (0.94%) samples tested positive for anti-HCV antibody (mean age
      = 36.6+/-17.6 years), while HCV RNA of the core and NS5B subgenomic regions was
      detected in 23 (41%) and 19 (34%) of the samples, respectively. The seropositive
      rates appeared to increase with age and peaked in individuals 41-50 years old.
      These results suggested that approximately 759,000 individuals are currently anti
      HCV-positive and that 357,000 individuals have viremic HCV infection. These
      numbers represent a significant decline in the prevalence of HCV infection.
      Interestingly, the frequency of genotype 6 variants increased from 8.9% to 34.8%,
      while the prevalence of genotype 1b declined from 27% to 13%. These most recent
      comprehensive estimates of HCV burden in Thailand are valuable towards evidence
      based treatment coverage for specific population groups, appropriate allocation
      of resources, and improvement in the national public health policy. 

PMID- 26871565
TI  - A rare example of germ-line chromothripsis resulting in large genomic imbalance.
AB  - Chromothripsis is a recently described 'chromosome catastrophe' phenomenon in
      which multiple genomic rearrangements are generated in a single catastrophic
      event. Chromothripsis has most frequently been associated with cancer, but there
      have also been rare reports of chromothripsis in patients with developmental
      disorders and congenital anomalies. In contrast to the massive DNA loss that
      often accompanies chromothripsis in cancer, only minimal DNA loss has been
      reported in the majority of cases of chromothripsis that have occurred in the
      germ line. Presumably, this is because in most instances, large genomic losses
      would be lethal in utero. We report on a female patient with developmental delay
      and dysmorphism. G-banded chromosome analysis detected a subtle, interstitial
      deletion of chromosome 13 and a complex rearrangement of one X chromosome.
      Subsequent array comparative genomic hybridisation studies indicated nine
      deletions on the X chromosome ranging from 327 kb to 8 Mb in size. A 4.4 Mb
      deletion on chromosome 13 was also confirmed, compatible with the patient's
      clinical phenotype. We propose that this is a rare example of constitutional
      chromothripsis in association with relatively large genomic imbalances and that
      these have been tolerated in this case as they have occurred in a female on the X
      chromosome, which has undergone preferential X inactivation.

PMID- 26871566
TI  - Testicular Busulfan Injection in Mice to Prepare Recipients for Spermatogonial
      Stem Cell Transplantation Is Safe and Non-Toxic.
AB  - Current methods of administering busulfan to remove the endogenous germ cells
      cause hematopoietic toxicity, require special instruments and a narrow
      transplantation time. We use a direct testicular injection of busulfan method for
      preparing recipients for SSC transplantation. Male ICR mice (recipients) were
      divided into four groups, and two experimental groups were treated with a
      bilateral testicular injection of 4 or 6 mg/kg/side busulfan (n = 60 per
      concentration group). Mice received an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 40
      mg/kg busulfan (n = 60, positive control) and bilateral testicular injections of
      50% DMSO (n = 60, negative control). Donor SSCs from RFP-transgenic C57BL/6J mice
      were introduced into the seminiferous tubules of each recipient testis via
      efferent duct injection on day 16-17 after busulfan treatment. Recipient mice
      mated with mature female ICR mice and the number of progeny was recorded. The
      index detected at day 14, 21, 28, 35 and 70 after busulfan treatment. Blood
      analysis shows that the toxicity of busulfan treated groups was much lower than
      i.p. injection groups. Fertility was restored in mice treated with busulfan and
      donor-derived offspring were obtained after SSC transplantation. Our study
      indicated that intratesticular injection busulfan for the preparation of
      recipients in mice is safe and feasible. 

PMID- 26871567
TI  - Molecular Epidemiology and Transmission Dynamics of Recent and Long-Term HIV-1
      Infections in Rural Western Kenya.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify unique characteristics of recent versus established HIV
      infections and describe sexual transmission networks, we characterized
      circulating HIV-1 strains from two randomly selected populations of ART-naive
      participants in rural western Kenya. METHODS: Recent HIV infections were
      identified by the HIV-1 subtype B, E and D, immunoglobulin G capture immunoassay
      (IgG BED-CEIA) and BioRad avidity assays. Genotypic and phylogenetic analyses
      were performed on the pol gene to identify transmitted drug resistance (TDR)
      mutations, characterize HIV subtypes and potential transmission clusters. Factors
      associated with recent infection and clustering were assessed by logistic
      regression. RESULTS: Of the 320 specimens, 40 (12.5%) were concordantly
      identified by the two assays as recent infections. Factors independently
      associated with being recently infected were age <=19 years (P = 0.001) and
      history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the past six months (P =
      0.004). HIV subtype distribution differed in recently versus chronically infected
      participants, with subtype A observed among 53% recent vs. 68% chronic infections
      (p = 0.04) and subtype D among 26% recent vs. 12% chronic infections (p = 0.012).
      Overall, the prevalence of primary drug resistance was 1.16%. Of the 258
      sequences, 11.2% were in monophyletic clusters of between 2-4 individuals. In
      multivariate analysis factors associated with clustering included having recent
      HIV infection P = 0.043 and being from Gem region P = 0.002. CONCLUSIONS: Recent
      HIV-1 infection was more frequent among 13-19 year olds compared with older age
      groups, underscoring the ongoing risk and susceptibility of younger persons for
      acquiring HIV infection. Our findings also provide evidence of sexual networks.
      The association of recent infections with clustering suggests that early
      infections may be contributing significant proportions of onward transmission
      highlighting the need for early diagnosis and treatment as prevention for ongoing
      prevention. Larger studies are needed to better understand the structure of these
      networks and subsequently implement and evaluate targeted interventions.

PMID- 26871568
TI  - Degradation, Promoter Recruitment and Transactivation Mediated by the Extreme N
      Terminus of MHC Class II Transactivator CIITA Isoform III.
AB  - Multiple relationships between ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein turnover and
      transcriptional activation have been well documented, but the underlying
      mechanisms are still poorly understood. One way to induce degradation is via
      ubiquitination of the N-terminal alpha-amino group of proteins. The major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator CIITA is the master
      regulator of MHC class II gene expression and we found earlier that CIITA is a
      short-lived protein. Using stable and transient transfections of different CIITA
      constructs into HEK-293 and HeLa cell lines, we show here that the extreme N
      terminal end of CIITA isoform III induces both rapid degradation and
      transactivation. It is essential that this sequence resides at the N-terminal end
      of the protein since blocking of the N-terminal end with an epitope-tag
      stabilizes the protein and reduces transactivation potential. The first ten amino
      acids of CIITA isoform III act as a portable degron and transactivation sequence
      when transferred as N-terminal extension to truncated CIITA constructs and are
      also able to destabilize a heterologous protein. The same is observed with the N
      terminal ends of several known N-terminal ubiquitination substrates, such as Id2,
      Cdt1 and MyoD. Arginine and proline residues within the N-terminal ends
      contribute to rapid turnover. The N-terminal end of CIITA isoform III is
      responsible for efficient in vivo recruitment to the HLA-DRA promoter and
      increased interaction with components of the transcription machinery, such as
      TBP, p300, p400/Domino, the 19S ATPase S8, and the MHC-II promoter binding
      complex RFX. These experiments reveal a novel function of free N-terminal ends of
      proteins in degradation-dependent transcriptional activation. 

PMID- 26871569
TI  - Mortality and Morbidity of Urban Road Traffic Crashes in Africa: Capture
      Recapture Estimates in Bamako, Mali, 2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries are currently facing the massive
      public health challenge of road traffic injuries. The lack of effective
      surveillance systems hinders proper assessment of epidemiologic status and
      intervention priorities. The objective of our study was to estimate the mortality
      and morbidity attributable to road crashes in Bamako, Mali using the capture
      recapture method. METHODS: During the 1 January, 2012-31 April, 2012 period, we
      collected data on road traffic crashes from the road accident registers of the
      police forces of Bamako, Mali on the one hand, and from a register kept by health
      facilities in the same area. An automatic, then manual matching procedure was
      performed to find pairs of records related to the same crash victims. The number
      of victims and the number of fatalities were estimated by the capture-recapture
      method using the Chapman estimator. RESULTS: The health facility and the police
      registries included 3587 and 1432 records, respectively. The matching procedure
      identified 603 common records, 31 of which were fatalities. The annual incidence
      estimate for road victims was 1038 in 100 000 and the annual incidence estimate
      for road fatalities was 12 in 100 000. Victims from both sources were more likely
      to be male, in the 15-34 age group, and almost half of all injured road users and
      two in three fatalities were using motorized two-wheelers. One victim out of five
      was a pedestrian. CONCLUSION: Our estimates are in line with available literature
      data from low-income countries. While more cases were reported by health
      facilities than by police forces, we believe that an effective surveillance
      system should not be based solely on medical reports as much would be missing as
      regards the crash circumstances and characteristics.

PMID- 26871570
TI  - Mucorales-Specific T Cells in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Invasive mucormycosis (IM) is an emerging life-threatening fungal
      infection. It is difficult to obtain a definite diagnosis and to initiate timely
      intervention. Mucorales-specific T cells occur during the course of IM and are
      involved in the clearance of the infection. We have evaluated the feasibility of
      detecting Mucorales-specific T cells in hematological patients at risk for IM,
      and have correlated the detection of such cells with the clinical conditions of
      the patients. METHODS AND FINDINGS: By using an enzyme linked immunospot assay,
      the presence of Mucorales-specific T cells in peripheral blood (PB) samples has
      been investigated at three time points during high-dose chemotherapy for
      hematologic malignancies. Mucorales-specific T cells producing interferon-gamma,
      interleukin-10 and interleukin-4 were analysed in order to detect a correlation
      between the immune response and the clinical picture. Twenty-one (10.3%) of 204
      patients, accounting for 32 (5.3%) of 598 PB samples, tested positive for
      Mucorales-specific T cells. Two groups could be identified. Group 1, including 15
      patients without signs or symptoms of invasive fungal diseases (IFD), showed a
      predominance of Mucorales-specific T cells producing interferon-gamma. Group 2
      included 6 patients with a clinical picture consistent with invasive fungal
      disease (IFD): 2 cases of proven IM and 4 cases of possible IFD. The proven
      patients had significantly higher number of Mucorales-specific T cells producing
      interleukin-10 and interleukin-4 and higher rates of positive samples by using
      derived diagnostic cut-offs when compared with the 15 patients without IFD.
      CONCLUSIONS: Mucorales-specific T cells can be detected and monitored in patients
      with hematologic malignancies at risk for IM. Mucorales-specific T cells
      polarized to the production of T helper type 2 cytokines are associated with
      proven IM and may be evaluated as a surrogate diagnostic marker for IM.

PMID- 26871571
TI  - IL-17RA in Non-Hematopoietic Cells Controls CXCL-1 and 5 Critical to Recruit
      Neutrophils to the Lung of Mycobacteria-Infected Mice during the Adaptive Immune
      Response.
AB  - During chronic infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), bacilli
      multiplication is constrained within lung granulomas until excessive inflammation
      destroys the lung. Neutrophils are recruited early and participate in granuloma
      formation, but excessive neutrophilia exacerbates the tuberculosis disease.
      Neutrophils thus appear as potential targets for therapeutic interventions,
      especially in patients for whom no antibiotic treatment is possible. Signals that
      regulate neutrophil recruitment to the lung during mycobacterial infection need
      to be better understood. We demonstrated here, in the mouse model, that
      neutrophils were recruited to the lung in two waves after intranasal infection
      with virulent Mtb or the live attenuated vaccine strain Bacillus Calmette Guerin
      (BCG). A first wave of neutrophils was swiftly recruited, followed by a
      subsequent adaptive wave that reached the lung together with IFN-gamma- and IL
      17A-producing T cells. Interestingly, the second neutrophil wave did not
      participate to mycobacteria control in the lung and established contacts with T
      cells. The adaptive wave was critically dependent on the expression of IL-17RA,
      the receptor for IL-17A, expressed in non-hematopoietic cells. In absence of this
      receptor, curtailed CXCL-1 and 5 production in the lung restrained neutrophil
      recruitment. CXCL-1 and 5 instillation reconstituted lung neutrophil recruitment
      in BCG-infected IL17RA-/- mice. 

PMID- 26871572
TI  - Procrastination, Distress and Life Satisfaction across the Age Range - A German
      Representative Community Study.
AB  - Addressing the lack of population-based data the purpose of this representative
      study was to assess procrastination and its associations with distress and life
      satisfaction across the life span. A representative German community sample
      (1,350 women; 1,177 men) between the ages of 14 and 95 years was examined by the
      short form of the General Procrastination Scale (GPS-K; 1) and standardized
      scales of perceived stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue and life satisfaction.
      As hypothesized, procrastination was highest in the youngest cohort (14-29
      years). Only in the youngest and most procrastinating cohort (aged 14 to 29
      years), men procrastinated more than women. As we had further hypothesized,
      procrastination was consistently associated with higher stress, more depression,
      anxiety, fatigue and reduced satisfaction across life domains, especially
      regarding work and income. Associations were also found with lack of a
      partnership and unemployment. Findings are discussed with regard to potential
      developmental and cohort effects. While procrastination appears to be a pervasive
      indicator for maladjustment, longitudinal analyses in high-risk samples (e.g.
      late adolescence, unemployment) are needed to identify means and mechanisms of
      procrastinating. 

PMID- 26871573
TI  - Regulation of alpha-Transducin and alpha-Gustducin Expression by a High Protein
      Diet in the Pig Gastrointestinal Tract.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The expression of taste receptors (TASRs) and their signalling
      molecules in the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells, including
      enteroendocrine cells (EECs), suggests they participate in chemosensing
      mechanisms influencing GI physiology via the release of endocrine messengers.
      TASRs mediate gustatory signalling by interacting with different transducers,
      including alpha-gustducin (Galphagust) and alpha-transducin (Galphatran) G
      protein subunits. This study tested whether Galphatran and Galphagust
      immunoreactive (-IR) cells are affected by a short-term (3 days) and long-term
      (30 days) high protein (Hp) diet in the pig GI tract. RESULT: In the stomach,
      Galphagust and Galphatran-IR cells contained serotonin (5-HT) and ghrelin (GHR),
      while in the small and large intestine, Galphagust and Galphatran-IR colocalized
      with 5-HT-, cholecystokinin (CCK)- and peptide YY (PYY)-IR. There was a
      significant increase in the density of Galphatran-IR cells in the pyloric mucosa
      in both short- and long-term Hp diet groups (Hp3 and Hp30) vs. the control group
      (Ctr) (P<0.05), while the increase of Galphagust-IR cells in the pyloric mucosa
      was significant in Hp30 group vs. Ctr and vs. Hp3 (P<0.05); these cells included
      Galphatran / 5HT-IR and Galphatran / GHR-IR cells (P<0.05 and P<0.001 vs. Ctr,
      respectively) as well as Galphagust /5-HT-IR or Galphagust / GHR-IR cells (P<0.05
      and P<0.01 vs. Ctr, respectively). In the small intestine, we recorded a
      significant increase in Galphatran-IR cells in the duodenal crypts and a
      significant increase of Galphagust-IR cells in the jejunal crypts in Hp3 group
      compared to HP30 (P<0.05). With regard to the number of Galphatran-Galphagust IR
      cells colocalized with CCK or 5-HT, there was only a significant increase of
      Galphatran / CCK-IR cells in Hp3 group compared to Ctr (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION:
      This study showed an upregulation of selected subpopulations of Galphagust /
      Galphatran-IR cells in distinct regions of the pig GI tract by short- and long
      term Hp diet lending support to TASR-mediated effects in metabolic homeostasis
      and satiety mechanisms.

PMID- 26871574
TI  - Phylogenomics Reveals Three Sources of Adaptive Variation during a Rapid
      Radiation.
AB  - Speciation events often occur in rapid bursts of diversification, but the
      ecological and genetic factors that promote these radiations are still much
      debated. Using whole transcriptomes from all 13 species in the ecologically and
      reproductively diverse wild tomato clade (Solanum sect. Lycopersicon), we infer
      the species phylogeny and patterns of genetic diversity in this group. Despite
      widespread phylogenetic discordance due to the sorting of ancestral variation, we
      date the origin of this radiation to approximately 2.5 million years ago and find
      evidence for at least three sources of adaptive genetic variation that fuel
      diversification. First, we detect introgression both historically between early
      branching lineages and recently between individual populations, at specific loci
      whose functions indicate likely adaptive benefits. Second, we find evidence of
      lineage-specific de novo evolution for many genes, including loci involved in the
      production of red fruit color. Finally, using a "PhyloGWAS" approach, we detect
      environment-specific sorting of ancestral variation among populations that come
      from different species but share common environmental conditions. Estimated
      across the whole clade, small but substantial and approximately equal fractions
      of the euchromatic portion of the genome are inferred to contribute to each of
      these three sources of adaptive genetic variation. These results indicate that
      multiple genetic sources can promote rapid diversification and speciation in
      response to new ecological opportunity, in agreement with our emerging
      phylogenomic understanding of the complexity of both ancient and recent species
      radiations.

PMID- 26871577
TI  - Correction: Deconstructing a Species-Complex: Geometric Morphometric and
      Molecular Analyses Define Species in the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis).

PMID- 26871576
TI  - Lipid Droplet Formation, Their Localization and Dynamics during Leishmania major
      Macrophage Infection.
AB  - Leishmania, the causative agent of vector-borne diseases, known as leishmaniases,
      is an obligate intracellular parasite within mammalian hosts. The outcome of
      infection depends largely on the activation status of macrophages, the first line
      of mammalian defense and the major target cells for parasite replication.
      Understanding the strategies developed by the parasite to circumvent macrophage
      defense mechanisms and to survive within those cells help defining novel
      therapeutic approaches for leishmaniasis. We previously showed the formation of
      lipid droplets (LDs) in L. major infected macrophages. Here, we provide novel
      insights on the origin of the formed LDs by determining their cellular
      distribution and to what extent these high-energy sources are directed to the
      proximity of Leishmania parasites. We show that the ability of L. major to
      trigger macrophage LD accumulation is independent of parasite viability and
      uptake and can also be observed in non-infected cells through paracrine stimuli
      suggesting that LD formation is from cellular origin. The accumulation of LDs is
      demonstrated using confocal microscopy and live-cell imagin in parasite-free
      cytoplasmic region of the host cell, but also promptly recruited to the proximity
      of Leishmania parasites. Indeed LDs are observed inside parasitophorous vacuole
      and in parasite cytoplasm suggesting that Leishmania parasites besides producing
      their own LDs, may take advantage of these high energy sources. Otherwise, these
      LDs may help cells defending against parasitic infection. These metabolic
      changes, rising as common features during the last years, occur in host cells
      infected by a large number of pathogens and seem to play an important role in
      pathogenesis. Understanding how Leishmania parasites and different pathogens
      exploit this LD accumulation will help us define the common mechanism used by
      these different pathogens to manipulate and/or take advantage of this high-energy
      source. 

PMID- 26871575
TI  - HMGB1 Is Involved in IFN-alpha Production and TRAIL Expression by HIV-1-Exposed
      Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells: Impact of the Crosstalk with NK Cells.
AB  - Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are innate sensors of viral infections and
      important mediators of antiviral innate immunity through their ability to produce
      large amounts of IFN-alpha. Moreover, Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and 9 (TLR9)
      ligands, such as HIV and CpG respectively, turn pDCs into TRAIL-expressing killer
      pDCs able to lyse HIV-infected CD4+ T cells. NK cells can regulate antiviral
      immunity by modulating pDC functions, and pDC production of IFN-alpha as well as
      cell-cell contact is required to promote NK cell functions. Impaired pDC-NK cell
      crosstalk was reported in the setting of HIV-1 infection, but the impact of HIV-1
      on TRAIL expression and innate antiviral immunity during this crosstalk is
      unknown. Here, we report that low concentrations of CCR5-tropic HIV-1Ba-L promote
      the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma
      and IL-12, and CCR5-interacting chemokines (MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta) in NK-pDCs
      co-cultures. At high HIV-1BaL concentrations, the addition of NK cells did not
      promote the release of these mediators, suggesting that once efficiently
      triggered by the virus, pDCs could not integrate new activating signals delivered
      by NK cells. However, high HIV-1BaL concentrations were required to trigger IFN
      alpha-mediated TRAIL expression at the surface of both pDCs and NK cells during
      their crosstalk. Interestingly, we identified the alarmin HMGB1, released at pDC
      NK cell synapse, as an essential trigger for the secretion of IFN-alpha and IFN
      related soluble mediators during the interplay of HIV-1 exposed pDCs with NK
      cells. Moreover, HMGB1 was found crucial for mTRAIL translocation to the plasma
      membrane of both pDCs and NK cells during their crosstalk following pDC exposure
      to HIV-1. Data from serum analyses of circulating HMGB1, HMGB1-specific
      antibodies, sTRAIL and IP-10 in a cohort of 67 HIV-1+ patients argue for the in
      vivo relevance of these observations. Altogether, these findings identify HMGB1
      as a trigger for IFN-alpha-mediated TRAIL expression at the surface of pDCs and
      NK cells, and they suggest a novel mechanism of innate control of HIV-1
      infection. 

PMID- 26871578
TI  - DEPTOR promoter genetic variants and insulin resistance in obese children and
      adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the major metabolic complications
      of obesity in children and adolescents. DEP domain-containing mammalian target of
      rapamycin interacting protein (DEPTOR) is involved in downstream insulin
      signaling and DEPTOR's effects are regulated by its level of expression.
      OBJECTIVES: To analyze promoter region of DEPTOR for genetic variants associated
      with altered IR in obese children and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: IR was
      determined in 322 normoglycemic obese subjects [173 females, 149 males; mean age
      13.3 +/- 3.5 yr, mean BMI-SDS 2.85 +/- 0.83, HbA1C 5.2 +/- 0.2% (33 +/- 2.5
      mmol/mol)] using homeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance [HOMA-IR (>2
      prepubertal and >3 pubertal)] and whole body insulin sensitivity index [WBISI
      (<6.5 prepubertal and <4.5 pubertal)]. Genetic variants, determined by high
      resolution melting analysis, were confirmed by Sanger sequencing, whereas
      population allele distribution was determined by TaqMan genotyping probes.
      RESULTS: Genetic variant c.-143T>C (rs7840156) was associated with a significant
      2-fold decreased risk to present with IR, determined by HOMA-IR [odds ratio (OR)
      = 0.614, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.435-0.867, p = 0.0057) and WBISI (OR =
      0.582, 95% CI = 0.414-0.817, p = 0.0018). The CC genotype had lower mean HOMA-IR
      value (2.47 +/- 0.44 vs. 3.04 +/- 0.14, p = 0.0177) and higher mean WBISI value
      (7.00 +/- 0.71 vs. 5.27 +/- 0.33, p = 0.0235) than TT genotype. Variant c.-143T>C
      was located in evolutionary highly conserved region in DEPTOR promoter region.
      CONCLUSION: Presented results on association between insulin sensitivity and
      genetic variants in DEPTOR gene suggest DEPTOR and mammalian target of rapamycin
      signaling pathway to be potential target for future research and pharmacological
      interventions.

PMID- 26871579
TI  - Use of Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors, Other Analgesics, and Risk of
      Glioma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are analgesic,
      antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory drugs. They have been found to inhibit the
      development of glioma in laboratory investigations. Whether these drugs reduce
      the risk of glioma incidence in humans is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a
      matched case-control analysis using the U.K.-based Clinical Practice Research
      Datalink (CPRD). We identified 2,469 cases matched to 24,690 controls on age,
      sex, calendar time, general practice, and number of years of active history in
      the CPRD prior to the index date. We conducted conditional logistic regression
      analyses to determine relative risks, estimated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) of glioma in relation to use of selective COX-2
      inhibitors, adjusted for several confounding variables. RESULTS: Use of selective
      COX-2 inhibitors was unrelated to risk of glioma (adjusted OR for 1-9 versus 0
      prescriptions = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.92-1.13, 10-29 versus 0 prescriptions = 1.01;
      95% CI = 0.80-1.28, >=30 versus 0 prescriptions = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.86-1.55).
      Trends for increasing numbers of prescriptions for other non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and non-NSAID analgesics were also not associated
      with glioma risk. CONCLUSION: Further epidemiologic studies are needed to confirm
      the null relation of use of selective COX-2 inhibitors to glioma risk and to
      explain the discrepancy between laboratory investigations and our observational
      study. IMPACT: Use of selective COX-2 inhibitors is unrelated to glioma risk.

PMID- 26871580
TI  - An Integrated Metabolomic and Microbiome Analysis Identified Specific Gut
      Microbiota Associated with Fecal Cholesterol and Coprostanol in Clostridium
      difficile Infection.
AB  - Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is characterized by dysbiosis of the
      intestinal microbiota and a profound derangement in the fecal metabolome.
      However, the contribution of specific gut microbes to fecal metabolites in C.
      difficile-associated gut microbiome remains poorly understood. Using gas
      chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and 16S rRNA deep sequencing, we
      analyzed the metabolome and microbiome of fecal samples obtained longitudinally
      from subjects with Clostridium difficile infection (n = 7) and healthy controls
      (n = 6). From 155 fecal metabolites, we identified two sterol metabolites at >95%
      match to cholesterol and coprostanol that significantly discriminated C.
      difficile-associated gut microbiome from healthy microbiota. By correlating the
      levels of cholesterol and coprostanol in fecal extracts with 2,395 bacterial
      operational taxonomic units (OTUs) determined by 16S rRNA sequencing, we
      identified 63 OTUs associated with high levels of coprostanol and 2 OTUs
      correlated with low coprostanol levels. Using indicator species analysis (ISA),
      31 of the 63 coprostanol-associated bacteria correlated with health, and two
      Veillonella species were associated with low coprostanol levels that correlated
      strongly with CDI. These 65 bacterial taxa could be clustered into 12 sub
      communities, with each community containing a consortium of organisms that co
      occurred with one another. Our studies identified 63 human gut microbes
      associated with cholesterol-reducing activities. Given the importance of gut
      bacteria in reducing and eliminating cholesterol from the GI tract, these results
      support the recent finding that gut microbiome may play an important role in host
      lipid metabolism. 

PMID- 26871581
TI  - Systems Biology Approaches for the Prediction of Possible Role of Chlamydia
      pneumoniae Proteins in the Etiology of Lung Cancer.
AB  - Accumulating evidence has recently supported the association of bacterial
      infection with the growth and development of cancers, particularly in organs that
      are constantly exposed to bacteria such as the lungs, colon, cervical cancer etc.
      Our in silico study on the proteome of Chlamydia pneumoniae suggests an
      unprecedented idea of the etiology of lung cancer and have revealed that the
      infection of C. pneumoniae is associated with lung cancer development and growth.
      It is reasonable to assume that C. pneumoniae transports its proteins within host
      intracellular organelles during infection, where they may work with host-cell
      proteome. The current study was performed for the prediction of nuclear targeting
      protein of C. pneumoniae in the host cell using bioinformatics predictors
      including ExPASy pI/Mw tool, nuclear localization signal (NLS) mapper, balanced
      sub cellular localization predictor (BaCeILo), and Hum-mPLoc 2.0. We predicted
      47/1112 nuclear-targeting proteins of C. pneumoniae connected with several
      possible alterations in host replication and transcription during intracellular
      infection. These nuclear-targeting proteins may direct to competitive
      interactions of host and C. pneumoniae proteins with the availability of same
      substrate and may be involved as etiological agents in the growth and development
      of lung cancer. These novel findings are expected to access in better
      understanding of lung cancer etiology and identifying molecular targets for
      therapy. 

PMID- 26871582
TI  - A different kind of case report: I.

PMID- 26871583
TI  - Lengthened Cutaneous Silent Period in Fibromyalgia Suggesting Central
      Sensitization as a Pathogenesis.
AB  - The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia (FM) has not been clearly elucidated, but
      central sensitization, which plays an important role in the development of
      neuropathic pain, is considered to be the main mechanism. The cutaneous silent
      period (CSP), which is a spinal reflex mediated by A-delta cutaneous afferents,
      is useful for the evaluation of sensorimotor integration at the spinal and
      supraspinal levels. To understand the pathophysiology of FM, we compared CSP
      patterns between patients with FM and normal healthy subjects. Twenty-four
      patients with FM diagnosed in accordance with the 1990 American College of
      Rheumatology classification system and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers
      were recruited. The CSP was measured from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle.
      Demographic data, number of tender points, and visual analog scale and FM impact
      questionnaire scores were collected. The measured CSP and clinical parameters of
      the patient and control groups were compared. In addition, possible correlations
      between the CSP parameters and the other clinical characteristics were analyzed.
      Mean CSP latencies did not differ between patients (55.50 +/- 10.97 ms) and
      healthy controls (60.23 +/- 11.87 ms; p = 0.158), although the mean CSP duration
      was significantly longer in patients (73.75 +/- 15.67 ms) than in controls (63.50
      +/- 14.05 ms; p = 0.021). CSP variables did not correlate with any clinical
      variables. The significantly longer CSP duration in FM patients suggests central
      dysregulation at the spinal and supraspinal levels, rather than peripheral small
      fiber dysfunction. 

PMID- 26871584
TI  - Routine Primary Prophylaxis for Febrile Neutropenia with Biosimilar Granulocyte
      Colony-Stimulating Factor (Nivestim) or Pegfilgrastim Is Cost Effective in Non
      Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients undergoing Curative-Intent R-CHOP Chemotherapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the cost-effectiveness of various
      strategies of myeloid growth factor prophylaxis for reducing the risk of febrile
      neutropenia (FN) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Singapore who are
      undergoing R-CHOP chemotherapy with curative intent. METHODS: A Markov model was
      created to compare seven prophylaxis strategies: 1) primary prophylaxis (PP) with
      nivestim (biosimilar filgrastim) throughout all cycles of chemotherapy; 2) PP
      with nivestim during the first two cycles of chemotherapy; 3) secondary
      prophylaxis (SP) with nivestim; 4) PP with pegfilgrastim throughout all cycles of
      chemotherapy; 5) PP with pegfilgrastim during the first two cycles of
      chemotherapy; 6) SP with pegfilgrastim; and 7) no prophylaxis (NP). The
      perspective of a hospital was taken and cost-effectiveness was expressed as the
      cost per episode of FN avoided over six cycles of chemotherapy. A probabilistic
      sensitivity analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Strategies 3, 6, and 7 were
      dominated in the base case analysis by strategy 5. The costs associated with
      strategies 2, 5, 1, and 4 were US$3,813, US$4,056, US$4,545, and US$5,331,
      respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for strategy 5 vs.
      strategy 2, strategy 1 vs. strategy 5, and strategy 4 vs. strategy 1 were
      US$13,532, US$22,565, and US$30,452, respectively, per episode of FN avoided.
      Strategy 2 has the highest probability to be cost-effective (ranged from 48% to
      60%) when the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold is lower than US$10,000 per FN
      episode prevented. CONCLUSION: In Singapore, routine PP with granulocyte colony
      stimulating factor (nivestim or pegfilgrastim) is cost-effective for reducing the
      risk of FN in patients receiving R-CHOP.

PMID- 26871585
TI  - Reduced thermal threshold in patients with Temporomandibular Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated the presence of somatosensory
      modulation changes at different sites in patients with temporomandibular
      disorders (TMDs) using different modalities. However, the neck area, a well-know
      condition related to TMD, remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To assess the thermal
      pain threshold in patients with TMD and controls at cephalic and extra-cephalic
      areas, including the neck. METHODS: Twenty female patients with TMDs diagnosed by
      the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) and twenty age-matched
      controls underwent a first interview about neck pain and disability (NDI
      questionnaire). A blinded evaluator assessed the thermal pain threshold for cold
      (CPT) and heat (HPT) stimuli in accordance with an ascending method of limits of
      the Quantitative Sensory Testing at the following sites: periorbital, masseter,
      cervical posterior and ventral forearm. The groups were compared using a t-test
      with alpha = 5%. RESULTS: Patients with TMDs reported pain at higher temperature
      for cold stimuli in all sites (P < 0.05) and at lower temperature for heat
      stimuli in the right periorbital site (P < 0.05) than controls. Pain and
      disability due tothis symptom were reported more often in the TMD group (P <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with TMD have pain modulation changes in the neck
      area as well, especially for cold stimuli, associated with higher disability and
      a higher report of neck pain than controls. These findings reinforce the evidence
      regarding the relationship between TMDs and neck pain.

PMID- 26871587
TI  - The Perceived Likelihood of Outcome of Critical Care Patients and Its Impact on
      Triage Decisions: A Case-Based Survey of Intensivists and Internists in a
      Canadian, Quaternary Care Hospital Network.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is high variability amongst physicians' assessments of
      appropriate ICU admissions, which may be based on potential assessments of
      benefit. We aimed to examine whether opinions over benefit of ICU admissions of
      critically ill medical inpatients differed based on physician specialty, namely
      intensivists and internists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out an anonymous,
      web-based questionnaire survey containing 5 typical ICU cases to all ICU
      physicians regardless of their base specialty as well as to all internists in 3
      large teaching hospitals. For each case, we asked the participants to determine
      if the patient was an appropriate ICU admission and to assess different
      parameters (e.g. baseline function, likelihood of survival to ICU discharge,
      etc.). Agreement was measured using kappa values. RESULTS: 21 intensivists and 22
      internists filled out the survey (response rate = 87.5% and 35% respectively).
      Predictions of likelihood of survival to ICU admission, hospital discharge and
      return to baseline were not significantly different between the two groups.
      However, agreement between individuals within each group was only slight to fair
      (kappa range = 0.09-0.22). There was no statistically significant difference in
      predicting ICU survival and prediction of survival to hospital discharge between
      both groups. The accuracy with which physicians predicted actual outcomes ranged
      between 35% and 100% and did not significantly differ between the two groups. A
      greater proportion of internists favoured non resuscitative measures (24.6% of
      intensivists and 46.9% internists [p = 0.002]). CONCLUSION: In a case-based
      survey, physician specialty base did not affect assessments of ICU admission
      benefit or accuracy in outcome prediction, but resulted in a statistically
      significant difference in level of care assignments. Of note, significant
      disagreement amongst individuals in each group was found.

PMID- 26871586
TI  - Carriage of lambda Latent Virus Is Costly for Its Bacterial Host due to Frequent
      Reactivation in Monoxenic Mouse Intestine.
AB  - Temperate phages, the bacterial viruses able to enter in a dormant prophage state
      in bacterial genomes, are present in the majority of bacterial strains for which
      the genome sequence is available. Although these prophages are generally
      considered to increase their hosts' fitness by bringing beneficial genes, studies
      demonstrating such effects in ecologically relevant environments are relatively
      limited to few bacterial species. Here, we investigated the impact of prophage
      carriage in the gastrointestinal tract of monoxenic mice. Combined with
      mathematical modelling, these experimental results provided a quantitative
      estimation of key parameters governing phage-bacteria interactions within this
      model ecosystem. We used wild-type and mutant strains of the best known
      host/phage pair, Escherichia coli and phage lambda. Unexpectedly, lambda prophage
      caused a significant fitness cost for its carrier, due to an induction rate 50
      fold higher than in vitro, with 1 to 2% of the prophage being induced. However,
      when prophage carriers were in competition with isogenic phage susceptible
      bacteria, the prophage indirectly benefited its carrier by killing competitors:
      infection of susceptible bacteria led to phage lytic development in about 80% of
      cases. The remaining infected bacteria were lysogenized, resulting overall in the
      rapid lysogenization of the susceptible lineage. Moreover, our setup enabled to
      demonstrate that rare events of phage gene capture by homologous recombination
      occurred in the intestine of monoxenic mice. To our knowledge, this study
      constitutes the first quantitative characterization of temperate phage-bacteria
      interactions in a simplified gut environment. The high prophage induction rate
      detected reveals DNA damage-mediated SOS response in monoxenic mouse intestine.
      We propose that the mammalian gut, the most densely populated bacterial ecosystem
      on earth, might foster bacterial evolution through high temperate phage activity.

PMID- 26871588
TI  - Vitamin D deficiency is associated with prediabetes in obese Swedish children.
AB  - AIM: Low vitamin D levels have been associated with obesity and living in areas
      that lack sunshine, such as northern Europe. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the vitamin D status of a group of obese children in Sweden and to
      investigate the associations between vitamin D status and markers of glucose
      metabolism and metabolic risk markers. METHODS: This was a prospective cross
      sectional study of 202 obese children between 4.5 and 17.9 years of age who had
      been referred to the National Childhood Obesity Centre at Karolinska University
      Hospital, Stockholm. We examined age, gender, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), f
      glucose, f-insulin and metabolic risk markers. Vitamin D deficiency was defined
      as less than 30 25(OH)D nmol/L. Children with and without a vitamin D deficiency
      were compared. RESULTS: Just over a third (33.2%) of our study population had
      vitamin D levels <30 nmol/L 25(OH)D. A significant interaction effect was found
      between age and 25(OH)D. An association was also found between low 25(OH)D levels
      and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) independent of age and season. CONCLUSION:
      Low vitamin D levels were common among obese adolescents living in Sweden and
      were strongly associated with age and associated with a higher risk of IFG.

PMID- 26871589
TI  - Cisplatin-Induced Non-Oliguric Acute Kidney Injury in a Pediatric Experimental
      Animal Model in Piglets.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To design an experimental pediatric animal model of acute kidney
      injury induced by cisplatin. METHODS: Prospective comparative observational
      animal study in two different phases. Acute kidney injury was induced using three
      different doses of cisplatin (2, 3 and 5 mg/kg). The development of
      nephrotoxicity was assessed 2 to 4 days after cisplatin administration by
      estimating biochemical parameters, diuresis and renal morphology. Analytical
      values and renal morphology were compared between 15 piglets treated with
      cisplatin 3 mg/kg and 15 control piglets in the second phase of the study.
      RESULTS: 41 piglets were studied. The dose of 3 mg/kg administered 48 hours
      before the experience induced a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea
      without an increase in potassium levels. Piglets treated with cisplatin 3 mg/kg
      had significantly higher values of creatinine, urea, phosphate and amylase, less
      diuresis and lower values of potassium, sodium and bicarbonate than control
      piglets. Histological findings showed evidence of a dose-dependent increase in
      renal damage. CONCLUSIONS: a dose of 3 mg/kg of cisplatin induces a significant
      alteration in renal function 48 hours after its administration, so it can be used
      as a pediatric animal model of non-oliguric acute kidney injury.

PMID- 26871590
TI  - Differential heart rate responses to social and monetary reinforcement in women
      with obesity.
AB  - Obesity is often accompanied by weight stigmatization; subsequently, individuals
      with obesity frequently face social rejection. It has been shown that recurrent
      negative social experiences can alter the perception of social cues. However, the
      way individuals with obesity process social stimuli is not well understood. This
      study aims to investigate obesity-related alterations in social compared to
      nonsocial information processing. Women with obesity (n = 14) and without obesity
      (n = 14) participated in a social and a monetary incentive delay task in which
      they anticipated and received positive, negative, and neutral outcomes in the
      form of faces or money. During the experiment, phasic heart rate changes and
      reaction times were measured. Women with obesity, compared to lean women,
      exhibited a stronger differentiation during the anticipation of monetary and
      social reinforcement, showing slower reaction times to social cues compared to
      monetary cues. During the outcome processing phase, women with obesity relative
      to controls demonstrated diminished heart rate responses particularly to negative
      social outcomes. Interestingly, differences in cardiac responses in participants
      with obesity were moderated by weight-related teasing experiences. In women with
      obesity, a higher BMI was associated with blunted cardiac responses to social
      cues relative to monetary cues only if they reported more emotional pain after
      weight-related teasing. Our results contribute to a better understanding of
      social information processing in obesity and give first evidence for the role of
      negative social experiences in reinforcement processing.

PMID- 26871592
TI  - Fast, Accurate Simulation of Polaron Dynamics and Multidimensional Spectroscopy
      by Multiple Davydov Trial States.
AB  - By employing the Dirac-Frenkel time-dependent variational principle, we study the
      dynamical properties of the Holstein molecular crystal model with diagonal and
      off-diagonal exciton-phonon coupling. A linear combination of the Davydov D1 (D2)
      ansatz, referred to as the "multi-D1 ansatz" ("multi-D2 ansatz"), is used as the
      trial state with enhanced accuracy but without sacrificing efficiency. The time
      evolution of the exciton probability is found to be in perfect agreement with
      that of the hierarchy equations of motion, demonstrating the promise the multiple
      Davydov trial states hold as an efficient, robust description of dynamics of
      complex quantum systems. In addition to the linear absorption spectra computed
      for both diagonal and off-diagonal cases, for the first time, 2D spectra have
      been calculated for systems with off-diagonal exciton-phonon coupling by
      employing the multiple D2 ansatz to compute the nonlinear response function,
      testifying to the great potential of the multiple D2 ansatz for fast, accurate
      implementation of multidimensional spectroscopy. It is found that the signal
      exhibits a single peak for weak off-diagonal coupling, while a vibronic multipeak
      structure appears for strong off-diagonal coupling. 

PMID- 26871591
TI  - Exome Sequencing in Classic Hairy Cell Leukaemia Reveals Widespread Variation in
      Acquired Somatic Mutations between Individual Tumours Apart from the Signature
      BRAF V(600)E Lesion.
AB  - In classic Hairy cell leukaemia (HCLc), a single case has thus far been
      interrogated by whole exome sequencing (WES) in a treatment naive patient, in
      which BRAF V(600)E was identified as an acquired somatic mutation and confirmed
      as occurring near-universally in this form of disease by conventional PCR-based
      cohort screens. It left open however the question whether other genome-wide
      mutations may also commonly occur at high frequency in presentation HCLc disease.
      To address this, we have carried out WES of 5 such typical HCLc cases, using
      highly purified splenic tumour cells paired with autologous T cells for germline.
      Apart from BRAF V(600)E, no other recurrent somatic mutation was identified in
      these HCLc exomes, thereby excluding additional acquired mutations as also
      prevalent at a near-universal frequency in this form of the disease. These data
      then place mutant BRAF at the centre of the neoplastic drive in HCLc. A
      comparison of our exome data with emerging genetic findings in HCL indicates that
      additional somatic mutations may however occur recurrently in smaller subsets of
      disease. As mutant BRAF alone is insufficient to drive malignant transformation
      in other histological cancers, it suggests that individual tumours utilise
      largely differing patterns of genetic somatic mutations to coalesce with BRAF
      V(600)E to drive pathogenesis of malignant HCLc disease. 

PMID- 26871593
TI  - Colonic content in health and its relation to functional gut symptoms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gut content may be determinant in the generation of digestive
      symptoms, particularly in patients with impaired gut function and
      hypersensitivity. Since the relation of intraluminal gas to symptoms is only
      partial, we hypothesized that non-gaseous component may play a decisive role.
      METHODS: Abdominal computed tomography scans were evaluated in healthy subjects
      during fasting and after a meal (n = 15) and in patients with functional gut
      disorders during basal conditions (when they were feeling well) and during an
      episode of abdominal distension (n = 15). Colonic content and distribution were
      measured by an original analysis program. KEY RESULTS: In healthy subjects both
      gaseous (87 +/- 24 mL) and non-gaseous colonic content (714 +/- 34 mL) were
      uniformly distributed along the colon. In the early postprandial period gas
      volume increased (by 46 +/- 23 mL), but non-gaseous content did not, although a
      partial caudad displacement from the descending to the pelvic colon was observed.
      No differences in colonic content were detected between patients and healthy
      subjects. Symptoms were associated with discrete increments in gas volume.
      However, no consistent differences in non-gaseous content were detected in
      patients between asymptomatic periods and during episodes of abdominal
      distension. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: In patients with functional gut disorders,
      abdominal distension is not related to changes in non-gaseous colonic content.
      Hence, other factors, such as intestinal hypersensitivity and poor tolerance of
      small increases in luminal gas may be involved.

PMID- 26871594
TI  - Laying a Community-Based Foundation for Data-Driven Semantic Standards in
      Environmental Health Sciences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite increasing availability of environmental health science (EHS)
      data, development, and implementation of relevant semantic standards, such as
      ontologies or hierarchical vocabularies, has lagged. Consequently, integration
      and analysis of information needed to better model environmental influences on
      human health remains a significant challenge. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify a
      committed community and mechanisms needed to develop EHS semantic standards that
      will advance understanding about the impacts of environmental exposures on human
      disease. METHODS: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
      sponsored the "Workshop for the Development of a Framework for Environmental
      Health Science Language" hosted at North Carolina State University on 15-16
      September 2014. Through the assembly of data generators, users, publishers, and
      funders, we aimed to develop a foundation for enabling the development of
      community-based and data-driven standards that will ultimately improve
      standardization, sharing, and interoperability of EHS information. DISCUSSION:
      Creating and maintaining an EHS common language is a continuous and iterative
      process, requiring community building around research interests and needs,
      enabling integration and reuse of existing data, and providing a low barrier of
      access for researchers needing to use or extend such a resource. CONCLUSIONS:
      Recommendations included developing a community-supported web-based toolkit that
      would enable a) collaborative development of EHS research questions and use
      cases, b) construction of user-friendly tools for searching and extending
      existing semantic resources, c) education and guidance about standards and their
      implementation, and d) creation of a plan for governance and sustainability.
      CITATION: Mattingly CJ, Boyles R, Lawler CP, Haugen AC, Dearry A, Haendel M.
      2016. Laying a community-based foundation for data-driven semantic standards in
      environmental health sciences. Environ Health Perspect 124:1136-1140;
      http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510438.

PMID- 26871596
TI  - Exploring the multifaceted nature of the common lymphoid progenitor compartment.
AB  - While the common lymphoid progenitor compartment was originally thought to be a
      rather homogenous cell population, it has become increasingly clear that this
      compartment is highly heterogeneous both with regard to phenotypic and functional
      features. The exploration of this cellular complexity has generated novel
      molecular insights into regulatory events in lymphoid lineage restriction and
      provided support for the idea that multiple lineage restriction events occur at
      this developmental stage. Furthermore, the identification of multiple lineage
      restricted progenitors with mixed lineage potential challenges a strictly
      hierarchical model for lymphoid development. Instead we propose a model based on
      competence windows during which cell fates are established through the action of
      lineage determining factors. 

PMID- 26871595
TI  - The development of adult innate lymphoid cells.
AB  - Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a specialized family of effector lymphocytes that
      transcriptionally and functionally mirror effector subsets of T cells, but differ
      from T cells in that they lack clonally distributed adaptive antigen receptors.
      Our understanding of this family of lymphocytes is still in its infancy. In this
      review, we summarize current understanding and discuss recent insights into the
      cellular and molecular events that occur during early ILC development in adult
      mice. We discuss how these events overlap and diverge with the early development
      of adaptive T cells, and how they may influence the molecular and functional
      properties of mature ILC. 

PMID- 26871597
TI  - Regulation of T cell signaling and autoimmunity by RNA-binding proteins.
AB  - Post-transcriptional gene regulation by RNA-binding proteins controls mRNA half
      life and efficiency of translation. Recently, the RNA-binding proteins Roquin and
      Regnase-1 have been shown to play pivotal roles in T lymphocytes by preventing
      inflammatory and autoimmune disease. These factors share an overlapping set of
      target mRNAs and are both regulated by proteolytic cleavage through the
      paracaspase MALT1. This review discusses the mouse models of inactivation or
      deregulation and how these trans-acting factors recognize target mRNAs. Based on
      different affinities of cis-elements in target mRNAs and regulation of the trans
      acting factors, we propose the following model: Increasing TCR signal strength
      will gradually inactivate Roquin and Regnase-1 causing differential target mRNA
      derepression that specifies cell fate decisions and effector functions of T
      cells. 

PMID- 26871598
TI  - Prognostic and predictive value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for clinical
      therapeutic research in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous preclinical and clinical studies have shown that levels of
      tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) significantly correlated with prognosis in
      non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and survival after therapy; however, this
      finding remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis, to evaluate,
      systematically, the clinical utilization of TIL subtypes in patients with NSCLC.
      METHODS: The PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases
      were searched to identify relevant studies. We pooled estimates of treatment
      effects, and hazards were summarized using random or fixed effects models to
      evaluate survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 24 relevant studies involving
      7,006 patients were eligible. The median percentage of lymph node positivity was
      45.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.1-56.4%). Pooled analysis shows that high
      levels of CD8+ TILs had a good prognostic effect on survival with a hazard ratio
      (HR) of 0.91 (P = 0.013) for death and 0.74 (P = 0.001) for recurrence, as did
      high levels of CD3+ and CD4+ TILs, with HRs of 0.77 (P = 0.009) and 0.78 (P =
      0.005) for death, respectively. By contrast, high levels of FoxP3+ regulatory
      TILs had a worse prognostic effect for overall and recurrence-free survival, with
      HRs of 1.69 (P = 0.042) and 1.79 (P = 0.001), respectively. No individual study
      affected the results, and no publication bias was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings support the hypothesis that TILs could be a prognostic marker in NSCLC.
      High-quality randomized studies are needed to verify statistically the effect of
      TILs on prognosis in future research.

PMID- 26871599
TI  - Monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) inhibitors decrease glioma progression.
AB  - Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor which is currently treated with
      temozolomide (TMZ). Tumors usually become resistant to TMZ and recur; no
      effective therapy is then available. Monoamine Oxidase A (MAO A) oxidizes
      monoamine neurotransmitters resulting in reactive oxygen species which cause
      cancer. This study shows that MAO A expression is increased in human glioma
      tissues and cell lines. MAO A inhibitors, clorgyline or the near-infrared-dye MHI
      148 conjugated to clorgyline (NMI), were cytotoxic for glioma and decreased
      invasion in vitro. Using the intracranial TMZ-resistant glioma model, clorgyline
      or NMI alone or in combination with low-dose TMZ reduced tumor growth and
      increased animal survival. NMI was localized specifically to the tumor.
      Immunocytochemistry studies showed that the MAO A inhibitor reduced
      proliferation, microvessel density and invasion, and increased macrophage
      infiltration. In conclusion, we have identified MAO A inhibitors as potential
      novel stand-alone drugs or as combination therapy with low dose TMZ for drug
      resistant gliomas. NMI can also be used as a non-invasive imaging tool. Thus has
      a dual function for both therapy and diagnosis. 

PMID- 26871600
TI  - A propensity score matching analysis of survival following segmentectomy or wedge
      resection in early-stage lung invasive adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the survival outcomes following segmentectomy or wedge
      resection in early-stage lung cancer. METHODS: A total of 5880 patients with
      invasive lung adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma from the Surveillance,
      Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included in this study, of
      which 1156 received segmentectomy. Baseline characteristics were balanced using
      propensity score methods. Cox regression analysis was used to compare overall
      survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) following segmentectomy or
      wedge resection after matching patients based on propensity scores. RESULTS:
      Overall, patients undergoing segmentectomy and wedge resection had no significant
      different OS and LCSS both in the invasive adenocarcinoma group and the squamous
      cell carcinoma group. Segmentectomy was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio
      = 0.626, 95% confidence interval: 0.457-0.858, P = 0.004) and LCSS (hazard ratio
      = 0.643, 95% CI: 0.440-0.939, P = 0.022) in invasive adenocarcinoma patients <=
      65 years old. In patients with <= 2 cm invasive adenocarcinoma, segmentectomy was
      associated with significantly better OS (hazard ratio = 0.811, 95% confidence
      interval: 0.666-0.988, P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Survival following segmentectomy
      or wedge resection was generally equivalent in lung invasive adenocarcinoma and
      squamous cell carcinoma. However, invasive adenocarcinoma patients who were <= 65
      years or had tumors <= 2 cm in size may have improved survival outcomes after
      segmentectomy.

PMID- 26871601
TI  - Acquisition of tumorigenic potential and enhancement of angiogenesis in pulmonary
      stem/progenitor cells through Oct-4 hyperexpression.
AB  - Cancer stem cells, also known as cancer initiating cells (CICs), are considered
      to be responsible for tumor growth and chemoresistance. Different hypotheses have
      been proposed to explain the origin of CICs, including mutations in adult
      stem/progenitor cells or the acquisition of stem-like characteristics in
      differentiated cells; however, studies have yielded conflicting identification
      for CICs and have little information for the origin to generate CICs. Part of the
      difficulty in identifying CICs may stem from the fact that the CICs studied have
      been largely derived from cancer cell lines or well-developed tumors. In previous
      studies, we have reported the enrichment of mouse pulmonary stem/progenitor cells
      (mPSCs) by using serum-free primary selection culture followed by FACS isolation
      using the coxsackievirus/adenovirus receptor (CAR) as the positive selection
      marker. Here, we demonstrated that overexpression of the pluripotent
      transcription factor Oct-4 is sufficient to induce CAR+/mPSCs transformation,
      which we name CAR+/mPSCsOct-4_hi. These transformed cells possess cancer
      initiating and chemoresistance potential, as well as exhibiting remarkable
      expression of certain proangiogenic factors, including angiopoietins (ANGs) and
      VEGF, and enhanced angiogenic potential. Moreover, CAR+/mPSCsOct-4_hi actively
      participated in tumor blood vessel formation and triggered a novel angiogenic
      mechanism, the angiopoietins/Tie2 signaling pathway. These study provide critical
      evidence supporting the possible origin to generate CICs, and help elucidate the
      pathways responsible for CICs-mediated blood vessel formation. 

PMID- 26871603
TI  - Phonocardiogram signal compression using sound repetition and vector
      quantization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A phonocardiogram (PCG) signal can be recorded for long-term heart
      monitoring. A huge amount of data is produced if the time of a recording is as
      long as days or weeks. It is necessary to compress the PCG signal to reduce
      storage space in a record and play system. In another situation, the PCG signal
      is transmitted to a remote health care center for automatic analysis in
      telemedicine. Compression of the PCG signal in that situation is necessary as a
      means for reducing the amount of data to be transmitted. Since heart beats are of
      a cyclical nature, compression can make use of the similarities in adjacent
      cycles by eliminating repetitive elements as redundant. This study proposes a new
      compression method that takes advantage of these repetitions. METHODS: Data
      compression proceeds in two stages, a training stage followed by the compression
      as such. In the training stage, a section of the PCG signal is selected and its
      sounds and murmurs (if any) decomposed into time-frequency components. Basic
      components are extracted from these by clustering and collected to form a
      dictionary that allows the generative reconstruction and retrieval of any heart
      sound or murmur. In the compression stage, the heart sounds and murmurs are
      reconstructed from the basic components stored in the dictionary. Compression is
      made possible because only the times of occurrence and the dictionary indices of
      the basic components need to be stored, which greatly reduces the number of bits
      required to represent heart sounds and murmurs. The residual that cannot be
      reconstructed in this manner appears as a random sequence and is further
      compressed by vector quantization. What we propose are quick search parameters
      for this vector quantization. RESULTS: For normal PCG signals the compression
      ratio ranges from 20 to 149, for signals with median murmurs it ranges from 14 to
      35, and for those with heavy murmurs, from 8 to 20, subject to a degree of
      distortion of ~5% (in percent root-mean-square difference) and a sampling
      frequency of 4kHz. DISCUSSION: We discuss the selection of the training signal
      and the contribution of vector quantization. Performance comparisons between the
      method proposed in this study and existing methods are conducted by computer
      simulations. CONCLUSIONS: When recording and compressing cyclical sounds, any
      repetitive components can be removed as redundant. The redundancies in the
      residual can be reduced by vector quantization. The method proposed in this study
      achieves a better performance than existing methods.

PMID- 26871602
TI  - The mannose receptor LY75 (DEC205/CD205) modulates cellular phenotype and
      metastatic potential of ovarian cancer cells.
AB  - The molecular basis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) dissemination is still
      poorly understood. Previously, we identified the mannose receptor LY75 gene as
      hypomethylated in high-grade (HG) serous EOC tumors, compared to normal ovarian
      tissues. LY75 represents endocytic receptor expressed on dendritic cells and so
      far, has been primarily studied for its role in antigen processing and
      presentation. Here we demonstrate that LY75 is overexpressed in advanced EOC and
      that LY75 suppression induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in EOC
      cell lines with mesenchymal morphology (SKOV3 and TOV112), accompanied by
      reduction of their migratory and invasive capacity in vitro and enhanced tumor
      cell colonization and metastatic growth in vivo. LY75 knockdown in SKOV3 cells
      also resulted in predominant upregulation of functional pathways implicated in
      cell proliferation and metabolism, while pathways associated with cell signaling
      and adhesion, complement activation and immune response were mostly suppressed.
      Moreover, LY75 suppression had an opposite effect on EOC cell lines with
      epithelial phenotype (A2780s and OV2008), by directing epithelial-to-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) associated with reduced capacity for in vivo EOC cell
      colonization, as similar/identical signaling pathways were reversely regulated,
      when compared to mesenchymal LY75 knockdown EOC cells.To our knowledge, this is
      the first report of a gene displaying such pleiotropic effects in sustaining the
      cellular phenotype of EOC cells and points to novel functions of this receptor in
      modulating EOC dissemination. Our data also support previous findings regarding
      the superior capacity of epithelial cancer cells in metastatic colonization of
      distant sites, compared to cancer cells with mesenchymal-like morphology. 

PMID- 26871604
TI  - Endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: a major breakthrough and a
      big challenge for Brazil.

PMID- 26871605
TI  - Testing for haptic perception.

PMID- 26871606
TI  - Correction to "Chiral Conjugated Corrals".

PMID- 26871607
TI  - Single Particle Deformation and Analysis of Silica-Coated Gold Nanorods before
      and after Femtosecond Laser Pulse Excitation.
AB  - We performed single particle deformation experiments on silica-coated gold
      nanorods under femtosecond (fs) illumination. Changes in the particle shape were
      analyzed by electron microscopy and associated changes in the plasmon resonance
      by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Silica-coated rods were found to be more
      stable compared to uncoated rods but could still be deformed via an intermediate
      bullet-like shape for silica shell thicknesses of 14 nm. Changes in the size
      ratio of the rods after fs-illumination resulted in blue-shifting of the
      longitudinal plasmon resonances. Two-dimensional spatial mapping of the plasmon
      resonances revealed that the flat side of the bullet-like particles showed a less
      pronounced longitudinal plasmonic electric field enhancement. These findings were
      confirmed by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. Furthermore, at
      higher laser fluences size reduction of the particles was found as well as for
      particles that were not completely deformed yet. 

PMID- 26871608
TI  - Stereochemical Course of the Reaction Catalyzed by RimO, a Radical SAM
      Methylthiotransferase.
AB  - RimO is a member of the growing radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) superfamily of
      enzymes, which use a reduced [4Fe-4S] cluster to effect reductive cleavage of the
      5' C-S bond of SAM to form a 5'-deoxyadenosyl 5'-radical (5'-dA(*)) intermediate.
      RimO uses this potent oxidant to catalyze the attachment of a methylthio group (
      SCH3) to C3 of aspartate 89 of protein S12, one of 21 proteins that compose the
      30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. However, the exact mechanism by which this
      transformation takes place has remained elusive. Herein, we describe the
      stereochemical course of the RimO reaction. Using peptide mimics of the S12
      protein bearing deuterium at the 3 pro-R or 3 pro-S positions of the target
      aspartyl residue, we show that RimO from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt)
      catalyzes abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen atom, as evidenced by the transfer of
      deuterium into 5'-deoxyadenosine (5'-dAH). The observed kinetic isotope effect on
      H atom versus D atom abstraction is ~1.9, suggesting that this step is at least
      partially rate determining. We also demonstrate that Bt RimO can utilize the
      flavodoxin/flavodoxin oxidoreductase/NADPH reducing system from Escherichia coli
      as a source of requisite electrons. Use of this in vivo reducing system
      decreases, but does not eliminate, formation of 5'-dAH in excess of
      methylthiolated product. 

PMID- 26871609
TI  - Chiral all-organic nitroxide biradical liquid crystals showing remarkably large
      positive magneto-LC effects.
AB  - The liquid crystalline chiral nitroxide biradical (S,S,S,S)-3 synthesized has
      shown much larger 'positive magneto-LC effects' in the chiral nematic (N*) phase
      than the monoradical (S,S)-1. 

PMID- 26871611
TI  - High-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators for self-powered nanosystems:
      quantitative standards and figures of merit.
AB  - Harvesting energies from the atmosphere cost-effectively is critical for both
      addressing worldwide long-term energy needs at the macro-scale, and achieving the
      sustainable maintenance-free operation of nanodevices at the micro-scale (Wang
      and Wu 2012 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 51 11700-21). Piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG)
      technology has demonstrated its great application potential in harvesting the
      ubiquitous and abundant mechanical energy. Despite of the progress made in this
      rapidly-advancing field, a fundamental understanding and common standard for
      consistently quantifying and evaluating the performance of the various types of
      piezoelectric NGs is still lacking. In their recent study Crossley and Kar
      Narayan (2015 Nanotechnology 26 344001), systematically investigated dynamical
      properties of piezoelectric NGs by taking into account the effect of driving
      mechanism and load frequency on NG performance. They further defined the NGs'
      figures of merit as energy harvested normalized by applied strain or stress for
      NGs under strain-driven or stress-driven conditions, which are commonly seen in
      the vibrational energy harvesting. This work provides new insight and a feasible
      approach for consistently evaluating piezoelectric nanomaterials and NG devices,
      which is important for designing and optimizing nanoscale piezoelectric energy
      harvesters, as well as promoting their applications in emerging areas e.g. the
      internet of things, wearable devices, and self-powered nanosystems. 

PMID- 26871610
TI  - Aberrant local striatal functional connectivity in attention
      deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Task-based and resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
      (fMRI) studies report attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related
      alterations in brain regions implicated in cortico-striatal networks. We assessed
      whether ADHD is associated with changes in the brain's global cortico-striatal
      functional architecture, or whether ADHD-related alterations are limited to
      local, intrastriatal functional connections. METHODS: We included a cohort of
      adolescents with ADHD (N = 181) and healthy controls (N = 140) and assessed
      functional connectivity of nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, anterior putamen,
      and posterior putamen. To assess global cortico-striatal functional architecture
      we computed whole-brain functional connectivity by including all regions of
      interest in one multivariate analysis. We assessed local striatal functional
      connectivity using partial correlations between the time series of the striatal
      regions. RESULTS: Diagnostic status did not influence global cortico-striatal
      functional architecture. However, compared to controls, participants with ADHD
      exhibited significantly increased local functional connectivity between anterior
      and posterior putamen (p = .0003; ADHD: z = .30, controls: z = .24). Results were
      not affected by medication use or comorbid oppositional defiant disorder and
      conduct disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support hypotheses that ADHD is
      associated with alterations in cortico-striatal networks, but suggest changes in
      local striatal functional connectivity. We interpret our findings as aberrant
      development of local functional connectivity of the putamen, potentially leading
      to decreased functional segregation between anterior and posterior putamen in
      ADHD.

PMID- 26871612
TI  - Dinuclear Zinc(II) Macrocyclic Complex as Receptor for Selective Fluorescence
      Sensing of Pyrophosphate.
AB  - A new diethylenetriamine-derived macrocycle known as L, bearing 2-methylquinoline
      arms and containing m-xylyl spacers, was prepared in good yield by a one-pot [2 +
      2] Schiff base condensation procedure, followed by reduction with sodium
      borohydride. Up to now this is the first hexaazamacrocycle with appended
      fluorophore units. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination of the
      dinuclear zinc(II) complex of L showed that metal centers are located at about
      7.20(2) A from one another. This complex exhibits only weak fluorescence in
      aqueous solution, but the addition of 1 equiv of pyrophosphate (PPi) caused a 21
      fold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity. The sensor response is linear up
      to a value of 10 MUM HPPi(3-) and has a detection limit of 300 nM. The receptor
      behaves as a highly selective sensor for pyrophosphate as other anions, including
      phosphate, phenylphosphate (PhP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine
      diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), failed to induce any
      fluorescence change and practically do not affect the fluorescence intensity of
      the sensor in the presence of HPPi(3-). Competition titrations carried out in
      aqueous solution at pH 7.4 [in 20 mM 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid (MOPS)
      buffer] by spectrofluorometry revealed a high association constant value of 6.22
      log units for binding of PPi by the dinuclear zinc(II) receptor, one of the
      highest reported values for colorimetric/fluorometric sensors able to work under
      real aqueous physiological conditions, while association constant values for
      binding of the other phosphorylated substrates are in the 5.51-4.03 log unit
      range. 

PMID- 26871613
TI  - Relative Reactivity of Stable Ligated Boranes and a Borohydride Salt in
      Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Boron-Hydrogen Insertion Reactions.
AB  - Relative reactivities of a series of neutral ligated boranes L-BH3 (where L is
      NHC, amine, pyridine, or phosphine) and the cyanoborohydride anion have been
      assessed in Rh(II)-catalyzed B-H insertion reactions with methyl 2-phenyl-2
      diazoacetate. Stable alpha-boryl ester products were isolated by flash
      chromatography in all cases except for the salt product from cyanoborohydride.
      All of the substrates were either comparable to or more reactive than 1,4
      cyclohexadiene, which is one of the most reactive substrates in C-H insertion
      reactions. The range of reactivity between the most reactive pyridine-borane and
      the least reactive phosphine-borane is a factor of approximately 40. 

PMID- 26871614
TI  - Association between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Presence of
      Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to analyze the association between the
      adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the presence of nonalcoholic fatty
      liver disease (NAFLD) in children. METHODS: The study consisted of three groups
      of children. Group 1 included obese/overweight children with recent diagnosis of
      NAFLD (n = 106, 12.4 +/- 2.6 years). Group 2 included obese children without
      NAFLD (n = 21, 11.3 +/- 2.6 years). Group 3 included the healthy children
      (without known chronic disease) with normal BMI (n = 54, 11.8 +/- 2.9 years).
      Compliance to the MD was assessed by the KIDMED index score. RESULTS: KIDMED
      index score in obese children with NAFLD, without NAFLD, and healthy children
      were 2.6 +/- 2.4, 4.6 +/- 1.2, and 6.2 +/- 1.9, respectively (p < 0.05 for group
      1 versus 2, 1 versus 3, and 2 versus 3). Diet compliance was good in only 4.7% of
      the patients with NAFLD, whereas it was 31.5% in healthy children. KIDMED index
      score was negatively correlated with BMI (p < 0.05, r = -0.53), but no
      correlation was found with other parameters. The area under the receiver
      operation curve (AUROC) for predicting fatty liver disease in obese children (n =
      127) with BMI and KIDMED index score was 0.78 (p < 0.05) and 0.24 (p < 0.05),
      respectively. BMI >26 has a sensitivity of 79.2% and specificity of 52.4%, and
      KIDMED index score <=3 has a sensitivity of 66.9% and specificity of 76.1%.
      CONCLUSIONS: MD is an inexpensive and nontoxic dietary regimen and may be used as
      a therapeutic option in obese children with NAFLD.

PMID- 26871615
TI  - Copula-based regression modeling of bivariate severity of temporary disability
      and permanent motor injuries.
AB  - The analysis of factors influencing the severity of the personal injuries
      suffered by victims of motor accidents is an issue of major interest. Yet, most
      of the extant literature has tended to address this question by focusing on
      either the severity of temporary disability or the severity of permanent injury.
      In this paper, a bivariate copula-based regression model for temporary disability
      and permanent injury severities is introduced for the joint analysis of the
      relationship with the set of factors that might influence both categories of
      injury. Using a motor insurance database with 21,361 observations, the copula
      based regression model is shown to give a better performance than that of a model
      based on the assumption of independence. The inclusion of the dependence
      structure in the analysis has a higher impact on the variance estimates of the
      injury severities than it does on the point estimates. By taking into account the
      dependence between temporary and permanent severities a more extensive factor
      analysis can be conducted. We illustrate that the conditional distribution
      functions of injury severities may be estimated, thus, providing decision makers
      with valuable information. 

PMID- 26871616
TI  - Examining links between cognitive markers, movement initiation and change, and
      pedestrian safety in older adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which
      mobility indices (such as walking speed and postural sway), motor initiation, and
      cognitive function, specifically executive functions, including spatial planning,
      visual attention, and within participant variability, differentially predicted
      collisions in the near and far sides of the road with increasing age. METHODS:
      Adults aged over 45 years participated in cognitive tests measuring executive
      function and visual attention (using Useful Field of View; UFoV((r))), mobility
      assessments (walking speed, sit-to-stand, self-reported mobility, and postural
      sway assessed using motion capture cameras), and gave road crossing choices in a
      two-way filmed real traffic pedestrian simulation. RESULTS: A stepwise regression
      model of walking speed, start-up delay variability, and processing speed)
      explained 49.4% of the variance in near-side crossing errors. Walking speed,
      start-up delay measures (average and variability), and spatial planning explained
      54.8% of the variance in far-side unsafe crossing errors. Start-up delay was
      predicted by walking speed only (explained 30.5%). CONCLUSION: Walking speed and
      start-up delay measures were consistent predictors of unsafe crossing behaviours.
      Cognitive measures, however, differentially predicted near-side errors
      (processing speed), and far-side errors (spatial planning). These findings offer
      potential contributions for identifying and rehabilitating at-risk older
      pedestrians.

PMID- 26871617
TI  - Spectroscopic properties and location of the Ce(3+) energy levels in Y3Al2Ga3O12
      and Y3Ga5O12 at ambient and high hydrostatic pressure.
AB  - In this study, we present the high pressure spectroscopy of Y3Al2Ga3O12 (YAGG)
      and Y3Ga5O12 (YGG) ceramics doped with Ce(3+) and Cr(3+). We have found that high
      hydrostatic pressure recovers the Ce(3+) luminescence in YGG. The pressure
      induced shifts of the ground state and the 5d1 excited state of Ce(3+) with
      respect to the conduction band edge were estimated. Our experimental data allowed
      us to also obtain the shifts of the conduction and valence band edges, and the
      ground state and the 5d1 state of Ce(3+) ions have been estimated with respect to
      the vacuum level. It has been shown that simple equivalence between the external
      hydrostatic pressure and intrinsic chemical pressure related to different
      compositions of the isostructural matrices does not exist in garnet lattices. 

PMID- 26871622
TI  - A Mechanism for Somatic Brain Mosaicism.
AB  - Double-strand break repair is required for neural development, and brain cells
      contain somatic genomic variations. Now, Wei et al. demonstrate that neural stem
      and progenitor cells undergo very frequent DNA breaks in a very restricted set of
      genes involved in neural cell adhesion and synapse function.

PMID- 26871623
TI  - Pluripotency without Proliferation.
AB  - Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are capable of unlimited proliferation without
      losing pluripotency. Scognamiglio et al. now reveal that Myc depletion shifts
      mESCs into a dormant state reminiscent of embryonic diapause in which
      pluripotency remains fully preserved, thus decoupling pluripotency from
      proliferative programs.

PMID- 26871618
TI  - The Food and Drug Administration Office of Women's Health: Impact of Science on
      Regulatory Policy: An Update.
AB  - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women's Health (FDA OWH) has
      supported women's health research for ~20 years, funding more than 300 studies on
      women's health issues, including research on diseases/conditions that
      disproportionately affect women in addition to the evaluation of sex differences
      in the performance of and response to medical products. These important women's
      health issues are studied from a regulatory perspective, with a focus on
      improving and optimizing medical product development and the evaluation of
      product safety and efficacy in women. These findings have influenced industry
      direction, labeling, product discontinuation, safety notices, and clinical
      practice. In addition, OWH-funded research has addressed gaps in the knowledge
      about diseases and medical conditions that impact women across the life span such
      as cardiovascular disease, pregnancy, menopause, osteoporosis, and the safe use
      of numerous medical products. 

PMID- 26871624
TI  - Let It Go and Open Up, an Ensemble of Ion Channel Active States.
AB  - Ligand binding usually moves the target protein from an ensemble of inactive
      states to a well-defined active conformation. Matthies et al. flip this scheme
      around, finding that, for the magnesium channel CorA, loss of ligand binding
      induces an ensemble of conformations that turn the channel on.

PMID- 26871625
TI  - A Receptor for All Occasions.
AB  - Cells communicate with their environment, in part, through cell surface
      receptors. Engineering receptors that both sense arbitrary inputs and provide
      outputs orthogonal to endogenous signaling pathways has been a challenge. Now,
      Lim and colleagues report a system based on synthetic Notch receptors that allows
      independent control of both inputs and outputs in diverse cell types. 

PMID- 26871626
TI  - A New Way to Diversify Antibodies by DNA Transposition.
AB  - While searching for new therapeutics against malaria, Lanzavecchia and colleagues
      discovered that antibodies can be diversified by DNA sequences encoded outside of
      antibody genes. 

PMID- 26871627
TI  - The Cellular Phase of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - The amyloid hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease (AD) posits a neuron-centric,
      linear cascade initiated by Abeta and leading to dementia. This direct causality
      is incompatible with clinical observations. We review evidence supporting a long,
      complex cellular phase consisting of feedback and feedforward responses of
      astrocytes, microglia, and vasculature. The field must incorporate this holistic
      view and take advantage of advances in single-cell approaches to resolve the
      critical junctures at which perturbations initially amenable to compensatory
      feedback transform into irreversible, progressive neurodegeneration. 

PMID- 26871628
TI  - Dorsal Raphe Dopamine Neurons Represent the Experience of Social Isolation.
AB  - The motivation to seek social contact may arise from either positive or negative
      emotional states, as social interaction can be rewarding and social isolation can
      be aversive. While ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons may mediate
      social reward, a cellular substrate for the negative affective state of
      loneliness has remained elusive. Here, we identify a functional role for DA
      neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), in which we observe synaptic changes
      following acute social isolation. DRN DA neurons show increased activity upon
      social contact following isolation, revealed by in vivo calcium imaging.
      Optogenetic activation of DRN DA neurons increases social preference but causes
      place avoidance. Furthermore, these neurons are necessary for promoting rebound
      sociability following an acute period of isolation. Finally, the degree to which
      these neurons modulate behavior is predicted by social rank, together supporting
      a role for DRN dopamine neurons in mediating a loneliness-like state. PAPERCLIP.

PMID- 26871629
TI  - Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory
      Memory.
AB  - Memories formed early in life are particularly stable and influential,
      representing privileged experiences that shape enduring behaviors. We show that
      exposing newly hatched C. elegans to pathogenic bacteria results in persistent
      aversion to those bacterial odors, whereas adult exposure generates only
      transient aversive memory. Long-lasting imprinted aversion has a critical period
      in the first larval stage and is specific to the experienced pathogen. Distinct
      groups of neurons are required during formation (AIB, RIM) and retrieval (AIY,
      RIA) of the imprinted memory. RIM synthesizes the neuromodulator tyramine, which
      is required in the L1 stage for learning. AIY memory retrieval neurons sense
      tyramine via the SER-2 receptor, which is essential for imprinted, but not for
      adult-learned, aversion. Odor responses in several neurons, most notably RIA, are
      altered in imprinted animals. These findings provide insight into neuronal
      substrates of different forms of memory, and lay a foundation for further
      understanding of early learning.

PMID- 26871630
TI  - Long Neural Genes Harbor Recurrent DNA Break Clusters in Neural Stem/Progenitor
      Cells.
AB  - Repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by non-homologous end joining is
      critical for neural development, and brain cells frequently contain somatic
      genomic variations that might involve DSB intermediates. We now use an unbiased,
      high-throughput approach to identify genomic regions harboring recurrent DSBs in
      primary neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). We identify 27 recurrent DSB
      clusters (RDCs), and remarkably, all occur within gene bodies. Most of these NSPC
      RDCs were detected only upon mild, aphidicolin-induced replication stress,
      providing a nucleotide-resolution view of replication-associated genomic fragile
      sites. The vast majority of RDCs occur in long, transcribed, and late-replicating
      genes. Moreover, almost 90% of identified RDC-containing genes are involved in
      synapse function and/or neural cell adhesion, with a substantial fraction also
      implicated in tumor suppression and/or mental disorders. Our characterization of
      NSPC RDCs reveals a basis of gene fragility and suggests potential impacts of DNA
      breaks on neurodevelopment and neural functions.

PMID- 26871631
TI  - Self-Organization of Embryonic Genetic Oscillators into Spatiotemporal Wave
      Patterns.
AB  - In vertebrate embryos, somites, the precursor of vertebrae, form from the
      presomitic mesoderm (PSM), which is composed of cells displaying signaling
      oscillations. Cellular oscillatory activity leads to periodic wave patterns in
      the PSM. Here, we address the origin of such complex wave patterns. We employed
      an in vitro randomization and real-time imaging strategy to probe for the ability
      of cells to generate order from disorder. We found that, after randomization, PSM
      cells self-organized into several miniature emergent PSM structures (ePSM). Our
      results show an ordered macroscopic spatial arrangement of ePSM with evidence of
      an intrinsic length scale. Furthermore, cells actively synchronize oscillations
      in a Notch-signaling-dependent manner, re-establishing wave-like patterns of gene
      activity. We demonstrate that PSM cells self-organize by tuning oscillation
      dynamics in response to surrounding cells, leading to collective synchronization
      with an average frequency. These findings reveal emergent properties within an
      ensemble of coupled genetic oscillators.

PMID- 26871633
TI  - Shelterin Protects Chromosome Ends by Compacting Telomeric Chromatin.
AB  - Telomeres, repetitive DNA sequences at chromosome ends, are shielded against the
      DNA damage response (DDR) by the shelterin complex. To understand how shelterin
      protects telomere ends, we investigated the structural organization of telomeric
      chromatin in human cells using super-resolution microscopy. We found that
      telomeres form compact globular structures through a complex network of
      interactions between shelterin subunits and telomeric DNA, but not by DNA
      methylation, histone deacetylation, or histone trimethylation at telomeres and
      subtelomeric regions. Mutations that abrogate shelterin assembly or removal of
      individual subunits from telomeres cause up to a 10-fold increase in telomere
      volume. Decompacted telomeres accumulate DDR signals and become more accessible
      to telomere-associated proteins. Recompaction of telomeric chromatin using an
      orthogonal method displaces DDR signals from telomeres. These results reveal the
      chromatin remodeling activity of shelterin and demonstrate that shelterin
      mediated compaction of telomeric chromatin provides robust protection of
      chromosome ends against the DDR machinery. 

PMID- 26871632
TI  - Myc Depletion Induces a Pluripotent Dormant State Mimicking Diapause.
AB  - Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are maintained in a naive ground state of
      pluripotency in the presence of MEK and GSK3 inhibitors. Here, we show that
      ground-state ESCs express low Myc levels. Deletion of both c-myc and N-myc (dKO)
      or pharmacological inhibition of Myc activity strongly decreases transcription,
      splicing, and protein synthesis, leading to proliferation arrest. This process is
      reversible and occurs without affecting pluripotency, suggesting that Myc
      depleted stem cells enter a state of dormancy similar to embryonic diapause.
      Indeed, c-Myc is depleted in diapaused blastocysts, and the differential
      expression signatures of dKO ESCs and diapaused epiblasts are remarkably similar.
      Following Myc inhibition, pre-implantation blastocysts enter biosynthetic
      dormancy but can progress through their normal developmental program after
      transfer into pseudo-pregnant recipients. Our study shows that Myc controls the
      biosynthetic machinery of stem cells without affecting their potency, thus
      regulating their entry and exit from the dormant state. 

PMID- 26871635
TI  - Redefining the Translational Status of 80S Monosomes.
AB  - Fully assembled ribosomes exist in two populations: polysomes and monosomes.
      While the former has been studied extensively, to what extent translation occurs
      on monosomes and its importance for overall translational output remain
      controversial. Here, we used ribosome profiling to examine the translational
      status of 80S monosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that the vast
      majority of 80S monosomes are elongating, not initiating. Further, most mRNAs
      exhibit some degree of monosome occupancy, with monosomes predominating on
      nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) targets, upstream open reading frames (uORFs),
      canonical ORFs shorter than ~ 590 nt, and ORFs for which the total time required
      to complete elongation is substantially shorter than that required for
      initiation. Importantly, mRNAs encoding low-abundance regulatory proteins tend to
      be enriched in the monosome fraction. Our data highlight the importance of
      monosomes for the translation of highly regulated mRNAs.

PMID- 26871634
TI  - Cryo-EM Structures of the Magnesium Channel CorA Reveal Symmetry Break upon
      Gating.
AB  - CorA, the major Mg(2+) uptake system in prokaryotes, is gated by intracellular
      Mg(2+) (KD ~ 1-2 mM). X-ray crystallographic studies of CorA show similar
      conformations under Mg(2+)-bound and Mg(2+)-free conditions, but EPR
      spectroscopic studies reveal large Mg(2+)-driven quaternary conformational
      changes. Here, we determined cryo-EM structures of CorA in the Mg(2+)-bound
      closed conformation and in two open Mg(2+)-free states at resolutions of 3.8,
      7.1, and 7.1 A, respectively. In the absence of bound Mg(2+), four of the five
      subunits are displaced to variable extents (~ 10-25 A) by hinge-like motions as
      large as ~ 35 degrees  at the stalk helix. The transition between a single 5-fold
      symmetric closed state and an ensemble of low Mg(2+), open, asymmetric
      conformational states is, thus, the key structural signature of CorA gating. This
      mechanism is likely to apply to other structurally similar divalent ion channels.

PMID- 26871638
TI  - SnapShot: SMC Protein Complexes Part II.
AB  - This second of two SnapShots on SMC proteins depicts their roles at different
      stages of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The composition and architecture of SMC
      protein complexes and their regulators appear in SMC Protein Complexes Part I
      (available at http://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674%2815%2901690-6.pdf). To
      view this SnapShot, open or download the PDF. 

PMID- 26871636
TI  - Multiplexed Intact-Tissue Transcriptional Analysis at Cellular Resolution.
AB  - In recently developed approaches for high-resolution imaging within intact
      tissue, molecular characterization over large volumes has been largely restricted
      to labeling of proteins. But volumetric nucleic acid labeling may represent a far
      greater scientific and clinical opportunity, enabling detection of not only
      diverse coding RNA variants but also non-coding RNAs. Moreover, scaling
      immunohistochemical detection to large tissue volumes has limitations due to high
      cost, limited renewability/availability, and restricted multiplexing capability
      of antibody labels. With the goal of versatile, high-content, and scalable
      molecular phenotyping of intact tissues, we developed a method using carbodiimide
      based chemistry to stably retain RNAs in clarified tissue, coupled with
      amplification tools for multiplexed detection. The resulting technology enables
      robust measurement of activity-dependent transcriptional signatures, cell
      identity markers, and diverse non-coding RNAs in rodent and human tissue volumes.
      The growing set of validated probes is deposited in an online resource for
      nucleating related developments from across the scientific community.

PMID- 26871637
TI  - Widespread Expansion of Protein Interaction Capabilities by Alternative Splicing.
AB  - While alternative splicing is known to diversify the functional characteristics
      of some genes, the extent to which protein isoforms globally contribute to
      functional complexity on a proteomic scale remains unknown. To address this
      systematically, we cloned full-length open reading frames of alternatively
      spliced transcripts for a large number of human genes and used protein-protein
      interaction profiling to functionally compare hundreds of protein isoform pairs.
      The majority of isoform pairs share less than 50% of their interactions. In the
      global context of interactome network maps, alternative isoforms tend to behave
      like distinct proteins rather than minor variants of each other. Interaction
      partners specific to alternative isoforms tend to be expressed in a highly tissue
      specific manner and belong to distinct functional modules. Our strategy,
      applicable to other functional characteristics, reveals a widespread expansion of
      protein interaction capabilities through alternative splicing and suggests that
      many alternative "isoforms" are functionally divergent (i.e., "functional
      alloforms").

PMID- 26871640
TI  - Caregivers' Self-Reported Absence of Social Support Networks is Related to
      Treatment Abandonment in Children With Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Treatment abandonment (TxA) is a primary cause of therapy failure in
      children with cancer in low-/middle-income countries. We explored the absence of
      social support network (SSN), among other predictive factors, and TxA in children
      with cancer in Cali, Colombia. PROCEDURE: In this prospective cohort study, we
      included children diagnosed with cancer at a public university hospital. A social
      worker and a psychologist administered semistructured questionnaires to patients'
      caregivers. We extracted information from the questionnaires about social,
      economic, and psychological conditions of the patients' families. Outcomes were
      death, relapse, and TxA. Failure either to start or to continue the planned
      course of curative treatment for 4 weeks or more was defined as TxA. We
      identified events with Cali's childhood cancer outcomes surveillance system
      (VIGICANCER). We adjusted the hazard ratios (HRs) for potential confounders using
      multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 188 patients diagnosed from
      January 2011 to June 2013, 99 interviews were conducted. Median age was 5 years
      old (range: 0.3, 14.9), 53% were male, 17% were of Colombian-Indian ethnicity,
      and 68% lived in rural areas. The 2-year cumulative incidence of TxA was 21% (95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 13, 35) and the annual proportion was 14%. The adjusted
      HR for the absence of SSN was 4.9 (95% CI: 1.6, 15.3). CONCLUSIONS: We found a
      strong association between the absence of SSN and TxA that was independent of
      other covariates, including surrogate measures of wealth. Our findings highlight
      the imperative understanding of social ties and support surrounding children's
      families for planning strategies to prevent TxA.

PMID- 26871641
TI  - Are Home- and Community-Based Services Cost-Effective?

PMID- 26871639
TI  - GALNT14 genotype effectively predicts the therapeutic response in unresectable
      hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.
AB  - AIM: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is currently the standard treatment
      in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B.
      Genomic variants of GALNT14 were recently identified as effective predictors for
      chemotherapy responses in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C patients.
      METHODS: We investigated the prognosis predictive value of GALNT14 genotypes in
      327 hepatocelluar carcinoma patients treated by transcatheter arterial
      chemoembolization. RESULT: Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that
      the genotype 'TT' was associated with shorter time-to-response (multivariate p <
      0.001), time-to-complete-response (p = 0.004) and longer time-to-tumor
      progression (p < 0.001), compared with the genotype 'non-TT'. In patients with
      albumin <3.5 g/dl, genotype 'TT' was associated with longer overall survival (p =
      0.027). Finally, genotype 'TT' correlated with higher cancer-to-noncancer ratios
      of GALNT14 protein levels, lower cancer-to-noncancer ratios of antiapoptotic
      cFLIP-S, and a clustered glycosylation pattern in the extracellular domain of
      death receptor 5. CONCLUSION: GALNT14 genotypes were significantly associated
      with clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The
      differential status of extrinsic apoptotic signaling between cancerous and non
      cancerous tissues might underlie the clinical association.

PMID- 26871642
TI  - Access to Care Among Nonelderly Veterans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Veteran access to care is an important policy issue that has not
      previously been examined with population-based survey data. OBJECTIVES: This
      study compares access to care for nonelderly adult Veterans versus comparable non
      Veterans, overall and within subgroups defined by simulated eligibility for
      health care from the Veterans Health Administration and by insurance status.
      RESEARCH DESIGN: We use household survey data from the Medical Expenditure Panel
      Survey from 2006 to 2011. We use iterative proportional fitting to standardize
      (control for) differences in age, sex, income, medical conditions, disability,
      Census region, and Metropolitan Statistical Area. SUBJECTS: Nonelderly Veterans
      and comparable non-Veterans. MEASURES: For medical, dental, and prescription
      medicine treatments, we use 4 access measures: delaying care, inability to obtain
      care, perceiving delay as a big problem, and perceiving inability to obtain care
      as a big problem. We also examine having a usual source of care. RESULTS:
      Frequencies of access barriers are similar for nonelderly Veterans and comparable
      non-Veterans for dental and prescription medicine treatments. For medical
      treatment, we find that Veterans eligible for VA health care and Veterans with VA
      use who are uninsured report fewer access problems than the comparable non
      Veteran populations for 2 measures: inability to obtain care and reporting
      inability to obtain care as a big problem. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that
      uninsured Veterans, the most policy-relevant group, have better access to care
      than comparable non-Veterans. Our results highlight the importance of adjusting
      Veteran and non-Veteran comparisons to account for the higher than average health
      care needs of Veterans.

PMID- 26871643
TI  - A First Look at PCMH Implementation for Minority Veterans: Room for Improvement.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Implementation of Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT), a patient
      centered medical home model, has been inconsistent among the >900 primary care
      facilities in the Veterans Health Administration. OBJECTIVE: Estimate if the
      degree of PACT implementation at a facility varied with the percentage of
      minority veteran patients at the facility. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional,
      facility-level analysis of PACT implementation measures in 2012. SUBJECTS:
      Veterans Health Administration hospital-based and community-based primary care
      facilities. MEASURES: We used a previously validated PACT Implementation Progress
      Index (Pi) and its 8 domains: access, continuity of care, care coordination,
      comprehensiveness, self-management support, and patient-centered care and
      communication, shared decision-making domains, and team functioning. Facilities
      were categorized as low (<5.2%, n=208), medium (5.2%-25.8%, n=413), and high
      (>25.8%, n=206) percent minority based on the percent of their own veteran
      population. RESULTS: Most minority veterans received care in high minority (69%)
      and medium minority facilities (29%). In adjusted analyses, medium and high
      minority facilities scored 0.773 (P=0.009) and 0.930 (P=0.008) points lower on
      the Pi score relative to low minority facilities. Relative to low minority
      facilities, both medium and high minority facilities were less likely of having
      high Pi scores (>=2) and more likely of having low Pi scores (<=-2). Both medium
      and high minority facilities had the same 3 domain scores lower than low minority
      facilities (care coordination, comprehensiveness, and self-management).
      CONCLUSION: Overall PACT implementation varied with respect to the racial/ethnic
      composition of a facility, with medium and high minority facilities having a
      lower implementation scores.

PMID- 26871644
TI  - Availability of Care Concordant With Patient-centered Medical Home Principles
      Among Those With Chronic Conditions: Measuring Care Outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Care delivery redesign in the form of patient-centered medical home
      (PCMH) is considered as a potential solution to improve patient outcomes and
      reduce costs, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. But studies of
      prevalence or impact at the population level are rare. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to
      assess whether desired outcomes indicating better care delivery and patient
      centeredness were associated with receipt of care according to 3 important PCMH
      principles. RESEARCH DESIGN: We analyzed data from a representative population
      survey in California in 2009, focusing on a population with chronic condition who
      had a usual source of care. We used bivariate, logistic, and negative-binomial
      regressions. MEASURES: The indicators of PCMH concordant care included continuity
      of care (personal doctor), care coordination, and care management (individual
      treatment plan). Outcomes included flu shots, count of outpatient visits, any
      emergency department visit, timely provider communication, and confidence in self
      care. RESULTS: We found that patients whose care was concordant with all 3 PCMH
      principles were more likely to receive flu shots, more outpatient care, and
      timely response from providers. Concordance with 2 principles led to some desired
      outcomes. Concordance with only 1 principle was not associated with desired
      outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received care that met 3 key aspects of PCMH:
      coordination, continuity, and management, had better quality of care and more
      efficient use of the health care system.

PMID- 26871645
TI  - Overcrowding in Psychiatric Wards is Associated With Increased Risk of Adverse
      Incidents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the association between bed occupancy in psychiatric wards
      and rate of adverse incidents (AIs) including aggressive behavior and falls.
      METHODS: This is a retrospective study analyzing bed occupancy and AIs' data in 4
      closed wards in a state psychiatric hospital in Israel over a 20-month period.
      Ward-level daily records were extracted from the hospital's electronic admission
      discharge and AI registries, creating a log of 609 days for each of the 4 wards.
      Relationships between gross and net bed occupancy and AIs rate were calculated,
      in general and for each ward and type of incidents. RESULTS: Average gross
      occupancy was 106+/-14.8% and net occupancy was 96.4+/-15.6%. Gross occupancy
      >100% was recorded in 51% of days. Net occupancy was higher on days with at least
      1 incident than on no-incident days (98.6+/-14.8% vs. 95.7+/-15.7%, P<0.0001).
      AIs occurred in 18.6% of days in the lowest occupancy quadrant (up to 85%
      occupancy), compared with 26.7% of days in the highest occupancy quadrant (106%
      and above). Moreover, aggressive behavior-type incidents were significantly lower
      in the lowest occupancy quadrant days compared with the highest occupancy
      quadrant (8.3% vs. 14.1%, P<0.01). Evidence of a dose-response effect of bed
      occupancy on AIs rate was found. CONCLUSIONS: Overoccupancy is prevalent in
      psychiatric wards and is associated with an increased rate of aggressive AIs and
      falls. Policy makers should be convinced about the necessity to reduce
      overcrowding in psychiatric wards and to improve safety of inpatient facilities.

PMID- 26871646
TI  - High-resolution core-level photoemission measurements on the pentacene single
      crystal surface assisted by photoconduction.
AB  - Upon charge carrier transport behaviors of high-mobility organic field effect
      transistors of pentacene single crystal, effects of ambient gases and resultant
      probable 'impurities' at the crystal surface have been controversial. Definite
      knowledge on the surface stoichiometry and chemical composites is indispensable
      to solve this question. In the present study, high-resolution x-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy (XPS) measurements on the pentacene single crystal samples
      successfully demonstrated a presence of a few atomic-percent of (photo-)oxidized
      species at the first molecular layer of the crystal surface through accurate
      analyses of the excitation energy (i.e. probing depth) dependence of the C1s peak
      profiles. Particular methodologies to conduct XPS on organic single crystal
      samples, without any charging nor damage of the sample in spite of its electric
      insulating character and fragility against x-ray irradiation, is also described
      in detail. 

PMID- 26871647
TI  - Health Behavior Change Interventions for Teenage and Young Adult Cancer
      Survivors: A Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE: It is important that teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer survivors
      adopt a healthy lifestyle, since health vulnerabilities associated with their
      diagnosis and treatment may be exacerbated by poor health behaviors. This review
      aims to synthesize the current literature on health behavior change interventions
      created specifically for TYA-aged cancer survivors. METHOD: MEDLINE, EMBASE,
      PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched for studies investigating
      interventions targeting one or more health behaviors, including: physical
      activity, diet, smoking cessation, and alcohol consumption. Studies were eligible
      for review if the study population were defined as TYA cancer survivors and the
      mean age of the sample was younger than 30 years of age. RESULTS: Twelve studies
      were identified, of which nine were randomized controlled trials. Physical
      activity was the most commonly targeted health behavior. Six of the 12
      interventions included within this review were successful in changing health
      behavior. Due to the heterogeneity of intervention characteristics, the
      relationship between intervention efficacy or outcome and intervention content,
      delivery mode, or theoretical framework was not discernible. Nevertheless, trends
      emerged relating to the delivery and content of health behavior interventions
      designed specifically for TYA cancer survivors. CONCLUSION: More research is
      required to identify the most effective means of promoting health behavior change
      among the TYA cancer survivor population. Specifically, future research should
      focus on providing evidence of the efficiency and feasibility of interventions
      that use online technologies to facilitate remote intervention delivery and peer
      support.

PMID- 26871648
TI  - Editorial: Modified extended approach improves recovery following spinal
      accessory to suprascapular nerve transfer.

PMID- 26871649
TI  - Results of spinal accessory to suprascapular nerve transfer in 110 patients with
      complete palsy of the brachial plexus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Transfer of the spinal accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve is a
      common procedure, performed to reestablish shoulder motion in patients with total
      brachial plexus palsy. However, the results of this procedure remain largely
      unknown. METHODS Over an 11-year period (2002-2012), 257 patients with total
      brachial plexus palsy were operated upon in the authors' department by a single
      surgeon and had the spinal accessory nerve transferred to the suprascapular
      nerve. Among these, 110 had adequate follow-up and were included in this study.
      Their average age was 26 years (SD 8.4 years), and the mean interval between
      their injury and surgery was 5.2 months (SD 2.4 months). Prior to 2005, the
      suprascapular and spinal accessory nerves were dissected through a classic
      supraclavicular L-shape incision (n = 29). Afterward (n = 81), the spinal
      accessory and suprascapular nerves were dissected via an oblique incision,
      extending from the point at which the plexus crossed the clavicle to the anterior
      border of the trapezius muscle. In 17 of these patients, because of clavicle
      fractures or dislocation, scapular fractures or retroclavicular scarring, the
      incision was extended by detaching the trapezius from the clavicle to expose the
      suprascapular nerve at the suprascapular fossa. In all patients, the brachial
      plexus was explored and elbow flexion reconstructed by root grafting (n = 95),
      root grafting and phrenic nerve transfer (n = 6), phrenic nerve transfer (n = 1),
      or third, fourth, and fifth intercostal nerve transfer. Postoperatively, patients
      were followed for an average of 40 months (SD 13.7 months). RESULTS Failed
      recovery, meaning less than 30 degrees  abduction, was observed in 10 (9%) of the
      110 patients. The failure rate was 25% between 2002 and 2004, but dropped to 5%
      after the staged/extended approach was introduced. The mean overall range of
      abduction recovery was 58.5 degrees  (SD 26 degrees ). Comparing before and after
      distal suprascapular nerve exploration (2005-2012), the range of abduction
      recovery was 45 degrees  (SD 25.1 degrees ) versus 62 degrees  (SD 25.3 degrees
      ), respectively (p = 0.002). In patients who recovered at least 30 degrees  of
      abduction, recovery of elbow flexion to at least an M3 level of strength
      increased the range of abduction by an average of 13 degrees  (p = 0.01). Before
      the extended approach, 2 (7%) of 29 patients recovered active external rotation
      of 20 degrees  and 120 degrees . With the staged/extended approach, 32 (40%) of
      81 recovered some degree of active external rotation. In these patients, the
      average range of motion measured from the thorax was 87 degrees  (SD 40.6 degrees
      ). CONCLUSIONS In total palsies of the brachial plexus, using the spinal
      accessory nerve for transfer to the suprascapular nerve is reliable and provides
      some recovery of abduction for a large majority of patients. In a few patients, a
      more extensive approach to access the suprascapular nerve, including, if
      necessary, dissection in the suprascapular fossa, may enhance outcomes. 

PMID- 26871650
TI  - Ectopic ganglion in cauda equina: case report.
AB  - Macroscopic ectopic or heterotopic ganglionic tissue within the cauda equina is a
      very rare pathological finding and is usually associated with spinal dysraphism.
      However, it may mimic genuine neoplasms of the cauda equina. The authors describe
      a 29-year-old woman with a history of back pain, right leg pain, and urinary
      incontinence in whom imaging demonstrated an enhancing mass located in the cauda
      equina at the L1-2 interspace. The patient subsequently underwent biopsy and was
      found to have a focus of ectopic ganglionic tissue that was 1.3 cm in greatest
      dimension. To the authors' knowledge, ectopic or heterotopic ganglionic tissue
      within the cauda equina in a patient without evidence of spinal dysraphism has
      never been reported. This patient presented with imaging and clinical findings
      suggestive of a neoplasm, and an open biopsy proved the lesion to be ectopic
      ganglionic tissue. The authors suggest that ectopic ganglionic tissue be added to
      the list of differential diagnoses of a space-occupying lesion arising from the
      cauda equina. 

PMID- 26871651
TI  - Prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with
      sciatica.
AB  - OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of MRI variables to
      predict outcome in patients with herniated disc-related sciatica, and whether MRI
      could facilitate the decision making between early surgery and prolonged
      conservative care in these patients. METHODS A prospective observational
      evaluation of patients enrolled in a randomized trial with 1-year follow-up was
      completed. A total of 283 patients with sciatica who had a radiologically
      confirmed disc herniation were randomized either to surgery or to prolonged
      conservative care with surgery if needed. Outcome measures were recovery and leg
      pain severity. Recovery was registered on a 7-point Likert scale. Complete/near
      complete recovery was considered a satisfactory outcome. Leg pain severity was
      measured on a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale. Multiple MRI characteristics of
      the degenerated disc herniation were independently scored by 3 spine experts. Cox
      models were used to study the influence of MRI variables on rate of recovery, and
      linear mixed models were used to determine the predictive value of MRI variables
      for leg pain severity during follow-up. The interaction of each MRI predictor
      with treatment allocation was tested. There were no study-specific conflicts of
      interest. RESULTS Baseline MRI variables associated with less leg pain severity
      were the reader's assessment of presence of nerve root compression (p < 0.001),
      and assessment of extrusion compared with protrusion of the disc herniation (p =
      0.006). Both variables tended to be associated, but not significantly, with
      satisfactory outcome during follow-up (HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.93-2.24, and HR 1.24,
      95% CI 0.96-1.61, respectively). The size of disc herniation at baseline was not
      associated with outcome. There was no significant change in the effects between
      treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS MRI assessment of the presence of nerve root
      compression and extrusion of a herniated disc at baseline was associated with
      less leg pain during 1-year follow-up, irrespective of a surgical or conservative
      treatment. MRI findings seem not to be helpful in determining which patients
      might fare better with early surgery compared with a strategy of prolonged
      conservative care. Clinical trial registration no.: ISRCTN26872154 ( controlled
      trials.com ). 

PMID- 26871652
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone against spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion
      injury by attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the spinal cord following
      thoracoabdominal aortic surgery remains the most devastating complication, with a
      life-changing impact on the patient. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of
      the volatile oil from Nigella sativa seeds, is reported to possess strong
      antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. This study
      investigated the effects of TQ administration following I/R injury to the spinal
      cord. METHODS Thirty-two rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups. Group 1
      underwent only laparotomy. For Group 2, aortic clip occlusion was introduced to
      produce I/R injury. Group 3 was given 30 mg/kg of methylprednisolone
      intraperitoneally immediately after the I/R injury. Group 4 was given 10 mg/kg of
      TQ intraperitoneally for 7 days before induction of spinal cord I/R injury, and
      administration was continued until the animal was euthanized. Locomotor function
      (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale and inclined plane test) was assessed at 24
      hours postischemia. Spinal cord tissue samples were harvested to analyze tissue
      concentrations of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha,
      interleukin-1, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, catalase, and
      caspase-3. In addition, histological and ultrastructural evaluations were
      performed. RESULTS Thymoquinone treatment improved neurological outcome, which
      was supported by decreased levels of oxidative products (malondialdehyde and
      nitric oxide) and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and
      interleukin-1), increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide
      dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, and catalase), as well as reduction of motor
      neuron apoptosis. Light microscopy and electron microscopy results also showed
      preservation of tissue structure in the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS As shown by
      functional, biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural analysis, TQ exhibits
      an important protective effect against I/R injury of the spinal cord. 

PMID- 26871653
TI  - De Novo Mutation in ABCC9 Causes Hypertrichosis Acromegaloid Facial Features
      Disorder.
AB  - A 13-year-old Egyptian girl with generalized hypertrichosis, gingival
      hyperplasia, coarse facial appearance, no cardiovascular or skeletal anomalies,
      keloid formation, and multiple labial frenula was referred to our clinic for
      counseling. Molecular analysis of the ABCC9 gene showed a de novo missense
      mutation located in exon 27, which has been described previously with Cantu
      syndrome. An overlap between Cantu syndrome, acromegaloid facial syndrome, and
      hypertrichosis acromegaloid facial features disorder is apparent at the
      phenotypic and molecular levels. The patient reported here gives further evidence
      that these syndromes are an expression of the ABCC9-related disorders, ranging
      from hypertrichosis and acromegaloid facies to the severe end of Cantu syndrome. 

PMID- 26871654
TI  - Concept Development of the Eindhoven Diabetes Education Simulator Project.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to define the concept of an educational
      diabetes game following a user-centered design approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      The concept development of the Eindhoven Diabetes Education Simulator (E-DES)
      project can be divided in two phases: concept generation and concept evaluation.
      Four concepts were designed by the multidisciplinary development team based on
      the outcomes of user interviews. Four other concepts resulted from the Diabetes
      Game Jam. Several users and experts evaluated the concepts. These user
      evaluations and a feasibility analysis served as input for an overall evaluation
      and discussion by the development team resulting in the final concept choice.
      RESULTS: The four concepts of the development team are a digital board game, a
      quiz platform, a lifestyle simulator, and a puzzle game. The Diabetes Game Jam
      resulted in another digital board game, two mobile swipe games, and a fairy tale
      themed adventure game. The combined user evaluations and feasibility analysis
      ranked the quiz platform and the digital board game equally high. Each of these
      games fits one specific subgroup of users best: the quiz platform best fits an
      eager-to-learn, more individualistic patient, whereas the board game best fits a
      less-eager-to-learn, family-oriented patient. The choice for a specific concept
      is therefore highly dependent on the choice of our specific target audience.
      CONCLUSIONS: The user-centered design approach with multiple evaluations has
      enabled us to choose the most promising concept from eight different options. A
      digital board game is chosen for further development because the target audience
      for E-DES is the less-motivated, family-oriented patients.

PMID- 26871655
TI  - Effective recovery of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymer from Cupriavidus
      necator using a novel and environmentally friendly solvent system.
AB  - This work demonstrates a significant advance in bioprocessing for a high-melting
      lipid polymer. A novel and environmental friendly solvent mixture,
      acetone/ethanol/propylene carbonate (A/E/P, 1:1:1 v/v/v) was identified for
      extracting poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a high-value biopolymer, from Cupriavidus
      necator. A set of solubility curves of PHB in various solvents was established.
      PHB recovery of 85% and purity of 92% were obtained from defatted dry biomass
      (DDB) using A/E/P. This solvent mixture is compatible with water, and from non
      defatted wet biomass, PHB recovery of 83% and purity of 90% were achieved. Water
      and hexane were evaluated as anti-solvents to assist PHB precipitation, and
      hexane improved recovery of PHB from biomass to 92% and the purity to 93%. A
      scale-up extraction and separation reactor was designed, built and successfully
      tested. Properties of PHB recovered were not significantly affected by the
      extraction solvent and conditions, as shown by average molecular weight (1.4 *
      10(6) ) and melting point (175.2 degrees C) not being different from PHB
      extracted using chloroform. Therefore, this biorenewable solvent system was
      effective and versatile for extracting PHB biopolymers. (c) 2016 American
      Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:678-685, 2016.

PMID- 26871656
TI  - Management of aniridia and iris defects: an update on iris prosthesis options.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the advantages and limitations of the
      various iris prostheses as treatment for aniridia. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple
      prosthetic iris devices have been developed for implantation in eyes with
      aniridia. However, none is currently approved for use in the USA. SUMMARY:
      Aniridia can be congenital or traumatic in etiology and can lead to glare and
      other visual disturbances. Treatment options include colored contact lenses,
      corneal tattooing, and corneal stromal implants, although these carry significant
      risks of infection and corneal scarring. Prosthetic iris devices can often
      simultaneously treat aphakia or cataract as well as aniridia, and various models
      are currently available around the world from Morcher GMBH (Kapuzinerweg 12,
      70374 Stuttgart, Germany), Ophtec USA Inc. (6421 Congress Ave Suite 12, Boca
      Raton, FL 33487, USA) and HumanOptics (Erlangen, Germany). Surgical planning and
      technique are important in optimizing the safety of these devices. The CustomFlex
      iris prosthesis from HumanOptics can be implanted within the capsular bag or
      ciliary sulcus with scleral fixation and offers excellent cosmetic outcomes. At
      present, the HumanOptics prosthetic iris is being investigated in a multicenter
      clinical trial.

PMID- 26871657
TI  - Systemic safety of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in
      age-related macular degeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of review is to summarize the literature
      addressing nonocular adverse events in patients with neovascular age-related
      macular degeneration treated with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) inhibitors and to present possible mechanisms of effect. RECENT FINDINGS:
      The incidence of overall nonocular serious adverse events varied from 0 to 39.3%
      and nonocular adverse events ranged from 0 to 86.9%. Few studies have reported a
      significant association between use of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and overall
      incidence of adverse events, stroke, myocardial infarction, nonocular hemorrhage
      and death, with overall greater concern in patients treated with bevacizumab.
      Additionally, history of stroke or other arterial thromboembolic event may be a
      risk factor for future stroke in patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF
      agents. Theories explaining the mechanisms of increased risk of nonocular adverse
      events secondary to anti-VEGF agent use surround the necessity of VEGF for the
      normal functioning of the endothelium and the damage incurred with use of anti
      VEGF agents. SUMMARY: Current data are insufficient to definitively conclude that
      intravitreal anti-VEGF agents are safe, although there is a trend toward an
      overall favorable systemic safety profile. Caution should be exerted in patients
      with a history of cardiovascular disease, as these patients may be at greater
      risk for nonocular serious adverse events.

PMID- 26871659
TI  - Identification of a new cyathane diterpene that induces mitochondrial and
      autophagy-dependent apoptosis and shows a potent in vivo anti-colorectal cancer
      activity.
AB  - Diterpenes has been reported to possess multiple bioactivities consisting of anti
      microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study reveals a new cyathane
      type diterpene (cyathin Q) from the culture of the fungus Cyathus africanus by
      bioactivity-guided separation. The structure of cyathin Q was determined based on
      spectroscopic measurements (NMR and MS). The bioactivity evaluation shows that
      cyathin Q has a strong anticancer activity against HCT116 cells and Bax-deficient
      HCT116 in vitro and in vivo. This compound induced hallmarks of apoptotic events
      in HCT116 cells, including caspase activation, cytochrome c release, poly (ADP
      ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and depolarization of the mitochondrial inner
      transmembrane potential. This process is accompanied with the increased
      mitochondrial ROS, down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein, and up-regulation of Bim
      protein. We also observed the cleavage of autophagy-related protein ATG5 in
      cyathin Q-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our study identified a new fungal
      diterpene that exhibited anticancer activity via induction of mitochondria and
      autophagy-dependent apoptosis in HCT116 cells. 

PMID- 26871658
TI  - Discovery of membrane active benzimidazole quinolones-based topoisomerase
      inhibitors as potential DNA-binding antimicrobial agents.
AB  - A series of novel benzimidazole quinolones as potential antimicrobial agents were
      designed and synthesized. Most of the prepared compounds exhibited good or even
      stronger antimicrobial activities in comparison with reference drugs. The most
      potent compound 15m was membrane active and did not trigger the development of
      resistance in bacteria. It not only inhibited the formation of biofilms but also
      disrupted the established Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilms. It
      was able to inhibit the relaxation activity of E. coli topoisomerase IV at 10 MUM
      concentration. Moreover, this compound also showed low toxicity against mammalian
      cells. Molecular modeling and experimental investigation of compound 15m with DNA
      suggested that this compound could effectively bind with DNA to form a steady 15m
      DNA complex which might further block DNA replication to exert the powerful
      bioactivities. 

PMID- 26871660
TI  - Discovery of a new selective inhibitor of A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 10
      (ADAM-10) able to reduce the shedding of NKG2D ligands in Hodgkin's lymphoma cell
      models.
AB  - Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is the most common malignant lymphoma in young adults in
      the western world. This disease is characterized by an overexpression of ADAM-10
      with increased release of NKG2D ligands, involved in an impaired immune response
      against tumor cells. We designed and synthesized two new ADAM-10 selective
      inhibitors, 2 and 3 based on previously published ADAM-17 selective inhibitor 1.
      The most promising compound was the thiazolidine derivative 3, with nanomolar
      activity for ADAM-10, high selectivity over ADAM-17 and MMPs and good efficacy in
      reducing the shedding of NKG2D ligands (MIC-B and ULBP3) in three different HL
      cell lines at non-toxic doses. Molecular modeling studies were used to drive the
      design and X-ray crystallography studies were carried out to explain the
      selectivity of 3 for ADAM-10 over MMPs. 

PMID- 26871661
TI  - WHAT'S NEW IN SHOCK? MARCH 2016.

PMID- 26871662
TI  - ADQI XIV PREFACE.

PMID- 26871663
TI  - ACUTE DIALYSIS QUALITY INITIATIVE (ADQI) XIV SEPSIS PHENOTYPES AND TARGETS FOR
      BLOOD PURIFICATION IN SEPSIS: THE BOGOTA CONSENSUS.
AB  - Despite widespread use, there is currently no consensus on how extracorporeal
      blood purification therapies should be applied or studied in patients with
      sepsis. One major obstacle has been the lack of clear descriptions of specific
      sepsis phenotypes tied to mechanisms that would permit the identification of
      molecular targets. Current evidence suggests that sepsis-related morbidity and
      mortality involve widely different clinical phenotypes that variably include
      mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormalities of vascular biology including
      endothelial dysfunction and coagulopathy, epithelial dysfunction, and immune
      suppression and dysregulation. While most cases of sepsis involve some element of
      all of these pathobiologic processes, the magnitude of each varies greatly from
      patient to patient in part as a result of the pathogen and in part related to
      host-specific factors. Thus, the purpose of the fourteenth international
      consensus conference of acute dialysis quality initiative was to develop
      consensus for a conceptual model of sepsis-induced organ failure that can be
      treated by extracorporeal blood purification and possibly also with drugs or
      other therapies. We assembled a group of experts from around the world and used a
      modified Delphi method to reach consensus. Specific findings and recommendations
      for future research are provided in the four accompanying papers. 

PMID- 26871666
TI  - IL-13 and the Airway Epithelium. It Is All in the Genes.

PMID- 26871667
TI  - Making Precision Medicine Socially Precise. Take a Deep Breath.

PMID- 26871664
TI  - THE ENDOTHELIUM IN SEPSIS.
AB  - Sepsis affects practically all aspects of endothelial cell (EC) function and is
      thought to be the key factor in the progression from sepsis to organ failure.
      Endothelial functions affected by sepsis include vasoregulation, barrier
      function, inflammation, and hemostasis. These are among other mechanisms often
      mediated by glycocalyx shedding, such as abnormal nitric oxide metabolism, up
      regulation of reactive oxygen species generation due to down-regulation of
      endothelial-associated antioxidant defenses, transcellular communication,
      proteases, exposure of adhesion molecules, and activation of tissue factor. This
      review covers current insight in EC-associated hemostatic responses to sepsis and
      the EC response to inflammation. The endothelial cell lining is highly
      heterogeneous between different organ systems and consequently also in its
      response to sepsis. In this context, we discuss the response of the endothelial
      cell lining to sepsis in the kidney, liver, and lung. Finally, we discuss
      evidence as to whether the EC response to sepsis is adaptive or maladaptive. This
      study is a result of an Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative XIV Sepsis Workgroup
      meeting held in Bogota, Columbia, between October 12 and 15, 2014. 

PMID- 26871668
TI  - Innate Lymphoid Cells and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

PMID- 26871665
TI  - MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION IN SEPSIS.
AB  - Mitochondria are an essential part of the cellular infrastructure, being the
      primary site for high-energy adenosine triphosphate production through oxidative
      phosphorylation. Clearly, in severe systemic inflammatory states, like sepsis,
      cellular metabolism is usually altered, and end organ dysfunction is not only
      common, but also predictive of long-term morbidity and mortality. Clearly,
      interest is mitochondrial function both as a target for intracellular injury and
      response to extrinsic stress have been a major focus of basic science and
      clinical research into the pathophysiology of acute illness. However,
      mitochondria have multiple metabolic and signaling functions that may be central
      in both the expression of sepsis and its ultimate outcome. In this review, the
      authors address five primary questions centered on the role of mitochondria in
      sepsis. This review should be used both as a summary source in placing
      mitochondrial physiology within the context of acute illness and as a focal point
      for addressing new research into diagnostic and treatment opportunities these
      insights provide. 

PMID- 26871669
TI  - Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Function in Airway Smooth
      Muscle. A Novel Role in Cystic Fibrosis Airway Obstruction.

PMID- 26871670
TI  - Seeking an Accurate, Point-of-Contact Diagnostic Test for Bacterial Pneumonia.

PMID- 26871671
TI  - Mucking around in the Genome: MUC5B in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

PMID- 26871672
TI  - Mucins MUC5B and MUC5AC in Distal Airways and Honeycomb Spaces: Comparison among
      Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/Usual Interstitial Pneumonia, Fibrotic Nonspecific
      Interstitial Pneumonitis, and Control Lungs.

PMID- 26871673
TI  - MUC5B Promoter Variant rs35705950 Affects MUC5B Expression in the Distal Airways
      in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

PMID- 26871674
TI  - Neurocritical Care Society Views on "Potentially Inappropriate Treatments in
      Intensive Care Units".

PMID- 26871676
TI  - "Want" Is a Four-Letter Word in End-of-Life Communication.

PMID- 26871677
TI  - What is Legionnaires' Disease?

PMID- 26871675
TI  - Reply: Neurocritical Care Society Views on "Potentially Inappropriate Treatments
      in Intensive Care Units".

PMID- 26871678
TI  - Treatment patterns and characteristics of older antipsychotic users in Germany.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and treatment
      patterns of older antipsychotic (AP) users in Germany. We carried out a cohort
      study in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database and identified new
      AP users aged at least 65 years between 2005 and 2011. Possible indications,
      comedication, and information on persistence and adherence, concurrent multiple
      use, and switch of APs were assessed. Overall, 298,847 individuals were included
      in the cohort. Almost 70% entered the cohort with a typical antipsychotic (TAP).
      Melperone (23.4%) was used most frequently, followed by promethazine (18.3%),
      sulpiride (11.0%), and risperidone (10.3%). AP users had a low prevalence of
      schizophrenia and bipolar disorders in contrast to dementia. Initiators of
      atypical antipsychotics had more treatment episodes compared with TAPs (median 3
      vs. 2), but lower median persistence (14 vs. 22 days). Persistence was also lower
      in patients with, rather than without, dementia. The overall percentage of
      concurrent multiple use and switch to other APs was low with 5.6%, but higher in
      patients with, rather than without, dementia. In conclusion, APs were used for a
      broad range of indications, mostly other than schizophrenia and bipolar
      disorders. Low persistence and a high number of treatment episodes suggest
      frequent 'as-needed' treatment, especially in dementia patients.

PMID- 26871679
TI  - From Ethical Exceptionalism to Ethical Exceptions: The Rule and exception Model
      and the Changing Meaning of Ethics In German Bioregulation.
AB  - Germany is an interesting case with respect to the governance of reprogenetics.
      It has a strong profile in the technosciences and high aims regarding the global
      bioeconomy, yet her regulation of human genetics, reproductive medicine and
      embryo research has for a long time been rather restrictive. German biopolitical
      exceptionalism has often been explained by reference to Catholicism and the
      legacy of the Nazi past. The Germans, so goes the common story, have learnt the
      lessons of history and translated them into unconditional respect for human
      dignity, which in turn translates into unconditional protection of human life,
      including the human embryo, and the firm repudiation of any eugenic distinction
      between 'life worth to live' and 'life not worth to live'. This, however, is not
      the whole story. Alongside deontological strictness we find another strand of
      governing body politics and reprogenetics in Germany, the rule-and-exception
      model, running from the mid-1970s abortion law via the 2002 Stem Cell Act to the
      2011 regulation of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. In contrast to the former,
      that strongly draws on Kant and his concept of human dignity, the latter bears
      resemblances to Carl Schmitt's concept of state of exception. The article will
      show that the rule-and-exception model builds the exception into the rule and
      transforms the meaning and mandate of ethics, namely from safeguarding ethical
      standards to deciding about the exception. Given that the exception has now
      tended to become the rule, the question is whether the lessons of history will
      govern German reprogenetics for much longer.

PMID- 26871680
TI  - Kinetics of cellular uptake of viruses and nanoparticles via clathrin-mediated
      endocytosis.
AB  - Several viruses exploit clathrin-mediated endocytosis to gain entry into host
      cells. This process is also used extensively in biomedical applications to
      deliver nanoparticles (NPs) to diseased cells. The internalization of these nano
      objects is controlled by the assembly of a clathrin-containing protein coat on
      the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane, which drives the invagination of the
      membrane and the formation of a cargo-containing endocytic vesicle. Current
      theoretical models of receptor-mediated endocytosis of viruses and NPs do not
      explicitly take coat assembly into consideration. In this paper we study cellular
      uptake of viruses and NPs with a focus on coat assembly. We characterize the
      internalization process by the mean time between the binding of a particle to the
      membrane and its entry into the cell. Using a coarse-grained model which maps the
      stochastic dynamics of coat formation onto a one-dimensional random walk, we
      derive an analytical formula for this quantity. A study of the dependence of the
      mean internalization time on NP size shows that there is an upper bound above
      which this time becomes extremely large, and an optimal size at which it attains
      a minimum. Our estimates of these sizes compare well with experimental data. We
      also study the sensitivity of the obtained results on coat parameters to identify
      factors which significantly affect the internalization kinetics. 

PMID- 26871681
TI  - Associations between ADHD symptoms and smoking outcome expectancies in a non
      clinical sample of daily cigarette smokers.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smoking outcome expectancies for positive
      reinforcement (PR: beliefs that smoking produces desirable outcomes) and negative
      reinforcement (NR: beliefs that smoking alleviates negative affect) are
      modifiable cognitive manifestations of affect-mediated smoking motivation. Based
      on prior data and theory, we hypothesized that NR and PR expectancies are
      associated with ADHD symptom levels in a non-clinical sample of cigarette
      smokers. (Am J Addict 2016; XX:XX -XX) METHODS: Daily cigarette smokers (N = 256)
      completed self-report measures of ADHD symptoms and smoking outcome expectancies.
      Cross-sectional associations of overall ADHD symptomatology and the ADHD symptom
      dimensions of inattention (IN: difficulty concentrating and distractibility) and
      hyperactivity impulsivity (HI: poor inhibitory control and motor activity
      restlessness) with PR and NR smoking outcome expectancies were examined. RESULTS:
      Higher levels of overall, IN and HI ADHD symptoms were positively associated with
      NR smoking expectancies after statistically controlling for anxiety, depression,
      alcohol/drug use problems, nicotine dependence, and other smoking expectancies.
      Although neither HI nor IN symptom dimensions exhibited empirically unique
      relations to NR expectancies over and above one another, the collective variance
      across IN and HI was associated with NR expectancies. PR expectancies were not
      associated with ADHD symptoms. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Although PR and NR
      expectancies may be important etiological influences in the overall population of
      smokers, NR outcome expectancies appear to be disproportionately expressed in
      smokers with elevated ADHD symptoms. Cognitive manifestations of NR motivation,
      which may be modifiable via intervention, are prominent in smokers with elevated
      ADHD symptoms. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Beliefs that smoking alleviates negative
      affect may underlie ADHD-smoking comorbidity.

PMID- 26871682
TI  - Self-assembled monolayers based spintronics: from ferromagnetic surface
      functionalization to spin-dependent transport.
AB  - Chemically functionalized surfaces are studied for a wide range of applications
      going from medicine to electronics. Whereas non-magnetic surfaces have been
      widely studied, functionalization of magnetic surfaces is much less common and
      has almost never been used for spintronics applications. In this article we
      present the functionalization of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3, a ferromagnetic oxide, with self
      assembled monolayers for spintronics. La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 is the prototypical half
      metallic manganite used in spintronics studies. First, we show that
      La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 can be functionalized by alkylphosphonic acid molecules. We then
      emphasize the use of these functionalized surfaces in spintronics devices such as
      magnetic tunnel junctions fabricated using a nano-indentation based lithography
      technique. The observed exponential increase of tunnel resistance as a function
      of alkyl chain length is a direct proof of the successful connection of molecules
      to ferromagnetic electrodes. For all alkyl chains studied we obtain stable and
      robust tunnel magnetoresistance, with effects ranging from a few tens to 10 000%.
      These results show that functionalized electrodes can be integrated in
      spintronics devices and open the door to a molecular engineering of spintronics. 

PMID- 26871683
TI  - Multimodal optical analysis of meningioma and comparison with histopathology.
AB  - Meningioma is the most frequent primary central nervous system tumor. The risk of
      recurrence and the prognosis are correlated with the extent of the resection that
      ideally encompasses the infiltrated dura mater and, if required, the infiltrated
      bone. No device can deliver real-time intraoperative histopathological
      information on the tumor environment to help the neurosurgeon to achieve a gross
      total removal. This study assessed the abilities of nonlinear microscopy to
      provide relevant and real-time data to help resection of meningiomas. Nine human
      meningioma samples (four World Health Organization Grade I, five Grade II) were
      analyzed using different optical modalities: spectral analysis and imaging,
      lifetime measurements, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, fluorescence
      emitted under one- and two-photon excitation and the second-harmonic generation
      signal imaging using a multimodal setup. Nonlinear microscopy produced images
      close to histopathology as a gold standard. The second-harmonic generation signal
      delineated the collagen background and two-photon fluorescence underlined cell
      cytoplasm. The matching between fluorescence images and Hematoxylin and Eosin
      staining was possible in all cases. Grade I meningioma emitted less
      autofluorescence than Grade II meningioma and Grade II meningioma exhibited a
      distinct lifetime value. Autofluorescence was correlated with the proliferation
      rates and seemed to explain the observed differences between Grade I and II
      meningiomas. This preliminary multimodal study focused on human meningioma
      samples confirms the potential of tissue autofluorescence analysis and nonlinear
      microscopy in helping intraoperatively neurosurgeons to reach the actual
      boundaries of the tumor infiltration. Correspondence between H&E staining (top
      pictures) and the two-photon fluorescence imaging (bottom pictures).

PMID- 26871684
TI  - Direct Conversion of Greenhouse Gas CO2 into Graphene via Molten Salts
      Electrolysis.
AB  - Producing graphene through the electrochemical reduction of CO2 remains a great
      challenge, which requires precise control of the reaction kinetics, such as
      diffusivities of multiple ions, solubility of various gases, and the
      nucleation/growth of carbon on a surface. Here, graphene was successfully created
      from the greenhouse gas CO2 using molten salts. The results showed that CO2 could
      be effectively fixed by oxygen ions in CaCl2-NaCl-CaO melts to form carbonate
      ions, and subsequently electrochemically split into graphene on a stainless steel
      cathode; O2 gas was produced at the RuO2-TiO2 inert anode. The formation of
      graphene in this manner can be ascribed to the catalysis of active Fe, Ni, and Cu
      atoms at the surface of the cathode and the microexplosion effect through
      evolution of CO in between graphite layers. This finding may lead to a new
      generation of proceedures for the synthesis of high value-added products from
      CO2, which may also contribute to the establishment of a low-carbon and
      sustainable world.

PMID- 26871685
TI  - Investigation of relative metabolic changes in the organs and plasma of rats
      exposed to X-ray radiation using HR-MAS (1)H NMR and solution (1)H NMR.
AB  - Excess exposure to ionizing radiation generates reactive oxygen species and
      increases the cellular inflammatory response by modifying various metabolic
      pathways. However, an investigation of metabolic perturbations and organ-specific
      responses based on the amount of radiation during the acute phase has not been
      conducted. In this study, high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (HR-MAS) NMR and
      solution NMR-based metabolic profiling were used to investigate dose-dependent
      metabolic changes in multiple organs and tissues--including the jejunum, spleen,
      liver, and plasma--of rats exposed to X-ray radiation. The organs, tissues, and
      blood samples were obtained 24, 48, and 72 h after exposure to low-dose (2 Gy)
      and high-dose (6 Gy) X-ray radiation and subjected to metabolite profiling and
      multivariate analyses. The results showed the time course of the metabolic
      responses, and many significant changes were detected in the high-dose compared
      with the low-dose group. Metabolites with antioxidant properties showed acute
      responses in the jejunum and spleen after radiation exposure. The levels of
      metabolites related to lipid and protein metabolism were decreased in the
      jejunum. In addition, amino acid levels increased consistently at all post
      irradiation time points as a consequence of activated protein breakdown.
      Consistent with these changes, plasma levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle
      intermediate metabolites decreased. The liver did not appear to undergo
      remarkable metabolic changes after radiation exposure. These results may provide
      insight into the major metabolic perturbations and mechanisms of the biological
      systems in response to pathophysiological damage caused by X-ray radiation.

PMID- 26871686
TI  - Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Promote Neuronal Restoration in Rats with Traumatic
      Brain Injury: Involvement of GDNF Regulating BAD and BAX Signaling.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)
      and underlying mechanisms in traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Cultured
      BMSCs from green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice were isolated and confirmed.
      Cultured BMSCs were immediately transplanted into the regions surrounding the
      injured-brain site to test their function in rat models of TBI. Neurological
      function was evaluated by a modified neurological severity score on the day
      before, and on days 7 and 14 after transplantation. After 2 weeks of BMSC
      transplantation, the brain tissue was harvested and analyzed by microarray assay.
      And the coronal brain sections were determined by immunohistochemistry with mouse
      anti-growth-associated protein-43 kDa (anti-GAP-43) and anti-synaptophysin to
      test the effects of transplanted cells on the axonal regeneration in the host
      brain. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling
      (TUNEL) assay and Western blot were used to detect the apoptosis and expression
      of BAX and BAD. RESULTS: Microarray analysis showed that BMSCs expressed growth
      factors such as glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The cells
      migrated around the injury sites in rats with TBI. BMSC grafts resulted in an
      increased number of GAP-43-immunopositive fibers and synaptophysin-positive
      varicosity, with suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore, BMSC transplantation
      significantly downregulated the expression of BAX and BAD signaling. Moreover,
      cultured BMSC transplantation significantly improved rat neurological function
      and survival. CONCLUSION: Transplanted BMSCs could survive and improve neuronal
      behavior in rats with TBI. Mechanisms of neuroprotection and regeneration were
      involved, which could be associated with the GDNF regulating the apoptosis
      signals through BAX and BAD.

PMID- 26871687
TI  - Assessment of Cervicovaginal Cancer Antigen 125 Levels: A Preliminary Study for
      Endometrial Cancer Screening.
AB  - AIM: We primarily aimed to compare the levels of serum and cervicovaginal cancer
      antigen 125 (CA 125) in women with and without endometrial carcinoma in order to
      reveal whether cervicovaginal CA 125 could be used as a non-invasive method.
      METHODS: A preliminary case-control study was designed. The study group consisted
      of patients who were operated for endometrial adenocarcinoma or endometrial
      intraepithelial neoplasia. The control group consisted of patients who underwent
      surgery for benign gynecological diseases. Serum and cervicovaginal secretions
      were immediately collected before surgery to compare levels of CA 125. RESULTS:
      The mean cervicovaginal CA 125 levels in patients with endometrial cancer and
      controls were 1,598.1 +/- 1,691.1 versus 947.0 +/- 1,282.7 U/ml, respectively (p
      = 0.016). Whereas area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.62 for
      serum CA 125, it was 0.68 for cervicovaginal CA 125. The optimal threshold of CA
      125 in cervicovaginal secretion was calculated to be 575 U/ml, which detected
      endometrial precancer or cancer with sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 57%.
      The positive and negative predictive values for this threshold were 38.7 and
      88.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, detection of CA 125 in
      cervicovaginal secretion has a potential role for the non-invasive screening of
      endometrial precancers and cancers.

PMID- 26871688
TI  - Acute Ischemia of the Glans Penis after Circumcision Treated with Hyperbaric
      Therapy and Pentoxifylline: Case Report and Revision of the Literature.
AB  - Acute severe ischemia of glans penis after circumcision is a very rare event and,
      if not treated, can lead to irreversible necrosis with severe consequences such
      as loss of part of the penis. The possible causes for this condition could be
      blood-vessel binding or cauterization, dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB), local
      anesthesia with vasoconstricting agents and wound dressing compression. The aim
      of the treatment is to provide good blood supply and thus, oxygen delivery to the
      ischemic penis. The therapeutic options include hyperbaric therapy (HBOT),
      pentoxifylline (PTX), enoxaparina, iloprost, antiplatelet, corticosteroids and
      peridural anesthesia. We report the case of a 24-year-old male who developed an
      acute severe glans penis ischemia after circumcision done under DPNB. The patient
      was successfully treated with HBOT in combination with PTX.

PMID- 26871692
TI  - Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on
      neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly women with knee
      osteoarthritis: A randomized trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and
      low-level laser therapy on neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly
      subjects with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A randomized evaluator-blinded
      clinical trial. SUBJECTS: Forty-five elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.
      METHODS: Subjects were randomized into 1 of the following 3 intervention groups:
      electrical stimulation group (18-32 min pulsed current, stimulation frequency 80
      Hz, pulse duration 400 MUs, stimulation intensity 40% of maximal isometric
      voluntary contraction), laser group (dose 4-6 J per point, 6 points at the knee
      joint) or combined group (electrical stimulation plus laser therapy). The
      outcomes included muscle thickness and anatomical cross-sectional area
      (ultrasonography), knee extensors' electrical activity (electromyography), torque
      (dynamometry) and health status (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
      Osteoarthritis Index). All groups underwent a 4-week control period (without
      intervention) followed by an 8-week intervention period. RESULTS: Muscle
      thickness and anatomical cross-sectional area increased in the electrical
      stimulation and combined groups. All groups presented similar improvements in
      torque, electrical activity and health status. CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation
      alone or in combination with laser therapy generated positive effects on all
      evaluated parameters. Laser therapy increased health status and electrical
      activity, but had no effect on muscle mass.

PMID- 26871689
TI  - Epidemiology, Impact and Control of Rabies in Nepal: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral zoonosis belonging to the group
      of neglected tropical diseases. Exposure to a rabid animal may result in a fatal
      acute encephalitis if effective post-exposure prophylaxis is not provided. Rabies
      occurs worldwide, but its burden is disproportionately high in developing
      countries, including Nepal. We aimed to summarize current knowledge on the
      epidemiology, impact and control of rabies in Nepal. METHODS: We performed a
      systematic review of international and national scientific literature and
      searched grey literature through the World Health Organization Digital Library
      and the library of the National Zoonoses and Food Hygiene Research Centre, Nepal,
      and through searching Google and Google Scholar. Further data on animal and human
      rabies were obtained from the relevant Nepalese government agencies. Finally, we
      surveyed the archives of a Nepalese daily to obtain qualitative information on
      rabies in Nepal. FINDINGS: So far, only little original research has been
      conducted on the epidemiology and impact of rabies in Nepal. Per year, rabies is
      reported to kill about 100 livestock and 10-100 humans, while about 1,000
      livestock and 35,000 humans are reported to receive rabies post-exposure
      prophylaxis. However, these estimates are very likely to be serious
      underestimations of the true rabies burden. Significant progress has been made in
      the production of cell culture-based anti-rabies vaccine and rabies
      immunoglobulin, but availability and supply remain a matter of concern,
      especially in remote areas. Different state and non-state actors have initiated
      rabies control activities over the years, but efforts typically remained
      focalized, of short duration and not harmonized. Communication and coordination
      between veterinary and human health authorities is limited at present, further
      complicating rabies control in Nepal. Important research gaps include the
      reporting biases for both human and animal rabies, the ecology of stray dog
      populations and the true contribution of the sylvatic cycle. INTERPRETATION:
      Better data are needed to unravel the true burden of animal and human rabies.
      More collaboration, both within the country and within the region, is needed to
      control rabies. To achieve these goals, high level political commitment is
      essential. We therefore propose to make rabies the model zoonosis for successful
      control in Nepal.

PMID- 26871693
TI  - Aquaporin-1 Expression in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Overlying Retinal
      Drusen.
AB  - PURPOSE: In the outer retina, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results in
      reduced hydraulic conductivity in Bruch's membrane, possibly leading to altered
      water transport in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. We hypothesize that
      RPE cells may express aquaporin-1 (AQP1) to compensate for these changes.
      Therefore, we wanted to investigate the expression of AQP1 in RPE cells of human
      eyes with age-related maculopathy (ARM) and AMD, and eyes with tumour-associated
      drusen. METHODS: Nine human eyes with ARM, 6 eyes with AMD and 9 eyes with
      choroidal malignant melanoma were examined for immunoreactivity to AQP1. AQP1
      labelling in the RPE cells was evaluated for each drusen and grouped according to
      size and AQP1 labelling. AQP1 labelling in the RPE outside drusen was also
      evaluated. RESULTS: AQP1 labelling was observed in the apical membrane of the RPE
      cells situated above drusen in all three groups. There was a significant
      association between AQP1 labelling and drusen size (p < 0.001), and AQP1
      labelling was more frequently observed in large drusen. CONCLUSION: AQP1 was
      expressed in RPE cells covering drusen but not in RPE cells outside drusen. We
      suggest that AQP1 expression is upregulated in the cell membranes of RPE cells
      above drusen in order to alleviate the increased need for fluid transport across
      the growing drusen.

PMID- 26871690
TI  - Effect of Dietary Restriction and Subsequent Re-Alimentation on the
      Transcriptional Profile of Bovine Skeletal Muscle.
AB  - Compensatory growth (CG), an accelerated growth phenomenon which occurs following
      a period of dietary restriction is exploited worldwide in animal production
      systems as a method to lower feed costs. However the molecular mechanisms
      regulated CG expression remain to be elucidated fully. This study aimed to
      uncover the underlying biology regulating CG in cattle, through an examination of
      skeletal muscle transcriptional profiles utilising next generation mRNA
      sequencing technology. Twenty Holstein Friesian bulls were fed either a
      restricted diet for 125 days, with a target growth rate of 0.6 kg/day (Period 1),
      following which they were allowed feed ad libitum for a further 55 days (Period
      2) or fed ad libitum for the entirety of the trial. M. longissimus dorsi biopsies
      were harvested from all bulls on days 120 and 15 of periods 1 and 2 respectively
      and RNAseq analysis was performed. During re-alimentation in Period 2, previously
      restricted animals displayed CG, growing at 1.8 times the rate of the ad libitum
      control animals. Compensating animals were also more feed efficient during re
      alimentation and compensated for 48% of their previous dietary restriction. 1,430
      and 940 genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed
      (Benjamini Hochberg adjusted P < 0.1) in periods 1 and 2 respectively.
      Additionally, 2,237 genes were differentially expressed in animals undergoing CG
      relative to dietary restriction. Dietary restriction in Period 1 was associated
      with altered expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and energy
      production. CG expression in Period 2 occurred in association with greater
      expression of genes involved in cellular function and organisation. This study
      highlights some of the molecular mechanisms regulating CG in cattle.
      Differentially expressed genes identified are potential candidate genes for the
      identification of biomarkers for CG and feed efficiency, which may be
      incorporated into future breeding programmes. 

PMID- 26871694
TI  - Ranking of Business Process Simulation Software Tools with DEX/QQ Hierarchical
      Decision Model.
AB  - The omnipresent need for optimisation requires constant improvements of
      companies' business processes (BPs). Minimising the risk of inappropriate BP
      being implemented is usually performed by simulating the newly developed BP under
      various initial conditions and "what-if" scenarios. An effectual business process
      simulations software (BPSS) is a prerequisite for accurate analysis of an BP.
      Characterisation of an BPSS tool is a challenging task due to the complex
      selection criteria that includes quality of visual aspects, simulation
      capabilities, statistical facilities, quality reporting etc. Under such
      circumstances, making an optimal decision is challenging. Therefore, various
      decision support models are employed aiding the BPSS tool selection. The
      currently established decision support models are either proprietary or comprise
      only a limited subset of criteria, which affects their accuracy. Addressing this
      issue, this paper proposes a new hierarchical decision support model for ranking
      of BPSS based on their technical characteristics by employing DEX and qualitative
      to quantitative (QQ) methodology. Consequently, the decision expert feeds the
      required information in a systematic and user friendly manner. There are three
      significant contributions of the proposed approach. Firstly, the proposed
      hierarchical model is easily extendible for adding new criteria in the
      hierarchical structure. Secondly, a fully operational decision support system
      (DSS) tool that implements the proposed hierarchical model is presented. Finally,
      the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchical model is assessed by comparing the
      resulting rankings of BPSS with respect to currently available results. 

PMID- 26871696
TI  - Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Study in the Patients with Subacute Mild
      Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study uses a MRI technique, three-dimension pulse continuous
      arterial spin labeling (3D-PCASL), to measure the patient's cerebral blood flow
      (CBF) at the subacute stage of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in order to
      analyze the relationship between cerebral blood flow and neurocognitive deficits.
      OBJECTIVE: To provide the relationship between cortical CBF and
      neuropsychological dysfunction for the subacute MTBI patients. METHODS: After
      MTBI, perfusion MR imaging technique (3D-PCASL) measures the CBF of MTBI patients
      (n = 23) within 1 month and that of normal controls (n = 22) to determine the
      quantity and location of perfusion defect. The correlation between CBF
      abnormalities and cognitive deficits was elucidated by combining the results of
      the neuropsychological tests of the patients. RESULT: We observed a substantial
      reduction in CBF in the bilateral frontal and left occipital cortex as compared
      with the normal persons. In addition, there were correlation between post
      concussive symptoms (including dizziness and simulator sickness) and CBF in the
      hypoperfused areas. The more severe symptom was correlated with higher CBF in
      bilateral frontal and left occipital lobes. CONCLUSION: First, this study
      determined that despite no significant abnormality detected on conventional CT
      and MRI studies, hypoperfusion was observed in MTBI group using 3D-PCASL
      technique in subacute stage, which suggested that this approach may increase
      sensitivity to MTBI. Second, the correlation between CBF and the severity of post
      concussive symptoms suggested that changes in cerebral hemodynamics may play a
      role in pathophysiology underlies the symptoms.

PMID- 26871697
TI  - A Population-Based Cohort Study on Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with
      Schizophrenia.
AB  - PURPOSE: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is considered the leading cause of
      atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity. Several risk factors of PAD have been
      observed in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, we hypothesize that the
      incidence of PAD is higher in the schizophrenia population than in the general
      population. METHODS: The patients in this population-based cohort study were
      selected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database on the
      basis of the claims data from 2000 to 2011. We compared the incidence of PAD
      between schizophrenia and nonschizophrenia cohorts. Cox proportional hazard
      regression models were employed for analyzing the risk of PAD after adjustment
      for sex, age, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for PAD
      in the schizophrenia cohort was 1.26-fold higher than that in the
      nonschizophrenia cohort. Furthermore, patients with schizophrenia using atypical
      antipsychotics exhibited a high adjusted HR for PAD. CONCLUSION: Compared with
      the general population, the risk of PAD is higher among patients with
      schizophrenia. Early diagnosis and intervention can mitigate complications
      resulting from cardiovascular diseases and lower mortality.

PMID- 26871695
TI  - Sex Differences in Circadian Dysfunction in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's
      Disease.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder
      that affects men and women in equal numbers, but some epidemiological studies
      indicate there may be sex differences in disease progression. One of the early
      symptoms of HD is disruptions in the circadian timing system, but it is currently
      unknown whether sex is a factor in these alterations. Since sex differences in HD
      could provide important insights to understand cellular and molecular
      mechanism(s) and designing early intervention strategies, we used the bacterial
      artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (BACHD) to examine whether sex
      differences in circadian behavioral rhythms are detectable in an animal model of
      the disease. Similar to BACHD males, BACHD females display circadian disruptions
      at both 3 and 6 months of age; however, deficits to BACHD female mouse activity
      levels, rhythm precision, and behavioral fragmentation are either delayed or less
      severe relative to males. These sex differences are associated with a smaller
      suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in BACHD male mice at age of symptom onset (3
      months), but are not associated with sex-specific differences in SCN daytime
      electrical activity deficits, or peptide expression (arginine vasopressin,
      vasoactive intestinal peptide) within the SCN. Notably, BACHD females exhibited
      delayed motor coordination deficits, as measured using rotarod and challenge
      beam. These findings suggest a sex specific factor plays a role both in non-motor
      and motor symptom progression for the BACHD mouse. 

PMID- 26871698
TI  - Aluminium Accumulation and Intra-Tree Distribution Patterns in Three Arbor
      aluminosa (Symplocos) Species from Central Sulawesi.
AB  - Accumulation of Aluminium (Al) at concentrations far above 1,000 mg kg-1 in
      aboveground plant tissues of Arbor aluminosa (Symplocos) species is the main
      reason why traditional Indonesian weavers rely on their leaves and bark as a
      mordant for dyeing textile. Recently, Symplocos species have become a flagship
      species for the conservation efforts of weaving communities due to their
      traditionally non-sustainable sampling and increasing demand for Symplocos plant
      material. Here we investigated Symplocos odoratissima, S. ophirensis and S.
      ambangensis at three montane rainforest sites in Central Sulawesi to measure Al
      levels in different tissues and organs. The highest Al concentrations were found
      in old leaves (24,180 +/- 7,236 mg.kg-1 dry weight, mean +/- SD), while young
      leaves had significantly lower Al levels (20,708 +/- 7,025 mg.kg-1). Al
      accumulation was also lower in bark and wood tissue of the trunk (17,231 +/-
      8,356 mg.kg-1 and 5,181 +/- 2,032 mg.kg-1, respectively). Two Al excluding
      species (Syzigium sp. and Lithocarpus sp.) contained only high Al levels in their
      roots. Moreover, no difference was found in soil pH (4.7 +/- 0.61) and nutrient
      (K, Ca, Fe, Mg) availability at different soil levels and within or outside the
      crown of Symplocos trees, except for the upper soil layer. Furthermore, a
      positive and significant correlation between Al and Ca concentrations was found
      at the whole plant level for Symplocos, and at the leaf level for S. ophirensis
      and S. ambangensis, suggesting a potential role of Ca in Al uptake and/or
      detoxification within the plant. Our results provide evidence for strong Al
      accumulation in Symplocos species and illustrate that both Al accumulation and
      exclusion represent two co-occurring strategies of montane rainforest plants for
      dealing with Al toxicity. Indonesian weavers should be encouraged to harvest old
      leaves, which have the most efficient mordant capacity due to high Al
      concentrations. 

PMID- 26871699
TI  - Debriefing as an Essential Part of Keeping Ourselves Healthy.

PMID- 26871700
TI  - Diabetic Macular Edema at the time of Cataract Surgery trial: a prospective,
      randomized clinical trial of intravitreous bevacizumab versus triamcinolone in
      patients with diabetic macular oedema at the time of cataract surgery -
      preliminary 6 month results.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To compare visual and anatomical outcomes between intravitreous
      bevacizumab (BVB, Avastin) and triamcinolone (TA, Triesence) when administered at
      the time of cataract surgery in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME).
      DESIGN: Prospective, single-masked, randomized clinical trial at The Royal
      Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with clinically
      significant cataract and either centre-involving DME or DME treated within the
      previous 24 months. METHODS: Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive
      intravitreous BVB 1.25 mg or TA 4 mg during cataract surgery, and at subsequent
      review if required over 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in central
      macular thickness (CMT) and best corrected visual acuity at 6 months. RESULTS:
      Forty-one patients (mean age 66.4 years, 73.2% male) were recruited. Visual
      acuity and CMT were similar between groups at baseline (P > 0.2).After six
      months, both groups gained vision (mean +21.4 letters in TA group P < 0.0001,
      +12.5 letters in BVB, P = 0.002), with no significant difference between groups
      (P = 0.085). In addition, 60.9% of eyes receiving TA achieved a VA of >=6/12
      compared to 73.3% in the BVB group (P = 0.501). However, only TA was associated
      with a sustained reduction in CMT (-43.8-um reduction TA vs. +37.3-um increase
      BVB, P = 0.006 over 6 months). Following surgery, additional injections were
      required in 70.6% of participants in the BVB group, compared to 16.7% in the TA
      group (P < 0.0001). Three patients in the TA group experienced a rise of IOP over
      21 mmHg (12.5%) during the 6-month follow-up; BVB had no cases (P = 0.130). There
      were no cases of endophthalmitis in either group. CONCLUSIONS: When administered
      at the time of cataract surgery in patients with DME, at 6 months both TA and BVB
      improve visual acuity; however, only TA results in a sustained reduction in CMT.
      Further follow-up will determine whether this translates into better long-term
      visual outcomes in the TA group.

PMID- 26871702
TI  - A different kind of case report: II.

PMID- 26871701
TI  - A Fine Balance of Synaptophysin Levels Underlies Efficient Retrieval of
      Synaptobrevin II to Synaptic Vesicles.
AB  - Synaptobrevin II (sybII) is a vesicular soluble NSF attachment protein receptor
      (SNARE) protein that is essential for neurotransmitter release, and thus its
      correct trafficking to synaptic vesicles (SVs) is critical to render them fusion
      competent. The SV protein synaptophysin binds to sybII and facilitates its
      retrieval to SVs during endocytosis. Synaptophysin and sybII are the two most
      abundant proteins on SVs, being present in a 1:2 ratio. Synaptophysin and sybII
      are proposed to form a large multimeric complex, and the copy number of the
      proteins in this complex is also in a 1:2 ratio. We investigated the importance
      of this ratio between these proteins for the localisation and trafficking of
      sybII in central neurons. SybII was overexpressed in mouse hippocampal neurons at
      either 1.6 or 2.15-2.35-fold over endogenous protein levels, in the absence or
      presence of varying levels of synaptophysin. In the absence of exogenous
      synaptophysin, exogenous sybII was dispersed along the axon, trapped on the
      plasma membrane and retrieved slowly during endocytosis. Co-expression of
      exogenous synaptophysin rescued all of these defects. Importantly, the expression
      of synaptophysin at nerve terminals in a 1:2 ratio with sybII was sufficient to
      fully rescue normal sybII trafficking. These results demonstrate that the balance
      between synaptophysin and sybII levels is critical for the correct targeting of
      sybII to SVs and suggests that small alterations in synaptophysin levels might
      affect the localisation of sybII and subsequent presynaptic performance. 

PMID- 26871703
TI  - Assessing Disease and Mortality among Small Cetaceans Stranded at a World
      Heritage Site in Southern Brazil.
AB  - Cetaceans are considered environmental sentinels and their health often reflects
      either anthropogenic or natural spatio-temporal disturbances. This study
      investigated the pathological findings and mortality of small cetaceans with the
      aim of detecting hazards and monitoring health trends in a high-biodiversity
      area. Between 2007 and 2012, 218 stranded cetaceans were recorded on the Parana
      coast, southern Brazil. Fifty-seven (26.1%) of these animals, including 50
      Sotalia guianensis, 2 Pontoporia blainvillei, 2 Stenella frontalis, 1 Stenella
      longirostris, 1 Tursiops truncatus and 1 Globicephala melas were necropsied and
      samples were collected for histopathology. Causes of death were determined in 46
      of the 57 (80.7%) animals and most (30 or 65.2%) were ascribed to anthropogenic
      activities, including fisheries bycatch (28/30) and trauma (2/30). The remaining
      16 fatalities were considered natural, and attributed to pneumonia (10/16),
      emaciation (3/16), septicemia (1/16), neonatal pathology (1/16) and choking via
      food obstruction (1/16). Irrespective of the cause, bronchointerstitial
      pneumonia, associated with parasitism, lymphadenitis and membranous
      glomerulonephritis were common findings among all fatalities. These results
      suggest, that while anthropogenic activities are a leading cause of cetacean
      strandings in Parana, underlying pre-existing diseases may contribute towards
      deaths. Although the studied area is considered a biosphere reserve by UNESCO,
      complex anthropogenic and natural interactions might be occurring, increasing
      cetacean susceptibility to hazards. This study may help facilitate developing an
      effective conservation plan for coastal cetaceans focusing on reducing fisheries
      interactions, habitat degradation and pollution as mechanisms for ultimately
      increasing species resilience. 

PMID- 26871704
TI  - Implementation of an Interdisciplinary, Team-Based Complex Care Support Health
      Care Model at an Academic Medical Center: Impact on Health Care Utilization and
      Quality of Life.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Geriatric Resources for the Assessment and Care of Elders
      (GRACE) program has been shown to decrease acute care utilization and increase
      patient self-rated health in low-income seniors at community-based health
      centers. AIMS: To describe adaptation of the GRACE model to include adults of all
      ages (named Care Support) and to evaluate the process and impact of Care Support
      implementation at an urban academic medical center. SETTING: 152 high-risk
      patients (>=5 ED visits or >=2 hospitalizations in the past 12 months) enrolled
      from four medical clinics from 4/29/2013 to 5/31/2014. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
      Patients received a comprehensive in-home assessment by a nurse
      practitioner/social worker (NP/SW) team, who then met with a larger
      interdisciplinary team to develop an individualized care plan. In consultation
      with the primary care team, standardized care protocols were activated to address
      relevant key issues as needed. PROGRAM EVALUATION: A process evaluation based on
      the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research identified key adaptations
      of the original model, which included streamlining of standardized protocols,
      augmenting mental health interventions and performing some assessments in the
      clinic. A summative evaluation found a significant decline in the median number
      of ED visits (5.5 to 0, p = 0.015) and hospitalizations (5.5 to 0, p<0.001) 6
      months before enrollment in Care Support compared to 6 months after enrollment.
      In addition, the percent of patients reporting better self-rated health increased
      from 31% at enrollment to 64% at 9 months (p = 0.002). Semi-structured interviews
      with Care Support team members identified patients with multiple, complex
      conditions; little community support; and mild anxiety as those who appeared to
      benefit the most from the program. DISCUSSION: It was feasible to implement
      GRACE/Care Support at an academic medical center by making adaptations based on
      local needs. Care Support patients experienced significant reductions in acute
      care utilization and significant improvements in self-rated health.

PMID- 26871705
TI  - MicroRNAs Are Involved in the Regulation of Ovary Development in the Pathogenic
      Blood Fluke Schistosoma japonicum.
AB  - Schistosomes, blood flukes, are an important global public health concern. Paired
      adult female schistosomes produce large numbers of eggs that are primarily
      responsible for the disease pathology and critical for dissemination.
      Consequently, understanding schistosome sexual maturation and egg production may
      open novel perspectives for intervening with these processes to prevent clinical
      symptoms and to interrupt the life-cycle of these blood-flukes. microRNAs
      (miRNAs) are key regulators of many biological processes including development,
      cell proliferation, metabolism, and signal transduction. Here, we report on the
      identification of Schistosoma japonicum miRNAs using small RNA deep sequencing in
      the key stages of male-female pairing, gametogenesis, and egg production. We
      identified 38 miRNAs, including 10 previously unknown miRNAs. Eighteen of the
      miRNAs were differentially expressed between male and female schistosomes and
      during different stages of sexual maturation. We identified 30 potential target
      genes for 16 of the S. japonicum miRNAs using antibody-based pull-down assays and
      bioinformatic analyses. We further validated some of these target genes using
      either in vitro luciferase assays or in vivo miRNA suppression experiments.
      Notably, suppression of the female enriched miRNAs bantam and miR-31 led to
      morphological alteration of ovaries in female schistosomes. These findings
      uncover key roles for specific miRNAs in schistosome sexual maturation and egg
      production. 

PMID- 26871708
TI  - Correction: Strong Associations Exist among Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant
      Biomarkers in the Circulating, Cellular and Urinary Anatomical Compartments in
      Guatemalan Children from the Western Highlands.

PMID- 26871707
TI  - Heat and PAHs Emissions in Indoor Kitchen Air and Its Impact on Kidney
      Dysfunctions among Kitchen Workers in Lucknow, North India.
AB  - Indoor air quality and heat exposure have become an important occupational health
      and safety concern in several workplaces including kitchens of hotels. This study
      investigated the heat, particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds
      (TVOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions in indoor air of
      commercial kitchen and its association with kidney dysfunctions among kitchen
      workers. A cross sectional study was conducted on 94 kitchen workers employed at
      commercial kitchen in Lucknow city, North India. A questionnaire-based survey was
      conducted to collect the personal and occupational history of the kitchen
      workers. The urine analysis for specific gravity and microalbuminuria was
      conducted among the study subjects. Indoor air temperature, humidity, wet/ dry
      bulb temperature and humidex heat stress was monitored during cooking activities
      at the kitchen. Particulate matter (PM) for 1 and 2.5 microns were monitored in
      kitchen during working hours using Hazdust. PAHS in indoor air was analysed using
      UHPLC. Urinary hydroxy-PAHs in kitchen workers were measured using GC/MS-MS.
      Higher indoor air temperature, relative humidity, PM1 and PM2.5 (p<0.001) was
      observed in the kitchen due to cooking process. Indoor air PAHs identified are
      Napthalene, fluorine, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene and indeno
      [1,2,3-cd) pyrene. Concentrations of all PAHs identified in kitchen were above
      the permissible OSHA norms for indoor air. Specific gravity of urine was
      significantly higher among the kitchen workers (p<0.001) as compared to the
      control group. Also, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was higher (p<0.001)
      among kitchen workers. Urinary PAH metabolites detected among kitchen workers
      were 1-NAP, 9-HF, 3-HF, 9-PHN and 1-OHP. Continuous heat exposure in kitchens due
      to cooking can alter kidney functions viz., high specific gravity of urine in
      kitchen workers. Exposure to PM, VOCs and PAHs in indoor air and presence of
      urinary PAHs metabolites may lead to inflammation, which can cause
      microalbuminuria in kitchen workers, as observed in the present study. 

PMID- 26871710
TI  - An overview of burning mouth syndrome for the dermatologist.
AB  - Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by an idiopathic burning pain affecting
      the oral mucosa, with no clinically apparent changes. It can present to a variety
      of health professionals including dermatologists. This article summarizes the
      important aspects of the condition, including theories of pathogenesis, diagnosis
      and management.

PMID- 26871706
TI  - Developing a Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Model Knowledgebase in Support
      of Provisional Model Construction.
AB  - Developing physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for chemicals can
      be resource-intensive, as neither chemical-specific parameters nor in vivo
      pharmacokinetic data are easily available for model construction. Previously
      developed, well-parameterized, and thoroughly-vetted models can be a great
      resource for the construction of models pertaining to new chemicals. A PBPK
      knowledgebase was compiled and developed from existing PBPK-related articles and
      used to develop new models. From 2,039 PBPK-related articles published between
      1977 and 2013, 307 unique chemicals were identified for use as the basis of our
      knowledgebase. Keywords related to species, gender, developmental stages, and
      organs were analyzed from the articles within the PBPK knowledgebase. A
      correlation matrix of the 307 chemicals in the PBPK knowledgebase was calculated
      based on pharmacokinetic-relevant molecular descriptors. Chemicals in the PBPK
      knowledgebase were ranked based on their correlation toward ethylbenzene and
      gefitinib. Next, multiple chemicals were selected to represent exact matches,
      close analogues, or non-analogues of the target case study chemicals. Parameters,
      equations, or experimental data relevant to existing models for these chemicals
      and their analogues were used to construct new models, and model predictions were
      compared to observed values. This compiled knowledgebase provides a chemical
      structure-based approach for identifying PBPK models relevant to other chemical
      entities. Using suitable correlation metrics, we demonstrated that models of
      chemical analogues in the PBPK knowledgebase can guide the construction of PBPK
      models for other chemicals. 

PMID- 26871709
TI  - The Impact of HIV Co-Infection on the Genomic Response to Sepsis.
AB  - HIV patients have an increased risk to develop sepsis and HIV infection affects
      several components of the immune system involved in sepsis pathogenesis. We
      hypothesized that HIV infection might aggrevate the aberrant immune response
      during sepsis, so we aimed to determine the impact of HIV infection on the
      genomic host response to sepsis. We compared whole blood leukocyte gene
      expression profiles among sepsis patients with or without HIV co-infection in the
      intensive care unit (ICU) and validated our findings in a cohort of patients
      admitted to the same ICUs in a different time frame. To examine the influence of
      HIV infection per se, we also determined the expression of genes of interest in a
      cohort of asymptomatic HIV patients. We identified a predominantly common host
      response in sepsis patients with or without HIV co-infection. HIV positive sepsis
      patients in both ICU cohorts showed overexpression of genes involved in granzyme
      signaling (GZMA, GZMB), cytotoxic T-cell signaling (CD8A, CD8B) and T-cell
      inhibitory signaling (LAG3), compared to HIV negative patients. Enhanced
      expression of CD8A, CD8B and LAG3 was also unmasked in asymptomatic HIV patients.
      Plasma levels of granzymes in sepsis patients were largely below detection limit,
      without differences according to HIV status. These results demonstrate that
      sepsis is characterized by a massive common response with few differences between
      HIV positive and HIV negative sepsis patients. Observed differences in granzyme
      signaling, cytotoxic T-cell signaling and T-cell inhibitory signaling appear to
      be changes commonly observed in asymptomatic HIV patients which persist during
      sepsis. 

PMID- 26871711
TI  - Body mass index curves for Italian preterm infants are comparable with American
      curves for infants born before 34 weeks of gestational age.
AB  - AIM: Body mass index (BMI)-for-age curves have been developed in the USA, but not
      compared with other populations. This study created gender-specific intrauterine
      BMI-for-age curves for Italian preterm infants and compared them with the USA
      version. METHODS: Data on 92 262 newborn infants, born at 26-42 weeks of
      gestational age in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia
      between 2005 and 2013, were analysed to create gender-specific BMI-for-age
      curves. Gender-specific and age-specific BMI Z scores for Italian infants were
      calculated using the parameters of the USA growth curves and the World Health
      Organization charts. RESULTS: Gender-specific BMI-for-age at birth curves were
      developed for premature Italian infants from 26 gestational weeks. The comparison
      with the USA charts showed no significant difference in BMI percentiles in
      Italian infants born at <=33 gestational weeks, but infants born at >=34
      gestational weeks had a significantly higher BMI than the USA population, by 0.2
      standard deviations. CONCLUSION: We developed the first European BMI-for-age at
      birth curves for premature infants. According to our findings, the Italian curves
      were comparable to the USA curves for the subgroup of infants born at <=33
      gestational weeks, but not >=34 gestational weeks.

PMID- 26871712
TI  - Impact of Reducing Complement Inhibitor Binding on the Immunogenicity of Native
      Neisseria meningitidis Outer Membrane Vesicles.
AB  - Neisseria meningitidis recruits host human complement inhibitors to its surface
      to down-regulate complement activation and enhance survival in blood. We have
      investigated whether such complement inhibitor binding occurs after vaccination
      with native outer membrane vesicles (nOMVs), and limits immunogenicity of such
      vaccines. To this end, nOMVs reactogenic lipopolysaccharide was detoxified by
      deletion of the lpxl1 gene (nOMVlpxl1). nOMVs unable to bind human complement
      factor H (hfH) were generated by additional deletions of the genes encoding
      factor H binding protein (fHbp) and neisserial surface protein A (NspA)
      (nOMVdis). Antibody responses elicited in mice with nOMVdis were compared to
      those elicited with nOMVlpxl1 in the presence of hfH. Results demonstrate that
      the administration of human fH to mice immunized with fHbp containing OMVlpxl1
      decreased immunogenicity against fHbp (but not against the OMV as a whole). The
      majority of the OMV-induced bactericidal immune response (OMVlpxl1 or OMVdis) was
      versus PorA. Despite a considerable reduction of hfH binding to nOMVdis, and the
      absence of the vaccine antigen fHbp, immunogenicity in mice was not different
      from nOMVlpxl1, in the absence or presence of hfH (serum bactericidal titers of
      1:64 vs 1:128 after one dose in the nOMVdis and nOMVlpxl1-immunized groups
      respectively). Therefore, partial inhibition of fH binding did not enhance
      immunity in this model. 

PMID- 26871713
TI  - The prognostic value of interim and end-of-treatment PET/CT in patients with
      newly diagnosed peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

PMID- 26871714
TI  - Siltuximab (CNTO 328) with lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone in newly
      diagnosed, previously untreated multiple myeloma: an open-label phase I trial.
AB  - The safety and efficacy of siltuximab (CNTO 328) was tested in combination with
      lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVD) in patients with newly
      diagnosed, previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma. Fourteen patients
      were enrolled in the study, eleven of whom qualified to receive therapy. A
      majority of patients (81.8%) completed the minimal number or more of the four
      required cycles, while two patients completed only three cycles. The maximum
      tolerated dose (MTD) of siltuximab with RVD was dose level -1 (siltuximab: 8.3
      mg/kg; bortezomib: 1.3 mg/m(2); lenalidomide: 25 mg; dexamethasone: 20 mg).
      Serious adverse events were grade 3 pneumonia and grade 4 thrombocytopenia, and
      no deaths occurred during the study or with follow-up (median follow-up 28.1
      months). An overall response rate, after 3-4 cycles of therapy, of 90.9% (95%
      confidence interval (CI): 58.7%, 99.8%) (9.1% complete response (95% CI: 0.2%,
      41.3%), 45.5% very good partial response (95% CI: 16.7%, 76.6%) and 36.4% partial
      response (95% CI: 10.9%, 69.2%)) was seen. Two patients withdrew consent, and
      nine patients (81.8%) opted for autologous stem cell transplantation.

PMID- 26871716
TI  - Time to manage: patient strategies for coping with an absence of care
      coordination and continuity.
AB  - This paper examines how people with chronic illnesses respond to absences of
      continuity and coordination of care. Little work has been done on how the ill
      person might mitigate flaws in a less than optimal system. Our qualitative
      research, carried out among 91 participants in Australia, reveals that people
      with chronic illnesses create strategies to facilitate the management of their
      care. These strategies included efforts to improve communication between
      themselves and their health care practitioners; keeping personal up-to-date
      medication lists; and generating their own specific management plans. While we do
      not submit that it is patients' responsibility to attend to gaps in the health
      system, our data suggests that chronically ill people can, in and through such
      strategies, exert a measure of agency over their own care; making it effectively
      more continuous and coordinated. Participants crafted strategies according to the
      particular social and bodily rhythms that their ongoing illnesses had lent to
      their lives. Our analysis advances the view that the ill body itself is capable
      of enfolding the health system into the rhythms of illness - rather than the ill
      body always fitting into the overarching structural tempo. This entails an agent
      centric view of time in illness experience. A Virtual Abstract of this paper can
      be found at: https://youtu.be/UwbxlEJOTx8.

PMID- 26871715
TI  - A Signal Processing Approach for Detection of Hemodynamic Instability before
      Decompensation.
AB  - Advanced hemodynamic monitoring is a critical component of treatment in clinical
      situations where aggressive yet guided hemodynamic interventions are required in
      order to stabilize the patient and optimize outcomes. While there are many tools
      at a physician's disposal to monitor patients in a hospital setting, the reality
      is that none of these tools allow hi-fidelity assessment or continuous monitoring
      towards early detection of hemodynamic instability. We present an advanced
      automated analytical system which would act as a continuous monitoring and early
      warning mechanism that can indicate pending decompensation before traditional
      metrics can identify any clinical abnormality. This system computes novel
      features or bio-markers from both heart rate variability (HRV) as well as the
      morphology of the electrocardiogram (ECG). To compare their effectiveness, these
      features are compared with the standard HRV based bio-markers which are commonly
      used for hemodynamic assessment. This study utilized a unique database containing
      ECG waveforms from healthy volunteer subjects who underwent simulated hypovolemia
      under controlled experimental settings. A support vector machine was utilized to
      develop a model which predicts the stability or instability of the subjects.
      Results showed that the proposed novel set of features outperforms the
      traditional HRV features in predicting hemodynamic instability. 

PMID- 26871717
TI  - No Negative Impact of Palliative Sedation on Relatives' Experience of the Dying
      Phase and Their Wellbeing after the Patient's Death: An Observational Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Palliative sedation is the widely-used intervention of administering
      sedating agents to induce a state of unconsciousness to take away a dying
      patient's perception of otherwise irrelievable symptoms. However, it remains
      questionable whether this ethically complex intervention is beneficial for
      patients and whether the associated lack of communication in the last phase of
      life has a negative impact on relatives' wellbeing. METHODS: An observational
      questionnaire study was conducted among relatives of a consecutive sample of
      patients who died a non-sudden death in the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute or in the
      hospice 'Laurens Cadenza' (both in Rotterdam) between 2010 and 2013. RESULTS:
      Relatives filled in questionnaires regarding 151 patients who had been sedated
      and 90 patients who had not been sedated. The median time since all patients had
      passed away was 21 (IQR 14-32) months. No significant differences were found in
      relatives' assessments of the quality of end-of-life care, patients' quality of
      life in the last week before death and their quality of dying, between patients
      who did and did not receive sedation, or in relatives' satisfaction with their
      own life, their general health and their mental wellbeing after the patient's
      death. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sedation in these patients appears to have no
      negative effect on bereaved relatives' evaluation of the patient's dying phase,
      or on their own wellbeing after the patient's death.

PMID- 26871718
TI  - Structure-Based Design of Peptidic Inhibitors of the Interaction between CC
      Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5) and Human Neutrophil Peptides 1 (HNP1).
AB  - Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are receiving increasing interest, much
      sparked by the realization that they represent druggable targets. Recently, we
      successfully developed a peptidic inhibitor, RRYGTSKYQ ("SKY" peptide), that
      shows high potential in vitro and in vivo to interrupt a PPI between the platelet
      borne chemokine CCL5 and the neutrophil-derived granule protein HNP1. This PPI
      plays a vital role in monocyte adhesion, representing a key mechanism in acute
      and chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we present extensive and detailed
      computational methods applied to develop the SKY peptide. We combined
      experimentally determined binding affinities (KD) of several orthologs of CCL5
      with HNP1 with in silico studies to identify the most likely heterodimeric CCL5
      HNP1 complex which was subsequently used as a starting structure to rationally
      design peptidic inhibitors. Our method represents a fast and simple approach that
      can be widely applied to determine other protein-protein complexes and moreover
      to design inhibitors or stabilizers of protein-protein interaction.

PMID- 26871719
TI  - Reduction of Genetic Diversity of the Harpy Eagle in Brazilian Tropical Forests.
AB  - Habitat loss and fragmentation intensify the effects of genetic drift and
      endogamy, reducing genetic variability of populations with serious consequences
      for wildlife conservation. The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a forest dwelling
      species that is considered near threatened and suffers from habitat loss in the
      forests of the Neotropical region. In this study, 72 historical and current
      samples were assessed using eight autosomal microsatellite markers to investigate
      the distribution of genetic diversity of the Harpy Eagle of the Amazonian and
      Atlantic forests in Brazil. The results showed that the genetic diversity of
      Harpy Eagle decreased in the regions where deforestation is intense in the
      southern Amazon and Atlantic Forest. 

PMID- 26871721
TI  - Structural Evolution and Electronic Properties of VnC2(0/-) and VnC4(0/-) (n = 1
      6) Clusters: Insights from Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical
      Calculations.
AB  - The structural evolution and electronic properties of VnC2(-/0) and VnC4(-/0) (n
      = 1-6) clusters were investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy and density
      functional theory calculations. The adiabatic and vertical detachment energies of
      VnC2(-) and VnC4(-) (n = 1-6) clusters were obtained from their photoelectron
      spectra. The most stable structures were identified by comparing the results of
      our calculations with the experimental data. We found that the carbon atoms of
      VnC2(-/0) and VnC4(-/0) (n = 1-6) clusters were separated gradually with
      increasing number of vanadium atoms. For VnC2(-/0) (n = 3-6) and VnC4(-/0) (n = 4
      6) clusters, the carbon atoms are separated by the vanadium atoms. The geometry
      of V4C4 is a cubic structure and the geometries of V5C4 and V6C4 are formed by
      one and two vanadium atoms capping the cubic V4C4 structure, respectively. 

PMID- 26871720
TI  - Serum Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor A3 (LILRA3) Is Increased in Patients
      with Multiple Sclerosis and Is a Strong Independent Indicator of Disease
      Severity; 6.7kbp LILRA3 Gene Deletion Is Not Associated with Diseases
      Susceptibility.
AB  - Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A3 (LILRA3) is a soluble immune regulatory
      molecule primarily expressed by monocytes and macrophages. A homozygous 6.7kbp
      LILRA3 gene deletion that removes the first seven of its eight exons is predicted
      to lead to lack of LILRA3 protein, although this has not been experimentally
      confirmed. Moreover, there are conflicting results with regards to the link
      between the LILRA3 homozygous genetic deletion and susceptibility to multiple
      sclerosis (MS) in different European populations. The aim of this study was to
      investigate whether LILRA3 gene deletion is associated with MS susceptibility in
      a North American cohort of European ancestry and assess if serum LILRA3 protein
      level is a marker of clinical subtype and/or disease severity in MS. A total of
      456 patients with MS and 99 unrelated healthy controls were genotyped for the
      6.7kbp LILRA3 gene deletion and levels of LILRA3 protein in sera determined by in
      house sandwich ELISA. We showed that LILRA3 gene deletion was not associated with
      MS susceptibility and did not affect the age of disease onset, clinical subtype
      or disease severity. However, we discovered for the first time that homozygous
      LILRA3 gene deletion results in lack of production of LILRA3 protein.
      Importantly, LILRA3 protein level was significantly increased in sera of patients
      with MS when compared with control subjects, particularly in more severe type
      primary progressive MS. Multiple regression analysis showed that LILRA3 level in
      serum was one of the strongest independent markers of disease severity in MS,
      which potentially can be used as a diagnostic marker. 

PMID- 26871722
TI  - Intact Cohesion, Anaphase, and Chromosome Segregation in Human Cells Harboring
      Tumor-Derived Mutations in STAG2.
AB  - Somatic mutations of the cohesin complex subunit STAG2 are present in diverse
      tumor types. We and others have shown that STAG2 inactivation can lead to loss of
      sister chromatid cohesion and alterations in chromosome copy number in
      experimental systems. However, studies of naturally occurring human tumors have
      demonstrated little, if any, correlation between STAG2 mutational status and
      aneuploidy, and have further shown that STAG2-deficient tumors are often euploid.
      In an effort to provide insight into these discrepancies, here we analyze the
      effect of tumor-derived STAG2 mutations on the protein composition of cohesin and
      the expected mitotic phenotypes of STAG2 mutation. We find that many mutant STAG2
      proteins retain their ability to interact with cohesin; however, the presence of
      mutant STAG2 resulted in a reduction in the ability of regulatory subunits WAPL,
      PDS5A, and PDS5B to interact with the core cohesin ring. Using AAV-mediated gene
      targeting, we then introduced nine tumor-derived mutations into the endogenous
      allele of STAG2 in cultured human cells. While all nonsense mutations led to
      defects in sister chromatid cohesion and a subset induced anaphase defects,
      missense mutations behaved like wild-type in these assays. Furthermore, only one
      of nine tumor-derived mutations tested induced overt alterations in chromosome
      counts. These data indicate that not all tumor-derived STAG2 mutations confer
      defects in cohesion, chromosome segregation, and ploidy, suggesting that there
      are likely to be other functional effects of STAG2 inactivation in human cancer
      cells that are relevant to cancer pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26871723
TI  - Genome-Wide Diversity and Phylogeography of Mycobacterium avium subsp.
      paratuberculosis in Canadian Dairy Cattle.
AB  - Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative bacterium of
      Johne's disease (JD) in ruminants. The control of JD in the dairy industry is
      challenging, but can be improved with a better understanding of the diversity and
      distribution of MAP subtypes. Previously established molecular typing techniques
      used to differentiate MAP have not been sufficiently discriminatory and/or
      reliable to accurately assess the population structure. In this study, the
      genetic diversity of 182 MAP isolates representing all Canadian provinces was
      compared to the known global diversity, using single nucleotide polymorphisms
      identified through whole genome sequencing. MAP isolates from Canada represented
      a subset of the known global diversity, as there were global isolates
      intermingled with Canadian isolates, as well as multiple global subtypes that
      were not found in Canada. One Type III and six "Bison type" isolates were found
      in Canada as well as one Type II subtype that represented 86% of all Canadian
      isolates. Rarefaction estimated larger subtype richness in Quebec than in other
      Canadian provinces using a strict definition of MAP subtypes and lower subtype
      richness in the Atlantic region using a relaxed definition. Significant
      phylogeographic clustering was observed at the inter-provincial but not at the
      intra-provincial level, although most major clades were found in all provinces.
      The large number of shared subtypes among provinces suggests that cattle movement
      is a major driver of MAP transmission at the herd level, which is further
      supported by the lack of spatial clustering on an intra-provincial scale. 

PMID- 26871725
TI  - The Incidence of Abortion in Nigeria.
AB  - CONTEXT: Because of Nigeria's low contraceptive prevalence, a substantial number
      of women have unintended pregnancies, many of which are resolved through
      clandestine abortion, despite the country's restrictive abortion law. Up-to-date
      estimates of abortion incidence are needed. METHODS: A widely used indirect
      methodology was used to estimate the incidence of abortion and unintended
      pregnancy in Nigeria in 2012. Data on provision of abortion and postabortion care
      were collected from a nationally representative sample of 772 health facilities,
      and estimates of the likelihood that women who have unsafe abortions experience
      complications and obtain treatment were collected from 194 health care
      professionals with a broad understanding of the abortion context in Nigeria.
      RESULTS: An estimated 1.25 million induced abortions occurred in Nigeria in 2012,
      equivalent to a rate of 33 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-49. The estimated
      unintended pregnancy rate was 59 per 1,000 women aged 15-49. Fifty-six percent of
      unintended pregnancies were resolved by abortion. About 212,000 women were
      treated for complications of unsafe abortion, representing a treatment rate of
      5.6 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, and an additional 285,000 experienced
      serious health consequences but did not receive the treatment they needed.
      CONCLUSION: Levels of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion continue to be
      high in Nigeria. Improvements in access to contraceptive services and in the
      provision of safe abortion and postabortion care services (as permitted by law)
      may help reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26871726
TI  - Understanding the Broader Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Female Sex
      Workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
AB  - CONTEXT: Little is known about the sexual and reproductive health care needs of
      female sex workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS: Survey data were collected from
      354 hotel-based and 323 street-based female sex workers using a venue-based
      stratified cluster sampling approach. In addition, in-depth interviews were
      conducted with 20 female sex workers recruited from drop-in centers. We
      calculated unmet need for family planning and examined fertility desires, use of
      condoms and other contraceptive methods, experiences with gender-based violence,
      sexual and reproductive health service needs, and preferences on where to receive
      services. RESULTS: The prevalence of unmet need was 25% among hotel-based female
      sex workers and 36% among street-based female sex workers. Almost all
      participants reported having used condoms in the past 30 days, and 44% of hotel
      based sex workers and 30% of street-based sex workers reported dual method use
      during that period. Condom use was inconsistent, however, and condom breakage and
      nonuse for extra money were common. Many women reported experiencing gender-based
      violence. Sexual and reproductive health services had been obtained by 64% of
      hotel-based and 89% of street-based sex workers in the past six months; drop-in
      centers were their preferred site for receiving health services. CONCLUSIONS:
      Female sex workers in Dhaka need family planning and other sexual and
      reproductive health services and prefer receiving them from drop-in centers.

PMID- 26871724
TI  - Key Role of ROS in the Process of 15-Lipoxygenase/15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoiccid
      Induced Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling in Hypoxia Pulmonary Hypertension.
AB  - We previously reported that 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) and its metabolite 15
      hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) were up-regulated in pulmonary arterial
      cells from both pulmonary artery hypertension patients and hypoxic rats and that
      these factors mediated the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by
      affecting the proliferation and apoptosis of pulmonary arterial (PA) cells.
      However, the underlying mechanisms of the remodeling induced by 15-HETE have
      remained unclear. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 15-LO are both induced by
      hypoxia, it is possible that ROS are involved in the events of hypoxia-induced 15
      LO expression that lead to PH. We employed immunohistochemistry, tube formation
      assays, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays, and cell cycle analyses to
      explore the role of ROS in the process of 15-HETE-mediated hypoxic pulmonary
      hypertension (HPH). We found that exogenous 15-HETE facilitated the generation of
      ROS and that this effect was mainly localized to mitochondria. In particular, the
      mitochondrial electron transport chain and nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide
      phosphate oxidase 4 (Nox4) were responsible for the significant 15-HETE
      stimulated increase in ROS production. Moreover, ROS induced by 15-HETE
      stimulated endothelial cell (EC) migration and promoted pulmonary artery smooth
      muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation under hypoxia via the p38 MAPK pathway. These
      results indicated that 15-HETE-regulated ROS mediated hypoxia-induced pulmonary
      vascular remodeling (PVR) via the p38 MAPK pathway. 

PMID- 26871727
TI  - Belief in Family Planning Myths at the Individual and Community Levels and Modern
      Contraceptive Use in Urban Africa.
AB  - CONTEXT: Negative myths and misconceptions about family planning are a barrier to
      modern contraceptive use. Most research on the subject has focused on individual
      beliefs about contraception; however, given that myths spread easily within
      communities, it is also important to examine how the prevalence of negative myths
      in a community affects the aggregate level of method use. METHODS: Baseline data
      collected in 2010-2011 by the Measurement, Learning & Evaluation project on women
      aged 15-49 living in selected cities in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal were used.
      Multivariate analyses examined associations between modern contraceptive use and
      belief in negative myths for individuals and communities. RESULTS: In each
      country, the family planning myths most prevalent at the individual and community
      levels were that "people who use contraceptives end up with health problems,"
      "contraceptives are dangerous to women's health" and "contraceptives can harm
      your womb." On average, women in Nigeria and Kenya believed 2.7 and 4.6 out of
      eight selected myths, respectively, and women in Senegal believed 2.6 out of
      seven. Women's individual-level belief in myths was negatively associated with
      their modern contraceptive use in all three countries (odds ratios, 0.2-0.7). In
      Nigeria, the women's community-level myth variable was positively associated with
      modern contraceptive use (1.6), whereas the men's community-level myth variable
      was negatively associated with use (0.6); neither community-level variable was
      associated with modern contraceptive use in Kenya or Senegal. CONCLUSION:
      Education programs are needed to dispel common myths and misconceptions about
      modern contraceptives. In Nigeria, programs that encourage community-level
      discussions may be effective at reducing myths and increasing modern
      contraceptive use.

PMID- 26871728
TI  - Unmet Need for Family Planning in Sri Lanka: Low Enough or Still an Issue?
AB  - CONTEXT: Family planning efforts achieved considerable success in Sri Lanka
      during the late 20th century; however, overall levels and trends may mask
      relatively high levels of unmet need under certain conditions. METHODS: Data from
      the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey of Sri Lanka (DHS-SL) were used to
      estimate unmet need for limiting and spacing births among ever-married women aged
      15-49, overall and by key characteristics. Twelve definitions of unmet need of
      varying stringency were used to assess the sensitivity of results to a variety of
      measurement issues. Comparable estimates from the 1987 DHS-SL were used to
      provide context on changes in unmet need over time. RESULTS: Total unmet need in
      2007 ranged from 1.6% under the narrowest definition to 19.3% under the broadest.
      Levels of unmet need for spacing births in 2007 were lower than 3% for all
      measures and for most subsamples. In contrast, levels of unmet need for limiting
      were generally higher and more varied, both in relation to the definition of
      unmet need used and across subsamples. Unmet need for limiting was particularly
      high in certain groups if women's use of traditional contraceptive methods and
      practice of prolonged abstinence were considered not to meet their contraceptive
      need. CONCLUSIONS: Continued progress regarding contraceptive prevalence and
      method mix could contribute to further reducing unmet need for family planning in
      Sri Lanka and to meeting women's reproductive and health goals. Renewed policy
      emphasis on the family planning needs and concerns of selected groups would
      promote such goals.

PMID- 26871729
TI  - How Reliable Are Reports of Early Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health
      Events in Demographic and Health Surveys?
AB  - CONTEXT: Age at sexual debut, age at first marriage or first union and age at
      first birth are among the most widely used indicators of health and well-being
      for female adolescents. However, the accuracy of estimates for these indicators,
      particularly for younger adolescents, is poorly understood. METHODS: For each of
      nine countries in Africa and Latin America, Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)
      data from two surveys conducted five years apart were used to examine women's
      reports of age at sexual debut, marriage or first union, and first birth. The
      consistency of estimates between surveys and across birth cohorts is described,
      focusing particularly on the reporting of events occurring before age 15 and age
      16. RESULTS: Marked differences in estimates for very early first births and
      marriage were found. Women aged 15-19 were much less likely to report marriages
      and first births before age 15 than were women from the same birth cohort when
      asked five years later at ages 20-24. Early sexual debut was reported more
      consistently in consecutive surveys than early marriages or births. CONCLUSIONS:
      Caution should be exercised when inferring changes in early adolescent sexual and
      reproductive health on the basis of estimates from the DHS. Greater effort should
      be made to develop data collection instruments that reduce misreporting of self
      reported data from women sampled in household surveys.

PMID- 26871730
TI  - Electrical pharyngeal stimulation increases substance P level in saliva.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide known to enhance the swallow
      response. It likely acts as a neurotransmitter in the pharyngeal mucosa in
      response to local stimuli. It has been proposed that dysphagia after stroke may
      be related to reduced levels of SP, which therefore constitutes a therapeutic
      target. In the present pilot study, we evaluated whether electrical pharyngeal
      stimulation (EPS), a neuromodulation device to enhance cortical reorganization
      for the restoration of swallowing function after brain injury, is able to
      increase SP in saliva or serum. METHODS: In a randomized crossover study design,
      20 healthy volunteers were treated with 10 min of real (0.2-ms pulses, 5 Hz, 280
      V, stimulation intensity (mA) individually adjusted to tolerance level) or sham
      EPS on two separate sessions. Stimulation was delivered via a pair of bipolar
      ring electrodes mounted on an intraluminal catheter positioned in the pharynx.
      Blood and saliva samples were taken prior to, during, and up to 1 h after EPS and
      analyzed for their SP concentration by ELISA. KEY RESULTS: Following real EPS but
      not sham stimulation, SP levels in saliva increased immediately and significantly
      about 28% (p < 0.01) compared to baseline. Serum levels remained unchanged.
      CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Electrical pharyngeal stimulation is able to induce
      pharyngeal SP release in healthy subjects.

PMID- 26871731
TI  - Systematic drug perturbations on cancer cells reveal diverse exit paths from
      proliferative state.
AB  - During a cell state transition, cells travel along trajectories in a gene
      expression state space. This dynamical systems framework complements the
      traditional concept of molecular pathways that drive cell phenotype switching. To
      expose the structure that hinders cancer cells from exiting robust proliferative
      state, we assessed the perturbation capacity of a drug library and identified 16
      non-cytotoxic compounds that stimulate MCF7 breast cancer cells to exit from
      proliferative state to differentiated state. The transcriptome trajectories
      triggered by these drugs diverged, then converged. Chemical structures and drug
      targets of these compounds overlapped minimally. However, a network analysis of
      targeted pathways identified a core signaling pathway--indicating common stress
      response and down-regulation of STAT1 before differentiation. This multi
      trajectory analysis explores the cells' state transition with a multitude of
      perturbations in combination with traditional pathway analysis, leading to an
      encompassing picture of the dynamics of a therapeutically desired cell-state
      switching.

PMID- 26871732
TI  - Phosphate adsorption on lanthanum loaded biochar.
AB  - To attain a low-cost and high-efficient phosphate adsorbent, lanthanum (La)
      loaded biochar (La-BC) prepared by a chemical precipitation method was developed.
      La-BC and its pristine biochar (CK-BC) were comparatively characterized using
      zeta potential, BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive
      spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
      (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The adsorption ability
      and the mechanisms during adsorption process for the La-BC samples were also
      investigated. La loaded on the surface of biochar can be termed as La-composites
      (such as LaOOH, LaONO3 and La(OH)3), leading to the decrease of negative charge
      and surface area of biochar. La-BC exhibited the high adsorption capacity to
      phosphate compared to CK-BC. Adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetic studies
      showed that the Langmuir isotherm and second order model could well describe the
      adsorption process of La-BC, indicating that the adsorption was dominated by a
      homogeneous and chemical process. The calculated maximum adsorption capacity was
      as high as 46.37 mg g(-1) (computed in P). Thermodynamic analysis revealed that
      the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. SEM, XRD, XPS and FT-IR analysis
      suggested that the multi-adsorption mechanisms including precipitation, ligand
      exchange and complexation interactions can be evidenced during the phosphate
      adsorption process by La-composites in La-BC.

PMID- 26871734
TI  - Combining ECT with pharmacological treatment of depressed inpatients in a
      naturalistic study is not associated with serum BDNF level increase.
AB  - BACKGROUND: BDNF blood levels are reduced in MDD. They can be increased with
      pharmacologic treatment and ECT, but it is not clear whether the combination of
      treatments promotes an additional increase. The present study aims to evaluate
      whether combined treatment promotes an increase in BDNF, restoring the level to
      that of non-depressed controls. METHODS: Ninety-nine adult inpatients were
      invited to participate in this naturalistic prospective cohort study between May
      2011 and April 2013. Diagnosis was made by MINI, and the symptoms were evaluated
      at admission and at discharge by HDRS-17. Those inpatients with a diagnosis of
      depression were included and divided into two groups: those who underwent
      combined ECT and medication (31 subjects) and those who used only pharmacotherapy
      (68 subjects). Serum BDNF was measured in blood samples collected at admission
      and discharge. One hundred healthy blood donors without any psychiatric diagnosis
      were included as a control group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences
      in serum BDNF levels between the combined and pharmacological groups at admission
      and at discharge, and no significant variation in BDNF occurred in any group
      during the treatment. There were no interactions between time and treatment
      groups nor significant time effects or treatment group effects for BDNF in the
      Generalized Estimating Equation Model (GEE). The control group had significantly
      higher serum BDNF levels in comparison with each of the treatment groups at
      admission and discharge (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Combination of ECT with
      pharmacological treatment did not result in increased serum BDNF levels and did
      not restore levels to that of controls.

PMID- 26871733
TI  - Substance use after bariatric surgery: A review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically. Obese individuals
      may undergo bariatric surgery to lose excessive body fat and mitigate obesity
      related comorbidities. However, bariatric patients are particularly vulnerable to
      substance use problems. We conducted a review to examine the prevalence change
      and factors associated with substance use and determine the association between
      substance use and health status after weight loss among bariatric patients.
      METHODS: We searched peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and
      January 2015 in several databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google
      Scholar) using different keywords combinations. Studies that focused on pre
      surgery substance use only or without reported effect measurements were excluded.
      RESULTS: Overall, 40 studies were included in the review. Preoperative history of
      substance use was a reliable correlate of postoperative substance use. The
      prevalence of postoperative alcohol use was higher among patients with
      preoperative history of alcohol use than those without. Postoperative prevalence
      of alcohol use ranged from 7.6% to 11.8%. No significant prevalence change in
      cigarette smoking from pre-to postoperative period was observed. Time effect was
      not observed on smoking or drug use prevalence, while an increase in alcohol
      consumption was inconsistent across studies. The proportion of new-onset
      substance users among bariatric patients after surgery ranged from 34.3% to
      89.5%. CONCLUSION: Substance use is associated with poor health among bariatric
      patients. Preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up should include
      interventions to reduce relapse among users and prevent substance use initiation.

PMID- 26871735
TI  - Protein cross-linking tools for the construction of nanomaterials.
AB  - Across bioengineering there is a need to couple proteins to other proteins, or to
      peptides. Although traditional chemical conjugations have dominated in the past,
      more and more highly specific coupling strategies are becoming available that are
      based on protein engineering. Here we review the use of protein modification
      approaches such as enzymatic and autocatalytic protein-protein coupling, as well
      as the use of hetero-dimerizing (or hetero-oligomerizing) modules, applied to the
      specific case of linking together de novo designed recombinant polypeptides into
      precisely structured nanomaterials. Such polypeptides are increasingly being
      investigated for biomedical and other applications. In this review, we describe
      the protein-engineering based cross-linking strategies that dramatically expand
      the repertoire of possible molecular structures and, hence, the range of
      materials that can be produced from them.

PMID- 26871736
TI  - Laser Writing Block Copolymer Self-Assembly on Graphene Light-Absorbing Layer.
AB  - Recent advance of high-power laser processing allows for rapid, continuous, area
      selective material fabrication, typically represented by laser crystallization of
      silicon or oxides for display applications. Two-dimensional materials such as
      graphene exhibit remarkable physical properties and are under intensive
      development for the manufacture of flexible devices. Here we demonstrate an area
      selective ultrafast nanofabrication method using low intensity infrared or
      visible laser irradiation to direct the self-assembly of block copolymer films
      into highly ordered manufacturing-relevant architectures at the scale below 12
      nm. The fundamental principles underlying this light-induced nanofabrication
      mechanism include the self-assembly of block copolymers to proceed across the
      disorder-order transition under large thermal gradients, and the use of
      chemically modified graphene films as a flexible and conformal light-absorbing
      layers for transparent, nonplanar, and mechanically flexible surfaces. 

PMID- 26871737
TI  - Controllable synthesis of few-layered and hierarchically porous boron nitride
      nanosheets.
AB  - Few-layered porous boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) have been prepared using a
      dynamic magnesium diboride (MgB2) template and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) etchant.
      Magnesium-based intermediates serve as layer separators in the synthesis and
      prevent extensive aggregation, resulting in few-layered BNNS. The resultant BNNS
      are hierarchically porous and show good CO2/N2 adsorption selectivity. 

PMID- 26871738
TI  - Correction to "An Investigation of (Diacetoxyiodo)arenes as Precursors for
      Preparing No-Carrier-Added [(18)F]Fluoroarenes from Cyclotron-Produced
      [(18)F]Fluoride Ion".

PMID- 26871739
TI  - Nanoscale Imaging of Charge Carrier and Exciton Trapping at Structural Defects in
      Organic Semiconductors.
AB  - Charge carrier and exciton trapping in organic semiconductors crucially determine
      the performance of organic (opto-)electronic devices such as organic field-effect
      transistors, light-emitting diodes, or solar cells. However, the microscopic
      origin of the relevant traps generally remains unclear, as most spectroscopic
      techniques are unable to simultaneously probe the electronic and morphological
      structure of individual traps. Here, we employ low-temperature scanning tunneling
      microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) as well as tight-binding calculations
      derived from ab initio calculations to image the localized electronic states
      arising at structural defects in thin C60 films (<10 ML). The spatially and
      spectrally resolved STM-induced luminescence at these states reveals an enhanced
      radiative decay of excitons, which is interpreted in terms of the local symmetry
      lowering and the trapping of excitons by an X-trap. The combined mapping of the
      STM-induced luminescence, electronic structure, and morphology thus provides new
      insights into the origin and characteristics of individual exciton traps in
      organic semiconductors and offers new avenues to study charge carrier and exciton
      dynamics on molecular scales. 

PMID- 26871740
TI  - Data graphs and mechanistic explanation.
AB  - It is a widespread assumption in philosophy of science that representations of
      data are not explanatory-that they are mere stepping stones towards an
      explanation, such as a representation of a mechanism. I draw on instances of
      representational and explanatory practice from mammalian chronobiology to suggest
      that this assumption is unsustainable. In many instances, biologists employ
      representations of data in explanatory ways that are not reducible to constraints
      on or evidence for representations of mechanisms. Data graphs are used to
      represent relationships between quantities across conditions, and often these
      representations are necessary for explaining particular aspects of the phenomena
      under study. The benefit of the analysis is two-fold. First, it provides a more
      accurate account of explanatory practice in broadly mechanistic investigation in
      biology. Second, it suggests that there is not an explanatorily "fundamental"
      type of representation in biology. Rather, the practice of explanation consists
      in the construction of different types of representations and their employment
      for distinct explanatory purposes. 

PMID- 26871741
TI  - Direct Evidence of a Tryptophan Analogue Radical Formed in a Concerted Electron
      Proton Transfer Reaction in Water.
AB  - Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is a fundamental reaction step of many
      chemical and biological processes. Well-defined biomimetic systems are promising
      tools for investigating the PCET mechanisms relevant to natural proteins. Of
      particular interest is the possibility to distinguish between stepwise and
      concerted transfer of the electron and proton, and how PCET is controlled by a
      proton acceptor such as water. Thus, many tyrosine and phenolic derivatives have
      been shown to undergo either stepwise or concerted PCET, where the latter process
      is defined by simultaneous tunneling of the electron and proton from the same
      transition state. For tryptophan instead, it is theoretically predicted that a
      concerted pathway can never compete with the stepwise electron-first mechanism
      (ETPT) when neat water is the primary proton acceptor. The argument is based on
      the radical pK(a) (~4.5) that is much higher than that for water (pK(a)(H3O(+)) =
      0), which thermodynamically disfavors a concerted proton transfer to H2O. This is
      in contrast to the very acidic radical cation of tyrosine (pK(a) ~ -2). However,
      in this study we show, by direct time-resolved absorption spectroscopy on two
      [Ru(bpy)3](2+)-tryptophan (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) analogue complexes, that also
      tryptophan oxidation with water as a proton acceptor can occur via a concerted
      pathway, provided that the oxidant has weak enough driving force. This rivals the
      theoretical predictions and suggests that our current understanding of PCET
      reactions in water is incomplete.

PMID- 26871742
TI  - Performance of signal-to-noise ratio estimation for scanning electron microscope
      using autocorrelation Levinson-Durbin recursion model.
AB  - A new technique to quantify signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the scanning
      electron microscope (SEM) images is proposed. This technique is known as
      autocorrelation Levinson-Durbin recursion (ACLDR) model. To test the performance
      of this technique, the SEM image is corrupted with noise. The autocorrelation
      function of the original image and the noisy image are formed. The signal
      spectrum based on the autocorrelation function of image is formed. ACLDR is then
      used as an SNR estimator to quantify the signal spectrum of noisy image. The SNR
      values of the original image and the quantified image are calculated. The ACLDR
      is then compared with the three existing techniques, which are nearest
      neighbourhood, first-order linear interpolation and nearest neighbourhood
      combined with first-order linear interpolation. It is shown that ACLDR model is
      able to achieve higher accuracy in SNR estimation.

PMID- 26871743
TI  - First report of Lecanodiaspis dendrobii Douglas, 1892 (Hemiptera:
      Lecanodiaspididae) and the associated parasitoid Cephaleta sp. (Hymenoptera:
      Pteromalidae) in Brazil.
AB  - Lecanodiaspis dendrobii Douglas, 1892 (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Lecanodiaspididae)
      and the associated parasitoid Cephaleta sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are
      reported for the first time in Brazil. Specimens of this scale insect were
      collected on branches and stems of Acacia mangium Willd., Leucaena leucocephala
      (Lam.) de Wit (Fabaceae), Morus nigra L. (Moraceae), Citrus reticulata Blanco
      (Rutaceae), Tectona grandis L. f. (Verbenaceae), Anacardium occidentale
      (Anacardiaceae), Annona squamosa L. and Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart.
      (Annonaceae), in three municipalities of the Roraima state. All plants here
      mentioned are recorded for the first time as a host for L. dendrobii.
      Morphological characters of L. dendrobii and symptoms presented by the host
      plants infested by this pest are included in this work. 

PMID- 26871744
TI  - Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of essential oil and different plant
      extracts of Psidium cattleianum Sabine.
AB  - The goals of the study were to determinethe antimicrobial and antioxidant
      activities of essential oil and plant extracts aqueous and ethanolic of Psidium
      cattleianum Sabine; the chemical composition of the essential oil of P.
      cattleianum; and the phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of
      the same plant. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the ethanolic extract
      exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity with respect to bacteria K. pneumoniae
      and S. epidermidis, whereas, regarding other microorganisms, it showed activity
      considered weak. The aqueous extract and the essential oil showed activity
      considered weak, although they inhibited the growth of microorganisms. About the
      antioxidant potential, the ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited a scavenging
      index exceeding 90%, while the essential oil didn't show significant antioxidant
      activity. Regarding the phytochemical composition, the largest class of volatile
      compounds identified in the essential oil of P. cattleianum included the
      following terpenic hydrocarbons: alpha-copaene (22%); eucalyptol (15%), delta
      cadinene (9.63%) and alpha-selinene (6.5%). The phytochemical screening of
      extracts showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoids for
      aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The extracts and essential oils inhibit the
      growth of microrganisms and plant extracts showed significant antioxidant
      activity. Also, the phytochemical characterization of the essential oil showed
      the presence of compounds interest commercial, as well as extracts showed the
      presence of important classes and compounds with biological activities. 

PMID- 26871745
TI  - Home range and density of three sympatric felids in the Southern Atlantic Forest,
      Brazil.
AB  - Home range and minimal population densities of Southern tiger cat (Leopardus
      guttulus), margay (Lepardus wiedii) and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) were
      estimated between 2005 and 2006 in Taquari Valley, near the southern edge of the
      Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Home range data were collected by conventional
      radio telemetry (VHF) locations in a highly fragmented landscape. The average
      home range size, calculated using 95% kernel density estimates, was 16.01 km2 for
      Southern tiger cat, 21.85 km2 for margay and 51.45 km2 for jaguarundi. Telemetry
      data were used to obtain minimal density estimates of 0.08 Southern tiger cats /
      km2, and 0.04 jaguarundi / km2. The density estimates arise from areas where
      ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and other larger-bodied carnivores were locally
      extinct, and they suggest a specific type of mesopredator release known as the
      ocelot effect, which is likely enabling the increase in smaller felid populations
      in this area. 

PMID- 26871746
TI  - Seasonal variability of the essential oil of Hesperozygis ringens (Benth.)
      Epling.
AB  - This study was developed to evaluate the effect of seasonality on the yield and
      chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Hesperozygis ringens (Benth.)
      Epling, a native species from the Brazilian Pampa. Leaves were collected from
      four specimens of a single population in each of the four seasons for a year and
      were extracted in triplicate by hydro-distillation for 2 hours. The yield of EO
      (% w/w) was calculated on fresh weight basis (FWB), and the 16 oil samples were
      analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas
      chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Hierarchical Cluster
      Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used as statistical
      tools to evaluate differences in chemical composition. The highest yields were
      obtained in autumn, spring and summer (2.32-4.38%), while the lowest yields were
      detected in winter, ranging from 1.15 to 1.91%. Oxygenated monoterpenoids were
      the predominant class of chemical constituents in the EO obtained in all seasons,
      showing the highest contents in autumn and summer, and pulegone was identified as
      a major compound, whose contents varied between 54.13 and 81.17%. The EO samples
      were divided into three chemical groups by HCA and PCA and were assigned to the
      same group, except for the three samples gathered in winter. The results showed a
      seasonal influence on the yield and chemical composition of the EO. 

PMID- 26871747
TI  - Effects of water-soluble fraction of petroleum on growth and prey consumption of
      juvenile Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Osteichthyes: Erythrinidae).
AB  - The influence of the water-soluble fraction of petroleum (WSF) on prey
      consumption and growth of juvenile trahira Hoplias aff. malabaricus was
      investigated. Juveniles were submitted to either WSF or Control treatment over 28
      days, and jewel tetra Hyphessobrycon eques adults were offered daily as prey for
      each predator. Total prey consumption ranged from 16 to 86 individuals. Despite
      the initially lower prey consumption under WSF exposure, there were no
      significant differences in overall feeding rates between the two treatments.
      Water-soluble fraction of petroleum had a negative effect on the growth in length
      of H. aff. malabaricus juveniles. Although unaffected, prey consumption suggested
      a relative resistance in H. aff. malabaricus to WSF exposition and the lower
      growth of individuals exposed to WSF than the Control possibly reflects metabolic
      costs. The implications of the main findings for the individual and the food
      chain are discussed, including behavioral aspects and the role played by this
      predator in shallow aquatic systems. 

PMID- 26871748
TI  - Floral morphology and anatomy of Dalechampia alata Klotzsch ex Baill.
      (Euphorbiaceae), with emphasis on secretory structures.
AB  - The morphology and anatomy of the flower of Dalechampia alata, as well as the
      chemical nature of the exudates secreted in the inflorescence were studied using
      light microscope. This is the first report showing the presence of colleters in
      the genus Dalechampia. In the staminate flower occur a group of small secretory
      glands. The histochemical results indicate that the substance secreted from the
      glands is lipidic and resinuous in nature, while in the colleters it consists of
      polysaccharides and lipid-rich substances. The ovule of D. alata are anatropous,
      subglobose and bitegmic. It presents obturator, micropyle occluded by nucellar
      beak and meristematic activity in the ovary wall. The secretion produced in the
      stigmatic and transmitting tissue consists of polysaccharides. 

PMID- 26871749
TI  - The role of Pteridium arachnoideum(Kaulf) on the seed bank of the endangered
      Brazilian Cerrado.
AB  - The native bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum) often occurs in mono-specific stands
      in the Brazilian Cerrado, and this dominance can impact on both the above-ground
      vegetation and soil seed bank. This study investigated how invasion by this
      species over a 20-year period changed the seed bank and the relationship between
      the seed bank and litter mass. We extracted soil samples from three replicated
      invaded and uninvaded sites, and followed seedling emergence for six months. We
      collected the above-ground biomass and litter of P. arachnoideum in ten 1m2 plots
      from three invaded sites. There was no difference between invaded and uninvaded
      areas in seed bank richness, diversity or overall abundance. The most abundant
      family was the Melastomataceae, followed by the Poaceae. The Melastomataceae was
      more abundant in uninvaded sites, but the most common species of this family
      (Tibouchinastenocarpa) was not affected. The grasses were more common in invaded
      sites in the rainy season and were affected by heterogeneity in the litter layer.
      The seed bank could play a role in the recovery of these invaded areas, but the
      presence of weeds and invasive grasses could constrain their use as a management
      strategy. 

PMID- 26871750
TI  - Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857 larvae in different environments of a
      Neotropical floodplain: relationships of abiotic variables and phytoplankton with
      different stages of development.
AB  - Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857 is an Asian invasive freshwater bivalve.
      Although there need to contain their spread, studies about the biology of the
      larvae are scarce. We correlated the larval stages of L. fortunei with biotic
      factors such as phytoplankton and main abiotic variables in lotic environments of
      the Upper Parana River floodplain. The four samples were taken quarterly during
      the year 2012. The Principal component analysis (PCA) showed only spatial
      differences, as did a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). High densities of
      larvae were recorded in all samples the Parana River and Baia River only in
      December, especially those in their initial stage. In the biovolume of Class of
      algae, Bacillarophyceae showed the highest value, but Chlorophycea who was
      strongly correlated with the density of D-stage larvae. The large variety of
      phytoplankton, especially microplankton Chlorophyceae, high values of PO4, NH4
      and temperature were positively correlated with high densities of D-stage larvae.
      We conclude that high temperature, and food availability, indicated by
      phytoplankton community, favored the reproduction of L. fortunei and enhance the
      ability of specie dispersion due to the increase in the emission of propagules.
      Therefore, studies that address the biology of golden mussel larvae should be
      performed in order to prevent its spread. 

PMID- 26871751
TI  - Mites occurrence on Pachira aquatica Aubl. including aspects of external
      mouthpart morphology of Brachytydeus formosa (Acari: Tydeidae).
AB  - Pachira aquatica Aubl. is commonly used as an ornamental plant in urban areas of
      Brazil. The objective of the study was to investigate the occurrence of mites on
      P. aquatica, with emphasis on Brachytydeus formosa (Cooreman), and to describe
      aspects the external features of its mouthpart. The study was conducted in 2012
      in Jaboticabal, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ten trees of P. aquatica were
      selected for the experiment. Approximately 130 leaflets were collected from each
      tree, which were located in different quadrants (north, south, east, and west)
      and strata (upper, middle, and lower). The leaflets were placed in paper bags and
      transported to the laboratory. The mites were prepared on optical microscope
      slides. A total of eleven species of mites were found, belonging to eight
      different families. The species and genera of the organisms included B. formosa,
      Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor), Agistemus sp., Tyrophagus putrescentiae
      (Schrank, 1781), Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), Brevipalpus sp., Cheletogenes
      sp., Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, Euseius sp., Neoseiulus sp., and only
      one specimen from the Bdellidae family. The predominant species was B. formosa,
      with 8,142 mites equally distributed among the four quadrants and mostly in the
      middle and upper strata of the plant. B. formosa mites from leaflets of P.
      aquatica were separated for the study of the external mouthpart morphology by
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 

PMID- 26871752
TI  - Simultaneous recording of brain extracellular glucose, spike and local field
      potential in real time using an implantable microelectrode array with nano
      materials.
AB  - Glucose is the main substrate for neurons in the central nervous system. In order
      to efficiently characterize the brain glucose mechanism, it is desirable to
      determine the extracellular glucose dynamics as well as the corresponding
      neuroelectrical activity in vivo. In the present study, we fabricated an
      implantable microelectrode array (MEA) probe composed of platinum electrochemical
      and electrophysiology microelectrodes by standard micro electromechanical system
      (MEMS) processes. The MEA probe was modified with nano-materials and implanted in
      a urethane-anesthetized rat for simultaneous recording of striatal extracellular
      glucose, local field potential (LFP) and spike on the same spatiotemporal scale
      when the rat was in normoglycemia, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. During these
      dual-mode recordings, we observed that increase of extracellular glucose enhanced
      the LFP power and spike firing rate, while decrease of glucose had an opposite
      effect. This dual mode MEA probe is capable of examining specific spatiotemporal
      relationships between electrical and chemical signaling in the brain, which will
      contribute significantly to improve our understanding of the neuron physiology. 

PMID- 26871753
TI  - Allostery in molecular self-assemblies: metal ions triggered self-assembly and
      emissions of terthiophene.
AB  - Binding of metal ions to the head of a coordinating amphiphile TTC4L
      substantially changes the emission color of the terthiophene group attached to
      the chain end via a conformation triggered self-assembly. This is in analogy with
      the allostery of proteins in which binding a ligand to one site may affect its
      performance at another site through conformational change. 

PMID- 26871754
TI  - Isomorphous Substitution of Rare-Earth Elements in Lacunary Apatite Pb8Na2(PO4)6.
AB  - The substitution of rare-earth elements (REEs) for Pb in the lacunary apatite
      Pb8Na2(PO4)6 with void structural channels was studied by means of powder X-ray
      diffraction (including the Rietveld refinement), scanning electron microscopy,
      energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and IR spectroscopy and also measurements
      of the electrical conductivity. The substitution limits (xmax in Pb8
      xLnxNa2(PO4)6Ox/2) at 800  degrees C were found to decrease with the atomic
      number of the REE from 1.40 for La to 0.12 for Yb with a rapid drop from light to
      heavy lanthanides (between Gd and Tb). The REE atoms substitute for Pb
      predominantly at Pb2 sites of the apatite structure according to the scheme
      2Pb(2+) + ? -> 2Ln(3+) + O(2-), where ? is a vacancy in the structural channel.
      The substitution in lacunary apatite produces quite different changes in the
      structural parameters compared with broadly studied alkaline-earth
      hydroxyapatites. In spite of the much lower ionic radii of REE than that of
      Pb(2+), the mean distances ?Pb1-O? somewhat increase, whereas the distances ?Pb2
      Pb2? and ?Pb2-O4? do not change considerably with the degree of substitution.
      This implies control of the substitution by not only spatial and charge
      accommodation of REE ions but also the availability of a stereochemically active
      6s(2) electron pair on Pb(2+). The high-temperature electrical conductivity shows
      dependence on the degree of substitution with a minimum at x = 0.2 indicative of
      a possible change of the type of conductivity. 

PMID- 26871757
TI  - Cyanophenyl vs. pyridine substituent: impact on the adlayer structure and
      formation on HOPG and Au(111).
AB  - A new cyano substituted bis(terpyridine) derivative CN-BTP was synthesized and
      its adsorption on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and Au(111) was
      investigated. CN-BTP is closely related to the previously investigated 2,4'-BTP,
      where the cyanophenyl groups are replaced by pyridine moieties. The scanning
      tunneling microscopy (STM) investigation of CN-BTP at the liquid|HOPG interface
      shows a highly ordered herringbone structure that is stabilized by double weak
      intermolecular C-HN hydrogen bonds, partially through the -CN substituents, which
      is different from the most stable square structure of 2,4'-BTP. The adsorption
      processes were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) on Au(111) in a neutral
      phosphate buffer. A fast and full adlayer formation could be observed with CN
      BTP, whereas an extremely slow process with 2,4'-BTP under the same conditions
      was found. Our data show that the CN substituents on BTP not only change the
      structure of the monolayer at the liquid|HOPG interface, but also accelerate the
      phase transition process in the electrolyte dramatically. This could be explained
      by the adlayer-substrate interactions, which is supported by DFT calculations.
      Our findings might be extended more generally to further pyridine comprising self
      assembling molecules to fine-tune the adlayer structure and phase
      transition/adsorption kinetics by replacing pyridine by cyanophenyl moieties. 

PMID- 26871755
TI  - Contributions of Coulombic and Hofmeister Effects to the Osmotic Activation of
      Escherichia coli Transporter ProP.
AB  - Osmosensing transporters mediate osmolyte accumulation to forestall cellular
      dehydration as the extracellular osmolality increases. ProP is a bacterial
      osmolyte-H(+) symporter, a major facilitator superfamily member, and a paradigm
      for osmosensing. ProP activity is a sigmoid function of the osmolality. It is
      determined by the osmolality, not the magnitude or direction of the osmotic
      shift, in cells and salt-loaded proteoliposomes. The activation threshold varies
      directly with the proportion of anionic phospholipid in cells and
      proteoliposomes. The osmosensory mechanism was probed by varying the salt
      composition and concentration outside and inside proteoliposomes. Data analysis
      was based on the hypothesis that the fraction of maximal transporter activity at
      a particular luminal salt concentration reflects the proportion of ProP molecules
      in an active conformation. ProP attained the same activity at the same osmolality
      when diverse, membrane-impermeant salts were added to the external medium.
      Contributions of Coulombic and/or Hofmeister salt effects to ProP activation were
      examined by varying the luminal salt cation (K(+) and Na(+)) and anion (chloride,
      phosphate, and sulfate) composition and then systematically increasing the
      luminal salt concentration by increasing the external osmolality. ProP activity
      increased with the sixth power of the univalent cation concentration, independent
      of the type of anion. This indicates that salt activation of ProP is a Coulombic,
      cation effect resulting from salt cation accumulation and not site-specific
      cation binding. Possible origins of this Coulombic effect include folding or
      assembly of anionic cytoplasmic ProP domains, an increase in local membrane
      surface charge density, and/or the juxtaposition of anionic protein and membrane
      surfaces during activation. 

PMID- 26871756
TI  - The ergogenic supplement beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates
      insulin resistance through suppressing GLUT-2 in rat liver.
AB  - This study investigates the effect of the ergogenic supplement beta-hydroxy-beta
      methylbutyrate (HMB) on insulin resistance induced by high-fructose diet (HFD) in
      rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed 60% HFD for 12 weeks and HMB (320 mg.kg(
      1).day(-1), orally) for 4 weeks. HFD significantly increased fasting insulin,
      fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C), liver glycogen content, and
      homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, while it
      decreased glucose and insulin tolerance. Furthermore, HFD significantly increased
      serum triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very
      low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels, while it significantly
      decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Moreover, HFD
      significantly increased mRNA expression of glucose transporter type-2 (GLUT-2),
      the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and sterol regulatory element-binding
      protein-1c (SREBP-1c) but decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
      alpha (PPAR-alpha) in liver. Aortic relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was
      impaired and histopathology showed severe hepatic steatosis. HMB significantly
      increased insulin tolerance and decreased fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HBA1C,
      hepatic glycogen content, serum TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C. Additionally, HMB enhanced
      ACh-induced relaxation, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, and decreased mRNA
      expression of GLUT-2. In conclusion, HMB may attenuate insulin resistance and
      hepatic steatosis through inhibiting GLUT-2 in liver. 

PMID- 26871758
TI  - Racial and Gender Differences in Dating Violence Victimization and Disordered
      Eating Among U.S. High Schools.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2013, 1 in every 10 students who dated or went out with someone in
      the previous 12 months reported some form of dating violence (DV). Only a few
      studies have evaluated the relationship between DV and disordered eating (DE).
      This study aims to evaluate gender differences in the association between DV
      victimization and DE behaviors using a nationally representative sample of high
      school students in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data came from the
      2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Students who reported dating or going
      out with anyone in the previous 12 months and responded to DV and DE questions
      were included (N = 9,677). DV was categorized as physical DV, sexual DV, physical
      and sexual DV, and none. The outcome, or DE, was determined by questions about
      unhealthy weight control behaviors. Multiple logistic regression models provided
      odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Race/ethnicity was an effect
      modifier; thus, stratified analyses assessed for gender and racial/ethnic
      differences. RESULTS: The prevalence of past-year physical DV, sexual DV, both
      physical and sexual DV, and any DV was 5.4%, 5.4%, 4.7%, and 15.5%, respectively.
      OR estimates were more robust in males than in females. Victims of physical and
      sexual DV were significantly more likely to report DE, namely among Hispanic and
      non-Hispanic White males and all female race/ethnic groups, with the exception of
      non-Hispanic Black females. CONCLUSIONS: Findings strengthen support for routine
      DV screening. Adolescent violence prevention programs should consider risky
      behaviors, such as DE. Interventions should account for gender and racial/ethnic
      differences.

PMID- 26871761
TI  - Peripheral iridotomy for pigmentary glaucoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by retinal
      ganglion cell death resulting in damage to the optic nerve head and the retinal
      nerve fiber layer. Pigment dispersion syndrome is characterized by a structural
      disturbance in the iris pigment epithelium (the densely pigmented posterior
      surface of the iris) that leads to dispersion of the pigment and its deposition
      on various structures within the eye. Pigmentary glaucoma is a specific form of
      open-angle glaucoma found in patients with pigment dispersion syndrome.Topcial
      medical therapy is usually the first-line treatment; however, peripheral laser
      iridotomy has been proposed as an alternate treatment. Peripheral laser iridotomy
      involves creating an opening in the iris tissue to allow drainage of fluid from
      the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber and vice versa. Equalizing the
      pressure within the eye may help to alleviate the friction that leads to pigment
      dispersion and prevent visual field deterioration. However, the effectiveness of
      peripheral laser iridotomy in reducing the development or progression of
      pigmentary glaucoma is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to
      assess the effects of peripheral laser iridotomy compared with other
      interventions, including medication, trabeculoplasty, and trabeculectomy, or no
      treatment, for pigment dispersion syndrome and pigmentary glaucoma. SEARCH
      METHODS: We searched a number of electronic databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE
      and EMBASE and clinical trials websites such as (mRCT) and ClinicalTrials.gov. We
      last searched the electronic databases on 2 November 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: We
      included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that had compared peripheral laser
      iridotomy versus no treatment or other treatments for pigment dispersion syndrome
      and pigmentary glaucoma. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard
      methodological procedures for systematic reviews. Two review authors
      independently screened articles for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed
      included trials for risk of bias. We did not perform a meta-analysis because of
      variability in reporting and follow-up intervals for primary and secondary
      outcomes of interest. MAIN RESULTS: We included five RCTs (260 eyes of 195
      participants) comparing yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser iridotomy versus no
      laser iridotomy. Three trials included participants with pigmentary glaucoma at
      baseline, and two trials enrolled participants with pigment dispersion syndrome.
      Only two trials reported the country of enrollment: one - Italy, the other -
      United Kingdom. Overall, we assessed trials as having high or unclear risk of
      bias owing to incomplete or missing data and selective outcome reporting.Data on
      visual fields were available for one of three trials that included participants
      with pigmentary glaucoma at baseline. At an average follow-up of 28 months, the
      risk of progression of visual field damage was uncertain when comparing laser
      iridotomy with no iridotomy (risk ratio (RR) 1.00, 95% confidence interval (95%
      CI) 0.16 to 6.25; 32 eyes; very low-quality evidence). The two trials that
      enrolled participants with pigment dispersion syndrome at baseline reported the
      proportion of participants with onset of glaucomatous visual field changes during
      the study period. At three-year follow-up, one trial reported that the risk ratio
      for conversion to glaucoma was 2.72 (95% CI 0.76 to 9.68; 42 eyes; very low
      quality evidence). At 10-year follow-up, the other trial reported that no eye
      showed visual field progression.One trial reported the mean change in intraocular
      pressure (IOP) in eyes with pigmentary glaucoma: At an average of nine months of
      follow-up, the mean difference in IOP between groups was 2.69 mmHg less in the
      laser iridotomy group than in the control group (95% CI -6.05 to 0.67; 14 eyes;
      very low-quality evidence). This trial also reported the mean change in anterior
      chamber depth at an average of nine months of follow-up and reported no
      meaningful differences between groups (mean difference 0.04 mm, 95% CI -0.07 to
      0.15; 14 eyes; very low-quality evidence). No other trial reported mean change in
      anterior chamber depth. Two trials reported greater flattening of iris
      configuration in the laser iridotomy group than in the control group among eyes
      with pigmentary glaucoma; however, investigators provided insufficient data for
      analysis. No trial reported data related to mean visual acuity, aqueous melanin
      granules, costs, or quality of life outcomes.Two trials assessed the need for
      additional treatment for control of IOP. One trial that enrolled participants
      with pigmentary glaucoma reported that more eyes in the laser iridotomy group
      required additional treatment between six and 23 months of follow-up than eyes in
      the control group (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.75; 46 eyes); however, the other
      trial enrolled participants with pigment dispersion syndrome and indicated that
      the difference between groups at three-year follow-up was uncertain (RR 0.91, 95%
      CI 0.38 to 2.17; 105 eyes). We graded the certainty of evidence for this outcome
      as very low.Two trials reported that no serious adverse events were observed in
      either group among eyes with pigment dispersion syndrome. Mild adverse events
      included postoperative inflammation; two participants required cataract surgery
      (at 18 and 34 months after baseline), and two participants required a repeat
      iridotomy. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found insufficient evidence of high quality
      on the effectiveness of peripheral iridotomy for pigmentary glaucoma or pigment
      dispersion syndrome. Although adverse events associated with peripheral iridotomy
      may be minimal, the long-term effects on visual function and other patient
      important outcomes have not been established. Future research on this topic
      should focus on outcomes that are important to patients and the optimal timing of
      treatment in the disease process (eg, pigment dispersion syndrome with normal
      IOP, pigment dispersion syndrome with established ocular hypertension, pigmentary
      glaucoma).

PMID- 26871762
TI  - The Impact of Personalized Preventive Care on Health Care Quality, Utilization,
      and Expenditures.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on health care utilization
      and expenditure trends over time of a personalized preventive medicine program
      delivering individualized care focused on lifestyle behavior modification,
      disease prevention, and compliance with quality-related metrics. MD-Value in
      Prevention (MDVIP) is a network of affiliated primary care physicians who utilize
      a model of health care delivery based on an augmented physician-patient
      relationship and focused on personalized preventive health care. Multivariate
      modeling was used to control for demographics, socioeconomics, supply of health
      care services, and health status among 10,186 MDVIP members and randomly
      selected, matched nonmembers. Health care utilization and expenditure trends were
      tracked from the pre period prior to member enrollment for a period of up to 3
      years post enrollment. MDVIP members experienced reduced utilization of emergency
      room and urgent care services compared to nonmembers. Program savings ranges
      indicated that, over time, increasing percentages of members achieved cost
      savings compared to nonmembers. Older age groups were more likely to realize
      savings in the early years with preventive activities indicating condition
      management, and younger age groups were most likely to achieve savings by the
      third year after enrollment. These results indicate that a primary care model
      based on an enhanced physician-patient relationship and focused on quality and
      personalized preventive care within a time frame of 3 years can achieve positive
      health care expenditure outcomes and improved health management.

PMID- 26871763
TI  - Neurological PRESentations in Sickle Cell Patients Are Not Always Stroke: A
      Review of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - Acute neurological changes in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients often raise the
      suspicion for stroke. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can
      mimic stroke in its clinical presentation. We aimed to (i) review the PRES
      literature in SCD patients including clinical presentation, risk factors,
      pathophysiology, and management and (ii) elucidate the distinction between PRES
      and stroke in SCD. The exact pathophysiology of PRES in SCD remains elusive but
      is likely multifactorial and related to sickling, ischemia, and chronic anemia
      predisposing to vasogenic edema. PRES and stroke in SCD are distinguishable
      conditions. Our review may help elucidate a clinical approach to this
      distinction.

PMID- 26871764
TI  - Single-Step Transepithelial PRK vs Alcohol-Assisted PRK in Myopia and Compound
      Myopic Astigmatism Correction.
AB  - Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK), where both the epithelium and
      stroma are removed in a single-step, is a relatively new procedure of laser
      refractive error correction. This study compares the 3-month results of myopia
      and compound myopic astigmatism correction by tPRK or conventional alcohol
      assisted PRK (aaPRK).This prospective, nonrandomized, case-control study
      recruited 148 consecutive patients; 93 underwent tPRK (173 eyes) and 55 aaPRK
      (103 eyes). Refractive results, predictability, safety, and efficacy were
      evaluated during the 3-month follow-up. The main outcome measures were
      uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity
      (CDVA), and mean refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE).Mean preoperative MRSE
      was -4.30 +/- 1.72 D and -4.33 +/- 1.96 D, respectively (P = 0.87). The 3-month
      follow-up rate was 82.1% in the tPRK group (n = 145) and 86.4% in aaPRK group (n
      = 90), P = 0.81. Postoperative UDVA was 20/20 or better in 97% and 94% of eyes,
      respectively (P = 0.45). In the tPRK and aaPRK groups, respectively, 13% and 21%
      of eyes lost 1 line of CDVA, and 30% and 31% gained 1 or 2 lines (P = 0.48). Mean
      postoperative MRSE was -0.14 +/- 0.26 D in the tPRK group and -0.12 +/- 0.20 D in
      the aaPRK group (P = 0.9). The correlation between attempted versus achieved MRSE
      was equally high in both groups.Single-step transepithelial PRK and conventional
      PRK provide very similar results 3 months postoperatively. These procedures are
      predictable, effective, and safe for correction of myopia and compound myopic
      astigmatism.

PMID- 26871765
TI  - Childhood Body Weight in Relation to Cause-Specific Mortality: 67 Year Follow-up
      of Participants in the 1947 Scottish Mental Survey.
AB  - The association between childhood body weight and adult health has been little
      examined, and findings are inconsistent.In a representative sample of the
      Scottish nation (the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947), we examined the association
      between body mass index measured at 11 years of age and future cause-specific
      mortality by age 77 years. In this cohort study, a maximum of 67 years of follow
      up of 3839 study members gave rise to 1568 deaths (758 from cardiovascular
      disease, 610 from any malignancy). After adjustment for covariates, there was
      some evidence of a relation between elevated childhood body mass index and rates
      of mortality ascribed to all-causes (hazard ratio per 1 SD increase in body mass
      index; 95% confidence interval: 1.09; 1.03, 1.14), cardiovascular disease (1.09;
      1.01, 1.17), all cancers combined (1.12; 1.03, 1.21), smoking-related cancers
      (1.13; 1.03, 1.25), and breast cancer in women (1.27; 1.04, 1.56).In conclusion,
      we provide further observational evidence for the need for weight control
      measures in youth.

PMID- 26871766
TI  - Neurological Sequelae in Adults After E coli O104: H4 Infection-Induced Hemolytic
      Uremic Syndrome.
AB  - In an outbreak of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections and
      associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome (STEC O104:H4) in Germany in the year 2011
      neurological complications in adult patients occurred unexpectedly frequent,
      ranging between 48% and 100% in different patient groups. Few is known about the
      long-term effects of such complications and so we performed follow-up exams on 44
      of the patients treated for STEC-HUS at Hannover Medical Scool in this
      observational study. Standardized follow-up exams including neurological and
      neuropsychological assessments, laboratory testing, magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI), and EEG were carried out. Subgroups were examined 2 (n = 34), 7 (n = 22),
      and 19 (n = 23) months after disease onset. Additionally, at the 19-month follow
      up, quality of life, sleep quality, and possible fatigue were assessed.Nineteen
      months after disease onset 31 patients were reassessed, 22 of whom still suffered
      from symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and attention deficits. In the
      neuropsychological assessments only 39% of the patients performed normal, whereas
      61% scored borderline pathological or lower. Upon reviewal, the follow-up data
      most prominently showed a secondary decline of cognitive function in about one
      quarter of the patients. Outcome was not related to treatment or laboratory data
      in the acute phase of the disease nor length of hospitalization. Prognosis of
      STEC-HUS associated brain dysfunction in adults with regard to severity of
      symptoms is mostly good; some patients however still have not made a full
      recovery. Patients' caretakers have to be aware of possible secondary decline of
      brain function as was observed in this study.

PMID- 26871767
TI  - The Impact of Oral Hygiene Maintenance on the Association Between Periodontitis
      and Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross Sectional Study.
AB  - Both periodontitis and osteoporosis have similar sign of bone resorption in
      nature. However, the relationship of the severity between these 2 bone-loss
      diseases is still uncertain.The aim of this study was to investigate the
      association between the severity of osteoporosis and periodontitis regarding the
      impact of oral hygiene maintenance. In total, 35,127 osteoporosis patients and
      50,498 comparisons were derived from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database
      of Taiwan between 2000 and 2010. The population was subdivided into groups
      according to the different level oral hygiene maintenance and the severity of
      periodontitis and osteoporosis. The association between osteoporosis and
      periodontitis was estimated by multinomial logistic regression and rank
      correlation by Kendall rank correlation test, presented by odds ratio (OR), and
      5% confidence intervals (CIs).After controlling the age, sex, and comorbidities,
      variables in the good oral hygiene maintenance population, we found that
      periodontitis raised 1.29-fold risk of osteoporosis (95% CI = 1.12-1.49); the
      risk of osteoporosis was increased with the elevated severity of periodontitis
      from 1.27 (95% CI = 1.08-1.48) to 1.38 (95% CI = 1.01-1.89). There is a positive
      correlation between the severity of periodontitis and osteoporosis occurrence in
      this population (OR = 1.27-1.46; Kendall rank correlation test P = 0.0003). In
      the poor oral hygiene maintenance population, periodontitis patients had 6.02
      fold risk of osteoporosis than those who without periodontitis (95% CI = 4.65
      7.81); the risk of osteoporosis was increased with periodontitis severity from
      5.96 (95% CI = 4.48-7.92) to 6.37 (95% CI = 3.36-12.1).This result indicated the
      periodontitis and osteoporosis are conjunctive. The sudden periodontal breakdown
      of those who with good oral hygiene maintenance might be an indicator for the
      risk of osteoporosis; if those who were diagnosed as osteoporosis must pay more
      attention to their periodontal health. Good oral hygiene maintenance might be a
      crucial factor for preventing the deterioration of osteoporosis progressing; the
      oral hygiene maintenance plays a significant influence on the association between
      periodontitis and osteoporosis.

PMID- 26871768
TI  - SUVmax and Tumor Size Predict Surgical Outcome of Synchronous Multiple Primary
      Lung Cancers.
AB  - To assess surgical outcomes in synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (SMPLC)
      and correlations with clinicopathological features and prognostic/predictive
      factors.We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with early-stage nonsmall
      cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between January 2006 and June 2012. In total, 564
      patients with resectable NSCLC underwent a preoperative positron emission
      tomography-computed tomography scan followed by anatomic resection. We reviewed
      the clinical features of 35 SMPLC patients. Surgical outcomes, prognosis, and
      tumor imaging features were evaluated (median follow-up = 44 months).In total, 35
      eligible SMPLC patients (6.21%) were identified (11 men [31%], 24 women [69%],
      mean age = 65 years]). The tumors were bilateral in 17 patients (49%) and in
      different lobes of the ipsilateral lung in 18 patients (51%). Most patients
      (26/35, 74%) had 2 primary tumors, and 26% (9/35) had more than 2 tumors (6 with
      3 tumors; 3 with 4 tumors). The median size of the most advanced tumor was 3.0 cm
      (range 0.9-54). The median standard uptake value (SUV) of the largest tumor was
      3.1 (range 1.0-13.3). The patients were treated as follows: 30 lobectomies, 2
      sublobar resections, 2 sequential bilateral lobectomies, and 1 bi-lobectomy.
      Twenty-four patients (69%) received adjuvant therapy. The overall cumulative 5
      year survival was 91.5% (median overall survival = 45.5 months). Patients with a
      reference tumor <= 3 cm and SUV <= 3.1 had an expected 5-year survival of 100%.
      Patients with a reference tumor > 3 cm and SUV > 3.1 had an expected 5-year
      survival rate of 53.3%.SMPLC patients can benefit from aggressive surgery. The
      size and SUVmax of the reference tumor may predict postoperative outcomes.

PMID- 26871769
TI  - Circulating "LncPPARdelta" From Monocytes as a Novel Biomarker for Coronary
      Artery Diseases.
AB  - To investigate long noncoding RNA NONHSAT112178 (LncPPARdelta) as a biomarker for
      coronary artery disease (CAD) in peripheral blood monocyte cells, RT-qPCR was
      performed to validate the microarray results, receiver operating characteristic
      curve was applied to study the potential of LncPPARdelta as a biomarker.
      Diagnostic models from LncPPARdelta alone or combination of risk factors were
      constructed by Fisher criteria. The expression of genes neighboring the
      LncPPARdelta gene was examined with RT-qPCR in THP-1 cell line treated with
      LncPPARdelta siRNA. Using a diagnostic model by Fisher criteria, the
      consideration of risk factors increased the optimal sensitivity from 70.00% to
      82.00% and decreased the specificity from 94.00% to 78.00%. The consideration of
      risk factors also increased area under the receiver operating characteristic
      curve from 0.727 to 0.785 (P = 0.001), from 0.712 to 0.768 (P = 0.01), and from
      0.769 to 0.835 (P = 0.07), in the original, training, and test sets,
      respectively. Finally, we found that the expression of peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor delta (PPARdelta), Adipose Differentiation-Related Protein
      (ADRP), and Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) were affected by LncPPARdelta
      silencing.Our present study indicated that LncPPARdelta, especially combined with
      risk factors, can be a good biomarker for CAD. LncPPARdelta regulates the
      expression of neighboring protein-coding genes, PPARdelta and its direct target
      genes ADRP and ANGPTL4.

PMID- 26871770
TI  - Leptin Is Associated With Persistence of Hyperglycemia in Acute Pancreatitis: A
      Prospective Clinical Study.
AB  - Adipokines have many homeostatic roles, including modulation of glucose
      metabolism, but their role in the pathophysiology of hyperglycemia associated
      with acute and critical illnesses in general, and acute pancreatitis (AP) in
      particular, is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship
      between a panel of adipokines and hyperglycemia in the early course of AP, as
      well as the role of adipokines as predictors of AP severity.Adiponectin, leptin,
      omentin, resistin, and visfatin were measured on a daily basis in the first 72
      hours after hospital admission. A first set of analyses was undertaken with
      admission glycemia stratified by severity, and a second set of analyses was
      undertaken based on persistence of early hyperglycemia. All of the analyses were
      adjusted for confounders.A total of 32 patients with AP were included in this
      study. None of the studied adipokines was significantly associated with glucose
      level on admission. Leptin was significantly (P = 0.003) increased in patients
      with persistent hyperglycemia. Adiponectin was significantly associated with the
      Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score in patients
      with persistent hyperglycemia (P = 0.015), visfatin with APACHE II score in
      patients with persistent hyperglycemia (P = 0.014), and omentin with APACHE II
      score in all of the patients regardless of the presence or absence of
      hyperglycemia (P = 0.021).Leptin is significantly associated with persistent
      hyperglycemia in the early course of AP. Omentin has a potential to become an
      accurate predictor of AP severity.

PMID- 26871771
TI  - Role of Pharmacogenetics in Improving the Safety of Psychiatric Care by
      Predicting the Potential Risks of Mania in CYP2D6 Poor Metabolizers Diagnosed
      With Bipolar Disorder.
AB  - One of the main concerns in psychiatric care is safety related to drug
      management. Pharmacogenetics provides an important tool to assess causes that may
      have contributed the adverse events during psychiatric therapy. This study
      illustrates the potential of pharmacogenetics to identify those patients for
      which pharmacogenetic-guided therapy could be appropriate. It aimed to
      investigate CYP2D6 genotype in our psychiatric population to assess the value of
      introducing pharmacogenetics as a primary improvement for predicting side
      effects.A broad series of 224 psychiatric patients comprising psychotic
      disorders, depressive disturbances, bipolar disorders, and anxiety disorders was
      included. The patients were genotyped with the AmpliChip CYP450 Test to analyzing
      33 allelic variants of the CYP2D6 gene.All bipolar patients with poor metabolizer
      status showed maniac switching when CYP2D6 substrates such as selective serotonin
      reuptake inhibitors were prescribed. No specific patterns were identified for
      adverse events for other disorders.We propose to utilize pharmacogenetic testing
      as an intervention to aid in the identification of patients who are at risk of
      developing affective switching in bipolar disorder treated with selective
      serotonin reuptake inhibitors, CYP2D6 substrates, and inhibitors.

PMID- 26871772
TI  - Perioperative Computed Tomography Assessments of the Pancreas Predict
      Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has
      become a clinically important issue. Although pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
      has been reported to be a main cause of NAFLD after PD, a clinically practical
      examination to assess the pancreatic exocrine function has not been established.
      The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for NAFLD after PD with a
      focus on perioperative computed tomography (CT) assessments of the pancreas.A
      retrospective review of 245 patients followed for more than 6 months after PD was
      conducted. We evaluated several pancreatic CT parameters, including the
      pancreatic parenchymal thickness, pancreatic duct-to-parenchymal ratio,
      pancreatic attenuation, and remnant pancreatic volume (RPV) on pre- and/or
      postoperative CT around 6 months after surgery. The variables, including the
      pancreatic CT parameters, were compared between the groups with and without NAFLD
      after PD.The incidence of NAFLD after PD was 19.2%. A multivariate analysis
      identified 5 independent risk factors for NAFLD after PD: a female gender (odds
      ratio [OR] 5.66, P < 0.001), RPV < 12 mL (OR 4.73, P = 0.001), preoperative
      pancreatic attenuation of <30 Hounsfield units (OR 4.50, P = 0.002), dissection
      of the right-sided nerve plexus around the superior mesenteric artery (OR 3.02, P
      = 0.017) and a preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level of >=70 U/mL
      (OR 2.58, P = 0.029).Our results showed that 2 pancreatic CT parameters, the
      degree of preoperative pancreatic attenuation and RPV, significantly influence
      the development of NAFLD after PD. Perioperative CT assessments of the pancreas
      may be helpful for predicting NAFLD after PD.

PMID- 26871773
TI  - Plasma and Synovial Fluid TrxR Levels are Correlated With Disease Risk and
      Severity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - This study was designed and performed to establish the relationship between
      plasma and synovial fluid (SF) levels of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and disease
      activity in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).This study consisted
      of a total of 224 patients diagnosed with RA, 224 age and sex-matched healthy
      controls, and 156 patient controls. The disease activity of RA patients was
      calculated as diseases activity score that include 28-joint counts (DAS 28),
      which was divided into low-diseases activity (LDA) and high-diseases activity
      (HDA) groups.Increased plasma TrxR was detected in patients with RA than healthy
      controls (P < 0.0001). With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.874, plasma TrxR
      showed a evidently greater discriminatory ability than C-reactive protein (CRP;
      AUC, 0.815), antistreptolysin-O (ASO; AUC, 0.631), rheumatoid factor (RF, AUC,
      0.793), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, AUC, 0.789) in diagnosing RA. RA
      patients with HDA had significantly elevated TrxR levels in plasma and SF than
      did those with LDA (P < 0.0001). With an AUC of 0.874, plasma TrxR levels as an
      indicator for screening of HDA showed a significantly greater discriminatory
      ability than CRP (AUC, 0.690), ASO (AUC, 0.597), RF (AUC, 0.657), and ESR (AUC,
      0.603). Similarly, SF TrxR levels as an indicator for screening of HDA also
      showed a significantly greater discriminatory ability as compared with above
      biomarkers.TrxR levels in plasma and SF were positively correlated with the
      severity of RA. TrxR levels may therefore serve as a new biomarker in addition of
      the traditional biomarkers for assessing the risk and severity of RA. Further
      analysis of TrxR release machinery may give us a new understanding of
      pathogenesis of RA.

PMID- 26871775
TI  - The Efficacy and Safety of Antiinterleukin 13, a Monoclonal Antibody, in Adult
      Patients With Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Effects of antiinterleukin 13 therapies in patients with asthma remain
      inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to further clarify the efficacy and safety of
      antiinterleukin 13 therapies in adult asthmatics by a systematic review and meta
      analysis.Randomized controlled trials which reported pulmonary functions,
      fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ),
      rescue use of short-acting-beta-agonist (SABA), and rate of asthmatic
      exacerbation and adverse events were identified in Pubmed, Embase, Medline,
      Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), American College of
      Physician (ACP) Journal Club, and ISI Web of Science, reference lists and by
      manual searches. Randomized-effect models were used in meta-analysis to calculate
      pooled mean difference and relative risks (RR).Eight studies with 957 patients
      were enrolled. Systematic review showed that treatment with antiinterleukin 13
      antibodies could significantly improve peak expiratory flow (PEF), decrease FeNO
      and asthmatic exacerbation, but could not decrease blood and sputum eosinophil
      levels, improve FEV1, inhibit methacholine PC20, or reduce ACQ scores. Two
      studies reported opposite results in reducing rescue use of SABA. Meta-analysis
      showed that antiinterleukin 13 monoclonal therapies could significantly decrease
      asthmatic exacerbation (RR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.96, z = 2.10, P = 0.04), but did
      not significantly improve the FEV1 (95% CI: -1.03 to 2.22, z = 0.72, P = 0.47) or
      increasing adverse events (RR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.91-1.10, z = 0.00, P =
      1.00).Antiinterleukin 13 monoclonal therapies could be safely used to improve
      PEF, decrease FeNO and asthmatic exacerbation, and probably reduce rescue use of
      SABA, but could not decrease blood and sputum eosinophil levels, improve FEV1,
      inhibit methacholine PC20, or reduce ACQ scores.

PMID- 26871774
TI  - Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Different ACE Inhibitors in Patients
      With Chronic Heart Failure: A PRISMA-Compliant Network Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Heart failure is a public health problem and a great economic burden for patients
      and healthcare systems. Suppression of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by
      angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors remains the mainstay of treatment
      for heart failure. However, the abundance of ACE inhibitors makes it difficult
      for doctors to choose.We performed this network meta-analysis of ACEIs in
      patients with heart failure in order to address this area of uncertainty.We
      searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Medline.Any randomized controlled trial
      evaluating the efficacy and safety of captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril,
      or trandolapril or combined interventions of 2 or more of these drugs.Two
      reviewers extracted the data and made the quality assessment. At first, we used
      Stata software (version 12.0, StataCorp, College Station, TX) to make traditional
      pairwise meta-analyses for studies that directly compared different
      interventions. Then, network meta-analysis was performed using WinBUGS (version
      1.4.3, MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge, UK).A total of 29 studies were
      included. Lisinopril was associated with a higher rate of all-cause mortality
      compared with placebo (odds ratio 65.9, 95% credible interval 1.91 to 239.6) or
      ramipril (14.65, 1.23 to 49.5). Enalapril significantly reduced systolic blood
      pressure when compared with placebo (standardized mean differences -0.6, 95%
      credible interval -1.03 to -0.18). Both captopril (odds ratio 76.2, 95% credible
      interval 1.56 to 149.3) and enalapril (274.4, 2.4 to 512.9) were associated with
      a higher incidence of cough compared to placebo.Some important outcomes such as
      rehospitalization and cardiac death were not included. The sample size and the
      number of studies were limited, especially for ramipril.Our results suggest that
      enalapril might be the best option when considering factors such as increased
      ejection fraction, stroke volume, and decreased mean arterial pressure. However,
      enalapril was associated with the highest incidence of cough, gastrointestinal
      discomfort, and greater deterioration in renal function. Trandolapril ranked
      first in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Ramipril was associated
      with the lowest incidence of all-cause mortality. Lisinopril was the least
      effective in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure and was associated
      with the highest incidence of all-cause mortality.

PMID- 26871777
TI  - Changes of Brain Connectivity in the Primary Motor Cortex After Subcortical
      Stroke: A Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
AB  - The authors investigated the changes in connectivity networks of the bilateral
      primary motor cortex (M1) of subcortical stroke patients using a multimodal
      neuroimaging approach with antiplatelet therapy. Nineteen patients were scanned
      at 2 time points: before and 1 month after the treatment. The authors assessed
      the resting-state functional connectivity (FC) and probabilistic fiber tracking
      of left and right M1 of every patient, and then compared these results to the 15
      healthy controls. The authors also evaluated the correlations between the
      neuroimaging results and clinical scores.Compared with the controls, the patients
      showed a significant decrease of FC in the contralateral motor cortex before
      treatment, and the disrupted FC was restored after treatment. The fiber tracking
      results in the controls indicated that the body of the corpus callosum should be
      the main pathway connecting the M1 and contralateral hemispheres. All patients
      exhibited reduced probability of structural connectivity within this pathway
      before treatment and which was restored after treatment. Significant correlations
      were also found in these patients between the connectivity results and clinical
      scores, which might imply that the connectivity of M1 can be used to evaluate the
      motor skills in stroke patients.These findings can help elucidate the neural
      mechanisms responsible for the brain connectivity recovery after stroke.

PMID- 26871776
TI  - Pretreatment Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Improves Prediction of Early Distant
      Metastases in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
AB  - The identification of early distant metastases (DM) in patients with newly
      diagnosed, previously untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) plays an important
      role in selecting the most appropriate treatment approach. Here, we sought to
      investigate the predictive value of distinct MRI parameters for the detection of
      early DM.Between November 2010 and June 2011, a total of 51 newly diagnosed NPC
      patients were included. All of the study participants were followed until
      December 2014 at a single institution after completion of therapy. DM was defined
      as early when they were detected on pretreatment FDG-PET scans or within 6 months
      after initial diagnosis. The following parameters were tested for their ability
      to predict early DM: pretreatment FDG-PET standardized uptake value (SUV), MRI
      derived AJCC tumor staging, tumor volume, and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)
      values. The DCE-derived ve was defined as the volume fraction of the
      extravascular, extracellular space.Compared with patients without early DM,
      patients with early DM had higher SUV, tumor volume, DCE mean (median) ve, ve
      skewness, ve kurtosis, and the largest mean ve selected among sequential slices
      (P < 0.05). No differences were identified when early DM were defined only
      according to the results of pretreatment FDG-PET. Among different quantitative
      DCE parameters, the mean ve had the highest area under curve (AUC, 0.765).
      However, the AUCs of SUV, tumor volume, mean ve, ve skewness, ve kurtosis, or the
      largest mean ve selected among the sequential slices did not differ significantly
      from one another (P = 0.82).Taken together, our results suggest that DCE-derived
      ve may be a useful parameter in combination with SUV and tumor volume for
      predicting early DM. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may be complementary to FDG
      PET for selecting the most appropriate treatment approach in NPC patients.

PMID- 26871778
TI  - The Efficacy of Ginseng-Related Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Updated
      Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - Few randomized clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of ginseng in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The current meta-analysis evaluated the
      ginseng-induced improvement in glucose control and insulin sensitivity in
      patients with type-2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.Randomized clinical
      trials comparing ginseng supplementation versus control, in patients with T2DM or
      impaired glucose tolerance, were hand-searched from Medline, Cochrane, and Google
      Scholar databases by 2 independent reviewers using the terms "type 2
      diabetes/diabetes/diabetic, impaired glucose tolerance, and
      ginseng/ginsenoside(s)." The primary outcome analyzed was the change in HbA1c,
      whereas the secondary outcomes included fasting glucose, postprandial glucose,
      fasting insulin, postprandial insulin, insulin resistance Homeostatic Model
      Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, total cholesterol, low
      density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL).Of the 141 studies
      identified, 8 studies were chosen for the current meta-analysis. The average
      number of patients, age, and sex distribution among the groups were comparable.
      Results reveal no significant difference in HbA1c levels between the ginseng
      supplementation and the control groups (pooled standardized difference in means =
      -0.148, 95% CI: -0.637 to 0.228, P = 0.355). Ginseng supplementation improved
      fasting glucose, postprandial insulin, and HOMA-IR levels, though no difference
      in postprandial glucose or fasting insulin was observed among the groups.
      Similarly, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL levels showed significant
      difference between the treatment groups, while no difference in HDL was seen. In
      addition, ginseng-related therapy was ineffective in decreasing the fasting
      glucose levels in patients treated with oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin.The
      present results establish the benefit of ginseng supplementation in improving
      glucose control and insulin sensitivity in patients with T2DM or impaired glucose
      intolerance.

PMID- 26871779
TI  - Putaminal Diffusivity Correlates With Disease Progression in Parkinson's Disease:
      Prospective 6-Year Study.
AB  - Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an increasingly used noninvasive imaging tool.
      However its long-term clinical utility is unclear. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a
      common neurodegenerative disease.We prospectively examined a cohort of 46
      Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of
      the brain at baseline and 6 years later on a 1.5 Tesla scanner using a
      standardized protocol. DTI parameters of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional
      anisotrophy (FA) were extracted using regions-of-interest (ROIs) analysis from
      various brain regions.Compared to the baseline scan, MD increased in all brain
      regions (P < 0.0001). FA increased in the substantia nigra and posterior putamen,
      but decreased in the frontal white matter (P < 0.0001). Linear regression
      analysis demonstrated that the MD in the anterior putamen increased 11.6 units
      (95% CI = [4.71, 18.43]) (P = 0.0003) for every unit increase of United PD Rating
      Scale (UPDRS).Our 6-year prospective longitudinal study demonstrated increased
      diffusivity in all brain regions and that in the anterior putamen correlated with
      disease progression. Serial diffusion data may be useful as an additional
      objective in vivo biomarker for motor progression in PD.

PMID- 26871780
TI  - Low Response of Renin-Angiotensin System to Sodium Intake Intervention in Chinese
      Hypertensive Patients.
AB  - The interactions of sodium balance and response of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone
      system are important for maintaining the hemodynamic stability in physiological
      conditions. However, the influence of short-term sodium intake intervention in
      the response of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on hypertensive patients is still
      unclear. Thus, we conducted a clinical trial to investigate the effects of short
      term sodium intake intervention on the response of RAS in hypertensive
      patients.One hundred twenty-five primary Chinese hypertensive patients were
      divided into high, moderate, and low sodium groups by 24-hour urinary sodium
      excretion (UNa). All the patients received a 10-day dietary sodium intake
      intervention with standardized sodium (173.91mmol/day) and potassium
      (61.53mmol/day). Blood pressure, urinary sodium, urinary potassium, plasma
      sodium, potassium, creatinine, the levels of plasma renin activity, plasma
      angiotensin II concentrations (AT-II), and plasma aldosterone concentrations were
      detected before and after the intervention.Before the intervention, no
      differences were found in blood pressure and RAS among 3 groups. After
      standardized dietary sodium intake intervention, both UNa excretion and systolic
      pressure decreased in high-sodium group, while they increased in moderate and low
      sodium groups. Intriguingly, there were no changes in the levels of plasma renin
      activity, AT-II, and plasma aldosterone concentrations among 3 groups during the
      intervention.The present study demonstrated that the influenced sodium excretion
      and blood pressure by short-term sodium intake intervention were independent of
      RAS quick response in Chinese hypertensive patients.

PMID- 26871781
TI  - Change of the Corticospinal Tract in the Unaffected Hemisphere by Change of the
      Dominant Hand Following Stroke: A Cohort Study.
AB  - We investigated the change of the corticospinal tract (CST) in the unaffected
      hemisphere by the change of the dominant hand in stroke patients, using diffusion
      tensor tractography (DTT).Forty-eight stroke patients with right-hand dominance
      were recruited. The patients were assigned to 3 groups: group A (12 patients)
      right-hand dominance was maintained after the right-hand weakness, group B (17
      patients)-right-hand dominance changed to the left-hand dominance after the right
      hand weakness, and group C (19 patients)-right-hand dominance was maintained
      after the left-hand weakness had developed. The function of the unaffected upper
      extremity was evaluated using the grip strength (GS), Manual Function Test (MFT),
      Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), and modified Barthel Index (MBI). DTT was performed
      twice (1st DTT, 2nd DTT), and the fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion
      coefficient (ADC), and voxel number (VN) of the CST in the unaffected hemisphere
      were measured.In group B, the VN on 2nd DTT was significantly increased compared
      with the 1st DTT, and all other clinical data (GS, MFT, PPT, and MBI) showed a
      significant increase between 1st and 2nd DTT (P < 0.05). The change of the VN
      showed moderate correlation with the change of the GS (r = 0.499, P < 0.05), PPT
      (r = 0.531, P < 0.05), and MBI (r = 0.551, P < 0.05).We found that the fiber
      number of the CST in the unaffected hemisphere was increased by the change of the
      dominant hand in stroke patients. We believe that our results have important
      implications in terms of neurorehabilitation.

PMID- 26871783
TI  - Injury of the Ascending Reticular Activating System in Patients With Fatigue and
      Hypersomnia Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports.
AB  - We report on patients with post-traumatic fatigue and hypersomnia who showed
      injury of the lower portion of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
      between the pontine reticular formation (RF) and the intralaminar thalamic
      nucleus (ILN) following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), using diffusion tensor
      tractography (DTT).Two patients with mild TBI resulting from a car accident were
      enrolled in this study. Patient 1 was a 51-year-old woman showed abnormalities as
      6.9 (cut off: 3.7 points) and 18 (cut off: 10) on the Fatigue Severity Scale and
      the Epworth Sleepiness Scale at 11 months after onset. Patient 2 was a 64-year
      old woman who revealed abnormalities on the Fatigue Severity Scale and the
      Epworth Sleepiness Scale with 6.8 and 19 at 3 months after onset.In both
      patients, the upper ARAS in which the neural connectivity of the ILN to the
      cerebral cortex did not show significant abnormalities. However, we observed the
      narrowing of the left dorsal lower ARAS between the pontine RF and the ILN in
      both patients and the tearing (patient 1) and narrowing (patient 2) of the left
      ventral lower ARAS between the pontine RF and the hypothalamus.Injuries of the
      dorsal and ventral lower ARAS were demonstrated in patients with fatigue and
      hypersomnia following mild TBI. We believe that these injuries of the ARAS might
      be a pathogenetic mechanism of fatigue and hypersomnia in patients with TBI.

PMID- 26871782
TI  - Tumor Vascular Permeability Pattern Is Associated With Complete Response in
      Immunocompetent Patients With Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System
      Lymphoma: Retrospective Cohort Study.
AB  - A dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) could provide the information
      about tumor drug delivery efficacy. We investigated the potential utility of the
      permeability pattern of DCE-MRI for predicting tumor response to high dose
      methotrexate treatment and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with
      primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). Clinical and conventional imaging parameters were
      assessed as potential predictors of tumor response in 48 immunocompetent PCNSL
      patients in a preliminary study. Fifty additional immunocompetent patients (27
      men and 23 women; mean age, 60.6 years) with PCNSL underwent DCE-MRI before
      starting first-line treatment with high dose-methotrexate. The DCE-MRI pattern
      was categorized as diffuse or nondiffuse. After 4 courses of high dose
      methotrexate, patients underwent follow-up brain MR imaging to identify their
      complete response (CR). Predictors of CR and PFS were analyzed using clinical
      parameters, conventional MRI, and DCE-MRI. CR was noted in 20 (74.1%) of 27
      patients with diffuse DCE-MRI pattern and in 4 (17.4%) of 23 patients with
      nondiffuse DCE-MRI pattern. The diffuse DCE-MRI pattern showed a significantly
      higher association with CR than the nondiffuse pattern (P < 0.001). Multivariate
      Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the DCE-MRI pattern (hazard ratio =
      0.70; P = 0.045), age (hazard ratio = 1.47; P = 0.041), and adjuvant autologous
      stem-cell transplantation (hazard ratio = 6.97; P = 0.003) tended to be
      associated with a PFS. The pretreatment diffuse DCE-MRI pattern can be used as a
      potential imaging biomarker for predicting CR and a longer PFS in patients with
      newly diagnosed PCNSLs.

PMID- 26871784
TI  - A Case Report of Late Onset Mania Caused by Hyponatremia in a Patient With Empty
      Sella Syndrome.
AB  - Recurrent manic-like episodes can be induced by hyponatremia possibly due to
      empty sella syndrome. In the present case, the patient was proven to have
      syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion with manic
      symptoms that resolved after the normalization of the plasma sodium level.To our
      knowledge, this is the first case of hyponatremia-induced manic symptoms in a
      patient with empty sella syndrome. More attention should be paid to late-onset
      mania, because it may be the sign of a more serious medical problem.

PMID- 26871785
TI  - High Infiltration of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Influences Poor Prognosis in
      Human Gastric Cancer Patients, Associates With the Phenomenon of EMT.
AB  - Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are associated with poor prognosis in
      numerous human cancers and play important roles in tumor progression. Epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to invasion and metastasis in cancer.
      However, the associations between TAMs and EMT are not clear in gastric cancer
      (GC). The present study was designed to investigate the effects of TAMs on EMT in
      human GC.TAMs marker CD68 and EMT-related proteins were detected by
      immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human GC tissues and their clinical significance
      were evaluated.A high level of infiltration of TAMs was associated with
      aggressive characteristics of tumor and an independent poor prognostic factor in
      human GC tissues. Infiltration of TAMs was also associated with EMT-related
      proteins in human GC tissues.Our findings suggest that the high level of
      infiltration TAMs was associated with aggressive features of GC and is an
      independent poor prognostic factor in GC patients. TAMs are associated with EMT
      induction in human GC tissues. The level of TAMs infiltration may be used as a
      prognostic factor and even a therapeutic target in GC.

PMID- 26871786
TI  - Upregulation of miRNA-130a Represents Good Prognosis in Patients With HBV-Related
      Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Prospective Study.
AB  - Prompt and accurate prediction of the outcome is the key to make correct medical
      decision and to reduce the mortality in patients with HBV-related acute-on
      chronic liver failure (ACLF). Increasing evidence have certified that small,
      noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) play critically regulatory roles in the pathogenesis
      of liver diseases. However, it remains unclear whether and how miRNAs involve in
      the prognosis of ACLF.Microarray analysis was performed to characterize the miRNA
      expression profiles in liver tissues from 1 HBV-related ACLF patient and 1
      matched healthy control. Nine miRNAs with at least 5 folds difference between
      these 2 persons were picked out. The present prospective study involving 39 HBV
      related ACLF patients including 20 recovered and 19 nonrecovered patients, which
      include death (n = 9) and liver transplantation (n = 10). The serum expression of
      these miRNAs detected by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT
      RCR) was then compared between the 2 groups. Moreover, the correlation between
      the serum miRNAs and the prognostic indexes for ACLF was analyzed.The result of
      microarray analysis showed 9 miRNAs had different expression in liver tissues of
      ACLF patient compared with healthy control (upregulated: miRNA-130a, -21, -143,
      and -200a; downregulated: miRNA-486-5p, -192, -148a, -122, and -194). Unlike the
      expression profiles in liver tissue, 8 serum miRNAs except miRNA-194 were
      markedly upregulated in ACLF patients (P < 0.05). Remarkably, the serum
      expression of miRNA-130a and miRNA-486-5p was higher in recovered than
      nonrecovered ACLF patients (P < 0.05). Especially, the serum miRNA-130a was
      negatively correlated with international normalized ratio, prothrombin time,
      Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and positively correlated with
      prothrombin time activity. The AUC for recovered versus nonrecovered patients of
      miRNA-130a was 0.741 (P = 0.02).miRNA-130a might be a useful prognosis biomarker
      in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

PMID- 26871788
TI  - Effect of Weekend Admissions on the Treatment Process and Outcomes of Internal
      Medicine Patients: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - Many studies address the effect of weekend admission on patient outcomes. This
      population-based study aimed to evaluate the relationship between weekend
      admission and the treatment process and outcomes of general internal medicine
      patients in Taiwan.A total of 82,340 patients (16,657 weekend and 65,683 weekday
      admissions) aged >=20 years and admitted to the internal medicine departments of
      17 medical centers between 2007 and 2009 were identified from the Taiwan National
      Health Insurance Research Database. A generalized estimating equation (GEE)
      analysis was used to compare patients admitted on weekends and those admitted on
      weekdays.Patients who were admitted on weekends were more likely to undergo
      intubation (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.39; P <
      0.001) and/or mechanical ventilation (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15-1.35; P < 0.001),
      cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.05-2.01; P = 0.026), and be
      transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03-1.30; P =
      0.015) compared with those admitted on weekdays. Weekend-admitted patients also
      had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09-1.30; P < 0.001)
      and hospital treatment cost (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; P = 0.008) than weekday
      admitted patients.General internal medicine patients who were admitted on
      weekends experienced more intensive care procedures and higher ICU admission, in
      hospital mortality, and treatment cost. Intensive care utilization may serve as
      early indicator of poorer outcomes and a potential entry point to offer
      preventive intervention before proceeding to intensive treatment.

PMID- 26871789
TI  - Transverse Stress Fracture of the Proximal Patella: A Case Report.
AB  - Among stress fractures associated with sports activities, patellar stress
      fracture is rare. Regarding patella stress fractures, so far only distal
      transverse or lateral longitudinal fractures have been reported, but there are no
      reports of transverse fractures occurring in the proximal patella. We describe an
      extremely rare case of transverse stress fracture of proximal patella in a 9-year
      old athlete.A 9-year old boy, who participated in sports (sprints and Kendo)
      presented with left knee pain without any external injury. In plain radiographs,
      a fracture line was observed in the proximal 1/3 of the left patella, and a
      patella stress fracture was diagnosed. For treatment, because 7 months of
      conservative therapy showed no improvement, internal fixation was carried out
      using Acutrak screws, and bone union was thus achieved. Three months after the
      operation, he was able to return to his previous level of athletic sports
      activity.Regarding the mechanism of onset, it is believed that the causes are
      longitudinal traction force and patellofemoral contact pressure. On the other
      hand, the contact region of the patella with the femur changes with the flexion
      angle of the knee. In the current case, the fracture occurred at a site where the
      patella was in contact with the femur at a flexion angle of >90 degrees , so it
      is believed that it occurred as a clinical condition from being subjected to
      repeated longitudinal traction force and patellofemoral contact pressure at a
      flexion angle of >90 degrees , during the sports activities of sprints and Kendo.
      The nonunion of the transverse stress fracture of his proximal patella was
      successfully treated with internal fixation using Acutrak screws.

PMID- 26871787
TI  - Low Triiodothyronine Syndrome in Patients With Radiation Enteritis: Risk Factors
      and Clinical Outcomes an Observational Study.
AB  - The implications of low triiodothyronine syndrome (LT3S) in patients with
      radiation enteritis (RE) have not been properly investigated. As such, we
      conducted this cohort study to investigate the association between LT3S and RE,
      to explore the etiology of LT3S in RE, to evaluate the clinical features and
      clinical outcomes of LT3S patients, and to inspect the correlation of clinical
      variables and LT3S in RE.This prospective study included 39 RE patients. Medical
      records and various laboratory parameters (including thyroidal, tumorous,
      nutritional, and radiotherapy variables) were collected in all participants.Our
      results showed that the incidence of LT3S was 84.6% in patients with RE. Total
      protein (71.7 +/- 5.7 vs 63.2 +/- 9.6 g/L, P = 0.04) and albumin (ALB, 46.0 +/-
      4.6 vs 38.7 +/- 5.3 g/L, P = 0.01) were significantly lower in LT3S group
      compared with those in euthyroid group. Standard thyroid-stimulating hormone
      index (-0.89 +/- 2.11 vs -2.39 +/- 1.33, P = 0.03) and sum activity of
      deiodinases (19.74 +/- 4.19 vs 12.55 +/- 4.32 nmol/L, P = 0.01) were
      significantly lower in LT3S group. Patients with LT3S suffered longer duration of
      hospitalization (48.25 +/- 23.29 days in LT3S vs 26.75 +/- 10.56 days in
      euthyroid, P = 0.036). Low serum ALB (beta = 0.694, 95% CI = 0.007-0.190, P =
      0.037) was the only significant predictor of LT3S.LT3S was common in RE patients.
      A hypodeiodination condition and a potential pituitary-thyrotroph dysfunction
      might play a role in the pathophysiology of LT3S in RE. Worse nutritional status
      and clinical outcomes were confirmed in RE patients with LT3S. Furthermore, total
      protein and ALB were observed as protective and differentiating parameters of
      LT3S in RE. In summary, this was the 1st investigation to evaluate the clinical
      correlation between RE and LT3S, investigate the prevalence of LT3S in RE, and
      explore the pathogenesis of LT3S, despite the limitation of a relatively small
      sample size. These results will hopefully encourage future research to place
      greater emphasis on early identification of LT3S in RE patients.

PMID- 26871791
TI  - A Retrospective Cohort Study of Lesion Distribution of HIV-1 Infection Patients
      With Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis on MRI: Correlation With Immunity and
      Immune Reconstitution.
AB  - The objective of this paper is to correlate the MRI distribution of cryptococcal
      meningoencephalitis in HIV-1 infection patients with CD4 T cell count and immune
      reconstitution effect.A large retrospective cohort study of HIV patients from
      multi-HIV centers in China was studied to demonstrate the MRI distribution of
      cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and its correlation with the different immune
      status.The consecutive clinical and neuroimaging data of 55 HIV-1-infected
      patients with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis collected at multi-HIV centers in
      China during the years of 2011 to 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. The enrolled
      patients were divided into 2 groups based on the distribution of lesions. One
      group of patients had their lesions at the central brain (group 1, n = 34) and
      the other group of patients had their lesions at the superficial brain (group 2,
      n = 21). We explored their MRI characterization of brain. In addition, we also
      compared their CD4 T cell counts and immune reconstitution effects between the 2
      groups based on the imaging findings.No statistical difference was found in terms
      of age and gender between the 2 groups. The medians of CD4 T cell counts were
      11.67 cells/mm (3.00-52.00 cells/mm) in group 1 and 42.00 cells/mm (10.00-252.00
      cells/mm) in group 2. Statistical difference of CD4 T cell count was found
      between the 2 groups (P = 0.023). Thirteen patients in group 1 (13/34) and 12
      patients in group 2 (12/21) received highly active antiretroviral treatment
      (HAART). Patients of group 2 received HAART therapy more frequently than patients
      of group 1 (P = 0.021).Central and superficial brain lesions detected by MR
      imaging in HIV-1-infected patients with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis are in
      correlation with the host immunity and HAART therapy.

PMID- 26871790
TI  - Folic Acid and Vitamins D and B12 Correlate With Homocysteine in Chinese Patients
      With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, or Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Elevated serum homocysteine has been shown to be a risk factor for hypertension,
      cardiovascular disease (CVD), and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).We
      characterized the relationships between the serum levels of homocysteine, folic
      acid, and vitamins D2, D3, and B12 in patients with T2DM, CVD, and hypertension
      in Shanghai, China. The levels of these serum biochemical markers were determined
      for 9311 Chinese patients (mean age: 79.50 +/- 13.26 years) with T2DM (N = 839),
      hypertension (N = 490), or CVD (N = 7925). The demographic and serum biochemical
      data were compared using an analysis of variance. We performed stratified
      analyses using Pearson linear regression to investigate correlations between the
      different variables in the T2DM, CVD, and hypertension groups and in patients
      aged < 50, 50 to 64, 65 to 80, and >=80 years. A subgroup analysis was also
      performed to identify correlations between the serum biochemical markers.
      Stratified chi-squared analyses were performed based on the levels of folic acid
      and total vitamin D.In all 3 patient groups, elevated levels of vitamin D2 and
      homocysteine were observed, whereas the levels of folic acid and vitamins D3 and
      B12 were lower than the reference range for each serum marker (P < 0.05 for all).
      The linear regression and stratified analyses showed that the highest levels of
      folic acid and vitamins D2 and D3 correlated with the lowest level of
      homocysteine in T2DM, CVD, and hypertension patients (P < 0.05 for all), whereas
      the highest level of vitamin B12 correlated with a lowest level of homocysteine
      in CVD patients only (P < 0.05).Our results indicate that the contributions of
      both vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 should be considered in investigations of the
      effects of vitamin D supplements in T2DM, CVD, and hypertension patients. Our
      findings warrant future studies of the benefits of vitamin D and folic acid
      supplements for reducing the risk of T2DM, CVD, and hypertension in elderly
      Chinese people, as well as the benefits of vitamin B12 supplements for reducing
      the risk of CVD alone.

PMID- 26871792
TI  - Increased Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A
      Nationwide Cohort Study.
AB  - Total hip arthroplasty is a common and important treatment for osteoarthritis
      patients. Long-term cardiovascular effects elicited by osteoarthritis or the
      implant itself remain unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine
      if there is an increased risk of late cardiovascular mortality and morbidity
      after total hip arthroplasty surgery.A nationwide matched cohort study with data
      on 91,527 osteoarthritis patients operated on, obtained from the Swedish Hip
      Arthroplasty Register. A control cohort (n = 270,688) from the general Swedish
      population was matched 1:3 to each case by sex, age, and residence. Mean follow
      up time was 10 years (range, 7-21).The exposure was presence of a hip replacement
      for more than 5 years. The primary outcome was cardiovascular mortality after 5
      years. Secondary outcomes were total mortality and re-admissions due to
      cardiovascular events.During the first 5 to 9 years, the arthroplasty cohort had
      a lower cardiovascular mortality risk compared with the control cohort. However,
      the risk in the arthroplasty cohort increased over time and was higher than in
      controls after 8.8 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.0-10.5). Between 9 and
      13 years postoperatively, the hazard ratio was 1.11 (95% CI 1.05-1.17).
      Arthroplasty patients were also more frequently admitted to hospital for
      cardiovascular reasons compared with controls, with a rate ratio of 1.08 (95% CI
      1.06-1.11).Patients with surgically treated osteoarthritis of the hip have an
      increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality many years after the
      operation when compared with controls.

PMID- 26871793
TI  - Plexiform Neurofibroma: A Case Report.
AB  - Plexiform neurofibromas represent an uncommon variant (30%) of neurofibromatosis
      type 1 (NF-1) in which neurofibromas arise from multiple nerves as bulging and
      deforming masses involving also connective tissue and skin folds.We report a rare
      case of a 30-year-old man who presented with a progressive facial deformity that
      began in early childhood. Skin examination also revealed multiple neurofibromas
      and cafe-au-lait macules on the trunk and arms. Histopathological examination on
      biopsy samples showed overgrowth of peripheral nerve components and connective
      tissue. Two diagnostic criteria for NF-1 (plexiform variant) were met, the
      patient did not accept to undergo genetic testing. Craniofacial MRI confirmed the
      presence of a deforming mass arising from the left side of his face giving
      homolateral eye dislocation.Surgery is the mainstay of the treatment. However,
      the patient expressed the preference to avoid surgery and chose to undergo
      clinical follow-up every 6 months.Diagnosis of plexiform neurofibromas is usually
      made clinically, especially if classical hallmarks of NF-1 are present. Therapy
      is surgical, aiming at resecting deforming masses and cancerous tissue when
      malignant transformation occurs.

PMID- 26871794
TI  - The F4/AS01B HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate Is Safe and Immunogenic, But Does Not Show
      Viral Efficacy in Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive, HIV-1-Infected Adults: A
      Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - The impact of the investigational human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)
      F4/AS01B vaccine on HIV-1 viral load (VL) was evaluated in antiretroviral therapy
      (ART)-naive HIV-1 infected adults.This phase IIb, observer-blind study
      (NCT01218113), included ART-naive HIV-1 infected adults aged 18 to 55 years.
      Participants were randomized to receive 2 (F4/AS01B_2 group, N = 64) or 3
      (F4/AS01B_3 group, N = 62) doses of F4/AS01B or placebo (control group, N = 64)
      at weeks 0, 4, and 28. Efficacy (HIV-1 VL, CD4 T-cell count, ART initiation, and
      HIV-related clinical events), safety, and immunogenicity (antibody and T-cell
      responses) were evaluated during 48 weeks.At week 48, based on a mixed model, no
      statistically significant difference in HIV-1 VL change from baseline was
      demonstrated between F4/AS01B_2 and control group (0.073 log10 copies/mL [97.5%
      confidence interval (CI): -0.088; 0.235]), or F4/AS01B_3 and control group (
      0.096 log10 copies/mL [97.5% CI: -0.257; 0.065]). No differences between groups
      were observed in HIV-1 VL change, CD4 T-cell count, ART initiation, or HIV
      related clinical events at intermediate timepoints. Among F4/AS01B recipients,
      the most frequent solicited symptoms were pain at injection site (252/300 doses),
      fatigue (137/300 doses), myalgia (105/300 doses), and headache (90/300 doses).
      Twelve serious adverse events were reported in 6 participants; 1 was considered
      vaccine-related (F4/AS01B_2 group: angioedema). F4/AS01B induced polyfunctional
      F4-specific CD4 T-cells, but had no significant impact on F4-specific CD8 T-cell
      and anti-F4 antibody levels.F4/AS01B had a clinically acceptable safety profile,
      induced F4-specific CD4 T-cell responses, but did not reduce HIV-1 VL, impact CD4
      T-cells count, delay ART initiation, or prevent HIV-1 related clinical events.

PMID- 26871795
TI  - The Effects of Hashimoto Thyroiditis on Lymph Node Metastases in Unifocal and
      Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Chinese Cohort Study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for central and
      lateral neck lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and
      multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (MPTC), particularly when associated with
      Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT).A retrospective analysis of 763 consecutive patients
      who underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral central neck dissection in the
      First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University between
      October 2011 and October 2014 was conducted. All patients had formal histological
      diagnoses of HT. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to
      identify risk factors of neck lymph node metastases.Our study identified 277 PTC
      patients with HT and showed comparatively low rates of central lymph node
      metastases (CLNM) compared with the PTC patients without HT (37.2% versus 54.7%,
      P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in lateral lymph
      node metastases (LLNM) (P = 0.656). Neck lymph node metastases were
      histologically proven in 127 (45.8%) patients with PTC with HT, including 103
      CLNM and 24 LLNM. There were no significant differences in LLNM between the MPTC
      associated HT and classic MPTC cases; however, a significantly reduced risk of
      CLNM was observed in the MPTC-associated HT compared with the MPTC cases (35.7%
      versus 72.4%, respectively, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, HT was
      identified as an independent alleviating factor for CLNM in all PTC patients
      (odds ratio, 0.369; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.261 to 0.521; P < 0.001) and
      in MPTC patients (odds ratio, 0.227; 95% CI, 0.126-0.406; P < 0.001). A cut-off
      of thyroid peroxidase antibody >140 IU/mL was established as the most sensitive
      and specific level for the prediction of MPTC based on receiver operating
      characteristic curve analyses. Thyroid peroxidase antibody, age, tumor size, and
      multifocality exhibited the ability to predict CLNM in PTC with HT patients with
      an area under the curve of 81.1% based on a multivariate model.Hashimoto
      thyroiditis was associated with increased prevalences of multifocality and
      capsular invasion. In contrast, HT was associated with a reduced risk of CLNM in
      PTC and MPTC patients, which indicated a potential protective effect. We found
      that the prognostic prediction model was applicable for predicting multifocality
      and CLNM in PTC patients with HT.

PMID- 26871796
TI  - Optical Coherence Tomography Assessment Before and After Vitamin Supplementation
      in a Patient With Vitamin A Deficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin important for the function of
      various body systems. In the eye, vitamin A is essential for the synthesis of
      visual pigments in photoreceptors. Vitamin A deficiency is a rare condition in
      the developed countries and might follow bariatric or intestinal bypass
      surgery.We present the case of a 67-year-old male that complained of visual loss
      and nyctalopia. Patient had bariatric surgery 15 years before for weight loss.
      Low serum levels of vitamin A confirmed the diagnosis and patient started vitamin
      A supplementation. Visual fields, macular thickness, and ganglion cell layer
      thickness were recorded and monitored 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after the
      beginning of therapy. Visual fields were significantly altered and central
      macular thickness and ganglion cell layer thickness were reduced, but the first 2
      showed a significant recovery with vitamin supplementation therapy. By the 1st
      month of treatment patient referred a complete remission of visual symptoms.
      Further, we observed hyperreflective material accumulating beneath a partially
      disrupted ellipsoid band in the high definition optical coherence tomography that
      also improved progressively with vitamin repletion.Newer and more sophisticated
      imaging systems have increased our knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for
      retinal diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the effect
      of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin supplementation on macular thickness. This
      case also highlights the importance of considering bariatric bypass surgery as a
      cause of vitamin A deficiency in developed countries.

PMID- 26871797
TI  - Effects of Heart Bypass Surgery on Plasma Abeta40 and Abeta42 Levels in Infants
      and Young Children.
AB  - Accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) plaques is a pathological hallmark of
      Alzheimer disease. Abeta levels in animals and adults were reported to be
      associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Our goal was to
      determine the plasma levels of Abeta in infants and young children after cardiac
      surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Forty-two infants and young children
      aged from 1 to 35 months undergoing cardiac surgery with general anesthetics were
      prospectively enrolled from January to June 2014 at a tertiary medical center.
      Perioperative plasma samples were obtained, and Abeta42 and Abeta40 levels were
      measured using ELISA. Other clinical characteristics of the patients were also
      recorded.Plasma levels of Abeta42 and Abeta40 decreased dramatically 2 hours
      after surgery and remained significantly lower 6 hours after operation. Baseline
      Abeta42 level correlated significantly with surgical intensive care unit (SICU)
      length of stay (LOS) and was an independent predictor for SICU LOS on
      multivariate analysis.Cardiac surgery with CPB decreases plasma Abeta levels.
      Plasma levels of Abeta42 and Abeta40 might be used as novel biomarkers for
      predicting outcomes in the patient population.

PMID- 26871799
TI  - Preoperative Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Long-term Survival in
      Patients Undergoing Total Laryngectomy With Advanced Laryngeal Squamous Cell
      Carcinoma: A Single-center Retrospective Study.
AB  - There is increasing evidence that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a
      stage-independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with cancer. The purpose
      of this study was to investigate the association between cancer-specific survival
      (CSS), overall survival (OS), and the preoperative NLR in patients with advanced
      laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) undergoing total laryngectomy (TL).All
      patients with a new diagnosis of advanced laryngeal cancer (stages III and IV)
      presenting at the Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University
      Cancer Center between January 1990 and July 2010 (n = 420) were included. To
      evaluate the independent prognostic relevance of the NLR, univariate and
      multivariate Cox regression models were used. CSS and OS were estimated using the
      Kaplan-Meier method.Four-hundred twenty patients were enrolled in this study.
      Patients with an NLR >=2.59 showed a significantly lower CSS (P = .014) and OS (P
      = .032) than patients with an NLR <2.59. The Cox proportional multivariate hazard
      model showed that a higher preoperative NLR was independently correlated with a
      poor CSS and OS, with hazard ratios of 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06
      1.91, P = .018) and 1.31 (95% CI 1.00-1.71, P = .046), respectively.The NLR may
      be an independent prognostic marker for CSS and OS in patients with advanced LSCC
      undergoing TL.

PMID- 26871800
TI  - Management of Postoperative Pain in Medical Institutions in Shandong Province in
      China.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate current situation of postoperative pain
      management in medical institutions in Shandong Province.A questionnaire was
      developed on the basis of guidelines of acute pain and pain quality assessment
      scale. The questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding the nature and
      scale of the medical institution, structure of pain management organization,
      implementation of pain assessment, and analgesic techniques and processes used in
      clinical practice. A multistage stratified and cluster sampling method was
      employed to investigate the current situation of postoperative pain management in
      168 medical institutions in Shandong Province.For acute pain service (APS), 32%
      of the hospitals established postoperative pain management organizations similar
      to APS. For pain evaluation, 57.1% of the hospitals evaluated pain as the fifth
      vital sign, and 47.0% of the hospitals evaluated pain at rest and during
      activity. Furthermore, 43.0% of the surveyed hospitals employed patient
      controlled analgesia mode, of which hospitals employing brachial plexus block,
      lumbar plexus block, and femoral nerve block analgesia accounted for 5.0%, 1.0%,
      and 4.0%, respectively. The survey revealed that 51.0% of the hospitals educated
      patients about pain and pain management, of which patients were postoperatively
      educated by ward nurses in 5.0% and patients were educated by APS during ward
      rounds in 2.0%.There is a lack of standardized postoperative pain management, the
      involvement of nurses in pain management is scarce, and the pain assessment and
      education and application of advanced analgesic management techniques were found
      to be inadequate in medical institutions in Shandong Province.

PMID- 26871798
TI  - Hepatitis C Virus Subtype and Evolution Characteristic Among Drug Users, Men Who
      Have Sex With Men, and the General Population in Beijing, China.
AB  - The aim of this study was to characterize the current molecular epidemiology of
      hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and evaluate the evolutionary patterns of HCV
      subtypes in Beijing, China, among different subpopulations.The whole blood
      samples and behavioral data were collected from a total of 10,354 subjects,
      including drug users (DUs), men who have sex with men (MSM), and the general
      population, in Beijing from 2010 to 2011. Samples were tested for HCV infection
      using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR. All
      viremic subjects were then sequenced by nested PCR over core/E1 and NS5B regions.
      Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis was performed by BEAST software.In
      total, 217 subjects (2.1%) were tested positive for HCV by antibody or vRNA-based
      testing. HCV prevalence rates for DUs, MSM, and the general population were
      26.2%, 0.54%, and 0.37%, respectively. The 156 HCV RNA-positive samples were
      sequenced. Nine HCV genotypes, including 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 6a, 6n, 6u and 6v,
      were detected. The most prevalent subtypes were 3b (36.09%), 1b (32.54%), and 3a
      (16.57%). Bayesian evolutionary analysis estimated that the time of introduction
      of subtype 1b into Beijing was 2004 (95% CI: 1997.7, 2007.7), with subtypes 3a
      and 3b being introduced later in 2006. Evolutionary analyses further suggested
      that subtype 1b from Beijing and Shanghai were closely related, whereas subtype
      3a sequences were more similar with sequences from Yunnan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong,
      and Jiangsu. Subtype 3b sequences were closely related to those from Yunnan,
      Guangdong, and Hong Kong.Thus, the current HCV epidemic in Beijing is complex,
      heavily affecting DUs, and involving multiple genotypes that likely spread from
      different regions in China with its large migrant population.

PMID- 26871801
TI  - Association of Megsin Gene Variants With IgA Nephropathy in Northwest Chinese
      Population: A STROBE-Compliant Observational Study.
AB  - Megsin is a mesangial cell-predominant gene that encodes a serpin family protein
      which is expressed in the renal mesangium. Overexpression of megsin has been
      observed in the glomeruli of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The aim of
      this study was to evaluate the association of megsin polymorphisms (rs1055901 and
      rs1055902) with IgAN in a Chinese population.We examined 351 patients with
      histologically proven IgAN and compared them with 310 age, sex, and ethnicity
      matched healthy subjects. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in megsin
      were genotyped by Sequenom MassARRAY. SPSS 18.0 was used for statistical
      analyses, and SNP Stats to test for associations between these polymorphisms and
      IgAN risk. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the
      relationships.We found that rs1055901 and rs1055902 SNPs were not correlated with
      susceptibility to IgAN in Northwest Chinese population. Analyses of the
      relationship between genotypes and clinical variables indicated that in patients
      with IgAN, rs1055901 was associated with 24-hour proteinuria, an increase in
      blood pressure, and Lee's grade (P = 0.04, 0.02, and 0.04, respectively), and
      rs1055902 was associated with 24-hour proteinuria and Lee's grade (P = 0.03 and
      0.01, respectively). However, the results showed no association between these
      gene variants and sex of the patients.These results indicate that megsin gene
      variants may play a role in the severity, development, and/or progression of IgAN
      in Northwest Chinese population.

PMID- 26871802
TI  - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - Otitis media (OM) has numerous presentations in children. Together with
      conventional medical therapies aimed to prevent and/or treat OM, a rising number
      of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment options can be offered.
      Since OM is common in children, parents may ask healthcare professionals about
      possible CAM therapies. Many physicians feel that their knowledge is limited
      regarding these therapies, and that they desire some information. Therefore, we
      conducted a literature review of CAM therapies for OM, taking into account that
      many of these treatments, their validity and efficacy and have not been
      scientifically demonstrated.We performed a search in MEDLINE (accessed via
      PubMed) using the following terms: "CAM" in conjunction with "OM" and "children.
      Retrieved publications regarding treatment of OM in children which included these
      terms included randomized controlled trials, prospective/retrospective studies,
      and case studies.The following CAM options for OM treatment in children were
      considered: acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine/phytotherapy, osteopathy,
      chiropractic, xylitol, ear candling, vitamin D supplement, and systemic and
      topical probiotics. We reviewed each treatment and described the level of
      scientific evidence of the relevant publications.The therapeutic approaches
      commonly associated with CAM are usually conservative, and do not include drugs
      or surgery. Currently, CAM is not considered by physicians a potential treatment
      of OM, as there is limited supporting evidence. Further studies are warranted in
      order to evaluate the potential value of CAM therapies for OM.

PMID- 26871803
TI  - The Relationship of Diabetes and Smoking Status to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
      Mortality.
AB  - The relationship of diabetes and smoking status to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
      mortality is not clear. We aimed to investigate the association of smoking
      cessation relative to diabetes status with subsequent deaths from HCC.We followed
      up 51,164 participants (aged 44-94 years) without chronic hepatitis B or C from 1
      January 1998 to 31 December 2008 enrolled from nationwide health screening units
      in a prospective cohort study. The primary outcomes were deaths from HCC.During
      the study period, there were 253 deaths from HCC. History of diabetes was
      associated with deaths from HCC for both total participants (adjusted hazard
      ratio [HR], 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08-4.23) and ever smokers with
      current or past smoking habits (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.10-3.34). Both never smokers
      (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.32-0.65) and quitters (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97) had a
      lower adjusted risk of HCC deaths compared with current smokers. Among all ever
      smokers with current or past smoking habits, as compared with diabetic smokers,
      only quitters without diabetes had a lower adjusted risk of HCC deaths (HR, 0.37;
      95% CI, 0.18-0.78). However, quitters with diabetes were observed to have a
      similar risk of deaths from HCC when compared with smokers with diabetes.
      Regarding the interaction between diabetes and smoking status on adjusted HCC
      related deaths, with the exception of quitters without history of diabetes, all
      groups had significantly higher HRs than nondiabetic never smokers. There was
      also a significant multiplicative interaction between diabetes and smoking status
      on risk of dying from HCC (P = 0.033). We suggest clinicians should promote
      diabetes prevention and never smoking to associate with reduced subsequent HCC
      mortality even in adults without chronic viral hepatitis.

PMID- 26871804
TI  - Changes in Plasma Adiponectin Concentrations in Patients With Hemorrhagic Fever
      With Renal Syndrome: An Observational Prospective Study.
AB  - The objective is to observe the changes in plasma adiponectin (APN) and its
      predictive capacity for disease severity and prognosis of hemorrhagic fever with
      renal syndrome (HFRS).One hundred and five patients who were treated at our
      center between October 2011 and December 2012 were randomly enrolled in this
      study. The patients were divided into a mild-type group, a moderate-type group, a
      severe-type group, and a critical-type group according to the HFRS criteria for
      clinical classification. Ninety-three plasma samples from the patients in the
      acute stage and 78 samples from the patients in the convalescent stage were
      obtained, and 28 samples from healthy subjects were obtained as controls. The
      concentrations of APN were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
      The levels of white blood cells, platelets, hematocrit, albumin, blood urea
      nitrogen, serum creatinine, and uric acid in the samples were routinely tested.
      The levels of APN among the different types were compared; the correlation
      between APN and the laboratory parameters was analyzed. The predictive
      effectiveness for prognosis of APN and the laboratory parameters as mentioned
      above were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve
      analysis.The levels of APN in the mild- and moderate-type patients in the acute
      stage were significantly higher than the severe-type and control (P < 0.05) and
      decreased with the severity of the disease, while there were no obvious
      difference among severe-, critical-type and control groups. The levels of APN in
      patients in the convalescent stage were higher than the control group (P < 0.05),
      and the APN levels of the critical-type group were higher compared with the mild
      type groups (P < 0.05). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with white blood
      cells and hematocrit and positively correlated with platelets, albumin, and uric
      acid (P < 0.001). Adiponectin showed no statistical significance for predicting
      prognosis, with the area under the curve equal to 0.609 (95% CI: 0.237-0.745, P =
      0.215).Adiponectin can be considered as a novel biomarker for disease severity in
      patients with HFRS, while it seems to have no predictive capacity for prognosis
      of HFRS.

PMID- 26871806
TI  - Multiple Stent Fractures After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation Causing
      Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.
AB  - Stent fracture is an uncommon complication of drug-eluting stent implantation,
      but it has a clinical significance because of its potential association with
      adverse cardiac events such as in-stent restenosis, target lesion
      revascularization, and stent thrombosis. Multiple stent fractures account for a
      small proportion, but they may lead to more serious complications. Newer
      generation drug-eluting stents are designed for improved safety and efficacy
      compared with early generation drug-eluting stents. Multiple stent fractures
      after newer generation drug-eluting stent implantation are a rare case.We report
      a case of 25-year-old male who presented with acute myocardial infarction caused
      by multiple stent fractures after everolimus-eluting stents implantation and was
      treated by balloon angioplasty.Physicians should be aware of the possibility of
      multiple stent fractures even after newer generation drug-eluting stent
      implantation.

PMID- 26871805
TI  - Low-Dose Ketamine Pretreatment Reduces the Incidence and Severity of Myoclonus
      Induced by Etomidate: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial.
AB  - Myoclonic movement induced by etomidate is a common but undesirable problem
      during general anesthesia induction. To investigate the influence of pretreatment
      with low-dose ketamine on the incidence and severity of myoclonus induced by
      etomidate, 104 patients were randomized allocated to 1 of 2 equally sized groups
      (n = 52) to receive either intravenous low-dose ketamine 0.5 mg/kg (group K) or
      an equal volume of normal saline (group S) 1 minute before induction of
      anesthesia with 0.3-mg/kg etomidate. The incidence and severity of myoclonus were
      assessed for 2 minutes after administration of etomidate. Here, we found that the
      incidence and intensity of myoclonus were both significantly reduced in low-dose
      ketamine-treated group compared with saline-treated group. The incidence of
      adverse effects was low and similar between groups. These results demonstrate
      that intravenous infusion of low-dose ketamine 0.5 mg/kg 1 minute prior to
      etomidate administration is effective in relieving etomidate-induced myoclonic
      movements during general anesthesia induction.

PMID- 26871807
TI  - The Impact of Emergency Physician Seniority on Clinical Efficiency, Emergency
      Department Resource Use, Patient Outcomes, and Disposition Accuracy.
AB  - The ability of emergency physicians (EPs) to continue within the specialty has
      been called into question due to high stress in emergency departments (EDs).The
      purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of EP seniority on clinical
      performance.A retrospective, 1-year cohort study was conducted across 3 EDs in
      the largest health-care system in Taiwan. Participants included 44,383 adult
      nontrauma patients who presented to the EDs. Physicians were categorized as
      junior, intermediate, and senior EPs according to <=5, 6 to 10, and >10 years of
      ED work experience. The door-to-order and door-to-disposition time were used to
      evaluate EP efficiency. Emergency department resource use indicators included
      diagnostic investigations of electrocardiography, plain film radiography,
      laboratory tests, and computed tomography scans. Discharge and mortality rates
      were used as patient outcomes. Disposition accuracy was evaluated by ED revisit
      rate.Senior EPs were found to have longer door-to-order (11.3, 12.4 minutes) and
      door-to-disposition (2, 1.7 hours) time than nonsenior EPs in urgent and
      nonurgent patients (junior: 9.4, 10.2 minutes and 1.7, 1.5 hours; intermediate:
      9.5, 10.7 minutes and 1.7, 1.5 hours). Senior EPs tended to order fewer
      electrocardiograms, radiographs, and computed tomography scans in nonurgent
      patients. Adjusting for age, sex, disease acuity, and medical setting, patients
      treated by junior and intermediate EPs had higher mortality in the ED (adjusted
      odd ratios, 1.5 and 1.6, respectively).Compared with EPs with <=10 years of work
      experience, senior EPs take more time for order prescription and patient
      disposition, use fewer diagnostic investigations, particularly for nonurgent
      patients, and are associated with a lower ED mortality rate.

PMID- 26871809
TI  - Classic Case Report of Donohue Syndrome (Leprechaunism; OMIM *246200): The Impact
      of Consanguineous Mating.
AB  - Donohue syndrome ([DS]; leprechaunism) describes a genetic autosomal recessive
      disorder that results from the presence of homozygous or compound heterozygous
      mutations in the insulin receptor gene (INSR; 19p13.3-p13.2).Donohue syndrome is
      associated with a fatal congenital form of dwarfism with features of intrauterine
      and postnatal growth retardation, exaggerated hyperglycemia with hyperinsulinism
      and dysmorphic abnormalities.We present a case of DS owing to the rarity of this
      syndrome (1 case in every million births). We discuss how the disease presents,
      its genetic underpinning, and its prevention.The case was encountered in an Arab
      male born on 1 September, 2014, for consanguineous parents. The delivery was via
      cesarean section at 37 weeks gestation due to severe intrauterine growth
      restriction and nonprogress labor term. The patient was admitted to the Neonatal
      Intensive Care Unit due to infection, and jaundice. Dysmorphic features,
      abnormalities of the craniofacial region, low birth weight, skin abnormalities,
      abdominal distension and hypertrichosis were observed. Laboratory examinations
      showed, hyperinsulinism, increased C-peptide, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and
      anemia.The diagnosis of DS was done based on the combinations of typical
      dysmorphic characteristics, clinical evaluation, supported by genetic analysis
      and exaggerated biochemical results. Genetic diagnosis of DS was performed
      through analysis of DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A qualitative real
      time PCR was used, to monitor the amplification of a targeted DNA molecule during
      the PCR. Other technique using sequencing of the INSR gene, which permits genetic
      diagnosis, counseling, and antenatal diagnoses in subsequent pregnancies, were
      also performed.Treatment of DS is supportive and requires the combined efforts of
      a multidisciplinary team, which include pediatricians, endocrinologists,
      dermatologists, and other health care professionals. Currently, treatment with
      recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 demonstrates effectiveness, and a
      combination treatment with insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 resulted
      in an increased lifespan.There is a scarcity of genetic information on DS among
      the Arab population. Consanguinity is one of underlying reasons for the
      appearance of rare genetic disorders. Inbreeding has long been considered a
      controversial phenomenon. Genetic counseling and overwhelming the alertness of
      the negative consequences of consanguinity on public health are warranted.

PMID- 26871810
TI  - TNM Staging of Colorectal Cancer Should be Reconsidered According to Weighting of
      the T Stage: Verification Based on a 25-Year Follow-Up.
AB  - The gradient monotonicity of existing tumor, node, metastases staging systems for
      colorectal cancer is unsatisfactory. Our proposed T-plus staging system
      strengthens weighting of the T stage. In this study, applicability of the T-plus
      staging system was verified with data of a Chinese colorectal cancer
      center.Records of 2080 nonmetastatic, advanced cancer patients undergoing
      colorectal cancer surgery from 1985 to 2011 were reviewed for T, N stage
      pathology and follow-up information. Using overall and disease-specific survival
      data, the 7th edition tumor, node, metastases staging system and the T-plus
      staging system were compared for stage homogeneity and discrimination and
      gradient monotonicity.For gradient monotonicity, the T-plus staging system was
      superior for both colon and rectal cancer. With Kaplan-Meier survival curves, the
      T-plus staging system discriminated among different stages, and the corresponding
      survival was inversely associated with the stage. However, for the 7th edition
      tumor, node, metastases staging system, stage IIIa had a better prognosis than
      stage II for rectal cancer and stage I for colon cancer. For homogeneity within
      the same stage and discrimination between different stages, the 2 staging systems
      were similar for colorectal cancer, but the T-plus system was clearly better for
      colon cancer.The T-plus staging system provides good gradient monotonicity. For
      future colorectal cancer staging systems, we propose replacement of lymph node
      status as the criterion to discriminate colorectal cancer stage II and stage III
      with greater weighting of the T stage.

PMID- 26871808
TI  - Association Between Cd Exposure and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A PRISMA-Compliant
      Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Several observational studies on the association between Cd exposure and risk of
      prostate cancer have yielded inconsistent results. To address this issue, we
      conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between Cd exposure and
      risk of prostate cancer.Relevant studies in PubMed and Embase databases were
      retrieved until October 2015. We compared the highest and lowest meta-analyses to
      quantitatively evaluate the relationship between Cd exposure and risk of prostate
      cancer. Summary estimates were obtained using a random-effects model.In the
      general population, high Cd exposure was not associated with increased prostate
      cancer (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.91-1.64), whereas the combined standardized mortality
      ratio of the association between Cd exposure and risk of prostate cancer was 1.66
      (95% CI 1.10-2.50) in populations exposed to occupational Cd. In addition, high D
      Cd intake (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.96-1.20) and U-Cd concentration (OR 0.86; 95% CI
      0.48-1.55) among the general population was not related to the increased risk of
      prostate cancer. In the dose analysis, the summary relative risk was 1.07 (95% CI
      0.73-1.57) for each 0.5 MUg/g creatinine increase in U-Cd and 1.02 (95% CI 0.99
      1.06) for each 10 MUg/day increase of dietary Cd intake. However, compared with
      nonoccupational exposure, high occupational Cd exposure may be associated with
      the increased risk of prostate cancer.This meta-analysis suggests high Cd
      exposure as a risk factor for prostate cancer in occupational rather than
      nonoccupational populations. However, these results should be carefully
      interpreted because of the significant heterogeneity among studies. Additional
      large-scale and high-quality prospective studies are needed to confirm the
      association between Cd exposure and risk of prostate cancer.

PMID- 26871811
TI  - Observational Study: Familial Relevance and Oncological Significance of Revised
      Bethesda Guidelines in Colorectal Patients That Have Undergone Curative
      Resection.
AB  - Amsterdam criteria for the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
      exclude most suspect cases of possible hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC). By
      contrast, revised Bethesda guidelines excessively broaden the disease spectrum.
      The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the cliniciopathilogical
      characteristics of patients fulfilling the revised Bethesda guidelines and to
      review the efficacy and limitations of the revised guidelines.This retrospective
      study enrolled 3609 patients who underwent curative surgery for primary CRC.
      Patients were classified into the Bethesda group or the control group according
      to whether they fulfilled the revised Bethesda guidelines. Patients were further
      categorized when they fulfilled a minimum of 2 items of the revised guidelines.
      Individual items were analyzed for deficient mismatch repair (d-MMR).The median
      follow-up was 82.9 (interquartile range, 72-101) months. Patients in the Bethesda
      group were younger and had a higher rate of reduced mismatch repair (MMR) protein
      expression, microsatellite instability, and right colonic involvement (all P <
      0.001) than the control group. As a predictor of d-MMR, the revised Bethesda
      guidelines showed a sensitivity of 63.0% and a specificity of 72.6%. Items 1 and
      2, respectively, or the item pair 1 and 2, were independent predictors of d-MMR
      (all P < 0.001). Patients fulfilling the Bethesda guidelines showed
      clinicopathological features of HNPCC.The revised Bethesda guidelines appear to
      be a competent predictor of d-MMR. Specifically, items 1 and 2 are significant
      predictors of d-MMR and may be relevant to the application of the revised
      Bethesda guidelines.

PMID- 26871812
TI  - Platelet to Lymphocyte Percentage Ratio Is Associated With Brachial-Ankle Pulse
      Wave Velocity in Hemodialysis.
AB  - Increased arterial stiffness in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) is highly
      prevalent and is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In HD,
      inflammation is one of the major causes of increased arterial stiffness.
      Activation of platelets and decreased lymphocyte percentage (LYMPH%) may exhibit
      inflammation. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between
      platelet to LYMPH% ratio and arterial stiffness in HD patients.A total of 220
      patients receiving HD were enrolled in this study. The brachial-ankle pulse wave
      velocity (baPWV) was measured using an ankle-brachial index form device.
      Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the
      relations of the platelet to LYMPH% ratio and baPWV. The value of the platelet to
      LYMPH% ratio was 59.2 +/- 33.3 (10 cells/L/%). After multivariate stepwise
      analysis, diabetes (beta: 163.973, P = 0.02), high systolic blood pressure (per 1
      mm Hg, beta: 9.010, P < 0.001), high platelet to LYMPH% ratio (per 10 cells/L/%,
      beta: 3.334, P < 0.01), and low albumin (per 0.1 mg/dL, beta: -55.912, P < 0.001)
      were independently associated with an increased baPWV. Furthermore, high white
      blood cells (per 10 cells/L, beta: 3.941, P < 0.001), high neutrophil percentage
      (per 1%, beta: 1.144, P < 0.001), and high CRP (per 1 mg/L, beta: 9.161, P =
      0.03) were independently associated with an increased platelet to LYMPH% ratio.An
      increased platelet to LYMPH% ratio is associated with an increased baPWV in HD
      patients. An easy and inexpensive laboratory measure of platelet to LYMPH% ratio
      may provide an important information regarding arterial stiffness in patients
      with HD.

PMID- 26871813
TI  - Hypermethylation and Expression Silencing of PDCD4 Gene in Hepatocellular
      Carcinoma: A Consort Study.
AB  - Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a novel tumor suppressor, which is involved in
      the initiation and progression of cancers. However, the role of PDCD4 in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. The aim of this study was
      to investigate the molecular mechanism and clinical significance of PDCD4
      inactivation in HCC.The mRNA levels of PDCD4 in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumor
      tissues were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT
      PCR). Bisulfite sequencing PCR was performed to determine the methylation status
      of PDCD4 promoter. Furthermore, the mRNA expression level and the methylated
      level of PDCD4 were analyzed with the clinical and pathological
      characteristics.qRT-PCR analysis showed that PDCD4 mRNA levels in tumor tissues
      were significantly decreased compared with that in adjacent nontumor tissues. The
      methylation rate of PDCD4 promoter was significantly higher in HCC tissues than
      that in adjacent nontumor tissues. PDCD4 mRNA levels and promoter methylation
      levels were both statistically correlated with metastasis and the degree of
      differentiation in HCC. In addition, the correlation between PDCD4
      hypermethylation, mRNA levels, and overall survival (OS) was statistically
      significant.Our results indicated that PDCD4 may be a novel candidate of tumor
      suppressor gene in HCC, and that promoter hypermethylation is an important
      mechanism for its downregulation and is also a good predictor of OS for HCC.

PMID- 26871814
TI  - Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: Can Cobb Angle on a Supine Posteroanterior
      Radiograph Be Used to Predict the Cobb Angle in a Standing Position?
AB  - It is necessary to assess coronal Cobb angle in the diagnosis and treatment of
      patients with adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS). But as most ADS patients are
      elderly patients who are difficult or unable to stand upright without assistance,
      it is difficult to obtain standing posteroanterior X-ray radiographs. Whether it
      is possible to use Cobb angle obtained on a supine posteroanterior X-ray
      radiograph to predict Cobb angle in a standing position remains unanswered.To
      study the correlation between X-ray plain radiographic parameters obtained from
      the supine position and those obtained from the standing position in ADS
      patients.Medical records and radiological information were obtained from ADS
      patients prospectively. Posteroanterior X-ray views of the spine were taken in
      both standing and supine positions simultaneously in the same ADS patients to
      record information about the position of the apical and end vertebrae in the
      coronal position and measure Cobb angle and rotation degree of the apical
      vertebra. Correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the correlation
      between the Cobb angle and the rotation degree of the apical vertebra on the X
      ray plain radiographs obtained from the standing and supine positions.Of 94 ADS
      patients who met the inclusion criteria, 14 (15%) patients were male and 80 (85%)
      patients were female who ranged in age from 41 to 92 years with a mean of 67
      years. The mean Cobb angle on the supine X-ray radiographs was 21 +/- 10 degrees 
      versus 26 +/- 12 degrees  on the standing X-ray radiographs, the difference being
      statistically significant (P < 0.01). The rotation angle of the apical vertebra
      in the supine and standing positions was 1.8 +/- 0.7 and 1.9 +/- 0.7,
      respectively, the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05).
      Correlation analysis showed a strong correlation in Cobb angle between the supine
      and standing X-ray plain radiographs (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). The correlation
      coefficient of the rotation of the apical vertebra was rho = 0.81 (P < 0.01). The
      equation of predicting the standing Cobb angle from the supine position as shown
      by the linear regression analysis is as follows: standing Cobb angle = 1.15 *
      supine Cobb angle + 1.53 (R = 0.838). There was no significant difference between
      supine Cobb angle +5 degrees  and standing Cobb angle (P = 0.413).The
      posteroanterior X-ray plain radiograph of the spine can provide information
      similar to that obtained from the standing coronary position in ADS patients,
      including the position of the apical and end vertebrae. There was a strong
      correlation between the Cobb angle and the degree of rotation of the apical
      vertebra on the X-ray radiographs obtained from the supine and standing
      positions, indicating that the supine Cobb angle can be used to predict the Cobb
      angle on the standing X-ray radiograph. The supine X-ray radiograph can replace
      the standing posteroanterior radiograph in terms of the coronal parameters.

PMID- 26871815
TI  - Cytomegalovirus Infection in Ireland: Seroprevalence, HLA Class I Alleles, and
      Implications.
AB  - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occur worldwide and primary infection usually
      occurs in early childhood and is often asymptomatic whereas primary infection in
      adults may result in symptomatic illness. CMV establishes a chronic latent
      infection with intermittent periods of reactivation. Primary infection or
      reactivation associate with increased mortality and morbidity in those who are
      immunocompromised. Transplacental transmission may result in significant birth
      defects or long-term sensorineural hearing loss.We performed a study to determine
      the CMV seroprevalence and the association between HLA Class I alleles and
      frequency of CMV infection in Ireland. The presence of CMV IgG, a marker of
      previous CMV infection, was determined for a cohort of 1849 HLA typed solid organ
      transplant donors between 1990 and 2013. The presence of CMV IgG was correlated
      with HLA type.The CMV seroprevalence in solid organ transplant donors was 33.4%
      (range 22-48% per annum) over the time period 1990 to 2013. Multivariate logistic
      regression analysis showed that both age and HLA alleles were associated with CMV
      seropositivity. A significant and positive relationship between age and CMV
      seropositivity was observed (OR = 1.013, P < 0.001, CI [1.007, 1.019]). Chi
      square analysis revealed that the female gender was independently associated with
      CMV seropositivity (P < 0.01). Seroprevalence in women of reproductive age (20-39
      years) was significantly higher than men of the same age (37% vs 26%, P < 0.01).
      The frequencies of HLA-A1, HLA-A2, and HLA-A3 in our cohort were 40.8%, 48.8%,
      and 25.9%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of
      HLA-A1 but not HLA-A2 or HLA-A3 was independently associated with CMV
      seronegativity (P < 0.01). Interestingly, individuals who co-expressed HLA-A2 and
      HLA-A3 alleles were significantly more likely to be CMV seropositive (P < 0.02).
      The frequencies of HLA-B5, HLA-B7, and HLA-B8 in our cohort were 6.1%, 31.2%, and
      30.8%, respectively. The presence of the most common inherited haplotype in the
      Irish population, HLA-A1, B8 was significantly associated with CMV seronegativity
      (OR = 1.278, P < 0.001, CI [1.049, 1.556]).CMV seroprevalence is lower in Ireland
      compared with other countries. The high frequency of HLA-A1 in the Irish
      population may, in part, have a role in the reduced susceptibility to CMV
      infection.

PMID- 26871816
TI  - Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy Versus Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy for Achalasia: A
      Meta-Analysis of Nonrandomized Comparative Studies.
AB  - We aimed to assess the short-term outcomes of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
      compared with laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for achalasia through a meta
      analysis of nonrandomized comparative studies.We searched PubMed, Embase,
      Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies that compared POEM and
      LHM for achalasia and were published between January 1, 2008 and December 31,
      2014. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was used to
      evaluate the quality of the studies. Random- and fixed-effects meta-analytical
      models were used, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed.Four nonrandomized
      comparative studies that included 317 patients (125 in the POEM group and 192 in
      the LHM group) met our research criteria and were assessed. There were no
      differences between the POEM and LHM groups in terms of sex, preoperative Eckhart
      score, length of myotomy, operation time, length of hospital stay, and
      complications. The patients in the POEM group were older than those in the LHM
      group (MD =2.81, 95% CI 0.27-5.35; P = 0.03) with high between-study homogeneity
      (chi = 1.96, df = 2, I = 0%; P = 0.38). The patients in the POEM group had a
      lower Eckardt score after surgery compared with those in the LHM group (MD = 
      0.30, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.18; P < 0.001) with high between-study homogeneity (chi
      = 0.00, df = 1, I = 0%; P = 1.00).The efficacy and safety of POEM appear to be
      comparable to those of LHM. Multicenter and randomized trials with larger sample
      size are needed to further compare the efficacy and safety of POEM and LHM for
      the treatment of achalasia.

PMID- 26871817
TI  - Influence of Renal Insufficiency on the Prescription of Evidence-Based Medicines
      in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Its Prognostic Significance: A
      Retrospective Cohort Study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to discuss the present situation of discharge
      medications in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with different levels of
      renal function and assess the potential impact of these medications on the
      prognosis of this patient population.A retrospective cohort study was conducted.
      From July 2008 to Jan 2012, consecutive patients with CAD confirmed by coronary
      angiography of West China Hospital were enrolled and were grouped into 3
      estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) categories: >=60, 30 to 60, and <30
      mL/min/1.73 m. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and cardiac mortality.There
      are 3002 patients according to the inclusion criteria and follow-up requirement.
      The mean follow-up time was 29.1 +/- 12.5 months. CAD patients with worse renal
      function included more cardiovascular risk factors (advanced age, history of
      hypertension or diabetes, and diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction). The
      cumulative survival curves of the patients according to renal function showed
      that the eGFR <30 mL/min and 30 mL/min <= eGFR <60 mL/min groups had a
      significantly higher risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death than the
      group with an eGFR >=60 mL/min. The prescription of evidence-based medicines
      (EBMs) at discharge (antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] or angiotensin-receptor blockers [ARBs]) was
      a factor in reducing the risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death.
      However, EBMs prescribed at discharge revealed an obvious underuse in renal
      insufficiency (RI) patients. The results of Cox regression showed that
      irrespective of the eGFR level, greater use of EBMs resulted in a greater
      reduction in the risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death.A higher
      percentage of patients with CAD and concomitant RI suffered from cardiovascular
      disease (CVD) risk factors, whereas a lower percentage of these patients used
      EBMs to prevent CVD events. Strict use of EBMs, including beta-blockers, statins,
      and ACEIs or ARBs, can lead to more clinical benefits, even for patients with CAD
      and concomitant RI. Thus, treatment of this patient population with EBMs should
      be stressed.

PMID- 26871819
TI  - Impact of Previous Stroke on Short-Term Myocardial Reinfarction in Patients With
      Acute ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Observational Multicenter
      Study.
AB  - Myocardial reinfarction is frequent after ST-elevation myocardial infarction
      (STEMI). The incidence of previous stroke in STEMI patients is also high. We aim
      to evaluate the risk factors for short-term myocardial reinfarction in STEMI
      patients in a multicenter study.STEMI patients with chest pain onset within 12
      hours in 247 hospitals in China were enrolled. Seven and 30-day follow-ups from
      admission to hospitals were performed. The primary outcome of our study was
      myocardial reinfarction at 30 days after STEMI. The study population was
      stratified into 2 groups: STEMI patients with mayocardial reinfarction and
      without mayocardial reinfarction. Survival curve was constructed using Kaplan
      Meier survival methods with log-rank statistics. Multivariable Cox regression
      model was performed to determine the risk factors for myocardial reinfarction
      events in STEMI patients.A total of 6876 STEMI patients were enrolled. The
      proportion of STEMI patients with previous stroke was 9.4%. Rate of 30-day
      myocardial reinfarction was 2.0% among all STEMI patients. Rate of 30-day
      myocardial reinfarction was 4.2% in STEMI patients with previous stroke which was
      statistically higher than that in STEMI patients without previous stroke (P <
      0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that previous stroke (HR,
      3.673; 95% CI, 1.180-11.43) and statin use (HR, 0.230; 95% CI, 0.080-0.664) were
      independent predictors for 30-day myocardial reinfarction.A large proportion of
      STEMI patients had previous stroke history. Short-term myocardial reinfarction
      after STEMI is not infrequent. STEMI patients with previous stroke confronted
      higher rates of short-term myocardial reinfarction and statin could decline the
      risk of short-term myocardial reinfarction.

PMID- 26871818
TI  - Warfarin Use and Risk of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing
      Hemodialysis: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - In spite of the substantial burden of atrial fibrillation and associated elevated
      ischemic stroke risk in patients undergoing hemodialysis, the role of warfarin in
      these high-risk patients remains uncertain. Our objective was to clarify the
      association between warfarin use and risk of stroke for patients with atrial
      fibrillation undergoing dialysis.PubMed and Embase from January 1966 to January
      2015 were searched to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were cohort
      studies, patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing hemodialysis, and reported
      quantitative estimates of the multivariate adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95%
      confidence interval (CI) for future stroke associated with warfarin use. We
      identified 8 studies, with a total of 9539 participants and 706 stroke events.
      Three studies reported total stroke as primary endpoint and other studies
      reported ischemic stroke as primary endpoint. Pooling the results showed that
      warfarin use was associated with higher risk of any stroke (RR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13
      1.99). By stroke type, warfarin was not significantly linked to risk of ischemic
      stroke (RR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.65-1.57, P = 0.97), but was related to greater
      hemorrhagic stroke risk (RR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.62-3.27). Warfarin heightened overall
      bleeding risk (RR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.56), but not death (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.37
      1.21).Among patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing hemodialysis, use of
      warfarin is associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke, but did not
      increase overall mortality.

PMID- 26871820
TI  - Clinical Immunophenotype at Disease Onset in Previously Healthy Patients With
      Cryptococcal Meningitis.
AB  - Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a global disease with significant morbidity and
      mortality. Although low peripheral blood cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell
      counts are found to be related to a high burden of cryptococcus in HIV-infected
      patients, little is known about possible immune defects in previously healthy
      patients (PHPs). We performed a retrospective study of 41 CM patients treated
      from January 2005 to December 2014 who did not have HIV-infection. There were 33
      PHPs and 8 not previously healthy patients (non-PHPs). We analyzed clinical test
      data pertaining to peripheral blood T cells, antibodies, inflammation markers,
      and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) completed during the disease onset phase and 5
      years following diagnosis. PHPs had significantly higher counts of cluster of
      differentiation 3 (CD3), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), and cluster of
      differentiation 45 (CD45) cells, and lower percentages of CD8 cells than non-PHPs
      (P < 0.05). Measurements of inflammatory markers and immunoglobulin in blood were
      comparable except for lower immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in non-PHPs (P =
      0.0410). Examination of CSF revealed lower white blood cell (WBC) counts in non
      PHPs. Five-year mortality in PHPs was higher than in non-PHPs (22.0% vs 12.5%)
      but this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis
      revealed that higher immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in serum during disease onset
      may be an independent predictor of mortality (P = 0.015). In conclusion, PHPs
      demonstrate an immunophenotype that is distinct from that of non-PHPs, leading to
      an improved understanding of the immunology of cryptococcal meningitis.

PMID- 26871821
TI  - The Relation Between Sacral Angle and Vertical Angle of Sacral Curvature and
      Lumbar Disc Degeneration: A Case-Control Study.
AB  - The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability and validity of a
      goniometric measurement of the vertical angle of the sacrum and sacral angle
      (SA), and their relationships to lumbar degeneration.A herniated lumbar disc is
      one of the most frequent medical issues. Investigators in a number of studies
      have reported associated risk factors for prevalent disc degeneration. Atypical
      lumbosacral angles and curvature are thought to contribute to the degradation of
      the spine by many researchers. This study analyzed 360 patients referred to our
      clinic from 2013 to 2015 due to low back pain. A cross-sectional case-control
      study was designed in order to compare the sagittal alignment of the lumbosacral
      area in 3 groups of patients suffering from LBP. A total 120 patients were in a
      control group with a normal lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 120 patients
      had lumbar disk herniation (LDH), and 120 patients had spinal stenosis. From the
      sagittal plan of lumbar MRI, SA and vertical angle of sacral curvature (VASC)
      were determined and then analyzed.The means of VASC in these groups were: 38.98
      (SD: 6.36 +/- 0.58), 40.89 (SD: 7.69 +/- 0.69), and 40.54 (SD: 7.13 +/- 0.92),
      respectively (P = 0.089). Moreover, studies of SA in 3 groups showed that the
      means of SA were: 39.30 (SD: 6.69 +/- 0.63), 40.52 (SD: 7.47 +/- 0.65), and 35.63
      (SD: 6.07 +/- 0.79), respectively. Relation between SA and spinal stenosis was
      just statistically significant (P <= 0.05).One significant limitation of our
      study is the lack of standing MRI for increased accuracy of measurement. However,
      we were reluctant to give patients needless exposure to radiation from
      conventional X-ray, and instead used MRI scans. We did not find any significant
      correlation between the VASC and LDH in lumbar MRI. Also, SA is not an
      independent risk factor for LDH in men and women. We suggested that there are
      several biomechanical factors involved in LDH.

PMID- 26871822
TI  - Transient Monoplegia as a Result of Unilateral Femoral Artery Ischemia Detected
      by Multimodal Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Posterior Scoliosis Surgery: A
      Case Report.
AB  - This is to report a case of 16-year-old girl with transient right lower limb
      monoplegia as a result of femoral artery ischemia detected by multimodal
      intraoperative spinal cord neuromonitoring (MISNM) during posterior correction
      surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.A patient with a marfanoid body
      habitus and LENKE IA type scoliosis with the right thoracic curve of 48 degrees 
      of Cobb angle was admitted for posterior spinal fusion from Th6 to L2. After
      selective pedicle screws instrumentation and corrective maneuvers motor evoked
      potentials (MEP) began to decrease with no concomitant changes in somato-sensory
      evoked potentials recordings.The instrumentation was released first partially
      than completely with rod removal but the patient demonstrated constantly
      increasing serious neurological motor deficit of the whole right lower limb.
      Every technical cause of the MEP changes was eliminated and during the wake-up
      test the right foot was found to be pale and cold with no popliteal and dorsalis
      pedis pulses palpable. The patient was repositioned and the pelvic pad was placed
      more cranially. Instantly, the pulse and color returned to the patient's foot.
      Following MEP recordings showed gradual return of motor function up to the
      baseline at the end of the surgery, whereas somato-sensory evoked potentials were
      within normal range through the whole procedure.This case emphasizes the
      importance of the proper pelvic pad positioning during the complex spine
      surgeries performed in prone position of the patient. A few cases of neurological
      complications have been described which were the result of vascular occlusion
      after prolonged pressure in the inguinal area during posterior scoliosis surgery
      when the patient was in prone position. If incorrectly interpreted, they would
      have a significant impact on the course of scoliosis surgery.

PMID- 26871824
TI  - Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients With Genotype 3 Hepatitis C Virus
      Infection in Korea: A Retrospective Observational Study.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infection is very rare in high-income Asia
      Pacific. The aim of our retrospective observational study was to evaluate the
      incidence, clinical features, and treatment outcomes of patients with a genotype
      3 HCV infection in the Gyeongnam Province of Korea. Ninety-eight consecutive
      patients diagnosed with a genotype 3 HCV infection at Gyeongsang National
      University Hospital, between January 2005 and December 2014, were enrolled into
      the study. Relevant characteristics of the study group included: 80.6% men, mean
      age of 41.8 years, and including 69 patients with chronic hepatitis, 25 with
      liver cirrhosis, and 4 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Risk factors for HCV
      infection, sustained virologic response rate, development of HCC, and mortality
      in patients with genotype 3 were retrospectively analyzed.Among all patients
      diagnosed with a HCV infection during the study period, the prevalence of
      genotype 3 was 7.3%. The incidence of genotype 3 was higher in young patients
      with a risk factor of IVDU (54.0%) and tattooing (62.3%). Among 45 treatment
      naive genotype 3 patients, sustained virologic response was achieved with a
      combination of pegylated-interferon alpha and ribavirin in 75.6%. The cumulative
      5-year incidence of HCC was 13.6%, and 8.9% for overall mortality. Liver
      cirrhosis at enrollment was an independent risk factor for HCC development.This
      is the first study to elucidate the clinical features and outcomes among the
      patients with HCV genotype 3 infection in Korea. Further prospective studies are
      needed to investigate transmission routes and outcomes for HCV genotype 3
      infections.

PMID- 26871823
TI  - Small-Cell Lung Cancer Transformation in Patients With Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma:
      A Case Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - Despite the demonstrated benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
      tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) based therapies, EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma
      will eventually acquire drug resistance. Transformation to small-cell lung cancer
      (SCLC) is considered to be a rare resistance mechanism of EGFR-TKI therapy.We
      describe a case of a 46-year-old man presenting with refractory cough.
      Percutaneous transthoracic biopsy was performed and confirmed an EGFR exon 21
      L858R lung adenocarcinoma. However, the patient relapsed after successful
      treatment with gefitinib for 1 year, at which point rebiopsy identified an SCLC
      and chemotherapy composed of platinum and pemetrexed was started. However,
      despite the brief success of chemotherapy, our patient died of aggressive cancer
      progression and complications of chemotherapy.Our case highlights the importance
      of rebiopsy when managing drug resistance and presents a possible origin of the
      transformed cells. We also summarize the clinical characteristics of cases
      involving transformed SCLC from previous studies and discuss whether it could be
      a new subtype of SCLC.

PMID- 26871825
TI  - The Epidemiological Investigation on the Risk Factors of Hepatocellular
      Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study in Southeast China.
AB  - Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranked the fifth in male and ninth in
      the female counterparts, and 50% of incidence HCC cases were occurred in China
      with high hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence. HCC has seriously compromised the
      health status of general population in China. A case-control study of 314 HCC
      cases and 346 controls was conducted in Xiamen, which is an epidemic area in
      China for both hepatitis B infection and HCC. Face-to-face interview was
      conducted to gather information on demographic characteristics as well as
      exposure of environmental factors. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      kits were used to determine the status of serological markers of HBV infection.
      Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using unconditional
      logistic regression. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was
      applied to evaluate the potential interactions of variables or confounders.As
      expected, HBV and alcohol intake still are the major risk factors of HCC. Liver
      disease history and passive smoking are also associated with elevated HCC risk.
      Indoor air pollution and pesticide exposure have newly identified as risk factors
      of HCC. Fruit and tea intake can significantly lower the HCC risk.The application
      of HBV vaccine and reduction on alcohol intake should be further promoted in high
      risk population. Fruit and tea can be served as chemoprevention in daily life due
      to their high accessibility.

PMID- 26871826
TI  - Using a Distant Abdominal Skin Flap to Treat Digital Constriction Bands: A Case
      Report for Vohwinkel Syndrome.
AB  - In this study, a Vohwinkel syndrome case is presented where in 5th digit
      constriction bands in the right hand were reconstructed using a distant abdominal
      skin flap. Vohwinkel syndrome, or keratoderma hereditarium mutilans, is a rare,
      autosomal dominant genetic skin condition that causes palmoplantar hyperkeratosis
      and constricts finger and/or toe bands. In a typical manifestation, the finger
      and toe constriction bands lead to progressive strangulation and autoamputation,
      which requires immediate clinical treatment. Topical keratolytics and systemic
      retinoids have been used to treat hyperkeratosis but without consistent results.
      Only 1 effective approach for autoamputation has been accepted, reconstructive
      surgery.Applying a distant abdominal skin flap produced satisfying postoperative
      effects at the 18-month follow-up.

PMID- 26871827
TI  - Comparative Outcome Analysis of Penicillin-Based Versus Fluoroquinolone-Based
      Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Nationwide Population
      Based Cohort Study.
AB  - Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common but potentially life-threatening
      condition, but limited information exists on the effectiveness of
      fluoroquinolones compared to beta-lactams in outpatient settings. We aimed to
      compare the effectiveness and outcomes of penicillins versus respiratory
      fluoroquinolones for CAP at outpatient clinics.This was a claim-based
      retrospective cohort study. Patients aged 20 years or older with at least 1 new
      pneumonia treatment episode were included, and the index penicillin or
      respiratory fluoroquinolone therapies for a pneumonia episode were at least 5
      days in duration. The 2 groups were matched by propensity scores. Cox
      proportional hazard models were used to compare the rates of
      hospitalizations/emergence service visits and 30-day mortality. A logistic model
      was used to compare the likelihood of treatment failure between the 2
      groups.After propensity score matching, 2622 matched pairs were included in the
      final model. The likelihood of treatment failure of fluoroquinolone-based therapy
      was lower than that of penicillin-based therapy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.88;
      95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.77-0.99), but no differences were found in
      hospitalization/emergence service (ES) visits (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.27;
      95% CI, 0.92-1.74) and 30-day mortality (adjusted HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.30-1.62)
      between the 2 groups.The likelihood of treatment failure of fluoroquinolone-based
      therapy was lower than that of penicillin-based therapy for CAP on an outpatient
      clinic basis. However, this effect may be marginal. Further investigation into
      the comparative effectiveness of these 2 treatment options is warranted.

PMID- 26871828
TI  - Developing and Evaluating Medical Humanities Problem-Based Learning Classes
      Facilitated by the Teaching Assistants Majored in the Liberal Arts: A
      Longitudinal Crossover Study.
AB  - Although medical humanities courses taught by teachers from nonmedical
      backgrounds are not unusual now, few studies have compared the outcome of medical
      humanities courses facilitated by physicians to that by teaching assistants
      majored in the liberal arts. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze the
      satisfaction of medical students with medical humanities problem-based learning
      (PBL) classes facilitated by nonmedical teaching assistants (TAF) majored in the
      liberal arts, and those facilitated by the attending physicians (APF) and (2)
      examine the satisfaction of medical students with clinical medicine-related and
      clinical medicine-unrelated medical humanities PBL classes.A total of 123 medical
      students, randomly assigned to 16 groups, participated in this study. There were
      16 classes in the course: 8 of them were TAF classes; and the others were APF
      classes. Each week, each group rotated from 1 subject of the 16 subjects of PBL
      to another subject. All of the 16 groups went through all the 16 subjects in the
      2013 spring semester. We examined the medical students' satisfaction with each
      class, based on a rating score collected after each class was completed, using a
      scale from 0 (the lowest satisfaction) to 100 (the highest satisfaction). We also
      conducted multivariate linear regression analysis to examine the association
      between the independent variables and the students' satisfaction.Medical students
      were more satisfied with the TAF (91.35 +/- 7.75) medical humanities PBL classes
      than APF (90.40 +/- 8.42) medical humanities PBL classes (P = 0.01). Moreover,
      medical students were more satisfied with the clinical medicine-unrelated topics
      (92.00 +/- 7.10) than the clinical medicine-related topics (90.36 +/- 7.99) in
      the medical humanities PBL course (P = 0.01).This medical humanities PBL course,
      including nonmedical subjects and topics, and nonmedical teaching assistants from
      the liberal arts as class facilitators, was satisfactory. This pedagogical
      approach of student-centered, nonmedical topics, nonmedical facilitators, and
      small groups, which is associated with a deep approach to learning medical
      humanities, should be highly encouraged.

PMID- 26871829
TI  - Successful Treatment of Lung Calciphylaxis With Sodium Thiosulfate in a Patient
      With Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report.
AB  - Calciphylaxis is a small vessel vasculopathy, characterized by medial wall
      calcification that develops in a few patients with chronic renal failure. The
      prognosis of skin calciphylaxis has improved considerably since the introduction
      of sodium thiosulfate (STS), but it remains unclear whether this therapy is
      effective against organ lesions related to calciphylaxis. Pulmonary calciphylaxis
      is a usually fatal medical condition that may occur in association with skin
      involvement in patients with end-stage renal disease.We report here the case of a
      49-year-old woman homozygous sickle cell disease patient on chronic hemodialysis
      with biopsy-proven systemic calciphylaxis involving the lungs and skin. On
      admission, ulcerative skin lesions on the lower limbs and bilateral pulmonary
      infiltrates on chest computerized tomography scan were the main clinical and
      radiological findings. Skin and bronchial biopsies demonstrated calciphylaxis
      lesions. The intravenous administration of STS in association with cinacalcet for
      8 consecutive months led to a clear improvement in skin lesions and thoracic
      lesions on chest computerized tomography scan.This case suggests for the first
      time that organ lesions related to calciphylaxis, and particularly lung injury,
      are potentially reversible. This improvement probably resulted from the
      combination of 3 interventions (more frequent dialysis, cinacalcet, and STS),
      rather than the administration of STS alone.

PMID- 26871830
TI  - Validation of Serological Antibody Profiles Against Human Papillomavirus Type 16
      Antigens as Markers for Early Detection of Cervical Cancer.
AB  - Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most frequent neoplasia among women worldwide.
      Cancer prevention programs around the world have used the Papanicolaou (Pap)
      smear as the primary diagnostic test to reduce the burden of CC. Nevertheless,
      such programs have not been effective in developing countries, thus leading to
      research on alternative tests for CC screening. During the virus life cycle and
      in the process toward malignancy, different human papillomavirus (HPV) proteins
      are expressed, and they induce a host humoral immune response that can be used as
      a potential marker for different stages of the disease. We present a new Slot
      blot assay to detect serum antibodies against HPV16 E4, E7, and VLPs-L1 antigens.
      The system was validated with sera from a female population (n = 485) aged 18 to
      64 years referred to the dysplasia clinic at the General Hospital in Cuautla,
      Morelos, Mexico. To evaluate the clinical performance of the serological markers,
      the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values and
      receiver-operating characteristic curves (for antibodies alone or in combination)
      were calculated in groups of lesions of increasing severity. The results showed
      high prevalence of anti-E4 (73%) and anti-E7 (80%) antibodies in the CC group.
      Seropositivity to 1, 2, or 3 antigens showed associations of increasing magnitude
      with CC (odds ratio [OR] = 12.6, 19.9, and 58.5, respectively). The highest
      association with CC was observed when the analysis was restricted to only anti
      E4+E7 antibodies (OR = 187.7). The best clinical performance to discriminate CC
      from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 to 3 was the one for the combination of
      anti-E4 and/or anti-E7 antibodies, which displayed high sensitivity (93.3%) and
      moderate specificity (64.1%), followed by anti-E4 and anti-E7 antibodies (73.3%
      and 80%; 89.6% and 66%, respectively). In addition, the sensitivity of anti-E4
      and/or anti-E7 antibodies is high at any time of sexual activity (TSA), which
      suggests they can be biomarkers for the early detection of CC. The sensitivity of
      anti-E4 antibodies was low (<10%) when the TSA was <10 years, and it increased up
      to 100% in relation to the TSA, suggesting that anti-E4 antibodies can be useful
      as HPV exposure markers at early stages of the disease.

PMID- 26871831
TI  - Plasma Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels Predict Mortality in Acute Aortic Syndromes:
      A Diagnostic Accuracy and Observational Outcome Study.
AB  - In acute aortic syndromes (AAS), organ malperfusion represents a key event
      impacting both on diagnosis and outcome. Increased levels of plasma lactate
      dehydrogenase (LDH), a biomarker of malperfusion, have been reported in AAS, but
      the performance of LDH for the diagnosis of AAS and the relation of LDH with
      outcome in AAS have not been evaluated so far.This was a bi-centric prospective
      diagnostic accuracy study and a cohort outcome study. From 2008 to 2014, patients
      from 2 Emergency Departments suspected of having AAS underwent LDH assay at
      presentation. A final diagnosis was obtained by aortic imaging. Patients
      diagnosed with AAS were followed-up for in-hospital mortality.One thousand five
      hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients were clinically eligible, and 999
      patients were included in the study. The final diagnosis was AAS in 201 (20.1%)
      patients. Median LDH was 424 U/L (interquartile range [IQR] 367-557) in patients
      with AAS and 383 U/L (IQR 331-460) in patients with alternative diagnoses (P <
      0.001). Using a cutoff of 450 U/L, the sensitivity of LDH for AAS was 44% (95%
      confidence interval [CI] 37-51) and the specificity was 73% (95% CI 69-76).
      Overall in-hospital mortality for AAS was 23.8%. Mortality was 32.6% in patients
      with LDH >= 450 U/L and 16.8% in patients with LDH < 450 U/L (P = 0.006).
      Following stratification according to LDH quartiles, in-hospital mortality was
      12% in the first (lowest) quartile, 18.4% in the second quartile, 23.5% in the
      third quartile, and 38% in the fourth (highest) quartile (P = 0.01). LDH >= 450
      U/L was further identified as an independent predictor of death in AAS both in
      univariate and in stepwise logistic regression analyses (odds ratio 2.28, 95% CI
      1.11-4.66; P = 0.025), in addition to well-established risk markers such as
      advanced age and hypotension. Subgroup analysis showed excess mortality in
      association with LDH >= 450 U/L in elderly, hemodynamically stable and in
      nonsurgically treated patients.Plasma LDH constitutes a biomarker of poor outcome
      in patients with AAS. LDH is a rapid and universally available assay that could
      be used to improve risk stratification and to individualize treatment in patient
      groups where options are controversial.

PMID- 26871833
TI  - Hemodynamic Effects of Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation in
      Preterm Infants.
AB  - Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and nasal continuous
      positive airway pressure (NCPAP) have proven to be effective modes of noninvasive
      respiratory support in preterm infants. Although they are increasingly used in
      neonatal intensive care, their hemodynamic consequences have not been fully
      evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic changes
      between NIPPV and NCPAP in preterm infants.This prospective observational study
      enrolled clinically stable preterm infants requiring respiratory support received
      NCPAP and nonsynchronized NIPPV at 40/minute for 30 minutes each, in random
      order. Cardiac function and cerebral hemodynamics were assessed by
      ultrasonography after each study period. The patients continued the study
      ventilation during measurements.Twenty infants with a mean gestational age of 27
      weeks (range, 25-32 weeks) and birth weight of 974 g were examined at a median
      postnatal age of 20 days (range, 9-28 days). There were no significant
      differences between the NCPAP and NIPPV groups in right (302 vs 292 mL/kg/min,
      respectively) and left ventricular output (310 vs 319 mL/kg/min, respectively),
      superior vena cava flow (103 vs 111 mL/kg/min, respectively), or anterior
      cerebral artery flow velocity.NIPPV did not have a significant effect on the
      hemodynamics of stable preterm infants. Future studies assessing the effect of
      NIPPV on circulation should focus on less stable and very preterm infants.

PMID- 26871832
TI  - Multinodular Goiter Spontaneous Hemorrhage in ESRD Patients Result in Acute
      Respiratory Failure: A Case Report.
AB  - Euthyroid multinodular goiters may lead to acute respiratory failure caused by
      airway obstruction or laryngotracheal compression. Here, we present a case
      admitted to the nephrologist with multinodular goiter spontaneous hemorrhage
      along with respiratory failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which required
      urgent surgical intervention.We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with ESRD
      who presented with a rapidly enlarging nodular goiter resulting in acute
      respiratory failure. Endotracheal intubation and emergency partial thyroidectomy
      were performed, revealing multinodular goiter spontaneous hemorrhage by
      postoperative histopathology. Several cases of benign goiters necessitating
      endotracheal intubation have been reported. Goiters are among the rare diagnoses
      in patients consulting at our institution's Nephrology.This case illustrates that
      ESRD patients with benign goiter may lead to acute respiratory failure due to
      airway obstruction or laryngotracheal compression. It was found in agreement with
      previous reports. This case highlights that ESRD patient at risk of this life
      threatening complication such as multinodular goiter hemorrhage should be managed
      with elective thyroidectomy to reduce morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26871834
TI  - The Efficacy of Taxanes- and Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy in the Treatment of
      Gastric Cancer After D2 Gastrectomy for Different Lauren Types.
AB  - To investigate the efficacy of Taxanes- and Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapies (TC
      and OC) in the treatment of gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy with
      different Lauren types. In this study, 299 patients of gastric adenocarcinoma
      with D2 lymph node dissection were reviewed between 2007 and 2014. Chemotherapies
      were classified as Oxaliplatin-based and Taxanes-based regimen. Treatment
      outcomes were analyzed according to different Lauren types, such as the
      intestinal type, diffuse type, and mixed type groups, respectively. The disease
      free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan
      Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and Cox
      regression was used for multivariate analysis. In diffuse type gastric cancer,
      the Oxaliplatin-based arm had a longer median DFS and OS compared with Taxanes
      based arm (DFS: 47.0 vs 28.6 months, P = 0.04; OS: 51.9 vs 34.5 months, P =
      0.048). The chemotherapy regimen was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and
      OS of diffuse type gastric cancer patients by multivariate analysis (P = 0.01).
      In the intestinal type, although the DFS and OS of intestinal type patients in TC
      group were higher than those in OC group (DFS: 53.4 vs 42.4 months; OS: 69.7 vs
      57.8 months), there was no statistical significance observed (both P > 0.05). For
      the mixed type, the 2 different chemotherapy regimens achieved similar median DFS
      and OS. In a conclusion, the patients of diffuse type were more sensitive to OC,
      and the intestinal type patients may be benefit from TC. Therefore, it will be of
      benefit for gastric patients by introducing Lauren classification clinically and
      to help the choice of chemotherapy regimen for gastric patients after D2
      gastrectomy.

PMID- 26871835
TI  - Rosiglitazone Use and the Risk of Bladder Cancer in Patients With Type 2
      Diabetes.
AB  - Patients with diabetes have a higher incidence of bladder cancer; however, the
      association between thiazolidinedione use and bladder cancer risk has been
      controversial. We aimed to investigate whether pioglitazone or rosiglitazone use
      is associated with bladder cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus.This nationwide nested case-control study used data set obtained from
      the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort 2002 to 2013.
      Among the 47,738 patients with incident diabetes, 85 cases of newly diagnosed
      bladder cancer and 850 controls (1:10 matched by age, sex, index year, and
      diabetes diagnosis year) were recruited. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and bladder
      cancer were diagnosed using the International Statistical Classification of
      Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision code.More cases of bladder
      cancer were diagnosed in men (81.2%), and the stratified age peaked at 70 to 79
      years old. Exclusive rosiglitazone use raised the incidence of bladder cancer
      (odds ratio [OR] = 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI ] = 1.48-6.37). The risk of
      bladder cancer started to increase after less than 3 months use (OR = 3.30, 95%
      CI = 1.02-10.70) and peaked at 3 to 12 months of rosiglitazone use (OR = 4.48,
      95% CI = 1.51-13.31). Patients were first exposed to exclusive rosiglitazone
      within 1 year (OR = 11.74, 95% CI = 2.46-56.12) and those who had consistently
      used it for 1 year (OR = 4.48 95% CI = 1.51-13.31), had higher risks of bladder
      cancer compared with nonthiazolidinedione users. Neither pioglitazone use nor
      exclusive pioglitazone use were associated with an increased incidence of bladder
      cancer.Rosiglitazone use is associated with an increased risk of incident bladder
      cancer independent of age and sex in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The
      highest odds of bladder cancer in rosiglitazone users was seen in those with <1
      year of exposure.

PMID- 26871836
TI  - GDP (Gemcitabine, Dexamethasone, and Cisplatin) Is Highly Effective and Well
      Tolerated for Newly Diagnosed Stage IV and Relapsed/Refractory Extranodal Natural
      Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of GDP
      (gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin) regimen in patients with newly
      diagnosed stage IV and relapsed/refractory extranodal natural killer/T-cell
      lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL).The study enrolled 41 ENKTL patients who received
      GDP regimen at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and
      Peking Union Medical College between January 2008 and January 2015.The disease
      status was newly diagnosed stage IV in 15 patients and relapsed/refractory in 26
      patients. The median number of cycles of chemotherapy per patient was 6 (range, 2
      8 cycles). The overall response rate and complete-remission rate were 83.0%
      (34/41) and 41.5% (17/41), respectively. After a median follow-up of 16.2 months,
      1-year progression-free survival rate and 1-year overall survival rate for the
      whole cohort were 54.5% and 72.7%. Grade 3 to 4 adverse events included
      neutropenia (34.1%), thrombocytopenia (19.5%), and anemia (14.6%).Our study has
      suggested high efficacy and low toxicity profile of GDP regimen in patients with
      newly diagnosed stage IV and relapsed/refractory ENKTL.

PMID- 26871837
TI  - Discharge Against Medical Advice From the Emergency Department: Results From a
      Tertiary Care Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon.
AB  - Patients who leave the emergency department against medical advice are at high
      risk for complications. Against medical advice (AMA) discharges are also
      considered high-risk events potentially leading to malpractice litigation.Our aim
      was to characterize patients who leave AMA in a payment prior to service
      emergency department (ED) model and to identify predictors for return visits to
      ED after leaving AMA.We conducted a retrospective review study of charts of ED
      patients who were discharged AMA between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 at a
      tertiary care center in Beirut Lebanon. We carried out a descriptive analysis and
      a bivariate analysis comparing AMA patients without and with return visit within
      72 hours. This was followed by a Logistic regression to identify predictors of
      return visits after leaving AMA.A total of 1213 ED patients were discharged AMA
      during the study period. Mean age was 46.9 years (+/-20.9). There were 654 men
      (53.9%), 737 married (60.8%). The majority (1059 patients (87.3%)) had an
      emergency severity index of 3 or less (1 or 2). ED average length of stay was 3.8
      hours (+/-6.8). Self payers accounted for 53.9%. Reasons for leaving AMA were: no
      reason mentioned (44.1%), incomplete workup (30.5%), refusing admission (12.4%),
      financial reasons (7.9%), long wait times (2.9%), and others (2.2%). Discharge
      diagnoses were mainly cardiac (23.4%), gastrointestinal (16.4%), infectious
      (10.1%), and trauma (9.8%).One hundred nineteen returned to ED within 72 hours
      (9.8%). Predictors of returning to ED after leaving AMA were: older age (OR 1.02
      95% CI (1.01-1.03)), private insurance status (OR 4.64 95% (CI 2.89-7.47) within
      network insurance status (OR 7.20 95% CI (3.86-13.44), longer ED length of stay
      during the first visit (OR 1.03 95% CI (1.01-1.05).In our setting, the rate of
      return visit to ED after leaving AMA was 9.8%. Reasons for leaving AMA, high-risk
      discharge diagnoses and predictors of return visit were identified. Financial
      status was a strong predictor of return to ED after leaving AMA.

PMID- 26871838
TI  - Radiotherapy Combined With Androgen Deprivation for Bone Oligometastases After
      Primary Curative Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Study.
AB  - To evaluate the effects and toxicity of radiotherapy (RT) combined with androgen
      deprivation (AD) for bone oligometastases after primary curative RT for prostate
      cancer (PCa).We retrospectively analyzed 30 consecutively treated PCa patients
      with bone oligometastases from April 2005 to July 2014. All patients underwent RT
      combined with AD for oligometastatic bones after curative RT for PCa. Measured
      outcomes included overall survival (OS) rate, local control (LC), progression
      free survival (PFS), pain relief, and toxicities. Statistical analysis was
      performed with SPSS17.0.The median follow-up was 32.5 months (range, 0.6-50.3).
      The 3-year PFS and OS rates were 22.8% (95% CI, 13.4-37.5%) and 69% (95% CI, 51.7
      81.1%), respectively. The number of bone oligometastases and RT schedule were
      found to be significantly associated with OS on univariate analysis (P < 0.05,
      respectively). The 3-year OS for patients with 1 and >1 metastases was 78.8%
      versus 42.2%, respectively (P = 0.037). The long-course RT was associated with
      better 3-year OS compared with short-course (76.4% vs 44.1%, P = 0.03). A total
      of 15 (83.3%, 15/18) patients achieved pain relief. No grade 3 toxicity was
      observed.Long-course RT combined with ADT was effective and well-tolerated in PCa
      patients with bone oligometastases after curative RT for PCa. Further randomized
      controlled trials are needed to corroborate the findings.

PMID- 26871839
TI  - Moxibustion is an Alternative in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: The Evidence From
      Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disorder in elderly. There is no known cure
      for KOA, and thus therapeutic strategies of alleviating symptoms are increasingly
      emphasized. Moxibustion has been widely used to treat KOA; however, results are
      inconclusive. The aim of our study is to critically reassess the effects of
      moxibustion on KOA.We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM)
      through 25 November 2015. Two independent reviewers selected studies and
      abstracted information, as well as assessed the risk of bias using Cochrane risk
      of bias tool. The random-effects meta-analyses were performed based on abstracted
      data.We initially captured 163 citations and added 4 records through checking
      review. After critical appraisal, 13 RCTs were included. Meta-analyses indicated
      that moxibustion is not statistically different from oral drug in improving the
      response rate (MD = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.20; P = 0.05), alleviating pain and
      improving physical function. Our meta-analysis also found that moxibustion is
      superior to usual care and sham moxibustion in reducing WOMAC score (MD = 7.56;
      95% CI = 4.11, 11.00; P = 0.00), pain and function, as well as increasing QoL.
      Moreover, most AEs caused by moxibustion can heal without medical care.We
      concluded that moxibustion treatment is equal to the oral drugs and intra
      articular injections and may be an alternative in treating patients with KOA.

PMID- 26871840
TI  - Associations Between the Periodontal Disease in Women Before Menopause and
      Menstrual Cycle Irregularity: The 2010-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey.
AB  - The association between menstrual cycle irregularities and system disease has
      been evaluated in previous studies. However, the association between periodontal
      disease and menstrual cycle irregularity has not been fully investigated. The
      study aimed to evaluate the relationship between periodontal disease and tooth
      loss in women before menopause and menstrual cycle irregularity using nationally
      representative data.This study performed a cross-sectional analysis and used
      hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analysis models. Data from Korean
      National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2010 and 2012
      were analyzed. The analysis in this study was confined to a total of 1553
      respondents over 19 years old who had not gone through menopause and had no
      missing values for the reproductive factors and outcome variables. A community
      periodontal index was greater than or equal to code 3 was used to define
      periodontal treatment needs.The risk of periodontal treatment needs tended to
      increase in the presence of menstrual cycle irregularity after adjustment for
      potential confounders (P for trend in the odds ratios = .0481 in model 1; 0.0613
      in model 2; 0.0369 in model 3; 0.0456 in model 4). The number of natural teeth of
      28 did not reach statistically significant differences (P for trend in the odds
      ratios = 0.2204 in model 1; 0.2373 in model 2; 0.2814 in model 3; 0.2609 in model
      4).Menstrual cycle irregularity was positively associated with the risk of
      periodontal treatment needs in Korean women before menopause. However, there was
      no significant association between tooth loss and menstrual cycle irregularity.
      Menstrual cycle irregularity may be considered to be a potential risk indicator
      for periodontal treatment needs in Korean women before menopause.

PMID- 26871841
TI  - Distinctive Patterns of Initially Presenting Metastases and Clinical Outcomes
      According to the Histological Subtypes in Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - This study was designed to compare the primary patterns of metastases and
      clinical outcomes between adenocarcinoma (Adenoca) and squamous cell carcinoma
      (SQ) in initially diagnosed stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Between
      June 2007 and June 2013, a total of 427 eligible patients were analyzed. These
      patients were histologically confirmed as Adenoca or SQ and underwent systemic
      imaging studies, including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission
      tomography/computed tomography and brain imaging. Synchronous metastatic sites
      were categorized into 7 areas, and whole-body metastatic scores were calculated
      from 1 to 7 by summation of each involved region. We compared the patient, tumor,
      and metastatic characteristics according to the histological subtypes, and
      examined clinical outcomes.The enrolled study cohort comprised 81% (n = 346)
      Adenoca patients and 19% (n = 81) SQ patients. The median age of the study
      population was 65 years (range, 30-94 years), and 263 (61.6%) patients were male.
      The most common metastatic sites were thoracic lymph nodes (LNs) (84.3%),
      followed by lung to lung/lymphangitic spread (59%) and bone (54.8%). The
      distribution of patient characteristics revealed that age >=65 years (69.1% vs
      50.6%; P = 0.003) and male sex (84% vs 56.4%; P < 0.001) were more frequently
      found in SQ patients. Regarding metastatic features, bone metastasis (60.4% vs
      30.9%; P < 0.001), lung to lung/lymphangitic metastasis (63% vs 42%; P = 0.001),
      and brain metastasis (35% vs 16%; P = 0.001) were significantly and more
      frequently found in Adenoca patients. Patients with high metastatic scores (score
      3-6) were more frequently found to have Adenoca (91.6% vs 73.4%; P < 0.001). In
      multivariate prognostic evaluation, sex (P = 0.001), age (P < 0.001), histology
      (P < 0.001), LN status (P = 0.032), pleural/pericardial metastasis (P = 0.003),
      abdomen/pelvis metastasis (P < 0.001), axilla/neck metastasis (P = 0.006), and
      treatment factors (P < 0.001) remained independent prognostic factors affecting
      overall survival.We observed distinctive patterns of primary metastases and
      clinical outcomes according to the histological subtypes in stage IV NSCLC.
      Future studies need to disclose the underlying mechanism of these unique
      metastatic features and tumor biologies.

PMID- 26871842
TI  - Cervical Intradural Disc Herniation Causing Progressive Quadriparesis After
      Spinal Manipulation Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Cervical intradural disc herniation (IDH) is an extremely rare condition,
      comprising only 0.27% of all disc herniations. Three percent of IDHs occur in the
      cervical, 5% in the thoracic, and over 92% in the lumbar spinal canal. There have
      been a total of 31 cervical IDHs reported in the literature. The pathogenesis and
      imaging characteristics of IDH are not fully understood. A preoperative diagnosis
      is key to facilitating prompt intradural exploration in patients with ambivalent
      findings, as well as in preventing reoperation. The purpose of reporting our case
      is to remind clinicians to consider the possibility of cervical IDH during spinal
      manipulation therapy in patient with chronic neck pain.The patient signed
      informed consent for publication of this case report and any accompanying image.
      The ethical approval of this study was waived by the ethics committee of Chonbuk
      National University Hospital, because this study was case report and the number
      of patients was <3.A 32-year-old man was transferred our emergency department
      with progressive quadriparesis. He had no history of trauma, but had received
      physical therapy with spinal manipulation for chronic neck pain over the course
      of a month. The day prior, he had noticed neck pain and tingling in the bilateral
      upper and lower extremities during the manipulation procedure. The following day,
      he presented with bilateral weakness of all 4 extremities, which rendered him
      unable to walk. Neurological examination demonstrated a positive Hoffmann sign
      and ankle clonus bilaterally, hypoesthesia below the C5 dermatome, 3/5 strength
      in the bilateral upper extremities, and 2/5 strength in the lower extremities.
      This motor weakness was progressive, and he further complained of voiding
      difficulty.Urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine revealed
      large, central disc herniations at C4-C5 and C5-C6 that caused severe spinal cord
      compression and surrounding edema. We performed C4-C5-C6 anterior cervical
      discectomy and fusion.The patient's limb weakness improved rapidly within 1 day
      postoperatively, and he was discharged 4 weeks later. At his 12-month follow-up,
      the patient had recovered nearly full muscle power.We presented an extremely rare
      case of cervical IDH causing progressive quadriparesis after excessive spinal
      manipulation therapy. The presence of a "halo" and "Y-sign" were useful MRI
      markers for cervical IDH in this case.

PMID- 26871843
TI  - Risk of Psychiatric Disorders Following Symptomatic Menopausal Transition: A
      Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.
AB  - Menopausal transition is highly symptomatic in at least 20% of women. A higher
      prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and sleep
      disturbance, has been shown in women with symptomatic menopausal transition.
      However, a clear correlation between symptomatic menopausal transition and
      psychiatric disorders has not been established.We explored the association
      between symptomatic menopausal transition and subsequent newly diagnosed
      psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia as well as bipolar, depressive,
      anxiety, and sleep disorders.We investigated women who were diagnosed with
      symptomatic menopausal transition by an obstetrician-gynecologist according to
      the data in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A comparison
      cohort comprised age-matched women without symptomatic menopausal transition. The
      incidence rate and the hazard ratios of subsequent newly diagnosed psychiatric
      disorders were evaluated in both cohorts, based on the diagnoses of
      psychiatrists.The symptomatic menopausal transition and control cohorts each
      consisted of 19,028 women. The incidences of bipolar disorders (hazard ratio [HR]
      = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-2.80), depressive disorders (HR =
      2.17, 95% CI = 1.93-2.45), anxiety disorders (HR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.84-2.41), and
      sleep disorders (HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.73-2.34) were higher among the symptomatic
      menopausal transition women than in the comparison cohort. After stratifying for
      follow-up duration, the incidence of newly diagnosed bipolar disorders,
      depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and sleep disorders following a
      diagnosis of symptomatic menopausal transition remained significantly increased
      in the longer follow-up groups (1-5 and >= 5 years).Symptomatic menopausal
      transition might increase the risk of subsequent newly onset bipolar disorders,
      depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and sleep disorders. A prospective study
      is necessary to confirm these findings.

PMID- 26871844
TI  - Genetic Variation in Metastasis-Associated in Colon Cancer-1 and the Risk of
      Breast Cancer Among the Chinese Han Population: A STROBE-Compliant Observational
      Study.
AB  - Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1), a newly identified oncogene, is
      involved in angiogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis in many cancers.
      Epidemiological studies have indicated the associations between MACC1
      polymorphisms and cancer risk. However, the association between genetic
      polymorphisms in MACC1 and breast cancer (BC) was not clear. This study aimed to
      evaluate the relationship between MACC1 polymorphisms and BC risk.We genotyped 4
      single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MACC1 (rs975263, rs1990172, rs3735615,
      rs4721888) to determine the haplotypes in 560 BC patients and 583 age-, sex-, and
      ethnicity-matched healthy individuals. Genotypes were determined using the
      Sequenom MassARRAY method. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence
      intervals (95% CIs) using the chi-square test.There were significant differences
      between patients and controls in the MACC1 rs975263 allelic (T vs C: OR = 0.76,
      95% CI = 0.61-0.95, P = 0.014) and genotypic groups (TC vs TT: OR = 0.70, 95% CI
      = 0.54-0.92, P = 0.009; TC+CC vs TT: OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55-0.92, P = 0.008).
      Analysis of clinical features demonstrated significant associations between
      rs975263 and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grade 3 cancer (P = 0.006) and
      postmenopausal women (P = 0.018). Compared with the rs4721888 CC genotype, the
      frequency of rs4721888 GC and GC+CC variants was higher in patients. Further
      analysis revealed that the variant genotypes were positively associated with
      lymph node metastasis. However, we failed to find any relationships between
      rs1990172 or rs3735615 polymorphism and BC risk. In addition, haplotype analysis
      indicated that the CTGG and CTCG haplotypes (rs975263, rs1990172, rs3735615,
      rs4721888) were significantly associated with decreased susceptibility to BC (P =
      0.029 and 0.019 respectively).Our results suggest that rs975263 and rs4721888
      polymorphisms in MACC1 are associated with the risk of BC susceptibility and may
      be involved in the progression of BC in Chinese women.

PMID- 26871845
TI  - Laparoscopic Anatomical Left Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Bile Duct Papillary
      Mucinous Cystadenoma With Intraoperative Vascular Repair: A Case Report.
AB  - Laparoscopic hepatectomy has been widely performed for patients with benign liver
      tumors such as hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic
      adenoma.We here present a case of a 78-year-old female patient who was initially
      admitted to our department due to fever and jaundice for 2 days. Abdominal
      enhanced computed tomography scan showed intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct
      dilatation with liver atrophy of left lobe. Unenhanced nodules were seen within
      the left intrahepatic bile duct. Ultrasonography revealed intrahepatic and
      extrahepatic bile duct dilatation with viscous fluid, tubular adenoma? Tumor
      markers including alpha fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA19-9 were
      normal. Preoperative total bilirubin was 64.4 mmol/L.Laparoscopic anatomical left
      hepatectomy and common bile duct exploration were performed. In this procedure, a
      lot of mucus was seen within the common bile duct and left intrahepatic bile
      duct. No bile duct stones were found after the exploration. During parenchymal
      transection, intraoperative hemorrhage from middle hepatic vein was met, and we
      repaired middle hepatic vein by laparoscopic suture (5-0 Prolene). No air
      embolism and hypotension were met. This operation took 232 minutes and estimated
      blood loss was 300 mL. Postoperative ultrasonography indicated a normal outflow
      of middle hepatic vein and there was no stricture. The patient's postoperative
      course was uneventful and was discharged on the 6th day after surgery.
      Postoperative pathological diagnosis was intrahepatic bile duct papillary
      mucinous cystadenoma.

PMID- 26871846
TI  - The Impact of Creatinine Clearance Rate, Daily Urinary Albumin, and Their Joint
      Effect on Predicting Death in Diabetic Inpatients After Discharge: An
      Observational Study.
AB  - Renal clearance function and urinary albumin excretion are important markers for
      diabetic nephropathy. We assessed whether the creatinine clearance rate (CCR) and
      daily urinary albumin (DUA) excretion, which both require 24-hour urine data, are
      better predictors of mortality in diabetic inpatients compared with the estimated
      glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR).We
      enrolled 1011 patients who were hospitalized due to poor glucose control, and
      collected clinical information, including 24-hour urine data, from their medical
      records. We determined the mortality rate after discharge by examining the
      national registry data in Taiwan.The subjects had a median follow-up of 6.5 years
      (interquartile range between 3.5 and 9.6 years). Subjects with a CCR < 60 mL/min
      and a DUA >= 300 mg/d had the highest mortality rate, with a hazard ratio of
      3.373 (95% confidence interval = 2.469-4.609), compared with the mortality rate
      in subjects with a CCR >= 60 mL/min and a DUA < 300 mg/d. In terms of predicting
      mortality in diabetic inpatients, ACR had a similar sensitivity to DUA (40.3%
      versus 38.0%), but eGFR provided lower sensitivity than CCR (54.5% versus
      66.5%).Creatinine clearance rate and DUA have an additive effect on predicting
      mortality in diabetic inpatients after discharge. Moreover, CCR is a more
      sensitive predictor of mortality than eGFR. Therefore, determining CCR using 24
      hour urine data, as well as either ACR or DUA, should provide better prediction
      of mortality in diabetic nephropathy patients.

PMID- 26871848
TI  - Abdominal Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma Associated With Lymphangiomatosis
      Involving Mesentery and Ileum: A Case Report of MRI, CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT
      Findings.
AB  - Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KH) is a rare vascular tumor of intermediate
      malignancy that occurs mainly in the childhood. Adult patients with KH are rare.
      Imaging findings of KH have rarely been reported before. We present magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and fluorine-18
      fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT findings in an
      adult patient with KH associated with lymphangiomatosis involving mesentery and
      ileum.A 22-year-old female complained of a 9-month history of intermittent
      melena, weakness, and palpitation. Laboratory tests revealed anemia and
      hypoproteinemia. Fecal occult blood test was positive. Abdominal enhanced MRI and
      CT showed a large abdominal mass involving mesentery and ileum. On enhanced MRI,
      there were many hypervascular nodules in the mass. On FDG PET/CT, the mass and
      the nodules showed slight FDG uptake. Small bowel capsule endoscopy showed
      numerous grape-shaped red nodules in the luminal wall of the involved ileum. The
      patient underwent resection of the abdominal mass and a segment of the ileum
      invaded by the abdominal mass. KH arising within lymphangiomatosis involving
      mesentery and ileum was confirmed by pathology. After surgery, the patient's
      symptoms improved.This is the first case of KH associated with lymphangiomatosis
      involving mesentery and ileum. In this case, the lymphangiomatosis overshadowed
      the small tumor nodules resulting in unusual imaging findings. Familiarity with
      these imaging findings is helpful for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of KH.

PMID- 26871847
TI  - The Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Myocardial Function Assessed by Tissue Doppler
      Echocardiography During General Anesthesia in Patients With Diastolic
      Dysfunction: A CONSORT-Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
AB  - Dexmedetomidine is a commonly used sedative and adjuvant agent to general
      anesthesia. The present was designed to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine
      on myocardial function by using tissue Doppler echocardiography during general
      anesthesia in patients with diastolic dysfunction.Forty patients undergoing
      orthostatic surgery with ejection fraction preserved diastolic dysfunction grade
      2 or 3 were randomly allocated to the Control and Dex group (n = 20, each). In
      the Dex group, dexmedetomidine was given as an initial loading dose of 1.0 MUg/kg
      over 10 minutes followed by a maintenance dose of 0.5 MUg/kg/h. The ratio of peak
      early diastolic transmitral or transtricuspid inflow velocity to early diastolic
      mitral or tricuspid annular velocity (LV or RV E/e') and left or right
      ventricular myocardial performance index (LV or RV MPI) were measured at before
      and after the administration dexmedetomidine or saline.The Dex group showed
      significant decrease of heart rate (P = 0.038), and increase of mean blood
      pressure (P < 0.001), LV E/e' (P = 0.025), and LV MPI (P < 0.001) compared to
      those of the Control group on a linear mixed model analysis. Also, the Dex group
      showed significant increase of RV E/e' (P < 0.001) and RV MPI (P = 0.028)
      compared to those of the Control group.Intraoperative dexmedetomidine
      administration during general anesthesia was appeared to deteriorate
      biventricular function in patients with diastolic dysfunction. We suggest careful
      consideration and a need for reducing dosage when administrating dexmedetomidine
      in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

PMID- 26871849
TI  - In Acute Myocardial Infarction Liver Parameters Are Associated With Stenosis
      Diameter.
AB  - Detection of high-risk subjects in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by
      noninvasive means would reduce the need for intracardiac catheterization and
      associated complications. Liver enzymes are associated with cardiovascular
      disease risk. A potential predictive value for liver serum markers for the
      severity of stenosis in AMI was analyzed.Patients with AMI undergoing
      percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; n = 437) were retrospectively evaluated.
      Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and percent stenosis diameter (SD) were determined
      from quantitative coronary angiography. Patients were classified according to the
      severity of stenosis (SD >= 50%, n = 357; SD < 50%, n = 80). Routine heart and
      liver parameters were associated with SD using random forests (RF). A prediction
      model (M10) was developed based on parameter importance analysis in RF.Age,
      alkaline phosphatase (AP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and MLD differed
      significantly between SD >= 50 and SD < 50. Age, AST, alanine aminotransferase
      (ALT), and troponin correlated significantly with SD, whereas MLD correlated
      inversely with SD. M10 (age, BMI, AP, AST, ALT, gamma-glutamyltransferase,
      creatinine, troponin) reached an AUC of 69.7% (CI 63.8-75.5%, P < 0.0001).Routine
      liver parameters are associated with SD in AMI. A small set of noninvasively
      determined parameters can identify SD in AMI, and might avoid unnecessary
      coronary angiography in patients with low risk. The model can be accessed via
      http://stenosis.heiderlab.de.

PMID- 26871850
TI  - Predictive Significance of a New Prognostic Score for Patients With Diffuse Large
      B-Cell Lymphoma in the Interim-Positron Emission Tomography Findings.
AB  - We hypothesized that the objective treatment response of patients with diffuse
      large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was affected by many factors such as
      pathophysiological, biological, and pharmaceutical mechanisms. This retrospective
      study aimed to evaluate the predictive significance of clinical prognostic
      factors and interim fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission
      tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and to find a new prognostic predictor
      significantly associated with DLBCL patients' outcome. A total of 105 adult
      patients with DLBCL were reviewed. Each patient underwent an interim F-FDG PET/CT
      scan after the second chemotherapy cycle. The visual method based on the
      Deauville 5-point scale was used to evaluate the interim-PET/CT scans. The
      relationships among the prognostic factors, the 3-year progression-free survival
      (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier plots.
      The predictive value of the newly constructed prognostic score was analyzed with
      multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard regression model). The visual
      analysis showed statistically significant differences in both PFS and OS between
      the patients with a negative interim-PET/CT and those with a positive interim
      PET/CT. Advanced age, advanced stage, and DLBCL subtype were also significantly
      associated with outcome. A new prognostic score that composed of the above 4
      factors was obtained. New prognostic score stratified patients into 4 risk groups
      with 3-year PFS of 98.5%, 73.9%, 11.1%, and 0%, and 3-year OS of 100%, 91.3%,
      55.6%, and 0% (P < 0.001 for PFS and OS). Multivariate analysis showed that the
      new prognostic score had the greatest ability to predict relapse (P < 0.001) and
      death (P < 0.001). In DLBCL patients, interim F-FDG PET/CT can provide
      significant independent prognostic information. Our work illustrates that the new
      prognostic score has the strongest potential for accurately prognostication, for
      stratification in clinical trials, and for design of novel strategies for DLBCL
      patients in the high-risk group.

PMID- 26871851
TI  - Tissue Kallikrein Prevents Restenosis After Stenting of Severe Atherosclerotic
      Stenosis of the Middle Cerebral Artery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - In-stent restenosis (ISR) following intracranial artery stenting affects long
      term clinical outcome. This randomized controlled trial sought to identify the
      long-term efficacy of exogenous tissue kallikrein (TK) for preventing ISR after
      intracranial stenting of symptomatic middle cerebral artery (MCA) atherosclerotic
      stenosis.Sixty-one patients successfully treated with intracranial stenting for
      symptomatic MCA M1 segment stenosis (>70%) were enrolled and randomized into 2
      groups: control group and TK group. Patients in the TK group received human
      urinary kallidinogenase for 7 days, followed by maintenance therapy of pancreatic
      kallikrein for 6 months. The primary end point was angiographically verified ISR
      at 6 months, and secondary end points included vascular events and death within
      12 months. Endogenous TK plasma concentrations of patients were measured before
      stenting and at the 6-month follow-up time-point.Patients in the TK group had
      lower occurrence rates of ISR and vascular events than patients in the control
      group. There was no difference in endogenous TK levels in plasma at 6 months
      postoperatively between the TK and control groups. Further subgroup analysis
      revealed that patients without ISR had higher endogenous TK levels at baseline
      and lower concentrations at 6 months postoperatively compared with patients who
      underwent ISR.Exogenous TK is effective for the prevention of ISR after
      intracranial stenting.

PMID- 26871852
TI  - Depression and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Death: A Meta
      Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.
AB  - Findings regarding the association between depression and risk of coronary heart
      disease are inconsistent. We aimed to assess the association between depression
      and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary death through a meta
      analysis.We performed an electronic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE,
      PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases through August 1, 2015, and
      manual search of the references of the eligible papers and related review
      articles. Two investigators independently conducted study selection and data
      abstraction. Disagreement was resolved by consensus. Confounder-adjusted hazard
      ratios (HRs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was
      evaluated using the Cochran Q statistic and Higgins index. Publication bias was
      assessed by funnel plot and Egger test. Study quality was appraised with the
      Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Among 19 eligible cohort studies including 323,709
      participants, 8447 cases of MI and coronary death were reported during follow-up
      ranging from 4 to 37 years. The pooled adjusted HRs for patients with depression
      (vs those without) were 1.22 (95% CI, 1.13-1.32) for combined MI and coronary
      death, 1.31 (95% CI, 1.09-1.57) for MI alone (9 studies), and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.14
      1.63) for coronary death alone (8 studies). The increased risk of MI and coronary
      death associated with depression was consistent using modified inclusion
      criteria, across most subgroups, and after adjusting for possible publication
      bias.Depression is associated with a significantly increased risk of MI and
      coronary death. Effective prevention and treatment of depression may decrease
      such risk.

PMID- 26871853
TI  - Current Safety of Renal Allograft Biopsy With Indication in Adult Recipients: An
      Observational Study.
AB  - Renal biopsy remains the golden standard diagnosis of renal function
      deterioration. The safety in native kidney biopsy is well defined. However, it is
      a different story in allograft kidney biopsy. We conduct this retrospective study
      to clarify the safety of allograft kidney biopsy with indication.All variables
      were grouped by the year of biopsy and they were compared by Mann-Whitney U test
      (for continuous variables) or Chi-square test (for categorical variables). We
      collected possible factors associated with complications, including age, gender,
      body weight, renal function, cause of uremia, status of coagulation, hepatitis,
      size of needle, and immunosuppressants.We recruited all renal transplant
      recipients undergoing allograft biopsy between January of 2009 and December of
      2014. This is the largest database for allograft kidney biopsy with indication.
      Of all the 269 biopsies, there was no difference in occurrence among the total 14
      complications (5.2%) over these 6 years. There were only 3 cases of hematomas
      (1.11%), 6 gross hematuria (2.23%), 1 hydronephrosis (0.37%), and 2 hemoglobin
      decline (0.74%). The outcome of this cohort is the best compared to all other
      studies, and it is even better than the allograft protocol kidney biopsy. Among
      all possible factors, patients with pathological report containing "medullary
      tissue only" were susceptible to complications (P < 0.001, 1.8 of relative
      risk).In modern era, this study demonstrates the safety of allograft kidney
      biopsy with indication. Identifying the renal capsule before biopsy to avoid
      puncture into medulla is the most important element to prevent complications. 

PMID- 26871854
TI  - Thrombocytopenia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Manifestations,
      Treatment, and Prognosis in 230 Patients.
AB  - The aim of the study was to examine the clinical characteristics and prognosis
      according to severity of thrombocytopenia and response to treatment for
      thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).We
      retrospectively evaluated 230 SLE patients with thrombocytopenia, and reviewed
      their clinical data and laboratory findings. Thrombocytopenia was defined as
      platelet counts under 100,000/mm, and patients were divided into 3
      thrombocytopenia groups according to severity: mild (platelet counts >50,000/mm),
      moderate (>20,000/mm, <=50,000/mm), and severe (<=20,000/mm). Clinical
      characteristics, treatments, and prognoses were compared among the groups.
      Furthermore, complete remission of thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet
      counts >100,000/mm after treatment.There was no significant difference in
      clinical or laboratory findings among the groups according to severity of
      thrombocytopenia. However, hemorrhagic complications were more frequent in severe
      thrombocytopenia (P < 0.001) and mortality was also higher (P = 0.001). Complete
      remission was achieved in 85.2% of patients. The clinical characteristics and
      modality of treatment did not differ between the patients with and without
      complete remission. Mortality in patients with complete remission (1.5%) was
      significantly lower than in those without complete remission (29.4%, P < 0.001).
      Survival was significantly higher in patients with complete remission from
      thrombocytopenia (odds ratio = 0.049, 95% confidence interval: 0.013-0.191, P <
      0.001).The severity of thrombocytopenia in SLE patients can be a useful
      independent prognostic factor to predict survival. Moreover, complete remission
      of thrombocytopenia after treatment is an important prognostic factor. The
      severity of thrombocytopenia and response to treatment should be closely
      monitored to predict prognosis in SLE patients.

PMID- 26871855
TI  - Assessment of Arterial Stiffness, Volume, and Nutritional Status in Stable Renal
      Transplant Recipients.
AB  - Reduction of cardiovascular death might have a significant effect on the long
      term survival rates of renal transplant recipients (RTRs). The aim of the study
      was to assess the relation between arterial stiffness and graft function, adipose
      tissue content, and hydration status in patients after kidney transplantation
      (KTx).The study included 83 RTR patients (mean age: 55 +/- 13 years) who had been
      admitted to a nephrology-transplantation outpatient clinic 0.5 to 24 years after
      KTx. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed and eGFR was calculated with the
      CKD-EPI formula. Arterial stiffness was assessed in all RTRs with pulse wave
      propagation velocity (PWV) with the use of a complior device. In addition, fluid
      and nutritional status was assessed with a Tanita BC 418 body composition
      analyzer. The control group consisted of 31 hospital workers who received no
      medication and had no history of cardiovascular disease.Multivariable linear
      regression analysis, with PWV as a dependent variable, retained the following
      independent predictors in the final regression model: red blood cell distribution
      width (RDW) (B = 0.323; P = 0.004), age (B = 0.297; P = 0.005), tacrolimus
      therapy (B = -0.286; P = 0.004), and central DBP (B = 0.185; P = 0.041).
      Multivariable linear regression analysis with eGFR as a dependent variable
      retained the following independent predictors in the final regression model;
      creatinine concentration (B = -0.632; P = 0.000), hemoglobin (B = 0.280; P =
      0.000), CRP (B = -0.172; P = 0.011), tacrolimus therapy (B = 0.142; P = 0.039),
      and triglycerides (B = -0.142; P = 0.035).Our data indicates that: kidney
      transplant recipients can present modifiable CVD risk factors linked to increased
      arterial stiffness, DBP, waist circumference, SCr, time on dialysis, CyA therapy,
      and visceral fat mass; RDW is a parameter associated with arterial stiffness; and
      parameters such as CyA therapy, time on dialysis, PWV, RDW, and triglycerides
      show negative associations with the allograft function assessed with eGFR.

PMID- 26871856
TI  - Body Mass Index of Young Men in China: Results From Four National Surveys
      Conducted Between 1955 and 2012.
AB  - To analyze the characteristics and trends of body mass index (BMI) among young
      men in China using data from a series of national surveys conducted between 1955
      and 2012, and to provide evidence for policy making and disease control and
      prevention.BMI-related data were collected by routine medical examination from
      young men, most aged 18 to 20 years, in 4 national surveys (1955, 1974, 2001, and
      2012) using a stratified cluster sampling method in 31 provinces, autonomous
      regions, and municipalities in China. The characteristics and trends of BMI
      during this period were analyzed by region, year, age, and economic level.Totals
      of 266,791, 118,092, 69,776, and 57,969 participants were included in the 4
      national surveys, respectively. Between 1955 and 2012, height, weight, and BMI
      showed increasing trends in men aged 18 to 20 years at the national level and in
      each of the 6 areas of China. BMI also differed among geographical regions. Data
      from the 2012 national survey showed that age (17-22 years) was correlated
      positively with the prevalence of overweight and negatively with the prevalence
      of underweight (both P < 0.05). Gross domestic product was correlated negatively
      with the prevalence of underweight (r = -0.25) and positively with the prevalence
      of overweight and obesity (r = 0.45 and 0.240, respectively; all P < 0.001).BMI
      increased with economic development among young men from 1955 to 2012, with
      distinct variation among geographic areas in China. Although underweight remains
      prevalent in young men, especially in urban and northern regions, overweight and
      obesity are increasingly prevalent and warrant public health attention.

PMID- 26871857
TI  - Serum Calcium Concentration Is Inversely Associated With Radiographic Knee
      Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - To examine the relationship between serum calcium (Ca) concentration and
      radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA).This study covered a total of 2855
      subjects. The serum Ca concentration was detected by the Arsenazo III method. The
      radiographic OA of the knee was defined as changes equivalent to Kellgren
      Lawrence grade 2 on 1 side at least. The serum Ca concentration was categorized
      into 4 quartiles, which are <=2.27, 2.28-2.34, 2.35-2.41, and >=2.42 mmol/L,
      respectively. The relationship between serum Ca and radiographic knee OA was
      examined using the multivariable logistic analysis after adjusting a series of
      potential confounding factors. For each quartile of the relationship between
      serum Ca concentration and radiographic knee OA, the OR with 95% CI was
      calculated, and the one with the lowest value was considered to be the
      reference.An inverse association existed between serum Ca concentration and
      radiographic OA of the knee in the multivariable model and the model where the
      factors of age, sex, and BMI were adjusted. The multivariable-adjusted OR (95%
      CI) for radiographic knee OA in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of serum
      Ca concentration were 1.05 (95% CI: 0.83-1.31), 1.01 (95% CI: 0.80-1.27), and
      0.79 (95% CI: 0.62-1.00), respectively, in comparison with the reference (first)
      quartile. A trend approaching to statistical significant (P = 0.06) was observed.
      Meanwhile, the relative odds of radiographic OA of the knee were decreased by
      0.79 times in the fourth quartile in comparison with the reference.There is
      likely to be an inverse association between serum Ca concentration and
      radiographic OA of the knee.

PMID- 26871858
TI  - Risk of Depression, Chronic Morbidities, and l-Thyroxine Treatment in Hashimoto
      Thyroiditis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cohort Study.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of depression in and effect of L
      thyroxine therapy on patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) in Taiwan.In this
      retrospective, nationwide cohort study, we retrieved data from the Longitudinal
      Health Insurance Database 2000. We collected data of 1220 patients with HT and
      4880 patients without HT for the period 2000 to 2011. The mean follow-up period
      for the HT cohort was 5.77 years. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional
      hazards regression models were used to estimate the risk of depression in the HT
      cohort.In the HT cohort, 89.6% of the patients were women. Compared with the non
      HT cohort, the HT cohort exhibited a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus,
      hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease. Furthermore, the HT cohort showed a
      higher overall incidence of depression compared with the non-HT cohort (8.67 and
      5.49 per 1000 person-year; crude hazard ratio [HR] = 1.58, 95% confidence
      interval [CI] = 1.18-2.13). The risk of depression decreased after administration
      of L-thyroxine treatment for more than 1 year (adjusted HR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.66
      1.59).In Taiwan, the overall incidence of depression was greater in the young HT
      cohort. L-thyroxine treatment reduced the risk of depression.

PMID- 26871859
TI  - Association Between 3 IL-10 Gene Polymorphisms and Cardiovascular Disease Risk:
      Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.
AB  - Previous studies have yielded controversial results related to the contribution
      of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms (IL-10 -592C/A, IL-10 -1082G/A, and
      IL-10 -819C/T) in the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Thus, we
      performed a meta-analysis to summarize this situation.Eligible studies were
      retrieved by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library with
      the last search up to July 7, 2015. Data were pooled by odds ratios (ORs) and
      their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). False-positive report probability (FPRP)
      analysis was conducted for all significant findings. Genotype-based mRNA
      expression analysis was also performed using data from 270 individuals with
      different ethnicities.Finally, 19 studies for IL-10 -592C/A polymorphism (7284
      cases and 7469 controls), 21 studies for IL-10 -1082G/A polymorphism (8263 cases
      and 5765 controls), and 12 studies for IL-10 -819C/T polymorphism (4502 cases and
      3190 controls) were included in the meta-analyses. With respect to IL-10 -819C/T
      polymorphism, statistically significant decreased CVD risk was found when all
      studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (T vs C: OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84
      0.98; TT + TC vs CC: OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.81-1.00). Subgroup analyses stratified
      by disease subtype suggested the -819C/T polymorphism was significantly
      associated with a decreased CAD risk (T vs C: OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.83-0.97; TT
      vs CC: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.66-1.00; TT vs TC + CC: OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69
      0.98; TT + TC vs CC: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80-0.99), which was noteworthy finding
      as evaluated by FPRP. However, with regard to IL-10 -592C/A and IL-10 -1082G/A
      polymorphisms, no significant association with CVD risk was observed in the
      overall and subgroup analyses.In conventional meta-analyses, the results
      suggested that IL-10 -819C/T polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of
      CVD, especially CAD outcome, whereas IL-10 -592C/A and IL-10 -1082G/A
      polymorphisms might have no influence on the susceptibility of CVD. However,
      trial sequential analysis does not allow us to draw any solid conclusion for the
      association between IL-10 -592C/A or IL-10 -1082G/A polymorphism and CVD risk.
      Further large and well-designed studies are still needed.

PMID- 26871861
TI  - Synergistic Action of IL-8 and Bone Marrow Concentrate on Cartilage Regeneration
      Through Upregulation of Chondrogenic Transcription Factors.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine whether a biphasic scaffold loaded
      with a combination of a chemokine and bone marrow concentrate (BMC) could improve
      tissue regeneration in knee articular cartilage of beagles with cylindrical
      osteochondral defects. For this investigation, an osteochondral defect (6 mm in
      diameter and 8 mm deep) was created in the weight-bearing articular surface of
      the femoral medial condyle in beagles. Bone marrow was aspirated from the
      posterior iliac crests of beagles to obtain mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for in
      vitro assay. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome (MT), safranin O/fast
      green staining, and immunohistochemistry were performed for histological
      analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to
      understand the roles of BMC in chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. At 12 weeks
      after transplantation of biphasic scaffolds, we observed that interleukin-8 (IL
      8) or the combination of IL-8 and BMC induced massive bone regeneration compared
      to saline, BMC only, and MSCs. In gross appearance, the osteochondral defect site
      was nearly completely filled with repair tissue in the group that received the
      combination of IL-8 and BMC but not in the other groups. Moreover, histological
      analysis showed obvious differences in cartilage regeneration among groups. HE
      and MT staining showed that the cartilage defect sites of the group receiving the
      combination of IL-8 and BMC were regenerated with cartilage-like tissues showing
      chondrocyte morphology. Safranin O staining showed hyaline cartilage regeneration
      in the group receiving IL-8 and BMC, whereas fibrous-like tissues were formed in
      the other groups. Furthermore, immunostaining revealed the presence of type II
      collagen and aggrecan in regenerated cartilage tissue of the group receiving IL-8
      and BMC, whereas regenerated cartilage tissues of the other groups weakly
      expressed type II collagen and aggrecan. These results indicate that the
      combination of a chemokine IL-8 and BMC has significant positive effects on
      osteochondral regeneration in a beagle model through enhancing expression of the
      chondrogenic transcription factors and markers such as Sox9 and type II collagen.

PMID- 26871860
TI  - Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Seeded Hydrogels Increase Endogenous Progenitor Cell
      Recruitment and Neovascularization in Wounds.
AB  - Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are appealing for cell-based wound
      therapies because of their accessibility and ease of harvest, but their utility
      is limited by poor cell survival within the harsh wound microenvironment. In
      prior work, our laboratory has demonstrated that seeding ASCs within a soft
      pullulan-collagen hydrogel enhances ASC survival and improves wound healing. To
      more fully understand the mechanism of this therapy, we examined whether ASC
      seeded hydrogels were able to modulate the recruitment and/or functionality of
      endogenous progenitor cells. Employing a parabiosis model and fluorescence
      activated cell sorting analysis, we demonstrate that application of ASC-seeded
      hydrogels to wounds, when compared with injected ASCs or a noncell control,
      increased the recruitment of provascular circulating bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal progenitor cells (BM-MPCs). BM-MPCs comprised 23.0% of recruited
      circulating progenitor cells in wounds treated with ASC-seeded hydrogels versus
      8.4% and 2.1% in those treated with controls, p < 0.05. Exploring the potential
      for functional modulation of BM-MPCs, we demonstrate a statistically significant
      increase in BM-MPC migration, proliferation, and tubulization when exposed to
      hydrogel-seeded ASC-conditioned medium versus control ASC-conditioned medium
      (73.8% vs. 51.4% scratch assay closure; 9.1% vs. 1.4% proliferation rate; 10.2
      vs. 5.5 tubules/HPF; p < 0.05 for all assays). BM-MPC expression of genes related
      to cell stemness and angiogenesis was also significantly increased following
      exposure to hydrogel-seeded ASC-conditioned medium (p < 0.05). These data suggest
      that ASC-seeded hydrogels improve both progenitor cell recruitment and
      functionality to effect greater neovascularization.

PMID- 26871862
TI  - Coculturing Human Islets with Proangiogenic Support Cells to Improve Islet
      Revascularization at the Subcutaneous Transplantation Site.
AB  - While subcutaneous tissue has been proposed as a clinically relevant site for
      pancreatic islet transplantation, a major issue of concern remains, which is its
      poor vascular state. In an effort to overcome this limitation, we present an
      efficient and reproducible method to form human composite islets (CIs) with
      proangiogenic cell types in a controlled manner using nonadherent agarose
      microwell templates. In this study, we assessed the three-dimensional structure,
      function, and angiogenic potential of human CIs with human mesenchymal stromal
      cells (hMSCs), with or without human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs),
      and preconditioned hMSCs (PC-hMSCs) in EGM-2 under shear stress. Distinct
      cellular rearrangements could be observed in CIs, but islet functionality was
      maintained. In vitro angiogenesis assays found significantly enhanced sprout
      formation in case of CIs. In particular, the number of sprouts emanating from CIs
      with PC-hMSCs was significantly increased compared to other conditions.
      Subsequent in vivo assessment confirmed the proangiogenic potential of CIs.
      However, in contrast to our in vitro angiogenesis assays, CIs with hMSCs and
      HUVECs exhibited a higher in vivo angiogenic potential compared to control islets
      or islets combined with hMSCs or PC-hMSCs. These findings highlight the
      importance and necessity of verifying in vitro studies with in vivo models to
      reliably predict, in this case, revascularization outcomes. Regardless, we
      demonstrate here the therapeutic potential of CIs with proangiogenic support
      cells to enhance islet revascularization at a clinically relevant, although
      poorly vascularized, transplantation site. 

PMID- 26871864
TI  - Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activities of PtCuCoNi Three-Dimensional Nanoporous
      Quaternary Alloys for Oxygen Reduction and Methanol Oxidation Reactions.
AB  - Control of morphology and composition could precisely and efficiently alter the
      catalytic properties of Pt-based materials, improving the electrocatalytic
      activity and durability. Here we proposed a rapid, controllable synthesis of
      three-dimensional PtCuCoNi quaternary alloys with low Pt-group metal, which were
      directly synthesized by reducing metal precursors in aqueous solution. The
      resultant quaternary alloys show excellent oxygen reduction and methanol
      oxidation reaction activities in acid solution. By rational tuning of the
      composition of PtCuCoNi alloys, they achieved a mass activity of 0.72 A/mgPt on
      the basis of Pt mass for oxygen reduction reaction. Moreover, the durability is
      also higher than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. These PtCuCoNi quaternary
      alloys characterized by three-dimensional porous nanostructures hold attractive
      promise as substitutes for carbon-supported Pt catalysts with improved activity
      and stability. 

PMID- 26871865
TI  - Immobilization and electrochemical properties of ruthenium and iridium complexes
      on carbon electrodes.
AB  - We report the synthesis and surface immobilization of two new pyrene-appended
      molecular metal complexes: a ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) complex (1) and a
      bipyridyl complex of [Cp*Ir] (2) (Cp*  =  pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful immobilization on high surface
      area carbon electrodes, with the expected elemental ratios for the desired
      compounds. Electrochemical data collected in acetonitrile solution revealed a
      reversible reduction of 1 near  -1.4 V, and reduction of 2 near  -0.75 V. The
      noncovalent immobilization, driven by association of the appended pyrene groups
      with the surface, was sufficiently stable to enable studies of the molecular
      electrochemistry. Electroactive surface coverage of 1 was diminished by only 27%
      over three hours soaking in electrolyte solution as measured by cyclic
      voltammetry. The electrochemical response of 2 resembled its soluble analogues,
      and suggested that ligand exchange occurred on the surface. Together, the results
      demonstrate that noncovalent immobilization routes are suitable for obtaining
      fundamental understanding of immobilized metal complexes and their reductive
      electrochemical properties. 

PMID- 26871863
TI  - Anatomic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Engineered Cartilage Constructs for Biologic
      Total Joint Replacement.
AB  - Cartilage has a poor healing response, and few viable options exist for repair of
      extensive damage. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels seeded with mesenchymal stem
      cells (MSCs) polymerized through UV crosslinking can generate functional tissue,
      but this crosslinking is not compatible with indirect rapid prototyping utilizing
      opaque anatomic molds. Methacrylate-modified polymers can also be chemically
      crosslinked in a cytocompatible manner using ammonium persulfate (APS) and
      N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED). The objectives of this study were
      to (1) compare APS/TEMED crosslinking with UV crosslinking in terms of functional
      maturation of MSC-seeded HA hydrogels; (2) generate an anatomic mold of a complex
      joint surface through rapid prototyping; and (3) grow anatomic MSC-seeded HA
      hydrogel constructs using this alternative crosslinking method. Juvenile bovine
      MSCs were suspended in methacrylated HA (MeHA) and crosslinked either through UV
      polymerization or chemically with APS/TEMED to generate cylindrical constructs.
      Minipig porcine femoral heads were imaged using microCT, and anatomic negative
      molds were generated by three-dimensional printing using fused deposition
      modeling. Molded HA constructs were produced using the APS/TEMED method. All
      constructs were cultured for up to 12 weeks in a chemically defined medium
      supplemented with TGF-beta3 and characterized by mechanical testing, biochemical
      assays, and histologic analysis. Both UV- and APS/TEMED-polymerized constructs
      showed increasing mechanical properties and robust proteoglycan and collagen
      deposition over time. At 12 weeks, APS/TEMED-polymerized constructs had higher
      equilibrium and dynamic moduli than UV-polymerized constructs, with no
      differences in proteoglycan or collagen content. Molded HA constructs retained
      their hemispherical shape in culture and demonstrated increasing mechanical
      properties and proteoglycan and collagen deposition, especially at the edges
      compared to the center of these larger constructs. Immunohistochemistry showed
      abundant collagen type II staining and little collagen type I staining. APS/TEMED
      crosslinking can be used to produce MSC-seeded HA-based neocartilage and can be
      used in combination with rapid prototyping techniques to generate anatomic MSC
      seeded HA constructs for use in filling large and anatomically complex chondral
      defects or for biologic joint replacement. 

PMID- 26871867
TI  - Pathway Analysis of Proteomics Profiles in Rabies Infection: Towards Future
      Biomarkers?
AB  - Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that invariably leads to fatal encephalitis,
      which can be prevented provided post-exposure prophylaxis is initiated timely.
      Ante-mortem diagnostic tests are inconclusive, and rabies is nontreatable once
      the clinical signs appear. A large number of host factors are responsible for the
      altered neuronal functions observed in rabies; however their precise role remains
      uninvestigated. We therefore used two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass
      spectrometry analysis to identify differentially expressed host proteins in an
      experimental murine model of rabies. We identified 143 proteins corresponding to
      45 differentially expressed spots (p < 0.05) in neuronal tissues of Swiss albino
      mice in response to infection with neurovirulent rabies strains. Time series
      analyses revealed that a majority of the alterations occur at 4 to 6 days post
      infection, in particular affecting the host's cytoskeletal architecture.
      Extensive pathway analysis and protein interaction studies using the
      bioinformatic tools such as Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and STRING revealed novel
      pathways and molecules (e.g., protein ubiquitination) unexplored hitherto.
      Further activation/inhibition studies of these pathway molecular leads would be
      relevant to identify novel biomarkers and mechanism-based therapeutics for
      rabies, a disease that continues to severely impact global health.

PMID- 26871866
TI  - Picoplankton Bloom in Global South? A High Fraction of Aerobic Anoxygenic
      Phototrophic Bacteria in Metagenomes from a Coastal Bay (Arraial do Cabo-
      Brazil).
AB  - Marine habitats harbor a great diversity of microorganism from the three domains
      of life, only a small fraction of which can be cultivated. Metagenomic approaches
      are increasingly popular for addressing microbial diversity without culture,
      serving as sensitive and relatively unbiased methods for identifying and
      cataloging the diversity of nucleic acid sequences derived from organisms in
      environmental samples. Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAP) play
      important roles in carbon and energy cycling in aquatic systems. In oceans, those
      bacteria are widely distributed; however, their abundance and importance are
      still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to estimate abundance and
      diversity of AAPs in metagenomes from an upwelling affected coastal bay in
      Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, using in silico screening for the anoxygenic
      photosynthesis core genes. Metagenomes from the Global Ocean Sample Expedition
      (GOS) were screened for comparative purposes. AAPs were highly abundant in the
      free-living bacterial fraction from Arraial do Cabo: 23.88% of total bacterial
      cells, compared with 15% in the GOS dataset. Of the ten most AAP abundant samples
      from GOS, eight were collected close to the Equator where solar irradiation is
      high year-round. We were able to assign most retrieved sequences to phylo-groups,
      with a particularly high abundance of Roseobacter in Arraial do Cabo samples. The
      high abundance of AAP in this tropical bay may be related to the upwelling
      phenomenon and subsequent picoplankton bloom. These results suggest a link
      between upwelling and light abundance and demonstrate AAP even in oligotrophic
      tropical and subtropical environments. Longitudinal studies in the Arraial do
      Cabo region are warranted to understand the dynamics of AAP at different
      locations and seasons, and the ecological role of these unique bacteria for
      biogeochemical and energy cycling in the ocean.

PMID- 26871868
TI  - An Improved Molecular Histology Method for Ion Suppression Monitoring and
      Quantification of Phosphatidyl Cholines During MALDI MSI Lipidomics Analyses.
AB  - Tissue lipidomics is one of the latest omics approaches for biomarker discovery
      in pharmacology, pathology, and the life sciences at large. In this context,
      matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging
      (MSI) is the most versatile tool to map compounds within tissue sections.
      However, ion suppression events occurring during MALDI MSI analyses make it
      impossible to use this method for quantitative investigations without additional
      validation steps. This is especially true for lipidomics, since different lipid
      classes are responsible for important ion suppression events. We propose here an
      improved lipidomics method to assess local ion suppression of phospatidylcholines
      in tissues. Serial tissue sections were spiked with different amounts of PC(16:0
      d31/18:1) using a nebulization device. Settings for standard nebulization were
      strictly controlled for a detection similar to when using spiked tissue
      homogenates. The sections were simultaneously analyzed by MALDI MSI using a
      Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance analyzer. Such a spray-based approach
      allows taking into account the biochemical heterogeneity of the tissue for the
      detection of PC(16:0 d31/18:1). Thus, here we present the perspective to use this
      method for quantification purposes. The linear regression lines are considered as
      calibration curves and we calculate PC(16:0/18:1) quantification values for
      different ROIs. Although those values need to be validated by a using a different
      independent approach, the workflow offers an insight into new quantitative mass
      spectrometry imaging (q-MSI) methods. This approach of ion suppression monitoring
      of phosphocholines in tissues may be highly interesting for a large range of
      applications in MALDI MSI, particularly for pathology using translational science
      workflows. 

PMID- 26871869
TI  - The JMJD3 Histone Demethylase and the EZH2 Histone Methyltransferase in Prostate
      Cancer.

PMID- 26871870
TI  - Do Referral Patterns in Adolescents and Young Adults with Testicular Cancer
      Impact Oncologic Outcomes?
AB  - PURPOSE: Oncologic outcomes in advanced testicular cancer (TC) depend on
      appropriate and timely care. Often this care is referred to tertiary academic
      medical centers (AMCs). The aim of this study was to compare oncologic outcomes
      of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with TC treated from the outset at
      an AMC to those whose care was initiated elsewhere with subsequent referral.
      METHODS: An institutional TC database was reviewed, and those AYA patients
      initiating TC care either inside or outside an AMC were compared. Patients were
      classified as initiating care outside if they had any non-orchiectomy surgery,
      chemotherapy, or radiotherapy for TC outside an AMC. RESULTS: A total of 183
      patients were reviewed, of whom 59 initiated TC care outside and 124 were managed
      initially at an AMC. Patients initiating care outside were more likely to have
      non-seminoma histology and more often presented with metastatic disease (Stage II
      [30.5%] or III [35.6%] vs. Stage II [19.4%] or III [19.4%]; p = 0.007). Lower 3
      year event-free survival (EFS) was observed in those initiating treatment outside
      an AMC (60.6% vs. 78.7%; p = 0.027). However, on multivariate analysis adjusting
      for stage and histology, the location of initiating TC care was no longer
      significant (hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 0.8-2.9). CONCLUSION:
      AYA patients initially treated for TC in the community and subsequently referred
      to an AMC were initially observed to experience worse EFS than those who were
      managed at an AMC from the outset. However, on multivariate analysis, these
      findings were largely explained by referral bias, where AYA patients with
      advanced disease were more likely to be referred to AMCs.

PMID- 26871873
TI  - Understanding the Relationship Between Exergame Play Experiences, Enjoyment, and
      Intentions for Continued Play.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although it is generally understood that exergames can be beneficial,
      more research is needed to understand how in-game experiences influence enjoyment
      and the likelihood for continued use of these types of games. Therefore, the
      objective of this research is to understand how player performance in an exergame
      affects psychological responses (autonomy, competence, and presence), enjoyment
      of the experience, and likelihood for future play. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty
      two college students (mean age, 20.32 years) participated in an experiment where
      they played a challenge event on the "Biggest Loser" exergame for the Nintendo
      (Kyoto, Japan) WiiTM console. Participants were given up to two chances to see if
      they could "win" the challenge event. A lab assistant recorded player performance
      for each session in minutes and seconds (range, 30 seconds-10 minutes). The
      attempt in which the participant achieved the greatest amount of time playing was
      used as a measure of player performance. After playing, subjects filled out a
      questionnaire with items pertaining to enjoyment, competence, autonomy, presence,
      and future intentions for continued use of the exergame. RESULTS: The results
      suggest that player achievement (longer time spent playing) directly and
      indirectly predicts feelings of autonomy, competence, presence, enjoyment, and
      future intentions to play. Individuals who performed better felt more autonomous
      and experienced greater presence, leading to greater enjoyment. Enjoyment and
      presence were found to mediate the relationship between player performance and
      future intentions to play an exergame. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that
      performance in exergames is related to psychological experiences that fuel
      enjoyment and the likelihood for future exergame use. The theoretical and
      practical significances of these findings are discussed, as well as future
      research involving exergames.

PMID- 26871874
TI  - Characterization of a bacterioruberin-producing Haloarchaea isolated from the
      marshlands of the Odiel river in the southwest of Spain.
AB  - In this work, we describe the isolation, identification, pigment
      characterization, and optimization of the culture conditions for a haloarchaea
      strain isolated from salt evaporation ponds in the Odiel river, at Southwest of
      Spain. The haloarchaea belongs to the genus Halorobrum, as deduced from the
      analysis of its 16S rRNA encoding gene and has been designated as Halorubrum sp.
      SH1. The growth conditions for the new strain were optimized studying
      temperature, NaCl concentration, agitation rate and light intensity. The C50
      carotenoids, bacterioruberin, and its derivatives bisanhydrobacterioruberin and
      trisanhydrobacterioruberin, were found to be the predominant pigments produced by
      this strain of Halorubrum, as determined using HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS
      techniques. This extremely halophilic archaeon could be a good candidate for the
      production of bacterioruberins of high added-value due to their coloring,
      antioxidant, and possible anticancer properties. (c) 2016 American Institute of
      Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:592-600, 2016.

PMID- 26871875
TI  - Protecting Future Children from In-Utero Harm.
AB  - The actions of pregnant women can cause harm to their future children. However,
      even if the possible harm is serious and likely to occur, the law will generally
      not intervene. A pregnant woman is an autonomous person who is entitled to make
      her own decisions. A fetus in-utero has no legal right to protection. In striking
      contrast, the child, if born alive, may sue for injury in-utero; and the child is
      entitled to be protected by being removed from her parents if necessary for her
      protection. Indeed, there is a legal obligation for health professionals to
      report suspected harm, and for authorities to protect the child's wellbeing. We
      ask whether such contradictory responses are justified. Should the law intervene
      where a pregnant woman's actions risk serious and preventable fetal injury? The
      argument for legal intervention to protect a fetus is sometimes linked to the
      concept of 'fetal personhood' and the moral status of the fetus. In this article
      we will suggest that even if the fetus is not regarded as a separate person, and
      does not have the legal or moral status of a child, indeed, even if the fetus is
      regarded as having no legal or moral status, there is an ethical and legal case
      for intervening to prevent serious harm to a future child. We examine the
      arguments for and against intervention on behalf of the future child, drawing on
      the example of excessive maternal alcohol intake.

PMID- 26871876
TI  - Using the Digits-In-Noise Test to Estimate Age-Related Hearing Loss.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Age-related hearing loss is common in the elderly population. Timely
      detection and targeted counseling can lead to adequate treatment with hearing
      aids. The Digits-In-Noise (DIN) test was developed as a relatively simple test to
      assess hearing acuity. It is a potentially powerful test for the screening of
      large populations, including the elderly. However, until to date, no sensitivity
      or specificity rates for detecting hearing loss were reported in a general
      elderly population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of the
      DIN test to screen for mild and moderate hearing loss in the elderly. DESIGN:
      Data of pure-tone audiometry and the DIN test were collected from 3327 adults
      ages above 50 (mean: 65), as part of the Rotterdam Study, a large population
      based cohort study. Sensitivity and specificity of the DIN test for detecting
      hearing loss were calculated by comparing speech reception threshold (SRT) with
      pure-tone average threshold at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz (PTA0.5,1,2,4). Receiver
      operating characteristics were calculated for detecting >20 and >35 dB HL average
      hearing loss at the best ear. RESULTS: Hearing loss varied greatly between
      subjects and, as expected, increased with age. High frequencies and men were more
      severely affected. A strong correlation (R = 0.80, p < 0.001) was found between
      SRTs and PTA0.5,1,2,4. Moreover, 65% of variance in SRT could be explained by
      pure-tone thresholds. For detecting mild or moderate hearing loss, receiver
      operating characteristics showed areas under the curve of 0.86 and 0.98,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the DIN test has
      excellent test characteristics when screening for moderate hearing loss (or more)
      in an elderly population. It is less suited to screen for mild hearing loss. The
      test is easy to complete and should be suitable for implementation as an
      automated self-test in hearing screening programs. Ultimately, when combined with
      active counseling, hearing screening could lead to higher hearing aid coverage in
      the hearing impaired elderly.

PMID- 26871877
TI  - Effects of Negative Middle Ear Pressure on Wideband Acoustic Immittance in Normal
      Hearing Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measurements are capable of
      quantifying middle ear performance over a wide range of frequencies relevant to
      human hearing. Static pressure in the middle ear cavity affects sound
      transmission to the cochlea, but few datasets exist to quantify the relationship
      between middle ear transmission and the static pressure. In this study, WAI
      measurements of normal ears are analyzed in both negative middle ear pressure
      (NMEP) and ambient middle ear pressure (AMEP) conditions, with a focus on the
      effects of NMEP in individual ears. DESIGN: Eight subjects with normal middle ear
      function were trained to induce consistent NMEPs, quantified by the tympanic peak
      pressure (TPP) and WAI. The effects of NMEP on the wideband power absorbance
      level are analyzed for individual ears. Complex (magnitude and phase) WAI
      quantities at the tympanic membrane (TM) are studied by removing the delay due to
      the residual ear canal (REC) volume between the probe tip and the TM. WAI results
      are then analyzed using a simplified classical model of the middle ear. RESULTS:
      For the 8 ears presented here, NMEP has the largest and most significant effect
      across ears from 0.8 to 1.9 kHz, resulting in reduced power absorbance by the
      middle ear and cochlea. On average, NMEP causes a decrease in the power
      absorbance level for low- to mid-frequencies, and a small increase above about 4
      kHz. The effects of NMEP on WAI quantities, including the absorbance level and TM
      impedance, vary considerably across ears. The complex WAI at the TM and fitted
      model parameters show that NMEP causes a decrease in the aggregate compliance at
      the TM. Estimated REC delays show little to no dependence on NMEP. CONCLUSIONS:
      In agreement with previous results, these data show that the power absorbance
      level is most sensitive to NMEP around 1 kHz. The REC effect is removed from WAI
      measurements, allowing for direct estimation of complex WAI at the TM. These
      estimates show NMEP effects consistent with an increased stiffness in the middle
      ear, which could originate from the TM, tensor tympani, annular ligament, or
      other middle ear structures. Model results quantify this nonlinear, stiffness
      related change in a systematic way, that is not dependent on averaging WAI
      results in frequency bands. Given the variability of pressure effects, likely
      related to intersubject variability at AMEP, TPP is not a strong predictor of
      change in WAI at the TM. More data and modeling will be needed to better quantify
      the relationship between NMEP, WAI, and middle ear transmission.

PMID- 26871878
TI  - Vinegar-amended anaerobic biosand filter for the removal of arsenic and nitrate
      from groundwater.
AB  - The performance of a vinegar-amended anaerobic biosand filter was evaluated for
      future application as point-of-use water treatment in rural areas for the removal
      of arsenic and nitrate from groundwater containing common ions. Due to the
      importance of sulfate and iron in arsenic removal and their variable
      concentrations in groundwater, influent sulfate and iron concentrations were
      varied. Complete removal of influent nitrate (50 mg/L) and over 50% removal of
      influent arsenic (200 MUg/L) occurred. Of all conditions tested, the lowest
      median effluent arsenic concentration was 88 MUg/L. Iron removal occurred
      completely when 4 mg/L was added, and sulfate concentrations were lowered to a
      median concentration <2 mg/L from influent concentrations of 22 and 50 mg/L.
      Despite iron and sulfate removal and the establishment of reducing conditions,
      arsenic concentrations remained above the World Health Organization's arsenic
      drinking water standard. Further research is necessary to determine if anaerobic
      biosand filters can be improved to meet the arsenic drinking water standard and
      to evaluate practical implementation challenges.

PMID- 26871879
TI  - Choice between Levofloxacin and Moxifloxacin and Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
      Treatment Outcomes.
AB  - RATIONALE: We previously showed that the choice of levofloxacin or moxifloxacin
      for the treatment of patients with fluoroquinolone-sensitive multidrug-resistant
      tuberculosis (MDR-TB) did not affect sputum culture conversion at 3 months of
      treatment. OBJECTIVES: To compare final treatment outcomes between patients with
      MDR-TB randomized to levofloxacin or moxifloxacin. METHODS: A total of 151
      participants with MDR-TB who were included for the final analysis in our previous
      trial were followed through the end of treatment. Treatment outcomes were
      compared between 77 patients in the levofloxacin group and 74 in the moxifloxacin
      group, based on the 2008 World Health Organization definitions as well as 2013
      revised definitions of treatment outcomes. In addition, the time to culture
      conversion was compared between the two groups. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Treatment outcomes were not different between the two groups, based on 2008 World
      Health Organization definitions as well as 2013 definitions. With 2008
      definitions, cure was achieved in 54 patients (70.1%) in the levofloxacin group
      and 54 (73.0%) in the moxifloxacin group (P = 0.72). Treatment success rates,
      including cure and treatment completed, were not different between the two groups
      (87.0 vs. 81.1%, P = 0.38). With 2013 definitions, cure rates (83.1 vs. 78.4%, P
      = 0.54) and treatment success rates (84.4 vs. 79.7%, P = 0.53) were also similar
      between the levofloxacin and moxifloxacin groups. Time to culture conversion was
      also not different between the two groups (27.0 vs. 45.0 d, P = 0.11 on liquid
      media; 17.0 vs. 42.0 d, P = 0.14 on solid media). Patients in the levofloxacin
      group had more adverse events than those in the moxifloxacin group (79.2 vs.
      63.5%, P = 0.03), especially musculoskeletal ones (37.7 vs. 14.9%, P = 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: The choice of levofloxacin or moxifloxacin made no difference to the
      final treatment outcome among patients with fluoroquinolone-sensitive MDR-TB.
      Clinical trial registered with www.clinicalrials.gov (NCT01055145).

PMID- 26871880
TI  - Factors Affecting Women's Autonomous Decision Making In Research Participation
      Amongst Yoruba Women Of Western Nigeria.
AB  - Research is a global enterprise requiring participation of both genders for
      generalizable knowledge; advancement of science and evidence based medical
      treatment. Participation of women in research is necessary to reduce the current
      bias that most empirical evidence is obtained from studies with men to inform
      health care and related policy interventions. Various factors are assumed to
      limit autonomy amongst the Yoruba women of western Nigeria. This paper seeks to
      explore the experience and understanding of autonomy by the Yoruba women in
      relation to research participation. Focus is on factors that affect women's
      autonomous decision making in research participation. An exploratory qualitative
      approach comprising four focus group discussions, 42 in-depth interviews and 14
      key informant interviews was used. The study permits a significant amount of
      triangulation, as opinions of husbands and religious leaders are also explored.
      Interviews and discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content
      analysis was employed for data analysis. Findings show that concepts of autonomy
      varied amongst the Yoruba women. Patriarchy, religion and culture are conceived
      to have negative impact on the autonomy of women in respect to research
      participation. Among the important findings are: 1) male dominance is strongly
      emphasized by religious leaders who should teach equality, 2) while men feel that
      by making decisions for women, they are protecting them, the women on the other
      hand see this protection as a way of limiting their autonomy. We recommend
      further studies to develop culturally appropriate and workable recruitment
      methods to increase women's participation in research.

PMID- 26871883
TI  - Modeling closure of circular wounds through coordinated collective motion.
AB  - Wound healing enables tissues to restore their original states, and is achieved
      through collective cell migration into the wound space, contraction of the wound
      edge via an actomyosin filament 'purse-string,' as well as cell division.
      Recently, experimental techniques have been developed to create wounds with
      various regular morphologies in epithelial monolayers, and these experiments of
      circular closed-contour wounds support coordinated lamellipodial cell crawling as
      the predominant driver of gap closure. Through utilizing a particle-based
      mechanical tissue simulation, exhibiting long-range coordination of cell
      motility, we computationally model these closed-contour experiments with a high
      level of agreement between experimentally observed and simulated wound closure
      dynamics and tissue velocity profiles. We also determine the sensitivity of wound
      closure time in the model to changes in cell motility force and division rate.
      Our simulation results confirm that circular wounds can close due to collective
      cell migration without the necessity for a purse-string mechanism or for cell
      division, and show that the alignment mechanism of cellular motility force with
      velocity, leading to collective motion in the model, may speed up wound closure. 

PMID- 26871884
TI  - Gambling involvement indicative of underlying behavioral and mental health
      disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In spite of increased gambling opportunities, risk
      factors associated with recreational gambling remain poorly understood. This
      study assessed behavioral risk factors associated with frequency of recreational
      gambling. METHODS: Data were derived from the 2013 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk
      Factor Surveillance System. Gambling frequency was divided into two or more times
      per week, 1-4 times a month, less than 10 times in total, and not at all. Health
      risk behaviors included smoking, drinking, obesity, seat belt use, and sleep
      patterns. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess relationships
      between overall gambling participation and gambling frequency and behavioral risk
      behaviors. Final analytical sample included 3,988 survey respondents. Statistical
      analyses were performed using STATA. RESULTS: Significant differences exist in
      the socio-demographic characteristics of recreational gamblers. Highest gambling
      frequency is associated with increased odds of alcohol consumption (ie, having at
      least one alcohol drink during the past 30 days) (OR 1.9; p < .05), binge
      drinking (ie, having five or more alcohol drinks at least once during the past 30
      days) (OR 3.7; p < .001), and tobacco use (ie, having smoked at least 100
      cigarettes in a lifetime) (OR 3.4; p < .001). The odds of having fourteen days of
      poor mental health are twofold for recreational gamblers who gamble two or more
      times per week (OR 2.2; p < .05). CONCLUSION AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE:
      Differing behavioral and mental health risk factors emerge among recreational
      gamblers by gambling frequency. Gambling frequency may be a better proxy for
      assessing the risk of developing gambling related behavioral disorders than
      overall endorsement of gambling participation.

PMID- 26871882
TI  - Male Clients of Male Sex Workers in China: An Ignored High-Risk Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of HIV/syphilis among male sex workers,
      but no formal study has ever been conducted focusing on male clients of male sex
      workers (MCM). A detailed investigation was thus called for, to determine the
      burden and sociobehavioral determinants of HIV and syphilis among these MCM in
      China. METHODS: As part of a multicenter cross-sectional study, using respondent
      driven and snowball sampling, 2958 consenting adult men who have sex with men
      (MSM) were recruited, interviewed, and tested for HIV and syphilis between 2008
      and 2009. The distributions of sociodemographic characteristics, risk behaviors,
      and HIV/syphilis prevalence were determined and compared between MCM and other
      MSM. RESULTS: Among recruited MSM, 5.0% (n = 148) were MCM. HIV prevalences for
      MCM and other MSM were 7.4% and 7.7%, whereas 18.9% and 14.0% were positive for
      syphilis, respectively. Condomless anal intercourse (CAI) was reported by 59.5%
      of MCM and 48.2% of MSM. Multiple logistic regression revealed that compared with
      other MSM, MCM were more likely to have less education [for <= elementary level,
      adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.13, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.42 to
      6.90], higher income (for >500 US Dollars per month, aOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.53 to
      5.77), more often found partners at parks/restrooms (aOR = 4.01, 95% CI: 2.34 to
      6.85), reported CAI (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.05 to 2.10), reported a larger sexual
      network (for >= 10, aOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.44 to 5.07), and higher odds of
      syphilis (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.38). CONCLUSIONS: The greater frequency
      of risk behaviors and high prevalence of HIV and syphilis indicated that
      HIV/syphilis prevention programs in China need to pay special attention to MCM as
      a distinct subgroup, which was completely ignored until date.

PMID- 26871881
TI  - Discontinuation of Initial Antiretroviral Therapy in Clinical Practice: Moving
      Toward Individualized Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Study aim was to estimate the rate and identify predictors of
      discontinuation of first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in recent
      years. METHODS: Patients who initiated first cART between January 2008 and
      October 2014 were included. Discontinuation was defined as stop of at least 1
      drug of the regimen, regardless of the reason. All causes of discontinuation were
      evaluated and 3 main endpoints were considered: toxicity, intolerance, and
      simplification. Predictors of discontinuation were examined separately for all 3
      endpoints. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for the outcome discontinuation of >= 1
      drug regardless of the reason. Cox regression analysis was used to identify
      factors associated with treatment discontinuation because of the 3 reasons
      considered. RESULTS: A total of 4052 patients were included. Main reason for
      stopping at least 1 drug were simplification (29%), intolerance (21%), toxicity
      (19%), other causes (18%), failure (8%), planned discontinuation (4%), and
      nonadherence (2%). In a multivariable Cox model, predictors of discontinuation
      for simplification were heterosexual transmission (P = 0.007), being immigrant (P
      = 0.017), higher nadir lymphocyte T CD4 cell (P = 0.011), and higher lymphocyte T
      CD8 cell count (P = 0.025); for discontinuation due to intolerance: the use of
      statins (P = 0.029), higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.050). About toxicity:
      higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.010) and the use of zidovudine/lamivudine as
      backbone (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In the late cART era, the main reason for
      stopping the initial regimen is simplification. This scenario reflects the
      changes in recommendations aimed to enhance adherence and quality of life, and
      minimize drug toxicity.

PMID- 26871885
TI  - Musical molecules: the molecular junction as an active component in audio
      distortion circuits.
AB  - Molecular junctions that have a non-linear current-voltage characteristic
      consistent with quantum mechanical tunneling are demonstrated as analog audio
      clipping elements in overdrive circuits widely used in electronic music,
      particularly with electric guitars. The performance of large-area molecular
      junctions fabricated at the wafer level is compared to currently standard
      semiconductor diode clippers, showing a difference in the sound character. The
      harmonic distributions resulting from the use of traditional and molecular
      clipping elements are reported and discussed, and differences in performance are
      noted that result from the underlying physics that controls the electronic
      properties of each clipping component. In addition, the ability to tune the sound
      using the molecular junction is demonstrated. Finally, the hybrid circuit is
      compared to an overdriven tube amplifier, which has been the standard reference
      electric guitar clipped tone for over 60 years. In order to investigate the
      feasibility of manufacturing molecular junctions for use in commercial
      applications, devices are fabricated using a low-density format at the wafer
      level, where 38 dies per wafer, each containing two molecular junctions, are made
      with exceptional non-shorted yield (99.4%, representing 718 out of 722 tested
      devices) without requiring clean room facilities. 

PMID- 26871886
TI  - Kinetic analysis of nanoparticle-protein interactions using a plasmon waveguide
      resonance.
AB  - A plasmon waveguide resonance (PWR) sensor is proposed for studying the
      interaction between gold nanoparticles and proteins. The ability of the PWR
      sensor to operate in both TM and TE Polarizations, i.e. its polarization
      diversity, facilitates the simultaneous spectroscopy of the nanoparticles surface
      reactions using both polarizations. The response of each polarization to
      streptavidin-biotin binding at the surface of gold nanoparticles is investigated
      in real time. Finally, using the principles of multimode spectroscopy, the
      nanoparticle's surface reactions are decoupled from the bulk solution refractive
      index variations. Schematic diagram of the NP-modified PWR sensor.

PMID- 26871887
TI  - Investigation of the Hydrogenation of 5-Methylfurfural by Noble Metal
      Nanoparticles in a Microcapillary Reactor.
AB  - On-column reaction gas chromatography (ocRGC) was successfully utilized as high
      throughput platform for monitoring of the conversion and selectivity of
      hydrogenation of 5-methylfurfural catalyzed by polymer-stabilized Ru and Pd
      nanoparticles. We were able to elucidate the effect of various reaction
      conditions, mainly together with the catalyst loading on the conversion rate and
      the selectivity of the reaction. Our strategy yields significant improvements in
      reaction analysis times and cost effectiveness in comparison to standard methods.
      We are able to demonstrate that ocRGC approach provides valuable information
      about the reaction system that gives scientists a tool to design suitable
      catalytic systems for enhanced sustainable chemistry in the future. 

PMID- 26871888
TI  - The development of a tissue-engineered tracheobronchial epithelial model using a
      bilayered collagen-hyaluronate scaffold.
AB  - Today, chronic respiratory disease is one of the leading causes of mortality
      globally. Epithelial dysfunction can play a central role in its pathophysiology.
      The development of physiologically-representative in vitro model systems using
      tissue-engineered constructs might improve our understanding of epithelial tissue
      and disease. This study sought to engineer a bilayered collagen-hyaluronate (CHyA
      B) scaffold for the development of a physiologically-representative 3D in vitro
      tracheobronchial epithelial co-culture model. CHyA-B scaffolds were fabricated by
      integrating a thin film top-layer into a porous sub-layer with lyophilisation.
      The film layer firmly connected to the sub-layer with delamination occurring at
      stresses of 12-15 kPa. Crosslinked scaffolds had a compressive modulus of 1.9 kPa
      and mean pore diameters of 70 MUm and 80 MUm, depending on the freezing
      temperature. Histological analysis showed that the Calu-3 bronchial epithelial
      cell line attached and grew on CHyA-B with adoption of an epithelial monolayer on
      the film layer. Immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR studies demonstrated that the CHyA
      B scaffolds facilitated Calu-3 cell differentiation, with enhanced mucin
      expression, increased ciliation and the formation of intercellular tight
      junctions. Co-culture of Calu-3 cells with Wi38 lung fibroblasts was achieved on
      the scaffold to create a submucosal tissue analogue of the upper respiratory
      tract, validating CHyA-B as a platform to support co-culture and cellular
      organisation reminiscent of in vivo tissue architecture. In summary, this study
      has demonstrated that CHyA-B is a promising tool for the development of novel 3D
      tracheobronchial co-culture in vitro models with the potential to unravel new
      pathways in drug discovery and drug delivery. 

PMID- 26871889
TI  - Ectopic bone formation in rapidly fabricated acellular injectable dense collagen
      Bioglass hybrid scaffolds via gel aspiration-ejection.
AB  - Gel aspiration-ejection (GAE) has recently been introduced as an effective
      technique for the rapid production of injectable dense collagen (IDC) gel
      scaffolds with tunable collagen fibrillar densities (CFDs) and microstructures.
      Herein, a GAE system was applied for the advanced production and delivery of IDC
      and IDC-Bioglass((r)) (IDC-BG) hybrid gel scaffolds for potential bone tissue
      engineering applications. The efficacy of GAE in generating mineralizable IDC-BG
      gels (from an initial 75-25 collagen-BG ratio) produced through needle gauge
      numbers 8G (3.4 mm diameter and 6 wt% CFD) and 14G (1.6 mm diameter and 14 wt%
      CFD) was investigated. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of as-made gels
      revealed an increase in collagen fibril alignment with needle gauge number. In
      vitro mineralization of IDC-BG gels was confirmed where carbonated hydroxyapatite
      was detected as early as day 1 in simulated body fluid, which progressively
      increased up to day 14. In vivo mineralization of, and host response to,
      acellular IDC and IDC-BG gel scaffolds were further investigated following
      subcutaneous injection in adult rats. Mineralization, neovascularization and cell
      infiltration into the scaffolds was enhanced by the addition of BG and at day 21
      post injection, there was evidence of remodelling of granulation tissue into
      woven bone-like tissue in IDC-BG. SHG imaging of explanted scaffolds indicated
      collagen fibril remodelling through cell infiltration and mineralization over
      time. In sum, the results suggest that IDC-BG hybrid gels have osteoinductive
      properties and potentially offer a novel therapeutic approach for procedures
      requiring the injectable delivery of a malleable and dynamic bone graft that
      mineralizes under physiological conditions. 

PMID- 26871890
TI  - Antimicrobial peptide melimine coating for titanium and its in vivo antibacterial
      activity in rodent subcutaneous infection models.
AB  - Implant-associated infections represent a significant health problem and
      financial burden on healthcare systems. Current strategies for the treatment or
      prevention of such infections are still inadequate and new strategies are needed
      in this era of antibiotic resistance. Melimine, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide
      with broad spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and protozoa, has been shown
      to be a promising candidate for development as antimicrobial coating for
      biomedical devices and implants. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo
      antimicrobial activity of melimine-coated titanium was tested. The titanium
      surface was amine-functionalised with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)
      followed by reaction with a bifunctional linker 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane
      1-carboxylic 3-sulfo-n-hydroxysuccinimide ester (Sulfo-SMCC) to yield a maleimide
      functionalised surface. Melimine was then tethered to the surface via a thioether
      linkage through a Michael addition reaction of the cysteine at its N-terminus
      with the maleimide moiety. Melimine coating significantly reduced in vitro
      adhesion and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by up to 62% and
      Staphylococcus aureus by up to 84% on the titanium substrates compared to the
      blank (p < 0.05). The activity was maintained after ethylene oxide gas
      sterilisation. The coating was also challenged in both mouse and rat subcutaneous
      infection models and was able to reduce the bacterial load by up to 2 log10
      compared to the uncoated surface (p < 0.05). Melimine coating is a promising
      candidate for development as a surface antimicrobial that can withstand
      industrial sterilisation while showing good biocompatibility. 

PMID- 26871891
TI  - Mechanisms and biomaterials in pH-responsive tumour targeted drug delivery: A
      review.
AB  - As the mainstay in the treatment of various cancers, chemotherapy plays a vital
      role, but still faces many challenges, such as poor tumour selectivity and
      multidrug resistance (MDR). Targeted drug delivery using nanotechnology has
      provided a new strategy for addressing the limitations of the conventional
      chemotherapy. In the last decade, the volume of research published in this area
      has increased tremendously, especially with functional nano drug delivery systems
      (nanocarriers). Coupling a specific stimuli-triggered drug release mechanism with
      these delivery systems is one of the most prevalent approaches for improving
      therapeutic outcomes. Among the various stimuli, pH triggered delivery is
      regarded as the most general strategy, targeting the acidic extracellular
      microenvironment and intracellular organelles of solid tumours. In this review,
      we discuss recent advances in the development of pH-sensitive nanocarriers for
      tumour-targeted drug delivery. The review focuses on the chemical design of pH
      sensitive biomaterials, which are used to fabricate nanocarriers for
      extracellular and/or intracellular tumour site-specific drug release. The pH
      responsive biomaterials bring forth conformational changes in these nanocarriers
      through various mechanisms such as protonation, charge reversal or cleavage of a
      chemical bond, facilitating tumour specific cell uptake or drug release. A
      greater understanding of these mechanisms will help to design more efficient drug
      delivery systems to address the challenges encountered in conventional
      chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26871892
TI  - CE: Original Research: End-of-Life Care Behind Bars: A Systematic Review.
AB  - : To conduct a systematic review of the published research literature on end-of
      life (EOL) care in prisons in order to determine the current state of the science
      and suggest implications for nursing practice and areas for future
      research.Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta
      Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we performed a comprehensive search of the
      literature using the following databases: CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, the
      National Criminal Justice Reference Service, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Sociological
      Abstracts. All databases were searched from the time of their inception through
      June 2014. All English-language articles that reported on original quantitative
      and qualitative research involving EOL or palliative care delivered to prisoners
      were included. We abstracted data, using the matrix method, and independently
      reviewed and graded the evidence on its level of strength and quality in
      accordance with the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice rating
      scales.Nineteen articles, all published between 2002 and 2014, met the inclusion
      criteria. Of these, 53% were published between 2009 and 2014, and 58% reported
      findings from qualitative research. One article reported on research conducted in
      the United Kingdom; the remaining 18 reported on research conducted in the United
      States. Capacity (that is, the number of prisoners requiring EOL care and the
      ability of the prison to accommodate them) and the site of EOL care delivery
      varied across studies, as did the criteria for admission to EOL or hospice
      services. Care was provided by prison health care staff, which variously included
      numerous professional disciplines, corrections officers, and inmate caregivers.
      The inmate caregivers, in particular, provided a wide array of services and were
      viewed positively by both EOL patients and health care staff. There are
      insufficient data to characterize the patients' and inmate caregivers'
      perceptions of the EOL care staff and the quality of care they provided. The
      screening criteria applied to inmate caregivers and the training they received
      varied widely among care programs. Inmates providing EOL care viewed caregiving
      as a transformational experience. Likewise, prison administrators and health care
      staff viewed inmate participation positively.This literature review reveals the
      challenges of providing EOL care to prisoners and may inspire nurses to consider
      steps they can take individually or within nursing organizations to improve this
      care and address the unique challenges faced by dying inmates. By being aware of
      these issues and advocating for best practices, nurses can help inmates at the
      end of life to have a dignified death. 

PMID- 26871893
TI  - CE: Mental Health Matters: Revisiting Child Sexual Abuse and Survivor Issues.
AB  - Child sexual abuse is a global issue that nurses must be aware of and
      knowledgeable about as they care for children in various care settings. This
      article focuses on the prevalence, potential risk factors, and possible signs and
      symptoms of child sexual abuse. It also provides information about what nurses
      can do should they suspect that a child has been or is being abused. Because
      consequences can be far reaching and exist for many years after the abuse, this
      article also addresses the possible long-term issues faced by survivors and
      provides resources that nurses can share with patients.

PMID- 26871894
TI  - Meta-Analyses of Association Between BRAF(V600E) Mutation and Clinicopathological
      Features of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The function of BRAF V600E as a prognostic biomarker continues
      controversial by reason of conflicting results in the published articles.
      METHODS: A systematical literature search for relevant articles was performed in
      PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Medline and Embase updated to August 5,
      2015. The Chi-square test and I2 were employed to examine statistical
      heterogeneity. Pooled ORs with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals
      (95%CIs) were calculated to assess the relationship between clinicopathological
      features and BRAF(V600E) mutation. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity were also
      performed to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity. Furthermore,
      publication bias was detected using the funnel plot and all statistical analyses
      were conducted by the software of R 3.12. RESULTS: Of 25,241 cases with PTC,
      15,290 (60.6%) were positive for BRAF mutation and 9,951 (39.4%) were tested
      negative for BRAF mutation. Negative status of BRAF(V600E) mutation negative was
      significantly associated with gender (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.83-0.97) and
      concomitant hashimoto thyroiditis (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.43-0.64). By contrast,
      positive status of BRAF(V600E) mutation was a significant predictor of
      multifocality (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.14-1.32), extrathyroidal extension (OR =
      2.23; 95%CI = 1.90-2.63), TNM stage (OR = 1.67; 95%CI = 1.53-1.81), lymph node
      metastasis (OR = 1.67; 95%CI = 1.45-1.93), vascular invasion (OR = 1.47; 95%CI =
      1.22-1.79) and recurrence/persistence (OR = 2.33; 95%CI = 1.71-3.18). However,
      there was no significant association between BRAF(V600E) mutation and factors
      including age > 45 (OR = 0.98; 95%CI = 0.89-1.07), tumor size (OR = 0.84; 95%CI =
      0.64-1.09) and distant metastasis (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 0.67-2.27). CONCLUSION:
      This meta-analysis confirmed significant associations between BRAF(V600E)
      mutation and female gender, multifocality, ETE, LNM, TNM stage, concomitant
      hashimoto thyroiditis, vascular invasion and recurrence/persistence, suggesting
      the predictive value of BRAF(V600E) mutation for PTC prognosis.

PMID- 26871895
TI  - A Brief Review of the Link between Environment and Male Reproductive Health:
      Lessons from Studies of Testicular Germ Cell Cancer.
AB  - During the past few decades there has been a significantly increasing trend in
      germ cell tumours all over the world, particularly in countries with Caucasian
      populations. The changes in incidence have occurred so fast that only
      environmental factors can explain this development. This review focuses on the
      hypothesis that testicular germ cell cancer, which originates from germ cell
      neoplasia in situ, is of foetal origin and associated with other male
      reproductive problems through a testicular dysgenesis syndrome, also including
      foetal origin of impaired spermatogenesis, hypospadias and cryptorchidism. There
      is little doubt that environmental factors associated with modern lifestyles have
      - in a broad sense - had an adverse influence on male reproductive health. The
      hypothesis that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals plays a fundamental
      role in this trend is plausible. This is based on evidence from animal studies
      that demonstrate adverse reproductive effects caused by a number of endocrine
      disrupting chemicals to which humans are exposed as part of our modern lifestyle.

PMID- 26871896
TI  - Optical Intensities of Different Compartments of Subretinal Fluid in Acute Vogt
      Koyanagi-Harada Disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the optical intensity in different compartments of
      subretinal fluid in acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease by using spectral
      domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: Fifty acute VKH eyes and
      25 cases with acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) were included in this
      retrospective comparative study. The optical intensities of subretinal fluid,
      vitreous humour and the entire scanned region displayed by SD-OCT were measured
      with Image J by three independent readers. In the VKH eyes with subretinal septa,
      the subretinal fluid was segmented into two types of compartments, supra-septa
      space and sub-septa space. Optical intensity ratios of different compartments of
      subretinal fluids divided by vitreous humour or the entire scanned region were
      compared. RESULTS: The measurement of optical intensity was highly reproducible
      (intraclass correlation coefficient> 0.9). The optical intensity of the supra
      septa space divided by the vitreous humour was significantly higher compared to
      that of sub-septa space in VKH (mean difference = 4.27 +/- 5.15, p <0.001). The
      optical intensity ratio of the supra-septa space (1.14 +/- 0.12), but not
      subsepta space (1.05 +/- 0.05) in VKH, was significantly higher compared to that
      of the subretinal space in VKH without the subretinal septa (1.07 +/- 0.08), and
      the subretinal fluid in CSCR (1.08 +/- 0.09). Similar results were found for the
      optical intensity ratios divided by the entire scan region. CONCLUSION: The
      optical intensity in the supra-septa space of VKH is higher compared to the sub
      septa space in VKH, subretinal space in VKH and CSCR, suggesting that the
      components in these spaces are different.

PMID- 26871897
TI  - Physiological Contribution in Spontaneous Oscillations: An Approximate Quality
      Assurance Index for Resting-State fMRI Signals.
AB  - Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) is receiving substantial attention for its
      sensitivity to functional abnormality in the brain networks of people with
      psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, because of the variety of rs
      fMRI processing methods, the necessity of rs-fMRI quality assurance is
      increasing. Conventionally, the temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) is
      generally adopted for quality examination, but the tSNR does not guarantee
      reliable functional connectivity (FC) outcomes. Theoretically, intrinsic FC is
      supposed to reflect the spontaneous synchronization of neuronal basis, rather
      than that from thermal noise or non-neuronal physiological noise. Therefore, we
      proposed a new quality-assurance index for rs-fMRI to estimate the physiological
      contributions in spontaneous oscillations (PICSO). The PICSO index was designed
      as a voxel-wise measure for facilitating practical applications to all existing
      rs-fMRI data sets on the basis of two assumptions: Gaussian distributions in
      temporal fluctuations and ultra-slow changes of neural-based physiological
      fluctuations. To thoroughly validate the sensitivity of the proposed PICSO index
      to FC, we calibrated the preprocessing steps according to phantom data and
      verified the relationship between the PICSO and factors that are considered to
      affect FC in healthy participants (n = 12). Our results demonstrated that FC
      showed a significantly positive correlation with the PICSO. Moreover, for
      generating robust FC outcomes, directly acquiring data at a relatively large
      voxel size was more effective than performing smoothness on high-resolution data
      sets. In conclusion, compared with tSNR, the PICSO index is more sensitive to the
      resulting FC, providing a practical quality-assurance indicator for all existing
      rs-fMRI data sets. 

PMID- 26871900
TI  - Management of primary malignant lymphoma of the parotid gland in a series of
      seven hundred and forty-five patients.

PMID- 26871898
TI  - Control of Trachoma from Achham District, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study from the
      Nepal National Trachoma Program.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The WHO seeks to control trachoma as a public health problem in
      endemic areas. Achham District in western Nepal was found to have TF (trachoma
      follicular) above 20% in a 2006 government survey, triggering 3 annual mass drug
      administrations finishing in 2010. Here we assess the level of control that has
      been achieved using surveillance for clinical disease, ocular chlamydia
      trachomatis infection, and serology for antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis
      protein antigens. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of children aged
      1-9 years in communities in Achham District in early 2014 including clinical
      examination validated with photographs, conjunctival samples for Chlamydia
      trachomatis (Amplicor PCR), and serological testing for antibodies against
      chlamydia trachomatis protein antigens pgp3 and CT694 using the Luminex platform.
      FINDINGS: In 24 randomly selected communities, the prevalence of trachoma (TF
      and/or TI) in 1-9 year olds was 3/1124 (0.3%, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.8%), and the
      prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection was 0/1124 (0%, 95% CI 0 to
      0.3%). In 18 communities selected because they had the highest prevalence of
      trachoma in a previous survey, the prevalence of TF and/or TI was 7/716 (1.0%,
      95% CI 0.4 to 2.0%) and the prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection
      was 0/716 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 0.5%). In 3 communities selected for serological
      testing, the prevalence of trachoma was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 5.3%), the
      prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to
      0.5%), the prevalence of antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigen
      pgp3 was 1/68 (1.5%, 95% CI 0.04% to 7.9%), and the prevalence of antibodies
      against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigen CT694 was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to
      5.3%). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This previously highly endemic district in Nepal
      has little evidence of recent clinical disease, chlamydia trachomatis infection,
      or serological evidence of trachoma, suggesting that epidemiological control has
      been achieved.

PMID- 26871899
TI  - Geographic Atrophy and Choroidal Neovascularization in the Same Eye: A Review.
AB  - Geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), the two late
      forms of age-related macular degeneration, are generally considered two distinct
      entities. However, GA and CNV can occur simultaneously in the same eye, with GA
      usually occurring first. The prevalence of this combined entity is higher in
      histological studies than in clinical studies. No distinct systemic or genetic
      risk characteristics are associated with the combined GA/CNV entity, although on
      clinical examination and retinal imaging it can feature drusen or subretinal
      drusenoid deposits. GA and CNV may exist within the spectrum of a single disease,
      or they may be two very different diseases. Therapy with antivascular endothelial
      growth factor (anti-VEGF) is often successful for CNV, but some evidence suggests
      increased rates of GA development in eyes treated with anti-VEGF. In this
      article, we review the current literature regarding the epidemiology, clinical
      presentation, and treatment options for patients with the combined GA/CNV entity.

PMID- 26871901
TI  - Positive Selection or Free to Vary? Assessing the Functional Significance of
      Sequence Change Using Molecular Dynamics.
AB  - Evolutionary arms races between pathogens and their hosts may be manifested as
      selection for rapid evolutionary change of key genes, and are sometimes
      detectable through sequence-level analyses. In the case of protein-coding genes,
      such analyses frequently predict that specific codons are under positive
      selection. However, detecting positive selection can be non-trivial, and false
      positive predictions are a common concern in such analyses. It is therefore
      helpful to place such predictions within a structural and functional context.
      Here, we focus on the p19 protein from tombusviruses. P19 is a homodimer that
      sequesters siRNAs, thereby preventing the host RNAi machinery from shutting down
      viral infection. Sequence analysis of the p19 gene is complicated by the fact
      that it is constrained at the sequence level by overprinting of a viral movement
      protein gene. Using homology modeling, in silico mutation and molecular dynamics
      simulations, we assess how non-synonymous changes to two residues involved in
      forming the dimer interface-one invariant, and one predicted to be under positive
      selection-impact molecular function. Interestingly, we find that both observed
      variation and potential variation (where a non-synonymous change to p19 would be
      synonymous for the overprinted movement protein) does not significantly impact
      protein structure or RNA binding. Consequently, while several methods identify
      residues at the dimer interface as being under positive selection, MD results
      suggest they are functionally indistinguishable from a site that is free to vary.
      Our analyses serve as a caveat to using sequence-level analyses in isolation to
      detect and assess positive selection, and emphasize the importance of also
      accounting for how non-synonymous changes impact structure and function. 

PMID- 26871902
TI  - Approaches to Foster Transfer of Formal Principles: Which Route to Take?
AB  - Enabling learners to transfer knowledge about formal principles to new problems
      is a major aim of science and mathematics education, which, however, is
      notoriously difficult to reach. Previous research advocates different approaches
      of how to introduce principles to foster the transfer of knowledge about formal
      principles. One approach suggests teaching a generic formalism of the principles.
      Another approach suggests presenting (at least) two concrete cases instantiating
      the principle. A third approach suggests presenting a generic formalism
      accompanied by a case. As yet, though, empirical results regarding the transfer
      potential of these approaches are mixed and difficult to integrate as the three
      approaches have rarely been tested competitively. Furthermore, the approaches
      have been evaluated in relation to different control conditions, and they have
      been assessed using varying transfer measures. In the present experiment, we
      introduced undergraduates to the formal principles of propositional logic with
      the aim to systematically compare the transfer potential of the different
      approaches in relation to each other and to a common control condition by using
      various learning and transfer tasks. Results indicate that all approaches
      supported successful learning and transfer of the principles, but also caused
      systematic differences in the magnitude of transfer. Results indicate that the
      combination of a generic formalism with a case was surprisingly unsuccessful
      while learners who compared two cases outperformed the control condition. We
      discuss how the simultaneous assessment of the different approaches allows to
      more precisely capture the underlying learning mechanisms and to advance theory
      on how these mechanisms contribute to transfer performance. 

PMID- 26871904
TI  - Preeclampsia and Future Risk for Maternal Ophthalmic Complications.
AB  - Objective To investigate whether patients with a history of preeclampsia have an
      increased risk of long-term ophthalmic complications. Study Design A population
      based study comparing the incidence of long-term maternal ophthalmic
      complications in a cohort of women with and without a history of preeclampsia.
      Results During the study period, a total of 103,183 deliveries met the inclusion
      criteria; 8.1% (n = 8,324) occurred in patients with a diagnosis of preeclampsia
      during at least one of their pregnancies. Patients with preeclampsia had a
      significantly higher incidence of long-term ophthalmic morbidity such as diabetic
      retinopathy and retinal detachment. In addition, a positive linear correlation
      was found between the severity of preeclampsia and the prevalence of future
      ophthalmic morbidities (0.3 vs. 0.5 vs. 2.2%, respectively). Kaplan-Meier
      survival curve indicated that women with preeclampsia had higher rates of total
      ophthalmic morbidity (0.2 vs. 0.4%, for no preeclampsia and with preeclampsia,
      respectively; odds ratio = 2.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.42-2.99; p < 0.001).
      In a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for confounders, a history of
      preeclampsia remained independently associated with ophthalmic complications.
      Conclusion Preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for long-term maternal
      ophthalmic morbidity, specifically diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment.
      This risk is more substantial depending on the severity of the disease.

PMID- 26871903
TI  - Integration of Stem Cell to Chondrocyte-Derived Cartilage Matrix in Healthy and
      Osteoarthritic States in the Presence of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles.
AB  - We investigated the effectiveness of integrating tissue engineered cartilage
      derived from human bone marrow derived stem cells (HBMSCs) to healthy as well as
      osteoarthritic cartilage mimics using hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles immersed
      within a hydrogel substrate. Healthy and diseased engineered cartilage from human
      chondrocytes (cultured in agar gels) were integrated with human bone marrow stem
      cell (HBMSC)-derived cartilaginous engineered matrix with and without HA, and
      evaluated after 28 days of growth. HBMSCs were seeded within photopolymerizable
      poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels. In addition, we also
      conducted a preliminary in vivo evaluation of cartilage repair in rabbit knee
      chondral defects treated with subchondral bone microfracture and cell-free PEGDA
      with and without HA. Under in vitro conditions, the interfacial shear strength
      between tissue engineered cartilage derived from HBMSCs and osteoarthritic
      chondrocytes was significantly higher (p < 0.05) when HA nanoparticles were
      incorporated within the HBMSC culture system. Histological evidence confirmed a
      distinct spatial transition zone, rich in calcium phosphate deposits. Assessment
      of explanted rabbit knees by histology demonstrated that cellularity within the
      repair tissues that had filled the defects were of significantly higher number (p
      < 0.05) when HA was used. HA nanoparticles play an important role in treating
      chondral defects when osteoarthritis is a co-morbidity. We speculate that the
      calcified layer formation at the interface in the osteoarthritic environment in
      the presence of HA is likely to have attributed to higher interfacial strength
      found in vitro. From an in vivo standpoint, the presence of HA promoted
      cellularity in the tissues that subsequently filled the chondral defects. This
      higher presence of cells can be considered important in the context of
      accelerating long-term cartilage remodeling. We conclude that HA nanoparticles
      play an important role in engineered to native cartilage integration and cellular
      processes. 

PMID- 26871905
TI  - Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial of Magnesium Sulfate Tocolysis versus
      Intravenous Normal Saline for Preterm Nonsevere Placental Abruption.
AB  - Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulfate in the
      resolution of vaginal bleeding and contractions in nonsevere placental abruption.
      Study Design Thirty women between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation diagnosed with
      nonsevere placental abruption were randomized to receive magnesium sulfate
      tocolysis or normal saline infusion. The primary outcome was the proportion of
      women undelivered at 48 hours with resolution of vaginal bleeding and uterine
      contractions. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were also compared. Results Fifteen
      (50%) women received magnesium sulfate tocolysis and 15 (50%) received
      intravenous saline. There was no difference in the number of women who were
      undelivered at 48 hours with resolution of vaginal bleeding and contractions in
      the magnesium sulfate (80.0%) and saline (66.7%; p-value = 0.68) groups. There
      were no differences between groups in the gestational age at randomization, time
      to uterine quiescence, time on study drug, length of hospitalization, days from
      randomization to delivery, incidence of side effects, or admissions to the
      neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusions Magnesium sulfate tocolysis did not
      provide a significant difference in pregnancy prolongation in the management of
      preterm nonsevere placental abruption. Recruitment goals were not met due to the
      introduction of the use of magnesium sulfate for neuroprotection.

PMID- 26871906
TI  - Easy as ABC: A System to Stratify Category II Fetal Heart Rate Tracings.
AB  - Objective To evaluate whether a subcategory system for category II tracings can
      improve team communication and perinatal outcomes. Study Design We collected data
      prospectively for 15 months, first using the NICHD system, followed by the ABC
      system, which divides category II tracings into subcategories A, B, and C, each
      representing increased risk for metabolic acidemia. We surveyed providers about
      communication effectiveness and agreement on tracing interpretation for each
      system. In cases where the communication system was used to alert an off-site
      physician about a category II tracing, we compared arrival to L&D and NICU
      admissions. Results The ABC system was preferred (69%, n = 152) and considered a
      more effective tool for communicating concerning fetal status (80% vs. 43%, p <
      0.01). Participants also reported greater agreement on tracing interpretation
      (79% for ABC vs. 64% for NICHD, p = 0.046). When an off-site physician was
      contacted about a category II tracing (n = 95), they were more likely to arrive
      to L&D (44% vs. 20%, p < 0.01) and have fewer NICU admissions (0% vs. 6%, p <
      0.01) with the ABC system. Conclusion The ABC system resulted in improved team
      communication, increased physician response, and decreased NICU admissions. Using
      standardized communication may offer a useful strategy for identifying and
      expediting care.

PMID- 26871907
TI  - miRNA Repertoires of Demosponges Stylissa carteri and Xestospongia testudinaria.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that are involved in many biological
      process in eukaryotes. They play a crucial role in modulating genetic expression
      of their targets, which makes them integral components of transcriptional
      regulatory networks. As sponges (phylum Porifera) are commonly considered the
      most basal metazoan, the in-depth capture of miRNAs from these organisms provides
      additional clues to the evolution of miRNA families in metazoans. Here, we
      identified the core proteins involved in the biogenesis of miRNAs, and obtained
      evidence for bona fide miRNA sequences for two marine sponges Stylissa carteri
      and Xestospongia testudinaria (11 and 19 respectively). Our analysis identified
      several miRNAs that are conserved amongst demosponges, and revealed that all of
      the novel miRNAs identified in these two species are specific to the class
      Demospongiae. 

PMID- 26871908
TI  - Comparison of the Combined versus Conventional Apgar Scores in Predicting Adverse
      Neonatal Outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Assessing the value of the Combined-Apgar score in predicting
      neonatal mortality and morbidity compared to the Conventional-Apgar. METHODS:
      This prospective cohort study evaluated 942 neonates (166 very preterm, 233 near
      term, and 543 term) admitted to a tertiary referral hospital. At 1- and 5-minutes
      after delivery, the Conventional and Combined Apgar scores were recorded. The
      neonates were followed, and the following information was recorded: the
      occurrence of severe hyperbilirubinemia requiring medical intervention, the
      requirement for mechanical ventilation, the occurrence of intraventricular
      hemorrhage (IVH), and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: Before adjusting for the
      potential confounders, a low Conventional (<7) or Combined (<10) Apgar score at 5
      minutes was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. However, after adjustment
      for the gestational age, birth weight and the requirement for neonatal
      resuscitation in the delivery room, a depressed 5-minute Conventional-Apgar score
      lost its significant associations with all the measured adverse outcomes; after
      the adjustments, a low 5-minute Combined-Apgar score remained significantly
      associated with the requirement for mechanical ventilation (OR,18.61; 95%CI,6.75
      51.29), IVH (OR,4.8; 95%CI,1.91-12.01), and neonatal mortality (OR,20.22;
      95%CI,4.22-96.88). Additionally, using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC)
      curves, the area under the curve was higher for the Combined-Apgar than the
      Conventional-Apgar for the prediction of neonatal mortality and the measured
      morbidities among all the admitted neonates and their gestational age subgroups.
      CONCLUSIONS: The newly proposed Combined-Apgar score can be a good predictor of
      neonatal mortality and morbidity in the admitted neonates, regardless of their
      gestational age and resuscitation status. It is also superior to the Conventional
      Apgar in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in very preterm, near term and term
      neonates.

PMID- 26871909
TI  - Trajectories of Pain and Function after Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: The
      ADAPT Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pain and function improve dramatically in the first three
      months after hip and knee arthroplasty but the trajectory after three months is
      less well described. It is also unclear how pre-operative pain and function
      influence short- and long-term recovery. We explored the trajectory of change in
      function and pain until and beyond 3-months post-operatively and the influence of
      pre-operative self-reported symptoms. METHODS: The study was a prospective cohort
      study of 164 patients undergoing primary hip (n = 80) or knee (n = 84)
      arthroplasty in the United Kingdom. Self-reported measures of pain and function
      using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index were
      collected pre-operatively and at 3 and 12 months post-operatively. Hip and knee
      arthroplasties were analysed separately, and patients were split into two groups:
      those with high or low symptoms pre-operatively. Multilevel regression models
      were used for each outcome (pain and function), and the trajectories of change
      were charted (0-3 months and 3-12 months). RESULTS: Hip: Most improvement
      occurred within the first 3 months following hip surgery and patients with worse
      pre-operative scores had greater changes. The mean changes observed between 3 and
      twelve months were statistically insignificant. One year after surgery, patients
      with worse pre-operative scores had post-operative outcomes similar to those
      observed among patients with less severe pre-operative symptoms. Knee: Most
      improvement occurred in the first 3 months following knee surgery with no
      significant change thereafter. Despite greater mean change during the first three
      months, patients with worse pre-operative scores had not 'caught-up' with those
      with less severe pre-operative symptoms 12 months after their surgery.
      CONCLUSION: Most symptomatic improvement occurred within the first 3 months after
      surgery with no significant change between 3-12 months. Further investigations
      are now required to determine if patients with severe symptoms at the time of
      their knee arthroplasty have a different pre-surgical history than those with
      less severe symptoms and if they could benefit from earlier surgical intervention
      and tailored rehabilitation to achieve better post-operative patient-reported
      outcomes.

PMID- 26871910
TI  - Species-Specific Adaptations of Trypanosome Morphology and Motility to the
      Mammalian Host.
AB  - African trypanosomes thrive in the bloodstream and tissue spaces of a wide range
      of mammalian hosts. Infections of cattle cause an enormous socio-economic burden
      in sub-Saharan Africa. A hallmark of the trypanosome lifestyle is the
      flagellate's incessant motion. This work details the cell motility behavior of
      the four livestock-parasites Trypanosoma vivax, T. brucei, T. evansi and T.
      congolense. The trypanosomes feature distinct swimming patterns, speeds and
      flagellar wave frequencies, although the basic mechanism of flagellar propulsion
      is conserved, as is shown by extended single flagellar beat analyses. Three
      dimensional analyses of the trypanosomes expose a high degree of dynamic
      pleomorphism, typified by the 'cellular waveform'. This is a product of the
      flagellar oscillation, the chirality of the flagellum attachment and the
      stiffness of the trypanosome cell body. The waveforms are characteristic for each
      trypanosome species and are influenced by changes of the microenvironment, such
      as differences in viscosity and the presence of confining obstacles. The distinct
      cellular waveforms may be reflective of the actual anatomical niches the
      parasites populate within their mammalian host. T. vivax displays waveforms
      optimally aligned to the topology of the bloodstream, while the two subspecies T.
      brucei and T. evansi feature distinct cellular waveforms, both additionally
      adapted to motion in more confined environments such as tissue spaces. T.
      congolense reveals a small and stiff waveform, which makes these parasites weak
      swimmers and destined for cell adherence in low flow areas of the circulation.
      Thus, our experiments show that the differential dissemination and annidation of
      trypanosomes in their mammalian hosts may depend on the distinct swimming
      capabilities of the parasites. 

PMID- 26871912
TI  - Looking back, looking forward: Recovery journeys in a high secure hospital.
AB  - A qualitative study of staff and service users' views of recovery was undertaken
      in a UK high secure hospital working to implement recovery practices. 30 staff
      and 25 service users participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups.
      Thematic analysis identified four broad accounts of how recovery was made sense
      of in the high secure environment: the importance of meaningful occupation;
      valuing relationships; recovery journeys and dialogue with the past; and recovery
      as personal responsibility. These themes are discussed with an emphasis on
      service user strategies of cooperation or resistance, respectively advancing or
      impeding progress through the system. In this context the notion of cooperation
      is, for many, commensurate with compliance with a dominant medical model. The
      policy framing of recovery opens up contemplation of treatment alternatives, more
      participatory approaches to risk management, and emphasise the value of
      relational skills, but may not elude the overarching bio-psychiatric episteme. 

PMID- 26871911
TI  - Structural and Functional Characterization of a Caenorhabditis elegans Genetic
      Interaction Network within Pathways.
AB  - A genetic interaction (GI) is defined when the mutation of one gene modifies the
      phenotypic expression associated with the mutation of a second gene. Genome-wide
      efforts to map GIs in yeast revealed structural and functional properties of a GI
      network. This provided insights into the mechanisms underlying the robustness of
      yeast to genetic and environmental insults, and also into the link existing
      between genotype and phenotype. While a significant conservation of GIs and GI
      network structure has been reported between distant yeast species, such a
      conservation is not clear between unicellular and multicellular organisms.
      Structural and functional characterization of a GI network in these latter
      organisms is consequently of high interest. In this study, we present an in-depth
      characterization of ~1.5K GIs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We identify
      and characterize six distinct classes of GIs by examining a wide-range of
      structural and functional properties of genes and network, including co
      expression, phenotypical manifestations, relationship with protein-protein
      interaction dense subnetworks (PDS) and pathways, molecular and biological
      functions, gene essentiality and pleiotropy. Our study shows that GI classes link
      genes within pathways and display distinctive properties, specifically towards
      PDS. It suggests a model in which pathways are composed of PDS-centric and PDS
      independent GIs coordinating molecular machines through two specific classes of
      GIs involving pleiotropic and non-pleiotropic connectors. Our study provides the
      first in-depth characterization of a GI network within pathways of a
      multicellular organism. It also suggests a model to understand better how GIs
      control system robustness and evolution. 

PMID- 26871913
TI  - Time for a patient-oriented outcome in vitiligo: the vitiligo noticeability
      scale.

PMID- 26871914
TI  - Rare inherited skin diseases and the Genomics England 100 000 Genome Project.

PMID- 26871915
TI  - A biosimilarity index for psoriasis.

PMID- 26871916
TI  - Treating actinic keratosis.

PMID- 26871917
TI  - Prediction of high total naevus count to estimate melanoma risk. We need more,
      don't we?

PMID- 26871918
TI  - CARD14 alterations and psoriasis: are psoriasis and related disorders genetic
      autoinflammatory diseases?

PMID- 26871919
TI  - Hand dermatitis in construction workers: a lesson in genetic epidemiology.

PMID- 26871920
TI  - A possible mechanism of hypercoagulation status in scleroderma.

PMID- 26871921
TI  - Labelling: do we have it right?

PMID- 26871922
TI  - Kidney disease in moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a critical appraisal.
AB  - AIM: Using a population-based cohort, Wan et al. examined the risk of moderate-to
      advanced (stage 3-5) chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with psoriasis.
      SETTING AND DESIGN: A population-based cohort was constructed using The Health
      Improvement Network (THIN) database. THIN is an electronic primary healthcare
      records database containing routinely collected medical diagnosis and drug
      prescribing data on > 9 million patients in the U.K. Data were collected
      prospectively on 143 883 adults (aged 18-90 years) with psoriasis. Of these, 7354
      had severe psoriasis, as defined by prescription codes for systemic medication or
      treatment codes for phototherapy. Patients with psoriasis were matched with up to
      five nonpsoriasis age- and practice-matched controls. Patients with a diagnosis
      of CKD before study entry were excluded. In addition, baseline data from the
      Incident Health Outcomes and Psoriasis Events (iHOPE) study, a cohort of 8731
      primary care patients aged 25-64 years with psoriasis, was included. Psoriasis
      severity was categorized according to body surface area (BSA) involvement as
      estimated by general practitioners. A similar method using a patient-reported BSA
      assessment tool was previously validated by the same group. Patients were matched
      by age and practice with 10 nonpsoriasis controls. STUDY EXPOSURE: Psoriasis,
      identified on the basis of a recorded diagnostic code for psoriasis. OUTCOMES:
      Incident CKD was defined as the presence of a recorded diagnostic code consistent
      with moderate-to-advanced (stage 3-5) CKD or laboratory parameters consistent
      with the diagnosis (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL min(-1)  1.73 m(
      2) ) during follow-up. Prevalent CKD (as defined above) in the cross-sectional
      data from the iHOPE study. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratios for incident CKD
      were 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.07], 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-1.02) and
      1.93 (95% CI 1.79-2.08) in the overall, mild and severe psoriasis groups,
      respectively. In the nested cross-sectional study (iHOPE) the adjusted prevalence
      odds ratios for CKD were 0.89 (95% CI 0.72-1.10), 1.36 (95% CI 1.06-1.74) and
      1.58 (95% CI 1.07-2.34) in the mild, moderate and severe psoriasis groups,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-to-severe psoriasis is associated with an
      increased risk of moderate-to-advanced CKD, independently of traditional risk
      factors.

PMID- 26871923
TI  - Response to 'Kidney disease in moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a critical
      appraisal'.

PMID- 26871924
TI  - Kidney disease in moderate-to-severe psoriasis: commentary.

PMID- 26871926
TI  - Cover Image: Music box spines.

PMID- 26871925
TI  - Heritability of naevus patterns in an adult twin cohort from the Brisbane Twin
      Registry: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heritability of naevi counts is widely acknowledged as a potential
      surveillance parameter for prevention purposes. The contribution of heritability
      to the changes seen in naevus number and morphology over time and their
      corresponding dermoscopic characteristics is unknown, but is important to
      understand in order to account for adequate prevention measures. OBJECTIVES: To
      identify naevus characteristics that are strongly influenced by heritability.
      METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 220 individuals [76 monozygotic
      (MZ), 144 dizygotic (DZ)], recruited from the Brisbane Twin Naevus Study.
      Participants received full body imaging and dermoscopy of naevi >= 5 mm in
      diameter. Dermoscopic type, total naevus count (TNC), change in TNC with age, and
      naevus distribution, size, colour and profile were compared between MZ and DZ
      twins. Heritability of these traits was assessed via Falconer's estimate.
      RESULTS: Significant differences were found in comparing MZ and DZ twins for TNC,
      numbers of naevi 5.0-7.9 mm in diameter, counts of light-brown naevi, naevi on
      the back and sun-protected sites, and naevi with the 'nonspecific' dermoscopic
      pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This study strongly supports a heritable component to TNC,
      as well as changes in TNC, and the number of medium-sized naevi, light-brown
      naevi, specific sites and certain dermoscopic features in adults. These
      characteristics should be taken into account by naevus surveillance programmes
      and further studied to identify candidate gene associations for clinical and
      dermoscopic patterns in conjunction with melanoma risk stratification.

PMID- 26871928
TI  - Plain language summaries.

PMID- 26871930
TI  - European Lampreys: New Insights on Postglacial Colonization, Gene Flow and
      Speciation.
AB  - Ice ages are known to be the most dominant palaeoclimatic feature occurring on
      Earth, producing severe climatic oscillations and consequently shaping the
      distribution and the population structure of several species. Lampreys constitute
      excellent models to study the colonization of freshwater systems, as they
      commonly appear in pairs of closely related species of anadromous versus
      freshwater resident adults, thus having the ability to colonize new habitats,
      through the anadromous species, and establish freshwater resident derivates. We
      used 10 microsatellite loci to investigate the spatial structure, patterns of
      gene flow and migration routes of Lampetra populations in Europe. We sampled 11
      populations including the migratory L. fluviatilis and four resident species, L.
      planeri, L. alavariensis, L. auremensis and L. lusitanica, the last three endemic
      to the Iberian Peninsula. In this southern glacial refugium almost all sampled
      populations represent a distinct genetic cluster, showing high levels of
      allopatric differentiation, reflecting long periods of isolation. As result of
      their more recent common ancestor, populations from northern Europe are less
      divergent among them, they are represented by fewer genetic clusters, and there
      is evidence of strong recent gene flow among populations. These previously
      glaciated areas from northern Europe may have been colonized from lampreys
      expanding out of the Iberian refugia. The pair L. fluviatilis/L. planeri is
      apparently at different stages of speciation in different locations, showing
      evidences of high reproductive isolation in the southern refugium, and low
      differentiation in the north. 

PMID- 26871931
TI  - Correction: Functional Assessment of Cardiac Responses of Adult Zebrafish (Danio
      rerio) to Acute and Chronic Temperature Change Using High-Resolution
      Echocardiography.

PMID- 26871933
TI  - Occupational allergy to pharmaceutical products.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Occupational allergy in healthcare workers is common and can
      lead to significant costs from both loss of productivity within the workforce as
      well as those associated with diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to
      provide an update on drugs implicated in causing occupational allergy. RECENT
      FINDINGS: Drugs traditionally reported as causing occupational allergy, such as
      penicillin, remain problematic. However, as their use reduces and newer drugs,
      such as cephalosporins, are used more frequently there is a changing pattern to
      occupational sensitization. In some studies up to 17% of healthcare workers now
      appear sensitized to cephalosporins. Other drug classes also reported include
      proton pump inhibitors and benzodiazepines. Interestingly, drugs such as
      omeprazole and tetrazepam rarely cause allergy in patients but can be very
      sensitizing if applied topically or inhaled. Recent studies involving
      pharmaceutical company employees show that this problem can no longer be
      considered primarily related to healthcare workers. SUMMARY: The diagnosis of
      occupational allergy to drugs can be complicated and has been shown to take up to
      5 years from the onset of symptoms. Ultimately, workplace avoidance remains key;
      however, an up to date awareness of culprit drugs and the patterns of allergy
      seen are key to a prompt resolution of symptoms.

PMID- 26871932
TI  - Predicting Where a Radiation Will Occur: Acoustic and Molecular Surveys Reveal
      Overlooked Diversity in Indian Ocean Island Crickets (Mogoplistinae: Ornebius).
AB  - Recent theory suggests that the geographic location of island radiations (local
      accumulation of species diversity due to cladogenesis) can be predicted based on
      island area and isolation. Crickets are a suitable group for testing these
      predictions, as they show both the ability to reach some of the most isolated
      islands in the world, and to speciate at small spatial scales. Despite
      substantial song variation between closely related species in many island cricket
      lineages worldwide, to date this characteristic has not received attention in the
      western Indian Ocean islands; existing species descriptions are based on
      morphology alone. Here we use a combination of acoustics and DNA sequencing to
      survey these islands for Ornebius crickets. We uncover a small but previously
      unknown radiation in the Mascarenes, constituting a three-fold increase in the
      Ornebius species diversity of this archipelago (from two to six species). A
      further new species is detected in the Comoros. Although double archipelago
      colonisation is the best explanation for species diversity in the Seychelles, in
      situ cladogenesis is the best explanation for the six species in the Mascarenes
      and two species of the Comoros. Whether the radiation of Mascarene Ornebius
      results from intra- or purely inter- island speciation cannot be determined on
      the basis of the phylogenetic data alone. However, the existence of genetic, song
      and ecological divergence at the intra-island scale is suggestive of an intra
      island speciation scenario in which ecological and mating traits diverge hand-in
      hand. Our results suggest that the geographic location of Ornebius radiations is
      partially but not fully explained by island area and isolation. A notable anomaly
      is Madagascar, where our surveys are consistent with existing accounts in finding
      no Ornebius species present. Possible explanations are discussed, invoking
      ecological differences between species and differences in environmental history
      between islands. 

PMID- 26871934
TI  - Scaffold Hopping Approach to a New Series of Pyridine Derivatives as Potent
      Inhibitors of CDK2.
AB  - A scaffold hopping approach was exploited to guide the discovery of a series of
      pyridine derivatives as novel cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK2) inhibitors. These
      new compounds were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as CDK2 inhibitors. Most
      of the compounds showed potent inhibition against CDK2, and preliminary structure
      activity relationship trends were revealed. A docking study on the most potent
      compound 6g implied the structural basis for potent CDK2 inhibition. All of the
      synthesized compounds were also evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the H522
      and U87 cancer cell lines. The most potent and drug-like compound 6g was further
      tested against a normal cell line (L02), demonstrating that this compound is
      selectively toxic toward cancer cell lines. The results provide the foundation
      for further improving the potency of this series of compounds. 

PMID- 26871935
TI  - Treatment of colon cancer with oncolytic herpes simplex virus in preclinical
      models.
AB  - Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are a rare population in any type of cancer,
      including colon cancer, are tumorigenic and responsible for cancer recurrence and
      metastasis. CSCs have been isolated from a number of different solid tumors
      recently, although the isolation of CSCs in colon cancer is still challenging. We
      cultured colon cancer cells in stem cell medium to obtain colonosphere cells.
      These cells possessed the characteristics of CSCs, with a high capacity of
      tumorigenicity, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. The isolation and
      identification of CSCs have provided new targets for the therapeutics. Oncolytic
      herpes simplex viruses (oHSV) are an effective strategy for killing colon cancer
      cells in preclinical models. Here, we examined the efficacy of an oncolytic
      herpes simplex virus type 2 (oHSV2) in killing colon cancer cells and colon
      cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs). oHSV2 was found to be highly cytotoxic to the
      adherent and sphere cells in vitro, and oHSV2 treatment in vivo significantly
      inhibited tumor growth. This study demonstrates that oHSV2 is effective against
      colon cancer cells and colon CSLCs and could be a promising strategy for treating
      colon cancer patients.

PMID- 26871936
TI  - Prevalence and Patterns of Multi-Morbidity in Serbian Adults: A Cross-Sectional
      Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Like many developing countries, Serbia is facing a growing burden
      of chronic diseases. Within such public health issue, multi-morbidity requires a
      special attention. AIMS: This study investigated the prevalence of multi
      morbidity in the Serbia population and assessed the co-occurrence of chronic
      diseases by age and gender. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2013 National
      Health Survey, which included 13,103 individuals >= 20 years old. Multi-morbidity
      patterns were identified by exploratory factor analysis of data on self-reported
      chronic diseases, as well as data on measured body weight and height. The
      analysis was stratified by age and gender. RESULTS: Multi-morbidity was present
      in nearly one-third of respondents (26.9%) and existed in all age groups, with
      the highest prevalence among individuals aged 65 years and older (47.2% of men
      and 65.0% of women). Six patterns of multi-morbidity were identified: non
      communicable, cardio-metabolic, respiratory, cardiovascular, aggregate, and
      mechanical/mental/metabolic. The non-communicable pattern was observed in both
      genders but only in the 20-44 years age group, while the aggregate pattern
      occurred only in middle-aged men. Cardio-metabolic and respiratory patterns were
      present in all age groups. Cardiovascular and mechanical/mental/metabolic
      patterns showed similar presentation in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Multi
      morbidity is a common occurrence among adults in Serbia, especially in the
      elderly. While several patterns may be explained by underlying pathophysiologies,
      some require further investigation and follow-up. Recognizing the complexity of
      multi-morbidity in Serbia is of great importance from both clinical and
      preventive perspectives given that it affects one-third of the population and may
      require adjustment of the healthcare system to address the needs of affected
      individuals.

PMID- 26871937
TI  - Mortality Patterns in Patients with Multiple Trauma: A Systematic Review of
      Autopsy Studies.
AB  - PURPOSE: A high percentage (50%-60%) of trauma patients die due to their injuries
      prior to arrival at the hospital. Studies on preclinical mortality including post
      mortem examinations are rare. In this review, we summarized the literature
      focusing on clinical and preclinical mortality and studies included post-mortem
      examinations. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline
      database for relevant medical literature in English or German language published
      within the last four decades (1980-2015). The following MeSH search terms were
      used in different combinations: "multiple trauma", "epidemiology", "mortality ",
      "cause of death", and "autopsy". References from available studies were searched
      as well. RESULTS: Marked differences in demographic parameters and injury
      severity between studies were identified. Moreover, the incidence of penetrating
      injuries has shown a wide range (between 4% and 38%). Both unimodal and bimodal
      concepts of trauma mortality have been favored. Studies have shown a wide
      variation in time intervals used to analyze the distribution of death. Thus, it
      is difficult to say which distribution is correct. CONCLUSIONS: We have
      identified variable results indicating bimodal or unimodal death distribution.
      Further more stundardized studies in this field are needed. We would like to
      encourage investigators to choose the inclusion criteria more critically and to
      consider factors affecting the pattern of mortality.

PMID- 26871938
TI  - Development and validation of a cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis
      method for the enantiomeric separation of vildagliptin enantiomers.
AB  - The enantiomers of vildagliptin, an orally available and selective dipeptidyl
      peptidase-4 inhibitor used for the treatment of type II diabetes, have been
      separated by CD-modified CZE, using uncoated fused-silica capillary. After
      screening 13 negatively charged CD derivatives as potential chiral selectors,
      sulfobutyl-ether-alpha-CD (SBE-alpha-CD) was selected for the enantioseparation.
      For the optimization, a factorial analysis study was performed by orthogonal
      experimental design. Six experimental factors were chosen as variable parameters:
      temperature, applied voltage, chiral selector and BGE concentrations, pH, and the
      parameters of the hydrodynamic injection. The optimized system still was not
      considered final as the second peak (S-enantiomer) migrated too close to the EOF,
      resulting in a potential inaccuracy during the determination of the chiral
      impurity. To fine-tune the method "one factor at a time" variation approach was
      applied. The final method (applying 15 degrees C capillary temperature, 40 mbar *
      4 s hydrodynamic injection, 25 kV voltage in 75 mM acetate-Tris buffer [pH 4.75]
      containing 20 mM SBE-alpha-CD as chiral selector) was validated according to the
      ICH guideline. RSD percentage of the resolution value, migration times, and
      corrected peak areas were below 5% during testing repeatability and intermediate
      precision. LOD and LOQ values were found to be 2.5 and 7.5 MUg/mL, respectively.
      The method is considered linear in the 7.5-180 MUg/mL range for the R-enantiomer.
      The robustness of the method was justified using Plackett-Burmann statistical
      experimental design. 

PMID- 26871939
TI  - Antidyskinetic effect of A2A and 5HT1A/1B receptor ligands in two animal models
      of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The serotonin 5-HT1A/1B receptor agonist eltoprazine suppressed
      dyskinetic-like behavior in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) but
      simultaneously reduced levodopa (l-dopa)-induced motility. Moreover, adenosine
      A2A receptor antagonists, such as preladenant, significantly increased l-dopa
      efficacy in PD without exacerbating dyskinetic-like behavior. OBJECTIVES: We
      evaluated whether a combination of eltoprazine and preladenant may prevent or
      suppress l-dopa-induced dyskinesia, without impairing l-dopa's efficacy in
      relieving motor signs, in 2 PD models: unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats
      and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys. METHODS:
      Rotational behavior and abnormal involuntary movements, or disability and l-dopa
      induced dyskinesia were evaluated in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats and MPTP
      treated monkeys, respectively. Moreover, in the rodent striatum, induction of
      immediate-early gene zif-268, an index of long-term changes, was correlated with
      dyskinesia. RESULTS: In 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, combined administration
      of l-dopa (4 mg/kg) plus eltoprazine (0.6 mg/kg) plus preladenant (0.3 mg/kg)
      significantly prevented or reduced dyskinetic-like behavior without impairing
      motor activity. Zif-268 was increased in the striatum of rats treated with l-dopa
      and l-dopa plus preladenant compared with vehicle. In contrast, rats treated with
      eltoprazine (with or without preladenant) had lower zif-268 activation after
      chronic treatment in both the dyskinetic and l-dopa-non-primed groups. Moreover,
      acute l-dopa plus eltoprazine plus preladenant prevented worsening of motor
      performance (adjusting step) and sensorimotor integration deficit. Similar
      results were obtained in MPTP-treated monkeys, where a combination of preladenant
      with eltoprazine was found to counteract dyskinesia and maintain the full
      therapeutic effects of a low dose of l-dopa. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a
      promising nondopaminergic pharmacological strategy for the treatment of
      dyskinesia in PD. (c) 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26871940
TI  - Definitive Metabolite Identification Coupled with Automated Ligand Identification
      System (ALIS) Technology: A Novel Approach to Uncover Structure-Activity
      Relationships and Guide Drug Design in a Factor IXa Inhibitor Program.
AB  - A potent and selective Factor IXa (FIXa) inhibitor was subjected to a series of
      liver microsomal incubations, which generated a number of metabolites. Using
      automated ligand identification system-affinity selection (ALIS-AS) methodology,
      metabolites in the incubation mixture were prioritized by their binding
      affinities to the FIXa protein. Microgram quantities of the metabolites of
      interest were then isolated through microisolation analytical capabilities, and
      structurally characterized using MicroCryoProbe heteronuclear 2D NMR techniques.
      The isolated metabolites recovered from the NMR experiments were then submitted
      directly to an in vitro FIXa enzymatic assay. The order of the metabolites'
      binding affinity to the Factor IXa protein from the ALIS assay was completely
      consistent with the enzymatic assay results. This work showcases an innovative
      and efficient approach to uncover structure-activity relationships (SARs) and
      guide drug design via microisolation-structural characterization and ALIS
      capabilities. 

PMID- 26871942
TI  - The Challenge of Planning Conservation Strategies in Threatened Seascapes:
      Understanding the Role of Fine Scale Assessments of Community Response to
      Cumulative Human Pressures.
AB  - Assessing the distribution and intensity of human threats to biodiversity is a
      prerequisite for effective spatial planning, harmonizing conservation purposes
      with sustainable development. In the Mediterranean Sea, the management of Marine
      Protected Areas (MPAs) is rarely based on explicit consideration of the
      distribution of multiple stressors, with direct assessment of their effects on
      ecosystems. This gap limits the effectiveness of protection and is conducive to
      conflicts among stakeholders. Here, a fine scale assessment of the potential
      effects of different combinations of stressors (both land- and marine-based) on
      vulnerable rocky habitats (i.e. lower midlittoral and shallow infralittoral)
      along 40 km of coast in the western Mediterranean (Ionian Sea) has been carried
      out. The study area is a paradigmatic example of socio-ecological interactions,
      where several human uses and conservation measures collide. Significant
      differences in the structure of assemblages according to different combinations
      of threats were observed, indicating distinct responses of marine habitats to
      different sets of human pressures. A more complex three-dimensional structure,
      higher taxon richness and beta-diversity characterized assemblages subject to low
      versus high levels of human pressure, consistently across habitats. In addition,
      the main drivers of change were: closeness to the harbour, water quality, and the
      relative extension of beaches. Our findings suggest that, although efforts to
      assess cumulative impacts at large scale may help in individuating priority areas
      for conservation purposes, the fact that such evaluations are often based on
      expert opinions and not on actual studies limits their ability to represent real
      environmental conditions at local scale. Systematic evaluations of local scale
      effects of anthropogenic drivers of change on biological communities should
      complement broad scale management strategies to achieve effective sustainability
      of human exploitation of marine resources. 

PMID- 26871941
TI  - The N-Terminal of Aquareovirus NS80 Is Required for Interacting with Viral
      Proteins and Viral Replication.
AB  - Reovirus replication and assembly occurs within viral inclusion bodies that
      formed in specific intracellular compartments of cytoplasm in infected cells.
      Previous study indicated that aquareovirus NS80 is able to form inclusion bodies,
      and also can retain viral proteins within its inclusions. To better understand
      how NS80 performed in viral replication and assembly, the functional regions of
      NS80 associated with other viral proteins in aquareovirus replication were
      investigated in this study. Deletion mutational analysis and rotavirus NSP5-based
      protein association platform were used to detect association regions.
      Immunofluorescence images indicated that different N-terminal regions of NS80
      could associate with viral proteins VP1, VP4, VP6 and NS38. Further co
      immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed the interaction between VP1, VP4, VP6 or
      NS38 with different regions covering the N-terminal amino acid (aa, 1-471) of
      NS80, respectively. Moreover, removal of NS80 N-terminal sequences required for
      interaction with proteins VP1, VP4, VP6 or NS38 not only prevented the capacity
      of NS80 to support viral replication in NS80 shRNA-based replication
      complementation assays, but also inhibited the expression of aquareovirus
      proteins, suggesting that N-terminal regions of NS80 are necessary for viral
      replication. These results provided a foundational basis for further
      understanding the role of NS80 in viral replication and assembly during
      aquareovirus infection. 

PMID- 26871943
TI  - Understanding HIV Risk Behavior among Tuberculosis Patients with Alcohol Use
      Disorders in Tomsk, Russian Federation.
AB  - Russian Federation's (RF) HIV epidemic is the fastest growing of any country.
      This study explores factors associated with high HIV risk behavior in
      tuberculosis (TB) patients with alcohol use disorders in Tomsk, RF. This analysis
      was nested within the Integrated Management of Physician-delivered Alcohol Care
      for TB Patients (IMPACT, trial number NCT00675961) randomized controlled study of
      integrating alcohol treatment into TB treatment in Tomsk. Demographics, HIV risk
      behavior (defined as participant report of high-risk intravenous drug use and/or
      multiple sexual partners with inconsistent condom use in the last six months),
      clinical data, alcohol use, depression and psychosocial factors were collected
      from 196 participants (161 male and 35 female) at baseline. Forty-six
      participants (23.5%) endorsed HIV risk behavior at baseline. Incarceration
      history(Odds Ratio (OR)3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.95, 7.95), age under
      41 (OR:2.97, CI:1.46, 6.04), drug addiction(OR: 3.60 CI:1.10, 11.77), history of
      a sexually transmitted disease(STD)(OR 2.00 CI:1.02, 3.90), low social capital
      (OR:2.81 CI:0.99, 8.03) and heavier alcohol use (OR:2.56 CI: 1.02, 6.46) were
      significantly more likely to be associated with HIV risk behavior at baseline. In
      adjusted analysis, age under 41(OR: 4.93, CI: 2.10, 11.58), incarceration
      history(OR: 3.56 CI:1.55, 8.17) and STD history (OR: 3.48, CI: 1.5, 8.10)
      continued to be significantly associated with HIV risk behavior. Understanding
      HIV transmission dynamics in Russia remains an urgent priority to inform
      strategies to address the epidemic. Larger studies addressing sex differences in
      risks and barriers to protective behavior are needed. 

PMID- 26871945
TI  - Effective growth-suppressive activity of maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase
      (MELK) inhibitor against small cell lung cancer.
AB  - Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), that plays a critical role in
      maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), is predominantly expressed in various
      types of human cancer including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). SCLC usually
      acquires resistance to anti-cancer drugs and portends dismal prognosis. We have
      delineated roles of MELK in development/progression of SCLC and examined anti
      tumor efficacy of OTS167, a highly potent MELK inhibitor, against SCLC. MELK
      expression was highly upregulated in both SCLC cell lines and primary tumors.
      siRNA-mediated MELK knockdown induced significant growth inhibition in SCLC cell
      lines. Concordantly, treatment with OTS167 exhibited strong cytotoxicity against
      eleven SCLC cell lines with IC50 of < 10 nM. As similar to siRNA knockdown,
      OTS167 treatment induced cytokinetic defects with intercellular bridges, and in
      some cell lines we observed formation of neuronal protrusions accompanied with
      increase of a neuronal differentiation marker (CD56), indicating that the
      compound induced differentiation of cancer cells to neuron-like cells.
      Furthermore, the MELK inhibition decreased its downstream FOXM1 activity and Akt
      expression in SCLC cells, and led to apoptotic cell death. OTS167 appeared to be
      more effective to CSCs as measured by the sphere formation assay, thus MELK
      inhibition might become a promising treatment modality for SCLC. 

PMID- 26871944
TI  - Hyperinsulinemia enhances interleukin-17-induced inflammation to promote prostate
      cancer development in obese mice through inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3
      mediated phosphorylation and degradation of interleukin-17 receptor.
AB  - Interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays important roles in inflammation, autoimmune
      diseases, and some cancers. Obese people are in a chronic inflammatory state with
      increased serum levels of IL-17, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1
      (IGF1). How these factors contribute to the chronic inflammatory status that
      promotes development of aggressive prostate cancer in obese men is largely
      unknown. We found that, in obese mice, hyperinsulinemia enhanced IL-17-induced
      expression of downstream proinflammatory genes with increased levels of IL-17
      receptor A (IL-17RA), resulting in development of more invasive prostate cancer.
      Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) constitutively bound to and phosphorylated IL
      17RA at T780, leading to ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of IL
      17RA, thus inhibiting IL-17-mediated inflammation. IL-17RA phosphorylation was
      reduced, while the IL-17RA levels were increased in the proliferative human
      prostate cancer cells compared to the normal cells. Insulin and IGF1 enhanced IL
      17-induced inflammatory responses through suppressing GSK3, which was shown in
      the cultured cell lines in vitro and obese mouse models of prostate cancer in
      vivo. These findings reveal a mechanism underlying the intensified inflammation
      in obesity and obesity-associated development of aggressive prostate cancer,
      suggesting that targeting GSK3 may be a potential therapeutic approach to
      suppress IL-17-mediated inflammation in the prevention and treatment of prostate
      cancer, particularly in obese men. 

PMID- 26871946
TI  - ERbeta decreases the invasiveness of triple-negative breast cancer cells by
      regulating mutant p53 oncogenic function.
AB  - Most (80%) of the triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) express mutant p53
      proteins that acquire oncogenic activities including promoting metastasis. We
      previously showed that wild-type ERbeta (ERbeta1) impedes epithelial to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) and decreases the invasiveness of TNBC cells. In the
      present study we searched for signaling pathways that ERbeta1 uses to inhibit EMT
      and invasion in TNBC cells. We show that ERbeta1 binds to and opposes the
      transcriptional activity of mutant p53 at the promoters of genes that regulate
      metastasis. p63 that transcriptionally cooperates with mutant p53 also binds to
      ERbeta1. Downregulation of p63 represses the epithelial phenotype of ERbeta1
      expressing cells and alters the expression of mutant p53 target genes. These
      results describe a novel mechanism through which ERbeta1 can disturb oncogenic
      signals to inhibit aggressiveness in TNBCs. 

PMID- 26871947
TI  - Longitudinal tracking of subpopulation dynamics and molecular changes during
      LNCaP cell castration and identification of inhibitors that could target the PSA
      /lo castration-resistant cells.
AB  - We have recently demonstrated that the undifferentiated PSA-/lo prostate cancer
      (PCa) cell population harbors self-renewing long-term tumor-propagating cells
      that are refractory to castration, thus representing a therapeutic target. Our
      goals here are, by using the same lineage-tracing reporter system, to track the
      dynamic changes of PSA-/lo and PSA+ cells upon castration in vitro, investigate
      the molecular changes accompanying persistent castration, and develop large
      numbers of PSA-/lo PCa cells for drug screening. To these ends, we treated LNCaP
      cells infected with the PSAP-GFP reporter with three regimens of castration,
      i.e., CDSS, CDSS plus bicalutamide, and MDV3100 continuously for up to ~21
      months. We observed that in the first ~7 months, castration led to time-dependent
      increases in PSA-/lo cells, loss of AR and PSA expression, increased expression
      of cancer stem cell markers, and many other molecular changes. Meanwhile,
      castrated LNCaP cells became resistant to high concentrations of MDV3100,
      chemotherapeutic drugs, and other agents. However, targeted and medium-throughput
      library screening identified several kinase (e.g., IGF-1R, AKT, PI3K/mTOR, Syk,
      GSK3) inhibitors as well as the BCL2 inhibitor that could effectively sensitize
      the LNCaP-CRPC cells to killing. Of interest, LNCaP cells castrated for >7 months
      showed evidence of cyclic changes in AR and the mTOR/AKT signaling pathways
      potentially involving epigenetic mechanisms. These observations indicate that
      castration elicits numerous molecular changes and leads to enrichment of PSA-/lo
      PCa cells. The ability to generate large numbers of PSA-/lo PCa cells should
      allow future high-throughput screening to identify novel therapeutics that
      specifically target this population. 

PMID- 26871949
TI  - Colonic response to laxative ingestion as assessed by MRI differs in constipated
      irritable bowel syndrome compared to functional constipation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome with
      constipation (IBS-C) share many symptoms but underlying mechanisms may be
      different. We have developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to
      measure intestinal volumes, transit, and motility in response to a laxative,
      Moviprep((r)) . We aim to use these biomarkers to study the pathophysiology in
      IBS-C and FC. METHODS: Twenty-four FC and 24 IBS-C were studied. Transit was
      assessed using the weighted average position score (WAPS) of five MRI marker
      pills, taken 24 h before MRI scanning. Following baseline scan, participants
      ingested 1 L of Moviprep((r)) followed by hourly scans. Magnetic resonance
      imaging parameters and bowel symptoms were scored from 0 to 4 h. KEY RESULTS:
      Weighted average position score for FC was 3.6 (2.5-4.2), significantly greater
      than IBS-C at 2.0 (1.5-3.2), p = 0.01, indicating slower transit for FC.
      Functional constipation showed greater fasting small bowel water content, 83 (63
      142) mL vs 39 (15-70) mL in IBS-C, p < 0.01 and greater ascending colon volume
      (AC), 314 (101) mL vs 226 (71) mL in IBS-C, p < 0.01. FC motility index was lower
      at 0.055 (0.044) compared to IBS-C, 0.107 (0.070), p < 0.01. Time to first bowel
      movement following ingestion of Moviprep((r)) was greater for FC, being 295 (116
      526) min, compared to IBS-C at 84 (49-111) min, p < 0.01, and correlated with AC
      volume 2 h after Moviprep((r)) , r = 0.44, p < 0.01. Using a cut-off >230 min
      distinguishes FC from IBS-C with low sensitivity of 55% but high specificity of
      95%. CONCLUSION & INFERENCES: Our objective MRI biomarkers allow a distinction
      between FC and IBS-C.

PMID- 26871950
TI  - Structural and Biochemical Insights into the Peptidoglycan Hydrolase Domain of
      FlgJ from Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - FlgJ is a glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzyme belonging to the Carbohydrate Active
      enZyme (CAZy) family GH73. It facilitates passage of the bacterial flagellum
      through the peptidoglycan (PG) layer by cleaving the beta-1,4 glycosidic bond
      between N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid sugars that comprise the
      glycan strands of PG. Here we describe the crystal structure of the GH domain of
      FlgJ from bacterial pathogen Salmonella typhimurium (StFlgJ). Interestingly, the
      active site of StFlgJ was blocked by the C-terminal alpha-helix of a neighbouring
      symmetry mate and a beta-hairpin containing the putative catalytic glutamic acid
      residue Glu223 was poorly resolved and could not be completely modeled into the
      electron density, suggesting it is flexible. Previous reports have shown that the
      GH73 enzyme Auto from Listeria monocytogenes is inhibited by an N-terminal alpha
      helix that may occlude the active site in similar fashion. To investigate if the
      C-terminus of StFlgJ inhibits GH activity, the glycolytic activity of StFlgJ was
      assessed with and without the C-terminal alpha-helix. The GH activity of StFlgJ
      was unaffected by the presence or absence of the alpha-helix, suggesting it is
      not involved in regulating activity. Removal of the C-terminal alpha-helix did,
      however, allow a crystal structure of the domain to be obtained where the
      flexible beta-hairpin containing residue Glu223 was entirely resolved. The beta
      hairpin was positioned such that the active site groove was fully solvent
      exposed, placing Glu223 nearly 21.6 A away from the putative general acid/base
      residue Glu184, which is too far apart for these two residues to coordinate
      glycosidic bond hydrolysis. The mobile nature of the StFlgJ beta-hairpin is
      consistent with structural studies of related GH73 enzymes, suggesting that a
      dynamic active site may be common to many GH73 enzymes, in which the active site
      opens to capture substrate and then closes to correctly orient active site
      residues for catalysis. 

PMID- 26871948
TI  - Improving the clinical impact of biomaterials in cancer immunotherapy.
AB  - Immunotherapies for cancer have progressed enormously over the past few decades,
      and hold great promise for the future. The successes of these therapies, with
      some patients showing durable and complete remission, demonstrate the power of
      harnessing the immune system to eradicate tumors. However, the effectiveness of
      current immunotherapies is limited by hurdles ranging from immunosuppressive
      strategies employed by tumors, to inadequate specificity of existing therapies,
      to heterogeneity of disease. Further, the vast majority of approved
      immunotherapies employ systemic delivery of immunomodulators or cells that make
      addressing some of these challenges more difficult. Natural and synthetic
      biomaterials - such as biocompatible polymers, self-assembled lipid particles,
      and implantable biodegradable devices - offer unique potential to address these
      hurdles by harnessing the benefits of therapeutic targeting, tissue engineering,
      co-delivery, controlled release, and sensing. However, despite the enormous
      investment in new materials and nanotechnology, translation of these ideas to the
      clinic is still an uncommon outcome. Here we review the major challenges facing
      immunotherapies and discuss how the newest biomaterials and nanotechnologies
      could help overcome these challenges to create new clinical options for patients.

PMID- 26871951
TI  - Transstadial Effects of Bti on Traits of Aedes aegypti and Infection with Dengue
      Virus.
AB  - Most mosquito control efforts are primarily focused on reducing the adult
      population size mediated by reductions in the larval population, which should
      lower risk of disease transmission. Although the aim of larviciding is to reduce
      larval abundance and thus recruitment of adults, nonlethal effects on adults are
      possible, including transstadial effects on phenotypes of adults such as survival
      and pathogen infection and transmission. In addition, the mortality induced by
      control efforts may act in conjunction with other sources of mosquito mortality
      in nature. The consequences of these effects and interactions may alter the
      potential of the population to transmit pathogens. We tested experimentally the
      combined effects of a larvicide (Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, Bti)
      and competition during the larval stages on subsequent Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus)
      traits, population performance, and susceptibility to dengue-1 virus infection.
      Ae. aegypti that survived exposure to Bti experienced accelerated development,
      were larger, and produced more eggs with increasing amounts of Bti, consistent
      with competitive release among surviving mosquitoes. Changing larval density had
      no significant interactive effect with Bti treatment on development and growth to
      adulthood. Larval density, but not Bti or treatment interaction, had a strong
      effect on survival of adult Ae. aegypti females. There were sharper declines in
      cumulative daily survival of adults from crowded than uncrowded larval
      conditions, suggesting that high competition conditions of larvae may be an
      impediment to transmission of dengue viruses. Rates of infection and dengue-1
      virus disseminated infections were found to be 87+/-13% and 88+/-12%,
      respectively. There were no significant treatment effects on infection
      measurements. Our findings suggest that larvicide campaigns using Bti may reduce
      the number of emerged adults, but survivors will have a fitness advantage
      (growth, development, enhanced production of eggs) relative to conspecifics that
      are not under larvicide pressure. However, under most circumstances, these
      transstadial effects are unlikely to outweigh reductions in the adult population
      by Bti and altered risk of disease transmission. 

PMID- 26871952
TI  - Predictors of alcohol-related negative consequences in adolescents: A systematic
      review of the literature and implications for future research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature examining risk and
      protective factors of alcohol related negative consequences (ARNCs) among
      adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of original empirical
      articles published between January 1, 1990 and June 1, 2015. The qualitative
      synthesis was performed using the Theory of Triadic Influence as a framework.
      RESULTS: Fifty-two studies were reviewed. Intrapersonal (e.g., personality
      traits, drinking motives and expectancies, depression), interpersonal (e.g.,
      parental and peer alcohol use, violence exposure) and attitudinal factors (e.g.,
      media exposure to alcohol, religiosity) influence ARNCs. Emerging evidence of new
      trends contributing to ARNCs include ready mixed alcohol drinks and childhood
      trauma and abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors from all domains of influence were
      observed. More research is needed on protective factors and how alcohol use
      interacts with preventive factors in predicting ARNCs. The conceptualization of
      negative consequences varies significantly between studies and may impact the
      external validity of previous research.

PMID- 26871953
TI  - Decreased TUSC3 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Proliferation, Invasion and
      Metastasis.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with dismal prognosis. It is of
      paramount importance to understand the underlying etiological mechanisms and
      identify novel, consistent, and easy-to-apply prognostic factors for precision
      therapy. TUSC3 (tumor suppressor candidate 3) was identified as a potential tumor
      suppressor gene and previous study showed TUSC3 is decreased in pancreatic cancer
      at mRNA level, but its putative tumor suppressor function remains to be verified.
      In this study, TUSC3 expression was found to be suppressed both at mRNA and
      protein levels in cell line models as well as in clinical samples; decreased
      TUSC3 expression was associated with higher pathological TNM staging and poorer
      outcome. In three pairs of cell lines with different NF-kappaB activity, TUSC3
      expression was found to be reversely correlated with NF-kappaB activity. TUSC3
      silenced pancreatic cancer cell line exhibited enhanced potential of
      proliferation, migration and invasion. In an orthotopic implanted mice model,
      TUSC3 silenced cells exhibited more aggressive phenotype with more liver
      metastasis. In conclusion, the current study shows that decreased immunological
      TUSC3 staining is a factor prognostic of poor survival in pancreatic cancer
      patients and decreased TUSC3 promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation,
      invasion and metastasis. The reverse correlation between NF-kappaB activity and
      TUSC3 expression may suggest a novel regulation pattern for this molecule. 

PMID- 26871954
TI  - Intra-Articular Corticosteroids in Addition to Exercise for Reducing Pain
      Sensitivity in Knee Osteoarthritis: Exploratory Outcome from a Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of one intra-articular corticosteroid injection
      two weeks prior to an exercise-based intervention program for reducing pain
      sensitivity in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: Randomized,
      masked, parallel, placebo-controlled trial involving 100 participants with
      clinical and radiographic knee OA that were randomized to one intra-articular
      injection on the knee with either 1 ml of 40 mg/ml methylprednisolone
      (corticosteroid) dissolved in 4 ml lidocaine (10 mg/ml) or 1 ml isotonic saline
      (placebo) mixed with 4 ml lidocaine (10 mg/ml). Two weeks after the injections
      all participants undertook a 12-week supervised exercise program. Main outcomes
      were changes from baseline in pressure-pain sensitivity (pressure-pain threshold
      [PPT] and temporal summation [TS]) assessed using cuff pressure algometry on the
      calf. These were exploratory outcomes from a randomized controlled trial.
      RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were randomized to receive either corticosteroid
      (n = 50) or placebo (n = 50); 45 and 44, respectively, completed the trial. Four
      participants had missing values for PPT and one for TS at baseline; thus modified
      intention-to-treat populations were analyzed. The mean group difference in
      changes from baseline at week 14 was 0.6 kPa (95% CI: -1.7 to 2.8; P = 0.626) for
      PPT and 384 mm*sec (95% CI: -2980 to 3750; P = 0.821) for TS. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results suggest that adding intra-articular corticosteroid injection 2 weeks
      prior to an exercise program does not provide additional benefits compared to
      placebo in reducing pain sensitivity in patients with knee OA. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: EU clinical trials (EudraCT): 2012-002607-18.

PMID- 26871957
TI  - Enhancing nutrient recovery and compost maturity of coconut husk by
      vermicomposting technology.
AB  - Vermicompost was prepared by five different treatments from relatively resistant
      coconut husk mixed with either pig slurry or poultry manure. The recovery of
      vermicompost varied from 35% to 43% and it resulted in significant increase in
      pH, microbial biomass carbon, macro and micro nutrients concentration. Among the
      treatments highest relative N (1.6) and K (1.3) recovery were observed for 20%
      feedstock substitution by pig slurry while poultry manure substitution recorded
      highest P recovery (2.4). Compost maturity parameters significantly differed and
      well correlated. The characteristics of different treatments established the
      maturity indices as C/N 15-20; Cw<1.8; Cw/Norg<0.55; Lignin<10-12; CHA/CFA>1.5
      and HI>15.0. The manurial value of the coconut husk compost was improved by
      feedstock substitution with pig slurry (80:20). The results revealed the
      technical feasibility of converting coconut husk into valuable compost by
      feedstock substitution with pig slurry. 

PMID- 26871956
TI  - Intensification of microalgae drying and oil extraction process by vapor
      recompression and heat integration.
AB  - Reducing energy penalty caused by drying and oil extraction is the most critical
      challenge in microalgae biodiesel production. In this study, vapor recompression
      and heat integration are utilized to optimize the performance of wet microalgae
      drying and oil extraction. In the microalgae drying stage, the hot exhaust stream
      is recompressed and coupled with wet microalgae to recover the condensate heat.
      In the oil extraction stage, the exergy rate of recovered solvent is also
      elevated by compressor and then exchanged heat with feed and bottom stream in the
      distillation column. Energy and mass balance of the intensified process is
      investigated and compared with the conventional microalgae drying-extraction
      process. The simulation results indicated that the total energy consumption of
      the intensified process can be saved by 52.4% of the conventional route. 

PMID- 26871955
TI  - Biomineralization-Inspired Synthesis of Copper Sulfide-Ferritin Nanocages as
      Cancer Theranostics.
AB  - It is essential to control the size and morphology of nanoparticles strictly in
      nanomedicine. Protein cages offer significant potential for templated synthesis
      of inorganic nanoparticles. In this study, we successfully synthesized ultrasmall
      copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles inside the cavity of ferritin (Fn) nanocages
      by a biomimetic synthesis method. The uniform CuS-Fn nanocages (CuS-Fn NCs)
      showed strong near-infrared absorbance and high photothermal conversion
      efficiency. In quantitative ratiometric photoacoustic imaging (PAI), the CuS-Fn
      NCs exhibited superior photoacoustic tomography improvements for real-time in
      vivo PAI of entire tumors. With the incorporation of radionuclide (64)Cu, (64)CuS
      Fn NCs also served as an excellent PET imaging agent with higher tumor
      accumulation compared to free copper. Following the guidance of PAI and PET, CuS
      Fn NCs were applied in photothermal therapy to achieve superior cancer
      therapeutic efficiency with good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. The
      results demonstrate that the bioinspired multifunctional CuS-Fn NCs have
      potential as clinically translatable cancer theranostics and could provide a
      noninvasive, highly sensitive, and quantitative in vivo guiding method for cancer
      photothermal therapies in experimental and clinical settings. 

PMID- 26871958
TI  - Novel carbon-rich additives preparation by degradative solvent extraction of
      biomass wastes for coke-making.
AB  - In this work, two extracts (Soluble and Deposit) were produced by degradative
      solvent extraction of biomass wastes from 250 to 350 degrees C. The feasibilities
      of using Soluble and Deposit as additives for coke-making were investigated for
      the first time. The Soluble and Deposit, having significantly higher carbon
      content, lower oxygen content and extremely lower ash content than raw biomasses.
      All Solubles and most of Deposits can melt completely at the temperature ranged
      from 80 to 120 degrees C and 140 to 180 degrees C, respectively. The additions of
      Soluble or Deposit into the coke-making coal significantly improved their
      thermoplastic properties with as high as 9 degrees C increase of the plastic
      range. Furthermore, the addition of Deposit or Soluble also markedly enhanced the
      coke quality through increasing coke strength after reaction (CSR) and reducing
      coke reactivity index (CRI). Therefore, the Soluble and Deposit were proved to be
      good additives for coke-making. 

PMID- 26871961
TI  - All-graphene oxide device with tunable supercapacitor and battery behaviour by
      the working voltage.
AB  - We propose a new type of all-graphene oxide device. Reduced graphene oxide
      (rGO)/graphene oxide (GO)/rGO functions as both a supercapacitor and a battery,
      depending on the working voltage. The rGO/GO/rGO operates as a supercapacitor
      until 1.2 V. At greater than 1.5 V, it behaves as a battery using redox reaction.

PMID- 26871960
TI  - Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: We sought to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of the
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings regarding juvenile myoclonic
      epilepsy (JME). METHODS: We searched for studies in the PubMed, Web of Science,
      and Embase electronic databases. Two authors collected articles and extracted
      data independently. A meta-analysis was performed for diverse metabolites in
      different brain areas. The mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI)
      were used to compare continuous variables. RESULTS: A decreased NAA/Cr was
      observed in the motor cortex (MD=0.14, 95%CI=0.09 to 0.20), and the NAA was
      reduced in the thalamus (MD=0.74, 95%CI=0.37 to 1.10) and the frontal lobe
      (MD=0.87, 95%CI=0.45 to 1.28); the GLX/Cr was increased in the insula (MD=-0.10,
      95%CI=-0.14 to -0.06) and the striatum (MD=-0.11, 95%CI=-0.17 to -0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: JME may be a multi-regional, thalamo-frontal network epilepsy rather
      than an idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome.

PMID- 26871959
TI  - The sensitivity and significance of lateralized interictal slow activity on
      magnetoencephalography in focal epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Asymmetric large-amplitude slow activity is sometimes observed on
      interictal electroencephalography (EEG) in epilepsy. However, few studies have
      examined slowing during magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings, which are
      performed primarily to localize interictal spikes. Also, no prior investigations
      have compared the sensitivity of MEG to scalp EEG in detecting slow rhythms.
      METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of focal epilepsy patients who
      received MEG followed by surgical resection at our institution. We examined MEG,
      simultaneous EEG, and long-term EEG recordings for prominent asymmetric slow
      activity (delta-range, 1-4 Hz), and evaluated post-operative seizure outcomes.
      RESULTS: We studied 132 patients with >= 1 year post-operative follow-up (mean,
      3.6 years). Mean age was 27 (range, 3-68) years, and 55% of patients were male.
      Asymmetric large-amplitude slow wave activity was observed on interictal MEG in
      21 of 132 (16%) patients. Interictal slowing lateralized to the hemisphere of
      resection in all but one (95%) patient. Among the 21 patients with interictal MEG
      slowing, 11 (52%) individuals had similarly lateralized EEG slowing, 7 patients
      had no EEG slowing, and 3 had bilateral symmetric EEG slowing. Meanwhile, none of
      the 111 patients without lateralized MEG slowing had asymmetric EEG slowing,
      suggesting significantly higher sensitivity of MEG versus EEG in detecting
      asymmetric slowing (chi(2)=63.4, p<0.001). MEG slowing was associated with
      shorter epilepsy duration with an odds ratio of 5.4 (1.7-17.0, 95% confidence
      interval). At last follow-up, 92 (70%) patients were seizure free (Engel I
      outcome), with no difference in seizure freedom rates between patients with (71%)
      or without (69%) asymmetric MEG slowing (chi(2)=0.4, p=0.99). SIGNIFICANCE: MEG
      has higher sensitivity than scalp EEG in detecting asymmetric slow activity in
      focal epilepsy, which reliably lateralizes to the epileptogenic hemisphere. Other
      uses of MEG beyond spike localization may further improve presurgical evaluations
      in epilepsy.

PMID- 26871962
TI  - Silver-Catalyzed Cascade Radical Cyclization: A Direct Approach to 3,4
      Disubstituted Dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones through Activation of the P-H Bond and
      Functionalization of the C(sp(2))-H Bond.
AB  - A silver-catalyzed cascade cyclization of cinnamamides with diphenylphosphine
      oxide was developed, in which activation of the P-H bond and functionalization of
      the C(sp(2))-H bond occurred. A direct method for the synthesis of 3,4
      disubstituted dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones was developed. 

PMID- 26871964
TI  - Effects of soluble sulfide on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic development.
AB  - Zebrafish embryos were used to investigate the developmental effects of sulfide.
      Mortality, teratogenic effects, and developmental parameters of early
      developmental embryos were recorded. The biodistribution of sulfide in developing
      zebrafish embryos and larvae were measured through fluorescence imaging. The
      influences of sulfide on the cardiac function and development velocity of
      zebrafish embryos were dependent on sulfide concentration. Heart rate and
      development velocity increased with exposure to lower sulfide concentrations,
      which may be attributed to the cardioprotective properties of H2S. Meanwhile,
      heart rate and development velocity decreased, whereas pericardial edema, yolk
      sac edema, and trunk abnormalities occurred with exposure to higher sulfide
      concentrations. Sulfide accumulated in the blastoderm of early developmental
      embryos and was then transported to the yolk sac and yolk extension with the
      embryonic development. Finally, sulfide was transferred from the yolk to the eyes
      of zebrafish larvae. The details of mechanism of sulfide toxicity require further
      research. 

PMID- 26871963
TI  - Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Four Stereoisomers of the Spider
      Pathogenic Fungus Metabolite Torrubiellone D.
AB  - Four stereoisomers of the spider-pathogenic fungus metabolite torrubiellone D
      were synthesized for the first time in 10% overall yield starting from L-tyrosine
      or D-tyrosine. The 3-decatrienoyl side chain was assembled and attached via (E)
      selective HWE and Wittig olefinations. Their antibiotic activities against drug
      susceptible Escherichia coli strains differed considerably.

PMID- 26871965
TI  - Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties in the Counter-Doped SnTe System with Strained
      Endotaxial SrTe.
AB  - We report enhanced thermoelectric performance in SnTe, where significantly
      improved electrical transport properties and reduced thermal conductivity were
      achieved simultaneously. The former was obtained from a larger hole Seebeck
      coefficient through Fermi level tuning by optimizing the carrier concentration
      with Ga, In, Bi, and Sb dopants, resulting in a power factor of 21 MUW cm(-1) K(
      2) and ZT of 0.9 at 823 K in Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te. To reduce the lattice thermal
      conductivity without deteriorating the hole carrier mobility in
      Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te, SrTe was chosen as the second phase to create strained
      endotaxial nanostructures as phonon scattering centers. As a result, the lattice
      thermal conductivity decreases strongly from ~2.0 Wm(-1) K(-1) for
      Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te to ~1.2 Wm(-1) K(-1) as the SrTe content is increased from 0
      to 5.0% at room temperature and from ~1.1 to ~0.70 Wm(-1) K(-1) at 823 K. For the
      Sn(0.97)Bi(0.03)Te-3% SrTe sample, this leads to a ZT of 1.2 at 823 K and a high
      average ZT (for SnTe) of 0.7 in the temperature range of 300-823 K, suggesting
      that SnTe is a robust candidate for medium-temperature thermoelectric
      applications.

PMID- 26871966
TI  - Benzothiadiazole-Mediated Induced Resistance to Colletotrichum musae and Delayed
      Ripening of Harvested Banana Fruit.
AB  - Benzothiadiazole (BTH) works as a plant activator. The effects of different BTH
      treatments and fungicides SPORGON on fruit ripening and disease incidence were
      investigated. The results showed that BTH treatment significantly delayed fruit
      ripening, maintained fruit firmness, color, and good fruit quality, and
      dramatically reduced the incidence of disease. BTH effectively inhibited the
      invasion and development of pathogenic bacteria and controlled the occurrence of
      disease. BTH treatment enhanced the activities of defense-related enzymes,
      including chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol
      oxidase, increased the content of hydrogen peroxide and total antioxidant
      capacity, and reduced malondialdehyde content. Cellular structure analysis after
      inoculation confirmed that BTH treatment effectively maintained the cell
      structural integrity. SPORGON did not provide benefits for delaying fruit
      ripening or for the resistance system, while it can control the disease only
      during the earlier stage and not at later stages. 

PMID- 26871967
TI  - Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Increases Oxidative Stress Responsive miRNAs in
      First Trimester Placental Cell Line HTR8/SVneo.
AB  - Phthalates, an endocrine disruptor group, cause oxidative stress (OS) in the
      placenta. However, no studies have reported OS-related miRNAs induced by
      phthalates. In the present study, we demonstrate that mono-(2-ethylhexyl)
      phthalate (MEHP) induces OS responsive miR-17-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-126-3p in
      HTR8/SVneo in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, MEHP altered the
      expression of phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1alpha, phosphatase
      and tensin homolog, CDKN2A interacting protein, superoxide dismutase 2, and 3beta
      hydroxysterol-D24 reductase, which are involved in OS and predicted to be
      regulated by these miRNAs. Our results suggest that placental exposure to MEHP
      may result in aberrant miRNA expression leading to pregnancy complications. 

PMID- 26871969
TI  - Effects of continuous vs interval exercise training on oxygen uptake efficiency
      slope in patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is a submaximal index incorporating
      cardiovascular, peripheral, and pulmonary factors that determine the ventilatory
      response to exercise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of
      continuous exercise training and interval exercise training on the OUES in
      patients with coronary artery disease. Thirty-five patients (59.3+/-1.8 years
      old; 28 men, 7 women) with coronary artery disease were randomly divided into two
      groups: continuous exercise training (n=18) and interval exercise training
      (n=17). All patients performed graded exercise tests with respiratory gas
      analysis before and 3 months after the exercise-training program to determine
      ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), respiratory compensation point, and peak
      oxygen consumption (peak VO2). The OUES was assessed based on data from the
      second minute of exercise until exhaustion by calculating the slope of the linear
      relation between oxygen uptake and the logarithm of total ventilation. After the
      interventions, both groups showed increased aerobic fitness (P<0.05). In
      addition, both the continuous exercise and interval exercise training groups
      demonstrated an increase in OUES (P<0.05). Significant associations were observed
      in both groups: 1) continuous exercise training (OUES and peak VO2 r=0.57; OUES
      and VO2 VAT r=0.57); 2) interval exercise training (OUES and peak VO2 r=0.80;
      OUES and VO2 VAT r=0.67). Continuous and interval exercise training resulted in a
      similar increase in OUES among patients with coronary artery disease. These
      findings suggest that improvements in OUES among CAD patients after aerobic
      exercise training may be dependent on peripheral and central mechanisms. 

PMID- 26871968
TI  - Efficacy of a quadruple therapy regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication after
      partial gastrectomy.
AB  - We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bismuth-containing quadruple
      therapy plus postural change after dosing for Helicobacter pylori eradication in
      gastrectomized patients. We compared 76 gastric stump patients with H. pylori
      infection (GS group) with 50 non-gastrectomized H. pylori-positive patients who
      met the treatment indication (controls). The GS group was divided into GS group 1
      and GS group 2. All groups were administered bismuth potassium citrate (220 mg),
      esomeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1.0 g), and furazolidone (100 mg) twice daily
      for 14 days. GS group 1 maintained a left lateral horizontal position for 30 min
      after dosing. H. pylori was detected using rapid urease testing and histologic
      examination of gastric mucosa before and 3 months after therapy. Mucosal
      histologic manifestations were evaluated using visual analog scales of the
      updated Sydney System. GS group 1 had a higher prevalence of eradication than the
      GS group 2 (intention-to-treat [ITT]: P=0.025; per-protocol [PP]: P=0.030), and
      the control group had a similar prevalence. GS group 2 had a lower prevalence of
      eradication than controls (ITT: P=0.006; PP: P=0.626). Scores for chronic
      inflammation and activity declined significantly (P<0.001) 3 months after
      treatment, whereas those for atrophy and intestinal metaplasia showed no
      significant change. Prevalence of adverse reactions was similar among groups
      during therapy (P=0.939). A bismuth-containing quadruple therapy regimen plus
      postural change after dosing appears to be a relatively safe, effective,
      economical, and practical method for H. pylori eradication in gastrectomized
      patients. 

PMID- 26871970
TI  - Implantation of muscle satellite cells overexpressing myogenin improves
      denervated muscle atrophy in rats.
AB  - This study evaluated the effect of muscle satellite cells (MSCs) overexpressing
      myogenin (MyoG) on denervated muscle atrophy. Rat MSCs were isolated and
      transfected with the MyoG-EGFP plasmid vector GV143. MyoG-transfected MSCs (MTMs)
      were transplanted into rat gastrocnemius muscles at 1 week after surgical
      denervation. Controls included injections of untransfected MSCs or the vehicle
      only. Muscles were harvested and analyzed at 2, 4, and 24 weeks post
      transplantation. Immunofluorescence confirmed MyoG overexpression in MTMs. The
      muscle wet weight ratio was significantly reduced at 2 weeks after MTM injection
      (67.17+/-6.79) compared with muscles injected with MSCs (58.83+/-5.31) or the
      vehicle (53.00+/-7.67; t=2.37, P=0.04 and t=3.39, P=0.007, respectively). The
      muscle fiber cross-sectional area was also larger at 2 weeks after MTM injection
      (2.63*103+/-0.39*103) compared with MSC injection (1.99*103+/-0.58*103) or the
      vehicle only (1.57*103+/-0.47*103; t=2.24, P=0.049 and t=4.22, P=0.002,
      respectively). At 4 and 24 weeks post-injection, the muscle mass and fiber cross
      sectional area were similar across all three experimental groups.
      Immunohistochemistry showed that the MTM group had larger MyoG-positive fibers.
      The MTM group (3.18+/-1.13) also had higher expression of MyoG mRNA than other
      groups (1.41+/-0.65 and 1.03+/-0.19) at 2 weeks after injection (t=2.72, P=0.04).
      Transplanted MTMs delayed short-term atrophy of denervated muscles. This approach
      can be optimized as a novel stand-alone therapy or as a bridge to surgical re
      innervation of damaged muscles.

PMID- 26871971
TI  - Cardioprotection against experimental myocardial ischemic injury using cornin.
AB  - Phosphorylated-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein
      (Phospho-CREB) has an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia.
      We isolated the iridoid glycoside cornin from the fruit of Verbena officinalis L,
      investigated its effects against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury
      in vivo, and elucidated its potential mechanism in vitro. Effects of cornin on
      cell viability, as well as expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in hypoxic
      H9c2 cells in vitro, and myocardial I/R injury in vivo, were investigated. Cornin
      attenuated hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity significantly in H9c2 cells in a
      concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of H9c2 cells with cornin (10 uM)
      blocked the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in a hypoxic
      condition. Treatment of rats with cornin (30 mg/kg, iv) protected them from
      myocardial I/R injury as indicated by a decrease in infarct volume, improvement
      in hemodynamics, and reduction of severity of myocardial damage. Cornin treatment
      also attenuated the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in
      ischemic myocardial tissue. These data suggest that cornin exerts protective
      effects due to an increase in expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt. 

PMID- 26871972
TI  - Enhanced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of catalytically deficient
      human choline acetyltransferase mutants.
AB  - Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is essential for cholinergic neuron function as
      it mediates synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. ChAT mutations have
      been linked to the neuromuscular disorder congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS).
      One CMS-related ChAT mutation, V18M, reduces enzyme activity and cellular protein
      levels, and is positioned within a highly conserved proline-rich motif with the
      sequence 14 PKLPVPP20 . We demonstrate that N-terminal truncation that includes
      this proline-rich motif, as well as mutation of prolines-17/19 together to
      alanine (P17A/P19A), dramatically reduces ChAT steady-state protein levels and
      cellular activity when expressed in cholinergic SN56 neural cells. The in vitro
      activity of bacterially expressed recombinant P17A/P19A-ChAT is also reduced,
      although this is not caused by changes in protein secondary structure or thermal
      stability. Treatment of SN56 cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 increases
      cellular P17A/P19A-ChAT steady-state protein levels, and by immunoprecipitation
      we found that ChAT is ubiquitinated and that polyubiquitination of P17A/P19A-ChAT
      is increased compared to wild-type (WT) ChAT. Using a novel fluorescent
      biorthogonal pulse-chase protocol in SN56 cells, we determined that the protein
      half-life of P17A/P19A-ChAT (2.2 h) is substantially reduced compared to WT-ChAT
      (19.7 h). Lastly, we show that two CMS-related ChAT mutants (V18M and A513T) have
      enhanced ubiquitination, and that treatment with MG132 can partially restore both
      the steady-state protein levels as well as cellular activity of some CMS-mutant
      ChAT. These results identify a novel mechanism for regulation of ChAT through the
      ubiquitin-proteasome system that is influenced by the conserved N-terminal
      proline-rich motif of ChAT and may be implicated in CMS pathology. Choline
      acetyltransferase (ChAT) synthesizes acetylcholine in cholinergic neurons. In
      this study we find that steady-state protein levels of human 69-kDa ChAT are
      regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Mutation of a highly conserved N
      terminal proline-rich motif in human 69-kDa ChAT reduces both cellular ChAT
      protein levels, through enhanced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, and
      enzyme activity. Ubiquitination of catalytically deficient congenital myasthenic
      syndrome (CMS)-mutant ChAT is increased in cells, and importantly proteasome
      inhibition partially restores steady-state protein levels as well as cellular
      activity of some CMS-mutant ChAT proteins.

PMID- 26871973
TI  - In vitro study on apoptotic cell death by effective magnetic hyperthermia with
      chitosan-coated MnFe2O4.
AB  - Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely investigated as a hyperthermic
      agent for cancer treatment. In this study, thermally responsive Chitosan-coated
      MnFe2O4 (Chitosan-MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were developed to conduct localized
      magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment. Hydrophobic MnFe2O4 nanoparticles
      were synthesized via thermal decomposition and modified with 2,3
      dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) for further conjugation of chitosan. Chitosan
      MnFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibited high magnetization and excellent biocompatibility
      along with low cell cytotoxicity. During magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MHT)
      with Chitosan-MnFe2O4 on MDA-MB 231 cancer cells, the targeted therapeutic
      temperature was achieved by directly controlling the strength of the external AC
      magnetic fields. In vitro Chitosan-MnFe2O4-assisted MHT at 42  degrees C led to
      drastic and irreversible changes in cell morphology and eventual cellular death
      in association with the induction of apoptosis through heat dissipation from the
      excited magnetic nanoparticles. Therefore, the Chitosan-MnFe2O4 nanoparticles
      with high biocompatibility and thermal capability can be an effective nano
      mediated agent for MHT on cancer. 

PMID- 26871974
TI  - Role of highly branched, high molecular weight polymer structures in directing
      uniform polymer particle formation during nanoprecipitation.
AB  - The new macromolecular architecture, hyperbranched polydendrons, are composed of
      a broad distribution of molecular weights and architectural variation; however,
      nanoprecipitation of these materials yields highly uniform, dendron-functional
      nanoparticles. By isolating different fractions of the diverse samples, the key
      role of the most highly branched structures in directing nucleation and growth
      has been explored and determined. 

PMID- 26871976
TI  - Retraction of DNA Cell Biol: 31:1064-1069, 2012, DOI: 10.1089/dna.2011.1552.

PMID- 26871975
TI  - Dicopper(II) Metallacyclophanes with N,N'-2,6-Pyridinebis(oxamate): Solution
      Study, Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties.
AB  - The complexing ability of copper(II) in solution by the ligand N,N'-2,6
      pyridinebis(oxamic acid) (H4mpyba, H4L) was determined through potentiometric and
      UV-vis spectroscopy at 25  degrees C and 0.15 M NaCl. The logarithms of the
      equilibrium constants for its copper(II) complexes according to the eqs 2H2L +
      2Cu ? [Cu2(H2L)2], 2H2L + 2Cu ? [Cu2(H2L) (HL)] + H, 2H2L + 2Cu ? [Cu2(HL)2] +
      2H, 2H2L + 2Cu ? [Cu2(HL)(L)] + 3H, and 2H2L + 2Cu ? [Cu2L2] + 4H were 12.02(7),
      8.04(5), 1.26(6), -7.51(6), and -16.36(6), respectively. The knowledge of the
      solution behavior has supported the synthesis of three new compounds bearing the
      common building block Cu2L2(4-). Their formulas are
      (Me4N)4[Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2].H2O (1), (Me4N)4[K2Na2Cu4(mpyba)4(H2O)6.8].1.6H2O (2),
      and [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8].7H2O (3) (Me4N(+) = tetramethylammonium cation).
      The [Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2](4-) tetraanionic unit, which is present in 1, has a [3,3]
      metallacyclophane-type motif connected by two N-Cu-N bonds. In 2, a
      heterotrimetallic decanuclear nanocage is formed through front-to-front assembly
      of two [Cu2(mpyba)2](4-) units, which also coordinate to potassium(I) and
      sodium(I) cations by means of carboxylate oxygens from oxamate. The structure of
      3 consists of heterobimetallic layers of formula [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8] and
      crystallization water molecules, which are interlinked by hydrogen bonds leading
      to a supramolecular three-dimensional network. The investigation of the magnetic
      properties of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of
      ferromagnetic interactions between the dicopper(II) metallacyclophane unit [J =
      +6.85 (1), +7.40 (2), and +7.90 cm(-1) (3); H = -JSCu1.SCu2, where SCu1 = SCu2 =
      1/2]. Theoretical calculations on 1-3 were carried to substantiate the nature and
      magnitude of the involved magnetic interactions and to support the occurrence of
      a spin polarization mechanism accounting for them. 

PMID- 26871977
TI  - Effects of temperature, salt concentration, and the protonation state on the
      dynamics and hydrogen-bond interactions of polyelectrolyte multilayers on lipid
      membranes.
AB  - Polyelectrolyte multilayers, which consist of poly-l-lysines (PLL) and hyaluronic
      acids (HA), are simulated on phospholipid membranes with explicit water at
      different temperatures, salt concentrations, and protonation states of PLL that
      correspond to pH 7 or higher. PLL and HA polymers, which are initially
      sequentially deposited as three HA/PLL bilayers above the membrane, partially
      intermix with each other within 300 ns, and with a significant amount of water at
      almost half of its bulk density. With reduced protonation of amine groups of PLL,
      the polymers diffuse faster, especially at higher temperatures, and for 0%
      protonation, disperse into the water, due to the many fewer hydrogen bonds
      between PLL and HA polymers. When PLL is protonated, the addition of salt ions
      weakens electrostatic interactions between PLL and HA and, at 0.5 M NaCl,
      eventually reduces the number of hydrogen bonds, which in experiments leads to
      hole formation inside the PLL/HA film. Multilayers are stabilized by hydrogen
      bonds, primarily between charged groups and to a lesser extent between uncharged
      groups. PLL and HA also electrostatically interact with lipid head groups of
      membranes which reduces the lateral mobility of membrane lipids, to an extent
      dependent on the salt concentration. These findings help quantitate the effects
      of temperature, salt, and the protonation state (or pH) on the stability and
      dynamics of multilayers and membranes, and show trends that compare favorably
      with the experimental observations of the swelling of multilayers. 

PMID- 26871981
TI  - Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) is a treatment that may improve
      disease severity in people with atopic eczema (AE) by inducing immune tolerance
      to the relevant allergen. A high quality systematic review has not previously
      assessed the efficacy and safety of this treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the
      effects of specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT), including subcutaneous,
      sublingual, intradermal, and oral routes, compared with placebo or a standard
      treatment in people with atopic eczema. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following
      databases up to July 2015: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL
      in the Cochrane Library (Issue 7, 2015), MEDLINE (from 1946), EMBASE (from 1974),
      LILACS (from 1982), Web of ScienceTM (from 2005), the Global Resource of EczemA
      Trials (GREAT database), and five trials databases. We searched abstracts from
      recent European and North American allergy meetings and checked the references of
      included studies and review articles for further references to relevant trials.
      SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of specific allergen
      immunotherapy that used standardised allergen extracts in people with AE. DATA
      COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently undertook study selection,
      data extraction (including adverse effects), assessment of risk of bias, and
      analyses. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN
      RESULTS: We identified 12 RCTs for inclusion in this review; the total number of
      participants was 733. The interventions included SIT in children and adults
      allergic to either house dust mite (10 trials), grass pollen, or other inhalant
      allergens (two trials). They were administered subcutaneously (six trials),
      sublingually (four trials), orally, or intradermally (two trials). Overall, the
      risk of bias was moderate, with high loss to follow up and lack of blinding as
      the main methodological concern.Our primary outcomes were 'Participant- or parent
      reported global assessment of disease severity at the end of treatment';
      'Participant- or parent-reported specific symptoms of eczema, by subjective
      measures'; and 'Adverse events, such as acute episodes of asthma or anaphylaxis'.
      SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) is a means of measuring the effect of atopic
      dermatitis by area (A); intensity (B); and subjective measures (C), such as itch
      and sleeplessness, which we used.For 'Participant- or parent-reported global
      assessment of disease severity at the end of treatment', one trial (20
      participants) found improvement in 7/9 participants (78%) treated with the SIT
      compared with 3/11 (27%) treated with the placebo (risk ratio (RR) 2.85, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 7.96; P = 0.04). Another study (24 participants)
      found no difference: global disease severity improved in 8/13 participants (62%)
      treated with the SIT compared with 9/11 (81%) treated with the placebo (RR 0.75,
      95% CI 0.45 to 1.26; P = 0.38). We did not perform meta-analysis because of high
      heterogeneity between these two studies. The quality of the evidence was low.For
      'Participant- or parent-reported specific symptoms of eczema, by subjective
      measures', two trials (184 participants) did not find that the SIT improved
      SCORAD part C (mean difference (MD) -0.74, 95% CI -1.98 to 0.50) or sleep
      disturbance (MD -0.49, 95% CI -1.03 to 0.06) more than placebo. For SCORAD part C
      itch severity, these two trials (184 participants) did not find that the SIT
      improved itch (MD -0.24, 95% CI -1.00 to 0.52). One other non-blinded study (60
      participants) found that the SIT reduced itch compared with no treatment (MD 
      4.20, 95% CI -3.69 to -4.71) and reduced the participants' overall symptoms (P <
      0.01), but we could not pool these three studies due to high heterogeneity. The
      quality of the evidence was very low.Seven trials reported systemic adverse
      reactions: 18/282 participants (6.4%) treated with the SIT had a systemic
      reaction compared with 15/210 (7.1%) with no treatment (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.41 to
      1.49; the quality of the evidence was moderate). The same seven trials reported
      local adverse reactions: 90/280 participants (32.1%) treated with the SIT had a
      local reaction compared with 44/204 (21.6%) in the no treatment group (RR 1.27,
      95% CI 0.89 to 1.81). As these had the same study limitations, we deemed the
      quality of the evidence to also be moderate.Of our secondary outcomes, there was
      a significant improvement in 'Investigator- or physician-rated global assessment
      of disease severity at the end of treatment' (six trials, 262 participants; RR
      1.48, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.88). None of the studies reported our secondary outcome
      'Parent- or participant-rated eczema severity assessed using a published scale',
      but two studies (n = 184), which have been mentioned above, used SCORAD part C,
      which we included as our primary outcome 'Participant- or parent-reported
      specific symptoms of eczema, by subjective measures'.Our findings were generally
      inconclusive because of the small number of studies. We were unable to determine
      by subgroup analyses a particular type of allergen or a particular age or level
      of disease severity where allergen immunotherapy was more successful. We were
      also unable to determine whether sublingual immunotherapy was associated with
      more local adverse reactions compared with subcutaneous immunotherapy. AUTHORS'
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of the evidence was low. The low quality was
      mainly due to the differing results between studies, lack of blinding in some
      studies, and relatively few studies reporting participant-centred outcome
      measures. We found limited evidence that SIT may be an effective treatment for
      people with AE. The treatments used in these trials were not associated with an
      increased risk of local or systemic reactions. Future studies should use high
      quality allergen formulations with a proven track record in other allergic
      conditions and should include participant-reported outcome measures.

PMID- 26871982
TI  - Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for reducing rocuronium
      bromide induced pain on injection in children and adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rocuronium bromide is a routinely used muscle relaxant in anaesthetic
      practice. Its use, however, is associated with intense pain on injection. While
      it is well established that rocuronium bromide injection causes pain in awake
      patients, anaesthetized patients also tend to show withdrawal movements of the
      limbs when this muscle relaxant is administered. Various strategies, both
      pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have been studied to reduce the
      incidence and severity of pain on rocuronium bromide injection. We wanted to find
      out which of the existing modalities was best to reduce pain on rocuronium
      injection. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review were to assess the ability
      of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to reduce or
      eliminate the pain that accompanies rocuronium bromide administration. SEARCH
      METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL
      2013, Issue 7), MEDLINE via Ovid SP (1966 to July 2013) and EMBASE via Ovid SP
      (1980 to July 2013). We also searched specific websites. We reran the searches in
      February 2015 and will deal with the 11 studies of interest found through this
      search when we update the review. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of any drug or a non
      pharmacological method with control patients, or those receiving no treatment to
      reduce the severity of pain with rocuronium injection. Our primary outcome was
      pain on rocuronium bromide injection measured by a pain score assessment. Our
      secondary outcomes were rise in heart rate and blood pressure following
      administration of rocuronium and adverse events related to the interventions.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used the standardized methods for conducting a
      systematic review as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of
      Interventions. Two authors independently extracted details of trial methodology
      and outcome data from reports of all trials considered eligible for inclusion. We
      made all analyses on an intention-to-treat basis. We used a fixed-effect model
      where there was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between studies and a
      random-effects model if heterogeneity was likely. MAIN RESULTS: We included 66
      studies with 7840 participants in the review, though most analyses were based on
      data from fewer participants. In total there are 17 studies awaiting
      classification. No studies were at a low risk of bias. We noted substantial
      statistical and clinical heterogeneity between trials. Most of the studies
      reported the primary outcome pain as assessed by verbal response from
      participants in an awake state but some trials reported withdrawal of the
      injected limb as a proxy for pain after induction of anaesthesia in response to
      rocuronium administration. Few studies reported adverse events and no study
      reported heart rate and blood pressure changes after administration of
      rocuronium. Lidocaine was the most commonly studied intervention drug, used in 29
      trials with 2256 participants. The risk ratio (RR) of pain on injection if given
      lidocaine compared to placebo was 0.23 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to
      0.31; I2 = 65%, low quality of evidence). The RR of pain on injection if fentanyl
      and remifentanil were given compared to placebo was 0.42 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.70; I2
      = 79%, low quality of evidence) and (RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.26; I2 = 74%, low
      quality of evidence), respectively. Pain on injection of intervention drugs was
      reported with the use of lidocaine and acetaminophen in one study. Cough was
      reported with the use of fentanyl (one study), remifentanil (five studies, low
      quality evidence) and alfentanil (one study). Breath holding and chest tightness
      were reported with the use of remifentanil in two studies (very low quality
      evidence) and one study (very low quality evidence), respectively. The overall
      rate of complications was low. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence to suggest that
      the most commonly investigated pharmacological interventions reduce pain on
      injection of rocuronium is of low quality due to risk of bias and inconsistency.
      There is low or very low quality evidence for adverse events, due to risk of
      bias, inconsistency and imprecision of effect. We did not compare the various
      interventions with one another and so cannot comment on the superiority of one
      intervention over another. Complications were reported more often with use of
      opioids.

PMID- 26871978
TI  - Metabolic Effects of a Commonly Used Combined Hormonal Oral Contraceptive in
      Women With and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Data on combined hormonal oral contraceptives' (OCs) effects on
      metabolic changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been
      conflicting and were predominantly based on OCs with cyproterone acetate
      (unavailable in the United States) Most studies did not include normal women as
      controls. We compared metabolic changes before and after an OC commonly used in
      the United States between women with and without PCOS. METHODS: Ten PCOS and 20
      control women took ethinyl estradiol 35 MUg and norgestimate 0.18/0.215/0.25 mg.
      Fasting glucose and insulin, area-under-the-curve (AUC) glucose and insulin,
      insulin sensitivity (homeostatic model assessment of insulin sensitivity index
      [HOMA-ISI] and Matsuda index), insulinogenic index (Deltainsulin0-30
      minutes/Deltaglucose0-30 minutes), blood pressure, and lipids were evaluated at
      baseline and after three cycles of OC. RESULTS: At baseline, PCOS women had lower
      insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index p = 0.0093, HOMA-ISI p = 0.0397), higher
      fasting insulin (p = 0.0495), fasting glucose (p = 0.0393), AUC insulin (p =
      0.0023), and triglycerides (p = 0.0044) versus controls. Baseline AUC glucose did
      not differ between PCOS women and controls. After 3 months of OC use, glucose
      tolerance worsened in PCOS women versus controls (p = 0.0468). Higher baseline
      androgens were predictive of worsened glucose tolerance, and a reduction of AUC
      insulin during OC use. The insulinogenic index significantly decreased in PCOS
      women (p < 0.01), while fasting insulin and insulin resistance significantly
      worsened in control women. CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS exhibited worsened glucose
      tolerance (demonstrated by AUC glucose) after 3 months of a commonly used OC
      compared with control women. Larger studies with longer follow-up should confirm
      these findings.

PMID- 26871983
TI  - Influence of a Brazilian wild green propolis on the enamel mineral loss and
      Streptococcus mutans' count in dental biofilm.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the anti-demineralizing and antibacterial
      effects of a propolis ethanolic extract (EEP) against Streptococcus mutans dental
      biofilm. DESIGN: Blocks of sound bovine enamel (n=24) were fixed on polystyrene
      plates. S. mutans inoculum (ATCC 25175) and culture media were added (48 h-37 
      degrees C) to form biofilm. Blocks with biofilm received daily treatment (30
      MUL/1 min), for 5 days, as following: G1 (EEP 33.3%); G2 (chlorhexidine
      digluconate 0.12%); G3 (ethanol 80%); and G4 (Milli-Q water). G5 and G6 were
      blocks without biofilm that received only EEP and Milli-Q water, respectively.
      Final surface hardness was evaluated and the percentage of hardness loss (%HL)
      was calculated. The EEP extract pH and total solids were determined. S. mutans
      count was expressed by log10 scale of Colony-Forming Units (CFU/mL). One way
      ANOVA was used to compare results which differed at a 95% significance level.
      RESULTS: G2 presented the lowest average %HL value (68.44% +/- 12.98) (p=0.010),
      while G4 presented the highest (90.49% +/- 5.38%HL) (p=0.007). G1 showed %HL
      (84.41% +/- 2.77) similar to G3 (87.80% +/- 6.89) (p=0.477). Groups G5 and G6
      presented %HL=16.11% +/- 7.92 and 20.55% +/- 10.65; respectively (p=0.952). G1
      and G4 differed as regards to S. mutans count: 7.26 +/- 0.08 and 8.29 +/- 0.17
      CFU/mL, respectively (p=0.001). The lowest bacterial count was observed in
      chlorhexidine group (G2=6.79 +/- 0.10 CFU/mL) (p=0.043). There was no difference
      between S. mutans count of G3 and G4 (p=0.435). The EEP showed pH 4.8 and total
      soluble solids content=25.9 Brix. CONCLUSION: The EEP seems to be a potent
      antibacterial substance against S. mutans dental biofilm, but presented no
      inhibitory action on the de-remineralization of caries process.

PMID- 26871984
TI  - Altered distribution of Ghrelin protein in mice molar development.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating hormone, plays diverse regulatory
      functions in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis during
      mammalian development. There is limited information currently available regarding
      Ghrelin expression during mammalian tooth development, thus we aimed to establish
      the spatiotemporal expression of Ghrelin during murine molar odontogenesis.
      DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression pattern of
      Ghrelin in mandible molar from E15.5 to PN7 during murine tooth development.
      RESULTS: The results showed that Ghrelin initially expressed in the inner enamel
      epithelium and the adjacent mesenchymal cells below, further with persistent
      expression in the ameloblasts and odontoblasts throughout the following
      developmental stages. In addition, Ghrelin was also present in Hertwig's
      epithelial root sheath at the beginning of tooth root formation. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results suggest that Ghrelin was present in tooth organs throughout the
      stages of tooth development, especially in ameloblasts and odontoblasts with
      little spatiotemporal expression differences. However, the potential regulatory
      roles of this hormone in tooth development still need to be validated by
      functional studies.

PMID- 26871985
TI  - Standardisation of sheep model for endodontic regeneration/revitalisation
      research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Different endodontic regeneration/revitalisation protocols have been
      suggested for the treatment of immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis. Many
      aspects of these protocols require further investigating necessitating a suitable
      standardised animal model for research purposes. The focus of this study was to
      examine the anatomy and histology of sheep teeth at different stages of
      development to find an appropriate dental age for endodontic
      regeneration/revitalisation research. DESIGN: Sheep teeth at mature and immature
      dental ages were investigated. Standardized radiography, computed tomography, and
      histology were used to measure root length, apical-third dentine thickness and
      apex diameter, and to evaluate tissue development stages. RESULTS: A mature sheep
      tooth has an apical area which consists of a major foramen, intermediate
      dilatation and minor foramen. From the time of eruption to maturation no major
      changes occur in the incisor root lengths, but the apical foramen width decreases
      and the dentinal wall thickness increases. The two-tooth age exhibited the most
      similar features to that of an immature permanent human tooth. CONCLUSION: Sheep
      appears to be an appropriate animal model for endodontic
      regeneration/revitalization research with similar dimension and characteristics
      to human anterior teeth. Each dental age has its advantages and disadvantages.
      The two-tooth age showed the most favourable criteria making this age the most
      suitable for in vivo regeneration/revitalisation research.

PMID- 26871986
TI  - US of the Peripheral Nerves of the Lower Extremity: A Landmark Approach.
AB  - Ultrasonography (US) is commonly used to assess the peripheral nerves of the
      lower extremity because of its many advantages over magnetic resonance (MR)
      imaging. The most obvious advantages over MR imaging are superior soft-tissue
      resolution, low cost, portability, lack of magnetic susceptibility artifact, and
      the ability to image patients who cannot undergo MR imaging. US has been shown to
      have equal specificity and greater sensitivity than MR imaging in the evaluation
      of peripheral nerves. Additional benefits are the capability of real-time and
      dynamic imaging, and the ability to scan an entire extremity quickly without the
      need for a patient to lie motionless for long periods of time, as with MR
      imaging. Any abnormal findings can be easily compared against the contralateral
      side. Published literature has shown that US has clinical utility in patients
      suspected of having peripheral nerve disease: US can be used to guide diagnostic
      and therapeutic decisions, as well as help confirm electrodiagnostic findings.
      Common indications for lower extremity peripheral nerve US are the evaluation for
      injury due to penetrating trauma, entrapment by scar tissue, or tumor. To
      confidently perform US of the peripheral nerves of the lower extremity, it is
      important to gain a thorough knowledge of anatomic landmarks and the course of
      each nerve. Readers who may not be familiar with US will be introduced to the
      basics of scanning the peripheral nerves of the lower extremity. Important
      anatomic landmarks and common sites of injury and entrapment will be reviewed.

PMID- 26871987
TI  - Renal Arteriovenous Shunts: Clinical Features, Imaging Appearance, and
      Transcatheter Embolization Based on Angioarchitecture.
AB  - Renal arteriovenous (AV) shunt, a rare pathologic condition, is divided into two
      categories, traumatic and nontraumatic, and can cause massive hematuria,
      retroperitoneal hemorrhage, pain, and high-output heart failure. Although
      transcatheter embolization is a less-invasive and effective treatment option, it
      has a potential risk of complications, including renal infarction and pulmonary
      embolism, and a potential risk of recanalization. The successful embolization of
      renal AV shunt requires a complete occlusion of the shunted vessel while
      preventing the migration of embolic materials and preserving normal renal
      arterial branches, which depends on the selection of adequate techniques and
      embolic materials for individual cases, based on the etiology and imaging
      angioarchitecture of the renal AV shunts. A classification of AV malformations in
      the extremities and body trunk could precisely correspond with the
      angioarchitecture of the nontraumatic renal AV shunts. The selection of
      techniques and choice of adequate embolic materials such as coils, vascular
      plugs, and liquid materials are determined on the basis of cause (eg, traumatic
      vs nontraumatic), the classification, and some other aspects of the
      angioarchitecture of renal AV shunts, including the flow and size of the
      fistulas, multiplicity of the feeders, and endovascular accessibility to the
      target lesions. Computed tomographic angiography and selective digital
      subtraction angiography can provide precise information about the
      angioarchitecture of renal AV shunts before treatment. Color Doppler
      ultrasonography and time-resolved three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic
      resonance angiography represent useful tools for screening and follow-up
      examinations of renal AV shunts after embolization. In this article, the
      classifications, imaging features, and an endovascular treatment strategy based
      on the angioarchitecture of renal AV shunts are described.

PMID- 26871988
TI  - Birth Prevalence of Sickle Cell Trait and Sickle Cell Disease in Shelby County,
      TN.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate quantification of the regional burden of sickle cell disease
      (SCD) is vital to allocating health-related resources. Shelby County, TN, which
      includes the city of Memphis and the regional pediatric SCD treatment center at
      St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, is home to a large population of African
      Americans. PROCEDURE: We postulated that the regional birth prevalence of SCD in
      Shelby County, TN, would differ from national rates. Using data from 2002 to
      2012, we estimated the birth prevalence of SCD and sickle cell trait (SCT) in
      Shelby County and evaluated the distribution of SCD cases by ZIP code of
      residence with geographic information systems (GIS). RESULTS: The prevalence of
      SCD in African Americans was 1/287 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1/323, 1/256)
      live births, significantly higher than the nationally reported 1/350 -1/500. The
      prevalence of SCT in African Americans was 1/14.7 (95% CI: 1/15.0, 1/14.3) live
      births, significantly lower than the nationally reported 1/12. We found that 48%
      of the SCD cases resided in only six of the 37 residential ZIP codes, and using
      GIS mapping there were two clusters composed of two and four adjacent urban ZIP
      codes. SCT cases were also centered predominantly in the same two clusters, but
      slightly more dispersed. CONCLUSIONS: Recent Shelby County birth prevalence
      estimates differ substantially from national estimates with higher SCD and lower
      SCT than expected. Preliminary evidence suggests substantial clustering in two
      small geographic urban areas within Shelby County that may provide target areas
      for educational and outreach services.

PMID- 26871989
TI  - Musculoskeletal Asymmetry in Football Athletes: A Product of Limb Function over
      Time.
AB  - PURPOSE: Asymmetrical loading patterns are commonplace in football sports. Our
      aim was to examine the influence of training age and limb function on lower-body
      musculoskeletal morphology. METHODS: Fifty-five elite football athletes were
      stratified into less experienced (<=3 yr; n = 27) and more experienced (>3 yr; n
      = 28) groups by training age. All athletes underwent whole-body dual-energy x-ray
      absorptiometry scans and lower-body peripheral quantitative computed tomography
      tibial scans on the kicking and support limbs. RESULTS: Significant interactions
      between training age and limb function were evident across all skeletal
      parameters (F16, 91 = 0.182, P = 0.031, Wilks Lambda = 0.969). Asymmetries
      between limbs were significantly larger in the more experienced players than the
      less experienced players for tibial mass (P <= 0.044, d >= 0.50), total cross
      sectional area (P <= 0.039, d >= 0.53), and stress-strain indices (P <= 0.050, d
      >= 0.42). No significant asymmetry was evident for total volumetric density. More
      experienced players also exhibited greater lower-body tibial mass (P <= 0.001, d
      >= 1.22), volumetric density (P <= 0.009, d >= 0.79), cross-sectional area (P <=
      0.387, d >= 0.21), stress-strain indices (P <= 0.012, d >= 0.69), fracture loads
      (P <= 0.018, d >= 0.57), and muscle mass and cross-sectional area (P <= 0.016, d
      >= 0.68) than less experienced players. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetries were evident in
      athletes as a product of limb function over time. Chronic exposure to routine
      high-impact gravitational loads afforded to the support limb preferentially
      improved bone mass and structure (cross-sectional area and cortex thickness) as
      potent contributors to bone strength relative to the high-magnitude muscular
      loads predominantly afforded to the kicking limb.

PMID- 26871990
TI  - The Effect of Head Impact Location on Day of Diagnosed Concussion in College
      Football.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Scientists and clinicians have attempted to identify and understand
      biomechanical factors that influence concussion likelihood. The effect of impact
      frequency to a given head location before the concussion has not been evaluated.
      The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of impacts to a given head
      location on days of diagnosed concussion to the frequency of impacts to a given
      head location before kinematically matched nonconcussive impacts. METHODS: Head
      impact data were gathered from 33 Division I National Collegiate Athletic
      Association football players. Twenty-four concussions were identified and matched
      with impacts of similar kinematic and injury criterion values (linear
      acceleration, rotational acceleration, Gadd severity index, and head injury
      criterion) that occurred during the same event type (game, practice, or
      scrimmage). In addition, these same matching criteria were used to match all
      players to the closest kinematic/same player group. All impacts within a session
      before the impact of interest (concussive or matched impact) were analyzed.
      RESULTS: On days of diagnosed concussion, the concussive group sustained a lower
      percentage of impacts to the front of the head (34.5%) and a greater frequency of
      impacts to the sides (19.6%) and top (18.9%) of the head (chi(3) = 10.23, P =
      0.017) as compared with the matched nonconcussive group (front = 42.5%, sides =
      16.6%, top = 14.0%). No significant difference in frequency was found in impacts
      to the back of the head. CONCLUSION: It may be more difficult to mitigate
      concussive forces sustained in impacts to the top and sides of the head than the
      front of the head. These findings fall in line with previous research
      demonstrating that reduced impact magnitudes may lessen concussion risk. Studying
      appropriate training paradigms to develop safer playing techniques on the field
      is warranted.

PMID- 26871992
TI  - Statistical investigation of the length-dependent deviations in the electrical
      characteristics of molecular electronic junctions fabricated using the direct
      metal transfer method.
AB  - We fabricated and analyzed the electrical transport characteristics of vertical
      type alkanethiolate molecular junctions using the high-yield fabrication method
      that we previously reported. The electrical characteristics of the molecular
      electronic junctions were statistically collected and investigated in terms of
      current density and transport parameters based on the Simmons tunneling model,
      and we determined representative current-voltage characteristics of the molecular
      junctions. In particular, we examined the statistical variations in the length
      dependent electrical characteristics, especially the Gaussian standard deviation
      sigma of the current density histogram. From the results, we found that the
      magnitude of the sigma value can be dependent on the individual molecular length
      due to specific microscopic structures in the molecular junctions. The probable
      origin of the molecular length-dependent deviation of the electrical
      characteristics is discussed. 

PMID- 26871991
TI  - Childhood Physical Activity and Adulthood Earnings.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study examined the associations between childhood physical activity
      level and adulthood earnings. METHODS: The data were drawn from the ongoing
      longitudinal Young Finns Study, which was combined with register-based Finnish
      Longitudinal Employer-Employee Data and register-based parents' background
      information from the Longitudinal Population Census of Statistics Finland. The
      study consisted of children who were 9 yr (n = 1257, 52% boys), 12 yr (n = 1662,
      51% boys), and 15 yr (n = 1969, 49% boys) of age at the time when physical
      activity was measured. The children were followed until 2010, when they were
      between 33 and 45 yr old. Leisure-time physical activity in childhood was self
      reported, whereas earnings in adulthood were register based and covered over a 10
      yr period from 2000 to 2010. Ordinary least squares models were used to analyze
      the relationship between physical activity and earnings. RESULTS: Childhood
      physical activity level was positively associated with long-term earnings among
      men (P < 0.001). In more detail, a higher level of leisure-time physical activity
      at the age of 9, 12, and 15 yr was associated with an approximate 12%-25%
      increase in average annual earnings over a 10-yr period. The results were robust
      to controlling, e.g., an individual's chronic conditions and body fat, parents'
      education and physical activity, and family income. Among women, no relation was
      observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide evidence that childhood physical
      activity can have far-reaching positive effects on adulthood earnings.
      Possibilities for improving physical activity during childhood may not only
      promote health but also affect long-term labor market outcomes.

PMID- 26871993
TI  - 3D Printed PEG-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites Obtained by Sol-Gel Technique.
AB  - In this work, three-dimensional (3D) structured hybrid materials were fabricated
      combining 3D printing technology with in situ generation of inorganic
      nanoparticles by sol-gel technique. Those materials, consisting of silica
      nanodomains covalently interconnected with organic polymers, were 3D printed in
      complex multilayered architectures, incorporating liquid silica precursors into a
      photocurable oligomer in the presence of suitable photoinitiators and exposing
      them to a digital light system. A post sol-gel treatment in acidic vapors allowed
      the in situ generation of the inorganic phase in a dedicated step. This method
      allows to build hybrid structures operating with a full liquid formulation
      without meeting the drawbacks of incorporating inorganic powders into 3D
      printable formulations. The influence of the generated silica nanoparticle on the
      printed objects was deeply investigated at macro- and nanoscale; the resulting
      light hybrid structures show improved mechanical properties and, thus, have a
      huge potential for applications in a variety of advanced technologies. 

PMID- 26871994
TI  - Adipose Tissue Hypoxia, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in Obese Insulin-Sensitive and
      Obese Insulin-Resistant Subjects.
AB  - CONTEXT: A substantial number of obese individuals are relatively insulin
      sensitive and the etiology for this variation remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: The
      primary objective was to detect factors in adipose tissue differentiating obese
      insulin-sensitive (OBIS) from obese insulin-resistant (OBIR) individuals and
      investigate whether adipose tissue hypoxia is a contributing factor in the
      pathogenesis of insulin resistance. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross
      sectional study in the general community. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects consisted of
      nondiabetic OBIS and OBIR subjects with similar body mass index, age, and total
      body fat but different insulin sensitivity index as well as lean insulin
      sensitive subjects. INTERVENTIONS(S): There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURE(S): We examined adipocytokines and the expression of candidate genes
      regulating hypoxia, inflammation, and lipogenesis in adipose tissue and adipose
      tissue oxygenation. RESULTS: OBIS subjects had increased plasma adiponectin but
      similar plasma TNFalpha and leptin levels as compared with OBIR subjects. Genes
      regulating inflammation (CD68, MCP1, scavenger receptor A, and oxidized LDL
      receptor 1) were increased by 40%-60% (P < .05) in OBIR vs OBIS cohorts. In
      addition, genes involved in extracellular matrix formation such as collagen VI
      and MMP7 were up-regulated by 43% and 78% (P < .05), respectively, in OBIR vs
      OBIS. The expression of HIF1alpha and VEGF gene expression was increased by 37%
      and 52%, respectively, in OBIR vs OBIS (P < .01). Despite the differential
      expression in hypoxia-related genes, adipose tissue oxygenation measured by a
      Licox oxygen probe was not different between OBIS and OBIR subjects, but it was
      higher in lean subjects as compared with obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We
      confirmed that adipose tissue inflammation and fibrosis play an important role in
      the pathogenesis of insulin resistance independent of obesity in humans. Whether
      hypoxia is simply a consequence of adipose tissue expansion or is related to the
      pathogenesis of obesity-induced insulin resistance is yet to be understood.

PMID- 26871995
TI  - Incident Type 2 diabetes and the effect of early regression to normoglycaemia in
      a population with impaired glucose regulation.
AB  - AIMS: To report contemporary regression rates from impaired glucose regulation to
      normal glucose tolerance, identify modifiable factors associated with early
      regression, and establish whether it affects subsequent diabetes risk in a
      population-based cohort. METHODS: Participants with impaired glucose regulation
      (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance on a 75-g oral
      glucose tolerance test) at baseline in the UK-based ADDITION-Leicester study had
      annual Type 2 diabetes re-screens for 5 years or until diabetes diagnosis.
      Logistic regression models investigated modifiable risk factors for regression to
      normal glucose tolerance at 1 year (n = 817). Cox regression models estimated
      subsequent diabetes risk (n = 630). RESULTS: At 1 year, 54% of participants had
      regressed to normal glucose tolerance, and 6% had progressed to diabetes.
      Regression to normal glucose tolerance was associated with weight loss of 0.1-3%
      [adjusted odds ratio 1.81 (95% CI 1.08, 3.03) compared with maintaining or
      gaining weight] and a waist circumference reduction of > 3 cm [adjusted odds
      ratio 1.78 (95% CI 1.03, 3.06) compared with maintaining or increasing waist
      circumference]. Those with normal glucose tolerance at 1 year subsequently had
      lower diabetes risk than those who remained with impaired glucose regulation
      [adjusted hazard ratio 0.19 (95% CI 0.10, 0.37)]. CONCLUSIONS: Early regression
      to normal glucose tolerance was associated with reduced diabetes incidence, and
      might be induced by small reductions in weight or waist circumference. If
      confirmed in experimental research, this could be a clear and achievable target
      for individuals diagnosed with impaired glucose regulation.

PMID- 26871996
TI  - Arsenic trioxide-based therapy is suitable for patients with psoriasis-associated
      acute promyelocytic leukemia - A retrospective clinical study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many patients with psoriasis have developed acute promyelocytic
      leukemia (APL) whereas few reports on psoriasis-associated APL were found in the
      published literature. This study was aimed to study the etiology, clinical
      characteristics, and prognosis of psoriasis-associated APL and to map a suitable
      treatment regime for this condition. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed
      the clinical data of 17 patients with psoriasis-associated APL diagnosed and
      treated in our hospital in the past decade. RESULTS: The 17 patients accounted
      for 8.3% of the total patients diagnosed with de novo APL during the same period
      in our hospital. Their clinical characteristics of APL were similar to those of
      general APL. Four patients had a definite history of taking bimolane. All
      patients received arsenic trioxide (ATO)-based remission induction and
      postremission treatment. After induction, 15 patients (88%) achieved hematologic
      complete remission. With a median follow-up of 27 months, the 3-year estimates of
      overall survival were 77.2% +/- 12.4% and the 3-year estimates of event-free
      survival were 70.6% +/- 13.5%. In addition, the ATO-based remission induction and
      postremission treatment significantly improved psoriasis symptoms in 83 and 85.7%
      of patients, respectively. Through the final follow-up, no chronic arsenicosis or
      secondary malignancy was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis patients are at high
      risk for APL. The increased risk is most likely associated with the genetic
      background and bimolane treatment. The ATO-based therapy is especially suitable
      for patients with psoriasis-associated APL. Our study also brings a new treatment
      option for psoriasis.

PMID- 26871997
TI  - Justice and Surgical Innovation: The Case of Robotic Prostatectomy.
AB  - Surgical innovation promises improvements in healthcare, but it also raises
      ethical issues including risks of harm to patients, conflicts of interest and
      increased injustice in access to health care. In this article, we focus on risks
      of injustice, and use a case study of robotic prostatectomy to identify features
      of surgical innovation that risk introducing or exacerbating injustices.
      Interpreting justice as encompassing matters of both efficiency and equity, we
      first examine questions relating to government decisions about whether to
      publicly fund access to innovative treatments. Here the case of robotic
      prostatectomy exemplifies the difficulty of accommodating healthcare priorities
      such as improving the health of marginalized groups. It also illustrates
      challenges with estimating the likely long-term costs and benefits of a new
      intervention, the difficulty of comparing outcomes of an innovative treatment to
      those of established treatments, and the further complexity associated with
      patient and surgeon preferences. Once the decision has been made to fund a new
      procedure, separate issues of justice arise at the level of providing care to
      individual patients. Here, the case of robotic prostatectomy exemplifies how
      features of surgical innovation, such as surgeon learning curves and the need for
      an adequate volume of cases at a treatment centre, can exacerbate injustices
      associated with treatment cost and the logistics of travelling for treatment.
      Drawing on our analysis, we conclude by making a number of recommendations for
      the just introduction of surgical innovations.

PMID- 26871998
TI  - Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Not Associated with Higher Health Care Use after
      Colonoscopy under Conscious Sedation.
AB  - RATIONALE: The use of sedation allows medical procedures to be performed outside
      the operating room while ensuring patient comfort and a controlled environment to
      increase the yield of the procedure. There is concern about a higher risk of
      adverse events with use of sedation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
      OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine if the presence of obstructive sleep apnea
      increased the risk of hospitalization and/or health care use after patients
      received moderate conscious sedation for an elective, ambulatory colonoscopy.
      METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control database and chart review
      study. We compared hospital admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and
      emergency room visits at 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days in patients with
      obstructive sleep apnea (n = 3,860) and without obstructive sleep apnea (n =
      2,374) who had undergone an elective, ambulatory colonoscopy with sedation.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We found no significant differences in hospital
      admissions, ICU admissions, or emergency room visits between the two groups at
      any time point within the 30 days following the procedures. In a sensitivity
      analysis in which we compared 827 individuals with polysomnographically confirmed
      sleep apnea with control subjects, there was still no difference in hospital
      admissions, ICU admissions, or emergency room visits in the 30 days after
      receiving sedation for the procedure. Outcomes were not different in individuals
      with various severities of obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of
      obstructive sleep apnea was not associated with increased early hospital
      admissions, ICU admissions, or emergency room visits after colonoscopy with
      sedation.

PMID- 26871999
TI  - Perceptions of the Cause, Impact and Management of Persistent Fatigue in Patients
      with Rheumatoid Arthritis Following Tumour Necrosing Factor Inhibition Therapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is a major symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most
      common chronic inflammatory joint disease. The present study explored patients'
      experiences of RA fatigue to elucidate unique elements and management strategies.
      METHODS: This single site study recruited tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor
      (TNFi)-treated RA patients with a moderate/good response in disease activity and
      persistent moderate/greater fatigue on a five-point verbal rating scale. This
      qualitative descriptive design used semi-structured questions, individual
      interviews and content analysis of narrative data. RESULTS: Ten patients were
      interviewed (six women), with age and disease duration ranges of 44-75 and 6-36
      years, respectively. Perceptions of the RA fatigue experience generated four
      categories (experiencing a distinct, yet seldom discussed RA symptom; seeking an
      explanation for fatigue; being in an incapacitating state; and trying to manage)
      and eight subcategories. Fatigue was newly identified as a distinct part of the
      entity of RA. While patients proposed many plausible root causes, the only
      rational explanation for the nature of this fatigue was that it was integral to
      their RA. Singularly, fatigue contributed considerably to RA-imposed lifestyle
      restrictions. Patients had learnt to accommodate and self-manage fatigue in the
      absence of professional input. Novel management strategies proposed included
      patients talking about the nature of RA fatigue with others and the need for
      staff to alert patients to this distinct symptom of RA. CONCLUSION: Fatigue,
      branded as a distinct symptom of RA, exerted an identifiable impact on patients.
      Fatigue is potentially amenable to modification; talking about fatigue was
      proposed as a novel management strategy. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26872000
TI  - Effect of High-Intensity Interval Versus Continuous Exercise Training on
      Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease:
      A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.
AB  - PURPOSE: There is strong evidence that exercise training has beneficial health
      effects in patients with cardiovascular disease. Most studies have focused on
      moderate continuous training (MCT); however, a body of evidence has begun to
      emerge demonstrating that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has
      significantly better results in terms of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this
      study was to compare the effects of MCT versus HIIT on functional capacity and
      quality of life and to assess safety. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with ischemic
      heart disease were assigned to either HIIT or MCT for 8 weeks. We analyzed
      cardiopulmonary exercise test data, quality of life, and adverse events. RESULTS:
      High-intensity interval training resulted in a significantly greater increase in
      (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak (4.5 +/- 4.7 mL.kg.min)
      compared with MCT (2.5 +/- 3.6 mL.kg.min) (P < .05). The aerobic threshold (VT1)
      increased by 21% in HIIT and 14% in MCT. Furthermore, there was a significant (P
      < .05) increase in the distance covered in the 6-minute walk distance test in the
      HIIT group (49.6 +/- 6.3 m) when compared with the MCT group (29.6 +/- 12.0 m).
      Both training protocols improved quality of life. No adverse events were reported
      in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results of this study,
      HIIT should be considered for use in cardiac rehabilitation as it resulted in a
      greater increase in functional capacity compared with MCT. We also observed
      greater improvement in quality of life without any increase in cardiovascular
      risk.

PMID- 26872001
TI  - Responsive Copolymer Brushes of Poly[(2-(Methacryloyloxy)Ethyl) Trimethylammonium
      Chloride] (PMETAC) and Poly((1)H,(1)H,(2)H,(2)H-Perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA)
      to Modulate Surface Wetting Properties.
AB  - Polymer brushes have a large potential for controlling properties such as surface
      lubrication or wetting through facile functionalization. Polymer chemistry, chain
      density, and length impact on the wetting properties of brushes. This study
      explores the use of diblock copolymer brushes with different block length and
      spatial arrangement of the blocks to tune surface wettability. Block copolymer
      brushes of the polyelectrolyte [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium
      chloride (PMETAC) with a contact angle of 17 degrees  and a hydrophobic block of
      (1)H, (1)H, (2)H, (2)H-perfluorodecyl Acrylate (PPFDA) with a contact angle of
      130 degrees  are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. By changing the sequence of
      polymerization either block is synthesized as top or bottom block. By varying the
      concentration of initiator the length of the blocks is varied. Contact angle
      values with intermediate values between 17 degrees  and 130 degrees  are
      measured. In addition, by changing solvent pH and in presence of a different salt
      the contact angle of the copolymer brushes can be fine tuned. Brushes are
      characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman confocal microscopy, and X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy.

PMID- 26872002
TI  - In sickness and in health: classmates are highly motivated to provide in-hospital
      support during childhood cancer therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Extended hospitalization for school-aged cancer patients increases
      their risk of social marginalization. School-aged children mature through peer
      interaction, but healthcare providers fail to incorporate this in rehabilitation
      efforts. The RESPECT study offers classmates to cancer patients to become
      ambassadors during hospital stays. This study explores classmate decision-making
      patterns about ambassadorship. METHODS: An open-ended question was prospectively
      and consecutively provided to classmates (N = 221) (and parents) of 10 children
      diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and enrolled in the RESPECT study. Statements were
      analysed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Of 221 classmates, 140
      responded (63%). Of these, 81 applied for ambassadorship (median 8/patient), 58
      declined, one was undecided. Nine forms were incomplete; leaving 131 in total
      that revealed 303 statements for analysis. Five major themes emerged: existing
      friendship (132/303 statements), personal resources (academic, emotional and
      social) (107/303), attitudes towards the ambassadorship (34/303), hospital
      environment (18/303) and logistics (12/303). Of the classmates with pre-existing
      friendships, 77% applied for ambassadorship and 80% with a surplus of personal
      resources applied. These were predominant predictors for ambassadorship
      application. Classmate motives were condensed into four archetypes: pre-existing
      friendship with a surplus of resources (100% applied), non-friend classmates with
      a surplus of resources (63% applied), pre-existing friendship with limited
      resources (22% applied) and non-friend classmates with limited resources (0%
      applied). CONCLUSION: Classmates are highly motivated to support patients during
      serious illness, irrespective of pre-existing friendships. Ambassadors offer a
      novel in-hospital approach to promote rehabilitation in children with
      severe/chronic diseases. Results need validation in other settings. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26872003
TI  - Dielectric relaxation properties of carboxylic acid-terminated n-alkyl monolayers
      tethered to Si(1 1 1): dynamics of dipoles and gauche defects.
AB  - Molecular-level insights into the organization and dynamics of n-alkyl monolayers
      covalently bonded to Si(1 1 1) were gained from admittance measurements of
      dipolar relaxation in rectifying Hg|| HOOC-C10H(25-n) Si junctions performed as a
      function of applied voltage and temperature. A collective behavior of dipole
      dynamics is inferred from the non-Debye asymmetric relaxation peak shape and
      strong coupling of the dipole relaxation path with some bending vibrations of the
      n-alkyl OML (multi-excitation entropy model). A variety of relaxation mechanisms
      is observed in the frequency range (0.1 Hz-10 MHz) with different dependence of
      relaxation frequency and dipolar strength on measurement temperature and applied
      voltage. Their microscopic origin is discussed by comparing the activation energy
      of relaxation frequency with previous molecular mechanics calculations of saddle
      point energy barriers for structural defects such as gauche conformations or
      chain kinks in n-alkanes assemblies. Gauche conformations organized in pairs
      (kinks) have vanishing relaxation strength below an order-disorder transition
      temperature T(D) =  175 K and their probability strongly increases with applied
      reverse voltage, above T(D). The presence of hydrogen bonds between terminal
      carboxylic acid functionalities is inferred from a comparison with a similar
      junction bearing a low density of carboxylic acid end groups. This temperature
      dependent hydrogen-bond network provides some additional stiffness against
      external electrostatic stress, as deduced from the rather weak sensitivity of
      relaxation frequencies to applied bias voltage.

PMID- 26872004
TI  - Multicolor multiphoton microscopy based on a nanosecond supercontinuum laser
      source.
AB  - Multicolor multiphoton microscopy is experimentally demonstrated for the first
      time on a spectral bandwidth of excitation of 300 nm (full width half maximum)
      thanks to the implementation a nanosecond supercontinuum (SC) source compact and
      simple with a low repetition rate. The interest of such a wide spectral
      bandwidth, never demonstrated until now, is highlighted in vivo: images of glioma
      tumor cells stably expressing eGFP grafted on the brain of a mouse and its blood
      vessels network labelled with Texas Red((r)) are obtained. These two fluorophores
      have a spectral bandwidth covering the whole 300 nm available. In parallel, a
      similar image quality is obtained on a sample of mouse muscle in vitro when
      excited with this nanosecond SC source or with a classical high rate, femtosecond
      and quasi monochromatic laser. This opens the way for (i) a simple and very
      complete biological characterization never performed to date with multiphoton
      processes, (ii) multiple means of contrast in nonlinear imaging allowed by the
      use of numerous fluorophores and (iii) other multiphoton processes like three
      photon ones.

PMID- 26872005
TI  - Predictors of adherence to a 12-week exercise program among men treated for
      prostate cancer: ENGAGE study.
AB  - Understanding the factors that influence adherence to exercise programs is
      necessary to develop effective interventions for people with cancer. We examined
      the predictors of adherence to a supervised exercise program for participants in
      the ENGAGE study - a cluster randomized controlled trial that assessed the
      efficacy of a clinician-referred 12-week exercise program among men treated for
      prostate cancer. Demographic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial data from 52
      participants in the intervention group were collected at baseline through self
      report and medical records. Adherence to the supervised exercise program was
      assessed through objective attendance records. Adherence to the supervised
      exercise program was 80.3%. In the univariate analyses, cancer-specific quality
      of life subscales (role functioning r = 0.37, P = 0.01; sexual activity r = 0.26,
      P = 0.06; fatigue r = -0.26, P = 0.06, and hormonal symptoms r = -0.31, P = 0.03)
      and education (d = -0.60, P = 0.011) were associated with adherence. In the
      subsequent multivariate analysis, role functioning (B = 0.309, P = 0.019) and
      hormonal symptoms (B = -0.483, P = 0.054) independently predicted adherence. Men
      who experienced more severe hormonal symptoms had lower levels of adherence to
      the exercise program. Those who experienced more positive perceptions of their
      ability to perform daily tasks and leisure activities had higher levels of
      adherence to the exercise program. Hormonal symptoms and role functioning need to
      be considered when conducting exercise programs for men who have been treated for
      prostate cancer.

PMID- 26872007
TI  - The effect of Toll-like receptor 4 on beta2-glycoprotein I-induced B cell
      activation in mouse model.
AB  - Our previous study demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a vital
      role in the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from the
      mice immunized with human beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI). However, the roles of
      TLR4 in the activation of B cells and production of anti-beta2GPI antibodies in
      vivo have been rarely studied. This study aimed to investigate the activation of
      B cells from TLR4-defective (C3H/HeJ) and TLR4-intact (C3H/HeN) mice pre
      immunized with human beta2GPI. After beta2GPI injection, the level of anti
      beta2GPI antibody in the serum of TLR4-defective and TLR4-intact mice was
      gradually increased and the number and size of germinal centers in the spleen
      were also significantly increased. Compared with C3H/HeJ mice, we observed
      significantly higher anti-beta2GPI antibody titer and more germinal centers in
      C3H/HeN mice. Moreover, the beta2GPI-induced expression of CD40L, CD40, CD80,
      CD86 and MHC II in C3H/HeN mice was significantly higher than that in C3H/HeJ
      mice. Furthermore, the beta2GPI-induced expression of B cell activating factor
      (BAFF) in the spleen and IL-6 and IL-10 in B cells from C3H/HeN mice was also
      significantly increased compared to C3H/HeJ mice. Taken together, our results
      suggest that TLR4 is required for the activation of B cells and the production of
      autoantibody in mice treated with beta2GPI, but the immunological mechanisms of
      antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) need further investigation. 

PMID- 26872008
TI  - Phase II and UGT1A1 Polymorphism Study of Two Different Irinotecan Dosages
      Combined with Cisplatin as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy and safety of biweekly irinotecan and
      cisplatin (IP) as first-line treatment in advanced gastric cancer patients.
      METHODS: Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 on day 1 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 2 were
      administrated every 14 days. UGT1A1*28/*6 and toxicities were analyzed. RESULTS:
      Forty-one eligible patients were enrolled. Fifteen patients, who were defined as
      the high-dose group, received starting doses of irinotecan 125 mg/m2. Twenty-six
      patients, who were defined as the low-dose group, received starting doses of
      irinotecan 80 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2. The response rate was 53.3% in the
      irinotecan high-dose group and 53.8% in the irinotecan low-dose group. The most
      common grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (68.3%). No significant difference in
      grade 3/4 neutropenia was found between patients with the wild-type genotype and
      those with variant genotypes for UGT1A1*28 or UGT1A1*6. CONCLUSIONS: The
      combination of biweekly irinotecan 80 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 was active and
      tolerable. The role of the UGT1A1 genotype in clinical toxicity of an IP regimen
      requires further investigation.

PMID- 26872009
TI  - Lynch Syndrome Screening in the Gynecologic Tract: Current State of the Art.
AB  - Lynch syndrome underlies approximately 5% of endometrial cancers and ~1% of
      ovarian cancers. Gynecologic malignancies are often the presenting cancer in
      these patients. Therefore, there is considerable benefit to identifying these
      patients and enrolling them and affected family members in surveillance programs
      for secondary malignancies. The molecular basis for Lynch syndrome is a defect in
      the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Tumors can be screened for these defects
      using immunohistochemistry to identify loss of MMR proteins or by enlisting
      polymerase chain reaction to identify the microsatellite instability that attends
      dysfunctional MMR. However, diagnostic confirmation of Lynch syndrome requires
      germline mutational testing. The algorithm for screening endometrial carcinomas
      for Lynch syndrome remains a subject of debate, with some studies supporting
      universal screening and others proposing a hybrid approach informed by
      clinicopathologic features. This review discusses the rationales and relative
      merits of current Lynch syndrome-screening approaches for endometrial and ovarian
      cancers and provides pathologists with an informed approach to Lynch syndrome
      testing in gynecologic cancers. It also addresses the clinical difficulties
      presented by cases with discordant screening and germline results (Lynch-like
      cancers) and emphasizes the critical role of strong communication with clinician
      and genetic counseling colleagues to ensure that the significance of a positive
      screening test is appropriately conveyed to patients. Finally, it discusses the
      need for more nuanced cost-effective analyses and the potential role for next
      generation sequencing panels in future screening efforts. 

PMID- 26872010
TI  - Primary and Metastatic Cutaneous Melanomas Express ALK Through Alternative
      Transcriptional Initiation.
AB  - A number of common driver mutations have been identified in melanoma, but other
      genetic or epigenetic aberrations are also likely to play a role in the
      pathogenesis of melanoma and present potential therapeutic targets.
      Translocations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), for example, have been
      reported in spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms leading to kinase-fusion proteins that
      result in immunohistochemically detectable ALK expression. In this study, we
      sought to determine whether ALK was also expressed in nonspitzoid primary and
      metastatic cutaneous melanomas. ALK immunohistochemistry was performed on 603
      melanomas (303 primary and 300 metastatic tumors) from 600 patients. ALK
      immunohistochemistry expression was identified in 7 primary and 9 metastatic
      tumors. In 5 of 7 primary tumors and in 6 of 9 metastatic lesions, the majority
      of tumor cells were immunoreactive for ALK. In the other 2 primary and 3
      metastatic lesions, positive staining was identified in less than half of the
      tumor cells. ALK positivity was found in the presence or absence of BRAF or NRAS
      mutations. In contrast to prior observations with ALK-positive Spitz tumors, none
      of the ALK-positive melanomas harbored a translocation. Instead, the ALK-positive
      melanomas predominantly expressed the recently described ALK isoform, ALK, which
      lacks the extracellular and transmembrane domains of wild-type ALK, consists
      primarily of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, and originates from an
      alternative transcriptional initiation site within the ALK gene. The findings are
      clinically relevant as patients with metastatic melanoma who have ALK expression
      may potentially benefit from treatment with ALK kinase inhibitors.

PMID- 26872012
TI  - Primary Pseudomyogenic Hemangioendothelioma of Bone.
AB  - Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PMH) is a well-recognized neoplasm that
      usually arises in the soft tissue; concurrent bone involvement occurs in 24% of
      cases. PMH of bone without soft tissue involvement is rare. We describe the
      clinicopathologic findings of 10 such cases, the largest series reported to date.
      The study included 9 male and 1 female patient; their ages ranged from 12 to 74
      years (mean 36.7 y). All patients had multiple tumors with a distinct regional
      distribution: 45% restricted to the lower extremity; 25% to the spine and pelvis;
      and 15% to the upper extremity. On imaging studies the tumors were well
      circumscribed and lytic. The neoplasms were composed of spindled cells arranged
      in intersecting fascicles with scattered epithelioid cells; epithelioid cells
      predominated in 3 cases. The neoplastic cells contained abundant densely
      eosinophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei. There was limited cytologic atypia
      and necrosis, few mitoses (0 to 2/10 high-power fields), and inconspicuous
      stroma. Unique findings included abundant intratumoral reactive woven bone and
      hemorrhage with numerous osteoclast-like giant cells. Immunohistochemically, most
      tumors were positive for keratin, ERG, and CD31; CD34 was negative. The balanced
      t(7:19)(q22;13) translocation was documented in 3 cases. Follow-up is limited,
      but no patient developed documented visceral dissemination, and all have stable
      or progressive osseous disease. PMH exclusively involving bone is rare. It is
      multicentric, often involves the lower extremity, and has unusual morphology. The
      differential diagnosis includes epithelioid vascular neoplasms, giant cell tumor,
      bone forming neoplasms, and metastatic carcinoma. Because of its rarity, unusual
      presentation, and morphology, accurate diagnosis can be challenging. 

PMID- 26872011
TI  - Frequent HRAS Mutations in Malignant Ectomesenchymoma: Overlapping Genetic
      Abnormalities With Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma.
AB  - Malignant ectomesenchymoma (MEM) is an exceedingly rare pediatric sarcoma with a
      predilection for infants and young children and is composed of dual malignant
      mesenchymal and neuroectodermal components. Microscopically, MEM displays areas
      of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with intermixed neuronal/neuroblastic foci. The
      molecular alterations associated with MEM and its relationship with embryonal RMS
      (ERMS) and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) have not yet been
      elucidated. In this study we used whole-transcriptome sequencing in 2 MEM index
      cases with available frozen tissue, followed by screening of the identified
      genetic abnormalities in 5 additional cases. No candidate fusion genes were
      detected by FusionSeq analysis; however, the mutation detection algorithms
      revealed HRAS and PTPRD hotspot mutations in both index cases, with 1 case
      harboring an additional FBXW7 mutation. As these mutation profiles have been
      previously described in ERMS we have tested their incidence in a control group of
      7 age-matched ERMS. In addition, the gene signature of MEM was compared with that
      of RMS, MPNST, and neuronal lineage. All 7 MEM patients were male, with a mean
      age of 7.5 months (range, 0.6 to 17 mo). All except 1 occurred in the
      pelvic/urogenital region. Most cases showed ERMS elements, with occasional
      spindle or undifferentiated/round cell areas. The intermixed neuroectodermal
      components were mostly scattered ganglion cells, ganglioneuroma, or
      ganglioneuroblastoma. By Sanger sequencing, 6 of 7 (86%) MEMs had HRAS mutations,
      with no additional case harboring PTPRD or FBXW7 mutations. The only case lacking
      HRAS mutation showed neuroblastic micronodules without ganglion cells. The
      trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3) expression, typically lost
      in MPNST, was retained in all cases. In the control ERMS group, 5 of 7 (71%)
      showed RAS mutations, equally distributed among NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS genes. The
      expression profiling of MEM showed upregulation of skeletal muscle and neuronal
      genes, with no significant overlap with MPNST. Our results of common HRAS
      mutations and composite gene signature with RMS and neuronal/neuroblastic
      elements suggest a closer genetic link of MEM to RMS rather than to MPNST.

PMID- 26872014
TI  - MicroRNA-361-5p Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth by Targeting CXCR6 in Hepatocellular
      Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: A growing body of evidence supports the notion that MicroRNAs
      (miRNAs) function as key regulators of tumorigenesis. In the present study, the
      expression and roles of miRNA-361-5p were explored in hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC). METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression miR
      361-5p in HCC tissues and pair-matched adjacent normal tissues. MTT and BrdU
      assays were used to identify the role of miR-361-5p in the regulation of
      proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. Using bioinformatics analysis,
      luciferase reporter assays and Western blots were used to identify the molecular
      target of miR-361-5p. nude mice were used to detect the anti-tumor role of miR
      361-5p in vivo. RESULTS: miR-361-5p was down-regulated in HCC tissues in
      comparison to adjacent normal tissues, due to hypermethylation at its promoter
      region. Overexpression of miR-361-5p suppressed proliferation and invasion of HCC
      cells. Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) receptor 6 (CXCR6) was identified as a target of
      miR-361-5p. Indeed, knockdown of CXCR6 photocopied, while overexpression of CXCR6
      largely attenuated the anti-proliferative effect of miR-361-5p. More importantly,
      in vivo studies demonstrated that forced expression of miR-361-5p significantly
      inhibited tumor growth in the nude mice. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that
      miR-361-5p acts as a tumor suppressor and might serve as a novel therapeutic
      target for the treatment of HCC patients.

PMID- 26872015
TI  - Hormonal Eligibility Criteria for 'Includes Females' Competition: A Practical but
      Problematic Solution.
AB  - The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the
      International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted testosterone level criteria for
      eligibility (i.e. 10 nmol/l or 290 ng/dl in blood for IAAF, levels 'within the
      male range' for IOC) to compete in the 'includes females' category. The policies
      address the assertion that women with very high endogenous testosterone (unless
      they are androgen-resistant) have an unfair advantage over women with lower
      natural levels. Recently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the
      'hyperandrogenism regulation' by the IAAF, but added: 'since there are separate
      categories of male and female competition, it is necessary for the IAAF to
      formulate a basis for the division of athletes into male and female categories
      for the benefit of the broad class of female athletes. The basis chosen should be
      necessary, reasonable and proportionate to the legitimate objective being
      pursued' [Branch J: Dutee Chand, Female Sprinter with High Testosterone Level,
      Wins Right to Compete. The New York Times, July 27, 2015]. An analysis of
      available evidence below - scientific as well as experiential - suggests that
      androgen-based criteria can, in fact, be rationally defended as the best
      currently available and practical approach to determine eligibility for
      competition in the 'includes females' category. However, to justify such
      policies, the IOC and IAAF must also show them to be not only rational, but also
      fair, necessary, and consistent with the treatment of athletes with other
      endogenous non-physiologic advantages. 

PMID- 26872013
TI  - Prognostic Factors of Hepatosplenic T-cell Lymphoma: Clinicopathologic Study of
      28 Cases.
AB  - Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) is a rare type of lymphoma. Patients have a
      poor prognosis, and there is no standard of care. We evaluated 28 HSTCL patients
      to determine factors that may be associated with outcome. There were 19 men and 9
      women with a median age of 32.5 years. Most patients had massive splenomegaly,
      and bone marrow showed sinusoidal involvement by lymphoma. The HSTCL cells
      expressed gammadelta T-cell receptor (TCR) in 20 (74%), alphabeta TCR in 5 (19%),
      and neither in 2 (7%) patients (1 case not assessed). Conventional cytogenetics
      and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in 24 patients at diagnosis
      showed isochromosome 7q (i7q) in 10 (42%) and trisomy 8 in 8 (33%) patients.
      Median overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were each 28.3 months.
      Serum bilirubin level >=1.5 mg/dL, alphabeta TCR expression, and trisomy 8 each
      correlated significantly with shorter OS and EFS. Patients with HSTCL received a
      variety of chemotherapy regimens with no regimen better than any other. However,
      patients who underwent stem cell transplant showed longer survival (OS: hazard
      ratio 0.3, P=0.09; EFS: hazard ratio 0.2, P=0.034). In conclusion, although HSTCL
      patients have a poor prognosis overall, the data presented support the novel
      suggestions that HSTCL patients can be stratified into 2 prognostic groups, with
      an elevated serum bilirubin level, alphabeta TCR expression, and trisomy 8
      identifying a poorer prognostic group. In addition, the outcomes of this patient
      cohort suggest that stem cell transplantation has value for the treatment of
      patients with HSTCL. 

PMID- 26872016
TI  - Compensatory Increase of Transglutaminase 2 Is Responsible for Resistance to mTOR
      Inhibitor Treatment.
AB  - The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a crucial role in
      controlling cell growth and homeostasis. Deregulation of mTOR signaling is
      frequently observed in some cancers, making it an attractive drug target for
      cancer therapy. Although mTORC1 inhibitor rapalog-based therapy has shown
      positive results in various pre-clinical animal cancer studies, tumors rebound
      upon treatment discontinuation. Moreover, several recent clinical trials showed
      that the mTORC1 inhibitors rapamycin and rapalog only reduce the capacity for
      cell proliferation without promoting cell death, consistent with the concept that
      rapamycin is cytostatic and reduces disease progression but is not cytotoxic. It
      is imperative that rapamycin-regulated events and additional targets for more
      effective drug combinations be identified. Here, we report that rapamycin
      treatment promotes a compensatory increase in transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) levels in
      mTORC1-driven tumors. TGM2 inhibition potently sensitizes mTORC1-hyperactive
      cancer cells to rapamycin treatment, and a rapamycin-induced autophagy blockade
      inhibits the compensatory TGM2 upregulation. More importantly, tumor regression
      was observed in MCF-7-xenograft tumor-bearing mice treated with both mTORC1 and
      TGM2 inhibitors compared with those treated with either a single inhibitor or the
      vehicle control. These results demonstrate a critical role for the compensatory
      increase in transglutaminase 2 levels in promoting mTORC1 inhibitor resistance
      and suggest that rational combination therapy may potentially suppress cancer
      therapy resistance. 

PMID- 26872017
TI  - The Association between Belgian Older Adults' Physical Functioning and Physical
      Activity: What Is the Moderating Role of the Physical Environment?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Better physical functioning in the elderly may be associated with
      higher physical activity levels. Since older adults spend a substantial part of
      the day in their residential neighborhood, the neighborhood physical environment
      may moderate associations between functioning and older adults' physical
      activity. The present study investigated the moderating role of the objective and
      perceived physical environment on associations between Belgian older adults'
      physical functioning and transport walking, recreational walking, and moderate-to
      vigorous physical activity. METHODS: Data from 438 older adults were included.
      Objective physical functioning was assessed using the Short Physical Performance
      Battery. Potential moderators included objective neighborhood walkability and
      perceptions of land use mix diversity, access to recreational facilities, access
      to services, street connectivity, physical barriers for walking, aesthetics,
      crime-related safety, traffic speeding-related safety, and walking
      infrastructure. Transport and recreational walking were self-reported, moderate
      to-vigorous physical activity was assessed through accelerometers. Multi-level
      regression analyses were conducted using MLwiN to examine two-way interactions
      between functioning and the environment on both walking outcomes. Based on a
      previous study where environment x neighborhood income associations were found
      for Belgian older adults' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, three-way
      functioning x environment x income interactions were examined for moderate-to
      vigorous physical activity. RESULTS: Objectively-measured walkability moderated
      the association between functioning and transport walking; this positive
      association was only present in high-walkable neighborhoods. Moreover, a three
      way interaction was observed for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Only in
      high-income, high-walkable neighborhoods, there was a positive association
      between functioning and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. No functioning x
      walkability interactions were observed for recreational walking, and none of the
      perceived environmental variables moderated the positive association between
      physical functioning and the physical activity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: For older
      adults with better physical functioning, living in a high-walkable neighborhood
      could be beneficial to engage in more transport walking. Living in high-income,
      high-walkable neighborhoods and having better functioning might also be
      beneficial for more engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. This
      might suggest a protective role of neighborhood walkability for preventing
      declining physical functioning and consequently decreasing physical activity
      levels in older adults. However, given the cross-sectional design of the present
      study, this suggestion needs to be confirmed through longitudinal assessment
      investigating over-time changes in the observed associations.

PMID- 26872018
TI  - Can Intrapartum Cardiotocography Predict Uterine Rupture among Women with Prior
      Caesarean Delivery?: A Population Based Case-Control Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare cardiotocographic abnormalities recorded during labour in
      women with prior caesarean delivery (CD) and complete uterine rupture with those
      recorded in controls with prior CD without uterine rupture. STUDY DESIGN: Women
      with complete uterine rupture during labour between 1997 and 2008 were identified
      in the Danish Medical Birth Registry (n = 181). Cases were validated by review of
      medical records and 53 cases with prior CD, trial of labour, available
      cardiotocogram (CTG) and complete uterine rupture were included and compared with
      43 controls with prior CD, trial of labour and available CTG. The CTG tracings
      were assessed by 19 independent experts divided into groups of three different
      experts for each tracing. The assessors were blinded to group, outcome and
      clinical data. They analyzed occurrence of defined abnormalities and classified
      the traces as normal, suspicious, pathological or pre-terminal according to
      international guidelines (FIGO). RESULTS: A pathological CTG during the first
      stage of labour was present in 77% of cases and in 53% of the controls (OR 2.58
      [CI: 0.96-6.94] P = 0.066). Fetal tachycardia was more frequent in cases with
      uterine rupture (OR 2.50 [CI: 1.0-6.26] P = 0.053). Significantly more cases
      showed more than 10 severe variable decelerations compared with controls (OR 22
      [CI: 1.54-314.2] P = 0.022). Uterine tachysystole was not correlated with the
      presence of uterine rupture. CONCLUSION: A pathological cardiotocogram should
      lead to particular attention on threatening uterine rupture but cannot be
      considered a strong predictor as it is common in all women with trial of labour
      after caesarean delivery.

PMID- 26872019
TI  - Dietary Fiber Intake Regulates Intestinal Microflora and Inhibits Ovalbumin
      Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, academic studies suggest that global growth of airway
      allergic disease has a close association with dietary changes including reduced
      consumption of fiber. Therefore, appropriate dietary fiber supplementation might
      be potential to prevent airway allergic disease (AAD). OBJECTIVE: We investigated
      whether dietary fiber intake suppressed the induction of AAD and tried to
      elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The control mice and AAD
      model mice fed with 4% standard-fiber chow, while low-fiber group of mice fed
      with a 1.75% low-fiber chow. The two fiber-intervened groups including mice,
      apart from a standard-fiber diet, were also intragastric (i.g.) administrated
      daily with poorly fermentable cellulose or readily fermentable pectin (0.4% of
      daily body weight), respectively. All animals except normal mice were sensitized
      and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce airway allergic inflammation.
      Hallmarks of AAD were examined by histological analysis and ELISA. The variation
      in intestinal bacterial composition was assessed by qualitative analysis of 16S
      ribosomal DNA (rDNA) content in fecal samples using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Low
      fiber diet aggravated inflammatory response in ovalbumin-induced allergic mice,
      whereas dietary fiber intake significantly suppressed the allergic responses,
      attenuated allergic symptoms of nasal rubbing and sneezing, decreased the
      pathology of eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell metaplasia in the nasal
      mucosa and lung, inhibited serum OVA-specific IgE levels, and lowered the levels
      of Th2 cytokines in NALF and BALF, but, increased Th1 (IFN-gamma) cytokines.
      Additionally, dietary fiber intake also increased the proportion of Bacteroidetes
      and Actinobacteria, and decreased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Levels of
      probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, were upgraded
      significantly. CONCLUSION: Long-term deficiency of dietary fiber intake increases
      the susceptibility to AAD, whereas proper fiber supplementation promotes
      effectively the balance of Th1/Th2 immunity and then attenuates allergic
      inflammatory responses significantly, as well as optimizes the structure of
      intestinal microbiota, which suggests potential for novel preventive and
      therapeutic intervention.

PMID- 26872021
TI  - Association of MMP-9 Gene Polymorphisms with Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between matrix
      metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphisms (rs17576 and rs3918249) and
      glaucoma risk. All eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane
      Library and the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database. Pooled odds ratios
      and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess associations between MMP-9 gene
      polymorphisms and glaucoma. Seven studies on rs17576 (1,357 cases and 1,432
      controls) and 3 studies on rs3918249 (550 cases and 794 controls) were included.
      The results suggest that rs17576 was not associated with glaucoma risk based on
      current publications. However, stratification analyses indicated that GG
      genotypes increased the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma in a recessive model
      (GG vs. AA + AG). The rs3918249 polymorphism was also associated with a decreased
      risk of glaucoma, especially for Caucasian patients. To sum up, our data indicate
      that rs17576 polymorphism is not related to glaucoma and rs3918249 polymorphism
      might be a protective factor against glaucoma. 

PMID- 26872022
TI  - Added Qualifications in Microsurgery: Consideration for Subspecialty
      Certification in Microvascular Surgery in Europe.
AB  - Background While implementation of subspecializations may increase expertise in a
      certain area of treatment, there also exist downsides. Aim of this study was,
      across several disciplines, to find out if the technique of microsurgery warrants
      the introduction of a "Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in
      microsurgery." Methods An anonymous, web-based survey was administered to
      directors of microsurgical departments in Europe (n = 205). Respondents were
      asked, among other questions, whether they had completed a 12-month microvascular
      surgery fellowship and whether they believed a CAQ in microvascular surgery
      should be instituted. Results The response rate was 57%, and 33% of the
      respondents had completed a 12-month microvascular surgery fellowship.A total of
      61% of all surgeons supported a CAQ in microsurgery. Answers ranged from 47% of
      support to 100% of support, depending on the countries surveyed. Discussion This
      is one of the few reports to evaluate the potential role of subspecialty
      certification of microvascular surgery across several European countries. The
      data demonstrate that the majority of directors of microsurgical departments
      support such a certificate. There was significantly greater support for a CAQ in
      microsurgery among those who have completed a formal microvascular surgery
      fellowship themselves. Conclusion This study supports the notion that further
      discussion and consideration of subspecialty certification in microvascular
      surgery appears necessary. There are multiple concerns surrounding this issue.
      Similar to the evolution of hand surgery certification, an exploratory committee
      of executive members of the respective medical boards and official societies may
      be warranted. 

PMID- 26872020
TI  - Galectin-3 Inhibition Is Associated with Neuropathic Pain Attenuation after
      Peripheral Nerve Injury.
AB  - Neuropathic pain remains a prevalent and persistent clinical problem because it
      is often poorly responsive to the currently used analgesics. It is very urgent to
      develop novel drugs to alleviate neuropathic pain. Galectin-3 (gal3) is a
      multifunctional protein belonging to the carbohydrate-ligand lectin family, which
      is expressed by different cells. Emerging studies showed that gal3 elicits a pro
      inflammatory response by recruiting and activating lymphocytes, macrophages and
      microglia. In the study we investigated whether gal3 inhibition could suppress
      neuroinflammation and alleviate neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve
      injury. We found that L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) increases the expression of
      gal3 in dorsal root ganglions at the mRNA and protein level. Intrathecal
      administration of modified citrus pectin (MCP), a gal3 inhibitor, reduces gal3
      expression in dorsal root ganglions. MCP treatment also inhibits SNL-induced gal3
      expression in primary rat microglia. SNL results in an increased activation of
      autophagy that contributes to microglial activation and subsequent inflammatory
      response. Intrathecal administration of MCP significantly suppresses SNL-induced
      autophagy activation. MCP also inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
      autophagy in cultured microglia in vitro. MCP further decreases LPS-induced
      expression of proinflammatory mediators including IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-6 by
      regulating autophagy. Intrathecal administration of MCP results in adecreased
      mechanical and cold hypersensitivity following SNL. These results demonstrated
      that gal3 inhibition is associated with the suppression of SNL-induced
      inflammatory process andneurophathic pain attenuation. 

PMID- 26872024
TI  - A Simple, Visually Oriented Communication System to Improve Postoperative Care
      Following Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer: Development, Results, and
      Implications.
AB  - Background Communication, particularly transmission of information between the
      surgical and nursing teams, has been identified as one of the most crucial
      determinants of patient outcomes. Nonetheless, transfer of information among and
      between the physician and nursing teams in the immediate postoperative period is
      often informal, verbal, and inconsistent. Methods An iterative process of
      multidisciplinary information gathering was undertaken to create a novel
      postoperative communication system (the "Pop-form"). Once developed, nurses were
      surveyed on multiple measures regarding the perceived likelihood that it would
      improve their ability to provide directed patient care. Data were quantified
      using a Likert scale (0-10), and statistically analyzed. Results The Pop-form
      records and transfers operative details, specific anatomic monitoring parameters,
      and senior physician contact information. Sixty-eight nurses completed surveys.
      The perceived usefulness of different components of the Pop-form system was as
      follows: 8.9 for the description of the procedure; 9.3 for the operative diagram;
      9.4 for the monitoring details and parameters; and 9.4 for the direct contact
      information for the appropriate surgical team member. All respondents were in
      favor of widespread adoption of the Pop-form. Conclusion This uniform, visual
      communication system requires less than 1 minute to compose, yet formalizes and
      standardizes inter-team communication, and therefore shows promise for improving
      outcomes following microvascular free tissue transfer. We believe that this
      simple, innovative communication tool has the potential to be more broadly
      applied to many other health care settings. 

PMID- 26872023
TI  - Successful Salvage of Late Anastomotic Thrombosis after Free Tissue Transfer.
AB  - Background Anastomotic thrombosis following free tissue transfer (FTT) on or
      after day 5 ("late thrombosis") is reported to have extremely low rates of
      salvage. Analysis of our institution's experience with FTT was performed to make
      recommendations about the optimal management of late thrombosis, and to identify
      any variables that are correlated with increased salvage rates. Methods The study
      included patients who underwent FTT between 1986 and 2014, then suffered
      anastomotic thrombosis on or after postoperative day 5. Twenty-six variables
      involving demographic information, flap characteristics, circumstances of the
      thrombotic event, and details of any salvage attempt were analyzed. Patients
      whose FTT were successfully salvaged and those whose were not were statistically
      compared. Results Of the 3,212 patients who underwent FTT, 23 suffered late
      thrombosis (0.7%), and the salvage rate was 60.8% (14 of 23). The salvage rate
      for reconstruction of the head and neck was 53.3%, breast was 66.7%, and
      extremity was 100%. There was a statistically significantly greater salvage rate
      in flaps performed after 1998 than in those performed before 1998 (p = 0.023).
      There was a nonstatistically significant trend toward increased salvage rates in
      patients who had no anastomotic thrombotic risk factors, reconstruction using
      fasciocutaneous flaps, and anastomotic revision using new recipient vessels.
      Conclusion Our data demonstrate that flap survival after episodes of late
      thrombosis can be higher than what the literature has previously reported. This
      underscores the importance of rigorous postoperative monitoring, as well as the
      importance of exploration at the earliest instance of concern for threatened flap
      viability. 

PMID- 26872025
TI  - The Early Years of Practice: An Assessment of Operative Efficiency and Cost of
      Free Flap and Implant Breast Reconstruction at an Academic Institution.
AB  - Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term costs, and
      financial implications of improvements in operative efficiency of free flap and
      implant-based breast reconstruction within an academic practice. Methods The
      billing records of 162 patients who underwent postmastectomy implant-based or
      free flap breast reconstruction by two newly hired microsurgeons at an academic
      institution during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fiscal years were reviewed. Actual
      data on professional revenue, relative value units (RVUs), and facility costs for
      the first stage of reconstruction as well as costs of postoperative complications
      were assessed. Results Free flaps consistently generated more revenue and RVUs
      than implants (p < 0.001). Rates of major complications and associated costs were
      greater for free flaps during the first 2 years of practice; however, by the 3rd
      year rates were similar between free flaps and implants (14.3 vs. 18.2%, p =
      0.72). There was a 26% reduction in free flap operative time in 2013 as compared
      with 2011. Operative efficiency (hourly RVU) of first stage procedures increased
      each year for both modalities. At the completion of reconstruction, flaps and
      implants had comparable hourly reimbursement ($1,053 vs. $947, p = 0.72) and
      hourly RVU (22 vs. 29, p = 0.06). Conclusions Contrary to perceptions that free
      flap breast reconstructions are financially inefficient for the surgeon, we have
      found that these complex reconstructive procedures are profitable. Even in the
      early years of practice, hourly reimbursements from completed flap
      reconstructions are similar to reimbursements received from similar staged
      implant reconstructions. 

PMID- 26872026
TI  - The Use of Vascularized Fascia as Carrier in Cases of Prelaminated
      Fasciocartilaginous and Osseofascial Flaps.
AB  - Background This experimental study investigates the use of vascularized fascia as
      carrier for prelaminated cartilage and bone flaps. Methods A total of 30 male New
      Zealand white rabbits were divided into two equal groups (A and B). The fascia
      surrounding the inguinal fat and superficial inferior epigastric vessels was
      dissected. In group A, the fascia was wrapped around a template (20 * 40 mm) of
      cartilage harvested from the rabbit's ear. In group B, the fascia was wrapped
      around a 15 * 35 mm piece of rib cortical bone. After a maturation period of 4
      weeks, group A was subdivided into three groups (A1, A2, and A3). In group A1
      (six animals) the animals were sacrificed and the flaps were sent for
      histological examination, in A2 (six animals) the flaps were rotated 180 degrees
      and anchored at knee level, and in A3 (two animals) the flaps were transferred as
      free flaps to the right SIE (superficial inferior epigastric vessels). The
      animals of subgroups A2 and A3 were sacrificed after another maturation period of
      2 weeks and the flaps were sent for histological examination. After a maturation
      period of 6 weeks, group B was subdivided into three subgroups (B1, B2, and B3)
      corresponding to the cartilage subgroups. Subgroups B2 and B3 were sacrificed
      after 2 weeks. Results All flaps of groups A and B demonstrated good viability
      apart from one specimen of subgroup B2. Angiogenesis was present in all groups.
      Conclusion Meticulously dissected vascularized fascia can be successfully used
      for prelamination of complex fasciocartilaginous or osseofascial flaps. The
      required maturation periods are 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. 

PMID- 26872027
TI  - Effects of Bezafibrate on the Survival of Random Skin Flaps in Rats.
AB  - Background Bezafibrate is widely used in clinics for its comparable angiogenic
      effect. Our research is to investigate the effect of bezafibrate on random skin
      flap survival. Materials and Methods The "McFarlane flap" rat models were
      established in 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats which were divided into two groups.
      The treatment group was given bezafibrate (400 mg/kg/day; gavage administration),
      and the control group received the vehicle. The flap surviving area was measured
      after 7 days, and the tissue samples were taken for histological analysis and
      edema measurement. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was determined using
      immunohistochemical methods. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined with kits. Results Seven days after
      the operation, the surviving area in the treatment group was larger than in the
      control group (p < 0.01). The expression of VEGF was increased in the treatment
      group compared with that in the control group. And the activity of SOD was lower
      in the treatment group compared with those in the control group (p < 0.01).
      However, tissue edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and MDA level were
      markedly lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (p < 0.01).
      Conclusion Bezafibrate improves the survival of random skin flaps effectively. 

PMID- 26872028
TI  - Neurological Deficits before and after Surgical Resection of Schwannomas in the
      Upper Extremities.
AB  - Background Schwannomas are the most common primary solitary tumor among
      peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The occurrence of transient or permanent
      neurological deficits after schwannoma resection is more common than previously
      recognized. Here, the neurological deficits before and after surgical resection
      of schwannomas in the upper extremities were examined. Methods The study included
      43 upper-extremity schwannomas that were treated surgically between January 2000
      and July 2013. The neurological status of each patient (such as pain, sensory
      disturbances, and motor disturbances) was evaluated preoperatively, immediately
      postoperatively, and at the final postoperative follow-up. Results Out of the 43
      cases, 34 cases exhibited neurological symptoms before the operation, and in 31
      of the 34 cases, neurological symptoms were either reduced or disappeared after
      the surgery. In 20 of the 43 cases, new neurological deficits that had not been
      observed preoperatively were noted immediately postoperatively; the newly
      acquired neurological deficits disappeared over time in 5 of the 20 cases.
      Significantly, more newly acquired neurological deficits remained in cases where
      the tumor was located in the upper arm and elbow than in cases where the tumor
      was located in the distal forearm. Conclusion New neurological deficits occurred
      after surgery in about half of the cases. This ratio was higher than expected,
      suggesting that schwannoma resection is not always a complication-free operation.
      Therefore, patients should be informed preoperatively about the possibility of
      neurological deficits. Furthermore, extreme care should be taken not to damage
      the affected and uninvolved nerves during surgery. 

PMID- 26872029
TI  - D-Alanylation of Teichoic Acids and Loss of Poly-N-Acetyl Glucosamine in
      Staphylococcus aureus during Exponential Growth Phase Enhance IL-12 Production in
      Murine Dendritic Cells.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that has evolved very efficient
      immune evading strategies leading to persistent colonization. During different
      stages of growth, S. aureus express various surface molecules, which may affect
      the immune stimulating properties, but very little is known about their role in
      immune stimulation and evasion. Depending on the growth phase, S. aureus may
      affect antigen presenting cells differently. Here, the impact of growth phases
      and the surface molecules lipoteichoic acid, peptidoglycan and poly-N-acetyl
      glucosamine on the induction of IL-12 imperative for an efficient clearance of S.
      aureus was studied in dendritic cells (DCs). Exponential phase (EP) S. aureus was
      superior to stationary phase (SP) bacteria in induction of IL-12, which required
      actin-mediated endocytosis and endosomal acidification. Moreover, addition of
      staphylococcal cell wall derived peptidoglycan to EP S. aureus stimulated cells
      increased bacterial uptake but abrogated IL-12 induction, while addition of
      lipoteichoic acid increased IL-12 production but had no effect on the bacterial
      uptake. Depletion of the capability to produce poly-N-acetyl glucosamine
      increased the IL-12 inducing activity of EP bacteria. Furthermore, the mutant
      dltA unable to produce D-alanylated teichoic acids failed to induce IL-12 but
      like peptidoglycan and the toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands LPS and Pam3CSK4 the
      mutant stimulated increased macropinocytosis. In conclusion, the IL-12 response
      by DCs against S. aureus is highly growth phase dependent, relies on cell wall D
      alanylation, endocytosis and subsequent endosomal degradation, and is abrogated
      by receptor induced macropinocytosis. 

PMID- 26872031
TI  - Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Mediated by an ABC Transporter Mutation
      Increases Susceptibility to Toxins from Other Bacteria in an Invasive Insect.
AB  - Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from
      the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) used widely in sprays and
      transgenic crops. Recent efforts to delay pest adaptation to Bt crops focus
      primarily on combinations of two or more Bt toxins that kill the same pest, but
      this approach is often compromised because resistance to one Bt toxin causes
      cross-resistance to others. Thus, integration of Bt toxins with alternative
      controls that do not exhibit such cross-resistance is urgently needed. The ideal
      scenario of negative cross-resistance, where selection for resistance to a Bt
      toxin increases susceptibility to alternative controls, has been elusive. Here we
      discovered that selection of the global crop pest, Helicoverpa armigera, for
      >1000-fold resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac increased susceptibility to abamectin
      and spineotram, insecticides derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces
      avermitilis and Saccharopolyspora spinosa, respectively. Resistance to Cry1Ac did
      not affect susceptibility to the cyclodiene, organophospate, or pyrethroid
      insecticides tested. Whereas previous work demonstrated that the resistance to
      Cry1Ac in the strain analyzed here is conferred by a mutation disrupting an ATP
      binding cassette protein named ABCC2, the new results show that increased
      susceptibility to abamectin is genetically linked with the same mutation.
      Moreover, RNAi silencing of HaABCC2 not only decreased susceptibility to Cry1Ac,
      it also increased susceptibility to abamectin. The mutation disrupting ABCC2
      reduced removal of abamectin in live larvae and in transfected Hi5 cells. The
      results imply that negative cross-resistance occurs because the wild type ABCC2
      protein plays a key role in conferring susceptibility to Cry1Ac and in decreasing
      susceptibility to abamectin. The negative cross-resistance between a Bt toxin and
      other bacterial insecticides reported here may facilitate more sustainable pest
      control. 

PMID- 26872030
TI  - The Angiogenic Effect of microRNA-21 Targeting TIMP3 through the Regulation of
      MMP2 and MMP9.
AB  - microRNAs are a novel set of small, non-protein-coding nucleotide RNAs that
      negatively regulate the expression of target mRNAs. miRNA-21 is a microRNA that
      is highly enriched in endothelial cells. miRNA-21 has been shown to be a
      potential pro-angiogenic factor in some biological systems. Our previous study
      showed that the expression of miRNA-21 was up-regulated after spinal cord injury.
      However, the effect of miRNA-21 on angiogenesis in the spinal cord was unclear.
      In this study, to understand the role of miRNA-21 on injured endothelial cells
      exclusively, an oxygen and glucose deprivation model of endothelial cells was
      constructed, and the up-regulation of miRNA-21 was discovered in this model. An
      increased level of miRNA-21 by mimics promoted the survival, migration and tube
      formation of endothelial cells, which simultaneously inhibited tissue inhibitor
      of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) expression and promoted matrix metalloproteinase-2
      (MMP2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) expression and secretion. A
      decreased level of miRNA-21 by antagomir exerted an opposite effect. As is well
      known, survival, migration and tube formation of endothelial cells are necessary
      prerequisites for angiogenesis after injury. TIMP3 was validated as a direct
      target of miRNA-21 by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Silencing with small
      interfering RNA against TIMP3 promoted tube formation and increased MMP2 and MMP9
      expression at the protein level. In vivo, we found that decreased levels of miRNA
      21 inhibited angiogenesis after spinal cord injury in rats using synchrotron
      radiation micro-computed tomography. In summary, these findings suggest that
      miRNA-21 has a protective effect on angiogenesis by reducing cell death and
      promoting cell survival, migration and tube formation via partially targeting the
      TIMP3 by potentially regulating MMP2 and MMP9. TIMP3 is a functional target gene.
      Identifying the role of miRNA-21 in the protection of angiogenesis might offer a
      novel therapeutic target for secondary spinal cord injury, in which angiogenesis
      is indispensable. 

PMID- 26872032
TI  - High-Throughput Sequencing Identifies MicroRNAs from Posterior Intestine of Loach
      (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) and Their Response to Intestinal Air-Breathing
      Inhibition.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert important roles in animal growth, immunity, and
      development, and regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.
      Knowledges about the diversities of miRNAs and their roles in accessory air
      breathing organs (ABOs) of fish remain unknown. In this work, we used high
      throughput sequencing to identify known and novel miRNAs from the posterior
      intestine, an important ABO, in loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) under normal
      and intestinal air-breathing inhibited conditions. A total of 204 known and 84
      novel miRNAs were identified, while 47 miRNAs were differentially expressed
      between the two small RNA libraries (i.e. between the normal and intestinal air
      breathing inhibited group). Potential miRNA target genes were predicted by
      combining our transcriptome data of the posterior intestine of the loach under
      the same conditions, and then annotated using COG, GO, KEGG, Swissprot and Nr
      databases. The regulatory networks of miRNAs and their target genes were
      analyzed. The abundances of nine known miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. The
      relative expression profiles of six known miRNAs and their eight corresponding
      target genes, and two novel potential miRNAs were also detected. Histological
      characteristics of the posterior intestines in both normal and air-breathing
      inhibited group were further analyzed. This study contributes to our
      understanding on the functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in
      accessory air-breathing organs of fish. 

PMID- 26872034
TI  - Assertive community treatment (ACT) case managers' professional identities: A
      focus group study.
AB  - Assertive community treatment (ACT) case managers provide healthcare services to
      people with severe and persistent mental illness. These case managers take on
      generic roles in multidisciplinary teams and provide all-around services in the
      clients' private homes. This focus group study aimed to gain insight into Danish
      ACT case managers' professional identity work by examining their discussions of
      ethical dilemmas and collaboration in their everyday practice. Data were
      collected during five focus groups at three ACT teams in the North Denmark Region
      and subjected to discourse analysis emphasizing how identity work was
      accomplished through talk. The findings indicated that the case managers
      constructed professional identities by actively positioning themselves and the
      particular ACT approach in relation to other mental healthcare professionals and
      clients. They represented themselves as achieving better client-related outcomes
      by being more assertive and persistent, and as responsible caregivers who
      provided the help that their clients needed when other services had failed to do
      so. They depicted their services as being focused on the clients' well-being, and
      their persistent efforts to establish and sustain interpersonal relationships
      with clients were an important part of their service. Basic nursing tasks were
      described as an important part of their everyday work, and even though such tasks
      were not distinctive for ACT case managers, the representations of their work
      seemed to give them a sense of worth as professionals and legitimized a unique
      role in the community mental healthcare services.

PMID- 26872033
TI  - Pathophysiology of Endometriosis: Role of High Mobility Group Box-1 and Toll-Like
      Receptor 4 Developing Inflammation in Endometrium.
AB  - Oxidative stress has been proposed as a potential factor associated with the
      establishment and progression of endometriosis. Although a few studies have shown
      possible mechanisms which may play roles in development, progression of
      endometriosis, few are known in regards of initiation of the disease, especially
      in the relationship with endometrium. The aim of our study was to investigate
      whether normal endometrium may be changed by Damage-associated molecular patterns
      (DAMPs), which may contribute developing pathologic endometrium to induce
      endometriosis. Endometrial tissues were obtained from 10 patients with fibroids
      undergoing hysterectomy at a university hospital. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB
      1), which is a representative DAMP, has been chosen that may induce alteration in
      endometrium. In preceding immunohistochemistry experiments using paraffin-block
      sections from endometriosis (N = 33) and control (N = 27) group, retrospectively,
      HMGB-1 expression was shown in both epithelial and stromal cell. HMGB-1
      expression was significantly increased in secretory phase of endometriosis group,
      comparing to the controls. To examine the alteration of endometrial stromal cell
      (HESC) by oxidative stress in terms of HMGB-1, cell proliferation and expression
      of its receptor, TLR4 was measured according to recombinant HMGB-1 use. Cell
      proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay; real-time PCR and western blotting
      were used to quantify Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and protein expression
      respectively. A TLR4 antagonist (LPS-RS) and an inhibitor of the NF-kappaB
      pathway (TPCA-1, an IKK-2 inhibitor) were used to confirm the relationships
      between HMGB-1, TLR4, and the NF-kappaB pathway. Passive release of HMGB-1 was
      significantly proportional to the increase in cell death (P<0.05). HESCs showed
      significant proliferation following treatment with rHMGB-1 (P<0.05), and
      increased TLR4 expression was observed following rHMGB-1 treatment (P<0.05) in a
      concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with a TLR4 antagonist and an NF-kappaB
      inhibitor resulted in suppression of rHMGB-1-induced HESC proliferation (P<0.05).
      Levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased following treatment with an NF-kappaB
      inhibitor (P<0.05). Our results support the development of altered, pathological
      endometrium resulted from oxidative stress in normal endometrium. These findings
      may provide important insights into the changes in endometrium linking the
      development and progression of endometriosis. 

PMID- 26872035
TI  - Alternative Pathway Inhibition by Exogenous Factor H Fails to Attenuate
      Inflammation and Vascular Leakage in Experimental Pneumococcal Sepsis in Mice.
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of sepsis. Effective complement
      activation is an important component of host defence against invading pathogens,
      whilst excessive complement activation has been associated with endothelial
      dysfunction and organ damage. The alternative pathway amplification loop is
      important for the enhancement of complement activation. Factor H is a key
      negative regulator of the alternative pathway amplification loop and contributes
      to tight control of complement activation. We assessed the effect of inhibition
      of the alternative pathway on sepsis associated inflammation and disease severity
      using human factor H treatment in a clinically relevant mice model of
      pneumococcal sepsis. Mice were infected intravenously with live Streptococcus
      pneumoniae. At the first clinical signs of infection, 17 hours post-infection,
      mice were treated with ceftriaxone antibiotic. At the same time purified human
      factor H or in controls PBS was administered. Treatment with human factor H did
      not attenuate disease scores, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, or vascular
      permeability and did not significantly affect C3 and C3a production at 26 h post
      infection. Therefore, we conclude that inhibition of the alternative complement
      pathway by exogenous human factor H fails to attenuate inflammation and vascular
      leakage at a clinically relevant intervention time point in pneumococcal sepsis
      in mice. 

PMID- 26872037
TI  - Epidemiology of chronic spontaneous urticaria: results from a nationwide,
      population-based study in Italy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin disease, but
      there is a paucity of precise epidemiological data on this disease. OBJECTIVES:
      To obtain information on the epidemiology of CSU in Italy. METHODS: The data
      source was the Health Search IMS Health Longitudinal Patient Database. The study
      population was formed by patients aged >= 15 years, registered with a total of
      700 general practitioners, homogeneously distributed across Italy. An algorithm
      based on the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, Clinical
      Modification was used for the identification of patients with CSU. The annual
      prevalence and incidence rates of CSU over a 12-year period (2002-2013) were
      estimated, along with demographic and clinical determinants. RESULTS: The annual
      prevalence of CSU ranged from 0.02% in 2002 to 0.38% in 2013. The incidence was
      0.10-1.50 per 1000 person-years. For both prevalence and incidence rates, female
      patients outnumbered male. The risk of CSU was statistically significantly higher
      in the presence of the following variables: obesity; anxiety, dissociative and
      somatoform disorders; malignancies; use of immunosuppressive drugs; and chronic
      use of systemic corticosteroids. History of autoimmune thyroiditis showed a trend
      towards an increased risk of CSU, though it was not statistically significant.
      Smoking was associated with a significantly reduced risk of CSU. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings on CSU prevalence are consistent with those obtained in previous
      studies. Furthermore, this large population-based study provides important
      information regarding the association of CSU with demographic and clinical
      determinants, which have been examined in the primary-care setting.

PMID- 26872036
TI  - FastGGM: An Efficient Algorithm for the Inference of Gaussian Graphical Model in
      Biological Networks.
AB  - Biological networks provide additional information for the analysis of human
      diseases, beyond the traditional analysis that focuses on single variables.
      Gaussian graphical model (GGM), a probability model that characterizes the
      conditional dependence structure of a set of random variables by a graph, has
      wide applications in the analysis of biological networks, such as inferring
      interaction or comparing differential networks. However, existing approaches are
      either not statistically rigorous or are inefficient for high-dimensional data
      that include tens of thousands of variables for making inference. In this study,
      we propose an efficient algorithm to implement the estimation of GGM and obtain p
      value and confidence interval for each edge in the graph, based on a recent
      proposal by Ren et al., 2015. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that the
      algorithm is faster by several orders of magnitude than the current implemented
      algorithm for Ren et al. without losing any accuracy. Then, we apply our
      algorithm to two real data sets: transcriptomic data from a study of childhood
      asthma and proteomic data from a study of Alzheimer's disease. We estimate the
      global gene or protein interaction networks for the disease and healthy samples.
      The resulting networks reveal interesting interactions and the differential
      networks between cases and controls show functional relevance to the diseases. In
      conclusion, we provide a computationally fast algorithm to implement a
      statistically sound procedure for constructing Gaussian graphical model and
      making inference with high-dimensional biological data. The algorithm has been
      implemented in an R package named "FastGGM". 

PMID- 26872038
TI  - Case of metachronous and multifocal extramammary Paget's disease.

PMID- 26872039
TI  - Coupled RNA-SIP and metatranscriptomics of active chemolithoautotrophic
      communities at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.
AB  - The chemolithoautotrophic microbial community of the rocky subseafloor
      potentially provides a large amount of organic carbon to the deep ocean, yet our
      understanding of the activity and metabolic complexity of subseafloor organisms
      remains poorly described. A combination of metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and
      RNA stable isotope probing (RNA-SIP) analyses were used to identify the metabolic
      potential, expression patterns, and active autotrophic bacteria and archaea and
      their pathways present in low-temperature hydrothermal fluids from Axial
      Seamount, an active submarine volcano. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic results
      showed the presence of genes and transcripts for sulfur, hydrogen, and ammonium
      oxidation, oxygen respiration, denitrification, and methanogenesis, as well as
      multiple carbon fixation pathways. In RNA-SIP experiments across a range of
      temperatures under reducing conditions, the enriched (13)C fractions showed
      differences in taxonomic and functional diversity. At 30  degrees C and 55 
      degrees C, Epsilonproteobacteria were dominant, oxidizing hydrogen and primarily
      reducing nitrate. Methanogenic archaea were also present at 55  degrees C, and
      were the only autotrophs present at 80  degrees C. Correspondingly, the
      predominant CO2 fixation pathways changed from the reductive tricarboxylic acid
      (rTCA) cycle to the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway with increasing temperature. By
      coupling RNA-SIP with meta-omics, this study demonstrates the presence and
      activity of distinct chemolithoautotrophic communities across a thermal gradient
      of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.

PMID- 26872040
TI  - A bacterial filter protects and structures the gut microbiome of an insect.
AB  - Associations with symbionts within the gut lumen of hosts are particularly prone
      to disruption due to the constant influx of ingested food and non-symbiotic
      microbes, yet we know little about how partner fidelity is maintained. Here we
      describe for the first time the existence of a gut morphological filter capable
      of protecting an animal gut microbiome from disruption. The proventriculus, a
      valve located between the crop and midgut of insects, functions as a micro-pore
      filter in the Sonoran Desert turtle ant (Cephalotes rohweri), blocking the entry
      of bacteria and particles ?0.2 MUm into the midgut and hindgut while allowing
      passage of dissolved nutrients. Initial establishment of symbiotic gut bacteria
      occurs within the first few hours after pupation via oral-rectal trophallaxis,
      before the proventricular filter develops. Cephalotes ants are remarkable for
      having maintained a consistent core gut microbiome over evolutionary time and
      this partner fidelity is likely enabled by the proventricular filtering
      mechanism. In addition, the structure and function of the cephalotine
      proventriculus offers a new perspective on organismal resistance to pathogenic
      microbes, structuring of gut microbial communities, and development and
      maintenance of host-microbe fidelity both during the animal life cycle and over
      evolutionary time.

PMID- 26872041
TI  - Integrated multi-omics analyses reveal the biochemical mechanisms and
      phylogenetic relevance of anaerobic androgen biodegradation in the environment.
AB  - Steroid hormones, such as androgens, are common surface-water contaminants.
      However, literature on the ecophysiological relevance of steroid-degrading
      organisms in the environment, particularly in anoxic ecosystems, is extremely
      limited. We previously reported that Steroidobacter denitrificans anaerobically
      degrades androgens through the 2,3-seco pathway. In this study, the genome of
      Sdo. denitrificans was completely sequenced. Transcriptomic data revealed gene
      clusters that were distinctly expressed during anaerobic growth on testosterone.
      We isolated and characterized the bifunctional 1-testosterone
      hydratase/dehydrogenase, which is essential for anaerobic degradation of steroid
      A-ring. Because of apparent substrate preference of this molybdoenzyme,
      corresponding genes, along with the signature metabolites of the 2,3-seco
      pathway, were used as biomarkers to investigate androgen biodegradation in the
      largest sewage treatment plant in Taipei, Taiwan. Androgen metabolite analysis
      indicated that denitrifying bacteria in anoxic sewage use the 2,3-seco pathway to
      degrade androgens. Metagenomic analysis and PCR-based functional assays showed
      androgen degradation in anoxic sewage by Thauera spp. through the action of 1
      testosterone hydratase/dehydrogenase. Our integrative 'omics' approach can be
      used for culture-independent investigations of the microbial degradation of
      structurally complex compounds where isotope-labeled substrates are not easily
      available.

PMID- 26872042
TI  - Novel microbial assemblages inhabiting crustal fluids within mid-ocean ridge
      flank subsurface basalt.
AB  - Although little is known regarding microbial life within our planet's rock-hosted
      deep subseafloor biosphere, boreholes drilled through deep ocean sediment and
      into the underlying basaltic crust provide invaluable windows of access that have
      been used previously to document the presence of microorganisms within fluids
      percolating through the deep ocean crust. In this study, the analysis of 1.7
      million small subunit ribosomal RNA genes amplified and sequenced from marine
      sediment, bottom seawater and basalt-hosted deep subseafloor fluids that span
      multiple years and locations on the Juan de Fuca Ridge flank was used to
      quantitatively delineate a subseafloor microbiome comprised of distinct bacteria
      and archaea. Hot, anoxic crustal fluids tapped by newly installed seafloor
      sampling observatories at boreholes U1362A and U1362B contained abundant
      bacterial lineages of phylogenetically unique Nitrospirae, Aminicenantes,
      Calescamantes and Chloroflexi. Although less abundant, the domain Archaea was
      dominated by unique, uncultivated lineages of marine benthic group E, the
      Terrestrial Hot Spring Crenarchaeotic Group, the Bathyarchaeota and relatives of
      cultivated, sulfate-reducing Archaeoglobi. Consistent with recent geochemical
      measurements and bioenergetic predictions, the potential importance of methane
      cycling and sulfate reduction were imprinted within the basalt-hosted deep
      subseafloor crustal fluid microbial community. This unique window of access to
      the deep ocean subsurface basement reveals a microbial landscape that exhibits
      previously undetected spatial heterogeneity.

PMID- 26872044
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea during pregnancy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide an update on recent advances in
      the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during pregnancy and
      its effect on maternal and fetal outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Current OSA screening
      tools may not perform well in this population. There are some pieces of evidence
      linking poorer maternal and neonatal outcome with pregnant patients having OSA.
      At present, there are inadequate data on which to base fetal or maternal
      parameters for treatment of OSA, and no evidence that treatment in the short-term
      impacts maternal or neonatal outcomes. SUMMARY: Further research is needed to
      help in the detection and treatment of OSA in pregnancy.

PMID- 26872043
TI  - Ubiquitous Gammaproteobacteria dominate dark carbon fixation in coastal
      sediments.
AB  - Marine sediments are the largest carbon sink on earth. Nearly half of dark carbon
      fixation in the oceans occurs in coastal sediments, but the microorganisms
      responsible are largely unknown. By integrating the 16S rRNA approach, single
      cell genomics, metagenomics and transcriptomics with (14)C-carbon assimilation
      experiments, we show that uncultured Gammaproteobacteria account for 70-86% of
      dark carbon fixation in coastal sediments. First, we surveyed the bacterial 16S
      rRNA gene diversity of 13 tidal and sublittoral sediments across Europe and
      Australia to identify ubiquitous core groups of Gammaproteobacteria mainly
      affiliating with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. These also accounted for a
      substantial fraction of the microbial community in anoxic, 490-cm-deep subsurface
      sediments. We then quantified dark carbon fixation by scintillography of specific
      microbial populations extracted and flow-sorted from sediments that were short
      term incubated with (14)C-bicarbonate. We identified three distinct
      gammaproteobacterial clades covering diversity ranges on family to order level
      (the Acidiferrobacter, JTB255 and SSr clades) that made up >50% of dark carbon
      fixation in a tidal sediment. Consistent with these activity measurements,
      environmental transcripts of sulfur oxidation and carbon fixation genes mainly
      affiliated with those of sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria. The co
      localization of key genes of sulfur and hydrogen oxidation pathways and their
      expression in genomes of uncultured Gammaproteobacteria illustrates an unknown
      metabolic plasticity for sulfur oxidizers in marine sediments. Given their global
      distribution and high abundance, we propose that a stable assemblage of
      metabolically flexible Gammaproteobacteria drives important parts of marine
      carbon and sulfur cycles.

PMID- 26872046
TI  - Correction: Evasion of Immunity to Plasmodium falciparum: Rosettes of Blood Group
      A Impair Recognition of PfEMP1.

PMID- 26872045
TI  - Glycomics and glycoproteomics of membrane proteins and cell-surface receptors:
      Present trends and future opportunities.
AB  - Membrane proteins mediate cell-cell interactions and adhesion, the transfer of
      ions and metabolites, and the transmission of signals from the extracellular
      environment to the cell interior. The extracellular domains of most cell membrane
      proteins are glycosylated, often at multiple sites. There is a growing awareness
      that glycosylation impacts the structure, interaction, and function of membrane
      proteins. The application of glycoproteomics and glycomics methods to membrane
      proteins has great potential. However, challenges also arise from the unique
      physical properties of membrane proteins. Successful analytical workflows must be
      developed and disseminated to advance functional glycoproteomics and glycomics
      studies of membrane proteins. This review explores the opportunities and
      challenges related to glycomic and glycoproteomic analysis of membrane proteins,
      including discussion of sample preparation, enrichment, and MS/MS analyses, with
      a focus on recent successful workflows for analysis of N- and O-linked
      glycosylation of mammalian membrane proteins.

PMID- 26872048
TI  - Assessment of genetic fidelity and composition: Mixed elicitors enhance
      triterpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. tissue
      cultures.
AB  - Glycyrrhiza uralensis has acquired significant importance due to its medicinal
      properties and health function. In this study, the quality of G. uralensis
      adventitious roots was evaluated in terms of genetic stability, active compounds,
      and anti-inflammatory activity. Monomorphic banding pattern obtained from the
      mother plant and tissue cultures of G. uralensis with randomly amplified
      polymorphic DNA markers confirmed the genetic stability of adventitious roots.
      Neoliquiritin (neoisoliquiritin), ononin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid were
      identified from G. uralensis adventitious roots on the basis of high-performance
      liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry analysis.
      This study also revealed that adventitious roots possessed a better anti
      inflammatory effect than native roots. To increase the contents of G. uralensis
      active components, elicitors were used in the adventitious roots culture. The
      combination of methyl jasmonate and phenylalanine synergistically stimulated the
      accumulation of glycyrrhetinic acid (0.22 mg/g) and total flavonoid (5.43 mg/g)
      compared with single treatment. In conclusion, G. uralensis adventitious roots
      can be an exploitable system for the production of licorice.

PMID- 26872049
TI  - Hydrogen Bond Basicity Prediction for Medicinal Chemistry Design.
AB  - Hydrogen bonding is discussed in the context of medicinal chemistry design.
      Minimized molecular electrostatic potential (Vmin) is shown to be an effective
      predictor of hydrogen bond basicity (pKBHX), and predictive models are presented
      for a number of hydrogen bond acceptor types relevant to medicinal chemistry. The
      problems posed by the presence of nonequivalent hydrogen bond acceptor sites in
      molecular structures are addressed by using nonlinear regression to fit measured
      pKBHX to calculated Vmin. Predictions are made for hydrogen bond basicity of
      fluorine in situations where relevant experimental measurements are not
      available. It is shown how predicted pKBHX can be used to provide insight into
      the nature of bioisosterism and to profile heterocycles. Examples of pKBHX
      prediction for molecular structures with multiple, nonequivalent hydrogen bond
      acceptors are presented.

PMID- 26872047
TI  - Genome-Wide DNA Copy Number Analysis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Identifies
      New Genetic Markers Associated with Clinical Outcome.
AB  - Identifying additional genetic alterations associated with poor prognosis in
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is still a challenge. AIMS: To characterize
      the presence of additional DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) in children and
      adults with ALL by whole-genome oligonucleotide array (aCGH) analysis, and to
      identify their associations with clinical features and outcome. Array-CGH was
      carried out in 265 newly diagnosed ALLs (142 children and 123 adults). The
      NimbleGen CGH 12x135K array (Roche) was used to analyze genetic gains and losses.
      CNAs were analyzed with GISTIC and aCGHweb software. Clinical and biological
      variables were analyzed. Three of the patients showed chromothripsis (cth6,
      cth14q and cth15q). CNAs were associated with age, phenotype, genetic subtype and
      overall survival (OS). In the whole cohort of children, the losses on 14q32.33 (p
      = 0.019) and 15q13.2 (p = 0.04) were related to shorter OS. In the group of
      children without good- or poor-risk cytogenetics, the gain on 1p36.11 was a
      prognostic marker independently associated with shorter OS. In adults, the gains
      on 19q13.2 (p = 0.001) and Xp21.1 (p = 0.029), and the loss of 17p (p = 0.014)
      were independent markers of poor prognosis with respect to OS. In summary, CNAs
      are frequent in ALL and are associated with clinical parameters and survival.
      Genome-wide DNA copy number analysis allows the identification of genetic markers
      that predict clinical outcome, suggesting that detection of these genetic lesions
      will be useful in the management of patients newly diagnosed with ALL.

PMID- 26872050
TI  - Focus Group Study Exploring Factors Related to Frequent Sickness Absence.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Research investigating frequent sickness absence (3 or more
      episodes per year) is scarce and qualitative research from the perspective of
      frequent absentees themselves is lacking. The aim of the current study is to
      explore awareness, determinants of and solutions to frequent sickness absence
      from the perspective of frequent absentees themselves. METHODS: We performed a
      qualitative study of 3 focus group discussions involving a total of 15 frequent
      absentees. Focus group discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim.
      Results were analyzed with the Graneheim method using the Job Demands Resources
      (JD-R) model as theoretical framework. RESULTS: Many participants were not aware
      of their frequent sickness absence and the risk of future long-term sickness
      absence. As determinants, participants mentioned job demands, job resources, home
      demands, poor health, chronic illness, unhealthy lifestyles, and diminished
      feeling of responsibility to attend work in cases of low job resources. Managing
      these factors and improving communication (skills) were regarded as solutions to
      reduce frequent sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS: The JD-R model provided a
      framework for determinants of and solutions to frequent sickness absence.
      Additional determinants were poor health, chronic illness, unhealthy lifestyles,
      and diminished feeling of responsibility to attend work in cases of low job
      resources. Frequent sickness absence should be regarded as a signal that
      something is wrong. Managers, supervisors, and occupational health care providers
      should advise and support frequent absentees to accommodate job demands, increase
      both job and personal resources, and improve health rather than express
      disapproval of frequent sickness absence and apply pressure regarding work
      attendance.

PMID- 26872052
TI  - Sequential process in brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced functional
      periodontal tissue regeneration.
AB  - We recently demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes
      periodontal tissue regeneration. The purpose of this study was to establish an
      essential component of a rational approach for the clinical application of BDNF
      in periodontal regenerative therapy. Here, we assessed the sequence of early
      events in BDNF-induced periodontal tissue regeneration, especially from the
      aspect of cementum regeneration. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor was applied
      into experimental periodontal defects in Beagle dogs. The localization of cells
      positive for neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2, proliferating cell
      nuclear antigen, osteopontin, integrin alphaVbeta3, and integrin alpha2beta1 was
      evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The effects of BDNF on adhesion of cultured
      human periodontal ligament cells was examined by an in vitro study. The results
      suggest that BDNF could induce rapid cementum regeneration by stimulating
      adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of periodontal ligament cells in the
      early regenerative phase, resulting in enhancement of periodontal tissue
      regeneration. 

PMID- 26872051
TI  - Light Fractionation Significantly Increases the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy
      Using BF-200 ALA in Normal Mouse Skin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Light fractionation significantly increases the efficacy of 5
      aminolevulinic acid (ALA) based photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the nano
      emulsion based gel formulation BF-200. PDT using BF-200 ALA has recently been
      clinically approved and is under investigation in several phase III trials for
      the treatment of actinic keratosis. This study is the first to compare BF-200 ALA
      with ALA in preclinical models. RESULTS: In hairless mouse skin there is no
      difference in the temporal and spatial distribution of protoporphyrin IX
      determined by superficial imaging and fluorescence microscopy in frozen sections.
      In the skin-fold chamber model, BF-200 ALA leads to more PpIX fluorescence at
      depth in the skin compared to ALA suggesting an enhanced penetration of BF-200
      ALA. Light fractionated PDT after BF-200 ALA application results in significantly
      more visual skin damage following PDT compared to a single illumination. Both ALA
      formulations show the same visual skin damage, rate of photobleaching and change
      in vascular volume immediately after PDT. Fluorescence immunohistochemical
      imaging shows loss of VE-cadherin in the vasculature at day 1 post PDT which is
      greater after BF-200 ALA compared to ALA and more profound after light
      fractionation compared to a single illumination. DISCUSSION: The present study
      illustrates the clinical potential of light fractionated PDT using BF-200 ALA for
      enhancing PDT efficacy in (pre-) malignant skin conditions such as basal cell
      carcinoma and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia and its application in other
      lesion such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and oral squamous cell
      carcinoma where current approaches have limited efficacy.

PMID- 26872053
TI  - Interaction of the Heparin-Binding Consensus Sequence of beta-Amyloid Peptides
      with Heparin and Heparin-Derived Oligosaccharides.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques in
      the AD brain. Comprised primarily of the 40- and 42-residue beta-amyloid (Abeta)
      peptides, there is evidence that the heparan sulfate (HS) of heparan sulfate
      proteoglycans (HSPGs) plays a role in amyloid plaque formation and stability;
      however, details of the interaction of Abeta peptides with HS are not known. We
      have characterized the interaction of heparin and heparin-derived
      oligosaccharides with a model peptide for the heparin- and HS-binding domain of
      Abeta peptides (Ac-VHHQKLV-NH2; Abeta(12-18)), with mutants of Abeta(12-18), and
      with additional histidine-containing peptides. The nature of the binding
      interaction was characterized by NMR, binding constants and other thermodynamic
      parameters were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and
      relative binding affinities were determined by heparin affinity chromatography.
      The binding of Abeta(12-18) by heparin and heparin-derived oligosaccharides is pH
      dependent, with the imidazolium groups of the histidine side chains interacting
      site-specifically within a cleft created by a trisaccharide sequence of heparin,
      the binding is mediated by electrostatic interactions, and there is a significant
      entropic contribution to the binding free energy as a result of displacement of
      Na(+) ions from heparin upon binding of cationic Abeta(12-18). The binding
      constant decreases as the size of the heparin-derived oligosaccharide decreases
      and as the concentration of Na(+) ion in the bulk solution increases. Structure
      binding relationships characterized in this study are analyzed and discussed in
      terms of the counterion condensation theory of the binding of cationic peptides
      by anionic polyelectrolytes. 

PMID- 26872055
TI  - In Vitro Longitudinal Relaxivity Profile of Gd(ABE-DTTA), an Investigational
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent.
AB  - PURPOSE: MRI contrast agents (CA) whose contrast enhancement remains relatively
      high even at the higher end of the magnetic field strength range would be
      desirable. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate such a desired magnetic
      field dependency of the longitudinal relaxivity for an experimental MRI CA,
      Gd(ABE-DTTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relaxivity of 0.5mM and 1mM Gd(ABE-DTTA)
      was measured by Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) in the range of
      0.0002 to 1T. Two MRI and five NMR instruments were used to cover the range
      between 1.5 to 20T. Parallel measurement of a Gd-DTPA sample was performed
      throughout as reference. All measurements were carried out at 37 degrees C and pH
      7.4. RESULTS: The relaxivity values of 0.5mM and 1mM Gd(ABE-DTTA) measured at
      1.5, 3, and 7T, within the presently clinically relevant magnetic field range,
      were 15.3, 11.8, 12.4 s-1mM-1 and 18.1, 16.7, and 13.5 s-1mM-1, respectively. The
      control 4 mM Gd-DTPA relaxivities at the same magnetic fields were 3.6, 3.3, and
      3.0 s-1mM-1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal relaxivity of Gd(ABE
      DTTA) measured within the presently clinically relevant field range is three to
      five times higher than that of most commercially available agents. Thus, Gd(ABE
      DTTA) could be a practical choice at any field strength currently used in
      clinical imaging including those at the higher end.

PMID- 26872054
TI  - Th17 Pathway As a Target for Multipotent Stromal Cell Therapy in Dogs:
      Implications for Translational Research.
AB  - Detrimental Th17 driven inflammatory and autoimmune disease such as Crohn's
      disease, graft versus host disease and multiple sclerosis remain a significant
      cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Multipotent stromal/stem cell (MSC)
      inhibit Th17 polarization and activation in vitro and in rodent models. As such,
      MSC based therapeutic approaches are being investigated as novel therapeutic
      approaches to treat Th17 driven diseases in humans. The significance of naturally
      occurring diseases in dogs is increasingly recognized as a realistic platform to
      conduct pre-clinical testing of novel therapeutics. Full characterization of Th17
      cells in dogs has not been completed. We have developed and validated a flow
      cytometric method to detect Th17 cells in canine blood. We further demonstrate
      that Th17 and other IL17 producing cells are present in tissues of dogs with
      naturally occurring chronic inflammatory diseases. Finally, we have determined
      the kinetics of a canine specific Th17 polarization in vitro and demonstrate that
      canine MSC inhibit Th17 polarization in vitro, in a PGE2 independent mechanism.
      Our findings provide fundamental research tools and suggest that naturally
      occurring diseases in dogs, such as inflammatory bowel disease, may be harnessed
      to translate novel MSC based therapeutic strategies that target the Th17 pathway.

PMID- 26872056
TI  - OncoBinder facilitates interpretation of proteomic interaction data by capturing
      coactivation pairs in cancer.
AB  - High-throughput methods such as co-immunoprecipitationmass spectrometry (coIP-MS)
      and yeast 2 hybridization (Y2H) have suggested a broad range of unannotated
      protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and interpretation of these PPIs remains a
      challenging task. The advancements in cancer genomic researches allow for the
      inference of "coactivation pairs" in cancer, which may facilitate the
      identification of PPIs involved in cancer. Here we present OncoBinder as a tool
      for the assessment of proteomic interaction data based on the functional synergy
      of oncoproteins in cancer. This decision tree-based method combines gene
      mutation, copy number and mRNA expression information to infer the functional
      status of protein-coding genes. We applied OncoBinder to evaluate the potential
      binders of EGFR and ERK2 proteins based on the gastric cancer dataset of The
      Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). As a result, OncoBinder identified high confidence
      interactions (annotated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) or
      validated by low-throughput assays) more efficiently than co-expression based
      method. Taken together, our results suggest that evaluation of gene functional
      synergy in cancer may facilitate the interpretation of proteomic interaction
      data. The OncoBinder toolbox for Matlab is freely accessible online. 

PMID- 26872057
TI  - The molecular and clinical verification of therapeutic resistance via the p38
      MAPK-Hsp27 axis in lung cancer.
AB  - Treatment failure followed by relapse and metastasis in patients with non-small
      cell lung cancer is often the result of acquired resistance to cisplatin-based
      chemotherapy. A cancer stem cell (CSC)-mediated anti-apoptotic phenomenon is
      responsible for the development of drug resistance. The underlying molecular
      mechanism related to cisplatin resistance is still controversial, and a new
      strategy is needed to counteract cisplatin resistance. We used a nonadhesive
      culture system to generate drug-resistant spheres (DRSPs) derived from cisplatin
      resistant H23 lung cancer cells. The expressions of drug-resistance genes,
      properties of CSCs, and markers of anti-apoptotic proteins were compared between
      control cells and DRSPs. DRSPs exhibited upregulation of cisplatin resistance
      related genes. Gradual morphological alterations showing epithelial-to
      mesenchymal transition phenomenon and increased invasion and migration abilities
      were seen during induction of DRSPs. Compared with control cells, DRSPs displayed
      increased CSC and anti-apoptotic properties, greater resistance to cisplatin, and
      overexpression of p-Hsp27 via activation of p38 MAPK signaling. Knockdown of
      Hsp27 or p38 decreased cisplatin resistance and increased apoptosis in DRSPs.
      Clinical studies confirmed that the expression of p-Hsp27 was closely associated
      with prognosis. Overexpression of p-Hsp27 was usually detected in advanced-stage
      patients with lung cancer and indicated short survival. SUMMARY: DRSPs were
      useful for investigating drug resistance and may provide a practical model for
      studying the crucial role of p-Hsp27 in the p38 MAPK-Hsp27 axis in CSC-mediated
      cisplatin resistance. Targeting this axis using siRNA Hsp27 may provide a
      treatment strategy to improve prognosis and prolong survival in lung cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26872059
TI  - Overexpression of TSC-22 (transforming growth factor- beta-stimulated clone-22)
      causes marked obesity, splenic abnormality and B cell lymphoma in transgenic
      mice.
AB  - In this study, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice, which overexpressed
      transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta stimulated clone-22 (TSC-22), and
      investigate the functional role of TSC-22 on their development and pathogenesis.
      We obtained 13 Tg-founders (two mice from C57BL6/J and 11 mice from BDF1). Three
      of 13 Tg-founders were sterile, and the remaining Tg-founders also could generate
      only a limited number of the F1 generation. We obtained 32 Tg-F1 mice. Most of
      the Tg-mice showed marked obesity. Histopathological examination could be
      performed on 31 Tg-mice; seventeen mice died by some disease in their entire life
      and 14 mice were killed for examination. Most of the Tg-mice examined showed
      splenic abnormality, in which marked increase of the megakaryocytes, unclearness
      of the margin of the red pulp and the white pulp, and the enlargement of the
      white pulp was observed. B cell lymphoma was developed in 10 (71%) of 14 disease
      died F1 mice. These results indicate that constitutive over-expression of TSC-22
      might disturb the normal embryogenesis and the normal lipid metabolism, and
      induce the oncogenic differentiation of hematopoietic cells. 

PMID- 26872058
TI  - Age-related reduction of antibody response against the human endogenous
      retrovirus K envelope in women.
AB  - In the present study, the correlation between the antibody response against human
      endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) envelope and human age was investigated.
      Antibody levels were compared in groups in their 20s (n = 25), 30s (n = 39), 40s
      (n = 68), 50s (n = 32), and 60s and over (n = 25), which included healthy
      individuals and breast cancer and/or cervical cancer patients. It appeared that
      both IgM and IgG responses against the HERV-K envelope fell with increasing age.
      There were no differences in anti-HERV-K envelope antibody levels between healthy
      individuals and cancer patients. Therefore, our results indicated that the anti
      HERV-K antibody levels cannot be considered as cancer-specific marker. Also, IgG1
      appeared to be the predominant subtype in the reduction of the IgG response by
      age. Receiver operating characteristic curves of anti-HERV-K envelope IgM levels
      indicated that the groups of people in their 20s or 30s could be distinguished
      from those in their 40s, 50s or 60s and over with satisfactory sensitivity and
      specificity. These findings indicate that the serum antibody level of HERV-K
      envelope is a critical parameter reflecting person's age. 

PMID- 26872061
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid chitinase-3-like 2 and chitotriosidase are potential
      prognostic biomarkers in early multiple sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of chitinases and chitinase-like proteins in
      multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently unknown; however, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      levels of chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) predict prognosis in early MS. Whether this
      applies to other chitinases and chitinase-like proteins is yet to be established.
      Our objective was to investigate the potential of chitinase 3-like 2 (CHI3L2) and
      chitotriosidase as prognostic biomarkers in optic neuritis (ON) as the first
      demyelinating episode and to evaluate the ability of CHI3L2 to predict long-term
      MS risk and disability. METHODS: In a prospective cohort of 73 patients with ON
      as a first demyelinating episode and 26 age-matched healthy controls levels of
      CHI3L2 and chitotriosidase in CSF were explored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay. Associations with magnetic resonance imaging white matter lesions, CSF
      oligoclonal bands, immunoglobulin G index and leukocyte count were investigated.
      Long-term MS risk and disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, Multiple
      Sclerosis Functional Composite components) were examined in a retrospective
      cohort of 78 patients with ON as the first demyelinating episode (mean follow-up
      14 years). The predictive ability of CHI3L2 was compared with CHI3L1. RESULTS:
      Cerebrospinal fluid levels of CHI3L2 and chitotriosidase were significantly
      elevated in patients with ON and were associated with MS risk measures. CHI3L2
      levels predicted MS development after ON (hazard ratio 1.95, P = 0.00039, Cox
      regression) and cognitive impairment by the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test
      (P = 0.0357, linear regression) at follow-up. In a multivariate analysis of MS
      risk, CHI3L2 performed better than CHI3L1. CONCLUSIONS: CHI3L2 and
      chitotriosidase are promising biomarkers in patients with a first demyelinating
      episode. Our findings thus support a role for these proteins as biomarkers in
      early MS.

PMID- 26872060
TI  - Construction and analysis of cardiac hypertrophy-associated lncRNA-mRNA network
      based on competitive endogenous RNA reveal functional lncRNAs in cardiac
      hypertrophy.
AB  - Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) could increase cardiac after-load and lead to heart
      failure. Recent studies have suggested that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) played a
      crucial role in the process of the cardiac hypertrophy, such as Mhrt, TERMINATOR.
      Some studies have further found a new interacting mechanism, competitive
      endogenous RNA (ceRNA), of which lncRNA could interact with micro-RNAs (miRNA)
      and indirectly interact with mRNAs through competing interactions. However, the
      mechanism of ceRNA regulated by lncRNA in the CH remained unclear. In our study,
      we generated a global triple network containing mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA, and
      extracted a CH related lncRNA-mRNA network (CHLMN) through integrating the data
      from starbase, miRanda database and gene expression profile. Based on the ceRNA
      mechanism, we analyzed the characters of CHLMN and found that 3 lncRNAs (SLC26A4
      AS1, RP11-344E13.3 and MAGI1-IT1) were high related to CH. We further performed
      cluster module analysis and random walk with restart for the CHLMN, finally 14
      lncRNAs had been discovered as the potential CH related disease genes. Our
      results showed that lncRNA played an important role in the CH and could shed new
      light to the understanding underlying mechanisms of the CH. 

PMID- 26872063
TI  - Missense Variant in MAPK Inactivator PTPN5 Is Associated with Decreased Severity
      of Post-Burn Hypertrophic Scarring.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scarring (HTS) is hypothesized to have a genetic
      mechanism, yet its genetic determinants are largely unknown. The mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are important mediators of inflammatory
      signaling, and experimental evidence implicates MAPKs in HTS formation. We
      hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MAPK-pathway genes
      would be associated with severity of post-burn HTS. METHODS: We analyzed data
      from a prospective-cohort genome-wide association study of post-burn HTS. We
      included subjects with deep-partial-thickness burns admitted to our center who
      provided blood for genotyping and had at least one Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS)
      assessment. After adjusting for HTS risk factors and population stratification,
      we tested MAPK-pathway gene SNPs for association with the four VSS variables in a
      joint regression model. In addition to individual-SNP analysis, we performed gene
      based association testing. RESULTS: Our study population consisted of 538 adults
      (median age 40 years) who were predominantly White (76%) males (71%) admitted to
      our center from 2007-2014 with small-to-moderate-sized burns (median burn size 6%
      total body surface area). Of 2,146 SNPs tested, a rare missense variant in the
      PTPN5 gene (rs56234898; minor allele frequency 1.5%) was significantly associated
      with decreased severity of post-burn HTS (P = 1.3*10-6). In gene-based analysis,
      PTPN5 (P = 1.2*10-5) showed a significant association and BDNF (P = 9.5*10-4) a
      borderline-significant association with HTS severity. CONCLUSIONS: We report
      PTPN5 as a novel genetic locus associated with HTS severity. PTPN5 is a MAPK
      inhibitor expressed in neurons, suggesting a potential role for neurotrophic
      factors and neuroinflammatory signaling in HTS pathophysiology.

PMID- 26872062
TI  - Engineered Promoters for Potent Transient Overexpression.
AB  - The core promoter, which is generally defined as the region to which RNA
      Polymerase II is recruited to initiate transcription, plays a pivotal role in the
      regulation of gene expression. The core promoter consists of different
      combinations of several short DNA sequences, termed core promoter elements or
      motifs, which confer specific functional properties to each promoter. Earlier
      studies that examined the ability to modulate gene expression levels via the core
      promoter, led to the design of strong synthetic core promoters, which combine
      different core elements into a single core promoter. Here, we designed a new core
      promoter, termed super core promoter 3 (SCP3), which combines four core promoter
      elements (the TATA box, Inr, MTE and DPE) into a single promoter that drives
      prolonged and potent gene expression. We analyzed the effect of core promoter
      architecture on the temporal dynamics of reporter gene expression by engineering
      EGFP expression vectors that are driven by distinct core promoters. We used live
      cell imaging and flow cytometric analyses in different human cell lines to
      demonstrate that SCPs, particularly the novel SCP3, drive unusually strong long
      term EGFP expression. Importantly, this is the first demonstration of long-term
      expression in transiently transfected mammalian cells, indicating that engineered
      core promoters can provide a novel non-viral strategy for biotechnological as
      well as gene-therapy-related applications that require potent expression for
      extended time periods. 

PMID- 26872065
TI  - Size-Independent Exciton Localization Efficiency in Colloidal CdSe/CdS Core/Crown
      Nanosheet Type-I Heterostructures.
AB  - CdSe/CdS core/crown nanoplatelet type I heterostructures are a class of two
      dimensional materials with atomically precise thickness and many potential
      optoelectronic applications. It remains unclear how the precise thickness and
      lack of energy disorder affect the properties of exciton transport in these
      materials. By steady-state photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy and
      ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, we show that in five CdSe/CdS
      core/crown structures with the same core and increasing crown size (with
      thickness of ~1.8 nm, width of ~11 nm, and length from 20 to 40 nm), the crown-to
      core exciton localization efficiency is independent of crown size and increases
      with photon energy above the band edge (from 70% at 400 nm to ~100% at 370 nm),
      while the localization time increases with the crown size. These observations can
      be understood by a model that accounts for the competition of in-plane exciton
      diffusion and selective hole trapping at the core/crown interface. Our findings
      suggest that the exciton localization efficiency can be further improved by
      reducing interfacial defects. 

PMID- 26872066
TI  - Manifestations of bodily isomerism.
AB  - We report the findings present in 49 postmortem specimens from patients with so
      called heterotaxy, concentrating on those found in the extracardiac systems of
      organs. Also known as bodily isomerism, we suggest that it is important to
      segregate the syndromes into their isomeric subtypes to be able to make
      inferences regarding likely extracardiac and intracardiac findings to allow for
      proper surveillance. We demonstrate that this is best done on the basis of the
      atrial appendages, which were isomeric in all the hearts obtained from the
      specimens available for our inspection. The abdominal organs do not demonstrate
      isomerism, and they show variable features when compared to the isomeric atrial
      appendages. 

PMID- 26872064
TI  - Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of the Scabies Mite Provides Insight into the
      Genetic Diversity of Individual Scabies Infections.
AB  - The scabies mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, is an obligate parasite of the skin that
      infects humans and other animal species, causing scabies, a contagious disease
      characterized by extreme itching. Scabies infections are a major health problem,
      particularly in remote Indigenous communities in Australia, where co-infection of
      epidermal scabies lesions by Group A Streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus is
      thought to be responsible for the high rate of rheumatic heart disease and
      chronic kidney disease. We collected and separately sequenced mite DNA from
      several pools of thousands of whole mites from a porcine model of scabies (S.
      scabiei var. suis) and two human patients (S. scabiei var. hominis) living in
      different regions of northern Australia. Our sequencing samples the mite and its
      metagenome, including the mite gut flora and the wound micro-environment. Here,
      we describe the mitochondrial genome of the scabies mite. We developed a new de
      novo assembly pipeline based on a bait-and-reassemble strategy, which produced a
      14 kilobase mitochondrial genome sequence assembly. We also annotated 35 genes
      and have compared these to other Acari mites. We identified single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) and used these to infer the presence of six haplogroups in
      our samples, Remarkably, these fall into two closely-related clades with one
      clade including both human and pig varieties. This supports earlier findings that
      only limited genetic differences may separate some human and animal varieties,
      and raises the possibility of cross-host infections. Finally, we used these
      mitochondrial haplotypes to show that the genetic diversity of individual
      infections is typically small with 1-3 distinct haplotypes per infestation. 

PMID- 26872067
TI  - Utilisation of extended release quetiapine (Seroquel XLTM): Results from an
      observational cohort study in England.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A post-authorisation safety study was carried out as part of the EU
      Risk Management Plan to examine the long-term (up to 12 months) use of quetiapine
      XL as prescribed in general practice in England. AIM: To present a description of
      the drug utilisation characteristics of quetiapine XL. METHODS: An observational,
      population-based cohort design using the technique of Modified Prescription-Event
      Monitoring (M-PEM). Patients were identified from dispensed prescriptions issued
      by general practitioners (GPs) for quetiapine XL between September 2008 and
      February 2013. Questionnaires were sent to GPs 12 months following the 1st
      prescription for each individual patient, requesting drug utilisation
      information. Cohort accrual was extended to recruit additional elderly patients
      (special population of interest). Summary descriptive statistics were calculated.
      RESULTS: The final M-PEM cohort consisted of 13,276 patients; median age 43 years
      (IQR: 33, 55) and 59.0% females. Indications for prescribing included bipolar
      disorder (n=3820), MDD (n=2844), schizophrenia (n=2373) and other (non-licensed)
      indications (n=3750). Where specified, 59.3% (7869/13,276) were reported to have
      used quetiapine IR (immediate release formulation) previously at any time. The
      median start dose was highest for patients with schizophrenia (300 mg/day [IQR
      150, 450]). The final elderly cohort consisted of 3127 patients and 28.5% had
      indications associated with dementia. The median start dose for elderly patients
      was highest for patients with schizophrenia or BD (both 100mg/day [IQR 50, 300]).
      CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of off-label prescribing in terms of indication and
      high doses was common, as was use in special populations such as the very
      elderly. Whilst off-label use may be unavoidable in certain situations, GPs may
      need to re-evaluate prescribing in circumstances where there may be safety
      concerns. This study demonstrates the ongoing importance of observational studies
      such as M-PEM to gather real-world clinical data to support the post-marketing
      benefit:risk management of new medications, or existing medications for which
      license extensions have been approved.

PMID- 26872068
TI  - Effect of Decompressive Craniectomy on Perihematomal Edema in Patients with
      Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perihematomal edema contributes to secondary brain injury in the
      course of intracerebral hemorrhage. The effect of decompressive surgery on
      perihematomal edema after intracerebral hemorrhage is unknown. This study
      analyzed the course of PHE in patients who were or were not treated with
      decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: More than 100 computed tomography images from
      our published cohort of 25 patients were evaluated retrospectively at two
      university hospitals in Switzerland. Computed tomography scans covered the time
      from admission until day 100. Eleven patients were treated by decompressive
      craniectomy and 14 were treated conservatively. Absolute edema and hematoma
      volumes were assessed using 3-dimensional volumetric measurements. Relative edema
      volumes were calculated based on maximal hematoma volume. RESULTS: Absolute
      perihematomal edema increased from 42.9 ml to 125.6 ml (192.8%) after 21 days in
      the decompressive craniectomy group, versus 50.4 ml to 67.2 ml (33.3%) in the
      control group (Delta at day 21 = 58.4 ml, p = 0.031). Peak edema developed on
      days 25 and 35 in patients with decompressive craniectomy and controls
      respectively, and it took about 60 days for the edema to decline to baseline in
      both groups. Eight patients (73%) in the decompressive craniectomy group and 6
      patients (43%) in the control group had a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale
      score 0 to 4) at 6 months (P = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Decompressive craniectomy is
      associated with a significant increase in perihematomal edema compared to
      patients who have been treated conservatively. Perihematomal edema itself lasts
      about 60 days if it is not treated, but decompressive craniectomy ameliorates the
      mass effect exerted by the intracerebral hemorrhage plus the perihematomal edema,
      as reflected by the reduced midline shift.

PMID- 26872070
TI  - Palladium-mediated borylation of pentafluorosulfanyl functionalized compounds:
      the crucial role of metal fluorido complexes.
AB  - Stoichiometric reactions of SF5 functionalized bromo or iodo aromatics at
      [Pd(PiPr3)2] (1) led to the oxidative addition products 3, 5 and 7. They were
      converted into their corresponding palladium fluorido complexes, which reacted
      readily with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B2pin2) to give the borylated SF5 aromatic
      compounds. Based on these studies a catalytic borylation of SF5 organyls was
      developed. 

PMID- 26872069
TI  - UBA5 Mutations Cause a New Form of Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxia.
AB  - Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia (ARCA) comprises a large and heterogeneous
      group of neurodegenerative disorders. For many affected patients, the genetic
      cause remains undetermined. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified
      compound heterozygous mutations in ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 5
      gene (UBA5) in two Chinese siblings presenting with ARCA. Moreover, copy number
      variations in UBA5 or ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 gene (UFM1) were documented with
      the phenotypes of global developmental delays and gait disturbances in the
      ClinVar database. UBA5 encodes UBA5, the ubiquitin-activating enzyme of UFM1.
      However, a crucial role for UBA5 in human neurological disease remains to be
      reported. Our molecular study of UBA5-R246X revealed a dramatically decreased
      half-life and loss of UFM1 activation due to the absence of the catalytic
      cysteine Cys250. UBA5-K310E maintained its interaction with UFM1, although with
      less stability, which may affect the ability of this UBA5 mutant to activate
      UFM1. Drosophila modeling revealed that UBA5 knockdown induced locomotive defects
      and a shortened lifespan accompanied by aberrant neuromuscular junctions (NMJs).
      Strikingly, we found that UFM1 and E2 cofactor knockdown induced markedly similar
      phenotypes. Wild-type UBA5, but not mutant UBA5, significantly restored neural
      lesions caused by the absence of UBA5. The finding of a UBA5 mutation in
      cerebellar ataxia suggests that impairment of the UFM1 pathway may contribute to
      the neurological phenotypes of ARCA. 

PMID- 26872071
TI  - Oxidation of cefazolin by potassium permanganate: Transformation products and
      plausible pathways.
AB  - Cefazolin was demonstrated to exert high reactivity toward permanganate
      (Mn(VII)), a common oxidant in water pre-oxidation treatment. In this study, five
      transformation products were found to be classified into three categories
      according to the contained characteristic functional groups: three (di-)sulfoxide
      products, one sulfone product and one di-ketone product. Products analyses showed
      that two kinds of reactions including oxidation of thioether and the cleavage of
      unsaturated CC double bond occurred during transformation of cefazolin by
      Mn(VII). Subsequently, the plausible transformation pathways under different pH
      conditions were proposed based on the identified products and chemical reaction
      principles. More importantly, the simulation with real surface water matrix
      indicated that the proposed transformation pathways of cefazolin could be
      replayed in real water treatment practices.

PMID- 26872072
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed SN2'-Selective Allylic Substitution Reaction of gem
      Diborylalkanes.
AB  - A Cu/(NHC)-catalyzed SN2'-selective substitution reaction of allylic
      electrophiles with gem-diborylalkanes is reported. Different substituted gem
      diborylalkanes and allylic electrophiles can be employed in this reaction, and
      various synthetic valuable functional groups can be tolerated. The asymmetric
      version of this reaction was initially researched with chiral N-heterocyclic
      carbene (NHC) ligands. 

PMID- 26872073
TI  - Protective Role of Flavonoids and Lipophilic Compounds from Jatropha platyphylla
      on the Suppression of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Inflammation in Macrophage
      Cells.
AB  - Seventeen polyphenols (e.g, apigenin, genistein, and luteolin glycosides) and 11
      lipophilic compounds (e.g., fatty acids, sterols, and terpenes) were detected by
      LC-MS/MS-ESI and GC-MS, respectively, in Jatropha platyphylla. Extracts from
      pulp, kernel, and leaves and fractions were studied to know their effect on some
      pro-inflammatory mediators. Phenolic and lipophilic extracts showed significant
      inhibitory effects on ROS and NO production while not affecting mitochondrial
      activity or superoxide generation rate in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
      inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, NO production was also
      diminished by lipophilic leaf fractions F1 and F2 with the latter fraction
      showing a greater effect and composed mainly of sterols and terpene. Furthermore,
      total extracts showed nonselective inhibitions against cyclooxygenase COX-1 and
      COX-2 activities. All together, these results suggest that J. platyphylla
      extracts have potential in treating inflammatory diseases and their activity is
      mediated by flavonoids and lipophilic compounds. 

PMID- 26872074
TI  - Infant emotional distress, maternal restriction at a home meal, and child BMI
      gain through age 6years in the Colorado Adoption Project.
AB  - Infant temperament and parental feeding practices may be risk factors for
      childhood obesity, however most studies have relied upon parent-report
      assessments. We tested whether infant emotional distress and maternal restrictive
      feeding at 12-months of age, assessed observationally at a home feeding
      interaction, predicted child BMI through age 6years. We conducted a prospective
      observational study of 86 children (34 girls and 52 boys, from 55 adoptive and 31
      non-adoptive families) enrolled in the Colorado Adoption Project. Mother-infant
      feeding interactions were video-recorded during a home snack or meal at year 1,
      and child anthropometrics (length or height, and weight) were assessed at years 1
      through 6. The main outcome measures were child weight-for-length at year 1 and
      body mass index (BMI: kg/m(2)) at years 2-6. Results of generalized linear models
      indicated that greater infant emotional distress at 12-months predicted greater
      increases in child weight status through age 6years, B=0.62 and odds ratio
      (OR)=1.87. In separate analyses, restrictive feeding interacted with child sex in
      predicting weight status trajectories (p=.012). Male infants whose mothers
      displayed any compared to no restriction at year 1 showed a downward BMI
      trajectory from 2 to 6years; for female infants, exposure to any compared to no
      restriction prompts predicted increasing BMI from 4 to 6years. In sum, early
      obesity prevention strategies should pay greater attention to infant temperament,
      especially distress and negative affect, and how parents respond to such cues.
      Additionally, 'responsive feeding' strategies that provide an alternative to
      restriction warrant greater research during infancy.

PMID- 26872075
TI  - Walking the tightrope: proteostasis and neurodegenerative disease.
AB  - A characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's
      disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is the aggregation of specific proteins into
      protein inclusions and/or plaques in degenerating brains. While much of the
      aggregated protein consists of disease specific proteins, such as amyloid-beta,
      alpha-synuclein, or superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1), many other proteins are known
      to aggregate in these disorders. Although the role of protein aggregates in the
      pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases remains unknown, the ubiquitous
      association of misfolded and aggregated proteins indicates that significant
      dysfunction in protein homeostasis (proteostasis) occurs in these diseases.
      Proteostasis is the concept that the integrity of the proteome is in fine balance
      and requires proteins in a specific conformation, concentration, and location to
      be functional. In this review, we discuss the role of specific mechanisms, both
      inside and outside cells, which maintain proteostasis, including molecular
      chaperones, protein degradation pathways, and the active formation of inclusions,
      in neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein aggregation. A
      characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases is the aggregation of specific
      proteins, which alone provides strong evidence that protein homeostasis is
      disrupted in these disease states. Proteostasis is the maintenance of the
      proteome in the correct conformation, concentration, and location by functional
      pathways such as molecular chaperones and protein degradation machinery. Here, we
      discuss the potential roles of quality control pathways, both inside and outside
      cells, in the loss of proteostasis during aging and disease.

PMID- 26872076
TI  - Bipolar plasma vaporization using plasma-cutting and plasma-loop electrodes
      versus cold-knife transurethral incision for the treatment of posterior urethral
      stricture: a prospective, randomized study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficiency and safety of bipolar plasma vaporization
      using plasma-cutting and plasma-loop electrodes for the treatment of posterior
      urethral stricture. Compare the outcomes following bipolar plasma vaporization
      with conventional cold-knife urethrotomy. METHODS: A randomized trial was
      performed to compare patient outcomes from the bipolar and cold-knife groups. All
      patients were assessed at 6 and 12 months postoperatively via urethrography and
      uroflowmetry. At the end of the first postoperative year, ureteroscopy was
      performed to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure. The mean follow-up time was
      13.9 months (range: 12 to 21 months). If re-stenosis was not identified by both
      urethrography and ureteroscopy, the procedure was considered "successful".
      RESULTS: Fifty-three male patients with posterior urethral strictures were
      selected and randomly divided into two groups: bipolar group (n=27) or cold-knife
      group (n=26). Patients in the bipolar group experienced a shorter operative time
      compared to the cold-knife group (23.45+/-7.64 hours vs 33.45+/-5.45 hours,
      respectively). The 12-month postoperative Qmax was faster in the bipolar group
      than in the cold-knife group (15.54+/-2.78 ml/sec vs 18.25+/-2.12 ml/sec,
      respectively). In the bipolar group, the recurrence-free rate was 81.5% at a mean
      follow-up time of 13.9 months. In the cold-knife group, the recurrence-free rate
      was 53.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The application of bipolar plasma-cutting and plasma-loop
      electrodes for the management of urethral stricture disease is a safe and
      reliable method that minimizes the morbidity of urethral stricture resection. The
      advantages include a lower recurrence rate and shorter operative time compared to
      the cold-knife technique.

PMID- 26872077
TI  - Eszopiclone versus zopiclone in the treatment of insomnia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic effects of two selective GABA-A agonists,
      zopiclone and eszopiclone, in the treatment of insomnia. METHODS: This study
      comprised a phase III, single-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy,
      parallel-group, non-inferiority trial. Patients were randomized to receive
      zopiclone 7.5 mg or eszopiclone 3 mg, both orally, for four weeks. In total, 199
      patients were evaluated during two visits and then followed for at least six
      weeks. The primary endpoint was the Insomnia Severity Index after four weeks of
      treatment. Secondary endpoints were obtained through polysomnography data,
      including total sleep time, sleep latency and sleep efficiency. The frequency of
      adverse events was also analyzed. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01100164. RESULTS: The
      primary efficacy analysis demonstrated the non-inferiority of eszopiclone over
      zopiclone. Analysis of objective parameters assessed by polysomnography showed
      that eszopiclone increased total sleep time and also improved sleep efficiency.
      The safety profile of both study treatments was similar and the most common
      events reported in both groups were dysgeusia, headache, dizziness, irritability
      and nausea. Adverse events were observed in 223 patients, 109 (85.2%) in the
      eszopiclone group and 114 (87.7%) in the zopiclone group. CONCLUSION: Based on
      the Insomnia Severity Index at the end of four weeks of treatment, eszopiclone
      demonstrated efficacy comparable to that of zopiclone in the treatment of
      insomnia, increasing total sleep time as well as sleep efficiency according to
      polysomnography.

PMID- 26872078
TI  - Clinical assessment of 252Californium neutron intracavitary brachytherapy using a
      two-channel Y applicator combined with external beam radiotherapy for endometrial
      cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 252Californium
      neutron intracavitary brachytherapy using a two-channel Y applicator combined
      with external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer. METHODS:
      Thirty-one patients with stage I-III endometrial cancer were recruited for this
      study. The stage I patients received only 252Californium neutron intracavitary
      brachytherapy with a two-channel applicator. The stage II and III patients
      received both 252Californium neutron intracavitary brachytherapy using a two
      channel applicator and parallel-opposed whole pelvic radiotherapy. RESULTS: The
      five-year local control rate was 80.6% (25/31), the overall survival rate was
      51.6% (16/31), and the disease-free survival rate was 54.8% (17/31). The
      incidence of serious late complications was 12.9% (4/31). CONCLUSIONS:
      252Californium neutron intracavitary brachytherapy using a two-channel applicator
      combined with external beam radiotherapy was effective for treating endometrial
      cancer and the incidence of serious late complications related to this
      combination was within an acceptable range.

PMID- 26872079
TI  - Severe potential drug-drug interactions in older adults with dementia and
      associated factors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the main severe potential drug-drug interactions in older
      adults with dementia and to examine the factors associated with these
      interactions. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study. The enrolled patients
      were selected from six geriatrics clinics of tertiary care hospitals across
      Mexico City. The patients had received a clinical diagnosis of dementia based on
      the current standards and were further divided into the following two groups:
      those with severe drug-drug interactions (contraindicated/severe) (n=64) and
      those with non-severe drug-drug interactions (moderate/minor/absent) (n=117).
      Additional socio-demographic, clinical and caregiver data were included.
      Potential drug-drug interactions were identified using Micromedex Drug Reax
      2.0(r) database. RESULTS: A total of 181 patients were enrolled, including 57 men
      (31.5%) and 124 women (68.5%) with a mean age of 80.11+/-8.28 years. One hundred
      and seven (59.1%) patients in our population had potential drug-drug
      interactions, of which 64 (59.81%) were severe/contraindicated. The main severe
      potential drug-drug interactions were caused by the combinations citalopram/anti
      platelet (11.6%), clopidogrel/omeprazole (6.1%), and clopidogrel/aspirin (5.5%).
      Depression, the use of a higher number of medications, dementia severity and
      caregiver burden were the most significant factors associated with severe
      potential drug-drug interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Older people with dementia
      experience many severe potential drug-drug interactions. Anti-depressants,
      antiplatelets, anti-psychotics and omeprazole were the drugs most commonly
      involved in these interactions. Despite their frequent use, anti-dementia drugs
      were not involved in severe potential drug-drug interactions. The number and type
      of medications taken, dementia severity and depression in patients in addition to
      caregiver burden should be considered to avoid possible drug interactions in this
      population.

PMID- 26872080
TI  - Six-minute walk test in children and adolescents with renal diseases: tolerance,
      reproducibility and comparison with healthy subjects.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate exercise tolerance and the reproducibility of the six
      minute walk test in Brazilian children and adolescents with chronic kidney
      disease and to compare their functional exercise capacities with reference values
      for healthy children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed the use of the
      six-minute walk test in children and adolescents aged 6-16 with stage V chronic
      kidney disease. For statistical analysis of exercise tolerance, including
      examinations of correlations and comparisons with reference values, the longest
      walked distances were considered. The reproducibility of the six-minute walk test
      was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: A total of 38
      patients (14 females and 24 males) were evaluated, including 5 on peritoneal
      dialysis, 12 on hemodialysis and 21 who had undergone renal transplantation, with
      a median age of 11.2 years (6.5-16). The median walked distance was 538.5 meters
      (413-685) and the six-minute walk test was found to be reproducible. The walked
      distance was significantly correlated with age (r=0.66), weight (r=0.76), height
      (r=0.82), the height Z score (r=0.41), hemoglobin (r=0.46), hematocrit (r=0.47)
      and post-test systolic blood pressure (r=0.39). The chronic kidney disease
      patients predicted walked distance was 84.1% of the reference value according to
      age, 90.6% according to age-corrected height and 87.4% according to a predictive
      equation. CONCLUSIONS: The stage V chronic kidney disease patients had a
      significantly decreased functional exercise capacity, as measured by the six
      minute walk test, compared with the healthy pediatric reference values. In
      addition, the six-minute walk test was shown to be well tolerated, reliable and
      applicable as a low-cost tool to monitor functional exercise capacity in patients
      with renal disease.

PMID- 26872081
TI  - Endoscopic versus surgical treatment of ampullary adenomas: a systematic review
      and meta-analysis.
AB  - The aim of this study is to address the outcomes of endoscopic resection compared
      with surgery in the treatment of ampullary adenomas. A systematic review and meta
      analysis were performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
      Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. For this purpose, the
      Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciencias da
      Saude (LILACS), Scopus and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
      Literature (CINAHL) databases were scanned. Studies included patients with
      ampullary adenomas and data considering endoscopic treatment compared with
      surgery. The entire analysis was based on a fixed-effects model. Five
      retrospective cohort studies were selected (466 patients). All five studies (466
      patients) had complete primary resection data available and showed a difference
      that favored surgical treatment (risk difference [RD] = -0.24, 95% confidence
      interval [CI] = -0.44 to -0.04). Primary success data were identified in all five
      studies as well. Analysis showed that the surgical approach outperformed
      endoscopic treatment for this outcome (RD = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.24).
      Recurrence data were found in all studies (466 patients), with a benefit
      indicated for surgical treatment (RD = 0.10, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.19). Three
      studies (252 patients) presented complication data, but analysis showed no
      difference between the approaches for this parameter (RD = -0.15, 95% CI = -0.53
      to 0.23). Considering complete primary resection, primary success and recurrence
      outcomes, the surgical approach achieves significantly better results. Regarding
      complication data, this systematic review concludes that rates are not
      significantly different.

PMID- 26872082
TI  - Venous thromboembolism in Latin America: a review and guide to diagnosis and
      treatment for primary care.
AB  - There are various region-specific challenges to the diagnosis and effective
      treatment of venous thromboembolism in Latin America. Clear guidance for
      physicians and patient education could improve adherence to existing guidelines.
      This review examines available information on the burden of pulmonary embolism
      and deep vein thrombosis in Latin America and the regional issues surrounding the
      diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Potential
      barriers to appropriate care, as well as treatment options and limitations on
      their use, are discussed. Finally, an algorithmic approach to the diagnosis and
      treatment of venous thromboembolism in ambulatory patients is proposed and care
      pathways for patients with pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis are
      outlined for primary care providers in Latin America.

PMID- 26872085
TI  - Preparation of Microvolume Anion-Exchange Cartridge for Inductively Coupled
      Plasma Mass Spectrometry-Based Determination of (237)Np Content in Spent Nuclear
      Fuel.
AB  - Microvolume anion-exchange porous polymer disk-packed cartridges were prepared
      for Am/Np separation, which is required prior to the measurement of Neptunium-237
      ((237)Np) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Disks with a
      volume of 0.08 cm(3) were cut out from porous sheets having anion-exchange-group
      containing polymer chains densely attached on the pore surface. Four different
      amine-based groups, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, trimethylammonium,
      diethylamine, and triethylenediamine (TEDA), were selected as the anion-exchange
      groups to be introduced into the porous sheets. The separation performances of
      Am/Np were evaluated using a standard solution of (243)Am, which had the same
      activity as its daughter nuclide (239)Np in secular equilibrium. (239)Np recovery
      of close to 100% with practically no contamination of (243)Am was achieved using
      the TEDA-introduced disk-packed cartridge. The time to elute (239)Np from the
      cartridge was approximately 40 s. The TEDA-introduced disk-packed cartridge was
      applied to the separation of Np from a spent nuclear fuel sample to confirm its
      separation performance. A known amount of (243)Am ((239)Np) was added to the
      spent nuclear fuel sample solution to monitor the chemical yield of Np. The
      chemical yield of Np calculated from a measured concentration of (239)Np was
      90.4%. Am leakage in the Np-eluted solution was less than 1 ppt, corresponding to
      0.001% of the original Am concentration in the sample. This indicates that no
      additional (239)Np was produced by the decay of the (243)Am remaining in the Np
      eluted solution, thus providing a reliable chemical yield. U, which can cause a
      serious spectral interference involving the peak tail from the mass spectrum of
      (238)U, was thoroughly removed with the TEDA cartridge, providing interference
      free measurement of (237)Np. The concentration of (237)Np obtained by ICPMS was
      718 +/- 12 ng/mg-U, which agrees well with the theoretically calculated value.
      Compared with the conventional separation technique using commercially available
      anion-exchange resin columns, the time required to adsorb, wash, and elute Np
      using the TEDA- introduced disk-packed cartridge was reduced by 75%. 

PMID- 26872083
TI  - Management of diabetes mellitus in individuals with chronic kidney disease:
      therapeutic perspectives and glycemic control.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic options for diabetes
      treatment and their potential side effects, in addition to analyzing the risks
      and benefits of tight glycemic control in patients with diabetic kidney disease.
      For this review, a search was performed using several pre-defined keyword
      combinations and their equivalents: "diabetes kidney disease" and "renal failure"
      in combination with "diabetes treatment" and "oral antidiabetic drugs" or "oral
      hypoglycemic agents." The search was performed in PubMed, Endocrine Abstracts and
      the Cochrane Library from January 1980 up to January 2015. Diabetes treatment in
      patients with diabetic kidney disease is challenging, in part because of
      progression of renal failure-related changes in insulin signaling, glucose
      transport and metabolism, favoring both hyperglycemic peaks and hypoglycemia.
      Additionally, the decline in renal function impairs the clearance and metabolism
      of antidiabetic agents and insulin, frequently requiring reassessment of
      prescriptions. The management of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetic kidney
      disease is even more difficult, requiring adjustment of antidiabetic agents and
      insulin doses. The health team responsible for the follow-up of these patients
      should be vigilant and prepared to make such changes; however, unfortunately,
      there are few guidelines addressing the nuances of the management of this
      specific population.

PMID- 26872086
TI  - Condition for the negative capacitance effect in metal-ferroelectric-insulator
      semiconductor devices.
AB  - In this paper, we report a detailed study of the negative capacitance field
      effect transistor (NCFET). We present the condition for the stabilization of the
      negative capacitance to achieve the voltage amplification across the active
      layer. The theory is based on Landau's theory of ferroelectrics combined with the
      surface potential model in all regimes of operation. We demonstrate the validity
      of the presented theory on experimental NCFETs using a gate stack made of P(VDF
      TrFE) and SiO2. The proposed analytical modeling shows good agreement with
      experimental data. 

PMID- 26872087
TI  - Rhythms and Blues.

PMID- 26872084
TI  - Anti-inflammatory effects of intravenous methotrexate associated with lipid
      nanoemulsions on antigen-induced arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that intravenous use of methotrexate associated
      with lipid nanoemulsions can achieve superior anti-inflammatory effects in the
      joints of rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis compared with commercial
      methotrexate. METHODS: Arthritis was induced in New Zealand rabbits sensitized
      with methylated bovine serum albumin and subsequently intra-articularly injected
      with the antigen. A nanoemulsion of methotrexate labeled with 3H-cholesteryl
      ether (4 mg/kg methotrexate) was then intravenously injected into four rabbits to
      determine the plasma decaying curves and the biodistribution of the methotrexate
      nanoemulsion by radioactive counting. Additionally, the pharmacokinetics of the
      methotrexate nanoemulsion were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography.
      Twenty-four hours after arthritis induction, the animals were allocated into
      three groups, with intravenous injection with saline solution (n=9), methotrexate
      nanoemulsion (0.5 umol/kg methotrexate, n=7), or commercial methotrexate (0.5
      umol/kg, n=4). The rabbits were sacrificed 24 h afterward. Synovial fluid was
      then collected for protein leakage and cell content analyses and synovial
      membranes were collected for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: The
      methotrexate nanoemulsion was taken up mainly by the liver and the uptake by
      arthritic joints was two-fold greater than that by control joints. The
      methotrexate nanoemulsion treatment reduced leukocyte influx into the synovial
      fluid by nearly 65%; in particular, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells were
      reduced by 47 and 72%, respectively. In contrast, cell influx was unaffected
      following treatment with commercial methotrexate. Protein leakage into the
      arthritic knees of the rabbits was also more limited following methotrexate
      nanoemulsion treatment than following commercial methotrexate treatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: The intravenous methotrexate nanoemulsion showed anti-inflammatory
      effects on the synovia of arthritic joints that were clearly superior to the
      effects of a commercial methotrexate preparation. This result is conceivably due
      to greater methotrexate uptake by the joints when the drug is associated with a
      nanoemulsion.

PMID- 26872088
TI  - Global optimization of small bimetallic Pd-Co binary nanoalloy clusters: a
      genetic algorithm approach at the DFT level.
AB  - The global optimisation of small bimetallic PdCo binary nanoalloys are
      systematically investigated using the Birmingham Cluster Genetic Algorithm
      (BCGA). The effect of size and composition on the structures, stability, magnetic
      and electronic properties including the binding energies, second finite
      difference energies and mixing energies of Pd-Co binary nanoalloys are discussed.
      A detailed analysis of Pd-Co structural motifs and segregation effects is also
      presented. The maximal mixing energy corresponds to Pd atom compositions for
      which the number of mixed Pd-Co bonds is maximised. Global minimum clusters are
      distinguished from transition states by vibrational frequency analysis. HOMO-LUMO
      gap, electric dipole moment and vibrational frequency analyses are made to enable
      correlation with future experiments. 

PMID- 26872090
TI  - Comparative Assessment of Female Mouse Model of Graves' Orbitopathy Under
      Different Environments, Accompanied by Proinflammatory Cytokine and T-Cell
      Responses to Thyrotropin Hormone Receptor Antigen.
AB  - We recently described a preclinical model of Graves' orbitopathy (GO), induced by
      genetic immunization of eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding human TSH receptor
      (TSHR) A-subunit by muscle electroporation in female BALB/c mice. The onset of
      orbital pathology is characterized by muscle inflammation, adipogenesis, and
      fibrosis. Animal models of autoimmunity are influenced by their environmental
      exposures. This follow-up study was undertaken to investigate the development of
      experimental GO in 2 different locations, run in parallel under comparable
      housing conditions. Functional antibodies to TSHR were induced in TSHR A-subunit
      plasmid-immunized animals, and antibodies to IGF-1 receptor alpha-subunit were
      also present, whereas control animals were negative in both locations. Splenic T
      cells from TSHR A-subunit primed animals undergoing GO in both locations showed
      proliferative responses to purified TSHR antigen and secreted interferon-gamma,
      IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-alpha cytokines. Histopathological evaluation showed orbital
      tissue damage in mice undergoing GO, manifest by adipogenesis, fibrosis, and
      muscle damage with classic signs of myopathy. Although no inflammatory infiltrate
      was observed in orbital tissue in either location, the appearances were
      consistent with a "hit-and-run" immune-mediated inflammatory event. A
      statistically significant increase of cumulative incidence of orbital pathology
      when compared with control animals was shown for both locations, confirming onset
      of orbital dysimmune myopathy. Our findings confirm expansion of the model in
      different environments, accompanied with increased prevalence of T cell-derived
      proinflammatory cytokines, with relevance for pathogenesis. Wider availability of
      the model makes it suitable for mechanistic studies into pathogenesis and
      undertaking of novel therapeutic approaches. 

PMID- 26872089
TI  - Endothelial Estrogen Receptor-alpha Does Not Protect Against Vascular Stiffness
      Induced by Western Diet in Female Mice.
AB  - Consumption of a diet high in fat and refined carbohydrates (Western diet [WD])
      is associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both major risk factors for
      cardiovascular disease (CVD). In women, obesity and insulin resistance abrogate
      the protection against CVD likely afforded by estrogen signaling through estrogen
      receptor (ER)alpha. Indeed, WD in females results in increased vascular
      stiffness, which is independently associated with CVD. We tested the hypothesis
      that loss of ERalpha signaling in the endothelium exacerbates WD-induced vascular
      stiffening in female mice. We used a novel model of endothelial cell (EC)
      specific ERalpha knockout (EC-ERalphaKO), obtained after sequential crossing of
      the ERalpha double floxed mice and VE-Cadherin Cre-recombinase mice. Ten-week-old
      females, EC-ERalphaKO and aged-matched genopairs were fed either a regular chow
      diet (control diet) or WD for 8 weeks. Vascular stiffness was measured in vivo by
      pulse wave velocity and ex vivo in aortic explants by atomic force microscopy. In
      addition, vascular reactivity was assessed in isolated aortic rings. Initial
      characterization of the model fed a control diet did not reveal changes in whole
      body insulin sensitivity, aortic vasoreactivity, or vascular stiffness in the EC
      ERalphaKO mice. Interestingly, ablation of ERalpha in ECs reduced WD-induced
      vascular stiffness and improved endothelial-dependent dilation. In the setting of
      a WD, endothelial ERalpha signaling contributes to vascular stiffening in
      females. The precise mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of endothelial
      ERalpha in the setting of a WD remain to be elucidated. 

PMID- 26872092
TI  - Gallium(III) Tetraphenylporphyrinates Containing Hydrosulfide and Thiolate
      Ligands: Structural Models for Sulfur-Bound Iron(III) Hemes.
AB  - Gallium(III) tetraphenylporphyrinates (TPP) containing anionic sulfur ligands
      have been prepared and characterized in the solid state and solution. The
      complexes serve as structural models for iron(III) heme sites containing sulfur
      coordination that otherwise prove challenging to synthesize due to the propensity
      for reduction to iron(II). The compounds prepared include the first well
      characterized example of a trivalent metalloporphyrinate containing a terminal
      hydrosulfide ligand, [Ga(SH)(TPP)], as well as [Ga(SEt)(TPP)], [Ga(SPh)(TPP)],
      and [Ga(SSi(i)Pr3)(TPP)]. The stability of these compounds toward reduction has
      permitted an investigation of their solid-state structures and electrochemistry.
      The structural features and reaction chemistry of the complexes in relation to
      their iron(III) analogs is discussed. 

PMID- 26872091
TI  - Transient Suppression of TGFbeta Receptor Signaling Facilitates Human Islet
      Transplantation.
AB  - Although islet transplantation is an effective treatment for severe diabetes, its
      broad application is greatly limited due to a shortage of donor islets.
      Suppression of TGFbeta receptor signaling in beta-cells has been shown to
      increase beta-cell proliferation in mice, but has not been rigorously examined in
      humans. Here, treatment of human islets with a TGFbeta receptor I inhibitor, SB
      431542 (SB), significantly improved C-peptide secretion by beta-cells, and
      significantly increased beta-cell number by increasing beta-cell proliferation.
      In addition, SB increased cell-cycle activators and decreased cell-cycle
      suppressors in human beta-cells. Transplantation of SB-treated human islets into
      diabetic immune-deficient mice resulted in significant improvement in blood
      glucose control, significantly higher serum and graft insulin content, and
      significantly greater increases in beta-cell proliferation in the graft, compared
      with controls. Thus, our data suggest that transient suppression of TGFbeta
      receptor signaling may improve the outcome of human islet transplantation,
      seemingly through increasing beta-cell number and function. 

PMID- 26872096
TI  - Time and order of eruption of first functional teeth in the upper jaw of post
      larval life of Sicyopterus japonicus (Gobiidiae: Sicydiinae) during cranial
      metamorphosis at the time of river recruitment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at elucidating the time and order of
      eruption of first functional teeth in the upper jaw of post-larval life of
      Sicyopterus japonicus (S. japonicus) during cranial metamorphosis at the time of
      river recruitment. DESIGN: Fishes were caught at the post-larval stage at a river
      mouth and maintained for 7 days in a water tank. Each of 10 specimens was
      evaluated every day for 7 days by using microcomputed tomography, scanning
      electron microscopy, and light microscopy with peculiar attention to the
      development of the upper jaw teeth. RESULTS: Fishes caught at the river mouth
      were mostly transparent, with a rostral terminal mouth, and no teeth could be
      found in either the upper or lower jaw. At 2 days after collection, the mouth
      position changed from terminal to subterminal, resulting from a change in head
      shape. The initial eruption of first functional teeth was detected at the
      anterior two-thirds region of each upper jaw. These teeth erupted in adjacent
      positions, most had a tricuspid crown, and they represented miniature versions of
      adult teeth. At 5 days, the position of the mouth became further relocated from
      terminal rostral to ventral. The number of erupted teeth increased, followed by
      spreading of them anteriorly and posteriorly. At 7 days, they formed a single row
      of close-set tricuspid teeth along the entire length of each upper jaw.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that even under laboratory conditions
      a rapid and drastic cranial metamorphosis took place within a week after the time
      of collection of post-larval S. japonicus from a river. The eruption of first
      functional teeth in the upper jaw of S. japonicus, which teeth are adapted to
      scraping algae off the substrate, was initially detected at 2 days after
      collection, and first functional dentition of the upper jaw was set up within 7
      days after it.

PMID- 26872095
TI  - Human neutrophil peptide-1 affects matrix metalloproteinase-2, -8 and -9
      secretions of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines in vitro.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HNP-1 on the
      matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, -8 and -9 secretions of two oral squamous cell
      carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines (UT-SCC-43A and UT-SCC-43B). DESIGN: In all
      experiments, the two OSCC cell lines were incubated with graded concentrations
      (0, 1, 5, and 10 MUg/ml) of HNP-1 for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability was measured
      using a colorimetric proliferation test and cell death was analyzed with a
      colorimetric cytotoxicity detection kit. Enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was
      detected by using gelatin zymography, and molecular weight forms of MMP-8 were
      determined by Western-blot and a densitometric quantitation method. RESULTS: Both
      cell lines showed a significant increase in LDH toxicity at 24h (UT-SCC-43A:
      p=0.005 & UT-SCC-43B: p=0.014). Reduced gelatinolytic activities of proMMP-2 were
      detected in UT-SCC-43B cell line after 24 and 48 h of incubation with HNP-1 (1
      MUg/ml: p<0.001, 5 MUg/ml: p<0.001, and 10 MUg/ml: p=0.0225). MMP-8 levels of
      both cell lines decreased at 200-250 kDa after 24h of incubation, while after 48
      h only UT-SCC-43B decreased at 45-50 kDa. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that
      HNP-1 suppresses the secretion of MMP-2, -8, and -9 in OSCC cell lines.

PMID- 26872098
TI  - Normobaric oxygen therapy inhibits HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression in perihematoma
      and reduces neurological function defects.
AB  - It is unknown whether normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy exerts neuroprotective
      effects against human intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this study, the
      potential of NBO therapy for salvaging brain damage following ICH was
      investigated in a rodent model with oxygen delivered at different concentrations.
      A total of 164 male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with ICH using a collagenase
      injection and divided randomly into one ICH control group (no treatment, n=86)
      and three NBO treatment groups (35, 50, or 90% oxygen, n=26/group). Twenty-six
      rats were used as sham controls. The Neurological Severity Score (NSS) was
      evaluated. Contents of brain water, hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha),
      and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured in the perihematoma.
      A cellular apoptosis assay was performed. Compared with the sham control group,
      the ICH control group had higher NSS following ICH, which peaked at 24 h and
      began to decrease after 72 h. ICH rats also showed higher contents of brain
      water, HIF-1alpha, and VEGF (peaked at 72 h) in the ipsilateral perihematoma
      tissue than in the contralateral brain tissue. Compared with the ICH control
      group, all NBO groups showed improved NSSs, decreased contents of brain water,
      HIF-1alpha and VEGF, and fewer apoptotic cells in the perihematoma at 72 h after
      ICH, but statistical significance of these changes was achieved only with oxygen
      delivered at 90% (P<0.05, two-way analysis of variance). These results suggest
      that NBO therapy with oxygen delivered at 90% conferred best neuroprotection to
      ICH rats, potentially through amelioration of brain edema by suppressing HIF
      1alpha and VEGF expression in the perihematoma.

PMID- 26872097
TI  - Guidewire Catheter Exchange in Pediatric Oncology: Indications, Postoperative
      Complications, and Outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Maintaining long-term central venous catheters (CVCs) in children
      undergoing chemotherapy can be challenging. Guidewire catheter exchange (GCE)
      replaces a CVC without repeat venipuncture. This study evaluated the indications,
      success rate, and complications of GCE in a large cohort of pediatric cancer
      patients. PROCEDURE: Medical records of pediatric cancer patients who underwent
      GCE at our institution between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.
      Variables analyzed included gender, age at GCE, primary cancer diagnosis,
      indication for GCE, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at GCE, vein used, success
      rate, and postoperative complications (<30 days after exchange). RESULTS: A total
      of 435 GCEs performed in 407 patients (230 males and 177 females) were reviewed.
      Median age at GCE was 8 years (range, 0.2-24). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was
      the most common diagnosis (50.6%). The primary indication for GCE was the desire
      to have an alternative type of CVC (71%). Other indications included catheter
      displacement (17%), catheter malfunction (11%), and catheter infection (1%).
      Median ANC at GCE was 2,581/mm(3) (range, 0-43,400). Left subclavian vein was
      more commonly used (57.7%). The success rate of GCE was 93.4% (406 of 435
      procedures, 95% confidence interval: 91.0-97.5%). A total of 33 (7.5%)
      postoperative complications occurred including central line associated
      bloodstream infection (CLABSI) (n = 20, 4.5%), catheter dislodgement (n = 6,
      1.4%), and catheter malfunction (n = 7, 1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that GCE
      in pediatric cancer patients is associated with a high success rate and a low
      risk of complications. The most common postoperative complication, CLABSI,
      occurred at a rate significantly lower than following de novo CVC placement.

PMID- 26872099
TI  - Topographic analysis of the skull vibration-induced nystagmus test with
      piezoelectric accelerometers and force sensors.
AB  - Vibration-induced nystagmus is elicited by skull or posterior cervical muscle
      stimulations in patients with vestibular diseases. Skull vibrations delivered by
      the skull vibration-induced nystagmus test are known to stimulate the inner ear
      structures directly. This study aimed to measure the vibration transfer at
      different cranium locations and posterior cervical regions to contribute toward
      stimulus topographic optimization (experiment 1) and to determine the force
      applied on the skull with a hand-held vibrator to study the test reproducibility
      and provide recommendations for good clinical practices (experiment 2). In
      experiment 1, a 100 Hz hand-held vibrator was applied on the skull (vertex,
      mastoids) and posterior cervical muscles in 11 healthy participants. Vibration
      transfer was measured by piezoelectric sensors. In experiment 2, the vibrator was
      applied 30 times by two experimenters with dominant and nondominant hands on a
      mannequin equipped to measure the force. Experiment 1 showed that after
      unilateral mastoid vibratory stimulation, the signal transfer was higher when
      recorded on the contralateral mastoid than on the vertex or posterior cervical
      muscles (P<0.001). No difference was observed between the different vibratory
      locations when vibration transfer was measured on vertex and posterior cervical
      muscles. Experiment 2 showed that the force applied to the mannequin varied
      according to the experimenters and the handedness, higher forces being observed
      with the most experienced experimenter and with the dominant hand (10.3 +/- 1.0
      and 7.8 +/- 2.9 N, respectively). The variation ranged from 9.8 to 29.4% within
      the same experimenter. Bone transcranial vibration transfer is more efficient
      from one mastoid to the other mastoid than other anatomical sites. The mastoid is
      therefore the optimal site for skull vibration-induced nystagmus test in patients
      with unilateral vestibular lesions and enables a stronger stimulation of the
      healthy side. In clinical practice, the vibrator should be placed on the mastoid
      and should be held by the clinician's dominant hand.

PMID- 26872100
TI  - Electrophysiological evidence that top-down knowledge controls working memory
      processing for subsequent visual search.
AB  - Items in working memory guide visual attention toward a memory-matching object.
      Recent studies have shown that when searching for an object this attentional
      guidance can be modulated by knowing the probability that the target will match
      an item in working memory. Here, we recorded the P3 and contralateral delay
      activity to investigate how top-down knowledge controls the processing of working
      memory items. Participants performed memory task (recognition only) and memory-or
      search task (recognition or visual search) in which they were asked to maintain
      two colored oriented bars in working memory. For visual search, we manipulated
      the probability that target had the same color as memorized items (0, 50, or
      100%). Participants knew the probabilities before the task. Target detection in
      100% match condition was faster than that in 50% match condition, indicating that
      participants used their knowledge of the probabilities. We found that the P3
      amplitude in 100% condition was larger than in other conditions and that
      contralateral delay activity amplitude did not vary across conditions. These
      results suggest that more attention was allocated to the memory items when
      observers knew in advance that their color would likely match a target. This led
      to better search performance despite using qualitatively equal working memory
      representations. 

PMID- 26872101
TI  - Improved Photoresponse Performance of Self-Powered ZnO/Spiro-MeOTAD
      Heterojunction Ultraviolet Photodetector by Piezo-Phototronic Effect.
AB  - Strain-induced piezoelectric potential (piezopotential) within wurtzite
      structured ZnO can engineer the energy-band structure at a contact or a junction
      and, thus, enhance the performance of corresponding optoelectronic devices by
      effectively tuning the charge carriers' separation and transport. Here, we report
      the fabrication of a flexible self-powered ZnO/Spiro-MeOTAD hybrid heterojunction
      ultraviolet photodetector (UV PD). The obtained device has a fast and stable
      response to the UV light illumination at zero bias. Together with responsivity
      and detectivity, the photocurrent can be increased about 1-fold upon applying a
      0.753% tensile strain. The enhanced performance can be attributed to more
      efficient separation and transport of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, which
      is favored by the positive piezopotential modulated energy-band structure at the
      ZnO-Spiro-MeOTAD interface. This study demonstrates a promising approach to
      optimize the performance of a photodetector made of piezoelectric semiconductor
      materials through straining. 

PMID- 26872104
TI  - Electrochemical functionalization of Au by aminobenzene and 2-aminotoluene.
AB  - Au surfaces are functionalized by aminobenzene (AB) and 2-aminotoluene (AT) using
      the electrochemical reduction of diazotized 1,4-diaminobenzene and 2,5
      diaminotoluene. The IR spectroscopic measurements reveal the successful
      modification of Au surfaces by AB and AT. Both types of layers show similar
      thicknesses as obtained by microgravimetric measurements via electrochemical
      quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). However, the faradaic efficiency for the
      grafting of AT onto an EQCM-Au sensor was 6% compared to 41% for the grafting of
      AB. This behavior points to a steric hindrance during the binding of AT to the
      EQCM surface induced by the additional methyl group present in the toluene
      derivative. The AB and AT functionalized surfaces have been further modified by
      the amidation reaction of EDC/NHS activated 4-nitrobenzoic acid. This model
      system reveals that the amidation reaction is slightly hindered in case of the AT
      layer due to the presence of the methyl group close to the amino group. This
      behavior leads to a four times less amount of amide bonds at the AT compared to
      AB modified Au surfaces as obtained from IR spectroscopic measurements. 

PMID- 26872103
TI  - Curcumin Ameliorates Reserpine-Induced Gastrointestinal Mucosal Lesions Through
      Inhibiting IkappaB-alpha/NF-kappaB Pathway and Regulating Expression of
      Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Gastrin in Rats.
AB  - The objective of our study was to investigate whether curcumin protects against
      reserpine-induced gastrointestinal mucosal lesions (GMLs) in rats and to explore
      the mechanism of curcumin's action. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided
      into four groups: control group, reserpine-treated group, reserpine treatment
      group with curcumin at high dose (200 mg/kg), and reserpine treatment group with
      curcumin at low dose (100 mg/kg). Rats in reserpine-treated group were induced by
      intraperitoneally administered reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) for 28 days. TUNEL staining
      and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate the apoptotic cells and
      morphologic changes. In addition, to explore the mechanism of curcumin in
      protecting GMLs, we used serum of experimental rats to assess the level of
      vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), gastrin, interleukin-6, interleukin-10,
      tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma by ELISA and radioimmunoassay.
      The protein levels of NF-kappaB, p-IkappaB-alpha, IkappaB-alpha, Bcl-2, Bax, and
      cleaved-caspase-3 were examined by western blot analysis. Data were analyzed with
      SPSS 19.0 software package. Curcumin treatment prevented tissue damage and cell
      death in the reserpine-treated rats and effectively decreased inflammatory
      response and balanced the expression of VIP and gastrin in the reserpine-treated
      rats. NF-kappaB, p-IkappaB-alpha, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 were increased in
      the reserpine group, but the curcumin high-dose group inhibited them. Curcumin
      can target the IkappaB-alpha/NF-kappaB pathway to inhibit inflammatory response
      and regulate the level of VIP and gastrin in reserpine-induced GML rats. 

PMID- 26872102
TI  - Time Course and Predictors of Structural Disease Progression in Pulmonary
      Metastases Arising from Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With the advent of molecular targeted therapy for the management of
      radioactive iodine (RAI) refractory, progressive metastatic thyroid cancer, it
      becomes important to define the time course and risk factors for structural
      disease progression in follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer (FCDTC) patients.
      This will help in defining the optimal time to start these therapies and better
      define their impact on structural disease progression. OBJECTIVES: This
      retrospective review of 199 consecutive patients with FCDTC presenting with lung
      metastasis examined the progression-free survival (PFS) in thyroid cancer
      patients with lung metastasis treated with surgery and RAI, and who had not
      received molecular targeted therapy or chemotherapy. RESULTS: The median overall
      survival (OS) was 10.45 years, while the median PFS was 3.65 years. A strong
      correlation was found between OS and PFS. PFS is shorter in patients with RAI
      refractory disease, poorly differentiated/Hurthle cell histologies, male sex,
      fluorodeoxyglucose-avid metastatic foci, older age (>45 years), and pulmonary
      metastases >1 cm. At final follow-up (a median of 6.9 years from lung metastasis
      diagnosis), 68% of the patients had progressed and 46% had died. CONCLUSIONS:
      With the exception of younger patients with low disease burden, most patients
      presenting with lung metastasis from FCDTC (RAI avid and RAI refractory) using
      standard-of-care approaches will have disease progression on long-term follow-up.
      Additional studies are needed to identify novel therapies that would improve the
      PFS of such patients.

PMID- 26872105
TI  - Optimizing diabetes control in people with Type 2 diabetes through nurse-led
      telecoaching.
AB  - AIMS: To study the effect of a target-driven telecoaching intervention on HbA1c
      and other modifiable risk factors in people with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We
      conducted a randomized controlled trial in patients receiving hypoglycaemic
      agents. The primary outcome was HbA1c level at 6 months in the entire sample and
      in a subgroup with HbA1c levels >= 53 mmol/mol (7%) at baseline. Secondary
      outcomes were HbA1c at 18 months; total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides,
      blood pressure, BMI and proportion of people who had achieved guideline
      recommended targets at 6 and 18 months. RESULTS: A total of 287 participants were
      randomized to telecoaching and 287 to usual care. The mean (sd) baseline HbA1c
      level was 53 (11) mmol/mol [7.0 (1.0)%] overall and 63 (10) mmol/mol [7.9 (0.9)%]
      in the elevated HbA1c subgroup. At 6 months, the between-group differences in
      favour of telecoaching were: HbA1c -2 (95% CI -4; -1) mmol/mol [-0.2 (95% CI 
      0.3;-0.1)%; P=0.003] overall and -4 (95% CI -7; -2) mmol/mol [-0.4 (95% CI -0.7; 
      0.2)%; P=0.001] in the elevated HbA1c subgroup; BMI -0.4 kg/m(2) (95% CI -0.6; 
      0.1; P=0.003); total cholesterol -6 mg/dl (95% CI -11; -1, P=0.012). The
      proportion of participants on target for the composite of HbA1c , LDL and blood
      pressure increased by 8.9% in the intervention group and decreased by 1.3% in the
      control group (P=0.011). At 18 months, the difference in HbA1c was: -2 (95% CI 
      3;-0) mmol/mol [-0.2 (95% CI -0.3; -0.0)%; P=0.046] overall and -4 (-7; -1)
      mmol/mol [-0.4 (95% CI -0.7; -0.1)%; P=0.023] in the elevated HbA1c subgroup.
      CONCLUSION: Nurse-led telecoaching improved glycaemic control, total cholesterol
      levels and BMI in people with Type 2 diabetes. Twelve months after the
      intervention completion, there were sustained improvements in glycaemic control.

PMID- 26872106
TI  - Change in plasma a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type-1
      repeats-13 and von Willebrand factor levels in venous thromboembolic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of morbidity and
      mortality. A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type-1 repeats
      13 (ADAMTS-13) is a metalloprotease that cleaves plasma von Willebrand factor
      (VWF) multimers. The presence of large VWF multimers in the plasma due to ADAMTS
      13 deficiency is the main factor in the pathogenesis of thrombotic
      thrombocytopenic purpura. The present study aimed to investigate the relation of
      plasma levels of ADAMTS-13 and VWF antigen with VTE. METHODS: The present study
      included 30 patients with VTE and age- and gender-matched 30 healthy subjects.
      Patients with any condition (diabetes, icterus, hyperlipidemia, physical, or
      surgical trauma, acute coronary syndrome, pregnancy, renal insufficiency, liver
      disease, malignancy, collagen tissue disease, chronic or acute inflammation, drug
      use affecting thrombocyte function) that could affect plasma VWF antigen or
      ADAMTS-13 levels were excluded. Plasma ADAMTS-13 and VWF antigen levels in the
      VTE and control groups were quantitatively determined by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The median ADAMTS-13 level was 280 ng/ml
      (minimum-maximum, 70-1120 ng/ml) in the VTE group and 665 ng/ml (minimum-maximum,
      350-2500 ng/ml) in the control group; the difference between the groups was
      significant (P < 0.0001). The mean VWF antigen level was 1750 +/- 616 mU/ml in
      the patient group, which was significantly higher than that of the control group
      (950 +/- 496 mU/ml) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Significantly lower ADAMTS-13
      levels and significantly higher VWF antigen levels were concluded to be the
      result of a pathological process rather than an etiological factor for VTE.

PMID- 26872107
TI  - Improving the Impact and Implementation of Disaster Education: Programs for
      Children Through Theory-Based Evaluation.
AB  - A main weakness in the evaluation of disaster education programs for children is
      evaluators' propensity to judge program effectiveness based on changes in
      children's knowledge. Few studies have articulated an explicit program theory of
      how children's education would achieve desired outcomes and impacts related to
      disaster risk reduction in households and communities. This article describes the
      advantages of constructing program theory models for the purpose of evaluating
      disaster education programs for children. Following a review of some potential
      frameworks for program theory development, including the logic model, the program
      theory matrix, and the stage step model, the article provides working examples of
      these frameworks. The first example is the development of a program theory matrix
      used in an evaluation of ShakeOut, an earthquake drill practiced in two
      Washington State school districts. The model illustrates a theory of action;
      specifically, the effectiveness of school earthquake drills in preventing
      injuries and deaths during disasters. The second example is the development of a
      stage step model used for a process evaluation of What's the Plan Stan?, a
      voluntary teaching resource distributed to all New Zealand primary schools for
      curricular integration of disaster education. The model illustrates a theory of
      use; specifically, expanding the reach of disaster education for children through
      increased promotion of the resource. The process of developing the program theory
      models for the purpose of evaluation planning is discussed, as well as the
      advantages and shortcomings of the theory-based approaches.

PMID- 26872109
TI  - Coadministration of ezetimibe with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin could
      improve early virological response in chronic hepatitis C obese Egyptian
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ezetimibe has been reported to inhibit viral entry and to reduce BMI
      and has been proposed as a novel therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis C (CHC),
      potentiating the effects of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV).
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of ezetimibe
      coadministration with peg-IFN/RBV combination on the early virological response
      (EVR) rates in nonobese and obese patients with CHC genotype 4 (CHC-4). PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: A total of 144 CHC-4 patients were divided into two groups; group 1
      included nonobese patients (n=76) and group 2 included obese patients (n=68).
      Each group was further subclassified into equal control and treated groups. The
      control groups received peg-IFN/RBV combination for 24 weeks, and the treated
      groups received peg-IFN/RBV plus ezetimibe for 12 weeks and then only peg-IFN/RBV
      for the remaining 12 weeks. RESULTS: The study revealed that EVR significantly
      improved in the obese patients (85.3 vs. 64.7% in the treated and control groups,
      respectively, at P<0.05) without any significant improvement in the nonobese
      patients. Biochemical responses (defined as normalization of alanine
      aminotransferase at week 12) were markedly improved in the treated groups in both
      the nonobese and obese groups compared with their respective controls.
      CONCLUSION: The addition of ezetimibe to peg-IFN/RBV combination significantly
      improves EVR rates in obese patients compared with nonobese patients, and
      remarkably improves the biochemical responses in both obese and nonobese patients
      with CHC-4. This may shed light on a new strategy for the treatment of CHC,
      particularly in obese Egyptian patients.

PMID- 26872108
TI  - Destruction of the World Trade Center Towers. Lessons Learned from an
      Environmental Health Disaster.
AB  - The assault and subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center towers in New York
      City on September 11, 2001 (9/11), released more than a million tons of debris
      and dust into the surrounding area, engulfing rescue workers as they rushed to
      aid those who worked in the towers, and the thousands of nearby civilians and
      children who were forced to flee. In December 2015, almost 15 years after the
      attack, and 5 years after first enactment, Congress reauthorized the James
      Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, a law designed to respond to the
      adverse health effects of the disaster. This reauthorization affords an
      opportunity to review human inhalation exposure science in relation to the World
      Trade Center collapse. In this Special Article, we compile observations regarding
      the collective medical response to the environmental health disaster with a focus
      on efforts to address the adverse health effects experienced by nearby community
      members including local residents and workers. We also analyze approaches to
      understanding the potential for health risk, characterization of hazardous
      materials, identification of populations at risk, and shortfalls in the medical
      response on behalf of the local community. Our overarching goal is to communicate
      lessons learned from the World Trade Center experience that may be applicable to
      communities affected by future environmental health disasters. The World Trade
      Center story demonstrates that communities lacking advocacy and preexisting
      health infrastructures are uniquely vulnerable to health disasters. Medical and
      public health personnel need to compensate for these vulnerabilities to mitigate
      long-term illness and suffering.

PMID- 26872111
TI  - Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: the tip of the obliterative portal
      venopathies iceberg?

PMID- 26872110
TI  - Primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with inflammatory bowel disease: an
      observational study in a Southern Europe population focusing on new therapeutic
      options.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver
      disease with a strong association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Medical
      treatment for PSC is still disappointing, whereas immunomodulators and biologics
      have been proven to be effective in IBD. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze (i)
      the natural history of patients with PSC with or without IBD and (ii) the long
      term efficacy of biologics in patients with PSC and concomitant IBD or
      rheumatological disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 92
      consecutive PSC patients, 50 (54.3%) men and 42 (45.7%) women, with a mean age of
      32.0+/-14.3 years at diagnosis and a mean follow-up duration of 103.8+/-86
      months. Forty-nine (53.3%) patients had associated IBD (38 ulcerative colitis, 10
      Crohn's disease, one indeterminate colitis). RESULTS: No significant differences
      were found between PSC patients with and without associated IBD in terms of liver
      transplantation, cancer, and death rates. Cholangiocarcinoma was only identified
      among patients with PSC alone, whereas other cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma,
      colorectal, and gallbladder cancer) were found only in the group with associated
      IBD. Five PSC patients were treated with biologic agents: three with adalimumab
      and one with infliximab for IBD or for rheumatoid arthritis, and one patient with
      rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis. Adalimumab decreased alkaline phosphatase in
      two of three patients after 6 and 12 months, infliximab reduced gamma
      glutamyltransferase after 6 and 12 months, but liver function tests tended to
      deteriorate thereafter. Cholangiography changes remained stable in all patients.
      CONCLUSION: Biologic agents may improve liver function tests in PSC patients, but
      may be associated with adverse events including deterioration of liver function.

PMID- 26872112
TI  - A Naturalistic Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Extended-Release Metformin
      to Prevent Weight Gain Associated With Olanzapine in a US Community-Dwelling
      Population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This 24-week pilot study assessed the efficacy, tolerability, and
      safety of adjunctive metformin versus placebo for the prevention of olanzapine
      associated weight gain in community-dwelling adult patients with schizophrenia,
      schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression with psychotic
      features. METHODS: In a double-blind study, 25 patients were randomly assigned to
      receive 24 weeks of either olanzapine plus metformin or olanzapine plus placebo.
      Metformin extended release was titrated to 2000 mg daily as tolerated. No other
      antipsychotics were allowed, whereas psychotropic medications including
      antidepressants and mood stabilizers were permitted. The primary outcome measures
      were change in body weight and homeostatic model assessment for insulin
      resistance from baseline to week 24. RESULTS: The intent-to-treat population
      comprised patients who had 1 or more post-baseline visit. Mean change in body
      weight for the olanzapine plus metformin (O/M) group was 5.5 lb, which was less
      than the 12.8 lb gain for the olanzapine plus placebo (O/P) group (P < 0.05).
      Compared with O/P group who gained 7% of their body weight, patients in the O/M
      group gained 3% (P < 0.037). Body mass index change in the O/M group was 0.85
      versus 2.02 in the O/P group (P < 0.045). There was a trend for a greater
      increase in baseline to end point homeostatic model assessment for insulin
      resistance and waist circumference in the O/P group versus the O/M group.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this naturalistic sample of typical US community-dwelling
      patients, metformin was effective and well tolerated for the prevention of
      olanzapine-associated weight gain. Adjunctive metformin should be studied in a
      similar but larger population to determine its role in the prevention of
      olanzapine-associated weight gain.

PMID- 26872113
TI  - Impact of Pharmacogenetic Markers of CYP2D6 and DRD2 on Prolactin Response in
      Risperidone-Treated Thai Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify the impact of pharmacogenetic
      markers associated with prolactin concentration in risperidone-treated children
      and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. METHODS: One hundred forty-seven
      children and adolescents with autism, aged 3 to 19 years, received risperidone.
      The clinical data of patients were recorded from medical records. Prolactin
      levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Three CYP2D6 single
      nucleotide polymorphisms, CYP2D6*4 (1846G>A), *10 (100C>T), and *41 (2988G>A), 1
      gene deletion (*5), and DRD2 Taq1A (rs1800497) polymorphism were genotyped by
      TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The 3 common allelic
      frequencies were CYP2D6*10 (55.10%), *1 (32.65%), and *5 (6.12%), respectively.
      Patients were grouped according to their CYP2D6 genotypes. There was no
      significant correlation between the concentrations of prolactin among the CYP2D6
      genotypes. In addition, there were no statistical differences in the prolactin
      response among the CYP2D6-predicted phenotypes of extensive metabolizer and
      intermediate metabolizer. The DRD2 genotype frequencies were Taq1A A2A2 (38.77%),
      A1A2 (41.50%), and A1A1 (19.73%), respectively. There were statistically
      significant differences in prolactin level of patients among the 3 groups (P =
      0.033). The median prolactin level in patients with DRD2 Taq1A A2A2 (17.80 ng/mL)
      was significantly higher than A1A2 (17.10 ng/mL) and A1A1 (12.70 ng/mL).
      CONCLUSIONS: DRD2 Taq1A A2A2 polymorphisms may play a significant role in the
      hyperprolactinemia- associated with risperidone treatment in children and
      adolescent with autism spectrum disorder. Many drugs used chronically in
      psychiatric diseases exert their effects mainly through the dopamine D2 receptor.
      It is therefore possible that these drugs could alter the expression of any
      dopamine receptor, thus affecting the pharmacodynamics characteristics and
      toxicity of drug substrates during pharmacotherapy.

PMID- 26872114
TI  - Risk of New-Onset Diabetes After Long-Term Treatment With Clozapine in Comparison
      to Other Antipsychotics in Patients With Schizophrenia.
AB  - It has been suggested that clozapine has one of the largest diabetic effects of
      all atypical antipsychotics. To confirm these findings, we examined
      retrospectively the risk of new-onset diabetes in long-term clozapine treatment
      compared to treatment with other antipsychotics in a matched control population
      with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Ninety-four adult patients with
      schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who had been treated with clozapine for
      5 years or longer were matched on age, diagnosis, and sex to 94 patients without
      any use of clozapine. The groups were followed up for as long as 20 years. The
      cumulative incidence of new detection of diabetes in the clozapine group was
      22.3% (mean follow-up, 12.3 years; absolute risk difference, 6.3%; 95% confidence
      interval, -4.9% to 17.5%). An additional rigorous analysis of the 83 matched
      pairs with normal glucose measurement before end point showed a significant risk
      difference between the 2 groups (21.7% compared with 8.4%) but may have been
      biased against clozapine. We conclude that definitive evidence showing a
      clinically significant larger risk for new-onset diabetes after long-term
      treatment with clozapine in comparison to other antipsychotics is lacking. 

PMID- 26872115
TI  - Predicting Weight Gain in Patients Treated With Clozapine: The Role of Sex, Body
      Mass Index, and Smoking.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Weight gain on clozapine is highly variable and poorly predictable.
      Its mechanisms are not well understood. This study explores the factors that
      predict weight gain between 3 and 12 months of clozapine therapy in community
      dwelling patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit of patients
      attending an outpatient clozapine clinic. Weight change from 3 to 12 months of
      therapy was recorded, expressed as a percentage of the 3-month weight. Univariate
      analyses compared percent weight change according to sex, smoking status, country
      of birth, and baseline body mass index. Correlations between weight gain, age,
      and clozapine dose were explored. A general linear model identified independent
      predictors of weight gain. RESULTS: The mean weight change from 3 to 12 months in
      117 patients was +3.1% (range, -17% to +30%). Females gained more weight than
      males (+5.5% vs +1.3%, P = 0.01), smokers gained more than nonsmokers (+5.1% vs
      +1.2%, P = 0.02), and obese patients gained less than normal or overweight
      individuals (0.15% vs 4.6% and 5.2%, respectively, P = 0.01). Age and clozapine
      dose had no relation to weight change. On multivariate analysis, baseline BMI and
      smoking status remained independent predictors of percent weight change in
      females. These 2 predictors explained 25% of weight change in females in the
      first 3 to 12 months of therapy. These associations were not observed in males.
      CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that smoking affects weight change by promoting
      clozapine metabolism to norclozapine via cytochrome P450 enzymes. Verifying this
      hypothesis and exploring the mechanisms underpinning the sex dichotomy are areas
      for further research.

PMID- 26872116
TI  - Eosinophilia Associated With Olanzapine.

PMID- 26872118
TI  - The Delirium Related to Oral Paliperidone in Dementia: A Case Report.

PMID- 26872119
TI  - A Case Report of Camptocormia Coinciding With Olanzapine Use.

PMID- 26872117
TI  - Systematic Review of Pharmacological and Behavioral Treatments for Skin Picking
      Disorder.
AB  - Skin picking disorder (SPD) is a newly recognized psychiatric disorder in
      Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. A
      systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy of pharmacological and
      behavioral interventions for SPD. Electronic databases were searched for
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or uncontrolled trials involving at least 10
      subjects that examined the efficacy of pharmacological and behavioral
      interventions for SPD. We examined the improvement associated with interventions
      compared with inactive control conditions in RCTs and improvement over time in
      uncontrolled trials and within the treatment arms of RCTs. We stratified studies
      on the basis of intervention type. Meta-analysis included 11 studies. All
      interventions (including inactive control conditions) demonstrated significant
      improvement over the course of short-term clinical trials in SPD. Only behavioral
      treatments demonstrated significant benefits compared with inactive control
      conditions. There was no evidence from RCTs that pharmacotherapy with selective
      serotonin reuptake inhibitors or lamotrigine were more effective at treating SPD
      than placebo. Our meta-analysis suggests that subjects with SPD show significant
      improvement during short-term trials, regardless of the efficacy of the
      underlying intervention. This finding suggests that uncontrolled trials are of
      particularly limited utility for assessing efficacy of treatments in SPD. Future
      research should concentrate on developing larger placebo-controlled RCTs to
      examine efficacy of novel pharmacological agents. In addition, research should
      focus on improving accessibility of behavioral treatments with demonstrated
      efficacy for SPD. 

PMID- 26872120
TI  - Clozapine Underutilization in the Treatment of Schizophrenia: How Can Clozapine
      Prescription Rates Be Improved?

PMID- 26872121
TI  - Reply to Comments From Dr Lozano, et al--Concerning the Prevalence of Lithium
      Associated Hyperparathyroidism.

PMID- 26872122
TI  - Electrochemical Deposition of Azobenzene-Containing Network Films with High
      Contrast and Stable Photoresponse.
AB  - To fabricate stable photoresponsive films and devices, a cross-linked network
      that firmly fixes the position of the chromophores is an ideal structure, because
      aggregation and/or phase separation effects of chromophores in matrix can be
      effectively restrained in such robust films. Herein, the in situ electrochemical
      deposition (ED) of azo-based precursors containing multielectroactive carbazole
      units is utilized to construct highly cross-linked photoresponsive films. 2-(4
      (9,9-bis(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-(9,9-bis(6-(9H
      carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H-fluoren-7-yl)phenyl)diazene (BFCzAzo) with high
      solvability in electrolyte solution, high electroactivity, and highly efficient
      photoresponsive ability is synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction as a kind of
      ED precursor. A highly cross-linked photoresponsive film is fabricated by ED
      method using BFCzAzo as ED precursor. The film can be patterned in large area by
      irradiation with interfering laser beam (355 nm), and the pattern possesses
      excellent thermal stability and insoluble ability in both organic and inorganic
      solvents. Excellent reversibility of the nanostructures is demonstrated by
      irradiation with 550 nm laser beam. 

PMID- 26872123
TI  - A pilot trial of brief group cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia in an
      adult cancer survivorship program.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-Insomnia) is
      effective, yet rarely available for cancer survivors. This is unfortunate because
      survivors are at elevated risk for insomnia, which is associated with significant
      health consequences in this already at-risk population. Barriers to delivering
      CBT-Insomnia in oncology settings include a lack of trained providers, distance
      to cancer centers, and treatment duration. PURPOSE: To address insomnia treatment
      barriers, we adapted standard CBT-Insomnia treatment and evaluated a pilot group
      based approach for feasibility and efficacy in an adult cancer survivorship
      program. METHODS: Thirty-eight cancer survivors (mean age = 52.2 years) enrolled
      in our three-session program delivered over 1 month. They were primarily
      diagnosed with breast cancer (58.6%) and were an average of 6.0 years post
      diagnosis and 3.6 years post-treatment. Participants completed sleep logs
      throughout the study and measures of sleep at baseline and week 4. RESULTS:
      Participants reported experiencing insomnia symptoms an average of 2.4 years,
      with 89.7% indicating that the cancer experience had caused/exacerbated symptoms.
      Significant pre/post-intervention group improvements in sleep efficiency (77.3%
      to 88.5%), sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms were reported (all ps < .01).
      Less than 1 in 3 had discussed insomnia symptoms with their oncology providers in
      the prior year. CONCLUSIONS: Pilot data indicate that a brief, group-based CBT
      Insomnia intervention in a survivorship setting is both feasible and efficacious.
      There is a need to increase awareness about insomnia and its treatment among both
      cancer survivors and oncology providers. If validated in future studies, this
      novel approach can improve cancer survivors' access to much needed insomnia
      treatment. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26872124
TI  - Fully unsupervised inter-individual IR spectral histology of paraffinized tissue
      sections of normal colon.
AB  - In label-free Fourier-transform infrared histology, spectral images are
      individually recorded from tissue sections, pre-processed and clustered. Each
      single resulting color-coded image is annotated by a pathologist to obtain the
      best possible match with tissue structures revealed after Hematoxylin-Eosin
      staining. However, the main limitations of this approach are the empirical choice
      of the number of clusters in unsupervised classification, and the marked color
      heterogeneity between the clustered spectral images. Here, using normal murine
      and human colon tissues, we developed an automatic multi-image spectral histology
      to simultaneously analyze a set of spectral images (8 images mice samples and 72
      images human ones). This procedure consisted of a joint Extended Multiplicative
      Signal Correction (EMSC) to numerically deparaffinize the tissue sections,
      followed by an automated joint K-Means (KM) clustering using the hierarchical
      double application of Pakhira-Bandyopadhyay-Maulik (PBM) validity index. Using
      this procedure, the main murine and human colon histological structures were
      correctly identified at both the intra- and the inter-individual levels,
      especially the crypts, secreted mucus, lamina propria and submucosa. Here, we
      show that batched multi-image spectral histology procedure is insensitive to the
      reference spectrum but highly sensitive to the paraffin model of joint EMSC. In
      conclusion, combining joint EMSC and joint KM clustering by double PBM
      application allows to achieve objective and automated batched multi-image
      spectral histology.

PMID- 26872125
TI  - Studies of the structure and phase transitions of nano-confined pentanedithiol
      and its application in directing hierarchical molecular assemblies on Au(1 1 1).
AB  - Directing molecular devices into pre-designed integrated electronic circuits
      while enforcing selectivity and hierarchy is an inherent challenge for molecular
      electronics. Here we explore ways to direct the assembly of electrically-active
      molecular monolayers into specific locations as well as controlling their
      internal organization. We have accomplished this by two consecutive surface
      reactions: (1) forming pentanedithiol (C5DT) domains within an inert alkanethiol
      self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on Au; and (2) selectively binding porphyrin
      derivatives to the C5DT domains. The C5DT domains were fabricated by phase
      segregation during co-adsorption from a mixed C5DT/dodecanethiol (C12) solution
      and nanografting with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). AFM revealed that co
      absorbed and nanografted C5DT domains were in a standing-up phase and scanning
      tunneling microscopy (STM) showed that their molecular organization within about
      5 nm, 40 nm, 50 nm and 120 nm domains, was dependent upon the size of the domain,
      such that structure of the C5DT transitions from (?3  *  ?3) R30 degrees , to (2 
      *  2), and ultimately to a disordered phase with increasing domain size. This is
      due to the varying degrees of influence of the surrounding C12; providing
      sufficient van der Waals interactions as well as a geometric confinement to
      stabilize the standing-up phase of the C5DT. Understanding the molecular
      configuration of dithiol SAMs affords their use as a reactive template to
      subsequently bind active head groups. As a proof of principle, porphyrins with a
      pendant pentafluorophenyl ring were attached to the C5DT domains by a 'click'
      reaction between the fluorinated ring and the free thiol on the surface. From AFM
      and STM, these porphyrin derivatives reacted selectively with the C5DT domains
      with some porphyrins binding directly to the C5DT, subsequently allowing
      additional localized porphyrin deposition through pi-stacking.

PMID- 26872126
TI  - Macrophage CGI-58 Attenuates Inflammatory Responsiveness via Promotion of
      PPARgamma Signaling.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58), an adipose
      triglyceride lipase (ATGL) coactivator, strongly promotes ATGL-mediated
      triglyceride (TG) catabolism. Beyond its function in promoting lipolysis, other
      features of CGI-58 have been proposed. Here, we investigated the role of CGI-58
      in the regulation of inflammatory responsiveness in macrophages. METHODS:
      Macrophage-specific GCI-58 transgenic mice (TG) and wild type mice (WT) were fed
      a high fat diet (HFD), and RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS). The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling was
      detected. The inflammatory responsiveness and mitochondrial function were
      examined. RESULTS: TG mice showed lower serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines
      and better mitochondrial function in macrophages compared with WT control.
      Knockdown of CGI-58 in RAW264.7 cells aggravated LPS-induced inflammation and
      mitochondrial dysfunction. CGI-58 overexpression and silencing in macrophages
      induced and inhibited PPARgamma expression and activity, respectively. Most
      importantly, the PPARgamma-specific agonist rosiglitazone significantly
      suppressed inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by CGI-58
      deficiency. Furthermore, knockdown of PPARgamma in macrophages significantly
      dampened the role of CGI-58 in suppression of inflammation and mitochondrial
      dysfunction. Interestingly, CGI-58 inhibited histone deacetylation and the
      recruitment of histone deacetylase (HDAC) to the PPARgamma promoter. Finally,
      ATGL deficiency did not affect inflammatory responsiveness and PPARgamma
      signaling in macrophages. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that macrophage
      CGI-58 enhances PPARgamma signaling and thus suppresses inflammatory
      responsiveness and mitochondrial dysfunction.

PMID- 26872127
TI  - Analysis of bacterial community profiles of endodontically infected primary teeth
      using pyrosequencing.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the endodontic microbiome in
      primary teeth with dental caries using high-throughput pyrosequencing and to
      establish data on the oral microbiome of primary teeth with endodontic infection.
      METHODS: Ten primary teeth with dental caries and endodontic infection were
      included. Samples were collected from root canals using sterilized paper points
      and analyzed by pyrosequencing, based on the V1-V3 hypervariable region of the
      16S rRNA gene. The data were analyzed using the CLcommunity software. RESULTS:
      Analysis of the 10 samples yielded a total of 64,291 16S rRNA gene sequences. In
      total, 1586 OTUs (range, 91-235), six bacterial phyla, including unclassified,
      and 187 genera were assigned. At the genus level, Neisseria (group A),
      Acinetobacter (group B), and Fusobacterium (group C) were prominent. These
      predominant microorganisms were associated with the clinical condition and
      reflected the progression of endodontic infection in primary teeth. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study revealed a relationship between the oral microbiome and endodontic
      infection in primary teeth. Additionally, anaerobic bacteria such as
      Fusobacterium species were dominant in the teeth with apical abscesses.

PMID- 26872128
TI  - Surgical Debridement Is Superior to Sole Antibiotic Therapy in a Novel Murine
      Posttraumatic Osteomyelitis Model.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Bone infections after trauma, i.e. posttraumatic osteomyelitis,
      pose one of the biggest problems of orthopedic surgery. Even after sufficient
      clinical therapy including vast debridement of infected bone and antibiotic
      treatment, regeneration of postinfectious bone seems to be restricted. One
      explanation includes the large sized defects resulting from sufficient
      debridement. Furthermore, it remains unclear if inflammatory processes after bone
      infection do affect bone regeneration. For continuing studies in this field, an
      animal model is needed where bone regeneration after sufficient treatment can be
      studied in detail. METHODS: For this purpose we created a stable infection in
      murine tibiae by Staphylococcus aureus inoculation. Thereafter, osteomyelitic
      bones were debrided thoroughly and animals were subsequently treated with
      antibiotics. Controls included debrided, non-infected, as well as infected
      animals exclusively treated with antibiotics. To verify sufficient treatment of
      infected bone, different assessments detecting S. aureus were utilized: agar
      plates, histology and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: All three detection methods revealed
      massive reduction or eradication of S. aureus within debrided bones 1 and 2 weeks
      postoperatively, whereas sole antibiotic therapy could not provide sufficient
      treatment of osteomyelitic bones. Debrided, previously infected bones showed
      significantly decreased bone formation, compared to debrided, non-infected
      controls. DISCUSSION: Thus, the animal model presented herein provides a reliable
      and fascinating tool to study posttraumatic osteomyelitis for clinical therapies.

PMID- 26872129
TI  - A Computational Cognitive Biomarker for Early-Stage Huntington's Disease.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is genetically determined but with variability in
      symptom onset, leading to uncertainty as to when pharmacological intervention
      should be initiated. Here we take a computational approach based on
      neurocognitive phenotyping, computational modeling, and classification, in an
      effort to provide quantitative predictors of HD before symptom onset. A large
      sample of subjects-consisting of both pre-manifest individuals carrying the HD
      mutation (pre-HD), and early symptomatic-as well as healthy controls performed
      the antisaccade conflict task, which requires executive control and response
      inhibition. While symptomatic HD subjects differed substantially from controls in
      behavioral measures [reaction time (RT) and error rates], there was no such clear
      behavioral differences in pre-HD. RT distributions and error rates were fit with
      an accumulator-based model which summarizes the computational processes involved
      and which are related to identified mechanisms in more detailed neural models of
      prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. Classification based on fitted model
      parameters revealed a key parameter related to executive control differentiated
      pre-HD from controls, whereas the response inhibition parameter declined only
      after symptom onset. These findings demonstrate the utility of computational
      approaches for classification and prediction of brain disorders, and provide
      clues as to the underlying neural mechanisms. 

PMID- 26872130
TI  - Centering the Organizing Center in the Arabidopsis thaliana Shoot Apical Meristem
      by a Combination of Cytokinin Signaling and Self-Organization.
AB  - Plants have the ability to continously generate new organs by maintaining
      populations of stem cells throught their lives. The shoot apical meristem (SAM)
      provides a stable environment for the maintenance of stem cells. All cells inside
      the SAM divide, yet boundaries and patterns are maintained. Experimental evidence
      indicates that patterning is independent of cell lineage, thus a dynamic self
      regulatory mechanism is required. A pivotal role in the organization of the SAM
      is played by the WUSCHEL gene (WUS). An important question in this regard is that
      how WUS expression is positioned in the SAM via a cell-lineage independent
      signaling mechanism. In this study we demonstrate via mathematical modeling that
      a combination of an inhibitor of the Cytokinin (CK) receptor, Arabidopsis
      histidine kinase 4 (AHK4) and two morphogens originating from the top cell layer,
      can plausibly account for the cell lineage-independent centering of WUS
      expression within SAM. Furthermore, our laser ablation and microsurgical
      experiments support the hypothesis that patterning in SAM occurs at the level of
      CK reception and signaling. The model suggests that the interplay between CK
      signaling, WUS/CLV feedback loop and boundary signals can account for positioning
      of the WUS expression, and provides directions for further experimental
      investigation. 

PMID- 26872131
TI  - Bacteremia in Children Hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The risk of bacteremia is considered low in children with acute
      bronchiolitis. However the rate of occult bacteremia in infants with RSV
      infection is not well established. The aim was to determine the actual rate and
      predictive factors of bacteremia in children admitted to hospital due to
      confirmed RSV acute respiratory illness (ARI), using both conventional culture
      and molecular techniques. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study (GENDRES
      network) was conducted between 2011-2013 in children under the age of two
      admitted to hospital because of an ARI. Among those RSV-positive, bacterial
      presence in blood was assessed using PCR for Meningococcus, Streptococcus
      pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus,
      in addition to conventional cultures. RESULTS: 66 children with positive RSV
      respiratory illness were included. In 10.6% patients, bacterial presence was
      detected: H. influenzae (n = 4) and S. pneumoniae (n = 2). In those patients with
      bacteremia, there was a previous suspicion of bacterial superinfection and had
      received empirical antibiotic treatment 6 out of 7 (85.7%) patients. There were
      significant differences in terms of severity between children with positive
      bacterial PCR and those with negative results: PICU admission (100% vs. 50%, P
      value = 0.015); respiratory support necessity (100% vs. 18.6%, P-value < 0.001);
      Wood-Downes score (mean = 8.7 vs. 4.8 points, P-value < 0.001); GENVIP scale
      (mean = 17 vs. 10.1, P-value < 0.001); and length of hospitalization (mean = 12.1
      vs. 7.5 days, P-value = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Bacteremia is not frequent in infants
      hospitalized with RSV respiratory infection, however, it should be considered in
      the most severe cases.

PMID- 26872132
TI  - Thymoquinone Rescues T Lymphocytes from Gamma Irradiation-Induced Apoptosis and
      Exhaustion by Modulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Levels and PD-1, Bax, and Bcl
      2 Signaling.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have shown that thymoquinone (TQ) exerts
      protective effects against ionizing radiation-induced cataracts in lens after
      total cranium irradiation of rats. Nevertheless, there is no published work
      investigated the effects of TQ on T cell development and biology in animal models
      exposed to gamma radiation. Therefore, in the present study we focused on
      determining the effects of TQ on radiation damage in the thymus, radiation
      induced T cell imbalance, and on immune dysfunction induced by gamma-rays.
      METHODS: Three groups of rats were used: a control group, a gamma-irradiated
      group, and a gamma-irradiated group that was orally supplemented with TQ. Serum
      lipid profiles, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokine
      levels were measured to assess gamma irradiation-induced oxidative stress and
      inflammatory capacity. T cell apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V/propidium
      iodide staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. The expression of pro
      apoptotic proteins such as Bax and caspase-3, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2,
      and an exhaustion marker of T cells (PD-1) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations
      was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis. The T cell architecture of the
      thymus gland was evaluated by histological analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to gamma
      radiation increased triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C, MDA, TNF-alpha and IL-6
      levels and decreased HDL-C levels. The altered lipid profile and MDA and pro
      inflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha and IL-6) levels induced by exposure to gamma
      radiation were significantly restored in TQ-treated gamma-irradiated rats. Rats
      exposed to gamma radiation exhibited increased exhaustion of T lymphocytes via
      down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and upregulation of PD-1, Bax, and caspase-3
      expression, which sensitized these cells to apoptosis. Interestingly, treatment
      of gamma-irradiated rats with TQ decreased T cell exhaustion and apoptosis by
      modulating the expression of Bcl-2, PD-1, Bax, and caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results provide evidence for the beneficial effects of TQ as an effective
      radioprotective candidate that enhances cellular immunity.

PMID- 26872133
TI  - Effect of Evodiamine on CYP Enzymes in Rats by a Cocktail Method.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the influence of evodiamine on the activities
      of the drug-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19,
      CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 in rats. The activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and
      CYP3A4 were measured using specific probe drugs. After pretreatment for 1 week
      with evodiamine or physiological saline (control group) by oral administration,
      probe drugs phenacetin (5.0 mg/kg; CYP1A2 activity), tolbutamide (1.0 mg/kg;
      CYP2C9 activity), omeprazole (10 mg/kg; CYP2C19 activity), metoprolol (20 mg/kg;
      CYP2D6 activity) and midazolam (10 mg/kg; CYP3A4 activity) were administered to
      rats by oral administration. The blood was then collected at different times for
      ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The
      data showed that evodiamine exhibits an inhibitory effect on CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and
      CYP2D6 by increasing t(1/2), Cmax and AUC(0-infinity), and decreasing CL/F
      compared with those of the control group. However, no significant changes in
      CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 activities were observed. In conclusion, the results indicated
      that evodiamine could inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6, which may affect the
      disposition of medicines primarily dependent on these pathways. Our work may be
      the basis of related herb-drug interactions in the clinic.

PMID- 26872135
TI  - Correction: Blimp-1-Dependent IL-10 Production by Tr1 Cells Regulates TNF
      Mediated Tissue Pathology.

PMID- 26872136
TI  - Do Not Divide Count Data with Count Data; A Story from Pollination Ecology with
      Implications Beyond.
AB  - Studies in ecology are often describing observed variations in a certain
      ecological phenomenon by use of environmental explanatory variables. A common
      problem is that the numerical nature of the ecological phenomenon does not always
      fit the assumptions underlying traditional statistical tests. A text book example
      comes from pollination ecology where flower visits are normally reported as
      frequencies; number of visits per flower per unit time. Using visitation
      frequencies in statistical analyses comes with two major caveats: the lack of
      knowledge on its error distribution and that it does not include all information
      found in the data; 10 flower visits in 20 flowers is treated the same as
      recording 100 visits in 200 flowers. We simulated datasets with various "flower
      visitation distributions" over various numbers of flowers observed (exposure) and
      with different types of effects inducing variation in the data. The different
      datasets were then analyzed first with the traditional approach using number of
      visits per flower and then by using count data models. The analysis of count data
      gave a much better chance of detecting effects than the traditionally used
      frequency approach. We conclude that if the data structure, statistical analyses
      and interpretations of results are mixed up, valuable information can be lost. 

PMID- 26872134
TI  - A Microfluidic Channel Method for Rapid Drug-Susceptibility Testing of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - The recent global increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and
      lack of development of new therapeutic agents emphasize the importance of
      selecting appropriate antimicrobials for the treatment of infections. However, to
      date, the development of completely accelerated drug susceptibility testing
      methods has not been achieved despite the availability of a rapid identification
      method. We proposed an innovative rapid method for drug susceptibility testing
      for Pseudomonas aeruginosa that provides results within 3 h. The drug
      susceptibility testing microfluidic (DSTM) device was prepared using soft
      lithography. It consisted of five sets of four microfluidic channels sharing one
      inlet slot, and the four channels are gathered in a small area, permitting
      simultaneous microscopic observation. Antimicrobials were pre-introduced into
      each channel and dried before use. Bacterial suspensions in cation-adjusted
      Mueller-Hinton broth were introduced from the inlet slot and incubated for 3 h.
      Susceptibilities were microscopically evaluated on the basis of differences in
      cell numbers and shapes between drug-treated and control cells, using dedicated
      software. The results of 101 clinically isolated strains of P. aeruginosa
      obtained using the DSTM method strongly correlated with results obtained using
      the ordinary microbroth dilution method. Ciprofloxacin, meropenem, ceftazidime,
      and piperacillin caused elongation in susceptible cells, while meropenem also
      induced spheroplast and bulge formation. Morphological observation could
      alternatively be used to determine the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to these
      drugs, although amikacin had little effect on cell shape. The rapid determination
      of bacterial drug susceptibility using the DSTM method could also be applicable
      to other pathogenic species, and it could easily be introduced into clinical
      laboratories without the need for expensive instrumentation. 

PMID- 26872137
TI  - Phytochemical Screening, Antidepressant and Analgesic Effects of Aqueous Extract
      of Anethum graveolens L. From Southeast of Morocco.
AB  - This study aims to investigate the antidepressant and analgesic properties of the
      aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens L. from South of Morocco (Rissani
      Errachidia region). Extract of plant is obtained by aqueous decoction and
      administered to Wistar rats orally. The extract has a significant antidepressant
      and analgesic effects compared with the drug references (sertraline and tramadol)
      without any adverse effects. The dose of 250 mg/kg, body weight shows the best
      antidepressant and analgesic effects than 1 g/kg, body weight. Phytochemical
      study of the aqueous extract of the plant has to show its highlight in
      polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins.

PMID- 26872138
TI  - Comparison of Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and
      Immunosuppressive Therapy for the Treatment of Acquired Severe Aplastic Anemia in
      Pediatric Patients.
AB  - This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between haploidentical
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HHCT) and immunosuppressive therapy
      (IST) for the treatment of pediatric acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The
      clinical data of 28 children with SAA treated from June 2010 to October 2014 at
      our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 18 were treated
      with HHCT and 10 with IST. The median follow-up time was 23.5 months (range, 3-52
      months). There was no significant difference in overall survival rate between the
      HHCT group and the IST group (66.7% vs. 70%, P > 0.05). Graft-versus-host disease
      occurred in 83.3% (15/18) of the HHCT group, including 5 cases with grade III or
      higher. In comparison with IST, HHCT has similar efficacy and safety profiles in
      the treatment of pediatric SAA.

PMID- 26872139
TI  - A Topical Medication of All-Trans Retinoic Acid Reduces Sebum Excretion Rate in
      Patients With Forehead Acne.
AB  - Acne is a disease of the hair follicles of the face, chest, and back that affects
      almost all teenagers during puberty. This study is conducted to investigate if
      all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) could reduce sebum excretion rate (SER) in acne
      patients by influencing content of skin-surface lipid production. Thirty-nine
      patients with forehead acne were topically treated with cream base (vehicle) and
      0.025% ATRA cream once a night for 7 days. Separation and identification of sebum
      production collected from the skin on the acne were performed using thin-layer
      chromatography. SER was calculated according to the total amount of individual
      sebum productions that were quantified by using Alphaimager IS-2200 imaging
      analysis. Our data showed that the value of SER on the acne-affected skin was
      significantly decreased in the ATRA-treated patients as compared with ones
      treated with vehicle (P < 0.01). Treatment with ATRA resulted in inducing
      significant decreases in the contents of wax esters (WE), triglycerides and fatty
      acids, and free fatty acids (FFA) productions (all P < 0.01). In further
      analysis, the changes in the data before and after treatments with vehicle and
      ATRA were compared with significant differences exhibited in the values of SER,
      WE, and FFA (all P < 0.05). This study indicates that the topical application of
      ATRA in treatment of acne patients induces decrease in SER by inhibiting the
      excretion of WE and FFA productions.

PMID- 26872140
TI  - Development of Antibiotic Resistance during Simulated Treatment of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa in Chemostats.
AB  - During treatment of infections with antibiotics in critically ill patients in the
      intensive care resistance often develops. This study aims to establish whether
      under those conditions this resistance can develop de novo or that genetic
      exchange between bacteria is by necessity involved. Chemostat cultures of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exposed to treatment regimes with ceftazidime and
      meropenem that simulated conditions expected in patient plasma. Development of
      antibiotic resistance was monitored and mutations in resistance genes were
      searched for by sequencing PCR products. Even at the highest concentrations that
      can be expected in patients, sufficient bacteria survived in clumps of
      filamentous cells to recover and grow out after 3 to 5 days. At the end of a 7
      days simulated treatment, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) had
      increased by a factor between 10 and 10,000 depending on the antibiotic and the
      treatment protocol. The fitness costs of resistance were minimal. In the
      resistant strains, only three mutations were observed in genes associated with
      beta-lactam resistance. The development of resistance often observed during
      patient treatment can be explained by de novo acquisition of resistance and
      genetic exchange of resistance genes is not by necessity involved. As far as
      conclusions based on an in vitro study using P. aeruginosa and only two
      antibiotics can be generalized, it seems that development of resistance can be
      minimized by treating with antibiotics in the highest concentration the patient
      can endure for the shortest time needed to eliminate the infection. 

PMID- 26872141
TI  - Prevention of laryngospasm with rocuronium in cats: a dose-finding study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the dose of rocuronium that will prevent a laryngeal
      response to water spraying of the glottis in anesthetized cats. STUDY DESIGN:
      Randomized crossover study. ANIMALS: Eight healthy, adult, short-haired cats,
      aged 1-4 years, weighing 3.2-6.0 kg. METHODS: Each cat was anesthetized four
      times and administered one of four doses of rocuronium (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.6 mg
      kg(-1) ) in random order. The larynx was observed with a video-endoscope inserted
      through a laryngeal mask airway. Video-clips of the laryngeal response to a
      sterile water spray (0.2 mL) were obtained at baseline (without rocuronium) and
      at maximal effect of each treatment. Glottal closure score (0-2), duration of
      glottal closure, and number of adductive arytenoid movements were obtained from
      video-clips of laryngeal responses (reproduced in slow motion) at baseline and
      after treatment. Two observers blinded to treatment allocation scored the vigor
      of the laryngeal response on a visual analog scale (VAS). The duration of apnea
      (up to 5 minutes) was recorded for each treatment. RESULTS: Compared with
      baseline, rocuronium 0.3 mg kg(-1) and 0.6 mg kg(-1) significantly decreased all
      glottal scores obtained from the videos (all p < 0.03). Both observers gave lower
      VAS scores after 0.3 mg kg(-1) (both p = 0.015). Apnea lasting >= 5 minutes
      occurred in none, one, three and seven of eight cats administered doses of
      rocuronium 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.6 mg kg(-1) , respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rocuronium 0.3 mg kg(-1) and 0.6 mg kg(-1) consistently
      decreased the completeness and duration of the laryngeal response to water spray,
      and reduced the number of arytenoid adductive movements in response to that
      stimulus. However, a laryngeal response was never completely prevented.
      Rocuronium 0.3 mg kg(-1) may be useful for facilitating tracheal intubation.
      Positive pressure ventilation must be available for cats administered rocuronium.

PMID- 26872142
TI  - Neighborhood Regularized Logistic Matrix Factorization for Drug-Target
      Interaction Prediction.
AB  - In pharmaceutical sciences, a crucial step of the drug discovery process is the
      identification of drug-target interactions. However, only a small portion of the
      drug-target interactions have been experimentally validated, as the experimental
      validation is laborious and costly. To improve the drug discovery efficiency,
      there is a great need for the development of accurate computational approaches
      that can predict potential drug-target interactions to direct the experimental
      verification. In this paper, we propose a novel drug-target interaction
      prediction algorithm, namely neighborhood regularized logistic matrix
      factorization (NRLMF). Specifically, the proposed NRLMF method focuses on
      modeling the probability that a drug would interact with a target by logistic
      matrix factorization, where the properties of drugs and targets are represented
      by drug-specific and target-specific latent vectors, respectively. Moreover,
      NRLMF assigns higher importance levels to positive observations (i.e., the
      observed interacting drug-target pairs) than negative observations (i.e., the
      unknown pairs). Because the positive observations are already experimentally
      verified, they are usually more trustworthy. Furthermore, the local structure of
      the drug-target interaction data has also been exploited via neighborhood
      regularization to achieve better prediction accuracy. We conducted extensive
      experiments over four benchmark datasets, and NRLMF demonstrated its
      effectiveness compared with five state-of-the-art approaches. 

PMID- 26872143
TI  - Metagenomic Sequencing of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Upper
      Bronchial Tract Microbiome Reveals Functional Changes Associated with Disease
      Severity.
AB  - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major source of mortality and
      morbidity worldwide. The microbiome associated with this disease may be an
      important component of the disease, though studies to date have been based on
      sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and have revealed unequivocal results. Here, we
      employed metagenomic sequencing of the upper bronchial tract (UBT) microbiome to
      allow for greater elucidation of its taxonomic composition, and revealing
      functional changes associated with the disease. The bacterial metagenomes within
      sputum samples from eight COPD patients and ten 'healthy' smokers (Controls) were
      sequenced, and suggested significant changes in the abundance of bacterial
      species, particularly within the Streptococcus genus. The functional capacity of
      the COPD UBT microbiome indicated an increased capacity for bacterial growth,
      which could be an important feature in bacterial-associated acute exacerbations.
      Regression analyses correlated COPD severity (FEV1% of predicted) with
      differences in the abundance of Streptococcus pneumoniae and functional
      classifications related to a reduced capacity for bacterial sialic acid
      metabolism. This study suggests that the COPD UBT microbiome could be used in
      patient risk stratification and in identifying novel monitoring and treatment
      methods, but study of a longitudinal cohort will be required to unequivocally
      relate these features of the microbiome with COPD severity. 

PMID- 26872144
TI  - Is Abnormal Urine Protein/Osmolality Ratio Associated with Abnormal Renal
      Function in Patients Receiving Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk factors for and optimal surveillance of renal dysfunction in
      patients on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) remain unclear. We investigated
      whether a urine protein-osmolality (P/O) ratio would be associated with renal
      dysfunction in HIV-infected persons on TDF. METHODS: This retrospective, single
      center study investigated the relationship between parameters of renal function
      (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and P/O-ratio) and risk factors for
      development of kidney dysfunction. Subjects were HIV-infected adults receiving
      TDF with at least one urinalysis and serum creatinine performed between 2010 and
      2013. Regression analyses were used to analyze risk factors associated with
      abnormal P/O-ratio and abnormal eGFR during TDF therapy. RESULTS: Patients were
      predominately male (81%); (65%) were Caucasian. Mean age was 45.1(+/-11.8) years;
      median [IQR] TDF duration was 3.3 years. [1.5-7.6]. Median CD4+ T cell count and
      HIV viral load were 451 cells/MUL [267.5-721.5] and 62 copies/mL [0-40,150],
      respectively. Abnormal P/O-ratio was not associated with low eGFR. 68% of
      subjects had an abnormal P/O-ratio and 9% had low eGFR. Duration of TDF use, age,
      diabetes and hypertension were associated with renal dysfunction in this study.
      After adjustment for age, subjects on TDF > 5 years had almost a four-fold
      increased likelihood of having an abnormal P/O-ratio than subjects on TDF for <
      1yr (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.2-14.0; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Abnormal P/O-ratio is
      common in HIV-infected patients on TDF but was not significantly associated with
      low eGFR, suggesting that abnormal P/O-ratio may be a very early biomarker of
      decreased renal function in HIV infected patients.

PMID- 26872146
TI  - A Feature Selection Algorithm to Compute Gene Centric Methylation from Probe
      Level Methylation Data.
AB  - DNA methylation is an important epigenetic event that effects gene expression
      during development and various diseases such as cancer. Understanding the
      mechanism of action of DNA methylation is important for downstream analysis. In
      the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation 450K array, there are tens of probes
      associated with each gene. Given methylation intensities of all these probes, it
      is necessary to compute which of these probes are most representative of the gene
      centric methylation level. In this study, we developed a feature selection
      algorithm based on sequential forward selection that utilized different
      classification methods to compute gene centric DNA methylation using probe level
      DNA methylation data. We compared our algorithm to other feature selection
      algorithms such as support vector machines with recursive feature elimination,
      genetic algorithms and ReliefF. We evaluated all methods based on the predictive
      power of selected probes on their mRNA expression levels and found that a K
      Nearest Neighbors classification using the sequential forward selection algorithm
      performed better than other algorithms based on all metrics. We also observed
      that transcriptional activities of certain genes were more sensitive to DNA
      methylation changes than transcriptional activities of other genes. Our algorithm
      was able to predict the expression of those genes with high accuracy using only
      DNA methylation data. Our results also showed that those DNA methylation
      sensitive genes were enriched in Gene Ontology terms related to the regulation of
      various biological processes. 

PMID- 26872147
TI  - Distinguishing morphology of reactive versus abnormal neoplastic peripheral blood
      lymphocytosis. Challenges illustrated by two proficiency testing surveys.

PMID- 26872149
TI  - Correction: Seeing Minds in Others - Can Agents with Robotic Appearance Have
      Human-Like Preferences?

PMID- 26872145
TI  - Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) Protects against High Fat Diet Induced
      Inflammation and Islet Hyperplasia in Pancreas.
AB  - Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an important endocrine metabolic regulator
      expressed in multiple tissues including liver and adipose tissue. Although
      highest levels of expression are in pancreas, little is known about the function
      of FGF21 in this tissue. In order to understand the physiology of FGF21 in the
      pancreas, we analyzed its expression and regulation in both acinar and islet
      tissues. We found that acinar tissue express 20-fold higher levels than that
      observed in islets. We also observed that pancreatic FGF21 is nutritionally
      regulated; a marked reduction in FGF21 expression was noted with fasting while
      obesity is associated with 3-4 fold higher expression. Acinar and islet cells are
      targets of FGF21, which when systemically administered, leads to phosphorylation
      of the downstream target ERK 1/2 in about half of acinar cells and a small subset
      of islet cells. Chronic, systemic FGF21 infusion down-regulates its own
      expression in the pancreas. Mice lacking FGF21 develop significant islet
      hyperplasia and periductal lymphocytic inflammation when fed with a high fat
      obesogenic diet. Inflammatory infiltrates consist of TCRb+ Thy1+ T lymphocytes
      with increased levels of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Increased levels of
      inflammatory cells were coupled with elevated expression of cytokines such as
      TNFalpha, IFNgamma and IL1beta. We conclude that FGF21 acts to limit islet
      hyperplasia and may also prevent pancreatic inflammation. 

PMID- 26872148
TI  - Atrial Anti-Arrhythmic Effects of Heptanol in Langendorff-Perfused Mouse Hearts.
AB  - Acute effects of heptanol (0.1 to 2 mM) on atrial electrophysiology were explored
      in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. Left atrial bipolar electrogram or
      monophasic action potential recordings were obtained during right atrial
      stimulation. Regular pacing at 8 Hz elicited atrial activity in 11 out of 11
      hearts without inducing atrial arrhythmias. Programmed electrical stimulation
      using a S1S2 protocol provoked atrial tachy-arrhythmias in 9 of 17 hearts. In the
      initially arrhythmic group, 2 mM heptanol exerted anti-arrhythmic effects
      (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.05) and increased atrial effective refractory period
      (ERP) from 26.0 +/- 1.9 to 57.1 +/- 2.5 ms (ANOVA, P < 0.001) despite increasing
      activation latency from 18.7 +/- 1.1 to 28.9 +/- 2.1 ms (P < 0.001) and leaving
      action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD90) unaltered (25.6 +/- 1.2
      vs. 27.2 +/- 1.2 ms; P > 0.05), which led to increases in ERP/latency ratio from
      1.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 and ERP/APD90 ratio from 1.0 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 (P
      < 0.001). In contrast, in the initially non-arrhythmic group, heptanol did not
      alter arrhythmogenicity, increased AERP from 47.3 +/- 5.3 to 54.5 +/- 3.1 ms (P <
      0.05) and activation latency from 23.7 +/- 2.2 to 31.3 +/- 2.5 ms and did not
      alter APD90 (24.1 +/- 1.2 vs. 25.0 +/- 2.3 ms; P > 0.05), leaving both
      AERP/latency ratio (2.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.2; P > 0.05) and ERP/APD90 ratio
      (2.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.1; P > 0.05) unaltered. Lower heptanol concentrations
      (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM) did not alter arrhythmogenicity or the above parameters. The
      present findings contrast with known ventricular pro-arrhythmic effects of
      heptanol associated with decreased ERP/latency ratio, despite increased ERP/APD
      ratio observed in both the atria and ventricles. 

PMID- 26872150
TI  - Physical and Physiological Characteristics of Various-Sided Games in Elite
      Women's Soccer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the physical and physiological response to different
      formats of various-sided games. METHODS: Eighteen elite women's soccer players
      wore 15-Hz global positioning system devices and heart-rate (HR) monitors during
      various-sided games (small, 4 vs 4 and 5 vs 5; medium, 6 vs 6 and 7 vs 7; large,
      8 vs 8 and 9 vs 9). RESULTS: Players covered more relative sprinting distance
      during large-sided games than in small-sided (P < .001, d = 0.69) and medium
      sided (P < .001, d = 0.54) games. In addition, a greater proportion of total
      acceleration efforts that had a commencement velocity <1 m/s were observed in
      small-sided games (44.7% +/- 5.5%) than in large-sided games (36.7% +/- 10.6%) (P
      = .018, d = 0.94). This was accompanied by a greater proportion of acceleration
      efforts with a final velocity equivalent to the sprint threshold in large-sided
      games (15.4% +/- 7.7%) than in small-sided games (5.2% +/- 2.5%) (P < .001, d =
      1.78). The proportion of time spent in HR zone 4 (>85% maximum HR) was greater
      during small-sided games (69.8% +/- 2.5%) than in medium- (62.1% +/- 2.8%, d =
      2.90) and large-sided games (54.9% +/- 3.1%) (P < .001, d = 5.29). CONCLUSIONS:
      The results from this study demonstrate that coaches can use small-sided games as
      an aerobic conditioning stimulus and to develop players' explosiveness and repeat
      sprint ability over short durations. Large-sided games can be used to maintain
      aerobic capacity and develop maximum speed over longer distances.

PMID- 26872151
TI  - A case of Stage IA classical Hodgkin lymphoma with FDG-avid tonsils.

PMID- 26872152
TI  - Morphing Metal and Elastomer Bicontinuous Foams for Reversible Stiffness, Shape
      Memory, and Self-Healing Soft Machines.
AB  - A metal-elastomer-foam composite that varies in stiffness, that can change shape
      and store shape memory, that self-heals, and that welds into monolithic
      structures from smaller components is presented. 

PMID- 26872153
TI  - Promoting nuclear energy to sustain biodiversity conservation in the face of
      climate change: response to Brook and Bradshaw 2015.

PMID- 26872156
TI  - High-power temperature-stable GaInNAs distributed Bragg reflector laser emitting
      at 1180  nm.
AB  - We report a single-mode 1180 nm distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diode
      with a high output power of 340 mW. For the fabrication, we employed novel
      nanoimprint lithography that ensures cost-effective, large-area, conformal
      patterning and does not require regrowth. The output characteristics exhibited
      outstanding temperature insensitivity with a power drop of only 30% for an
      increase of the mount temperature from 20 degrees C to 80 degrees C. The high
      temperature stability was achieved by using GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs),
      which exhibit improved carrier confinement compared to standard InGaAs/GaAs QWs.
      The corresponding characteristic temperatures were T<sub>0</sub>=110  K and
      T<sub>1</sub>=160  K. Moreover, we used a large detuning between the peak
      wavelength of the material gain at room temperature and the lasing wavelength
      determined by the DBR. In addition to good temperature characteristics,
      GaInNAs/GaAs QWs exhibit relatively low lattice strain with direct impact on
      improving the lifetime of laser diodes at this challenging wavelength range. The
      single-mode laser emission could be tuned by changing the mount temperature (0.1
      nm/ degrees C) or the drive current (0.5 pm/mA). The laser showed no degradation
      in a room-temperature lifetime test at 900 mA drive current. These compact and
      efficient 1180 nm laser diodes are instrumental for the development of compact
      frequency-doubled yellow-orange lasers, which have important applications in
      medicine and spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26872157
TI  - Ultralow threshold optical bistability in metal/randomly layered media structure.
AB  - The Tamm plasmon polaritons (TPPs) at the metal/randomly layered media (RLM)
      structure were studied. The optical bistability was realized by replacing one of
      the RLM components of the Kerr nonlinear material. An ultralow switching
      threshold of 44  kW/cm<sup>2</sup> was obtained, due to the field enhancement
      through the resonant transmission in the RLM and TPPs. A theoretical analysis was
      presented, matching the numerical simulation result well. The bistability
      threshold was found to be related to the mismatch in the excitation frequency of
      TPPs, the thickness of metal film, and the intensity of nonlinear response. 

PMID- 26872155
TI  - Enzymatic removal of N-glycans by PNGase F coated magnetic microparticles.
AB  - Investigation of protein glycosylation is an important area in biomarker
      discovery and biopharmaceutical research. Alterations in protein N-glycosylation
      can be an indication of changes in pathological conditions in the medical field
      or production parameters of biotherapeutics. Rapid development of these
      disciplines calls for fast, high-throughput, and reproducible methods to analyze
      protein N-glycosylation. Currently used methods require either long
      deglycosylation times or large excess of enzymes. In this paper, we report on the
      use of PNGase F immobilization onto the surface of magnetic microparticles and
      their use in rapid and efficient removal of N-glycans from glycoproteins. The use
      of immobilized PNGase F also allowed reusability of the enzyme-coated beads as
      the magnetic microparticles can be readily partitioned from the sample by a
      magnet after each deglycosylation reaction. The efficiency and activity of the
      PNGase F coated magnetic beads was compared with in-solution enzyme reactions
      using standard glycoproteins possessing the major N-glycan types of neutral, high
      mannose, and highly sialylated carbohydrates. The PNGase F coated magnetic beads
      offered comparable deglycosylation level to the conventional in-solution based
      method in 10-min reaction times for the model glycoproteins of immunoglobulin G
      (mostly neutral carbohydrates), ribonuclease B (high mannose type sugars), and
      fetuin (highly sialylated oligosaccharides) with the special features of easy
      removal of the enzyme from the reaction mixture and reusability.

PMID- 26872158
TI  - Swept source digital holographic phase microscopy.
AB  - We propose a swept source-based digital holographic phase microscopy technique.
      By scanning source wavelength, a series of on-axis interferograms can be obtained
      for accurate determination of the sample phase using spectral domain
      interferometry. With these sample spectra, sources of undesirable interference
      artifacts, often significant in holographic systems, can be identified and
      avoided by placing the sample signal at a spectral frequency with a clean
      background. Pathlength sensitivity better than 0.3 nm can, thus, be achieved. The
      quantitative pathlength image of live sperm cells is obtained with clear
      identification of morphological features. In addition, the availability of sample
      spectrum also permits the retrieval of its spectroscopic information. The
      wavelength-dependent refractive indices of indocyanine green solution are
      obtained to demonstrate this capability. 

PMID- 26872159
TI  - Removal of Rb(6(2)P) by H(2), CH(4), and C(2)H(6).
AB  - The saturated hydrocarbons methane and ethane are often used as collisional
      energy transfer agents in diode-pumped alkali vapor lasers (DPALs). Problems are
      encountered because the hydrocarbons eventually react with the optically pumped
      alkali atoms, resulting in the contamination of the gas lasing medium and damage
      of the gas cell windows. The reactions require excitation of the more highly
      excited states of the alkali atoms, which can be generated in DPAL systems by
      energy pooling processes. Knowledge of the production and loss rates for the
      higher excited states is needed for a quantitative understanding of the
      photochemistry. In the present study, we have used experimental and theoretical
      techniques to characterize the removal of Rb(6P2) by hydrogen, methane, and
      ethane. 

PMID- 26872154
TI  - Low Vitamin-D Levels Combined with PKP3-SIGIRR-TMEM16J Host Variants Is
      Associated with Tuberculosis and Death in HIV-Infected and -Exposed Infants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study examined the associations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and
      specific host genetic variants that affect vitamin D levels or its effects on
      immune function, with the risk of TB or mortality in children. METHODS: A case
      cohort sample of 466 South African infants enrolled in P1041 trial (NCT00080119)
      underwent 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that alter the effect of vitamin D [e.g. vitamin
      D receptor (VDR)], vitamin D levels [e.g. vitamin D binding protein (VDBP)], or
      toll like receptor (TLR) expression (SIGIRR including adjacent genes PKP3 and
      TMEM16J) were identified by real-time PCR. Outcomes were time to TB, and to the
      composite of TB or death by 192 weeks of follow-up. Effect modification between
      vitamin D status and SNPs for outcomes was assessed. FINDINGS: Median age at 25
      hydroxyvitamin D determination was 8 months; 11% were breastfed, 51% were HIV
      infected and 26% had low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<32ng/mL). By 192 weeks, 138
      incident TB cases (43 definite/probable, and 95 possible) and 26 deaths occurred.
      Adjusting for HIV status and potential confounders, low 25-hydroxyvitamin D was
      associated with any TB (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.76, 95% CI 1.01-3.05; p =
      0.046) and any TB or death (aHR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03-3.00; p = 0.038). Children with
      low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and TMEM 16J rs7111432-AA or PKP3 rs10902158-GG were at
      increased risk for probable/definite TB or death (aHR 8.12 and 4.83, p<0.05) and
      any TB or death (aHR 4.78 and 3.26, p<0.005) respectively; SNPs in VDBP, VDR, and
      vitamin D precursor or hydroxylation genes were not. There was significant
      interaction between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and, TMEM 16J rs7111432-AA (p = 0.04)
      and PKP3 rs10902158-GG (p = 0.02) SNPs. CONCLUSIONS: Two novel SNPs, thought to
      be associated with innate immunity, in combination with low vitamin D levels were
      identified as increasing a young child's risk of developing TB disease or death.
      Identifying high-risk children and providing targeted interventions such as
      vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00080119.

PMID- 26872160
TI  - Real-time fluorescence lifetime actuation for cell sorting using a CMOS SPAD
      silicon photomultiplier.
AB  - Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a fundamental fluorescence
      lifetime measurement technique offering high signal to noise ratio (SNR).
      However, its requirement for complex software algorithms for histogram processing
      restricts throughput in flow cytometers and prevents on-the-fly sorting of cells.
      We present a single-point digital silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector
      accomplishing real-time fluorescence lifetime-activated actuation targeting cell
      sorting applications in flow cytometry. The sensor also achieves burst-integrated
      fluorescence lifetime (BIFL) detection by TCSPC. The SiPM is a single-chip
      complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor employing a 32*32 single
      photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array and eight pairs of time-interleaved time to
      digital converters (TI-TDCs) with a 50 ps minimum timing resolution. The sensor's
      pile-up resistant embedded center of mass method (CMM) processor accomplishes low
      latency measurement and thresholding of fluorescence lifetime. A digital control
      signal is generated with a 16.6 MUs latency for cell sorter actuation allowing a
      maximum cell throughput of 60,000 cells per second and an error rate of 0.6%. 

PMID- 26872161
TI  - All optical signal level swapping and multilevel amplitude noise mitigation based
      on different regions of optical parametric amplification.
AB  - All optical signal level swapping and multilevel amplitude noise mitigation are
      experimentally demonstrated using the three gain regions of optical parametric
      amplification, i.e., linear, saturation, and inversion. The two-amplitude-shift
      keying and eight-quadrature-amplitude-modulation optical communication systems
      with baud rates of both 10 and 20 Gbaud have been employed to demonstrate the
      proposed approaches. Less than 1% error-vector-magnitude degradation is observed
      after signal level swapping. For amplitude noise mitigation, a more than 20%
      decrease in amplitude error is confirmed. 

PMID- 26872162
TI  - Loss induced amplification of graphene plasmons.
AB  - This Letter introduces a new mechanism to reverse and control the effect of
      losses in the plasmonic systems by using a coupled parity-time symmetric graphene
      waveguide with complex potentials. In order to explore the uncharted properties
      of parity-time symmetric graphene plasmons, this Letter analytically shows the
      plasmonic parity-time symmetry breaking in the coupled graphene waveguide by
      Sommerfeld integration. This phase transition leads to the distinct spatial
      propagation behaviors of graphene plasmons in the exact or broken parity-time
      symmetric phase driven by a point source. Particularly, a loss induced plasmonic
      amplification, as a characteristic of exceptional point behavior, is for the
      first time, to the best of our knowledge, revealed in the realm of graphene
      plasmonics. 

PMID- 26872163
TI  - Transparent ultraviolet photovoltaic cells.
AB  - Photovoltaic cells have been fabricated from p-GaN/MgO/n-ZnO structures. The
      photovoltaic cells are transparent to visible light and can transform ultraviolet
      irradiation into electrical signals. The efficiency of the photovoltaic cells is
      0.025% under simulated AM 1.5 illumination conditions, while it can reach 0.46%
      under UV illumination. By connecting several such photovoltaic cells in a series,
      light-emitting devices can be lighting. The photovoltaic cells reported in this
      Letter may promise the applications in glass of buildings to prevent UV
      irradiation and produce power for household appliances in the future. 

PMID- 26872164
TI  - Measured photoemission from electron wave packets in a strong laser field.
AB  - We present calibrated measurements of single-photon Thomson scattering from free
      electrons driven by a laser with intensity 10<sup>18</sup>  W/cm<sup>2</sup>. The
      measurements demonstrate that individual electrons radiate with the strength of
      point emitters, even when their wave packets spread to the scale of the driving
      laser wavelength. The result agrees with predictions of quantum electrodynamics. 

PMID- 26872165
TI  - In-fiber reconfigurable generation of arbitrary (asymmetric) picosecond temporal
      intensity waveforms by time-domain optical pulse shaping.
AB  - A fiber-optic programmable optical pulse shaper is experimentally demonstrated
      using multi-level phase-only linear filtering, capable of synthesizing arbitrary
      (including asymmetric) temporal intensity waveforms. The reconfigurable filtering
      operation is implemented in the time domain with a single electro-optic phase
      modulator (EO-PM) driven by a high-speed electronic arbitrary waveform generator
      (AWG). The required multi-level modulation signal is calculated from a
      combination of optimization algorithms, namely the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm
      (GSA) and a genetic algorithm (GA). We report the synthesis of high-quality,
      arbitrary temporal intensity profiles, including asymmetric triangular waveforms
      and ~150  Gbaud random on-off keying (OOK) pulse and pulse amplitude-modulation
      (PAM) code sequences, with a temporal resolution of ~2  ps over a maximum time
      window of ~60  ps. 

PMID- 26872166
TI  - Theoretical scheme for simultaneously observing forward-backward photoelectron
      holography.
AB  - Photoelectron angular momentum distribution of He<sup>+</sup> driven by a few
      cycle laser is investigated numerically. We simultaneously observe two dominant
      interference patterns with one shot of lasers by solving the 3D time-dependent
      Schrodinger equation. Analysis of a semiclassical model identifies these two
      interference patterns as two types of photoelectron holography. The interference
      pattern with P<sub>z</sub>>0 is a type of forward rescattering holography, which
      comes from the interference between direct (reference) and rescattered (signal)
      forward electrons ionized in the same quarter-cycle. The interference pattern
      with P<sub>z</sub><0 is a type of backward rescattering holography, which comes
      from the interference between a direct electron ionized in the third quarter
      cycle and rescattered backward electron ionized in the first quarter-cycle.
      Moreover, we propose a method to distinguish this backward rescattering
      holography and intracycle interference patterns of direct electrons. 

PMID- 26872167
TI  - High reflectance Cr/V multilayer with B(4)C barrier layer for water window
      wavelength region.
AB  - To develop the high reflectance mirror for the short wavelength range of the
      water window region (lambda=2.42-2.73  nm), Cr/V multilayers with B<sub>4</sub>C
      barrier layers are studied. The grazing incidence x-ray reflectometry results
      show that the multilayer interface widths are significantly reduced down to 0.21
      0.31 nm, after the introduction of 0.1 nm B<sub>4</sub>C barrier layers at both
      interfaces. The [B<sub>4</sub>C/Cr/B<sub>4</sub>C/V] multilayer with a large
      number of bilayers of N=300 maintains the same small interface widths while the
      surface roughness is only 0.2 nm. According to the transmission electron
      microscope measurements, the layer structure improvement with barrier layers can
      be attributed to the suppression of the crystallization of vanadium inside the
      structure. Using the interface engineered multilayer, a maximum soft x-ray
      reflectance of 24.3% is achieved at lambda=2.441  nm, under the grazing incidence
      of 42 degrees .

PMID- 26872168
TI  - Continuous-wave, single-frequency 229  nm laser source for laser cooling of
      cadmium atoms.
AB  - Continuous-wave output at 229 nm for the application of laser cooling of Cd atoms
      was generated by the fourth harmonic using two successive second-harmonic
      generation stages. Employing a single-frequency optically pumped semiconductor
      laser as a fundamental source, 0.56 W of output at 229 nm was observed with a 10
      mm long, Brewster-cut BBO crystal in an external cavity with 1.62 W of 458 nm
      input. Conversion efficiency from 458 nm to 229 nm was more than 34%. By applying
      a tapered amplifier (TA) as a fundamental source, we demonstrated magneto-optical
      trapping of all stable Cd isotopes including isotopes Cd111 and Cd113, which are
      applicable to optical lattice clocks. 

PMID- 26872169
TI  - Time-resolved four-wave-mixing spectroscopy for inner-valence transitions.
AB  - Noncollinear four-wave-mixing (FWM) techniques at near-infrared (NIR), visible,
      and ultraviolet frequencies have been widely used to map vibrational and
      electronic couplings, typically in complex molecules. However, correlations
      between spatially localized inner-valence transitions among different sites of a
      molecule in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral range have not been observed
      yet. As an experimental step toward this goal, we perform time-resolved FWM
      spectroscopy with femtosecond NIR and attosecond XUV pulses. The first two pulses
      (XUV-NIR) coincide in time and act as coherent excitation fields, while the third
      pulse (NIR) acts as a probe. As a first application, we show how coupling
      dynamics between odd- and even-parity, inner-valence excited states of neon can
      be revealed using a two-dimensional spectral representation. Experimentally
      obtained results are found to be in good agreement with ab initio time-dependent
      R-matrix calculations providing the full description of multielectron
      interactions, as well as few-level model simulations. Future applications of this
      method also include site-specific probing of electronic processes in molecules. 

PMID- 26872170
TI  - Flexible and fluorophore-doped luminescent solar concentrators based on
      polydimethylsiloxane.
AB  - We demonstrate a simple and inexpensive method to fabricate flexible and
      fluorophore-doped luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Polydimethylsiloxane
      (PDMS) serves as a host material which additionally offers the potential to cast
      LSCs in arbitrary shapes. The laser dye Pyrromethene 567 is used as a prototype
      fluorophore, and it is shown that it has a high quantum yield of 93% over the
      concentration range investigated. The optical efficiency and loss channels of the
      flexible LSCs are investigated; it is also demonstrated that the efficiency
      remains high while bending the LSC which is essential for flexible LSCs to make
      an impact on solar energy. 

PMID- 26872171
TI  - Three-dimensional shape measurement with an arbitrarily arranged projection moire
      system.
AB  - A complete description of a three-dimensional shape measurement method with an
      arbitrarily arranged projection moire system is presented, including the
      mathematical derivation of theoretical equations, phase-to-height calibration
      technique, and experimental result of practical object. The proposed method
      requires neither a specific system setup configuration nor a manual determination
      of system geometric parameters, and it yields high measurement resolution and
      accuracy while allowing the system components to be arbitrarily positioned. A
      real experiment has been conducted to verify the validity of this method. 

PMID- 26872172
TI  - Zernike x-ray ptychography.
AB  - We present an imaging technique combining Zernike phase-contrast imaging and
      ptychography. The contrast formation is explained by following the theory of
      Zernike phase-contrast imaging. The method is demonstrated with x-rays at a
      photon energy of 6.2 keV, showing how ptychographic reconstruction of a phase
      sample leads to a Zernike phase-contrast image appearing in the amplitude
      reconstruction. In addition, the results presented in this Letter indicate an
      improvement of the resolution of the reconstructed object in the case of Zernike
      ptychography compared with the conventional one. 

PMID- 26872173
TI  - Photoacoustic elastography.
AB  - Elastography can noninvasively map the elasticity distribution in biological
      tissue, which can potentially be used to reveal disease conditions. In this
      Letter, we have demonstrated photoacoustic elastography by using a linear-array
      photoacoustic computed tomography system. The feasibility of photoacoustic
      elastography was first demonstrated by imaging the strains of single-layer and
      bilayer gelatin phantoms with various stiffness values. The measured strains
      agreed well with theoretical values, with an average error of less than 5.2%.
      Next, in vivo photoacoustic elastography was demonstrated on a mouse leg, where
      the fat and muscle distribution was mapped based on the elasticity contrast. We
      confirmed the photoacoustic elastography results by ultrasound elastography
      performed simultaneously. 

PMID- 26872174
TI  - Enhancement of magneto-optical Faraday effects and extraordinary optical
      transmission in a tri-layer structure with rectangular annular arrays.
AB  - The properties of optics and magneto-optical Faraday effects in a metal
      dielectric tri-layer structure with subwavelength rectangular annular arrays are
      investigated. It is noteworthy that we obtained the strongly enhanced Faraday
      rotation of the desired sign along with high transmittance by optimizing the
      parameters of the nanostructure in the visible spectral ranges. In this system,
      we obtained two extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) resonant peaks with
      enhanced Faraday rotations, whose signs are opposite, which may provide the
      possibility of designing multi-channel magneto-optical devices. Study results
      show that the maximum of the figure of merit (FOM) of the structure can be
      obtained between two EOT resonant peaks accompanied by an enhanced Faraday
      rotation. The positions of the maximum value of the FOM and resonant peaks of
      transmission along with a large Faraday rotation can be tailored by simply
      adjusting the geometric parameters of our models. These research findings are of
      great importance for future applications of magneto-optical devices. 

PMID- 26872175
TI  - Shot-to-shot diagnostic of the longitudinal photon source position at the SPring
      8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser by means of x-ray grating interferometry.
AB  - We present single-shot measurements of the longitudinal photon source position of
      the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser x-ray free electron laser by
      means of x-ray grating interferometry. The measurements were performed in order
      to study the behavior of the source under normal operation conditions and as a
      dependence on the active undulator length. The retrieved experimental results
      show that x-ray grating interferometry is a powerful in situ monitoring tool for
      investigating and tuning an x-ray free electron laser. 

PMID- 26872176
TI  - Self-induced transparency mode locking, and area theorem.
AB  - Self-induced transparency mode locking (or coherent mode locking, CML), which is
      based on intracavity self-induced transparency soliton dynamics, potentially
      allows achievement of nearly single-cycle intracavity pulse durations, much below
      the phase relaxation time T<sub>2</sub> in a laser which, despite having great
      promise, has not yet been realized experimentally. We develop a diagram technique
      which allows us to predict the main features of CML regimes in a generic two
      section laser far from the single-cycle limit. We show that CML can arise
      directly at the first laser threshold if the phase relaxation time is large
      enough. Furthermore, we discuss the stability of the corresponding mapping. We
      also predict the existence of "super-CML regimes," with a pulse coupled to
      several Rabi oscillations in the nonlinear medium. 

PMID- 26872177
TI  - Photonic gauge potential in a system with a synthetic frequency dimension.
AB  - We generalize the concept of photonic gauge potential in real space by
      introducing an additional "synthetic" frequency dimension in addition to the real
      space dimensions. As an illustration, we consider a one-dimensional array of ring
      resonators, each supporting a set of resonant modes having a frequency comb with
      spacing Omega, and undergoing a refractive index modulation at the modulation
      frequency equal to Omega. We show that the modulation phase provides a gauge
      potential in the synthetic two-dimensional space with the dimensions being the
      frequency and the spatial axes. Such a gauge potential can create a topologically
      protected one-way edge state in the synthetic space that is useful for high
      efficiency generation of higher-order side bands. 

PMID- 26872178
TI  - Noise analysis for through-focus scanning optical microscopy.
AB  - A systematic noise-analysis study for optimizing data collection and data
      processing parameters for through-focus scanning optical microscopy (TSOM) is
      presented. TSOM is a three-dimensional shape metrology method that can achieve
      sub-nanometer measurement sensitivity by analyzing sets of images acquired
      through focus using a conventional optical microscope. We show that the best
      balance between signal-to-noise performance and acquisition time can be achieved
      by judicious spatial averaging. Correct background-signal subtraction of the
      imaging system inhomogeneities is also critical, as well as careful alignment of
      the constituent images in the case of differential TSOM analysis. 

PMID- 26872179
TI  - Dark-field imaging as a noninvasive method for characterization of whispering
      gallery modes in microdisk cavities.
AB  - Whispering gallery mode microdisk cavities fabricated by direct laser writing are
      studied using dark-field imaging and spectroscopy in the visible spectral range.
      Dark-field imaging allows us to directly visualize the spatial intensity
      distribution of whispering gallery modes. We extract their azimuthal and radial
      mode indices from dark-field images, and find the axial mode number from the
      dispersion relation. The scattering spectrum obtained in the confocal arrangement
      provides information on the density of optical states in the resonator. The
      proposed technique is a simple noninvasive way to characterize the optical
      properties of microdisk cavities. 

PMID- 26872181
TI  - Scaled-model guidelines for formation-flying solar coronagraph missions.
AB  - Stray light suppression is the main concern in designing a solar coronagraph. The
      main contribution to the stray light for an externally occulted space-borne solar
      coronagraph is the light diffracted by the occulter and scattered by the optics.
      It is mandatory to carefully evaluate the diffraction generated by an external
      occulter and the impact that it has on the stray light signal on the focal plane.
      The scientific need for observations to cover a large portion of the heliosphere
      with an inner field of view as close as possible to the photospheric limb
      supports the ambition of launching formation-flying giant solar coronagraphs.
      Their dimension prevents the possibility of replicating the flight geometry in a
      clean laboratory environment, and the strong need for a scaled model is thus
      envisaged. The problem of scaling a coronagraph has already been faced for
      exoplanets, for a single point source on axis at infinity. We face the problem
      here by adopting an original approach and by introducing the scaling of the solar
      disk as an extended source. 

PMID- 26872180
TI  - Slow light Mach-Zehnder interferometer as label-free biosensor with scalable
      sensitivity.
AB  - The design, fabrication, and characterization of a label-free Mach-Zehnder
      interferometer (MZI) optical biosensor that incorporates a highly dispersive one
      dimensional (1D) photonic crystal in one arm are presented. The sensitivity of
      this slow light MZI-based sensor scales with the length of the slow light
      photonic crystal region. The numerically simulated sensitivity of a MZI sensor
      with a 16 MUm long slow light region is 115,000 rad/RIU-cm, which is sevenfold
      higher than traditional MZI biosensors with millimeter-length sensing regions. An
      experimental bulk refractive index detection sensitivity of 84,000 rad/RIU-cm is
      realized and nucleic acid detection is also demonstrated. 

PMID- 26872182
TI  - Phase matched parametric amplification via four-wave mixing in optical
      microfibers.
AB  - Four-wave mixing (FWM) based parametric amplification in optical microfibers
      (OMFs) is demonstrated over a wavelength range of over 1000 nm by exploiting
      their tailorable dispersion characteristics to achieve phase matching.
      Simulations indicate that for any set of wavelengths satisfying the FWM energy
      conservation condition there are two diameters at which phase matching in the
      fundamental mode can occur. Experiments with a high-power pulsed source working
      in conjunction with a periodically poled silica fiber (PPSF), producing both
      fundamental and second harmonic signals, are undertaken to investigate the
      possibility of FWM parametric amplification in OMFs. Large increases of idler
      output power at the third harmonic wavelength were recorded for diameters close
      to the two phase matching diameters. A total amplification of more than 25 dB
      from the initial signal was observed in a 6 mm long optical microfiber, after
      accounting for the thermal drift of the PPSF and other losses in the system. 

PMID- 26872183
TI  - Effect of femtosecond photo-treatment on inscription of fiber Bragg gratings.
AB  - Pre- and post-treatment of optical fibers is typically used to improve the fiber
      Bragg grating (FBG) fabrication process. Here, we investigate experimentally the
      effects of femtosecond photo-treatment on the ability to inscribe and erase FBGs
      in standard, non-sensitized, silica SMF fibers. We observe "immunity" to
      inscription after applying a suitable pre-treatment to the fiber and full
      "erasure" of the FGB after applying a suitable post-treatment. We characterize
      the required photo-treatment parameters and compare to FBG inscription on an
      untreated fiber. We believe that pre/post-photo-treatment of the fibers with fs
      pulses may have practical advantages such as modifying standard grating
      structures or observing ultrafast transient effects more clearly. 

PMID- 26872184
TI  - Achromatization of conical diffraction: application to the generation of a
      polychromatic optical vortex.
AB  - Vortex beams are plagued by the intrinsic chromaticity of the physical phenomenon
      used to generate them. To the authors' best knowledge, attempts to generate them
      in a broad spectral range remain quite scarce and limited in their results.
      Crystal optics and especially conical diffraction (CD) (or refraction)
      intrinsically create achromatic vortices. The vortex is created by a wavelength
      independent topological charge, embedded directly in the Fresnel equations.
      However, for biaxial crystals of low crystallographic symmetry, which includes
      all crystals used practically for CD, the dispersion of the binormal axis creates
      a chromaticity effect. In this Letter, we propose a new way to compensate this
      dispersion of the binormal axis of a biaxial crystal in order to generate white
      light vortex beams by CD in a 250 nm spectral range, covering almost all the
      visible range. The advantages of the ability to use CD in a wide spectral range
      vastly exceed the sole generation of vortex beams. 

PMID- 26872185
TI  - Compact and high extinction ratio polarization beam splitter using subwavelength
      grating couplers.
AB  - A compact and high extinction ratio polarization beam splitter using
      subwavelength grating (SWG) couplers is proposed and characterized, where the SWG
      couplers are located between the two input/output strip waveguides, including SWG
      based transitions combined at both ends. The TM mode can be confined well in the
      strip waveguide and transmits along it with nearly neglected coupling, while the
      TE mode undergoes a strong coupling and is transferred to the adjacent waveguide
      with the help of SWG couplers due to dissimilar modal characteristics and cutoff
      conditions between these two polarizations. To further enhance the performance,
      an additional tapered waveguide is added in the lateral end of the input SWG
      based transition. Results show that a total length of 6.8 MUm with an insertion
      loss of 0.08 (0.36) dB, extinction ratio (ER) of 32.19 (20.93) dB, and reflection
      loss of -34.76 (-32.59) dB for TE (TM) mode is obtained at 1.55 MUm; its
      bandwidth can be enlarged to ~81  nm for an ER>18  dB. In addition, fabrication
      tolerances and mode-field evolution are also presented. 

PMID- 26872186
TI  - Broadband two-stage frequency conversion of CO laser in AgGaSe(2) crystal.
AB  - For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a broadband two-stage frequency
      conversion of multiline CO laser radiation was theoretically and experimentally
      demonstrated in a single AgGaSe<sub>2</sub> crystal. The first stage is sum
      frequency generation of CO laser radiation. The second stage is concurrent
      difference frequency generation within 4.3-4.9 MUm spectral range when mixing sum
      frequency radiation with the pump radiation in the same AgGaSe<sub>2</sub>
      crystal. Internal sum frequency generation efficiency of multiline CO laser was
      up to 1%, while internal difference frequency generation efficiency was up to
      0.065%. 

PMID- 26872187
TI  - Sub-diffuse optical biomarkers characterize localized microstructure and function
      of cortex and malignant tumor.
AB  - This study uses a sub-diffusive light transport model to analyze fiber-optic
      measurements of reflectance spectra to recover endogenous tissue biomarkers and
      to correct raw fluorescence emissions for distortions from background optical
      properties. Measurements in tissue-simulating phantoms validated accurate
      recovery of the reduced scattering coefficient [(0.3-3.4  mm<sup>-1</sup>), error
      10%], blood volume fraction [(1-3 vol%), error 7%], and a dimensionless metric of
      anisotropic scattering, gamma, that is sensitive to submillimeter tissue
      ultrastructure [(1.29-2.06), error 11%]. In vivo sub-diffusive optical data
      acquired during clinical neurosurgeries characterize differences in
      microstructure (gamma), perfusion (blood volume), and metabolism (PpIX
      fluorescence) between normal cortex and malignant tumor. 

PMID- 26872188
TI  - Photonic jets from Babinet's cuboid structures in the reflection mode.
AB  - In this Letter, we demonstrate applicability of Babinet's principle of
      complementary diffractive structures for the formation of near-field photonic
      jets in the reflection mode. Structures, complementary to dielectric cuboids, are
      characterized with additional geometric and electromagnetic parameters compared
      to initial cuboids and, for this reason, offer more opportunities for the design
      of photonic jets with required properties. Babinet's structures allow control of
      such parameters of photonic jets as the focus length, width, length, maximal
      field intensity, and ellipticity of jets. 

PMID- 26872189
TI  - No free lunch: the trade-off between heralding rate and efficiency in
      microresonator-based heralded single photon sources.
AB  - Generation of heralded single photons has recently been demonstrated using
      spontaneous four-wave mixing in integrated microresonators. While the results of
      coincidence measurements on the generated photon pairs from these systems show
      promise for their utility in heralding applications, such measurements do not
      reveal all of the effects of photon losses within the resonator. These effects,
      which include a significant degradation of the heralding efficiency, depend
      strongly on the relative strengths of the coupling of the ring modes to loss
      modes and channel modes. We show that the common choice of critical coupling
      neither optimizes the rate of successfully heralded photons nor coincidences and
      derives the coupling conditions needed to do so. Optimizing these rates has a
      considerable negative effect on the heralding efficiency. 

PMID- 26872190
TI  - UVC upconversion material under sunlight excitation: LiYF(4): Pr(3+).
AB  - UVC upconversion emission is observed in a LiYF<sub>4</sub>:Pr<sup>3+</sup>
      microcrystal under sunlight excitation. The dependence of UVC UC emission
      intensity on the excitation density of a 488 nm laser and sunlight is
      investigated. The obtained data indicates that two-photon processes play an
      important role in UVC UC emission. The UVC UC mechanisms of Pr<sup>3+</sup> under
      the excitation of a laser and sunlight are presented and discussed. The UVC
      emission under sunlight excitation has broad prospects for application. 

PMID- 26872191
TI  - Dynamics of a small particle in a fluctuating random light field.
AB  - The dynamics of an electric dipole in a light field consisting of electromagnetic
      plane waves with polarizations randomly distributed and fluctuating phases is
      theoretically analyzed. The expression for the optical random-force fluctuations
      is derived and found to be proportional to the scattering cross section and to
      the square of the intensity divided by the frequency of the electromagnetic
      field. Under these fluctuations, and in the absence of damping, the dipole
      behaves like a super-diffusive particle with a kinetic energy growing linearly
      with time. The analytic predictions are tested against numerical simulations for
      the particular case of a resonant dipole. 

PMID- 26872192
TI  - One-way surface magnetoplasmon cavity and its application for nonreciprocal
      devices.
AB  - We theoretically analyze surface magnetoplasmon modes in a compact circular
      cavity made of magneto-optical material under a static magnetic field. Such a
      cavity provides two different methods for the surface wave to circulate in a
      unidirectional manner around the cavity, which offers more freedom, both in the
      one-way direction and in the frequency range, for designing nonreciprocal
      photonic components. We also show the interaction between this one-way cavity and
      waveguides through the example of a circulator, which lays the fundamental
      groundwork for potential nonreciprocal devices. 

PMID- 26872193
TI  - Assessment of mono-shot measurement as a fast and accurate determination of the
      laser-induced damage threshold in the sub-picosecond regime.
AB  - Standard test protocols need several laser shots to assess the laser-induced
      damage threshold of optics and, consequently, large areas are necessary. Taking
      into account the dominating intrinsic mechanisms of laser damage in the sub
      picosecond regime, a simple, fast, and accurate method, based on correlating the
      fluence distribution with the damage morphology after only one shot in optics is
      therein presented. Several materials and components have been tested using this
      method and compared to the results obtained with the classical 1/1 method. Both
      lead to the same threshold value with an accuracy in the same order of magnitude.
      Therefore, this mono-shot testing could be a straightforward protocol to evaluate
      damage threshold in short pulse regime. 

PMID- 26872194
TI  - Fractal morphology of black carbon aerosol enhances absorption in the thermal
      infrared wavelengths.
AB  - In this Letter, we numerically calculate the mass absorption cross sections
      (MACs) of black carbon fractal aggregates in the thermal infrared solar spectrum.
      Compared to equivalent-size spheres, the MAC values of aggregates show a percent
      enhancement of ~150 and 400 at small and large length scales, respectively. The
      absorption properties of aggregates with size parameters >1 surprisingly
      continued to remain in the Rayleigh optics regime. We explain this phenomenon
      using the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory and the concept of phase shift
      parameter. 

PMID- 26872195
TI  - Square-wave oscillations in a semiconductor ring laser subject to counter
      directional delayed mutual feedback.
AB  - Square-wave (SW) switching of the lasing direction in a semiconductor ring laser
      (SRL) is investigated using counter-directional mutual feedback. The SRL is
      electrically biased to a regime that supports lasing in either counter-clockwise
      (CCW) or clockwise (CW) direction. The CCW and CW modes are then counter
      directionally coupled by optical feedback, where the CCW-to-CW and CW-to-CCW
      feedback are delayed by tau<sub>1</sub> and tau<sub>2</sub>, respectively. The
      mutual feedback invokes SW oscillations of the CCW and CW emission intensities
      with a period of T~tau<sub>1</sub>+tau<sub>2</sub>. When
      tau<sub>1</sub>=tau<sub>2</sub>, symmetric SWs with a duty cycle of 50% are
      obtained, where the switching time and electrical linewidth of the SWs can be
      reduced to, respectively, 1.4 ns and 1.1 kHz by strengthening the feedback. When
      tau<sub>1</sub>?tau<sub>2</sub>, asymmetric SWs are obtained with a tunable duty
      cycle of tau<sub>1</sub>/(tau<sub>1</sub>+tau<sub>2</sub>). High-order symmetric
      SWs with a period of T=(tau<sub>1</sub>+tau<sub>2</sub>)/n can also be observed
      for some integer n. Symmetric SWs of order n=13 with a period of T=10.3  ns are
      observed experimentally. 

PMID- 26872196
TI  - Flexible terahertz modulator based on coplanar-gate graphene field-effect
      transistor structure.
AB  - The terahertz (THz) modulators, as an essential component of the THz system, have
      been developed by many efforts until now. However, the development of flexible
      THz modulators is hindered due to the lack of flexible THz modulating materials.
      Herein, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated the
      feasibility of flexible THz modulators based on the coplanar-gate field-effect
      transistor (FET) structure of ion-gel/graphene/polyethylene terephthalate. The
      THz transmittance through this THz graphene modulator can be well controlled with
      a modulation depth up to 22% by tuning the carrier concentration of graphene via
      electrical gating. Furthermore, because of the integration of high flexibilities
      of graphene, ion-gel, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the proposed THz
      graphene modulator shows superior flexible performance, where the modulation
      properties can be maintained almost unchanged, not only under bending
      deformations, but also before and after bending 1000 times. In addition, due to
      the unique structure of ion-gel/graphene/PET, the flexible THz graphene modulator
      has a low insertion loss (1.2 dB). Therefore, this Letter is expected to be
      beneficial for the potential applications, ranging from the traditional compact
      THz system to a new flexible THz technology. 

PMID- 26872197
TI  - Silicon waveguide grating coupler for perfectly vertical fiber based on a tilted
      membrane structure.
AB  - A grating coupler for interfacing between a silicon-on-insulator waveguide and a
      single-mode fiber located at a perfectly vertical direction is demonstrated based
      on a tilted membrane structure. The proposed design is compatible with that of
      conventional grating couplers for oblique fibers and facilitates mass production.
      A peak coupling efficiency of 28.5% and 1 dB bandwidth of 38 nm are obtained
      experimentally for transverse-electrics polarized light. Back reflection in the
      SOI waveguide is also estimated to be 1.4%. The present grating coupler for
      perfectly vertical fiber exhibits similar performances to the conventional
      grating coupler for oblique fiber concerning coupling efficiency, bandwidth, and
      back reflections. 

PMID- 26872198
TI  - Annular arrayed-waveguide fiber for autofocusing Airy-like beams.
AB  - We propose and theoretically demonstrate a novel optical fiber with an annular
      arrayed-waveguide to implement Airy phase and amplitude modulation, and generate
      an abruptly autofocusing circular Airy beam. The properties of wave propagation
      in Airy fiber and free space are studied by using the coupled-mode theory and
      angular spectrum method. The calculated results show that the output beam from
      such a fiber has a circular Airy-like pattern and can autofocus with the
      intensity maxima following a parabolic trajectory. We also show that the position
      of the focus point of the output beam from the Airy fiber can be easily
      controlled by changing input wavelength. 

PMID- 26872199
TI  - Surface leakage current in 12.5  MUm long-wavelength HgCdTe infrared photodiode
      arrays.
AB  - Long-wavelength (especially >12  MUm) focal plane array (FPA) infrared detection
      is the cutting edge technique for third-generation infrared remote sensing.
      However, dark currents, which are very sensitive to the growth of small Cd
      composition HgCdTe, strongly limits the performance of long wavelength HgCdTe
      photodiode arrays in FPAs. In this Letter, 12.5 MUm long-wavelength Hg<sub>1
      x</sub>Cd<sub>x</sub>Te (x~0.219) infrared photodiode arrays are reported. The
      variable-area and variable-temperature electrical characteristics of the long
      wavelength infrared photodiodes are measured. The characteristics of the
      extracted zero-bias resistance-area product (l/R<sub>0</sub>A) varying with the
      perimeter-to-area (P/A) ratio clearly show that surface leakage current
      mechanisms severely limit the overall device performance. A sophisticated model
      has been developed for investigating the leakage current mechanism in the
      photodiodes. Modeling of temperature-dependent I-V characteristic indicates that
      the trap-assisted tunneling effect dominates the dark current at 50 K resulting
      in nonuniformities in the arrays. The extracted trap density, approximately
      10<sup>13</sup>-10<sup>14</sup>  cm<sup>-3</sup>, with an ionized energy of 30
      meV is determined by simulation. The work described in this Letter provides the
      basic mechanisms for a better understanding of the leakage current mechanism for
      long-wavelength (>12  MUm) HgCdTe infrared photodiode arrays. 

PMID- 26872200
TI  - Ultrasensitive vector bending sensor based on multicore optical fiber.
AB  - In this Letter, we demonstrate a compellingly simple directional bending sensor
      based on multicore optical fibers (MCF). The device operates in reflection mode
      and consists of a short segment of a three-core MCF that is fusion spliced at the
      distal end of a standard single mode optical fiber. The asymmetry of our MCF
      along with the high sensitivity of the supermodes of the MCF make the small
      bending on the MCF induce drastic changes in the supermodes, their excitation,
      and, consequently, on the reflected spectrum. Our MCF bending sensor was found to
      be highly sensitive (4094  pm/deg) to small bending angles. Moreover, it is
      capable of distinguishing multiple bending orientations. 

PMID- 26872201
TI  - Low-loss and broadband 2 * 2 silicon thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder switch with bent
      directional couplers.
AB  - A low-loss and broadband silicon thermo-optic switch is proposed and demonstrated
      experimentally by using a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with 2*2 3 dB power
      splitters based on bent directional couplers (DCs). The bent DCs are introduced
      here to replace the traditional 2*2 3 dB power splitters based on multimode
      interferometers or straight DCs, so that one achieves a coupling ratio of ~50%?
      50%, as well as low excess loss over a broadband. The demonstrated Mach-Zehnder
      switch (MZS) has a ~140  nm bandwidth for an excess loss of <1  dB and an
      extinction ratio of >20  dB. The present MZS also shows excellent reproducibility
      and good fabrication tolerance, which makes it promising for realizing N*N
      optical switches. 

PMID- 26872202
TI  - Deep turbulence effects mitigation with coherent combining of 21 laser beams over
      7 km.
AB  - We demonstrate coherent beam combining and adaptive mitigation of atmospheric
      turbulence effects over 7 km under strong scintillation conditions using a
      coherent fiber array laser transmitter operating in a target-in-the-loop setting.
      The transmitter system is composed of a densely packed array of 21 fiber
      collimators with integrated capabilities for piston, tip, and tilt control of the
      outgoing beams wavefront phases. A small cat's-eye retro reflector was used for
      evaluation of beam combining and turbulence compensation performance at the
      target plane, and to provide the feedback signal for control of piston and
      tip/tilt phases of the transmitted beams using the stochastic parallel gradient
      descent maximization of the power-in-the-bucket metric. 

PMID- 26872203
TI  - Self-mixing interferometry with mutual independent orthogonal polarized light.
AB  - A self-mixing interferometry with mutual independent orthogonal polarized light
      is introduced. Its most important feature is that two mutual independent
      orthogonal lights are used as measuring and reference light. Frequency shifting
      and polarization multiplexing technologies are used in the proposed optical
      system. Phase variation of the two orthogonal polarized beams is simultaneously
      measured through heterodyne demodulation with a lock-in amplifier. The phase
      difference of the orthogonal polarized light accurately reflects the target
      displacement. The target in this system is a non-cooperative object which is
      different from a traditional Michelson interferometer. The primary experimental
      results show that this kind of self-mixing interferometry is very feasible. Under
      typical room conditions, the system's short-term resolution is better than 2 nm. 

PMID- 26872204
TI  - Hybrid Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids from the Sponge Agelas sceptrum.
AB  - A chemical investigation of the tropical sponge Agelas sceptrum from Plana Cays
      (Bahamas) led to the isolation of two hybrid pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids (PIAs),
      15'-oxoadenosceptrin (1) and decarboxyagelamadin C (2). Herein, we report their
      challenging structure elucidation established by NMR and ECD spectroscopy. 15'
      Oxoadenosceptrin (1) shows sceptrin merged with an adenine moiety, not yet
      encountered in the PIA family, whereas decarboxyagelamadin C (2) is a close
      derivative of agelamadins C to E recently isolated from an Agelas sp. from
      Okinawa. 

PMID- 26872205
TI  - Fracture risk in patients with haemophilia.

PMID- 26872206
TI  - Dermatan 4-O-sulfotransferase 1-deficient Ehlers-Danlos syndrome complicated by a
      large subcutaneous hematoma on the back.

PMID- 26872207
TI  - Ionic Liquid Dynamics Measured with 2D IR and IR Pump-Probe Experiments on a
      Linear Anion and the Influence of Potassium Cations.
AB  - The room-temperature ionic liquid EmimNTf2 (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium
      bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) was studied with two-dimensional infrared (2D
      IR) spectroscopy and polarization selective pump-probe (PSPP) experiments using
      low-concentration selenocyanate (SeCN(-)) as the vibrational probe. SeCN(-) was
      added as EmimSeCN, which keeps the cation the same. KSeCN was also used, so K(+)
      was added. Two 2D IR polarization configurations were employed: ?XXXX? (all
      pulses have the same polarization) and ?XXYY? (the first two pulse polarizations
      are perpendicular to that of the third pulse and the echo). The spectral
      diffusion differs for the two configurations, demonstrating that reorientation
      induced spectral diffusion, in addition to structural spectral diffusion (SSD),
      plays a role in the observed dynamics. The SSD was extracted from the 2D IR time
      dependent data. The samples with EmimSeCN have dynamics on several fast time
      scales; however, when KSeCN is used, both the PPSP anisotropy decay and the 2D IR
      decays have low amplitude offsets (nondecaying values at long times). The size of
      the offsets increased with increased K(+) concentration. These results are
      explained in terms of a two-ensemble model. A small fraction of the SeCN(-) is
      located in the regions modified by the presence of K(+), causing a substantial
      slowing of the SeCN(-) orientational relaxation and spectral diffusion. Having a
      small ensemble of SeCN(-) that undergoes very slow dynamics is sufficient to
      explain the offsets. For the major ensemble, the dynamics with and without K(+)
      are the same.

PMID- 26872209
TI  - Genetics of congenital heart disease.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to highlight recent discoveries in
      the field of genetics as it relates to congenital heart disease (CHD). Recent
      advancements in next generation sequencing technology and tools to interpret this
      growing body of data have allowed us to refine our understanding of the molecular
      mechanisms that result in CHD. RECENT FINDINGS: From multiple different study
      designs, the genetic lesions that cause CHD are increasingly being elucidated. Of
      the more novel findings, a forward genetic screen in mice has implicated
      recessive inheritance and the ciliome broadly in CHD pathogenesis. The
      developmental delays frequently observed in patients with CHD appear to result
      from mutations affecting genes that overlap heart and brain developmental
      regulation. A meta-analysis has provided clarity, discriminating pathologic from
      incidental copy number variations and defining a critical region or gene.
      SUMMARY: Recent technological advances have rapidly expanded our understanding of
      CHD genetics, and support the applicability to the clinical domain in both
      sporadic and inherited disease. Though significant gaps remain, genetic lesions
      remain the primary explanation for CHD pathogenesis, although the precise
      mechanism is likely multifactorial.

PMID- 26872208
TI  - Rapamycin transiently induces mitochondrial remodeling to reprogram energy
      metabolism in old hearts.
AB  - Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR signaling, has been shown to reverse diastolic
      dysfunction in old mice in 10 weeks, highlighting its therapeutic potential for a
      poorly treatable condition. However, the mechanisms and temporal regulation of
      its cardiac benefits remain unclear. We show that improved diastolic function in
      old mice begins at 2-4 weeks, progressing over the course of 10-week treatment.
      While TORC1-mediated S6 phosphorylation and TORC2 mediated AKT and PKCalpha
      phosphorylation are inhibited throughout the course of treatment, rapamycin
      inhibits ULK phosphorylation and induces autophagy during just the first week of
      treatment, returning to baseline at two weeks and after. Concordantly, markers of
      mitochondrial biogenesis increase over the first two weeks of treatment and
      return to control levels thereafter. This transient induction of autophagy and
      mitochondrial biogenesis suggests that damaged mitochondria are replaced by newly
      synthesized ones to rejuvenate mitochondrial homeostasis. This remodeling is
      shown to rapidly reverse the age-related reduction in fatty acid oxidation to
      restore a more youthful substrate utilization and energetic profile in old
      isolated perfused hearts, and modulates the myocardial metabolomein vivo. This
      study demonstrates the differential and dynamic mechanisms following rapamycin
      treatment and highlights the importance of understanding the temporal regulation
      of rapamycin effects. 

PMID- 26872210
TI  - Effects of the Financial Crisis on Psychotropic Drug Consumption in a Cohort from
      a Semi-Urban Region in Catalonia, Spain.
AB  - PURPOSE: Evidence of whether the recent economic crisis has or has not had an
      effect on psychotropic drug consumption is very scarce. Our objective was to
      determine if there had in fact been an increase in psychotropic drug use as a
      result of the financial crisis. METHODS: In our study a retrospective cohort
      (between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012) was made up of individuals from
      the general population in a region in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain. We
      specified a generalized linear mixed model along with combined 'selection on
      observables' as (propensity scoring) matching and 'selection on unobservables' as
      (random coefficient) the panel data model methods, and performed inferences using
      a Bayesian framework. RESULTS: In the period following the economic crisis (post
      2009), there was an increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs which was
      significantly higher among those who had already been consuming psychotropic
      drugs prior to 2009 and those most likely to be unemployed. The increase was of
      greater significance when consumption was measured by the number of drugs being
      taken, rather than by the defined daily dose (DDD), with the greatest increase
      occurring in 2011; the very year in which Spain was most affected by the crisis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Once the financial crisis had ended, there was an increase in the
      severity, rather than the intensity, of mental health disorders in individuals
      who had already had disorders before the crisis. This increase occurred in those
      most likely to be unemployed, and the severity was accentuated in the toughest
      year of the economic crisis.

PMID- 26872211
TI  - Peroxiredoxin 5 Protects TGF-beta Induced Fibrosis by Inhibiting Stat3 Activation
      in Rat Kidney Interstitial Fibroblast Cells.
AB  - Renal fibrosis is a common final pathway of end-stage kidney disease which is
      induced by aberrant accumulation of myofibroblasts. This process is triggered by
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines generated by various
      source of injured kidney cells. Peroxiredoxin 5 (Prdx5) is a thiol-dependent
      peroxidase that reduces oxidative stress by catalyzing intramolecular disulfide
      bonds. Along with its antioxidant effects, expression level of Prdx5 also was
      involved in inflammatory regulation by immune stimuli. However, the physiological
      effects and the underlying mechanisms of Prdx5 in renal fibrosis have not been
      fully characterized. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral ureteral
      obstruction (UUO) for 1 or 7 days. For the in vitro model, NRK49F cells, a rat
      kidney interstitial fibroblast cell lines, were treated with transforming growth
      factor beta (TGF-beta) for 0, 1, 3, or 5 days. To access the involvement of its
      peroxidase activity in TGF-beta induced renal fibrosis, wild type Prdx5 (WT) and
      double mutant Prdx5 (DM), converted two active site cysteines at Cys 48 and Cys
      152 residue to serine, were transiently expressed in NRK49F cells. The protein
      expression of Prdx5 was reduced in UUO kidneys. Upregulation of fibrotic markers,
      such as fibronectin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), declined at 5 days
      in time point of higher Prdx5 expression in TGF-beta treated NRK49F cells. The
      overexpression of wild type Prdx5 by transient transfection in NRK49F cells
      attenuated the TGF-beta induced upregulation of fibronectin and alpha-SMA. On the
      other hand, the transient transfection of double mutant Prdx5 did not prevent the
      activation of fibrotic markers. Overexpression of Prdx5 also suppressed the TGF
      beta induced upregulation of Stat3 phosphorylation, while phosphorylation of Smad
      2/3 was unchanged. In conclusion, Prdx5 protects TGF-beta induced fibrosis in
      NRK49F cells by modulating Stat3 activation in a peroxidase activity dependent
      manner. 

PMID- 26872213
TI  - Highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor based on nonlinear hybridization chain
      reaction for DNA detection.
AB  - In the present work we demonstrated an ultrasensitive detection platform for
      specific DNA based on nonlinear hybridization chain reaction (HCR) by triggering
      chain-branching growth of DNA dendrimers. HCR was initiated by target DNA (tDNA)
      and finally formed dendritic structure by self-assembly. The electrochemical
      signal was drastically enhanced by capturing multiple catalytic peroxidase with
      high-ordered growth. Electrochemical signals were obtained by measuring the
      reduction current of oxidized 3, 3', 5, 5'-tetramethylbenzidine sulfate (TMB),
      which was generated by HRP in the presence of H2O2. This method exhibited
      ultrahigh sensitivity to tDNA with detection limit of 0.4 fM. Furthermore, the
      biosensor was also capable of discriminating single-nucleotide difference among
      concomitant DNA sequences.

PMID- 26872212
TI  - Increased Frequency of T Follicular Helper Cells and Elevated Interleukin-27
      Plasma Levels in Patients with Pemphigus.
AB  - Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease in which IgG auto-antibodies (auto-ab) against
      the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and Dsg1 cause loss of epidermal
      keratinocyte adhesion. Aim of this study was to investigate cytokines derived
      from antigen-presenting cells (APC) and their relation to CD4+ T cell
      subpopulations and to the auto-ab response in pemphigus. In this regard, patients
      with pemphigus were compared to patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), an
      unrelated auto-ab-mediated autoimmune disease, and healthy controls. In pemphigus
      and MG, the plasma concentrations of the APC-derived immunomodulatory cytokine IL
      27 were highly increased. Strikingly, IL-27 strongly correlated with Dsg-specific
      IgG auto-ab titers. T helper (Th) 17 cells were augmented in both pemphigus and
      MG patients while T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which are essential in
      providing B cell help, were increased only in pemphigus along with increasing
      plasma concentrations of IL-21, a cytokine produced by Th17 and Tfh cells.
      Moreover, we could detect Dsg3-specific autoreactive T cells producing IL-21 upon
      ex vivo stimulation with Dsg3. These findings suggest that IL-27 and IL-21
      producing T cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of pemphigus. The further
      characterization of IL-21-producing T cells and of the role of IL-27 will lead to
      a more defined understanding of the auto-ab response in pemphigus. 

PMID- 26872215
TI  - The synthesis and self-assembly of disc-cube dyads with spacers of different
      lengths.
AB  - Disc-cube dyads with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecule
      covalently attached to a hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) molecule were designed
      and synthesized. The results demonstrate that the length of a spacer plays an
      important role in the self-assembly behavior of the HBC-POSS dyad. 

PMID- 26872214
TI  - Concentration Sensing by the Moving Nucleus in Cell Fate Determination: A
      Computational Analysis.
AB  - During development of the vertebrate neuroepithelium, the nucleus in neural
      progenitor cells (NPCs) moves from the apex toward the base and returns to the
      apex (called interkinetic nuclear migration) at which point the cell divides. The
      fate of the resulting daughter cells is thought to depend on the sampling by the
      moving nucleus of a spatial concentration profile of the cytoplasmic Notch
      intracellular domain (NICD). However, the nucleus executes complex stochastic
      motions including random waiting and back and forth motions, which can expose the
      nucleus to randomly varying levels of cytoplasmic NICD. How nuclear position can
      determine daughter cell fate despite the stochastic nature of nuclear migration
      is not clear. Here we derived a mathematical model for reaction, diffusion, and
      nuclear accumulation of NICD in NPCs during interkinetic nuclear migration (INM).
      Using experimentally measured trajectory-dependent probabilities of nuclear
      turning, nuclear waiting times and average nuclear speeds in NPCs in the
      developing zebrafish retina, we performed stochastic simulations to compute the
      nuclear trajectory-dependent probabilities of NPC differentiation. Comparison
      with experimentally measured nuclear NICD concentrations and trajectory-dependent
      probabilities of differentiation allowed estimation of the NICD cytoplasmic
      gradient. Spatially polarized production of NICD, rapid NICD cytoplasmic
      consumption and the time-averaging effect of nuclear import/export kinetics are
      sufficient to explain the experimentally observed differentiation probabilities.
      Our computational studies lend quantitative support to the feasibility of the
      nuclear concentration-sensing mechanism for NPC fate determination in zebrafish
      retina. 

PMID- 26872217
TI  - One-Pot Conversion of N-Allyl-alpha-cyano Esters to alpha-Allyl-alpha-cyano
      Lactams through a Hydrolysis/Ketene Formation/Cyclization/Claisen Rearrangement
      Sequence.
AB  - An intramolecular ketene aza-Claisen rearrangement is developed for the first
      time to enable the stereoselective synthesis of alpha-ally-alpha-cyano-lactams
      from N-allyl amino esters. This reaction also exhibits outstanding
      chemoselectivity when an unsymmetrical bis-N-allyl group is present in the
      starting molecule. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated by a short
      synthesis of optically active bicyclolactam from l-proline. 

PMID- 26872218
TI  - 2alpha-Hydroxyursolic Acid Inhibited Cell Proliferation and Induced Apoptosis in
      MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells through the p38/MAPK Signal Transduction
      Pathway.
AB  - The mechanisms of action of 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid in inhibiting cell
      proliferation and inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were
      investigated. The antiproliferative activity and cytotoxicity were determined by
      the methylene blue assay. The expression of proteins was determined using Western
      blot. 2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell
      proliferation, and no cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations below 30 MUM.
      2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid significantly down-regulated expressions of TRAF2,
      PCNA, cyclin D1, and CDK4 and up-regulated the expressions of p-ASK1, p-p38, p
      p53, and p-21. 2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells
      by significantly increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and inducing the cleaved caspase
      3. Additionally, treatment of SB203580, a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor, reversed
      the inhibition of PCNA, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 expression induced by 2alpha
      hydroxyursolic acid in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results suggested that 2alpha
      hydroxyursolic acid exhibited anticancer activity through the inhibition of cell
      proliferation and the induction of apoptosis by regulating the p38/MAPK signal
      transduction pathway. 

PMID- 26872216
TI  - The Epidemiology, Virology and Clinical Findings of Dengue Virus Infections in a
      Cohort of Indonesian Adults in Western Java.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dengue has emerged as one of the most important infectious diseases
      in the last five decades. Evidence indicates the expansion of dengue virus
      endemic areas and consequently the exponential increase of dengue virus
      infections across the subtropics. The clinical manifestations of dengue virus
      infection include sudden fever, rash, headache, myalgia and in more serious
      cases, spontaneous bleeding. These manifestations occur in children as well as in
      adults. Defining the epidemiology of dengue in a given area is critical to
      understanding the disease and devising effective public health strategies.
      METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we report the results from a prospective
      cohort study of 4380 adults in West Java, Indonesia, from 2000-2004 and 2006
      2009. A total of 2167 febrile episodes were documented and dengue virus
      infections were confirmed by RT-PCR or serology in 268 cases (12.4%). The
      proportion ranged from 7.6 to 41.8% each year. The overall incidence rate of
      symptomatic dengue virus infections was 17.3 cases/1,000 person years and between
      September 2006 and April 2008 asymptomatic infections were 2.6 times more
      frequent than symptomatic infections. According to the 1997 WHO classification
      guidelines, there were 210 dengue fever cases, 53 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases
      (including one dengue shock syndrome case) and five unclassified cases. Evidence
      for sequential dengue virus infections was seen in six subjects. All four dengue
      virus serotypes circulated most years. Inapparent dengue virus infections were
      predominantly associated with DENV-4 infections. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Dengue
      virus was responsible for a significant percentage of febrile illnesses in an
      adult population in West Java, Indonesia, and this percentage varied from year to
      year. The observed incidence rate during the study period was 43 times higher
      than the reported national or provincial rates during the same time period. A
      wide range of clinical severity was observed with most infections resulting in
      asymptomatic disease. The circulation of all four serotypes of dengue virus was
      observed in most years of the study.

PMID- 26872219
TI  - Women's Acceptability of Misoprostol Treatment for Incomplete Abortion by
      Midwives and Physicians - Secondary Outcome Analysis from a Randomized Controlled
      Equivalence Trial at District Level in Uganda.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess women's acceptability of diagnosis and
      treatment of incomplete abortion with misoprostol by midwives, compared with
      physicians. METHODS: This was an analysis of secondary outcomes from a multi
      centre randomized controlled equivalence trial at district level in Uganda. Women
      with first trimester incomplete abortion were randomly allocated to clinical
      assessment and treatment with misoprostol by a physician or a midwife. The
      randomisation (1:1) was done in blocks of 12 and stratified for health care
      facility. Acceptability was measured in expectations and satisfaction at a follow
      up visit 14-28 days following treatment. Analysis of women's overall
      acceptability was done using a generalized linear mixed-effects model with an
      equivalence range of -4% to 4%. The study was not masked. The trial is registered
      at ClinicalTrials.org, NCT 01844024. RESULTS: From April 2013 to June 2014, 1108
      women were assessed for eligibility of which 1010 were randomized (506 to midwife
      and 504 to physician). 953 women were successfully followed up and included in
      the acceptability analysis. 95% (904) of the participants found the treatment
      satisfactory and overall acceptability was found to be equivalent between the two
      study groups. Treatment failure, not feeling calm and safe following treatment,
      experiencing severe abdominal pain or heavy bleeding following treatment, were
      significantly associated with non-satisfaction. No serious adverse events were
      recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of incomplete abortion with misoprostol by
      midwives and physician was highly, and equally, acceptable to women. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01844024.

PMID- 26872220
TI  - Optimising EEG-fMRI for Localisation of Focal Epilepsy in Children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early surgical intervention in children with drug resistant epilepsy
      has benefits but requires using tolerable and minimally invasive tests. EEG-fMRI
      studies have demonstrated good sensitivity for the localization of epileptic
      focus but a poor yield although the reasons for this have not been systematically
      addressed. While adults EEG-fMRI studies are performed in the "resting state";
      children are commonly sedated however, this has associated risks and potential
      confounds. In this study, we assessed the impact of the following factors on the
      tolerability and results of EEG-fMRI in children: viewing a movie inside the
      scanner; movement; occurrence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED); scan
      duration and design efficiency. This work's motivation is to optimize EEG-fMRI
      parameters to make this test widely available to paediatric population. METHODS:
      Forty-six children with focal epilepsy and 20 controls (6-18) underwent EEG-fMRI.
      For two 10 minutes sessions subjects were told to lie still with eyes closed, as
      it is classically performed in adult studies ("rest sessions"), for another two
      sessions, subjects watched a child friendly stimulation i.e. movie ("movie
      sessions"). IED were mapped with EEG-fMRI for each session and across sessions.
      The resulting maps were classified as concordant/discordant with the presumed
      epileptogenic focus for each subject. FINDINGS: Movement increased with scan
      duration, but the movie reduced movement by ~40% when played within the first 20
      minutes. There was no effect of movie on the occurrence of IED, nor in the
      concordance of the test. Ability of EEG-fMRI to map the epileptogenic region was
      similar for the 20 and 40 minute scan durations. Design efficiency was predictive
      of concordance. CONCLUSIONS: A child friendly natural stimulus improves the
      tolerability of EEG-fMRI and reduces in-scanner movement without having an effect
      on IED occurrence and quality of EEG-fMRI maps. This allowed us to scan children
      as young as 6 and obtain localising information without sedation. Our data
      suggest that ~20 minutes is the optimal length of scanning for EEG-fMRI studies
      in children with frequent IED. The efficiency of the fMRI design derived from
      spontaneous IED generation is an important factor for producing concordant
      results.

PMID- 26872224
TI  - [Trends and reforms in long-term care policies for the elderly].
AB  - One of the main public health concerns in medium and high-income countries is how
      to deal with problems of functional dependency of a growing number of elderly
      individuals. This study aimed to identify converging issues in 30 countries with
      formal long-term care systems. A systematic review included articles, studies,
      and comparative international reports published from 2010 to 2015. The results
      show three trends in the design and development of these policies: (a) focus on
      the oldest or most dependent elderly, (b) expansion of financing based on
      individual contribution, and (c) promotion of home care and financial benefits
      for care in specialized centers (nursing homes and similar establishments). All
      three have positive effects on cost containment, despite limited evidence of
      impacts on people's health. 

PMID- 26872225
TI  - [Focus groups with women from quilombo communities in Brazil].
AB  - This article discusses an experience using the focus group technique with women
      from a quilombo, or community of descendants of African slaves in Brazil. This is
      a descriptive qualitative anthropological study of 13 women from a quilombo in
      rural Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The focus group technique allowed an
      approach, interaction, and exchange of knowledge, experiences, perceptions, and
      feelings, in addition to problematization and in-depth discussion concerning the
      meaning of women's health care in the quilombo. The focus group was a prime space
      for learning and understanding the life experiences of quilombola women and the
      meanings they assigned to the experiences. In order to use the focus group
      technique, researchers must display creativity, sensitivity, attention, respect,
      nonjudgmental attitudes, flexibility, prior preparation, and knowledge of the
      technique and specific study topic. 

PMID- 26872226
TI  - Consumption of sugar-rich food products among Brazilian students:National School
      Health Survey (PeNSE 2012).
AB  - This study aimed to analyze the consumption of high-sugar foods by Brazilian
      schoolchildren and to identify associated factors, based on data from the
      National School Health Survey (PeNSE 2012). Consumption of these foods was
      classified as: do not consume sweets and soft drinks regularly; consume sweets or
      soft drinks regularly; and consume sweets and soft drinks regularly. Its
      association with sociodemographic information, eating habits, and family contexts
      were investigated via multiple ordinal regressions. Regular consumption of sweets
      and/or soft drinks was reported by 19.2% and 36.1% of adolescents, respectively,
      and higher prevalence was associated with female gender, age 14-15 years, higher
      maternal education, not living with the mother and father, not eating meals with
      the parents, eating while watching TV, and longer TV time. Nearly one-fifth of
      adolescents regularly consumed sweets and soft drinks, which was associated with
      socio-demographic and behavioral factors that should be targeted in order to
      improve their food consumption. 

PMID- 26872221
TI  - Acylated but not des-acyl ghrelin is neuroprotective in an MPTP mouse model of
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - The gut hormone ghrelin is widely beneficial in many disease states. However,
      ghrelin exists in two distinctive isoforms, each with its own metabolic profile.
      In Parkinson's Disease (PD) acylated ghrelin administration is neuroprotective,
      however, the role of des-acylated ghrelin remains unknown. In this study, we
      wanted to identify the relative contribution each isoform plays using the MPTP
      model of PD. Chronic administration of acylated ghrelin in mice lacking both
      isoforms of ghrelin (Ghrelin KO) attenuated the MPTP-induced loss on tyrosine
      hydroxylase (TH) neuronal number and volume and TH protein expression in the
      nigrostriatal pathway. Moreover, acylated ghrelin reduced the increase in glial
      fibrillary acidic protein and Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1
      microglia in the substantia nigra. However, injection of acylated ghrelin also
      elevated plasma des-acylated ghrelin, indicating in vivo deacetylation. Next, we
      chronically administered des-acylated ghrelin to Ghrelin KO mice and observed no
      neuroprotective effects in terms of TH cell number, TH protein expression, glial
      fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 cell
      number. The lack of a protective effect was mirrored in ghrelin-O-acyltransferase
      KO mice, which lack the ability to acylate ghrelin and consequently these mice
      have chronically increased plasma des-acyl ghrelin. Plasma corticosterone was
      elevated in ghrelin-O-acyltransferase KO mice and with des-acylated ghrelin
      administration. Overall, our studies suggest that acylated ghrelin is the isoform
      responsible for in vivo neuroprotection and that pharmacological approaches
      preventing plasma conversion from acyl ghrelin to des-acyl ghrelin may have
      clinical efficacy to help slow or prevent the debilitating effects of PD. Ghrelin
      exists in the plasma as acyl and des-acyl ghrelin. We determined the form
      responsible for in vivo neuroprotection in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
      Although exogenous acyl ghrelin is deacylated in situ to des-acyl, only acyl
      ghrelin was neuroprotective by attenuating dopamine cell loss and glial
      activation. Acyl ghrelin is a therapeutic option to reduce Parkinson's Disease
      progression. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13316.

PMID- 26872227
TI  - Factors associated with treatment for latent tuberculosis in persons living with
      HIV/AIDS.
AB  - The aim was to identify factors associated with non-initiation of prophylactic
      treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBi) in persons living with HIV/AIDS
      (PLWA), based on a prospective cohort study of PLWA >= 18 years of age in two
      referral services for HIV/AIDS. Of the 232 patients eligible for treatment of
      LTBi, 69.8% initiated treatment. Following multivariate logistic regression
      analysis, only treatment in one of the two referral services was associated with
      non-initiation of treatment for LTBi (p < 0.001). TB incidence in the cohort was
      0.6/100 person-years. TB incidence in patients that initiated treatment of LTBi
      was 0.4/100 person-years, compared to 1.2/100 person-years in those that did not
      initiate treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. The
      study's most interesting finding was that the main factor associated with the
      likelihood of treatment for LTBi was the health service where the patient was
      treated. 

PMID- 26872228
TI  - Parenting styles as a tobacco-use protective factor among Brazilian adolescents.
AB  - The objective was to evaluate the relationship between tobacco use (previous
      month and frequent use), parenting styles and parental smoking behavior in a
      sample of high school students. Participants were recruited from public and
      private high schools from 27 Brazilian state capitals (N = 17,246). The overall
      prevalence of tobacco use in life was 25.2%; 15.3% in the previous year; 8.6% in
      the previous month; and 3.2% for frequent use. Tobacco use by the parents was
      reported by 28.6% of the students. Regarding parenting styles, 39.2% were
      classified as negligent, 33.3% authoritative, 15.6% as indulgent and 11.9%
      authoritarian. Compared to adolescents with authoritative parents, those with
      negligent or indulgent parents were more prone to report tobacco use during the
      last month or frequent use. This study showed an association between parenting
      styles and tobacco use by high school students. Authoritative parents were
      associated with protection from frequent and previous month tobacco use among
      adolescents. 

PMID- 26872229
TI  - Postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder in a fetal high-risk maternity hospital
      in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AB  - The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of postpartum
      posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a maternity hospital for fetal high-risk
      pregnancies and to identify vulnerable subgroups. This was a cross-sectional
      study at a fetal high-risk maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a
      sample of 456 women who had given birth at this hospital. The Trauma History
      Questionnaire and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist were used to screen
      for lifetime traumatic events and PTSD symptoms, respectively. Overall prevalence
      of PTSD was 9.4%. Higher PTSD prevalence was associated with three or more
      births, a newborn with a 1-minute Apgar score of seven or less, history of mental
      disorder prior to or during the index pregnancy, postpartum depression, physical
      or psychological intimate partner violence during the pregnancy, a history of
      unwanted sexual experience, and lifetime exposure to five or more traumas. Rapid
      diagnosis and treatment of PTSD are essential to improve the mother's quality of
      life and the infant's health. 

PMID- 26872230
TI  - Familial aggregation and dietary patterns in the Brazilian population.
AB  - The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns in Brazil and verify
      aggregation among members of the same family based on the Brazilian National
      Dietary Survey, a nationwide dietary survey conducted in 2008-2009 in individuals
      over 10 years of age. Dietary intake was estimated with a food record. Dietary
      patterns were identified by factor analysis, and familial aggregation was
      verified by linear regression. Three major dietary patterns were identified: (1)
      a traditional snack featuring coffee, rolls, oils and fats, and cheese; (2)
      traditional main meal, based on rice, beans and other legumes, and meat; and (3)
      fast food type snacks, namely sandwiches, processed meats, soft drinks, snacks,
      and pizza. Pattern 2 showed the strongest association (beta = 0.37-0.64).
      Patterns 1 and 3 showed positive associations for all pairs of family members,
      with beta ranging from 0.27 to 0.44 and 0.32 to 0.42, respectively. The study
      showed familial aggregation of dietary patterns in the Brazilian population. 

PMID- 26872231
TI  - [Back pain in adults: a population-based study in Campinas, Sao Paulo State,
      Brazil].
AB  - This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of back pain in the urban population
      of Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, and identify the most affected groups. Data
      were obtained from a population survey in 2008-2009 that included 1,118
      individuals aged 18-59 years. Overall prevalence of back pain was 30.6% (34.4% in
      women and 26.5% in men). After adjustment, prevalence was higher among women,
      those with less schooling, people working more than 40 hours a week, smokers and
      former smokers, those with no leisure-time physical activity, and those who were
      physically active in household chores and at work. Prevalence increased with age
      and with the number of children, number of diseases and health problems, and
      those with worse self-rated health. The results confirm the high prevalence of
      low back pain and the associated incapacity, indicating the population groups
      that require heightened attention from health services. 

PMID- 26872232
TI  - [Intermedicality and protagonism: the role of indigenous health agents on the
      Kwata-Laranjal Indian Reservation in Amazonas State, Brazil].
AB  - This article summarizes the results of an ethnographic study on the role of
      indigenous health agents on the Kwata-Laranjal Indian Reservation in Borba,
      Amazonas State, Brazil. The study aims to contribute to understanding the role of
      indigenous health agents in the expansion of the hegemonic medical model in a
      context of medical pluralism. The analysis included data from participant
      observation and interviews conducted from 2009 to 2011. Semi-structured
      interviews were held to record narratives on their work routine, experiences, and
      difficulties. The authors conclude that work by indigenous health agents is
      essential to primary care, and that their role extends beyond technical
      activities. The Munduruku indigenous health agents hold a key position in the
      links between indigenous and biomedical knowledge in contexts of intermedicality,
      emerging as new political actors in interethnic contexts. 

PMID- 26872233
TI  - Factors associated with recidivism among adolescents girls in conflict with the
      law in an institution in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil.
AB  - Recidivism is a challenge for the Brazilian socio-educational system because it
      is associated with personal, social and environmental factors, especially among
      juvenile offenders. This study examined key characteristics and potential
      association with recidivism in 391 female adolescent offenders from a
      correctional institution in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil, between 2004 and
      2011. Cross-sectional data on socio-demographics, drug use and offense
      characteristics from institutional information were examined. Associate factors
      with recidivism were examined using negative binomial regression analyses. 32.5%
      of offenders were recidivists at present admission and the mean frequency of
      recidivism among recidivists was 2.16. About half (53.6%) of the sample reported
      drug use. After the adjustment, recidivism was positively associated with: age;
      offender's drug use; residence status; offense type; and no family drug use.
      Factors associated with juvenile offenders' recidivism confirm findings from
      elsewhere, and should inform targeted interventions in Brazil. 

PMID- 26872234
TI  - Physician-patient argumentation and communication, comparing Toulmin's model,
      pragma-dialectics, and American sociolinguistics.
AB  - This article discusses the application of theories of argumentation and
      communication to the field of medicine. Based on a literature review, the authors
      compare Toulmin's model, pragma-dialectics, and the work of Todd and Fisher,
      derived from American sociolinguistics. These approaches were selected because
      they belong to the pragmatic field of language. The main results were: pragma
      dialectics characterizes medical reasoning more comprehensively, highlighting
      specific elements of the three disciplines of argumentation: dialectics,
      rhetoric, and logic; Toulmin's model helps substantiate the declaration of
      diagnostic and therapeutic hypotheses, and as part of an interpretive medicine,
      approximates the pragma-dialectical approach by including dialectical elements in
      the process of formulating arguments; Fisher and Todd's approach allows
      characterizing, from a pragmatic analysis of speech acts, the degree of
      symmetry/asymmetry in the doctor-patient relationship, while arguing the
      possibility of negotiating treatment alternatives. 

PMID- 26872235
TI  - [Association between coverage by oral health teams in the family health and the
      increase in dental care output in Brazilian municipalities, 1999 and 2011].
AB  - The aim of this study was to analyze the association between population coverage
      by oral health teams under the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and the difference in
      1999 and 2011 in rates of use of public dental services in Brazilian
      municipalities. The sample included all 5,507 municipalities in both years. Data
      were used from government information systems to perform logistic regression for
      modeling the increase in procedure rates. By 2011, 85% of Brazil's municipalities
      had oral health teams under the FHS and there had been an increase in
      infrastructure, human and financial resources. Dental care output increased 49.5%
      from 1999 to 2011. Municipalities that incorporated more than 3 oral health teams
      per 10,000 inhabitants showed higher odds of increasing their rates of community
      procedures (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.23-2.11), prophylactic procedures (OR = 2.05,
      CI95%: 1.56-2.69), restorations (OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.58-2.71), and extractions
      (OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.19-1.97) after adjusting for socio-demographic factors and
      variations in physical, human and financial resources. The incorporation of oral
      health teams into the FHS appears more effective for increasing indicators of the
      use of dental services. 

PMID- 26872236
TI  - [Non-adherence to biological therapy in patients with rheumatic diseases in the
      Brazilian Unified National Health System in Minas Gerais State, Brazil].
AB  - This study examined non-adherence to biological therapy with adalimumab and
      etanercept and associated factors in patients with rheumatic diseases treated
      under the Brazilian Unified National Health System in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
      A non-concurrent cohort study was performed from pharmacy records of adult
      patients that had recently initiated treatment. Patient non-adherence was
      measured by proportion of days covered (PDC), and non-adherent patients were
      defined as PDC < 0.8. A total of 1,150 patients were included, with the following
      breakdown: 64.3% rheumatoid arthritis, 8.5% psoriatic arthritis , and 27.2%
      ankylosing spondylitis. In total, 33.5% of patients were non-adherent. Factors
      such as younger age (19-39 years), female gender, diagnosis of rheumatoid
      arthritis , and initial treatment with etanercept were associated with low
      adherence. The results indicate a high prevalence of non-adherence, which can
      lead to worse health outcomes and increase healthcare use and costs. 

PMID- 26872237
TI  - Prescribing errors in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit.
AB  - Pediatric patients, especially those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit
      (ICU), are highly vulnerable to medication errors. This study aimed to measure
      the prescription error rate in a university hospital neonatal ICU and to identify
      susceptible patients, types of errors, and the medicines involved. The variables
      related to medicines prescribed were compared to the Neofax prescription
      protocol. The study enrolled 150 newborns and analyzed 489 prescription order
      forms, with 1,491 medication items, corresponding to 46 drugs. Prescription error
      rate was 43.5%. Errors were found in dosage, intervals, diluents, and infusion
      time, distributed across 7 therapeutic classes. Errors were more frequent in
      preterm newborns. Diluent and dosing were the most frequent sources of errors.
      The therapeutic classes most involved in errors were antimicrobial agents and
      drugs that act on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. 

PMID- 26872238
TI  - [When and where motorcyclists have accidents and die in Belo Horizonte, Minas
      Gerais State, Brazil].
AB  - The objective of this study was to analyze traffic accidents involving
      motorcycles in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from 2007 to 2011 and
      to identify clusters of high-risk and hazardous intersections in and around the
      city. Data were provided by the Military Police Brigade and the Emergency Medical
      Service (SAMU). Accident severity rates were used to identify critical
      intersections. Two techniques were used: kernel analysis and scan statistics
      (continuous Poisson model). High-risk clusters were located in the downtown area
      and on major thoroughfares. Surprisingly, the highest risk of accidents and death
      occurred not at intersections, but between them. Hazardous intersections are part
      of routes used to access regions around Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte. Two
      distinct trends in mortality rates and accidents were identified. Most motorcycle
      deaths occurred after 7:00 PM. The study concludes that there is an urgent need
      to improve motorcycle and public transportation routes. 

PMID- 26872239
TI  - [Ethnic disparities in the use of reproductive health services by indigenous and
      African-descendant Colombian women].
AB  - The aim of this study in Colombia was to analyze the use of reproductive health
      services (prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum) according to women's
      ethnicity, based on the National Demographic and Health Survey for 2010.
      Ethnicity was self-reported (indigenous, African-descendant, or neither), and
      logistic models were performed for each service. The use of reproductive health
      services was lower among indigenous and African-descendant Colombian women when
      compared to those that did not declare their ethnicity. According to the
      regression models, indigenous women showed lower odds of having an adequate
      number of prenatal visits (OR = 0.61), and the same was true for African
      descendant women. The same situation prevailed for institutional childbirth care:
      indigenous women (OR = 0.33) and African-descendant women (OR = 0.60); and
      postpartum follow-up: indigenous (OR = 0.80), African-descendant (OR = 0.80). In
      conclusion, there are inequities in the use of reproductive health services by
      women belonging to ethnic groups in Colombia, who should be targeted with
      government strategies to guarantee their right to health. 

PMID- 26872240
TI  - [Psychosocial Care Centers for Children and Adolescents in Brazil: geographic
      distribution and user profile].
AB  - Few Brazilian studies have addressed the use of mental health services for
      children and adolescents. This study aimed to characterize the national
      distribution of Psychosocial Care Centers for Children and Adolescents (CAPSi)
      and describe the patient profile in this age group between 2008 and 2012. An
      ecological study was carried out, using records from the Authorizations for High
      Complexity Procedures (APAC) system and the Brazilian National Registry of
      Healthcare Organizations (CNES). Socio-demographics and disease profile were
      analyzed. In 2014, 208 CAPSi were recorded in the CNES, distributed across 23 of
      Brazil's 27 states. Treatments included predominantly behavioral disorders
      (29.7%), developmental disorders (23.6%), and mental retardation (12.5%). CAPSi
      are insufficient and unequally distributed. The disease profile suggests the need
      for linkage between specialized mental health services and primary care, in
      addition to the inclusion of inter-sector work. 

PMID- 26872241
TI  - Selective and Sensitive Detection of Heavy Metal Ions in 100% Aqueous Solution
      and Cells with a Fluorescence Chemosensor Based on Peptide Using Aggregation
      Induced Emission.
AB  - A fluorescent peptidyl chemosensor for the detection of heavy metal ions in
      aqueous solution as well as in cells was synthesized on the basis of the peptide
      receptor for the metal ions using an aggregation-induced emission fluorophore.
      The peptidyl chemosensor (1) bearing tetraphenylethylene fluorophore showed an
      exclusively selective turn-on response to Hg(2+) among 16 metal ions in aqueous
      buffered solution containing NaCl. The peptidyl chemosensor complexed Hg(2+) ions
      and then aggregated in aqueous buffered solution, resulting in the significant
      enhancement (OFF-On) of emissions at around 470 nm. The fluorescent sensor showed
      a highly sensitive response to Hg(2+), and about 1.0 equiv of Hg(2+) was enough
      for the saturation of the emission intensity change. The detection limit (5.3 nM,
      R(2) = 0.99) of 1 for Hg(2+) ions was lower than the maximum allowable level of
      Hg(2+) in drinking water by EPA. Moreover, the peptidyl chemosensor penetrated
      live cells and detected intracellular Hg(2+) ions by the turn-on response. 

PMID- 26872242
TI  - Directional surface enhanced Raman scattering on gold nano-gratings.
AB  - Directional plasmon excitation and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)
      emission were demonstrated for 1D and 2D gold nanostructure arrays deposited on a
      flat gold layer. The extinction spectrum of both arrays exhibits intense
      resonance bands that are redshifted when the incident angle is increased.
      Systematic extinction analysis of different grating periods revealed that this
      band can be assigned to a propagated surface plasmon of the flat gold surface
      that fulfills the Bragg condition of the arrays (Bragg mode). Directional SERS
      measurements demonstrated that the SERS intensity can be improved by one order of
      magnitude when the Bragg mode positions are matched with either the excitation or
      the Raman wavelengths. Hybridized numerical calculations with the finite element
      method and Fourier modal method also proved the presence of the Bragg mode
      plasmon and illustrated that the enhanced electric field of the Bragg mode is
      particularly localized on the nanostructures regardless of their size. 

PMID- 26872243
TI  - Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision with Enbloc Resection of Seminal Vesicle
      for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Complete surgical resection remains the primary goal of rectal cancer surgeries.
      However, in 10%-20% patients, rectal tumors invade adjacent pelvic organs and
      resection of such organs is essential to achieve an R0 resection. Seminal vesicle
      is the most commonly involved organ in males. Although laparoscopic surgery has
      been found to be safe and feasible for rectal cancer surgeries, multivisceral
      resection is considered complex, and hence majority of these patients are offered
      open surgical resection. However, with improved surgical expertise as well as
      better laparoscopic equipment, surgeons have been attempting more complex rectal
      surgeries through the laparoscopic approach. We are delineating the technical
      details as well as initial results of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with
      enbloc resection of seminal vesicle. 

PMID- 26872244
TI  - Controlling an electrostatic repulsion by oppositely charged surfactants towards
      positively charged fluorescent gold nanoclusters.
AB  - A novel positively charged fluorescent gold nanocluster was successfully
      synthesized using the shortest cationic thiol, thiocholine. Effective control of
      electrostatic repulsion by the introduction of an anionic surfactant afforded a
      nanocluster that showed blue fluorescence emission. 

PMID- 26872245
TI  - Further Advancements of CROES, a New Platform for Producing Clinical Evidence.

PMID- 26872246
TI  - Fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics in twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
AB  - Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) complicates 10-15% of monochorionic
      diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies. It originates from unbalanced transfer of fluid
      and vasoactive mediators from one twin to its co-twin via placental anastomoses.
      This results in hypovolemia in the donor and hypervolemia and vasoconstriction in
      the recipient twin. Consequently, the recipient demonstrates cardiovascular
      alterations including atrioventricular valve regurgitation, diastolic
      dysfunction, and pulmonary stenosis/atresia that do not necessarily correlate
      with Quintero-stages. Selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of placental
      vascular anastomoses disrupts the underlying pathophysiology and usually improves
      cardiovascular function in the recipient with normalization of systolic and
      diastolic function within weeks after treatment. Postnatal studies have
      demonstrated early decreased arterial distensibility in ex-donor twins, but 10
      year follow up is encouraging with survivors showing normal cardiovascular
      function after TTTS. However, prediction and appropriate early management of TTTS
      remain poor. Assessment of the cardiovascular system provides additional insight
      into the pathophysiology and severity of TTTS and may permit more targeted early
      surveillance of MCDA pregnancies in future. It should form an integral part of
      the diagnostic algorithm.

PMID- 26872247
TI  - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Related to Mycoplasma-Associated Autoimmune
      Encephalopathy with Basal Ganglia Involvement.

PMID- 26872248
TI  - The not face: A grammaticalization of facial expressions of emotion.
AB  - Facial expressions of emotion are thought to have evolved from the development of
      facial muscles used in sensory regulation and later adapted to express moral
      judgment. Negative moral judgment includes the expressions of anger, disgust and
      contempt. Here, we study the hypothesis that these facial expressions of negative
      moral judgment have further evolved into a facial expression of negation
      regularly used as a grammatical marker in human language. Specifically, we show
      that people from different cultures expressing negation use the same facial
      muscles as those employed to express negative moral judgment. We then show that
      this nonverbal signal is used as a co-articulator in speech and that, in American
      Sign Language, it has been grammaticalized as a non-manual marker. Furthermore,
      this facial expression of negation exhibits the theta oscillation (3-8 Hz)
      universally seen in syllable and mouthing production in speech and signing. These
      results provide evidence for the hypothesis that some components of human
      language have evolved from facial expressions of emotion, and suggest an
      evolutionary route for the emergence of grammatical markers.

PMID- 26872250
TI  - Controllable synthesis of Zn/Cd(ii) coordination polymers: dual-emissive
      luminescent properties, and tailoring emission tendency under varying excitation
      energies.
AB  - Based on a new asymmetric semi-rigid V-shaped tricarboxylate ligand 3-(2',3'
      dicarboxylphenoxy)benzoic acid (H3dpob), a series of zinc/cadmium(ii)
      coordination polymers, {[Cd(Hdpob)(H2O)3].H2O}n (1), [Cd(Hdpob)(bib)]n (2),
      [Zn(Hdpob)(bib)0.5]n (3), {[Cd1.5(dpob)(2,2'-bipy)].0.5H2O}2n (4) and
      {[Cd3(dpob)2(4,4'-bipy)2].3H2O}n (5) [bib = 1,4-bis(1-imidazolyl)benzene; 2,2'
      bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine], have been successfully
      synthesized via hydro(solvo)thermal reactions. 1 forms a three dimensional (3D)
      supramolecular structure linked by two types of intermolecular hydrogen bonds
      based on zig-zag 1D chains, whereas 2 and 3 are obtained with a similar 2D layer
      structure by the same ligands and further connected into a 3D structure through
      hydrogen bonds. 4 displays a homochiral 2D structure though two achiral ligands
      2,2'-bipy and H3dpob, which contains right-handed helical infinite chains. 5 is a
      3D structure containing 2D metal-pyridine layer motifs, which are further
      pillared by beaded dpob(3-) ligands to complete the structure and form a 6
      connected pcu (primitive cubic) net. In DMSO solvent, 1-5 illustrate dual
      emission properties but have different low-energy emission (LE) intensities
      relatively. Extraordinarily, the difference resulting from central metals between
      2 and 3 makes the intensity of LE dramatically enhanced and quenched. In this
      regard, the luminescence of 2 and 3 can be tuned between blue and green regions
      by varying the excitation light, and the tuning tendency can be tailored with
      inverse directions. Comparing their tunable-sensitivity to energy quantitatively,
      the theoretical calculation displays that 3 (4.29%) is little higher than 2
      (3.59%) in a relative lower excitation wavelength zone. Meanwhile, five
      coordination polymers show distinct luminescence thermochromism in the solid
      state. When the temperature decreases from 298 K to 77 K, the red-shift from
      blue/green to the pure yellow light region is highlighted. The fantastic and
      unique luminescence phenomenon not only brings an insight into the synthesis of
      dual-emissive materials, but helps us to understand the luminescence behavior
      deeply as well. 

PMID- 26872249
TI  - Instruction to forget leads [corrected]  to emotional devaluation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if the interaction between
      emotion and memory is bidirectional. Specifically we tested if intentional
      forgetting of words and faces would lead to their subsequent emotional
      devaluation. METHOD: In three experiments we combined an item-method directed
      forgetting paradigm with an emotional evaluation task. In addition, to test the
      general response bias hypothesis, we manipulated the forget instruction so that
      participants would associate a positive encoding affect with this condition.
      RESULTS: We found that intentionally forgotten words and faces were subsequently
      emotionally devaluated as compared with the to-be-remembered words and faces.
      Furthermore, this effect was replicated for words when we associated a positive
      instruction with the forget condition, which supports that the devaluation was
      memory specific. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the Distractor
      Devaluation effect previously reported in the attention field can be generalized
      to memory. This is one the first studies to show an influence of memory
      processes, namely forgetting, on emotion.

PMID- 26872251
TI  - Constructing a Catalytic Cycle for C-F to C-X (X = O, S, N) Bond Transformation
      Based on Gold-Mediated Ligand Nucleophilic Attack.
AB  - A tricoordinated gold(I) chloride complex, tBuXantphosAuCl, supported by a
      sterically bulky 9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)xanthene ligand
      (tBuXantphos) was synthesized. This complex features a remarkably longer Au-Cl
      bond length [2.632(1) A] than bicoordinated linear gold complexes (2.27-2.30 A)
      and tricoordinated XantphosAuCl [2.462(1) A]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction
      analysis of a cocrystal of tBuXantphosAuCl and pentafluoronitrobenzene (PFNB) and
      UV-vis spectroscopic titration experiments revealed the existence of an anion-pi
      interaction between the Cl anion ligand and PFNB. Stoichiometric reaction between
      PFNB and tBuXantphosAuOtBu, after replacement of Cl by a more nucleophilic tBuO
      anion ligand, showed higher reactivity and para selectivity in the transformation
      of C-F to C-OtBu bond, distinctively different from that when only KOtBu was used
      (ortho selectivity) under the identical condition. Mechanistic studies including
      density functional theory calculations suggested a gold-mediated nucleophilic
      ligand attack of the C-F bond pathway via an SNAr process. On the basis of these
      results, using trimethylsilyl derivatives TMS-X (X = OMe, SEt, NEt2) as the
      nucleophilic ligand source and the fluorine acceptor, catalytic transformation of
      the C-F bond of aromatic substrates to the C-X (X = O, S, N) bond was achieved
      with tBuXantphosAuCl as the catalyst (up to 20 turnover numbers). 

PMID- 26872252
TI  - Gremlin-1 C-Terminus Regulates Function of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor
      (MIF).
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The counterbalance of macrophage migration inhibitory factor
      (MIF) and Gremlin-1 is a useful tool to predict the acuity of coronary artery
      disease (CAD) and plaque stability. Gremlin1 is an endogenous antagonist of MIF
      and therefore influences plaque vulnerability. This study was designed to
      elucidate the mechanistic basis determining the biophysical binding of Gremlin-1
      to MIF. METHODS: An in silico model suggested that several charged C-terminal
      amino acids are crucial in mediating Gremlin-1/MIF-binding. We produced several
      single amino acid exchange mutants of Gremlin-1 by site-directed mutagenesis.
      These Gremlin-1 mutants were tested for their ability to reduce MIF effects on
      monocytes. RESULTS: We observed that the critical element of the Gremlin-1
      molecule for regulating MIF-induced chemotactic activity lies at the C-terminal
      region. A single amino acid exchange of an arginine to an alanine residue is
      sufficient to abolish the antagonistic effect of Gremlin-1 on MIF. Therefore, the
      Gremlin-1 mutant R172A failed to reduce MIF-induced monocyte differentiation into
      macrophages. CONCLUSION: Gremlin-1 C-terminus is essential for antagonizing MIF
      effects. Our results could offer a novel strategy utilizing Gremlin-1 to target
      pro-inflammatory effects of MIF in various diseases.

PMID- 26872253
TI  - The Level of Anxiety and Depression in Dialysis Patients Undertaking Regular
      Physical Exercise Training--a Preliminary Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a six-month
      physical training undertaken by haemodialysis (HD) patients, on the depression
      and anxiety. METHODS: Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) were recruited
      from the dialysis station at the Department of Nephrology and Transplantation
      Medicine in Wroclaw. Physical training took place at the beginning of the first 4
      hours of dialysis, three times a week for six months. A personal questionnaire,
      Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were
      used in the study. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients completed the study: 20 were
      randomised to endurance training and 8 were randomised to resistance training.
      Statistical analysis of depression and anxiety at the initial (t1) and final
      examination (t2) indicated a significant reduction in depression and anxiety,
      particularly anxiety as a trait (X2) in the whole study group. The change in
      anxiety as a state correlated with the disease duration, duration of dialysis and
      the initial level of anxiety as a state (t1X1). The change in anxiety as a trait
      significantly correlated with age and the initial level of anxiety (t1X2).
      CONCLUSIONS: Undertaking physical training during dialysis by patients with ESRD
      is beneficial in reducing their levels of anxiety and depression. Both resistance
      and endurance training improves mood, but only endurance training additionally
      results in anxiety reduction.

PMID- 26872254
TI  - Inhibition of Gastric Acid Secretion by H2 Receptor Antagonists Associates a
      Definite Risk of Enteric Peritonitis and Infectious Mortality in Patients Treated
      with Peritoneal Dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidences linking treatment with inhibitors of gastric acid secretion
      (IGAS) and an increased risk of serious infections are inconclusive, both in the
      population at large and in the particular case of patients with chronic kidney
      disease. We have undertaken an investigation to disclose associations between
      treatment with IGAS and infectious outcomes, in patients undergoing chronic
      Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). METHOD: Observational, historic cohort, single center
      design. Six hundred and ninety-one patients incident on PD were scrutinized for
      an association among treatment with IGAS (H2 antagonists H2A or proton pump
      inhibitors PPI) (main study variable), on one side, and the risks of enteric
      peritoneal infection (main outcome), overall peritoneal infection, and general
      and infectious mortality (secondary outcomes). We applied a three-step
      multivariate approach, based on classic Cox models (baseline variables), time
      dependent analyses and, when appropriate, competing risk analyses. MAIN RESULTS:
      The clinical characteristics of patients treated with H2A, PPI or none of these
      were significantly different. Multivariate analyses disclosed a consistently
      increased risk of enteric peritonitis in patients treated with IGAS (RR 1.65, 95%
      CI 1.08-2.55, p = 0.018, Cox). Stratified analysis indicated that patients
      treated with H2A, rather than those on PPI, supported the burden of this risk.
      Similar findings applied for the risk of infectious mortality. On the contrary,
      we were not able to detect any association among the study variables, on one
      side, and the general risks of peritonitis or mortality, on the other.
      CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with IGAS associates increased incidences of enteric
      peritonitis and infectious mortality, among patients on chronic PD. The
      association is clear in the case of H2A but less consistent in the case of PPI.
      Our results support the convenience of preferring PPI to H2A, for gastric acid
      inhibition in PD patients.

PMID- 26872256
TI  - Correction: Aerosols transmit prions to immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice.

PMID- 26872255
TI  - A Seroepidemiological Study of Serogroup A Meningococcal Infection in the African
      Meningitis Belt.
AB  - The pattern of epidemic meningococcal disease in the African meningitis belt may
      be influenced by the background level of population immunity but this has been
      measured infrequently. A standardised enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
      for measuring meningococcal serogroup A IgG antibodies was established at five
      centres within the meningitis belt. Antibody concentrations were then measured in
      3930 individuals stratified by age and residence from six countries.
      Seroprevalence by age was used in a catalytic model to determine the force of
      infection. Meningococcal serogroup A IgG antibody concentrations were high in
      each country but showed heterogeneity across the meningitis belt. The geometric
      mean concentration (GMC) was highest in Ghana (9.09 MUg/mL [95% CI 8.29, 9.97])
      and lowest in Ethiopia (1.43 MUg/mL [95% CI 1.31, 1.57]) on the margins of the
      belt. The force of infection was lowest in Ethiopia (lambda = 0.028). Variables
      associated with a concentration above the putative protective level of 2 MUg/mL
      were age, urban residence and a history of recent vaccination with a
      meningococcal vaccine. Prior to vaccination with the serogroup A meningococcal
      conjugate vaccine, meningococcal serogroup A IgG antibody concentrations were
      high across the African meningitis belt and yet the region remained susceptible
      to epidemics. 

PMID- 26872259
TI  - Nuclear Export of Pre-Ribosomal Subunits Requires Dbp5, but Not as an RNA
      Helicase as for mRNA Export.
AB  - The DEAD-box RNA-helicase Dbp5/Rat8 is known for its function in nuclear mRNA
      export, where it displaces the export receptor Mex67 from the mRNA at the
      cytoplasmic side of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Here we show that Dbp5 is
      also required for the nuclear export of both pre-ribosomal subunits. Yeast
      temperature-sensitive dbp5 mutants accumulate both ribosomal particles in their
      nuclei. Furthermore, Dbp5 genetically and physically interacts with known
      ribosomal transport factors such as Nmd3. Similar to mRNA export we show that
      also for ribosomal transport Dbp5 is required at the cytoplasmic side of the NPC.
      However, unlike its role in mRNA export, Dbp5 does not seem to undergo its ATPase
      cycle for this function, as ATPase-deficient dbp5 mutants that selectively
      inhibit mRNA export do not affect ribosomal transport. Furthermore, mutants of
      GLE1, the ATPase stimulating factor of Dbp5, show no major ribosomal export
      defects. Consequently, while Dbp5 uses its ATPase cycle to displace the export
      receptor Mex67 from the translocated mRNAs, Mex67 remains bound to ribosomal
      subunits upon transit to the cytoplasm, where it is detectable on translating
      ribosomes. Therefore, we propose a model, in which Dbp5 supports ribosomal
      transport by capturing ribosomal subunits upon their cytoplasmic appearance at
      the NPC, possibly by binding export factors such as Mex67. Thus, our findings
      reveal that although different ribonucleoparticles, mRNAs and pre-ribosomal
      subunits, use shared export factors, they utilize different transport mechanisms.

PMID- 26872258
TI  - Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty versus Anterior Cervical
      Discectomy and Fusion for Treatment of Symptomatic Cervical Disc Disease: A
      Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Eight Prospective Randomized Controlled
      Trials.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the mid- to long-term outcomes of
      cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
      (ACDF) for the treatment of 1-level or 2-level symptomatic cervical disc disease.
      METHODS: Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
      databases were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials that
      reported mid- to long-term outcomes (at least 48 months) of CDA versus ACDF. All
      data were analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 software. The relative risk (RR) and 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for dichotomous variables. The
      weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95%CIs were calculated for continuous
      variables. A random effect model was used for heterogeneous data; otherwise, a
      fixed effect model was used. RESULTS: Eight prospective randomized controlled
      trials (RCTs) were retrieved in this meta-analysis, including 1317 and 1051
      patients in CDA and ACDF groups, respectively. Patients after an ACDF had a
      significantly lower rate of follow-up than that after CDA. Pooled analysis showed
      patients in CDA group achieved significantly higher rates of overall success,
      Neck Disability Index (NDI) success, neurological success and significantly lower
      rates of implant/surgery-related serious adverse events and secondary procedure
      compared with that in ACDF group. The long-term functional outcomes (NDI, Visual
      Analog Scale (VAS) neck and arm pain scores, the Short Form 36 Health Survey
      physical component score (SF-36 PCS)), patient satisfaction and recommendation,
      and the incidence of superior adjacent segment degeneration also favored patients
      in CDA group with statistical difference. Regarding inferior adjacent segment
      degeneration, patients in CDA group had a lower rate without statistical
      significance. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that cervical disc
      arthroplasty was superior over anterior discectomy and fusion for the treatment
      of symptomatic cervical disc disease in terms of overall success, NDI success,
      neurological success, implant/surgery-related serious adverse events, secondary
      procedure, functional outcomes, patient satisfaction and recommendation, and
      superior adjacent segment degeneration.

PMID- 26872260
TI  - Mixed Compound of DCPTA and CCC Increases Maize Yield by Improving Plant
      Morphology and Up-Regulating Photosynthetic Capacity and Antioxidants.
AB  - DCPTA (2-diethylaminoethyl-3, 4-dichlorophenylether) and CCC (2
      chloroethyltrimethyl- ammonium chloride) have a great effect on maize growth, but
      applying DCPTA individually can promote the increase of plant height, resulting
      in the rise of lodging percent. Plant height and lodging percent decrease in CCC
      treated plants, but the accumulation of biomass reduce, resulting in yield
      decrease. Based on the former experiments, the performance of a mixture which
      contained 40 mg DCPTA and 20 mg CCC as active ingredients per liter of solution,
      called PCH was tested with applying 40mg/L DCPTA and 20mg/L CCC individually.
      Grain yield, yield components, internode characters, leaf area per plant, plant
      height and lodging percent as well as chlorophyll content, chlorophyll
      fluorescence, enzymatic antioxidants, membranous peroxide and organic osmolyte
      were analyzed in two years (2011 and 2012), using maize hybrid, Zhengdan 958 (ZD
      958) at density of 6.75 plants m-2. CCC, DCPTA and PCH were sprayed on the whole
      plant leaves at 7 expanded leaves stage and water was used as control. Compared
      to control, PCH significantly increased grain yield (by 9.53% and 6.68%) from
      2011 to 2012. CCC significantly decreased kernel number per ear (by 6.78% and
      5.69%) and thousand kernel weight (TKW) (by 8.57% and 6.55%) from 2011 to 2012.
      Kernel number per ear and TKW increased in DCPTA-treated and PCH-treated plants,
      but showed no significant difference between them. In CCC-treated and PCH-treated
      plants, internode length and plant height decreased, internode diameter
      increased, resulting in the significant decline of lodging percent. With DCPTA
      application, internode diameter increased, but internode length and plant height
      increased at the same time, resulting in the augment of lodging percent. Bending
      strength and puncture strength were increased by applying different plant growth
      regulators (PGRs). In PCH-treated plants, bending strength and puncture strength
      were greater than other treatments. Compared to control, the bending strength of
      3rd internode was increased by 14.47% in PCH-treated plants in 2011, increased by
      18.40% in 2012, and the difference was significant. Puncture strength of 1st, 3rd
      and 5th internode was increased by 37.25%, 29.17% and 26.09% in 2011 and 34.04%,
      25% and 23.68% in 2012, compared to control. Leaf area and dry weight per plant
      reduced significantly in CCC-treated plants, increased in DCPTA-treated and PCH
      treated plants from 2011 to 2012. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll
      fluorescence improved with CCC and DCPTA application. Due to the additive effect
      of DCPTA and CCC, PCH showed the significant effect on chlorophyll content and
      chlorophyll fluorescence. Compared to control, total enzyme activity (SOD, POD,
      CAT, APX and GR) and soluble protein content increased, malonaldehyde (MDA) and
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content reduced in PCH-treated plants. The
      transportation of soluble sugar from leaf to kernel improved significantly at the
      late silking stage. The research provided the way for the further use of DCPTA
      and CCC into the production practice. 

PMID- 26872257
TI  - Reciprocal Effects on Neurocognitive and Metabolic Phenotypes in Mouse Models of
      16p11.2 Deletion and Duplication Syndromes.
AB  - The 16p11.2 600 kb BP4-BP5 deletion and duplication syndromes have been
      associated with developmental delay; autism spectrum disorders; and reciprocal
      effects on the body mass index, head circumference and brain volumes. Here, we
      explored these relationships using novel engineered mouse models carrying a
      deletion (Del/+) or a duplication (Dup/+) of the Sult1a1-Spn region homologous to
      the human 16p11.2 BP4-BP5 locus. On a C57BL/6N inbred genetic background, Del/+
      mice exhibited reduced weight and impaired adipogenesis, hyperactivity,
      repetitive behaviors, and recognition memory deficits. In contrast, Dup/+ mice
      showed largely opposite phenotypes. On a F1 C57BL/6N * C3B hybrid genetic
      background, we also observed alterations in social interaction in the Del/+ and
      the Dup/+ animals, with other robust phenotypes affecting recognition memory and
      weight. To explore the dosage effect of the 16p11.2 genes on metabolism, Del/+
      and Dup/+ models were challenged with high fat and high sugar diet, which
      revealed opposite energy imbalance. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the
      majority of the genes located in the Sult1a1-Spn region were sensitive to dosage
      with a major effect on several pathways associated with neurocognitive and
      metabolic phenotypes. Whereas the behavioral consequence of the 16p11 region
      genetic dosage was similar in mice and humans with activity and memory
      alterations, the metabolic defects were opposite: adult Del/+ mice are lean in
      comparison to the human obese phenotype and the Dup/+ mice are overweight in
      comparison to the human underweight phenotype. Together, these data indicate that
      the dosage imbalance at the 16p11.2 locus perturbs the expression of modifiers
      outside the CNV that can modulate the penetrance, expressivity and direction of
      effects in both humans and mice. 

PMID- 26872261
TI  - CTGF/CCN2 Postconditioning Increases Tolerance of Murine Hearts towards Ischemia
      Reperfusion Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in
      hearts from mice with cardiac-restricted overexpression of CCN2 have shown that
      CCN2 increases tolerance towards IRI. The objectives of this study were to
      investigate to what extent post-ischemic administration of recombinant human CCN2
      (rhCCN2) would limit infarct size and improve functional recovery and what
      signaling pathways are involved. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Isolated mice hearts were
      perfused ad modum Langendorff, subjected to no-flow, global ischemia, and
      subsequently, exposed to mammalian cell derived, full-length (38-40kDa) rhCCN2
      (250 nM) or vehicle during the first 15 min of a 60 min reperfusion period. KEY
      RESULTS: Post-ischemic administration of rhCCN2 resulted in attenuation of
      infarct size from 58 +/- 4% to 34 +/- 2% (p < 0.001) which was abrogated by
      concomitant administration of the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 (45 +/- 3% vs. 50
      +/- 3%, ns). In congruence with reduction of infarct size rhCCN2 also improved
      recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (p < 0.05). Western blot analyses
      of extracts of ex vivo-perfused murine hearts also revealed that rhCCN2 evoked
      concentration-dependent increase of cardiac phospho-GSK3beta (serine-9) contents.
      CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrate that post-ischemic administration of
      rhCCN2 increases the tolerance of ex vivo-perfused murine hearts to IRI.
      Mechanistically, this postconditioning effect of rhCCN2 appeared to be mediated
      by activation of the reperfusion injury salvage kinase pathway as demonstrated by
      sensitivity to PI3 kinase inhibition and increased CCN2-induced phosphorylation
      of GSK3beta (Ser-9). Thus, the rationale for testing rhCCN2-mediated post
      ischemic conditioning of the heart in more complex models is established.

PMID- 26872262
TI  - High-Pitch CT Pulmonary Angiography in Third Generation Dual-Source CT: Image
      Quality in an Unselected Patient Population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of high-pitch CT pulmonary angiography
      (CTPA) in 3rd generation dual-source CT (DSCT) in unselected patients. METHODS:
      Forty-seven patients with suspected pulmonary embolism underwent high-pitch CTPA
      on a 3rd generation dual-source CT scanner. CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose
      length product (DLP) were obtained. Objective image quality was analyzed by
      calculating signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).
      Subjective image quality on the central, lobar, segmental and subsegmental level
      was rated by two experienced radiologists. RESULTS: Median CTDI was 8.1 mGy and
      median DLP was 274 mGy*cm. Median SNR was 32.9 in the central and 31.9 in the
      segmental pulmonary arteries. CNR was 29.2 in the central and 28.2 in the
      segmental pulmonary arteries. Median image quality was "excellent" in central and
      lobar arteries and "good" in subsegmental arteries according to both readers.
      Segmental arteries varied between "excellent" and "good". Image quality was non
      diagnostic in one case (2%), beginning in the lobar arteries. Thirteen patients
      (28%) showed minor motion artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: In third-generation dual-source
      CT, high-pitch CTPA is feasible for unselected patients. It yields excellent
      image quality with minimal motion artifacts. However, compared to standard-pitch
      cohorts, no distinct decrease in radiation dose was observed.

PMID- 26872264
TI  - Protective Effect of Naringenin against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung
      Injury in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces acute lung injury (ALI) through
      oxidative stress and inflammation. Naringenin exerts antioxidant and anti
      inflammatory effects. The possible protective effect of naringenin was
      investigated against ALI induced by LPS in rats. METHODS: Rats received a single
      injection of LPS (5 mg/kg, i.v.). Naringenin was given for 4 consecutive days, at
      2 doses (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.), starting 3 days before LPS administration.
      RESULTS: LPS significantly increased wet/dry lung weight ratio, malondialdehyde,
      nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase activity in the lung
      tissues. Naringenin, particularly the higher dose, significantly ameliorated the
      LPS-induced changes in the measured parameters. Also, naringenin markedly reduced
      the histopathological lung tissue injury that resulted from LPS. Naringenin
      significantly decreased the LPS-induced expression of nuclear factor-x03BA;B,
      inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, caspase-3, and significantly
      increased heat shock protein 70 expression in the lungs. CONCLUSION: Naringenin
      significantly protected against LPS-induced ALI in rats through its anti
      inflammatory, antioxidant, antinitrosative, and antiapoptotic effects.

PMID- 26872265
TI  - Correction: Binge Ethanol Prior to Traumatic Brain Injury Worsens Sensorimotor
      Functional Recovery in Rats.

PMID- 26872263
TI  - Epineurial Window Is More Efficient in Attracting Axons than Simple Coaptation in
      a Sutureless (Cyanoacrylate-Bound) Model of End-to-Side Nerve Repair in the Rat
      Upper Limb: Functional and Morphometric Evidences and Review of the Literature.
AB  - End-to-side nerve coaptation brings regenerating axons from the donor to the
      recipient nerve. Several techniques have been used to perform coaptation:
      microsurgical sutures with and without opening a window into the epi(peri)neurial
      connective tissue; among these, window techniques have been proven more effective
      in inducing axonal regeneration. The authors developed a sutureless model of end
      to-side coaptation in the rat upper limb. In 19 adult Wistar rats, the median and
      the ulnar nerves of the left arm were approached from the axillary region, the
      median nerve transected and the proximal stump sutured to the pectoral muscle to
      prevent regeneration. Animals were then randomly divided in two experimental
      groups (7 animals each, 5 animals acting as control): Group 1: the distal stump
      of the transected median nerve was fixed to the ulnar nerve by applying
      cyanoacrylate solution; Group 2: a small epineurial window was opened into the
      epineurium of the ulnar nerve, caring to avoid damage to the nerve fibres; the
      distal stump of the transected median nerve was then fixed to the ulnar nerve by
      applying cyanoacrylate solution. The grasping test for functional evaluation was
      repeated every 10-11 weeks starting from week-15, up to the sacrifice (week 36).
      At week 36, the animals were sacrificed and the regenerated nerves harvested and
      processed for morphological investigations (high-resolution light microscopy as
      well as stereological and morphometrical analysis). This study shows that a)
      cyanoacrylate in end-to-side coaptation produces scarless axon regeneration
      without toxic effects; b) axonal regeneration and myelination occur even without
      opening an epineurial window, but c) the window is related to a larger number of
      regenerating fibres, especially myelinated and mature, and better functional
      outcomes. 

PMID- 26872266
TI  - Thrombin Generation in Zebrafish Blood.
AB  - To better understand hypercoagulability as an underlying cause for thrombosis,
      the leading cause of death in the Western world, new assays to study ex vivo
      coagulation are essential. The zebrafish is generally accepted as a good model
      for human hemostasis and thrombosis, as the hemostatic system proved to be
      similar to that in man. Their small size however, has been a hurdle for more
      widespread use in hemostasis related research. In this study we developed a
      method that enables the measurement of thrombin generation in a single drop of
      non-anticoagulated zebrafish blood. Pre-treatment of the fish with inhibitors of
      FXa and thrombin, resulted in a dose dependent diminishing of thrombin
      generation, demonstrating the validity of the assay. In order to establish the
      relationship between whole blood thrombin generation and fibrin formation, we
      visualized the resulting fibrin network by scanning electron microscopy. Taken
      together, in this study we developed a fast and reliable method to measure
      thrombin generation in whole blood collected from a single zebrafish. Given the
      similarities between coagulation pathways of zebrafish and mammals, zebrafish may
      be an ideal animal model to determine the effect of novel therapeutics on
      thrombin generation. Additionally, because of the ease with which gene functions
      can be silenced, zebrafish may serve as a model organism for mechanistical
      research in thrombosis and hemostasis. 

PMID- 26872267
TI  - Kinetics of Indigenous Nitrate Reducing Sulfide Oxidizing Activity in
      Microaerophilic Wastewater Biofilms.
AB  - Nitrate decreases sulfide release in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), but
      little is known on how it affects the microzonation and kinetics of related
      microbial processes within the biofilm. The effect of nitrate addition on these
      properties for sulfate reduction, sulfide oxidation, and oxygen respiration were
      studied with the use of microelectrodes in microaerophilic wastewater biofilms.
      Mass balance calaculations and community composition analysis were also
      performed. At basal WWTP conditions, the biofilm presented a double-layer system.
      The upper microaerophilic layer (~300 MUm) showed low sulfide production (0.31
      MUmol cm-3 h-1) and oxygen consumption rates (0.01 MUmol cm-3 h-1). The anoxic
      lower layer showed high sulfide production (2.7 MUmol cm-3 h-1). Nitrate addition
      decreased net sulfide production rates, caused by an increase in sulfide
      oxidation rates (SOR) in the upper layer, rather than an inhibition of sulfate
      reducing bacteria (SRB). This suggests that the indigenous nitrate reducing
      sulfide oxidizing bacteria (NR-SOB) were immediately activated by nitrate. The
      functional vertical structure of the biofilm changed to a triple-layer system,
      where the previously upper sulfide-producing layer in the absence of nitrate
      split into two new layers: 1) an upper sulfide-consuming layer, whose thickness
      is probably determined by the nitrate penetration depth within the biofilm, and
      2) a middle layer producing sulfide at an even higher rate than in the absence of
      nitrate in some cases. Below these layers, the lower net sulfide-producing layer
      remained unaffected. Net SOR varied from 0.05 to 0.72 MUmol cm-3 h-1 depending on
      nitrate and sulfate availability. Addition of low nitrate concentrations likely
      increased sulfate availability within the biofilm and resulted in an increase of
      both net sulfate reduction and net sulfide oxidation by overcoming sulfate
      diffusional limitation from the water phase and the strong coupling between SRB
      and NR-SOB syntrophic relationship. 

PMID- 26872269
TI  - Kernel Manifold Alignment for Domain Adaptation.
AB  - The wealth of sensory data coming from different modalities has opened numerous
      opportunities for data analysis. The data are of increasing volume, complexity
      and dimensionality, thus calling for new methodological innovations towards
      multimodal data processing. However, multimodal architectures must rely on models
      able to adapt to changes in the data distribution. Differences in the density
      functions can be due to changes in acquisition conditions (pose, illumination),
      sensors characteristics (number of channels, resolution) or different views (e.g.
      street level vs. aerial views of a same building). We call these different
      acquisition modes domains, and refer to the adaptation problem as domain
      adaptation. In this paper, instead of adapting the trained models themselves, we
      alternatively focus on finding mappings of the data sources into a common,
      semantically meaningful, representation domain. This field of manifold alignment
      extends traditional techniques in statistics such as canonical correlation
      analysis (CCA) to deal with nonlinear adaptation and possibly non-corresponding
      data pairs between the domains. We introduce a kernel method for manifold
      alignment (KEMA) that can match an arbitrary number of data sources without
      needing corresponding pairs, just few labeled examples in all domains. KEMA has
      interesting properties: 1) it generalizes other manifold alignment methods, 2) it
      can align manifolds of very different complexities, performing a discriminative
      alignment preserving each manifold inner structure, 3) it can define a domain
      specific metric to cope with multimodal specificities, 4) it can align data
      spaces of different dimensionality, 5) it is robust to strong nonlinear feature
      deformations, and 6) it is closed-form invertible, which allows transfer across
      domains and data synthesis. To authors' knowledge this is the first method
      addressing all these important issues at once. We also present a reduced-rank
      version of KEMA for computational efficiency, and discuss the generalization
      performance of KEMA under Rademacher principles of stability. Aligning multimodal
      data with KEMA reports outstanding benefits when used as a data pre-conditioner
      step in the standard data analysis processing chain. KEMA exhibits very good
      performance over competing methods in synthetic controlled examples, visual
      object recognition and recognition of facial expressions tasks. KEMA is
      especially well-suited to deal with high-dimensional problems, such as images and
      videos, and under complicated distortions, twists and warpings of the data
      manifolds. A fully functional toolbox is available at
      https://github.com/dtuia/KEMA.git. 

PMID- 26872268
TI  - Stress during Adolescence Alters Palatable Food Consumption in a Context
      Dependent Manner.
AB  - Food consumption and preferences may be shaped by exposure to stressful
      environments during sensitive periods in development, and even small changes in
      consumption can have important effects on long term health. Adolescence is
      increasingly recognized as a sensitive period, in which adverse experiences can
      alter development, but the specific programming effects that may occur during
      adolescence remain incompletely understood. The current study seeks to explore
      the effects of stress during late adolescence on consumption of a palatable, high
      fat, high-sugar food in adulthood-under basal conditions, as well following acute
      stress. Male Long-Evans rats were exposed to a regimen of variable stress for
      seven days in late adolescence (PND 45-51). During the stress regimen, stressed
      animals gained significantly less weight than control animals, but weight in
      adulthood was unaffected by adolescent stress. Palatable food consumption
      differed between experimental groups, and the direction of effect depended on
      context; stressed rats ate significantly more palatable food than controls upon
      first exposure, but ate less following an acute stressor. Leptin levels and
      exploratory behaviors did not differ between stressed and non-stressed groups,
      suggesting that other factors regulate preference for a palatable food. Altered
      food consumption following adolescent stress suggests that rats remain sensitive
      to stress during late adolescence, and that adult feeding behavior may be
      affected by previous adverse experiences. Such programming effects highlight
      adolescence as a period of plasticity, with the potential to shape long term food
      consumption patterns and preferences. 

PMID- 26872271
TI  - Dismantlable Thermosetting Adhesives Composed of a Cross-Linkable Poly(olefin
      sulfone) with a Photobase Generator.
AB  - A novel photodetachable adhesive was prepared using a photodepolymerizable cross
      linked poly(olefin sulfone). A mixture of a cross-linkable poly(olefin sulfone),
      a cross-linking reagent, and a photobase generator functioned as a thermosetting
      adhesive and exhibited high adhesive strength on quartz plates comparable to that
      obtained for commercially available epoxy adhesives. The cured resin was stable
      in the absence of UV light irradiation but completely lost its adhesive strength
      upon exposure of glued quartz plates to UV light in conjunction with heating to
      100  degrees C. 

PMID- 26872270
TI  - The Role of Endothelin System in Renal Structure and Function during the
      Postnatal Development of the Rat Kidney.
AB  - Renal development in rodents, unlike in humans, continues during early postnatal
      period. We aimed to evaluate whether the pharmacological inhibition of Endothelin
      system during this period affects renal development, both at structural and
      functional level in male and female rats. Newborn rats were treated orally from
      postnatal day 1 to 20 with vehicle or bosentan (Actelion, 20 mg/kg/day), a dual
      endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA). The animals were divided in 4 groups:
      control males, control females, ERA males and ERA females. At day 21, we
      evaluated renal function, determined the glomerular number by a maceration method
      and by morphometric analysis and evaluated possible structural renal alterations
      by three methods: <alpha>-Smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) immunohistochemistry,
      Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining. The pharmacological inhibition of
      Endothelin system with a dual ERA during the early postnatal period of the rat
      did not leads to renal damage in the kidneys of male and female rats. However,
      ERA administration decreased the number of glomeruli, the juxtamedullary
      filtration surface area and the glomerular filtration rate and increased the
      proteinuria. These effects could predispose to hypertension or renal diseases in
      the adulthood. On the other hand, these effects were more pronounced in male
      rats, suggesting that there are sex differences that could be greater later in
      life. These results provide evidence that Endothelin has an important role in rat
      renal postnatal development. However these results do not imply that the same
      could happen in humans, since human renal development is complete at birth. 

PMID- 26872272
TI  - Endocytic control of signaling at the plasma membrane.
AB  - Signaling is regulated by endocytosis at multiple levels along endocytic routes.
      Endocytic control of signaling starts already at the plasma membrane, where cells
      employ different mechanisms to finely tune the type and strength of signals
      emanating from the cell surface. Here, we will review some of the most recently
      described endocytic mechanisms controlling signaling at the plasma membrane,
      through the regulation of internalization dynamics and through the integration of
      different internalization pathways triggered by canonical chemical stimuli or
      physical forces. 

PMID- 26872273
TI  - Congenital factor XI and factor VII deficiencies assure an apparent opposite
      protection against arterial or venous thrombosis: An intriguing observation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and type of thrombotic events reported
      in patients with congenital factor XI (FXI) or factor VII (FVII) deficiency.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on all patients with congenital FXI or FVII deficiency
      and a thrombotic event were gathered by means of a time unlimited PubMed search
      carried out in June 2014 and in February 2015. Appropriate keywords including the
      medical subject headings were used in both instances. Side tables were also
      consulted and cross-checking of the references was carried out to avoid
      omissions. The thrombosis event had to be proven by objective methods. RESULTS:
      Forty-three patients with FXI deficiency had arterial thrombosis and only eight
      had venous thrombosis. On the contrary, only five patients with FVII deficiency
      had arterial thrombosis whereas 31 patients had venous thrombosis. The
      arterial/venous ratios were 5.37 and 0.17 for FXI or FVII, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Arterial thrombosis is frequent in FXI deficiency whereas venous
      thrombosis is rare. The reverse is true for FVII deficiency. The significance of
      these findings is discussed especially in view of the recent use of synthetic
      anti-FXI compounds in the prophylaxis of post-orthopedic surgery of venous
      thrombosis complications.

PMID- 26872274
TI  - Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Rickettsiales in Goats and Sheep from
      Southeastern China.
AB  - Members from Rickettsiales such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia
      chaffeensis, and some spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsiae are important tick
      borne pathogens. One hundred goats and sheep from southeastern China were
      examined for the presence of Anaplasma, E. chaffeensis, and SFG Rickettsiae by
      PCR. A. phagocytophilum, Anaplasma bovis, and Anaplasma centrale were detected in
      15, 49, and 16 samples, respectively. The A. phagocytophilum and A. centrale were
      highly homologous to strains from Japanese sika deer and Japanese cattle,
      respectively, whereas a diversity of A. bovis sequences were detected. New
      genetic variants of Anaplasma close to A. centrale have been revealed. No
      Ehrlichia was detected in this study. The presence of SFG Rickettsiae was
      determined in 26 samples. The coinfection with more than two pathogens tested in
      this study was as high as 29%. This study has molecularly characterized the
      circulation of Anaplasma and Rickettsiae in goats and sheep in southeastern
      China, which highlights the risk of contracting the pathogens upon tick exposure.

PMID- 26872275
TI  - Microsurgical Treatment of Meningiomas in the Torcular Herophili Region.
AB  - The Torcular Herophili region of the brain is anatomically complex, and surgery
      in this area requires much skill and care. Retrospective analysis on 35 cases of
      meningiomas in the Torcular Herophili region treated by microsurgery and
      confirmed by pathology. Tumor resection range was evaluated using the Simpson
      grading criteria. Postoperative complications and tumor recurrence were
      evaluated. Patients were followed up. The Karnofsky performance status was used
      to evaluate neurologic functions. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the extent of disease in all patients.
      Simpson level I excision was done in 27 patients, level II in 5 patients, and
      level IV in 3 patients. Gamma knife treatment after surgery was performed in 3
      patients. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure were relieved after
      surgery. No patient died, and no patient suffered from any relevant operative
      complications and disabilities. Pathology reported typical meningioma (World
      Health Organization [WHO] level I) in 32 patients, and atypical meningioma (WHO
      level II) in 3 patients. Thirty-two patients were followed up for 0.5 to 5 years:
      1 patient relapsed 2 years after operation (Simpson level IV excision), and 2
      patients relapsed 3 years after operation (one Simpson level I and one level II).
      These results indicated that MRV should be performed to confirm the exact
      relationship between the tumor and venous sinus. The operative approach should be
      planned according to the MRI results, and the venous sinus should be preserved.
      Gamma knife might be a beneficial auxiliary treatment of meningioma in the
      Torcular Herophili region. 

PMID- 26872276
TI  - Surgical Management of a Giant Residual Mandibular Cyst.

PMID- 26872277
TI  - Importance of Imaging Examinations to Planning the Removal of a Foreign Body From
      the Tongue.

PMID- 26872278
TI  - Effect of Porous Titanium Granules on Bone Regeneration and Primary Stability in
      Maxillary Sinus: A Human Clinical, Histomorphometric, and Microcomputed
      Tomography Analyses.
AB  - The aim of this randomized controlled study was to comparatively analyze the new
      bone (NB), residual bone, and graft-bone association in bone biopsies retrieved
      from augmented maxillary sinus sites by histomorphometry and microcomputed
      tomography (MicroCT) in a split-mouth model to test the efficacy of porous
      titanium granules (PTG) in maxillary sinus augmentation. Fifteen patients were
      included in the study and each patient was treated with bilateral sinus
      augmentation procedure using xenograft (equine origine, granule size 1000-2000
      MUm) and xenograft (1 g) + PTG (granule size 700-1000 MUm, pore size >50 MUm) (1
      g), respectively. After a mean of 8.4 months, 30 bone biopsies were retrieved
      from the implant sites for three-dimensional MicroCT and two-dimensional
      histomorphometric analyses. Bone volume and vital NB percentages were calculated.
      Immediate after core biopsy, implants having standard dimensions were placed and
      implant stability quotient values were recorded at baseline and 3 months follow
      up. There were no significant differences between groups according to residual
      bone height, residual bone width, implant dimensions, and implant stability
      quotient values (baseline and 3 months). According to MicroCT and two-dimensional
      histomorphometric analyses, the volume of newly formed bone was 57.05% and
      52.67%, and 56.5% and 55.08% for xenograft + PTG and xenograft groups,
      respectively. No statistically significant differences found between groups
      according to NB percentages and higher Hounsfield unit values were found for
      xenograft + PTG group. The findings of the current study supports that PTG, which
      is a porous, permanent nonresorbable bone substitute, may have a beneficial
      osteoconductive effect on mechanical strength of NB in augmented maxillary sinus.

PMID- 26872279
TI  - Does Freeze-Thawing Influence the Effects of Platelet Concentrates? An In Vitro
      Study on Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.
AB  - Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) have been proposed as a possible therapy
      for tissue regeneration in aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery. Today,
      platelet concentrates are used in a wide range of disciplines, but their storage
      has become a controversial aspect. The purpose of this in vitro study was to
      evaluate the effect of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), after a freeze
      thawing cycle, on the proliferation and biological activity of progenitor cells
      involved in soft tissue healing. Different formulations of activated PRGF were
      added to hASCs cultured in serum-free medium. Cell proliferation was assessed by
      MTT test and cell count up to 7 and 12-day incubation. Osteo-differentiation
      ability of hASCs was also tested after 7 and 14-day incubation by alkaline
      phosphatase assay. The effects of 4 PRGF preparations (fresh/frozen and
      with/without platelets) were compared with corresponding formulations of plasma
      poor in growth factors and with standard medium. hASCs cultured in the presence
      of platelet concentrates increased proliferation rate with respect to cells grown
      in standard medium without significant differences among all the tested plasma
      formulations on cell viability up to 12 days of culture. PRGF activity is
      preserved after cryopreservation and platelet-rich preparations promoted osteo
      differentiation of hASCs at day 7. In conclusion, PRGF supports the proliferation
      and the differentiation of progenitor cells in vitro also when applied after
      cryopreservation. Platelet concentrates, either alone or in combination with
      mesenchymal stem cells, might be a valuable tool in the field of tissue
      regeneration. 

PMID- 26872280
TI  - The Role of Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Parotid Gland Tumors:
      Correlation With Preoperative Computerized Tomography Tumor Size.
AB  - The role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of parotid
      gland masses is still controversial, regarding its sensitivity and specificity
      that vary between 41% and 100% and between 86% and 100% respectively.The aim of
      this study was to identify the specificity and sensitivity of FNAC of parotid
      gland tumors in relation to the tumor size as characterized preoperatively by
      computer tomography. The medical files of 79 patients whom were referred to the
      MaxilloFacila Surgery Department, Rambam medical center, over a 10.5-year period
      (2000-2010) were analyzed retrospectively.The extensity of the operation was
      determined by the location of the tumor as presented in computed tomography (CT)
      radiography, and preoperative FNAC examination.The majority of the masses were
      located in the superficial lobe (88.52%), and only 11.48% of the patients were
      located in the deep lobe (8:1 ratio). FNAC results were nondiagnostic in 7
      patients (8.86%), 62 patients were diagnosed as inflammatory and benign lesion in
      (78.48%), malignant tumors were diagnosed in 10 patients (12.65%).The sensitivity
      in our study was 90%, the specificity was 98%, positive predictive value was 90%,
      negative predictive value was 98%, and diagnostic accuracy was 88%. The positive
      predictive value was 90%, the negative predictive value was 98%.Analyzing the
      effect of the preoperative CT size upon the accuracy of the FNAC diagnosis, we
      found that lesion with preoperative CT size greater than 24 mm has a more
      accurate FNAC result (P = 0.034).

PMID- 26872282
TI  - Hemangioma of the Zygomatic Bone.
AB  - Benign masses arising from facial bones have been reported several times in the
      literature. Hemangiomas are one of the uncommon benign tumors. In this study, the
      authors aimed to present a rare patient of zygomatic intraosseos hemangioma and
      their management. A 40-year-old woman with a mass in her left lateral cantus
      admitted to our clinic. Preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance
      imaging revealed an osseos mass in her left zygoma. The authors conclude that it
      should be kept in mind that although they are very rare benign tumors,
      intraosseos hemangiomas can cause facial masses. Meticulous radiologic
      examination can give important clues for differential diagnosis before the
      surgery. 

PMID- 26872281
TI  - Correlation Between Cephalometric Measures and End-of-Treatment Facial
      Attractiveness.
AB  - Sixty-nine experienced Chinese orthodontists evaluated 108 Chinese patients'
      facial attractiveness from set of photographs (frontal, lateral, and frontal
      smiling photos) taken at the end of orthodontic treatment. These 108 patients,
      which contained an equal number of patients with Class I, II, and III
      malocclusion, were randomly selected from 6 orthodontic treatment centers
      throughout China. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients (rs) analyses were
      performed to examine agreement in ranking between all judge pairs. Pearson
      correlation and multivariate regression were performed to examine the correlation
      between cephalometric measures and end-of-treatment Photo Attractiveness
      Rank.96.68% judge pairs showed moderate correlated (+0.4 <= rs < +0.7) subjective
      rankings. Cephalometric measures significantly correlated with end-of-treatment
      Photo Attractiveness Rank included interincisal angle (r = 0.330, P < 0.05),
      L1/MP degrees  (r = 0.386, P < 0.05), L1-NBmm (r = 0.451, P < 0.01), L1/NB
      degrees  (r = 0.374, P < 0.05), and profile angle (r = 0.353, P < 0.05) in Class
      I patients with an explained variance of 32.8%, and ANB angle (r = 0.432, P <
      0.01), angle of convexity (r = 0.448, P < 0.01), profile angle (r = 0.488, P <
      0.01), Li to E-line (r = 0.374, P < 0.05), Li to B-line (r = 0.543, P < 0.01),
      and Z angle (r = 0.543, P < 0.01) in Class II patient with an explained variance
      of 43.3%.There was less association than expected between objective measurements
      on the lateral cephalograms and clinicians' rankings of facial attractiveness on
      clinical photography in Chinese patients. Straight-stand lower incisor was
      desired for facial attractiveness of Class I malocclusion; and sagittal
      relationship and lip prominence influence the esthetics of Class II malocclusion
      in Chinese population.

PMID- 26872283
TI  - Comminuted Frontal Sinus Fracture Reconstructed With Titanium Mesh.
AB  - Frontal sinus fractures (FSF) are relatively uncommon maxillofacial injuries. The
      most common cause of FSF is motor vehicle accidents with 62% percentage.
      Management of FSF depends on type of fracture, associated injuries, and
      involvement of naso-frontal duct. In this report, the authors presented a patient
      with comminuted fracture of anterior wall of frontal sinus reconstructed with
      titanium mesh. A 40-year-old man presented with depression of the frontal bone,
      facial pain, and epistaxis consisting of a motor vehicle accident. Computerized
      tomography scan revealed multiple comminuted fractures of anterior wall of
      frontal sinus and fractures of left orbital medial and superior walls. Titanium
      mesh was used for reconstruction. Postoperative course was uneventful. The
      titanium mesh, which is easy to handle with no complications, may provide
      excellent frontal contour after comminuted anterior wall fractures. 

PMID- 26872284
TI  - Curative Transvenous Onyx Embolization of a Maxillary Arteriovenous Malformation
      in a Child: Report of a New Technique.
AB  - Endovascular management of maxillary arteriovenous malformation (AVMs) can be
      complex. Transarterial, transvenous, and direct puncture embolization has been
      described. The authors report the case of a 9-year-old girl with a hemorrhagic
      maxillary AVM, which has been treated by transvenous embolization after failure
      of transarterial embolization. The venous pouch was catheterized with a
      detachable tip microcatheter and occluded by slow Onyx injection. Onyx filled the
      pouch and retrogradely reached some arterial feeders, achieving complete
      occlusion. Bleeding episode ceased and at 6 months follow-up no recurrence was
      found. Maxillary AVMs can be successfully treated by transvenous Onyx
      embolization. 

PMID- 26872285
TI  - Schwannoma Originating From the Nasal Septum.
AB  - Schwannomas are benign tumors deriving from Schwann cells of the nerve sheath.
      They can occur in all parts of the body. Involvement of the nasal septum is quite
      rare, with only few cases having been reported in the literature. The authors
      present a patient with a unilateral tumor diagnosed as a schwannoma of the nasal
      septum. 

PMID- 26872286
TI  - Pharmacotherapy follow-up of key points in the safety of oral antineoplastic
      agents.
AB  - We assessed the impact of a pharmacotherapy follow-up programme on key safety
      points [adverse events (AE) and drug administration] in outpatients treated with
      oral antineoplastic agents (OAA). We performed a comparative, interventional,
      quasi-experimental study of outpatients treated with OAA in a Spanish hospital to
      compare pre-intervention group patients (not monitored by pharmacists during
      2011) with intervention group patients (prospectively monitored by pharmacists
      during 2013). AE data were collected from medical records. Follow-up was 6
      months, and 249 patients were included (pre-intervention, 115; intervention,
      134). After the first month, AE were detected in 86.5% of patients in the pre
      intervention group and 80.6% of patients in the intervention group, P = 0.096.
      During the remaining months, 79.0% patients had at least one AE in the pre
      intervention group compared with 78.0% in the intervention group, P = 0.431. AE
      were more prevalent with sorafenib and sunitinib. In total, 173 drug interactions
      were recorded (pre-intervention, 80; intervention, 93; P = 0.045). Drug
      interactions were more frequent with erlotinib and gefitinib; food interactions
      were more common with sorafenib and pazopanib. Our follow-up of cancer
      outpatients revealed a reduction in severe AE and major drug interactions, thus
      helping health professionals to monitor the safety of OAA.

PMID- 26872287
TI  - Coenzyme Q10 Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Induces Treg in Graft Versus
      Host Disease.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine whether coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can
      reduce the severity of graft versus host disease (GVHD) by inducing regulatory T
      cells (Tregs). CoQ10 or vehicle was orally administrated once a day for 22 days
      to mice with GVHD. We measured the alloresponse of the T cells and the GVHD
      clinical scores. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine
      messenger RNA (mRNA) level. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      were used to evaluate protein expression. CoQ10 reduced the T-cell alloresponse
      and the expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-17. The
      severity of GVHD and gene expressions of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      alpha decreased with CoQ10 treatment. Furthermore, CoQ10 promoted weight gain and
      survival in GVHD mice. Flow cytometry revealed that CoQ10 dose dependently
      induced Treg differentiation, but FK506, an immunosuppressive drug, decreased
      Treg differentiation dose dependently. In conclusion, CoQ10 downregulates the
      alloreactivity of T cells and reduces GVHD severity, enhancing the
      differentiation of Tregs. 

PMID- 26872290
TI  - Placing Design and Delivery at the Forefront of Physical Activity Intervention.

PMID- 26872289
TI  - Diet, physical activity and mental health status are associated with dysglycaemia
      in pregnancy: the Healthy Start Study.
AB  - AIMS: To examine the association between dysglycaemia and multiple modifiable
      factors measured during pregnancy. METHODS: The Healthy Start Study collected
      self-reported data on modifiable factors in early and mid-pregnancy (median 17
      and 27 weeks gestation, respectively) from 832 women. Women received one point
      for each modifiable factor for which they had optimum scores: diet quality
      (Healthy Eating Index score >=64), physical activity level (estimated energy
      expenditure >=170 metabolic equivalent task-h/week), and mental health status
      (Perceived Stress Scale score <6 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score
      <13). Dysglycaemia during pregnancy was defined as an abnormal glucose challenge
      result, >=1 abnormal results on an oral glucose tolerance test, or a clinical
      diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Logistic regression models estimated odds
      ratios for dysglycaemia as a function of each factor and the total score,
      adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of gestational
      diabetes, and family history of Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: In individual analyses,
      only physical activity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of
      dysglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.44-1.00). We observed a
      significant, dose-response association between increasing numbers of optimal
      factors and odds of dysglycaemia (adjusted P=0.01). Compared with having no
      optimal modifiable factors, having all three was associated with a 73% reduced
      risk of dysglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.95). CONCLUSIONS:
      An increasing number of positive modifiable factors in pregnancy was associated
      with a dose-response reduction in risk of dysglycaemia. Our results support the
      hypothesis that modifiable factors in pregnancy are associated with the risk of
      prenatal dysglycaemia.

PMID- 26872291
TI  - Time-Dependent Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise on Memory.
AB  - We present new evidence supporting the hypothesis that the effects of
      cardiovascular exercise on memory can be regulated in a time-dependent manner.
      When the exercise stimulus is coupled temporally with specific phases of the
      memory formation process, a single bout of cardiovascular exercise may be
      sufficient to improve memory. 

PMID- 26872293
TI  - Psychological burden at the time of diagnosis among Mexican breast cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26872294
TI  - Breaking up prolonged sitting time with walking does not affect appetite or gut
      hormone concentrations but does induce an energy deficit and suppresses
      postprandial glycaemia in sedentary adults.
AB  - Breaking up periods of prolonged sitting can negate harmful metabolic effects but
      the influence on appetite and gut hormones is not understood and is investigated
      in this study. Thirteen sedentary (7 female) participants undertook three 5-h
      trials in random order: (i) uninterrupted sitting (SIT), (ii) seated with 2-min
      bouts of light-intensity walking every 20 min (SIT + LA), and (iii) seated with 2
      min bouts of moderate-intensity walking every 20 min (SIT + MA). A standardised
      test drink was provided at the start of each trial and an ad libitum pasta test
      meal provided at the end of each trial. Subjective appetite ratings and plasma
      acylated ghrelin, peptide YY, insulin, and glucose were measured at regular
      intervals. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each variable. AUC
      values for appetite and gut hormone concentrations were unaffected in the
      activity breaks conditions compared with uninterrupted sitting (linear mixed
      modelling: p > 0.05). Glucose AUC was lower in SIT + MA than in SIT + LA (p =
      0.004) and SIT (p = 0.055). There was no difference in absolute ad libitum energy
      intake between conditions (p > 0.05); however, relative energy intake was lower
      in SIT + LA (39%; p = 0.011) and SIT + MA (120%; p < 0.001) than in SIT. In
      conclusion, breaking up prolonged sitting does not alter appetite and gut hormone
      responses to a meal over a 5-h period. Increased energy expenditure from activity
      breaks could promote an energy deficit that is not compensated for in a
      subsequent meal. 

PMID- 26872295
TI  - Effects of an acute bout of moderate-intensity exercise on postprandial lipemia
      and airway inflammation.
AB  - A high-fat meal (HFM) induces an increase in blood lipids (postprandial lipemia;
      PPL), systemic inflammation, and acute airway inflammation. While acute exercise
      has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects, it is
      unknown whether exercise prior to an HFM will translate to reduced airway
      inflammation post-HFM. Our purpose was to determine the effects of an acute bout
      of exercise on airway inflammation post-HFM and to identify whether any
      protective effect of exercise on airway inflammation was associated with a
      reduction in PPL or systemic inflammation. In a randomized cross-over study, 12
      healthy, 18- to 29-year-old men (age, 23.0 +/- 3.2 years; height, 178.9 +/- 5.5
      cm; weight, 78.5 +/- 11.7 kg) consumed an HFM (1 g fat/1 kg body weight) 12 h
      following exercise (EX; 60 min at 60% maximal oxygen uptake) or without exercise
      (CON). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO; measure of airway inflammation),
      triglycerides (TG), and inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive
      protein, tumor-necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6) were measured while
      fasted at 2 h and 4 h post-HFM. FENO increased over time (2 h: CON, p = 0.001;
      EX, p = 0.002, but not by condition (p = 0.991). TG significantly increased 2 and
      4 h post-HFM (p < 0.001), but was not significant between conditions (p = 0.256).
      Inflammatory markers did not significantly increase by time or condition (p >
      0.05). There were no relationships between FENO and TG or systemic inflammatory
      markers for any time point or condition (p > 0.05). In summary, an acute bout of
      moderate-intensity exercise performed 12 h prior to an HFM did not change
      postprandial airway inflammation or lipemia in healthy, 18- to 29-year-old men. 

PMID- 26872297
TI  - Single-syringe ketamine-propofol for induction of anaesthesia in rabbits.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare three intravenous (IV) doses of a ketamine
      propofol admixture (ketofol) for induction of anaesthesia in unpremedicated
      rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized 'blinded' trial. ANIMALS: Twenty
      one healthy female New Zealand rabbits weighing 2.7 +/- 0.1 kg. METHODS: Animals
      were allocated randomly into three groups of seven animals and received 1 (KP1),
      3 (KP3) or 5 (KP5) mg kg(-1) of both ketamine and propofol in a 1:1 mg kg(-1)
      ratio admixture. Cardiorespiratory parameters and arterial blood gases were
      measured at baseline, 2 and 5 minutes after drug administration. The time to loss
      of the righting reflex (LORR) and the duration of action and apnoea were
      recorded. The quality of induction and intubation were scored. Data were compared
      using a two-way anova or a t-test for unpaired data, as relevant. RESULTS: The
      time to LORR was the shortest (11 +/- 5 seconds) and the duration of action the
      longest (374 +/- 26 seconds) in group KP5. Group KP1 did not lose the righting
      reflex; instead mild to moderate sedation was observed in this group. The quality
      of induction in group KP5 was smooth, but ranged from smooth to fair in group
      KP3. Intubation was not possible in the KP1 group, and 10 animals in the other
      two groups showed some resistance to intubation. At 2 and 5 minutes, the pulse
      rate was significantly higher in all three groups compared with baseline, but no
      statistical differences were seen in arterial blood pressures. Hypoxaemia and
      dose-dependent respiratory depression were observed in all groups, with periods
      of apnoea in the KP5 group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The IV ketamine
      propofol admixture had a dose-dependent effect. Haemodynamic function was well
      maintained in all groups but hypoxemia was observed at the highest doses and
      oxygen administration is recommended. Addition of premedication or topical
      lidocaine is advisable to make intubation easier.

PMID- 26872298
TI  - Reproduction in the extremes: That is one tough nut ...errhh...drupe to crack!

PMID- 26872299
TI  - Thermodynamics for the Formation of Double-Stranded DNA-Single-Walled Carbon
      Nanotube Hybrids.
AB  - For the first time, the thermodynamics are described for the formation of double
      stranded DNA (ds-DNA)-single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) hybrids. This
      treatment is applied to the exchange reaction of sodium cholate (SC) molecules on
      SWNTs and the ds-DNAs d(A)20 -d(T)20 and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB decoy.
      UV/Vis/near-IR spectroscopy with temperature variations was used for analyzing
      the exchange reaction on the SWNTs with four different chiralities: (n,m)=(8,3),
      (6,5), (7,5), and (8,6). Single-stranded DNAs (ss-DNAs), including d(A)20 and
      d(T)20, are also used for comparison. The d(A)20-d(T)20 shows a drastic change in
      its thermodynamic parameters around the melting temperature (Tm ) of the DNA
      oligomer. No such Tm dependency was measured, owing to high Tm in the NF-kappaB
      decoy DNA and no Tm in the ss-DNA.

PMID- 26872301
TI  - Subjective judgments in the nuclear energy debate.

PMID- 26872300
TI  - Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type of the uterine cervix: A case report.
AB  - We report a rare case of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type of the uterine
      cervix that showed cytologic features mimicking cervical cancer. A 65-year-old
      woman presented with vaginal bleeding. Gynecological examination revealed a bulky
      tumor of the cervix. A conventional Papanicolaou-stained cervical smear showed
      hypercellularity consisting of numerous variably sized cohesive clusters that
      mimicked epithelial tumors, with a necrotic and inflammatory background. A small
      number of individually scattered cells were also identified. These scattered
      cells showed pleomorphic, often cleaved, or horseshoe-shaped nuclei and pale
      cytoplasm. Biopsy specimens revealed a diffuse growth of atypical cells with an
      angiocentric pattern. Extensive necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells
      were present. There were numerous mitotic figures. The tumor cells were positive
      for CD45RO, CD3epsilon, CD56, granzyme B, TIA-1, CD7, and Epstein-Barr virus
      (EBV)-encoded small RNA (EBER) by in situ hybridization, and negative for
      cytokeratin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD20, and CD30. Based
      on these findings, this tumor was diagnosed as extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma,
      nasal type of the uterine cervix.

PMID- 26872302
TI  - Randomized trial of a physical activity intervention in women with metastatic
      breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exercise interventions improve fitness, functional capacity, and
      quality of life in patients with early-stage breast cancer, but to the authors'
      knowledge there are few data regarding the feasibility or potential benefits of
      exercise in women with metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: Individuals with
      metastatic breast cancer were randomized 1:1 to a 16-week moderate-intensity
      exercise intervention or wait-list control group. Intervention goals included 150
      minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. The baseline and 16-week
      evaluations included a modified Bruce Ramp treadmill test, 7-day Physical
      Activity Recall interview, and European Organization for Research and Treatment
      of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ C-30) questionnaire.
      RESULTS: A total of 101 participants were randomized (48 to the intervention
      group and 53 to the control group). The median age of the participants was 49
      years, the median time since the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer was 1.1
      years, and approximately 42% of participants were undergoing chemotherapy at the
      time of enrollment. Study attrition was higher in the intervention arm (14
      participants vs 8 participants; P = .15). Women randomized to the exercise
      intervention experienced a nonsignificant increase with regard to minutes of
      weekly exercise (62.4 minutes vs 46.0 minutes; P = .17) and physical functioning
      (EORTC QLQ C30: 4.79 vs 0.93 [P = .23] and Bruce Ramp Treadmill test: 0.61
      minutes vs 0.37 minutes [P = .35]) compared with control participants.
      CONCLUSIONS: Participation in an exercise intervention did not appear to result
      in significant improvements in physical functioning in a heterogeneous group of
      women living with advanced breast cancer. Given the significant benefits of
      exercise in women with early-stage breast cancer, more work is needed to explore
      alternative interventions to determine whether exercise could help women with
      metastatic disease live more fully with fewer symptoms from disease and
      treatment.

PMID- 26872303
TI  - Male long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) understand the target of facial
      threat.
AB  - The cognitive demands of group living have resulted in the development of social
      competences in a wide range of animal species. Primates are well aware of the
      complex social structure within their group and infer information about social
      status by observing interactions of others. A capacity used to infer this
      information, Visual Perspective Taking (VPT), is present in apes and in monkeys.
      However, it is unclear whether monkeys really understand that another individual
      is looking at a specific target. We investigated whether monkeys understand the
      target of attention of conspecifics using a new paradigm, based on expectancy
      violation. Subjects were exposed to pictures of scenes involving group members.
      These pictures either represented congruent (agonistic signals consistent with
      the dominance hierarchy) or incongruent (signals contradict the dominance
      hierarchy) social situations. The only difference between scenes concerned the
      looking direction, that is, the target of attention, and facial expression of the
      central monkey in the picture. Female subjects did not differ in their looking
      times to incongruent and congruent scenes, but results may be confounded by their
      longer looking times at scenes involving kin than non-kin. Male subjects looked
      significantly longer at incongruent than congruent scenes, suggesting that they
      understand the target of attention of other individuals. Alternative explanations
      involving simpler cognitive capacities were excluded. This implies that monkey
      species share social cognitive capacities underlying VPT with apes and humans.
      Am. J. Primatol. 78:720-730, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26872304
TI  - Inhibition of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth by
      apigenin through induction of G2/M arrest and histone H3 acetylation-mediated
      p21WAF1/CIP1 expression.
AB  - Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), a flavonoid commonly found in fruits and
      vegetables, has anticancer properties in various malignant cancer cells. However,
      the molecular basis of the anticancer effect remains to be elucidated. In this
      study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying the induction of cell
      cycle arrest by apigenin. Our results showed that apigenin at the nonapoptotic
      induction concentration inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle
      arrest at the G2/M phase in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Immunoblot
      analysis indicated that apigenin suppressed the expression of cyclin A, cyclin B,
      and cyclin-dependent kinase-1 (CDK1), which control the G2-to-M phase transition
      in the cell cycle. In addition, apigenin upregulated p21WAF1/CIP1 and increased
      the interaction of p21WAF1/CIP1 with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),
      which inhibits cell cycle progression. Furthermore, apigenin significantly
      inhibited histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and induced histone H3 acetylation.
      The subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay indicated that apigenin
      increased acetylation of histone H3 in the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter region,
      resulting in the increase of p21WAF1/CIP1 transcription. In a tumor xenograft
      model, apigenin effectively delayed tumor growth. In these apigenin-treated
      tumors, we also observed reductions in the levels of cyclin A and cyclin B and
      increases in the levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 and acetylated histone H3. These findings
      demonstrate for the first time that apigenin can be used in breast cancer
      prevention and treatment through epigenetic regulation. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 434-444, 2017.

PMID- 26872306
TI  - Unilateral prurigo pigmentosa: A report of two cases.

PMID- 26872305
TI  - Benchmarking novel approaches for modelling species range dynamics.
AB  - Increasing biodiversity loss due to climate change is one of the most vital
      challenges of the 21st century. To anticipate and mitigate biodiversity loss,
      models are needed that reliably project species' range dynamics and extinction
      risks. Recently, several new approaches to model range dynamics have been
      developed to supplement correlative species distribution models (SDMs), but
      applications clearly lag behind model development. Indeed, no comparative
      analysis has been performed to evaluate their performance. Here, we build on
      process-based, simulated data for benchmarking five range (dynamic) models of
      varying complexity including classical SDMs, SDMs coupled with simple dispersal
      or more complex population dynamic models (SDM hybrids), and a hierarchical
      Bayesian process-based dynamic range model (DRM). We specifically test the
      effects of demographic and community processes on model predictive performance.
      Under current climate, DRMs performed best, although only marginally. Under
      climate change, predictive performance varied considerably, with no clear
      winners. Yet, all range dynamic models improved predictions under climate change
      substantially compared to purely correlative SDMs, and the population dynamic
      models also predicted reasonable extinction risks for most scenarios. When
      benchmarking data were simulated with more complex demographic and community
      processes, simple SDM hybrids including only dispersal often proved most
      reliable. Finally, we found that structural decisions during model building can
      have great impact on model accuracy, but prior system knowledge on important
      processes can reduce these uncertainties considerably. Our results reassure the
      clear merit in using dynamic approaches for modelling species' response to
      climate change but also emphasize several needs for further model and data
      improvement. We propose and discuss perspectives for improving range projections
      through combination of multiple models and for making these approaches
      operational for large numbers of species.

PMID- 26872307
TI  - Predictors of 30-Day Hospital Readmission After Posterior Cervical Fusion in 3401
      Patients.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to
      determine readmission rates and predictors of readmission after posterior
      cervical fusion (PCF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: PCFs are common spinal
      operations for a variety of spinal disorders including cervical myelopathy,
      unstable fractures, cervical deformity, and tumors. Data elaborating on risk
      factors for 30-day readmission are limited. METHODS: Data were collected from the
      2006 to 2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement
      Program database. Predictors of 30-day readmission comprising patient
      demographics, comorbidities, operative features, and postoperative complications
      were identified through logistic multivariable regression. RESULTS: A total of
      3401 patients met study criteria. Rate of 30-day readmission was 6.20%.
      Multilevel fusion was performed in 69.16% of patients. Postoperative infection
      was the most reason, accounting for 17.06% of all readmissions. Age older than 70
      years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, P = 0.012), renal failure requiring dialysis (OR =
      3.69, P = 0.011), anemia (OR = 1.57, P = 0.006), multilevel fusion (OR = 1.61, P
      = 0.012), surgical site infections (OR = 20.4, P < 0.001), wound dehiscence (OR =
      19.08, P < 0.001), postoperative pneumonia (OR = 2.75, P = 0.01), pulmonary
      embolism (OR = 15.39, P < 0.001), and progressing renal insufficiency (OR =
      10.13, P = 0.061) were significant predictors of hospital readmission.
      CONCLUSION: The identified predictors of readmission after PCF can improve
      patient counseling, identification of high-risk patients, and guide changes in
      healthcare delivery pathways. Patients with modifiable risk factors such as
      anemia and kidney failure may benefit from preoperative optimization. In
      addition, postoperative complications represent a key target for intervention.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26872308
TI  - Acquired resistance to HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG and increased metastatic potential
      are associated with MUC1 expression in colon carcinoma cells.
AB  - Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a molecular chaperone required for the stability
      and function of many proteins. The chaperoning of oncoproteins by HSP90 enhances
      the survival, growth, and invasive potential of cancer cells. HSP90 inhibitors
      are promising new anticancer agents, in which the benzoquinone ansamycin 17
      allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) is currently in clinical evaluation.
      However, the implications of acquired resistance to this class of drug remain
      largely unexplored. In the present study, we have generated isogenic human colon
      cancer cell lines that are resistant to 17-AAG by continued culturing in the
      compound. Cross-resistance was found with another HSP90 inhibitor 17
      dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin. The resistant cells showed
      obvious morphology changes with a metastatic phenotype and significant increases
      in migration and adhesion to collagens. Western blotting analysis of epithelial
      mesenchymal transition molecular markers found that expression of E-cadherin
      downregulated, whereas expression of N-cadherin and beta-catenin upregulated in
      the resistant cells. Mucin 1 (MUC1) has been reported to mediate metastasis as
      well as chemical resistance in many cancers. Here, we found that MUC1 expression
      was significantly elevated in the acquired drug resistance cells. 17-AAG
      treatment could decrease MUC1 more in parental cells than in acquired 17-AAG
      resistant cells. Further study found that knockdown of MUC1 expression by small
      interfering RNA could obviously re-sensitize the resistant cells to 17-AAG
      treatment, and decrease the cell migration and adhesion. These were coupled with
      a downregulation in N-cadherin and beta-catenin. The results indicate that HSP90
      inhibitor therapies in colon carcinomas could generate resistance and increase
      metastatic potential that might mediated by upregulation of MUC1 expression.
      Findings from this study further our understanding of the potential clinical
      effects of HSP90-directed therapies in colon carcinomas. 

PMID- 26872309
TI  - LJNK, an indoline-2,3-dione-based aminopeptidase N inhibitor with promising
      antitumor potency.
AB  - In our previous study, we found that LJNK showed potent aminopeptidase N (APN)
      inhibitory activity. In the current study, we further evaluated the antitumor
      effects of LJNK both in vitro and in vivo. Enzyme experiments showed that LJNK
      showed better inhibitory activity than bestatin against APN both from human
      carcinoma cells' surface and from porcine kidney microsomes. In addition, LJNK
      could suppress rat aortic ring microvessel growth and HUVEC tubular structure
      formation, which showed its stronger antiangiogenesis effects than bestatin. [(3
      [4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide)] assay and
      clonogenic assay showed that LJNK suppressed cancer cell growth both in the short
      and the long term. Mice bearing H22 transplantation tumor proved its antitumor
      effects in vivo. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay
      showed that LJNK could induce 28.1% PLC/PRF/5 cell apoptosis and the apoptotic
      pathway was probably identified by western blot. The above-mentioned results
      suggested that LJNK inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and induced
      apoptosis by decreasing APN activity.

PMID- 26872310
TI  - Liver X receptor as a drug target for the treatment of breast cancer.
AB  - Liver X receptor (LXR) has been exploited widely as a drug target in breast
      cancer treatment, and various mechanisms underlying the effects of LXR in this
      area are well studied. The activated LXR plays important roles in estrogen
      receptor alpha (ERalpha) breast cancer cells, such as reducing cell proliferation
      and arresting cell cycle progression. Different LXR ligands have diverse effects
      on the development of breast cancer, such as the inhibitory effect of oxysterol,
      which can return cells to normocholesterol conditions and target other metabolic
      genes. Moreover, 27-hydroxycholesterol, a locally produced cholesterol
      metabolite, reportedly promotes the proliferation of ERalpha breast cancer cells
      in vitro and facilitates tumor metastasis with other LXR ligands. Moreover, the
      expression of LXR also exerts potential effects on immune surveillance, tumor
      immunity, and tumor microenvironment. These advances in breast cancer research
      indicate that LXR may be a new therapeutic target to treat the refractory or drug
      resistant subtypes of breast cancer. 

PMID- 26872311
TI  - Adoptive immunotherapy combined chemoradiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer:
      a meta-analysis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies between adoptive
      immunotherapy combined chemoradiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy alone in patients
      with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The databases PubMed, EMBASE, and
      Cochrane database were searched to identify eligible clinical trials. Data
      analyses were carried out using a comprehensive meta-analysis program, version 2
      software. A total of seven articles were finally included in the analysis. Meta
      analyses showed that compared with chemoradiotherapy alone, adoptive
      immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy could improve the 2-year overall
      survival [odds ratio (OR)=2.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60-3.75,
      P<0.001], but not 2-year progression-free survival (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 0.61-5.36,
      P=0.284). Specifically, early (OR=3.32, 95% CI: 1.38-7.95, P<0.01) but not
      advanced (OR=3.75, 95% CI: 0.96-14.68, P=0.057) NSCLC patients were likely to
      gain a large benefit from the adoptive immunotherapy. Most of the adoptive
      immunotherapy-induced adverse effects were self-limited, mainly including fever,
      shiver, nausea, fatigue, etc. and severe toxicities were not observed. Adoptive
      immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy can delay the recurrence of NSCLC
      and improve survival in patients, where the benefits are even more significant in
      patients with early-stage NSCLC. 

PMID- 26872312
TI  - Role of reverse transendothelial migration of neutrophils in inflammation.
AB  - Transmigration of neutrophils through vascular endothelial walls into the
      inflamed tissues is a critical defense mechanism of innate immune system against
      infection and injury caused by sepsis, trauma, ischemia-reperfusion, and other
      acute or chronic inflammatory diseases. However, their excessive infiltration and
      uncontrolled activation may lead to the destruction of normal tissue architecture
      and unrestrained inflammation. Transendothelial migration (TEM) in a luminal-to
      abluminal direction is widely known as the final step of neutrophil migration
      cascade into the inflamed tissues. Recent studies have shown that neutrophils not
      necessarily move from the vascular lumen to the extravascular tissues in a one
      way direction; they also proceed in an opposite direction, known as reverse
      transendothelial migration (rTEM) to get back into the vascular lumen again. This
      novel paradigm of neutrophil round trip is currently on the spotlight due to its
      possible interaction with immune system. Current review highlighting the growing
      demand of this newly identified neutrophil migratory event will not only rewrite
      the disease pathophysiology, but also help scientists design novel therapeutic
      strategy leading to the remission of inflammatory diseases in which controlling
      exaggerated neutrophil infiltration is a major challenge.

PMID- 26872313
TI  - Coordination of stress, Ca2+, and immunogenic signaling pathways by PERK at the
      endoplasmic reticulum.
AB  - The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the main coordinator of intracellular Ca2+
      signaling, protein synthesis, and folding. The ER is also implicated in the
      formation of contact sites with other organelles and structures, including
      mitochondria, plasma membrane (PM), and endosomes, thereby orchestrating through
      interorganelle signaling pathways, a variety of cellular responses including Ca2+
      homeostasis, metabolism, and cell death signaling. Upon loss of its folding
      capacity, incited by a number of stress signals including those elicited by
      various anticancer therapies, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is launched to
      restore ER homeostasis. The ER stress sensor protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase
      (PERK) is a key mediator of the UPR and its role during ER stress has been
      largely recognized. However, growing evidence suggests that PERK may govern
      signaling pathways through UPR-independent functions. Here, we discuss emerging
      noncanonical roles of PERK with particular relevance for the induction of danger
      or immunogenic signaling and interorganelle communication.

PMID- 26872314
TI  - Sex steroid hormone stability in serum tubes with and without separator gels.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A pilot study showing a decrease in androstenedione concentration in
      serum collected into gel-containing serum tubes (STs) triggered an investigation
      of the effect of serum collection tube on steroid hormone stability. METHODS: In
      the main study, two tube types were examined: BD Vacutainer(r) SSTTMII Advance
      and BD Vacutainer(r) Serum Tube. Forty-seven serum samples from apparently
      healthy volunteers were collected and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem
      mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for testosterone, androstenedione, 17
      hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) (n=20); and oestradiol (n=27). Primary specimens
      were centrifuged once, maintained at room temperature and extracted within 2 h
      for day zero (d0) results. To assess stability following refrigeration (2-8 
      degrees C), aliquots were taken from the primary tube on day one (d1) and day
      five (d5) and analysed immediately. Differences in measurand concentration
      between tubes at d0 and following storage (d1 and d5) were evaluated for
      statistical significance. RESULTS: There was a progressive and statistically
      significant decrease in androstenedione concentration from d0 to d5 (p<0.001) in
      the SSTTMII tubes. In addition, there was a statistically significant reduction
      in testosterone, 17-OHP and oestradiol concentrations at d5 (p<0.01).
      Interestingly, oestradiol and testosterone concentrations increased with time in
      plain STs (p<0.01). The only change likely to have a clinical impact was that of
      androstenedione in serum gel tubes. CONCLUSIONS: To optimise conditions and to
      reduce pre-analytical error we recommend the use of plain serum collection tubes
      for androstenedione and rapid separation of serum from cells when oestradiol and
      testosterone are requested.

PMID- 26872315
TI  - Effective quality management practices in routine clinical next-generation
      sequencing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Molecular technologies have allowed laboratories to detect and
      establish the profiles of human cancers by identifying a variety of somatic
      variants. In order to improve personalized patient care, we have established a
      next-generation sequencing (NGS) test to screen for somatic variants in primary
      or advanced cancers. In this study, we describe the laboratory quality management
      program for NGS testing, and also provide an overview of the somatic variants
      identified in over 1000 patient samples as well as their implications in clinical
      practice. METHODS: Over the past one-and-a-half years, our laboratory received a
      total of 1028 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues, which
      consisted of non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), colon adenocarcinomas,
      glioma/glioblastomas, melanomas, breast carcinomas, and other tumor types. During
      this time period, we implemented a series of quality control (QC) checks that
      included (1) pre-DNA extraction, (2) DNA quantification, (3) DNA quality, (4)
      library quantification, (5) post-emulsification PCR, and (6) post-sequencing
      metrics. At least 10 ng of genomic DNA (gDNA) were used to prepare barcoded
      libraries using the AmpliSeq CHPv2. Samples were multiplexed and sequenced on Ion
      Torrent 318 chips using the Ion PGM System. Variants were identified using the
      Variant Caller Plugin, and annotation and functional predictions were performed
      using the Golden Helix SVS. RESULTS: A total of 1005 samples passed QC1-3, and
      following additional library preparation QC checkpoints, 877 samples were
      sequenced. Samples were classified into two categories: wild-type (127) and
      positive for somatic variants (750). Somatic variants were classified into
      clinically actionable (60%) and non-actionable (40%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of NGS
      in routine clinical laboratory practice allowed for the detection of tumor
      profiles that are essential for the selection of targeted therapies and
      identification of applicable clinical trials, contributing to the improvement of
      personalized patient care in oncology.

PMID- 26872317
TI  - The moderate essential amino acid restriction entailed by low-protein vegan diets
      may promote vascular health by stimulating FGF21 secretion.
AB  - The serum total and LDL cholesterol levels of long-term vegans tend to be very
      low. The characteristically low ratio of saturated to unsaturated fat in vegan
      diets, and the absence of cholesterol in such diets, clearly contribute to this
      effect. But there is reason to suspect that the quantity and composition of
      dietary protein also play a role in this regard. Vegan diets of moderate protein
      intake tend to be relatively low in certain essential amino acids, and as a
      result may increase hepatic activity of the kinase GCN2, which functions as a
      gauge of amino acid status. GCN2 activation boosts the liver's production of
      fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a factor which favorably affects serum
      lipids and metabolic syndrome. The ability of FGF21 to decrease LDL cholesterol
      has now been traced to at least two mechanisms: a suppression of hepatocyte
      expression of sterol response element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), which in turn
      leads to a reduction in cholesterol synthesis; and up-regulated expression of
      hepatocyte LDL receptors, reflecting inhibition of a mechanism that promotes
      proteasomal degradation of these receptors. In mice, the vascular benefits of
      FGF21 are also mediated by favorable effects on adipocyte function - most
      notably, increased adipocyte secretion of adiponectin, which directly exerts anti
      inflammatory effects on the vasculature which complement the concurrent reduction
      in LDL particles in preventing or reversing atherosclerosis. If, as has been
      proposed, plant proteins preferentially stimulate glucagon secretion owing to
      their amino acid composition, this would represent an additional mechanism
      whereby plant protein promotes FGF21 activity, as glucagon acts on the liver to
      boost transcription of the FGF21 gene.

PMID- 26872316
TI  - Thirty-minutes' exposure to smartphone call triggers neutrophil activation in
      vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite accumulating evidence about the negative health effects of
      exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones, no information is
      available on the potential impact of radiofrequency (RF) waves on
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes biology. METHODS: Two sequential whole blood tubes
      were collected from 16 ostensibly healthy volunteers. After placing the former
      tube of each subject in a plastic rack, 1 cm from a commercial smartphone
      (carrier frequency, 900 MHz), a call was placed on the smartphone and a
      communication lasting 30 min was manually activated. The latter blood tube of
      each volunteer was placed in another plastic rack, for an identical period of
      time, avoiding close contact with sources of RF waves. A complete blood count was
      then assessed in all whole blood samples, using Advia 2120. RESULTS: The 30-min
      exposure of blood to RF waves did not induce significant variations of total and
      differential leukocyte counts. A significant decrease was however observed for
      many neutrophils parameters, with median percentage variation of -3.9% for the
      lobularity index (LI), -29.8% for the myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), -0.6% for the
      neutrophil cluster mean x (NEUTx) and -0.7% for the neutrophil cluster mean y
      (NEUTy), respectively. The percentage of blood samples with reduced values after
      exposure to RF waves was 81% for LI, 88% for NEUTx and 100% for both MPXI and
      NEUTy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that exposure to smartphone RF
      waves triggers activation of neutrophils in vitro, as mirrored by the significant
      variations observed in many activation parameters in Advia 2120.

PMID- 26872318
TI  - Neonatal exposure to estradiol-17beta modulates tumour necrosis factor alpha and
      cyclooxygenase-2 expression in brain and also in ovaries of adult female rats.
AB  - The sexually dimorphic organization in perinatal rat brain is influenced by
      steroid hormones. Exposure to high levels of estrogen or endocrine-disrupting
      compounds during perinatal period may perturb this process, resulting in
      compromised reproductive physiology and behavior as observed in adult In our
      recent observation neonatal exposure of the female rats to estradiol-17beta
      resulted in down-regulation of TNF-alpha, up-regulation of COX-2 and increase in
      SDN-POA size in pre-optic area in the adulthood. It is known that the control of
      reproductive performance in female involves a complex interplay of the
      hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovary. The present study was undertaken to
      understand the possible molecular mechanism involved in changes observed in the
      ovarian morphology and expression of selected genes in the ovary. Administration
      of estradiol-17beta (100 MUg) on day 2 and 3 after birth revealed up-regulation
      of ER-alpha, ER-beta, COX-2 and down-regulation of TNF-alpha expression. Also the
      decrease in the ovarian weight, altered ovarian morphology and changes in the 2D
      protein profiles were also seen. This is apparently the first report documenting
      that neonatal estradiol exposure modulates TNF-alpha and COX-2 expression in the
      ovary as seen during adult stage. Our results permit us to suggest that cues
      originating from the modified brain structure due to neonatal exposure of
      estradiol-17beta remodel the ovary at the molecular level in such a way that
      there is a disharmony in the reproductive function during adulthood and these
      changes are perennial and can lead to infertility and changes of reproductive
      behavior. 

PMID- 26872319
TI  - Blood glucose screening among elderly Malaysians: Who to target?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early detection of raised blood glucose can reduce the risk of
      developing diabetes. Despite being a high-risk group, a significant proportion of
      the elderly population does not undergo blood glucose screening. The aim of the
      present study was to examine the factors affecting blood glucose screening among
      the elderly. METHODS: Data from a sample of 2463 respondents in the National
      Health and Morbidity Survey 2011 were used. Pearson Chi-squared tests were
      conducted to find factors associated with screening behavior. A logit model was
      used to analyze the likelihood of screening. RESULTS: Income, age, education,
      ethnicity, employment status, availability of medical coverage, and smoking
      behavior were significantly associated with blood glucose screening. The
      likelihood of blood glucose screening was positively correlated with available
      monthly income and was higher in those aged 60-69 years, those attaining higher
      education, Malays, and elderly who are medically covered. CONCLUSIONS: The
      findings of the present study provide insights for health policy formulation for
      the elderly. As part of their efforts to reduce national health costs,
      governments should pay particular attention to the elderly, who are likely to be
      unscreened for blood glucose levels, because they face even larger risk exposure.

PMID- 26872320
TI  - Prediction of the Passive Intestinal Absorption of Medicinal Plant Extract
      Constituents with the Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA).
AB  - At the early drug discovery stage, the high-throughput parallel artificial
      membrane permeability assay is one of the most frequently used in vitro models to
      predict transcellular passive absorption. While thousands of new chemical
      entities have been screened with the parallel artificial membrane permeability
      assay, in general, permeation properties of natural products have been scarcely
      evaluated. In this study, the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay
      through a hexadecane membrane was used to predict the passive intestinal
      absorption of a representative set of frequently occurring natural products.
      Since natural products are usually ingested for medicinal use as components of
      complex extracts in traditional herbal preparations or as phytopharmaceuticals,
      the applicability of such an assay to study the constituents directly in
      medicinal crude plant extracts was further investigated. Three representative
      crude plant extracts with different natural product compositions were chosen for
      this study. The first extract was composed of furanocoumarins (Angelica
      archangelica), the second extract included alkaloids (Waltheria indica), and the
      third extract contained flavonoid glycosides (Pueraria montana var. lobata). For
      each medicinal plant, the effective passive permeability values Pe (cm/s) of the
      main natural products of interest were rapidly calculated thanks to a generic
      ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography-UV detection method and because Pe
      calculations do not require knowing precisely the concentration of each natural
      product within the extracts. The original parallel artificial membrane
      permeability assay through a hexadecane membrane was found to keep its predictive
      power when applied to constituents directly in crude plant extracts provided that
      higher quantities of the extract were initially loaded in the assay in order to
      ensure suitable detection of the individual constituents of the extracts. Such an
      approach is thus valuable for the high-throughput, cost-effective, and early
      evaluation of passive intestinal absorption of active principles in medicinal
      plants. In phytochemical studies, obtaining effective passive permeability values
      of pharmacologically active natural products is important to predict if natural
      products showing interesting activities in vitro may have a chance to reach their
      target in vivo.

PMID- 26872322
TI  - Polycyclic Spiro Lignans and Biphenyl Tetrahydrofuranone Lignans from Gymnotheca
      involucrata.
AB  - Four rare polycyclic spiro lignans (1-4) and four new biphenyl tetrahydrofuranone
      lignans (5-8) were isolated from the whole plant of Gymnotheca involucrata. The
      structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of detailed
      spectroscopic analysis and the absolute configuration of 1 was confirmed by
      single crystal X-ray diffraction. Bioassay results showed that compounds 2 and 6
      exhibited weak antifungal activity against Uromyces viciae-fabae at 100 ppm in
      leaf-disc assays, while compound 3 demonstrated moderate insecticidal activity
      against Diabrotica balteata at 500 ppm in an artificial diet assay. 

PMID- 26872321
TI  - Sesquiterpenoids with PTP1B Inhibitory Activity and Cytotoxicity from the Edible
      Mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus.
AB  - One new perhydrobenzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpene, pleurospiroketal F
      (1), as well as six new modified bisabolene sesquiterpenes pleurotins A-F (2-7)
      were isolated from solid-state fermentation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus. The
      structures of compounds 1-7 were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis.
      The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis,
      while the absolute configurations of 3-7 were assigned using the in situ
      dimolybdenum circular dichroism method and circular dichroism data comparison.
      Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B plays a crucial role as a negative regulator of
      the insulin-dependent signal cascades. Therefore, the protein tyrosine
      phosphatase 1B inhibitor can be used for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus and
      obesity. Compounds 2 and 6 showed moderate inhibitory effects on protein tyrosine
      phosphatase 1B with IC50 s of 32.1 uM and 30.5 uM, respectively. The kinetic
      study confirmed compound 2 to be a noncompetitive inhibitor. Compounds 1-7 did
      not show cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines (IC50 > 50 uM). 

PMID- 26872323
TI  - Noninvasive ventilation for neuromuscular respiratory failure: when to use and
      when to avoid.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Neuromuscular respiratory failure can occur from a variety of
      diseases, both acute and chronic with acute exacerbation. There is often a
      misunderstanding about how the nature of the neuromuscular disease should affect
      the decision on how to ventilate the patient. This review provides an update on
      the value and relative contraindications for the use of noninvasive ventilation
      in patients with various causes of primary neuromuscular respiratory failure.
      RECENT FINDINGS: Myasthenic crisis represents the paradigmatic example of the
      neuromuscular condition that can be best treated with noninvasive ventilation.
      Timely use of noninvasive ventilation can substantially reduce the duration of
      ventilatory assistance in these patients. Noninvasive ventilation can also be
      very helpful after extubation in patients recovering from an acute cause of
      neuromuscular respiratory failure who have persistent weakness. Noninvasive
      ventilation can improve quality of survival in patients with advanced motor
      neuron disorder (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and muscular dystrophies,
      and can avoid intubation when these patients present to the hospital with acute
      respiratory failure. Attempting noninvasive ventilation is not only typically
      unsuccessful in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, but can also be dangerous
      in these cases. SUMMARY: Noninvasive ventilation can be very effective to treat
      acute respiratory failure caused by myasthenia gravis and to prevent reintubation
      in other neuromuscular patients, but should be used cautiously for other
      indications, particularly Guillain-Barre syndrome.

PMID- 26872325
TI  - A prospective study to assess the diagnostic performance of the Sofia((r))
      Immunoassay for Influenza and RSV detection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Respiratory viruses RSV and influenza A and B viruses are responsible
      for important disease outbreaks during the winter season in temperate climate
      regions. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are assays designed to yield a rapid
      diagnosis, which facilitates patient management. The Sofia Influenza A+B
      Fluorescence Immunoassay and Sofia RSV Fluorescence Immunoassay are RDTs for
      Influenza and RSV detection that employ a new technology to enhance their
      sensitivity. OBJECTIVES: Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative
      predictive values of the assays were calculated compared with the reference
      diagnostic method: real-time RT-PCR. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective evaluation was
      carried out on 1065 respiratory samples for Sofia Influenza A+B FIA and on 261
      samples for Sofia RSV FIA from November 2013 to April 2014. RESULTS: The
      sensitivities of the Sofia Influenza A+B FIA for influenza A and influenza B
      detection were, respectively, 75.3% (244/324) and 50.0% (8/16). The sensitivity
      of the Sofia RSV FIA was 92.1% (128/139). There were no differences in Sofia FIA
      performance depending on the virus subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed high
      sensitivity and specificity values for influenza A and RSV detection, but values
      were lower for influenza B. More information is needed regarding the performance
      for influenza B given the small number of positive samples assessed.

PMID- 26872324
TI  - Development of a Novel Thyroid Function Fluctuated Animal Model for Thyroid
      Associated Ophthalmopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The establishment of a suitable and stable animal model is critical
      for research on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). In clinical practice, we
      found that patients treated with I-131 often exhibit TAO; therefore, we aimed to
      establish a novel thyroid function fluctuated animal model of TAO by simulating
      the clinical treatment process. METHODS: We treated SD rats with I-131 to damage
      the thyroid and then used sodium levothyroxine (L-T4) to supplement the thyroid
      hormone (TH) levels every seven days, leading to a fluctuating level of thyroid
      hormones that simulated the status of clinical TAO patients. Rats administered
      normal saline were considered as a control. The weight, intraocular pressure, and
      serum T3, T4, TSH and TRAb levels of the rats were measured, and the pathological
      changes were analyzed by H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
      RESULTS: The experimental rats (TAO group) exhibited significantly reduced weight
      and elevated intraocular pressure compared with the control rats. Meanwhile, the
      serum levels of T3 and T4 were up-regulated in the TAO group, but the TSH level
      decreased during the 10-week study. Moreover, increased numbers of blood vessels
      and inflammatory cell infiltrations were observed in the orbital tissues of the
      TAO rats, while no abnormal changes occurred in the control rats. The orbital
      myofibrils in the TAO rats appeared fractured and dissolved, with twisted
      structures. Mitochondrial swelling and vacuoles within the endoplasmic reticulum,
      swelling nerve fibers, shedding nerve myelin, and macrophages were found in the
      TAO group. CONCLUSION: Rats treated with I-131 and sodium levothyroxine exhibited
      characteristics similar to those of TAO patients in the clinic, providing an
      effective and simple method for the establishment of a stable animal model for
      research on the pathogenesis and treatment of TAO.

PMID- 26872326
TI  - Human pegivirus detected in a patient with severe encephalitis using a
      metagenomic pan-virus array.
AB  - We have used a metagenomic microarray to detect genomic RNA from human pegivirus
      in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from a patient suffering from severe
      encephalitis. No other pathogen was detected. HPgV in cerebrospinal fluid during
      encephalitis has never been reported before and its prevalence in cerebrospinal
      fluid needs further investigation. 

PMID- 26872327
TI  - Nanosized yolk-shell Fe3O4@Zr(OH)x spheres for efficient removal of Pb(II) from
      aqueous solution.
AB  - In this work, Fe3O4@Zr(OH)x yolk-shell nanospheres (YSNs) were synthesized via a
      two-step process and further examined as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II). To
      understand the hollow structure on the adsorption properties of Pb(II), another
      adsorbent without hollow cavities, i.e., Fe3O4@SiO2@Zr(OH)x core-shell
      nanospheres (CSNs), was also prepared for comparison. The adsorption results
      showed that Fe3O4@Zr(OH)x YSNs exhibited 41.6% higher Pb(II) adsorption capacity
      as compared to that of Fe3O4@SiO2@Zr(OH)x CSNs. The isotherm was well fitted to
      Langmuir adsorption model with qmax value of 310.8 mg/g after normalized by the
      weight of Zr in Fe3O4@Zr(OH)x YSNs. Scanning transmission electron microscopy
      (STEM) mapping results revealed that the existence of cavities between Fe3O4
      cores and Zr(OH)x shells is responsible for the improved adsorption performance.
      XPS analysis indicated the surface hydroxyl groups played a key role in the
      Pb(II) adsorption. The removal efficiency of Pb(II) was maintained above 90% in
      five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles.

PMID- 26872328
TI  - Photocatalytic degradation of Maxilon C.I. basic dye using CS/CoFe2O4/GONCs as a
      heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst prepared by gamma irradiation.
AB  - CS/CF/GONCs were synthesized via gamma irradiation cross-linking method with the
      aid of sonication. The nanocomposites exhibited a photo-Fenton catalytic feature
      for the degradation of Maxilon C.I. basic dye in aqueous medium using sunlight.
      The effects of pH, H2O2 concentration, and dosage of the catalyst, on the
      degradation rates of the dyes were examined. The optimal degradation rate was
      reached with 10mM H2O2 at pH 9.5. It was verified that the Maxilon C.I. basic dye
      degradation rate fits a pseudo-first-order kinetics for different initial
      concentrations of Maxilon C.I. dye. Fourth cyclic tests for Maxilon C.I.
      degradation showed that the magnetic catalyst was very stable, recoverable,
      highly active, and easy to separate using an external magnet. Hence, this
      magnetic catalyst has potential use in organic pollutant removal. 

PMID- 26872330
TI  - Structural insights of nucleosome and the 30-nm chromatin fiber.
AB  - The eukaryotic genome is hierarchically packaged into chromatin in the nucleus.
      The organization and dynamics of 30-nm chromatin fibers, which is typically
      regarded as the secondary structure of chromatin, play a crucial role in
      regulating DNA accessibility for gene expression. Here we reviewed some recent
      progresses on the structural studies on nucleosomes, nucleosome-protein
      complexes, and chromatin fibers, focusing on the structural insights how the
      chromatin structure is regulated by different epigenetic regulation factors. 

PMID- 26872329
TI  - Acculturation and Plasma Fatty Acid Concentrations in Hispanic and Chinese
      American Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acculturation to the U.S. is associated with increased risk of
      cardiovascular disease, but the etiologic pathways are not fully understood.
      Plasma fatty acid levels exhibit ethnic differences and are emerging as
      biomarkers and predictors of cardiovascular disease risk. Thus, plasma fatty
      acids may represent one pathway underlying the association between acculturation
      and cardiovascular disease. We investigated the cross-sectional relationship
      between acculturation and plasma phospholipid fatty acids in a diverse sample of
      Hispanic- and Chinese-American adults. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Participants
      included 377 Mexican, 320 non-Mexican Hispanic, and 712 Chinese adults from the
      Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, who had full plasma phospholipid assays
      and acculturation information. Acculturation was determined from three proxy
      measures: nativity, language spoken at home, and years in the U.S., with possible
      scores ranging from 0 (least acculturated) to 5 (most acculturated) points. alpha
      Linolenic acid, linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and
      arachidonic acid were measured in fasting plasma. Linear regression models were
      conducted in race/ethnicity-stratified analyses, with acculturation as the
      predictor and plasma phospholipid fatty acids as the outcome variables. We ran
      secondary analyses to examine associations between acculturation and dietary
      fatty acids for comparison. Covariates included age, gender, education, and
      income. Contrary to our hypothesis, no statistically significant associations
      were detected between acculturation and plasma phospholipid fatty acids for
      Chinese, non-Mexican Hispanic, or Mexican participants. However, acculturation
      was related to dietary total n-6 fatty acids and dietary n-3/n-6 ratios in
      expected directions for Mexican, non-Mexican Hispanic, and combined Hispanic
      participants. In Chinese individuals, acculturation was unexpectedly associated
      with lower arachidonic acid intake. CONCLUSION: Absence of associations between
      acculturation and plasma phospholipid fatty acids suggests that changes in the
      plasma phospholipid fatty acids studied do not account for the observed
      associations of acculturation to the U.S. and cardiovascular disease risk.
      Similar findings were observed for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic
      acid, when using dietary intake. However, the observed associations between
      dietary n-6 fatty acids and acculturation in Hispanic individuals suggest that
      dietary intake may be more informative than phospholipids when investigating
      acculturation effects. In Chinese individuals, acculturation may have a possible
      protective effect through decreased arachidonic acid intake. Further research on
      dietary fatty acids and other cardiovascular disease biomarkers is needed to
      identify possible etiologic mechanisms between acculturation and cardiovascular
      disease.

PMID- 26872331
TI  - Effectiveness of Ritonavir-Boosted Protease Inhibitor Monotherapy in Clinical
      Practice Even with Previous Virological Failures to Protease Inhibitor-Based
      Regimens.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Significant controversy still exists about ritonavir
      boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy (mtPI/rtv) as a simplification strategy
      that is used up to now to treat patients that have not experienced previous
      virological failure (VF) while on protease inhibitor (PI) -based regimens. We
      have evaluated the effectiveness of two mtPI/rtv regimens in an actual clinical
      practice setting, including patients that had experienced previous VF with PI
      based regimens. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1060 HIV-infected
      patients with undetectable viremia that were switched to lopinavir/ritonavir or
      darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy. In cases in which the patient had previously
      experienced VF while on a PI-based regimen, the lack of major HIV protease
      resistance mutations to lopinavir or darunavir, respectively, was mandatory. The
      primary endpoint of this study was the percentage of participants with
      virological suppression after 96 weeks according to intention-to-treat analysis
      (non-complete/missing = failure). RESULTS: A total of 1060 patients were
      analyzed, including 205 with previous VF while on PI-based regimens, 90 of whom
      were on complex therapies due to extensive resistance. The rates of treatment
      effectiveness (intention-to-treat analysis) and virological efficacy (on
      treatment analysis) at week 96 were 79.3% (CI95, 76.8-81.8) and 91.5% (CI95, 89.6
      93.4), respectively. No relationships were found between VF and earlier VF while
      on PI-based regimens, the presence of major or minor protease resistance
      mutations, the previous time on viral suppression, CD4+ T-cell nadir, and HCV
      coinfection. Genotypic resistance tests were available in 49 out of the 74
      patients with VFs and only four patients presented new major protease resistance
      mutations. CONCLUSION: Switching to mtPI/rtv achieves sustained virological
      control in most patients, even in those with previous VF on PI-based regimens as
      long as no major resistance mutations are present for the administered drug.

PMID- 26872332
TI  - A literature review and meta-analyses of cannabis use and suicidality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We lack a review of the epidemiological literature on cannabis use
      (acute use and chronic-usual quantity/frequency and heavy use) and suicidality
      (suicide death, suicide ideation, suicide attempt). METHODS: The English language
      literature on Medline, PsychInfo, Google Scholar, and public-use databases was
      searched for original articles, critical review reports, and public use data on
      cannabis use and suicide for the period ranging from 1990-2015 (February). Odds
      ratios (OR) from random effects in meta-analyses for any cannabis use and heavy
      cannabis use were calculated. RESULTS: The acute cannabis-suicidality literature
      mostly includes descriptive toxicology reports. In terms of death by suicide, the
      average positive cannabis rate was 9.50% for studies sampling from all suicides,
      with higher cannabis detection rates amongst suicide decedents by non-overdose
      methods. We found only 4 studies providing estimates for any chronic cannabis use
      and death by suicide (OR=2.56 (1.25-5.27)). After deleting duplicates we found 6
      studies on any cannabis use and suicide ideation (OR=1.43 (1.13-1.83)), 5 studies
      on heavy cannabis use and suicide ideation (OR=2.53 (1.00-6.39)), 6 studies on
      any cannabis use and suicide attempt (OR=2.23 (1.24-4.00)) and 6 studies on heavy
      cannabis use and suicide attempt (OR=3.20 (1.72-5.94)). CONCLUSIONS: We currently
      lack evidence that acute cannabis use increases imminent risk for suicidality.
      The evidence tends to support that chronic cannabis use can predict suicidality,
      but the lack of homogeneity in the measurement of cannabis exposure and, in some
      instances, the lack of systematic control for known risk factors tempered this
      finding.

PMID- 26872333
TI  - Variability in Regularity: Mining Temporal Mobility Patterns in London, Singapore
      and Beijing Using Smart-Card Data.
AB  - To discover regularities in human mobility is of fundamental importance to our
      understanding of urban dynamics, and essential to city and transport planning,
      urban management and policymaking. Previous research has revealed universal
      regularities at mainly aggregated spatio-temporal scales but when we zoom into
      finer scales, considerable heterogeneity and diversity is observed instead. The
      fundamental question we address in this paper is at what scales are the
      regularities we detect stable, explicable, and sustainable. This paper thus
      proposes a basic measure of variability to assess the stability of such
      regularities focusing mainly on changes over a range of temporal scales. We
      demonstrate this by comparing regularities in the urban mobility patterns in
      three world cities, namely London, Singapore and Beijing using one-week of smart
      card data. The results show that variations in regularity scale as non-linear
      functions of the temporal resolution, which we measure over a scale from 1 minute
      to 24 hours thus reflecting the diurnal cycle of human mobility. A particularly
      dramatic increase in variability occurs up to the temporal scale of about 15
      minutes in all three cities and this implies that limits exist when we look
      forward or backward with respect to making short-term predictions. The degree of
      regularity varies in fact from city to city with Beijing and Singapore showing
      higher regularity in comparison to London across all temporal scales. A detailed
      discussion is provided, which relates the analysis to various characteristics of
      the three cities. In summary, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of
      regularities in patterns of transit use from variations in volumes of travellers
      entering subway stations, it establishes a generic analytical framework for
      comparative studies using urban mobility data, and it provides key points for the
      management of variability by policy-makers intent on for making the travel
      experience more amenable. 

PMID- 26872335
TI  - Gene Regulatory Network Inference of Immunoresponsive Gene 1 (IRG1) Identifies
      Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF1) as Its Transcriptional Regulator in
      Mammalian Macrophages.
AB  - Immunoresponsive gene 1 (IRG1) is one of the highest induced genes in macrophages
      under pro-inflammatory conditions. Its function has been recently described: it
      codes for immune-responsive gene 1 protein/cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase
      (IRG1/CAD), an enzyme catalysing the production of itaconic acid from cis
      aconitic acid, a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate. Itaconic acid
      possesses specific antimicrobial properties inhibiting isocitrate lyase, the
      first enzyme of the glyoxylate shunt, an anaplerotic pathway that bypasses the
      TCA cycle and enables bacteria to survive on limited carbon conditions. To
      elucidate the mechanisms underlying itaconic acid production through IRG1
      induction in macrophages, we examined the transcriptional regulation of IRG1. To
      this end, we studied IRG1 expression in human immune cells under different
      inflammatory stimuli, such as TNFalpha and IFNgamma, in addition to
      lipopolysaccharides. Under these conditions, as previously shown in mouse
      macrophages, IRG1/CAD accumulates in mitochondria. Furthermore, using literature
      information and transcription factor prediction models, we re-constructed raw
      gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for IRG1 in mouse and human macrophages. We
      further implemented a contextualization algorithm that relies on genome-wide gene
      expression data to infer putative cell type-specific gene regulatory interactions
      in mouse and human macrophages, which allowed us to predict potential
      transcriptional regulators of IRG1. Among the computationally identified
      regulators, siRNA-mediated gene silencing of interferon regulatory factor 1
      (IRF1) in macrophages significantly decreased the expression of IRG1/CAD at the
      gene and protein level, which correlated with a reduced production of itaconic
      acid. Using a synergistic approach of both computational and experimental
      methods, we here shed more light on the transcriptional machinery of IRG1
      expression and could pave the way to therapeutic approaches targeting itaconic
      acid levels. 

PMID- 26872334
TI  - Combined Immune Therapy for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis.
AB  - Chronic disease caused by infections, cancer or autoimmunity can result in
      profound immune suppression. Immunoregulatory networks are established to prevent
      tissue damage caused by inflammation. Although these immune checkpoints preserve
      tissue function, they allow pathogens and tumors to persist, and even expand.
      Immune checkpoint blockade has recently been successfully employed to treat
      cancer. This strategy modulates immunoregulatory mechanisms to allow host immune
      cells to kill or control tumors. However, the utility of this approach for
      controlling established infections has not been extensively investigated. Here,
      we examined the potential of modulating glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor
      related protein (GITR) on T cells to improve anti-parasitic immunity in blood and
      spleen tissue from visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients infected with Leishmania
      donovani. We found little effect on parasite growth or parasite-specific IFNgamma
      production. However, this treatment reversed the improved anti-parasitic immunity
      achieved by IL-10 signaling blockade. Further investigations using an
      experimental VL model caused by infection of C57BL/6 mice with L. donovani
      revealed that this negative effect was prominent in the liver, dependent on
      parasite burden and associated with an accumulation of Th1 cells expressing high
      levels of KLRG-1. Nevertheless, combined anti-IL-10 and anti-GITR mAb treatment
      could improve anti-parasitic immunity when used with sub-optimal doses of anti
      parasitic drug. However, additional studies with VL patient samples indicated
      that targeting GITR had no overall benefit over IL-10 signaling blockade alone at
      improving anti-parasitic immune responses, even with drug treatment cover. These
      findings identify several important factors that influence the effectiveness of
      immune modulation, including parasite burden, target tissue and the use of anti
      parasitic drug. Critically, these results also highlight potential negative
      effects of combining different immune modulation strategies. 

PMID- 26872337
TI  - Mechanical behavior of bilayered small-diameter nanofibrous structures as
      biomimetic vascular grafts.
AB  - To these days, the production of a small diameter vascular graft (<6mm) with an
      appropriate and permanent response is still challenging. The mismatch in the
      grafts mechanical properties is one of the principal causes of failure, therefore
      their complete mechanical characterization is fundamental. In this work the
      mechanical response of electrospun bilayered small-diameter vascular grafts made
      of two different bioresorbable synthetic polymers, segmented poly(ester urethane)
      and poly(L-lactic acid), that mimic the biomechanical characteristics of elastin
      and collagen is investigated. A J-shaped response when subjected to internal
      pressure was observed as a cause of the nanofibrous layered structure, and the
      materials used. Compliance values were in the order of natural coronary arteries
      and very close to the bypass gold standard-saphenous vein. The suture retention
      strength and burst pressure values were also in the range of natural vessels.
      Therefore, the bilayered vascular grafts presented here are very promising for
      future application as small-diameter vessel replacements.

PMID- 26872336
TI  - Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
      in Allergen Sensitized and Challenged Mice.
AB  - Asthma is a chronic disease of the lung associated with airway
      hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway obstruction and airway remodeling. Airway
      remodeling involves differentiation of airway epithelial cells into
      myofibroblasts via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to intensify the
      degree of subepithelial fibrosis. EMT involves loss in E-cadherin with an
      increase in mesenchymal markers, including vimentin and N-cadherin. There is
      growing evidence that vitamin D has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory
      properties. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects are
      still unclear. In this study, we examined the contribution of vitamin D on the
      AHR, airway inflammation and expression of EMT markers in the airways of mice
      sensitized and challenged with a combination of clinically relevant allergens,
      house dust mite, ragweed, and Alternaria (HRA). Female Balb/c mice were fed with
      vitamin D-sufficient (2000 IU/kg) or vitamin D-supplemented (10,000 IU/kg) diet
      followed by sensitization with HRA. The density of inflammatory cells in the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung histology, and expression of EMT
      markers by immunofluorescence were examined. Vitamin D-supplementation decreased
      AHR, airway inflammation in the BALF and the features of airway remodeling
      compared to vitamin D-sufficiency in HRA-sensitized and -challenged mice. This
      was accompanied with increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased vimentin
      and N-cadherin expression in the airways. These results indicate that vitamin D
      may be a beneficial adjunct in the treatment regime in allergic asthma. 

PMID- 26872338
TI  - Exploring the biophysical evidence that mammalian two-pore channels are NAADP
      activated calcium-permeable channels.
AB  - Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) potently releases Ca(2+)
      from acidic intracellular endolysosomal Ca(2+) stores. It is widely accepted that
      two types of two-pore channels, termed TPC1 and TPC2, are responsible for the
      NAADP-mediated Ca(2+) release but the underlying mechanisms regulating their
      gating appear to be different. For example, although both TPC1 and TPC2 are
      activated by NAADP, TPC1 appears to be additionally regulated by cytosolic Ca(2+)
      . Ion conduction and permeability also differ markedly. TPC1 and TPC2 are
      permeable to a range of cations although biophysical experiments suggest that
      TPC2 is slightly more selective for Ca(2+) over K(+) than TPC1 and hence capable
      of releasing greater quantities of Ca(2+) from acidic stores. TPC1 is also
      permeable to H(+) and therefore may play a role in regulating lysosomal and
      cytosolic pH, possibly creating localised acidic domains. The significantly
      different gating and ion conducting properties of TPC1 and TPC2 suggest that
      these two ion channels may play complementary physiological roles as Ca(2+) 
      release channels of the endolysosomal system.

PMID- 26872339
TI  - Gestation and breastfeeding in schistosomotic mothers differently modulate the
      immune response of adult offspring to postnatal Schistosoma mansoni infection.
AB  - Schistosoma mansoni antigens in the early life alter homologous and heterologous
      immunity during postnatal infections. We evaluate the immunity to parasite
      antigens and ovalbumin (OA) in adult mice born/suckled by schistosomotic mothers.
      Newborns were divided into: born (BIM), suckled (SIM) or born/suckled (BSIM) in
      schistosomotic mothers, and animals from noninfected mothers (control). When
      adults, the mice were infected and compared the hepatic granuloma size and
      cellularity. Some animals were OA + adjuvant immunised. We evaluated
      hypersensitivity reactions (HR), antibodies levels (IgG1/IgG2a) anti-soluble egg
      antigen and anti-soluble worm antigen preparation, and anti-OA, cytokine
      production, and CD4+FoxP3+T-cells by splenocytes. Compared to control group, BIM
      mice showed a greater quantity of granulomas and collagen deposition, whereas SIM
      and BSIM presented smaller granulomas. BSIM group exhibited the lowest levels of
      anti-parasite antibodies. For anti-OA immunity, immediate HR was suppressed in
      all groups, with greater intensity in SIM mice accompanied of the remarkable
      level of basal CD4+FoxP3+T-cells. BIM and SIM groups produced less interleukin
      (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-g. In BSIM, there was higher production of IL-10 and
      IFN-g, but lower levels of IL-4 and CD4+FoxP3+T-cells. Thus, pregnancy in
      schistosomotic mothers intensified hepatic fibrosis, whereas breastfeeding
      diminished granulomas in descendants. Separately, pregnancy and breastfeeding
      could suppress heterologous immunity; however, when combined, the responses could
      be partially restored in infected descendants. 

PMID- 26872340
TI  - Bonafide, type-specific human papillomavirus persistence among HIV-positive
      pregnant women: predictive value for cytological abnormalities, a longitudinal
      cohort study.
AB  - This study investigated the rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence,
      associated risk factors, and predictors of cytological alteration outcomes in a
      cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women over an 18-month
      period. HPV was typed through L1 gene sequencing in cervical smears collected
      during gestation and at 12 months after delivery. Outcomes were defined as
      nonpersistence (clearance of the HPV in the 2nd sample), re-infection (detection
      of different types of HPV in the 2 samples), and type-specific HPV persistence
      (the same HPV type found in both samples). An unfavourable cytological outcome
      was considered when the second exam showed progression to squamous
      intraepithelial lesion or high squamous intraepithelial lesion. Ninety patients
      were studied. HPV DNA persistence occurred in 50% of the cases composed of type
      specific persistence (30%) or re-infection (20%). A low CD4+T-cell count at entry
      was a risk factor for type-specific, re-infection, or HPV DNA persistence. The
      odds ratio (OR) was almost three times higher in the type-specific group when
      compared with the re-infection group (OR = 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 0.43
      22.79). Our findings show that bonafide (type-specific) HPV persistence is a
      stronger predictor for the development of cytological abnormalities, highlighting
      the need for HPV typing as opposed to HPV DNA testing in the clinical setting. 

PMID- 26872341
TI  - Vitamin D status in a Brazilian cohort of adolescents and young adults with
      perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection.
AB  - The purpose was to determine the prevalence and related factors of vitamin D
      (VitD) insufficiency in adolescents and young adults with perinatally acquired
      human immunodeficiency virus. A cohort of 65 patients (17.6 +/- 2 years) at the
      Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were examined for pubertal
      development, nutrition, serum parathormone and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
      [s25(OH)D]. s25(OH)D levels < 30 ng/mL (< 75 nmol/L) were defined as VitD
      insufficiency. CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load, history of worst clinical
      status, immunologic status as nadir, current immunologic status, and
      antiretroviral (ART) regimen were also evaluated as risk factors for VitD
      insufficiency. Mean s25(OH)D was 37.7 +/- 13.9 ng/mL and 29.2% had VitD
      insufficiency. There was no difference between VitD status and gender, age,
      nutritional status, clinical and immunological classification, and type of ART.
      Only VitD consumption showed tendency of association with s25(OH)D (p = 0.064).
      Individuals analysed in summer/autumn season had a higher s25(OH)D compared to
      the ones analysed in winter/spring (42.6 +/- 14.9 vs. 34.0 +/- 11.9, p = 0.011).
      Although, the frequency of VitD insufficiency did not differ statistically
      between the groups (summer/autumn 17.9% vs. winter/spring 37.8%, p = 0.102), we
      suggest to monitor s25(OH)D in seropositive adolescents and young adults,
      especially during winter/spring months, even in sunny regions. 

PMID- 26872342
TI  - An in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction: standardisation and comparison
      with the Cobas Amplicor HBV monitor and Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV tests
      for the quantification of hepatitis B virus DNA.
AB  - This study aimed to standardise an in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction
      (rtPCR) to allow quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum or plasma
      samples, and to compare this method with two commercial assays, the Cobas
      Amplicor HBV monitor and the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test. Samples from
      397 patients from the state of Sao Paulo were analysed by all three methods.
      Fifty-two samples were from patients who were human immunodeficiency virus and
      hepatitis C virus positive, but HBV negative. Genotypes were characterised, and
      the viral load was measure in each sample. The in-house rtPCR showed an excellent
      success rate compared with commercial tests; inter-assay and intra-assay
      coefficients correlated with commercial tests (r = 0.96 and r = 0.913, p < 0.001)
      and the in-house test showed no genotype-dependent differences in detection and
      quantification rates. The in-house assay tested in this study could be used for
      screening and quantifying HBV DNA in order to monitor patients during therapy. 

PMID- 26872343
TI  - Whole genome sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae U25, a hypermucoviscous, multidrug
      resistant, biofilm producing isolate from India.
AB  - Klebsiella pneumoniae U25 is a multidrug resistant strain isolated from a
      tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Here, we report the complete annotated
      genome sequence of strain U25 obtained using PacBio RSII. This is the first
      report of the whole genome of K. pneumoniaespecies from Chennai. It consists of a
      single circular chromosome of size 5,491,870-bp and two plasmids of size 211,813
      and 172,619-bp. The genes associated with multidrug resistance were identified.
      The chromosome of U25 was found to have eight antibiotic resistant genes [blaOXA
      1,blaSHV-28, aac(6')1b-cr,catB3, oqxAB, dfrA1]. The plasmid pMGRU25-001 was found
      to have only one resistant gene (catA1) while plasmid pMGRU25-002 had 20
      resistant genes [strAB, aadA1,aac(6')-Ib, aac(3)-IId,sul1,2, blaTEM-1A,1B,blaOXA
      9, blaCTX-M-15,blaSHV-11, cmlA1, erm(B),mph(A)]. A mutation in the porin OmpK36
      was identified which is likely to be associated with the intermediate resistance
      to carbapenems in the absence of carbapenemase genes. U25 is one of the few K.
      pneumoniaestrains to harbour clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic
      repeats (CRISPR) systems. Two CRISPR arrays corresponding to Cas3 family helicase
      were identified in the genome. When compared to K. pneumoniaeNTUHK2044, a
      transposase gene InsH of IS5-13 was found inserted. 

PMID- 26872344
TI  - Adaptive coding of the value of social cues with oxytocin, an fMRI study in
      autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is one of the major targets of research in
      neuroscience, with respect to social functioning. Oxytocin promotes social skills
      and improves the quality of face processing in individuals with social
      dysfunctions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although one of OT's key
      functions is to promote social behavior during dynamic social interactions, the
      neural correlates of this function remain unknown. Here, we combined acute
      intranasal OT (IN-OT) administration (24 IU) and fMRI with an interactive ball
      game and a face-matching task in individuals with ASD (N = 20). We found that IN
      OT selectively enhanced the brain activity of early visual areas in response to
      faces as compared to non-social stimuli. OT inhalation modulated the BOLD
      activity of amygdala and hippocampus in a context-dependent manner.
      Interestingly, IN-OT intake enhanced the activity of mid-orbitofrontal cortex in
      response to a fair partner, and insula region in response to an unfair partner.
      These OT-induced neural responses were accompanied by behavioral improvements in
      terms of allocating appropriate feelings of trust toward different partners'
      profiles. Our findings suggest that OT impacts the brain activity of key areas
      implicated in attention and emotion regulation in an adaptive manner, based on
      the value of social cues.

PMID- 26872345
TI  - Cell resistant zwitterionic polyelectrolyte coating promotes bacterial
      attachment: an adhesion contradiction.
AB  - Polymers of various architectures with zwitterionic functionality have recently
      been shown to effectively suppress nonspecific fouling of surfaces by proteins
      and prokaryotic (bacteria) or eukaryotic (mammalian) cells as well as other
      microorganisms and environmental contaminants. In this work, zwitterionic
      copolymers were used to make thin coatings on substrates with the layer-by-layer
      method. Polyelectrolyte multilayers, PEMUs, were built with [poly(allylamine
      hydrochloride)], PAH, and copolymers of acrylic acid and either the AEDAPS
      zwitterionic group 3-[2-(acrylamido)-ethyldimethyl ammonio] propane sulfonate
      (PAA-co-AEDAPS), or benzophenone (PAABp). Benzophenone allowed the PEMU to be
      toughened by photocrosslinking post-deposition. The attachment of two mammalian
      cell lines, rat aortic smooth muscle (A7r5) and mouse fibroblasts (3T3), and the
      biofilm-forming Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli was studied on PEMUs
      terminated with PAA-co-AEDAPS. Consistent with earlier studies, it is shown that
      PAH/PAA-co-AEDAPS PEMUs resist the adhesion of mammalian cells, but, contrary to
      our initial hypothesis, are bacterial adhesive and significantly so after
      maximizing the surface presentation of PAA-co-AEDAPS. This unexpected contrast in
      the adhesive behavior of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is explained by
      differences in adhesion mechanisms as well as different responses to the topology
      and morphology of the multilayer surface. 

PMID- 26872346
TI  - Kidney Function and Cognitive Impairment in People Aged 80 Years and Over with
      Untreated Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Both kidney dysfunction and cognitive impairment are common
      problems in hypertensive patients. However, few studies have explored the
      association between these conditions in hypertensive patients aged 80 or over.
      The current study was undertaken to determine the impact of chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on cognitive
      impairment among an 80-year-old population with untreated hypertension in China.
      METHODS: A total of 395 hypertensive patients aged 80 or over were assessed for
      the presence of cognitive impairment according to the 30-item Mini-Mental State
      Examination (MMSE). Cognitive impairment was defined as a score below 24 on MMSE.
      eGFR was evaluated using the Chinese Modification of Diet in Renal Disease
      equation. CKD was defined according to categorical approach, which is based on
      "YES" (eGFR below 60 ml/min) or "NO" (eGFR above 60 ml/min). RESULTS: The mean
      (SD) age was 83.0 +/- 2.6 years for the sample, of whom 69.8% were female. There
      were 59 (14.9%) and 280 (71.1%) prevalent cases of CKD and cognitive impairment,
      respectively. CKD patients were older, had higher scores on Activity of Daily
      Living (ADL), and lower score on MMSE. After controlling for potential
      confounding, multiple logistic regressions demonstrated that both CKD and eGFR
      were associated with cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients aged 80 or
      over. CONCLUSION: Our study found that both CKD and eGFR were associated with
      cognitive impairment among hypertensive patients aged 80 or over in China.
      Therefore, targeted screening for cognitive impairment should be considered in
      these patients with CKD.

PMID- 26872347
TI  - Identification of Soil Microbes Capable of Utilizing Cellobiosan.
AB  - Approximately 100 million tons of anhydrosugars, such as levoglucosan and
      cellobiosan, are produced through biomass burning every year. These sugars are
      also produced through fast pyrolysis, the controlled thermal depolymerization of
      biomass. While the microbial pathways associated with levoglucosan utilization
      have been characterized, there is little known about cellobiosan utilization.
      Here we describe the isolation and characterization of six cellobiosan-utilizing
      microbes from soil samples. Each of these organisms is capable of using both
      cellobiosan and levoglucosan as sole carbon source, though both minimal and rich
      media cellobiosan supported significantly higher biomass production than
      levoglucosan. Ribosomal sequencing was used to identify the closest reported
      match for these organisms: Sphingobacterium multivorum, Acinetobacter oleivorans
      JC3-1, Enterobacter sp SJZ-6, and Microbacterium sps FXJ8.207 and 203 and a
      fungal species Cryptococcus sp. The commercially-acquired Enterobacter cloacae
      DSM 16657 showed growth on levoglucosan and cellobiosan, supporting our isolate
      identification. Analysis of an existing database of 16S rRNA amplicons from Iowa
      soil samples confirmed the representation of our five bacterial isolates and four
      previously-reported levoglucosan-utilizing bacterial isolates in other soil
      samples and provided insight into their population distributions. Phylogenetic
      analysis of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA of strains previously reported to utilize
      levoglucosan and our newfound isolates showed that the organisms isolated in this
      study are distinct from previously described anhydrosugar-utilizing microbial
      species. 

PMID- 26872348
TI  - Age- and Sex-Dependency of Laser Speckle Flowgraphy Measurements of Optic Nerve
      Vessel Microcirculation.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between various characteristics of a
      normal population and laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) measurements of mean blur
      rate (MBR) in the optic nerve head (ONH). METHODS: A total of 189 eyes of 189
      normal subjects (93 male, 96 female, mean age 45 +/- 14 years old, age range: 20
      72) without any history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes were
      enrolled. ONH microcirculation was measured with LSFG and overall MBR (MA),
      vessel-area MBR (MV), and tissue-area MBR (MT) were derived from these
      measurements. The statistical association of these measurements with
      characteristics such as sex, age, intraocular pressure (IOP) and systolic blood
      pressure (SBP) was then determined. RESULTS: There was a trend towards decreased
      IOP and MV and increased SBP with age (P = 0.002, P = 0.035, and P = 0.006,
      respectively). Furthermore, IOP, MV and SBP were correlated with age (r = -0.23,
      P = 0.011; r = -0.24, P < 0.001; and r = 0.30, P < 0.001, respectively). Separate
      multiple regression analyses of independent contributing factors revealed that
      sex and IOP contributed to MA (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively), sex, IOP,
      and age contributed to MV (P < 0.001, P = 0.003, and P = 0.024, respectively),
      while only IOP contributed to MT (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In a normal population,
      MBR was affected by IOP in both the large vessel and capillary areas of the ONH,
      but not by SBP. MV was also affected by age and sex, while MT was stable
      independent of age or sex.

PMID- 26872350
TI  - Cortical Gyrification Patterns Associated with Trait Anxiety.
AB  - Dispositional anxiety is a stable personality trait that is a key risk factor for
      internalizing disorders, and understanding the neural correlates of trait anxiety
      may help us better understand the development of these disorders. Abnormal
      cortical folding is thought to reflect differences in cortical connectivity
      occurring during brain development. Therefore, assessing gyrification may advance
      understanding of cortical development and organization associated with trait
      anxiety. Previous literature has revealed structural abnormalities in trait
      anxiety and related disorders, but no study to our knowledge has examined
      gyrification in trait anxiety. We utilized a relatively novel measure, the local
      gyrification index (LGI), to explore differences in gyrification as a function of
      trait anxiety. We obtained structural MRI scans using a 3T magnetic resonance
      scanner on 113 young adults. Results indicated a negative correlation between
      trait anxiety and LGI in the left superior parietal cortex, specifically the
      precuneus, reflecting less cortical complexity among those high on trait anxiety.
      Our findings suggest that aberrations in cortical gyrification in a key region of
      the default mode network is a correlate of trait anxiety and may reflect
      disrupted local parietal connectivity. 

PMID- 26872349
TI  - Electroencephalographic Fractal Dimension in Healthy Ageing and Alzheimer's
      Disease.
AB  - Brain activity is complex; a reflection of its structural and functional
      organization. Among other measures of complexity, the fractal dimension is
      emerging as being sensitive to neuronal damage secondary to neurological and
      psychiatric diseases. Here, we calculated Higuchi's fractal dimension (HFD) in
      resting-state eyes-closed electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 41 healthy
      controls (age: 20-89 years) and 67 Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients (age: 50-88
      years), to investigate whether HFD is sensitive to brain activity changes typical
      in healthy aging and in AD. Additionally, we considered whether AD-accelerating
      effects of the copper fraction not bound to ceruloplasmin (also called "free"
      copper) are reflected in HFD fluctuations. The HFD measure showed an inverted U
      shaped relationship with age in healthy people (R2 = .575, p < .001). Onset of
      HFD decline appeared around the age of 60, and was most evident in central
      parietal regions. In this region, HFD decreased with aging stronger in the right
      than in the left hemisphere (p = .006). AD patients demonstrated reduced HFD
      compared to age- and education-matched healthy controls, especially in temporal
      occipital regions. This was associated with decreasing cognitive status as
      assessed by mini-mental state examination, and with higher levels of non
      ceruloplasmin copper. Taken together, our findings show that resting-state EEG
      complexity increases from youth to maturity and declines in healthy, aging
      individuals. In AD, brain activity complexity is further reduced in correlation
      with cognitive impairment. In addition, elevated levels of non-ceruloplasmin
      copper appear to accelerate the reduction of neural activity complexity. Overall,
      HDF appears to be a proper indicator for monitoring EEG-derived brain activity
      complexity in healthy and pathological aging. 

PMID- 26872351
TI  - Age Related Bioenergetics Profiles in Isolated Rat Cardiomyocytes Using
      Extracellular Flux Analyses.
AB  - Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly recognized and studied as a mediator of
      heart disease. Extracellular flux analysis (XF) has emerged as a powerful tool to
      investigate cellular bioenergetics in the context of cardiac health and disease,
      however its use and interpretation requires improved understanding of the normal
      metabolic differences in cardiomyocytes (CM) at various stages of maturation.
      This study standardized XF analyses methods (mitochondrial stress test,
      glycolytic stress test and palmitate oxidation test) and established age related
      differences in bioenergetics profiles of healthy CMs at newborn (NB1), weaning
      (3WK), adult (10WK) and aged (12-18MO) time points. Findings show that immature
      CMs demonstrate a more robust and sustained glycolytic capacity and a relative
      inability to oxidize fatty acids when compared to older CMs. The study also
      highlights the need to recognize the contribution of CO2 from the Krebs cycle as
      well as lactate from anaerobic glycolysis to the proton production rate before
      interpreting glycolytic capacity in CMs. Overall, this study demonstrates that
      caution should be taken to assure that translatable developmental time points are
      used to investigate mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of cardiac disease.
      Specifically, XF analysis of newborn CMs should be reserved to study
      fetal/neonatal disease and older CMs (>=10 weeks) should be used to investigate
      adult disease pathogenesis. Knowledge gained will aid in improved investigation
      of developmentally programmed heart disease and stress the importance of
      discerning maturational differences in bioenergetics when developing
      mitochondrial targeted preventative and therapeutic strategies for cardiac
      disease. 

PMID- 26872353
TI  - Quality of Health Management Information System for Maternal & Child Health Care
      in Haryana State, India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite increasing importance being laid on use of routine data for
      decision making in India, it has frequently been reported to be riddled with
      problems. Evidence suggests lack of quality in the health management information
      system (HMIS), however there is no robust analysis to assess the extent of its
      inaccuracy. We aim to bridge this gap in evidence by assessing the extent of
      completeness and quality of HMIS in Haryana state of India. METHODS: Data on
      utilization of key maternal and child health (MCH) services were collected using
      a cross-sectional household survey from 4807 women in 209 Sub-Centre (SC) areas
      across all 21 districts of Haryana state. Information for same services was also
      recorded from HMIS records maintained by auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) at SCs
      to check under- or over-recording (Level 1 discordance). Data on utilisation of
      MCH services from SC ANM records, for a subset of the total women covered in the
      household survey, were also collected and compared with monthly reports submitted
      by ANMs to assess over-reporting while report preparation (Level 2 discordance)
      to paint the complete picture for quality and completeness of routine HMIS.
      RESULTS: Completeness of ANM records for various MCH services ranged from 73% for
      DPT1 vaccination dates to 94.6% for dates of delivery. Average completeness level
      for information recorded in HMIS was 88.5%. Extent of Level 1 discordance for
      iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation, 3 or more ante-natal care (ANC) visits and
      2 Tetanus toxoid (TT) injections was 41%, 16% and 2% respectively. In 48.2%
      cases, respondents from community as well as HMIS records reported at least one
      post-natal care (PNC) home visit by ANM. Extent of Level 2 discordance ranged
      from 1.6% to 6%. These figures were highest for number of women who completed IFA
      supplementation, contraceptive intra-uterine device insertion and provision of
      2nd TT injection during ANC. CONCLUSIONS: HMIS records for MCH services at sub
      centre level in Haryana state were satisfactory in terms of completeness.
      However, there were significant differences in terms of reported and evaluated
      coverage of MCH services. Quality of HMIS needs to be improved in order to make
      it relevant for public health program planning and research.

PMID- 26872352
TI  - RecG Directs DNA Synthesis during Double-Strand Break Repair.
AB  - Homologous recombination provides a mechanism of DNA double-strand break repair
      (DSBR) that requires an intact, homologous template for DNA synthesis. When DNA
      synthesis associated with DSBR is convergent, the broken DNA strands are replaced
      and repair is accurate. However, if divergent DNA synthesis is established, over
      replication of flanking DNA may occur with deleterious consequences. The RecG
      protein of Escherichia coli is a helicase and translocase that can re-model 3-way
      and 4-way DNA structures such as replication forks and Holliday junctions.
      However, the primary role of RecG in live cells has remained elusive. Here we
      show that, in the absence of RecG, attempted DSBR is accompanied by divergent DNA
      replication at the site of an induced chromosomal DNA double-strand break.
      Furthermore, DNA double-stand ends are generated in a recG mutant at sites known
      to block replication forks. These double-strand ends, also trigger DSBR and the
      divergent DNA replication characteristic of this mutant, which can explain over
      replication of the terminus region of the chromosome. The loss of DNA associated
      with unwinding joint molecules previously observed in the absence of RuvAB and
      RecG, is suppressed by a helicase deficient PriA mutation (priA300), arguing that
      the action of RecG ensures that PriA is bound correctly on D-loops to direct DNA
      replication rather than to unwind joint molecules. This has led us to put forward
      a revised model of homologous recombination in which the re-modelling of branched
      intermediates by RecG plays a fundamental role in directing DNA synthesis and
      thus maintaining genomic stability. 

PMID- 26872354
TI  - Multiple Mating, Paternity and Complex Fertilisation Patterns in the Chokka Squid
      Loligo reynaudii.
AB  - Polyandry is widespread and influences patterns of sexual selection, with
      implications for sexual conflict over mating. Assessing sperm precedence patterns
      is a first step towards understanding sperm competition within a female and
      elucidating the roles of male- and female-controlled factors. In this study
      behavioural field data and genetic data were combined to investigate polyandry in
      the chokka squid Loligo reynaudii. Microsatellite DNA-based paternity analysis
      revealed multiple paternity to be the norm, with 79% of broods sired by at least
      two males. Genetic data also determined that the male who was guarding the female
      at the moment of sampling was a sire in 81% of the families tested, highlighting
      mate guarding as a successful male tactic with postcopulatory benefits linked to
      sperm deposition site giving privileged access to extruded egg strings. As
      females lay multiple eggs in capsules (egg strings) wherein their position is not
      altered during maturation it is possible to describe the spatial / temporal
      sequence of fertilisation / sperm precedence There were four different patterns
      of fertilisation found among the tested egg strings: 1) unique sire; 2) dominant
      sire, with one or more rare sires; 3) randomly mixed paternity (two or more
      sires); and 4) a distinct switch in paternity occurring along the egg string. The
      latter pattern cannot be explained by a random use of stored sperm, and suggests
      postcopulatory female sperm choice. Collectively the data indicate multiple
      levels of male- and female-controlled influences on sperm precedence, and
      highlights squid as interesting models to study the interplay between sexual and
      natural selection. 

PMID- 26872355
TI  - Protein-energy malnutrition is frequent and precocious in children with cri du
      chat syndrome.
AB  - Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is poorly reported in cri du chat syndrome
      (CDCS) (OMIM #123450), a genetic disease that causes developmental delay and
      global growth retardation. The objective was to determine the nutritional status
      at different ages in children with CDCS and factors associated with PEM. A
      questionnaire focused on growth and nutritional care was sent to 190 families.
      Among 36 analyzable questionnaires, growth and nutritional indices compatible
      with PEM occurred in 47% of patients: 19% before 6 months of age, 24% between 6
      12 months and 34% after 12 months. Eight patients received enteral feeding.
      Speech therapy for swallowing education was performed more often in malnourished
      children (63% vs. 22%, P < 0.02). PEM is frequent and occurs early in this
      disease, requiring closed nutritional monitoring.

PMID- 26872356
TI  - Migration of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt into a Hernia Sac: An Unusual
      Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery in Children.
AB  - We report 2 cases of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt migration into an inguinal
      hernia sac. In both cases hernia manifested itself on the right side in late
      infancy. We attempted to analyse the anatomical and mechanical factors leading to
      shunt migration as seen in the X-rays of our cases. 

PMID- 26872357
TI  - Correction: Application and Revision of Montreal Cognitive Assessment in China's
      Military Retirees with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

PMID- 26872359
TI  - How Copper Nanowires Grow and How To Control Their Properties.
AB  - Scalable, solution-phase nanostructure synthesis has the promise to produce a
      wide variety of nanomaterials with novel properties at a cost that is low enough
      for these materials to be used to solve problems. For example, solution
      synthesized metal nanowires are now being used to make low cost, flexible
      transparent electrodes in touch screens, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs),
      and solar cells. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of solution
      phase syntheses that enable control over the assembly of atoms into nanowires in
      the last 15 years, but proposed mechanisms for nanowire formation are usually
      qualitative, and for many syntheses there is little consensus as to how nanowires
      form. It is often not clear what species is adding to a nanowire growing in
      solution or what mechanistic step limits its rate of growth. A deeper
      understanding of nanowire growth is important for efficiently directing the
      development of nanowire synthesis toward producing a wide variety of
      nanostructure morphologies for structure-property studies or producing precisely
      defined nanostructures for a specific application. This Account reviews our
      progress over the last five years toward understanding how copper nanowires form
      in solution, how to direct their growth into nanowires with dimensions ideally
      suited for use in transparent conducting films, and how to use copper nanowires
      as a template to grow core-shell nanowires. The key advance enabling a better
      understanding of copper nanowire growth is the first real-time visualization of
      nanowire growth in solution, enabling the acquisition of nanowire growth
      kinetics. By measuring the growth rate of individual nanowires as a function of
      concentration of the reactants and temperature, we show that a growing copper
      nanowire can be thought of as a microelectrode that is charged with electrons by
      hydrazine and grows through the diffusion-limited addition of Cu(OH)2(-). This
      deeper mechanistic understanding, coupled to an understanding of the structure
      property relationship of nanowires in transparent conducting films, enabled the
      production of copper nanowires that can be coated from solution to make films
      with properties that rival the dominant transparent conductor, indium tin oxide.
      Finally, we show how copper nanowires can be coated with Zn, Sn, In, Ni, Co, Ag,
      Au, and Pt to protect them from oxidation or enable their use as transparent
      electrocatalysts. 

PMID- 26872358
TI  - A Rapid and Low-Cost PCR Thermal Cycler for Infectious Disease Diagnostics.
AB  - The ability to make rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases broadly available in a
      portable, low-cost format would mark a great step forward in global health. Many
      molecular diagnostic assays are developed based on using thermal cyclers to carry
      out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcription PCR for DNA and RNA
      amplification and detection, respectively. Unfortunately, most commercial thermal
      cyclers are expensive and need continuous electrical power supply, so they are
      not suitable for uses in low-resource settings. We have previously reported a low
      cost and simple approach to amplify DNA using vacuum insulated stainless steel
      thermoses food cans, which we have named it thermos thermal cycler or TTC. Here,
      we describe the use of an improved set up to enable the detection of viral RNA
      targets by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), thus expanding the TTC's ability
      to identify highly infectious, RNA virus-based diseases in low resource settings.
      The TTC was successful in demonstrating high-speed and sensitive detection of DNA
      or RNA targets of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, Ebola hemorrhagic
      fever, and dengue fever. Our innovative TTC costs less than $200 to build and has
      a capacity of at least eight tubes. In terms of speed, the TTC's performance
      exceeded that of commercial thermal cyclers tested. When coupled with low-cost
      endpoint detection technologies such as nucleic acid lateral-flow assay or a cell
      phone-based fluorescence detector, the TTC will increase the availability of on
      site molecular diagnostics in low-resource settings. 

PMID- 26872360
TI  - Temporal Gene Expression Analysis and RNA Silencing of Single and Multiple
      Members of Gene Family in the Lone Star Tick Amblyomma americanum.
AB  - Saliva is an integral factor in the feeding success of veterinary and medically
      important ticks. Therefore, the characterization of the proteins present in tick
      saliva is an important area of tick research. Here, we confirmed previously
      generated sialotranscriptome data using quantitative real-time PCR. The
      information obtained in this in-depth study of gene expression was used to
      measure the effects of metalloprotease gene silencing on tick feeding. We
      analyzed the temporal expression of seven housekeeping genes and 44
      differentially expressed salivary molecules selected from a previously published
      Amblyomma americanum sialotranscriptome. Separate reference genes were selected
      for the salivary glands and midgut from among the seven housekeeping genes, to
      normalize the transcriptional expression of differentially expressed genes. The
      salivary gland reference gene, ubiquitin, was used to normalize the expression of
      44 salivary genes. Unsurprisingly, each gene family was expressed throughout the
      blood meal, but the expression of specific genes differed at each time point. To
      further clarify the complex nature of the many proteins found in the saliva, we
      disrupted the translation of several members of the metalloprotease family.
      Intriguingly, the nucleotide sequence similarity of the reprolysin
      metalloprotease gene family is so homologous that a single synthesized dsRNA
      sequence knocked down multiple members of the family. The use of multigene
      knockdown yielded a more significant picture of the role of metalloproteases in
      tick feeding success, and changes were observed in the female engorgement weight
      and larval hatching success. Interestingly, the depletion of metalloprotease
      transcripts also reduced the total number of bacteria present in the salivary
      glands. These data provide insight into the expression and functions of tick
      salivary proteins expressed while feeding on its host. 

PMID- 26872361
TI  - Comparison of Active Drug Concentrations in the Pulmonary Epithelial Lining Fluid
      and Interstitial Fluid of Calves Injected with Enrofloxacin, Florfenicol,
      Ceftiofur, or Tulathromycin.
AB  - Bacterial pneumonia is the most common reason for parenteral antimicrobial
      administration to beef cattle in the United States. Yet there is little
      information describing the antimicrobial concentrations at the site of action.
      The objective of this study was to compare the active drug concentrations in the
      pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and interstitial fluid of four antimicrobials
      commonly used in cattle. After injection, plasma, interstitial fluid, and
      pulmonary epithelial lining fluid concentrations and protein binding were
      measured to determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of each drug. A cross-over
      design with six calves per drug was used. Following sample collection and drug
      analysis, pharmacokinetic calculations were performed. For enrofloxacin and
      metabolite ciprofloxacin, the interstitial fluid concentration was 52% and 78% of
      the plasma concentration, while pulmonary fluid concentrations was 24% and 40% of
      the plasma concentration, respectively. The pulmonary concentrations
      (enrofloxacin + ciprofloxacin combined) exceeded the MIC90 of 0.06 MUg/mL at 48
      hours after administration. For florfenicol, the interstitial fluid concentration
      was almost 98% of the plasma concentration, and the pulmonary concentrations were
      over 200% of the plasma concentrations, exceeding the breakpoint (<= 2 MUg/mL),
      and the MIC90 for Mannheimia haemolytica (1.0 MUg/mL) for the duration of the
      study. For ceftiofur, penetration to the interstitial fluid was only 5% of the
      plasma concentration. Pulmonary epithelial lining fluid concentration represented
      40% of the plasma concentration. Airway concentrations exceeded the MIC
      breakpoint for susceptible respiratory pathogens (<= 2 MUg/mL) for a short time
      at 48 hours after administration. The plasma and interstitial fluid
      concentrations of tulathromcyin were lower than the concentrations in pulmonary
      fluid throughout the study. The bronchial concentrations were higher than the
      plasma or interstitial concentrations, with over 900% penetration to the airways.
      Despite high diffusion into the bronchi, the tulathromycin concentrations
      achieved were lower than the MIC of susceptible bacteria at most time points. 

PMID- 26872362
TI  - Identifying Stable Reference Genes for qRT-PCR Normalisation in Gene Expression
      Studies of Narrow-Leafed Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.).
AB  - Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is currently one of the most
      popular, high-throughput and sensitive technologies available for quantifying
      gene expression. Its accurate application depends heavily upon normalisation of
      gene-of-interest data with reference genes that are uniformly expressed under
      experimental conditions. The aim of this study was to provide the first
      validation of reference genes for Lupinus angustifolius (narrow-leafed lupin, a
      significant grain legume crop) using a selection of seven genes previously
      trialed as reference genes for the model legume, Medicago truncatula. In a
      preliminary evaluation, the seven candidate reference genes were assessed on the
      basis of primer specificity for their respective targeted region, PCR
      amplification efficiency, and ability to discriminate between cDNA and gDNA.
      Following this assessment, expression of the three most promising candidates
      [Ubiquitin C (UBC), Helicase (HEL), and Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein
      (PTB)] was evaluated using the NormFinder and RefFinder statistical algorithms in
      two narrow-leafed lupin lines, both with and without vernalisation treatment, and
      across seven organ types (cotyledons, stem, leaves, shoot apical meristem,
      flowers, pods and roots) encompassing three developmental stages. UBC was
      consistently identified as the most stable candidate and has sufficiently uniform
      expression that it may be used as a sole reference gene under the experimental
      conditions tested here. However, as organ type and developmental stage were
      associated with greater variability in relative expression, it is recommended
      using UBC and HEL as a pair to achieve optimal normalisation. These results
      highlight the importance of rigorously assessing candidate reference genes for
      each species across a diverse range of organs and developmental stages. With
      emerging technologies, such as RNAseq, and the completion of valuable
      transcriptome data sets, it is possible that other potentially more suitable
      reference genes will be identified for this species in future. 

PMID- 26872363
TI  - TOPORS, a Dual E3 Ubiquitin and Sumo1 Ligase, Interacts with 26 S Protease
      Regulatory Subunit 4, Encoded by the PSMC1 Gene.
AB  - The significance of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) for protein degradation
      has been highlighted in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, including
      retinal dystrophies. TOPORS, a dual E3 ubiquitin and SUMO1 ligase, forms a
      component of the UPS and selected substrates for its enzymatic activities, such
      as DJ-1/PARK7 and APOBEC2, are important for neuronal as well as retinal
      homeostasis, respectively. TOPORS is ubiquitously expressed, yet its mutations
      are only known to result in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. We performed
      a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen of a human retinal cDNA library in order to
      identify interacting protein partners of TOPORS from the retina, and thus begin
      delineating the putative disease mechanism(s) associated with the retina-specific
      phenotype resulting from mutations in TOPORS. The screen led to isolation of the
      26 S protease regulatory subunit 4 (P26s4/ PSMC1), an ATPase indispensable for
      correct functioning of UPS-mediated proteostasis. The interaction between
      endogenous TOPORS and P26s4 proteins was validated by co-immuno-precipitation
      from mammalian cell extracts and further characterised by immunofluorescent co
      localisation studies in cell lines and retinal sections. Findings from hTERT-RPE1
      and 661W cells demonstrated that TOPORS and P26s4 co-localise at the centrosome
      in cultured cells. Immunofluorescent staining of mouse retinae revealed a strong
      P26s4 reactivity at the interface between retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)
      layer and the photoreceptors outer segments (OS). This finding leads us to
      speculate that P26s4, along with TOPORS, may have a role(s) in RPE phagocytosis,
      in addition to contributing to the overall photoreceptor and retinal homeostasis
      via the UPS. 

PMID- 26872364
TI  - Holistic Evaluation of Quality Consistency of Ixeris sonchifolia (Bunge) Hance
      Injectables by Quantitative Fingerprinting in Combination with Antioxidant
      Activity and Chemometric Methods.
AB  - A widely used herbal medicine, Ixeris sonchifolia (Bge.) Hance Injectable (ISHI)
      was investigated for quality consistency. Characteristic fingerprints of 23
      batches of the ISHI samples were generated at five wavelengths and evaluated by
      the systematic quantitative fingerprint method (SQFM) as well as simultaneous
      analysis of the content of seven marker compounds. Chemometric methods, i.e.,
      support vector machine (SVM) and principal component analysis (PCA) were
      performed to assist in fingerprint evaluation of the ISHI samples. Qualitative
      classification of the ISHI samples by SVM was consistent with PCA, and in
      agreement with the quantitative evaluation by SQFM. In addition, the antioxidant
      activities of the ISHI samples were determined by both the off-line and on-line
      DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryldrazyl) radical scavenging assays. A fingerprint
      efficacy relationship linking the chemical components and in vitro antioxidant
      activity was established and validated using the partial least squares (PLS) and
      orthogonal projection to latent structures (OPLS) models; and the online DPPH
      assay further revealed those components that had position contribution to the
      total antioxidant activity. Therefore, the combined use of the chemometric
      methods, quantitative fingerprint evaluation by SQFM, and multiple marker
      compound analysis in conjunction with the assay of antioxidant activity provides
      a powerful and holistic approach to evaluate quality consistency of herbal
      medicines and their preparations. 

PMID- 26872365
TI  - MiR-214 Attenuates Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells via
      Targeting FGFR1.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is closely associated with reduction
      in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts.
      Previous studies have demonstrated that miR-214 plays an important role in the
      genesis and development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Here, we performed this
      study to investigate the potential mechanism by which miR-214 regulates
      osteoblast differentiation of MSCs. METHODS: First, we explored the expression of
      miR-214 in MSCs of osteoporotic mice. Next, we examined the change of miR-214
      during osteoblast differentiation of MSCs. Then, MSCs were infected with
      lentiviral vectors expressing miR-214 or miR-214 sponge to investigate the effect
      of miR-214 on osteoblast differentiation of MSCs. Further, bioinformatics
      analysis and luciferase reporter assay were performed to identify and validate
      the target gene of miR-214. RESULTS: MiR-214 was up-regulated in MSCs of
      osteoporotic mice and down-regulated during osteoblast differentiation of MSCs.
      Furthermore, overexpression of miR-214 inhibited osteoblast differentiation of
      MSCs in vitro, whereas inhibition of miR-214 function promoted this process,
      evidenced by increased expression of osteoblast-specific genes, alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP) activity, and matrix mineralization. Bioinformatics, Western
      blot analysis and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that FGFR1 is a direct
      target of miR-214. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-214 attenuates osteogenesis by inhibiting the
      FGFR1/FGF signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that targeting miR-214 promises
      to be a potential therapy in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

PMID- 26872366
TI  - Tapered-cuff Endotracheal Tube Does Not Prevent Early Postoperative Pneumonia
      Compared with Spherical-cuff Endotracheal Tube after Major Vascular Surgery: A
      Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing major vascular surgery often develop
      postoperative pneumonia that impacts their outcomes. Conflicting data exist
      concerning the potential benefit of tapered-shaped cuffs on tracheal sealing. The
      primary objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of a polyvinyl
      chloride tapered-cuff endotracheal tube at reducing the postoperative pneumonia
      rate after major vascular surgery. Secondary objectives were to determine its
      impact on microaspiration, ventilator-associated pneumonia rate, and inner cuff
      pressure. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study included 109
      patients who were randomly assigned to receive either spherical- (standard cuff)
      or taper-shaped (tapered cuff) endotracheal tubes inserted after anesthesia
      induction and then admitted to the intensive care unit after major vascular
      surgery. Cuff pressure was continuously recorded over 5 h. Pepsin and alpha
      amylase concentrations in tracheal aspirates were quantified on postoperative
      days 1 and 2. The primary outcome was the early postoperative pneumonia
      frequency. RESULTS: Comparing the tapered-cuff with standard-cuff group,
      respectively, postoperative pneumonia rates were comparable (42 vs. 44%, P =
      0.87) and the percentage (interquartile range) of cuff-pressure time with
      overinflation was significantly higher (16.1% [1.5 to 50] vs. 0.6% [0 to 8.3], P
      = 0.01), with a 2.5-fold higher coefficient of variation (20.2 [10.6 to 29.4] vs.
      7.6 [6.2 to 10.2], P < 0.001). Although microaspiration frequencies were high,
      they did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: For major vascular surgery
      patients, polyvinyl chloride tapered-cuff endotracheal tubes with intermittent
      cuff-pressure control did not lower the early postoperative pneumonia frequency
      and did not prevent microaspiration.

PMID- 26872367
TI  - Mechanical Power and Development of Ventilator-induced Lung Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The ventilator works mechanically on the lung parenchyma. The authors
      set out to obtain the proof of concept that ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)
      depends on the mechanical power applied to the lung. METHODS: Mechanical power
      was defined as the function of transpulmonary pressure, tidal volume (TV), and
      respiratory rate. Three piglets were ventilated with a mechanical power known to
      be lethal (TV, 38 ml/kg; plateau pressure, 27 cm H2O; and respiratory rate, 15
      breaths/min). Other groups (three piglets each) were ventilated with the same TV
      per kilogram and transpulmonary pressure but at the respiratory rates of 12, 9,
      6, and 3 breaths/min. The authors identified a mechanical power threshold for
      VILI and did nine additional experiments at the respiratory rate of 35
      breaths/min and mechanical power below (TV 11 ml/kg) and above (TV 22 ml/kg) the
      threshold. RESULTS: In the 15 experiments to detect the threshold for VILI, up to
      a mechanical power of approximately 12 J/min (respiratory rate, 9 breaths/min),
      the computed tomography scans showed mostly isolated densities, whereas at the
      mechanical power above approximately 12 J/min, all piglets developed whole-lung
      edema. In the nine confirmatory experiments, the five piglets ventilated above
      the power threshold developed VILI, but the four piglets ventilated below did
      not. By grouping all 24 piglets, the authors found a significant relationship
      between the mechanical power applied to the lung and the increase in lung weight
      (r = 0.41, P = 0.001) and lung elastance (r = 0.33, P < 0.01) and decrease in
      PaO2/FIO2 (r = 0.40, P < 0.001) at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: In piglets,
      VILI develops if a mechanical power threshold is exceeded.

PMID- 26872369
TI  - Upregulated TRIM29 promotes proliferation and metastasis of nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma via PTEN/AKT/mTOR signal pathway.
AB  - Tripartite motif-containing 29 (TRIM29) has been reported to be dysregulated in
      human cancers. Up-regulation of TRIM29 was first observed in NPC cell lines by a
      genome-wide transcriptome analysis in our previous study. However, its expression
      biological function and clinical significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
      remain unclear. In this study, TRIM29 expression was validated by qRT-PCR and
      immunohistochemistry in 69 NPC samples. Notably, TRIM29 protein expression was
      significantly and positively correlated with the tumor size, clinical stage and
      metastasis. TRIM29 was identified as the direct target of miR-335-5p and miR-15b
      5p, both of which were down-regulated and negatively associated with TRIM29
      expression in NPC cell lines and clinical samples. Ectopic TRIM29 expression
      promoted proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and
      invasion in NPC cells, while its depletion inhibited cell invasion and EMT
      phenotype. Mechanistically, TRIM29 overexpression reduced PTEN expression and
      increase phosphorylated protein level of AKT, p70S6K and 4E-BP1. Correspondingly,
      AKT inhibitor and Rapamycin blocked the effect of TRIM29 on cell invasion. In
      conclusion, our results suggest that miR-335-5p and miR-15b-5p down-regulation
      results in TRIM29 over-expression, which induces proliferation, EMT and
      metastasis of NPC through the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26872370
TI  - Single nucleotide polymorphism in the microRNA-199a binding site of HIF1A gene is
      associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk and worse clinical
      outcomes.
AB  - Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) is over-expressed in many cancers
      including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and correlated with poor
      prognosis. We aim to determine the effect of germline genetic variants on the
      regulation of the homeostasis of the miRNA-gene regulatory loop in HIF1A gene and
      PDAC risk. HIF1A rs2057482 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was genotyped in
      410 PDAC cases and 490 healthy controls. The CC genotype SNP HIF1A is
      significantly correlated with PDAC risk (OR = 1.719, 95% CI: 1.293-2.286) and
      shorter overall survival (OS, P<0.0001) compared with the CT/TT alleles group.
      The C/T variants of rs2057482, a SNP located near the miR-199a binding site in
      HIF1A, could lead to differential regulation of HIF1A by miR-199a. Specifically,
      the C allele of rs2057482 weakened miR-199a-induced repression of HIF-1alpha
      expression on both mRNA and protein levels. In the PDAC tissue, individuals with
      the rs2057482-CC genotype expressed significantly higher levels of HIF-1alpha
      protein than those with the rs2057482-CT/TT genotype (P<0.0001). Both the CC
      genotype of SNP HIF1A and increased HIF-1alpha expression are significantly
      associated with shorter OS of patients with PDAC. After adjusted by TNM staging,
      differentiation grade, and the levels of CA19-9, both SNP HIF1A and HIF-1alpha
      expression retained highly significance on OS (P<0.0001). Taken together, our
      study demonstrates that host genetic variants could disturb the regulation of the
      miR-199a/HIF1A regulatory loop and alter PDAC risk and poor prognosis. In
      conclusion, the rs2057482-CC genotype increases the susceptibility to PDAC and
      associated with cancer progression. 

PMID- 26872371
TI  - Competing endogenous RNA networks in human cancer: hypothesis, validation, and
      perspectives.
AB  - Non-coding RNAs represent a majority of the human transcriptome. However, less is
      known about the functions and regulatory mechanisms of most non-coding species.
      Moreover, little is known about the potential non-coding functions of coding
      RNAs. The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) hypothesis is proposed recently.
      This hypothesis describes potential communication networks among all transcript
      RNA species mediated by miRNAs and miRNA-recognizing elements (MREs) within RNA
      transcripts. Here we review the evolution of the ceRNA hypothesis, summarize the
      validation experiments and discusses the significance and perspectives of this
      hypothesis in human cancer. 

PMID- 26872368
TI  - Cell polarity signaling in the plasticity of cancer cell invasiveness.
AB  - Apico-basal polarity is typical of cells present in differentiated epithelium
      while front-rear polarity develops in motile cells. In cancer development, the
      transition from epithelial to migratory polarity may be seen as the hallmark of
      cancer progression to an invasive and metastatic disease. Despite the
      morphological and functional dissimilarity, both epithelial and migratory
      polarity are controlled by a common set of polarity complexes Par, Scribble and
      Crumbs, phosphoinositides, and small Rho GTPases Rac, Rho and Cdc42. In
      epithelial tissues, their mutual interplay ensures apico-basal and planar cell
      polarity. Accordingly, altered functions of these polarity determinants lead to
      disrupted cell-cell adhesions, cytoskeleton rearrangements and overall loss of
      epithelial homeostasis. Polarity proteins are further engaged in diverse
      interactions that promote the establishment of front-rear polarity, and they help
      cancer cells to adopt different invasion modes. Invading cancer cells can employ
      either the collective, mesenchymal or amoeboid invasion modes or actively switch
      between them and gain intermediate phenotypes. Elucidation of the role of
      polarity proteins during these invasion modes and the associated transitions is a
      necessary step towards understanding the complex problem of metastasis. In this
      review we summarize the current knowledge of the role of cell polarity signaling
      in the plasticity of cancer cell invasiveness. 

PMID- 26872372
TI  - Beyond evidence-based data: scientific rationale and tumor behavior to drive
      sequential and personalized therapeutic strategies for the treatment of
      metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - The recent advances in identification of the molecular mechanisms related to
      tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, along with the understanding of molecular
      alterations involved in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) pathogenesis, has allowed the
      development of several new drugs which have revolutionized the treatment of
      metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).This process has resulted in clinically
      significant improvements in median overall survival and an increasing number of
      patients undergoes two or even three lines of therapy. Therefore, it is necessary
      a long-term perspective of the treatment: planning a sequential and personalized
      therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcome, the potential to achieve long
      term response, and to preserve quality of life (QOL), minimizing treatment
      related toxicity and transforming mRCC into a chronically treatable
      condition.Because of the challenges still encountered to draw an optimal
      therapeutic sequence, the main focus of this article will be to propose the
      optimal sequencing of existing, approved, oral targeted agents for the treatment
      of mRCC using evidence-based data along with the knowledge available on the tumor
      behavior and mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic treatment to provide
      complementary information and to help the clinicians to maximize the
      effectiveness of targeted agents in the treatment of mRCC. 

PMID- 26872373
TI  - DARPP-32: from neurotransmission to cancer.
AB  - Dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein Mr 32,000 (DARPP-32), also known as
      phosphoprotein phosphatase-1 regulatory subunit 1B (PPP1R1B), was initially
      discovered as a substrate of dopamine-activated protein kinase A (PKA) in the
      neostriatum in the brain. While phosphorylation at Thr-34 by PKA converts DARPP
      32 into a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), phosphorylation at Thr
      75 transforms DARPP-32 into an inhibitor of PKA. Through regulation of DARPP-32
      phosphorylation and modulation of protein phosphatase and kinase activities,
      DARPP-32 plays a critical role in mediating the biochemical,
      electrophysiological, and behavioral effects controlled by dopamine and other
      neurotransmitters in response to drugs of abuse and psychostimulants. Altered
      expression of DARPP-32 and its truncated isoform (t-DARPP), specifically in the
      prefrontal cortex, has been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
      Moreover, cleavage of DARPP-32 by calpain has been implicated in Alzheimer's
      disease. Amplification of the genomic locus of DARPP-32 at 17q12 has been
      described in several cancers. DARPP-32 and t-DARPP are frequently overexpressed
      at the mRNA and protein levels in adenocarcinomas of the breast, prostate, colon,
      and stomach. Several studies demonstrated the pro-survival, pro-invasion, and pro
      angiogenic functions of DARPP-32 in cancer. Overexpression of DARPP-32 and t
      DARPP also promotes chemotherapeutic drug resistance and cell proliferation in
      gastric and breast cancers through regulation of pro-oncogenic signal
      transduction pathways. The expansion of DARPP-32 research from neurotransmission
      to cancer underscores the broad scope and implication of this protein in
      disparate human diseases. 

PMID- 26872374
TI  - Metastatic pathway-specific transcriptome analysis identifies MFSD4 as a putative
      tumor suppressor and biomarker for hepatic metastasis in patients with gastric
      cancer.
AB  - Gastric cancer (GC) with hepatic metastasis remains a fatal disease. Global
      expression profiling was conducted using tissues from patients who had GC with
      synchronous hepatic metastasis, and major facilitator superfamily domain
      containing 4 (MFSD4) was identified as a candidate biomarker for hepatic
      metastasis in GC. Functional and expression analyses of this molecule in GC cell
      lines and clinical samples were conducted. We analyzed MFSD4 expression, DNA
      methylation, and copy number. RNA interference experiments evaluated the effects
      of MFSD4 expression on cell phenotype and apoptosis. We analyzed tissues of 200
      patients with GC to assess the diagnostic performance of MFSD4 levels for
      predicting hepatic recurrence, metastasis, or both. Differential expression of
      MFSD4 mRNA by GC cell lines correlated positively with the levels of NUDT13 and
      OCLN mRNAs and inversely with those of BMP2. Hypermethylation of the MFSD4
      promoter was detected in cells with lower levels of MFSD4 mRNA. Inhibition of
      MFSD4 expression significantly increased the invasiveness and motility of GC
      cells but did not influence cell proliferation or apoptosis. MFSD4 mRNA levels in
      primary GC tissues were reduced in patients with concomitant hepatic metastasis
      or recurrence compared with those without. Low levels of MFSD4 mRNA in primary GC
      tissues were an independent risk factor of hepatic recurrence and metastasis.
      MFSD4 expression in gastric tissues may represent a useful biomarker for
      identification of patients at high risk for hepatic recurrence, metastasis, or
      both. 

PMID- 26872375
TI  - Regulation of laryngeal squamous cell cancer progression by the lncRNA H19/miR
      148a-3p/DNMT1 axis.
AB  - Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a highly aggressive malignant cancer.
      The regulation of LSCC progression by long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) was not well
      understood. In this study, we reported that the lncRNA H19 was upregulated in
      LSCC. The expression levels of H19 were inversely correlated with the survival
      rate of LSCC patients. Knockdown of H19 expression inhibited LSCC cell migration,
      invasion and proliferation. We identified microRNA miR-148a-3p as an inhibitory
      target for H19. Overexpression of miR-148a-3p reduced LSCC migration, invasion
      and proliferation cell, while inhibition of miR-148a-3p did the opposite. The
      inhibition of LSCC progression induced by H19 knockdown required the activity of
      miR-148a-3p. We also identified DNA methyltransferase enzyme DNMT1 as a target of
      miR-148a-3p. Cellular DNA methylation levels were inhibited by both miR-148a-3p
      overexpression and H19 knockdown. In summary, our study demonstrated that the
      lncRNA H19 promoted LSCC progression via miR-148a-3p and DNMT1. 

PMID- 26872376
TI  - Enhanced eryptosis contributes to anemia in lung cancer patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Anemia is a common complication of malignancy, which could result
      from either compromised erythropoiesis or decreased lifespan of circulating
      erythrocytes. Premature suicidal erythrocyte death, characterized by cell
      shrinkage and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, decreases erythrocyte
      lifespan and could thus cause anemia. Here, we explored whether accelerated
      eryptosis participates in the pathophysiology of anemia associated with lung
      cancer (LC) and its treatment. METHODS: Erythrocytes were drawn from healthy
      volunteers and LC patients with and without cytostatic treatment. PS exposure
      (annexin V-binding), cell volume (forward scatter), cytosolic Ca2+ (Fluo3
      fluorescence), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (DCFDA fluorescence) and
      ceramide formation (anti-ceramide antibody) were determined by flow cytometry.
      RESULTS: Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were significantly lower in LC
      patients as compared to healthy controls, even though reticulocyte number was
      higher in LC (3.0+/-0.6%) than in controls (1.4+/-0.2%). The percentage of PS
      exposing erythrocytes was significantly higher in LC patients with (1.4+/-0.1%)
      and without (1.2+/-0.3%) cytostatic treatment as compared to healthy controls
      (0.6+/-0.1%). Erythrocyte ROS production and ceramide abundance, but not Fluo3
      fluorescence, were significantly higher in freshly drawn erythrocytes from LC
      patients than in freshly drawn erythrocytes from healthy controls. PS exposure of
      erythrocytes drawn from healthy volunteers was significantly more pronounced
      following incubation in plasma from LC patients than following incubation in
      plasma from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia in LC patients with and without
      cytostatic treatment is paralleled by increased eryptosis, which is triggered, at
      least in part, by increased oxidative stress and ceramide formation.

PMID- 26872378
TI  - The expression of presenilin 1 enhances carcinogenesis and metastasis in gastric
      cancer.
AB  - Presenilin 1 (PS-1, encoded by PSEN1) is a part of the gamma- (gamma-) secretase
      complex. Mutations in PSEN1 cause the majority of cases of familial Alzheimer's
      disease (FAD). Although in recent years PS-1 has been implicated as a tumor
      enhancer in various cancers, nothing is known regarding its role in gastric
      cancer (GC). In the present study, we investigate the role and clinical
      significance of PS-1 in GC. We observed that PS-1 was significantly upregulated
      and amplified in GC tissues and cell lines, and its aberrant expression was
      positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and with poor overall survival.
      Furthermore, PS-1 promoted tumor invasion and metastasis of GC both in vitro and
      vivo without affecting the proliferation of GC cells (MGC-803 and MKN-45). The
      results of treatment with the gamma-secretase inhibitor DAPT were consistent with
      the outcomes of PS-1 silencing. PS-1/gamma-secretase cleaves E-cadherin and
      releases its bound protein partner, beta-catenin, from the actin cytoskeleton,
      thereby allowing it to translocate into the nucleus and to activate the TCF/LEF-1
      transcriptional activator, which may promote GC invasion and metastasis.In
      conclusion, PS-1 promotes invasion and metastasis in GC and may represent a novel
      prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for GC treatment. 

PMID- 26872377
TI  - Crosstalk between RON and androgen receptor signaling in the development of
      castration resistant prostate cancer.
AB  - Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the fatal form of prostate cancer.
      Although reactivation of androgen receptor (AR) occurs following androgen
      deprivation, the precise mechanism involved is unclear. Here we show that the
      receptor tyrosine kinase, RON alters mechanical properties of cells to influence
      epithelial to mesenchymal transition and functions as a transcription factor to
      differentially regulate AR signaling. RON inhibits AR activation and subset of AR
      regulated transcripts in androgen responsive LNCaP cells. However in C4-2B, a
      castrate-resistant sub-line of LNCaP and AR-negative androgen independent DU145
      cells, RON activates subset of AR-regulated transcripts. Expression of AR in PC-3
      cells leads to activation of RON under androgen deprivation but not under
      androgen proficient conditions implicating a role for RON in androgen
      independence. Consistently, RON expression is significantly elevated in castrate
      resistant prostate tumors. Taken together our results suggest that RON activation
      could aid in promoting androgen independence and that inhibition of RON in
      combination with AR antagonist(s) merits serious consideration as a therapeutic
      option during hormone deprivation therapy. 

PMID- 26872379
TI  - Dioxonaphthoimidazoliums AB1 and YM155 disrupt phosphorylation of p50 in the NF
      kappaB pathway.
AB  - The NF-kappaB pathway is overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and
      contributes to the poor prognosis and high mortality characterizing this
      malignancy. Silencing the p50 and p65 NF-kappaB subunits in the NSCLC H1299 cell
      line led to profound loss in cell viability and downregulated anti-apoptotic
      proteins survivin and Mcl1. We also showed that a survivin suppressant, the
      dioxonaphthoimidazolium YM155, and its structural analog AB1 arrested the growth
      of H1299 cells at nanomolar concentrations. Both compounds were apoptogenic and
      suppressed survivin and other anti-apoptotic proteins (Mcl1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl) in a
      dose- and/or time-dependent manner. YM155 and AB1 did not affect the expression
      of key proteins (IkappaBalpha, p65, p50) involved in NF-kappaB signaling. Stable
      IkappaBalpha levels suggest that the NF-kappaB/IkappaB complex and proteins
      upstream of IkappaBalpha, were not targeted. Neither did the compounds intercept
      the nuclear translocation of the p50 and p65 subunits. On the other hand, YM155
      and AB1 suppressed the phosphorylation of the p50 subunit at Ser337 which is
      critical in promoting the binding of NF-kappaB dimers to DNA. Both compounds duly
      impeded the binding of NF-kappaB dimers to DNA and attenuated transcriptional
      activity of luciferase-transfected HEK293 cells controlled by NF-kappaB response
      elements. We propose that the "silencing" the NF-kappaB pathway effected by these
      compounds contributed to their potent apoptogenic effects on H1299.
      Notwithstanding, the mechanism(s) involved in their ability to abolish
      phosphorylation of p50 remains to be elucidated. Taken together, these results
      disclose a novel facet of functionalized dioxonaphthoimidazoliums that could
      account for their potent cell killing property. 

PMID- 26872380
TI  - Inhibition of deubiquitinases primes glioblastoma cells to apoptosis in vitro and
      in vivo.
AB  - It remains a challenge in oncology to identify novel drug regimens to efficiently
      tackle glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Here, we
      target deubiquitinases for glioblastoma therapy by utilizing the small-molecule
      inhibitor WP1130 which has been characterized as a deubiquitinase inhibitor that
      interferes with the function of Usp9X. Expression analysis data confirm that
      Usp9X expression is increased in glioblastoma compared to normal brain tissue
      indicating its potential as a therapeutic. Consistently, increasing
      concentrations of WP1130 decrease the cellular viability of established, patient
      derived xenograft (PDX) and stem cell-like glioblastoma cells. Specific down
      regulation of Usp9X reduces viability in glioblastoma cells mimicking the effects
      of WP1130. Mechanistically, WP1130 elicits apoptosis and increases activation of
      caspases. Moreover, WP1130 and siRNAs targeting Usp9X reduce the expression of
      anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members and Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins, XIAP and
      Survivin. Pharmacological and genetic interference with Usp9X efficiently
      sensitized glioblastoma cells to intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic stimuli. In
      addition, single treatment with WP1130 elicited anti-glioma activity in an
      orthotopic proneural murine model of glioblastoma. Finally, the combination
      treatment of WP1130 and ABT263 inhibited tumor growth more efficiently than each
      reagent by its own in vivo without detectable side effects or organ toxicity.
      Taken together, these results suggest that targeting deubiquitinases for glioma
      therapy is feasible and effective. 

PMID- 26872381
TI  - Hypoxia induces TFE3 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - To assess the role of transcription factor MUE3 (TFE3) in the tumorigenesis of
      head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), human HNSCC tissue arrays were
      investigated for TFE3 expression. Human HNSCC tissues with neoadjuvant inductive
      chemotherapey (docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil, TPF) and mice HNSCC tissues
      from transgenic mice model were evaluated for TFE3 expression and the hypoxia
      pathway. The roles of EGF/EGFR mediated hypoxia in TFE3 nuclear expression were
      analyzed in vitro and in vivo. TFE3 expression was higher in human HNSCC tissues
      compared with that in normal oral mucosa. Moreover, high TFE3 expression was
      related to HIF-1alpha, PAI-1, and EGFR, which demonstrated the activation of the
      hypoxia pathway in HNSCC tissues. Furthermore, elevated TFE3 expression was
      observed in HNSCC after cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and high TFE3 expression
      may indicate poor response to TPF inductive chemotherapy. Furthermore, similar
      changes with increased TFE3 were observed in HNSCC of the transgenic mouse HNSCC
      model. Hypoxic culture in the human HNSCC cell line increased TFE3 expression,
      which promoted cell survival under hypoxia. EGFR inhibiton by cetuximab could
      attenuate hypoxia-induced TFE3 in the HNSCC cell line and transgenic mouse HNSCC
      model. These findings indicated that TFE3 was an important hypoxia-induced
      transcriptional factor in HNSCC. TFE3 could be regarded as a durgable therapeutic
      oncotarget by EGFR inhibition. 

PMID- 26872383
TI  - A strategy to eradicate well-developed Krebs-2 ascites in mice.
AB  - We describe the strategy, which allows curing experimental mice engrafted with
      Krebs-2 ascites. The strategy is based on the facts that i) Krebs-2 tumor
      initiating stem cells (TISCs) are naturally capable of internalizing fragments of
      extracellular double-stranded DNA (dsDNA); ii) upon delivery into TISCs, these
      dsDNA fragments interfere with the on-going DNA repair process so that TISCs
      either die or lose their tumorigenic potential. The following 3-step regimen of
      therapeutic procedures leading to eradication of Krebs-2 ascites is considered.
      Firstly, three timed injections of cyclophosphamide (CP) exactly matching the
      interstrand cross-link (ICL) repair phases that lead to synchronization of
      ascites cells in late S/G2/M. Secondly, additional treatment of ascites 18 hours
      post each CP injection (at NER/HR transition timepoint) with a composite dsDNA
      based preparation interfering with the NER and HR repair pathways, so that
      tumorigenic properties of ascites cells are compromised. Thirdly, final treatment
      of mice with a combination of CP and dsDNA injections as ascites cells undergo
      apoptotic destruction, and the surviving TAMRA+ TISCs arrested in late S/G2/M
      phases massively enter into G1/S, when they regain sensitivity to CP+dsDNA
      treatment. Thus, this regimen assures that no viable cells, particularly Krebs-2
      TISCs, remain. 

PMID- 26872382
TI  - The E1B19K-deleted oncolytic adenovirus mutant AdDelta19K sensitizes pancreatic
      cancer cells to drug-induced DNA-damage by down-regulating Claspin and Mre11.
AB  - Adenovirus-mediated sensitization of cancer cells to cytotoxic drugs depends on
      simultaneous interactions of early viral genes with cell death and survival
      pathways. It is unclear what cellular factors mediate these interactions in the
      presence of DNA-damaging drugs. We found that adenovirus prevents Chk1-mediated
      checkpoint activation through inactivation of Mre11 and downregulation of the
      pChk1 adaptor-protein, Claspin, in cells with high levels of DNA-damage induced
      by the cytotoxic drugs gemcitabine and irinotecan. The mechanisms for Claspin
      downregulation involve decreased transcription and increased degradation, further
      attenuating pChk1-mediated signalling. Live cell imaging demonstrated that low
      doses of gemcitabine caused multiple mitotic aberrations including multipolar
      spindles, micro- and multi-nucleation and cytokinesis failure. A mutant virus
      with the anti-apoptotic E1B19K-gene deleted (AdDelta19K) further enhanced cell
      killing, Claspin downregulation, and potentiated drug-induced DNA damage and
      mitotic aberrations. Decreased Claspin expression and inactivation of Mre11
      contributed to the enhanced cell killing in combination with DNA-damaging drugs.
      These results reveal novel mechanisms that are utilised by adenovirus to ensure
      completion of its life cycle in the presence of cellular DNA damage. Taken
      together, our findings reveal novel cellular targets that may be exploited when
      developing improved anti-cancer therapeutics. 

PMID- 26872385
TI  - Loss of Acetylcholine Signaling Reduces Cell Clearance Deficiencies in
      Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - The ability to eliminate undesired cells by apoptosis is a key mechanism to
      maintain organismal health and homeostasis. Failure to clear apoptotic cells
      efficiently can cause autoimmune diseases in mammals. Genetic studies in
      Caenorhabditis elegans have greatly helped to decipher the regulation of
      apoptotic cell clearance. In this study, we show that the loss of levamisole
      sensitive acetylcholine receptor, but not of a typical neuronal acetylcholine
      receptor causes a reduction in the number of persistent cell corpses in worms
      suffering from an engulfment deficiency. This reduction is not caused by impaired
      or delayed cell death but rather by a partial restoration of the cell clearance
      capacity. Mutants in acetylcholine turn-over elicit a similar phenotype, implying
      that acetylcholine signaling is the process responsible for these observations.
      Surprisingly, tissue specific RNAi suggests that UNC-38, a major component of the
      levamisole-sensitive receptor, functions in the dying germ cell to influence
      engulfment efficiency. Animals with loss of acetylcholine receptor exhibit a
      higher fraction of cell corpses positive for the "eat-me" signal
      phosphatidylserine. Our results suggest that modulation by ion channels of ion
      flow across plasma membrane in dying cells can influence the dynamics of
      phosphatidylserine exposure and thus clearance efficiency. 

PMID- 26872384
TI  - Sequencing, De Novo Assembly, and Annotation of the Transcriptome of the
      Endangered Freshwater Pearl Bivalve, Cristaria plicata, Provides Novel Insights
      into Functional Genes and Marker Discovery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The freshwater mussel Cristaria plicata (Bivalvia: Eulamellibranchia:
      Unionidae), is an economically important species in molluscan aquaculture due to
      its use in pearl farming. The species have been listed as endangered in South
      Korea due to the loss of natural habitats caused by anthropogenic activities. The
      decreasing population and a lack of genomic information on the species is
      concerning for environmentalists and conservationists. In this study, we
      conducted a de novo transcriptome sequencing and annotation analysis of C.
      plicata using Illumina HiSeq 2500 next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology,
      the Trinity assembler, and bioinformatics databases to prepare a sustainable
      resource for the identification of candidate genes involved in immunity, defense,
      and reproduction. RESULTS: The C. plicata transcriptome analysis included a total
      of 286,152,584 raw reads and 281,322,837 clean reads. The de novo assembly
      identified a total of 453,931 contigs and 374,794 non-redundant unigenes with
      average lengths of 731.2 and 737.1 bp, respectively. Furthermore, 100% coverage
      of C. plicata mitochondrial genes within two unigenes supported the quality of
      the assembler. In total, 84,274 unigenes showed homology to entries in at least
      one database, and 23,246 unigenes were allocated to one or more Gene Ontology
      (GO) terms. The most prominent GO biological process, cellular component, and
      molecular function categories (level 2) were cellular process, membrane, and
      binding, respectively. A total of 4,776 unigenes were mapped to 123 biological
      pathways in the KEGG database. Based on the GO terms and KEGG annotation, the
      unigenes were suggested to be involved in immunity, stress responses, sex
      determination, and reproduction. A total of 17,251 cDNA simple sequence repeats
      (cSSRs) were identified from 61,141 unigenes (size of >1 kb) with the most
      abundant being dinucleotide repeats. CONCLUSIONS: This dataset represents the
      first transcriptome analysis of the endangered mollusc, C. plicata. The
      transcriptome provides a comprehensive sequence resource for the conservation of
      genetic information in this species and enrichment of the genetic database. The
      development of molecular markers will assist in the genetic improvement of C.
      plicata.

PMID- 26872386
TI  - Prefrontal Lobe Brain Reserve Capacity with Resistance to Higher Global Amyloid
      Load and White Matter Hyperintensity Burden in Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Amyloid deposition and white matter lesions (WMLs) in Alzheimer's
      disease (AD) are both considered clinically significant while a larger brain
      volume is thought to provide greater brain reserve (BR) against these
      pathological effects. This study identified the topography showing BR in patients
      with mild AD and explored the clinical balances among BR, amyloid, and WMLs
      burden. METHODS: Thirty patients with AD were enrolled, and AV-45 positron
      emission tomography was conducted to measure the regional standardized uptake
      value ratio (SUVr) in 8 cortical volumes-of- interests (VOIs). The quantitative
      WMLs burden was measured from magnetic resonance imaging while the normalized
      VOIs volumes represented BR in this study. The cognitive test represented major
      clinical correlates. RESULTS: Significant correlations between the prefrontal
      volume and global (r = 0.470, p = 0.024), but not regional (r = 0.264, p = 0.223)
      AV-45 SUVr were found. AD patients having larger regional volume in the superior-
      (r = 0.572, p = 0.004), superior medial- (r = 0.443, p = 0.034), and middle
      prefrontal (r = 0.448, p = 0.032) regions had higher global AV-45 SUVr. For
      global WML loads, the prefrontal (r = -0.458, p = 0.019) and hippocampal volume
      (r = -0.469, p = 0.016) showed significant correlations while the prefrontal (r =
      -0.417, p = 0.043) or hippocampal volume (r = -0.422, p = 0.04) also predicted
      better composite memory scores. There were no interactions between amyloid SUVr
      and WML loads on the prefrontal volume. CONCLUSIONS: BR of the prefrontal region
      might modulate the adverse global pathological burden caused by amyloid
      deposition. While prefrontal volume positively associated with hippocampal
      volume, WMLs had an adverse impact on the hippocampal volume that predicts memory
      performance in mild stage AD.

PMID- 26872387
TI  - Population Genetics of Plasmodium vivax in Four Rural Communities in Central
      Vietnam.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The burden of malaria in Vietnam has drastically reduced, prompting
      the National Malaria Control Program to officially engage in elimination efforts.
      Plasmodium vivax is becoming increasingly prevalent, remaining a major problem in
      the country's central and southern provinces. A better understanding of P. vivax
      genetic diversity and structure of local parasite populations will provide
      baseline data for the evaluation and improvement of current efforts for control
      and elimination. The aim of this study was to examine the population genetics and
      structure of P. vivax isolates from four communities in Tra Leng commune, Nam Tra
      My district in Quang Nam, Central Vietnam. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: P.
      vivax mono infections collected from 234 individuals between April 2009 and
      December 2010 were successfully analyzed using a panel of 14 microsatellite
      markers. Isolates displayed moderate genetic diversity (He = 0.68), with no
      significant differences between study communities. Polyclonal infections were
      frequent (71.4%) with a mean multiplicity of infection of 1.91 isolates/person.
      Low but significant genetic differentiation (FST value from -0.05 to 0.18) was
      observed between the community across the river and the other communities. Strong
      linkage disequilibrium ([Formula: see text] = 0.113, p < 0.001) was detected
      across all communities, suggesting gene flow within and among them. Using
      multiple approaches, 101 haplotypes were grouped into two genetic clusters, while
      60.4% of haplotypes were admixed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In this area of
      Central Vietnam, where malaria transmission has decreased significantly over the
      past decade, there was moderate genetic diversity and high occurrence of
      polyclonal infections. Local human populations have frequent social and economic
      interactions that facilitate gene flow and inbreeding among parasite populations,
      while decreasing population structure. Findings provide important information on
      parasites populations circulating in the study area and are relevant to current
      malaria elimination efforts.

PMID- 26872388
TI  - Effect of Ethanol on the Metabolic Characteristics of HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitor
      Elvitegravir and Elvitegravir/Cobicistat with CYP3A: An Analysis Using a Newly
      Developed LC-MS/MS Method.
AB  - Elvitegravir (EVG), an integrase inhibitor for the treatment HIV infection, is
      increasingly becoming the part of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART)
      regimen. EVG is mainly metabolized through cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. Previously,
      we have shown that ethanol alters ART-CYP3A4 interactions with protease
      inhibitors thereby altering their metabolisms. However, as EVG is a fairly new
      class of drug, its kinetic characteristics and the effect of ethanol on EVG
      CYPP3A4 interaction is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized EVG and
      cobicistat (COBI)-boosted EVG metabolism in human microsomes followed by ethanol
      EVG, ethanol-COBI-EVG interaction with CYP3A. First, we developed and validated a
      simple, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC
      MS/MS) method for the quantification of EVG in the human liver microsomes. The
      lower limit of quantification for the drug was at 0.003 MUM (1.34 ng/ml).
      Extraction yield, matrix effects, drug stability, and calibration curves for the
      proposed method were validated according to the FDA guidelines. Time dependent
      kinetics data showed that 20mM ethanol decreases the apparent half-life of EVG
      degradation by ~50% compared to EVG alone. Our substrate kinetic results revealed
      that ethanol mildly decreases the catalytic efficiency for EVG metabolism.
      Inhibition studies demonstrated that EVG inhibits CYP3A4, and 20 mM ethanol
      causes a decrease in the IC50 of EVG. However, in the presence of COBI we were
      unable to determine these parameters effectively because COBI, being a strong
      inhibitor of CYP3A4, blocked the EVG/ethanol-CYP3A4 interactions. Docking studies
      predicted a shift of EVG or COBI binding to the active site of CYP3A4 in the
      presence of ethanol. Taken together, these results suggest that ethanol interacts
      with microsomal CYP3A and alters EVG-CYP3A4 interaction thereby altering EVG
      metabolism and inhibition of CYP3A4 by EVG. This finding has clinical
      significance because alcohol use is highly prevalent in HIV population, and there
      are no separate guidelines for these patients while they are on ART medication.

PMID- 26872389
TI  - The Impact of Hyperthermia on Receptor-Mediated Interleukin-6 Regulation in Mouse
      Skeletal Muscle.
AB  - In inflammatory cells, hyperthermia inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression and protein secretion. Since hyperthermia
      alone stimulates IL-6 in skeletal muscle, we hypothesized that it would amplify
      responses to other receptor-mediated stimuli. IL-6 regulation was tested in C2C12
      myotubes and in soleus during treatment with epinephrine (EPI) or LPS. In EPI
      treated myotubes (100 ng/ml), 1 h exposure at 40.5 degrees C-42 degrees C
      transiently increased IL-6 mRNA compared to EPI treatment alone at 37 degrees C.
      In LPS-treated myotubes (1 MUg/ml), exposure to 41 degrees C-42 degrees C also
      increased IL-6 mRNA. In isolated mouse soleus, similar amplifications of IL-6
      gene expression were observed in 41 degrees C, during both low (1 ng/ml) and high
      dose (100 ng/ml) EPI, but only in high dose LPS (1 MUg/ml). In myotubes, heat
      increased IL-6 secretion during EPI exposure but had no effect or inhibited
      secretion with LPS. In soleus there were no effects of heat on IL-6 secretion
      during either EPI or LPS treatment. Mechanisms for the effects of heat on IL-6
      mRNA were explored using a luciferase-reporter in C2C12 myotubes. Overexpression
      of heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1) had no impact on IL-6 promoter activity during EPI
      stimulation, but elevated IL-6 promoter activity during LPS stimulation. In
      contrast, when the activator protein-1 (AP-1) element was mutated, responses to
      both LPS and EPI were suppressed in heat. Using siRNA against activating
      transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), a heat-stress-induced inhibitor of IL-6, no ATF-3
      dependent effects were observed. The results demonstrate that, unlike
      inflammatory cells, hyperthermia in muscle fibers amplifies IL-6 gene expression
      to EPI and LPS. The effect appears to reflect differential engagement of HSF-1
      and AP-1 sensitive elements on the IL-6 gene, with no evidence for involvement of
      ATF-3. The functional significance of increased IL-6 mRNA expression during heat
      may serve to overcome the well-known suppression of protein synthetic pathways
      occurring during heat shock. 

PMID- 26872390
TI  - Cognition and Behaviour in Sotos Syndrome: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research investigating cognition and behaviour in Sotos syndrome has
      been sporadic and to date, there is no published overview of study findings.
      METHOD: A systematic review of all published literature (1964-2015) presenting
      empirical data on cognition and behaviour in Sotos syndrome. Thirty four journal
      articles met inclusion criteria. Within this literature, data relating to
      cognition and/or behaviour in 247 individuals with a diagnosis of Sotos syndrome
      were reported. Ten papers reported group data on cognition and/or behaviour. The
      remaining papers employed a case study design. RESULTS: Intelligence quotient
      (IQ) scores were reported in twenty five studies. Intellectual disability (IQ <
      70) or borderline intellectual functioning (IQ 70-84) was present in the vast
      majority of individuals with Sotos syndrome. Seven studies reported performance
      on subscales of intelligence tests. Data from these studies indicate that verbal
      IQ scores are consistently higher than performance IQ scores. Fourteen papers
      provided data on behavioural features of individuals with Sotos syndrome. Key
      themes that emerged in the behavioural literature were overlap with ASD, ADHD,
      anxiety and high prevalence of aggression/tantrums. CONCLUSION: Although a range
      of studies have provided insight into cognition and behaviour in Sotos syndrome,
      specific profiles have not yet been fully specified. Recommendations for future
      research are provided.

PMID- 26872391
TI  - [The meaning of hospitalization from the perspective of the caregiver: A
      qualitative study].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Knowing the meaning of hospitalization for the family caregiver of
      the hospitalized sick person. METHOD: Qualitative study using grounded theory.
      Participants were included if they met the following criteria: a) being part of
      the family; b) the sick person was admitted into a hospital in the state of
      Chihuahua; and c) the hospitalized person was over 18 years old. Sampling was
      applied by purpose. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews
      with an opening question. Similarly, memos were applied in the process of
      gathering. The analysis applied was based on grounded theory, with an open, axial
      and selective coding, identifying the categories and subcategories. During the
      analysis process the method of constant comparison was applied. RESULTS: Eighteen
      participants were included; 16 of whom were female. The mean age was 48.11 years
      old. The core category was identified: "the naked soul", formed by the
      categories; "I deal with the disease" which describes the situations experienced
      by the caregiver during and after the hospitalization process; "wartime" makes
      reference to the family problems that develop or worsen during the
      hospitalization process; and "dancing in the storm" focuses on all the positive
      changes occurring in the primary caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization causes
      uncertainty in the caregiver. Nurses help facilitate the adaptation of the
      caregiver at baseline and identify their own strengths.

PMID- 26872392
TI  - [Detection of palliative care needs in an acute care hospital unit. Pilot study].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Previous to wider prevalence studies, we designed the present pilot
      study to assess concordance and time invested in patient evaluations using a
      palliative care needs assessment tool. We also sought to estimate the prevalence
      of palliative care needs in an acute care hospital unit. METHODS: A cross
      sectional study was carried out, 4 researchers (2 doctors and 2 nurses)
      independently assessed all inpatients in an acute care hospital unit in Manacor
      Hospital, Mallorca (Spain), using the validated tool NECPAL CCOMS-ICO(c),
      measuring time invested in every case. Another researcher revised clinical
      recordings to analise the sample profile. RESULTS: Every researcher assessed 29
      patients, 15 men and 14 women, mean age 74,03 +/- 10.25 years. 4-observer
      concordance was moderate (Kappa 0,5043), tuning out to be higher between nurses.
      Mean time per patient evaluation was 1.9 to 7.72 minutes, depending on
      researcher. Prevalence of palliative care needs was 23,28%. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate
      concordance lean us towards multidisciplinary shared assessments as a method for
      future research. Avarage of time invested in evaluations was less than 8 minutes,
      no previous publications were identified regarding this variable. More than 20%
      of inpatients of the acute care unit were in need of palliative care.

PMID- 26872393
TI  - The cost-effectiveness of training US primary care physicians to conduct
      colorectal cancer screening in family medicine residency programs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Demand for a wide array of colorectal cancer screening strategies
      continues to outpace supply. One strategy to reduce this deficit is to
      dramatically increase the number of primary care physicians who are trained and
      supportive of performing office-based colonoscopies or flexible sigmoidoscopies.
      This study evaluates the clinical and economic implications of training primary
      care physicians via family medicine residency programs to offer colorectal cancer
      screening services as an in-office procedure. METHODS: Using previously
      established clinical and economic assumptions from existing literature and budget
      data from a local grant (2013), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are
      calculated that incorporate the costs of a proposed national training program and
      subsequent improvements in patient compliance. Sensitivity analyses are also
      conducted. RESULTS: Baseline assumptions suggest that the intervention would
      produce 2394 newly trained residents who could perform 71,820 additional
      colonoscopies or 119,700 additional flexible sigmoidoscopies after ten years.
      Despite high costs associated with the national training program, incremental
      cost-effectiveness ratios remain well below standard willingness-to-pay
      thresholds under base case assumptions. Interestingly, the status quo hierarchy
      of preferred screening strategies is disrupted by the proposed intervention.
      CONCLUSIONS: A national overhaul of family medicine residency programs offering
      training for colorectal cancer screening yields satisfactory incremental cost
      effectiveness ratios. However, the model places high expectations on primary care
      physicians to improve current compliance levels in the US.

PMID- 26872394
TI  - Recognition and detection of 8-oxo-rG in RNA using the DNA/OMeRNA chimera probes
      containing fluorescent adenosine-diazaphenoxazine analog.
AB  - Recent studies indicate that oxidative damage to RNA results in dysfunction of
      translation and eventual pathogenesis. A representative oxidized base in RNA is 8
      hydroxyguanosine (8-oxo-rG), however, unlike its DNA counterpart (8-oxo-dG), its
      role in pathogenesis has not attracted much attention until recently. The 2'
      deoxyadenosine derivative with a diazaphenoxazine skeleton at the 6-amino group
      (Adap) was shown to be selective for 8-oxo-dG in DNA. In this study, the 2'-O
      methoxy derivative of Adap (2'-OMeAdap) was designed as a selective molecule for
      8-oxo-rG in RNA. 8-Oxo-rG in the homopurine RNA was selectively recognized by the
      ODN probe incorporating Adap. In contrast, although it was not possible by the
      Adap-containing ODN prove due to the instability of the corresponding duplex, 8
      oxo-rG in homopyrimidine RNA was selectively detected by the 2'-OMeRNA probe
      incorporating 2'-OMeAdap. 

PMID- 26872395
TI  - Tandem Copper-Catalyzed Propargylation/Alkyne Azacyclization/Isomerization
      Reaction under Microwave Irradiation: Synthesis of Fully Substituted Pyrroles.
AB  - A copper-catalyzed and microwave-assisted synthesis of fully substituted pyrroles
      has been developed. A series of pentasubstituted pyrroles, especially alpha
      arylpyrroles, could be obtained in moderate to good yields (up to 93%) through a
      tandem propargylation/alkyne azacyclization/isomerization sequence from readily
      available beta-enamino compounds and propargyl acetates. 

PMID- 26872396
TI  - Invited commentary: Differential learning is different from contextual
      interference learning.
AB  - There has been renewed interest in the detailed structure of what is learned and
      the boundary conditions that foster motor learning. The accompanying article by
      Hossner et al. (2016), particularly their findings about augmented feedback in
      the context of different levels of additional noise, is consistent with this
      focus. Unfortunately, the findings from Hossner and colleagues appear to be based
      on incorrect interpretations of the differential learning (DL) approach.
      Essential discrepancies in the experimental conditions suggest the basis for the
      deviating results obtained in comparison to those of the original DL experiments.
      In this comment, it is also shown that the author's assumptions and
      interpretations underlying CI and the DL approaches obscure crucial problems and
      contradictions of classical learning theory. 

PMID- 26872397
TI  - Psychological Comorbidity and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity: Cause or
      Effect?

PMID- 26872398
TI  - Repeated Measurements of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Identify Carriers of
      Inactive HBV During Long-term Follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Measurements of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and
      hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA might help to identify carriers of inactive HBV. We
      assessed the performance of repeated measurements of HBsAg over a median time
      period of 8 years. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 292 HBe antigen
      negative patients with chronic HBV infection, normal levels of alanine
      aminotransferase (ALT), levels of HBV DNA <20,000 IU/mL, and no cirrhosis who
      visited the outpatient clinics at 8 tertiary care centers in Europe, Asia, and
      Australia from 1990 through 2011. Patients were determined to be carriers of
      inactive HBV (level of HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL and serum levels of ALT that remained
      normal) or to have HBV activity (level of HBV DNA fluctuating >2000 IU/mL and/or
      abnormal levels of ALT) after each year of follow-up. Patients were followed for
      a median time of 8 years (range, 4-9 years). Dynamic regression analysis was used
      to study changes in level of HBsAg and HBV phase and to update the risk of HBV
      activity. RESULTS: One year after study enrollment, 189 patients (65%) had
      inactive HBV and 103 patients (35%) had HBV activity. Based on dynamic analysis,
      the probability that a patient would have HBV at any following year differed
      according to level of HBsAg; odds were 97% for patients with initial level of
      HBsAg <100 IU/mL, 85% for patients with initial levels 100-1000 IU/mL, and 76%
      for patients with initial levels >1000 IU/mL (P < .001). Having inactive virus
      for any 2 consecutive years predicted having inactive virus in any third year.
      However, 15% of patients with level of HBsAg >100 IU/mL had HBV activity in the
      third year. The combination of HBsAg level <100 IU/mL and HBV DNA level <2000
      IU/mL identified patients whose virus remained inactive for the entire follow-up
      period, with 98% specificity and a positive predictive value of 97%, for all HBV
      genotypes. Patients with HBV activity who had levels of HBV DNA <5000 IU/mL and
      decreases in HBsAg of 0.5 log IU/mL or more for 1 year had a high probability of
      becoming carriers of inactive HBV in the next year. CONCLUSIONS: In a
      retrospective, dynamic analysis of almost 300 patients with chronic HBV
      infection, we found that levels of HBsAg <100 IU/mL identify patients with
      inactive virus with a high level of specificity. HBsAg levels should therefore be
      used to define phases of HBV infection in HBe antigen-negative patients.

PMID- 26872399
TI  - Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Exacerbate Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced
      Small-Bowel Enteropathy?

PMID- 26872400
TI  - Molecular Biomarkers in the Personalized Treatment of Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease in which pathogenesis is influenced by
      genetic and epigenetic events that occur with tumor initiation and progression.
      Large variation exists in individual patient prognosis and response to
      chemotherapy, caused by molecular heterogeneity. Certain biomarkers have been
      identified that can predict clinical outcome beyond tumor staging, and inform
      treatment selection. Molecular testing is routinely performed in clinical
      practice for the selection of patients for targeted biological agents or
      immunotherapy, and is advocated for prognostic stratification. Estimating
      prognosis can avoid undertreatment or overtreatment and also guide the intensity
      of patient follow-up. Classifiers of CRC have been developed that integrate
      genetic and/or epigenetic features. The mutational status of KRAS and BRAF(V600E)
      oncogenes combined with analysis of the DNA mismatch repair system with/without
      the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) has been shown to identify colon
      cancer subtypes with distinct clinical features and prognoses. Gene expression
      profiling has also been used to subtype CRCs and can overcome the limitations of
      single/limited gene testing. A recent effort identified 4 consensus molecular
      subtypes of biological relevance that were associated with different patient
      outcomes. Efforts to validate and refine these subtypes to include additional
      genomic features are ongoing. The focus of this article is to highlight molecular
      markers that can inform clinical decision-making in patients with CRC.

PMID- 26872401
TI  - Optimize Thiopurine Therapy in Autoimmune Hepatitis.

PMID- 26872402
TI  - Distribution and Characteristics of Colonic Diverticula in a United States
      Screening Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colonic diverticula are the most common finding from
      colonoscopy examinations. Little is known about the distribution of colonic
      diverticula, which are responsible for symptomatic and costly diverticular
      disease. We aimed to assess the number, location, and characteristics of colonic
      diverticula in a large US screening population. METHODS: We analyzed data from a
      prospective study of 624 patients (mean age, 54 years) undergoing screening
      colonoscopy at the University of North Carolina Hospital from 2013 through 2015.
      The examination included a detailed assessment of colonic diverticula. To assess
      the association between participant characteristics and diverticula, we used
      logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
      RESULTS: Of our population, 260 patients (42%) had 1 or more diverticula (mean
      number, 14; range, 1-158). Participants with diverticula were more likely to be
      older, male, and have a higher body mass index than those without diverticula.
      The distribution of diverticula differed significantly by race. Among white
      persons, 75% of diverticula were in the sigmoid colon, 11% in the descending
      splenic flexure, 6% in the transverse colon, and 8% were in the ascending colon
      or hepatic flexure. In black persons 64% of diverticula were in the sigmoid
      colon, 8% in the descending colon or splenic flexure, 7% in the transverse colon,
      and 20% in the ascending colon or hepatic flexure (P = .0008). The proportion of
      patients with diverticula increased with age: 35% were 50 years or younger, 40%
      were 51-60 years, and 58% were older than 60 years. The proportion of patients
      with more than 10 diverticula increased with age: 8% were 50 years or younger,
      15% were 51-60 years, and 30% were older than 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Older
      individuals not only have a higher prevalence of diverticula than younger
      individuals, but also a greater density, indicating that this is a progressive
      disease. Black persons have a greater percentage of their diverticula in the
      proximal colon and fewer in the distal colon compared with white persons.
      Understanding the distribution and determinants of diverticula is the first step
      in preventing diverticulosis and its complications.

PMID- 26872403
TI  - Building Connections With Role Models Using an Appreciative Inquiry Approach.

PMID- 26872404
TI  - Extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular disease: are they Jedi or Sith?
AB  - In the recent past, extracellular vesicles have become recognized as important
      players in cell biology and biomedicine. Extracellular vesicles, including
      exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies, are phospholipid bilayer-enclosed
      structures found to be secreted by most if not all cells. Extracellular vesicle
      secretion represents a universal and highly conserved active cellular function.
      Importantly, increasing evidence supports that extracellular vesicles may serve
      as biomarkers and therapeutic targets or tools in human diseases. Cardiovascular
      disease undoubtedly represents one of the most intensely studied and rapidly
      growing areas of the extracellular vesicle field. However, in different studies
      related to cardiovascular disease, extracellular vesicles have been shown to
      exert diverse and sometimes discordant biological effects. Therefore, it might
      seem a puzzle whether these vesicles are in fact beneficial or detrimental to
      cardiovascular health. In this review we provide a general introduction to
      extracellular vesicles and an overview of their biological roles in
      cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, we aim to untangle the various reasons for
      the observed discrepancy in biological effects of extracellular vesicles in
      cardiovascular diseases. To this end, we provide several examples that
      demonstrate that the observed functional diversity is in fact due to inherent
      differences among various types of extracellular vesicles.

PMID- 26872405
TI  - Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Choroidal hemangioma is a rare congenital ocular tumor that can present as either
      circumscribed or diffuse. Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) typically
      manifests as a red-orange mass within the posterior pole and appears similar to
      other ocular conditions, such as choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastasis.
      Proper diagnosis is crucial and is aided by the use of ancillary testing. CCH
      itself is benign but can cause secondary complications such as subretinal fluid
      accumulation and subsequent retinal detachment. If these conditions should arise,
      several treatment options are available.

PMID- 26872406
TI  - Serum nesfatin-1 levels: a potential new biomarker in patients with subarachnoid
      hemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurological emergency with
      significant potential for long-term morbidity and mortality. Nesfatin-1 is a
      polypeptide which is found in various regions of the brain that play role in the
      feeding and metabolic regulation. OBJECTIVE: So this study aimed to investigate
      if nesfatin-1 levels in patients with SAH, could be used as a marker for the
      severity and prognosis. METHOD: Forty-eight consecutive patients (except those
      excluded) admitted to the emergency service of our hospital and hospitalized at
      our clinic with the diagnosis of aneurysmal SAH between 2011 and 2013 were
      included in the study and followed up for six months for outcome. The control
      group consisted of 48 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. RESULTS:
      During the 6-month follow-up, 7 of 48 patients died and 16 (33.3%) patients had
      poor Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) scores. In the study group, the mean nesfatin-1
      level was significantly higher than the control group (7.36 +/- 2.5 pg/ml and
      4.29 +/- 2.02 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.01). The mean nesfatin-1 level was 11.58
      +/- 0.87 pg/ml in the non-survival group and 6.64 +/- 1.89 pg/ml in the survival
      group. Furthermore, it was 10.22 +/- 1.42 pg/ml in patients with poor outcome in
      terms of GOS and 5.93 +/- 1.46 pg/ml in those with good outcome. The nesfatin-1
      levels significantly increased with worsening of GOS, the World Federation of
      Neurological Surgeons grading system, and Fisher scores and increasing plasma C
      reactive protein levels (p < 0.01 for all). CONCLUSION: The present study is the
      first that shows the mortality/poor outcome of the SAH with assessing serum
      nesfatin-1 levels. So levels of nesfatin-1 might be useful in SAH management.

PMID- 26872407
TI  - Development of an IFNgamma ELISPOT for the analysis of the human T cell response
      against mumps virus.
AB  - In the last decade, mumps virus (MuV) causes outbreaks in highly vaccinated
      populations. Sub-optimal T cell immunity may play a role in the susceptibility to
      mumps in vaccinated individuals. T cell responses to mumps virus have been
      demonstrated, yet the quality of the MuV-specific T cell response has not been
      analyzed using single cell immunological techniques. Here we developed an
      IFNgamma ELISPOT assay to assess MuV-specific T cell responses in peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy (vaccinated) donors and mumps patients.
      Various in vitro MuV-specific stimulation methods of PBMC were compared, using
      either live or inactivated MuV alone or MuV-infected autologous antigen
      presenting cells, i.e. Epstein Barr Virus-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines
      (EBV-BLCL) or (mitogen pre-activated) PBMC, for their ability to recall IFNgamma
      producing responder cells measured by ELISPOT. For the detection of MuV-specific
      T cell responses, direct exposure (24h) to live MuV was the preferred stimulation
      method when assay sensitivity and practical reasons were considered. Notably,
      flowcytometric confirmation of data revealed that primarily T cells and NK cells
      produce IFNgamma upon live MuV stimulation. Depleting PBMC from CD56(+) NK cells
      prior to stimulation with live MuV led to the enumeration of MuV-specific T cell
      responses by ELISPOT. Our assay constitutes a tool to evaluate memory MuV
      specific T cell responses in MuV vaccinated or infected persons. Furthermore,
      this study provides evidence that live MuV not only induces IFNgamma production
      by T cells, but also by NK cells. 

PMID- 26872409
TI  - Identification of methylglyoxal as a major mutagen in wood and bamboo
      pyroligneous acids.
AB  - To identify the major mutagen in pyroligneous acid (PA), 10 wood and 10 bamboo
      pyroligneous acids were examined using the Ames test in Salmonella typhimurium
      strains TA100 and TA98. Subsequently, the mutagenic dicarbonyl compounds (DCs),
      glyoxal, methylglyoxal (MG), and diacetyl in PA were quantified using high
      performance liquid chromatography, and the mutagenic contribution ratios for each
      DC were calculated relative to the mutagenicity of PA. Eighteen samples were
      positive for mutagens and showed the strongest mutagenicity in TA100 in the
      absence of S9 mix. MG had the highest mutagenic contribution ratio, and its
      presence was strongly correlated with the specific mutagenicity of PA. These data
      indicate that MG is the major mutagen in PA. 

PMID- 26872408
TI  - Harmonizing DTI measurements across scanners to examine the development of white
      matter microstructure in 803 adolescents of the NCANDA study.
AB  - Neurodevelopment continues through adolescence, with notable maturation of white
      matter tracts comprising regional fiber systems progressing at different rates.
      To identify factors that could contribute to regional differences in white matter
      microstructure development, large samples of youth spanning adolescence to young
      adulthood are essential to parse these factors. Recruitment of adequate samples
      generally relies on multi-site consortia but comes with the challenge of merging
      data acquired on different platforms. In the current study, diffusion tensor
      imaging (DTI) data were acquired on GE and Siemens systems through the National
      Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA), a multi-site
      study designed to track the trajectories of regional brain development during a
      time of high risk for initiating alcohol consumption. This cross-sectional
      analysis reports baseline Tract-Based Spatial Statistic (TBSS) of regional
      fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (L1), and
      radial diffusivity (LT) from the five consortium sites on 671 adolescents who met
      no/low alcohol or drug consumption criteria and 132 adolescents with a history of
      exceeding consumption criteria. Harmonization of DTI metrics across manufacturers
      entailed the use of human-phantom data, acquired multiple times on each of three
      non-NCANDA participants at each site's MR system, to determine a manufacturer
      specific correction factor. Application of the correction factor derived from
      human phantom data measured on MR systems from different manufacturers reduced
      the standard deviation of the DTI metrics for FA by almost a half, enabling
      harmonization of data that would have otherwise carried systematic error.
      Permutation testing supported the hypothesis of higher FA and lower diffusivity
      measures in older adolescents and indicated that, overall, the FA, MD, and L1 of
      the boys were higher than those of the girls, suggesting continued
      microstructural development notable in the boys. The contribution of demographic
      and clinical differences to DTI metrics was assessed with General Additive Models
      (GAM) testing for age, sex, and ethnicity differences in regional skeleton mean
      values. The results supported the primary study hypothesis that FA skeleton mean
      values in the no/low-drinking group were highest at different ages. When
      differences in intracranial volume were covaried, FA skeleton mean reached a
      maximum at younger ages in girls than boys and varied in magnitude with
      ethnicity. Our results, however, did not support the hypothesis that youth who
      exceeded exposure criteria would have lower FA or higher diffusivity measures
      than the no/low-drinking group; detecting the effects of excessive alcohol
      consumption during adolescence on DTI metrics may require longitudinal study. 

PMID- 26872410
TI  - Anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of 8-prenyl quercetin.
AB  - SCOPE: 8-prenyl quercetin (PQ) is a typical prenylflavonoid distributed in plant
      foods. It shows higher potential bioactivity than its parent quercetin (Q)
      although the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aims to clarify the
      anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of PQ in cell and animal
      models, compared to Q. METHODS AND RESULTS: RAW264.7 cells were treated with PQ
      or Q to investigate the influence on the production of inducible nitric oxide
      synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and protein kinases by Western
      blotting. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) were measured by the
      Griess method and ELISA, respectively. Cytokines were assayed by the multiplex
      technology. Mouse paw edema was induced by LPS. The results revealed that PQ had
      stronger inhibition on the production of iNOS, COX-2, NO, PGE2 , and 12 kinds of
      cytokines, than Q. PQ also showed in vivo anti-inflammatory effect by attenuating
      mouse paw edema. Molecular data revealed that PQ had no competitive binding to
      Toll-like receptor 4 with LPS, but directly targeted SEK1-JNK1/2 (where SEK is
      stress-activated protein kinase and JNK1/2 is Jun-N-terminal kinase 1/2) and MEK1
      ERK1/2 (where ERK is extracellular signal regulated kinase). CONCLUSION: PQ as a
      potential inhibitor revealed anti-inflammatory effect in both cell and animal
      models at least by targeting SEK1-JNK1/2 and MEK1-ERK1/2.

PMID- 26872411
TI  - Effects of white-nose syndrome on regional population patterns of 3 hibernating
      bat species.
AB  - Hibernating bats have undergone severe recent declines across the eastern United
      States, but the cause of these regional-scale declines has not been
      systematically evaluated. We assessed the influence of white-nose syndrome (an
      emerging bat disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, formerly
      Geomyces destructans) on large-scale, long-term population patterns in the little
      brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), the northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis),
      and the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). We modeled population trajectories
      for each species on the basis of an extensive data set of winter hibernacula
      counts of more than 1 million individual bats from a 4-state region over 13 years
      and with data on locations of hibernacula and first detections of white-nose
      syndrome at each hibernaculum. We used generalized additive mixed models to
      determine population change relative to expectations, that is, how population
      trajectories differed with a colony's infection status, how trajectories differed
      with distance from the point of introduction of white-nose syndrome, and whether
      declines were concordant with first local observation of the disease. Population
      trajectories in all species met at least one of the 3 expectations, but none met
      all 3. Our results suggest, therefore, that white-nose syndrome has affected
      regional populations differently than was previously understood and has not been
      the sole cause of declines. Specifically, our results suggest that in some areas
      and species, threats other than white-nose syndrome are also contributing to
      population declines, declines linked to white-nose syndrome have spread across
      large geographic areas with unexpected speed, and the disease or other threats
      led to declines in bat populations for years prior to disease detection.
      Effective conservation will require further research to mitigate impacts of white
      nose syndrome, renewed attention to other threats to bats, and improved
      surveillance efforts to ensure early detection of white-nose syndrome.

PMID- 26872412
TI  - Functional ionotropic glutamate receptors on peripheral axons and myelin.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Neurotransmitter-dependent signaling is traditionally restricted to
      axon terminals. However, receptors are present on myelinating glia, suggesting
      that chemical transmission may also occur along axons. METHODS: Confocal
      microscopy and Ca(2+) -imaging using an axonally expressed FRET-based reporter
      was used to measure Ca(2+) changes and morphological alterations in myelin in
      response to stimulation of glutamate receptors. RESULTS: Activation of alpha
      amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) or N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA) receptors induced a Ca(2+) increase in axon cylinders. However, only the
      latter caused structural alterations in axons, despite similar Ca(2+) increases.
      Myelin morphology was significantly altered by NMDA receptor activation, but not
      by AMPA receptors. Cu(2+) ions influenced the NMDA receptor-dependent response,
      suggesting that this metal modulates axonal receptors. Glutamate increased
      ribosomal signal in Schwann cell cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Axon cylinders and
      myelin of peripheral nervous system axons respond to glutamate, with a
      consequence being an increase in Schwann cell ribosomes. This may have
      implications for nerve pathology and regeneration. Muscle Nerve 54: 451-459,
      2016.

PMID- 26872413
TI  - Interactive effects of temperature and glyphosate on the behavior of blue ridge
      two-lined salamanders (Eurycea wilderae).
AB  - The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential interactive
      effects of stream temperatures and environmentally relevant glyphosate-based
      herbicide concentrations on movement and antipredator behaviors of larval Eurycea
      wilderae (Blue Ridge two-lined salamander). Larval salamanders were exposed to 1
      of 4 environmentally relevant glyphosate concentrations (0.00 ug acid equivalent
      [a.e.]/L, 0.73 ug a.e./L, 1.46 ug a.e./L, and 2.92 ug a.e./L) at either ambient
      (12  degrees C) or elevated (23  degrees C) water temperature. Behaviors observed
      included the exploration of a novel habitat, use of refuge, habitat selection
      relative to a potential predator, and burst movement distance. In the absence of
      glyphosate, temperature consistently affected movement and refuge-use behavior,
      with individuals moving longer distances more frequently and using refuge less at
      warm temperatures; however, when glyphosate was added, the authors observed
      inconsistent effects of temperature that may have resulted from differential
      toxicity at various temperatures. Larval salamanders made shorter, more frequent
      movements and demonstrated reduced burst distance at higher glyphosate
      concentrations. The authors also found that lower glyphosate concentrations
      sometimes had stronger effects than higher concentrations (i.e., nonmonotonic
      dose responses), suggesting that standard safety tests conducted only at higher
      glyphosate concentrations might overlook important sublethal effects on
      salamander behavior. These data demonstrate that sublethal effects of glyphosate
      based herbicides on natural behaviors of amphibians can occur with short-term
      exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem
      2016;35:2297-2303. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26872415
TI  - Louse-borne relapsing fever among East African refugees in Europe.
AB  - Louse-borne relapsing fever a neglected and forgotten disease by western
      physicians has recently re-emerged among East African migrants seeking asylum in
      Europe. We review here the cases observed so far together with a critical
      reappraisal of several issues regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis and
      treatment. 

PMID- 26872414
TI  - Post-chikungunya rheumatic disorders in travelers after return from the
      Caribbean.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Due to increasing concerns about post-chikungunya (pCHIK) rheumatic
      disorders in Latin America we aimed to evaluate its occurrence in travelers
      returning to NYC from the Caribbean. METHOD: Patients diagnosed with chikungunya
      (CHIK) during 2014 at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center (Bronx, NewYork) were
      identified by reviewing laboratory and electronic medical records. Patients and
      caregivers of pediatric patients were interviewed by phone >=9 months after the
      CHIK diagnosis to survey for chronic symptomatology and current health care
      needs. Reported chronic musculoskeletal complaints were categorized according to
      validated criteria. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients (54% females, median age
      [range] of 51.5 [0, 88] years) diagnosed with CHIK at our center were identified.
      Most (82%) had returned from the Dominican Republic. Nineteen (68%) patients were
      successfully contacted at a median (range) of 13 (9, 16) months since the acute
      diagnosis. A third (37%) reported ongoing complaints related to CHIK including
      joint pain (32%), muscle pain (32%), and joint swelling (26%). A presumptive
      diagnosis of pCHIK chronic inflammatory arthritis (n = 4) and pCHIK
      musculoskeletal disorder (n = 3) was established. CONCLUSIONS: A third of
      travelers with CHIK acquired in the Caribbean may be at risk for developing
      persistent symptoms suggestive of pCHIK rheumatic disorder.

PMID- 26872416
TI  - Zika virus and the risk of imported infection in returned travelers: Implications
      for clinical care.
AB  - Since late 2015, an unprecedented outbreak of Zika virus is spreading quickly
      across Southern America. The large size of the current outbreak in The Americas
      will also result in an increase in Zika virus infections among travelers
      returning from endemic areas. We report five cases of imported Zika virus
      infection to The Netherlands. Although the clinical course is usually mild,
      establishing the diagnosis is important, mainly because of the association with
      congenital microcephaly and the possibility of sexual transmission. 

PMID- 26872417
TI  - Paraproteinemic keratopathy as the presenting sign of hematologic malignancy.

PMID- 26872418
TI  - T-cell brain infiltration and immature antigen-presenting cells in transgenic
      models of Alzheimer's disease-like cerebral amyloidosis.
AB  - Cerebral beta-amyloidosis, one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's
      disease (AD), elicits a well-characterised, microglia-mediated local innate
      immune response. In contrast, it is not clear whether cells of the adaptive
      immune system, in particular T-cells, react to cerebral amyloidosis in AD. Even
      though parenchymal T-cells have been described in post-mortem brains of AD
      patients, it is not known whether infiltrating T-cells are specifically recruited
      to the extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid, and whether they are locally
      activated into proliferating, effector cells upon interaction with antigen
      presenting cells (APCs). To address these issues we have analysed by confocal
      microscopy and flow-cytometry the localisation and activation status of both T
      cells and APCs in transgenic (tg) mice models of AD-like cerebral amyloidosis.
      Increased numbers of infiltrating T-cells were found in amyloid-burdened brain
      regions of tg mice, with concomitant up-regulation of endothelial adhesion
      molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, compared to non-tg littermates. The infiltrating T
      cells in tg brains did not co-localise with amyloid plaques, produced less
      interferon-gamma than those in controls and did not proliferate locally. Bona
      fide dendritic cells were virtually absent from the brain parenchyma of both non
      tg and tg mice, and APCs from tg brains showed an immature phenotype, with
      accumulation of MHC-II in intracellular compartments. These results indicate that
      cerebral amyloidosis promotes T-cell infiltration but interferes with local
      antigen presentation and T-cell activation. The inability of the brain immune
      surveillance to orchestrate a protective immune response to amyloid-beta peptide
      might contribute to the accumulation of amyloid in the progression of the
      disease. 

PMID- 26872419
TI  - Peripheral viral infection induced microglial sensome genes and enhanced
      microglial cell activity in the hippocampus of neonatal piglets.
AB  - Although poorly understood, early-life infection is predicted to affect brain
      microglial cells, making them hypersensitive to subsequent stimuli. To
      investigate this, we assessed gene expression in hippocampal tissue obtained from
      a previously published study reporting increased microglial cell activity and
      reduced hippocampal-dependent learning in neonatal piglets infected with porcine
      reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a virus that induces
      interstitial pneumonia. Infection altered expression of 455 genes, of which 334
      were up-regulated and 121 were down-regulated. Functional annotation revealed
      that immune function genes were enriched among the up-regulated differentially
      expressed genes (DEGs), whereas calcium binding and synaptic vesicle genes were
      enriched among the down-regulated DEGs. Twenty-six genes encoding part of the
      microglia sensory apparatus (i.e., the sensome) were up-regulated (e.g., IL1R1,
      TLR2, and TLR4), whereas 15 genes associated with the synaptosome and synaptic
      receptors (e.g., NPTX2, GABRA2, and SLC5A7) were down-regulated. As the sensome
      may foretell microglia reactivity, we next inoculated piglets with culture medium
      or PRRSV at PD 7 and assessed hippocampal microglia morphology and function at PD
      28 when signs of infection were waning. Consistent with amplification of the
      sensome, microglia from PRRSV piglets had enhanced responsiveness to
      chemoattractants, increased phagocytic activity, and secreted more TNFalpha in
      response to lipopolysaccharide and Poly I:C. Immunohistochemical staining
      indicated PRRSV infection increased microglia soma length and length-to-width
      ratio. Bipolar rod-like microglia not evident in hippocampus of control piglets,
      were present in infected piglets. Collectively, this study suggests early-life
      infection alters the microglia sensome as well as microglial cell morphology and
      function. 

PMID- 26872420
TI  - Self-rated health and interleukin-6: Longitudinal relationships in older adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both self-rated health (SRH) and inflammation are implicated in
      chronic diseases and premature mortality. Better SRH is associated with lower
      proinflammatory cytokines, but there is little evidence about whether this
      relationship is more stable or dynamic. OBJECTIVE: To study the between- and
      within-person associations between SRH and IL-6. METHODS: Older adults (N=131;
      Mage=75 years) rated their health and provided blood samples for analysis of IL-6
      at separate occasions every 6 months over a period up to 5 years. Age, sex, BMI,
      neuroticism, and statin use were examined as covariates in multilevel models.
      RESULTS: In bivariate models, better SRH, lower BMI, younger age, and female sex
      correlated with lower IL-6. In multilevel models, stable SRH (between-person
      differences; p<.001) but not dynamic SRH (within-person changes; p=.93)
      correlated with IL-6. The stable relationship persisted with demographic and
      health covariates in the model. CONCLUSIONS: Better stable SRH but not dynamic
      SRH was robustly associated with lower IL-6 among older adults, lending support
      to previous cross-sectional findings on the relation between inflammatory markers
      and SRH. The findings suggest that trait-like mechanisms, rather than changes
      over a time scale of 6-month waves, govern this association. To further
      investigate the mechanisms behind the SRH-IL-6 association, studies with
      different measurement frequencies, higher within-person variability, and
      experimental approaches are warranted.

PMID- 26872421
TI  - Reduced number of peripheral natural killer cells in schizophrenia but not in
      bipolar disorder.
AB  - Overwhelming evidence indicates that subthreshold inflammatory state might be
      implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder
      (BPD). It has been reported that both groups of patients might be characterized
      by abnormal lymphocyte counts. However, little is known about alterations in
      lymphocyte proportions that may differentiate SCZ and BPD patients. Therefore, in
      this study we investigated blood cell proportions quantified by means of
      microarray expression deconvolution using publicly available data from SCZ and
      BPD patients. We found significantly lower counts of natural killer (NK) cells in
      drug-naive and medicated SCZ patients compared to healthy controls across all
      datasets. In one dataset from SCZ patients, there were no significant differences
      in the number of NK cells between acutely relapsed and remitted SCZ patients. No
      significant difference in the number of NK cells between BPD patients and healthy
      controls was observed in all datasets. Our results indicate that SCZ patients,
      but not BPD patients, might be characterized by reduced counts of NK cells.
      Future studies looking at lymphocyte counts in SCZ should combine the analysis of
      data obtained using computational deconvolution and flow cytometry techniques. 

PMID- 26872422
TI  - Neutrophil depletion after subarachnoid hemorrhage improves memory via NMDA
      receptors.
AB  - Cognitive deficits after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are common and
      disabling. Patients who experience delayed deterioration associated with
      vasospasm are likely to have cognitive deficits, particularly problems with
      executive function, verbal and spatial memory. Here, we report neurophysiological
      and pathological mechanisms underlying behavioral deficits in a murine model of
      SAH. On tests of spatial memory, animals with SAH performed worse than sham
      animals in the first week and one month after SAH suggesting a prolonged injury.
      Between three and six days after experimental hemorrhage, mice demonstrated loss
      of late long-term potentiation (L-LTP) due to dysfunction of the NMDA receptor.
      Suppression of innate immune cell activation prevents delayed vasospasm after
      murine SAH. We therefore explored the role of neutrophil-mediated innate
      inflammation on memory deficits after SAH. Depletion of neutrophils three days
      after SAH mitigates tissue inflammation, reverses cerebral vasoconstriction in
      the middle cerebral artery, and rescues L-LTP dysfunction at day 6. Spatial
      memory deficits in both the short and long-term are improved and associated with
      a shift of NMDA receptor subunit composition toward a memory sparing phenotype.
      This work supports further investigating suppression of innate immunity after SAH
      as a target for preventative therapies in SAH. 

PMID- 26872423
TI  - Peripheral elimination of the sympathetic nervous system stimulates immunocyte
      retention in lymph nodes and ameliorates collagen type II arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA), early activation of the
      sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is proinflammatory. Here, we wanted to find new
      target organs contributing to proinflammatory SNS effects. In addition, we wanted
      to clarify the importance of SNS-modulated immunocyte migration. METHODS: A new
      technique termed spatial energy expenditure configuration (SEEC) was developed to
      demonstrate bodily areas of high energy demand (to find new targets). We studied
      homing of labeled cells in vivo, lymphocyte expression of CCR7, supernatant
      concentration of CCL21, and serum levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in
      sympathectomized control/arthritic animals. RESULTS: During the course of
      arthritis, SEEC identified an early marked increase of energy expenditure in
      draining lymph nodes and spleen (nowhere else!). Although early sympathectomy
      ameliorated later disease, early sympathectomy increased energy consumption,
      organ weight, and cell numbers in arthritic secondary lymphoid organs, possibly a
      sign of lymphocyte retention (also in controls). Elimination of the SNS retained
      lymph node cells, elevated expression of CCR7 on lymph node cells, and increased
      CCL21. Serum levels of S1P, an important factor for lymphocyte egress, were
      higher in arthritic than control animals. Sympathectomy decreased S1P levels in
      arthritic animals to control levels. Transfer of retained immune cells from
      draining lymph nodes of sympathectomized donors to sympathectomized recipients
      markedly increased arthritis severity over weeks. CONCLUSIONS: By using the SEEC
      technique, we identified draining lymph nodes and spleen as major target organs
      of the SNS. The data show that the SNS increases egress of lymphocytes from
      draining lymph nodes to stimulate arthritic inflammation.

PMID- 26872424
TI  - Oxidative mitigation of aquatic methane emissions in large Amazonian rivers.
AB  - The flux of methane (CH4 ) from inland waters to the atmosphere has a profound
      impact on global atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) levels, and yet, strikingly
      little is known about the dynamics controlling sources and sinks of CH4 in the
      aquatic setting. Here, we examine the cycling and flux of CH4 in six large rivers
      in the Amazon basin, including the Amazon River. Based on stable isotopic mass
      balances of CH4 , inputs and outputs to the water column were estimated. We
      determined that ecosystem methane oxidation (MOX) reduced the diffusive flux of
      CH4 by approximately 28-96% and varied depending on hydrologic regime and general
      geochemical characteristics of tributaries of the Amazon River. For example, the
      relative amount of MOX was maximal during high water in black and white water
      rivers and minimal in clear water rivers during low water. The abundance of
      genetic markers for methane-oxidizing bacteria (pmoA) was positively correlated
      with enhanced signals of oxidation, providing independent support for the
      detected MOX patterns. The results indicate that MOX in large Amazonian rivers
      can consume from 0.45 to 2.07 Tg CH4 yr(-1) , representing up to 7% of the
      estimated global soil sink. Nevertheless, climate change and changes in
      hydrology, for example, due to construction of dams, can alter this balance,
      influencing CH4 emissions to atmosphere. 

PMID- 26872425
TI  - Predictive factors of self-reported hand eczema in adult Danes: a population
      based cohort study with 5-year follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Information about predictive factors of hand eczema is crucial for
      primary prevention. OBJECTIVES: To investigate predictive factors of hand eczema
      in adult Danes from the general population. METHODS: Participants from a cross
      sectional 5-year follow-up study in the general population, aged 18-72 years (n =
      2270), completed questionnaires about skin health and were grouped into four hand
      eczema groups: 'never', 'incident', 'nonpersistent' and 'persistent'. Multiple
      logistic regression models adjusted for age group and sex were used to evaluate
      associations with baseline variables. The participation rate for the follow-up
      study was 66.5% (29.7% of the participants originally invited to the baseline
      study). RESULTS: A history of atopic dermatitis (AD) was associated with both
      persistent and incident hand eczema [odds ratio (OR) 9.0, 95% confidence interval
      (95% CI) 5.6-14.4 and OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.2, respectively]. Thus, even in
      adulthood, a history of AD should be considered as a predictor of incident hand
      eczema. While filaggrin gene (FLG) null mutations were not associated with
      incident hand eczema, a statistically significant association was observed with
      persistent hand eczema (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.8-5.2). Finally, contact sensitization
      (23 allergens without nickel) was also associated with persistent hand eczema (OR
      2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.0), independently of a history of AD. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      confirms a history of AD as the strongest predictor of persistent hand eczema. We
      additionally found that a history of AD was associated with incident hand eczema
      in adults, in contrast to FLG mutations, which were associated only with
      persistent hand eczema in individuals with a history of AD, and not with incident
      hand eczema. Our study adds new knowledge to the interplay between AD, FLG
      mutations and hand eczema in the adult general population.

PMID- 26872426
TI  - Tocilizumab and pregnancy: Four cases of pregnancy in young women with rheumatoid
      arthritis refractory to anti-TNF biologics with exposure to tocilizumab.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the use of tocilizumab (TCZ) in pregnant patients with
      active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)
      agents. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of pregnant
      women with active RA treated between July 2008 and January 2015 by the Division
      of Maternal Medicine at our hospital. Inclusion criteria for this case series
      included active RA refractory to anti-TNF agents and exposure to TCZ at the time
      of conception. RESULTS: Our review of 28 patient hospital records identified four
      patients who met the inclusion criteria. All four patients had active synovitis
      before starting treatment with TCZ. Successful TCZ therapy allowed them to plan
      to become pregnant. When pregnancy was confirmed, TCZ was terminated as soon as
      possible in all patients. Three patients delivered full-term infants without any
      adverse outcomes. One patient had a partial molar pregnancy and miscarried during
      gestational week 11. Two patients remained in clinical remission with low-dose
      prednisolone (PSL) or no treatment for RA during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: TCZ may
      be a good alternative therapy for RA patients with symptoms that are hard to
      control with TNF blockers who desire to bear children.

PMID- 26872427
TI  - AGEs trigger autophagy in diabetic skin tissues and fibroblasts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contributes to
      the development of diabetic ulcers. Recent evidence indicates that AGEs
      administration enhanced autophagy in many cell types. As a positive trigger of
      autophagy, the effect of AGEs on autophagy in skin tissues and fibroblasts
      remains unknown. METHODS: Skin tissues were isolated from Spreqne-Dawley rats and
      immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze the location of LC3 and
      FOXO1 in skin tissues. Then primary cultured foreskin fibroblast cells with
      treated with AGEs and the effect of AGEs on autophagy was investigated. Protein
      level expressions of LC3, Beclin-1 and FOXO1 in fibroblasts were analyzed by
      Western blotting. Autophagic flux is detected with autophagy inhibitor
      chloroquine and mRFP-GFP-LC3 tandem construct. RESULTS: Compared with skin from
      normal rats, immunohistochemical staining shows a predominant LC3 localization in
      fibroblasts cytoplasm in diabetic rats. Elevated expression of FOXO1 also existed
      in diabetic rats dermis fibroblasts when compared with normal rats in
      immunohistochemical analysis. In human skin fibroblasts cells, AGEs
      administration stimulated the autophagy related LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1
      expressions and increased autophagy flux. In mRFP-GFP-LC3 puncta formation
      assays, both autolysosome and autophagosome were increased in human fibroblasts
      after treatment with AGEs. Fibroblasts exposed to AGEs also have increased FOXO1
      expression compared with control group. CONCLUSION: AGEs could induce autophagy
      at least in part via regulating the FOXO1 activity in diabetic skin tissues and
      fibroblasts.

PMID- 26872428
TI  - MiR-26b inhibits melanoma cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis by
      suppressing TRAF5-mediated MAPK activation.
AB  - Alterations in microRNA-26b (miR-26b) expression have been shown to participate
      in various malignant tumor developments. However, the possible function of miR
      26b in human melanoma cells remains unclarified. In this study, quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction was used to explore the expression profiles of miR-26b
      in melanoma cells. The effect of miR-26b on cell viability was determined by
      using MTT assays and colony formation assay. The apoptosis levels were evaluated
      by using Annexin V/fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) apoptosis detection kit and
      the apoptosis cells were confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
      Luciferase reporter plasmids were constructed to confirm direct targeting. Our
      study found that the expression of miR-26b was downregulated in human melanoma
      specimens. Overexpression of miR-26b significantly increased the anti
      proliferative effects and apoptosis in A375 and B16F10 melanoma cells. In
      addition, luciferase gene reporter assays confirmed that TRAF5 was a direct
      target gene of miR-26b and the anti-tumor effect of miR-26b in melanoma cells was
      significantly counteracted by treatment with TRAF5 overexpression. Furthermore,
      the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor suppressor of miR-26b in malignant
      melanomas may be due to the dephosphorylation of MAPK pathway caused by the
      decrease in TRAF5 expression when miR-26b is up-regulated in melanoma cells.
      These findings indicate that miR-26b might influence TRAF5-MAPK signaling
      pathways to facilitate the malignant progression of melanoma cells. 

PMID- 26872430
TI  - Classification of ADAMTS binding sites: The first step toward selective ADAMTS7
      inhibitors.
AB  - Genome-wide association studies identified ADAMTS7 as a risk locus for coronary
      artery disease. In carotid arteries of rats, neointima formation after balloon
      mediated injury goes along with enhanced Adamts7 expression. Vice versa, Adamts7
      deficient mice display reduced neointima formation following vascular injury.
      Although a causal link between ADAMTS7 and coronary artery disease remains to be
      proven, inhibition of ADAMTS7 represents a potential new target for intervention
      in this disease. ADAMTS7, a member of the 'a disintegrin and metalloproteinase
      with thrombospondin motifs' (ADAMTS) family of proteins, contains a catalytic
      zinc ion in the binding site of its metalloproteinase domain. The structure of
      ADAMTS7 and its inhibitors are unknown. In this study, we used in silico methods,
      including homology modeling and pharmacophore modeling, to analyze the ADAMTS7
      metalloproteinase domain, particularly its binding site. The results revealed
      structural and sequence differences relative to the binding sites of the other
      ADAMTS proteins; these non-conserved regions represent potential binding regions
      for selective ADAMTS7 inhibitors. The main contribution of this study is the
      proposal of a pharmacophore for ADAMTS7. The characterization of the ADAMTS7
      binding site and definition of a pharmacophore are the first step toward
      developing a new therapeutic target for coronary artery disease. 

PMID- 26872429
TI  - Reduced DPP4 activity improves insulin signaling in primary human adipocytes.
AB  - DPP4 is a ubiquitously expressed cell surface protease which is also released to
      the circulation as soluble DPP4 (sDPP4). Recently, we identified DPP4 as a novel
      adipokine oversecreted in obesity and thus potentially linking obesity to the
      metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, sDPP4 impairs insulin signaling in an autocrine
      and paracrine fashion in different cell types. However, it is still unknown which
      functional role DPP4 might play in adipocytes. Therefore, primary human
      adipocytes were treated with a specific DPP4 siRNA. Adipocyte differentiation was
      not affected by DPP4 silencing. Interestingly, DPP4 reduction improved insulin
      responsiveness of adipocytes at the level of insulin receptor, proteinkinase B
      (Akt) and Akt substrate of 160 kDa. To investigate whether the observed effects
      could be attributed to the enzymatic activity of DPP4, human adipocytes were
      treated with the DPP4 inhibitors sitagliptin and saxagliptin. Our data show that
      insulin-stimulated activation of Akt is augmented by DPP4 inhibitor treatment.
      Based on our previous observation that sDPP4 induces insulin resistance in
      adipocytes, and that adipose DPP4 levels are higher in obese insulin-resistant
      patients, we now suggest that the abundance of DPP4 might be a regulator of
      adipocyte insulin signaling. 

PMID- 26872432
TI  - Transoral laser microsurgery for locally advanced (T3-T4a) supraglottic squamous
      cell carcinoma: Sixteen years of experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer.
      The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncologic and functional outcomes
      of T3 to T4a supraglottic squamous carcinomas treated with transoral laser
      microsurgery (TLM). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis from an SPSS
      database. Primary outcomes were: locoregional control, overall survival (OS),
      disease-specific survival (DSS), laryngectomy-free survival, and function
      preservation rates. Secondary objectives were: rate of tracheostomies and
      gastrostomies according to age. Risk factors for local control and larynx
      preservation were also evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four consecutive
      patients were chosen for this study. Median follow-up was 40.7 + /- 32.8 months.
      Five and 10-year OS, DSS, and laryngectomy-free survival were 55.6% and 47%,
      67.6% and 58.6%, and 75.2% and 59.5%, respectively. Paraglottic involvement was
      an independent factor for larynx preservation. Six patients (3.9%) needed a
      definitive tracheostomy, a gastrostomy, or both. The gastrostomy rate was higher
      in the group of patients above 65 years of age (p = .03). Five-year laryngectomy
      free survival with preserved function was 74.5%. CONCLUSION: TLM constitutes a
      true alternative for organ preservation in locally advanced supraglottic
      carcinomas with good oncologic and functional outcomes. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1050-1057, 2016.

PMID- 26872433
TI  - [Irritable bowel syndrome: New pathophysiological hypotheses and practical
      issues].
AB  - In 2015, besides the fact that it still fills the gastroenterologists' offices
      and impairs patient's quality of life, the irritable bowel syndrome has
      considerably evolved on several points. The pathophysiology is now organized
      around a consensual hypothesis called the "brain-gut axis", which gather all the
      influences of peripheral factors as gut microbiota or local serotonin secretion,
      on the central pain perception, contributing to visceral hypersensitivity and
      transit modifications. About the diagnosis, the key message is "avoid over
      prescription" of additional tests, and reminds that a positive clinical diagnosis
      based on Rome III criteria is possible after the elimination of simple clinical
      warning signs. Finally, the food component, a neglected and historical claim of
      patients, finally finds a strong scientific rational, with a diet low in
      fermentable sugar and polyols, that gives positive and reproducible results. 

PMID- 26872431
TI  - Acute pancreatitis as a complication of childhood cancer treatment.
AB  - Acute pancreatitis (AP) is now well recognized as a possible complication of
      childhood cancer treatment, interrupting the chemotherapy regimen, and requiring
      prolonged hospitalization, possibly with intensive care and surgical
      intervention, thereby compromising the effect of chemotherapy and the remission
      of the underlying malignant disease. This review summarizes the current
      literature and presents the various etiological factors for AP during
      chemotherapy as well as modern trends in the diagnosis and therapy of AP in
      children.

PMID- 26872434
TI  - [Cardiac arrhythmias: Diagnosis and management].
AB  - Cardiac arrhythmias, with, on top of the list, atrial fibrillation, are frequent
      conditions and any physician might have to get involved at any stage of patient
      care (from diagnosis to treatment), without always having the opportunity to
      immediately refer to the cardiologist. The aim of this review is to present a
      summary of pathophysiology, clinical and electrocardiographic presentations, as
      well as diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the main cardiac arrhythmias.
      Supra-ventricular tachycardias (atrial fibrillation and flutter, atrioventricular
      reciprocating tachycardias) and ventricular tachycardias will be consecutively
      presented and discussed. 

PMID- 26872436
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26872435
TI  - Serum pentraxin-3 and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis
      (TWEAK) predict severity of infections in acute decompensated cirrhotic patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak
      inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) are new candidate prognostic markers for
      comorbidities and mortality in various inflammatory diseases. Acute
      decompensation of cirrhosis is characterized by acute exacerbation of chronic
      systemic inflammation. Recently, increased circulating PTX3 levels have been
      reported in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients and positively correlated with
      disease severity. This study aims to explore serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels and their
      relationship with clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients with acute
      decompensation. METHODS: We analyzed serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels in relation to
      inhospital and 3-month new clinical events and survivals in cirrhotic patients
      with acute decompensation. RESULTS: During admission, serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels
      were significantly higher in acute decompensated cirrhotic patients than controls
      and positively correlated with protein-energy wasting (PEW), new infections, long
      hospital stays, high medical costs, and high mortality. During a 3-month follow
      up, acute decompensated cirrhotic patients with high serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels had
      more episodes of unplanned readmission and high 3-month mortality. On
      multivariate analysis, high PTX3/sTWEAK levels and PEW were independent risk
      factors for high mortality. CONCLUSION: High serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels and PEW are
      common in cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation. As compared with low
      serum PTX3 and sTWEAK cases, cirrhotic patients with high serum PTX3/sTWEAK
      levels a have higher probability of new severe infections, severe sepsis, septic
      shock, type 1 hepatorenal syndrome, in-hospital, and 3-month follow-up
      mortalities. Therefore, high serum PTX3/sTWEAK levels on hospital admission
      predict disease severity and case fatality in cirrhotic patients with acute
      decompensation.

PMID- 26872438
TI  - Palliative care of bone pain due to skeletal metastases: Exploring newer avenues
      using neutron activated (45)Ca.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: With an objective to develop a cost-effective radiochemical
      formulation for palliation of pain due to skeletal metastases, we have
      demonstrated a viable method for large-scale production of (45)Ca (t1/2=163 days,
      Ebetamax=0.3MeV) using moderate flux research reactor, its purification from
      radionuclidic impurities adopting electrochemical approach and preclinical
      evaluation of (45)CaCl2. METHODS: Irradiation parameters were optimized by
      theoretical calculations for production of (45)Ca with highest possible specific
      activity along with minimum radionuclidic impurity burden. Based on this, the
      radioisotope was produced in reactor by irradiation of isotopically enriched (98%
      in (44)Ca) CaO target at a thermal neutron flux of ~1 * 10(14) n.cm(-2).s(-1) for
      4 months. Scandium-46 impurity co-produced along with (45)Ca was efficiently
      removed adopting an electrochemical separation approach. The bone specificity of
      (45)CaCl2 was established by in vitro studies involving its uptake in
      hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and also evaluating its biodistribution pattern
      over a period of 2 weeks after in vivo administration in Wistar rats. RESULTS:
      Thermal neutron irradiation of 100mg of enriched (98% in (44)Ca) CaO target
      followed by radiochemical processing and electrochemical purification procedure
      yielded ~37 GBq of (45)Ca with a specific activity of ~370 MBq/mg and
      radionuclidic purity>99.99%. The reliability and reproducibility of this approach
      were amply demonstrated by process demonstration in several batches. In vitro
      studies indicated significant uptake of (45)CaCl2 (up to 65%) in HA particles. In
      vivo biodistribution studies in Wistar rats showed specific skeletal accumulation
      (40-46%ID) with good retention over a period of 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: To the best
      of our knowledge, this is the first study on utilization of (45)CaCl2 in the
      context of nuclear medicine. The results obtained in this study hold promise and
      warrant further investigations for future translation of (45)CaCl2 to the
      clinics, thereby potentially enabling a cost-effective approach for metastatic
      bone pain palliation especially in developing countries.

PMID- 26872439
TI  - Novel (188)Re multi-functional bone-seeking compounds: Synthesis, biological and
      radiotoxic effects in metastatic breast cancer cells.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Radiolabeled bisphosphonates (BPs) have been used for bone imaging
      and delivery of beta(-) emitting radionuclides for bone pain palliation. As a
      beta(-) emitter, (188)Re has been considered particularly promising for bone
      metastases therapy. Aimed at finding innovative bone-seeking agents for systemic
      radiotherapy of bone metastases, we describe herein novel organometallic
      compounds of the type fac-[(188)Re(CO)3(k(3)-L)], (L=BP-containing chelator),
      their in vitro and in vivo stability, and their cellular damage in MDAMB231
      cells, a metastatic breast cancer cell line. METHODS: After synthesis and
      characterization of the novel organometallic compounds of the type fac
      [(188)Re(CO)3(k(3)-L)] their radiochemical purity and in vitro stability was
      assessed by HPLC. In vivo stability and pharmacokinetic profile were evaluated in
      mice and the radiocytotoxic activity and DNA damage were assessed by MTT assay
      and by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, respectively. RESULTS:
      Among all complexes, (188)Re3 was obtained with high radiochemical purity (>95%)
      and high specific activity and presented high in vitro and in vivo stability.
      Biodistribution studies of (188)Re3 in Balb/c mice showed fast blood clearance,
      high bone uptake (16.1 +/- 3.3% IA/g organ, 1h p.i.) and high bone-to-blood and
      bone-to-muscle radioactivity ratios, indicating that it is able to deliver
      radiation to bone in a very selective way. The radiocytotoxic effect elicited by
      (188)Re3 in the MDAMB231 cells was dependent on its concentration, and was higher
      than that induced by identical concentrations of [(188)ReO4](-). Additionally,
      (188)Re3 elicited morphological changes in the cells and induced DNA damage by
      the increased number of MN observed. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results
      demonstrate that (188)Re3 could be considered an attractive candidate for further
      preclinical evaluation for systemic radionuclide therapy of bone metastases
      considering its ability to deliver radiation to bone in a very selective way and
      to induce radiation damage.

PMID- 26872437
TI  - Kinetics modeling and occupancy studies of a novel C-11 PET tracer for VAChT in
      nonhuman primates.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Deficits in cholinergic function have been found in the aged brain
      and in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and
      Parkinson's disease (PD). The vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) is a
      reliable biomarker for the cholinergic system. We previously reported the initial
      in vitro and ex vivo characterization of (-)-[(11)C]TZ659 as a VAChT specific
      ligand. Here, we report the in vivo specificity, tracer kinetics, and dose
      occupancy studies in the nonhuman primate brain. METHODS: MicroPET brain imaging
      of (-)-[(11)C]TZ659 was performed under baseline conditions in two male macaques.
      Tracer kinetic modeling was carried out using a two-tissue compartment model
      (2TCM) and Logan plot with arterial blood input function and using a simplified
      reference tissue model (SRTM) and Logan plot (LoganREF) without blood input.
      Specificity for VAChT was demonstrated by pretreatment with (+)-pentazocine, (-)
      vesamicol, or S-(-)-eticlopride. Target occupancy (Occ) was calculated following
      pretreatment with escalating doses of (-)-vesamicol. RESULTS: Baseline PET
      imaging revealed selective retention in the striatum with rapid clearance from
      the cerebellar hemispheres as a reference region. Total volume of distribution
      (VT) values derived from both 2TCM and Logan analysis with blood input revealed
      ~3-fold higher levels of (-)-[(11)C]TZ659 in the striatum than the cerebellar
      hemispheres. Injection of (-)-vesamicol either as a blocking or displacing agent
      significantly reduced striatal uptake of (-)-[(11)C]TZ659. In contrast,
      pretreatment with the sigma-1 ligand (+)-pentazocine had no impact. Pretreatment
      with the S-(-)-eticlopride, a dopamine D2-like receptor antagonist, increased
      striatal uptake of (-)-[(11)C]TZ659. Striatal binding potential (BPND, range of
      0.33-1.6 with cerebellar hemispheres as the reference region) showed good
      correlation (r(2)=0.97) between SRTM and LoganREF. Occupancy studies found that
      ~0.0057 mg/kg of (-)-vesamicol produced 50% VAChT occupancy in the striatum.
      CONCLUSION: (-)-[(11)C]TZ659 demonstrated specific and reversible VAChT binding
      and favorable pharmacokinetic properties for assessing the density of VAChT in
      the living brain.

PMID- 26872440
TI  - PET imaging of dopamine transporters with [(18)F]FE-PE2I: Effects of anti
      Parkinsonian drugs.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the striatal [(18)F]FE-PE2I binding and the
      immunohistochemical stain of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the striatum, and to
      evaluate the effects of therapeutic drugs on [(18)F]FE-PE2I binding. METHODS:
      Dynamic PET/CT of [(18)F]FE-PE2I was performed in Parkinson's disease (PD) rat
      models, induced by the unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into the striatum. A
      simplified reference tissue model method was used to calculate the striatal
      binding potential (striatal BPND). Each of the four normal rats was pretreated
      with pramipexole, amantadine, and escitalopram 30 min before [(18)F]FE-PE2I
      injection. The effect of L-DOPA combined with benserazide was assessed in the
      normal and PD rats. RESULTS: The BPND was significantly lower in the lesioned
      striatum than in the striatum of the normal rats. After the pretreatment with
      pramipexole, amantadine, and escitalopram, the values of the striatal BPND did
      not differ from those of the controls. The pretreatment with L-DOPA/benserazide,
      however, significantly reduced the striatal BPND. The striatal BPND of the PD
      rats with L-DOPA/benserazide pretreatment was not different from that of the same
      PD rats with placebo treatment. CONCLUSION: [(18)F]FE-PE2I may be used as a
      radioligand for the in-vivo imaging of the DAT. In the normal rats, [(18)F]FE
      PE2I binding is unaffected by pramipexole, amantadine, and escitalopram. L
      DOPA/benserazide does not affect the striatal [(18)F]FE-PE2I binding in PD rats.

PMID- 26872441
TI  - Kit formulation for preparation and biological evaluation of a novel (99m)Tc-oxo
      complex with metronidazole xanthate for imaging tumor hypoxia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Achieving an ideal (99m)Tc labeled nitroimidazole hypoxia marker is
      still considered to be of great interest. Metronidazole xanthate (MNXT) ligand
      was synthesized and radiolabeled with (99m)Tc-glucoheptonate (GH) to form the
      (99m)TcO-MNXT complex, for the potential use as a novel probe for imaging tumor
      hypoxia. METHODS: For labeling, (99m)TcO-MNXT was prepared by ligand-exchange
      reaction with (99m)Tc-GH. The radiochemical purity of the (99m)TcO-MNXT complex
      was measured by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC). The distribution coefficient and stability of the complex
      was investigated. The structure of the (99m)TcO-MNXT complex was verified by
      preparation and characterization of the corresponding stable rhenium complex. The
      cellular uptake of the (99m)TcO-MNXT complex was determined in murine sarcoma
      S180 cell lines under hypoxic and aerobic conditions. The biodistribution and
      single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image studies of the (99m)TcO
      MNXT complex were performed in mice bearing S 180 tumor. RESULTS: The
      radiochemical purity of the (99m)TcO-MNXT complex was over 90%. It had good in
      vitro stability and its distribution coefficient indicated that it was a
      hydrophilic complex. When (99m)Tc and Re complexes were coinjected in HPLC, both
      radioactivity (for (99m)Tc complex) and UV detectors (for Re complex) showed
      nearly identical HPLC profiles, suggesting their structures are similar. The
      tumor cell experiment and the biodistribution in mice bearing S 180 tumor showed
      that the (99m)TcO-MNXT complex had a good hypoxic selectivity and accumulated in
      the tumor with high uptake and good retention. Single photon emission computed
      tomography (SPECT) image studies showed that the tumor detection was observable.
      CONCLUSIONS: (99m)TcO-MNXT is prepared from a kit without the need for
      purification and shows high tumor uptake, tumor/blood and tumor/muscle ratios,
      suggesting that it would be a promising candidate for imaging tumor hypoxia.

PMID- 26872442
TI  - Noninvasive visualization of microRNA-155 in multiple kinds of tumors using a
      radiolabeled anti-miRNA oligonucleotide.
AB  - PURPOSE: We investigated whether a (99m)Tc radiolabeled anti-miRNA-155
      oligonucleotide (AMO-155) could visualize the expression of miR-155 in multiple
      kinds of tumors in vivo. METHODS: AMO-155 was chemically synthesized and modified
      with 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe) and phosphorothioate (PS). It was radiolabeled with
      (99m)Tc via the conjugation with NHS-MAG3 at 5' end. The characterization of
      radiolabeling and serum stability was evaluated using high performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) and agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of
      C/EBPbeta, one of the miR-155 target proteins, was assessed using Western blot.
      The cellular uptake and delivery of AMO-155 was further evaluated in tumor cells.
      (99m)Tc-AMO-155 was tested in vivo in multiple tumor models, including miR-155
      over-expressed and low-expressed tumor models. Finally, biodistribution of
      (99m)Tc-AMO-155 was evaluated. RESULTS: (99m)Tc-AMO-155 was prepared with high
      yield and radiochemical purity. It showed high stability in fresh human serum for
      10h. (99m)Tc-AMO-155 displayed comparable capacity as unlabeled AMO-155 to
      increase the expression of C/EBPbeta protein in MCF-7 cells. (99m)Tc-AMO-155
      showed an increased radioactive uptake in MCF-7 cells after 8h of incubation,
      whereas no change of (99m)Tc-pertechnetate uptake was observed.
      Carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled AMO-155 had higher fluorescent delivery than
      Control in HeLa and HepG2 cells by confocal microscopy. In miR-155 over-expressed
      tumor models, (99m)Tc-AMO-155 showed significantly higher tumor accumulation than
      (99m)Tc-Control. Furthermore, (99m)Tc-AMO-155 was capable of discriminating
      between MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 tumors based on their expression of miR-155.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study successfully prepared and proved (99m)Tc-AMO-155 as a
      prospective imaging agent for the noninvasive visualization of miR-155 expression
      in vivo.

PMID- 26872443
TI  - Staging of fibrosis in experimental non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by quantitative
      molecular imaging in rat models.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the ability of hepatocyte-specific
      functional imaging to stage fibrosis in experimental rat models of liver fibrosis
      and progressive NASH. Using ROC analysis we tested the ability of a functional
      imaging metric to discriminate early (F1) from moderate (F2) fibrosis in the
      absence and presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which has not been
      achieved by any modality other than biopsy. METHODS: Galactosyl Human Serum
      Albumin (GSA) was radiolabeled with the positron-emitter, (68)Ga, and injected
      (i.v., 45-95 MUCi, 1.5 pmol/g TBW) into 44 healthy, 19 DEN-, and 22 CDAA-treated
      male rats. Quantification of liver function was achieved by calculating T90,
      defined as the time for the liver to accumulate 90 percent of the [(68)Ga]GSA
      plateau value. All livers were excised immediately after imaging and prepared for
      a "blinded" histologic examination, which included fibrosis and fat content
      scores. Two sets of fibrosis scores were recorded for all of animals. The
      dominant fibrosis stage was recorded as the "Dominant Pattern" score and the
      "Maximum Pattern" score was assigned if a smaller distinct region with a higher
      fibrosis score was observed. RESULTS: Animals with Dominant Pattern F0-F1 liver
      fibrosis (D(-)=39) demonstrated significantly (P<0.0001) faster accumulation of
      [(68)Ga]GSA (2.40 +/- 0.52 min) than those with moderate to advanced Dominant
      Pattern fibrosis F2 and F4 (D(+)=26) (3.48 +/- 1.01 min). ROC analysis (F0-F1 vs
      F2-F4) produced an area under the binormal curve (AUC) of 0.867 +/- 0.045. Twenty
      seven of the 65 rats had small regions with higher fibrosis scores. Six of these
      Maximum Pattern scores reclassified the animals from D(-) to D(+). ROC analysis
      of F0-F1 versus F2-F4 rats without liver fat produced AUCs of 0.881 +/- 0.053 for
      the Dominant Pattern Score and 0.944 +/- 0.035 for the Maximum Pattern Score.
      CONCLUSIONS: PET Functional Imaging of [(68)Ga]GSA accurately discriminates early
      from moderate experimental fibrosis independent of steatosis grade. If validated
      in human studies, molecular imaging may emerge as a potential alternative to
      invasive liver biopsy.

PMID- 26872444
TI  - Is timolol an effective treatment for pyogenic granuloma?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign vascular tumor that can be
      treated by cautery (chemical or thermal), laser, excision, curettage,
      sclerotherapy, and cryotherapy. Topical timolol is emerging as a non-invasive
      modality for the treatment of PGs. METHODS: We recruited a series of 10 patients
      with PG, who received treatment with 0.5% timolol maleate ophthalmic solution
      applied 4 times a day, 2 drops per dose. No other medication, topical or
      systemic, was given. Pulse rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose were monitored
      at baseline and weekly thereafter for the duration of treatment. ECG was done at
      baseline. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by considering a complete
      response, a partial response, and no response. RESULTS: Of 10 patients, four
      showed complete response within 3-24 days, with no recurrence at 3-month follow
      up. Three patients each showed partial or no response. No local or systemic side
      effects were reported in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The response of PGs to
      beta blockers seems to be variable. Although topical timolol has the advantage of
      minimal adverse events, ease of administration, and better cosmetic outcomes,
      it's efficacy in PG may not be universal unlike in infantile hemangiomas. Topical
      timolol may be a treatment option in young children, incapacitated elderly, and
      over delicate areas like face, nails, and gums where invasive modalities are not
      desirable.

PMID- 26872445
TI  - Relationships between risky sexual behaviour, dysexecutive problems, and mental
      health in the years following interdisciplinary TBI rehabilitation.
AB  - Little is known about the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
      regarding risky sexual behaviour. The objectives of the study were (1) to compare
      risky sexual behaviour in a sample of individuals with TBI having received
      interdisciplinary rehabilitation with that of healthy controls, and (2) to
      explore the relationships between risky sexual behaviour, executive functions,
      and mental health in individuals with TBI. The study group consisted of 42
      individuals with TBI with a mean age of 37.9 years (SD = 9.7), 12.8 years of
      education (SD = 3.3), and 3.3 years post-injury (SD = 4.3). Healthy controls
      consisted of 47 participants, with a mean age of 37.6 years (SD = 10.7), and 13
      years of education (SD = 3). Risky sexual behaviour was measured with the Sexual
      Risk Survey and executive function with the Dysexecutive Questionnaire. Mental
      health measures included the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the Patient
      Health Questionnaire for depression. Compared to healthy controls, individuals
      with TBI reported more dysexecutive and mental health problems, without
      differences in risky sexual behaviour. In individuals with TBI, risky sexual
      behaviour was associated with behavioural, cognitive and emotional dysexecutive
      problems, but not with anxiety or depression. It was concluded that special
      attention should be given to individuals with TBI showing difficulties in
      executive functions given their association with risky sexual behaviour.

PMID- 26872446
TI  - Endograft repair for pseudoaneurysms and penetrating ulcers of the ascending
      aorta.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to report midterm results of thoracic
      endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms (AAPs)
      and penetrating aortic ulcers (PAUs) of the ascending aorta. METHODS: This study
      was retrospective and performed at tertiary centers. Eight patients with AAPs (n
      = 5) and PAUs (n = 3) received total endovascular repair of the ascending aorta.
      Patients with a history of type A aortic dissection or fusiform aneurysm were
      excluded. All patients analyzed were considered to be at high risk for open
      repair at the time of presentation. RESULTS: Urgent intervention was performed in
      6 (75%) cases. Primary clinical success was achieved in 7 (87.5%) cases. A low
      flow type 3 endoleak remained asymptomatic and was managed conservatively. No
      TEVAR-related in-hospital mortality, primary conversion, cerebrovascular
      accidents, valve impairment, or myocardial infarction occurred. All patients were
      discharged home, alive and independent, after a median length of stay of 6
      (range: 5-24) days. No patient was lost at a mean follow-up of 40 +/- 33 (range:
      4-93) months. Ongoing primary clinical success was maintained in all but 1
      patient (type 3 endoleak): aortically related reintervention was never required.
      No endograft breakage or migration was observed. At 1-year follow-up, 7 (87.5%)
      aortic lesions had significant reduction in diameter (>=5 mm). CONCLUSIONS:
      Ascending TEVAR was feasible, safe, and effective for AAPs and PAUs. In a very
      select subset of lesions, midterm results were favorable, with both standard and
      custom-designed endografts.

PMID- 26872447
TI  - Is there a role for postinduction positron emission tomography and computed
      tomography with fludeoxyglucose F 18? A call for standardization.

PMID- 26872448
TI  - Caught between a rock and a hard place: Venous thromboembolism screening in high
      risk patients.

PMID- 26872449
TI  - Improving operating room efficiency--A value proposition.

PMID- 26872450
TI  - Attitudes towards the Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) versus the Faecal
      Immunochemical Test (FIT) for colorectal cancer screening: perceived ease of
      completion and disgust.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening is key to early detection and thus to
      early treatment, but uptake is often sub-optimal, particularly amongst lower
      income groups. It is proposed that the imminent introduction of the single-sample
      Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in Scotland may lead to increased uptake as
      compared to the current Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), but underlying reasons
      are yet to be determined. The aim was to evaluate attitudes and intentions
      towards completing the FIT compared to the current FOBT for colorectal cancer
      screening. METHODS: A convenience sample of 200 adults (mean age 56.5, range 40
      89; 59% female) living in Scotland rated both the FOBT and the FIT with regard to
      ease of completion, perceived disgust and intention to complete and return (all
      measured on Likert-type 1-7 scale). Participants were randomised to be presented
      (via a face-to-face contact) with either the FIT or FOBT first. RESULTS:
      Participants reported higher intention to complete and return the FIT versus the
      FOBT (mean difference 0.62, 95% CI (0.44, 0.79)). Overall, 85.0% (n = 170) of
      participants agreed or strongly agreed that they would intend to complete and
      return the FIT compared to 65.5% (n = 131) for the FOBT (chi(2) = 20.4, p <
      .001). The FIT was also perceived to be easier to complete (mean difference 0.85,
      95% CI (0.70, 1.01) and much less disgusting (mean difference 1.11, 95% CI (0.94,
      1.27)). Lower perceived disgust, higher socio-economic status and previous
      participation in any cancer screening were significant predictors of intention to
      complete the FOBT, whilst only higher perceived ease of completion predicted
      intention to complete the FIT. CONCLUSIONS: People reported higher intentions to
      complete and return a FIT than a FOBT test for colorectal cancer screening,
      largely due to a perception that it is easier and less disgusting to complete.
      The findings suggest that the introduction of the FIT as standard in the UK could
      result in a notable increase in screening uptake.

PMID- 26872451
TI  - Identification of blood meal sources in the main African malaria mosquito vector
      by MALDI-TOF MS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The identification of blood meal sources in malaria vectors is
      critical to better understanding host/vector interactions and malaria
      epidemiology and control. Currently, the identification of mosquito blood meal
      origins is based on time-consuming and costly techniques such as precipitin
      tests, ELISA and molecular tools. Although these tools have been validated to
      identify the blood meal and trophic preferences of female Anopheles mosquitoes,
      they present several limitations. Recently, matrix-assisted, laser
      desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was
      successfully used as a quick and accurate tool for arthropod identification,
      including mosquitoes. The aim of the present work was to test whether MALDI-TOF
      MS could also be applied to identification of blood meal sources from engorged
      mosquitoes. METHODS: Abdomen proteins extracted from Anopheles gambiae (stricto
      sensu, S molecular form) that were either unengorged or artificially engorged on
      seven distinct types of vertebrate blood (human, horse, sheep, rabbit, mouse,
      rat, dog) were submitted for MALDI-TOF MS. RESULTS: The comparison of mass
      spectrometry (MS) spectra from mosquito abdomens collected 1 h post-feeding, were
      able to discriminate blood meal origins. Moreover, using Aedes albopictus
      specimens, abdominal protein MS spectra from engorged mosquitoes were found
      specific to host blood source and independent of the mosquito species. A
      sequential analysis revealed stability of mosquito abdominal protein spectra up
      to 24 h post-feeding. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that MALDI-TOF MS could
      determine feeding patterns of freshly engorged mosquitoes up to 24 h post-blood
      meal. The MALDI-TOF MS technique appears to be an efficient tool for large
      epidemiological surveillance of vector-borne diseases and outbreak source
      identification.

PMID- 26872453
TI  - Evaluation of a modified knee rotation angle in MRI scans with and without
      trochlear dysplasia: a parameter independent of knee size and trochlear
      morphology.
AB  - PURPOSE: Regarding TT-TG in knee realignment surgery, two aspects have to be
      considered: first, there might be flaws in using absolute values for TT-TG,
      ignoring the knee size of the individual. Second, in high-grade trochlear
      dysplasia with a dome-shaped trochlea, measurement of TT-TG has proven to lack
      precision and reliability. The purpose of this examination was to establish a
      knee rotation angle, independent of the size of the individual knee and
      unaffected by a dysplastic trochlea. METHODS: A total of 114 consecutive MRI
      scans of knee joints were analysed by two observers, retrospectively. Of these,
      59 were obtained from patients with trochlear dysplasia, and another 55 were
      obtained from patients presenting with a different pathology of the knee joint.
      Trochlear dysplasia was classified into low grade and high grade. TT-TG was
      measured according to the method described by Schoettle et al. In addition, a
      modified knee rotation angle was assessed. Interobserver reliability of the knee
      rotation angle and its correlation with TT-TG was calculated. RESULTS: The knee
      rotation angle showed good correlation with TT-TG in the readings of observer 1
      and observer 2. Interobserver correlation of the parameter showed excellent
      values for the scans with normal trochlea, low-grade and high-grade trochlear
      dysplasia, respectively. All calculations were statistically significant (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: The knee rotation angle might meet the requirements for
      precise diagnostics in knee realignment surgery. Unlike TT-TG, this parameter
      seems not to be affected by a dysplastic trochlea. In addition, the dimensionless
      parameter is independent of the knee size of the individual. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      II.

PMID- 26872454
TI  - Management of patellar problems in skeletally mature patients with nail-patella
      syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) or hereditary onychoosteodysplasia is a rare
      autosomal dominant disease, characterized by a tetrad of findings, which include
      fingernail abnormalities, hypoplasia of the patellae, radial head dislocation and
      prominent iliac horns. Most of the literature on the treatment of patellar
      problems in NPS concerns paediatric patients, and there is no standard treatment
      algorithm for adult patients. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of skeletally
      mature patients with NPS who presented to our clinic. We reviewed the presenting
      complaints, the physical examination findings and the radiographic imaging.
      RESULTS: We identified seven skeletally mature patients with NPS who presented
      with patellofemoral complaints. Their symptoms were instability, pain, or a
      combination of the two. Examination and imaging revealed a wide range of severity
      but included patellar instability and patellar arthritis. In our series, milder
      forms of the disease were treated with non-operative measures, but the majority
      of our patients required surgery including medial patellofemoral ligament
      reconstruction, tibial tuberosity transposition, patellofemoral and total knee
      arthroplasty. At midterm follow-up, most patients had good results. CONCLUSION:
      Nail-patella syndrome has a wide range of presentations and severity in
      skeletally mature patients. Knee surgeons should be familiar with the spectrum of
      clinical presentation and the range of treatment options available in order to
      provide optimum treatment for patients with this disorder. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID- 26872455
TI  - Lanostane Triterpenoids from Fruiting Bodies of Ganoderma leucocontextum.
AB  - Six new lanostane-type triterpenoids, namely leucocontextins S-X (1-6), together
      with twelve known compounds, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma
      leucocontextum. Their structures were established by MS and NMR data. 

PMID- 26872456
TI  - The Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 4 Positive Allosteric Modulator ADX88178
      Inhibits Inflammatory Responses in Primary Microglia.
AB  - While the specific trigger of Parkinson Disease (PD) in most patients is unknown,
      considerable evidence suggests that the neuroinflammatory response makes an
      essential contribution to the neurodegenerative process. Drugs targeting
      metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu receptors), 7 Transmembrane (7TM)
      spanning/G protein coupled receptors that bind glutamate, are emerging as
      therapeutic targets for PD and may have anti-inflammatory properties. ADX88178 is
      novel potent, selective, and brain-penetrant positive allosteric modulator of the
      mGlu4 which is under evaluation for treatment of PD and other neurological
      disorders. We used microglia cultured from mouse brain to determine if ADX88178
      had direct effects on the inflammatory responses of these cells. We studied both
      microglia from wild type and Grm4 knock out mice. We found that activation of
      mGlu4 with ADX88178 attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in primary microglia,
      leading to a decrease in the expression of TNFalpha, MHCII, and iNOS, markers of
      pro-inflammatory responses. These effects were absent in microglia from mice
      lacking mGlu4. These results demonstrate a cell-autonomous anti-inflammatory
      effect of ADX88178 mediated mGlu4 activation on microglia, and suggest that this
      drug or similar activators or potentiators of mGlu4 may have disease-modifying as
      well as symptomatic effects in PD and other brain disorders with an inflammatory
      component.

PMID- 26872458
TI  - Osteoblastic Actions of the Neuropeptide Y System to Regulate Bone and Energy
      Homeostasis.
AB  - Neural pathways are now a well-appreciated factor in the regulatory milieu
      controlling the maintenance of bone mass. A number of neural pathways from the
      brain to bone have been identified. These pathways often involve elements of the
      energy homeostatic apparatus, indicating links between the regulation of bone
      metabolism and energy balance. Neuropeptide Y is one such factor that co
      regulates these two processes. Initial studies outlined the skeletal actions of
      NPY from within the brain and the interactions with energy homeostatic processes.
      However, in recent years, an appreciation for the actions of NPY within bone
      cells has expanded. Cells of the osteoblastic lineage express both NPY ligand and
      a cognate receptor NPY, Y1R. Murine studies have demonstrated that both ligand
      and receptor actively control bone mass and osteoblast activity and interact with
      mechanical signals to integrate with the local loading environment. Local NPY
      signalling regulates osteoprogenitor production and differentiation, to cover the
      entire osteoblastic lineage. In addition, several recent studies have
      demonstrated extra-skeletal actions of osteoblastic NPY signalling, to regulate
      energy expenditure and with it adiposity, and in a separate study, to control
      release of a factor-controlling beta cell mass and insulin production/release and
      with it glucose tolerance. Thus, osteoblastic neuropeptide production and
      signalling illustrates the rapidly widening sphere of influence of skeletal
      tissue, and suggests a far more complex and interconnected physiology then is
      currently appreciated.

PMID- 26872459
TI  - Hydroxychloroquine hindering of diabetic isletopathy carries its signature on the
      inflammatory cytokines.
AB  - Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is supposed to have favorable effects in diabetes
      mellitus (DM). However no previous experimental studies had investigated its
      effect on the structure of the endocrine pancreas, islets of Langerhans (IOL), in
      DM. In addition, the mechanism by which HCQ acts in DM is not well understood. In
      this study, we hypothesized that the possible favorable effects of HCQ in DM at
      the structural as well as at metabolic levels could be accomplished, in part, by
      its anti-inflammatory action. A total of 45 rats were divided equally into;
      control, DM and HCQ + DM groups (received citrate buffer, 27.5 mg/kg single ip
      STZ and STZ + HCQ 200 mg/kg/w respectively). After 4 weeks, samples from pancreas
      were histologically studied for the resulting changes. The HCQ + DM group showed
      preservation of IOL structure, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the beta-cell
      area, %, mass, IOL proliferation and neogenesis as well as correction of the
      significantly increased (p < 0.05) alpha-cell area, %, disturbed glucose
      homeostasis and lipid profile compared with the DM group. The significantly
      elevated inflammatory cytokines in the latter were lowered in the HCQ + DM group.
      Therefore, HCQ showed definite favorable effects on the histological as well as
      the metabolic profiles in DM which may be partly attributed to its anti
      inflammatory action. This notable improvement of DM by HCQ deserves further
      studies to distinctly approve HCQ as a promising oral hypoglycemic agent.

PMID- 26872460
TI  - Arboviruses and apoptosis: the role of cell death in determining vector
      competence.
AB  - A relatively small number of mosquito species transmit arboviruses such as
      dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and West Nile viruses to hundreds of millions
      of people each year, yet we still lack a thorough understanding of the molecular
      factors that determine vector competence. Apoptosis has been shown to be an
      important factor in determining the outcome of virus infection for many viruses.
      However, until recently, it was not clear whether apoptosis plays a role in
      determining the outcome of arbovirus infections in mosquitoes. Recent work has
      begun to shed light on the roles of apoptosis in this important process.

PMID- 26872461
TI  - NHS "winter" pressure could become norm in summer, experts warn.

PMID- 26872457
TI  - Precision Medicine for Tobacco Dependence: Development and Validation of the
      Nicotine Metabolite Ratio.
AB  - Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of tobacco-related morbidity and
      mortality, yet there is a high rate of relapse amongst smokers who try to quit.
      Phenotypic biomarkers have the potential to improve smoking cessation outcomes by
      identifying the best available treatment for an individual smoker. In this
      review, we introduce the nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) as a reliable and stable
      phenotypic measure of nicotine metabolism that can guide smoking cessation
      treatment among smokers who wish to quit. We address how the NMR accounts for
      sources of variation in nicotine metabolism including genotype and other
      biological and environmental factors such as estrogen levels, alcohol use, body
      mass index, or menthol exposure. Then, we highlight clinical trials that validate
      the NMR as a biomarker to predict therapeutic response to different
      pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. Current evidence supports the use of
      nicotine replacement therapy for slow metabolizers, and non-nicotine treatments
      such as varenicline for normal metabolizers. Finally, we discuss future research
      directions to elucidate mechanisms underlying NMR associations with treatment
      response, and facilitate the implementation of the NMR as biomarker in clinical
      practice to guide smoking cessation.

PMID- 26872462
TI  - Effector function of CTLs is increased by irradiated colorectal tumor cells that
      modulate OX-40L and 4-1BBL and is reversed following dual blockade.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sub-lethal doses of ionizing radiation (IR) can alter the phenotype
      of target tissue by modulating genes that influence effector T cell activity.
      Previous studies indicate that cancer cells respond to radiation by up-regulating
      surface expression of death receptors, cell adhesion molecules and tumor
      associated antigens (TAA). However, there is limited information available
      regarding how T cells themselves are altered following these interactions with
      irradiated tumor cells. METHODS: Here, several human colorectal tumor cell lines
      were exposed to radiation (0-10 Gy) in vitro and changes in the expression of
      molecules costimulatory to effector T cells (4-1BBL, OX-40L, CD70, ICOSL) were
      examined by flow cytometry. T cell effector function was assessed to determine if
      changes in these proteins were directly related to the changes in T cell
      function. RESULTS: We found OX-40L and 4-1BBL to be the most consistently
      upregulated proteins on the surface of colorectal tumor cells post-IR while ICOSL
      and CD70 remained largely unaltered. Expression of these gene products correlated
      with enhanced killing of irradiated human colorectal tumor cells by TAA-specific
      T-cells. Importantly, blocking of both OX-40L and 4-1BBL reversed radiation
      enhanced T-cell killing of human tumor targets as well as T-cell survival and
      activation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, results of this study suggest that, beyond
      simply rendering tumor cells more sensitive to immune attack, radiation can be
      used to specifically modulate expression of genes that directly stimulate
      effector T cell activity.

PMID- 26872463
TI  - Idiopathic Toe Walking: Tests and Family Predisposition.
AB  - The aim of this study is to provide clinical examination methods that were
      designed specifically to assess the level of severity among children with
      idiopathic toe walking (ITW). The idiopathic toe-walking pattern of 836 children
      was recorded and analyzed during 4 years. Questionnaires and clinical
      measurements were evaluated, along with differential tests, assessing the
      occurrence and severity of toe walking. Questions about family history and onset
      of toe walking were evaluated along with special tests and measurements assessing
      the occurrence and severity of toe walking. The different measurements apply
      during this study, ankle dorsiflexion, lumbar lordosis angle, as well as the
      clinical spin test, walking after spin test, and heel walking test revealed in
      all cases that children with a positive family predisposition were significantly
      more affected than children with negative family predisposition. It is concluded
      that children with ITW and a positive family predisposition were more intensively
      affected during all performed clinical tests than children with no family
      predisposition. The tests used during this study have not being used by any other
      researches, even though they showed significant differences between the children
      with ITW and children with a normal gait pattern. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic,
      Level II: development of diagnostic test with consecutive patients and control
      patients.

PMID- 26872464
TI  - Pediatric spinal arteriovenous malformations and fistulas: a single institute's
      experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pediatric spinal vascular diseases are extremely rare. We aimed to
      evaluate their clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in our institute.
      DESIGN: A total of 10 patient files were retrospectively reviewed, including 3
      cases of intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), 6 cases of
      perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), and 1 case of epidural AVF. Clinical
      features, radiological findings, treatment results, and clinical outcomes were
      evaluated. The median durations of the radiologic and clinical follow-ups were
      17.7 and 107.9 months, respectively. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1:1,
      with a median age at diagnosis of 9 years. All AVMs were juvenile type, all
      perimedullary AVFs were high flow types (three type IVb and three type IVc), and
      one epidural AVF was associated with intradural venous drainage. Most cases (90
      %) were located in the cervical spine and conus medullaris. Acute neurological
      deterioration was identified in five patients; however, bleeding was identified
      in only one patient. Two cases were surgically treated, seven cases underwent
      embolization, and one case underwent radiosurgery. Three cases were completely
      obliterated, and their clinical states were improved (n = 2; 66.7 %) and
      stationary (n = 1; 33.3 %). Meanwhile, seven cases were incompletely obliterated,
      and their clinical states were improved (n = 2; 28.6 %), stationary (n = 3; 42.8
      %), and aggravated (n = 2; 28.6 %). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric spinal AVMs and AVFs
      were mostly complex and high flow types, and complete obliteration could not be
      satisfactorily achieved. Incompletely treated lesions should be closely followed
      up because they may worsen.

PMID- 26872465
TI  - Sacral agenesis: evaluation of accompanying pathologies in 38 cases, with
      analysis of long-term outcomes.
AB  - PURPOSE: Sacral agenesis (SA), or caudal regression syndrome, is a congenital
      malformation of the spine of varying degree of severity. The aim of our study was
      to identify associated impairments in structure and function of the orthopedic,
      neurological, cardiopulmonary, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal systems, and
      to evaluate their impact on function. METHODS: This was a retrospective case
      series analysis of 38 patients with SA. Patients were divided into two groups: SA
      with myelomeningocele (group 1) and without myelomeningocele (group 2). Between
      group comparisons in terms of the features of the SA, impairments in associated
      systems, impact on gross motor function, need for surgery, and association with
      prenatal screening and maternal gestational diabetes were evaluated. RESULTS: The
      majority of comorbidities were orthopedic and neurological in nature. Impairments
      in sphincter control and independent transferring were more prevalent in group 1,
      resulting in lower function. Scoliosis, kyphosis, and hip dislocation/subluxation
      were the most common orthopedic problems, with a higher prevalence of kyphosis in
      group 1. The requirement for neurosurgery was significantly higher in group 1.
      CONCLUSIONS: Orthopedic and neurological comorbidities are commonly associated
      with SA and are more prevalent in the presence of a myelomeningocele. As the
      impairments impact a child's ability for maximum function, early identification
      and intervention is required to correct or ameliorate the impairment. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID- 26872466
TI  - Temperature-dependent development and the significance for estimating postmortem
      interval of Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, a new forensically important species in
      China.
AB  - In forensic entomology, the developmental duration and larval body length of
      sarcosaprophagous flies are presently the two major approaches to estimate
      minimal postmortem interval (PMImin). A full characterization of the
      developmental stages of Calliphoridae, a predominating species on corpses, is
      especially important for PMI estimation. Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, which
      appears on the corpse mainly during the decay and the post-decay stages, is of
      significant value for PMImin estimation. However, there are limited detailed
      reports on the development of such species. Hence, this study was conducted to
      address the development pattern of C. nigripes, in order to provide the basic
      data related to PMI estimation. In this study, the larvae of C. nigripes were
      collected from pig carcasses that were placed in the field. The colonies were
      cultured at constant temperatures of 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 (+/-1)  degrees C.
      The biological features of C. nigripes, the developmental pattern, and the body
      length with time at different temperatures were studied. The results showed that
      the average developmental duration of the C. nigripes larvae at 20, 24, 28, and
      32 (+/-1)  degrees C were 608.0 +/- 68.0 h, 327.0 +/- 53.8 h, 254.0 +/- 36.5 h,
      and 217.0 +/- 28.0 h, respectively. There were two phases of body length
      increment with developmental time: growing phase and plateau phase. The maximal
      body length was 11-12 mm, and the relationship between body length and
      developmental time can be simulated using the following equation: L = a + bT +
      cT(2) + dT(3). The data for developmental duration and larval body length at 16 
      degrees C were not obtained. In summary, this study comprehensively studied the
      developmental biology of C. nigripes, which has a significant value for
      estimating PMI from highly decayed carcasses. 

PMID- 26872468
TI  - Do multiple temperature measurements improve temperature-based death time
      estimation? The information degradation inequality.
AB  - The accuracy of the input parameter values limits the accuracy of the output
      values in forensic temperature-based death time estimation (TDE) like in many
      scientific methods. A standard strategy to overcome this problem is to perform
      multiple measurements of the input parameter values, but such approaches are
      subject to noise accumulation and stochastic dependencies. A quantitative
      mathematical analysis of advantages as well as disadvantages of multiple
      measurements approaches (MMAs) was performed. The results are A general
      stochastic model of MMA. The information degradation inequality quantifying gains
      and losses of MMAs. Example calculations of the information degradation
      inequality for the following two MMAs relevant to TDE: o Multiple successive
      rectal temperature measurements o Multiple synchronous body layer temperature
      measurements Neither multiple successive rectal temperature measurements nor
      multiple synchronous body layer temperature measurements seem to significantly
      improve death time estimation. MMAs are superior to the single measurement
      approach only in the very early body cooling phase. 

PMID- 26872469
TI  - Post-mortem 1.5T MR quantification of regular anatomical brain structures.
AB  - Recently, post-mortem MR quantification has been introduced to the field of post
      mortem magnetic resonance imaging. By usage of a particular MR quantification
      sequence, T1 and T2 relaxation times and proton density (PD) of tissues and
      organs can be quantified simultaneously. The aim of the present basic research
      study was to assess the quantitative T1, T2, and PD values of regular anatomical
      brain structures for a 1.5T application and to correlate the assessed values with
      corpse temperatures. In a prospective study, 30 forensic cases were MR-scanned
      with a quantification sequence prior to autopsy. Body temperature was assessed
      during MR scans. In synthetically calculated T1, T2, and PD-weighted images,
      quantitative T1, T2 (both in ms) and PD (in %) values of anatomical structures of
      cerebrum (Group 1: frontal gray matter, frontal white matter, thalamus, internal
      capsule, caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus) and brainstem/cerebellum
      (Group 2: cerebral crus, substantia nigra, red nucleus, pons, cerebellar
      hemisphere, and superior cerebellar peduncle) were assessed. The investigated
      brain structures of cerebrum and brainstem/cerebellum could be characterized and
      differentiated based on a combination of their quantitative T1, T2, and PD
      values. MANOVA testing verified significant differences between the investigated
      anatomical brain structures among each other in Group 1 and Group 2 based on
      their quantitative values. Temperature dependence was observed mainly for T1
      values, which were slightly increasing with rising temperature in the
      investigated brain structures in both groups. The results provide a base for
      future computer-aided diagnosis of brain pathologies and lesions in post-mortem
      magnetic resonance imaging. 

PMID- 26872471
TI  - Additive antiangiogenesis effect of ginsenoside Rg3 with low-dose metronomic
      temozolomide on rat glioma cells both in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is the most common and deadly primary brain tumor in
      adults. Low-dose,metronomic (LDM) temozolomide (TMZ) displays improved efficacy
      in the treatment of glioblastoma by targeting angiogenesis, but has a limited
      effect on recurrence. The antiangiogenesis drug ginsenoside Rg3 (RG3) is the main
      active ingredient of ginseng, a popular herbal medicine. METHODS: Using an in
      vitro and a rat model of an orthotopic glioma allograft, this study was to
      determine whether RG3 enhanced the antiangiogenesis activity of LDM TMZ in the
      treatment of glioblastoma. RESULTS: Our results showed that combined use of TMZ
      with RG3 displayed additive inhibition on proliferation of both human umbilical
      vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and rat C6 glioma cells in vitro. They additively
      arrested cell cycle, increased apoptosis, and decreased VEGF-A and BCL-2
      expression in HUVEC. Antiangiogenesis effect was also evaluated in the rat model
      of orthotopic glioma allograft, based upon markers including relative cerebral
      blood volume (rCBV) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), VEGF levels and
      microvessel density (MVD)/CD34 staining. LDM TMZ alone was potent in suppressing
      angiogenesis and tumor growth, whereas RG3 alone only had modest antiangiogenesis
      effects. Combined treatment significantly and additively suppressed angiogenesis,
      without additive inhibitory effects on allografted tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS:
      These data provide evidence showing the efficacy of LDM TMZ on glioma treatment.
      The combined additive antiangiogenesis effect suggests that RG3 has the potential
      to further increase the efficacy of LDM TMZ in the treatment of glioblastoma.

PMID- 26872470
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome caused by cardiac arrhythmias: only a matter of
      genes encoding ion channels?
AB  - Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexpected demise of a child younger than 1
      year of age which remains unexplained after a complete autopsy investigation.
      Usually, it occurs during sleep, in males, and during the first 12 weeks of life.
      The pathophysiological mechanism underlying the death is unknown, and the lethal
      episode is considered multifactorial. However, in cases without a conclusive post
      mortem diagnosis, suspicious of cardiac arrhythmias may also be considered as a
      cause of death, especially in families suffering from any cardiac disease
      associated with sudden cardiac death. Here, we review current understanding of
      sudden infant death, focusing on genetic causes leading to lethal cardiac
      arrhythmias, considering both genes encoding ion channels as well as structural
      proteins due to recent association of channelopathies and desmosomal genes. We
      support a comprehensive analysis of all genes associated with sudden cardiac
      death in families suffering of infant death. It allows the identification of the
      most plausible cause of death but also of family members at risk, providing
      cardiologists with essential data to adopt therapeutic preventive measures in
      families affected with this lethal entity.

PMID- 26872474
TI  - Why diverticulosis haunts the Western world.

PMID- 26872472
TI  - Measurements of Chlorpyrifos Levels in Forager Bees and Comparison with Levels
      that Disrupt Honey Bee Odor-Mediated Learning Under Laboratory Conditions.
AB  - Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide used around the world to protect
      food crops against insects and mites. Despite guidelines for chlorpyrifos usage,
      including precautions to protect beneficial insects, such as honeybees from spray
      drift, this pesticide has been detected in bees in various countries, indicating
      that exposure still occurs. Here, we examined chlorpyrifos levels in bees
      collected from 17 locations in Otago, New Zealand, and compared doses of this
      pesticide that cause sub-lethal effects on learning performance under laboratory
      conditions with amounts of chlorpyrifos detected in the bees in the field. The
      pesticide was detected at 17 % of the sites sampled and in 12 % of the colonies
      examined. Amounts detected ranged from 35 to 286 pg.bee(-1), far below the LD50
      of ~100 ng.bee(-1). We detected no adverse effect of chlorpyrifos on aversive
      learning, but the formation and retrieval of appetitive olfactory memories was
      severely affected. Chlorpyrifos fed to bees in amounts several orders of
      magnitude lower than the LD50, and also lower than levels detected in bees, was
      found to slow appetitive learning and reduce the specificity of memory recall. As
      learning and memory play a central role in the behavioral ecology and
      communication of foraging bees, chlorpyrifos, even in sublethal doses, may
      threaten the success and survival of this important insect pollinator. 

PMID- 26872475
TI  - Women's Behavioral Responses to the Threat of a Hypothetical Date Rape Stimulus:
      A Qualitative Analysis.
AB  - One in four college women experience sexual assault on campus; yet, campuses
      rarely provide the in-depth self-defense programs needed to reduce sexual assault
      risk. Further, little is known about the range of possible behaviors elicited by
      sexual assault threat stimuli besides assertion. To fill this gap, the aim of the
      current study was to explore qualitative themes in women's intended behavioral
      responses to a hypothetical sexual assault threat, date rape, by using a
      laboratory-controlled threat. College women (N = 139) were randomly assigned to
      one of four different levels of sexual assault threat presented via an audio
      recorded vignette. Participants articulated how they would hypothetically respond
      to the experimentally assigned threat. Responses were blinded and analyzed using
      Consensual Qualitative Research methodology. Six major themes emerged: assertion,
      compliance/acceptance, conditional decision making, avoidance, expressions of
      discomfort, and allusion to future contact. Although almost all participants
      described assertion, a number of non-assertive responses were described that are
      not currently recognized in the literature. These non-assertive responses,
      including compliance/acceptance, conditional decision making, and avoidance, may
      represent unique behavioral response styles and likely reflect the complex
      psychological process of behavioral response to threat. The variety of themes
      found illustrates the great range of behavioral responses to threat. This broad
      range is not currently well represented or measured in the literature and better
      understanding of these responses can inform future interventions, advocacy
      efforts, and policies focused on sexual assault. 

PMID- 26872477
TI  - Associations Among Excess Weight Status and Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug
      Use in a Large National Sample of Early Adolescent Youth.
AB  - Adolescent substance use and overweight/obesity each are public health
      priorities, with unique prevalences based on race/ethnicity. Whether these
      biobehavioral risks are linked in today's youth is unknown, leaving critical gaps
      in prevention science. Utilizing a national epidemiological sample of 10th grade
      students (N = 19,678; M age = 16.09 years; 69.5 % White, 14.5 % Black, 16.0 %
      Hispanic; 2008-2009 Monitoring the Future), we examined adolescent substance use
      behaviors (current use, grade of first use, polysubstance use) for adolescents of
      overweight (OV), obese (OB), or severely obese (SO) status compared to
      adolescents of healthy weight (HW) for each race/ethnicity group. We also
      examined how engagement in smoking behaviors (current, early grade at first use)
      was linked to other substance use behaviors for youth of varying degrees of
      excess weight. Relative to HW youth, White youth of excess weight, particularly
      SO, had higher odds of early (< grade 9) substance use and use of some illicit
      substances (inhalants, cocaine, amphetamines) within the past year. Among White
      early smokers, OB and SO had higher odds of other substance use, whereas White OB
      and SO recent smokers had lower odds of other substance use. Few significant
      findings based on weight status were identified for Black or Hispanic youth.
      These findings suggest adolescent health risk behaviors co-occur uniquely for
      White youth, in particular those who are SO and by early adolescence.
      Understanding the downstream public health consequences and how risk pathways of
      excess weight, tobacco, and other substance use may uniquely unfold for each
      race/ethnicity group is imperative.

PMID- 26872478
TI  - Evaluation of the Environmental Supports Scale with a Community Sample of
      Adolescents.
AB  - Environmental sources of psychosocial support have been found to modulate or
      protect against the development of psychopathology and risk behavior among
      adolescents. Capturing sources of environmental support across multiple
      developmental contexts requires the availability of well-validated, concise
      assessments-of which there are few in the existing literature. In order to
      address this need, the current study explored the factor structure, concurrent
      and convergent validity of the Environmental Supports Scale (ESS; Genetic,
      Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 117; 395-417, 1991) with a community
      sample of adolescents. An unconstrained exploratory factor analysis revealed a
      separate factor for home, school, and neighborhood settings. Internal consistency
      and test-retest reliability were evaluated for each factor. Concurrent and
      predictive validity analyses revealed that the ESS was associated in the expected
      directions across a range of constructs relevant to adolescent development
      including internalizing symptoms, well-being, external influences, and engagement
      in risk behavior. Convergent validity for the neighborhood context was
      established with an assessment of neighborhood environmental adversity. A brief
      assessment of perceived environmental support across key developmental contexts
      provides an important tool for research on resilience processes during
      adolescence and may help illuminate key protective factors and inform
      intervention and prevention efforts.

PMID- 26872479
TI  - Understanding and Measuring Coach-Teacher Alliance: A Glimpse Inside the 'Black
      Box'.
AB  - Coaching models are increasingly used in schools to enhance fidelity and
      effectiveness of evidence-based interventions; yet, little is known about the
      relationship between the coach and teacher (i.e., coach-teacher alliance), which
      may indirectly enhance teacher and student outcomes through improved
      implementation quality. There is also limited research on measures of coach
      teacher alliance, further hindering the field from understanding the active
      components for successful coaching. The current study examined the factor
      structure and psychometric characteristics of a measure of coach-teacher alliance
      as reported by both teachers and coaches and explored the extent to which
      teachers and coaches reliably rate their alliance. Data come from a sample of 147
      teachers who received implementation support from one of four coaches; both the
      teacher and the coach completed an alliance questionnaire. Separate confirmatory
      factor analyses for each informant revealed four factors (relationship, process,
      investment, and perceived benefits) as well as an additional coach-rated factor
      (perceived teacher barriers). A series of analyses, including cross-rater
      correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Kuder-Richardson
      reliability estimates suggested that teachers and coaches provide reliable,
      though not redundant, information about the alliance. Implications for future
      research and the utilization of the parallel coach-teacher alliance measures to
      increase the effectiveness of coaching are discussed.

PMID- 26872476
TI  - It is a matter of timing: asynchrony during pollen development and its
      consequences on pollen performance in angiosperms-a review.
AB  - Functional pollen is needed to successfully complete fertilization. Pollen is
      formed inside the anthers following a specific sequence of developmental stages,
      from microsporocyte meiosis to pollen release, that concerns
      microsporocytes/microspores and anther wall tissues. The processes involved may
      not be synchronous within a flower, an anther, and even a microsporangium.
      Asynchrony has been barely analyzed, and its biological consequences have not
      been yet assessed. In this review, different processes of pollen development and
      lifetime, stressing on the possible consequences of their differential timing on
      pollen performance, are summarized. Development is usually synchronized until
      microsporocyte meiosis I (occasionally until meiosis II). Afterwards, a period of
      mostly asynchronous events extends up to anther opening as regards: (1) meiosis
      II (sometimes); (2) microspore vacuolization and later reduction of vacuoles; (3)
      amylogenesis, amylolysis, and carbohydrate inter-conversion; (4) the first
      haploid mitosis; and (5) intine formation. Asynchrony would promote metabolic
      differences among developing microspores and therefore physiologically
      heterogeneous pollen grains within a single microsporangium. Asynchrony would
      increase the effect of competition for resources during development and pollen
      tube growth and also for water during (re)hydration on the stigma. The
      differences generated by developmental asynchronies may have an adaptive role
      since more efficient pollen grains would be selected with regard to homeostasis,
      desiccation tolerance, resilience, speed of (re)hydration, and germination. The
      performance of each pollen grain which landed onto the stigma will be the result
      of a series of selective steps determined by its development, physiological state
      at maturity, and successive environmental constrains.

PMID- 26872480
TI  - Traversing the folding pathway of proteins using temperature-aided cascade
      molecular dynamics with conformation-dependent charges.
AB  - Protein folding is a multi-micro second time scale event and involves many
      conformational transitions. Crucial conformational transitions responsible for
      biological functions of biomolecules are difficult to capture using current state
      of-the-art molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Protein folding, being a
      stochastic process, witnesses these transitions as rare events. Many new
      methodologies have been proposed for observing these rare events. In this work, a
      temperature-aided cascade MD is proposed as a technique for studying the
      conformational transitions. Folding studies for Engrailed homeodomain and
      Immunoglobulin domain B of protein A have been carried out. Using this
      methodology, the unfolded structures with RMSD of 20 A were folded to a structure
      with RMSD of 2 A. Three sets of cascade MD runs were carried out using implicit
      solvation, explicit solvation, and charge updation scheme. In the charge updation
      scheme, charges based on the conformation obtained are calculated and are updated
      in the topology file. In all the simulations, the structure of 2 A was reached
      within a few nanoseconds using these methods. Umbrella sampling has been
      performed using snapshots from the temperature-aided cascade MD simulation
      trajectory to build an entire conformational transition pathway. The advantage of
      the method is that the possible pathways for a particular reaction can be
      explored within a short duration of simulation time and the disadvantage is that
      the knowledge of the start and end state is required. The charge updation scheme
      adds the polarization effects in the force fields. This improves the
      electrostatic interaction among the atoms, which may help the protein to fold
      faster. 

PMID- 26872481
TI  - TRPV1 channel as a target for cancer therapy using CNT-based drug delivery
      systems.
AB  - Carbon nanotubes are being considered for the design of drug delivery systems
      (DDSs) due to their capacity to internalize molecules and control their release.
      However, for cellular uptake of drugs, this approach requires an active
      translocation pathway or a channel to transport the drug into the cell. To
      address this issue, it is suggested to use TRPV1 ion channels as a potential
      target for drug release by nano-DDSs since these channels are overexpressed in
      cancer cells and allow the permeation of large cationic molecules. Considering
      these facts, this work presents three studies using molecular dynamics
      simulations of a human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) channel built here. The purpose of these
      simulations is to study the interaction between a single-wall carbon nanotube
      (SWCNT) and hTRPV1, and the diffusion of doxorubicin (DOX) across hTRPV1 and
      across a POPC lipid membrane. The first study shows an attractive potential
      between the SWCNT surface and hTRPV1, tilting the adsorbed SWCNT. The second
      study shows low diffusion probability of DOX across the open hTRPV1 due to a high
      free energy barrier. Although, the potential energy between DOX and hTRPV1
      reveals an attractive interaction while DOX is inside hTRPV1. These results
      suggest that if the channel is dilated, then DOX diffusion could occur. The third
      study shows a lower free energy barrier for DOX across the lipid membrane than
      for DOX across hTRPV1. Taking into account the results obtained, it is feasible
      to design novel nano-DDSs based on SWCNTs to accomplish controlled drug release
      into cells using as translocation pathway, the hTRPV1 ion channel. 

PMID- 26872482
TI  - Boundary conditions for free A-DNA in solution and the relation of local to
      global DNA structures at reduced water activity.
AB  - Because of repeated claims that A-DNA cannot exist without aggregation or
      condensation, the state of DNA restriction fragments with 84-859 bp has been
      analyzed in aqueous solutions upon reduction of the water activity. Rotational
      diffusion times tau (d) measured by electric dichroism at different water
      activities with a wide variation of viscosities are normalized to values tau (c)
      at the viscosity of water, which indicate DNA structures at a high sensitivity.
      For short helices (chain lengths [Formula: see text] <= persistence length p),
      cooperative formation of A-DNA is reflected by the expected reduction of the
      hydrodynamic length; the transition to the A-form is without aggregation or
      condensation upon addition of ethanol at monovalent salt <=1 mM. The aggregation
      boundary, indicated by a strong increase of tau (c), is shifted to higher
      monovalent salt (>=4 mM) when ethanol is replaced by trifluoroethanol. The BA
      transition is not indicated anymore by a cooperative change of tau (c) for
      [Formula: see text] " p; tau (c) values for these long chains decrease upon
      reduction of the water activity continuously over the full range, including the
      BA transition interval. This suggests a non-cooperative BC transition, which
      induces DNA curvature. The resulting wide distribution of global structures hides
      changes of local length during the BA transition. Free A-DNA without
      aggregation/condensation is found at low-salt concentrations where aggregation is
      inhibited and/or very slow. In an intermediate range of solvent conditions, where
      the A-form starts to aggregate, a time window remains that can be used for
      analysis of free A-DNA in a quasi-equilibrium state. 

PMID- 26872485
TI  - Incontinence and psychological problems in children: a common central nervous
      pathway?
AB  - Nocturnal enuresis is caused by a mismatch between the nocturnal bladder capacity
      and the nocturnal diuresis rate, in the presence of a deficient arousability in
      the majority of patients, according to the pediatric and urologic literature.
      Psychiatric and psychologic literature are still concentrating on the potential
      role of psychological factors and central nervous mechanisms in the pathogenesis,
      as is reflected in the DMS-5 criteria. However, research has clearly shown
      several important comorbidities between neuropsychological dysfunctions and
      nocturnal enuresis. Due to the increased comorbidity of (neuro)psychological
      problems, sleep problems, circadian rhythms, and enuresis, the question arises as
      to whether there is a possible common central pathway in the pathogenesis. It is
      likely that the coexistence of these problems can be attributed to a common
      central nervous system involvement. The specific role of the central nervous
      system remains unclear, but several pathways are possible. The high comorbidity
      between enuresis, sleep, and (neuro)psychological functioning is probably
      attributable to a common pathogenetic pathway, emphasizing the importance of a
      multidisciplinary focus in screening and treatment in children with nocturnal
      enuresis. 

PMID- 26872483
TI  - From juvenile hyperuricaemia to dysfunctional uromodulin: an ongoing
      metamorphosis.
AB  - Familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy (FJHN) is a diagnosis that is easily
      missed. It has taken a long time to clarify the pathophysiology and prevalence of
      this disease entity which has been shown to be genetically identical to medullary
      cystic kidney disease (MCKD) type II. The initial suspicion that uric acid was
      the noxious agent has been replaced by the recognition that a mutant uromodulin
      (UMOD) is the real culprit-although the exact mechanisms of pathogenicity remain
      uncertain. The mutation has been traced to the UMOD gene in chromosome 16. The
      disease is characterised by the classic triad of autosomal dominant inheritance,
      progressive renal failure beginning in the third to fifth decade of life and
      gout. Phenotypically similar but genotypically distinct entities have been
      described over the last 10 years, making a clinical diagnosis difficult. These
      include mutations in the renin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta and mucin 1
      genes. UMOD-associated kidney disease has been proposed as a logical diagnostic
      label to replace FJHN, but given all these other mutations, an over-arching
      diagnostic term of 'autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease' (ADTKD)
      has been recently adopted. Allopurinol has been suggested as a therapeutic agent,
      but unfortunately this was based on non-randomised uncontrolled trials with small
      patient numbers.

PMID- 26872484
TI  - Role of hypoxia during nephrogenesis.
AB  - Mammals develop in a physiologically hypoxic state, and the oxygen tension of
      different tissues in the embryo is precisely controlled. Deviation from normal
      oxygenation, such as what occurs in placental insufficiency, can disrupt fetal
      development. Several studies demonstrate that intrauterine hypoxia has a negative
      effect on kidney development. As nascent nephrons are forming from nephron
      progenitors in the nephrogenic zone, they are exposed to varying oxygen tension
      by virtue of the development of the renal vasculature. Thus, nephrogenesis may be
      linked to oxygen tension. However, the mechanism(s) by which this occurs remains
      unclear. This review focuses on what is known about molecular mechanisms active
      in physiological and pathological hypoxia and their effects on kidney
      development.

PMID- 26872486
TI  - New York City flavoured tobacco product sales ban evaluation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The availability of flavoured tobacco products is associated with
      increased initiation and youth smoking. New York City prohibited all sales of
      flavoured cigars, cigarillos, little cigars, chew, snuff, snus, tobacco, pipe
      tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and dissolvables, excluding menthol, in October
      2009; enforcement began in November 2010. This paper describes the sales ban
      evaluation. METHODS: Data on retail tobacco sales of cigars, smokeless and other
      tobacco products such as pipe tobacco and roll-your-own, were analysed using
      interrupted time series methods, estimating changes in flavoured and non
      flavoured tobacco product inflation-adjusted dollar sales overall, and by product
      type. Changes in ever use of flavoured tobacco products, any tobacco product use,
      and smoking prevalence among adolescents were estimated using multivariable
      logistic regression. RESULTS: Sales of flavoured tobacco products declined
      overall (87%; p<0.001), and for flavoured cigars (86%; p<0.001) and flavoured
      pipe and roll-your-own (91%; p<0.001) following ban enforcement, while non
      flavoured sales increased for cigars (5%; p=0.003) and pipe and roll-your-own
      (4%, p=0.030). In adjusted models, teens in 2013 had 37% lower odds of ever
      trying flavoured tobacco products (p<0.001), 28% lower odds of using any type of
      tobacco product (p=0.025), and a non-significant change in current smoking
      prevalence (p=0.114) compared with teens in 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Flavoured tobacco
      product sales and odds of ever using flavoured tobacco products or using any
      tobacco products among teens declined significantly after ban enforcement began.
      Collectively these findings demonstrate significant evidence that the flavoured
      tobacco products sales ban was successful in New York City, and could succeed
      elsewhere.

PMID- 26872487
TI  - Heat effects among migrant and seasonal farmworkers: a case study in Colorado.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although migrant and seasonal farmworkers are highly vulnerable to
      ambient heat because of their working conditions, heat effects in this population
      have been rarely studied. OBJECTIVES: We estimated effects of heat on mean daily
      counts of clinic visits among migrant and seasonal farmworkers by taking
      advantage of a unique longitudinal medical records database in the USA. METHODS:
      We compiled a daily weather and clinic visit data set based on data from a health
      centre in Colorado for the summer of 2013. A total of 14 481 patients were
      included in our analysis, including 150 migrant farmworkers and 231 seasonal
      farmworkers with an average of 3 and 4 visits per day. We used Poisson regression
      to estimate the associations between heat and daily all-cause or cardiovascular
      specific clinic visits among migrant or seasonal farmworkers or other stratified
      patients. We defined heat effects as the percentage difference in average daily
      counts of clinic visits, comparing 90-50th centiles of daily mean apparent
      temperature, a composite index accounting for both temperature and humidity. We
      conducted a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of adjustment for ozone
      levels and different heat definitions. RESULTS: Estimates of heat effects on
      average daily clinic visits among migrant farmworkers were positive (88.0%, 95%
      CI: 26.2% to 180.0%). We did not observe statistically significant associations
      between heat and clinic visits among other stratified groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      study appears to be the first to link heat effects with clinic data among migrant
      and seasonal farmworkers. This research suggests possible significant impact of
      heat on migrant farmworkers and provides justifications for further studies.

PMID- 26872488
TI  - Inorganic Phosphate Activates the AKT/mTORC1 Pathway and Shortens the Life Span
      of an alpha-Klotho-Deficient Model.
AB  - Inorganic phosphate (Pi) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of accelerated
      aging; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrated
      in cultured cells and in vivo that increased levels of extracellular Pi activated
      the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway by suppressing
      membrane-bound phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) levels in a manner requiring
      the sodium-dependent Pi transporter PiT-1. High levels of extracellular Pi also
      led to phosphorylation of Ser/Thr clusters in the C-terminal tail of PTEN, which
      has been shown to dissociate PTEN from the membrane. Notably, blockade of mTORC1
      activity by rapamycin treatment prolonged the life span of hyperphosphatemic
      alpha-Klotho-deficient (Kl(-/-)) mice. Dietary correction of hyperphosphatemia or
      treatment with rapamycin also rescued the brown adipose tissue dysfunction and
      oxidative damage observed in Kl(-/-) mice. Furthermore, rapamycin treatment
      partially rescued these effects and extended the life span when Kl(-/-) mice were
      maintained on a high-phosphate diet. Finally, rapamycin reduced circulating Pi
      levels in Kl(-/-) mice, apparently by decreasing the localization of sodium
      dependent Pi transport protein 2a at the renal brush border membrane. Therefore,
      the activation of mTORC1 may create a vicious loop that exacerbates the retention
      of Pi, which in turn may enhance oxidative damage and ultimately shorten the life
      span of Kl(-/-) mice. These results demonstrate that Pi has important roles in
      the aging process, and the blockade of mTORC1 may have therapeutic potential for
      premature aging-like symptoms associated with hyperphosphatemia.

PMID- 26872491
TI  - Can selection on a male mating character result in evolutionary change? A
      selection experiment on California wild radish, Raphanus sativus.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Whenever more pollen grains arrive on stigmas than
      necessary to fertilize ovules, sexual selection is possible. However, the role of
      sexual selection remains controversial, in part because of lack of evidence on
      genetic bases of traits and the response of relevant characters to selection.
      METHODS: In an experiment with Raphanus sativus, we selected on tendency to sire
      seeds in the stylar or basal regions of fruits. This character is likely related
      to pollen tube growth rate, and seed position affects rates of abortion and seed
      predation. We measured differences among families in seed siring and related
      characters and evaluated responses to selection. KEY RESULTS: All replicates
      showed strong effects of pollen donor family on proportion of seeds sired per
      fruit in mixed pollinations. Most also showed effects of pollen donor family on
      number of pollen grains per flower and pollen diameter. Two of four replicates
      showed a response to selection on position of seeds sired. In responding
      replicates, we found trade-offs in pollen grain size and number; plants with
      larger pollen grains sired more seeds in the basal region. CONCLUSIONS: Our data
      suggest a genetic basis for pollen donor ability to sire seeds in competition.
      The significant response to selection in two replicates shows that position of
      seeds sired can respond to selection. Thus, all components for sexual selection
      to occur and affect traits are present. Variation in results among replicates
      might be due to changes in greenhouse conditions. Environmental effects may
      contribute to the maintenance of variation in these fitness-related characters.

PMID- 26872492
TI  - Transient hybridization, not homoploid hybrid speciation, between ancient and
      deeply divergent conifers.
AB  - PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Homoploid hybrid speciation is receiving growing attention
      due the increasing recognition of its role in speciation. We investigate if
      individuals intermediate in morphology between the two species of the conifer
      genus Athrotaxis represent a homoploid hybrid species, A. laxifolia, or are
      spontaneous F1 hybrids. METHODS: A total of 1055 individuals of Athrotaxis
      cupressoides and A. selaginoides, morphologically intermediate individuals, and
      two putative hybrid swarms were sampled across the range of the genus and
      genotyped with 13 microsatellites. We used simulations to test the power of our
      data to identify the pure species, F1s, F2s, and backcross generations. KEY
      RESULTS: We found that Athrotaxis cupressoides and A. selaginoides are likely the
      most divergent congeneric conifers known, but the intermediates are F1 hybrids,
      sharing one allele each from A. cupressoides and A. selaginoides at six loci with
      completely species specific alleles. The hybrid swarms contain wide genetic
      variation with stronger affinities to the locally dominant species, A.
      selaginoides and A. selaginoides backcrosses outnumbering A. cupressoides
      backcrosses. In addition, we observed evidence for isolated advanced generation
      backcrosses within the range of the pure species. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that,
      even though they can be large and long-lived, Athrotaxis hybrid swarms are on a
      trajectory of decline and will eventually be reabsorbed by the parental species.
      However, this process may take millennia and fossil evidence suggests that such
      events have occurred repeatedly since the early Quaternary. Given this timeline,
      our study highlights the many obstacles to homoploid hybrid speciation.

PMID- 26872493
TI  - Antibiotic resistance: the emergence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance
      enhances the need of a proactive one-health approach.

PMID- 26872489
TI  - Effect of Immunosuppressive Drugs on Humoral Allosensitization after Kidney
      Transplant.
AB  - The negative effect of donor-specific antibodies on the success of solid
      transplant is now clearly established. However, the lack of effective treatment
      to prevent the development of antibody-mediated lesions deepens the need for
      clinicians to focus on primary prevention of de novo humoral allosensitization.
      Among the factors associated with the risk of developing de novo donor-specific
      antibodies, therapeutic immunosuppression is the most obvious parameter in which
      improvement is possible. Beyond compliance and the overall depth of
      immunosuppression, it is likely that the nature of the drugs is also crucial.
      Here, we provide an overview of the molecular effect of the various
      immunosuppressive drugs on B cell biology. Clinical data related to the effect of
      these drugs on de novo humoral allosensitization are also examined, providing a
      platform from which clinicians can optimize immunosuppression for prevention of
      de novo donor-specific antibody generation at the individual level. 

PMID- 26872494
TI  - Acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation of corn stover: current production methods,
      economic viability and commercial use.
AB  - Biobutanol is a next-generation liquid biofuel with properties akin to those of
      gasoline. There is a widespread effort to commercialize biobutanol production
      from agricultural residues, such as corn stover, which do not compete with human
      and animal foods. This pursuit is backed by extensive government mandates to
      expand alternative energy sources. This review provides an overview of research
      on biobutanol production using corn stover feedstock. Structural composition,
      pretreatment, sugar yield (following pretreatment and hydrolysis) and generation
      of lignocellulose-derived microbial inhibitory compounds (LDMICs) from corn
      stover are discussed. The review also discusses different Clostridium species and
      strains employed for biobutanol production from corn stover-derived sugars with
      respect to solvent yields, tolerance to LDMICs and in situ solvent recovery
      (integrated fermentation). Further, the economics of cellulosic biobutanol
      production are highlighted and compared to corn starch-derived ethanol and
      gasoline. As discussed herein, the economic competitiveness of biobutanol
      production from corn stover largely depends on feedstock processing and
      fermentation process design. 

PMID- 26872495
TI  - Cadmium-induced cell killing in Sacharomyces cerevisiae involves increases in
      intracellular NO levels.
AB  - Cadmium is a widespread environmental pollutant and poses some potential risks to
      human health. However, the signaling events controlling cadmium toxicity are not
      fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of cadmium chloride on
      cell viability and the intracellular nitric oxide (NO) level in yeast cells. The
      results showed that exposure of yeast cells to cadmium (0-100 MUM) could induce
      cell killing with significantly increased intracellular NO levels. Morphological
      analysis of the nuclei with 4('),6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and DNA
      strand breaks analysis showed that cadmium at 50 MUM can induce cell apoptosis in
      yeast cells. Treatment of yeast cells with cadmium (50 MUM) and the nitric oxide
      scavenger c-PTIO [2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-teramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3
      oxide; 0.2 mM] showed that c-PTIO attenuated the cadmium-induced cell killing.
      Our findings indicated that cadmium-induced yeast cell killing is mediated by a
      directly increased intracellular NO level. 

PMID- 26872496
TI  - Perception of occupational balance by people with mental illness: A new
      methodology.
AB  - Aims The aims were to (i) investigate initial construct validity of a tool for
      assessment of time allocation in occupational balance, and (ii) describe
      perceived occupational balance and its relationship with socio-demographics, well
      being, and personal recovery among people with mental illness. Methods
      Satisfaction with Daily Occupations and Occupational Balance (SDO-OB) was
      administered to 226 persons. SDO-OB reflects balance in five occupational
      domains: work, leisure, home chores, self-care, and overall occupational balance.
      Indicators for assessing construct validity were: satisfaction with everyday
      occupations, occupational value, symptom severity, and psychosocial functioning.
      For the second aim, the data collection included socio-demographics, life
      quality, self-esteem, self-mastery, and personal recovery. Results Occupational
      balance ratings indicated the participants were either under-occupied or in
      balance. Few were over-occupied. Feeling in balance was related to greater well
      being and recovery compared with being under-occupied. Risk factors for under
      occupation were younger age (in relation to work), and higher education (in
      relation to overall balance). Conclusions Associations with the indicators
      suggest initial construct validity. The SDO-OB is promising for assessment of
      occupational balance among people with mental illness. Being under-occupied was
      detrimental to well-being and recovery, and this indicates the importance of
      offering more occupational opportunities for people with mental illness. 

PMID- 26872497
TI  - A case of neonatal lupus erythematosus in a very low-birth-weight infant that
      suffered intraventricular hemorrhage at birth.
AB  - This report describes the case of a very low-birth-weight male infant with
      neonatal lupus erythematosus. His mother had Sjogren's syndrome, and her previous
      child had suffered a complete heart block. Accordingly, maternal steroid
      (betamethasone) therapy was administered to prevent a congenital heart block for
      15 weeks (from 13 to 27 weeks' gestation). At 28 weeks' gestation, the mother was
      weaned off the steroid therapy, and an emergency cesarean section was carried out
      at 29 weeks and 6 days' gestation because of a nonreassuring fetal status (NRFS).
      At birth, the infant exhibited grade-III intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).
      Although it is unclear why the infant developed a NRFS and IVH, the condition of
      the fetus should be carefully monitored during and after long-term maternal
      steroid treatment.

PMID- 26872498
TI  - Cryopreserving turkey semen in straws and nitrogen vapour using DMSO or DMA:
      effects of cryoprotectant concentration, freezing rate and thawing rate on post
      thaw semen quality.
AB  - 1. This study was designed to identify a suitable protocol for freezing turkey
      semen in straws exposed to nitrogen vapour by examining the effects of
      dimethylacetamide (DMA) or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant (CPA), CPA
      concentration, freezing rate and thawing rate on in vitro post-thaw semen
      quality. 2. Pooled semen samples were diluted 1:1 (v:v) with a freezing extender
      composed of Tselutin diluent containing DMA or DMSO to give final concentrations
      of 8% or 18% DMA and 4% or 10% DMSO. The semen was packaged in 0.25 ml plastic
      straws and frozen at different heights above the liquid nitrogen (LN2) surface
      (1, 5 and 10 cm) for 10 min. Semen samples were thawed at 4 degrees C for 5 min
      or at 50 degrees C for 10 s. After thawing, sperm motility, viability and osmotic
      tolerance were determined. 3. Cryosurvival of turkey sperm was affected by DMSO
      concentration. Freezing rate affected the motility of sperm cryopreserved using
      both CPAs, while thawing rates showed an effect on the motility of sperm
      cryopreserved using DMA and on the viability of sperm cryopreserved using DMSO.
      Significant interactions between freezing rate * thawing rate on sperm viability
      in the DMA protocol were found. 4. The most effective freezing protocol was the
      use of 18% DMA or 10% DMSO with freezing 10 cm above the LN2 surface and a
      thawing temperature of 50 degrees C. An efficient protocol for turkey semen would
      improve prospects for sperm cryobanks and the commercial use of frozen turkey
      semen. 

PMID- 26872499
TI  - Natural variation in the glucose content of dilute sulfuric acid-pretreated rice
      straw liquid hydrolysates: implications for bioethanol production.
AB  - Rice straw is a promising resource for bioethanol production. Because the glucose
      content of pretreatment liquid hydrolysates is highly correlated with ethanol
      yield, the selection of appropriate rice cultivars is essential. The glucose
      content in liquid hydrolysates of pretreated rice straws of 208 diverse cultivars
      was evaluated in natural field in 2013 and 2014 using a novel high-throughput
      system. The glucose content of the rice straw samples varied across cultivars and
      was affected by environmental factors such as temperature and solar radiation.
      Several high-quality cultivars exhibiting high glucose content in both years were
      identified. The results of this study can aid in development of novel rice
      cultivars suitable as both feedstocks for bioethanol production and cooking. 

PMID- 26872500
TI  - Synthesis of a Series of gamma-Keto Allyl Phosphonates.
AB  - Under solvent-free conditions and at 80  degrees C, a DMAP- or imidazole-mediated
      clean and rapid conversion of cyclic Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates into
      the corresponding gamma-keto allyl phosphonates in 70-93% yields is described
      herein. This allylic nucleophilic substitution works well with primary and
      secondary acetates bearing, at the beta'-position, linear or branched alkyl
      groups and aryl groups. 

PMID- 26872501
TI  - Feasibility and effectiveness of cognitive remediation in the treatment of
      borderline personality disorder.
AB  - Several studies have demonstrated that borderline personality disorder (BPD) is
      associated with neuropsychological deficits and there is evidence that the
      neurocognitive profile of patients with BPD may be related to the outcome of this
      disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and the
      effectiveness of a cognitive remediation intervention in patients with BPD.
      Thirty patients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of BPD were assessed on clinical,
      neuropsychological and functional outcome measures at baseline and after 16 weeks
      of a computer-assisted cognitive remediation (CACR) intervention or treatment as
      usual (TAU). Patients who received CACR showed a greater improvement in working
      memory and psychosocial functioning measures than patients treated with TAU.
      Symptom severity was not significantly affected by CACR treatment. The findings
      of this pilot study suggest the feasibility and potential effectiveness on
      specific cognitive domains, but modest clinical usefulness of a computerised
      modality of cognitive remediation in the treatment of BPD.

PMID- 26872502
TI  - ACHA Guidelines.

PMID- 26872503
TI  - Development of an Innovative Treatment Paradigm for Intimate Partner Violence
      Victims With Depression and Pain Using Community-Based Participatory Research.
AB  - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue with complex physical
      health, mental health and social consequences that can exacerbate survivors'
      barriers to health care engagement and support. Furthermore, health care
      professionals are often unaware of or feel ill-equipped to address survivors'
      complex needs. Depression and chronic pain are particularly prevalent co
      occurring problems for survivors and can impede engagement and outcomes in
      traditional health care. This study's purpose was to understand what
      interventions might be more responsive to survivors' myriad needs, particularlly
      those with depression and pain. Survivors were involved with the design,
      execution, analysis, and interpretation of results, based on community-based
      participatory research principles. Intervention development happened in two
      phases: the first consisted of focus groups with survivors to inform the
      intervention and the second included intervention design, informed by a community
      advisory board (CAB). Thirty-one survivors participated in Phase 1, and they
      reported preferring a range of support including formal help-seeking, informal
      coping strategies, and spirituality. In Phase 2, the CAB (comprised of survivors,
      health care professionals, and researchers) identified three distinct aspects of
      a comprehensive IPV intervention: (a) education regarding both the complex health
      issues and available local resources; (b) an integrated consultation service for
      providers to seek recommendations for responding to the full spectrum of
      survivors' needs; and (c) a trauma-informed, accessible clinic. Academic medical
      centers could not have designed this intervention in isolation; survivors and
      providers played an integral part of this process, and continue to inform our
      current work.

PMID- 26872504
TI  - Predicting Parent-Child Aggression Risk: Cognitive Factors and Their Interaction
      With Anger.
AB  - Several cognitive elements have previously been proposed to elevate risk for
      physical child abuse. To predict parent-child aggression risk, the current study
      evaluated the role of approval of parent-child aggression, perceptions of
      children as poorly behaved, and discipline attributions. Several dimensions of
      attributions specifically tied to parents' discipline practices were targeted. In
      addition, anger experienced during discipline episodes was considered a potential
      moderator of these cognitive processes. Using a largely multiple-indicator
      approach, a sample of 110 mothers reported on these cognitive and affective
      aspects that may occur when disciplining their children as well as responding to
      measures of parent-child aggression risk. Findings suggest that greater approval
      of parent-child aggression, negative perceptions of their child's behavior, and
      discipline attributions independently predicted parent-child aggression risk,
      with anger significantly interacting with mothers' perception of their child as
      more poorly behaved to exacerbate their parent-child aggression risk. Of the
      discipline attribution dimensions evaluated, mothers' sense of external locus of
      control and believing their child deserved their discipline were related to
      increase parent-child aggression risk. Future work is encouraged to
      comprehensively evaluate how cognitive and affective components contribute and
      interact to increase risk for parent-child aggression.

PMID- 26872506
TI  - Cyber Dating Abuse Victimization Among Secondary School Students From a Lifestyle
      Routine Activities Theory Perspective.
AB  - Controlling one's romantic partner through digital media is a form of cyber
      dating abuse. To design effective educational campaigns, a deeper understanding
      of how some young people become victim of this type of abuse within their
      romantic relationships is warranted. This study is the first to adopt a lifestyle
      routine activities theory perspective toward online romantic partner monitoring,
      by looking at whether secondary school students' risky digital lifestyle and
      their digital media use are linked to a higher chance of being controlled by a
      romantic partner, taking into account gender, age, and the length of the romantic
      relationship. The data of 466 secondary school students (71.0% girls, n = 331)
      between 16 and 22 years old ( M = 17.99 years; SD = 0.92) who were in a romantic
      relationship are analyzed. Linear regression analysis suggests that engagement in
      online risk behavior, the length of the romantic relationship, engagement in
      sexting with the romantic partner, and the amount of social networking site use
      were significantly linked to victimization of digital controlling behavior. The
      results are important to practitioners, as they indicate that messages about safe
      Internet use should be incorporated in prevention and educational campaigns with
      regard to cyber dating abuse. Suggestions for future research are discussed.

PMID- 26872505
TI  - Implementing Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents and Think Trauma
      for Traumatized Youth in Secure Juvenile Justice Settings.
AB  - We describe a multiyear pilot dissemination of a trauma-focused group treatment,
      Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents, coupled with a trauma
      informed staff training, Think Trauma, to six residential juvenile justice (JJ)
      facilities. All staff members were trained in Think Trauma. Seventy-seven youth
      from four facilities completed the treatment groups and 69 completed all pre- and
      postgroup assessment measures. The aims of this study were to determine whether
      trauma-focused interventions (a) could be implemented in complex JJ systems, (b)
      would be associated with a decrease in posttraumatic symptoms and reactions in
      youth, and (c) might contribute to reduced Incident Reports in facilities. A
      related question was whether we would receive feedback that youth who
      participated in the trauma and/or grief narrative components of the intervention
      were adversely affected. Pre- and postgroup assessments indicated significant
      reductions in symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anger, but not in
      anxiety or sexual concerns. There were significantly greater reductions in
      posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among incarcerated youth who completed all
      modules of the group treatment intervention relative to incarcerated youth who
      received an abbreviated version. Two of the facilities tracked their Incident
      Reports and reported reductions. No Incident Reports or therapist feedback
      documented that the trauma/grief processing components of the intervention were
      destabilizing to the youth.

PMID- 26872507
TI  - A Longitudinal Examination of Mothers' Depression and PTSD Symptoms as Impacted
      by Partner-Abusive Men's Harm to Their Children.
AB  - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious and widespread form of gender-based
      violence that disproportionately affects women. It is well established that IPV
      victimization contributes to depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
      and that many partner-abusive men continue to perpetuate abuse even after their
      relationship with the victim ends. In addition, when men harm their partners,
      they are more likely to harm their children, and evidence suggests that this harm
      continues post-separation. However, scant research has been conducted on men's
      harm to their children as an extension of IPV perpetration, with even less known
      about the mental health impact this form of abuse has on mothers. For this
      longitudinal cohort study, 40 partner-abused mothers who had separated, or were
      planning to separate, from an abusive partner with whom they shared children were
      recruited. Women were interviewed 4 times over 1 year. Results confirmed that, in
      addition to men's physical abuse perpetration relating to subsequent increases in
      mothers' depression and PTSD symptoms over time, their harm to the children
      predicted both mothers' depression and PTSD symptoms as well.

PMID- 26872508
TI  - The Prevalence and Correlates of Physical and Sexual Violence Affecting Female
      Sex Workers in Swaziland.
AB  - Female sex workers (FSW) have a heightened vulnerability to violence and negative
      sexual/reproductive health outcomes. Limited research has examined how
      experiencing physical and sexual violence (PSV) mediates risk for poor health
      outcomes among FSW in Swaziland. The present analyses aim to contribute to
      literature linking violence with poor health outcomes, high-risk behaviors, and
      reduced health service-seeking among FSW. Data were analyzed from a cross
      sectional study conducted in Swaziland between July and September 2011 with 325
      adult women who reported exchanging sex for money, goods, or favors in the last
      12 months, recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Logistic
      regression was used to assess the relationship between PSV and ancillary
      violence/abuse exposures, risk behaviors, and sexual/reproductive and mental
      health outcomes. PSV was conceptualized as either ever having been beaten up as a
      result of selling sex or ever being forced to have sex since the age of 18, or
      both. Prevalence of PSV in this sample was 59.0% in crude estimation, and 48.4%
      (95% confidence interval [CI]:[39.2,57.6]) with RDS weighting. Separate RDS
      weighted estimates of being beaten up as a result of sex work and ever being
      forced to have sex were 32.4% (95%CI=[24.4,40.4]) and 33.1% (95%CI
      =[25.0,41.2%]), respectively. Experiencing PSV was associated with being
      blackmailed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]= 1.93, 95%CI= [1.07,3.52]), non-injection
      drug use in the last 12 months (aOR= 1.84, 95%CI= [1.02,3.33]), and feeling
      afraid to seek health services as a result of selling sex (aOR = 1.74, 95%CI=
      [1.01,2.99]). Given these findings, violence prevention strategies should be
      prioritized in programs that address Swazi FSW health, empowerment, and safety.

PMID- 26872509
TI  - Parental and Peer Attachment Characteristics: Differentiating Between Youth
      Sexual and Non-Sexual Offenders and Associations With Sexual Offense Profiles.
AB  - Attachment deficits have been suggested as an etiological explanation underlying
      the development of sexually abusive behaviors and general delinquency among
      youth. Yet, few researchers have explored the discriminating functions of
      attachment characteristics or investigated attachments as a stand-alone
      risk/protective factor explaining offending profiles among youth sexual
      offenders. This article explored the differences in characteristics of parental
      and peer attachments between youth sexual ( n = 355) and non-sexual offenders ( n
      = 150). Furthermore, associations between family and peer attachments and
      criminal profiles of sexual offenders were tested. The t-test results revealed
      that the groups of youth differed on various mother and father attachment
      characteristics, with youth sexual offenders exhibiting greater deficits.
      Regression models revealed lower levels of mother and peer trust and
      communication were associated with more severe sexual offenses; low levels of
      mother trust were associated with more victims; and low levels of mother trust
      and high father alienation were associated with more non-sexual criminality.
      Practice implications suggest the need to amalgamate families more consistently
      into treatment and addressing peer dynamics within groups and community contexts.

PMID- 26872511
TI  - Service user led organisations in mental health today.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since 1990, health policy in England has stressed the importance of
      user involvement in shaping and delivering services. AIMS: To explore mental
      health service user-led organisations (ULOs) in England, as they interact with
      decision-makers to bring about change desired by them with a focus on
      institutional norms behaviour and specialised knowledge impacting service users'
      relationships with services. METHOD: An ethnography of five ULOs in two provider
      organisations (NHS Trusts) including observing their meetings and interactions
      with decision-makers, conducting in-depth interviews and collecting reflective
      diaries kept by two members of each group. RESULTS: During the study, one group
      ceased to operate. This was a group which refused to adopt the institutional
      rules and norms of managerial discourse. The other four groups survived by
      navigating the changing environment which existed at the time of the study,
      although often at some cost. Themes of autonomy and leadership were also
      identified. CONCLUSION: The current environment is one of the organisational
      complexity and change and the place of ULOs is an ambiguous one as they strive to
      maintain autonomy whilst at the same time being an acceptable voice to managers.

PMID- 26872510
TI  - Potential of APDM mobility lab for the monitoring of the progression of
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - APDM's Mobility Lab system provides portable, validated, reliable, objective
      measures of balance and gait that are sensitive to Parkinson's disease (PD). In
      this review, we describe the potential of objective measures collected with the
      Mobility Lab system for tracking longitudinal progression of PD. Balance and gait
      are among the most important motor impairments influencing quality of life for
      people with PD. Mobility Lab uses body-worn, Opal sensors on the legs, trunk and
      arms during prescribed tasks, such as the instrumented Get Up and Go test or
      quiet stance, to quickly quantify the quality of balance and gait in the clinical
      environment. The same Opal sensors can be sent home with patients to continuously
      monitor the quality of their daily activities. Objective measures have the
      potential to monitor progression of mobility impairments in PD throughout its
      course to improve patient care and accelerate clinical trials. 

PMID- 26872512
TI  - Early-stage hip involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A Chinese
      study based on magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and identify potential
      factors of the early-stage hip involvement in patients with ankylosing
      spondylitis (AS) based on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A cross
      sectional retrospective study of 655 consecutive patients was performed. Patients
      with hip pain or limited hip function but lacking definitive evidence of hip
      involvement on radiography underwent hip MRI. Based on the results of the imaging
      tests, the patients were classified into three categories: (1) no hip
      involvement; (2) early-stage hip involvement according to MRI but not
      radiography; (3) advanced-stage hip involvement according to a Bath Ankylosing
      Spondylitis Radiology Index-hip score >=2. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-eight
      patients had early-stage hip involvement and 103 patients had advanced-stage hip
      involvement. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age
      at onset, worse BASMI score, and more active inflammation in the sacroiliac
      joints were associated with the occurrence of early-stage hip involvement.
      CONCLUSION: Negative plain radiography results cannot be used to rule out hip
      involvement. MRI was superior to radiography for the detection of early-stage hip
      involvement. Susceptible AS patients with symptoms or risk factors for hip
      involvement should undergo hip MRI to test for lesions in the early stage.

PMID- 26872513
TI  - Editorial Comment.

PMID- 26872514
TI  - The Relationship Between Nursing Experience and Education and the Occurrence of
      Reported Pediatric Medication Administration Errors.
AB  - Medication errors are one of the most common incidents in the hospitals. They can
      be harmful, and they are even more detrimental for pediatric patients. This study
      explored the relationship between nursing experience, education, the frequency
      and severity of reported pediatric medication administration errors (PMAEs). The
      data for this study were collected from a larger pan Canadian study. A survey
      tool was developed to collect self-reported data from nurses. In addition to
      descriptive statistics, a Poisson regression or a multiple linear regression was
      completed to address the research questions, and a Boneferrai correction was
      conducted to adjust for the small sample size. Results demonstrated that on units
      with more nurses with a higher level of current experience, more PMAEs were
      reported (p=.001), however; the PMAEs reported by these nurses were not as severe
      (p=.003). Implications to advance both safe medication delivery in the pediatric
      setting and safe culture of reporting for both actual and potential errors are
      identified. 

PMID- 26872515
TI  - Relationship Between Clinical Outcomes and Spontaneous Canal Remodeling in
      Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationship between clinical factors and spontaneous
      canal remodeling. METHODS: We evaluated computed tomography scans, before
      surgery, within a week after surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 12 months after
      surgery. Thirty-eight consecutive patients who underwent posterior fixation and
      fusion after thoracolumbar burst fractures were included in. Factors potentially
      affecting the postoperative degree of reduction and spontaneous spinal remodeling
      were defined as age, location, degree of change of anterior vertebral compression
      ratio, fracture type of the retropulse bone, presence of injury to the posterior
      longitudinal ligament, and posterolateral complex fracture. Multiple regression
      analyses were conducted on these factors to analyze the extent of their influence
      on the reduction and resorption rates. RESULTS: The recovery rate of the anterior
      compression (P = 0.003) was significantly related to the reduction rate after
      surgery; in addition, the recovery rate of the anterior compression (P = 0.022)
      and the comminuted type of fracture (P = 0.019) were significantly associated
      with the resorption rate after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: During posterior fixation,
      the degree of the reduction of the vertebral body by distraction can affect the
      degree of postoperative reduction and spontaneous bone remodeling. Therefore,
      close attention must be given to the indirect reduction technique through
      distraction during the operation. Because comminuted fracture fragments affect
      spontaneous canal remodeling, the degree of postoperative resorption can be
      estimated by preoperative computed tomography imaging.

PMID- 26872516
TI  - Why Doctors Scan Patients Until They Glow.

PMID- 26872517
TI  - Traumatic Brain Injury Guidelines and Outcome: Please Don't Forget Postacute
      Care!

PMID- 26872518
TI  - Hyponatremia After Pituitary Surgery.

PMID- 26872519
TI  - Phantom Radiculopathy: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Phantom radicular pain is very uncommon. To the best of our
      knowledge, only 14 cases have been described in the literature. A review of the
      literature revealed the most common cause of phantom radicular pain to be lumbar
      disc herniation and, furthermore, that treatment with epidural steroid injection
      or surgical decompression relieves pain in almost all cases. A significant number
      of patients with superimposed phantom radiculopathy may be missed because of the
      high incidence of degenerative lumbar spine diseases in the adult population, as
      well as the fact that amputee patients very often present with mixed stump and
      phantom pain. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a patient presenting with new
      onset phantom radicular pain (S1 left) 4 years after an above-the-knee amputation
      (left). Computed tomography myelography showed compression of the left S1 nerve
      root caused by recurrent disc herniation and scar tissue formation after previous
      discectomy at L5-S1. The patient experienced temporarily relief of the sciatic
      pain after a fluoroscopically-guided epidural transforaminal steroid injection.
      Subsequent microsurgical decompression led to complete remission of the phantom
      radicular pain. CONCLUSIONS: Amputees experiencing recurrent phantom radicular
      pain or new-onset superimposed pain deserve further radiologic evaluation.

PMID- 26872520
TI  - Indirect Revascularization for Non-Moyamoya Disease Anterior Circulation Arterial
      Steno-occlusion: Clinical Features, Surgical Treatment, and Medium-Term Outcomes
      in Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Symptomatic anterior arterial steno-occlusion is often associated
      with neurofunctional deficits or a high risk of recurrent stroke or both.
      Although both medical and endovascular treatments are useful and suitable, few
      studies have investigated the continued use of indirect
      encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) bypass in patients with non-moyamoya
      disease ischemia. We retrospectively investigated clinical features, surgical
      treatments, and medium-term outcomes of indirect revascularization for patients
      with non-moyamoya disease anterior circulation arterial steno-occlusion in China.
      METHODS: EDAS without burr holes was performed in 51 adult patients with cerebral
      ischemic events and diagnosed nonmoyamoya anterior circulation arterial steno
      occlusion. Preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up neurologic status was
      evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; changes on
      angiography and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated.
      RESULTS: Unilateral EDAS was performed in 48 patients, and bilateral EDAS was
      performed in 3 patients. Four patients experienced complications before hospital
      discharge; only 23 patients underwent follow-up angiograms. Of the 51 patients,
      44 (86.3%) exhibited improved muscle strength; 21 of 23 patients (91.3%) with
      follow-up angiography data exhibited evidence of new visible branches from the
      superficial temporal artery or middle meningeal artery or both. Preoperative and
      postoperative perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed for 5
      patients. Despite clinical improvement in all patients, only 2 exhibited
      hemodynamic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect revascularization may be safe and
      effective for improving blood flow to the ischemic region following nonmoyamoya
      anterior circulation arterial steno-occlusion, especially in patients with
      residual postinfarction neurologic deficits. Our study demonstrates that
      improvements in ischemic symptoms after EDAS correspond to neovascularization
      from the superficial temporal artery or middle meningeal artery in ischemic brain
      areas.

PMID- 26872521
TI  - Comparison of the Mechanical Characteristics of a Universal Small Biplane Plating
      Technique Without Compression Screw and Single Anatomic Plate With Compression
      Screw.
AB  - To better understand the mechanical characteristics of biplane locked plating in
      small bone fixation, the present study compared the stability under cyclic
      cantilever loading of a 2-plate locked biplane (BPP) construct without
      interfragmentary compression with that of a single-plate locked construct with an
      additional interfragmentary screw (SPS) using surrogate bone models simulating
      Lapidus arthrodesis. In static ultimate plantar bending, the BPP construct failed
      at significantly greater load than did the SPS construct (556.2 +/- 37.1 N versus
      241.6 +/- 6.3 N, p = .007). For cyclic failure testing in plantar bending at a
      180-N starting load, the BPP construct failed at a significantly greater number
      of cycles (158,322 +/- 50,609 versus 13,718 +/- 10,471 cycles) and failure load
      (242.5 +/- 25.0 N versus 180.0 +/- 0.0 N) than the SPS construct (p = .002). For
      cyclic failure testing in plantar bending at a 120-N starting load, the results
      were not significantly different between the BPP and SPS constructs for the
      number of cycles (207,646 +/- 45,253 versus 159,334 +/- 69,430) or failure load
      (205.0 +/- 22.4 N versus 185.0 +/- 33.5 N; p = .300). For cyclic testing with 90
      degrees  offset loading (i.e., medial to lateral bending) at a 120-N starting
      load, all 5 BPP constructs (tension side) and 2 of the 5 SPS constructs reached
      250,000 cycles without failure. Overall, the present study found the BPP
      construct to have superior or equivalent stability in multiplanar orientations of
      force application in both static and fatigue testing. Thus, the concept of
      biplane locked plating, using 2 low profile plates and unicortical screw
      insertion, shows promise in small bone fixation, because it provides consistent
      stability in multiplanar orientations, making it universally adaptable to many
      clinical situations. 

PMID- 26872522
TI  - Surgical Outcomes for Resection of the Dorsal Exostosis of the Metatarsocuneiform
      Joints.
AB  - A retrospective case series testing the efficacy of surgical resection of the
      dorsal exostosis deformity of the metatarsocuneiform joints was performed.
      Surgery was performed in 26 consecutive patients (28 feet), in whom previous
      conservative therapy had failed. All 26 patients had bursitis at the level of the
      dorsal exostosis deformity. The patients were separated into 2 groups: group 1,
      those with bursitis and neuritis before surgery (n = 13; 46.4%), and group 2,
      those with bursitis without neuritis (n = 15; 53.5%). Both groups were evaluated
      using an 11-point visual analog scale administered preoperatively and <=1 year
      postoperatively. The mean pain rating in the patients with neuritis and bursitis
      before surgery (7.31 +/- 2.8) and in those with bursitis without neuritis (6.67
      +/- 3.4) had both decreased to 0 at 6 months and 1 year after surgery. After
      surgery, 7 patients (25.2%) experienced neuritis. Of these 7 patients, 4 (57.1%)
      had continuation of neuritis that was present before surgery and 3 (42.9%) had an
      onset of neuropraxia that was secondary to the surgery itself. This might have
      resulted from retraction of the nerves during spur removal. Eventually, all the
      cases of neuritis resolved. One patient (3.6%) experienced regrowth of their
      dorsal exostosis deformity, 1 (3.6%) developed an abscess at the surgical site,
      and 1 (3.6%) developed pain elsewhere at the Lisfranc joint. All patients were
      subsequently treated at our institution and were pain free and had returned to
      full activity within 1 year. These results suggest that resection of the dorsal
      exostosis deformity of the metatarsocuneiform joints is an effective surgical
      procedure for patients with this deformity. 

PMID- 26872523
TI  - The Neglected Achilles Tendon Rupture Repaired With Allograft: A Review of 14
      Cases.
AB  - Various surgical techniques have been reported for the repair of neglected
      Achilles tendon ruptures, including V-Y advancements, synthetic augmentations,
      and collagen implants. The use of an Achilles tendon allograft allows bridging of
      large defects without donor site morbidity, with a relative ease of technique and
      adequate graft availability. The present retrospective report focused on the
      outcomes of a series of 14 patients with neglected ruptures treated with an
      Achilles tendon allograft. Patients were included in the present series if they
      had >=12 months of postoperative follow-up data available and the allograft had
      been used without any adjunctive procedures. Of the 14 patients, 6 were female
      (43%) and 8 were male (57%), with a mean follow-up period of 16.1 +/- 3 (range 12
      to 27) months. The mean interval from the initial injury to surgery was 6.9 +/- 5
      (range 1 to 28) months. The mean intraoperative defect size was 7.0 +/- 3 (range
      4 to 15) cm. A calcaneal block was used in 2 patients (14%). All patients were
      able to perform a single heel rise at a mean of 27 +/- 11 (range 12 to 37) weeks
      postoperatively. Weightbearing in normal shoe gear was achieved at a mean of 13.5
      +/- 3 (range 12 to 17) weeks. Complications included 1 delayed union (7%) of the
      calcaneal bone block. Repair of the neglected Achilles tendon rupture with an
      allograft appears to be an acceptable approach, with good overall outcomes and
      low risk. These results suggest that this method of repair compares favorably
      with established alternatives.

PMID- 26872524
TI  - Percutaneous Deltoid Ligament Augmentation Using Suture Tape for Medial Ankle
      Instability.
AB  - Compared with lateral ankle instability, medial ankle instability has many fewer
      treatment strategies and fewer reconstructive options available. The best method
      for deltoid ligament reconstruction remains unclear. Percutaneous deltoid
      ligament augmentation using suture tape represents a novel alternative technique
      for chronic medial ankle instability.

PMID- 26872525
TI  - Diagnostic Characteristics of Standard Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
      of Ruptures of the Tibialis Posterior Tendon.
AB  - The present study aimed to diagnose complete rupture (CR) and longitudinal
      rupture (LR) of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) from the magnetic resonance
      imaging findings in patients with PTT dysfunction and to analyze and compare the
      radiographs from each group to identify radiographic indicators related to the
      progression of PTT injury that would allow the radiographic diagnosis of CR. We
      evaluated 32 feet in 27 patients with PTT dysfunction (mean age 66.5, range 49 to
      82, years). Radiographs were used to acquire weightbearing anteroposterior images
      of the foot, which were used to measure the talonavicular coverage angle. Lateral
      images of the foot were also acquired with the patients in the standing position.
      These were used to measure the lateral talometatarsal angle, calcaneal pitch
      angle, and medial cuneiform-fifth metatarsal height. From the axial MRI findings,
      the patients were divided into a CR group and an LR group, and the radiographic
      attributes of the CR group were analyzed. Of the 32 feet in 27 patients, 12 feet
      (37.5%) in 11 patients displayed CR and 20 feet (62.5%) in 18 patients displayed
      LR. The talonavicular coverage angle was 48.3 degrees  +/- 17.3 degrees  in the
      CR group and 33.6 degrees  +/- 13.6 degrees  in the LR group (p = .012), and the
      talometatarsal angle was -28.8 degrees  +/- 22.5 degrees  in the CR group and 
      25.4 degrees  +/- 14.4 degrees  in the LR group (p = .596). The calcaneal pitch
      angle was 10.4 degrees  +/- 6.7 degrees  in the CR group and 10.2 degrees  +/-
      8.0 degrees  in the LR group (p = .935). Finally, the medial cuneiform-fifth
      metatarsal height was -4.2 +/- 7.1 mm in the CR group and 2.1 +/- 4.7 mm in the
      LR group (p = .005). When a medial cuneiform-fifth metatarsal height of <=0 mm or
      talonavicular coverage angle of >=50 degrees  was used as the diagnostic
      criterion for CR on weightbearing radiographs, the sensitivity was 71.4%,
      specificity 88.9%, and diagnostic accuracy 81.3%; hence, we believe these to be
      satisfactory diagnostic criteria for CR. 

PMID- 26872526
TI  - Associations between comorbid health conditions and the use of mental health
      services among adults with bipolar disorder.
AB  - Using a nationally representative sample, this study examined to what extent the
      number of comorbid health conditions was associated with various mental health
      service utilization among people with bipolar disorder. The results of logistic
      regression models indicate that a greater number of comorbid medical conditions
      were associated with higher odds of using specialty mental health service, while
      they were not associated with utilization of services provided by general health
      care providers. The type of bipolar disorder, functional impairment, and marital
      status were found to be associated with the use of a specialty service, while
      ethnicity was the only covariate significantly related to general health care
      use. 

PMID- 26872527
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26872529
TI  - Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of
      sheep pox and goat pox viruses in clinical samples.
AB  - A Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the highly
      conserved DNA polymerase gene of capripox virus genome was developed and
      evaluated for rapid detection of sheep pox and goat pox viruses. The optimized
      LAMP assay is found specific and sensitive for amplification of target DNA with a
      diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 96.6% and 100% respectively compared to
      quantitative PCR. The detection rate of LAMP, PCR and Q-PCR assays is found to be
      81.5%, 67% and 83% respectively. This LAMP assay has the potential for rapid
      clinical diagnosis and surveillance of sheep pox and goat pox in field diagnostic
      laboratories.

PMID- 26872528
TI  - Language and understanding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation amongst an aged
      inpatient population.
AB  - Greater patient involvement in health decision-making requires exchange of
      information between the patient and the healthcare professionals. Decisions
      regarding healthcare at the end of life include consideration of cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation (CPR). The stated objectives of this study were to determine how
      often language around concepts of resuscitation is used in the community by
      examination of the English language corpora (ELC); to explore the understanding
      of the same language by a group of older hospital patients; and to determine the
      patients' knowledge of the process and success of CPR, as well as the sources of
      their information. Medical inpatients aged 75 years and older were surveyed to
      this end in the setting of a tertiary university teaching hospital. Interrogation
      of the Australian, British and American English Corpora was accomplished by a
      linguist, and a questionnaire and semi-structured interview were administered to
      ascertain patient knowledge. We demonstrated that although medical inpatients
      have some familiarity with terms relating to resuscitation, there is a lack of
      understanding of the context, process and outcomes of CPR. The predominant
      sources of information were television and print media. Examination of the ELC
      revealed a paucity of the use of terms related to resuscitation. This finding
      indicates that physicians have a duty of care to determine patients'
      understanding around resuscitation language, and terms used, in discussions of
      their preferences before assuming their engagement in shared decision-making.
      More open public discussion around death and resuscitation would increase the
      general knowledge of the population and would provide a better foundation for the
      discussions in times of need.

PMID- 26872530
TI  - New polymorphisms within the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) 7 locus of
      Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
AB  - Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) is a frequently employed typing method of
      Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates. Based on whole genome
      sequencing in a previous study, allelic diversity at some VNTR loci seems to over
      or under-estimate the actual phylogenetic variance among isolates.
      Interestingly, two closely related isolates on one farm showed polymorphism at
      the VNTR 7 locus, raising concerns about the misleading role that it might play
      in genotyping. We aimed to investigate the underlying basis of VNTR 7
      polymorphism by analyzing sequence data for published genomes and field isolates
      of MAP and other M. avium complex (MAC) members. In contrast to MAP strains from
      cattle, strains from sheep displayed an "imperfect" repeat within VNTR 7, which
      was identical to respective allele types in other MAC genomes. Subspecies- and
      strain-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two novel (16 and 56
      bp) repeats were detected. Given the combination of the three existing repeats,
      there are at least five different patterns for VNTR 7. The present findings
      highlight a higher polymorphism and probable instability of VNTR 7 locus that
      needs to be considered and challenged in future studies. Until then, sequencing
      of this locus in future studies is important to correctly assign the underlying
      allele types.(1).

PMID- 26872531
TI  - Phylogeography and evolution of the Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber).
AB  - Phylogeographic studies frequently result in the elevation of subspecific taxa to
      species given monophyly, or the synonymy of subspecies that are not monophyletic.
      However, given limited or incongruent datasets, retention of subspecies can be
      useful to describe hypothesized incipient species or to illustrate interesting
      biological phenomena driving morphological diversity. Four subspecific taxa have
      been used to describe largely allopatric geographic variation within the species
      Pseudotriton ruber, a plethodontid salamander occupying stream and spring
      habitats across eastern North America: P. r. vioscai occurs in lowland Coastal
      Plain habitats, while P. r. ruber, P. r. nitidus, and P. r. schencki occupy
      upland regions in and around the Appalachian Mountains. Pseudotriton ruber co
      occurs through its distribution with the aposematic newt Notophthalmus
      viridescens, and both species are hypothesized to be part of a Mullerian mimicry
      complex. In this study, we sequenced regions of two mitochondrial (cytochrome b,
      NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) and one single copy nuclear protein-coding gene
      (pro-opiomelanocortin) from individuals sampled across much of the distribution
      of P. ruber and then used maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inference
      to test the monophyly of subspecies, reconstruct biogeographic history, and make
      inferences about morphological evolution. Phylogeographic hypotheses from
      mitochondrial and nuclear datasets described structure among populations of P.
      ruber which separated Coastal Plain and upland Appalachian populations, but
      subspecies were not monophyletic. Biogeographic reconstruction estimated the
      ancestor of all populations to have occupied and initially diverged in the
      Coastal Plain during the Pliocene (~3.6mya), before one lineage subsequently
      invaded upland areas of Appalachia. Bold bright coloration of high elevation
      subspecies P. r. nitidus and P. r. schencki appears to have evolved twice. We
      hypothesize that the Mullerian mimicry complex with N. viridescens and P. ruber
      may provide a selective mechanism driving the co-evolution of striking bright and
      dull morphological variation among populations of both species. While P. ruber
      subspecies were not consistent with our criteria for diagnosing species
      (monophyly) and therefore could not be elevated to species, we advocate for the
      retention of subspecies because they describe hypotheses about an incipient
      species (P. r. vioscai) and how Mullerian mimicry may shape morphological
      diversity of species. 

PMID- 26872533
TI  - Cuticle expansion during feeding in the tick Amblyomma hebraeum (Acari:
      Ixodidae): The role of hydrostatic pressure.
AB  - Female Amblyomma hebraeum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) increase their weight ~10-fold
      during a 'slow phase of engorgement' (7-9 days), and a further 10-fold during the
      'rapid phase' (12-24h). During the rapid phase, the cuticle thins by half, with a
      plastic (permanent) deformation of greater than 40% in two orthogonal directions.
      A stress of 2.5 MPa or higher is required to achieve this degree of deformation
      (Flynn and Kaufman, 2015). Using a dimensional analysis of the tick body and
      applying the Laplace equation, we calculated that the tick must achieve high
      internal hydrostatic pressures in order to engorge fully: greater than 55 kPa at
      a fed:unfed mass ratio of ~20:1, when cuticle thinning commences (Flynn and
      Kaufman, 2011). In this study we used a telemetric pressure transducer system to
      measure the internal hydrostatic pressure of ticks during feeding. Sustained
      periods of irregular high frequency (>20 Hz) pulsatile bursts of high pressure
      (>55 kPa) were observed in two ticks: they had been cannulated just prior to the
      rapid phase of engorgement, and given access to a host rabbit for completion of
      the feeding cycle. The pattern of periods of high pressure generation varied over
      the feeding cycle and between the two specimens. We believe that these pressures
      exceed those reported so far for any other animal.

PMID- 26872532
TI  - Copper and protons directly activate the zinc-activated channel.
AB  - The zinc-activated channel (ZAC) is a cationic ion channel belonging to the
      superfamily of Cys-loop receptors, which consists of pentameric ligand-gated ion
      channels. ZAC is the least understood member of this family so in the present
      study we sought to characterize the properties of this channel further. We
      demonstrate that not only zinc (Zn(2+)) but also copper (Cu(2+)) and protons
      (H(+)) are agonists of ZAC, displaying potencies and efficacies in the rank
      orders of H(+)>Cu(2+)>Zn(2+) and H(+)>Zn(2+)>Cu(2+), respectively. The responses
      elicited by Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and H(+) through ZAC are all characterized by low
      degrees of desensitization. In contrast, currents evoked by high concentrations
      of the three agonists comprise distinctly different activation and decay
      components, with transitions to and from an open state being significantly faster
      for H(+) than for the two metal ions. The permeabilities of ZAC for Na(+) and
      K(+) relative to Cs(+) are indistinguishable, whereas replacing all of
      extracellular Na(+) and K(+) with the divalent cations Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) results
      in complete elimination of Zn(2+)-activated currents at both negative and
      positive holding potentials. This indicates that ZAC is non-selectively permeable
      to monovalent cations, whereas Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) inhibit the channel. In
      conclusion, this is the first report of a Cys-loop receptor being gated by
      Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and H(+). ZAC could be an important mediator of some of the wide
      range of physiological functions regulated by or involving Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and
      H(+). 

PMID- 26872534
TI  - Sirt1 is essential for resveratrol enhancement of hypoxia-induced autophagy in
      the type 2 diabetic nephropathy rat.
AB  - Type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious end-stage kidney disease worldwide.
      Multiple studies demonstrate that resveratrol (RSV) has a beneficial effect on
      DN. However, whether RSV-induced improvement in kidney function in diabetes is
      due to the regulation of autophagy remains unclear. Here, we investigated the
      mechanisms underlying RSV-mediated protection against DN in diabetic rats, with a
      special focus on the role of NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) in
      regulating autophagy. We found that long-term RSV treatment in rats promoted
      Sirt1 expression and improved related metabolic levels in the diabetic kidney.
      Our study showed that, in cultured NRK-52E cells, Sirt1 knockdown inhibited the
      autophagy levels of proteins Atg7, Atg5, and LC3 and impaired the RSV
      amelioration of dysfunctional autophagy under hypoxic condition. Furthermore,
      exposed to 1% O2 over time induced autophagy dysfunction and apoptosis in NRK-52E
      cells, which could be improved by RSV treatment. Our data highlight the role of
      the Sirt1-mediated pathway in the effects of RSV on autophagy in vivo and in
      vitro, suggesting RSV could be a potential new therapy for type 2 DN.

PMID- 26872535
TI  - Comparative prognostic relevance of breast intra-tumoral microvessel density
      evaluated by CD105 and CD146: A pilot study of 42 cases.
AB  - Angiogenesis is a key process for metastatic progression. While it has been
      established that the evaluation of breast tumoral microvessel density by CD105
      marker is a potential prognostic parameter, its evaluation by CD146 marker has
      been poorly studied. AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the prognostic
      value of intra-tumoral microvessel density assayed by CD105 and CD146 in early
      breast cancer patients. METHODS: 42 women with breast infiltrative ductal
      carcinoma (I and II-stages) were retrospectively reviewed. Intra-tumoral
      microvessel density was immunohistochemically examined using antibodies anti
      CD105 and CD146 in paraffin-embedded tissues, and their association with
      classical prognostic-markers, metastatic recurrence, metastasis-free survival and
      overall survival was analyzed. RESULTS: High microvessel density assessed by
      CD146 was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing metastasis
      (p=0.0310) and a shorter metastasis-free survival (p=0.0197). In contrast, when
      we used the CD105-antibody, we did not find any significant association. Finally,
      CD146 showed to be an independent predictive indicator for metastasis-free
      survival (p=0.0055). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the intra-tumoral
      microvessel density evaluated by CD146 may be a more suitable predictor of
      metastatic development than that evaluated by CD105 in early breast cancer.

PMID- 26872536
TI  - The relation between percentage of immunostained cells and amplification status
      in breast cancers with equivocal result for Her2 immunohistochemistry.
AB  - We analyzed Her2 amplification in breast cancers with equivocal IHC staining to
      investigate the significance of percentage of Her2 immunostained tumor cells. We
      especially included the breast cancers with complete/incomplete membrane staining
      at moderate intensity in less than 10% of the invasive tumor cells. Of 1804
      breast cases, 180 had moderate complete/incomplete membrane Her2 immunostaining.
      According to 2013 ASCO/CAP guideline, 124 were in IHC score 2+ and 56 in 1+
      category. The percentage of Her2 immunostained invasive tumor cells were
      determined by visual estimation at the time of diagnosis and categorized into
      three groups; <10%, 10-50%, and >50% for this review. FISH was performed by dual
      DNA probe and data of Her2/cep17 ratio, Her2/cell and Cep17/cell were recorded
      applying 2013 ASCO/CAP criteria. There were 22 cases (12.2%) in >50% group, 102
      (56.7%) in 10-50% group, and 56 (31.1%) in <10% group. Overall Her2 amplification
      was 25.5%. Her2 was amplified in 12 (54.5%) cases in >50% group; 26 (25.4%) in 10
      50% and 8 (14.3%) in <10%. Her2 amplification was more frequent in cancers with
      >50% moderately immunostained cells in IHC equivocal group. However, most of Her2
      IHC equivocal breast cancers contain moderate amount (10-50%) of immunostained
      cells. Relatively small but non-neglectable number (14%) of cases in <10% group
      was Her2 amplified by FISH which approaches to overall incidence of Her2
      overexpression (15-20%) in all breast cancer. Breast cancers with moderate
      complete/incomplete membrane Her2 IHC staining in <10% of invasive tumor cells
      should be regarded as equivocal and reflex FISH should be performed in these
      cases. 

PMID- 26872537
TI  - Structural damage to the hip in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A case of
      regression with Anakinra.

PMID- 26872538
TI  - Impact of endo- and exogenous estrogens on heart rate variability in women: a
      review.
AB  - Measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) is an established method to assess
      the activity of the autonomic nervous system. The aim of this review was to
      examine the link between HRV, reproductive life stages and menopausal hormone
      therapy. A literature review was performed using the Medline database. Based on
      title and abstract, 45 studies were extracted out of 261 citations screened. Due
      to different study designs and evaluation methods, HRV indices were not directly
      comparable. Qualitative comparisons in between the vast majority of studies,
      however, demonstrated a decrease of the vagal dominance on the heart from the
      follicular to the luteal cycle phase, although some studies asserted no change.
      The intake of oral contraceptives appeared not to alter the vagal modulation of
      the heart. All investigations agreed on a decline of HRV towards higher
      sympathetic control after menopause. Different menopausal hormone therapy
      approaches showed a supporting impact of estrogen on HRV in most studies. A
      combined therapy of estrogen and progestogens revoked this benefit. Further
      research is needed to demonstrate how this process might be attenuated by
      different menopausal hormone therapies. 

PMID- 26872539
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26872541
TI  - Changes to nitrate isotopic composition of wastewater treatment effluent and
      rivers after upgrades to tertiary treatment in the Narragansett Bay watershed,
      RI.
AB  - Due to nitrogen load reduction policies, wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs)
      have upgraded to tertiary treatment - where denitrification reduces and removes
      nitrogen. Changes to the stable isotopic composition of nitrate inputs after
      upgrades or how it transfers to the estuary have not been assessed in Rhode
      Island. We investigate whether these upgrades impact the isotopic signature of
      nitrate inputs to Narragansett Bay. Samples from rivers and WWTFs discharging to
      Narragansett Bay characterize the anthropogenic source nitrate (NO3(-)) isotopic
      composition (delta(15)N-NO3(-) and delta(18)O-NO3(-)) and temporal variability.
      At one WWTF, tertiary treatment increased effluent nitrate delta(15)N-NO3(-) and
      delta(18)O-NO3(-) values by ~160/00. Riverine values increased by ~40/00, likely
      due to the combination of decreases in N and upgrades. Combined river and WWTF
      flux-weighted isotopic compositions showed enriched values and an amplitude
      reduction in monthly variability. When seasonal isotopic means are significantly
      different from other sources, delta(15)N-NO3(-) may be a useful tracer of inputs.

PMID- 26872540
TI  - Insulin-like growth factor 2 modulates murine hematopoietic stem cell maintenance
      through upregulation of p57.
AB  - Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) rely on a highly regulated molecular network to
      balance self-renewal and lineage specification to sustain life-long
      hematopoiesis. Despite a plethora of studies aimed at identifying molecules
      governing HSC fate, our current knowledge of the genes responsible is limited. We
      have found insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) to be expressed predominantly
      within long-term HSCs. This study examines IGF2 expression patterns and the
      effects of the gene in HSCs. Through the overexpression and knockdown of IGF2
      within purified HSCs, we report that IGF2 expression increases HSC-derived
      multilineage colonies in vitro and enhances hematopoietic contribution in vivo on
      competitive bone marrow transplantation. The effects of IGF2 are mediated by
      direct upregulation of the CDKi p57, exclusively within long-term HSCs, via
      activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway. Increased expression of p57 resulted in a
      concomitant increase in HSCs in the G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle. Analysis of
      genomic DNA methylation revealed that HSCs exhibited a hypomethylated state
      within the promoter region of the CDKN1C (p57) gene, providing a potential
      mechanism for the exclusive effects of IGF2 within HSCs. Our studies indicate a
      novel role for IGF2 in regulating HSC cell cycle and illustrate potential novel
      therapeutic targets for hematologic diseases.

PMID- 26872542
TI  - Trace metal contamination in surface sediments of intertidal zone from
      Qinhuangdao, China, revealed by geochemical and magnetic approaches:
      Distribution, sources, and health risk assessment.
AB  - Based on geochemical and magnetic approaches, the distribution, sources, and
      health risk of trace metals in surface sediments from a seashore tourist city
      were investigated. A significant correlation was found between magnetic
      susceptibility (chi) and trace metals, which suggested that levels of trace
      metals in the sediments can be effectively depicted by the magnetic approach. The
      spatial distribution of chi and trace metals matched well with the city layout
      with relatively higher values being found in the port and busy tourist areas.
      This result, together with enrichment factors (EFs) and Tomlinson pollution load
      index (PLI) of metals, suggested that the influence of human activities on the
      coastal environment was noticeable. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated
      that trace metals in the sediments were derived from both anthropogenic and
      natural sources. Noncarcinogenic risk assessment showed that there was no
      potential health risk of exposure to metals by means of ingestion or inhalation. 

PMID- 26872543
TI  - Purification and characterization of a fish granzymeA involved in cell-mediated
      immunity.
AB  - Granzymes are serine proteases involved in the induction of cell death against
      non-self cells. The enzymes differ in their primary substrate specificity and
      have one of four hydrolysis activities: tryptase, Asp-ase, Met-ase and chymase.
      Although granzyme genes have been isolated from several fishes, evidence for
      their involvement in cytotoxicity has not yet been reported. In the present
      study, we attempted to purify and characterize a fish granzyme involved in
      cytotoxicity using ginbuna crucian carp. The cytotoxicity of leukocytes was
      significantly inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor ''3, 4
      dichloroisocoumarin''. In addition, we found that granzymeA-like activity
      (hydrolysis of Z-GPR-MCA) was inhibited by the same inhibitor and significantly
      enhanced by allo-antigen stimulation in vivo. Proteins from leukocyte extracts
      were subjected to two steps of chromatographic purification using benzamidine
      Sepharose and SP-Sepharose. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was
      estimated to be 26,900 Da by SDS-PAGE analysis. The purified enzyme displayed a
      Km of 220 MUM, a Kcat of 21.7 sec(-1) and a Kcat/Km of 98,796 sec(-1) M(-1) with
      an optimal pH of 9.5 for the Z-GPR-MCA substrate. The protease was totally
      inhibited by serine protease inhibitors and showed granzymeA-like substrate
      specificity. Therefore, we conclude that the purified enzyme belongs to the
      mammalian granzymeA (EC 3.4.21.78) and appears to be involved in cytotoxicity in
      fish. 

PMID- 26872544
TI  - Gut immunity in Lepidopteran insects.
AB  - Lepidopteran insects constitute one of the largest fractions of animals on earth,
      but are considered pests in their relationship with man. Key to the success of
      this order of insects is its ability to digest food and absorb nutrition, which
      takes place in the midgut. Because environmental microorganisms can easily enter
      Lepidopteran guts during feeding, the innate immune response guards against
      pathogenic bacteria, virus and microsporidia that can be devoured with food. Gut
      immune responses are complicated by both resident gut microbiota and the
      surrounding peritrophic membrane and are distinct from immune responses in the
      body cavity, which depend on the function of the fat body and hemocytes. Due to
      their relevance to agricultural production, studies of Lepidopteran insect midgut
      and immunity are receiving more attention, and here we summarize gut structures
      and functions, and discuss how these confer immunity against different
      microorganisms. It is expected that increased knowledge of Lepidopteran gut
      immunity may be utilized for pest biological control in the future.

PMID- 26872546
TI  - Antigen sampling in the fish intestine.
AB  - Antigen uptake in the gastrointestinal tract may induce tolerance, lead to an
      immune response and also to infection. In mammals, most pathogens gain access to
      the host though the gastrointestinal tract, and in fish as well, this route seems
      to be of significant importance. The epithelial surface faces a considerable
      challenge, functioning both as a barrier towards the external milieu but
      simultaneously being the site of absorption of nutrients and fluids. The
      mechanisms allowing antigen uptake over the epithelial barrier play a central
      role for maintaining the intestinal homeostasis and regulate appropriate immune
      responses. Such uptake has been widely studied in mammals, but also in fish, a
      number of experiments have been reported, seeking to reveal cells and mechanisms
      involved in antigen sampling. In this paper, we review these studies in addition
      to addressing our current knowledge of the intestinal barrier in fish and its
      anatomical construction.

PMID- 26872545
TI  - Role of histamine in the regulation of intestinal immunity in fish.
AB  - In mammals, during the acute inflammatory response, the complex interrelationship
      and cross-talk among histamine and the immune system has been fairly well
      characterized. There is a substantial body of information on its structure,
      metabolism, receptors, signal transduction, physiologic and pathologic effects.
      However, for early vertebrates, there is little such knowledge. In the case of
      teleost fish, this lack of knowledge has been due to the widely held belief that
      histamine is not present in this phylogenetic group. However, it has been
      recently demonstrated, that granules of mast cells in perciforms contain
      biologically active histamine. More importantly, the inflammatory response was
      clearly demonstrated to be regulated by the direct action of histamine on
      professional phagocytes. Nevertheless, the molecular basis and exact role of this
      biogenic amine in perciforms is still a matter of speculation. Therefore, this
      review intends to summarize recent experimental evidence regarding fish mast
      cells and correlate the same with their mammalian counterparts to establish the
      possible role of histamine in the fish intestinal inflammatory response.

PMID- 26872547
TI  - The effect of rapamycin on biodiesel-producing protist Euglena gracilis.
AB  - Rapamycin induces autophagy with lipid remodeling in yeast and mammalian cells.
      To investigate the lipid biosynthesis of Euglena gracilis, rapamycin was
      supplemented in comparison with two model algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and
      Cyanidioschyzon merolae. In Euglena, rapamycin induced the reduction of
      chlorophylls and the accumulation of neutral lipids without deterring its cell
      proliferation. Its lipidomic profile revealed that the fatty acid composition did
      not alter by supplementing rapamycin. In Chlamydomonas, however, rapamycin
      induced serious growth inhibition as reported elsewhere. With a lower
      concentration of rapamycin, the alga accumulated neutral lipids without reducing
      chlorophylls. In Cyanidioschyzon, rapamycin did not increase neutral lipids but
      reduced its chlorophyll content. We also tested fatty acid elongase inhibitors
      such as pyroxasulfone or flufenacet in Euglena with no significant change in its
      neutral lipid contents. In summary, controlled supplementation of rapamycin can
      increase the yield of neutral lipids while the scheme is not always applicable
      for other algal species. 

PMID- 26872549
TI  - Fractures lead to worsening of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares is multifactorial and
      not well understood. No reports of fractures influencing disease activity in
      patients with RA have been published. The purpose of this study was to determine
      whether fractures influence disease activity in patients with RA. METHODS:
      Hospital records of 470 patients with RA between 2011 and 2014 were analyzed. We
      first examined the incidence of flare using multiple regression analysis.
      Secondly, we examined the incidence of flare using DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, and drug
      changes before bone fracture until bone union in the fracture cases. RESULTS:
      Multiple linear regression analysis showed that female sex (p < 0.001), bottom
      DAS28-ESR (p < 0.001), and fracture (p = 0.041) were independent factor for DAS28
      ESR at the last observation period, and sex (p = 0.040), bottom DAS28-CRP (p <
      0.001), and fracture (p = 0.019) were independent factor for DAS28-CRP at the
      last observation period. The average DAS28-ESR value was significantly increased
      from 3.19 (prefracture) to 3.58 (bone union). The average DAS28-CRP value was
      also significantly increased from 2.45 (prefracture) to 2.79 (bone union).
      CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that fractures influence disease activity in
      patients with RA. Larger numbers of fracture cases are required to confirm the
      present observations; however, the prevention of fracture is clearly required in
      patients with RA.

PMID- 26872548
TI  - Intraileal casein infusion increases plasma concentrations of amino acids in
      humans: A randomized cross over trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Activation of the ileal brake by casein induces satiety signals and
      reduces energy intake. However, adverse effects of intraileal casein
      administration have not been studied before. These adverse effects may include
      impaired amino acid digestion, absorption and immune activation. OBJECTIVE: To
      investigate the effects of intraileal infusion of native casein on plasma amino
      acid appearance, immune activation and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. DESIGN: A
      randomized single-blind cross over study was performed in 13 healthy subjects (6
      male; mean age 26 +/- 2.9 years; mean body mass index 22.8 +/- 0.4 kg/m-2), who
      were intubated with a naso-ileal feeding catheter. Thirty minutes after intake of
      a standardized breakfast, participants received an ileal infusion, containing
      either control (C) consisting of saline, a low-dose (17.2 kcal) casein (LP) or a
      high-dose (51.7 kcal) of casein (HP) over a period of 90 min. Blood samples were
      collected for analysis of amino acids (AAs), C-reactive protein (CRP), pro
      inflammatory cytokines and oxylipins at regular intervals. Furthermore, GI
      symptom questionnaires were collected before, during and after ileal infusion.
      RESULTS: None of the subjects reported any GI symptoms before, during or after
      ileal infusion of C, LP and HP. Plasma concentrations of all AAs analyzed were
      significantly increased after infusion of HP as compared to C (p < 0.001), and
      most AAs were increased after infusion of LP (p < 0.001). In total, 12.49 +/-
      1.73 and 3.18 +/- 0.87 g AAs were found in plasma after intraileal infusion of HP
      and LP, corresponding to 93 +/- 13% (HP) and 72 +/- 20% (LP) of AAs infused as
      casein, respectively. Ileal casein infusion did not affect plasma concentrations
      of CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Infusion of HP resulted in a
      decreased concentration of 11,12-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid whereas none of the
      other oxylipins analyzed were affected. CONCLUSIONS: A single intraileal infusion
      of native casein results in a concentration and time dependent increase of AAs in
      plasma, suggesting an effective digestion and absorption of AAs present in
      casein. Also, ileal infusion did not result in immune activation nor in GI
      symptoms. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT01509469.

PMID- 26872550
TI  - Editorial 2016 for Ocular Immunology and Inflammation.

PMID- 26872551
TI  - Scleritis.

PMID- 26872552
TI  - Edge activators and a polycationic polymer enhance the formulation of porous
      voriconazole nanoagglomerate for the use as a dry powder inhaler.
AB  - PURPOSE: Voriconazole has both low aqueous solubility and stability. We
      hypothesize that designing voriconazole in the form of a nano powder inhaler at a
      geometric diameter within 1-5 MUm will enhance its stability and solubility.
      Therefore, we prepared nanoagglomerates of voriconazole which will collapse in
      the lungs to reform the nanoparticles. METHOD: The nanoparticles were formulated
      using both stearic acid and sodium deoxycholate as edge activators. Osmogenic
      polycation polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used to form agglomerates of controllable
      size. RESULTS: Voriconazole nanoparticles and agglomerates showed a significant
      higher cumulative drug release than the pure powder (p < 0.05) with R(2 )=(
      )0.95. Small-sized particles were formed (353 nm), while their zeta potential was
      -30.7 mV. The agglomerates were 2.7 MUm in size and their zeta potential was 
      20.9 mV. The formation of porous agglomerates was confirmed using a transmission
      electron microscope. Cascade impactor was used to evaluate the aerodynamic
      properties of the nanoparticles and the agglomerates. The aerodynamic
      characterization of the nanoparticles and the agglomerates resulted in a
      significant smaller mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) (p < 0.05) and higher
      fine particle dose (FPD) (p < 0.01), fine particle fraction (FPF) (p < 0.01), and
      total emitted dose (TED) (p < 0.01) than the pure powder. CONCLUSION: The results
      suggest that using the combination of edge activators and diluted polycationic
      polymer solution provides porous voriconazole nanoagglomerates in a respirable
      range, which is proved successful in enhancing both the deposition and the
      dissolution of water insoluble-drugs in the lung.

PMID- 26872553
TI  - Unhealthy Fat in Street and Snack Foods in Low-Socioeconomic Settings in India: A
      Case Study of the Food Environments of Rural Villages and an Urban Slum.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the food environment in rural villages and an urban slum
      setting in India with reference to commercially available unbranded packaged
      snacks and street foods sold by vendors, and to analyze the type and quantity of
      fat in these foods. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Two low-income villages in
      Haryana and an urban slum in Delhi. PARTICIPANTS: Street vendors (n = 44) were
      surveyed and the nutritional content of snacks (n = 49) sold by vendors was
      analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vendors' awareness and perception of fats and
      oils, as well as the type of snacks sold, along with the content and quality of
      fat present in the snacks. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics of vendor survey and
      gas chromatography to measure fatty acid content in snacks. RESULTS: A variety of
      snacks were sold, including those in unlabeled transparent packages and open
      glass jars. Mean fat content in snacks was 28.8 g per 100-g serving in rural
      settings and 29.6 g per 100-g serving in urban settings. Sampled oils contained
      high levels of saturated fats (25% to 69% total fatty acids) and trans fats (0.1%
      to 30% of total fatty acids). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Interventions need to
      target the manufacturers of oils and fats used in freshly prepared products to
      improve the quality of foods available in the food environment of low
      socioeconomic groups in India.

PMID- 26872555
TI  - Thermoluminescence of novel MgO-CeO2 obtained by a glycine-based solution
      combustion method.
AB  - Thermoluminescence dosimetry properties of novel MgO-CeO2 obtained by solution
      combustion synthesis in a glycine-nitrate process, are presented for the very
      first time. X-ray diffraction indicates the presence of cubic MgO and cerianite
      (CeO2) for the annealed powder samples. Dosimetry features such as linear
      behaviour of the dose response without saturation in the dose interval studied,
      as well as asymptotic behaviour of the thermoluminescent signal fading place MgO
      CeO2 phosphor as a promising material for low-dose radiation dosimetry
      applications.

PMID- 26872554
TI  - Short and long-term outcomes of percutaneous left atrial appendage suture
      ligation: Results from a US multicenter evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Published studies of epicardial ligation of left atrial appendage
      (LAA) have reported discordant results. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was
      to delineate the safety and efficacy of LAA closure with the LARIAT device.
      METHODS: This is a multicenter registry of 712 consecutive patients undergoing
      LAA ligation with LARIAT at 18 US hospitals. The primary end point was successful
      suture deployment, no leak by intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography
      (TEE), and no major complication (death, stroke, cardiac perforation, and
      bleeding requiring transfusion) at discharge. A leak of 2-5 mm on follow-up TEE
      was the secondary end point. RESULTS: LARIAT was successfully deployed in 682
      patients (95.5%). A complete closure was achieved in 669 patients (98%), while 13
      patients (1.8%) had a trace leak (<2 mm). There was 1 death related to the
      procedure. Ten patients (1.44%) had cardiac perforation necessitating open heart
      surgery, while another 14 (2.01%) did not need surgery. The risk of cardiac
      perforation decreased significantly after the introduction of a micropuncture
      (MP) needle for pericardial access. Delayed complications (pericarditis requiring
      >2 weeks of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/colchicine and
      pericardial and pleural effusion after discharge) occurred in 34 (4.78%)
      patients, and the risk decreased significantly with the periprocedural use of
      colchicine. Follow-up TEE (n = 480) showed a leak of 2-5 mm in 6.5% and a
      thrombus in 2.5%. One patient had a leak of >5 mm. CONCLUSION: LARIAT effectively
      closes the LAA and has acceptable procedural risks with the evolution of the use
      of the micropuncture needle for pericardial access and the use of colchicine for
      mitigating the postinflammatory response associated with LAA ligation and
      pericardial access.

PMID- 26872556
TI  - Development of the sporadic inclusion body myositis physical functioning
      assessment.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a progressive idiopathic
      inflammatory myopathy characterized by atrophy and weakness of proximal and
      distal muscle groups that results in a loss of independence and the need for
      assistive devices and supportive care. To assess treatment benefit of new
      therapies, a patient-reported outcome measure of physical function was developed.
      METHODS: The tool was rigorously developed in accordance with the United States
      Food and Drug Administration (FDA) patient-reported outcomes (PRO) guidance. A
      single-visit, observational study was conducted. Standard qualitative analytical
      methods were employed to analyze interview data and generate questionnaire items.
      RESULTS: Twenty concept elicitation and 19 cognitive debriefing interviews were
      conducted, and 6 expert physicians were consulted. The tool consists of 11 items
      scored on a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Subjects completed the questionnaire
      utilizing either paper or electronic administration. CONCLUSION: We have
      developed a PRO tool in alignment with FDA PRO guidance for use in the functional
      assessment of treatment benefit in sIBM. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: -,
      2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 653-657, 2016.

PMID- 26872558
TI  - (89) Zr-rituximab PET/CT to detect neurolymphomatosis.

PMID- 26872557
TI  - Season of diagnosis is associated with overall survival in patients with diffuse
      large B-cell lymphoma but not with Hodgkin's lymphoma - A population-based
      Swedish Lymphoma Register study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of
      season of diagnosis on the outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
      (DLBCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In this study, we included curatively treated
      DLBCL (n = 5875) and HL (n = 1693) patients, diagnosed between 2000 and 2011,
      based on data from the Swedish Lymphoma Register. RESULTS: Overall survival was
      significantly better for patients diagnosed with DLBCL during the summer months,
      but not for patients diagnosed with HL. The difference remained in a
      multivariable analysis adjusted for age, stage, performance status, number of
      extra nodal sites and year of diagnosis (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.14, P = 0.0069).
      When analyzing the DLBCL patients according to gender in the multivariable model,
      the effect of season was shown to be restricted to male patients (HR = 1.09, 95%
      CI 1.01-1.17, P = 0.0269. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, season of diagnosis was shown
      to have impact on overall survival in male patients with DLBCL. Possible
      explanations of our results are the higher vitamin D level during the summer
      months, the effects of sunlight on the circadian rhythm and the immune system, or
      the lower risk of infectious disease during the summer. Further investigations
      are needed to explore these hypotheses.

PMID- 26872559
TI  - T2* and T1 assessment of abdominal tissue response to graded hypoxia and
      hypercapnia using a controlled gas mixing circuit for small animals.
AB  - PURPOSE: To characterize T2* and T1 relaxation time response to a wide spectrum
      of gas challenges in extracranial tissues of healthy rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      A range of graded gas mixtures (hyperoxia, hypercapnia, hypoxia, and hypercapnic
      hypoxia) were delivered through a controlled gas-mixing circuit to mechanically
      ventilated and intubated rats. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was
      performed on a 3T clinical scanner; T2* and T1 maps were computed to determine
      tissue response in the liver, kidney cortex, and paraspinal muscles. Heart rate
      and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2 ) were measured through a rodent oximeter and
      physiological monitor. RESULTS: T2* decreases consistent with lowered SaO2
      measurements were observed for hypercapnia and hypoxia, but decreases were
      significant only in liver and kidney cortex (P < 0.05) for >10% CO2 and <15% O2 ,
      with the new gas stimulus, hypercapnic hypoxia, producing the greatest T2*
      decrease. Hyperoxia-related T2* increases were accompanied by negligible
      increases in SaO2 . T1 generally increased, if at all, in the liver and decreased
      in the kidney. Significance was observed (P < 0.05) only in kidney for >90% O2
      and >5% CO2 . CONCLUSION: T2* and T1 provide complementary roles for evaluating
      extracranial tissue response to a broad range of gas challenges. Based on both
      measured and known physiological responses, our results are consistent with T2*
      as a sensitive marker of blood oxygen saturation and T1 as a weak marker of blood
      volume changes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:305-316.

PMID- 26872560
TI  - Exercise: the lifelong supplement for healthy ageing and slowing down the onset
      of frailty.
AB  - The beneficial effects of exercise have been well recognized for over half a
      century. Dr Jeremy Morris's pioneering studies in the fifties showed a striking
      difference in cardiovascular disease between the drivers and conductors on the
      double-decker buses in London. These studies sparked off a vast amount of
      research on the effects of exercise in health, and the general consensus is that
      exercise contributes to improved outcomes and treatment for several diseases
      including osteoporosis, diabetes, depression and atherosclerosis. Evidence of the
      beneficial effects of exercise is reviewed here. One way of highlighting the
      impact of exercise on disease is to consider it from the perspective of good
      practice. However, the intensity, duration, frequency (dosage) and counter
      indications of the exercise should be taken into consideration to individually
      tailor the exercise programme. An important case of the beneficial effect of
      exercise is that of ageing. Ageing is characterized by a loss of homeostatic
      mechanisms, on many occasions leading to the development of frailty, and hence
      frailty is one of the major geriatric syndromes and exercise is very useful to
      mitigate, or at least delay, it. Since exercise is so effective in reducing
      frailty, we would like to propose that exercise be considered as a supplement to
      other treatments. People all over the world have been taking nutritional
      supplements in the hopes of improving their health. We would like to think of
      exercise as a physiological supplement not only for treating diseases, but also
      for improving healthy ageing. 

PMID- 26872562
TI  - Retinal ganglion cell neuronal damage in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To examine the association of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR)
      with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. DESIGN: Observational case-control study.
      PARTICIPANTS: Type 2 diabetes cases and age-gender matched controls without
      diabetes. METHODS: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters
      of RGCs were calculated after automated segmentation of macular scans. DR
      severity was graded on fundus photographs using the modified Airlie House
      Classification system. Generalized estimating equation was used to compare OCT
      parameters between cases and controls, adjusted for covariates. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Average ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and average
      retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thicknesses. RESULTS: We analyzed 227 cases and
      227 controls. The mean age (years) of cases was 58.3 and controls was 58.1 (P =
      0.13). Among cases, 101 had none, 25 had mild and 101 had moderate or severe DR.
      Compared with controls, GC-IPL and RNFL were thinner in all cases [mean
      difference (95% confidence interval [CI]): GC-IPL -4.49 um (-2.92; -6.06), RNFL 
      0.93 um (-0.09; -1.85)], including cases with no DR [mean difference (95% CI), GC
      IPL -4.37 um (-2.72; -6.02), RNFL -1.06 um (-0.10; -2.02)]. Cases with any DR had
      thinner GC-IPL than controls [mean difference (95% CI): GC-IPL -4.81 um (-2.12; 
      7.50)]. Among cases, subjects with moderate or severe DR had thinner GC-IPL than
      subjects with no DR [mean difference (95% CI): GC-IPL -2.07 um (-0.08; -4.07)].
      CONCLUSIONS: RGC loss is present in subjects with diabetes and no DR, and is
      progressive in moderate or severe DR. RGC neuronal damage in diabetes and DR can
      be clinically detected using OCT.

PMID- 26872561
TI  - Urolithin A, C, and D, but not iso-urolithin A and urolithin B, attenuate
      triglyceride accumulation in human cultures of adipocytes and hepatocytes.
AB  - SCOPE: Urolithins (Uro) are ellagic acid (EA)-derived metabolites produced by gut
      microbes. There is a growing interest in the biological activities of Uro. Our
      aim was to evaluate the impacts of Uro on regulating triglyceride (TG)
      accumulation using cultures of primary human adipocytes and hepatoma Huh7 cells.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: UroA, UroB, UroC, UroD, and iso-UroA were used to determine
      the effect of Uro on adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Individual Uro (30 MUM) were
      added to human adipogenic stem cells during differentiation. UroA, UroC, and
      UroD, but not iso-UroA and UroB, significantly inhibited new fat cell formation
      by decreasing TG accumulation and adipogenic protein and gene expressions. The
      regulation of TG synthesis by Uro was investigated via metabolic chasing with
      radiolabeled precursors. UroA, UroC, and UroD attenuated TG accumulation, while
      increasing the fatty acid (FA) oxidation in adipocytes and h/epatoma Huh7 cells.
      Furthermore, UroC, UroD, and UroA promoted the phosphorylation of AMP-activated
      protein kinase, suggesting that Uro may alter energy-sensing metabolic pathways
      in primary human adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results
      demonstrated that UroA, UroC, and UroD, but not isoUroA and UroB, reduce TG
      accumulation and increase FA oxidation in adipocytes as well as hepatocytes.

PMID- 26872563
TI  - Is early detection of basal cell carcinoma worthwhile? Systematic review based on
      the WHO criteria for screening.
AB  - The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has risen three- to fourfold over the
      last 30 years and is expected to continue to increase with ageing of the
      population. Although BCC has a good prognosis, it causes significant morbidity
      and has an important impact on the public health budget due to direct treatment
      costs. Based on the existing evidence, a systematic evaluation of the World
      Health Organization criteria was performed to determine whether earlier detection
      of BCC could reduce morbidity and cost. BCC slowly increases in size, with a
      median increase in diameter of 0.5 mm over 10 weeks. There is an important delay
      in diagnosis ranging from 19 to 25 months. In several studies BCC size was the
      main determinant of treatment cost, surgical complexity, reconstruction technique
      and the specific surgical procedure performed, such as Mohs micrographic surgery
      or surgical excision. One study showed that size also seems to affect the cost
      per treatment for other nonsurgical options. The use of vismodegib, an inhibitor
      of the hedgehog pathway, is confined to locally advanced or metastatic BCC.
      Delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment are the most important underlying
      causes in the occurrence of giant BCC and/or BCC with metastasis. Although the
      latter represent only a very small fraction of all BCCs, the majority of them are
      located in the facial region. The available data point to a slow increase in the
      size of BCCs over time. Size is one of the major determinants in choice of
      treatment and the associated cost, especially for facial BCC. Therefore we
      conclude that current data support early detection and adequate management of
      BCCs on the face. 

PMID- 26872564
TI  - A study of the prevalence of smear-positive leprosy cases in a tertiary care
      center in the post-elimination phase of leprosy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: India has declared leprosy to be eliminated in the country, according
      to the WHO criteria of attaining a prevalence of less than 1 in 10,000. However,
      smear-positive leprosy cases are frequently being encountered. METHODS: This is
      an 18-year retrospective study done in the Department of Dermatology and
      Venereology, Government Medical College, Trivandrum. Data were collected from the
      records of all cases in the study period, and the prevalence of smear-positive
      cases was determined in the post-elimination phase and this was compared to the
      pre-elimination phase. RESULTS: A total of 901 cases were analyzed, which
      comprised 538 cases in the pre- and 363 cases in the post-elimination phase. The
      male/female ratio in the pre and post phases was 2.61 : 1 and 2.45 : 1,
      respectively. Borderline tuberculoid accounted for the commonest type in both the
      pre and post phases comprising 45.54 and 50.69%, respectively. Type 2 lepra
      reactions were seen in 40.21% of the reaction cases in the post-elimination
      phase. The smear-positive cases in the post-elimination phase accounted for
      34.99% compared to 14.68% in the pre-elimination phase. Lepromatous leprosy (LL)
      accounted for 67.71% of the smear-positive cases in the post phase compared to
      67.08% in the pre phase. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase of 20.30% of smear
      positive cases in the post-elimination phase, which was statistically significant
      (P < 0.001), and the majority of them were LL (P < 0.001).

PMID- 26872566
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26872565
TI  - Conventional testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and non-obstructive azoospermia:
      is there still a chance in the era of microdissection TESE? Results from a single
      non-academic community hospital.
AB  - Spermatozoa can be retrieved in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients
      despite the absence of ejaculated spermatozoa in their semen because of the
      presence of isolated foci with active spermatogenesis. Conventional testicular
      sperm extraction (c-TESE) in patients with NOA has been partially replaced by
      micro-TESE. It is still under debate the problem regarding the higher costs
      related to micro-TESE when compared with c-TESE. In this study, we evaluated
      sperm retrieval rate (SRR) of c-TESE in naive NOA patients. Sixty-three NOA
      patients were referred to our centre for a c-TESE. For every subject, we
      collected demographic data, cause of infertility, time to first infertility
      diagnosis, serum levels of LH, FSH, total testosterone and prolactin. A
      statistical analysis was conducted to correlate all the clinical variables, the
      histology and the Johnsen score with the SRR. Sixty-three consecutive NOA
      patients with a mean age of 37.3 years were included. The positive SRR was 47.6%.
      No statistical differences were observed between positive vs. negative SRR
      regarding mean FSH (17.12 vs. 19.03 mUI/mL; p = 0.72), and LH (9.72 vs. 6.92
      mUI/mL; p = 0.39) values. Interestingly, we found a statistically significant
      difference in terms of time to first infertility diagnosis (+SRR vs. -SRR; 44.5
      vs. 57 months; p = 0.02) and regarding to age (+SSR vs. -SRR; 40.1 vs. 35.3; p =
      0.04). There was a statistically significant decrease in SRRs with the decline in
      testicular histopathology from hypospermatogenesis to maturation arrest, and SCO.
      The mean Johnsen score was 5.9 with a mean percentage of Johnsen score >=8
      tubules equal to 19%. The overall pregnancy rate was 26.6%. In our prospective
      cohort of patients successful SRR with c-TESE was 47.6%. Lower costs and high
      reproducibility of this technique still support this procedure as an actual
      reliable option in NOA patients for sperm retrieval.

PMID- 26872568
TI  - Lower urinary tract symptoms and metabolic disorders: ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the link between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and
      metabolic disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This report results from
      presentations and subsequent discussions about LUTS and metabolic disorders at
      the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) in
      Bristol, 2014. RESULTS: There are common pathophysiological determinants for the
      onset of LUTS and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Both conditions are
      multifactorial, related to disorders in circadian rhythms and share common risk
      factors. As in men with erectile dysfunction, these potentially modifiable
      lifestyle factors may be novel targets to prevent and treat LUTS. The link
      between LUTS and metabolic disorders is discussed by using sleep, urine
      production and bladder function as underlying mechanisms that need to be further
      explored during future research. CONCLUSION: Recent findings indicate a
      bidirectional relationship between LUTS and the MetS. Future research has to
      explore underlying mechanisms to explain this relationship, in order to develop
      new preventive and therapeutic recommendations, such as weight loss and
      increasing physical activity. The second stage is to determine the effect of
      these new treatment approaches on the severity of LUTS and each of the components
      of the MetS.

PMID- 26872567
TI  - Implications for bidirectional signaling between afferent nerves and urothelial
      cells-ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: To present a synopsis of the presentations and discussions from Think Tank
      I, "Implications for afferent-urothelial bidirectional communication" of the 2014
      International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS) meeting in
      Bristol, UK. METHODS: The participants presented what is new, currently
      understood or still unknown on afferent-urothelial signaling mechanisms. New
      avenues of research and experimental methodologies that are or could be employed
      were presented and discussed. RESULTS: It is clear that afferent-urothelial
      interactions are integral to the regulation of normal bladder function and that
      its disruption can have detrimental consequences. The urothelium is capable of
      releasing numerous signaling factors that can affect sensory neurons innervating
      the suburothelium. However, the understanding of how factors released from
      urothelial cells and afferent nerve terminals regulate one another is incomplete.
      Utilization of techniques such as viruses that genetically encode Ca(2+) sensors,
      based on calmodulin and green fluorescent protein, has helped to address the
      cellular mechanisms involved. Additionally, the epithelial-neuronal interactions
      in the urethra may also play a significant role in lower urinary tract regulation
      and merit further investigation. CONCLUSION: The signaling capabilities of the
      urothelium and afferent nerves are well documented, yet how these signals are
      integrated to regulate bladder function is unclear. There is unquestionably a
      need for expanded methodologies to further our understanding of lower urinary
      tract sensory mechanisms and their contribution to various pathologies.

PMID- 26872569
TI  - What is the role of combination drug therapy in the treatment of overactive
      bladder? ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS AND METHODS: The role of combination therapy using oral antimuscarinic
      medications for the treatment of overactive bladder was proposed at the 2014
      International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society in Bristol, UK to
      identify key factors to consider when making clinical decisions and to guide
      future research design. RESULTS: Combination therapy is justified if monotherapy
      is associated with suboptimal efficacy or bothersome side effects. Combination
      therapy has the potential to improve efficacy with fewer side effects than
      monotherapy. Two Phase 2 studies comparing combination therapy that included an
      antimuscarinic demonstrated improvement in mean voided volume, the primary
      outcome chosen, with some combinations showing improved micturition frequency and
      quality of life. The two studies found no evidence of an increased safety risk
      with combination therapy compared to monotherapy. Future studies should use
      clinically meaningful or patient reported outcomes such as incontinence episodes
      when comparing efficacy. If surrogate measures are used, a clear justification
      should be provided. Cost analyses should be planned for clinical research trials
      evaluating combination drug therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy is
      reasonable when monotherapy has suboptimal efficacy or bothersome side effects.
      Future research studies evaluating combination therapy for urgency urinary
      incontinence should ideally(1) be performed as part of a randomized clinical
      trial,(2) evaluate non-responders to monotherapy,(3) evaluate combination therapy
      using medications with different mechanisms of action,(4) include clinically
      meaningful and patient reported outcomes when evaluating efficacy, and(5) include
      cost-effectiveness analyses to justify any increased cost by showing improvement
      in efficacy or reduction in side effects.

PMID- 26872570
TI  - Do we understand how botulinum toxin works and have we optimized the way it is
      administered to the bladder? ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: The use of botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) is commonplace now in the management
      of refractory overactive bladder and neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO).
      Despite one formulation now having a license, the full mechanism of action is not
      fully understood. Furthermore practice varies worldwide in the way the toxin is
      delivered to the bladder. At the ICI-RS 2014 Meeting in Bristol, UK a Think Tank
      session was conducted on the topic of "Do we understand how botulinum toxin works
      and have we optimized the way it is administered to the bladder?" This manuscript
      reflects the Think Tank's summary and opinion. METHODS: An overview of the
      existing evidence and consensus regarding mechanism of action and practical
      aspects of BoNT/A administration was presented. Further avenues of potential
      research were suggested. RESULTS: BoNT/A effect in the bladder is complex with
      likely effects on both efferent and afferent nerves. The site of action is
      controversial with the relative contribution of the detrusor as opposed to the
      suburothelial effects remaining unclear and open to further studying. The
      classical concept of prevention of acetylcholine release in the bladder is not
      supported by a wealth of evidence on neurotransmitters although co-localization
      studies have suggested cholinergic nerves are the most affected by BoNT/A. There
      is more robust evidence for effects on the purinergic system and afferent
      desensitization and emerging evidence for central effects. A variety of technique
      studies were presented. OnabotlinumtoxinA has recently been studied in large
      phase III trials and with this there is a standardized injection technique which
      is trigone-sparing. The evidence for altering location of injection is mixed with
      some studies suggesting less voiding dysfunction in bladder base injections alone
      but others suggesting location of injection does not affect outcomes. Early pilot
      data and evidence of instillation either with electromotive drug administration
      (EMDA) or in liposomes were also presented as an alternative to injections.
      CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of action of BoNT/A in the bladder is complex and not
      fully understood. There is emerging support for its role on afferent mechanisms.
      The technical aspects of the injection procedure have been standardized to a
      certain extent but further study is required in larger scale studies to assess
      minimizing voiding dysfunction, improving tolerability, and assessing
      alternatives to injections.

PMID- 26872572
TI  - Do we manage incontinence in children and adults with special needs adequately?
      ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: To review studies on the associations of incontinence and special needs in
      children and adults and to outline future directions in research and clinical
      care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of literature was conducted. Open questions
      and future directions were discussed during the ICI-RS meeting in 2014. RESULTS:
      Special needs comprise a wide variety of conditions and disabilities. Individuals
      with special needs carry a greater risk for all types of incontinence. There is a
      high tendency for incontinence to persist from childhood into adulthood. Many
      people do not receive adequate medical care for their incontinence. CONCLUSIONS:
      More detailed research is needed, especially in the adult population with special
      needs. Assessment and treatment of incontinence should be offered routinely to
      all those with special needs.

PMID- 26872571
TI  - Do we need to know more about the effects of hormones on lower urinary tract
      dysfunction? ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - This review article reflects the presentations and subsequent discussions during
      a think tank at the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence Research
      Society's annual meeting, held in Bristol, UK (September 22-24, 2014). It reviews
      the current state of knowledge on the role of hormones in lower urinary tract
      dysfunction (LUTD) and overactive bladder (OAB) and in particular: highlights
      some specific basic research findings from discussion participants; reviews
      future research topics; and discusses potential new therapeutic opportunities for
      LUTD and OAB. The role of the large conductance voltage- and Ca(2+) -activated
      K(+) (BK) channels, as novel therapeutic targets for OAB was discussed, in
      particular as recent studies on human detrusor smooth muscle suggest that
      estradiol exerts a direct non-genomic activation of the BK channels. Recent
      developments on the roles of sex hormones on diuresis, as well as the roles of
      melatonin and vitamin D on LUTD were also discussed. It was concluded that
      further basic science and translational studies are needed to better understand
      hormonal regulatory mechanisms of the lower urinary tract and the implications
      for novel treatment options for LUTD and OAB.

PMID- 26872573
TI  - Recommendations for future development of contractility and obstruction nomograms
      for women. ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: At present, existing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) nomograms for women
      are still not universally accepted. Moreover, only limited information is
      available regarding bladder contractility in women. The aim is to present the
      discussions and recommendations from the think tank session "Can we construct and
      validate contractility and obstruction nomograms for women?" held at the 2014
      International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS) meeting in
      Bristol, UK. METHODS: An overview of clinical significance, bladder mechanics and
      modelling, lack of existing nomograms for women, and development of new nomograms
      were presented and discussed in a multidisciplinary think tank session. This
      think tank session was based on a collaboration between physicians, engineers,
      and researchers and consensus was achieved on future research initiatives.
      RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the think tank discussion, the ICI-RS panel put
      forward the following recommendations: the need to acquire normative age-matched
      data in women to define "normal" and "pathological" values of urodynamic
      parameters; the inclusion of additional clinical data in new nomograms and the
      use of this extra dimension to develop clinically applicable nomograms for female
      BOO and contractility; and finally, the need to take into account the variability
      of BOO in women when developing female bladder contractility nomograms.

PMID- 26872574
TI  - Detrusor underactivity and the underactive bladder: Symptoms, function, cause
      what do we mean? ICI-RS think tank 2014.
AB  - Impaired bladder emptying is a well-recognized cause of lower urinary tract
      symptoms. However, the symptoms produced do not always relate to voiding, and may
      include frequency, urgency and incontinence. Conversely, the etiology of symptoms
      of disturbed voiding is not necessarily dependent upon objectively impaired
      voiding. Terms including underactive bladder, detrusor underactivity, and
      impaired contractility describe aspects of these problems, and have been used
      somewhat interchangeably. It is possible that the present lack of effective
      therapy in many cases relates to both etiologic and diagnostic uncertainty
      stemming from terminologic imprecision. Detrusor underactivity has a standardized
      definition, unlike underactive bladder and impaired contractility. The
      relationships of symptoms, function, and cause were the focus of a 2014 ICI-RS
      Think Tank entitled Does Detrusor Underactivity Exist, and if so it is
      neurogenic, myogenic, or both? This review presents a summary of the problem and
      the Think Tank conclusions. A terminologic hierarchy and specific research goals
      are presented.

PMID- 26872575
TI  - Fundamentals and clinical perspective of urethral sphincter instability as a
      contributing factor in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction--ICI-RS
      2014.
AB  - AIMS: Urethral pathophysiology is often neglected in discussions of bladder
      dysfunction. It has been debated whether "urethral sphincter instability,"
      referred to based on observed "urethral pressure variations," is an important
      aspect of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). The purpose of this report is to
      summarize current urethral pathophysiology evidence and outline directions for
      future research based on a literature review and discussions during the ICI-RS
      meeting in Bristol in 2014. METHODS: Urethral pathophysiology with a focus on
      urethral pressure variation (UPV) was presented and discussed in a
      multidisciplinary think tank session at the ICI_R meeting in Bristol 2014. This
      think tank session was based on collaboration between physicians and basic
      science researchers. RESULTS: Experimental animal studies or studies performed in
      clinical series (predominantly symptomatic women) provided insights into UPV, but
      the findings were inconsistent and incomplete. However, UPV is certainly
      associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (likely OAB), and thus, future
      research on this topic is relevant. CONCLUSIONS: Future research based on
      adequately defined clinical (and urodynamic) parameters with precisely defined
      patient groups might shed better light on the cause of OAB symptoms. Further
      fundamental investigation of urethral epithelial-neural interactions via the
      release of mediators should enhance our knowledge and improve the management of
      patients with OAB.

PMID- 26872577
TI  - Re: Anding R, Smith P, Gammie A, Thiruchelvam N, Arlandis S, Giarenis I, Rantell
      A, Cardozo L, Rosier P. When should video be added to conventional urodynamics in
      adults and is it justified by the evidence? ICI-RS 2014. neurourol urodyn 2015.

PMID- 26872576
TI  - When should video be added to conventional urodynamics in adults and is it
      justified by the evidence? ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: To debate and evaluate the evidence base regarding the added value of video
      to urodynamics in adults and to define research questions. METHODS: In the ICI-RS
      Meeting 2014 a Think Tank analyzed the current guidelines recommending video
      urodynamics (VUD) and performed a literature search to determine the level of
      evidence for the additional value of the imaging with urodynamic assessment of
      both neurogenic and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. RESULTS:
      Current guidelines do not specify the added value of imaging to urodynamics.
      Recommendations are based on single center series and expert opinion. Standard
      imaging protocols are not available and evidence regarding the balance between
      number and timing of pictures, patient positioning, and exposure time on the one
      hand and diagnosis on the other hand is lacking. On the basis of expert consensus
      VUD is relevant in the follow-up of patients with spinal dysraphism. Evidence for
      the value of VUD in non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction is sparse.
      There is some evidence that VUD is not necessary in uncomplicated female SUI, but
      expert opinion suggests it might improve the evaluation of patients with
      recurrent SUI. CONCLUSIONS: There is only low level evidence for the addition of
      video to urodynamics. The ICI-RS Think Tank encourages better reporting of
      results of imaging and systematic reporting of X-ray doses. Specific research
      hypotheses regarding the added value of imaging are recommended. The panel
      suggests the development of standards for technically optimal VUD that is
      practically achievable with machines that are on the market.

PMID- 26872578
TI  - When should video and EMG be added to urodynamics in children with lower urinary
      tract dysfunction and is this justified by the evidence? ICI-RS 2014.
AB  - AIMS: An ICI-RS Think Tank in 2014 discussed and evaluated the evidence for
      adding video and EMG to urodynamics (UDS) in children and also highlighted
      evidence gaps, with the aim of recommending further clinical and research
      protocols. METHODS: A systematic analysis of the relevant literature for both X
      ray (video) studies and electromyography, in combination with UDS in children
      with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD), is summarized in this manuscript.
      The technical aspects are also critically reviewed. RESULTS: The body of evidence
      for the addition of X-ray (video) to filling and voiding cystometry and the
      evidence for the addition of pelvic muscle surface electromyography to
      urodynamics is scanty and insufficient. Standards are poor and variable so
      uncontrolled expert opinion dominates practice. CONCLUSIONS: The Think Tank has
      recommended that standardized ALARA ("As Low As Reasonably Achievable")
      principles should be adopted for video-urodynamics in children. The risk-benefit
      balance of X-ray exposure needs to be better evaluated and defined. Evaluation of
      images should be standardized and the association with pressure changes better
      analyzed and reported. Children's pelvic muscle surface electromyography
      technique should be standardized, technically improved, and its diagnostic
      relevance should be better evaluated.

PMID- 26872579
TI  - Does long-term profound inhibition of gastric acid secretion increase the risk of
      ECL cell-derived tumors in man?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Since the description of ECL cell-derived tumors in rodents after long
      term profound acid inhibition inducing hypergastrinemia, there has been concern
      that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) could also do that in man. The recent
      description of a Spanish family with gastric ECL cell tumors at the age of about
      30 years secondary to a defect in the proton pump due to mutation in the ATP4A
      gene clearly shows that hypergastrinemia alone also is sufficient to induce ECL
      cell neoplasia in man. The present review aims to evaluate the risk of gastric
      neoplasia secondary to gastric acid inhibition. METHODS: Literature (MEDLINE) was
      searched for the role of the ECL cell in gastric carcinogenesis in animals and
      man in general and particularly secondary to long-term inhibition of acid
      secretion. RESULTS: An important proportion of patients treated with PPI develops
      hypergastrinemia causing ECL cell hyperplasia and the first descriptions of ECL
      cell carcinoids secondary to PPI have been reported. The role of the ECL cell has
      hitherto been under estimated in gastric carcinogenesis in man where for instance
      the signet ring cell type of gastric carcinoma seems to originate from the ECL
      cell. CONCLUSIONS: The first two of three steps in rodent ECL cell carcinogenesis
      (hyperplasia, carcinoid, and carcinoma) secondary to PPI dosing, have been
      described for man. It is every reason to believe that the final step, gastric
      carcinoma, will develop also in man. Clinical decisions should be based not only
      on so-called evidence based medicine, but also on physiological knowledge and
      animal studies.

PMID- 26872580
TI  - Morphological and chemical changes of aerosolized E. coli treated with a
      dielectric barrier discharge.
AB  - This study presents the morphological and chemical modification of the cell
      structure of aerosolized Escherichia coli treated with a dielectric barrier
      discharge (DBD). Exposure to DBD results in severe oxidation of the bacteria,
      leading to the formation of hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups and a significant
      reduction in amine functionalities and phosphate groups. Near edge x-ray
      absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements confirm the presence of
      additional oxide bonds upon DBD treatment, suggesting oxidation of the outer
      layer of the cell wall. Electron microscopy images show that the bacteria undergo
      physical distortion to varying degrees, resulting in deformation of the bacterial
      structure. The electromagnetic field around the DBD coil causes severe damage to
      the cell structure, possibly resulting in leakage of vital cellular materials.
      The oxidation and chemical modification of the bacterial components are evident
      from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NEXAFS results. The
      bacterial reculture experiments confirm inactivation of airborne E. coli upon
      treating with DBD. 

PMID- 26872581
TI  - In vitro hemocompatibility testing: The importance of fresh blood.
AB  - The use of unactivated blood for hemocompatibility testing is essential to obtain
      reliable results. Here, the authors study the influence of heparinized whole
      blood storage time and temperature on blood activation and evaluate the
      importance of initiating hemocompatibility tests within 4 h of blood collection.
      Blood from healthy volunteers was collected and analyzed with minimal delay,
      after 30 min and after 60 min of storage at room temperature, 30 or 37  degrees
      C. In addition, blood was analyzed after 1, 2, or 4 h of storage at room
      temperature. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet binding capacity to
      collagen and thromboxane B2 were measured to assess platelet function, complement
      complex C5b-9 and elastase were measured to assess activation of the inflammatory
      response system, and thrombin-antithrombin III was measured to assess activation
      of the coagulation system. Furthermore, free hemoglobin was measured in platelet
      poor plasma as an indicator for red blood cell damage. The authors found that
      storage at 30  degrees C significantly increased platelet and coagulation
      activity after 60 min and storage at 37  degrees C significantly increased
      platelet, coagulation, and white blood cell activity after 60 min. Storage at
      room temperature significantly decreased platelet binding to collagen after 4 h
      and increased platelet activity after 1 h onward and white blood cell activity
      after 4 h. Their results show that short-term storage of heparinized whole blood
      significantly influences biomarkers over time, especially at 30 and 37  degrees C
      compared to room temperature. However, blood stored at room temperature for 4 h
      is also affected. In particular, platelet function and white blood cell activity
      are significantly influenced after 4 h of stationary storage at room temperature;
      therefore, the authors propose that hemocompatibility tests should be initiated
      well within 4 h of blood collection, preferably within 2 h. 

PMID- 26872583
TI  - A facile sonochemical route for the synthesis of MoS2/Pd composites for highly
      efficient oxygen reduction reaction.
AB  - For the alkaline fuel cell cathode reaction, it is very essential to develop
      novel catalysts with superior catalytic properties. Here, we report the synthesis
      of highly active and stable MoS2/Pd composites for the oxygen reduction reaction
      (ORR), via a simple, eco-friendly sonochemical method. The bulk MoS2 was first
      transformed into single and few layers MoS2 nanosheets through ultrasonic
      exfoliation. Then the exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets served as supporting materials
      for the nucleation and further in-situ growth of Pd nanoparticles to form MoS2/Pd
      composites via ultrasonic irradiation. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk
      voltammetry measurements demonstrate that as-prepared MoS2/Pd composites which
      provides a direct four-electron pathway for the ORR, have better electrocatalytic
      activity, long-term operation stability than commercial Pt/C catalyst. We expect
      that the present work would provide a promising strategy for the development of
      efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. In addition, this study can also be
      extended to the preparation of other hybrid with desirable morphologies and
      functions.

PMID- 26872582
TI  - Quantifying element incorporation in multispecies biofilms using nanoscale
      secondary ion mass spectrometry image analysis.
AB  - Elucidating nutrient exchange in microbial communities is an important step in
      understanding the relationships between microbial systems and global
      biogeochemical cycles, but these communities are complex and the interspecies
      interactions that occur within them are not well understood. Phototrophic
      consortia are useful and relevant experimental systems to investigate such
      interactions as they are not only prevalent in the environment, but some are
      cultivable in vitro and amenable to controlled scientific experimentation.
      Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) is a powerful, high spatial
      resolution tool capable of visualizing the metabolic activities of single cells
      within a biofilm, but quantitative analysis of the resulting data has typically
      been a manual process, resulting in a task that is both laborious and susceptible
      to human error. Here, the authors describe the creation and application of a
      semiautomated image-processing pipeline that can analyze NanoSIMS-generated data,
      applied to phototrophic biofilms as an example. The tool employs an image
      analysis process, which includes both elemental and morphological segmentation,
      producing a final segmented image that allows for discrimination between
      autotrophic and heterotrophic biomass, the detection of individual cyanobacterial
      filaments and heterotrophic cells, the quantification of isotopic incorporation
      of individual heterotrophic cells, and calculation of relevant population
      statistics. The authors demonstrate the functionality of the tool by using it to
      analyze the uptake of (15)N provided as either nitrate or ammonium through the
      unicyanobacterial consortium UCC-O and imaged via NanoSIMS. The authors found
      that the degree of (15)N incorporation by individual cells was highly variable
      when labeled with (15)NH4 (+), but much more even when biofilms were labeled with
      (15)NO3 (-). In the (15)NH4 (+)-amended biofilms, the heterotrophic distribution
      of (15)N incorporation was highly skewed, with a large population showing
      moderate (15)N incorporation and a small number of organisms displaying very high
      (15)N uptake. The results showed that analysis of NanoSIMS data can be performed
      in a way that allows for quantitation of the elemental uptake of individual
      cells, a technique necessary for advancing research into the metabolic networks
      that exist within biofilms with statistical analyses that are supported by
      automated, user-friendly processes. 

PMID- 26872585
TI  - Comparison of Gait Motion Including Postoperative Trunk Deflection Between Direct
      Lateral and Anterolateral Approaches in Supine Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A prospective study was conducted to compare the effect of an
      anterolateral approach in the supine position (ALS) with that of a direct lateral
      (DL) approach on gait motion, including trunk deflection, in walking after total
      hip arthroplasty. We hypothesized that trunk deflection in walking after ALS
      would be significantly improved in comparison with use of the DL approach.
      METHODS: The subjects were 15 patients, with 7 in the ALS group and 8 in the DL
      group. Walking before and 9 and 28 weeks after surgery was analyzed using 3
      dimensional motion analysis. RESULTS: Walking velocity, stride length, hip joint
      range of motion in the sagittal plane in walking, and locomotion range of trunk
      inclination were significantly improved 28 weeks after surgery in both groups. In
      gait analysis, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups.
      CONCLUSION: This study was conducted to compare the effect of ALS with that of a
      DL approach on locomotion in walking after total hip arthroplasty. Hip pain at 9
      weeks after surgery was significantly improved using ALS compared to the DL
      approach, but there were no significant differences in gait function at 28 weeks
      after surgery using ALS or DL approach. Further long-term studies are required to
      examine differences between these procedures.

PMID- 26872584
TI  - Liposomal Bupivacaine as an Adjunct to Postoperative Pain Control in Total Hip
      Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although pain management affects rehabilitation, length of stay, and
      functional outcome, an optimized pain management protocol has yet to be
      standardized. Opioids are the primary agent used to control acute postoperative
      pain; however, they are associated with a wide range of side effects. Liposomal
      bupivacaine (LB), a long-acting analgesic agent administered intraoperatively,
      has been introduced as a new modality to control pain for up to 72 hours after
      operation without affecting motor function. METHODS: Six hundred eighty-six
      primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients, who received the standard THA pain
      management protocol, were compared to a cohort of 586 primary THA patients, who
      were treated with an additional intraoperative injection of LB. All other pain
      management parameters and standard of care were identical. Statistical
      significance was set at P <= .05. RESULTS: Although patient-reported pain scores
      were statistically similar, the LB cohort demonstrated a significant decrease in
      total narcotic use (P < .001), specifically up to postoperative day 2 (P = .016).
      Physical therapy milestones were significantly achieved to a greater degree (P <
      .001) in the LB cohort. Operation time and hospital cost were unaffected (P =
      .072 and .811, respectively); however, the LB cohort exhibited a decrease in
      length of stay by 0.31 days (P < .001) and improvement in discharge disposition
      to home (P = .017). CONCLUSION: LB is a valuable adjunct to our THA pain
      management protocol, as we strive to achieve improved patient outcomes,
      reductions in length of stay, and enhanced quality of THA care.

PMID- 26872587
TI  - Barbed Suture Is Associated With Increased Risk of Wound Infection After
      Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Literature addressing the risks of barbed suture in arthroplasty
      remains limited. No study to our knowledge has compared rates of wound infection
      between barbed and conventional suture after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
      (UKA). We hypothesized that barbed suture would be associated with an increased
      risk of wound infection in patients undergoing UKA. METHODS: Electronic records
      were retrieved for 1040 UKA procedures. Odds ratios with postoperative wound
      infection as the outcome and barbed suture as the exposure were calculated.
      Binary logistic regression corrected for age, gender, body mass index, operative
      time, and risk factors (smoking, diabetes, renal insufficiency, and
      immunosuppression). Barbed suture consisted of Quill #2 polydioxanone (or #0
      Vicryl) for deep closure and Quill 2-0 Monoderm for subcuticular closure.
      Conventional suture consisted of #0 Vicryl for deep closure and subcuticular 2-0
      Monocryl or staples for skin closure. RESULTS: A total of 839 procedures were
      included. Barbed suture was used in 333 surgeries, and conventional suture was
      used in 506. Eight cases of postoperative wound infection were identified. All
      infections occurred in the barbed suture cohort. Regression analysis revealed an
      association between subcuticular barbed suture and postoperative wound infection
      (odds ratio = 22.818, confidence interval = 2.69-2923.91; P = .0074).
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the use of barbed suture in subcuticular
      layer closure is associated with an increased risk of wound infection. This may
      be exacerbated by early intensive mobilization, commonly undertaken after UKA to
      permit rapid functional return. We recommend against the use of barbed suture for
      subcuticular layer closure in UKA.

PMID- 26872586
TI  - Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty With Retrograde Ischioacetabular Steinmann Pin
      Reconstruction for Periacetabular Metastatic Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical management of advanced periacetabular lesions is challenging
      because of extensive bone loss, particularly for Modified American Academy of
      Orthopaedic Surgeons Classification defects type IV (pelvic discontinuity with
      posterior column involvement). Multiple methods for rebuilding the acetabulum
      have been described; all involve passing Steinmann pins in a retrograde or an
      antegrade fashion from the anterior iliac wing or iliac crest around the
      acetabulum in an attempt to recreate the normal bony anatomy. However, these
      techniques fail to engage the ischium in its entirety. The ischial contribution
      to the posterior column is a critical element in a stable acetabular construct.
      METHODS: After curettage of the acetabular lesion, Steinmann pins are passed
      through the ischial tuberosity and posterior column into the sciatic buttress in
      a retrograde manner. The number of pins depends on the size of the defect and
      involvement of the posterior column. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 11
      patients with a Modified American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Classification
      defect type IV treated with retrograde ischioacetabular Steinmann pin
      reconstruction at our institution between 2007 and 2012 were reviewed. European
      Quality of Life-5 dimensions and Lower Extremity Functional Scale questionnaires
      were used to assess patient functional outcomes. RESULTS: The 6 patients (4
      females and 2 males; age range, 56-81 years) surviving 12 months postoperatively
      reported improved mobility and good quality-of-life scores. CONCLUSION: We
      described a new method for posterior acetabular column reconstruction that uses
      the ischial tuberosity and body as additional points of stabilization during the
      reconstruction of the posterior column.

PMID- 26872588
TI  - Cavity with ball-in-hole lesion in the lung.

PMID- 26872590
TI  - Knee Kinematics and Joint Moments During Stair Negotiation in Participants With
      Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and
      Meta-Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Biomechanical changes have been reported for patients with anterior
      cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL
      reconstruction) (ACLR), likely due to loss of stability and changes in
      proprioception and neuromotor control. This review evaluated kinematics and
      kinetics of ACLD and ACLR knees, compared with those on the contralateral
      uninjured sides, as well as and those in asymptomatic controls during stair
      navigation. DESIGN: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. LITERATURE
      SURVEY: Electronic database searches were conducted from their original available
      dates to January 2015. Studies that included participants with ACLD or ACLR and
      reported knee joint angles or moments during stair ascent or descent were
      included. METHODOLOGY: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and the
      methodological quality of these was assessed with a modified Downs and Black
      checklist. Effect sizes for differences between injured leg and uninjured
      contralateral leg or controls were calculated, and meta-analyses were performed
      if two or more studies considered the same variable. SYNTHESIS: Quality
      assessment showed an average (+/- standard deviation) of 70.3% +/- 7.2%. Meta
      analysis showed less knee flexion at initial contact for ACLR knees compared with
      that in contralateral knees during stair ascent, with a moderate effect size and
      minimal heterogeneity. Knees with ACLD showed less peak knee flexion compared
      with that on contralateral sides during stair ascent, with minimal heterogeneity.
      External knee flexion moments were lower for ACLR compared with those in controls
      and contralateral sides during ascent and descent, whereas these moments were
      decreased for the ACLD compared with controls only during ascent. Meta-analysis
      results exhibited moderate/high heterogeneity or small/trivial effect sizes.
      CONCLUSIONS: Differences for kinematics and kinetics for the ACL-injured knees
      indicate long-term compensatory and asymmetric movement patterns while ascending
      and descending stairs. Due to the heterogeneity as well as the small numbers of
      available studies, the consequences of these differences in terms of long-term
      function or posttraumatic osteoarthritis need further exploration.

PMID- 26872591
TI  - A Case for Nephron Sparing Surgery in the Management of Upper Tract Urothelial
      Carcinoma.
AB  - Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is rare and its management presents many
      challenges. Outside of distal ureterectomy for select cases, management has been
      primarily radical nephroureterectomy. Endoscopic nephron sparing management (NSM)
      is recognized to have some role in UTUC treatment; however, it is yet to gain
      firm footing in the treatment algorithm. In this review, we discuss the benefits
      of NSM with regards to oncologic outcomes, renal function preservation, and cost
      savings. Finally, we propose recognition of endoscopic NSM as a first-line
      treatment in selected patients with low risk disease. 

PMID- 26872589
TI  - Influence of Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Phase on Spinal Excitability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rates of musculoskeletal injury differ substantially between the
      genders, with females more likely to experience conditions such as anterior
      cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than males in the same sports. Emerging evidence
      suggests a significant hormonal contribution. Most research has focused solely on
      how hormonal fluctuations affect connective tissue, but a direct link between
      hormonal shifts, ligamentous laxity, and ACL injury has not been borne out. There
      is also evidence to suggest that sex hormones can modulate the central nervous
      system, but how this affects neuromuscular control is not well understood.
      OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in sex hormone concentrations would alter
      spinal excitability, measured across the menstrual and oral contraceptive pill
      cycle. We hypothesized that spinal excitability would fluctuate across the
      menstrual cycle (with increased excitability during the periovulatory phase due
      to peak estradiol concentration), but that there would be no fluctuation in oral
      contraceptive users. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. SETTING: The
      study took place at a biomechanics laboratory at a rehabilitation hospital.
      PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 healthy women aged 18-35 who were similar in age,
      body composition, and exercise-training status were included. Fifteen of the
      women were eumenorrheic and nonusers of oral contraceptives (nonusers), and 15 of
      the women were taking oral contraceptives (users). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: H
      reflex (Hmax/Mmax ratio), serum estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were
      measured at 3 time points during the menstrual and contraceptive pill cycle.
      RESULTS: The H-reflex (Hmax/Mmax ratio) remained stable across the menstrual and
      contraceptive pill cycle. Spinal excitability was lower in the users compared
      with the nonusers across all testing sessions, but this was not statistically
      significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that acute fluctuations of
      endogenous estradiol and progesterone do not modulate spinal excitability.
      However, long-term exposure to exogenous estrogen and progesterone (oral
      contraceptives) might have an impact on spinal excitability and neuromuscular
      control. Further research is necessary to better understand the potential
      differential effect of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on spinal
      excitability.

PMID- 26872592
TI  - Environmental stimulation rescues maternal high fructose intake-impaired learning
      and memory in female offspring: Its correlation with redistribution of histone
      deacetylase 4.
AB  - Impairment of learning and memory has been documented in the later life of
      offspring to maternal consumption with high energy diet. Environmental
      stimulation enhances the ability of learning and memory. However, potential
      effects of environmental stimulation on the programming-associated deficit of
      learning and memory have not been addressed. Here, we examined the effects of
      enriched-housing on hippocampal learning and memory in adult female offspring
      rats from mother fed with 60% high fructose diet (HFD) during pregnancy and
      lactation. Impairment of spatial learning and memory performance in HFD group was
      observed in offspring at 3-month-old. Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic
      factor (BDNF) was decreased in the offspring. Moreover, the HFD group showed an
      up-regulation of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in the nuclear fractions of
      hippocampal neurons. Stimulation to the offspring for 4weeks after winning with
      an enriched-housing environment effectively rescued the decrease in cognitive
      function and hippocampal BDNF level; alongside a reversal of the increased
      distribution of nuclear HDAC4. Together these results suggest that later life
      environmental stimulation effectively rescues the impairment of hippocampal
      learning and memory in female offspring to maternal HFD intake through
      redistributing nuclear HDAC4 to increase BDNF expression. 

PMID- 26872593
TI  - Pattern separation and pattern completion in the hippocampal system. Introduction
      to the Special Issue.

PMID- 26872594
TI  - Working memory performance inversely predicts spontaneous delta and theta-band
      scaling relations.
AB  - Electrophysiological studies have strongly implicated theta-band activity in
      human working memory processes. Concurrently, work on spontaneous, non-task
      related oscillations has revealed the presence of long-range temporal
      correlations (LRTCs) within sub-bands of the ongoing EEG, and has begun to
      demonstrate their functional significance. However, few studies have yet assessed
      the relation of LRTCs (also called scaling relations) to individual differences
      in cognitive abilities. The present study addressed the intersection of these two
      literatures by investigating the relation of narrow-band EEG scaling relations to
      individual differences in working memory ability, with a particular focus on the
      theta band. Fifty-four healthy adults completed standardized assessments of
      working memory and separate recordings of their spontaneous, non-task-related
      EEG. Scaling relations were quantified in each of the five classical EEG
      frequency bands via the estimation of the Hurst exponent obtained from detrended
      fluctuation analysis. A multilevel modeling framework was used to characterize
      the relation of working memory performance to scaling relations as a function of
      general scalp location in Cartesian space. Overall, results indicated an inverse
      relationship between both delta and theta scaling relations and working memory
      ability, which was most prominent at posterior sensors, and was independent of
      either spatial or individual variability in band-specific power. These findings
      add to the growing literature demonstrating the relevance of neural LRTCs for
      understanding brain functioning, and support a construct- and state-dependent
      view of their functional implications. 

PMID- 26872595
TI  - Flow cytometric characterization of microglia in the offspring of PolyI:C treated
      mice.
AB  - The neuropathology of schizophrenia has been reported to be closely associated
      with microglial activation. In a previous study, using the prenatal PolyI:C
      schizophrenia animal model, we showed an increase in cell numbers and a reduction
      in microglial branching in 30-day-old PolyI:C descendants, which suggests that
      there is microglial activation during adolescence. To provide more information
      about the activation state, we aimed to examine the expression levels of Iba1,
      which was reported to be up-regulated in activated microglia. We used a flow
      cytometric approach and investigated CD11b and CD45, two additional markers for
      the identification of microglial cells. We demonstrated that intracellular
      staining against Iba1 can be used as a reliable flow cytometric method for
      identification of microglial cells. Prenatal PolyI:C treatment had long-term
      effects on CD11b and CD45 expression. It also resulted in a trend towards
      increased Iba1 expression. Imbalance in CD11b, CD45, and Iba1 expression might
      contribute to impaired synaptic surveillance and enhanced activation/inflammatory
      activity of microglia in adult offspring. 

PMID- 26872596
TI  - Mitochondrial specific therapeutic targets following brain injury.
AB  - Traumatic brain injury is a complicated disease to treat due to the complex multi
      factorial secondary injury cascade that is initiated following the initial
      impact. This secondary injury cascade causes nonmechanical tissue damage, which
      is where therapeutic interventions may be efficacious for intervention. One
      therapeutic target that has shown much promise following brain injury are
      mitochondria. Mitochondria are complex organelles found within the cell. At a
      superficial level, mitochondria are known to produce the energy substrate used
      within the cell called ATP. However, their importance to overall cellular
      homeostasis is even larger than their production of ATP. These organelles are
      necessary for calcium cycling, ROS production and play a role in the initiation
      of cell death pathways. When mitochondria become dysfunctional, they can become
      dysregulated leading to a loss of cellular homeostasis and eventual cell death.
      Within this review there will be a deep discussion into mitochondrial
      bioenergetics followed by a brief discussion into traumatic brain injury and how
      mitochondria play an integral role in the neuropathological sequelae following an
      injury. The review will conclude with a discussion pertaining to the therapeutic
      approaches currently being studied to ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction
      following brain injury. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:Brain
      injury and recovery.

PMID- 26872598
TI  - Role of gap junctions on synchronization in human neocortical networks.
AB  - Gap junctions (GJ) have been implicated in the synchronization of epileptiform
      activities induced by 4-aminopyrine (4AP) in slices from human epileptogenic
      cortex. Previous evidence implicated glial GJ to govern the frequency of these
      epileptiform events. The synchrony of these events (evaluated by the phase
      unlocking index, PUI) in adjacent areas however was attributed to neuronal GJ. In
      the present study, we have investigated the effects of GAP-134, a recently
      developed specific activator of glial GJ, on both the PUI and the frequency of
      the 4AP-induced epileptiform activities in human neocortical slices of temporal
      lobe epilepsy tissue. To delineate the impact of GJ on spatial spread of
      synchronous activity we evaluated the effects of carbenoxolone (CBX, a non
      selective GJ blocker) on the spread in three axes 1. vertically in a given
      cortical column, 2. laterally within the deep cortical layers and 3. laterally
      within the upper cortical layers. GAP-134 slightly increased the frequency of the
      4AP-induced spontaneous epileptiform activities while leaving the PUI unaffected.
      CBX had no effect on the PUI within a cortical column or on the PUI in the deep
      cortical layers. CBX increased the PUI for long interelectrodes distances in the
      upper cortical layers. In conclusion we provide new arguments toward the role
      played by glial GJ to maintain the frequency of spontaneous activities. We show
      that neuronal GJ control the PUI only in upper cortical layers. 

PMID- 26872599
TI  - Plasminogen-Dependent Matriptase Activation Accelerates Plasmin Generation by
      Differentiating Primary Human Keratinocytes.
AB  - Pericellular plasmin generation, an important pathophysiological process, can be
      initiated and accelerated by the autoactivation of the type 2 transmembrane
      serine protease matriptase and subsequent activation of urokinase plasminogen
      activator. The link between matriptase and plasminogen was initially thought to
      be one-directional: from matriptase, through plasminogen activator, to
      plasminogen. However, in the current study, we now show that primary human
      keratinocytes that are undergoing calcium-induced differentiation can rapidly
      activate matriptase in response to serum treatment via a mechanism dependent on
      intracellular calcium, protein kinase C, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases-based
      signaling. The serum factor, responsible for the induction of matriptase zymogen
      activation, was shown to be plasminogen. A sub-pM concentration of plasminogen
      (but not plasmin) acting at the cell surface is sufficient to induce matriptase
      activation, suggesting high potency and specificity of the induction. After
      matriptase zymogen activation, a proportion of active matriptase is shed into
      extracellular milieu and returns to the cell surface to accelerate plasmin
      generation. The ability of plasminogen to induce matriptase zymogen activation
      and the subsequent acceleration of plasmin generation by active matriptase
      reveals a feed-forward mechanism that allows differentiating human keratinocytes
      to rapidly and robustly activate pericellular proteolysis.

PMID- 26872601
TI  - DUX4 Is Derepressed in Late-Differentiating Keratinocytes in Conjunction with
      Loss of H3K9me3 Epigenetic Repression.

PMID- 26872600
TI  - Independent Loss of Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase (MTAP) in Primary Cutaneous
      T-Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) and the tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A
      CDKN2B are frequently deleted in malignancies. The specific role of MTAP in
      cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subgroups, mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome
      (SS), is unknown. In 213 skin samples from patients with MF/SS, MTAP copy number
      loss (34%) was more frequent than CDKN2A (12%) in all cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
      stages using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Importantly, in early stage
      MF, MTAP loss occurred independently of CDKN2A loss in 37% of samples. In
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with SS, codeletion with CDKN2A
      occurred in 18% of samples but loss of MTAP alone was uncommon. In CD4(+) cells
      from SS, reduced MTAP mRNA expression correlated with MTAP copy number loss (P <
      0.01) but reduced MTAP expression was also detected in the absence of copy number
      loss. Deep sequencing of MTAP/CDKN2A-CDKN2B loci in 77 peripheral blood
      mononuclear cell DNA samples from patients with SS did not show any nonsynonymous
      mutations, but read-depth analysis suggested focal deletions consistent with MTAP
      and CDKN2A copy number loss detected with quantitative reverse transcription PCR.
      In a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell line, promoter hypermethylation was shown to
      downregulate MTAP expression and may represent a mechanism of MTAP inactivation.
      In conclusion, our findings suggest that there may be selection in early stages
      of MF for MTAP deletion within the cutaneous tumor microenvironment.

PMID- 26872602
TI  - The Alarmin IL-33 Derived from HSV-2-Infected Keratinocytes Triggers Mast Cell
      Mediated Antiviral Innate Immunity.

PMID- 26872603
TI  - Monosodium Urate Crystals Induce Functional Expression of P2Y14 Receptor in Human
      Keratinocytes.

PMID- 26872604
TI  - Rab11a Is Essential for Lamellar Body Biogenesis in the Human Epidermis.
AB  - Most of the skin barrier function is attributable to the outermost layer of the
      epidermis, the stratum corneum, which is composed of flattened, anucleated cells
      called corneocytes surrounded by a lipid-enriched lamellar matrix. The
      composition of the stratum corneum is directly dependent on the underlying
      granular keratinocytes, which are the last living cells in the stratified
      epidermis. Many components present in the intercorneocyte matrix are delivered by
      the underlying granular keratinocytes through a secretion process dependent on
      lysosome-related organelles called lamellar bodies. Because of the importance of
      lamellar bodies in the maintenance of the epidermal barrier, the mechanisms
      regulating their biogenesis must be better understood. In this study, we show
      that the Rab11a GTPase is highly expressed in terminally differentiated
      keratinocytes, where it is partly associated with lamellar bodies. Rab11a
      silencing in three-dimensional in vitro reconstructed human epidermis induces a
      barrier defect, a decrease in the amount of lipid found in the stratum corneum, a
      reduction in lamellar body density and secretion areas in granular keratinocytes,
      and the mis-sorting of lamellar body cargoes being driven to the lysosomal
      degradation pathway. Our results highlight the importance of Rab11a-dependent
      regulation of lamellar body biogenesis in keratinocytes and consequently on
      epidermal barrier homeostasis.

PMID- 26872605
TI  - In the home of the oculist (ABC, 1918).

PMID- 26872606
TI  - A Cross-Docking Study on Matrix Metalloproteinase Family.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to various physiological
      and pathophysiological processes. An imbalance in MMP activity causes
      pathological conditions including inflammatory diseases, cancer, and
      cardiovascular diseases. Each MMP member has many 3D structures available;
      therefore, selecting one structure for virtual screening becomes challenging.
      METHODS: In this study, we used the cross-docking approach to rank the available
      MMP structures for their probable successful performance in virtual screening. To
      determine structures that would offer best average RMSD (root mean square
      deviation), we performed cross-docking studies on 123 holo (protein-ligand)
      structures of seven MMP enzyme groups (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12,
      and MMP-13). RESULTS: MMP enzymes with more flexible residues had fewer
      structures with RMSD < 2.0 A. Further, same resolution and binding affinities,
      difference in ligand size, and chemotype of the co-crystalized ligand were
      parameters that could greatly affect the corresponding cross-dock results and the
      calculated average RMSD for the structures. Four of the six best MMP-12
      receptors, which were identified using the average RMSD metric, had the highest
      EF1% (emrichment factor) in the retrospective enrichment study. CONCLUSION:
      According to the enrichment results, structures with lower average RMSD have a
      high probability of being appropriate candidates. These study findings will help
      in receptor selection for an MMP virtual screening protocol and lead to better
      enrichment of MMP inhibitors.

PMID- 26872597
TI  - Therapies targeting lipid peroxidation in traumatic brain injury.
AB  - Lipid peroxidation can be broadly defined as the process of inserting a
      hydroperoxy group into a lipid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the
      phospholipids are often the targets for peroxidation. Phospholipids are
      indispensable for normal structure of membranes. The other important function of
      phospholipids stems from their role as a source of lipid mediators - oxygenated
      free fatty acids that are derived from lipid peroxidation. In the CNS, excessive
      accumulation of either oxidized phospholipids or oxygenated free fatty acids may
      be associated with damage occurring during acute brain injury and subsequent
      inflammatory responses. There is a growing body of evidence that lipid
      peroxidation occurs after severe traumatic brain injury in humans and correlates
      with the injury severity and mortality. Identification of the products and
      sources of lipid peroxidation and its enzymatic or non-enzymatic nature is
      essential for the design of mechanism-based therapies. Recent progress in mass
      spectrometry-based lipidomics/oxidative lipidomics offers remarkable
      opportunities for quantitative characterization of lipid peroxidation products,
      providing guidance for targeted development of specific therapeutic modalities.
      In this review, we critically evaluate previous attempts to use non-specific
      antioxidants as neuroprotectors and emphasize new approaches based on recent
      breakthroughs in understanding of enzymatic mechanisms of lipid peroxidation
      associated with specific death pathways, particularly apoptosis. We also
      emphasize the role of different phospholipases (calcium-dependent and 
      independent) in hydrolysis of peroxidized phospholipids and generation of pro-
      and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators. This article is part of a Special Issue
      entitled SI:Brain injury and recovery.

PMID- 26872607
TI  - Coat's like vasculopathy in leber congenital amaurosis secondary to homozygous
      mutations in CRB1: a case report and discussion of the management options.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mutations in the CRB1 gene are associated with variable phenotypes of
      severe retinal dystrophies, and retinal dystrophies resulting from CRB1 mutations
      may be accompanied by specific fundus features such as coat's like vasculopathy
      in retinitis pigmentosa patients. This is the first report of the occurrence of
      coat's like vasculopathy in a patient diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis
      caused by a CRB1 mutation. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year old Syrian female
      patient presented with bilateral gradual loss of vision since early childhood,
      with recent deterioration in her left eye. She appeared to have an asymmetric
      bilateral coat's like vasculopathy which was more severe in the left eye. The
      diagnosis of Leber congenital amaurosis was suggested, and a genetic CRB1
      sequencing for the patient and her two younger siblings, who also had severe
      vision loss, was done, upon which the diagnosis of Leber congenital amaurosis
      associated with exudative retinal detachment due to coat's like vasculopathy was
      made. Treatment with panretinal photocoagulation was attempted in the worse left
      eye, but with no improvement. As the disease suddenly progressed in both eyes,
      pars plana vitrectomy with endolaser and silicone oil tamponade was performed in
      the better right eye which led to anatomical stabilization of the case without
      improvement in the visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Leber congenital amaurosis is
      reported to be associated with multiple systemic and ocular findings, none of
      which is coat's like vasculopathy. CRB1 gene mutations are associated with
      remarkable retinal findings in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and other
      fundus dystrophies. In this unique case we are reporting the incidence of coat's
      like vasculopathy in a patient diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis caused
      by CRB1 gene mutation, and its management. CRB1 mutant patients should be
      followed up closely as sudden progression can have permanent poor outcomes and as
      early management is vital in such cases.

PMID- 26872608
TI  - Effect of alirocumab on specific lipoprotein non-high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol and subfractions as measured by the vertical auto profile method:
      analysis of 3 randomized trials versus placebo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effect of alirocumab on potentially atherogenic lipoprotein
      subfractions was assessed in a post hoc analysis using the vertical auto profile
      (VAP) method. METHODS: Patients from three Phase II studies with low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >= 2.59 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) at baseline on stable
      statin therapy were randomised to receive subcutaneous alirocumab 50-150 mg every
      2 weeks (Q2W) or 150-300 mg every 4 weeks (according to study) or placebo for 8
      12 weeks. Samples from patients treated with alirocumab 150 mg Q2W (n = 74; dose
      common to all three trials) or placebo (n = 71) were analysed by VAP. Percent
      change in lipoprotein subfractions with alirocumab vs. placebo was analysed at
      Weeks 6, 8 or 12 using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Alirocumab significantly
      reduced LDL-C and the cholesterol content of subfractions LDL1, LDL2 and LDL3+4.
      Significant reductions were also observed in triglycerides, apolipoproteins CII
      and CIII and the cholesterol content of very low-density, intermediate-density,
      and remnant lipoproteins. CONCLUSION: Alirocumab achieved reductions across a
      spectrum of atherogenic lipoproteins in patients receiving background statin
      therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT01288443,
      NCT01288469, NCT01266876.

PMID- 26872609
TI  - The prognostic value of stromal and epithelial periostin expression in human
      breast cancer: correlation with clinical pathological features and mortality
      outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: PN is a secreted cell adhesion protein critical for carcinogenesis.
      In breast cancer, it is overexpressed compared to normal breast, and a few
      reports suggest that it has a potential role as a prognostic marker. METHODS:
      Tumour samples obtained at the time of mastectomy from 200 women followed for a
      median time of 18.7 years (range 0.5-29.5 years) were investigated through IHC
      with a polyclonal anti-PN antibody using tissue microarrays. Epithelial and
      stromal PN expression were scored independently according to the percentage of
      coloured cells; the 60th percentile of PN epithelial expression, corresponding to
      1%, and the median value of PN stromal expression, corresponding to 90%, were
      used as arbitrary cut-offs. The relationships between epithelial and stromal PN
      expression and clinical-pathological features, tumour phenotype and the risk of
      mortality following surgery were analysed. Appropriate statistics, including the
      Fine and Gray competing risk proportional hazard regression model, were used.
      RESULTS: The expression of PN in tumour epithelial cells was significantly lower
      than that which was observed in stromal cells (p < 0.000). No specific
      association between epithelial or stromal PN expression and any of the clinical
      pathological parameters analysed was found as it was observed in respect to
      mortality when these variables were analysed individually. However, when both
      variables were considered as a function of the other one, the expression of PN in
      the stromal cells maintained a statistically significant predictive value with
      respect to both all causes and cancer-specific mortality only in the presence of
      high epithelial expression levels. No significant differences in either all
      causes or BCa-specific mortality rates were shown according to epithelial
      expression for tumours displaying higher stromal PN expression rates. However,
      the trends were opposite for the higher stromal values and the patients with high
      epithelial expression levels denoted the group with the worst prognosis, while
      higher epithelial values in patients with lower stromal expression levels denoted
      the group with the best prognosis, suggesting that PN epithelial/stromal
      interactions play a crucial role in breast carcinogenesis, most likely due to
      functional cross-talk between the two compartments. On the basis of PN expression
      in both compartments, we defined 4 subgroups of patients with different mortality
      rates with the group of patients characterized by positive epithelial and low
      stromal PN expression cells showing the lowest mortality risk as opposed to the
      groups of patients identified by a high PN expression in both cell compartments
      or those identified by a low or absent PN expression in both cell compartments
      showing the worst mortality rates. The differences were highly statistically
      significant and were also retained after multiparametric analysis. Competing risk
      analysis demonstrated that PN expression patterns characterizing each of previous
      groups are specifically associated with cancer-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS:
      Although they require further validation through larger studies, our findings
      suggest that the patterns of expression of PN in both compartments can allow for
      the development of IHC "signatures" that maintain a strong independent predictive
      value of both all causes and, namely, of cancer-specific mortality.

PMID- 26872610
TI  - 2016 IMS Recommendations on women's midlife health and menopause hormone therapy.
AB  - The International Menopause Society (IMS) has produced these new 2016
      recommendations on women's midlife health and menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to
      help guide health-care professionals in optimizing their management of women in
      the menopause transition and beyond. The term MHT has been used to cover
      therapies including estrogens, progestogens and combined regimens. For the first
      time, the 2016 IMS recommendations now include grades of recommendations, levels
      of evidence and 'good practice points', in addition to section-specific
      references. Where possible, the recommendations are based on and linked to the
      evidence that supports them, unless good-quality evidence is absent. Particular
      attention has been paid to published evidence from 2013 onwards, the last time
      the IMS recommendations were updated. Databases have been extensively searched
      for relevant publications using key terms specific to each specialist area within
      menopause physiology and medicine. Information has also been drawn from
      international consensus statements published by bodies such as the IMS, the
      European Menopause and Andropause Society and the North American Menopause
      Society. The recommendations have been produced by experts derived mainly from
      the IMS, with the assistance of key collaborators where deemed advantageous. In
      preparing these international recommendations, experts have taken into account
      geographical variations in medical care, prevalence of diseases, and country
      specific attitudes of the public, medical community and health authorities
      towards menopause management. The variation in availability and licensing of MHT
      and other products has also been considered. 

PMID- 26872611
TI  - MAPK1/ERK2 as novel target genes for pain in head and neck cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the risk of
      developing pain in individuals with cancer. As a complex trait, multiple genes
      underlie this susceptibility. We used gene network analyses to identify novel
      target genes associated with pain in patients newly diagnosed with squamous cell
      carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). RESULTS: We first identified 36 cancer
      pain-related genes (i.e., focus genes) from 36 publications based on a literature
      search. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) analysis identified additional genes
      that are functionally related to the 36 focus genes through pathway relationships
      yielding a total of 82 genes. Subsequently, 800 SNPs within the 82 IPA-selected
      genes on the Illumina HumanOmniExpress-12v1 platform were selected from a large
      scale genotyping effort. Association analyses between the 800 candidate SNPs
      (covering 82 genes) and pain in a patient cohort of 1368 patients with HNSCC (206
      patients with severe pain vs. 1162 with non-severe pain) showed the highest
      significance for MAPK1/ERK2, a gene belonging to the MAP kinase family
      (rs8136867, p value = 8.92 * 10(-4); odds ratio [OR] = 1.33, 95 % confidence
      interval [CI]: 1.13-1.58). Other top genes were PIK3C2G (a member of PI3K
      [complex], rs10770367, p value = 1.10 * 10(-3); OR = 1.46, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.82),
      TCRA (the alpha chain of T-cell receptor, rs6572493, p value = 2.84 * 10(-3); OR
      = 0.70, 95 % CI: 0.55-0.88), PDGFC (platelet-derived growth factor C, rs6845322,
      p value = 4.88 * 10(-3); OR = 1.32, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.60), and CD247 (a member of
      CD3, rs2995082, p value = 7.79 * 10(-3); OR = 0.76, 95 % CI: 0.62-0.93).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide novel candidate genes and biological pathways
      underlying pain in cancer patients. Further study of the variations of these
      candidate genes could inform clinical decision making when treating cancer pain.

PMID- 26872612
TI  - Excess iodide downregulates Na(+)/I(-) symporter gene transcription through
      activation of PI3K/Akt pathway.
AB  - Transcriptional mechanisms associated with iodide-induced downregulation of NIS
      expression remain uncertain. Here, we further analyzed the transcriptional
      regulation of NIS gene expression by excess iodide using PCCl3 cells. NIS
      promoter activity was reduced in cells treated for 12-24 h with 10(-5) to 10(-3)
      M NaI. Site-directed mutagenesis of Pax8 and NF-kappaB cis-acting elements
      abrogated the iodide-induced NIS transcription repression. Indeed, excess iodide
      (10(-3) M) excluded Pax8 from the nucleus, decreased p65 total expression and
      reduced their transcriptional activity. Importantly, p65-Pax8 physical
      interaction and binding to NIS upstream enhancer were reduced upon iodide
      treatment. PI3K/Akt pathway activation by iodide-induced ROS production is
      involved in the transcriptional repression of NIS expression. In conclusion, the
      results indicated that excess iodide transcriptionally represses NIS gene
      expression through the impairment of Pax8 and p65 transcriptional activity.
      Furthermore, the data presented herein described novel roles for PI3K/Akt
      signaling pathway and oxidative status in the thyroid autoregulatory phenomenon. 

PMID- 26872613
TI  - Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha (PPARalpha) in
      somatotropinomas: Relationship with Aryl hydrocarbon receptor Interacting Protein
      (AIP) and in vitro effects of fenofibrate in GH3 cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: To search for a possible role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated
      Receptor alpha (PPARalpha), a molecular partner of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
      Interacting Protein (AIP), in somatotropinomas. METHODS: Tumours from 51
      acromegalic patients were characterized for PPARalpha and AIP expression by
      immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or Real Time RT-PCR. Data were analysed according
      to tumour characteristics and pre-operative treatment with somatostatin analogues
      (SSA). The effects of fenofibrate were studied in GH3 cells in vitro. RESULTS:
      PPARalpha was expressed in most somatotropinomas. A modest relationship was found
      between PPARalpha and AIP expression, both being significantly higher in the
      presence of pre-operative SSA. However, only AIP expression was influenced by the
      response to treatment. Dual effects of fenofibrate were observed in GH3 cells,
      consisting of cell growth inhibition and an increase in GH secretion inhibited by
      octreotide. CONCLUSIONS: PPARalpha is a new player in somatotropinomas. Potential
      interactions between PPARalpha agonists and SSA may deserve further
      investigation.

PMID- 26872614
TI  - 17beta-Estradiol alters oxidative damage and oxidative stress response protein
      expression in the mouse mammary gland.
AB  - Although substantial evidence has demonstrated that parity and 17beta-estradiol
      (E2) reduce mammary carcinogenesis, it is not clear how this protection is
      conferred. Thus, we examined the effects of parity and E2 treatment in the
      mammary glands of ovariectomized 15 week-old virgin mice, 15 week-old primiparous
      mice, and 9 month-old retired breeders. E2 treatment significantly increased
      lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and protein nitrosylation in the
      virgin mice, but not in the age-matched primiparous mice or retired breeders.
      Mammary gland expression of the oxidative stress response protein Cu/Zn
      superoxide dismutase was consistently reduced in all of the E2-treated mice
      regardless of parity. Expression of the oxidative stress and DNA repair protein
      apurinic endonuclease (Ape1) was significantly increased only in the mammary
      glands of the E2-treated retired breeders. These findings suggest that E2 and
      parity help to reduce mammary oncogenesis by maintaining the structure and
      function of proteins, lipids, and DNA. 

PMID- 26872615
TI  - MiR-23b targets cyclin G1 and suppresses ovarian cancer tumorigenesis and
      progression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that cyclin G1 (CCNG1) participates in p53
      dependent G1-S and G2 checkpoints and might function as an oncogenic protein in
      the initiation and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma. MicroRNA 23b (miR-23b) is a
      critical regulatory factor in the progression of many cancer cell types that
      targets the relevant genes. METHODS: MiR-23b expression in ovarian tissues was
      quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The ovarian cancer cell
      lines OVCAR3, HO8910-PM, and SKOV3/DDP were transfected with miR-23b, after we
      assayed the cell phenotype and expression of the relevant molecules. Dual
      luciferase reporter assay and a xenograft mouse model were used to examine the
      expression of miR-23b and its target gene CCNG1. RESULTS: MIR23B mRNA expression
      was significantly lower in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline tumors
      than in normal ovarian tissues and benign tumors, and miR-23b expression among
      ages and pathological subtypes was significantly different. CCNG1 mRNA expression
      was significantly lower in normal ovarian tissues than in benign tumors,
      borderline tumors, and ovarian carcinomas, and expression among pathological
      subtypes was significantly different. MiR-23b overexpression inhibited ovarian
      cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and induced apoptosis. Dual
      luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-23b bound with the 3' untranslated
      region of CCNG1. MiR-23b overexpression significantly downregulated CCNG1,
      urokinase, survivin, Bcl-xL, P70S6K, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP9) mRNA
      and protein expression. Furthermore, miR-23b inhibited tumor growth and
      suppressed CCNG1 expression in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that miR-23b
      may inhibit ovarian cancer tumorigenesis and progression by downregulating CCNG1
      and the expression of the relevant genes. MiR-23b is a potentially novel
      application for regulating ovarian carcinoma progression.

PMID- 26872616
TI  - Results of a prospective multicenter neuroendocrine tumor registry reporting on
      clinicopathologic characteristics of Greek patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The rare incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has contributed
      to a paucity of large epidemiologic studies of patients with this condition. We
      investigated the occurrence and clinicopathologic features of NENs in Greece.
      METHODS: Between October 2010 and November 2012 we collected data on 246 newly
      diagnosed patients from a broad-based multi-institutional registry that comprises
      eight academic and hospital sites in Greece. The WHO 2010 pathologic
      classification and the 7th AJCC Staging system was applied in all cases. RESULTS:
      Of all patients 94 % had a sporadic and 6 % a multiple endocrine neoplasia tumor;
      63.4 % were gastroenteropancreatic-(GEP)-NENs, 17.9 % Head & Neck NENs, 9.8 %
      NENs of Unknown Primary, 6.5 % Lung NENs and 2.4 % Pheochromocytomas. Gastric and
      pancreatic NENs were the most common primary sites. Poorly differentiated
      neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) were 9.3 %, all sporadic. Fifteen percent of
      patients were asymptomatic at presentation, 24 % had a first symptom of the
      disease related to endocrine syndrome and 61 % had symptoms related to locally
      advanced or metastatic disease. Metastatic disease was established in 25 % of
      tumors most frequently in the GEP NEN group. Findings are presented according to
      Ki-67 distribution. MRI had a higher diagnostic positive yield than Octreoscan.
      Somatostatin analogs, lanreotide and octreotide acetate, were prescribed at 38.5
      & 61.5 % of NEN patients respectively and were found to be equally effective at
      providing symptomatic relief. CONCLUSIONS: This is to our knowledge the first
      study of a Greek tumor registry and one of the few European Registries providing
      information regarding clinicopathologic characteristics and therapies in patients
      with neuroendocrine tumors of various origin sites, beyond GEP NENs.

PMID- 26872617
TI  - Role of mass spectrometry in steroid assays.
AB  - In addition to protein hormones, steroids measurement constitutes the basis of
      modern endocrinology. Immunoassays have shown their limits in this field. In
      contrast, mass spectrometry shows an excellent sensitivity and specificity that
      make it the method of choice for steroids assays. The recent introduction of
      UHPLC-MS is a major advance which reinforces this position. In fact, mass
      spectrometry provides a lot of advantages such as determination of certain
      steroids in saliva, diagnosis of enzyme deficiencies, or measurement of molecules
      previously inaccessible like aldosterone. However, standardization is still
      needed to ensure good comparability of results between laboratories. In the
      future, mass spectrometry should not replace the immunoassays but rather
      complement it. 

PMID- 26872619
TI  - New insight into the shortening of the collagen fibril D-period in human cornea.
AB  - Collagen fibrils type I display a typical banding pattern, so-called D
      periodicity, of about 67 nm, when visualized by atomic force or electron
      microscopy imaging. Herein we report on a significant shortening of the D-period
      for human corneal collagen fibrils type I (21 +/- 4 nm) upon air-drying, whereas
      no changes in the D-period were observed for human scleral collagen fibrils type
      I (64 +/- 4 nm) measured under the same experimental conditions as the cornea. It
      was also found that for the corneal stroma fixed with glutaraldehyde and air
      dried, the collagen fibrils show the commonly accepted D-period of 61 +/- 8 nm.
      We used the atomic force microscopy method to image collagen fibrils type I
      present in the middle layers of human cornea and sclera. The water content in the
      cornea and sclera samples was varying in the range of .066-.085. Calculations of
      the D-period using the theoretical model of the fibril and the FFT approach
      allowed to reveal the possible molecular mechanism of the D-period shortening in
      the corneal collagen fibrils upon drying. It was found that both the decrease in
      the shift and the simultaneous reduction in the distance between tropocollagen
      molecules can be responsible for the experimentally observed effect. We also
      hypothesize that collagen type V, which co-assembles with collagen type I into
      heterotypic fibrils in cornea, could be involved in the observed shortening of
      the corneal D-period.

PMID- 26872618
TI  - Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Through Manipulation of the Intestinal
      Microbiota of the Premature Infant.
AB  - PURPOSE: In spite of four decades of research, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
      remains the most common gastrointestinal complication in premature infants with
      high mortality and long-term morbidity. The composition of the intestinal
      microbiota of the premature infant differs dramatically from that of the healthy
      term infant and appears to be an important risk factor for NEC. METHODS: We
      review the evidence of an association between intestinal dysbiosis and NEC and
      summarize published English language clinical trials and cohort studies involving
      attempts to manipulate the intestinal microbiota in premature infants. FINDINGS:
      Promising NEC prevention strategies that alter the intestinal microbiota include
      probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, lacteroferrin, and human milk feeding.
      IMPLICATIONS: Shaping the intestinal microbiota of the premature infant through
      human milk feeding and dietary supplements decreases the risk of NEC. Further
      studies to identify the ideal microbial composition and the most effective
      combination of supplements are indicated.

PMID- 26872620
TI  - Genetics of glucocorticoid regulation and posttraumatic stress disorder--What do
      we know?
AB  - CASTRO-VALE, I., E.F.C. van Rossum, J.C. Machado, R. Mota-Cardoso and D.
      Carvalho. Genetics of glucocorticoid regulation and posttraumatic stress disorder
      What do we know? NEUROSCI. BIOBEHAV. REV. 43 (1) XXX-XXX, 2014 - Posttraumatic
      stress disorder (PTSD) develops in a small proportion of those who have been
      exposed to a traumatic event. Genetic factors are estimated to be responsible for
      30% of the variance in PTSD risk. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary
      adrenal (HPA)-axis in PTSD has been found, particularly hypersensitivity of the
      glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In this review we aim to understand the genetic
      factors that influence glucocorticoid function in PTSD. Glucocorticoid action is
      regulated by a corticotrophin-releasing hormone, arginine vasopressin
      (AVP)/oxytocin pathway, GR, and regulators such as co-chaperone FKBP5. Single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GR gene, CRHR1 gene and FKBP5 gene affect
      HPA-axis sensitivity. The GR gene SNP BclI has been associated with
      hypersensitivity to glucocorticoids and PTSD symptoms. FKBP5 gene SNPs interacted
      with childhood adversity to moderate PTSD risk and in particular, the rs9470080
      SNP was independently associated with lifetime PTSD. SNPs in the CRHR1 gene were
      also associated with PTSD risk. Gene-environment interaction studies have
      highlighted the importance of multifactorial vulnerability in PTSD, with
      epigenetic mechanisms contributing to the equation. 

PMID- 26872621
TI  - Two cases of autoimmune and secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during
      immunosuppressive therapy in dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease.
AB  - Interstitial lung disease (ILD) with dermatomyositis often requires intensive
      immunosuppressive therapy. Here, we report two cases of pulmonary alveolar
      proteinosis (PAP) in dermatomyositis with ILD. One case was secondary PAP, and
      the other was autoimmune PAP positive for the anti-granulocyte macrophage-colony
      stimulating factor antibody. PAP arose during immunosuppressive therapy and
      symptoms ceased by attenuating immunosuppression. Exacerbation of pulmonary
      lesions during intensive immunosuppressive therapy may distinguish PAP from
      worsening ILD and attenuating immunosuppression should be considered.

PMID- 26872622
TI  - Effects of radiation from a radiofrequency identification (RFID) microchip on
      human cancer cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: Radiofrequency identification (RFID) microchips are used to remotely
      identify objects, e.g. an animal in which a chip is implanted. A passive RFID
      microchip absorbs energy from an external source and emits a radiofrequency
      identification signal which is then decoded by a detector. In the present study,
      we investigated the effect of the radiofrequency energy emitted by a RFID
      microchip on human cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molt-4 leukemia, BT474
      breast cancer, and HepG2 hepatic cancer cells were exposed in vitro to RFID
      microchip-emitted radiofrequency field for 1 h. Cells were counted before and
      after exposure. Effects of pretreatment with the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl
      alpha-phenylnitrone or the iron-chelator deferoxamine were also investigated.
      Results We found that the energy effectively killed/retarded the growth of the
      three different types of cancer cells, and the effect was blocked by the spin
      trap compound or the iron-chelator, whereas an inactive microchip and energy from
      the external source had no significant effect on the cells. Conclusions Data of
      the present study suggest that radiofrequency field from the microchip affects
      cancer cells via the Fenton Reaction. Implantation of RFID microchips in tumors
      may provide a new method for cancer treatment.

PMID- 26872623
TI  - Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for social anxiety disorder: A case study.

PMID- 26872624
TI  - Augmented simvastatin cytotoxicity using optimized lipid nanocapsules: a
      potential for breast cancer treatment.
AB  - CONTEXT: We noticed paucity in exploiting solutol-based lipid nanocapsules in
      statins formulations though they carry all favorable properties that are needed
      for cancer passive targeting such as their small particle size, stealth
      properties, ability to highly accommodate lipophilic drugs, good internalization
      and P-gp pump inhibition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to design and
      optimize new simvastatin drug delivery systems; lipid nanocapsules intended for
      administration through the intravenous route as potential treatment for breast
      cancer. METHODS: Optimized nanocapsules were prepared by the phase-inversion
      method according to a D-optimal mixture design, characterized and assessed for
      their cytotoxicity. RESULTS: Three successful models for particle size,
      polydispersity index (PDI) and percentage of drug released after 48 h were
      generated. The prepared lipid nanocapsules acquired spherical and homogenous
      morphology, good stability and tolerance to sterilization. The obtained release
      profiles demonstrated desired sustained release pattern. Furthermore, testing
      selected formulations on human breast cancer adenocarcinoma cells showed
      augmented cytotoxicity of simvastatin reaching low IC50 values as 1.4 +/- 0.02
      MUg/ml compared to the pure drug. CONCLUSION: The proposed lipid nanocapsules
      pose promising candidates as simvastatin carriers intended for the targeting of
      breast cancer.

PMID- 26872625
TI  - Expression analysis of cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway genes in the intestinal
      mucosal layer of necrotic enteritis-induced chicken.
AB  - Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a serious problem to the poultry farms, which report
      NE outbreaks more than once per year, as a result of the inappropriate use of
      antibiotics in the feed. The NE affected bird die rapidly as a result of various
      pathophysiological complications in the intestine and immune system. Also,
      several studies have reported that the genes exclusively related to intestine and
      immune functions are significantly altered in response to NE. In this study, NE
      was induced in two genetically disparate chicken lines that are resistant (line
      6.3) and sensitive (line 7.2) to avian leukosis and Marek's disease. The
      intestinal mucosal layer was collected from NE-induced and control chickens, and
      subjected to RNA-sequencing analysis. The involvement of differentially expressed
      genes in the intestinal mucosal layer of line 6.3 and 7.2 with the immune system
      related pathways was investigated. Among the identified immune system-related
      pathways, a candidate pathway known as chicken cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway (CDS
      pathway) was selected for further investigation. RNA-sequencing and pathway
      analysis identified a total of 21 genes that were involved in CDS pathway and
      differentially expressed in the intestinal mucosal layer of lines 6.3 and 7.2.
      The expression of CDS pathway genes was further confirmed by real-time qPCR. In
      the results, a majority of the CDS pathway genes were significantly altered in
      the NE-induced intestinal mucosal layer from lines 6.3 and 7.2. In conclusion,
      our study indicate that NE seriously affects several genes involved in innate
      immune defense and foreign DNA sensing mechanisms in the chicken intestinal
      mucosal layer. Identifying the immune genes affected by NE could be an important
      evidence for the protective immune response to NE-causative pathogens. 

PMID- 26872626
TI  - Development of porcine ficolin-alpha monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for
      determining the binding capacity of multiple GlcNAc-binding proteins to bacterial
      danger components.
AB  - Ficolins are a group of oligomeric defense proteins assembled from collagen-like
      stalks and fibrinogen-like domains that have common biochemical specificity for N
      acetyl-d-glucose amine (GlcNAc) and can function as opsonins. In this report,
      GlcNAc-binding protein (GBP) purified from porcine nonimmune serum was
      biochemically characterized as ficolin-alpha. Ficolin-alpha was used as an
      immunogen to generate both rabbit polyclonal and murine monoclonal anti-ficolin
      alpha antibodies, which are not yet commercially available. GBPs have been shown
      to be present in many animals, including humans; however, their functions are
      largely unknown. GBPs from chicken, dog, horse, bovine, and human sera were
      isolated using various chromatography methods. Interestingly, anti-ficolin-alpha
      antibody showed cross-reaction with those animal sera GBPs. Furthermore, anti
      ficolin-alpha antibody was reactive with the GlcNAc eluate of Escherichia coli
      O26-bound and Salmonella-bound porcine serum proteins. Functionally, GBPs and
      bacteria-reactive pig serum proteins were able to bind with pathogen-associated
      molecular patterns such as lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acids. Our
      studies demonstrate that ficolin-alpha specific antibody was reactive with GBPs
      from many species as well as bacteria-reactive serum proteins. These proteins may
      play important roles in innate immunity by sensing danger components that can
      lead to antibacterial activity. 

PMID- 26872627
TI  - Identification of stable reference genes for quantitative PCR in cells derived
      from chicken lymphoid organs.
AB  - Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a powerful technique for
      quantification of gene expression, especially genes involved in immune responses.
      Although qPCR is a very efficient and sensitive tool, variations in the enzymatic
      efficiency, quality of RNA and the presence of inhibitors can lead to errors.
      Therefore, qPCR needs to be normalised to obtain reliable results and allow
      comparison. The most common approach is to use reference genes as internal
      controls in qPCR analyses. In this study, expression of seven genes, including
      beta-actin (ACTB), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase (GAPDH), beta-glucuronidase (GUSB), TATA box binding protein (TBP),
      alpha-tubulin (TUBAT) and 28S ribosomal RNA (r28S), was determined in cells
      isolated from chicken lymphoid tissues and stimulated with three different
      mitogens. The stability of the genes was measured using geNorm, NormFinder and
      BestKeeper software. The results from both geNorm and NormFinder were that the
      three most stably expressed genes in this panel were TBP, GAPDH and r28S.
      BestKeeper did not generate clear answers because of the highly heterogeneous
      sample set. Based on these data we will include TBP in future qPCR normalisation.
      The study shows the importance of appropriate reference gene normalisation in
      other tissues before qPCR analysis. 

PMID- 26872628
TI  - Protective efficacy of Streptococcus iniae derived enolase against Streptococcal
      infection in a zebrafish model.
AB  - Enolase (ENO) is one of the surface-exposed proteins of Streptococcus iniae,
      which previously had been identified as a plasminogen-binding protein. In this
      study, ENO was evaluated to induce cross-protective immunity against S. iniae and
      Streptococcus parauberis which are major pathogens causing streptococcosis in
      fish. Immunoblot analysis shows that S. iniae recombinant ENO (rENO) produced in
      Escherichia coli was cross-reactive with antisera against S. iniae, and S.
      parauberis serotype I and II. In the challenge experiment of streptococcal
      infection after vaccination in zebrafish, rENO elicited a similar protection with
      a whole cell bacterin against S. iniae and S. parauberis, which suggests its
      feasibility as an efficient vaccine against streptococcosis. 

PMID- 26872629
TI  - Removal of Retained Adherent Placental Remnants Using the Hysteroscopy Endo
      Operative System.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Removal of retained adherent placental remnants (RAPRs) may be
      challenging using traditional 5Fr or 7Fr hysteroscopic grasping forceps because
      they are very small. This is particularly true when the retained placental
      remnant is large. This video demonstrates the advantages of using the
      Hysteroscopy Endo-Operative System (HEOS), a specially designed operative
      hysteroscope with a 13Fr working channel, to remove retained placental remnants.
      DESIGN: Step-by-step explanation of the technique using videos and pictures
      (educative video) (Canadian Task Force Classification III). SETTING: Third
      Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan, China. PATIENT: A 32-year
      old woman was diagnosed with RAPRs 5 weeks after the evacuation of retained
      placenta after a spontaneous abortion at 16 weeks' gestation. Gynecologic
      examination revealed an anterior 8-week uterus and no tenderness. Serum beta
      human chorionic gonadotropin was 150 mIU/L. Sonography revealed an irregular
      intrauterine mass, 3.5 cm * 3.5 cm * 3 cm in size. INTERVENTION: Removal of RAPRs
      using HEOS (Sopro-comeg Company, Bordeaux, France). MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS:
      The operation time was only 12 minutes. The RAPRs were removed completely and
      quickly in 1 procedure with no complications. The serum beta-human chorionic
      gonadotropin titer normalized 1 week after the procedure. This study was approved
      by the institutional review board of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South
      University. CONCLUSIONS: When indicated, removal of RAPRs using HEOS is safe and
      simple because of its large and strong cold forceps. Additionally, it avoids
      electrical and thermal injury to the endometrium, which is particularly important
      in a population that wants to preserve fertility.

PMID- 26872630
TI  - Laparoscopic Management of Ovarian Cancer Patients With Localized Carcinomatosis
      and Lymph Node Metastases: Results of a Retrospective Multi-institutional Series.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic
      cytoreduction in ovarian cancer patients with localized carcinomatosis or lymph
      node involvement. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force
      classification II-2). SETTING: Multi-institutional study performed in 6 referral
      gynecologic oncology units. PATIENTS: Between June 2005 and December 2014,
      preoperatively presumed early-stage ovarian cancer patients, who accidentally
      revealed localized carcinomatosis or lymph node involvement at laparoscopic
      evaluation or at postoperative pathological examination managed by the
      laparoscopic approach. INTERVENTIONS: All patients with limited carcinomatosis
      and/or lymph node metastases underwent complete laparoscopic cytoreduction.
      MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were included in the analysis.
      Twenty-eight (40.6%) patients were staged III C because they had lymph node
      metastases. Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 75.4% of cases, whereas
      aortic lymphadenectomy was performed in 79.7% of cases. Lymph node metastases
      were found in pelvic and aortic regions in 11 and 13 patients, respectively,
      whereas 4 patients had lymph node metastases in both regions. Twelve (17.4%)
      patients underwent complete pelvic peritonectomy because of the presence of
      nodules localized in several pelvic region sites. As of May 2015, the median
      follow-up was 35 months, and the median disease-free survival was 29 months. The
      2-year disease-free survival rate was 77.1%, whereas the 2-year overall survival
      rate was 90.6%. The median time to recurrence was 26 months (range, 6 -55
      months); 15 (21.7%) patients developed recurrence. CONCLUSION: The present study
      shows the technical and clinical feasibility of laparoscopic cytoreduction in
      ovarian cancer patients with limited carcinomatosis or lymph node involvement.

PMID- 26872631
TI  - Enhancing T cell therapy by overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor
      microenvironment.
AB  - Immune response to tumors can be successfully oriented for therapeutic purposes,
      as shown by the clinical efficacy of checkpoint blockade in extending the
      survival of patients with certain solid and hematologic neoplasms. Nonetheless,
      numerous patients do not benefit from these new treatments. Tumor-specific CD8(+)
      T lymphocytes, either endogenously revived by checkpoint interference or
      adoptively transferred after in vitro expansion and retargeting, can be extremely
      efficient in controlling metastatic disease but have to overcome a number of
      restraints imposed by growing tumors. This immune escape relies on a profound
      modification of the tumor environment, which is rendered less permissive to
      lymphocyte arrival, persistence, and functional activity. We review here emerging
      findings on the main negative circuits limiting the efficacy of cancer
      immunotherapy, as well as novel and conventional approaches that can translate
      into rational combination therapies.

PMID- 26872632
TI  - Uber for healthcare.

PMID- 26872633
TI  - Alpha-7 nicotinic agonist improves cognition in schizophrenia.

PMID- 26872634
TI  - EBF1-PDGFRB fusion in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      (BCP-ALL): genetic profile and clinical implications.
AB  - The EBF1-PDGFRB gene fusion accounts for <1% of B-cell precursor acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases and occurs within the Philadelphia-like ALL
      subtype. We report 15 EBF1-PDGFRB-positive patients from childhood ALL treatment
      trials (ALL 97/99, UKALL 2003, UKALL 2011) in the United Kingdom. The fusion
      arose from interstitial deletion of 5q33 (n = 11), balanced rearrangement (n =
      2), or complex rearrangement (n = 2). There was a predominance of females (n =
      11), median age of 12 years, and median white blood cell count of 48.8 * 10(9)/L.
      Among 12 patients who achieved complete remission on earlier trials (ALL 97/99
      and UKALL 2003), 10 were positive for minimal residual disease (MRD) at the end
      of induction, and 7 relapsed 18 to 59 months after diagnosis. The majority (9 of
      12) remained alive 6 to 9 years after diagnosis. There are reports of EBF1-PDGFRB
      positive patients who are refractory to conventional chemotherapy who achieve
      complete response when treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. These
      findings have prompted screening for EBF1-PDGFRB in patients entered onto the
      current UKALL 2011 trial for whom induction therapy failed, who did not achieve
      remission by day 29, or who remained MRD positive (>0.5%) at week 14. Two UKALL
      2011 patients, positive for EBF1-PDGFRB, received imatinib; 1 died 6 months after
      a matched unrelated bone marrow transplant as a result of undefined
      encephalopathy, and the other remained in remission 10 months after diagnosis.

PMID- 26872635
TI  - Double loop reconstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant tumor:
      Short-term outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the use of a double loop reconstruction following pylorus
      preserving proximal pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPPD). METHODS: Morbidity and
      mortality were evaluated in 55 patients undergoing PPPPD for malignant tumors,
      followed by a double loop reconstruction. RESULTS: The mean intra-operative blood
      loss was 908mL+/-531. In-hospital mortality was 5.4% (3/55 pts). The mean length
      of hospital stay was 17+/-5 days (range 12-45 days). Postoperative complications
      occurred in 25 patients (46.2%). Five patients developed an anastomotic leak, one
      biliary and four pancreatic (4/55; 7%). Delayed gastric emptying occurred in 8
      patients (14.5%). Reoperation was required in two patients for hemorrhage.
      CONCLUSIONS: A double loop alimentary reconstruction following PPPPD led to a low
      incidence of DGE and pancreatic fistula. Although mortality rate was higher than
      that reported by referral centres, this technique has been performed in a not
      specialized unit attaining acceptable results.

PMID- 26872636
TI  - Psychometric validation of a patient-reported measure of physical functioning in
      sporadic inclusion body myositis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To assess self-reported physical functioning in patients with
      sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), the sIBM Physical Functioning Assessment
      (sIFA) was developed. This research establishes the validity, reliability, and
      responsiveness of the sIFA in patients with sIBM. METHODS: Data from 3 small,
      noninterventional, observational studies were analyzed. Several measures of
      physical function were included to assess validity. Reliability (Cronbach alpha,
      test-retest intraclass correlations), construct validity (correlations, analyses
      of variance), and responsiveness (effect size estimates) were evaluated. RESULTS:
      Cronbach alphas (range = 0.86-0.91) and test-retest reliability (0.91) were
      highly satisfactory. Correlations with other measures provided evidence of
      convergent validity. sIBM patients able to walk without assistive devices scored
      significantly better on the sIFA (means = 36.0-47.05) than those who required
      power mobility or wheelchairs (means = 54.9-71.5), demonstrating the
      discriminating ability of the sIFA. Effect size estimates of responsiveness
      suggested mild functional progression. CONCLUSIONS: Psychometric analyses of the
      sIFA demonstrate satisfactory reliability, validity, and responsiveness. Muscle
      Nerve 54: 658-665, 2016.

PMID- 26872637
TI  - The role of tumour-infiltrating eosinophils, mast cells and macrophages in
      Classical and Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma in children.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To study Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) microenvironment in a Swedish
      paediatric population and its relation to clinical parameters. METHODS: Tumour
      tissue from classical HL (cHL) (n = 87) and nodular lymphocyte predominant HL
      (NLPHL) (n = 11) was investigated for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and analysed for
      eosinophils, mast cells and macrophages. RESULTS: In cHL, EBV positivity was more
      common in low age (P < 0.001) and in mixed cellularity (MC) (P < 0.001). Higher
      mast cell infiltration was seen in stage III-IV (P < 0.001), and with presence of
      B-symptoms (P = 0.01). Cases with high mast cell counts displayed higher
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lower haemoglobin and albumin levels.
      Higher macrophage infiltration was seen in stage III-IV (P = 0.02) and there was
      elevated ESR and neutrophil count. All NLPHL cases were EBV negative, had lower
      rates of inflammatory cells and lower degree of inflammatory reaction in
      laboratory parameters. There was no difference in survival estimates with regard
      to infiltration of inflammatory cells. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of mast cells
      and macrophages in cHL tumours reflected the clinical presentation in laboratory
      parameters, B-symptoms and more advanced stages. NLPHL differs from cHL in
      numbers of inflammatory cells in the tumour, and in laboratory parameters.

PMID- 26872638
TI  - Prevalence and Molecular Genotyping of Noroviruses in Market Oysters, Mussels,
      and Cockles in Bangkok, Thailand.
AB  - Noroviruses are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis associated with
      bivalve shellfish consumption. This study aimed to detect and characterize
      noroviruses in three bivalve shellfish species: oysters (Saccostrea forskali),
      cockles (Anadara nodifera), and mussels (Perna viridis). The virus concentration
      procedure (adsorption-twice elution-extraction) and a molecular method were
      employed to identify noroviruses in shellfish. RT-nested PCR was able to detect
      known norovirus GII.4 of 8.8 * 10(-2) genome copies/g of digestive tissues from
      oyster and cockle concentrates, whereas in mussel concentrates, the positive
      result was seen at 8.8 * 10(2) copies/g of digestive tissues. From August 2011 to
      July 2012, a total of 300 shellfish samples, including each of 100 samples from
      oysters, cockles, and mussels were collected and tested for noroviruses.
      Norovirus RNA was detected in 12.3 % of shellfish samples. Of the noroviruses,
      7.7 % were of the genogroup (G) I, 2.6 % GII, and 2.0 % were mixed GI and GII.
      The detection rate of norovirus GI was 2.1 times higher than GII. With regards to
      the different shellfish species, 17 % of the oyster samples were positive, while
      14.0 and 6.0 % were positive for noroviruses found in mussels and cockles,
      respectively. Norovirus contamination in the shellfish occurred throughout the
      year with the highest peak in September. Seventeen norovirus-positive PCR
      products were characterized upon a partial sequence analysis of the capsid gene.
      Based on phylogenetic analysis, five different genotypes of norovirus GI (GI.2,
      GI.3, GI.4, GI.5, and GI.9) and four different genotypes of GII (GII.1, GII.2,
      GII.3, and GII.4) were identified. These findings indicate the prevalence and
      distribution of noroviruses in three shellfish species. The high prevalence of
      noroviruses in oysters contributes to the optimization of monitoring plans to
      improve the preventive strategies of acute gastroenteritis.

PMID- 26872639
TI  - End of Year 2015 in Polio Endemic Pakistan: Yet Another Beginning Towards End.

PMID- 26872640
TI  - Food Hardship and Obesity in a Sample of Low-Income Immigrants.
AB  - Very little work has examined the relationship between food hardship (having
      inconsistent financial resources to buy food) and obesity among immigrant groups.
      A cross-sectional study was conducted in a low-income, multi-racial/ethnic adult
      sample in greater Boston, MA (n = 828). Modified Poisson regression models
      estimated the association between food hardship obesity (BMI >= 30) among adults
      reporting food hardship; interactions were tested by place of birth. Body mass
      index (BMI) was based on anthropometric height and weight. In adjusted models,
      those experiencing food hardship were more likely to be obese (RR 1.17, CI 1.07,
      1.29) than those not experiencing food hardship. Participants from Haiti
      reporting food hardship were more likely to be obese than those not reporting
      hardship (RR 1.58, CI 1.23, 2.04); this was not the case among other groups (US
      born, Puerto Rican, Latin American, Other). The relationship between food
      hardship and weight may vary among immigrant subgroups.

PMID- 26872641
TI  - Social Environmental Influences on Smoking and Cessation: Qualitative
      Perspectives Among Chinese-Speaking Smokers and Nonsmokers in California.
AB  - This qualitative study examines the social environmental influences on smoking
      and cessation from the perspectives of Chinese smokers and household nonsmokers
      in California. Seven focus groups were conducted with 63 participants. Three
      culturally influenced levels of potential intervention emerged from constant
      comparative analysis. At the individual level, participants focused more on
      irritating odor than health harms of exposure and had inaccurate beliefs about
      harms of smoking and cessation. At the relational level, peers kept smokers
      connected to pro-smoking norms. There was conflict in the home about smoking and
      failed cessation, but smokers recognized the benefits of cessation for family
      harmony and children's health. Physicians encouraged cessation but this tended to
      be insufficient to prompt action unless a smoker felt ill. At the societal level,
      participants recognized changes in social acceptability and environmental
      regulation of smoking upon immigration. Better implementation of smokefree
      policies, plus culturally nuanced strategies for equipping both nonsmokers and
      smokers to become smokefree, are needed.

PMID- 26872642
TI  - The Effect of Language on the Discharge Process in a Pediatric Emergency
      Department.
AB  - Health disparities linked to language have been clearly described in the
      literature. However, little is known about potential disparities in care related
      to language in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). This was a cross
      sectional observational study using convenience sampling of English and Spanish
      PED discharges before and after electronic medical record (EMR) implementation.
      There were minimal differences between English and Spanish-speaking families in
      interactional elements and basic dialogue during discharge. Yet Spanish-speaking
      families had longer wait times to discharge once the decision to discharge was
      made. Interestingly, implementation of EMR added efficiency in terms of seeing a
      physician after arrival and equalizing the discharge instruction process between
      both groups. Contrary to literature on language-related health disparities, our
      study revealed minimal differences between English and Spanish-speaking families
      specifically in the PED discharge process.

PMID- 26872643
TI  - The promise of urethral pressure reflectometry: an update.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The urethral closure mechanism in women is
      incompletely understood. Measuring closure function in a collapsed urethral tube
      without distending the tube and changing its natural shape is impossible with
      conventional methods. Over the last decade, studies with urethral pressure
      reflectometry (UPR), a method that measures pressure and the corresponding cross
      sectional area along the entire length of the urethra continuously by means of
      acoustic reflectometry, have been performed. The studies have mainly been
      performed on patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Our aim
      was to provide an overview of the studies conducted with UPR, establishing
      whether the method may be used in clinical practice. We reviewed all literature
      published on UPR. RESULTS: Urethral pressure reflectometry is easily performed
      with limited bother for the patient. The catheter consists of a 45-cm-long PVC
      tube connected to a thin and highly flexible polyurethane bag, which is placed in
      the urethra. When inserted, the bag only occupies 0.4 mm(2) of the urethra,
      respecting the natural shape and orientation of the urethra and, most
      importantly; respecting the laws of physics when measuring urethral pressure. UPR
      can discriminate patients with SUI from continent women and separate assessment
      of the sphincter function and support system is possible. Also, UPR has revealed
      statistically significant differences in urethral pressures after drug therapy
      for SUI. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that UPR has a place in clinical practice. The
      method has shown groundbreaking potential in the understanding of urethral
      dysfunction in SUI patients.

PMID- 26872644
TI  - Impact of parity on ewe vaginal mechanical properties relative to the nonhuman
      primate and rodent.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Parity is the leading risk factor for the
      development of pelvic organ prolapse. To assess the impact of pregnancy and
      delivery on vaginal tissue, researchers commonly use nonhuman primate (NHP) and
      rodent models. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ewe as an
      alternative model by investigating the impact of parity on the ewe vaginal
      mechanical properties and collagen structure. METHODS: Mechanical properties of
      15 nulliparous and parous ewe vaginas were determined via uniaxial tensile tests.
      Collagen content was determined by hydroxyproline assay and collagen fiber
      thickness was analyzed using picrosirius red staining. Outcome measures were
      compared using Independent samples t or Mann-Whitney U tests. ANOVA (Gabriel's
      pairwise post-hoc test) or the Welch Alternative for the F-ratio (Games Howell
      post-hoc test) was used to compare data with previously published NHP and rodent
      data. RESULTS: Vaginal tissue from the nulliparous ewe had a higher tangent
      modulus and tensile strength compared with the parous ewe (p < 0.025). The parous
      ewe vagina elongated 42 % more than the nulliparous ewe vagina (p = 0.015). No
      significant differences were observed in collagen structure among ewe vaginas.
      The tangent modulus of the nulliparous ewe vagina was not different from that of
      the NHP or rodent (p = 0.290). Additionally, the tangent moduli of the parous ewe
      and NHP vaginas did not differ (p = 0.773). CONCLUSIONS: Parity has a negative
      impact on the mechanical properties of the ewe vagina, as also observed in the
      NHP. The ewe may serve as an alternative model for studying parity and ultimately
      prolapse development.

PMID- 26872645
TI  - Carl Gustav Nilsson 1944-2015.

PMID- 26872646
TI  - Prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in women with suspected gynecological
      malignancy: a survey-based study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Understanding of pelvic floor disorders among women
      with gynecological cancer is limited. The objective of this study was to describe
      the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in women with suspected gynecological
      malignancy before surgery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed of
      women aged >=18 with a suspected gynecological malignancy who enrolled in the
      University of North Carolina Health Registry/Cancer Survivorship Cohort (HR/CSC)
      from August 2012 to June 2013. Demographics were obtained from the HR/CSC self
      reported data; clinical data were abstracted from the electronic medical record.
      Subjects completed validated questionnaires (Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the
      International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary
      Tract Symptoms) to assess bladder and bowel function. RESULTS: Among 186 women
      scheduled for surgery for gynecological malignancy, 152 (82 %) completed baseline
      assessments before surgery. Mean age was 58.1 +/- 13.3 years, and mean BMI was
      33.6 +/- 8.8 kg/m(2). The majority of subjects had uterine cancer (61.8 %),
      followed by ovarian (17.1 %) and cervical (11.1 %). At baseline, the rate of
      urinary incontinence (UI) was 40.9 %. A third of subjects reported stress UI, and
      one quarter reported urge UI. The overall rate of fecal incontinence was 3.9 %,
      abdominal pain was 47.4 %, constipation was 37.7 %, and diarrhea was 20.1 %. When
      comparing cancer types, there were no differences in pelvic floor symptoms.
      CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor disorders are common in women with suspected
      gynecological malignancy at baseline before surgery. Recognizing pelvic floor
      disorders in the preoperative setting will allow for more individualized,
      comprehensive care for these women.

PMID- 26872647
TI  - Natural history of pessary use in women aged 65 - 74 versus 75 years and older
      with pelvic organ prolapse: a 12-year study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The feasibility of use and long-term outcomes of
      vaginal pessaries for the management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in older
      women remains unknown. Our aim was to determine successful fit rates and outcomes
      among older women seeking care for POP. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort
      study of 304 consecutive women aged 65 years and older with symptomatic POP
      undergoing a pessary trial at the outpatient urogynecology clinic in Quebec,
      Canada. Women successfully fitted with a pessary were followed, and survival
      curves were used to ascertain the median time to pessary discontinuation for
      women aged 65 to 74 years in comparison with women aged 75 years and older. Long
      term use was defined as longer than 1 year. Predictors of a successful fitting
      and long-term discontinuation were ascertained using logistic and Cox regression
      analyses. RESULTS: Half of the women attempting a pessary trial were aged 75
      years and older, and 63 % were fitted successfully regardless of age. Women with
      a history of hysterectomy or reconstructive pelvic surgery, or those with
      posterior vaginal wall prolapse were more likely to fail initial insertion. For
      women aged 65 to 74 years and women aged 75 years and older, the cumulative
      probabilities of continued pessary use were 87.5 % and 80.8 % at 1 year, 80.6 %
      and 70.9 % at 2 years, and 62.1 % versus 37.8 % at 5 years. Erosions occurred in
      19.3 % of long-term users, with women aged 75 years and older more likely to
      experience vaginal erosions (HR 3.2, 95 % CI 1.6 - 6.3) and discontinue pessary
      use. CONCLUSION: Pessary use is a feasible and acceptable treatment option for
      the long-term management of symptomatic prolapse in over 60 % of all women aged
      65 years and older.

PMID- 26872648
TI  - Potential host-related risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infection in
      Saudi women of childbearing age.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infection
      (rUTI) in women may differ between individuals, age, and the community. This
      study aimed to evaluate host related risk factors for rUTI in sexually active
      Saudi women during the childbearing period. METHODS: A case-control study was
      conducted in five healthcare centers and included married, nonpregnant women aged
      18-40 years. A total of 217 women had rUTI (cases) and 252 did not (controls). A
      validated questionnaire, with a face-to-face interview, was applied to assess
      various demographic, behavioral, medical, and sexual data. Additionally, a
      thorough physical examination, saliva and blood analyses, uroflowmetry, and
      genitourinary ultrasonography were performed. Multivariate logistic regression
      analysis was used to identify the significant host related risk factors
      associated with rUTI. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, attributable risks for
      rUTI were a history of childhood UTI [odds ratio (OR) = 6.8)] back-to-front
      douching/wiping after bowel movement (OR = 2.6), younger age at first intercourse
      (OR = 6.3), increased frequency of sexual intercourse (OR = 4.8), obstructed
      urinary flow (OR = 1.9), and genital prolapse (OR = 3.4). A total of 9.68 % of
      cases and none of the controls had high postvoid residual urine (positive
      predictive value for rUTI = 100 %). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported study
      to evaluate host related risk factors for rUTI in childbearing-age women in Saudi
      Arabia. Study findings indicate the association between rUTI and various factors
      that have been already established, with addition of improper rectal hygiene as a
      potential risk for recurrence.

PMID- 26872649
TI  - Cauda equina syndrome: an uncommon cause of urinary retention in a young woman.

PMID- 26872650
TI  - Highlights of the 40th IUGA meeting in Nice, June 2015.

PMID- 26872652
TI  - Safety and efficacy of intrathecal rituximab in children with B cell lymphoid
      CD20+ malignancies: An international retrospective study.
AB  - Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with mature B non-Hodgkin
      lymphoma, post-transplantation proliferative disorder and acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia confers a significantly inferior prognosis as compared to patients
      without CNS disease. Intrathecal (IT) or intraventricular administration of
      rituximab is an option for this group of patients. We report 25 children with CNS
      involvement of CD20+ B lymphoid malignancies who received in total 163
      IT/intraventricular rituximab doses. The median number of doses received by each
      patient was 6, with a median dose of 25 mg. The most common adverse events were
      Grades 1 and 2 peripheral neuropathies in five patients (20%), allergy in two
      patients, and headache in two patients. These events were self-limited, occurring
      in the 48 hours after treatment and resolving within 24 hr. Three patients
      presented with more severe though transient side effects, one with a Grade III
      neuropathy and two with seizure. Eighteen patients (72%) of those treated with
      IT/intraventricular rituximab, with or without other CNS directed treatment,
      achieved a CNS remission. This case series suggests that IT/intraventricular
      rituximab has therapeutic efficacy and relatively limited toxicity. Prospective
      trials of IT/intraventricular rituximab for patients with CNS involvement of CD20
      + B lymphoid malignancies are warranted.

PMID- 26872654
TI  - The role of the US Great Plains low-level jet in nocturnal migrant behavior.
AB  - The movements of aerial animals are under the constant influence of atmospheric
      flows spanning a range of spatiotemporal scales. The Great Plains nocturnal low
      level jet is a large-scale atmospheric phenomenon that provides frequent strong
      southerly winds through a shallow layer of the airspace. The jet can provide
      substantial tailwind assistance to spring migrants moving northward, while
      hindering southward migration during autumn. This atmospheric feature has been
      suspected to play a prominent role in defining migratory routes, but the flight
      strategies used with respect to these winds are yet to be examined. Using
      collocated vertically pointing radar and lidar, we investigate the altitudinal
      selection behavior of migrants over Oklahoma during two spring and two autumn
      migration seasons. In general, migrants choose to fly within the jet in spring,
      often concentrating in the favorable wind speed maximum. Autumn migrants
      typically fly below the jet, although some will rapidly climb to reach altitudes
      above the inhibiting winds. The intensity of migration was relatively constant
      throughout the spring due to the predominantly favorable southerly jet winds.
      Conversely, autumn migrants were more apt to delay departure to wait for the
      relatively infrequent northerly winds.

PMID- 26872653
TI  - The Link Between Inadequate Sleep and Obesity in Young Adults.
AB  - The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past decade.
      Although an imbalance between caloric intake and physical activity is considered
      a key factor responsible for the increase, there is emerging evidence suggesting
      that other factors may be important contributors to weight gain, including
      inadequate sleep. Overall research evidence suggests that inadequate sleep is
      associated with obesity. Importantly, the strength and trajectory of the
      association seem to be influenced by multiple factors including age. Although
      limited, the emerging evidence suggests young adults might be at the center of a
      "perfect health storm," exposing them to the highest risk for obesity and
      inadequate sleep. Unfortunately, the methods necessary for elucidating the
      complex relationship between sleep and obesity are lacking. Uncovering the
      underlying factors and trajectories between inadequate sleep and weight gain in
      different populations may help to identify the windows of susceptibility and to
      design targeted interventions to prevent the negative impact of obesity and
      related diseases. 

PMID- 26872655
TI  - Exploratory studies of the potential anti-cancer effects of creatine.
AB  - Two experiments were performed, in which male Wistar Walker 256 tumor-bearing
      rats were inoculated with 4 * 10(7) tumor cells subcutaneously and received
      either creatine (300 mg/kg body weight/day; CR) or placebo (water; PL)
      supplementation via intragastric gavage. In experiment 1, 50 rats were given PL
      (n = 22) or CR (n = 22) and a non-supplemented, non-inoculated group served as
      control CT (n = 6), for 40 days, and the survival rate and tumor mass were
      assessed. In experiment 2, 25 rats were given CR or PL for 15 days and sacrificed
      for biochemical analysis. Again, a non-supplemented, non-inoculated group served
      as control (CT; n = 6). Tumor and muscle creatine kinase (CK) activity and total
      creatine content, acidosis, inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidant capacity were
      assessed. Tumor growth was significantly reduced by approximately 30 % in CR when
      compared with PL (p = 0.03), although the survival rate was not significantly
      different between CR and PL (p = 0.65). Tumor creatine content tended to be
      higher in CR than PL (p = 0.096). Tumor CK activity in the cytosolic fraction was
      higher in CR than PL (p < 0.0001). Blood pCO2 was higher in CT and CR than PL (p
      = 0.0007 and p = 0.004, respectively). HCO3 was augmented in CT compared to PL (p
      = 0.03) and CR (p = 0.001). Plasma IL-6 was lower and IL-10 level was higher in
      CR than PL (p = 0.03 and p = 0.0007, respectively) and TNF-alpha featured a
      tendency of decrease in CR compared to PL (p = 0.08). Additionally, total
      antioxidant capacity tended to be lower in CT than PL (p = 0.07). Creatine
      supplementation was able to slow tumor growth without affecting the overall
      survival rate, probably due to the re-establishment of the CK-creatine system in
      cancer cells, leading to attenuation in acidosis, inflammation, and oxidative
      stress. These findings support the role of creatine as a putative anti-cancer
      agent as well as help in expanding our knowledge on its potential mechanisms of
      action in malignancies.

PMID- 26872657
TI  - Using Object Storage Technology vs Vendor Neutral Archives for an Image Data
      Repository Infrastructure.
AB  - The intent of this project was to use object storage and its database, which has
      the ability to add custom extensible metadata to an imaging object being stored
      within the system, to harness the power of its search capabilities, and to close
      the technology gap that healthcare faces. This creates a non-disruptive tool that
      can be used natively by both legacy systems and the healthcare systems of today
      which leverage more advanced storage technologies. The base infrastructure can be
      populated alongside current workflows without any interruption to the delivery of
      services. In certain use cases, this technology can be seen as a true alternative
      to the VNA (Vendor Neutral Archive) systems implemented by healthcare today. The
      scalability, security, and ability to process complex objects makes this more
      than just storage for image data and a commodity to be consumed by PACS (Picture
      Archiving and Communication System) and workstations. Object storage is a smart
      technology that can be leveraged to create vendor independence, standards
      compliance, and a data repository that can be mined for truly relevant content by
      adding additional context to search capabilities. This functionality can lead to
      efficiencies in workflow and a wealth of minable data to improve outcomes into
      the future.

PMID- 26872656
TI  - Incorporation of tryptophan analogues into the lantibiotic nisin.
AB  - Lantibiotics are posttranslationally modified peptides with efficient inhibitory
      activity against various Gram-positive bacteria. In addition to the original
      modifications, incorporation of non-canonical amino acids can render new
      properties and functions to lantibiotics. Nisin is the most studied lantibiotic
      and contains no tryptophan residues. In this study, a system was constructed to
      incorporate tryptophan analogues into nisin, which included the modification
      machinery (NisBTC) and the overexpression of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase
      (TrpRS). Tryptophan and three different tryptophan analogues (5-fluoroTrp (5FW),
      5-hydroxyTrp (5HW) and 5-methylTrp (5MeW)) were successfully incorporated at four
      different positions of nisin (I1W, I4W, M17W and V32W). The incorporation
      efficiency of tryptophan analogues into mutants I1W, M17W and V32W was over 97 %,
      while the mutant I4W showed relatively low incorporation efficiency (69-93 %).
      The variants with 5FW showed relatively higher production yield, while 5MeW
      containing variants showed the lowest yield. The dehydration efficiency of
      serines or threonines was affected by the tryptophan mutants of I4W and V32W. The
      affinity of the peptides for the cation-ion exchange and reverse phase
      chromatography columns was significantly reduced when 5HW was incorporated. The
      antimicrobial activity of IIW and its 5FW analogue both decreased two times
      compared to that of nisin, while that of its 5HW analogue decreased four times.
      The 5FW analogue of I4W also showed two times decreased activity than nisin.
      However, the mutant M17W and its 5HW analogue both showed 32 times reduced
      activity relative to that of nisin.

PMID- 26872658
TI  - Fully automated calculation of image-derived input function in simultaneous
      PET/MRI in a sheep model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obtaining the arterial input function (AIF) from image data in
      dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) examinations is a non-invasive
      alternative to arterial blood sampling. In simultaneous PET/magnetic resonance
      imaging (PET/MRI), high-resolution MRI angiographies can be used to define major
      arteries for correction of partial-volume effects (PVE) and point spread function
      (PSF) response in the PET data. The present study describes a fully automated
      method to obtain the image-derived input function (IDIF) in PET/MRI. Results are
      compared to those obtained by arterial blood sampling. METHODS: To segment the
      trunk of the major arteries in the neck, a high-resolution time-of-flight MRI
      angiography was postprocessed by a vessel-enhancement filter based on the inertia
      tensor. Together with the measured PSF of the PET subsystem, the arterial mask
      was used for geometrical deconvolution, yielding the time-resolved activity
      concentration averaged over a major artery. The method was compared to manual
      arterial blood sampling at the hind leg of 21 sheep (animal stroke model) during
      measurement of blood flow with O15-water. Absolute quantification of activity
      concentration was compared after bolus passage during steady state, i.e., between
      2.5- and 5-min post injection. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) values from blood
      sampling and IDIF were also compared. RESULTS: The cross-calibration factor
      obtained by comparing activity concentrations in blood samples and IDIF during
      steady state is 0.98 +/- 0.10. In all examinations, the IDIF provided a much
      earlier and sharper bolus peak than in the time course of activity concentration
      obtained by arterial blood sampling. CBF using the IDIF was 22 % higher than CBF
      obtained by using the AIF yielded by blood sampling. CONCLUSIONS: The small
      deviation between arterial blood sampling and IDIF during steady state indicates
      that correction of PVE and PSF is possible with the method presented. The
      differences in bolus dynamics and, hence, CBF values can be explained by the
      different sampling locations (hind leg vs. major neck arteries) with differences
      in delay/dispersion. It will be the topic of further work to test the method on
      humans with the perspective of replacing invasive blood sampling by an IDIF using
      simultaneous PET/MRI.

PMID- 26872660
TI  - Different site, different clinical outcomes in perforated colorectal cancer?

PMID- 26872659
TI  - Risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence in colon cancer surgery--a population
      based registry study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this was to assess potential risk factors for anastomotic
      dehiscence in colon cancer surgery in a national cohort. METHODS: All patients,
      who had undergone a resection of a large bowel segment with an anastomosis
      between 2008 and 2011, were identified in the Swedish Colon Cancer Registry.
      Patient factors, socioeconomic factors, surgical factors, and medication and
      hospital data were combined to evaluate risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence.
      RESULTS: The prevalence of anastomotic dehiscence was 4.3 % (497/11 565). Male
      sex, ASA classification III-IV, prescribed medications, bleeding more than 300
      mL, and uncommon colorectal resections were associated with a higher risk of
      anastomotic dehiscence. Hospital stay was increased with 14.5 days, and 30-day
      mortality as well as long-term mortality was higher in the anastomotic dehiscence
      group. CONCLUSIONS: There are several factors that are possible to know
      preoperatively or during surgery that can indicate whether an anastomosis is an
      appropriate option. Anastomotic dehiscence increases hospital stay and long-term
      mortality.

PMID- 26872661
TI  - Erratum to: Outcome for stage II and III rectal and colon cancer equally good
      after treatment improvement over three decades.

PMID- 26872662
TI  - MRI abnormalities found 1 year prior to symptom onset in a case of Creutzfeldt
      Jakob disease.

PMID- 26872663
TI  - Hypospadias as a novel feature in spinal bulbar muscle atrophy.
AB  - Spinal and bulbar muscle atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder
      caused by CAG repeat expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The SBMA
      phenotype consists of slowly progressive neuromuscular symptoms and
      undermasculinization features as the result of malfunction of the AR. The latter
      mainly includes gynecomastia and infertility. Hypospadias is also a feature of
      undermasculinization with an underdeveloped urethra and penis; it has not been
      described as part of the SBMA phenotype but has been suggested to be associated
      with a prolonged CAG repeat in the AR gene. This study includes the first
      epidemiologic description of the co-occurrence of hypospadias and SBMA in
      subjects and their male relatives in Swedish population-based health registers,
      as well as an additional clinical case. One boy with severe hypospadias was
      screened for mutations in the AR gene and was found to have 42 CAG repeats in it,
      which is in the full range of mutations causing SBMA later in life. We also
      detected a maximum of four cases displaying the combination of SBMA and
      hypospadias in our national register databases. This is the third case report
      with hypospadias in association with CAG repeat expansions in the AR gene in the
      full range known to cause SBMA later in life. Our findings suggest that
      hypospadias may be an under diagnosed feature of the SBMA phenotype and we
      propose that neurologists working with SBMA further investigate and report the
      true prevalence of hypospadias among patients with SBMA.

PMID- 26872664
TI  - Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy in basilar artery occlusion: variables
      affecting recanalization and outcome.
AB  - Ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is frequently associated
      with a poor prognosis. To date the most effective therapeutic approach has not
      been established and little is known about the predictors of clinical outcome.
      The aim of this study was to describe safety and efficacy of intra-arterial
      mechanical thrombectomy (IAMT) through latest generation devices in patients with
      BAO, focusing on those variables that may affect recanalization and clinical
      outcome. We analyzed retrospectively a series of 32 patients with BAO who
      underwent IAMT. We assessed the association of some clinical and
      neuroradiological features with recanalization rate and clinical outcome.
      Successful recanalization was achieved in 28 out of 32 patients (87.5 %).
      Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) was observed in 2/32 patients (6.3 %)
      and mortality in the first 3 months was 25.0 %. At 3-month follow up evaluation,
      13/32 patients (40.6 %) showed a good functional outcome (mRS score <=2). There
      were no statistical differences in term of age, gender, risk factors, cause of
      stroke, recanalization rate, pre-treatment pc-ASPECTS score and SICH frequencies
      between patients with favorable and unfavorable outcome. Increased length of
      thrombi was associated with unfavorable clinical outcome at 3 months.
      Recanalization rate was not affected by any of the variables considered. In BAO,
      IAMT through newest generation devices has high recanalization rates and low
      complication frequencies. Length of BAO is an important predictor of clinical
      outcome.

PMID- 26872665
TI  - Neurological diseases and health care utilization among first-generation
      immigrants.
AB  - Migrants may constitute a risk group and should have specific targets for health
      policy. To identify their health needs, it is important to investigate their
      epidemiological profile and their access to health services. The aim of this
      study was to identify the pattern of hospital and neurological services use among
      immigrants living in Brescia (Italy). The analysis took into account the records
      of 45,645 immigrants admitted to the ER (Emergency Room) as well as the discharge
      data of 6419 patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of the Azienda
      Ospedaliera Spedali Civili di Brescia, over a 3.5 years period. To take
      confounding factors into account, immigrant patients admitted to the department
      of Neurology were compared to a selection of Italian patients matched by age and
      sex. The main objectives were to explore causes of admission of the immigrant
      population-along with socio-demographic characteristics-to the Emergency Room and
      to the Neurology Units. Immigrants showed a similar pattern of hospital use to
      the Italian patients, although with a higher frequency of infective diseases and
      traumatic injuries. They also showed a higher mean Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)
      weight than the Italians. Average length of hospitalization was longer in
      immigrant population. However, the use of neurological services by migrants is
      less than their demographic share. Poorer economic and social conditions, as well
      as a worse labor market experienced by immigrants may expose them to risk factors
      for injuries and infective diseases. Reducing the language and bureaucratic
      barriers, as well as enhancing cross-cultural skills of physicians, might be
      crucial in decreasing the length and the cost of hospitalization.

PMID- 26872666
TI  - Subacute progressive aphasia: a rare presentation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

PMID- 26872668
TI  - Vladimir K. Roth (1848-1916).

PMID- 26872667
TI  - Absence of MxA induction is related to a poor clinical response to interferon
      beta treatment in multiple sclerosis patients.
AB  - The aim of this study is to investigate whether induction of myxovirus resistance
      protein A (MxA) mRNA after 3 months of interferon-beta administration is related
      to the treatment response in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this
      prospective study, MS patients were enrolled before starting treatment.
      Demographic, clinical and radiological variables were recorded. Blood samples
      were obtained before, and at 3 and 12 months after interferon-beta treatment.
      Real-time PCR was used to analyze MxA mRNA expression. Patients were classified
      as MxA-low or -high depending on MxA levels at baseline, and as MxA-induced or 
      non-induced according to whether an increase in MxA expression was detected at
      month 3. Time to the next relapse was investigated using Cox proportional hazards
      regression analysis. One hundred and four patients were selected and followed for
      a median of 2.2 years (IQR 1.6-3.5). On Cox regression analysis, a higher EDSS
      score before treatment (HR 1.57; 95 % CI 1.02-2.40; p = 0.039), MxA-high status
      at baseline (HR 2.71; 95 % CI 1.26-5.81; p = 0.010), and MxA-non-induced at month
      3 (HR 2.49; 95 % CI 1.08-5.68; p = 0.031), were predictors of poor response to
      interferon-beta in naive MS patients. Patients showing a lower capacity for MxA
      induction following 3 months of interferon-beta treatment are more likely to be
      non-responders to this therapy.

PMID- 26872671
TI  - Modulation of central nystagmus by vision, proprioception, and efference copy
      signals: a systematic evaluation.
AB  - Non-vestibular sensorimotor signals modulate the vestibular nucleus neuron to
      achieve current behavioral goals, and may generate or modulate nystagmus. In
      central lesions affecting the vestibular nuclei, non-vestibular signals such as
      mastication or swallowing may induce nystagmus. However, the influence of non
      vestibular signals on these types of nystagmus has not been investigated in a
      systematic way and the underlying mechanisms of the modulation are poorly
      understood. In this study, several non-vestibular sensorimotor stimuli were
      applied to evaluate the patterns of nystagmus modulation in a patient with
      suspected rhombencephalitis or imaging negative small infarction, probably
      involving the left dorsolateral medulla. The nystagmus was induced or
      significantly modulated by (1) visual inputs, and (2) combined proprioceptive and
      efference copy signals (during voluntary motion) unrelated to body or head
      orientation. In contrast, isolated proprioceptive signal, mental set, or non
      proprioceptive somatosensory inputs showed a negligible effect on the induction
      of nystagmus. Based on these modulations, we suggest that (1) the visually
      mediated nystagmus is due to a lesion-induced pursuit asymmetry, and (2) the
      nystagmus induced during voluntary motion is due to erroneous contribution of
      combined proprioceptive and efference copy signals during integration of non
      vestibular signals for ocular motor control. Various non-vestibular sensorimotor
      stimulations may induce nystagmus due to dysfunction of the central vestibular
      neural circuity. 

PMID- 26872669
TI  - Immune-mediated processes in neurodegeneration: where do we stand?
AB  - Neurodegeneration is a pathological condition that predominantly affects neurons.
      It represents a large spectrum of disorders with heterogeneous symptoms and
      distinct clinical features. In addition to the devastating effects it can have on
      the affected individual, it constitutes a heavy burden to the society in terms of
      health care costs. Although the exact cause of neurodegeneration is not known,
      there are plenty of evidences supporting the notion that the immune system is
      strongly associated with various forms of neurodegenerative diseases. Given the
      numerous functions of immune cells, a change in their expression can either be
      beneficial or deleterious to the host. A better understanding of the molecular
      and cellular processes in neurodegeneration is therefore needed. This could
      facilitate the development of new therapeutic targets and provide effective means
      to dampen the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. The overarching aim of
      this paper is to provide an overview of the roles that the innate and adaptive
      immune systems play in the central nervous system, and to discuss their
      beneficial or detrimental effects during neurodegeneration. This paper also
      critically examines the contribution of immune and inflammatory-mediated
      responses in the development of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's
      disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyloid
      lateral sclerosis by illustrating key findings from animal and human studies. 

PMID- 26872670
TI  - The role of mutations in COL6A3 in isolated dystonia.
AB  - Specific mutations in COL6A3 have recently been reported as the cause of isolated
      recessive dystonia, which is a rare movement disorder. In all patients, at least
      one mutation was located in Exons 41 and 42. In an attempt to replicate these
      findings, we assessed by direct sequencing the frequency of rare variants in
      Exons 41 and 42 of COL6A3 in 955 patients with isolated or combined dystonia or
      with another movement disorder with dystonic features. We identified nine
      heterozygous carriers of rare variants including five different missense
      mutations and an extremely rare synonymous variant. In these nine patients, we
      sequenced the remaining 41 coding exons of COL6A3 to test for a second mutation
      in the compound heterozygous state. In only one of them, a second rare variant
      was identified (Thr732Met + Pro3082Arg). Of note, this patient had been diagnosed
      with Parkinson's disease (with dystonic posturing) due to homozygous PINK1
      mutations. The COL6A3 mutations clearly did not segregate with the disease in the
      four affected siblings of this family. Further, there was no indication for a
      disease-modifying effect of the COL6A3 mutations since disease severity or age at
      onset did not correlate with the number of COL6A3 mutated alleles in this family.
      In conjunction with the relatively high frequency of homozygous carriers of
      reported mutations in publically available databases, our data call a causal role
      for variants in COL6A3 in isolated dystonia into question.

PMID- 26872672
TI  - Necroptotic cell death in failing heart: relevance and proposed mechanisms.
AB  - As cardiomyocytes have a limited capability for proliferation, renewal, and
      repair, the loss of heart cells followed by replacement with fibrous tissue is
      considered to result in the development of ventricular dysfunction and
      progression to heart failure (HF). The loss of cardiac myocytes in HF has been
      traditionally believed to occur mainly due to programmed apoptosis or unregulated
      necrosis. While extensive research work is being carried out to define the exact
      significance and contribution of both these cell death modalities in the
      development of HF, recent knowledge has indicated the existence and importance of
      a different form of cell death called necroptosis in the failing heart. This new
      cell damaging process, resembling some of the morphological features of passive
      necrosis as well as maladaptive autophagy, is a programmed process and is
      orchestrated by a complex set of proteins involving receptor-interacting protein
      kinase 1 and 3 (RIP1, RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL).
      Activation of the RIP1-RIP3-MLKL signaling pathway leads to disruption of cation
      homeostasis, plasma membrane rupture, and finally cell death. It seems likely
      that inhibition of any site in this pathway may prove as an effective
      pharmacological intervention for preventing the necroptotic cell death in the
      failing heart. This review is intended to describe general aspects of the
      signaling pathway associated with necroptosis, to describe its relationship with
      cardiac dysfunction in some models of cardiac injury and discuss its potential
      relevance in various types of HF with respect to the underlying pathologic
      mechanisms. 

PMID- 26872673
TI  - The role of inflammation and cell death in the pathogenesis, progression and
      treatment of heart failure.
AB  - Chronic inflammation underlies a variety of seemingly unrelated conditions
      including coronary artery disease. The interest in exploring the role of
      inflammation in heart failure (CHF) arises from earlier observations that
      circulating pro-inflammatory biomarker levels are elevated in patients with both
      ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies and correlate with severity of
      disease and prognosis (McMurray et al. in Eur Heart J 33:1787-1847, 2012; Mosterd
      and Hoes in Heart 93:1137-1146, 2007; Owan et al. in New Engl J Med 355:251-259,
      2006). In acute decompensated HF, pro-inflammatory biomarker levels have been
      associated with mortality and readmission rates (Cowie et al. in Heart 83:505
      510, 2000). Similar to neurohormonal activation and inflammation, production of
      pro-inflammatory cytokines is a response to stress in an attempt to restore
      cellular function. However, sustained expression and exposure to cytokines can
      lead to left ventricular dysfunction, negative inotropic effects, altered cardiac
      metabolism, myocardial remodelling and HF progression. However, it is unclear
      whether elevated levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity
      C-reactive protein, signify an ongoing inflammatory process that leads to HF
      progression, or are merely markers of advanced disease. Beta-blockers, renin
      angiotensin-aldosterone axis antagonists, statins and immunosuppressants have
      been found to decrease the levels of cytokines in small clinical studies of
      patients with HF (Hobbs et al. in Heart J 28:1128-1134, 2007). However,
      'immunomodulatory' approaches applied in the RECOVER, RENAISSANCE, ATTACH, IMAC
      and ACCLAIM double-blind, placebo-controlled studies had neutral or negative
      effects on outcomes of patients with HF. In the present review, we focus on the
      role of inflammation in pathogenesis and progression of the HF, the value of pro
      inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers and the potential therapeutic applications
      of immunomodulation in HF patients. 

PMID- 26872675
TI  - Role of cell death in the progression of heart failure.
AB  - All multicellular organisms develop during evolution the highly regulated and
      interconnected pathways of cell death. This complex network contributes to the
      pathogenesis of various cardiovascular disorders including ischemia/reperfusion
      injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, dysrhythmias and atherosclerosis.
      Chronic cardiac remodeling response and transition to overt HF have been
      associated with modestly increased apoptosis, although the actual burden of
      chronic cell loss attributable to apoptosis is not clear. Central mediators of
      cardiomyocyte survival and death are the mitochondrial organelles. Based on its
      morphological characteristics, cell death can be classified into three major
      types: apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. Recently, a new pathway of regulated
      necrosis, necroptosis, has also been reported in the failing heart. The
      mitochondrial (intrinsic) and the death-receptor-mediated (extrinsic) converge at
      mitochondria inducing release of mitochondrial apoptogens to initiate the caspase
      cascade and eventually degradation of the doomed cardiomyocyte. Activation of
      death receptors can initiate not only extrinsic apoptotic pathway, but also
      necrosis. On the other hand, autophagy, which is characterized by the massive
      formation of lysosomal-derived vesicles, containing degenerating cytoplasmic
      contents, is primarily a survival response to nutrient deprivation, and a
      selective form of autophagy, mitophagy, is also a protective mechanism that
      allows to eliminate damaged mitochondria and thereby to attenuate mitochondria
      mediated apoptosis and necrosis in the myocardium. Further insight into the
      molecular mechanisms underlying cell death will increase the efficiency and
      repertoire of therapeutic interventions available in cardiovascular disease. 

PMID- 26872674
TI  - Mitochondrial dynamics and cell death in heart failure.
AB  - The highly regulated processes of mitochondrial fusion (joining), fission
      (division) and trafficking, collectively called mitochondrial dynamics, determine
      cell-type specific morphology, intracellular distribution and activity of these
      critical organelles. Mitochondria are critical for cardiac function, while their
      structural and functional abnormalities contribute to several common
      cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). The tightly balanced
      mitochondrial fusion and fission determine number, morphology and activity of
      these multifunctional organelles. Although the intracellular architecture of
      mature cardiomyocytes greatly restricts mitochondrial dynamics, this process
      occurs in the adult human heart. Fusion and fission modulate multiple
      mitochondrial functions, ranging from energy and reactive oxygen species
      production to Ca(2+) homeostasis and cell death, allowing the heart to respond
      properly to body demands. Tightly controlled balance between fusion and fission
      is of utmost importance in the high energy-demanding cardiomyocytes. A shift
      toward fission leads to mitochondrial fragmentation, while a shift toward fusion
      results in the formation of enlarged mitochondria and in the fusion of damaged
      mitochondria with healthy organelles. Mfn1, Mfn2 and OPA1 constitute the core
      machinery promoting mitochondrial fusion, whereas Drp1, Fis1, Mff and MiD49/51
      are the core components of fission machinery. Growing evidence suggests that
      fusion/fission factors in adult cardiomyocytes play essential noncanonical roles
      in cardiac development, Ca(2+) signaling, mitochondrial quality control and cell
      death. Impairment of this complex circuit causes cardiomyocyte dysfunction and
      death contributing to heart injury culminating in HF. Pharmacological targeting
      of components of this intricate network may be a novel therapeutic modality for
      HF treatment. 

PMID- 26872677
TI  - Chest wall motion analysis in healthy volunteers and adults with cystic fibrosis
      using a novel Kinect-based motion tracking system.
AB  - Respiratory disease is the leading cause of death in the UK. Methods for
      assessing pulmonary function and chest wall movement are essential for accurate
      diagnosis, as well as monitoring response to treatment, operative procedures and
      rehabilitation. Despite this, there is a lack of low-cost devices for rapid
      assessment. Spirometry is used to measure air flow expired, but cannot infer or
      directly measure full chest wall motion. This paper presents the development of a
      low-cost chest wall motion assessment system. The prototype was developed using
      four Microsoft Kinect sensors to create a 3D time-varying representation of a
      patient's torso. An evaluation of the system in two phases is also presented.
      Initially, static volume of a resuscitation mannequin with that of a Nikon laser
      scanner is performed. This showed the system has slight underprediction of 0.441
      %. Next, a dynamic analysis through the comparison of results from the prototype
      and a spirometer in nine cystic fibrosis patients and thirteen healthy subjects
      was performed. This showed an agreement with correlation coefficients above
      0.8656 in all participants. The system shows promise as a method for assessing
      respiratory disease in a cost-effective and timely manner. Further work must now
      be performed to develop the prototype and provide further evaluations.

PMID- 26872679
TI  - Value of preoperative 3T multiparametric MRI for surgical margin status in
      patients with prostate cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine the value of preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) as a predictor of surgical margin (SM) status in patients with
      prostate cancer (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Institutional Review Board
      approved this retrospective study; the requirement for informed consent was
      waived. Fifty-six male patients with histologically proven PC underwent
      preoperative 3T multiparametric MRI including high b value (0, 2000 s/mm(2) )
      diffusion-weighted imaging. In each patient, clinical data, such as biopsy
      Gleason score and D'Amico clinical risk score, and multiparametric MRI findings,
      such as tumor location, tumor size, tumor extension in the apical or proximal
      region, tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and the presence or absence
      of MRI findings of extracapsular extension (ECE) were evaluated. Statistical
      evaluations included the Fisher's exact test, chi(2) test, Mann-Whitney U-test,
      and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: On histopathological evaluation, 15
      patients (27%) were SM-positive (SMP group), and 41 (73%) were SM-negative (SMN
      group). The tumor ADC was significantly lower in the SMP group than in the SMN
      group (P = 0.001). The frequency of tumor extension in the apex or base and
      suspected ECE on MRI were significantly higher in the SMP group than in the SMN
      group (P = 0.037 and 0.011, respectively). On multivariate analysis, tumor ADC
      was the only predictor of SM status in PC (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: PC with
      positive SM was characterized by tumor extension in the apical and proximal
      regions, lower tumor ADC, and tumors with positive MRI findings of ECE, compared
      to tumors with negative SM. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:584-593.

PMID- 26872676
TI  - Atrophied cardiomyocytes and their potential for rescue and recovery of
      ventricular function.
AB  - Cardiomyocytes must be responsive to demands placed on the heart's contractile
      work as a muscular pump. In turn, myocyte size is largely dependent on the
      workload they perform. Both hypertrophied and atrophic myocytes are found in the
      normal and diseased ventricle. Individual myocytes become atrophic when
      encumbered by fibrillar collagen, such as occurs at sites of fibrosis. The
      mechanisms include: (a) being immobilized and subject to disuse with ensuing
      protein degradation mediated by redox-sensitive, proteolytic ligases of the
      ubiquitin-proteasome system and (b) dedifferentiated re-expressing fetal genes
      induced by low intracellular triiodothyronine (T3) via thyroid hormone receptor
      beta1. This myocyte-selective, low T3 state is a consequence of heterocellular
      signaling emanating from juxtaposed scar tissue myofibroblasts and their
      secretome with its de novo generation of angiotensin II. In a paracrine manner,
      angiotensin II promotes myocyte Ca(2+) entry and subsequent Ca(2+) overload with
      ensuing oxidative stress that overwhelms antioxidant defenses to activate
      deiodinase-3 and its enzymatic degradation of T3. In the failing heart, atrophic
      myocytes represent an endogenous population of viable myocytes which could be
      rescued to augment contractile mass, reduce systolic wall stress (afterload) and
      recover ventricular function. Experimental studies have shown the potential for
      the rescue and recovery of atrophic myocytes in rebuilding the myocardium--a
      method complementary to today's quest in regenerating myocardium using progenitor
      cells.

PMID- 26872678
TI  - Nonnegative matrix factorization and sparse representation for the automated
      detection of periodic limb movements in sleep.
AB  - Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in adults, and incurs a
      significant economic burden to society. Periodic limb movements (PLMs) in sleep
      are repetitive movements involving the great toe, ankle, and hip. Evolving
      evidence suggests that PLMs may be associated with high blood pressure and
      stroke, but this relationship remains underexplored. Several issues limit the
      study of PLMs including the need to manually score them, which is time-consuming
      and costly. For this reason, we developed a novel automated method for nocturnal
      PLM detection, which was shown to be correlated with (a) the manually scored PLM
      index on polysomnography, and (b) white matter hyperintensities on brain imaging,
      which have been demonstrated to be associated with PLMs. Our proposed algorithm
      consists of three main stages: (1) representing the signal in the time-frequency
      plane using time-frequency matrices (TFM), (2) applying K-nonnegative matrix
      factorization technique to decompose the TFM matrix into its significant
      components, and (3) applying kernel sparse representation for classification
      (KSRC) to the decomposed signal. Our approach was applied to a dataset that
      consisted of 65 subjects who underwent polysomnography. An overall classification
      of 97 % was achieved for discrimination of the aforementioned signals,
      demonstrating the potential of the presented method.

PMID- 26872681
TI  - Elicited versus emitted behavior: Time to abandon the distinction.
AB  - The concept of emitted behavior was formulated as a part of the original argument
      for the validity of a new kind of learning called operant conditioning. The
      rationale for operant conditioning contrasted it with Pavlovian or classical
      conditioning, which was (and remains) fundamentally based on responses to
      conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. Classical conditioned responses were said
      to be elicited. In contrast, operant behavior was viewed as emitted and
      controlled primarily by response consequences rather than antecedents. I argue
      that the distinction between emitted and elicited behavior is no longer warranted
      for three major reasons. First, the distinction was based on a view of Pavlovian
      conditioning that is no longer viable. Second, the distinction is incompatible
      with both empirical data and contemporary conceptualizations of operant behavior.
      Third, the only way to overcome these problems is to define emitted and elicited
      in terms of the type of conditioning (operant and classical) that produces these
      behaviors, but that approach makes the definitions circular and does not avoid
      implications of the terms that are misleading and counterproductive in light of
      contemporary research and thinking. 

PMID- 26872680
TI  - Classification and treatment of distal radius fractures: a survey among
      orthopaedic trauma surgeons and residents.
AB  - PURPOSE: Classification, the definition of an acceptable reduction and
      indications for surgery in distal radius fracture management are still subject of
      debate. The purpose of this study was to characterise current distal radius
      fracture management in Europe. METHODS: During the European Congress of Trauma
      and Emergency Surgery (ECTES) 2015 a 20-question multiple-choice survey was
      conducted among the attending surgeons and residents of the hand and wrist
      session. Consensus was defined as more than 50 % identical answers (moderate
      consensus 50-75 % and high consensus more than 75 %). RESULTS: A total of 46
      surgeons and residents participated in the survey. High consensus was found among
      both surgeons and residents for defining the AO/OTA classification as the
      preferred classification system. For the definition of an acceptable reduction, a
      moderate to high consensus could be determined. Overall, high consensus was found
      for non-operative treatment instead of operative treatment in dislocated extra-
      and intra-articular distal radius fractures with an acceptable closed reduction,
      regardless of age. We found high (surgeons) and moderate (residents) consensus on
      the statement that an intra-articular gap or step-off >=2 mm, in patients younger
      than 65 years, is an absolute indication for ORIF. The same applied for ORIF in
      dislocated fractures without an acceptable closed reduction in patients younger
      than 75 years of age. CONCLUSION: Current distal radius fracture management in
      Europe is characterised by a moderate to high consensus on the majority of
      aspects of fracture management.

PMID- 26872682
TI  - Key players in neurodegenerative disorders in focus-New insights into the
      proteomic profile of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, ALS, and multiple
      sclerosis-24th HUPO BPP Workshop: September 29, 2015, Vancouver, Canada.
AB  - The HUPO Brain Proteome Project (HUPO BPP) held its 24th workshop in Vancouver,
      Canada, September 29, 2015. The focus of the autumn workshop was on new insights
      into the proteomic profile of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, ALS and
      multiple sclerosis. 

PMID- 26872683
TI  - Current Updates on Classification, Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemophagocytic
      Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
AB  - Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life threatening hyperinflammatory
      syndrome characterized by excessive activation of macrophages and T cells
      resulting from defective cytotoxicity. Severe hyperinflammation caused by
      uncontrolled proliferation of activated lymphocytes and histiocytes (macrophages)
      secreting high amounts of inflammatory cytokines threatens the life of the
      patient and may lead to death unless arrested by appropriate treatment. HLH can
      be caused either by certain underlying genetic diseases (familial HLH), or may
      also occur due to particular triggers in patients with no known inherited
      disorder (acquired HLH). Due to life threatening nature of the disease, early
      diagnosis and initiation of immunosuppressive therapy is extremely important. HLH
      diagnosis is based on constellation of clinical manifestations and laboratory
      parameters which often overlap with those of severe infection or sepsis.
      Identification of patients with familial HLH and their underlying genetic defects
      requires specialized laboratory tests and is important for predicting relapses
      and planning early therapeutic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A
      high suspicion and thorough clinical, immunological and genetic work-up is
      required for diagnosis of HLH. Prompt initiation of adequate treatment is
      essential for the survival. Substantial progress has been made in exploring the
      complex cause and pathophysiology of HLH and also in management of HLH patients. 

PMID- 26872684
TI  - Next Generation Sequencing in the Clinic.

PMID- 26872685
TI  - Distinct oxidative cleavage and modification of bovine [Cu- Zn]-SOD by an
      ascorbic acid/Cu(II) system: Identification of novel copper binding site on SOD
      molecule.
AB  - We investigated the combined effect of ascorbate and copper [Asc/Cu(II)] on the
      integrity of bovine [Cu-Zn]-superoxide dismutase (bSOD1) as a model system to
      study the metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) and fragmentation of proteins. We found
      Asc/Cu(II) mediates specific cleavage of bSOD1 and generates 12.5 and 3.2kDa
      fragments in addition to oxidation/carbonylation of the protein. The effect of
      other tested transition metals, a metal chelator, and hydrogen peroxide on the
      cleavage and oxidation indicated that binding of copper to a previously unknown
      site on SOD1 is responsible for the Asc/Cu(II) specific cleavage and oxidation.
      We utilized tandem mass spectrometry to identify the specific cleavage sites of
      Asc/Cu(II)-treated bSOD1. Analyses of tryptic- and AspN-peptides have
      demonstrated the cleavage to occur at Gly31 with peptide bond breakage with Thr30
      and Ser32 through diamide and alpha-amidation pathways, respectively. The three
      dimensional structure of bSOD1 reveals the imidazole ring of His19 localized
      within 5A from the alpha-carbon of Gly31 providing a structural basis that copper
      ion, most likely coordinated by His19, catalyzes the specific cleavage reaction.

PMID- 26872686
TI  - Extending the spectrum of AKT1 mosaicism: not just the Proteus syndrome.

PMID- 26872687
TI  - Audible blink in prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy.

PMID- 26872688
TI  - Trachyonychia as the presenting sign of myeloma-associated amyloidosis.

PMID- 26872689
TI  - Age-related optimization of screw placement for reduced loosening risk in locked
      plating.
AB  - When using locked plating for bone fracture fixation, screw loosening is reported
      as one of the most frequent complications and is commonly attributed to an
      incorrect choice of screw configuration. Choosing a patient-optimized screw
      configuration is not straightforward as there are many interdependent variables
      that affect device performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the
      influence that locking screw configuration has on loosening risk and how this is
      influenced by bone quality. This study uses finite element models that
      incorporate cortical bone heterogeneity, orthotropy, and geometrical nonlinearity
      to examine the effect of screw configuration on variables associated with
      loosening and interfragmentary motion. Strain levels within the bone were used as
      indicators of regions that may undergo loosening. The study found that, in
      healthy bone under axial loading, the most important variables influencing strain
      levels within the bone were the size of the bridging span (working length) and
      the plate rigidity. Unlike healthy bone, osteoporotic bone was found to be
      particularly sensitive to the spacing of the screws within the plate. Using two
      empty screw holes between the screws closest to the fracture was found to reduce
      the strain levels at the first screw by 49% in osteoporotic bone (compared to
      only 2.4% in healthy bone). The study also found that under torsional loading the
      total number of screws used was the most important variable with a 59% reduction
      in the strain around the screws closest to the fracture when using six rather
      than four screws in osteoporotic bone. (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society.
      Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1856-1864, 2016.

PMID- 26872690
TI  - Development and validation of a theoretical test in non-anaesthesiologist
      administered propofol sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Safety with non-anaesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation
      (NAAP) during gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is related to theoretical
      knowledge. A summative testing of knowledge before attempting supervised nurse
      administered propofol sedation (NAPS) in the clinic is advised. The aims of this
      study were to develop a theoretical test about propofol sedation, to gather
      validity evidence for the test and to measure the effect of a NAPS-specific
      training course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A three-phased psychometric study on
      multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) test development, gathering of validity
      evidence and evaluation of the effect of a specific NAAP course on the test
      result. A MCQ containing 86 questions was developed and administered 113 times to
      91 participants representing novices, intermediates and experienced. RESULTS:
      Question difficulty analyses revealed 50 level I and II questions. The 50 MCQs
      showed mean (SD) intergroup differences (p = 0.001) between novices = 28.6
      (4.82), intermediates = 36.8 (5.43) and experienced = 41.8 (4.65) and provided a
      pass score of 35.2. The course with pre-course test had significant effect on the
      knowledge of nurses (18% increase) and physicians (19% increase; p = 0.001 and
      0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Data supported the validity of the developed
      MCQ test. The NAPS-specific course with pre-course testing adds theoretical
      knowledge to already well-prepared participants.

PMID- 26872691
TI  - PDD-5S: A useful screening tool for Parkinson's disease dementia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) contributes to poor quality of
      life and increases the mortality risk. Early detection and diagnosis of PDD are
      essential for clinical care. METHODS: We recruited patients with idiopathic
      Parkinson's disease (PD), who underwent clinical assessments and
      neuropsychological tests, at 12 teaching hospitals in Taiwan. Probable PDD was
      diagnosed according to the Movement Disorder Society Task Force clinical
      criteria. Using binary logistic regression, we selected significant items from an
      original 30-item informant questionnaire. We utilized these items, along with a
      simple cognitive test, to discriminate between PDD and nondemented PD (PD-ND).
      RESULTS: Among the 265 PD patients (156 men, 109 women, mean age 71.9 +/- 9.1
      years), 102 and 163 patients were diagnosed with probable PDD and PD-ND,
      respectively. The mean education of participants was 8.8 +/- 5.3 years, and the
      mean disease duration was 5.5 +/- 5.4 years. When the patients fulfilled either
      of the following criteria: (1) a score >= 3 for the five endorsed screening
      questions, (2) a score of 1-2 for the five above screening questions combined
      with a score <= 10 items for category verbal fluency, the sensitivity and
      specificity of the PDD screening tool were 80.4% and 80.4%, respectively. The
      area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.804. We tested
      this screening tool in another 137 unrelated PD patients and the sensitivity,
      specificity, and AUC were 77.4%, 96.4%, and 0.869, respectively. CONCLUSION: The
      "PDD-5S" is a brief and useful screening tool for PDD.

PMID- 26872692
TI  - Predictors of dual control of HIV and diabetes.
AB  - Diabetes is one of the most frequently diagnosed comorbidities in individuals
      living with HIV. Dual control of both conditions is essential because both
      diseases negatively impact the immune and vascular systems. The purpose of this
      retrospective study was to assess the factors associated with dual control of HIV
      and diabetes. Patients from a large urban Ryan White-funded HIV clinic with a
      diagnosis of diabetes were identified; inclusion criteria comprised age over 25
      years, use of antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months, and a diagnosis of
      diabetes. Optimal control was described as a non-detectable viral load (i.e.
      log10 HIV1-viral load <1.6) and HbA1c <=7%. Fewer than half of 186 patients had
      optimal control of HIV and diabetes. Direct logistic regression using backward
      stepwise entry identified three variables that significantly fit the model: age,
      insulin-based therapy, and African-American race. The full model was
      statistically significant. As patients with HIV now live longer, more effort
      needs to be given to adherence to improve health outcomes for co-morbidities.

PMID- 26872693
TI  - Evaluation of risk factors for high flow nasal oxygen failure: a means to avoid
      disillusion.

PMID- 26872696
TI  - Erythropoeitin Signaling in Macrophages Promotes Dying Cell Clearance and Immune
      Tolerance.
AB  - The failure of apoptotic cell clearance is linked to autoimmune diseases,
      nonresolving inflammation, and developmental abnormalities; however, pathways
      that regulate phagocytes for efficient apoptotic cell clearance remain poorly
      known. Apoptotic cells release find-me signals to recruit phagocytes to initiate
      their clearance. Here we found that find-me signal sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)
      activated macrophage erythropoietin (EPO) signaling promoted apoptotic cell
      clearance and immune tolerance. Dying cell-released S1P activated macrophage EPO
      signaling. Erythropoietin receptor (EPOR)-deficient macrophages exhibited
      impaired apoptotic cell phagocytosis. EPO enhanced apoptotic cell clearance
      through peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma). Moreover,
      macrophage-specific Epor(-/-) mice developed lupus-like symptoms, and
      interference in EPO signaling ameliorated the disease progression in lupus-like
      mice. Thus, we have identified a pathway that regulates macrophages to clear
      dying cells, uncovered the priming function of find-me signal S1P, and found a
      role of the erythropoiesis regulator EPO in apoptotic cell disposal, with
      implications for harnessing dying cell clearance. 

PMID- 26872694
TI  - In Vivo Killing Capacity of Cytotoxic T Cells Is Limited and Involves Dynamic
      Interactions and T Cell Cooperativity.
AB  - According to in vitro assays, T cells are thought to kill rapidly and
      efficiently, but the efficacy and dynamics of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)
      mediated killing of virus-infected cells in vivo remains elusive. We used two
      photon microscopy to quantify CTL-mediated killing in mice infected with
      herpesviruses or poxviruses. On average, one CTL killed 2-16 virus-infected cells
      per day as determined by real-time imaging and by mathematical modeling. In
      contrast, upon virus-induced MHC class I downmodulation, CTLs failed to destroy
      their targets. During killing, CTLs remained migratory and formed motile kinapses
      rather than static synapses with targets. Viruses encoding the calcium sensor
      GCaMP6s revealed strong heterogeneity in individual CTL functional capacity.
      Furthermore, the probability of death of infected cells increased for those
      contacted by more than two CTLs, indicative of CTL cooperation. Thus, direct
      visualization of CTLs during killing of virus-infected cells reveals crucial
      parameters of CD8(+) T cell immunity. 

PMID- 26872695
TI  - The Wnt Antagonist Dickkopf-1 Promotes Pathological Type 2 Cell-Mediated
      Inflammation.
AB  - Exposure to a plethora of environmental challenges commonly triggers pathological
      type 2 cell-mediated inflammation. Here we report the pathological role of the
      Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) upon allergen challenge or non-healing
      parasitic infection. The increased circulating amounts of Dkk-1 polarized T cells
      to T helper 2 (Th2) cells, stimulating a marked simultaneous induction of the
      transcription factors c-Maf and Gata-3, mediated by the kinases p38 MAPK and SGK
      1, resulting in Th2 cell cytokine production. Circulating Dkk-1 was primarily
      from platelets, and the increase of Dkk-1 resulted in formation of leukocyte
      platelet aggregates (LPA) that facilitated leukocyte infiltration to the affected
      tissue. Functional inhibition of Dkk-1 impaired Th2 cell cytokine production and
      leukocyte infiltration, protecting mice from house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma
      or Leishmania major infection. These results highlight that Dkk-1 from
      thrombocytes is an important regulator of leukocyte infiltration and polarization
      of immune responses in pathological type 2 cell-mediated inflammation. 

PMID- 26872697
TI  - Interleukin-35 Limits Anti-Tumor Immunity.
AB  - Regulatory T (Treg) cells pose a major barrier to effective anti-tumor immunity.
      Although Treg cell depletion enhances tumor rejection, the ensuing autoimmune
      sequelae limits its utility in the clinic and highlights the need for limiting
      Treg cell activity within the tumor microenvironment. Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a
      Treg cell-secreted cytokine that inhibits T cell proliferation and function.
      Using an IL-35 reporter mouse, we observed substantial enrichment of IL-35(+)
      Treg cells in tumors. Neutralization with an IL-35-specific antibody or Treg cell
      restricted deletion of IL-35 production limited tumor growth in multiple murine
      models of human cancer. Limiting intratumoral IL-35 enhanced T cell
      proliferation, effector function, antigen-specific responses, and long-term T
      cell memory. Treg cell-derived IL-35 promoted the expression of multiple
      inhibitory receptors (PD1, TIM3, LAG3), thereby facilitating intratumoral T cell
      exhaustion. These findings reveal previously unappreciated roles for IL-35 in
      limiting anti-tumor immunity and contributing to T cell dysfunction in the tumor
      microenvironment.

PMID- 26872700
TI  - Relationship between blood eosinophils and clinical characteristics in a cross
      sectional study of a US population-based COPD cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that blood eosinophil levels (Eos) are
      associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment response
      and natural history. This analysis investigated the relationship between Eos
      levels and clinical characteristics in a representative cohort of US subjects
      with spirometry-defined COPD. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the National
      Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2007-2010) of subjects >= 40
      years with spirometry-defined COPD and Eos data (n = 948) were analyzed.
      Differences in clinical characteristics by Eos level (<= 2%, > 2%) were compared
      using chi-square tests. Characteristics associated with Eos > 2% were identified
      using multivariate logistic regression modeling. Characteristics associated with
      Eos >2% among subjects with normal lung function, plus other cut-points among the
      COPD population, were evaluated post hoc. FINDINGS: Most participants had Eos
      >2%; 70.7% with spirometry-defined COPD and 65.5% with normal lung function.
      Older age, male gender, and severe current asthma were significantly associated
      with Eos >2% in COPD subjects. The Eos <= 2% COPD group had higher reported rates
      of previous heart attack and anemia. Among participants with normal lung
      function, Eos > 2% was associated with being male, being overweight/obese, older
      age, hay fever, and congestive heart failure. INTERPRETATION: In this large US
      based cohort, Eos > 2% was prevalent in participants with COPD and normal lung
      function. Among participants with COPD, Eos > 2% was associated with specific
      characteristics including lower rates of some co-morbidities; however, the
      clinical implications and relationships between Eos levels, COPD mechanisms, and
      risk of outcomes require further evaluation.

PMID- 26872701
TI  - Positive effect of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum in reversing LPS-induced
      infertility in a mouse model.
AB  - Bacterial infections have high incidence among the female population at
      reproductive age and are widely known to cause infertility due to inflammation.
      The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the
      inflammatory agent LPS on fertility outcome and to evaluate the ability of
      Lactobacillus plantarum in ameliorating the LPS-mediated inflammation-induced
      infertility. Female BALB/c mice infused intravaginally with a single dose of 20
      MUl sterile normal saline containing 5, 10 or 20 MUg LPS were divided into two
      groups for evaluation of tissue histology and pregnancy outcome. In the first
      group, aimed at observing changes in tissue histology, inflammation was observed
      in vaginal sections of mice instilled with a single dose of 20 MUg LPS, which
      were sacrificed on days 2, 5 and 8. In the second group, aimed at evaluating
      pregnancy outcome, female mice were administered 20 MUg LPS, which rendered them
      infertile upon mating on days 2, 5 and 8. In another experiment, normal histology
      of vaginal sections was observed in mice administered a single dose of 20 MUg
      LPS, followed by 108 c.f.u. L. plantarum in 20 MUl at 24 h intervals, until the
      mice were sacrificed on days 2, 5 and 8. Following similar treatment, female
      mice, when mated with proven male breeder mice on days 2, 5 and 8, retained their
      fertility and delivered pups. These results were further confirmed by the
      downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory
      cytokines on treatment with L. plantarum, revealing the role of probiotics in
      ameliorating inflammation-induced infertility.

PMID- 26872698
TI  - Immunogenic Chemotherapy Sensitizes Tumors to Checkpoint Blockade Therapy.
AB  - Checkpoint blockade immunotherapies can be extraordinarily effective, but might
      benefit only the minority of patients whose tumors are pre-infiltrated by T
      cells. Here, using lung adenocarcinoma mouse models, including genetic models, we
      show that autochthonous tumors that lacked T cell infiltration and resisted
      current treatment options could be successfully sensitized to host antitumor T
      cell immunity when appropriately selected immunogenic drugs (e.g., oxaliplatin
      combined with cyclophosphamide for treatment against tumors expressing oncogenic
      Kras and lacking Trp53) were used. The antitumor response was triggered by direct
      drug actions on tumor cells, relied on innate immune sensing through toll-like
      receptor 4 signaling, and ultimately depended on CD8(+) T cell antitumor
      immunity. Furthermore, instigating tumor infiltration by T cells sensitized
      tumors to checkpoint inhibition and controlled cancer durably. These findings
      indicate that the proportion of cancers responding to checkpoint therapy can be
      feasibly and substantially expanded by combining checkpoint blockade with
      immunogenic drugs. 

PMID- 26872702
TI  - The policy and politics of the 2015 long-term care reform in the Netherlands.
AB  - As of 2015 a major reform in LTC is taking place in the Netherlands. An important
      objective of the reform is to reign in expenditure growth to safeguard the fiscal
      sustainability of LTC. Other objectives are to improve the quality of LTC by
      making it more client-tailored. The reform consists of four interrelated pillars:
      a normative reorientation, a shift from residential to non-residential care,
      decentralization of non-residential care and expenditure cuts. The article gives
      a brief overview of these pillars and their underlying assumptions. Furthermore,
      attention is paid to the political decision-making process and the politics of
      implementation and evaluation. Perceptions of the effects of the reform so far
      widely differ: positive views alternate with critical views. Though the reform is
      radical in various aspects, LTC care will remain a largely publicly funded
      provision. A statutory health insurance scheme will remain in place to cover
      residential care. The role of municipalities in publicly funded non-residential
      care is significantly upgraded. The final section contains a few policy lessons. 

PMID- 26872699
TI  - Poor Repair of Skeletal Muscle in Aging Mice Reflects a Defect in Local,
      Interleukin-33-Dependent Accumulation of Regulatory T Cells.
AB  - Normal repair of skeletal muscle requires local expansion of a special population
      of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. Such cells failed to accumulate in
      acutely injured muscle of old mice, known to undergo ineffectual repair. This
      defect reflected reduced recruitment of Treg cells to injured muscle, as well as
      less proliferation and retention therein. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) regulated muscle
      Treg cell homeostasis in young mice, and its administration to old mice
      ameliorated their deficits in Treg cell accumulation and muscle regeneration. The
      major IL-33-expressing cells in skeletal muscle displayed a constellation of
      markers diagnostic of fibro/adipogenic progenitor cells and were often associated
      with neural structures, including nerve fibers, nerve bundles, and muscle
      spindles, which are stretch-sensitive mechanoreceptors important for
      proprioception. IL-33(+) cells were more frequent after muscle injury and were
      reduced in old mice. IL-33 is well situated to relay signals between the nervous
      and immune systems within the muscle context. 

PMID- 26872704
TI  - Realizing a Vision and Moving Forward.

PMID- 26872705
TI  - Noteworthy Literature in Cardiac Surgery 2015.
AB  - In 2015, the cardiac literature has pushed for change in cardiac practice. The
      areas are evolving quickly based on new technology, ranging from percutaneous
      valves in the aortic position to mechanical support. The new devices in both
      these fields are changing the way patients are cared for very quickly. Another
      topic evolving is temperature management in aortic arch cases. This field is
      being pushed more by the threat of endovascular technology creeping into the arch
      than technology directly causing change in care. But that threat is real and
      inevitable. Finally, the discussion about optimal conduits is unending in
      coronary bypass grafting. A new algorithm has been proposed for utilization of
      more arterial grafts; however, there remains trepidation in changing from more
      vein grafts. Furthermore, those pushing for more arterial grafting seem to be
      black and white about these approaches rather than using what is best for the
      patient. These topics, among others, have made the literature from cardiac
      surgery in 2015 worth reading. 

PMID- 26872703
TI  - Effects of a Web-Based Intervention for Stress Reduction in Primary Care: A
      Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preliminary findings suggest that Web-based interventions may be
      effective in achieving significant stress reduction. To date, there are no
      findings available for primary care patients. This is the first study that
      investigates a Web-based intervention for stress reduction in primary care.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the short-term effectiveness of a fully
      automated Web-based coaching program regarding stress reduction in a primary care
      setting. METHODS: The study was an unblinded cluster randomized trial with an
      observation period of 12 weeks. Individuals recruited by general practitioners
      randomized to the intervention group participated in a Web-based coaching program
      based on education, motivation, exercise guidance, daily text message reminders,
      and weekly feedback through the Internet. All components of the program were
      fully automated. Participants in the control group received usual care and advice
      from their practitioner without the Web-based coaching program. The main outcome
      was change in the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) over 12 weeks. RESULTS: A
      total of 93 participants (40 in intervention group, 53 in control group) were
      recruited into the study. For 25 participants from the intervention group and 49
      participants from the control group, PSQ scores at baseline and 12 weeks were
      available. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the PSQ score decreased by mean
      8.2 (SD 12.7) in the intervention group and by mean 12.6 (SD 14.7) in the control
      group. There was no significant difference identified between the groups (mean
      difference -4.5, 95% CI -10.2 to 1.3, P=.13). CONCLUSIONS: This trial could not
      show that the tested Web-based intervention was effective for reducing stress
      compared to usual care. The limited statistical power and the high dropout rate
      may have reduced the study's ability to detect significant differences between
      the groups. Further randomized controlled trials are needed with larger
      populations to investigate the long-term outcome as well as the contents of usual
      primary care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00003067;
      http://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/navigate.do?=DRKS00003067
      (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6eXk0PXmO).

PMID- 26872708
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26872706
TI  - Cardiopulmonary Bypass Without Heparin.
AB  - Due to familiarity, short half-life, ease of monitoring, and the availability of
      a reversal agent, heparin remains the anticoagulant of choice for cardiac
      operations requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, occasionally patients
      require CPB but should not receive heparin, most often because of acute or
      subacute heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). In these cases, if it is not
      feasible to wait for the disappearance of HIT antibodies, an alternative
      anticoagulant must be selected. A number of non-heparin anticoagulant options
      have been explored. However, current recommendations suggest the use of a direct
      thrombin inhibitor such as bivalirudin. This review describes the use of heparin
      alternatives for the conduct of CPB with a focus on the direct thrombin
      inhibitors. 

PMID- 26872709
TI  - The Effect of Laser Fiber Cleave Technique and Lithotripsy Time on Power Output.
AB  - PURPOSE: Various cleave techniques have recently been shown to significantly
      impact initial laser fiber power output during holmium laser lithotripsy. The
      impact of cleave technique on long-term power output has not been well
      characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of laser
      cleave technique on power output over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this
      randomized single-blinded study, five cleave techniques were tested on two
      holmium laser fiber diameters (200, 365 MUm) over 15 minutes of laser lithotripsy
      with calcium oxalate monohydrate stones. Comparisons between cleave techniques
      and fiber diameters were performed using independent samples Mann-Whitney U,
      Kruskal-Wallis, and homogeneity of variance tests with a significance of p <
      0.05. RESULTS: The 365-MUm fiber was more durable and less affected by burnback
      degradation than the 200-MUm fiber (p < 0.05). While initial power output varied
      between cleave techniques, all significance disappeared by 3 minutes. Power
      output decreased rapidly by a mean of 0.62 W over 4 minutes (p < 0.05), following
      which there was no significant change. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that
      initial laser fiber power output is significantly influenced by cleave technique,
      and the ceramic scissor is the optimal tool for cleaving between procedures.
      However, because of rapid fiber tip degradation and power loss, this study argues
      against routine cleaving to improve procedural efficiency in lengthy ureteroscopy
      cases.

PMID- 26872711
TI  - Editorial: On the Issue Celebrating the Centennial of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
      School of Public Health.

PMID- 26872712
TI  - The George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention: A
      Century of Collaboration, Innovation, and Translation.
AB  - The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has been engaged in public
      health research and practice in Washington County, Maryland, nearly since its
      inception a century ago. In 2005, the center housing this work was renamed the
      George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention to honor its
      pioneering leader. Principles that guided innovation and translation well in the
      past included: research synergies and opportunities for translation realized
      through longstanding connection with the community; integration of training with
      public health research; lifelong learning, mentorship, and teamwork; and
      efficiency through economies of scale. These principles are useful to consider as
      we face the challenges of improving the health of the population over the next
      100 years. 

PMID- 26872713
TI  - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder After Sexual Abuse in Adolescent Girls.
AB  - The sexual assault of girls and women in this country is estimated at
      approximately 20%. The development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after
      sexual abuse and assault is one of the potential lingering aftereffects. In this
      article we describe PTSD after sexual abuse and its effect on presenting
      complaints, such as sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and chronic
      pain, for the pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) clinician. Treatment
      approaches, including the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics, as well as
      evidenced-based psychotherapies, are highlighted. In addition, this article will
      assist the PAG clinician in identifying trauma-related concerns during clinic
      visits and will cover specific screening tools to aid in identification of PTSD.
      A better understanding of PTSD after sexual abuse will allow PAG providers to
      deliver better care to their patients.

PMID- 26872710
TI  - Beyond the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Countywide Impact of Universal ICU
      Staphylococcus aureus Decolonization.
AB  - A recent trial showed that universal decolonization in adult intensive care units
      (ICUs) resulted in greater reductions in all bloodstream infections and clinical
      isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than either
      targeted decolonization or screening and isolation. Since regional health-care
      facilities are highly interconnected through patient-sharing, focusing on
      individual ICUs may miss the broader impact of decolonization. Using our Regional
      Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst simulation model of all health-care facilities in
      Orange County, California, we evaluated the impact of chlorhexidine baths and
      mupirocin on all ICU admissions when universal decolonization was implemented for
      25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of ICU beds countywide (compared with screening and
      contact precautions). Direct benefits were substantial in ICUs implementing
      decolonization (a median 60% relative reduction in MRSA prevalence). When 100% of
      countywide ICU beds were decolonized, there were spillover effects in general
      wards, long-term acute-care facilities, and nursing homes resulting in median
      8.0%, 3.0%, and 1.9% relative MRSA reductions at 1 year, respectively. MRSA
      prevalence decreased by a relative 3.2% countywide, with similar effects for
      methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. We showed that a large proportion of
      decolonization's benefits are missed when accounting only for ICU impact.
      Approximately 70% of the countywide cases of MRSA carriage averted after 1 year
      of universal ICU decolonization were outside the ICU. 

PMID- 26872714
TI  - Louisiana and Mississippi Family Physicians' Contraception Counseling for
      Adolescents with a Focus on Intrauterine Contraception.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The adolescent pregnancy rate in Louisiana (LA) and Mississippi
      (MS) is one of the highest in the United States. One approach to decrease that
      rate is to increase contraceptive use. We sought to characterize LA and MS family
      physicians' (FPs) contraception counseling for adolescents with a focus on the
      intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS,
      INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Online survey of resident and
      practicing physician members of the LA and MS Academy of FPs. RESULTS: Three
      hundred ninety-eight of 1616 invited FPs responded; 244 were included in our
      analysis. When counseling adolescents about contraception, respondents
      "frequently discussed" oral contraceptives and condoms 87.5% (210/240) and 83.8%
      (202/241) of the time, respectively. Newer and more highly effective
      contraceptives such as the ring, patch, IUD, and implant were "frequently
      discussed" only 34.6% (82/237)-39.3% (92/234) of the time. In the previous 6
      months, 56% (136/243) of respondents ever discussed an IUD with an adolescent.
      Respondents were more likely to have discussed IUDs if they learned IUD insertion
      during residency, had on-site access to IUD inserters, believed they were
      competent and/or comfortable with IUD counseling. In 5 clinical scenarios asking
      whether the respondent would recommend an IUD to a 17- or a 27-year-old patient
      (in all scenarios patients were eligible for an IUD), respondents were
      restrictive overall and significantly fewer would recommend an IUD for the
      adolescent. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there are missed opportunities
      for full-scope contraception counseling by LA and MS FPs. When these FPs counsel
      adolescents about contraception they less frequently discuss newer methods and
      more highly effective methods. Additionally many LA and MS FPs use overly
      restrictive eligibility criteria when considering IUDs.

PMID- 26872715
TI  - Competition between fast- and slow-diffusing species in non-homogeneous
      environments.
AB  - We study an individual-based model in which two spatially distributed species,
      characterized by different diffusivities, compete for resources. We consider
      three different ecological settings. In the first, diffusing faster has a cost in
      terms of reproduction rate. In the second case, resources are not uniformly
      distributed in space. In the third case, the two species are transported by a
      fluid flow. In all these cases, at varying the parameters, we observe a
      transition from a regime in which diffusing faster confers an effective selective
      advantage to one in which it constitutes a disadvantage. We analytically estimate
      the magnitude of this advantage (or disadvantage) and test it by measuring
      fixation probabilities in simulations of the individual-based model. Our results
      provide a framework to quantify evolutionary pressure for increased or decreased
      dispersal in a given environment. 

PMID- 26872716
TI  - [General concepts of epigenetics: Projections in paediatrics].
AB  - Current evidence supports the notion that alterations in intrauterine growth and
      during the first years of life have a substantial effect on the risk for the
      development of chronic disease, which in some cases is even higher than those due
      to genetic factors. The persistence and reproducibility of the phenotypes
      associated with altered early development suggest the participation of mechanisms
      that would record environmental cues, generating a cellular reprogramming (i.e.,
      epigenetic mechanisms). This review is an introduction to a series of five
      articles focused on the participation of epigenetic mechanisms in the development
      of highly prevalent chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic,
      asthma/allergies and cancer) and their origins in the foetal and neonatal period.
      This series of articles aims to show the state of the art in this research area
      and present the upcoming clues and challenges, in which paediatricians have a
      prominent role, developing strategies for the prevention, early detection and
      follow-up.

PMID- 26872717
TI  - Contraception in Japan: Current trends.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: High proportion of Japanese uses condoms; lower proportion uses oral
      contraceptive pills (OCPs). We examined the longitudinal patterns for
      contraceptive usage in Japan and evaluated differences before and after OCP
      government approval. STUDY DESIGN: We accessed nationally representative survey
      data for women aged 16-49years from 1950 to 2014. RESULTS: Usage of condoms and
      OCP was 83.4% and 3.0%, respectively in 2014. OCP use before (1.21%) and after
      (1.97%) government approval did not differ significantly (p=.58). CONCLUSIONS:
      The prevalence of OCP usage remains low in Japan. A wide gap in use between Japan
      and other developed countries exists. IMPLICATIONS: Through a wide gap in OCP use
      between Japan and other countries, we revealed how choices of contraceptive
      methods and their benefits could be openly available for women of reproductive
      age, and how health care professionals disseminate appropriate knowledge about
      contraception for women in need.

PMID- 26872718
TI  - Cost of providing injectable contraceptives through a community-based social
      marketing program in Tigray, Ethiopia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To provide a cost analysis of an injectable contraceptive program
      combining community-based distribution and social marketing in Tigray, Ethiopia.
      METHODS: We conducted a cost analysis, modeling the costs and programmatic
      outcomes of the program's initial implementation in 3 districts of Tigray,
      Ethiopia. Costs were estimated from a review of program expense records,
      invoices, and interviews with health workers. Programmatic outcomes include
      number of injections and couple-year of protection (CYP) provided. We performed a
      sensitivity analysis on the average number of injections provided per month by
      community health workers (CHWs), the cost of the commodity, and the number of
      CHWs trained. RESULTS: The average programmatic CYP was US $17.91 for all
      districts with a substantial range from US $15.48-38.09 per CYP across districts.
      Direct service cost was estimated at US $2.96 per CYP. The cost per CYP was
      slightly sensitive to the commodity cost of the injectable contraceptives and the
      number of CHWs. The capacity of each CHW, measured by the number of injections
      sold, was a key input that drove the cost per CYP of this model. CONCLUSION: With
      a direct service cost of US $2.96 per CYP, this study demonstrates the potential
      cost of community-based social marketing programs of injectable contraceptives.
      The findings suggest that the cost of social marketing of contraceptives in rural
      communities is comparable to other delivery mechanisms with regards to CYP, but
      further research is needed to determine the full impact and cost-effectiveness
      for women and communities beyond what is measured in CYP.

PMID- 26872719
TI  - "If I know I am on the pill and I get pregnant, it's an act of God": women's
      views on fatalism, agency and pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Fatalism is the idea that outside forces have control over events.
      Pregnancy and pregnancy prevention play a prominent role in many women's lives,
      and we sought to understand if and how fatalism informed their thinking about
      these issues. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted in-depth interviews with 52 unmarried
      women between the ages of 18 and 30. We used NVivo to analyze the transcripts.
      The current analysis focuses on the ways that women discussed fatalism and
      pregnancy both in response to a direct question and as it came up spontaneously.
      RESULTS: The majority of respondents expressed a mix of fatalistic and non
      fatalistic views about pregnancy. Many related that "fate," "destiny" and/or God
      play a role in pregnancy, but most also asserted that pregnancy risk could be
      substantially reduced, most commonly by using contraception. Fatalism sometimes
      served a positive function, for example as a mechanism to deal with an unintended
      pregnancy. Having a fatalistic outlook did not preclude contraceptive use.
      Rather, some women using highly effective methods related that if they were to
      become pregnant, they would interpret it as a sign that the pregnancy was "meant
      to happen." Finally some women related that there was no guarantee a woman could
      get pregnant when she wanted to, suggesting that some degree of fatalism may be
      inevitable when it comes to pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Fatalism and agency should
      not be viewed as opposing outlooks when it comes to pregnancy and pregnancy
      prevention; having fatalistic views about pregnancy does not preclude
      contraceptive use. IMPLICATIONS: Given that women do not have total control over
      attainment of a wanted pregnancy or even prevention of pregnancy, some amount of
      fatalism about fertility is a logical and pragmatic response. Both research and
      clinical practice need to recognize that fatalism and contraceptive use are often
      not in conflict.

PMID- 26872720
TI  - A Phase III, single-arm study of LNG-IUS 8, a low-dose levonorgestrel
      intrauterine contraceptive system (total content 13.5mg) in postmenarcheal
      adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety profile of the low-dose levonorgestrel
      intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) total content 13.5mg (average approximate release
      rate 8MUg/24h over the first year; LNG-IUS 8; Jaydess(r)) in adolescents. STUDY
      DESIGN: In a Phase III study in 36 European centers, 304 healthy nulliparous or
      parous postmenarcheal adolescents (12-17years) received LNG-IUS 8 for 12months.
      The primary outcome was the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events
      (TEAEs). Secondary outcomes included: serious TEAEs, adverse events of special
      interest, overall user satisfaction, discontinuation rate at 12months, and Pearl
      Index. RESULTS: LNG-IUS 8 placement was successful in 303/304 participants
      (99.7%). Overall, 82.6% of participants reported TEAEs, and serious TEAEs and
      serious study drug-related TEAEs were reported by 7.6% and 1.0% of participants,
      respectively. No cases of pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, or
      uterine perforation were reported. No pregnancies were reported during the 12
      month study. At Month 12/study end, the overall user satisfaction rate was 83.9%.
      Overall, 51 participants (16.8%) prematurely discontinued the study before
      12months; 13.8% of participants discontinued owing to TEAEs. CONCLUSIONS: No new
      or unexpected safety events were associated with the low-dose LNG-IUS 8. The
      safety profile of LNG-IUS 8 in adolescents was consistent with that previously
      reported in adults. The high overall user-satisfaction rate at study end and the
      low discontinuation rate over 12months demonstrate that LNG-IUS 8 is a highly
      acceptable contraceptive method among adolescents. IMPLICATIONS: This study is
      the first to assess the low-dose levonorgestrel intrauterine system LNG-IUS 8
      (average approximate release rate 8MUg/24h over the first year and total content
      13.5mg) specifically in females<18years of age and confirms the safety and
      efficacy of LNG-IUS 8 in an adolescent population.

PMID- 26872722
TI  - Fluoxetine-induced toxicity results in human placental glutathione S-transferase
      pi (GST-pi) dysfunction.
AB  - CONTEXT: The antidepressant drug fluoxetine (FLU) is considered in the group of
      selective serotonine re-uptake inhibitors. Its distribution in brain and binding
      to human brain glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) have been shown. FLU can
      cross blood brain barrier and placenta, accumulate in fetus and may cause
      congenital malformations. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the interaction of placental
      GST-pi with FLU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, concentration-dependent inhibition
      of human placental GST-pi was evaluated by using different FLU concentrations and
      then 0.3125, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mM FLU concentrations were chosen and tested
      while keeping GSH concentration constant and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB)
      concentration varied and vice versa. The data were evaluated with different
      kinetic models and Statistica 9.00 for Windows. RESULTS: The Vm, at variable
      [CDNB] (142 +/- 16 U/mg protein) was 3 times higher than the Vm obtained at
      variable [GSH] (49 +/- 4 U/mg protein). On the other hand, the Km for CDNB was
      ~10 times higher than the Km for GSH (1.99 +/- 0.36 mM versus 0.21 +/- 0.06 mM).
      The IC50 value for FLU was 8.6 mM. Both at constant [CDNB] and variable [GSH] and
      at constant [GSH] and variable [CDNB] the inhibition types were competitive with
      the Ki values of 5.62 +/- 4.37 and 8.09 +/- 1.27 mM, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Although the Ki values obtained for FLU in vitro are high, due to their uneven
      distribution, long elimination time and inhibitory behavior on detoxification
      systems, it may cause defects in adults but these effects may be much more severe
      in fetus and result in congenital malformations.

PMID- 26872721
TI  - The effect of enriched chicory inulin on liver enzymes, calcium homeostasis and
      hematological parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized
      placebo-controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: Type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) as one of the main causes
      of morbidity and mortality is associated with immune system disturbances and
      metabolic abnormalities. In the current study we aimed to evaluate the effects of
      enriched chicory inulin supplementation on liver enzymes, serum calcium and
      phosphorous concentrations and hematological parameters in patients with T2DM.
      METHODS: Forty-six diabetic females patients were randomly allocated into
      intervention (n=27) and control (n=22) groups. Subjects in the intervention group
      received a daily dose of 10g of chicory and subjects in control group received a
      placebo for two months. Anthropometric variables, glucose homeostasis,
      hematological parameters and metabolic indices including serum alanine
      aminotransfersae (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase
      (ALP), calcium and phosphorous as well as creatinine concentrations, glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR) and blood pressure were assessed at the beginning and end
      of the trial. RESULTS: Significant reductions in fasting serum glucose (FSG), Hb
      A1C, AST and ALP concentrations were observed in chicory-treated group. Systolic
      and diastolic blood pressures were also reduced in chicory-treated group. Serum
      calcium significantly increased after chicory supplementation but no change in
      placebo treated group has been occurred (P=0.014). Supplementation with enriched
      chicory for two months significantly reduced hematocrit and mean corpuscular
      volume (MCV) values (P<0.05). Changes in serum insulin, creatinine and GFR were
      not significant. CONCLUSION: The present study showed beneficial effects of
      oligofructose-enriched chicory on the improvement of the glucose and calcium
      homeostasis, liver function tests, blood pressure and reduction in hematologic
      risk factors of diabetes in female patients with T2DM. Further studies in both
      genders are needed to generalize these findings to total population.

PMID- 26872723
TI  - Reprogramming carcinoma associated fibroblasts by AC1MMYR2 impedes tumor
      metastasis and improves chemotherapy efficacy.
AB  - Carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs) produce a nutrient-rich microenvironment
      to fuel tumor progression and metastasis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels
      and the inflammation pathway co-operate to transform CAFs. Therefore, elucidating
      the mechanism mediating the activity of CAFs might identify novel therapies.
      Abnormal miR-21 expression was reported to be involved in the conversion of
      resident fibroblasts to CAFs, yet the factor that drives transformation was
      poorly understood. Here, we reported that high miR-21 expression was strongly
      associated with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and the activation of the
      miR-21/NF-kB was required for the metastatic promoting effect of CAFs. AC1MMYR2,
      a small molecule inhibitor of miR-21, attenuated NF-kB activity by directly
      targeting VHL, thereby blocking the co-precipitation of NF-kB and beta-catenin
      and nuclear translocation. Taxol failed to constrain the aggressive behavior of
      cancer cells stimulated by CAFs, whereas AC1MMYR2 plus taxol significantly
      suppressed tumor migration and invasion ability. Remodeling and depolarization of
      F-actin, decreased levels of beta-catenin and vimentin, and increased E-cadherin
      were also detected in the combination therapy. Furthermore, reduced levels of FAP
      alpha and alpha-SMA were observed, suggesting that AC1MMYR2 was competent to
      reprogram CAFs via the NF-kB/miR-21/VHL axis. Strikingly, a significant reduction
      of tumor growth and lung metastasis was observed in the combination treated mice.
      Taken together, our findings identified miR-21 as a critical mediator of
      metastasis in breast cancer through the tumor environment. AC1MMYR2 may be
      translated into the clinic and developed as a more personalized and effective
      neoadjuvant treatment for patients to reduce metastasis and improve the
      chemotherapy response. 

PMID- 26872724
TI  - Reciprocal activation between MMP-8 and TGF-beta1 stimulates EMT and malignant
      progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The efficiency of surgery in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited due to
      metastasis and recurrence, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we
      show that MMP-8 and TGF-beta1 accumulate in highly invasive HCC cell lines and
      invasive HCC patient tissues. Upregulation of MMP-8 and TGF-beta1 correlated with
      changes in cellular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotypes and HCC
      migration and invasion. The expression of TGF-beta1 was markedly restored by MMP
      8 overexpression in TGF-beta1-depleted HCC cells mainly via the activation of
      PI3K/Akt/Rac1 pathway. Similarly, the expression of MMP-8 was restored by TGF
      beta1 treatment in MMP-8-depleted HCC cells mainly through the activation of the
      same PI3K/Akt/Rac1 pathway. MMP-8 expression was significantly related to TGF
      beta1 expression in HCC patient tissues, and high expression of MMP-8 or TGF
      beta1 was significantly associated with TNM stage and HCC metastasis.
      Specifically, patients with high co-expression of MMP-8 and TGF-beta1 had a
      shorter time-to-recurrence than those with low co-expression. Therefore, the
      reciprocal positive interplay between MMP-8 and TGF-beta1 contributes to HCC
      invasion and metastasis by inducing EMT mainly through the PI3K/Akt/Rac1 pathway.

PMID- 26872725
TI  - The histone demethylase LSD1 is a novel oncogene and therapeutic target in oral
      cancer.
AB  - The histone demethylase LSD1 functions as a key pro-oncogene and attractive
      therapeutic target in human cancer. Here we sought to interrogate the oncogenic
      roles of LSD1 in OSCC tumorigenesis and therapeutic intervention by integrating
      chemical-induced OSCC model, genetic and pharmacological loss-of-function
      approaches. Our data revealed that aberrant LSD1 overexpression in OSCC was
      significantly associated with tumor aggressiveness and shorter overall survival.
      Increased abundance of LSD1 was detected along with disease progression in DMBA-
      or 4NQO-induced OSCC animal models. LSD1 depletion via siRNA-mediated knockdown
      in OSCC cells resulted in impaired cell proliferation, migration/invasion,
      tumorsphere formation and reduced xenograft growth while inducing cell apoptosis
      and enhancing chemosensitivity to 5-FU. Moreover, treatments of LSD1 chemical
      inhibitors (pargyline and tranylcypromine) induced its protein reduction probably
      via enhanced protein degradation and produced similar phenotypic changes
      resembling LSD1 silencing in OSCC cells. Pharmacological inhibition of LSD1 by
      intraperitoneal delivery of these inhibitors resulted in impaired xenograft
      overgrowth. Taken together, our data reveal the tumorigenic roles of LSD1 and
      identified LSD1 as a novel biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic significance,
      and also establish that targeting LSD1 by chemical inhibitors is a viable
      therapeutic strategy against OSCC. 

PMID- 26872726
TI  - Psychometric study of the European Portuguese version of the PedsQL 3.0 Cancer
      Module.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome to
      assess the impact of cancer. This article examines the psychometric properties of
      the European Portuguese self-report version of the Pediatric Quality of Life
      InventoryTM Cancer Module (PedsQLTM 3.0 Cancer Module) in children and
      adolescents with cancer. METHODS: The participants, 332 children/adolescents
      diagnosed with cancer (8-18 years old), completed measures to assess HRQoL
      (PedsQLTM 3.0 Cancer Module and DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Measure; DCGM-12) and
      anxiety (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale - second edition; RCMAS-2). A
      subsample (n = 52) completed the PedsQLTM 3.0 Cancer Module a second time
      following one-week. The pediatric oncologists completed the Intensity of
      Treatment Rating Scale 3.0 (ITR 3.0). RESULTS: For the whole sample, the PedsQLTM
      3.0 Cancer Module demonstrated good item discrimination (rs = .30 to .54). The
      confirmatory factor analysis testing the presence of eight first-order factors
      loading significantly in a second-order factor revealed an acceptable fit (CFI =
      .91; RMSEA = .05). The correlation of PedsQLTM 3.0 Cancer Module with DCGM-12 (rs
      = .17 to .58), and with RCMAS-2 (rs = -.16 to-.51) attested convergent validity.
      This inventory demonstrated minimally acceptable to very good internal
      consistency (alphas = .65 to .87) and temporal stability (ICCs = .61 to .81).
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the European Portuguese self-report
      version of the PedsQLTM 3.0 Cancer Module is a valid and reliable instrument for
      assessing HRQoL in pediatric cancer.

PMID- 26872727
TI  - Organic Cation Transporter 1 (OCT1) mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
      as a biomarker for sorafenib treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The polyspecific organ cation transporter 1 (OCT1) is one of the most
      important active influx pumps for drugs like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib. The
      aim of this retrospective study was the definition of the role of intratumoral
      OCT1 mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a biomarker in systemic
      treatment with sorafenib. METHODS: OCT1 mRNA expression levels were determined in
      biopsies from 60 primary human HCC by real time PCR. The data was retrospectively
      correlated with clinical parameters. RESULTS: Intratumoral OCT1 mRNA expression
      is a significant positive prognostic factor for patients treated with sorafenib
      according to Cox regression analysis (HR 0.653, 95%-CI 0.430-0.992; p = 0.046).
      Under treatment with sorafenib, a survival benefit could be shown using the lower
      quartile of intratumoral OCT1 expression as a cut-off. Macrovascular invasion
      (MVI) was slightly more frequent in patients with low OCT1 mRNA expression (p =
      0.037). Treatment-induced AFP response was not associated with intratumoral OCT1
      mRNA expression levels (p = 0.633). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a promising
      role for intratumoral OCT1 mRNA expression as a prognostic biomarker in
      therapeutic algorithms in HCC. Further prospective studies are warranted on this
      topic.

PMID- 26872728
TI  - Respiratory Effects on Fontan Circulation During Rest and Exercise Using Real
      Time Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is known that respiration modulates cavopulmonary flows, but
      little data compare mean flows under breath-holding and free-breathing conditions
      to isolate the respiratory effects and effects of exercise on the respiratory
      modulation. METHODS: Real-time phase-contrast magnetic resonance combined with a
      novel method to track respiration on the same image acquisition was used to
      investigate respiratory effects on Fontan caval and aortic flows under breath
      holding, free-breathing, and exercise conditions. Respiratory phasicity indices
      that were based on beat-averaged flow were used to quantify the respiratory
      effect. RESULTS: Flow during inspiration was substantially higher than expiration
      under the free-breathing and exercise conditions for both inferior vena cava
      (inspiration/expiration: 1.6 +/- 0.5 and 1.8 +/- 0.5, respectively) and superior
      vena cava (inspiration/expiration: 1.9 +/- 0.6 and 2.6 +/- 2.0, respectively).
      Changes from rest to exercise in the respiratory phasicity index for these
      vessels further showed the impact of respiration. Total systemic venous flow
      showed no significant statistical difference between the breath-holding and free
      breathing conditions. In addition, no substantial difference was found between
      the descending aorta and inferior vena cava mean flows under either resting or
      exercise conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that inferior vena cava
      and superior vena cava flow time variance is dominated by respiratory effects,
      which can be detected by the respiratory phasicity index. However, the minimal
      respiration influence on net flow validates the routine use of breath-holding
      techniques to measure mean flows in Fontan patients. Moreover, the mean flows in
      the inferior vena cava and descending aorta are interchangeable.

PMID- 26872730
TI  - The Impact of Thoracoscopic Surgery on Payment and Health Care Utilization After
      Lung Resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung resection by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is
      associated with multiple clinical benefits compared with resection by thoracotomy
      (OPEN). Less is known about reimbursements, costs, and resource use with each
      approach. This study used a commercial insurance claims database to examine
      differences between VATS and OPEN lung resections in payment, health care
      utilization, and estimated days off work for health care visits. METHODS: All
      adult inpatient discharges for patients undergoing VATS or OPEN lung resection in
      2010 were identified from the Truven MarketScan Database (Ann Arbor, MI).
      RESULTS: A total of 2,611 patients underwent lobectomy (VATS, 270; OPEN, 669) or
      wedge resection (VATS, 1,332; OPEN, 340). After adjustment, OPEN lobectomies had
      a longer length of stay (mean difference, 1.79 days) and higher payment to
      hospitals (mean difference, $3,497) and physicians (mean difference, $433)
      compared with VATS. Similar findings were noted after wedge resections. OPEN
      lobectomies had 1.28-times and 1.14-times more health care utilization days
      within 90 days and 365 days, respectively, after the operation compared with
      VATS, translating into increased expenditures of $3,260 at 90 days and $822 at
      365 days for OPEN procedures. No significant differences in utilization were
      noted between OPEN and VATS wedge resections, except for fewer outpatient visits
      within 90 days in the OPEN group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with an OPEN approach,
      lobectomy and wedge resection by VATS were associated with lower hospital and
      physician payments. In addition, lobectomy by VATS was associated with less
      health care utilization in the early postoperative period and during the first
      year after the operation. These payment and utilization reductions are important
      in an era of value-based purchasing in health care.

PMID- 26872729
TI  - Rifampin for Surgically Treated Staphylococcal Infective Endocarditis: A
      Propensity Score-Adjusted Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rifampin is recommended as adjunctive treatment for staphylococcal
      prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). It is unclear whether this should hold for
      surgically treated patients. The purpose of this study was to examine whether
      adjunctive rifampin treatment in addition to cell wall active antimicrobial
      agents in patients with surgically treated staphylococcal infective endocarditis
      (IE) results in better outcomes. METHODS: Patients operated on for staphylococcal
      IE from April 1, 2008, to July 1, 2014, were identified from our institution's IE
      registry. Rifampin treatment was defined as 3 or more days of rifampin
      postoperatively. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare a
      composite outcome of death or reoperation for IE relapse, between patients
      treated and not treated with rifampin, adjusted for propensity to be treated with
      rifampin, methicillin resistance, all-purpose refined diagnosis related group
      (APR-DRG) severity score, and APR-DRG mortality risk. RESULTS: In all, 273
      patients were identified. The mean age was 56 years, 66% were male, 50% had PVE,
      60% had S. aureus or S. lugdunensis infection, 89% had left side involvement, and
      57% had invasive disease. Fifty-one (27%) received 3 or more days of rifampin
      postoperatively. Ninety-two patients died or underwent reoperation for IE relapse
      at a median of 205 days (interquartile range 56 to 718 days). In a multivariable
      model, patients treated with rifampin had a similar hazard of death or
      reoperation for IE relapse as those not treated (hazard ratio 0.76, 95%
      confidence interval 0.44 to 1.32, p value 0.34). The results were robust to
      varying definitions of rifampin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with
      surgically treated staphylococcal IE there was insufficient evidence to claim a
      reoperation-free survival benefit from treatment with rifampin. Rifampin should
      not be used as adjunctive therapy for staphylococcal IE in patients who have
      undergone surgical procedures for its treatment.

PMID- 26872731
TI  - Prospective Validation of a Novel Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal Score as a
      Predictor of Outcomes After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We sought to further validate the novel vasoactive-ventilation-renal
      (VVR) score in a prospective study of a heterogeneous cohort of children
      undergoing cardiac surgery that includes patients with single-ventricle anatomy
      and residual mixing lesions. METHODS: We prospectively performed an observational
      study of all children less than 18 years of age who underwent surgery for
      congenital heart disease at our center from November 2013 to June 2014. We
      calculated VVR score as follows: vasoactive-inotrope score + ventilation index +
      (change in serum creatinine from baseline * 10). Admission, peak, and 48-hour
      measurements were recorded. Outcomes of interest were prolonged duration of
      mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit and hospital stays, represented by
      the upper 25% for all patients. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic
      curves (AUC) were determined for all study timepoints and outcome variables.
      RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were analyzed; their median age was 0.65 (range, 3
      days to 17.9 years), and 17 (18%) had single-ventricle anatomy. The VVR
      measurements outperformed vasoactive-inotrope scores in isolation at all
      timepoints, with higher AUC values for all outcomes. Of the three timepoints
      assessed, the 48-hour VVR score most consistently predicted poor outcome,
      especially with regard to prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation (AUC
      0.980) and prolonged intensive care unit stay (AUC 0.919). CONCLUSIONS: In a
      heterogeneous population of children undergoing cardiac surgery, the 48-hour VVR
      score was a very strong predictor of outcomes, and outperformed the more
      traditional vasoactive-inotrope score. The VVR score, therefore, represents a
      novel and potentially powerful means of predicting clinical outcomes relatively
      early in the hospital course of these patients.

PMID- 26872732
TI  - Propensity Score Analysis Comparing Videothoracoscopic Lobectomy With
      Thoracotomy: A French Nationwide Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has recently
      become the recommended approach for stage I non-small cell lung cancer. However,
      these guidelines are not based on any large randomized control trial. Our study
      used propensity scores and a sensitivity analysis to compare VATS lobectomy with
      open thoracotomy. METHODS: From 2005 to 2012, 24,811 patients (95.1%) were
      operated on by open thoracotomy and 1,278 (4.9%) by VATS. The end points were 30
      day postoperative death, postoperative complications, hospital stay, overall
      survival, and disease-free survival. Two propensity scores analyses were
      performed: matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting, and one
      sensitivity analysis to unmask potential hidden bias. A subgroup analysis was
      performed to compare "high-risk" with "low-risk" patients. Results are reported
      by odds ratios or hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS:
      Postoperative death was not significantly reduced by VATS whatever the analysis.
      Concerning postoperative complications, VATS significantly decreased the
      occurrence of atelectasis and pneumopathy with both analysis methods, but there
      were no differences in the occurrence of other postoperative complications. VATS
      did not provide a benefit for high-risk patients. The VATS approach decreased the
      hospital length of stay from 2.4 days (95% confidence interval, -1.7 to -3 days)
      to -4.68 days (95% confidence interval, -8.5 to 0.9 days). Overall survival and
      disease-free survival were not influenced by the surgical approach. The
      sensitivity analysis showed potential biases. CONCLUSIONS: The results must be
      interpreted carefully because of the differences observed according to the
      propensity scores method used. A multicenter randomized controlled trial is
      necessary to limit the biases.

PMID- 26872733
TI  - High Risk of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis and Death After Valve Replacement
      Operations in Dialysis Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite a high burden of dialysis access-related bloodstream
      infections and an increasing incidence of endocarditis, few data are available
      addressing the risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in the dialysis
      population. We sought to assess the risk of PVE and death after valve replacement
      operations in patients receiving long-term dialysis. METHODS: A matched
      retrospective cohort study was conducted comprising patients admitted for valve
      replacement operations at two university hospitals. Patients without dialysis
      were matched 1:1 with dialysis patients by valve(s) replaced, year of operation,
      and presence of active endocarditis as the indication for valve replacement.
      Patient characteristics were compared using chi(2) and t tests. The development
      of PVE was defined by use of the modified Duke criteria and analyzed with Cox
      proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-eight patients were
      included, with 139 in either cohort. The PVE risk per year of follow-up was 0.14
      in the dialysis cohort and 0.03 in the nondialysis cohort. Dialysis remained a
      risk factor (adjusted hazard ratio 5.61 [95% confidence interval, 2.17 to 14.5],
      p = 0.0004) after age and race were controlled for. The 5-year survival rate was
      lower after valve replacement operation in the dialysis group (25.4%) than in the
      nondialysis group (75.9%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of PVE and death
      after valve replacement operations in dialysis patients is substantial and
      significantly higher than in patients without dialysis. These findings highlight
      the importance of a careful preoperative risk-benefit assessment and underscore
      the need to prevent hemodialysis-related bloodstream infections.

PMID- 26872734
TI  - The Impact of Vascular Complications on Survival of Patients on Venoarterial
      Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are various factors that can influence the survival of patients
      receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Vascular
      complications from femoral cannulation are common and are potentially serious. We
      analyzed the impact of vascular complications on survival of patients receiving
      VA ECMO. METHODS: Patients supported with VA ECMO by means of femoral cannulation
      from October 2010 to November 2014 were enrolled in this study. Data were
      gathered retrospectively by reviewing our institutional database. Patients were
      separated into two groups depending on the presence of major vascular
      complications, defined as patients who required surgical intervention. We
      evaluated predisposing factors for vascular complications and compared survival
      of patients in each group. RESULTS: There were 84 patients enrolled in the study.
      The rates of overall ECMO survival and survival to hospital discharge were 60%
      and 43%, respectively. Major vascular complications requiring surgical
      intervention were seen in 17 (20%) patients. Ten patients (12%) had compartment
      syndrome requiring prophylactic fasciotomy, and 10 patients (12%) had bleeding or
      hematoma requiring surgical exploration. The only significant predisposing factor
      for vascular complications was the absence of a distal perfusion catheter (odds
      ratio, 14.8; p = 0.03). The rate of survival to discharge was 18% and 49% in
      patients with and without vascular complications, respectively (p = 0.02).
      Vascular complications were an independent factor of significantly worse survival
      in patients receiving VA ECMO by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 2.17; p =
      0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular complications negatively affect survival in patients
      receiving VA ECMO support by means of femoral cannulation. The utilization of a
      distal perfusion catheter can decrease the incidence of complications.

PMID- 26872735
TI  - Aortic Valve Replacement With Carpentier-Edwards: Hemodynamic Outcomes for the 19
      mm Valve.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To compare hemodynamic performance and clinical outcomes after aortic
      valve replacement for aortic stenosis with the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards
      pericardial bioprosthesis versus larger valves. METHODS: Between January 1998 and
      December 2013, 447 consecutive patients underwent aortic valve replacement for
      aortic stenosis with the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (n = 61) or Magna
      bioprostheses (n = 386). Based on the implanted valve size, the patients were
      classified into three groups: a 19-mm group (n = 54), a 21-mm group (n = 154),
      and a 23-mm to 27-mm group (n = 239). The in vivo effective orifice area index
      was measured by transthoracic echocardiography 12 months after operation (n =
      331). The mean follow-up time was 4.9 +/- 3.5 (maximum 15.4) years. RESULTS:
      There were three early deaths (0.7%). At 10 years, overall survival (84.1%) was
      unaffected by patient-prosthesis mismatch (18.7%, 62 patients), and freedom from
      structural valve deterioration and endocarditis was 100% and 97.1%, respectively.
      Although the 19-mm group was significantly older and had a higher incidence of
      patient-prosthesis mismatch (n = 14, 30.4%), there were no significant
      differences in early outcomes, overall survival, cardiac-related mortality, or
      serial reduction of left ventricular mass index in comparison with patients with
      a larger bioprostheses. Independent risk factors for all-cause mortality were
      age, male gender, combined coronary artery bypass graft, and low hemoglobin
      level. CONCLUSION: The Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis appears to be
      associated with acceptable clinical outcomes and hemodynamic profile.

PMID- 26872736
TI  - [Mustarde flap lower eyelid reconstruction following lentigo maligna excision].

PMID- 26872738
TI  - Health literacy: applying current concepts to improve health services and reduce
      health inequalities.
AB  - The concept of 'health literacy' refers to the personal and relational factors
      that affect a person's ability to acquire, understand and use information about
      health and health services. For many years, efforts in the development of the
      concept of health literacy exceeded the development of measurement tools and
      interventions. Furthermore, the discourse about and development of health
      literacy in public health and in clinical settings were often substantially
      different. This paper provides an update about recently developed approaches to
      measurement that assess health literacy strengths and limitations of individuals
      and of groups across multiple aspects of health literacy. This advancement in
      measurement now allows diagnostic and problem-solving approaches to developing
      responses to identified strengths and limitations. In this paper, we consider how
      such an approach can be applied across the diverse range of settings in which
      health literacy has been applied. In particular, we consider some approaches to
      applying health literacy in the daily practice of health-service providers in
      many settings, and how new insights and tools--including approaches based on an
      understanding of diversity of health literacy needs in a target community--can
      contribute to improvements in practice. Finally, we present a model that attempts
      to integrate the concept of health literacy with concepts that are often
      considered to overlap with it. With careful consideration of the distinctions
      between prevailing concepts, health literacy can be used to complement many
      fields from individual patient care to community-level development, and from
      improving compliance to empowering individuals and communities.

PMID- 26872737
TI  - Re: To screen or not to screen for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? A review of
      the literature.

PMID- 26872739
TI  - Dyspnea, a high-risk symptom in patients suspected of myocardial infarction in
      the ambulance? A population-based follow-up study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systematic management of patients suffering high-risk symptoms is
      essential in emergency medical services. Patients with chest pain receive
      algorithm-based work-up and treatment. Though dyspnea is recognized as an
      independent predictor of mortality, no generally accepted prehospital treatment
      algorithm exists and this may affect outcome. The objective of this study was to
      compare mortality in patients suspected of myocardial infarction (MI) presenting
      with dyspnea versus chest pain in the ambulance. METHODS: Follow-up study in
      patients undergoing electrocardiogram-based telemedical triage because of
      suspected MI in an ambulance in the Central Denmark Region from 1 June 2008 to 1
      January 2013. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were 4
      year mortality and mortality rates in subgroups of patients with and without a
      confirmed MI. Absolute risk differences adjusted for comorbidity, age, systolic
      blood pressure and heart rate were calculated by a generalized linear regression
      model. RESULTS: Of 17,398 patients, 12,230 (70%) suffered from chest pain, 1464
      (8%) from dyspnea, 3540 (20%) from other symptoms and 164 (1%) from cardiac
      arrest. Among patients with dyspnea, 30-day mortality was 13% (CI 12-15) and 4
      year mortality was 50% (CI 47-54) compared to 2.9% (CI 2.6-3.2) and 20% (CI 19
      21) in patients with chest pain. MI was confirmed in 121 (8.3%) patients with
      dyspnea and in 2319 (19%) with chest pain. Patients with dyspnea and confirmed MI
      had a 30-day and 4-year mortality of 21 % (CI 15-30) and 60% (CI 50-70) compared
      to 5.0% (CI 4.2-5.8) and 23% (CI 21-25) in patients with chest pain and confirmed
      MI. Adjusting for age, comorbidity, systolic blood pressure and heart rate did
      not change these patterns. CONCLUSION: Patients suspected of MI presenting with
      dyspnea have significantly higher short- and long-term mortality than patients
      with chest pain irrespective of a confirmed MI diagnosis. Future studies should
      examine if supplementary prehospital diagnostics can improve triage, facilitate
      early therapy and improve outcome in patients presenting with dyspnea.

PMID- 26872742
TI  - PPARgamma non-covalent antagonists exhibit mutable binding modes with a similar
      free energy of binding: a case study.
AB  - The structural and dynamical properties of PPARgamma receptor in a complex with
      either partial or full agonists have been intensively studied but little is known
      about the receptor antagonistic conformation. A composition of microsecond
      accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) simulation show that like partial agonists a
      non-covalent PPARgamma full antagonist can bind in different modes of similar
      population size and free energies of binding. Four different and periodically
      exchanging ligand conformations are detected and described. The studied
      antagonist interacts with different receptor substructures and affects both the
      co-activator and the Cdk5 phosphorylation sites and, presumably, the natural
      complex with the DNA. However, no significant changes in the conformational
      states of the activation helix 12, and in particular an antagonist orientation,
      have been recorded. Finally, our results show also that the aMD approach can be
      successfully used in recovering the possible binding modes, considering fully the
      receptor flexibility, and is not dependent on the starting conformation.

PMID- 26872741
TI  - Towards integration of palliative care in patients with chronic heart failure and
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic literature review of European
      guidelines and pathways.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the positive impact of Palliative Care (PC) on the quality of
      life for patients and their relatives, the implementation of PC in non-cancer
      health-care delivery in the EU seems scarcely addressed. The aim of this study is
      to assess guidelines/pathways for integrated PC in patients with advanced Chronic
      Heart Failure (CHF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Europe
      via a systematic literature review. METHODS: Search results were screened by two
      reviewers. Eligible studies of adult patients with CHF or COPD published between
      01/01/1995 and 31/12/2013 in Europe in 6 languages were included. Nine electronic
      databases were searched, 6 journals were hand-searched and citation tracking was
      also performed. For the analysis, a narrative synthesis was employed. RESULTS:
      The search strategy revealed 26,256 studies without duplicates. From these, 19
      studies were included in the review; 17 guidelines and 2 pathways. 18 out of 19
      focused on suffering reduction interventions, 13/19 on a holistic approach and
      15/19 on discussions of illness prognosis and limitations. The involvement of a
      PC team was mentioned in 13/19 studies, the assessment of the patients' goals of
      care in 12/19 and the advance care planning in 11/19. Only 4/19 studies
      elaborated on aspects such as grief and bereavement care, 7/19 on treatment in
      the last hours of life and 8/19 on the continuation of goal adjustment.
      CONCLUSION: The results illustrate that there is a growing awareness for the
      importance of integrated PC in patients with advanced CHF or COPD. At the same
      time, however, they signal the need for the development of standardized
      strategies so that existing barriers are alleviated.

PMID- 26872740
TI  - Exome sequencing in one family with gastric- and rectal cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heritable factors are well known to increase the risk of cancer in
      families. Known susceptibility genes account for a small proportion of all
      colorectal cancer cases. The aim of this study was to identify the genetic
      background in a family suggested to segregate a dominant cancer syndrome with a
      high risk of rectal- and gastric cancer. We performed whole exome sequencing in
      three family members, 2 with rectal cancer and 1 with gastric cancer and followed
      it up in additional family members, other patients and controls. RESULTS: We
      identified 12 novel non-synonymous single nucleotide variants, which were shared
      among 5 affected members of this family. The mutations were found in 12 different
      genes; DZIP1L, PCOLCE2, IGSF10, SUCNR1, OR13C8, EPB41L4B, SEC16A, NOTCH1, TAS2R7,
      SF3A1, GAL3ST1, and TRIOBP. None of the mutations was suggested as a high
      penetrant mutation. It was not possible to completely rule out any of the
      mutations as contributing to disease, although seven were more unlikely than the
      others. Neither did we rule out the effect of all thousands of intronic,
      intergenic and synonymous variants shared between the three persons used for
      exome sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: We propose this family, suggested to segregate
      dominant disease, could be an example of complex inheritance.

PMID- 26872743
TI  - Mass spectrometry imaging of rat brain lipid profile changes over time following
      traumatic brain injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common public health issue
      that may contribute to chronic degenerative disorders. Membrane lipids play a key
      role in tissue responses to injury, both as cell signals and as components of
      membrane structure and cell signaling. This study demonstrates the ability of
      high resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to assess sequences of responses
      of lipid species in a rat controlled cortical impact model for concussion. NEW
      METHOD: A matrix of implanted silver nanoparticles was implanted superficially in
      brain sections for matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI) imaging of 50MUm
      diameter microdomains across unfixed cryostat sections of rat brain. Ion-mobility
      time-of-flight MS was used to analyze and map changes over time in brain lipid
      composition in a rats after Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) TBI. RESULTS: Brain
      MS images showed changes in sphingolipids near the CCI site, including increased
      ceramides and decreased sphingomyelins, accompanied by changes in
      glycerophospholipids and cholesterol derivatives. The kinetics differed for each
      lipid class; for example ceramides increased as early as 1 day after the injury
      whereas other lipids changes occurred between 3 and 7 days post injury.
      COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S): Silver nanoparticles MALDI matrix is a
      sensitive new tool for revealing previously undetectable cellular injury response
      and remodeling in neural, glial and vascular structure of the brain. CONCLUSIONS:
      Lipid biochemical and structural changes after TBI could help highlighting
      molecules that can be used to determine the severity of such injuries as well as
      to evaluate the efficacy of potential treatments.

PMID- 26872744
TI  - Use of a size-resolved 1-D resuspension scheme to evaluate resuspended
      radioactive material associated with mineral dust particles from the ground
      surface.
AB  - A size-resolved, one-dimensional resuspension scheme for soil particles from the
      ground surface is proposed to evaluate the concentration of radioactivity in the
      atmosphere due to the secondary emission of radioactive material. The particle
      size distributions of radioactive particles at a sampling point were measured and
      compared with the results evaluated by the scheme using four different soil
      textures: sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, and silty loam. For sandy loam and silty
      loam, the results were in good agreement with the size-resolved atmospheric
      radioactivity concentrations observed at a school ground in Tsushima District,
      Namie Town, Fukushima, which was heavily contaminated after the Fukushima Dai
      ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. Though various assumptions were
      incorporated into both the scheme and evaluation conditions, this study shows
      that the proposed scheme can be applied to evaluate secondary emissions caused by
      aeolian resuspension of radioactive materials associated with mineral dust
      particles from the ground surface. The results underscore the importance of
      taking soil texture into account when evaluating the concentrations of
      resuspended, size-resolved atmospheric radioactivity.

PMID- 26872746
TI  - Ovarian Pregnancy.

PMID- 26872745
TI  - Clinical features of organizing pneumonia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To clarify the clinical features of organizing pneumonia (OP)
      associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine whether development of
      OP is related to RA activity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in
      which medical records of 499 consecutive RA patients who visited our hospital
      during one month were reviewed. OP was diagnosed by pathological findings by
      trans-bronchial biopsy or by clinical features (typical computed tomography
      findings, no causative agents, good response to glucocorticoids, and lack of
      response to antibiotics). RESULTS: Among 499 patients, OP was found in 19
      patients and the estimated prevalence was 1.9-4.8%. No differences in clinical
      features were noted between the OP and non-OP groups. The mean age of OP
      development was 57.2 years and the period from the onset of RA to OP ranged from 
      4 to +34 years. Although 14 patients presented OP after the onset of RA, two
      developed OP before RA and three developed OP simultaneously with RA. Patients
      receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors also developed OP. RA disease activity
      just before onset of OP was low in 8 of 14 RA cases. At the onset of OP, only two
      patients showed exacerbations of arthritis, whereas most patients presented with
      fever and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) elevations. Glucocorticoids were
      effective for OP in all patients who received them. Relapse occurred in 4 of 19
      cases. CONCLUSIONS: OP develops in approximately 4% of RA patients, which occurs
      independently from arthritis activity and at any time in RA patients.

PMID- 26872747
TI  - Not Fade Away.

PMID- 26872748
TI  - Preparedness for Implementing Change in Neonatal Ocular Prophylaxis Policies.

PMID- 26872749
TI  - Joint Position Paper on Rural Surgery and Operative Delivery.

PMID- 26872750
TI  - Pregnancy in Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to describe the general fertility rate (GFR) and
      age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) of women with intellectual and developmental
      disabilities (IDD) and the social and health characteristics of those with a
      singleton live birth, and to compare these to women without IDD. METHODS: In this
      population-based retrospective cohort study using linked Ontario health and
      social services administrative data, we identified 18- to 49-year-old women with
      IDD (N = 21 181) and without IDD (N = 990 776). The GFR and ASFRs (2009) were
      calculated for both groups and compared using rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CI). Among women with a singleton live birth (N = 423 with, N = 42 439
      without IDD), social and health characteristics were compared using Pearson's Chi
      square tests. RESULTS: The GFR in women with IDD (20.3 per 1000) was lower than
      that in women without IDD (43.4 per 1000) (RR 0.47; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.51). ASFRs
      in 18- to 24-year-olds were similar in both groups. Among women with a singleton
      live birth, those with IDD were younger and had higher rates of poverty,
      epilepsy, obesity, and mental health issues. They also had high rates of
      medication use during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In the largest study of fertility in
      women with IDD to date, we found that ASFRs are similar in young women with and
      without IDD. Women with IDD with a singleton live birth experience significant
      social and health disparities during pregnancy. These findings suggest the need
      to develop services to support the reproductive health of this vulnerable group.

PMID- 26872751
TI  - Fetal Outcomes of Prenatally Diagnosed Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Nine
      Years of Clinical Experience in a Canadian Tertiary Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia
      (CDH) identified on prenatal ultrasound. METHOD: We reviewed prenatally detected
      cases of CDH diagnosed between July 2000 and September 2009 at a single tertiary
      care facility. RESULTS: Ninety-one cases were identified. Sixty-nine cases had
      complete medical records including karyotype. Of these, 40 were isolated defects
      and 29 cases had additional congenital or chromosome anomalies. An abnormal
      karyotype was present in 17.4% overall, affecting 2.5% of cases of isolated CDH
      (1/40) and 37.9% of cases of non-isolated CDH (11/29). The rate of termination of
      pregnancy in cases of isolated CDH diagnosed prior to 24 weeks was 33.3% (10/30),
      and in cases of non-isolated CDH it was 73.9% (17/23). The survival rate of the
      44 liveborn infants was 66.7% (24/36) for those with isolated CDH and 37.5% (3/8)
      for those with non-isolated CDH. The decision to terminate the pregnancy was made
      in 73.9% of fetuses with prenatally diagnosed karyotype or additional anatomical
      abnormalities, in contrast to 37.5% of prenatally diagnosed isolated CDH.
      CONCLUSION: The outcomes of pregnancies that continue after identification of CDH
      are in keeping with previous reports, with an overall survival rate of 61.4%. The
      presence of additional anatomical anomalies was the only predictor of mortality
      among liveborn infants.

PMID- 26872752
TI  - Maternal Risk Factors and Outcomes of Umbilical Cord Prolapse: A Population-Based
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Umbilical cord prolapse (UCP) is a rare event believed to be
      associated with adverse outcomes. The purpose of our study was to use a large
      administrative database to better identify incidence, predictors, and outcomes of
      births with UCP. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study using data
      from the National Center for Health Statistics- Linked Birth Infant Death and
      Fetal Death (United States) data files during the years 2003-2005. The incidence,
      predictors, and outcomes of births with UCP were compared to births with no UCP.
      Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the adjusted effect of UCP
      on maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: There were 16 126 cases of UCP among
      10 040 416 births, for an incidence of 16.1 cases per 10 000 births. While most
      cases occurred at term and in women with one or two previous births, early
      gestational age, grand multiparity, prolonged labour, and malpresentation were
      the strongest risk factors. UCP was associated with an increased risk of
      placental abruption, excessive bleeding, Caesarean sections, lower Apgar scores,
      requiring assisted ventilation, neonatal seizures, hyaline membrane disease, and
      fetal injuries. Deliveries by Caesarean section were associated with a greater
      risk of fetal injuries than vaginal delivery (18.5% vs 8.7%; OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.3
      to 2.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although there are established risk factors, UCP
      occurs most commonly in low risk women at term. When possible, vaginal delivery
      is preferred in women with UCP because it appears to be associated with a lower
      risk of fetal injury.

PMID- 26872753
TI  - Longitudinal Rates and Risk Factors for Adverse Birth Weight Among First Nations
      Pregnancies in Alberta.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We wished to identify the prevalence, longitudinal trends, and
      associated risk factors for various birth weight categories by First Nations
      ethnicity in the province of Alberta. METHODS: We performed a retrospective
      analysis of administrative data for the years 2000 to 2009 inclusive. Age
      adjusted prevalence trends for high birth weight (HBW; > 4000g), very HBW (>
      4500g), low birth weight (LBW; < 2500g), and very LBW (< 1500g) were compared via
      average annual percent change analyses. Logistic regression analysis was used to
      determine risk factors. RESULTS: First Nations ethnicity was a significant
      independent predictor of HBW (OR 1.82 [95% CI 1.75, 1.89]), very HBW (OR 2.35
      [95% CI 2.18, 2.52]), and very LBW (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.23, 1.48]), but not of LBW
      (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.93, 1.03]). However, HBW prevalence decreased and other birth
      weight categories remained stable over time in First Nations populations.
      Gestational diabetes and maternal weight >= 91 kg were potentially manageable
      risk factors for HBW. Potentially manageable risk factors for LBW included pre
      gestational renal disease, hypertension, and maternal weight <= 45 kg, as well as
      smoking, illicit drug dependence, and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: Although
      HBW, very HBW, and very LBW remain more common in Alberta First Nations
      populations than in the general population, their prevalence is not increasing.

PMID- 26872754
TI  - A Ten-Year Review of Antenatal Complications and Pregnancy Outcomes Among HIV
      Positive Pregnant Women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence of antenatal complications among a cohort of
      HIV-positive pregnant women over a 10-year period. METHODS: A retrospective
      review was performed of all HIV-positive pregnant women receiving
      multidisciplinary prenatal care at an urban tertiary care centre from March 2000
      to March 2010. Collected data included the presence of additional infectious or
      medical conditions, genetic screening information, and the presence or absence of
      antenatal complications. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-two singleton pregnancies
      during the study period were identified. Almost 95% of women were taking
      combination antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, and greater than 90% had
      viral loads less than 1000 copies/ml at delivery. The presence of co-infections
      was low. Forty-one women (29%) had other medical comorbidities. Genetic screening
      occurred in 104 pregnancies (73%); 4% were abnormal screens. Rates of any
      hypertension, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth restriction were all low.
      Thirty-two percent of women were colonized with group B streptococcus.
      CONCLUSION: This study adds strength to the argument that good outcomes can be
      achieved for HIV-positive pregnant women with good access to both prenatal and
      HIV care, and appropriate management. Women with HIV should be optimally cared
      for in advance of and during pregnancy in order to maximize the likelihood of
      good pregnancy outcomes.

PMID- 26872755
TI  - Luteinized Thecomas ("Thecomatosis") with Sclerosing Peritonitis (LTSP): Report
      of 2 Cases and Review of an Enigmatic Syndrome Associated with a Peritoneal
      Proliferation of Specialized (vimentin+/keratin+/CD34+) Submesothelial
      Fibroblasts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the clinicopathologic features of two cases of luteinized
      thecomas with sclerosing peritonitis (LTSP), characterize the cellular
      proliferation in the sclerosing peritonitis (SP), and review the literature.
      METHODS: The clinical, laboratory, and imaging data, operative findings, and
      pathology materials were reviewed and summarized. Samples of the SP were stained
      with keratin AE1/AE3, vimentin, CD34, calretinin, smooth muscle actin, ER/PR,
      CD10 and desmin. A literature search was performed to identify cases of LTSP for
      comparison. RESULTS: A total of 43 cases of LTSP syndrome were identified.
      Frequent clinical features included ascites (74%), abdominal pain (35%), bowel
      obstruction (42%), and bilateral masses (84%). We isolated a distinct form of
      ovarian luteinized thecoma (thecomatosis) and peculiar sclerosing peritonitis
      (SP). IHC analysis shows a proliferation of specialized
      (vimentin+/keratin+/CD34+) submesothelial fibroblasts (SMF) with patchy
      expression of calretinin and hormone receptors. CONCLUSION: LTSP syndrome is a
      rare entity presenting with abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, ascites, ovarian
      masses, and SP containing specialized (vimentin+/keratin+/CD34+) SMF. LTSP must
      be distinguished from abdominal cocoon, isolated SP, Meigs' syndrome, and
      peritoneal carcinomatosis. The importance of recognizing the diagnosis is
      stressed, as failure to manage this disease conservatively leads to significant
      morbidity and mortality. The SP and bowel obstruction may persist for months,
      even after resection of the tumours, resulting in extended medical therapy. Based
      on the immunophenotype of the peritoneal lesions, strategies to elucidate
      'targeted' pharmacologic agents that could inhibit the proliferation of
      specialized (vimentin+/keratin+/CD34+) SMF may be of benefit.

PMID- 26872756
TI  - Outcomes of a Decade of Routine Cervical Screening in a Canadian Adolescent
      Obstetrics Clinic.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: New recommendations from the Ontario Cervical Cancer Screening Program
      indicate that initiation of screening should be delayed to age 21. However, there
      is sparse evidence pertaining to pregnant adolescents. Our objective was to
      determine whether early cervical cancer screening in pregnant adolescents confers
      an advantage over delayed screening in the prevention of cervical carcinoma.
      METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cervical cancer screening
      in all pregnant adolescents receiving antenatal care through an obstetrics clinic
      for adolescents between 2000 and 2010. Clinic attendees had an antenatal and/or
      postpartum Pap smear, with follow-up according to standard recommendations.
      Results were recorded together with information on regression, persistence, or
      progression of abnormal cytology, colposcopy referrals, and cervical biopsies.
      There is a single regional colposcopy clinic. RESULTS: At least one Pap smear
      result was documented in 365 of the 388 patients. Of these 365 smears, 88 had
      abnormal cytology, 76 (86.4%) of which were reported as atypical cells of
      undetermined significance/low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 11 (12.5%)
      high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and one atypical glandular
      cells (1.1%). Follow-up cytology was available for 78 patients. No patient lost
      to follow-up had subsequent referrals for colposcopic assessment in the region.
      Overall, cytologic abnormalities regressed in 75 (96.1%), persisted in two
      (2.6%), and progressed in one patient (1.3%). Twenty-three patients (of 365)
      required a total of 68 colposcopy visits and 17 biopsies, but ultimately only
      three loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs) and one laser vaporization
      were performed. Only one LEEP in a 20-year-old demonstrated HSIL. CONCLUSION:
      This population of pregnant adolescents had a high incidence of low-grade
      cervical abnormalities with a high rate of regression. Routinely screening these
      pregnant adolescents resulted in numerous repeat visits, repeat Pap smears, and
      colposcopy referrals, and led to patient anxiety and systemic costs. Not a single
      case of cervical cancer was prevented that would not otherwise have been
      identified by adherence to the new guidelines.

PMID- 26872757
TI  - Beyond Alcohol and Tobacco Smoke: Are We Doing Enough to Reduce Fetal Toxicant
      Exposure?

PMID- 26872758
TI  - Patient Decision-Making About the Disposition of Surplus Cryopreserved Embryos in
      Canada.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to
      patient decision-making for disposition of surplus cryopreserved embryos in
      Canada. METHODS: In 2013, interviews were conducted with 45 IVF patients from
      three clinic sites, representing a total of 33 households. Patients interviewed
      all had unused cryopreserved embryos in storage in 2010. Initial demographic data
      collection was followed by one in-depth semi-structured interview conducted in
      2013. Data were managed and coded thematically. RESULTS: Most patients (21
      patients, representing 16 households) renewed storage agreements to keep embryos
      in storage at the time of the interview. Among patients who did not renew their
      storage agreements at some point between 2010 and 2013, six patients
      (representing 5 households) had since used all their embryos, two patients
      (representing one household) had decided to keep their embryos in storage in
      perpetuity, three patients (representing 3 households) discarded their embryos
      outright, and 13 patients (representing 9 households) donated their embryos to
      research or clinical training. Among patients who donated to research or clinical
      training, three key themes emerged: a desire to "give back," to contribute to
      scientific progress, and to avoid "wasting" embryos. These patients were not
      always certain about whether they had chosen research or clinical training.
      CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the applicability of international findings
      about embryo disposition decision-making to the Canadian setting. Moreover, it
      identifies that while patients making disposition decisions often choose to
      donate embryos to research and/or clinical training, they are not always certain
      about what these options entail. Clinicians, counsellors, and others must ensure
      that patients are not only aware of their embryo disposition options, but that
      they understand the nature of these options as well.

PMID- 26872759
TI  - Future Career Plans and Practice Patterns of Canadian Obstetrics and Gynaecology
      Residents in 2011.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The practice patterns of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists continue to
      evolve with each new generation of physicians. Diversifying subspecialties,
      changes in resident duty hours, job market saturation, and desire for work-life
      balance are playing stronger roles. Professional practice direction and needs
      assessment may be aided by awareness of future Obstetrics and Gynaecology
      physician career plans and expectations. The objective of this study was to
      determine the expected career plans and practice patterns of Canadian Obstetrics
      and Gynaecology residents following residency. METHODS: The SOGC Junior Member
      Committee administered its third career planning survey to Canadian Obstetrics
      and Gynaecology residents electronically in December 2011. The data collected was
      statistically analyzed and compared to previous surveys. RESULTS: There were 183
      responses giving a response rate of 43%. More than one half of all residents were
      considering postgraduate training (58%). Projected practice patterns included:
      84% maintaining obstetrical practice, 60% locuming, and 50% job-sharing. The
      majority of residents expected to work in a 6 to 10 person call group (48%), work
      3 to 5 call shifts per month (72%), work 41 to 60 hours weekly (69%), and
      practise in a city with a population greater than 500 000 (45%). Only 18% of
      residents surveyed were in favour of streaming residency programs in Obstetrics
      and Gynaecology. CONCLUSION: Canadian resident career plan and expected practice
      pattern assessment remains an important tool for aiding in resource allocation
      and strategic development of care and training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in
      Canada.

PMID- 26872760
TI  - Spontaneous Pregnancy Following Ulipristal Acetate Treatment in a Woman with a
      Symptomatic Uterine Fibroid.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Uterine fibroids (UFs) may impair fertility and promote miscarriage.
      The optimal treatment for women with UFs who wish to conceive is uncertain. CASE:
      A 35-year-old woman of African ancestry with a history of recurrent miscarriage
      (gravida 5, para 0) had a solitary submucosal UF (volume: 102.4 cm(3)) extending
      into the uterine cavity. Following a three-month course of ulipristal acetate
      (UPA) 5 mg daily, UF volume decreased to 72.1 cm(3). The patient conceived
      approximately two months after discontinuing UPA. She had an uncomplicated
      pregnancy and underwent a planned induction of labour at 38 weeks' gestation. The
      patient had a normal vaginal delivery of a healthy male infant weighing 3130 g.
      An ultrasound performed three months post-delivery revealed further reduction in
      UF volume to 14.5 cm(3). CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates the utility of UPA
      in the management of women with UFs who desire pregnancy but who opt for non
      surgical management.

PMID- 26872761
TI  - Use of Ulipristal Acetate for the Management of Fibroid-Related Acute Abnormal
      Uterine Bleeding.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Episodes of acute abnormal uterine bleeding related to uterine
      fibroids can cause significant morbidity. Traditional management with high-dose
      hormonal regimens may not be as effective when used in women with fibroids. CASE:
      A 32-year-old woman with a 12 cm uterine fibroid presented with an episode of
      acute abnormal uterine bleeding requiring blood transfusion. In lieu of using a
      hormonal maintenance regimen after the bleeding had stabilized, the patient was
      treated with ulipristal acetate 5 mg daily for three months. Amenorrhea was
      induced rapidly and the patient had no further episodes of acute excessive
      uterine bleeding. She subsequently underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy with a
      satisfactory outcome. CONCLUSION: Ulipristal acetate has been shown to induce
      amenorrhea rapidly in women with uterine fibroids, and it can be a useful
      treatment in the emergency management of fibroid-related acute abnormal uterine
      bleeding.

PMID- 26872762
TI  - Joint CAR/SOGC Statement on Performing Ultrasound Examinations of the Female
      Pelvis.

PMID- 26872763
TI  - Gender Differences in Heroin Addiction and Treatment: Results from the VEdeTTE
      Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gender differences strongly affect heroin addiction, from risk
      factors to patterns of consumption, access to treatments, and outcomes.
      OBJECTIVES: To investigate gender differences in the VEdeTTE cohort of heroin
      addicts. METHODS: VEdeTTE is a cohort of 10,454 heroin users enrolled between
      1998 and 2001 in 115 public drug treatment centres in Italy. Clinical and
      personal information were collected at intake through a structured interview.
      Treatments were recorded using a standardized form. Gender differences were
      explored with regard to characteristics at intake, treatments, and retention in
      methadone maintenance and therapeutic community. Cox Proportional models were
      carried out to identify risk factors for treatment abandon. RESULTS: Compared
      with men, at their first access to treatment women with drug addiction were
      younger, more frequently married, legally separated, divorced or widow,
      unemployed though better educated, HIV+; more frequently they lived with their
      partner and sons. They reported a higher use of sedatives, but a lower use of
      alcohol; more frequently they had psychiatric comorbidity, including depression,
      self-injuries, and suicide attempts. Psychotherapy was more frequently prescribed
      to women, pharmacological treatments to men. Methadone maintenance was less
      frequently abandoned by women. Drug abuse severity factors predicted abandon of
      methadone among women. High methadone doses and the combination with
      psychotherapy improved treatment retention in both genders. Low education level
      and severity factors among women and young age among men predicted abandon of
      therapeutic community. CONCLUSIONS: Gender differences in the VEdeTTE cohort
      suggest the need of a gender sensitive approach to improve treatment outcomes
      among heroin addicts.

PMID- 26872764
TI  - Phase II Study of Concurrent Pemetrexed, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy for
      Stage IIIA/B Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Concurrent thoracic radiation and platinum-based chemotherapy is
      the standard of care for treatment of unresectable stage IIIA-IIIB non-small-cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC), but the optimal drug regimen has not been established.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present single-arm phase II trial, patients with
      previously untreated, unresectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC (all histologic types)
      were treated with pemetrexed-cisplatin (500 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and
      22, 20 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1-5 and days 22-26) concurrent with
      radiotherapy (61-66 Gy in 31-35 fractions), followed by 2 cycles of consolidation
      pemetrexed-cisplatin (75 mg(2)) therapy. The primary endpoint was the 1-year
      overall survival (OS) rate. The study treatment was considered active if the 1
      year OS rate was >= 70%. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients, including 6 from the
      previous phase I trial who had been treated at the recommended phase II dose,
      were eligible for analysis. The most common drug-related grade 3 to 4 adverse
      events during the concurrent phase were hematologic and 5.1% of patients
      experienced grade 3 esophagitis. The response rate was 45.9% (17 of 37 patients),
      with no complete responses. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS survival rates were 79.5%,
      56.4%, and 46.2%, respectively. The median OS, time to progressive disease, and
      progression-free survival was 30.3, 13.7, and 11.8 months, respectively.
      CONCLUSION: Full-dose cisplatin and pemetrexed can be administered concurrently
      with conventional doses of thoracic radiation. The median and 1-year OS rates
      were favorable compared with published clinical trials in this setting. The
      regimen was tolerable, and the toxicity profile was consistent with the known
      toxicity profiles of pemetrexed, cisplatin, and radiation.

PMID- 26872766
TI  - Classic Spotlight: Regulatory Function of Leader RNAs.

PMID- 26872767
TI  - Classic Spotlight: the Birth of the Transcriptional Activator.

PMID- 26872765
TI  - Proportion of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients that Would Have Been Eligible
      for Lung Cancer Screening.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung cancer screening is recommended for current smokers (CS) and
      former smokers (FS) who meet specific age and smoking criteria. We used existing
      criteria to estimate the proportion of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
      patients that would have been screening-eligible. METHODS: We identified 2030
      NSCLC patients at our institution from 1994 to 2014 and recorded their cigarette
      smoking status and history. Using criteria from the United States Preventative
      Services Task Force (USPSTF) and from other organizations, we ascertained the
      proportions of screening-eligible patients. Associations among smoking status,
      gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance type were assessed using Chi-Square test.
      RESULTS: In our cohort, 31.0% (n = 630) were CS, 43.0% (n = 873) were FS, and
      26.0% (n = 527) were never smokers. There were 698 patients (34.4%) who met all
      USPSTF screening criteria. Among 1503 CS and FS, 77.5% (n = 1165) were between
      age 55 and 80 years, and 67.9% (n = 1021) had smoked >= 30 pack-years. Among FS,
      50.4% (n = 440) had quit within 15 years of diagnosis. Median pack-years smoked
      was 40 (interquartile range, 20-55 pack-years). CS were more likely to meet
      screening criteria than FS (67.5% vs. 31.3%; P < .0001). Significant differences
      were found among individuals meeting criteria by gender, race/ethnicity, and
      insurance type. CONCLUSION: Only a third of patients diagnosed with NSCLC were
      eligible for lung cancer screening based on USPSTF criteria. FS were less likely
      to meet all screening criteria due to only half meeting the quit-time criterion.
      Additional evidence is needed to evaluate the utility of restricting screening
      among FS to those who quit within 15 years.

PMID- 26872770
TI  - MetaSINEs: Broad Distribution of a Novel SINE Superfamily in Animals.
AB  - SINEs (short interspersed elements) are transposable elements that typically
      originate independently in each taxonomic clade (order/family). However, some
      SINE families share a highly similar central sequence and are thus categorized as
      a SINE superfamily. Although only four SINE superfamilies (CORE-SINEs, V-SINEs,
      DeuSINEs, and Ceph-SINEs) have been reported so far, it is expected that new SINE
      superfamilies would be discovered by deep exploration of new SINEs in metazoan
      genomes. Here we describe 15 SINEs, among which 13 are novel, that have a similar
      66-bp central region and therefore constitute a new SINE superfamily, MetaSINEs.
      MetaSINEs are distributed from fish to cnidarians, suggesting their common
      evolutionary origin at least 640 Ma. Because the 3' tails of MetaSINEs are
      variable, these SINEs most likely survived by changing their partner long
      interspersed elements for retrotransposition during evolution. Furthermore, we
      examined the presence of members of other SINE superfamilies in bivalve genomes
      and characterized eight new SINEs belonging to the CORE-SINEs, V-SINEs, and
      DeuSINEs, in addition to the MetaSINEs. The broad distribution of bivalve SINEs
      suggests that at least three SINEs originated in the common ancestor of Bivalvia.
      Our comparative analysis of the central domains of the SINEs revealed that, in
      each superfamily, only a restricted region is shared among all of its members.
      Because the functions of the central domains of the SINE superfamilies remain
      unknown, such structural information of SINE superfamilies will be useful for
      future experimental and comparative analyses to reveal why they have been
      retained in metazoan genomes during evolution. 

PMID- 26872771
TI  - A Tale of Genome Compartmentalization: The Evolution of Virulence Clusters in
      Smut Fungi.
AB  - Smut fungi are plant pathogens mostly parasitizing wild species of grasses as
      well as domesticated cereal crops. Genome analysis of several smut fungi
      including Ustilago maydis revealed a singular clustered organization of genes
      encoding secreted effectors. In U. maydis, many of these clusters have a role in
      virulence. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of clusters of effector genes
      is difficult because of their intrinsically fast evolution, which erodes the
      phylogenetic signal and homology relationships. Here, we describe the use of
      comparative evolutionary analyses of quality draft assemblies of genomes to study
      the mechanisms of this evolution. We report the genome sequence of a South
      African isolate of Sporisorium scitamineum, a smut fungus parasitizing sugar cane
      with a phylogenetic position intermediate to the two previously sequenced species
      U. maydis and Sporisorium reilianum. We show that the genome of S. scitamineum
      contains more and larger gene clusters encoding secreted effectors than any
      previously described species in this group. We trace back the origin of the
      clusters and find that their evolution is mainly driven by tandem gene
      duplication. In addition, transposable elements play a major role in the
      evolution of the clustered genes. Transposable elements are significantly
      associated with clusters of genes encoding fast evolving secreted effectors. This
      suggests that such clusters represent a case of genome compartmentalization that
      restrains the activity of transposable elements on genes under diversifying
      selection for which this activity is potentially beneficial, while protecting the
      rest of the genome from its deleterious effect. 

PMID- 26872772
TI  - No Distinction of Orthology/Paralogy between Human and Chimpanzee Rh Blood Group
      Genes.
AB  - On human (Homo sapiens) chromosome 1, there is a tandem duplication encompassing
      Rh blood group genes (Hosa_RHD and Hosa_RHCE). This duplication occurred in the
      common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and gorillas, after
      splitting from their common ancestor with orangutans. Although several studies
      have been conducted on ape Rh blood group genes, the clear genome structures of
      the gene clusters remain unknown. Here, we determined the genome structure of the
      gene cluster of chimpanzee Rh genes by sequencing five BAC (Bacterial Artificial
      Chromosome) clones derived from chimpanzees. We characterized three complete loci
      (Patr_RHalpha, Patr_RHbeta, and Patr_RHgamma). In the Patr_RHbeta locus, a short
      version of the gene, which lacked the middle part containing exons 4-8, was
      observed. The Patr_RHalpha and Patr_RHbeta genes were located on the locations
      corresponding to Hosa_RHD and Hosa_RHCE, respectively, and Patr_RHgamma was in
      the immediate vicinity of Patr_RHbeta. Sequence comparisons revealed high
      sequence similarity between Patr_RHbeta and Hosa_RHCE, while the chimpanzee Rh
      gene closest to Hosa_RHD was not Patr_RHalpha but rather Patr_RHgamma. The
      results suggest that rearrangements and gene conversions frequently occurred
      between these genes and that the classic orthology/paralogy dichotomy no longer
      holds between human and chimpanzee Rh blood group genes. 

PMID- 26872773
TI  - Drosophila Females Undergo Genome Expansion after Interspecific Hybridization.
AB  - Genome size (or C-value) can present a wide range of values among eukaryotes.
      This variation has been attributed to differences in the amplification and
      deletion of different noncoding repetitive sequences, particularly transposable
      elements (TEs). TEs can be activated under different stress conditions such as
      interspecific hybridization events, as described for several species of animals
      and plants. These massive transposition episodes can lead to considerable genome
      expansions that could ultimately be involved in hybrid speciation processes.
      Here, we describe the effects of hybridization and introgression on genome size
      of Drosophila hybrids. We measured the genome size of two close Drosophila
      species, Drosophila buzzatii and Drosophila koepferae, their F1 offspring and the
      offspring from three generations of backcrossed hybrids; where mobilization of up
      to 28 different TEs was previously detected. We show that hybrid females indeed
      present a genome expansion, especially in the first backcross, which could likely
      be explained by transposition events. Hybrid males, which exhibit more variable C
      values among individuals of the same generation, do not present an increased
      genome size. Thus, we demonstrate that the impact of hybridization on genome size
      can be detected through flow cytometry and is sex-dependent. 

PMID- 26872776
TI  - Nobel official resigns in wake of storm over Italian surgeon.

PMID- 26872774
TI  - A Comparative Analysis of Mitochondrial Genomes in Eustigmatophyte Algae.
AB  - Eustigmatophyceae (Ochrophyta, Stramenopiles) is a small algal group with species
      of the genus Nannochloropsis being its best studied representatives. Nuclear and
      organellar genomes have been recently sequenced for several Nannochloropsis spp.,
      but phylogenetically wider genomic studies are missing for eustigmatophytes. We
      sequenced mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of three species representing most
      major eustigmatophyte lineages, Monodopsis sp. MarTras21, Vischeria sp. CAUP Q
      202 and Trachydiscus minutus, and carried out their comparative analysis in the
      context of available data from Nannochloropsis and other stramenopiles, revealing
      a number of noticeable findings. First, mitogenomes of most eustigmatophytes are
      highly collinear and similar in the gene content, but extensive rearrangements
      and loss of three otherwise ubiquitous genes happened in the Vischeria lineage;
      this correlates with an accelerated evolution of mitochondrial gene sequences in
      this lineage. Second, eustigmatophytes appear to be the only ochrophyte group
      with the Atp1 protein encoded by the mitogenome. Third, eustigmatophyte
      mitogenomes uniquely share a truncated nad11 gene encoding only the C-terminal
      part of the Nad11 protein, while the N-terminal part is encoded by a separate
      gene in the nuclear genome. Fourth, UGA as a termination codon and the cognate
      release factor mRF2 were lost from mitochondria independently by the
      Nannochloropsis and T. minutus lineages. Finally, the rps3 gene in the mitogenome
      of Vischeria sp. is interrupted by the UAG codon, but the genome includes a gene
      for an unusual tRNA with an extended anticodon loop that we speculate may serve
      as a suppressor tRNA to properly decode the rps3 gene. 

PMID- 26872775
TI  - Evolutionary Changes on the Way to Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in Animals.
AB  - Endocytic pathways constitute an evolutionarily ancient system that significantly
      contributed to the eukaryotic cell architecture and to the diversity of cell type
      specific functions and signaling cascades, in particular of metazoans. Here we
      used comparative proteomic studies to analyze the universal internalization route
      in eukaryotes, clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), to address the issues of how
      this system evolved and what are its specific features. Among 35 proteins
      crucially required for animal CME, we identified a subset of 22 proteins common
      to major eukaryotic branches and 13 gradually acquired during evolution. Based on
      exploration of structure-function relationship between conserved homologs in
      sister, distantly related and early diverged branches, we identified novel
      features acquired during evolution of endocytic proteins on the way to animals:
      Elaborated way of cargo recruitment by multiple sorting proteins, structural
      changes in the core endocytic complex AP2, the emergence of the Fer/Cip4 homology
      domain-only protein/epidermal growth factor receptor substrate 15/intersectin
      functional complex as an additional interaction hub and activator of AP2, as well
      as changes in late endocytic stages due to recruitment of dynamin/sorting nexin 9
      complex and involvement of the actin polymerization machinery. The evolutionary
      reconstruction showed the basis of the CME process and its subsequent step-by
      step development. Documented changes imply more precise regulation of the
      pathway, as well as CME specialization for the uptake of specific cargoes and
      cell type-specific functions. 

PMID- 26872777
TI  - What is grounded theory?

PMID- 26872778
TI  - Novel Approaches for Diagnosing Melanoma Skin Lesions Through Supervised and Deep
      Learning Algorithms.
AB  - Dermoscopy is a technique used to capture the images of skin, and these images
      are useful to analyze the different types of skin diseases. Malignant melanoma is
      a kind of skin cancer whose severity even leads to death. Earlier detection of
      melanoma prevents death and the clinicians can treat the patients to increase the
      chances of survival. Only few machine learning algorithms are developed to detect
      the melanoma using its features. This paper proposes a Computer Aided Diagnosis
      (CAD) system which equips efficient algorithms to classify and predict the
      melanoma. Enhancement of the images are done using Contrast Limited Adaptive
      Histogram Equalization technique (CLAHE) and median filter. A new segmentation
      algorithm called Normalized Otsu's Segmentation (NOS) is implemented to segment
      the affected skin lesion from the normal skin, which overcomes the problem of
      variable illumination. Fifteen features are derived and extracted from the
      segmented images are fed into the proposed classification techniques like Deep
      Learning based Neural Networks and Hybrid Adaboost-Support Vector Machine (SVM)
      algorithms. The proposed system is tested and validated with nearly 992 images
      (malignant & benign lesions) and it provides a high classification accuracy of 93
      %. The proposed CAD system can assist the dermatologists to confirm the decision
      of the diagnosis and to avoid excisional biopsies.

PMID- 26872779
TI  - Differential Privacy Preserving in Big Data Analytics for Connected Health.
AB  - In Body Area Networks (BANs), big data collected by wearable sensors usually
      contain sensitive information, which is compulsory to be appropriately protected.
      Previous methods neglected privacy protection issue, leading to privacy exposure.
      In this paper, a differential privacy protection scheme for big data in body
      sensor network is developed. Compared with previous methods, this scheme will
      provide privacy protection with higher availability and reliability. We introduce
      the concept of dynamic noise thresholds, which makes our scheme more suitable to
      process big data. Experimental results demonstrate that, even when the attacker
      has full background knowledge, the proposed scheme can still provide enough
      interference to big sensitive data so as to preserve the privacy. 

PMID- 26872780
TI  - Bringing Medicine to the Digital Age via Hackathons and Beyond.
AB  - Health care technology and innovation is a rapidly growing industry with great
      potential. Hackathons have become an increasingly popular venue for institutions
      to generate ideas and enthusiasm for innovation. These events can inspire change
      and eventual improvement in medical systems. However, alongside developers and
      business-savvy entrepreneurs, the ongoing participation by health care providers
      and researchers is essential for the careful development, implementation and
      evaluation of any technological intervention. 

PMID- 26872782
TI  - Toward Proper Authentication Methods in Electronic Medical Record Access
      Compliant to HIPAA and C.I.A. Triangle.
AB  - This paper examines various methods encompassing the authentication of users in
      accessing Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). From a methodological perspective,
      multiple authentication methods have been researched from both a desktop and
      mobile accessibility perspective. Each method is investigated at a high level,
      along with comparative analyses, as well as real world examples. The projected
      outcome of this examination is a better understanding of the sophistication
      required in protecting the vital privacy constraints of an individual's Protected
      Health Information (PHI). In understanding the implications of protecting
      healthcare data in today's technological world, the scope of this paper is to
      grasp an overview of confidentiality as it pertains to information security. In
      addressing this topic, a high level overview of the three goals of information
      security are examined; in particular, the goal of confidentiality is the primary
      focus. Expanding upon the goal of confidentiality, healthcare accessibility legal
      aspects are considered, with a focus upon the Health Insurance Portability and
      Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). With the primary focus of this examination
      being access to EMRs, the paper will consider two types of accessibility of
      concern: access from a physician, or group of physicians; and access from an
      individual patient. 

PMID- 26872781
TI  - Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Web and Smartphone-Based Medication
      Self-Management Platform for Chronically Ill Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary
      outcomes of a medication self-management platform for chronically ill patients,
      Medplan. METHODS: We performed a 6-month single-arm prospective pre-post
      intervention study of patients receiving treatment for hypertension and/or
      dyslipidemia and/or heart failure and/or human immunodeficiency virus infection.
      During the pre-intervention phase, participants were followed according to their
      usual care; during the intervention phase, they used Medplan. We evaluated
      adherence, health outcomes, healthcare resources and measured the satisfaction of
      patients and health care professionals. RESULTS: The study population comprised
      42 patients. No differences were found in adherence to medication measured by
      proportion of days covered with medication (PDC). However, when adherence was
      measured using the SMAQ, the percentage of adherent patients improved during the
      intervention phase (p < 0.05), and the number of days with missed doses decreased
      (p < 0.05). Adherence measured using the Medplan app showed poor concordance with
      PDC. No differences were found in health outcomes or in the use of health care
      resources during the study period. The mean satisfaction score for Medplan was
      7.2 +/- 2.7 out of 10 among patients and 7.3 +/- 1.7 among health care
      professionals. In fact, 71.4 % of participants said they would recommend the app
      to a friend, and 88.1 % wanted to continue using it. CONCLUSION: The Medplan
      platform proved to be feasible and was well accepted by its users. However, its
      impact on adherence differed depending on the assessment method. The lack of
      effect on PDC is mainly because patients were already good adherers at baseline.
      The study enabled us to validate the platform in real patients using many
      different mobile devices and to identify potential barriers to scaling up the
      platform.

PMID- 26872783
TI  - PP1 initiates the dephosphorylation of MASTL, triggering mitotic exit and
      bistability in human cells.
AB  - Entry into mitosis is driven by the phosphorylation of thousands of substrates,
      under the master control of Cdk1. During entry into mitosis, Cdk1, in
      collaboration with MASTL kinase, represses the activity of the major mitotic
      protein phosphatases, PP1 and PP2A, thereby ensuring mitotic substrates remain
      phosphorylated. For cells to complete and exit mitosis, these phosphorylation
      events must be removed, and hence, phosphatase activity must be reactivated. This
      reactivation of phosphatase activity presumably requires the inhibition of MASTL;
      however, it is not currently understood what deactivates MASTL and how this is
      achieved. In this study, we identified that PP1 is associated with, and capable
      of partially dephosphorylating and deactivating, MASTL during mitotic exit. Using
      mathematical modelling, we were able to confirm that deactivation of MASTL is
      essential for mitotic exit. Furthermore, small decreases in Cdk1 activity during
      metaphase are sufficient to initiate the reactivation of PP1, which in turn
      partially deactivates MASTL to release inhibition of PP2A and, hence, create a
      feedback loop. This feedback loop drives complete deactivation of MASTL, ensuring
      a strong switch-like activation of phosphatase activity during mitotic exit. 

PMID- 26872785
TI  - Integrins synergise to induce expression of the MRTF-A-SRF target gene ISG15 for
      promoting cancer cell invasion.
AB  - Integrin-mediated activation of small GTPases induces the polymerisation of G
      actin into various actin structures and the release of the transcriptional co
      activator MRTF from G-actin. Here we report that pan-integrin-null fibroblasts
      seeded on fibronectin and expressing beta1- and/or alphaV-class integrin
      contained different G-actin pools, nuclear MRTF-A (also known as MKL1 or MAL)
      levels and MRTF-A-SRF activities. The nuclear MRTF-A levels and activities were
      highest in cells expressing both integrin classes, lower in cells expressing
      beta1 integrins and lowest in cells expressing the alphaV integrins. Quantitative
      proteomics and transcriptomics analyses linked the differential MRTF-A activities
      to the expression of the ubiquitin-like modifier interferon-stimulated gene 15
      (ISG15), which is known to modify focal adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins. The
      malignant breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 expressed high levels of beta1
      integrins, ISG15 and ISGylated proteins, which promoted invasive properties,
      whereas non-invasive MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cell lines expressed low levels of
      beta1 integrins, ISG15 and ISGylated proteins. Our findings suggest that integrin
      adhesion-induced MRTF-A-SRF activation and ISG15 expression constitute a newly
      discovered signalling circuit that promotes cell migration and invasion.

PMID- 26872784
TI  - TRAF2 exerts opposing effects on basal and TNFalpha-induced activation of the
      classic IKK complex in hematopoietic cells in mice.
AB  - The role of TRAF2 and TRAF5 in TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activation has become
      complicated owing to the accumulation of conflicting data. Here, we report that 7
      day-old TRAF2-knockout (KO) and TRAF2 TRAF5 double KO (TRAF2/5-DKO) mice exhibit
      enhanced canonical IkappaB kinase (IKK) and caspase-8 activation in spleen and
      liver, and that subsequent knockout of TNFalpha suppresses the basal activity of
      caspase-8, but not of IKK. In primary TRAF2 KO and TRAF2/5-DKO cells, TNFalpha
      induced immediate IKK activation is impaired, whereas delayed IKK activation
      occurs normally; as such, owing to elevated basal and TNFalpha-induced delayed
      IKK activation, TNFalpha stimulation leads to significantly increased induction
      of a subset of NF-kappaB-dependent genes in these cells. In line with this, both
      TRAF2 KO and TRAF2/5-DKO mice succumb to a sublethal dose of TNFalpha owing to
      increased expression of NF-kappaB target genes, diarrhea and bradypnea. Notably,
      depletion of IAP1 and IAP2 (also known as BIRC2 and BIRC3, respectively) also
      results in elevated basal IKK activation that is independent of autocrine
      TNFalpha production and that impairs TNFalpha-induced immediate IKK activation.
      These data reveal that TRAF2, IAP1 and IAP2, but not TRAF5, cooperatively
      regulate basal and TNFalpha-induced immediate IKK activation. 

PMID- 26872786
TI  - DNA replication initiator Cdc6 also regulates ribosomal DNA transcription
      initiation.
AB  - RNA-polymerase-I-dependent ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription is fundamental to
      rRNA processing, ribosome assembly and protein synthesis. However, how this
      process is initiated during the cell cycle is not fully understood. By performing
      a proteomic analysis of transcription factors that bind RNA polymerase I during
      rDNA transcription initiation, we identified that the DNA replication initiator
      Cdc6 interacts with RNA polymerase I and its co-factors, and promotes rDNA
      transcription in G1 phase in an ATPase-activity-dependent manner. We further
      showed that Cdc6 is targeted to the nucleolus during late mitosis and G1 phase in
      a manner that is dependent on B23 (also known as nucleophosmin, NPM1), and
      preferentially binds to the rDNA promoter through its ATP-binding domain.
      Overexpression of Cdc6 increases rDNA transcription, whereas knockdown of Cdc6
      results in a decreased association of both RNA polymerase I and the RNA
      polymerase I transcription factor RRN3 with rDNA, and a reduction of rDNA
      transcription. Furthermore, depletion of Cdc6 impairs the interaction between
      RRN3 and RNA polymerase I. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Cdc6 also
      serves as a regulator of rDNA transcription initiation, and indicate a mechanism
      by which initiation of rDNA transcription and DNA replication can be coordinated
      in cells. 

PMID- 26872787
TI  - Tailored placement of a turn-forming PA tag into the structured domain of a
      protein to probe its conformational state.
AB  - Placement of a tag sequence is usually limited to either terminal end of the
      target protein, reducing the potential of epitope tags for various labeling
      applications. The PA tag is a dodecapeptide (GVAMPGAEDDVV) that is recognized by
      a high-affinity antibody NZ-1. We determined the crystal structure of the PA-tag
      NZ-1 complex and found that NZ-1 recognizes a central segment of the PA tag
      peptide in a tight beta-turn configuration, suggesting that it is compatible with
      the insertion into a loop. This possibility was tested and confirmed using
      multiple integrin subunits and semaphorin. More specifically, the PA tag can be
      inserted at multiple locations within the integrin alphaIIb subunit (encoded by
      ITGA2B) of the fibrinogen receptor alphaIIbbeta3 integrin (of which the beta3
      subunit is encoded by ITGB3) without affecting the structural and functional
      integrity, while maintaining its high affinity for NZ-1. The large choice of the
      sites for 'epitope grafting' enabled the placement of the PA tag at a location
      whose accessibility is modulated during the biological action of the receptor.
      Thus, we succeeded in converting a general anti-tag antibody into a special anti
      integrin antibody that can be classified as a ligand-induced binding site
      antibody.

PMID- 26872788
TI  - Intratumoral heterogeneity of (18)F-FDG uptake predicts survival in patients with
      pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess whether intratumoral heterogeneity measured by (18)F-FDG PET
      texture analysis has potential as a prognostic imaging biomarker in patients with
      pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: We evaluated a cohort of 137
      patients with newly diagnosed PDAC who underwent pretreatment (18)F-FDG PET/CT
      from January 2008 to December 2010. First-order (histogram indices) and higher
      order (grey-level run length, difference, size zone matrices) textural features
      of primary tumours were extracted by PET texture analysis. Conventional PET
      parameters including metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis
      (TLG), and standardized uptake value (SUV) were also measured. To assess and
      compare the predictive performance of imaging biomarkers, time-dependent receiver
      operating characteristic (ROC) curves for censored survival data and areas under
      the ROC curve (AUC) at 2 years after diagnosis were used. Associations between
      imaging biomarkers and overall survival were assessed using Cox proportional
      hazards regression models. RESULTS: The best imaging biomarker for overall
      survival prediction was first-order entropy (AUC = 0.720), followed by TLG (AUC =
      0.697), MTV (AUC = 0.692), and maximum SUV (AUC = 0.625). After adjusting for
      age, sex, clinical stage, tumour size and serum CA19-9 level, multivariable Cox
      analysis demonstrated that higher entropy (hazard ratio, HR, 5.59; P = 0.028) was
      independently associated with worse survival, whereas TLG (HR 0.98; P = 0.875)
      was not an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Intratumoral heterogeneity
      of (18)F-FDG uptake measured by PET texture analysis is an independent predictor
      of survival along with tumour stage and serum CA19-9 level in patients with PDAC.
      In addition, first-order entropy as a measure of intratumoral metabolic
      heterogeneity is a better quantitative imaging biomarker of prognosis than
      conventional PET parameters.

PMID- 26872790
TI  - Visceral leishmaniasis, hypertriglyceridemia and secondary hemophagocytic
      lymphohistiocytosis.

PMID- 26872789
TI  - Analysis of pairwise correlations in multi-parametric PET/MR data for biological
      tumor characterization and treatment individualization strategies.

PMID- 26872792
TI  - Neurotropic infiltration and neuropathy of multifocal lymphoma.

PMID- 26872791
TI  - Trends in anemia treatment among patients with five non-myeloid malignancies
      treated with chemotherapy in a large integrated health care delivery system in
      California, 2000-2013.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine treatment patterns for chemotherapy
      induced anemia (CIA) between calendar periods when the changes in the US
      prescribing information, for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) took place.
      METHODS: Patients diagnosed with breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian, or gastric
      cancer (2000-2012) who developed grade 2+ CIA (hemoglobin (Hb) <10 g/dl) were
      identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California Health Plan. We estimated
      the proportions of CIA episodes with ESA use, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion,
      or prescription nutritional supplements in three calendar periods: January 1,
      2000-December 31, 2006 (P1), January 1, 2007-March 24, 2010 (P2), and March 25,
      2010-June 30, 2013 (P3). Multivariable regressions were used to test the
      differences of CIA treatment approaches and Hb concentration prior to CIA
      treatment across these calendar periods. RESULTS: The proportions of CIA episodes
      with ESA use were 28 % in P1, 21 % in P2, and 3 % in P3. For RBC transfusion,
      they were 8 % in P1, 14 % in P2 and 16 % in P3. The trend of decreasing ESA use
      and increasing transfusion use were statistically significant. Relative to P1,
      the odds ratio (OR) was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.86) for P2 and 0.08 (0.30, 0.88)
      for P3 for ESA use. For RBC transfusion, OR was 2.00 (1.56, 2.56) for P2 and 2.37
      (1.88, 3.00) for P3. Use of prescription nutritional supplement was rare across
      calendar periods. There was a decreasing trend of Hb concentration prior to ESA
      use (p value <0.01), but no difference in Hb concentrations prior to transfusion.
      CONCLUSION: In the management of CIA, use of ESA has decreased over time, while
      use of RBC transfusion has increased.

PMID- 26872795
TI  - Spray drying of lipid-based systems loaded with Camellia sinensis polyphenols.
AB  - In this work, spray-dried lipid systems based on soy phosphatidylcholine,
      cholesterol and lauroyl polyoxylglycerides for entrapping Green tea polyphenols
      were produced. The aim was to study the effects of the encapsulating composition
      and spray drying conditions on the system performance and physicochemical product
      properties. The spray dryer powder production yield falls around 50.7 +/- 2.8%,
      which is typical for lab scale spray dryers. Wrinkled and rounded particles, with
      low surface porosities were generated, independent of the drying carriers
      (trehalose or lactose) used. The product showed high encapsulation efficiency of
      Green tea polyphenols, which was promptly redispersible in water. It presented
      low density, and good compressive and flow properties. The results herein
      reported confirm the feasibility of the entrapment of Green tea polyphenols in
      lipid-based compositions by spray drying in presence of the drying carriers
      evaluated. The spray-dried microparticles show high potential to be used as
      additive in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.

PMID- 26872794
TI  - First structure of archaeal branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase from
      Thermoproteus uzoniensis specific for L-amino acids and R-amines.
AB  - The gene TUZN1299 from the genome of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermoproteus
      uzoniensis encoding a new 32.8 kDa branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase
      (BCAT) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein TUZN1299 was
      purified to homogeneity in the PLP-bound form. TUZN1299 was active towards
      branched-chain amino acids (L-Val, L-Leu, L-Ile) and showed low but detectable
      activity toward (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine. The enzyme exhibits high-temperature
      optimum, thermal stability, and tolerance to organic solvents. The structure of
      an archaeal BCAT called TUZN1299 was solved for the first time (at 2.0 A
      resolution). TUZN1299 has a typical BCAT type IV fold, and the organization of
      its active site is similar to that of bacterial BCATs. However, there are some
      differences in the amino acid composition of the active site. 

PMID- 26872793
TI  - The unmet supportive care needs-what advanced lung cancer patients' caregivers
      need and related factors.
AB  - PURPOSE: To identify the unmet supportive care needs and related factors in
      caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional
      study of 166 lung cancer patient-caregivers dyads was recruited at a medical
      center. The supportive care needs, fatigue, and sleep disturbance of caregivers
      were collected. Patients were assessed for symptom severity, anxiety, and
      depression. Logistic regression was used to reveal the related factors of unmet
      supportive care needs. RESULTS: Of the 166 dyads surveyed, the top unmet needs
      were information needs, health care professional/health care service needs, and
      daily living needs. Patients' anxiety was positively correlated to overall
      caregiving needs, health care professional/health care service needs,
      interpersonal communication needs, and psychological/emotional needs of
      caregivers. The information needs and health care professional/health care
      service needs were related to the caregivers' fatigue. The sleep disturbance of
      caregivers was associated with their overall caregiving needs, daily living
      needs, and psychological/emotional needs. CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions to
      meet the needs of caregivers should include specific needs assessment and
      continuing education in caregiving.

PMID- 26872796
TI  - Using LEADS to shift to high performance.
AB  - Health systems across Canada are tasked to measure results of all their strategic
      initiatives. Included in most strategic plans is leadership development. How to
      measure leadership effectiveness in relation to organizational objectives is key
      in determining organizational effectiveness. The following findings offer
      considerations for a 21(st)-century approach to shifting to high-performance
      systems. 

PMID- 26872797
TI  - Exploring distributed leadership in the BC Sepsis Network.
AB  - Commissioned research was undertaken to explore the role of networks in
      supporting large-scale change and improvement. Participatory action research and
      social network analysis were used to study the BC Sepsis Network. Findings of
      this research include insights into distributed leadership, enablers and barriers
      within a network approach; the importance of relationships and trust; and the
      need for meaningful and timely data. Recommendations are made for health leaders
      who are considering utilizing networks for improving patient quality and safety. 

PMID- 26872798
TI  - Health reform in Canada: Enabling perspectives for health leadership.
AB  - Canadian healthcare leaders are experiencing unprecedented change. In Canada and
      worldwide, efforts are being made to create patient-centred service delivery
      models. In order to participate fully in that transformation, leaders must
      embrace the new leadership responsibilities vital to patient-centred change. To
      fail to do so will marginalize their role or render them irrelevant. This article
      reviews literature in the past 5 years to outline the change context for leaders
      and what they can do to enhance their effectiveness. Leaders are encouraged to
      redouble their efforts to develop their leadership capacity, engage physicians as
      partners, embrace complexity, engage the patient and public in reform efforts,
      and embrace appropriate technological trends within the consumer community. To
      reinvent leadership supportive of patient-centred change, healthcare leaders need
      to act individually to grow their own capacity and collectively to take control
      of the leadership needed in order to fulfill their role in change. 

PMID- 26872799
TI  - If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going.
AB  - Change management initiatives are a key focus of healthcare systems across the
      country. This commentary, written by a former health minister, looks at change
      from the perspective of senior decision-makers. The need to directly link change
      management activities to broader transformation necessary to improve outcomes and
      ensure sustainability of healthcare in Canada is discussed. Suggestions for
      elements of a national transformation agenda, key enablers required to ensure the
      best change initiatives are leveraged across healthcare systems, and questions
      that should be asked by leaders in the evaluation of change initiatives are
      proposed. 

PMID- 26872800
TI  - The role of change management in the District Health Authority Consolidation
      (Transition and Design) project in Nova Scotia.
AB  - The District Health Authority Consolidation (Transition and Design) project in
      Nova Scotia was initiated to consolidate the existing nine district health
      authorities into one provincial health authority. This article provides an
      overview of the internal change management approach and activities that were
      developed to support the various phases of the design and transition process.
      Three phases of work are outlined, and specific change management activities are
      described as are lessons learned from the overall approach. 

PMID- 26872801
TI  - Gamification as a strategy to engage and motivate clinicians to improve care.
AB  - Approaching change through seeking commitment rather than requiring compliance is
      an effective way to promote desired behaviours in healthcare. Gamification was
      explored as a technique to engage clinicians in the adoption of sepsis
      identification and management tools. Positive extrinsic (eg, feedback and
      rewards) and intrinsic (eg, mastery, autonomy, relatedness, and purpose)
      motivators were integrated into a campaign to save lives, leading to a
      significant reduction in severe sepsis mortality and improvement in processes of
      care. 

PMID- 26872802
TI  - Putting children first: An opportunity for Canada's new government.
AB  - For more than 50 years, the importance of studying new medicines in childhood has
      been widely recognized. Nonetheless, Health Canada has eschewed policies
      requiring such evaluation, despite effective reforms elsewhere. In 2012, the
      Council of Canadian Academies convened an expert panel to assess Canada's
      research base for labelling of pediatric therapies. The September 2014 report has
      not yet resulted in action, but it deserves consideration by the new government
      with timely recognition of the high priority that evidence-based treatment of
      children deserves. 

PMID- 26872803
TI  - Simulating hypoxia-induced acidic environment in cancer cells facilitates
      mobilization and redox-cycling of genomic copper by daidzein leading to pro
      oxidant cell death: implications for the sensitization of resistant hypoxic
      cancer cells to therapeutic challenges.
AB  - This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action involved in the
      anti-cancer activity of daidzein and identification of cancer specific micro
      environment as therapeutic target of this secondary metabolite derived from soy.
      Our data indicated that daidzein induces cellular DNA breakage, anti
      proliferative effects and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. We
      demonstrated that such a daidzein-induced anti-cancer action involves a copper
      dependant pathway in which endogenous copper is mobilized by daidzein and redox
      cycled to generate reactive oxygen species which act as an upstream signal
      leading to pro-oxidant cell death. Further in the context of hypoxia being a
      resistant factor against standard therapies and that an effect secondary to
      hypoxia is the intracellular acidification, we show that the anticancer activity
      of daidzein is modulated positively in acidic pH but copper-specific chelator is
      still able to inhibit daidzein activity. Moreover, an experimental setup of
      hypoxia mimic (cobalt chloride) revealed an enhanced sensitivity of cancer cells
      to the cytotoxic effects of daidzein which was neutralized in the presence of
      neocuproine. The findings support a paradigm shift from the conventional
      antioxidant property of dietary isoflavones to molecules capable of initiating a
      pro-oxidant signaling mediated by reactive oxygen species. Further, the clinical
      relevance of such an action mechanism in cancer chemoprevention is also proposed.
      This study identified endogenous copper as a molecular target and acidic pH as a
      modulating factor for the therapeutic activity of daidzein against cancer. The
      evidence presented highlights the potential of dietary agents as adjuvants to
      standard therapeutic regimens. 

PMID- 26872804
TI  - Risk of skin cancer in multiple myeloma patients: a retrospective cohort study.
AB  - Immunosuppressed patients are known to have an increased incidence of skin
      cancer. Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) show impaired immune function. In the
      past, because of poor survival, the incidence of specific secondary primary
      malignancies such as skin cancer among these patients was difficult to establish.
      With more effective MM therapies that have emerged in recent years, these
      patients are living markedly longer, and therefore, it becomes of increasing
      importance to determine whether their risk of developing other medical problems
      such as skin cancer is increased. We performed a retrospective cohort study of
      205 myeloma patients and 193 age-, race-, and gender-matched control subjects to
      assess the incidence of skin cancers among patients with MM and determine the
      specific types of and risk factors for skin cancer. We found that there is an
      increased occurrence of skin cancer among patients with MM compared to control
      subjects (26.8% vs. 16.1% in controls; P = 0.009). Among specific types of skin
      cancer, the proportion of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was higher
      than controls (P = 0.016). In addition to MM diagnosis, older age and Caucasian
      ethnicity were predictors of skin cancer of any type. Furthermore, older age was
      also a predictor of SCC.

PMID- 26872805
TI  - Perfusion and metabolic scintigraphy with (123)I-BMIPP in prognosis of cardiac
      resynchronization therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the left ventricular
      (LV) myocardial perfusion and metabolism in patients with idiopathic dilated
      cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to identify the scintigraphic predictors of the efficacy
      of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). METHODS: The study comprised 63
      patients with DCM and severe heart failure (NYHA class III-IV). Before CRT, all
      patients received gamma-scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile
      ((99m)Tc-MIBI) and with (123)I-beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid ((123)I
      BMIPP) for evaluation of myocardial perfusion and metabolism, respectively.
      Before and after 6 months of CRT, all patients underwent echocardiography study
      to assess cardiac hemodynamics. RESULTS: After 6 months of CRT, patients were
      divided into two groups: group 1 comprised responders in whom LV end systolic
      volume (LVESV) decreased by >=15 % (n = 39); group 2 comprised non-responders in
      whom LVESV decreased by <15 % (n = 24). Before CRT, LV pumping function did not
      significantly differ between groups. Significant differences were found in the
      following preoperative scintigraphic parameters: myocardial perfusion defect size
      [7.4 % (5.9; 13.2) % and 11.8 (8.8; 16.2) %, p < 0.05] and metabolic defect size
      [7.4 (4.4; 14.7) % and 8.8 (8.8; 17.6) %, p < 0.05]. Metabolic scintigraphy
      showed greater diagnostic efficacy in determining the indications for CRT
      compared with perfusion scintigraphy [areas under the ROC curves (AUC) of 0.722
      and 0.612, respectively]. The best metabolic defect size threshold value of 7.35
      % predicted CRT efficacy with the sensitivity and specificity rates of 77.8 and
      66.7 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Data of metabolic scintigraphy may be useful
      for the integrated prediction of CRT efficacy.

PMID- 26872806
TI  - Design and evaluation of an interactive training system for scrub nurses.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The current trend toward increasingly integrated technological support
      systems and the rise of streamlined processes in the OR have led to a growing
      demand for personnel with higher levels of training. Although simulation systems
      are widely used and accepted in surgical training, they are practically non
      existent for perioperative nursing, especially scrub nursing. This paper
      describes and evaluates an interactive OR environment simulation to help train
      scrub nurses. METHODS: A system comprising multiple computers and monitors,
      including an interactive table and a touchscreen combined with a client-server
      software solution, was designed to simulate a scrub nurse's workplace. The
      resulting demonstrator was evaluated under laboratory conditions with a
      multicenter interview study involving three participating ear, nose, and throat
      (ENT) departments in Germany and Switzerland. RESULTS: The participant group of
      15 scrub nurses had an average of 12.8 years hands-on experience in the OR. A
      series of 22 questions was used to evaluate various aspects of the demonstrator
      system and its suitability for training novices. DISCUSSION: The system received
      very positive feedback. The participants stated that familiarization with
      instrument names and learning the instrument table setup were the two most
      important technical topics for beginners. They found the system useful for
      acquiring these skills as well as certain non-technical aspects. CONCLUSIONS:
      Interactive training through simulation is a new approach for preparing novice
      scrub nurses for the challenges at the instrument table in the OR. It can also
      improve the lifelong training of perioperative personnel. The proposed system is
      currently unique in its kind. It can be used to train both technical and non
      technical skills and, therefore, contributes to patient safety. Moreover, it is
      not dependent on a specific type of surgical intervention or medical discipline.

PMID- 26872807
TI  - A novel toolpath force prediction algorithm using CAM volumetric data for
      optimizing robotic arthroplasty.
AB  - PURPOSE: Robotic total hip arthroplasty is a procedure in which milling
      operations are performed on the femur to remove material for the insertion of a
      prosthetic implant. The robot performs the milling operation by following a
      sequential list of tool motions, also known as a toolpath, generated by a
      computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. The purpose of this paper is to
      explain a new toolpath force prediction algorithm that predicts cutting forces,
      which results in improving the quality and safety of surgical systems. METHODS:
      With a custom macro developed in the CAM system's native application programming
      interface, cutting contact patch volume was extracted from CAM simulations. A
      time domain cutting force model was then developed through the use of a cutting
      force prediction algorithm. The second portion validated the algorithm by
      machining a hip canal in simulated bone using a CNC machine. Average cutting
      forces were measured during machining using a dynamometer and compared to the
      values predicted from CAM simulation data using the proposed method. RESULTS: The
      results showed the predicted forces matched the measured forces in both magnitude
      and overall pattern shape. However, due to inconsistent motion control, the time
      duration of the forces was slightly distorted. Nevertheless, the algorithm
      effectively predicted the forces throughout an entire hip canal procedure.
      CONCLUSION: This method provides a fast and easy technique for predicting cutting
      forces during orthopedic milling by utilizing data within a CAM software.

PMID- 26872808
TI  - Successful learning of surgical liver anatomy in a computer-based teaching
      module.
AB  - AIM: To analyze factors influencing the learning of surgical liver anatomy in a
      computer-based teaching module (TM). METHODS: Medical students in their third to
      fifth year of training (N [Formula: see text] 410) participated in three
      randomized trials, each with a different primary hypothesis, comparing two- (2D)
      and three-dimensional (3D) presentation modes in a TM for surgical liver anatomy.
      Computed tomography images were presented according to the study and allocation
      group. Students had to answer eleven questions on surgical liver anatomy and four
      evaluative questions. Scores and time taken to answer the questions were
      automatically recorded. Since the three studies used the same 15 questions in the
      TM, a pooled analysis was performed to compare learning factors across studies.
      RESULTS: 3D groups had higher scores (7.5 +/- 1.7 vs. 5.6 +/- 2.0; p < 0.001) and
      needed less time (503.5 +/- 187.4 vs. 603.1 +/- 246.7 s; p < 0.001) than 2D
      groups. Intensive training improved scores in 2D (p < 0.001). Men gave more
      correct answers than women, independent of presentation mode (7.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 6.5
      +/- 2.1; p [Formula: see text] 0.003). An overall association was found between
      having fun and higher scores in 11 anatomical questions (p < 0.001). In subgroup
      analysis, 3D groups had more fun than 2D groups (84.7 vs. 65.1 %; p < 0.001). If
      given the option, more students in the 2D groups (58.9 %) would have preferred a
      3D presentation than students in the 3D group (35.9 %) would have preferred 2D (p
      < 0.001). CONCLUSION: 3D was superior to 2D for learning of surgical liver
      anatomy. With training 2D showed similar results. Fun and gender were relevant
      factors for learning success.

PMID- 26872809
TI  - An all-joint-control master device for single-port laparoscopic surgery robots.
AB  - PURPOSE: Robots for single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) typically have all of
      their joints located inside abdomen during surgery, whereas with the da Vinci
      system, only the tip part of the robot arm is inserted and manipulated. A typical
      master device that controls only the tip with six degrees of freedom (DOFs) is
      not suitable for use with SPLS robots because of safety concerns. METHODS: We
      designed an ergonomic six-DOF master device that can control all of the joints of
      an SPLS robot. We matched each joint of the master, the slave, and the human arm
      to decouple all-joint motions of the slave robot. Counterbalance masses were used
      to reduce operator fatigue. Mapping factors were determined based on kinematic
      analysis and were used to achieve all-joint control with minimal error at the tip
      of the slave robot. RESULTS: The proposed master device has two noteworthy
      features: efficient joint matching to the human arm to decouple each joint motion
      of the slave robot and accurate mapping factors, which can minimize the
      trajectory error of the tips between the master and the slave. CONCLUSIONS: We
      confirmed that the operator can manipulate the slave robot intuitively with the
      master device and that both tips have similar trajectories with minimal error.

PMID- 26872810
TI  - Endoscopic scene labelling and augmentation using intraoperative pulsatile motion
      and colour appearance cues with preoperative anatomical priors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Despite great advances in medical image segmentation, the accurate and
      automatic segmentation of endoscopic scenes remains a challenging problem. Two
      important aspects have to be considered in segmenting an endoscopic scene: (1)
      noise and clutter due to light reflection and smoke from cutting tissue, and (2)
      structure occlusion (e.g. vessels occluded by fat, or endophytic tumours occluded
      by healthy kidney tissue). METHODS: In this paper, we propose a variational
      technique to augment a surgeon's endoscopic view by segmenting visible as well as
      occluded structures in the intraoperative endoscopic view. Our method estimates
      the 3D pose and deformation of anatomical structures segmented from 3D
      preoperative data in order to align to and segment corresponding structures in 2D
      intraoperative endoscopic views. Our preoperative to intraoperative alignment is
      driven by, first, spatio-temporal, signal processing based vessel pulsation cues
      and, second, machine learning based analysis of colour and textural visual cues.
      To our knowledge, this is the first work that utilizes vascular pulsation cues
      for guiding preoperative to intraoperative registration. In addition, we
      incorporate a tissue-specific (i.e. heterogeneous) physically based deformation
      model into our framework to cope with the non-rigid deformation of structures
      that occurs during the intervention. RESULTS: We validated the utility of our
      technique on fifteen challenging clinical cases with 45 % improvements in
      accuracy compared to the state-of-the-art method. CONCLUSIONS: A new technique
      for localizing both visible and occluded structures in an endoscopic view was
      proposed and tested. This method leverages both preoperative data, as a source of
      patient-specific prior knowledge, as well as vasculature pulsation and endoscopic
      visual cues in order to accurately segment the highly noisy and cluttered
      environment of an endoscopic video. Our results on in vivo clinical cases of
      partial nephrectomy illustrate the potential of the proposed framework for
      augmented reality applications in minimally invasive surgeries.

PMID- 26872812
TI  - The contributions of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 genotypes to
      triple negative breast cancer risk.
AB  - The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are a family of
      multifunctional proteins which have been shown to be upregulated in various types
      of cancers. However, the contribution of TIMPs in breast cancer is not fully
      understood, not to mention triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This study's aim
      was to evaluate the contribution of TIMP-1 rs4898, rs6609533, and rs2070584
      genotypes to the risk of breast cancer, especially the subtype of TNBC. The
      contributions of these TIMP-1 genotypes to cancer risk were examined among 1232
      breast cancer patients and 1232 healthy controls, and several clinicopathologic
      factors were also analyzed. The results showed that the percentages of CC, CT,
      and TT of TIMP-1 rs4898 were differentially distributed at 28.5%, 33.1% and 38.4%
      in the breast cancer patient group and 34.5%, 41.0% and 24.5% in the control
      group, respectively (P for trend = 7.99*10(-13)). It was also found that the CC
      genotype carriers were of increased risk for breast cancer (odds ratio = 1.90,
      95% confidence interval = 1.55-2.33, P = 0.0001) than the TT genotype carriers.
      In addition, we analyzed the allelic frequency distributions of all three TIMP
      1s, and the results showed that the C allele of TIMP-1 rs4898 contributes to an
      increase in breast cancer susceptibility (P = 2.41*10(-12)). On the other hand,
      there was no difference found in the distribution of genotypic or allelic
      frequencies among the patients and the controls for TIMP-1 rs6609533 and
      rs2070584. Thus, it is our conclusion that the CC genotype of TIMP-1 rs4898
      compared to the TT wild-type genotype may increase the risk for breast cancer,
      especially TNBC in Taiwan, and may serve as an early detective and predictive
      marker. 

PMID- 26872811
TI  - Dietary components as epigenetic-regulating agents against cancer.
AB  - Carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves the deregulation of
      epigenetics resulting in cellular transformational events, such proliferation,
      differentiation, and metastasis. Epigenetic machinery changes the accessibility
      of chromatin to transcriptional regulation through DNA modification. The
      collaboration of epigenetics and gene transcriptional regulation creates a
      suitable microenvironment for cancer development, which is proved by the
      alternation in cell proliferation, differentiation, division, metabolism, DNA
      repair and movement. Therefore, the reverse of epigenetic dysfunction may provide
      a possible strategy and new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Many
      dietary components such as sulforaphane and epigallocatechin- 3-gallate have been
      demonstrated to exert chemopreventive influences, such as reducing tumor growth
      and enhancing cancer cell death. Anticancer mechanistic studies also indicated
      that dietary components could display the ability to reverse epigenetic
      deregulation in assorted tumors via reverting the adverse epigenetic regulation,
      including alternation of DNA methylation and histone modification, and modulation
      of microRNA expression. Therefore, dietary components as therapeutic agents on
      epigenetics becomes an attractive approach for cancer prevention and intervention
      at the moment. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries and underlying
      mechanisms of the most common dietary components for cancer prevention via
      epigenetic regulation. 

PMID- 26872813
TI  - M2 macrophage polarization modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in
      cisplatin-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
AB  - Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity leaded to apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells
      (ECs) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis through ROS stress and inflammatory
      cytokines. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis caused by cisplatin might be via
      activation of resident fibroblasts and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of
      tubular ECs. Inflammatory niche was crucial for progression of fibroblast
      activation or EMT. It had been reported that M1/M2 macrophage polarization
      regulated pro-inflammation or pro-resolving phase in damage repairing. However,
      the role of macrophage polarization on cisplatin-induced EMT of tubular ECs had
      not been well elucidated. In this study, we used co-cultured cell model and
      condition medium to examine the interaction between tubular ECs, fibroblasts and
      M1/M2 macrophages. Our data showed that cisplatin alone induced incomplete EMT of
      tubular ECs, whereas fibroblasts co-cultured with cisplatin-treated ECs could
      lead to fibroblast activation by detection of alpha-SMA and collagen-1. Moreover,
      decrease of iNOS and increase of argenase-1 and CD206 expression indicated that
      macrophages co-cultured with cisplatin-treated ECs would turn to M2 phenotype.
      Finally, we found that condition medium of M2 macrophages could promote complete
      EMT of cisplatin-treated ECs. Taken together, cisplatin created an inflammatory
      niche via tubular ECs to activate fibroblasts and stimulated M2 macrophage
      polarization. M2 macrophages could turn back to promote EMT of cisplatin-treated
      ECs. These results revealed the cooperative roles of tubular ECs, fibroblast and
      M2 macrophages to facilitate the progression of renal fibroblasis. 

PMID- 26872814
TI  - Solitary renal metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma mimicking primary
      renal neoplasm - A case report and literature review.
AB  - Solitary renal metastasis of esophageal cancer is rare clinically, with only 14
      cases being reported in the literature. The authors here report a case of a 53
      year-old man with a metachronous hypopharyngeal and esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma who developed a solitary renal metastasis after complete
      chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer, and subsequently received a left
      nephrectomy. The metastatic esophageal cancer was indistinguishable from primary
      renal neoplasm in the computed tomography but showed the histopathologic
      characteristic of esophageal cancer in directly invading the renal artery, and
      the tumor spreading in the kidney. The patient died of pneumonia two months after
      diagnosis. Among the previous 14 reported cases, 12 occurred in Asians, and their
      overall survival time ranges from two months to nine years after nephrectomy,
      either with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Accordingly, a solitary renal mass
      in patients with a history of esophageal cancer is warranted to differentiate
      metastatic esophageal cancer from primary renal neoplasm, and a reliable therapy
      needs to be planned early for improving the patient's chance of survival. 

PMID- 26872815
TI  - Approach to Optimize Anti-TNF-alpha Therapy in Patients With IBD.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an inflammatory
      cytokine that plays a major role during the initiation and perpetuation of
      inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Anti-TNF-alpha agents are the most widely used
      biologics that specifically target either or both circulating and membrane-bound
      TNF-alpha, thus preventing its pro-inflammatory activity. Despite their efficacy,
      one third of the patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha agents are primary non
      responders and nearly half of the patients that initially respond may
      subsequently lose response (secondary loss of response). Many of these cases can
      be explained by immunogenicity, which can lead to lower drug levels associated
      with reduced response and serious adverse effects that cause patients to withdraw
      from treatment. New treatment algorithms instruct practitioners to check drug and
      antibody levels when there is loss of response, and then provide guidance towards
      either dose optimization and/or change in the biologic agent or class to help
      regain efficacy.

PMID- 26872816
TI  - Unsuccessful Detection of Plant MicroRNAs in Beer, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and
      Human Plasma After an Acute Ingestion of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
AB  - The recent description of the presence of exogenous plant microRNAs from rice in
      human plasma had profound implications for the interpretation of microRNAs
      function in human health. If validated, these results suggest that food should
      not be considered only as a macronutrient and micronutrient supplier but it could
      also be a way of genomic interchange between kingdoms. Subsequently, several
      studies have tried to replicate these results in rice and other plant foods and
      most of them have failed to find plant microRNAs in human plasma. In this
      scenario, we aimed to detect plant microRNAs in beer and extra virgin olive oil
      (EVOO)--two plant-derived liquid products frequently consumed in Spain--as well
      as in human plasma after an acute ingestion of EVOO. Our hypothesis was that
      microRNAs present in beer and EVOO raw material could survive manufacturing
      processes, be part of these liquid products, be absorbed by human gut and
      circulate in human plasma. To test this hypothesis, we first optimized the
      microRNA extraction protocol to extract microRNAs from beer and EVOO, and then
      tried to detect microRNAs in those samples and in plasma samples of healthy
      volunteers after an acute ingestion of EVOO.

PMID- 26872817
TI  - Concomitant presence of Aspergillus fumigatus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in
      the respiratory tract: a new risk for patients with liver disease?
AB  - Concomitant lung colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus and Stenotrophomonas
      maltophilia was reported mainly in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and
      immunocompromised patients. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of
      co-culture of A. fumigatus and S. maltophilia in respiratory samples of
      hospitalized patients, and to determine its associated factors. Between 2007 and
      2011, all patients who had A. fumigatus in their respiratory samples were
      retrospectively enrolled in the study. Their clinical and laboratory data,
      including the presence of S. maltophilia in a respiratory sample, were collected
      within the same month. Of the 257 enrolled patients (372 respiratory samples), 71
      % were immunocompromised and 32 % had chronic respiratory disease. S. maltophilia
      was isolated within the same month in 20 patients (7.8 %). In the univariate
      analysis, factors associated with concomitant culture of A. fumigatus and S.
      maltophilia were liver disease (P = 0.009), orotracheal intubation (P = 0.001),
      ventilator-associated pneumonia (P = 0.006), central venous catheter (P = 0.003),
      parenteral nutrition (P = 0.008) and culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in
      respiratory samples (P = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis, the simultaneous
      presence of P. aeruginosa in the respiratory tract (odds ratio (OR) = 3.19, 95 %
      confidence interval (CI) 1.11-9.14, P = 0.031), liver disease (OR = 3.92, 95 % CI
      1.32-11.62, P = 0.014) and orotracheal intubation (OR = 3.42, 95 % CI 1.17-9.96,
      P = 0.024) were independently associated with the co-culture of S. maltophilia
      and A. fumigatus. Factors independently associated with the concomitant culture
      of A. fumigatus and S. maltophilia were identified. These results support a
      future prospective study focusing on liver disease and its complications. 

PMID- 26872819
TI  - From gene polymorphisms to serum cytokine levels in irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 26872818
TI  - The Impact of the Fourth Edition of the WHO Classification of Lung Tumours on
      Histological Classification of Resected Pulmonary NSCCs.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Histopathological classification of lung cancer is of central
      importance in the diagnostic routine, and it guides therapy in most patients. The
      fourth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Lung
      Tumours was recently published and includes changes to the diagnostic procedure
      for non-small cell carcinomas (NSCCs), with more emphasis on immunohistochemical
      (IHC) staining. METHODS: A total of 656 unselective cases of resected pulmonary
      NSCC were diagnosed according to the 2004 WHO classification. After IHC staining
      with cytokeratin 5, p40, p63, thyroid transcription factor 1 (clones 8G7G3/1 and
      SPT24), and napsin A, the diagnoses were revised in accordance with the new
      fourth edition of the WHO classification. RESULTS: Reclassification led to a new
      histological annotation in 36 of the 656 cases (5%). Most notable was the
      decrease in cases previously classified as large cell carcinomas (56 versus 12
      cases). This was partially due to the exclusion of 21 neuroendocrine tumors from
      this group, with 20 cases ascribed to the adenocarcinoma group on the basis of
      IHC markers. Only seven cases of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma were
      reclassified after the addition of IHC staining. There was a substantial overlap
      in staining properties between different markers of squamous and
      adenocarcinomatous differentiation, respectively, but in 17 to 31 cases (3%-5%),
      the diagnosis depended on the choice of markers. CONCLUSIONS: The fourth edition
      of the WHO Classification of Lung Tumours leads to changes in histological type
      in 5% of resected NSCCs. The incorporation of IHC staining into NSCC diagnostics
      demands awareness that the choice of ancillary stains has an effect on diagnosis.

PMID- 26872820
TI  - Disruptive Innovation: Implementation of Electronic Consultations in a Veterans
      Affairs Health Care System.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electronic consultations (e-consults) offer rapid access to
      specialist input without the need for a patient visit. E-consult implementation
      began in 2011 at VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS). By early 2013, e-consults
      were available for all clinical services. In this implementation, the requesting
      clinician selects the desired consultation within the electronic health record
      (EHR) ordering menu, which creates an electronic form that is pre-populated with
      patient demographic information and allows free-text entry of the reason for
      consult. This triggers a message to the requesting clinician and requested
      specialty, thereby enabling bidirectional clinician-clinician communication.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the utilization of e-consults in a
      large Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. METHODS: Data from the electronic
      health record was used to measure frequency of e-consult use by provider type
      (physician or nurse practitioner (NP) and/or physician assistant), and by the
      requesting and responding specialty from January 2012 to December 2013. We
      conducted chart reviews for a purposive sample of e-consults and semi-structured
      interviews with a purposive sample of clinicians and hospital leaders to better
      characterize the process, challenges, and usability of e-consults. RESULTS: A
      total of 7097 e-consults were identified, 1998 from 2012 and 5099 from 2013. More
      than one quarter (27.56%, 1956/7097) of the e-consult requests originated from VA
      facilities in New England other than VABHS and were excluded from subsequent
      analysis. Within the VABHS e-consults (72.44%, 5141/7097), variability in
      frequency and use of e-consults across provider types and specialties was found.
      A total of 64 NPs requested 2407 e-consults (median 12.5, range 1-415). In
      contrast, 448 physicians (including residents and fellows) requested 2349 e
      consults (median 2, range 1-116). More than one third (37.35%, 1920/5141) of e
      consults were sent from primary care to specialists. While most e-consults
      reflected a request for specialist input to a generalist's question in diagnosis
      or management in the ambulatory setting, we identified creative uses of e
      consults, including requests for face-to-face appointments and documentation of
      pre-operative chart reviews; moreover, 7.00% (360/5141) of the e-consults
      originated from our sub-acute and chronic care inpatient units. In interviews,
      requesting providers reported high utility and usability. Specialists recognized
      the value of e-consults but expressed concerns about additional workload.
      CONCLUSIONS: The e-consult mechanism is frequently utilized for its initial
      intended purpose. It has also been adopted for unexpected clinical and
      administrative uses, developing into a "disruptive innovation" and highlighting
      existing gaps in mechanisms for provider communication. Further investigation is
      needed to characterize optimal utilization of e-consults within specialty and the
      medical center, and what features of the e-consult program, other than volume,
      represent valid measures of access and quality care.

PMID- 26872822
TI  - Quantitative Analysis of Carbon Steel with Multi-Line Internal Standard
      Calibration Method Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.
AB  - A multi-line internal standard calibration method is proposed for the
      quantitative analysis of carbon steel using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
      (LIBS). A procedure based on the method was adopted to select the best
      calibration curves and the corresponding emission lines pairs automatically.
      Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy experiments with carbon steel samples were
      performed, and C, Cr, and Mn were analyzed via the proposed method. Calibration
      curves of these elements were constructed via a traditional single line internal
      standard calibration method and a multi-line internal standard calibration
      method. The calibration curves obtained were evaluated with the determination
      coefficient, the root mean square error of cross-validation, and the average
      relative error of cross-validation. All of the parameters were improved
      significantly with the proposed method. The results show that accurate and stable
      calibration curves can be obtained efficiently via the multi-line internal
      standard calibration method. 

PMID- 26872823
TI  - Combining Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with Molecular Laser-Induced
      Fluorescence.
AB  - We propose combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with molecular
      laser-induced fluorescence (MLIF) with resulting plasma-borne molecules as a
      means of studying laser-induced plasma (LIP). Examples of this method with LIP
      created Al, Si, and B monoxides are presented. Applicability of the LIBS-MLIF
      method for elemental and isotope analysis is demonstrated. 

PMID- 26872821
TI  - Large genomic differences between Moraxella bovoculi isolates acquired from the
      eyes of cattle with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis versus the deep
      nasopharynx of asymptomatic cattle.
AB  - Moraxella bovoculi is a recently described bacterium that is associated with
      infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) or "pinkeye" in cattle. In this
      study, closed circularized genomes were generated for seven M. bovoculi isolates:
      three that originated from the eyes of clinical IBK bovine cases and four from
      the deep nasopharynx of asymptomatic cattle. Isolates that originated from the
      eyes of IBK cases profoundly differed from those that originated from the
      nasopharynx of asymptomatic cattle in genome structure, gene content and
      polymorphism diversity and consequently placed into two distinct phylogenetic
      groups. These results suggest that there are genetically distinct strains of M.
      bovoculi that may not associate with IBK.

PMID- 26872824
TI  - Using a mHealth tutorial application to change knowledge and attitude of
      frontline health workers to Ebola virus disease in Nigeria: a before-and-after
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Ebola epidemic exposed the weak state of health systems in West
      Africa and their devastating effect on frontline health workers and the health of
      populations. Fortunately, recent reviews of mobile technology demonstrate that
      mHealth innovations can help alleviate some health system constraints such as
      balancing multiple priorities, lack of appropriate tools to provide services and
      collect data, and limited access to training in health fields such as mother and
      child health, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health. However, there is
      little empirical evidence of mHealth improving health system functions during the
      Ebola epidemic in West Africa. METHODS: We conducted quantitative cross-sectional
      surveys in 14 health facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria, to assess the effect of
      using a tablet computer tutorial application for changing the knowledge and
      attitude of health workers regarding Ebola virus disease. RESULTS: Of 203
      participants who completed pre- and post-intervention surveys, 185 people (or
      91%) were female, 94 participants (or 46.3%) were community health officers, 26
      people (13 %) were nurses/midwives, 8 people (or 4%) were laboratory scientists
      and 75 people (37%) belonged to a group called others. Regarding knowledge of
      Ebola: 178 participants (or 87.7%) had foreknowledge of Ebola before the study.
      Further analysis showed an 11% improvement in average knowledge levels between
      pre- and post-intervention scores with statistically significant differences (P <
      0.05) recorded for questions concerning the transmission of the Ebola virus among
      humans, common symptoms of Ebola fever and whether Ebola fever was preventable.
      Additionally, there was reinforcement of positive attitudes of avoiding the
      following: contact with Ebola patients, eating bush meat and risky burial
      practices as indicated by increases between pre- and post-intervention scores
      from 83 to 92%, 57 to 64% and 67 to 79%, respectively. Moreover, more
      participants (from 95 to 97%) reported a willingness to practice frequent hand
      washing and disinfecting surfaces and equipment following the intervention, and
      more health workers were willing (from 94 to 97%) to use personal protective
      equipment to prevent the transmission of Ebola. CONCLUSIONS: The modest
      improvements in knowledge and reported attitudinal change toward Ebola virus
      disease suggests mHealth tutorial applications could hold promise for training
      health workers and building resilient health systems to respond to epidemics in
      West Africa.

PMID- 26872825
TI  - Editorial: Innovative Methods and Advancement in Current HIV/AIDS Research.

PMID- 26872826
TI  - Acute intermittent porphyria precipitated by atazanavir/ritonavir.
AB  - Porphyrias are a group of metabolic disorders that are relatively uncommon and
      underdiagnosed. Although the association between HIV infection and
      antiretrovirals with porphyria cutanea tarda is well established, there are fewer
      data linking HIV and the acute hepatic porphyrias. We report the first case of
      acute intermittent porphyria precipitated by the drugs atazanavir and ritonavir,
      presenting with unexplained abdominal pain.

PMID- 26872827
TI  - Genome-wide studies reveal novel and distinct biological pathways regulated by
      SIN3 isoforms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The multisubunit SIN3 complex is a global transcriptional regulator.
      In Drosophila, a single Sin3A gene encodes different isoforms of SIN3, of which
      SIN3 187 and SIN3 220 are the major isoforms. Previous studies have demonstrated
      functional non-redundancy of SIN3 isoforms. The role of SIN3 isoforms in
      regulating distinct biological processes, however, is not well characterized.
      RESULTS: We established a Drosophila S2 cell culture model system in which cells
      predominantly express either SIN3 187 or SIN3 220. To identify genomic targets of
      SIN3 isoforms, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep
      sequencing. Our data demonstrate that upon overexpression of SIN3 187, the level
      of SIN3 220 decreased and the large majority of genomic sites bound by SIN3 220
      were instead bound by SIN3 187. We used RNA-seq to identify genes regulated by
      the expression of one isoform or the other. In S2 cells, which predominantly
      express SIN3 220, we found that SIN3 220 directly regulates genes involved in
      metabolism and cell proliferation. We also determined that SIN3 187 regulates a
      unique set of genes and likely modulates expression of many genes also regulated
      by SIN3 220. Interestingly, biological pathways enriched for genes specifically
      regulated by SIN3 187 strongly suggest that this isoform plays an important role
      during the transition from the embryonic to the larval stage of development.
      CONCLUSION: These data establish the role of SIN3 isoforms in regulating distinct
      biological processes. This study substantially contributes to our understanding
      of the complexity of gene regulation by SIN3.

PMID- 26872828
TI  - Immediate effect of vibratory stimuli on quadriceps function in healthy adults.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of whole body
      vibration (WBV) and local muscle vibration (LMV) on quadriceps function. METHODS:
      Sixty adults were randomized to WBV, LMV, or control groups. Quadriceps function
      [Hoffmann (H)-reflex, active motor threshold (AMT), motor evoked potential (MEP)
      and electromyographic amplitude, peak torque (PT), rate of torque development
      (RTD), and central activation ratio (CAR)] was assessed before and immediately
      after and 10 and 20 minutes after interventions. RESULTS: WBV improved PT, CAR,
      AMT, EMG, and MEP amplitude, and EMG amplitude and CAR were greater than control
      after application. LMV improved EMG amplitude and AMT, and EMG amplitude was
      greater than control after application. AMT remained lower 10 and 20 minutes
      after WBV and LMV. No differences were noted between LMV and WBV. Vibration did
      not influence H-reflex or RTD. CONCLUSIONS: WBV and LMV increased quadriceps
      function and may be used to enhance the efficacy of strengthening protocols.
      Muscle Nerve 54: 469-478, 2016.

PMID- 26872829
TI  - Traumatic manual enucleation (gouging) from assault.

PMID- 26872830
TI  - Rasmussen number greater than one.
AB  - This essay describes the ramifying influence of Jens Rasmussen, illustrating how
      his work lives on through people whom he has influenced, even though they may
      have never directly collaborated. I approach this in three ways: a social network
      analysis of the 'Rasmussen number' (an analogue of the Erdos number); and two
      citations network analyses based on different search domains and different
      network structures.

PMID- 26872831
TI  - Perinatal vitamin D levels are not associated with later risk of developing
      pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease: a Danish case-cohort study.
AB  - Objective Basic and epidemiologic studies on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
      have suggested an association between vitamin D and IBD risk. Though, the
      literature on IBD - especially pediatric-onset IBD - and vitamin D is still in
      its cradle. We therefore wanted to examine if levels of 25(OH)D at birth were
      associated with increased risk of developing pediatric-onset IBD. Material and
      methods A case-cohort study composed of cases diagnosed with Crohn's disease,
      ulcerative colitis or indeterminate/unclassified colitis and healthy controls.
      Cases and controls were matched on date of birth and were born in the period 1981
      2004. Cases were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. The concentration of
      25(OH)D was assessed from neonatal dried blood spots using a highly sensitive
      liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated
      using conditional logistic regression and two-way ANOVA were used to test for
      season and birth year 25(OH)D variations. A total of 384 matched pairs were
      included in the statistical analyses. Results No significant association were
      found between levels of 25(OH)D and IBD risk in the adjusted model (OR [95% CI]
      (per 25 nmol/L increase), 1.12 [0.88; 1.42], p = 0.35). 25(OH)D levels were found
      to fluctuate significantly with season (p < 0.001) and year (p < 0.001).
      Median/Q1-Q3 values for 25(OH)D were 27.1/16.5-39.5 nmol/L for cases and
      25.7/16.1-39.4 nmol/L for controls. Conclusion Our study do not suggest that a
      window of vulnerability exist around time of birth in regards to 25(OH)D levels
      and later pediatric-onset IBD risk. 

PMID- 26872832
TI  - Haspin has Multiple Functions in the Plant Cell Division Regulatory Network.
AB  - Progression of cell division is controlled by various mitotic kinases. In animal
      cells, phosphorylation of histone H3 at Thr3 by the kinase Haspin (haploid germ
      cell-specific nuclear protein kinase) promotes centromeric Aurora B localization
      to regulate chromosome segregation. However, less is known about the function of
      Haspin in regulatory networks in plant cells. Here, we show that inhibition of
      Haspin with 5-iodotubercidin (5-ITu) in Bright Yellow-2 (BY-2) cells delayed
      chromosome alignment. Haspin inhibition also prevented the centromeric
      localization of Aurora3 kinase (AUR3) and disrupted its function. This suggested
      that Haspin plays a role in the specific positioning of AUR3 on chromosomes in
      plant cells, a function conserved in animals. The results also indicated that
      Haspin and AUR3 are involved in the same pathway, which regulates chromosome
      alignment during prometaphase/metaphase. Remarkably, Haspin inhibition by 5-ITu
      also led to a severe cytokinesis defect, resulting in binuclear cells with a
      partially formed cell plate. The 5-ITu treatment did not affect microtubules,
      AUR1/2 or the NACK-PQR pathway; however, it did alter the distribution of actin
      filaments on the cell plate. Together, these results suggested that Haspin has
      several functions in regulating cell division in plant cells: in the localization
      of AUR3 on centromeres and in regulating late cell plate expansion during
      cytokinesis. 

PMID- 26872833
TI  - A Feed-Forward Loop Consisting of the Response Regulator RpaB and the Small RNA
      PsrR1 Controls Light Acclimation of Photosystem I Gene Expression in the
      Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
AB  - Since cyanobacteria need to decrease PSI content to avoid absorption of excess
      light energy, down-regulation of PSI gene expression is one of the key
      characteristics of the high-light (HL) acclimation response. The transcriptional
      regulator RpaB and the small RNA PsrR1 (photosynthesis regulatory RNA1) have been
      suggested to be the two most critical factors for this response in Synechocystis
      sp. PCC 6803. In this study, we found that the HLR1 DNA-binding motif, the
      recognition sequence for RpaB, is highly conserved in the core promoter region of
      the psrR1 gene among cyanobacterial species. Gel mobility shift assay revealed
      that RpaB binds to the HLR1 sequence of psrR1 in vitro. RNA gel blot analysis
      together with chromatin affinity purification (ChAP) analysis suggested that PSI
      genes are activated and the psrR1 gene is repressed by the binding of RpaB under
      low-light (LL) conditions. A decrease in DNA binding affinity of RpaB occurs
      within 5 min after the shift from LL to HL conditions, leading to the prompt
      decrease in PSI promoter activity together with derepression of psrR1 gene
      expression. Accumulating PsrR1 molecules then prevent translation from pre
      existing PSI transcripts. By this dual repression at transcriptional and post
      transcriptional levels, rapid and strict down-regulation of PSI expression under
      HL is secured. Our findings suggest that RpaB and PsrR1 constitute a feed-forward
      loop for the regulation of PSI gene expression to achieve a rapid acclimation
      response to the damaging HL conditions.

PMID- 26872834
TI  - OsCOL10, a CONSTANS-Like Gene, Functions as a Flowering Time Repressor Downstream
      of Ghd7 in Rice.
AB  - Flowering time, or heading date, is a critical agronomic trait that determines
      the cropping season and regional adaptability, and ultimately grain yield in
      rice. A number of genes involved in photoperiodic flowering have been cloned and
      their roles in modulating expression of the flowering genes have been
      characterized to a certain extent. However, much less is known about the pathway
      in transmitting the day length response signal(s) to induce transition to
      reproductive growth. Here, we report a constitutive flowering repressor OsCOL10,
      which encodes a member of the CONSTANS-like (COL) family. Transgenic rice plants
      overexpressing OsCOL10 (driven by a strong promoter or by fusing it to the
      activation domain of VP64) showed delayed flowering time under both short and
      long days.OsCOL10 is affected by the circadian clock and is preferentially
      expressed in leaf mesophyll cells; it is localized to the nucleus and has
      transcriptional activation activity. Further studies show that OsCOL10 represses
      the expression of theFT-like genes RFT1 and Hd3a through Ehd1. Transcripts of
      OsCOL10 are more abundant in plants carrying a functional Ghd7 allele or
      overexpressing Ghd7 than in Ghd7-deficient plants, thus placing OsCOL10
      downstream of Ghd7.Taking these findings together, we conclude that OsCOL10
      functions as a flowering time repressor that links Ghd7 and Ehd1 in rice.

PMID- 26872835
TI  - Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution and Functional Divergence of MYB
      Transcription Factors in Chinese White Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri).
AB  - The MYB superfamily is large and functionally diverse in plants. To date, MYB
      family genes have not yet been identified in Chinese white pear (Pyrus
      bretschneideri), and their functions remain unclear. In this study, we identified
      231 genes as candidate MYB genes and divided them into four subfamilies. The R2R3
      MYB (PbrMYB) family shared an R2R3 domain with 104 amino acid residues, including
      five conserved tryptophan residues. The Pbr MYB family was divided into 37
      functional subgroups including 33 subgroups which contained both MYB genes of
      Rosaceae plants and AtMYB genes, and four subgroups which included only Rosaceae
      MYB genes or AtMYB genes. PbrMYB genes with similar functions clustered into the
      same subgroup, indicating functional conservation. We also found that whole
      genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplications played critical roles in the
      expansion of the MYB family. The 87 Pbr MYB duplicated gene pairs dated back to
      the two WGD events. Purifying selection was the primary force driving Pbr MYB
      gene evolution. The 15 gene pairs presented 1-7 codon sites under positive
      selection. A total of 147 expressed genes were identified from RNA-sequencing
      data of fruit, and six Pbr MYB members in subgroup C1 were identified as
      important candidate genes in the regulation of lignin synthesis by quantitative
      real-time PCR analysis. Further correlation analysis revealed that six PbrMYBs
      were significantly correlated with five structural gene families (F5H, HCT, CCR,
      POD and C3'H) in the lignin pathway. The phylogenetic, evolution and expression
      analyses of the MYB gene family in Chinese white pear establish a solid
      foundation for future comprehensive functional analysis of Pbr MYB genes.

PMID- 26872836
TI  - Functional Analysis of a MATE Gene OsFRDL2 Revealed its Involvement in Al-Induced
      Secretion of Citrate, but a Lower Contribution to Al Tolerance in Rice.
AB  - The multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporters represent a large
      transporter family in plants, but the role of most genes in this family has not
      been examined. We functionally characterized a MATE family member, OsFRDL2, in
      rice (Oryza sativa). OsFRDL2 showed an efflux transport activity for citrate when
      it was expressed in both Xenopus oocytes and cultured tobacco cells. OsFRDL2 was
      mainly expressed in the roots and its expression was not induced by iron (Fe)
      deficiency, but it was rapidly up-regulated by aluminum (Al). Furthermore, the
      expression of OsFRDL2 was regulated by ART1, a C2H2-type zinc-finger
      transcription factor for Al tolerance. OsFRDL2 protein was localized at
      unidentified vesicles in the cytosol, but not co-localized with either
      mitochondria or peroxisomes when expressed in both onion epidermal cells and
      cultured tobacco cells. Knockout of OsFRDL2 decreased Al-induced secretion of
      citrate from the roots, but did not affect the internal citrate concentration.
      The Al-induced inhibition of root elongation was similar between the OsFRDL2
      knockout line and its wild-type rice. Knockout of OsFRDL2 did not affect the
      translocation of Fe from the roots to the shoots. A double mutant between osfrdl2
      and osfrdl4 or osfrdl1 did not further decrease the Al-induced citrate secretion
      and Fe translocation compared with the single mutant. Collectively, our results
      indicate that although OsFRDL2 is involved in the Al-induced secretion of
      citrate, its contribution to high Al tolerance is relatively small in rice. 

PMID- 26872837
TI  - Redox-Dependent Conformational Dynamics of Decameric 2-Cysteine Peroxiredoxin and
      its Interaction with Cyclophilin 20-3.
AB  - 2-Cysteine peroxiredoxins (2-CysPrxs) switch between functions as a thiol
      peroxidase, chaperone, an interaction partner and possibly a proximity-based
      oxidase in a redox-dependent manner. In photosynthetic eukaryotes, 2-CysPrx
      localizes to the plastid, functions in the context of photosynthesis and enables
      an ascorbate peroxidase-independent water-water cycle for detoxifying H2O2 The
      high degree of evolutionary conservation of 2-CysPrx suggests that the switching
      is an essential characteristic and needed to transduce redox information to
      downstream pathways and regulation. The study aimed at exploring the dissociation
      behavior of 2-CysPrx and its interactions with cyclophilin depending on bulk
      phase conditions. Isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC), dynamic light
      scattering and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) proved the previously
      suggested model that reduced 2-CysPrx below a critical transition concentration
      (CTC) exists in its dimeric state, and above the CTC adopts the decameric state.
      The presence of cyclophilin 20-3 (Cyp20-3) affected the CTC of a 2-CysPrx decamer
      suggesting interaction which was further quantified by direct titration of 2
      CysPrx with Cyp20-3, and in overlays. Finally catalytic inactivation assays
      showed the higher catalytic efficiency of 2-CysPrx at pH 8 compared with pH 7.2,
      but also revealed increased inactivation by hyperoxidation at pH 8.
      Interestingly, calculation of the average turnover number until inactivation gave
      rather similar values of 243 and 268 catalytic cycles at pH 8 and pH 7.2,
      respectively. These quantitative data support a model where 2-CysPrx and Cyp20-3,
      by interaction, form a redox-sensitive regulatory module in the chloroplast which
      is under control of the photosynthesis-linked stromal pH value, the redox state
      and additional stromal protein factor(s).

PMID- 26872838
TI  - A Transcription Factor gammaMYB1 Binds to the P1BS cis-Element and Activates PLA2
      gamma Expression with its Co-Activator gammaMYB2.
AB  - Phospholipase A2(PLA2) hydrolyzes phospholipid molecules to produce two products
      that are both precursors of second messengers of signaling pathways and signaling
      molecules per se.Arabidopsis thaliana PLA2 paralogs (-beta,-gamma and -delta)
      play critical roles during pollen development, pollen germination and tube
      growth. In this study, analysis of the PLA2-gamma promoter using a deletion
      series revealed that the promoter region -153 to -1 is crucial for its pollen
      specificity. Using a yeast one-hybrid screening assay with the PLA2-gamma
      promoter and an Arabidopsis transcription factor (TF)-only library, we isolated
      two novel MYB-like TFs belonging to the MYB-CC family, denoted here as gammaMYB1
      and gammaMYB2. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we found that these two
      TFs bind directly to the P1BS (phosphate starvation response 1-binding
      sequence)cis-element of the PLA2-gamma promoter. gammaMYB1 alone functioned as a
      transcriptional activator for PLA2-gamma expression, whereas gammaMYB2 directly
      interacted with gammaMYB1 and enhanced its activation. Overexpression of
      gammaMYB1 in the mature pollen grain led to increased expression of not only the
      PLA2-gamma gene but also of several genes whose promoters contain the P1BS cis
      element and which are involved in the Pi starvation response, phospholipid
      biosynthesis and sugar synthesis. Based on these results, we suggest that the TF
      gammaMYB1 binds to the P1BS cis-element, activates the expression of PLA2-gamma
      with the assistance of its co-activator, gammaMYB2, and regulates the expression
      of several target genes involved in many plant metabolic reactions.

PMID- 26872839
TI  - The Increasing Impact of Activity-Based Protein Profiling in Plant Science.
AB  - The active proteome dictates plant physiology. Yet, active proteins are difficult
      to predict based on transcript or protein levels, because protein activities are
      regulated post-translationally in their microenvironments. Over the past 10
      years, activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is increasingly used in plant
      science. ABPP monitors the activities of hundreds of plant proteins using tagged
      chemical probes that react with the active site of proteins in a mechanism
      dependent manner. Since labeling is covalent and irreversible, labeled proteins
      can be detected and identified on protein gels and by mass spectrometry using
      tagged fluorophores and/or biotin. Here, we discuss general concepts, approaches
      and practical considerations of ABPP, before we summarize the discoveries made
      using 40 validated probes representing 14 chemotypes that can monitor the active
      state of >4,500 plant proteins. These discoveries and new opportunities indicate
      that this emerging functional proteomic technology is a powerful discovery tool
      that will have an increasing impact on plant science. 

PMID- 26872840
TI  - A multilevel analysis to explain self-reported adverse health effects and
      adaptation to urban heat: a cross-sectional survey in the deprived areas of 9
      Canadian cities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study identifies the characteristics and perceptions related to
      the individual, the dwelling and the neighbourhood of residence associated with
      the prevalence of self-reported adverse health impacts and an adaptation index
      when it is very hot and humid in summer in the most disadvantaged sectors of the
      nine most populous cities of Quebec, Canada, in 2011. METHODS: The study uses a
      cross-sectional design and a stratified representative sample; 3485 people
      (individual-level) were interviewed in their residence. They lived in 1647
      buildings (building-level) in 87 most materially and socially disadvantaged
      census dissemination areas (DA-level). Multilevel analysis was used to perform 3
      level models nested one in the other to examine individual impacts as well as the
      adaptation index. RESULTS: For the prevalence of impacts, which is 46 %, the
      logistic model includes 13 individual-level indicators (including air
      conditioning and the adaptation index) and 1 building-level indicator. For the
      adaptation index, with values ranging from -3 to +3, the linear model has 10
      individual-level indicators, 1 building-level indicator and 2 DA-level
      indicators. Of all these indicators, 9 were associated to the prevalence of
      impacts only and 8 to the adaptation index only. CONCLUSION: This 3-level
      analysis shows the differential importance of the characteristics of residents,
      buildings and their surroundings on self-reported adverse health impacts and on
      adaptation (other than air conditioning) under hot and humid summer conditions.
      It also identifies indicators specific to impacts or adaptation. People with
      negative health impacts from heat rely more on adaptation strategies while low
      physical activity and good dwelling/building insulation lead to lower adaptation.
      Better neighbourhood walkability favors adaptations other than air conditioning.
      Thus, adaptation to heat in these neighbourhoods seems reactive rather than
      preventive. These first multi-level insights pave the way for the development of
      a theoretical framework of the process from heat exposure to impacts and
      adaptation for research, surveillance and public health interventions at all
      relevant levels.

PMID- 26872841
TI  - The Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety in Men on Active
      Surveillance for Prostate Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Anxiety may serve as a major barrier to participation in active
      surveillance. Intolerance of uncertainty, that is the tendency to perceive the
      potential for negative events as threatening, has been linked to cancer related
      worry. Accordingly we explored prospectively the relationship of intolerance of
      uncertainty with anxiety along with other clinical factors among men treated with
      active surveillance for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 119
      men with D'Amico low risk prostate cancer participating in active surveillance
      completed the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), MAX-PC (Memorial
      Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer), IUS (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale) and I
      PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) surveys from 2011 to 2014. We
      evaluated the relationship between anxiety and IUS score after adjusting for
      patient characteristics, cancer information and I-PSS using bivariable and
      multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Of the men 18 (15.1%) and 17 (14.3%) reported
      clinically significant anxiety on the generalized and prostate cancer specific
      scales, respectively. On bivariable analysis men with moderate/severe urinary
      symptoms and higher IUS scores reported more generalized and prostate cancer
      specific anxiety than men with mild urinary symptoms and lower IUS scores,
      respectively (p <=0.008). Men with depressive symptoms (p = 0.024) or a family
      history of prostate cancer (p = 0.006) experienced greater generalized anxiety.
      On multivariable analysis IUS score was significantly associated with generalized
      and prostate cancer specific anxiety (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09-1.38 and OR 1.29, 95%
      CI 1.13-1.49, respectively) while moderate/severe urinary symptoms were
      associated with prostate cancer specific anxiety (OR 6.89, 95% CI 1.33-35.68).
      CONCLUSIONS: Intolerance of uncertainty and urinary symptoms may promote anxiety
      in men on active surveillance for prostate cancer. Patient education, management
      of lower urinary tract symptoms and behavioral interventions may lessen anxiety
      related to uncertainty intolerance and help maintain patient engagement in active
      surveillance.

PMID- 26872842
TI  - Patterns of Care for Newly Diagnosed Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in the United
      States.
AB  - PURPOSE: We examined diagnostic tests and treatment patterns in men with new
      onset benign prostatic hyperplasia using consolidated national electronic health
      record data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Humedica(r) electronic health record
      database consists of de-identified patient records from approximately 25 million
      patients in the United States. Using this database, men with a new benign
      prostatic hyperplasia diagnosis (benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder neck
      obstruction, urinary retention and incomplete bladder emptying) between July 1,
      2009 and June 30, 2012 were included in study. Exclusion criteria included
      conditions such as genitourinary cancers, radiation cystitis, neurogenic bladder
      and urological pain diagnoses. Diagnostic tests and treatments were summarized
      and stratified by age (less than 65 vs 65 years or greater) and serum prostate
      specific antigen level. RESULTS: A total of 38,252 men met inclusion criteria.
      Mean followup was 1,020 days. Serum creatinine in 92% of patients, serum prostate
      specific antigen in 76% and urinalysis in 52% were the most common tests.
      Invasive testing was obtained in less than 20% of patients. Treatments included
      watchful waiting in 40% of patients, pharmacological therapy in 59.4% and surgery
      in 2.2%. alpha-Blockers were prescribed in 50.7% of men. Men older than 65 years
      and with higher prostate specific antigen levels were less likely to be treated
      with watchful waiting. Therapy with a 5-ARI (5-alpha reductase inhibitor) was
      prescribed in 23% to 29% of men across all prostate specific antigen categories.
      CONCLUSIONS: The majority of clinical care for new onset benign prostatic
      hyperplasia was in concordance with guideline recommendations. Based on prostate
      specific antigen values, 5-ARI therapy was underutilized in men with large
      prostates and was over utilized in men with small prostates.

PMID- 26872843
TI  - An unusual case of atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 26872844
TI  - LRP2, an auxiliary receptor that controls sonic hedgehog signaling in development
      and disease.
AB  - To fulfill their multiple roles in organ development and adult tissue
      homeostasis, hedgehog (HH) morphogens act through their receptor Patched (PTCH)
      on target cells. However, HH actions also require HH binding proteins, auxiliary
      cell surface receptors that agonize or antagonize morphogen signaling in a
      context-dependent manner. Here, we discuss recent findings on the LDL receptor
      related protein 2 (LRP2), an exemplary HH binding protein that modulates sonic
      hedgehog activities in stem and progenitor cell niches in embryonic and adult
      tissues. LRP2 functions are crucial for developmental processes in a number of
      tissues, including the brain, the eye, and the heart, and defects in this
      receptor pathway are the cause of devastating congenital diseases in humans.
      Developmental Dynamics 245:569-579, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26872845
TI  - The neurodevelopment of social buffering and fear learning: integration and
      crosstalk.

PMID- 26872847
TI  - Studying ritual and individual orientations to alcohol use: Drinking motives and
      their connection to intoxication in Finland in the 2000s.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Finland was an agricultural country until the 1960s. Thereafter,
      Finland modernized rapidly. Studies have postulated that as Finland becomes
      modernized, intoxication-oriented drinking would gradually decrease. Current
      studies, however, show that heavy episodic drinking has lately become more common
      among men and women. Simultaneously, drinking is seldom motivated by the purpose
      of getting drunk. The article tackles this conundrum by approaching drinking
      motives from a ritual and an individual perspective. We study what kinds of
      drinking motives currently exist in Finland, their prevalence among different
      population groups, how they vary by social background, and their association with
      intoxication. METHODS: The data were collected as part of the nationally
      representative Drinking Habit Survey in 2008. It consists of verbal descriptions
      on the most recent drinking occasion (N=521), estimations of its blood alcohol
      content, and responses to pre-defined standardized motive questions related to
      the latest drinking occasions (N=8732). RESULTS: Besides the motive 'to get
      drunk', also the motives of drinking as a 'time-out' ritual, 'to get into the
      mood' and 'I drunk to brighten up' predict a "wet" drinking occasion. Overall,
      Finns highlight drinking motives of sociability, relaxation, meal drinking and
      situational factors. The more educated orientate to their drinking more with
      motives that express mastery of cultural capital and individuality. The less
      educated and the young, again, orientate to their drinking more with motives that
      imply intoxication and external expectations. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the ritual
      perspective discloses what kinds of situations predict intoxication, the
      individual perspective reveals what kinds of individualistic orientations are
      associated with drunkenness. These perspectives partly speak past each other and
      are difficult to combine. The article proposes that situational perspective would
      serve as a bridge between them and enable the incorporation of results from
      different research traditions.

PMID- 26872846
TI  - Characterising dark net marketplace purchasers in a sample of regular
      psychostimulant users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The past five years has seen a proliferation in marketplaces
      operating on the 'dark net' selling licit and illicit substances. While
      monitoring systems have investigated the specific substances for sale on these
      marketplaces, less is known about consumer motivations for accessing these
      marketplaces and factors associated with their use. METHODS: An Australian
      national sample (n=800) recruited on the basis of regular psychostimulant use was
      recruited and asked about purchasing substances from dark net marketplaces and
      the reasons for doing so. Respondents who had purchased any drug from a dark net
      marketplace in the preceding year were compared to those who had not in terms of
      demographic information and factors including drug use, criminal activity, and
      sexual and mental health. RESULTS: Nine percent (n=68) of the sample had
      purchased from dark net markets in the past year. MDMA, LSD and cannabis were the
      three most commonly purchased substances, and the main benefits cited for
      purchasing online were the better quality and lower cost of drugs available.
      Controlling for other factors, participants who purchased from dark net
      marketplaces in the past year tended to be younger, more likely to be involved in
      recent property crime and to have used more classes of drugs in the preceding six
      months, specifically psychedelics and 'new psychoactive drugs'. CONCLUSIONS:
      Though a small minority of participants reported having purchased drugs online in
      the preceding six months, these appeared to be a more 'entrenched' group of
      consumers, with more diverse substance use and rates of criminal activity. For
      consumers in the current sample reporting recent dark net usage, country borders
      are now less of a significant barrier to purchase and there is a wider range of
      substances available than ever before.

PMID- 26872848
TI  - Understanding client satisfaction with HIV testing and counseling services: a
      mixed-methods study in four African countries.
AB  - This paper uses mixed methods to provide comparative evidence across four African
      countries and identify those aspects of the testing experience that are the most
      important components of clients' satisfaction with services. We analyze data from
      three sources: a survey of clients at health facilities that included closed
      ended questions about specific services and interactions around testing;
      responses to open-ended questions about testing experiences that were part of the
      same survey; and semi-structured interviews with a subsample of respondents who
      described their experience of testing and being diagnosed with HIV. High levels
      of reported satisfaction are found in both the survey and interview. The critical
      factors contributing to client satisfaction included: the three C's of testing
      counseling, consent, and confidentiality, client-provider interactions,
      convenience of location, "good services", and reliable test results. 

PMID- 26872849
TI  - The venous lymph node flap for the treatment of peripheral lymphedema:
      Preliminary evidence.

PMID- 26872850
TI  - Early environmental enrichment affects neurobehavioral development and prevents
      brain damage in rats submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.
AB  - Our previous results demonstrated improved cognition in adolescent rats housed in
      environmental enrichment (EE) that underwent neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The
      aim of this study was to investigate the effects of early EE on neurobehavioral
      development and brain damage in rats submitted to neonatal HI. Wistar rats were
      submitted to the HI procedure on the 7th postnatal day (PND) and housed in an
      enriched environment (8th-20th PND). The maturation of physical characteristics
      and the neurological reflexes were evaluated and the volume of striatum, corpus
      callosum and neocortex was measured. Data analysis demonstrated a clear effect of
      EE on neurobehavioral development; also, daily performance was improved in
      enriched rats on righting, negative geotaxis and cliff aversion reflex. HI caused
      a transient motor deficit on gait latency. Brain atrophy was found in HI animals
      and this damage was partially prevented by the EE. In conclusion, early EE
      stimulated neurobehavioral development in neonate rats and also protects the
      neocortex and the corpus callosum from atrophy following HI. These findings
      reinforce the potential of EE as a strategy for rehabilitation following neonatal
      HI and provide scientific support to the use of this therapeutic strategy in the
      treatment of neonatal brain injuries in humans. 

PMID- 26872851
TI  - Role of contralesional hemisphere in paretic arm reaching in patients with severe
      arm paresis due to stroke: A preliminary report.
AB  - Stroke is highly prevalent and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability
      among American adults. Impaired movement (i.e. paresis) of the stroke-affected
      arm is a major contributor to post-stroke disability, yet the mechanisms of upper
      extremity motor recovery are poorly understood, particularly in severely impaired
      patients who lack hand function. To address this problem, we examined the
      functional relevance of the contralesional hemisphere in paretic arm motor
      performance in individuals with severe arm paresis. Twelve individuals with
      severe stroke-induced arm paresis (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment=17.1 +/-
      8.5; maximum score=66) participated in the study. Participants performed a
      reaching response time task with their paretic arm. At varying time intervals
      following a 'Go' cue, a pair of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulses
      were delivered to contralesional hemisphere primary motor (M1) or dorsal pre
      motor cortex (PMd) to momentarily disrupt the pattern of neural firing. Response
      time components and hand-path characteristics were compared across the 2 sites
      for trials with and without TMS disruption. There was no significant effect of
      TMS disruption on overall Response time or Reaction time, but Movement time was
      significantly longer (i.e. slower) with disruption of the contralesional
      hemisphere (p=0.015), regardless of which area was stimulated. Peak hand-path
      velocity and hand-path smoothness were also significantly lower (p=0.005 and
      p<0.0001, respectively) with TMS disruption of the contralesional hemisphere. The
      data from this study provide evidence supporting a functionally relevant role of
      contralesional hemisphere motor areas in paretic arm reaching movements in
      individuals with severe post-stroke arm impairment.

PMID- 26872852
TI  - Longitudinal study on modulated corticospinal excitability throughout recovery in
      supratentorial stroke.
AB  - Corticospinal excitability (CSE) is modulated by stroke-induced lesions affecting
      the brain. This modulation is known to be dependent on the timing of the
      evaluation, and strongest abnormalities are often found in the acute stage. Our
      study aimed to characterize changes in CSE asymmetry between the affected and the
      unaffected hemisphere (AH and UH) during the first month after stroke onset and
      at 6 month follow-up. Neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) was
      used to assess the CSE of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the hand
      and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of the leg in 16 patients over 5 time-points.
      AH excitability recovered significantly during 6 months, whereas interhemispheric
      asymmetry remained significant up to 1 month post-stroke in the APB muscle.
      Greater initial CSE was associated with good motor function at 6 months. The
      motor cortical excitatory recovery initiated within week of the stroke and was
      most prominent within 1 month after stroke onset. Lesion size correlated with CSE
      of the UH at 10 days, while overall severity of the symptoms correlated inversely
      with CSE of the AH. This study demonstrates the quick improvement in the CSE via
      estimation of interhemispheric asymmetry; however, the recovery in the asymmetry
      continues to normalize even after reaching the threshold for normal values in
      CSE.

PMID- 26872853
TI  - A conceptual framework for rationalized and standardized Universal Newborn
      Hearing Screening (UNHS) programs.
AB  - Congenital hearing loss is the most frequent birth defect. The American Academy
      of Pediatrics and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing established quality of
      care process indicators for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening starting from
      1999. In a previous systematic review of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
      studies we highlighted substantial variability in program design and in reported
      performance data. In order to overcome these heterogeneous findings we think it
      is necessary to optimize the implementation of Universal Newborn Hearing
      Screening programs with an appropriate application of the planning, executing,
      and monitoring, verifications and reporting phases. For this reason we propose a
      conceptual framework that logically integrates these three phases and,
      consequently, a tool (a check-list) for their rationalization and
      standardization.Our paper intends to stimulate debate on how to ameliorate the
      routine application of high quality Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs.
      The conceptual framework is proposed to optimize, rationalise and standardise
      their implementation. The checklist is intended to allow an inter-program
      comparison by removing heterogeneity in processes description and assessment. 

PMID- 26872854
TI  - Linear epidermolytic ichthyosis: detection of granular degeneration with
      shrinking nuclei showing focal parakeratosis.

PMID- 26872855
TI  - Scoring systems for infantile hemangioma: the Hemangioma Activity Score versus
      the Hemangioma Activity and Severity Index.

PMID- 26872856
TI  - Freezing and non-freezing cold weather injuries: a systematic review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The debilitating impact of cold weather on the human body is one of
      the world's oldest recorded injuries. The severe and life-changing damage which
      can be caused is now more commonly seen recreationally in extreme outdoor sports
      rather than in occupational settings such as the military. The diagnosis and
      treatment of these injuries need to be completed carefully but quickly to reduce
      the risk of loss of limb and possibly life. Therefore, we have conducted a
      systematic review of the literature surrounding cold weather injuries (CWIs) to
      ascertain the epidemiology and current management strategies. SOURCES OF DATA:
      Medline (PubMED), EMBASE, CINHAL, Cochrane Collaboration Database, Web of
      Science, Scopus and Google Scholar. AREAS OF AGREEMENT IMMEDIATE FIELD TREATMENT:
      The risk of freeze thaw freeze injuries. Delayed surgical intervention when
      possible. Different epidemiology of freezing and non-freezing injuries. AREAS OF
      CONTROVERSY: Prophylatic use of antibiotics; the use of vasodilators surgical and
      medical. GROWING POINTS: The use of ilioprost and PFG2a for the treatment of deep
      frostbite. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: The treatment of non-freezing
      CWIs with their long-term follow-up.

PMID- 26872858
TI  - Ebola virus disease: emergence, outbreak and future directions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The West African Ebola crisis of 2013-15 is the largest outbreak
      since Ebola was first identified; Ebola has high case fatality. SOURCES OF DATA:
      Pubmed with terms 'Ebola' and 'EVD' from January 1976 to June 2015. Public domain
      material. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: The emergence of Ebola virus, virology, clinical
      features and the major elements of the 2014 outbreak and the public health
      response. Ebola is only transmitted by direct contact with infected individuals
      (including dead bodies) and their body fluids. Methods of control in hospitals
      and burials, and protection of healthcare workers are well established if
      difficult to achieve. AREAS OF CONTENTION: There remains uncertainty surrounding
      specific public health interventions and novel therapies (including vaccines).
      How best to reduce transmission in the community during major outbreaks remains
      unclear. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: The potential of vaccine and therapeutic candidates
      in the event of another outbreak on this scale. . SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched
      all entries on the MedLine database/PubMed from 1976-2015 with the MeSH terms
      'ebola', 'EVD', 'haemorrhagic fever'. We also reviewed publically available
      information via institutional websites from Governmental, NGOs and news
      organizations pertaining to the above search terms.

PMID- 26872859
TI  - Vertebral osteomyelitis in adults: an update.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The incidence of vertebral osteomyelitis is increasing, attributed
      to an ageing population with inherent co-morbidities and improved case
      ascertainment. SOURCES OF DATA: References were retrieved from the PubMed
      database using the terms 'vertebral osteomyelitis' and 'spondylodiscitis' between
      January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2014 published in English as checked in May 2014
      (>1000 abstracts checked). AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Blood cultures and whole spine
      imaging with magnetic resonance imaging are essential investigations. Thorough
      debridement is the mainstay of surgical management, although placing metalwork in
      active infection is becoming increasingly common. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The
      extent of pursuing spinal biopsies to determine aetiology, antimicrobial choices
      and duration, monitoring the response to treatment, and surgical techniques and
      timing all vary widely in clinical practice with heterogeneous studies limiting
      comparisons. Surgery, rather than conservative approaches, is being proposed as
      the default management choice, because it can, in carefully selected patients,
      offer faster reduction in pain scores and improved quality of life. AREAS TIMELY
      FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Further studies are needed to define the most effective
      technique for spinal biopsies to maximize determining aetiology. High-quality
      trials are required to provide an evidence base for both the medical and surgical
      management of vertebral osteomyelitis, including challenging medical management
      as the default option.

PMID- 26872857
TI  - The aetiopathogenesis of fatigue: unpredictable, complex and persistent.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common condition characterized by
      severe fatigue with post-exertional malaise, impaired cognitive ability, poor
      sleep quality, muscle pain, multi-joint pain, tender lymph nodes, sore throat or
      headache. Its defining symptom, fatigue is common to several diseases. AREAS OF
      AGREEMENT: Research has established a broad picture of impairment across
      autonomic, endocrine and inflammatory systems though progress seems to have
      reached an impasse. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The absence of a clear consensus view
      of the pathophysiology of fatigue suggests the need to switch from a focus on
      abnormalities in one system to an experimental and clinical approach which
      integrates findings across multiple systems and their constituent parts and to
      consider multiple environmental factors. GROWING POINTS: We discuss this with
      reference to three key factors, non-determinism, non-reductionism and self
      organization and suggest that an approach based on these principles may afford a
      coherent explanatory framework for much of the observed phenomena in fatigue and
      offers promising avenues for future research. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING
      RESEARCH: By adopting this approach, the field can examine issues regarding
      aetiopathogenesis and treatment, with relevance for future research and clinical
      practice.

PMID- 26872860
TI  - S100A7: A rAMPing up AMP molecule in psoriasis.
AB  - S100A7 (psoriasin), an EF-hand type calcium binding protein localized in
      epithelial cells, regulates cell proliferation and differentiation. An S100A7
      overexpression may occur in response to inflammatory stimuli, such in psoriasis,
      a chronic inflammatory autoimmune-mediated skin disease. Increasing evidence
      suggests that S100A7 plays critical roles in amplifying the inflammatory process
      in psoriatic skin, perpetuating the disease phenotype. This review will discuss
      the interactions between S100A7 and cytokines in psoriatic skin. Furthermore, we
      will focus our discussion on regulation and functions of S100A7 in psoriasis.
      Finally, we will discuss the possible use of S100A7 as therapeutic target in
      psoriasis.

PMID- 26872861
TI  - A rare finding of brown fat in bone marrow as a mimic for metastatic disease.

PMID- 26872862
TI  - Meeting report: 4th ISIRV antiviral group conference: Novel antiviral therapies
      for influenza and other respiratory viruses.
AB  - The International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases
      (isirv) held its 4th Antiviral Group Conference at the University of Texas on 2-4
      June, 2015. With emerging resistance to the drugs currently licensed for
      treatment and prophylaxis of influenza viruses, primarily the neuraminidase
      inhibitor oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) and the M2 inhibitors amantadine and
      rimantadine, and the lack of effective interventions against other respiratory
      viruses, the 3-day programme focused on the discovery and development of
      inhibitors of several virus targets and key host cell factors involved in virus
      replication or mediating the inflammatory response. Virus targets included the
      influenza haemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 proteins, and both the respiratory
      syncytial virus and influenza polymerases and nucleoproteins. Therapies for
      rhinoviruses and MERS and SARS coronaviruses were also discussed. With the
      emerging development of monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics, the potential
      implications of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease were also addressed.
      Topics covered all aspects from structural and molecular biology to preclinical
      and clinical studies. The importance of suitable clinical trial endpoints and
      regulatory issues were also discussed from the perspectives of both industry and
      government. This meeting summary provides an overview, not only for the
      conference participants, but also for those interested in the current status of
      antivirals for respiratory viruses. 

PMID- 26872863
TI  - Contrasting effect of new HCMV pUL54 mutations on antiviral drug susceptibility:
      Benefits and limits of 3D analysis.
AB  - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resistance to antiviral drugs is a major drawback of
      repeated or long-duration treatment in immunocompromised patients. Resistance
      testing is usually performed by genotypic assays. For accurate interpretation of
      these assays, the role of new mutations in HCMV resistance has to be assessed.
      Two previously unknown UL54 single point mutations (D515Y and V787A) were
      characterized for phenotypic drug-resistance by marker transfer analysis using
      bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) mutagenesis. Increases in 50% inhibitory
      concentrations of ganciclovir and foscarnet were found for both mutated
      recombinant strains showing that mutations D515Y and V787A induce resistance to
      both antivirals. Importantly, none of those impacted the viral growth kinetics.
      For a better understanding of their molecular resistance mechanisms, a 3D
      homology model was used to localize the mutated amino-acids in functional domains
      of UL54 and predict their impact on UL54 function and resistance. However, 3D
      homology model analysis has limits and phenotypic characterization using BAC-HCMV
      is still essential to measure the role of unknown mutations. 

PMID- 26872865
TI  - Antioxidant and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities of diverse phenolics in
      Phyllanthus emblica.
AB  - Fifty-eight phenolic compounds isolated from Phyllanthus emblica were screened
      and compared for their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties, as well as
      hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitory activities. Among them, 20 compounds showed to
      be promising antioxidants due to the stronger scavenging activity in both DPPH
      radical and Danio rerio reactive oxygen species assays, while nine compounds were
      potential HAase inhibitors with 100-fold stronger activities than that of the
      positive control, DSCG. The structure activity relationship was discussed.

PMID- 26872864
TI  - Lactimidomycin is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of dengue and other RNA viruses.
AB  - Dengue virus, a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a mosquito-borne pathogen
      and the causative agent of dengue fever. Despite the nearly 400 million new
      infections estimated annually, no vaccines or specific antiviral therapeutics are
      currently available. We identified lactimidomycin (LTM), a recently established
      inhibitor of translation elongation, as a potent inhibitor of dengue virus 2
      infection in cell culture. The antiviral activity is observed at concentrations
      that do not affect cell viability. We show that Kunjin virus and Modoc virus, two
      other members of the Flavivirus genus, as well as vesicular stomatitis virus and
      poliovirus 1, are also sensitive to LTM. Our findings suggest that inhibition of
      translation elongation, an obligate step in the viral replication cycle, may
      provide a general antiviral strategy against fast-replicating RNA viruses. 

PMID- 26872867
TI  - Education in Professionalism: Metrics or Culture?

PMID- 26872866
TI  - Rational biosynthetic approaches for the production of new-to-nature compounds in
      fungi.
AB  - Filamentous fungi have the ability to produce a wide range of secondary
      metabolites some of which are potent toxins whereas others are exploited as food
      additives or drugs. Fungal natural products still play an important role in the
      discovery of new chemical entities for potential use as pharmaceuticals. However,
      in most cases they cannot be directly used as drugs due to toxic side effects or
      suboptimal pharmacokinetics. To improve drug-like properties, including
      bioactivity and stability or to produce better precursors for semi-synthetic
      routes, one needs to generate non-natural derivatives from known fungal secondary
      metabolites. In this minireview, we describe past and recent biosynthetic
      approaches for the diversification of fungal natural products, covering examples
      from precursor-directed biosynthesis, mutasynthesis, metabolic engineering and
      biocombinatorial synthesis. To illustrate the current state-of-the-art,
      challenges and pitfalls, we lay particular emphasis on the class of fungal
      cyclodepsipeptides which have been studied longtime for product diversification
      and which are of pharmaceutical relevance as drugs. 

PMID- 26872868
TI  - Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography at Low Concentration of Contrast Agent
      and Low Tube Voltage in Patients with Obesity:: A Feasibility Study.
AB  - RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Using lower tube voltage can reduce the exposure to
      radiation and the dose of contrast agent. However, lower tube voltage is often
      linked to more noise and poor image quality, which create a need for more
      effective technology to resolve this problem. To explore the feasibility of
      coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients with obesity at low
      tube voltage (100 kV) and low contrast agent concentration (270 mg/mL) using
      iterative reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients with body
      mass index greater than 30 kg/m(2) were included and randomly divided into two
      groups. Group A received a traditional protocol (iopromide 370 mg/mL + 120 kV);
      group B received a protocol with low tube voltage (100 kV), low contrast agent
      concentration (270 mg/mL), and iterative reconstruction. The effective dose (ED),
      average attenuation values, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio
      (CNR), the figure of merit (FOM), image quality scores, and the total iodine
      intake were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences in average CT
      attenuations, SNR, CNR, and subjective scores were noticed between the two groups
      (P > 0.05), whereas the FOM of group B was significantly higher than that of
      group A. Effective radiation dose, total iodine, and iodine injection rate in
      group B were lower than those of group A (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with
      obesity, isotonic contrast agent with low iodine concentration and low-dose CCTA
      were feasible. Substantial reduction in radiation dose and the iodine intake
      could be achieved without compromising the image quality.

PMID- 26872869
TI  - Age and total and free prostate-specific antigen levels for predicting prostate
      volume in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictive values of free prostate-specific
      antigen (fPSA), total PSA (tPSA) and age on the prostate volume. METHODS: The
      data of 2148 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were analyzed
      retrospectively. The patients who had transrectal ultrasonography guided 10 core
      biopsies owing to the findings obtained on digital rectal examination and
      presence of high PSA levels (PSA = 2.5-10 ng/dl), and proven to have BPH
      histopathologically were included in the study. Age, tPSA, fPSA and the prostate
      volumes (PV) of the patients were noted. RESULTS: One thousand patients that
      fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The PV of the
      patients were significantly correlated with age, tPSA and fPSA (p < 0.001 and r =
      0.307, p < 0.001 and r = 0.382, p < 0.001 and r = 0.296, respectively). On linear
      regression model, fPSA was found as a stronger predictive for PV (AUC = 0.75, p <
      0.001) when compared to age (AUC = 0.64, p < 0.001), and tPSA (AUC = 0.69, p =
      0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Although tPSA is an important prognostic factor for
      predicting PV, the predictive value of fPSA is higher. PV can easily be predicted
      by using age, and serum tPSA and fPSA levels.

PMID- 26872870
TI  - Home Visiting Programs: What the Primary Care Clinician Should Know.
AB  - Responsibilities for primary care clinicians are rapidly expanding ascomplexities
      in families' lives create increased disparities in health and developmental
      outcomes for young children. Despite the demands on primary care clinicians to
      promote health in the context of complex family and community factors, most
      primary care clinicians are operating in an environment of limited training and a
      shortage of resources for supporting families. Partnerships with evidence-based
      home visiting programs for very young children and their families can provide a
      resource that will help to reduce the impact of adverse early childhood
      experiences and facilitate health equity. Home visiting programs in the United
      States are typically voluntary and designed to be preventative in nature,
      although families are usually offered services based on significant risk criteria
      since the costs associated with universal approaches have been considered
      prohibitive. Programs may be funded within the health (physical
      orbehavioral/mental health), child welfare, early education, or early
      intervention systems or by private foundation dollars focused primarily on oneof
      the above systems (e.g., health), with a wide range of outcomes targeted by the
      programs and funders. Services may be primarily focused on the child, the parent,
      or parent-child interactions. Services include the development of targeted and
      individualized intervention strategies, better coaching of parents, and improved
      modeling of interactions that may assist struggling families. This paper provides
      a broad overview ofthe history of home visiting, theoretical bases of home
      visiting programs, key components of evidence-based models, outcomes typically
      targeted, research on effectiveness, cost information, challenges and benefits of
      home visiting, and funding/sustainability concerns. Significance for primary care
      clinicians isdescribed specifically and information relevant for clinicians is
      emphasized throughout the paper.

PMID- 26872871
TI  - Steroid-resistant protein-losing gastroenteropathy complicated with Sjogren's
      syndrome successfully treated with mizoribine.
AB  - A 64-year-old woman with leg edema was diagnosed with protein-losing
      gastroenteropathy and Sjogren's syndrome. Central venous nutrition led to
      infection of her catheter, ascites, and deep vein thrombosis. Following
      successful treatment of these conditions with antibiotics and anticoagulants, she
      was treated unsuccessfully with prednisolone and steroid pulse therapy.
      Mizoribine add-on markedly reduced edema and normalized serum albumin. This is
      the first report of a steroid-resistant protein-losing gastroenteropathy patient
      with Sjogren's syndrome successfully treated with mizoribine.

PMID- 26872872
TI  - Calcium homeostasis and low-frequency magnetic and electric field exposure: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies.
AB  - Low frequency magnetic field (LF MF) exposure is recurrently suggested to have
      the ability to induce health effects in society. Therefore, in vitro model
      systems are used to investigate biological effects of exposure. LF MF induced
      changes of the cellular calcium homeostasis are frequently hypothesised to be the
      possible target, but this hypothesis is both substantiated and rejected by
      numerous studies in literature. Despite the large amount of data, no systematic
      analysis of in vitro studies has been conducted to address the strength of
      evidence for an association between LF MF exposure and calcium homeostasis. Our
      systematic review, with inclusion of 42 studies, showed evidence for an
      association of LF MF with internal calcium concentrations and calcium oscillation
      patterns. The oscillation frequency increased, while the amplitude and the
      percentage of oscillating cells remained constant. The intracellular calcium
      concentration increased (SMD 0.351, 95% CI 0.126, 0.576). Subgroup analysis
      revealed heterogeneous effects associated with the exposure frequency, magnetic
      flux density and duration. Moreover, we found support for the presence of MF
      sensitive cell types. Nevertheless, some of the included studies may introduce a
      great risk of bias as a result of uncontrolled or not reported exposure
      conditions, temperature ranges and ambient fields. In addition, mathematical
      calculations of the parasitic induced electric fields (IEFs) disclosed their
      association with increased intracellular calcium. Our results demonstrate that LF
      MF might influence the calcium homeostasis in cells in vitro, but the risk of
      bias and high heterogeneity (I(2)>75%) weakens the analyses. Therefore any
      potential clinical implications await further investigation.

PMID- 26872873
TI  - Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.
AB  - In the last 25 years, scientific research has brought about drastic changes in
      the concept of low back pain and its management. Most imaging findings, including
      degenerative changes, reflect anatomic peculiarities or the normal aging process
      and turn out to be clinically irrelevant; imaging tests have proven useful only
      when systemic disease is suspected or when surgery is indicated for persistent
      spinal cord or nerve root compression. The radiologic report should indicate the
      key points of nerve compression, bypassing inconsequential findings. Many
      treatments have proven inefficacious, and some have proven counterproductive, but
      they continue to be prescribed because patients want them and there are financial
      incentives for doing them. Following the guidelines that have proven effective
      for clinical management improves clinical outcomes, reduces iatrogenic
      complications, and decreases unjustified and wasteful healthcare expenditures. 

PMID- 26872874
TI  - Temporal-specific roles of Rac1 during vascular development and retinal
      angiogenesis.
AB  - Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels by remodeling and growth of pre
      existing vessels, is a highly orchestrated process that requires a tight balance
      between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors and the integration of their
      corresponding signaling networks. The family of Rho GTPases, including RhoA,
      Rac1, and Cdc42, play a central role in many cell biological processes that
      involve cytoskeletal changes and cell movement. Specifically for Rac1, we have
      shown that excision of Rac1 using a Tie2-Cre animal line results in embryonic
      lethality in midgestation (embryonic day (E) 9.5), with multiple vascular
      defects. However, Tie2-Cre can be also expressed during vasculogenesis, prior to
      angiogenesis, and is active in some hematopoietic precursors that can affect
      vessel formation. To circumvent these limitations, we have now conditionally
      deleted Rac1 in a temporally controlled and endothelial-restricted fashion using
      Cdh5(PAC)-iCreERT2 transgenic mice. In this highly controlled experimental in
      vivo system, we now show that Rac1 is required for embryonic vascular integrity
      and angiogenesis, and for the formation of superficial and deep vascular networks
      in the post-natal developing retina, the latter involving a novel specific
      function for Rac1 in vertical blood vessel sprouting. Aligned with these
      findings, we show that RAC1 is spatially involved in endothelial cell migration,
      invasion, and radial sprouting activities in 3D collagen matrix in vitro models.
      Hence, Rac1 and its downstream molecules may represent potential anti-angiogeneic
      therapeutic targets for the treatment of many human diseases that involve
      aberrant neovascularization and blood vessel overgrowth. 

PMID- 26872875
TI  - Contribution of hedgehog signaling to the establishment of left-right asymmetry
      in the sea urchin.
AB  - Most bilaterians exhibit a left-right asymmetric distribution of their internal
      organs. The sea urchin larva is notable in this regard since most adult
      structures are generated from left sided embryonic structures. The gene
      regulatory network governing this larval asymmetry is still a work in progress
      but involves several conserved signaling pathways including Nodal, and BMP. Here
      we provide a comprehensive analysis of Hedgehog signaling and it's contribution
      to left-right asymmetry. We report that Hh signaling plays a conserved role to
      regulate late asymmetric expression of Nodal and that this regulation occurs
      after Nodal breaks left-right symmetry in the mesoderm. Thus, while Hh functions
      to maintain late Nodal expression, the molecular asymmetry of the future coelomic
      pouches is locked in. Furthermore we report that cilia play a role only insofar
      as to transduce Hh signaling and do not have an independent effect on the
      asymmetry of the mesoderm. From this, we are able to construct a more complete
      regulatory network governing the establishment of left-right asymmetry in the sea
      urchin. 

PMID- 26872876
TI  - Mouse sperm begin to undergo acrosomal exocytosis in the upper isthmus of the
      oviduct.
AB  - Recent evidence demonstrated that most fertilizing mouse sperm undergo acrosomal
      exocytosis (AE) before binding to the zona pellucida of the eggs. However, the
      sites where fertilizing sperm could initiate AE and what stimuli trigger it
      remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine physiological
      sites of AE by using double transgenic mouse sperm, which carried EGFP in the
      acrosome and DsRed2 fluorescence in mitochondria. Using live imaging of sperm
      during in vitro fertilization of cumulus-oocyte complexes, it was observed that
      most sperm did not undergo AE. Thus, the occurrence of AE within the female
      reproductive tract was evaluated in the physiological context where this process
      occurs. Most sperm in the lower segments of the oviduct were acrosome-intact;
      however, a significant number of sperm that reached the upper isthmus had
      undergone AE. In the ampulla, only 5% of the sperm were acrosome-intact. These
      results support our previous observations that most of mouse sperm do not
      initiate AE close to or on the ZP, and further demonstrate that a significant
      proportion of sperm initiate AE in the upper segments of the oviductal isthmus. 

PMID- 26872877
TI  - Delivery of ibuprofen by natural macroporous sporopollenin exine capsules
      extracted from Phoenix dactylifera L.
AB  - Sporopollenin macroporous capsules (SMCs) were extracted from date palm (Phoenix
      dactylifera L.) spores and coated by a natural polymer composite (chitosan with
      glutaraldehyde). The polymer coated macroporous capsules SMC@poly were used in
      the in vitro-controlled delivery of ibuprofen. The materials obtained were
      characterized through spectral, thermal, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X
      ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The IBU
      loading and releasing was studied by investigating the changes in various factors
      such as pH, temperature, and initial concentration. The results revealed that the
      loading of IBU increased when the concentration of IBU was decreased, following
      the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The maximum loading of the IBU was observed at
      pH6.0 (97.2%, with 50mg/mL). The releasing results indicate that IBU was released
      faster when the pH was changed from 1.4 to 7.4. In addition, the cytotoxicity of
      the SMC, SMC@poly, and SMC@poly-IBU were tested against human intestinal Caco-2
      cell line using MTT assay, and the results revea'led that all the materials in
      this study were biocompatible. 

PMID- 26872878
TI  - Special issue: Extracellular matrix: Therapeutic tools and targets in cancer
      treatment.
AB  - Extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents play not only structural roles during
      development and tissue homeostasis, but also many biological functions throughout
      life. Molecular diversity and a vast interactome provide the basis for this multi
      functionality. Moreover, native or processed ECM molecules interact with various
      receptors, thereby activating signaling pathways that control cell
      differentiation, proliferation, adhesion and migration, all relevant to tumor
      biology. Thus, there is an emerging field focused on exploiting ECM components as
      novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of cancer and other diseases,
      providing potent tools to advance drug delivery and tissue penetration. In this
      special issue we provide a critical appraisal of this emerging field focusing on:
      1) ECM proteins (matricellular proteins, collagen, elastin, fibronectin,
      proteoglycans), integrins, and protease-facilitated drug delivery; 2) ECM-derived
      therapeutics (hyaluronan, heparin, heparan sulfate), 3) ECM-like biomaterials,
      and 4) ECM as critical determinant in drug efficacy, with special emphasis on
      applications in tumor treatment. 

PMID- 26872879
TI  - Environmental cues and attempts to change in daily cannabis users: An intensive
      longitudinal study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We tested whether environmental cues prompt or inhibit quit or
      reduction attempts among heavy cannabis users. METHODS: We recruited 196 daily
      cannabis users who intended to stop or reduce at some point in the next 3 months.
      Users called an Interactive Voice Response system daily over 3 months to report
      on cues that might prompt an attempt to quit or reduce (e.g., a request to stop),
      cues that might inhibit a quit/reduction attempt (e.g., someone offering
      cannabis), cannabis use, and attempts to stop or reduce cannabis. No treatment
      was provided. RESULTS: Our major findings were (a) cost and health/psychological
      problems were the most common prompting cues, and seeing others use and being
      offered cannabis were the most common inhibiting cues, (b) the number of
      different types of prompting cues prospectively predicted an increase in attempts
      to change in a dose-related manner, (c) more proximal cues appeared to be more
      strongly related to change, (d) requests to stop or reduce, and physical or
      psychological problems from cannabis, best predicted change attempts, and (e)
      inhibiting cues did not consistently predict the probability of an attempt to
      change. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest several environmental cues
      prompt attempts to change cannabis use. Thus, interventions to increase the
      frequency of these cues, and specifically requests to stop or reduce cannabis
      use, and reinforcing concerns about health and mental adverse events from
      cannabis use, may increase cannabis reduction or cessation.

PMID- 26872881
TI  - Partial papillary muscle rupture following percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty
      without mitral regurgitation.

PMID- 26872880
TI  - The impact of an alcohol harm reduction intervention on interpersonal violence
      and engagement in sex work among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: Results
      from a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - AIMS: To evaluate whether an alcohol harm reduction intervention was associated
      with reduced interpersonal violence or engagement in sex work among female sex
      workers (FSWs) in Mombasa, Kenya. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING:
      HIV prevention drop-in centers in Mombasa, Kenya. PARTICIPANTS: 818 women 18 or
      older in Mombasa who visited HIV prevention drop-in centers, were moderate-risk
      drinkers and engaged in transactional sex in past six months (410 and 408 in
      intervention and control arms, respectively). INTERVENTION: 6 session alcohol
      harm reduction intervention. COMPARATOR: 6 session non-alcohol related nutrition
      intervention. MEASUREMENTS: In-person interviews were conducted at enrollment,
      immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention. General linear
      mixed models examined associations between intervention assignment and recent
      violence (physical violence, verbal abuse, and being robbed in the past 30 days)
      from paying and non-paying sex partners and engagement in sex work in the past 30
      days. FINDINGS: The alcohol intervention was associated with statistically
      significant decreases in physical violence from paying partners at 6 months post
      intervention and verbal abuse from paying partners immediately post-intervention
      and 6-months post-intervention. Those assigned to the alcohol intervention had
      significantly reduced odds of engaging in sex work immediately post-intervention
      and 6-months post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The alcohol intervention was
      associated with reductions in some forms of violence and with reductions in
      engagement in sex work among FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya.

PMID- 26872882
TI  - The long-term survival of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606(T) under nutrient
      deprived conditions does not require the entry into the viable but non-culturable
      state.
AB  - Acinetobacter baumannii possesses a tremendous potential to thrive under hostile
      conditions. To learn more about its survival strategy and capacity to persist in
      the environment, we studied the effect of temperature, nutrient deprivation and
      dryness on the long-term survival of two A. baumannii strains (ATCC 19606(T) and
      a clinical isolate). Our results revealed that both strains show a great
      persistence under stress that appears to involve a bust-and-boom strategy.
      Bacterial survival was differentially affected by temperature and physical
      environment: Desiccation favored cell resistance to stress at 20 and 37  degrees
      C, while survival in aqueous environments was temperature dependent and led to
      changes in several cellular characteristics. In addition, we tested the ability
      of the A. baumannii ATCC 19606(T) strain to form biofilms by monitoring the
      expression of adhesion-/biofilm-related genes (ompA, bfmR and csuAB). The
      observed downregulation of these genes suggests that the potential difficulties
      to adhere to solid surfaces and form biofilms likely limit the capacity of
      starved cells to spread and colonize abiotic surfaces. 

PMID- 26872883
TI  - Automatic tracking of laparoscopic instruments for autonomous control of a
      cameraman robot.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An automated instrument tracking procedure was designed and developed
      for autonomous control of a cameraman robot during laparoscopic surgery. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: The procedure was based on an innovative marker-free segmentation
      algorithm for detecting the tip of the surgical instruments in laparoscopic
      images. A compound measure of Saturation and Value components of HSV color space
      was incorporated that was enhanced further using the Hue component and some
      essential characteristics of the instrument segment, e.g., crossing the image
      boundaries. The procedure was then integrated into the controlling system of the
      RoboLens cameraman robot, within a triple-thread parallel processing scheme, such
      that the tip is always kept at the center of the image. RESULTS: Assessment of
      the performance of the system on prerecorded real surgery movies revealed an
      accuracy rate of 97% for high quality images and about 80% for those suffering
      from poor lighting and/or blood, water and smoke noises. A reasonably satisfying
      performance was also observed when employing the system for autonomous control of
      the robot in a laparoscopic surgery phantom, with a mean time delay of 200ms.
      CONCLUSION: It was concluded that with further developments, the proposed
      procedure can provide a practical solution for autonomous control of cameraman
      robots during laparoscopic surgery operations.

PMID- 26872884
TI  - Model-based meta-analysis for development of a population-pharmacokinetic (PPK)
      model for Vitamin D3 and its 25OHD3 metabolite using both individual and arm
      level data.
AB  - Clinical studies investigating relationships between D3 and 25OHD3 vary in dosing
      regimen, assays, demographics, and control of exogenous D3. This leads to
      uncertain and conflicting exposure-related associations with D3 and 25OHD3. To
      elucidate this parent-metabolite system, a PPK model was developed to predict
      mean D3 and 25OHD3 exposure from varied doses and administration routes. Sources
      of exposure variability related to metabolite baseline, weight, and assay type
      were explored. Specific search criteria were used in PUBMED to identify public
      source PK data pertaining to D3 and 25OHD3 in healthy or osteoporotic
      populations. Overall 57 studies representing 5395 individuals were selected,
      including 25 individual-level profiles and treatment-arm data. IV, oral, single
      and multiple dose data were used, with D3 and 25OHD3 dosing. A nonlinear mixed
      effects model was developed to simultaneously model PK dispositions of D3 and
      25OHD3 (NONMEM v7.2), which were described by 2-compartment models with nonlinear
      and linear clearances, respectively. Proportional and additive assay variances
      were included on the 25OHD3 prediction. Unit-level random effects were weighted
      by treatment-arm size. D3 model estimates, relative to bioavailability were:
      maximum rate of metabolism ([Formula: see text], 1.62 nmol/h), Michaelis-Menten
      constant ([Formula: see text], 6.39 nmol/L), central volume of distribution
      ([Formula: see text], 15.5 L), intercompartmental clearance ([Formula: see text],
      0.185 L/h), peripheral volume of distribution ([Formula: see text], 2333 L/h),
      and baseline concentration ([Formula: see text], 3.75 nmol/L). For 25OHD3
      ([Formula: see text] = metabolite): [Formula: see text] = 0.0153 L/h, [Formula:
      see text] = 4.35 L, [Formula: see text] = 6.87 L, [Formula: see text] = 0.0507
      L/h. Simulations of 25OHD3 concentration indicated an inverse relationship
      between 25OHD3 baseline and response, as well as a less than proportional 25OHD3
      response. Estimation of assay bias parameters suggested that HPLC-MS and RIA
      produced similar measurement results, whereas CPBA and CHEMI are over-predictive
      of 25OHD3 concentration, relative to HPLC-MS.

PMID- 26872885
TI  - Assessing Potential Conservation and Restoration Areas of Freshwater Fish Fauna
      in the Indian River Basins.
AB  - Conservation efforts globally are skewed toward terrestrial ecosystems. To date,
      conservation of aquatic ecosystems, in particular fish fauna, is largely
      neglected. We provide a country-wide assessment of Indian river ecosystems in
      order to identify and prioritize areas for protection and restoration of
      freshwater fish fauna. Using various biodiversity and anthropogenic attributes,
      coupled with tools of ecological modeling, we delineated areas for fish fauna
      conservation and restoration in the 20 major river basins of India. To do this,
      we used prioritization analyses and reserve selection algorithms to derive
      conservation value index (CVI) and vulnerability index (VI) of the river basins.
      CVI was estimated using endemicity, rarity, conservation value, and taxonomic
      singularity, while VI was estimated using a disturbance index derived from
      percent geographic area of the basin under human settlements, human population
      density, predominant land use, and total number of exotic fish species in each
      basin. The two indices, CVI and VI, were converted into geo-referenced maps, and
      each map was super-imposed onto species richness and forest cover maps,
      respectively. After superimposition, areas with high CVI and low VI shade
      intensities were delineated for conservation, while areas with high CVI and high
      VI shade intensities were demarcated for restoration. In view of the importance
      of freshwater fish for human livelihoods and consumption, and ecosystems of
      India's rivers, we call for urgent attention to the conservation of their fish
      fauna along with restoration of their degraded habitats. 

PMID- 26872886
TI  - Spatial Variations of Soil Microbial Activities in Saline Groundwater-Irrigated
      Soil Ecosystem.
AB  - Spatial variations of soil microbial activities and its relationship with
      environmental factors are very important for estimating regional soil ecosystem
      function. Based on field samplings in a typical saline groundwater-irrigated
      region, spatial variations of soil microbial metabolic activities were
      investigated. Combined with groundwater quality analysis, the relationship
      between microbial activities and water salinity was also studied. The results
      demonstrated that moderate spatial heterogeneity of soil microbial activities
      presented under the total dissolved solids (TDS) of groundwater ranging from 0.23
      to 12.24 g L(-1). Groundwater salinity and microbial activities had almost
      opposite distribution characteristics: slight saline water was mainly distributed
      in west Baqu and south Quanshan, while severe saline and briny water were
      dominant in east Baqu and west Huqu; however, total AWCD was higher in the east
      center and southwest of Baqu and east Huqu, while it was lower in east Baqu and
      northwest Huqu. The results of correlation analyses demonstrated that high
      salinity groundwater irrigation had significantly adverse effects on soil
      microbial activities. Major ions Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cl(-), and SO4(2-) in
      groundwater decisively influenced the results. Three carbon sources,
      carbohydrates, amines, and phenols, which had minor utilization rates in all
      irrigation districts, were extremely significantly affected by high-salinity
      groundwater irrigation. The results presented here offer an approach for
      diagnosing regional soil ecosystem function changes under saline water
      irrigation.

PMID- 26872887
TI  - Reversing the Effect of Oral Anticoagulant Drugs: Established and Newer Options.
AB  - The vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the standard (and only) oral
      anticoagulants used for the long-term treatment or prevention of venous
      thromboembolism or stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. The coagulopathy
      induced by VKAs can be reversed with vitamin K, and in urgent situations, the
      vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors can be replaced by transfusion. In the
      last decade, a new class of oral anticoagulants has been developed, direct oral
      anticoagulants that bind to a specific coagulation factor and neutralize it.
      These compounds were shown to be effective and safe compared with the VKAs and
      were licensed for specific indications, but without a specific reversal agent.
      The absence of a reversal agent is a barrier to more widespread use of these
      agents. Currently, for the management of major life-threatening bleeding with the
      direct oral anticoagulants, most authorities recommend the use of four factor
      prothrombin complex concentrates. There are now three reversal agents in
      development and poised to enter the market. Idarucizumab is a specific antidote
      targeted to reverse the direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran, which was recently
      approved for use in the USA. Andexanet alfa is an antidote targeted to reverse
      the oral direct factor Xa inhibitors as well as the indirect inhibitor
      enoxaparin. Ciraparantag is an antidote targeted to reverse the direct thrombin
      and factor Xa inhibitors as well as the indirect inhibitor enoxaparin. 

PMID- 26872888
TI  - Associations between self-reported concussion with later violence injury among
      Australian early adolescents.
AB  - Background: There is growing research finding associations between adolescents'
      concussion and negative outcomes, including violence, rarely however are the
      experiences of community-based early adolescents considered. Methods: This study
      examined associations between reports of concussion (Time-1) and reports of
      violence 1-year later (Time-2). Australian adolescents from 13 high-schools
      completed two identical surveys administered 12-months apart (n = 734 retained,
      initial mean age = 13.45). Results: At the first survey, 91 students (13%)
      reported they had a concussion, and of these students, 40% reported seeing a
      doctor/attending hospital during the prior 3 months. Both self-reported
      experience of violent injury (from getting in a fight) and violent behaviour
      (getting in a fight) were predicted by reports of concussion in Year 9. This
      prediction held, when adding sex, Year 9 reports of violence, alcohol use,
      truancy and engagement in passenger and driving risk-taking to logistic
      regression models. Year 9 concussion was not predictive of later injury in other
      contexts, including transportation, falls or sports. Conclusion: The study
      highlights the need to understand concussion among community-based early
      adolescents including consider associations with violence.

PMID- 26872889
TI  - Safety and efficacy of dual direct-acting antiviral therapy (daclatasvir and
      asunaprevir) for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in patients on
      hemodialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major comorbidity in patients
      receiving hemodialysis. Interferon-based antiviral therapy to eradicate HCV is
      less effective in patients receiving hemodialysis than patients without renal
      dysfunction. Recently reported combination therapy with two oral direct-acting
      antiviral drugs, daclatasvir and asunaprevir, both of which are metabolized in
      the liver and excreted into the bile ducts, reportedly showed a high rate of HCV
      eradication. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of this therapy in patients
      receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: The safety and viral responses were compared
      among patients infected with HCV genotype 1, between 28 patients receiving
      hemodialysis, and propensity score-matched 56 patients without renal dysfunction.
      RESULTS: The reduction in serum HCV RNA levels 1 day after the start of therapy
      was significantly larger (p = 0.0329) and the disappearance of serum HCV RNA
      occurred significantly earlier (p = 0.0017) in patients receiving hemodialysis
      than those without renal dysfunction. The rates of sustained virologic response,
      i.e., the eradication of HCV, were comparable between two groups; the rate of
      SVR12 was 100 % in patients receiving hemodialysis and 94.6 % in patients without
      renal dysfunction. No adverse constitutional events were observed in either of
      the groups. The elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase levels, a known
      adverse effect of these drugs, was observed in comparable rate of patients
      between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The therapy with daclatasvir and asunaprevir
      has high antiviral efficacy in patients receiving hemodialysis with a comparable
      safety profile to patients without renal dysfunction.

PMID- 26872891
TI  - Increased expressions of claudin 4 and 7 in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and
      adenocarcinoma of the lung.
AB  - Abnormal expression of claudin (Cldn), the main constituent of tight junctions,
      may play a crucial role in carcinogenesis. To elucidate these abnormalities of
      tight junctions in lung adenocarcinoma during carcinogenesis, we examined
      immunohistochemical expressions of Cldn4 and Cldn7 in human lung resection
      materials. Lung resection specimens from 86 patients were studied, including 16
      atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 19 adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 32
      invasive adenocarcinoma (ADC), 5 AIS with AAH, 2 ADC with AAH, 10 ADC with AIS,
      and 2 ADC with AIS and AAH. The immunohistochemical staining (IHC) score was
      defined for both the extent and intensity of staining. IHC score for Cldn4 in AIS
      and ADC was significantly higher than that in alveolar epithelium (AE) and AAH (p
      < 0.001 for both). In addition, the AAH score was significantly higher than that
      in AE (p < 0.001). The Cldn7 score in ADC was significantly increased compared
      with AE and AAH (p < 0.001 for both). These results suggested that increase of
      Cldn4-expression may be involved in early molecular events during carcinogenesis
      of adenocarcinoma, whereas increase of Cldn7-expression may be associated with
      tumor invasion or progression. 

PMID- 26872890
TI  - Intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) induces intestinal metaplasia and cell
      proliferation to contribute to gastric carcinogenesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori induces chronic inflammation and intestinal
      metaplasia (IM) through genetic and epigenetic changes and activation of
      intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to gastric carcinogenesis.
      However, the precise mechanism of IM in gastric carcinogenesis has not been fully
      elucidated. We previously found that intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) mRNA
      expression increased in organoids cultured from Helicobacter-infected mouse
      mucosa. In this study, we elucidate the role of ISX in the development of IM and
      gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS: ISX expression was assessed in Helicobacter
      infected mouse and human gastric mucosa. MKN45 gastric cancer cells were co
      cultured with H. pylori to determine whether Helicobacter infection induced ISX
      expression. We established stable MKN45 transfected cells expressing ISX (Stable
      ISX MKN45) and performed a spheroid colony formation assay and a xenograft model.
      We performed ISX immunohistochemistry in cancer and adjacent gastric tissues.
      RESULTS: ISX expression was increased in mouse and human gastric mucosa infected
      with Helicobacter. The presence of IM and H. pylori infection in human stomach
      was correlated with ISX expression. H. pylori induced ISX mRNA and protein
      expression. CDX1/2, cyclinD1, and MUC2 were upregulated in Stable-ISX MKN45,
      whereas MUC5AC was downregulated. Stable-ISX MKN45 cells formed more spheroid
      colonies, and had high tumorigenic ability. ISX expression in gastric cancer and
      adjacent mucosa were correlated. CONCLUSIONS: ISX expression induced by H. pylori
      infection may lead to IM and hyperproliferation of gastric mucosa through CDX1/2
      and cyclinD1 expression, contributing to gastric carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26872892
TI  - The Effect of a High-Fat Meal on the Pharmacokinetics of Ixazomib, an Oral
      Proteasome Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphoma.
AB  - Ixazomib is the first oral proteasome inhibitor to be investigated in the clinic.
      This clinical study assessed whether the pharmacokinetics of ixazomib would be
      altered if administered after a high-calorie, high-fat meal. In a 2-period, 2
      sequence, crossover study design, adult patients with advanced solid tumors or
      lymphoma received a 4-mg oral dose of ixazomib as immediate-release capsules on
      day 1 without food (fasted, administered following an overnight fast) or with
      food (fed, following consumption of a high-calorie, high-fat meal), followed by
      another dose on day 15 in the alternate food intake condition (fasted to fed or
      fed to fasted). Twenty-four patients were enrolled; of these, 15 were included in
      the pharmacokinetic-evaluable population. Administration of ixazomib after a high
      fat meal reduced both the rate and extent of absorption of ixazomib. Under fed
      conditions, the median time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax ) of ixazomib was
      delayed by approximately 3 hours compared with administration in the fasted state
      (1.02 hours vs 4.0 hours), and there was a 28% reduction in total systemic
      exposure (area under the curve, AUC) and a 69% reduction in peak plasma
      concentration (Cmax ). Together, the results support the administration of
      ixazomib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or at least 2 hours after
      food. These recommendations are reflected in the United States Prescribing
      Information for ixazomib (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01454076).

PMID- 26872893
TI  - Change in Posterior Tibial Slope After Open-Wedge and Closed-Wedge High Tibial
      Osteotomy: A Meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether open- or closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy
      (HTO) results in significant changes in posterior tibial slope, with no consensus
      on the magnitude of such changes. Furthermore, methods of measuring posterior
      tibial slope differ among studies. This meta-analysis was therefore designed to
      evaluate whether posterior tibial slope increases after open-wedge HTO and
      decreases after closed-wedge HTO and to quantify the magnitudes of the slope
      changes after open- and closed-wedge HTO using various methods of measuring
      posterior tibial slope. HYPOTHESIS: Posterior tibial slope increases after open
      wedge and decreases after closed-wedge HTO. The magnitude of change is similar
      for the 2 methods, and the value obtained for posterior tibial slope change is
      affected by the method of measurement. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis. METHODS:
      Multiple comprehensive databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane
      Library, and KoreaMed, were searched for studies that evaluated the posterior
      slope of the proximal tibia in patients who had undergone open- and/or closed
      wedge HTO. Studies were included that compared pre- and postoperative posterior
      tibial slopes, regardless of measurement method, including anterior and posterior
      tibial cortex or tibial shaft axis as a reference line, in patients who underwent
      open- or closed-wedge HTO. The quality of each included study was appraised with
      the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included in the
      meta-analysis. Pooled data, which included subgroups of 3 methods, showed that
      posterior tibial slope increased 2.02 degrees  (95% CI, 2.66 degrees  to 1.38
      degrees ; P = .005) after open-wedge HTO and decreased 2.35 degrees  (95% CI,
      1.38 degrees  to 3.32 degrees ; P < .001) after closed-wedge HTO. CONCLUSION:
      This meta-analysis confirmed that posterior tibial slope increased after open
      wedge HTO and decreased after closed-wedge HTO when the results of a variety of
      measurement methods were pooled. The magnitude of change after open- and closed
      wedge HTO was similar and small (approximately 2 degrees ), suggesting that both
      osteotomy techniques may have little effect on the biomechanics of the cruciate
      ligaments.

PMID- 26872894
TI  - The Functional and Structural Outcomes of Arthroscopic Iliopsoas Release.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon may alleviate pain
      associated with internal snapping hip, but previous reports of physical function,
      hip strength, and muscle atrophy after surgery are mixed. HYPOTHESIS: The hips of
      patients who underwent arthroscopic iliopsoas release would demonstrate
      significantly reduced hip flexion strength and iliopsoas muscle volume when
      compared with their contralateral hips and the hips of patients who underwent hip
      arthroscopy without psoas release. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence,
      3. METHODS: Eighteen patients who underwent hip arthroscopy with iliopsoas
      release for symptomatic internal snapping hip and concomitant femoroacetabular
      impingement (FAI) and/or chondrolabral damage (release group) and 18 patients who
      underwent arthroscopy for FAI and/or chondrolabral damage without iliopsoas
      release (control group) were evaluated at a mean of 21 months (range, 16-30
      months) postoperatively. Magnetic resonance images were performed and segmented
      to calculate iliopsoas volume. Isometric hip flexion strength was evaluated in
      the supine and seated positions with a custom testing apparatus. Differences
      between groups and differences between the operative and nonoperative limbs
      within groups were compared with unpaired and paired t tests, respectively.
      RESULTS: In the release group, the iliopsoas muscle of the surgical limb was
      significantly smaller (288 +/- 98 vs 384 +/- 113 cm(3), P < .001) and weaker in
      the seated position (13 +/- 4.7 vs 17 +/- 5.8 kg, P < .001) than the
      contralateral limb. Compared with the control group, the release group
      demonstrated a greater percentage decrease in iliopsoas volume on magnetic
      resonance imaging (-25% +/- 9.1% vs -0.6% +/- 4.6%, P < .001) and seated hip
      flexion strength (-19% +/- 16% vs -3.9% +/- 20%, P = .018) between the operative
      and contralateral limbs. There were no significant differences in supine strength
      between limbs or groups (all P > .168). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic iliopsoas
      release results in iliopsoas atrophy with a 25% volume loss and a 19% reduction
      in seated hip flexion strength.

PMID- 26872896
TI  - A unique case of extra-group infant adoption in free-ranging Angola black and
      white colobus monkeys (Colobus angolensis palliatus).
AB  - Infant adoption has been reported in a variety of primate taxa both in captive
      and natural settings. Adoption by females may be adaptive by increasing inclusive
      fitness via shared genes between adoptive mother and adoptee or by providing
      valuable maternal practice which, in turn, may increase the female's future
      reproductive success. Others have argued that adoption may be non-adaptive and
      the result of a general attraction toward infants. Our study examines a unique
      case of adoption by an adult female Angola black and white colobus monkey
      (Colobus angolensis palliatus) who adopted an extra-group infant alongside her
      own biological infant. We compare infant behaviors and mother-infant interactions
      between biological infant and adoptee and then compare both biological infant and
      adoptee behavioral profiles to those of infants under normal circumstances. Data
      were collected from July 2014 to June 2015 on three habituated groups in the
      Diani Forest of Kenya. Scan sampling and pooled data were used to create daily
      and monthly behavioral profiles for the biological infant and adoptee, as well as
      a mean monthly profile of four infants under normal circumstances. Data include
      time spent (1) clinging to mother/adoptive mother, (2) clinging to another
      individual, (3) behaving independently, and (4) behaving in close proximity to
      mother/adoptive mother. Initially, the adoptee struggled to achieve behavioral
      profiles consistent with those of the biological infant and normal colobus
      infants of the same age as he spent significantly more time moving independently
      and significantly less time clinging to the adoptive mother. After the mysterious
      death of the biological infant in mid-January 2015, the adoptee assumed a
      behavioral profile similar to that of infants under normal conditions. This case
      does not support adaptive hypotheses for adoption (i.e., inclusive fitness or
      learning to mother). Instead, because the biological infant died, possibly due to
      the presence of the adoptee, we argue that this case of infant adoption was non
      adaptive. Ultimately, this adoption appears to have been an outcome of the
      adoptee's persistent desire to be cared for and the female's strong propensity to
      engage in allomaternal behavior. 

PMID- 26872897
TI  - Rabbit model for osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint as a basis for
      assessment of outcomes after intervention.
AB  - Osteoarthritis can be induced in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by primary or
      secondary trauma, or overloading of the joint. We have therefore systematically
      evaluated the histological progression of experimental osteoarthritis induced by
      a high concentration of monosodium iodoacetate into the rabbit TMJ. These
      findings may contribute to the establishment of a protocol to investigate the
      benefits of treatment of osteoarthritis of the TMJ. We used 21 male New Zealand
      rabbits; the 15 in the test group were given an intra-articular injection of
      monosodium iodoacetate 10mg/ml into the right TMJ and were killed after 60 (n=5),
      80 (n=5), and 100 days (n=5). The six in the control group were given an
      injection of saline into the right TMJ. The assessment system for osteoarthritis
      based on six grades was used for the histological analysis of severity. The model
      was effective in producing histological changes in the cartilage consistent with
      those found in osteoarthritis at all time points. The within-group analysis
      indicated that the disease did not progress after 60 days. The successful
      induction of osteoarthritis in this way, its stabilisation after 60 days, and the
      appropriate size of the animal suggest that this experimental model is ideal for
      future studies of the effectiveness of treatment in osteoarthritis of the TMJ. 

PMID- 26872895
TI  - Outcomes After Isolated Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for the
      Treatment of Recurrent Lateral Patellar Dislocations: A Systematic Review and
      Meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A patellar dislocation is a common knee injury in the young, athletic
      patient population. Recent trends indicate that the use of long-term nonoperative
      treatment is decreasing, and surgical intervention is more commonly recommended
      for those patients who fail initial nonoperative management with recurrent
      patellar dislocations. Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction has
      become increasingly utilized in this regard. PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes,
      particularly return to sports and its relationship to postoperative instability,
      of isolated MPFL reconstruction for the treatment of recurrent patellar
      dislocations. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A
      review of the current literature was performed using the terms "medial
      patellofemoral ligament reconstruction" and "MPFL reconstruction" in the
      electronic search engines PubMed and EBSCOhost (CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus) on
      July 29, 2015, yielding 1113 abstracts for review. At the conclusion of the
      search, 14 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review
      of the literature. Means were calculated for population size, age, follow-up
      time, and postoperative Tegner scores. Pooled estimates were calculated for
      postoperative Kujala scores, return to play, total risk of postoperative
      instability, risk of positive apprehension sign, and risk of reoperation.
      RESULTS: The mean patient age associated with MPFL reconstruction was 24.4 years,
      with a mean postoperative Tegner score of 5.7. The pooled estimated mean
      postoperative Kujala score was 85.8 (95% CI, 81.6-90.0), with 84.1% (95% CI,
      71.1%-97.1%) of patients returning to sports after surgery. The pooled total risk
      of recurrent instability after surgery was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.3%-2.1%), with a
      positive apprehension sign risk of 3.6% (95% CI, 0%-7.2%) and a reoperation risk
      of 3.1% (95% CI, 1.1%-5.0%). CONCLUSION: A high percentage of young patients
      return to sports after isolated MPFL reconstruction for chronic patellar
      instability, with short-term results demonstrating a low incidence of recurrent
      instability, postoperative apprehension, and reoperations.

PMID- 26872898
TI  - Local heating of the wound with dressings soaked in saline at 42 degrees C can
      reduce postoperative bleeding: a single-blind, split-mouth, randomised controlled
      clinical trial.
AB  - Control of bleeding is essential during oral procedures. Although various
      chemical agents have been introduced and tested, hot water dressing has not to
      our knowledge been assessed before. Studies of operations for epistaxis or sinus
      conditions have suggested that irrigation with hot water can reduce bleeding, so
      we hypothesised that it might be effective in reducing bleeding after extraction
      too. Ten patients who required bilateral extractions took part in this split
      mouth, randomised, single-blind, controlled clinical trial. After extraction,
      sockets were packed with similar gauze dressings soaked in normal saline 4 ml at
      room temperature (control) and warmed to 42 degrees C (experimental). The extent
      of bleeding on each side was measured by subtracting the original weight of the
      gauze from its weight after absorption of blood. The difference between the
      weights was compared using Student's paired t test (alpha=0.05, beta<0.05). Mean
      (SD) weights were 22.1(2.2) g and 18.4 (2.5) g in the control and experimental
      groups, respectively, indicating an 18% reduction in the experimental group
      (p=0.002). Soaking gauze in normal saline heated to 42 degrees C can reduce
      bleeding after extraction.

PMID- 26872899
TI  - [Lesbian, gay & grey : Specific needs and concerns of elderly homosexual women
      and men].
AB  - In 2050 society will face the challenge of the effects of demographic changes
      with approximately 30 % of the Swiss population aged 65 years and older. This
      change will also lead to a higher number of elderly persons who identify
      themselves as homosexual and who live together with a same sex partner. In the
      year 2050 approximately 90,000-300,000 homosexual persons who are 65 years and
      older will live in Switzerland. This article shows that the current state of
      research in gerontology is characterized by large gaps regarding homosexuals and
      research in homosexuality regarding ageing. With a focus on the third and fourth
      ages of life for homosexuals of both sexes and based on the latest international
      research data this article shows that elderly homosexual people face specific
      challenges and have specific needs, which should be taken into account in home
      care services and nursing homes. Due to their lifestyles elderly homosexuals are
      often single and live alone, have no biological children and are afraid of being
      discriminated or stigmatized particularly in the case of their need for nursing.
      As a further aggravating factor, studies have shown that elderly homosexuals have
      poorer health conditions than heterosexuals with an increased need for care at an
      earlier stage in life.

PMID- 26872901
TI  - AK progressing to NMSC: at what stage?

PMID- 26872900
TI  - [Mobile geriatric rehabilitation in nursing homes, in short-term care facilities
      and private homes : Setting-specific analysis of nationwide treatment
      documentation (Part 2)].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mobile geriatric rehabilitation can be provided in the setting of
      nursing homes, short-term care (STC) facilities and exclusively in private homes.
      OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the common features and differences of mobile
      rehabilitation interventions in various settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Stratified by setting 1,879 anonymized mobile geriatric rehabilitation treatments
      between 2011 and 2014 from 11 participating institutions were analyzed with
      respect to patient, process and outcome-related features. RESULTS: Significant
      differences between the settings nursing home (n = 514, 27 %), STC (n = 167, 9 %)
      and private homes (n = 1198, 64 %) were evident for mean age (83 years, 83 years
      and 80 years, respectively), percentage of women (72 %, 64 % and 55 %), degree of
      dependency on pre-existing care (92 %, 76 % and 64 %), total treatment sessions
      (TS, 38 TS, 42 TS and 41 TS), treatment duration (54 days, 61 days and 58 days)
      as well as the Barthel index at the start of rehabilitation (34 points, 39 points
      and 46 points) and the gain in the Barthel index (15 points, 21 points and 18
      points), whereby the gain in the capacity for self-sufficiency was significant in
      all settings. CONCLUSION: The setting-specific evaluation of mobile geriatric
      rehabilitation showed differences for relevant patient, process and outcome
      related features. Compared to inpatient rehabilitation mobile rehabilitation in
      all settings made an above average contribution to the rehabilitation of patients
      with pre-existing dependency on care. The gains in the capacity for self
      sufficiency achieved in all settings support the efficacy of mobile geriatric
      rehabilitation under the current prerequisites for applicability.

PMID- 26872902
TI  - Comparison of intra-operative specimen mammography to standard specimen
      mammography for excision of non-palpable breast lesions: a randomized trial.
AB  - Standard specimen mammography (SSM) is performed in the radiology department
      after wire-localized excision of non-palpable breast lesions to confirm the
      presence of the target and evaluate margins. Alternatively, intra-operative
      specimen mammography (ISM) allows surgeons to view images in the operating room
      (OR). We conducted a randomized study comparing ISM and SSM. Women undergoing
      wire-localized excision for breast malignancy or imaging abnormality were
      randomized to SSM or ISM. For SSM, the specimen was transported to the radiology
      department for imaging and interpretation. For ISM, the specimen was imaged in
      the OR for interpretation by the surgeon and sent for SSM. Interpretation time
      was from specimen leaving OR until radiologist interpretation for SSM and from
      placement in ISM device until surgeon interpretation for ISM. Procedure and
      interpretation times were compared. Concordance between ISM and SSM for target
      and margins was evaluated. 72 patients were randomized, 36 ISM and 36 SSM. Median
      procedure times were similar, 48.5 (17-138) min for ISM, and 54 (17-40) min for
      SSM (p = 0.72), likely since specimens in both groups traveled to radiology for
      SSM. Median interpretation time was significantly shorter with ISM, 1 (0.5-2.0)
      and 9 (4-16) min for ISM and SSM, respectively (p < 0.0001). Among specimens with
      ISM and SSM, concordance was 100 % (35/35) for target and 93 % (14/15) for
      margins. In this randomized trial, use of ISM compared with SSM significantly
      reduced interpretation times, while accurately identifying the target. This could
      result in decreased operative costs from shorter OR times with use of ISM. 

PMID- 26872904
TI  - High-density lipoprotein of patients with breast cancer complicated with type 2
      diabetes mellitus promotes cancer cells adhesion to vascular endothelium via ICAM
      1 and VCAM-1 upregulation.
AB  - Adhesion of disseminating tumor cells to vascular endothelium is a pivotal
      starting point in the metastasis cascade. We have shown previously that diabetic
      high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has the capability of promoting breast cancer
      metastasis, and this report summarizes our more recent work studying the role of
      abnormal HDL in facilitating the adhesion of the circulating tumor cells to the
      endothelium. This is an initiating step in breast cancer metastasis, and this
      work assesses the role of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in this process. MDA-MB-231, MCF 7,
      and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with normal HDL
      from healthy controls (N-HDL), HDL from breast cancer patients (B-HDL), or HDL
      from breast cancer patients complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (BD-HDL),
      and the cell adhesion abilities were determined. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression as
      well as the protein kinase C (PKC) activity were evaluated. The effect of PKC
      inhibitor and PKC siRNA on adhesion was also studied. The immunohistochemical
      staining of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin from breast cancer patients and breast
      cancer patients complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were examined.
      Our results indicate that BD-HDL promoted an increase in breast cancer cell
      adhesion to HUVECs and stimulated higher ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression on the
      cells surface of both breast cancer and HUVEC cells, along with the activation of
      PKC. Increased tumor cell (TC)-HUVEC adhesion, as well as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1
      expression induced by BD-HDL, could be inhibited by staurosporine and PKC siRNA.
      In addition, a Db/db type 2 diabetes mouse model has more TC-Vascular Endothelium
      adhesion compared to a normal model. However, BD patients have a lower expression
      of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin in their tumor tissues. BD-HDL facilitates the
      adhesion of tumor cells to vascular endothelium by upregulating the expression of
      ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, thereby promoting the initial progression of breast cancer
      metastasis. This work indicates a prospective utilization of HDL-based strategies
      in the treatment of breast cancer patients with type 2 diabetes. 

PMID- 26872905
TI  - [Erythematosquamous dermatoses in adolescence].
AB  - Erythematosquamous dermatoses in adolescents comprise a wide range of
      differential diagnoses. Age-typical variations of the clinical manifestation, the
      need to differentiate common conditions from rare diseases as well as the
      tremendous psychosocial impact which the patients perceive especially in this
      vulnerable period of life can become major challenges for pediatric
      dermatologists. This article summarizes key features of common erythematosquamous
      dermatoses and less frequent skin diseases occurring during adolescence. 

PMID- 26872903
TI  - Healthy dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer by molecular subtype.
AB  - We examined associations between dietary quality indices and breast cancer risk
      by molecular subtype among 100,643 women in the prospective Nurses' Health Study
      (NHS) cohort, followed from 1984 to 2006. Dietary quality scores for the
      Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), and
      Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary patterns were calculated
      from semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires collected every 2-4 years.
      Breast cancer molecular subtypes were defined according to estrogen receptor
      (ER), progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), cytokeratin
      5/6 (CK5/6), and epidermal growth factor receptor status from immunostained tumor
      microarrays in combination with histologic grade. Cox proportional hazards
      models, adjusted for age and breast cancer risk factors, were used to estimate
      hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Competing risk analyses
      were used to assess heterogeneity by subtype. We did not observe any significant
      associations between the AHEI or aMED dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer
      by molecular subtype. However, a significantly reduced risk of HER2-type breast
      cancer was observed among women in 5th versus 1st quintile of the DASH dietary
      pattern [n = 134 cases, Q5 vs. Q1 HR (95 % CI) = 0.44 (0.25-0.77)], and the
      inverse trend across quintiles was significant (p trend = 0.02). We did not
      observe any heterogeneity in associations between AHEI (p het = 0.25), aMED (p
      het = 0.71), and DASH (p het = 0.12) dietary patterns and breast cancer by
      subtype. Adherence to the AHEI, aMED, and DASH dietary patterns was not strongly
      associated with breast cancer molecular subtypes. 

PMID- 26872906
TI  - Linezolid-induced optic neuropathy with a rare pathological change in the inner
      retina.
AB  - We report a case of linezolid-induced optic neuropathy with transient microcystic
      spaces in the inner retina. We observed the retina using Fourier-domain optical
      coherence tomography (FD-OCT) in a patient with linezolid-induced optic
      neuropathy. A 49-year-old woman presented to our department with a 1-week history
      of bilateral photophobia. At the first visit, her best-corrected visual acuity
      (VA) was 0.6 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye. She had moderate optic
      disk edema and central scotomas bilaterally. FD-OCT showed bilateral microcystic
      spaces in the retina. Microcystic spaces were seen in the retinal nerve fiber
      layer (RNFL) and at the border of the RNFL and the retinal ganglion cell layer.
      Magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests showed no positive findings
      except for an elevated lactic acid level. One week after the first visit, the VA
      levels decreased to 0.06 and 0.07 in the right and left eyes, respectively.
      Because the patient had a 7-month history of linezolid treatment for persistent
      pyogenic arthritis, we suspected linezolid-induced optic neuropathy and
      immediately terminated treatment with this drug. The optic disk edema and the
      microcystic spaces in the retina resolved, and the VA improved to 1.2 at 6 weeks
      after linezolid withdrawal. Microcystic spaces, which resolved with linezolid
      withdrawal, were observed in linezolid-induced optic neuropathy. The microcystic
      spaces in the inner retina can be the first retinal sign of some optic
      neuropathies.

PMID- 26872907
TI  - Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for inherited bone marrow
      failure syndromes.
AB  - Inherited bone marrow failure (IBMF) syndromes are a heterogeneous group of rare
      hematological disorders characterized by the impairment of hematopoiesis, which
      harbor specific clinical presentations and pathogenic mechanisms. Some of these
      syndromes may progress through clonal evolution, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
      and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Most prominent are failures of DNA repair such
      as Fanconi Anemia and much rarer failure of ribosomal apparatus, e.g., Diamond
      Blackfan Anemia or of telomere elongation such as dyskeratosis congenita. In
      these congenital disorders, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is
      often a consideration. However, HSCT will not correct the underlying disease and
      possible co-existing extra-medullary (multi)-organ defects, but will improve BMF.
      Indications as well as transplantation characteristics are most of the time
      controversial in this setting because of the rarity of reported cases. The
      present paper proposes a short overview of current practices. 

PMID- 26872908
TI  - Comparison of myocardial T1 and T2 values in 3 T with T2* in 1.5 T in patients
      with iron overload and controls.
AB  - Myocardial iron quantification remains limited to 1.5 T systems with T2*
      measurement. The present study aimed at comparing myocardial T2* values at 1.5 T
      to T1 and T2 mapping at 3.0 T in patients with iron overload and healthy
      controls. A total of 17 normal volunteers and seven patients with a history of
      myocardial iron overload were prospectively enrolled. Mid-interventricular septum
      T2*, native T1 and T2 times were quantified on the same day, using a multi-echo
      gradient-echo sequence at 1.5 T and T1 and T2 mapping sequences at 3.0 T,
      respectively. Subjects with myocardial iron overload (T2* < 20 ms) in comparison
      with those without had significantly lower mean myocardial T1 times (868.9 +/-
      120.2 vs. 1170.3 +/- 25.0 ms P = 0.005 respectively) and T2 times (34.9 +/- 4.7
      vs. 45.1 +/- 2.0 ms P = 0.007 respectively). 3 T T1 and T2 times strongly
      correlated with 1.5 T, T2* times (Pearson's r = 0.95 and 0.91 respectively). T1
      and T2 measures presented less variability than T2* in inter- and intra-observer
      analysis. Native myocardial T1 and T2 times at 3 T correlate closely with T2*
      times at 1.5 T and may be useful for myocardial iron overload quantification.

PMID- 26872910
TI  - Evidence That COG0325 Proteins are involved in PLP Homeostasis.
AB  - Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is an essential cofactor for nearly 60 Escherichia
      coli enzymes but is a highly reactive molecule that is toxic in its free form.
      How PLP levels are regulated and how PLP is delivered to target enzymes are still
      open questions. The COG0325 protein family belongs to the fold-type III class of
      PLP enzymes and binds PLP but has no known biochemical activity although it
      occurs in all kingdoms of life. Various pleiotropic phenotypes of the Escherichia
      coli COG0325 (yggS) mutant have been reported, some of which were reproduced and
      extended in this study. Comparative genomic, genetic and metabolic analyses
      suggest that these phenotypes reflect an imbalance in pyridoxal 5'-phosphate
      (PLP) homeostasis. The E. coli yggS mutant accumulates the PLP precursor
      pyridoxine 5'-phosphate (PNP), and is sensitive to an excess of pyridoxine but
      not of pyridoxal. The pyridoxine toxicity phenotype is complemented by the
      expression of eukaryotic yggS orthologs. It is also suppressed by the presence of
      amino acids specifically isoleucine, threonine and leucine suggesting the PLP
      dependent enzyme transaminase B (IlvE) is affected. These genetic results lay a
      foundation for future biochemical studies of the role of COG0325 proteins in PLP
      homeostasis.

PMID- 26872909
TI  - Fibrin-related markers for diagnosing acute-, subclinical-, and pre-venous
      thromboembolism in patients with major orthopedic surgery.
AB  - Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients who have
      undergone major orthopedic surgery, but there are few predictors of VTE after
      major orthopedic surgery treated with an anticoagulant. We measured levels of
      fibrin-related markers (FRMs), such as D-dimer, soluble fibrin (SF), and
      fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDPs) in 66 patients with acute-phase
      VTE, and 367 patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. Plasma FDP, D-dimer,
      and SF levels were significantly higher in patients with acute VTE, but only FDP
      and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in subclinical VTE. Adequate cut-off
      levels of D-dimer were 2.2 MUg/ml for diagnosing acute VTE and 1.5 MUg/ml for
      diagnosing subclinical VTE. D-dimer of less than 1.9 or 0.7 MUg/ml ruled out
      acute VTE or subclinical VTE. D-dimer of more than 1.3 MUg/ml preoperatively
      showed a moderate risk for postoperative VTE. Measurement of FRMs is useful for
      evaluating the risk of subclinical or postoperative VTE in patients with major
      orthopedic surgery. In particular, FDP is the most valuable marker for diagnosing
      acute VTE, whereas D-dimer is the most valuable for diagnosing subclinical VTE or
      predicting VTE.

PMID- 26872911
TI  - Patient-reported outcome measures for cancer caregivers: a systematic review.
AB  - PURPOSE: Informal caregivers provide invaluable help and support to people with
      cancer. As treatments extend survival and the potential burdens on carers
      increase, there is a need to assess the impact of the role. This systematic
      review identified instruments that measure the impact of caregiving, evaluated
      their psychometric performance specifically in cancer and appraised the content.
      METHODS: A two-stage search strategy was employed to: (1) identify instruments
      that measure the impact of caregiving, and (2) run individual searches on each
      measure to identify publications evaluating psychometric performance in the
      target population. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and
      PsycINFO and restricted to English for instrument used and article language.
      Psychometric performance was evaluated for content and construct validity,
      internal consistency, test-retest reliability, precision, responsiveness and
      acceptability. Individual scale items were extracted and systematically
      categorised into conceptual domains. RESULTS: Ten papers were included reporting
      on the psychometric properties of eight measures. Although construct validity and
      internal consistency were most frequently evaluated, no study comprehensively
      evaluated all relevant properties. Few studies met our inclusion criteria so it
      was not possible to consider the psychometric performance of the measures across
      a group of studies. Content analysis resulted in 16 domains with 5 overarching
      themes: lifestyle disruption; well-being; health of the caregiver; managing the
      situation and relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Few measures of caregiver impact have
      been subject to psychometric evaluation in cancer caregivers. Those that have do
      not capture well changes in roles and responsibilities within the family and
      career, indicating the need for a new instrument.

PMID- 26872912
TI  - Known-groups validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information
      System (PROMIS((r))) in adolescents and young adults with special healthcare
      needs.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine known-groups validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes
      Measurement Information System (PROMIS((r))) Short Forms (SFs) for adolescents
      and young adults with special healthcare needs (SHCN) using data collected from
      the PROMIS Linking Study. METHODS: In total, 292 adolescents aged 14-17.9 years
      and 300 young adults aged 18-20 years with SHCN from the PROMIS Linking Study
      were used for analyses. Presence of SHCN was classified into three categories
      (medication use, service use, and functional limitations). HRQoL was measured
      with the PROMIS Pediatric and Adult SFs. Differences in health-related quality of
      life (HRQoL) domain scores between SHCN sample and the norms of the PROMIS
      pediatric and adult calibration samples, respectively, were compared using t
      tests. Associations of HRQoL scores with the presence of individual SHCN
      categories were tested using linear regression. RESULTS: All HRQoL domain scores
      for the SHCN samples were significantly worse than the respective calibration
      samples. Adolescents and young adults with SHCN-related service use and
      functional limitations reported worse HRQoL than those without service use and
      functional limitations (p's < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PROMIS Pediatric and Adult SFs
      possess satisfactory known-groups validity related to SHCN status.

PMID- 26872913
TI  - Classifications in Brief: Kellgren-Lawrence Classification of Osteoarthritis.

PMID- 26872914
TI  - CORR Insights(r): How Much Clinical and Functional Impairment do Children Treated
      With Knee Rotationplasty Experience in Adulthood?

PMID- 26872915
TI  - From Bench to Bedside: Targeted Therapy, Denosumab, and 21st Century
      Orthopaedics: Targets Abound, But Where Are The Therapies?

PMID- 26872916
TI  - The zebrafish fast myosin light chain mylpfa:H2B-GFP transgene is a useful tool
      for in vivo imaging of myocyte fusion in the vertebrate embryo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle fibers are multinucleated syncytia that arise from
      the fusion of mononucleated precursors, the myocytes, during embryonic
      development, muscle hypertrophy in post-embryonic growth and muscle regeneration
      after injury. Even though myocyte fusion is central to skeletal muscle
      differentiation, our current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of myocyte
      fusion in the vertebrates is rather limited. Previous work, from our group and
      others, has shown that the zebrafish embryo is a very useful model for
      investigating the cell biology and genetics of vertebrate myocyte fusion in vivo.
      RESULTS: Here, we report the generation of a stable transgenic zebrafish strain
      that expresses the Histone 2B-GFP (H2B-GFP) fusion protein in the nuclei of all
      fast-twitch muscle fibers under the control of the fast-twitch muscle-specific
      myosin light chain, phosphorylatable, fast skeletal muscle a (mylpfa) gene
      promoter. By introducing this transgene into a mutant for junctional adhesion
      molecule 3b (jam3b), which encodes a cell adhesion protein previously implicated
      in myocyte fusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of using this transgene for the
      analysis of myocyte fusion during the differentiation of the trunk musculature of
      the zebrafish embryo. CONCLUSIONS: Since we know so little about the molecules
      regulating vertebrate myocyte fusion, we propose that the mylpfa:H2B-GFP
      transgene will be a very useful reporter for conducting forward and reverse
      genetic screens to identify new components regulating vertebrate myocyte fusion.

PMID- 26872917
TI  - Pulmonary rehabilitation: the next steps.

PMID- 26872920
TI  - Efficacy of treatment of elevated coccidial oocyst counts in goats using
      amprolium versus ponazuril.
AB  - Coccidiosis is an important disease of young goats leading to weight loss,
      diarrhea, and death. In the USA, both ionophores and decoquinate are labeled for
      prevention of coccidia in goats. However, there are no drugs approved for
      treatment of clinical cases of coccidiosis in this species. Amprolium is labeled
      for treatment of coccidiosis in calves while ponazuril, a metabolite of
      toltrazuril, is labeled for treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. In
      this study, 150 young goats housed on concrete lots had fecal samples collected
      and McMaster fecal oocyst per gram counts performed at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days post
      processing. Goats were randomly assigned to receive either amprolium (50mg/kg
      once a day for 5 days by mouth) or ponazuril (10mg/kg by mouth once) if they had
      fecal oocyst counts >5,000 per gram. Fecal samples were obtained and oocyst
      counts performed at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the cessation of treatment.
      Goats were weighed on days 0 and 21 post-processing. Seven goats were enrolled
      into the amprolium group and 8 into the ponazuril group. Both treatments resulted
      in decreased oocyst counts post-treatment compared to before treatment. There was
      no significant difference between fecal coccidian oocyst counts between goats in
      each group. There was no significant difference in body weight between goats in
      each group. This study showed that both amprolium and ponazuril were effective in
      decreasing fecal coccidia oocyst counts in this group of goats. Use of both drugs
      is currently extra-label in the USA. 

PMID- 26872918
TI  - The effectiveness of pharmacological agents for the treatment of uveitic macular
      oedema (UMO): a systematic review protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macular oedema (MO) describes the accumulation of fluid in the
      central part of the retina, known as the 'macula' which provides central vision.
      MO is the leading cause of sight loss in patients with intraocular inflammation
      (uveitis). There is a lack of consensus over the treatment of uveitic macular
      oedema (UMO). The proposed systematic review will evaluate the evidence on the
      effectiveness of pharmacological agents used to treat UMO. All systemic, local,
      or topical pharmacological agents will be included. METHOD/DESIGN: Standard
      systematic review methodology will be employed to identify, select and extract
      data from comparative studies (randomised/non-randomised trials and observational
      studies) of the pharmacological interventions in patients with UMO. Searches will
      be conducted through bibliographic databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE
      and CINAHL) and clinical trials registers. No restriction will be placed on
      either language or year of publication. Translation of non-English language
      articles will be undertaken to minimise selection bias. The primary outcome of
      interest will be best corrected visual acuity and secondary outcomes will be
      adverse events, health-related quality of life, assessment of UMO using central
      macular thickness (e.g. by optical coherence topography (OCT)), clinical and
      angiographic assessment of UMO, clinical estimation of vitreous haze. Risk of
      bias assessment appropriate to each study design will be undertaken. Data will be
      grouped by comparison, tabulated and narratively synthesised. Meta-analysis will
      be undertaken where clinical and methodological homogeneity exists. Subgroup and
      sensitivity analyses, also network analyses and intra/inter-pharmacological class
      analyses will be undertaken where deemed appropriate. DISCUSSION: A number of
      published studies have investigated the effectiveness of the pharmacological
      agents used to treat UMO. However, there is no recent systematic review that
      synthesises this evidence. This systematic review will analyse the effectiveness
      of systemic, local and topical therapies to treat UMO. The findings will provide
      important evidence to inform clinical and health policy decision-making for the
      treatment of UMO. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Prospero CRD42015019170.

PMID- 26872921
TI  - Association between variation in faecal egg count for a natural mixed field
      challenge of nematode parasites and TLR4 variation.
AB  - Research has shown that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is important in immune
      responses to some helminth parasites. In sheep, variation in the PAMP region of
      TLR4 may result in structurally and thus functionally different TLR4 molecules,
      and this may consequently lead to variation in the TLR4 response to parasite
      infections. This study involved three separate, but related sheep breeds (Merino,
      Polwarth and Corriedale sheep) and a total of 885 lambs from five New Zealand
      farms that underwent a mixed field-challenge from gastro-intestinal parasites.
      Faecal samples were collected at approximately 4 and 9 months of age and faecal
      egg counts (FECs) for Nematodirus spp. and Strongyle species determined, along
      with the total number of eggs per gram (EPG). Analysis of the five farms
      collectively revealed an association (P=0.023) between the presence of TLR4
      variant *02 (mean 24 EPG) and the absence of the variant (mean 32 EPG) at 9
      months of age. Conversely the presence of *03 had a significantly (P=0.047)
      higher mean Nematodirus spp. FEC (mean 42 EPG) compared to the absence (mean 28
      EPG) at 9 months of age. More associations were revealed when the data were split
      according to the dominant faecal parasite species. With a predominantly
      Trichostrongylus spp. FEC group of lambs at 9 months of age, the presence of TLR4
      variant *02 was found to have significantly (P=0.003) lower Nematodirus spp. FEC
      (mean 4 EPG), and also significantly (P=0.033) lower total FEC (mean 312 EPG)
      when compared to sheep without the variant (mean 15 EPG and 449 EPG,
      respectively). The presence of TLR4 variant *03 and *04 were associated or tended
      to be associated (P=0.010 and P=0.088, respectively) with higher Nematodirus spp.
      FEC (mean 25 EPG and 22 EPG, respectively) when compared to lambs without the
      variant (mean 10 EPG and 11 EPG, respectively). These results suggest that TLR4
      variation may be affecting the immune response to gastro-intestinal parasites in
      sheep, although principally to Nematodirus spp. infections and not Strongyle
      species infections. 

PMID- 26872919
TI  - Prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and diabetes among Mexican adults: findings
      from the Mexican Health and Aging Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence and determinants
      of prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and diabetes among Mexican adults from a
      subsample of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. METHODS: We examined 2012
      participants from a subsample of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Measures
      included sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, central obesity,
      medical conditions, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin
      A1c, and vitamin D. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors
      associated with prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and self-reported diabetes.
      RESULTS: Prevalence of prediabetes, undiagnosed, and self-reported diabetes in
      this cohort was 44.2%, 18.0%, and 21.4%, respectively. Participants with high
      waist-hip ratio (1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-2.45) and high
      cholesterol (1.85, 95% CI = 1.36-2.51) had higher odds of prediabetes. Overweight
      (1.68, 95% CI = 1.07-2.64), obesity (2.38, 95% CI = 1.41-4.02), and high waist
      circumference (1.60, 95% CI = 1.06-2.40) were significantly associated with
      higher odds of having undiagnosed diabetes. Those residing in a Mexican state
      with high U.S. migration had lower odds of prediabetes (0.61, 95% CI = 0.45-0.82)
      and undiagnosed diabetes (0.53, 95% CI = 0.41-0.70). Those engaged in regular
      physical activity had lower odds of undiagnosed diabetes (0.74, 95% CI = 0.57
      0.97). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed
      diabetes among Mexican adults in this subsample. Findings suggest the need for
      resources to prevent, identify, and treat persons with prediabetes and
      undiagnosed diabetes.

PMID- 26872923
TI  - Scavenging hagfish as a transport host of Anisakid nematodes.
AB  - Hagfish are the most primitive craniates and scavengers, feeding on dead
      organisms as well as fish and invertebrates. Hagfish play an important ecological
      role in recycling nutrients, helping to recycle biomass from the upper water
      column. We investigated 265 specimens of four hagfish species, including
      Eptatretus burgeri, Eptatretus yangi, Eptatretus sheni and Eptatretus taiwanae
      from northeastern Taiwanese waters of the northwestern Pacific from November 2013
      to June 2014. Eight species of Anisakid nematodes were identified: Anisakis
      pegreffii, Anisakis simplex s.s., a recombinant genotype of A. pegreffii and A.
      simplex s.s., Anisakis typica, Anisakis sp., Anisakis brevispiculata, Anisakis
      physeteris and Hysterothylacium amoyense. Anisakis sp. and H. amoyense
      represented new locality records. The prevalence, mean intensity and mean
      abundance of anisakid nematodes for all specimens were 21.51%, 5.39 larvae per
      fish and 1.16 larvae per fish, respectively. A. pegreffii was the most frequent
      species in E. burgeri, E. yangi and E. taiwanae, whereas in E. sheni, the
      dominant species was Anisakis sp. The number of nematodes was significantly
      related to the host length for E. burgeri and E. sheni, but was not related to
      the sex of the four hagfish species. This report of scavenging hagfish infected
      with Anisakid larvae suggests hagfish as a transport/paratenic host between
      cetaceans and piscivores. Anisakiasis may be caused by the consumption of
      infectious third-stage larvae in raw or undercooked hagfish. 

PMID- 26872922
TI  - Fatal echinococcosis in three lemurs in the United Kingdom--A case series.
AB  - Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus reside in the small intestine of a number of
      carnivorous species, predominantly canids. In enzootic areas, hydatidosis caused
      by taeniid metacestodes can present a significant problem in accidental
      intermediate hosts, including humans. Whereas the United Kingdom is currently
      considered free of Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus granulosus sensu
      stricto (s.s.) and Echinococcus equinus are endemic in the UK and have been
      reported in a variety of captive mammals. The presentation of echinoccocosis in
      non-human primates widely parallels disease in humans, and public health concerns
      are related to the four genera, E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, Echinococcus
      vogeli and Echinococcus oligarthrus. In contrast, sporadic outbreaks and
      individual hydatid disease cases in non-human primates have been associated with
      several Echinococcus and Taenia species. Here we describe three fatal cases of
      cystic echinococcosis in two captive ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and one
      captive red-ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata rubra) and provide molecular tapeworm
      characterisation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this includes the first
      report of Echinococcus ortleppi in a UK born ring-tailed lemur and provides the
      first in depth case reports of echinococcosis due to E. equinus in UK born ring
      tailed and red ruffed lemurs with detailed clinical and pathological findings.
      The cestode life cycle and implications for zoo collections are discussed. 

PMID- 26872924
TI  - Viability of the Happy FactorTM targeted selective treatment approach on several
      sheep farms in Scotland.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the use of Happy FactorTM weight based
      targeted selective treatment (TST) on several commercial farms in Scotland in
      combination with findings from a long term trial on a research farm to assess the
      potential for TST use in varying farming operations as an alternative to the
      current regimen of whole flock treatment. Lambs on each farm were regularly
      weighed and climatic conditions and pasture availability measured for inclusion
      into the Happy FactorTM model to calculate weight targets. Half of the lambs were
      allocated to TST treatment and any failing to reach the weight target was treated
      with the anthelmintic of choice on that farm, while the remaining half of each
      flock was treated with anthelmintic as per normal practice on that farm (routine
      treatment, RT). The research farm (farm 1) hosted a long term trial using four
      anthelmintic treatment regimes over 6 years, and data from two regimes are
      presented here, alongside findings from three further farms: two commercial
      enterprises (farms 2 and 3) and a research farm operating as a commercial
      analogue with two breeds (farms 4a and 4b). The effect of TST strategy on lamb
      productivity and the number of anthelmintic treatments was investigated. There
      was no evidence (p>0.300) that mean bodyweight or growth rate was different
      between TST and RT groups on any of the farms and 95% confidence intervals of TST
      and RT groups generally suggested that TST had negligible unfavourable effects on
      the average growth of lambs for most of the farms. Growth rates ranged from 97.39
      to 189.16g/day reflecting the varied nature of the farms. All commercial farms
      used significantly less (1.34 RT versus 1.14 TST treatments per animal, p<0.05)
      anthelmintic in lambs following TST, with a reduction from 1, 1, 1.03 and 1.14 to
      0.77, 0.57, 0.82 and 0.81 in the number of treatments per animal for farms 2, 3,
      4a and 4b respectively. This study suggests that TST is a viable means of
      controlling parasitic disease without incurring production losses. 

PMID- 26872925
TI  - Serodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomosis caused by non-tsetse transmitted
      Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax parasites using the soluble form of a Trypanozoon
      variant surface glycoprotein antigen.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that a 64-kDa antigen (p64) that was purified from
      the Venezuelan TeAp-N/D1 isolate of Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) equiperdum
      corresponds to the soluble form of its predominant variant surface glycoprotein
      (VSG), and exhibited cross-reactivity with Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax. The
      course of experimental acute infections of bovines with T. vivax were followed by
      measuring whole anti-p64 antibodies and specific anti-p64 IgG and IgM antibodies
      in animal sera by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The value
      of p64 to diagnose bovine trypanosomosis was also examined using 350 sera from
      healthy and T. vivax-infected cows living in a trypanosomosis-endemic and
      enzootic stable area, and 48 sera obtained during a trypanosomosis outbreak.
      Serological assays showed that ~ 70-80% of the infected sera contained anti-p64
      antibodies, based on the comparative immunodetection of the T. equiperdum
      clarified antigenic fraction used as a reference test. In the absence of a gold
      standard, Bayesian analysis for multiple testing estimated a sensitivity and
      specificity of 71.6% and 98.8%, respectively, for the indirect ELISA using p64 as
      antigen. An apparent prevalence of 37.7% for bovine trypanosomosis infection was
      also estimated with a Bayesian approach when the p64 ELISA test was used.
      Employing blood from acute infected cows, the indirect ELISA response against p64
      was contrasted with the microhematocrit centrifuge method and analyses by
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers targeting the inter
      specific length variation of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region of the 18S
      ribosomal gene. The efficiency of p64 for the detection of anti-trypanosome
      antibodies in acute infected bovines was also corroborated serologically by
      comparing its response to that of the Indonesian Trypanosoma evansi Rode
      Trypanozoon antigen type (RoTat) 1.2 VSG, which possesses high specificity and
      sensitivity. As expected, PCR was the best method to detect parasites and
      diagnose bovine trypanosomosis; however, a substantial level of concordance
      (Cohen's kappa=0.667) was obtained when serological tests using p64 and RoTat 1.2
      VSG were compared. Additionally, an agglutination assay was designed using p64
      covalently coupled to carboxylate-modified latex microparticles, which was proven
      here to be suitable for a fast qualitative diagnosis of bovine trypanosomosis.

PMID- 26872926
TI  - Proteomics analysis of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex stage.
AB  - Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex proteins were separated using two-dimensional
      electrophoresis and then identified using mass spectrometry; we identified 61
      proteins, 28 which are newly described of which 4 could be involved in hydatid
      cyst fertility molecular mechanisms. 

PMID- 26872927
TI  - Neospora caninum is the leading cause of bovine fetal loss in British Columbia,
      Canada.
AB  - The protozoan pathogen Neospora caninum is recognized as a leading cause of
      infectious abortions in cattle worldwide. To evaluate the impact of neosporosis
      on dairy and beef herd production, a retrospective, longitudinal study was
      performed to identify the impact of neosporosis alongside other causes of fetal
      abortion in British Columbia, Canada. Retrospective analysis of pathology records
      of bovine fetal submissions submitted to the Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford,
      British Columbia, a provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratory, from January
      2007 to July 2013 identified 182 abortion cases (passive surveillance). From July
      2013 to May 2014, an active surveillance program identified a further 54 abortion
      cases from dairy farmers in the Upper Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Of the
      total 236 fetal submissions analyzed, N. caninum was diagnosed in 18.2% of cases,
      making it the most commonly identified infectious agent associated with fetal
      loss. During active surveillance, N. caninum was associated with 41% of fetuses
      submitted compared to 13.3% during passive surveillance (p<0.001). Breed of dam
      was significantly associated with N. caninum diagnosis, with a higher prevalence
      in dairy versus beef breeds, and fetuses of 3-6 months gestational age had the
      highest prevalence of N. caninum. There was no significant association with dam
      parity. N. caninum was diagnosed in every year except 2009 and cases were
      geographically widespread throughout the province. Furthermore, the active
      surveillance program demonstrates that N. caninum is highly prevalent in the
      Upper Fraser Valley and is a major causal agent of production losses in this
      dairy intensive region. 

PMID- 26872928
TI  - Comparative efficacy and toxic effects of carvacryl acetate and carvacrol on
      sheep gastrointestinal nematodes and mice.
AB  - Carvacrol is a compound isolated from some essential oils. It has been reported
      to possess anthelmintic activity. Acetylation of this monoterpene has been
      proposed as a potential way to reduce the toxicity and enhance the
      pharmacological effects of carvacrol. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of
      carvacryl acetate (CA) using in vitro and in vivo assays with gastrointestinal
      nematodes of small ruminants. The egg hatching test (EHT), larval development
      test (LDT) and adult worm motility (AWM) assessment were conducted to evaluate
      the effect of the acetylated product and pure carvacrol on Haemonchus contortus
      eggs, larvae and adults. The structural changes induced in adult H. contortus
      were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CA and carvacrol acute
      toxicity was evaluated in mice. Finally, the efficacy of 250 mg/kg CA and
      2.5mg/kg monepantel (positive control) were evaluated in 30 sheep naturally
      infected with gastrointestinal nematodes by the fecal egg count reduction test
      (FECRT). In vitro tests were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by
      comparison with Tukey's test. The efficacy was calculated by the Boot Street
      program using the arithmetic average. The number of eggs in feces (epg) of the
      groups were transformed to log (x+1) and subjected to ANOVA to compare
      differences among the groups by Tukey's test. The level of significance was
      P<0.05. CA and carvacrol inhibited larval hatching by 89.3 and 97.7% at doses of
      8.0 and 1.0mg/ml, respectively. At the concentration of 2mg/ml, CA and carvacrol
      inhibited 100% of larval development. At a concentration of 200 MUg/ml, CA and
      carvacrol inhibited the motility of adult worms by 100% and 58.3% at 24h post
      exposure, respectively. CA caused cuticle and vulvar flap wrinkling and bubbles
      to emerge from the tegument. Carvacrol caused more discreet effects on the
      cuticle and vulvar flap. The LD10 and LD50 of CA were 566.7 mg/kg and
      1544.5mg/kg, respectively. The LD10 and LD50 of carvacrol were 546.8 mg/kg and
      919 mg/kg, respectively. CA and monepantel reduced the epg of sheep by 65.9 and
      96.4%, respectively, at 16 days post-treatment. CA showed in vitro and in vivo
      anthelmintic activity and was less toxic than carvacrol.

PMID- 26872929
TI  - An observational study of the vertical transmission of Theileria orientalis
      (Ikeda) in a New Zealand pastoral dairy herd.
AB  - Although only recently recognised, Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) is now the most
      important infectious cause of anaemia in New Zealand cattle. The aim of this
      study was to test if vertical transmission of T. orientalis (Ikeda) from dam to
      calf across the placenta occurs in naturally infected New Zealand dairy cattle
      and to also test whether the infection status of the dam at calving affects the
      future susceptibility of its offspring to T. orientalis (Ikeda) infection. Dairy
      cows (n=97) and their calves were sampled at calving; and the calves again at 4
      months of age. All samples were measured for haematocrit and screened for T.
      orientalis genotypes using a multiplex Buffeli, Chitose and Ikeda specific TaqMan
      assay. Ikeda positive samples were further tested by singleplex PCR in triplicate
      to calculate the Ikeda infection intensity as genomes/MUl of blood from each
      infected animal. No T. orientalis (Ikeda) infected calves were born to either T.
      orientalis (Ikeda) infected or uninfected dams. There were 56/97 dams positive
      for T. orientalis (Ikeda) infection at calving and 79/90 calves positive for T.
      orientalis (Ikeda) infection at 4 months of age but no effect on calf
      susceptibility of dam infection status at calving. There was a significant
      negative effect of infection intensity on haematocrit after controlling for
      whether the infected animal was a dam or a 4 month old calf. Vertical trans
      uterine transmission of T. orientalis (Ikeda) infection is unlikely in
      chronically infected dairy cows and thus not a factor in the epidemiology of T.
      orientalis (Ikeda) infection. 

PMID- 26872930
TI  - The efficacy of flubendazole against different developmental stages of the
      poultry roundworm Ascaridia galli in laying hens.
AB  - Infection with the poultry roundworm Ascaridia galli has increased in European
      countries due to the ban on battery cages. This study was conducted in two
      commercial laying hen flocks (F1 & F2) on different farms in central Sweden. The
      aims were to (1) investigate the efficacy of flubendazole (FLBZ, 1.43 mg/kg
      administered in drinking water for 7 days) against adult and larval stages
      including histotrophic larvae of A. galli, and (2) determine how long it took
      before the flocks were reinfected after deworming. Accordingly, 180 randomly
      selected hens were sacrificed before drug administration (bd), on day 3 and 7
      during drug administration (dd), and on a weekly basis for up to five weeks post
      drug administration (pd). Intestinal contents and cloacal materials of each hen
      plus pooled faecal samples from manure belts were investigated to assess the worm
      burden and the parasite egg per gram faeces (epg). Additionally, drinking water,
      and serum and gastrointestinal digesta content samples obtained from ten treated
      animals were analyzed by HPLC to measure FLBZ and its reduced (R-FLBZ) and
      hydrolyzed (H-FLBZ) metabolites. No parasite eggs were observed in cloacal
      samples on day 21 and 28 pd on F1 and on day 21 pd on F2. The epg in manure
      decreased by 65% and 88% on day 3 dd and by 99% and 97% on day 35 pd on F1 and F2
      respectively. Mean FLBZ concentrations quantified in duodenal contents ranged
      between 0.50 and 0.79 MUg/g. Although, no histotrophic larvae were found dd, they
      reappeared one week pd (7 +/- 7 F1, 0.5 +/- 0.5 F2). Adult worms were found in
      both flocks before drug administration (44 +/- 20 F1, 35 +/- 25 F2), on day 3 dd
      (4 +/- 3 F1, 2 +/- 2 F2), and then not until day 35 (0.2 +/- 0.6) on F1 and day
      28 (0.4 +/- 0.9) pd on F2. Thus, the only period in which no A. galli were found
      was on day 7 dd. Although FLBZ was highly efficient our results indicate that the
      birds were reinfected already within one week pd.

PMID- 26872931
TI  - Mange mite infestation in small ruminants in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - Mange mites are economically important ectoparasites of sheep and goats
      responsible for rejection or downgrading of skins in tanneries or leather
      industries in Ethiopia. The objective of this systematic review was to compute
      the pooled prevalence estimate and identify factors influencing mange mite
      prevalence in sheep and goats at national level based on the available research
      evidence. Articles on mange mite infestation of small ruminants in Ethiopia were
      searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Google scholar and African journals on-line.
      The review was based on 18 cross-sectional studies carried out between 2003 and
      2015 in four administrative states of Ethiopia. Accordingly, the pooled
      prevalence estimate in a random effects meta-analysis was estimated to be 4.4%
      (95% CI 3.0, 6.3) although there were evidence of a substantial amount of between
      study variance (I(2)=98.4%). In subgroup and multivariable meta-regression
      analyses, animal species, agro-ecology and administrative state were found to
      have significant effect on the prevalence estimate (P<0.05) and explained 32.87%
      of the explainable proportion of the heterogeneity noted between studies The
      prevalence was found to be higher in goats in lowland agro-ecology. Region wise
      the highest estimate was calculated for Amhara (6.4%) followed by Oromia (4.7%),
      Tigray (3.6%) and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Region (SNNPR)
      (3.1%). Significant difference was noted between Amhara and SNNPR. The study
      further revealed that mites of the genus Sarcoptes, Demodex and Psoroptes are the
      most prevalent mites infesting small ruminants in Ethiopia. Valid studies were
      lacking from five regional states. As some of these regions are known for their
      large small ruminant population, further studies are warranted to produce better
      picture of the infestation at a national level. Meanwhile, the need for
      monitoring the ongoing control intervention is suggested. 

PMID- 26872932
TI  - An outbreak of bovine meningoencephalomyelitis with identification of
      Halicephalobus gingivalis.
AB  - Halicephalobus gingivalis is an opportunistic parasite which is known to cause
      fatal meningoencephalomyelitis primarily in equines but sporadically also in
      humans. In April 2014, laboratory examination of the head of a young dairy calf,
      euthanized due to severe central nervous system symptoms, revealed the presence
      of granulomatous to necrotizing encephalitis and myriads of nematodes in the
      brain lesion. Morphologically the parasites were identified as H. gingivalis. The
      diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA and
      the small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes, revealing genetic variations of 0.5-4.4% and
      0.7-8.6%, respectively, between the H. gingivalis isolated from the Danish calf
      and published isolates, collected worldwide from free-living and parasitic stages
      of the nematode. Clinical symptoms and histological changes indicated infection
      with H. gingivalis from another three calves in the herd. This is the first
      scientific publication of H. gingivalis induced meningoencephalomyelitis in
      ruminants. As ante mortem diagnosis is a major challenge, the infection may
      easily remain undiagnosed in cattle. 

PMID- 26872934
TI  - Benzimidazole resistance in equine cyathostomins in India.
AB  - Benzimidazole resistance is a major hindrance to the control of equine
      cyathostominosis throughout the world. There is a paucity of knowledge on the
      level of benzimidazole resistance in small strongyles of horses in India. In the
      present study, allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) that detects F200Y mutation of the
      isotype 1 beta-tubulin gene and faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) were used
      for detecting benzimidazole resistance in equine cyathostomin populations in
      different agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh, India. Results of the FECRT
      revealed prevalence of benzimidazole resistance in cyathostomins in an
      intensively managed equine farm in the mid-western plain (FECR=27.5%, LCI=0) and
      in working horses (extensively managed) at three locations in central plains of
      Uttar Pradesh (FECR=75.7-83.6%, LCI=29-57%). Post-treatment larval cultures
      revealed the presence of exclusively cyathostomin larvae. Genotyping of
      cyathostomin larvae by AS-PCR revealed that the frequency of homozygous resistant
      (rr) individuals and the resistant allele frequency was significantly higher
      (p<0.001) in the intensively managed farm in the mid-western plain and in working
      horses at two locations in central plains of the state. The resistant allele (r)
      frequency in cyathostomins was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Vindhyan and
      Tarai and Bhabar zones of Uttar Pradesh. The prevalence of benzimidazole
      resistant allele (r) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in cyathostomins of
      intensively managed horses (allelic frequency-0.35) as compared to extensively
      managed horses (allelic frequency-0.22). The widespread prevalence of
      benzimidazole resistant alleles in equine cyathostomins in Uttar Pradesh, India,
      necessitates immediate replacement of the drugs of benzimidazole group with other
      unrelated effective anthelmintics for management and control of equine
      cyathostomins.

PMID- 26872933
TI  - Impact of the post-weaning nutritional history on the response to an experimental
      Haemonchus contortus infection in Creole goats and Black Belly sheep.
AB  - In small ruminants, the response against gastrointestinal nematode (GIN)
      infections is influenced not only by the host genotype and the physiological
      stage but also by environmental factors, particularly the nutritional status at
      the time of infection. In this study we evaluated the long-term effect and the
      interaction between the host species and the nutritional history on the response
      to GIN infection in two animal models differing in their phenotypic growth and
      their level of GIN resistance: Black Belly sheep and Creole goats. Lambs and kids
      were subjected to three distinct nutritional conditions at weaning: low dietary
      conditions (100% of the theoretical energy requirement for maintenance,
      corresponding to 548v. 484KJ/Kg BW(0.75) for lambs and kids respectively and 6%
      of crude protein, CP), medium dietary conditions (150% of the theoretical energy
      requirement for maintenance and 13% CP) and high dietary conditions (200% of the
      theoretical energy requirement for maintenance and 20% CP). This 3-months period
      was followed by a 1-month period on the medium dietary conditions for all the
      animals before an experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. We monitored the
      impact of the nutritional history (nutritional condition after weaning), on the
      intensity of the GIN infection by measuring individual faecal egg counts (FEC),
      growth rate (ADG), blood eosinophil counts and other pathophysiological
      parameters. The FEC, growth rate and blood eosinophil counts were significantly
      affected by the nutritional history in lambs but not in kids. The lowest FEC was
      found for lambs placed in high dietary conditions, however during the same period
      body weight loss was observed in this group. In low dietary conditions, kids were
      more resistant than lambs and the ADG was higher in lambs. However, the anaemia
      and the level of serum pepsinogen, marker of the abomasal mucosa integrity, were
      higher in kids. Our data suggest that the impact of the post-weaning nutritional
      history on the response to an experimental H. contortus infection is
      significantly affected by the host species. 

PMID- 26872935
TI  - Efficacy and persistent activity of moxidectin against natural Muellerius
      capillaris infection in goats and pathological consequences of muelleriosis.
AB  - The effect of moxidectin against natural Muellerius capillaris infection in goats
      was evaluated in this study. Long-acting moxidectin at a single dose of 1 mg kg(
      1) body weight was administered to an entire flock (n=10) of goats. The
      individual faecal larval count reduction was applied as an indicator of treatment
      efficacy. A significant reduction (>98%) in larval counts was observed in all
      surveyed animals 14 days after drug administration. Moxidectin demonstrated
      persistent activity in this study; the mean faecal larval count reduction was
      99.1% +/- 1.8 on day 77 of the treatment. Macroscopic abnormalities and
      histological changes in the lungs of two infected goats were evident during the
      post-mortem examination. The pathological consequences of M. capillaris infection
      were observed even three months after parasite elimination. The results of this
      study indicate that moxidectin is a highly effective anthelmintic agent for the
      control of muelleriosis in goats. This drug provides animals with fifteen weeks
      of protections against M. capillaris reinfection.

PMID- 26872936
TI  - FAMACHA((c)) scores history of sheep characterized as resistant/resilient or
      susceptible to H. contortus in artificial infection challenge.
AB  - With the aim of validating the FAMACHA((c)) as a method for phenotypic selection
      of sheep resistant/resilient to gastrointestinal nematodes, 27 Suffolk ewes with
      known FAMACHA((c)) score histories were experimentally infected with 25,000
      larvae of Haemonchus contortus. From the day of infection (day 0) to 60 days post
      infection, at intervals of 7-15 days, ewes were evaluated for packed cell volume
      (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC). A statistically significant increase (p<0.05)
      in FEC occurred between day 0 and day 60. PCV values showed a decrease (p<0.05)
      starting from day 21, compared to day 0. Based on the changes in FEC and PCV
      values from day 0 to day 60, 15 ewes (55.56%) were classified as susceptible (S)
      and 12 ewes (44.44%) as resistant/resilient (RR). A comparison of the average FEC
      after infection between susceptible (4487.6 eggs per gram-epg) and
      resistant/resilient (1317.9epg) ewes showed a significant difference (p<0.05)
      between the two groups. The difference in average PCV values after infection
      (24.8% and 30.3% for S and RR, respectively) was also significant (p<0.05). Data
      from 980 previous evaluations of FAMACHA((c)) scores from the 27 ewes showed that
      58.33% of the ewes classified as RR and 46.67% of the S group had a history of
      only F1 and F2 scores. In the RR group, only one animal (8.33%) had an F4 score,
      occurring one time out of the 61 evaluations of this ewe. In contrast, 40.0% of S
      group ewes had F4 and/or F5 scores. During the period of FAMACHA((c)) score
      history that was evaluated, 69.56% of the total number of anthelmintic treatments
      in the flock were administered to ewes from group S. Since ewes with F4 and/or F5
      scores during the FAMACHA((c)) score time period were classified as susceptible
      during the experimental infection (with the exception of one ewe), we conclude
      that the FAMACHA((c)) score history is a useful tool for the selection of ewes
      that are resistant/resilient, as well as for the identification of susceptible
      animals that should be culled. 

PMID- 26872937
TI  - Flap Dynamics in Aspartic Proteases: A Computational Perspective.
AB  - Recent advances in biochemistry and drug design have placed proteases as one of
      the critical target groups for developing novel small-molecule inhibitors. Among
      all proteases, aspartic proteases have gained significant attention due to their
      role in HIV/AIDS, malaria, Alzheimer's disease, etc. The binding cleft is covered
      by one or two beta-hairpins (flaps) which need to be opened before a ligand can
      bind. After binding, the flaps close to retain the ligand in the active site.
      Development of computational tools has improved our understanding of flap
      dynamics and its role in ligand recognition. In the past decade, several
      computational approaches, for example molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, coarse
      grained simulations, replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) and metadynamics,
      have been used to understand flap dynamics and conformational motions associated
      with flap movements. This review is intended to summarize the computational
      progress towards understanding the flap dynamics of proteases and to be a
      reference for future studies in this field.

PMID- 26872938
TI  - Small fiber neuropathy: Getting bigger!
AB  - Etiological and clinical heterogeneity of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) precludes
      a unifying approach and necessitates reliance on recognizable clinical syndromes.
      Symptoms of SFN arise from dysfunction in nociception, temperature, and autonomic
      modalities. This review focuses on SFN involving nociception and temperature,
      examining epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis,
      pathophysiology, and management. Prevalence of SFN is 52.95 per 100,000
      population, and diabetes and idiopathic are the most common etiologies.
      Dysesthesia, allodynia, pain, burning, and coldness sensations frequently present
      in a length-dependent pattern. Additional autonomic features in gastrointestinal,
      urinary, or cardiovascular systems are frequent but poorly objectified. SFN is
      diagnosed by intraepidermal nerve fiber density and quantitative sensory and
      autonomic tests in combination with normal nerve conduction. Pathophysiological
      understanding centers on sodium channel dysfunction, and genetic forms are
      beginning to be understood. Treatment is directed at the underlying etiology
      supported by symptomatic treatment using antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
      Little is known about long-term outcomes, and systematic cohort studies are
      needed.

PMID- 26872940
TI  - Design Considerations for Smoking Cessation Apps: Feedback From Nicotine
      Dependence Treatment Providers and Smokers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hundreds of smoking cessation apps are commercially available, but
      most are not theory-based or designed to take advantage of mobile technology in
      ways that could make them more engaging and possibly more effective. Considering
      input from both clinical experts (who understand best practice nicotine
      dependence treatment requirements) to inform appropriate content and from smokers
      (the end users) to express their preferences is important in designing these
      programs in the future. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the opinions of nicotine
      dependence treatment providers and smokers regarding the design of future smoking
      cessation apps. METHODS: We surveyed providers (n=264) and smokers who own
      smartphones (n=40) to assess their opinions on the importance of 21 app design
      features. Features represented 5 domains: cost, reputation, privacy and security,
      content and user experience, and communication. Domains were chosen to reflect
      best practice treatment, leverage mobile technology to support smoking cessation,
      and elicit important user preferences. Data were collected between June and July
      2015. RESULTS: Most providers agreed that mHealth apps hold promise for helping
      people quit smoking (203/264, 76.9%) and would recommend them to their
      clients/patients (201/264, 76.1%), especially if the app were empirically
      validated (236/264, 89.4%). Few providers believe effective cessation apps
      currently exist (112/264, 42.4%). Few smokers (5/40, 13%) had ever downloaded a
      smoking cessation app; of the ones who had not, most said they would consider
      doing so (29/35, 83%). Both respondent groups indicated the following features
      were very to extremely important to include in cessation apps: free or low cost,
      keeps information private, matches individual needs and interests, adapts as
      one's needs and interests change, helps to manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms
      and medication side effects, and allows users to track their progress. Providers
      and smokers also indicated gaming and social media connectivity were less
      important than other features. Despite these similarities, the groups had
      significantly different opinions about the relative importance of various
      features. In particular, providers rated privacy as the most important feature,
      whereas smokers rated low cost and the ability to adaptively tailor content as
      the most important features. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation apps hold great
      promise as intervention tools but only if they engage users and appropriately
      treat nicotine dependence. Intervention development should take into
      consideration the perspectives of both treatment experts and smokers. This paper
      highlights important perspectives from each of these groups to be considered when
      designing future app-based smoking cessation programs.

PMID- 26872941
TI  - Diagnosing Developmental Dysplasia of Hip in Newborns Using Clinical Screen and
      Ultrasound of Hips-An Indian Experience.
AB  - AIM: To study the cost-effectiveness of clinical screen with ultrasonography
      (USG) of hip for diagnosing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in newborns.
      METHODS: Retrospective study (2006-14). Term newborns had (i) target scan at 6
      weeks-family history of DDH or breech presentation-and (ii) early scan-abnormal
      clinical screen. RESULTS: In all, 736 babies had USG scan. Five early scans
      (Graf's classification; three Type IIA, one Type IIC and one Type IIIB] and 15
      target scans (Type IIA) were reported abnormal. All Type IIA DDH had subsequent
      12 weeks' scans normal. Babies with Type IIIB and IIC had hip reduction surgery
      at 6 and 16 months of age, respectively. At cost 200 INR/scan, total 147 200 INR
      was incurred against two possible hip replacements prevented. CONCLUSION:
      Universal clinical screen with USG of hip can aid in early diagnosis of DDH in
      newborns. Large population-based studies from developing countries need to look
      in its cost-effectiveness.

PMID- 26872939
TI  - Evaluation of genetic variation among Brazilian soybean cultivars through genome
      resequencing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is one of the most important
      legumes cultivated worldwide, and Brazil is one of the main producers of this
      crop. Since the sequencing of its reference genome, interest in structural and
      allelic variations of cultivated and wild soybean germplasm has grown. To
      investigate the genetics of the Brazilian soybean germplasm, we selected soybean
      cultivars based on the year of commercialization, geographical region and
      maturity group and resequenced their genomes. RESULTS: We resequenced the genomes
      of 28 Brazilian soybean cultivars with an average genome coverage of 14.8X. A
      total of 5,835,185 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1,329,844 InDels
      were identified across the 20 soybean chromosomes, with 541,762 SNPs, 98,922
      InDels and 1,093 CNVs that were exclusive to the 28 Brazilian cultivars. In
      addition, 668 allelic variations of 327 genes were shared among all of the
      Brazilian cultivars, including genes related to DNA-dependent transcription
      elongation, photosynthesis, ATP synthesis-coupled electron transport, cellular
      respiration, and precursors of metabolite generation and energy. A very
      homogeneous structure was also observed for the Brazilian soybean germplasm, and
      we observed 41 regions putatively influenced by positive selection. Finally, we
      detected 3,880 regions with copy-number variations (CNVs) that could help to
      explain the divergence among the accessions evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The large
      number of allelic and structural variations identified in this study can be used
      in marker-assisted selection programs to detect unique SNPs for cultivar
      fingerprinting. The results presented here suggest that despite the
      diversification of modern Brazilian cultivars, the soybean germplasm remains very
      narrow because of the large number of genome regions that exhibit low diversity.
      These results emphasize the need to introduce new alleles to increase the genetic
      diversity of the Brazilian germplasm.

PMID- 26872942
TI  - Excitotoxic Mechanisms in Non-Motor Dysfunctions and Levodopa- Induced Dyskinesia
      in Parkinson's Disease: The Role of the Interaction Between the Dopaminergic and
      the Kynurenine System.
AB  - Parkinson's disease is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder presenting
      with characteristic motor symptoms. Non-motor dysfunctions and therapyrelated
      complications frequently develop, but are often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
      Levodopa- induced dyskinesia and impulse control disorders are suggested to share
      pathophysiological processes and m a y be related to alterations of the
      glutamatergic neurotransmission. Anti- glutamatergic interventions are therefore
      worth considering: several lines of evidence already indicate their beneficial
      effect. The kynurenine pathway offers the endogenous glutamate receptor
      antagonist kynurenic acid, which may act as a promising candidate for future drug
      development with the aim of assessment of the motor symptoms and therapy-related
      complications of Parkinson's disease. 

PMID- 26872945
TI  - Should pre-implantation genetic screening be implemented to routine clinical
      practice?
AB  - The utilization of trophectoderm biopsy combined with comprehensive chromosome
      screening (CCS) tests for embryonic aneuploidy was recently suggested to improve
      IVF outcome, however, not without criticisms. Since mosaicism has been reported
      in as high as 90% of blastocyst-stage embryos, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy
      of trophectoderm multiple biopsies using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Eight
      top quality blastocysts underwent three trophectoderm biopsies each, followed by
      NGS. In four blastocysts, the rest of the embryo, which included the inner cell
      mass, was also analyzed. Five of the 24 (20.8%) trophectoderm biopsies revealed
      inconclusive results, while 4 (16.6%) demonstrated embryonic mosaicism. Overall,
      10 (35.7%) of the 28 (24 trophectoderms and 4 inner cell masses) biopsies
      revealed mosaicism or inconclusive results. Our preliminary observations
      contribute to the ongoing discussion on the unrestricted clinical adoption of
      PGS, suggesting, that until proper evaluation of its effectiveness and cost
      effectiveness will be provided, PGS should be offered only under study
      conditions, and with appropriate informed consents. 

PMID- 26872944
TI  - Are temporal patterns of sitting associated with obesity among blue-collar
      workers? A cross sectional study using accelerometers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about associations of temporal patterns of sitting
      (i.e., distribution of sitting across time) with obesity. We aimed investigating
      the association between temporal patterns of sitting (long, moderate and brief
      uninterrupted bouts) and obesity indicators (body mass index (BMI), waist
      circumference and fat percentage), independently from moderate-vigorous physical
      activity (MVPA) and total sitting time among blue-collar workers. METHODS:
      Workers (n = 205) wore Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers on the thigh and trunk for
      1-4 working days. Using the validated Acti4 software, the total sitting time and
      time spent sitting in brief (<=5 mins), moderate (>5 and <=30 mins), and long
      (>30mins) bouts on working days were determined for the whole day, and for
      leisure and work separately. BMI (kg/m(2)), waist circumference (cm) and fat
      percentage were objectively measured. RESULTS: Results of linear regression
      analysis adjusted for multiple confounders indicated that brief bouts of sitting
      was negatively associated with obesity for the whole day (BMI, P < 0.01; fat
      percentage, P < 0.01; waist circumference, P < 0.01) and work (BMI, P < 0.01; fat
      percentage, P < 0.01; waist circumference, P < 0.01), but not for leisure.
      Sitting time in long bouts was positively associated with obesity indicators for
      the whole day (waist circumference, P = 0.05) and work (waist circumference, P =
      0.01; BMI, P = 0.04), but not leisure. CONCLUSIONS: For the whole day as well as
      for work, brief bouts and long bouts of sitting showed opposite associations with
      obesity even after adjusting for MVPA and total sitting time, while sitting
      during leisure did not show these associations. Thus, the temporal distribution
      of sitting seems to influence the relationship between sitting and obesity.

PMID- 26872946
TI  - Tactical emergency medicine: lessons from Paris marauding terrorist attack.

PMID- 26872943
TI  - Expression of Arabidopsis Bax Inhibitor-1 in transgenic sugarcane confers drought
      tolerance.
AB  - The sustainability of global crop production is critically dependent on improving
      tolerance of crop plants to various types of environmental stress. Thus,
      identification of genes that confer stress tolerance in crops has become a top
      priority especially in view of expected changes in global climatic patterns.
      Drought stress is one of the abiotic stresses that can result in dramatic loss of
      crop productivity. In this work, we show that transgenic expression of a highly
      conserved cell death suppressor, Bax Inhibitor-1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtBI
      1), can confer increased tolerance of sugarcane plants to long-term (>20 days)
      water stress conditions. This robust trait is correlated with an increased
      tolerance of the transgenic sugarcane plants, especially in the roots, to
      induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by the protein glycosylation
      inhibitor tunicamycin. Our findings suggest that suppression of ER stress in C4
      grasses, which include important crops such as sorghum and maize, can be an
      effective means of conferring improved tolerance to long-term water deficit. This
      result could potentially lead to improved resilience and yield of major crops in
      the world.

PMID- 26872947
TI  - Referrals for pulmonary hypertension rise by 21% in five years, audit finds.

PMID- 26872949
TI  - Herbivore-Triggered Electrophysiological Reactions: Candidates for Systemic
      Signals in Higher Plants and the Challenge of Their Identification.
AB  - In stressed plants, electrophysiological reactions (elRs) are presumed to
      contribute to long-distance intercellular communication between distant plant
      parts. Because of the focus on abiotic stress-induced elRs in recent decades,
      biotic stress-triggered elRs have been widely ignored. It is likely that the
      challenge to identify the particular elR types (action potential [AP], variation
      potential, and system potential [SP]) was responsible for this course of action.
      Thus, this survey focused on insect larva feeding (Spodoptera littoralis and
      Manduca sexta) that triggers distant APs, variation potentials, and SPs in
      monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant species (Hordeum vulgare, Vicia faba,
      and Nicotiana tabacum). APs were detected only after feeding on the stem/culm,
      whereas SPs were observed systemically following damage to both stem/culm and
      leaves. This was attributed to the unequal vascular innervation of the plant and
      a selective electrophysiological connectivity of the plant tissue. However,
      striking variations in voltage patterns were detected for each elR type. Further
      analyses (also in Brassica napus and Cucurbita maxima) employing complementary
      electrophysiological approaches in response to different stimuli revealed various
      reasons for these voltage pattern variations: an intrinsic plasticity of elRs, a
      plant-specific signature of elRs, a specific influence of the applied (a)biotic
      trigger, the impact of the technical approach, and/or the experimental setup. As
      a consequence, voltage pattern variations, which are not irregular but rather
      common, need to be included in electrophysiological signaling analysis. Due to
      their widespread occurrence, systemic propagation, and respective triggers, elRs
      should be considered as candidates for long-distance communication in higher
      plants.

PMID- 26872948
TI  - The Mechanistic Underpinnings of an ago1-Mediated, Environmentally Dependent, and
      Stochastic Phenotype.
AB  - The crucial role of microRNAs in plant development is exceedingly well supported;
      their importance in environmental robustness is studied in less detail. Here, we
      describe a novel, environmentally dependent phenotype in hypomorphic argonaute1
      (ago1) mutants and uncover its mechanistic underpinnings in Arabidopsis
      (Arabidopsis thaliana). AGO1 is a key player in microRNA-mediated gene
      regulation. We observed transparent lesions on embryonic leaves of ago1 mutant
      seedlings. These lesions increased in frequency in full-spectrum light. Notably,
      the lesion phenotype was most environmentally responsive in ago1-27 mutants. This
      allele is thought to primarily affect translational repression, which has been
      linked with the response to environmental perturbation. Using several lines of
      evidence, we found that these lesions represent dead and dying tissues due to an
      aberrant hypersensitive response. Although all three canonical defense hormone
      pathways (salicylic acid, jasmonate, and jasmonate/ethylene pathways) were up
      regulated in ago1 mutants, we demonstrate that jasmonate perception drives the
      lesion phenotype. Double mutants of ago1 and coronatine insensitive1, the
      jasmonate receptor, showed greatly decreased frequency of affected seedlings. The
      chaperone HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 90 (HSP90), which maintains phenotypic robustness in
      the face of environmental perturbations, is known to facilitate AGO1 function.
      HSP90 perturbation has been shown previously to up-regulate jasmonate signaling
      and to increase plant resistance to herbivory. Although single HSP90 mutants
      showed subtly elevated levels of lesions, double mutant analysis disagreed with a
      simple epistatic model for HSP90 and AGO1 interaction; rather, both appeared to
      act nonadditively in producing lesions. In summary, our study identifies AGO1 as
      a major, largely HSP90-independent, factor in providing environmental robustness
      to plants.

PMID- 26872950
TI  - Impact of serum as a dispersion agent for in vitro and in vivo toxicological
      assessments of TiO2 nanoparticles.
AB  - Nanoparticles (NP) have a tendency to agglomerate after dispersion in
      physiological media, which can be prevented by the addition of serum. This may
      however result in modification of the toxic potential of particles due to the
      formation of protein corona. Our study aimed to analyze the role of serum that is
      added to improve the dispersion of 10 nm TiO2 NPs on in vitro and in vivo effects
      following the exposure via the respiratory route. We characterized NP size,
      surface charge, sedimentation rate, the presence of protein corona and the
      oxidant-generating capacity after NP dispersion in the presence/absence of serum.
      The effect of serum on NP internalization, cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory
      responses was assessed in a human pulmonary cell line, NCI-H292. Serum in the
      dispersion medium led to a slower sedimentation, but an enhanced cellular uptake
      of TiO2 NPs. Despite this greater uptake, the pro-inflammatory response in NCI
      H292 cells was lower after serum supplementation (used either as a dispersant or
      as a cell culture additive), which may be due to a reduced intrinsic oxidative
      potential of TiO2 NPs. Interestingly, serum could be added 2 h after the NP
      treatment without affecting the pro-inflammatory response. We also determined the
      acute pulmonary and hepatic toxicity in vivo 24 h after intratracheal
      instillation of TiO2 NPs in C57BL/6N mice. The use of serum resulted in an
      underestimation of the local acute inflammatory response in the lung, while a
      systemic response on glutathione reduction remained unaffected. In conclusion,
      serum as a dispersion agent for TiO2 NPs can lead to an underestimation of the
      acute pro-inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. To avoid potential unwanted
      effects of dispersants and medium components, we recommend that the protocol of
      NM preparation should be thoroughly tested, and reflect as close as possible
      realistic exposure conditions.

PMID- 26872951
TI  - Comparative analysis of 3D culture methods on human HepG2 cells.
AB  - Human primary hepatocytes represent a gold standard in in vitro liver research.
      Due to their low availability and high costs alternative liver cell models with
      comparable morphological and biochemical characteristics have come into focus.
      The human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 is often used as a liver model for
      toxicity studies. However, under two-dimensional (2D) cultivation conditions the
      expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and typical liver markers such as
      albumin is very low. Cultivation for 21 days in a three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel
      culture system has been reported to strongly increase the metabolic competence of
      HepG2 cells. In our present study we further compared HepG2 cell cultivation in
      three different 3D systems: collagen, Matrigel and Alvetex culture. Cell
      morphology, albumin secretion, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzyme activities,
      as well as gene expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing and liver-specific enzymes
      were analyzed after 3, 7, 14, and 21 days of cultivation. Our results show that
      the previously reported increase of metabolic competence of HepG2 cells is not
      primarily the result of 3D culture but a consequence of the duration of
      cultivation. HepG2 cells grown for 21 days in 2D monolayer exhibit comparable
      biochemical characteristics, CYP activities and gene expression patterns as all
      3D culture systems used in our study. However, CYP activities did not reach the
      level of HepaRG cells. In conclusion, the increase of metabolic competence of the
      hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 is not due to 3D cultivation but rather a result
      of prolonged cultivation time.

PMID- 26872952
TI  - An anatomical study of the pterygospinous bar and foramen of Civinini.
AB  - PURPOSE: The pterygospinous ligament extends from the posterior free margin of
      the lateral pterygoid plate till the spine of the sphenoid. The ligament may
      ossify partly or completely leading to the formation of the pterygospinous bar. A
      complete ossification of the ligament results in the formation of the foramen of
      Civinini. Presence of the complete or incomplete pterygospinous bar may lead to a
      difficulty in passing the needle during anaesthesia for the trigeminal neuralgia
      or the bar may also compress the mandibular nerve and its branches to cause
      lingual numbness, pain and speech impairment. METHOD: Presence of the complete or
      incomplete pterygospinous bar and the foramen of Civinini were studied in 55
      dried adult skulls and 20 sphenoid bones. RESULTS: Partial or complete
      ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was seen in 17.33 % skulls. One skull
      showed the presence of bilateral complete pterygospinous bar while another skull
      had the unilateral complete pterygospinous bar on right side. Two skulls and one
      sphenoid had bilateral incomplete pterygospinous bar while seven skulls and one
      sphenoid bone had unilateral incomplete pterygospinous bar. In three cases, the
      bar was passing just below the foramen ovale. CONCLUSION: The pterygospinous bar
      when present medial to the foramen ovale may not have much clinical significance
      but when the bar is present just below the foramen ovale, it may cause a
      compression of the mandibular nerve and its branches and may also obstruct the
      passage for the transoval approach to the neighbouring regions.

PMID- 26872953
TI  - Ultraviolet B Phototherapy for Psoriasis: Review of Practical Guidelines.
AB  - Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects approximately 2 % of
      people worldwide. Topical treatments, systemic treatments, biologic agents, and
      phototherapy are all treatment options for psoriasis. Ultraviolet (UV) B
      phototherapy is most appropriate for patients with >10 % affected body surface
      area who have not responded to topical treatments. This review outlines the use,
      dosage, safety, and efficacy of narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) and targeted
      phototherapy. NB-UVB and excimer laser are effective treatment options for
      psoriasis; they are administered two to three times weekly until clearance
      followed by maintenance treatment before discontinuation. Long-term data on NB
      UVB indicate that it has a good safety profile. NB-UVB is commonly used with
      adjunctive topical treatments such as emollients, calcipotriene, cortico
      steroids, retinoids, and tar. NB-UVB can be used in selected patients with
      traditional systemic agents such as methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and
      cyclosporine, although the duration of the combined treatment should be kept to a
      minimum and patients need to be closely monitored. Acitretin can be safely used
      with phototherapy, but robust data on the combination use of biologic agents or
      phosphodiesterase inhibitors with phototherapy are lacking. 

PMID- 26872954
TI  - Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: An Update on Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and
      Treatment.
AB  - Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) includes a broad range of dermatologic
      manifestations, which may or may not be associated with systemic disease. Recent
      studies in this area continue to shape our understanding of this disease and
      treatment options. Epidemiologic studies have found an incidence of CLE of 4.30
      per 100,000, which approaches similar analysis for systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE). Although there have been extensive efforts to define SLE, the
      classification of CLE and its subgroups remains a challenge. Currently, diagnosis
      relies on clinical and laboratory findings as well as skin histology. The
      Cutaneous Lupus Area and Severity IndexTM (CLASITM) is a validated measure of
      disease activity and damage. CLE pathogenesis is multifactorial and includes
      genetic contributions as well as effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. Immune
      dysregulation and aberrant cell signaling pathways through cytokine cascades are
      also implicated. Patient education and avoidance of triggers are key to disease
      prevention. Antimalarials and topical steroids continue to be the standard of
      care; however, immunosuppressants, thalidomide analogs and monoclonal antibodies
      are possible systemic therapies for the treatment of recalcitrant disease. 

PMID- 26872955
TI  - Social Skills Training for Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities: A School
      Based Evaluation.
AB  - Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often demonstrate impairments in
      social functioning, with deficits becoming more apparent during adolescence. This
      study evaluated the effects of the Superheroes Social Skills program, a program
      that combines behavioral skills training and video modeling to teach target
      social skills, on accurate demonstration of three target social skills in
      adolescents with ID. Skills taught in the present study include Expressing Wants
      and Needs, Conversation, and Turn Taking. Four adolescents with ID participated
      in a 3-week social skills intervention, with the intervention occurring twice per
      week. A multiple baseline across skills design was used to determine the effect
      of the intervention on social skill accuracy in both a training and
      generalization setting. All participants demonstrated substantial improvements in
      skill accuracy in both settings, with teacher ratings of social functioning
      further suggesting generalization of social skills to nontraining settings.

PMID- 26872956
TI  - Noncontingent Reinforcement to Improve Classroom Behavior of a Student With
      Developmental Disability.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a noncontingent
      reinforcement intervention package implemented by an interning teacher in a
      special education classroom to address disruptive behavior and task engagement
      for a third-grade, 8-year-old boy with developmental disability. Using a within
      subject reversal design (A-B-A-B), a teacher interning in Max's classroom
      delivered 3-min breaks (i.e., escape) from classroom tasks on a fixed-time 2-min
      interval schedule for five daily sessions during the first intervention phase and
      for five daily sessions during the reimplementation phase; breaks were not
      contingent on his behavior. The intervention package also included a
      reinforcement menu for the student to select daily from escape activities (i.e.,
      preferred activities including swinging and taking a walk) and a picture prompt
      to provide a continuous, visual reminder of the upcoming reinforcer. Results
      indicated increases in task engagement and decreases in disruptive behavior
      during phases when the intervention was applied. Implications for future research
      and practice are discussed.

PMID- 26872958
TI  - The Effects of a Brief Acceptance-Based Behavioral Treatment Versus Traditional
      Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Public Speaking Anxiety: An Exploratory Trial
      Examining Differential Effects on Performance and Neurophysiology.
AB  - Individuals with public speaking anxiety (PSA) experience fear and avoidance that
      can cause extreme distress, impaired speaking performance, and associated
      problems in psychosocial functioning. Most extant interventions for PSA emphasize
      anxiety reduction rather than enhancing behavioral performance. We compared the
      efficacy of two brief cognitive-behavioral interventions, a traditional cognitive
      behavior treatment (tCBT) and an acceptance-based behavior treatment (ABBT), on
      public speaking performance and anxiety in a clinical sample of persons with PSA.
      The effects of treatment on prefrontal brain activation were also examined.
      Participants (n = 21) were randomized to 90 min of an ABBT or a tCBT
      intervention. Assessments took place at pre- and post-treatment and included self
      rated anxiety and observer-rated performance measures, a behavioral assessment,
      and prefrontal cortical activity measurements using functional near-infrared
      spectroscopy (fNIRS). Exploratory results indicated that participants in the ABBT
      condition experienced greater improvements in observer-rated performance relative
      to those in the tCBT condition, while those in the tCBT condition experienced
      greater reductions in subjective anxiety levels. Individuals in the ABBT
      condition also exhibited a trend toward greater treatment-related reductions in
      blood volume in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex relative to those who
      received tCBT. Overall, these findings preliminarily suggest that acceptance
      based treatments may free more cognitive resources in comparison with tCBT,
      possibly resulting in greater improvements in objectively rated behavioral
      performances for ABBT interventions.

PMID- 26872957
TI  - Examining Effectiveness of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Externalizing
      and Internalizing Disorders in Urban Schools.
AB  - This article presents outcome data of the implementation of three group cognitive
      behavioral therapy (GCBT) interventions for children with externalizing behavior
      problems, anxiety, and depression. School counselors and graduate students co-led
      the groups in two low-income urban schools. Data were analyzed to assess pre
      treatment to post-treatment changes in diagnostic severity level. Results of the
      exploratory study indicated that all three GCBT protocols were effective at
      reducing diagnostic severity level for children who had a primary diagnosis of an
      externalizing disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder at the clinical
      or intermediate (at-risk) level. All three GCBT protocols were implemented with
      relatively high levels of fidelity. Data on the effectiveness of the
      interventions for reducing diagnostic severity level for externalizing and
      internalizing spectrum disorders and for specific disorders are presented. A
      discussion of implementation of mental health evidence-based interventions in
      urban schools is provided.

PMID- 26872960
TI  - Minimalistic toy robot to analyze a scenery of speaker-listener condition in
      autism.
AB  - Atypical neural architecture causes impairment in communication capabilities and
      reduces the ability of representing the referential statements of other people in
      children with autism. During a scenery of "speaker-listener" communication, we
      have analyzed verbal and emotional expressions in neurotypical children (n = 20)
      and in children with autism (n = 20). The speaker was always a child, and the
      listener was a human or a minimalistic robot which reacts to speech expression by
      nodding only. Although both groups performed the task, everything happens as if
      the robot could allow children with autism to elaborate a multivariate equation
      encoding and conceptualizing within his/her brain, and externalizing into
      unconscious emotion (heart rate) and conscious verbal speech (words). Such a
      behavior would indicate that minimalistic artificial environments such as toy
      robots could be considered as the root of neuronal organization and
      reorganization with the potential to improve brain activity.

PMID- 26872961
TI  - Stage IV sporadic Burkitt's leukaemia with osteolysis in the maxillary sinuses.
AB  - We present a case of paediatric Stage IV sporadic Burkitt's leukaemia presenting
      as cheek enlargement with osteolysis of the maxilla. An 8-year-old boy was
      referred to our department with diffuse swelling of both cheeks. Head and neck
      examination revealed bilateral diffuse nontender swelling, non-fluctuant but
      slightly compressible. Computed tomography imaging showed enhancing bilateral
      bulky lesions expanding the maxillary sinuses, with associated osteolysis in the
      posterior walls of both sinuses. Laboratory results included blast cells in the
      peripheral blood, suggesting a haematopoietic tumour. We referred the patient to
      the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology. Additional examinations
      eventually led to the diagnosis of Stage IV sporadic Burkitt's leukaemia. 

PMID- 26872962
TI  - Characterizing Dust from Cutting Corian(r), a Solid-Surface Composite Material,
      in a Laboratory Testing System.
AB  - We conducted a laboratory test to characterize dust from cutting Corian((r)), a
      solid-surface composite material, with a circular saw. Air samples were collected
      using filters and direct-reading instruments in an automatic laboratory testing
      system. The average mass concentrations of the total and respirable dusts from
      the filter samples were 4.78+/-0.01 and 1.52+/-0.01mg cm(-3), respectively,
      suggesting about 31.8% mass of the airborne dust from cutting Corian((r)) is
      respirable. Analysis of the metal elements on the filter samples reveals that
      aluminum hydroxide is likely the dominant component of the airborne dust from
      cutting Corian((r)), with the total airborne and respirable dusts containing
      86.0+/-6.6 and 82.2+/-4.1% aluminum hydroxide, respectively. The results from the
      direct-reading instruments confirm that the airborne dust generated from cutting
      Corian((r)) were mainly from the cutting process with very few particles released
      from the running circular saw alone. The number-based size distribution of the
      dusts from cutting Corian((r)) had a peak for fine particles at 1.05 um with an
      average total concentration of 871.9 particles cm(-3), and another peak for
      ultrafine particles at 11.8nm with an average total concentration of 1.19*10(6)
      particles cm(-3) The small size and high concentration of the ultrafine particles
      suggest additional investigation is needed to study their chemical composition
      and possible contribution to pulmonary effect. 

PMID- 26872959
TI  - An enriched environment and 17-beta estradiol produce similar pro-cognitive
      effects on ovariectomized rats.
AB  - Estrogen depletion due to aging, surgery or pathological events can cause a
      multitude of problems, including neurodegenerative alterations. In rodents
      without ovaries, 17-beta estradiol (E2) has been shown to produce beneficial
      effects on cognition, stimulating brain regions (e.g., the neocortex, hippocampus
      and amygdala) related to cognition and learning. Another treatment that
      stimulates these brain regions is an enriched environment (EE), which is a
      complex set of external factors in the immediate surroundings that facilitates
      greater stimulation of sensorial, cognitive and motor circuits of the brain. The
      aim of the present study was to test, using an animal model of ovariectomy
      induced impairment of memory, the relative effect of E2 (with a time-released
      pellet; 1 MUg/rat/day), EE exposure and a combination of both treatments.
      Experimental and control groups were submitted to two memory tests 18 weeks post
      surgery: the autoshaping learning task (ALT) for measuring associative learning
      and the novel object recognition test (NORT) for evaluating short- and long-term
      memory. To assess potential motor impairments caused by treatments, all rats were
      tested after the ALT in an automatic activity counter. Results from ALT show that
      the ovariectomy blocked the conditioned responses displayed, an effect rescued by
      chronic treatment with estrogen or EE exposure. The combination of both
      treatments did not improve the results obtained separately. In the NORT, the
      exploration time for recognizing a novel object was similar in the short run with
      all groups, but greater in the long run with hormone administration or EE
      exposure. As with the ALT, in the NORT there was no improvement shown by the
      combination treatment. These data were not masked by changes in spontaneous
      activity because this parameter was not modified in the rats by either treatment.
      Possible action mechanisms are proposed, taking into account the role of
      corticosterone and BDNF on cognition.

PMID- 26872963
TI  - Impact of SERVE-HF on management of sleep disordered breathing in heart failure:
      a call for further studies.
AB  - Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) (obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep
      apnea/Cheyne-Stokes respiration or the combination of both) is highly prevalent
      in patients with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases including
      hypertension, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and
      stroke (reviewed previously in the September issue of this journal). Its close
      association with outcomes in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
      (HF-REF) suggests that it may be a potential treatment target. Herein, we provide
      an update on SDB and its treatment in HF-REF. 

PMID- 26872964
TI  - Mutation Update and Review of Severe Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
      Deficiency.
AB  - Severe 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is caused by
      mutations in the MTHFR gene and results in hyperhomocysteinemia and varying
      severity of disease, ranging from neonatal lethal to adult onset. Including those
      described here, 109 MTHFR mutations have been reported in 171 families,
      consisting of 70 missense mutations, 17 that primarily affect splicing, 11
      nonsense mutations, seven small deletions, two no-stop mutations, one small
      duplication, and one large duplication. Only 36% of mutations recur in unrelated
      families, indicating that most are "private." The most common mutation is
      c.1530A>G (numbered from NM_005957.4, p.Lys510 = ) causing a splicing defect,
      found in 13 families; the most common missense mutation is c.1129C>T
      (p.Arg377Cys) identified in 10 families. To increase disease understanding, we
      report enzymatic activity, detected mutations, and clinical onset information
      (early, <1 year; or late, >1 year) for all published patients available,
      demonstrating that patients with early onset have less residual enzyme activity
      than those presenting later. We also review animal models, diagnostic approaches,
      clinical presentations, and treatment options. This is the first large review of
      mutations in MTHFR, highlighting the wide spectrum of disease-causing mutations. 

PMID- 26872966
TI  - A case of mutism on emergence from general anesthesia.

PMID- 26872965
TI  - Protective Role of Religious Involvement Against Depression and Suicidal Ideation
      Among Youth with Interpersonal Problems.
AB  - This study examined religious involvement-private religious practices (PRP),
      organizational religiousness (OR), and religious support (RS)-in relation to
      depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) and its protective role,
      considering youths' school and parent-family connectedness. Youth, ages 12-15 (n
      = 161), were screened for peer victimization, bullying perpetration, and low
      social connectedness, and assessed for depressive symptoms, SI, school
      connectedness, parent-family connectedness, and religious involvement. Results
      indicated PRP and RS were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms;
      PRP and OR were associated with less SI. Controlling for connectedness, PRP
      remained associated with less SI only. Results suggest the importance of
      considering religious involvement as a target of youth depression and suicide
      prevention interventions. 

PMID- 26872967
TI  - Whole Genome Sequencing Increases Molecular Diagnostic Yield Compared with
      Current Diagnostic Testing for Inherited Retinal Disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of whole genome sequencing (WGS) with targeted
      next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the diagnosis of inherited retinal disease
      (IRD). DESIGN: Case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 562 patients diagnosed with
      IRD. METHODS: We performed a direct comparative analysis of current molecular
      diagnostics with WGS. We retrospectively reviewed the findings from a diagnostic
      NGS DNA test for 562 patients with IRD. A subset of 46 of 562 patients
      (encompassing potential clinical outcomes of diagnostic analysis) also underwent
      WGS, and we compared mutation detection rates and molecular diagnostic yields. In
      addition, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of the 2 techniques to
      identify known single nucleotide variants (SNVs) using 6 control samples with
      publically available genotype data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnostic yield of
      genomic testing. RESULTS: Across known disease-causing genes, targeted NGS and
      WGS achieved similar levels of sensitivity and specificity for SNV detection.
      However, WGS also identified 14 clinically relevant genetic variants through WGS
      that had not been identified by NGS diagnostic testing for the 46 individuals
      with IRD. These variants included large deletions and variants in noncoding
      regions of the genome. Identification of these variants confirmed a molecular
      diagnosis of IRD for 11 of the 33 individuals referred for WGS who had not
      obtained a molecular diagnosis through targeted NGS testing. Weighted estimates,
      accounting for population structure, suggest that WGS methods could result in an
      overall 29% (95% confidence interval, 15-45) uplift in diagnostic yield.
      CONCLUSIONS: We show that WGS methods can detect disease-causing genetic variants
      missed by current NGS diagnostic methodologies for IRD and thereby demonstrate
      the clinical utility and additional value of WGS.

PMID- 26872968
TI  - Multidisciplinary approach to breast angiosarcoma in an elderly patient: Repeated
      local relapses and significant objective responses.
AB  - Angiosarcomas are malignant tumors of endovascular origin, which may be divided
      into primary and secondary forms. Secondary breast angiosarcomas are an
      increasing problem, especially in patients treated with breast-conserving surgery
      followed by radiotherapy.We report a case of radiation-induced angiosarcoma of
      the breast in a 77-year-old woman who presented with a suspect lesion in her left
      breast. Excisional biopsy and subsequent immunohistochemical staining of the
      specimen was performed. Histological report was diagnostic for low-intermediate
      grade angiosarcoma. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for CD31 and CD34. We
      performed surgical resection with mastectomy.A multidisciplinary approach with
      bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy with
      pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has been most useful to control subsequent local
      relapses. To date, the patient is under close observation and is performing well.
      No recurrence has been demonstrated after ending of chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26872969
TI  - How RNase R Degrades Structured RNA: ROLE OF THE HELICASE ACTIVITY AND THE S1
      DOMAIN.
AB  - RNase R, a ubiquitous 3' exoribonuclease, plays an important role in many aspects
      of RNA metabolism. In contrast to other exoribonucleases, RNase R can efficiently
      degrade highly structured RNAs, but the mechanism by which this is accomplished
      has remained elusive. It is known that RNase R contains an unusual, intrinsic RNA
      helicase activity that facilitates degradation of duplex RNA, but how it
      stimulates the nuclease activity has also been unclear. Here, we have made use of
      specifically designed substrates to compare the nuclease and helicase activities
      of RNase R. We have also identified and mutated several residues in the S1 RNA
      binding domain that are important for interacting with duplex RNA and have
      measured intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence to analyze the conformational changes
      that occur upon binding of structured RNA. Using these approaches, we have
      determined the relation of the RNA helicase, ATP binding, and nuclease activities
      of RNase R. This information has been combined with a structural analysis of
      RNase R, based on its homology to RNase II, whose structure has been determined,
      to develop a detailed model that explains how RNase R digests structured RNA and
      how this differs from its action on single-stranded RNA. 

PMID- 26872970
TI  - A Conserved Pocket in the Dengue Virus Polymerase Identified through Fragment
      based Screening.
AB  - We performed a fragment screen on the dengue virus serotype 3 RNA-dependent RNA
      polymerase using x-ray crystallography. A screen of 1,400 fragments in pools of
      eight identified a single hit that bound in a novel pocket in the protein. This
      pocket is located in the polymerase palm subdomain and conserved across the four
      serotypes of dengue virus. The compound binds to the polymerase in solution as
      evidenced by surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry
      analyses. Related compounds where a phenyl is replaced by a thiophene show higher
      affinity binding, indicating the potential for rational design. Importantly,
      inhibition of enzyme activity correlated with the binding affinity, showing that
      the pocket is functionally important for polymerase activity. This fragment is an
      excellent starting point for optimization through rational structure-based
      design. 

PMID- 26872971
TI  - Actin Filaments Are Involved in the Coupling of V0-V1 Domains of Vacuolar H+
      ATPase at the Golgi Complex.
AB  - We previously reported that actin-depolymerizing agents promote the alkalization
      of the Golgi stack and thetrans-Golgi network. The main determinant of acidic pH
      at the Golgi is the vacuolar-type H(+)-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase), whose
      V1domain subunitsBandCbind actin. We have generated a GFP-tagged
      subunitB2construct (GFP-B2) that is incorporated into the V1domain, which in turn
      is coupled to the V0sector. GFP-B2 subunit is enriched at distal Golgi
      compartments in HeLa cells. Subcellular fractionation, immunoprecipitation, and
      inversal FRAP experiments show that the actin depolymerization promotes the
      dissociation of V1-V0domains, which entails subunitB2translocation from Golgi
      membranes to the cytosol. Moreover, molecular interaction between
      subunitsB2andC1and actin were detected. In addition, Golgi membrane lipid order
      disruption byd-ceramide-C6 causes Golgi pH alkalization. We conclude that actin
      regulates the Golgi pH homeostasis maintaining the coupling of V1-V0domains of V
      ATPase through the binding of microfilaments to subunitsBandCand preserving the
      integrity of detergent-resistant membrane organization. These results establish
      the Golgi-associated V-ATPase activity as the molecular link between actin and
      the Golgi pH. 

PMID- 26872972
TI  - Endoplasmic Reticulum-resident Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) Isoform Glucose
      regulated Protein 94 (GRP94) Regulates Cell Polarity and Cancer Cell Migration by
      Affecting Intracellular Transport.
AB  - Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a molecular chaperone that is up-regulated in
      cancer and is required for the folding of numerous signaling proteins.
      Consequently, HSP90 represents an ideal target for the development of new anti
      cancer agents. The human HSP90 isoform, glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94),
      resides in the endoplasmic reticulum and regulates secretory pathways, integrins,
      and Toll-like receptors, which contribute to regulating immunity and metastasis.
      However, the cellular function of GRP94 remains underinvestigated. We report that
      GRP94 knockdown cells are defective in intracellular transport and, consequently,
      negatively impact the trafficking of F-actin toward the cellular cortex, integrin
      alpha2 and integrin alphaL toward the cell membrane and filopodia, and secretory
      vesicles containing the HSP90alpha-AHA1-survivin complex toward the leading edge.
      As a result, GRP94 knockdown cells form a multipolar spindle instead of bipolar
      morphology and consequently manifest a defect in cell migration and adhesion. 

PMID- 26872973
TI  - Ajuga Delta24-Sterol Reductase Catalyzes the Direct Reductive Conversion of 24
      Methylenecholesterol to Campesterol.
AB  - Dimunito/Dwarf1 (DWF1) is an oxidoreductase enzyme that is responsible for the
      conversion of C28- and C29-Delta(24(28))-olefinic sterols to 24-methyl- and 24
      ethylcholesterols. Generally, the reaction proceeds in two steps via the
      Delta(24(25))intermediate. In this study, we characterized theArDWF1gene from an
      expression sequence tag library ofAjuga reptansvar.atropurpureahairy roots. The
      gene was functionally expressed in the yeast T21 strain. Thein vivoandin
      vitrostudy of the transformed yeast indicated that ArDWF1 catalyzes the
      conversion of 24-methylenecholesterol to campesterol. A labeling study followed
      by GC-MS analysis suggested that the reaction proceeded with retention of the C
      25 hydrogen. The 25-H retention was established by the incubation of the enzyme
      with (23,23,25-(2)H3,28-(13)C)-24-methylenecholesterol, followed by(13)C NMR
      analysis of the resulting campesterol. Thus, it has been concluded that ArDWF1
      directly reduces 24-methylenecholesterol to produce campesterol without passing
      through a Delta(24(25))intermediate. This is the first characterization of such a
      unique DWF1 enzyme. For comparison purposes,Oryza sativa DWF1(OsDWF1) was
      similarly expressed in yeast. Anin vivoassay of OsDWF1 supported the generally
      accepted two-step mechanism because the C-25 hydrogen of 24-methylenecholesterol
      was eliminated during its conversion to 24-methylcholesterol. As expected, the 24
      methylcholesterol produced by OsDWF1 was a mixture of campesterol and
      dihydrobrassicasterol. Furthermore, the 24-methylcholesterol contained in
      theAjugahairy roots was determined to be solely campesterol through its analysis
      using chiral GC-MS. Therefore, ArDWF1 has another unique property in that only
      campesterol is formed by the direct reduction catalyzed by the enzyme. 

PMID- 26872975
TI  - Transcription Elongation Factor NusA Is a General Antagonist of Rho-dependent
      Termination in Escherichia coli.
AB  - NusA is an essential protein that binds to RNA polymerase and also to the nascent
      RNA and influences transcription by inducing pausing and facilitating the process
      of transcription termination/antitermination. Its participation in Rho-dependent
      transcription termination has been perceived, but the molecular nature of this
      involvement is not known. We hypothesized that, because both Rho and NusA are RNA
      binding proteins and have the potential to target the same RNA, the latter is
      likely to influence the global pattern of the Rho-dependent termination. Analyses
      of the nascent RNA binding properties and consequent effects on the Rho-dependent
      termination functions of specific NusA-RNA binding domain mutants revealed an
      existence of Rho-NusA direct competition for the overlappingnut(NusA-binding
      site) andrut(Rho-binding site) sites on the RNA. This leads to delayed entry of
      Rho at therutsite that inhibits the latter's RNA release process. High density
      tiling microarray profiles of these NusA mutants revealed that a significant
      number of genes, together with transcripts from intergenic regions, are up
      regulated. Interestingly, the majority of these genes were also up-regulated when
      the Rho function was compromised. These results provide strong evidence for the
      existence of NusA-binding sites in different operons that are also the targets of
      Rho-dependent terminations. Our data strongly argue in favor of a direct
      competition between NusA and Rho for the access of specific sites on the nascent
      transcripts in different parts of the genome. We propose that this competition
      enables NusA to function as a global antagonist of the Rho function, which is
      unlike its role as a facilitator of hairpin-dependent termination. 

PMID- 26872974
TI  - Regulation of Monocarboxylic Acid Transporter 1 Trafficking by the Canonical
      Wnt/beta-Catenin Pathway in Rat Brain Endothelial Cells Requires Cross-talk with
      Notch Signaling.
AB  - The transport of monocarboxylate fuels such as lactate, pyruvate, and ketone
      bodies across brain endothelial cells is mediated by monocarboxylic acid
      transporter 1 (MCT1). Although the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is required
      for rodent blood-brain barrier development and for the expression of associated
      nutrient transporters, the role of this pathway in the regulation of brain
      endothelial MCT1 is unknown. Here we report expression of nine members of the
      frizzled receptor family by the RBE4 rat brain endothelial cell line.
      Furthermore, activation of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in RBE4 cells
      via nuclear beta-catenin signaling with LiCl does not alter brain
      endothelialMct1mRNA but increases the amount of MCT1 transporter protein. Plasma
      membrane biotinylation studies and confocal microscopic examination of mCherry
      tagged MCT1 indicate that increased transporter results from reduced MCT1
      trafficking from the plasma membrane via the endosomal/lysosomal pathway and is
      facilitated by decreased MCT1 ubiquitination following LiCl treatment. Inhibition
      of the Notch pathway by the gamma-secretase inhibitorN-[N-(3,5
      difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycinet-butyl ester negated the up
      regulation of MCT1 by LiCl, demonstrating a cross-talk between the canonical
      Wnt/beta-catenin and Notch pathways. Our results are important because they show,
      for the first time, the regulation of MCT1 in cerebrovascular endothelial cells
      by the multifunctional canonical Wnt/beta-catenin and Notch signaling pathways. 

PMID- 26872977
TI  - Role of oxidative stress on platelet hyperreactivity during aging.
AB  - Thrombotic events are common causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
      Age-accelerated vascular injury is commonly considered to result from increased
      oxidative stress. There is abundant evidence that oxidative stress regulate
      several components of thrombotic processes, including platelet activation. Thus
      oxidative stress can trigger platelet hyperreactivity by decreasing nitric oxide
      bioavailability. Therefore oxidative stress measurement may help in the early
      identification of asymptomatic subjects at risk of thrombosis. In addition,
      oxidative stress inhibitors and platelet-derived nitric oxide may represent a
      novel anti-aggregation/-activation approach. In this article the relative
      contribution of oxidative stress and platelet activation in aging is explored. 

PMID- 26872976
TI  - Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals rectovaginal fistula in rats.
AB  - AIM: Rectovaginal fistula is a devastating condition providing more than 99% of
      patients for surgical treatment. We hypothesized that rectovaginal fistula may be
      healed by therapy with stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, in consistence
      with its initial clinical application and effect on external fistulas. MAIN
      METHODS: BPC 157 (10MUg/kg or 10ng/kg) was given perorally, in drinking water
      (0.16MUg/ml or 0.16ng/ml, 12ml/rat/day) till sacrifice, or alternatively,
      intraperitoneally, first application at 30min after surgery, last at 24h before
      sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0ml/kg ip)
      or water only (12ml/rat/day). The assessment (i.e., rectal and vaginal defect,
      fistula leakage, defecation through the fistula, adhesions and intestinal
      obstruction as healing processes) was at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21. KEY
      FINDINGS: Regularly, rectovaginal fistulas exhibited poor healing, with both of
      the defects persisting, continuous fistula leakage, defecation through the
      fistula, advanced adhesion formation and intestinal obstruction. By contrast, BPC
      157 given perorally or intraperitoneally, in MUg- and ng-regimens rapidly
      improved the whole presentation, with both rectal and vaginal defects
      simultaneously ameliorated and eventually healed. The maximal instilled volume
      was continuously raised till the values of healthy rats were achieved, there were
      no signs of defecation through the fistula. A counteraction of advanced adhesion
      formation and intestinal obstruction was achieved. Microscopic improvement was
      along with macroscopic findings. SIGNIFICANCE: BPC 157 effects appear to be
      suited to induce a full healing of rectovaginal fistulas in rats.

PMID- 26872978
TI  - Higher mitochondrial potential and elevated mitochondrial respiration are
      associated with excessive activation of blood platelets in diabetic rats.
AB  - AIMS: The high glucose concentration observed in diabetic patients is a
      recognized factor of mitochondrial damage in various cell types. Its impact on
      mitochondrial bioenergetics in blood platelets remains largely vague. The aim of
      the study was to determine how the metabolism of carbohydrates, which has been
      impaired by streptozotocin-induced diabetes may affect the functioning of
      platelet mitochondria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in Sprague
      Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Platelet
      mitochondrial respiratory capacity was monitored as oxygen consumption (high
      resolution respirometry). Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using a
      fluorescent probe, JC-1. Activation of circulating platelets was monitored by
      flow cytometry measuring of the expressions of CD61 and CD62P on a blood platelet
      surface. To determine mitochondrial protein density in platelets, Western Blot
      technique was used. KEY FINDINGS: The results indicate significantly elevated
      mitochondria mass, increased mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and
      enhanced respiration in STZ-diabetic animals, although the respiration control
      ratios appear to remain unchanged. Higher DeltaPsim and elevated mitochondrial
      respiration were closely related to the excessive activation of circulating
      platelets in diabetic animals. SIGNIFICANCE: Long-term diabetes can result in
      increased mitochondrial mass and may lead to hyperpolarization of blood platelet
      mitochondrial membrane. These alterations may be a potential underlying cause of
      abnormal platelet functioning in diabetes mellitus and hence, a potential target
      for antiplatelet therapies in diabetes.

PMID- 26872979
TI  - MicroRNA-30a promotes chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
      through inhibiting Delta-like 4 expression.
AB  - AIMS: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in chondrogenic differentiation of
      mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, the regulation of miR-30a during such
      process has not yet been well understood. The aim of the study was to investigate
      the effects of miR-30a on chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs and explore the
      underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MSCs were isolated from rat bone
      marrow, and their immunophenotypes and multilineage differentiation potentials
      were identified. MiR-30a mimics or inhibitor were transfected into rat MSCs and
      SW1353 cells, respectively, and then the effects of miR-30a on chondrogenic
      differentiation were detected. The predicted target gene Delta-like 4 (DLL4, a
      ligand of the Notch signaling family) was verified by luciferase reporter assay,
      quantitative real time PCR and western blot. KEY FINDINGS: MiR-30a was
      significantly up-regulated during chondrogenic differentiation of rat MSCs.
      Additionally, transfection of miR-30a mimics remarkably promoted the
      differentiation of rat MSCs into chondrocytes as evidence by the notably
      increased mRNA and protein expression levels of chondrogenic markers Collagen II
      and aggrecan as well as the enhanced alcian blue staining intensity, whereas
      inhibition of miR-30a obviously suppressed such process. Furthermore, during
      chondrogenesis, DLL4 expression was found to significantly decrease at both mRNA
      and protein levels, which was negatively regulated by miR-30a through directly
      targeting the 3'UTR of DLL4. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that miR-30a acts
      as a key promoter for chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs by down-regulating
      DLL4 expression, and provide a novel insight on miRNA-mediated MSC therapy for
      cartilage-related disorders including osteoarthritis.

PMID- 26872980
TI  - Propentofylline treatment on open field behavior in rats with focal ethidium
      bromide-induced demyelination in the ventral surface of the brainstem.
AB  - Propentofylline (PPF) is a xanthine derivative with pharmacological effects that
      are distinct from those of classic methylxanthines. It depresses the activation
      of microglial cells and astrocytes, which is associated with neuronal damage
      during neural inflammation and hypoxia. Our previous studies showed that PPF
      improved remyelination following gliotoxic lesions that were induced by ethidium
      bromide (EB). In the present study, the long-term effects of PPF on open field
      behavior in rats with EB-induced focal demyelination were examined. The effects
      of PPF were first evaluated in naive rats that were not subjected to EB lesions.
      Behavior in the beam walking test was also evaluated during chronic PPF treatment
      because impairments in motor coordination can interfere with behavior in the open
      field. The results showed that PPF treatment in unlesioned rats decreased general
      activity and caused motor impairment in the beam walking test. Gliotoxic EB
      injections increased general activity in rats that were treated with PPF compared
      with rats that received saline solution. Motor incoordination was also attenuated
      in PPF-treated rats. These results indicate that PPF reversed the effects of EB
      lesions on behavior in the open field and beam walking test. 

PMID- 26872981
TI  - Oleuropein activated AMPK and induced insulin sensitivity in C2C12 muscle cells.
AB  - AIMS: Oleuropein has been recognized as an important medicinal compound because
      of its various biological properties, including anti-cancer, antidiabetic and
      anti-atherosclerotic activities. Here, we evaluate the antioxidant activity as
      well as the mechanism of the hypoglycemic effects of oleuropein in C2C12 cells
      and we establish the mechanism underlying these effects. MAIN METHODS: To perform
      this study, C2C12 cells viability was analyzed via MTT assay and the antioxidant
      activity was investigated by ROS and TBARS assays. Also, the effect of oleuropein
      on AMPK and PI3 kinase signaling pathways was evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: Treatment
      with oleuropein was able to protect cells against H2O2 induced stress in cells.
      On the other hand, the molecular bases of its actions have been scarcely
      understood. Oleuropein significantly enhanced glucose consumption and the
      phosphorylation of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase/ACC (acetyl-CoA
      carboxylase)) and MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases), but not PI3 kinase
      (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/Akt. However, the co-treatment of oleuropein and
      insulin improved the insulin sensitivity via insulin-dependent (PI3 kinase/Akt)
      and insulin independent (AMPK/ACC) pathways. These results could be confirmed
      from the findings of GLUT4 translocation which was strongly enhanced in the case
      of oleuropein. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results provide important insights for the
      possible mechanism of action of oleuropein as a therapeutic agent in diabetic
      patients.

PMID- 26872982
TI  - Increased rho kinase activity in mononuclear cells of dialysis and stage 3-4
      chronic kidney disease patients with left ventricular hypertrophy: Cardiovascular
      risk implications.
AB  - AIMS: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of excess mortality in
      chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis patients (DP) who have higher
      prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), the strongest predictor of CV
      events. Rho kinase (ROCK) activation is linked in hypertensive patients to
      cardiac remodeling while ROCK inhibition suppresses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy
      and, in a human clinical condition opposite to hypertension, its downregulation
      associates with lack of CV remodeling. Information on ROCK activation-LVH link in
      CKD and DP is lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mononuclear cells (PBMCs) MYPT-1
      phosphorylation, a marker of ROCK activity, and the effect of fasudil, a ROCK
      inhibitor, on MYPT-1 phosphorylation were assessed in 23 DPs, 13 stage 3-4 CKD
      and 36 healthy subjects (HS) by Western blot. LV mass was assessed by M-mode
      echocardiography. KEY FINDINGS: DP and CKD had higher MYPT-1 phosphorylation
      compared to HS (p<0.001 and p=0.003). Fasudil (500 and 1000MUM) dose dependently
      reduced MYPT-1 phosphorylation in DP (p<0.01). DP had higher LV mass than CKD
      (p<0.001). MYPT-1 phosphorylation was higher in patients with LVH (p=0.009) and
      correlated with LV mass both in DP and CKD with LVH (p<0.001 and p=0.006).
      SIGNIFICANCE: In DP and CKD, ROCK activity tracks with LVH. This ROCK activation
      LVH link provided in these CVD high-risk patients along with similar findings in
      hypertensive patients and added to opposite findings in a human model opposite to
      hypertension and in type 2 diabetic patients, identify ROCK activation as a
      potential LVH marker and provide further rationale for ROCK activation inhibition
      as target of therapy in CVD high-risk patients.

PMID- 26872983
TI  - Pregabalin can prevent, but not treat, cognitive dysfunction following abdominal
      surgery in aged rats.
AB  - AIMS: The present study aimed to explore the preventive or therapeutic effect of
      peri-operative pregabalin treatment on the memory deficits and related
      hippocampal inflammation following surgery in aged rats. MAIN METHODS: Aged rats
      underwent abdominal or sham surgery, and were then divided into 2 groups, either
      early or late pregabalin treatment. Fourteen days after surgery, the cognitive
      function was assessed using novel object recognition test, followed by
      measurement of hippocampal cytokines and voltage-dependent calcium channel
      alpha2delta subunit (CACNA2D1). The parabiotic experiments determined whether the
      humoral or neuronal pathway was involved in the neuroinflammation development
      following the abdominal surgery. The effects of pregabalin on LPS-induced
      cytokine release from hippocampal microglia were also evaluated. KEY FINDINGS:
      Early pregabalin treatment, which was administered pre-operatively and continued
      for 3 or 7days after surgery, prevented memory deficits and decreased hippocampal
      pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. In contrast, no beneficial effects were
      observed when pregabalin was administered late in the post-operative period. The
      hippocampal levels of CACNA2D1 did not change under any experimental condition.
      The data from the cross-circulation (parabiosis) experiments indicated that
      abdominal surgery may induce neuroinflammation via a neural transmission pathway
      from the periphery to the brain. The ex vivo experiments further demonstrated
      that pregabalin had no effect on LPS-induced cytokines release from hippocampal
      microglia. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings highlight reveal that peri-operative
      pregabalin treatment during the early post-operative period can prevent
      neuroinflammation and memory deficits after surgery. It is likely this occurs
      through a peripheral and central neuro-immune interaction rather than through
      direct anti-inflammatory effects.

PMID- 26872984
TI  - Opisthorchis viverrini infections and associated risk factors in a lowland area
      of Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam.
AB  - Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health problem
      in the Mekong Basin in South East Asia. It is associated with cholangiocarcinoma,
      a fatal cancer of the bile duct, which is very common in some areas of Thailand
      and Lao PDR. Although there is evidence of opisthorchiasis in the central and
      Southern provinces of Vietnam, data are scarce and Vietnam is often not
      considered an opisthorchiasis endemic area in the international literature. We
      conducted a cross-sectional survey in June 2015 in a lowland rural area of Binh
      Dinh Province in Central Vietnam to investigate the apparent prevalence of O.
      viverrini infection in the population and the associated risk factors. A total of
      254 stool samples were collected and examined by the Kato Katz method. Consenting
      people shedding Opisthorchis-like eggs with their stools were treated with
      praziquantel and MgSO4 and adult worms were collected from stools for
      morphological and molecular identifications. Risk factors were studied with a
      structured questionnaire and the association with infection was evaluated by
      univariate and multivariate Firth's logistic regression analysis. The apparent
      prevalence in the investigated population determined by stool examination was
      11.4% (CI: 8-16%). Infection with O. viverrini was confirmed in all 11
      individuals consenting to receive praziquantel treatment and subsequent worm
      recovery from stools. The mean number of worms recovered after
      treatment/purgation was 14.5 (range 2-44). Male gender and the consumption of
      dishes prepared from raw small wild-caught freshwater fish (Carassius auratus)
      were found to be significant risk factors associated with opisthorchiasis in the
      area. These findings confirm the presence of O. viverrini infection in Central
      Vietnam related to the consumption of raw fish dishes. Awareness campaigns and
      control programs should be implemented in the region to combat this potentially
      fatal fluke infection. 

PMID- 26872985
TI  - Effects of a prostagrandin EP4-receptor agonist ONO-AE1-329 on the left
      ventricular pressure-volume relationship in the halothane-anesthetized dogs.
AB  - Cardiac effects of a prostagrandin EP4-receptor agonist ONO-AE1-329 were assessed
      in the halothane-anesthetized dogs under the monitoring of left ventricular
      pressure-volume relationship, which were compared with those of clinically
      recommended doses of dopamine, dobutamine and milrinone (n=4-5 for each
      treatment). ONO-AE1-329 was intravenously administered in doses of 0.3, 1 and 3
      ng/kg/min for 10 min with a pause of 20 min. Dopamine in a dose of 3 ug/kg/min
      for 10 min, dobutamine in a dose of 1 ug/kg/min for 10 min and milrinone in a
      dose of 5 ug/kg/min for 10 min followed by 0.5 ug/kg/min for 10 min were
      intravenously administered. Low dose of ONO-AE1-329 increased the stroke volume.
      Middle dose of ONO-AE1-329 increased the cardiac output, left ventricular end
      diastolic volume, ejection fraction, maximum upstroke/downstroke velocities of
      the left ventricular pressure and external work, but decreased the end-systolic
      pressure and internal work besides the change by the low dose. High dose of ONO
      AE1-329 increased the heart rate and maximum elastance, but decreased the end
      systolic volume besides the changes by the middle dose. Dopamine, dobutamine and
      milrinone exerted essentially similar cardiac effects to ONO-AE1-329, but they
      did not significantly change the end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume,
      stroke volume, ejection fraction, end-systolic pressure, maximum elastance,
      external work or internal work. Thus, EP4-receptor stimulation by ONO-AE1-329 may
      have potential to better promote the passive ventricular filling than the
      conventional cardiotonic drugs, which could become a candidate of novel
      therapeutic strategy for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection
      fraction.

PMID- 26872986
TI  - Ambroxol inhalation ameliorates LPS-induced airway inflammation and mucus
      secretion through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling
      pathway.
AB  - Ambroxol, a metabolite of bromhexine, is shown to exert several pharmacological
      activities, including secretolytic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.
      Oral and intravenous administration of ambroxol is useful for the airway
      inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about its potential in inhalation
      therapy for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mucous hypersecretion and
      inflammatory response. In the present study, we compared the pharmacological
      effects of ambroxol by inhalation with intravenous administration and
      preliminarily explored its mechanism of action. Our results demonstrated that
      ambroxol administered by inhalation inhibited MUC5AC expression, reduced
      glycosaminoglycan levels, enhanced the function of mucociliary clearance and
      promoted sputum excretion, suggesting that ambroxol increases expectoration of
      sputum by reducing its viscosity. Moreover, ambroxol significantly alleviated LPS
      induced the influx of inflammatory cells and the extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) expression in lung tissues, and inhibited increases in the
      mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      alpha, CCL-2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), KC (keratinocyte cell protein) and
      interleukin (IL)-1beta in lung tissues. The secretolytic and anti-inflammatory
      effects of inhaled ambroxol at a dose of 7.5 mg/ml was comparable to that of
      ambroxol at 20 mg/ml i.v. and dexamethasone at 0.5 mg/kg i.p. In addition, we
      found that ambroxol dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced increases in the mRNA
      expression of MUC5AC, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta in human bronchial epithelial cell
      (NCI-H292) by inhibiting the Erk signaling pathway. These results demonstrate the
      beneficial effects of ambroxol in inhalation therapy for the airway inflammatory
      diseases.

PMID- 26872987
TI  - Assessment of direct gating and allosteric modulatory effects of meprobamate in
      recombinant GABA(A) receptors.
AB  - Meprobamate is a schedule IV anxiolytic and the primary metabolite of the muscle
      relaxant carisoprodol. Meprobamate modulates GABAA (gamma-aminobutyric acid Type
      A) receptors, and has barbiturate-like activity. To gain insight into its
      actions, we have conducted a series of studies using recombinant GABAA receptors.
      In alphaxbetazgamma2 GABAA receptors (where x=1-6 and z=1-3), the ability to
      enhance GABA-mediated current was evident for all alpha subunit isoforms, with
      the largest effect observed in alpha5-expressing receptors. Direct gating was
      present with all alpha subunits, although attenuated in alpha3-expressing
      receptors. Allosteric and direct effects were comparable in alpha1beta1gamma2 and
      alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors, whereas allosteric effects were enhanced in
      alpha1beta2 compared to alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors. In "extrasynaptic"
      (alpha1beta3delta and alpha4beta3delta) receptors, meprobamate enhanced EC20 and
      saturating GABA currents, and directly activated these receptors. The barbiturate
      antagonist bemegride attenuated direct effects of meprobamate. Whereas
      pentobarbital directly gated homomeric beta3 receptors, meprobamate did not, and
      instead blocked the spontaneously open current present in these receptors. In
      wild type homomeric rho1 receptors, pentobarbital and meprobamate were
      ineffective in direct gating; a mutation known to confer sensitivity to
      pentobarbital did not confer sensitivity to meprobamate. Our results provide
      insight into the actions of meprobamate and parent therapeutic agents such as
      carisoprodol. Whereas in general actions of meprobamate were comparable to those
      of carisoprodol, differential effects of meprobamate at some receptor subtypes
      suggest potential advantages of meprobamate may be exploited. A re-assessment of
      previously synthesized meprobamate-related carbamate molecules for myorelaxant
      and other therapeutic indications is warranted. 

PMID- 26872989
TI  - Cross-talk between 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P in the melanogensis and
      apoptosis of B16F10 melanoma cells.
AB  - Skin pigmentation is a complex process controlled by many different factors.
      Substance P (SP) regulates many biological functions, including melanogenesis and
      stress. Our previous study indicated that regulation of SP on melanocyte function
      was mediated by neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1 receptor). Substantial evidence has
      accumulated that psychological stress can be associated with skin pigmentation,
      so that the impact of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), one of the important factors
      participating in stress process, on melanogenesis has also been concerned. It has
      been reported that 5-HT induces melanin synthesis via 5-HT2A receptor.
      Furthermore, 5-HT2A receptor and NK1 receptor are G-protein coupled receptors
      (GPCRs) and both expressed on melanocyte, the present study was designed to
      investigate whether SP has influence on the adjustment function of 5-HT. Our data
      demonstrated that, SP inhibited 5-HT2A receptor expression to neutralize the pro
      melanogenesis effect of 5-HT on B16F10 cells. The up-regulation of NK1 receptor
      expression was simultaneous with the down-regulation of 5-HT2A receptor treated
      by SP. This inhibition of 5-HT2A receptor expression by SP could be reversed by
      NK1 receptor antagonist Spantide I. Our studies indicated that SP could directly
      induce B16F10 cells apoptosis in vitro. 5-HT and 5-HT2A receptor agonist could
      mitigate this apoptotic effect of SP. It is the strong evidence of possible cross
      talk between GPCRs and giving enlightenments when screening desirable drugs for
      target receptors. 

PMID- 26872988
TI  - Novel effects of FTY720 on perinuclear reorganization of keratin network induced
      by sphingosylphosphorylcholine: Involvement of protein phosphatase 2A and G
      protein-coupled receptor-12.
AB  - Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) evokes perinuclear reorganization of keratin 8
      (K8) filaments and regulates the viscoelasticity of metastatic cancer cells
      leading to enhanced migration. Few studies have addressed the compounds
      modulating the viscoelasticity of metastatic cancer cells. We studied the effects
      of sphingosine (SPH), sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), FTY720 and FTY720-phosphate
      (FTY720P) on SPC-induced K8 phosphorylation and reorganization using Western blot
      and confocal microscopy, and also evaluated the elasticity of PANC-1 cells by
      atomic force microscopy. FTY720, FTY720P, SPH, and S1P concentration-dependently
      inhibited SPC-evoked phosphorylation and reorganization of K8, and migration of
      PANC-1 cells. SPC triggered reduction and narrow distribution of elastic constant
      K and conversely, FTY720 blocked them. A common upstream regulator of JNK and
      ERK, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) expression was reduced by SPC, but was
      restored by FTY720 and FTY72P. Butyryl forskolin, a PP2A activator, suppressed
      SPC-induced K8 phosphorylation and okadaic acid, a PP2A inhibitor, induced K8
      phosphorylation. Gene silencing of PP2A also led to K8 phosphorylation,
      reorganization and migration. We also investigated the involvement of GPR12, a
      high-affinity SPC receptor, in SPC-evoked keratin phosphorylation and
      reorganization. GPR12 siRNA suppressed the SPC-triggered phosphorylation and
      reorganization of K8. GPR12 overexpression stimulated keratin phosphorylation and
      reorganization even without SPC. FTY720 and FTY720P suppressed the GPR12-induced
      phosphorylation and reorganization of K8. The collective data indicates that
      FTY720 and FTY720P suppress SPC-induced phosphorylation and reorganization of K8
      in PANC-1 cells by restoring the expression of PP2A via GPR12. These findings
      might be helpful in the development of compounds that modulate the
      viscoelasticity of metastatic cancer cells and various SPC actions. 

PMID- 26872990
TI  - Oleuropein, a natural extract from plants, offers neuroprotection in focal
      cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.
AB  - Oleuropein (OLE) was found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.
      The latest study has shown that it can resist myocardial injury that follows an
      acute myocardial infarction and can rescue impaired spinal nerve cells. In this
      study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of OLE on cerebral ischemia
      and reperfusion injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model in mice.OLE
      (100 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1h before ischemia. We found that the
      volume of cerebral infarction was significantly reduced after 75 min of ischemia
      and 24 h of reperfusion compared with the I/R (ischemia/reperfusion) group. This
      protective function occurred in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that
      treatment with OLE could reduce the cerebral infarct volume. The neuroprotective
      effect was prolonged from 2 h to 4 h when we injected OLE
      intracerebroventricularly after reperfusion. We then found that OLE can decrease
      the level of cleavedcaspase-3, an important marker of apoptosis, in the ischemic
      mouse brain. Finally, we explored the role of OLE in providing anti-apoptotic
      effects through the increased expression of Bcl-2 and the decreased expression of
      Bax, which are important markers in apoptosis. As shown above, the function and
      safety of OLE in cardiovascular disease may indicate that it is a potential
      therapeutic for stroke.

PMID- 26872991
TI  - Biphasic cardiovascular and respiratory effects induced by beta-citronellol.
AB  - beta-Citronellol is a monoterpene found in the essential oil of various plants
      with antihypertensive properties. In fact, beta-citronellol possesses hypotensive
      actions due to its vasodilator abilities. Here we aimed to show that beta
      citronellol recruits airway sensory neural circuitry to evoke cardiorespiratory
      effects. In anesthetized rats, intravenous injection of beta-citronellol caused
      biphasic hypotension, bradycardia and apnea. Bilateral vagotomy, perivagal
      capsaicin treatment or injection into the left ventricle abolished first rapid
      phase (named P1) but not delayed phase P2 of the beta-citronellol effects. P1
      persisted after pretreatment with capsazepine, ondansetron, HC-030031 or suramin.
      Suramin abolished P2 of apnea. In awake rats, beta-citronellol induced biphasic
      hypotension and bradycardia being P1 abolished by methylatropine. In vitro, beta
      citronellol inhibited spontaneous or electrically-evoked contractions of rat
      isolated right or left atrium, respectively, and fully relaxed sustained
      contractions of phenylephrine in mesenteric artery rings. In conclusion,
      chemosensitive pulmonary vagal afferent fibers appear to mediate the
      cardiovascular and respiratory effects of beta-citronellol. The transduction
      mechanism in P1 seems not to involve the activation of transient receptor
      potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), transient receptor potential ankyrin
      subtype 1 (TRPA1), purinergic (P2X) or 5-HT3 receptors located on airways sensory
      nerves. P2 of hypotension and bradycardia seems resulting from a cardioinhibitory
      and vasodilatory effect of beta-citronellol and the apnea from a purinergic
      signaling. 

PMID- 26872992
TI  - Non-muscle myosin light chain promotes endothelial progenitor cells senescence
      and dysfunction in pulmonary hypertensive rats through up-regulation of NADPH
      oxidase.
AB  - Non-muscle myosin regulatory light chain (nmMLC20) is reported to exert
      transcriptional function in regulation of gene expression, and NADPH oxidase
      (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species contribute to vascular remodeling of
      pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). This study aims to determine if nmMLC20 can
      promote endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) senescence and dysfunction through up
      regulation of NOX in PAH rats. The rats were exposed to10% hypoxia for 3 weeks to
      establish a PAH model, which showed an increase in right ventricle systolic
      pressure, right ventricular and pulmonary vascular remodeling, and the
      accelerated senescence and impaired functions in EPCs, accompanied by an increase
      in Rho-kinase (ROCK) and NOX activities, p-nmMLC20 level, NOX expression and H2O2
      content; these phenomena were reversed by fasudil, a selective inhibitor of ROCK.
      Next, normal EPCs were cultured under hypoxia to induce senescence in vitro.
      Consistent with the in vivo findings, hypoxia increased the senescence and
      dysfunction of EPCs concomitant with an increase in ROCK and NOX activities, p
      nmMLC20 level, NOX expression and H2O2 content; these phenomena were reversed by
      fasudil. Knockdown of nmMLC20 showed similar results to that of fasudil except no
      effect on ROCK activity. Based on these observations, we conclude that nmMLC20
      could promote the senescence and dysfunctions of EPCs in PAH through up
      regulation of NOX in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. 

PMID- 26872993
TI  - ORM-3819 promotes cardiac contractility through Ca(2+) sensitization in
      combination with selective PDE III inhibition, a novel approach to inotropy.
AB  - This study is the first pharmacological characterization of the novel chemical
      entity, ORM-3819 (L-6-{4-[N'-(4-Hydroxi-3-methoxy-2-nitro-benzylidene)-hydrazino]
      phenyl}-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazin-3-one), focusing primarily on its
      cardiotonic effects. ORM-3819 binding to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) was confirmed
      by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a selective inhibition of the
      phosphodiesterase III (PDE III) isozyme (IC50=3.88+/-0.3 nM) was revealed during
      in vitro enzyme assays. The Ca(2+)-sensitizing effect of ORM-3819 was
      demonstrated in vitro in permeabilized myocyte-sized preparations from left
      ventricles (LV) of guinea pig hearts (DeltapCa50=0.12+/-0.01; EC50=2.88+/-0.14
      uM). ORM-3819 increased the maximal rate of LV pressure development (+dP/dtmax)
      (EC50=8.9+/-1.7 nM) and LV systolic pressure (EC50=7.63+/-1.74 nM) in Langendorff
      perfused guinea pig hearts. Intravenous administration of ORM-3819 increased
      LV+dP/dtmax (EC50=0.13+/-0.05 uM/kg) and improved the rate of LV pressure
      decrease (-dP/dtmax); (EC50=0.03+/-0.02 uM/kg) in healthy guinea pigs. In an in
      vivo dog model of myocardial stunning, ORM-3819 restored the depressed
      LV+dP/dtmax and improved % segmental shortening (%SS) in the ischemic area (to
      18.8+/-3), which was reduced after the ischaemia-reperfusion insult (from 24.1+/
      2.1 to 11.0+/-2.4). Our data demonstrate ORM-3819 as a potent positive inotropic
      agent exerting its cardiotonic effect by a cTnC-dependent Ca(2+)-sensitizing
      mechanism in combination with the selective inhibition of the PDE III isozyme.
      This dual mechanism of action results in the concentration-dependent augmentation
      of the contractile performance under control conditions and in the postischemic
      failing myocardium.

PMID- 26872994
TI  - Osmoregulation in larvae and juveniles of two recently separated Macrobrachium
      species: Expression patterns of ion transporter genes.
AB  - In this comparative study, osmoregulatory mechanisms were analyzed in two closely
      related species of palaemonid shrimp from Brazil, Macrobrachium pantanalense and
      Macrobrachium amazonicum. A previous investigation showed that all postembryonic
      stages of M. pantanalense from inland waters of the Pantanal are able to hyper
      osmoregulate in fresh water, while this species was not able to hypo-osmoregulate
      at high salinities. In M. amazonicum originating from the Amazon estuary, in
      contrast, all stages are able to hypo-osmoregulate, but only first-stage larvae,
      late juveniles and adults are able to hyper-osmoregulate in fresh water. The
      underlying molecular mechanisms of these physiological differences have not been
      known. We therefore investigated the expression patterns of three ion
      transporters (NKA alpha-subunit, VHA B-subunit and NHE3) following differential
      salinity acclimation in different ontogenetic stages (stage-V larvae, juveniles)
      of both species. Larval NKAalpha expression was at both salinities significantly
      higher in M. pantanalense than in M. amazonicum, whereas no difference was noted
      in juveniles. VHA was also more expressed in larvae of M. pantanalense than in
      those of M. amazonicum. When NHE3 expression is compared between the larvae of
      the two species, further salinity-related differences were observed, with
      generally higher expression in the inland species. Overall, a high expression of
      ion pumps in M. pantanalense suggests an evolutionary key role of these
      transporters in freshwater invasion. 

PMID- 26872995
TI  - Morphological and metabolic adjustments in the small intestine to energy demands
      of growth, storage, and fasting in the first annual cycle of a hibernating lizard
      (Tupinambis merianae).
AB  - Seasonal plasticity in the small intestine of neonatal tegu lizards was
      investigated using morphometry and analysis of enzymes involved in supplying
      energy to the intestinal tissue. In the autumn, the intestinal mass (Mi) was 1.0%
      of body mass and the scaling exponent b=0.92 indicated that Mi was larger in
      smaller neonates. During arousal from dormancy Mi was 23% smaller; later in
      spring, Mi increased 60% in relation to the autumn and the exponent b=0.14
      indicated that the recovery was disproportionate in smaller tegus. During the
      autumn, the intestinal villi were greatly elongated; by midwinter, the Hv, SvEp,
      and VvEp were smaller than during the autumn (59%, 54%, 29%) and were restored to
      autumn levels during spring. In the active tegus, the maximum activity (Vmax) of
      enzymes indicated that the enterocytes can obtain energy from different sources,
      and possess gluconeogenic capacity. During winter, the Vmax of CS, HOAD, GDH,
      PEPCK was 40-50% lower in relation to the autumn and spring, while the Vmax of
      HK, PK, LDH, AST was unchanged. The hypoglycemia and the mucosal atrophy/ischemia
      during winter would prevent the enterocytes from using glucose, whereas they
      could slowly oxidize fatty acids released from body stores and amino acids from
      the tissue proteolysis to satisfy their needs of energy. Contrastingly,
      starvation during spring caused severe mass loss (50%); the tissue protein and
      the VvEp and VvLP did not change while the thickness of the muscular layer
      increased 51%, which suggested different effects along the length of the organ.
      In addition, the Vmax of the glycolytic enzymes was lower, indicating that a
      regulatory mechanism would spare blood glucose for vital organs during
      unanticipated food restriction. 

PMID- 26872996
TI  - Ammonia excretion in Caenorhabditis elegans: Physiological and molecular
      characterization of the rhr-2 knock-out mutant.
AB  - Previous studies have shown the free living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
      (N2 strain) to be ammonotelic. Ammonia excretion was suggested to take place
      partially via the hypodermis, involving the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA), V-ATPase
      (VAT), carbonic anhydrase, NHX-3 and a functional microtubule network and at
      least one Rh-like ammonia transporter RHR-1. In the current study, we show that a
      second Rh-protein, RHR-2, is highly expressed in the hypodermis, here also in the
      apical membrane of that tissue. To further characterize the role of RHR-2 in
      ammonia excretion, a knock-out mutant rhr-2 (ok403), further referred to as ?rhr
      2, was employed. Compared to wild-type worms (N2), this mutant showed a lower
      rate of ammonia excretion and a lower hypodermal H(+) excretion rate. At the same
      time rhr-1, nka, vat, and nhx-3 showed higher mRNA expression levels when
      compared to N2. Also, in contrast to N2 worms, ?rhr-2 did not show enhanced
      ammonia excretion rates when exposed to a low pH environment, suggesting that RHR
      2 represents the apical NH3 pathway that allows ammonia trapping via the
      hypodermis in N2 worms. A hypothetical model for the mechanism of hypodermal
      ammonia excretion is proposed on the basis of data in this and previous
      investigations. 

PMID- 26872997
TI  - Locking compression plate versus revision-prosthesis for Vancouver type B2
      periprosthetic femoral fractures after total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Revision arthroplasty is currently the recommended treatment for
      periprosthetic femoral fractures after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and
      stem loosening (Vancouver B2). However, open reduction and internal fixation
      (ORIF) utilizing locking compression plate (LCP) might be an effective treatment
      with a reduced surgical time and less complex procedure in a typically elderly
      patient collective with multiple comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to
      compare the functional and radiographic outcomes in two cohorts with Vancouver B2
      periprosthetic femoral fractures after primary THA, treated either by ORIF with
      LCP fixation, or by revision arthroplasty utilizing a non-cemented long femoral
      stem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 patients with Vancouver B2 periprosthetic femoral
      fractures following THA, who had been treated between 2000 and 2014, were
      reviewed. Eight fractures were treated with LCP fixation, fourteen fractures with
      the first-generation revision prosthesis (Helios), and fourteen fractures with
      the second-generation revision prosthesis (Hyperion). The patients were assessed
      clinically with the Parker mobility score and radiographically. RESULTS: A total
      of ten males and 26 females formed the basis of this report with an average age
      of 81 years (range, 64 to 96 years). All fractures treated with LCP fixation
      alone healed uneventfully and there were no signs of secondary stem migration,
      malalignement or plate breakage. The average surgical time was shorter in the
      ORIF cohort; however, the results were not statistically significant. The
      postoperative Parker mobility score at latest follow-up showed no difference
      between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the current study,
      we conclude that the use of LCP fixation can be a sufficient option for the
      treatment of Vancouver B2 periprosthetic femoral fractures correspondingly with
      femoral stem loosening.

PMID- 26872998
TI  - Minimum number of trials required for within- and between-session reliability of
      TMS measures of corticospinal excitability.
AB  - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-elicited motor-evoked potentials (MEPs)
      exhibit considerable trial-to-trial variability, potentially reducing the
      sensitivity and reproducibility of this measure. While increasing the number of
      trials will improve accuracy, prolonged recording blocks are not always feasible.
      In this study, we investigated the minimum number of trials required to provide a
      measure of human corticospinal excitability that is stable both within and
      between sessions. Single-pulse TMS was applied to the left primary motor cortex,
      and MEPs were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous muscle.
      Approximately 20-30 trials were required to provide a stable measure of MEP
      amplitude with high within- and between-session reliability. Extending the number
      of trials beyond 30 provided no additional benefit. Collecting 30 trials may be
      optimal for reliably estimating corticospinal excitability using TMS. These
      findings may have significant implications for using TMS to measure corticospinal
      excitability in both basic and clinical research settings. 

PMID- 26872999
TI  - Effects of maternal stress and perinatal fluoxetine exposure on behavioral
      outcomes of adult male offspring.
AB  - Women of child-bearing age are the population group at highest risk for
      depression. In pregnant women, fluoxetine (Flx) is the most widely prescribed
      selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used for the treatment of
      depression. While maternal stress, depression, and Flx exposure have been shown
      to effect neurodevelopment of the offspring, separately, combined effects of
      maternal stress and Flx exposure have not been extensively examined. The present
      study investigated the effects of prenatal maternal stress and perinatal exposure
      to the SSRI Flx on the behavior of male mice as adults. METHODS: C57BL/6 dams
      exposed to chronic unpredictable stress from embryonic (E) day 4 to E18 and non
      stressed dams were administered Flx (25 mg/kg/d) in the drinking water from E15
      to postnatal day 12. A separate control group consisted of animals that were not
      exposed to stress or Flx. At 12 days of age, brain levels of serotonin were
      assessed in the male offspring. At two months of age, the male offspring of
      mothers exposed to prenatal stress (PS), perinatal Flx, PS and Flx, or neither PS
      or Flx, went through a comprehensive behavioral test battery. At the end of
      testing brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels were assessed in the
      frontal cortex of the offspring. RESULTS: Maternal behavior was not altered by
      either stress or Flx treatment. Treatment of the mother with Flx led to
      detectible Flx and NorFlx levels and lead to a decrease in serotonin levels in
      pup brains. In the adult male offspring, while perinatal exposure to Flx
      increased aggressive behavior, prenatal maternal stress decreased aggressive
      behavior. Interestingly, the combined effects of stress and Flx normalized
      aggressive behavior. Furthermore, perinatal Flx treatment led to a decrease in
      anxiety-like behavior in male offspring. PS led to hyperactivity and a decrease
      in BDNF levels in the frontal cortex regardless of Flx exposure. Neither maternal
      stress or Flx altered offspring performance in tests of cognitive abilities,
      memory, sensorimotor information processing, or risk assessment behaviors. These
      results demonstrate that maternal exposure to stress and Flx have a number of
      sustained effects on the male offspring.

PMID- 26873000
TI  - The effect of surgical and psychological stress on learning and memory function
      in aged C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is an important complication following
      major surgery and general anesthesia in older patients. However, the etiology of
      POCD remains largely to be determined. It is unknown how surgical stress and
      psychological stress affect the postoperative learning and memory function in
      geriatric patients. We therefore established a pre-clinical model in aged C57BL/6
      mice and aimed to investigate the effects of surgical stress and psychological
      stress on learning and memory function and the possible roles of the protein
      kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (AKT/mTOR) pathway. The surgical stress
      was induced by abdominal surgery under local anesthesia, and the psychological
      stress was induced by a communication box. Cognitive functions and markers of the
      AKT/mTOR pathway were assessed at 1, 3 and 7 days following the stress. The
      impairments of learning and memory function existed for up to 7 days following
      surgical stress and surgical stress plus psychological stress, whereas the
      psychological stress did not affect the cognitive function alone or combined with
      surgical stress. Analysis of brain tissue revealed a significant involvement of
      the AKT/mTOR pathway in the impairment of cognition. These data suggested that
      surgical stress could induce cognitive impairment in aged mice and perioperative
      psychological stress is not a constitutive factor of POCD. The AKT/mTOR pathway
      is likely involved as one of the underlying mechanisms of the development of
      POCD.

PMID- 26873001
TI  - Imaging mass spectrometry detects dynamic changes of phosphatidylcholine in rat
      hippocampal CA1 after transient global ischemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The initial steps in the cascade leading to cell death
      are still unknown because of the limitations of the existing methodology,
      strategy, and modalities used. METHODS: Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was used
      to measure dynamic molecular changes of phosphatidylcholine (PC) species in the
      rat hippocampus after transient global ischemia (TGI) for 6min. Fresh frozen
      sections were obtained after euthanizing the rats on Days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, and
      21. Histopathology and IMS of adjacent sections compared morphological and
      molecular changes, respectively. RESULTS: Histopathological changes were absent
      immediately after TGI (at Day 1, superacute phase). At Days 2-21 after TGI (from
      subacute to chronic phases), histopathology revealed neuronal death associated
      with gliosis, inflammation, and accumulation of activated microglia in CA1. IMS
      detected significant molecular changes after TGI in the same CA1 domain: increase
      of PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6) in the superacute phase and increase of PC (diacyl
      16:0/18:1) in the subacute to chronic phases. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathology and IMS
      can provide comprehensive and complementary information on cell death mechanisms
      in the hippocampal CA1 after global ischemia. IMS provided novel data on
      molecular changes in phospholipids immediately after TGI. Increased level of PC
      (diacyl-16:0/22:6) in the pyramidal cell layer of hippocampal CA1 prior to the
      histopathological change may represent an early step in delayed neuronal death
      mechanisms.

PMID- 26873003
TI  - A Critical Evaluation of Pharmacogenetic Information in Package Inserts for
      Selected Drugs Marketed in India and Its Comparison With US FDA-Approved Package
      Inserts.
AB  - Our objective was to compare the pharmacogenetic information provided in the
      package inserts (PIs) of 7 drugs marketed in the United States and India, namely,
      abacavir, capecitabine, carbamazepine, clopidogrel, irinotecan, valproic acid,
      and warfarin. We evaluated the pharmacogenetic information provided in Indian PIs
      for the highest level where it was included, robustness and completeness,
      clinical validity, and clinical utility and compared it with corresponding data
      of US PIs. Pharmacogenetic studies carried out in India were identified using
      PubMed. Pharmacogenetic information was provided in Indian PIs of all the drugs
      except irinotecan. It appeared in the same section as in US PIs for abacavir,
      capecitabine, carbamazepine (HLA-*3101), valproic acid (urea cycle disorders),
      and warfarin (protein C and protein S), whereas it appeared at lower levels for
      other drug-gene combinations. The robustness of pharmacogenetic testing was
      graded convincing for abacavir, adequate for carbamazepine and clopidogrel, and
      incomplete for the remaining drugs, and only abacavir and clopidogrel PIs
      provided full details of supporting studies. These details, when provided in the
      Indian PIs were identical to those in the US PIs. The Indian PIs did not provide
      data on Indian patients, although published studies are available. Both US and
      Indian PIs lacked critical information on the clinical validity and utility of
      pharmacogenetic testing. The pharmacogenetic information should provide
      country/ethnicity-specific data so that they are useful to clinicians. Where data
      are not available, the prevalence of genetic variation in the population of a
      country needs to be determined and should then be translated to the PIs.

PMID- 26873002
TI  - Prefrontal cortical GABAergic signaling and impaired behavioral flexibility in
      aged F344 rats.
AB  - The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for the ability to flexibly adapt
      established patterns of behavior in response to a change in environmental
      contingencies. Impaired behavioral flexibility results in maladaptive strategies
      such as perseveration on response options that no longer produce a desired
      outcome. Pharmacological manipulations of prefrontal cortical GABAergic signaling
      modulate behavioral flexibility in animal models, and prefrontal cortical
      interneuron dysfunction is implicated in impaired behavioral flexibility that
      accompanies neuropsychiatric disease. As deficits in behavioral flexibility also
      emerge during the normal aging process, the goal of this study was to determine
      the role of GABAergic signaling, specifically via prefrontal cortical GABA(B)
      receptors, in such age-related deficits. Young and aged rats were trained in a
      set shifting task performed in operant chambers. First, rats learned to
      discriminate between two response levers to obtain a food reward on the basis of
      a cue light illuminated above the correct lever. Upon acquisition of this initial
      discrimination, the contingencies were shifted such that rats had to ignore the
      cue light and respond on the levers according to their left/right positions. Both
      young and aged rats acquired the initial discrimination similarly; however, aged
      rats were impaired relative to young following the set shift. Among aged rats,
      GABA(B) receptor expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was strongly
      correlated with set shifting, such that lower expression was associated with
      worse performance. Subsequent experiments showed that intra-mPFC administration
      of the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen enhanced set shifting performance in
      aged rats. These data directly link GABAergic signaling via GABA(B) receptors to
      impaired behavioral flexibility associated with normal aging.

PMID- 26873005
TI  - Erratum to: Phospholipase C-eta2 interacts with nuclear and cytoplasmic LIMK-1
      during retinoic acid-stimulated neurite growth.

PMID- 26873004
TI  - From lizard body form to serpentiform morphology: The atlas-axis complex in
      African cordyliformes and their relatives.
AB  - The comparative vertebral morphology of the atlas-axis complex in cordyliforms,
      xantusiid and several skinks is studied here. These lizards are particularly
      interesting because of their different ecological adaptations and anti-predation
      strategies, where conformation ranges from the lizard-like body to a snake-like
      body. This transition to serpentiform morphology shows several evolutionary
      patterns in the atlas-axis complex: 1) the zygapophyseal articulations are lost
      in the early stage of the transition. In contrast to mammals, the atlas is more
      or less locked to the axis in lepidosaurs, but the absence of zygapophyseal
      articulation releases this locking for rotation. However despite its serpentiform
      morphology, Chamaesaura is different, in possessing this articulation; 2) the
      first intercentrum of Chamaesaura and Tetradactylus africanus (serpentiform grass
      swimmers) is fully curved anteriorly, underlying the occipital condyle. While
      this limits ventral skull rotation beyond a certain angle, it locks the skull,
      which is a crucial adaptation for a sit-and-wait position in grassland habitats
      that needs to keep the head stabilized; and 3) in Acontias, most of the atlas
      articular surface with the occipital condyle is formed by the lateral aspect of
      the articulation area relative to the area located in the dorsal region of the
      slightly reduced intercentrum. A similar state occurs in amphisbaenians, most
      likely reflecting a fossorial lifestyle of the limbless lizards. Although
      Chamaesaura and Tetradactylus live sympatrically in grasslands, Chamaesaura
      differs in several ways in atlas-axis complex: for example, aforementioned
      presence of the atlas-axis zygapophyseal articulation, and long posterodorsal
      processes. Its occipital condyle protrudes further posteriorly, placing the atlas
      axis complex further from the endocranium than in Tetradactylus. Hence,
      adaptation in the same niche, even among sister clades, can lead to different
      atlas-axis morphology due to different lifestyle strategies, for example,
      different foraging mode, while similar atlas-axis morphology can evolve in two
      lineages occupying different niches, as in Ablepharus and Scelotes.

PMID- 26873006
TI  - Effects of gastric pH on oral drug absorption: In vitro assessment using a
      dissolution/permeation system reflecting the gastric dissolution process.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gastric pH on the
      oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs using an in vitro system. A
      dissolution/permeation system (D/P system) equipped with a Caco-2 cell monolayer
      was used as the in vitro system to evaluate oral drug absorption, while a small
      vessel filled with simulated gastric fluid (SGF) was used to reflect the gastric
      dissolution phase. After applying drugs in their solid forms to SGF, SGF solution
      containing a 1/100 clinical dose of each drug was mixed with the apical solution
      of the D/P system, which was changed to fasted state-simulated intestinal fluid.
      Dissolved and permeated amounts on applied amount of drugs were then monitored
      for 2h. Similar experiments were performed using the same drugs, but without the
      gastric phase. Oral absorption with or without the gastric phase was predicted in
      humans based on the amount of the drug that permeated in the D/P system, assuming
      that the system without the gastric phase reflected human absorption with an
      elevated gastric pH. The dissolved amounts of basic drugs with poor water
      solubility, namely albendazole, dipyridamole, and ketoconazole, in the apical
      solution and their permeation across a Caco-2 cell monolayer were significantly
      enhanced when the gastric dissolution process was reflected due to the
      physicochemical properties of basic drugs. These amounts resulted in the
      prediction of higher oral absorption with normal gastric pH than with high
      gastric pH. On the other hand, when diclofenac sodium, the salt form of an acidic
      drug, was applied to the D/P system with the gastric phase, its dissolved and
      permeated amounts were significantly lower than those without the gastric phase.
      However, the oral absorption of diclofenac was predicted to be complete (96-98%)
      irrespective of gastric pH because the permeated amounts of diclofenac under both
      conditions were sufficiently high to achieve complete absorption. These
      estimations of the effects of gastric pH on the oral absorption of poorly water
      soluble drugs were consistent with observations in humans. In conclusion, the D/P
      system with the gastric phase may be a useful tool for better predicting the oral
      absorption of poorly water-soluble basic drugs. In addition, the effects of
      gastric pH on the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs may be evaluated
      by the D/P system with and without the gastric phase. 

PMID- 26873007
TI  - [Recurrent hypoglycemia due to an occult insulinoma].
AB  - A 64-year-old woman presented with a history of recurrent hypoglycemia. A
      prolonged fasting test revealed an increased "amended" insulin-glucose ratio.
      Transabdominal ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) did not show abnormal results. An insulinoma was
      suspected based on a contrast-enhanced endoscopic US examination as well as a
      (68)gallium-DOTA-exendin-4 positron-emission tomography (PET)/CT. The diagnosis
      of an insulinoma was confirmed histologically after surgical removal of the
      tumor. Hypoglycemia did not occur during the postoperative period. The prolonged
      fasting test is the gold standard for the diagnosis of an insulinoma. Novel
      imaging procedures, such as contrast-enhanced endoscopic US or (68)gallium-DOTA
      exendin-4 PET/CT are valuable additions to the diagnostic workup. 

PMID- 26873008
TI  - Granulomatosis with polyangiitis mimicking classic inflammatory bowel disease
      associated pyoderma gangrenosum.

PMID- 26873009
TI  - Comments on: titanium mesh in reconstructive surgery of the nasal pyramid. Follow
      up of our 11 initial cases.

PMID- 26873010
TI  - Ex vivo comparison of angioscopy and histopathology for the evaluation of
      coronary plaque characteristics.
AB  - The yellow plaque has been considered to be a vulnerable and high risk for acute
      coronary syndrome events but not fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the relationship between angioscopic color grade and histological
      features in coronary autopsy specimens. We longitudinally sectioned 110 coronary
      arteries from 40 autopsy hearts with non-cardiovascular death. Harvested arteries
      were imaged with intravascular ultrasound to identify the focal plaque (plaque
      burden >50 %). An angioscopic examination of each focal plaque evaluated its
      color intensity as follows: 0 (white), 1 (light yellow), 2 (yellow), or 3 (dark
      yellow). The corresponding histological assessment was classified according to a
      modified version of the American Heart Association classification of
      atherosclerosis. Two hundred six plaques were matched to the histological
      analysis. Of these, 82 (40 %) were categorized as yellow (>=grade 1). Although,
      yellow plaque often includes thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), the sensitivity,
      specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall
      diagnostic accuracy for histological TCFA were 83, 91, 22, 99 and 91 %,
      respectively. The false-positive coronary angioscopic diagnoses for TCFA that
      contributed to the low positive predictive value consisted of the following
      plaques: thick FA (>65 MUm), accumulations of large quantities of foam cells on
      the luminal surface, or dense calcified plates at the surface of the intima.
      Vulnerable coronary plaques were detected with high sensitivity and low positive
      predictive value from their yellow color on angioscopy. Not only fibroatheroma
      but also various types of plaques and their components, such as immature lipidic
      components and superficial calcium plates, appeared yellow on coronary
      angioscopy. 

PMID- 26873012
TI  - A Comprehensive Evaluation of a Universal School-Based Depression Prevention
      Program for Adolescents.
AB  - The present study proposes and demonstrates a comprehensive framework for
      evaluation of a universal school-based depression prevention program. Efficacy
      was evaluated by considering the impact of continuous versus categorical
      approaches to operationalizing outcome, the effect of the intervention on key
      change agent variables, and moderation of intervention effects by student symptom
      severity at baseline. Participants 252 adolescent boys and girls (60 % male),
      aged 13 to 17 years (M = 13.62 years, SD = 0.60 years) from four schools in the
      state of Victoria, Australia, who were allocated by school into a waitlist =
      control (n = 88) or a CBT-based intervention (n = 164) group. The intervention
      involved six 45-min weekly sessions run during wellbeing classes. While the
      intervention and control groups did not differ in average improvement in symptoms
      by post-intervention, further analyses showed that responsiveness was highly
      variable within the intervention, and those with elevated depressive symptoms
      benefitted most. The proposed change agents of self-esteem, resilience, body
      image satisfaction, and perceived social support did not uniquely predict change
      in depressive symptoms but collectively accounted for substantial variance in
      this change process. Collectively, this framework provided insights into aspects
      of the intervention that worked and highlighted areas for improvement, thus
      providing clear direction for future research.

PMID- 26873011
TI  - The small molecule '1-(4-biphenylylcarbonyl)-4-(5-bromo-2-methoxybenzyl)
      piperazine oxalate' and its derivatives regulate global protein synthesis by
      inactivating eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha.
AB  - By environmental stresses, cells can initiate a signaling pathway in which
      eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha (eIF2-alpha) is involved to
      regulate the response. Phosphorylation of eIF2-alpha results in the reduction of
      overall protein neogenesis, which allows cells to conserve resources and to
      reprogram energy usage for effective stress control. To investigate the role of
      eIF2-alpha in cell stress responses, we conducted a viability-based compound
      screen under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress condition, and identified 1-(4
      biphenylylcarbonyl)-4-(5-bromo-2-methoxybenzyl) piperazine oxalate (AMC-01) and
      its derivatives as eIF2-alpha-inactivating chemical. Molecular characterization
      of this signaling pathway revealed that AMC-01 induced inactivation of eIF2-alpha
      by phosphorylating serine residue 51 in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while
      the negative control compounds did not affect eIF2-alpha phosphorylation. In
      contrast with ER stress induction by thapsigargin, phosphorylation of eIF2-alpha
      persisted for the duration of incubation with AMC-01. By pathway analysis, AMC-01
      clearly induced the activation of protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) kinase and
      nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), whereas it did not modulate the activity of
      PERK or heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI). Finally, we could detect a lower protein
      translation rate in cells incubated with AMC-01, establishing AMC-01 as a potent
      chemical probe that can regulate eIF2-alpha activity. We suggest from these data
      that AMC-01 and its derivative compounds can be used as chemical probes in future
      studies of the role of eIF2-alpha in protein synthesis-related cell physiology.

PMID- 26873013
TI  - Dioxin distribution characteristics and health risk assessment in different size
      particles of fly ash from MSWIs in China.
AB  - During the process of treating and recycling Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators
      (MSWIs) fly ash, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated
      dibenzofurans (dl-PCBs) in fly ash may potentially mobilize in the atmosphere and
      be widely distributed in the environment because of the inevitable re-suspension.
      Thus, this work presents the distributions of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in inhalable
      coarse particles (Dp10-2.5 (particle diameter in MUm)), fine particles (Dp<2.5)
      of fly ash and original fly ash from four MSWI plants in China. The results show
      that PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs preferentially concentrated in Dp10-2.5 and Dp<2.5.
      Their mass concentrations and TEQ were significantly higher than those in the
      original fly ash, but the distribution of PCDD/Fs congeners in Dp10-2.5 and
      Dp<2.5 was close to that in the original fly ash. The main TEQ contribution
      included 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,7,8-TeCDD in PCDDs and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in PCDFs for
      Dp10-2.5, Dp<2.5 fractions and the original fly ash. Furthermore, the mass and
      TEQ contribution of dl-PCBs was relatively low. In addition, compared with the
      fluidized bed, the samples from the grate-type furnaces had significantly lower
      dioxin concentrations. In terms of potential health risk, the non-carcinogenic
      risk of PCDD/Fs in Dp10-2.5 and Dp<2.5 were estimated at 9.87 * 10(-1) to 4.81
      and 1.19-7.95. For the carcinogenic risk of PCDD/Fs, both accumulation of Hazard
      Quotients (HQ) in Dp10-2.5 and Dp<2.5 exceeded the threshold limit and should be
      considered as unacceptable risk for onsite workers. The above findings could
      provide data to support the risk management of MSWI fly ash during the process of
      recycle and disposal.

PMID- 26873014
TI  - High-quality collection and disposal of WEEE: Environmental impacts and resultant
      issues.
AB  - Life cycle assessment of the collection, transport and recycling of various types
      of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Norway shows that small
      amounts of critical materials (refrigerants, precious/trace metals) are vital for
      the overall environmental accounts of the value chains. High-quality recycling
      ensures that materials and energy are effectively recovered from WEEE. This
      recovery means that responsible waste handling confers net environmental benefits
      in terms of global warming potential (GWP), for all types of WEEE analysed. For
      refrigeration equipment, the potential reduction of GWP by high-quality recycling
      is so large as to be of national significance. For all waste types, the magnitude
      of the net benefit from recovering materials and energy exceeds the negative
      consequences of irresponsible disposal. One outcome of this may be widespread
      misunderstanding of the need for recycling. Furthermore, framing public
      communication on recycling in terms of avoiding negative consequences, as is
      essentially universal, may not convey an appropriate message. The issue is
      particularly important where the consumer regards products as relatively
      disposable and environmentally benign, and/or where the "null option" of
      retaining the product at end-of-life is especially prevalent. The paper
      highlights the implications of all these issues for policy-makers, waste
      collectors and recyclers, and consumers.

PMID- 26873015
TI  - Preparation, in vitro degradability, cytotoxicity, and in vivo biocompatibility
      of porous hydroxyapatite whisker-reinforced poly(L-lactide) biocomposite
      scaffolds.
AB  - Biodegradable and bioactive scaffolds with interconnected macroporous structures,
      suitable biodegradability, adequate mechanical property, and excellent
      biocompatibility have drawn increasing attention in bone tissue engineering.
      Hence, in this work, porous hydroxyapatite whisker-reinforced poly(L-lactide) (HA
      w/PLLA) composite scaffolds with different ratios of HA and PLLA were
      successfully developed through compression molding and particle leaching. The
      microstructure, in vitro mineralization, cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility,
      and in vivo biocompatibility of the porous HA-w/PLLA were investigated for the
      first time. The SEM results revealed that these HA-w/PLLA scaffolds possessed
      interconnected pore structures. Compared with porous HA powder-reinforced PLLA
      (HA-p/PLLA) scaffolds, HA-w/PLLA scaffolds exhibited better mechanical property
      and in vitro bioactivity, as more formation of bone-like apatite layers were
      induced on these scaffolds after mineralization in SBF. Importantly, in vitro
      cytotoxicity displayed that porous HA-w/PLLA scaffold with HA/PLLA ratio of 1:1
      (HA-w1/PLLA1) produced no deleterious effect on human mesenchymal stem cells
      (hMSCs), and cells performed elevated cell proliferation, indicating a good
      cytocompatibility. Simultaneously, well-behaved hemocompatibility and favorable
      in vivo biocompatibility determined from acute toxicity test and histological
      evaluation were also found in the porous HA-w1/PLLA1 scaffold. These findings may
      provide new prospects for utilizing the porous HA whisker-based biodegradable
      scaffolds in bone repair, replacement, and augmentation applications.

PMID- 26873016
TI  - Clinicopathological Features and Long-Term Outcomes of Intraductal Papillary
      Neoplasms of the Intrahepatic Bile Duct.
AB  - We intended to investigate the clinicopathological features of intrahepatic
      intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB), especially their
      malignant features and post-resection prognosis. Forty-three patients who met the
      definition of IPNB and who underwent liver resection between January 2002 and
      June 2015 were selected from our institutional database of liver resection cases.
      The mean age was 63.3 +/- 6.9 years and 24 were male. Hepatolithiasis was present
      in addition in 10 of the patients. Left- and right-sided hepatectomies and
      concurrent bile duct resection (BDR) were performed in 28, 15, and 10 patients,
      respectively; R0 resection was performed in 37 patients. The mean tumor diameter
      was 4.1 +/- 2.2 cm. Histological tumor grade was low in 4 cases, intermediate in
      6, and malignant in 33. There was no cancer-related recurrence or death in the 10
      patients with low-grade or intermediate lesions. In the 33 patients with
      malignant lesions, rates of tumor recurrence and overall survival were 12.5 and
      96.2 % at 1 year, 36.4 and 91.3 % at 3 years, and 47.0 and 68.8 % at 5 years,
      respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that R1 resection was the only
      prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and patient survival. BDR was performed in
      only 2 of 6 patients undergoing R1 resection. Intrahepatic IPNB is a rare type of
      biliary neoplasm that encompasses a histological spectrum ranging from benign
      disease to invasive malignancy. Long-term survival was anticipated after curative
      resection. R1 resection reduced survival outcomes; therefore, we suggest that
      concurrent BDR should be performed if the resection margin of the bile duct is
      not reliably free of neoplastic involvement.

PMID- 26873018
TI  - Attentional Set-Shifting Across Species.
AB  - Attentional set-shifting, as a measure of executive flexibility, has been a
      staple of investigations into human cognition for over six decades. Mediated by
      the frontal cortex in mammals, the cognitive processes involved in forming,
      maintaining and shifting an attentional set are vulnerable to dysfunction arising
      from a number of human neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's,
      Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases) and other neurological disorders (such as
      schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Our
      understanding of these diseases and disorders, and the cognitive impairments
      induced by them, continues to advance, in tandem with an increasing number of
      tools at our disposal. In this chapter, we review and compare commonly used
      attentional set-shifting tasks (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and
      Intradimensional/Extradimensional tasks) and their applicability across species.
      In addition to humans, attentional set-shifting has been observed in a number of
      other animals, with a substantial body of literature describing performance in
      monkeys and rodents. We consider the task designs used to investigate attentional
      set-shifting in these species and the methods used to model human diseases and
      disorders, and ultimately the comparisons and differences between species
      specific tasks, and between performance across species. 

PMID- 26873019
TI  - Translational Research on Nicotine Dependence.
AB  - Nicotine dependence is a chronic, relapsing disorder with complex biological
      mechanisms underlying the motivational basis for this behavior. Although more
      than 70 % of current smokers express a desire to quit, most relapse within one
      year, underscoring the need for novel treatments. A key focus of translational
      research models addressing nicotine dependence has been on cross-validation of
      human and animal models in order to improve the predictive value of medication
      screening paradigms. In this chapter, we review several lines of research
      highlighting the utility of cross-validation models in elucidating the biological
      underpinnings of nicotine reward and reinforcement, identifying factors which may
      influence individual response to treatment, and facilitating rapid translation of
      findings to practice. 

PMID- 26873020
TI  - DNA damage in the oocytes SACs.

PMID- 26873021
TI  - A comparative analysis of two interferon-gamma releasing assays to detect past
      tuberculosis infections in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the utility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold in tube (QFT-GIT) and T
      SPOT.TB assays to detect past tuberculosis infection in Japanese rheumatoid
      arthritis patients receiving methotrexate. METHODS: We compared the sensitivities
      and specificities, the rates of indeterminate results, and the rates of positive
      results in patients with total and CD4-positive lymphocyte counts of both assays
      simultaneously performed on 68 rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving
      methotrexate, in whom 33 had evidence of past tuberculosis infection by chest
      computed tomography and the other had neither history of tuberculosis exposure
      nor abnormalities in chest computed tomography. RESULTS: The sensitivities,
      specificities, and the rates of indeterminate results of QFT-GIT were 21.2%,
      100%, and 4.4%, and those of T-SPOT.TB were 21.9%, 100%, and 1.5%, respectively.
      The overall agreement of both assays was good (kappa = 0.68). In patients with
      past tuberculosis infection, there are significant positive linear trends in
      positive rates of both assays across ranges of larger numbers of total and CD4
      positive lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSIONS: Both assays were equally useful with
      high specificities, but may falsely identify past tuberculosis infection owing to
      low sensitivities. In patients with low total and CD4-positive lymphocyte counts,
      both assays might give higher rates of false negative results.

PMID- 26873017
TI  - Translational Assessment of Reward and Motivational Deficits in Psychiatric
      Disorders.
AB  - Deficits in reward and motivation are common symptoms characterizing several
      psychiatric and neurological disorders. Such deficits may include anhedonia,
      defined as loss of pleasure, as well as impairments in anticipatory pleasure,
      reward valuation, motivation/effort, and reward learning. This chapter describes
      recent advances in the development of behavioral tasks used to assess different
      aspects of reward processing in both humans and non-human animals. While earlier
      tasks were generally developed independently with limited cross-species
      correspondence, a newer generation of translational tasks has emerged that are
      theoretically and procedurally analogous across species and allow parallel
      testing, data analyses, and interpretation between human and rodent behaviors.
      Such enhanced conformity between cross-species tasks will facilitate
      investigation of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying discrete reward and
      motivated behaviors and is expected to improve our understanding and treatment of
      neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by reward and motivation deficits. 

PMID- 26873022
TI  - HIV/AIDS stigma among a sample of primarily African-American and Latino men who
      have sex with men social media users.
AB  - The recent increase in social media use allows these technologies to rapidly
      reach communities with higher HIV prevalence, such as African-American and Latino
      men who have sex with men (MSM). However, no studies have looked at HIV/AIDS
      stigma among social media users from African-American and Latino MSM communities,
      or the association between stigma and social media use among these groups. This
      study sought to assess the level of HIV/AIDS stigma among a sample of social
      media-using African-American and Latino MSM from Los Angeles. A total of 112
      (primarily African-American and Latino, n = 98, 88%) MSM Facebook users completed
      a survey on demographics, online social network use, and HIV/AIDS stigma. A
      composite stigma score was created by taking the cumulative score from a 15-item
      stigma questionnaire. Cumulative logistic models were used to assess the
      association between HIV/AIDS stigma and online social network use. In general,
      participants reported a low level of HIV/AIDS stigma (mean = 22.2/75, SD = 5.74).
      HIV/AIDS stigma composite score was significantly associated with increased time
      spent on online social networks each day (Adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 1.07, 95%
      CI: 1.00, 1.15). Among this diverse sample of MSM online social network users,
      findings suggest that HIV/AIDS stigma is associated with usage of social media.
      We discuss the implications of this work for future HIV prevention.

PMID- 26873024
TI  - The Impact of Domestication on the Circadian Clock.
AB  - A recent publication shows that, during their domestication and spread from
      Equatorial South America, circadian rhythms of tomatoes have been modified. The
      modifications have resulted in tomato plants that are adapted to growing under
      the long day conditions characteristic of summers at higher latitudes. 

PMID- 26873023
TI  - Impact of long-term cropping of glyphosate-resistant transgenic soybean [Glycine
      max (L.) Merr.] on soil microbiome.
AB  - The transgenic soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] occupies about 80 % of the
      global area cropped with this legume, the majority comprising the glyphosate
      resistant trait (Roundup Ready((r)), GR or RR). However, concerns about possible
      impacts of transgenic crops on soil microbial communities are often raised. We
      investigated soil chemical, physical and microbiological properties, and grain
      yields in long-term field trials involving conventional and nearly isogenic RR
      transgenic genotypes. The trials were performed at two locations in Brazil, with
      different edaphoclimatic conditions. Large differences in physical, chemical and
      classic microbiological parameters (microbial biomass of C and N, basal
      respiration), as well as in grain production were observed between the sites.
      Some phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria), classes
      (Alphaproteobacteria, Actinomycetales, Solibacteres) and orders (Rhizobiales,
      Burkholderiales, Myxococcales, Pseudomonadales), as well as some functional
      subsystems (clustering-based subsystems, carbohydrates, amino acids and protein
      metabolism) were, in general, abundant in all treatments. However, bioindicators
      related to superior soil fertility and physical properties at Londrina were
      identified, among them a higher ratio of Proteobacteria:Acidobacteria. Regarding
      the transgene, the metagenomics showed differences in microbial taxonomic and
      functional abundances, but lower in magnitude than differences observed between
      the sites. Besides the site-specific differences, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and
      Chlorophyta were higher in the transgenic treatment, as well as sequences related
      to protein metabolism, cell division and cycle. Although confirming effects of
      the transgenic trait on soil microbiome, no differences were recorded in grain
      yields, probably due to the buffering capacity associated with the high taxonomic
      and functional microbial diversity observed in all treatments.

PMID- 26873025
TI  - Goal directed hemodynamic therapy based in esophageal Doppler flow parameters: A
      systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have compared perioperative esophageal doppler
      monitoring (EDM) guided intravascular volume replacement strategies with
      conventional clinical volume replacement in surgical patients. The use of the EDM
      within hemodynamic algorithms is called 'goal directed hemodynamic therapy'
      (GDHT). METHODS: Meta-analysis of the effects of EDM guided GDHT in adult non
      cardiac surgery on postoperative complications and mortality using PRISMA
      methodology. A systematic search was performed in Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and
      the Cochrane Library (last update, March 2015). INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized
      clinical trials (RCTs) in which perioperative GDHT was compared to other fluid
      management. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Overall complications. SECONDARY OUTCOMES:
      Mortality; number of patients with complications; cardiac, renal and infectious
      complications; incidence of ileus. Studies were subjected to quantifiable
      analysis, pre-defined subgroup analysis (stratified by surgery, type of
      comparator and risk); pre-defined sensitivity analysis and trial sequential
      analysis (TSA). RESULTS: Fifty six RCTs were initially identified, 15 fulfilling
      the inclusion criteria, including 1,368 patients. A significant reduction was
      observed in overall complications associated with GDHT compared to other fluid
      therapy (RR=0.75; 95%CI: 0.63-0.89; P=0.0009) in colorectal, urological and high
      risk surgery compared to conventional fluid therapy. No differences were found in
      secondary outcomes, neither in other subgroups. The impact on preventing the
      development of complications in patients using EDM is high, causing a relative
      risk reduction (RRR) of 50% for a number needed to treat (NNT)=6. CONCLUSIONS:
      GDHT guided by EDM decreases postoperative complications, especially in patients
      undergoing colorectal surgery and high-risk surgery. However, no differences
      versus restrictive fluid therapy and in intermediate-risk patients were found.

PMID- 26873026
TI  - Severe bilateral papilledema in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 26873027
TI  - Copper resistance and its regulation in the sulfate-reducing bacterium
      Desulfosporosinus sp. OT.
AB  - Desulfosporosinus sp. OT is a Gram-positive, acidophilic sulfate-reducing
      firmicute isolated from copper tailings sediment in the Norilsk mining-smelting
      area in Siberia and represents the first Desulfosporosinus species whose genome
      has been sequenced. Desulfosporosinus sp. OT is exceptionally copper resistant,
      which made it of interest to study the resistance mechanism. It possesses a
      copUAZ operon which is shown here to be involved in copper resistance. The copU
      gene encodes a CsoR-type homotetrameric repressor. By electrophoretic mobility
      shift assay, it was shown that CopU binds to the operator/promoter region of the
      copUAZ operon in the absence of copper and is released from the DNA by Cu+ or
      Ag+, implying that CopU regulates the operon in a copper/silver-dependent manner.
      DOT_CopA is a P1B-type ATPase related to other characterized, bacterial copper
      ATPases. When expressed in a copper-sensitive Escherichia coli DeltacopA mutant,
      it restores copper resistance to WT levels. His-tagged DOT_CopA was expressed
      from a plasmid in E. coli and purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The
      purified enzyme was most active in the presence of Cu(I) and bacterial
      phospholipids. These findings indicate that the copUAZ operon confers copper
      resistance to Desulfosporosinus sp. OT, but do not per se explain the basis of
      the high copper resistance of this strain.

PMID- 26873028
TI  - Oncologic surveillance in bladder cancer following radical cystectomy: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The existing guidance on bladder cancer surveillance following radical
      cystectomy is limited and variable. Additionally, the effect of surveillance on
      mortality is debatable. Herein, we perform a systematic review to evaluate the
      characteristics of alternative oncologic surveillance protocols and determine the
      association of detection of asymptomatic vs. symptomatic recurrences on
      mortality. METHODS: An electronic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane
      Library databases was performed from 1970 to 2015. In all, 3 reviewers
      independently assessed the 1,729 candidate studies for eligibility and abstracted
      data based on an a priori established protocol. Outcomes were pooled using random
      effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: We identified 7 studies for inclusion that were
      uncontrolled and thereby represented a body of evidence at high risk of bias; 5
      studies developed surveillance protocols using a methodology similar to that of
      established guidelines. The majority proposed a pathologic stage-stratified
      approach, but ended surveillance for all patients at 5 years. Detection of
      asymptomatic recurrences was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in
      mortality (relative risk = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.58-1.04). This effect became
      statistically significant when upper and lower urinary tract recurrences were
      included in the analyses (relative risk = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.59-0.79). CONCLUSIONS:
      Only sparse evidence supports alternative oncologic surveillance protocols for
      bladder cancer following radical cystectomy. The majority of existing protocols
      proposed similar strategies to those recommended by published guidelines.
      Detecting asymptomatic recurrences may lead to a reduction in overall mortality,
      which could provide a rationale for surveillance.

PMID- 26873030
TI  - Reliable and Efficient Supply Chain Management in Radiology: Implementation of a
      Two-Bin Demand-Flow System.

PMID- 26873029
TI  - Let's Use Cognitive Science to Create Collaborative Workstations.
AB  - When informed by an understanding of cognitive science, radiologists'
      workstations could become collaborative to improve radiologists' performance and
      job satisfaction. The authors review relevant literature and present several
      promising areas of research, including image toggling, eye tracking, cognitive
      computing, intelligently restricted messaging, work habit tracking, and
      innovative input devices. The authors call for more research in "perceptual
      design," a promising field that can complement advances in computer-aided
      detection. 

PMID- 26873031
TI  - Community Elder Mistreatment Intervention With Capable Older Adults: Toward a
      Conceptual Practice Model.
AB  - Community-based elder mistreatment response programs (EMRP), such as adult
      protective services, that are responsible for directly addressing elder abuse and
      neglect are under increasing pressure with greater reporting/referrals
      nationwide. Our knowledge and understanding of effective response interventions
      represents a major gap in the EM literature. At the center of this gap is a lack
      of theory or conceptual models to help guide EMRP research and practice. This
      article develops a conceptual practice model for community-based EMRPs that work
      directly with cognitively intact EM victims. Anchored by core EMRP values of
      voluntariness, self-determination, and least restrictive path, the practice model
      is guided by an overarching postmodern, constructivist, eco-systemic practice
      paradigm that accepts multiple, individually constructed mistreatment realities
      and solutions. Harm-reduction, client-centered, and multidisciplinary practice
      models are described toward a common EMRP goal to reduce the risk of continued
      mistreatment. Finally, the model focuses on client-practitioner relationship
      oriented practice skills such as engagement and therapeutic alliance to elicit
      individual mistreatment realities and client-centered solutions. The practice
      model helps fill a conceptual gap in the EM intervention literature and carries
      implications for EMRP training, research, and practice.

PMID- 26873032
TI  - Mechanisms Linking Neighborhood Age Composition to Health.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: Age integration theory posits that the age composition of
      spaces affects the social interactions in which people can engage. This study
      aimed to examine whether social interactions perceived to involve generativity
      (i.e., commitment to younger generations), daily discrimination, and/or social
      cohesion mediate associations between neighborhood age composition, self-reported
      health, and psychological well-being. Design and Methods: We applied multilevel
      structural equation models to data from 4,017 participants aged 30-84 who
      participated in the 2004-2006 wave of National Survey of Midlife Development in
      the United States, merged with data on their 3,714 neighborhoods from the
      2010U.S. Census. Results: Neighborhoods that represented the age distribution of
      the United States and neighborhoods that overrepresented older adults were
      contexts in which residents reported the most generativity and social cohesion.
      In turn, generativity and social cohesion were associated with better self
      reported health and higher psychological well-being. Implications: The nature of
      social interaction links neighborhood age composition to health and well-being.
      These results clarify the results of prior studies, advance measurement, suggest
      elaborations to age integration theory, and point to new directions for aging-in
      place initiatives.

PMID- 26873033
TI  - Adult Children's Responses to Parent "Stubbornness".
AB  - Purpose of the Study: People cope with relationship tensions in different ways.
      One such tension that is frequently reported is how adult children respond to
      conflicts with their aging parents when they see their parents as insisting,
      resisting, or persisting in their behaviors-acting in ways commonly attributed to
      stubbornness. Design and Methods: Middle-aged adults (N = 383) completed measures
      regarding their parents' stubbornness, their responses to that stubbornness,
      depressive symptoms, positive and negative relationship quality, and support they
      provide their parents. Multiple regression and multilevel models were utilized to
      examine whether middle-aged offspring's responses to perceived parent
      stubbornness were associated with the offspring's reported depressive symptoms,
      positive and negative relationship quality, and provision of support. Results:
      Adult children most frequently endorsed responding to parents' "stubborn"
      behaviors by "just letting their requests go." Results revealed associations of
      adult children's response strategies with their reports of depressive symptoms
      (more letting go), positive relationship quality (less letting go and more
      reasoning), negative relationship quality (more arguing, more rewording their
      request, and less reasoning), and the amount of support they provide to their
      parents (more arguing, more reasoning, and more waiting to address the concern
      another day). Implications: Adult children's responses to perceived parent
      stubbornness are linked to individual and relationship functioning, as well as
      the support the children provide. Interventions to develop adaptive responses
      when there are differences in goals may prove useful for families.

PMID- 26873036
TI  - Combining angiotensin II receptor 1 antagonism and neprilysin inhibition for the
      treatment of heart failure.
AB  - Sacubitril/valsartan is a novel, first-in-class drug, which combines a neprilysin
      inhibitor with an angiotensin receptor blocker. Sacubitril inhibits neprilysin
      endopeptidase, blocking the catabolism of natriuretic peptides (NP), thereby
      increasing their bioavailability. Valsartan counterbalances the increase of
      angiotensin II that results from neprilysin inhibition, exerting also the
      beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockers seen in previous HF trials.
      PARADIGM-HF trial has proved the superiority of sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696)
      over ACE inhibitor enalapril to reduce mortality and morbidity of symptomatic HF
      patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), setting the grounds for the
      replacement of ACE inhibitors by sacubitril/valsartan in the management of HFrEF.
      Sacubitril/valsartan is currently being tested in a phase III trial (PARAGON-HF)
      in patients with HF with preserved EF. PARAGON-HF is also expected to provide
      further data regarding the long-term safety of sacubitril/valsartan, hopefully to
      alleviate concerns regarding the effects of neprilysin inhibition on cognitive
      function.

PMID- 26873034
TI  - Exploring the relationship between social attachment and dopamine D2/3 receptor
      availability in the brains of healthy humans using [11C]-(+)-PHNO.
AB  - Differences in striatal dopamine (DA) function may be related to differences in
      the degree of social attachment to others. Using positron emission tomography
      (PET), socially detached persons demonstrate reduced DA D2/3 receptor (D2/3R)
      availability in the striatum. However, previous PET studies have only used
      antagonist radiotracers for D2/3R and have not specifically examined regions of
      interest (ROIs) such as the ventral striatum (VS). In 32 healthy persons, we
      investigated the relationship between self-reported attachment and DA D2/3R
      availability in striatal and extrastriatal ROIs as measured using the agonist
      radiotracer [11C]-(+)-PHNO. Surprisingly, more social attachment-as measured by
      the attachment subscale of the temperament and character inventory-was related to
      less [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding in the VS (r(30) = -.43, p = .01). This relationship
      held in a subsample who also completed the detachment subscale of the Karolinska
      Scales of Personality (r(10) = .62, p = .03). However, no relationships were
      observed with BPND in the dorsal striatum or D3R-specific ROIs. One potential
      explanation for these findings is that persons who are more socially detached
      have less endogenous DA occupying D2/3R in the VS. This interpretation warrants
      investigation by future research. These findings may help us better understand
      the neurochemical basis of attachment.

PMID- 26873035
TI  - The effect of hydroxychloroquine on lupus erythematosus-like skin lesions in
      MRL/lpr mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on
      lupus erythematosus (LE)-like skin lesions in the MRL/lpr mouse, a model for
      systemic LE (SLE). METHODS: We divided the MRL/lpr mice into three groups that
      were given: (1) drinking water, (2) HCQ at a dose of 4 mg/kg/d, or (3) HCQ at a
      dose of 40 mg/kg/d. The HCQ was administered to examine the effect and safety of
      HCQ on skin lesions and the number of infiltrating cells including mast cells in
      the dermis. RESULTS: Six of 13 mice in the group given drinking water, 3 of 11
      mice in the group administered low-dose HCQ (4 mg/kg/d), and 1 of 10 mice in the
      group administered high-dose HCQ (40 mg/kg/d) presented the skin lesions. The
      average number of mast cells was 81, 50, and 12 (magnification, *100), the
      mortality rate was 24%, 8%, and 9% and the mean body weight gain was 4.6 g, 8.0 g
      and 5.1 g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCQ was demonstrated to decrease the
      appearance of LE-like lesions and the number of mast cells in the dermis.
      Furthermore, there were no obvious systemic adverse effects. This study provides
      evidence that suggests benefits in human patients.

PMID- 26873037
TI  - Oxidative Stress and Histological Alterations of Chicken Brain Induced by Oral
      Administration of Chromium(III).
AB  - This experiment was conducted to investigate the oxidative stress in chickens
      exposed to different concentrations of chromium trichloride (CrCl3) in drinking
      water. Seventy-two Hylan Brown male chickens were randomly divided into four
      groups: three experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups
      were exposed to three different doses (50 % LD50, 25 % LD50, and 12.5 % LD50) of
      CrCl3 mg/kg body weight for 42 days, while the control group was given the
      equivalent water. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase,
      catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic index (glutathione, total
      antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide) were measured after
      obtaining the brain samples. Results suggested that 50 % LD50 chromium(III)
      significantly increased (P < 0.05) the contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen
      peroxide. The antioxidant enzyme activities, total glutathione concentration, and
      total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with those
      of the controls and were consistent with the increase in dosage and time.
      Additionally, extensive histological alterations were observed in the chicken
      brain, such as the vacuolization and nuclear condensation of the neurons. These
      results indicated that exposure to high-dose CrCl3 for a certain time could
      induce the occurrence of oxidative stress and histological alterations. 

PMID- 26873039
TI  - Gastroretentive systems - a proposed strategy to modulate anthocyanin release and
      absorption for the management of diabetes.
AB  - Several reports have indicated a positive correlation between the consumption of
      anthocyanins (ACN) and biomarkers relating to the improvement of type 2 diabetes
      (T2D). However, the results from in vitro studies often do not translate into
      clinical evidence. Potential causes of these discrepancies are experimental
      conditions that lack physiological relevancy; extensive degradation of these
      compounds in vivo due to changes in pH and metabolism; and a short residence time
      in the absorption window in relation to the absorption rate. Here,
      gastroretentive systems (GRS) are proposed as a strategy to overcome the
      limitations in ACN delivery and to reduce the existing bench-to-subject gap. This
      review summarizes recent literature on the use of ACN for the management and
      control of T2D, followed by GRS platforms to promote a sustained release of ACN
      for increased health benefits. 

PMID- 26873040
TI  - Uncertainty of trial timing enhances acquisition of conditioned eyeblinks in
      anxiety vulnerable individuals.
AB  - Recent work has found that behaviorally inhibited (BI) individuals exhibit
      enhanced eyeblink conditioning in omission and yoked training as well as with
      schedules of partial reinforcement. We hypothesized that spacing CS-US paired
      trials over a longer period of time by extending and varying the inter-trial
      interval (ITI) would facilitate learning. All participants completed the Adult
      Measure of Behavioural Inhibition (AMBI) and were grouped as behaviorally
      inhibited (BI) and non-behaviorally inhibited (NI) based on a median split score
      of 15.5. All participants received 3 US alone trials and 30CS-US paired trials
      for acquisition training and 20CS alone trials for extinction training in one
      session. Conditioning stimuli were a 500 ms tone conditioned stimulus (CS) and a
      50-ms air puff unconditional stimulus (US). Participants were randomly assigned
      to receive a short ITI (mean=30+/- 5s), a long ITI (mean=57+/- 5s) or a variable
      long ITI (mean=57 s, range 25-123 s). No significant ITI effects were observed
      for acquisition or extinction. Overall, anxiety vulnerable individuals exhibited
      enhanced conditioned eyeblink responses as compared to non-vulnerable
      individuals. This enhanced acquisition of CRs was significant in spaced training
      with a variable long ITI, but not the short or long ITI. There were no
      significant effects of ITI or BI on extinction. These findings are interpreted
      based on the idea that uncertainty plays a role in anxiety and can enhance
      associative learning in anxiety vulnerable individuals.

PMID- 26873038
TI  - Hyaluronidase: from clinical applications to molecular and cellular mechanisms.
AB  - Over the past 60 years, hyaluronidase has been successfully utilized in
      ophthalmic surgery and is now being implemented in dermatosurgery as well as in
      other surgical disciplines. The enzyme is considered a "spreading factor" as it
      decomplexes hyaluronic acid (also called hyaluronan, HA), an essential component
      of the extracellular matrix (ECM). When applied as an adjuvant, hyaluronidase
      enhances the diffusion capacity and bioavailability of injected drugs. Therefore,
      the enzyme has been used as a local adjuvant to increase the diffusion capacity
      of local anesthetics, increasing the analgesic efficacy, and the anesthetized
      area particularly in the first minutes following injection, resulting in
      diminished intra- and postoperative pain. In aesthetic medicine, the off-label
      use of hyaluronidase is considered the gold standard for the management of HA
      filler-associated complications. Here, we review the clinical use, underlying
      biological mechanisms, and future directions for the application of hyaluronidase
      in surgical and aesthetic medicine.

PMID- 26873041
TI  - Learning delays in a mouse model of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder
      with core symptoms of atypical social interactions and repetitive behaviors. It
      has also been reported that individuals with ASD have difficulty with
      multisensory integration, and this may disrupt higher-order cognitive abilities
      such as learning and social communication. Impairments in the integration of
      sensory information could in turn reflect diminished cross-modal white matter
      connectivity. Moreover, the genetic contribution in ASD appears to be strong,
      with heritability estimates as high as 90%. However, no single gene has been
      identified, and over 1000 risk genes have been reported. One of these genes -
      contactin-associated-like-protein 2 (CNTNAP2) - was first associated with
      Specific Language Impairment, and more recently has been linked to ASD. CNTNAP2
      encodes a cell adhesion protein regulating synaptic signal transmission. To
      better understand the behavioral and biological underlying mechanisms of ASD, a
      transgenic mouse model was created with a genetic knockout (KO) of the rodent
      homolog Cntnap2. Initial studies on this mouse revealed poor social interactions,
      behavioral perseveration, and reduced vocalizations-all strongly resembling human
      ASD symptoms. Cntnap2 KO mice also show abnormalities in myelin formation,
      consistent with a hypo-connectivity model of ASD. The current study was designed
      to further assess the behavioral phenotype of this mouse model, with a focus on
      learning and memory. Cntnap2 KO and wild-type mice were tested on a 4/8 radial
      arm water maze for 14 consecutive days. Error scores (total, working memory,
      reference memory, initial and repeated reference memory), latency and average
      turn angle were independently assessed using a 2*14 repeated measures ANOVA.
      Results showed that Cntnap2 KO mice exhibited significant deficits in working and
      reference memory during the acquisition period of the task. During the retention
      period (i.e., after asymptote in errors), Cntnap2 KO mice performed comparably to
      wild-type mice. These findings suggest that CNTNAP2 may influence the development
      of neural systems important to learning and cross-modal integration, and that
      disruption of this function could be associated with delayed learning in ASD. 

PMID- 26873042
TI  - Patient safety: the landscape of the global research output and gender
      distribution.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Patient safety is a crucial issue in medicine. Its main objective is
      to reduce the number of deaths and health damages that are caused by preventable
      medical errors. To achieve this, it needs better health systems that make
      mistakes less likely and their effects less detrimental without blaming health
      workers for failures. Until now, there is no in-depth scientometric analysis on
      this issue that encompasses the interval between 1963 and 2014. Therefore, the
      aim of this study is to sketch a landscape of the past global research output on
      patient safety including the gender distribution of the medical discipline of
      patient safety by interpreting scientometric parameters. Additionally, respective
      future trends are to be outlined. SETTING: The Core Collection of the scientific
      database Web of Science was searched for publications with the search term
      'Patient Safety' as title word that was focused on the corresponding medical
      discipline. The resulting data set was analysed by using the methodology
      implemented by the platform NewQIS. To visualise the geographical landscape,
      state-of-the-art techniques including density-equalising map projections were
      applied. RESULTS: 4079 articles on patient safety were identified in the period
      from 1900 to 2014. Most articles were published in North America, the UK and
      Australia. In regard to the overall number of publications, the USA is the
      leading country, while the output ratio to the population of Switzerland was
      found to exhibit the best performance. With regard to the ratio of the number of
      publications to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita, the USA remains the
      leading nation but countries like India and China with a low GDP and high
      population numbers are also profiting. CONCLUSIONS: Though the topic is a global
      matter, the scientific output on patient safety is centred mainly in
      industrialised countries.

PMID- 26873043
TI  - Endovascular repair or open repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a
      Cochrane systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Emergency endovascular aneurysm repair (eEVAR) may improve outcomes
      for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). The study aim was to
      compare the outcomes for eEVAR with conventional open surgical repair for the
      treatment of RAAA. SETTING: A systematic review of relevant publications was
      performed. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing eEVAR with open surgical
      repair for RAAA were included. PARTICIPANTS: 3 RCTs were included, with a total
      of 761 patients with RAAA. INTERVENTIONS: Meta-analysis was performed with fixed
      effects models with ORs and 95% CIs for dichotomous data and mean differences
      with 95% CIs for continuous data. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary
      outcome was short-term mortality. Secondary outcome measures included aneurysm
      specific and general complication rates, quality of life and economic analysis.
      RESULTS: Overall risk of bias was low. There was no difference between the 2
      interventions on 30-day (or in-hospital) mortality, OR 0.91 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.22;
      p=0.52). 30-day complications included myocardial infarction, stroke, composite
      cardiac complications, renal complications, severe bowel ischaemia, spinal cord
      ischaemia, reoperation, amputation and respiratory failure. Reporting was
      incomplete, and no robust conclusion was drawn. For complication outcomes that
      did include at least 2 studies in the meta-analysis, there was no clear evidence
      to support a difference between eEVAR and open repair. Longer term outcomes and
      cost per patient were evaluated in only a single study, thus precluding definite
      conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes between eEVAR and open repair, specifically 30
      day mortality, are similar. However, further high-quality trials are required, as
      the paucity of data currently limits the conclusions.

PMID- 26873044
TI  - Can training non-physician clinicians/associate clinicians (NPCs/ACs) in
      emergency obstetric, neonatal care and clinical leadership make a difference to
      practice and help towards reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality in rural
      Tanzania? The ETATMBA project.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: During late 2010, 36 trainees including 19 assistant medical officers
      (AMOs) 1 senior clinical officer (CO) and 16 nurse midwives/nurses were recruited
      from districts across rural Tanzania and invited to join the Enhancing Human
      Resources and Use of Appropriate Technologies for Maternal and Perinatal Survival
      in the sub-Saharan Africa (ETATMBA) training programme. The ETATMBA project was
      training associate clinicians (ACs) as advanced clinical leaders in emergency
      obstetric care. The trainees returned to health facilities across the country
      with the hope of being able to apply their new skills and knowledge. The main aim
      of this study was to explore the impact of the ETATMBA training on health
      outcomes including maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in their
      facilities. Secondly, to explore the challenges faced in working in these health
      facilities. DESIGN: The study is a pre-examination/postexamination of maternal
      and neonatal health indicators and a survey of health facilities in rural
      Tanzania. The facilities surveyed were those in which ETATMBA trainees were
      placed post-training. The maternal and neonatal indicators were collected for
      2011 and 2013 and the survey of the facilities was in early 2014. RESULTS: 16 of
      17 facilities were surveyed. Maternal deaths show a non-significant downward
      trend over the 2 years (282-232 cases/100,000 live births). There were no
      significant differences in maternal, neonatal and birth complication variables
      across the time-points. The survey of facilities revealed shortages in key areas
      and some are a serious concern. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents a snapshot of
      rural health facilities providing maternal and neonatal care in Tanzania.
      Enhancing knowledge, practical skills, and clinical leadership of ACs may have a
      positive impact on health outcomes. However, any impact may be confounded by the
      significant challenges in delivering a service in terms of resources. Thus,
      training may be beneficial, but it requires an infrastructure that supports it.

PMID- 26873045
TI  - A qualitative process evaluation of training for non-physician
      clinicians/associate clinicians (NPCs/ACs) in emergency maternal, neonatal care
      and clinical leadership, impact on clinical services improvements in rural
      Tanzania: the ETATMBA project.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The Enhancing Human Resources and Use of Appropriate Training for
      Maternal and Perinatal Survival in sub-Saharan Africa (ETATMBA) project is
      training non-physician clinicians as advanced clinical leaders in emergency
      maternal and newborn care in Tanzania and Malawi. The main aims of this process
      evaluation were to explore the implementation of the programme of training in
      Tanzania, how it was received, how or if the training has been implemented into
      practice and the challenges faced along the way. DESIGN: Qualitative interviews
      with trainees, trainers, district officers and others exploring the application
      of the training into practice. PARTICIPANTS: During late 2010 and 2011, 36
      trainees including 19 assistant medical officers one senior clinical officer and
      16 nurse midwives/nurses (anaesthesia) were recruited from districts across rural
      Tanzania and invited to join the ETATMBA training programme. RESULTS: Trainees
      (n=36) completed the training returning to 17 facilities, two left and one died
      shortly after training. Of the remaining trainees, 27 were interviewed at their
      health facility. Training was well received and knowledge and skills were
      increased. There were a number of challenges faced by trainees, not least that
      their new skills could not be practised because the facilities they returned to
      were not upgraded. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the training is having an
      effect locally on health outcomes, like maternal and neonatal mortality, and the
      trainees are sharing their new knowledge and skills with others. CONCLUSIONS: The
      outcome of this evaluation is encouraging but highlights that there are many
      ongoing challenges relating to infrastructure (including appropriate facilities,
      electricity and water) and the availability of basic supplies and drugs. This
      cadre of workers is a dedicated and valuable resource that can make a difference,
      which with better support could make a greater contribution to healthcare in the
      country.

PMID- 26873046
TI  - Which are the most useful scales for predicting repeat self-harm? A systematic
      review evaluating risk scales using measures of diagnostic accuracy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aims of this review were to calculate the diagnostic accuracy
      statistics of risk scales following self-harm and consider which might be the
      most useful scales in clinical practice. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We
      based our search terms on those used in the systematic reviews carried out for
      the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence self-harm guidelines (2012)
      and evidence update (2013), and updated the searches through to February 2015
      (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsychINFO). Methodological quality was assessed and
      three reviewers extracted data independently. We limited our analysis to cohort
      studies in adults using the outcome of repeat self-harm or attempted suicide. We
      calculated diagnostic accuracy statistics including measures of global accuracy.
      Statistical pooling was not possible due to heterogeneity. RESULTS: The eight
      papers included in the final analysis varied widely according to methodological
      quality and the content of scales employed. Overall, sensitivity of scales ranged
      from 6% (95% CI 5% to 6%) to 97% (CI 95% 94% to 98%). The positive predictive
      value (PPV) ranged from 5% (95% CI 3% to 9%) to 84% (95% CI 80% to 87%). The
      diagnostic OR ranged from 1.01 (95% CI 0.434 to 2.5) to 16.3 (95%CI 12.5 to
      21.4). Scales with high sensitivity tended to have low PPVs. CONCLUSIONS: It is
      difficult to be certain which, if any, are the most useful scales for self-harm
      risk assessment. No scales perform sufficiently well so as to be recommended for
      routine clinical use. Further robust prospective studies are warranted to
      evaluate risk scales following an episode of self-harm. Diagnostic accuracy
      statistics should be considered in relation to the specific service needs, and
      scales should only be used as an adjunct to assessment.

PMID- 26873047
TI  - Using probabilistic record linkage methods to identify Australian Indigenous
      women on the Queensland Pap Smear Register: the National Indigenous Cervical
      Screening Project.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of record linkage of
      existing population-based data sets to determine Indigenous status among women
      receiving Pap smears. This method may allow for the first ever population measure
      of Australian Indigenous women's cervical screening participation rates.
      SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A linked data set of women aged 20-69 in the Queensland Pap
      Smear Register (PSR; 1999-2011) and Queensland Cancer Registry (QCR; 1997-2010)
      formed the Initial Study Cohort. Two extracts (1995-2011) were taken from
      Queensland public hospitals data (Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data
      Collection, QHAPDC) for women, aged 20-69, who had ever been identified as
      Indigenous (extract 1) and had a diagnosis or procedure code relating to cervical
      cancer (extract 2). The Initial Study Cohort was linked to extract 1, and women
      with cervical cancer in the initial cohort were linked to extract 2. OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The proportion of women in the Initial Cohort who linked with the
      extracts (true -pairs) is reported, as well as the proportion of potential pairs
      that required clerical review. After assigning Indigenous status from QHAPDC to
      the PSR, the proportion of women identified as Indigenous was calculated using 4
      algorithms, and compared. RESULTS: There were 28,872 women (2.1%) from the
      Initial Study Cohort who matched to an ever Indigenous record in extract 1
      (n=76,831). Women with cervical cancer in the Initial Study Cohort linked to 1385
      (71%) records in extract 2. The proportion of Indigenous women ranged from 2.00%
      to 2.08% when using different algorithms to define Indigenous status. The Final
      Study Cohort included 1,372,823 women (PSR n=1,374,401; QCR n=1955), and
      5,062,118 records. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous status in Queensland cervical
      screening data was successfully ascertained through record linkage, allowing for
      the crucial assessment of the current cervical screening programme for Indigenous
      women. Our study highlights the need to include Indigenous status on Pap smear
      request and report forms in any renewed and redesigned cervical screening
      programme in Australia.

PMID- 26873049
TI  - Preventing avoidable incidents leading to a presentation to the emergency
      department (ED) by older adults with cognitive impairment: protocol for a scoping
      review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Older adults with cognitive impairment represent a large portion
      (21-42%) of people (65+) who consult at an emergency department (ED). Because
      this sub-group is at higher risk for hospitalisation and mortality following an
      ED visit, awareness about 'avoidable' incidents should be increased in order to
      prevent presentations to the ED due to such incidents. This study aims to
      synthetise the actual knowledge related to 'avoidable' incidents (ie, traumatic
      injuries, poisoning and other consequences of external causes) (WHO, 2016)
      leading to ED presentations in older people with cognitive impairment.
      METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS: A scoping review will be performed. Scientific and grey
      literature (1996-2016) will be searched using a combination of key words
      pertaining to avoidable incidents, ED presentations, older adults and cognitive
      impairment. A variety of databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Ageline, SCOPUS, ProQuest
      Dissertations/theses, EBM Reviews, Healthstar), online library catalogues,
      governmental websites and published statistics will be examined. Included sources
      will pertain to community-dwelling older adults presenting to the ED as a result
      of an avoidable incident, with the main focus on those with cognitive impairment.
      Data (eg, type, frequency, severity, circumstances of incidents, preventive
      measures) will be extracted and analysed using a thematic chart and content
      analysis. DISCUSSION AND DISSEMINATION: This scoping review will provide a
      picture of the actual knowledge on the subject and identify knowledge gaps in
      existing literature to be filled by future primary researches. Findings will help
      stakeholders to develop programmes in order to promote safe and healthy
      environments and behaviours aimed at reducing avoidable incidents in seniors,
      especially those with cognitive impairment.

PMID- 26873050
TI  - Effect of the rate of chest compression familiarised in previous training on the
      depth of chest compression during metronome-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation:
      a randomised crossover trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess how the quality of metronome-guided cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation (CPR) was affected by the chest compression rate familiarised by
      training before the performance and to determine a possible mechanism for any
      effect shown. DESIGN: Prospective crossover trial of a simulated, one-person,
      chest-compression-only CPR. SETTING: Participants were recruited from a medical
      school and two paramedic schools of South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: 42 senior students
      of a medical school and two paramedic schools were enrolled but five dropped out
      due to physical restraints. INTERVENTION: Senior medical and paramedic students
      performed 1 min of metronome-guided CPR with chest compressions only at a speed
      of 120 compressions/min after training for chest compression with three different
      rates (100, 120 and 140 compressions/min). Friedman's test was used to compare
      average compression depths based on the different rates used during training.
      RESULTS: Average compression depths were significantly different according to the
      rate used in training (p<0.001). A post hoc analysis showed that average
      compression depths were significantly different between trials after training at
      a speed of 100 compressions/min and those at speeds of 120 and 140
      compressions/min (both p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The depth of chest compression
      during metronome-guided CPR is affected by the relative difference between the
      rate of metronome guidance and the chest compression rate practised in previous
      training.

PMID- 26873048
TI  - Associations with fracture in patients with diabetes: a nested case-control
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of fractures,
      which is not fully explained by bone mineral density and common risk factors. The
      aim of this study is to investigate the association of medication and biochemical
      markers on the risk of fracture in a diabetes population. DESIGN AND SETTING: A
      nested case-control study was conducted based on Danish diabetes patients from
      The Danish National Hospital Discharge Registry. PARTICIPANTS: The cases of the
      study were diabetes patients with a fracture (n=24,349), and controls were
      diabetes patients with no fracture (n=132,349). A total of 2627 diabetes patients
      were available for an analysis of patient characteristics, comorbidities,
      biochemical parameters and drug usage. RESULTS: Age (OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to
      1.04), diabetes duration (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.09), a diagnosis of previous
      fracture (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.55 to 3.11), an alcohol-related diagnosis (OR=2.94,
      95% CI 1.76 to 4.91), total cholesterol level (OR=2.50, 95% CI 1.20 to 5.21) and
      the usage of antiepileptics (OR=2.12, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.59) all increased the odds
      of fracture. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased the odds of
      fracture (OR =0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.74), where the level of 3.04-5.96 mmol/L was
      optimal with regard to fracture risk. CONCLUSIONS: Low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol may improve our understanding of fractures in diabetes patients, and
      it may be added to current fracture risk models in diabetes patients.

PMID- 26873051
TI  - HPV16 and HPV18 genotyping triage in young women with borderline cytology or mild
      dyskaryosis: effect of age on genotype-specific risk of high-grade CIN.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) triage of borderline cytology or mild
      dyskaryosis is limited by the higher prevalence of HPV in women with these
      findings relative to those with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
      (>=CIN2). This is particularly relevant in young women in whom HPV prevalence is
      discernible. In a previous analysis of HPV triage and colposcopy outcomes in
      Northern Ireland, we revealed a substantial amount of prevalent high-grade
      disease in women below 30 years of age. We explored the role of genotyping for
      HPV16/HPV18 in this population by assessing the risk of high-grade lesions
      associated with these genotypes and the effect of age on type-specific risk.
      METHODS: Of the 866 women eligible for HPV triage, those who tested positive for
      HPV were referred to colposcopy. The relative risk of >=CIN2 for HPV16, HPV18 and
      non-HPV16/18 high-risk genotype positivity was determined for cobas((r)) HPV Test
      positive results. RESULTS: The relative risk of high-grade CIN was significantly
      greater in women infected with HPV16 and/or HPV18 compared with non-HPV16/18
      infections, regardless of age (2.23 and 0.45, respectively). In women under 30
      years of age, HPV16-associated risk of >=CIN2 was significantly greater than that
      of HPV18 and the non-HPV16/18 genotypes (1.74 versus 1.03 and 0.58,
      respectively). In women aged >=30 years, HPV18 infection presented the greatest
      risk of >=CIN2 (3.03). The relative risk of >=CIN2 associated with non-HPV16/18
      genotypes was lower (range, 0.32-0.58) for both age groups. CONCLUSION: This
      analysis demonstrates the value of genotyping for HPV16/HPV18 and age
      stratification to improve the specificity of HPV triage and to tailor management
      relative to the risk of high-grade CIN and cancer.

PMID- 26873052
TI  - Supplemental measles vaccine antibody response among HIV-infected and -uninfected
      children in Malawi after 1- and 2-dose primary measles vaccination schedules.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The long-term antibody response to measles vaccine (MV) administered
      at age 6 months with or without subsequent doses is not well documented. METHODS:
      Measles serum antibody responses were evaluated after a supplemental dose of
      measles vaccine (sMV) administered at a median age of 20 months among Malawian
      children who had previously received 2 doses of measles vaccine (MV) at ages 6
      and 9 months (HIV-infected and random sample of HIV-uninfected) or 1 dose at age
      9 months (random sample of HIV-uninfected). We compared measles antibody
      seropositivity between groups by enzyme linked immunoassay and seroprotection by
      plaque reduction neutralization geometric mean concentrations. RESULTS: Of 1756
      children enrolled, 887 (50.5%) received a sMV dose following MV at 9 months of
      age and had specimens available after sMV receipt, including 401 HIV-uninfected
      children who received one MV dose at 9 months, 464 HIV-uninfected and 22 HIV
      infected children who received two doses of MV at ages 6 and 9 months. Among HIV
      uninfected children, protective levels of antibody were found post sMV in 90-99%
      through ages 24-36 months and were not affected by MV schedule. Geometric mean
      concentration levels of measles antibody were significantly increased post-sMV
      among those HIV-uninfected children previously non-responsive to vaccination.
      Among HIV-infected children, the proportion seroprotected increased initially but
      by 9 months post-sMV was no higher than pre-sMV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      support early 2-dose MV to provide measles immunity for young infants without
      risk of interference with antibody responses to subsequent MV doses administered
      as part of SIAs.

PMID- 26873054
TI  - Protective and immunological behavior of chimeric yellow fever dengue vaccine.
AB  - Clinical observations from the third year of the Sanofi Pasteur chimeric yellow
      fever dengue tetravalent vaccine (CYD) trials document both protection and
      vaccination-enhanced dengue disease among vaccine recipients. Children who were 5
      years-old or younger when vaccinated experienced a DENV disease resulting in
      hospitalization at 5 times the rate of controls. On closer inspection,
      hospitalized cases among vaccinated seropositives, those at highest risk to
      hospitalized disease accompanying a dengue virus (DENV) infection, were greatly
      reduced by vaccination. But, seronegative individuals of all ages after being
      vaccinated were only modestly protected from mild to moderate disease throughout
      the entire observation period despite developing neutralizing antibodies at high
      rates. Applying a simple epidemiological model to the data, vaccinated
      seronegative individuals of all ages were at increased risk of developing
      hospitalized disease during a subsequent wild type DENV infection. The etiology
      of disease in placebo and vaccinated children resulting in hospitalization during
      a DENV infection, while clinically similar are of different origin. The
      implications of the observed mixture of DENV protection and enhanced disease in
      CYD vaccinees are discussed. 

PMID- 26873053
TI  - Preclinical dose-ranging studies of a novel dry powder norovirus vaccine
      formulation.
AB  - Norovirus is the primary cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans with multiple
      genotypes currently circulating worldwide. The development of a successful
      norovirus vaccine is contingent on its ability to induce both systemic and
      mucosal antibody responses against a wide range of norovirus genotypes. Norovirus
      virus-like particles (VLPs) are known to elicit systemic and mucosal immune
      responses when delivered intranasally. Incorporation of these VLPs into an
      intranasal powder vaccine offers the advantage of simplicity and induction of
      neutralizing systemic and mucosal antibodies. Nasal immunization, which provides
      the advantage of ease of administration and a mucosal delivery mechanism, faces
      the real issue of limited nasal residence time due to mucociliary clearance.
      Herein, we describe a novel dry powder (GelVacTM) formulation of GI or GII.4
      norovirus VLPs, two dominant circulating genotypes, to identify the optimal
      antigen dosages based on systemic and mucosal immune responses in guinea pigs.
      Systemic and mucosal immunogenicity of each of the VLPs was observed in a dose
      dependent manner. In addition, a boosting effect was observed after the second
      dosing of each VLP antigen. With the GelVacTM formulation, a total antigen dose
      of >= 15 MUg was determined to be the maximally immunogenic dose for both GI and
      GII.4 norovirus VLPs based on evaluation for 56 days. Taken together, these
      results indicate that norovirus VLPs could be used as potential vaccine
      candidates without using an immunostimulatory adjuvant and provide a basis for
      the development of a GelVacTM bivalent GI/GII.4 norovirus VLP vaccine.

PMID- 26873055
TI  - Primary and booster vaccination with an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is
      immunogenic and well-tolerated in infants and toddlers in China.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Replacing live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccines (OPV) with
      inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV) is part of the global strategy to eradicate
      poliomyelitis. China was declared polio-free in 2000 but continues to record
      cases of vaccine-associated-poliomyelitis and vaccine-derived-poliovirus
      outbreaks. Two pilot safety studies and two larger immunogenicity trials
      evaluated the non-inferiority of IPV (PoliorixTM, GSK Vaccines, Belgium) versus
      OPV in infants and booster vaccination in toddlers primed with either IPV or OPV
      in China. METHODS: In pilot safety studies, 25 infants received 3-dose IPV
      primary vaccination (Study A, www.clinicaltrial.gov NCT00937404) and 25 received
      an IPV booster after priming with three OPV doses (Study B, NCT01021293). In the
      randomised, controlled immunogenicity and safety trial (Study C, NCT00920439),
      infants received 3-dose primary vaccination with IPV (N=541) or OPV (N=535) at
      2,3,4 months of age, and a booster IPV dose at 18-24 months (N=470, Study D,
      NCT01323647: extension of study C). Blood samples were collected before and one
      month post-dose-3 and booster. Reactogenicity was assessed using diary cards.
      Serious adverse events (SAEs) were captured throughout each study. RESULTS: Study
      A and B showed that IPV priming and IPV boosting (after OPV) was safe. Study C:
      One month post-dose-3, all IPV and >= 98.3% OPV recipients had seroprotective
      antibody titres towards each poliovirus type. The immune response elicited by IPV
      was non-inferior to Chinese OPV. Seroprotective antibody titres persisted in >=
      94.7% IPV and >= 96.1% OPV recipients at 18-24 months (Study D). IPV had a
      clinically acceptable safety profile in all studies. Grade 3 local and systemic
      reactions were uncommon. No SAEs were related to IPV administration. CONCLUSION:
      Trivalent IPV is non-inferior to OPV in terms of seroprotection (in the Chinese
      vaccination schedule) in infant and toddlers, with a clinically acceptable safety
      profile.

PMID- 26873056
TI  - Comparison of AS03 and Alum on immune responses elicited by A/H3N2 split
      influenza vaccine in young, mature and aged BALB/c mice.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is great interest in developing more effective influenza
      vaccines for the elderly. Oil-in-water adjuvants can boost humoral responses to
      seasonal vaccines in elderly subjects but relatively little is known about their
      mechanism of action. METHODS: We compared humoral and cellular immune profiles in
      young adult (2 months), mature (11-12 months) or aged (16-17 month) female BALB/c
      mice following two doses of Alum or AS03-adjuvanted A/H3N2 split-virus antigen
      (A/Uruguay/716/2007) at 0.75 or 3 MUg hemagglutinin (HA) per dose intramuscularly
      versus 3 MUg HA without adjuvant. RESULTS: Overall, hemagglutination inhibition
      (HAI), microneutralization (MN) and end-point ELISA titres were higher in the
      young mice and when an adjuvant was used. Both adjuvants increased humoral
      responses in older animals but the highest titres across all groups were observed
      in the AS03-adjuvanted groups. Neither IgG avidity nor A/H3N2-specific splenocyte
      proliferation was influenced by age, antigen dose or adjuvant. In contrast,
      cytokine production by ex vivo-stimulated splenocytes differed widely between
      groups. Most cytokine levels in older mice vaccinated with antigen alone (3 MUg
      HA/dose) were <= 50% of those in young animals. In young mice, cytokine levels
      increased modestly with Alum and significantly with AS03. Increases tended to be
      greatest at the lower antigen dose (0.75 MUg versus 3 MUg HA). In the older
      animals, Alum had little impact on cytokine production but responses in the AS03
      groups paralleled those of the young mice (broad activation of Th1, Th2, and Th17
      type cytokines) and the greatest increases were seen with the higher antigen dose
      (3 MUg HA). CONCLUSIONS: In both young and aged mice, Alum and AS03 increased the
      magnitude of humoral and cellular responses to split influenza virus vaccination.
      Overall, these effects were most pronounced in the younger animals and the groups
      receiving AS03. These data support the use of oil-in-water adjuvants in influenza
      vaccines targeting the elderly.

PMID- 26873058
TI  - Academic productivity.

PMID- 26873057
TI  - A highly conserved epitope-vaccine candidate against varicella-zoster virus
      induces neutralizing antibodies in mice.
AB  - Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly infectious agent of varicella and herpes
      zoster (HZ). Vaccination is by far the most effective way to prevent these
      diseases. More safe, stable and efficient vaccines, such as epitope-based
      vaccines, now have been increasingly investigated by many researchers. However,
      only a few VZV neutralizing epitopes have been identified to date. We have
      previously identified a linear epitope between amino acid residues 121 and 135 of
      gE. In this study, we validated that this epitope is highly conserved amongst
      different VZV strains that covered five existing phylogenetic clades with an
      identity of 100%. We evaluated the immunogenicity of the recombinant hepatitis B
      virus core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLPs) which included amino acids (121
      135). VZV-gE-specific antibodies were detected in immunized mouse serum using
      ELISA. The anti-peptide antiserum positively detected VZV via Western blot and
      immunofluorescent staining assays. More importantly, these peptides could
      neutralize VZV, indicating that these peptides represented neutralizing epitopes.
      These findings have important implications for the development of epitope-based
      protective VZV vaccines. 

PMID- 26873059
TI  - Identification and characterisation of serine protease inhibitors from Araucaria
      angustifolia seeds.
AB  - Araucaria angustifolia seeds are characterised by a relatively high content of
      starch and protein. This study aimed to verify the presence of alpha-amylase
      inhibitors in the seeds and to characterise a trypsin inhibitor found in the
      embryo tissues. Inhibitor purification was carried out by the saline extraction
      of proteins, acetone precipitation and affinity chromatography. Two protein bands
      of molecular weight estimated by SDS-PAGE at about 35 kDa were further examined
      by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer and were
      shown to be 36.955 Da (AaTI-1) and 35.450 Da (AaTI-2). The sequence of the N
      terminal region shows that AaTI-1 and AaTI-2 are structurally similar to plant
      inhibitors of the serpin family. A mixture of AaTI-1 and AaTI-2, identified as
      AaTI, shows selectivity for the inhibition of trypsin (Kiapp 85 nM) and plasmin
      (Kiapp 7.0 MUM), but it does not interfere with the chymotrypsin, human plasma
      kallikrein, porcine kallikrein or other coagulation enzymes activity.

PMID- 26873060
TI  - Determination of tamoxifen and its metabolites using micelle to solvent stacking
      in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - Micelle to solvent stacking was implemented for the recently established NACE
      C(4) D method to determine tamoxifen and its metabolites in standard samples and
      human plasma of breast cancer patients. For stacking, the standard samples and
      extract after liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) were prepared in methanol and the
      resulting sample solution was pressure injected after a micellar plug of SDS.
      Factors that affected the stacking such as SDS concentration, micelle, and sample
      plug length were examined. The sensitivity enhancement factor (peak height from
      stacking/peak height from typical injection of sample in BGE) was 15-22. The
      method detection limits with LLE were in the range of 5-10 ng/mL, which was lower
      than the established method (where the LLE extract was also prepared in methanol)
      with reported method detection limits of 25-40 ng/mL. The intraday and interday
      repeatability were in the range of 1.0-3.4% and 3.8-6.5%, respectively.

PMID- 26873061
TI  - Global topics and novel approaches in the study of air pollution, climate change
      and forest ecosystems.
AB  - Research directions from the 27th conference for Specialists in Air Pollution and
      Climate Change Effects on Forest Ecosystems (2015) reflect knowledge advancements
      about (i) Mechanistic bases of tree responses to multiple climate and pollution
      stressors, in particular the interaction of ozone (O3) with nitrogen (N)
      deposition and drought; (ii) Linking genetic control with physiological whole
      tree activity; (iii) Epigenetic responses to climate change and air pollution;
      (iv) Embedding individual tree performance into the multi-factorial stand-level
      interaction network; (v) Interactions of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile
      compounds (molecular, functional and ecological bases); (vi) Estimating the
      potential for carbon/pollution mitigation and cost effectiveness of urban and
      peri-urban forests; (vii) Selection of trees adapted to the urban environment;
      (viii) Trophic, competitive and host/parasite relationships under changing
      pollution and climate; (ix) Atmosphere-biosphere-pedosphere interactions as
      affected by anthropospheric changes; (x) Statistical analyses for epidemiological
      investigations; (xi) Use of monitoring for the validation of models; (xii)
      Holistic view for linking the climate, carbon, N and O3 modelling; (xiii)
      Inclusion of multiple environmental stresses (biotic and abiotic) in critical
      load determinations; (xiv) Ecological impacts of N deposition in the under
      investigated areas; (xv) Empirical models for mechanistic effects at the local
      scale; (xvi) Broad-scale N and sulphur deposition input and their effects on
      forest ecosystem services; (xvii) Measurements of dry deposition of N; (xviii)
      Assessment of evapotranspiration; (xix) Remote sensing assessment of hydrological
      parameters; and (xx) Forest management for maximizing water provision and overall
      forest ecosystem services. Ground-level O3 is still the phytotoxic air pollutant
      of major concern to forest health. Specific issues about O3 are: (xxi) Developing
      dose-response relationships and stomatal O3 flux parameterizations for risk
      assessment, especially, in under-investigated regions; (xxii) Defining
      biologically based O3 standards for protection thresholds and critical levels;
      (xxiii) Use of free-air exposure facilities; (xxiv) Assessing O3 impacts on
      forest ecosystem services. 

PMID- 26873062
TI  - Sphingobacterium griseoflavum sp. nov., isolated from the insect Teleogryllus
      occipitalis living in deserted cropland.
AB  - A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain,
      designated SCU-B140T, was isolated from the insect Teleogryllus occipitalis.
      Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain
      SCU-B140T belonged to the genus Sphingobacterium. Sphingobacterium bambusae KCTC
      22814T (97.87 %) was identified as the most closely related phylogenetic
      neighbour of strain SCU-B140T. The novel strain was able to grow at salt
      concentrations of 0-4 % (w/v), at temperatures of 10-40  degrees C, and at a pH
      of 6.0-9.0. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3
      (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1omega7c), C16 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 0 and C14
      : 0. The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unknown
      aminophospholipids, an unknown glycolipid and three unknown polar lipids. MK-7
      was the major isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C content was 41.2 mol%. The DNA-DNA
      relatedness value between SCU-B140T and S. bambusae KCTC 22814T was found to be
      30.15 %. According to these results, strain SCU-B140T represents a novel species
      of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium griseoflavum
      sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCU-B140T ( = KCTC 42158T = CGMCC
      1.12966T). 

PMID- 26873063
TI  - The matching quality of experimental and control interventions in blinded
      pharmacological randomised clinical trials: a methodological systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Blinding is a pivotal method to avoid bias in randomised clinical
      trials. In blinded drug trials, experimental and control interventions are often
      designed to be matched, i.e. to appear indistinguishable. It is unknown how often
      matching procedures are inadequate, so we decided to systematically identify and
      analyse studies of matching quality in drug trials. Our primary objective was to
      assess the proportion of studies that concluded that the matching was inadequate;
      our secondary objective was to describe mechanisms for inadequate matching.
      METHODS: Systematic review. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science
      Citation Index for studies that assessed whether supposedly indistinguishable
      interventions (experimental and control) in randomized clinical drug trials could
      be distinguished based on physical properties (e.g. appearance or smell). Two
      persons decided on study eligibility and extracted data independently. Our
      primary analysis was based on the conclusions of each study. In supportive
      analyses, we defined a low and a high threshold for inadequate matching. We
      summarised results qualitatively. RESULTS: We included studies of 36 trials, of
      which 28 (78%) were published before 1977. The studies differed considerably with
      regard to design, methodology and analysis. Sixteen of the 36 studies (44%)
      concluded inadequate matching. When we adapted high or low thresholds for
      inadequate matching, the number of trials with inadequate matching was reduced to
      12 (33%) or increased to 26 (72%). Inadequate matching was concluded in 7 of 22
      trials (32%) based on a defined cohort of trials. Inadequate matching was
      concluded in 9 of 14 trials (64%) which were not based on a trial cohort, and
      therefore at a higher risk of publication bias. The proportion of inadequate
      matching did not seem to depend on publication year. Typical mechanisms of
      inadequate matching were differences in taste or colour. CONCLUSION: We
      identified matching quality studies of 36 randomized clinical drug trials.
      Sixteen of the 36 studies (44%) concluded inadequate matching. Few studies of
      matching quality in contemporary trials have been published, but show similar
      results as found for older trials. Inadequate matching in drug trials may be more
      prevalent than commonly believed.

PMID- 26873064
TI  - Cycloviruses, gemycircularviruses and other novel replication-associated protein
      encoding circular viruses in Pacific flying fox (Pteropus tonganus) faeces.
AB  - Viral metagenomic studies have demonstrated that animal faeces can be a good
      sampling source for exploring viral diversity associated with the host and its
      environment. As part of an continuing effort to identify novel circular
      replication-associated protein encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses
      circulating in the Tongan archipelago, coupled with the fact that bats are a
      reservoir species of a large number of viruses, we used a metagenomic approach to
      investigate the CRESS DNA virus diversity in Pacific flying fox (Pteropus
      tonganus) faeces. Faecal matter from four roosting sites located in Ha'avakatolo,
      Kolovai, Ha'ateiho and Lapaha on Tongatapu Island was collected in April 2014 and
      January 2015. From these samples we identified five novel cycloviruses
      representing three putative species, 25 gemycircularviruses representing at least
      14 putative species, 17 other CRESS DNA viruses (15 putative species), two
      circular DNA molecules and a putative novel multi-component virus for which we
      have identified three cognate molecules. This study demonstrates that there
      exists a large diversity of CRESS DNA viruses in Pacific flying fox faeces. 

PMID- 26873065
TI  - Diverse circular replication-associated protein encoding viruses circulating in
      invertebrates within a lake ecosystem.
AB  - Over the last five years next-generation sequencing has become a cost effective
      and efficient method for identifying known and unknown microorganisms. Access to
      this technique has dramatically changed the field of virology, enabling a wide
      range of environmental viral metagenome studies to be undertaken of organisms and
      environmental samples from polar to tropical regions. These studies have led to
      the discovery of hundreds of highly divergent single stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus
      like sequences encoding replication-associated proteins. Yet, few studies have
      explored how viruses might be shared in an ecosystem through feeding
      relationships. Here we identify 169 circular molecules (160 CRESS DNA molecules,
      nine circular molecules) recovered from a New Zealand freshwater lake, that we
      have tentatively classified into 51 putatively novel species and five previously
      described species (DflaCV-3, -5, -6, -8, -10). The CRESS DNA viruses identified
      in this study were recovered from molluscs (Echyridella menzeisii, Musculium
      novaezelandiae, Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Physella acuta) and insect larvae
      (Procordulia grayi, Xanthocnemis zealandica, and Chironomus zealandicus)
      collected from Lake Sarah, as well as from the lake water and benthic sediments.
      Extensive diversity was observed across most CRESS DNA molecules recovered. The
      putative capsid protein of one viral species was found to be most similar to
      those of members of the Tombusviridae family, thus expanding the number of known
      RNA-DNA hybrid viruses in nature. We noted a strong association between the CRESS
      DNA viruses and circular molecules identified in the water and browser organisms
      (C. zealandicus, P. antipodarum and P. acuta), and between water sediments and
      undefended prey species (C. zealandicus). However, we were unable to find any
      significant correlation of viral assemblages to the potential feeding
      relationships of the host aquatic invertebrates. 

PMID- 26873068
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26873069
TI  - Some Anticancer Agents Act on Human Serum Paraoxonase-1 to Reduce Its Activity.
AB  - Human serum paraoxonase (hPON1) is an important antioxidant enzyme. It protects
      low-density lipoproteins against oxidative stress and prevents atherosclerosis
      development. Anticancer agents have cardiotoxic effects, and this situation can
      lead to significant complications. Our aim was to evaluate the in vitro effects
      of some of the anticancer agents such as cetuximab, paclitaxel, etoposide,
      docetaxel, and ifosfamide on the activity of hPON1 in this study. For this
      reason, PON1 was purified from human serum with a specific activity of 3654.2
      EU/mg and 16.84% yield using simple chromatographic methods. The five
      chemotherapeutic agents dose dependently decreased in vitro hPON1 activity. IC50
      values for cetuximab, paclitaxel, etoposide, docetaxel, and ifosfamide were
      0.0111, 0.042, 0.226, 0.665, and 23.3 mm, respectively. Ki constants were 0.0194,
      0.0165, 0.131, 0.291, and 8.973 mm, respectively. The inhibition mechanisms of
      cetuximab, etoposide, docetaxel, and ifosfamide were non-competitive, and for
      paclitaxel was competitive. Consequently, inhibition of hPON1 by these anticancer
      agents may explain some of the cardiotoxic actions of these drugs. 

PMID- 26873066
TI  - Pathophysiology and management of cardiovascular disease in patients with HIV.
AB  - Results from several studies have suggested that people with HIV have an
      increased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease,
      compared with people not infected with HIV. People living with HIV have an
      increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, and HIV
      specific mechanisms such as immune activation. Although older, more metabolically
      harmful antiretroviral regimens probably contributed to the risk of
      cardiovascular disease, new data suggest that early and continuous use of modern
      regimens, which might have fewer metabolic effects, minimises the risk of
      myocardial infarction by maintaining viral suppression and decreasing immune
      activation. Even with antiretroviral therapy, however, immune activation persists
      in people with HIV and could contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis,
      especially of coronary lesions that are susceptible to rupture. Therefore,
      treatments that safely reduce inflammation in people with HIV could provide
      additional cardiovascular protection alongside treatment of both traditional and
      non-traditional risk factors.

PMID- 26873070
TI  - Usefulness of oocyte accumulation in low ovarian response for PGS.
AB  - This is an observational study of the response to ovarian stimulation and
      preimplantational genetic screening (PGS) cycles of 188 patients with a foreseen
      high aneuploid rate, undergoing two or three stimulation cycles (2SC and 3SC) and
      oocyte vitrification to accumulate oocytes (Accumulation group = 112 patients)
      compared to patients undergoing one stimulation cycle (1SC Group= 76 patients)
      and fresh embryo transfer, between January 2011 and July 2014. Accumulation was
      performed when <10 MII oocytes were retrieved. Oocytes were vitrified for later
      warming and IVF, when the planned number of oocytes was achieved. After PGS,
      euploid embryos were transferred. Comparing 2SC Group with 3SC Group, AMH, AFC,
      number of oocytes retrieved per pick-up and total number of biopsied embryos were
      significantly higher in the 2SC Group. After chromosome analysis, 18.5% of
      biopsied embryos were euploid and 58.9% patients reached embryo transfer. There
      were no differences in pregnancy rates per patient between the 1SC, 2SC and 3SC
      Groups (36.8%, 34.9% and 31.0%, respectively) or per embryo transfer (59.6, 56.8
      and 60%, respectively). In patients with <10 MII oocytes after ovarian
      stimulation undergoing PGS, accumulating oocytes can render a pregnancy rate per
      patient and per embryo transfer comparable to those of fresh PGS cycles. 

PMID- 26873072
TI  - Comparison of a lateral flow milk progesterone test with enzyme immunoassay as an
      aid for reproductive status determination in cows.
AB  - The lateral flow test (LFT) is an immunochromatographic method that utilises an
      immunostrip for non-laboratory diagnostic purposes. The present study evaluated a
      milk progesterone LFT against the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to confirm oestrus and
      a non-pregnancy diagnosis. In total, 277 milk samples from 70 cows were analysed,
      collected on the day of artificial insemination and at 19 days, 21 days and 24
      days post insemination. The level of accuracy of the LFT compared with the EIA
      was 95.0 per cent for milk samples containing <2 ng/ml progesterone and 97.0 per
      cent for milk samples containing >10 ng/ml progesterone. The validation of
      oestrus by the LFT was 98.6 per cent accurate using 2 ng/ml progesterone as the
      EIA estimate for oestrus. The test performance for a non-pregnancy diagnosis was
      subject to the day of milk sampling, showing the highest accuracy on day 24 post
      insemination for both tests. When optimised for maximum specificity, and compared
      with rectal palpation, the LFT had a sensitivity and specificity for non
      pregnancy diagnosis on day 24 post insemination of 75.0 per cent and 100.0 per
      cent, respectively, with an overall accuracy of 84.4 per cent. The corresponding
      characteristics for the quantitative EIA were 85.0 per cent, 100.0 per cent and
      90.6 per cent, respectively. The LFT results compared favourably with the
      quantitative milk progesterone EIA. 

PMID- 26873074
TI  - Editorial: Polymeric Nanomedicines for Malignancy Therapy.

PMID- 26873071
TI  - Biomanufacturing of protective antibodies and other therapeutics in edible plant
      tissues for oral applications.
AB  - Although plant expression systems used for production of therapeutic proteins
      have the advantage of being scalable at a low price, the downstream processing
      necessary to obtain pure therapeutic molecules is as expensive as for the
      traditional Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) platforms. However, when edible plant
      tissues (EPTs) are used, there is no need for exhaustive purification, because
      they can be delivered orally as partially purified formulations that are safe for
      consumption. This economic benefit is especially interesting when high doses of
      recombinant proteins are required throughout the treatment/prophylaxis period, as
      is the case for antibodies used for oral passive immunization (OPI). The
      secretory IgA (SIgA) antibodies, which are highly abundant in the digestive tract
      and mucosal secretions, and thus the first choice for OPI, have only been
      successfully produced in plant expression systems. Here, we cover most of the up
      to-date examples of EPT-produced pharmaceuticals, including two examples of SIgA
      aimed at oral delivery. We describe the benefits and drawbacks of delivering
      partially purified formulations and discuss a number of practical considerations
      and criteria to take into account when using plant expression systems, such as
      subcellular targeting, protein degradation, glycosylation patterns and downstream
      strategies, all crucial for improved yield, high quality and low cost of the
      final product.

PMID- 26873073
TI  - LInking EDCs in maternal Nutrition to Child health (LINC study) - protocol for
      prospective cohort to study early life exposure to environmental chemicals and
      child health.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The presence of chemicals in the environment is ubiquitous. Human
      biomonitoring studies have shown that various chemicals can be detected in the
      majority of the population, including pregnant women. These compounds may pass
      the placenta, and reach the fetus. This early life exposure in particular may be
      detrimental as some chemicals may disrupt the endocrine system, which is involved
      in various processes during development. The LINC study is a prospective birth
      cohort designed to study associations between early life environmental exposures
      and child health, including growth and neurodevelopment. The purpose of this
      paper is to give an overview of this cohort. METHODS AND DESIGN: Recruitment for
      this cohort has started in 2011 in three Dutch areas and is still ongoing. To
      date over 300 mother-child pairs have been included. Women are preferably
      included during the first trimester of pregnancy. Major congenital anomalies and
      twin births are reasons for exclusion. To assess exposure to environmental
      chemicals, cord blood, placenta, meconium and vernix are collected. Parents
      collect urine of the child shortly after birth and breast milk in the second
      month of life. Exposure to a broad range of environmental chemicals are
      determined in cord plasma and breast milk. Furthermore various hormones,
      including leptin and cortisone, are determined in cord plasma, and in heel prick
      blood spots (thyroxine). Data on anthropometry of the child is collected through
      midwives and youth health care centres on various time points until the child is
      18 months of age. Furthermore cognitive development is monitored by means of the
      van Wiechen scheme, and information on behavioral development is collected by
      means of the infant behavior questionnaire and the child behavior checklist. When
      the child is 12 months of age, a house visit is scheduled to assess various
      housing characteristics, as well as hand-to-mouth behavior of the child. At this
      visit exposure of the child to flame retardants (with endocrine disrupting
      properties) in house dust is determined by means of body wipes. They are
      furthermore also measured in a saliva sample of the child. Next to these
      measurements, women receive questionnaires each trimester regarding amongst
      others lifestyle of the parents, general health of the parents and the child, and
      mental state of the mother. DISCUSSION: This study was approved by the medical
      ethics committee of the VU University Medical Centre. Consent for the infant is
      given by the mother, who is specifically required to give consent for both
      herself as well as her child. Results will be published regardless of the
      findings of this study, and will be widely disseminated among related medical
      stakeholders (e.g. midwives and pediatricians), policy makers, and the general
      public.

PMID- 26873076
TI  - Acidity-Activated Shielding Strategies of Cationic Gene Delivery for Cancer
      Therapy.
AB  - Cationic gene vectors increased attractive for gene therapy. However, unstable
      systemic circulation due to the interaction of gene delivery system with blood
      cells limited the further application. Therefore, pH sensitive shielding systems
      were exploited, by which, the positive surface charge density of polyplexes was
      reduced, circulation time was improved and pH-triggered targeting delivery was
      promised. This mini review mainly focuses on the development of solid tumors pH
      environment activated shielding systems for cationic gene vectors. This shielding
      strategy shows great potential for enhancing efficient gene transporting and
      achieving better therapeutic effects in acidic tumor treatment. 

PMID- 26873077
TI  - Salvianolic Acid A Attenuates Cell Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, Akt and NF-kappaB
      Activation in Angiotensin-II Induced Murine Peritoneal Macrophages.
AB  - We discuss the role of Salvianolic acid A(SAA), one of the main effective
      components in Salvia Miltiorrhiza (known as 'Danshen' in traditional Chinese
      medicine), in apoptotic factors, the production of oxidative products, and the
      expression of Akt and NF-kappaB in angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated murine
      macrophages. In the present study, Ang II was added to mice abdominal macrophages
      with or without addition of SAA. After cell identification, apoptosis was
      measured by DNA strand break level with TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling
      (TUNEL) staining, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. Intracellular
      concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also
      measured. Western blotting determined the expression of Akt, p-Akt, NF-kappaB and
      p-NF-kappaB. Ly294002 (the inhibitor of PI3K) was used to determine the mechanism
      of SAA. Ang II (1 uM) significantly increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells
      and Bax expression, but reduced Bcl-2 expression. These effects were antagonized
      when the cells were pretreated with SAA. SAA decreased MDA, but increased SOD in
      the cell lysis solution treated with Ang II. It markedly reduced the level of p
      NF-kappaB, as also p-Akt, which was partly blocked by Ly294002. SAA prevents Ang
      IIinduced apoptosis, oxidative stress and related protein expression in the
      macrophages. It also inhibits the activation of Akt. 

PMID- 26873078
TI  - Estimation of Antifungal Activity of Mevastatin Produced by Aspergillus terreus
      GCBL-03 on pretreated substrate in solid state fermentation.
AB  - This project was planned to study the production of cholesterol lowering drug
      mevastatin by Aspergillus terreus GCBL-03 on pretreated substrate bagasse in
      solid state fermentation. Bagasse was pretreated by potassium hydroxide to
      delignify the substrate to readily become available to microorganism. It was
      noticed that pretreated bagasse exhibited 13.69+/-0.64 mg/100mL yield of
      mevastatin and 6.63+/-0.48 g dry cell mass as compared to nontreated substrate
      that showed 7.04+/-0.81 mg/100 mL and 6.04+/-0.24 g dry cell mass. The
      fermentation profile like pH (5.5), temperature (30  degrees C), moisture
      contents (60%) inoculum size (2 mL), and incubation time (72 h) showed the
      optimum production (30.63+/-1.24 mg/100 mL) of mevastatin. Furthermore, fermented
      drug showed noteworthy antifungal activity against battery of selected fungal
      strains assessed by disc diffusion and measurement of minimum inhibitory
      concentration by micro dilution method. It was concluded from the study that
      fermented mevastatin was effective against fungal strains.

PMID- 26873075
TI  - Biodegradable Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Micelles for Treatment of Malignancy.
AB  - In the past decade, drug delivery systems that can respond to the tumor
      microenvironment or external stimuli have emerged as promising platforms for
      treating malignancies due to their improved antitumor efficacy and reduced side
      effects. In particular, biodegradable polymeric micelles have attracted
      increasing attention and been rapidly developed as a distinct therapeutic to
      overcome limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs. Because
      of their advantages with respect to biocompatibility, degradability, circulation
      time, and tumor accumulation, considerable effort has been dedicated to the
      developing and optimizing micellar systems during the past few years. This review
      highlights recent advances concerning stimuli-responsive micelles made of
      biodegradable polypeptide and polyester as nanocarries for drug delivery, and
      especially limits the content to pH sensitive, redox sensitive, and photo
      sensitive micellar systems for safe and efficient cancer chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26873079
TI  - Chemerin in peritoneal sepsis and its associations with glucose metabolism and
      prognosis: a translational cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stress hyperglycaemia (SHG) is a common complication in sepsis
      associated with poor outcome. Chemerin is an adipocytokine associated with
      inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis in metabolic diseases such as type
      2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to investigate how alterations of circulating chemerin
      levels and corresponding visceral adipose tissue (VAT) expression are linked to
      glucose metabolism and prognosis in sepsis. METHODS: Clinical data and tissue
      samples were taken from a cross-sectional study including control, T2D and sepsis
      patients, all undergoing laparotomy. A second independent patient cohort of
      patients with sepsis was included to evaluate associations with prognosis. This
      was complemented by a murine model of peritoneal infection and a high-fat diet.
      We analysed circulating chemerin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and VAT
      messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:
      Circulating chemerin was increased in sepsis 1.69-fold compared with controls (p
      = 0.012) and 1.47-fold compared with T2D (p = 0.03). Otherwise, chemerin VAT mRNA
      expression was decreased in patients with sepsis (p = 0.006) and in septic
      diabetic animals (p = 0.009). Circulating chemerin correlated significantly with
      intra-operative glucose (r = 0.662; p = 0.01) and in trend with fasting glucose
      (r = 0.528; p = 0.052). After adjusting for body mass index or haemoglobin A1c,
      chemerin correlated in trend with insulin resistance evaluated using the
      logarithmised homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r = 0.539, p =
      0.071; r = 0.553, p = 0.062). Chemerin was positively associated with Acute
      Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in patients with sepsis (p =
      0.036) and with clinical severity in septic mice (p = 0.031). In an independent
      study population, we confirmed association of chemerin with glucose levels in
      multivariate linear regression analysis (beta = 0.556, p = 0.013). In patients
      with sepsis with SHG, non-survivors had significantly lower chemerin levels than
      survivors (0.38-fold, p = 0.006), while in patients without SHG, non-survivors
      had higher chemerin levels, not reaching significance (1.64-fold, p = 0.089). No
      difference was apparent in patients with pre-existing T2D (p = 0.44).
      CONCLUSIONS: We show, for the first time to our knowledge, that chemerin is
      increased in sepsis and that it associates with impaired glucose metabolism and
      survival in these patients. It could be further evaluated as a biomarker to
      stratify mortality risk of patients with SHG.

PMID- 26873081
TI  - Involvement of M1 and CB1 receptors in the anxiogenic-like effects induced by
      neostigmine injected into the rat prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex.
AB  - The prelimbic (PL) medial prefrontal cortex is a brain region highly involved in
      the control of emotional responses, being modulated by several neurotransmitter
      systems, including the cholinergic and endocannabinoid. Activation of muscarinic
      type 1 (M1) receptors in the brain induces retrograde suppression of inhibition
      through the induction of endocannabinoid release, which, in turn, activates
      cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors. No study so far, however, has been conducted
      to investigate if the cholinergic and endocannabinoid systems interact in the PL
      to modulate anxiety-related behaviors. Thus, the present work aimed at verifying
      if intra-PL administration of neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor,
      would produce changes in anxiety-like behavior and if these effects are mediated
      by M1 and CB1 receptor activation. Independent groups of animals received
      bilateral injections of vehicle, the M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine (0.06,
      0.6, and 6 nmol), the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (0.1 nmol), or the fatty acid
      amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitor URB597 (1, 3, and 10 pmol), followed by
      vehicle or neostigmine (0.01, 0.1, and 1 nmol), and were submitted to the
      elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. Neostigmine (1 nmol) decreased open arm
      exploration of the maze. This anxiogenic-like effect was reproduced in another
      anxiety-related animal model, the light-dark box. Previous injection of
      pirenzepine or AM251 abolished this response in the EPM, whereas URB597 had no
      effect. These results suggest that CB1 and M1 receptors interact in the PL to
      control anxiety-like behaviors.

PMID- 26873080
TI  - Methamphetamine addiction: involvement of CREB and neuroinflammatory signaling
      pathways.
AB  - RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Addiction to psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH)
      remains a major public health problem in the world. Animal models that use METH
      self-administration incorporate many features of human drug-taking behavior and
      are very helpful in elucidating mechanisms underlying METH addiction. These
      models are also helping to decipher the neurobiological substrates of associated
      neuropsychiatric complications. This review summarizes our work on the influence
      of METH self-administration on dopamine systems, transcription and immune
      responses in the brain. METHODS: We used the rat model of METH self
      administration with extended access (15 h/day for eight consecutive days) to
      investigate the effects of voluntary METH intake on the markers of dopamine
      system integrity and changes in gene expression observed in the brain at 2 h-1
      month after cessation of drug exposure. RESULTS: Extended access to METH self
      administration caused changes in the rat brain that are consistent with clinical
      findings reported in neuroimaging and postmortem studies of human METH addicts.
      In addition, gene expression studies using striatal tissues from METH self
      administering rats revealed increased expression of genes involved in cAMP
      response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway and in the activation
      of neuroinflammatory response in the brain. CONCLUSION: These data show an
      association of METH exposure with activation of neuroplastic and
      neuroinflammatory cascades in the brain. The neuroplastic changes may be involved
      in promoting METH addiction. Neuroinflammatory processes in the striatum may
      underlie cognitive deficits, depression, and parkinsonism reported in METH
      addicts. Therapeutic approaches that include suppression of neuroinflammation may
      be beneficial to addicted patients.

PMID- 26873082
TI  - A role for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol for social and high-fat
      food reward in male mice.
AB  - RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid system is an important modulator of brain reward
      signaling. Investigations have focused on cannabinoid (CB1) receptors, because
      dissection of specific contributions of individual endocannabinoids has been
      limited by the available toolset. While we recently described an important role
      for the endocannabinoid anandamide in the regulation of social reward, it remains
      to be determined whether the other major endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoyl-sn
      glycerol (2-AG), serves a similar or different function. OBJECTIVES: To study the
      role of 2-AG in natural reward, we used a transgenic mouse model (MGL-Tg mice) in
      which forebrain 2-AG levels are selectively reduced. We complemented behavioral
      analysis with measurements of brain 2-AG levels. METHODS: We tested male MGL-Tg
      mice in conditioned place preference (CPP) tasks for high-fat food, social
      contact, and cocaine. We measured 2-AG content in the brain regions of interest
      by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Male MGL-Tg mice are
      impaired in developing CPP for high-fat food and social interaction, but do
      develop CPP for cocaine. Furthermore, compared to isolated mice, levels of 2-AG
      in socially stimulated wild-type mice are higher in the nucleus accumbens and
      ventral hippocampus (183 and 140 % of controls, respectively), but unchanged in
      the medial prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that reducing 2-AG
      mediated endocannabinoid signaling impairs social and high-fat food reward in
      male mice, and that social stimulation mobilizes 2-AG in key brain regions
      implicated in the control of motivated behavior. The time course of this response
      differentiates 2-AG from anandamide, whose role in mediating social reward was
      previously documented.

PMID- 26873083
TI  - Attenuation of nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behavior by the mGlu2
      receptor positive allosteric modulators AZD8418 and AZD8529 in rats.
AB  - RATIONALE: Numerous medication development strategies seek to decrease nicotine
      consumption and prevent relapse to tobacco smoking by blocking glutamate
      transmission. Decreasing glutamate release by activating presynaptic inhibitory
      metabotropic glutamate (mGlu)2/3 receptors inhibits the reinforcing effects of
      nicotine and blocks cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior in
      rats. However, the relative contribution of mGlu2 receptors in nicotine
      dependence is still unknown. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the role of
      mGlu2 receptors in nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behavior using the novel,
      relatively selective mGlu2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) AZD8418 and
      AZD8529. RESULTS: Acute treatment with AZD8418 (0.37, 1.12, 3.73, 7.46, and 14.92
      mg/kg) and AZD8529 (1.75, 5.83, 17.5, and 58.3 mg/kg) deceased nicotine self
      administration and had no effect on food-maintained responding. Chronic treatment
      with AZD8418 attenuated nicotine self-administration, but tolerance to this
      effect developed quickly. The inhibition of nicotine self-administration by
      chronic AZD8529 administration persisted throughout the 14 days of treatment.
      Chronic treatment with either PAMs inhibited food self-administration. AZD8418
      (acute) and AZD8529 (acute and subchronic) blocked cue-induced reinstatement of
      nicotine- and food-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate an
      important role for mGlu2 receptors in the reinforcing properties of self
      administered nicotine and the motivational impact of cues that were previously
      associated with nicotine administration (i.e., cue-induced reinstatement of
      nicotine-seeking behavior). Thus, mGlu2 PAMs may be useful medications to assist
      people to quit tobacco smoking and prevent relapse.

PMID- 26873084
TI  - Incidental findings of uncertain significance: To know or not to know--that is
      not the question.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the "right not to know" is well established in international
      regulations, it has been heavily debated. Ubiquitous results from extended exome
      and genome analysis have challenged the right not to know. American College of
      Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Recommendations urge to inform about
      incidental findings that pretend to be accurate and actionable. However, ample
      clinical cases raise the question whether these criteria are met. Many incidental
      findings are of uncertain significance (IFUS). The eager to feedback information
      appears to enter the field of IFUS and thereby threaten the right not to know.
      This makes it imperative to investigate the arguments for and against a right not
      to know for IFUS. DISCUSSION: This article investigates how the various arguments
      for and against a right not to know hold for IFUS. The main investigated
      arguments are: hypothetical utilitarianism, the right-based argument, the
      feasibility argument, the value of knowledge argument, the argument from lost
      significance, the empirical argument, the duty to disclose argument, the avoiding
      harm argument; the argument from principle, from autonomy, from privacy, as well
      as the argument from the right to an open future. The analysis shows that both
      sides in the debate have exaggerated the importance of incidental findings.
      Opponents of a right not to know have exaggerated the importance of IFUS, while
      proponents have exaggerated the need to be protected from something that is not
      knowledge. Hence, to know or not to know is not the question. The question is
      whether we should be able to stay ignorant of incidental findings of uncertain
      significance, if we want to. The answer is yes: As long as the information is not
      accurate and/or actionable: ignorance is bliss. When answering questions that are
      not asked, we need to think twice.

PMID- 26873086
TI  - Food allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis in India: Lack of diagnosis.

PMID- 26873085
TI  - Non-HFE iron overload as a surrogate marker of disease severity in patients of
      liver cirrhosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Decompensated liver cirrhosis is an important cause of mortality
      worldwide. Various modifiable and non-modifiable factors are involved in the
      pathogenesis of cirrhosis and its complications. This study was aimed to evaluate
      the association of iron overload and disease severity in patients of liver
      cirrhosis and its association with HFE gene mutation. METHODS: Forty-nine
      patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were recruited. Clinical and
      laboratory parameters were compared in patients with and without iron overload.
      C282Y and H63D gene mutation analysis was performed in all patients with iron
      overload. RESULTS: Iron overload was found in 20 (40.82%) patients. A significant
      positive correlation of transferrin saturation with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP)
      score (r = 0.705, p < 0.001) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score
      (r = 0.668, p < 0.001) was found. Transferrin saturation was also independently
      associated with high CTP and MELD score on multivariate analysis. Mortality over
      3 months was significantly more common in iron-overloaded patients (p = 0.028).
      C282Y homozygosity or C282Y/H63D compound heterozygosity was not found in any of
      the patients with iron overload. CONCLUSION: Iron overload was significantly
      associated with disease severity and reduced survival in patients of
      decompensated liver cirrhosis.

PMID- 26873088
TI  - Paracetamol exposure prenatally and in infancy is linked to asthma, study shows.

PMID- 26873087
TI  - Endoscopic management of post-liver transplant billiary complications: A
      prospective study from tertiary centre in India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has become common in India over the last decade
      and biliary strictures after the procedure cause a significant morbidity.
      Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a safe and effective
      treatment modality for post-transplant biliary strictures so we decided to
      evaluate prospectively the outcomes of endoscopic treatment in post-living donor
      liver transplantation (LDLT) biliary strictures. METHODS: We studied ten
      consecutive patients who had developed biliary strictures (out of 312 who had
      undergone liver transplantation between June 2009 and June 2013) and had been
      referred to the Department of Gastroenterology for management. All patients
      underwent liver function tests, ultrasound of the abdomen, magnetic resonance
      cholangiography and liver biopsy, if this was indicated. RESULTS: Of these 312
      patients who underwent liver transplantation, 305 had living donors (LDLT) and 7
      deceased donors (DDLT). Ten patients in the LDLT group (3.3%) developed biliary
      strictures. There were seven males and three females who had median age of 52
      years (range 4-60 years). The biliary anastomosis was duct-to-duct in all
      patients with one patient having an additional duct-to-jejunum anastomosis. The
      mode of presentation was cholangitis in four patients (40%), asymptomatic
      elevation of liver enzymes in four (40%) and jaundice in two patients (20%). The
      median time from transplantation to the detection of the stricture was 12 months
      (2-42.5 months). ERCP was attempted as initial therapy in all patients: seven
      were managed entirely by endoscopic therapy, and three required a combined
      percutaneous and endoscopic approach. Cholangiography demonstrated anastomotic
      stricture in all patients. A total of 32 sessions of ERCP were done with mean of
      3.2 (2-5) endoscopic sessions and 3.4 (1-6) stents required to resolve the
      stricture. The median time from the first intervention to stricture resolution
      was 4 months (range 2-12 months). In four patients, the stents were removed after
      one session and in two patients each after two, three and four sessions. In six
      patients more than one stent was placed and all of them required dilatation of
      stricture. Seven patients completed treatment and are off stents at a median
      follow up period of 9.5 months (7-11 months). Two patients developed recurrence
      of their stricture after 7.5 months. Both had long strictures and required a
      combined endoscopic and percutaneous approach. There was one mortality due to
      sepsis secondary to cholangitis. CONCLUSIONS: Post-LDLT biliary strictures can be
      successfully treated with ERCP, and most patients remain well on follow up
      (median 9.5 months). A combined endoscopic and percutaneous approach is useful
      when ERCP alone fails.

PMID- 26873089
TI  - Relapsed and refractory subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma with
      excellent response to cyclosporine: a case report and literature review.

PMID- 26873090
TI  - The Role of Physician Recommendations and Public Policy in Human Papillomavirus
      Vaccinations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immunization rates for human papillomavirus (HPV) infections remain
      low among teenagers despite strong evidence of the effectiveness of vaccines.
      Physician recommendations of the vaccine are far from universal. Several states
      have enacted policies that mandate HPV vaccination or distribute educational
      materials. OBJECTIVES: To provide policy makers, physicians, and researchers
      information on the relative importance of physician recommendations and early
      state-level policies to promote HPV vaccinations among targeted age groups.
      METHODS: We first use probit models to determine the strongest correlates of
      immunization in a nationally representative US sample of teenagers. We then use
      instrumental variable probit models to determine the direct role that physician
      recommendations play in vaccination using plausibly exogenous physician
      encounters that are likely not the result of more health-conscious parents
      seeking out information on the vaccine. RESULTS: We show that children in the
      targeted age range who are more likely to encounter physicians for reasons other
      than seeking out the vaccine, such as through mandatory wellness exams or
      previous asthma diagnoses, are significantly more likely to get the vaccine.
      There is no consistent evidence that the state policies we analyze have been
      effective. CONCLUSION: Encouraging recommendations by physicians may be the most
      effective path toward increasing HPV vaccination. State-level mandates and
      policies are yet to exhibit effectiveness.

PMID- 26873091
TI  - Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Lung Cancer Screening Strategies Using Low-Dose
      Computed Tomography: a Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has
      been shown to deliver appreciable reductions in mortality in high-risk patients.
      However, in an era of constrained medical resources, the cost-effectiveness of
      such a program needs to be demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to
      systematically review the literature analyzing the cost-effectiveness of lung
      cancer screening using LDCT. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews
      Health Technology Assessment, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation
      Database (NHS-EED), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Due to
      technological progress in CT, we limited our search to studies published between
      January 2000 and December 2014. Our search returned 393 unique results. After
      removing studies that did not meet our inclusion criteria, 13 studies remained.
      Costs are presented in 2014 US dollars (US$). RESULTS: The results from the
      economic evaluations identified in this review were varied. All identified
      studies reported outcomes using either additional survival (life-years gained) or
      quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs gained). Results ranged from US$18,452 to
      US$66,480 per LYG and US$27,756 to US$243,077 per QALY gained for repeated
      screening. The results of cost-effectiveness analyses were sensitive to several
      key model parameters, including the prevalence of lung cancer, cost of LDCT for
      screening, the proportion of lung cancer detected as localized disease, lead time
      bias, and, if included, the characteristics of a smoking cessation program.
      CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness of a lung cancer screening program using LDCT
      remains to be conclusively resolved. It is expected that its cost-effectiveness
      will largely depend on identifying an appropriate group of high-risk subjects.

PMID- 26873092
TI  - Foxo3 circular RNA promotes cardiac senescence by modulating multiple factors
      associated with stress and senescence responses.
AB  - Aims: Circular RNAs are a subclass of non-coding RNAs detected within mammalian
      cells. This study was designed to test the roles of a circular RNA circ-Foxo3 in
      senescence using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Methods and results: Using the
      approaches of molecular and cellular biology, we show that a circular RNA
      generated from a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors, Foxo3,
      namely circ-Foxo3, was highly expressed in heart samples of aged patients and
      mice, which was correlated with markers of cellular senescence. Doxorubicin
      induced cardiomyopathy was aggravated by ectopic expression of circ-Foxo3 but was
      relieved by silencing endogenous circ-Foxo3. We also found that silencing circ
      Foxo3 inhibited senescence of mouse embryonic fibroblasts and that ectopic
      expression of circ-Foxo3 induced senescence. We found that circ-Foxo3 was mainly
      distributed in the cytoplasm, where it interacted with the anti-senescent protein
      ID-1 and the transcription factor E2F1, as well as the anti-stress proteins FAK
      and HIF1alpha. Conclusion: We conclude that ID-1, E2F1, FAK, and HIF1alpha
      interact with circ-Foxo3 and are retained in the cytoplasm and could no longer
      exert their anti-senescent and anti-stress roles, resulting in increased cellular
      senescence.

PMID- 26873093
TI  - Mobile technology and the digitization of healthcare.
AB  - The convergence of science and technology in our dynamic digital era has resulted
      in the development of innovative digital health devices that allow easy and
      accurate characterization in health and disease. Technological advancements and
      the miniaturization of diagnostic instruments to modern smartphone-connected and
      mobile health (mHealth) devices such as the iECG, handheld ultrasound, and lab-on
      a-chip technologies have led to increasing enthusiasm for patient care with
      promises to decrease healthcare costs and to improve outcomes. This 'hype' for
      mHealth has recently intersected with the 'real world' and is providing important
      insights into how patients and practitioners are utilizing digital health
      technologies. It is also raising important questions regarding the evidence
      supporting widespread device use. In this state-of-the-art review, we assess the
      current literature of mHealth and aim to provide a framework for the advances in
      mHealth by understanding the various device, patient, and clinical factors as
      they relate to digital health from device designs and patient engagement, to
      clinical workflow and device regulation. We also outline new strategies for
      generation and analysis of mHealth data at the individual and population-based
      levels.

PMID- 26873094
TI  - Fat: an emerging player in the field of atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 26873095
TI  - Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in adults with congenital heart disease:
      a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - AIMS: Sudden cardiac death is a major cause of mortality in adult congenital
      heart disease (ACHD) patients. The indications for implantable cardioverter
      defibrillator (ICD) implantation in ACHD patients are still not well established.
      We aim to systematically review the literature on indications and outcome of ICD
      implantation in ACHD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a comprehensive
      search in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar to identify all studies on ICD
      implantation in ACHD patients. We used random effects models to calculate
      proportions and 95% confidence intervals. Of 1356 articles, 24 studies with 2162
      patients were included, with a mean follow-up of 3.6 +/- 0.9 years. Half of
      patients had tetralogy of Fallot. Mean age at implantation was 36.5 +/- 5.5 years
      old and 66% was male. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators were implanted for
      primary prevention in 53% (43.5-62.7). Overall, 24% (18.6-31.3) of patients
      received one or more appropriate ICD interventions (anti-tachycardia pacing or
      shocks) during 3.7 +/- 0.9 years: 22% (16.9-28.8) of patients with primary
      prevention in 3.3 +/- 0.3 years and 35% (26.6-45.2) of patients with secondary
      prevention in 4.3 +/- 1.2 years. Inappropriate shocks occurred in 25% (20.1-31.0)
      in 3.7 +/- 0.8 years and other, particularly lead-related complications in 26%
      (18.9-33.6) of patients in 3.8 +/- 0.8 years. All-cause mortality was 10% during
      3.7 +/- 0.9 years. CONCLUSIONS: In ACHD, remarkably high rates of appropriate ICD
      therapy were reported, both in primary and secondary prevention. Because of the
      young age and lower death rates, the cumulative beneficial effects are likely
      greater in ACHD patients than in acquired heart disease patients. However,
      considering the high rates of inappropriate shocks and complications, case-by
      case weighing of costs and benefits, remains essential.

PMID- 26873096
TI  - Analysis of microstructures and macrotextures for different apple cultivars based
      on parenchyma morphology.
AB  - Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Jonagold parenchyma were imaged by confocal laser
      scanning microscopy to be extracted morphology characteristics, which were used
      to analyze the relationship with macrotexture of apples tested by penetration and
      compression. Before analyzing the relationship, the significantly different
      morphology parameters were reduced in dimensions by principal component analysis
      and were proved to be availably used for distinguishing the different apple
      cultivars. For compression results, cell did not absolutely determine the
      hardness in different apple cultivars, and the pore should also be taken into
      consideration. With the same size in cell feret diameter, the bigger the pore
      feret diameter was, the softer the apple became. If no difference existed in pore
      feret diameter size, the cultivar became harder with a narrower distribution in
      cell feret diameter. The texture parameters were compared with the roundness
      parameters in the same or inverse changing trends to explore the relationship.
      High correlations were found between the texture parameters (energy required in
      whole penetration (Wt), fracture force (Fp), crispness) and pore solidity (R(2) 
      > 0.924, P < 0.001). Compactness of parenchyma played an important role in fruit
      texture. This research could provide the comprehension about relationship between
      microstructure and macrotexture of apple cultivars and morphological values for
      modeling apple parenchyma, contributing to numerical simulation for constitutive
      relation of fruit.

PMID- 26873097
TI  - Longitudinal Transcriptome Analysis Reveals a Sustained Differential Gene
      Expression Signature in Patients Treated for Acute Lyme Disease.
AB  - Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia
      burgdorferi, and approximately 10 to 20% of patients report persistent symptoms
      lasting months to years despite appropriate treatment with antibiotics. To gain
      insights into the molecular basis of acute Lyme disease and the ensuing
      development of post-treatment symptoms, we conducted a longitudinal transcriptome
      study of 29 Lyme disease patients (and 13 matched controls) enrolled at the time
      of diagnosis and followed for up to 6 months. The differential gene expression
      signature of Lyme disease following the acute phase of infection persisted for at
      least 3 weeks and had fewer than 44% differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in
      common with other infectious or noninfectious syndromes. Early Lyme disease prior
      to antibiotic therapy was characterized by marked upregulation of Toll-like
      receptor signaling but lack of activation of the inflammatory T-cell apoptotic
      and B-cell developmental pathways seen in other acute infectious syndromes. Six
      months after completion of therapy, Lyme disease patients were found to have 31
      to 60% of their pathways in common with three different immune-mediated chronic
      diseases. No differential gene expression signature was observed between Lyme
      disease patients with resolved illness to those with persistent symptoms at 6
      months post-treatment. The identification of a sustained differential gene
      expression signature in Lyme disease suggests that a panel of selected human host
      based biomarkers may address the need for sensitive clinical diagnostics during
      the "window period" of infection prior to the appearance of a detectable antibody
      response and may also inform the development of new therapeutic targets.
      IMPORTANCE: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in the United
      States, and some patients report lingering symptoms lasting months to years
      despite antibiotic treatment. To better understand the role of the human host
      response in acute Lyme disease and the development of post-treatment symptoms, we
      conducted the first longitudinal gene expression (transcriptome) study of
      patients enrolled at the time of diagnosis and followed up for up to 6 months
      after treatment. Importantly, we found that the gene expression signature of
      early Lyme disease is distinct from that of other acute infectious diseases and
      persists for at least 3 weeks following infection. This study also uncovered
      multiple previously undescribed pathways and genes that may be useful in the
      future as human host biomarkers for diagnosis and that constitute potential
      targets for the development of new therapies.

PMID- 26873098
TI  - The plasma bioavailability of nitrate and betanin from Beta vulgaris rubra in
      humans.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the plasma bioavailability of betanin and nitric oxide (NOx)
      after consuming beetroot juice (BTJ) and whole beetroot (BF). BTJ and BF were
      also analysed for antioxidant capacity, polyphenol content (TPC) and betalain
      content. METHODS: Ten healthy males consumed either 250 ml of BTJ, 300 g of BF or
      a placebo drink, in a randomised, crossover design. Venous plasma samples were
      collected pre (baseline), 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 h post-ingestion. Betanin content in
      BTJ, BF and plasma was analysed with reverse-phase high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry detection (LCMS). Antioxidant
      capacity was estimated using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)
      and polyphenol content using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric methods [gallic acid
      equivalents (GAE)] and betalain content spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: TEAC was
      11.4 +/- 0.2 mmol/L for BTJ and 3.4 +/- 0.4 MUmol/g for BF. Both BTJ and BF
      contained a number of polyphenols (1606.9 +/- 151 mg/GAE/L and 1.67 +/- 0.1
      mg/GAE/g, respectively), betacyanins (68.2 +/- 0.4 mg/betanin equivalents/L and
      19.6 +/- 0.6 mg/betanin equivalents/100 g, respectively) and betaxanthins (41.7
      +/- 0.7 mg/indicaxanthin equivalents/L and 7.5 +/- 0.2 mg/indicaxanthin
      equivalents/100 g, respectively). Despite high betanin contents in both BTJ (~194
      mg) and BF (~66 mg), betanin could not be detected in the plasma at any time
      point post-ingestion. Plasma NOx was elevated above baseline for 8 h after
      consuming BTJ and 5 h after BF (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that
      BTJ and BF are rich in phytonutrients and may provide a useful means of
      increasing plasma NOx bioavailability. However, betanin, the major betalain in
      beetroot, showed poor bioavailability in plasma.

PMID- 26873099
TI  - Association between dietary carbohydrate intake, glycemic index and glycemic
      load, and risk of gastric cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: The association between dietary carbohydrate intake, glycemic index (GI)
      and glycemic load (GL), and risk of gastric cancer (GC) has been investigated by
      many studies. However, the results of these studies were controversial. The aim
      of our study was to systematically assess this issue. METHODS: PUBMED and EMBASE
      were searched up to March 2015, and either a fixed- or a random-effects model was
      adopted to estimate overall relative risks (RRs). Dose-response, meta-regression,
      subgroup, and publication bias analyses were applied. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies
      with approximately 540,000 participants were finally included in this meta
      analysis. High level of dietary carbohydrate intake (pooled RR 1.17, 95 % CI 0.91
      1.50), GI (pooled RR 1.17, 95 % CI 0.80-1.69), and GL (pooled RR 1.06, 95 % CI
      0.90-1.26) were all nonsignificantly associated with incidence of GC. In
      addition, no significant dose-response relationship was observed between
      carbohydrate intake, GI and GL, and the risk of GC. However, further subgroup
      analyses based on gender and geographic region suggested a significant
      association between higher carbohydrate intake (pooled RR 1.52, 95 % CI 1.10
      2.08), GL (pooled RR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.04-1.92), and GC risk in males subgroup, and
      between higher carbohydrate intake (pooled RR 1.69, 95 % CI 1.36-2.09) and GC
      risk in Asian studies. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was found between
      dietary carbohydrate intake, GI and GL, and risk of GC. However, significantly
      positive association was observed in the males subgroup and Asian studies.

PMID- 26873100
TI  - Elevated levels of serum cholesterol are associated with better performance on
      tasks of episodic memory.
AB  - We examined how serum cholesterol, an established risk factor for cerebrovascular
      disease (CVD), relates to cognitive function in healthy middle-older aged
      individuals with no neurologic or CVD history. A complete lipid panel was
      obtained from a cohort of one hundred twenty individuals, ages 43-85, who also
      underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological examination. In order to reduce the
      number of variables and empirically identify broad cognitive domains, scores from
      neuropsychological tests were submitted into a factor analysis. This analysis
      revealed three explainable factors: Memory, Executive Function and
      Memory/Language. Three separate hierarchical multiple regression analyses were
      conducted using individual cholesterol metrics (total cholesterol, low density
      lipoprotein; LDL, high density lipoprotein; HDL, and triglycerides), as well as
      age, education, medication status (lipid lowering agents), ApoE status, and
      additional risk factors for CVD to predict neuropsychological function. The
      Memory Factor was predicted by a combination of age, LDL, and triglyceride
      levels; both age and triglycerides were negatively associated with factor score,
      while LDL levels revealed a positive relationship. Both the Executive and
      Memory/Language factor were only explained by education, whereby more years were
      associated with better performance. These results provide evidence that
      individual cholesterol lipoproteins and triglycerides may differentially impact
      cognitive function, over and above other common CVD risk factors and ApoE status.
      Our findings demonstrate the importance of consideration of vascular risk
      factors, such as cholesterol, in studies of cognitive aging. 

PMID- 26873101
TI  - Synovial fluid detection in intra-articular injections using a bioimpedance probe
      (BIP) needle-a clinical study.
AB  - Intra-articular glucocorticoid injections are the recommended treatment for
      active arthritis, but accurate positioning of the needle may be challenging.
      Inexperienced physicians might decide not to inject because an unsuccessful
      injection impairs clinical outcome and may lead to complications; however,
      choosing not to inject may impair or delay the best possible treatment. Here, we
      address this problem by introducing a novel Bioimpedance Probe (BIP) Needle
      guidance method that was tested in a clinical study. The BIP Needle was utilized
      for detection of synovial fluid. It measures real-time bioimpedance spectra and
      identifies when the needle tip is in contact with the synovial fluid. Injections
      into 80 joints with active arthritis were performed by an experienced
      rheumatologist using the BIP Needle. The location of the BIP Needle was ensured
      by aspiration of synovial fluid, absence of resistance during injection, and/or
      using real-time ultrasound imaging. Sensitivity and specificity of the device for
      synovial fluid detection were 86 % (CI 75-93 %) and 85 % (CI 74-92 %),
      respectively. The BIP Needles showed high spatial resolution and differentiated
      the synovial fluid from the surrounding tissues. However, lack of synovial fluid,
      anatomic variability, and intra-articular structures challenged the technology.
      The BIP Needles provided adequate results in intra-articular injections.
      Performance of the device was good even in small joints, which may be the most
      difficult for inexperienced physicians. Further performance improvement can be
      expected when more data is collected for mathematical models. Overall, this novel
      method showed potential to be used in real-time needle guidance.

PMID- 26873102
TI  - The significance of urinary beta-2 microglobulin level for differential diagnosis
      of familial Mediterranean fever and acute appendicitis.
AB  - The clinical and laboratory parameters widely used are not specific to
      discriminate the abdominal pain due to FMF attack from that of acute
      appendicitis. The present study aims to investigate the urinary beta-2
      microglobulin (U-beta2M) level as a potential parameter to identify these two
      diseases mimicking each other. A total of 51 patients with established FMF
      diagnosis due to Tel Hashomer criteria on colchicine treatment (1-1.5 mg/day), 15
      patients with acute appendicitis who had appropriate clinical picture and were
      also supported pathologically after the surgery, and 20 healthy controls were
      enrolled in the study. Of the 51 patients with FMF, 25 were at an attack period,
      while remaining 26 were not. For the diagnosis of acute attack, as well as
      physical examination, laboratory tests including white blood cell count, C
      reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were performed. From urine
      specimens U-beta2M, microalbumin, and N-acetyl glucosaminidase (U-NAG) were
      measured. U-beta2M levels were significantly higher in acute appendicitis group
      compared to FMF attack, FMF non-attack, and control groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001,
      and p < 0.001, respectively). U-NAG and microalbuminuria were significantly
      higher in acute appendicitis, FMF attack, and FMF non-attack groups compared to
      controls (U-NAG p < 0.001, p = 0.016, p = 0.004, microalbuminuria p < 0.001, p <
      0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Microalbuminuria was significantly higher in
      acute appendicitis group compared to the FMF attack group (p = 0.004).
      Determination of U-beta2M levels may be helpful for differential diagnosis of
      peritonitis attacks of FMF patients on colchicine treatment and acute
      appendicitis. However, this finding should be substantiated with other studies. 

PMID- 26873103
TI  - Particulate and non-particulate steroids in spinal epidurals: a systematic review
      and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Steroids in transforaminal epidural injections are widely used to
      ease radicular pain in both cervical and lumbar radiculopathy. Concerns have been
      articulated about the use of particulate steroids for this intervention, as a
      number of case reports have been published linking them with post procedural
      paralysis, possibly due to spinal ischaemia secondary to a steroid particulate
      embolism. Non-particulate, or soluble steroids, are mooted as an alternative;
      however, their effectiveness relative to particulate steroids has not been
      conclusively proven. STUDY DESIGN: We review the evidence in the published
      literature regarding the efficacy of non-particulate steroids in epidural
      injections compared to particulate steroids, and synthesise it to gauge the
      qualitative outcomes from level one evidence (visual analogue scales, numerical
      pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index) from baseline to specified follow up.
      METHODS: The PRISMA guidelines were utilised for this review. An internet search
      was performed to collate the available literature from medical databases PubMed,
      EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane library. We used a broad search term
      [epidural (and) steroid] to ensure a wide capture of articles. No limitations in
      terms of language or date of publication were implemented. The reference lists of
      articles included for full text review were searched for any additional primary
      or review publications. RESULTS: Four online libraries were searched, with a
      combined total of 11,353 titles reviewed, not excluding duplicates. Post title
      abstract and full text review, nine articles were identified as suitable for
      inclusion for qualitative synthesis. Four of these were suitable for quantitative
      synthesis, with a total of 300 participants, 147 in the particulate group and 153
      in the non-particulate group. Using a random effects model, the pooled standard
      mean difference of VAS score diminution was not significant between groups (0.31
      in favour of particulates, 95 % CI -0.68 to 1.30). From our qualitative
      synthesis, there was a trend for greater improvement in pain scores within the
      particulate group. The type of steroid used did not appear to have an effect on
      the disability score given by patients. CONCLUSION: Particulate steroids are not
      demonstrably better in relieving pain compared to their non-particulate
      counterparts. In view of the concerns over the safety profile of particulate
      steroids, it may be prudent to switch to non particulates, or at the very least
      the dangers and alternatives should be flagged with the patient group as part of
      a shared decision making process.

PMID- 26873104
TI  - Morphometry of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs and endplates: comparative
      analyses of new MRI data with previous findings.
AB  - PURPOSE: Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to
      complications of disc arthroplasty surgery. Accurate morphometric descriptions
      are essential for the design of artificial intervertebral discs to ensure good
      prothesis-vertebra contact and better load distribution, and can improve spinal
      biomechanics. Unfortunately, current knowledge of the lower lumbar geometry is
      limited either in the representativeness of sample populations or the accuracy
      and comprehensiveness of measurements. The objective of this study was to
      establish an accurate and reliable measurement protocol, provide a comprehensive
      database of lower lumbar geometry, and compare and summarize geometric data as
      reported in the literature. METHODS: T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      scans of lower lumbar spine (L3-S1), taken from 109 adult subjects, were
      anonymized from the digital archive of a local hospital. A total of 318
      intervertebral discs and 590 endplates met the inclusion criteria and were
      studied. Linear and planar measurements were performed using OsiriX software, and
      analyzed using split plot factorial (SPF) analysis of variance (ANOVA),
      independent student t tests, paired sample t tests, and Tukey's honest
      significant difference (HSD) post hoc tests. RESULTS: Excellent intra- and inter
      observer reliabilities were achieved using the proposed measurement protocol. The
      results of this study indicated that male subjects had significantly larger
      geometric dimensions. L5/S1 discs had the smallest geometric dimensions compared
      to the discs at other two levels. Significant craniocaudal differences were found
      in endplate morpohometry. The error associated with using ellipsoid methods was
      quantified at each lower lumbar level. A large comprehensive database compiling
      lower lumbar geometry from many studies was established. This study provides
      geometric data for the female subjects at the L5/S1 level, previously lacking in
      the literature. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential of using MRI
      data to establish a standard measurement protocol for morphometric quantification
      of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs and vertebral endplates. These results
      are invaluable in characterizing comprehensive lower lumbar morphometry, which
      may provide crucial information for planning spinal surgeries, designing
      artificial intervertebral discs, and for biomechanical modeling of the low lack.

PMID- 26873105
TI  - Novel actin filaments from Bacillus thuringiensis form nanotubules for plasmid
      DNA segregation.
AB  - Here we report the discovery of a bacterial DNA-segregating actin-like protein
      (BtParM) from Bacillus thuringiensis, which forms novel antiparallel, two
      stranded, supercoiled, nonpolar helical filaments, as determined by electron
      microscopy. The BtParM filament features of supercoiling and forming antiparallel
      double-strands are unique within the actin fold superfamily, and entirely
      different to the straight, double-stranded, polar helical filaments of all other
      known ParMs and of eukaryotic F-actin. The BtParM polymers show dynamic assembly
      and subsequent disassembly in the presence of ATP. BtParR, the DNA-BtParM linking
      protein, stimulated ATP hydrolysis/phosphate release by BtParM and paired two
      supercoiled BtParM filaments to form a cylinder, comprised of four strands with
      inner and outer diameters of 57 A and 145 A, respectively. Thus, in this
      prokaryote, the actin fold has evolved to produce a filament system with
      comparable features to the eukaryotic chromosome-segregating microtubule. 

PMID- 26873107
TI  - Assessing Circulating Factor VIIa-Antithrombin Complexes in Acute Ischemic
      Stroke: A Pilot Study.
AB  - AIM: The goal of this study was to determine the levels of factor VII (FVII),
      factor VIIa-antithrombin complexes (FVIIa-AT), total tissue factor (TF), and
      tissue factor-bearing microparticles (MPs-TF) in patients with acute ischemic
      stroke. Further, we sought evidence of an association between hemostatic markers,
      time of blood sampling, type of treatment, and patient outcomes. METHODS: Venous
      blood samples were collected from 33 patients on the first day and on the seventh
      day after stroke diagnosis. Age-matched controls were also included (n = 20).
      Plasma levels of FVII, FVIIa-AT, total TF, and MPs-TF were measured by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay. We divided patients into 2 groups: thrombolysis group
      (n = 13) and nonthrombolysis group (n = 20). Furthermore, evaluation of the
      National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the Barthel Index was performed on
      the first day and the seventh day. RESULTS: Patients with ischemic stroke showed
      significantly lower plasma FVII, FVIIa-AT, and total TF levels than controls
      (median, 112.25% vs 132.05%, P = .004; 107.97 pmol/L vs 154.94 pmol/L, P < .001;
      81.74 pg/mL vs 105.71 pg/mL, P < .001, respectively). In contrast, levels of
      plasma MPs-TF were significantly higher in patients with stroke compared to
      healthy controls (1.60 pg/mL vs 0.74 pg/mL, P < .001). Additionally, the
      thrombolysis group had lower FVII levels on the seventh day compared to the first
      day (median, 109.80% vs 115.74%, P = .04). CONCLUSION: Factor VII, FVIIa-AT, and
      total TF are decreased, while MPs-TF are elevated in patients with ischemic
      stroke. We observed a slight but significant effect of alteplase on FVII plasma
      levels.

PMID- 26873106
TI  - Transcription-associated processes cause DNA double-strand breaks and
      translocations in neural stem/progenitor cells.
AB  - High-throughput, genome-wide translocation sequencing (HTGTS) studies of
      activated B cells have revealed that DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) capable of
      translocating to defined bait DSBs are enriched around the transcription start
      sites (TSSs) of active genes. We used the HTGTS approach to investigate whether a
      similar phenomenon occurs in primary neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). We
      report that breakpoint junctions indeed are enriched around TSSs that were
      determined to be active by global run-on sequencing analyses of NSPCs.
      Comparative analyses of transcription profiles in NSPCs and B cells revealed that
      the great majority of TSS-proximal junctions occurred in genes commonly expressed
      in both cell types, possibly because this common set has higher transcription
      levels on average than genes transcribed in only one or the other cell type. In
      the latter context, among all actively transcribed genes containing translocation
      junctions in NSPCs, those with junctions located within 2 kb of the TSS show a
      significantly higher transcription rate on average than genes with junctions in
      the gene body located at distances greater than 2 kb from the TSS. Finally,
      analysis of repair junction signatures of TSS-associated translocations in wild
      type versus classical nonhomologous end-joining (C-NHEJ)-deficient NSPCs reveals
      that both C-NHEJ and alternative end-joining pathways can generate translocations
      by joining TSS-proximal DSBs to DSBs on other chromosomes. Our studies show that
      the generation of transcription-associated DSBs is conserved across divergent
      cell types. 

PMID- 26873108
TI  - The Impact of CYP2C19 Loss-of-Function Polymorphisms, Clinical, and Demographic
      Variables on Platelet Response to Clopidogrel Evaluated Using Impedance
      Aggregometry.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug widely used in patients with
      acute coronary syndromes or stroke. Despite adequate antiplatelet therapy, some
      patients develop acute ischemic events. This is partly attributed to the fact
      that they have poor inhibition of platelet reactivity, despite treatment. This
      study aimed to assess the impact of clinical and demographic variables and of
      cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) loss-of-function polymorphisms on platelet
      response to clopidogrel evaluated using impedance aggregometry in an East
      European population. METHODS: The study included 189 clopidogrel-treated patients
      with acute coronary syndromes and noncardiogenic ischemic stroke. Platelet
      aggregation was evaluated by impedance aggregometry. CYP2C19 loss-of-function
      polymorphisms were detected using the polymerase chain reaction restriction
      fragment length polymorphism technique. Various clinical and demographic data
      were also recorded. RESULTS: In our data set, 81% of the patients were responders
      and 19% nonresponders to clopidogrel therapy. The distribution of CYP2C19
      polymorphisms was as follows: 61.1% of patients were CYP2C19 wild-type
      homozygotes, 27.7% of patients were CYP2C19*2 heterozygotes, 1.1% of patients
      were CYP2C19*3 heterozygotes, and 10% of patients were CYP2C19*2 homozygotes. The
      highest level of association with clopidogrel response status was found for
      CYP2C19 polymorphisms, concomitant aspirin treatment, leukocyte and platelet
      count, history of myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, and ward where
      patients were admitted. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of clopidogrel resistance in
      our East European population was in line with that reported for Western
      populations. Clopidogrel response was significantly influenced by the presence of
      CYP2C19 polymorphisms. Interestingly, the concomitant use of aspirin had a
      significant impact on platelet response to clopidogrel, indicating a synergic
      interaction between these drugs.

PMID- 26873109
TI  - Fractal analysis of extra-embryonic vessels of chick embryos under the effect of
      glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates.
AB  - Like heparan sulfate proteoglycans, some monosaccharides and glycosaminoglycans,
      such as sulfated glucosamine (GS) and chondroitin (CS), integrate the vascular
      extracellular matrix and may influence vascular endothelial cell growth. To
      assess the effects of these substances on blood vessel formation, we used the
      chick yolk sac membrane (YSM) model and fractal geometry quantification, which
      provided an objective in vivo method for testing potential agents that promote
      vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. An image processing method was developed to
      evaluate YSM capillary vessels after they were implanted in a methylcellulose
      disk of GS or CS at a concentration between 0.001-0.1mg/disk (performed on 2-day
      old embryos). This method resulted in a binary image of the microvascular network
      (white vessels on a black background). Fractal box-counting (DBC) and information
      (DINF) dimensions were used to quantify the activity of GS and CS in
      vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. YSM treated with GS (0.001-0.1mg) and CS (0.03
      0.1mg) showed an increase in fractal dimensions that corresponded to vitelline
      vessel growth compared to the control group (vehicle), with GS displaying higher
      fractal dimension values. 

PMID- 26873110
TI  - Discriminating between two autonomic profiles related to posture in Olympic
      athletes.
AB  - PURPOSE: Autonomic assessment might be useful in training management. We planned
      to assess whether oscillatory metrics of RR variability (such as LFnu) would be
      more efficient than static indices from low order statistics (RR variance) at
      discriminating laying rest from stand posture, as an analog of a shift to
      sympathetic dominance. METHODS: We studied a large population of elite Olympic
      athletes: a total of 406 athletes (162 females and 244 males, of similar age 21.7
      and 24.4 years) participating to the selection for the upcoming 2016 Olympic
      games. We employed various methods to extract autonomic indices from RR
      variability and employed a stepwise statistical approach combining factor and
      discriminant analysis. RESULTS: We observed that that relative power of
      oscillatory components from spectral analysis of RR variability (such as LF or HF
      in nu) and indices from symbolic analysis (particularly 0V) clearly outperform RR
      variance in discriminating between two physiological conditions (laying rest and
      stand) related to posture and autonomic activation. CONCLUSIONS: In world class
      Olympic athletes we have shown that a small subset of RR variability indices,
      related to sympathovagal balance, may be more appropriate than RR variance to
      assess excitatory sympathetic autonomic responsiveness of the SA node. These
      findings may have practical implications for the use of RR variability in guiding
      training and predicting success in competitions.

PMID- 26873111
TI  - A Well-Differentiated Mediastinal Liposarcoma from the Posterior Mediastinum with
      Separated Solid and Lipomatous Regions: A Case Report.

PMID- 26873112
TI  - Clinical Decision Support Reduces Overuse of Red Blood Cell Transfusions:
      Interrupted Time Series Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Red blood cell transfusion is the most common procedure in
      hospitalized patients in the US. Growing evidence suggests that a sizeable
      percentage of these transfusions are inappropriate, putting patients at
      significant risk and increasing costs to the health care system. METHODS: We
      performed a retrospective quasi-experimental study from November 2008 until
      November 2014 in a 576-bed tertiary care hospital. The intervention consisted of
      an interruptive clinical decision support alert shown to a provider when a red
      blood cell transfusion was ordered in a patient whose most recent hematocrit was
      >=21%. We used interrupted time series analysis to determine whether our primary
      outcome of interest, rate of red blood cell transfusion in patients with
      hematocrit >=21% per 100 patient (pt) days, was reduced by the implementation of
      the clinical decision support tool. The rate of platelet transfusions was used as
      a nonequivalent dependent control variable. RESULTS: A total of 143,000 hospital
      admissions were included in our analysis. Red blood cell transfusions decreased
      from 9.4 to 7.8 per 100 pt days after the clinical decision support intervention
      was implemented. Interrupted time series analysis showed that significant decline
      of 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.07; P < .001) units of red blood
      cells transfused per 100 pt days per month was already underway in the
      preintervention period. This trend accelerated to 0.1 (95% CI, 0.09-0.12; P <
      .001) units of red blood cells transfused per 100 pt days per month following the
      implementation of the clinical decision support tool. There was no statistical
      change in the rate of platelet transfusion resulting from the intervention.
      CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an evidence-based clinical decision support
      tool was associated with a significant decline in the overuse of red blood cell
      transfusion. We believe this intervention could be easily replicated in other
      hospitals using commercial electronic health records and a similar reduction in
      overuse of red blood cell transfusions achieved.

PMID- 26873113
TI  - Elevated plasma levels of vascular permeability factors in C1 inhibitor-deficient
      hereditary angioedema.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a
      rare inherited genetic disease characterized by recurrent swelling episodes of
      the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and upper airways. Angioedema attacks result
      from increased vascular permeability due to the release of bradykinin from high
      molecular weight kininogen. Currently, there are no biomarkers predicting the
      frequency of angioedema attacks. Vascular permeability is modulated by several
      factors, including vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and angiopoietins
      (Angs). As increased circulating levels of VEGFs and Angs have been observed in
      diseases associated with higher vascular permeability (e.g., systemic capillary
      leak syndrome and sepsis), we sought to analyze plasma concentrations of VEGFs
      and Angs in patients with C1-INH-HAE. METHODS: Sixty-eight healthy controls and
      128 patients with C1-INH-HAE were studied. Concentrations of angiogenic (VEGF-A,
      Ang1, Ang2), anti-angiogenic (VEGF-A165b ) and lymphangiogenic (VEGF-C) factors
      were evaluated by ELISA. C1-INH functional activity was assessed by EIA. RESULTS:
      Plasma concentrations of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, Ang1, and Ang2 were higher in patients
      with C1-INH-HAE in remission than in healthy controls. Concentration of VEGF-A
      was further increased in patients with lower C1-INH functional activity. Patients
      with C1-INH-HAE experiencing more than 12 angioedema attacks per year were
      characterized by higher plasma levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and Ang2 compared with
      the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that VEGFs and Angs induce a
      state of 'vascular preconditioning' that may predispose to angioedema attacks. In
      addition, the identification of increased plasma levels of VEGFs and Angs in
      patients with C1-INH-HAE may prompt the investigation of VEGFs and Angs as
      biomarkers of C1-INH-HAE severity.

PMID- 26873114
TI  - Tandem repeat knockout utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system in human cells.
AB  - Tandem repeats have been shown to cause human genetic diseases and contribute
      significantly to genome variation and instability. Although multi-sgRNAs mediated
      CRISPR/Cas9 system have used to generate regional deletions previously, in this
      study we explored a method of generating regional deletions of tandem repeats by
      taking advantage of the off-target effects of CRISPR/Cas9 in 293FT cells. Our
      results revealed that generation of large-fragment deletions of tandem repeats
      located in the MAGEL2 and XIST gene was possible. In summary, we have
      demonstrated that large-fragment deletions of tandem repeats can be achieved
      using a sgRNA-directed CRISPR/Cas9 system, facilitating the functional study of
      tandem repeats in future studies.

PMID- 26873115
TI  - The involvement of mutant Rac1 in the formation of invadopodia in cultured
      melanoma cells.
AB  - In this article, we discuss the complex involvement of a Rho-family GTPase, Rac1,
      in cell migration and in invadopodia-mediated matrix degradation. We discuss the
      involvement of invadopodia in invasive cell migration, and their capacity to
      promote cancer metastasis. Considering the regulation of invadopodia formation,
      we describe studies that demonstrate the role of Rac1 in the metastatic process,
      and the suggestion that this effect is attributable to the capacity of Rac1 to
      promote invadopodia formation. This notion is demonstrated here by showing that
      knockdown of Rac1 in melanoma cells expressing a wild-type form of this GTPase,
      reduces invadopodia-dependent matrix degradation. Interestingly, we also show
      that excessive activity of Rac1, displayed by the P29S, hyperactive, "fast
      cycling" mutant of Rac1, which is present in 5-10% of melanoma tumors, inhibits
      invadopodia function. Moreover, knockdown of this hyperactive mutant enhanced
      matrix degradation, indicating that excessive Rac1 activity by this mutant can
      negatively regulate invadopodia formation and function.

PMID- 26873117
TI  - Editor's perspectives--February 2016.

PMID- 26873116
TI  - Aerobic biosynthesis of hydrocinnamic acids in Escherichia coli with a strictly
      oxygen-sensitive enoate reductase.
AB  - 3-Phenylpropionic acid (3PPA) and 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (HPPA) are
      important commodity aromatic acids widely used in food, pharmaceutical and
      chemical industries. Currently, 3PPA and HPPA are mainly manufactured through
      chemical synthesis, which contains multiple steps involving toxic solvents and
      catalysts harmful to environment. Therefore, replacement of such existing
      petroleum-derived approaches with simple and environmentally friendly biological
      processes is highly desirable for manufacture of these chemicals. Here, for the
      first time we demonstrated the de novo biosynthesis of 3PPA and HPPA using simple
      carbon sources in E. coli by extending the cinnamic acids biosynthesis pathways
      through biological hydrogenation. We first screened 11 2-enoate reductases (ER)
      from nine microorganisms, leading to efficient conversion of cinnamic acid and p
      coumaric acid to 3PPA and HPPA, respectively. Surprisingly, we found a strictly
      oxygen-sensitive Clostridia ER capable of functioning efficiently in E. coli even
      under aerobic conditions. On this basis, reconstitution of the full pathways led
      to the de novo production of 3PPA and HPPA and the accumulation of the
      intermediates (cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid) with cell toxicity. To address
      this problem, different expression strategies were attempted to optimize
      individual enzyme's expression level and minimize intermediates accumulation.
      Finally, the titers of 3PPA and HPPA reached 366.77mg/L and 225.10mg/L in shake
      flasks, respectively. This study not only demonstrated the potential of microbial
      approach as an alternative to chemical process, but also proved the possibility
      of using oxygen-sensitive enzymes under aerobic conditions. 

PMID- 26873118
TI  - Diagnostic value of telecytology in tertiary teledermatological consultation: a
      retrospective analysis of 75 cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The addition of dermatoscopic images to clinical images is reported
      to increase the diagnostic value of teledermatology. No study has investigated
      the contribution of telecytology to teledermatology. We aimed to assess the
      diagnostic accuracy of telecytology in tertiary teledermatological evaluation.
      METHODS: The study included 75 patients for whom no diagnosis could be
      established at face-to-face clinical examinations and cytological evaluations,
      who therefore consulted with a dermatologist experienced in cytology through the
      store-and-forward method. Telecytological diagnosis was then compared with the
      final diagnosis, and diagnostic accuracy was calculated. RESULTS: In the past 2
      years, 75 patients (38 [50.7%] female, 37 [49.3%] male) were evaluated by
      telecytology. According to definitive diagnoses, 31 patients (41.3%) had erosive
      vesiculobullous, 25 (33.3%) had tumoral, and 19 (15.8%) had granulomatous
      disease. Diagnostic accuracy of telecytology was 90.7%. LIMITATIONS: Our study
      was a retrospective study, and cytological images were evaluated by one
      dermatologist only; therefore, no reliability analysis could be performed.
      CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the cytological images should be used in
      tertiary teledermatological evaluation. Further studies should therefore be
      carried out to investigate the diagnostic value of different telecytological
      methods.

PMID- 26873119
TI  - Development of the synganglion and morphology of the adult nervous system in the
      mite Archegozetes longisetosus Aoki (Chelicerata, Actinotrichida, Oribatida).
AB  - Small arthropods show a highly condensed central nervous system, which is
      accompanied by the loss of the ancestral metameric organization. This results in
      the formation of one solid mass, a synganglion. Although numerous studies
      investigated the morphology of Archegozetes longisetosus, the organization of the
      nervous system is to date unknown. Using synchrotron X-ray microtomography, we
      investigated the organization of the nervous system in the adult stage and the
      development of the synganglion over all five free-living life stages (larva,
      proto-, deuto-, tritonymph and adult). The general morphology of the synganglion
      resembles that of other studied mites (in the classic sense) and ticks, being
      subdivided into a sub- and supraesophageal region, and consisting of cortex and
      neuropil. All nerves entering the walking legs except the first consist of two
      rami. This split is not based on a functional division into a motor and a sensory
      ramus, but both rami contain motor and sensory neurites. Within the synganglion,
      we found structures that resemble the ancestral metameric organization of the
      nervous system of arthropods. The development of the synganglion of A.
      longisetosus shows a more or less linear increase in volume, but cortex and
      neuropil grow at different rates over the five life stages. Between the second
      and third nymphal stage, the volume of the neuropil increases at a faster rate
      than the cortex.

PMID- 26873120
TI  - Success rates of single-dose methotrexate and additional dose requirements among
      women with first and previous ectopic pregnancies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the success of the single-dose methotrexate regimen and the
      requirement for a second or third dose of methotrexate between women with their
      first ectopic pregnancy (EP) and those with previous EP. METHODS: In a
      retrospective cohort study, data were analyzed from women treated for EP by
      single-dose methotrexate at a Turkish tertiary referral center between January
      2010 and December 2013. Data were compared between women with at least one
      previous EP and those with their first EP. RESULTS: The success rate of the
      protocol in the first and previous EP groups was similar: 93.0% (320/344) and
      87.3% (48/55), respectively. History of previous EP was not a predictor of
      treatment failure. However, the requirement for additional methotrexate doses was
      significantly higher in the previous EP group (16/48 [33.4%]) than in the first
      EP group (55/320 [17.2%]; P=0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that history of
      tubal surgery (P=0.006) and initial levels of the beta-subunit of human chorionic
      gonadotropin (P=0.001) were significant predictors of treatment failure.
      CONCLUSION: Although the single-dose regimen had similar success rates in the
      previous EP and first EP groups, additional doses of methotrexate were more
      frequently required in the previous EP group.

PMID- 26873121
TI  - High dependency unit admissions during the first year of a national obstetric
      early warning system.

PMID- 26873124
TI  - Clinician attendance and delivery practices at hospital-based vaginal deliveries
      in Western Kenya.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To characterize delivery practices and factors associated with
      respectful, evidence-based care at a referral hospital in Western Kenya. METHODS:
      An exploratory observational study used a standardized birth-observation form to
      record information on patient characteristics and healthcare practitioner
      behaviors during uncomplicated vaginal deliveries between June 30, 2014 and July
      17, 2014. All deliveries were monitored for whether healthcare staff performed
      six specific evidence-based practices (three maternal and three neonatal
      practices). RESULTS: In total, 75 vaginal deliveries were observed. In 48 (64%)
      deliveries, nursing students were the only practitioners present. The mean number
      of evidence-based practices performed at each delivery was 3.58. The number of
      evidence-based practices performed by junior practitioners was higher when a
      nurse educator was assessing their performance (4.47 vs 3.36, P<0.001). Lower
      mean respectful-care scores were recorded when delivery teams comprised three or
      more practitioners (1.38; 95% confidence interval 0.93-1.84 vs 2.74; 95%
      confidence interval 2.16-3.31, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The present study found low
      rates of evidence-based practice and respectful maternity care; this could serve
      as a deterrent for women seeking care at the study facility. These findings
      emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach in increasing the quality of
      patient care to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

PMID- 26873123
TI  - Effect of subsequent pregnancies on HIV disease progression among women in the
      Mulago Hospital MTCT-Plus program in Uganda.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of subsequent pregnancies on HIV disease
      progression among HIV-infected women at Mulago Hospital, Uganda. METHODS: In a
      retrospective cohort study, data were analyzed from women enrolled in the Mother
      To-Child Transmission Plus program from March 2003 to December 2011. The CD4 cell
      count, the development of new AIDS-defining opportunistic infections, and the
      AIDS-related mortality were compared between women with and without subsequent
      pregnancies. RESULTS: Overall, 409 women were enrolled and 195 (47.7%) had
      subsequent pregnancies. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated in 143 (73.3%)
      women with and 155 (72.4%) women without subsequent pregnancies. Kaplan-Meier
      analysis for women receiving ART showed no differences between women with and
      without subsequent pregnancies in the median times to clinical failure (62.7 vs
      64.7 months; P=0.31), immunological failure (68.8 vs 75.5 months; P=0.10), and
      death (68.8 vs 75.5 months; P=0.53). In a Cox regression analysis, subsequent
      pregnancies were not associated with immunological failure during follow-up
      (adjusted hazard ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 0.06-2.09). CONCLUSION:
      Subsequent pregnancies could have no detrimental effect on HIV disease
      progression among HIV-infected women whose treatment is well managed.

PMID- 26873122
TI  - Intimate partner violence among married couples in India and contraceptive use
      reported by women but not husbands.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess whether intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with
      discordant reports of contraceptive use (whereby wives but not husbands report
      such use) among married couples in Maharashtra, India. METHODS: The present cross
      sectional study in rural Maharashtra, India, analyzed survey data collected in
      2012 among husbands and wives aged 18-30 years, fluent in Marathi, with no prior
      sterilization, and with no current pregnancy or plans to conceive. Crude and
      adjusted logistic regression models assessed husbands' perpetration of IPV in
      relation to discordant reports of contraceptive use. RESULTS: Among 577 couples
      meeting the eligibility criteria, 207 (35.9%) women reported ever experiencing
      physical IPV from their husbands, and 183 (31.7%) reported ever experiencing
      sexual IPV from their husbands. In adjusted logistic regression models,
      discordant contraceptive use was significantly associated with wives' experiences
      of physical IPV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]
      1.15-4.42) and sexual IPV (AOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.08-4.82). CONCLUSION: Women who
      reported IPV from their husbands might be more likely to use contraceptives
      without informing their husbands, possibly to redress the reproductive control
      often exerted by abusive male partners.

PMID- 26873125
TI  - Anti-Mullerian hormone concentrations and antral follicle counts for the
      prediction of pregnancy outcomes after intrauterine insemination.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations and antral
      follicle counts (AFCs) in the prediction of pregnancy outcomes after controlled
      ovarian stimulation among women undergoing intrauterine insemination. METHODS: A
      retrospective study included women with unexplained infertility aged 41years or
      younger who attended a fertility clinic in Italy between December 2009 and May
      2014. Ovarian stimulation was achieved with recombinant follicle-stimulating
      hormone or highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin. Receiver operating
      characteristic curves were generated to predict ongoing pregnancy. The primary
      outcome was the association between AMH/AFC and ongoing pregnancy, and was
      assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 276 women were included, of
      whom 43 (15.6%) achieved ongoing pregnancy. Multivariate analysis showed that
      women with a serum day-3 concentration of AMH higher than 2.3ng/mL were more
      likely to have ongoing pregnancy than were those with a concentration lower than
      2.3ng/mL (odds ratio 5.84, 95% confidence interval 2.38-14.31; P<0.001). No
      associations were recorded for AFCs. CONCLUSION: AMH should be used to predict
      the pregnancy outcome of intrauterine insemination.

PMID- 26873126
TI  - Husbands' experiences and perceptions regarding the use of maternity waiting
      homes in rural Zambia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore men's experience and beliefs regarding the use of maternity
      waiting homes (MWHs) in Kalomo District, Zambia. METHODS: As part of a
      qualitative study, in-depth interviews with the husbands/partners of women
      attending the under-five clinic at a health center with a MWH were conducted
      between April 1 and May 31, 2014. Men aged 18-50 years whose partner/wife was of
      reproductive age and who had lived in the area for more than 6 months were
      eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: Overall, 24 husbands/partners were interviewed
      in seven rural health centers. Men perceived many potential benefits of MWHs,
      including improved access to facility-based skilled delivery services and
      treatment in case of labor complications. Their many roles included decision
      making and securing funds for transport, food, cleaning materials, and clothes
      for the mother and the neonate to use during and after labor. However, limited
      financial resources made it difficult for them to provide for their wives and
      newborns, and usually led to delays in their decisions about MWH use. Poor
      conditions in MWHs and the lack of basic social and healthcare needs meant some
      men had forbidden their wives/partners from using the facilities. CONCLUSION:
      Important intervention targets for improving access to MWHs and skilled birth
      attendance have been identified.

PMID- 26873127
TI  - Evidence from cluster surveys on the association between home-based counseling
      and use of family planning in conflict-affected Darfur.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between home counseling and awareness and
      use of modern family planning (FP) methods among women in internally displaced
      person (IDP) camps in conflict-affected West Darfur, Sudan. METHODS: In a
      community-based cross-sectional study, two questionnaire-based surveys were
      performed in three camps. Home-based counseling had been introduced in March
      2006. An initial survey (February 2007) and a follow-up survey (April 2009)
      targeted women of child-bearing age. A sample of 640 randomly selected women aged
      15-49 years who had experienced pregnancy after joining the camp were interviewed
      for each survey. RESULTS: Overall, modern FP use increased from 10.9% (70/640) in
      2007 to 21.6% (138/640) in 2009 (P<0.001). As compared with the initial survey,
      women in the follow-up survey were more likely to be aware of and to use any
      modern FP method (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.9
      7.4; and aOR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-4.1, respectively). Contraceptive pills were the
      most common modern method used. Home counseling and loss of a child under 5years
      were the most significant predictors of awareness and use of modern FP methods.
      CONCLUSION: After the introduction of home-based FP counseling for couples and FP
      services in clinics, women's awareness and use of modern FP methods increased in
      a conflict-affected setting.

PMID- 26873128
TI  - Evaluation of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria for the
      diagnosis of sepsis due to maternal bacteremia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine, in the setting of maternal bacteremia, the implications
      for the diagnosis of maternal sepsis of customizing the systemic inflammatory
      response syndrome (SIRS) criteria for physiologic changes of pregnancy. METHODS:
      Women with maternal bacteremia in a tertiary maternity hospital during 2009-2014
      were identified. Records were retrospectively reviewed to determine whether they
      fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis based on either the standard SIRS
      parameters derived from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign or SIRS parameters
      customized for pregnancy. Diagnosis of sepsis was based on the presence of two or
      more SIRS criteria, in conjunction with infection, during the hour before and the
      6 hours after phlebotomy for blood culture. RESULTS: Of 93 women with bacteremia,
      61 (66%) would have been diagnosed with sepsis based on standard criteria
      compared with 52 (56%) based on customized criteria (P=0.18). Seventeen women had
      a diagnosis of sepsis based on the standard but not the customized criteria,
      while eight women had sepsis based on the customized but not the standard
      criteria. CONCLUSION: In maternal bacteremia, customized SIRS criteria do not
      increase the rate of diagnosis of sepsis. Prospective studies should investigate
      whether the introduction of customized SIRS criteria can improve clinical
      outcomes.

PMID- 26873129
TI  - Social isolation in women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perceptions of women with endometriosis and chronic
      pelvic pain regarding their social ties. METHODS: A qualitative study was
      undertaken of women with chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis. Focus groups
      discussions among four to six participants were performed until saturation at the
      Clinics Hospital of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, Ribeirao Preto, southwest
      Brazil, between February 2013 and January 2014. Transcripts were analyzed
      according to the grounded theory approach and the emerging categories were coded
      using the WebQDA platform. RESULTS: Six focus group discussions took place, with
      a total of 29 patients. Social isolation was the main emerging theme. Social
      isolation was associated with a lack of understanding about endometriosis
      symptoms and with resignation in face of recurrent pain episodes. Avoiding
      partner intimacy and isolation from family and friends were components of social
      isolation. CONCLUSION: Women with endometriosis develop progressive social
      isolation after the onset of chronic pelvic pain. This finding is important for
      the multidisciplinary management of the disease.

PMID- 26873130
TI  - Violence against women must concern obstetrician-gynecologists.

PMID- 26873131
TI  - Legal and ethical issues of uterus transplantation.
AB  - The clinically detailed report of a successful uterus transplantation and live
      birth in Sweden, in which a family friend donated her uterus, provides a basis
      for expanded practice. Family members and friends can serve as living donors
      without offending legal or ethical prohibitions of paid organ donation, even
      though family members and friends often engage in reciprocal gift exchanges.
      Donations from living unrelated sources are more problematic, and there is a need
      to monitor donors' genuine altruism and motivation. Donation by deceased women
      i.e. cadaveric donation-raises issues of uterus suitability for transplantation,
      and how death is diagnosed. Organs' suitability for donation is often achieved by
      ventilation to maintain cardiac function for blood circulation, but laws and
      cultures could deem that a heartbeat indicates donors' live status. Issues could
      arise concerning ownership and control of organs between recovery from donors and
      implantation into recipients, and on removal following childbirth, that require
      legal resolution. 

PMID- 26873132
TI  - Polypoid and fungating form of elephantiasic pretibial myxedema with involvement
      of the hands.

PMID- 26873133
TI  - Estrogen receptors modulate striatal metabotropic receptor type 5 in intact and
      MPTP male mice model of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Glutamate is the most important brain excitatory neurotransmitter and glutamate
      overactivity is well documented in Parkinson's disease (PD). Metabotropic
      glutamate (mGlu) receptors are reported to interact with membrane estrogen
      receptors (ERs) and more specifically the mGlu5 receptor subtype. 17beta
      estradiol and mGlu5 antagonists have neuroprotective effects in the 1-methyl-4
      phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. We previously
      reported that ERalpha and ERbeta are involved in neuroprotection following MPTP
      toxicity. The present study investigated the implication of ERs on the mGlu5
      receptor adaptive response to MPTP toxicity in the brain of wild type (WT), ER
      knockout (ERKO)alpha and ERKObeta male mice. Autoradiography of [(3)H]ABP688
      specific binding to striatal mGlu5 receptors showed a dorsal/ventral gradient
      similar for WT, ERKOalpha and ERKObeta mice with higher values ventrally. The
      lateral septum had highest [(3)H]ABP688 specific binding that remained unchanged
      in all experimental groups. ERKOalpha and ERKObeta mice had similarly lower
      striatal [(3)H]ABP688 specific binding than WT mice as measured also by Western
      blots. MPTP dose-dependently decreased striatal [(3)H]ABP688 specific binding in
      WT but not in ERKOalpha and ERKObeta mice; this correlated positively with
      striatal dopamine concentrations. A 17beta-estradiol treatment for 10 days left
      unchanged striatal [(3)H]ABP688 specific binding of unlesioned mice of the three
      genotypes. 17beta-estradiol treatment for 5 days before MPTP and for 5 days after
      partially prevented the mGlu5 receptor decrease only in WT MPTP mice and this was
      associated with higher BDNF striatal contents. These results thus show that in
      male mice ERs affect striatal mGlu5 receptor levels and their response to MPTP.

PMID- 26873135
TI  - Editorial overview: Folding and binding: Dynamic conformational heterogeneity is
      pivotal to cell life.

PMID- 26873134
TI  - Effect of steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone, on epithelial mesenchymal
      transition in ovarian cancer development.
AB  - As the primary female sex steroid hormones, estrogens and progesterone play
      important roles to regulate growth, differentiation, and function of a broad
      range of target tissues in the human body and maintain the function of female
      reproductive tissues. Ovarian cancer is the most cause of cancer death in
      gynecological malignancy. Despite enormous outcomes in the understanding of
      ovarian cancer pathology, this disease has resulted in poor survival rates since
      most patients are asymptomatic until the disease has been metastasized. The exact
      molecular events leading to metastasis of ovarian tumor cells have not yet been
      well elucidated, although it is recognized that the acquisition of capacity for
      migration and invasiveness would be a necessary prerequisite. During metastasis,
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important process, in which
      epithelial cells lose their intracellular adhesion and cell polarity and acquire
      increased motility and invasive properties to become mesenchymal like cells. The
      process of cancer cells to undergo EMT is regulated through the up- and down-
      regulation of a multiple cellular markers and signaling proteins. In this review,
      we focused the roles of women sex steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in
      ovarian cancer, especially the ovarian cancer undergoing EMT and metastatic
      process. All things considered, we may suggest that progesterone is a potent
      hormone which inhibits the growth of human ovarian cancer cells and development
      to metastasis whereas estrogen may act as a risk factor of ovarian cancer
      progression and that progesterone therapy may be an alternative clinically
      effective tool for the treatment of human ovarian cancer. 

PMID- 26873136
TI  - Spheroid culture of LuCaP 136 patient-derived xenograft enables versatile
      preclinical models of prostate cancer.
AB  - LuCaP serially transplantable patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are valuable
      preclinical models of locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Using
      spheroid culture methodology, we recently established cell lines from several
      LuCaP PDXs. Here, we characterized in depth the features of xenografts derived
      from LuCaP 136 spheroid cultures and found faithful retention of the phenotype of
      the original PDX. In vitro culture enabled luciferase transfection into LuCaP 136
      spheroids, facilitating in vivo imaging. We showed that LuCaP 136 spheroids
      formed intratibial, orthotopic, and subcutaneous tumors when re-introduced into
      mice. Intratibial tumors responded to castration and were highly osteosclerotic.
      LuCaP 136 is a realistic in vitro-in vivo preclinical model of a subtype of bone
      metastatic prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26873138
TI  - Polarity correction factor for flattening filter free photon beams in several
      cylindrical ionization chambers.
AB  - In this study, we aimed to compare the polarity correction factor in ionization
      chambers for flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams and flattening filter (FF)
      beams. Measurements were performed with both 6 and 10 MV FFF and FF beams. Five
      commercial ionization chambers were evaluated: PTW TN30013; IBA Dosimetry CC01,
      CC04, and CC13; and Exradin A12S. Except for the CC01 ionization chamber, the
      other four chambers showed less than a 0.3 % difference in the polarity effect
      between the FFF and the FF beams. The CC01 chamber showed a strong field-size
      dependence, unlike the other chambers. The polarity effect for all chambers with
      FFF beams did not change with the dose rate. Except in the case of the CC01
      chamber, the difference in the polarity effect between FFF and FF beams was not
      significant. 

PMID- 26873137
TI  - Versican and vascular endothelial growth factor expression levels in peritoneal
      metastases from colorectal cancer are associated with survival after
      cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
AB  - Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
      can increase survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal
      metastases (PM). This treatment is associated with high morbidity and mortality
      rates. Therefore, improvement of patient selection is necessary. Assuming that
      the clinical phenotype is dictated by biological mechanisms, biomarkers could
      play a crucial role in this process. Since it is unknown whether and to what
      extent angiogenesis influences the course of disease in patients with PM, we
      investigated the expression of two angiogenesis-related markers and their
      relation to overall survival (OS) in CRC patients after CRS and HIPEC.
      Clinicopathological data and tissue samples were collected from 65 CRC patients
      with isolated metastases to the peritoneum that underwent CRS and HIPEC. Whole
      tissue specimens from PM were evaluated for versican (VCAN) expression, VEGF
      expression and microvessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemistry. The relation
      between these markers and OS was assessed using univariate and multivariate
      analysis. Associations between VEGF expression, VCAN expression, MVD and
      clinicopathological data were tested. High stromal VCAN expression was associated
      with high MVD (p = 0.001), better resection outcome (p = 0.003) and high T-stage
      (p = 0.027). High epithelial VCAN expression was associated with MVD (p = 0.007)
      and a more complete resection (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, simplified
      peritoneal cancer index (p = 0.001), VEGF expression levels (p = 0.012), age (p =
      0.030), epithelial VCAN expression levels (p = 0.042) and lymph node status (p =
      0.053) were associated with OS. Concluding, VCAN and VEGF were associated with
      survival in CRC patients with PM after CRS and HIPEC. Independent validation in a
      well-defined patient cohort is required to confirm the putative prognostic role
      of these candidate biomarkers. 

PMID- 26873139
TI  - Impact of pitch angle setup error and setup error correction on dose distribution
      in volumetric modulated arc therapy for prostate cancer.
AB  - In volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for prostate cancer, a positional and
      rotational error correction is performed according to the position and angle of
      the prostate. The correction often involves body leaning, and there is concern
      regarding variation in the dose distribution. Our purpose in this study was to
      evaluate the impact of body pitch rotation on the dose distribution regarding
      VMAT. Treatment plans were obtained retrospectively from eight patients with
      prostate cancer. The body in the computed tomography images for the original VMAT
      plan was shifted to create VMAT plans with virtual pitch angle errors of +/-1.5
      degrees  and +/-3 degrees . Dose distributions for the tilted plans were
      recalculated with use of the same beam arrangement as that used for the original
      VMAT plan. The mean value of the maximum dose differences in the dose
      distributions between the original VMAT plan and the tilted plans was 2.98 +/-
      0.96 %. The value of the homogeneity index for the planning target volume (PTV)
      had an increasing trend according to the pitch angle error, and the values of the
      D 95 for the PTV and D 2ml, V 50, V 60, and V 70 for the rectum had decreasing
      trends (p < 0.05). However, there was no correlation between differences in these
      indexes and the maximum dose difference. The pitch angle error caused by body
      leaning had little effect on the dose distribution; in contrast, the pitch angle
      correction reduced the effects of organ displacement and improved these indexes.
      Thus, the pitch angle setup error in VMAT for prostate cancer should be
      corrected. 

PMID- 26873140
TI  - Usefulness of standardized uptake value normalized by individual CT-based lean
      body mass in application of PET response criteria in solid tumors (PERCIST).
AB  - Our aim in this study was to verify the usefulness of the standardized uptake
      value (SUV) normalized by individual CT-based lean body mass (LBMCT) in
      application of PET response criteria in solid tumors (PERCIST).We retrospectively
      investigated 14 patients (4 male and 10 female) with malignant lymphoma who were
      undergoing chemotherapy. (18)F-FDG PET/CT examinations were performed before and
      after chemotherapy. The LBMCT was calculated by estimation of fat weight from CT
      data (from skull base to pelvis). The mean +/- standard deviation (SD) and the
      Bland-Altman plot were used for comparison among body weight, LBMCT, and LBM
      derived from a predictive equation (LBMPE). Indices for FDG uptake in the liver
      were: SUV, SUV based on LBMPE (SULPE), and SUV based on LBMCT (SULCT). Overall
      differences between the uptake values were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. If the
      ANOVA showed significance, differences between uptake values were investigated
      further by use of the Tukey-Kramer test. The mean values of body weight, LBMPE,
      and LBMCT were: 55.4 +/- 14.9 (39.0-112.0), 43.0 +/- 10.5 (31.3-75.2), and 35.3
      +/- 9.8 (23.4-75.8) kg, respectively. There was a wide dispersion between LBMPE
      and LBMCT (differences, 7.6 +/- 3.6 kg; 95 % CI, 6.42-8.85). LBMPE was higher
      than LBMCT in all the cases except in Case 11. The mean uptake values
      significantly differed among SUV, SULPE, and SULCT (F = 68.3, p < 0.05). Whereas
      SULPE deviated from PERCIST criteria in seven patients, SULCT satisfied the
      criteria except in one case. These results suggest that liver SULCT is useful for
      application of PERCIST. 

PMID- 26873141
TI  - Perceived health concerns among sexual minority women in Mumbai, India: an
      exploratory qualitative study.
AB  - The experiences of sexual minority women (i.e., women who do not identify as
      'heterosexual') in India have largely been absent in scientific literature. In
      partnership with India's oldest and largest sexual and gender minority-advocacy
      organisation, the Humsafar Trust, our study used community-based participatory
      research principles to explore the lived experiences and health concerns of
      sexual minority women in Mumbai. Study methodologies included interviews with key
      informants, a focus group comprised of six women, and an additional 12 in-person
      interviews with sexual minority women to identify important physical, mental,
      social and other health priorities from these women's perspectives. Thematic data
      are organised within the framework offered by the social ecological model,
      including individual, interpersonal, micro and macro levels. Findings from this
      study are important in providing the groundwork for future research and
      intervention involving sexual minority women in India, a dramatically underserved
      population.

PMID- 26873142
TI  - Clinical Evaluation of a Novel and Mobile Autism Risk Assessment.
AB  - The Mobile Autism Risk Assessment (MARA) is a new, electronically administered, 7
      question autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screen to triage those at highest risk
      for ASD. Children 16 months-17 years (N = 222) were screened during their first
      visit in a developmental-behavioral pediatric clinic. MARA scores were compared
      to diagnosis from the clinical encounter. Participant median age was 5.8 years,
      76.1 % were male, and most participants had an intelligence/developmental
      quotient score >85; 69 of the participants (31 %) received a clinical diagnosis
      of ASD. The sensitivity of the MARA in detecting ASD was 89.9 % [95 % CI = 82.7
      97]; the specificity was 79.7 % [95 % CI = 73.4-86.1]. In a high-risk clinical
      setting, the MARA shows promise as a screen to distinguish ASD from other
      developmental/behavioral disorders.

PMID- 26873144
TI  - Results from the National Perinatal Patient Safety Program in Sweden: the
      challenge of evaluation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We studied the effects of the national Perinatal Patient Safety
      Program in Sweden, addressing local improvement measures, changes in the
      proportion of low Apgar score and the number of settled injury claims due to
      asphyxia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Final reports on achieved improvements from all
      Swedish obstetric units were analyzed and categories of the improvement measures
      taken in perinatal risk areas were established. Data on all term newborns during
      2006-12 were obtained from the Medical Birth Registry. Incidence of 5-min Apgar
      score <7 was analyzed before, during and after the intervention. The odds ratio
      for low Apgar score in period III vs. period I was calculated. Patient injury
      claims from The Swedish National Patient Insurance Company (LOF) were analyzed.
      RESULTS: Numerous local improvement initiatives were reported. The incidence of 5
      min Apgar score <7 on a national level remained unchanged during the study
      periods. The units with the highest rate of Apgar score <7 showed a significant
      decrease in Apgar score of 4-6 after the intervention, whereas units with the
      lowest rate of Apgar score <7 showed a significant increase in Apgar score <7
      after the intervention. A decline in settled claims due to substandard care was
      observed (7.5%, 2012-14; p for trend 0.049). CONCLUSION: The national incidence
      of low Apgar score remained unchanged but a reduction of settled claims of
      severely asphyxiated neonates was observed. The study highlights the need for
      robust designs when evaluating large-scale initiatives for improving patient
      safety at delivery, along with the difficulties in performing them.

PMID- 26873143
TI  - Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Current Conceptualization, and Transition
      to DSM-5.
AB  - Mirroring the evolution of the conceptualization of autism has been changes in
      the diagnostic process, including the most recent revisions to the DSM-5 and the
      addition of severity-based diagnostic modifiers assigned on the basis of
      intensity of needed supports. A review of recent literature indicates that in
      research stratifying individuals on the basis of autism severity, core ASD
      symptomology is the primary consideration. This conceptualization is disparate
      from the conceptualization put forth in DSM-5 in which severity determination is
      based on level of needed support, which is also impacted by cognitive, language,
      behavioral, and adaptive functioning. This paper reviews literature in this area
      and discusses possible instruments that may be useful to inform clinical judgment
      in determining ASD severity levels.

PMID- 26873146
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26873145
TI  - MYC-induced apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells is associated with repression
      of lineage-specific gene signatures.
AB  - Apoptosis caused by deregulated MYC expression is a prototype example of
      intrinsic tumor suppression. However, it is still unclear how supraphysiological
      MYC expression levels engage specific sets of target genes to promote apoptosis.
      Recently, we demonstrated that repression of SRF target genes by MYC/MIZ1
      complexes limits AKT-dependent survival signaling and contributes to apoptosis
      induction. Here we report that supraphysiological levels of MYC repress gene sets
      that include markers of basal-like breast cancer cells, but not luminal cancer
      cells, in a MIZ1-dependent manner. Furthermore, repressed genes are part of a
      conserved gene signature characterizing the basal subpopulation of both murine
      and human mammary gland. These repressed genes play a role in epithelium and
      mammary gland development and overlap with genes mediating cell adhesion and
      extracellular matrix organization. Strikingly, acute activation of oncogenic MYC
      in basal mammary epithelial cells is sufficient to induce luminal cell identity
      markers. We propose that supraphysiological MYC expression impacts on mammary
      epithelial cell identity by repressing lineage-specific target genes. Such abrupt
      cell identity switch could interfere with adhesion-dependent survival signaling
      and thus promote apoptosis in pre-malignant epithelial tissue.

PMID- 26873147
TI  - Prevalence of mitochondrial DNA mutations in sporadic patients with nonsyndromic
      sensorineural hearing loss.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Several mitochondrial DNA mutations have been reported to be
      associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss in several families. However, little is
      known about the prevalence of these mutations in sporadic patients with
      nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was
      to investigate the incidence of these mitochondrial DNA mutations in such
      population. METHODS: A total of 178 sporadic patients with nonsyndromic
      sensorineural hearing loss were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted
      from the peripheral blood sample. We employed the SNaPshot((r)) sequencing method
      to detect five mitochondrial DNA mutations, including A1555G and A827G in 12S
      rRNA gene and A7445G, 7472insC, and T7511C in tRNA(Ser(UCN)) gene. Meanwhile, we
      used polymerase chain reaction and sequenced the products to screen GJB2 gene
      mutations in patients carrying mitochondrial DNA mutations. RESULTS: We failed to
      detect the presence of A1555G mutation in 12S rRNA gene, and of A7445G, 7472insC,
      T7511C mutations in tRNA(Ser(UCN)) gene in our population. However, we found that
      6 patients (3.37%) were carriers of a homozygous A827G mutation and one of them
      also carried homozygous GJB2 235delC mutation. CONCLUSION: Our findings in the
      present study indicate that even in sporadic patients with nonsyndromic
      sensorineural hearing loss, mitochondrial DNA mutations might also contribute to
      the clinical phenotype.

PMID- 26873148
TI  - Intratympanic corticosteroid for sudden hearing loss: does it really work?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sudden deafness is characterized by an abrupt hearing loss of at
      least 30dB in three sequential frequencies in the standard pure tone audiogram
      over three days or less. Treatment is based on its etiology, and oral
      corticosteroids are widely used. Intratympanic corticosteroids are included as
      primary or secondary treatment when there is no improvement with the use of oral
      corticosteroids. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of therapy with
      intratympanic steroids in sudden deafness. METHODS: A systematic review was
      performed of publications on the topic in the databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, with
      the keywords: sudden deafness, sudden hearing loss, and corticosteroids. RESULTS:
      Thirty scientific studies were analyzed. As to the objectives of the study
      analyzed, 76.7% sought to evaluate the use of intratympanic therapy salvage after
      failure to conventional treatment, and intratympanic therapy was used as the
      primary treatment 23.3% of the studies. CONCLUSION: Intratympanic corticosteroid
      therapy is prescribed primarily when there is failure of conventional therapy and
      when it is limited to use systemic corticosteroids, such as the diabetic patient.

PMID- 26873149
TI  - Capsule Commentary on Rana et al., Diabetes and Prior Coronary Heart Disease Are
      Not Necessarily Risk Equivalent for Future Coronary Heart Disease Events.

PMID- 26873150
TI  - The Relation Between Living Group Climate, Aggression, and Callous-Unemotional
      Traits in Delinquent Boys in Detention.
AB  - Aggression and callous-unemotional (CU) traits are common problems in
      incarcerated delinquent youth. The present study was conducted to examine whether
      living group climate was associated with aggression and CU traits in late
      adolescent male offenders ( N = 156) in a German youth prison. A structural
      equation model was fitted to the data and showed associations between repression
      and reactive aggression and CU traits, but no associations between an open and
      supportive living group climate and aggression and CU traits. Previous research
      in Dutch youth prisons did not find a relation between repression and aggression,
      buta relation between a positive living group climate and less aggression. These
      different findings may reflect differences in the German and Dutch prison system.
      Implications for practice are discussed.

PMID- 26873152
TI  - A Dynamic Risk Factors-Based Typology of Sexual Offenders.
AB  - The purpose of this article was to develop an Spanish psychometric typology of
      sexual offenders taking into account dynamic risk factors. The sample comprised
      94 sex offenders imprisoned in Spain (52 rapists and 42 child molesters). The
      analysis yielded two different offender categories based on the subjects'
      criminogenic needs level (high and low). The results also showed that social
      desirability has a strong influence on the developed typologies, whereas the
      offence type, sociodemographic characteristics, and criminal history do not. A
      dynamic risk factors typology, such as the one proposed here, could help criminal
      and correctional facilities to fulfill their remit. It could also be useful for
      linking treatment intensity to offenders' criminogenic needs, as well as
      providing a platform for recidivism risk assessments.

PMID- 26873153
TI  - The diagnostic utility of labial salivary gland biopsy in IgG4-related disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: For the definitive diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD),
      biopsies of local lesions are recommended so as to exclude other diseases,
      including lymphoma and cancer. However, performing biopsies of underlying organs
      is technically difficult. In this study, we examined the diagnostic utility of
      labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy as a less invasive procedure. METHODS: Sixty
      six patients with suspected IgG4-RD by clinical findings or high serum IgG4
      underwent LSG biopsy. We examined the relationship between the number of IgG4
      positive plasma cells in LSG and clinical findings. RESULTS: The final diagnosis
      was 45 patients with IgG4-RD, 12 with Sjogren's syndrome, four with suspected
      Sjogren's syndrome, three with malignant lymphoma, one with systemic lupus
      erythematosus, and one with Warthin's tumor. The sensitivity, specificity, and
      accuracy of LSG biopsy were 55.6%, 100.0%, and 70.0%, respectively. Forty-five
      IgG4-RD patients were divided into two groups: 1) 25 with lesions of salivary
      glands (IgG4-RD S+) and 2) 20 without these lesions (IgG4-RD S-). Seventeen of 25
      (68.0%) IgG4-RD S + and 8 of 20 (40.0%) IgG4-RD S - patients were positive for
      LSG biopsy. In the IgG4-RD S - patients, the mean number of affected organs and
      serum IgG4 in the positive cases for LSG biopsy were significantly higher than in
      the negative cases. CONCLUSION: A solo LSG biopsy is insufficient for the
      diagnosis of IgG4-RD because of its low sensitivity. However, LSG biopsy combined
      with clinical findings, including serum IgG4 and number of affected organs, may
      contribute towards a diagnosis of IgG4-RD patients with affected underlying
      organs.

PMID- 26873156
TI  - Body composition and energy and protein nutritional requirements for weight gain
      in Santa Ines crossbred sheep.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the body composition and net energy and
      protein requirements for weight gain in Santa Ines crossbred sheep. Thirty
      woolless, 4-month-old, castrated male sheep with an initial body weight (BW) of
      19.77 +/- 1.99 kg were used. Six animals (reference group) were slaughtered after
      the adaptation period to estimate empty body weight (EBW) and initial body
      composition. The remaining 24 animals were randomly distributed among four
      treatments (experimental diets) and slaughtered when they reached 30.24 +/- 0.78
      kg BW. The body composition ranged from 162.88 to 160.4 g protein/kg EBW, from
      59.49 to 164.23 g fat/kg EBW and from 1.54 to 2.46 Mcal energy/kg EBW for animals
      ranging between 20 and 30 kg BW. The net energy requirement for Santa Ines
      crossbred sheep linearly increased when BW increased from 20 to 30 kg. Within
      that same weight range, the net protein requirement for weight gain in sheep was
      constant, ranging from 12.61 to 12.42 g/day to 100 g daily weight gain. 

PMID- 26873157
TI  - New approaches for morphological diagnosis of bovine Eimeria species: a study on
      a subtropical organic dairy farm in Brazil.
AB  - Bovine eimeriosis or coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by Eimeria spp.
      which is related to gastrointestinal disorders and, in some cases, death. The
      current work aimed to identify and provide detailed morphological characteristic
      features of the different Eimeria spp. parasites of crossbred cows of a
      subtropical organic dairy farm in Brazil, offering tools for the diagnosis of
      bovine eimeriosis. Eimeria auburnensis, Eimeria bovis, Eimeria bukidnonensis,
      Eimeria canadensis, Eimeria cylindrica, Eimeria ildefonsoi, and Eimeria zuernii
      were identified. The application of line regressions and ANOVA provided a means
      for the identification of these species. Finally, the current work proposes a
      dichotomous key to assist in the morphologic identification of bovine Eimeria
      spp. oocysts. 

PMID- 26873158
TI  - Risk of Avalanche Involvement in Winter Backcountry Recreation: The Advantage of
      Small Groups.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Avalanches are the primary hazard for winter backcountry
      recreationists and cause numerous deaths and injuries annually. Although
      recreationists usually travel in groups, there is little empirical knowledge on
      group-related risk factors. This study aims to explore the relative risk of
      avalanche accidents with respect to group size and to discuss underlying reasons
      for different risk levels. METHODS: We compared backcountry usage data in regions
      in Switzerland and Italy with avalanche accident data in these regions. RESULTS:
      We found higher avalanche risk for groups of 4 or more people and lower risk for
      people traveling alone and in groups of 2. The relative risk of group size 4, 5,
      and 6 was higher compared with the reference group size of 2 in the Swiss and
      Italian dataset. The relative risk for people traveling alone was not
      significantly different compared with the reference group size of 2 in the
      Italian dataset but was lower in the Swiss dataset. CONCLUSIONS: These findings
      are in accordance with avalanche safety recommendations regarding the higher risk
      of large groups but not regarding lower risks of people traveling alone in
      avalanche terrain, which is not recommended and requires great caution. Further
      studies on backcountry usage are necessary to improve our understanding of human
      behavior and risk factors. New techniques (eg, video monitoring) may be useful
      for acquiring reliable data on backcountry usage.

PMID- 26873159
TI  - Association of anti-Ro/SSA antibody with response to biologics in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of three different biologics in anti
      Ro/SSA antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients with rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA). METHODS: The study subjects were 110 biologics naive patients with RA who
      started treatment with biologics and examined for anti-Ro/SSA antibody between
      December 2003 and March 2014. For patients treated with intravenous infliximab
      (IFX), tocilizumab (TCZ), or abatacept (ABT), we compared the clinical
      characteristics and changes in composite disease activity index, such as DAS28,
      SDAI, and CDAI, for 12 months in anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive and antibody
      negative patients. RESULTS: We examined 59 patients (nine were positive and 50
      were negative for anti-Ro/SSA antibody) treated with IFX, 27 patients (5 positive
      and 22 negative) treated with TCZ, and 24 patients (13 positive and 11 negative)
      treated with ABT. For patients treated with IFX, parameters of disease activity
      did not change significantly from baseline in anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive
      patients, whereas they improved in antibody-negative patients. On the other hand,
      treatment with TCZ and ABT significantly decreased disease activity, relative to
      baseline, in both anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients.
      Anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive patients treated with IFX showed higher frequency
      of HACA and seroconversion of ANA, and lower serum TGF-beta levels. CONCLUSIONS:
      Positivity to anti-Ro/SSA in RA seems to confer resistance to IFX via production
      of HACA and ANA, and low serum TGF-beta levels, but not to TCZ and ABT.

PMID- 26873160
TI  - Mycoplasma genitalium: a possible case of macrolide resistance from Lebanon.

PMID- 26873161
TI  - Neurosyphilis: from infection to autoinflammation?

PMID- 26873162
TI  - Optimising physical activity engagement during youth sport: a self-determination
      theory approach.
AB  - Research suggests participation in youth sport does not guarantee physical
      activity (PA) guidelines are met. Studies indicate few children achieve
      recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during their
      youth sport involvement, and habitual levels of MVPA are below the recommended 60
      min per day. Informed by self-determination theory, this study examined whether
      the coach-created social environment and related player motivation predict
      variability in objectively measured MVPA within the youth sport setting. Seventy
      three male youth sport footballers (Mean age = 11.66 +/- 1.62) completed a
      multisection questionnaire assessing their perceptions of the social environment
      created in youth sport (autonomy supportive and controlling) and motivation
      towards their football participation (autonomous and controlled). Intensity of PA
      during youth sport was measured using accelerometers (GT3X, ActiGraph). Results
      supported a model in which perceptions of autonomy support significantly and
      positively predicted autonomous motivation towards football, which in turn
      significantly and positively predicted youth sport MVPA (% time). A significant
      indirect effect was observed for perceptions of autonomy support on youth sport
      %MVPA via autonomous motivation. Results have implications for optimising MVPA
      engagement during youth sport and increasing daily MVPA towards recommended and
      health-enhancing levels on youth sport days. 

PMID- 26873163
TI  - Informed consent: do information pamphlets improve post-operative risk-recall in
      patients undergoing total thyroidectomy: prospective randomized control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Informed consent consists of basic five elements: voluntarism,
      capacity, disclosure, understanding, and ultimate decision-making. Physician
      disclosure, patient understanding, and information retention are all essential in
      the doctor-patient relationship. This is inclusive of helping patients make and
      manage their decisions and expectations better and also to deal with any
      consequences and/or complications that arise. This study investigates whether
      giving patients procedure-specific handouts pre-operatively as part of the
      established informed consent process significantly improves overall risk-recall
      following surgery. These handouts outline the anticipated peri-operative risks
      and complications associated with total thyroidectomy, as well as the corrective
      measures to address complications. In addition, the influence of potential
      confounders affecting risk-recall, such as anxiety and pre-existing memory
      disturbance, are also examined. METHODS: Consecutive adult (>=18 years old)
      patients undergoing total thyroidectomy at a single academic tertiary care
      referral centre are included. Participants are randomly assigned into either the
      experimental group (with pamphlets) or the control group by a computerized
      randomization system (Clinstat). All participants filled out a Hospital Anxiety
      and Depression Scale (HADS) and they are tested by the physician for short-term
      memory loss using the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) exam. All patients are
      evaluated at one week post-operatively. The written recall questionnaire test is
      also administered during this clinical encounter. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients
      are included--25 of them receive verbal consent only, while another 24 patients
      received both verbal consent and patient education information pamphlets. The
      overall average of correct answers for each group was 83% and 80% in the control
      and intervention groups, respectively, with no statistically significant
      differences. There are also no statistically significant differences between the
      two groups, in both interview duration, in time between interviews, and in recall
      tests. No correlation is also apparent between the pre-op HADS score and the
      recall questionnaire overall score. CONCLUSIONS: A pre-operative thyroid surgical
      information pamphlet alone might not be sufficient to enhance patient test scores
      and optimally educate the patient on their expected care pathway in thyroid
      surgery. Supplementation with alternative means of patient education perhaps
      using emerging technologies needs to be further investigated.

PMID- 26873164
TI  - Quality of life of patients with Diabetes Mellitus Types 1 and 2 from a referal
      health centre in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
AB  - Quality of life (QoL) characteristics are important in patients with diabetes
      mellitus (DM 1 and 2). AIM: Evaluate QoL and DM-associated factors among diabetic
      patients. METHODS: Patients attending a University Hospital were interviewed
      about their sociodemographic, clinical and QoL characteristics, with QoL measured
      via the EQ-5D. Descriptive analysis, correlation, linear regression, univariate
      and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: 346 patients took part,
      comprising 67% women, 59% with DM2, and 32% DM1. DM 1 patients had a mean QoL
      score of 0.7369, with retinopathy, depression, dyslipidemia and a serious
      hypoglycemic crisis significantly reducing QoL. Patients with DM type 2 had a
      mean QoL score of 0.6582, with hypertension, neuropathy, depression, cancer and
      dyslipidemia significantly reducing QoL. Reduced QoL also correlated with a lack
      of physical exercise. Males with both DM1 and 2 had a better QoL than females.
      CONCLUSION: Need for better disease monitoring and control combined with
      effective activities to improve self-care, reduce complications and improve
      patients' QoL.

PMID- 26873167
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26873165
TI  - Use of Statins to Augment Progenitor Cell Function in Preclinical and Clinical
      Studies of Regenerative Therapy: a Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells
      (EPCs) are used in cell-based regenerative therapy. HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
      (statins) appear promising in blocking apoptosis, prolonging progenitor cell
      survival and improving their capacity to repair organ function. METHODS: We
      performed a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies to clarify
      whether statins can improve cell-based repair of organ injury. MEDLINE, EMBASE,
      and PUBMED databases were searched (1947 to June 25, 2013). Controlled clinical
      and pre-clinical studies were included that evaluated statin therapy used alone
      or in combination with MSCs or EPCs in patients or animals with organ injury.
      RESULTS: After screening 771 citations, 100 records underwent full eligibility
      screening of which 38 studies met eligibility and were included in the review:
      Studies were grouped into pre-clinical studies that involved statin treatment in
      combination with cell therapy (18 studies), preclinical studies of statin therapy
      alone (13 studies) and clinical studies of statin therapy (7 studies). Studies
      addressed cardiac injury (14 studies), vascular disorders (15 studies),
      neurologic conditions (8 studies) and bone fractures (1 study). Pre-clinical
      studies of statins in combination with MSC infusion (15 studies) or EPC therapy
      (3 studies) were described and despite marked heterogeneity in reporting outcomes
      of cellular analysis and organ function, all of these cell-based pre-clinical
      studies reported improved organ recovery with the addition of statin therapy.
      Moreover, 13 pre-clinical studies involved the administration of a statin drug
      alone to animals. An increase in EPC number and/or function (no studies of MSCs)
      was reported in 11 of these studies (85 %) and improved organ function in 12
      studies (92 %). We also identified 7 clinical studies and none involved the
      administration of cells but described an increased number and/or function of EPCs
      (no studies of MSCs) and improved organ function with statin therapy (1.2-fold to
      35-fold improvement over controls) in all 7 studies. CONCLUSION: Our systematic
      review provides a foundation of encouraging results that support further study of
      statins in regenerative therapy to augment the number and/or function of MSCs
      used in cell-based repair and to augment the number and function of EPCs in vivo
      to repair damaged tissues. Larger studies are needed to ensure safety and confirm
      clinical benefits.

PMID- 26873168
TI  - Moises Broggi i Valles (1908-2012): Military surgeon and Catalan humanitarian.
AB  - Catalan surgeon Moises Broggi entered medical practice in 1931 as Spain was
      modernizing rapidly. Five years later, however, an attempted military coup
      sparked a nationwide civil war. Broggi offered his services to the embattled
      Republic and joined the Medical Service of the International Brigades. He served
      alongside colleagues from many countries, helping to develop advances in military
      medicine and especially trauma surgery. Broggi chose to remain working in
      Barcelona as Franco's Nationalist forces entered the city, in spite of the risk
      of reprisal he faced as a former officer of the International Brigades. Although
      forced from his leading position in the public health service, he developed a
      distinguished private practice. In the year of Franco's death he became President
      of Barcelona's Royal Academy of Medicine and he received many other honours. Just
      months before his death at the remarkable age of 104, Dr Moises Broggi continued
      to discuss and write about the concerns that had directed the course of his life-
      advances in medical science and the intellectual and political repression that
      had hindered delivery of those advances. In an article titled Exile and Silence
      he noted the groundbreaking work carried out under the auspices of the
      prestigious scientific institutions founded during Spain's Second Republic and
      the subsequent dark decades of exile suffered by many of their prominent
      scientists, some of them his close friends.

PMID- 26873166
TI  - Introduction of a polar core into the de novo designed protein Top7.
AB  - Design of polar interactions is a current challenge for protein design. The de
      novo designed protein Top7, like almost all designed proteins, has an entirely
      nonpolar core. Here we describe the replacing of a sizable fraction (5 residues)
      of this core with a designed polar hydrogen bond network. The polar core design
      is expressed at high levels in E. coli, has a folding free energy of 10 kcal/mol,
      and retains the multiphasic folding kinetics of the original Top7. The NMR
      structure of the design shows that conformations of three of the five residues,
      and the designed hydrogen bonds between them, are very close to those in the
      design model. The remaining two residues, which are more solvent exposed, sample
      a wide range of conformations in the NMR ensemble. These results show that
      hydrogen bond networks can be designed in protein cores, but also highlight
      challenges that need to be overcome when there is competition with solvent.

PMID- 26873169
TI  - Nathaniel Hodges (1629-1688): Plague doctor.
AB  - Nathaniel Hodges was the son of Thomas Hodges (1605-1672), an influential
      Anglican preacher and reformer with strong connections in the political life of
      Carolingian London. Educated at Westminster School, Trinity College Cambridge and
      Christ Church College, Oxford, Nathaniel established himself as a physician in
      Walbrook Ward in the City of London. Prominent as one of a handful of medical men
      who remained in London during the time of the Great Plague of 1665, he wrote the
      definitive work on the outbreak. His daily precautions against contracting the
      disease included fortifying himself with Theodore de Mayerne's antipestilential
      electuary and the liberal consumption of Sack. Hodges' approach to the treatment
      of plague victims was empathetic and based on the traditional Galenic method
      rather than Paracelsianism although he was pragmatic in the rejection of formulae
      and simples which he judged from experience to be ineffective. Besieged by
      financial problems in later life, his practice began to fail in the 1680s and he
      eventually died in a debtor's prison. 

PMID- 26873170
TI  - Mansur ibn Ilyas (1380-1422 AD): A Persian anatomist and his book of anatomy,
      Tashrih-i Mansuri.
AB  - A Persian scholar, Mansur ibn Elyas, a late 14th century anatomist and physician
      from Shiraz, published his illustrated book on anatomy. Mansur's anatomy (Tashrih
      i Badan-i Insan) was written following the Mansur's medical synopsis, Kefaye
      Mojahedieh. The book of Mansur is believed to be the first anatomical illustrated
      manuscript containing two-dimensional pictures of the human body. This 14th
      century treatise is composed in Persian and is organized into five articles on
      the skeleton, nerves, muscles, veins and arteries, each illustrated with a full
      page diagram and with a final chapter including an image of a pregnant woman
      delivering a breech baby. These chapters have description part and related figure
      involving brief explanation. Mansur's illustrations were often used in other
      Persian or Arabic medical manuscripts for at least two centuries in Persia. 

PMID- 26873171
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26873173
TI  - Insights on N-glycosylation of human haptoglobin and its association with
      cancers.
AB  - Protein glycosylation is one of the most significant post-translation
      modifications and plays a critical role in various biological functions.
      Haptoglobin (Hp) is one of the acute-phase response proteins secreted by liver.
      Its glycosylation could be analyzed by many analytical techniques qualitatively
      and quantitatively. The glycosylation alterations of Hp are reported to be
      associated with different kinds of diseases. The main glycosylation alterations
      of Hp in cancer appear to be the presence of aberrantly fucosylated and
      sialylated structures as well as increased branching. In this mini review, we
      provided a brief overview of Hp structure and biological function, discussed its
      glycosylation alterations in different cancers, and described the existing
      technologies for analyzing glycosylation site and glycan of Hp. Given the
      importance of Hp glycosylation, its unknown and unclear biological complexity and
      significances, Hp glycosylation has become a major target in cancer research.
      Development of sensitive and specific detection of Hp glycosylation including
      large-scale validation may be significant steps forward to its clinical
      application.

PMID- 26873172
TI  - Galectin-12 enhances inflammation by promoting M1 polarization of macrophages and
      reduces insulin sensitivity in adipocytes.
AB  - Galectin-12 is a member of an animal lectin family with affinity for beta
      galactosides and containing consensus amino acid sequences. Here, we found that
      galectin-12 was expressed in macrophages and thus aimed to determine how galectin
      12 affects inflammation and macrophage polarization and activation. The ablation
      of galectin-12 did not affect bone marrow cells to differentiate into
      macrophages, but reduced phagocytic activity against Escherichia coli and lowered
      the secretion of nitric oxide. The ablation of galectin-12 also resulted in the
      polarization of macrophages into the M2 direction, as indicated by increases in
      the levels of M2 markers, namely, resistin-like beta (FIZZ1) and chitinase 3-like
      3 (Ym1), as well as a reduction in the expression levels of a number of M1 pro
      inflammatory cytokines. We found that the diminished expression of pro
      inflammatory cytokines in macrophages resulting from galectin-12 deletion was due
      to reduced activation of IKKalpha/beta, Akt and ERK, which in turn caused
      decreased activation of NF-kappaB and activator protein 1. The activation of
      STAT3 was much higher in Gal12(-/-) macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide,
      which was correlated with higher levels of IL-10. Adipocytes showed higher
      insulin sensitivity when treated with Gal12(-/-) macrophage-conditioned media
      than those treated with Gal12(+/+) macrophages. We conclude galectin-12
      negatively regulates macrophage polarization into the M2 population, resulting in
      enhanced inflammatory responses and also in turn causing decreased insulin
      sensitivity in adipocytes. This has implications in the treatment of a wide
      spectrum of metabolic disorders.

PMID- 26873175
TI  - Detection of ALDH1 activity in rabbit hepatic VX2 tumors and isolation of ALDH1
      positive cancer stem cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity has been implicated in the
      therapeutic drug resistance of many malignancies and has been widely used as a
      marker to identify stem-like cells, including in primary liver cancer. Cancer
      stem cells (CSCs) are thought to play a crucial role in cancer progression and
      metastasis. In order to clarify the validity of the rabbit VX2 liver cancer
      model, we questioned if it expresses ALDH1 as a potential marker of CSCs.
      Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy worldwide and has poor prognosis.
      Most of the animal models used to study hepatocellular carcinoma are rodent
      models which lack clinical relevance. The rabbit VX2 model is a large animal
      model useful for preclinical and for developing drugs targeting cancer stem
      cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used flow cytometry to identify rabbit VX2 liver
      tumor cells that express ALDH1A1 activity at a high level and confirmed the
      results with RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses. Further, mRNA
      and protein expression analysis of tumor samples also express the markers for
      stemness like klf4, oct3/4, CD44 and nanog as well as the differentiation marker
      alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: We used Aldefluor flow cytometry-based assay to
      identify cells with high ALDH1 activity in the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model. We
      used the brightest 4.39 % of the total cancer cell population in our study. We
      performed semi-quantitative as well as real time PCR to characterize the stemness
      derived from VX2 tumors and tissues from normal rabbit liver. We demonstrated
      that VX2 tumors have higher expression of cancer stem cell markers such as
      AlDH1A1 and CD44 in comparison to normal rabbit liver cells. Additionally, real
      time PCR analysis of the same samples using syber-green demonstrated the
      significant change (p > 0.05) in the expression of genes. We validated the gene
      expression of the stemness markers by performing western blot and
      immunofluorescence. We showed that cancer stem cell markers (AlDH1A1, CD44) and
      the differentiation marker alpha-fetoprotein were upregulated in VX2 tumor cells.
      The same extent of upregulation was observed in stemness markers (klf4, oct3/4
      and nanog) in VX2 tumors in comparison to normal rabbit liver. CONCLUSION: The
      overall results of this study indicate that ALDH1 is a valid CSC marker for VX2
      cancer. This finding suggests that the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model is useful in
      studying drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma and may be useful for basic
      and preclinical studies of other types of human cancer.

PMID- 26873176
TI  - Investigating colloids and crystalloids--everything clear?

PMID- 26873178
TI  - Iron/folic acid supplementation during pregnancy prevents neonatal and under-five
      mortality in Pakistan: propensity score matched sample from two Pakistan
      Demographic and Health Surveys.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies from low- and middle-income countries
      have reported a protective effect of maternal antenatal iron/folic acid (IFA) on
      childhood mortality. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of
      maternal antenatal IFA supplementation on childhood mortality in Pakistan.
      DESIGN: A propensity score-matched sample of 8,512 infants live-born within the 5
      years prior to interview was selected from the pooled data of two Pakistan
      Demographic and Health Surveys (2006/07 and 2012/13). The primary outcomes were
      childhood mortality indicators and the main exposure variable was maternal
      antenatal IFA supplementation. Post-matched analyses used Cox proportional
      hazards regression and adjusted for 16 potential confounders. RESULTS: Maternal
      antenatal IFA supplementation significantly reduced the adjusted risk of death on
      day 0 by 33% [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=0.67, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)
      0.48-0.94], during the neonatal period by 29% (aHR=0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.88), and
      for under-fives by 27% (aHR=0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89). When IFA was initiated in
      the first 4 months of pregnancy, the adjusted risk of neonatal and under-five
      deaths was significantly reduced by 35 and 33%, respectively. Twenty percent of
      under-five deaths were attributable to non-initiation of IFA in the first 4
      months of pregnancy. With universal initiation of IFA in the first 4 months of
      pregnancy, 80,300 under-five deaths could be prevented annually in Pakistan.
      CONCLUSIONS: Maternal antenatal IFA supplementation significantly reduced
      neonatal and under-five deaths in Pakistan. Earlier initiation of supplements in
      pregnancy was associated with a greater prevention of neonatal and under-five
      deaths.

PMID- 26873179
TI  - Nocardia rayongensis sp. nov., isolated from Thai peat swamp forest soil.
AB  - An actinomycete strain, RY45-3T, isolated from a peat swamp forest soil in Rayong
      Province, Thailand, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strain
      belonged to the genus Nocardia on the basis of morphological, physiological,
      biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties. Cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso
      diaminopimelic acid. The N-acyl group of muramic acid in the cell wall was
      glycolyl type. The diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates were galactose
      and arabinose. MK-8 (H4omega-cycl) was the major menaquinone. The major fatty
      acids were C16 : 0 and C18 : 1omega9c. The major polar lipids were
      diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and
      phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71 mol%. On the
      basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis, strain RY45-3T was closely
      related to Nocardia jiangxiensis JCM 12861T (98.9 %), Nocardia nova JCM 6044T
      (98.8 %) and Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis JCM 9894T (98.6 %). The strain showed
      low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness with N. jiangxiensis JCM 12861T, N. nova JCM
      6044T and N. pseudobrasiliensis JCM 9894T (range from 3.6 to 55.3 %). On the
      basis of the phenotypic characteristics and the results mentioned, this strain
      could be differentiated from closely related type strains and represents a novel
      species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia rayongensis sp. nov.
      (type strain RY45-3T = JCM 19832T = TISTR 2213T = PCU 334T) is proposed. 

PMID- 26873177
TI  - Perioperative management of diabetes in elective patients: a region-wide audit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ten percent of elective surgical patients have diabetes. These
      patients demonstrate excess perioperative morbidity and mortality. National
      guidance on the management of adults with diabetes undergoing surgery was
      published in 2011. We present a region-wide audit of adherence to this guidance
      across the North Western Deanery. METHODS: Local teams prospectively collected
      data according to a locally approved protocol. Pregnant, paediatric and non
      elective patients were excluded from this audit. Patient characteristics, type of
      surgery and aspects of perioperative management were collated and centrally
      analysed against audit criteria based upon national recommendations. RESULTS: 247
      patients with diabetes were identified. HbA1c was recorded in 71% of patients
      preoperatively; 9% of patients with an abnormal HbA1c were not known by, or
      referred to, the diabetes team. 17% of patients were admitted the evening
      preceding surgery. The mean fasting time was 12:20(4) h. Variable rate i.v.
      insulin infusions (VRIII) were not used when indicated in 11%. Only 8% of
      patients received the recommended substrate fluid, along with the VRIII (5%
      glucose in 0.45% saline). Intra-operative capillary blood glucose (CBG) was
      measured hourly in 56% of patients. Intra-operative CBG was within the acceptable
      range (4-12 mmol.L(-1)) in 85% of patients. 73% of patients had a CBG measurement
      performed in recovery. The WHO checklist was used in 95% of patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: National perioperative guidelines were not adhered to in a
      substantial proportion of patients with diabetes undergoing elective surgery.
      This study represents a template for future trainee networks.

PMID- 26873181
TI  - Chip-based electrochromatography coupled to ESI-MS detection.
AB  - In this study, we present the coupling of chip-based electrochromatography to MS
      using a glass chip with a monolithically integrated nanoelectrospray emitter. As
      separation column, an acrylate-based porous polymer monolith is implemented into
      the glass chip by photopolymerization. For the establishment and development of
      this method, we used a test mixture detectable with both fluorescence and ESI-MS.
      After successful evaluation of the approach with the test solutes, it was applied
      exemplarily for drug analysis such as high-speed separations of benzodiazepines
      in pharmaceuticals.

PMID- 26873180
TI  - Risk and protective factors associated with being bullied on school property
      compared with cyberbullied.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We identified bullying victimization (bullied on school property
      versus cyberbullied) by selected demographic, personal characteristic, and
      behavior variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on
      adolescents (n = 13,583) completing the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in
      grades 9 through 12. RESULTS: Being bullied on school property in the past 12
      months was significantly more common in females than males, in earlier school
      grades, and in Whites and other racial groups compared with Blacks and Hispanics.
      Being bullied on school property generally decreased with later school grades,
      but cyberbullying in the past 12 months remained constant. Being bullied on
      school property or cyberbullied was significantly positively associated with
      mental health problems, substance use, being overweight, playing video games for
      3 or more hours per day, and having asthma. The association was greatest with
      having mental health problems. Cyberbullying was generally more strongly
      associated with these conditions and behaviors. Protective behaviors against
      bullying victimization included eating breakfast every day, being physically
      active, and playing on sports teams. Those experiencing victimization on school
      property and cyberbullying were significantly more likely to experience mental
      health problems compared with just one of these types of bullying or neither.
      CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying victimization is generally more strongly associated
      with mental health problems, substance use, being overweight, playing video games
      for 3 or more hours per day, and having asthma than bullying victimization on
      school property. However, because bullying on school property is more common in
      grades 9-11, this form of bullying has a greater burden on these conditions and
      behaviors in these school grades.

PMID- 26873182
TI  - Juvenile clinical predictors of clinical course and outcome in adult bipolar
      disorder.

PMID- 26873183
TI  - Swift and certain approaches to reduce alcohol reoffending.

PMID- 26873184
TI  - Can a criminal justice alcohol abstention programme with swift, certain, and
      modest sanctions (24/7 Sobriety) reduce population mortality? A retrospective
      observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the UK and USA, various jurisdictions have launched new approaches
      for managing alcohol-involved offenders that might have public health
      implications. These programmes require participants to abstain from alcohol and
      submit to frequent alcohol testing with swift, certain, and modest sanctions for
      violations, with the aim to reduce crime and keep alcohol-involved offenders in
      the community. In this study we examine whether the 24/7 Sobriety programme in
      South Dakota, USA-the largest such programme to date-is associated with
      reductions in mortality. METHODS: With a differences-in-differences design, we
      used variation in the timing of 24/7 Sobriety implementation across South Dakota
      counties between 2005 and 2011 to estimate the association between programme
      introduction and county-level mortality. We used monthly, county-level, aggregate
      counts for mortality from January, 2000, to June, 2011. We assessed total deaths,
      and deaths due to external injuries, circulatory disorders, digestive disorders,
      and cancer (as a potential placebo). FINDINGS: Between January, 2005, and June,
      2011, 16 932 people (about 3% of the adult population) participated in the 24/7
      Sobriety programme. The analysis was based on a sample size of 9 108 county-month
      observations (ie, 66 counties * 12 months * 11.5 years). Implementation of 24/7
      Sobriety was associated with a 4.2% (95% CI 1.5-6.9) reduction in all-cause adult
      mortality, with the largest associations among women (8.0%, 95% CI 3.9-11.8) and
      individuals older than 40 years (4.3%, 95% CI 1.4-7.0). Associations were most
      evident among circulatory disorders. INTERPRETATION: 24/7 Sobriety might have
      public health benefits, which could extend beyond individuals directly enrolled
      in the programme. However, further research, including randomised controlled
      trials and analyses of individual-level data, is needed to corroborate the
      finding, reassess the size of these associations, and gain insight into causal
      mechanisms. Should a negative association be replicated, it might represent a
      substantial advance in our understanding of how criminal justice interventions
      could help shape public health. FUNDING: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
      Alcoholism, US National Institutes of Health.

PMID- 26873185
TI  - Childhood maltreatment and unfavourable clinical outcomes in bipolar disorder: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder affects up to one in 25 individuals and
      identification of early risk indicators of negative outcomes could facilitate
      early detection of patients with greatest clinical needs and risk. We aimed to
      investigate the association between childhood maltreatment and key negative
      outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: For this systematic review
      and meta-analysis we searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase to identify articles
      published before Jan 1, 2015, examining the association of maltreatment
      (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, or family conflict) before age 18
      years with clinical features and course of illness in bipolar disorder. Data were
      extracted from published reports and any missing information was requested from
      investigators. We did 12 independent random-effects meta-analyses to quantify the
      associations between childhood maltreatment and course of illness or clinical
      features. FINDINGS: We initially identified 527 records and after unsuitable
      studies were removed, our search yielded 148 publications of which 30 were used
      in the meta-analysis. Patients with bipolar disorder and history of childhood
      maltreatment had greater mania severity (six studies, 780 participants; odds
      ratio [OR] 2.02, 95% CI 1.21-3.39, p=0.008), greater depression severity (eight
      studies, 1007 participants; 1.57, 1.25-1.99, p=0.0001), greater psychosis
      severity (seven studies, 1494 participants; 1.49, 1.10-2.04, p=0.011), higher
      risk of comorbidity with post-traumatic stress disorder (eight studies, 2494
      participants; 3.60, 2.45-5.30, p<0.0001), anxiety disorders (seven studies, 5091
      participants; 1.90, 1.39-2.61, p<0.0001), substance misuse disorders (11 studies,
      5469 participants; 1.84, 1.41-2.39, p<0.0001), alcohol misuse disorder (eight
      studies, 5040 participants; 1.44, 1.13-1.83, p=0.003), earlier age of bipolar
      disorder onset (14 studies, 5733 participants; 1.85, 1.43-2.40, p<0.0001), higher
      risk of rapid cycling (eight studies, 3010 participants; 1.89, 1.45-2.48,
      p<0.0001), greater number of manic episodes (seven studies, 3909 participants;
      1.26, 1.09-1.47, p=0.003), greater number of depressive episodes (eight studies,
      4025 participants; 1.38, 1.07-1.79, p=0.013), and higher risk of suicide attempt
      (13 studies, 3422 participants; 2.25, 1.88-2.70, p<0.0001) compared with those
      with bipolar disorder without childhood maltreatment. Overall, these associations
      were not explained by publication bias, undue effects of individual studies, or
      variation in study quality. INTERPRETATION: Childhood maltreatment predicts
      unfavourable clinical features and course of illness in patients with bipolar
      disorder. FUNDING: None.

PMID- 26873186
TI  - Computational Drug Repositioning by Target Hopping: A Use Case in Chagas Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Drug repositioning aims to identify novel indications for existing
      drugs. One approach to repositioning exploits shared binding sites between the
      drug targets and other proteins. Here, we review the principle and algorithms of
      such target hopping and illustrate them in Chagas disease, an in Latin America
      widely spread, but neglected disease. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate how target
      hopping recovers known treatments for Chagas disease and predicts novel drugs,
      such as the antiviral foscarnet, which we predict to target Farnesyl
      Pyrophosphate Synthase in Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas
      disease.

PMID- 26873187
TI  - Synthesis, Cytotoxic Evaluation, Docking and QSAR Study of N-(4-Oxo- 2-(4-((5
      Aryl-1,3,4-Thiadiazol-2-yl)Amino)Phenyl)Thiazolidin-3-yl) Benzamides as
      Antitubulin Agents.
AB  - In the present study an efficient strategy for the synthesis of thiazole and
      thiadiazole derivatives was developed and clubbed together both of the
      substituted nucleus to form the analogues of combretastatin A-4 (tubulin
      polymerization inhibitors.). Synthesis was started by the reaction of substituted
      benzoic acid with thionyl chloride followed by the reaction with hydrazine, p
      chloro benzaldehyde and thioglycolic acid to form substituted thiazole
      derivatives. On the other side hydrazides were reacted with ammonium thiocyanate
      and strong acid to form substituted thiadiazole compounds. Finally thiazole and
      thiadiazole compounds were clubbed with the help of dioxan and triethylamine. All
      novel derivatives (TH01-TH40) were screened for their cytotoxicity activity using
      MTT assay against three cancer cell lines viz. A-549 (lung carcinoma), HT-29
      (colon carcinoma), HeLa (cervix carcinoma). Compounds TH08 exhibited highest
      activity, due to the presence of trimethoxy substitution on phenyl ring. In QSAR
      study these results were correlated with physicochemical parameters and the
      correlation of XlogP, kaapa2, Quadrupole1 with cytotoxic activity on A-549 (lung
      carcinoma) was found highest (r2: 0.941; F: 99.103; Se: 0.0006). In docking study
      binding of active molecule (TH08) was found very well with alpha, beta tubulin
      (PDB: 1SA0) protein. 

PMID- 26873188
TI  - P-Glycoprotein Mediated Multidrug Resistance Reversal by Phytochemicals: A Review
      of SAR & Future Perspective for Drug Design.
AB  - A major impediment for cancer chemotherapy is the development of multidrug
      resistance (MDR). Continuous use of chemotherapeutic drugs during cancer therapy
      induces the expression of PGlycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1), an ATP dependant
      transporter, which in turn reduces the intracellular accumulation of
      chemotherapeutic drugs leading to MDR. Extensive research over the years has
      identified several potential P-gp inhibitors, both synthetic as well as natural
      origin, to overcome the MDR during cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we
      discuss the cellular pathways involved and transcription factors regulating the
      expression of P-gp. A number of phytochemicals are reported to inhibit P-gp
      activity and MDR1 expression; the structure-activity relationship (SAR) among the
      phytochemicals for P-gp inhibition and the effect of these phytochemicals on
      cellular signaling pathways regulating P-gp expression are discussed in detail.
      Moreover, structural biology and mutagenesis studies on P-gp along with docking
      studies throw light on the structural requirements for P-gp inhibition. Insight
      provided in the review about the phytochemicals molecular mechanism and SAR could
      catalyze the design of potent P-gp inhibitors in the future and could help to
      overcome MDR in cancer chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26873189
TI  - Oleuropein Mediated Targeting of Signaling Network in Cancer.
AB  - Cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease. Rapidly accumulating
      preclinical and clinical studies are emphasizing on wide ranging molecular
      mechanisms that underpin cancer development, progression and metastasis.
      Intratumor heterogeneity, loss of apoptosis, rapidly developing resistance
      against molecular therapeutics and off-target effects are some of the deeply
      studied resistance mechanisms. Data obtained through high-throughput technologies
      has considerably enhanced our understanding of the intracellular signaling
      cascades frequently dysregulated spatio-temporally. There is an ever-expanding
      list of synthetic and natural agents reported to activate tumor suppressor genes
      and inhibit oncogenes in cancer cells. Markedly reduced tumor growth has also
      been documented in xenografted mice administered with phytochemicals. Oleuropein
      is a bioactive ingredient isolated from various sources and there is evidence of
      complete regression of tumors in 9- 12 days in mice orally administered with
      Oleuropein. In this review we summarize recent developments in use of Oleuropein
      as an anticancer agent. Extraction and isolation of Oleuropein and how it
      modulates intracellular signaling network to induce apoptosis in cancer cells.
      Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) frequently overexpressed in
      breast cancer cells is inhibited by Oleuropein. Interestingly, trastuzumab
      efficacy was notably enhanced in Oleuropein treated breast cancer cells. There is
      still insufficient information related to Oleuropein mediated microRNA regulation
      in cancer cells. We still do not have information about regulation of different
      signaling cascades by Oleuropein which are deregulated in cancer. Future studies
      must converge on a deeper analysis of target molecular network of Oleuropein and
      its efficacy as a tumor growth inhibitor in xenografted mice. 

PMID- 26873190
TI  - Kisspeptin Mediated Signaling in Cancer.
AB  - Research over the years has gradually and sequentially highlighted contributory
      role of hypothalamic- based kisspeptin-signaling axis as a major positive
      modulator of the neuroendocrinological reproductive axis in mammals. However, a
      series of landmark studies provided convincing evidence of role of this signaling
      in regulation of cancer development and progression. It is becoming progressively
      more understandable that loss or reduction of KISS1 expression in different human
      cancers correlates inversely with progression of tumor, metastasizing potential
      and survival. In this review we have attempted to provide an overview highlight
      of the most recent updates addressing metastasis- suppressing role of KISS1. We
      also summarize interplay of microRNA and KISS1 in cancer. The miRNA regulation of
      different genes is a rapidly expanding area of research however, the community
      lacks a deep understanding of miRNA regulation of KISS1. Recently, emerging
      laboratory findings have shown that KISS1 is transcriptionally controlled by
      TCF21 that is in turn regulated by miR-21. Therefore, there is an urgent need for
      further study of how miRNA directly or indirectly influences KISS1 at the
      posttranscriptional level. There is also a lack of evidence regarding natural
      agents that mediate upregulation or downregulation of KISS1. Increasing the
      knowledge of the KISS1/KISS1R signaling axis will be helpful in achieving
      personalized medicine. 

PMID- 26873191
TI  - Nitroxyl (HNO): A Possible Strategy for Fighting Cancer.
AB  - Nitroxyl (HNO), the one electron reduced form of nitric oxide (NO), shows a very
      distinct chemistry and biology from that of NO. Chemical profile is characterized
      by reactions with thiols and thiol proteins such as aldehyde dehydrogenase,
      glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, caspases among others. Biological
      profile of HNO includes cardioprotective actions especially in cases of heart
      failure. This short review focuses on the cytotoxic properties for HNO. Nitroxyl
      was found to be toxic to several cancer cell lines including lung and breast
      cancers. Critical thiols that control cancer cellular functions might be the
      target for HNO activity. The anti-tumor actions of HNO donating aspirin is also
      summarized. 

PMID- 26873192
TI  - Artesunate as an Anti-Cancer Agent Targets Stat-3 and Favorably Suppresses
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aberrant signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3)
      molecular signaling elicit hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans. Therefore,
      targeting STAT-3 is considered as an attractive option towards suppression of HCC
      in humans. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to identify a potential small molecule
      inhibitor that can specifically target STAT-3 and suppress HCC. METHODS: In this
      study, we analyze a group of sesquiterpene lactone (STL) candidates that has been
      recently reported in preclinical trials against cancer by a unified computational
      and experimental approach. RESULTS: Our virtual analysis of the STL candidates
      revealed Artesunate (ATS) as the best potential inhibitor of STAT-3 with
      comparable potency to specific inhibitor S3I-201. We also observed that ATS
      inhibited IL-6 driven STAT-3-DNA binding activity with comparable potency to S3I
      201 in a cell free system. Furthermore ATS was observed to interfere with STAT-3
      dimerization and suppression of both constitutive and IL-6 inducible STAT-3 in
      vitro. Nevertheless, we also observed that ATS modulated STAT-3 dependent targets
      (procaspase-3, Bcl-xl and survivin) favoring occurrence of apoptosis in vitro.
      Overall, the putative inhibition of STAT-3 by ATS suggested its capacity to
      interfere with STAT-3 dimerization by binding to the SH2 domain of STAT-3
      monomer. It resulted in suppression of STAT-3 and also favored promotion of in
      vitro cells towards apoptosis. Consequently, ATS also exhibited selective
      cytotoxicity of cancer cells over normal cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: All the
      above observations substantiated by unified computational and in vitro
      experimental approaches suggested its potential role as a therapeutic anti-cancer
      agent against HCC.

PMID- 26873193
TI  - Novel Approaches Towards Designing of Isoform-Selective Inhibitors Against Class
      II Histone Deacetylases: The Acute Requirement for Targetted Anticancer Therapy.
AB  - Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate gene expression by modulating chromatin
      architecture via histone hypoacetylation. They play a key role in regulating
      cellular processes including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Hyperactivity of
      HDACs plays a key role in tumour onset and progression making these enzymes as
      striking targets for anticancer drugs and therapy. Certain cancers are associated
      with upregulation of specific class II HDAC isoform rather than multiple ones.
      Therapeutic intervention using small-molecules namely histone deacetylase
      inhibitors (HDACi), often targets many isoforms unselectively (pan-HDACi) due to
      structural identity culminating in debilitating off-target effects and reduced in
      vivo potency. This emphasizes the escalating need for developing isoform
      selective inhibitors against the defined class of HDACs. Despite the safe and
      elevated therapeutic benefit, the design of such inhibitors has been challenging.
      The present article provides intricate details about the role of class II HDAC
      isoforms in fuelling distinct cancers and the current challenges with the use of
      pan-HDAC inhibitors in anticancer therapy. The article also highlights the
      diverse synthetic and in silico approaches taken by scientific community towards
      the designing of isoform-selective inhibitors against class II HDAC isoforms. The
      strategies discussed in this review will provide further impetus to the ongoing
      research regarding the designing of isoform-selective inhibitors for safe and
      effective anticancer therapy which is today's need. 

PMID- 26873195
TI  - Development of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective extraction:
      determination of citrinin in rice samples by liquid chromatography with UV diode
      array detection.
AB  - In this work, we report the synthesis of novel magnetic molecularly imprinted
      polymers (m-MIPs) and their application to the selective extraction of the
      mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) from food samples. The polymers were prepared by surface
      imprinting of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, using 2-naphtholic acid (2-NA) as template
      molecule, N-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-N'-4-vinylphenyl urea and
      methacrylamide as functional monomers and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as cross
      linker. The resulting material was characterized by transmission electron
      microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopies (FT-IR). The polymers were used to develop a solid-phase
      extraction method (m-MISPE) for the selective recovery of CIT from rice extracts
      prior to its determination by HPLC with UV diode array detection. The method
      involves ultrasound-assisted extraction of the mycotoxin from rice samples with
      (7:3, v/v) methanol/water, followed by sample cleanup and preconcentration with m
      MIP. The extraction (washing and elution) conditions were optimized and their
      optimal values found to provide CIT recoveries of 94-98 % with relative standard
      deviations (RSD) less than 3.4 % (n = 3) for preconcentrated sample extracts (5
      mL) fortified with the analyte at concentrations over the range 25-100 MUg kg(
      1). Based on the results, the application of the m-MIPs facilitates the accurate
      and efficient determination of CIT in rice extracts.

PMID- 26873194
TI  - Telomerase as a Cancer Target. Development of New Molecules.
AB  - Telomeres are the terminal part of the chromosome containing a long repetitive
      and noncodifying sequence that has as function protecting the chromosomes. In
      normal cells, telomeres lost part of such repetitive sequence in each mitosis,
      until telomeres reach a critical point, triggering at that time senescence and
      cell death. However, in most of tumor cells in each cell division a part of the
      telomere is lost, however the appearance of an enzyme called telomerase
      synthetize the segment that just has been lost, therefore conferring to tumor
      cells the immortality hallmark. Telomerase is significantly overexpressed in 80
      95% of all malignant tumors, being present at low levels in few normal cells,
      mostly stem cells. Due to these characteristics, telomerase has become an
      attractive target for new and more effective anticancer agents. The capability of
      inhibiting telomerase in tumor cells should lead to telomere shortening,
      senescence and apoptosis. In this work, we analyze the different strategies for
      telomerase inhibition, either in development, preclinical or clinical stages
      taking into account their strong points and their caveats. We covered strategies
      such as nucleosides analogs, oligonucleotides, small molecule inhibitors, G
      quadruplex stabilizers, immunotherapy, gene therapy, molecules that affect the
      telomere/ telomerase associated proteins, agents from microbial sources, among
      others, providing a balanced evaluation of the status of the inhibitors of this
      powerful target together with an analysis of the challenges ahead. 

PMID- 26873197
TI  - The development and comparison of collection techniques for inorganic and organic
      gunshot residues.
AB  - The detection and interpretation of gunshot residues (GSR) plays an important
      role in the investigation of firearm-related events. Commonly, the analysis
      focuses on inorganic particles incorporating elements derived from the primer.
      However, recent changes in ammunition formulations and possibility that particles
      from non-firearm sources can be indistinguishable from certain primer particles
      challenge the standard operational protocol and call for adjustments, namely the
      combination of inorganic and organic GSR analysis. Two protocols for the combined
      collection and subsequent analysis of inorganic and organic GSR were developed
      and optimised for 15 compounds potentially present in organic GSR (OGSR). These
      protocols were conceptualised to enable OGSR analysis by ultrahigh-performance
      liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with UV detection and triple quadrupole
      tandem mass spectrometry (confirmation) and IGSR analysis by scanning electron
      microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Using
      liquid extraction, the extraction recoveries from spiked swabs and stubs were ~80
      % (50-98 % for swabs, 64-98 % for stubs). When the mixed OGSR standard was
      applied to the hands and recovered in the way that is usual for IGSR collection,
      GSR stubs performed significantly better than swabs (~30 %) for the collection of
      OGSR. The optimised protocols were tested and compared for combined OGSR and
      inorganic GSR analysis using samples taken at a shooting range. The most suitable
      protocol for combined collection and analysis of IGSR and OGSR involved
      collection using GSR stubs followed by SEM-EDX analysis and liquid extraction
      using acetone followed by analysis with UHPLC.

PMID- 26873199
TI  - Target-based metabolomics for the quantitative measurement of 37 pathway
      metabolites in rat brain and serum using hydrophilic interaction ultra-high
      performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - Amino acids, neurotransmitters, purines, and pyrimidines are bioactive molecules
      that play fundamental roles in maintaining various physiological functions. Their
      metabolism is closely related to the health, growth, development, reproduction,
      and homeostasis of organisms. Most recently, comprehensive measurements of these
      metabolites have shown their potential as innovative approaches in disease
      surveillance or drug intervention. However, simultaneous measurement of these
      metabolites presents great difficulties. Here, we report a novel quantitative
      method that uses hydrophilic interaction ultra-high-performance liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-UPLC-MS/MS), which is highly
      selective, high throughput, and exhibits better chromatographic behavior than
      existing methods. The developed method enabled the rapid quantification of 37
      metabolites, spanning amino acids, neurotransmitters, purines, and pyrimidines
      pathways, within 6.5 min. The compounds were separated on an ACQUITY UPLC(r) BEH
      Amide column. Serum and brain homogenate were extracted by protein precipitation.
      The intra- and interday precision of all of the analytes was less than 11.34 %,
      and the accuracy was between -11.74 and 11.51 % for all quality control (QC)
      levels. The extraction recoveries of serum ranged from 84.58 % to 116.43 % and
      those of brain samples from 80.80 % to 119.39 %, while the RSD was 14.61 % or
      less for all recoveries. This method was used to successfully characterize
      alterations in the rat brain and, in particular, their dynamics in serum. The
      following study was performed to simultaneously test global changes of these
      metabolites in a serotonin antagonist p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced
      anxiety and insomnia rat model to understand the effect and mechanism of PCPA.
      Taken together, these results show that the method is able to simultaneously
      monitor a large panel of metabolites and that this protocol may represent a
      metabolomic method to diagnose toxicological and pathophysiological states.

PMID- 26873198
TI  - Simultaneous determination of urinary parabens, bisphenol A, triclosan, and 8
      hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray
      ionization tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - A simple and fast method was developed for the simultaneous determination of five
      parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8
      OHdG) in human urine using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray
      ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The solid-phase extraction
      (SPE) procedure, chromatographic conditions, and MS/MS parameters were optimized
      to achieve maximum sensitivity and accuracy for the analytes. The validation
      results showed that the correlation coefficients (R (2)) and recoveries ranged
      from 0.999 to 1 and 83.9 to 109.9 %, respectively, and the intra-day and inter
      day precisions (relative standard deviation, RSD) were within the range of 1.3
      8.5 % and 1.3-9.0 %, respectively. The limits of detection for the analytes
      ranged from 0.001 to 0.05 MUg/L. The method was successfully employed to
      determine parabens, BPA, TCS, and 8-OHdG in urine samples from school students in
      Guangzhou, China. The results showed that methyl, ethyl, n-propyl parabens, BPA,
      TCS, and 8-OHdG were frequently detected in urine samples. n-Butyl and benzyl
      parabens were only detected in a part of the samples due to their low
      concentrations in urine. 

PMID- 26873202
TI  - Erratum to: Ultrasensitive determination of bisphenol A and its chlorinated
      derivatives in urine using a high-throughput UPLC-MS/MS method.

PMID- 26873200
TI  - Rapid evaluation of artesunate quality with a specific monoclonal antibody-based
      lateral flow dipstick.
AB  - Artesunate is a frontline antimalarial drug for treating Plasmodium falciparum
      malaria. To produce specific antibodies to artesunate, the carboxyl group of
      artesunate was directly conjugated to carrier protein as the immunogen. A
      specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3D82G6 against artesunate was obtained by high
      throughput screening of positive hybridoma clones. This monoclonal antibody had
      4.0, 0.5, and 0.9 % cross reactivities with artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, and
      artemether, respectively. A dipstick immunoassay was developed, and the indicator
      range for artesunate was 1000-2000 ng mL(-1). No interference was observed with
      artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemether, and other commonly used antimalarial
      drugs for up to 20,000 ng mL(-1). The dipsticks were used for determination of
      artesunate contents in commercial drugs, and the results were agreeable with
      those determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. This dipstick, with
      its specificity and sensitivity for artesunate and simplicity to use, makes it a
      potential point-of-care device for rapid quality evaluation of artesunate
      containing antimalarial drugs. Graphical Abstract Specific monoclonal antibody
      based lateral flow dipstick for artesunate. 

PMID- 26873203
TI  - Analysis of cocaine and metabolites in hair: validation and application of
      measurement of hydroxycocaine metabolites as evidence of cocaine ingestion.
AB  - An LC/MS/MS method to identify and quantitate in hair the minor metabolites of
      cocaine-meta-, para-, and ortho-hydroxy cocaine-was developed and validated.
      Analysis was performed on a triple quadrupole ABSciex API 3000 MS equipped with
      an atmospheric pressure ionization source via an IonSpray (ESI). For LC, a series
      200 micro binary pump with a Perkin Elmer Model 200 autosampler was used. The
      limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 ng/10 mg
      hair, with linearity from 0.02 to 10 ng/10 mg hair. Concentrations of the para
      isomer in extensively washed hair samples were in the range of 1-2 % of the
      cocaine in the sample, while the concentrations of the ortho form were
      considerably less. The method was used to analyze large numbers of samples from
      two populations: workplace and criminal justice. In vitro experiments to
      determine if deodorants or peroxide-containing cosmetic treatments could result
      in the presence of these metabolites in hair showed that this does not occur with
      extensively washed hair. Presence of hydroxycocaines, when detected after
      aggressive washing of the hair samples, provides a valuable additional indicator
      of ingestion of cocaine rather than mere environmental exposure.

PMID- 26873204
TI  - A novel, simultaneous extraction of FAEE and EtG from meconium and analysis by LC
      MS/MS.
AB  - Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and ethyl-glucuronide (EtG) in meconium have been
      widely studied as biomarkers of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
      Many analytical approaches have been proposed for their analysis, mostly
      consisting of separated extraction procedures requiring the use of two meconium
      aliquots. This study aimed to validate a new analytical procedure for the
      simultaneous extraction of FAEEs and EtG from a meconium aliquot through a single
      solid-phase extraction (SPE) applied to 242 anonymized samples of meconium.
      Targeted FAEEs were: ethyl-myristate (Myr), ethyl-palmitate (Pal), ethyl-oleate
      (Ole) and ethyl-stearate (Ste). Two hundred milligrams of meconium was sonicated
      with acetonitrile, and a single SPE performed by means of aminopropyl columns.
      FAEEs were eluted with hexane, followed by EtG elution with water. Both the
      mixtures were dried, recovered, and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry using C8 (FAEEs) and C18 (EtG) columns. Transitions were: m/z 257 ->
      57,88, Myr; m/z 262 -> 57,88, Myr-d5; m/z 285 -> 57, 72, Pal; m/z 290 -> 57,258,
      Pal-d5; m/z 311 -> 72,114, Ole; m/z 316 -> 72,265, Ole-d5; m/z 257 -> 57,72 Ste;
      m/z 318 -> 57,286, Ste-d5; m/z 221 -> 75,85, EtG; m/z 226 -> 75,85, EtG-d5. Lower
      limit of quantification range was 10-15 ng/g for FAEEs and 10 ng/g for EtG.
      Linearity was evaluated for different concentration ranges; the mean coefficients
      of determination (R (2)) were above 0.9961. Precision and accuracy for FAEEs and
      EtG were consistently <=20 % and +/-20 %, respectively. Ion suppression was
      observed for all the analytes. Matrix effect did not significantly affect the
      analyses. Recovery efficiency was 93 % for EtG and 75-85 % for FAEEs. 

PMID- 26873206
TI  - Erratum to: Development of redox-sensitive red fluorescent proteins for imaging
      redox dynamics in cellular compartments.

PMID- 26873205
TI  - Identification and determination of ergot alkaloids in Morning Glory cultivars.
AB  - Seeds of plants from Ipomoea genera contain numerous ergot alkaloids, including
      psychoactive ergine and ergometrine, and are often abused as so-called "legal
      highs." In this work, an analytical method for determination of ergine and
      ergometrine, and identification of other alkaloids was developed, optimized, and
      validated. Three extraction techniques, ultrasound-assisted extraction in bath,
      or with sonotrode, and microwave-assisted extraction were evaluated, and it was
      concluded that ultrasonic bath is the most suitable technique for extraction of
      ergot alkaloids. The extraction method was later optimized using a Doehlert
      experimental design with response surface methodology and used together with the
      optimized LC-Q-TOF-MS method. The analytical procedure was validated in terms of
      recovery and matrix effect, repeatability, and intermediate precision. Limits of
      detection and quantification were 1.0 and 3.0 ng mL(-1), respectively, and were
      sufficient for determination of ergot alkaloids in Ipomoea seeds. The analysis
      revealed that from five kinds of seeds purchased from different vendors, only
      three contained ergot alkaloids. Concentration of alkaloids and their relative
      abundance was similar in samples representative for whole seeds packs; however,
      when single seeds were analyzed, significant discrepancies in ergine and
      ergometrine concentrations were detected.

PMID- 26873207
TI  - Silver nanoparticle-modified electrode for the determination of nitro compound
      containing pesticides.
AB  - This paper reports the electroanalytical determination of pendimethalin and ethyl
      parathion by square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry using a material
      comprised of chitosan-stabilized silver nanoparticles to modify a glassy carbon
      electrode. Under optimized experimental conditions, the peak current was found to
      vary linearly with the concentration of pendimethalin in the range of 70 to 2000
      nmol L(-1) and with concentration of ethyl parathion in the range of 40 to 8000
      nmol L(-1). Detection limits of 36 and 40 nmol L(-1) were obtained for
      pendimethalin and ethyl parathion, respectively. The silver - nanoparticle
      modified electrode was successfully employed for the analysis of pesticides in
      tap and mineral water (pendimethalin) and in lettuce and honey (ethyl parathion)
      samples. Pendimethalin recovery was between 94 and 100 %, and ethyl parathion
      recovery was between 97 and 101 %, indicating no significant matrix interference
      effects on the analytical results. The accuracy of the electroanalytical
      methodology using the proposed modified electrode was also compared to that of
      the UV-vis spectrophotometric method. 

PMID- 26873208
TI  - The study on serum and urine of renal interstitial fibrosis rats induced by
      unilateral ureteral obstruction based on metabonomics and network analysis
      methods.
AB  - Transmission of biological information is a biochemical process of multistep
      cascade from genes/proteins to metabolites. However, because most metabolites
      reflect the terminal information of the biochemical process, it is difficult to
      describe the transmission process of disease information in terms of the
      metabolomics strategy. In this paper, by incorporating network and metabolomics
      methods, an integrated approach was proposed to systematically investigate and
      explain the molecular mechanism of renal interstitial fibrosis. Through analysis
      of the network, the cascade transmission process of disease information starting
      from genes/proteins to metabolites was putatively identified and uncovered. The
      results indicated that renal fibrosis was involved in metabolic pathways of
      glycerophospholipid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and
      arachidonic acid metabolism, riboflavin metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and
      sphingolipid metabolism. These pathways involve kidney disease genes such as TGF
      beta1 and P2RX7. Our results showed that combining metabolomics and network
      analysis can provide new strategies and ideas for the interpretation of
      pathogenesis of disease with full consideration of "gene-protein-metabolite."

PMID- 26873210
TI  - In situ monitoring, separation, and characterization of gold nanorod
      transformation during seed-mediated synthesis.
AB  - The control of gold nanorod (GNR) solution-based syntheses has been hindered in
      part by the inability to examine and control the conversion of precursor seed
      populations to anisotropic materials, which have resulted in low yields of
      desired products and limited their commercial viability. The advantages offered
      by tandem separation and characterization methods utilizing asymmetric-flow field
      flow fractionation (A4F) are principally achieved as a result of their non
      disruptive nature (minimizing artefacts), fast throughput, and in-situ analysis.
      With hyphenated A4F methods, resolved populations of seeds and secondary
      products, up to long aspect ratio rods, have been achieved and exemplify progress
      towards elucidating mechanistic aspects of formation and thus rational design.
      While there have been previously reported studies on A4F separation of GNRs, to
      our knowledge, this is the first published investigation of in situ GNR growth,
      separation, and characterization based on A4F, where its utilization in this
      capacity goes beyond traditional separation analysis. By using hydroquinone as
      the reducing agent, the conversion of the initial seed population to a
      distribution of products, including the GNRs, could be monitored in real time
      using A4F hyphenated with a diode array detector. Transmission electron
      microscopy confirms that the number of peaks observed during fractionation
      corresponds with size and shape dispersity. This proof-of-principle study
      introduces A4F as a technique that establishes a foundation for future
      mechanistic studies on the growth of GNRs from gold seeds, including conversion
      of the seed population to initial products, a topic highly relevant to advancing
      progress in nanomanufacturing.

PMID- 26873211
TI  - Catalytic chemiluminescent detection of cholesterol in serum with Cu2-x Se
      semiconductor nanoparticles.
AB  - It is very important to be able to accurately and rapidly measure the cholesterol
      level in the human body, as cholesterol is associated with various diseases, such
      as Alzheimer's disease. In this work, a novel method of detecting cholesterol
      using chemiluminescence (CL) based on a newly prepared semiconductor catalyst,
      Cu2-x Se nanoparticles (Cu2-x Se NPs), was developed. It was found that the Cu2-x
      Se NPs strongly enhanced the CL signal by producing a large number of reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) in the luminol-Cu2-x Se NPs system. Based on the UV-vis-NIR
      absorption spectra, zeta potential, CL spectrum, and an investigation of the ROS,
      a possible mechanism for the CL was proposed. This CL-based method was
      successfully applied to determine cholesterol. It was found that the enhanced CL
      was proportional to the concentration of cholesterol over the range of 82 nM to
      1.96 MUM with a detection limit of 0.062 nM, and that added cholesterol was
      successfully detected in human serum with a mean recovery of 97 %.

PMID- 26873212
TI  - Electrochemically oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotube/glassy carbon electrode as
      a probe for simultaneous determination of dopamine and doxorubicin in biological
      samples.
AB  - A facile and effective approach of fabricating oxidized multiwalled carbon
      nanotube/glassy carbon electrode (OMWCNT/GCE) is herein reported. The OMWCNT/GCE
      was prepared by electrochemical oxidation method in basic media (0.5 mol L(-1)
      NaOH solution) and used as a sensor for simultaneous determination of dopamine
      (DA) and doxorubicin (DOX). Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray
      spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used for characterization and
      performance study of the OMWCNT/GCE. The modified electrode exhibited good
      electrocatalytic properties toward the oxidation of DA and DOX. Peaks potential
      difference of 240 mV between DA and DOX was large enough to determine DA and DOX
      individually and simultaneously. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used for the
      simultaneous determination of DA and DOX in their binary mixture. Under the
      optimum conditions, the linear concentration dependences of SW peak current
      responses were observed for DA and DOX in the concentration ranges of 0.03-55
      MUmol L(-1) and 0.04-90 MUmol L(-1), respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3)
      were 8.5 * 10(-3) MUmol L(-1), and 9.4 * 10(-3) MUmol L(-1) for DA and DOX,
      respectively. The analytical utility of OMWCNT/GCE was also successfully
      demonstrated for the simultaneous determination of DA and DOX in human blood
      serum and urine samples. Graphical Abstract Fabrication of new oxidized
      multiwalled carbon nanotube/glassy carbon electrode for simultaneous
      determination of dopamine and doxorubicin. 

PMID- 26873213
TI  - Systematic and comprehensive strategy for metabolite profiling in bioanalysis
      using software-assisted HPLC-Q-TOF: magnoflorine as an example.
AB  - Metabolite profiling plays a crucial role in drug discovery and development, and
      HPLC-Q-TOF has evolved into a powerful and effective high-resolution analytical
      tool for metabolite detection. However, traditional empirical identification is
      laborious and incomplete. This paper presents a systematic and comprehensive
      strategy for elucidating metabolite structures using software-assisted HPLC-Q-TOF
      that takes full advantage of data acquisition, data processing, and data mining
      technologies, especially for high-throughput metabolite screening. This strategy
      has been successfully applied in the study of magnoflorine metabolism based on
      our previous report of its poor bioavailability and drug-drug interactions. In
      this report, 23 metabolites of magnoflorine were tentatively identified with
      detailed fragmentation pathways in rat biological samples (urine, feces, plasma,
      and various organs) after i.p. or i.g. administration, and for most of these
      metabolites, the metabolic sites were determined. The phase I biotransformations
      of magnoflorine (M1-M7, M10-M14) consist of demethylation, dehydrogenation,
      hydroxylation, methylene to ketone transformation, N-ring opening, and
      dehydroxylation. The phase II biotransformations (M8, M9, and M15-M23) consist of
      methylation, acetylation, glucuronidation, and N-acetylcysteine conjugation. The
      results indicate that the extensive metabolism and wide tissue distribution of
      magnoflorine and its metabolites may partly contribute to its poor
      bioavailability and drug-drug interaction, and i.p. administration should thus be
      a suitable approach for isolating magnoflorine metabolites. In summary, this
      strategy could provide an efficient, rapid, and reliable method for the
      structural characterization of drug metabolites and may be applicable for general
      Q-TOF users.

PMID- 26873214
TI  - Development of a passive sampler based on a polymer inclusion membrane for total
      ammonia monitoring in freshwaters.
AB  - A passive sampler for determining the time-weighted average total ammonia (i.e.
      molecular ammonia and the ammonium cation) concentration (C TWA) in freshwaters,
      which incorporated a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) as a semi-permeable barrier
      separating the aqueous source solution from the receiving solution (i.e. 0.8 mol
      L(-1) HCl), was developed for the first time. The PIM was composed of
      dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNS) as a carrier, poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)
      as a base polymer and 1-tetradecanol as a modifier. Its optimal composition was
      found to be 35 wt% commercial DNNS, 55 wt% PVC and 10 wt% 1-tetradecanol. The
      effect of environmental variables such as the water matrix, pH and temperature
      were also studied using synthetic freshwaters. The passive sampler was calibrated
      under laboratory conditions using synthetic freshwaters and exhibited a linear
      response within the concentration range 0.59-2.8 mg L(-1) NH4(+) (0.46-2.1 mg N
      L(-1)) at 20  degrees C. The performance of the sampler was further investigated
      under field conditions over 7 days. A strong correlation between spot sampling
      and passive sampling was achieved, thus providing a proof-of-concept for the
      passive sampler for reliably measuring the C(TWA) of total ammonia in
      freshwaters, which can be used as an indicator in tracking sources of faecal
      contamination in stormwater drains.

PMID- 26873216
TI  - An efficient quantitation strategy for hydroxyl radical-mediated protein
      footprinting using Proteome Discoverer.
AB  - Hydroxyl radical protein footprinting coupled with mass spectrometry has become
      an invaluable technique for protein structural characterization. In this method,
      hydroxyl radicals react with solvent exposed amino acid side chains producing
      stable, covalently attached labels. Although this technique yields beneficial
      information, the extensive list of known oxidation products produced make the
      identification and quantitation process considerably complex. Currently, the
      methods available for analysis either involve manual analysis steps, or limit the
      amount of searchable modifications or the size of sequence database. This creates
      a bottleneck which can result in a long and arduous analysis process, which is
      further compounded in a complex sample. Here, we report the use of a new
      footprinting analysis method for both peptide and residue-level analysis,
      demonstrated on the GCaMP2 synthetic construct in calcium free and calcium bound
      states. This method utilizes a customized multi-search node workflow developed
      for an on-market search platform in conjunction with a quantitation platform
      developed using a free Excel add-in. Moreover, the method expedites the analysis
      process, requiring only two post-search hours to complete quantitation,
      regardless of the size of the experiment or the sample complexity.

PMID- 26873215
TI  - Screening of lipase inhibitors from Scutellaria baicalensis extract using lipase
      immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and study on the inhibitory mechanism.
AB  - Scutellaria baicalensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant possessing a
      wide variety of biological activities. In this work, lipase immobilized on
      magnetic nanoparticles (LMNPs) was used as solid phase extract absorbent for
      screening of lipase inhibitors from this plant. Three flavonoids were found to
      bind to LMNPs and were identified as baicalin, wogonin, and oroxylin A by liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Their IC50 values were determined to
      be 229.22 +/- 12.67, 153.71 +/- 9.21, and 56.07 +/- 4.90 MUM, respectively.
      Fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking were used to probe the
      interactions between these flavonoids and lipase. All the flavonoids quenched the
      fluorescence of lipase statically by forming new complexes, implying their
      affinities with the enzyme. The thermodynamic analysis suggested that van der
      Waals force and hydrogen bond were the main forces between wogonin and lipase,
      while hydrophobic force was the main force for the other two flavonoids. The
      results from a molecular docking study further revealed that all of them could
      insert into the pocket of lipase binding to a couple of amino acid residues.

PMID- 26873217
TI  - Rapid quantification method for Legionella pneumophila in surface water.
AB  - World-wide legionellosis outbreaks caused by evaporative cooling systems have
      shown that there is a need for rapid screening methods for Legionella pneumophila
      in water. Antibody-based methods for the quantification of L. pneumophila are
      rapid, non-laborious, and relatively cheap but not sensitive enough for
      establishment as a screening method for surface and drinking water. Therefore,
      preconcentration methods have to be applied in advance to reach the needed
      sensitivity. In a basic test, monolithic adsorption filtration (MAF) was used as
      primary preconcentration method that adsorbs L. pneumophila with high efficiency.
      Ten-liter water samples were concentrated in 10 min and further reduced to 1 mL
      by centrifugal ultrafiltration (CeUF). The quantification of L. pneumophila
      strains belonging to the monoclonal subtype Bellingham was performed via flow
      based chemiluminescence sandwich microarray immunoassays (CL-SMIA) in 36 min. The
      whole analysis process takes 90 min. A polyclonal antibody (pAb) against L.
      pneumophila serogroup 1-12 and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against L. pneumophila
      SG 1 strain Bellingham were immobilized on a microarray chip. Without
      preconcentration, the detection limit was 4.0 * 10(3) and 2.8 * 10(3) CFU/mL
      determined by pAb and mAb 10/6, respectively. For samples processed by MAF-CeUF
      prior to SMIA detection, the limit of detection (LOD) could be decreased to 8.7
      CFU/mL and 0.39 CFU/mL, respectively. A recovery of 99.8 +/- 15.9% was achieved
      for concentrations between 1-1000 CFU/mL. The established combined analytical
      method is sensitive for rapid screening of surface and drinking water to allow
      fast hygiene control of L. pneumophila.

PMID- 26873218
TI  - Variations in plasma and urinary lipids in response to enzyme replacement therapy
      for Fabry disease patients by nanoflow UPLC-ESI-MS/MS.
AB  - A deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A causes Fabry disease (FD) by disrupting
      lipid metabolism, especially trihexosylceramide (THC). Enzyme replacement therapy
      (ERT) is clinically offered to FD patients in an attempt to lower the accumulated
      lipids. Studies on specific types of lipids that are directly or indirectly
      altered by FD are very scarce, even though they are crucial in understanding the
      biological process linked to the pathogenesis of FD. We performed a comprehensive
      lipid profiling of plasma and urinary lipids from FD patients with nanoflow
      liquid chromatography electrospray-ionization tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI
      MS/MS) and identified 129 plasma and 111 urinary lipids. Among these, lipids that
      exhibited alternations (>twofold) in patients were selected as targets for
      selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-based high-speed quantitation using nanoflow
      ultra-performance LC-ESI-MS/MS (nUPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and 31 plasma and 26 urinary
      lipids showed significant elevation among FD patients. Higher percentages of
      sphingolipids (SLs; 48% for plasma and 42% for urine) were highly elevated in
      patients; whereas, a smaller percentage of phospholipids (PLs; 15% for plasma and
      13% for urine) were significantly affected. Even though alpha-galactosidase A is
      reported to affect THC only, the results show that other classes of lipids
      (especially SLs) are changed as well, indicating that FD not only alters
      metabolism of THC but various classes of lipids too. Most lipids showing
      significant increases in relative amounts before ERT decreased after ERT, but
      overall, ERT influenced plasma lipids more than urinary lipids.

PMID- 26873219
TI  - Copper ion detection using novel silver nanoclusters stabilized with amido black
      10B.
AB  - Novel fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) were synthesized using amido black
      10B (AB) as a stabilizing agent and then employed for the detection of copper
      ions (Cu(2+)). The AB-stabilized AgNCs (AB-AgNCs) were well dispersed in aqueous
      solution with an average diameter of around 1.3 nm and exhibited illustrious blue
      fluorescence emission. Moreover, the fluorescence of AB-AgNCs could be quenched
      efficiently by Cu(2+), which might be a result of the coordination between Cu(2+)
      and the free recognition group of AB on surfaces of AB-AgNCs, inducing the
      aggregation of AB-AgNCs. Based on the linear decrease of fluorescence intensity,
      the Cu(2+) concentration was determined in the range of 0.01-1.1 MUmol L(-1) and
      the limit of detection (LOD) was 4.0 nMU. In addition, the detection of Cu(2+)
      could be performed with AB-AgNCs in the presence of other ions, including 13
      kinds of conventional metal ions and 11 kinds of anions. Based on the above
      experiment, the developed AB-AgNC probe was successfully further applied to
      detect Cu(2+) in three electroplating effluents, which showed high accuracy.

PMID- 26873221
TI  - Chengru Feng: The founder of biological illustration in China.

PMID- 26873220
TI  - Composition of ultrathin binary polymer brushes by thermogravimetry-gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry.
AB  - In the present paper, a reliable and rugged thermogravimetry-gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry (TGA-GC-MS) method was developed to determine the composition
      of ultrathin films consisting of binary blends of functional polystyrene (PS) and
      polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) grafted to a silicon wafer. A general methodology
      will be given to address the composition determination problem for binary or even
      multicomponent polymer brush systems using the PS/PMMA-based samples as a
      paradigmatic example. In this respect, several distinct tailor-made materials
      were developed to ensure reliable calibration and validation stages. The
      analytical method was tested on unknown samples to follow the composition
      evolution in PS/PMMA brushes during the grafting reaction. A preferential
      grafting of the PMMA was revealed in full agreement with its preferential
      interaction with the SiO2 polar surface.

PMID- 26873222
TI  - Erratum to: Archetype relational mapping - a practical openEHR persistence
      solution.

PMID- 26873224
TI  - Chancellor's psychiatrist brother is struck off medical register.

PMID- 26873223
TI  - Mitochondrial DNA assessment of Phytophthora infestans isolates from potato and
      tomato in Ethiopia reveals unexpected diversity.
AB  - Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were determined using restriction fragment
      length polymorphism (RFLP) for P. infestans sampled from 513 foliar lesions of
      late blight found on potato and tomato in different regions of Ethiopia. Among
      the four reported mitochondrial haplotypes of Phytophthora infestans, Ia, Ib and
      IIb were detected in 93 % of the samples analyzed but the vast majority of these
      were Ia. The remaining 7 % represented a previously unreported haplotype. DNA
      sequencing of this new haplotype also confirmed a single base nucleotide
      substitution that resulted in loss of EcoRI restriction site and gain of two
      additional MspI sites in cox1 and atp1 genes, respectively. There were 28
      polymorphic sites among all nucleotide sequences including five reference
      isolates. Sites with alignment gaps were observed in P4 with one nucleotide
      deletion in 11 Ethiopian isolates. None of the reference sequence produced frame
      shifts, with the exception of the 3-nucleotide deletion in the P4 region by
      Phytophthora andina, a feature that can be used to distinguish the new Ethiopian
      isolates from P. andina. While a distinguishing molecular data presented here
      clearly separated them from P. infestans, 7 % of the isolates that share this
      feature formed an important component of the late blight pathogen causing disease
      on Solanum tuberosum in Ethiopia. Thus, these Ethiopian isolates could represent
      a novel Phytophthora species reported for the first time here. 

PMID- 26873225
TI  - Clinical evaluation of the effect of diquafosol ophthalmic solution in glaucoma
      patients with dry eye syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of diquafosol on intraocular pressure (IOP)
      and dry eye symptoms in glaucoma patients with dry eye syndrome (DES). METHODS:
      This study evaluated a total of 138 glaucoma patients with DES who were treated
      with diquafosol ophthalmic solution (DIQUAS((r))). Before treatment and 1, 4, 12,
      36, and 52 weeks after treatment, IOP, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear
      film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I test scores, fluorescein staining,
      conjunctival impression cytology, and adverse drug reactions were evaluated.
      RESULTS: Throughout the treatment period, the mean IOP for all the patients
      remained stable after treatment with diquafosol (15.4 +/- 2.8 mmHg at baseline
      and 16.0 +/- 2.8 mmHg at 52 weeks). The mean OSDI score improved significantly at
      4, 12, and 52 weeks after diquafosol treatment. The BUT and Schirmer I test
      scores were significantly increased after diquafosol treatment. The Oxford scheme
      score was significantly decreased at 1, 4, 12, 36, and 52 weeks after diquafosol
      treatment. A significant improvement in goblet cell density was observed after 4
      weeks of treatment with diquafosol. Adverse drug reactions were reported in 22
      (15.9 %) patients. There were no serious adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS:
      Diquafosol was effective in improving objective and subjective symptoms and
      maintained a stable IOP in glaucoma patients with DES. Therefore, the addition of
      diquafosol treatment in glaucoma patients with DES or ocular surface side effects
      using anti-glaucoma medication may be beneficial.

PMID- 26873226
TI  - Reprint of: Locus coeruleus neuronal activity determines proclivity to consume
      alcohol in a selectively-bred line of rats that readily consumes alcohol.
AB  - Sprague-Dawley rats selectively-bred for susceptibility to stress in our
      laboratory (Susceptible, or SUS rats) voluntarily consume large amounts of
      alcohol, and amounts that have, as shown here, pharmacological effects, which
      normal rats will not do. In this paper, we explore neural events in the brain
      that underlie this propensity to readily consume alcohol. Activity of locus
      coeruleus neurons (LC), the major noradrenergic cell body concentration in the
      brain, influences firing of ventral tegmentum dopaminergic cell bodies of the
      mesocorticolimbic system (VTA-DA neurons), which mediate rewarding aspects of
      alcohol. We tested the hypothesis that in SUS rats alcohol potently suppresses LC
      activity to markedly diminish LC-mediated inhibition of VTA-DA neurons, which
      permits alcohol to greatly increase VTA-DA activity and rewarding aspects of
      alcohol. Electrophysiological single-unit recording of LC and VTA-DA activity
      showed that in SUS rats alcohol decreased LC burst firing much more than in
      normal rats and as a result markedly increased VTA-DA activity in SUS rats while
      having no such effect in normal rats. Consistent with this, in a behavioral test
      for reward using conditioned place preference (CPP), SUS rats showed alcohol,
      given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, to be rewarding. Next, manipulation of
      LC activity by microinfusion of drugs into the LC region of SUS rats showed that
      (a) decreasing LC activity increased alcohol intake and increasing LC activity
      decreased alcohol intake in accord with the formulation described above, and (b)
      increasing LC activity blocked both the rewarding effect of alcohol in the CPP
      test and the usual alcohol-induced increase in VTA-DA single-unit activity seen
      in SUS rats. An important ancillary finding in the CPP test was that an increase
      in LC activity was rewarding by itself, while a decrease in LC activity was
      aversive; consequently, effects of LC manipulations on alcohol-related reward in
      the CPP test were perhaps even larger than evident in the test. Finally, when
      increased LC activity was associated with (i.e., conditioned to) i.p. alcohol,
      subsequent alcohol consumption by SUS rats was markedly reduced, indicating that
      SUS rats consume large amounts of alcohol because of rewarding physiological
      consequences requiring increased VTA-DA activity. The findings reported here are
      consistent with the view that the influence of alcohol on LC activity leading to
      changes in VTA-DA activity strongly affects alcohol-mediated reward, and may well
      be the basis of the proclivity of SUS rats to avidly consume alcohol. 

PMID- 26873227
TI  - Follow-up duration influences the relative importance of OGTT and optimal timing
      of glucose measurements for predicting future type 2 diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of follow-up duration on the incremental
      prognostic yield of a baseline oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for predicting
      type 2 diabetes and to assess the discrimination ability of blood glucose (BG)
      obtained at different time points during OGTT. DESIGN: A prospective, population
      based cohort study (Malmo Preventive Project) with inclusion of subjects from
      1974 to 1992. METHODS: A total of 5256 men without diabetes, who had BG measured
      at 0, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min during OGTT (30 g/m2 glucose), were followed
      for 30 years. Incident type 2 diabetes was recorded using registries. The
      performance of OGTT added to a clinical prediction model (age, body mass index
      (BMI), diastolic blood pressure, fasting BG, triglycerides, and family history of
      diabetes) was assessed using Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and integrated
      discrimination improvement (IDI). RESULTS: Median age was 48 years, mean BMI 24.9
      kg/m2, and mean fasting BG 4.7 mmol/L. Models with added post-load BG performed
      better than the clinical model (C-index: P = 0.08 for BG at 120 min at 5 years,
      otherwise P <= 0.045; IDI: P >= 0.06 for BG at 60 and 90 min at 5 years,
      otherwise P <= 0.01). With a longer follow-up duration, C-index decreased, and
      the C-index increase associated with OGTT was attenuated. Models including BG at
      60 or 90 min performed significantly better than the model with BG at 120 min,
      evident beyond follow-up of 10 and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: OGTT
      provided incremental prognostic yield for type 2 diabetes prediction. BG measured
      at 60 or 90 min provided better discrimination than BG at 120 min.

PMID- 26873228
TI  - A Single-Dose Crossover Pharmacokinetic Comparison Study of Oral, Rectal and
      Topical Quetiapine in Healthy Adults.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Quetiapine is an oral atypical antipsychotic drug commonly used to
      treat a large number of neuropsychiatric disorders and conditions. However, a
      substantial number of patients who may benefit from treatment with quetiapine are
      unable to ingest quetiapine or other medications by mouth and thus require
      alternative routes of administration. There are currently no studies evaluating
      non-oral compounded dosage forms of quetiapine. METHODS: We conducted a single
      dose open-label crossover pharmacokinetic study in 10 healthy adults to determine
      whether quetiapine compounded as a rectal suppository or a topical cream achieved
      absorption similar to that achieved by a commercially available oral formulation.
      RESULTS: Rectal quetiapine produced an area under the plasma concentration-time
      curve from time zero to infinity (AUCinfinity) approximately 90 % greater than
      that produced by an equal (milligram per milligram) dose of oral quetiapine
      (15,333 ng/mL versus 8118.8 ng/mL, p = 0.005). However, only two of ten subjects
      who received topical quetiapine had detectable serum levels. When detected, serum
      levels achieved with topical quetiapine were delayed and low in comparison with
      those produced by the oral and rectal dosage forms. CONCLUSION: Our results
      suggest that rectal, but not topical, quetiapine may be useful in clinical
      settings. Clinical outcome studies of rectal quetiapine are needed.

PMID- 26873230
TI  - [Clinical Importance of Central Nervous System Dysfunction in Myopathy].
AB  - Multidisciplinary treatments including mechanical ventilation and
      cardioprotective therapy have improved life expectancy in many neuromuscular
      disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For these patients, central
      nervous system disturbances such as intellectual and/or developmental disability
      can hinder social activities and communications. In myotonic dystrophy, the
      personality and/or cognitive dysfunction affects medical consultation behavior
      and decreases the efficacy of medical treatments. Understanding central nervous
      system disturbances in myopathies and providing care keeping in mind the patient
      burden are critical for improving prognosis and quality of life. 

PMID- 26873229
TI  - Population Pharmacokinetics of Daclizumab High-Yield Process in Healthy
      Volunteers and Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis: Analysis of Phase I-III Clinical
      Trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Daclizumab high-yield process (HYP) is a humanized
      IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to the alpha-subunit (CD25) of the
      interleukin-2 receptor. The present work characterized the population
      pharmacokinetics of daclizumab HYP in healthy volunteers (HVs) and subjects with
      relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and evaluated the effects of
      covariates on daclizumab HYP exposure. METHODS: Measurable serum concentrations
      (n = 17,139) from 1670 subjects in seven clinical studies (three phase I, one
      immunogenicity, one phase II with extension, and one phase III) were included in
      this pharmacokinetic analysis using non-linear mixed-effects modeling. The three
      phase I studies evaluated single or multiple doses that ranged from 50 to 400 mg
      with either intravenous or subcutaneous (SC) administration in HVs (n = 71). The
      phase II with extension studies evaluated doses of 150 or 300 mg SC every 4 weeks
      (n = 567), and the immunogenicity (n = 113) and the phase III (n = 919) studies
      evaluated 150 mg SC every 4 weeks, all in RRMS patients. RESULTS: A two
      compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination adequately
      described daclizumab HYP pharmacokinetics. Clearance (CL) was 0.212 L/day and the
      central volume of distribution was 3.92 L, scaled by [body weight (kg)/68] with
      exponents of 0.87 and 1.12, respectively. The peripheral volume of distribution
      was 2.42 L. Absorption lag time, mean absorption time, and absolute
      bioavailability (100-300 mg SC) were 1.61 h, 7.2 days, and 88 %, respectively.
      The daclizumab HYP terminal half-life was 21 days. Baseline CD25, age, and sex
      did not influence daclizumab HYP pharmacokinetics. Body weight explained 37 and
      27 % of the inter-individual variability for CL and central volume of
      distribution, respectively. Neutralizing antibody (NAb)-positive status (included
      as a time-varying covariate) increased daclizumab HYP CL by 19 %. CONCLUSIONS:
      Consistent with previous findings in HVs, this analysis including extensive data
      from RRMS patients demonstrates that daclizumab HYP is characterized by slow CL,
      linear pharmacokinetics at doses above 100 mg, and high SC bioavailability. The
      pharmacokinetics of daclizumab HYP were not influenced by age (range 18-66
      years), the sex of adult subjects, or the baseline CD4+CD25+ T cells (target
      level). The impact of covariates (body weight, NAb) on daclizumab HYP
      pharmacokinetics is unlikely to be clinically relevant.

PMID- 26873231
TI  - [Central Nervous Involvement in Patients with Fukuyama Congenital Muscular
      Dystrophy].
AB  - Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), the second most common muscular
      dystrophy in the Japanese population, is an autosomal recessive disorder caused
      by mutations in the fukutin (FKTN) gene. The main features of FCMD are a
      combination of infantile-onset hypotonia, generalized muscle weakness, eye
      abnormalities and central nervous system involvement with mental retardation and
      seizures associated with cortical migration defects. The FKTN gene product is
      thought to be necessary for maintaining migrating neurons in an immature state
      during migration, and for supporting migration via alpha-dystroglycan in the
      central nervous system. Typical magnetic resonance imaging findings in FCMD
      patients are cobblestone lissencephaly and cerebellar cystic lesions. White
      matter abnormalities with hyperintensity on T(2)-weighted images are seen
      especially in younger patients and those with severe phenotypes. Most FCMD
      patients are mentally retarded and the level is moderate to severe, with IQs
      ranging from 30 to 50. In our recent study, 62% of patients developed seizures.
      Among them, 71% had only febrile seizures, 6% had afebrile seizures from the
      onset, and 22% developed afebrile seizures following febrile seizures. Most
      patients had seizures that were controllable with just 1 type of antiepileptic
      drug, but 18% had intractable seizures that must be treated with 3 medications.

PMID- 26873232
TI  - [Dystrophinopathy and Seizure].
AB  - Dystrophinopathy is associated strongly with central nervous system
      manifestation. It has been reported that 4%-15% of patients with dystrophinopathy
      have febrile seizure, and 2%-12% have epilepsy. In our study, 8% of patients had
      febrile seizure, and it was more common in patients with mutations downstream of
      exon 45, especially exon 63. Epilepsy occurred in 5% of our patients, and the
      prevalence in Becker muscular dystrophy was higher than that in Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy. Isoforms such as Dp427 and Dp71, expressed in the central nervous
      system. might be related to seizure, because of impairment in GABAA receptors,
      aquaporin 4, and K channels.

PMID- 26873233
TI  - [Social Cognitive Impairment in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1].
AB  - Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM 1) is a heritable, multisystem disease that affects
      not only the muscles but also the brain. DM 1 is often accompanied by
      developmental behavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders. The
      autistic traits in DM 1 may be related to social cognitive dysfunction. The
      social cognitive function of patients with DM 1 was examined with respect to
      facial emotion recognition and theory of mind, which is the specific cognitive
      ability to understand the mental states of other people. With respect to facial
      emotion recognition, the sensitivities to disgust and anger were lower among
      patients with DM 1 than among healthy subjects, and this difference could not be
      attributed to visual impairment. To examine the theory of mind ability, the
      "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" test and the faux pas recognition test were used.
      Patients with DM 1 were found to be impaired in both tests, but the results were
      not attributed to visual ability and lexical comprehension. The possible causes
      of social cognitive dysfunction in DM 1 are the l cerebral atrophy and white
      matter abnormalities in the temporal, frontal, and insular cortex. Dysfunctions
      in these areas may affect the emotional and theory of mind abilities in DM 1,
      which result in the behavioral and communication disorders. 

PMID- 26873234
TI  - [Impairment of Odor Recognition in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1].
AB  - There is evidence that impaired human cognitive abilities are reflected in loss
      of olfactory abilities. Declining olfactory perception may be a biomarker for
      impairment of cognitive function and of impending illnesses in neurodegenerative
      disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
      Previously, we reported that patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM 1) had
      lower sensitivity to emotional facial expressions as well as abnormal olfactory
      threshold or recognition level. In DM 1, pathological studies have reported
      neurofibrillary tangles in several temporal areas including the entorhinal cortex
      (ENT), hippocampus (HI), and the amygdala. We observed that patients with DM 1
      showed signal abnormalities in the olfactory limbic areas on magnetic resonance
      imaging. Our findings underscore the need to pay careful attention to significant
      decreases in odor identification abilities caused by diverse forms of abnormal
      brain function, especially in the AMG, ENT and HI. 

PMID- 26873235
TI  - [Higher Brain Dysfunction in Mitochondrial Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic
      Acidosis and Stroke-Like Episodes (MELAS)].
AB  - Stroke-like episodes are one of the cardinal features of mitochondrial myopathy,
      encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and occur in 84
      99% of the patients. The affected areas detected on neuroimaging do not have
      classical vascular distribution, and involve predominantly the temporal, parietal
      and occipital lobes. Thus, the neurological symptoms including higher brain
      dysfunction correlate with this topographical distribution. In association with
      the occipital lobe involvement, the most frequent symptom is cortical blindness.
      Other symptoms have been occasionally reported in case reports: visual agnosia,
      prosopagnosia, cortical deafness, auditory agnosia, topographical disorientation,
      various types of aphasia, hemispatial neglect, and so on. On the other hand,
      cognitive decline associated with more diffuse brain impairment rather than with
      focal stroke-like lesions has been postulated. This condition is also known as
      mitochondrial dementia. Domains of cognitive dysfunction include abstract
      reasoning, verbal memory, visual memory, language (naming and fluency), executive
      or constructive functions, attention, and visuospatial function. Cognitive
      functions and intellectual abilities may decline from initially minimal cognitive
      impairment to dementia. To date, the neuropsychological and neurologic impairment
      has been reported to be associated with cerebral lactic acidosis as estimated by
      ventricular spectroscopic lactate levels. 

PMID- 26873236
TI  - [Genes Responsible for Epileptic Syndromes].
AB  - The first causative gene for epileptic syndrome was revealed 20 years ago. Since
      then, many genes responsible for epileptic syndrome, particularly sporadic
      epileptic encephalopathies, such as Ohtahara syndrome, West syndrome, and focal
      cortical dysplasia, have been identified. Although epilepsy was recognized as a
      channelopathy in the beginning stages of gene discovery, other molecular
      mechanisms for epileptic syndromes, such as interneuronopathy, synaptic vesicle
      release, and mTOR signal transduction, are emerging. A new technique for gene
      analysis using the next-generation sequencer is now available for clinical
      purpose abroad and precision medicine based on the molecular mechanisms has
      started. Infrastructural development of the official framework, from molecular
      diagnosis to personalized therapy, is urgently required in Japan. 

PMID- 26873237
TI  - [Clinical Neuropsychology of Dementia with Lewy Bodies].
AB  - Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) shows lesser memory impairment and more severe
      visuospatial disability than Alzheimer disease (AD). Although deficits in both
      consolidation and retrieval underlie the memory impairment, retrieval deficit is
      predominant in DLB. Visuospatial dysfunctions in DLB are related to the
      impairments in both ventral and dorsal streams of higher visual information
      processing, and lower visual processing in V1/V2 may also be impaired. Attention
      and executive functions are more widely disturbed in DLB than in AD. Imitation of
      finger gestures is impaired more frequently in DLB than in other mild dementia,
      and provides additional information for diagnosis of mild dementia, especially
      for DLB. Pareidolia, which lies between hallucination and visual misperception,
      is found frequently in DLB, but its mechanism is still under investigation. 

PMID- 26873238
TI  - [Early Detection of Manganese Intoxication Based on Occupational History and T1
      weighted MRI].
AB  - Manganese regulates many enzymes and is essential for normal cell function.
      Chronic manganese intoxication has an insidious and progressive course
      terminating to atypical parkinsonism with little therapeutic efficacy. For
      subjects with chronic manganese exposure such as welders, manganese intoxication
      can be detected early based on the presence of hyperintensity in the globus
      pallidus on T(1)-weighted MRI and abnormally high urinary excretion of manganese
      with a chelating agent even in cases of normal serum/urine level of manganese.

PMID- 26873239
TI  - [Argatroban, Aspirin, and Clopidogrel Combination Therapy for Acute Penetrating
      Artery Infarction: A Pilot Study].
AB  - Treatment to prevent progressive neurological deficits in acute penetrating
      artery infarction (API) is clinically important, but has not yet been
      established. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of
      argatroban, aspirin, and clopidogrel combination therapy for API. Patients with
      API (lacunar infarcts or branch atheromatous disease) admitted within 48 hours
      after onset were enrolled. We assigned them to argatroban, aspirin, and
      clopidogrel (AAC) group or argatroban and aspirin (AA) group. In both groups,
      blood pressure was controlled to near or below 180/105 mmHg in the admission
      period. We defined progressing stroke as a worsening of two or more points in the
      National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on the seventh day of admission.
      Fifty-four patients were enrolled. We assigned 28 patients to the AAC group, and
      26 patients to the AA group. There were no significant differences in background
      factors between the two groups. The incidence of progressing stroke was
      significantly higher in the AA group (P<0.05). Intracranial hemorrhage or any
      other bleeding was not seen in the admission period in either group. Our findings
      suggest that the AAC combination therapy may positively affect progressive
      neurological deficits in API patients.

PMID- 26873240
TI  - [A Patient with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy with 18F-FDG Uptake on Positron
      Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography].

PMID- 26873241
TI  - Early beta-cell dysfunction characterizes males with type 2 diabetes of Yemenite
      origin.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of the current study was to characterize beta-cell function,
      insulin sensitivity and line of inheritance in patients with recent-onset type 2
      diabetes of Yemenite and non-Yemenite Jewish origin. METHODS: A cohort study
      including 121 GAD negative diabetic patients, 59 of Yemenite and 62 of non
      Yemenite origin, treated by diet +/- oral antihyperglycemic monotherapy who
      underwent 180-min meal tolerance test (MMT). Based on MMT, indexes of insulin
      resistance and secretion were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant
      differences in age, sex, diabetes duration, BMI, HbA1c and lipid profile. A
      significant difference was found in family history of diabetes: 63 % of patients
      of Yemenite origin had maternal inheritance versus 35 % in the non-Yemenite
      origin (p < 0.001). Both indexes of beta-cell function, the insulinogenic and the
      disposition indexes were significantly lower in patients of Yemenite origin
      compared with non-Yemenite origin (0.66 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.93 +/- 0.8, p = 0.04; 2.3
      +/- 1.8 vs. 3.3 +/- 3.3, p = 0.04, respectively) with no difference in insulin
      sensitivity. When females and males were analyzed separately, the difference in
      maternal inheritance remained significant in both, but the difference in beta
      cell function indexes was observed only in males (p = 0.03, p = 0.01,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Males with recent-onset diabetes of Yemenite origin
      have a significant reduction of beta-cell function and reduced ability to
      compensate for insulin resistance compared with diabetic males of non-Yemenite
      origin. Both males and females of Yemenite origin have a significantly higher
      maternal inheritance of diabetes. These data suggest different underlying
      mechanisms leading to early loss of beta-cell in diabetic males of Yemenite
      origin.

PMID- 26873242
TI  - The effect of a single dose of vitamin D on glycemic status and C-reactive
      protein levels in type 2 diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease: a
      randomized clinical trial.
AB  - AIMS: To assess whether a single parental dose of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)Vit
      D] could improve glucose control and inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients
      (T2D) with ischemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS: A randomized, placebo
      controlled, double-blind trial was performed on 95 patients (47-placebo and 48
      vitamin D groups). Participants were randomized using a randomization table to a
      single dose of either vitamin D (300,000 IU, IM) or a matching placebo. Fasting
      blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 25(OH)Vit D and high
      sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline and at 8 weeks.
      RESULTS: No significant differences in baseline values were noted between groups,
      except in HbA1c, which was lower in the placebo group. In the supplemented group,
      the level of serum 25(OH)Vit D increased (29.6 +/- 20.8 vs. 44.5 +/- 19.2 ng/mL)
      and those of FBS and HbA1c decreased significantly [186.5 +/- 64.1 vs. 165.1 +/-
      58.5 mg/dL and 8.2 +/- 2.0 % (66.3 +/- 21.8 mmol/mol) vs. 7.7 +/- 1.8 % (61.7 +/-
      20.0 mmol/mol), respectively] (all p < 0.05), and no changes, however, were
      observed in the placebo group. We also compared change of marginal means of
      outcome variables (HbA1c, FBS, 25(OH)Vit D and hs-CRP) from baseline between the
      vitamin D versus placebo group, using ANCOVA, adjusted for the baseline of each
      variable itself, season at study entry, age and body mass index. During trial,
      only HbA1c level decreased significantly [0.48 % (standard error: 0.17), p =
      0.04]. No any adverse effect was seen. CONCLUSIONS: A single parenteral dose of
      vitamin D in T2D patients with IHD improved glycemic control, but not
      inflammatory status. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Australian New Zealand Clinical
      Trial Registry. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: ACTRN12614000529640.

PMID- 26873243
TI  - Systemic antibiotic therapy does not significantly improve outcome in a rat model
      of implant-associated osteomyelitis induced by Methicillin susceptible
      Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Treatment of implant-associated osteomyelitis regularly involves
      the use of systemic antibiotics in addition to surgical intervention. However, it
      remains unclear if perioperative systemic application of bactericide substances
      can improve overall outcome in models of severe intramedullary infection. The
      present study investigated the use of systemic gentamicin in addition to a
      controlled local release from a highly lipophilic gentamicinpalmitate compound
      while the previous study showed efficacy of sole antibiotic implant-coating.
      METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups receiving an
      intramedullary femoral injection of 10(2) CFU of a common methicillin susceptible
      Staphylococcus aureus strain (MSSA Rosenbach). Group I received an uncoated
      implant whereas group II received a coated implant. All animals received a single
      shot intraperitoneal application of gentamicinsulfate directly after wound
      closure while the historical control group III (n = 20) had no antibiotic
      treatment at all. Animals were observed for 28 and 42 days. Serum haptoglobin and
      relative weight gain were assessed as well as roll over cultures of explanted
      femur nails and histological scores of periprosthetic infection in dissected
      femora. RESULTS: Systemic application of gentamicin combined with antibiotic
      coated implant did not further reduce bacterial growth significantly compared
      with systemic or local antibiotic application alone. Combined local and systemic
      therapy reduced serum haptoglobin significantly after day 7, 28 and 42 whereas
      systemic application alone did not compare to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic
      perioperative and implant-associated application of antibiotics were both
      comparably effective to treat implant-associated infections whereas the combined
      antibiotic therapy further reduced systemic signs of infection time dependent.

PMID- 26873244
TI  - Proteomics of terpenoid biosynthesis and secretion in trichomes of higher plant
      species.
AB  - Among the specialized (secondary) plant metabolites, terpenoids represent the
      most diverse family and are often involved in the defense against pathogens and
      herbivores. Terpenoids can be produced both constitutively and in response to the
      environment. At the front line of this defense strategy are the glandular
      trichomes, which are organs dedicated primarily to the production of specialized
      metabolites. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is a powerful tool, which is very
      useful to investigate enzymes involved in metabolic pathways, such as the
      synthesis and secretion of terpenoids in glandular trichomes. Here we review the
      strategies used to investigate the specific roles of these particular organs from
      non-model plant species, mainly belonging to the Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, and
      Cannabaceae families. We discuss how proteomics helps to accurately pinpoint
      candidate proteins to be functionally characterized, and how technological
      progresses create opportunities for studying low-abundance proteins, such as the
      ones related to the synthesis and transport of specialized metabolites. This
      article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Proteomics--a bridge between
      fundamental processes and crop production, edited by Dr. Hans-Peter Mock.

PMID- 26873246
TI  - Novel RIPK3 inhibitors discovered through a structure-based approach exert post
      ischemic neuroprotection.
AB  - Necroptosis or programmed necrosis is evident in various neurological disorders
      such as ischemic stroke. Receptor interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 3
      (RIPK3) is one of the crucial targets of necroptosis and inhibition of this
      protein exerts neuroprotection. However, knowledge regarding the three
      dimensional structure and binding site information of this protein is lacking. In
      the present study, structure-based in silico methods were implemented to identify
      the key amino acids in the RIPK3 binding site that might be responsible for
      ligand interactions. Further, novel RIPK3 inhibitors were identified through a
      dual ensemble screening strategy. Three inhibitors exhibited binding to RIPK3 in
      micromolar concentrations and exerted post-ischemic neuroprotection in vitro. 

PMID- 26873247
TI  - Rabbit syndrome associated with medullary compression by vertebral artery.

PMID- 26873245
TI  - Localization of the binding interface between leiomodin-2 and alpha-tropomyosin.
AB  - The development of some familial dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) correlates with
      the presence of mutations in proteins that regulate the organization and function
      of thin filaments in cardiac muscle cells. Harmful effects of some mutations
      might be caused by disruption of yet uncharacterized protein-protein
      interactions. We used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to localize the
      region of striated muscle alpha-tropomyosin (Tpm1.1) that interacts with
      leiomodin-2 (Lmod2), a member of tropomodulin (Tmod) family of actin-binding
      proteins. We found that 21 N-terminal residues of Tpm1.1 are involved in
      interactions with residues 7-41 of Lmod2. The K15N mutation in Tpm1.1, known to
      be associated with familial DCM, is located within the newly identified Lmod2
      binding site of Tpm1.1. We studied the effect of this mutation on binding Lmod2
      and Tmod1. The mutation reduced binding affinity for both Lmod2 and Tmod1, which
      are responsible for correct lengths of thin filaments. The effect of the K15N
      mutation on Tpm1.1 binding to Lmod2 and Tmod1 provides a molecular rationale for
      the development of familial DCM. 

PMID- 26873248
TI  - Non-essential contribution of LRRC8A to volume regulation.
AB  - Volume regulation is an essential property of any living cell and needs to be
      tightly controlled. While different types of K(+) channels have been found to
      participate in the regulation of cell volume, the newly identified volume
      regulated anion channel (VRAC) LRRC8 has been claimed to be essential for volume
      regulation. In unbiased genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screens, two
      independent studies identified LRRC8A/Swell1 as an essential component of VRAC,
      thus being indispensable for cellular volume regulation. We reanalyzed the role
      of LRRC8A for VRAC and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in several cell types and
      under various conditions. While the role of LRRC8A for VRAC and its contribution
      to RVD is confirmed, we find that it is not essential for swelling-activated
      anion currents or cellular volume regulation, or apoptotic cell shrinkage. The
      contribution of LRRC8A is variable and largely depending on the cell type.

PMID- 26873249
TI  - Explore the variation of MMP3, JNK, p38 MAPKs, and autophagy at the early stage
      of osteoarthritis.
AB  - Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease characterized by cartilage degeneration and
      chondrocyte apoptosis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway
      plays a key role in regulating OA process. Autophagy has an important effect on
      the OA process, and it is believed to be regulated by MAPKs. To reveal the
      mechanism and the effect of JNK and p38 MAPKs on matrix metalloproteinase 3
      (MMP3) and autophagy in OA, the study established OA model in rabbits, used the
      measurement of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International scoring system
      to evaluate OA model, and conducted general observation, histological
      observation, and Western blotting of JNK, phosphorylate-JNK (P-JNK), p38,
      phosphorylate-p38 (P-p38), MMP3, and light-chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I to explore the
      variation of JNK, p38 MAPKs, and autophagy at the early stage of OA. With OA
      progressing at the early stage, MMP3, P-p38, and P-JNK were gradually upregulated
      from the baseline to the peak in study groups when compared with the control
      group; JNK and p38 variated of turbulence without statistical difference; and LC3
      II/LC3-I had a decreasing tendency from the 0- to 15-day group. This study
      identifies that compromised autophagy may be related to the OA progress and that
      JNK and p38 MAPKs have positive regulation on MMP3 and negative regulation on
      autophagy. It also implicates a new therapeutic strategy for OA and other
      degenerate diseases based on selective MAPK inhibitors, reduction of MMP3, and
      autophagy.

PMID- 26873252
TI  - [Neurological diseases after lightning strike : Lightning strikes twice].
AB  - Lightning strikes rarely occur but 85 % of patients have lightning-related
      neurological complications. This report provides an overview about different
      modes of energy transfer and neurological conditions related to lightning
      strikes. Moreover, two case reports demonstrate the importance of
      interdisciplinary treatment and the spectrum of neurological complications after
      lightning strikes. 

PMID- 26873253
TI  - Dual-process cognitive interventions to enhance diagnostic reasoning: a
      systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diagnostic error incurs enormous human and economic costs. The dual
      process model reasoning provides a framework for understanding the diagnostic
      process and attributes certain errors to faulty cognitive shortcuts (heuristics).
      The literature contains many suggestions to counteract these and to enhance
      analytical and non-analytical modes of reasoning. AIMS: To identify, describe and
      appraise studies that have empirically investigated interventions to enhance
      analytical and non-analytical reasoning among medical trainees and doctors, and
      to assess their effectiveness. METHODS: Systematic searches of five databases
      were carried out (Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, Education Resource Information
      Centre (ERIC) and Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials), supplemented with
      searches of bibliographies and relevant journals. Included studies evaluated an
      intervention to enhance analytical and/or non-analytical reasoning among medical
      trainees or doctors. FINDINGS: Twenty-eight studies were included under five
      categories: educational interventions, checklists, cognitive forcing strategies,
      guided reflection, instructions at test and other interventions. While many of
      the studies found some effect of interventions, guided reflection interventions
      emerged as the most consistently successful across five studies, and cognitive
      forcing strategies improved accuracy and confidence judgements. Significant
      heterogeneity of measurement approaches was observed, and existing studies are
      largely limited to early-career doctors. CONCLUSIONS: Results to date are
      promising and this relatively young field is now close to a point where these
      kinds of cognitive interventions can be recommended to educators. Further
      research with refined methodology and more diverse samples is required before
      firm recommendations may be made for medical education and policy; however, these
      results suggest that such interventions hold promise, with much current
      enthusiasm for new research.

PMID- 26873250
TI  - Bacterial Interactomes: Interacting Protein Partners Share Similar Function and
      Are Validated in Independent Assays More Frequently Than Previously Reported.
AB  - Numerous affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) and yeast two-hybrid
      screens have each defined thousands of pairwise protein-protein interactions
      (PPIs), most of which are between functionally unrelated proteins. The accuracy
      of these networks, however, is under debate. Here, we present an AP-MS survey of
      the bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris together with a critical reanalysis of nine
      published bacterial yeast two-hybrid and AP-MS screens. We have identified 459
      high confidence PPIs from D. vulgaris and 391 from Escherichia coli Compared with
      the nine published interactomes, our two networks are smaller, are much less
      highly connected, and have significantly lower false discovery rates. In
      addition, our interactomes are much more enriched in protein pairs that are
      encoded in the same operon, have similar functions, and are reproducibly detected
      in other physical interaction assays than the pairs reported in prior studies.
      Our work establishes more stringent benchmarks for the properties of protein
      interactomes and suggests that bona fide PPIs much more frequently involve
      protein partners that are annotated with similar functions or that can be
      validated in independent assays than earlier studies suggested.

PMID- 26873251
TI  - A Biologist's Field Guide to Multiplexed Quantitative Proteomics.
AB  - High-throughput genomic and proteomic studies have generated near-comprehensive
      catalogs of biological constituents within many model systems. Nevertheless,
      static catalogs are often insufficient to fully describe the dynamic processes
      that drive biology. Quantitative proteomic techniques address this need by
      providing insight into closely related biological states such as the stages of a
      therapeutic response or cellular differentiation. The maturation of quantitative
      proteomics in recent years has brought about a variety of technologies, each with
      their own strengths and weaknesses. It can be difficult for those unfamiliar with
      this evolving landscape to match the experiment at hand with the best tool for
      the job. Here, we outline quantitative methods for proteomic mass spectrometry
      and discuss their benefits and weaknesses from the perspective of the biologist
      aiming to generate meaningful data and address mechanistic questions.

PMID- 26873254
TI  - Maintaining the link between methodology and method in ethnographic health
      research.

PMID- 26873255
TI  - Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium and Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Case
      Report.
AB  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common
      hereditary disorders, characterized by the formation of multiple cysts in the
      kidneys and other organs, as well as noncystic manifestations such as cerebral
      aneurysm. The most common cardiovascular disorders associated with ADPKD include
      valvular abnormalities and aortic aneurysm. An association between ADPKD and
      impaired left ventricular function has occasionally been reported. We describe a
      74-year-old woman with ADPKD and exertional dyspnea. Impaired left ventricular
      function resulting from noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM) and
      secondary left ventricular aneurysm were diagnosed. Cardiac sarcoidosis and
      ischemic heart disease were ruled out. Myocardial ischemia resulting from NVM was
      the presumptive cause of the ventricular aneurysm. To our knowledge, this is the
      first report of concurrent isolated NVM and left ventricular aneurysm in a
      patient with ADPKD. ADPKD and various cardiomyopathies, including NVM, are all
      reported to involve mutations of sarcomere genes, suggesting a possible link
      between the conditions. 

PMID- 26873257
TI  - Greater occipital nerve blockade for the treatment of chronic migraine.

PMID- 26873256
TI  - Obesity, unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behaviors among university
      students in Sudan: growing risks for chronic diseases in a poor country.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to highlight nutritional status, dietary habits and
      sedentary patterns among university students in Khartoum state, Sudan. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional survey was carried out among 400 university students (183 males
      and 217 females) from University of Khartoum, Sudan. A pre-validated self
      reported questionnaire was used to collect the data. Weight and height were
      measured and body mass index was used to determine obesity status. RESULTS: Of
      the students, 20.5, 14.7, and 1.7 % were underweight, overweight and obese,
      respectively. The majority of students (85.5 %) consumed breakfast daily. About
      45 and 21.8 % of students consumed vegetables and fruit, respectively, on more
      than 3 days a week. Fast food was consumed significantly more (p < 0.01) for more
      than 3 days per week by females (44.2 %) than males (27.3 %). Females (42.9 %)
      were more likely to watch television for 3 h and more per day than males (30.6 %)
      (p < 0.039). Males (33.9 %) were more prone to sleep for fewer than 7 h per day
      than females (23 %) (p < 0.016). CONCLUSION: The health authority in Sudan should
      not only focus on prevention of malnutrition among children but also should
      organize programs to promote healthy eating and lifestyle among children and
      youths to prevent and control alarming risk factors for chronic diseases.

PMID- 26873258
TI  - Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and reversible cerebral
      vasoconstriction syndrome after bilateral carotid paraganglioma resection: A case
      report.
AB  - Background Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumour arising anywhere along
      the paravertebral sympathetic and parasympathetic chains. In the neck,
      paraganglioma may affect the carotid body (carotid body tumour). Case report We
      describe a 43-year-old woman who presented with a reversible vasoconstriction
      syndrome associated with a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following
      a surgery for a left carotid paraganglioma (with a past medical history of
      surgery for a right carotid paraganglioma a few months before). Conclusion A
      consequence of a baroreflex modification is discussed in order to explain the
      rare occurrence of such symptoms.

PMID- 26873261
TI  - Nanometer Scale Hard/Soft Bilayer Magnetic Antidots.
AB  - The effect of arrays of nanometer scale pores on the magnetic properties of thin
      films has been analyzed. Particularly, we investigated the influence of the out
      of-plane magnetization component created by the nanopores on the in-plane
      magnetic behavior of patterned hard/soft magnetic thin films in antidot
      morphology. Its influence on the coupling in Co/Py bilayers of few tens of
      nanometer thick is compared for disordered and ordered antidots of 35-nm
      diameter. The combination of magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and first-order
      reversal curve (FORC) technique allows probing the effects of the induced
      perpendicular magnetization component on the bilayer magnetic behavior, while
      magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is used to image it. We found that ordered
      antidots yield a stronger out-of-plane component than disordered ones,
      influencing in a similar manner the hard layer global in-plane magnetic behavior
      if with a thin or without soft layer. However, its influence changes with a
      thicker soft layer, which may be an indication of a weaker coupling. 

PMID- 26873260
TI  - Reexamining the Phosphorus-Protein Dilemma: Does Phosphorus Restriction
      Compromise Protein Status?
AB  - Dietary phosphorus restriction is recommended to help control hyperphosphatemia
      in hemodialysis patients, but many high-phosphorus foods are important sources of
      protein. In this review, we examine whether restricting dietary phosphorus
      compromises protein status in hemodialysis patients. Although dietary phosphorus
      and protein are highly correlated, phosphorus intakes can range up to 600 mg/day
      for a given energy and protein intake level. Furthermore, the collinearity of
      phosphorus and protein may be biased because the phosphorus burden of food
      depends on: (1) the presence of phosphate additives, (2) food preparation method,
      and (3) bioavailability of phosphorus, which are often unaccounted for in
      nutrition assessments. Ultimately, we argue that clinically relevant reductions
      in phosphorus intake can be made without limiting protein intake by avoiding
      phosphate additives in processed foods, using wet cooking methods such as
      boiling, and if needed, substituting high-phosphorus foods for nutritionally
      equivalent foods that are lower in bioavailable phosphorus.

PMID- 26873259
TI  - Improved visualisation of real-time recordings during third generation
      cryoballoon ablation: a comparison between the novel short-tip and the second
      generation device.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The third-generation Cryoballoon Advance Short-tip (CB-ST) has been
      designed with a 40 % shortened tip length compared with the former second
      generation CB advance device (CB-A). Ideally, a shorter tip should permit an
      improved visualisation of real-time recordings in the pulmonary vein (PV) due to
      a more proximal positioning of the inner lumen mapping catheter. We sought to
      compare the incidence of visualisation of real-time recordings in patients having
      undergone ablation with the CB-ST with patients having received CB-A ablation.
      METHODS: All patients having undergone CB ablation using CB-ST technology and the
      last 500 consecutive patients having undergone CB-A ablation were analysed.
      Exclusion criteria were the presence of an intracavitary thrombus, uncontrolled
      heart failure, moderate or severe valvular disease, and contraindications to
      general anaesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 600 consecutive patients (58.1 +/- 12.9
      years, 64 % males) were evaluated (100 CB-ST and 500 CB-A ablations). Real-time
      recordings were significantly more prevalent in the CB-ST population compared
      with CB-A group (85.7 vs 67.2 %, p < 0.0001). Real-time recordings could be more
      frequently visualised in the CB-ST group in all types of veins (LSPV 89 vs 73.4
      %, p = 0.0005; LIPV 84 vs 65.6 %, p = 0.0002; RSPV 87 vs 67.4 %, p < 0.0001; RIPV
      83 vs 62.4 %, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The rate of visualisation of real-time
      recordings is significantly higher during third-generation CB-ST ablation if
      compared to the second-generation CB-A device. Real-time recordings can be
      visualised in approximately 85.7 % of veins with this novel cryoballoon.

PMID- 26873262
TI  - Polycarbonate-Based Blends for Optical Non-linear Applications.
AB  - This paper presents some investigations on the optical and morphological
      properties of the polymer (matrix):monomer (inclusion) composite materials
      obtained from blends of bisphenol A polycarbonate and amidic monomers. For the
      preparation of the composite films, we have selected monomers characterised by a
      maleamic acid structure and synthesised them starting from maleic anhydride and
      aniline derivatives with -COOH, -NO2, -N(C2H5)2 functional groups attached to the
      benzene ring. The composite films have been deposited by spin coating using a
      mixture of two solutions, one containing the matrix and the other the inclusion,
      both components of the composite system being dissolved in the same solvent. The
      optical transmission and photoluminescence properties of the composite films have
      been investigated in correlation with the morphology of the films. The scanning
      electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy have revealed a non-uniform
      morphology characterised by the development of two distinct phases. We have also
      investigated the generation of some optical non-linear (ONL) phenomena in these
      composite systems. The composite films containing as inclusions monomers
      characterised by the presence of one -COOH or two -NO2 substituent groups to the
      aromatic nucleus have shown the most intense second-harmonic generation (SHG).
      The second-order optical non-linear coefficients have been evaluated for these
      films, and the effect of the laser power on the ONL behaviour of these materials
      has also been emphasised. 

PMID- 26873263
TI  - On the specific heat capacity enhancement in nanofluids.
AB  - Molten salts are used as heat transfer fluids and for short-term heat energy
      storage in solar power plants. Experiments show that the specific heat capacity
      of the base salt may be significantly enhanced by adding small amounts of certain
      nanoparticles. This effect, which is technically interesting and economically
      important, is not yet understood. This paper presents a critical discussion of
      the existing attendant experimental literature and the phenomenological models
      put forward thus far. A common assumption, the existence of nanolayers
      surrounding the nanoparticles, which are thought to be the source of, in some
      cases, the large increase of a nanofluid's specific heat capacity is criticized
      and a different model is proposed. The model assumes that the influence of the
      nanoparticles in the surrounding liquid is of long range. The attendant long
      range interfacial layers may interact with each other upon increase of
      nanoparticle concentration. This can explain the specific heat maximum observed
      by different groups, for which no other theoretical explanation appears to exist.

PMID- 26873264
TI  - Erratum to: Impact of the Syrian Crisis on the Hospitalization of Syrians in a
      Psychiatric Setting.

PMID- 26873265
TI  - Pharmacophore generation, atom-based 3D-QSAR, HQSAR and activity cliff analyses
      of benzothiazine and deazaxanthine derivatives as dual A2A antagonists/MAO-B
      inhibitors.
AB  - Dual inhibition of A2A and MAO-B is an emerging strategy in neurodegenerative
      diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this
      study, atom-based three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship
      (3D-QSAR) and hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR)
      models were generated with benzothiazine and deazaxanthine derivatives. Based on
      activity against A2A and MAO-B, two statistically significant 3D-QSAR models (r2
      = 0.96, q2 = 0.76 and r2 = 0.91, q2 = 0.63) and HQSAR models (r2 = 0.93, q2 =
      0.68 and r2 = 0.97, q2 = 0.58) were developed. In an activity cliff analysis,
      structural outliers were identified by calculating the Mahalanobis distance for a
      pair of compounds with A2A and MAO-B inhibitory activities. The generated 3D-QSAR
      and HQSAR models, activity cliff analysis, molecular docking and dynamic studies
      for dual target protein inhibitors provide key structural scaffolds that serve as
      building blocks in designing drug-like molecules for neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 26873266
TI  - Microtensile strength of resin cement bond to indirect composite treated by
      different output powers of Er:YAG laser.
AB  - The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different output powers of Er:YAG laser
      on microtensile bonding strength of indirect composite to resin cements.36
      indirect composite blocks (GC Gradia DA2, Japan) size 15 * 10 * 10 mm(3) were
      constructed, and divided into 12 groups, as follows:G1: control group (no
      treatment); Groups G2 to G6: treated with Er:YAG laser (2,940 nm) in noncontact
      mode, frequency 20 Hz, pulse duration 470 us, with output power ranging from 2W
      to 6W; Groups G7 sandblasting, Groups 8 to G12: as Groups G2 to G 6 with
      preparatory sandblasting. One specimen from each group was analyzed by SEM; each
      specimen was fixed to a specialized metal jig using cyanoacrylate (Mitreapel,
      Beta Kimya San. Ve TIC, Iran) and debonded under tension with a universal testing
      machine (Zwick, Germany) at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm min(-1). Sandblasting and
      laser can improve bond strength above an energy level of 150 mJ. SEM evaluation
      of laser-treated specimens showed irregularities and deep undercuts. T test
      analysis showed no significant difference between sandblasted and non-sandblasted
      group, with laser output power of 0, 100, or 150 mJ (P = 0.666, P = 0.875, and P
      =  .069); in the specimens irradiated with energy output of 200, 250, or 300 mJ,
      sandblasted specimens showed higher bond strength than non-sandblasted ones. The
      results demonstrate that, in composite resin irradiated with laser at energy
      output of 200-300 mJ, sandblasting might be a suitable procedure to enhance bond
      strength of resin cement.

PMID- 26873268
TI  - Effects of colchicine on risk of cardiovascular events and mortality among
      patients with gout: the effect of index date selection?

PMID- 26873267
TI  - Epilepsy in young Tsc1(+/-) mice exhibits age-dependent expression that mimics
      that of human tuberous sclerosis complex.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the epileptic phenotype of Tsc1(+/-) mice pups in
      comparison with age-related seizures in human tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
      METHODS: Tsc1(+/-) and control mice underwent intracranial electroencephalography
      (EEG) recording at postnatal ages (P)8 to P33, with linear silicon probe
      implanted in the somatosensory cortex of one or both hemispheres for 8-24 h.
      Ictal events were classified visually by independent analyzers; distinct EEG
      patterns were related to age and analyzed to quantify field potential
      characteristics and signal dynamics between hemispheres. We collected
      retrospectively 20 infants with prenatally diagnosed TSC and EEG before seizure
      onset, and analyzed the electroclinical course of epilepsy, taking into account a
      first-line treatment by vigabatrin. RESULTS: Spontaneous seizures were disclosed
      in 55% of Tsc1(+/-) mice at P9-18. Three ictal patterns were identified: from P9
      to P12 "spike clusters" consisted of recurring large spikes without clinical
      correlate; "spasm-like" discharges dominated from P13 to P16 consisting of high
      amplitude large field potential superimposed with or followed by fast activity
      repeated every 2-10 s for at least 20 s, accompanied by rhythmic limb
      contractions; from P14 to P18 a "tonic-clonic like" pattern comprised rhythmic
      spikes of increasing amplitude with tonic-clonic movements. Early onset "spike
      clusters" were mainly unilateral, whereas "spasm-like" and "tonic-clonic like"
      patterns were bilateral. Interhemispheric propagation was significantly faster
      for "tonic-clonic like" than for "spasm-like" events. In infants diagnosed
      prenatally with TSC, clusters of sharp waves or spikes preceded the first
      seizure, and vigabatrin prevented the development of seizures. Patients treated
      after seizure onset developed spasms or focal seizures that were
      pharmacoresistant in 66.7% of cases. SIGNIFICANCE: Tsc1(+/-) mice pups exhibit an
      age-dependent seizure pattern sequence mimicking early human TSC epilepsy
      features. Spike clusters before seizure onset in TSC should be considered as a
      first stage of epilepsy reinforcing the concept of preventive antiepileptic
      therapy.

PMID- 26873269
TI  - Potential confounding in colchicine and cardiovascular disease study.

PMID- 26873270
TI  - Effects of various stages of nephropathy on wound healing in patients with
      diabetes: an observational cohort study encompassing 731 diabetics.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In diabetics genetic predisposition, poor glycemic
      control and arterial hypertension contribute to nephropathy development in
      patients affected by diabetes mellitus. We set up the hypothesis that diabetic
      nephropathy and incisional hernia formation may have in common alterations of
      collagen composition and tested whether the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy
      coincides with wound healing disturbance (incisional herniation) or connective
      tissue diseases (inguinal herniation, umbilical herniation, aortic aneurysm,
      varicose veins, disc herniation). DESIGN: A questionnaire on surgical procedures,
      wound healing and connective tissue disorders was performed with 731 diabetics.
      Furthermore, test results for kidney function and damage (creatinine clearance,
      proteinuria) and blood sugar control (HbA1c) were recorded. Correlations between
      aforementioned connective tissue diseases and "advanced" diabetic nephropathy
      were calculated. "Advanced" diabetic nephropathy was assumed in patients with
      macroproteinuria, CKD stage 5 and/or end-stage renal disease. All diabetics with
      CKD stages 1 and 2 without proteinuria were included in the "control" group. A
      subgroup analysis on incisional hernia formation coinciding with diabetic
      nephropathy was performed in patients with previously performed abdominal
      surgery. RESULTS: In patients with advanced nephropathy, some diseases with
      connective tissue alterations, such as inguinal herniation, aortic aneurysms and
      varicose veins, did not occur more frequently than in patients without
      nephropathy. In diabetics with nephropathy, umbilical herniation (3 vs. 8.2 %, p
      = 0.04) and disc herniation rates (5.7 vs. 16.1 %, p = 0.002) were significantly
      lower. Subgroup analysis of patients with previously performed abdominal surgery
      (n = 381) revealed significantly higher incisional herniation rates when
      "advanced" diabetic nephropathy was present (16 % compared to 5.7 % without
      nephropathy, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that
      incisional hernia formation and diabetic nephropathy are positively correlated.
      Conversely, umbilical and disc herniation pathomechanisms are distinct, as these
      negatively correlate with the presence of advanced diabetic nephropathy.

PMID- 26873271
TI  - Bayesian inference for latent biologic structure with determinantal point
      processes (DPP).
AB  - We discuss the use of the determinantal point process (DPP) as a prior for latent
      structure in biomedical applications, where inference often centers on the
      interpretation of latent features as biologically or clinically meaningful
      structure. Typical examples include mixture models, when the terms of the mixture
      are meant to represent clinically meaningful subpopulations (of patients, genes,
      etc.). Another class of examples are feature allocation models. We propose the
      DPP prior as a repulsive prior on latent mixture components in the first example,
      and as prior on feature-specific parameters in the second case. We argue that the
      DPP is in general an attractive prior model for latent structure when
      biologically relevant interpretation of such structure is desired. We illustrate
      the advantages of DPP prior in three case studies, including inference in mixture
      models for magnetic resonance images (MRI) and for protein expression, and a
      feature allocation model for gene expression using data from The Cancer Genome
      Atlas. An important part of our argument are efficient and straightforward
      posterior simulation methods. We implement a variation of reversible jump Markov
      chain Monte Carlo simulation for inference under the DPP prior, using a density
      with respect to the unit rate Poisson process.

PMID- 26873272
TI  - Neospora caninum seropositivity and reproductive risk factors in dogs.
AB  - Despite the importance of Neospora caninum in veterinary medicine, knowledge of
      distribution of neosporosis in dog populations in some countries is still poor.
      The aims of the present study were to determine the occurrence of anti-N. caninum
      antibodies in one-hundred dogs living in cattle farms or dog breedings in central
      Italy and to evaluate the risk factors associated with seropositivity. The
      incidence of reproductive system disorders (e.g. infertility after first
      pregnancy) was also evaluated. Serum from breeding and farm dogs was tested to an
      indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to assess the occurrence of
      seropositivity. Management and individual data were collected and analysed both
      by linear and logistic multiple-regression models to find reliable predictors of
      seroprevalence and anti-N. caninum antibody level. The seropositivity for N.
      caninum was 32%. Dogs reared for breeding and presence of cattle on the farm were
      associated with seropositivity for N. caninum. Dogs living in the cattle farms
      showed a higher seropositivity for N. caninum (46%) compared with those living in
      dogs breeding (18%) (P < 0.05). The high presence of seropositive dogs in cattle
      farms of the study region demonstrates the potential risk of horizontal
      transmission of N. caninum between dogs and cattle, regardless the occurrence of
      reproductive system disorders or with infectious bovine tissues contact. Although
      the Neospora seropositivity in dog breedings may appear relatively low if
      compared with that found in dogs living with livestock, this infection,
      apparently underestimated, should be considered as a potential serious problem in
      canine medicine.

PMID- 26873273
TI  - Echinococcus granulosus fatty acid binding proteins subcellular localization.
AB  - Two fatty acid binding proteins, EgFABP1 and EgFABP2, were isolated from the
      parasitic platyhelminth Echinococcus granulosus. These proteins bind fatty acids
      and have particular relevance in flatworms since de novo fatty acids synthesis is
      absent. Therefore platyhelminthes depend on the capture and intracellular
      distribution of host's lipids and fatty acid binding proteins could participate
      in lipid distribution. To elucidate EgFABP's roles, we investigated their
      intracellular distribution in the larval stage by a proteomic approach. Our
      results demonstrated the presence of EgFABP1 isoforms in cytosolic, nuclear,
      mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, suggesting that these molecules could be
      involved in several cellular processes. 

PMID- 26873274
TI  - How to Determine if You Have Succeeded at Neurology Residency.

PMID- 26873275
TI  - The contribution of surprise to the prediction based modulation of fMRI
      responses.
AB  - In recent years, several functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies
      showed that correct stimulus predictions reduce the neural responses when
      compared to surprising events (Egner et al., 2010). Further, it has been shown
      that such fulfilled expectations enhance the magnitude of repetition suppression
      (RS, i.e. a decreased neuronal response after the repetition of a given stimulus)
      in face selective visual cortex as well (Summerfield et al., 2008). Current MEG
      and neuroimaging studies suggest that the underlying mechanisms of expectation
      effects are independent from these of RS (Grotheer and Kovacs, 2015; Todorovic
      and Lange, 2012). However, it is not clear as of today how perceptual
      expectations modulate the neural responses: is the difference between correctly
      predicted and surprising stimuli due to a genuine response reduction for
      correctly predicted stimuli or is it due to an increased response for surprising
      stimuli? Therefore, here we used a modified version of the paradigm of Grotheer
      and Kovacs (2015) to induce predictions independently from repetition probability
      by presenting pairs of faces (female, male or infant) that were either repeated
      or alternating. Orthogonally to this, predictions were manipulated by the gender
      of the first face within each pair so that it signaled high, low or equal
      probability of repetitions. An unpredicted, neutral condition with equal
      probabilities for alternating and repeated trials was used to identify the role
      of surprising and enhancing modulations. Similarly, to Grotheer and Kovacs
      (2015), we found significant RS and significant expectation effect in the FFA.
      Importantly, we observed larger response for surprising events in comparison to
      the neutral and correctly predicted conditions for alternating trials.
      Altogether, these results emphasize the role of surprise in prediction effects. 

PMID- 26873276
TI  - Ultrasound diagnosis and management of acquired uterine enhanced myometrial
      vascularity/arteriovenous malformations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformation is a short circuit between an organ's
      arterial and venous circulation. Arteriovenous malformations are classified as
      congenital and acquired. In the uterus, they may appear after curettage, cesarean
      delivery, and myomectomy among others. Their clinical feature is usually vaginal
      bleeding, which may be severe, if curettage is performed in unrecognized cases.
      Sonographically on 2-dimensional grayscale ultrasound scanning, the pathologic
      evidence appears as irregular, anechoic, tortuous, tubular structures that show
      evidence of increased vascularity when color Doppler is applied. Most of the time
      they resolve spontaneously; however, if left untreated, they may require involved
      treatments such as uterine artery embolization or hysterectomy. In the past,
      uterine artery angiography was the gold standard for the diagnosis; however,
      ultrasound scanning has diagnosed successfully and helped in the clinical
      management. Recently, arteriovenous malformations have been referred to as
      enhanced myometrial vascularities. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to
      evaluate the role of transvaginal ultrasound scanning in the diagnosis and
      treatment of acquired enhanced myometrial vascularity/arteriovenous malformations
      to outline the natural history of conservatively followed vs treated lesions.
      METHODS: This was a retrospective study to assess the presentation, treatment,
      and clinical pictures of patients with uterine Enhanced myometrial
      vascularity/arteriovenous malformations that were diagnosed with transvaginal
      ultrasound scanning. We reviewed both (1) ultrasound data (images, measured
      dimensions, and Doppler blood flow that were defined by its peak systolic
      velocity and (2) clinical data (age, reproductive status, clinical presentation,
      inciting event or procedure, surgical history, clinical course, time intervals
      that included detection to resolution or detection to treatment, and treatment
      rendered). The diagnostic criteria were "subjective" with a rich vascular network
      in the myometrium with the use of color Doppler images and "objective" with a
      high peak systolic velocity of >=20 cm/sec in the vascular web. Statistical
      analysis was performed and coded with statistical software where necessary.
      RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients met the diagnostic criteria of uterine enhanced
      myometrial vascularity/arteriovenous malformation. Mean age was 31.8 years
      (range, 18-42 years). Clinical diagnoses of the patients included 10 incomplete
      abortions, 6 missed abortions, 5 spontaneous complete abortions, 5 cesarean scar
      pregnancies, and 1 molar pregnancy. Eighty-nine percent of patients had bleeding
      (n = 24/27), although 1 patient was febrile, and 2 patients were asymptomatic.
      Recent surgical procedures were performed in 55.5% patients (15/27) that included
      curettage (n = 10), cesarean deliveries (n = 5), or both (n = 1); 4 patients had
      a remote history of uterine surgery that included myomectomy. Treatment was
      varied and included expectant treatment alone in 48% of the patients with serial
      ultrasound scans and serum human chorionic gonadotropin until resolution (n =
      13/27 patients), uterine artery embolization (29.6%; 8/27 patients), methotrexate
      administration (22.2%; 6/27 patients), hysterectomy (7.4%; 2/27 patients), and
      curettage (3.7%; 1/27 patients). Three patients required a blood transfusion. Of
      the 9 patients whose condition required embolization, the conditions of 7
      patients resolved after the procedure although 1 patient's condition required
      operative hysteroscopy and 1 patient's condition required hysterectomy for
      intractable bleeding. Average peak systolic velocity after embolization in the 9
      patients was 85.2 cm/sec (range, 35-170 cm/sec); the average peak systolic
      velocity of the 16 patients with spontaneous resolution was 58.5 cm/sec (range,
      23-90 cm/sec). CONCLUSIONS: Acquired enhanced myometrial
      vascularity/arteriovenous malformations occurred after unsuccessful pregnancies
      or treatment procedures that included uterine curettage, cesarean delivery, or
      cesarean scar pregnancy. Triage of patients for expectant treatment vs
      intervention with uterine artery embolization based on their clinical status,
      which was supplemented by objective measurements of blood velocity measurement in
      the arteriovenous malformation, appears to be a good predictor of outcome.
      Ultrasound evaluation of patients with early pregnancy failure and persistent
      bleeding should be considered for evaluation of a possible enhanced myometrial
      vascularity/arteriovenous malformation.

PMID- 26873277
TI  - Tuberculosis and mass gatherings-opportunities for defining burden, transmission
      risk, and the optimal surveillance, prevention, and control measures at the
      annual Hajj pilgrimage.
AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is now the most common infectious cause of death worldwide. In
      2014, an estimated 9.6 million people developed active TB. There were an
      estimated three million people with active TB including 360000 with multidrug
      resistant TB (MDR-TB) who were not diagnosed, and such people continue to fuel TB
      transmission in the community. Accurate data on the actual burden of TB and the
      transmission risk associated with mass gatherings are scarce and unreliable due
      to the small numbers studied and methodological issues. Every year, an estimated
      10 million pilgrims from 184 countries travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
      (KSA) to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. A large majority of pilgrims
      come from high TB burden and MDR-TB endemic areas and thus many may have
      undiagnosed active TB, sub-clinical TB, and latent TB infection. The Hajj
      pilgrimage provides unique opportunities for the KSA and the 184 countries from
      which pilgrims originate, to conduct high quality priority research studies on TB
      under the remit of the Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine. Research
      opportunities are discussed, including those related to the definition of the TB
      burden, transmission risk, and the optimal surveillance, prevention, and control
      measures at the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The associated data are required to
      develop international recommendations and guidelines for TB management and
      control at mass gathering events. 

PMID- 26873278
TI  - HIV in the MENA Region: Cultural and Political Challenges.

PMID- 26873279
TI  - Etiologic predictive value of a rapid immunoassay for the detection of group A
      Streptococcus antigen from throat swabs in patients presenting with a sore
      throat.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical reasoning utilizing certain symptoms and scores has not
      proven to be a reliable decision-making tool to determine whether or not to
      suspect a group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection in the patient presenting with a
      sore throat. Culture as the so-called 'gold standard' is impracticable because it
      takes 1 to 2 days (and even longer in remote locations) for a result, and thus
      treatment decisions will be made without the result available. Rapid diagnostic
      antigen tests have demonstrated sufficient sensitivities and specificities in
      detecting GAS antigens to identify GAS throat infections. METHODS: Throat swab
      samples were collected from patients attending the Mount Isa Hospital emergency
      department for a sore throat; these samples were compared to swab samples
      collected from healthy controls who did not have a sore throat. Both groups were
      aged 3-15 years. All swab samples were analyzed with a point-of-care test (Alere
      Test Pack +Plus with OBC Strep A). The etiologic predictive value (EPV) of the
      throat swab was calculated. RESULTS: The 95% confidence interval for positive EPV
      was 88-100% and for negative EPV was 97-99%, depending on assumptions made.
      CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the point-of-care test Alere Test Pack
      +Plus Strep A has a high positive predictive value and is able to rule in GAS
      infection as long as the proportion of carriers is low. Also the negative
      predictive value for ruling out GAS as the etiologic agent is very high
      irrespective of the carrier rate. Hence, this test is always useful to rule out
      GAS infection.

PMID- 26873280
TI  - Being a gay man in Turkey: internalised sexual prejudice as a function of
      prevalent hegemonic masculinity perceptions.
AB  - This paper examines expressions and experiences of internalised sexual stigma
      with respect to definitions of masculinity and identity conflicts through a
      thematic analysis of life-history narratives of 14 self-identified gay men living
      in Turkey. The analysis reveals that internalised sexual prejudice emerges when
      widely accepted hegemonic masculinity ideology is 'violated' by being gay.
      Participants' narratives indicate that their construction of masculinity is a
      vigorous process established via encounters with hegemonic masculinity. Findings
      are discussed in the context of the relevant literature and in relation to
      Turkish culture's traditional understanding of gender and gender roles.

PMID- 26873281
TI  - Estimation of loads on human lumbar spine: A review of in vivo and computational
      model studies.
AB  - Spinal loads are recognized to play a causative role in back disorders and pain.
      Knowledge of lumbar spinal loads is required in proper management of various
      spinal disorders, effective risk prevention and assessment in the workplace,
      sports and rehabilitation, realistic testing of spinal implants as well as
      adequate loading in in vitro studies. During the last few decades, researchers
      have used a number of techniques to estimate spinal loads by measuring in vivo
      changes in the intradiscal pressure, body height, or forces and moments
      transmitted via instrumented vertebral implants. In parallel, computational
      models have been employed to estimate muscle forces and spinal loads under
      various static and dynamic conditions. Noteworthy is the increasing growth in
      latter computational investigations. This paper aims to review, compare and
      critically evaluate the existing literature on in vivo measurements and
      computational model studies of lumbar spinal loads to lay the foundation for
      future biomechanical studies. Towards this goal, the paper reviews in separate
      sections models dealing with static postures (standing, sitting, lying) as well
      as slow and fast dynamic activities (lifting, sudden perturbations and
      vibrations). The findings are helpful in many areas such as work place safety
      design and ergonomics, injury prevention, performance enhancement, implant design
      and rehabilitation management. 

PMID- 26873282
TI  - Uncertainty quantification for personalized analyses of human proximal femurs.
AB  - Computational models for the personalized analysis of human femurs contain
      uncertainties in bone material properties and loads, which affect the simulation
      results. To quantify the influence we developed a probabilistic framework based
      on polynomial chaos (PC) that propagates stochastic input variables through any
      computational model. We considered a stochastic E-rho relationship and a
      stochastic hip contact force, representing realistic variability of experimental
      data. Their influence on the prediction of principal strains (epsilon1 and
      epsilon3) was quantified for one human proximal femur, including sensitivity and
      reliability analysis. Large variabilities in the principal strain predictions
      were found in the cortical shell of the femoral neck, with coefficients of
      variation of ~40%. Between 60 and 80% of the variance in epsilon1 and epsilon3
      are attributable to the uncertainty in the E-rho relationship, while ~10% are
      caused by the load magnitude and 5-30% by the load direction. Principal strain
      directions were unaffected by material and loading uncertainties. The antero
      superior and medial inferior sides of the neck exhibited the largest
      probabilities for tensile and compression failure, however all were very small
      (pf<0.001). In summary, uncertainty quantification with PC has been demonstrated
      to efficiently and accurately describe the influence of very different stochastic
      inputs, which increases the credibility and explanatory power of personalized
      analyses of human proximal femurs. 

PMID- 26873283
TI  - Valorisation of food waste via fungal hydrolysis and lactic acid fermentation
      with Lactobacillus casei Shirota.
AB  - Food waste recycling via fungal hydrolysis and lactic acid (LA) fermentation has
      been investigated. Hydrolysates derived from mixed food waste and bakery waste
      were rich in glucose (80.0-100.2gL(-1)), fructose (7.6gL(-1)) and free amino
      nitrogen (947-1081mgL(-1)). In the fermentation with Lactobacillus casei Shirota,
      94.0gL(-1) and 82.6gL(-1) of LA were produced with productivity of 2.61gL(-1)h(
      1) and 2.50gL(-1)h(-1) for mixed food waste and bakery waste hydrolysate,
      respectively. The yield was 0.94gg(-1) for both hydrolysates. Similar results
      were obtained using food waste powder hydrolysate, in which 90.1gL(-1) of LA was
      produced with a yield and productivity of 0.92gg(-1) and 2.50gL(-1)h(-1). The
      results demonstrate the feasibility of an efficient bioconversion of food waste
      to LA and a decentralized approach of food waste recycling in urban area. 

PMID- 26873284
TI  - Enhancing biogas production from vinasse in sugarcane biorefineries: Effects of
      urea and trace elements supplementation on process performance and stability.
AB  - In this study, the effects of nitrogen, phosphate and trace elements
      supplementation were investigated in a semi-continuously operated upflow
      anaerobic sludge blanket system to enhance process stability and biogas
      production from sugarcane vinasse. Phosphate in form of KH2PO4 induced volatile
      fatty acids accumulation possibly due to potassium inhibition of the
      methanogenesis. Although nitrogen in form of urea increased the reactor's
      alkalinity, the process was overloaded with an organic loading rate of 6.1gCODL(
      1)d(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 3.6days. However, by supplementing urea
      and trace elements a stable operation even at an organic loading rate of
      9.6gCODL(-1)d(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 2.5days was possible,
      resulting in 79% higher methane production rate with a stable specific methane
      production of 239mLgCOD(-1). 

PMID- 26873285
TI  - Aerobic granular processes: Current research trends.
AB  - Aerobic granules are large biological aggregates with compact interiors that can
      be used in efficient wastewater treatment. This mini-review presents new
      researches on the development of aerobic granular processes, extended treatments
      for complicated pollutants, granulation mechanisms and enhancements of granule
      stability in long-term operation or storage, and the reuse of waste biomass as
      renewable resources. A discussion on the challenges of, and prospects for, the
      commercialization of aerobic granular process is provided. 

PMID- 26873286
TI  - Slow pyrolysis of prot, alkali and dealkaline lignins for production of
      chemicals.
AB  - Effect of different lignins were studied during slow pyrolysis. Maximum bio-oil
      yield of 31.2, 34.1, and 29.5wt.% was obtained at 350, 450 and 350 degrees C for
      prot lignin, alkali lignin and dealkaline lignin respectively. Maximum yield of
      phenolic compounds 78%, 80% and 92% from prot lignin, alkali and dealkaline
      lignin at 350, 450 and 350 degrees C. The differences in the pyrolysis products
      indicated the source of lignins such as soft and hard wood lignins. The biochar
      characterisation revealed that the various ether linkages were broken during
      pyrolysis and lignin was converted into monomeric substituted phenols. Bio-oil
      showed that the relative contents of each phenolic compound changes significantly
      with pyrolysis temperature and also the relative contents of each compound
      changes with different samples. 

PMID- 26873287
TI  - New perspectives for the design of sustainable bioprocesses for phosphorus
      recovery from waste.
AB  - Phosphate rock has long been used for the production of phosphorus based
      chemicals. However, considering the depletion of the reservoirs and the decrease
      of the quality of phosphate rocks, a potential market is now emerging for the
      recovery of phosphate from waste and its reuse for different applications.
      Notably, phosphate recovery from wastewater could be included in a circular
      economy approach. This review focuses on the use of microbial systems for
      phosphorus accumulation and recovery, by considering the actual range of
      analytical techniques available for the monitoring of phosphorus accumulating
      organisms, as well as the actual biochemical and metabolic engineering toolbox
      available for the optimization of bioprocesses. In this context, knowledge
      gathered from process, system and synthetic biology could potentially lead to
      innovative process design. 

PMID- 26873289
TI  - Alphablockers and risk of stroke.

PMID- 26873288
TI  - Optimization of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone production from crude glycerol by
      immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans MTCC 904.
AB  - This study has addressed the matter of optimization of production of the value
      added product, dihydroxyacetone, from crude glycerol using immobilized cells of
      Gluconobacter oxydans. Statistical optimization of the fermentation medium
      revealed MgSO4.7H2O, (NH4)2SO4 and KH2PO4 as the significant components, in
      addition to small concentration of yeast extract. As per previous literature,
      these components augment the activity of glycerol dehydrogenase enzyme in
      metabolism and provide assimilable nitrogen and sulfur source for cell growth.
      Yeast extract not only provides essential growth factors, but also accelerates
      production of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme due to amino acids present. The DHA
      yield from crude glycerol (20g/L) with optimized medium is 14.08g/L, which is
      just 12% lower than the yield for pure glycerol .This study has thus established
      that proper optimization of fermentation medium reduces the adverse effect of
      impurities in crude glycerol on fermentation process and DHA yield. 

PMID- 26873290
TI  - WITHDRAWN: Smoking cessation and the incidence of pre-diabetes and type 2
      diabetes: A cohort study.
AB  - This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and editor. The
      Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier
      Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at
      http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

PMID- 26873291
TI  - Use of chromatin remodeling ATPases as RNAi targets for parental control of
      western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) and Neotropical brown
      stink bug (Euschistus heros).
AB  - RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene silencing mechanism that is present in animals
      and plants and is triggered by double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or small interfering
      RNA (siRNA), depending on the organism. In the western corn rootworm (WCR),
      Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), RNAi can be
      achieved by feeding rootworms dsRNA added to artificial diet or plant tissues
      transformed to express dsRNA. The effect of RNAi depends on the targeted gene
      function and can range from an absence of phenotypic response to readily apparent
      responses, including lethality. Furthermore, RNAi can directly affect individuals
      that consume dsRNA or the effect may be transferred to the next generation. Our
      previous work described the potential use of genes involved in embryonic
      development as a parental RNAi technology for the control of WCR. In this study,
      we describe the use of chromatin-remodeling ATPases as target genes to achieve
      parental gene silencing in two insect pests, a coleopteran, WCR, and a
      hemipteran, the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros Fabricius
      (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Our results show that dsRNA targeting chromatin
      remodeling ATPase transcripts, brahma, mi-2, and iswi strongly reduced the
      fecundity of the exposed females in both insect species. Additionally, knockdown
      of chd1 reduced the fecundity of E. heros. 

PMID- 26873292
TI  - Potential detoxification of gossypol by UDP-glycosyltransferases in the two
      Heliothine moth species Helicoverpa armigera and Heliothis virescens.
AB  - The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera and the tobacco budworm Heliothis
      virescens are closely related generalist insect herbivores and serious pest
      species on a number of economically important crop plants including cotton. Even
      though cotton is well defended by its major defensive compound gossypol, a toxic
      sesquiterpene dimer, larvae of both species are capable of developing on cotton
      plants. In spite of severe damage larvae cause on cotton plants, little is known
      about gossypol detoxification mechanisms in cotton-feeding insects. Here, we
      detected three monoglycosylated and up to five diglycosylated gossypol isomers in
      the feces of H. armigera and H. virescens larvae fed on gossypol-supplemented
      diet. Candidate UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes of H. armigera were selected
      by microarray studies and in silico analyses and were functionally expressed in
      insect cells. In enzymatic assays, we show that UGT41B3 and UGT40D1 are capable
      of glycosylating gossypol mainly to the diglycosylated gossypol isomer 5 that is
      characteristic for H. armigera and is absent in H. virescens feces. In
      conclusion, our results demonstrate that gossypol is partially metabolized by
      UGTs via glycosylation, which might be a crucial step in gossypol detoxification
      in generalist herbivores utilizing cotton as host plant. 

PMID- 26873294
TI  - Entrapment of a Pacing Lead within a Chiari Network: Utility of Intracardiac Echo
      and a Laser Sheath.
AB  - Although rare, Chiari networks are elaborate embryological remnants that can pose
      distinct challenges for catheter and pacing lead manipulation within the right
      atrium. Device entrapment may require open thoracotomy for removal, with
      significant morbidity. We report an unusual case of pacing lead entanglement
      within this structure, followed by prompt intracardiac echocardiographic
      identification and laser sheath removal.

PMID- 26873293
TI  - Provider Training to Screen and Initiate Evidence-Based Pediatric Obesity
      Treatment in Routine Practice Settings: A Randomized Pilot Trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This randomized pilot trial evaluated two training modalities for
      first-line, evidence-based pediatric obesity services (screening and goal
      setting) among nursing students. METHOD: Participants (N = 63) were randomized to
      live interactive training or Web-facilitated self-study training. Pretraining,
      post-training, and 1-month follow-up assessments evaluated training feasibility,
      acceptability, and impact (knowledge and skill via simulation). Moderator
      (previous experience) and predictor (content engagement) analyses were conducted.
      RESULTS: Nearly all participants (98%) completed assessments. Both types of
      training were acceptable, with higher ratings for live training and participants
      with previous experience (ps < .05). Knowledge and skill improved from
      pretraining to post-training and follow-up in both conditions (ps < .001). Live
      training demonstrated greater content engagement (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The
      training package was feasible, acceptable, and efficacious among nursing
      students. Given that live training had higher acceptability and engagement and
      online training offers greater scalability, integrating interactive live training
      components within Web-based training may optimize outcomes, which may enhance
      practitioners' delivery of pediatric obesity services.

PMID- 26873295
TI  - Insights from the ganglionic acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies in patients
      with Sjogren's syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: It is not known whether autonomic neuropathy is a feature of Sjogren's
      syndrome (SS) or whether it is related to circulating antiganglionic
      acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies. The goal of the present study was to
      investigate the autonomic dysfunction in patients with SS and the associations
      between autonomic dysfunction, anti-gAChR antibodies, and clinical features of
      SS. METHODS: (1) The first observational study tested for the presence of gAChR
      antibodies in the serum samples from 39 patients with SS (absent information
      regarding autonomic symptoms) and healthy volunteers. (2) In the second study,
      serological and clinical data from 10 Japanese patients diagnosed with SS were
      reviewed. These patients showed autonomic dysfunction, and luciferase
      immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS) test was conducted to detect anti-alpha3 and
      anti-beta4 gAChR antibodies. (3) In the final analysis, we combined the data of
      seropositive SS patients with autonomic symptom from the first study with all of
      the patients from the second study, and analyzed the clinical features. RESULTS:
      (1) The LIPS assay revealed that anti-gAChRalpha3 and anti-gAChRbeta4 antibodies
      were detected in the sera from patients with SS (23.1%, 9/39). Five of nine SS
      patients had autonomic symptoms. (2) Anti-alpha3 and anti-beta4 gAChR antibodies
      were also detected in 80.0% (8/10) of patients with SS with autonomic symptoms.
      Six of the ten patients were diagnosed as having SS after neurological symptoms
      developed. These seropositive patients had predominant and severe autonomic
      symptoms and were diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy. (3) Thirteen of fifteen SS
      patients with autonomic symptoms (86.7%) were seropositive for anti-gAChR
      antibodies, and we confirmed sicca complex, orthostatic hypotension, upper and
      lower gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and bladder dysfunction at high rates.
      CONCLUSION: The present results suggest the possibility of anti-gAChR antibodies
      aiding the diagnostics of SS with autonomic dysfunction.

PMID- 26873296
TI  - Deep dermal fungal infection in an Asian renal transplant recipient.

PMID- 26873297
TI  - Neuroendocrine tumor of the common bile duct.

PMID- 26873301
TI  - Subcutaneous flexor tendon rupture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the clinical features and functional outcomes of
      surgically repaired subcutaneous flexor tendon ruptures in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This retrospective study included 41 fingers
      of 24 RA patients who underwent surgical treatment for flexor tendon ruptures.
      Evaluations performed at the time of presentation following rupture were C
      reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease
      activity score in 28 joints (DAS28)-ESR, as well as Larsen grading for carpal
      bone destruction. The ruptured tendon and postoperative active range of motion
      (ROM) of digits were also examined. RESULTS: The mean CRP was 2.4 mg/dl, ESR was
      52 mm/h, and the DAS28-ESR was 4.5. Carpal bone destruction according to Larsen
      grade IV-V was observed in 18/24 patients. Affected digits were most commonly the
      thumb (12) and the ring and little fingers (9 each). Tendon ruptures were most
      common in the carpal tunnel in zone IV. The mean postoperative finger ROM
      (flexion/extension) was 38 degrees /2 degrees  for the interphalangeal (IP) joint
      of the thumb and 23 degrees /-2 degrees  for the distal interphalangeal joint of
      the other four fingers. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with flexor tendon ruptures present
      with high disease activity and advanced bone destruction. It is important to
      reduce the risk of progressive bone destruction and subsequent tendon rupture via
      tight control of disease activity.

PMID- 26873302
TI  - Memory for faces with emotional expressions in Alzheimer's disease and healthy
      older participants: positivity effect is not only due to familiarity.
AB  - Young individuals better memorize initially seen faces with emotional rather than
      neutral expressions. Healthy older participants and Alzheimer's disease (AD)
      patients show better memory for faces with positive expressions. The
      socioemotional selectivity theory postulates that this positivity effect in
      memory reflects a general age-related preference for positive stimuli, subserving
      emotion regulation. Another explanation might be that older participants use
      compensatory strategies, often considering happy faces as previously seen. The
      question about the existence of this effect in tasks not permitting such
      compensatory strategies is still open. Thus, we compared the performance of
      healthy participants and AD patients for positive, neutral, and negative faces in
      such tasks. Healthy older participants and AD patients showed a positivity effect
      in memory, but there was no difference between emotional and neutral faces in
      young participants. Our results suggest that the positivity effect in memory is
      not entirely due to the sense of familiarity for smiling faces.

PMID- 26873303
TI  - Do accelerometers mounted on the back provide a good estimate of impact loads in
      jumping and landing tasks?
AB  - Artistic gymnasts are frequently exposed to both low- and high-magnitude loads
      through impacts with the apparatus. These impact loads are thought to be
      associated with the high injury rates observed in gymnastics. Due to the variable
      apparatus and surfaces in gymnastics, impact loads during training are difficult
      to quantify. This study aimed to use triaxial accelerometers mounted on the back
      to assess impact loading during jumping and landing tasks. Twelve participants
      were fitted with an accelerometer on their upper and lower back, before
      performing a continuous hopping task, as well as drop landings and rebound jumps
      from various heights (37.5, 57.5, and 77.5 cm) onto a force platform. Peak
      resultant acceleration (PRA) was low-pass filtered with four cut-off frequencies
      (8, 15, 20, and 50 Hz). Filtering of PRA with the 20 Hz cut-off frequency showed
      the highest correlations between ground reaction force (GRF) and PRA. PRA
      recorded at the upper back, filtered with a 20 Hz cut-off frequency, appears to
      provide a good estimate of impact loading for continuous hopping and rebound
      jumps, but less so for drop landings since correlations between GRF and PRA were
      only significant when landing from 57.5 cm.

PMID- 26873304
TI  - Treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma: efficacy and safety of trabectedin, a
      multitarget agent, and update on other systemic therapeutic options.
AB  - Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare mesenchymal cancers. Despite optimal
      management, nearly 50% of patients with localized disease will develop
      recurrence. The outcome for patients with metastatic STS is poor. There are few
      systemic treatment options available in this setting. Doxorubicin, with or
      without ifosfamide, is considered standard first line therapy. Some clinical
      trials have confirmed the activity of trabectedin as an effective and tolerable
      option for adult patients previously treated with doxorubicin and ifosfamide.
      Trabectedin was approved in the European Union and other countries based on the
      results of a randomized phase II trial involving patients with advanced
      liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma receiving one of two different schedules of
      trabectedin. Recently a multicentre phase III trial randomized liposarcoma and
      leiomyosarcoma patients to receive either trabectedin or dacarbazine,
      demonstrating a significantly improved progression-free survival for patients
      treated with trabectedin compared to dacarbazine. We herein review the evidence
      for the use of trabectedin in adult advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

PMID- 26873305
TI  - The influence of space and time on the evolution of altruistic defence: the case
      of ant slave rebellion.
AB  - How can antiparasite defence traits evolve even if they do not directly benefit
      their carriers? An example of such an indirect defence is rebellion of enslaved
      Temnothorax longispinosus ant workers against their social parasite Temnothorax
      americanus, a slavemaking ant. Ant slaves have been observed to kill their
      oppressors' offspring, a behaviour from which the sterile slaves cannot profit
      directly. Parasite brood killing could, however, reduce raiding pressure on
      related host colonies nearby. We analyse with extensive computer simulations for
      the Temnothorax slavemaker system under what conditions a hypothetical rebel
      allele could invade a host population, and in particular, how host-parasite
      dynamics and population structure influence the rebel allele's success. Exploring
      a wide range of model parameters, we only found a small number of parameter
      combinations for which kin selection or multilevel selection could allow a slave
      rebellion allele to spread in the host population. Furthermore, we did not detect
      any cases in which the reduction of raiding pressure in the close vicinity of the
      slavemaker nest would substantially contribute to the inclusive fitness of
      rebels. This suggests that slave rebellion is not costly and perhaps a side
      effect of some other beneficial trait. In some of our simulations, however, even
      a costly rebellion allele could spread in the population. This was possible when
      host-parasite interactions led to a metapopulation dynamic with frequent local
      extinctions and recolonizations of demes by the offspring of few immigrants.

PMID- 26873308
TI  - Vitamin D levels in primary growth hormone deficiency disorder Prader-Willi
      syndrome.

PMID- 26873306
TI  - Malignant pleural mesothelioma: an update on diagnosis and treatment options.
AB  - Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) represents a significant diagnostic and
      therapeutic challenge and is almost always a fatal disease. Imaging abnormalities
      are common, but have a limited role in distinguishing mesothelioma from
      metastatic pleural disease. Similarly, minimally invasive biomarkers have shown
      promise but also have limitations in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. In
      experienced centers, cytology and immunohistochemistry are now sufficient to
      diagnose the epithelioid subtype of mesothelioma, which can reduce the need for
      more invasive diagnostic investigations. Prognosis of MPM is modestly impacted by
      oncological treatments. Chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed is considered
      the standard of care, though the addition of bevacizumab to the platinum doublet
      may be the new standard of care. New targeted therapies have demonstrated some
      promise and are being addressed in clinical trials. This review focuses on the
      current data on the diagnostic and therapeutic issues of MPM.

PMID- 26873307
TI  - Differentiation of epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes by use of imaging and
      clinical data: a detailed analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma is sub-classified into serous,
      mucinous, endometrioid and clear cell subtypes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has
      become an alternative treatment option past several years, as serous carcinoma,
      the most common subtype, is known as chemotherapy-sensitive tumor. On the other
      hand, mucinous and clear cell carcinoma are known as chemotherapy-resistive.
      Therefore, it may be meaningful to estimate subtype of ovarian carcinoma using
      imaging modality. The purpose of this study is to study whether CT or MRI can
      determine the subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers. METHODS: The imaging and
      clinical findings obtained from 125 consecutive patients with primary ovarian
      carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-four of the patients had serous
      carcinoma; 13, mucinous carcinoma; 53, clear cell carcinoma; and 15, endometrioid
      carcinoma. We studied the bilateralism, morphological type, tumor diameter, solid
      portion ratio, relative signal intensity on T2WI and DWI, contrast ratio, and
      endometriosis on MRI and the calcification, peritoneal dissemination and lymph
      node metastasis, clinical staging, and thromboembolism on CT. We also studied the
      tumor markers and serum calcium concentrations. Each parameter was statistically
      analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Serous carcinoma
      showed a significantly higher incidence of bilateral disease, smaller tumor size,
      higher signal intensity on DWI, and less frequent hypercalcemia. The CA19-9 level
      was significantly higher in mucinous carcinoma, in which most of the tumors
      appeared as multilocular cystic masses. Clear cell carcinoma appeared as
      unilateral disease with a larger solid portion and hypercalcemia in younger
      patients. Endometrioid carcinoma only showed a lower incidence of intraperitoneal
      dissemination. CONCLUSIONS: CT and MRI combined with clinical data especially
      tumor markers and presence of paraneoplastic syndrome could partly predict
      epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes.

PMID- 26873309
TI  - Glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms modulate cardiometabolic risk factors in
      patients in long-term remission of Cushing's syndrome.
AB  - CONTEXT: Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) polymorphisms modulate glucocorticoid (GC)
      sensitivity and are associated with altered metabolic profiles. OBJECTIVE: To
      evaluate the presence of GR polymorphisms (BclI (rs41423247), N363S (rs56149945),
      ER22/23EK (rs6189/rs6190), and 9beta (rs6198) and investigate their associations
      with metabolic alterations in patients in long-term remission of Cushing's
      syndrome (CS). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional case-control study. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Sixty patients in long-term remission of CS were genotyped.
      Associations between GR polymorphisms and multiple vascular, body composition and
      metabolic parameters were investigated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Allelic
      frequencies of the polymorphisms and their associations with several
      cardiometabolic risk factors. RESULTS: This study shows that carriers of the
      9beta polymorphism have a higher systolic blood pressure and lower resistin
      levels. The GC sensitizing BclI polymorphism is associated with an adverse
      cardiometabolic risk factor profile: higher fat percentages of extremities and
      legs, higher serum leptin and E-selectin levels, and higher intima media
      thickness in carriers versus non-carriers. CONCLUSIONS: The 9beta and BclI
      polymorphisms of the GR adversely affect the cardiometabolic profile in patients
      who are in remission after the treatment of CS. This suggests that genetically
      altered GC sensitivity modulates the long-term adverse cardiometabolic effects
      resulting from (endogenous) hypercortisolism.

PMID- 26873310
TI  - Thyroid ultrasonography for personalized approach at thyroid nodules.

PMID- 26873311
TI  - Direct and Indirect Horizontal Transmission of the Antifungal Probiotic Bacterium
      Janthinobacterium lividum on Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) Tadpoles.
AB  - Amphibian populations worldwide are being threatened by the disease
      chytridiomycosis, which is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis To mitigate
      the effects of B. dendrobatidis, bioaugmentation of antifungal bacteria has been
      shown to be a promising strategy. One way to implement bioaugmentation is through
      indirect horizontal transmission, defined as the transfer of bacteria from a host
      to the environment and to another host. In addition, direct horizontal
      transmission among individuals can facilitate the spread of a probiotic in a
      population. In this study, we tested whether the antifungal bacterium
      Janthinobacterium lividum could be horizontally transferred, directly or
      indirectly, in a laboratory experiment using Lithobates clamitans tadpoles. We
      evaluated the ability of J. lividumto colonize the tadpoles' skin and to persist
      through time using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. We also
      tested whether the addition of J. lividum affected the skin community in L.
      clamitans tadpoles. We found that transmission occurred rapidly by direct and
      indirect horizontal transmission, but indirect transmission that included a
      potential substrate was more effective. Even though J. lividum colonized the
      skin, its relative abundance on the tadpole skin decreased over time. The
      inoculation of J. lividum did not significantly alter the skin bacterial
      diversity of L. clamitans tadpoles, which was dominated by Pseudomonas Our
      results show that indirect horizontal transmission can be an effective
      bioaugmentation method. Future research is needed to determine the best
      conditions, including the presence of substrates, under which a probiotic can
      persist on the skin so that bioaugmentation becomes a successful strategy to
      mitigate chytridiomycosis.

PMID- 26873312
TI  - The Histone-Like Nucleoid Structuring Protein (H-NS) Is a Negative Regulator of
      the Lateral Flagellar System in the Deep-Sea Bacterium Shewanella piezotolerans
      WP3.
AB  - Although the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) is well known for
      its involvement in the adaptation of mesophilic bacteria, such as Escherichia
      coli, to cold environments and high-pressure stress, an understanding of the role
      of H-NS in the cold-adapted benthic microorganisms that live in the deep-sea
      ecosystem, which covers approximately 60% of the earth's surface, is still
      lacking. In this study, we characterized the function of H-NS in Shewanella
      piezotolerans WP3, which was isolated from West Pacific sediment at a depth of
      1,914 m. Anhns gene deletion mutant (WP3Deltahns) was constructed, and
      comparative whole-genome microarray analysis was performed. H-NS had a
      significant influence (fold change, >2) on the expression of a variety of WP3
      genes (274 and 280 genes were upregulated and downregulated, respectively),
      particularly genes related to energy production and conversion. Notably,
      WP3Deltahnsexhibited higher expression levels of lateral flagellar genes than WP3
      and showed enhanced swarming motility and lateral flagellar production compared
      to those of WP3. The DNA gel mobility shift experiment showed that H-NS bound
      specifically to the promoter of lateral flagellar genes. Moreover, the high
      affinity binding sequences of H-NS were identified by DNase I protection
      footprinting, and the results support the "binding and spreading" model for H-NS
      functioning. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to characterize the
      function of the universal regulator H-NS in a deep-sea bacterium. Our data
      revealed that H-NS has a novel function as a repressor of the expression of genes
      related to the energy-consuming secondary flagellar system and to swarming
      motility.

PMID- 26873314
TI  - Germs within Worms: Localization of Neorickettsia sp. within Life Cycle Stages of
      the Digenean Plagiorchis elegans.
AB  - Neorickettsia spp. are bacterial endosymbionts of parasitic flukes (Digenea) that
      also have the potential to infect and cause disease (e.g., Sennetsu fever) in the
      vertebrate hosts of the fluke. One of the largest gaps in our knowledge of
      Neorickettsia biology is the very limited information available regarding the
      localization of the bacterial endosymbiont within its digenean host. In this
      study, we used indirect immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize Neorickettsia
      sp. within several life cycle stages of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans
      Individual sporocysts, cercariae, metacercariae, and adults of P. elegans
      naturally infected with Neorickettsia sp. were obtained from our laboratory
      maintained life cycle, embedded, sectioned, and prepared for indirect
      immunofluorescence microscopy using anti-Neorickettsia risticiihorse serum as the
      primary antibody. Neorickettsiasp. was found within the tegument of sporocysts,
      throughout cercarial embryos (germ balls) and fully formed cercariae (within the
      sporocysts), throughout metacercariae, and within the tegument, parenchyma,
      vitellaria, uteri, testes, cirrus sacs, and eggs of adults. Interestingly,
      Neorickettsia sp. was not found within the ovarian tissue. This suggests that
      vertical transmission of Neorickettsia within adult digeneans occurs via the
      incorporation of infected vitelline cells into the egg rather than direct
      infection of the ooplasm of the oocyte, as has been described for other bacterial
      endosymbionts of invertebrates (e.g.,Rickettsia and Wolbachia).

PMID- 26873313
TI  - Direct Comparison of Physical Properties of Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610 and B-1
      Biofilms.
AB  - Many bacteria form surface-attached communities known as biofilms. Due to the
      extreme resistance of these bacterial biofilms to antibiotics and mechanical
      stresses, biofilms are of growing interest not only in microbiology but also in
      medicine and industry. Previous studies have determined the extracellular
      polymeric substances present in the matrix of biofilms formed by Bacillus
      subtilis NCIB 3610. However, studies on the physical properties of biofilms
      formed by this strain are just emerging. In particular, quantitative data on the
      contributions of biofilm matrix biopolymers to these physical properties are
      lacking. Here, we quantitatively investigated three physical properties of B.
      subtilis NCIB 3610 biofilms: the surface roughness and stiffness and the bulk
      viscoelasticity of these biofilms. We show how specific biomolecules constituting
      the biofilm matrix formed by this strain contribute to those biofilm properties.
      In particular, we demonstrate that the surface roughness and surface elasticity
      of 1-day-old NCIB 3610 biofilms are strongly affected by the surface layer
      protein BslA. For a second strain,B. subtilis B-1, which forms biofilms
      containing mainly gamma-polyglutamate, we found significantly different physical
      biofilm properties that are also differently affected by the commonly used
      antibacterial agent ethanol. We show that B-1 biofilms are protected from ethanol
      induced changes in the biofilm's stiffness and that this protective effect can be
      transferred to NCIB 3610 biofilms by the sole addition of gamma-polyglutamate to
      growing NCIB 3610 biofilms. Together, our results demonstrate the importance of
      specific biofilm matrix components for the distinct physical properties of B.
      subtilis biofilms.

PMID- 26873315
TI  - Use of Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing Technology To Detect Foodborne Pathogens
      within the Microbiome of the Beef Production Chain.
AB  - Foodborne illnesses associated with pathogenic bacteria are a global public
      health and economic challenge. The diversity of microorganisms (pathogenic and
      nonpathogenic) that exists within the food and meat industries complicates
      efforts to understand pathogen ecology. Further, little is known about the
      interaction of pathogens within the microbiome throughout the meat production
      chain. Here, a metagenomic approach and shotgun sequencing technology were used
      as tools to detect pathogenic bacteria in environmental samples collected from
      the same groups of cattle at different longitudinal processing steps of the beef
      production chain: cattle entry to feedlot, exit from feedlot, cattle transport
      trucks, abattoir holding pens, and the end of the fabrication system. The log
      read counts classified as pathogens per million reads for Salmonella
      enterica,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,
      Clostridium spp. (C. botulinum and C. perfringens), and Campylobacter spp. (C.
      jejuni,C. coli, and C. fetus) decreased over subsequential processing steps.
      Furthermore, the normalized read counts for S. enterica,E. coli, and C.
      botulinumwere greater in the final product than at the feedlots, indicating that
      the proportion of these bacteria increased (the effect on absolute numbers was
      unknown) within the remaining microbiome. From an ecological perspective, data
      indicated that shotgun metagenomics can be used to evaluate not only the
      microbiome but also shifts in pathogen populations during beef production.
      Nonetheless, there were several challenges in this analysis approach, one of the
      main ones being the identification of the specific pathogen from which the
      sequence reads originated, which makes this approach impractical for use in
      pathogen identification for regulatory and confirmation purposes.

PMID- 26873316
TI  - Rapid Detection of Viable Bacillus anthracis Spores in Environmental Samples by
      Using Engineered Reporter Phages.
AB  - Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, was utilized as a
      bioterrorism agent in 2001 when spores were distributed via the U.S. postal
      system. In responding to this event, the Federal Bureau of Investigation used
      traditional bacterial culture viability assays to ascertain the extent of
      contamination of the postal facilities within 24 to 48 h of environmental sample
      acquisition. Here, we describe a low-complexity, second-generation reporter phage
      assay for the rapid detection of viableB. anthracis spores in environmental
      samples. The assay uses an engineered B. anthracis reporter phage (Wbeta::luxAB
      2) which transduces bioluminescence to infected cells. To facilitate low-level
      environmental detection and maximize the signal response, expression of luxABin
      an earlier version of the reporter phage (Wbeta::luxAB-1) was optimized. These
      alterations prolonged signal kinetics, increased light output, and improved assay
      sensitivity. Using Wbeta::luxAB-2, detection of B. anthracis spores was 1 CFU in
      8 h from pure cultures and as low as 10 CFU/g in sterile soil but increased to
      10(5)CFU/g in unprocessed soil due to an unstable signal and the presence of
      competing bacteria. Inclusion of semiselective medium, mediated by a phage
      expressed antibiotic resistance gene, maintained signal stability and enabled the
      detection of 10(4)CFU/g in 6 h. The assay does not require spore extraction and
      relies on the phage infecting germinating cells directly in the soil sample. This
      reporter phage displays promise for the rapid detection of low levels of spores
      on clean surfaces and also in grossly contaminated environmental samples from
      complex matrices such as soils.

PMID- 26873317
TI  - Activities of Secreted Aryl Alcohol Quinone Oxidoreductases from Pycnoporus
      cinnabarinus Provide Insights into Fungal Degradation of Plant Biomass.
AB  - Auxiliary activities family 3 subfamily 2 (AA3_2) from the CAZy database
      comprises various functions related to ligninolytic enzymes, such as fungal aryl
      alcohol oxidases (AAO) and glucose oxidases, both of which are flavoenzymes. The
      recent study of the Pycnoporus cinnabarinus CIRM BRFM 137 genome combined with
      its secretome revealed that four AA3_2 enzymes are secreted during biomass
      degradation. One of these AA3_2 enzymes, scf184803.g17, has recently been
      produced heterologously in Aspergillus niger Based on the enzyme's activity and
      specificity, it was assigned to the glucose dehydrogenases (PcinnabarinusGDH
      [PcGDH]). Here, we analyze the distribution of the other three AA3_2 enzymes
      (scf185002.g8, scf184611.g7, and scf184746.g13) to assess their putative
      functions. These proteins showed the highest homology with aryl alcohol oxidase
      from Pleurotus eryngii Biochemical characterization demonstrated that they were
      also flavoenzymes harboring flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as a cofactor and
      able to oxidize a wide variety of phenolic and nonphenolic aryl alcohols and one
      aliphatic polyunsaturated primary alcohol. Though presenting homology with fungal
      AAOs, these enzymes exhibited greater efficiency in reducing electron acceptors
      (quinones and one artificial acceptor) than molecular oxygen and so were defined
      as aryl-alcohol:quinone oxidoreductases (AAQOs) with two enzymes possessing
      residual oxidase activity (PcAAQO2 and PcAAQO3). Structural comparison of PcAAQO
      homology models with P. eryngii AAO demonstrated a wider substrate access channel
      connecting the active-site cavity to the solvent, explaining the absence of
      activity with molecular oxygen. Finally, the ability of PcAAQOs to reduce radical
      intermediates generated by laccase from P. cinnabarinus was demonstrated,
      shedding light on the ligninolytic system of this fungus.

PMID- 26873318
TI  - Systematic Mutational Analysis of Histidine Kinase Genes in the Nosocomial
      Pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Identifies BfmAK System Control of Biofilm
      Development.
AB  - The Gram-negative bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilialives in diverse
      ecological niches. As a result of its formidable capabilities of forming biofilm
      and its resistance to multiple antibiotic agents, the bacterium is also a
      nosocomial pathogen of serious threat to the health of patients whose immune
      systems are suppressed or compromised. Besides the histidine kinase RpfC, the two
      component signal transduction system (TCS), which is the canonical regulatory
      machinery used by most bacterial pathogens, has never been experimentally
      investigated inS. maltophilia Here, we annotated 62 putative histidine kinase
      genes in the S. maltophilia genome and successfully obtained 51 mutants by
      systematical insertional inactivation. Phenotypic characterization identified a
      series of mutants with deficiencies in bacterial growth, swimming motility, and
      biofilm development. A TCS, named here BfmA-BfmK (Smlt4209-Smlt4208), was
      genetically confirmed to regulate biofilm formation inS. maltophilia Together
      with interacting partner prediction and chromatin immunoprecipitation screens,
      six candidate promoter regions bound by BfmA in vivo were identified. We
      demonstrated that, among them, BfmA acts as a transcription factor that binds
      directly to the promoter regions of bfmA-bfmK and Smlt0800(acoT), a gene encoding
      an acyl coenzyme A thioesterase that is associated with biofilm development, and
      positively controls their transcription. Genome-scale mutational analyses of
      histidine kinase genes and functional dissection of BfmK-BfmA regulation in
      biofilm provide genetic information to support more in-depth studies on cellular
      signaling inS. maltophilia, in the context of developing novel approaches to
      fight this important bacterial pathogen.

PMID- 26873320
TI  - Killing of Staphylococcus aureus via Magnetic Hyperthermia Mediated by
      Magnetotactic Bacteria.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus is a common hospital and household pathogen. Given the
      emergence of antibiotic-resistant derivatives of this pathogen resulting from the
      use of antibiotics as general treatment, development of alternative therapeutic
      strategies is urgently needed. Here, we assess the feasibility of killing S.
      aureus cells in vitro and in vivo through magnetic hyperthermia mediated by
      magnetotactic bacteria that possess magnetic nanocrystals and demonstrate
      magnetically steered swimming. The S. aureus suspension was added to
      magnetotactic MO-1 bacteria either directly or after coating with anti-MO-1
      polyclonal antibodies. The suspensions were then subjected to an alternating
      magnetic field (AMF) for 1 h. S. aureus viability was subsequently assessed
      through conventional plate counting and flow cytometry. We found that
      approximately 30% of the S. aureus cells mixed with uncoated MO-1 cells were
      killed after AMF treatment. Moreover, attachment between the magnetotactic
      bacteria and S. aureus increased the killing efficiency of hyperthermia to more
      than 50%. Using mouse models, we demonstrated that magnetic hyperthermia mediated
      by antibody-coated magnetotactic MO-1 bacteria significantly improved wound
      healing. These results collectively demonstrated the effective eradication of S.
      aureus both in vitro and in vivo, indicating the potential of magnetotactic
      bacterium-mediated magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment for S. aureus-induced
      skin or wound infections. 

PMID- 26873319
TI  - SaxA-Mediated Isothiocyanate Metabolism in Phytopathogenic Pectobacteria.
AB  - Pectobacteria are devastating plant pathogens that infect a large variety of
      crops, including members of the family Brassicaceae. To infect cabbage crops,
      these plant pathogens need to overcome the plant's antibacterial defense
      mechanisms, where isothiocyanates are liberated by hydrolysis of glucosinolates.
      Here, we found that a Pectobacterium isolate from the gut of cabbage root fly
      larvae was particularly resistant to isothiocyanate and even seemed to benefit
      from the abundant Brassica root metabolite 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate as a
      nitrogen source in an ecosystem where nitrogen is scarce. The Pectobacterium
      isolate harbored a naturally occurring mobile plasmid that contained a sax
      operon. We hypothesized that SaxA was the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of
      2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate. Subsequently, we heterologously produced and
      purified the SaxA protein and characterized the recombinant enzyme. It hydrolyzed
      2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate to yield the products carbonyl sulfide and
      phenylethylamine. It was also active toward another aromatic isothiocyanate but
      hardly toward aliphatic isothiocyanates. It belongs to the class B metal
      dependent beta-lactamase fold protein family but was not, however, able to
      hydrolyze beta-lactam antibiotics. We discovered that several copies of the saxA
      gene are widespread in full and draft Pectobacterium genomes and therefore
      hypothesize that SaxA might be a new pathogenicity factor of the genus
      Pectobacterium, possibly compromising food preservation strategies using
      isothiocyanates.

PMID- 26873321
TI  - Genetic Diversity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolates from
      Conventional Broiler Flocks and the Impacts of Sampling Strategy and Laboratory
      Method.
AB  - The genetic diversity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coliisolates from
      commercial broiler farms was examined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), with
      an assessment of the impact of the sample type and laboratory method on the
      genotypes of Campylobacter isolated. A total of 645C. jejuniand 106C. coli
      isolates were obtained from 32 flocks and 17 farms, with 47 sequence types (STs)
      identified. The Campylobacter jejuniisolates obtained by different sampling
      approaches and laboratory methods were very similar, with the same STs identified
      at similar frequencies, and had no major effect on the genetic profile of
      Campylobacter population in broiler flocks at the farm level. ForC. coli, the
      results were more equivocal. While some STs were widely distributed within and
      among farms and flocks, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a high
      degree of genetic diversity among farms forC. jejuni, where farm effects
      accounted for 70.5% of variance, and among flocks from the same farm (9.9% of
      variance for C. jejuni and 64.1% forC. coli). These results show the complexity
      of the population structure of Campylobacterin broiler production and that
      commercial broiler farms provide an ecological niche for a wide diversity of
      genotypes. The genetic diversity of C. jejuni isolates among broiler farms should
      be taken into account when designing studies to understand Campylobacter
      populations in broiler production and the impact of interventions. We provide
      evidence that supports synthesis of studies on C. jejuni populations even when
      laboratory and sampling methods are not identical.

PMID- 26873322
TI  - Alpha- and Gammaproteobacterial Methanotrophs Codominate the Active Methane
      Oxidizing Communities in an Acidic Boreal Peat Bog.
AB  - The objective of this study was to characterize metabolically active, aerobic
      methanotrophs in an ombrotrophic peatland in the Marcell Experimental Forest, in
      Minnesota. Methanotrophs were investigated in the field and in laboratory
      incubations using DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP), expression studies on
      particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) genes, and amplicon sequencing of 16S
      rRNA genes. Potential rates of oxidation ranged from 14 to 17 MUmol of CH4g dry
      weight soil(-1)day(-1) Within DNA-SIP incubations, the relative abundance of
      methanotrophs increased from 4% in situ to 25 to 36% after 8 to 14 days.
      Phylogenetic analysis of the(13)C-enriched DNA fractions revealed that the active
      methanotrophs were dominated by the genera Methylocystis(type
      II;Alphaproteobacteria),Methylomonas, and Methylovulum(both, type
      I;Gammaproteobacteria). In field samples, a transcript-to-gene ratio of 1 to 2
      was observed for pmoA in surface peat layers, which attenuated rapidly with
      depth, indicating that the highest methane consumption was associated with a
      depth of 0 to 10 cm. Metagenomes and sequencing of cDNA pmoA amplicons from field
      samples confirmed that the dominant active methanotrophs were Methylocystis and
      Methylomonas Although type II methanotrophs have long been shown to mediate
      methane consumption in peatlands, our results indicate that members of the genera
      Methylomonas and Methylovulum(type I) can significantly contribute to aerobic
      methane oxidation in these ecosystems.

PMID- 26873323
TI  - Bacterial Succession in the Broiler Gastrointestinal Tract.
AB  - A feeding trial was performed with broilers receiving a diet of wheat-based feed
      (WBF), maize-based feed (MBF), or maize-based concentrates supplemented with 15%
      or 30% crimped kernel maize silage (CKMS-15 or CKMS-30, respectively). The aim of
      the study was to investigate the bacterial community compositions of the crop,
      gizzard, ileum, and cecum contents in relation to the feeding strategy and age
      (8, 15, 22, 25, 29, or 36 days). Among the four dietary treatments, bacterial
      diversity was analyzed for MBF and CKMS-30 by 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA
      gene. Since the diets had no significant influence on bacterial diversity, data
      were pooled for downstream analysis. With increasing age, a clear succession of
      bacterial communities and increased bacterial diversity were
      observed.Lactobacillaceae(belonging mainly to the genus Lactobacillus)
      represented most of the Firmicutesat all ages and in all segments of the gut
      except the cecum. The development of a "mature" microbiota in broilers occurred
      during the period from days 15 to 22. Striking increases in the relative
      abundances of Lactobacillus salivarius(17 to 36%) and clostridia (11 to 18%), and
      a concomitant decrease in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri, were
      found in the ileum after day 15. The concentration of deconjugated bile salts
      increased in association with the increased populations of L. salivarius and
      clostridia. Both L. salivarius and clostridia deconjugate bile acids, and
      increases in the abundances of these bacteria might be associated with growth
      reduction and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders occurring in the critical period of
      broiler life between days 20 and 30.

PMID- 26873326
TI  - Thermithiobacillus plumbiphilus sp. nov., a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium isolated
      from lead sulfide.
AB  - A novel sulfur oxidizer, strain wk12T, was isolated from an industrially
      synthesized lead (II) sulfide. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was around 58.5
      mol%. The major components in the cellular fatty acid profile were summed feature
      3 (C16 : 1omega7c and/or C16 : 1omega6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 :
      1omega7c and/or C18 : 1omega6c). The strain oxidized lead sulfide, thiosulfate
      and tetrathionate as electron donors to support autotrophic growth. Cells of
      strain wk12T were motile, rod-shaped (0.5-1.0 * 0.7-2.2 MUm), and Gram-stain
      negative. For growth, the temperature range was 5-37  degrees C, and optimum
      growth was observed at 28-32  degrees C. The pH range for growth was 5.8-8.7,
      with optimum growth at pH 6.4-7.1. Optimum growth of the isolate was observed in
      medium without NaCl, and no growth was observed in the medium containing 0.5 M or
      more NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that
      the isolate belongs to the class Acidithiobacillia. The closest relative with a
      validly published name was Thermithiobacillus tepidarius DSM 3134T, with a 16S
      rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96 %. On the basis of phylogenetic and
      phenotypic properties, strain wk12T represents a novel species of the genus
      Thermithiobacillus, for which the name Thermithiobacillus plumbiphilus sp. nov.
      is proposed. The type strain is wk12T ( = NBRC 111508T = DSM 101799T). 

PMID- 26873324
TI  - Gene expression identifies heterogeneity of metastatic behavior among
      gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adjuvant imatinib is useful in patients with gastrointestinal stromal
      tumors (GIST) at high risk of recurrence. At present, the risk of recurrence is
      determined based on tumor size, mitotic rate, tumor site, and tumor rupture.
      Previous studies using various biochemical pathways identified gene expression
      patterns that distinguish two subsets of aggressive fibromatosis (AF), serous
      ovarian carcinoma (OVCA), and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These gene
      sets separated soft tissue sarcomas into two groups with different probabilities
      of developing metastatic disease. The present study used these gene sets to
      identify GIST subgroups with different probabilities of developing metastatic
      disease. METHODS: We utilized these three gene sets, hierarchical clustering, and
      Kaplan-Meier analysis, to examine 60 primary resected GIST samples using Agilent
      chip expression profiling. RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering using both the
      combined and individual AF-, OVCA-, and RCC- gene sets identified differences in
      probabilities of developing metastatic disease between the clusters defined by
      the first branch point of the clustering dendrograms (p = 0.029 for the combined
      gene set, p = 0.003 for the AF-gene set, p < 0.001 for the OVCA-gene set, and p =
      0.003 for the RCC-gene set). CONCLUSIONS: Hierarchical clustering using these
      gene sets identified at least two subsets of GIST with distinct clinical behavior
      and risk of metastatic disease. The use of gene expression analysis along with
      other known prognostic factors may better predict the long-term outcome following
      surgery, and thus restrict the use of adjuvant therapy to high-risk GIST, and
      reduce heterogeneity among groups in clinical trials of new drugs.

PMID- 26873327
TI  - Early detection of unhealthy behaviors, the prevalence and receipt of antiviral
      treatment for disabled adult hepatitis B and C carriers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus
      (HCV) infections are the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular
      carcinoma. Antiviral treatments have recently been reported as successful cures.
      However, the prevalence rates of HBV or HCV infection, unhealthy behaviors and
      receipt of adequate treatment in disabled adults have not been described. The aim
      of this study was to examine the prevalence of HBV or HCV carriers, receipt of
      antiviral treatment, and early detection of unhealthy behaviors in disabled
      adults in Taiwan. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study was
      conducted between July and December 2013 with 845 community-dwelling adults with
      disabilities aged >20 years. Statistical analyses included descriptive
      statistics, Chi-squared tests, and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was 12.9 and 14.1 %, respectively. HCV
      carriers tended to be older (p < 0.001) and with a lower education (p < 0.001).
      The majority of HBV/HCV carriers did not know the type of hepatitis infection and
      did not receive adequate antiviral treatment. After adjusting for potential
      confounding variables, regression analysis showed that the factors significantly
      associated with elevated liver function were HCV infection (p < 0.001), HBV
      infection (p = 0.001), high fasting blood glucose levels (p = 0.001), overweight
      (p = 0.003), older age (p = 0.027), and alcohol drinking (p = 0.028).
      CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of HCV infection among adults with
      disabilities; few received adequate antiviral treatment or early detection of
      unhealthy behaviors for the prevention of liver cancer. Clinicians can provide
      health education to help the participants and caregivers better understand the
      relationships between specific risk factors and liver health and can encourage
      HBV and HCV carriers to undergo annual physical check-ups and receive adequate
      treatment, as covered by the national health insurance.

PMID- 26873328
TI  - Clearance of bile and trypsin in rat lungs following aspiration of human gastric
      fluid.
AB  - PURPOSE: In the clinical setting, there is no reliable tool for diagnosing
      gastric aspiration. A potential way of diagnosing gastric fluid aspiration
      entails bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with subsequent examination of the BAL fluid
      for gastric fluid components that are exogenous to the lungs. The objective of
      this study was to determine the longevity of the gastric fluid components bile
      and trypsin in the lung, in order to provide an estimate of the time frame in
      which assessment of these components in the BAL might effectively be used as a
      measure of aspiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human gastric fluid (0.5 mg/kg) was
      infused in the right lung of intubated male Fischer 344 rats (n = 30). Animals
      were sacrificed at specified times following the experimentally induced
      aspiration, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected. Bile
      concentrations were analyzed by an enzyme-linked chromatogenic method, and the
      concentration of trypsin was quantified using an ELISA. Data were analyzed using
      non-linear regression and a one-phase decay equation. RESULTS: In this
      experimental model, the half-life of bile was 9.3 hours (r(2) = 0.81), and the
      half-life of trypsin was 9.0 hours (r(2) = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: The half-lives of
      bile and trypsin in the rodent aspiration model suggest that the ability to
      detect aspiration may be limited to a few days post-aspiration. If studies using
      rats are any indication, it may be most effective to collect BAL samples within
      the first 24 hours of suspected aspiration events in order to detect aspiration.

PMID- 26873329
TI  - RhoA/Rho-kinase activation promotes lung fibrosis in an animal model of systemic
      sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective-tissue disease characterized
      by vascular injury, immune-system disorders, and excessive fibrosis of the skin
      and multiple internal organs. Recent reports found that RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK)
      pathway is implicated in various fibrogenic diseases. Intradermal injection of
      hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-generating solution induced inflammation, autoimmune
      activation, and fibrosis, mimicking the cutaneous diffuse form of SSc in humans.
      Our study aimed firstly to describe pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis induced
      by HOCl in mice, and secondly to determine whether fasudil, a selective inhibitor
      of ROCK, could prevent lung and skin fibroses in HOCl-injected mice. METHODS:
      Female C57BL/6 mice received daily intradermal injection of hypochlorous acid
      (HOCl) for 6 weeks to induce SSc, with and without daily treatment with fasudil
      (30 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) by oral gavage. RESULTS: HOCl intoxication induced
      significant lung inflammation (macrophages and neutrophils infiltration), and
      fibrosis. These modifications were prevented by fasudil treatment.
      Simultaneously, HOCl enhanced ROCK activity in lung and skin tissues. Inhibition
      of ROCK reduced skin fibrosis, expression of alpha-smooth-muscle actin and 3
      nitrotyrosine, as well as the activity of ROCK in the fibrotic skin of HOCl
      treated mice, through inhibition of phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2.
      Fasudil significantly decreased the serum levels of anti-DNA-topoisomerase-1
      antibodies in mice with HOCl-induced SSc. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm HOCl
      induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice, and provide further evidence
      for a key role of RhoA/ROCK pathway in several pathological processes of
      experimental SSc. Fasudil could be a promising therapeutic approach for the
      treatment of SSc.

PMID- 26873330
TI  - RNA-seq analysis reveals new candidate genes for drip loss in a Pietrain * Duroc
      * Landrace * Yorkshire population.
AB  - Drip loss, one of the most important meat quality traits, is characterized by low
      heritability. To date, the genetic factors affecting the drip loss trait have not
      been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to identify critical
      candidate genes affecting drip loss. First, we generated a Pietrain * Duroc *
      Landrace * Yorkshire commercial pig population and obtained phenotypic values for
      the drip loss trait. Furthermore, we constructed two RNA libraries from pooled
      samples of longissimus dorsi muscles with the highest (H group) and lowest (L
      group) drip loss and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between
      these extreme phenotypes using RNA-seq technology. In total, 25 883 genes were
      detected in the H and L group libraries, and none was specifically expressed in
      only one library. Comparative analysis of gene expression levels found that 150
      genes were differentially expressed, of which 127 were upregulated and 23 were
      downregulated in the H group relative to the L group. In addition, 68 drip loss
      quantitative trait loci (QTL) overlapping with 63 DEGs were identified, and these
      QTL were distributed mainly on chromosomes 1, 2, 5 and 6. Interestingly, the
      triadin (TRDN) gene, which is involved in muscle contraction and fat deposition,
      and the myostatin (MSTN) gene, which has a role in muscle growth, were localized
      to more than two drip loss QTL, suggesting that both are critical candidate genes
      responsible for drip loss. 

PMID- 26873331
TI  - Impact of Functional Versus Organic Baseline Mitral Regurgitation on Short- and
      Long-Term Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
AB  - The impact of the specific etiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) on outcomes in
      the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) population is unknown. This
      study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in functional versus organic MR
      after TAVR in addition to their impact on survival. Consecutive patients who
      underwent TAVR from May 2007 to May 2015 who had baseline significant (moderate
      or greater) MR were included. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to evaluate
      the cohort at baseline, post-procedure, 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up.
      The primary outcomes included mortality at 30 days and 1 year. Longitudinal,
      mixed-model regression analyses were performed to assess the differences in the
      magnitude of longitudinal changes of MR, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction,
      and New York Heart Association functional class. Seventy patients (44% men, mean
      83 years) with moderate or greater MR at baseline (30 functional vs 40 organic)
      were included, with the functional group having a statistically significant mean
      younger age and higher rates of previous coronary artery bypass grafting. Kaplan
      Meier cumulative mortality rates were similar: 30 days (10% vs 17.5%, unadjusted
      log-ranked p = 0.413) and 1 year (29.4% vs 23.2%, unadjusted log-ranked p =
      0.746) in the functional versus organic MR groups, respectively. There were
      greater degrees of short- and long-term improvement in MR severity (slope
      difference p = 0.0008), LV ejection fraction (slope difference p = 0.0009), and
      New York Heart Association class (slope difference p = 0.0054) in the functional
      versus organic group. In conclusion, patients with significant functional versus
      organic MR who underwent TAVR have similar short- and long-term survival;
      nevertheless, those with a functional origin are more likely to have significant
      improvements in MR severity, LV-positive remodeling, and functional class. These
      findings may help strategize therapies for MR in patients with combined aortic
      and mitral valve disease who are undergoing TAVR.

PMID- 26873332
TI  - Conflicts of Interest and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Trials.
AB  - Conflicts of interests have long been recognized as potential sources of
      influence in the conduct and reporting of clinical trials. This controversy was
      again rekindled after the publication of the latest statin guidelines and a
      series of studies regarding competing interests in leading medical journals. We
      investigate the association between declared author conflicts and the outcomes of
      large cardiovascular trials. We searched the Medline (PubMed) database to
      identify "phase 2" and "phase 3" clinical trials using the search term
      "cardiovascular" over the past decade using "10 years" as the filter. We
      perceived the competing interest as present regardless of the nature such as
      consulting fees, honoraria, travel imbursements, stock holding, and employment.
      Of the 699 titles retrieved, 114 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nearly 80%
      of studies had at least a single author with competing interests. The 114 studies
      had a total of 1,433 investigators, of which 725 had declared conflicts of
      interests (50.6%). A total of 66 studies (58%) had half or >50 percent of
      investigators who had some conflicts of interests. Of these studies, 54 studies
      had favorable outcomes and only 12 had unfavorable outcomes (p <0.001). Among the
      type of competing interests, consulting or personal fees was the most common
      present in 58 investigators (51%). This was followed by research grants present
      in 55 the researchers (48%). Among 25 (22%) studies, at least one investigator
      reported stakes in the industry, of which only 2 studies had unfavorable outcomes
      for the intervention being investigated. Just 1 of the 25 clinical trials with a
      sample size of >1,000 had no investigators with competing interests. In
      conclusion, authors conflicts are associated with favorable outcomes in
      cardiovascular outcome trials.

PMID- 26873333
TI  - Assessing biocompatibility of graphene oxide-based nanocarriers: A review.
AB  - Graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocarriers have been frequently studied due to their
      high drug loading capacity. However, the unsatisfactory biocompatibility of these
      GO-based nanocarriers hampers their use in clinical settings. This review
      discusses how each of the physicochemical characteristics (e.g., size, surface
      area, surface properties, number of layers and particulate states) and surface
      coatings on GO affect its in vitro and in vivo nanotoxicity. We provide an
      overview on the effect of GO properties on interactions with cells such as red
      blood cells, macrophages and cell lines, and experimental organisms including
      rodents, rabbits and Zebrafish, offering some guidelines for development of safe
      GO-based nanocarriers. We conclude the paper by outlining the challenges
      involving GO-based formulations and future perspectives of this research in the
      biomedical field. 

PMID- 26873334
TI  - Cellular biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the immune system.
AB  - The biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is of crucial importance in
      the development of nanoparticle-based vaccine delivery or immunotherapy for
      cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetics of cellular
      biodistribution of polymeric NPs in the immune system. Polystyrene (PS) yellow
      green nanoparticles (YG-NPs) 500nm in diameter were intravenously (i.v.) injected
      into the tail veins of mice, and the kinetics of YG-NP biodistribution was
      followed by harvesting cells at pre-determined time points from various immune
      organs, including blood, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes and analyzing them
      by polychromatic flow cytometry. To observe the location of YG-NPs in the spleen
      after i.v. administration, spleens of mice were isolated at 6h post-injection
      (p.i.), cryosectioned, immunostained, and examined by confocal microscopy. Our
      data show that the major phagocytosing cells included granulocytes (B220
      CD11b(+)Gr-1(high)Ly-6C(low)) in the blood and bone marrow and B cells (CD11b
      B220(+)) in the spleen. The kinetics of the phenotypic analysis suggest the
      potential trans-differentiation of the B220-CD11b(+)Gr-1(low)Ly-6C(high) subset
      into B220-CD11b(+)Gr-1-Ly-6C- double-negative (DN) cells expressing the F4/80
      macrophage phenotype in the blood and CD115 in the bone marrow after treatment
      with YG-NPs. Based on the microscopic analysis of spleen cryosections, the
      majority of YG-NPs were located in the marginal zones (MZ) and red pulp of the
      spleen at 6h post-injection (p.i.), allowing further interaction with MZ
      macrophages and granulocytes. The data obtained in this study demonstrate the
      kinetics of biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the blood, bone marrow,
      and spleen at the cellular level. 

PMID- 26873335
TI  - Analyzing spatiotemporal distribution of uniquely fluorescent nanoparticles in
      xenograft tumors.
AB  - A dose circulating through the blood at one time will have different
      opportunities to access the tumor compared to a dose circulating hours later.
      Methods to test this hypothesis allowed us to differentiate two uniquely
      fluorescent doses of nanoparticles (administered as a mixture or sequentially)
      and to measure the distribution and correlation of these nanoparticle doses in
      three dimensions. Multiple colocalization analyses confirm that silica
      nanoparticles separated into different dose administrations will not accumulate
      in the same location. Decreased colocalization between separate doses implies
      dynamic extravasation events on the scale of microns. Further, the perfusion
      state of different blood vessels can change across the dosing period. Lastly,
      analyzing the distance traveled by these silica nanoparticles in two dimensions
      can be an overestimation when compared with three-dimensional distance analysis.
      Better understanding intratumoral distribution of delivered drugs will be crucial
      to overcoming the various barriers to transport in solid tumors. 

PMID- 26873336
TI  - Study of endothelial function response to exercise training in hypertensive
      individuals (SEFRET): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus and
      systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and an early maker for atherosclerosis.
      Aerobic exercise training is known to enhance endothelial function, but little is
      understood about the effects of resistance or combined exercise training on
      endothelial function. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a 12
      week aerobic (AT), resistance (RT), or combined (aerobic and resistance, CT)
      training program on endothelial function and assess associated effects on blood
      pressure in individuals with SAH. METHODS/DESIGN: Eighty-one subjects with SAH
      aged 18 to 70 years will be selected and randomly assigned to three types of
      exercise training: AT, RT or CT. The study will involve the following procedures
      and tests: anamnesis, anthropometric assessment, echocardiography, blood pressure
      measurements through ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, flow-mediated
      dilation, ergospirometry, one repetition maximum test (1-RM), and blood
      collection (number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, number of
      circulating endothelial microparticles, lipid profile, glucose, glycated
      hemoglobin, and creatinine). The AT intervention will consist of a 40-min
      exercise session with progressive intensities ranging from 50 to 75% of heart
      rate reserve. The RT intervention will consist of a 40-minute session with four
      sets of six to 12 repetitions with a rest period of 60 to 90 seconds between each
      set and each type of exercise. Weight loads will be adjusted to 60 to 80% of 1-RM
      for six types of exercise. The CT intervention will consist of a 20-min aerobic
      exercise session, followed by an additional 20-min resistance exercise session;
      each resistance exercise will have two sets less to match the total training
      volume. DISCUSSION: The study results are expected evidence of cardiovascular
      protective effects of different types of exercise training through the modulation
      of endothelial function in hypertensive individuals. Knowing the magnitude of
      improvement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation for the different types of
      exercise training can provide scientific evidence for the prescription of
      exercise programs for vascular protection targeting hypertensive individuals.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (
      http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/) under RBR-9ygmdn and dated 1 March 2015.

PMID- 26873337
TI  - What does the multiple mini interview have to offer over the panel interview?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This paper compares the panel interview (PI) performance with the
      multiple mini interview (MMI) performance and indication of behavioural concerns
      of a sample of medical school applicants. The acceptability of the MMI was also
      assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All applicants shortlisted for a PI were invited
      to an MMI. Applicants attended a 30-min PI with two faculty interviewers followed
      by an MMI consisting of ten 8-min stations. Applicants were assessed on their
      performance at each MMI station by one faculty. The interviewer also indicated if
      they perceived the applicant to be a concern. Finally, applicants completed an
      acceptability questionnaire. RESULTS: From the analysis of 133 (75.1%) completed
      MMI scoresheets, the MMI scores correlated statistically significantly with the
      PI scores (r=0.438, p=0.001). Both were not statistically associated with sex,
      age, race, or pre-university academic ability to any significance. Applicants
      assessed as a concern at two or more stations performed statistically
      significantly less well at the MMI when compared with those who were assessed as
      a concern at one station or none at all. However, there was no association with
      PI performance. Acceptability scores were generally high, and comparison of mean
      scores for each of the acceptability questionnaire items did not show
      statistically significant differences between sex and race categories.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although PI and MMI performances are correlated, the MMI may have
      the added advantage of more objectively generating multiple impressions of the
      applicant's interpersonal skill, thoughtfulness, and general demeanour. Results
      of the present study indicated that the MMI is acceptable in a multicultural
      context.

PMID- 26873339
TI  - Heterotopic Bone in the Distal Esophagus.

PMID- 26873338
TI  - Case Report of a Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica
      Vaginalis in an Undescended Testis With Review of Literature.
AB  - Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) affecting the tunica vaginalis
      testis is a rare tumor, and very little is known about the clinicopathological
      spectrum of this variant as a distinct entity. Most patients with WDPM suffer
      from scrotal pain or swelling, but hydrocele seems to be the most common
      presenting symptom. These lesions are usually not aggressive and are accompanied
      by an indolent clinical behavior. In this article, we report the first case known
      of WDPM in an undescended testis, and in addition, we review the literature for
      similar cases. 

PMID- 26873340
TI  - Spitz Tumors: Comparison of Histological Features in Relationship to
      Immunohistochemical Staining for ALK and NTRK1.
AB  - Spitz tumors are a group of melanocytic neoplasms with distinct morphological
      features that tend to affect young individuals. Distinguishing benign from
      malignant Spitz tumors can be challenging, but cytogenetic and molecular tests
      have contributed to improvements in diagnostic accuracy. Spitz tumors harbor
      diverse genetic alterations, including mutations in HRAS, loss of BAP1, or kinase
      fusions in ROS1, NTRK1, ALK, BRAF, and RET genes. Limited data exist on the
      correlation between histopathological features and kinase fusions. Here, we
      describe the histopathological features of 105 Spitz tumors (Spitz nevi and
      atypical Spitz tumors), comparing lesions according to their immunoreactivity for
      ALK or NTRK1. Intersecting fascicular growth of fusiform melanocytes was seen in
      all but one ALK-positive tumor (27 of 28 or 96.4%), whereas it was infrequent in
      NTRK1-positive tumors (5 of 20 or 25.0%) and tumors negative for both ALK and
      NTRK1 (96.4% vs 25.0% vs 8.7%, P < .0027). There was a trend toward ALK-positive
      tumors being amelanotic compared with NTRK1-positive tumors and combined ALK
      /NTRK1-negative tumors (89.3% vs 45% vs 47.4%, respectively, P = .1023) and
      lacking epithelioid cell morphology (0% vs 45.0% vs 41%, respectively, P =
      .6985). In conclusion, this study confirms that although not specific, the growth
      pattern of intersecting fascicles of amelanotic fusiform melanocytes is strongly
      associated with ALK expression. 

PMID- 26873341
TI  - Meaning of Staring and the Starer-Staree Relationship Related to Men Living With
      Acquired Spinal Cord Injuries.
AB  - When in public places, many individuals with physical disabilities experience
      staring. Although staring is typically seen as uncomplicated and something to be
      "ignored," it has consequences for the person being stared and the staree. Few
      studies have focused on staring experienced by men following spinal cord injury
      (SCI). Accordingly, this study explored how adult men with SCI give meaning to
      the staring from others, the consequences for them, and their responses to the
      staring and to the starer. Principles of modified grounded theory methods were
      used to conduct a secondary analysis of interview data for 30 male participants
      from a larger study of community-dwelling individuals with SCI. Themes revealed
      through analysis related to context-dependent meanings of staring, negative
      consequences of staring for some men, and positive opportunities for self-growth
      and interaction with the public. These findings contribute to a more complex
      understanding of staring and the relationship between the starer and staree in
      various social circumstances which can support people living with differences in
      their public interactions, and improve their quality of life.

PMID- 26873342
TI  - A Study of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse, and Sexual Risk Behaviors
      Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in a Sample of Geosocial
      Networking Smartphone Application Users.
AB  - Geosocial-networking smartphone applications ("apps") are widely used by gay,
      bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and facilitate connections
      between users based on proximity and attraction. MSM have sexual encounters and
      relationships of varying degrees of emotional and physical intimacy with app-met
      individuals, potentially placing them at risk for intimate partner violence
      (IPV). The purpose of the current study was to utilize a geosocial-networking
      application to investigate relationships between experiences of IPV victimization
      as it relates to substance use and sexual risk behaviors in a sample of MSM.
      Participants ( n = 175) were recruited by means of broadcast advertisements on an
      application widely used by MSM (Grindr) to seek sexual partners. Multivariable
      regression models were fit to examine associations between IPV, substance abuse,
      and sexual risk behaviors. Lifetime experiences of IPV victimization were common,
      where 37.7% of respondents reported having experienced at least one form of IPV.
      While a marginally significant positive association between IPV and substance
      abuse was detected in multivariable models ( p = .095), individual forms of IPV
      were strongly associated with substance abuse. For example, sexual IPV
      victimization was associated with an increase in substance abuse in the preceding
      month ( p = .004). Experiences of IPV victimization were associated with higher
      numbers of partners for both condomless receptive and insertive anal intercourse
      ( p < .05). Given the relatively high prevalence of IPV victimization and its
      associations with substance abuse and sexual risk behaviors, these findings
      suggest that IPV screening and prevention programs may reduce substance abuse and
      sexual risk behaviors in this population.

PMID- 26873343
TI  - Up-regulation of TDAG51 is a dependent factor of LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages
      proliferation and cell cycle progression.
AB  - CONTEXT: As a component of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria,
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proliferation and cell cycle progression of
      monocytes/macrophages. It has been suggested that the proapoptotic T-cell death
      associated gene 51 (TDAG51) might be associated with cell proliferation and cell
      cycle progression; however, its role in the interaction between LPS and
      macrophages remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to elucidate the role(s) of
      TDAG51 played in the interaction between LPS and macrophages. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We investigated TDAG51 expression in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS
      and examined the effects of RNA interference-mediated TDAG51 down-regulation. We
      used CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis to evaluate the interaction between
      TDAG51 and LPS-induced proliferation and cell cycle progression in RAW264.7
      cells. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that TDAG51 is up-regulated in LPS
      stimulated RAW264.7 cells, the TDAG51 siRNA effectively reduced TDAG51 protein up
      regulation following LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 cells, the significant changes
      of the proliferation and cell cycle progression of RAW264.7 cells in TDAG51
      Knockdown RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS were observed. CONCLUSION: These
      findings suggested that TDAG51 up-regulation is a dependent event during LPS
      mediated proliferation and cell cycle progression, and which increase our
      understanding of the interaction mechanism between LPS and macrophages.

PMID- 26873344
TI  - K-Ras4B/calmodulin/PI3Kalpha: A promising new adenocarcinoma-specific drug
      target?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Decades of efforts have yet to yield a safe and effective drug to
      target KRAS-driven pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers; particularly those
      driven by the highly oncogenic splice variant KRAS4B. K-Ras4B's fairly smooth
      surface, cancer tissue/cell heterogeneity, tolerated lipid post-translational
      modification exchange, as well as drug-elicited toxicity present a daunting
      challenge. AREAS COVERED: Within this framework, hee we focus on a new
      adenocarcinoma-specific drug concept. Calmodulin (CaM) binds to K-Ras4B but not
      to the H-Ras or N-Ras isoforms. Physiologically, in calcium- and calmodulin-rich
      environments such as ductal tissues, calmodulin can sequester K-Ras4B from the
      membrane; in cancer, CaM/Ca(2+) can replace the missing receptor tyrosine kinase
      (RTK) signal, acting to fully activate PI3Kalpha. EXPERT OPINION: An oncogenic
      GTP-bound K-Ras4B/CaM/PI3Kalpha complex is supported by available experimental
      and clinical data; therefore, targeting it may address a pressing therapeutic
      need. High resolution electron microscopy (EM) or crystal structure of the
      tripartite complex would allow orthosteric or allosteric drug discovery to
      disrupt the CaM/PI3Kalpha interface and thus Akt/mTOR signaling. However, since
      drug resistance is expected to develop, combining it with compensatory pathways,
      particularly those involved in cell-cycle control, appears a reasonable strategy.

PMID- 26873345
TI  - Perspectives on Phytochemicals as Antibacterial Agents: An Outstanding
      Contribution to Modern Therapeutics.
AB  - Despite the considerable advancements in the development of antimicrobial agents,
      incidents of epidemics due to multi drug resistance in microorganisms have
      created a massive hazard to mankind. Due to increased resistance against
      conventional antibiotics, researchers and pharmaceutical industries are more
      concerned about novel therapeutic agents for the prevention of bacterial
      infections. Enormous wealth of traditional system of medicine gains importance in
      health therapies over again. With ancient credentials of potent medicinal plants,
      various herbal remedies came forward for the management of bacterial infections.
      The Ayurvedic approach facilitates the development of new therapeutic agents due
      to structural and functional diversity among phytochemicals. The abundance and
      diversity is responsible for the characterization of new lead structures from
      medicinal plants. Industrial interest has increased due to recent research
      advancements viz. synergistic and high-throughput screening approach for the
      evaluation of vast variety of phytochemicals. The review certainly emphasizes on
      the traditional medicines as alternatives to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
      The review briefly describes mode of action of various antibiotics and resistance
      mechanisms. This review focuses on the chemical diversity and various mechanisms
      of action of phytochemicals against bacterial pathogens. 

PMID- 26873346
TI  - Illumina Spin-off to Develop Early-Detection Test.
AB  - DNA-sequencing giant Illumina has formed a new company, called Grail, to develop
      liquid biopsies capable of spotting cancer before symptoms arise. The start-up is
      working on a low-cost "pan-cancer" test that can detect multiple cancer types
      early, which it hopes to introduce by 2019. 

PMID- 26873347
TI  - STAT5 Is a Key Regulator in NK Cells and Acts as a Molecular Switch from Tumor
      Surveillance to Tumor Promotion.
AB  - Natural killer (NK) cells are tightly regulated by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway
      and cannot survive in the absence of STAT5. We now report that STAT5-deficient NK
      cells can be rescued by overexpression of BCL2. Our experiments define STAT5 as a
      master regulator of NK-cell proliferation and lytic functions. Although NK cells
      are generally responsible for killing tumor cells, the rescued STAT5-deficient NK
      cells promote tumor formation by producing enhanced levels of the angiogenic
      factor VEGFA. The importance of VEGFA produced by NK cells was verified by
      experiments with a conditional knockout of VEGFA in NK cells. We show that STAT5
      normally represses the transcription of VEGFA in NK cells, in both mice and
      humans. These findings reveal that STAT5-directed therapies may have negative
      effects: In addition to impairing NK-cell-mediated tumor surveillance, they may
      even promote tumor growth by enhancing angiogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE: The importance
      of the immune system in effective cancer treatment is widely recognized. We show
      that the new signal interceptors targeting the JAK-STAT5 pathway may have
      dangerous side effects that must be taken into account in clinical trials:
      inhibiting JAK-STAT5 has the potential to promote tumor growth by enhancing NK
      cell-mediated angiogenesis.

PMID- 26873348
TI  - Shifts of attention bias awareness of voluntary and reflexive eye movements.
AB  - Current theories regarding factors that influence people's awareness of their
      actions have underscored the role of peripheral signals (e.g., proprioceptive
      feedback) and central commands (e.g., the intention to make a response). The role
      of covert attention has been largely underexplored, even though attention and
      awareness have been tightly linked. The aim of the current study was to directly
      examine the impact of shifts of visual attention on people's awareness of their
      eye movements as they performed the antisaccade task. People tend to be unaware
      of a high percentage of erroneous eye movements on this task, thus lending it to
      the study of variables that might modulate people's awareness of their actions.
      In addition, this task provides the opportunity to compare two classes of
      actions, voluntary (antisaccade) and involuntary (erroneous prosaccade) eye
      movements, and thus to assess whether shifts of covert attention can or cannot
      override sources of information that may be present when people make voluntary
      but not reflexive responses. We found that shifts of visual attention did indeed
      influence participants' awareness of their own eye movements, leading them to
      misperceive reflexive and voluntary movements alike, suggesting that covert
      attention may override both peripheral and central signals to bias awareness.

PMID- 26873349
TI  - Exploring the interaction of physical exercise load and pattern recall
      performance in female handball players.
AB  - Studies examining experts' superiority within domain-specific structured pattern
      recall tasks have typically had athletes perform them at rest, which is far
      different from how they are executed in their sport. The aim of this study was to
      investigate whether performing these tasks under different physical exercise
      intensities influenced pattern recall results of experts, advanced and novices.
      In two experiments, 68 participants (experiment 1: n = 33; experiment 2: n = 35)
      were tested using a handball-specific pattern recall task both at rest and during
      physical exercise. Physical exercises of 60 % heart rate reserve (constant
      workload: experiment 1) and of 86.5-90 % HRmax (handball-specific interval load:
      experiment 2) were induced. Results of both experiments revealed significant
      group differences with experts recalling patterns more accurately than novices
      but no significant within-subject differences for the two conditions and no
      interaction between both factors. Our findings replicate prior research
      concerning perceptual-cognitive expertise in structured specific pattern recall
      tasks. However, the lack of intergroup differences between the two conditions or
      interactions was surprising, suggesting sport-specific pattern recall skill is
      robust to changes in exercise stimuli. Future work is needed to further examine
      the impact of "physiological specificity" on perceptual-cognitive expertise.

PMID- 26873352
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - C - Scientific and Educational Exhibits.

PMID- 26873350
TI  - Exposing sequence learning in a double-step task.
AB  - Is it possible to learn to perform a motor sequence without awareness of the
      sequence? In two experiments, we presented participants with the most elementary
      sequence: an alternation between two options. We used a double-step pointing task
      in which the final position of the target alternated between two quite similar
      values. The task forced participants to start moving before the final target was
      visible, allowing us to determine participants' expectations about the final
      target position without explicitly asking them. We tracked participants'
      expectations (and thus motor sequence learning) by measuring the direction of the
      initial part of the movement, before any response to the final step. We found
      that participants learnt to anticipate the average size of the final step, but
      that they did not learn the sequence. In a second experiment, we extended the
      duration of the learning period and increased the difference in size between the
      target position changes. Some participants started anticipating the step size in
      accordance with the sequence at some time during the experiment. These
      participants reported having noticed the simple sequence. The participants who
      had not noticed the sequence did not move in anticipation of the sequence. This
      suggests that participants who did not learn this very simple sequence explicitly
      also did not learn it implicitly.

PMID- 26873351
TI  - Body fat measurement in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes: a comparison of
      skinfold equations against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
AB  - AIM: Skinfold measurement is an inexpensive and widely used technique for
      assessing the percentage of body fat (%BF). This study assessed the accuracy of
      prediction equations for %BF based on skinfold measurements compared to dual
      energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in girls with type 1 diabetes and healthy age
      matched controls. METHODS: We included 49 healthy girls and 44 girls with
      diabetes aged 12-19 years old, comparing the predicted %BF based on skinfold
      measurements and the %BF values obtained by a Lunar DPX-L scanner. The agreement
      between the methods was assessed using an Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: The
      skinfold measurements were significantly higher in girls with diabetes (p =
      0.003) despite a nonsignificant difference in total %BF (p = 0.1). A significant
      association between bias and %BF was found for all tested equations in the Bland
      Altman plots. Regression analysis showed that the association between skinfold
      measurements and %BF measured by DXA differed significantly (p = 0.039) between
      the girls with diabetes and the healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of
      skinfold thickness equations for assessment of %BF in adolescent girls with
      diabetes is poor in comparison with DXA measurements as criterion. Our findings
      highlight the need for the development of new prediction equations for girls with
      type 1 diabetes.

PMID- 26873353
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - A - Postgraduate Educational Programme.

PMID- 26873354
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - D - Satellite Symposia.

PMID- 26873356
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - F - List of Authors & Co-Authors.

PMID- 26873357
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - G - List of Moderators.

PMID- 26873358
TI  - ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts - B - Scientific Sessions and Clinical Trials in
      Radiology.

PMID- 26873359
TI  - Incidence of numerical variants and transitional lumbosacral vertebrae on whole
      spine MRI.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study sets out to prospectively investigate the incidence of
      transitional vertebrae and numerical variants of the spine. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Over a period of 28 months, MRIs of the whole spine were prospectively
      evaluated for the presence of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae and numerical
      variants of the spine. RESULTS: MRI of the whole spine was evaluated in 420
      patients, comprising 211 female and 209 male subjects. Two patients had more
      complex anomalies. Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae were seen in 12 patients:
      eight sacralised L5 (3 male, 5 female) and four lumbarised S1 (3 male, 1 female).
      The incidence of transitional vertebrae was approximately 3.3. % (14/418). Thirty
      two (7.7 %) of 418 patients had numerical variants of mobile vertebrae of the
      spine without transitional vertebrae. The number of mobile vertebrae was
      increased by one in 18 patients (12 male, 6 female), and the number was decreased
      by one in 14 patients (4 male, 10 female). CONCLUSIONS: Numerical variants of the
      spine are common, and were found to be almost 2.5 times as frequent as
      transitional lumbosacral vertebrae in the study population. Only whole-spine
      imaging can identify numerical variants and the anatomical nature of transitional
      vertebrae. The tendency is toward an increased number of mobile vertebrae in men
      and a decreased number in women. Main messages * Numerical variants of the spine
      are more common than transitional vertebrae. * Spinal numerical variants can be
      reliably identified only with whole-spine imaging. * Increased numbers of
      vertebrae are more common in men than women. * Transitional lumbosacral vertebrae
      occurred in about 3.3 % of the study population. * The incidence of numerical
      variants of the spine was about 7.7 %.

PMID- 26873360
TI  - Assessing understandings of substance use disorders among Norwegian treatment
      professionals, patients and the general public.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Beliefs about substance use disorder (SUD) shape how patients,
      treatment professionals and the general public view addiction and its treatment.
      A U.S. developed scale exists to assess such beliefs, but it has never been
      tested in Norway nor normed on any general population sample. METHODS: The Short
      Understanding of Substance Abuse Scale (SUSS) was translated from English to
      Norwegian and used to assess beliefs about the nature of addiction among
      addiction treatment professionals (N = 291), patients with SUDs (N = 133) and
      respondents from the general public (N = 216). The disease and psychosocial model
      subscales of the SUSS were examined with a multigroup factor analysis to confirm
      that the constructs were invariant across the studied groups. We also controlled
      for demographic covariates in a multiple indicator multiple cause model. RESULTS:
      The multigroup confirmatory factor analysis of the SUSS yielded a partial scalar
      invariant model and thus, we were able to compare latent means between groups. In
      unadjusted comparisons, patients and the general public reported significantly
      higher endorsement of disease model beliefs than did professionals. However, the
      difference between professionals and the general public disappeared when the
      comparison was adjusted for covariates (i.e., age, gender, education). In both
      unadjusted and adjusted analyses, the general public group but not the patient
      group scored significantly lower than professionals on the psychosocial belief
      scale. CONCLUSION: The SUSS is useable with slight adaptations in Norwegian
      samples. Norwegian treatment professionals have different views of substance use
      disorder than do patients and the general public. This may create opportunities
      for dialogue and mutual learning, but also presents risk of miscommunication and
      distrust.

PMID- 26873361
TI  - How do patients and doctors-to-be perceive systemic lupus erythematosus?
AB  - The aim of the present study was to assess and compare illness perception of
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) held by 6th-year medical students and patients
      suffering from SLE. The study group consisted of 104 students (66 women; 63.5 %),
      mean age 24.7 (+/-1), and 64 outpatients with SLE (60 women; 93.7 %). All
      patients were treated at a university rheumatology outpatient clinic. Mean
      patients' age was 44.3 years (+/-12.5). Mean duration of the disease was 11 years
      (+/-6.8). The Polish version of Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ)
      was used to assess five dimensions of illness perception. The students were asked
      to complete a modified version of B-IPQ designed to measure health professionals'
      illness perception. Significant differences were found in all but one B-IPQ
      scores. The students obtained significantly higher scores than the SLE patients
      in consequences, identity, concern and emotional response, whereas significantly
      lower scores in personal control, treatment control and understanding were noted
      among students. No differences were found in timeline scores. Medical students'
      perception of SLE is more threatening and more negative than that of patients'.
      Doctors-to-be perceive SLE as being less controllable, more burdensome and having
      more consequences than patients do. Additionally, they believe the disease causes
      more emotional concern. The article discusses possible explanations together with
      positive and negative aspects of the discrepancies.

PMID- 26873363
TI  - India sets out plan to eliminate malaria by 2030.

PMID- 26873362
TI  - Gene Polymorphism Association with Type 2 Diabetes and Related Gene-Gene and Gene
      Environment Interactions in a Uyghur Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND We investigated the association between 8 single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) at 3 genetic loci (CDKAL1, CDKN2A/2B and FTO) with type 2
      diabetes (T2D) in a Uyghur population. MATERIAL AND METHODS A case-control study
      of 879 Uyghur patients with T2D and 895 non-diabetic Uyghur controls was
      conducted at the Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between 2010 and 2013.
      Eight SNPs in CDKAL1, CDKN2A/2B and FTO were analyzed using Sequenom
      MassARRAY(r)SNP genotyping. Factors associated with T2D were assessed by logistic
      regression analyses. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions were analyzed by
      generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction. RESULTS Genotype distributions
      of rs10811661 (CDKN2A/2B), rs7195539, rs8050136, and rs9939609 (FTO) and allele
      frequencies of rs8050136 and rs9939609 differed significantly between diabetes
      and control groups (all P<0.05). While rs10811661, rs8050136, and rs9939609 were
      eliminated after adjusting for covariates (P>0.05), rs7195539 distribution
      differed significantly in co-dominant and dominant models (P<0.05). In gene-gene
      interaction analysis, after adjusting for covariates the two-locus rs10811661
      rs7195539 interaction model had a cross-validation consistency of 10/10 and the
      highest balanced accuracy of 0.5483 (P=0.014). In gene-environment interaction
      analysis, the 3-locus interaction model TG-HDL-family history of diabetes had a
      cross-validation consistency of 10/10 and the highest balanced accuracy of 0.7072
      (P<0.001). The 4-locus interaction model, rs7195539-TG-HDL-family history of
      diabetes had a cross-validation consistency of 8/10 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS
      Polymorphisms in CDKN2A/2B and FTO, but not CDKAL1, may be associated with T2D,
      and alleles rs8050136 and rs9939609 are likely risk alleles for T2D in this
      population. There were potential interactions among CDKN2A/2B (rs10811661) - FTO
      (rs7195539) or FTO (rs7195539)-TG-HDL-family history of diabetes in the
      pathogenesis of T2D in a Uyghur population. 

PMID- 26873364
TI  - MRI-guided liposomes for targeted tandem chemotherapy and therapeutic response
      prediction.
AB  - Liposomes are effective drug delivery systems that can be functionalized with
      imaging contrast agents, providing both diagnosis and monitoring of disease
      treatment. Here we describe the design of a theranostic liposomal drug delivery
      system whose biodistribution can be real time imaged by contrast enhanced MRI and
      can achieve tandem chemotherapy drug delivery. Because T1 relaxation of MRI
      depends upon the chemical structure of contrast agent as well as its interaction
      with neighbor environment, we rationally designed a functional liposome for in
      vivo T1 enhanced MRI. The liposome shows a 36-fold higher T1 relaxation rate over
      the commercial MRI contrast agent Omniscan(r) and a long circulation time up to
      300min in vivo. Moreover, the multifunctional liposome carries both hydrophobic
      and hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drugs, can synergistically enhance therapeutic
      effects of multiple drugs and selectively deliver them to lung tumors, leading to
      lower doses, toxicity and sustained release. The nanoparticles, which exhibit
      favorable biodistributions to tumors, offer new possibilities for the
      simultaneous delivery of more than one drug and the evaluation of therapeutic
      response in vivo by T1 enhanced MRI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer cells
      invoke different mechanisms to resist cancer therapies, particularly when
      delivering a single agent in a given therapy. The combination of two (or more)
      thermotherapy agents provides a promising way to circumvent such situations of
      drug resistance, due to a favorable synergistic effect that "tricks" the drug
      resistance mechanism. However, challenges to the simultaneous delivery of two
      drugs prevail, especially with regards to the simultaneous delivery of
      hydrophobic and hydrophobic drugs. Furthermore, non-invasive in vivo imaging of
      drug distribution enables the real-time monitoring and prediction of therapeutic
      responses to treatment. In this study, we rationally designed a theranostic
      liposomal drug delivery system whose biodistribution can be imaged via T1
      weighted MRI in real-time and can achieve tandem chemotherapy drug delivery. This
      original study will be of considerable use to the wider drug delivery community.

PMID- 26873366
TI  - Constructing aptamer anchored nanovesicles for enhanced tumor penetration and
      cellular uptake of water soluble chemotherapeutics.
AB  - Polymersomes represent a promising pharmaceutical vehicle for the delivery of
      hydrophilic therapeutic agents. However, modification of polymersomes with
      molecules that confer targeting functions remains challenging because of the
      strict requirements regarding the weight fractions of the hydrophilic and
      hydrophobic block polymers. In this study, based on the compatibility between
      cholesterol and polymeric carriers, polymersomes self-assembled by amphiphilic
      graft polyphosphazenes were endowed with a targeting function by incorporating
      the cholesterol-linked aptamer through a simple dialysis method. The aqueous
      interior of the polymersomes was employed to encapsulate water-soluble
      doxorubicin hydrochloride. In vivo experiments in tumor-bearing mice showed that
      the aptamer-anchored vesicle targeted accumulation at the tumor site, favorable
      penetration through tumor tissue, and incremental endocytosis into tumor cells.
      Correspondingly, the aptamer-anchored vesicle decreased systemic toxicity and
      effectively suppressed the growth of subcutaneous MCF-7 xenografts. These
      findings suggested that vesicles modified with targeted groups via hydrophobic
      supermolecular interactions could provide a platform for selective delivery of
      hydrophilic drug. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Polymersomes have represented a
      promising type of pharmaceutical vehicles due to their predominant physical
      properties. However, it is still a challenge to endow polymersomes with active
      target function because of strict requirements of the weight fractions of
      hydrophilic polymer block to hydrophobic one. In this research, by taking
      advantage of the supermolecular interactions between amphiphilic graft
      polyphosphazene and cholesterol which was linked to aptamer AS1411, we prepared a
      targeted functional polymersome (PEP-DOX.HCl-Ap) through a simple method with
      high loading of water soluble anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride. The in
      vivo experiments in MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice demonstrated several advantages of
      PEP-DOX.HCl-Ap vesicle such as prolonged circulation time in blood, targeted
      accumulation at tumor site, permeation through the tumor tissue and incremental
      endocytosis by tumor cells, which consequently resulted in the significantly
      improved anti-cancer efficacy. Moreover, this novel polymersome designed in this
      study has built a research platform to achieve targeted delivery of hydrophilic
      chemotherapeutics for cancer therapy.

PMID- 26873367
TI  - Matrices secreted during simultaneous osteogenesis and adipogenesis of
      mesenchymal stem cells affect stem cells differentiation.
AB  - The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in regulating stem cell
      functions. The ECM dynamically changes during tissue development. It remains a
      great challenge to mimic the dynamically changing ECM. In this study, we prepared
      novel types of extracellular matrices that could mimic the dynamic variation of
      extracellular matrices, which were derived from simultaneous osteogenesis and
      adipogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Four
      ECMs simultaneously mimicking early osteogenesis and early adipogenesis (EOEA),
      early osteogenesis and late adipogenesis (EOLA), late osteogenesis and early
      adipogenesis (LOEA), late osteogenesis and late adipogenesis (LOLA) were
      prepared. The stepwise osteogenesis-co-adipogenesis-mimicking matrices had
      different compositions and different effects on the osteogenic and adipogenic
      differentiation of MSCs. The matrices could provide very useful tools to
      investigate the interaction between ECM and stem cells and the role of ECM on
      stem cell differentiation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Extracellular matrices
      (ECMs) are dynamically remodeled to regulate stem cell functions during tissue
      development. Until now, mimicking the ECM variation during stem cell
      differentiation to single cell type has been reported. However, there is no
      report on simultaneous mimicking of stem cell differentiation to two types of
      cells. In this study, we prepared the mixture ECMs derived from simultaneous
      osteogenesis and adipogenesis of MSCs at different stages and found that they
      could regulate stem cell differentiation. The concept is new and the ECMs are
      novel. No such ECMs have been reported previously. The matrices will provide very
      useful tools to investigate the interaction between ECM and stem cells and the
      role of ECM on stem cell differentiation.

PMID- 26873368
TI  - Engineered zwitterionic phosphorylcholine monolayers for elucidating multivalent
      binding kinetics of C-reactive protein.
AB  - Understanding of the activation dynamics of C-reactive protein (CRP) on plasma
      membranes is important in the development of zwitterionic biomaterials for their
      uses in the tissues of inflammation and infection. Previously, the use of a
      zwitterionic phosphorylcholine group, a biomimetic ligand for CRP in the presence
      of calcium ions, for binding experiments has revealed that the adsorption
      dynamics changed by ionic microenvironments. Here we focused on the effect of the
      ligand density on a surface, a major physicochemical parameter, on the
      multivalent binding modes. A building block from synthetic origin, a phospholipid
      analogue with thiol ends, was developed for making a cell membrane-mimicked self
      assembled monolayers with tunable lateral ligand density on the molecular basis.
      The multivalent binding kinetics of CRP, a pentraxin in the original
      conformation, onto the engineered surface was measured using a surface plasmon
      resonance technique. The binding experiments revealed that the on-rate and off
      rate constants in the first ligand-occupation reaction increased with increasing
      the ligand density, which resulted in stable values of the dissociation constant.
      Notably, the binding affinity in the second ligand-occupation reaction showed the
      optimal value as a function of the ligand density. Moreover, the binding
      experiments using a monomeric CRP-specific DNA aptamer revealed that pentameric
      CRP underwent structural transition into the monomers following the adsorption
      onto the surfaces via multivalent contacts in a pH-dependent manner. The
      bioengineering-based approach reveals for the first time how the multiple binding
      reaction is altered by the ligand arrangement at the molecular resolution and how
      CRP is activated by the conformational transition induced by the multiplex
      bindings. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: C-reactive protein (CRP), a major acute
      phase pentraxin, binds to plasma membranes through the multivalent contacts with
      zwitterionic phosphorylcholine groups. However, details in the molecular dynamics
      is unknown due to a lack of proper sensing platform. The paper describe the
      synthesis of thiol-functionalized phosphorylcholine for the development of a
      robust cell membrane-mimetic surface on a surface plasmon resonance sensor at
      desired lateral ligand densities. The engineered approach on molecular basis
      enables a rigorous arrangement of the ligand on the surface, whose tunability and
      robustness are not achieved using conventional supported lipid layers. The effect
      of the ligand density on the multivalent binding kinetics provides the
      understanding of how the multivalent contacts induce conformational transitions
      of CRP and responses to inflammation.

PMID- 26873365
TI  - Cationic, amphiphilic copolymer micelles as nucleic acid carriers for enhanced
      transfection in rat spinal cord.
AB  - Spinal cord injury commonly leads to permanent motor and sensory deficits due to
      the limited regenerative capacity of the adult central nervous system (CNS).
      Nucleic acid-based therapy is a promising strategy to deliver bioactive molecules
      capable of promoting axonal regeneration. Branched polyethylenimine (bPEI: 25kDa)
      is one of the most widely studied nonviral vectors, but its clinical application
      has been limited due to its cytotoxicity and low transfection efficiency in the
      presence of serum proteins. In this study, we synthesized cationic amphiphilic
      copolymers, poly (lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-polyethylenimine (PgP), by grafting
      low molecular weight PLGA (4kDa) to bPEI (25kDa) at approximately a 3:1 ratio as
      an efficient nonviral vector. We show that PgP micelle is capable of efficiently
      transfecting plasmid DNA (pDNA) and siRNA in the presence of 10% serum in
      neuroglioma (C6) cells, neuroblastoma (B35) cells, and primary E8 chick forebrain
      neurons (CFN) with pDNA transfection efficiencies of 58.8%, 75.1%, and 8.1%,
      respectively. We also show that PgP provides high-level transgene expression in
      the rat spinal cord in vivo that is substantially greater than that attained with
      bPEI. The combination of improved transfection and reduced cytotoxicity in vitro
      in the presence of serum and in vivo transfection of neural cells relative to
      conventional bPEI suggests that PgP may be a promising nonviral vector for
      therapeutic nucleic acid delivery for neural regeneration. STATEMENT OF
      SIGNIFICANCE: Gene therapy is a promising strategy to overcome barriers to axonal
      regeneration in the injured central nervous system. Branched polyethylenimine
      (bPEI: 25kDa) is one of the most widely studied nonviral vectors, but its
      clinical application has been limited due to cytotoxicity and low transfection
      efficiency in the presence of serum proteins. Here, we report cationic
      amphiphilic copolymers, poly (lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-polyethylenimine (PgP)
      that are capable of efficiently transfecting reporter genes and siRNA both in the
      presence of 10% serum in vitro and in the rat spinal cord in vivo. The
      combination of improved transfection and reduced cytotoxicity in the presence of
      serum as well as transfection of neural cells in vivo suggests PgP may be a
      promising nucleic acid carrier for CNS gene delivery.

PMID- 26873370
TI  - Meta-analysis of prognostic studies for a biomarker with a study-specific cutoff
      value.
AB  - In prognostic studies, a summary statistic such as a hazard ratio is often
      reported between low-expression and high-expression groups of a biomarker with a
      study-specific cutoff value. Recently, several meta-analyses of prognostic
      studies have been reported, but these studies simply combined hazard ratios
      provided by the individual studies, overlooking the fact that the cutoff values
      are study-specific. We propose a method to summarize hazard ratios with study
      specific cutoff values by estimating the hazard ratio for a 1-unit change of the
      biomarker in the underlying individual-level model. To this end, we introduce a
      model for a relationship between a reported log-hazard ratio for a 1-unit
      expected difference in the mean biomarker value between the low-expression and
      high-expression groups, which approximates the individual-level model, and
      propose to make an inference of the model by using the method for trend
      estimation based on grouped exposure data. Our combined estimator provides a
      valid interpretation if the biomarker distribution is correctly specified. We
      applied our proposed method to a dataset that examined the association between
      the biomarker Ki-67 and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. We
      conducted simulation studies to examine the performance of our method. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26873369
TI  - Dipeptidyl Peptidase (DPP)-4 Inhibitor-Induced Arthritis/Arthralgia: A Review of
      Clinical Cases.
AB  - Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors are a class of oral drugs used for the
      treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The pharmacological inhibition of
      DPP-4 seems to also induce adverse events related to cytokine-induced
      inflammation. Recently, several clinical cases regarding the association of DPP-4
      inhibitors and the onset of arthritis/arthralgia have been reported in the
      literature. Various mechanisms could be responsible for DPP-4 inhibitor-induced
      arthritis/arthralgia, and the increase of cytokines, chemokines, matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMPs) and genetic factors plays an important role. The US FDA
      published a safety announcement regarding the entire drug class, encouraging
      healthcare professionals and patients to pay attention to the occurrence of
      arthralgia during treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors; arthralgia could be assessed
      as a class adverse drug event for DPP-4 inhibitors. To summarize the evidence on
      the correlation between DPP-4 inhibitors and arthritis/arthralgia, and to explain
      the measures taken by the FDA with regard to arthralgia risk, we performed a
      literature review of recent evidence concerning this association. This review
      shows the necessity of other studies to better define the association between DPP
      4 inhibitors and arthritis/arthralgia. 

PMID- 26873371
TI  - A Study of Chief Nurse Executives Indicates Low Prioritization of Evidence-Based
      Practice and Shortcomings in Hospital Performance Metrics Across the United
      States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although findings from studies indicate that evidence-based practice
      (EBP) results in high-quality care, improved patient outcomes, and lower costs,
      it is not consistently implemented by healthcare systems across the United States
      and globe. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to describe: (a) the EBP beliefs
      and level of EBP implementation by chief nurse executives (CNEs), (b) CNEs'
      perception of their hospitals' EBP organizational culture, (c) CNEs' top
      priorities, (d) amount of budget invested in EBP, and (e) hospital performance
      metrics. METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted. Two-hundred-seventy-six
      CNEs across the United States participated in the survey. Valid and reliable
      measures included the EBP Beliefs scale, the EBP Implementation scale, and the
      Organizational Culture and Readiness scale for EBP. The Centers for Medicare and
      Medicaid Services Core Measures and the National Database of Nursing Quality
      Indicators (NDNQI) were also collected. RESULTS: Data from this survey revealed
      that implementation of EBP in the practices of CNEs and their hospitals is
      relatively low. More than one-third of the hospitals are not meeting NDNQI
      performance metrics and almost one-third of the hospitals are above national core
      measures benchmarks, such as falls and pressure ulcers. LINKING EVIDENCE TO
      ACTION: Although CNEs believe that EBP results in high-quality care, it is ranked
      as a low priority with little budget allocation. These findings provide a
      plausible explanation for shortcomings in key hospital performance metrics. To
      achieve higher healthcare quality and safety along with decreased costs, CNEs and
      hospital administrators need to invest in providing resources and an evidence
      based culture so that clinicians can routinely implement EBP as the foundation of
      care.

PMID- 26873372
TI  - The Strengths and Challenges of Implementing EBP in Healthcare Systems.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multihospital healthcare system leaders and individual nurses are
      challenged to integrate standardized evidence-based practices that support
      continuous performance improvement in their systems. AIM: This study was
      undertaken to evaluate the strength of and the opportunities for implementing
      evidence-based nursing practice across a diverse 9-hospital system located in the
      mid-Atlantic region. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 6,800 registered nurses
      (RNs), with a 24% response rate, was conducted to learn about their attitudes,
      beliefs, and perceptions toward organizational readiness and implementation of
      EBP. RESULTS: Although respondents' beliefs about EBP were positive, they
      reported their ability to implement EBP as extremely low. More than one third
      (36%) of the respondents worked at two of the system's Magnet designated
      hospitals. Magnet RNs reported more resources and held more positive beliefs
      about their hospital's organizational readiness for EBP. Nurses who possess
      advanced nursing degrees, certification, and who serve in leadership roles were
      favorable toward EBP. Younger RNs with fewer years in practice were more likely
      to have positive beliefs toward EBP and embedding it into the organizational
      culture. LINKING EVIDENCE TO PRACTICE: Findings mirror previous research where
      nurses internationally favor EBP yet struggle with similar barriers for
      implementation. Strategies to link this evidence to action can be taken at local
      and global levels. Locally, transformational nurse leaders within each hospital
      can share the vision for implementing EBP and embrace Magnet principles. At the
      system level, transformational nurse leaders can collectively allocate resources
      to create a system-wide online EBP education plan with EBP competencies and tool
      kit to increase RN exposure to EBP and standardize practice. Globally, promoting
      free and accessible EBP massive open online courses (MOOC) and sharing best
      practices online and at international forums such as Magnet conferences will help
      to lead, educate, and mentor nurses with strategies to systematically increase
      EBP uptake.

PMID- 26873373
TI  - Treatment Fidelity of an Evidence-Based Nurse-Led Intervention in a Proactive
      Primary Care Program for Older People.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a large randomized trial, Utrecht PROactive Frailty Intervention
      Trial (U-PROFIT), we evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated program on the
      preservation of daily functioning in older people in primary care that consisted
      of a frailty identification tool and a multicomponent nurse-led care program.
      Examination of treatment fidelity is critical to successful translation of
      evidence-based interventions into practice. AIMS: To assess treatment delivery,
      dose and content of nursing care delivered within the nurse-led care program, and
      to explore if the delivery may have influenced the trial results. METHODS: A
      mixed-methods study was conducted. Type and dose of nursing care were collected
      during the trial. Shortly after the trial, a focus group with nurses was
      conducted to explore reasons for the observed differences between the type and
      dose of nursing care delivered. RESULTS: A total of 835 older persons were
      included in the nurse-led care program. The mean age was 75 years, 64% were
      female and 53.5% were living alone. The most frequent self-reported conditions
      were loneliness (60.8%) and cognitive problems (59.4%). One-third of the patients
      with a geriatric condition received an additional assessment (e.g., Mini-Mental
      State Examination), and the majority of these patients received at least one
      nurse intervention (>85%). Most nursing care was delivered to patients at risk of
      falling and to those with urinary incontinence. Patients with nutrition problems
      seldom received nursing interventions. The nurses explained that differences in
      type and dose were influenced by the preference of the patient, the type of
      geriatric problem, and the time required to apply a nurse intervention. LINKING
      EVIDENCE TO ACTION: All intervention components were delivered; however,
      differences were observed in the type and dose of nursing care delivered across
      geriatric conditions. The findings better explain the treatment fidelity and
      suggest that there is room for improvement that may result in more beneficial
      patient outcomes.

PMID- 26873374
TI  - Modulation of ROS levels in fibroblasts by altering mitochondria regulates the
      process of wound healing.
AB  - Mitochondria are the major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fibroblasts
      which are thought to be crucial regulators of wound healing with a potential to
      affect the expression of nuclear genes involved in this process. ROS generated by
      mitochondria are involved in all stages of tissue repair process but the
      regulation of ROS-generating system in fibroblasts still remains poorly
      understood. The purpose of this study was to better understand molecular
      mechanisms of how the regulation of ROS levels generated by mitochondria may
      influence the process of wound repair. Cybrid model system of mtDNA variations
      was used to study the functional consequences of altered ROS levels on wound
      healing responses in a uniform nuclear background of cultured rho(0) fibroblasts.
      Mitochondrial ROS in cybrids were modulated by antioxidants that quench ROS to
      examine their ability to close the wound. Real-time PCR arrays were used to
      investigate whether ROS generated by specific mtDNA variants have the ability to
      alter expression of some key nuclear-encoded genes central to the wound healing
      response and oxidative stress. Our data suggest levels of mitochondrial ROS
      affect expression of some nuclear encoded genes central to wound healing response
      and oxidative stress and modulation of mitochondrial ROS by antioxidants
      positively affects in vitro process of wound closure. Thus, regulation of
      mitochondrial ROS-generating system in fibroblasts can be used as effective
      natural redox-based strategy to help treat non-healing wounds. 

PMID- 26873375
TI  - Virulence factors of Streptococcus pyogenes strains from women in peri-labor with
      invasive infections.
AB  - Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections constitute an important
      epidemiological problem. Many cases occur in women during the postnatal period.
      The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of the genes responsible
      for production of iron-chelating protein (perR) and superantigens (speA, speB,
      speC, speF, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ, and ssa) in S.
      pyogenes strains isolated from invasive infections in women after delivery.
      Furthermore, this study sought to verify whether S. pyogenes strains show special
      phenotypic and genotypic (sla, spy1325) characteristics that may play a decisive
      role in adherence to the genital tract epithelium. Moreover, the emm-types and
      antibiotic susceptibility were determined. We tested 30 invasive S. pyogenes
      strains isolated from postpartum invasive infection and 37 GAS control strains
      isolated from the genital tracts of asymptomatic multiparous women. The majority
      of the tested strains were shown to express two types of emm genes (1 and 28),
      though emm -12, -28, -75 and -89 were uniquely expressed in the group of strains
      isolated from invasive infections. A significantly higher prevalence of perR in
      the strains from puerperal fever was shown. Significant differences were also
      found between the two groups with respect to the incidence of the genes related
      to adherence; GAS strains originating from women with sepsis/puerperal fever
      showed presence of these genes less frequently than those of the control group.
      Although differences in frequencies of the gene coding for various superantigens
      were noted between the compared groups of GAS strains, they were not significant.

PMID- 26873377
TI  - Genotype-specific concordance of oral and genital human papillomavirus infections
      among marital couples is low.
AB  - Data on genotype-specific concordance of oral-oral and genital-oral HPV
      infections among marital couples are key to understand HPV transmission between
      spouses. Genotype-specific concordance of HPV infections (oral/genital) and their
      co-variates among 131 marital couples were determined during 6-year follow-up
      (FU). Seven oral scrapings were taken from both spouses, accompanied by six
      genital samplings from the women and one (at baseline) from the male partners.
      HPV-genotyping was performed by nested PCR and a Luminex(r)-based Multimetrix
      Assay. Demographic data were collected with questionnaires at baseline and study
      conclusion. Prevalence of oral HPV varied from 10.3 to 27.0 % and 15.8 to 31.3 %
      in women and men, respectively. At baseline, 37.6 % of the male genital samples
      were HPV-positive while in female genital samples, HPV prevalence varied from
      13.3 to 59.4 %. Only 15 couples had HPV genotype-specific concordance (oral-oral
      n = 7; male oral-female genital n = 9; female oral-male genital n = 2). In the
      nested case-control setting, higher number of deliveries (OR 0.145, 95%CI 0.030
      0.706, p = 0.017) and higher number of intercourse (OR 0.488, 95%CI 0.243-0.978,
      p = 0.043) decreased the likelihood of concordant HPV infections while practicing
      oral sex increased the risk (OR 0.299, 95%CI 0.120-0.748, p = 0.010). In
      multivariate analysis, the likelihood of concordance was decreased by higher
      number of pregnancies of the female partner (p = 0.020) and by higher frequency
      of intercourse reported by the male spouse (p = 0.027). To conclude, asymptomatic
      HPV infections were common in both spouses while genotype-specific concordance
      was low. This supports the view that HPV profile of the spouses has been
      established before the current marital relationship. 

PMID- 26873376
TI  - Cytotoxic immune responses in the lungs correlate to disease severity in patients
      with hantavirus infection.
AB  - Hantavirus infections may cause severe and sometime life-threatening lung
      failure. The pathogenesis is not fully known and there is an urgent need for
      effective treatment. We aimed to investigate the association between pulmonary
      viral load and immune responses, and their relation to disease severity.
      Bronchoscopy with sampling of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was performed in
      17 patients with acute Puumala hantavirus infection and 16 healthy volunteers
      acting as controls. Lymphocyte subsets, granzyme concentrations, and viral load
      were determined by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and
      quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),
      respectively. Analyses of BAL fluid revealed significantly higher numbers of
      activated CD8(+) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, as well as higher
      concentrations of the cytotoxins granzymes A and B in hantavirus-infected
      patients, compared to controls. In patients, Puumala hantavirus RNA was detected
      in 88 % of BAL cell samples and correlated inversely to the T cell response. The
      magnitude of the pulmonary cytotoxic lymphocyte response correlated to the
      severity of disease and systemic organ dysfunction, in terms of need for
      supplemental oxygen treatment, hypotension, and laboratory data indicating renal
      failure, cardiac dysfunction, vascular leakage, and cell damage. Regulatory T
      cell numbers were significantly lower in patients compared to controls, and may
      reflect inadequate immune regulation during hantavirus infection. Hantavirus
      infection elicits a pronounced cytotoxic lymphocyte response in the lungs. The
      magnitude of the immune response was associated with disease severity. These
      results give insights into the pathogenesis and possibilities for new treatments.

PMID- 26873378
TI  - Predictors of ertapenem therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of urinary tract
      infections (UTIs) in hospitalized adults: the importance of renal insufficiency
      and urinary pH.
AB  - In hospitalized adults acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) and catheter associated
      bacteriuria (CAB) may be treated with oral antibiotics. With AUC or CAB due to
      extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) + Gram negative bacilli (GNB) physicians
      often use intravenous therapy, e.g., ertapenem. We reviewed our recent experience
      in hospitalized adults with AUC and CAB treated with ertapenem. Therapeutic
      efficacy of ertapenem was assessed by decreased pyuria/bacteriuria, and
      elimination of the uropathogen. The effectiveness of ertapenem in the presence of
      renal insufficiency (CrCl < 50 ml/min) and acid and alkaline urinary pH were
      evaluated. In addition, rapidity of eradication of bacteriuria was assessed by
      time to negative urine cultures (TTNC). In those with an acid urinary pH
      ertapenem was highly effective in eliminating bacteriuria (TTNC < 3 days). TTNC
      was prolonged ( >3 days) in patients with decreased renal function and alkaline
      urinary pH. We reviewed 45 hospitalized adults with AUC or CAB to determine if
      renal insufficiency and or alkaline urinary pH affected ertapenem efficacy. In
      the 33 adult hospitalized patients with AUC and 12 with CAB, we found that
      ertapenem was consistently effective in eliminating the GNB bacteriuria. In
      hospitalized adults, the presence of renal insufficiency and acid urine,
      bacteriuria was eliminated in < 3 days. However, in those with renal
      insufficiency and an alkaline urine pH, the rapidity of cure, i.e., time to
      negative cultures (TTNC) was prolonged, i.e., > 3 days which has not been
      previously reported. 

PMID- 26873379
TI  - Lobar distribution in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis predicts bacteriologic
      pathogen treatment.
AB  - Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBr) is a major cause of morbidity due to
      frequent infectious exacerbations. We analyzed the influence of patient age and
      bronchiectasis location on the bacterial profile of patients with NCFBr. This
      retrospective cohort study included 339 subjects diagnosed with an infectious
      exacerbation of NCFBr during the 9-year period between January 2006 and December
      2014. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures and high-resolution computed
      tomography scans (HRCT) were utilized to characterize the location of the
      bronchiectasis and bacteriologic pathogenic profile. In univariate logistic
      regression, the frequency of Haemophilus influenzae was higher in patients aged
      <=64 years (OR = 0.969, p < 0.0001, 95 % CI 0.954-0.983), whereas the frequency
      of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR = 1.027, p = 0.008, 95 % CI 1.007-1.048) and
      Enterobacteriaceae (OR = 1.039, p = 0.01, 95 % CI 1.009-1.069) were significantly
      higher in patients aged >64 years. The lobar distribution of bronchiectasis in
      the subjects was 25.9 % in the right middle lobe (RML), 20.7 % in the right lower
      lobe (RLL), 20.4 % in the left lower lobe (LLL), 13.8 % in the lingula, 13 % in
      the right upper lobe (RUL), and 6.2 % in the left upper lobe (LUL). In the lower
      lobes, H. influenzae was the dominant species isolated, whereas in the RUL it was
      P. aeruginosa and in the LUL it was non- tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM). H.
      influenzae was more prevalent in younger patients, whereas P. aeruginosa,
      Enterobacteriaceae and NTM predominated in older patients. Different pathogens
      were associated with different lobar distributions. The RML, RLL and LLL showed a
      greater tendency to develop bronchiectasis than other lobes.

PMID- 26873380
TI  - Population-based epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection:
      clonal complex 30 genotype is associated with mortality.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SABSI) are associated with a high
      burden of morbidity and mortality. The impact of specific S. aureus genotypes on
      outcome is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and
      outcome of SABSI, with a special emphasis on the impact of bacterial clonal
      lineage on mortality. We conducted a 3-year population-based prospective study
      between 2011 and 2014, including 303 consecutive adult patients. Clinical data
      were obtained from interviews and medical records. S. aureus isolates were
      genotyped using DNA microarrays. The incidence rate of SABSI was 27.6 per 100,000
      inhabitants [95 % confidence interval (CI) 24.6-31.0]. The median age of the
      patients was 71 years (interquartile range 56-81 years) and 61.4 % were male.
      Most SABSI (70.6 %) occurred in hospitals or associated to healthcare, and 34.1 %
      of these were associated with intravascular catheters. Only five (1.6 %) SABSI
      were caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The 30-day case fatality
      rate was 20.8 % (95 % CI 16.6-25.7). S. aureus clonal complex 30 [hazard ratio
      (HR) 3.9; 95 % CI 1.8-8.5, p = 0.001], unknown focus of infection (HR 4.5; 95 %
      CI 1.9-10.8, p = 0.001) and respiratory tract infection (HR 12.7; 95 % CI 4.6
      34.6, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of mortality in a Cox regression
      analysis after adjusting for age, sex and underlying conditions. A high
      proportion of potential preventable SABSI calls for effective infection control
      measures. S. aureus clonal complex 30 genotype was associated with mortality in
      patients with bloodstream infections. The genetic basis underlying this
      association remains to be demonstrated.

PMID- 26873381
TI  - Risk factors for long-term mortality of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a fatal disease. We aimed to describe
      risk factors for long-term mortality with SAB. We analyzed data from a
      retrospectively collected database including 1,692 patients with SAB. We
      considered variables of infection and background conditions for the analysis of
      long-term survival. The Kaplan-Meier procedure was used for analysis of long-term
      survival. Variables significantly associated with mortality were analyzed using a
      Cox regression model. We included 1,692 patients in the analysis. Patients were
      followed for up to 22 years. Within one year, 62% of patients died and within 5
      years 72% died. A total of 82% of patients aged 65 years and older died within 5
      years. Independent predictors of long-term mortality were older age (Hazard ratio
      1.029, 95% confidence interval 1.022-1.036), female gender (HR 1.302, 95% CI
      1.118-1.517), pneumonia or primary/ unknown source of infection (HR 1.441, 95% CI
      1.230-1.689), dementia (HR 1.234, 95% CI 1.004-1.516), higher Charlson score (HR
      1.155, 95% CI 1.115-1.196), shock at onset (HR 1.776, 95% CI 1.430-2.207) and
      arrival to hospitalization from an institution (HR 1.319, 95% CI 1.095-1.563).
      Long-term survival of patients older than 65 years and of women with SAB is
      severely curtailed.

PMID- 26873383
TI  - The specificity of practice hypothesis in goal-directed movements: visual
      dominance or proprioception neglect?
AB  - The study aimed to examine whether modifying the proprioceptive feedback usually
      associated with a specific movement would decrease the dominance of visual
      feedback and/or decrease, which appears to be the neglect of proprioceptive
      feedback in ensuring the accuracy of goal-directed movements. We used a leg
      positioning recall task and measured the recall error after 15 and 165
      acquisition trials performed with both vision and proprioception or
      proprioception only, under either a normal or a modified proprioception condition
      (i.e., with a 1-kg load attached to the participants' ankle). Participant
      learning was evaluated in transfer with proprioception only. In support of the
      specificity of practice hypothesis, the recall errors in acquisition were
      significantly smaller when practice occurred with both vision and proprioception,
      in either the loaded or the unloaded leg condition, and they increased
      significantly in transfer when vision was withdrawn. An important finding of the
      study highlighted that withdrawing vision after 165 acquisition trials had less
      deleterious effects on the recall errors when practice occurred under the loaded
      leg condition. Under that modified condition, recall errors in transfer were
      similar when practice occurred with and without vision, whereas larger errors
      were observed following practice with vision under the normal proprioceptive
      condition. Overall, these results highlighted the dominance of vision in ensuring
      accurate leg positioning recall and revealed that the dominance of vision is such
      that the processing of proprioceptive feedback may be neglected. Importantly,
      modifying the proprioceptive feedback has the advantage of reducing what appears
      to be the neglect of proprioceptive information when movement execution occurs in
      a visuo-proprioceptive context. Practical considerations for rehabilitation are
      discussed at the end of the manuscript.

PMID- 26873382
TI  - Diagnosis, antiviral therapy, and prophylaxis of varicella-zoster virus
      infections.
AB  - Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), an important member of the Herpesviridae family, is
      the etiological agent of varicella as primary infection and zoster as recurrence.
      An outstanding feature is the lifelong viral latency in dorsal root and cranial
      nerve ganglia. Both varicella and zoster are worldwide widespread diseases that
      may be associated with significant complications. However, there is a broad
      spectrum of laboratory methods to diagnose VZV infections. In contrast to many
      other viral infections, antiviral treatment of VZV infections and their
      prevention by vaccination or passive immunoprophylaxis are well established in
      medical practice. The present manuscript provides an overview about the basic
      knowledge of VZV infections, their laboratory diagnosis, antiviral therapy, and
      the prevention procedures, especially in Germany. 

PMID- 26873384
TI  - I and Thou: learning the 'human' side of medicine.
AB  - This essay is a reflection on the doctor-patient relationship from the
      perspective of two medical students, which draws on the ideas of 20th-century
      philosopher Martin Buber. Although Buber never wrote about medicine directly, his
      'philosophy of dialogue' raises fundamental questions about how human beings
      relate to one another, and can thus offer valuable insights into the nature of
      the clinical encounter. We argue that Buber's basic word pairs, 'I-You' and 'I
      It', provide a useful heuristic for understanding different modes of caring for
      patients, which we illustrate using examples of illness narratives from two
      literary works: Tolstoy's Ivan Ilych and Margaret Edson's Wit Our essay
      demonstrates how the humanities in general and philosophy in particular can
      inform a more humanistic practice for healthcare trainees and practicing
      clinicians alike. 

PMID- 26873385
TI  - [Localized intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer].
AB  - BACKGROUND: National and international guidelines recommend radical prostatectomy
      (RP) and radiotherapy (EBRT) as standard treatment for intermediate- and high
      risk prostate cancer. Survival benefit of RP in prostate cancer has been proven
      in prospectively randomized trials. In contrast, the benefit of EBRT as well as
      the direct comparison of EBRT and RP have been investigated in several
      retrospective analyses, but are limited by typical problems associated with
      retrospective studies. RESULTS: Most of the studies comparing RP with EBRT favor
      RP with regard to overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Especially in
      young patients with high-grade prostate cancer, RP seems to be superior in
      comparison with EBRT. These patient are at high risk of a PSA recurrence and
      subsequently need an additional radiotherapy. Mortality and morbidity related to
      these both methods are low. Main complications of RP are urinary incontinence and
      erectile dysfunction. In contrast, rectal sequelae, erectile dysfunction, and
      irritative urinary symptoms are the main cause for postinterventional morbidity
      in patients after EBRT.

PMID- 26873386
TI  - Consecutive Observational Study to Validate EuroSCORE II Performances on a Single
      Center, Contemporary Cardiac Surgical Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare and validate the original EuroSCORE risk stratification
      models with the renewed EuroSCORE II model in a contemporary cardiac surgical
      practice. DESIGN: A consecutive observational study to validate EuroSCORE II
      performances, conducted as retrospective analysis of prospectively collected
      data. SETTING: A tertiary university institute for cardiovascular diseases.
      PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January and
      December 2012. METHODS: One thousand eight hundred sixty-four consecutive
      patients were scored preoperatively using additive and logistic EuroSCORE as well
      as EuroSCORE II. The discriminative power of the EuroSCORE models was tested by
      calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The
      calibration of the models was assessed by Hosmer-Lemeshow statistics and with
      observed-to-expected mortality ratio. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The in
      hospital overall mortality was 3.65%, with predicted mortalities according to
      additive EuroSCORE, logistic EuroSCORE, and EuroSCORE II of 5.14%, 6.60%, and
      3.51%, respectively. The observed-to-expected (O/E) mortality ratio confirmed
      good calibration for the entire cohort only for EuroSCORE II (1.05, 95%
      confidence interval 0.81 - 1.29). Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed overall good
      calibration only for additive EuroSCORE (p = 0.129). The EuroSCORE II confirmed
      very good discriminatory power for a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay
      of>2 days and>5 days (AUCs>0.75). Acceptable discriminatory power was confirmed
      for a prolonged postoperative stay of>7 days and>12 days (AUCs>0.70). CONCLUSION:
      EuroSCORE II confirmed very good discriminatory capacity, good calibration
      ability (O/E mortality ratio), and good capability to predict prolonged ICU and
      postoperative stays in a contemporary patient cohort undergoing cardiac surgery.

PMID- 26873387
TI  - Unexpected Circulatory Collapse After Cardiac Paraganglioma Resection: Rescue
      With Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator.

PMID- 26873388
TI  - Arginine deiminase pathway genes and arginine degradation variability in
      Oenococcus oeni strains.
AB  - Trace amounts of the carcinogenic ethyl carbamate can appear in wine as a result
      of a reaction between ethanol and citrulline, which is produced from arginine
      degradation by some bacteria used in winemaking. In this study, arginine
      deiminase (ADI) pathway genes were evaluated in 44 Oenococcus oeni strains from
      wines originating from several locations in order to establish the relationship
      between the ability of a strain to degrade arginine and the presence of related
      genes. To detect the presence of arc genes of the ADI pathway in O. oeni, pairs
      of primers were designed to amplify arcA, arcB, arcC and arcD1 sequences. All
      strains contained these four genes. The same primers were used to confirm the
      organization of these genes in an arcABCD1 operon. Nevertheless, considerable
      variability in the ability to degrade arginine among these O. oeni strains was
      observed. Therefore, despite the presence of the arc genes in all strains, the
      expression patterns of individual genes must be strain dependent and influenced
      by the different wine conditions. Additionally, the presence of arc genes was
      also determined in the 57 sequenced strains of O. oeni available in GenBank, and
      the complete operon was found in 83% of strains derived from wine. The other
      strains were found to lack the arcB, arcC and arcD genes, but all contained
      sequences homologous to arcA, and some of them had also ADI activity.

PMID- 26873389
TI  - Effect of metal ions on autofluorescence of the dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans
      grown on spruce wood.
AB  - This work describes autofluorescence of the mycelium of the dry rot fungus
      Serpula lacrymans grown on spruce wood blocks impregnated with various metals.
      Live mycelium, as opposed to dead mycelium, exhibited yellow autofluorescence
      upon blue excitation, blue fluorescence with ultraviolet (UV) excitation, orange
      red and light-blue fluorescence with violet excitation, and red fluorescence with
      green excitation. Distinctive autofluorescence was observed in the fungal cell
      wall and in granula localized in the cytoplasm. In dead mycelium, the intensity
      of autofluorescence decreased and the signal was diffused throughout the
      cytoplasm. Metal treatment affected both the color and intensity of
      autofluorescence and also the morphology of the mycelium. The strongest yellow
      signal was observed with blue excitation in Cd-treated samples, in conjunction
      with increased branching and the formation of mycelial loops and protrusions. For
      the first time, we describe pink autofluorescence that was observed in Mn-, Zn-,
      and Cu-treated samples with UV, violet or. blue excitation. The lowest signals
      were obtained in Cu- and Fe-treated samples. Chitin, an important part of the
      fungal cell wall exhibited intensive primary fluorescence with UV, violet, blue,
      and green excitation. 

PMID- 26873391
TI  - Development and morphological changes in the vaginal closure membrane throughout
      gestation in Galea spixii (Rodentia: Caviidae).
AB  - Present research was carried out in order to perform the monitoring of
      development, recognizes the type of tissue and describes histological and
      cellular changes of the vaginal closure membrane (VCM) throughout pregnancy in
      Galea spixii. The results showed that at 20 days of gestation (DG), the VCM
      occludes completely the external vaginal ostium. Microscopically, the VCM
      presented juxtaposed cells, derived from the stratum germinative of the
      stratified epithelium of vaginal mucosa at 20 DG and areas with cell clusters
      with the presence of intercellular spaces in the final stages of pregnancy (40-50
      DG). At 0 DG, the stratified epithelium of vaginal mucosa presented all strata
      but at 20 DG presented stratified epithelium without the stratum corneum and
      stratum granular and showed communicant junctions by desmosomes and
      interdigitations in the cell membrane compound the VCM. Gradually from 40 to 50
      DG the stratum germinative became barely perceptible. Many cells showed apoptotic
      nuclei and emerged many intercellular spacing. So, the interdigitations and
      desmosomes were not observed. Here, it was demonstrated for the first time that
      the VCM is formed after the extinction of the stratum granular and corneum of the
      vaginal mucosa epithelium, with the proliferation of the cells of stratum
      germinative and communication and junction through desmosomes and
      interdigitations of these cells. At the end of pregnancy, cellular apoptosis; the
      spread of stratum germinative; and, absence of cellular communication and
      junction may be responsible for the weakening of the VCM and may assist the
      process of rupture of this membrane.

PMID- 26873390
TI  - Efficient DNP NMR of membrane proteins: sample preparation protocols,
      sensitivity, and radical location.
AB  - Although dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has dramatically enhanced solid-state
      NMR spectral sensitivities of many synthetic materials and some biological
      macromolecules, recent studies of membrane-protein DNP using exogenously doped
      paramagnetic radicals as polarizing agents have reported varied and sometimes
      surprisingly limited enhancement factors. This motivated us to carry out a
      systematic evaluation of sample preparation protocols for optimizing the
      sensitivity of DNP NMR spectra of membrane-bound peptides and proteins at
      cryogenic temperatures of ~110 K. We show that mixing the radical with the
      membrane by direct titration instead of centrifugation gives a significant boost
      to DNP enhancement. We quantify the relative sensitivity enhancement between
      AMUPol and TOTAPOL, two commonly used radicals, and between deuterated and
      protonated lipid membranes. AMUPol shows ~fourfold higher sensitivity enhancement
      than TOTAPOL, while deuterated lipid membrane does not give net higher
      sensitivity for the membrane peptides than protonated membrane. Overall, a ~100
      fold enhancement between the microwave-on and microwave-off spectra can be
      achieved on lipid-rich membranes containing conformationally disordered peptides,
      and absolute sensitivity gains of 105-160 can be obtained between low-temperature
      DNP spectra and high-temperature non-DNP spectra. We also measured the
      paramagnetic relaxation enhancement of lipid signals by TOTAPOL and AMUPol, to
      determine the depths of these two radicals in the lipid bilayer. Our data
      indicate a bimodal distribution of both radicals, a surface-bound fraction and a
      membrane-bound fraction where the nitroxides lie at ~10 A from the membrane
      surface. TOTAPOL appears to have a higher membrane-embedded fraction than AMUPol.
      These results should be useful for membrane-protein solid-state NMR studies under
      DNP conditions and provide insights into how biradicals interact with
      phospholipid membranes.

PMID- 26873392
TI  - Effectiveness of Anise Oil for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Depression in
      Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Active and Placebo
      Controlled Clinical Trial.
AB  - Depression is a prevalent disorder among patients suffering from irritable bowel
      syndrome. The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of a traditional
      Persian medicine product, anise oil, in removing the symptoms of mild to moderate
      depression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In a randomized double
      blinded active and placebo controlled clinical trial, 120 participants with mild
      to moderate depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II total scores
      were categorized into 3 equal groups and received anise oil, Colpermin, and
      placebo. The results at the end of trial (week 4) and follow-up (week 6)
      demonstrated significant priority against active and placebo groups. Although the
      mechanism is unknown yet, anise oil could be a promising choice of treatment for
      depressed patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 26873394
TI  - Targeted thrombolysis of tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase with
      extracellular biosynthesis nanoparticles using optimized Streptococcus equi
      supernatant.
AB  - Extracellular biosynthesis of nanoparticles have many important advantages such
      as well dispersed in aqueous solutions, low energy requirements, ecofriendly, non
      toxic, low-costs and non-flocculate. This technique have shown significant
      promise as targeted drug delivery applications. In this investigation, for the
      first time, we examine the efficacy of targeted therapeutic delivery with t-PA
      and SK immobilized to biosynthesis of nanoparticles (CuNP) by using Streptococcus
      equi strains isolated from the horses of Iran and their ability to produce
      metallic nanoparticles. Also we compared them with their chemical synthesis. The
      S. equi was screened for its ability to produce MNPs. The minimum size and shapes
      (23-89 nm) are presented in the formation with good dispersion and high
      stability. Response Surface methodology was applied for the optimized production
      of biological CuNPs. The growth factors like pH, temperature and incubation time
      was changed. The optimum conditions to obtain CuNPs were found with the culture
      conditions of pH 7.5 in 120 h at 35  degrees C. To determine some of MNPs
      structural properties UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD and SEM has
      characterized. The results provided some parameters may impact on the formation
      of biological MNPs. Lastly, these MNPs were conjugated with t-PA and SK, as a
      drug carrier. In addition, effective thrombolysis with magnet-guided SiO2CuNPs
      tPA-SK is demonstrated in rat embolism model where 18.6% of the regular t-PA dose
      and 15.78% of SK dose restored and 15-25 min reductions in blood clot lysis time
      were observed compared with runs with free t-PA and without magnet-guided and
      using the same drug dosage. The comparison between CuNPs with MNPs shows that
      thrombolysis had not been directed to the type of magnetic carrier under the
      magnetic guide.

PMID- 26873395
TI  - Does 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) induce genotoxic effects in tissue
      cultured Allium roots?
AB  - 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a synthetic plant growth regulator that
      is highly toxic to most broad leaved plants and relatively nontoxic to
      monocotyledonous plants; is frequently used as weed killer. The study aimed to
      investigate cytogenetic effects of different concentrations of 2,4-D (0.67, 1.34,
      2.01, 2.68, 3.35 and 4.02 mg/L) on Allium cepa bulblets' root tips treated for 24
      and 48 h. The results showed six types of structural aberrations: C-mitosis,
      stickiness, laggards, bridges, fragments and multipolarity that varied
      numerically compared to control. It significantly affected mitotic index (MI) at
      24 and 48 h treatment. In the Allium test, MI increased significantly at three
      lower concentrations (0.67, 1.34, 2.01 mg/L) after treatment with 2,4-D for 24 h
      and decreased significantly at higher concentration. Whereas, 2,4-D treatment for
      48 h increased MI at all concentrations with significantly decreased MI at the
      highest concentration. The experiment was extended using comet test that did not
      reveal significant difference among treatments except for application of 4.02
      mg/L 2,4-D for 48 h; where cell damages were verified by comet test. Rest of the
      concentrations for any duration of time were not damaging and toxic to cells. The
      results showed, visible mitodepressive action of 4.02 mg/L 2,4-D when treated for
      48 h that had tendency to become toxic if the roots had been in touch with 2,4-D
      for a longer time.

PMID- 26873393
TI  - Non-glycosidic compounds can stimulate both human and mouse iNKT cells.
AB  - Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells recognize CD1d/glycolipid complexes and
      upon activation with synthetic agonists display immunostimulatory properties. We
      have previously described that the non-glycosidic CD1d-binding lipid,
      threitolceramide (ThrCer) activates murine and human iNKT cells. Here, we show
      that incorporating the headgroup of ThrCer into a conformationally more
      restricted 6- or 7-membered ring results in significantly more potent non
      glycosidic analogs. In particular, ThrCer 6 was found to promote strong anti
      tumor responses and to induce a more prolonged stimulation of iNKT cells than
      does the canonical alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), achieving an enhanced
      T-cell response at lower concentrations compared with alpha-GalCer both in vitro,
      using human iNKT-cell lines and in vivo, using C57BL/6 mice. Collectively, these
      studies describe novel non-glycosidic ThrCer-based analogs that have improved
      potency in iNKT-cell activation compared with that of alpha-GalCer, and are
      clinically relevant iNKT-cell agonists.

PMID- 26873396
TI  - Consideration for Esophagectomy in Patients with Prior Bariatric Surgery.
AB  - Bariatric surgery is frequently performed for the treatment of severe obesity.
      Esophageal cancer has been reported to occur in patients who had prior bariatric
      surgery. Due to the anatomic alterations associated with bariatric surgery,
      esophageal resection requires an understanding of certain technical
      considerations. This paper describes the technical considerations in performance
      of an esophageal resection in patients who had prior sleeve gastrectomy or Roux
      en-Y gastric bypass. 

PMID- 26873397
TI  - Do Complications Alter Postoperative Weight Loss 1 Year After Primary and
      Revisional Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Around 10 % of the bariatric surgery patients experience
      postoperative complications (<30 days). It could be hypothesized that
      complications influence postoperative weight loss, which is one of the most
      important endpoints of bariatric surgery. Therefore, this study inventoried the
      effect of complications on postoperative weight loss. METHODS: A consecutive
      database including patients who were operated from November 2007 onwards was
      retrospectively reviewed. All short-term complications were classified according
      to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Weight loss was assessed at 6 and 12 months
      postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 1130 patients underwent either primary (n =
      907, 80.3 %) or revisional (n = 233, 19.7 %) surgery till October 2013. Short
      term complications occurred in 115 (10.2 %) patients, of whom 48 (41.7 %) had a
      severe (Clavien-Dindo >= 3) complication. One year post surgery, 184 patients
      (16.3 %) were lost to follow-up. Patients with a short-term complication had a
      higher percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) at 6 months (58.6 (SD 16.6) versus
      52.9 (SD 17.6), p = 0.003) and 1 year (71.9 (SD 22.3) versus 65.9 (SD 21.3), p =
      0.017) of follow-up. Although a trend was seen toward higher BMI loss and total
      weight loss (TWL) after 6 months, no effect was seen 1 year postoperatively. In
      multivariable linear regression analysis, complications were not a significant
      predictor for 1-year %EWL. CONCLUSIONS: Although short-term complications alter 1
      year %EWL, no effect was seen on BMI loss and TWL. In addition, complications
      were not a predictor in a multivariable linear regression model for 1-year %EWL.
      It can be concluded that short-term complications do not impair weight loss after
      Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

PMID- 26873398
TI  - Sparse estimation of Cox proportional hazards models via approximated information
      criteria.
AB  - We propose a new sparse estimation method for Cox (1972) proportional hazards
      models by optimizing an approximated information criterion. The main idea
      involves approximation of the l0 norm with a continuous or smooth unit dent
      function. The proposed method bridges the best subset selection and
      regularization by borrowing strength from both. It mimics the best subset
      selection using a penalized likelihood approach yet with no need of a tuning
      parameter. We further reformulate the problem with a reparameterization step so
      that it reduces to one unconstrained nonconvex yet smooth programming problem,
      which can be solved efficiently as in computing the maximum partial likelihood
      estimator (MPLE). Furthermore, the reparameterization tactic yields an additional
      advantage in terms of circumventing postselection inference. The oracle property
      of the proposed method is established. Both simulated experiments and empirical
      examples are provided for assessment and illustration.

PMID- 26873399
TI  - Genetic Factors That Affect Risk of Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
      Disease.
AB  - Genome-wide association studies and candidate gene studies have informed our
      understanding of factors contributing to the well-recognized interindividual
      variation in the progression and outcomes of alcoholic liver disease and
      nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We discuss the mounting evidence for shared
      modifiers and common pathophysiological processes that contribute to development
      of both diseases. We discuss the functions of proteins encoded by risk variants
      of genes including patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 and
      transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, as well as epigenetic factors that
      contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty
      liver disease. We also discuss important areas of future genetic research and
      their potential to affect clinical management of patients. 

PMID- 26873400
TI  - Clinical Implications of Concomitant Alcohol Use, Obesity, and Viral Hepatitis.

PMID- 26873402
TI  - Predictors and signatures of recovery from neglect in acute stroke.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Spatial neglect can either spontaneously resolve or persist after
      stroke; the latter is associated with a poorer outcome. We aimed to investigate
      the neural correlates and predictors of favorable versus poor recovery from
      neglect in acute stroke. METHODS: In addition to neuropsychological testing, we
      explored task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging activation and
      functional connectivity in 34 patients with neglect and/or extinction. Patients
      were examined at 2 to 3 days (acute phase I) and 8 to 10 days (acute phase II),
      and some of them at 4 to 6 months (chronic phase) poststroke. RESULTS: Course of
      recovery was predicted by the strength of functional connectivity between the
      right parietal and left prefrontal and parietal regions, as early as acute phase
      I. During acute phase II, favorable recovery from neglect was associated with
      increased activation in the left prefrontal and right parietal regions, an effect
      not observed at any time point in patients with poor acute recovery. The extent
      of neglect amelioration correlated with activation gain in the right attention
      centers; stronger activation of their left functional homologues correlated with
      better spatial processing in the neglected hemispace during both of the acute
      examination phases. INTERPRETATION: System excitability and early recruitment of
      contralesional functional homologues represented specific features of favorable
      recovery in acute stroke. In severe strokes leading to neglect, contralesional
      functional homologues support recovery by modulating the preserved ipsilesional
      network, and initial functional connectivity between them might predict recovery
      course and help to identify patients with potentially poor recovery requiring
      more intensive early rehabilitation.

PMID- 26873403
TI  - Use of the human hepcidin gene to build a positive-selection vector for
      periplasmic expression in Escherichia coli.
AB  - Recombinant proteins are often produced in the periplasm of Escherichia coli
      because this facilitates the purification process. The oxidizing environment
      favors the formation of disulfide bridges. We showed that the periplasmic
      expression of the human hormone hepcidin 25 (Hep25) fused to the maltose-binding
      protein (MBP) resulted in cell death. This toxicity was not observed when MBP
      Hep25 accumulated in the bacterial cytoplasm, or when Hep25 was addressed to the
      periplasm without the MBP tag. We then modified the periplasmic expression vector
      pMALp2E to create pMALp2EH, a positive-selection vector with Hep25 as
      counterselection gene. 

PMID- 26873401
TI  - Genomic Landscape of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Japanese Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant
      form of esophageal cancer in Japan. Smoking and drinking alcohol are
      environmental risk factors for ESCC, whereas single nucleotide polymorphisms in
      ADH1B and ALDH2, which increase harmful intermediates produced by drinking
      alcohol, are genetic risk factors. We conducted a large-scale genomic analysis of
      ESCCs from patients in Japan to determine the mutational landscape of this
      cancer. METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequence analysis of tumor and nontumor
      esophageal tissues collected from 144 patients with ESCC who underwent surgery at
      5 hospitals in Japan. We also performed single-nucleotide polymorphism array
      based copy number profile and germline genotype analyses of polymorphisms in
      ADH1B and ALDH2. Polymorphisms in CYP2A6, which increase harmful effects of
      smoking, were analyzed. Functions of TET2 mutants were evaluated in KYSE410 and
      HEK293FT cells. RESULTS: A high proportion of mutations in the 144 tumor samples
      were C to T substitution in CpG dinucleotides (called the CpG signature) and C to
      G/T substitutions with a flanking 5' thymine (called the APOBEC signature). Based
      on mutational signatures, patients were assigned to 3 groups, which associated
      with environmental (drinking and smoking) and genetic (polymorphisms in ALDH2 and
      CYP2A6) factors. Many tumors contained mutations in genes that regulate the cell
      cycle (TP53, CCND1, CDKN2A, FBXW7); epigenetic processes (MLL2, EP300, CREBBP,
      TET2); and the NOTCH (NOTCH1, NOTCH3), WNT (FAT1, YAP1, AJUBA) and receptor
      tyrosine kinase-phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathways (PIK3CA, EGFR,
      ERBB2). Mutations in EP300 and TET2 correlated with shorter survival times, and
      mutations in ZNF750 associated with an increased number of mutations of the
      APOBEC signature. Expression of mutant forms of TET2 did not increase cellular
      levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in HEK293FT cells, whereas knockdown of TET2
      increased the invasive activity of KYSE410 ESCC cells. Computational analyses
      associated the mutations in NFE2L2 we identified with transcriptional activation
      of its target genes. CONCLUSIONS: We associated environmental and genetic factors
      with base substitution patterns of somatic mutations and provide a registry of
      genes and pathways that are disrupted in ESCCs. These findings might be used to
      design specific treatments for patients with esophageal squamous cancers.

PMID- 26873404
TI  - A global assessment of a large monocot family highlights the need for group
      specific analyses of invasiveness.
AB  - Significant progress has been made in understanding biological invasions
      recently, and one of the key findings is that the determinants of naturalization
      and invasion success vary from group to group. Here, we explore this variation
      for one of the largest plant families in the world, the Araceae. This group
      provides an excellent opportunity for identifying determinants of invasiveness in
      herbaceous plants, since it is one of the families most popular with
      horticulturalists, with species occupying various habitats and comprising many
      different life forms. We first developed a checklist of 3494 species of Araceae
      using online databases and literature sources. We aimed to determine whether
      invasiveness across the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum is
      associated to particular traits within the family, and whether analyses focussed
      on specific life forms can reveal any mechanistic correlates. Boosted regression
      tree models were based on species invasion statuses as the response variables,
      and traits associated with human use, biological characteristics and distribution
      as the explanatory variables. The models indicate that biological traits such as
      plant life form and pollinator type are consistently strong correlates of
      invasiveness. Additionally, large-scale correlates such as the number of native
      floristic regions and number of introduced regions are also influential at
      particular stages in the invasion continuum. We used these traits to build a
      phenogram showing groups defined by the similarity of characters. We identified
      nine groups that have a greater tendency to invasiveness (includingAlocasia, the
      Lemnoideae andEpipremnum). From this, we propose a list of species that are not
      currently invasive for which we would recommend a precautionary approach to be
      taken. The successful management of plant invasions will depend on understanding
      such context-dependent effects across taxonomic groups, and across the different
      stages of the invasion process. 

PMID- 26873405
TI  - Understanding the nanoparticle-protein corona complexes using computational and
      experimental methods.
AB  - Nanoparticles (NP) have capability to adsorb proteins from biological fluids and
      form protein layer, which is called protein corona. As the cell sees corona
      coated NPs, the protein corona can dictate biological response to NPs. The
      composition of protein corona is varied by physicochemical properties of NPs
      including size, shape, surface chemistry. Processing of protein adsorption is
      dynamic phenomena; to that end, a protein may desorb or leave a surface vacancy
      that is rapidly filled by another protein and cause changes in the corona
      composition mainly by the Vroman effect. In this review, we discuss the
      interaction between NP and proteins and the available techniques for
      identification of NP-bound proteins. Also we review current developed
      computational methods for understanding the NP-protein complex interactions.

PMID- 26873406
TI  - Role of a single amino acid substitution of VP3 H142D for increased acid
      resistance of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A.
AB  - Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) particles lose infectivity due to their
      dissociation into pentamers at pH value below 6.5. After the uptake of FMDV by
      receptor-mediated endocytosis, the acid-dependent dissociation process is
      required for the release of FMDV genome inside endosomes. Nevertheless,
      dissociation of FMDV particles in mildly acidic conditions renders the
      inactivated FMD vaccine less effective. To improve the acid stability of
      inactivated FMD vaccine during the manufacturing process, a serotype A IND
      40/2000 (in-use vaccine strain) mutant with increased resistance to acid
      inactivation was generated through reverse genetics approach. Based upon the
      earlier reports, the crucial amino acid residue, H142 of VP3 capsid protein was
      substituted separately to various amino acid residues Arg (R), Phe (F), Ala (A),
      and Asp (D) on the full-genome length cDNA clone. While the H142 -> R or H142 ->
      F or H142 -> A substitutions resulted in non-infectious FMDV, H142 -> D mutation
      on VP3 protein (H3142D) resulted in the generation of mutant virus with enhanced
      resistance to acid-induced inactivation. In addition, H3142D substitution did not
      alter the replication ability and antigenicity of mutant as compared to the
      parental virus. However, the virus competition experiments revealed that the
      H3142D substitution conferred a loss of fitness for the mutant virus. Results
      from this study demonstrate that the H3142D substitution is the molecular
      determinant of acid-resistant phenotype in FMDV serotype A. 

PMID- 26873407
TI  - Eimeria tenella: a novel dsRNA virus in E. tenella and its complete genome
      sequence analysis.
AB  - Protozoa double-stranded (ds) RNA viruses have been described in Trichomonas,
      Giardia, and Leishmania. In this study, dsRNA and virus-like particles
      (approximately 30 nm in diameter) were discovered in Eimeria tenella sporulated
      oocysts. The complete genome of this novel dsRNA virus was sequenced using a
      three-step strategy. The sequencing results showed that the complete genome
      sequence was 6006 bp containing two open reading frames (ORFs) (2367 bp for ORF1
      and 3216 bp for ORF2) with a five-nucleotide overlap (UGA/UG). The predicted ORF1
      and ORF2 encoded a putative capsid protein of 788 amino acids (84.922 kDa) and a
      putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein of 1071 amino acids (118.190
      kDa). BLASTp analysis showed that the amino acid sequences for the E. tenella
      virus shared similarity with the E. brunetti RNA virus, with 29% homology in
      capsid proteins and 36% in RDRP proteins. The two untranslated regions were 349
      bp (5' UTR) and 78 bp (3' UTR). The complete genome sequence of the E. tenella
      virus resembled characteristics of the Totiviridae family, indicating that this
      virus was a novel member of Totiviridae. Surprisingly, phylogenetic analysis
      showed that the E. tenella virus, E. brunetti RNA virus 1, and Mycoviruses were
      clustered into the genus Victorivirus and separated from the reported protozoa
      viruses, strongly suggesting a novel Eimeriaviruses subgenus. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first report for the complete genome sequence of the E.
      tenella virus. Using the nomenclature generally adopted for viruses, this new
      isolate was named E. tenella RNA virus 1. This study provides a foundation basis
      for further research on the biological characteristics of Eimeriaviruses.

PMID- 26873408
TI  - Clenbuterol causing non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a teenage
      female desiring to lose weight: case and brief literature review.

PMID- 26873409
TI  - Cervical spine immobilization may be of value following firearm injury to the
      head and neck.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Penetrating injuries to the head and neck may not be able to cause
      unstable fractures without concomitant spinal cord injury, rendering prehospital
      spinal immobilization (PHSI) ineffectual, and possibly harmful. However, this
      premise is based on reports including predominantly chest and abdominal injuries,
      which are unlikely to cause cervical spine (CS) injuries. METHODS: We performed a
      retrospective review of all patients presenting with a penetrating wound to the
      head or neck over a 4-year period at an urban, level 1 trauma center to determine
      if there was a benefit of PHSI. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-two patients were
      identified, of which 16 (9.3%) died prior to CS evaluation. Of 156 surviving
      patients, mechanism was gunshot wound (GSW) in 36 (28%) and stab wound (SW) in
      120 (72%). Fifty-eight patients had PHSI placed (37%), and GSW patients' odds of
      having PHSI were greater than SW patients (OR 2.3; CI 1.08-4.9). Eight of 156
      surviving patients eventually died (5.1%), and the odds of mortality were greater
      among those that had PHSI than those without (OR 5.54; CI 1.08-28.4). Six (3.8%;
      5 GSW, 1 SW) patients had a CS fracture. Two GSW patients (5.6%) had unstable CS
      fractures with a normal neurological exam at initial evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Of
      patients with a GSW to the head or neck that survived to be evaluated, 5.6% had
      unstable fractures without an initial neurologic deficit. PHSI may be appropriate
      in this population. Further studies are warranted prior to a determination that
      PHSI is unnecessary in penetrating head and neck injuries.

PMID- 26873410
TI  - Combined Treatment with Systemic and Local Delivery of Substance P Coupled with
      Self-Assembled Peptides for a Hind Limb Ischemia Model.
AB  - When treating critical limb ischemia caused by various chronic diseases such as
      diabetes and hypertension, it is essential to effectively induce angiogenesis to
      supply blood flow to the ischemic region. Recently, several studies have
      investigated the effects of cell transplantation with mesenchymal stem cells
      (MSCs) as a therapeutic modality for treating these ischemic diseases. However,
      some limitations have to be overcome first before cell transplantation can be
      considered as a promising treatment for ischemic diseases, such as limited
      sources of cells and the low survival rates of transplanted cells. In this study,
      self-assembled peptide (SAP) hydrogels coupled with substance P (SP) were used to
      induce the recruitment of MSCs in an injury site in mouse ischemic hind limb
      models without exogenous injection of cells. In addition, a combined delivery
      strategy consisting of local and systemic delivery of SP was used to examine the
      synergetic effects of systemic and local deliveries. Limb ischemia in athymic
      mice was induced through the femoral artery by ligating and resecting its
      branches, and SAP coupled with SP (bioactive SAPs) was injected into the ischemic
      region. The therapeutic effects on the ischemic region were observed in terms of
      cell migration, fibrosis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in each experimental group.
      The combined therapeutic delivery system resulted in the recruitment of more
      cells for effective regeneration, promotion of neovascularization, and formation
      of mature vessels for tissue perfusion and inhibition of fibrosis and cell
      apoptosis than a single treatment. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the
      combined therapy of local and system delivery of the SP-conjugated peptide
      hydrogels and SP could effectively enhance the mobilization of host cells related
      to angiogenesis to injured tissue, and consequently, they could be useful in
      treating ischemic diseases without cell transplantation.

PMID- 26873411
TI  - Cross-fostering alters advertisement vocalizations of grasshopper mice
      (Onychomys): Evidence for the developmental stress hypothesis.
AB  - Nutritional stress can have lasting impacts on the development of traits involved
      in vocal production. Cross-fostering experiments are often used to examine the
      propensity for vocal learning in a variety of taxa, but few studies assess the
      influence of malnourishment that can occur as a byproduct of this technique. In
      this study, we reciprocally cross-fostered sister taxa of voluble grasshopper
      mice (genus Onychomys) to explore their propensity for vocal learning.
      Vocalizations of Onychomys leucogaster did not differ between control and cross
      fostered animals, but cross-fostered Onychomys arenicola produced vocalizations
      that were higher in frequency in a direction away from tutors. These same animals
      exhibited a transient reduction in body mass early in development, indicative of
      malnutrition. Our findings simultaneously refute vocal learning and support the
      developmental stress hypothesis to highlight the importance of early ontogeny on
      the production of vocalizations later in life. 

PMID- 26873413
TI  - Effect of hyperprolactinemia on PRL-receptor expression and activation of Stat
      and Mapk cell signaling in the prostate of long-term sexually-active rats.
AB  - The abnormal elevation of serum PRL, referred to as hyperprolactinemia
      (HyperPRL), produces alterations in several reproductive parameters of male rats
      such as penile erection or decreased tendency to reach ejaculation. Additionally,
      this situation produces a significant modification of prostate histology, as
      observed in the epithelial structure and alveolar area, which could reach a level
      of hyperplasia in the long-term. In this tissue, HyperPRL produces an increase in
      expression of PRL receptors and activation of the Stat3 signaling pathway that is
      correlated with the evolution of prostate pathologies. However, the impact of
      HyperPRL in long-term sexually active male rats is unknown. In this work, using
      constantly copulating Wistar male rats with induced HyperPRL, we analyzed the
      level of serum PRL, the effect on prostate PRL receptors, and activation of
      pStat3, pStat5 and Mapk signaling pathways. Two procedures to induce HyperPRL
      were employed, comprising daily IP administration or adenohypophysis transplant,
      and although neither affected the execution of sexual behavior, the serum PRL
      profile following successive ejaculations was affected. Messenger RNA expression
      of the short and long isoforms of the PRL receptor at the ventral prostate was
      affected in different ways depending on the procedure to induce HyperPRL. The
      ventral prostate did not show any modification in terms of activation of the
      pStat5 signaling pathway in subjects with daily administration of PRL, although
      this was significantly increased in ADH transplanted subjects in the second and
      fourth consecutive ejaculation. A similar profile was found for the pStat3
      pathway which additionally showed a significant increase in the third and fourth
      ejaculation of daily-injected subjects. The Mapk signaling pathway did not show
      any modifications in subjects with daily administration of PRL, but showed a
      significant increase in the second and third ejaculations of subjects with ADH
      transplants. Thus, although sexual behavior was not modified, HyperPRL modified
      the expression of PRL receptors and the activation of signal pathways in the
      prostate tissue. Hence, it is probable that prostatic alterations precede the
      sexual behavioral deficits observed in subjects with HyperPRL. 

PMID- 26873412
TI  - Maternal high-fat diet increases independent feeding in pre-weanling rat pups.
AB  - In laboratory settings, the adult offspring of rodent dams that are maintained on
      high-fat diet (HFD) before conception and/or during pregnancy/lactation display
      an increased incidence of obese phenotypic markers, including increased body
      weight and adiposity, reduced leptin sensitivity, and impaired glucose tolerance.
      In rat pups raised by dams consuming HFD, these obese markers emerge during the
      first postnatal week. Since the week-old offspring of HFD dams consume excess
      amounts of milk during experimental tests of independent feeding (i.e., intake
      away from the dam), we hypothesized that maternal diet affects suckling and/or
      independent ingestion by pups in the home-cage environment. In the present study,
      this hypothesis was tested by conducting detailed analyses of ingestive behaviors
      expressed by pups in the home cage. Pups raised by dams consuming HFD displayed
      an earlier onset of independent feeding and more amounts of calorie intake from
      solid food during the third postnatal week compared to pups raised by dams
      consuming regular chow, with no diet-related differences in suckling behavior.
      Independent ingestion by pups in both diet groups was most frequently observed
      after nursing, with offspring of HFD dams engaged more frequently in post-nursing
      independent feeding episodes compared to offspring of chow-fed dams, particularly
      when the prior nursing episode was nutritive (i.e., including milk receipt by
      pups). We conclude that early-life exposure to HFD enhances the facilitative
      effect of nutritive suckling on independent feeding in pups, promoting increased
      caloric intake from solid food in the home-cage environment. 

PMID- 26873415
TI  - Indole-2-carboxylic acid derived mono and bis 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles:
      Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of anticancer, antibacterial, and DNA
      cleavage activities.
AB  - A series of new indole-2-carboxylic acid derived mono and bis 1,4-disubstituted
      1,2,3 triazoles (I(1)-I(6) and I(7)-I(12)) were synthesized and screened for
      their anticancer (in vitro and in vivo), antibacterial, and DNA cleavage
      activities. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral studies.
      The in vitro anticancer screening results revealed that compound I(12) has
      registered potential activity against MCF-7, HeLa and HEK293 as compared with the
      standard reference drug Cisplatin. Remaining compounds have exhibited moderate to
      good activity against three cancer cell lines. The antibacterial activity
      screening results revealed that compounds, I(6) and I(12) have registered
      excellent inhibition against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis in comparison
      with the standard drug Streptomycin. Compounds I(2) and I(11) have partially
      cleaved the DNA at 100 MUg mL(-1) concentration.

PMID- 26873414
TI  - Synthesis and evaluation of anticancer and antiobesity activity of 1-ethoxy
      carbonyl-3,5-bis (3'-indolyl methylene)-4-pyperidone analogs.
AB  - A series of eleven novel bisindole derivatives were synthesized and screened for
      anticancer and antiobesity potentials in in vitro mode. The reaction of 1-ethoxy
      carbonyl 4-pyperidone 1a with indole-3-carboxaldehyde 1b in presence of catalytic
      amount of piperidine gave 2 which was N-alkylated with different benzyl halides
      in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford compounds 3a-3k in quantitative
      yields. Among the compounds tested for anticancer activity against different
      human cancer cell lines, 3f significantly inhibited HepG2 cell line (IC50 7.33
      MUM) when compared with standard doxorubicin (IC50 10.15 MUM). Compounds 3e (IC50
      2.75 MUM), 3f (IC50 4.21 MUM) and 3i (IC50 15.98 MUM) showed better activity than
      the standard curcumin (IC50 23.54 MUM) against A549 cell line. Also, among the
      synthesized compounds, 3g (IC50 14.89 MUM), 3c (IC50 56.41 MUM) and 3i (IC50
      30.88 MUM) have potentially inhibited enzyme lipase when compared to standard
      Orlistat (IC50 62.25 MUM). In in silico docking assays, piperidones 3e, 3f, 3i,
      3c and 3a showed higher binding affinity towards anti-cancer target of A549 (3e: 
      11.1, 3f: -10.3, 3c: -11.3, 3i: -11.2 kcal/mol), HepG2 (3f: -10.5 kcal/mol), HeLa
      (3d: -10.0 kcal/mol) and SKOV3 (3f: -8.4 kcal/mol) cell lines better than
      standard drug doxorubicin. Docking to lipase protein for compounds 3i, 3g and 3c
      showed scores of -11.1, -10.7 and -10.5 kcal/mol when compared to that of
      standard drug Orlistat with -6.9 kcal/mol.

PMID- 26873416
TI  - Synthesis of hybrid 4-deoxypodophyllotoxin-5-fluorouracil compounds that inhibit
      cellular migration and induce cell cycle arrest.
AB  - A series of deoxypodophyllotoxin-5-fluorouracil hybrid compounds were
      synthesized, and their cytotoxic activity was evaluated using four human cancer
      cell lines (HeLa, A549, HCT-8, and HepG2) and the human normal cell line WI-38.
      The synthesized compounds exhibited greater cytotoxic activity in tumor cells and
      reduced toxicity in the normal cell line compared with the anticancer drug VP-16
      and 5-FU. Additionally, the most potent of these compounds-4'-O-demethyl-4
      deoxypodophyllotoxin-4'-yl 4-((6-(2-(5-fluorouracil-yl) acetamido) hexyl) amino)
      4-oxobutanoate (compound 22)-induced cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by
      regulating levels of cdc2, cyclinB1, and p-cdc2 in A549 cells. Furthermore,
      compound 22 may inhibited the migration of A549 cells via down-regulation of MMP
      9 and up-regulation of TIMP-1. 

PMID- 26873417
TI  - Intestinal ischemia secondary to mesenteric vessel avulsion in abdominal trauma.

PMID- 26873418
TI  - First resuscitation of critical burn patients: progresses and problems.
AB  - Currently, the aim of the resuscitation of burn patients is to maintain end-organ
      perfusion with fluid intake as minimal as possible. To avoid excess intake, we
      can improve the estimation using computer methods. Parkland and Brooke are the
      commonly used formulas, and recently, a new, an easy formula is been used, i.e.
      the 'Rule of TEN'. Fluid resuscitation should be titrated to maintain the urine
      output of approximately 30-35 mL/h for an average-sized adult. The most commonly
      used fluids are crystalloid, but the phenomenon of creep flow has renewed
      interest in albumin. In severely burn patients, monitoring with transpulmonary
      thermodilution together with lactate, ScvO2 and intraabdominal pressures is a
      good option. Nurse-driven protocols or computer-based resuscitation algorithms
      reduce the dependence on clinical decision making and decrease fluid
      resuscitation intake. High-dose vitamin C, propranolol, the avoidance of
      excessive use of morphine and mechanical ventilation are other useful resources.

PMID- 26873419
TI  - Modified glycan models of pig-to-human xenotransplantation do not enhance the
      human-anti-pig T cell response.
AB  - Genetically modified porcine models of pig-to-human xenotransplantation offer the
      most immediate answer to a growing shortage of available solid organs. Recently a
      modified porcine glycan model has been discovered that reduces human antibody
      binding to levels comparable with allograft standards. As this background
      provides an answer to the problem of acute humoral xenograft rejection (AHXR), it
      is important to consider the impact these modifications have on measures of cell
      mediated rejection. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of
      currently relevant glycan knockout models of pig-to-human xenotransplantation in
      a lymphocyte proliferation assay. To accomplish these goals, genetically modified
      pigs were created through CRISPR/Cas9-directed silencing of the GGTA1, and CMAH
      genes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and spleen cells were obtained
      from these animals and used as a source of stimulation for human responders in
      one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions. The response was tested in the presence and
      absence of clinically available immunomodifiers. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant
      glycan knockout models of pig-to-human xenotransplantation do not enhance the
      human-anti-pig cellular response. Currently available and conventional
      immunosuppression has the capacity to mediate the human xenogeneic T cell
      response to these knockout cells.

PMID- 26873420
TI  - Auditory-perceptual Evaluation of Normal and Dysphonic Voices Using the Voice
      Deviation Scale.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to (1) determine the cutoff values of the overall
      severity (OS) of vocal deviation on the visual analog scale (VAS) based on the
      ratings of the numerical scale (NS); and (2) verify the power of discrimination
      of these cutoff values according to different degrees of vocal deviation. STUDY
      DESIGN: This is a prospective study. METHODS: The auditory-perceptual evaluation
      was performed by four speech-language pathologists who used two protocols with
      different scalar properties: the VAS and the 4-point NS. Vocal samples from142
      women and 69 men, plus 10% of repetition, with and without vocal complaints,
      ranging from 19 to 60 years were included. The analyzed speaking task was the
      counting from 1 to 10. For both protocols, the judges rated the OS. RESULTS:
      Based on the correspondence between the two scales, the cutoff values of the OS
      on the VAS obtained were 35.5, 50.5, and 90.5 points. The 35.5 value corresponds
      to the cutoff point between normal variability and mild/moderate vocal
      deviations; the 50.5 value corresponds to the cutoff point between mild/moderate
      and moderate vocal deviations; the 90.5 value corresponds to the cutoff point
      between moderate and severe deviations. Areas under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve for the three cutoff values were 0.918, 0.948, and 0.970,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The cutoff values of the OS on the VAS were obtained,
      and the areas under the ROC curve showed that all the three cutoff points had
      excellent accuracy that represents a higher power of discrimination of different
      degrees of vocal deviations.

PMID- 26873421
TI  - Photographic Objective Alterations for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Diagnosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in clinical practice is
      generally made subjectively based on history, symptoms, and endoscopic
      assessment. This study presents the diagnostic role of the digital photographic
      assessment of the laryngopharyngeal region for LPR. METHODS: Seventy-two patients
      with LPR symptoms and 35 healthy volunteers were evaluated using the Reflux
      Finding Scores (RFS) and the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). The results of these
      scales were recorded in 72 patients representing group 1 with LPR diagnosis; they
      returned after 1 and 2 months of treatment as groups 2 and 3, respectively.
      Thirty-five volunteers represented group 4. Laryngopharyngeal regions of all
      subjects were examined and photographed endoscopically. Red, green, and blue
      (RGB) values of particular oropharyngeal and laryngeal points were measured.
      RESULTS: RSI and RFS values of group 1 were significantly different from the
      other three groups, as were the scores of group 2; however, the comparison of the
      RSI and RFS values of groups 3 and 4 did not reveal a statistically significant
      difference. Laryngopharyngeal RGB values also duplicated statistical significance
      as above. CONCLUSION: Measurement of RGB values can be a cheap and easy-to-use
      method to quickly provide objective and corroborative information to help in the
      diagnosis of LPR in conjunction with subjective methods.

PMID- 26873422
TI  - Vocal Responses in Heighted States of Arousal.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate electroglottography
      (EGG) contact quotient modulation with emotional state in the presence of
      increased arousal. STUDY DESIGN: A within-subject reversal paradigm using
      multiple experimental conditions. METHODS: A total of 11 healthy undergraduate
      students underwent emotion induction with intermittent startles to increase
      physiologic arousal. During emotion induction, they vocalized on the vowel /u/
      while EGG was recorded. RESULTS: EGG contact quotient was significantly greater
      for negative emotions compared with positive emotions with increased arousal
      commensurate with past research. In addition, overall EGG contact quotient was
      greater with elevated arousal. However, the effect sizes were small. CONCLUSIONS:
      EGG contact quotient appears to increase with elevated arousal and be greater for
      negative mood states than positive mood states confirming that emotion states
      directly influence vocal functioning.

PMID- 26873423
TI  - The Effect of Hydration on the Voice Quality of Future Professional Vocal
      Performers.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The application of systemic hydration as an instrument for optimal
      voice quality has been a common practice by several professional voice users over
      the years. Although the physiological action has been determined, the benefits on
      acoustic and perceptual characteristics are relatively unknown. The present study
      aimed to determine whether systemic hydration has beneficial outcomes on the
      voice quality of future professional voice users. STUDY DESIGN: A within-subject,
      pretest posttest design is applied to determine quantitative research results of
      female singing students between 18 and 32 years of age without a history of voice
      pathology. METHODS: Acoustic and perceptual data were collected before and after
      a 2-hour singing rehearsal. The difference between the hypohydrated condition
      (controlled) and the hydrated condition (experimental) and the relationship
      between adequate hydration and acoustic and perceptual parameters of voice was
      then investigated. RESULTS: A statistical significant (P = 0.041) increase in
      jitter values were obtained for the hypohydrated condition. Increased maximum
      phonation time (MPT/z/) and higher maximum frequency for hydration indicated
      further statistical significant changes in voice quality (P = 0.028 and P =
      0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Systemic hydration has positive outcomes on
      perceptual and acoustic parameters of voice quality for future professional
      singers. The singer's ability to sustain notes for longer and reach higher
      frequencies may reflect well in performances. Any positive change in voice
      quality may benefit the singer's occupational success and subsequently their
      social, emotional, and vocational well-being. More research evidence is needed to
      determine the parameters for implementing adequate hydration in vocal hygiene
      programs.

PMID- 26873424
TI  - Comparison of severity classification in Japanese patients with antineutrophil
      cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in a nationwide, prospective,
      inception cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare disease severity classification systems for six-month
      outcome prediction in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)
      associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed AAV from 53
      tertiary institutions were enrolled. Six-month remission, overall survival, and
      end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-free survival were evaluated. RESULTS: According
      to the European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS)-defined disease severity, the 321
      enrolled patients were classified as follows: 14, localized; 71, early systemic;
      170, generalized; and 66, severe disease. According to the rapidly progressive
      glomerulonephritis (RPGN) clinical grading system, the patients were divided as
      follows: 60, grade I; 178, grade II; 66, grade III; and 12, grade IV. According
      to the Five-Factor Score (FFS) 2009, 103, 109, and 109 patients had <=1, 2, and
      >=3 points, respectively. No significant difference in remission rates was found
      in any severity classification. The overall and ESRD-free survival rates
      significantly differed between grades I/II, III, and IV, regardless of renal
      involvement. Severe disease was a good predictor of six-month overall and ESRD
      free survival. The FFS 2009 was useful to predict six-month ESRD-free survival
      but not overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The RPGN grading system was more useful to
      predict six-month overall and ESRD-free survival than the EUVAS-defined severity
      or FFS 2009.

PMID- 26873425
TI  - Utility of High-Output His Pacing during Difficult AV Node Ablation. An
      Underutilized Strategy.
AB  - Atrioventricular (AV) node ablation is a commonly performed procedure for
      patients with chronic drug refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) with episodes of
      rapid ventricular response. We report on a 72-year-old man who had difficulty
      managing chronic drug refractory AFs with frequent hospitalizations for rapid
      ventricular rate. The patient was taken to the electrophysiology laboratory for
      AV node ablation. Extensive mapping and localization techniques of the compact AV
      node and ablation in the region were unsuccessful. Subsequently, high-output His
      bundle pacing using 20 mA at 2 ms of output energy was performed in an attempt to
      localize the His bundle in areas where high-output pacing resulted in a narrower
      QRS complex. Further ablations in the areas where pacing produced a narrower QRS
      complex resulted in complete heart block. This case highlights the importance of
      using this simple pacing maneuver to achieve complete heart block in patients in
      whom standard strategies to localize and ablate the compact AV node are
      unsuccessful.

PMID- 26873426
TI  - Therapeutic effects of quercetin on early inflammation in hypertriglyceridemia
      related acute pancreatitis and its mechanism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of quercetin on early-stage
      inflammation in hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-related acute pancreatitis (AP) both
      in vivo and in vitro, and its possible mechanism. METHODS: In vivo, rats were fed
      a high-fat diet to induce HTG, and AP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of
      cerulein (50 MUg/kg * 2). Quercetin (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) was administered by
      intraperitoneal injection after AP induction. In vitro, rat exocrine acinar cells
      were preincubated with palmitic acid (PA, 0.1 mmol/L, 6 h) with quercetin (5, 10,
      20 and 40 MUM) prior to a cholecystokinin analog CCK-8 (20pM). Injury of the
      pancreas was assessed by amylase secretion and pancreatic histological
      evaluation. Inflammation was estimated by measuring IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha and
      NF-kB expression. Dynamic expression of IRE1alpha, sXBP1, C/EBPalpha and
      C/EBPbeta was monitored by real-time PCR, immunofluorescence (IF) and western
      blot (WB). RESULTS: Quercetin intervention reduced plasma amylase level (P <
      0.001) in a dose-dependent manner, attenuated pancreatic histopathological damage
      (P < 0.05), and reduced the mRNA and protein expression of NF-kB, IL-1beta, IL-6,
      TNFalpha (P < 0.05) more significantly in HTG-related AP rats than in normal
      lipid AP rats. Quercetin also down-regulated gene and protein expression levels
      of IRE1alpha, sXBP1, C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta in a dose-dependent manner.
      CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin attenuates early-stage inflammation in HTG-related AP,
      probably by reducing IRE1alpha, sXBP1, C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta expression.

PMID- 26873427
TI  - Building a global teledermatology collaboration.
AB  - Skin disease is common in low-resource countries and is associated with
      significant morbidity. The disease burden is often heightened by lack of access
      to adequate diagnosis and treatment. Teledermatology is a growing healthcare
      delivery modality that allows access to subspecialty care at a distance. This
      article describes how a low-cost teledermatology program was launched through
      collaboration between the Medical College of Wisconsin and Hillside Healthcare
      International. Several factors are required for a teledermatology program to be
      successful, beginning with a partnership between two entities that targets a
      locally identified need and is mutually beneficial to invested partners. The
      program should utilize the expertise of each partner, be based on an agreed upon
      process with clearly defined objectives, and protect patient privacy. After a
      program is implemented, adaptation to address challenges and best meet the needs
      of all parties involved will allow for continued success and sustainability. This
      process can serve as a model for other programs desiring to establish similar
      teledermatology partnerships in an academic setting. 

PMID- 26873430
TI  - Risk for malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biological
      disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs compared to the general population: A
      nationwide cohort study in Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the risk for malignancy in rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) patients treated with biologics in Japan to the general
      population. METHODS: Data for 14,440 patients from 335 institutions who were
      given infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab, tocilizumab, or abatacept
      were retrieved from the SafEty of biologics in Clinical Use in Japanese patients
      with RhEumatoid arthritis (SECURE) database. RESULTS: We identified 333 incidents
      of malignancies in 320 patients during 49,320 patient-years (PY). The age- and
      sex-standardized incidence rate (ASR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for overall
      malignancy of the SECURE cohort was 313.9/10(5) PY (271.4-361.3), and the
      standardized incidence rate ratio (SIR) (95% CI) was 0.745 (0.667-0.826). The ASR
      was decreased compared to the estimated incidence rate of malignancies in the
      Japanese general population (462.4/10(5) PY). The SIRs for site-specific
      nonhematopoietic malignancies of the SECURE cohort were not significantly
      elevated compared to the Japanese general population. A significant increase of
      SIR for malignant lymphoma (6.183, 95% CI, 4.809-7.643) was found in the SECURE
      cohort, similar to or slightly higher than the SIR previously reported from
      Japanese cohorts for RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Continued vigilance with larger
      numbers of patients, longer observation periods, and inclusion of different
      biologics are recommended.

PMID- 26873432
TI  - In Vitro Gamete Differentiation from Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Promising
      Therapy for Infertility.
AB  - Generation of gametes derived in vitro from pluripotent stem cells holds
      promising prospects for future reproductive applications. Indeed, it provides
      information on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying germ cell (GC)
      development and could offer a new potential treatment for infertility. Great
      progress has been made in derivation of gametes from embryonic stem cells,
      despite ethical issues. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology allows
      the reprogramming of a differentiated somatic cell, possibly emanating from the
      patient, into a pluripotent state. With the emergence of iPSCs, several studies
      created primordial GC stage to mature gamete-like cells in vitro in mice and
      humans. Recent findings in GC derivation suggest that in mice, functional gametes
      can be generated in vitro. This strengthens the idea that it might be possible in
      the future to generate functional human sperm and oocytes from pluripotent stem
      cells in culture. 

PMID- 26873433
TI  - An Unexpected Subdural Collection: Story of a Prostatic Metastasis.

PMID- 26873431
TI  - A comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of the AD8 and BCAT-SF in identifying
      dementia and mild cognitive impairment in long-term care residents.
AB  - We compared the accuracy of the Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool-Short Form (BCAT
      SF) and AD8 in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia among
      long-term care residents. Psychometric analyses of 357 long-term care residents
      (n = 228, nursing home; n = 129, assisted living) in Maryland referred for
      neuropsychological evaluation evidenced robust internal consistency reliability
      and construct validity for the BCAT-SF. Furthermore, hierarchical logistic
      regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses demonstrated
      superior predictive validity for the BCAT-SF in identifying MCI and dementia
      relative to the AD8. In contrast, previously reported psychometric properties or
      cut scores for the AD8 could not be cross-validated in this long-term care
      sample. Based on these findings, the BCAT-SF appears to be a more reliable and
      valid screening instrument than the AD8 for rapidly identifying MCI and dementia
      in long-term care residents.

PMID- 26873434
TI  - Rare Case of Excessive Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Producing Intrascrotal
      Leiomyosarcoma: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Therapeutic Implications.

PMID- 26873435
TI  - Increased Expression of Tripartite Motif (TRIM) 47 Is a Negative Prognostic
      Predictor in Human Prostate Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many prognostic biomarkers associated with androgen signaling have
      been proposed in PC. The role of tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins remains unclear
      in PC. We investigated TRIM protein 47 (TRIM47) expression levels in human
      prostate tissues. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry using original
      TRIM47 antibody in prostate tissues obtained by radical prostatectomy (n = 105).
      Stained slides were evaluated for the proportion and staining intensity of
      immunoreactive cells. Total immunoreactivity (IR) scores (range, 0-8) were
      calculated as the sum of the proportion and intensity scores. TRIM47 expression
      levels were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction (qRT-PCR). Associations between the clinicopathologic features of the
      patients and their TRIM47 status were analyzed. RESULTS: Western blot analysis
      validated the specificity of the anti-TRIM47 antibody in 293T cells. TRIM47
      expression levels were found to be significantly increased in PC compared to
      benign tissues by both immunohistochemistry (P < .0001) and qRT-PCR (P = .003).
      Additionally, advanced pathologic stage (>= T3b) was found to be associated with
      high TRIM47 IR scores (>= 4; P = .04). Furthermore, high TRIM47 IR scores were
      also significantly correlated with worse cancer-specific survival rates in
      multivariate regression analyses (hazard ratio, 6.82; P = .016). CONCLUSION: The
      results of the present study indicated differential TRIM47 expression levels in
      human prostate tissues compared to benign tissues. Because high levels of TRIM47
      expression were found to be a strong prognostic factor in PC, TRIM47 may
      represent a novel therapeutic target.

PMID- 26873436
TI  - Brain Metastasis Responsive to Pazopanib in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report
      and Review of the Literature.

PMID- 26873437
TI  - Functional benefits of implants placed during ablative surgery: A 5-year
      prospective study on the prosthodontic rehabilitation of 56 edentulous oral
      cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The timing of placement as well as the functional benefit of
      interforaminal implants in edentulous patients treated for oral cancer is
      unclear. METHODS: Fifty-six patients were recruited at 2 institutions. In 1
      institution, interforaminal implants were placed during ablative surgery, the
      other institution used conventional prosthodontics with optional placement of
      implants postsurgery (postponed-placement). Masticatory performance, bite force,
      and subjective masticatory function were assessed before and 6 months, 1 year,
      and 5 years after surgery. RESULTS: Implant-retained overdentures (IODs)
      demonstrated the highest bite force and the least problems with solid food and
      food choice. Masticatory performance was equal for IODs and conventional
      dentures. After 5 years, IODs from patients in the during-ablative-surgery cohort
      tend to have higher bite force and masticatory performance than those from
      patients in the postponed-placement cohort. CONCLUSION: IODs produce the highest
      overall masticatory function. Implant placement during ablative surgery seems to
      be functionally beneficial. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2103
      E2111, 2016.

PMID- 26873438
TI  - The Cultural Competence of Graduating Nursing Students.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cultural competence is an essential component in nursing. The purpose of
      this study was to evaluate the level of cultural competence of graduating nursing
      students, to identify associated background factors to cultural competence, and
      furthermore to establish whether teaching multicultural nursing was implemented
      in nursing education. DESIGN: A structured Cultural Competence Assessment Tool
      was used in a correlational design with a sample of 295 nursing students in
      southern Finland. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The level of cultural competence was
      moderate, and the majority of students had studied multicultural nursing.
      Minority background (p = .001), frequency of interacting with different cultures
      (p = .002), linguistic skills (p = .002), and exchange studies (p = .024) were
      positively associated to higher cultural competence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
      To improve cultural competence in students, nursing education should provide
      continuous opportunities for students to interact with different cultures,
      develop linguistic skills, and provide possibilities for internationalization
      both at home and abroad.

PMID- 26873439
TI  - Why some tumours trigger neovascularisation and others don't: the story thus far.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is not essential for tumours to develop and expand, as
      cancer can also grow in a non-angiogenic fashion, but why this type of growth
      occurs is unknown. Surprisingly, our data from mRNA transcription profiling did
      not show any differences in the classical angiogenic pathways, but differences
      were observed in mitochondrial metabolic pathways, suggesting a key role for
      metabolic reprogramming. We then validated these results with mRNA profiling by
      investigating differential protein expression via immunohistochemistry in
      angiogenic and non-angiogenic non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). METHODS:
      Immunohistochemical staining for 35 angiogenesis- and hypoxia-related biomarkers
      were performed on a collection of 194 angiogenic and 73 non-angiogenic NSCLCs
      arranged on tissue microarrays. Sequencing of P53 was performed with frozen
      tissue samples of NSCLC. RESULTS: The non-angiogenic tumours were distinguished
      from the angiogenic ones by having higher levels of proteins associated with
      ephrin pathways, mitochondria, cell biogenesis, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1
      (HIF1) regulation by oxygen and transcription of HIF-controlled genes but lower
      levels of proteins involved in the stroma, cell-cell signaling and adhesion,
      integrins, and Delta-Notch and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related signaling.
      However, proteins classically associated with angiogenesis were present in both
      types of tumours at very comparable levels. Cytoplasmic expression of P53 was
      strongly associated with non-angiogenic tumours. A pilot investigation showed
      that P53 mutations were observed in 32.0% of angiogenic cases but in 71.4% of non
      angiogenic tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations thus far indicate that both
      angiogenic and non-angiogenic tumours experience hypoxia/HIF and vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway protein expression in a comparable
      fashion. However, angiogenesis does not ensue in the non-angiogenic tumours.
      Surprisingly, metabolic reprogramming seems to distinguish these two types of
      neoplastic growth. On the basis of these results, we raise the hypothesis that in
      some, but not in all cases, initial tissue remodeling and/or inflammation could
      be one of the secondary steps necessary to trigger angiogenesis. In the non
      angiogenic tumours, in which neovascularisation fails to occur, HIF pathway
      activation could be the driving force toward metabolic reprogramming.

PMID- 26873440
TI  - The mythology of "spontaneous" human combustion.

PMID- 26873442
TI  - Fatal bronchial obstruction due to a tumor fragment originating from the
      contralateral lung during pneumonectomy.

PMID- 26873441
TI  - Into the wax: forensic and anthropological analysis of human hairs in Merovingian
      and Carolingian royal seals (France).

PMID- 26873443
TI  - Molecular processes in the streptokinase thrombolytic therapy.
AB  - The aim of this research is to evaluate the current streptokinase thrombolytic
      treatment and to identify or improve new techniques that will base new approaches
      with a higher efficiency in this area of expertise. In order to be as realistic
      as possible a new method was set up using magnetic vectorized nanoparticles
      streptokinase and human blood thrombus. The experimental data confirm the maximum
      83% thrombus lyses whenever increase streptokinase concentration. It is very
      probable to happen because of the presence of high concentration of antiplasmin
      in the blood that neutralizes around half of the thrombolytic potential of the
      sanguine plasminogen. The experiment shows also that only free serum plasminogen
      are available for streptokinase action in order to generate plasmin. 

PMID- 26873445
TI  - Heparanase Is Essential for the Development of Acute Experimental
      Glomerulonephritis.
AB  - Heparanase, a heparan sulfate (HS)--specific endoglucuronidase, mediates the
      onset of proteinuria and renal damage during experimental diabetic nephropathy.
      Glomerular heparanase expression is increased in most proteinuric diseases.
      Herein, we evaluated the role of heparanase in two models of experimental
      glomerulonephritis, being anti-glomerular basement membrane and
      lipopolysaccharide-induced glomerulonephritis, in wild-type and heparanase
      deficient mice. Induction of experimental glomerulonephritis led to an increased
      heparanase expression in wild-type mice, which was associated with a decreased
      glomerular expression of a highly sulfated HS domain, and albuminuria.
      Albuminuria was reduced in the heparanase-deficient mice in both models of
      experimental glomerulonephritis, which was accompanied by a better renal function
      and less renal damage. Notably, glomerular HS expression was preserved in the
      heparanase-deficient mice. Glomerular leukocyte and macrophage influx was reduced
      in the heparanase-deficient mice, which was accompanied by a reduced expression
      of both types 1 and 2 helper T-cell cytokines. In vitro, tumor necrosis factor
      alpha and lipopolysaccharide directly induced heparanase expression and increased
      transendothelial albumin passage. Our study shows that heparanase contributes to
      proteinuria and renal damage in experimental glomerulonephritis by decreasing
      glomerular HS expression, enhancing renal leukocyte and macrophage influx, and
      affecting the local cytokine milieu.

PMID- 26873447
TI  - Activation of the OVOL1-OVOL2 Axis in the Hair Bulb and in Pilomatricoma.
AB  - OVOL1 and OVOL2, ubiquitously conserved genes encoding C2H2 zinc finger
      transcription factors in mammals, control epithelial cell proliferation, and
      differentiation, including those in skin. OVOL1 and OVOL2 expression is
      coordinately mediated via the Wnt signaling pathway, and OVOL1 negatively
      regulates OVOL2 expression in a transcriptional manner. Our previous study of
      OVOL1 expression in human skin revealed that OVOL1 is preferentially expressed in
      the inner root sheath of the hair follicle. Therefore, we hypothesized that the
      OVOL1-OVOL2 axis is involved in normal and neoplastic follicular differentiation.
      Immunohistochemical analysis showed that OVOL1 and OVOL2 were strongly expressed
      in a mutually exclusive manner in the cytoplasm of inner root sheath cells and
      matrix cells, respectively, in normal follicles. OVOL2 was also expressed in
      pilomatricoma, with only partial expression of OVOL1. Cultured human
      keratinocytes expressed OVOL1 and OVOL2 on both the mRNA and protein levels. The
      expression of OVOL2 was higher in keratinocytes transfected with siRNA of OVOL1.
      Ketoconazole, a hair growth stimulant, up-regulated the expression of OVOL1 but
      did not affect OVOL2 expression. These results indicated that the OVOL1-OVOL2
      axis may actively contribute to cell differentiation and proliferation in the
      hair bulb, suggesting that the OVOL1 and OVOL2 may be therapeutic targets of hair
      disorders, including alopecia, and play important roles in the tumorigenesis of
      pilomatricoma. 

PMID- 26873450
TI  - Acromegaly presenting as cutis verticis gyrata.

PMID- 26873444
TI  - First translational 'Think Tank' on cerebrovascular disease, cognitive impairment
      and dementia.
AB  - As the human population continues to age, an increasing number of people will
      exhibit significant deficits in cognitive function and dementia. It is now
      recognized that cerebrovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases all
      play major roles in the evolution of cognitive impairment and dementia. Thus with
      our more recent recognition of these relationships and our need to understand and
      more positively impact on this world health problem, "The Leo and Anne Albert
      Charitable Trust" (Gene Pranzo, Trustee with significant support from Susan
      Brogan, Meeting Planner) provided generous support for this inaugural
      international workshop that was held from April 13-16, 2015 at the beautiful Ritz
      Carlton Golf Resort in North Naples, Florida. Researchers from SUNY Downstate
      Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY organized the event by selecting the present group
      of translationally inclined preclinical, clinical and population scientists
      focused on cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk and its progression to vascular
      cognitive impairment (VCI) and dementia. Participants at the workshop addressed
      important issues related to aging, cognition and dementia by: (1) sharing new
      data, information and perspectives that intersect vascular, metabolic and
      neurodegenerative diseases, (2) discussing gaps in translating population risk,
      clinical and preclinical information to the progression of cognitive loss, and
      (3) debating new approaches and methods to fill these gaps that can translate
      into future therapeutic interventions. Participants agreed on topics for group
      discussion prior to the meeting and focused on specific translational goals that
      included promoting better understanding of dementia mechanisms, the
      identification of potential therapeutic targets for intervention, and
      discussed/debated the potential utility of diagnostic/prognostic markers. Below
      summarizes the new data-presentations, concepts, novel directions and specific
      discussion topics addressed by this international translational team at our
      "First Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust 'Think Tank' VCI workshop". 

PMID- 26873446
TI  - New Molecular Insight into Mechanism of Evolution of Mammalian Synthetic Prions.
AB  - Previous studies established that transmissible prion diseases could be induced
      by in vitro-produced recombinant prion protein (PrP) fibrils with structures that
      are fundamentally different from that of authentic PrP scrapie isoform (PrP(Sc)).
      To explain evolution of synthetic prions, a new mechanism referred to as deformed
      templating was introduced. Here, we asked whether an increase in expression level
      of the cellular form of PrP (PrP(C)) speeds up the evolution of synthetic strains
      in vivo. We found that in transgenic mice that overexpress hamster PrP(C), PrP(C)
      overexpression accelerated recombinant PrP fibril-induced conversion of PrP(C) to
      the abnormal proteinase K-resistant state, referred to as atypical PrPres, which
      was the first product of PrP(C) misfolding in vivo. However, overexpression of
      PrP(C) did not facilitate the second step of synthetic strain evolution
      transition from atypical PrPres to PrP(Sc), which is attributed to the stochastic
      nature of rare deformed templating events. In addition, the potential of atypical
      PrPres to interfere with replication of a short-incubation time prion strain was
      investigated. Atypical PrPres was found to interfere strongly with replication of
      263K in vitro; however, it did not delay prion disease in animals. The rate of
      deformed templating does not depend on the concentration of substrate and is
      hence more likely to be controlled by the intrinsic rate of conformational errors
      in templating alternative self-propagating states.

PMID- 26873449
TI  - Differentiating parts of Cinnamomum cassia using LC-qTOF-MS in conjunction with
      principal component analysis.
AB  - Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui in Chinese), cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) and shaved cinnamon
      bark (Gui Sin) have been widely used as spices and in traditional Chinese
      medicine since ancient times. On-going issues related to quality and authenticity
      necessitate the development of analytical methods capable of providing an
      objective evaluation of samples. In this study, chemical fingerprints of cinnamon
      bark, cinnamon twigs and shaved cinnamon bark were established using liquid
      chromatography quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry in conjunction with
      principal component analysis (PCA). From 125 samples of cinnamon, we identified
      the following eight compounds and their the detection ratios: coumarin,
      cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, 2
      hydroxycinnamic acid, 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde and 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde. Of
      these, 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde presented the largest variations in detection
      ratio, making up 64.0, 97.4 and 50.0% in cinnamon bark, cinnamon twig, and shaved
      cinnamon bark, respectively. The quantities of cinnamyl alcohol, coumarin and
      cinnamaldehyde also varied between the three parts of the plant. Chemical
      fingerprints of the three cinnamon samples were established using principal
      component analysis, the results of which indicate that cinnamon bark and shaved
      cinnamon bark could be easily differentiated, despite a marked similarity in
      outward appearance. Cinnamon twig was also shown to depart from the other
      clusters. The proposed method provides a fast and efficient means of identifying
      cinnamon herbs for quality control purposes. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26873451
TI  - Acromegaly.
AB  - Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, progressive disease characterized by an excess
      secretion of growth hormone (GH) and increased circulating insulin-like growth
      factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations. It is caused by a pituitary adenoma in the vast
      majority of cases. The clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms related to GH
      excess, is often delayed due to the insidious nature of the disease.
      Consequently, patients often have established systemic complications at diagnosis
      with increased morbidity and premature mortality. Serum IGF-1 measurement is
      recommended as the initial screen for patients with suspected acromegaly. The
      gold standard diagnostic test remains the oral glucose tolerance test with
      concomitant GH measurement. Therapy for acromegaly is targeted at decreasing GH
      and IGF-1 levels, ameliorating patients' symptoms and decreasing any local
      compressive effects of the pituitary adenoma. The therapeutic options for
      acromegaly include surgery, medical therapies (such as dopamine agonists,
      somatostatin receptor agonists and the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant) and
      radiotherapy. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended with often a
      requirement for combined treatment modalities. With disease control, associated
      morbidity and mortality can be reduced. The recently published evidence-based
      guidelines by the Endocrine society addressed important clinical issues regarding
      the evaluation and management of acromegaly. This review discusses advances in
      our understanding of the pathophysiology of acromegaly, diagnosis of various
      forms of the disease and focuses on current treatment modalities, and on future
      pharmacological therapies for patients with acromegaly.

PMID- 26873452
TI  - A sad mood increases attention to unhealthy food images in women with food
      addiction.
AB  - Food addiction and emotional eating both influence eating and weight, but little
      is known of how negative mood affects the attentional processes that may
      contribute to food addiction. The purpose of this study was to compare attention
      to food images in adult women (N = 66) with versus without food addiction, before
      and after a sad mood induction (MI). Participants' eye fixations were tracked and
      recorded throughout 8-s presentations of displays with healthy food, unhealthy
      food, and non-food images. Food addiction was self-reported using the Yale Food
      Addiction Scale. The sad MI involved watching an 8-min video about a young child
      who passed away from cancer. It was predicted that: (1) participants in the food
      addiction group would attend to unhealthy food significantly more than
      participants in the control group, and (2) participants in the food addiction
      group would increase their attention to unhealthy food images following the sad
      MI, due to increased emotional reactivity and poorer emotional regulation. As
      predicted, the sad MI had a different effect for those with versus without food
      addiction: for participants with food addiction, attention to unhealthy images
      increased following the sad MI and attention to healthy images decreased, whereas
      for participants without food addiction the sad MI did not alter attention to
      food. These findings contribute to researchers' understanding of the cognitive
      factors underlying food addiction. 

PMID- 26873454
TI  - Consumer consciousness on meat and the environment - Exploring differences.
AB  - Global environmental challenges require changes in both the production and the
      consumption of goods. In this paper we analyse how consumers perceive the high
      environmental burden of meat. We analysed consumer environmental consciousness,
      including problem awareness and a support to action dimensions, latter including
      perceived self-efficacy as well as solutions to problems. The solutions were
      positioned on a continuum from increasing the efficiency of production to
      discussing sufficiency levels in consumption practices (techno-optimism, local
      meat, organic meat and meat reduction, respectively). We used a statistically
      representative survey sample (n = 1890) from the population of Finland and
      cluster analysis to explore differences among consumers. The analysis revealed
      that most Finns seem to be rather unsure of the study topic. At the same time
      they tend to have a comparably high level of self-efficacy (55 per cent of
      respondents) and endorsement of particularly local meat solution type (55%),
      followed by organic meat (35%), meat reduction (25%) and techno-optimism (15%),
      though the neutral stand was the most common one across the data. We also
      identified six consumer groups that reveal not only a high number of Highly
      unsure consumers (40%), but also some Rather conscious (20%) and a relatively
      small number of Highly conscious (8%). In addition, there were also easily
      observable groups of Careless conscious (14%), Rather unsure (9%) and Resistant
      (8%). The results highlight the need for a multitude of political actions to
      guide meat consumption, as there are groups that may benefit from practical tools
      for making dietary changes as well as groups in need for more comprehensive
      selection of measures, including environmental information.

PMID- 26873453
TI  - Chocolate intake is associated with better cognitive function: The Maine-Syracuse
      Longitudinal Study.
AB  - Chocolate and cocoa flavanols have been associated with improvements in a range
      of health complaints dating from ancient times, and has established
      cardiovascular benefits. Less is known about the effects of chocolate on
      neurocognition and behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate whether
      chocolate intake was associated with cognitive function, with adjustment for
      cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors. Cross-sectional analyses were
      undertaken on 968 community-dwelling participants, aged 23-98 years, from the
      Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS). Habitual chocolate intake was related
      to cognitive performance, measured with an extensive battery of
      neuropsychological tests. More frequent chocolate consumption was significantly
      associated with better performance on the Global Composite score, Visual-Spatial
      Memory and Organization, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract
      Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination. With the exception of Working
      Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for
      cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors. Prospective analyses revealed no
      association between cognitive function and chocolate intake measured up to 18
      years later. Further intervention trials and longitudinal studies are needed to
      explore relations between chocolate, cocoa flavanols and cognition, and the
      underlying causal mechanisms. 

PMID- 26873456
TI  - Ischaemic stroke from a large mitral vegetation as clinical presentation of
      infective endocarditis.

PMID- 26873455
TI  - Knowledge and perceptions of asthma in Zambia: a cross-sectional survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Zambia is currently experiencing an epidemiological transition, from
      communicable to non-communicable diseases. The annual rate of physician-diagnosed
      asthma is estimated at 3 %. However, the general public's knowledge of asthma
      symptoms and signs, and their perception of asthma remain unknown. A survey was
      conducted aiming to determine knowledge and perceptions of asthma among Zambians.
      METHODS: Adults and adolescents attending four clinics in the capital, Lusaka,
      were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire from July 2011 to March 2012.
      RESULTS: Data from 1,540 participants (mean age 30.7 years, 65% female) were
      collected. Most patients (74%) were living in low-cost housing. One hundred and
      sixteen (7.6%) participants reported either a medical diagnosis of asthma or
      currently taking asthma medications. The most frequent asthma symptoms reported
      were wheezing (88%), and waking up at night with either shortness of breath
      (85%), chest tightness (85%), or cough (67%). Medications used to treat asthma
      were mostly oral short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) (59%), inhaled SABA (30.2%)
      and antibiotics (29.8%). Inhaled steroids were only used by 16.4% while less than
      1% were on long-acting beta-agonists (LABA). Many misconceptions were identified
      among the entire surveyed population with only 54.7% believing hospitalisations
      are not preventable, 54.7% believing asthma symptoms can be prevented with the
      right medications and 37% believing inhalers are addictive. Nearly 60% thought
      that people with asthma cannot exercise or play hard. Significantly more
      individuals with asthma compared to those without thought tablets are better than
      inhalers for the treatment of asthma (46% vs 30%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
      knowledge on asthma is poor in Zambia, where there remains many misconceptions on
      asthma and its management.

PMID- 26873459
TI  - Speckle tracking echo to assess transthyretin amyloidosis type: is it useful (or
      necessary)?

PMID- 26873457
TI  - Tricuspid regurgitation progression and regression in pulmonary arterial
      hypertension: implications for right ventricular and tricuspid valve apparatus
      geometry and patients outcome.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of tricuspid
      regurgitation (TR) progression in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and its
      effect on survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 88 patients with PAH and
      functional TR (mean pulmonary artery pressure 49 +/- 14 mmHg; 43% idiopathic PAH)
      who had serial echocardiograms. TR progression (n = 35) was defined as <=mild TR
      on Echo 1 and >=moderate TR on Echo 2. TR regression (n = 17) was defined as
      >=moderate TR on Echo 1 and <=mild TR on Echo 2. Stable TR (n = 36) was defined
      as <=mild TR on both echoes. TR progression was associated with an increase in
      pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP, 62 +/- 22-92 +/- 23 mmHg, P < 0.0001),
      right ventricular (RV) enlargement, mainly at mid-ventricular level, increased RV
      sphericity (6.1 +/- 1.7-6.9 +/- 1.8, P = 0.004), tricuspid annular (TA)
      dilatation (4.0 +/- 0.7-4.6 +/- 0.7 cm, P < 0.0001), and increased tricuspid
      valve (TV) tenting area (2.0 +/- 0.7-2.5 +/- 1.0 cm2, P = 0.0003). TR regression
      was associated with a reduction in PASP (84 +/- 15-55 +/- 18 mmHg, P < 0.0001),
      reverse RV remodelling with a reduction in RV sphericity (6.3 +/- 1.4-5.5 +/-
      1.0, P = 0.02), and a reduction in TA size (4.1 +/- 0.7-3.6 +/- 0.7 cm, P = 0.02)
      and TV tenting (2.1 +/- 0.7-1.3 +/- 0.5 cm2, P = 0.0002). TR progression was
      associated with all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.0007). CONCLUSION: In PAH, TR
      progression was associated with worsening pulmonary hypertension and adverse RV
      and TV apparatus remodelling. TR progression is associated with poor outcome in
      PAH.

PMID- 26873458
TI  - Comparison of the standard and speckle tracking echocardiographic features of
      wild-type and mutated transthyretin cardiac amyloidoses.
AB  - AIMS: To compare cardiac function in patients with the two types of transthyretin
      (TTR)-related amyloidoses [wild-type (wt) and mutated (m) TTR amyloidoses (ATTR)]
      using standard and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Twenty-one consecutive patients with biopsy-proved ATTRwt were compared with 21
      patients with ATTRm from the database, matched by age and left ventricular (LV)
      wall thickness (n = 135, ATTRm). All patients were examined using 2D
      echocardiography. Apical four- and two-chamber, and long-axis views and basal,
      mid, and apical short-axis views were used to examine LV longitudinal,
      circumferential, and radial strains. LV ejection fraction (EF), LV basal
      circumferential/radial strain, and mid-radial strain were significantly lower in
      patients with ATTRwt compared with patients with ATTRm. There was no significant
      difference between the two groups in the other parameters. In the receiver
      operating characteristic curve analysis, LVEF and LV basal mean radial strain
      were the best parameters for distinguishing between the two groups. CONCLUSION:
      Patients with ATTRwt are characterized by lower LVEF, LV basal, and LV mid-radial
      strains compared with patients with ATTRm. LVEF and LV radial strain are useful
      in distinguishing between ATTRwt and ATTRm when TTR has been proved in biopsy
      specimens.

PMID- 26873460
TI  - Strain echocardiography is related to fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AB  - AIMS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients are at risk of ventricular
      arrhythmias (VAs). We aimed to explore whether systolic function by strain
      echocardiography is related to VAs and to the extent of fibrosis by cardiac
      magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 150 HCM
      patients and 50 healthy individuals. VAs were defined as non-sustained and
      sustained ventricular tachycardia and aborted cardiac arrest. Left ventricular
      function was assessed by ejection fraction (EF) and by global longitudinal strain
      (GLS) assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Mechanical dispersion was
      calculated as standard deviation (SD) of time from Q/R on ECG to peak
      longitudinal strain in 16 left ventricular segments. Late gadolinium enhancement
      (LGE) was assessed by CMR. HCM patients had similar EF (61 +/- 5% vs. 61 +/- 8%,
      P = 0.77), but worse GLS (-15.7 +/- 3.6% vs. -21.1 +/- 1.9%, P < 0.001) and more
      pronounced mechanical dispersion (64 +/- 22 vs. 36 +/- 13 ms, P < 0.001) compared
      with healthy individuals. VAs were documented in 37 (25%) HCM patients. Patients
      with VAs had worse GLS (-14.1 +/- 3.6% vs. -16.3 +/- 3.4%, P < 0.01), more
      pronounced mechanical dispersion (79 +/- 27 vs. 59 +/- 16 ms, P < 0.001), and
      higher %LGE (6.1 +/- 7.8% vs. 0.5 +/- 1.4%, P < 0.001) than patients without VAs.
      Mechanical dispersion correlated with %LGE (R = 0.52, P < 0.001) and was
      independently associated with VAs (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3, P = 0.02) and improved
      risk stratification for VAs. CONCLUSION: GLS, mechanical dispersion, and LGE were
      markers of VAs in HCM patients. Mechanical dispersion was a strong independent
      predictor of VAs and related to the extent of fibrosis. Strain echocardiography
      may improve risk stratification of VAs in HCM.

PMID- 26873462
TI  - Friedmanniella aerolata sp. nov., isolated from air.
AB  - A novel bacterium, strain 7515T-26T, was isolated from an air sample collected in
      Taean region, Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non
      flagellated cocci, growing in the temperature, pH and NaCl ranges of 10-33 
      degrees C, pH 5.0-9.0 and 0-2 % (w/v). It shared high 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarity with Friedmanniella lacustris EL-17AT (97.6 %), Friedmanniella lucida
      FA2T (96.9 %) and Friedmanniella luteola FA1T (96.9 %), showing high sequence
      similarities of 96.5-97.6 % with members of the genus Friedmanniella.
      Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 7515T-26T
      and members of the genus Friedmanniella formed a compact cluster separable from
      other genera. The isolate contained anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15
      : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, and MK-9(H4) as the predominant isoprenoid
      quinone. Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylinositol, two unknown phospholipids and one unknown lipid, and the
      DNA G+C content was 73.1 mol%. The peptidoglycan type was A3gamma. It showed DNA
      DNA hybridization values of less than 70 % with F. lacustris EL-17AT. On the
      basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, a novel species, Friedmanniella
      aerolata sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is 7515T-26T ( = KACC 17306T =
      DSM 27139T). 

PMID- 26873463
TI  - Topological data analysis: A promising big data exploration tool in biology,
      analytical chemistry and physical chemistry.
AB  - An important feature of experimental science is that data of various kinds is
      being produced at an unprecedented rate. This is mainly due to the development of
      new instrumental concepts and experimental methodologies. It is also clear that
      the nature of acquired data is significantly different. Indeed in every areas of
      science, data take the form of always bigger tables, where all but a few of the
      columns (i.e. variables) turn out to be irrelevant to the questions of interest,
      and further that we do not necessary know which coordinates are the interesting
      ones. Big data in our lab of biology, analytical chemistry or physical chemistry
      is a future that might be closer than any of us suppose. It is in this sense that
      new tools have to be developed in order to explore and valorize such data sets.
      Topological data analysis (TDA) is one of these. It was developed recently by
      topologists who discovered that topological concept could be useful for data
      analysis. The main objective of this paper is to answer the question why topology
      is well suited for the analysis of big data set in many areas and even more
      efficient than conventional data analysis methods. Raman analysis of single
      bacteria should be providing a good opportunity to demonstrate the potential of
      TDA for the exploration of various spectroscopic data sets considering different
      experimental conditions (with high noise level, with/without spectral
      preprocessing, with wavelength shift, with different spectral resolution, with
      missing data). 

PMID- 26873461
TI  - Normal range and usefulness of right ventricular systolic strain to detect subtle
      right ventricular systolic abnormalities in patients with heart failure: a
      multicentre study.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of the present multicentre study was to analyse a large cohort of
      healthy subjects and patients with a common condition such as heart failure (HF)
      with the purpose of determining the normal range and the usefulness of right
      ventricular (RV) systolic strain to detect subtle RV systolic abnormalities using
      2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 238
      healthy subjects and a cohort of 642 patients characterized by asymptomatic
      patients (n = 216) and patients with HF with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced
      (HFrEF) ejection fraction (n = 218 and n = 208, respectively) prospectively
      included in 10 centres. The normal range of RV systolic strain analysing the
      healthy subjects was as follows: RV global strain -24.5 +/- 3.8 and RV free wall
      strain -28.5 +/- 4.8 (lowest expected value -17 and -19%, respectively).
      Concerning the ability of these myocardial parameters to detect subtle RV
      systolic abnormalities, RV global and free wall systolic strain were able to
      detect subtle RV longitudinal systolic abnormalities in a significant proportion
      of patients with HFrEF and to a lesser extent in HFpEF despite preserved
      tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, tricuspid lateral annular peak
      systolic velocity by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging, and RV fractional area
      change. In addition, RV global and free wall systolic strain were significantly
      linked to the symptomatic status of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from
      this study provide important data regarding the normal range of RV global and
      free wall systolic strain and highlight the clinical relevance of these RV
      myocardial parameters to detect subtle RV systolic abnormalities in patients with
      HF.

PMID- 26873464
TI  - Immuno-PCR: An ultrasensitive immunoassay for biomolecular detection.
AB  - Techniques that combine nucleic acid amplification with an antibody-based assay
      can dramatically increase the sensitivity of conventional immunoassays. This
      review summarizes the methodology and applications of one such protein detection
      technique that has been used for the past 23 years-the immuno-polymerase chain
      reaction (usually referred to as immuno-PCR or IPCR). The key component of an
      immuno-PCR is a DNA-antibody conjugate that serves as a bridge to link the solid
      phase immunoreaction with nucleic acid amplification. The efficiency of immuno
      PCR enables a 10- to 10(9)-fold increase in detection sensitivity compared with
      that of ELISA. Advancements in immuno-PCR have included improvements of
      production of the DNA-antibody conjugate, assay formats, and readout methods. As
      an ultrasensitive protein assay, immuno-PCR has a broad range of applications in
      immunological research and clinical diagnostics. 

PMID- 26873465
TI  - Determination of ferrous and total iron in refractory spinels.
AB  - Accurate and precise determination of the redox state of iron (Fe) in spinels
      presents a significant challenge due to their refractory nature. The resultant
      extreme conditions needed to obtain complete dissolution generally oxidize some
      of the Fe(II) initially present and thus prevent the use of colorimetric methods
      for Fe(II) measurements. To overcome this challenge we developed a hybrid
      oxidimetric/colorimetric approach, using Ag(I) as the oxidimetric reagent for
      determination of Fe(II) and 1,10-phenanthroline as the colorimetric reagent for
      determination of total Fe. This approach, which allows determination of Fe(II)
      and total Fe on the same sample, was tested on a series of four geochemical
      reference materials and then applied to the analysis of Fe(Ni) spinel crystals
      isolated from simulated high-level-waste (HLW) glass and of several reagent
      magnetites. Results for the reference materials were in excellent agreement with
      recommended values, with the exception of USGS BIR-1, for which higher Fe(II)
      values and lower total Fe values were obtained. The Fe(Ni) spinels showed Fe(II)
      values at the detection limit (ca. 0.03 wt% Fe) and total Fe values higher than
      obtained by ICP-AES analysis after decomposition by lithium
      metaborate/tetraborate fusion. For the magnetite samples, total Fe values were in
      agreement with reference results, but a wide range in Fe(II) values was obtained
      indicating various degrees of conversion to maghemite. Formal comparisons of
      accuracy and precision were made with 13 existing methods. Accuracy for Fe(II)
      and total Fe was at or near the top of the group. Precision varied with the
      parameter used to measure it but was generally in the middle to upper part of the
      group for Fe(II) while that for total Fe ranged from the bottom of the group to
      near the top.

PMID- 26873466
TI  - Quantitative fluorescence kinetic analysis of NADH and FAD in human plasma using
      three- and four-way calibration methods capable of providing the second-order
      advantage.
AB  - The metabolic coenzymes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and
      flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are the primary electron donor and acceptor
      respectively, participate in almost all biological metabolic pathways. This study
      develops a novel method for the quantitative kinetic analysis of the degradation
      reaction of NADH and the formation reaction of FAD in human plasma containing an
      uncalibrated interferent, by using three-way calibration based on multi-way
      fluorescence technique. In the three-way analysis, by using the calibration set
      in a static manner, we directly predicted the concentrations of both analytes in
      the mixture at any time after the start of their reactions, even in the presence
      of an uncalibrated spectral interferent and a varying background interferent. The
      satisfactory quantitative results indicate that the proposed method allows one to
      directly monitor the concentration of each analyte in the mixture as the function
      of time in real-time and nondestructively, instead of determining the
      concentration after the analytical separation. Thereafter, we fitted the first
      order rate law to their concentration data throughout their reactions.
      Additionally, a four-way calibration procedure is developed as an alternative for
      highly collinear systems. The results of the four-way analysis confirmed the
      results of the three-way analysis and revealed that both the degradation reaction
      of NADH and the formation reaction of FAD in human plasma fit the first-order
      rate law. The proposed methods could be expected to provide promising tools for
      simultaneous kinetic analysis of multiple reactions in complex systems in real
      time and nondestructively. 

PMID- 26873467
TI  - Conductive polymeric ionic liquids for electroanalysis and solid-phase
      microextraction.
AB  - Three novel electropolymerizable thiophene-based ionic liquids (ILs) were
      synthesized and characterized as potential candidates for developing selective
      extraction media for chemical analysis. Electropolymerization of the
      bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([NTf2](-)) analogs successfully produced
      uniform polymeric thin-films on macro- and microelectrode substrates from both
      vinyl and methylimidazolium IL monomer derivatives. The resultant conducting
      polymer IL (CPIL) films were characterized by electrochemical methods and found
      to exhibit attractive behavior towards anionic species while simultaneously
      providing an exclusion barrier toward cationic species. Thermogravimetric
      analysis of the thiophene-based IL monomers established a high thermal stability,
      particularly for the methylimidazolium IL, which was stable until temperatures
      above 350  degrees C. Subsequently, the methylimidazolium IL was polymerized on
      125 MUm platinum wires and utilized for the first time as a sorbent coating for
      headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The sorbent coating was easily
      prepared in a reproducible manner, provided high thermal stability, and allowed
      for the gas chromatographic analysis of polar analytes. The normalized response
      of the poly[thioph-C6MIm][NTf2]-based sorbent coating exhibited higher extraction
      efficiency compared to an 85 MUm polyacrylate fiber and excellent fiber-to-fiber
      reproducibility. Therefore, the electropolymerizable thiophene-based ILs were
      found to be viable new materials for the preparation of sorbent coatings for HS
      SPME.

PMID- 26873468
TI  - Magnetic ionic liquid in stirring-assisted drop-breakup microextraction: Proof-of
      concept extraction of phenolic endocrine disrupters and acidic pharmaceuticals.
AB  - The use of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) is in constant growth due to their
      switchable properties in the presence of an external magnetic field along with
      the outstanding properties of ionic liquids. In this study, a novel stirring
      assisted drop-breakup microextraction (SADBME) approach is put forward, based on
      the synthesis and utilization of methyltrioctylammonium tetrachloroferrate (N8
      8,8,1[FeCl4]), as a MIL. The proposed procedure complies with the principles of
      the green chemistry, since it uses low volumes of easily synthesized ILs-based
      magnetic extracting phases avoiding the use of toxic solvents. To demonstrate its
      applicability, the proposed microextraction procedure is studied in conjunction
      with HPLC for the determination of selected phenols and acidic pharmaceuticals in
      aqueous matrices, taking into account the main experimental variables involved.
      The results obtained are accurate and highly reproducible, thus making it a good
      alternative approach for routine analysis of phenols and acidic pharmaceuticals.
      The low-cost approach is straightforward, environmentally safe and exhibits high
      enrichment factors and absolute extraction percentages and satisfactory
      recoveries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a MIL is
      used for analytical purposes in a practical, efficient and environmentally
      friendly drop-breakup microextraction approach for small molecules. 

PMID- 26873469
TI  - Paper-based chromatic toxicity bioassay by analysis of bacterial ferricyanide
      reduction.
AB  - Water quality assessment requires a continuous and strict analysis of samples to
      guarantee compliance with established standards. Nowadays, the increasing number
      of pollutants and their synergistic effects lead to the development general
      toxicity bioassays capable to analyse water pollution as a whole. Current general
      toxicity methods, e.g. Microtox((r)), rely on long operation protocols, the use
      of complex and expensive instrumentation and sample pre-treatment, which should
      be transported to the laboratory for analysis. These requirements delay sample
      analysis and hence, the response to avoid an environmental catastrophe. In an
      attempt to solve it, a fast (15 min) and low-cost toxicity bioassay based on the
      chromatic changes associated to bacterial ferricyanide reduction is here
      presented. E. coli cells (used as model bacteria) were stably trapped on low-cost
      paper matrices (cellulose-based paper discs, PDs) and remained viable for long
      times (1 month at -20  degrees C). Apart from bacterial carrier, paper matrices
      also acted as a fluidic element, allowing fluid management without the need of
      external pumps. Bioassay evaluation was performed using copper as model toxic
      agent. Chromatic changes associated to bacterial ferricyanide reduction were
      determined by three different transduction methods, i.e. (i) optical
      reflectometry (as reference method), (ii) image analysis and (iii) visual
      inspection. In all cases, bioassay results (in terms of half maximal effective
      concentrations, EC50) were in agreement with already reported data, confirming
      the good performance of the bioassay. The validation of the bioassay was
      performed by analysis of real samples from natural sources, which were analysed
      and compared with a reference method (i.e. Microtox). Obtained results showed
      agreement for about 70% of toxic samples and 80% of non-toxic samples, which may
      validate the use of this simple and quick protocol in the determination of
      general toxicity. The minimum instrumentation requirements and the simplicity of
      the bioassay open the possibility of in-situ water toxicity assessment with a
      fast and low-cost protocol. 

PMID- 26873470
TI  - Implementing a two-layer feed-forward catalytic DNA circuit for enzyme-free and
      colorimetric detection of nucleic acids.
AB  - In the present study, a highly sensitive and specific bio-sensing platform for
      enzyme-free and colorimetric detection of nucleic acids has been developed. The
      biosensor is composed of two DNA nanostructures and two fuel strands that
      construct the foundation of a feed-forward catalytic DNA circuit. Upon binding
      the target strand to a specific DNA nanostructure, the circuit is run in order
      that at the end a hemin-binding aptamer, with the ability to convert a colorless
      substrate into a colored substance is released. Based on this strategy, 4 pM of
      the target DNA can be easily detected in serum samples by naked eyes after only a
      two-hour incubation with the circuit; meanwhile, if the incubation time is
      extended to 3 h, the biosensor can detect 1 pM of the target DNA. Besides the
      elevated sensitivity, the circuit can truly discriminate a spurious target
      containing one nucleotide mismatch with high specificity. Overall, the enzyme
      free catalytic DNA circuit can be used as a sensitive alternative method to
      enzyme-based biosensors for the specific and cost-effective detection of nucleic
      acids.

PMID- 26873471
TI  - Capillary hydrodynamic chromatography reveals temporal profiles of cell
      aggregates.
AB  - Microbial cells are known to form aggregates. Such aggregates can be found in
      various matrices; for example, functional drinks. Capillary hydrodynamic
      chromatography (HDC) enables separation of particles by size using nanoliter
      scale volumes of samples. Here we propose an approach based on HDC for
      characterisation of real samples containing aggregated and non-aggregated
      bacterial and fungal cells. Separation of cells and cell aggregates in HDC arises
      from the parabolic flow profile under laminar flow conditions. In the presented
      protocol, hydrodynamic separation is coupled with different on-line and off-line
      detectors (light absorption/scattering and microscopy). The method has
      successfully been applied in the monitoring of dynamic changes in the microbiome
      of probiotic drinks. Chromatographic profiles of yogurt and kefir samples
      obtained at different times during fermentation are in a good agreement with
      microscopic images. Moreover, thanks to the implementation of an area imaging
      detector, capillary HDC could be multiplexed and used to profile spatial
      gradients in cell suspensions, which arise in the course of sedimentation of
      cells and cell aggregates. This result shows compatibility of sedimentation
      analysis and capillary HDC. We believe that the approach may find applications in
      the profiling of functional foods and other matrices containing aggregated
      bioparticles. 

PMID- 26873473
TI  - Factors influencing post-exercise plasma protein carbonyl concentration.
AB  - Exercise of sufficient intensity and duration can cause acute oxidative stress.
      Plasma protein carbonyl (PC) moieties are abundant, chemically stable, and easily
      detectable markers of oxidative stress that are widely used for the
      interpretation of exercise-induced changes in redox balance. Despite many studies
      reporting acute increases in plasma PC concentration in response to exercise,
      some studies, including those from our own laboratory have shown decreases. This
      review will discuss the differences between studies reporting increases,
      decreases, and no change in plasma PC concentration following exercise in humans;
      highlighting participant physiology (i.e. training status) and study design (i.e.
      intensity, duration, and novelty of the exercise bout) as the main factors
      driving the direction of the PC response to exercise. The role of the 20S
      proteasome system is proposed as a possible mechanism mediating the clearance of
      plasma PC following exercise. Resting and exercise-induced differences in plasma
      protein composition and balance between tissues are also discussed. We suggest
      that exercise may stimulate the clearance of plasma PC present at baseline,
      whereas simultaneously increasing reactive oxygen species production that
      facilitates the formation of new PC groups. The balance between these two
      processes likely explains why some studies have reported no change or even
      decreases in plasma PC level post-exercise when other biomarkers of oxidative
      stress (e.g. markers of lipid peroxidation) were elevated. Future studies should
      determine factors that influence the balance between PC clearance and formation
      following acute exercise. 

PMID- 26873472
TI  - 3D printed titanium micro-bore columns containing polymer monoliths for reversed
      phase liquid chromatography.
AB  - The potential of 3D selective laser melting (SLM) technology to produce compact,
      temperature and pressure stable titanium alloy chromatographic columns is
      explored. A micro bore channel (0.9 mm I.D. * 600 mm long) was produced within a
      5 * 30 * 30 mm titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) cuboid, in form of a double handed
      spiral. A poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate) (BuMA-co-EDMA)
      monolithic stationary phase was thermally polymerised within the channel for
      application in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The
      prepared monolithic column was applied to the liquid chromatographic separation
      of intact proteins and peptides. Peak capacities of 69-76 (for 6-8 proteins
      respectively) were observed during isothermal separation of proteins at 44 
      degrees C which were further increased to 73-77 using a thermal step gradient
      with programmed temperature from 60  degrees C to 35  degrees C using an in-house
      built direct-contact heater/cooler platform based upon matching sized Peltier
      thermoelectric modules. Rapid temperature gradients were possible due to direct
      contact between the planar metal column and the Peltier module, and the high
      thermal conductivity of the titanium column as compared to a similar stainless
      steel printed column. The separation of peptides released from a digestion of
      E.coli was also achieved in less than 35 min with ca. 40 distinguishable peaks at
      210 nm.

PMID- 26873475
TI  - Extrapolating results from adult trials to children.

PMID- 26873474
TI  - Erratum to: 'Screen-and-treat program by point-of-care of Atopobium vaginae and
      Gardnerella vaginalis in preventing preterm birth (AuTop trial): study protocol
      for a randomized controlled trial'.

PMID- 26873477
TI  - Serum Sclerostin: Not Only a Matter of Measurement But Also of Meaning.

PMID- 26873476
TI  - Study of levodopa response in Parkinson's disease: Observations on rates of motor
      progression.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It is important to understand how the rate of motor progression in
      PD relates to dopaminergic treatment. METHODS: The methods for this study
      comprised prospective defined off state measurements of the levodopa response at
      3-year intervals over a mean 13.3-year period in 34 patients enrolled before
      treatment initiation. RESULTS: Despite worsening of on and off scores, the
      magnitude of the l-dopa short-duration response is maintained as the disease
      progresses. A linear mixed-effects regression analysis of off phase motor scores
      showed a yearly deterioration of 2.3% of the maximum disability score. Greater
      motor disability at the commencement of treatment was an independent predictor of
      faster progression. Demented patients had worse motor function than those without
      dementia (P = 0.02), and motor deficit appeared to accelerate toward the end of
      the disease course in patients who had died. CONCLUSIONS: These observations
      should inform clinical trial design for drugs with possible neuroprotective
      properties.

PMID- 26873478
TI  - Bone Mineral Density in Sjogren Syndrome Patients with and Without Distal Renal
      Tubular Acidosis.
AB  - Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) can be complicated by distal renal tubular
      acidosis (dRTA), which may contribute to low bone mineral density (BMD). Our
      objective was to evaluate BMD in pSS patients with and without dRTA as compared
      with healthy controls. BMD of lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was
      measured in 54 pSS patients and 162 healthy age- and sex-matched controls by dual
      energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). dRTA was defined as inability to reach urinary
      pH <5.3 after an ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) test. LS- and FN-BMD were
      significantly higher in pSS patients compared with controls (1.18 +/- 0.21
      g/cm(2) for patients vs. 1.10 +/- 0.18 g/cm(2) for controls, P = 0.008 and 0.9 +/
      0.16 g/cm(2) for patients vs. 0.85 +/- 0.13 g/cm(2) for controls, P = 0.009,
      respectively). After adjustment for BMI and smoking, the LS- and FN-BMD remained
      significantly higher. Patients with dRTA (N = 15) did not have a significantly
      different LS- and FN-BMD compared with those without dRTA (N = 39) after
      adjustment for BMI, age, and gender. Thirty-seven (69 %) pSS patients were using
      hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Unexpectedly, pSS patients had a significantly higher
      LS- and FN-BMD compared with healthy controls. Patients with dRTA had similar BMD
      compared with patients without dRTA. We postulate that an explanation for the
      higher BMD in pSS patients may be the frequent use of HCQ.

PMID- 26873479
TI  - Editorial: The Elephant in the Room: Targeting Ras for Therapeutic Development.

PMID- 26873480
TI  - Pharmacists' knowledge and interest in developing counseling skills relating to
      oral contraceptives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Possessing correct therapeutic information on oral contraceptives is
      an important prerequisite for the provision of sound advice to women who are
      using these products. OBJECTIVES: This study examines Egyptian pharmacists'
      knowledge of pharmacotherapeutic aspects of oral contraceptives as well as
      interest in developing skills in providing counseling on oral contraceptive
      pills. SETTING: Community pharmacies throughout Alexandria, Egypt. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional survey was self-administered by a random sample of community
      pharmacists in Alexandria, Egypt. Five multiple choice questions likely to arise
      when counseling women on oral contraceptives were constructed. Questions covered
      compatibility with breastfeeding, precautions, health risks and managing missed
      pills of oral contraceptives. Using ordered logistic regression, a model was
      estimated to predict pharmacists' interest in developing skills in providing
      counseling on oral contraceptives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pharmacists' aggregate
      scores for knowledge questions and pharmacists' interest in developing skills in
      providing counseling on oral contraceptive pills. RESULTS: Of the 181 approached
      pharmacists, 92 % participated. Twenty one pharmacists (13 %) did not know the
      correct answer to any question, 122 (73 %) answered one-two correctly, 23 (14 %)
      answered three-four correctly. No pharmacist answered all five questions
      correctly. For pharmacists' interest in developing skills in providing counseling
      on oral contraceptives, the percentage values for answers were: not interested at
      all (10.2 %), slightly interested (27.0 %), somewhat interested (23.4 %),
      interested (30.0 %) and extremely interested (9.6 %). Pharmacists' interest in
      developing skills in providing counseling on oral contraceptives was
      significantly associated with the number of women who requested advice from the
      pharmacists on oral contraceptives (OR 1.54, CI 1.24-1.91). In terms of the
      learning method of preference, percentage values for answers were: attending a
      workshop (4 %), online course (18 %), publications distributed to pharmacy (44
      %), other methods (1 %) and more than one method (23 %). Ten percent were not
      interested in developing their skills on oral contraceptives. CONCLUSION: This
      study identifies considerable gaps among community pharmacists' knowledge of oral
      contraceptives. It also shows variation in willingness and choice of learning
      strategies among pharmacists to develop their skills in providing counseling on
      oral contraceptives.

PMID- 26873481
TI  - Seeking to understand: using generic qualitative research to explore access to
      medicines and pharmacy services among resettled refugees.
AB  - Introduction There are challenges associated with selecting a qualitative
      research approach. In a field abundant with terminology and theories, it may be
      difficult for a pharmacist to know where and how to begin a qualitative research
      journey. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into generic qualitative
      research and to describe the journey of data collection of a novice qualitative
      researcher in the quest to answer her research question: 'What are the barriers
      to accessing medicines and pharmacy services for resettled refugees in
      Queensland, Australia?' Methodology Generic qualitative research draws on the
      strengths of one or more qualitative approaches. The aim is to draw out
      participants' ideas about things that are 'outside themselves'; rather than
      focussing on their inner feelings the research seeks to understand a phenomenon,
      a process, or the perspectives of participants. Sampling is designed to obtain a
      broad range of opinions about events and experiences and data collection includes
      interviews, questionnaires or surveys; thematic analysis is often used to analyse
      data. When to use Generic qualitative research provides an opportunity to develop
      research designs that fit researchers' epistemological stance and discipline,
      with research choices, including methodology and methods, being informed by the
      research question. Limitations Generic qualitative research is one of many
      methodologies that may be used to answer a research question and there is a
      paucity of literature about how to do it well. There is also debate about its
      validity as a qualitative methodology. 

PMID- 26873482
TI  - Drug safety: withdrawn medications are only part of the picture.
AB  - In a research article published in BMC Medicine, Onakpoya and colleagues provide
      a historical review of withdrawals of medications for safety reasons. However,
      withdrawn medications are only one part of the picture about how regulatory
      agencies manage drug risks. Moreover, medications introduced before the increased
      pre-marketing regulations and post-marketing monitoring systems instituted after
      the thalidomide tragedy have little relevance when considering the present drug
      safety picture because the circumstances under which they were introduced were
      completely different. To more fully understand drug safety management and
      regulatory agency actions, withdrawals should be evaluated within the setting and
      timeframe in which the medications are approved, which requires information about
      approvals and safety warnings. Studies are needed that provide a more
      comprehensive current picture of the identification and evaluation of drug safety
      risks as well as how regulatory agencies deal with them. Please see related
      research article: http://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916
      016-0553-2. 

PMID- 26873483
TI  - Elevated serum apolipoprotein E is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis
      of non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a factor involved in Alzheimer's disease, which
      recently attracted great attention as an important protein related to
      tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, serum ApoE levels and its diagnosis and
      prognosis value in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are still unknown.
      In 196 NSCLC patients and 203 healthy controls, serum ApoE was measured by
      turbidimetric immunoassay. The associations of serum ApoE levels with the
      clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients were
      analyzed. Serum ApoE levels were obviously elevated in NSCLC patients compared
      with healthy controls (41.6 +/- 11.63 vs. 33.8 +/- 6.24 mg/L) and were associated
      with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis status, and distant metastasis status (all
      P < 0.0001). For NSCLC diagnosis, the area under the receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.71 at a specificity of 0.90 and sensitivity of
      0.47. For lymph node metastasis predicting, the area under the ROC curve was 0.68
      at a specificity of 0.56 and sensitivity of 0.73. From ROC/area under curve (AUC)
      analysis, we used 41.25 mg/L as the serum ApoE cut-off value, to divide NSCLC
      patients into two groups, the median survival was 11.0 weeks (95 % CI = 8.7 to
      13.3) for patients in high serum ApoE group and 20.0 weeks (95 % CI = 15.0 to
      25.0) in low serum ApoE group. Serum ApoE levels elevated in NSCLC patients,
      which also associated with TNM stages, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis,
      and poor prognosis, suggest that serum ApoE may act as a useful clinical
      serological biomarkers for evaluating the progress of NSCLC. 

PMID- 26873484
TI  - Overexpression of c-Myb is associated with suppression of distant metastases in
      colorectal carcinoma.
AB  - The MYB gene codes for the c-Myb transcription factor maintaining proliferation
      of colon epithelial progenitors, thus controlling colon development and
      homeostasis. This gene is overexpressed in early phases of colorectal cancer
      (CRC) tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of c-Myb
      in CRC tissue samples both at the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels and to
      evaluate their associations with clinicopathological characteristics in a group
      of 108 CRC patients. Statistically significant negative association was found
      between the frequency of the c-Myb-positive tumor cells assessed by
      immunohistochemistry and the presence of distant metastases (p < 0.01) but not
      tumor differentiation, tumor stage, lymph node involvement, vascular invasion,
      tumor localization, age, and gender of the patients. Although the c-Myb protein
      level in the tumor tissue correlated with its mRNA level, no significant
      association between MYB mRNA and any clinicopathological characteristics was
      observed. We conclude that albeit overexpression of c-Myb is considered as an
      important factor contributing to early phases of CRC tumorigenesis, it may later
      have negative effect on tumor cell dissemination as observed recently in breast
      cancer as well. Further studies are required to explain the role of c-Myb during
      formation of CRC distant metastases. 

PMID- 26873485
TI  - The SMAD2/3 pathway is involved in hepaCAM-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the
      nuclear translocation of SMAD2/3 in bladder cancer cells.
AB  - The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between hepatocyte cell
      adhesion molecule (hepaCAM) and SMAD family member 2/3 (SMAD2/3) in bladder
      carcinoma, and the involvement of the SMAD2/3 pathway in hepaCAM-induced tumor
      apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure hepaCAM and p-SMAD2/3 protein
      levels in bladder cancer tissues. Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining were used
      to study the effect of hepaCAM on cellular apoptosis. Western blot was employed
      to determine the expression of hepaCAM and SMAD2/3/caspase pathway molecules
      using a hepaCAM overexpression adenovirus, a caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK), and a
      SMAD2/3 activator (transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1), respectively.
      Translocation of p-SMAD2/3 was measured by immunofluorescence and western blot.
      HepaCAM proteins were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while p-SMAD2/3
      proteins were remarkably increased (P < 0.05) in bladder carcinoma compared to
      adjacent tissues. However, the low hepaCAM and high p-SMAD2/3 were not
      statistically associated with clinicopathological characteristics of the
      patients. A negative linear correlation between hepaCAM and p-SMAD2/3 was
      observed according to Pearson analysis (r = -0.712/-0.724, P = 0.008/0.011).
      Overexpression of hepaCAM activated caspase 3/8/9 and downregulated poly-ADP
      ribose polymerase (PARP) and p-SMAD2/3. Treatment of bladder cancer cells with Z
      VAD-FMK + hepaCAM significantly downregulated procaspase 3/8/9 and PARP and
      induced cellular apoptosis, compared with that using Z-VAD-FMK alone. Similarly,
      combined treatment of TGF-beta1 + hepaCAM significantly downregulated p-SMAD2/3,
      procaspase 3/8/9, and PARP and induced apoptosis of bladder cancer cells,
      compared with TGF-beta1 alone. Overexpression of hepaCAM prevented the p-SMAD2/3
      translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in bladder cancer cells BIU-87
      and T24. Our findings uncover that the p-SMAD2/3 pathway is critical for hepaCAM
      induced cancer cell apoptosis and provide valuable insights for current and
      future Ad-hepaCAM and p-SMAD2/3 clinical trials. 

PMID- 26873486
TI  - Bone marrow stromal cells induced activation of nuclear factor kappaB signaling
      protects non-Hodgkin's B lymphoma cells from apoptosis.
AB  - The microenvironment encompassing a variety of non-malignant cells in close
      proximity with malignant tumor cells has been well known to significantly affect
      the behavior of tumor cells. In this study, we therefore studied the mechanism of
      bone marrow stromal cells in protection of lymphoma cells from spontaneous
      apoptosis. We demonstrated that adhesion of the freshly isolated lymphoma B cells
      to bone marrow stromal cells or freshly isolated lymphoma stromal cells inhibited
      B cell spontaneous apoptosis in culture. This inhibition of apoptosis correlated
      with decreased cleavage of caspase-3/8 and increased activation of canonical and
      non-canonical NF-kappaB signaling pathway. In addition to BAFF signaling which
      has been reported as a functional determinant for B lymphoma cell survival in the
      bone marrow environment, we demonstrated RANKL from BMSCs works synergistically
      with BAFF to activate NF-kappaB signaling pathway and thus protects lymphoma B
      cells from spontaneous apoptosis. 

PMID- 26873487
TI  - Correlation of TGF-beta1 and oxidative stress in the blood of patients with
      melanoma: a clue to understanding melanoma progression?
AB  - TGF-beta1 and oxidative stress are involved in cancer progression, but in
      melanoma, their role is still controversial. Our aim was to correlate plasma TGF
      beta1 levels and systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with melanoma,
      with or without disease metastasis, to understand their participation in melanoma
      progression. Thirty patients were recruited for melanoma surveillance, together
      with 30 healthy volunteers. Patients were divided into two groups: Non
      metastasis, comprising patients with tumor removal and no metastatic episode for
      3 years; and Metastasis, comprising patients with a metastatic episode. The
      plasmatic cytokines TGF-beta1, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha were analyzed by ELISA.
      For oxidative stress, the following assays were performed: malondialdehyde (MDA),
      advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels, total radical-trapping
      antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and thiol in plasma, and lipid peroxidation, SOD and
      catalase activity and GSH in erythrocytes. Patients with a metastatic episode had
      less circulating TGF-beta1 and increased TRAP, thiol, AOPP and lipid peroxidation
      levels. MDA was increased in both melanoma groups, while catalase, GSH, and IL
      1beta was decreased in Non-metastasis patients. Significant negative correlations
      were observed between TGF-beta1 levels and systemic MDA, and TGF-beta1 levels and
      systemic AOPP, while a positive correlation was observed between TGF-beta1 levels
      and erythrocyte GSH. Lower levels of TGF-beta1 were related to increased
      oxidative stress in Metastasis patients, reinforcing new evidence that in
      melanoma TGF-beta1 acts as a tumor suppressor, inhibiting tumor relapse. These
      findings provide new knowledge concerning this cancer pathophysiology, extending
      the possibilities of investigating new therapies based on this evidence. 

PMID- 26873488
TI  - Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 acted through miR-130b to increase
      integrin alpha5 to promote migration of colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a significant stimulator of tumor
      invasion and metastasis. More recently, it has been found that TGF-beta1 acts
      through microRNAs to regulate their target genes to promote cancer progresses.
      However, such similar regulation is rarely reported in colorectal cancer (CRC).
      Here, we observed a decrease in TGF-beta1 expression in CRC specimens, compared
      with matched adjacent normal tissues. In parallel, there was an increase in miR
      130b characterized in the same samples by microarray assay. Further, treatment of
      CRC cells with TGF-beta1 caused a significant decrease in the expression of miR
      130b and an increased CRC cell migration. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that
      miR-130b directly targeted the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) region of integrin
      alpha5 gene, which encodes a key molecule involved in cell motility.
      Subsequently, in the overexpression of miR-130b CRC cells, we observed a
      decreased level of integrin alpha5 protein. The regulation of integrin alpha5 by
      miR-130b was further shown using the miR-130b mimics and inhibitor of miR-130b.
      And, knockdown miR-130b with inhibitor in the overexpression of miR-130b CRC
      cells recovered integrin alpha5 expression and integrin alpha5-mediated cell
      motility. Moreover, the inverse relevance between miR-130b and integrin alpha5
      was also observed in CRC specimens. At last, the enhancement of integrin alpha5
      in TGF-beta1-treated cells can be reversed partly when rescuing miR-130b
      expression. Together, our findings suggested that TGF-beta1 acted through miR
      130b to promote integrin alpha5 expression, resulting in the enhanced migration
      of CRC cells. 

PMID- 26873489
TI  - In vitro evaluation of antitumoral efficacy of catalase in combination with
      traditional chemotherapeutic drugs against human lung adenocarcinoma cells.
AB  - Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer-related disease worldwide. Since survival
      rates remain poor, there is an urgent need for more effective therapies that
      could increase the overall survival of lung cancer patients. Lung tumors exhibit
      increased levels of oxidative markers with altered levels of antioxidant
      defenses, and previous studies demonstrated that the overexpression of the
      antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) might control tumor proliferation and
      aggressiveness. Herein, we evaluated the effect of CAT treatment on the
      sensitivity of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells toward various anticancer
      treatments, aiming to establish the best drug combination for further therapeutic
      management of this disease. Exponentially growing A549 cells were treated with
      CAT alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs (cisplatin, 5
      fluorouracil, paclitaxel, daunorubicin, and hydroxyurea). CalcuSyn((r)) software
      was used to assess CAT/drug interactions (synergism or antagonism). Growth
      inhibition, NFkappaB activation status, and redox parameters were also evaluated
      in CAT-treated A549 cells. CAT treatment caused a cytostatic effect, decreased
      NFkappaB activation, and modulated the redox parameters evaluated. CAT treatment
      exhibited a synergistic effect among most of the anticancer drugs tested, which
      is significantly correlated with an increased H2O2 production. Moreover, CAT
      combination caused an antagonism in paclitaxel anticancer effect. These data
      suggest that combining CAT (or CAT analogs) with traditional chemotherapeutic
      drugs, especially cisplatin, is a promising therapeutic strategy for the
      treatment of lung cancer. 

PMID- 26873490
TI  - The potential role of CacyBP/SIP in tumorigenesis.
AB  - Calcyclin-binding protein/Siah-1-interacting protein (CacyBP/SIP) was initially
      described as a binding partner of S100A6 in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and
      later as a Siah-1-interacting protein. This 30 kDa protein includes three domains
      and is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, cytoskeletal
      rearrangement, and transcriptional regulation via binding to various proteins.
      Studies have also shown that the CacyBP/SIP is a critical protein in
      tumorigenesis. But, its promotion or suppression of cancer progression may depend
      on the cell type. In this review, the biological characteristics and target
      proteins of CacyBP/SIP have been described. Moreover, the exact role of
      CacyBP/SIP in various cancers is discussed. 

PMID- 26873491
TI  - What Time is it? Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia.
AB  - This study assessed adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living
      with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and explored the sociocultural context in which they
      relate to their regimen requirements. Data were collected through semi-structured
      in-depth interviews with 105 patients on ART and observations held at the study
      clinic. We analyzed data using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Our
      findings indicate that study participants are highly adherent to dose but less
      adherent to dose schedule. Strict dose time instructions were reported as
      stressful and unrealistic. The discrepancy between adherence to dose and dose
      schedule could be explained by time perception, difficulty with the strictness of
      medication regimens, or beliefs about dose timing adherence. Care providers
      should acknowledge the complexities of medication practices and engage in shared
      decision-making to incorporate patients' perspectives and identify effective
      interventions.

PMID- 26873492
TI  - HIV Risk Behavior Among Methamphetamine Users Entering Substance Abuse Treatment
      in Cape Town, South Africa.
AB  - South Africa is experiencing a growing methamphetamine problem, and there is
      concern that methamphetamine use may accelerate HIV transmission. There has been
      little research on the HIV prevention needs of methamphetamine users receiving
      substance abuse treatment in South Africa. This study assessed the prevalence and
      correlates of HIV risk behaviors among 269 methamphetamine users entering
      substance abuse treatment in two clinics in Cape Town. The prevalence of sexual
      risk behaviors was high among sexually active participants: 34 % multiple
      partners, 26 % unprotected intercourse with a casual partner, and 24 % sex
      trading for money/methamphetamine. The strongest predictor of all sexual risk
      behaviors was concurrent other drug use. Over half had not been HIV tested in the
      past year, and 25 % had never been tested, although attitudes toward HIV testing
      were overwhelmingly positive. This population of primarily heterosexual, non
      injecting methamphetamine users is a high-risk group in need of targeted HIV
      prevention interventions. Substance abuse treatment is an ideal setting in which
      to reach methamphetamine users for HIV services.

PMID- 26873494
TI  - Diffusion weighted imaging in cystic fibrosis disease: beyond morphological
      imaging.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to
      assess inflammatory lung changes in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) METHODS:
      CF patients referred for their annual check-up had spirometry, chest-CT and MRI
      on the same day. MRI was performed in a 1.5 T scanner with BLADE and EPI-DWI
      sequences (b = 0-600 s/mm2). End-inspiratory and end-expiratory scans were
      acquired in multi-row scanners. DWI was scored with an established semi
      quantitative scoring system. DWI score was correlated to CT sub-scores for
      bronchiectasis (CF-CTBE), mucus (CF-CTmucus), total score (CF-CTtotal-score),
      FEV1, and BMI. T-test was used to assess differences between patients with and
      without DWI-hotspots. RESULTS: Thirty-three CF patients were enrolled (mean 21
      years, range 6-51, 19 female). 4 % (SD 2.6, range 1.5-12.9) of total CF-CT
      alterations presented DWI-hotspots. DWI-hotspots coincided with mucus plugging
      (60 %), consolidation (30 %) and bronchiectasis (10 %). DWItotal-score correlated
      (all p < 0.0001) positively to CF-CTBE (r = 0.757), CF-CTmucus (r = 0.759) and CF
      CTtotal-score (r = 0.79); and negatively to FEV1 (r = 0.688). FEV1 was
      significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in patients without DWI-hotspots. CONCLUSIONS:
      DWI-hotspots strongly correlated with radiological and clinical parameters of
      lung disease severity. Future validation studies are needed to establish the
      exact nature of DWI-hotspots in CF patients. KEY POINTS: * DWI hotspots only
      partly overlapped structural abnormalities on morphological imaging * DWI
      strongly correlated with radiological and clinical indicators of CF-disease
      severity * Patients with more DWI hotspots had lower lung function values * Mucus
      score best predicted the presence of DWI-hotspots with restricted diffusion.

PMID- 26873495
TI  - Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Review in Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection
      Fraction.
AB  - Sacubitril/valsartan (EntrestoTM; LCZ696) is an orally administered
      supramolecular sodium salt complex of the neprilysin inhibitor prodrug sacubitril
      and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan, which was recently approved
      in the US and the EU for the treatment of chronic heart failure (NYHA class II
      IV) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In the large, randomized, double
      blind, PARADIGM-HF trial, sacubitril/valsartan reduced the incidence of death
      from cardiovascular causes or first hospitalization for worsening heart failure
      (composite primary endpoint) significantly more than the angiotensin converting
      enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril. Sacubitril/valsartan was also superior to
      enalapril in reducing death from any cause and in limiting the progression of
      heart failure. Sacubitril/valsartan was generally well tolerated, with no
      increase in life-threatening adverse events. Symptomatic hypotension was
      significantly more common with sacubitril/valsartan than with enalapril; the
      incidence of angio-oedema was low. Therefore, sacubitril/valsartan is a more
      effective replacement for an ACE inhibitor or an ARB in the treatment of HFrEF,
      and is likely to influence the basic approach to treatment. 

PMID- 26873493
TI  - Morphological imaging and T2 and T2* mapping of hip cartilage at 7 Tesla MRI
      under the influence of intravenous gadolinium.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of intravenous gadolinium on cartilage
      T2 and T2* relaxation times and on morphological image quality at 7-T hip MRI.
      METHODS: Hips of 11 healthy volunteers were examined at 7 T. Multi-echo sequences
      for T2 and T2* mapping, 3D T1 volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination
      (VIBE) and double-echo steady-state (DESS) sequences were acquired before and
      after intravenous application of gadolinium according to a delayed gadolinium
      enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) protocol. Cartilage relaxation times were
      measured in both scans. Morphological sequences were assessed quantitatively
      using contrast ratios and qualitatively using a 4-point Likert scale. Student's t
      test, Pearson's correlation (rho) and Wilcoxon sign-rank test were used for
      statistical comparisons. RESULTS: Pre- and post-contrast T2 and T2* values were
      highly correlated (T2: acetabular: rho = 0.76, femoral: rho = 0.77; T2*:
      acetabular: rho = 0.80, femoral: rho = 0.72). Gadolinium enhanced contrasts
      between cartilage and joint fluid in DESS and T1 VIBE according to the
      qualitative (p = 0.01) and quantitative (p < 0.001) analysis. The delineation of
      acetabular and femoral cartilage and the labrum predominantly improved with
      gadolinium. CONCLUSIONS: Gadolinium showed no relevant influence on T2 or T2*
      relaxation times and improved morphological image quality at 7 T. Therefore,
      morphological and quantitative sequences including dGEMRIC can be conducted in a
      one-stop-shop examination. KEY POINTS: * Hip cartilage T2 values correlate highly
      before and after gadolinium at 7 T * Hip cartilage T2* values correlate highly
      before and after enhancement at 7 T * Morphological hip cartilage imaging
      benefits from intravenous gadolinium at 7 T * The delineation of acetabular and
      femoral cartilage can be improved by gadolinium * Morphological and quantitative
      sequences including dGEMRIC can be combined as a one-stop-shop examination.

PMID- 26873497
TI  - Investigation of endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins in vitro using 1.885
      MUm laser radiation.
AB  - This paper presents the results of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of varicose
      veins in vitro using radiation of a solid-state laser based on the crystal
      LiYF4:Tm, with a wavelength of 1.885 MUm and power output of around 3 W. An
      experimental series with saline solution and red blood cell (RBC) suspension in
      the venous lumen was performed to identify the impact of a heated carbonized
      layer precipitated on the fiber end face versus the efficiency of EVLA. Results
      of these experiments confirmed that the presence of a heated carbonized layer on
      the fiber end face increases the efficiency of EVLA.

PMID- 26873496
TI  - Managing Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in the Pre-chemotherapy
      Setting: A Changing Approach in the Era of New Targeted Agents.
AB  - In recent years, the therapeutic options for treating men with metastatic
      castration-resistant prostate cancer have increased substantially. The hormonal
      treatments abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide, the chemotherapeutics docetaxel
      and cabazitaxel, the radiopharmaceutical alpharadin and the immunotherapeutic
      Sipuleucel-T have entered the field. Additionally, corticosteroids, which are
      used extensively, have documented activity but no documented survival benefit.
      Physicians treating patients with metastatic prostate cancer immediately after
      castration resistance develops currently have at least four different options to
      choose from for the first treatment. These therapeutic choices and their several
      possible ways of sequential use have not yet been compared to each other head-to
      head and may never be. Therefore, there is an unmet need to inform their use with
      prospective clinical data. Additionally, the new indications of docetaxel for
      hormone naive prostate cancer is changing the landscape of prostate cancer
      treatment and questions the traditional classifications 'pre-chemotherapy' and
      'post-chemotherapy'. In this work we attempt to address these challenges in the
      treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with the focus
      mainly on the non-cytotoxic agents. We try to integrate available clinical and
      preclinical information to suggest optimal ways of treatment. 

PMID- 26873498
TI  - Effects of low-level laser therapy on performance, inflammatory markers, and
      muscle damage in young water polo athletes: a double-blind, randomized, placebo
      controlled study.
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 5 days of 810-nm low-level laser
      therapy (LLLT) intervention on inflammatory and muscle damage markers and
      performance in young water polo players. Twenty young male water polo players
      participated in the study, which was designed as a randomized, double-blinded,
      placebo-controlled trial. Active LLLT or an identical placebo LLLT were delivered
      to eight points on the adductor muscle region immediately after each training
      day. Performance was measured by a 200-m maximal swimming (P200) and a 30-s
      crossbar jump test (30CJ) which was performed every day before training, and
      blood samples were drawn pre and post the final LLLT intervention to measure
      interleukins (IL) and muscle damage markers. There was no significant change in
      the P200 exercise in the LLLT group compared with the placebo group but there was
      a moderate improvement in the 30CJ (8.7 +/- 2.6 %). IL-1beta and tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha presented increased (P < 0.016) concentration within group 48 h
      after the last LLLT intervention compared to pre, 0, and 24 h, but did not differ
      between groups. IL-10 increased over time in the placebo group and reached a
      moderate effect compared to the LLLT group. The creatine kinase decreased
      significantly (P = 0.049) over the time within the LLLT treatment group, but
      there was no significant change in lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.150). In
      conclusion, LLLT resulted in a non-significant, but small to moderate effect on
      inflammatory and muscle damage markers and a moderate effect on performance in
      water polo players. In addition, the lack of positive results could be due to the
      small area covered by irradiation and this should be considered in future
      studies.

PMID- 26873499
TI  - Synthesis of dental matrix proteins and viability of odontoblast-like cells
      irradiated with blue LED.
AB  - To evaluate the effect of irradiation with light-emitting diode (LED; 455 nm) on
      the viability and synthesis of dentin matrix proteins by odontoblast-like cells,
      MDPC-23 cells were cultivated (10(4) cells/cm(2)) in 24-well culture plates.
      After 12 h incubation in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), the cells
      were submitted to nutritional restriction by means of reducing the concentration
      of fetal bovine serum (FBS) for an additional 12 h. Cells were irradiated one
      single time with one of the following energy densities (EDs): 0.5, 2, 4, 10, or
      15 J/cm(2) and irradiance fixed at 20 mW/cm(2). Non-irradiated cells served as
      control. After 72 h, cells were evaluated with regard to viability (methylthiazol
      tetrazolium technique (MTT)), mineralization nodule (MN) formation, total protein
      (TP) production, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and collagen synthesis
      (Sircol), n = 8. The data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests
      (p > 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the viability of cells
      irradiated or not (control), for all the EDs. However, an increase in TP was
      observed for all the EDs when compared with the control group. A reduced ALP
      activity was seen in all irradiated groups, except for the ED of 0.5 J/cm(2),
      which did not differ from the control. There was no difference between the
      irradiated groups and control regarding collagen synthesis, with the exception of
      the ED of 10 J/cm(2), which inhibited this cell function. Significant reduction
      in MN occurred only for the EDs of 0.5 and 2 J/cm(2). The single irradiation with
      blue LED (455 nm), irradiance of 20 mW/cm(2), and energy densities ranging from
      0.5 to 15 J/cm(2) exerted no effective biostimulatory capacity on odontoblast
      like cells.

PMID- 26873500
TI  - Light-emitting diode therapy increases collagen deposition during the repair
      process of skeletal muscle.
AB  - This study analyzed the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy on the
      morphology of muscle tissue as well as collagen remodeling and matrix
      metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) activity in the skeletal muscle of rats following
      acute injury. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) control, (2) sham,
      (3) untreated cryoinjury, and (4) cryoinjury treated with LED. Cryoinjury was
      induced by two applications of a metal probe cooled in liquid nitrogen directly
      onto the belly of the tibialis anterior muscle. For treatment, the LED equipment
      (wavelength 850 nm, output power 30 mW, and total energy 3.2 J) was used daily.
      The study periods were 1, 3, and 7 days after cryoinjury. Morphological aspects
      were evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin staining. The amount of collagen fibers
      was evaluated using Picro Sirius Red staining under polarized light. The
      gelatinase activity of MMP-2 was evaluated using zymography. The results showed
      significant reductions in inflammatory infiltrate after 3 days and an increased
      number of immature muscle fibers after 7 days. Furthermore, treatment induced a
      reduction in the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 after 1, 3, and 7 days in
      comparison to the untreated injury groups and increased the collagen deposition
      after 3 and 7 days in the treated groups. LED therapy at 850 nm induced a
      significant reduction in inflammation, decreased MMP-2 activity, and increased
      the amount of immature muscle and collagen fibers during the muscle repair
      process following acute injury.

PMID- 26873501
TI  - A randomized pilot study to assess the safety and the value of low-level laser
      therapy versus clonazepam in patients with burning mouth syndrome.
AB  - Comparison between low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and clonazepam for treating
      burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients has never been documented; the aim of this
      study was to assess the effects of LLLT photobiomodulation versus medical therapy
      with clonazepam on BMS. Thirty-three patients (25 female, 8 male, mean age =
      67.12) were randomly allocated to two different groups: the first one (group A,
      18 patients) underwent two laser irradiation sessions weekly for 5 weeks, whereas
      the second one (group B, 15 patients) received topical clonazepam therapy [half a
      tablet (2 mg) in the mouth without swallowing for 3 min, three times a day for 21
      days]. LLLT was delivered with a continuous wave 980-nm aluminum gallium arsenide
      (AlGaAs) diode laser and the output of 300 mW, delivering a Fluence of 10
      J/cm(2), using a "spot technique," with an average power density of about 1
      W/cm(2). The laser probe was held perpendicularly at a distance of about 2 mm
      from the mucosa. Visual analogue scale (VAS), McGill Pain Questionnaire, present
      pain intensity (PPI), and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) assessed sensation
      of pain. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale
      assessed levels of anxiety and depression. Twelve weeks after the end of
      treatment, patients treated with LLLT experienced a decrease in pain sensation
      reported for all the parameters analyzed: VAS (P = 0.004), McGill Pain
      Questionnaire (P = 0.002), PPI (P = 0.002), and OHIP-49 (P = 0.010). The group
      treated with clonazepam had less favorable results for VAS (P = 0.33), McGill
      Pain Questionnaire (P = 0.005), PPI (P = 0.013), and OHIP-49 (P = 0.25). Levels
      of anxiety and depression did not change statistically in any groups (P > 0.05).
      Comparing the two groups, LLLT appeared to be superior in improving pain
      perception, but statistically only at 8 weeks after the end of the protocol
      proposed (P = 0.026). Based on this preliminary trial, LLLT is capable of
      reducing the symptoms of patients with BMS with a constant and long-lasting
      effect, experienced since the end of the first applications.

PMID- 26873503
TI  - GSK is fined L38m for delaying generic paroxetine.

PMID- 26873502
TI  - CO2 laser irradiation enhances CaF2 formation and inhibits lesion progression on
      demineralized dental enamel-in vitro study.
AB  - This study evaluated if Carbon dioxide (CO2) (lambda 10.6 MUm) laser irradiation
      combined with acidulated phosphate fluoride gel application (APF gel) enhances
      "CaF2" uptake by demineralized enamel specimens (DES) and inhibits enamel lesion
      progression. Thus, two studies were conducted and DES were subjected to APF gel
      combined or not with CO2 laser irradiation (11.3 or 20.0 J/cm(2), 0.4 or 0.7 W)
      performed before, during, or after APF gel application. In study 1, 165 DES were
      allocated to 11 groups. Fluoride as "CaF2 like material" formed on enamel was
      determined in 100 DES (n = 10/group), and the surface morphologies of 50
      specimens were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after
      "CaF2" extraction. In study 2, 165 DES (11 groups, n = 15), subjected to the same
      treatments as in study 1, were further subjected to a pH-cycling model to
      simulate a high cariogenic challenge. The progression of demineralization in DES
      was evaluated by cross-sectional microhardness and polarized light microscopy
      analyses. Laser at 11.3 J/cm(2) applied during APF gel application increased
      "CaF2" uptake on enamel surface. Laser irradiation and APF gel alone arrested the
      lesion progression compared with the control (p < 0.05). Areas of melting,
      fusion, and cracks were observed. CO2 laser irradiation, combined with a single
      APF application enhanced "CaF2" uptake on enamel surface and a synergistic effect
      was found. However, regarding the inhibition of caries lesion progression, no
      synergistic effect could be demonstrated. In conclusion, the results have shown
      that irradiation with specific laser parameters significantly enhanced CaF2
      uptake by demineralized enamel and inhibited lesion progression.

PMID- 26873504
TI  - Serotype O:8 isolates in the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex have different O
      antigen gene clusters and produce various forms of rough LPS.
AB  - In Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex, the O-antigen of LPS is used for the
      serological characterization of strains, and 21 serotypes have been identified to
      date. The O-antigen biosynthesis gene cluster and corresponding O-antigen
      structure have been described for 18, leaving O:8, O:13 and O:14 unresolved. In
      this study, two O:8 isolates were examined. The O-antigen gene cluster sequence
      of strain 151 was near identical to serotype O:4a, though a frame-shift mutation
      was found in ddhD, while No. 6 was different to 151 and carried the O:1b gene
      cluster. Structural analysis revealed that No. 6 produced a deeply truncated LPS,
      suggesting a mutation within the waaF gene. Both ddhD and waaF were cloned and
      expressed in 151 and No. 6 strains, respectively, and it appeared that expression
      of ddhD gene in strain 151 restored the O-antigen on LPS, while waaF in No. 6
      resulted in an LPS truncated less severely but still without the O-antigen,
      suggesting that other mutations occurred in this strain. Thus, both O:8 isolates
      were found to be spontaneous O-antigen-negative mutants derived from other
      validated serotypes, and we propose to remove this serotype from the O-serotyping
      scheme, as the O:8 serological specificity is not based on the O-antigen.

PMID- 26873505
TI  - Differential regulation of aldose reductase expression during macrophage
      polarization depends on hyperglycemia.
AB  - Aldose reductase (AR; gene AKR1B1) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol
      pathway and has been associated with diabetes and atherosclerosis. Here, we
      sought to identify the mechanisms underlying differential AR expression in human
      atherosclerotic plaque macrophages. In vitro, M1-polarized human monocyte-derived
      macrophages expressed significantly higher levels of AKR1B1 mRNA and AR protein
      compared with M2-polarized macrophages. AR activity was significantly higher in
      M1 macrophages. AKR1B1 mRNA expression correlated positively with the M1 marker
      TNF(r = 0.430,P = 0.006) and negatively with the M2 marker MRC1 (r = -0.443,P =
      0.044). Increased AR expression in M1 macrophages depended on hyperglycemia.
      Concomitantly, expression of SLC2A1 (coding for the Glc transporter GLUT-1) was
      significantly higher in M1 than in M2 macrophages. Pharmacological inhibition of
      GLUT-1 using STF-32 completely abrogated Glc-induced AR up-regulation in M1
      macrophages. When analyzing AR expression in post-mortem coronary artery plaque
      macrophages, a history of diabetes was associated with a significantly increased
      proportion of CD68(+)AR(++)macrophages, supporting the in vivo relevance of our
      in vitro findings. We demonstrate that the phenotype of atherosclerotic plaque
      macrophages may be affected by cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperglycemia.
      Our data illustrate the complex interplay between systemic and local factors in
      atherogenesis.

PMID- 26873506
TI  - Efinaconazole and Tavaborole.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to review the safety, efficacy, and role
      of efinaconazole and tavaborole in the treatment of onychomycosis. SUMMARY:
      Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail caused by dermatophytes, yeasts,
      and nondermatophyte fungi. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO)
      accounts for the majority of the cases. These infections cause structural damage
      to the nail which makes treatment difficult. Both oral and topical agents exist
      for the treatment of onychomycosis. Oral medications have generally been more
      effective, yet adverse effects and drug interactions limit their use in some
      patients. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents in the United States
      for oral therapies include terbinafine, itraconazole, and griseofulvin. The only
      topical product available up to recently was ciclopirox. CONCLUSION: This article
      will review efinaconazole and tavaborole, 2 new topical antifungal agents
      released in 2014.

PMID- 26873507
TI  - Flibanserin.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review pivotal clinical trials, pharmacology, contraindications,
      precautions, and key patient education points of flibanserin for the treatment of
      hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. DATA SOURCES: A
      literature search of PubMed using the key words flibanserin and HSDD was
      conducted in September 2015. There was no time frame to exclude relevant clinical
      trials. All trials referenced were published between March 2012 and June 2014.
      Other relevant information was obtained from the Food and Drug Administration
      (FDA) Web site, press releases, prescribing information from the manufacturer,
      and ClinicalTrials.gov . STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: All articles in the
      English language and involving human subjects were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS:
      There are three 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo
      controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of flibanserin in North American
      premenopausal women with HSDD. There was 1 trial that studied the effects of
      flibanserin in postmenopausal women. In all of the trials, the investigators
      found statistical significant improvements in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)
      desire domain score and satisfying sexual events (SSEs). The most frequently
      reported adverse events in all flibanserin arms of treatment were somnolence,
      dizziness, and nausea. CONCLUSION: Flibanserin, a novel, nonhormonal agent that
      modulates excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters was studied in
      premenopausal women and has shown efficacy in improving sexual desire and SSEs.

PMID- 26873509
TI  - Analytical Similarity Assessment in Biosimilar Studies.
AB  - For assessment of biosimilarity, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
      recommends a stepwise approach for obtaining the totality-of-the-evidence for
      demonstrating biosimilarity between a proposed biosimilar product and an
      innovative (reference) biological product. The stepwise approach starts with
      analytical studies for functional and structural characterization at various
      stages of manufacturing process of the proposed biosimilar product. Analytical
      similarity assessment involves identification of critical quality attributes
      (CQAs) that are relevant to clinical outcomes. FDA proposes first classifying the
      identified CQAs into three tiers according to their criticality or risking
      ranking relevant to clinical outcomes and then performing equivalence test (for
      CQAs in Tier 1), quality range approach (for CQAs in Tier 2), and raw data or
      graphical presentation (for CQAs in Tier 3) for obtaining totality-of-the
      evidence for demonstrating biosimilarity between the proposed biosimilar product
      with the reference product. In practice, some debatable issues are evitably
      raised due to this complicated process of analytical similarity assessment. In
      this article, these debatable are described and discussed.

PMID- 26873508
TI  - Mitochondrial network regulation and its potential interference with inflammatory
      signals in pancreatic beta cells.
AB  - Mitochondria fulfil multiple tasks in nutrient metabolism, energy production,
      redox homeostasis and stress response, and are essential for pancreatic beta cell
      function. The dynamism and health of the mitochondrial network is regulated by
      fission- and fusion-triggering factors and by a quality control system that
      removes dysfunctional organelles. Alongside the role of mitochondria in
      regulating apoptotic cell death mediated primarily via production of reactive
      oxygen species and release of cytochrome c, there is evidence of other links
      between mitochondria and inflammation that have implications for cell viability.
      This review briefly outlines two pathways that are potentially vital for
      pancreatic beta cell function. The first concerns the regulation of Parkin, a
      protein that acts, not only as a central player in regulating mitophagy, but also
      as an activator of the NF-KB pathway. The fact that expression of optic atrophy
      protein 1 (OPA1), a mitochondrial fusion inducer and master mitochondrial cristae
      biogenetic factor, is increased following NF-KB activation highlights a point of
      mitochondrial control that might be influenced by TNFalpha signalling. A second
      axis of interest is suggested by IL-6-mediated upregulation of the fission
      inducer FIS1 alongside downregulation of mitofusin 2 (MFN2), a guard of
      mitochondrial fusion and metabolism and an inhibitor of apoptosis. This review
      summarises a presentation given at the 'Islet inflammation in type 2 diabetes'
      symposium at the 2015 annual meeting of the EASD. It is accompanied two other
      reviews on topics from this symposium (by Marc Donath, DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016
      3873-z , and Jerry Nadler and colleagues, DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3890-y ) and a
      commentary by the Session Chair, Piero Marchetti (DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3875-x
      ).

PMID- 26873512
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26873510
TI  - Sequential culture on biomimetic nanoclay scaffolds forms three-dimensional
      tumoroids.
AB  - In recent times, the limitation of two-dimensional cultures and complexity of in
      vivo models has paved the way for the development of three-dimensional models for
      studying cancer. Here we report the development of a new tumor model using
      PCL/HAPClay scaffolds seeded with a sequential culture of human mesenchymal stem
      cells (hMSCs) followed by human prostate cancer cells (HPCCs). This nanocomposite
      system is used as a test-bed for studying cancer metastasis and efficacy of anti
      cancer drugs using a polymersome delivery method. A novel sequential cell culture
      system in three-dimensional in vitro bone model provides a unique bone mimetic
      environment. The hMSCs seeded scaffolds are seeded with prostate cancer cells
      after the hMSCs have differentiated into osteoblasts. Sequential culture on the
      scaffolds has shown formation of tumoroids or microtissue consisting of
      organized, densely packed round cells with hypoxic core regions similar to in
      vivo tumors. Such tumoroids are not observed on HPCC seeded scaffolds or when
      HPCCs sequentially cultured with human osteoblast cells. Clearly, the newly
      differentiated hMSCs play a vital role in the ability of cancer cells to grow
      into tumoroids and cause disease. The PCL/HAPclay scaffold system seeded with the
      sequential culture of hMSCs, and HPCCs presents a good model system for study of
      the interactions between prostate cancer cells and bone microenvironment. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1591-1602, 2016.

PMID- 26873511
TI  - Between-Subject Variability in Healthy Eyes as a Primary Source of Structural
      Functional Discordance in Patients With Glaucoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To test with an independent data set the finding that between-subject
      variability in healthy eyes is the primary source of structural-functional
      discordance in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Neuroretinal rim area, retinal
      nerve fiber layer thickness, and perimetric data were analyzed for one eye in
      each of 55 control subjects and for 245 right eyes of patients in the United
      Kingdom Glaucoma Treatment Study. Data were gathered with the Heidelberg Retina
      Tomograph (HRT), Stratus Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT), and Humphrey Field
      Analyzer (HFA). Discordance was quantified as width of the limits of agreement
      from a Bland-Altman analysis of depth of defect. The ratio of variances (F test)
      for the patient and control groups was computed for comparisons of HFA-OCT, HFA
      HRT, and OCT-HRT. Bonferroni adjustment required P less than 0.017 for
      statistical significance. The discordance in the patients was also quantified as
      the 95% prediction interval computed from the discordance in controls using the
      Hood-Kardon model for the HFA-OCT comparison. RESULTS: The F ratio comparing
      discordance in patients and controls was 0.77, 1.43, and 1.32 for the HFA-OCT,
      HFA-HRT, and OCT-HRT comparisons with P values 0.88, 0.06, and 0.11,
      respectively. For the Hood-Kardon model, 4.7% of the patients had discordance
      outside the 95% prediction interval computed from the discordance in controls.
      Similar results were obtained when all comparisons were repeated for left eyes of
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm previous findings that between
      subject variability in healthy eyes is the primary source of structural
      functional discordance in patients with glaucoma, and extends this finding to a
      structural-structural comparison.

PMID- 26873513
TI  - How Eye Dominance Strength Modulates the Influence of a Distractor on Saccade
      Accuracy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Neuroimaging studies have shown that the dominant eye is linked
      preferentially to the ipsilateral primary visual cortex. However, its role in
      perception still is misunderstood. We examined the influence of eye dominance and
      eye dominance strength on saccadic parameters, contrasting stimulations presented
      in the two hemifields. METHODS: Participants with contrasted eye dominance (left
      or right) and eye dominance strength (strong or weak) were asked to make a
      saccade toward a target displayed at 5 degrees  or 7 degrees  left or right of a
      fixation cross. In some trials, a distractor at 3 degrees  of eccentricity also
      was displayed either in the same hemifield as the target (to induce a global
      effect on saccade amplitude) or in the opposite hemifield (to induce a remote
      distractor effect on saccade latency). RESULTS: Eye dominance did influence
      saccade amplitude as participants with strong eye dominance showed more accurate
      saccades toward the target (weaker global effect) in the hemifield contralateral
      to the dominant eye than in the ipsilateral one. Such asymmetry was not found in
      participants with weak eye dominance or when a remote distractor was used.
      CONCLUSIONS: We show that eye dominance strength influences saccade target
      selection. We discuss several arguments supporting the view that such advantage
      may be linked to the relationship between the dominant eye and ipsilateral
      hemisphere. French Abstract.

PMID- 26873514
TI  - Glycerol Monolaurate Inhibits Lipase Production by Clinical Ocular Isolates
      Without Affecting Bacterial Cell Viability.
AB  - PURPOSE: We sought to determine the relative lipase production of a range of
      ocular bacterial isolates and to assess the efficacy of glycerol monolaurate
      (GML) in inhibiting this lipase production in high lipase-producing bacteria
      without affecting bacterial cell growth. METHODS: Staphylococcus
      aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis,Propionibacterium acnes, and Corynebacterium
      spp. were inoculated at a density of 10(6)/mL in varying concentrations of GML up
      to 25 MUg/mL for 24 hours at 37  degrees C with constant shaking. Bacterial
      suspensions were centrifuged, bacterial cell density was determined, and
      production of bacterial lipase was quantified using a commercial lipase assay
      kit. RESULTS: Staphylococcus spp. produced high levels of lipase activity
      compared with P. acnes and Corynebacterium spp. GML inhibited lipase production
      by Staphylococcal spp. in a dose-dependent manner, with S. epidermidis lipase
      production consistently more sensitive to GML than S. aureus. Glycerol
      monolaurate showed significant (P < 0.05) lipase inhibition above concentrations
      of 15 MUg/mL in S. aureus and was not cytotoxic up to 25 MUg/mL. For S.
      epidermidis, GML showed significant (P < 0.05) lipase inhibition above 7.5
      MUg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Lipase activity varied between species and between strains.
      Staphylococcal spp. produced higher lipase activity compared with P. acnes and
      Corynebacterium spp. Glycerol monolaurate inhibited lipase production by S.
      aureus and S. epidermidis at concentrations that did not adversely affect
      bacterial cell growth. GML can be used to inhibit ocular bacterial lipase
      production without proving detrimental to commensal bacteria viability.

PMID- 26873515
TI  - Myopes Show Greater Visually Induced Postural Responses Than Emmetropes.
AB  - PURPOSE: The literature already establishes that vision plays a crucial role in
      postural control and that this visual dependence shows intra- and interindividual
      variability. However, does ametropia also have an effect on postural control?
      This question leads to our study, which aims primarily to determine if myopes and
      emmetropes behave differently in terms of postural control when subjected to
      visual stimulation, and secondarily, if this difference persists in the presence
      of barrel and pincushion distortions. The results could lead, among other things,
      to improved lens design. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects (12 myopes of -2.00 to 
      9.00 diopters [D] and 12 emmetropes of -0.50 to +0.50 D), between 19 and 35 years
      of age, participated in the study after comprehensive eye examinations were
      carried out. Of the 12 myopes, the preferred type of correction was divided
      equally within the group. While standing in front of a projection system and
      fixating on an immobile point, a checkerboard stimulus was displayed in their
      peripheral visual field, in either a static or dynamic state. Three conditions of
      optical distortion (plan, pincushion, and barrel distortions) were presented to
      the subjects. Their postural response was measured and recorded using a system of
      infrared cameras and optical sensors positioned on a helmet. RESULTS: The results
      show that postural instability induced by a dynamic peripheral stimulus is higher
      for myopes compared with emmetropes (ANOVA Refractive Error, F1,22 = 5.92, P =
      0.0235). When exposed to optical distortions, the two groups also have
      significant differences in postural behaviors (ANOVA Refractive Error*Optical
      Distortion, F2,44 = 5.67, P = 0.0064). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that
      refractive error could be a factor in explaining individual variations of the
      role of vision in postural control.

PMID- 26873516
TI  - Correspondence IJC-D-16-00080.

PMID- 26873517
TI  - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonar Disease Mortality. SEPAR COPD-Smoking Year.

PMID- 26873518
TI  - Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemoptysis.
AB  - Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood from the tracheobronchial tree. It is
      commonly caused by bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. The
      expectorated blood usually originates from the bronchial arteries. When
      hemoptysis is suspected, it must be confirmed and classified according to
      severity, and the origin and cause of the bleeding determined. Lateral and AP
      chest X-ray is the first study, although a normal chest X-ray does not rule out
      the possibility of malignancy or other underlying pathology. Multidetector
      computed tomography (MDCT) must be performed in all patients with frank
      hemoptysis, hemoptoic sputum, suspicion of bronchiectasis or risk factors for
      lung cancer, and in those with signs of pathology on chest X-ray. MDCT
      angiography has replaced arteriography in identifying the arteries that are the
      source of bleeding. MDCT angiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that can
      pinpoint the presence, origin, number and course of the systemic thoracic
      (bronchial and non-bronchial) and pulmonary arterial sources of bleeding.
      Endovascular embolization is the safest and most effective method of managing
      bleeding in massive or recurrent hemoptysis. Embolization is indicated in all
      patients with life-threatening or recurrent hemoptysis in whom MDCT angiography
      shows artery disease. Flexible bronchoscopy plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis
      of hemoptysis in patients with hemoptoic sputum or frank hemoptysis. The
      procedure can be performed rapidly at the bedside (intensive care unit); it can
      be used for immediate control of bleeding, and is also effective in locating the
      source of the hemorrhage. Flexible bronchoscopy is the first-line procedure of
      choice in hemodynamically unstable patients with life-threatening hemoptysis, in
      whom control of bleeding is of vital importance. In these cases, surgery is
      associated with an extremely high mortality rate, and is currently only indicated
      when bleeding is secondary to surgery and its source can be accurately and
      reliably located. 

PMID- 26873520
TI  - Clinical evaluation of percutaneous kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteolytic
      and osteoblastic metastatic vertebral lesions.
AB  - Percutaneous vertebral augmentation (Percutaneous vertebroplasty, PVP and
      Percutaeous kyphoplasty, PKP) for the treatment of metastatic spinal lesions has
      been considered as a preferred alternative to relieve pain and rebuild spinal
      stabilization relying on minimally invasive procedure. However, there have been
      few reports on clinical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty in the treatment of
      osteolytic and osteoblastic metastatic vertebral fracture. We report our
      experience for 81 kyphoplasty procedures performed in 45 patients with thoracic
      and lumbar vertebral lesions caused by metastases. 4 out of the 45 patients were
      withdrawn at 1-year follow-up. 41 patients demonstrated good clinical result. The
      osteoblastic group performed a better pain relief in visual analog scale (VAS)
      score after the treatment than the osteoclastic group 3 days, 1 month, 3 months
      and 1 year after the KP. And the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores of the
      osteoblastic group is lower than that of the osteoclastic group just in 3 days
      after the KP. And there were no significant difference between the two groups of
      ODI scores 1 month, 3 month and 1 year after the KP. And there were no
      statistical differences of the radiographic parameters including VB height
      variation and local kyphosis angle (LKA) between the two groups. Kyphoplasty
      results in an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the stabilization of
      thoracic and lumbar metastatic vertebral lesions, including both osteoblastic and
      osteoclastic types, which achieves statistically significant pain relief,
      function improvement, preventing further local kyphotic deformity, and VB height.

PMID- 26873521
TI  - The 100 most influential manuscripts in gastric cancer: A bibliometric analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bibliometric analysis highlights the key topics and publications
      which have shaped the understanding and management of Gastric cancer. Here the
      100 most cited manuscripts in the field of gastric cancer (GC) are analysed.
      METHODS: The Thomson Reuters Web of Science database with the search terms
      'gastric cancer' or 'gastric carcinoma' or 'stomach cancer' or 'stomach
      carcinoma' or 'gastroscopy' was used to identify all English language full
      manuscripts for the study. The 100 most cited papers were further analysed by
      topic, journal, author, year and institution. RESULTS: 122,616 eligible papers
      were returned and the median (range) citation number was 417 (2893-299). The most
      cited paper (by Parsonnet) focused on H.Pylori risk and gastric cancer (2893
      citations). Cancer Research published the highest number of papers (n = 13, 6901
      citations) and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) had the most citations
      (n = 8, 9358 citations). The country and year with the greatest number of
      publications were the USA (n = 29), and 1998 (n = 10). The most ubiquitous topic
      was the pathology of gastric cancer (n = 57) followed by aetiology of gastric
      cancer (n = 47), and basic science of gastric cancer (n = 44). CONCLUSION: The
      most cited manuscripts highlighted in this study describe the science related to
      the pathogenesis of GC including surgery and regimens that have resulted in the
      contemporary understanding and treatment of GC. This work provides the most
      influential references related to GC and serves as a guide as to what makes a
      citable paper.

PMID- 26873519
TI  - ALE meta-analysis reveals dissociable networks for affective and discriminative
      aspects of touch.
AB  - Emotionally-laden tactile stimulation-such as a caress on the skin or the feel of
      velvet-may represent a functionally distinct domain of touch, underpinned by
      specific cortical pathways. In order to determine whether, and to what extent,
      cortical functional neuroanatomy supports a distinction between affective and
      discriminative touch, an activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis was
      performed. This meta-analysis statistically mapped reported functional magnetic
      resonance imaging (fMRI) activations from 17 published affective touch studies in
      which tactile stimulation was associated with positive subjective evaluation (n =
      291, 34 experimental contrasts). A separate ALE meta-analysis mapped regions most
      likely to be activated by tactile stimulation during detection and discrimination
      tasks (n = 1,075, 91 experimental contrasts). These meta-analyses revealed
      dissociable regions for affective and discriminative touch, with posterior insula
      (PI) more likely to be activated for affective touch, and primary somatosensory
      cortices (SI) more likely to be activated for discriminative touch. Secondary
      somatosensory cortex had a high likelihood of engagement by both affective and
      discriminative touch. Further, meta-analytic connectivity (MCAM) analyses
      investigated network-level co-activation likelihoods independent of task or
      stimulus, across a range of domains and paradigms. Affective-related PI and
      discriminative-related SI regions co-activated with different networks,
      implicated in dissociable functions, but sharing somatosensory co-activations.
      Taken together, these meta-analytic findings suggest that affective and
      discriminative touch are dissociable both on the regional and network levels.
      However, their degree of shared activation likelihood in somatosensory cortices
      indicates that this dissociation reflects functional biases within tactile
      processing networks, rather than functionally and anatomically distinct pathways.

PMID- 26873522
TI  - The NIK of time for B cells.
AB  - NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK) is a key mediator of the noncanonical NF-kappaB
      signaling pathway, which is critical for B-cell development and function.
      Although complete deletion of NIK in mice has been shown to result in defective B
      cells and impaired secondary lymphoid organogenesis, the consequences of deleting
      NIK exclusively in B cells have not been determined. In this issue of the
      European Journal of Immunology, Hahn et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2016. 46: 732-741]
      describe mice in which the NF-kappaB2 pathway mediator, NIK, is deleted at
      different points in B-cell lineage differentiation and activation. The results
      show that the survival of mature peripheral B cells, as well as appropriate
      kinetics of germinal center reactions, rely on noncanonical NF-kappaB signaling.
      These findings confirm and extend prior observations implicating a nonredundant
      role for NF-kappaB2 downstream of BAFF signaling via BAFF-R, and prompt
      assessment of the growing literature regarding the relative roles of BCR and BAFF
      signals in B-cell homeostasis, as well as the downstream pathways responsible.

PMID- 26873523
TI  - Response to letter by Thodberg et al., AHB 2016.

PMID- 26873524
TI  - Infiltration of M2-polarized macrophages in infected lymphatic malformations:
      possible role in disease progression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lymphatic malformations (LMs), slow-flow vascular anomalies resulting
      from abnormal development of lymphatic channels, often progress rapidly after
      trauma or infection. OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible mechanism by which local
      infection promotes the progression of LMs. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry in
      serial sections and immunofluorescence were performed to label polarized
      macrophages. Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) in LMs were identified using
      antibodies against CD3 (a T-cell marker), CD20 (a B-cell marker) and PNAd (a high
      endothelial venule marker). Pearson's correlation and cluster analysis were
      carried out to delineate the relationship between macrophage infiltration and TLO
      formation. Rat models of LM were established to examine the role of
      lipopolysaccharide in LM development. RESULTS: Compared with normal skin tissues,
      both M1- and M2-polarized macrophages were prevalent in LMs. Moreover, M2
      polarized macrophages were significantly increased in infected LMs with an
      elevated density of TLOs. M2-polarized macrophages were observed in the centre of
      TLOs accompanied by intensive staining of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, a
      strong chemotactic factor for monocytes/macrophages, suggesting that macrophages
      might be recruited through TLOs. Cluster analysis and Pearson's correlation
      suggested a close relationship between macrophage infiltration and TLO formation.
      Furthermore, the expression of CD68 was also correlated with that of vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and Ki67. Importantly, in an established LM
      rat model, lipopolysaccharide promoted the progression of the malformations with
      increased macrophage infiltration and TLO formation. CONCLUSIONS: M2-polarized
      macrophages that may be recruited through TLOs in infected LMs may contribute to
      the progression of the disease by secreting VEGF-C, and therefore accelerating
      the proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells.

PMID- 26873525
TI  - Sensitivity of the cochlear nerve to acoustic and electrical stimulation months
      after a vestibular labyrinthectomy in guinea pigs.
AB  - Single-sided deafness patients are now being considered candidates to receive a
      cochlear implant. With this, many people who have undergone a unilateral
      vestibular labyrinthectomy for the treatment of chronic vertigo are now being
      considered for cochlear implantation. There is still some concern regarding the
      potential efficacy of cochlear implants in these patients, where factors such as
      cochlear fibrosis or nerve degeneration following unilateral vestibular
      labyrinthectomy may preclude their use. Here, we have performed a unilateral
      vestibular labyrinthectomy in normally hearing guinea pigs, and allowed them to
      recover for either 6 weeks, or 10 months, before assessing morphological and
      functional changes related to cochlear implantation. Light sheet fluorescence
      microscopy was used to assess gross morphology throughout the entire ear. Whole
      nerve responses to acoustic, vibrational, or electrical stimuli were used as
      functional measures. Mild cellular infiltration was observed at 6 weeks, and to a
      lesser extent at 10 months after labyrinthectomy. Following labyrinthectomy,
      cochlear sensitivity to high-frequency acoustic tone-bursts was reduced by 16 +/-
      4 dB, vestibular sensitivity was almost entirely abolished, and electrical
      sensitivity was only mildly reduced. These results support recent clinical
      findings that patients who have received a vestibular labyrinthectomy may still
      benefit from a cochlear implant.

PMID- 26873526
TI  - The role of connectivity and stochastic osteocyte behavior in the distribution of
      perilabyrinthine bone degeneration. A Monte Carlo based simulation study.
AB  - Previous studies of undecalcified temporal bones labeled with fluorescent tissue
      time markers and basic fuchsine have documented the unique spatial and temporal
      patterns underlying inner ear bone development, morphology and degeneration, and
      has led to the identification of inner ear OPG as the candidate inhibiter of
      perilabyrinthine bone resorption. Resulting age related excessive matrix
      microdamage, osteocyte death and degeneration of the OPG signaling pathway is
      expected to trigger bone remodeling in the otic capsule, but when this happens
      the morphology of the remodeling bone is abnormal and the distribution is not
      entirely smooth and predictable, but rather multifocal and chaotic with a
      centripetal predilection at the window regions, as in otosclerosis. Based on the
      observed histological patterns, the fundamental preconditions of perilabyrinthine
      bone cell behavior can be deduced. When this information is used to generate a
      virtual computer representation of the cellular signaling network, the fate of
      the aging network can be studied by 'virtual histology' in any number of
      simulated 'individuals'. We demonstrate how a combination of simple osteocyte
      survival functions derived from histological observations and the effect of
      connectivity may account for gradual centripetal degeneration as well as
      occasional focal degeneration of the cellular anti resorptive signaling pathway
      around the fluid space of the inner ear and create a permissive environment for
      otosclerosis.

PMID- 26873527
TI  - [Evaluation and improvement of the comprehension of informed consent documents].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The information contained in a good informed consent form (ICF)
      must be understood by the patients. The aim of this study is to assess and
      improve the readability of the ICF submitted for accreditation in a tertiary
      hospital. METHODS: Study of assessment and improvement of the quality of 132 ICF
      from 2 departments of a public tertiary hospital, divided into 3 phases: Initial
      assessment, intervention and reassessment. Both length and readability are
      assessed. Length is measured in words (adequate to 470, excessive over 940), and
      readability in INFLESZ points (suitable if over 55). The ICF contents initially
      proposed by departments were adapted by non-health-related trained persons, whose
      doubts about medical terms were resolved by the authors. To compare results
      between evaluations, relative improvement (in both length and INFLESZ) and
      statistical significances were calculated. RESULTS:  BASELINE DATA: 78.8% of the
      ICFs showed a desired length (CI95% 86,5-71,1) and a mean of 44.1 INFLESZ points
      (3.8% >55 points, CI95% 6,0-1,6). After the intervention, INFLESZ raised to 61.9
      points (improvement 40.3%, P<.001), all ICF showing >55 points. The resulting
      ICFs had a longer description of the nature of the procedure (P<.0001) and a
      shorter description of their consequences, risks (P <.0001) and alternatives (P
      <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of improvement dynamics in the design of
      ICFs is possible and necessary because it produces more effective and easily
      readable ICFs.

PMID- 26873528
TI  - Elevated TNF-alpha is associated with pain and physical disability in
      mucopolysaccharidosis types I, II, and VI.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children and adults with the lysosomal storage diseases
      mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I, II and VI live shortened lives permeated by
      chronic pain and physical disability. Current treatments do not alleviate these
      problems. Thus there is a critical need to understand the mechanism of chronic
      pain and disability in MPS in order to improve the way we treat patients. A
      potential target is inflammation. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that excessive
      inflammation mediated by the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inflammatory
      pathway is the fundamental cause of much of the chronic pain and physical
      disability in MPS. METHODS: 55 patients with MPS I, II, or VI were enrolled over
      the course of a 5-year prospective longitudinal natural history study and
      evaluated annually for 2-5years. 51 healthy controls were enrolled in a separate
      cross-sectional study of bone and energy metabolism. TNF-alpha was measured by
      ELISA. Pain and physical disability were measured by the Children's Health
      Questionnaire - Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF50). Differences in log-transformed TNF
      alpha levels and associations with CHQ domains were evaluated using a linear
      mixed effects model with random intercept. RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels were
      measured in 48 MPS (age: 5-17years; 35% female) and 51 controls (age: 8-17years;
      53% female). Among MPS, 22 (46%) were treated with hematopoietic cell
      transplantation (HCT) alone, 24 (50%) with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT)
      alone, and 2 (4%) with both HCT and ERT. TNF-alpha levels are higher in MPS
      compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). Higher TNF-alpha levels are associated
      with increased pain and decreased physical function, social limitations due to
      physical health, and physical summary score (all p<0.05). TNF-alpha levels were
      not significantly associated with the general health score. TNF-alpha levels did
      not change significantly over time in MPS. CONCLUSIONS: Higher TNF-alpha levels
      are implicated in the pain and decreased physical function present in individuals
      with MPS despite treatment with ERT and/or HCT, suggesting that TNF-a inhibition
      could potentially be a useful adjunctive therapy. Further investigation into the
      role of TNF-alpha inhibition in MPS to decrease pain and improve physical
      function is indicated.

PMID- 26873529
TI  - Observational clinical study of 22 adult-onset Pompe disease patients undergoing
      enzyme replacement therapy over 5years.
AB  - Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from deficiency of the
      acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). The late-onset Pompe Disease (LOPD) patients
      develop muscular and respiratory complications later in life. We describe a
      retrospective observational cohort study including 22 patients with LOPD. The
      cohort was assessed at baseline before Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) with
      alglucosidase alpha (20mg/kg biweekly) was commenced and subsequently relevant
      information was collected at 2, 4 and 5years later. The median age of the
      patients at study entry was 44years (16-64years), with median disease duration of
      11.5years (4-31years). At baseline, 10 patients (45%) could walk without support,
      12 (55%) could walk with unilateral or bilateral support including 3/12 were
      wheelchair bound. Mean predicted FVC % was 55.7 (95% CI 45-66) of predicted
      normal at baseline and showed no significant change after 5years (54.6 (95% CI 43
      66)), (all p=0.9815). Mean FVC % supine was 41.8 (95% CI 33.8-49) of predicted
      normal at baseline and remained significantly unchanged at 5years (48.4 (95% CI
      37-59.6)), (all p=0.8680). The overnight non-invasive ventilator dependence
      increased by 18.2% as compared with baseline and requirement of mobility aids
      increased during this period by 5.2% as compared with the baseline. Mean walking
      distance at 6min walk test was 411.5 (95% CI 338-485) at baseline, 266.5 (95% CI
      187-346) m at 2years, 238.6 (95% CI 162-315) m at 4years and 286.8 (95% CI 203
      370) m at 5years (p=0.1981; ANOVA was completed only for 14 patients). A gradual
      decline in FVC% predicted was noted only in four cases and a decline in FVC%
      supine in two other. Only one patient showed a decline in both pulmonary function
      tests. In all remaining cases (17/22) respiratory function remains stable. In
      conclusion overall pulmonary function tests and mobility remained stable for
      5years in majority of patients on ERT. However, in some patients they continued
      to decline in spite of ERT resulting in increased number of patients requiring
      ventilation and increase wheel chair dependence at the end of 5years. 

PMID- 26873531
TI  - Innovative pure non-exposed endoscopic full-thickness resection using an
      endoscopic suturing device.

PMID- 26873532
TI  - Interaction of graphene oxide with albumins: Effect of size, pH, and temperature.
AB  - Understanding the interaction between graphene oxide (GO) and the biomolecules is
      fundamentally essential, especially for disease- and drug-related peptides and
      proteins. In this study, the interaction between GO and albumins (bovine serum
      albumin, human serum albumin, and bovine alpha-lactalbumin) has been performed by
      fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. The fluorescence quenching
      mechanism between GO and aromatic acids residues with intrinsic fluorescence was
      determined as mainly static quenching in combination with dynamic quenching. The
      optimal conditions for the most effective affinity between albumins and GO have
      been estimated at neutral pH and room temperature. The strong impact of the size
      of graphene oxide on the interaction between proteins and graphene oxide has been
      confirmed, as well. The interaction between GO and albumins has been examined as
      electrostatic and hydrophobic. The electrostatic interaction was confirmed by pH
      effect, while the hydrophobic interaction was proved by the presence of
      Poloxamer188. The CD spectra of albumins exhibit decreasing helicity in the
      secondary structure of albumins upon the addition of GO. However, no significant
      changes in position and shape of characteristic negative bands have been noted.
      Mentioned changes indicate the successful interaction between GO and proteins,
      the predominantly alpha-helical structure of albumins has been preserved. 

PMID- 26873533
TI  - Anthocyanins and their gut metabolites reduce the adhesion of monocyte to
      TNFalpha-activated endothelial cells at physiologically relevant concentrations.
AB  - An increasing number of evidence suggests a protective role of dietary
      anthocyanins against cardiovascular diseases. Anthocyanins' extensive metabolism
      indicates that their metabolites could be responsible for the protective effects
      associated with consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods. The aim of this work was
      to investigate the effect of plasma anthocyanins and their metabolites on the
      adhesion of monocytes to TNFalpha-activated endothelial cells and on the
      expression of genes encoding cell adhesion molecules. Human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to circulating anthocyanins: cyanidin-3
      arabinoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3
      glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, anthocyanin degradation product: 4
      hydroxybenzaldehyde, or to their gut metabolites: protocatechuic, vanillic,
      ferulic and hippuric acid, at physiologically-relevant concentrations (0.1-2 MUM)
      and time of exposure. Both anthocyanins and gut metabolites decreased the
      adhesion of monocytes to HUVECs, with a magnitude ranging from 18.1% to 47%. The
      mixture of anthocyanins and that of gut metabolites also reduced monocyte
      adhesion. However, no significant effect on the expression of genes encoding E
      selectin, ICAM1 and VCAM1 was observed, suggesting that other molecular targets
      are involved in the observed effect. In conclusion, this study showed the potency
      of anthocyanins and their gut metabolites to modulate the adhesion of monocytes
      to endothelial cells, the initial step in atherosclerosis development, under
      physiologically-relevant conditions.

PMID- 26873530
TI  - EUS Needle Identification Comparison and Evaluation study (with videos).
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: EUS-guided FNA or biopsy sampling is widely practiced.
      Optimal sonographic visualization of the needle is critical for image-guided
      interventions. Of the several commercially available needles, bench-top testing
      and direct comparison of these needles have not been done to reveal their
      inherent echogenicity. The aims are to provide bench-top data that can be used to
      guide clinical applications and to promote future device research and
      development. METHODS: Descriptive bench-top testing and comparison of 8 commonly
      used EUS-FNA needles (all size 22 gauge): SonoTip Pro Control (Medi-Globe);
      Expect Slimline (Boston Scientific); EchoTip, EchoTip Ultra, EchoTip ProCore High
      Definition (Cook Medical); ClearView (Conmed); EZ Shot 2 (Olympus); and BNX
      (Beacon Endoscopic), and 2 new prototype needles, SonoCoat (Medi-Globe), coated
      by echogenic polymers made by Encapson. Blinded evaluation of standardized and
      unedited videos by 43 EUS endoscopists and 17 radiologists specialized in GI US
      examination who were unfamiliar with EUS needle devices. RESULTS: There was no
      significant difference in the ratings and rankings of these needles between
      endosonographers and radiologists. Overall, 1 prototype needle was rated as the
      best, ranking 10% to 40% higher than all other needles (P < .01). Among the
      commercially available needles, the EchoTip Ultra needle and the ClearView needle
      were top choices. The EZ Shot 2 needle was ranked statistically lower than other
      needles (30%-75% worse, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: All FNA needles have their
      inherent and different echogenicities, and these differences are similarly
      recognized by EUS endoscopists and radiologists. Needles with polymeric coating
      from the entire shaft to the needle tip may offer better echogenicity.

PMID- 26873534
TI  - Development, CAPTA Part C Referral and Services Among Young Children in the U.S.
      Child Welfare System: Implications for Latino Children.
AB  - Amendments made to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in 2003 and the
      Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act in 2004 opened the door
      to a promising partnership between child welfare services and early intervention
      (EI) agencies by requiring a referral to EI services for all children under age 3
      involved in a substantiated case of child abuse, neglect, or illegal drug
      exposure. However, little research has been conducted to assess the implications
      of these policies. Using data drawn from a nationally representative study
      conducted in 2008-2009, we observed less than a fifth of all children in
      substantiated cases to receive a referral to developmental services (18.2%)
      approximately 5 years after the passage of the amendments. Of children in contact
      with the U.S. child welfare system, Hispanic children of immigrants demonstrated
      the greatest developmental need yet were among the least likely to receive EI
      services by the end of the study period. Implications for policy and practice are
      discussed.

PMID- 26873535
TI  - Introduction to a New Section: "DDS-GRG Mentored Reviews".

PMID- 26873536
TI  - Continuing Medical Education Improves Gastroenterologists' Compliance with
      Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality Measures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low rates of compliance with quality measures for inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD) have been reported for US gastroenterologists. AIMS: We assessed
      the influence of quality improvement (QI) education on compliance with physician
      quality reporting system (PQRS) measures for IBD and measures related to National
      Quality Strategy (NQS) priorities. METHODS: Forty community-based
      gastroenterologists participated in the QI study; 20 were assigned to educational
      intervention and control groups, respectively. At baseline, randomly selected
      charts of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis were
      retrospectively reviewed for the gastroenterologists' performance of 8 PQRS IBD
      measures and 4 NQS-related measures. The intervention group participated in a
      series of accredited continuing medical education (CME) activities focusing on
      QI. Follow-up chart reviews were conducted 6 months after the CME activities.
      Independent t tests were conducted to compare between-group differences in
      baseline-to-follow-up rates of documented compliance with each measure. RESULTS:
      The analysis included 299 baseline charts and 300 follow-up charts. The
      intervention group had significantly greater magnitudes of improvement than the
      control group for the following measures: assessment of IBD type, location, and
      activity (+14 %, p = 0.009); influenza vaccination (+13 %, p = 0.025);
      pneumococcal vaccination (+20 %, p = 0.003); testing for latent tuberculosis
      before anti-TNF-alpha therapy (+10 %, p = 0.028); assessment of hepatitis B virus
      status before anti-TNF-alpha therapy (+9 %, p = 0.010); assessment of side
      effects (+17 %, p = 0.048), and counseling patients about cancer risks (+13 %, p
      = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: QI-focused CME improves community-based
      gastroenterologists' compliance with IBD quality measures and measures aligned
      with NQS priorities.

PMID- 26873537
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
      in the Elderly Over 80 Years.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Concern regarding the safety and efficacy of therapeutic
      endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in elderly patients is
      increasing as a result of the aging society. However, there are limited data,
      especially in the super-aged elderly. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy
      and safety of therapeutic ERCP in patients >=80 years of age. METHODS: Patients
      80 years of age or older (n = 312) and younger than 65 years (n = 312) who
      underwent therapeutic ERCP from June 2006 to April 2014 were randomly selected
      and analyzed retrospectively. The main outcome measurements were therapeutic ERCP
      related complications and clinical outcomes in the two groups. RESULTS:
      Choledocholithiasis combined with gallbladder stone was the most common
      indication for ERCP in both groups. Comorbid diseases (70.5 and 29.8 %, p <
      0.001) and the use of anti-thrombotic drugs (18.6 and 1.6 %, p < 0.001) were more
      frequent in the super-aged group. The mean procedure time was longer, and the
      frequency of second ERCP was more common in the super-aged group. However, the
      technical success rate (94.9 and 97.4 %, p = 0.096) and the procedure-related
      complication rate (4.8 and 5.8 %, p = 0.592) were not different between the two
      groups. Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in 1.3 % of the super-aged group and in
      2.9 % of the control group (p = 0.262). Cardiopulmonary complications occurred in
      1.9 % of patients in each group (p = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic ERCP is
      comparable in terms of efficacy and safety between patients >=80 years and those
      <65 years of age, although the elderly group had a higher rate of comorbid
      diseases and used anti-thrombotic drugs more frequently.

PMID- 26873538
TI  - Distinct Patterns of Colocalization of the CCND1 and CMYC Genes With Their
      Potential Translocation Partner IGH at Successive Stages of B-Cell
      Differentiation.
AB  - The immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) locus is submitted to intra-chromosomal DNA
      breakages and rearrangements during normal B cell differentiation that create a
      risk for illegitimate inter-chromosomal translocations leading to a variety of B
      cell malignancies. In most Burkitt's and Mantle Cell lymphomas, specific
      chromosomal translocations juxtapose the IGH locus with a CMYC or Cyclin D1
      (CCND1) gene, respectively. 3D-fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed
      on normal peripheral B lymphocytes induced to mature in vitro from a naive state
      to the stage where they undergo somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch
      recombination (CSR). The CCND1 genes were found very close to the IGH locus in
      naive B cells and further away after maturation. In contrast, the CMYC alleles
      became localized closer to an IGH locus at the stage of SHM/CSR. The
      colocalization observed between the two oncogenes and the IGH locus at successive
      stages of B-cell differentiation occurred in the immediate vicinity of the
      nucleolus, consistent with the known localization of the RAGs and AID enzymes
      whose function has been demonstrated in IGH physiological rearrangements. We
      propose that the chromosomal events leading to Mantle Cell lymphoma and Burkitt's
      lymphoma are favored by the colocalization of CCND1 and CMYC with IGH at the time
      the concerned B cells undergo VDJ recombination or SHM/CSR, respectively. J.
      Cell. Biochem. 117: 1506-1510, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26873539
TI  - Earthworm-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles: A potent tool against
      hepatocellular carcinoma, Plasmodium falciparum parasites and malaria mosquitoes.
AB  - The development of parasites and pathogens resistant to synthetic drugs
      highlighted the needing of novel, eco-friendly and effective control approaches.
      Recently, metal nanoparticles have been proposed as highly effective tools
      towards cancer cells and Plasmodium parasites. In this study, we synthesized
      silver nanoparticles (EW-AgNP) using Eudrilus eugeniae earthworms as reducing and
      stabilizing agents. EW-AgNP showed plasmon resonance reduction in UV-vis
      spectrophotometry, the functional groups involved in the reduction were studied
      by FTIR spectroscopy, while particle size and shape was analyzed by FESEM. The
      effect of EW-AgNP on in vitro HepG2 cell proliferation was measured using MTT
      assays. Apoptosis assessed by flow cytometry showed diminished endurance of HepG2
      cells and cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. EW-AgNP were toxic to
      Anopheles stephensi larvae and pupae, LC(50) were 4.8 ppm (I), 5.8 ppm (II), 6.9
      ppm (III), 8.5 ppm (IV), and 15.5 ppm (pupae). The antiplasmodial activity of EW
      AgNP was evaluated against CQ-resistant (CQ-r) and CQ-sensitive (CQ-s) strains of
      Plasmodium falciparum. EW-AgNP IC(50) were 49.3 MUg/ml (CQ-s) and 55.5 MUg/ml (CQ
      r), while chloroquine IC(50) were 81.5 MUg/ml (CQ-s) and 86.5 MUg/ml (CQ-r). EW
      AgNP showed a valuable antibiotic potential against important pathogenic bacteria
      and fungi. Concerning non-target effects of EW-AgNP against mosquito natural
      enemies, the predation efficiency of the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis towards
      the II and II instar larvae of A. stephensi was 68.50% (II) and 47.00% (III),
      respectively. In EW-AgNP-contaminated environments, predation was boosted to
      89.25% (II) and 70.75% (III), respectively. Overall, this research highlighted
      the EW-AgNP potential against hepatocellular carcinoma, Plasmodium parasites and
      mosquito vectors, with little detrimental effects on mosquito natural enemies.

PMID- 26873542
TI  - Dimensions of Health and Empowerment Programs.

PMID- 26873541
TI  - The robotic metroplasty in a patient with hybrid septate variant anomaly.
AB  - Complete uterovaginal septum is unusually associated with an obstructed left
      hemivagina and hemiuteri. Herein we present a case report of "hybrid septate
      variant" anomaly diagnosed in a 16-year-old girl. The uterine septum could not be
      completely removed hysteroscopically because of the obstructed vagina and thick
      uterine septum; therefore an abdominal approach, robotic metroplastic surgery was
      performed. We propose that the robotic technology has advantages over the
      classical laparoscopy related with the surgical correction of Mullerian anomaly. 

PMID- 26873540
TI  - Proteomic characterization of the internalization of Opisthorchis viverrini
      excretory/secretory products in human cells.
AB  - The association between liver fluke infection caused by Opisthorchis viverrini
      and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA - hepatic cancer of the bile duct epithelium) has
      been well established. Multiple mechanisms play a role in the development of CCA,
      but the excretory/secretory products released by O. viverrini (OvES) represent
      the major interface between the parasite and its host, and their uptake by
      biliary epithelial cells has been suggested to be responsible for proliferation
      of cholangiocytes, the cells that line the biliary epithelium. Despite recent
      progress in the study of the molecular basis of O. viverrini-host interactions,
      little is known about the effects that OvES induces upon internalization by host
      cells. In the present study we incubated non-cancerous human cholangiocytes (H69)
      and human colon cancer (CaCo-2) cells with OvES and performed a time-course
      quantitative proteomic analysis on the cells to determine the early changes
      induced by the parasite. Different KEGG pathways were altered in H69 cells
      compared to Caco-2 cells: glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and protein processing in
      the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, the Reactome pathway analysis showed a
      predominance of proteins involved in cellular pathways related to apoptosis and
      apoptotic execution phase in H69 cells after incubation with OvES. The present
      study provides the first proteomic analysis to address the molecular mechanisms
      by which OvES products interact with host cells, and Sheds light on the cellular
      processes involved in O. viverrini-induced CCA.

PMID- 26873543
TI  - News From the International Council on Women's Health Issues.

PMID- 26873544
TI  - Family involvement in cancer treatment decision-making: A qualitative study of
      patient, family, and clinician attitudes and experiences.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how family are involved in cancer treatment
      decision-making. This study aimed to qualitatively explore Australian oncology
      clinicians', patients', and family members' attitudes towards, and experiences
      of, family involvement in decision-making. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews
      were conducted with 30 cancer patients, 33 family members, 10 oncology nurses and
      11 oncologists. Framework analysis methods were used. RESULTS: Three main themes
      were uncovered: (i) how family are involved in the decision-making process:
      specific behaviours of family across 5 (extended) decision-making stages; (ii)
      attitudes towards family involvement in the decision-making process: balancing
      patient authority with the rights of the family; and (iii) factors influencing
      family involvement: patient, family, cultural, relationship, and decision.
      CONCLUSION: This study highlighted many specific behaviours of family throughout
      the decision-making process, the complex participant attitudes toward retaining
      patient authority whilst including the family, and insight into influencing
      factors. These findings will inform a conceptual framework describing family
      involvement in decision-making. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians could ascertain
      participant preferences and remain open to the varying forms of family
      involvement in decision-making. Given the important role of family in the
      decision-making process, family inclusive consultation strategies are needed.

PMID- 26873545
TI  - Online health anxiety and consultation satisfaction: A quantitative exploratory
      study on their relations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study explores how seeking online information may affect
      satisfaction with the doctor consultation and what role health anxiety plays in
      this context. METHODS: A survey was conducted asking patients in doctors' offices
      about their online seeking for health information and measuring health anxiety
      prior to the consultation, and their satisfaction with the consultation
      afterwards (N= 239). RESULTS: Results showed that health anxiety is positively
      related to seeking online health information and that health anxious people are
      less satisfied with the doctor consultation. Furthermore, people searching more
      extensively appreciated the duration of their physician's consultation less, but
      only if they were relatively health anxious. CONCLUSIONS: The internet has
      significantly changed how patients can prepare themselves prior to the doctor
      consultation. This may have a negative effect on the satisfaction with the
      consultation, especially for people that are health anxious. PRACTICAL
      IMPLICATIONS: Doctors should be aware that online health information seeking
      affects the satisfaction with the consultation, especially for health anxious
      individuals.

PMID- 26873546
TI  - Early transcriptional changes in cardiac mitochondria during chronic doxorubicin
      exposure and mitigation by dexrazoxane in mice.
AB  - Identification of early biomarkers of cardiotoxicity could help initiate means to
      ameliorate the cardiotoxic actions of clinically useful drugs such as doxorubicin
      (DOX). Since DOX has been shown to target mitochondria, transcriptional levels of
      mitochondria-related genes were evaluated to identify early candidate biomarkers
      in hearts of male B6C3F1 mice given a weekly intravenous dose of 3mg/kg DOX or
      saline (SAL) for 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 weeks (6, 9, 12, 18, or 24 mg/kg cumulative DOX
      doses, respectively). Also, a group of mice was pretreated (intraperitoneally)
      with the cardio-protectant, dexrazoxane (DXZ; 60 mg/kg) 30 min before each weekly
      dose of DOX or SAL. At necropsy a week after the last dose, increased plasma
      concentrations of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were detected at 18 and 24 mg/kg
      cumulative DOX doses, whereas myocardial alterations were observed only at the 24
      mg/kg dose. Of 1019 genes interrogated, 185, 109, 140, 184, and 451 genes were
      differentially expressed at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 mg/kg cumulative DOX doses,
      respectively, compared to concurrent SAL-treated controls. Of these, expression
      of 61 genes associated with energy metabolism and apoptosis was significantly
      altered before and after occurrence of myocardial injury, suggesting these as
      early genomics markers of cardiotoxicity. Much of these DOX-induced
      transcriptional changes were attenuated by pretreatment of mice with DXZ. Also,
      DXZ treatment significantly reduced plasma cTnT concentration and completely
      ameliorated cardiac alterations induced by 24 mg/kg cumulative DOX. This
      information on early transcriptional changes during DOX treatment may be useful
      in designing cardioprotective strategies targeting mitochondria.

PMID- 26873547
TI  - Tributyltin chloride increases phenylephrine-induced contraction and vascular
      stiffness in mesenteric resistance arteries from female rats.
AB  - Tributyltin chloride (TBT) is an organotin compound that reduces estrogen levels
      in female rats. We aimed to investigate the effects of TBT exposure on vascular
      tonus and vascular remodelling in the resistance arteries of female rats. Rats
      were treated daily with TBT (500 ng/kg) for 15 days. TBT did not change arterial
      blood pressure but did modify some morpho-physiological parameters of third-order
      mesenteric resistance arteries in the following ways: (1) decreased lumen and
      external diameters; (2) increased wall/lm ratio and wall thickness; (3) decreased
      distensibility and increased stiffness; (4) increased collagen deposition; and
      (5) increased pulse wave velocity. TBT exposure increased the phenylephrine
      induced contractile response in mesenteric resistance arteries. However,
      vasodilatation responses induced by acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were
      not modified by TBT. It is suggested that TBT exposure reduces vascular nitric
      oxide (NO) production, because:(1) L-NAME incubation did not cause a leftward
      shift in the concentration-response curve for phenylephrine; (2) both eNOS
      protein expression; (3) in situ NO production were reduced. Incubation with L
      NAME; and (4) SOD shifted the phenylephrine response curve to the left in TBT
      rats. Tiron, catalase, ML-171 and VAS2870 decreased vascular reactivity to
      phenylephrine only in TBT rats. Moreover, increased superoxide anion production
      was observed in the mesenteric resistance arteries of TBT rats accompanied by an
      increase in gp91phox, catalase, AT1 receptor and total ERK1/2 protein expression.
      In conclusion, these findings show that TBT induced alterations are most likely
      due to a reduction of NO production combined with increased O2(-) production
      derived from NADPH oxidase and ERK1/2 activation. These findings offer further
      evidence that TBT is an environmental risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26873548
TI  - Bears Arouse Interest in Microbiota's Role in Health.
AB  - The first report of the effect of hibernation on the gut microbiota of bears
      reveals trends both similar and distinct from those found in small hibernators. A
      model mouse system also suggested possible roles of the microbiota for healthy
      weight gain and insulin tolerance in bears during their active season. 

PMID- 26873549
TI  - Sever lower gastro-intestinal bleeding by CMV in a kidney transplant with low
      dose immunosuppression.

PMID- 26873550
TI  - Glycaemic changes in patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - In Argentina, there have been no studies aimed at establishing the prevalence of
      dysglycaemia (impaired fasting glucose [IFG], impaired glucose tolerance [IGT]
      and diabetes mellitus [DM]) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our
      group decided to conduct an observational study to evaluate the frequency with
      oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in CKD patients with no previous data for
      dysglycaemia in their medical records. OGTT was performed in 254 patients (60.62%
      male) with stage 3, 4 and 5 CKD under conservative treatment, haemodialysis or
      transplantation. Results for DM were found in 10 patients according to fasting
      glucose alone (3.94%; 95% CI: 1.35-6.53%), 11 patients with exclusively the
      second hour criterion (4.33%; 95% CI: 1.63-7.03%), 15 with both criteria (5.91%;
      95% CI: 2.81-9.00%) and 36 patients with at least one criteria (14.17%; 95% CI:
      9.69-18.66%). In a multivariate analysis, DM was associated with waist
      circumference (OR=1.033 per cm; 95% CI, 1.005 to 1.062; P=.019) and with
      conservative treatment vs. replacement therapy (OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.19-0.92;
      P=.028). IGT was evident in 24.6% and 20.3 on conservative vs. replacement
      therapy, with no statistically significant difference. IFG (ADA criteria) was
      19.75 vs. 9.24% in conservative vs. replacement therapy, with a statistically
      significant difference. OGTT is suggested for all CKD patients since it is able
      to detect the full range of unknown dysglycaemias, which avoids underdiagnoses
      and favours performing treatments to prevent progression in DM risk groups (IFG
      and/or IGT). It also aids in the selection of the most appropriate medication for
      transplantation or treatment initiation in new cases of undiagnosed DM to
      decrease morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26873551
TI  - Dexamethasone-induced acute excitotoxic cell death in the developing brain.
AB  - There is substantial evidence that the use of glucocorticoids in neonates is
      associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, it
      remains unclear how treatment with low doses of dexamethasone (DEX) may result in
      behavioral abnormalities without evident signs of immediate neurotoxicity in the
      neonatal brain. It is possible that cells vulnerable to the pro-apoptotic effects
      of low doses of DEX escaped detection due to their small number in the developing
      brain. In agreement with this suggestion, low-dose DEX treatment (0.2mg/kg)
      failed to induce apoptosis in the cortex or hippocampus proper of neonatal rats.
      However, this treatment was capable of inducing apoptosis specifically in the
      dorsal subiculum via a two-step mechanism that involves glutamate excitotoxicity.
      Application of DEX leads to increased activity of CA1/CA3 hippocampal MAP2
      positive neurons, as determined by c-Fos expression at 0.5-1h after DEX
      injection. Five hours later, the apoptotic markers (fragmented nuclei, active
      caspase-3 and TUNEL labeling) increased in the dorsal subiculum, which receives
      massive glutamatergic input from CA1 neurons. Pretreatment with memantine, an
      antagonist of glutamate NMDA receptors, dose dependently blocked the DEX-induced
      expression of apoptotic markers in the subicular neurons and astrocytes. These
      findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of DEX-induced neurotoxicity as
      well as on the mechanism of therapeutic action of antagonists of NMDA receptors
      against neurobehavioral disorders caused by neonatal exposure to glucocorticoids.

PMID- 26873553
TI  - Water-related environments: a multistep procedure to assess the diversity and
      enzymatic properties of cultivable bacteria.
AB  - Studying the culturable portion of environmental bacterial populations is
      valuable for understanding the ecology, for discovering taxonomically interesting
      isolates and for exploiting their enzymatic abilities. In this study, diverse
      water-related samples, iced water (3  degrees C) from river, the sediment (29 
      degrees C) and water (55  degrees C) of a hot-spring, were investigated by two
      cultivation strategies, Dry and novel Wet approach. The isolates were clustered
      by fluorescent internal transcribed spacer PCR and identified by 16S rRNA
      sequencing. Several bacterial groups were also sub-typed through the application
      of Random Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphisms method. A broad enzymatic
      screening of all bacterial isolates was performed in order to assess the
      proteolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic, esterolytic, amylolytic properties, as well
      as catalase and peroxidase activities. The Wet cultivation demonstrated to be
      suitable for the isolation of potential new species belonging to genera Massilia,
      Algoriphagus, Rheinheimera and Pandoraea. Valuable microbial resources with
      extensive enzymatic activities were recognized among the psychrophilic (Pantoea
      brenneri and Serratia sp.), mesophilic (Pandoraea, Massilia, Pseudomonas,
      Stenotrophomonas, Bacillus and Aeromonas) and thermophilic bacteria (Aeribacullus
      pallidus and Geobacillus kaustophilus). The experimental strategy developed in
      this study includes simple investigation tools able to reveal the genetic and
      enzymatic peculiarities of isolated microorganisms. It can be applied to
      different kinds of aquatic samples and extreme environments similar to those
      described in this study. 

PMID- 26873552
TI  - Depdc5 knockout rat: A novel model of mTORopathy.
AB  - DEP-domain containing 5 (DEPDC5), encoding a repressor of the mechanistic target
      of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway, has recently emerged as a
      major gene mutated in familial focal epilepsies and focal cortical dysplasia.
      Here we established a global knockout rat using TALEN technology to investigate
      in vivo the impact of Depdc5-deficiency. Homozygous Depdc5(-/-) embryos died from
      embryonic day 14.5 due to a global growth delay. Constitutive mTORC1
      hyperactivation was evidenced in the brains and in cultured fibroblasts of
      Depdc5(-/-) embryos, as reflected by enhanced phosphorylation of its downstream
      effectors S6K1 and rpS6. Consistently, prenatal treatment with mTORC1 inhibitor
      rapamycin rescued the phenotype of Depdc5(-/-) embryos. Heterozygous Depdc5(+/-)
      rats developed normally and exhibited no spontaneous electroclinical seizures,
      but had altered cortical neuron excitability and firing patterns. Depdc5(+/-)
      rats displayed cortical cytomegalic dysmorphic neurons and balloon-like cells
      strongly expressing phosphorylated rpS6, indicative of mTORC1 upregulation, and
      not observed after prenatal rapamycin treatment. These neuropathological
      abnormalities are reminiscent of the hallmark brain pathology of human focal
      cortical dysplasia. Altogether, Depdc5 knockout rats exhibit multiple features of
      rodent models of mTORopathies, and thus, stand as a relevant model to study their
      underlying pathogenic mechanisms. 

PMID- 26873554
TI  - Effects of neutrophils peptide-1 transgenic Chlorella ellipsoidea on the gut
      microbiota of male Sprague-Dawley rats, as revealed by high-throughput 16S rRNA
      sequencing.
AB  - Rabbit neutrophils peptide-1 (NP-1) is a type of defensin that possesses a broad
      spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Chlorella ellipsoidea is a new eukaryotic
      expression system for exogenously producing NP-1. The NP-1 transgenic C.
      ellipsoidea can be directly added into feed as antimicrobial agent without any
      purification procedure for the NP-1 peptide. However, the effects of C.
      ellipsoidea and NP-1 on the host gut microbiota should be explored before
      application. In this study, diets containing different concentrations (1.25, 2.5,
      and 5%) of C. ellipsoidea and NP-1 transgenic C. ellipsoidea were administered to
      male Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with the chow diet control group, none of the
      experimental groups showed any significant differences in their growth indices,
      and no histopathological damage was observed. The phylotypes of gut microbiota in
      the control group, the 5% C. ellipsoidea diet group and the 5% NP-1 transgenic C.
      ellipsoidea diet group were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed
      that both 5% experimental groups had shifted community memberships of gut
      microbiota. In particular, the 5% NP-1 transgenic C. ellipsoidea diet exhibited
      an increased abundance of most Gram-positive bacterial taxa and a reduced
      abundance of most Gram-negative bacterial taxa, and it promoted the growth of
      some lactic acid bacterial genera. Lactic acid bacteria, especially the
      Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, have been widely reported to be benefic
      effects on the host. Thus NP-1 transgenic C. ellipsoidea is promising feed
      additive and gut regulator, as it have the potential to increase the abundance of
      Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in gut microbiota of animal.

PMID- 26873555
TI  - Antifungal performance of extracellular chitinases and culture supernatants of
      Streptomyces galilaeus CFFSUR-B12 against Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet.
AB  - The tropical and mycoparasite strain Streptomyces galilaeus CFFSUR-B12 was
      evaluated as an antagonist of Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, causal agent of
      the Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) of banana. On zymograms of CFFSUR-B12 culture
      supernatants, we detected four chitinases of approximately 32 kDa (Chi32), 20 kDa
      (Chi20), and two with masses well over 170 kDa (ChiU) that showed little
      migration during denaturing electrophoresis at different concentrations of
      polyacrylamide. The thymol-sulphuric acid assay showed that the ChiU were
      glycosylated chitinases. Moreover, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization
      time-of-flight MS analysis revealed that the ChiU are the same protein and
      identical to a family 18 chitinase from Streptomyces sp. S4 (gi|498328075). Chi32
      was similar to an extracellular protein from Streptomyces albus J1074
      (gi|478687481) and Chi20 was non-significantly similar to chitinases from five
      different strains of Streptomyces (P > 0.05). Subsequently, Chi32 and Chi20 were
      partially purified by anion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography
      and tested against M. fijiensis. Chitinases failed to inhibit ascospore
      germination, but inhibited up to 35 and 62% of germ tube elongation and mycelial
      growth, respectively. We found that crude culture supernatant and living cells of
      S. galilaeus CFFSUR-B12 were the most effective in inhibiting M. fijiensis and
      are potential biocontrol agents of BSD.

PMID- 26873556
TI  - chr genes from adaptive replicons are responsible for chromate resistance by
      Burkholderia xenovorans LB400.
AB  - The chromate ion transporter (CHR) superfamily includes proteins that confer
      chromate resistance by extruding toxic chromate ions from cytoplasm. Burkholderia
      xenovorans strain LB400 encodes six CHR homologues in its multireplicon genome
      and has been reported as highly chromate-resistant. The objective of this work
      was to analyze the involvement of chr redundant genes in chromate resistance by
      LB400. It was found that B. xenovorans plant rhizosphere strains lacking the
      megaplasmid are chromate-sensitive, suggesting that the chr gene present in this
      replicon is responsible for the chromate-resistance phenotype of the LB400
      strain. Transformation of a chromate-sensitive B. xenovorans strain with each of
      the six cloned LB400 chr genes showed that genes from 'adaptive replicons'
      (chrA1b and chr1NCb from chromosome 2 and chrA2 from the megaplasmid) conferred
      higher chromate resistance levels than chr genes from 'central' chromosome 1
      (chrA1a, chrA6, and chr1NCa). An LB400 insertion mutant affected in the chrA2
      gene displayed a chromate-sensitive phenotype, which was fully reverted by
      transferring the chrA2 wild-type gene, and partially reverted by chrA1b or
      chr1NCb genes. These data indicate that chr genes from adaptive replicons, mainly
      chrA2 from the megaplasmid, are responsible for the B. xenovorans LB400 chromate
      resistance phenotype. 

PMID- 26873557
TI  - Enhanced production of tetramethylpyrazine in Bacillus licheniformis BL1 by bdhA
      disruption and 2,3-butanediol supplementation.
AB  - The 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) dehydrogenase gene (bdhA) of Bacillus licheniformis
      BL1 was disrupted to construct the tetramethylpyrazine (TMP)-producing BLA
      strain. During microaerobic fermentation, the bdhA-disrupted BLA strain produced
      46.98 g TMP/l, and this yield was 23.99% higher than that produced by the parent
      BL1 strain. In addition, the yield of acetoin, which is a TMP precursor, also
      increased by 28.98% in BLA. The TMP production by BL1 was enhanced by
      supplementing the fermentation medium with 2,3-BD. The yield of TMP improved from
      37.89 to 44.77 g/l as the concentration of 2,3-BD increased from 0 to 2 g/l. The
      maximum TMP and acetoin yields increased by 18.16 and 17.87%, respectively with
      the increase in 2,3-BD concentration from 0 to 2 g/l. However, no increase was
      observed when the concentration of 2,3-BD in the matrix was >=3 g/l. This study
      provides a valuable strategy to enhance TMP and acetoin productivity of mutagenic
      strains by gene manipulation and optimizing fermentation conditions.

PMID- 26873558
TI  - Production of bacteriocin by Virgibacillus salexigens isolated from "terasi": a
      traditionally fermented shrimp paste in Indonesia.
AB  - A natural antibacterial-substance-producing gram-positive bacterium was isolated
      from terasi shrimp paste, a popular fermented product in Indonesia. This strain,
      a spore-forming and strictly aerobic bacterium, was identified as Virgibacillus
      salexigens by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The antibacterial substance
      purified from the precipitated product in the culture supernatant of the strain
      using ammonium sulfate showed a broad inhibition spectrum against gram-positive
      bacteria, including a typical foodborne bacterium, namely, Listeria
      monocytogenes. The antibacterial activity of the substance was inactivated by
      treatments with various proteolytic enzymes. It was stable after heating or pH
      treatment, and approximately 60% of the initial activity remained even after
      heating at 121  degrees C for 15 min. In addition, matrix-assisted laser
      desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis
      indicated that its monoisotopic mass weight was 5318.4 Da (M+H)(+). On the basis
      of the results obtained by the automated Edman degradation technique and MALDI
      TOF MS analysis, the substance can be classified as a member of Class IId
      bacteriocins, but it could not be identified as any of the previously purified
      substances except for the putative bacteriocin predicted from the draft genome
      sequence data of gram-positive bacteria such as Virgibacillus and Bacillus
      strains.

PMID- 26873559
TI  - Unique sequence characteristics account for good DGGE separation of almost full
      length 18S rDNAs.
AB  - A major limiting factor for DGGE-based microbial community studies is that the
      fragments should not be much longer than 500 bp for successful analysis. However,
      relatively high-resolution was achieved based on DGGE of the long 18S rDNA
      fragment (>1500 bp), which might be surprising due to the known decrease in DGGE
      resolution of DNA molecules with large melted regions. A unique sequence
      characteristic was found in a specific region (ca. 275 bp, named the NS1-end
      region) of 18S rDNAs, and fungal communities separated from Hong Qu glutinous
      rice wine brewing system was used to reveal the relationship between high
      resolution capacity and the unique sequence characteristics. The results showed
      that DGGE separation of the long 18S rDNA fragments depended on their NS1-end
      regions. The region is composed of a sequence-variable and short-length GC-poor
      region (ca. 160 bp) and a GC-rich region (ca. 110 bp), which contribute to the
      high resolution capacity achieved for DGGE of the long 18S rDNA fragments. Thus
      DGGE of the long 18S rDNA fragment is recommended as a target fragment for
      studies of fungal communities whose 18S rDNAs possess similar sequence
      characteristics. Good resolution and almost full-length 18S rDNA sequences can
      thus be obtained to provide more accurate and reliable analysis of fungal
      communities. Since more sequences are obtained directly from the PCR product
      through the long rDNA fragment approach, this is a convenient and effective
      approach for sequence-based analysis without using other complementary methods
      such as an rDNA clone library method. 

PMID- 26873560
TI  - Selection and characterization of Argentine isolates of Trichoderma harzianum for
      effective biocontrol of Septoria leaf blotch of wheat.
AB  - Species of the genus Trichoderma are economically important as biocontrol agents,
      serving as a potential alternative to chemical control. The applicability of
      Trichoderma isolates to different ecozones will depend on the behavior of the
      strains selected from each zone. The present study was undertaken to isolate
      biocontrol populations of Trichoderma spp. from the Argentine wheat regions and
      to select and characterize the best strains of Trichoderma harzianum by means of
      molecular techniques. A total of 84 out of the 240 strains of Trichoderma were
      able to reduce the disease severity of the leaf blotch of wheat. Thirty-seven
      strains were selected for the reduction equal to or greater than 50% of the
      severity, compared with the control. The percentage values of reduction of the
      pycnidial coverage ranged between 45 and 80%. The same last strains were
      confirmed as T. harzianum by polymerase chain reaction amplification of internal
      transcribed spacers, followed by sequencing. Inter-simple sequence repeat was
      used to examine the genetic variability among isolates. This resulted in a total
      of 132 bands. Further numerical analysis revealed 19 haplotypes, grouped in three
      clusters (I, II, III). Shared strains, with different geographical origins and
      isolated in different years, were observed within each cluster. The origin of the
      isolates and the genetic group were partially related. All isolates from Parana
      were in cluster I, all isolates from Loberia were in cluster II, and all isolates
      from Pergamino and Santa Fe were in cluster III. Our results suggest that the 37
      native strains of T. harzianum are important in biocontrol programs and could be
      advantageous for the preparation of biopesticides adapted to the agroecological
      conditions of wheat culture.

PMID- 26873561
TI  - Biotechnological potential of a rhizosphere Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain
      producing phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and phenazine-1-carboxamide.
AB  - Bacterial phenazine metabolites belong to a group of nitrogen-containing
      heterocyclic compounds with antimicrobial activities. In this study, a
      rhizosphere Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA1201 was isolated and identified
      through 16S rDNA sequence analysis and fatty acid profiling. PA1201 inhibited the
      growth of various pathogenic microorganisms, including Rhizotonia solani,
      Magnaporthe grisea, Fusarium graminearum, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae,
      Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, and Staphylococcus aureus. High Performance
      Liquid Chromatography showed that PA1201 produced high levels of phenazine-1
      carboxylic acid (PCA), a registered green fungicide 'Shenqinmycin' with the
      fermentation titers of 81.7 mg/L in pigment producing medium (PPM) and 926.9 mg/L
      in SCG medium containing soybean meal, corn steep liquor and glucose. In
      addition, PA1201 produced another antifungal metabolite, phenazine-1-carboxaminde
      (PCN), a derivative of PCA, with the fermentation titers of 18.1 and 489.5 mg/L
      in PPM and SCG medium respectively. To the best of our knowledge, PA1201 is a
      rhizosphere originating P. aeruginosa strain that congenitally produces the
      highest levels of PCA and PCN among currently reported P. aeruginosa isolates,
      which endows it great biotechnological potential to be transformed to a
      biopesticide-producing engineering strain. 

PMID- 26873563
TI  - Where have all the medicines gone?

PMID- 26873562
TI  - Pregnancy outcomes after exposure to tocilizumab: A retrospective analysis of 61
      patients in Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of tocilizumab on pregnancy outcomes in
      Japanese patients with rheumatic disease. METHODS: Data from Chugai's tocilizumab
      safety database (April 2005 to October 2014) were retrospectively analyzed to
      identify pregnancy outcomes in patients exposed to tocilizumab. RESULTS: Data
      were available for 61 pregnancies exposed to tocilizumab, and outcomes were
      reported for 50 of those pregnancies. In 36 births, no congenital anomalies were
      identified; however, six neonatal abnormalities were reported: five cases of low
      birth weight (<2500 g) and one case of neonatal asphyxia. Of 36 births,
      tocilizumab was resumed during lactation in two patients, with no subsequent
      adverse events reported in newborns. The spontaneous abortion rate was 18.0% (9
      of 50 pregnancies), which is comparable to the rate in the general population.
      The five terminated pregnancies included one case of caudal regression syndrome.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present retrospective study of 61 pregnancies exposed to
      tocilizumab at conception indicated no increased rates of spontaneous abortion or
      congenital abnormalities in patients with rheumatic disease. However, further
      study is necessary to confirm the benefit-risk profile of tocilizumab treatment
      during pregnancy.

PMID- 26873564
TI  - Use of 3D Electroanatomical Navigation (CARTO-3) to Minimize or Eliminate
      Fluoroscopy Use in the Ablation of Pediatric Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Radiation exposure related to medical procedures carries known
      medical risk. Electrophysiology (EP) and catheter ablation procedures are
      traditionally performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Three-dimensional (3D)
      electroanatomical navigation systems decrease or eliminate fluoroscopy use in EP
      procedures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and
      outcome of a minimal or no fluoroscopic electroanatomical mapping approach for
      catheter ablations for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in the pediatric
      population. METHODS: Patients were identified through our EP database. A
      retrospective chart review was performed at a single institution. RESULTS: Sixty
      three pediatric patients underwent catheter ablations with a minimal fluoroscopic
      and 3D electroanatomical mapping using CARTO-3 system (Biosense Webster, Diamond
      Bar, CA, USA) between October 2012 and March 2015. We selected 20 age-matched
      patients who underwent ablations for SVT by the same operator prior to October
      2012 with fluoroscopy use as our control group. The mean age in the study and
      control group was 13.9 years and 13.7 years, respectively. Mean procedure time
      was 208.7 minutes and 217.2 minutes in the study and control group (P = NS).
      Thirty-four (54%) in the study group had no fluoroscopy use. Mean fluoroscopy
      time was 4.1 minutes versus 35.4 minutes between the study and the control group
      (P < 0.001). Radiation dose was 6.7 mGy versus 209.3 mGy between the study and
      the control group (P < 0.001). Acute procedural success was achieved in 95% and
      90% of patients in the study and control groups, respectively. On follow-up, the
      recurrence rate was 5.3% in the study group and 5.6% in the control group.
      CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation for SVT in children can be successfully performed
      in patients with normal cardiac anatomy using minimal or no fluoroscopy with
      favorable outcomes.

PMID- 26873566
TI  - Extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma-new profiling, old tricks.

PMID- 26873565
TI  - A prognostic index for natural killer cell lymphoma after non-anthracycline-based
      treatment: a multicentre, retrospective analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The clinical outcome of extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma
      (ENKTL) has improved substantially as a result of new treatment strategies with
      non-anthracycline-based chemotherapies and upfront use of concurrent
      chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy. A new prognostic model based on the outcomes
      obtained with these contemporary treatments was warranted. METHODS: We did a
      retrospective study of patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL without any previous
      treatment history for the disease who were given non-anthracycline-based
      chemotherapies with or without upfront concurrent chemoradiotherapy or
      radiotherapy with curative intent. A prognostic model to predict overall survival
      and progression-free survival on the basis of pretreatment clinical and
      laboratory characteristics was developed by filling a multivariable model on the
      basis of the dataset with complete data for the selected risk factors for an
      unbiased prediction model. The final model was applied to the patients who had
      complete data for the selected risk factors. We did a validation analysis of the
      prognostic model in an independent cohort. FINDINGS: We did multivariate analyses
      of 527 patients who were included from 38 hospitals in 11 countries in the
      training cohort. Analyses showed that age greater than 60 years, stage III or IV
      disease, distant lymph-node involvement, and non-nasal type disease were
      significantly associated with overall survival and progression-free survival. We
      used these data as the basis for the prognostic index of natural killer lymphoma
      (PINK), in which patients are stratified into low-risk (no risk factors),
      intermediate-risk (one risk factor), or high-risk (two or more risk factors)
      groups, which were associated with 3-year overall survival of 81% (95% CI 75-86),
      62% (55-70), and 25% (20-34), respectively. In the 328 patients with data for
      Epstein-Barr virus DNA, a detectable viral DNA titre was an independent
      prognostic factor for overall survival. When these data were added to PINK as the
      basis for another prognostic index (PINK-E)-which had similar low-risk (zero or
      one risk factor), intermediate-risk (two risk factors), and high-risk (three or
      more risk factors) categories-significant associations with overall survival were
      noted (81% [95% CI 75-87%], 55% (44-66), and 28% (18-40%), respectively). These
      results were validated and confirmed in an independent cohort, although the PINK
      E model was only significantly associated with the high-risk group compared with
      the low-risk group. INTERPRETATION: PINK and PINK-E are new prognostic models
      that can be used to develop risk-adapted treatment approaches for patients with
      ENKTL being treated in the contemporary era of non-anthracycline-based therapy.
      FUNDING: Samsung Biomedical Research Institute.

PMID- 26873568
TI  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis in an adult patient presenting with eruptions on
      the scalp and trunk accompanied by lytic lesions on the skull.

PMID- 26873567
TI  - Prevalence of Apical Periodontitis in Endodontically Treated Premolars and Molars
      with Untreated Canal: A Cone-beam Computed Tomography Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the
      incidence of missed canals in endodontically treated teeth in the Greater
      Philadelphia area patient population and to evaluate the effect of untreated
      canals on endodontic outcome. METHODS: A total of 1397 cone-beam computed
      tomography (CBCT) volumes taken from January 2013 to July 2015 were investigated.
      Limited view CBCT images were taken with Kodak 9000 3D System field of view at
      voxel size, 76 MUm or Morita Veraviewpocs 3D F40 field of view at voxel size, 125
      MUm. All root canal-treated premolars and molars were included in the study.
      Unfilled canals appearing from cementoenamel junction to apex including splitting
      from a main canal at coronal, mid, or apical third were defined as missed
      untreated canal. A periapical lesion was diagnosed when disruption of the lamina
      dura was detected and the low density area associated with the radiographic apex
      was at least twice the width of the periodontal ligament space. RESULTS: The
      overall incidence of missed canals was 23.04%. The incidence of missed canals per
      tooth was highest in tooth #14 at 46.5% and tooth #3 at 41.3%. The incidence of
      missed canals was highest in the upper molars at 40.1% and lowest in the upper
      premolars at 9.5%. There was a significant difference in lesion prevalence when a
      canal was missed-untreated (P < .05). Teeth with a missed canal were 4.38 times
      more likely to be associated with a lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Limited field-of-view
      CBCT should be examined before any endodontic retreatment to identify missed
      canals. This knowledge would not only help clinicians to locate missed canals
      clinically but would also help in deciding the surgical approach.

PMID- 26873569
TI  - Is socially integrated community day care for people with dementia associated
      with higher user satisfaction and a higher job satisfaction of staff compared to
      nursing home-based day care?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether community-based (CO) day care with carer
      support according to the proven effective Meeting Centres Support Programme model
      is associated with higher satisfaction of people with dementia (PwD) and their
      informal caregivers (CG) and with a higher job satisfaction among care staff
      compared to traditional nursing home-based (NH) day care. METHOD: Data were
      collected in 11 NH day care centres and 11 CO day care centres. User satisfaction
      of PwD and CG was evaluated in the 11 NH day care centres (nPwD = 41, nCG = 39)
      and 11 CO day care centres (nPwD = 28, nCG = 36) with a survey after six months
      of participation. Job satisfaction was measured only in the six NH day care
      centres that recently transformed to CO day care, with two standard
      questionnaires before (nSTAFF = 35), and six months after the transition (nSTAFF
      = 35). RESULTS: PwD were more positive about the communication and listening
      skills of staff and the atmosphere and activities at the CO day care centre.
      Also, CG valued the communication with, and expertise of, staff in CO day care
      higher, and were more satisfied with the received emotional, social and practical
      support. After the transition, satisfaction of staff with the work pace
      increased, but satisfaction with learning opportunities decreased. CONCLUSION:
      PwD and CG were more satisfied about the communication with the staff and the
      received support in CO day care than in NH day care. Overall job satisfaction was
      not higher, except satisfaction about work pace.

PMID- 26873570
TI  - Association of the multi-biomarker disease activity score with joint destruction
      in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      inhibitor treatment in clinical practice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association between the multi-biomarker disease activity
      (MBDA) score and radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors. METHODS: Change
      (Delta) in modified total Sharp score (mTSS) over 52 weeks and disease activity
      scores were examined retrospectively by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient
      in patients (N = 83) with RA initiating TNF-inhibitor treatment. Relative risk
      (RR) of DeltamTSS >0.5 for low MBDA score and 28-joint count disease activity
      score (DAS28) categories and associations between DeltamTSS and MBDA score
      categories conditional on DAS28 categories were assessed. RESULTS: At 52 weeks,
      34% of patients had DeltamTSS >0.5 and 12% had DeltamTSS >3. Strongest
      correlations were observed between DeltamTSS and MBDA score (r = 0.47) or DAS28
      (r = 0.42) at Week 24 and for area under the curve at Week 52 (MBDA score: r =
      0.44, DAS28: r = 0.41), all p < 0.001. At Week 24, RR of DeltamTSS >0.5 for
      moderate/high MBDA score (>=30) or DAS28 (>3.2) were 6.6 (p < 0.001) and 2.7 (p =
      0.005), respectively. Low DAS28 had greater risk of DeltamTSS >0.5 at 52 weeks
      when MBDA score was >=30 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher MBDA score or DAS28 at
      Week 24 was associated with greater radiographic progression over 52 weeks of TNF
      inhibitor treatment. MBDA score improved risk discrimination for radiographic
      progression within DAS28 categories.

PMID- 26873571
TI  - Individual differences in cognitive control over emotional material modulate
      cognitive biases linked to depressive symptoms.
AB  - Deficient cognitive control over emotional material and cognitive biases are
      important mechanisms underlying depression, but the interplay between these
      emotionally distorted cognitive processes in relation to depressive symptoms is
      not well understood. This study investigated the relations among deficient
      cognitive control of emotional information (i.e. inhibition, shifting, and
      updating difficulties), cognitive biases (i.e. negative attention and
      interpretation biases), and depressive symptoms. Theory-driven indirect effect
      models were constructed, hypothesising that deficient cognitive control over
      emotional material predicts depressive symptoms through negative attention and
      interpretation biases. Bootstrapping analyses demonstrated that deficient
      inhibitory control over negative material was related to negative attention bias
      which in turn predicted a congruent bias in interpretation and subsequently
      depressive symptoms. Both shifting and updating impairments in response to
      negative material had an indirect effect on depression severity through negative
      interpretation bias. No evidence was found for direct effects of deficient
      cognitive control over emotional material on depressive symptoms. These findings
      may help to formulate an integrated understanding of the cognitive foundations of
      depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26873572
TI  - In vitro selection of DNA aptamers binding pesticide fluoroacetamide.
AB  - Fluoroacetamide (Mw = 77.06) is a lethal rodenticide to humans and animals which
      is still frequently abused in food storage somewhere in China. The production of
      antibodies for fluoroacetamide is difficult due to its high toxicity to animals,
      which limits the application of immunoassay method in poison detection. In this
      work, aptamers targeting N-fluoroacetyl glycine as an analog of fluoroacetamide
      were selected by a specific systematic evolution of ligands by exponential
      enrichment (SELEX) strategy. The binding ability of the selected aptamers to
      fluoroacetamide was identified using surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based assay.
      The estimated KD values in the low micromolar range showed a good affinity of
      these aptamers to the target. Our work verified that the SELEX strategy has the
      potential for developing aptamers targeted to small molecular toxicants and
      aptamers can be employed as new recognition elements instead of antibodies for
      poison detection. 

PMID- 26873573
TI  - Apoptotic Cells Release IL1 Receptor Antagonist in Response to Genotoxic Stress.
AB  - Apoptosis is a controlled means of eliminating damaged cells without causing an
      inflammatory response or tissue damage. The mechanisms that contribute to the
      suppression of an inflammatory response upon apoptosis of cells are poorly
      understood. Here, we report that apoptotic cells release the interleukin-1
      receptor antagonist (IL1RA). The release of IL1RA depended on the DNA damage
      response, caspase 9, and caspase 3.De novotranslation, classical secretion
      pathways, or N-glycosylation was not required for the release of IL1RA. The
      amounts of IL1RA released by apoptotic cells impaired IL1-induced expression of
      IL6 In summary, we demonstrate that the release of IL1RA in response to genotoxic
      stress contributes to the immunosuppressive effects of apoptotic cells.

PMID- 26873574
TI  - Phase I/II Study of Metastatic Melanoma Patients Treated with Nivolumab Who Had
      Progressed after Ipilimumab.
AB  - The checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab is active in patients with metastatic melanoma
      who have failed ipilimumab. In this phase I/II study, we assessed nivolumab's
      safety in 92 ipilimumab-refractory patients with unresectable stage III or IV
      melanoma, including those who experienced grade 3-4 drug-related toxicity to
      ipilimumab. We report long-term survival, response duration, and biomarkers in
      these patients after nivolumab treatment (3 mg/kg) every 2 weeks for 24 weeks,
      then every 12 weeks for up to 2 years, with or without a multipeptide vaccine.
      The response rate for ipilimumab-refractory patients was 30% (95% CI, 21%-41%).
      The median duration of response was 14.6 months, median progression-free survival
      was 5.3 months, and median overall survival was 20.6 months, when patients were
      followed up for a median of 16 months. One- and 2-year survival rates were 68.4%
      and 31.2%, respectively. Ipilimumab-naive and ipilimumab-refractory patients
      showed no significant difference in survival. The 21 patients with prior grade 3
      4 toxicity to ipilimumab that was managed with steroids tolerated nivolumab well,
      with 62% (95% CI, 38%-82%) having complete or partial responses or stabilized
      disease at 24 weeks. High numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) were
      associated with poor survival. Thus, survival and long-term safety were excellent
      in ipilimumab-refractory patients treated with nivolumab. Prior grade 3-4 immune
      related adverse effects from ipilimumab were not indicative of nivolumab
      toxicities, and patients had a high overall rate of remission or stability at 24
      weeks. Prospectively evaluating MDSC numbers before treatment could help assess
      the expected benefit of nivolumab.

PMID- 26873575
TI  - Outcomes of endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy with CO2 laser surgery: A
      retrospective study of 47 patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy (ECPM) using CO2 laser surgery
      presents a less invasive treatment technique when compared to transcervical
      cricopharyngeal myotomy. METHODS: Forty-seven patients who underwent ECPM from
      2002 until 2013 were included in this study. Patient characteristics, and
      preoperative and postoperative outcome and complications were scored by
      retrospective chart review and by using the Deglutition Handicap Index (DHI).
      RESULTS: Overall, 40 of 47 patients (85%) experienced relief of symptoms
      postoperatively. Ten patients (25%) developed recurrent symptoms of dysphagia
      requiring re-laser surgery. All 40 patients were satisfied at the postoperative
      visit after an average of 1.3 interventions. DHI scores were better in patients
      with idiopathic dysfunction and neurologic disease, compared to dysfunction
      because of prior treatment of head and neck cancer. One patient developed
      mediastinitis that was successfully treated with antibiotics. There was no
      mortality. CONCLUSION: ECPM is an effective treatment for cricopharyngeal
      dysfunction with a low rate of surgical morbidity and complications. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1022-1027, 2016.

PMID- 26873576
TI  - A method to determine the mode of binding for GCPII inhibitors using bio-layer
      interferometry.
AB  - The rapid dilution of the enzyme-inhibitor complex assay to monitor the recovery
      of enzyme activity is a well-established assay to determine the reversibility of
      inhibition. Our laboratory has previously employed this method to ascertain the
      reversibility of known glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII)-targeting agents.
      Due to the tedious and time-consuming nature of the assay, we sought to develop a
      facile method to determine the reversibility of well-characterized GCPII
      inhibitors using bio-layer interferometry (BLI). The results from the BLI assay
      are in agreement with the rapid dilution method. Herein, we report for the first
      time, a rapid, novel real-time BLI method to determine reversibility of
      inhibition. 

PMID- 26873577
TI  - Codon Usage Selection Can Bias Estimation of the Fraction of Adaptive Amino Acid
      Fixations.
AB  - A growing number of molecular evolutionary studies are estimating the proportion
      of adaptive amino acid substitutions (alpha) from comparisons of ratios of
      polymorphic and fixed DNA mutations. Here, we examine how violations of two of
      the model assumptions, neutral evolution of synonymous mutations and stationary
      base composition, affect alpha estimation. We simulated the evolution of coding
      sequences assuming weak selection on synonymous codon usage bias and neutral
      protein evolution, alpha = 0. We show that weak selection on synonymous mutations
      can give polymorphism/divergence ratios that yield alpha-hat (estimated alpha)
      considerably larger than its true value. Nonstationary evolution (changes in
      population size, selection, or mutation) can exacerbate such biases or, in some
      scenarios, give biases in the opposite direction, alpha-hat < alpha. These
      results demonstrate that two factors that appear to be prevalent among taxa, weak
      selection on synonymous mutations and non-steady-state nucleotide composition,
      should be considered when estimating alpha. Estimates of the proportion of
      adaptive amino acid fixations from large-scale analyses of Drosophila
      melanogaster polymorphism and divergence data are positively correlated with
      codon usage bias. Such patterns are consistent with alpha-hat inflation from weak
      selection on synonymous mutations and/or mutational changes within the examined
      gene trees.

PMID- 26873578
TI  - Expression Divergence Is Correlated with Sequence Evolution but Not Positive
      Selection in Conifers.
AB  - The evolutionary and genomic determinants of sequence evolution in conifers are
      poorly understood, and previous studies have found only limited evidence for
      positive selection. Using RNAseq data, we compared gene expression profiles to
      patterns of divergence and polymorphism in 44 seedlings of lodgepole pine (Pinus
      contorta) and 39 seedlings of interior spruce (Picea glauca * engelmannii) to
      elucidate the evolutionary forces that shape their genomes and their plastic
      responses to abiotic stress. We found that rapidly diverging genes tend to have
      greater expression divergence, lower expression levels, reduced levels of
      synonymous site diversity, and longer proteins than slowly diverging genes.
      Similar patterns were identified for the untranslated regions, but with some
      exceptions. We found evidence that genes with low expression levels had a larger
      fraction of nearly neutral sites, suggesting a primary role for negative
      selection in determining the association between evolutionary rate and expression
      level. There was limited evidence for differences in the rate of positive
      selection among genes with divergent versus conserved expression profiles and
      some evidence supporting relaxed selection in genes diverging in expression
      between the species. Finally, we identified a small number of genes that showed
      evidence of site-specific positive selection using divergence data alone.
      However, estimates of the proportion of sites fixed by positive selection (alpha)
      were in the range of other plant species with large effective population sizes
      suggesting relatively high rates of adaptive divergence among conifers.

PMID- 26873579
TI  - Mechanisms of vascularization in murine models of primary and metastatic tumor
      growth.
AB  - Directed capillary ingrowth has long been considered synonymous with tumor
      vascularization. However, the vasculature of primary tumors and metastases is not
      necessarily formed by endothelial cell sprouting; instead, malignant tumors can
      acquire blood vessels via alternative vascularization mechanisms, such as
      intussusceptive microvascular growth, vessel co-option, and glomeruloid
      angiogenesis. Importantly, in response to anti-angiogenic therapies, malignant
      tumors can switch from one vascularization mechanism to another. In this article,
      we briefly review the biological features of these mechanisms and discuss on
      their significance in medical oncology. 

PMID- 26873580
TI  - A concise review of the bioanalytical methods for the quantitation of
      sitagliptin, an important dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, utilized for
      the characterization of the drug.
AB  - Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is an emerging therapeutic approach
      for treating type 2 diabetes and has revolutionized the concept of diabetes
      management. Sitagliptin is the first approved orally active, potent, selective
      and nonpeptidomimetic DPP4 inhibitor. Incidence of hypoglycemia and weight gain
      is negligible with sitagliptin treatment. It is used as monotherapy or in
      combination with other anti-diabetic drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. There are
      numerous bioanalytical methods published for the analysis of sitagliptin in
      preclinical and clinical samples. This review focuses on the various HPLC and LC
      MS/MS methods that have been used to analyze sitagliptin in various biological
      matrices. A small section is devoted to the bioanalysis of other DPP4 inhibitors
      such as vildagliptin, saxagliptin and linagliptin. This review provides key
      information in a concise manner regarding sample processing options,
      chromatographic/detection conditions and validation parameters of the chosen
      methods for sitagliptin and other DPP4 inhibitors.

PMID- 26873581
TI  - Macrophage depletion reduced brain injury following middle cerebral artery
      occlusion in mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macrophages are involved in demyelination in many brain diseases.
      However, the role of macrophages in the recovery phase of the ischemic brain is
      unknown. The present study aims to explore the role of macrophages in the
      ischemic brain injury and tissue repair following a 90-min transient middle
      cerebral artery occlusion in mice. METHODS: Clodronate liposomes were injected
      into mice to deplete periphery macrophages. These mice subsequently underwent
      middle cerebral artery occlusion. F4/80(+) and CD68(+) cells were examined in the
      mouse spleen and brain to confirm macrophage depletion at 14 days after middle
      cerebral artery occlusion. Modified neurological severity scores were used to
      evaluate the behavioral function between 1 and 14 days after middle cerebral
      artery occlusion. MBP, Iba1, and CD31 immunostaining were performed to determine
      myelin lesion, microglia activation, and microvessel density. RESULTS: Clodronate
      liposomes depleted 80 % of the macrophages in the mouse spleen and reduced
      macrophage infiltration in the mouse brain. Macrophage depletion reduced the
      myelin damage in the ipsilateral striatum and microglia activation in both the
      ipsilateral cortex and striatum, enhanced the microvessel density in the peri
      infarct region, attenuated brain atrophy, and promoted neurological recovery
      following middle cerebral artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested
      that macrophage depletion is a potential intervention that can promote tissue
      repair and remodeling after brain ischemia, reduce demyelination and microglia
      activation, and enhance focal microvessel density.

PMID- 26873583
TI  - Short-chain C2 ceramide induces heme oxygenase-1 expression by upregulating AMPK
      and MAPK signaling pathways in rat primary astrocytes.
AB  - Ceramide belongs to the group of sphingolipid metabolites that are produced in
      the brain and peripheral systems and act as intracellular second messengers.
      Although some physiological roles of ceramide have been reported in the brain,
      the role of ceramide in astrocytes has not been clearly demonstrated. In the
      present study, we investigated the antioxidant effects of the cell-permeable
      short-chain C2 ceramide in rat brain astrocytes. C2 ceramide inhibited hydrogen
      peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species generation and subsequent cell death in
      rat primary astrocytes. C2 ceramide increased the expression of phase II
      antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H:quinine
      oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) that are under the
      control of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed
      that C2 ceramide increased the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of nuclear
      factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and c-Jun to the antioxidant response element
      (ARE), and increased ARE-mediated transcriptional activity. Moreover, C2 ceramide
      increased the interaction between Nrf2 and c-Jun as shown by antibody co
      immunoprecipitation assay. Further analysis of signaling pathways revealed that
      AMPK and MAP kinases are involved in HO-1 expression by modulating ARE-mediated
      transcriptional activity. Therefore, the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes by
      C2 ceramide may be a potential therapeutic modality for neurodegenerative
      diseases that are accompanied by oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26873582
TI  - Health behavior change benefits: Perspectives of Latinos with serious mental
      illness.
AB  - The objective of this study was to explore the perceived benefits of engaging in
      health behavior change from the viewpoint of overweight and obese Latinos with
      severe mental illness (SMI) enrolled in the U.S. Qualitative, semistructured
      interviews were conducted with 20 obese Latinos with SMI who were enrolled in a
      randomized trial evaluating the effectiveness of a motivational health promotion
      intervention adapted for persons with SMI. Overweight and obese Latino
      participants believed that engaging in health behavior change would have both
      physical and mental health benefits, including chronic disease management,
      changes in weight and body composition, and increased self-esteem. Interventions
      that explicitly link physical activity and healthy eating to improvements in
      mental health and well-being may motivate Latinos with SMI to adopt health
      behavior change.

PMID- 26873584
TI  - Incidence of venous thromboembolism and hemorrhage related safety studies of
      preoperative anticoagulation therapy in hip fracture patients undergoing surgical
      treatment: a case-control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism is a common postoperative complication
      following orthopedic surgeries, with morbid and potentially fatal consequences.
      Perioperative low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy can reduce the
      incidence of venous thromboembolism, but may also increase the risk of bleeding
      complications. Current literature reflects the need to balance the improved
      efficacy of early initiating prophylaxis with increased risk of perioperative
      bleeding. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and
      hemorrhage related safety of preoperative versus postoperative LMWH therapy for
      prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in hip
      fracture patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 222 patients who
      underwent surgical treatment at Peking University People's Hospital between
      January 2009 and December 2010. Patients were allocated to two groups, receiving
      either preoperative or postoperative initiation of LMWH therapy for venous
      thromboembolism prophylaxis. Preoperative anticoagulation therapy was initiated 1
      12 days prior to surgery (133 patients), and postoperative anticoagulation
      therapy was initiated 12 h after completion of surgery (89 patients). The
      preoperative group was further subdivided into four subgroups according to the
      time of initiation of therapy: 1-3 days before surgery (group A, 54 patients), 4
      6 days before surgery (group B, 57 patients), 7-9 days before surgery (group C,
      15 patients), and 10-12 days before surgery (group D, 7 patients). Occurrences of
      DVT, PE, adverse drug effects, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding were
      recorded, along with concentrations of preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin
      and length of hospital stay. The above parameters were compared between groups.
      RESULTS: Among recipients of preoperative anticoagulation therapy, two patients
      developed postoperative PE (1.5 %), one patient developed DVT (0.75 %). In the
      group receiving postoperative initiation of anticoagulation therapy, one patient
      each developed PE and DVT (1.1 %, 1.1 %). There was no difference in the
      occurrence of PE and DVT between the two groups (P>0.05, Chi-square tests). We
      identified the incidences of major bleeding, minor bleeding, and intraspinal
      hematoma after spinal anesthesia, which were 0 %/0 %, 3.76 %/3.37 %, and 0 %/0 %,
      respectively in preoperative and postoperative anticoagulation groups. There was
      no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding complications between
      patients receiving preoperatively initiated LMWH with patients receiving
      postoperatively initiated LMWH. Spinal anesthesia was administered to 168
      patients, with no cases of postoperative intraspinal hematoma. CONCLUSIONS:
      Preoperative anticoagulation therapy with LMWH may not increase intraoperative or
      postoperative blood loss, or the rate of intraspinal hematoma after spinal
      anesthesia, but also does not significantly reduce the risk of postoperative DVT
      or PE, compared to postoperative initiation.

PMID- 26873585
TI  - Longimicrobium terrae gen. nov., sp. nov., an oligotrophic bacterium of the under
      represented phylum Gemmatimonadetes isolated through a system of miniaturized
      diffusion chambers.
AB  - A novel chemo-organoheterotroph bacterium, strain CB-286315T, was isolated from a
      Mediterranean forest soil sampled at the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama
      Natural Park, Spain, by using the diffusion sandwich system, a device with 384
      miniature diffusion chambers. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses identified the
      isolate as a member of the under-represented phylum Gemmatimonadetes, where
      'Gemmatirosa kalamazoonensis' KBS708, Gemmatimonas aurantiaca T-27T and
      Gemmatimonas phototrophica AP64T were the closest relatives, with respective
      similarities of 84.4, 83.6 and 83.3 %. Strain CB-286315T was characterized as a
      Gram-negative, non-motile, short to long rod-shaped bacterium. Occasionally, some
      cells attained an unusual length, up to 35-40 MUm. The strain showed positive
      responses for catalase and cytochrome-c oxidase and division by binary fission,
      and exhibited an aerobic metabolism, showing optimal growth under normal
      atmospheric conditions. Strain CB-286315T was also able to grow under micro-oxic
      atmospheres, but not under anoxic conditions. The strain is a slowly growing
      bacterium able to grow under low nutrient concentrations. Major fatty acids
      included iso-C17 : 1omega9c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1omega7c and/or iso-C15 : 0
      2-OH), C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified glycolipids and
      three phospholipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8 and the diagnostic
      diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was 67.0 mol%.
      Based on a polyphasic taxonomic characterization, strain CB-286315T represents a
      novel genus and species, Longimicrobium terrae gen. nov., sp. nov., within the
      phylum Gemmatimonadetes. The type strain of Longimicrobium terrae is strain CB
      286315T ( = DSM 29007T = CECT 8660T). In order to classify the novel taxon within
      the existing taxonomic framework, the family Longimicrobiaceae fam. nov., order
      Longimicrobiales ord. nov. and class Longimicrobia classis nov. are also
      proposed. 

PMID- 26873586
TI  - Abnormal brain temperature in early-onset Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26873587
TI  - Functional structure and antimicrobial activity of persulcatusin, an
      antimicrobial peptide from the hard tick Ixodes persulcatus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered promising candidates for
      the development of novel anti-infective agents. In arthropods such as ticks, AMPs
      form the first line of defense against pathogens in the innate immune response.
      Persulcatusin (IP) was found in the Ixodes persulcatus midgut, and its amino acid
      sequence was reported. However, the complete structure of IP has not been
      identified. We evaluated the relation between structural features and
      antimicrobial activity of IP, and its potential as a new anti-methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agent. METHODS: The structure of IP was
      predicted using homology modeling and molecular dynamics. IP and other tick AMPs
      were synthesized using a solid-phase method and purified by high-performance
      liquid chromatography. Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA were
      used for the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test and short-time killing
      assay of IP and other tick peptides. The influence of IP on mammalian fibroblasts
      and colon epithelial cells and each cell DNA and its hemolytic activity towards
      human erythrocytes were also examined. RESULTS: In the predicted IP structure,
      the structure with an S-S bond was more stable than that without an S-S bond. The
      MIC after 24 h of incubation with IP was 0.156-1.25 MUg/mL for MSSA and 0.625-2.5
      MUg/mL for MRSA. Compared with the mammalian antimicrobial peptide and other tick
      peptides, IP was highly effective against MRSA. Moreover, IP showed a dose
      dependent bactericidal effect on both MSSA and MRSA after 1 h of incubation. IP
      had no observable effect on mammalian cell growth or morphology, on each cell DNA
      and on human erythrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We predicted the three-dimensional
      structure of IP and found that the structural integrity was maintained by three S
      S bonds, which were energetically important for the stability and for forming
      alpha helix and beta sheet. IP has cationic and amphipathic properties, which
      might be related to its antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the antimicrobial
      activity of IP against MRSA was stronger than that of other antimicrobial
      peptides without apparent damage to mammalian and human cells, demonstrating its
      possible application as a new anti-MRSA medicine.

PMID- 26873588
TI  - Arterial properties in acromegaly: relation to disease activity and associated
      cardiovascular risk factors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Acromegaly is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and
      mortality when inadequately treated, which may be secondary to associated
      comorbidities or to direct IGF-1 effects on the cardiovascular system. By using a
      control group carefully matched for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, we
      aimed to assess the direct contribution of disease activity and IGF-1 levels to
      arterial damage as assessed by measurements of arterial stiffness and endothelial
      function. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects with acromegaly (11 males, 52 +/- 14
      year; 15 active acromegaly) and 24 matched controls underwent evaluation of large
      and small artery compliance using applanation tonometry, pulse wave velocity
      (PWV), augmentation index (Alx), carotid ultrasonography intima-media thickness,
      (IMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). RESULTS: IGF-1 expressed as times the
      upper limit of the normal range (x ULN) was 2.2 +/- 1.1 in patients with active
      disease versus 0.7 +/- 0.2 in patients in remission. Irrespective of disease
      activity, FMD was lower in patients with acromegaly than in control subjects,
      (3.4 +/- 2.7 % in active acromegaly, 4.4 +/- 3.3 % in controlled acromegaly and
      7.5 +/- 3.8 % in controls; p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in
      PWV, Alx, and IMT between groups. A positive correlation was found between IGF-1*
      ULN and IMT (r = 0.4; P = 0.02). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a novel
      cardiovascular risk factor, was positively correlated to arterial stiffness (r =
      0.46; p = 0.017) and negatively with small vessel compliance (r = -0.44, p =
      0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acromegaly have significantly impaired
      endothelial function as assessed by FMD, but other tested vascular parameters
      were similar to a control group that was adequately matched for cardiovascular
      risk factors.

PMID- 26873589
TI  - A new method to measure complexity in binary or weighted networks and
      applications to functional connectivity in the human brain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Networks or graphs play an important role in the biological sciences.
      Protein interaction networks and metabolic networks support the understanding of
      basic cellular mechanisms. In the human brain, networks of functional or
      structural connectivity model the information-flow between cortex regions. In
      this context, measures of network properties are needed. We propose a new
      measure, Ndim, estimating the complexity of arbitrary networks. This measure is
      based on a fractal dimension, which is similar to recently introduced box
      covering dimensions. However, box-covering dimensions are only applicable to
      fractal networks. The construction of these network-dimensions relies on concepts
      proposed to measure fractality or complexity of irregular sets in [Formula: see
      text]. RESULTS: The network measure Ndim grows with the proliferation of
      increasing network connectivity and is essentially determined by the cardinality
      of a maximum k-clique, where k is the characteristic path length of the network.
      Numerical applications to lattice-graphs and to fractal and non-fractal graph
      models, together with formal proofs show, that Ndim estimates a dimension of
      complexity for arbitrary graphs. Box-covering dimensions for fractal graphs rely
      on a linear log-log plot of minimum numbers of covering subgraph boxes versus the
      box sizes. We demonstrate the affinity between Ndim and the fractal box-covering
      dimensions but also that Ndim extends the concept of a fractal dimension to
      networks with non-linear log-log plots. Comparisons of Ndim with topological
      measures of complexity (cost and efficiency) show that Ndim has larger
      informative power. Three different methods to apply Ndim to weighted networks are
      finally presented and exemplified by comparisons of functional brain connectivity
      of healthy and depressed subjects. CONCLUSION: We introduce a new measure of
      complexity for networks. We show that Ndim has the properties of a dimension and
      overcomes several limitations of presently used topological and fractal
      complexity-measures. It allows the comparison of the complexity of networks of
      different type, e.g., between fractal graphs characterized by hub repulsion and
      small world graphs with strong hub attraction. The large informative power and a
      convenient computational CPU-time for moderately sized networks may make Ndim a
      valuable tool for the analysis of biological networks.

PMID- 26873590
TI  - Vitamin D deficiency as adverse drug reaction? A cross-sectional study in Dutch
      geriatric outpatients.
AB  - PURPOSE: Adverse drug reactions as well as vitamin D deficiency are issues of
      public health concern in older people. However, relatively little is known about
      the impact of drug use on vitamin D status. Our primary aim is to explore
      associations between drug use and vitamin D status in older people. Furthermore,
      prevalences of drug use and vitamin D deficiency are estimated. METHODS: In a
      population of 873 community-dwelling Dutch geriatric outpatients, we explored the
      cross-sectional relationships of polypharmacy (>=5 medications concomitantly
      used), severe polypharmacy (>=10 medications), and use of twenty-one specific
      drug groups, with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) by analysis of covariance.
      RESULTS: Overall prevalence of polypharmacy was 65 %, of severe polypharmacy 22
      %. Depending on the cut-off value, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49 %
      (<50 nmol/l) or 77 % (<75 nmol/l). Of the patients using a vitamin D supplement,
      17 % (<50 nmol/l) or 49 % (<75 nmol/l) were still deficient. In non-users of
      supplemental vitamin D, after adjustment for age and gender, negative
      associations were found for severe polypharmacy, metformin, sulphonamides and
      urea derivatives (SUDs), vitamin K antagonists, cardiac glycosides, loop
      diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and serotonin reuptake
      inhibitors; for non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors (NSMRIs) the
      association was positive. The most extreme impacts of drug use on adjusted mean
      25(OH)D were -19 nmol/l for SUDs and +18 nmol/l for NSMRIs. CONCLUSION: Drug use
      should be considered a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency amongst geriatric
      outpatients.

PMID- 26873591
TI  - Pseudouridines in U2 snRNA stimulate the ATPase activity of Prp5 during
      spliceosome assembly.
AB  - Pseudouridine (Psi) is the most abundant internal modification identified in RNA,
      and yet little is understood of its effects on downstream reactions. Yeast U2
      snRNA contains three conserved Psis (Psi35, Psi42, and Psi44) in the branch site
      recognition region (BSRR), which base pairs with the pre-mRNA branch site during
      splicing. Here, we show that blocks to pseudouridylation at these positions
      reduce the efficiency of pre-mRNA splicing, leading to growth-deficient
      phenotypes. Restoration of pseudouridylation at these positions using designer
      snoRNAs results in near complete rescue of splicing and cell growth. These Psis
      interact genetically with Prp5, an RNA-dependent ATPase involved in monitoring
      the U2 BSRR-branch site base-pairing interaction. Biochemical analysis indicates
      that Prp5 has reduced affinity for U2 snRNA that lacks Psi42 and Psi44 and that
      Prp5 ATPase activity is reduced when stimulated by U2 lacking Psi42 or Psi44
      relative to wild type, resulting in inefficient spliceosome assembly.
      Furthermore, in vivo DMS probing analysis reveals that pseudouridylated U2,
      compared to U2 lacking Psi42 and Psi44, adopts a slightly different structure in
      the branch site recognition region. Taken together, our results indicate that the
      Psis in U2 snRNA contribute to pre-mRNA splicing by directly altering the
      binding/ATPase activity of Prp5. 

PMID- 26873592
TI  - Molecular basis of ion permeability in a voltage-gated sodium channel.
AB  - Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for electrical signalling across cell
      membranes. They exhibit strong selectivities for sodium ions over other cations,
      enabling the finely tuned cascade of events associated with action potentials.
      This paper describes the ion permeability characteristics and the crystal
      structure of a prokaryotic sodium channel, showing for the first time the
      detailed locations of sodium ions in the selectivity filter of a sodium channel.
      Electrostatic calculations based on the structure are consistent with the
      relative cation permeability ratios (Na(+) ~ Li(+) ? K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+))
      measured for these channels. In an E178D selectivity filter mutant constructed to
      have altered ion selectivities, the sodium ion binding site nearest the
      extracellular side is missing. Unlike potassium ions in potassium channels, the
      sodium ions in these channels appear to be hydrated and are associated with side
      chains of the selectivity filter residues, rather than polypeptide backbones. 

PMID- 26873594
TI  - High mycobacterial diversity in recreational lakes.
AB  - Although nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are natural inhabitants of freshwater
      ecosystems, few studies have focused on their distribution in these habitats.
      Thus, the knowledge about the abundance as well as the composition of NTM remains
      limited and patchy in these environments. In this context, a prospective study
      was performed to identify favourable habitats for mycobacteria in two
      recreational lakes. Mycobacterial density and diversity were measured using
      quantitative real-time PCR and the MiSeq Illumina platform. For both lakes, five
      compartments were investigated, i.e. water column, air-water interface, sediment,
      epilithon and epiphyton biofilms. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were detected in
      all compartments in large densities and displayed a remarkable diversity. NTM
      were dominated by fast-growing species. Lakes and compartments appeared to shape
      mycobacteria assemblage composition as well as their densities. In both lakes,
      some OTUs assigned to the species level were identified as related to known
      opportunistic pathogens. 

PMID- 26873593
TI  - Feedback control in planarian stem cell systems.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In planarian flatworms, the mechanisms underlying the activity of
      collectively pluripotent adult stem cells (neoblasts) and their descendants can
      now be studied from the level of the individual gene to the entire animal.
      Flatworms maintain startling developmental plasticity and regenerative capacity
      in response to variable nutrient conditions or injury. We develop a model for
      cell dynamics in such animals, assuming that fully differentiated cells exert
      feedback control on neoblast activity. RESULTS: Our model predicts a number of
      whole organism level and general cell biological and behaviours, some of which
      have been empirically observed or inferred in planarians and others that have
      not. As previously observed empirically we find: 1) a curvilinear relationship
      between external food and planarian steady state size; 2) the fraction of
      neoblasts in the steady state is constant regardless of planarian size; 3) a
      burst of controlled apoptosis during regeneration after amputation as the number
      of differentiated cells are adjusted towards their homeostatic/steady state
      level. In addition our model describes the following properties that can inform
      and be tested by future experiments: 4) the strength of feedback control from
      differentiated cells to neoblasts (i.e. the activity of the signalling system)
      and from neoblasts on themselves in relation to absolute number depends upon the
      level of food in the environment; 5) planarians adjust size when food level
      reduces initially through increased apoptosis and then through a reduction in
      neoblast self-renewal activity; 6) following wounding or excision of
      differentiated cells, different time scales characterize both recovery of size
      and the two feedback functions; 7) the temporal pattern of feedback controls
      differs noticeably during recovery from a removal or neoblasts or a removal of
      differentiated cells; 8) the signaling strength for apoptosis of differentiated
      cells depends upon both the absolute and relative deviations of the number of
      differentiated cells from their homeostatic level; and 9) planaria prioritize
      resource use for cell divisions. CONCLUSIONS: We offer the first analytical
      framework for organizing experiments on planarian flatworm stem cell dynamics in
      a form that allows models to be compared with quantitative cell data based on
      underlying molecular mechanisms and thus facilitate the interplay between
      empirical studies and modeling. This framework is the foundation for studying
      cell migration during wound repair, the determination of homeostatic levels of
      differentiated cells by natural selection, and stochastic effects.

PMID- 26873595
TI  - The T-plasty: a modified YV-plasty for highly recurrent bladder neck contracture
      after transurethral surgery for benign hyperplasia of the prostate: clinical
      outcome and patient satisfaction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified surgical technique for treatment of highly
      recurrent bladder neck contracture (BNC) after transurethral surgery for benign
      hyperplasia and to evaluate success rate and patient satisfaction of this novel
      technique. METHODS: Ten patients with highly recurrent BNC and multiple prior
      attempts of endoscopic treatment underwent the T-plasty. Perioperative
      complications were recorded and classified according to the Clavien
      classification. Patient reported functional outcomes were retrospectively
      analysed using a standardized questionnaire assessing recurrence of stenosis,
      incontinence, satisfaction and changes in quality of life (QoL). The
      questionnaires included validated IPSS and SF-8-health survey items. RESULTS:
      Mean age at the time of surgery was 69.2 years (range 61-79), and the mean follow
      up was 26 months (range 3-46). No complications grade 3 or higher according to
      the Clavien classification occurred. Success rate was 100 %. No de novo stress
      incontinence occurred. Urinary stream was described as very strong to moderate by
      80 % of the patients, mean post-operative IPSS-score was 11.3 (range 4-29), and
      mean post-operative IPSS-QoL was 2.4 (range 1-5). Patients satisfaction was very
      high or high in 90 %, and QoL improved in 90 %. The SF-8-health survey showed
      values comparable to the reference population. CONCLUSION: The T-plasty
      represents a safe and valuable option in treating highly recurrent BNC after
      surgery for benign hyperplasia. It offers multiple advantages compared to other
      techniques such as a single-staged approach and the opportunity for
      reconstruction of a reliable wide bladder neck by usage of two well-vascularized
      flaps. Success rate, low rate of complications and preservation of continence are
      highly encouraging.

PMID- 26873597
TI  - Robotic radical cystectomy: intracorporeal versus extracorporeal versus
      orthotopic neobladder-Which is better?

PMID- 26873596
TI  - Intermediate-term cancer control outcomes in prostate cancer patients treated
      with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a multi-institutional
      analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cancer control outcomes following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy
      (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa) remain inadequately addressed over intermediate
      term (>=5-year) follow-up. We examined biochemical recurrence-free survival
      (BCRFS), clinical recurrence-free survival (CRFS), and cancer-specific survival
      (CSS) in a multi-institutional cohort of men undergoing RARP for localized PCa.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 5670 PCa patients undergoing RARP +/- pelvic
      lymph node dissection as primary treatment modality at three tertiary care
      centers between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed. BCRFS, CRFS, and CSS were estimated
      using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards model tested their
      association with available preoperative and postoperative parameters. RESULTS:
      43.6 and 15.1 % of patients had D'Amico intermediate- and high-risk disease,
      respectively. Over a mean (median) follow-up of 56 (50.4) months, 797 men had a
      BCR, 78 men had CR, and 32 men died of PCa. Actuarial BCRFS, CRFS, and CSS,
      respectively, were 83.3, 98.6, and 99.5 % at 5-year; 76.5, 97.5, and 98.7 % at 8
      year; and 73.3, 96.7, and 98.4 % at 10-year follow-ups. Only 1.7 % of patients
      received any adjuvant treatment. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and
      biopsy Gleason score (GS) were independent clinical predictors of BCRFS, CRFS,
      and CSS, while postoperatively positive surgical margin, pathological GS,
      pathological stage, and lymph node invasion were significantly associated with
      BCR and CR (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer control outcomes of RARP appear
      comparable to those reported for open and laparoscopic RP in previous literature,
      despite low overall rate of adjuvant treatment. Disease severity and preoperative
      PSA may aid in risk prognostication and defining postoperative follow-up
      protocols.

PMID- 26873598
TI  - Epistasis analysis of 16S rRNA ram mutations helps define the conformational
      dynamics of the ribosome that influence decoding.
AB  - The ribosome actively participates in decoding, with a tRNA-dependent
      rearrangement of the 30S A site playing a key role. Ribosomal ambiguity (ram)
      mutations have mapped not only to the A site but also to the h12/S4/S5 region and
      intersubunit bridge B8, implicating other conformational changes such as 30S
      shoulder rotation and B8 disruption in the mechanism of decoding. Recent
      crystallographic data have revealed that mutation G299A in helix h12
      allosterically promotes B8 disruption, raising the question of whether G299A
      and/or other ram mutations act mainly via B8. Here, we compared the effects of
      each of several ram mutations in the absence and presence of mutation h8Delta2,
      which effectively takes out bridge B8. The data obtained suggest that a subset of
      mutations including G299A act in part via B8 but predominantly through another
      mechanism. We also found that G299A in h12 and G347U in h14 each stabilize tRNA
      in the A site. Collectively, these data support a model in which rearrangement of
      the 30S A site, inward shoulder rotation, and bridge B8 disruption are loosely
      coupled events, all of which promote progression along the productive pathway
      toward peptide bond formation.

PMID- 26873599
TI  - The in vivo dynamics of TCERG1, a factor that couples transcriptional elongation
      with splicing.
AB  - Coupling between transcription and RNA processing is key for gene regulation.
      Using live-cell photobleaching techniques, we investigated the factor TCERG1,
      which coordinates transcriptional elongation with splicing. We demonstrate that
      TCERG1 is highly mobile in the nucleoplasm and that this mobility is slightly
      decreased when it is associated with speckles. Dichloro-1-beta-D
      ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) but not alpha-amanitin treatment reduced the
      mobility of TCERG1, which suggests interaction with paused transcription
      elongation complexes. We found that TCERG1 mobility is rapid at the transcription
      site (TS) of a reporter that splices post-transcriptionally and that TCERG1 is
      recruited to the active TS independent of the CTD of RNAPII, thus excluding
      phosphorylated CTD as a requirement for recruiting this factor to the TS.
      Importantly, the mobility of TCERG1 is reduced when the reporter splices
      cotranscriptionally, which suggests that TCERG1 forms new macromolecular
      complexes when splicing occurs cotranscriptionally. In this condition,
      spliceostatin A has no effect, indicating that TCERG1 rapidly binds and
      dissociates from stalled spliceosomal complexes and that the mobility properties
      of TCERG1 do not depend on events occurring after the initial spliceosome
      formation. Taken together, these data suggest that TCERG1 binds independently to
      elongation and splicing complexes, thus performing their coupling by transient
      interactions rather than by stable association with one or the other complexes.
      This finding has conceptual implications for understanding the coupling between
      transcription and RNA processing.

PMID- 26873600
TI  - Bacillus subtilis 6S-2 RNA serves as a template for short transcripts in vivo.
AB  - The global transcriptional regulator 6S RNA is abundant in a broad range of
      bacteria. The RNA competes with DNA promoters for binding to the housekeeping RNA
      polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme. When bound to RNAP, 6S RNA serves as a
      transcription template for RNAP in an RNA-dependent RNA polymerization reaction.
      The resulting short RNA transcripts (so-called product RNAs = pRNAs) can induce a
      stable structural rearrangement of 6S RNA when reaching a certain length. This
      rearrangement leads to the release of RNAP and thus the recovery of transcription
      at DNA promoters. While most bacteria express a single 6S RNA, some harbor a
      second 6S RNA homolog (termed 6S-2 RNA in Bacillus subtilis). Bacillus subtilis
      6S-2 RNA was recently shown to exhibit essentially all hallmark features of a
      bona fide 6S RNA in vitro, but evidence for the synthesis of 6S-2 RNA-derived
      pRNAs in vivo has been lacking so far. This raised the question of whether the
      block of RNAP by 6S-2 RNA might be lifted by a mechanism other than pRNA
      synthesis. However, here we demonstrate that 6S-2 RNA is able to serve as a
      template for pRNA synthesis in vivo. We verify this finding by using three
      independent approaches including a novel primer extension assay. Thus, we
      demonstrate the first example of an organism that expresses two distinct 6S RNAs
      that both exhibit all mechanistic features defined for this type of regulatory
      RNA.

PMID- 26873601
TI  - Comparison of acyclovir and famciclovir for the treatment of Bell's palsy.
AB  - The relative effectiveness of acyclovir and famciclovir in the treatment of
      Bell's palsy is unclear. This study therefore compared recovery outcomes in
      patients with Bell's palsy treated with acyclovir and famciclovir. The study
      cohort consisted of patients with facial palsy who visited the outpatient clinic
      between January 2006 and January 2014. Patients were treated with prednisolone
      plus either acyclovir (n = 457) or famciclovir (n = 245). Patient outcomes were
      measured using the House-Brackmann scale according to initial severity of disease
      and underlying disease. The overall recovery rate tended to be higher in the
      famciclovir than in the acyclovir group. The rate of recovery in patients with
      initially severe facial palsy (grades V and VI) was significantly higher in the
      famciclovir than in the acyclovir group (p = 0.01), whereas the rates of recovery
      in patients with initially moderate palsy (grade III-IV) were similar in the two
      groups. The overall recovery rates in patients without hypertension or diabetes
      mellitus were higher in the famciclovir than in the acyclovir group, but the
      difference was not statistically significant. Treatment with steroid plus
      famciclovir was more effective than treatment with steroid plus acyclovir in
      patients with severe facial palsy. Famciclovir may be the antiviral agent of
      choice in the treatment of patients with severe facial palsy. 

PMID- 26873602
TI  - The clinical significance of small subarachnoid hemorrhages.
AB  - With advancing technology, the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) for the
      detection of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) continues to improve.
      Increased resolution has allowed for the detection of hemorrhage that is limited
      to one or two images of the CT exam. At our institution, all patients with a SAH
      require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, regardless of size. It was our
      hypothesis that patients with small subarachnoid hemorrhage experience favorable
      outcomes, and may not require the intensive monitoring offered in the ICU. This
      retrospective study evaluated 62 patients between 2011 and 2014 who presented to
      our Level I trauma center emergency room for acute traumatic injuries, and found
      to have subarachnoid hemorrhages on CT examination. The grade of subarachnoid
      hemorrhage was determined using previously utilized scoring systems, such as the
      Fisher, Modified Fisher, and Claassen grading systems. Electronic medical records
      were used to evaluate for medical decline, neurological decline, neurosurgical
      intervention, and overall hospital course. Admitting co-morbidities were noted,
      as were the presence of patient intoxication and use of anticoagulants. Patient
      outcomes were based on discharge summaries upon which the neurological status of
      the patient was assessed. Each patient was given a score based on the Glasgow
      outcome scale. The clinical and imaging profile of 62 patients with traumatic SAH
      were studied. Of the 62 patients, 0 % underwent neurosurgical intervention, 6.5 %
      had calvarial fractures, 25.8 % had additional intracranial hemorrhages, 27.4 %
      of the patients had significant co-morbidities, and 1.6 % of the patients
      expired. Patients with low-grade tSAH spent less time in the ICU, demonstrated
      neurological and medical stability during hospitalization. None of the patients
      with low-grade SAH experienced seizure during their admission. In our study,
      patients with low-grade tSAH demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes. This
      suggests that patients may not require as aggressive monitoring as is currently
      provided for those with tSAH. 

PMID- 26873603
TI  - CT imaging signs of surgically proven bowel trauma.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and interobserver
      agreement of individual CT findings as well as the bowel injury prediction score
      (BIPS) in surgically proven bowel injury after blunt abdominal trauma. This HIPAA
      compliant retrospective study was IRB approved and consent was waived. All
      patients 14 years or older who sustained surgically proven bowel injury after
      blunt abdominal trauma between 1/1/2004 and 6/30/2015 were included. Admission
      trauma MDCT scans were independently interpreted by two abdominal fellowship
      trained radiologists who recorded the following CT findings: intraperitoneal
      fluid, mesenteric hematoma/fat stranding, bowel wall thickening/hematoma, active
      intravenous contrast extravasation, free intraperitoneal air, bowel wall
      discontinuity, and focal bowel hypoenhancement. Subsequently, the electronic
      medical records of the included patients, admission abdominal physical exam
      results, admission white blood cell count, and findings at exploratory laparotomy
      of the included patients were recorded. Thirty-three patients met the inclusion
      criteria. The incidence and interobserver agreement of the CT findings were as
      follows: intraperitoneal fluid 93.9 %, kappa = 0.784 (good); mesenteric
      hematoma/fat stranding 84.8 %, kappa = 0.718 (good); bowel wall
      thickening/hematoma 42.4 %, kappa = 0.491 (moderate); active IV contrast
      extravasation 36.3 %, kappa = 1.00 (perfect); free intraperitoneal air 21.2 %,
      kappa = 0.904 (very good), bowel wall discontinuity 6.1 %, kappa = 1.00
      (perfect); and focal bowel hypoenhancement 6.1 %, kappa = 0.468 (moderate). An
      absence of the specified CT findings was encountered in 9.1 % with surgically
      proven bowel injuries (kappa = 1.00, perfect). In our study, 9/16 patients or
      56.3 % had a bowel injury prediction score (BIPS) of 2 or more as defined by
      McNutt et al. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg 78(1):105-111, 2014). The presence of
      intraperitoneal fluid and mesenteric hematoma/fat stranding are the most common
      CT findings in bowel injuries proven at laparotomy. A small percentage of
      patients have no abnormal CT findings. This grading system did not prove to be
      useful in our study likely due to our inherently small patient population;
      however, the use of BIPS deserves further investigation as it may help in
      identifying blunt bowel and mesenteric injury patients with often subtle or
      nonspecific CT findings. 

PMID- 26873605
TI  - Erratum to: Herbivory strongly influences among-population variation in
      reproductive output of Lythrum salicaria in its native range.

PMID- 26873604
TI  - Who explicitly requests the ordering of computed tomography for emergency
      department patients? A multicenter prospective study.
AB  - Emergency department (ED) computed tomography (CT) use has increased
      substantially in recent years, resulting in increased radiation exposure for
      patients. Few studies have assessed which parties contribute to CT ordering in
      the ED. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of CT scans
      ordered due to explicit requests by various stakeholders in ED patient care. This
      is a prospective, observational study performed at three university hospital EDs.
      CT scans ordered during research assistant hours were eligible for inclusion.
      Attending emergency physicians (EPs) completed standardized data forms to
      indicate all parties who had explicitly requested that a specific CT be
      performed. Forms were completed before the CT results were known in order to
      minimize bias. Data were obtained from 77 EPs regarding 944 CTs. The parties most
      frequently requesting CTs were attending EPs (82.0 %, 95 % CI 79.4-84.3),
      resident physicians (28.6 %, 95 % CI 25.8-31.6), consulting physicians (24.4 %,
      95 % CI 21.7-27.2), and admitting physicians (3.9 %, 95 % CI 2.9-5.4). In the 168
      instances in which the attending EP did not explicitly request the CT, requests
      most commonly came from consulting physicians (51.2 %, 95 % CI 43.7-58.6),
      resident physicians in the ED (39.9 %, 95 % CI 32.8-47.4), and admitting
      physicians (8.9 %, 95 % CI 5.5-14.2). EPs were the sole party requesting CT in
      46.2 % of cases while multiple parties were involved in 39.0 %. Patients,
      families, and radiologists were uncommon sources of such requests. Emergency
      physicians requested the majority of CTs, though nearly 20 % were actually not
      desired by them. Admitting, consulting, and resident physicians in the ED were
      important contributors to CT utilization. 

PMID- 26873606
TI  - The relative influences of climate and competition on tree growth along montane
      ecotones in the Rocky Mountains.
AB  - Distribution shifts of tree species are likely to be highly dependent upon
      population performance at distribution edges. Understanding the drivers of
      aspects of performance, such as growth, at distribution edges is thus crucial to
      accurately predicting responses of tree species to climate change. Here, we use a
      Bayesian model and sensitivity analysis to partition the effects of climate and
      crowding, as a metric of competition, on radial growth of three dominant conifer
      species along montane ecotones in the Rocky Mountains. These ecotones represent
      upper and lower distribution edges of two species, and span the distribution
      interior of the third species. Our results indicate a greater influence of
      climate (i.e., temperature and precipitation) than crowding on radial growth.
      Competition importance appears to increase towards regions of more favorable
      growing conditions, and precise responses to crowding and climate vary across
      species. Overall, our results suggest that climate will likely be the most
      important determinant of changes in tree growth at distribution edges of these
      montane conifers in the future.

PMID- 26873607
TI  - Selective predation on hantavirus-infected voles by owls and confounding effects
      from landscape properties.
AB  - It has been suggested that predators may protect human health through reducing
      disease-host densities or selectively preying on infected individuals from the
      population. However, this has not been tested empirically. We hypothesized that
      Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus) selectively preys on hantavirus-infected
      individuals of its staple prey, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). Bank voles are
      hosts of Puumala hantavirus, which causes a form of hemorrhagic fever in humans.
      Selective predation by owls on infected voles may reduce human disease risk. We
      compared the prevalence of anti-Puumala hantavirus antibodies (seroprevalence),
      in bank voles cached by owls in nest boxes to seroprevalence in voles trapped in
      closed-canopy forest around each nest box. We found no general difference in
      seroprevalence. Forest landscape structure could partly account for the observed
      patterns in seroprevalence. Only in more connected forest patches was
      seroprevalence in bank voles cached in nest boxes higher than seroprevalence in
      trapped voles. This effect disappeared with increasing forest patch isolation, as
      seroprevalence in trapped voles increased with forest patch isolation, but did
      not in cached voles. Our results suggest a complex relationship between zoonotic
      disease prevalence in hosts, their predators, and landscape structure. Some
      mechanisms that may have caused the seroprevalence patterns in our results
      include higher bank vole density in isolated forest patches. This study offers
      future research potential to shed further light on the contribution of predators
      and landscape properties to human health.

PMID- 26873608
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of in situ forming anionic hydrogel as vitreous
      substitutes.
AB  - The natural vitreous is a biological hydrogel consisting primarily of a collagen
      and anionic hyaluronate. It is surgically removed in many ocular diseases and
      replaced with fluids, gases, or silicone oils. We have been interested in
      developing synthetic hydrogels as vitreous substitutes. In this study, we
      combined the stiffness and hydrophobicity of polymethacrylamide (PMAM) and the
      anionic nature of polymethacrylate (PMAA) to make copolymers that would mimic the
      natural vitreous. We used bis-methacryloyl cystamine (BMAC) to introduce thiol
      groups for reversible crosslink. The Mn of copolymers ranged from ~100 k to ~200
      k Da (polydisperisty index of 1.47-2.63) and their composition as determined by
      titration, 1 H NMR and disulfide test were close to the feed ratio. The
      reactivities of monomers were as follows: MAM > MAA ~ BMAC. Copolymers with
      higher MAA contents gelled faster, swelled more, and had higher storage modulus
      (1.5 to 100 Pa) comparable to that of the natural vitreous. We evaluated the
      biocompatibility of copolymers by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing
      (ECIS) using human retinal pigment epithelial cells, primary porcine retinal
      pigmented epithelial cells, human microvascular endothelial cells adult dermis,
      and a fibroblast line 3T3. The biocompatibility decreases as the content of BMAC
      increases. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl
      Biomater, 105B: 977-988, 2017.

PMID- 26873610
TI  - MSF accuses Pfizer of misleading advertising.

PMID- 26873609
TI  - Development of the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale (SHS): a self-report tool for
      assessing sensitivity to sensory stimuli.
AB  - Sensory hypersensitivity is one manifestation of the central sensitization that
      may underlie conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. We
      conducted five studies designed to develop and validate the Sensory
      Hypersensitive Scale (SHS); a 25-item self-report measure of sensory
      hypersensitivity. The SHS assesses both general sensitivity and modality-specific
      sensitivity (e.g. touch, taste, and hearing). 1202 participants (157 individuals
      with chronic pain) completed the SHS, which demonstrated an adequate overall
      internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of 0.81, suggesting the tool can be used
      as a cross-modality assessment of sensitivity. SHS scores demonstrated only
      modest correlations (Pearson's r) with depressive symptoms (0.19) and anxiety
      (0.28), suggesting a low level of overlap with psychiatric complaints. Overall
      SHS scores showed significant but relatively modest correlations (Pearson's r)
      with three measures of sensory testing: cold pain tolerance (-0.34); heat pain
      tolerance (-0.285); heat pain threshold (-0.271). Women reported significantly
      higher scores on the SHS than did men, although gender-based differences were
      small. In a chronic pain sample, individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome
      demonstrated significantly higher SHS scores than did individuals with
      osteoarthritis or back pain. The SHS appears suitable as a screening measure for
      sensory hypersensitivity, though additional research is warranted to determine
      its suitability as a proxy for central sensitization.

PMID- 26873612
TI  - Size and demography pattern of the domestic dog population in Bhutan:
      Implications for dog population management and disease control.
AB  - Understanding the demography of domestic dogs is essential to plan the dog
      population management and rabies control program. In this study, we estimated the
      owned and stray dog population and the proportion of owned dogs that are free
      roaming in Bhutan. For this, a cross-sectional household surveys were conducted
      in six districts (both urban and rural areas) and two border towns in southern
      Bhutan. The population estimation was done by extrapolation of the mean number of
      dogs per household and dogs per person, whilst mark-resight survey was conducted
      to estimate the proportion of owned dogs that were free-roaming. A total of 1,301
      (rural:585; urban:716) respondents (one per household) were interviewed of which
      173 households (24.4%) in urban areas owned 237 dogs whilst 238 households
      (40.8%) in rural areas owned 353 dogs. The mean number of dogs per dog owning
      household was estimated to be 1.44 (urban:1.37 dogs; rural:1.48 dogs) and dogs
      per household was estimated to be 0.45 (urban:0.33; rural:0.60). The dog: human
      ratio was 1:16.30 (0.06 dogs per person) in urban areas and 1:8.43 (0.12 dogs per
      person) in rural areas. The total owned dog population based on the mean number
      of dogs per household and dogs per person were estimated to be 65,312 and 71,245
      in the country, respectively. The male: female ratio of the owned dog was 1.31:1
      in urban areas and 2.05:1 in rural areas. Majority of the dogs were local non
      descript breeds in both urban (60.8%) and rural (78%) areas, and the most common
      source was acquisition from friends or family (44.7%). The stray dog population
      in Bhutan was estimated to be 48,379 (urban:22,772; rural:25,607). Of the total
      estimated owned dog population in the two border towns, the proportion that were
      found free-roaming was estimated to be 31%. The different dog population
      estimation methods were compared and discussed in this paper. This study
      generated baseline data on the demographic patterns of the owned and stray dogs
      in Bhutan which will be useful for planning and monitoring dog population
      management and rabies control program in the country. 

PMID- 26873611
TI  - A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Mental Health Symptoms Among Perinatally HIV
      Infected and HIV-Exposed but Uninfected Urban Youths.
AB  - PURPOSE: Significant gaps persist in our understanding of the etiological factors
      that shape the progression of mental health symptoms (MHS) among perinatally HIV
      infected (PHIV+) and perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected (PHEU) youths. This
      study sought to assess the changes in MHS among PHIV+ and PHEU youths as they
      transition through adolescence and to identify the associated psychosocial
      factors. METHODS: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of 166 PHIV+ and 114
      PHEU youths (49% male, ages 9-16 years at baseline) in New York City. Individual
      interviews were administered at baseline and subsequently over a 5-year period.
      MHS were assessed using the youth version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule
      for Children. Predictive growth curve analyses were conducted to assess
      longitudinal changes in MHS and identify the relevant factors. Level I predictors
      included: time, major life events, household poverty, caregiver mental health,
      and neighborhood stressors. Level II predictors included youths' sociodemographic
      characteristics (e.g., age, gender, HIV status) and baseline future orientation
      scores. RESULTS: The changes in youths' MHS followed a quadratic growth curve and
      were positively associated with the number of major negative life events and
      neighborhood stressors experienced. Youths' HIV status, household poverty, and
      caregiver mental health were not significantly associated with youths' MHS.
      CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that irrespective of youths' HIV status, major life
      events and neighborhood stressors increase MHS among PHIV+ and PHEU youths. There
      is a need for interventions to reduce the impact of stressors on the mental well
      being of PHIV+ and PHEU youths.

PMID- 26873613
TI  - "Care or control?": a qualitative study of staff experiences with outpatient
      commitment orders.
AB  - PURPOSE: Outpatient commitment orders are being increasingly used in many
      countries to ensure follow-up care of people with psychotic disorders after
      discharge from hospital. Several studies have examined outpatient commitment in
      relation to use of health care services, but there have been fewer studies of
      health professionals' experiences with the scheme. The purpose of this study was
      to examine health professionals' experiences with patients subject to outpatient
      commitment. METHODS: This was a focus group study using a descriptive and
      exploratory approach. The study was based on three focus group interviews with a
      total of 22 participants. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
      RESULTS: The study showed that health professionals had a positive attitude
      towards outpatient commitment and considered it necessary for patients with
      psychosis who lacked insight and did not collaborate on treatment. At the same
      time their attention to patients' lack of insight could lead to a paternalistic
      approach more than measures to enhance patient autonomy. This challenged their
      therapeutic relationship with the patient. CONCLUSION: Health professionals found
      it difficult to combine control with therapeutic care, but gave greater emphasis
      to patients' need for treatment and continuity of care than to their autonomy.
      This dilemma indicates a need to discuss whether increased attention to patients'
      autonomy rather than insight into their illness would improve treatment
      cooperation and reduce the use of coercion.

PMID- 26873614
TI  - Perceived ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms: the buffering effects of
      ethnic identity, religion and ethnic social network.
AB  - PURPOSE: Perceived ethnic discrimination (PED) is positively associated with
      depressive symptoms in ethnic minority groups in Western countries. Psychosocial
      factors may buffer against the health impact of PED, but evidence is lacking from
      Europe. We assessed whether ethnic identity, religion, and ethnic social network
      act as buffers in different ethnic minority groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
      METHODS: Baseline data were used from the HEalthy Living In a Urban Setting study
      collected from January 2011 to June 2014. The random sample included 2501 South
      Asian Surinamese, 2292 African Surinamese, 1877 Ghanaians, 2626 Turks, and 2484
      Moroccans aged 18-70 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient
      Health Questionnaire-9. PED was measured with the Everyday Discrimination Scale.
      Ethnic identity was assessed using the Psychological Acculturation Scale.
      Practicing religion was determined. Ethnic social network was assessed with the
      number of same-ethnic friends and amount of leisure time spent with same-ethnic
      people. RESULTS: PED was positively associated with depressive symptoms in all
      groups. The association was weaker among (a) those with strong ethnic identity in
      African Surinamese and Ghanaians, (b) those practicing religion among African
      Surinamese and Moroccans, (c) those with many same-ethnic friends in South-Asian
      Surinamese, Ghanaians, and Turks, and (d) those who spend leisure time with same
      ethnic people among African Surinamese and Turks. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic identity,
      religion, and ethnic social network weakened the association between PED and
      depressive symptoms, but the effects differed by ethnic minority group. These
      findings suggest that ethnic minority groups employ different resources to cope
      with PED.

PMID- 26873615
TI  - Experience of stigma in private life of relatives of people diagnosed with
      schizophrenia in the Republic of Belarus.
AB  - PURPOSE: Family stigma constitutes a major problem in schizophrenia worldwide.
      Data on first-hand experience of stigma in families is necessary for planning and
      implementing interventions to reduce its burden. The aim of the study was to
      investigate the experience of stigma among relatives of persons with
      schizophrenia in Belarus. METHODS: Qualitative research methods, such as the
      thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 relatives of
      people diagnosed with schizophrenia, were used. Experience of discrimination,
      strategies used to cope with it, and requests for interventions were
      investigated. RESULTS: The most salient themes in experience of stigma in the
      private domain of life elicited in the narratives included anticipated stigma and
      dissolution of families. The experience of stigma was associated with burdensome
      feelings of guilt, tiredness and loneliness, together with fear and anxiety due
      to uncertainty in the future and sorrow because of frustrated hopes in past.
      Analysis of the strategies used to overcome the difficulties revealed concealment
      and "life behind closed doors", avoidance of the rest of the family, taking full
      responsibility and sacrificing one's personal life. CONCLUSION: To reduce the
      burden of stigma in the private life of the family members of people living with
      schizophrenia in Belarus, important steps should be taken to promote the
      empowerment of families including: reforming mental health services; provision of
      better access to information; family support services, community care;
      development of family organisations; assistance in communication, re
      socialisation and independent living for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

PMID- 26873617
TI  - Incomplete penetrance of biallelic ALDH1A3 mutations.
AB  - The formation of a properly shaped eye is a complex developmental event that
      requires the coordination of many induction processes and differentiation
      pathways. Microphthalmia and anophthalmia (MA) represent the most severe defects
      that can affect the ocular globe during embryonic development. When genetic,
      these ocular disorders exhibit large genetic heterogeneity and extreme variable
      expressivity. Around 20 monogenic diseases are known to be associated with MA as
      main phenotype and the penetrance of mutations is usually full in the patients.
      Some of these genes encode proteins involved in the vitamin A pathway, tightly
      regulated during eye development. One of those retinoic acid synthesis genes is
      ALDH1A3 and biallelic mutations in that gene have been recently found to lead to
      MA phenotype in patients. Interestingly, we report here the lack of ocular defect
      in a girl carrying the same homozygous mutation in the ALDH1A3 gene than the
      affected members of her family. Thus, this report brings new information for the
      phenotype-genotype correlation of ALDH1A3 mutations and raises important
      questions, especially in terms of genetic counselling given to the patients and
      their families. Furthermore, these data contribute to the more general
      understanding that we have for the complex genetic inheritance of these MA
      phenotypes. 

PMID- 26873616
TI  - Kin Discrimination in Protists: From Many Cells to Single Cells and Backwards.
AB  - During four decades (1960-1990s), the conceptualization and experimental design
      of studies in kin recognition relied on work with multicellular eukaryotes,
      particularly Unikonta (including invertebrates and vertebrates) and some Bikonta
      (including plants). This pioneering research had an animal behavior approach.
      During the 2000s, work on taxa-, clone- and kin-discrimination and recognition in
      protists produced genetic and molecular evidence that unicellular organisms (e.g.
      Saccharomyces, Dictyostelium, Polysphondylium, Tetrahymena, Entamoeba and
      Plasmodium) could distinguish between same (self or clone) and different (diverse
      clones), as well as among conspecifics of close or distant genetic relatedness.
      Here, we discuss some of the research on the genetics of kin
      discrimination/recognition and highlight the scientific progress made by
      switching emphasis from investigating multicellular to unicellular systems (and
      backwards). We document how studies with protists are helping us to understand
      the microscopic, cellular origins and evolution of the mechanisms of kin
      discrimination/recognition and their significance for the advent of
      multicellularity. We emphasize that because protists are among the most ancient
      organisms on Earth, belong to multiple taxonomic groups and occupy all
      environments, they can be central to reexamining traditional hypotheses in the
      field of kin recognition, reformulating concepts, and generating new knowledge.

PMID- 26873618
TI  - Maternally inherited autosomal dominant intellectual disability caused by 16p13.3
      microduplication.
AB  - A 16p13.3 duplication syndrome has been recently suggested to be a novel
      recognizable syndrome as a reciprocal microduplication disease of Rubinstein
      Taybi syndrome. The CREBBP gene is believed to be the dosage-sensitive critical
      gene responsible for the reciprocal duplication and deletion syndrome.
      Descriptions so far have been de novo. Here, we report a very rare case of a
      maternally inherited a -1 Mb sized duplication on 16p13.3 identified by SNP array
      testing. The patient showed moderate intellectual disability, normal growth, and
      characteristic facial features. The patient's mother also had mild intellectual
      disability, normal growth, camptodactyly, proximally implanted small thumbs, and
      distinctive facial features. The study provides additional information that
      furthers the understanding and delineation of 16p13.3 duplication syndrome. 

PMID- 26873619
TI  - The Japanese Breast Cancer Society clinical practice guidelines for epidemiology
      and prevention of breast cancer, 2015 edition.

PMID- 26873620
TI  - Absence of K-Ras Reduces Proliferation and Migration But Increases Extracellular
      Matrix Synthesis in Fibroblasts.
AB  - The involvement of Ras-GTPases in the development of renal fibrosis has been
      addressed in the last decade. We have previously shown that H- and N-Ras isoforms
      participate in the regulation of fibrosis. Herein, we assessed the role of K-Ras
      in cellular processes involved in the development of fibrosis: proliferation,
      migration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins synthesis. K-Ras knockout (KO)
      mouse embryonic fibroblasts (K-ras(-/-) ) stimulated with transforming growth
      factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) exhibited reduced proliferation and impaired mobility
      than wild-type fibroblasts. Moreover, an increase on ECM production was observed
      in K-Ras KO fibroblasts in basal conditions. The absence of K-Ras was accompanied
      by reduced Ras activation and ERK phosphorylation, and increased AKT
      phosphorylation, but no differences were observed in TGF-beta1-induced Smad
      signaling. The MEK inhibitor U0126 decreased cell proliferation independently of
      the presence of K-ras but reduced migration and ECM proteins expression only in
      wild-type fibroblasts, while the PI3K-AKT inhibitor LY294002 decreased cell
      proliferation, migration, and ECM synthesis in both types of fibroblasts. Thus,
      our data unveil that K-Ras and its downstream effector pathways distinctively
      regulate key biological processes in the development of fibrosis. Moreover, we
      show that K-Ras may be a crucial mediator in TGF-beta1-mediated effects in this
      cell type. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2224-2235, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26873621
TI  - Prevalence and management of hypertensive patients in clinical practice: Cross
      sectional registry in five countries outside the European Union.
AB  - Inadequate blood pressure (BP) control may be linked with poor adherence to
      guidelines by the treating physician. This study aimed at assessing the rates of
      controlled hypertension as per the 2009 Reappraisal of the 2007 European Society
      of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) guidelines in 2185
      hypertensive adults across five countries (Algeria, Pakistan, Ukraine, Egypt and
      Venezuela). The rates of controlled hypertension according to physician
      perception, type of therapy and risk factors were evaluated. Overall, 40% of
      patients had controlled hypertension according to the guidelines. A marked
      divergence in the rates of controlled hypertension as assessed by physicians and
      guidelines was observed (72% vs 40%). The presence of high/very high risks was
      linked to poor BP control. High salt intake [29%; odds ratio (OR) 9.94, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 6.72;14.69], treatment non-adherence (27%; OR 7.32, 95%
      CI 4.82;11.13), lack of understanding of the treatment's importance (25%; OR
      4.95, 95% CI 3.16;7.75), comorbidity (13%) and depression (9%; OR 10.50, 95% CI
      5.37;20.54) were major reasons for not achieving hypertension control. Addition
      of another drug was the most frequent medication change prescribed. Poor rates of
      BP control warrant repeated promotion of guidelines while identifying potential
      contributing factors and implementing strategies that re-establish BP control.

PMID- 26873622
TI  - Peter Meredith.

PMID- 26873623
TI  - Bimatoprost solution 0.03% topical application to the eyelid margin for the
      treatment of eyelash hypotrichosis.

PMID- 26873624
TI  - Tagetes lucida Cav.: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of its
      tranquilizing properties.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Morelos State is one of the most important
      regions of Mexico where several plant species are used in traditional medicine to
      influence central nervous system (CNS) activity; for example Tagetes lucida Cav.
      AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology
      of the tranquilizing properties of T. lucida aerial parts. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Data on the medicinal uses of T. lucida were explored by interviewing healers and
      merchants of local markets in different regions of Morelos State by using a
      questionnaire. Anxiolytic and/or sedative-like responses of the T. lucida were
      investigated in experimental models in mice such as: open-field, exploration
      cylinder, hole-board, plus-maze, and the barbituric-induced hypnosis
      potentiation. The possible mechanism of action was explored in the presence of
      WAY100635 (0.32mg/kg, i.p.) and flumazenil (10mg/kg, i.p.) antagonists. A
      feasible active compound was isolated and identified by using conventional
      chromatography, including UHPLC and MS (DART) [M+H]+ techniques. RESULTS:
      Interviews of healers and merchants from ten local regions of Morelos State
      showed that they recommended T. lucida as infusion and as tincture for several
      culture-bound syndromes associated with the CNS. Anxiolytic and sedative-like
      activities of polar extracts were corroborated in the experimental models; these
      effects were inhibited in the presence of 5-HT1A and GABA/BDZ receptor
      antagonists. Dimethylfraxetin was identified as one possible active compound.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results support the anxiolytic and sedative-like properties of
      T. lucida in traditional medicine by involving serotonergic and GABAergic
      neurotransmission and coumarinic constituents.

PMID- 26873626
TI  - Imaging of focal calvarial lesions.
AB  - Focal calvarial lesions may present as a visible, palpable, or symptomatic lump;
      however, with increasing use of cross-sectional imaging they are often
      encountered as an incidental finding. Knowledge of the possible disease entities
      along with a structured approach to imaging is required to suggest an appropriate
      diagnosis and assist in management planning. Abnormalities range from common
      neoplastic lesions to rarer congenital conditions, benign pathologies, and
      calvarial defects that can mimic lesions. The aim of this article is to
      demonstrate the salient imaging features that may help to limit the differential
      diagnosis of a focal calvarial lesion. 

PMID- 26873627
TI  - Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor and quantitative dual
      energy spectral CT in non-small-cell lung cancer.
AB  - AIM: To explore the correlation between the expression level of vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue and
      quantitative parameters of spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with NSCLC underwent a spectral CT imaging
      protocol before surgical tumour resection. The repetition of iodine
      concentration, water concentration, and CT values at 40 keV in the region of
      interest were measured. The slopes of spectral attenuation curves (lambdaHU) in
      the region were also calculated. The level of VEGF expression in the tumour
      tissue was measured using an immunohistochemical method (MaxVision method). The
      quantitative parameters of spectral CT imaging were compared among different
      levels of VEGF expression using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least
      significant difference (SLD) test. The correlation between VEGF expression and
      spectral CT imaging was estimated through Spearman's rank correlation analysis.
      RESULTS: There were significant differences in iodine concentrations, lambdaHU,
      and CT values at 40 KeV in NSCLC between the groups showing negative and
      moderately positive expression of VEGF (p=0.001, 0.000, and 0.001, respectively)
      as well as between those showing mildly and moderately positive expression of
      VEGF (p=0.047, 0.005, and 0.002, respectively). In addition, all of the iodine
      concentrations, lambdaHU values, and CT values at 40 KeV displayed a significant
      and positive correlation with the level of VEGF expression (r=0.413, 0.458, and
      0.393, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative parameters of spectral CT
      imaging may be helpful for evaluating the status of angiogenesis in NSCLC.

PMID- 26873628
TI  - Adhesion molecules expression in CLL: Potential impact on clinical and
      hematological parameters.
AB  - BACKGROUND: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is marked by the
      accumulation of CD5+ B lymphocytes within the blood, bone marrow (BM), and
      secondary lymphoid tissues. Abnormalities in the expression and function of cell
      adhesion molecules may account for the patterns of intra-nodal growth and
      hematogenous spread of the malignant cells. Chemokines and integrin-mediated
      adhesion and trans-endothelial migration (TEM) are central aspects in trafficking
      and retention of hematopoietic cells in the BM and lymphoid organs. AIM OF THE
      WORK: This work was conducted to study adhesion molecules status in CLL and its
      potential impact on both hematological and clinical parameters. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The study included 78 newly diagnosed CLL patients. Immunophenotyping
      was performed on peripheral blood using the chronic lymphoid panel. Adhesion
      molecules (CD11a, CD11b, CD49d, CD49C, CD29 and CD38) were tested using
      monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by Flow Cytometry. RESULTS: Positive
      correlation was encountered between adhesion molecules: CD38 with CD49d (r=0.25,
      p=0.028), CD11a with CD11b, CD49d and CD29 (r=0.394, p=0.001; r=0.441, p=<0.01
      and r=0.446, p<0.01 respectively) and CD29 with CD49c and CD49d (r=0.437, p<0.01;
      r=0.674, p<0.01 respectively). CD49c showed negative correlation with Rai staging
      (r=-0.269, p=0.033). CD11a and CD29 showed a significant relation with
      splenomegaly (p=0.04 and 0.03 respectively) and CD49d showed a significant
      relation with lymphadenopathy (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The level of different
      adhesion molecules expression in CLL is apparently reflected on the potential
      migratory behavior of the leukemic cells to different organs.

PMID- 26873630
TI  - A domestication related mutation in the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene
      (TSHR) modulates photoperiodic response and reproduction in chickens.
AB  - The thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene (TSHR) has been suggested to be a
      "domestication locus" in the chicken. A strong selective sweep over TSHR in
      domestic breeds together with significant effects of a mutation in the gene on
      several domestication related traits, indicate that the gene has been important
      for chicken domestication. TSHR plays a key role in the signal transduction of
      seasonal reproduction, which is characteristically less strict in domestic
      animals. We used birds from an advanced intercross line between ancestral Red
      Junglefowl (RJF) and domesticated White Leghorn (WL) to investigate effects of
      the mutation on reproductive traits as well as on TSHB, TSHR, DIO2 and DIO3 gene
      expression during altered day length (photoperiod). We bred chickens homozygous
      for either the mutation (d/d) or wild type allele (w/w), allowing assessment of
      the effect of genotype at this locus while also controlling for background
      variation in the rest of the genome. TSHR gene expression in brain was
      significantly lower in both d/d females and males and d/d females showed a faster
      onset of egg laying at sexual maturity than w/w. Furthermore, d/d males showed a
      reduced testicular size response to decreased day length, and lower levels of
      TSHB and DIO3 expression. Additionally, purebred White Leghorn females kept under
      natural short day length in Sweden during December had active ovaries and lower
      levels of TSHR and DIO3 expression compared to Red Junglefowl females kept under
      similar conditions. Our study indicates that the TSHR mutation affects
      photoperiodic response in chicken by reducing dependence of seasonal
      reproduction, a typical domestication feature, and may therefore have been
      important for chicken domestication. 

PMID- 26873629
TI  - RNAi-mediated Ghrelin affects gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and expression of
      GOAT-Ghrelin system in vitro.
AB  - Ghrelin has been implicated in the regulation of gastric functional development,
      and its physiological functions are mediated by Ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT)
      which is capable of generating the active form of this polypeptide hormone.
      However, whether and how ghrelin gene silencing may modify gastric acid secretion
      and GOAT-Ghrelin system is yet to be explored. The study was performed in gastric
      mucosal cells from weanling piglets in vitro. We evaluated the effect of ghrelin
      on gastric acid secretion, gene expression of GOAT and ghrelin as well as ghrelin
      levels by RNA interference assay. shGhrelin triggered the down-regulation of
      ghrelin mRNA expression (P<0.05) via an RNAi mechanism, as observed by real-time
      RT-PCR. In addition, shGhrelin showed reduced total ghrelin production and
      secretion (P<0.05) using ELISA in vitro. We also detected that GOAT mRNA
      expression was reduced in shGhrelin group (P<0.05), compared with control groups.
      In accordance with the GOAT expression, acylated ghrelin production and secretion
      were reduced in gastric mucosal cells and culture medium (P<0.05). Silencing of
      ghrelin gene achieved by RNAi-mediation inhibited the activity of H(+)-K(+)
      ATPase and pepsin (P<0.05) in gastric mucosal cells. These results indicated that
      RNAi of Ghrelin gene inhibited the gastric acid secretion with decreased GOAT
      mRNA and acylated Ghrelin in gastric mucosal cells. 

PMID- 26873631
TI  - AMPK is involved in the differential neonatal performance of chicks hatching at
      different time.
AB  - We have recently reported that the hatching time may be in relation to the
      distinct neonatal performance of female chicks. The present study was aimed to
      investigate the potential involvement of AMPK, an energy sensor which plays a
      pivotal role in energy homeostasis, in the distinct performance of the spread of
      hatching time model. As a result, hypothalamic AMPKalpha1 isoform gene expression
      was significantly higher in the late hatcher as compared to that of their early
      counterparts, whereas the total and phosphorylated levels of AMPKalpha subunit
      did not differ between the three hatchers. The hypothalamic orexigenic NPY and
      AgRP mRNA levels were higher in the late hatchers as compared to the early, and
      that of the middle hatchers was at an intermediate level. However, the
      anorexigenic POMC and CRH was also higher expressed in the late hatchers as
      compared to the early hatchers. In the liver, AMPKalpha2 mRNA level and the
      phosphorylation ratio of AMPKalpha was significantly lower in the late hatchers,
      as compared to their early counterparts. The hepatic phosphorylated GS levels of
      the late and middle hatchers were lower than that of their early counterparts.
      The expression of hepatic FTO gene of the late hatchers was significantly higher
      than that of their early and middle counterparts. Taken together, AMPK may play a
      significant role in the different neonatal performance of the spread of hatching
      time model. The central and peripheral AMPK in late hatchers exhibited a pattern
      of higher energy intake and lower energy expenditure, which resulted in a faster
      post-hatch growth. 

PMID- 26873625
TI  - Actin dynamics and cofilin-actin rods in alzheimer disease.
AB  - Cytoskeletal abnormalities and synaptic loss, typical of both familial and
      sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD), are induced by diverse stresses such as
      neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and energetic stress, each of which may be
      initiated or enhanced by proinflammatory cytokines or amyloid-beta (Abeta)
      peptides. Extracellular Abeta-containing plaques and intracellular phospho-tau
      containing neurofibrillary tangles are postmortem pathologies required to confirm
      AD and have been the focus of most studies. However, AD brain, but not normal
      brain, also have increased levels of cytoplasmic rod-shaped bundles of filaments
      composed of ADF/cofilin-actin in a 1:1 complex (rods). Cofilin, the major
      ADF/cofilin isoform in mammalian neurons, severs actin filaments at low
      cofilin/actin ratios and stabilizes filaments at high cofilin/actin ratios. It
      binds cooperatively to ADP-actin subunits in F-actin. Cofilin is activated by
      dephosphorylation and may be oxidized in stressed neurons to form disulfide
      linked dimers, required for bundling cofilin-actin filaments into stable rods.
      Rods form within neurites causing synaptic dysfunction by sequestering cofilin,
      disrupting normal actin dynamics, blocking transport, and exacerbating
      mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Abeta and proinflammatory cytokines induce
      rods through a cellular prion protein-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase and
      production of reactive oxygen species. Here we review recent advances in our
      understanding of cofilin biochemistry, rod formation, and the development of
      cognitive deficits. We will then discuss rod formation as a molecular pathway for
      synapse loss that may be common between all three prominent current AD
      hypotheses, thus making rods an attractive therapeutic target. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26873632
TI  - Role of aromatase and radial glial cells in neurotoxin-induced dopamine neuron
      degeneration and regeneration.
AB  - Radial glial cells (RGCs) in teleost brain are progenitor cells that express
      aromatase B and produce estrogens. Controversial data suggest that estrogens are
      critical for brain repair and neurogenesis in teleosts. Using a goldfish model
      for neurotoxin-induced Parkinson-like syndrome, we investigated the possible
      roles of RGCs, especially estrogen synthetic function, in the processes
      underlying dopamine neuron regeneration. The data indicate that dopamine neuron
      degeneration and aromatase activity inhibition could be respectively achieved in
      vivo with treatments with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
      (MPTP) and fadrozole in female goldfish. The expression of genes in the
      telencephalon and hypothalamus related to RGC functions including gfap, gdnf and
      bdnf as well as genes related to mature dopamine neuron functions including th,
      slc6a3 and pitx3 are under modulation of estrogens. Together these results
      revealed that the activation of radial glial cells and dopamine neuron recovery
      after MPTP insult is aromatase-dependent. Findings in this study provide support
      for the hypothesis that endogenous estrogens are neuroprotective in goldfish.
      Future studies focus on the molecular pathways for enhancing protective functions
      of estrogens and understanding global effects of estrogens in the central nervous
      system.

PMID- 26873633
TI  - iPLA2beta deficiency attenuates obesity and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice
      through hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling.
AB  - PLA2G6 or GVIA calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2beta) is identified as one of the
      NAFLD modifier genes in humans, and thought to be a target for NAFLD therapy.
      iPLA2beta is known to play a house-keeping role in phospholipid metabolism and
      remodeling. However, its role in NAFLD pathogenesis has not been supported by
      results obtained from high-fat feeding of iPLA2beta-null (PKO) mice. Unlike
      livers of human NAFLD and genetically obese rodents, fatty liver induced by high
      fat diet is not associated with depletion of hepatic phospholipids. We therefore
      tested whether iPLA2beta could regulate obesity and hepatic steatosis in leptin
      deficient mice by cross-breeding PKO with ob/ob mice to generate ob/ob-PKO mice.
      Here we observed an improvement in ob/ob-PKO mice with significant reduction in
      serum enzymes, lipids, glucose, insulin as well as improved glucose tolerance,
      and reduction in islet hyperplasia. The improvement in hepatic steatosis measured
      by liver triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol esters was associated with
      decreased expression of PPARgamma and de novo lipogenesis genes, and the reversal
      of beta-oxidation gene expression. Notably, ob/ob livers contained depleted
      levels of lysophospholipids and phospholipids, and iPLA2beta deficiency in ob/ob
      PKO livers lowers the former, but replenished the latter particularly
      phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) that contained
      arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. Compared with WT livers, PKO
      livers also contained increased PE and PC containing AA and DHA. Thus, iPLA2beta
      deficiency protected against obesity and ob/ob fatty liver which was associated
      with hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling. Our results support the
      deleterious role of iPLA2beta in severe obesity associated NAFLD. 

PMID- 26873634
TI  - Prednisolone- and sirolimus-eluting stent: Anti-inflammatory approach for
      inhibiting in-stent restenosis.
AB  - Glucocorticoids are powerful anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anti
      proliferative agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of
      a prednisolone- (PDScs) and sirolimus-coated stent (SRLcs) in preventing artery
      vessel neointimal hyperplasia and inflammatory reactions in vitro and in vivo.
      PDS, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is a derivative of cortisol, which is used to
      treat a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. The stents were
      fabricated with PDS, SRL, or both agents using a layer-by-layer coating system
      (designated as PDScs, SRLcs, and PDSRLcs, respectively). The surface morphology
      of the PDScs showed an evenly dispersed and roughened shape, which was smoothened
      by the SRL coating. Half of the total drug amounts were released within seven
      days, followed by an additional release, which continued for up to 28 days. The
      proliferation of smooth muscle cells was inhibited in the SRLcs group (31.5 +/-
      4.08%), and this effect was enhanced by PDS addition (PDSRLcs, 46.8 +/- 8.11%).
      Consistently, in the animal study, the restenosis rate was inhibited by the SRLcs
      and PDSRLcs (18.5 +/- 6.23% and 14.5 +/- 3.55%, respectively). Especially, fibrin
      expression and inflammation were suppressed in the PDS-containing group (PDScs,
      0.6 +/- 0.12 and 1.4 +/- 0.33; PDSRLcs, 0.7 +/- 0.48 and 1.7 +/- 0.12,
      respectively) compared to PDS non-containing groups (BMS, 1.1 +/- 0.12, and 1.8
      +/- 0.55; SRLcs, 1.6 +/- 0.32 and 2.0 +/- 0.62, respectively). Moreover, re
      endothelialization was enhanced in the PDScs group as determined using
      immunohistochemistry with a cluster of differentiation (CD)-31 antibodies. These
      results suggest that the inhibitory effect of SRLcs on anti-restenosis can be
      accelerated by additional coating with PDS, which has promising properties as a
      bioactive compound with useful anti-inflammatory effects.

PMID- 26873636
TI  - Yeast Two-Hybrid and One-Hybrid Screenings Identify Regulators of hsp70 Gene
      Expression.
AB  - The mammalian stress protein Hsp105beta, which is specifically expressed during
      mild heat shock and localizes to the nucleus, induces the major stress protein
      Hsp70. In the present study, we performed yeast two-hybrid and one-hybrid
      screenings to identify the regulators of Hsp105beta-mediated hsp70 gene
      expression. Six and two proteins were detected as Hsp105beta- and hsp70 promoter
      binding proteins, respectively. A luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that
      hsp70 promoter activation is enhanced by the transcriptional co-activator AF9 and
      splicing mediator SNRPE, but suppressed by the coiled-coil domain-containing
      protein CCDC127. Of these proteins, the knockdown of SNRPE suppressed the
      expression of Hsp70 irrespective of the presence of Hsp105beta, indicating that
      SNRPE essentially functions as a transcriptional activator of hsp70 gene
      expression. The overexpression of HSP70 in tumor cells has been associated with
      cell survival and drug resistance. We here identified novel regulators of Hsp70
      expression in stress signaling and also provided important insights into Hsp70
      targeted anti-cancer therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2109-2117, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26873635
TI  - In vitro three-dimensional coculturing poly3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3
      hydroxyhexanoate with mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells for myocardial patch
      application.
AB  - Identifying a suitable polymeric biomaterial for myocardial patch repair
      following myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cartilage injury is
      essential. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the novel polymer
      material, poly3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate, on the adhesion,
      proliferation, and differentiation of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells in
      vitro. Mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells were isolated, expanded, and cultured
      on either two-dimensional or three-dimensional poly3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3
      hydroxyhexanoate films (membranes were perforated to imitate three-dimensional
      space). Following attachment onto the films, mouse-induced pluripotent stem cell
      morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Cell vitality was
      detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and cell proliferation was observed
      using fluorescent 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Mouse-induced
      pluripotent stem cells were induced into cardiomyocytes by differentiation medium
      containing vitamin C. A control group in the absence of an inducer was included.
      Mouse-induced pluripotent stem cell survival and differentiation were observed
      using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, respectively. Mouse-induced
      pluripotent stem cells growth, proliferation, and differentiation were observed
      on both two-dimensional and three-dimensional poly3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3
      hydroxyhexanoate films. Vitamin C markedly improved the efficiency of mouse
      induced pluripotent stem cells differentiation into cardiomyocytes on poly3
      hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate films. Three-dimensional culture was better
      at promoting mouse-induced pluripotent stem cell proliferation and
      differentiation compared with two-dimensional culture.

PMID- 26873637
TI  - Extremity soft tissue sarcoma with multiple primary malignancies--Characteristics
      and outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the incidence and characteristics of multiple primary
      malignancies (MPM) has implications for guiding appropriate treatment and
      surveillance of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). OBJECTIVES: We sought to
      examine the incidence of MPM in STS (MPM-STS), and compare their
      clinicopathologic characteristics and survival to those with STS only. METHODS:
      585 patients who underwent surgery for extremity STS were reviewed. Logistic
      regression analyses to identify factors contributing to the development of MPMs
      and a 1:2 matched case-control analysis to compare survival outcome were
      performed. RESULTS: Of the 585 patients analyzed, 34 (6%) with MPM were
      identified. On univariate logistic regression analysis, older age (>49 years) at
      STS diagnosis (p = 0.008) and histologic types of undifferentiated pleomorphic
      sarcoma or myxofibrosarcoma (p = 0.033) were significant. In multivariate
      analysis, only older age at STS diagnosis remained significant (OR = 2.5, p =
      0.029). Cancer-specific survival of the MPM-STS group was significantly lower
      than that of the STS-only group (p = 0.031). However, there was no significant
      difference in STS-specific survival between the two groups (p = 0.208).
      CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that MPM is not uncommon in extremity STS and
      older age at STS diagnosis is associated with risk of MPM. Prognosis of STS in
      the MPM-STS group seems similar to that of the STS-only group.

PMID- 26873638
TI  - Dissecting the peripheral stalk of the mitochondrial ATP synthase of
      chlorophycean algae.
AB  - The algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Polytomella sp., a green and a colorless
      member of the chlorophycean lineage respectively, exhibit a highly-stable dimeric
      mitochondrial F1Fo-ATP synthase (complex V), with a molecular mass of 1600 kDa.
      Polytomella, lacking both chloroplasts and a cell wall, has greatly facilitated
      the purification of the algal ATP-synthase. Each monomer of the enzyme has 17
      polypeptides, eight of which are the conserved, main functional components, and
      nine polypeptides (Asa1 to Asa9) unique to chlorophycean algae. These atypical
      subunits form the two robust peripheral stalks observed in the highly-stable
      dimer of the algal ATP synthase in several electron-microscopy studies. The
      topological disposition of the components of the enzyme has been addressed with
      cross-linking experiments in the isolated complex; generation of subcomplexes by
      limited dissociation of complex V; detection of subunit-subunit interactions
      using recombinant subunits; in vitro reconstitution of subcomplexes; silencing of
      the expression of Asa subunits; and modeling of the overall structural features
      of the complex by EM image reconstruction. Here, we report that the amphipathic
      polymer Amphipol A8-35 partially dissociates the enzyme, giving rise to two
      discrete dimeric subcomplexes, whose compositions were characterized. An updated
      model for the topological disposition of the 17 polypeptides that constitute the
      algal enzyme is suggested. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC
      2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-6,
      2016', edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi.

PMID- 26873639
TI  - Performance of a scanning mobility particle sizer in measuring diverse types of
      airborne nanoparticles: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes, welding fumes, and
      titanium dioxide spray.
AB  - Direct-reading instruments have been widely used for characterizing airborne
      nanoparticles in inhalation toxicology and industrial hygiene studies for
      exposure/risk assessments. Instruments using electrical mobility sizing followed
      by optical counting, e.g., scanning or sequential mobility particle spectrometers
      (SMPS), have been considered as the "gold standard" for characterizing
      nanoparticles. An SMPS has the advantage of rapid response and has been widely
      used, but there is little information on its performance in assessing the full
      spectrum of nanoparticles encountered in the workplace. In this study, an SMPS
      was evaluated for its effectiveness in producing "monodisperse" aerosol and its
      adequacy in characterizing overall particle size distribution using three test
      aerosols, each mimicking a unique class of real-life nanoparticles: singlets of
      nearly spherical titanium dioxide (TiO2), agglomerates of fiber-like multi-walled
      carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and aggregates that constitutes welding fume (WF). These
      aerosols were analyzed by SMPS, cascade impactor, and by counting and sizing of
      discrete particles by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The
      effectiveness of the SMPS to produce classified particles (fixed voltage mode)
      was assessed by examination of the resulting geometric standard deviation (GSD)
      from the impactor measurement. Results indicated that SMPS performed reasonably
      well for TiO2 (GSD = 1.3), but not for MWCNT and WF as evidenced by the large GSD
      values of 1.8 and 1.5, respectively. For overall characterization, results from
      SMPS (scanning voltage mode) exhibited particle-dependent discrepancies in the
      size distribution and total number concentration compared to those from
      microscopic analysis. Further investigation showed that use of a single-stage
      impactor at the SMPS inlet could distort the size distribution and underestimate
      the concentration as shown by the SMPS, whereas the presence of vapor molecules
      or atom clusters in some test aerosols might cause artifacts by counting "phantom
      particles." Overall, the information obtained from this study will help
      understand the limitations of the SMPS in measuring nanoparticles so that one can
      adequately interpret the results for risk assessments and exposure prevention in
      an occupational or ambient environment.

PMID- 26873640
TI  - Critical Analysis of the Use of Uroflowmetry for Urethral Stricture Disease
      Surveillance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To critically evaluate the use of uroflowmetry (UF) in a large
      urethral stricture disease cohort as a means to monitor for stricture recurrence.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included men that underwent anterior
      urethroplasty and completed a study-specific follow-up protocol. Pre- and
      postoperative UF studies of men found to have cystoscopic recurrence were
      compared to UF studies from successful repairs. UF components of interest
      included maximum flow rate (Qm), average flow rate (Qa), and voided volume, in
      addition to the novel post-UF calculated value of Qm minus Qa (Qm-Qa). Area under
      the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of individual UF parameters
      was compared. RESULTS: Qm-Qa had the highest AUC (0.8295) followed by Qm
      (0.8241). UF performed significantly better in men <=40 with an AUC of 0.9324 and
      0.9224 for Qm-Qa and Qm respectively, as compared to 0.7484 and 0.7661 in men
      >40. Importantly, of men found to have anatomic recurrences, only 41% had a Qm of
      <=15 mL/s at time of diagnostic cystoscopy, whereas over 83% were found to have a
      Qm-Qa of <=10 mL/s. CONCLUSION: Qm rate alone may not be sensitive enough to
      replace cystoscopy when screening for stricture recurrence in all patients,
      especially in younger men where baseline flow rates are higher. Qm-Qa is a novel
      calculated UF measure that appears to be more sensitive than Qm when using UF to
      screen for recurrence, as it may be a better numerical representation of the
      shape of the voiding curve.

PMID- 26873642
TI  - An open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor
      alisertib in patients with advanced urothelial cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Progress in developing effective salvage therapies for UC is
      warranted. Alisertib is an orally available, selective inhibitor of the aurora
      kinase A. METHODS: A single-group, phase 2 trial was conducted with alisertib 50
      mg orally BID for 7 days, with 14d rest until disease progression (PD)
      (NCT02109328). The primary endpoint (EP) was RECIST 1.1 objective response-rate
      (ORR, H0 <= 5%, H1 >= 20%, alpha = 10% and beta = 20%). Eligibility included
      failure of at least one platinum-based regimen. RESULTS: From 10/2014 to 04/2015,
      22 patients were enrolled (20 evaluable for response), 8 (36.4%) in second-line
      and 14 (63.6 %) beyond the second-line. Eight (36.4%) had an ECOG-performance
      status 1-2. Two partial responses (PR, ORR: 9.1%), 7 stable disease (SD) and 11
      PD were obtained. Median follow-up was 8.3 months (IQR: 7-10.3), 6-month
      progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.6% (95%CI: 4.8-39.0). Two SD are still
      receiving treatment after 11.5 and 6.3 months. Median overall survival (OS) was
      not reached (6-month OS: 59.1%, 95%CI: 41.7-83.7). Hb < 10 g/dl was significantly
      associated with shorter PFS and OS multivariably (p = 0.031 and p = 0.033).
      Tissue of the case with 11.5 month SD harbored a missense mutation of mTOR
      (E1813D), the nonsense mutation Q527STOP of TSC1, HER3 and TAF1L missense
      mutations. Grade 3-4 adverse events (AE) were: 40.9% mucositis, 36.4% fatigue,
      18.2% neutropenia (13.6% febrile neutropenia). There were 2 treatment-related
      deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The study did not meet the primary EP, yet sustained disease
      control was obtained in about 14% of patients. The incidence of AE and the issue
      of patient selection are two major concerns.

PMID- 26873641
TI  - Pyruvate and Metabolic Flexibility: Illuminating a Path Toward Selective Cancer
      Therapies.
AB  - Dysregulated metabolism is an emerging hallmark of cancer, and there is abundant
      interest in developing therapies to selectively target these aberrant metabolic
      phenotypes. Sitting at the decision-point between mitochondrial carbohydrate
      oxidation and aerobic glycolysis (i.e., the 'Warburg effect'), the synthesis and
      consumption of pyruvate is tightly controlled and is often differentially
      regulated in cancer cells. This review examines recent efforts toward
      understanding and targeting mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, and addresses some
      of the successes, pitfalls, and significant challenges of metabolic therapy to
      date. 

PMID- 26873644
TI  - External fixation reconstruction of the residual problems of benign bone tumours.
AB  - The mechanical features of and biologic response to using distraction
      osteogenesis with the circular external fixator are the unique aspects of
      Ilizarov's contribution that allows deformity correction and reconstruction of
      bone defects. We present a retrospective study of 20 patients who suffered from a
      variety of benign tumours for which external fixators (EF) were used to treat
      deformity, bone loss, and limb-length discrepancy. A total of 26 bony segments in
      twenty patients (10 males, 10 females; mean age 17 years; range 7-58 years) were
      treated with EF for residual problems from the tumour itself (primary treatment)
      in 8 patients and for complications related to the primary surgery (secondary
      treatment) in 12 patients. Histological diagnoses were Ollier's disease (n = 4),
      Fibrous Dysplasia (n = 5), Congenital multiple exostosis (n = 5), giant cell
      tumour (n = 2) and one case for chondromyxoid fibroma, desmoid fibroma, chondroma
      and unicameral bone cyst. Various types of external fixators used to treat these
      problems. These were Ilizarov, unilateral fixator, multiaxial correction frame
      (Biomet, Parsippany, NJ), Taylor spatial frame (Memphis, TN) and smart correction
      multiaxial frame. The mean follow-up time was 69.5 months (range 35-108 months).
      The mean external fixation time was 159.5 days (range 27-300 days). The mean
      external fixation index was 67.4 days/cm (12-610) in 26 limbs who underwent
      distraction osteogenesis. The mean length of distraction was 4.9 cm (range 0.2-14
      cm). At final follow-up, all patients had returned to normal activities.
      Complications were in the form of knee arthrodesis in one patient, pin tract
      infection in six and residual shortening in eight patients. The use of EF and the
      principles of distraction osteogenesis, in the management of problems associated
      with benign bone tumours and related surgery yields successful results especially
      in young patients. With this approach, the risk for recurrence of shortening and
      deformity may be minimized with overcorrection or over-lengthening as dictated by
      preoperative planning. 

PMID- 26873643
TI  - Targeted therapies in gastric cancer treatment: where we are and where we are
      going.
AB  - Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and a major cause of
      cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its incidence has significantly declined over
      the last few decades, probably due to the identification of specific etiologic
      agents such as Helicobacter pylori and other dietary and environmental risk
      factors. Nevertheless, most of the cases are unfortunately diagnosed at an
      advanced stage justifying median overall survival rates frequently not exceeding
      one year. Palliative combination chemotherapy usually represented by a platinum
      based doublet is the mainstay of treatment in the metastatic setting. Adding a
      third drug such as an anthracycline or a taxane has been shown to improve
      response rate and provide limited survival benefits in fit selected patients.
      Unlike other tumors, the introduction of molecularly targeted drugs in the
      medical armamentarium for GC is relatively recent with trastuzumab and ultimately
      ramucirumab constituting the only agents approved to date. Recent advances in the
      understanding of GC biology have led to the development of novel targeted
      therapies holding the promise to further improve treatment outcomes. The aim of
      this paper is to review the main available data coming from clinical trials of
      targeted drugs and to describe some of the most interesting molecules in clinical
      development in GC. These include drugs targeting EGFR, angiogenesis, c-MET,
      FGFR2, mTOR and immune checkpoints.

PMID- 26873645
TI  - A guide to treating gait impairment with prolonged-release fampridine
      (Fampyra(r)) in patients with multiple sclerosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gait impairment, a frequent sign in multiple sclerosis (MS), places
      a major burden on patients since it results in progressive loss of personal and
      social autonomy, along with work productivity. This guide aims to provide
      recommendations on how to evaluate gait impairment and use prolonged-release
      fampridine (PR-fampridine) as treatment for MS patients with gait impairment in
      Spain. DEVELOPMENT: PR-fampridine dosed at 10mg every 12hours is currently the
      only drug approved to treat gait impairment in adults with MS. Additionally, PR
      fampridine has been shown in clinical practice to significantly improve quality
      of life (QoL) in patients who respond to treatment. Treatment response can be
      assessed with the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) or the 12-item MS Walking Scale
      (MSWS-12); tests should be completed before and after starting treatment. The
      minimum time recommended for evaluating treatment response is 2 weeks after
      treatment onset. Patients are considered responders and permitted to continue the
      treatment when they demonstrate a decrease in their T25FW time or an increase in
      MSWS-12 scores. A re-evaluation is recommended at least every 6 months. The SF-36
      (Short Form-36) and the MSIS-29 (MS Impact Scale-29) tests are recommended for
      clinicians interested in performing a detailed QoL assessment. This drug is
      generally well-tolerated and has a good safety profile. It should be taken on an
      empty stomach and renal function must be monitored regularly. CONCLUSIONS: These
      recommendations will help ensure safer and more efficient prescription practices
      and easier management of PR-fampridine as treatment for gait impairment in
      Spanish adults with MS.

PMID- 26873646
TI  - Comments on the review article "Cerebral radiation necrosis: Diagnostic challenge
      and clinical management".

PMID- 26873647
TI  - Systemic mechanisms and effects of ionizing radiation: A new 'old' paradigm of
      how the bystanders and distant can become the players.
AB  - Exposure of cells to any form of ionizing radiation (IR) is expected to induce a
      variety of DNA lesions, including double strand breaks (DSBs), single strand
      breaks (SSBs) and oxidized bases, as well as loss of bases, i.e., abasic sites.
      The damaging potential of IR is primarily related to the generation of electrons,
      which through their interaction with water produce free radicals. In their turn,
      free radicals attack DNA, proteins and lipids. Damage is induced also through
      direct deposition of energy. These types of IR interactions with biological
      materials are collectively called 'targeted effects', since they refer only to
      the irradiated cells. Earlier and sometimes 'anecdotal' findings were pointing to
      the possibility of IR actions unrelated to the irradiated cells or area, i.e., a
      type of systemic response with unknown mechanistic basis. Over the last years,
      significant experimental evidence has accumulated, showing a variety of radiation
      effects for 'out-of-field' areas (non-targeted effects-NTE). The NTE involve the
      release of chemical and biological mediators from the 'in-field' area and thus
      the communication of the radiation insult via the so called 'danger' signals. The
      NTE can be separated in two major groups: bystander and distant (systemic). In
      this review, we have collected a detailed list of proteins implicated in either
      bystander or systemic effects, including the clinically relevant abscopal
      phenomenon, using improved text-mining and bioinformatics tools from the
      literature. We have identified which of these genes belong to the DNA damage
      response and repair pathway (DDR/R) and made protein-protein interaction (PPi)
      networks. Our analysis supports that the apoptosis, TLR-like and NOD-like
      receptor signaling pathways are the main pathways participating in NTE. Based on
      this analysis, we formulate a biophysical hypothesis for the regulation of NTE,
      based on DNA damage and apoptosis gradients between the irradiation point and
      various distances corresponding to bystander (5mm) or distant effects (5cm). Last
      but not least, in order to provide a more realistic support for our model, we
      calculate the expected DSB and non-DSB clusters along the central axis of a
      representative 200.6MeV pencil beam calculated using Monte Carlo DNA damage
      simulation software (MCDS) based on the actual beam energy-to-depth curves used
      in therapy.

PMID- 26873649
TI  - Diffuse calcinosis cutis in systemic lupus erythematosus: an exceptional
      complication.

PMID- 26873648
TI  - Intestinal CCL25 expression is increased in colitis and correlates with
      inflammatory activity.
AB  - CCL25-mediated activation of CCR9 is critical for mucosal lymphocyte recruitment
      to the intestine. In immune-mediated liver injury complicating inflammatory bowel
      disease, intrahepatic activation of this pathway allows mucosal lymphocytes to be
      recruited to the liver, driving hepatobiliary destruction in primary sclerosing
      cholangitis (PSC). However, in mice and healthy humans CCL25 expression is
      restricted to the small bowel, whereas few data exist on activation of this
      pathway in the inflamed colon despite the vast majority of PSC patients having
      ulcerative colitis. Herein, we show that colonic CCL25 expression is not only
      upregulated in patients with active colitis, but strongly correlates with
      endoscopic Mayo score and mucosal TNFalpha expression. Moreover, approximately
      90% (CD4(+)) and 30% (CD8(+)) of tissue-infiltrating T-cells in colitis were
      identified as CCR9(+) effector lymphocytes, compared to <10% of T-cells being
      CCR9(+) in normal colon. Sorted CCR9(+) lymphocytes also demonstrated enhanced
      cellular adhesion to stimulated hepatic sinusoidal endothelium compared with
      their CCR9(-) counterparts when under flow. Collectively, these results suggest
      that CCR9/CCL25 interactions are not only involved in colitis pathogenesis but
      also correlate with colonic inflammatory burden; further supporting the existence
      of overlapping mucosal lymphocyte recruitment pathways between the inflamed colon
      and liver. 

PMID- 26873650
TI  - Biologic therapies in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus
      erythematosus.

PMID- 26873652
TI  - Mirtazapine, in orodispersible form, for patients with preoperative psychological
      distress: A pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perioperative psychological distress is associated with preoperative
      anxiety, depression, and postoperative pain. Mirtazapine is effective as an
      antidepressant, anxiolytic agent, and sleep enhancer. Moreover, mirtazapine can
      be made as orodispersible tablets with a fast onset for patients in nil per os
      status. This study is to determine whether mirtazapine can help psychologically
      distressed patients reduce perioperative anxiety, depression, and postoperative
      pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with preoperative psychological distress,
      undergoing major abdominal surgery, were inquired and assigned to two groups
      according to their own choice. In the treatment group, patients could choose to
      take orodispersible mirtazapine 30 mg at each night from Preoperative Day 0 to
      Postoperative Day 3. There was no other intervention in the nontreatment group.
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and
      pain scores were accessed on the day before operation (Day 0), and on the 1(st)
      day (Day 2) and 3(rd) day (Day 4) after operation. We compared the HADS, AIS, and
      pain scores, and morphine consumptions between the two groups on a daily basis.
      Marginal regression models were fitted to our correlated longitudinal data alone
      with the generalized estimating equations method to estimate the population
      average effects of time-varying mirtazapine usage on the mean values of HADS,
      AIS, and pain scores, and daily morphine consumptions. RESULTS: From September
      2007 to December 2008, 86 patients agreed to be enrolled and 79 of them completed
      the study. Propensity scores and multivariate analysis showed that mirtazapine
      reduced HADS scores of patients in 2 days. Trial results indicated that
      mirtazapine lowered the AIS day index and tended to decrease night index as well.
      Mirtazapine may reduce patients' morphine consumption, but this effect was not
      statistically significant (p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine helps reduce
      anxiety, depression, and insomnia scores for patients with perioperative
      psychological distress.

PMID- 26873651
TI  - Predicting decline of kidney function in lupus nephritis using urine biomarkers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate candidate biomarkers to predict future renal function
      decline (RFD) in children and adults with lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: At the
      time of enrollment into prospective observational LN cohort studies liver-type
      fatty acid binding protein (LFABP), albumin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1
      (MCP-1), uromodulin, transferrin, and hepcidin were measured in urine samples of
      two cohorts of patients with LN, one followed at a pediatric (cohort-1; n = 28)
      and one at an adult institution (cohort-2; n = 69). The primary outcome was RFD,
      defined in cohort-1 as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
      of >=20% and in cohort-2 as a sustained increase of >=25% in serum creatinine
      concentration (SCr), both from baseline. RESULTS: All patients (n = 97) had
      normal eGFR or SCr at the time of urine collection at baseline. RFD occurred in
      29% (8/28) of patients in cohort-1 during a mean follow-up of 6.1 months, and in
      30% (21/69) of those in cohort-2 during a mean follow-up of 60 months.
      Individually, in cohort-1, levels of MCP-1, transferrin, LFABP, and albumin were
      higher in the RFD group than those who maintained renal function, with
      statistical significance for LFABP and albumin. In cohort-2 the RFD group also
      had higher levels of urine MCP-1 and albumin than others. The combination of
      LFABP, MCP-1, albumin, and transferrin had good predictive accuracy for RFD in
      both cohorts (area under the ROC curve = 0.77-0.82). CONCLUSION: The
      combinatorial urine biomarker LFABP, MCP-1, albumin, and transferrin shows
      promise as a predictor of renal functional decline in LN, and warrants further
      investigation.

PMID- 26873654
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26873653
TI  - Reactive Oxygen Species Imaging in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important contributors to inflammatory
      bowel disease (IBD); however, there are insufficient tools for their in vivo
      evaluation. PROCEDURES: To determine if a chemiluminescent ROS reporter,
      coelenterazine, would be a useful tool for the detection of immune cell
      activation, the macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) was treated with phorbol
      myristate acetate (PMA). Additionally, coelenterazine was used to monitor the
      changes in ROS production over time in a mouse model of IBD. RESULTS: In vitro,
      coelenterazine enabled the dynamic monitoring of the RAW 264.7 cell oxidative
      burst. In vivo, there were early, preclinical, changes in the localization and
      magnitude of coelenterazine chemiluminescent foci. CONCLUSIONS: Coelenterazine
      offers a high-throughput method for assessing immune cell activation in culture
      and provides a means for the in vivo detection and localization of ROS during IBD
      disease progression.

PMID- 26873655
TI  - Elevated Blood Pressure with Reduced Left Ventricular and Aortic Dimensions in
      Adolescents Born Extremely Preterm.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term cardiovascular effects of extremely preterm
      birth in a cohort of adolescents followed prospectively, who were largely free
      from intrauterine growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN: Central blood pressures,
      aortic and cardiac dimensions, left ventricle (LV) function, pulse wave velocity,
      augmentation index, and microvascular reactive hyperemia were measured in 18-year
      old subjects born extremely preterm at <28 weeks' gestation (n = 109) and term
      born controls (n = 81). RESULTS: Compared with controls, preterm adolescents had
      higher systolic (124 +/- 13 vs 118 +/- 10 mm Hg, P = .002) and diastolic (72 +/-
      8 vs 67 +/- 7 mm Hg, P < .001) blood pressures, but lower ascending aortic z
      scores (0.13 +/- 0.89 vs 0.42 +/- 0.78, P = .02), LV diastolic (48.5 +/- 4 vs
      50.3 +/- 4.5 mm, P = .007) and systolic (30.2 +/- 3.5 vs 31.9 +/- 4.0 mm, P =
      .003) diameters, and a reduced LV mass (130 +/- 34 vs 145 +/- 41 g, P = .01) and
      mass index (75 +/- 14 vs 81 +/- 16 g/m(2), P = .02). However, LV relative wall
      thickness, LV function, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and
      microvascular reactive hyperemia were similar. Within the ex-preterm group, there
      were no significant relationships between birthweight z-scores and any
      cardiovascular measures, once the latter were adjusted for current body size.
      CONCLUSIONS: Extremely preterm birth had relatively minor cardiovascular effects
      in late-adolescence, with increased blood pressures, decreased LV, and aortic
      size, but preserved LV function, macrovascular properties, and microvascular
      function. In utero growth was not independently related to cardiovascular
      function within the ex-preterm cohort.

PMID- 26873657
TI  - Development and Psychometric Testing of a Scale for Evaluating Self-Management
      Needs of Knee Osteoarthritis (SMNKOA) in Taiwan.
AB  - Self-management of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is important for treating this
      chronic disease. This study developed and psychometrically tested a new
      instrument for measuring adult patients' self-management needs of knee
      osteoarthritis (SMNKOA). The theoretical framework of self-care guided the
      development of the 35-item SMNKOA scale. Participants ( N = 372) were purposively
      sampled from orthopedic clinics at medical centers in Taiwan. The content
      validity index was 0.83. Principal components analysis identified a three-factor
      solution, accounting for 53.19% of the variance. The divergent validity was 
      0.67; convergent validity was -0.51. Cronbach's alpha was .95, Pearson's
      correlation coefficient was .88, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was
      .95. The scale's reliability and validity supports the SMNKOA, as a tool to
      measure self-management needs of adults with knee OA. Nurses and other health
      care providers can use this instrument to evaluate knee OA patients and identify
      strategies for improving health-related outcomes and patient education.

PMID- 26873658
TI  - A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Using Prophylactic Dressings to Minimize
      Sacral Pressure Injuries in High-Risk Hospitalized Patients.
AB  - This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effect of prophylactic
      dressings to minimize sacral pressure injuries (PIs) in high-risk hospitalized
      patients and assessed feasibility criteria to inform a larger study. Eighty
      patients were recruited at admission points (the emergency department and
      surgical care unit) or directly from participating wards in the general medical
      surgical setting following the assessment of high risk of sacral PI. Participants
      were randomized into either the routine care or routine care and silicone foam
      border dressing group. Outcome assessment comprised digital photographs of each
      participant's sacrum every 72 hr for evaluation by a blind-to-intervention
      assessor. Sixty-seven participants had at least one sacral photograph taken and
      assessed by a blind-to-intervention assessor. Three participants were assessed as
      having a Stage I PI. Although the use of photography was effective, feasibility
      criteria identified challenges related to bias, blinding, weight assessment,
      preparation of nursing staff, and sample size estimation.

PMID- 26873656
TI  - Increases in Sex Hormones during Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha Therapy in
      Adolescents with Crohn's Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate children with Crohn's disease for inverse relationships
      between systemic inflammatory cytokines and sex hormone regulation in the context
      of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) therapy. STUDY DESIGN: An
      observational study design was used to assess sex hormone and gonadotropin levels
      at the time of initiation of anti-TNF-alpha therapy and 10 weeks and 12 months
      later in 72 adolescents (Tanner stage 2-5) with Crohn's disease. Mixed-model
      linear regression was used to evaluate relationships between hormone levels,
      systemic inflammation, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry whole-body fat mass Z
      scores over the study interval. RESULTS: Sex hormone Z scores increased
      significantly during the 10-week induction interval: testosterone Z scores in
      male patients increased from a median of -0.36 to 0.40 (P < .05) and estradiol Z
      scores in females increased from -0.35 to -0.02 (P < .01). In mixed model
      regression, the pediatric Crohn's disease activity index score, cytokine levels,
      and measures of inflammation were significantly and negatively associated with
      sex hormone Z scores and with luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
      hormone levels, adjusted for sex and Tanner stage. Sex hormone and gonadotropin
      levels were not associated with body mass index or fat mass Z-scores.
      CONCLUSIONS: Crohn's disease is associated with delayed maturation, and
      initiation of anti-TNF-alpha therapy was associated with significant and rapid
      increases in sex hormone and gonadotropin levels, in association with
      improvements in disease activity and measures of inflammation. These data are
      consistent with preclinical studies of the effects of inflammation on sex hormone
      regulation.

PMID- 26873659
TI  - Effect of curing light emission spectrum on the nanohardness and elastic modulus
      of two bulk-fill resin composites.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the nanohardness and elastic moduli of two bulk-fill
      resin based composites (RBCs) at increasing depths from the surface and
      increasing distances laterally from the center after light curing. METHODS: Two
      bulk-fill dental RBCs: Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TECBF) and Filtek Bulk Fill
      Flowable (FBFF) were light cured in a metal mold with a 6mm diameter and a 10mm
      long semi-circular notch. The RBCs were photo-polymerized for 10s using a light
      emitting diode (LED) Bluephase Style curing light, with the original light probe
      that lacked the homogenizer. This light has two blue light and one violet light
      LED emitters. By changing the probe orientation over the mold, the light output
      from only two LEDs reached the RBC. Measurements were made using: (i) the light
      from one violet and one blue LED, and (ii) the light from the two blue LEDs. Five
      specimens of each RBC were made using each LED orientation (total 20 specimens).
      Specimens were then stored in the dark at 37 degrees C for 24h. Fifty indents
      were made using an Agilent G200 nanoindentor down to 4mm from the surface and
      2.5mm right and left of the centerline. The results were analyzed (alpha=0.05)
      using multiple paired-sample t-tests, ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and
      Pearson correlations. RESULTS: The elastic modulus and nanohardness varied
      according to the depth and the distance from the centerline. For TECBF, no
      significant difference was found between the spatial variations in the elastic
      modulus or hardness values when violet-blue or blue-blue LEDs were used. For
      FBFF, the elastic modulus and nanohardness on the side exposed to the violet
      emitter were significantly less than the side exposed to the blue emitter. A
      strong correlation between nanohardness and elastic modulus was found in all
      groups (r(2)=0.9512-0.9712). SIGNIFICANCE: Resin polymerization was not uniform
      throughout the RBC. The nanohardness and elastic modulus across two RBC materials
      were found to decline differently according to the orientation of the violet and
      blue light LED emitters within the curing light.

PMID- 26873660
TI  - Clinical trials: Randomization, completeness of data and restoration longevity.

PMID- 26873661
TI  - The recent progress in proteochemometric modelling: focusing on target
      descriptors, cross-term descriptors and application scope.
AB  - As an extension of the conventional quantitative structure activity relationship
      models, proteochemometric (PCM) modelling is a computational method that can
      predict the bioactivity relations between multiple ligands and multiple targets.
      Traditional PCM modelling includes three essential elements: descriptors
      (including target descriptors, ligand descriptors and cross-term descriptors),
      bioactivity data and appropriate learning functions that link the descriptors to
      the bioactivity data. Since its appearance, PCM modelling has developed rapidly
      over the past decade by taking advantage of the progress of different descriptors
      and machine learning techniques, along with the increasing amounts of available
      bioactivity data. Specifically, the new emerging target descriptors and cross
      term descriptors not only significantly increased the performance of PCM
      modelling but also expanded its application scope from traditional protein-ligand
      interaction to more abundant interactions, including protein-peptide, protein-DNA
      and even protein-protein interactions. In this review, target descriptors and
      cross-term descriptors, as well as the corresponding application scope, are
      intensively summarized. Additionally, we look forward to seeing PCM modelling
      extend into new application scopes, such as Target-Catalyst-Ligand systems, with
      the further development of descriptors, machine learning techniques and
      increasing amounts of available bioactivity data.

PMID- 26873662
TI  - Association between position of the fixed ulnar head and carpal translocation
      after the Sauve-Kapandji procedure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Sauve-Kapandji procedure is a common surgical procedure for
      rheumatoid wrist, which involves fixing dissected ulnar head to the distal radius
      in order to provide "bony support" to the carpus. The purpose of this study was
      to investigate whether the position of the fixed ulnar head was associated with
      postsurgical carpus translocation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed
      radiographs of 40 patients who underwent the Sauve-Kapandji procedure and were
      subsequently followed up for over two years. The association between the fixed
      ulnar head position and postsurgical carpus translocation was statistically
      analysed with a confidence interval of 95% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Multiple
      regression analysis suggested that the radial inclination of the fixed ulnar
      head, the absence of increases in ulnar variance, and wide "bony support" were
      significantly associated with less postsurgical carpal translocation. CONCLUSION:
      Our study indicated that good concordance between the "bony support" and the
      carpus might be important in reducing postsurgical carpus translocation.

PMID- 26873663
TI  - On central nervous system involvement in variants of Guillain-Barre syndrome and
      Miller Fisher overlap.

PMID- 26873664
TI  - The power of historical data for assessment of childhood vaccine benefits.

PMID- 26873665
TI  - Effect of vaccination programmes on mortality burden among children and young
      adults in the Netherlands during the 20th century: a historical analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the 20th century, childhood mortality decreased rapidly, and
      vaccination programmes are frequently suggested as a contributing factor.
      However, quantification of this contribution is subject to debate or absent. We
      present historical data from the Netherlands that allow us to quantify the
      reduction in childhood mortality burden for vaccine-preventable diseases in this
      period as a function of vaccination coverage. METHODS: We retrieved cause
      specific and age-specific historical mortality data from Statistics Netherlands
      from 1903 to 2012 (for Dutch birth cohorts born from 1903 to 1992), and data for
      vaccination coverage since the start of vaccination programmes from the Dutch
      Health Care Inspectorate and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and
      the Environment. We also obtained birth and migration data from Statistics
      Netherlands. We used a restricted mean life-time method to estimate cause
      specific mortality burden among children and young adults for each birth cohort
      as the years of life lost up to age 20 years, excluding migration as a variable
      because this did not affect the results. To correct for long-term trends, we
      calculated the cause-specific contribution to the total childhood mortality
      burden. FINDINGS: In the prevaccination era, the contribution to mortality burden
      was fairly constant for diphtheria (1.4%), pertussis (3.8%), and tetanus (0.1%).
      Around the start of mass vaccinations, these contributions to the mortality
      burden decreased rapidly to near zero. We noted similar patterns for
      poliomyelitis, mumps, and rubella. The number of deaths due to measles around the
      start of vaccination in the Netherlands were too few to detect an accelerated
      rate of decrease after mass vaccinations were started. We estimate that mass
      vaccination programmes averted 148 000 years of life lost up to age 20 years (95%
      prediction interval 110 000-201 000) among children born before 1992. This
      corresponds to about 9000 deaths averted (6000-12 000). INTERPRETATION: Our
      historical time series analysis of mortality and vaccination coverage shows a
      strong association between increasing vaccination coverage and diminishing
      contribution of vaccine-preventable diseases to overall mortality. This analysis
      provides further evidence that mass vaccination programmes contributed to
      lowering childhood mortality burden. FUNDING: Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare
      and Sport.

PMID- 26873666
TI  - The Ills of Marginality: New Perspectives on Health in South Asia.
AB  - Social marginality and ill health can form an unholy dyad: firstly, groups who
      suffer from chronic or infectious diseases often find themselves pushed to the
      margins. Secondly, people who are already on the edge of society tend to suffer
      more from illness than those at the centre. In development discourse, marginal
      people are defined as those who are 'not yet' on the same level as the developed
      mainstream and are in urgent need of aid from the centre. The papers in this
      special issue take a different approach by insisting that marginality is a
      radically relational concept: the centre and its margins constitute each other,
      and the boundaries between them are constantly shifting. The papers show that
      there are many types of marginality (based on geography, class, caste,
      sex/gender, ethnicity, etc.), and that each of them has different effects on the
      health of a particular group. Yet instead of speaking of a plurality of unrelated
      'group identities', marginality preserves a sharp sense of unequal power
      relations between groups. The specific ethnographic contribution to the study of
      marginality comes from its attention to the point of view of marginal people.
      This is of critical importance since marginality puts health most under stress
      when it is clearly and steadily perceived in everyday life. This, in turn, makes
      it possible to show that living on the margins is not always and everywhere bad
      for health. While all of the papers present South Asian case studies, the
      insights and questions are relevant for the study of the ills of marginality in a
      global perspective. 

PMID- 26873667
TI  - 'Do not resist, show me your body!': Encounters Between the Jarwas of the
      Andamans and Medicine (1858-2004).
AB  - Based on fieldwork and archival studies carried out since 1995, this paper is an
      analysis of the dialogue between the Jarwas and the outside world. The Jarwa
      tribal community on the Andaman Islands has a long history of voluntary isolation
      and pronounced hostility towards outsiders. This situation only started to change
      in the mid-1990s, when a young Jarwa was successfully treated at a local
      hospital. The Jarwas' sudden fascination with modern medicine was less to do with
      its therapeutic powers than the fact that, on each visit, hospital staff gave
      them food, clothes, and various consumer items. This paper describes events in
      the Jarwas' 'junket to modernity'. Before discussing recent events, the paper
      first retraces the history of relations between the Jarwas and the outside world
      during the second half of the 19th century, when life on the Andaman Islands was
      dominated by a British Penal Settlement. In the face of epidemic outbreaks of
      pneumonia, malaria, and measles, tribal health has become a major concern for the
      Indian authorities. The paper discusses continuities and discontinuities in
      medical concerns with the tribal body, and argues that 'marginalization' must be
      understood as a practice of mutual constitution. 

PMID- 26873668
TI  - The Effects of Inequality and Relative Marginality on the Well-being of Low Caste
      People in Central Uttaranchal.
AB  - Perceived marginality can have a great impact on people's well-being. Using
      ethnographic material from three different low-caste villages in the Central
      Himalayas of North India, and based on a survey of Garhwali women conducted in
      2002-03, this paper illustrates that marginality and well-being are never
      absolute but always relative. Discussing anthropological aspects of the bodily
      experience of oppression, and Public Health studies of the effects of social
      inequalities on health, it will be argued that the relative marginality of low
      caste people within their villages affects their well-being much more than the
      absolute caste status on the district or state level. 

PMID- 26873669
TI  - Pharmaceutical Citizenship: Antidepressant Marketing and the Promise of
      Demarginalization in India.
AB  - Among practitioners of biomedicine, to speak of people as 'marginalized' often
      amounts to saying that they do not have access to medical substances. Thus
      conceived, the best way to remove marginality seems to be to give medicines to
      those deprived of them. The peculiar relationship between marginality and
      pharmaceuticals is especially poignant in the case of antidepressant drugs, as
      these drugs appear to bring the patient 'back into society', but not any society,
      but middle-class consumer society. What is now special about antidepressants is
      that there is nothing special about them: antidepressants are like consumer items
      among thousands of other consumer items. This paper explores the relations
      between medicines and marginality with reference to the marketing of
      antidepressant drugs in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Drawing on ethnographic
      fieldwork in the Kolkata metropolitan area from July 1999 to December 2000 and in
      August/September 2003, this paper examines how people with depression are
      constituted as 'marginal' in the sense of 'being deprived of medication', and how
      the biomedical promise of an effective pharmacological treatment becomes a
      promise of 'pharmaceutical citizenship'. In view of Bengali notions of mental
      health as a state of detachment, the paper asks if pharmacological
      demarginalization holds the same promise in the Indian context that it holds in
      the West. 

PMID- 26873670
TI  - Geographies of contagion: Hijras, Kothis, and the politics of sexual marginality
      in Hyderabad.
AB  - Following the recognition that 'culture matters' in designing effective public
      health programs, this paper focuses on one refraction of culture within the so
      called 'homosexual' community in India, to highlight how attention to local
      knowledge and its socio-economic underpinnings can impact the politics of health
      care. Drawing primarily on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from 1995-1997 and
      2003 in the South Indian city of Hyderabad among hijras (the so-called third sex
      of India) as well as the wider community of MSM or 'men who have sex with men',
      the paper argues that public health framings of homosexuality often fail to pay
      attention to differential understandings of stigma and their socio-economic
      underpinnings, a failure that accounts in some measure for the ineffectiveness of
      prevention programs targeted at 'high risk' communities such as hijras and MSM.
      Focusing on the local moral economy of respect and shame as one pathway of stigma
      and contagion, and in particular on the differences in constructions of respect
      and shame between hijras and the wider community of MSM, this paper points at one
      small way in which understanding how culture matters can ultimately address the
      ineffectiveness of prevention programs and redress the inequalities in health
      outcomes between the various margins and centers of power. 

PMID- 26873671
TI  - Deportability, Medicine, and the Law.
AB  - This paper explores the institutional and everyday conditions that define
      'deportability' as a lived experience at the social margin. Focusing on Germany
      as a paradigmatic case for the new immigration and deportation policies of the
      new Europe, it investigates state rationales through which certain bodies are
      produced as 'deportable' and takes a specific look at the role of medicine in
      this matter. The first part of the text traces a genealogy of various forms of
      medical intervention. Based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out from September
      2003 to April 2005 in an institutional setting in Frankfurt/Main, the main focus
      of the discussion is the situation of traumatized refugees and asylum seekers,
      for whom German asylum and immigration law reserves special conditions. The
      second part investigates how the issue of deportability is negotiated by Punjabis
      in Germany's Rhein-Main area. It can be discerned from both perspectives-state
      centred as well as community-centred-that the body of the migrant has become a
      locus of otherness and bearer of debts in relation to the state. And yet the
      margin acquires significantly different meanings when approached through an
      ethnography of migrant communities and localities, for it is here that, as a
      social context and particular form, the margin is both a lived reality and site
      of intervention. 

PMID- 26873672
TI  - Reviews.

PMID- 26873673
TI  - (1R,2S,6R)-Papayanal: a new male-specific volatile compound released by the guava
      weevil Conotrachelus psidii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
AB  - The guava weevil, Conotrachelus psidii is an aggressive pest of guava (Psidium
      guajava L.) that causes irreparable damages inside the fruit. The volatile
      compounds of male and female insects were separately collected by headspace solid
      phase microextraction or with dynamic headspace collection on a polymer sorbent,
      and comparatively analyzed by GC-MS. (1R,2S,6R)-2-Hydroxymethyl-2,6-dimethyl-3
      oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octane (papayanol), and (1R,2S,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-3
      oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octane-2-carbaldehyde (papayanal) were identified (ratio of 9:1,
      respectively) as male-specific guava weevil volatiles. Papayanal structure was
      confirmed by comparison of spectroscopic (EIMS) and chromatographic (retention
      time) data with those of the synthetic pure compound. The behavioral response of
      the above-mentioned compounds was studied in a Y-tube olfactometer bioassay, and
      their role as aggregation pheromone candidate components was suggested in this
      species. 

PMID- 26873675
TI  - Challenging the cervix: strategies to overcome the anatomic impediments to
      hysteroscopy: analysis of 31,052 office hysteroscopies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report our experience on 10,156 cases of cervical stenosis (CS)
      diagnosed at office hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING:
      Ambulatory clinics of diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy of two university
      teaching hospitals (Naples and Bari). PATIENT(S): A total of 31,052 patients
      undergoing office hysteroscopy. INTERVENTION(S): All of the paper and electronic
      reports of the office hysteroscopies performed from January 1996 to September
      2014 were reviewed. Hysteroscopies were classified as successful (i.e., when
      access to and visualization of the entire uterine cavity was possible during the
      same procedure), incomplete (i.e., when access to uterine cavity was possible,
      but the entire uterine cavity could not be examined), or failed (i.e., when
      access to uterine cavity was not possible). CS was classified on the basis of
      localization: stenosis of external cervical ostium (ECO; type I); stenosis of
      distal third of cervical channel and the internal cervical ostium (ICO; type II);
      stenosis of the ICO (type III), and combined stenosis of ECO and ICO (type IV).
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The success rate at overpassing CS (including both
      successful and incomplete hysteroscopies) was the primary outcome measure.
      Secondary outcome measures were frequency and localization of CS in fertile and
      postmenopausal women and the frequency of use of technical maneuvers and/or
      miniaturized mechanical or bipolar instruments to overcome them. RESULT(S): All
      hysteroscopies were performed with the use of a 5- or 4-mm rigid continuous-flow
      office operative hysteroscope by operators with different levels of expertise.
      The hysteroscopy technique used was standardized between the two centers and
      among all of the surgeons throughout the years. An access to the uterine cavity
      with a complete evaluation of the whole endometrial surface was possible in 93.9%
      of cases (29,152 patients). The main reasons of the 1,320 (4.3%) incomplete and
      580 (1.9%) failed hysteroscopies were pain and CS, respectively. CS was
      identified in 10,156 women (32.7% of all procedures) and was significantly more
      frequent in postmenopausal than in fertile women (70.1% vs. 29.9%), except for
      type I stenosis, which was more frequent in fertile than in postmenopausal women.
      Type IV CS (44.3%) was the most commonly detected. Overall, CS was managed
      successfully with minimal discomfort in 98.5% of cases with technical maneuvers
      and miniaturized mechanical and/or bipolar instruments. Adhesiolysis with the
      distal tip of the hysteroscope by rotating the scope on the endocamera was the
      significantly more used strategy to overpass all types of CS (39.8% of cases),
      generally used in combination with miniaturized operative instruments (79.2%).
      Bipolar electrodes were more used in cases of type I and type IV stenosis (39.7%)
      compared with the other types of CS. CONCLUSION(S): CS and pain represent the
      main reasons for failed hysteroscopy. Recent technical and technologic
      innovations, together with increased operator experience and optimal pain
      management, have made it possible to overcome even severe CS with the use of
      office hysterosocpy, thus significantly reducing the rate of failed procedures
      and the need for operating room and general anesthesia.

PMID- 26873674
TI  - Lenalidomide treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: the Mayo Clinic
      experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Published case series describe lenalidomide as an effective treatment
      of refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). OBJECTIVES: The present study
      aimed to further characterize lenalidomide use in the treatment of CLE. METHODS:
      A retrospective review of patients treated with lenalidomide for CLE from January
      1, 2000, to December 17, 2014, was conducted. RESULTS: Eight of the nine patients
      (89%) were women. Their median age at initiation of lenalidomide was 62 years
      (range: 41-86 years). Subtypes of CLE included discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
      (n = 6), lupus panniculitis (n = 2), and subacute CLE (n = 1). Before the
      initiation of lenalidomide, all patients had been previously treated
      unsuccessfully or were intolerant to at least one antimalarial and one
      immunosuppressive agent. With lenalidomide, five patients achieved a complete
      response (CR), two a partial response, and two had no response (lupus
      panniculitis). Time to initial response (dose range: 2.5-10.0 mg/d) varied from 2
      weeks to 3 months; the median time to CR in five patients was 3 months (range: 3
      6 months). The median duration of lenalidomide therapy was 12 months (range: 2-67
      months). The median duration of follow-up was 48 months (range: 20-103 months).
      Adverse effects included mild leukopenia; one patient had deep vein thrombosis of
      unclear etiology during a hospitalization. No patients developed or showed
      progression of systemic LE while receiving lenalidomide. CONCLUSIONS:
      Lenalidomide was effective for the treatment of CLE (particularly DLE) but not
      for the treatment of lupus panniculitis in this series.

PMID- 26873676
TI  - Single-molecule mass spectrometry.
AB  - In single-molecule mass spectrometry, the mass of each ion is measured
      individually; making it suitable for the analysis of very large, heterogeneous
      objects that cannot be analyzed by conventional means. A range of single-molecule
      mass spectrometry techniques has been developed, including time-of-flight with
      cryogenic detectors, a quadrupole ion trap with optical detection, single
      molecule Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, charge detection mass
      spectrometry, quadrupole ion traps coupled to charge detector plates, and
      nanomechanical oscillators. In addition to providing information on mass and
      heterogeneity, these techniques have been used to study impact craters from
      cosmic dust, monitor the assembly of viruses, elucidate the fluorescence dynamics
      of quantum dots, and much more. This review focuses on the merits of each of
      these technologies, their limitations, and their applications. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:715-733, 2017.

PMID- 26873677
TI  - Prophylactic neck dissection for low-risk differentiated thyroid cancers: Risk
      benefit analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The benefit of neck dissection is the subject of debate in
      differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). We analyze the risk-benefit of neck
      dissection for low-risk DTC without detectable lymph nodes. METHODS: We conducted
      a retrospective study from 1983 to 2003; which included 295 patients without
      detectable lymph nodes who were treated by thyroidectomy with (C+) or without (C
      ) neck dissection. All patients had iodine131 therapy. We compared the frequency
      of remission, disease progression, and permanent complications between groups.
      RESULTS: Two hundred twelve patients comprised the C+ group, and 83 patients the
      C- group. Respectively for C+ versus C-, remission rates were 92% versus 89.2% (p
      = .40), and progressive disease observed was 3.3% versus 7.2% (p = .10).
      Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 15.1% in C+ versus 3.6% in C- (p =
      .006). CONCLUSION: The risk-benefit analysis of neck dissection in patients with
      low-risk DTC shows no benefit in terms of complete remission or occurrence of
      progression. However, risk of complications seems to be higher in patients with
      neck dissection. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1091-1096, 2016.

PMID- 26873678
TI  - Women's fertility desires and contraceptive behavior in three peri-urban
      communities in sub Saharan Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fertility desires and contraceptive behavior often change over time.
      This study examined the influence of change in fertility desires on change in
      modern contraceptive use over time in three peri-urban communities in sub-Saharan
      Africa. METHODS: This multi-site study includes baseline and follow up data from
      3 sites in the Family Health and Wealth Study. Following a census in each site, a
      probability sample of at least 500 households was obtained. Generalized linear
      models were employed. RESULTS: Modern contraceptive use increased in Ipetumodu,
      Nigeria (29.4% to 36.7%), but declined slightly in Sebeta, Ethiopia (66.9% to
      61.3%) and Asawase, Ghana (12.6% to 10.8%). Across sites, at baseline and follow
      up, women who wanted no more children reported more contraceptive use, compared
      with those who wanted more children, and were more likely to shift to being
      contraceptive users in Ipetumodu [aOR(95% CI):1.55 (1.07,2.26)]. CONCLUSIONS:
      Women's fertility desires influenced their contraceptive behavior, although there
      were cross-site differences. Changing contraceptive demand and program factors
      will be important to enable peri-urban women to frame and act on their fertility
      desires.

PMID- 26873679
TI  - Impact of Environmental Enrichment Devices on NTP In Vivo Studies.
AB  - The goal of this study was to determine whether the use of nesting material or
      polycarbonate shelters as enrichment devices would have an impact on end points
      commonly measured during the conduct of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) 13
      week studies. The study design was consistent with the NTP 13-week toxicity
      studies. Harlan Sprague-Dawley (HSD) rats and their offspring and B6C3F1/N mice
      were assigned to control (unenriched) and enriched experimental groups. Body
      weight, food and water consumption, behavioral observations, fecal content,
      clinical pathology, gross pathology, organ weights, and histopathology were
      evaluated. Enriched male mice and male and female rats exhibited decreased feed
      intake without a subsequent decrease in body weight; this may have been the
      result of the nesting material reducing the effect of cold stress, thereby
      allowing for more efficient use of feed. There were statistical differences in
      some hematological parameters; however, these were not considered physiologically
      relevant since all values were within the normal range. Gross pathology and
      histopathological findings were background changes and were not considered
      enrichment-related. Nesting material and shelters were used frequently and
      consistently and allowed animals to display species-typical behavior. There was
      no significant impact on commonly measured end points in HSD rats and B6C3F1/N
      mice given enrichment devices. 

PMID- 26873680
TI  - Metabolic Syndrome in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome increases risk for atherosclerotic coronary artery
      disease, and its prevalence increases with increasing age and body mass index.
      Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are now living longer and accruing
      coronary artery disease risk factors. However, the prevalence of metabolic
      syndrome in ACHD patients is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a
      retrospective cohort study of ACHD patients at our center to quantify the
      prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an ACHD population. Using case-control
      matching, we constructed a comparable control group from a population-based
      sample of 150 104 adults. International Diabetes Federation criteria were used to
      define metabolic syndrome. We used logistic regression to compare the risk of
      metabolic syndrome across the resulting cohorts, which were composed of 448 ACHD
      patients and 448 controls matched by age and sex. Mean age of both groups was
      32.4+/-11.3 years, and 51.3% were female. Obesity was present in 16.1% of the
      ACHD patients and 16.7% of the controls. Metabolic syndrome was more common in
      ACHD patients than in controls (15.0% versus 7.4%; odds ratio 1.82, 95% CI 1.25
      2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that metabolic syndrome is more common among
      adults with congenital heart disease than in the general population. Thus,
      patients with congenital heart disease should be screened for metabolic syndrome
      and risk factors mitigated where possible to prevent atherosclerotic coronary
      artery disease. Preventive cardiology should be included during routine ACHD
      care.

PMID- 26873681
TI  - Effect of Visit-to-Visit Variation of Heart Rate and Systolic Blood Pressure on
      Outcomes in Chronic Systolic Heart Failure: Results From the Systolic Heart
      Failure Treatment With the If Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial (SHIFT) Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elevated resting heart rate (HR) and low systolic blood pressure
      (SBP) are related to poor outcomes in heart failure (HF). The association between
      visit-to-visit variation in SBP and HR and risk in HF is unknown. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: In Systolic Heart Failure Treatment with the If inhibitor ivabradine
      Trial (SHIFT) patients, we evaluated relationships between mean HR, mean SBP, and
      visit-to-visit variations (coefficient of variation [CV]=SD/mean*100%) in SBP and
      HR (SBP-CV and HR-CV, respectively) and primary composite endpoint
      (cardiovascular mortality or HF hospitalization), its components, all-cause
      mortality, and all-cause hospitalization. High HR and low SBP were closely
      associated with risk for primary endpoint, all-cause mortality, and HF
      hospitalization. The highest number of primary endpoint events occurred in the
      highest HR tertile (38.8% vs 16.4% lowest tertile; P<0.001). For HR-CV, patients
      at highest risk were those in the lowest tertile. Patients in the lowest thirds
      of mean SBP and SBP-CV had the highest risk. The combination of high HR and low
      HR-CV had an additive deleterious effect on risk, as did that of low SBP and low
      SBP-CV. Ivabradine reduced mean HR and increased HR-CV, and increased SBP and SBP
      CV slightly. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond high HR and low SBP, low HR-CV and low SBP-CV
      are predictors of cardiovascular outcomes with additive effects on risk in HF,
      but with an unknown effect size. Beyond HR reduction, ivabradine increases HR-CV.
      Low visit-to-visit variation of HR and SBP might signal risk of cardiovascular
      outcomes in systolic HF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL:
      http://www.isrctn.com/. Unique identifier: ISRCTN70429960.

PMID- 26873682
TI  - Are Changes in Heart Rate Variability in Middle-Aged and Older People Normative
      or Caused by Pathological Conditions? Findings From a Large Population-Based
      Longitudinal Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No study to date has investigated longitudinal trajectories of
      cardiac autonomic modulation changes with aging; therefore, we lack evidence
      showing whether these changes occur naturally or are secondary to disease or
      medication use. This study tested whether heart rate variability (HRV)
      trajectories from middle to older age are largely normative or caused by
      pathological changes with aging in a large prospective cohort. We further
      assessed whether HRV changes were modified by socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or
      habitual physical activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study involved 3176 men and
      1238 women initially aged 44 to 69 years (1997-1999) from the UK Whitehall II
      population-based cohort. We evaluated time- and frequency-domain HRV measures of
      short-term recordings at 3 time points over a 10-year period. Random mixed models
      with time-varying covariates were applied. Cross-sectionally, HRV measures were
      lower for men than for women, for participants with cardiometabolic conditions,
      and for participants reporting use of medications other than beta blockers.
      Longitudinally, HRV measures decreased significantly with aging in both sexes,
      with faster decline in younger age groups. HRV trajectories were not explained by
      increased prevalence of cardiometabolic problems and/or medication use. In women,
      cardiometabolic problems were associated with faster decline in the standard
      deviation of all intervals between R waves with normal-to-normal conduction, in
      low-frequency HRV, and in low-frequency HRV in normalized units. Socioeconomic
      status, ethnicity, and habitual physical activity did not have significant
      effects on HRV trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation showed a general
      pattern and timing of changes in indices of cardiac autonomic modulation from
      middle to older age. These changes seem likely to reflect the normal aging
      process rather than being secondary to cardiometabolic problems and medication
      use.

PMID- 26873684
TI  - Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Patients With Hypertrophic
      Cardiomyopathy: An Initial Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) has
      been developed to avert risks associated with transvenous defibrillator leads.
      The technology is attractive for younger patients, such as those with
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, there are limited data on S-ICD use
      in HCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: HCM patients identified at risk for sudden death
      were considered for S-ICD implantation. Patients were screened for potential
      oversensing by surface electrocardiography (ECG). At implant, defibrillation
      threshold (DFT) testing was performed at 65, 50, and 35 joules (J). Twenty-seven
      patients were considered for S-ICD implantation, and after screening, 23 (85%)
      remained eligible. The presence of a bundle branch block was associated with
      screening failure, whereas elevated body mass index (BMI) showed a trend toward
      association. One patient passed screening at rest, but failed with an ECG
      obtained after exercise. At implant, the S-ICD terminated ventricular
      fibrillation (VF) with a 65J shock in all 15 implanted patients and a 50J shock
      was successful in 12 of 15. A 35J shock terminated VF in 10 of 12 patients. DFT
      failure at 50 J was associated with a higher BMI. There were no appropriate
      shocks after a median follow-up of 17.5 (3-35) months, and 1 patient received an
      inappropriate shock attributable to a temporary reduction in QRS amplitude while
      bending forward, resulting in oversensing, despite successful screening.
      CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk HCM cohort without a pacing indication referred for
      consideration of an ICD, the majority were eligible for S-ICD. The S-ICD is
      effective at recognizing and terminating VF at implant with a wide safety margin.

PMID- 26873683
TI  - Midlife Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Late-Life Unrecognized and Recognized
      Myocardial Infarction Detect by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: ICELAND-MI, the AGES
      Reykjavik Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Associations of atherosclerosis risk factors with unrecognized
      myocardial infarction (UMI) are unclear. We investigated associations of midlife
      risk factors with UMI and recognized MI (RMI) detected 31 years later by cardiac
      magnetic resonance. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Reykjavik Study (1967-1991)
      collected serial risk factors in subjects, mean (SD) age 48 (7) years. In ICELAND
      MI (2004-2007), 936 survivors (76 (5) years) were evaluated by cardiac magnetic
      resonance. Analysis included logistic regression and random effects modeling.
      Comparisons are relative to subjects without MI. At baseline midlife evaluation,
      a modified Framingham risk score was significantly higher in RMI and in UMI
      versus no MI (7.4 (6.3)%; 7.1 (6.2)% versus 5.4 (5.8)%, P<0.001). RMI and UMI
      were more frequent in men (65%, 64% versus 43%; P<0.0001). Baseline systolic and
      diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in UMI (138 (17) mm Hg versus
      133 (17) mm Hg; P<0.006; 87 (10) mm Hg versus 84 (10) mm Hg; P<0.02). Diastolic
      BP was significantly higher in RMI (88 (10) mm Hg versus 84 (10) mm Hg; P<0.02).
      Cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in RMI (6.7 (1.1) mmol/L
      versus 6.2 (1.1) mmol/L; P=0.0005; and 1.4 (0.7) mmol/L versus 1.1 (0.7) mmol/L;
      P<0.003). Cholesterol trended higher in UMI (P=0.08). Serial midlife systolic BP
      was significantly higher in UMI versus no MI (beta [SE] = 2.69 [1.28] mm Hg,
      P=0.04). Serial systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in RMI versus
      no MI (4.12 [1.60] mm Hg, P=0.01 and 2.05 [0.91] mm Hg, P=0.03) as were
      cholesterol (0.43 [0.11] mmol/L, P=0.0001) and triglycerides (0.3 [0.06] mmol/L,
      P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Midlife vascular risk factors are associated with UMI and
      RMI detected by cardiac magnetic resonance 31 years later. Systolic blood
      pressure was the most significant modifiable risk factor associated with later
      UMI.

PMID- 26873685
TI  - Rates of Atrial Fibrillation in Black Versus White Patients With Pacemakers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Black US residents experience higher rates of ischemic stroke than
      white residents but have lower rates of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation
      (AF), a strong risk factor for stroke. It is unclear whether black persons truly
      have less AF or simply more undiagnosed AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We obtained
      administrative claims data from state health agencies regarding all emergency
      department visits and hospitalizations in California, Florida, and New York. We
      identified a cohort of patients with pacemakers, the regular interrogation of
      which reduces the likelihood of undiagnosed AF. We compared rates of documented
      AF or atrial flutter at follow-up visits using Kaplan-Meier survival statistics
      and Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic characteristics and
      vascular risk factors. We identified 10 393 black and 91 380 white patients
      without documented AF or atrial flutter before or at the index visit for
      pacemaker implantation. During 3.7 (+/-1.8) years of follow-up, black patients
      had a significantly lower rate of AF (21.4%; 95% CI 19.8-23.2) than white
      patients (25.5%; 95% CI 24.9-26.0). After adjustment for demographic
      characteristics and comorbidities, black patients had a lower hazard of AF
      (hazard ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.86-0.96), a higher hazard of atrial flutter (hazard
      ratio 1.29; 95% CI 1.11-1.49), and a lower hazard of the composite of AF or
      atrial flutter (hazard ratio 0.94; 95% CI 0.88-99). CONCLUSIONS: In a population
      based sample of patients with pacemakers, black patients had a lower rate of AF
      compared with white patients. These findings indicate that the persistent racial
      disparities in rates of ischemic stroke are likely to be related to factors other
      than undiagnosed AF.

PMID- 26873686
TI  - Impact of Nitrate Use on Survival in Acute Heart Failure: A Propensity-Matched
      Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence that the use of nitrates in acute
      decompensated heart failure early after presentation to a hospital can improve
      clinical outcomes. We aimed to determine whether early nitrate exposure is
      associated with improved survival in a large retrospective cohort study. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: We examined 11 078 acute decompensated heart failure patients who
      presented to emergency departments in Ontario, Canada, between 2004 and 2007, in
      the Enhanced Feedback For Effective Cardiac Treatment and the Emergency Heart
      failure Mortality Risk Grade studies. In propensity-matched analyses, we examined
      the effect of nitrate administration in the acute emergency department setting
      for its impact on death at 7, 30, and 365 days. In propensity-matched analyses,
      we found no difference in survival between those who received nitrates in the
      emergency department and the non-nitrate comparator group. Hazard ratios for
      mortality were 0.76 (95% CI; 0.51, 1.12) over 7 days, 0.97 (95% CI; 0.77, 1.21)
      over 30 days, and 0.91 (95% CI; 0.82, 1.02) over 1 year of follow-up. There was
      no significant difference in survival or hospital length of stay between nitrate
      and non-nitrate controls in extended follow-up. There was also no significant
      effect of nitrates in subgroups stratified by presence of chest pain, troponin
      elevation, chronic nitrate use, and known coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS:
      In acute decompensated heart failure, use of nitrates acutely in the emergency
      department setting was not associated with improvement in short-term or near-term
      survival. Our study does not support generalized use of nitrates when the primary
      goal of therapy is to reduce mortality.

PMID- 26873687
TI  - Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Therapy in Women
      Data From a Multicenter French Registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are limited data describing sex specificities regarding
      implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in the real-world European
      setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a large multicenter cohort of consecutive
      patients referred for ICD implantation for primary prevention (2002-2012), in
      ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, we examined the sex differences in
      subjects' characteristics and outcomes. Of 5539 patients, only 837 (15.1%) were
      women and 53.8% received cardiac resynchronization therapy. Compared to men,
      women presented a significantly higher proportion of nonischemic cardiomyopathy
      (60.2% versus 36.2%, P<0.001), wider QRS complex width (QRS >120 ms: 74.6% versus
      68.5%, P=0.003), higher New York Heart Association functional class (>=III in
      54.2%? versus 47.8%?, P=0.014), and lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation
      (18.7% versus 24.9%, P<0.001). During a 16 786 patient-years follow-up, overall,
      fewer appropriate therapies were observed in women (hazard ratio=0.59, 95% CI
      0.45-0.76; P<0.001). By contrast, no sex-specific interaction was observed for
      inappropriate shocks (odds ratio ?=0.84, 95% CI 0.50-1.39, P=0.492), early
      complications (odds ratio=1.00, 95% CI 0.75-1.32, P=0.992), and all-cause
      mortality (hazard ratio=0.87 95% CI 0.66-1.15, P=0.324). Analysis of sex-by-
      cardiac resynchronization therapy interaction shows than female cardiac
      resynchronization therapy recipients experienced fewer appropriate therapies than
      men (hazard ratio=0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.77; P<0.001) and lower mortality (hazard
      ratio=0.68, 95% CI 0.47-0.97; P=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: In our real-life registry,
      women account for the minority of ICD recipients and presented with a different
      clinical profile. Whereas female cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients had
      a lower incidence of appropriate ICD therapies and all-cause death than their
      male counterparts, the observed rates of inappropriate shocks and early
      complications in all ICD recipients were comparable. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT01992458.

PMID- 26873688
TI  - Incidence and Costs Related to Lead Damage Occurring Within the First Year After
      a Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Replacement Procedure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inadvertent damage to leads for transvenous pacemakers, implantable
      cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators
      is an important complication associated with generator-replacement procedures. We
      sought to estimate the incidence and costs associated with transvenous lead
      damage following cardiac implantable electronic device replacement. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Using the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Research
      Database, we identified health care claims between 2009 and 2013 for lead damage
      following generator replacement. Patients were identified by claims with a
      procedure code for cardiac implantable electronic device replacement and then
      evaluated for 1 year. All follow-up visits for lead damage were identified, and
      incidence, risk factors, and hospitalization costs were determined. A total of 22
      557 patients with pacemakers, 20 632 with implantable cardioverter
      defibrillators, and 2063 with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators
      met selection criteria. Incidence of lead damage was 0.46% for pacemaker
      replacement, 1.27% for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator replacement, and
      1.94% for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator replacement procedures
      (P<0.001). After adjusting for patient characteristics, patients with implantable
      cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators
      demonstrated risk of lead damage that was, respectively, double (hazard ratio
      2.00, 95% CI 1.57-2.55) and >2.5 times (hazard ratio 2.58, 95% CI 1.73-3.83) that
      of patients with pacemakers. Lead revision or repair procedures were associated
      with increased inpatient hospitalization costs (mean $19 959 for pacemaker, $24
      885 for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and $46 229 for cardiac
      resynchronization therapy defibrillator; P=0.048, Kruskal-Wallis test).
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish the first objective assessment of the
      incidence, risk factors, and economic burden of lead damage following cardiac
      implantable electronic device replacement in the United States. New care
      algorithms are warranted to avoid these events, which impose substantial burdens
      on patients, physicians, and payors.

PMID- 26873689
TI  - Percutaneous Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Closure in Very Preterm Infants:
      Feasibility and Complications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in term
      neonates is established, but data regarding outcomes in infants born very preterm
      (<32 weeks of gestation) are minimal, and no published criteria exist
      establishing a minimal weight of 4 kg as a suitable cutoff. We sought to analyze
      outcomes of percutaneous PDA occlusion in infants born very preterm and referred
      for PDA closure at weights <4 kg. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis
      (January 2005-January 2014) was done at a single pediatric center. Procedural
      successes and adverse events were recorded. Markers of respiratory status (need
      for mechanical ventilation) were determined, with comparisons made before and
      after catheterization. A total of 52 very preterm infants with a median
      procedural weight of 2.9 kg (range 1.2-3.9 kg) underwent attempted PDA closure.
      Twenty-five percent (13/52) of infants were <2.5 kg. Successful device placement
      was achieved in 46/52 (88%) of infants. An adverse event occurred in 33% of
      cases, with an acute arterial injury the most common complication. We observed no
      association between weight at time of procedure and the risk of an adverse event.
      No deaths were attributable to the PDA closure. Compared to precatheterization
      trends, percutaneous PDA closure resulted in improved respiratory status,
      including less exposure to mechanical ventilation (mixed effects logistic model,
      P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among infants born very preterm, percutaneous PDA closure
      at weights <4 kg is generally safe and may improve respiratory health, but risk
      of arterial injury is noteworthy. Randomized clinical trials are needed to assess
      clinically relevant differences in outcomes following percutaneous PDA closure
      versus alternative (surgical ligation) management strategies.

PMID- 26873691
TI  - Dietary alpha-Linolenic Acid, Marine omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Mortality in a
      Population With High Fish Consumption: Findings From the PREvencion con DIeta
      MEDiterranea (PREDIMED) Study.

PMID- 26873690
TI  - Pacemakers as Atrial Fibrillation Detectors: Finding Racial Differences and
      Opportunities for Preventing Stroke.

PMID- 26873692
TI  - ABCA1-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux Capacity to Cerebrospinal Fluid Is Reduced in
      Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Animal and human studies indicate that ABCA1-mediated cholesterol
      transport is important in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesized that the
      efficiency of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to facilitate ABCA1-mediated cholesterol
      efflux would be reduced in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or
      AD compared with cognitively healthy participants. METHODS AND RESULTS: CSF was
      collected from a cross-sectional study of cognitively healthy participants (n=47)
      and participants with MCI (n=35) or probable AD (n=26).The capacity of CSF to
      mediate cholesterol transport was assessed using a BHK cell line that can be
      induced to express the ABCA1 transporter. ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux
      capacity was 30% less in participants with MCI or AD compared with cognitively
      healthy participants (P<0.001 for both). Cholesterol efflux capacity correlated
      with CSF cholesterol content (r=0.37, P<0.001). CSF phosphatidylcholine decreased
      in participants with MCI and AD compared with cognitively healthy participants
      (9% less in MCI and 27% less in AD compared with cognitively healthy
      participants, P=0.01) and correlated with CSF efflux capacity (r=0.3, P=0.001).
      CSF sphingomyelin also correlated with the efflux capacity (r=0.24, P=0.02).
      Concentrations of CSF apoA-I and apoE did not significantly correlate with
      measures of efflux capacity. CONCLUSIONS: In people with MCI and AD, the capacity
      of CSF to facilitate ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux is impaired. This lesser
      cholesterol efflux in MCI supports a pathophysiological role for ABCA1-mediated
      cholesterol transport in early neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26873693
TI  - Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication in Treatment-Resistant Hypertension
      Undergoing Renal Denervation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adherence to medication has been repeatedly proposed to represent a
      major cause of treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH); however, treatment
      decisions such as treating TRH with renal denervation depend on accurate judgment
      of adherence. We carefully analyzed adherence rates to medication before and
      after renal denervation and its effect on blood pressure (BP) control. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: Eighty patients with TRH were included in 2 prospective
      observational studies that assessed the difference of potential antihypertensive
      and nephroprotective effects of renal denervation. To compare prescribed with
      actual medication intake (representing a measure of adherence), we analyzed urine
      samples collected at baseline and at 6 months after renal denervation for
      antihypertensive compounds or metabolites (by liquid chromatography-mass
      spectrometry). In addition to office BP, 24-hour ambulatory BP and central
      hemodynamics (central systolic pressure, central pulse pressure) were assessed.
      Informed consent for analyses of urine metabolites was obtained from 79 of 80
      patients. Actual intake of all antihypertensive drugs was detected at baseline
      and at 6 months after renal denervation in 44 (56%) and 52 (66%) patients,
      respectively; 1 drug was missing in 22 (28%) and 17 (22%) patients, respectively,
      and >=2 drugs were missing in 13 (16%) and 10 (13%) patients, respectively. At
      baseline, 24-hour ambulatory BP (P=0.049) and central systolic BP (P=0.012) were
      higher in nonadherent patients. Adherence did not significantly change overall
      (McNemar-Bowker test, P=0.362). An increase in adherence was observed in 21
      patients, and a decrease was observed in 11 patients. The decrease in 24-hour
      ambulatory BP was not different in those with stable adherence 6 months after
      renal denervation (n=41, -7+/-13 mm Hg) compared with those with increased
      adherence (n=21, -10+/-13 mm Hg) and decreased adherence (n=11, -7+/-14 mm Hg)
      (P>0.20). Our study is limited by the relatively small sample size and
      potentially by the specific health environment of our university center (Northern
      Bavaria, Germany). CONCLUSIONS: Nonadherence to medication among patients with
      TRH was relatively low: ~1 of 6 patients with TRH did not take >=2 of the
      prescribed drugs. Adherence pattern did not change significantly after renal
      denervation and had no impact on the overall observed BP changes, supporting the
      concept that renal denervation is an effective treatment in patients with TRH.
      CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique
      identifiers: NCT00888433, NCT01442883 and NCT01687725.

PMID- 26873694
TI  - Effects of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts on microvessel formation
      in endometrial cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) and
      microvascular status both play a critical role in cancer progression. However,
      the crosstalk between RAGE and microvascular formation in endometrial cancer
      remains largely unknown. METHODS: RAGE expression and microvessel density were
      examined in 20 cases of normal endometrial tissue, 37 cases of well
      differentiated endometrial cancer tissue, and 35 cases of poorly-differentiated
      endometrial cancer tissue. Regression analysis was used to examine the
      relationship between RAGE and microvessel density. The knockdown of RAGE was
      achieved using a small interfering RNA in HEC-1A endometrial cancer cells. A
      xenografted tumour model was used to evaluate RAGE-mediated microvascular
      formation and proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. RESULTS: It was shown
      that (i) RAGE expression gradually increased in normal endometrium, well
      differentiated endometrial cancer, and poorly-differentiated endometrial cancer,
      respectively; (ii) a positive correlation existed between RAGE and microvessel
      density in human endometrial cancer samples; (iii) RAGE knockdown was effective
      in decreasing microvessel formation in xenografted tumour models; and (iv) RAGE
      knockdown can significantly inhibit the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells
      in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that RAGE may be a potential trigger
      in microvascular formation and proliferation in the development of endometrial
      cancer.

PMID- 26873696
TI  - Halomonas urumqiensis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a
      saline-alkaline lake.
AB  - A moderately halophilic, aerobic bacterium, strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T, belonging to the
      genus Halomonas, was isolated from a saline-alkaline lake in the Xinjiang Uyghur
      Autonomous Region of China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene
      sequences and a multilocus sequence analysis using the 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD
      genes demonstrated that strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T represents a member of the genus
      Halomonas. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the closest
      relatives were Halomonas campaniensis 5AGT, H. fontilapidosi 5CRT, H. korlensis
      XK1T and H. sinaiensis ALO SharmT, with similarities of 96.2-97.2 %. DNA-DNA
      hybridization with H. korlensis CGMCC 1.6981T (the nearest phylogenetic
      neighbour) and H. campaniensis DSM 15293T (the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence
      similarity) showed relatedness values of 53 and 38 %, respectively, demonstrating
      the separateness of the three taxa. The bacterium stained Gram-negative and the
      cells were motile and rod-shaped. The strain formed creamy-white colonies and
      grew under optimal conditions of 1.42 M Na+ (range 0.22-4.32 M Na+), pH 8.0-8.5
      (range pH 6.0-10.0) and 39  degrees C (range 4-43  degrees C). The dominant fatty
      acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1omega7c/C18 : 1omega6c; 36.6 %), C16 : 0
      (25.9 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1omega7c/C16 : 1omega6c; 21.2 %). The
      dominant polar lipids were two unknown phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine
      and phosphatidylglycerol, and the main respiratory quinones were ubiquinone 9 (Q
      9; 89 %) and ubiquinone 8 (Q-8; 10 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 61.7 +/-
      0.8 mol% (Tm). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic
      features, strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T is proposed to represent a novel species, Halomonas
      urumqiensis sp. nov., within the genus Halomonas of the family Halomonadaceae.
      The type strain is BZ-SZ-XJ27T ( = JCM 30202T = CGMCC 1.12917T). 

PMID- 26873695
TI  - Surgically modifiable factors measured by computer-navigation together with
      patient-specific factors predict knee society score after total knee
      arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose was to investigate whether patient-specific factors (PSF)
      and surgically modifiable factors (SMF), measured by means of a computer-assisted
      navigation system, can predict the Knee Society Scores (KSS) after total knee
      arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Data from 99 patients collected during a randomized
      clinical trial were used for this secondary data analysis. The KSS scores of the
      patients were measured preoperatively and at 4-years follow-up. Multiple
      regression analyses were performed to investigate which combination of variables
      would be the best to predict the 4-years KSS scores. RESULTS: When considering
      SMF alone the combination of four of them significantly predicted the 4-years KSS
      F score (p = 0.009), explaining 18 % of its variation. When considering only PSF
      the combination of age and body weight significantly predicted the 4-years KSS-F
      (p = 0.008), explaining 11 % of its variation. When considering both groups of
      predictors simultaneously the combination of three PSF and two SMF significantly
      predicted the 4-years KSS-F (p = 0.007), explaining 20 % of its variation.
      CONCLUSIONS: Younger age, better preoperative KSS-F scores and lower BMI before
      surgery, a positive tibial component slope and small changes in femoral offset
      were predictors of better KSS-F scores at 4-years.

PMID- 26873697
TI  - Recent advances in actinorhizal symbiosis signaling.
AB  - Nitrogen and phosphorus availability are frequent limiting factors in plant
      growth and development. Certain bacteria and fungi form root endosymbiotic
      relationships with plants enabling them to exploit atmospheric nitrogen and soil
      phosphorus. The relationships between bacteria and plants include nitrogen-fixing
      Gram-negative proteobacteria called rhizobia that are able to interact with most
      leguminous plants (Fabaceae) but also with the non-legume Parasponia
      (Cannabaceae), and actinobacteria Frankia, which are able to interact with about
      260 species collectively called actinorhizal plants. Fungi involved in the
      relationship with plants include Glomeromycota that form an arbuscular
      mycorrhizal (AM) association intracellularly within the roots of more than 80% of
      land plants. Increasing numbers of reports suggest that the rhizobial association
      with legumes has recycled part of the ancestral program used by most plants to
      interact with AM fungi. This review focuses on the most recent progress made in
      plant genetic control of root nodulation that occurs in non-legume actinorhizal
      plant species.

PMID- 26873698
TI  - A residue substitution in the plastid ribosomal protein L12/AL1 produces
      defective plastid ribosome and causes early seedling lethality in rice.
AB  - The plastid ribosome is essential for chloroplast biogenesis as well as seedling
      formation. As the plastid ribosome closely resembles the prokaryotic 70S
      ribosome, many plastid ribosomal proteins (PRPs) have been identified in higher
      plants. However, their assembly in the chloroplast ribosome in rice remains
      unclear. In the present study, we identified a novel rice mutant, albino lethal 1
      (al1), from a chromosome segment substitution line population. The al1 mutant
      displayed an albino phenotype at the seedling stage and did not survive past the
      three-leaf stage. No other apparent differences in plant morphology were observed
      in the al1 mutant. The albino phenotype of the al1 mutant was associated with
      decreased chlorophyll content and abnormal chloroplast morphology. Using fine
      mapping, AL1 was shown to encode the PRPL12, a protein localized in the
      chloroplasts of rice, and a spontaneous single-nucleotide mutation (C/T),
      resulting in a residue substitution from leucine in AL1 to phenylalanine in al1,
      was found to be responsible for the early seedling lethality. This point mutation
      is located at the L10 interface feature of the L12/AL1 protein. Yeast two-hybrid
      analysis showed that there was no physical interaction between al1 and PRPL10. In
      addition, the mutation had little effect on the transcript abundance of al1, but
      had a remarkable effect on the protein abundance of al1 and transcript abundance
      of chloroplast biogenesis-related and photosynthesis-related genes. These results
      provide a first glimpse into the molecular details of L12's function in rice.

PMID- 26873699
TI  - Differential growth responses of Brachypodium distachyon genotypes to inoculation
      with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.
AB  - Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can associate and enhance the growth
      of important crop grasses. However, in most cases, the molecular mechanisms
      responsible for growth promotion are not known. Such research could benefit by
      the adoption of a grass model species that showed a positive response to
      bacterial inoculation and was amenable to genetic and molecular research methods.
      In this work we inoculated different genotypes of the model grass Brachypodium
      distachyon with two, well-characterized PGPR bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense
      and Herbaspirillum seropedicae, and evaluated the growth response. Plants were
      grown in soil under no nitrogen or with low nitrogen (i.e., 0.5 mM KNO3). A
      variety of growth parameters (e.g., shoot height, root length, number of lateral
      roots, fresh and dry weight) were measured 35 days after inoculation. The data
      indicate that plant genotype plays a very important role in determining the plant
      response to PGPR inoculation. A positive growth response was observed with only
      four genotypes grown under no nitrogen and three genotypes tested under low
      nitrogen. However, in contrast, relatively good root colonization was seen with
      most genotypes, as measured by drop plate counting and direct, microscopic
      examination of roots. In particular, the endophytic bacteria H. seropedicae
      showed strong epiphytic and endophytic colonization of roots. 

PMID- 26873701
TI  - Erratum to: Variations in Performance of Mental Health Providers in the English
      NHS: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Readmission Rates and Length-of
      Stay.

PMID- 26873700
TI  - Fake anti-malarials: start with the facts.
AB  - This meeting report presents the key findings and discussion points of a 1-day
      meeting entitled 'Fake anti-malarials: start with the facts' held on 28th May
      2015, in Geneva, Switzerland, to disseminate the findings of the artemisinin
      combination therapy consortium's drug quality programme. The teams purchased over
      10,000 samples, using representative sampling approaches, from six malaria
      endemic countries: Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria,
      Rwanda and Tanzania. Laboratory analyses of these samples showed that falsified
      anti-malarials (<8 %) were found in just two of the countries, whilst substandard
      artemisinin-based combinations were present in all six countries and, artemisinin
      based monotherapy tablets are still available in some places despite the fact
      that the WHO has urged regulatory authorities in malaria-endemic countries to
      take measures to halt the production and marketing of these oral monotherapies
      since 2007. This report summarizes the presentations that reviewed the public
      health impact of falsified and substandard drugs, sampling strategies, techniques
      for drug quality analysis, approaches to strengthen health systems capacity for
      the surveillance of drug quality, and the ensuing discussion points from the
      dissemination meeting.

PMID- 26873702
TI  - [Development of serous retinopathy during therapy of a metastatic cutaneous
      melanoma].
AB  - Inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway have
      decisively improved the prognosis of metastatic cutaneous melanoma in patients
      with an activating mutation in position V600 of the BRAF gene. We report on a
      patient who was regularly examined in our clinic while participating in a
      randomized blinded clinical trial. The aim of this trial was to examine the
      effectiveness and tolerability of a combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib
      and the MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor trametinib compared with a monotherapy with
      dabrafenib (plus placebo). During therapy the patient developed a diffuse
      neuroretinal detachment which could not be completely reversed after
      discontinuation of the study medication.

PMID- 26873703
TI  - Habenula volume increases with disease severity in unmedicated major depressive
      disorder as revealed by 7T MRI.
AB  - The habenula is a paired epithalamic structure involved in the pathogenesis of
      major depressive disorder (MDD). Evidence comes from its impact on the regulation
      of serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons, the role in emotional processing and
      studies on animal models of depression. The present study investigated habenula
      volumes in 20 unmedicated and 20 medicated MDD patients and 20 healthy controls
      for the first time by applying a triplanar segmentation algorithm on 7 Tesla
      magnetic resonance (MR) whole-brain T1 maps. The hypothesis of a right-side
      decrease of habenula volumes in the MDD patients was tested, and the relationship
      between volumetric abnormalities and disease severity was exploratively
      investigated. Absolute and relative total and hemispheric habenula volumes did
      not differ significantly between the three groups. In the patients with short
      duration of disease for which medication effects could be ruled out, significant
      correlations were found between bilateral habenula volumes and HAMD-17- and BDI
      II-related severities. In the medicated patients, this positive relationship
      disappeared. Our findings suggest an involvement of habenula pathology in the
      beginning of MDD, while general effects independent of severity or stage of
      disease did not occur. Our findings warrant future combined tractographic and
      functional investigation using ultra-high-resolution in vivo MR imaging.

PMID- 26873705
TI  - Heterologous production of the stain solving peptidase PPP1 from Pleurotus
      pulmonarius.
AB  - A novel stain solving subtilisin-like peptidase (PPP1) was identified from the
      culture supernatant of the agaricomycete Pleurotus pulmonarius. It was purified
      to homogeneity using a sequence of preparative isoelectric focusing, anion
      exchange and size exclusion chromatography. Peptides were identified by ab initio
      sequencing (nLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), characterizing the enzyme as a member of the
      subtilase family (EC 3.4.21.X). An expression system was established featuring
      the pPIC9K vector, an alternative Kozak sequence, the codon optimized gene ppp1
      gene without the native signal sequence with C-terminal hexa-histidine tag, and
      Pichia pastoris GS115 as expression host. Intracellular active enzyme was
      obtained from cultivations in shake flasks and in a five liter bioreactor. With
      reaction optima of 40  degrees C and a pH > 8.5, considerable bleaching of pre
      stained fabrics (blood, milk and India ink), and the possibility of larger-scale
      production, the heterologous enzyme is well suitable for detergent applications,
      especially at lower temperatures as part of a more energy- and cost-efficient
      washing process. Showing little sequence similarity to other subtilases, this
      unique peptidase is the first subtilisin-like peptidase from Basidiomycota, which
      has been functionally produced in Pichia pastoris.

PMID- 26873704
TI  - Synteny and comparative analysis of miRNA retention, conservation, and structure
      across Brassicaceae reveals lineage- and sub-genome-specific changes.
AB  - The recent availability of genome sequences together with syntenic block
      information for Brassicaceae offers an opportunity to study microRNA (miRNA)
      evolution across this family. We employed a synteny-based comparative genomics
      strategy to unambiguously identify miRNA homologs from the genome sequence of
      members of Brassicaceae. Such an analysis of miRNA across Brassicaceae allowed us
      to classify miRNAs as conserved, lineage-, karyotype- and sub-genome-specific.
      The differential loss of miRNA from sub-genomes in polyploid genomes of Brassica
      rapa and Brassica oleracea shows that miRNA also follows the rules of gene
      fractionation as observed in the case of protein-coding genes. The study of
      mature and miR* region of precursors revealed instances of in-dels and SNPs which
      reflect the evolutionary history of the genomes. High level of conservation in
      miR* regions in some cases points to their functional relevance which needs to be
      further investigated. We further show that sequence and length variability in
      precursor sequences can affect the free energy and foldback structure of miRNA
      which may ultimately affect their biogenesis and expression in the biological
      system. 

PMID- 26873706
TI  - Specific light uptake rates can enhance astaxanthin productivity in Haematococcus
      lacustris.
AB  - Lumostatic operation was applied for efficient astaxanthin production in
      autotrophic Haematococcus lacustris cultures using 0.4-L bubble column
      photobioreactors. The lumostatic operation in this study was performed with three
      different specific light uptake rates (q(e)) based on cell concentration, cell
      projection area, and fresh weight as one-, two- and three-dimensional
      characteristics values, respectively. The q(e) value from the cell concentration
      (q(e1D)) obtained was 13.5 * 10-8 MUE cell-1 s-1, and the maximum astaxanthin
      concentration was increased to 150 % compared to that of a control with constant
      light intensity. The other optimum q e values by cell projection area (q(e2D))
      and fresh weight (q( e3D)) were determined to be 195 MUE m-2 s-1 and 10.5 MUE g-1
      s-1 for astaxanthin production, respectively. The maximum astaxanthin production
      from the lumostatic cultures using the parameters controlled by cell projection
      area (2D) and fresh weight (3D) also increased by 36 and 22% over that of the
      controls, respectively. When comparing the optimal q e values among the three
      different types, the lumostatic cultures using q(e) based on fresh weight showed
      the highest astaxanthin productivity (22.8 mg L-1 day-1), which was a higher
      level than previously reported. The lumostatic operations reported here
      demonstrated that more efficient and effective astaxanthin production was
      obtained by H. lacustris than providing a constant light intensity, regardless of
      which parameter is used to calculate the specific light uptake rate.

PMID- 26873707
TI  - Novel Vasoregulatory Aspects of Hereditary Angioedema: the Role of Arginine
      Vasopressin, Adrenomedullin and Endothelin-1.
AB  - The elevation of bradykinin (BK) level during attacks of hereditary angioedema
      due to C1-Inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is well known. We previously
      demonstrated that endothelin-1 (ET-1) level also increases during C1-INH-HAE
      attacks. Although BK and ET-1 are both potent vasoactive peptides, the
      vasoregulatory aspect of the pathomechanism of C1-INH-HAE has not yet been
      investigated. Hence we studied the levels of vasoactive peptides in controls and
      in C1-INH-HAE patients, as well as evaluated their changes during C1-INH-HAE
      attacks. The levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP), adrenomedullin (ADM) and ET-1
      were measured in the plasma of 100 C1-INH-HAE patients in inter-attack periods
      and of 111 control subjects, using BRAHMS Kryptor technologies. In 18 of the 100
      C1-INH-HAE patients, the levels of vasoactive peptides were compared in blood
      samples obtained during attacks, or in inter-attack periods. AVP, ADM and ET-1
      levels were similar in inter-attack samples from C1-INH-HAE patients and in the
      samples of controls, although cardiovascular risk has an effect on the levels of
      vasoactive peptides in both groups. The levels of all three vasoactive peptides
      increased during C1-INH-HAE attacks. Moreover, the levels of ET-1 and ADM as well
      as their changes during attacks were significantly correlated. This study
      demonstrated that vascular regulation by vasoactive peptides is affected during
      C1-INH-HAE attacks. Our results suggest that the cooperation of several
      vasoactive peptides may be necessary to counterbalance the actions of excess BK,
      and to terminate the attacks. This may reveal a novel pathophysiological aspect
      of C1-INH-HAE. 

PMID- 26873709
TI  - Margaret McCartney: Pity the NHS--Jeremy Hunt has chosen the nuclear option.

PMID- 26873708
TI  - Life with a Primary Immune Deficiency: a Systematic Synthesis of the Literature
      and Proposed Research Agenda.
AB  - PURPOSE: The clinical immunology literature is punctuated with research on
      psychosocial dimensions of illness. Studies investigating the lived experiences
      and stated needs of patients with primary immune deficiencies and their families
      are essential to improving clinical management and determining the research
      questions that matter to patients and other stakeholders. Yet, to move the field
      forward, a systematic review of literature and proposed agenda is needed.
      METHODS: A systematic review was conducted via PubMed and Scopus to include
      original research on psychological, social, or behavioral aspects of primary
      immune deficiencies published between 1999 and 2015. A Title/Abstract keyword
      search was conducted, 317 candidate article abstracts were manually reviewed, and
      forward/backward reference searches were completed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies
      met inclusion criteria. These illuminate the complex psychological, social, and
      emotional experiences of primary immune deficiency. Themes included the potential
      for negative psychosocial impact from disease; adaptation over time; the multi
      dimensional assessments of quality of life; familial impact; the important roles
      of hope, developing a sense of control, social support; and addressing
      anxiety/depression in our patients and their families. Methodological
      considerations and areas for improvement are discussed. CONCLUSION: We propose
      the research agenda focus on study creativity and rigor, with improved engagement
      with existing literature and critical study design (e.g., methodology with
      adequate statistical power, careful variable selection, etc.). This review
      highlights opportunities to advance psychosocial research and bring a brighter
      future to clinicians, researchers, and families affected by primary immune
      deficiency.

PMID- 26873710
TI  - Biomechanical evaluation of medial patello-femoral ligament reconstruction:
      comparison between a double-bundle converging tunnels technique versus a single
      bundle technique.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several MPFL reconstructions are commonly performed for recurrent
      patellar dislocation, but misleading data are currently available in the
      literature on the ability of the different techniques to re-create a functioning
      ligament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we showed the biomechanical
      properties of two different procedures for MPFL reconstruction using a natural
      orientation during uniaxial tensile testing. Eighteen fresh-frozen human knees
      were randomly assigned to two groups of nine each. In the group A, the
      reconstruction was performed using a double converging tunnels technique and in
      the group B was used a single-tunnel technique with semitendinosus autograft. The
      specimens were loaded in natural orientation using an Instron tensile test
      machine, and the stiffness and ultimate load were determined. RESULTS: The
      ultimate load was 213 +/- 90 and 171 +/- 51 N using our double-bundle technique
      (group A) and the single-bundle technique (group B), respectively. One (11 %)
      specimen failed at the patellar side due to patellar fracture in the group B.
      There was no statistical significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups
      in terms of stiffness and ultimate load. CONCLUSION: This study is the first
      biomechanical evaluation of the MPFL reconstructions in natural orientation. Both
      the procedures achieved safe fixation of the graft at the femoral attachment;
      however, the single-bundle technique reported 11 % of failure at the patellar
      side due to patellar fracture. In addition, the double-bundle technique can
      better restore the anatomy of the native ligament.

PMID- 26873711
TI  - COMPARISON OF ADAPTIVE STATISTICAL ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION (ASIRTM) AND MODEL
      BASED ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION (VEOTM) FOR PAEDIATRIC ABDOMINAL CT EXAMINATIONS:
      AN OBSERVER PERFORMANCE STUDY OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE QUALITY.
AB  - The diagnostic image quality of 75 paediatric abdominal computed tomography (CT)
      examinations reconstructed with two different iterative reconstruction (IR)
      algorithms-adaptive statistical IR (ASiRTM) and model-based IR (VeoTM)-was
      compared. Axial and coronal images were reconstructed with 70 % ASiR with the
      SoftTM convolution kernel and with the Veo algorithm. The thickness of the
      reconstructed images was 2.5 or 5 mm depending on the scanning protocol used.
      Four radiologists graded the delineation of six abdominal structures and the
      diagnostic usefulness of the image quality. The Veo reconstruction significantly
      improved the visibility of most of the structures compared with ASiR in all
      subgroups of images. For coronal images, the Veo reconstruction resulted in
      significantly improved ratings of the diagnostic use of the image quality
      compared with the ASiR reconstruction. This was not seen for the axial images.
      The greatest improvement using Veo reconstruction was observed for the 2.5 mm
      coronal slices. 

PMID- 26873712
TI  - THE EFFECT OF ADAPTIVE STATISTICAL ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION ON THE ASSESSMENT OF
      DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE QUALITY AND VISUALISATION OF ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES IN PAEDIATRIC
      CEREBRAL CT EXAMINATIONS.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adaptive statistical
      iterative reconstruction (ASiR) on the visualisation of anatomical structures and
      diagnostic image quality in paediatric cerebral computed tomography (CT)
      examinations. Forty paediatric patients undergoing routine cerebral CT were
      included in the study. The raw data from CT scans were reconstructed into stacks
      of 5 mm thick axial images at various levels of ASiR. Three paediatric
      radiologists rated six questions related to the visualisation of anatomical
      structures and one question on diagnostic image quality, in a blinded randomised
      visual grading study. The evaluated anatomical structures demonstrated enhanced
      visibility with increasing level of ASiR, apart from the cerebrospinal fluid
      space around the brain. In this study, 60 % ASiR was found to be the optimal
      level of ASiR for paediatric cerebral CT examinations. This shows that the
      commonly used 30 % ASiR may not always be the optimal level. 

PMID- 26873714
TI  - MRI features have a role in pre-surgical planning of colloid cyst removal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endoscopic resection is becoming a well-established treatment option
      for patients with colloid cysts of the third ventricle. A disadvantage of this
      approach is the decreased ability to resect cysts in their entirety. Correlations
      between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and cyst content could
      potentially help surgeons decide on the extent of resection and approach. We
      attempted to identify a correlation between patients' MRI imaging patterns and
      difficult cyst removal, post-operative adverse outcomes and the need for
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion, in order to detect markers that may affect
      pre-surgical planning. METHOD: A retrospective examination of all patients'
      records that underwent a colloid cyst excision attempt at our institution between
      2001 and 2014, and which had a minimum 1-year follow-up was compiled. RESULTS: Of
      the 25 patients fulfilling the criteria, we found cysts with a low T2 signal,
      specifically when combined with high T1 signal, to be significantly correlated
      with piecemeal, difficult removals. Correlation was also found between high T2
      signal cysts and pre-operative hydrocephalus. Among patients that had pre
      existing hydrocephalus, those that required a piecemeal removal possessed a
      strong trend towards a need for subsequent shunting. CONCLUSIONS: We found
      specific MRI features suggestive of difficult cyst excision. In a subgroup of
      patients with pre-operative hydrocephalus and imaging features suggestive of
      difficult removal, significantly higher rates of shunting were observed. We
      therefore recommend an open approach in cases of low T2, high T1 signal cysts
      with a diameter of over 15 mm, or CSF shunting in poor surgical candidates.
      Smaller cysts, with a low T1 signal, a high T2 signal and pre-operative
      hydrocephalus, constitute a subgroup in which we recommend endoscopic
      intervention as the procedure of choice.

PMID- 26873713
TI  - Identifying the effect of patient sharing on between-hospital genetic
      differentiation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most
      common healthcare-associated pathogens. To examine the role of inter-hospital
      patient sharing on MRSA transmission, a previous study collected 2,214 samples
      from 30 hospitals in Orange County, California and showed by spa typing that
      genetic differentiation decreased significantly with increased patient sharing.
      In the current study, we focused on the 986 samples with spa type t008 from the
      same population. METHODS: We used genome sequencing to determine the effect of
      patient sharing on genetic differentiation between hospitals. Genetic
      differentiation was measured by between-hospital genetic diversity, F ST , and
      the proportion of nearly identical isolates between hospitals. RESULTS:
      Surprisingly, we found very similar genetic diversity within and between
      hospitals, and no significant association between patient sharing and genetic
      differentiation measured by F ST . However, in contrast to F ST , there was a
      significant association between patient sharing and the proportion of nearly
      identical isolates between hospitals. We propose that the proportion of nearly
      identical isolates is more powerful at determining transmission dynamics than
      traditional estimators of genetic differentiation (F ST ) when gene flow between
      populations is high, since it is more responsive to recent transmission events.
      Our hypothesis was supported by the results from coalescent simulations.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that there was a high level of gene flow
      between hospitals facilitated by patient sharing, and that the proportion of
      nearly identical isolates is more sensitive to population structure than F ST
      when gene flow is high.

PMID- 26873715
TI  - Demographic distribution of hospital admissions for brain arteriovenous
      malformations in Germany--estimation of the natural course with the big-data
      approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Estimation of the natural history of arteriovenous malformations
      based on short-term observation is potentially biased by multiple factors.
      Retrieval of demographic information of all AVM patients of national data pools
      and comparison with the national demographic profile might be another way to
      approach the natural history. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Upon request, the German
      Federal Statistical Office provided the numbers of patients admitted in Germany
      from 2009 through 2013 with ICD Q28.2 (brain AVM) as primary discharge diagnosis,
      and the corresponding age distribution. Age-related admission rates of AVM were
      calculated by comparison with the German demographic distribution. RESULTS: A
      total of 6527 patients were hospitalized from 2009-2013 with brain AVM (Q28.2) as
      the principal diagnosis. Age-specific admission rate during the first year of
      life was high with 19.0/100,000 during the 5-year study period, corresponding to
      a yearly admission rate of 3.8 per 100,000 babies. Apart from the high admission
      rate during the first year of life, the admission rate was low, but steadily
      increasing during first decades of life reaching a plateau with 11.1/100,000 in
      the age group 30-34 years, corresponding to an annual admission rate of
      2.2/100,000. After the age of 30-34 years, admission rates decreased
      continuously, reaching 0 in the age group 90-95 years. The lifetime risk of
      admission in terms of admission per 100,000 age-matched people was calculated by
      retrograde integration of the admission rates. At the age of 1 year, the
      cumulative number of future admissions for AVM during lifetime amounted to
      131.3/100,000 children. For the older age groups, the chance of future admission
      for AVM decreased as expected, reaching 43.8/100,000 by the age of 50 and 0 by
      the age of 90. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some open issues, the current data suggests
      that achieving old age with an untreated brain AVM is unlikely. Furthermore, the
      data support the concept that most brain AVMs are not necessarily a congenital
      entity but develop during the first decades of life.

PMID- 26873716
TI  - Giant aggressive chondrosarcoma of the calvarium: a rare entity and its
      differentials.

PMID- 26873717
TI  - Genetics of irritable bowel syndrome.
AB  - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition with a complex and largely
      unknown etiology. There is no cure, and treatment options are mainly directed to
      the amelioration of symptoms. IBS causes reduced quality of life and poses
      considerable repercussions on health and socioeconomic systems. There is a
      heritable component in IBS, and genetic research is a valuable tool for the
      identification of causative pathways, which will provide important insight into
      the pathophysiology. However, although some gene-hunting efforts have been
      conducted and a few risk genes proposed, IBS genetic research is lagging behind
      compared to other complex diseases. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize
      existing genetic studies, discuss the main challenges in IBS genetic research,
      and propose strategies to overcome these challenges for IBS gene discovery. 

PMID- 26873718
TI  - Update on Lynch syndrome genomics.
AB  - Four main DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes have been identified, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6,
      and PMS2, which when mutated cause susceptibility to Lynch syndrome (LS). LS is
      one of the most prevalent hereditary cancer syndromes in man and accounts for 1-3
      % of unselected colorectal carcinomas and some 15 % of those with microsatellite
      instability and/or absent MMR protein. The International Society for
      Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours (InSiGHT) maintains a database for LS
      associated mutations since 1996. The database was recently reorganized to
      efficiently gather published and unpublished data and to classify the variants
      according to a five-tiered scheme linked to clinical recommendations. This review
      provides an update of germline mutations causing susceptibility to LS based on
      information available in the InSiGHT database and the latest literature. MMR gene
      mutation profiles, correlations between genotype and phenotype, and possible
      mechanisms leading to the characteristic spectrum of tumors in LS are discussed
      in light of the different functions of MMR proteins, many of which directly serve
      cancer avoidance.

PMID- 26873720
TI  - Regulation and registration as drivers of continuous professional competence for
      Irish pre-hospital practitioners: a discussion paper.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The regulatory body responsible for the registration of Irish pre
      hospital practitioners, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC),
      identified the need to implement a continuing professional competence (CPC)
      framework. The first cycle of CPC (focused on emergency medical technicians)
      commenced in November 2013 creating for the first time a formal relationship
      between continuing competence and registration to practice. AIMS: To review
      current literature and to describe benefits and challenges relevant to CPC,
      regulation, registration and their respective contributions to professionalism of
      pre-hospital practitioners: advanced paramedics, paramedics and emergency medical
      technicians. METHODS: Online search of cumulative index to nursing and allied
      health literature (CINAHL Plus with Full Text), Allied and Complementary Medicine
      (AMED) and 'Pubmed' databases using: 'Continuous Professional Development';
      'Continuous Professional Development'; 'emergency medical technician';
      'paramedic'; 'registration'; 'regulation'; and "profession' for relevant articles
      published since 2004. Additional policy documents, discussion papers, and
      guidance documents were identified from bibliographies of papers found. RESULTS:
      Reports, governmental policies for other healthcare professions, and professional
      developments internationally for allied professions (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy
      and medicine) link maintenance of competence with requirements for registration
      to practice. CONCLUSION: We suggest that evolving professionalisation of Irish
      paramedics should be affirmed through behaviours and competencies that
      incorporate adherence to professional codes of conduct, reflective practice, and
      commitment to continuing professional development. While the need for ambulance
      practitioner CPD was identified in Ireland almost a decade ago, PHECC now has the
      opportunity to introduce a model of CPD for paramedics linking competence and
      professionalism to annual registration.

PMID- 26873721
TI  - 24th Sylvester O'Halloran Perioperative Scientific Symposium.

PMID- 26873719
TI  - Hereditary cancer syndromes: utilizing DNA repair deficiency as therapeutic
      target.
AB  - Human cells have numerous repair mechanisms to counteract various insults
      incurred on the DNA. Any mutation in these repair mechanisms can lead to
      accumulation of DNA errors and carcinogenesis. This review aims to discuss the
      therapeutic options in the two most common DNA repair deficient cancer syndromes,
      namely Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) and breast
      cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) associated ovarian and breast cancer.
      Deficiency in DNA repair mechanisms renders these tumors with increased
      sensitivity to platinum agents. There has been increasing amount of information
      on the utility of the defects in DNA repair as targets for cancer therapy in
      these syndromes. Novel therapies like poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)
      inhibitors are one of such example where the induction of double stranded breaks
      in DNA leads to tumoricidal effect in patients with homologous DNA repair
      deficiency. Interestingly, patients with DNA repair deficiencies tend to have a
      more favorable prognosis than sporadic malignancies. In microsatellite high
      colorectal cancer patients, this has been attributed to increased recruitment of
      CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor microenvironment. However, these tumors are able to
      limit the host immune response by activation of immune checkpoints that seem like
      attractive targets of therapy in the future.

PMID- 26873722
TI  - Effect of CPAP therapy on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with
      obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may decrease the risk
      of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
      However, these benefits are not completely clear. METHODS: We undertook a meta
      analysis of randomized clinical trials identified in systematic searches of
      MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database. RESULTS: Eighteen studies (4146
      patients) were included. Overall, CPAP therapy did not significantly decrease the
      risk of cardiovascular events compared with the control group (odds ratio (OR),
      0.84; 95 % confidence intervals (CI), 0.62-1.13; p = 0.25; I (2) = 0 %). CPAP was
      associated with a nonsignificant trend of lower rate of death and stroke (for
      death: OR, 0.85; 95 % CI, 0.35-2.06; p = 0.72; I (2) = 0.0 %; for stroke: OR,
      0.56; 95 % CI, 0.18-1.73; p = 0.32; I (2) = 12.0 %), a significantly lower
      Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) (mean difference (MD), -1.78; 95 % CI, -2.31 to 
      1.24; p < 0.00001; I (2) = 76 %), and a significantly lower 24 h systolic and
      diastolic blood pressure (BP) (for 24 h systolic BP: MD, -2.03 mmHg; 95 % CI, 
      3.64 to -0.42; p = 0.01; I (2) = 0 %; for diastolic BP: MD, -1.79 mmHg; 95 % CI, 
      2.89 to -0.68; p = 0.001; I (2) = 0 %). Daytime systolic BP and body mass index
      were comparable between the CPAP and control groups. Subgroup analysis did not
      show any significant difference between short- and mediate-to-long-term follow-up
      groups with regard to cardiovascular events, death, and stroke. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP
      therapy was associated with a trend of decreased risk of cardiovascular events.
      Furthermore, ESS and BP were significantly lower in the CPAP group. Larger
      randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.

PMID- 26873723
TI  - Nutrient Starvation Decreases Cx43 Levels and Limits Intercellular Communication
      in Primary Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells.
AB  - Connexin (Cx) proteins form large conductance channels which function as
      regulators of communication between neighboring cells via gap junctions and/or
      hemichannels. Intercellular communication is essential to coordinate cellular
      responses in tissues and organs, thereby fulfilling an essential role in the
      spreading of signaling, survival and death processes. Connexin 43 (Cx43), a major
      connexin isoform in brain and heart, is rapidly turned over. Recent studies
      implicated that autophagy, a lysosomal degradation pathway induced upon nutrient
      starvation, mediates connexins, including Cx43, degradation. Here, we examined
      the impact of nutrient starvation on endogenous Cx43-protein levels and
      endogenous Cx43-driven intercellular communication in primary bovine corneal
      endothelial cells (BCECs). Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) was used as a
      starvation condition that induces autophagic flux without impacting the survival
      of the BCECs. Nutrient starvation of BCECs caused a rapid decline in Cx43-protein
      levels, both as gap junctions and as hemichannels. The time course of the decline
      in Cx43-protein levels coincided with the time course of the decline in
      intercellular communication, assessed as intercellular Ca(2+)-wave propagation in
      BCECs exposed to a single-cell mechanical stimulus. The decline in Cx43-protein
      levels, both as gap junctions and as hemichannels, could be prevented by the
      addition of bafilomycin A1, a lysosomal inhibitor, during the complete nutrient
      starvation period. Consistent with this, bafilomycin A1 significantly alleviated
      the decrease in intercellular Ca(2+)-wave propagation. This study further
      underpins the importance of autophagy as an important degradation pathway for
      Cx43 proteins during periods of nutrient deprivation, thereby impacting the
      ability of cells to perform intercellular communication.

PMID- 26873724
TI  - Rapid Detection of Ricin in Serum Based on Cu-Chelated Magnetic Beads Using Mass
      Spectrometry.
AB  - The protein toxin ricin obtained from castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) seeds
      is a potent biological warfare agent due to its ease of availability and acute
      toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated a rapid and simple method to detect
      ricin in serum in vitro. The ricin was mixed with serum and digested by trypsin,
      then all the peptides were efficiently extracted using Cu-chelated magnetic beads
      and were detected with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight
      mass spectrometry. The specific ricin peptides were identified by Nanoscale Ultra
      Performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry according
      to their sequences. The assay required 2.5 hours, and a characteristic peptide
      could be detected down to 4 ng/MUl and used as a biomarker to detect ricin in
      serum. The high sensitivity and simplicity of the procedure makes it valuable in
      clinical practice. Graphical Abstract ?. 

PMID- 26873725
TI  - Pain and its clinical associations in individuals with cystic fibrosis: A
      systematic review.
AB  - Pain is recognized as a clinical complication in cystic fibrosis (CF), but the
      prevalence, characteristics and clinical associations of this co-morbidity have
      not been systematically reviewed. Electronic searches of six databases were
      performed. For inclusion in phase 1, studies reported a pain prevalence rate in
      CF and/or its clinical associations. For phase 2, included studies reported the
      measurement properties of validity, reliability and responsiveness of an
      instrument assessing pain in CF. Two independent reviewers rated the quality of
      evidence (phase 1) and the measurement properties using the 4-point COnsensus
      based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN)
      checklist (phase 2). Of the 400 studies identified in the literature, 16 met the
      inclusion criteria for phase 1 and 5 for phase 2. The mean (SD) quality score (of
      16) was 11.8 (2.3). The pooled prevalence of pain in adults with CF was 77% (95%
      confidence interval (CI): 57%-92%) and in children was 42% (95% CI: 0%-91%).
      Common regions of pain included back, abdomen, chest and limbs. In children and
      adults, pain was associated with a poorer quality of life (QOL) and significant
      interference with treatments. Measurement properties of three instruments (Brief
      Pain Inventory, Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Daily Pain Assessment-CF) were
      construct validity and criterion-predictive validity, with variable findings
      based on 'fair' to 'good' quality studies. Pain is a common problem in both
      children and adults with CF. It has negative clinical associations with QOL and
      the ability to successfully undertake treatment. Further research exploring the
      measurement properties of instruments assessing pain is required. 

PMID- 26873727
TI  - Precision Oncology: The UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center PREDICT Experience.
AB  - By profiling their patients' tumors, oncologists now have the option to use
      molecular results to match patients with drug(s) based on specific biomarkers. In
      this observational study, 347 patients with solid advanced cancers and next
      generation sequencing (NGS) results were evaluated. Outcomes for patients who
      received a "matched" versus "unmatched" therapy following their NGS results were
      compared. Eighty-seven patients (25%) were treated with a "matched" therapy, 93
      (26.8%) with an "unmatched" therapy. More patients in the matched group achieved
      stable disease (SD) >= 6 months/partial response (PR)/complete response (CR),
      34.5% vs. 16.1%, (P <= 0.020 multivariable or propensity score methods). Matched
      patients had a longer median progression-free survival (PFS; 4.0 vs. 3.0 months,
      P = 0.039 in the Cox regression model). In analysis using PFS1 (PFS on the prior
      line of therapy) as a comparator to PFS after NGS, as expected, the unmatched
      group demonstrated a PFS2 significantly shorter than PFS1 (P = 0.009); however,
      this shortening was not observed in the matched patients (P = 0.595).
      Furthermore, 45.3% of the matched patients (24/53) had a PFS2/PFS1 ratio >=1.3
      compared with 19.3% of patients (11/57) in the unmatched group (P = 0.004
      univariable and P >= 0.057 in multivariable/propensity score analysis). Patients
      with a "matching-score" (the number of matched drugs divided by the number of
      aberrations; unmatched patients had a score of zero) > 0.2 had a median overall
      survival (OS) of 15.7 months compared with 10.6 months when their matching-score
      was <= 0.2, (P = 0.040 in the Cox regression model). Matched versus unmatched
      patients had higher rates of SD >= 6 months/PR/CR and longer PFS, and improvement
      in OS correlated with a higher matching score in multivariable analysis. Mol
      Cancer Ther; 15(4); 743-52. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873726
TI  - Preclinical Evaluation of UAB30 in Pediatric Renal and Hepatic Malignancies.
AB  - Rare tumors of solid organs remain some of the most difficult pediatric cancers
      to cure. These difficult tumors include rare pediatric renal malignancies, such
      as malignant rhabdoid kidney tumors (MRKT) and non-osseous renal Ewing sarcoma,
      and hepatoblastoma, a pediatric liver tumor that arises from immature liver
      cells. There are data in adult renal and hepatic malignancies demonstrating the
      efficacy of retinoid therapy. The investigation of retinoic acid therapy in
      cancer is not a new strategy, but the widespread adoption of this therapy has
      been hindered by toxicities. Our laboratory has been investigating a novel
      synthetic rexinoid, UAB30, which exhibits a more favorable side-effect profile.
      In this study, we hypothesized that UAB30 would diminish the growth of tumor
      cells from both rare renal and liver tumors in vitro and in vivo We successfully
      demonstrated decreased cellular proliferation, invasion and migration, cell-cycle
      arrest, and increased apoptosis after treatment with UAB30. Additionally, in in
      vivo murine models of human hepatoblastoma or rare human renal tumors, there were
      significantly decreased tumor xenograft growth and increased animal survival
      after UAB30 treatment. UAB30 should be further investigated as a developing
      therapeutic in these rare and difficult-to-treat pediatric solid organ tumors.
      Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5); 911-21. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873731
TI  - Factors associated with exit block and impact on the emergency department.
AB  - We used routinely available data to identify the likelihood of exit block within
      type 1 EDs across acute trusts in England. While the findings are based on
      exploratory work and should be treated with caution, some patterns appeared to
      emerge from the data and require further exploration. NHS Trusts at risk of exit
      block were more likely to be large trusts, located in larger catchment areas,
      having higher admission rates and inpatient bed occupancy and higher levels of
      patients leaving the ED without being seen or reattending. Some of the factors
      identified may well be symptomatic of exit block rather than causal, while other
      factors may be acting as proxies for differences in casemix, social deprivation
      or ability to access alternative urgent care services.

PMID- 26873730
TI  - 3-Dimensional Patient-Derived Lung Cancer Assays Reveal Resistance to Standards
      of-Care Promoted by Stromal Cells but Sensitivity to Histone Deacetylase
      Inhibitors.
AB  - There is a growing recognition that current preclinical models do not reflect the
      tumor microenvironment in cellular, biological, and biophysical content and this
      may have a profound effect on drug efficacy testing, especially in the era of
      molecular-targeted agents. Here, we describe a method to directly embed low
      passage patient tumor-derived tissue into basement membrane extract, ensuring a
      low proportion of cell death to anoikis and growth complementation by coculture
      with patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). A range of solid tumors
      proved amenable to growth and pharmacologic testing in this 3D assay. A study of
      30 early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens revealed high levels
      of de novo resistance to a large range of standard-of-care agents, while histone
      deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and their combination with antineoplastic drugs
      displayed high levels of efficacy. Increased resistance was seen in the presence
      of patient-derived CAFs for many agents, highlighting the utility of the assay
      for tumor microenvironment-educated drug testing. Standard-of-care agents showed
      similar responses in the 3D ex vivo and patient-matched in vivo models validating
      the 3D-Tumor Growth Assay (3D-TGA) as a high-throughput screen for close-to
      patient tumors using significantly reduced animal numbers. Mol Cancer Ther;
      15(4); 753-63. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873728
TI  - Applying Small Molecule Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3
      (STAT3) Protein Inhibitors as Pancreatic Cancer Therapeutics.
AB  - Constitutively activated STAT3 protein has been found to be a key regulator of
      pancreatic cancer and a target for molecular therapeutic intervention. In this
      study, PG-S3-001, a small molecule derived from the SH-4-54 class of STAT3
      inhibitors, was found to inhibit patient-derived pancreatic cancer cell
      proliferation in vitro and in vivo in the low micromolar range. PG-S3-001 binds
      the STAT3 protein potently, Kd = 324 nmol/L by surface plasmon resonance, and
      showed no effect in a kinome screen (>100 cancer-relevant kinases). In vitro
      studies demonstrated potent cell killing as well as inhibition of STAT3
      activation in pancreatic cancer cells. To better model the tumor and its
      microenvironment, we utilized three-dimensional (3D) cultures of patient-derived
      pancreatic cancer cells in the absence and presence of cancer-associated
      fibroblasts (CAF). In this coculture model, inhibition of tumor growth is
      maintained following STAT3 inhibition in the presence of CAFs. Confocal
      microscopy was used to verify tumor cell death following treatment of 3D
      cocultures with PG-S3-001. The 3D model was predictive of in vivo efficacy as
      significant tumor growth inhibition was observed upon administration of PG-S3
      001. These studies showed that the inhibition of STAT3 was able to impact the
      survival of tumor cells in a relevant 3D model, as well as in a xenograft model
      using patient-derived cells. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5); 794-805. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873729
TI  - High Expression of miR-532-5p, a Tumor Suppressor, Leads to Better Prognosis in
      Ovarian Cancer Both In Vivo and In Vitro.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death for gynecologic cancers, ranking
      fifth overall for cancer-related death among women. The identification of
      biomarkers and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms for improving treatment
      options have received extensive efforts in ovarian cancer research. miRNAs have
      high potential to act as both ovarian cancer biomarkers and as critical
      regulators of ovarian tumor behavior. We comprehensively analyzed global mRNA,
      miRNA expression, and survival data for ovarian cancer from The Cancer Genome
      Atlas (TCGA) to pinpoint miRNAs that play critical roles in ovarian cancer
      survival through their effect on mRNA expression. We performed miRNA
      overexpression and gene knockdown experiments to confirm mechanisms predicted in
      our bioinformatics approach. We established that overexpression of miR-532-5p in
      OVCAR-3 cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability over a 96-hour
      time period. In the TCGA ovarian cancer dataset, we found 67 genes whose
      expression levels were negatively correlated with miR-532-5p expression and
      correlated with patient survival, such as WNT9A, CSNK2A2, CHD4, and SH3PXD2A The
      potential miR-532-5p-regulated gene targets were found to be enriched in the Wnt
      pathway. Overexpression of miR-532-5p through miRNA mimic caused downregulation
      of CSNK2A2, CHD4, and SH3PXD2A in the OVCAR-3 cell line. We have discovered and
      validated the tumor-suppressing capabilities of miR-532-5p both in vivo through
      TCGA analysis and in vitro through ovarian cancer cell lines. Our work highlights
      the potential clinical importance of miR-532-5p expression in ovarian cancer
      patients. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5); 1123-31. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873733
TI  - Carbon monoxide poisoning in our homes - report of two survivors from North
      India.
AB  - Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from, e.g., the use of unvented coal-burning
      heaters, indoor barbecues, or inhalation of exhaust of vehicles. The latter is
      sometimes used to commit suicide. The most common presentation of carbon monoxide
      poisoning is cerebral hypoxia. Despite frequent use of indoor coal-burning
      heaters and stoves during winter months in the northern part of India, carbon
      monoxide poisoning has been infrequently reported. We describe two cases of
      carbon monoxide poisoning who reported to the Emergency Department in the early
      morning of a winter season with un-witnessed, unexplained development of altered
      level of consciousness. 

PMID- 26873732
TI  - Earthworm Preference Bioassays to Evaluate Land Management Practices.
AB  - Earthworm preference tests, especially in soil-dosed exposures, can be an
      informative tool for assessing land management practices. Agricultural management
      intended to increase crop yield and improve soil sustainability includes physical
      manipulation of topsoil through conventional tillage, reduced or no-tillage,
      and/or winter cover crops. Soil amendments include the addition of inorganic
      nitrogen or organic nitrogen derived from soil amendments including biosolids
      from sewage treatment plants, poultry litter, or locally available industrial
      effluent. This study used 48-h Eisenia fetida preference tests to assess impacts
      of agricultural management practices on soil macrofauna. Although in laboratory
      dosed exposures, E. fetida preferred biosolid-dosed soils (80 %-95 % recovery)
      over control soils, the same results were not found with field soils receiving
      biosolid amendments (33 % recovery). Poultry litter-amended soils (68 % recovery)
      were preferred over control soils. No differences were measured between tilled
      fields and controls, and earthworms preferred control soils over those from
      fields with no-tillage and cover crops. Soil assessments through laboratory
      exposures such as these allows science-based agricultural management decisions to
      maintain or improve soil health. 

PMID- 26873734
TI  - Investigating death in custody.

PMID- 26873735
TI  - Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for X-linked agammaglobulinemia using
      reduced intensity conditioning as a model of the reconstitution of humoral
      immunity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We herein report the first case of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
      that underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation using reduced intensity
      conditioning (RIC). We chronologically observed the reconstitution of humoral
      immunity in this case. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 28-year-old Japanese
      male with XLA who previously had life-threatening infectious episodes and was
      referred for the possible indication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
      After a thorough discussion within specialists from different backgrounds, we
      decided to perform allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation from his HLA
      identical elder brother. Due to the non-malignant nature of XLA, we selected RIC
      consisting of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, anti-thymocyte globulin, and 3 Gy of
      total body irradiation. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved on day 11 with
      complete donor chimerism. No major complications, except for stage 1 skin graft
      versus-host disease, were observed. The patient was discharged on day 75 and has
      been followed as an outpatient without any infectious episodes for more than 500
      days. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding immune reconstitution, CD19(+) cells, IgA, and IgM,
      which were undetectable before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT),
      started to increase in number 10 days after allo-SCT and continued to increase
      for more than 1 year. Anti-B antibodies appeared as early as day 10. Total IgG
      levels decreased after the discontinuation of IgG replacement and spontaneously
      recovered after day 350. However, most anti-viral IgG titers, except EB virus
      virus capsid antigen IgG, disappeared after the discontinuation of IgG
      replacement. A seasonal vaccination to influenza was performed on day 148, with
      neither anti-influenza type A nor type B being positive after the vaccination.
      The transient transfer of allergic immunity to orchard grass was observed.
      Similar Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) expression levels in monocytes and B-cells
      were observed between the patient and healthy control. B-cells in the peripheral
      blood (PB) of the patient on day 279 showed sufficient proliferation after a
      CD40L and IL-21 or CD40L and CpG stimulation. Effective immunoglobulin production
      and class switching were also observed after a CD40L and IL-21 or CpG
      stimulation. Signal joint kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (sjKRECs)
      became positive 16 days post-SCT, increased to 6300 copies/MUg DNA at 42 days,
      and were maintained at a high level thereafter. The recovery of T-cell receptor
      excision circles (TRECs) was slow, but became detectable 1 year post
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

PMID- 26873737
TI  - The Thr to Met substitution of amino acid 118 in hepatitis B virus surface
      antigen escapes from immune-assay-based screening of blood donors.
AB  - Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the main diagnosis marker for hepatitis B
      virus (HBV) infection. In this study, a novel HBV mutant from an HBV-positive
      blood donor with false-negative results during HBsAg screening was identified.
      DNA sequencing discovered two mutations at nt 353 (A to T) and nt 349 (T to A),
      leading to Thr to Met and Ser to Thr substitutions at aa 118 and 117 of HBsAg,
      respectively. Further analysis showed that eight of ten HBsAg ELISA kits failed
      to detect this HBsAg mutant. A mutagenesis assay indicated that the Thr to Met
      substitution at aa 118 was the determinant for escape from HBsAg ELISA detection.
      A small-scale screening of blood donors identified two individuals infected by
      this unique HBV mutant, suggesting a certain level of prevalence among the
      general population. In conclusion, our study identified the aa 118 mutation in
      HBV surface antigen and provided information for improvement of HBV diagnosis
      products.

PMID- 26873736
TI  - A nomogram for predicting the likelihood of lymph node metastasis in early
      gastric patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Early gastric cancer is defined as a lesion confined to the mucosa or
      submucosa, regardless of the size or lymph node metastasis. Treatment methods
      include endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection, wedge
      resection, laparoscopically assisted gastrectomy and open gastrectomy. Lymph node
      metastasis is strong related with survival and recurrence. Therefore, the
      likelihood of lymph node metastasis is one of the most important factors when
      determining the most appropriate treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed
      597 patients who underwent D2 gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. The
      relationship between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features was
      analyzed. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses, we created a nomogram
      to predict the lymph node metastasis probability for early gastric cancer.
      Receiver operating characteristic analyses was performed to assess the predictive
      value of the model. RESULTS: In the present study, 58 (9.7%) early gastric cancer
      patients were histologically shown to have lymph node metastasis. The
      multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the age at diagnosis,
      differentiation status, the presence of ulcers, lymphovascular invasion and depth
      of invasion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in early
      gastric cancer. Additionally, the tumor macroscopic type, size and histology type
      significantly correlated with these important independent factors. We constructed
      a predictive nomogram with these factors for lymph node metastasis in early
      gastric cancer patients, and the discrimination was good with the AUC of 0.860
      (95% CI: 0.809-0.912). CONCLUSIONS: We developed an effective nomogram to predict
      the incidence of lymph node metastasis for early gastric cancer patients.

PMID- 26873738
TI  - Probing the nucleotide-binding activity of a redox sensor: two-component
      regulatory control in chloroplasts.
AB  - Two-component signal transduction systems mediate adaptation to environmental
      changes in bacteria, plants, fungi, and protists. Each two-component system
      consists of a sensor histidine kinase and a response regulator. Chloroplast
      sensor kinase (CSK) is a modified sensor histidine kinase found in chloroplasts
      photosynthetic organelles of plants and algae. CSK regulates the transcription of
      chloroplast genes in response to changes in photosynthetic electron transport. In
      this study, the full-length and truncated forms of Arabidopsis CSK proteins were
      overexpressed and purified in order to characterise their kinase and redox
      sensing activities. Our results show that CSK contains a modified kinase
      catalytic domain that binds ATP with high affinity and forms a quinone adduct
      that may confer redox sensing activity.

PMID- 26873740
TI  - Maintaining the position of a Bakri balloon after caesarean section for placenta
      previa using an abdominal traction stitch.

PMID- 26873739
TI  - Is ERAS in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer changing risk factors for
      delayed recovery?
AB  - There is evidence that implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)
      protocols into colorectal surgery reduces complication rate and improves
      postoperative recovery. However, most published papers on ERAS outcomes and
      length of stay in hospital (LOS) include patients undergoing open resections. The
      aim of this pilot study was to determine the factors affecting recovery and LOS
      in patients after laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer combined with ERAS
      protocol. One hundred and forty-three consecutive patients undergoing elective
      laparoscopic resection were prospectively evaluated. They were divided into two
      subgroups depending on their reaching the targeted length of stay-LOS (75
      patients in group 1-<=4 days, 68 patients in group 2->4 days). A univariate and
      multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess for factors
      (demographics, perioperative parameters, complications and compliance with the
      ERAS protocol) independently associated with LOS of 4 days or longer. The median
      LOS in the entire group was 4 days. The postoperative complication rate was
      higher (18.7 vs. 36.7 %), and the compliance with ERAS protocol was lower (91.2
      vs. 76.7 %) in group 2. There was an association between the pre- and
      postoperative compliance and the subsequent complications. In uni- and
      multivariate analysis, the lack of balanced fluid therapy (OR 3.87), lack of
      early mobilization (OR 20.74), prolonged urinary catheterization (OR 4.58) and
      use of drainage (OR 2.86) were significantly associated with prolonged LOS.
      Neither traditional patient risk factors nor the stage of the cancer was
      predictive of the duration of hospital stay. Instead, compliance with the ERAS
      protocol seems to influence recovery and LOS when applied to laparoscopic
      colorectal cancer surgery. 

PMID- 26873743
TI  - Clinical Implication of Proteinase-3-antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody in
      Patients with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias.
AB  - PURPOSE: The clinical significance of proteinase-3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic
      antibody (PR3-ANCA) positivity is not well established in idiopathic interstitial
      pneumonia (IIP) patients. We aimed to determine the clinical features of PR3-ANCA
      positive IIP patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 377 consecutive IIP
      patients; of these, 360 patients had PR3-ANCA and myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil
      cytoplasmic antibody test results available. The clinical features of PR3-ANCA
      positive IIP patients and control ANCA-negative idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
      patients (ANCA-negative IPF) were compared. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (4.4 %)
      were PR3-ANCA-positive IIP and 94 (26 %) were ANCA-negative IPF. The median age
      at diagnosis (72 vs. 70 years, P = 0.17) and proportion of males (75 vs. 89 %, P
      = 0.12) in PR3-ANCA-positive IIP and ANCA-negative IPF patients, respectively,
      were not significantly different. Radiologically, the HRCT patterns of PR3-ANCA
      positive IIP patients varied (UIP, n = 3, 18.8 %; possible UIP, n = 3, 18.8 %;
      NSIP, n = 5, 31.3 %; unclassifiable CT pattern, n = 5, 31.3 %) more than those of
      ANCA-negative IPF patients (UIP, n = 69, 73.4 %; possible UIP, n = 25, 26.6 %; P
      < 0.001). No PR3-ANCA-positive IIP patients developed ANCA-associated vasculitis.
      The 5-year survival rate was 50 % in PR3-ANCA-positive IIP patients and 52 % in
      ANCA-negative IPF patients with no significant difference (P = 0.96 by log-rank
      test). CONCLUSIONS: The HRCT patterns of PR3-ANCA-positive IIP patients varied
      more than those of the IPF patients, but the clinical features of high IIP-onset
      age and male predominance were similar between the groups. Furthermore, PR3-ANCA
      positive IIP patients had a poor prognosis similar to that of IPF patients.

PMID- 26873741
TI  - Macrolides and associated antibiotics based on similar mechanism of action like
      lincosamides in malaria.
AB  - Malaria, a parasite vector-borne disease, is one of the biggest health threats in
      tropical regions, despite the availability of malaria chemoprophylaxis. The
      emergence and rapid extension of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to various anti
      malarial drugs has gradually limited the potential malaria therapeutics available
      to clinicians. In this context, macrolides and associated antibiotics based on
      similar mechanism of action like lincosamides constitute an interesting
      alternative in the treatment of malaria. These molecules, whose action spectrum
      is similar to that of tetracyclines, are typically administered to children and
      pregnant women. Recent studies have examined the effects of azithromycin and the
      lincosamide clindamycin, on isolates from different continents. Azithromycin and
      clindamycin are effective and well tolerated in the treatment of uncomplicated
      malaria in combination with quinine. This literature review assesses the roles of
      macrolides and lincosamides in the prophylaxis and treatment of malaria. 

PMID- 26873742
TI  - Characterization of melatonin synthesis in the gastrointestinal tract of rainbow
      trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): distribution, relation with serotonin, daily rhythms
      and photoperiod regulation.
AB  - Melatonin is synthesized in peripheral locations of vertebrates, including the
      gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In teleost, information regarding this topic is
      scarce. Here we studied the presence and synthesis of melatonin at the rainbow
      trout GIT. Different sections of trout GIT (from esophagus to hindgut) were
      dissected out and assayed for contents of melatonin, serotonin (5-HT) and its
      metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, as well as for aanat1, aanat2 and hiomt
      mRNA abundance. A trout group was pinealectomized to evaluate changes in plasma
      and gut melatonin content. Finally, the daily profile of melatonin and 5-HT
      content, and aanat1, aanat2 and hiomt mRNA abundance were analyzed in gut of
      trout kept under normal lighting, and then under constant darkness. Melatonin was
      detected in all GIT regions with higher concentrations in the muscular wall than
      in the mucosa, a similar trend to that of 5-HT. In contrast, transcripts of
      melatonin synthesis enzymes were more abundant in the mucosa. Pinealectomy did
      not affect melatonin levels in midgut and hindgut either at day or at night.
      Additionally, no daily rhythms could be defined for melatonin content in gut
      tissues but increases during late light phase and at midnight occurred. However,
      aanat1, aanat2 and hiomt mRNA abundance showed clear daily rhythms with peaks at
      night. These rhythms remained with a 3-h phase advanced peak in fish exposed to
      constant darkness. Our results provide clear evidence for a local synthesis of
      melatonin in trout GIT that might be influenced by the content of 5-HT in the
      tissue. The process is affected by environmental light cycle and is likely to be
      under circadian regulation. 

PMID- 26873744
TI  - Methylation on the Circadian Gene BMAL1 Is Associated with the Effects of a
      Weight Loss Intervention on Serum Lipid Levels.
AB  - The circadian clock system has been linked to the onset and development of
      obesity and some accompanying comorbidities. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA
      methylation, are putatively involved in the regulation of the circadian clock
      system. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a weight loss
      intervention based on an energy-controlled Mediterranean dietary pattern in the
      methylation levels of 3 clock genes, BMAL1, CLOCK, and NR1D1, and the association
      between the methylation levels and changes induced in the serum lipid profile
      with the weight loss treatment. The study sample enrolled 61 women (body mass
      index = 28.6 +/- 3.4 kg/m(2); age: 42.2 +/- 11.4 years), who followed a
      nutritional program based on a Mediterranean dietary pattern. DNA was isolated
      from whole blood obtained at the beginning and end point. Methylation levels at
      different CpG sites of BMAL1, CLOCK, and NR1D1 were analyzed by Sequenom's
      MassArray. The energy-restricted intervention modified the methylation levels of
      different CpG sites in BMAL1 (CpGs 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 18) and NR1D1 (CpGs 1, 10,
      17, 18, 19, and 22). Changes in cytosine methylation in the CpG 5 to 9 region of
      BMAL1 with the intervention positively correlated with the eveningness profile (p
      = 0.019). The baseline methylation of the CpG 5 to 9 region in BMAL1 positively
      correlated with energy (p = 0.047) and carbohydrate (p = 0.017) intake and
      negatively correlated with the effect of the weight loss intervention on total
      cholesterol (p = 0.032) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.005).
      Similar significant and positive correlations were found between changes in
      methylation levels in the CpG 5 to 9 region of BMAL1 due to the intervention and
      changes in serum lipids (p < 0.05). This research describes apparently for the
      first time an association between changes in the methylation of the BMAL1 gene
      with the intervention and the effects of a weight loss intervention on blood
      lipids levels.

PMID- 26873746
TI  - Usefulness of Transcranial Doppler for Detecting Pulmonary Arteriovenous
      Malformations in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess transcranial Doppler (TCD) as a screening
      test for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) in patients with hereditary
      hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). This retrospective study included suspected
      patients with HHT who were screened for PAVM with a TCD and a chest computed
      tomography (CT) study. The results of TCD and CT were compared to evaluate the
      usefulness of TCD for detecting PAVM. A TCD Spencer grade >=3 was defined as
      positive for a significant right-to-left shunt (RLS). The diameter of the
      pulmonary arteries feeding the PAVM was measured by calipers from the CT study.
      In 86 subjects from 74 families with HHT, the sensitivity of TCD for identifying
      a PAVM at rest was 98% and post-Valsalva was 100%. Specificity was 58% and 35%,
      respectively, presumably due to pulmonary shunts too small to recognize on CT. Of
      the patients with HHT who were referred for embolization therapy for their PAVMs,
      all 20 had TCD grade >=3. In patients who were diagnosed with a PAVM by chest CT,
      patients with TCD grade >=5 had a significantly larger sum of artery diameters
      feeding the PAVMs compared to those with grade <=4 (5.0 +/- 3.2 mm vs 2.6 +/- 1.9
      mm, p = 0.01). In conclusion, a TCD examination for evaluating RLS is sensitive
      for identifying PAVM in patients with HHT and is useful in quantitating the
      degree of RLS flow. The sensitivity of the TCD examination makes it a useful
      screening test without radiation in HHT subjects to determine which patients need
      to undergo CT evaluation to identify PAVMs.

PMID- 26873745
TI  - Nonshaved cranial surgery in black Africans: technical report and a medium-term
      prospective outcome study.
AB  - Nonshaved neurosurgery, cranial or spinal, is well reported among Caucasians but
      hardly among native Africans. The ungroomed scalp hairs of black Africans have
      unique anthropological characteristics needing special attention for shaveless
      cranial surgery. A technical report of the execution of this surgical procedure
      among an indigenous patient population in a sub-Sahara African country is
      presented, as well as an outcome analysis in a prospective cohort over a 7-year
      period. A total of 303 patients (211 males, 70 %) fulfilled the criteria for this
      study. The surgical procedure was primary in 278 (92 %) and redo in 8 %. It was
      emergency surgery in 153 (51 %). They were trauma craniotomies or decompressive
      craniectomies in 95 cases (31 %), craniotomies for tumour resections in 86 (28
      %), and the surgical dissections for other conditions in 122 (41 %). The duration
      of surgery ranged from 30 min to 8.5 h, mean 2.5 (SD, 1.6), median 2. In-hospital
      clinical outcome was good (normal status or moderate deficit on dichotomized
      Glasgow outcome scale (GOS)) in 273 (90.1 %) cases while surgical site infections
      occurred in only 10 cases (3.3 %). The type of surgery, redo or primary, did not
      have any significant association with the in-hospital outcome (p = 0.5), nor with
      the presence of surgical site infection (SSI) (p = 0.7). The length of follow-up
      ranged from 2 to 63 months (mean, 7) with no untoward complications reported so
      far. Medium-term outcome of nonshaved neurosurgery in this indigenous black
      Africans remains favourable with no attendant significant adverse after-effects. 

PMID- 26873747
TI  - "He Never Did Anything You Typically Think of as Abuse": Experiences With
      Violence in Controlling and Non-Controlling Relationships in a Non-Agency Sample
      of Women.
AB  - Traditionally, any physical aggression within intimate relationships has been
      labeled "domestic violence," even as researchers and advocates continue to
      disagree about the nature of that phenomenon vis-a-vis gender and control. As
      part of a larger mixed-methods study, 22 women from a non-agency, community-based
      sample who reported experience with relationship violence were interviewed. The
      existence of patterned coercive and controlling behaviors substantially
      differentiated experiences with violence, suggesting this dynamic is at least as
      important to identify as physical violence. Although preliminary, the impact of
      these findings on intervention and prevention strategies and on the debate
      surrounding gender symmetry is discussed.

PMID- 26873748
TI  - An ex vivo liver training model continuously perfused to simulate bleeding for
      suture skills involved in laparoscopic liver resection: development and validity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Suture skills are essential to laparoscopic liver resection. The
      current suture training models are not ideal enough. The aim of this study is to
      develop and verify a highly simulated-bleeding continuously perfused training
      model (CPTM) and to evaluate its training efficacy. METHODS: CPTM was constructed
      using fresh lamb liver whose portal veins were perfused with red-dyed liquid
      gelatin. Construct validity of CPTMs was tested in 33 participants with three
      levels of laparoscopic experience (experts, intermediates, and novices) who were
      demanded to finish one superficial stitch and one deep stitch for suture
      hemostasis on CPTMs. The CPTMs were also evaluated by the experts. CPTMs were
      compared with dry box training models (DBTMs) regarding training efficacy among
      the novices who were assigned to DBTM and CPTM groups to, respectively, complete
      a 10-day training on CPTMs or DBTMs. Before and after their assignments, their
      superficial stitches were assessed by completion time, suture accuracy, and
      suture knot performance while their deep stitches by completion time and bleeding
      control. RESULTS: CPTM proved to be construct valid by both superficial and deep
      stitches. Significant differences were found regarding completion time (763, 271,
      174 s), suture accuracy (4.4, 1.8, 0.2 mm), and suturing knot performance (12.1,
      21.5, 22.0) for superficial stitches (p < 0.001), as well as regarding completion
      time (807, 423, 277 s) for deep stitches (p < 0.001). Positive comments were
      given by all experts. CPTMs helped novices to acquire laparoscopic suture skills.
      Their training efficacy was significantly better than that of DBTMs (p < 0.05).
      Learning curves of CPTM group plateaued at the sixth round for superficial
      stitches and at the seventh round for deep stitches. CONCLUSION: CPTM offers
      trainees a highly simulated-bleeding means to acquire advanced laparoscopic
      suture skills. The suture skills learned on CPTMs may improve significantly at
      the seventh round.

PMID- 26873749
TI  - The effect of head up tilting on bioreactance cardiac output and stroke volume
      readings using suprasternal transcutaneous Doppler as a control in healthy young
      adults.
AB  - To compare the performance of a bioreactance cardiac output (CO) monitor (NICOM)
      and transcutaneous Doppler (USCOM) during head up tilting (HUT). Healthy young
      adult subjects, age 22 +/- 1 years, 7 male and 7 female, were tilted over 3-5 s
      from supine to 70 degrees  HUT, 30 degrees  HUT and back to supine. Positions
      were held for 3 min. Simultaneous readings of NICOM and USCOM were performed 30 s
      into each new position. Mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), CO and stroke
      volume (SV), and thoracic fluid content (TFC) were recorded. Bland-Altman,
      percentage changes and analysis of variance for repeated measures were used for
      statistical analysis. Pre-tilt NICOM CO and SV readings (6.1 +/- 1.0 L/min and
      113 +/- 25 ml) were higher than those from USCOM (4.1 +/- 0.6 L/min and 77 +/- 9
      ml) (P < 0.001). Bland-Altman limits of agreement for CO were wide with a
      percentage error of 38 %. HUT increased MBP and HR (P < 0.001). CO and SV
      readings decreased with HUT. However, the percentage changes in USCOM and NICOM
      readings did not concur (P < 0.001). Whereas USCOM provided gravitational effect
      proportional changes in SV readings of 23 +/- 15 % (30 degrees  half tilt) and 44
      +/- 11 % (70 degrees  near full tilt), NICOM changes did not being 28 +/- 10 and
      33 +/- 11 %. TFC decreased linearly with HUT. The NICOM does not provide linear
      changes in SV as predicted by physiology when patients are tilted. Furthermore
      there is a lack of agreement with USCOM measurements at baseline and during
      tilting. 

PMID- 26873751
TI  - Androgen actions in mouse wound healing: Minimal in vivo effects of local
      antiandrogen delivery.
AB  - The aims of this work were to define the role of androgens in female wound
      healing and to develop and characterize a novel wound dressing with
      antiandrogens. Androgens retard wound healing in males, but their role in female
      wound healing has not been established. To understand androgen receptor (AR)
      mediated androgen actions in male and female wound healing, we utilized the
      global AR knockout (ARKO) mouse model, with a mutated AR deleting the second zinc
      finger to disrupt DNA binding and transcriptional activation. AR inactivation
      enhanced wound healing rate in males by increasing re-epithelialization and
      collagen deposition even when wound contraction was eliminated. Cell
      proliferation and migration in ARKO male fibroblasts was significantly increased
      compared with wild-type (WT) fibroblasts. However, ARKO females showed a similar
      healing rate compared to WT females. To exploit local antiandrogen effects in
      wound healing, while minimizing off-target systemic effects, we developed a novel
      electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold wound dressing material for sustained
      local antiandrogen delivery. Using the antiandrogen hydroxyl flutamide (HF) at 1,
      5, and 10 mg/mL in PCL scaffolds, controlled HF delivery over 21 days
      significantly enhanced in vitro cell proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts
      and human keratinocytes. HF-PCL scaffolds also promoted in vivo wound healing in
      mice compared with open wounds but not to PCL scaffolds.

PMID- 26873750
TI  - Clinical trial and in-vitro study comparing the efficacy of treating bony lesions
      with allografts versus synthetic or highly-processed xenogeneic bone grafts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our study aim was to compare allogeneic cancellous bone (ACB) and
      synthetic or highly-processed xenogeneic bone substitutes (SBS) in the treatment
      of skeletal defects in orthopedic surgery. METHODS: 232 patients treated for bony
      lesions with ACB (n = 116) or SBS (n = 116) within a 10-year time period were
      included in this case-control study. Furthermore, both materials were seeded with
      human osteoblasts (hOB, n = 10) and analyzed by histology, for viability
      (AlamarBlue(r)) and protein expression activity (Luminex(r)). RESULTS: The
      complication rate was 14.2 %, proportion of defects without bony healing 3.6 %;
      neither outcome parameter differed comparing the intervention groups. Failed
      consolidation correlated with an increase in complications (p < 0.03). The rate
      of complications was further highly significant in association with the location
      of use (p < 0.001), but did not depend on age, ASA risk classification, BMI,
      smoking behavior or type of insurance. However, those factors did significantly
      influence the bony healing rate (p < 0.02). Complication and consolidation rates
      were independent of gender and the filling substances employed within the
      different locations. Histological examination revealed similar bone structures,
      whereas cell remnants were apparent only in the allografts. Both materials were
      biocompatible in-vitro, and seeded with human osteoblasts. The cells remained
      vital over the 3-week culture period and produced microscopically typical bone
      matrix. We observed initially increased expression of osteocalcin, osteopontin,
      and osteoprotegerin as well as leptin and adiponectin secretion declining after 1
      week, especially in the ACB group. CONCLUSION: Although both investigated
      materials appeared to be similarly suitable for the treatment of skeletal lesions
      in-vivo and in-vitro, outcome was decisively influenced by other factors such as
      the site of use or epidemiological parameters.

PMID- 26873752
TI  - miR-19a, -19b, and -26b Mediate CTGF Expression and Pulmonary Fibroblast
      Differentiation.
AB  - Although microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation with intracellular signaling cascade
      disruption has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis,
      the relationship between miRNAs and intracellular signaling cascades in pulmonary
      fibrosis remains unclear. Using the human embryonic lung fibroblast cell line WI
      38, we observed endothelin-1 (ET-1)- and thrombin-induced expression of the
      differentiation markers alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and vimentin along
      with increased connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) protein expression.
      Decreased CTGF protein expression by CTGF siRNA significantly blocked ET-1- and
      thrombin-induced alpha-SMA and vimentin expression in WI-38 cells. Activation of
      the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 contributed to ET-1- and
      thrombin-induced CTGF, alpha-SMA, and vimentin expression in WI-38 cells.
      TargetScan Human, miRanda, and PicTar prediction algorithms were used to predict
      miRNAs with binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of CTGF mRNA. miR
      19a, -19b, and -26b were candidate miRNAs of CTGF. Direct binding of the
      candidate miRNAs to the 3'-UTR of CTGF mRNA was verified through luciferase assay
      by using SV40-promoter-IRES-driven luciferase containing the 3'-UTR of CTGF mRNA
      as a reporter plasmid. ET-1 and thrombin reduced candidate miRNA levels.
      Candidate miRNA overexpression significantly suppressed ET-1- and thrombin
      induced CTGF expression and reduced alpha-SMA and vimentin expression in the WI
      38 cells. Furthermore, candidate miRNA levels were decreased in the lung tissues
      of mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and intratracheal application
      of miR-19a, -19b, and 26b reduced the pulmonary fibrotic severity induced by
      bleomycin. This study is the first to demonstrate crosstalk between MAPK
      activation and reduction in miR-19a, -19b, and -26b expression leading to lung
      fibroblast differentiation. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2236-2248, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26873753
TI  - The Tao survivorship of schistosomes: implications for schistosomiasis control.
AB  - Schistosomiasis, caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a major
      public health problem which contributes substantially to the economic and
      financial burdens of many nations in the developing world. An array of survival
      strategies, such as the unique structure of the tegument which acts as a major
      host-parasite interface, immune modulation mechanisms, gene regulation, and
      apoptosis and self-renewal have been adopted by schistosome parasites over the
      course of long-term evolution with their mammalian definitive hosts. Recent
      generation of complete schistosome genomes together with numerous biological,
      immunological, high-throughput "-omics" and gene function studies have revealed
      the Tao or strategies that schistosomes employ not only to promote long-term
      survival, but also to ensure effective life cycle transmission. New scenarios for
      the future control of this important neglected tropical disease will present
      themselves as our understanding of these Tao increases.

PMID- 26873755
TI  - The Bedside Nurse: The Foundation of Multimodal Neuromonitoring.
AB  - Although technology over the past several decades has enabled improved
      neuroimaging and advanced noninvasive and invasive neuromonitoring, the role of
      the bedside nurse conducing ongoing neurologic examination is still a
      foundational element of neuromonitoring. Ongoing neurologic monitoring by the
      bedside nurse in the neuroscience intensive care unit is variable and guided by
      little evidence or data. When neurologic monitoring through clinical examination
      is possible, data obtained from multimodal monitoring should be interpreted in
      the context of the neurologic examination. The bedside nurse plays a crucial role
      in conducting ongoing neurologic examinations. 

PMID- 26873756
TI  - Blood Pressure Management Controversies in Neurocritical Care.
AB  - Blood pressure (BP) management is essential in neurocritical care settings to
      ensure adequate cerebral perfusion and prevent secondary brain injury. Despite
      consensus on the importance of BP monitoring, significant practice variations
      persist regarding optimal methods for monitoring and treatment of BP values among
      patients with neurologic injuries. This article provides a summary of research
      investigating various approaches for BP management in neurocritical care.
      Evidence-based recommendations, areas for future research, and current
      technological advancements for BP management are discussed. 

PMID- 26873757
TI  - Delirium in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit.
AB  - This article reviews current literature regarding the neuro intensive care unit
      (ICU) and the ICU setting in general regarding delirium, pain, agitation, and
      evidence-based guidelines and assessment tools. Delirium in the ICU affects as
      many as 50% to 80% of patients. Delirium is associated with increased burden of
      illness, higher mortality, and increased suffering. Evidence-based guidelines
      recommend using validated and reliable assessment tools. We reviewed current
      national clinical guidelines, validated tools for assessing pain,
      agitation/sedation, and delirium. We also reviewed a delirium risk
      assessment/prediction tool. 

PMID- 26873754
TI  - Consensus Paper: Towards a Systems-Level View of Cerebellar Function: the
      Interplay Between Cerebellum, Basal Ganglia, and Cortex.
AB  - Despite increasing evidence suggesting the cerebellum works in concert with the
      cortex and basal ganglia, the nature of the reciprocal interactions between these
      three brain regions remains unclear. This consensus paper gathers diverse recent
      views on a variety of important roles played by the cerebellum within the
      cerebello-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical system across a range of motor and
      cognitive functions. The paper includes theoretical and empirical contributions,
      which cover the following topics: recent evidence supporting the dynamical
      interplay between cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cortical areas in humans and
      other animals; theoretical neuroscience perspectives and empirical evidence on
      the reciprocal influences between cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cortex in
      learning and control processes; and data suggesting possible roles of the
      cerebellum in basal ganglia movement disorders. Although starting from different
      backgrounds and dealing with different topics, all the contributors agree that
      viewing the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cortex as an integrated system enables
      us to understand the function of these areas in radically different ways. In
      addition, there is unanimous consensus between the authors that future
      experimental and computational work is needed to understand the function of
      cerebellar-basal ganglia circuitry in both motor and non-motor functions. The
      paper reports the most advanced perspectives on the role of the cerebellum within
      the cerebello-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical system and illustrates other
      elements of consensus as well as disagreements and open questions in the field.

PMID- 26873758
TI  - Neuroradiology of the Brain.
AB  - A variety of imaging modalities are currently used to evaluate the brain. Prior
      to the 1970s, neurologic imaging involved radiographs, invasive procedures for
      spinal and carotid artery air and contrast injection, and painful patient
      manipulation. The brain was considered inaccessible to imaging and referred to as
      "the dark continent." Since then, advances in neuroradiology have moved the brain
      from being a dark continent to evaluation techniques that illuminate brain
      contents and pathology. These advances enable quick acquisition of images for
      prompt diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews anatomy, diagnostic
      principles, and clinical application of brain imaging beyond plain radiographs. 

PMID- 26873759
TI  - Management of Refractory Intracranial Pressure.
AB  - Patients with refractory intracranial pressure represent a challenge to the
      multidisciplinary critical care team. Myriad diagnoses: traumatic brain injury,
      subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke, are among
      the causes commonly seen in patients with elevated intracranial pressure.
      Clinicians tasked with caring for these patients must be aware of available
      interventions and management strategies to improve outcomes. Nurses as the
      bedside clinician most frequently assessing these patients are ideally situated
      to detect changes and act efficiently to lower refractory intracranial pressure. 

PMID- 26873760
TI  - Invasive Neuromonitoring.
AB  - Advances in technology have resulted in a plethora of invasive neuromonitoring
      options for practitioners to manage while caring for the complex needs of the
      critical care patient. Although many types of invasive neuromonitoring are
      available to the practitioner, intraparenchymal monitors and external ventricular
      devices are used most frequently in the clinical setting and are the focus of
      this article. In addition, multimodality monitoring has been noted to confer a
      survival benefit in patients with this complex type of invasive neuromonitoring
      and is discussed as well. 

PMID- 26873761
TI  - Principles of Neuro-anesthesia in Neurosurgery for Intensive Care Unit Nurses.
AB  - As neurosurgical interventions and procedures are advancing, so is the specialty
      of neuro-anesthesia. The neurosurgeon and the neuro-anesthetist are focused on
      providing each patient with the best possible outcome. Throughout the surgery,
      the main priorities of the neuro-anesthetist are patient safety, patient well
      being, surgical field exposure, and patient positioning. Potential postoperative
      complications include nausea and vomiting. Postoperative visual loss is a
      complication of neurosurgery, most specifically spine surgery, whose origins are
      unknown. Postoperative considerations for the intensive care unit nurse should
      include receiving a thorough clinical handoff from the anesthesia provider to
      ensure care continuity and patient safety. 

PMID- 26873762
TI  - Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Ultrasound and the Diagnosis of Increased
      Intracranial Pressure.
AB  - Ultrasound has been used for almost 30 years in a wide variety of clinical
      applications and environments. From the austerity of battlefields to the labor
      and delivery ward, ultrasound has the ability to give clinicians real-time,
      noninvasive diagnostic imaging. Ultrasound by emergency physicians (and all
      nonradiologists) has become more prevalent and has been used for examinations
      such as the transcranial Doppler to evaluate for stroke, cardiac function, FAST
      and EFAST examinations for trauma, and now increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
      via Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Ultrasound (ONSD). The ONSD is a valid and
      reliable indicator of ICP. 

PMID- 26873763
TI  - The Use of Automated Pupillometry in Critical Care.
AB  - The neurologic examination (neuroexamination) is one of the most powerful tools
      available to nurses and physicians caring for patients with neurologic or
      neurosurgical illness. Assessing cranial nerve function is one of the most vital
      components of the neuroexamination. The pupillary light reflex helps to evaluate
      the status of the second and third cranial nerves and is one of the most well
      known elements of the cranial nerve examination. Automated pupillometers have
      been developed that provide objective measures of size of the pupil and the
      responsiveness of the pupil to light (neuropupillary index). 

PMID- 26873764
TI  - Cerebral Microdialysis.
AB  - A variety of neuromonitoring techniques are available to aid in the care of
      neurocritically ill patients. However, traditional monitors lack the ability to
      measure brain biochemistry and may provide inadequate warning of potentially
      reversible deleterious conditions. Cerebral microdialysis (CMD) is a safe, novel
      method of monitoring regional brain biochemistry. Analysis of CMD analytes as
      part of a multimodal approach may help inform clinical decision making, guide
      medical treatments, and aid in prognostication of patient outcome. Its use is
      most frequently documented in traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
      Incorporating CMD into clinical practice is a multidisciplinary effort. 

PMID- 26873765
TI  - Targeted Temperature Modulation in the Neuroscience Patient.
AB  - There are many approaches to and opportunities for implementing temperature
      modulation in critically ill patients, but barriers also exist. Conceptually, the
      process of cooling is rather straightforward; however, targeted temperature
      management is anything but simplistic. The need for a collaborative approach
      (physicians champions, nursing support, respiratory therapists, pharmacists,
      laboratory personnel, and supply chain representatives) to address definitions of
      normothermia and fever, patient inclusion/exclusion criteria for therapy based on
      underlying neurorelated pathologies, determination of methods of
      induction/maintenance, monitoring required, education planning, and strategies to
      minimize potential complications are warranted. 

PMID- 26873766
TI  - Neuromonitoring in the Intensive Care Unit.

PMID- 26873767
TI  - Multiple mini-interviews as a predictor of academic achievements during the first
      2 years of medical school.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, conventional interviews have been replaced with the
      multiple mini-interviews (MMI) for medical student selection in Korea. We first
      introduced the MMI as a new admissions tool in Korea. The aim of this study is to
      determine whether the MMI accurately predicts academic achievement on both
      written and performance-based examinations during the first 2 years of medical
      school. METHODS: The original scores of each station were standardized to T
      scores in the candidates group. Three cohorts of students were included depending
      upon the year they entered medical school. Pearson's correlations were calculated
      to estimate the correlations between MMI scores and academic achievements.
      Additional correlated factors were run through multiple stepwise linear
      regression analysis to estimate predictive validity. RESULTS: There were no
      differences between T-scores or grade point averages (GPA) among the cohorts. The
      correlation coefficients between total MMI scores and academic achievement in
      Year 1 and the Year 2 performance-based examinations ranged from 0.17 to 0.43.
      Station 1 significantly predicted academic achievement over the second year.
      Station 3 significantly predicted only performance-based examination performance
      over the second year. CONCLUSION: MMI is a useful tool to assist with medical
      student selection. In particular, critical thinking, professionalism, and
      presentation and communication skills may be meaningful topics for predicting
      academic achievements, especially in performance-based subjects.

PMID- 26873768
TI  - Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne's syndrome: A case report.

PMID- 26873769
TI  - Founding an undergraduate society: a student-led initiative to improve
      dermatology education.

PMID- 26873770
TI  - Hereditary gingival fibromatosis with extreme ridge thickness and insufficient
      interarch distance: A clinical report of surgical and prosthetic management.
AB  - Hereditary gingival fibromatosis is a rare genetic disorder resulting in gingival
      overgrowth that can be found in both dental arches. As a result of the gingival
      overgrowth and associated dental displacement, affected patients occasionally
      present with increased occlusal vertical dimension and/or inadequate lip closure.
      Depending on the disorder's severity, these patients can be challenging to treat.
      This clinical report describes a comprehensive surgical and prosthetic approach
      to the rehabilitation of a middle-aged patient with severe manifestations of
      hereditary gingival fibromatosis and severe generalized chronic periodontitis. 

PMID- 26873771
TI  - Cytotoxic evaluation of hydroxyapatite-filled and silica/hydroxyapatite-filled
      acrylate-based restorative composite resins: An in vitro study.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although the physical and mechanical properties of
      hydroxyapatite-filled dental restorative composite resins have been examined, the
      biocompatibility of these materials has not been studied in detail. PURPOSE: The
      purpose of this in vitro study was to analyze the toxicity of acrylate-based
      restorative composite resins filled with hydroxyapatite and a
      silica/hydroxyapatite combination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five different
      restorative materials based on bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA) and
      tri-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) were developed: unfilled (H0),
      hydroxyapatite-filled (H30, H50), and silica/hydroxyapatite-filled (SH30, SH50)
      composite resins. These were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity by using human bone
      marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Surface morphology, elemental composition, and
      functional groups were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy
      dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transformed infrared
      spectroscopy (FTIR). The spectra normalization, baseline corrections, and peak
      integration were carried out by OPUS v4.0 software. RESULTS: Both in vitro
      cytotoxicity results and SEM analysis indicated that the composite resins
      developed were nontoxic and supported cell adherence. Elemental analysis with EDX
      revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, calcium, silicon, and gold, while the
      presence of methacrylate, hydroxyl, and methylene functional groups was confirmed
      through FTIR analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The characterization and compatibility
      studies showed that these hydroxyapatite-filled and silica/hydroxyapatite-filled
      bis-GMA/TEGDMA-based restorative composite resins are nontoxic to human bone
      marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and show a favorable biologic response, making
      them potential biomaterials.

PMID- 26873772
TI  - Vow to impose contract means further action is "inevitable," says junior doctors'
      leader.

PMID- 26873773
TI  - A dermatologist at heart: the Osler legacy at Johns Hopkins.

PMID- 26873774
TI  - Spontaneously occurring fundus findings observed using confocal scanning laser
      ophthalmoscopy in wild type Sprague Dawley rats.
AB  - PURPOSE: Non-invasive in vivo imaging is an increasingly used component of pre
      clinical research. However, to reliably interpret data, it may be necessary to
      identify and document pre-existent findings prior to initiating long-term or
      intensive protocols, particularly where toxicity or efficacy is under
      investigation. Here we report here spontaneously occurring findings from the
      Sprague Dawley (SD) rat eye using multi-modal confocal scanning laser
      ophthalmoscopy (cSLO). METHODS: As part of ongoing studies, with the goal of
      excluding animals with abnormalities from further investigation, a total of 165
      wild type SD rats (312 eyes) were assessed using cSLO imaging at baseline prior
      to initiating experiments to detect, describe, and determine the prevalence of
      spontaneous fundus findings. RESULTS: Using fundus autofluorescence (FAF) as the
      primary screening modality, over 30% of analyzed eyes possessed some fundus
      finding that differed from the normal composite reference image. Unexpectedly,
      100% of eyes demonstrated a diffuse hyperfluorescent region in the posterior pole
      that was ultimately considered normal, and formed part of the reference.
      Evaluated by three independent reviewers, five groups of FAF abnormalities were
      defined, based primarily on shape and size of the lesion. Of these, the most
      extensive lesions were further analyzed using infrared reflectance (IR) and red
      free (RF) imaging. White light and autofluorescent microscopy of excised tissue
      confirmed that the extensive lesions were derived from abnormalities in both the
      isolated retina and posterior eyecups. CONCLUSIONS: Given the newly described
      hyperfluorescent glow that appears in all eyes, and the high basal rate of
      spontaneous lesions in the outbred SD rat, we suggest that investigators be aware
      of the variants of normal, and that baseline in vivo screening be considered
      prior to initiating intensive or expensive investigation.

PMID- 26873775
TI  - Promoting the 3Rs to enhance the OECD fish toxicity testing framework.
AB  - Fish toxicity testing has been conducted since the 1860's in order to help define
      safe levels of chemical contaminants in lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The
      historical emphasis on acute lethality testing of chemicals has more recently
      focussed on long term sublethal effects of chemicals on fish and their prey
      species. Fish toxicity testing is now embedded in much environment legislation on
      chemical safety while it is recognized that animal use should be Replaced,
      Reduced and Refined (the 3Rs) where possible. The OECD Fish Toxicity Testing
      Framework provides a useful structure with which to address the needs of
      environmental safety assessment whilst implementing the 3Rs. This commentary aims
      to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the OECD Fish Toxicity
      Testing Framework. 

PMID- 26873776
TI  - Perceived magnitude of visual displays: Area, numerosity, and mean size.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that the visual system is able to estimate properties
      such as area, numerosity, and mean size efficiently and accurately. In the
      current study, we investigated whether our percepts of each of them could be
      based on ratios of the other two of these three properties. In each trial,
      observers viewed a display containing various quantities of filled circles and
      judged whether the magnitude of a property of the display, such as summed area,
      numerosity, or average size of the circles, was greater or less than a
      corresponding probe display. We found that mean size judgments were more accurate
      and precise compared to the other judgments. We then predicted observers'
      performances for each task using the measured performance for the other
      judgments. The results showed that the other properties predicted perceived
      summed area, but not perceived mean size and numerosity. Together, our results
      suggest that the visual system does not use ratios to compute mean size and
      numerosity. 

PMID- 26873777
TI  - Perceptual learning of basic visual features remains task specific with Training
      Plus-Exposure (TPE) training.
AB  - Visual perceptual learning is known to be specific to the trained retinal
      location, feature, and task. However, location and feature specificity can be
      eliminated by double-training or TPE training protocols, in which observers
      receive additional exposure to the transfer location or feature dimension via an
      irrelevant task besides the primary learning task Here we tested whether these
      new training protocols could even make learning transfer across different tasks
      involving discrimination of basic visual features (e.g., orientation and
      contrast). Observers practiced a near-threshold orientation (or contrast)
      discrimination task. Following a TPE training protocol, they also received
      exposure to the transfer task via performing suprathreshold contrast (or
      orientation) discrimination in alternating blocks of trials in the same sessions.
      The results showed no evidence for significant learning transfer to the untrained
      near-threshold contrast (or orientation) discrimination task after discounting
      the pretest effects and the suprathreshold practice effects. These results thus
      do not support a hypothetical task-independent component in perceptual learning
      of basic visual features. They also set the boundary of the new training
      protocols in their capability to enable learning transfer. 

PMID- 26873778
TI  - Exogenously triggered perceptual switches in multistable structure-from-motion
      occur in the absence of visual awareness.
AB  - Here, we characterize the duration of exogenously triggered perceptual switches
      in an ambiguously rotating structure-from-motion display and demonstrate their
      independence on visual awareness. To this end, we triggered a perceptual reversal
      by inverting the on-screen motion and systematically varied the posttrigger
      presentation duration, while collecting observers' reports about the initial and
      final directions of illusory rotation. We demonstrate that for the structure-from
      motion display, perceptual transitions are extremely brief (<= 20 ms) and can be
      considered instantaneous from an experimental perspective. We also report that
      although very brief posttrigger intervals (10-20 ms) reliably initiate a
      perceptual reversal, observers become aware of perceptual switches only if the
      posttrigger presentation continues for at least 80 ms. Additional experiments
      demonstrated that an observed lack of visual awareness for brief posttrigger
      presentation intervals cannot be attributed to either a systematic delay of
      visual awareness or to backward masking. Our results show that exogenously
      triggered perceptual reversal can occur in the absence of visual awareness,
      extending earlier work on spontaneous reversals that indicated that neither
      awareness nor attention may be required for multistable perception.
      Methodologically, the brevity and the short latency of induced perceptual
      reversals make them particularly suitable for finely timed experiments, such as
      magneto/electroencephalography studies.

PMID- 26873779
TI  - Characterization of the life cycle of the tick Haemaphysalis tibetensis under
      field conditions in Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
AB  - The tick Haemaphysalis tibetensis Hoogstraal is found uniquely in the Qinghai
      Tibet plateau of Tibet and Gansu of China. Not much is known of this tick.
      Therefore, in this study we investigated the life cycle of H. tibetensis under
      field conditions from March 2014 to March 2015 in Damxung County, north Lhasa
      City in Tibet (Autonomous Region in China). The results of the study demonstrated
      that the tick H. tibetensis requires an average of 177.8 days (range 129-202
      days) to complete a life cycle, with rabbits supplied as hosts in the field plot.
      Under natural lighting and climate conditions, the feeding period of females was
      an average of 7.7 days, and the pre-oviposition period was 9.4 days, followed by
      28.2 days for oviposition. The premolting period of nymphs lasted 52.7 days,
      which was the longest life cycle phase. The average weight ratio of engorged to
      unfed females was 58.2. Additionally, there was a highly positive correlation
      between the weight of engorged and the number of the eggs that were laid (r =
      0.83, P < 0.05). The reproductive efficiency index and reproductive fitness index
      in females were 5.1 and 4.7, respectively.

PMID- 26873780
TI  - A method and software framework for enriching private biomedical sources with
      data from public online repositories.
AB  - Modern biomedical research relies on the semantic integration of heterogeneous
      data sources to find data correlations. Researchers access multiple datasets of
      disparate origin, and identify elements-e.g. genes, compounds, pathways-that lead
      to interesting correlations. Normally, they must refer to additional public
      databases in order to enrich the information about the identified entities-e.g.
      scientific literature, published clinical trial results, etc. While semantic
      integration techniques have traditionally focused on providing homogeneous access
      to private datasets-thus helping automate the first part of the research, and
      there exist different solutions for browsing public data, there is still a need
      for tools that facilitate merging public repositories with private datasets. This
      paper presents a framework that automatically locates public data of interest to
      the researcher and semantically integrates it with existing private datasets. The
      framework has been designed as an extension of traditional data integration
      systems, and has been validated with an existing data integration platform from a
      European research project by integrating a private biological dataset with data
      from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). 

PMID- 26873781
TI  - Is the crowd better as an assistant or a replacement in ontology engineering? An
      exploration through the lens of the Gene Ontology.
AB  - Biomedical ontologies contain errors. Crowdsourcing, defined as taking a job
      traditionally performed by a designated agent and outsourcing it to an undefined
      large group of people, provides scalable access to humans. Therefore, the crowd
      has the potential to overcome the limited accuracy and scalability found in
      current ontology quality assurance approaches. Crowd-based methods have
      identified errors in SNOMED CT, a large, clinical ontology, with an accuracy
      similar to that of experts, suggesting that crowdsourcing is indeed a feasible
      approach for identifying ontology errors. This work uses that same crowd-based
      methodology, as well as a panel of experts, to verify a subset of the Gene
      Ontology (200 relationships). Experts identified 16 errors, generally in
      relationships referencing acids and metals. The crowd performed poorly in
      identifying those errors, with an area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve ranging from 0.44 to 0.73, depending on the methods
      configuration. However, when the crowd verified what experts considered to be
      easy relationships with useful definitions, they performed reasonably well.
      Notably, there are significantly fewer Google search results for Gene Ontology
      concepts than SNOMED CT concepts. This disparity may account for the difference
      in performance - fewer search results indicate a more difficult task for the
      worker. The number of Internet search results could serve as a method to assess
      which tasks are appropriate for the crowd. These results suggest that the crowd
      fits better as an expert assistant, helping experts with their verification by
      completing the easy tasks and allowing experts to focus on the difficult tasks,
      rather than an expert replacement. 

PMID- 26873782
TI  - Single-molecule force spectroscopy on polyproteins and receptor-ligand complexes:
      The current toolbox.
AB  - Single-molecule force spectroscopy sheds light onto the free energy landscapes
      governing protein folding and molecular recognition. Since only a single molecule
      or single molecular complex is probed at any given point in time, the technique
      is capable of identifying low-probability conformations within a large ensemble
      of possibilities. It furthermore allows choosing certain unbinding pathways
      through careful selection of the points at which the force acts on the protein or
      molecular complex. This review focuses on recent innovations in construct design,
      site-specific bioconjugation, measurement techniques, instrumental advances, and
      data analysis methods for improving workflow, throughput, and data yield of AFM
      based single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments. Current trends that we
      highlight include customized fingerprint domains, peptide tags for site-specific
      covalent surface attachment, and polyproteins that are formed through
      mechanostable receptor-ligand interactions. Recent methods to improve measurement
      stability, signal-to-noise ratio, and force precision are presented, and
      theoretical considerations, analysis methods, and algorithms for analyzing large
      numbers of force-extension curves are further discussed. The various innovations
      identified here will serve as a starting point to researchers in the field
      looking for opportunities to push the limits of the technique further.

PMID- 26873783
TI  - 3DBIONOTES: A unified, enriched and interactive view of macromolecular
      information.
AB  - With the advent of high throughput techniques like Next Generation Sequencing,
      the amount of biological information for genes and proteins is growing faster
      than ever. Structural information is also rapidly growing, especially in the cryo
      Electron Microscopy area. However, in many cases, the proteomic and genomic data
      are spread in multiple databases and with no simple connection to structural
      information. In this work we present a new web platform that integrates EMDB/PDB
      structures and UniProt sequences with different sources of protein annotations.
      The application provides an interactive interface linking sequence and structure,
      including EM maps, presenting the different sources of information at sequence
      and structural level. The web application is available at
      http://3dbionotes.cnb.csic.es. 

PMID- 26873784
TI  - The Electron Microscopy eXchange (EMX) initiative.
AB  - Three-dimensional electron microscopy (3DEM) of ice-embedded samples allows the
      structural analysis of large biological macromolecules close to their native
      state. Different techniques have been developed during the last forty years to
      process cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data. Not surprisingly, success in
      analysis and interpretation is highly correlated with the continuous development
      of image processing packages. The field has matured to the point where further
      progress in data and methods sharing depends on an agreement between the packages
      on how to describe common image processing tasks. Such standardization will
      facilitate the use of software as well as seamless collaboration, allowing the
      sharing of rich information between different platforms. Our aim here is to
      describe the Electron Microscopy eXchange (EMX) initiative, launched at the 2012
      Instruct Image Processing Center Developer Workshop, with the intention of
      developing a first set of standard conventions for the interchange of information
      for single-particle analysis (EMX version 1.0). These conventions cover the
      specification of the metadata for micrograph and particle images, including
      contrast transfer function (CTF) parameters and particle orientations. EMX v1.0
      has already been implemented in the Bsoft, EMAN, Xmipp and Scipion image
      processing packages. It has been and will be used in the CTF and EMDataBank
      Validation Challenges respectively. It is also being used in EMPIAR, the Electron
      Microscopy Pilot Image Archive, which stores raw image data related to the 3DEM
      reconstructions in EMDB. 

PMID- 26873785
TI  - Assessment of ionization chamber correction factors in photon beams using a time
      saving strategy with PENELOPE code.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate Monte Carlo-based perturbation and
      beam quality correction factors for ionization chambers in photon beams using a
      saving time strategy with PENELOPE code. Simulations for calculating absorbed
      doses to water using full spectra of photon beams impinging the whole water
      phantom and those using a phase-space file previously stored around the point of
      interest were performed and compared. The widely used NE2571 ionization chamber
      was modeled with PENELOPE using data from the literature in order to calculate
      absorbed doses to the air cavity of the chamber. Absorbed doses to water at
      reference depth were also calculated for providing the perturbation and beam
      quality correction factors for that chamber in high energy photon beams. Results
      obtained in this study show that simulations with phase-space files appropriately
      stored can be up to ten times shorter than using a full spectrum of photon beams
      in the input-file. Values of kQ and its components for the NE2571 ionization
      chamber showed good agreement with published values in the literature and are
      provided with typical statistical uncertainties of 0.2%. Comparisons to kQ values
      published in current dosimetry protocols such as the AAPM TG-51 and IAEA TRS-398
      showed maximum percentage differences of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively. The proposed
      strategy presented a significant efficiency gain and can be applied for a variety
      of ionization chambers and clinical photon beams. 

PMID- 26873786
TI  - X-ray fiber diffraction analysis shows dynamic changes in axial tubulin repeats
      in native microtubules depending on paclitaxel content, temperature and GTP
      hydrolysis.
AB  - Microtubules are key components of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells. The
      dynamics between assembled microtubules and free tubulin dimers in the cytoplasm
      is closely related to the active shape changes of microtubule networks. One of
      the most fundamental questions is the association of microtubule dynamics with
      the molecular conformation of tubulin within microtubules. To address this issue,
      we applied a new technique for the rapid shear-flow alignment of biological
      filaments, enabling us to acquire the structural periodicity data of microtubules
      by X-ray fiber diffraction under various physiological conditions. We classified
      microtubules into three main groups on the basis of distinct axial tubulin
      periodicities and mean microtubule diameters that varied depending on GTP
      hydrolysis and the content of paclitaxel, a microtubule stabilizer. Paclitaxel
      induced rapid changes in tubulin axial repeats in a cooperative manner. This is
      the first demonstration of dynamic changes of axial tubulin repeats within native
      microtubules without fixation. We also found extraordinary features of negative
      thermal expansion of axial tubulin repeats in both paclitaxel-stabilized and
      GMPCPP-containing microtubules. Our results suggest that even in assembled
      microtubules, both GTP- and GDP-tubulin dimers can undergo dynamic conversion
      between at least two different states: short and long configurations.

PMID- 26873787
TI  - Quality control of antibodies for assay development.
AB  - Antibodies are used as powerful tools in basic research, for example, in
      biomarker identification, and in various forms for diagnostics, for example,
      identification of allergies or autoimmune diseases. Due to their robustness and
      ease of handling, immunoassays are favourite methods for investigation of various
      biological or medical questions. Nevertheless in many cases, additional analyses
      such as mass spectrometry are used to validate or confirm the results of
      immunoassays. To minimize the workload and to increase confidence in
      immunoassays, there are urgent needs for antibodies which are both highly
      specific and well validated. Unfortunately many commercially available antibodies
      are neither well characterized nor fully tested for cross-reactivities. Adequate
      quality control and validation of an antibody is time-consuming and can be
      frustrating. Such validation needs to be performed for every assay/application.
      However, where an antibody validation is successful, a highly specific and stable
      reagent will be on hand. This article describes the validation processes of
      antibodies, including some often neglected factors, as well as unspecific binding
      to other sample compounds in a multiparameter diagnostic assay. The validation
      consists of different immunological methods, with important assay controls, and
      is performed in relation to the development of a diagnostic test. 

PMID- 26873790
TI  - Impact of stereotactic radiotherapy on kidney function in primary renal cell
      carcinoma: Establishing a dose-response relationship.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate renal dysfunction after stereotactic ablative
      body radiotherapy (SABR) for inoperable primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using
      nuclear medicine assessments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective clinical
      trial, patients received single fraction renal SABR (26 Gy) for tumours <5 cm, or
      fractionated SABR (3 * 14 Gy) for tumours ?5 cm. Global and regional glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR) was calculated through (51)Cr-EDTA and (99m)Tc-DMSA
      SPECT/CT, respectively, at baseline and post-treatment (14, 90 days and at 1
      year). Regional loss in function was correlated to the absolute and biologically
      effective doses (BED) delivered. RESULTS: In 21 patients the mean (range) tumour
      size was 48 mm (21-75 mm). The mean +/- SD GFR at baseline was 52 +/- 24 ml/min.
      Net change in mean GFR was +0.6 +/- 11.3, +3.2 +/- 14.5 and -8.7 +/- 13.4 ml/min
      (p=0.03) at 2 weeks, 3 months and 1 year, respectively. For every 10 Gy of
      physical dose delivered, an exponential decline in affected kidney GFR was
      observed at 39% for 26 Gy/1 fraction and 25% for 42 Gy/3 fractions. When
      normalised to BED3Gy, the dose-response relationship for each treatment
      prescription was similar with a plateau beyond 100 Gy. The R50% conformity index
      correlated with GFR loss (p=0.04). No patient required dialysis. CONCLUSIONS:
      SABR results in clinically acceptable and dose-dependent renal dysfunction at 1
      year. Sparing functional kidney from high-dose regions (>50% isodoses) may help
      reduce risk of functional loss.

PMID- 26873791
TI  - On the impact of improved dosimetric accuracy on head and neck high dose rate
      brachytherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study the effect of finite patient dimensions and tissue
      heterogeneities in head and neck high dose rate brachytherapy. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: The current practice of TG-43 dosimetry was compared to patient
      specific dosimetry obtained using Monte Carlo simulation for a sample of 22
      patient plans. The dose distributions were compared in terms of percentage dose
      differences as well as differences in dose volume histogram and radiobiological
      indices for the target and organs at risk (mandible, parotids, skin, and spinal
      cord). RESULTS: Noticeable percentage differences exist between TG-43 and patient
      specific dosimetry, mainly at low dose points. Expressed as fractions of the
      planning aim dose, percentage differences are within 2% with a general TG-43
      overestimation except for the spine. These differences are consistent resulting
      in statistically significant differences of dose volume histogram and
      radiobiology indices. Absolute differences of these indices are however small to
      warrant clinical importance in terms of tumor control or complication
      probabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of dosimetry methods characterized
      by improved accuracy is a valuable advancement. It does not appear however to
      influence dose prescription or call for amendment of clinical recommendations for
      the mobile tongue, base of tongue, and floor of mouth patient cohort of this
      study.

PMID- 26873788
TI  - Harnessing the integrated stress response for the treatment of multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease of the CNS with
      no known cure. Although 12 immunomodulatory therapies exist, they have only
      modest effects on disease progression. The field has therefore focused on the
      development of alternative treatment strategies, such as enhancement of
      remyelination and CNS repair. Progress has been made on a third, complementary
      treatment approach that aims to protect oligodendrocytes-and the myelin they
      generate and maintain-from inflammation-mediated death by enhancing the
      integrated stress response. Studies in cells and in mouse models of multiple
      sclerosis have shown that this innate protective pathway, which maintains
      proteostasis, can be harnessed effectively to protect oligodendrocytes and myelin
      during inflammation. With one drug already in clinical development for patients
      with multiple sclerosis, and several potential therapies under investigation,
      modulation of the integrated stress response might become an important component
      of strategies to halt the progression of the disease. 

PMID- 26873789
TI  - Lean-seafood intake decreases urinary markers of mitochondrial lipid and energy
      metabolism in healthy subjects: Metabolomics results from a randomized crossover
      intervention study.
AB  - SCOPE: Proteins constitute an important part of the human diet, but understanding
      of the effects of different dietary protein sources on human metabolism is
      sparse. We aimed to elucidate diet-induced metabolic changes through untargeted
      urinary metabolomics after four weeks of intervention with lean-seafood or
      nonseafood diets. It is shown that lean-seafood intake reduces urinary excretion
      of metabolites involved in mitochondrial lipid and energy metabolism possibly
      facilitating a higher lipid catabolism in healthy subjects. METHODS: In a
      randomized controlled trial with crossover design, 20 healthy subjects consumed
      two balanced diets that varied in main protein sources for 4 weeks. Morning spot
      urine samples were collected before and after each intervention period.
      Untargeted metabolomics based on (1) H NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS analyses were
      applied to characterize the urinary metabolic response to the interventions.
      RESULTS: The lean-seafood diet period reduced the urinary level of l-carnitine,
      2,6-dimethylheptanoylcarnitine, and N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide, relative
      to the nonseafood period. The dietary analysis revealed that the higher urinary
      level of trimethylamine-N-oxide after the lean-seafood diet period and
      guanidinoacetate and 3-methylhistidine after the nonseafood diet period was
      related to the endogenous content of these compounds in the diets. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our data reveal that 4 weeks of lean-seafood intake reduces urinary excretion of
      metabolites involved in mitochondrial lipid and energy metabolism possibly
      facilitating a higher lipid catabolism in healthy subjects after the lean-seafood
      intake.

PMID- 26873792
TI  - Association between radiation dose to the heart and myocardial fatty acid
      metabolic impairment due to chemoradiation-therapy: Prospective study using I-123
      BMIPP SPECT/CT.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate long term changes in myocardial fatty acid metabolic
      impairment caused by chemoradiation-therapy (CRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      investigated 12 esophageal cancer patients who underwent SPECT/CT using I-123
      labeled fatty acid analog (BMIPP) at pre-CRT, pre-boost irradiation, 3-month post
      CRT, and 1-year post-CRT. The myocardial uptake was measured using the defect
      score and the total percentage of uptake (%uptake), which were defined as the sum
      of the visual scores and that of %uptake in each of 17 segments in the left
      ventricle (LV), respectively. The correlations between radiation dose to the
      heart (mean dose, V20, V40, and V60 of the LV and the whole heart (WH)) and the
      change of myocardial BMIPP uptake from pre-CRT (Deltamyocardial BMIPP uptake)
      were assessed. RESULTS: At pre-boost, Deltamyocardial BMIPP uptake was
      significantly correlated with LV-V40 and WH-V60. At 3-month post-CRT,
      Deltamyocardial BMIPP uptake was significantly correlated with LV-V40, WH-V40,
      and WH-V60. However, there were no statistically significant correlations at 1
      year post-CRT. Neither mean dose nor V20 of the LV/WH was significantly
      correlated with Deltamyocardial BMIPP uptake at any time. CONCLUSIONS: In the
      long term after CRT, myocardial metabolism might be affected by factors other
      than the radiation dose to the heart.

PMID- 26873795
TI  - Is low-molecular weight iron dextran really the most risky iron?--Unconvincing
      data from an unconvincing study.

PMID- 26873796
TI  - Of Grief and Well-being: Competing Conceptions of Restorative Ritualization.
AB  - Informants' accounts of what they did with ashes they had chosen to remove from
      UK crematoria described disposal and memorialization strategies that have
      implications for anthropological understanding of issues of well-being, and the
      generation of new ritual practices. Here we aim to explore informants'
      conceptions of how well-being might be restored after a bereavement and how these
      were being put into practice. Data were gathered as part of an Economic and
      Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project, which used qualitative
      interviewing and focus groups among professionals involved with independent ash
      disposal; and individuals who had removed the ashes of relative or friend from a
      crematorium. Barking and Dagenham, Nottingham, Sunderland and Glasgow were our
      field sites. Analysis involved recognizing these data as 'motivated narratives'
      (Bury 2001 ) that, for example, extended informants' relationships with the dead,
      as well as reflecting tensions between professionals' imperatives to complete
      work with a client and their commitment to offering individual choice and support
      during their ongoing relationship with the dead. Such findings highlight the
      contested nature of contemporary conceptions of restorative ritual, with tensions
      existing between the meta-narratives of individual choice and professional
      expertise; between different individuals' 'choices'; and between the event of a
      death ritual and the process of ritualization. These findings contribute a
      nuanced account of the diversity of discursive practices through which the
      individuals, both 'lay' and professional, involved in a particular death, might
      understand how well-being can be restored. 

PMID- 26873794
TI  - Core muscle recruitment pattern during voluntary heel raises is different between
      patients with patellofemoral pain and healthy individuals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that the inconsistent outcomes of
      patellofemoral pain (PFP) treatment may result from the unclear understanding of
      changes in the structures remote from the knee joint. Due to the crucial
      influence of core stability on the knee function, this study aimed to evaluate
      the recruitment pattern of core muscles in individuals with and without PFP.
      METHODS: Sixty women aged 18 to 40years, including 30 subjects diagnosed with PFP
      and 30 healthy controls rose on to their toes as quickly and strongly as possible
      in response to a sound alarm in standing position. Electromyographic onsets of
      the transversus abdominis (TrA)/internal oblique (IO), erector spinae (ES), and
      gluteus medius (GM) muscles were expressed relative to the electromyographic
      onset of the prime mover (i.e. soleus). Independent t-tests were performed to
      compare the onsets of each muscle between the groups. The nonparametric Friedman
      test and the post-hoc of Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to describe the
      muscle activation pattern within the groups. RESULTS: The results revealed
      different recruitment patterns of the core muscles between the groups. In the
      healthy group the GM and TrA/IO contracted, almost simultaneously, in
      anticipation of the prime mover contraction (sol). However, in PFP subjects a
      significant delay in the contraction of TrA/IO changed the pattern of muscle
      activation. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that muscular stabilization of
      spine is altered in the presence of PFP and suggest that treatment techniques
      aimed at improving core stability could be appropriate in the management of PFP.

PMID- 26873797
TI  - Hair Loss Induced by Chemotherapy: An Anthropological Study of Women, Cancer and
      Rehabilitation.
AB  - Throughout history hair has universally been a powerful symbol of the
      relationship between individuals and society, denoting religious affiliation, and
      has acted as a symbol of the social, cultural and political status quo. Hair
      loss, which is often perceived as a loss of individuality and attractiveness, has
      been related to the absence of status in these areas. The impact of hair loss on
      women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer has primarily been explored by
      health professionals focusing on its psychological effects. This paper looks at
      women's experiences with hair loss induced by chemotherapy in a Danish context.
      It draws on an ethnographic fieldwork study comprising participant observation at
      three residential cancer rehabilitation courses in Denmark, subsequent in-depth
      interviews with some of the women and examination of written sources. The women
      equated hair loss with the loss of womanhood, sickness and death, and used wigs
      and make-up to minimize these effects. The analysis demonstrates how the women's
      embodied experiences are pervaded by culturally embedded signs, and how cancer
      rehabilitation is less concerned with total recovery in the sense of 'being
      cured' than with normalizing and integrating the individual in personal and
      social contexts. 

PMID- 26873793
TI  - Asthma-Related School Absenteeism, Morbidity, and Modifiable Factors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a leading cause of chronic disease-related school
      absenteeism. Few data exist on how information on absenteeism might be used to
      identify children for interventions to improve asthma control. This study
      investigated how asthma-related absenteeism was associated with asthma control,
      exacerbations, and associated modifiable risk factors using a sample of children
      from 35 states and the District of Columbia. METHODS: The Behavioral Risk Factor
      Surveillance System Child Asthma Call-back Survey is a random-digit dial survey
      designed to assess the health and experiences of children aged 0-17 years with
      asthma. During 2014-2015, multivariate analyses were conducted using 2006-2010
      data to compare children with and without asthma-related absenteeism with respect
      to clinical, environmental, and financial measures. These analyses controlled for
      sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Compared with children
      without asthma-related absenteeism, children who missed any school because of
      asthma were more likely to have not well controlled or very poorly controlled
      asthma (prevalence ratio=1.50; 95% CI=1.34, 1.69) and visit an emergency
      department or urgent care center for asthma (prevalence ratio=3.27; 95% CI=2.44,
      4.38). Mold in the home and cost as a barrier to asthma-related health care were
      also significantly associated with asthma-related absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS:
      Missing any school because of asthma is associated with suboptimal asthma
      control, urgent or emergent asthma-related healthcare utilization, mold in the
      home, and financial barriers to asthma-related health care. Further understanding
      of asthma-related absenteeism could establish how to most effectively use
      absenteeism information as a health status indicator.

PMID- 26873798
TI  - A Healing Cult Met with the Baatombu from the North of Benin: The Kaawo.
AB  - Some remarkable studies have been devoted to the healing cults in Africa; but few
      of them focus on the role played by their therapeutic processes in the healing of
      the patient. This paper aims to show the real implication of the techniques
      mobilized in a healing process by a cult named Kaawo on the Baatombu in Northern
      Benin; and of which the data have been collected between 1995 and 2002. The
      outcomes of the study show the techniques used, such as prayer, sacrifice,
      divination, witchcraft, gesture and postures, as being real healing operators
      that have inductive properties with direct effect on the 'disease'. Here, the
      healing efficiency is all the more significant as the troubles from which the
      subjects suffer are either of psychosomatic or psychofunctional type, and
      relating rather to an existential malaise than an organic disorder. In this
      process, the priest/healer's conviction in the efficiency of the treatment
      prescribed to the patient, and the faith of the latter in the efficiency of the
      treatment received, maximize the potential of healing. It is clear that such
      results move away from the classical clinical approach that consists of assessing
      the consequences of a disease by examining symptoms it generates-and contributes
      to opening up some avenues for as yet fairly unexplored research opportunities. 

PMID- 26873799
TI  - Maids, Migrants and Occupational Health in the London Sex Industry.
AB  - It has been argued that norms of occupational health have weakened with
      diversification in the sex industry. We explore this issue in walk-in flats in
      London, focusing on relationships between managers (maids) and sex workers.
      Today, most maids are local and most sex workers are 'migrants'. We collected
      data on 117 maids and sex workers, and carried out intensive fieldwork with seven
      maids and 17 sex workers. Managers take prime responsibility for educating and
      inducting new workers. Authoritarian management has been considered bad for
      health both in these walk-in flats and in the '100 per cent condom use programme'
      criticized by sex workers' projects. Yet, we found that maids acted as friends
      and managers, which helped settle new sex workers. Over time, however, migrants
      were more affected by issues of isolation and exploitation than local workers.
      Alternative models of health promotion such as peer education must be seen in a
      wider legal context where the lack of rights makes it difficult to appeal against
      exploitation, or to become mobile. 

PMID- 26873800
TI  - Living Positively: Narrative Strategies of Women Living with HIV in Cape Town,
      South Africa.
AB  - Therapeutic interventions to address HIV in Africa mean that individuals are
      increasingly diagnosed with HIV prior to severe health crisis. This paper
      contributes to the anthropological literature on living with HIV by focusing on
      the creation and use of narrative and practical strategies for addressing HIV in
      a setting where such experiences have to date received little attention.
      Specifically, focus is on the discursive strategy of 'living positively', a
      forceful and much propagated orientation to life following an HIV diagnosis. In
      this paper the authors examine how this strategy is embraced not only by
      individuals living with HIV, but also by activists, HIV support organizations and
      public health agencies. The paper is based on fieldwork in and around Cape Town,
      South Africa in 2002 and draws on open-ended interviews with 12 women living with
      HIV and observations from support groups, activist events and public health
      meetings. The research indicates that the living positively dictum is imbued with
      a multiplicity of meanings and that it is used in diverse ways. For women living
      with HIV the practical and philosophical elements of positive living have social
      and political force in transforming personal and social attitudes about HIV,
      especially about HIV testing and treatment access. At the same time, however, the
      dictum poorly addresses the structural constraints of living with HIV and places
      the responsibility for positive living squarely on the individual. Despite this,
      the political context that prevailed in Cape Town at the time of the research
      created a particularly fertile juncture for embracing the living positively
      philosophy. 

PMID- 26873801
TI  - Beyond PTSD: Socio-economic Bereavement in Tigray, Ethiopia.
AB  - By drawing upon data collected through in-depth interviews with 20 victims of the
      Ethio-Eritrean war, this paper addresses how psychosocial consequences of
      political war are expressed and conceptualized by people from Tigray, Ethiopia.
      War events were typically described in terms of their negative impacts on the
      household's means for income generation, and psychosocial complaints centred on
      aspects of impaired post-war economy rather than on politically violent
      experiences. The most reported complaints were (a) household erosion complaints,
      (b) social marginalization complaints and (c) education abortion complaints. Post
      war psychosocial health problems were perceived as consequences of these aspects
      of impaired household economy, and were described in terms of their negative
      impacts on future income generation. Informants' expressions of distress were
      found to be highly informed by the socio-cultural and socio-economic structures
      of the Tigrayan society. Being the only study of its kind from this context, the
      study provides a unique illustration of the limitations of western trauma
      measures and calls for a context-based conceptualization of trauma. 

PMID- 26873802
TI  - Lay Explanations of Type 2 Diabetes in Bangkok, Thailand.
AB  - The increasing incidence of and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes in
      Thailand, and the lack of knowledge of lay understandings of diabetes, are the
      starting points of this paper. Ethnographic research was undertaken in an inner
      zone district of Bangkok, with participant observation, interviews and case
      studies conducted with individuals who had lived with type 2 diabetes for at
      least three years. Culturally specific explanations exist for the aetiology,
      pathology and course of illness, and responses to biomedical treatment. The
      notion of kam -the negative effects of past behaviour-underpinned participants'
      explanations of the cause of diabetes. The presentation and development of the
      disease derive from Thai traditional medical theory, but its management, aimed at
      controlling blood glucose levels and preventing complications, involves both
      cosmopolitan and traditional medicines. This syncretic approach to cause,
      diagnosis and management suggests the value of a more comprehensive approach in
      health education, diagnosis and treatment. 

PMID- 26873803
TI  - Limits to Agency in Psychopathology: A Comparison of Trinidad and Albania.
AB  - Comparative anthropology at a distance is acceptable providing we use
      ethnographic findings to see how apparent similarities might actually differ in
      the field: 'aiming for comparison with the non-comparability of phenomena kept
      firmly in mind'. This paper contrasts the limits of agency in local
      understandings of 'psychopathology' for two societies: a fishing village in
      Trinidad and an agricultural mountain village in Albania. The work madness does
      in each reflects rather different histories and cultures-with a more dynamic and
      metaphorical resonance for the voluntarist Caribbean than for prescriptive
      Northern Albania. 

PMID- 26873804
TI  - Reviews.

PMID- 26873805
TI  - Cerebral infarction following subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy for chronic
      inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

PMID- 26873806
TI  - Beta- and gamma-band activity reflect predictive coding in the processing of
      causal events.
AB  - In daily life, complex events are perceived in a causal manner, suggesting that
      the brain relies on predictive processes to model them. Within predictive coding
      theory, oscillatory beta-band activity has been linked to top-down predictive
      signals and gamma-band activity to bottom-up prediction errors. However,
      neurocognitive evidence for predictive coding outside lower-level sensory areas
      is scarce. We used magnetoencephalography to investigate neural activity during
      probability-dependent action perception in three areas pivotal for causal
      inference, superior temporal sulcus, temporoparietal junction and medial
      prefrontal cortex, using bowling action animations. Within this network, Granger
      causal connectivity in the beta-band was found to be strongest for backward top
      down connections and gamma for feed-forward bottom-up connections. Moreover, beta
      band power in TPJ increased parametrically with the predictability of the action
      kinematics-outcome sequences. Conversely, gamma-band power in TPJ and MPFC
      increased with prediction error. These findings suggest that the brain utilizes
      predictive-coding-like computations for higher-order cognition such as perception
      of causal events.

PMID- 26873808
TI  - Mortality of people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective cohort study
      in England and Wales from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
      Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS)
      Register.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mortality associated with chronic fatigue syndrome is uncertain. We
      investigated mortality in individuals diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in
      secondary and tertiary care using data from the South London and Maudsley NHS
      Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record
      Interactive Search (CRIS) register. METHODS: We calculated standardised mortality
      ratios (SMRs) for all-cause, suicide-specific, and cancer-specific mortality for
      a 7-year observation period using the number of deaths observed in SLaM records
      compared with age-specific and sex-specific mortality statistics for England and
      Wales. Study participants were included if they had had contact with the chronic
      fatigue service (referral, discharge, or case note entry) and received a
      diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. FINDINGS: We identified 2147 cases of
      chronic fatigue syndrome from CRIS and 17 deaths from Jan 1, 2007, to Dec 31,
      2013. 1533 patients were women of whom 11 died, and 614 were men of whom six
      died. There was no significant difference in age-standardised and sex
      standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause mortality (SMR 1.14, 95% CI
      0.65-1.85; p=0.67) or cancer-specific mortality (1.39, 0.60-2.73; p=0.45) in
      patients with chronic fatigue syndrome when compared with the general population
      in England and Wales. This remained the case when deaths from suicide were
      removed from the analysis. There was a significant increase in suicide-specific
      mortality (SMR 6.85, 95% CI 2.22-15.98; p=0.002). INTERPRETATION: We did not note
      increased all-cause mortality in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, but our
      findings show a substantial increase in mortality from suicide. This highlights
      the need for clinicians to be aware of the increased risk of completed suicide
      and to assess suicidality adequately in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
      FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre
      at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London.

PMID- 26873807
TI  - Association between impaired brain activity and volume at the sub-region of
      Broca's area in ultra-high risk and first-episode schizophrenia: A multi-modal
      neuroimaging study.
AB  - Recent studies have suggested that functional abnormalities in Broca's area,
      which is important in language production (speech and thoughts before speech),
      play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. While multi-modal
      approaches have proved useful in revealing the specific pathophysiology of
      psychosis, the association of functional abnormalities with gray matter volume
      (GMV) here in subjects with an ultra-high risk (UHR) of schizophrenia, those with
      first-episode schizophrenia (FES), and healthy controls has yet to be clarified.
      Therefore, the relationship between cortical activity measured using functional
      near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a verbal fluency task, and GMV in the
      Broca's area assessed using a manual tracing in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
      which considers individual structural variation, was examined for 57 subjects (23
      UHR/18 FES/16 controls). The UHR and FES group showed significantly reduced brain
      activity compared to control group in the left pars triangularis (PT) (P=.036,
      .003, respectively). Furthermore in the FES group, the reduced brain activity
      significantly positively correlated with the volume in the left PT (B=0.29,
      P=.027), while significant negative association was evident for all subjects (B=
      0.18, P=.010). This correlation remained significant after adjusting for
      antipsychotics dosage, and voxel-wise analysis could not detect any significant
      correlation between impaired cortical activity and volume. The significant
      relationship between neural activity and GMV in the left PT may reflect a
      specific pathophysiology related to the onset of schizophrenia. 

PMID- 26873809
TI  - Suicide risk in people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

PMID- 26873810
TI  - Survival and overall treatment time after postoperative radio(chemo)therapy in
      patients with head and neck cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Generally, overall treatment time for patients with locally advanced
      head and neck cancer should be as short as reasonably possible. This analysis was
      undertaken to determine at what overall treatment time additional
      survival/locoregional control benefits could be achieved compared to a 100-day
      cutoff. METHODS: Clinical impact of overall treatment time was assessed in 272
      patients by multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses using the
      historical 100-day cutoff and the optimal overall treatment time, determined
      using recursive partitioning analysis. Survival endpoints were determined for the
      100-day and optimal overall treatment times validated using bootstrap resampling.
      RESULTS: Recursive partitioning determined the optimal overall treatment time as
      87 days. In the 87-day multivariable analysis, adverse factors for overall
      survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were overall treatment time >=87
      days and extracapsular spread, and overall treatment time and R1 status,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall treatment time is important for survival in
      patients with head and neck cancer. Completing treatment within as short a
      timeframe as possible may be associated with longer OS and DFS. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1058-1065, 2016.

PMID- 26873811
TI  - 'Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii', a novel basal group rickettsia detected in
      Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic.
AB  - A novel rickettsial sequence in the citrate synthase gltA gene indicating a novel
      Rickettsia species has been detected in 7 out of 4524 Ixodes ricinus ticks
      examined within several surveys performed in the Czech Republic from 2005 to
      2009. This new Candidatus Rickettsia sp. sequence has been found in 2 nymphs
      feeding on wild birds (Luscinia megarhynchos and Erithacus rubecula), in a male
      tick from vegetation, and 4 ticks feeding on a dog (3 males, 1 female tick).
      Portions of the ompA, ompB, sca4, and htrA genes were not amplifiable in these
      samples. A maximum likelihood tree of rickettsiae based on comparisons of partial
      amino acid sequences of citrate synthase and nucleotide sequences of 16S rDNA
      genes and phylogenetic analysis revealed a basal position of the novel species in
      the proximity of R. bellii and R. canadensis. The novel species has been named
      'Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii' after the founder of genetics, Gregor Mendel. 

PMID- 26873812
TI  - High-throughput-sequencing-based identification of a grapevine fanleaf virus
      satellite RNA in Vitis vinifera.
AB  - A new satellite RNA (satRNA) of grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) was identified by
      high-throughput sequencing of high-definition (HD) adapter libraries from
      grapevine plants of the cultivar Panse precoce (PPE) affected by enation disease.
      The complete nucleotide sequence was obtained by automatic sequencing using
      primers designed based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data. The full-length
      sequence, named satGFLV-PPE, consisted of 1119 nucleotides with a single open
      reading frame from position 15 to 1034. This satRNA showed maximum nucleotide
      sequence identity of 87 % to satArMV-86 and satGFLV-R6. Symptomatic grapevines
      were surveyed for the presence of the satRNA, and no correlation was found
      between detection of the satRNA and enation symptom expression.

PMID- 26873813
TI  - Serological survey of hepatitis E virus infection in farmed and pet rabbits in
      Italy.
AB  - The recent identification in rabbits of hepatitis E viruses (HEV) related to
      viruses infecting humans raises the question of the role of this species as
      possible HEV reservoir. A serological survey on rabbit HEV infection was
      conducted in Italy during 2013-2014, including both farmed and pet rabbits. We
      found an anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence of 3.40 % in 206 farmed rabbits
      (collected on 7 farms) and 6.56 % in 122 pets. RNA was extracted from IgG
      positive sera and analyzed by HEV-specific real-time RT-PCR. None of the samples
      were positive, confirming that no viremia was present in the presence of IgG.
      Only one serum sample from a farmed rabbit was positive for IgM, but no HEV RNA
      was detected in it. Pet rabbit feces were also tested for HEV RNA, with negative
      results. This finding suggests that HEV is circulating in rabbits in Italy.

PMID- 26873814
TI  - The unique role of the hepatitis virus B X protein on HEK 293 cell morphology and
      cellular change.
AB  - The function of the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) has been investigated in
      hepatoma cell lines before; however, its function in the canonical HEK 293 cell
      line has not been addressed. In this study, we found that HBx increased cellular
      interaction by fusing the gap between HEK 293 cells, which is different from what
      has been reported previously. We also found that HBx enhanced the expression of E
      cadherin in hepatoma cell lines instead of decreasing it as reported previously.
      The increase in E-cadherin was mediated by the enhanced levels of Src, which also
      differs from previous reports. Finally, we observed that HBx can accelerate cell
      growth by increasing the percentage of cells that are positioned at the division
      stage. Further analysis showed that the increased growth was caused by increased
      CDK4 expression and Ki67(+) populations. Additionally, reduced apoptosis was
      found in HEK 293 cells expressing HBx due to an increase in the anti-apoptotic
      protein-Bcl2. Collectively, the different functions of HBx in HEK 293 cells
      suggest that its role is cell dependent.

PMID- 26873815
TI  - Recombinant infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) H120 vaccine strain expressing the
      hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV)
      protects chickens against IBV and NDV challenge.
AB  - Infectious bronchitis (IB) and Newcastle disease (ND) are common viral diseases
      of chickens, which are caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and Newcastle
      disease virus (NDV), respectively. Vaccination with live attenuated strains of
      IBV-H120 and NDV-LaSota are important for the control of IB and ND. However,
      conventional live attenuated vaccines are expensive and result in the inability
      to differentiate between infected and vaccinated chickens. Therefore, there is an
      urgent need to develop new efficacious vaccines. In this study, using a
      previously established reverse genetics system, we generated a recombinant IBV
      virus based on the IBV H120 vaccine strain expressing the haemagglutinin
      neuraminidase (HN) protein of NDV. The recombinant virus, R-H120-HN/5a, exhibited
      growth dynamics, pathogenicity and viral titers that were similar to those of the
      parental IBV H120, but it had acquired hemagglutination activity from NDV.
      Vaccination of SPF chickens with the R-H120-HN/5a virus induced a humoral
      response at a level comparable to that of the LaSota/H120 commercial bivalent
      vaccine and provided significant protection against challenge with virulent IBV
      and NDV. In summary, the results of this study indicate that the IBV H120 strain
      could serve as an effective tool for designing vaccines against IB and other
      infectious diseases, and the generation of IBV R-H120-HN/5a provides a solid
      foundation for the development of an effective bivalent vaccine against IBV and
      NDV.

PMID- 26873816
TI  - Risk factors for postoperative delirium following hip fracture repair in elderly
      patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No formal systematic review or meta-analysis was performed up to now
      to summarize the risk factors of delirium after hip surgery. AIMS: The present
      study aimed to quantitatively and comprehensively conclude the risk factors of
      delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: A search was applied to
      CNKI, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane central database (all up to August 2015). All
      studies assessing the risk factors of delirium after hip surgery in elderly
      patients without language restriction were reviewed, and qualities of included
      studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were pooled and a
      meta-analysis was completed. RESULTS: A total of 24 studies were selected, which
      altogether included 5364 patients with hip fracture. One thousand and ninety of
      them were cases of delirium occurred after surgery, suggesting the accumulated
      incidence of 24.0 %. Results of meta-analyses showed that elderly patients with
      preoperative cognitive impairment [odds ratio (OR) 3.21, 95 % confidence interval
      (CI) 2.26-4.56), advanced age (standardized mean difference 0.50, 95 % CI 0.33
      0.67), living in an institution (OR 2.94; 95 % CI 1.65-5.23), heart failure (OR
      2.46; 95 % CI 1.72-3.53), total hip arthroplasty (OR 2.21; 95 % CI 1.16-4.22),
      multiple comorbidities (OR 1.37; 95 % CI 1.12-1.68) and morphine usage (OR 3.01;
      95 % CI 1.30-6.94) were more likely to sustain delirium after hip surgery.
      Females were less likely to develop delirium after hip surgery (OR 0.83; 95 % CI
      0.70-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Related prophylaxis strategies should be implemented in
      elderly patients involved with above-mentioned risk factors to prevent delirium
      after hip surgery.

PMID- 26873817
TI  - How the knowledge of fracture risk might influence adherence to oral therapy of
      osteoporosis in Italy: the ADEOST study.
AB  - The patients' adherence to osteoporosis treatments is low. In our study
      population a history of osteoporotic fractures was associated to better
      compliance and persistence; however, a 12-month randomized study carried out on
      816 osteoporotic women showed that providing the patients with their individual
      fracture risk information did not prove effective. PURPOSE: Several drugs are
      currently available for the treatment of osteoporosis, but the patients'
      compliance and persistence with these treatments are low. This study aimed to
      both analyze the adherence to oral osteoporosis medications among Italian
      osteoporotic patients (cross-sectional study) and evaluate if providing patients
      with their individual fracture risk information may improve compliance and
      persistence (prospective study). METHODS: A total of 3379 osteoporotic patients
      referred as outpatients for a visit 1 year after receiving a prescription of oral
      osteoporosis medications for the first time, were enrolled for the retrospective
      study. Moreover, 816 postmenopausal women receiving an oral prescription for
      osteoporosis for the first time, were randomized into two groups: group 1
      (managed according to standard clinical practice) and group 2 (managed with
      greater patient involvement and information on the individual risk of major
      osteoporotic fractures calculated by DeFRA algorithm). RESULTS: In the
      retrospective study, a history of osteoporotic fractures, the frequency of drug
      administration and a condition of being overweight/obese had a significant
      influence on both compliance and persistence. Of the 816 patients enrolled in the
      longitudinal study, 731 (374 of group 1 and 357 of group 2) attended the 1 year
      follow-up visit. The percentage of women with high compliance or persistence was
      greater in group 2 (64.2 vs. 58.1 % and 66.8 vs. 62.6 %, respectively), but
      without reaching any statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Although providing
      the patients with their individual fracture risk information was not
      statistically effective, further studies on additional interventions able to
      improve the patients' perceived risk of fracture are warranted.

PMID- 26873818
TI  - Clinical presentation, management and outcomes of Staph aureus bacteremia (SAB)
      in older adults.
AB  - AIM: The incidence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) increases with
      advancing age with higher mortality reported in older adults. We aimed to
      describe the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of older patients
      with SAB. METHODS: We analyzed data from a retrospectively collected database
      including 1692 patients with SAB, and compared 1158 older patients (>=65 years)
      with 534 younger patients (<65 years) in terms of clinical features, management
      of infection, and outcomes. RESULTS: Older patients were significantly less
      likely to be febrile on presentation, with 37.5 % (415/1106) of older patients
      presenting with normal body temperature [versus 29.2 % (152/520) of younger
      patients]. Older patients were however, more likely to have leukocytosis, septic
      shock, lower heart rate and lower diastolic blood pressure compared with younger
      patients. Management of older patients included significantly less imaging
      studies, performance of transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and infectious
      diseases consultation. TEE was performed less in older patients [124/726 (17.1 %)
      versus 72/285 (25.3 %)]. Mortality was significantly higher in older patients
      [550/1158 (47.5 %) versus 124/534 (23.2 %)], with predictors for mortality for
      the entire cohort in multivariate analysis including older age, higher Charlson
      comorbidity index, female sex, impaired functional capacity, pneumonia or primary
      bacteremia, and non-performance of TEE. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates in older
      patients with SAB are higher compared with younger patients. Several diagnostic
      and therapeutic procedures in the management of SAB were less likely to be
      performed in older patients in our cohort. These may have implications on outcome
      and should not be dismissed on the basis of age alone.

PMID- 26873819
TI  - Long-term exposure to gold nanoparticles accelerates larval metamorphosis without
      affecting mass in wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) at environmentally relevant
      concentrations.
AB  - Nanoparticles are environmental contaminants of emerging concern. Exposure to
      engineered nanoparticles has been shown to have detrimental effects on aquatic
      organisms. The authors synthesized gold nanoparticles (18.1 +/- 3.5 nm) and
      tested their effects on time to and weight at metamorphosis in wood frog
      (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles, a species known to be sensitive to
      environmental stressors. Continuous exposure to all concentrations of gold
      nanoparticles (0.05 pM, 0.5 pM, and 5 pM in particles) for up to 55 d
      significantly reduced time to metamorphosis by as much as an average of 3 d (p <
      0.05). However, exposure to gold nanoparticles had no effect on tadpole mass at
      metamorphosis. The approximately 18-nm gold nanoparticles used were metastable in
      dechlorinated tap water, resulting in a change in surface charge and aggregation
      over time, leading to negatively charged aggregates that were on the order of 60
      nm to 110 nm. Nanoparticle aggregation could exacerbate the effect on time to
      metamorphosis. To the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first report
      on the effect of engineered nanoparticles of any kind on life-history variables
      in an amphibian, a taxonomic group that has been declining globally for at least
      25 yr. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2304-2310. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26873820
TI  - Metabolic fate of milk glycosaminoglycans in breastfed and formula fed newborns.
AB  - In this study, the content, structure and residual percentages of
      glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the feces of seven breastfed newborns after
      ingesting a known amount of milk were studied. A comparison was made with five
      newborns fed with formula milk. Characterization of GAGs from milk and feces
      samples was performed according to previous methodology. Compared to the ingested
      GAGs present in milk, residual feces GAGs of breastfed newborns were <0.4 %,
      contrary to formula milk fed children, where the residues were ~4 %. As a
      consequence, >99 % of human milk GAGs are utilized as opposed to ~96 % of formula
      milk. Hyaluronic acid utilization was found to be fairly similar contrary to
      chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate, which were found to be
      ~10-18 times lower in formula milk fed children. Our new results further
      demonstrate that the elevated content of human milk GAGs passes undigested
      through the entire digestive system of newborns, possibly protecting the infant
      from infections. In the distal gastrointestinal tract, these complex
      macromolecules are catabolized by a cohort of bacterial enzymes and constituent
      monosaccharides/oligosaccharides utilized for further metabolic purposes
      potentially useful for bacteria metabolism or internalized by intestinal cells.
      Thanks to their elevated structural heterogeneity, milk GAGs are used differently
      depending on their distinct primary structure. Finally, a different utilization
      and availability was observed for human milk GAGs compared to formula milk due to
      their various composition and structural heterogeneity. 

PMID- 26873821
TI  - Mass spectrometry of transferrin and apolipoprotein C-III for diagnosis and
      screening of congenital disorder of glycosylation.
AB  - Congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG), formerly representing a group of
      diseases due to defects in the biosynthetic pathway of protein N-glycosylation,
      currently covers a wide range of disorders affecting glycoconjugates. Since its
      first application to serum transferrin from a CDG patient with phosphomannomutase
      2 deficiency in 1992, mass spectrometry (MS) has been playing a key role in
      identification and characterization of glycosylation defects affecting
      glycoproteins. MS of native transferrin detects a lack of glycans characteristic
      to the classical CDG-I type of molecular abnormality. Electrospray ionization MS
      of native transferrin, especially, allows glycoforms to be analyzed precisely but
      requires basic knowledge regarding deconvolution of multiply-charged ions which
      may generate ghost signals upon transformation into a singly-charged form. MS of
      glycopeptides from tryptic digestion of transferrin delineates site-specific
      glycoforms and reveals a delicate balance of donor/acceptor substrates or the
      conformational effect of nascent proteins in cells. Matrix-assisted laser
      desorption ionization MS of apolipoprotein C-III is a simple method of
      elucidating the profiles of mucin-type core 1 O-glycans including site occupancy
      and glycoforms. In this technological review, the principle and pitfalls of MS
      for CDG are discussed and mass spectra of various types of CDG are presented.

PMID- 26873823
TI  - Toxicity assessment of silver nanoparticles in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser
      persicus) and starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) during early life stages.
AB  - Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products mainly due to
      their antimicrobial action. The rapidly increasing use of nanoparticles (NPs) has
      driven more attention to their possible ecotoxicological effects. In this study,
      the acute toxicity of colloidal AgNPs was evaluated during the embryonic stage of
      Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)
      at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/L. Fertilized eggs (75 eggs
      per replicate) were exposed to aforementioned concentrations for 96 h in
      triplicate. 96-h LC50 values in Persian sturgeon and starry sturgeon were
      calculated as 0.163 and 0.158 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, in starry
      sturgeon, the short-term effects of AgNPs on the hatching rate, survival rate,
      and Ag accumulation during early life stages (before active feeding commences)
      were also analyzed at concentrations of 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/L of colloidal
      AgNPs. The highest silver accumulation occurred in larvae exposed to 0.1 mg/L
      AgNPs; however, the body burden of silver did not alter survival rate, and there
      were no significant differences among treatments. Based on the obtained results
      from the acute toxicity exposures, AgNPs induced a concentration-dependent
      toxicity in both species during early life stages, while complementary studies
      are suggested for investigating their short-term effects in detail. 

PMID- 26873824
TI  - Metal contamination at recreational boatyards linked to the use of antifouling
      paints-investigation of soil and sediment with a field portable XRF.
AB  - The application of a field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FPXRF) to
      measure Cu, Zn, and Pb in soil and sediments at recreational boatyards by Lake
      Malaren in Sweden was investigated. Confirmatory chemical analysis on freeze
      dried samples shows that, ex situ, the FPXRF produces definitive level data for
      Cu and Zn and quantitative screening data for Pb, according to USEPA criteria for
      data quality. Good agreement was also found between the ex situ measurements and
      the in situ screening. At each of the two studied boatyards, >40 in situ soil
      measurements were carried out. Statistical differences in soil concentration
      based on land use were consequently found: the areas used for boat storage and
      maintenance were significantly higher in Cu and Zn than the areas used for car
      parking and transportation. The metal pollution in the boat storage areas is
      therefore shown to be directly linked to hull maintenance activities during which
      metal-containing antifouling paint particles are shed, end up on the ground, and
      consequently pollute the soil. In the boat storage areas, the Cu and Zn
      concentrations often exceeded the national guideline values for soil. In this
      study, they were also shown to increase with increasing age of the boatyard
      operation. Pb soil concentrations were only elevated at a few measurement points,
      reflecting the phasing out of Pb compounds from antifouling products over the
      past 2 decades. In the surface sediments, concentrations of Cu and Zn were 2-3
      times higher compared to deeper levels. No decrease in metal concentration with
      time was found in the sediments, indicating that boat owners are not complying
      with the ban of biocide-containing paints in freshwater introduced over 20 years
      ago. 

PMID- 26873825
TI  - Cold homes are associated with poor biomarkers and less blood pressure check-up:
      English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2012-2013.
AB  - It has been known that outdoor temperature influences seasonal fluctuation of
      blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but the role of indoor temperature has
      been less studied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the
      associations between indoor temperature and biomarkers in a countrywide and
      population-based setting. Data was retrieved from the English Longitudinal Study
      of Ageing, 2012-2013. Information on demographics, room temperature and a series
      of biomarkers measured in the blood and lung was obtained at household
      interviews. t test, chi-square test and a generalized linear model were performed
      cross-sectionally. Of 7997 older adults with the valid indoor temperature
      measurements, there were 1301 (16.3%) people who resided in cold homes (<18 
      degrees C). Age was inversely associated with people who resided in cold homes or
      who tended not to have blood pressure check-up. Those who resided in cold homes
      had higher blood pressure readings, worse handgrip, lower vitamin D levels,
      higher cholesterol levels, higher insulin-like growth factor levels, higher
      haemoglobin levels, lower level of white blood cell count and worse lung
      conditions. One in six older adults aged 50 and above in England resided in cold
      homes and had poor biomarker values. For the future research direction, studies
      with a longitudinal approach to systematically monitor indoor temperature,
      biomarkers and health and wellbeing would be suggested. From the practice and
      policy perspectives, increasing health knowledge on the adverse effect of low
      indoor temperature on risks of cardiac and respiratory conditions, affording to
      the heating and re-designing of residential buildings to keep warm by using
      efficient energy, should be kept as priority.

PMID- 26873826
TI  - Synergism in the desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil models
      by mixed surfactant solutions.
AB  - This study investigates the effect of a mixed surfactant system on the desorption
      of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil model systems. The
      interaction of a non-ionic surfactant, Tween 80, and an anionic one, sodium
      laurate, forming mixed micelles, produces several beneficial effects, including
      reduction of adsorption onto solid of the non-ionic surfactant, decrease in the
      precipitation of the fatty acid salt, and synergism to solubilize PAHs from
      solids compared with individual surfactants. 

PMID- 26873822
TI  - Sickle Cell Disease and Stroke: Diagnosis and Management.
AB  - Both adult and pediatric patients with sickle cell disease face a higher risk of
      stroke than the general population. Given the different underlying
      pathophysiology predisposing these patients to stroke, providers should be aware
      of differences in guidelines for stroke management. This paper reviews diagnostic
      considerations and recommendations during the evaluation and acute management of
      patients with sickle cell disease presenting with stroke, focusing on recent
      updates in the literature. Given the high recurrence rate of stroke in these
      patients, secondary prevention and curative measures will also be reviewed. 

PMID- 26873828
TI  - Photoinitiators enhanced 1,2-dichloropropane-induced cytotoxicity in human normal
      embryonic lung fibroblasts cells in vitro, Yoichi Kawasaki, Chiaki Tsuboi, Kenta
      Yagi, Miwa Morizane, Yasuyuki Masaoka, Satoru Esumi, Yoshihisa Kitamura, Toshiaki
      Sendo (2014) Environ Sci Pollut Res 22: 4763-4770 ; DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3939
      8.

PMID- 26873827
TI  - Interspecific variation in the diets of herbivores in an industrial environment:
      implications for exposure to fluoride emissions.
AB  - Atmospheric fluorides (gaseous and particulate) are deposited on, and absorbed
      by, vegetation. Ingested fluoride accumulates in calcified tissues of
      vertebrates, and if it is excessive, it may lead to dental and skeletal
      fluorosis. The prevalence, form and severity of the effects vary greatly between
      species. Foraging strategy can be an important determinant of fluoride exposure
      in herbivores, because foliar fluoride concentrations vary between plant species,
      for example, according to vertical and lateral position in the vegetation. We
      combined microhistological analysis of diet and analysis of foliar fluoride
      levels to examine interspecific variation in dietary fluoride exposure of
      macropodid marsupials (swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor, red-necked wallaby
      Notamacropus rufogriseus and eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus), in the
      buffer zone of an aluminium smelter in Victoria, Australia. Dietary niche
      differentiation between species was evident. The swamp wallaby and the red-necked
      wallaby were browsers or mixed feeders, depending on the classification system
      used. The eastern grey kangaroo was a grazer, consuming almost entirely grasses.
      However, foliar fluoride did not vary significantly between the main plant groups
      consumed. Our results indicate that interspecific variation in diet at this site
      is unlikely to explain variation in fluoride exposure. 

PMID- 26873829
TI  - Comparison and mechanism of photocatalytic activities of N-ZnO and N-ZrO2 for the
      degradation of rhodamine 6G.
AB  - N-doped ZnO (N-ZnO) and N-doped ZrO2 (N-ZrO2) are synthesized by novel, simple
      thermal decomposition methods. The catalysts are evaluated for the degradation of
      rhodamine 6G (R6G) under visible and UV light. N-ZnO exhibits higher dye
      degradation under both visible and UV light compared to N-ZrO2 due to possessing
      higher specific surface area, lower crystalline size, and lower band gap.
      However, it is less reusable than N-ZrO2 and its photocatalytic activity is also
      deteriorated at low pH. At the same intensity of 3.5 W/m(2), UVC light is shown
      to be a better UV source for N-ZnO, while UVA light is more suitable for N-ZrO2.
      At pH 7 with initial dye concentration of 10 mg/L, catalyst concentration of 1
      g/L, and UVC light, 94.3 % of R6G is degraded by N-ZnO within 2 h. Using UVA
      light under identical experimental conditions, 93.5 % degradation of R6G is
      obtained by N-ZrO2. Moreover, the type of light source is found to determine the
      reactive species produced in the R6G degradation by N-ZnO and N-ZrO2. Less
      oxidative reactive species such as superoxide radical and singlet oxygen play a
      major role in the degradation of R6G under visible light. On the contrary, highly
      oxidative hydroxyl radicals are predominant under UVC light. Based on the kinetic
      study, the adsorption of R6G on the catalyst surface is found to be the
      controlling step. 

PMID- 26873831
TI  - Reevaluating excess success in psychological science.
AB  - Francis (Psychonomic Bulletin Review, 21, 1180-1187, 2014) recently claimed that
      82 % of articles with four or more experiments published in Psychological Science
      between 2009 and 2012 cannot be trusted. We critique Francis' analysis and point
      out the dependence of his approach on including the appropriate experiments and
      significance tests. We focus on one of the articles (van Boxtel & Koch, in
      Psychological Science, 23(4), 410-418, 2012) flagged by Francis and show that the
      inappropriate inclusion of experiments and tests have led Francis to mistakenly
      flag this article. We found that decisions about whether to include certain tests
      potentially affect 34 of the 44 articles analyzed by Francis. We further
      performed p-curve analyses on the articles discussed in Francis' analysis. We
      found that 9 of 44 studies showed significant evidential value, 11 studies showed
      insufficient evidential value, and 1 study showed evidence of p-hacking. Our
      reevaluation is important, because some researchers may have gained the false
      impression that none of the quoted articles in Psychological Science can be
      trusted (as stated by Francis). The analysis by Francis is most likely
      insufficient to warrant this conclusion for some articles and certainly is
      insufficient with respect to the study by van Boxtel and Koch (Psychological
      Science, 23, 410-418, 2012).

PMID- 26873832
TI  - Effects of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal on work of breathing in patients
      with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PMID- 26873830
TI  - Gadolinium deposition within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus after
      repeated administrations of gadolinium-based contrast agents-current status.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been used clinically
      since 1988 for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI). Generally,
      GBCAs are considered to have an excellent safety profile. However, GBCA
      administration has been associated with increased occurrence of nephrogenic
      systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with severely compromised renal function, and
      several studies have shown evidence of gadolinium deposition in specific brain
      structures, the globus pallidus and dentate nucleus, in patients with normal
      renal function. METHODS: Gadolinium deposition in the brain following repeated CE
      MRI scans has been demonstrated in patients using T1-weighted unenhanced MRI and
      inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Additionally, rodent studies with
      controlled GBCA administration also resulted in neural gadolinium deposits.
      RESULTS: Repeated GBCA use is associated with gadolinium deposition in the brain.
      This is especially true with the use of less-stable, linear GBCAs. In spite of
      increasing evidence of gadolinium deposits in the brains of patients after
      multiple GBCA administrations, the clinical significance of these deposits
      continues to be unclear. CONCLUSION: Here, we discuss the current state of
      scientific evidence surrounding gadolinium deposition in the brain following GBCA
      use, and the potential clinical significance of gadolinium deposition. There is
      considerable need for further research, both to understand the mechanism by which
      gadolinium deposition in the brain occurs and how it affects the patients in
      which it occurs.

PMID- 26873834
TI  - Understanding the venous-arterial CO2 to arterial-venous O2 content difference
      ratio.

PMID- 26873835
TI  - Association of prior antiplatelet agents with mortality in sepsis patients.

PMID- 26873833
TI  - Catecholamines for inflammatory shock: a Jekyll-and-Hyde conundrum.
AB  - Catecholamines are endogenous neurosignalling mediators and hormones. They are
      integral in maintaining homeostasis by promptly responding to any stressor. Their
      synthetic equivalents are the current mainstay of treatment in shock states to
      counteract myocardial depression and/or vasoplegia. These phenomena are related
      in large part to decreased adrenoreceptor sensitivity and altered adrenergic
      signalling, with resultant vascular and cardiomyocyte hyporeactivity.
      Catecholamines are predominantly used in supraphysiological doses to overcome
      these pathological consequences. However, these adrenergic agents cause direct
      organ damage and have multiple 'off-target' biological effects on immune,
      metabolic and coagulation pathways, most of which are not monitored or recognised
      at the bedside. Such detrimental consequences may contribute negatively to
      patient outcomes. This review explores the schizophrenic 'Jekyll-and-Hyde'
      characteristics of catecholamines in critical illness, as they are both necessary
      for survival yet detrimental in excess. This article covers catecholamine
      physiology, the pleiotropic effects of catecholamines on various body systems and
      pathways, and potential alternatives for haemodynamic support and adrenergic
      modulation in the critically ill. 

PMID- 26873836
TI  - Natural History of Renal Angiomyolipoma (AML): Most Patients with Large AMLs >4cm
      Can Be Offered Active Surveillance as an Initial Management Strategy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The natural history of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is unknown.
      Treatment recommendations are based on smaller case series, with selection bias
      towards symptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To define the natural history of renal
      AML, including growth rates, size, and clinical presentation. DESIGN, SETTING,
      AND PARTICIPANTS: We used a unique radiology data-mining system (Montage; Montage
      Healthcare Systems, Philadelphia, PA, USA) to retrospectively review the
      radiology database in an academic health centre between 2002 and 2013 to identify
      all renal AMLs. Of 2741 patients identified, 447 with 582 AMLs had three or more
      imaging studies suitable for analysis. INTERVENTION: Angioembolisation, surgery,
      radiofrequency ablation, and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors. OUTCOME
      MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary end point was the growth rate
      of untreated AMLs. We used a linear mixed-effects model to determine change in
      growth rate over time. We evaluated the association among growth rate, size, and
      patient factors as well as interventions. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The majority
      of untreated AMLs (>92%) had not grown at a median follow-up of 43 mo, with no
      difference in growth rates between AMLs <=4 and >4cm. Most AMLs occurred in
      female participants (80%) and were asymptomatic (91%). Tuberous sclerosis complex
      (TSC) was confirmed in 3.8% (n=17) and presented at an earlier age. Median size
      was 1cm but was significantly larger for TSC (5.5cm; p<0.001). Interventions were
      performed in 5.6% of patients. Limitations of our study include the retrospective
      design, selection against fat-poor AMLs, and lack of histology. CONCLUSIONS: This
      large, single-institution series on AMLs confirms that lesions >4cm do not
      require early intervention based on size alone. The vast majority are sporadic,
      asymptomatic, and initially harmless, with a negligible growth rate. Our findings
      support a policy of initial active surveillance for all asymptomatic AMLs.
      PATIENT SUMMARY: We evaluated the natural history and growth rates of renal AMLs.
      We found no difference in growth rates between AMLs >4 and <=4cm. Initial AS
      appears to be a safe management option.

PMID- 26873837
TI  - Reply from Authors re: Matthew T. Gettman. Assessing Work Disability After
      Radical Prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2016;70:72-3: The Challenge of Assessing Work
      Disability.

PMID- 26873838
TI  - Re: Neil E. Martin, Laura Massey, Caleb Stowell, et al. Defining a Standard Set
      of Patient-centered Outcomes for Men with Localized Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol
      2015;67:460-7.

PMID- 26873839
TI  - Complete Responses with Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma:
      Balancing Efficacy and Toxicity.

PMID- 26873840
TI  - Chemohyperthermia with Mitomycin-C Compared with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin: A
      "Hot" Topic.

PMID- 26873841
TI  - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with
      Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share many common
      pathophysiologic pathways and might be regarded as two different clinical
      manifestations of the same systemic disease. Consequently, ED and CVD are
      pathologic conditions that often coexist in the same patient. The urologist plays
      an important role in the management of ED in patients with a history of
      cardiovascular events. Therapeutic measures aimed at improving sexual function in
      CVD patients should be considered only after careful evaluation of the underlying
      cardiologic condition and assessment of ability to exercise. Sexual activity and
      treatment of ED might trigger cardiac events in selected patients with
      preexisting CVD; therefore, proerectile therapies should be administered only to
      low-risk patients for whom subsequent risk of cardiac events would not be
      increased. Conversely, men at high risk of CVD should receive cardiologic
      reassessment and stabilization before attempting sexual activity and receiving ED
      treatment. Risk reduction and lifestyle changes, administration of
      phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, and testosterone replacement therapy, as
      indicated, might provide benefits not only in terms of improving sexual function
      but also for reducing the risk of future cardiac events. PATIENT SUMMARY:
      Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share many
      pathophysiologic mechanisms and often coexist in the same patient. We evaluated
      the role of the urologist in the management of ED in patients with preexisting
      CVD and the impact of measures aimed at improving sexual function on the
      subsequent risk of cardiac events.

PMID- 26873842
TI  - Ruffling the Immunotherapy Response Paradigm with a Novel Personalized Peptide
      Vaccine.

PMID- 26873843
TI  - Reply to Daniela Wittmann, Ted A. Skolarus' Letter to the Editor re: Neil E.
      Martin, Laura Massey, Caleb Stowell, et al. Defining a Standard Set of Patient
      centered Outcomes for Men with Localized Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol 2014;67:460-7.

PMID- 26873844
TI  - The NHS Health Checks programme: A better alternative.

PMID- 26873846
TI  - Basophil Recruitment into Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes Correlates with Th2
      Inflammation and Reduced Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Patients.
AB  - In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), lymphoid infiltrates, comprised
      mainly of Th2 cells, predict a poor survival outcome in patients. IL4 signaling
      has been suggested to stabilize the Th2 phenotype in this setting, but the
      cellular source of IL4 in PDAC is unclear. Here, we show that basophils
      expressing IL4 are enriched in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) of PDAC
      patients. Basophils present in TDLNs correlated significantly with the Th2/Th1
      cell ratio in tumors, where they served as an independent prognostic biomarker of
      patient survival after surgery. Investigations in mouse models of pancreatic
      cancer confirmed a functional role for basophils during tumor progression. The
      recruitment of basophils into TDLN relied partly upon the release of chemokine
      CCL7/MCP3 by "alternatively activated" monocytes, whereas basophil activation was
      induced by T-cell-derived IL3. Our results show how basophils recruited and
      activated in TDLNs under the influence of the tumor microenvironment regulate
      tumor-promoting Th2 inflammation in PDAC, helping in illuminating a key element
      of the immune milieu of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1792-803. (c)2016
      AACR.

PMID- 26873845
TI  - Dual Targeting of CDK4 and ARK5 Using a Novel Kinase Inhibitor ON123300 Exerts
      Potent Anticancer Activity against Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - Multiple myeloma is a fatal plasma cell neoplasm accounting for over 10,000
      deaths in the United States each year. Despite new therapies, multiple myeloma
      remains incurable, and patients ultimately develop drug resistance and succumb to
      the disease. The response to selective CDK4/6 inhibitors has been modest in
      multiple myeloma, potentially because of incomplete targeting of other critical
      myeloma oncogenic kinases. As a substantial number of multiple myeloma cell lines
      and primary samples were found to express AMPK-related protein kinase 5(ARK5), a
      member of the AMPK family associated with tumor growth and invasion, we examined
      whether dual inhibition of CDK4 and ARK5 kinases using ON123300 results in a
      better therapeutic outcome. Treatment of multiple myeloma cell lines and primary
      samples with ON123300 in vitro resulted in rapid induction of cell-cycle arrest
      followed by apoptosis. ON123300-mediated ARK5 inhibition or ARK5-specific siRNAs
      resulted in the inhibition of the mTOR/S6K pathway and upregulation of the AMPK
      kinase cascade. AMPK upregulation resulted in increased SIRT1 levels and
      destabilization of steady-state MYC protein. Furthermore, ON123300 was very
      effective in inhibiting tumor growth in mouse xenograft assays. In addition,
      multiple myeloma cells sensitive to ON123300 were found to have a unique genomic
      signature that can guide the clinical development of ON123300. Our study provides
      preclinical evidence that ON123300 is unique in simultaneously inhibiting key
      oncogenic pathways in multiple myeloma and supports further development of ARK5
      inhibition as a therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma.

PMID- 26873847
TI  - Identification and characterization of HolGH15: the holin of Staphylococcus
      aureus bacteriophage GH15.
AB  - Holins are phage-encoded hydrophobic membrane proteins that spontaneously and non
      specifically accumulate and form lesions in the cytoplasmic membrane. The ORF72
      gene (also designated HolGH15) derived from the genome of the Staphylococcus
      aureus phage GH15 was predicted to encode a membrane protein. An analysis
      indicated that the protein encoded by HolGH15 potentially consisted of two
      hydrophobic transmembrane helices. This protein exhibited the structural
      characteristics of class II holins and belonged to the phage_holin_1 superfamily.
      Expression of HolGH15 in Escherichia coli BL21 cells resulted in growth
      retardation of the host cells, which was triggered prematurely by the addition of
      2,4-dinitrophenol. The expression of HolGH15 caused morphological alterations in
      engineered E. coli cells, including loss of the cell wall and cytoplasmic
      membrane integrity and release of intracellular components, which were visualized
      by transmission electron microscopy. HolGH15 exerted efficient antibacterial
      activity at 37  degrees C and pH 5.2. Mutation analysis indicated that the two
      transmembrane domains of HolGH15 were indispensable for the activity of the full
      length protein. HolGH15 showed a broad antibacterial range: it not only inhibited
      Staphylococcus aureus, but also demonstrated antibacterial activity against other
      species, including Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli. At the minimal inhibitory
      concentration, HolGH15 evoked the release of cellular contents and resulted in
      the shrinkage and death of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes
      cells. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of a
      Staphylococcus aureus phage holin that exerts antibacterial activity against
      heterogeneous pathogens.

PMID- 26873848
TI  - Estrogen Downregulates miR-21 Expression and Induces Inflammatory Infiltration of
      Macrophages in Polymyositis: Role of CXCL10.
AB  - This study was aimed to explore the role of estrogen in inducing inflammatory
      infiltration of macrophages in polymyositis (PM) through downregulation of miR
      21, which could further inhibit the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine 10
      (CXCL10). Biopsies were collected from 20 PM patients before and after treatment
      of glucocorticoid. Additionally, peritoneal macrophages were isolated from male
      SD model rats (n = 40). Creatine kinase (CK) and CXCL10 and nuclear factor-kappa
      (NF-kappaB) expressions were tested using immunosorbent and immunocytochemical
      assays. We also conducted transwell assay to observe invasive abilities of cells;
      RT-PCR and western blot were intended to semi-quantify miR-21 and CXCL10
      expressions in vitro and in vivo. Compared with the control group, serum creatine
      kinase (S-CK) was upregulated in PM subjects, but its content decreased after
      treatment of immunosuppressive substances (e.g., glucocorticoids). Moreover,
      hormone treatment can significantly increase miR-21 expressions in PM patients (P
      < 0.05). However, CXCL10 expressions had an opposite tendency compared to miR
      21expressions. Results drawn from rat model were consistent with those discovered
      in PM patients. Moreover, miR-21 transfection could significantly decrease the
      relative luciferase activity when it was integrated with CXCL10 3'-untranslated
      region (3'-UTR) in macrophage. Estrogen treatment can also upregulate the
      expression of NF-kappaB in macrophage nucleus. Nonetheless, the upregulated
      tendency was inhibited by either miR-21 mimics or anti-CXCL10 mAb (P < 0.05).
      Both macrophage migration and CXCL10 expressions were significantly decreased
      after applying miR-21 treatments compared with the control group, yet estrogen
      could enhance macrophage migration and increase CXCL10 expressions (P < 0.05).
      Immune inhibitors such as glucocorticoids can significantly downregulate miR-21
      and upregulate CXCL10, ultimately eliciting the inflammatory infiltration of
      macrophage.

PMID- 26873849
TI  - Effects of DDIT4 in Methamphetamine-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis in
      Dopaminergic Neurons.
AB  - Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit psychoactive drug that can cause a variety
      of detrimental effects to the nervous system, especially dopaminergic pathways.
      We hypothesized that DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) is involved in
      METH-induced dopaminergic neuronal autophagy and apoptosis. To test the
      hypothesis, we determined changes of DDIT4 protein expression and the level of
      autophagy in rat catecholaminergic PC12 cells and human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y
      cells, and in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum of Sprague Dawley
      rats exposed to METH. We also examined the effects of silencing DDIT4 expression
      on METH-induced dopaminergic neuronal autophagy using fluorescence microscopy and
      electron microscopy. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to determine
      apoptosis and the expression of apoptotic markers (cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved
      PARP) after blocking DDIT4 expression in PC12 cells and SH-SY5Y cells with
      synthetic siRNA, as well as in the striatum of rats by injecting LV-shDDIT4
      lentivirus using a stereotaxic positioning system. Our results showed that METH
      exposure increased DDIT4 expression that was accompanied with increased autophagy
      and apoptosis in PC12 cells (3 mM) and SH-SY5Y cells (2 mM), and in the
      hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum of rats. Inhibition of DDIT4
      expression reduced METH-induced autophagy and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
      However, DDIT4-related effects were not observed at a low concentration of METH
      (1 MUM). These results suggest that DDIT4 plays an essential role in METH-induced
      dopaminergic neuronal autophagy and apoptosis at higher doses and may be a
      potential gene target for therapeutics in high-dose METH-induced neurotoxicity.

PMID- 26873850
TI  - Resveratrol Protects SAMP8 Brain Under Metabolic Stress: Focus on Mitochondrial
      Function and Wnt Pathway.
AB  - Metabolic stress induced by high-fat (HF) diet leads to cognitive dysfunction and
      aging, but the physiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Senescence
      accelerated prone mouse (SAMP8) models were conducted under metabolic stress
      conditions by feeding HF for 15 weeks, and the preventive effect of resveratrol
      was studied. This dietary strategy demonstrates cognitive impairment in SAMP8-HF
      and significant preventive effect by resveratrol-treated animals. Hippocampal
      changes in the proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics optic atrophy-1
      protein (OPA1) and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) comprised a differential feature found in
      SAMP8-HF that was prevented by resveratrol. Electronic microscopy showed a larger
      mitochondria in SAMP8-HF + resveratrol (SAMP8-HF + RV) than in SAMP8-HF,
      indicating increases in fusion processes in resveratrol-treated mice. According
      to the mitochondrial morphology, significant increases in the I-NDUFB8, II-SDNB,
      III-UQCRC2, and V-ATPase complexes, in addition to that of voltage-dependent
      anion channel 1 (VDAC1)/porin, were found in resveratrol-treated animals with
      regard to SAMP8-HF, reaching control-animal levels. Moreover, tumor necrosis
      factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL-6) were increased after HF, and
      resveratrol prevents its increase. Moreover, we found that the HF diet affected
      the Wnt pathway, as demonstrated by beta-catenin inactivation and modification in
      the expression of several components of this pathway. Resveratrol induced strong
      activation of beta-catenin. The metabolic stress rendered in the cognitive and
      cellular pathways altered in SAMP8 focus on different targets in order to act on
      preventing cognitive impairment in neurodegeneration, and resveratrol can offer
      therapeutic possibilities for preventive strategies in aging or neurodegenerative
      conditions.

PMID- 26873851
TI  - DJ-1/PARK7, But Not Its L166P Mutant Linked to Autosomal Recessive Parkinsonism,
      Modulates the Transcriptional Activity of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nurr1 In
      Vitro and In Vivo.
AB  - Although mutations of DJ-1 have been linked to autosomal recessive Parkinsonism
      for years, its physiological function and the pathological mechanism of its
      mutants are not well understood. We report for the first time that exogenous
      application of DJ-1, but not its L166P mutant, enhances the nuclear translocation
      and the transcriptional activity of Nurr1, a transcription factor essential for
      dopaminergic neuron development and maturation, both in vitro and in vivo.
      Knockdown of DJ-1 attenuates Nurr1 activity. Further investigation showed that
      signaling of Raf/MEK/ERK MAPKs is involved in this regulatory process and that
      activation induced by exogenous DJ-1 is antagonized by U0126, an ERK pathway
      inhibitor, indicating that DJ-1 modulates Nurr1 activity via the Raf/MEK/ERK
      pathway. Our findings shed light on the novel function of DJ-1 to enhance Nurr1
      activity and provide the first insight into the molecular mechanism by which DJ-1
      enhances Nurr1 activity.

PMID- 26873852
TI  - Elevated Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Free Fatty Acid Levels Are Associated with
      Unfavorable Functional Outcome in Subjects with Acute Ischemic Stroke.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serum and
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) free fatty acid (FFA) levels in a cohort of patients
      with an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In a prospective study, FFA levels were
      measured using an enzyme cycling method on admission in serum and CSF of 252
      consecutive patients with AIS. The prognostic value of FFA to predict the
      functional outcome and mortality within 90-day was compared with the National
      Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and with other known outcome predictors.
      Serum and CSF levels of FFA increased with increasing severity of stroke as
      defined by the NIHSS score (all P < 0.001). Patients with an unfavorable outcomes
      and non-survivors had significantly increased FFA serum and CSF levels on
      admission (all P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted
      for common risk factors showed that serum FFA >=0.71 mmol/L (third quarters) was
      an independent predictor of functional outcome (odds ratios (OR) = 4.86; 95 %
      confidence interval (CI) 2.26-10.48) and mortality (OR = 7.72; 95 % CI 3.01
      21.48). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of serum FFA
      was 0.79 (95 % CI, 0.72-0.86) for functional outcome and 0.86 (95 % CI, 0.78
      0.94) for mortality. Similarly, CSF FFA level also was an indicator for
      predicting of functional outcome and mortality. FFA levels in serum and CSF may
      serve as independent biomarkers in addition of the traditional methods for
      assessing the functional outcome and mortality of AIS.

PMID- 26873853
TI  - Lentiviral-Mediated Netrin-1 Overexpression Improves Motor and Sensory Functions
      in SCT Rats Associated with SYP and GAP-43 Expressions.
AB  - Spinal cord injury (SCI), as a major cause of disability, usually causes serious
      loss of motor and sensory functions. As a bifunctional axonal guidance cue,
      netrin-1 can attract axons via the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) receptors
      and repelling others via Unc5 receptors, but its exact role in the recovery of
      motor and sensory function has not well been studied, and the mechanisms remains
      elusive. The aim of this experiment is to determine whether lentiviral (LV)
      mediated overexpression of netrin-1 or RNA interference (RNAi) can regulate the
      functional recovery in rats subjected to spinal cord transection (SCT). Firstly,
      two lentiviral vectors including Lv-exNtn-1 (netrin-1 open reading frame (ORF))
      and Lv-shNtn-1 (netrin-1 sh) were constructed and injected into spinal cords
      rostral and caudal to the transected lesion site. Overexpressing netrin-1
      enhanced significantly locomotor function, and reduced thermal and mechanical
      stimuli in vivo, compared with the control, while silencing netrin-1 did not
      significantly change the situation. Western blot and immunostaining analysis
      confirmed that netrin-1 ORF treatment not only effectively increased the
      expression level of netrin-1, also up-regulated the level of synaptophysin (SYP)
      in spinal cord rostral to the lesion, but also enhanced growth-associated protein
      43 (GAP-43) expression in spinal cord caudal to the lesion site. Comparatively,
      knockdown of netrin-1 did not give rise to positive findings in our experimental
      condition. These findings therefore pointed that Lv-mediated netrin-1
      overexpression could promote motor and sensory functional recoveries following
      SCT, and the underlying mechanisms were associated with SYP and GAP-43
      expressions. The present study therefore provided a novel strategy for the
      treatment of SCI and explained the possible mechanisms for the functional
      improvement.

PMID- 26873854
TI  - Neuronal Activity-Induced Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein-1 (SREBP1) is
      Disrupted in Dysbindin-Null Mice-Potential Link to Cognitive Impairment in
      Schizophrenia.
AB  - Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder that affects
      about 1 % of the population. Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1 or dysbindin)
      is one of the Research Domain Constructs (RDoC) associated with cognition and is
      significantly reduced in the brain of schizophrenia patients. To further
      understand the molecular underpinnings of pathogenesis of schizophrenia, we have
      performed microarray analyses of the hippocampi from dysbindin knockout mice, and
      found that genes involved in the lipogenic pathway are suppressed. Moreover, we
      discovered that maturation of a master transcriptional regulator for lipid
      synthesis, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) is induced by
      neuronal activity, and is required for induction of the immediate early gene ARC
      (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein), necessary for synaptic
      plasticity and memory. We found that nuclear SREBP1 is dramatically reduced in
      dysbindin-1 knockout mice and postmortem brain tissues from human patients with
      schizophrenia. Furthermore, activity-dependent maturation of SREBP1 as well as
      ARC expression were attenuated in dysbindin-1 knockout mice, and these deficits
      were restored by an atypical antipsychotic drug, clozapine. Together, results
      indicate an important role of dysbindin-1 in neuronal activity induced SREBP1 and
      ARC, which could be related to cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

PMID- 26873855
TI  - Activating Autophagy in Hippocampal Cells Alleviates the Morphine-Induced Memory
      Impairment.
AB  - Morphine abuse in treating severe and chronic pain has become a worldwide
      problem. But, chronic morphine exposure can cause memory impairment with its
      mechanisms not fully elucidated by past research sstudies which all focused on
      the harmful effects of morphine. Autophagy is an important pathway for cells to
      maintain survival. Here we showed that repeated morphine injection into C57BL/6
      mice at a dose of 15 mg/kg per day for 7 days activated autophagic flux mainly in
      the hippocampi, especially in neurons of hippocampal CA1 region and microglia,
      with spatial memory impairment confirmed by Morris water maze test. Autophagy
      inhibition by 3-methyladenine obviously aggravates this morphine-induced memory
      impairment, accompanied with increased cell deaths in stratum pyramidale of
      hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG regions and the activation of microglia to induce
      inflammation in hippocampus, such as upregulated expression of TNF-alpha, IL
      1beta, IL-6, and iNOS, as well as NF-kappaB' s activation, while morphine alone
      promoted microglial immunosuppression in hippocampus with autophagy activation
      which was also confirmed in primary microglia. Taken together, our data indicates
      that autophagy activating in hippocampal cells can alleviate the memory
      impairment caused by morphine, by decreasing neuronal deaths in hippocampus and
      suppressing inflammation in hippocampal microglia, implying that modulating the
      activation of autophagy might be a promising method to prevent or treat the
      memory impairment caused by morphine.

PMID- 26873856
TI  - SORL1 Is Associated with the Risk of Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease: a
      Replication Study and Meta-Analyses.
AB  - The sorting-related receptor gene (SORL1) has been defined as an interesting
      candidate gene for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, one novel variant,
      rs11218343, within SORL1 was reported to be related to late-onset Alzheimer's
      disease (LOAD) in Caucasians, Korean, and Japanese. The aim of this case-control
      study is to investigate whether SORL1 rs11218343 contributes to susceptibility
      for LOAD in Chinese. Furthermore, our data, along with previously studies, were
      pooled for determining the risk of the rs11218343 polymorphism on LOAD. The
      rs11218343 polymorphism was genotyped in the 2350 independent subjects from
      Northern Han Chinese population (including 992 cases and 1358 age- and gender
      matched controls). Result of the case-control study showed the association
      between rs11218343 polymorphism and the risk of LOAD in a Northern Han Chinese
      population (recessive model: odds ratio (OR) = 0.641, 95 % confidence interval
      (CI) = 0.464-0.884, P = 0.007; additive model: OR = 0.873, 95 % CI = 0.765-0.996,
      P = 0.043). The results of meta-analysis in subgroups (Caucasian and Asian) and
      the whole showed that the minor allele (C allele) within rs11218343 played a
      protective effect on AD risk (OR (95 % CI), 0.77 (0.72-0.83), 0.85 (0.79-0.91),
      0.81 (0.76-0.85), respectively). In conclusion, the C allele in SORL1 rs11218343
      may be a protective factor for LOAD in both Caucasian and Han Chinese.

PMID- 26873858
TI  - Molecular Basis of Ligand Dissociation from the Adenosine A2A Receptor.
AB  - How drugs dissociate from their targets is largely unknown. We investigated the
      molecular basis of this process in the adenosine A2Areceptor (A2AR), a
      prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Through kinetic radioligand
      binding experiments, we characterized mutant receptors selected based on
      molecular dynamic simulations of the antagonist ZM241385 dissociating from the
      A2AR. We discovered mutations that dramatically altered the ligand's dissociation
      rate despite only marginally influencing its binding affinity, demonstrating that
      even receptor features with little contribution to affinity may prove critical to
      the dissociation process. Our results also suggest that ZM241385 follows a
      multistep dissociation pathway, consecutively interacting with distinct receptor
      regions, a mechanism that may also be common to many other GPCRs. 

PMID- 26873857
TI  - Distinct Phosphorylation Clusters Determine the Signaling Outcome of Free Fatty
      Acid Receptor 4/G Protein-Coupled Receptor 120.
AB  - It is established that long-chain free fatty acids includingomega-3 fatty acids
      mediate an array of biologic responses through members of the free fatty acid
      (FFA) receptor family, which includes FFA4. However, the signaling mechanisms and
      modes of regulation of this receptor class remain unclear. Here, we employed mass
      spectrometry to determine that phosphorylation of mouse (m)FFAR4 occurs at five
      serine and threonine residues clustered in two separable regions of the C
      terminal tail, designated cluster 1 (Thr(347), Thr(349), and Ser(350)) and
      cluster 2 (Ser(357)and Ser(361)). Mutation of these phosphoacceptor sites to
      alanine completely prevented phosphorylation of mFFA4 but did not limit receptor
      coupling to extracellular signal regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)
      activation. Rather, an inhibitor of Gq/11proteins completely prevented receptor
      signaling to ERK1/2. By contrast, the recruitment of arrestin 3, receptor
      internalization, and activation of Akt were regulated by mFFA4 phosphorylation.
      The analysis of mFFA4 phosphorylation-dependent signaling was extended further by
      selective mutations of the phosphoacceptor sites. Mutations within cluster 2 did
      not affect agonist activation of Akt but instead significantly compromised
      receptor internalization and arrestin 3 recruitment. Distinctly, mutation of the
      phosphoacceptor sites within cluster 1 had no effect on receptor internalization
      and had a less extensive effect on arrestin 3 recruitment but significantly
      uncoupled the receptor from Akt activation. These unique observations define
      differential effects on signaling mediated by phosphorylation at distinct
      locations. This hallmark feature supports the possibility that the signaling
      outcome of mFFA4 activation can be determined by the pattern of phosphorylation
      (phosphorylation barcode) at the C terminus of the receptor. 

PMID- 26873859
TI  - Barriers and facilitators to the nationwide dissemination of the Dutch school
      based obesity prevention programme DOiT.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This article describes the barriers and facilitating factors to the
      adoption, implementation and continuation of the Dutch Obesity Intervention in
      Teenagers (DOiT) programme in the Netherlands. METHODS: We evaluated the
      adoption, implementation and continuation of the programme at 20 voluntary
      prevocational schools, which adopted the programme. Interviews were conducted
      with DOiT coordinators and/or teachers (n = 44) at the end of the first and
      second school year of the 2-year implementation period. Interviews were recorded
      and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded by two researchers independently.
      Identified barriers and facilitating factors were categorized into four groups:
      (i) organizational factors, (ii) individual factors, (iii) characteristics of the
      programme and (iv) characteristics of the implementation strategy. RESULTS:
      Teachers and DOiT coordinators identified various implementation barriers (e.g.
      lack of planning, other urgent unforeseen priorities, no plan to cope with
      teacher turnover and high teacher workload) as well as facilitating factors (e.g.
      involvement of DOiT coordinator and support from the DOiT office, sufficient
      communication and collaboration between teachers, strong teacher motivation and
      flexibility of the programme). CONCLUSION: Overall, DOiT implementers were
      satisfied with the compatibility, layout, content and potential for tailoring the
      programme. Barriers for successful implementation were mainly at the school and
      teacher level. Findings of this study can be used for further improvement of the
      DOiT programme and for the development and improvement of other health promotion
      programmes in the school setting.

PMID- 26873860
TI  - The impact of a school food aid program on household food insecurity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We had a unique opportunity to establish the extent of food
      insecurity and the potential impact of a large-scale school-based nutritional
      program, in low-socioeconomic status districts of Greece, during the current
      economic crisis. METHODS: Around 162 schools with 25 349 students participated
      during the 2012-2013 school year. Each student received a daily healthy meal
      designed by nutrition specialists. Food insecurity levels, measured using the
      Food Security Survey Module were assessed at baseline and after a 1-8-month
      intervention period. Pre-post intervention responses were matched at an
      individual level. RESULTS: Around 64.2% of children's households experienced food
      insecurity at baseline. This percentage decreased to 59.1% post-intervention,P<
      0.001. On an individual level, food insecurity score diminished by 6.5%,P< 0.001.
      After adjustment for various socioeconomic factors, for each additional month of
      participation, the odds of reducing the food insecurity score increased by 6.3%
      (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11). Those experiencing food insecurity with hunger at
      baseline were more likely to improve food insecurity score than those who did not
      (OR = 3.51, 95%CI: 2.92-4.21). CONCLUSION: Children and families residing in low
      socioeconomic areas of Greece, experience high levels of food insecurity. Our
      findings suggest that participation in a school-based food aid program may reduce
      food insecurity for children and their families in a developed country in times
      of economic hardship.

PMID- 26873861
TI  - Healthy human second-trimester fetal skin is deficient in leukocytes and
      associated homing chemokines.
AB  - The lack of immune cells in mid-gestational fetal skin is often mentioned as a
      key factor underlying scarless healing. However, the scarless healing ability is
      conserved until long after the immune system in the fetus is fully developed.
      Therefore, we studied human second-trimester fetal skin and compared the numbers
      of immune cells and chemokine levels from fetal skin with adult skin. By using
      immunohistochemistry, we show that healthy fetal skin contains significant lower
      numbers of CD68(+) -macrophages, Tryptase(+) -mast cells, Langerin(+) -Langerhans
      cells, CD1a(+) -dendritic cells, and CD3(+) -T cells compared to adult skin.
      Staining with an early lineage leukocyte marker, i.e., CD45, verified that the
      number of CD45(+) -immune cells was indeed significantly lower in fetal skin but
      that sufficient numbers of immune cells were present in the fetal lymph node. No
      differences in the vascular network were observed between fetal and adult skin.
      Moreover, significant lower levels of lymphocyte chemokines CCL17, CCL21, and
      CCL27 were observed in fetal skin. However, levels of inflammatory interleukins
      such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were undetectable and levels of CCL2 were similar
      in healthy fetal and adult skin. In conclusion, this study shows that second
      trimester fetal skin contains low levels of immune cells and leukocyte chemokines
      compared to adult skin. This immune cell deficiency includes CD45(+) leukocytes,
      despite the abundant presence of these cells in the lymph node. The immune
      deficiency in healthy second-trimester fetal skin may result in reduced
      inflammation during wound healing, and could underlie the scarless healing
      capacities of the fetal skin.

PMID- 26873862
TI  - A New In Vitro Co-Culture Model Using Magnetic Force-Based Nanotechnology.
AB  - Skeletal myoblast (SkMB) transplantation has been conducted as a therapeutic
      strategy for severe heart failure. However, arrhythmogenicity following
      transplantation remains unsolved. We developed an in vitro model of myoblast
      transplantation with "patterned" or "randomly-mixed" co-culture of SkMBs and
      cardiomyocytes enabling subsequent electrophysiological, and arrhythmogenic
      evaluation. SkMBs were magnetically labeled with magnetite nanoparticles and co
      cultured with neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) on multi-electrode
      arrays. SkMBs were patterned by a magnet beneath the arrays. Excitation
      synchronicity was evaluated by Ca(2+) imaging using a gene-encoded Ca(2+)
      indicator, G-CaMP2. In the monoculture of NRVMs (control), conduction was well
      organized. In the randomly-mixed co-culture of NRVMs and SkMBs (random group),
      there was inhomogeneous conduction from multiple origins. In the "patterned" co
      culture where an en bloc SKMB-layer was inserted into the NRVM-layer, excitation
      homogenously propagated although conduction was distorted by the SkMB-area. The 4
      mm distance conduction time (CT) in the random group was significantly longer
      (197 +/- 126 ms) than in control (17 +/- 3 ms). In the patterned group, CT
      through NRVM-area did not change (25 +/- 3 ms), although CT through the SkMB-area
      was significantly longer (132 +/- 77 ms). The intervals between spontaneous
      excitation varied beat-to-beat in the random group, while regular beating was
      recorded in the control and patterned groups. Synchronized Ca(2+) transients of
      NRVMs were observed in the patterned group, whereas those in the random group
      were asynchronous. Patterned alignment of SkMBs is feasible with magnetic
      nanoparticles. Using the novel in vitro model mimicking cell transplantation, it
      may become possible to predict arrhythmogenicity due to heterogenous cell
      transplantation. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2249-2256, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26873864
TI  - Chemotherapy in ovarian germ cell tumors: A systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCTs) are rare tumors that comprise a
      diverse group of histologic subtypes that can either be benign or malignant.
      Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCTs) historically carried a poor prognosis,
      especially among those diagnosed with advanced disease. With the advent of
      combination chemotherapy, risk of relapse has markedly decreased. There is
      limited prospective data on the efficacy of specific chemotherapy regimens in the
      treatment of malignant OGCTs. This article critically reviews the literature
      pertinent to the treatment of OGCTs with chemotherapy. METHODS: MEDLINE was
      searched for English language literature on prospective studies on the treatment
      of malignant OGCTs, focusing on publications since 1995. RESULTS: As modern
      chemotherapy regimens have evolved, risk of relapse has decreased with
      implementation of platinum based regimens in the adjuvant setting. However, the
      role of neoadjuvant platinum based regimens and treatment of metastatic or
      recurrent malignant OGCTs remains poorly understood due to lack of randomized
      control trials. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant OGCTs represent a rare subset of ovarian
      neoplasms for which focused, prospective clinical trials are needed to determine
      the most effective therapies.

PMID- 26873863
TI  - The effects of arginine glutamate, a promising excipient for protein formulation,
      on cell viability: Comparisons with NaCl.
AB  - The effects of an equimolar mixture of l-arginine and l-glutamate (Arg.Glu) on
      cell viability and cellular stress using in vitro cell culture systems are
      examined with reference to NaCl, in the context of monoclonal antibody
      formulation. Cells relevant to subcutaneous administration were selected: the
      human monocyte cell line THP-1, grown as a single cell suspension, and adherent
      human primary fibroblasts. For THP-1 cells, the mechanism of cell death caused by
      relatively high salt concentrations was investigated and effects on cell
      activation/stress assessed as a function of changes in membrane marker and
      cytokine (interleukin-8) expression. These studies demonstrated that Arg.Glu does
      not have any further detrimental effects on THP-1 viability in comparison to NaCl
      at equivalent osmolalities, and that both salts at higher concentrations cause
      cell death by apoptosis; there was no significant effect on measures of THP-1
      cellular stress/activation. For adherent fibroblasts, both salts caused
      significant toxicity at ~400 mOsm/kg, although Arg.Glu caused a more precipitous
      subsequent decline in viability than did NaCl. These data indicate that Arg.Glu
      is of equivalent toxicity to NaCl and that the mechanism of toxicity is such that
      cell death is unlikely to trigger inflammation upon subcutaneous injection in
      vivo.

PMID- 26873865
TI  - Natural history and outcome of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the cervix (NECC) are rare and thought to
      be aggressive. We performed a population-based analysis to examine the natural
      history, treatment patterns and outcomes of women with NECC compared to squamous
      cell carcinoma (SCCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) of the cervix. METHODS: The
      National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized to identify women with NECC, SCCC,
      and AC treated from 1998 to 2011. Clinical, demographic, and treatment
      characteristics were compared between the groups. The association between tumor
      histology and survival was examined using Kaplan-Meier analyses and multivariable
      Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: We identified 127,332
      patients, including 1,896 (1.5%) with NECC and 101,240 (79.5%) with SCCC and
      24,196 (19.0%) with AC. Patients with NECC were younger, more often white,
      commercially insured, and diagnosed with metastatic disease at presentation
      compared to women with SCCC. Patients with early-stage NECC were more likely to
      receive adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation after surgery (P<0.05 for both). In
      multivariable models stratified by stage and adjusted for clinical and
      demographic characteristics, the risk of death was higher for patients with NECC
      compared to SCCC for all stages of disease: stages IB-IIA (HR=2.96; 95% CI, 2.48
      3.52), stages IIB-IVA (HR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.45-1.99) and stage IVB (HR=1.14; 95%
      CI, 0.91-1.43). CONCLUSION: NECC are aggressive tumors associated with an
      increased risk of death. Survival is inferior for NECC compared to squamous cell
      tumors for women with both early and advanced stage disease.

PMID- 26873866
TI  - MicroRNA-183 functions as the tumor suppressor via inhibiting cellular invasion
      and metastasis by targeting MMP-9 in cervical cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs have been reported to play an important role in the invasion
      and metastasis of cervical cancer. miR-183 was found to inhibit or promote the
      invasion and metastasis of multiple solid tumors. However, the roles of miR-183
      in cervical cancer are unclear. METHODS: In this study, miR-183 expression levels
      were measured in 53 cervical cancer and 13 normal cervical tissues by qRT-PCR.
      The effects of forced expression of miR-183 on cervical cancer cells invasion and
      metastasis were investigated using Transwell uncoated or coated with growth
      factor-reduced Matrigel for migration or invasion assays, respectively. RESULTS:
      We found that miR-183 expression levels were significantly down-regulated in
      cervical cancer tissues compared with normal tissues (0.15+/-0.011 to 0.86+/
      0.049). Ectopic expression of miR-183 resulted in the suppression of invasion and
      migration of cervical cancer cell lines, siha and Hela cells (p<0.0001).
      Bioinformatics analysis revealed that MMP-9 was the potential target of miR-183
      and it was found that MMP-9 was remarkably up-regulated in cervical cancer.
      Furthermore, a dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that MMP-9 as a target of
      miR-183 (p<0.0001). The invasion and metastasis ability of siha and Hela was
      suppressed when MMP-9 was down-regulated in vitro (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In
      conclusion, our study revealed that miR-183 might be a tumor suppressor via
      inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer cells through targeting
      MMP-9, indicating that miR-183 may be a novel potential therapeutic target for
      cervical cancer.

PMID- 26873867
TI  - Development of core outcome sets in hidradenitis suppurativa: systematic review
      of outcome measure instruments to inform the process.
AB  - The recent hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) Cochrane review identified outcome
      measure heterogeneity as an important issue to address when designing future HS
      trials. Our objective was to follow the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema
      (HOME) roadmap, by performing a systematic review of HS outcome measure
      instruments to inform the development of an HS core outcome set. We performed a
      systematic review to identify validation evidence for outcome measure instruments
      used in HS randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and assessed the methodological
      quality of all HS outcome measure validity studies using the COnsensus-based
      Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.
      The 12 RCTs included in the Cochrane review utilized 30 outcome measure
      instruments, including 16 physician-reported instruments, 11 patient-reported
      instruments and three composite measures containing elements of both. Twenty
      seven (90%) of the instruments lacked any validation data. Two further
      instruments have been developed and partially validated. Of the seven studies
      meeting our inclusion criteria, six were of 'fair' or 'poor' methodological
      quality, in part because most of the studies were not primarily designed for
      instrument validation. The HiSCR instrument is supported by good-quality
      validation data, but there are gaps, including assessment of internal
      consistency, inter-rater reliability and minimal clinically important difference,
      and convergent validity fell below the acceptable range for some comparisons.
      Multiple, usually unvalidated, outcome measure instruments have been used in HS
      RCTs. Where validation evidence is available there are issues of low
      methodological quality or incomplete validity assessment and so, currently, no
      instruments can be fully recommended. 

PMID- 26873869
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26873870
TI  - Lichen planus and dyslipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of
      observational studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been
      shown to be positively associated with dyslipidemia. However, the magnitude and
      types of the underlying lipid abnormalities have not been investigated. This
      study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the
      qualitative and quantitative association between LP and dyslipidemia. METHODS: A
      systematic search of studies published from inception to April 1, 2015, was
      conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases.
      Meta-analyses of observational studies with both categorical and continuous
      outcome were performed. DerSimonian and Lard random effects models were utilized
      to calculate the pooled odds ratio and weighted mean difference (WMD).
      Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot and Egger's test. RESULTS: Seven
      studies with 5242 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Patients with LP
      were significantly more likely to have dyslipidemia, with a pooled odds ratio of
      1.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.54, P = 0.004). LP was associated with
      higher levels of triglycerides (WMD 83.37 mg/dl, 95% CI 0.62-166.12, P = 0.048),
      low-density lipoprotein (18.75 mg/dl, 95% CI -17.21 to 54.72, P = 0.307), total
      cholesterol (19.22 mg/dl, 95% CI -8.80 to 47.25, P = 0.179), and lower levels of
      high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-8.96 mg/dl, 95% CI -21.22 to 3.30, P =
      0.152). CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable heterogeneity, this study demonstrated
      that LP was significantly associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia and
      higher triglyceride levels. For patients presenting with LP, physicians should be
      cognizant of this association and consider screening them for dyslipidemia.

PMID- 26873871
TI  - Gender-related different effects of a combined therapy of Exenatide and Metformin
      on overweight or obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although men and women have similar diabetes prevalence, the same
      medicine will cause different therapeutic results in different genders. To
      understand the molecular mechanism, we explored the effects of a combined therapy
      of Exenatide and Metformin on obesity and overweight female and male patients
      with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: One hundred and
      five overweight and obesity patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (n=54 female in a
      female group and n=51 males in a male group) received the therapy: 5 MUg
      Exenatide+0.5 g MET twice daily for 4 weeks, then 10 MUg Exenatide+0.5 g MET
      twice daily for 24 weeks. RESULTS: There was an average of 8.2 +/- 2.4 kg and 4.6
      +/- 2.3 kg weight loss in female and male patients, respectively. The combined
      therapy showed better effects on female than male patients for improving insulin
      sensitivity and serum lipid profile, reducing insulin resistance, increasing
      adiponectin levels, and decreasing the levels of HbA1c, BMI, resistin, TNF-alpha
      and C-reactive protein (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy of Exenatide
      and MET shows better therapeutic results in female patients than in male
      patients. Therefore, the dual therapy is more suitable for female patients.

PMID- 26873868
TI  - Endoscopy in patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, including direct
      oral anticoagulants: British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and European
      Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines.
AB  - The risk of endoscopy in patients on antithrombotics depends on the risks of
      procedural haemorrhage versus thrombosis due to discontinuation of therapy. P2Y12
      RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS CLOPIDOGREL, PRASUGREL, TICAGRELOR: For low-risk endoscopic
      procedures we recommend continuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists as single or dual
      antiplatelet therapy (low quality evidence, strong recommendation); For high-risk
      endoscopic procedures in patients at low thrombotic risk, we recommend
      discontinuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists five days before the procedure (moderate
      quality evidence, strong recommendation). In patients on dual antiplatelet
      therapy, we suggest continuing aspirin (low quality evidence, weak
      recommendation). For high-risk endoscopic procedures in patients at high
      thrombotic risk, we recommend continuing aspirin and liaising with a cardiologist
      about the risk/benefit of discontinuation of P2Y12 receptor antagonists (high
      quality evidence, strong recommendation). WARFARIN: The advice for warfarin is
      fundamentally unchanged from British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) 2008
      guidance. DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS DOAC: For low-risk endoscopic procedures we
      suggest omitting the morning dose of DOAC on the day of the procedure (very low
      quality evidence, weak recommendation); For high-risk endoscopic procedures, we
      recommend that the last dose of DOAC be taken >=48 h before the procedure (very
      low quality evidence, strong recommendation). For patients on dabigatran with
      CrCl (or estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) of 30-50 mL/min we recommend
      that the last dose of DOAC be taken 72 h before the procedure (very low quality
      evidence, strong recommendation). In any patient with rapidly deteriorating renal
      function a haematologist should be consulted (low quality evidence, strong
      recommendation).

PMID- 26873872
TI  - Coupling of the non-amyloid-component (NAC) domain and the KTK(E/Q)GV repeats
      stabilize the alpha-synuclein fibrils.
AB  - The aggregates of alpha-synuclein (alphaS) are a major pathological hallmark of
      Parkinson's disease (PD) making their structure-function relationship important
      for rational drug design. Yet, the atomic structure of the alphaS aggregates is
      unavailable, making it difficult to understand the underlying aggregation
      mechanism. In this work, based on available experimental data, we examined
      plausible molecular structures of alphaS(20/30-110) fibrils for the first time by
      employing computational approaches. The optimized structure was used to
      investigate possible interactions with aggregation inhibitors. Our structural
      models characterize the essential properties of the five-layered fold of the
      alphaS fibril. The distribution of the beta-strands and the topology of the five
      beta-strands in the relatively stable models are in good agreement with
      experimental values. In particular, we find that the KTK(E/Q)GV repeat motifs
      significantly stabilize the alphaS fibrils. The charged residues within each
      repeat prefer exposure to the solvent in order to further stabilize the inter
      layered interactions by salt-bridges. The organization of the repeat
      K(58)T(59)K(60)E(61)Q(62)V(63) between the beta2 and beta3 layers significantly
      affects the stability of the non-amyloid-component (NAC) domain. The coupling
      between the NAC domain and the KTKEGV repeats indicates that both regions can be
      potential binding sites for inhibitor design. The distinct binding modes of
      chemical agents that alter alphaS aggregation highlight the potential of our
      models in inhibitor design. 

PMID- 26873873
TI  - Community walking speed, sedentary or lying down time, and mortality in
      peripheral artery disease.
AB  - We studied whether slower community walking speed and whether greater time spent
      lying down or sleeping were associated with higher mortality in people with lower
      extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Participants with an ankle-brachial
      index (ABI) < 0.90 were identified from Chicago medical centers. At baseline,
      participants reported their usual walking speed outside their home and the number
      of hours they spent lying down or sleeping per day. Cause of death was
      adjudicated using death certificates and medical record review. Analyses were
      adjusted for age, sex, race, comorbidities, ABI, and other confounders. Of 1314
      PAD participants, 189 (14.4%) died, including 63 cardiovascular disease (CVD)
      deaths. Mean follow-up was 34.9 months +/- 18.1. Relative to average or normal
      pace (2-3 miles/hour), slower walking speed was associated with greater CVD
      mortality: no walking at all: hazard ratio (HR) = 4.17, 95% confidence interval
      (CI) = 1.46-11.89; casual strolling (0-2 miles/hour): HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.16
      4.32; brisk or striding (>3 miles/hour): HR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.07-4.30. These
      associations were not significant after additional adjustment for the six-minute
      walk. Relative to sleeping or lying down for 8-9 hours, fewer or greater hours
      sleeping or lying down were associated with higher CVD mortality: 4-7 hours: HR =
      2.08, 95% CI = 1.06-4.05; 10-11 hours: HR = 4.07, 95% CI = 1.86-8.89; ? 12 hours:
      HR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.47-9.62. These associations were maintained after
      adjustment for the six-minute walk. In conclusion, slower walking speed outside
      the home and less than 8 hours or more than 9 hours lying down per day are
      potentially modifiable behaviors associated with increased CVD mortality in
      patients with PAD.

PMID- 26873874
TI  - Identification of the MmeHairy gene and expression analysis affected by two SNPs
      in the 3'-untranslated region in the clam Meretrix meretrix.
AB  - As a bHLH transcriptional repressor, Hairy-related proteins can bind to DNA sites
      in target gene promoters and negatively regulate gene transcription. In the
      present study, the full-length cDNA of Hairy was obtained from the clam Meretrix
      meretrix (MmeHairy), and two SNPs in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of this
      gene, SNP1066 and 1067, were identified and characterized. Multiple sequence
      alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that MmeHairy belongs to the Hairy
      protein subfamily. Analysis of tissue expression patterns showed that the mRNA of
      MmeHairy had the highest expression level in the hepatopancreas. The expression
      levels of MmeHairy were up-regulated in the hepatopancreas after Vibrio
      challenge. Genotyping and quantitative analysis showed that the mRNA levels of
      MmeHairy were significantly different among individual clams with different
      genotypes at SNP1066 and 1067 (P < 0.05), which indicated that these two SNP loci
      may affect the expression of MmeHairy and could be used as candidate markers for
      future selection in M. meretrix breeding programs. 

PMID- 26873876
TI  - The private, online GP will see you now.

PMID- 26873875
TI  - Immunolocalization of immune cells and cell cycle proteins in the bulbus
      arteriosus of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).
AB  - The bulbus arteriosus is the most anterior chamber of the teleost heart. The
      present study aimed to establish the presence, and to provide semi-quantitative
      information on the abundance, of several immune and cell-cycle proteins in the
      bulbus arteriosus of healthy Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Using
      immunohistochemistry, lymphocyte-like cells were identified in the bulbus
      arteriosus using antibodies to CD3epsilon and MHC class IIbeta. Few PCNA positive
      cells were identified in post-smolt fish as compared to moderate levels of
      staining in fresh water fry. Interestingly no staining was evident in adult fish
      (1-3 kg), thus there was a loss of cells expressing cell-cycle regulatory
      proteins with ontogeny/progressive life-history stages. Eosinophilic granulocytes
      (EGCs) were identified in the bulbus arteriosus using TNFalpha and HIF1alpha
      antibodies. Anti-caspase 3 immune-reaction identified a strong endothelial
      cytoplasmic staining in the bulbus arteriosus. Taken together, the
      immunolocalization of immune-related molecules (CD3, MHC class II and TNFalpha),
      cell-cycle regulatory proteins (PCNA and HIF1alpha) and apoptosis markers (TUNEL,
      caspase 3) suggest that the bulbus arteriosus may have an immune component within
      its functional repertoire. 

PMID- 26873878
TI  - Proteome analysis of Bordetella pertussis isolated from human macrophages.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that B. pertussis survives inside human macrophages
      in non-acidic compartments with characteristics of early endosomes. In order to
      gain new insight into the biology of B. pertussis survival in host cells, we have
      analyzed the adaptation of the bacterial proteome during intracellular infection.
      The proteome of B. pertussis 3 h and 48 h after infection of human macrophage
      like THP-1 cells was examined by nano-liquid chromatography combined with tandem
      MS and compared to the protein profile of extracellular B. pertussis growing in
      the same cell culture medium. Compared with extracellular bacteria, almost 300
      proteins out of 762 identified proteins displayed altered levels in intracellular
      B. pertussis. Functional analyses of the proteins displaying altered abundance
      revealed enrichment of proteins involved in stress response, iron uptake,
      cellular metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and virulence. To our knowledge,
      this is the first analysis of the B. pertussis proteome during adaptation to the
      intramacrophage environment and the data provide new clues for understanding B.
      pertussis adaptation and pathogenesis. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: B. pertussis is a
      respiratory pathogen that has adapted exclusively to the human host. Despite high
      vaccination rates, whooping cough remains a serious threat to human health and
      its incidence has been increasing in recent years in vaccinated populations. The
      mechanisms that allow this pathogen to evade immune clearance, persist in the
      host, and cause a prolonged paroxysmal cough are still poorly understood. Recent
      studies regarding B. pertussis survival inside host cells and the cellular
      response to this bacterial infection indicate that B. pertussis may have an
      intracellular phase during infection which probably contributes to persistence
      and vaccine failure. In this study we provide the first global proteome profile
      of B. pertussis within macrophages. The data provide novel insights into the
      adaptive responses elicited by these bacteria for physiological adaptation to the
      host environment.

PMID- 26873877
TI  - Rac1 regulates bacterial toxin-induced thrombin generation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome is associated with severe
      coagulopathy. The purpose of this study was to examine thrombin generation in
      systemic inflammation triggered by the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the
      exotoxin streptococcal M1 protein. METHODS: Thrombin generation, lung histology
      and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined 6 and 24 h after induction of
      systemic inflammation. Male C57BL/6 mice received the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766
      prior to challenge with bacterial toxins. RESULTS: LPS and M1 protein challenge
      increased neutrophil infiltration and caused damage in the lung. Time to peak
      thrombin formation was increased and peak and total generation of thrombin were
      decreased in plasma from LPS- and M1 protein-treated mice. Coincubation of
      samples from mice exposed to bacterial toxins with platelet poor plasma from
      healthy mice completely reversed the inhibitory effect of LPS and M1 protein on
      thrombin generation, suggesting that bacterial toxins decreased levels of plasma
      factors explaining the reduction of thrombin generating capacity of plasma from
      septic animals. NSC23766 treatment not only decreased LPS- and M1 protein-induced
      neutrophil accumulation as well as levels of interleukin-6 and CXCL2 in the lung,
      but also abolished bacterial toxin-induced changes in thrombin generation. For
      example, NSC23766 increased peak formation by 57% and total thrombin generation
      by 48% in LPS-treated animals at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our novel
      findings show that bacterial toxins increase thrombin generation via consumption
      of plasma factors and that Rac1 signaling plays an important role in thrombin
      generation in response to bacterial toxins. Thus, targeting Rac1 activity might
      be a useful way not only to ameliorate pulmonary inflammation, but also inhibit
      pathological changes in coagulation in bacterial infections.

PMID- 26873879
TI  - Rapid centriole assembly in Naegleria reveals conserved roles for both de novo
      and mentored assembly.
AB  - Centrioles are eukaryotic organelles whose number and position are critical for
      cilia formation and mitosis. Many cell types assemble new centrioles next to
      existing ones ("templated" or mentored assembly). Under certain conditions,
      centrioles also form without pre-existing centrioles (de novo). The synchronous
      differentiation of Naegleria amoebae to flagellates represents a unique
      opportunity to study centriole assembly, as nearly 100% of the population
      transitions from having no centrioles to having two within minutes. Here, we find
      that Naegleria forms its first centriole de novo, immediately followed by
      mentored assembly of the second. We also find both de novo and mentored assembly
      distributed among all major eukaryote lineages. We therefore propose that both
      modes are ancestral and have been conserved because they serve complementary
      roles, with de novo assembly as the default when no pre-existing centriole is
      available, and mentored assembly allowing precise regulation of number, timing,
      and location of centriole assembly.

PMID- 26873880
TI  - Detection of novel metabolites of flaxseed lignans in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - SCOPE: This study aimed to improve the knowledge of secoisolariciresinol
      diglucoside (SDG) transformation by human gut microbiota. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      SDG-supplemented microbiota cultures were inoculated with the feces of five
      subjects. The same volunteers received a flaxseed supplement for 7 days. SDG
      metabolites in cultures, feces, and urine were monitored by LC-ESI-QTOF and LC
      DAD. In all cultures, SDG was deglycosylated to secoisolariciresinol (SECO)
      within 12 h. SECO underwent successive dehydroxylations and demethylations
      yielding enterodiol (4-18% conversion) and enterolactone (0.2-6%) after 24 h.
      Novel intermediates related to SECO, matairesinol (MATA), and
      anhydrosecoisolariciresinol (AHS) were identified in fecal cultures. These
      metabolites were also found after flaxseed consumption in feces and urine (in
      approximate amounts between 0.01-47.03 MUg/g and 0.01-13.49 MUg/mL, respectively)
      in their native form and/or modified by phase II human enzymes (glucuronide,
      sulfate and sulfoglucuronide conjugates). CONCLUSIONS: Derivatives of MATA and
      AHS are described for the first time as intermediates of SDG biotransformation by
      intestinal bacteria, providing a more comprehensive knowledge of lignan
      intestinal metabolism. The transformations observed in vitro seem to occur in
      vivo as well. The detection in urine of SDG intermediates indicates their gut
      absorption, opening new perspectives on the study of their systemic biological
      effects.

PMID- 26873882
TI  - Function changing mutations in glucocorticoid receptor evolution correlate with
      their relevance to mode coupling.
AB  - Nonlinear effects in protein dynamics are expected to play role in function,
      particularly of allosteric nature, by facilitating energy transfer between
      vibrational modes. A recently proposed method focusing on the non-Gaussian shape
      of the configurational population near equilibrium projects this information onto
      real space in order to identify the aminoacids relevant to function. We here
      apply this method to three ancestral proteins in glucocorticoid receptor (GR)
      family and show that the mutations that restrict functional activity during GR
      evolution correlate significantly with locations that are highlighted by the
      nonlinear contribution to the near-native configurational distribution. Our
      findings demonstrate that the analysis of nonlinear effects in protein dynamics
      can be harnessed into a predictive tool for functional site determination.

PMID- 26873881
TI  - Charcot-marie-tooth disease type 1X in women: Electrodiagnostic findings.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Symptoms and signs in women with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type
      1X (CMT1X) are often milder from those in men, but the available
      electrophysiologic evidence regarding CMT1X in women has been characterized in
      some patients as non-uniform or asymmetric. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed
      electrodiagnostic findings from 45 women and 31 men with CMT1X. RESULTS: Motor
      nerve conduction parameters in CMT1X women were less abnormal (P < 0.05), and a
      wider range of motor conduction velocities (CVs) were seen in women (P < 0.001)
      compared with men. In women, nerve conduction studies showed lack of conduction
      block without temporal dispersion. Motor CVs were more frequently in the normal
      range in women compared with men. There was no significant relationship to age of
      presentation and motor CV or compound muscle action potential in women.
      CONCLUSION: NCS parameters in CMT1X women did not demonstrate features suggestive
      of an acquired demyelinating neuropathy. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: -,
      2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 728-732, 2016.

PMID- 26873883
TI  - Critical micelle concentration values for different surfactants measured with
      solid-phase microextraction fibers.
AB  - The amphiphilic nature of surfactants drives the formation of micelles at the
      critical micelle concentration (CMC). Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers
      were used in the present study to measure CMC values of 12 nonionic, anionic,
      cationic, and zwitterionic surfactants. The SPME-derived CMC values were compared
      to values determined using a traditional surface tension method. At the CMC of a
      surfactant, a break in the relationship between the concentration in SPME fibers
      and the concentration in water is observed. The CMC values determined with SPME
      fibers deviated by less than a factor of 3 from values determined with a surface
      tension method for 7 out of 12 compounds. In addition, the fiber-water sorption
      isotherms gave information about the sorption mechanism to polyacrylate-coated
      SPME fibers. A limitation of the SPME method is that CMCs for very hydrophobic
      cationic surfactants cannot be determined when the cation exchange capacity of
      the SPME fibers is lower than the CMC value. The advantage of the SPME method
      over other methods is that CMC values of individual compounds in a mixture can be
      determined with this method. However, CMC values may be affected by the presence
      of compounds with other chain lengths in the mixture because of possible mixed
      micelle formation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2173-2181. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26873885
TI  - Perfusion information extracted from resting state functional magnetic resonance
      imaging.
AB  - It is widely known that blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast in
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an indirect measure for neuronal
      activations through neurovascular coupling. The BOLD signal is also influenced by
      many non-neuronal physiological fluctuations. In previous resting state (RS) fMRI
      studies, we have identified a moving systemic low frequency oscillation (sLFO) in
      BOLD signal and were able to track its passage through the brain. We hypothesized
      that this seemingly intrinsic signal moves with the blood, and therefore, its
      dynamic patterns represent cerebral blood flow. In this study, we tested this
      hypothesis by performing Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) MRI scans (i.e.
      bolus tracking) following the RS scans on eight healthy subjects. The dynamic
      patterns of sLFO derived from RS data were compared with the bolus flow visually
      and quantitatively. We found that the flow of sLFO derived from RS fMRI does to a
      large extent represent the blood flow measured with DSC. The small differences,
      we hypothesize, are largely due to the difference between the methods in their
      sensitivity to different vessel types. We conclude that the flow of sLFO in RS
      visualized by our time delay method represents the blood flow in the capillaries
      and veins in the brain.

PMID- 26873884
TI  - Ultraviolet-A triggers photoaging in model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in a
      DAF-16 dependent pathway.
AB  - Ultraviolet radiations (UV) are the primary causative agent for skin aging
      (photoaging) and cancer, especially UV-A. The mode of action and the molecular
      mechanism behind the damages caused by UV-A is not well studied, in vivo. The
      current study was employed to investigate the impact of UV-A exposure using the
      model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Analysis of lifespan, healthspan, and
      other cognitive behaviors were done which was supported by the molecular
      mechanism. UV-A exposure on collagen damages the synthesis and functioning which
      has been monitored kinetically using engineered strain, col-19:: GFP. The study
      results suggested that UV-A accelerated the aging process in an insulin-like
      signaling pathway dependent manner. Mutant (daf-2)-based analysis concrete the
      observations of the current study. The UV-A exposure affected the usual behavior
      of the worms like pharyngeal movements and brood size. Quantitative PCR profile
      of the candidate genes during UV-A exposure suggested that continuous exposure
      has damaged the neural network of the worms, but the mitochondrial signaling and
      dietary restriction pathway remain unaffected. Western blot analysis of HSF-1
      evidenced the alteration in protein homeostasis in UV-A exposed worms. Outcome of
      the current study supports our view that C. elegans can be used as a model to
      study photoaging, and the mode of action of UV-A-mediated damages can be
      elucidated which will pave the way for drug developments against photoaging. 

PMID- 26873886
TI  - Major remodeling of brain microvessels during neonatal period in the mouse: A
      proteomic and transcriptomic study.
AB  - Preterm infants born before 29 gestation weeks incur major risk of
      subependymal/intracerebral/intraventricular hemorrhage. In mice, neonate brain
      endothelial cells are more prone than adult cells to secrete proteases under
      glutamate challenge, and invalidation of the Serpine 1 gene is accompanied by
      high brain hemorrhage risk up to five days after birth. We hypothesized that the
      structural and functional states of microvessels might account for age-dependent
      vulnerability in mice up to five days after birth and might represent a pertinent
      paradigm to approach the hemorrhage risk window observed in extreme preterms.
      Mass spectrometry proteome analyses of forebrain microvessels at days 5, 10 and
      in adult mice revealed 899 proteins and 36 enriched pathways. Microarray
      transcriptomic study identified 5873 genes undergoing at least two-fold change
      between ages and 93 enriched pathways. Both approaches pointed towards
      extracellular matrix, cell adhesion and junction pathways, indicating delayed
      microvascular strengthening after P5. Furthermore, glutamate receptors, proteases
      and their inhibitors exhibited convergent evolutions towards excitatory aminoacid
      sensitivity and low proteolytic control likely accounting for vascular
      vulnerability in P5 mice. Thus, age vascular specificities must be considered in
      future therapeutic interventions in preterms. Data are available on
      ProteomeXchange (identifier PXD001718) and NCBI Gene-Expression-Omnibus
      repository (identification GSE67870).

PMID- 26873887
TI  - Stimulation of astrocyte fatty acid oxidation by thyroid hormone is protective
      against ischemic stroke-induced damage.
AB  - We previously demonstrated that stimulation of astrocyte mitochondrial ATP
      production via P2Y1 receptor agonists was neuroprotective after cerebral ischemic
      stroke. Another mechanism that increases ATP production is fatty acid oxidation
      (FAO). We show that in primary human astrocytes, FAO and ATP production are
      stimulated by 3,3,5 triiodo-l-thyronine (T3). We tested whether T3-stimulated FAO
      enhances neuroprotection, and show that T3 increased astrocyte survival after
      either hydrogen peroxide exposure or oxygen glucose deprivation. T3-mediated ATP
      production and protection were both eliminated with etomoxir, an inhibitor of
      FAO. T3-mediated protection in vitro was also dependent on astrocytes expressing
      HADHA (hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase/enoyl-CoA
      hydratase), which we previously showed was critical for T3-mediated FAO in
      fibroblasts. Consistent with previous reports, T3-treatment decreased stroke
      volumes in mice. While T3 decreased stroke volume in etomoxir-treated mice, T3
      had no protective effect on stroke volume in HADHA +/- mice or in mice unable to
      upregulate astrocyte-specific energy production. In vivo, 95% of HADHA co
      localize with glial-fibrillary acidic protein, suggesting the effect of HADHA is
      astrocyte mediated. These results suggest that astrocyte-FAO modulates lesion
      size and is required for T3-mediated neuroprotection post-stroke. To our
      knowledge, this is the first report of a neuroprotective role for FAO in the
      brain.

PMID- 26873888
TI  - Measurement of cerebral blood flow using phase contrast magnetic resonance
      imaging and duplex ultrasonography.
AB  - Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) and color-coded duplex
      ultrasonography (CDUS) are commonly used for measuring cerebral blood flow in the
      internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral arteries. However, agreement between the two
      methods has been controversial. Recent development of high spatial and temporal
      resolution blood vessel wall edge-detection and wall-tracking methods with CDUS
      increased the accuracy and reliability of blood vessel diameter, hence cerebral
      blood flow measurement. The aim of this study was to compare the improved CDUS
      method with 3 T PC-MRI for cerebral blood flow measurements. We found that
      cerebral blood flow velocity measured in the ICA was lower using PC-MRI than CDUS
      (left ICA: PC-MRI, 18.0 +/- 4.2 vs. CDUS, 25.6 +/- 8.6 cm/s; right ICA: PC-MRI,
      18.5 +/- 4.8 vs. CDUS, 26.6 +/- 6.7 cm/s, both p < 0.01). However, ICA diameters
      measured using PC-MRI were larger (left ICA: PC-MRI, 4.7 +/- 0.50 vs. CDUS, 4.1
      +/- 0.46 mm; right ICA: PC-MRI, 4.5 +/- 0.49 vs. CDUS, 4.0 +/- 0.45 mm, both p <
      0.01). Cerebral blood flow velocity measured in the left vertebral artery with PC
      MRI was also lower than CDUS, but no differences in vertebral artery diameter
      were observed between the methods. Dynamic changes and/or intrinsic physiological
      fluctuations may have caused these differences in vessel diameter and velocity
      measurements between the methods. However, estimation of volumetric cerebral
      blood flow was similar and correlated between the methods despite the presence of
      large individual differences. These findings support the use of CDUS for cerebral
      blood flow measurements in the ICA and vertebral artery.

PMID- 26873889
TI  - Polygenic Risk of Schizophrenia and Cognition in a Population-Based Survey of
      Older Adults.
AB  - Cognitive impairment is a common feature of the major psychotic disorders, with
      deficits often present in at risk individuals and unaffected first-degree
      relatives. Previous studies have suggested that polygenic risk scores (PRS) for
      schizophrenia (SCZ) are associated with cognitive deficits, but there has been
      little examination of this association in longitudinal datasets, or comparison
      with other disorders. We used mixed models to study the association between PRS
      for 4 adult onset psychiatric disorders with cross-sectional cognitive
      performance and longitudinal cognitive decline in 8616 older adults from the
      Health and Retirement Study (HRS), followed for an average of 10 years. PRS were
      computed for SCZ, bipolar disorder (BD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and
      Alzheimer's disease (ALZ). SCZ PRS associated with decreased cognitive function
      (z = -3.00, P = .001, DeltaR (2) = 0.04%), which was largely driven by an
      association with impaired attention and orientation (z = -3.33, P = 4.3*10(-4),
      DeltaR (2) = 0.08%). We found no effect of BD or MDD PRS on cognition, in
      contrast to a robust effect of the APOE4/TOMM40 locus (z = -5.05, P = 2.2*10(-7),
      DeltaR (2) = 0.36%), which was primarily associated with impaired verbal memory
      (z = -5.15, P = 1.3*10(-7), DeltaR (2) = 0.21%). APOE4/TOMM40 locus and the ALZ
      PRS, but not the PRS for SCZ, were associated with greater cognitive decline. In
      summary, using a large, representative sample of older adults, we found evidence
      for different degrees of association between polygenic risk for SCZ and genetic
      risk factors for ALZ on cognitive function and decline, highlighting potential
      differences in the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits seen in SCZ and ALZ.

PMID- 26873892
TI  - Warriors.

PMID- 26873891
TI  - Evaluation of the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) in a Dutch
      sample: Application of item response theory.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) measures walking
      ability from the patients' perspective. We examined the quality of the MSWS-12
      using an item response theory model, the graded response model (GRM). METHODS: A
      total of 625 unique Dutch multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were included. After
      testing for unidimensionality, monotonicity, and absence of local dependence, a
      GRM was fit and item characteristics were assessed. Differential item functioning
      (DIF) for the variables gender, age, duration of MS, type of MS and severity of
      MS, reliability, total test information, and standard error of the trait level
      (theta) were investigated. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed a
      unidimensional structure of the 12 items of the scale, explaining 88% of the
      variance. Item 2 did not fit into the GRM model. Reliability was 0.93. Items 8
      and 9 (of the 11 and 12 item version respectively) showed DIF on the variable
      severity, based on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). However, the EDSS
      is strongly related to the content of both items. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm
      the good quality of the MSWS-12. The trait level (theta) scores and item
      parameters of both the 12- and 11-item versions were highly comparable, although
      we do not suggest to change the content of the MSWS-12.

PMID- 26873890
TI  - Aberrant Hippocampal Connectivity in Unmedicated Patients With Schizophrenia and
      Effects of Antipsychotic Medication: A Longitudinal Resting State Functional MRI
      Study.
AB  - To better characterize hippocampal pathophysiology in schizophrenia, we conducted
      a longitudinal study evaluating hippocampal functional connectivity during
      resting state, using seeds prescribed in its anterior and posterior regions. We
      enrolled 34 unmedicated patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
      (SZ) and 34 matched healthy controls. SZ were scanned while off medication, then
      were treated with risperidone for 6 weeks and re-scanned (n = 22). Group
      differences in connectivity, as well as changes in connectivity over time, were
      assessed on the group's participant level functional connectivity maps. We found
      significant dysconnectivity with anterior and posterior hippocampal seeds in
      unmedicated SZ. Baseline connectivity between the hippocampus and anterior
      cingulate cortex, caudate nucleus, auditory cortex and calcarine sulcus in SZ
      predicted subsequent response to antipsychotic medications. These same regions
      demonstrated changes over the 6-week treatment trial that were correlated with
      symptomatic improvement. Our findings implicate several neural networks relevant
      to clinical improvement with antipsychotic medications.

PMID- 26873893
TI  - Assessment and comparison of student engagement in a variety of physiology
      courses.
AB  - Calls for reform in science education have promoted active learning as a means to
      improve student engagement (SENG). SENG is generally acknowledged to have a
      positive effect on student learning, satisfaction, and retention. A validated 14
      question survey was used to assess SENG in a variety of upper- and lower-level
      physiology courses, including 100-level Anatomy and Physiology 1, 300-level
      Animal Physiology, 400-level Advanced Physiology, and 500-level Medical
      Physiology courses. The results indicated that SENG did not vary consistently by
      course level, format, or curriculum. The highest levels of SENG were found in the
      Advanced Physiology course, which included SENG as a primary objective of the
      course. Physiology student SENG scores were compared with National Survey of
      Student Engagement (NSSE) scores. The results demonstrated that physiology
      students enrolled in the Anatomy and Physiology 1 course reported lower levels of
      SENG than first-year students that completed the NSSE. Students enrolled in the
      Advanced Physiology course reported higher levels of SENG than fourth-year
      students that completed the NSSE. Assessment of SENG offers insights as to how
      engaged students are, identifies where efforts may best be applied to enhance
      SENG, and provides a baseline measure for future comparisons after targeted
      course modifications. 

PMID- 26873894
TI  - Central respiratory chemosensitivity and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity: a
      rebreathing demonstration illustrating integrative human physiology.
AB  - One of the most effective ways of engaging students of physiology and medicine is
      through laboratory demonstrations and case studies that combine 1) the use of
      equipment, 2) problem solving, 3) visual representations, and 4) manipulation and
      interpretation of data. Depending on the measurements made and the type of test,
      laboratory demonstrations have the added benefit of being able to show multiple
      organ system integration. Many research techniques can also serve as effective
      demonstrations of integrative human physiology. The "Duffin" hyperoxic
      rebreathing test is often used in research settings as a test of central
      respiratory chemosensitivity and cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2. We aimed to
      demonstrate the utility of the hyperoxic rebreathing test for both respiratory
      and cerebrovascular responses to increases in CO2 and illustrate the integration
      of the respiratory and cerebrovascular systems. In the present article, methods
      such as spirometry, respiratory gas analysis, and transcranial Doppler ultrasound
      are described, and raw data traces can be adopted for discussion in a tutorial
      setting. If educators have these instruments available, instructions on how to
      carry out the test are provided so students can collect their own data. In either
      case, data analysis and quantification are discussed, including principles of
      linear regression, calculation of slope, the coefficient of determination (R(2)),
      and differences between plotting absolute versus normalized data. Using the
      hyperoxic rebreathing test as a demonstration of the complex interaction and
      integration between the respiratory and cerebrovascular systems provides senior
      undergraduate, graduate, and medical students with an advanced understanding of
      the integrative nature of human physiology. 

PMID- 26873895
TI  - Using paper presentation breaks during didactic lectures improves learning of
      physiology in undergraduate students.
AB  - Many studies have emphasized the incorporation of active learning into classrooms
      to reinforce didactic lectures for physiology courses. This work aimed to
      determine if presenting classic papers during didactic lectures improves the
      learning of physiology among undergraduate students. Twenty-two students of
      health information technology were randomly divided into the following two
      groups: 1) didactic lecture only (control group) and 2) didactic lecture plus
      paper presentation breaks (DLPP group). In the control group, main topics of
      gastrointestinal and endocrine physiology were taught using only the didactic
      lecture technique. In the DLPP group, some topics were presented by the didactic
      lecture method (similar to the control group) and some topics were taught by the
      DLPP technique (first, concepts were covered briefly in a didactic format and
      then reinforced with presentation of a related classic paper). The combination of
      didactic lecture and paper breaks significantly improved learning so that
      students in the DLPP group showed higher scores on related topics compared with
      those in the control group (P < 0.001). Comparison of the scores of topics taught
      by only the didactic lecture and those using both the didactic lecture and paper
      breaks showed significant improvement only in the DLPP group (P < 0.001). Data
      obtained from the final exam showed that in the DLPP group, the mean score of the
      topics taught by the combination of didactic lecture and paper breaks was
      significantly higher than those taught by only didactic lecture (P < 0.05). In
      conclusion, the combination of paper presentation breaks and didactic lectures
      improves the learning of physiology. 

PMID- 26873896
TI  - Value of artisanal simulators to train veterinary students in performing invasive
      ultrasound-guided procedures.
AB  - Pericardial effusion can lead to cardiac tamponade, which endangers an animal's
      life. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis is used to remove abnormal liquid;
      however, it requires technical expertise. In veterinary medical education, the
      opportunity to teach this procedure to save lives during emergencies is rare;
      therefore, simulators are recommended for this practice. The present study aimed
      to create a model that can be made "at home" at low cost for ultrasound-guided
      pericardiocentesis training and to gather feedback about this model through
      questionnaires given to the participants. Eighteen professionals and thirty-six
      students were introduced to the simulator in pairs. After the simulation training
      session, participants filled out the questionnaire. Participants considered the
      model strong in the following areas: visualization of the pericardium, the heart,
      fluid in the pericardium, and fluid decrease during fictitious pericardiocentesis
      and its realism. They considered the model weak or moderate in the following
      areas: visualization of the surrounding tissues, difficulty of pericardial
      puncture, and visualization of the catheter. The professionals classified the
      realism of the experimental heart as moderate, whereas the undergraduate students
      classified it as strong. All participants believed that the experimental model
      could be useful in preparing for a future real situation. This model fulfills the
      need for a practical, realistic, and cost-effective model for ultrasound-guided
      pericardiocentesis training. 

PMID- 26873897
TI  - Autonomic modification of intestinal smooth muscle contractility.
AB  - Intestinal smooth muscle contracts rhythmically in the absence of nerve and
      hormonal stimulation because of the activity of pacemaker cells between and
      within the muscle layers. This means that the autonomic nervous system modifies
      rather than initiates intestinal contractions. The practical described here gives
      students an opportunity to observe this spontaneous activity and its modification
      by agents associated with parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve activity. A
      section of the rabbit small intestine is suspended in an organ bath, and the use
      of a pressure transducer and data-acquisition software allows the measurement of
      tension generated by the smooth muscle of intestinal walls. The application of
      the parasympathetic neurotransmitter ACh at varying concentrations allows
      students to observe an increase in intestinal smooth muscle tone with increasing
      concentrations of this muscarinic receptor agonist. Construction of a
      concentration-effect curve allows students to calculate an EC50 value for ACh and
      consider some basic concepts surrounding receptor occupancy and activation.
      Application of the hormone epinephrine to the precontracted intestine allows
      students to observe the inhibitory effects associated with sympathetic nerve
      activation. Introduction of the drug atropine to the preparation before a maximal
      concentration of ACh is applied allows students to observe the inhibitory effect
      of a competitive antagonist on the physiological response to a receptor agonist.
      The final experiment involves the observation of the depolarizing effect of K(+)
      on smooth muscle. Students are also invited to consider why the drugs atropine,
      codeine, loperamide, and botulinum toxin have medicinal uses in the management of
      gastrointestinal problems. 

PMID- 26873899
TI  - Surveillance cameras and their use as a dissecting microscope in the teaching of
      biological sciences.

PMID- 26873898
TI  - "Sickle cell anemia: tracking down a mutation": an interactive learning
      laboratory that communicates basic principles of genetics and cellular biology.
AB  - "Sickle cell anemia: tracking down a mutation" is a full-day, inquiry-based,
      biology experience for high school students enrolled in genetics or advanced
      biology courses. In the experience, students use restriction endonuclease
      digestion, cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis, and microscopy to discover
      which of three putative patients have the sickle cell genotype/phenotype using
      DNA and blood samples from wild-type and transgenic mice that carry a sickle cell
      mutation. The inquiry-based, problem-solving approach facilitates the students'
      understanding of the basic concepts of genetics and cellular and molecular
      biology and provides experience with contemporary tools of biotechnology. It also
      leads to students' appreciation of the causes and consequences of this genetic
      disease, which is relatively common in individuals of African descent, and
      increases their understanding of the first principles of genetics. This protocol
      provides optimal learning when led by well-trained facilitators (including the
      classroom teacher) and carried out in small groups (6:1 student-to-teacher
      ratio). This high-quality experience can be offered to a large number of students
      at a relatively low cost, and it is especially effective in collaboration with a
      local science museum and/or university. Over the past 15 yr, >12,000 students
      have completed this inquiry-based learning experience and demonstrated a
      consistent, substantial increase in their understanding of the disease and
      genetics in general. 

PMID- 26873900
TI  - Open-box muscle-computer interface: introduction to human-computer interactions
      in bioengineering, physiology, and neuroscience courses.

PMID- 26873901
TI  - Development of a framework for graph choice and construction.

PMID- 26873902
TI  - Hypothesis-driven laboratories: an innovative way to foster learning in
      physiology laboratory courses.

PMID- 26873903
TI  - Framing and the health policy process: a scoping review.
AB  - Framing research seeks to understand the forces that shape human behaviour in the
      policy process. It assumes that policy is a social construct and can be cast in a
      variety of ways to imply multiple legitimate value considerations. Frames provide
      the cognitive means of making sense of the social world, but discordance among
      them forms the basis of policy contestation. Framing, as both theory and method,
      has proven to generate considerable insight into the nature of policy debates in
      a variety of disciplines. Despite its salience for understanding health policy
      debates; however, little is known about the ways frames influence the health
      policy process. A scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework was
      conducted. The literature on framing in the health sector was reviewed using nine
      health and social science databases. Articles were included that explicitly
      reported theory and methods used, data source(s), at least one frame, frame
      sponsor and evidence of a given frame's effect on the health policy process. A
      total of 52 articles, from 1996 to 2014, and representing 12 countries, were
      identified. Much of the research came from the policy studies/political science
      literature (n = 17) and used a constructivist epistemology. The term 'frame' was
      used as a label to describe a variety of ideas, packaged as values, social
      problems, metaphors or arguments. Frames were characterized at various levels of
      abstraction ranging from general ideological orientations to specific policy
      positions. Most articles presented multiple frames and showed how actors
      advocated for them in a highly contested political process. Framing is
      increasingly an important, yet overlooked aspect of the policy process. Further
      analysis on frames, framing processes and frame conflict can help researchers and
      policymakers to understand opaque and highly charged policy issues, which may
      facilitate the resolution of protracted policy controversies. 

PMID- 26873904
TI  - Non-haemodynamic anti-anginal agents in the management of patients with stable
      coronary artery disease and diabetes: A review of the evidence.
AB  - Patients with coronary artery disease and concomitant diabetes mellitus tend to
      have more extensive vessel disease than non-diabetes mellitus coronary artery
      disease patients, are at high risk of adverse cardiovascular events and suffer
      from a great anginal burden. Very few trials have specifically addressed the
      issue of optimal anti-anginal therapy in coronary artery disease patients who
      also have diabetes mellitus. Among 'classical' anti-anginal agents, recent
      guidelines do not specifically recommend any molecule over others; however,
      European Society of Cardiology guidelines acknowledge that favourable data in
      patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are
      available for trimetazidine and ranolazine, two anti-anginal agents with a non
      haemodynamic mechanism of action. The aim of this article is to review available
      evidence supporting the anti-anginal efficacy of these two drugs in the difficult
      to-treat population of diabetes mellitus patients, including their effects on
      glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a measure of medium-term glycaemic control.
      Although direct head-to-head comparisons have not been performed, available
      evidence favours ranolazine as an effective anti-anginal agent over trimetazidine
      in this population. In addition, ranolazine lowers HbA1c, indicating that it may
      improve glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Conversely, scanty
      data are available on the metabolic effects of trimetazidine in this cohort of
      patients. Thus, ranolazine may represent a valuable therapeutic option in stable
      coronary artery disease patients with diabetes mellitus. 

PMID- 26873905
TI  - Empagliflozin reduces body weight and indices of adipose distribution in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the effects of empagliflozin on adiposity indices among
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Changes in weight, waist
      circumference, estimated total body fat, index of central obesity and visceral
      adiposity index were assessed using analysis of covariance and testing of
      treatment by strata for age, sex and baseline waist circumference in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus randomized to blinded treatment with empagliflozin
      versus placebo in clinical trials of 12 weeks (cohort 1) or 24 weeks (cohort 2)
      duration. RESULTS: This study comprised 3300 patients (cohort 1, N = 823; cohort
      2, N = 2477). Empagliflozin reduced weight, waist circumference and adiposity
      indices versus placebo in both cohorts. Adjusted mean (95% confidence interval)
      change from baseline in empagliflozin versus placebo was -1.7 kg (-2.1 to -1.4
      kg) and -1.9 kg (-2.1 to -1.7 kg) for body weight (p < 0.001); -1.3 cm (-1.8 to 
      0.7 cm) and -1.3 cm (-1.7 to -1.0 cm) for waist circumference (p < 0.001); -0.2%
      (-0.7% to 0.3%; p = 0.45) and -0.3% (-0.7% to 0.0%; p = 0.08) for estimated total
      body fat; -0.007 (-0.011 to -0.004) and -0.008 (-0.010 to -0.006) for index of
      central obesity (p < 0.001); and -0.3 (-0.5 to 0.0; p = 0.07) and -0.4 (-0.7 to 
      0.1; p = 0.003) for visceral adiposity index in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively.
      Adipose reductions were seen across most age, sex and waist circumference
      subgroups. CONCLUSION: Empagliflozin significantly reduced weight and adiposity
      indices with the potential to improve cardiometabolic risk among patients with
      type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 26873906
TI  - Crystal structure of the deglycating enzyme Amadoriase I in its free form and
      substrate-bound complex.
AB  - Amadoriases, also known as fructosyl amine oxidases (FAOX), are enzymes that
      catalyze the de-glycosylation of fructosyl amino acids. As such, they are
      excellent candidates for the development of enzyme-based diagnostic and
      therapeutic tools against age- and diabetes-induced protein glycation. However,
      mostly because of the lack of a complete structural characterization of the
      different members of the family, the molecular bases of their substrate
      specificity have yet to be fully understood. The high resolution crystal
      structures of the free and the substrate-bound form of Amadoriase I shown herein
      allow for the identification of key structural features that account for the
      diverse substrate specificity shown by this class of enzymes. This is of
      particular importance in the context of the rather limited and partially
      incomplete structural information that has so far been available in the
      literature on the members of the FAOX family. Moreover, using molecular dynamics
      simulations, we describe the tunnel conformation and the free energy profile
      experienced by the ligand in going from bulk water to the catalytic cavity,
      showing the presence of four gating helices/loops, followed by an "L-shaped"
      narrow cavity. In summary, the tridimensional architecture of Amadoriase I
      presented herein provides a reference structural framework for the design of
      novel enzymes for diabetes monitoring and protein deglycation. Proteins 2016;
      84:744-758. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26873909
TI  - Extended synaptotagmin interaction with the fibroblast growth factor receptor
      depends on receptor conformation, not catalytic activity.

PMID- 26873908
TI  - Waterpipe smoking among secondary school students in Hong Kong.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of waterpipe smoking and its associated
      factors among adolescents in Hong Kong. METHODS: We analyzed data of the School
      based Survey on Smoking among Students 2012/2013 from a representative sample of
      45,857 secondary school students in Hong Kong (mean age 14.8, SD 1.9). We
      conducted Chi-square tests and t test to compare current (past 30 days) waterpipe
      users and nonusers by sociodemographic variables and other covariates. Univariate
      and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the factors
      associated with current waterpipe smoking. RESULTS: Overall, 1.2 % of students
      reported current waterpipe smoking, of whom 43 % reported concurrent use of
      cigarettes. Waterpipe was the most popular alternative tobacco product (non
      cigarette) used by students. Current waterpipe smoking was associated with older
      age, male sex, higher self-perceived family financial status, poor knowledge
      about the harm of cigarette smoking, positive attitudes toward smoking, current
      cigarette smoking, other tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS:
      Waterpipe smoking was the most popular alternative tobacco product among Hong
      Kong adolescents. Despite the low prevalence, it should be routinely monitored.
      Education programs and cessation interventions need to address waterpipe smoking
      in addition to cigarette smoking.

PMID- 26873910
TI  - Determination of the knowledge of e-waste disposal impacts on the environment
      among different gender and age groups in China, Laos, and Thailand.
AB  - E-waste is the fastest growing waste in the solid waste stream in the urban
      environment. It has become a widely recognised social and environmental problem;
      therefore, proper management is vital to protecting the fragile environment from
      its improper disposal. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to determine the
      knowledge of environmental impacts of e-waste disposal as it relates to mobile
      phones among different gender and age groups in China, Laos, and Thailand. The
      results revealed that gender was positively correlated with their knowledge of
      the status of environmental conditions (P104) (r = 0.077, n = 1994, p < 0.01) and
      negatively correlated with their knowledge of how to improve environmental
      conditions (P105) (r = -0.067, n = 2037, p < 0.01). In addition, an increase in
      age was positively correlated with respondents' concern over the environmental
      conditions (P103) (r = 0.052, n = 2077, p < 0.05) and P105 (r = 0.061, n = 2061,
      p < 0.01) mentioned above. The results indicated that female respondents were
      less knowledgeable about how to improve environmental conditions than male
      respondents in the three countries. Knowledge gaps were detected in the
      respondents, at age ?17, in the three countries, and from age 18-22 to 36-45 or
      older from Thailand and China, on their knowledge of the existing e-waste-related
      laws. Thus, an effort to bridge the gaps through initiating proper educational
      programmes in these two countries is necessary.

PMID- 26873911
TI  - Greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste in Beijing: The rising trend and the
      mitigation effects by management improvements.
AB  - Disposal of solid waste poses great challenges to city managements. Changes in
      solid waste composition and disposal methods, along with urbanisation, can
      certainly affect greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste. In this
      study, we analysed the changes in the generation, composition and management of
      municipal solid waste in Beijing. The changes of greenhouse gas emissions from
      municipal solid waste management were thereafter calculated. The impacts of
      municipal solid waste management improvements on greenhouse gas emissions and the
      mitigation effects of treatment techniques of greenhouse gas were also analysed.
      Municipal solid waste generation in Beijing has increased, and food waste has
      constituted the most substantial component of municipal solid waste over the past
      decade. Since the first half of 1950s, greenhouse gas emission has increased from
      6 CO2-eq Gg y(-1)to approximately 200 CO2-eq Gg y(-1)in the early 1990s and 2145
      CO2-eq Gg y(-1)in 2013. Landfill gas flaring, landfill gas utilisation and energy
      recovery in incineration are three techniques of the after-emission treatments in
      municipal solid waste management. The scenario analysis showed that three
      techniques might reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7%, 4.5% and 9.8%,
      respectively. In the future, if waste disposal can achieve a ratio of 4:3:3 by
      landfill, composting and incineration with the proposed after-emission
      treatments, as stipulated by the Beijing Municipal Waste Management Act,
      greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste will decrease by 41%.

PMID- 26873912
TI  - Short-term mechanical circulatory support with the Impella 5.0 device for
      cardiogenic shock at La Pitie-Salpetriere.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cardiogenic shock carries a high mortality rate despite aggressive
      medical treatment. The Impella(r) Recover(r) LP 5.0 Support System is a
      microaxial minimally invasive ventricular assist device designed for short-term
      mechanical circulatory support in low cardiac output states. The aim of this
      study is to assess the safety of the Impella 5.0 device, using the right axillary
      artery approach, in cardiogenic shock managed at La Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital.
      METHODS: Since December 2010 and during a period of 14 months, 14 highly selected
      patients underwent surgical implantation of an Impella 5.0 device for cardiogenic
      shock. Demographics, preoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively
      collected from La Pitie-Salpetriere computerized medical charts. Responders to
      Impella support were defined as patients with rapid improvement in haemodynamic
      condition and biological profile. Patients who had no signs of cardiac recovery
      after two weeks of mechanical support were considered for heart transplantation
      or long-term left ventricular assist device implantation. RESULTS: Patients were
      predominantly male (78.5%) with a mean age of 64+/-15. Short-term circulatory
      support was indicated for cardiogenic shock in the setting of acute coronary
      syndromes ( n=7; 50%), postcardiotomy cardiac dysfunctions ( n=6; 43%) and
      anthracycline-induced dilated cardiomyopathy ( n=1; 7%). After a mean support
      time of 8.5 days, six patients (42.8%) were successfully weaned and four (28.5%)
      were switched to a long-term left ventricular assist device. No major bleeding,
      arm ischaemia, ventricular arrhythmia or severe haemolysis was noted. We report
      two cases (14%) of pump thrombosis, four cases of device displacement with the
      need of pump repositioning and one case (7%) of infection at the insertion site.
      Thirty-day mortality was 35.7%. Long-term overall mortality rate at six months,
      one year and two years was 42.8, 42.8 and 42.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The
      Impella 5.0 device surgically inserted through the axillary artery is a valuable
      minimally invasive short-term circulatory support in cardiogenic shock of various
      aetiologies.

PMID- 26873913
TI  - Health literacy and chronic disease management: drawing from expert knowledge to
      set an agenda.
AB  - Understanding the nature and impact of health literacy is a priority in health
      promotion and chronic disease prevention and treatment. Health literacy comprises
      the application of a broad set of skills to access, comprehend, evaluate,
      communicate and act on health information for improved health and well-being. A
      complex concept, it involves multiple participants and is enacted across a wide
      variety of contexts. Health literacy's complexity has given rise to challenges
      achieving a standard definition and developing means to measure all its
      dimensions. In May 2013, a group of health literacy experts, clinicians and
      policymakers convened at an Expert Roundtable to review the current state of
      health literacy research and practice, and make recommendations about refining
      its definition, expanding its measurement and integrating best practices into
      chronic disease management. The four-day knowledge exchange concluded that the
      successful integration of health literacy into policy and practice depends on the
      development of a more substantial evidence base. A review of the successes and
      gaps in health literacy research, education and interventions culminated in the
      identification of key priorities to further the health literacy agenda. The
      workshop was funded by the UBC Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies,
      Vancouver.

PMID- 26873914
TI  - [Is the introduction of innovative methods in cardiovascular diagnostics and
      therapy to quick?].
AB  - Andreas Gruntzig can be regarded as the pioneer of modern cardiology. Based on
      the previous experiences of Charles Dotter in Portland, Oregon, and after many
      years of preparation as a young 38-year-old physician and consultant he carried
      out the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in a 38-year
      old patient in Zurich in 1977, supported by the cardiac surgeons A. Senning and
      M. Turina. Despite high ranking publications and early preparedness to share his
      experiences the development of PTCA stagnated and was met with great scepticism.
      The technique was new, technically difficult and aimed at aortocoronary bypass
      surgery, which was itself still in its infancy 10 years after the introduction in
      Cleveland in 1968. Even after several years only two patients per week were
      admitted for treatment in Zurich. In a similar way the young cardiac surgeon H.R.
      Andersen was a pioneer in Denmark whose ideas and own experiments with a balloon
      catheter-assisted aortic valve implantation were not initially taken up by the
      leading companies of the time and publication of the data suffered lengthy
      delays. It took 10 years before Prof. A. Cribier in Rouen followed up his ideas
      and carried out the first valve implantation again in pioneer work after many
      years of preparation in 2002. Again, the new method for treatment of very old and
      high risk patients needed many years before it was accepted. The breakthrough
      only became possible when this new technique began to be used in cardiac surgery
      after the introduction of hybrid cardiac catheter operating rooms. Despite
      evidence-based studies innovative methods are not subject to the same criteria
      throughout Europe with respect to the timely introduction of innovative and
      validated procedures also in consideration of reimbursement and this has become
      an important initiative of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). 

PMID- 26873915
TI  - [We implant too many ICD - contra].
AB  - Based on prospective population-based cohort studies from the Netherlands
      approximately 120,000 sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) have to be assumed in 2014 in
      Germany for persons older than 55 years of age without an implantable
      cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). In contrast in 2014 only 30,000 ICD were
      implanted in Germany. Due to the fact that victims of SCD are difficult to
      predict many more implantations are actually necessary because only approximately
      one third of the patients use their ICD during battery running time. Also
      according to the largest ICD study on ischemic cardiomyopathy at least six
      patients must be treated with an ICD to save one life after 8 years. Guidelines
      for ICD implantation are based on 12 randomized studies with more than 9000
      patients. In 2014 in Germany 94 % of ICD implantations were carried out in
      accordance with the guidelines. The most important studies for primary
      prophylaxis of SCD (MADIT 2 and SCD-HeFT) finished recruitment of patients in
      2001 but propensity score-matched ICD patients from a large national data base
      showed identical survival curves in 2005 and 2006. New ICD developments in recent
      years, such as suppression of inappropriate ICD therapy by improved programming,
      cardiac resynchronization, and telemonitoring showed promise for current ICD
      patients of improved survival in comparison to the original randomized patients
      from the studies, which led to the indications in the guidelines. 

PMID- 26873916
TI  - Inflammatory fibroid polyp (Vanek's tumour): my worst nightmare in the emergency
      department.
AB  - A middle-aged woman presented in shock with bleeding per rectum for 2 days
      without any significant past medical or surgical illness. Abdominal sonography,
      oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and sigmoidocolonoscopy were unremarkable. Despite 6
      units of blood transfusion, 3000 mL of plasma expanders and ionotropes, the
      arterial pressure gradually decreased. We had no choice but to undergo life
      threatening yet possibly life saving laparotomy. We found a 1*1 cm ileal bleeding
      mucosal polyp about 20 cm away from the ileocaecal junction. We resected and
      anastomosed end to end. Perioperatively, the patient was transfused with another
      4 units of blood product. Immunohistopathology revealed a large number of CD34
      positive spindle cells and eosinophils with extensive thick-walled capillaries
      compatible with inflammatory fibroid polyp. This case of Vanek's tumour is
      reported for its atypical site, which presented as massive obscure
      gastrointestinal haemorrhage without any prior warning signs.

PMID- 26873917
TI  - Sigmoid vaginoplasty in testicular feminising syndrome: surgical technique,
      outcome and review of the literature.
AB  - Vaginal agenesis occurs in approximately 1:5000 live female births. It results
      from failure of the sinovaginal bulbs to develop and form the vaginal plate.
      Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is the most common cause of
      vaginal absence followed by complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.
      Treatment of these patients encompasses a spectrum from simple non-operative
      dilation to the more complicated surgical creation of a neovagina. We present a
      case of a patient with testicular feminising syndrome who was reared as a female
      and underwent bilateral gonadal excision and sigmoid vaginoplasty. 

PMID- 26873918
TI  - Fulminant zygomycosis of graft liver following liver transplantation.
AB  - A 44-year-old man with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis underwent living
      donor liver transplantation at our institute. Induction of immunosuppression was
      achieved with basiliximab, due to deranged renal function, and maintained with
      prednisolone, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. The intraoperative and
      immediate postoperative periods were fairly uneventful. A duplex scan, taken
      during the third week post-transplantation due to sudden rise in liver enzymes,
      revealed multifocal hypoechoic lesions in the graft liver with normal Doppler
      parameters. Multidetecor computed tomography (MDCT) showed multiple hypodense
      vessel-sparing lesions in the graft liver. Cultures from the aspirate grew
      filamentous fungi identified as Basidiobolus ranarum species. Despite multiple
      broad spectrum antifungal infusions including liposomal amphotericin,
      itraconazole, caspofungin and posaconazole, serial sonography showed the hepatic
      lesions increasing in size, and involving segments V, VI and VII. The patient
      developed severe liver dysfunction ultimately progressing to sepsis, multiorgan
      dysfunction and death. 

PMID- 26873919
TI  - Dasatinib improves insulin sensitivity and affects lipid metabolism in a patient
      with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
AB  - A 65-year-old woman had been visiting our department for the treatment of type-2
      diabetes mellitus since December 2012. Her glycated haemoglobin levels were well
      controlled (~5.8% (40 mmol/mol)) by metformin (500 mg). In July 2014, her white
      cell count increased suddenly to 33 530 cells/MUL and she was diagnosed with Ph+
      chronic myeloid leukaemia. She was started on dasatinib (100 mg), which
      immediately normalised plasma levels of WCC. Dasatinib improved the glycaemic
      index to <6.0% and also improved plasma levels of triglycerides (TGs) and high
      density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). Levels of low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol were increased but remained within the normal range. The TG:HDL-c
      ratio and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index rapidly improved. Followed
      by an improvement in insulin sensitivity, plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin
      were increased. This case study suggests that dasatinib might have positive as
      well as negative effects on the metabolism of glucose and lipids. 

PMID- 26873920
TI  - Increased fetal myocardial sensitivity to insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism
      during ovine fetal growth restriction.
AB  - Unlike other visceral organs, myocardial weight is maintained in relation to
      fetal body weight in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) fetal sheep despite
      hypoinsulinemia and global nutrient restriction. We designed experiments in fetal
      sheep with placental insufficiency and restricted growth to determine basal and
      insulin-stimulated myocardial glucose and oxygen metabolism and test the
      hypothesis that myocardial insulin sensitivity would be increased in the IUGR
      heart. IUGR was induced by maternal hyperthermia during gestation. Control (C)
      and IUGR fetal myocardial metabolism were measured at baseline and under acute
      hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamp conditions at 128-132 days gestation using
      fluorescent microspheres to determine myocardial blood flow. Fetal body and heart
      weights were reduced by 33% (P = 0.008) and 30% (P = 0.027), respectively. Heart
      weight to body weight ratios were not different. Basal left ventricular (LV)
      myocardial blood flow per gram of LV tissue was maintained in IUGR fetuses
      compared to controls. Insulin increased LV myocardial blood flow by ~38% (P <
      0.01), but insulin-stimulated LV myocardial blood flow in IUGR fetuses was 73%
      greater than controls. Similar to previous reports testing acute hypoxia, LV
      blood flow was inversely related to arterial oxygen concentration (r(2 )= 0.71)
      in both control and IUGR animals. Basal LV myocardial glucose delivery and uptake
      rates were not different between IUGR and control fetuses. Insulin increased LV
      myocardial glucose delivery (by 40%) and uptake (by 78%) (P < 0.01), but to a
      greater extent in the IUGR fetuses compared to controls. During basal and
      hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp conditions LV myocardial oxygen delivery,
      oxygen uptake, and oxygen extraction efficiency were not different between
      groups. These novel results demonstrate that the fetal heart exposed to nutrient
      and oxygen deprivation from placental insufficiency appears to maintain
      myocardial energy supply in the IUGR condition via increased glucose uptake and
      metabolic response to insulin, which support myocardial function and growth.

PMID- 26873921
TI  - Initiation on the divergent Type I cadicivirus IRES: factor requirements and
      interactions with the translation apparatus.
AB  - Cadicivirus (CDV) is unique amongst picornaviruses in having a dicistronic genome
      with internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) preceding both open reading frames.
      Here, we investigated initiation on the 5'-terminal IRES. We report that the 982
      nt long 5'UTR comprises 12 domains (d1-d12), five of which (d8-d12, nts 341-950)
      constitute a divergent Type I IRES. It comprises central elements (the apex of
      d10, d11 and the following polypyrimidine tract) that are homologous to
      corresponding elements in canonical Type 1 IRESs, and non-canonical flanking
      domains (d8, d9 and d12). In vitro reconstitution revealed that as with canonical
      Type I IRESs, 48S complex formation requires eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs)
      1, 1A, 2, 3, 4A, 4B and 4G, and the poly(C) binding protein 2 (PCBP2), and starts
      with specific binding of eIF4G/eIF4A to d11. However, in contrast to canonical
      Type I IRESs, subsequent recruitment of 43S ribosomal complexes does not require
      direct interaction of their eIF3 constituent with the IRES-bound eIF4G. On the
      other hand, the CDV IRES forms a 40S/eIF3/IRES ternary complex, with multiple
      points of contact. These additional interactions with translational components
      could potentially stimulate recruitment of the 43S complex and alleviate the
      necessity for direct eIF4G/eIF3 interaction.

PMID- 26873922
TI  - Small activating RNA binds to the genomic target site in a seed-region-dependent
      manner.
AB  - RNA activation (RNAa) is the upregulation of gene expression by small activating
      RNAs (saRNAs). In order to investigate the mechanism by which saRNAs act in RNAa,
      we used the progesterone receptor (PR) gene as a model, established a panel of
      effective saRNAs and assessed the involvement of the sense and antisense strands
      of saRNA in RNAa. All active saRNAs had their antisense strand effectively
      incorporated into Ago2, whereas such consistency did not occur for the sense
      strand. Using a distal hotspot for saRNA targeting at 1.6-kb upstream from the PR
      transcription start site, we further established that gene activation mediated by
      saRNA depended on the complementarity of the 5' region of the antisense strand,
      and that such activity was largely abolished by mutations in this region of the
      saRNA. We found markedly reduced RNAa effects when we created mutations in the
      genomic target site of saRNA PR-1611, thus providing evidence that RNAa depends
      on the integrity of the DNA target. We further demonstrated that this saRNA bound
      the target site on promoter DNA. These results demonstrated that saRNAs work via
      an on-site mechanism by binding to target genomic DNA in a seed-region-dependent
      manner, reminiscent of miRNA-like target recognition. 

PMID- 26873925
TI  - The Importance of Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice.
AB  - PURPOSE: Explore what spiritual care means to nurses who work in emergency care
      units. DESIGN AND METHOD: Nine nursing professionals from an emergency care unit
      at a private health institution affiliated with the Universidad de La Sabana
      participated in this descriptive qualitative study. Nonparticipant observation,
      field notes, and in-depth interviews with a question guide were used to collect
      the data, which were analyzed by means of content analysis. RESULTS: Three themes
      and their corresponding subthemes were identified with respect to the
      significance of spiritual care: (1) interpretation of spiritual care, (2) the
      patient and the family in spiritual care, and (3) the role of the nurse in
      spiritual care. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a deeper understanding of
      spiritual care in terms of its significance. They also acknowledge its importance
      to nursing practice in emergency care units. The significance of spiritual care
      is based on theoretical, scientific, and humanistic points of reference (the
      discipline of nursing) that strengthen the therapeutic relationship between the
      patient/family-nurse dyad. The study also offers evidence for holistic nursing
      practice that requires theoretical-academic, administrative, and assistance
      support.

PMID- 26873924
TI  - Circular RNA profile in gliomas revealed by identification tool UROBORUS.
AB  - Recent evidence suggests that many endogenous circular RNAs (circRNAs) may play
      roles in biological processes. However, the expression patterns and functions of
      circRNAs in human diseases are not well understood. Computationally identifying
      circRNAs from total RNA-seq data is a primary step in studying their expression
      pattern and biological roles. In this work, we have developed a computational
      pipeline named UROBORUS to detect circRNAs in total RNA-seq data. By applying
      UROBORUS to RNA-seq data from 46 gliomas and normal brain samples, we detected
      thousands of circRNAs supported by at least two read counts, followed by
      successful experimental validation on 24 circRNAs from the randomly selected 27
      circRNAs. UROBORUS is an efficient tool that can detect circRNAs with low
      expression levels in total RNA-seq without RNase R treatment. The circRNAs
      expression profiling revealed more than 476 circular RNAs differentially
      expressed in control brain tissues and gliomas. Together with parental gene
      expression, we found that circRNA and its parental gene have diversified
      expression patterns in gliomas and control brain tissues. This study establishes
      an efficient and sensitive approach for predicting circRNAs using total RNA-seq
      data. The UROBORUS pipeline can be accessed freely for non-commercial purposes at
      http://uroborus.openbioinformatics.org/.

PMID- 26873926
TI  - The Association Between Pain and Quality of Life for Patients With Cancer in an
      Outpatient Clinic, an Inpatient Oncology Ward, and Inpatient Palliative Care
      Units.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was designed to clarify the association between pain and
      quality of life (QOL) of Japanese patients with cancer using a cancer-specific
      QOL scale (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] QLQ
      C15-PAL) in 3 care settings (outpatient, inpatient, and palliative care units
      [PCUs]). METHODS: We examined the above-mentioned purpose for the total of 404
      patients. RESULTS: In outpatients, physical, emotional functioning (EF), and
      global health status/QOL (QL item) were significantly correlated with average
      pain, and their correlation coefficients were -0.37 to -0.46 (P < .0001). In
      inpatients, they were -0.33 (P = .006), -0.26 (P = .030), and -0.31 (P = .012).
      In the PCU patients, they were -0.12 (P = .316), -0.30 (P = .009), and -0.28 (P =
      .015). CONCLUSION: Patients' pain had an association with physical and emotional
      QOL, and the association was smaller in the PCU patients than the others.

PMID- 26873923
TI  - Targeting BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient cells with RAD52 small molecule inhibitors.
AB  - RAD52 is a member of the homologous recombination (HR) pathway that is important
      for maintenance of genome integrity. While single RAD52 mutations show no
      significant phenotype in mammals, their combination with mutations in genes that
      cause hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer like BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 and
      RAD51C are lethal. Consequently, RAD52 may represent an important target for
      cancer therapy. In vitro, RAD52 has ssDNA annealing and DNA strand exchange
      activities. Here, to identify small molecule inhibitors of RAD52 we screened a
      372,903-compound library using a fluorescence-quenching assay for ssDNA annealing
      activity of RAD52. The obtained 70 putative inhibitors were further characterized
      using biochemical and cell-based assays. As a result, we identified compounds
      that specifically inhibit the biochemical activities of RAD52, suppress growth of
      BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient cells and inhibit RAD52-dependent single-strand
      annealing (SSA) in human cells. We will use these compounds for development of
      novel cancer therapy and as a probe to study mechanisms of DNA repair.

PMID- 26873927
TI  - An efficient gene-gene interaction test for genome-wide association studies in
      trio families.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Several efficient gene-gene interaction tests have been developed for
      unrelated case-control samples in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), making
      it possible to test tens of billions of interaction pairs of single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) in a reasonable timeframe. However, current family-based
      gene-gene interaction tests are computationally expensive and are not applicable
      to genome-wide interaction analysis. RESULTS: We developed an efficient family
      based gene-gene interaction test, GCORE, for trios (i.e. two parents and one
      affected sib). The GCORE compares interlocus correlations at two SNPs between the
      transmitted and non-transmitted alleles. We used simulation studies to compare
      the statistical properties such as type I error rates and power for the GCORE
      with several other family-based interaction tests under various scenarios. We
      applied the GCORE to a family-based GWAS for autism consisting of approximately
      2000 trios. Testing a total of 22 471 383 013 interaction pairs in the GWAS can
      be finished in 36 h by the GCORE without large-scale computing resources,
      demonstrating that the test is practical for genome-wide gene-gene interaction
      analysis in trios. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: GCORE is implemented with C
      ++ and is available at http://gscore.sourceforge.net CONTACT: rchung@nhri.org.tw
      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics
      online.

PMID- 26873928
TI  - SplAdder: identification, quantification and testing of alternative splicing
      events from RNA-Seq data.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Understanding the occurrence and regulation of alternative splicing
      (AS) is a key task towards explaining the regulatory processes that shape the
      complex transcriptomes of higher eukaryotes. With the advent of high-throughput
      sequencing of RNA (RNA-Seq), the diversity of AS transcripts could be measured at
      an unprecedented depth. Although the catalog of known AS events has grown ever
      since, novel transcripts are commonly observed when working with less well
      annotated organisms, in the context of disease, or within large populations.
      Whereas an identification of complete transcripts is technically challenging and
      computationally expensive, focusing on single splicing events as a proxy for
      transcriptome characteristics is fruitful and sufficient for a wide range of
      analyses. RESULTS: We present SplAdder, an alternative splicing toolbox, that
      takes RNA-Seq alignments and an annotation file as input to (i) augment the
      annotation based on RNA-Seq evidence, (ii) identify alternative splicing events
      present in the augmented annotation graph, (iii) quantify and confirm these
      events based on the RNA-Seq data and (iv) test for significant quantitative
      differences between samples. Thereby, our main focus lies on performance,
      accuracy and usability. AVAILABILITY: Source code and documentation are available
      for download at http://github.com/ratschlab/spladder Example data, introductory
      information and a small tutorial are accessible via http://bioweb.me/spladder
      CONTACTS: : andre.kahles@ratschlab.org or gunnar.ratsch@ratschlab.org
      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics
      online.

PMID- 26873929
TI  - Gene expression inference with deep learning.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Large-scale gene expression profiling has been widely used to
      characterize cellular states in response to various disease conditions, genetic
      perturbations, etc. Although the cost of whole-genome expression profiles has
      been dropping steadily, generating a compendium of expression profiling over
      thousands of samples is still very expensive. Recognizing that gene expressions
      are often highly correlated, researchers from the NIH LINCS program have
      developed a cost-effective strategy of profiling only ~1000 carefully selected
      landmark genes and relying on computational methods to infer the expression of
      remaining target genes. However, the computational approach adopted by the LINCS
      program is currently based on linear regression (LR), limiting its accuracy since
      it does not capture complex nonlinear relationship between expressions of genes.
      RESULTS: We present a deep learning method (abbreviated as D-GEX) to infer the
      expression of target genes from the expression of landmark genes. We used the
      microarray-based Gene Expression Omnibus dataset, consisting of 111K expression
      profiles, to train our model and compare its performance to those from other
      methods. In terms of mean absolute error averaged across all genes, deep learning
      significantly outperforms LR with 15.33% relative improvement. A gene-wise
      comparative analysis shows that deep learning achieves lower error than LR in
      99.97% of the target genes. We also tested the performance of our learned model
      on an independent RNA-Seq-based GTEx dataset, which consists of 2921 expression
      profiles. Deep learning still outperforms LR with 6.57% relative improvement, and
      achieves lower error in 81.31% of the target genes. AVAILABILITY AND
      IMPLEMENTATION: D-GEX is available at https://github.com/uci-cbcl/D-GEX CONTACT:
      xhx@ics.uci.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at
      Bioinformatics online.

PMID- 26873930
TI  - Trinculo: Bayesian and frequentist multinomial logistic regression for genome
      wide association studies of multi-category phenotypes.
AB  - MOTIVATION: For many classes of disease the same genetic risk variants underly
      many related phenotypes or disease subtypes. Multinomial logistic regression
      provides an attractive framework to analyze multi-category phenotypes, and
      explore the genetic relationships between these phenotype categories. We
      introduce Trinculo, a program that implements a wide range of multinomial
      analyses in a single fast package that is designed to be easy to use by users of
      standard genome-wide association study software. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION:
      An open source C implementation, with code and binaries for Linux and Mac OSX, is
      available for download at http://sourceforge.net/projects/trinculo SUPPLEMENTARY
      INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. CONTACT:
      lj4@well.ox.ac.uk.

PMID- 26873932
TI  - An empirical Bayes change-point model for identifying 3' and 5' alternative
      splicing by next-generation RNA sequencing.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has been widely used to
      investigate alternative isoform regulations. Among them, alternative 3 ': splice
      site (SS) and 5 ': SS account for more than 30% of all alternative splicing (AS)
      events in higher eukaryotes. Recent studies have revealed that they play
      important roles in building complex organisms and have a critical impact on
      biological functions which could cause disease. Quite a few analytical methods
      have been developed to facilitate alternative 3 ': SS and 5 ': SS studies using
      RNA-seq data. However, these methods have various limitations and their
      performances may be further improved. RESULTS: We propose an empirical Bayes
      change-point model to identify alternative 3 ': SS and 5 ': SS. Compared with
      previous methods, our approach has several unique merits. First of all, our model
      does not rely on annotation information. Instead, it provides for the first time
      a systematic framework to integrate various information when available, in
      particular the useful junction read information, in order to obtain better
      performance. Second, we utilize an empirical Bayes model to efficiently pool
      information across genes to improve detection efficiency. Third, we provide a
      flexible testing framework in which the user can choose to address different
      levels of questions, namely, whether alternative 3 ': SS or 5 ': SS happens,
      and/or where it happens. Simulation studies and real data application have
      demonstrated that our method is powerful and accurate. AVAILABILITY AND
      IMPLEMENTATION: The software is implemented in Java and can be freely downloaded
      from http://ebchangepoint.sourceforge.net/ CONTACT: zhiwei@njit.edu.

PMID- 26873931
TI  - Privacy-preserving microbiome analysis using secure computation.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Developing targeted therapeutics and identifying biomarkers relies on
      large amounts of research participant data. Beyond human DNA, scientists now
      investigate the DNA of micro-organisms inhabiting the human body. Recent work
      shows that an individual's collection of microbial DNA consistently identifies
      that person and could be used to link a real-world identity to a sensitive
      attribute in a research dataset. Unfortunately, the current suite of DNA-specific
      privacy-preserving analysis tools does not meet the requirements for microbiome
      sequencing studies. RESULTS: To address privacy concerns around microbiome
      sequencing, we implement metagenomic analyses using secure computation. Our
      implementation allows comparative analysis over combined data without revealing
      the feature counts for any individual sample. We focus on three analyses and
      perform an evaluation on datasets currently used by the microbiome research
      community. We use our implementation to simulate sharing data between four policy
      domains. Additionally, we describe an application of our implementation for
      patients to combine data that allows drug developers to query against and
      compensate patients for the analysis. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The
      software is freely available for download at:
      http://cbcb.umd.edu/~hcorrada/projects/secureseq.html SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
      Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. CONTACT:
      hcorrada@umiacs.umd.edu.

PMID- 26873933
TI  - Selecting a classification function for class prediction with gene expression
      data.
AB  - MOTIVATION: Class predicting with gene expression is widely used to generate
      diagnostic and/or prognostic models. The literature reveals that classification
      functions perform differently across gene expression datasets. The question,
      which classification function should be used for a given dataset remains to be
      answered. In this study, a predictive model for choosing an optimal function for
      class prediction on a given dataset was devised. RESULTS: To achieve this, gene
      expression data were simulated for different values of gene-pairs correlations,
      sample size, genes' variances, deferentially expressed genes and fold changes.
      For each simulated dataset, ten classifiers were built and evaluated using ten
      classification functions. The resulting accuracies from 1152 different simulation
      scenarios by ten classification functions were then modeled using a linear mixed
      effects regression on the studied data characteristics, yielding a model that
      predicts the accuracy of the functions on a given data. An application of our
      model on eight real-life datasets showed positive correlations (0.33-0.82)
      between the predicted and expected accuracies. CONCLUSION: The here presented
      predictive model might serve as a guide to choose an optimal classification
      function among the 10 studied functions, for any given gene expression data.
      AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The R source code for the analysis and an R
      package 'SPreFuGED' are available at Bioinformatics online. CONTACT:
      v.l.jong@umcutecht.nl SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available
      at Bioinformatics online.

PMID- 26873934
TI  - "Turn Up the Taste": Assessing the Role of Taste Intensity and Emotion in
      Mediating Crossmodal Correspondences between Basic Tastes and Pitch.
AB  - People intuitively match basic tastes to sounds of different pitches, and the
      matches that they make tend to be consistent across individuals. It is, though,
      not altogether clear what governs such crossmodal mappings between taste and
      auditory pitch. Here, we assess whether variations in taste intensity influence
      the matching of taste to pitch as well as the role of emotion in mediating such
      crossmodal correspondences. Participants were presented with 5 basic tastants at
      3 concentrations. In Experiment 1, the participants rated the tastants in terms
      of their emotional arousal and valence/pleasantness, and selected a musical note
      (from 19 possible pitches ranging from C2 to C8) and loudness that best matched
      each tastant. In Experiment 2, the participants made emotion ratings and note
      matches in separate blocks of trials, then made emotion ratings for all 19 notes.
      Overall, the results of the 2 experiments revealed that both taste quality and
      concentration exerted a significant effect on participants' loudness selection,
      taste intensity rating, and valence and arousal ratings. Taste quality, not
      concentration levels, had a significant effect on participants' choice of pitch,
      but a significant positive correlation was observed between individual perceived
      taste intensity and pitch choice. A significant and strong correlation was also
      demonstrated between participants' valence assessments of tastants and their
      valence assessments of the best-matching musical notes. These results therefore
      provide evidence that: 1) pitch-taste correspondences are primarily influenced by
      taste quality, and to a lesser extent, by perceived intensity; and 2) such
      correspondences may be mediated by valence/pleasantness.

PMID- 26873935
TI  - Alteration of Duration Mismatch Negativity Induced by Transcranial Magnetic
      Stimulation Over the Left Parietal Lobe.
AB  - Mismatch negativity (MMN) is generated by a comparison between an incoming sound
      and the memory trace of preceding sounds stored in sensory memory without any
      attention to the sound. N100 (N1) is associated with the afferent response to
      sound onset and reflects early analysis of stimulus characteristics. MMN
      generators are present in the temporal and frontal lobe, and N1 generators are
      present in the temporal lobe. The parietal lobe is involved in MMN generation
      elicited by a change in duration. The anatomical network connecting these areas,
      lateralization, and the effect of the side of ear stimulation on MMN remain
      unknown. Thus, we studied the effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial
      magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left parietal lobe on MMN and N1 in 10
      healthy subjects. Low-frequency rTMS over the left parietal lobe decreased the
      amplitude of MMN following right ear sound stimulation, but the amplitude was
      unaffected with left ear sound stimulation. We observed no significant changes in
      the amplitude of N1 or the latency of MMN or N1. These results suggest that low
      frequency rTMS over the left parietal lobe modulates the detection of early
      auditory changes in duration in healthy subjects. Stimulation that is
      contralateral to the side of the ear experiencing sound may affect the generation
      of duration MMN more than ipsilateral stimulation.

PMID- 26873936
TI  - Human plasma platelet-derived exosomes: effects of aspirin.
AB  - Platelet-derived exosomes mediate platelet atherogenic interactions with
      endothelial cells and monocytes. A new method for isolation of plasma platelet
      derived exosomes is described and used to examine effects of aging and aspirin on
      exosome cargo proteins. Exosome secretion by purified platelets in vitro did not
      increase after exposure to thrombin or collagen, as assessed by exosome counts
      and quantification of the CD81 exosome marker. Thrombin and collagen increased
      exosome content of alpha-granule chemokines CXCL4 and CXCL7 and cytoplasmic high
      mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, but not membrane platelet glycoprotein VI
      (GPVI), with dependence on extracellular calcium. Aspirin consumption
      significantly blocked thrombin- and collagen-induced increases in exosome cargo
      levels of chemokines and HMGB1, without altering total exosome secretion or GPVI
      cargo. Plasma platelet-derived exosomes, enriched by absorption with mouse
      antihuman CD42b [platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb)] mAb, had sizes and cargo
      protein contents similar to those of exosomes from purified platelets. The plasma
      platelet-derived exosome number is lower and its chemokine and HMGB1 levels
      higher after age 65 yr. Aspirin consumption significantly suppressed cargo
      protein levels of plasma platelet-derived exosomes without altering total levels
      of exosomes. Cargo proteins of human plasma platelet-derived exosomes may biomark
      platelet abnormalities and in vivo effects of drugs.- Goetzl, E. J., Goetzl, L.,
      Karliner, J. S., Tang, N., Pulliam, L. Human plasma platelet-derived exosomes:
      effects of aspirin.

PMID- 26873939
TI  - Enabling digital pathology in the diagnostic setting: navigating through the
      implementation journey in an academic medical centre.
AB  - AIMS: As digital pathology (DP) and whole slide imaging (WSI) technology advance
      and mature, there is an increasing drive to incorporate DP into the diagnostic
      environment. However, integration of DP into the diagnostic laboratory is a non
      trivial task and filled with unexpected challenges unlike standalone
      implementations. We share our journey of implementing DP in the diagnostic
      laboratory setting, highlighting seven key guiding principles that drive the
      progression through implementation into deployment and beyond. METHODS: The DP
      implementation with laboratory information system integration was completed in 8
      months, including validation of the solution for diagnostic use in accordance
      with College of American Pathologists guidelines. We also conducted prospective
      validation via paired delivery of glass slides and WSI to our pathologists
      postdeployment. RESULTS: Common themes in our guiding principles included
      emphasis on workflow and being comprehensive in the approach, looking beyond
      pathologist user champions and expanding into an extended project team involving
      laboratory technicians, clerical/data room staff and archival staff. Concordance
      between glass slides and WSI ranged from 93% to 100% among various applications
      on validation. We also provided equal opportunities for every pathologist
      throughout the department to be competent and confident with DP through
      prospective validation, with overall concordance of 96% compared with glass
      slides, allowing appreciation of the advantages and limitations of WSI, hence
      enabling the use of DP as a useful diagnostic modality. CONCLUSIONS: Smooth
      integration of DP into the diagnostic laboratory is possible with careful
      planning, discipline and a systematic approach adhering to our guiding
      principles.

PMID- 26873938
TI  - Role of chemokine RANTES in the regulation of perivascular inflammation, T-cell
      accumulation, and vascular dysfunction in hypertension.
AB  - Recent studies have emphasized the role of perivascular inflammation in
      cardiovascular disease. We studied mechanisms of perivascular leukocyte
      infiltration in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and their links to
      vascular dysfunction. Chronic Ang II infusion in mice increased immune cell
      content of T cells (255 +/- 130 to 1664 +/- 349 cells/mg; P < 0.01), M1 and M2
      macrophages, and dendritic cells in perivascular adipose tissue. In particular,
      the content of T lymphocytes bearing CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 1, CCR3, and
      CCR5 receptors for RANTES chemokine was increased by Ang II (CCR1, 15.6 +/- 1.5%
      vs. 31 +/- 5%; P < 0.01). Hypertension was associated with an increase in
      perivascular adipose tissue expression of the chemokine RANTES (relative
      quantification, 1.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.1; P < 0.05), which induced T-cell
      chemotaxis and vascular accumulation of T cells expressing the chemokine
      receptors CCR1, CCR3, and CCR5. Mechanistically, RANTES(-/-) knockout protected
      against vascular leukocyte, and in particular T lymphocyte infiltration (26 +/-
      5% in wild type Ang II vs. 15 +/- 4% in RANTES(-/-)), which was associated with
      protection from endothelial dysfunction induced by Ang II. This effect was linked
      with diminished infiltration of IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) and double-negative
      CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells in perivascular space and reduced vascular oxidative
      stress while FoxP3(+) T-regulatory cells were unaltered. IFN-gamma ex vivo caused
      significant endothelial dysfunction, which was reduced by superoxide anion
      scavenging. In a human cohort, a significant inverse correlation was observed
      between circulating RANTES levels as a biomarker and vascular function measured
      as flow-mediated dilatation (R = -0.3, P < 0.01) or endothelial injury marker von
      Willebrand factor (R = +0.3; P < 0.01). Thus, chemokine RANTES is important in
      the regulation of vascular dysfunction through modulation of perivascular
      inflammation.-Mikolajczyk, T. P., Nosalski, R., Szczepaniak, P., Budzyn, K.,
      Osmenda, G., Skiba, D., Sagan, A., Wu, J., Vinh, A., Marvar, P. J., Guzik, B.,
      Podolec, J., Drummond, G., Lob, H. E., Harrison, D. G., Guzik, T. J. Role of
      chemokine RANTES in the regulation of perivascular inflammation, T-cell
      accumulation, and vascular dysfunction in hypertension.

PMID- 26873937
TI  - Clusters of specialized detector cells provide sensitive and high fidelity
      receptor signaling in the intact endothelium.
AB  - Agonist-mediated signaling by the endothelium controls virtually all vascular
      functions. Because of the large diversity of agonists, each with varying
      concentrations, background noise often obscures individual cellular signals. How
      the endothelium distinguishes low-level fluctuations from noise and decodes and
      integrates physiologically relevant information remains unclear. Here, we
      recorded changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in response to
      acetylcholine in areas encompassing hundreds of endothelial cells from inside
      intact pressurized arteries. Individual cells responded to acetylcholine with a
      concentration-dependent increase in Ca(2+) signals spanning a single order of
      magnitude. Interestingly, however, intercellular response variation extended over
      3 orders of magnitude of agonist concentration, thus crucially enhancing the
      collective bandwidth of endothelial responses to agonists. We also show the
      accuracy of this collective mode of detection is facilitated by spatially
      restricted clusters of comparably sensitive cells arising from heterogeneous
      receptor expression. Simultaneous stimulation of clusters triggered Ca(2+)
      signals that were transmitted to neighboring cells in a manner that scaled with
      agonist concentration. Thus, the endothelium detects agonists by acting as a
      distributed sensing system. Specialized clusters of detector cells, analogous to
      relay nodes in modern communication networks, integrate populationwide inputs,
      and enable robust noise filtering for efficient high-fidelity signaling.-Wilson,
      C., Saunter, C. D., Girkin, J. M., McCarron, J. G. Clusters of specialized
      detector cells provide sensitive and high fidelity receptor signaling in the
      intact endothelium.

PMID- 26873940
TI  - Depression predictors within six months of ischemic stroke: The DEPRESS Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Depression negatively affects rehabilitation and quality of life
      after stroke. Identifying in the acute phase patients at high risk for post
      stroke depression would facilitate early detection of depressive symptoms.
      METHODS: The DEPRESS (Depression Predictors after Ischemic Stroke) study was a
      prospective cohort study designed to identify baseline predictors of depression
      occurring within six months after ischemic stroke and high-risk patients for post
      stroke depression. All patients without aphasia were screened for depression by a
      neurologist using the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the diagnosis was
      confirmed by a psychiatrist with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric
      Interview. In severely aphasic patients, depression was diagnosed using the
      Aphasic Depression Rating Scale and the Visual Analog Mood Scale. RESULTS:
      Depression was present in 61 of 251 (24%) patients enrolled in the DEPRESS study.
      Female gender, prior history of depression, major physical disability, prior
      history of stroke, stressful life event exposure in the month preceding stroke
      onset, and pathologic crying were significant predictors of depression within six
      months after ischemic stroke. Depression was more frequent in patients with left
      caudate and/or lenticular nucleus lesion (OR = 2.4, 95% confidence interval, 0.97
      5.91), but the difference was not significant. The presence of >=2 predictors
      identified the largest proportion of depressed patients (62%) in the smallest
      proportion of the cohort (36%). CONCLUSION: Female gender, prior history of
      depression, major physical disability, prior history of stroke, recent stressful
      life event exposure before stroke, and pathologic crying were significant
      predictors of post-stroke depression occurring within six months after stroke
      onset.

PMID- 26873941
TI  - The role of adipokines in ischemic stroke risk stratification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adiponectin, leptin, and resistin are the most well-studied
      adipokines and play important roles in the regulation of glucose metabolism,
      subclinical inflammation, and cardiovascular homeostasis. Accordingly,
      measurement of adipokine levels might be useful in cardiovascular risk
      stratification. Moreover, the study of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of genes
      that encode these adipokines might also represent a valuable predictive tool in
      cardiovascular disease prevention strategies. AIMS: To summarize the biologic
      role of the adipokines adiponectin, leptin, and resistin and the prognostic value
      of their serum levels regarding the occurrence and outcome of ischemic stroke. We
      also discuss the relationship of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the
      adiponectin, leptin genes, and the -420C > G polymorphism of resistin gene with
      stroke risk. SUMMARY OF REVIEW: Several studies in the general population
      evaluated the association between these adipokines and stroke risk, yielding
      conflicting results. There are more limited data regarding the effect of these
      adipokines on stroke severity and outcome. A small number of studies also
      assessed the predictive role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the
      adiponectin, leptin, and resistin genes regarding stroke risk, but the findings
      were also controversial. CONCLUSIONS: It is unclear whether adiponectin, leptin,
      and resistin levels or the single-nucleotide polymorphisms of their encoding
      genes are independently associated with stroke risk. However, given the role of
      these adipokines in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, larger prospective
      studies, both in the general population and in patients with a history of stroke,
      are needed to determine whether the measurement of serum levels of these
      adipokines or the evaluation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in their encoding
      genes could improve stroke risk prediction. If this relationship is proven,
      therapeutic interventions targeting adipokine levels might represent a novel
      approach to reduce stroke-related mortality and disability.

PMID- 26873942
TI  - Detection of Silent Atrial Fibrillation aFter Ischemic StrOke (SAFFO) guided by
      implantable loop recorder: multicentre Italian trial based on stroke unit network
      with paired cardio-arrhythmology units (Italian Neurocardiology Unit Network).
AB  - RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation is associated with a high risk of stroke and its
      prevalence increases in subjects aged >=65 years. After an ischemic stroke, the
      use of standard monitoring methods may underestimate the detection rate of atrial
      fibrillation. Hence, it is very likely that even patients having a first
      atherothrombotic or lacunar stroke with high burden of vascular risk factors are
      exposed to increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation in the subsequent
      years and atrial fibrillation may be the cause underlying possible recurrent
      strokes AIM AND HYPOTHESIS: The Silent Atrial Fibrillation aFter Ischemic StrOke
      (SAFFO) trial has the objective to evaluate the detection of atrial fibrillation
      or atrial flutter as first diagnosis by implantable loop recorder in patients
      with first-ever atherothrombotic or lacunar stroke. We hypothesize that the
      detection will be higher than that observed by using standard cardiac monitoring
      METHODS AND DESIGN: SAFFO is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled,
      open-label trial with blinded assessment of outcome measures. Patients who
      fulfill inclusion criteria will be randomized to either continuous monitoring
      using an implantable loop recorder plus standard monitoring (intervention arm) or
      standard heart rhythm monitoring alone (control arm) with a ratio of 1:1 STUDY
      OUTCOMES: The primary endpoint is the detection of atrial fibrillation/atrial
      flutter as first diagnosis in the first 12 months of the study period DISCUSSION:
      If positive, SAFFO trial could have important clinical implications in terms of
      changing the standard diagnostic protocol in patients with atherothrombotic and
      lacunar stroke, and of increasing the shift of secondary prevention treatment
      from antiplatelet to anticoagulant therapy.

PMID- 26873945
TI  - Multiple giant bullae of the lung mimicking massive pneumothorax in a patient
      with osteogenesis imperfecta.

PMID- 26873943
TI  - Do Self-Management Interventions Work in Patients With Heart Failure? An
      Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Self-management interventions are widely implemented in the care for
      patients with heart failure (HF). However, trials show inconsistent results, and
      whether specific patient groups respond differently is unknown. This individual
      patient data meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of self-management
      interventions in patients with HF and whether subgroups of patients respond
      differently. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic literature search identified
      randomized trials of self-management interventions. Data from 20 studies,
      representing 5624 patients, were included and analyzed with the use of mixed
      effects models and Cox proportional-hazard models, including interaction terms.
      Self-management interventions reduced the risk of time to the combined end point
      of HF-related hospitalization or all-cause death (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95%
      confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.89), time to HF-related hospitalization (hazard
      ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.92), and improved 12-month HF-related quality of life
      (standardized mean difference, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.00-0.30). Subgroup analysis
      revealed a protective effect of self-management on the number of HF-related
      hospital days in patients <65 years of age (mean, 0.70 versus 5.35 days;
      interaction P=0.03). Patients without depression did not show an effect of self
      management on survival (hazard ratio for all-cause mortality, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.69
      1.06), whereas in patients with moderate/severe depression, self-management
      reduced survival (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.06-1.83, interaction P=0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that self-management interventions had a beneficial
      effect on time to HF-related hospitalization or all-cause death and HF-related
      hospitalization alone and elicited a small increase in HF-related quality of
      life. The findings do not endorse limiting self-management interventions to
      subgroups of patients with HF, but increased mortality in depressed patients
      warrants caution in applying self-management strategies in these patients.

PMID- 26873946
TI  - Breathlessness in an ex-miner: an unusual consideration.

PMID- 26873944
TI  - Association of Borderline Pulmonary Hypertension With Mortality and
      Hospitalization in a Large Patient Cohort: Insights From the Veterans Affairs
      Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking Program.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with increased morbidity
      across the cardiopulmonary disease spectrum. Based primarily on expert consensus
      opinion, PH is defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >=25 mm Hg.
      Although mPAP levels below this threshold are common among populations at risk
      for PH, the relevance of mPAP <25 mm Hg to clinical outcome is unknown. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: We analyzed retrospectively all US veterans undergoing right heart
      catheterization (2007-2012) in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system (n=21,727;
      908-day median follow-up). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate
      the association between mPAP and outcomes of all-cause mortality and
      hospitalization, adjusted for clinical covariates. When treating mPAP as a
      continuous variable, the mortality hazard increased beginning at 19 mm Hg (hazard
      ratio [HR]=1.183; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.004-1.393) relative to 10 mm
      Hg. Therefore, patients were stratified into 3 groups: (1) referent (<=18 mm Hg;
      n=4,207); (2) borderline PH (19-24 mm Hg; n=5,030); and (3) PH (>=25 mm Hg;
      n=12,490). The adjusted mortality hazard was increased for borderline PH
      (HR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.12-1.36; P<0.0001) and PH (HR=2.16; 95% CI, 1.96-2.38;
      P<0.0001) compared with the referent group. The adjusted hazard for
      hospitalization was also increased in borderline PH (HR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12;
      P=0.0149) and PH (HR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.09-1.22; P<0.0001). The borderline PH cohort
      remained at increased risk for mortality after excluding the following high-risk
      subgroups: (1) patients with pulmonary artery wedge pressure >15 mm Hg; (2)
      pulmonary vascular resistance >=3.0 Wood units; or (3) inpatient status at the
      time of right heart catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: These data illustrate a
      continuum of risk according to mPAP level and that borderline PH is associated
      with increased mortality and hospitalization. Future investigations are needed to
      test the generalizability of our findings to other populations and study the
      effect of treatment on outcome in borderline PH.

PMID- 26873947
TI  - Challenges in reproducing results from publicly available data: an example of
      sexual orientation and cardiovascular disease risk.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Replication is a vital part of the research process and has recently
      received considerable attention. Analyses using publicly available data should,
      if adequately described, be reproducible without assistance from the original
      investigators. Using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination
      Survey (NHANES), a recent study reported a statistically significant difference
      in cardiovascular disease risk comparing subgroups of sexual minority men. We
      attempted to reproduce these findings and assessed whether the results were
      robust to alternative analytic strategies and assumptions. METHODS: We used the
      exclusion criteria and coding strategy described in the original paper to
      construct our analytical data set. Sampling weights were constructed in
      accordance with NHANES analytical guidelines. We estimated crude and covariate
      adjusted associations between sexual orientation and vascular age using the
      regression models specified in the original report. We also conducted a series of
      sensitivity analyses to improve on the original findings. RESULTS: Our
      replication attempt was partially successful: we replicated the general trends
      reported in the original analysis, but not identical effect estimates.
      Importantly, we identified a potential misapplication of the Framingham Risk
      Score; correcting for this increased the probability that the reported null
      hypothesis test was a type I error. CONCLUSIONS: This paper supports the recent
      calls for greater transparency and improved reporting in research. Even with a
      publicly available and well-documented data source, we were unable to exactly
      replicate another study's original findings. Our sensitivity analyses revealed
      key issues in the original analysis and demonstrate the scientific importance of
      research replication.

PMID- 26873948
TI  - The impact of SASA!, a community mobilisation intervention, on women's
      experiences of intimate partner violence: secondary findings from a cluster
      randomised trial in Kampala, Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health and human
      rights concern, though there is limited evidence on how to prevent it. This
      secondary analysis of data from the SASA! Study assesses the potential of a
      community mobilisation IPV prevention intervention to reduce overall prevalence
      of IPV, new onset of abuse (primary prevention) and continuation of prior abuse
      (secondary prevention). METHODS: A pair-matched cluster randomised controlled
      trial was conducted in 8 communities (4 intervention, 4 control) in Kampala,
      Uganda (2007-2012). Cross-sectional surveys of community members, 18-49 years
      old, were undertaken at baseline (n=1583) and 4 years postintervention
      implementation (n=2532). Outcomes relate to women's past year experiences of
      physical and sexual IPV, emotional aggression, controlling behaviours and fear of
      partner. An adjusted cluster-level intention-to-treat analysis compared outcomes
      in intervention and control communities at follow-up. RESULTS: At follow-up, all
      types of IPV (including severe forms of each) were lower in intervention
      communities compared with control communities. SASA! was associated with lower
      onset of abuse and lower continuation of prior abuse. Statistically significant
      effects were observed for continued physical IPV (adjusted risk ratio 0.42, 95%
      CI 0.18 to 0.96); continued sexual IPV (0.68, 0.53 to 0.87); continued emotional
      aggression (0.68, 0.52 to 0.89); continued fear of partner (0.67, 0.51 to 0.89);
      and new onset of controlling behaviours (0.38, 0.23 to 0.62). CONCLUSIONS:
      Community mobilisation is an effective means for both primary and secondary
      prevention of IPV. Further support should be given to the replication and scale
      up of SASA! and other similar interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:
      NCT00790959.

PMID- 26873949
TI  - Estimating the burden of heat illness in England during the 2013 summer heatwave
      using syndromic surveillance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The burden of heat illness on health systems is not well described in
      the UK. Although the UK generally experiences mild summers, the frequency and
      intensity of hot weather is likely to increase due to climate change,
      particularly in Southern England. We investigated the impact of the moderate
      heatwave in 2013 on primary care and emergency department (ED) visits using
      syndromic surveillance data in England. METHODS: General practitioner in hours
      (GPIH), GP out of hours (GPOOH) and ED syndromic surveillance systems were used
      to monitor the health impact of heat/sun stroke symptoms (heat illness). Data
      were stratified by age group and compared between heatwave and non-heatwave
      years. Incidence rate ratios were calculated for GPIH heat illness consultations.
      RESULTS: GP consultations and ED attendances for heat illness increased during
      the heatwave period; GPIH consultations increased across all age groups, but the
      highest rates were in school children and those aged >=75 years, with the latter
      persisting beyond the end of the heatwave. Extrapolating to the English
      population, we estimated that the number of GPIH consultations for heat illness
      during the whole summer (May to September) 2013 was 1166 (95% CI 1064 to 1268).
      This was double the rate observed during non-heatwave years. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings support the monitoring of heat illness (symptoms of heat/sun stroke) as
      part of the Heatwave Plan for England, but also suggest that specifically
      monitoring heat illness in children, especially those of school age, would
      provide additional early warning of, and situation awareness during heatwaves.

PMID- 26873950
TI  - Dive characteristics can predict foraging success in Australian fur seals
      (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) as validated by animal-borne video.
AB  - Dive characteristics and dive shape are often used to infer foraging success in
      pinnipeds. However, these inferences have not been directly validated in the
      field with video, and it remains unclear if this method can be applied to benthic
      foraging animals. This study assessed the ability of dive characteristics from
      time-depth recorders (TDR) to predict attempted prey capture events (APC) that
      were directly observed on animal-borne video in Australian fur seals
      (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, n=11). The most parsimonious model predicting
      the probability of a dive with >=1 APC on video included only descent rate as a
      predictor variable. The majority (94%) of the 389 total APC were successful, and
      the majority of the dives (68%) contained at least one successful APC. The best
      model predicting these successful dives included descent rate as a predictor.
      Comparisons of the TDR model predictions to video yielded a maximum accuracy of
      77.5% in classifying dives as either APC or non-APC or 77.1% in classifying dives
      as successful verses unsuccessful. Foraging intensity, measured as either total
      APC per dive or total successful APC per dive, was best predicted by bottom
      duration and ascent rate. The accuracy in predicting total APC per dive varied
      based on the number of APC per dive with maximum accuracy occurring at 1 APC for
      both total (54%) and only successful APC (52%). Results from this study linking
      verified foraging dives to dive characteristics potentially opens the door to
      decades of historical TDR datasets across several otariid species. 

PMID- 26873951
TI  - Phylogenetic analysis and tissue distribution of elasmobranch glucose
      transporters and their response to feeding.
AB  - Elasmobranch diets consist of high quantities of protein and lipids, but very low
      levels of carbohydrates including glucose. Reflecting this diet, most tissues use
      lipids and ketone bodies as their main metabolic fuel. However, the rectal gland
      has been shown to be dependent on glucose as a fuel, so we hypothesized that
      glucose transporters (GLUTs) would be present and upregulated in the gland during
      times of activation (e.g. following a meal). In this study, we searched for and
      identified putative class I GLUTs in three elasmobranchs and a holocephalan using
      transcriptomes, and used these to reconstruct a Bayesian phylogeny. We determined
      that each of the four species possessed three of the four class I GLUT sequences,
      but the identities of the isoforms present in each species differed between the
      elasmobranchs (GLUT1, 3 and 4) and the holocephalan (GLUT1, 2 and 3). We then
      used qPCR to measure mRNA levels of these GLUTs in the rectal gland, liver,
      intestine, and muscle of fed and starved spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi). The
      rectal gland data showed higher mRNA levels of GLUT4 in the starved relative to
      the fed fish. In the muscle, both GLUT1 and 4 were significantly elevated at 24 h
      post-feeding, as was the case for GLUT4 in the liver. In the intestine on the
      other hand, GLUT4 was significantly elevated by 6 h post-feeding, remaining
      elevated through 48 h. We suggest that GLUT4 has taken on the role of GLUT2 in
      elasmobranchs as the expression patterns observed in the liver and intestine are
      representative of GLUT2 in other vertebrates. 

PMID- 26873952
TI  - Changes in cell shape are correlated with metastatic potential in murine and
      human osteosarcomas.
AB  - Metastatic cancer cells for many cancers are known to have altered cytoskeletal
      properties, in particular to be more deformable and contractile. Consequently,
      shape characteristics of more metastatic cancer cells may be expected to have
      diverged from those of their parental cells. To examine this hypothesis we study
      shape characteristics of paired osteosarcoma cell lines, each consisting of a
      less metastatic parental line and a more metastatic line, derived from the former
      by in vivo selection. Two-dimensional images of four pairs of lines were
      processed. Statistical analysis of morphometric characteristics shows that shape
      characteristics of the metastatic cell line are partly overlapping and partly
      diverged from the parental line. Significantly, the shape changes fall into two
      categories, with three paired cell lines displaying a more mesenchymal-like
      morphology, while the fourth displaying a change towards a more rounded
      morphology. A neural network algorithm could distinguish between samples of the
      less metastatic cells from the more metastatic cells with near perfect accuracy.
      Thus, subtle changes in shape carry information about the genetic changes that
      lead to invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cancer cells. 

PMID- 26873955
TI  - Comment: Is 3,4-DAP a new option in treating MuSK MG?

PMID- 26873953
TI  - Gene array analysis of neural crest cells identifies transcription factors
      necessary for direct conversion of embryonic fibroblasts into neural crest cells.
AB  - Neural crest cells (NC cells) are multipotent cells that emerge from the edge of
      the neural folds and migrate throughout the developing embryo. Although the gene
      regulatory network for generation of NC cells has been elucidated in detail, it
      has not been revealed which of the factors in the network are pivotal to
      directing NC identity. In this study we analyzed the gene expression profile of a
      pure NC subpopulation isolated from Sox10-IRES-Venus mice and investigated
      whether these genes played a key role in the direct conversion of Sox10-IRES
      Venus mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into NC cells. The comparative molecular
      profiles of NC cells and neural tube cells in 9.5-day embryos revealed genes
      including transcription factors selectively expressed in developing trunk NC
      cells. Among 25 NC cell-specific transcription factor genes tested, SOX10 and
      SOX9 were capable of converting MEFs into SOX10-positive (SOX10+) cells. The
      SOX10+ cells were then shown to differentiate into neurons, glial cells, smooth
      muscle cells, adipocytes and osteoblasts. These SOX10+ cells also showed limited
      self-renewal ability, suggesting that SOX10 and SOX9 directly converted MEFs into
      NC cells. Conversely, the remaining transcription factors, including well-known
      NC cell specifiers, were unable to convert MEFs into SOX10+ NC cells. These
      results suggest that SOX10 and SOX9 are the key factors necessary for the direct
      conversion of MEFs into NC cells. 

PMID- 26873954
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic
      stroke.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding endovascular thrombectomy
      to standard care in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: The cost
      effectiveness analysis of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute
      ischemic stroke was based on a decision-analytic Markov model. Primary outcomes
      from ESCAPE, Extending the Time for Thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological
      Deficits-Intra-Arterial (EXTEND-IA), Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of
      Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR CLEAN),
      Endovascular Revascularization With Solitaire Device Versus Best Medical Therapy
      in Anterior Circulation Stroke Within 8 Hours (REVASCAT), and Solitaire with the
      Intention for Thrombectomy as Primary Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic
      Stroke (SWIFT PRIME) along with data from published studies and registries were
      used in this analysis. We used a health care payer perspective and a lifelong
      time horizon to estimate costs and effects. RESULTS: The model showed that adding
      thrombectomy with stent retrievers to guideline-based care (including IV
      thrombolysis) resulted in a gain of 0.40 life-years and 0.99 quality-adjusted
      life-years along with a cost savings of approximately $221 per patient. The
      sensitivity analysis showed that the results were not sensitive to changes in
      uncertain parameters or assumptions. CONCLUSIONS: Adding endovascular treatment
      to standard care resulted in substantial clinical benefits at low costs. The
      results were consistent throughout irrespective of whether data from ESCAPE,
      EXTEND-IA, MR CLEAN, REVASCAT, or SWIFT PRIME were used in this model.

PMID- 26873956
TI  - Fulminant corticobasal degeneration: Agrypnia excitata in corticobasal syndrome.

PMID- 26873957
TI  - 3,4-Diaminopyridine may improve myasthenia gravis with MuSK antibodies.

PMID- 26873958
TI  - Cutaneous sensory and autonomic denervation in CADASIL.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the involvement of the peripheral nervous system in cerebral
      autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy
      (CADASIL) by means of immunofluorescence and confocal analysis of punch skin
      biopsies. METHODS: We recruited 14 unrelated patients with CADASIL (M/F = 9/5;
      age 53.9 +/- 10.5 years) and 52 healthy controls (M/F = 31/21; age 53.8 +/- 9.8).
      Patients underwent clinical and neuroradiologic assessment. Three-millimeter
      punch skin biopsies were taken from the fingertip, the thigh, and the distal leg
      and processed using indirect immunofluorescence and a panel of primary antibodies
      to mark vessels and sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Intraepidermal nerve
      fibers (IENF), Meissner corpuscles (MC), and sudomotor, vasomotor, and pilomotor
      nerves were assessed using confocal microscopy. RESULTS: In patients, compared to
      controls, we found a severe loss of IENF at the distal leg (p < 0.01), at the
      thigh (p < 0.01), and at the fingertip (p < 0.01) with a non-length-dependent
      pattern and a loss of MC (p < 0.01). A severe sudomotor, vasomotor, and pilomotor
      nerve fiber loss was found by semiquantitative evaluation. Along with nerve loss,
      a severe derangement of the vascular bed was observed. In our patient population,
      sensory and autonomic denervation did not correlate with age, sex, type of
      mutation, or MRI involvement. CONCLUSIONS: We found an involvement of the
      peripheral nervous system in patients with CADASIL through the assessment of
      cutaneous somatic and autonomic nerves. The neurovascular derangement observed in
      the skin may reflect, although to a lesser extent, what happens in the CNS.

PMID- 26873959
TI  - Identification of Niclosamide as a Novel Anticancer Agent for Adrenocortical
      Carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive cancer, and no
      current effective therapy is available for locally advanced and metastatic ACC.
      Drug repurposing is an emerging approach for identifying new indications for
      existing drugs, especially for rare cancers such as ACC. The objective of this
      study was to use quantitative high-throughput screening to identify agents with
      antineoplastic activity against ACC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A screening of 4,292
      compounds was performed on three ACC cell lines: BD140A, SW-13, and NCI-H295R.
      RESULTS: Twenty-one active compounds were identified, with an efficacy of >80% in
      all three cell lines. Of these, niclosamide showed higher efficacy and lower IC50
      than established anti-ACC drugs. We then validated niclosamide-inhibited cellular
      proliferation in all three ACC cell lines. Next, we investigated the mechanism by
      which niclosamide inhibited ACC cell proliferation, and found that it induced
      caspase-dependent apoptosis and G1 cell-cycle arrest. Niclosamide also decreased
      cellular migration and reduced the level of mediators of epithelial-to
      mesenchymal transition, such as N-cadherin and vimentin. Furthermore, niclosamide
      treatment resulted in decreased expression of beta-catenin. We also evaluated the
      effect of niclosamide on energy metabolism in ACC cell lines and found it
      resulted in mitochondrial uncoupling. Niclosamide treatment inhibited ACC tumor
      growth with no observed toxicity in mice in vivo CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      suggest that niclosamide has anti-ACC activity through its inhibition of multiple
      altered cellular pathways and cellular metabolism in ACC. Our results provide a
      preclinical rationale for evaluating niclosamide therapy in a clinical trial for
      ACC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(14); 3458-66. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873961
TI  - Inference for the existence of hormetic dose-response relationships in toxicology
      studies.
AB  - In toxicology studies hormesis refers to a dose-response relationship with a
      stimulatory response at low doses and an inhibitory response at high doses. In
      this manuscript, we particularly focus on a J-shaped dose-response relationship
      for binary cancer responses. We propose and examine two new flexible models for
      testing the hypothesis of hormesis in a Bayesian framework. The first model is
      parametric and enhances the flexibility of modeling a hormetic zone by using a
      non-linear predictor in a multistage model. The second model is non-parametric
      and allows multiple model specifications, weighting the contribution of each
      model via Bayesian model averaging (BMA). Simulation studies show that the non
      parametric modeling approach with BMA provides robust sensitivity and specificity
      for detecting hormesis relative to the parametric approach, regardless of the
      shape of a hormetic zone.

PMID- 26873960
TI  - Vaccination with Irradiated Autologous Tumor Cells Mixed with Irradiated GM-K562
      Cells Stimulates Antitumor Immunity and T Lymphocyte Activation in Patients with
      Recurrent Malignant Glioma.
AB  - PURPOSE: Recurrent malignant glioma carries a dismal prognosis, and novel
      therapies are needed. We examined the feasibility and safety of vaccination with
      irradiated autologous glioma cells mixed with irradiated GM-K562 cells in
      patients undergoing craniotomy for recurrent malignant glioma. EXPERIMENTAL
      DESIGN: We initiated a phase I study examining the safety of 2 doses of GM-K562
      cells mixed with autologous cells. Primary endpoints were feasibility and safety.
      Feasibility was defined as the ability for 60% of enrolled subjects to initiate
      vaccination. Dose-limiting toxicity was assessed via a 3+3 dose-escalation
      format, examining irradiated tumor cells mixed with 5 * 10(6) GM-K562 cells or 1
      * 10(7) GM-K562 cells. Eligibility required a priori indication for resection of
      a recurrent high-grade glioma. We measured biological activity by measuring
      delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses, humoral immunity against tumor
      associated antigens, and T-lymphocyte activation. RESULTS: Eleven patients were
      enrolled. Sufficient numbers of autologous tumor cells were harvested in 10
      patients, all of whom went on to receive vaccine. There were no dose-limiting
      toxicities. Vaccination strengthened DTH responses to irradiated autologous tumor
      cells in most patients, and vigorous humoral responses to tumor-associated
      angiogenic cytokines were seen as well. T-lymphocyte activation was seen with
      significantly increased expression of CTLA-4, PD-1, 4-1BB, and OX40 by CD4(+)
      cells and PD-1 and 4-1BB by CD8(+) cells. Activation was coupled with vaccine
      associated increase in the frequency of regulatory CD4(+) T lymphocytes.
      CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination with irradiated autologous tumor cells mixed with GM
      K562 cells is feasible, well tolerated, and active in patients with recurrent
      malignant glioma. Clin Cancer Res; 22(12); 2885-96. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26873962
TI  - Transcranial Electrical Stimulation: What We Know and Do Not Know About
      Mechanisms.
AB  - In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the understanding and
      practical use of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques.
      Nevertheless, to date, this experimental effort has not been accompanied by
      substantial reflections on the models and mechanisms that could explain the
      stimulation effects. Given these premises, the aim of this article is to provide
      an updated picture of what we know about the theoretical models of tES that have
      been proposed to date, contextualized in a more specific and unitary framework.
      We demonstrate that these models can explain the tES behavioral effects as
      distributed along a continuum from stimulation dependent to network activity
      dependent. In this framework, we also propose that stochastic resonance is a
      useful mechanism to explain the general online neuromodulation effects of tES.
      Moreover, we highlight the aspects that should be considered in future research.
      We emphasize that tES is not an "easy-to-use" technique; however, it may
      represent a very fruitful approach if applied within rigorous protocols, with
      deep knowledge of both the behavioral and cognitive aspects and the more recent
      advances in the application of stimulation.

PMID- 26873963
TI  - GPER activation ameliorates aortic remodeling induced by salt-sensitive
      hypertension.
AB  - The mRen2 female rat is an estrogen- and salt-sensitive model of hypertension
      that reflects the higher pressure and salt sensitivity associated with menopause.
      We previously showed that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) mediates
      estrogenic effects in this model. The current study hypothesized that GPER
      protects against vascular injury during salt loading. Intact mRen2 female rats
      were fed a normal (NS; 0.5% Na(+)) or high-salt diet (HS; 4% Na(+)) for 10 wk,
      which significantly increased systolic blood pressure (149 +/- 5 vs. 224 +/- 8
      mmHg;P< 0.001). Treatment with the selective GPER agonist G-1 for 2 wk did not
      alter salt-sensitive hypertension (216 +/- 4 mmHg;P> 0.05) or ex vivo vascular
      responses to angiotensin II or phenylephrine (P> 0.05). However, G-1
      significantly attenuated salt-induced aortic remodeling assessed by media-to
      lumen ratio (NS: 0.43; HS+veh: 0.89; HS+G-1: 0.61;P< 0.05). Aortic thickening was
      not accompanied by changes in collagen, elastin, or medial proliferation.
      However, HS induced increases in medial layer glycosaminoglycans (0.07 vs. 0.42
      mm(2);P< 0.001) and lipid peroxidation (0.11 vs. 0.51 mm(2);P< 0.01), both of
      which were reduced by G-1 (0.20 mm(2)and 0.23 mm(2); both P< 0.05). We conclude
      that GPER's beneficial actions in the aorta of salt-loaded mRen2 females occur
      independently of changes in blood pressure and vasoreactivity. GPER-induced
      attenuation of aortic remodeling was associated with a reduction in oxidative
      stress and decreased accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. Endogenous activation of
      GPER may protect females from salt- and pressure-induced vascular damage.

PMID- 26873964
TI  - Cardiac Sirt1 mediates the cardioprotective effect of caloric restriction by
      suppressing local complement system activation after ischemia-reperfusion.
AB  - Caloric restriction (CR) confers cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion
      (I/R) injury. We previously found the essential roles of endothelial nitric oxide
      synthase in the development of CR-induced cardioprotection and Sirt1 activation
      during CR (Shinmura K, Tamaki K, Ito K, Yan X, Yamamoto T, Katsumata Y,
      Matsuhashi T, Sano M, Fukuda K, Suematsu M, Ishii I. Indispensable role of
      endothelial nitric oxide synthase in caloric restriction-induced cardioprotection
      against ischemia-reperfusion injury.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 308: H894
      H903, 2015). However, the exact mechanism by which Sirt1 in cardiomyocytes
      mediates the cardioprotective effect of CR remains undetermined. We subjected
      cardiomyocyte-specific Sirt1 knockout (CM-Sirt1(-/-)) mice and the corresponding
      control mice to either 3-mo ad libitum feeding or CR (-40%). Isolated perfused
      hearts were subjected to 25-min global ischemia, followed by 60-min reperfusion.
      The recovery of left ventricle function after I/R was improved, and total lactate
      dehydrogenase release into the perfusate during reperfusion was attenuated in the
      control mice treated with CR, but a similar cardioprotective effect of CR was not
      observed in the CM-Sirt1(-/-)mice. The expression levels of cardiac complement
      component 3 (C3) at baseline and the accumulation of C3 and its fragments in the
      ischemia-reperfused myocardium were attenuated by CR in the control mice, but not
      in the CM-Sirt1(-/-)mice. Resveratrol treatment also attenuated the expression
      levels of C3 protein in cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.
      Moreover, the degree of myocardial I/R injury in conventional C3 knockout (C3(-/
      )) mice treated with CR was similar to that in the ad libitum-fed C3(-/-)mice,
      although the expression levels of Sirt1 were enhanced by CR. These results
      demonstrate that cardiac Sirt1 plays an essential role in CR-induced
      cardioprotection against I/R injury by suppressing cardiac C3 expression. This is
      the first report suggesting that cardiac Sirt1 regulates the local complement
      system during CR.

PMID- 26873965
TI  - Development of a servo pump system for in vivo loading of pathological pulmonary
      artery impedance on the right ventricle of normal rats.
AB  - Pulmonary artery (PA) impedance provides detailed information on right
      ventricular (RV) afterload in pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study aimed to
      examine PA impedance in a rat model of monocrotaline-induced PH (MCT-PH) and to
      develop an experimental system for in vivo loading of pathological PA impedance
      on the RV of normal rats. PA impedance was quantified in normal (n= 10) and MCT
      PH rats (n= 10) using a three-element Windkessel (3-WK) model. Compared with
      normal rats, MCT-PH rats had higher characteristic impedance (ZC) and peripheral
      pulmonary resistance (RP) (ZC: 0.121 +/- 0.039 vs. 0.053 +/- 0.017 mmHg.min.ml(
      1), P< 0.001; RP: 0.581 +/- 0.334 vs. 0.252 +/- 0.105 mmHg.min.ml(-1), P= 0.013)
      and lower pulmonary artery compliance (CP) (0.242 +/- 0.131 vs. 0.700 +/- 0.186
      ml/mmHg, P< 0.001). In another group of 10 normal rats, a computer-controlled
      servo pump was connected to the left PA for loading PA impedance with parameters
      in pathological ranges designed by the 3-WK model. Activation of the servo pump
      decreased the error of measured vs. target PA impedance (modulus: from 0.047 +/-
      0.020 without pump activation to 0.019 +/- 0.007 with pump activation,P< 0.001;
      phase: 0.085 +/- 0.028 to 0.043 +/- 0.012 radians,P< 0.001). In conclusion, MCT
      PH increases ZC and RP and decreases CP Our servo pump system, which is capable
      of imposing arbitrary PA impedance with pathological parameters, may offer a
      unique opportunity to delineate the pathological significance of PA impedance in
      PH.

PMID- 26873968
TI  - Exposure to stimulatory CpG oligonucleotides during gestation induces maternal
      hypertension and excess vasoconstriction in pregnant rats.
AB  - Bacterial infections increase risk for pregnancy complications, such as
      preeclampsia and preterm birth. Unmethylated CpG DNA sequences are present in
      bacterial DNA and have immunostimulatory effects. Maternal exposure to CpG DNA
      induces fetal demise and craniofacial malformations; however, the effects of CpG
      DNA on maternal cardiovascular health have not been examined. We tested the
      hypothesis that exposure to synthetic CpG oligonucleotides (ODNs) during
      gestation would increase blood pressure and cause vascular dysfunction in
      pregnant rats. Pregnant and nonpregnant female rats were treated with CpG ODN
      (ODN 2395) or saline (Veh) starting on gestational day 14or corresponding day for
      the nonpregnant groups. Exposure to CpG ODN increased systolic blood pressure in
      pregnant (Veh: 121 +/- 2 mmHg vs. ODN 2395: 134 +/- 2 mmHg,P< 0.05) but not in
      nonpregnant rats (Veh: 111 +/- 2 mmHg vs. ODN 2395: 108 +/- 5 mmHg,P> 0.05).
      Mesenteric resistance arteries from pregnant CpG ODN-treated rats had increased
      contractile responses to U46619 [thromboxane A2(TxA2) mimetic] compared with
      arteries from vehicle-treated rats [Emax(%KCl), Veh: 87 +/- 4 vs. ODN 2395: 104
      +/- 4,P< 0.05]. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition increased contractile
      responses to U46619, and CpG ODN treatment abolished this effect in arteries from
      pregnant ODN 2395-treated rats. CpG ODN potentiated the involvement of
      cyclooxygenase (COX) to U46619-induced contractions. In conclusion, exposure to
      CpG ODN during gestation induces maternal hypertension, augments resistance
      artery contraction, increases the involvement of COX-dependent mechanisms and
      reduces the contribution of NOS-dependent mechanisms to TxA2-induced contractions
      in mesenteric resistance arteries.

PMID- 26873966
TI  - Sirt3 protects mitochondrial DNA damage and blocks the development of doxorubicin
      induced cardiomyopathy in mice.
AB  - Doxorubicin (Doxo) is a chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat variety of
      cancers. One of the most serious side effects of Doxo is its dose-dependent and
      delayed toxicity to the heart. Doxo is known to induce cardiac mitochondrial
      damage. Recently, the mitochondrial sirtuin SIRT3 has been shown to protect
      mitochondria from oxidative stress. Here we show that overexpression of SIRT3
      protects the heart from toxicity of Doxo by preventing the drug-induced
      mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Doxo treatment caused depletion of Sirt3 levels
      both in primary cultures of cardiomyocytes and in mouse hearts, which led to
      massive acetylation of mitochondrial proteins. Doxo-induced toxicity to
      cardiomyocytes was associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      production, mitochondrial fragmentation, and cell death. Overexpression of SIRT3
      helped to attenuate Doxo-induced ROS levels and cardiomyocyte death. Sirt3
      knockout (Sirt3.KO) mice could not endure the full dose of Doxo treatment,
      developed exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy, and died during the course of
      treatment, whereas Sirt3 transgenic (Sirt3.tg) mice were protected against Doxo
      induced cardiotoxicity. Along with Sirt3, we also observed a concomitant decrease
      in levels of oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1), a major DNA glycosylase that
      hydrolyzes oxidized-guanine (8-oxo-dG) to guanine. Depletion of OGG1 levels was
      associated with increased mtDNA damage. Sirt3.KO mice and Doxo-treated mice
      showed increased 8-oxo-dG adducts in DNA and corresponding increase in mtDNA
      damage, whereas, 8-oxo-dG adducts and mtDNA damage were markedly reduced in Sirt3
      overexpressing transgenic mice hearts. These results thus demonstrated that Sirt3
      activation protects the heart from Doxo-induced cardiotoxicity by maintaining
      OGG1 levels and protecting mitochondria from DNA damage. 

PMID- 26873967
TI  - Cardiac angiotensin-(1-12) expression and systemic hypertension in rats
      expressing the human angiotensinogen gene.
AB  - Angiotensin-(1-12) [ANG-(1-12)] is processed into ANG II by chymase in rodent and
      human heart tissue. Differences in the amino acid sequence of rat and human ANG
      (1-12) render the human angiotensinogen (hAGT) protein refractory to cleavage by
      renin. We used transgenic rats harboring the hAGT gene [TGR(hAGT)L1623] to assess
      the non-renin-dependent effects of increased hAGT expression on heart function
      and arterial pressure. Compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) control rats (n= 11),
      male homozygous TGR(hAGT)L1623 (n= 9) demonstrated sustained daytime and
      nighttime hypertension associated with no changes in heart rate but increased
      heart rate lability. Increased heart weight/tibial length ratio and
      echocardiographic indexes of cardiac hypertrophy were associated with modest
      reduction of systolic function in hAGT rats. Robust human ANG-(1-12)
      immunofluorescence within myocytes of TGR(hAGT)L1623 rats was associated with a
      fourfold increase in cardiac ANG II content. Chymase enzymatic activity, using
      the rat or human ANG-(1-12) as a substrate, was not different in the cardiac
      tissue of SD and hAGT rats. Since both cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme
      (ACE) and ACE2 activities were not different among the two strains, the changes
      in cardiac structure and function, blood pressure, and left ventricular ANG II
      content might be a product of an increased cardiac expression of ANG II generated
      through a non-renin-dependent mechanism. The data also underscore the existence
      in the rat of alternate enzymes capable of acting on hAGT protein. Homozygous
      transgenic rats expressing the hAGT gene represent a novel tool to investigate
      the contribution of human relevant renin-independent cardiac ANG II formation and
      function. 

PMID- 26873969
TI  - BMP type I receptor ALK2 is required for angiotensin II-induced cardiac
      hypertrophy.
AB  - Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling contributes to the development of
      cardiac hypertrophy. However, the identity of the BMP type I receptor involved in
      cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly
      understood. By using quantitative PCR and immunoblotting, we demonstrated that
      BMP signaling increased during phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy in cultured
      neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCs), as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of
      Smads 1 and 5 and induction of Id1 gene expression. Inhibition of BMP signaling
      with LDN193189 or noggin, and silencing of Smad 1 or 4 using small interfering
      RNA diminished the ability of phenylephrine to induce hypertrophy in NRCs.
      Conversely, activation of BMP signaling with BMP2 or BMP4 induced hypertrophy in
      NRCs. Luciferase reporter assay further showed that BMP2 or BMP4 treatment of
      NRCs repressed atrogin-1 gene expression concomitant with an increase in
      calcineurin protein levels and enhanced activity of nuclear factor of activated T
      cells, providing a mechanism by which BMP signaling contributes to cardiac
      hypertrophy. In a model of cardiac hypertrophy, C57BL/6 mice treated with
      angiotensin II (A2) had increased BMP signaling in the left ventricle. Treatment
      with LDN193189 attenuated A2-induced cardiac hypertrophy and collagen deposition
      in left ventricles. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of BMP type I receptor ALK2
      (activin-like kinase 2), but not ALK1 or ALK3, inhibited BMP signaling and
      mitigated A2-induced cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular fibrosis in mice.
      The results suggest that BMP signaling upregulates the calcineurin/nuclear factor
      of activated T cell pathway via BMP type I receptor ALK2, contributing to cardiac
      hypertrophy and fibrosis.

PMID- 26873970
TI  - Rotenone-stimulated superoxide release from mitochondrial complex I acutely
      augments L-type Ca2+ current in A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells.
AB  - Voltage-gated L-type Ca(2+) current (ICa,L) induces contraction of arterial
      smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), and ICa,L is increased by H2O2 in ASMCs. Superoxide
      released from the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) is dismutated to H2O2 We
      studied whether superoxide per se acutely modulates ICa,L in ASMCs using cultured
      A7r5 cells derived from rat aorta. Rotenone is a toxin that inhibits complex I of
      the MRC and increases mitochondrial superoxide release. The superoxide content of
      mitochondria was estimated using mitochondrial-specific MitoSOX and HPLC methods,
      and was shown to be increased by a brief exposure to 10 MUM rotenone. ICa,L was
      recorded with 5 mM BAPTA in the pipette solution. Rotenone administration (10 nM
      to 10 MUM) resulted in a greater ICa,L increase in a dose-dependent manner to a
      maximum of 22.1% at 10 MUM for 1 min, which gradually decreased to 9% after 5
      min. The rotenone-induced ICa,L increase was associated with a shift in the
      current-voltage relationship (I-V) to a hyperpolarizing direction. DTT
      administration resulted in a 17.9% increase in ICa,L without a negative shift in
      I-V, and rotenone produced an additional increase with a shift. H2O2 (0.3 mM)
      inhibited ICa,L by 13%, and additional rotenone induced an increase with a
      negative shift. Sustained treatment with Tempol (4-hydroxy tempo) led to a
      significant ICa,L increase but it inhibited the rotenone-induced increase.
      Staurosporine, a broad-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor, partially inhibited
      ICa,L and completely suppressed the rotenone-induced increase. Superoxide
      released from mitochondria affected protein kinases and resulted in stronger
      ICa,L preceding its dismutation to H2O2 The removal of nitric oxide is a likely
      mechanism for the increase in ICa,L.

PMID- 26873971
TI  - Muscle metaboreflex and cerebral blood flow regulation in humans: implications
      for exercise with blood flow restriction.
AB  - We investigated the effect of activating metabolically sensitive skeletal muscle
      afferents (muscle metaboreflex) on cerebral blood flow and the potentially
      confounding influence of concomitant changes in the partial pressure of arterial
      carbon dioxide. Eleven healthy males (25 +/- 4 yr) performed submaximal leg
      cycling exercise on a semirecumbent cycle ergometer (heart rate: ~120 beats/min),
      and assessments were made of the partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide
      (PetCO2 ), internal carotid artery blood flow (ICAQ) and conductance (ICACVC),
      and middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity (MCAvm) and conductance index
      (MCACVCi).The muscle metaboreflex was activated during cycling with leg blood
      flow restriction (BFR) or isolated with postexercise ischemia (PEI). In separate
      trials, PetCO2 was either permitted to fluctuate spontaneously (control trial) or
      was clamped at 1 mmHg above resting levels (PetCO2 clamp trial). In the control
      trial, leg cycling with BFR decreased PetCO2 (Delta-4.8 +/- 0.9 mmHg vs. leg
      cycling exercise) secondary to hyperventilation, while ICAQ, ICACVC, and MCAvm
      were unchanged and MCACVCi decreased. However, in the PetCO2 clamp trial, leg
      cycling with BFR increased both MCAvm (Delta5.9 +/- 1.4 cm/s) and ICAQ (Delta20.0
      +/- 7.8 ml/min) and attenuated the decrease in MCACVCi, while ICACVC was
      unchanged. In the control trial, PEI decreased PetCO2 (Delta-7.0 +/- 1.3 mmHg vs.
      rest), MCAvm and MCACVCi, whereas ICAQ and ICACVC were unchanged. In contrast, in
      the PetCO2 clamp trial both ICAQ (Delta18.5 +/- 11.9 ml/min) and MCAvm (Delta8.8
      +/- 2.0 cm/s) were elevated, while ICACVC and MCACVCi were unchanged. In
      conclusion, when hyperventilation-related decreases in PetCO2 are prevented the
      activation of metabolically sensitive skeletal muscle afferent fibers increases
      cerebral blood flow.

PMID- 26873972
TI  - Novel wave power analysis linking pressure-flow waves, wave potential, and the
      forward and backward components of hydraulic power.
AB  - Wave intensity analysis provides detailed insights into factors influencing
      hemodynamics. However, wave intensity is not a conserved quantity, so it is
      sensitive to diameter variations and is not distributed among branches of a
      junction. Moreover, the fundamental relation between waves and hydraulic power is
      unclear. We, therefore, propose an alternative to wave intensity called "wave
      power," calculated via incremental changes in pressure and flow (dPdQ) and a
      novel time-domain separation of hydraulic pressure power and kinetic power into
      forward and backward wave-related components (PiP+/-and PiQ+/-). Wave power has
      several useful properties:1) it is obtained directly from flow measurements,
      without requiring further calculation of velocity;2) it is a quasi-conserved
      quantity that may be used to study the relative distribution of waves at
      junctions; and3) it has the units of power (Watts). We also uncover a simple
      relationship between wave power and changes in PiP+/-and show that wave
      reflection reduces transmitted power. Absolute values of PiP+/-represent wave
      potential, a recently introduced concept that unifies steady and pulsatile
      aspects of hemodynamics. We show that wave potential represents the hydraulic
      energy potential stored in a compliant pressurized vessel, with spatial gradients
      producing waves that transfer this energy. These techniques and principles are
      verified numerically and also experimentally with pressure/flow measurements in
      all branches of a central bifurcation in sheep, under a wide range of hemodynamic
      conditions. The proposed "wave power analysis," encompassing wave power, wave
      potential, and wave separation of hydraulic power provides a potent time-domain
      approach for analyzing hemodynamics. 

PMID- 26873973
TI  - The mitochondrial function of the cerebral vasculature in insulin-resistant
      Zucker obese rats.
AB  - Little is known about mitochondrial functioning in the cerebral vasculature
      during insulin resistance (IR). We examined mitochondrial respiration in isolated
      cerebral arteries of male Zucker obese (ZO) rats and phenotypically normal Zucker
      lean (ZL) rats using the Seahorse XFe24 analyzer. We investigated mitochondrial
      morphology in cerebral blood vessels as well as mitochondrial and
      nonmitochondrial protein expression levels in cerebral arteries and microvessels.
      We also measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cerebral microvessels.
      Under basal conditions, the mitochondrial respiration components
      (nonmitochondrial respiration, basal respiration, ATP production, proton leak,
      and spare respiratory capacity) showed similar levels among the ZL and ZO groups
      with the exception of maximal respiration, which was higher in the ZO group. We
      examined the role of nitric oxide by measuring mitochondrial respiration
      following inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine
      methyl ester (l-NAME) and mitochondrial activation after administration of
      diazoxide (DZ). Both ZL and ZO groups showed similar responses to these stimuli
      with minor variations.l-NAME significantly increased the proton leak, and DZ
      decreased nonmitochondrial respiration in the ZL group. Other components were not
      affected. Mitochondrial morphology and distribution within vascular smooth muscle
      and endothelium as well as mitochondrial protein levels were similar in the
      arteries and microvessels of both groups. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase
      (eNOS) and ROS levels were increased in cerebral microvessels of the ZO. Our
      study suggests that mitochondrial function is not significantly altered in the
      cerebral vasculature of young ZO rats, but increased ROS production might be due
      to increased eNOS in the cerebral microcirculation during IR.

PMID- 26873974
TI  - Antenatal BAY 41-2272 reduces pulmonary hypertension in the rabbit model of
      congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
AB  - Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) fail to adapt at birth because
      of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH), a condition characterized by excessive
      muscularization and abnormal vasoreactivity of pulmonary vessels. Activation of
      soluble guanylate cyclase by BAY 41-2272 prevents pulmonary vascular remodeling
      in neonatal rats with hypoxia-induced PH. By analogy, we hypothesized that
      prenatal administration of BAY 41-2272 would improve features of PH in the rabbit
      CDH model. Rabbit fetuses with surgically induced CDH at day 23 of gestation were
      randomized at day 28 for an intratracheal injection of BAY 41-2272 or vehicle.
      After term delivery (day 31), lung mechanics, right ventricular pressure, and
      serum NH2-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were
      measured. After euthanasia, lungs were processed for biological or histological
      analyses. Compared with untouched fetuses, the surgical creation of CDH reduced
      the lung-to-body weight ratio, increased mean terminal bronchial density, and
      impaired lung mechanics. Typical characteristics of PH were found in the
      hypoplastic lungs, including increased right ventricular pressure, higher serum
      NT-proBNP levels, thickened adventitial and medial layers of pulmonary arteries,
      reduced capillary density, and lower levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
      A single antenatal instillation of BAY 41-2272 reduced mean right ventricular
      pressure and medial thickness of small resistive arteries in CDH fetuses.
      Capillary density, endothelial cell proliferation, and transcripts of endothelial
      nitric oxide synthase increased, whereas airway morphometry, lung growth, and
      mechanics remained unchanged. These results suggest that pharmacological
      activation of soluble guanylate cyclase may provide a new approach to the
      prenatal treatment of PH associated with CDH.

PMID- 26873975
TI  - Semi-Rolled Leaf2 modulates rice leaf rolling by regulating abaxial side cell
      differentiation.
AB  - Moderate leaf rolling maintains the erectness of leaves and minimizes the
      shadowing between leaves which is helpful to establish ideal plant architecture.
      Here, we describe asrl2(semi-rolled leaf2) rice mutant, which has incurved leaves
      due to the presence of defective sclerenchymatous cells on the abaxial side of
      the leaf and displays narrow leaves and reduced plant height. Map-based cloning
      revealed that SRL2 encodes a novel plant-specific protein of unknown biochemical
      function.SRL2 was mainly expressed in the vascular bundles of leaf blades, leaf
      sheaths, and roots, especially in their sclerenchymatous cells. The
      transcriptional activities of several leaf development-related YABBY genes were
      significantly altered in the srl2 mutant. Double mutant analysis suggested that
      SRL2 and SHALLOT-LIKE1(SLL1)/ROLLED LEAF9(RL9) function in distinct pathways that
      regulate abaxial-side leaf development. Hence, SRL2 plays an important role in
      regulating leaf development, particularly during sclerenchymatous cell
      differentiation.

PMID- 26873976
TI  - Natural variation in rosette size under salt stress conditions corresponds to
      developmental differences between Arabidopsis accessions and allelic variation in
      the LRR-KISS gene.
AB  - Natural variation among Arabidopsis accessions is an important genetic resource
      to identify mechanisms underlying plant development and stress tolerance. To
      evaluate the natural variation in salinity stress tolerance, two large-scale
      experiments were performed on two populations consisting of 160 Arabidopsis
      accessions each. Multiple traits, including projected rosette area, and fresh and
      dry weight were collected as an estimate for salinity tolerance. Our results
      reveal a correlation between rosette size under salt stress conditions and
      developmental differences between the accessions grown in control conditions,
      suggesting that in general larger plants were more salt tolerant. This
      correlation was less pronounced when plants were grown under severe salt stress
      conditions. Subsequent genome wide association study (GWAS) revealed associations
      with novel candidate genes for salinity tolerance such as LRR-KISS
      (At4g08850),flowering locus KH-domain containing protein and a DUF1639-containing
      protein Accessions with high LRR-KISS expression developed larger rosettes under
      salt stress conditions. Further characterization of allelic variation in
      candidate genes identified in this study will provide more insight into
      mechanisms of salt stress tolerance due to enhanced shoot growth.

PMID- 26873977
TI  - Fertilization Independent Endosperm genes repress NbGH3.6 and regulate the auxin
      level during shoot development in Nicotiana benthamiana.
AB  - The Fertilization Independent Endosperm (FIE) gene is required to restrict
      endosperm development without fertilization, and it represses flowering during
      embryo and seedling development in Arabidopsis thaliana However, the regulatory
      mechanism of the FIE gene in postembryonic shoot development is not well
      understood. Silencing of Nicotiana benthamiana homologues of the FIE gene, NbFIE1
      and NbFIE2, resulted in the enhanced outgrowth of axillary buds and the
      impairment of secondary xylem differentiation. RNA sequencing analysis found that
      one of the auxin-responsive GRETCHEN HAGEN 3(GH3) family genes, NbGH3.6, was
      upregulated and maintained a high expression during the time course of silencing
      NbFIE genes. Chromatin immunoprecipiation (ChIP)-PCR results showed a lack of
      H3K27me3 marks on NbGH3.6 chromatin in NbFIE-silenced plants compared with
      negative control plants, indicating that NbGH3.6 was a direct target of NbFIE
      genes during postembryonic shoot development. Moreover, the free IAA content was
      reduced significantly in NbFIE-silenced plants, which might cause the enhanced
      outgrowth of axillary buds as well as impaired secondary xylem differentiation.
      These results clearly indicated that NbGH3.6 was a primary target of NbFIE genes
      during postembryonic shoot development, and NbFIE genes regulated axillary bud
      growth and secondary xylem formation through tuning endogenous auxin homeostasis,
      possibly by regulating the expression of the NbGH3.6 gene.

PMID- 26873978
TI  - Regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana seed dormancy and germination by 12-oxo
      phytodienoic acid.
AB  - We previously demonstrated that the oxylipin 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) acts
      along with abscisic acid to regulate seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana,
      but the mechanistic details of this synergistic interaction remain to be
      elucidated. Here, we show that OPDA acts through the germination inhibition
      effects of abscisic acid, the abscisic acid-sensing ABI5 protein, and the
      gibberellin-sensing RGL2 DELLA protein. We further demonstrate that OPDA also
      acts through another dormancy-promoting factor, MOTHER-OF-FT-AND-TFL1 (MFT). Both
      abscisic acid and MFT positively feed back into the OPDA pathway by promoting its
      accumulation. These results confirm the central role of OPDA in regulating seed
      dormancy and germination in A. thaliana and underline the complexity of
      interactions between OPDA and other dormancy-promoting factors such as abscisic
      acid, RGL2, and MFT.

PMID- 26873979
TI  - The cotton MYB108 forms a positive feedback regulation loop with CML11 and
      participates in the defense response against Verticillium dahliae infection.
AB  - Accumulating evidence indicates that plant MYB transcription factors participate
      in defense against pathogen attack, but their regulatory targets and related
      signaling processes remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a defense-related
      MYB gene (GhMYB108) from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and characterized its
      functional mechanism. Expression of GhMYB108 in cotton plants was induced by
      Verticillium dahliae infection and responded to the application of defense
      signaling molecules, including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene.
      Knockdown of GhMYB108 expression led to increased susceptibility of cotton plants
      to V. dahliae, while ecotopic overexpression of GhMYB108 in Arabidopsis thaliana
      conferred enhanced tolerance to the pathogen. Further analysis demonstrated that
      GhMYB108 interacted with the calmodulin-like protein GhCML11, and the two
      proteins form a positive feedback loop to enhance the transcription of GhCML11 in
      a calcium-dependent manner. Verticillium dahliae infection stimulated Ca(2+)
      influx into the cytosol in cotton root cells, but this response was disrupted in
      both GhCML11-silenced plants and GhMYB108-silenced plants in which expression of
      several calcium signaling-related genes was down-regulated. Taken together, these
      results indicate that GhMYB108 acts as a positive regulator in defense against V.
      dahliae infection by interacting with GhCML11. Furthermore, the data also
      revealed the important roles and synergetic regulation of MYB transcription
      factor, Ca(2+), and calmodulin in plant immune responses.

PMID- 26873980
TI  - Rhizosheaths on wheat grown in acid soils: phosphorus acquisition efficiency and
      genetic control.
AB  - Rhizosheaths comprise soil bound to roots, and in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
      rhizosheath size correlates with root hair length. The aims of this study were to
      determine the effect that a large rhizosheath has on the phosphorus (P)
      acquisition by wheat and to investigate the genetic control of rhizosheath size
      in wheat grown on acid soil.Near-isogenic wheat lines differing in rhizosheath
      size were evaluated on two acid soils. The soils were fertilized with mineral
      nutrients and included treatments with either low or high P. The same soils were
      treated with CaCO3 to raise the pH and detoxify Al(3+) Genotypic differences in
      rhizosheath size were apparent only when soil pH was low and Al(3+) was present.
      On acid soils, a large rhizosheath increased shoot biomass compared with a small
      rhizosheath regardless of P supply. At low P supply, increased shoot biomass
      could be attributed to a greater uptake of soil P, but at high P supply the
      increased biomass was due to some other factor. Generation means analysis
      indicated that rhizosheath size on acid soil was controlled by multiple, additive
      loci. Subsequently, a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of an F6 population
      of recombinant inbred lines identified five major loci contributing to the
      phenotype together accounting for over 60% of the total genetic variance. One
      locus on chromosome 1D accounted for 34% of the genotypic variation. Genetic
      control of rhizosheath size appears to be relatively simple and markers based on
      the QTL provide valuable tools for marker assisted breeding.

PMID- 26873981
TI  - Superoxide Dismutase 2 Genetic Variation as a Susceptibility Risk Factor for
      Alcoholic Cirrhosis.
AB  - AIMS: Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) is an important antioxidant phase 2 enzyme.
      The associations of SOD2 genetic variation and the risk of advanced alcoholic
      liver diseases are still debatable. We aimed to investigate the association of
      the main SOD2 genetic variant (47T>C) and the susceptibility to alcoholic
      cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), 80
      patients with alcoholic non-cirrhosis (ANC), 80 with viral hepatitis B-related
      cirrhosis (VC), and 165 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled into this study. A
      polymerase chain reaction was used to genotype their SOD2 47T>C (rs4880).
      RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the frequency distribution of the
      three SOD2 47T>C genotypes among groups. However, if individuals with C variant
      were grouped together, the AC group had higher frequency of SOD2 C/C or C/T
      genotype than ANC, VC and HC groups had (38.7% vs. 21.3%, 26.3% and 21.8%,
      respectively, P = 0.010). After adjustment for confounders, the SOD2 C/C and C/T
      genotypes remained associated with the risk of AC (adjusted OR: 2.79 and 3.50,
      respectively, P < 0.03, compared with ANC and HC groups). In contrast, there was
      no significant difference of SOD2 genetic variation between VC and HC groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: Anti-oxidative enzyme SOD2 47T>C genetic variant may increase the
      susceptibility to AC. This suggests that oxidative stress plays a role in the
      development of AC.

PMID- 26873982
TI  - Prevalence and Trends in Alcohol Dependence and Alcohol Use Disorders in Japanese
      Adults; Results from Periodical Nationwide Surveys.
AB  - AIMS: Nationwide surveys to clarify the characteristics and trends of the
      drinking behavior of Japanese adults were carried out in 2003, 2008, and 2013.
      METHODS: These were periodical cross-sectional surveys. Subjects were chosen
      through a stratified two-stage random sampling method. The surveys included
      drinking frequency and amount, ICD-10 alcoholism diagnostic standards,
      questionnaire for the determination of harmful alcohol use ( AUDIT: Alcohol Use
      Disorders Identification Test). In 2003, the surveys obtained responses from 2547
      people (73% response rate); in 2008, 4123 people (55% response rate); and in
      2013, 4153 people (59% response rate). RESULTS: The proportion of lifetime
      experience of alcohol dependence diagnosed by ICD-10 was 1.9% for male and 0.2%
      for female, and the estimated number of patients was 1.07 million. The declining
      trends were observed in the percentage of daily drinkers and the amount of
      alcohol consumed per week for male. The lowering of the age for consuming their
      first alcoholic drink and their first drunken experience was observed among
      female. The gender difference of prevalence of problem drinking is getting
      smaller. The binge drinking and heavy episodic drinking were observed especially
      younger generation. The only small proportion of patients with alcohol dependence
      had received specialized medical care, whereas the many of these visited medical
      institutions and health screening. CONCLUSIONS: The survey observed many hidden
      alcoholic patients, and showed the possibility that the healthcare facilities and
      health screening became the place of screening and intervention for alcohol
      dependence.

PMID- 26873983
TI  - Moving the integration of palliative care from idea to practice.

PMID- 26873984
TI  - What are the views of hospital-based generalist palliative care professionals on
      what facilitates or hinders collaboration with in-patient specialist palliative
      care teams? A systematically constructed narrative synthesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hospital-based specialist palliative care services are common, yet
      existing evidence of inpatient generalist providers' perceptions of collaborating
      with hospital-based specialist palliative care teams has never been
      systematically assessed. AIM: To assess the existing evidence of inpatient
      generalist palliative care providers' perceptions of what facilitates or hinders
      collaboration with hospital-based specialist palliative care teams. DESIGN:
      Narrative literature synthesis with systematically constructed search. DATA
      SOURCES: PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied
      Health Literature and ProQuest Social Services databases were searched up to
      December 2014. Individual journal, citation and reference searching were also
      conducted. Papers with the views of generalist inpatient professional caregivers
      who utilised hospital-based specialist palliative care team services were
      included in the narrative synthesis. Hawker's criteria were used to assess the
      quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Studies included (n = 23) represented a
      variety of inpatient generalist palliative care professionals' experiences of
      collaborating with specialist palliative care. Effective collaboration is
      experienced by many generalist professionals. Five themes were identified as
      improving or decreasing effective collaboration: model of care (integrated vs
      linear), professional onus, expertise and trust, skill building versus deskilling
      and specialist palliative care operations. Collaboration is fostered when
      specialist palliative care teams practice proactive communication, role
      negotiation and shared problem-solving and recognise generalists' expertise.
      CONCLUSION: Fuller integration of specialist palliative care services, timely
      sharing of information and mutual respect increase generalists' perceptions of
      effective collaboration. Further research is needed regarding the experiences of
      non-physician and non-nursing professionals as their views were either not
      included or not explicitly reported.

PMID- 26873985
TI  - Expression Profiling of Macrophages Reveals Multiple Populations with Distinct
      Biological Roles in an Immunocompetent Orthotopic Model of Lung Cancer.
AB  - Macrophages represent an important component of the tumor microenvironment and
      play a complex role in cancer progression. These cells are characterized by a
      high degree of plasticity, and they alter their phenotype in response to local
      environmental cues. Whereas the M1/M2 classification of macrophages has been
      widely used, the complexity of macrophage phenotypes has not been well studied,
      particularly in lung cancer. In this study we employed an orthotopic
      immunocompetent model of lung adenocarcinoma in which murine lung cancer cells
      are directly implanted into the left lobe of syngeneic mice. Using multimarker
      flow cytometry, we defined and recovered several distinct populations of
      monocytes/macrophages from tumors at different stages of progression. We used RNA
      seq transcriptional profiling to define distinct features of each population and
      determine how they change during tumor progression. We defined an alveolar
      resident macrophage population that does not change in number and expresses
      multiple genes related to lipid metabolism and lipid signaling. We also defined a
      population of tumor-associated macrophages that increase dramatically with tumor
      and selectively expresses a panel of chemokine genes. A third population, which
      resembles tumor-associated monocytes, expresses a large number of genes involved
      in matrix remodeling. By correlating transcriptional profiles with clinically
      prognostic genes, we show that specific monocyte/macrophage populations are
      enriched in genes that predict outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma, implicating these
      subpopulations as critical determinants of patient survival. Our data underscore
      the complexity of monocytes/macrophages in the tumor microenvironment, and they
      suggest that distinct populations play specific roles in tumor progression. 

PMID- 26873986
TI  - Germinal Center T Follicular Helper Cells Are Highly Permissive to HIV-1 and
      Alter Their Phenotype during Virus Replication.
AB  - HIV-1 replication is concentrated within CD4(+) T cells in B cell follicles of
      secondary lymphoid tissues during asymptomatic disease. Limited data suggest that
      a subset of T follicular helper cells (TFH) within germinal centers (GC) is
      highly permissive to HIV-1. Whether GC TFH are the major HIV-1 virus-producing
      cells in vivo has not been established. In this study, we investigated TFH
      permissivity to HIV-1 ex vivo by spinoculating and culturing tonsil cells with
      HIV-1 GFP reporter viruses. Using flow cytometry, higher percentages of GC TFH
      (CXCR5(high)PD-1(high)) and CXCR5(+)programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)(low) cells
      were GFP(+) than non-GC TFH (CXCR5(+)PD-1(intermediate)) or extrafollicular (EF)
      (CXCR5(-)) cells. When sorted prior to spinoculation, however, GC TFH were
      substantially more permissive than CXCR5(+)PD-1(low) or EF cells, suggesting that
      many GC TFH transition to a CXCR5(+)PD-1(low) phenotype during productive
      infection. In situ hybridization on inguinal lymph node sections from untreated
      HIV-1-infected individuals without AIDS revealed higher frequencies of HIV-1
      RNA(+) cells in GC than non-GC regions of follicle or EF regions. Superinfection
      of HIV-1-infected individuals' lymph node cells with GFP reporter virus confirmed
      the permissivity of follicular cells ex vivo. Lymph node immunostaining revealed
      96% of CXCR5(+)CD4(+) cells were located in follicles. Within sorted lymph node
      cells from four HIV-infected individuals, CXCR5(+) subsets harbored 11-66-fold
      more HIV-1 RNA than CXCR5(-) subsets, as determined by RT PCR. Thus, GC TFH are
      highly permissive to HIV-1, but downregulate PD-1 and, to a lesser extent, CXCR5
      during HIV-1 replication. These data further implicate GC TFH as the major HIV-1
      producing cells in chronic asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. 

PMID- 26873988
TI  - FVB/N Mice Spontaneously Heal Ulcerative Lesions Induced by Mycobacterium
      ulcerans and Switch M. ulcerans into a Low Mycolactone Producer.
AB  - Buruli ulcer, a debilitating disease, is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The
      incidence of this neglected tropical disease is steadily increasing. As a rule,
      without treatment, skin ulcers occur and a lengthy healing process may be
      observed associated with severe functional disabilities. Mouse models are already
      available to study establishment of lesions or evaluation of therapy but a lack
      of a suitable animal model, mimicking all clinical stages, in particular the
      healing process, remains an obstacle to understand the pathophysiology of M.
      ulcerans infection. M. ulcerans was s.c. inoculated in three consanguine mouse
      strains, that is, BALB/c and C57BL/6, classically used to study mycobacterial
      infection, and FVB/N. Strikingly, FVB/N mice, although as sensitive as all other
      mouse strains with respect to M. ulcerans infection, presented a spontaneous
      healing after the ulcerative phase despite stable bacterial load, and mycolactone
      toxin was not detected in the healed tissues. The spontaneous healing process was
      accompanied by an activation of the innate immune system. The adaptive response
      initiated by FVB/N mice was not involved in the healing process and did not
      confer protection against M. ulcerans. Our work highlights the importance of
      innate immune responses to control M. ulcerans infection. This in vivo model of
      M. ulcerans infection now paves the way for new avenues of research toward the
      elucidation of critical stages of this disease, such as the characterization of
      the regulation of mycolactone production, a better understanding of the
      pathophysiology of M. ulcerans infection, and the development of new therapeutic
      strategies. 

PMID- 26873987
TI  - Rapid Evolution of the CD8+ TCR Repertoire in Neonatal Mice.
AB  - Currently, there is little consensus regarding the most appropriate animal model
      to study acute infection and the virus-specific CD8(+) T cell (CTL) responses in
      neonates. TCRbeta high-throughput sequencing in naive CTL of differently aged
      neonatal mice was performed, which demonstrated differential Vbeta family gene
      usage. Using an acute influenza infection model, we examined the TCR repertoire
      of the CTL response in neonatal and adult mice infected with influenza type A
      virus. Three-day-old mice mounted a greatly reduced primary NP(366-374)-specific
      CTL response when compared with 7-d-old and adult mice, whereas secondary CTL
      responses were normal. Analysis of NP(366-374)-specific CTL TCR repertoire
      revealed different Vbeta gene usage and greatly reduced public clonotypes in 3-d
      old neonates. This could underlie the impaired CTL response in these neonates. To
      directly test this, we examined whether controlling the TCR would restore
      neonatal CTL responses. We performed adoptive transfers of both nontransgenic and
      TCR-transgenic OVA(257-264)-specific (OT-I) CD8(+) T cells into influenza
      infected hosts, which revealed that naive neonatal and adult OT-I cells expand
      equally well in neonatal and adult hosts. In contrast, nontransgenic neonatal
      CD8(+) T cells when transferred into adults failed to expand. We further
      demonstrate that differences in TCR avidity may contribute to decreased expansion
      of the endogenous neonatal CTL. These studies highlight the rapid evolution of
      the neonatal TCR repertoire during the first week of life and show that impaired
      neonatal CTL immunity results from an immature TCR repertoire, rather than
      intrinsic signaling defects or a suppressive environment. 

PMID- 26873989
TI  - Cutting Edge: Enhanced Clonal Burst Size Corrects an Otherwise Defective Memory
      Response by CD8+ Recent Thymic Emigrants.
AB  - The youngest peripheral T cells (recent thymic emigrants [RTEs]) are functionally
      distinct from naive T cells that have completed postthymic maturation. We
      assessed the RTE memory response and found that RTEs produced less granzyme B
      than their mature counterparts during infection but proliferated more and,
      therefore, generated equivalent target killing in vivo. Postinfection, RTE
      numbers contracted less dramatically than those of mature T cells, but RTEs were
      delayed in their transition to central memory, displaying impaired expression of
      CD62L, IL-2, Eomesodermin, and CXCR4, which resulted in impaired bone marrow
      localization. RTE-derived and mature memory cells expanded equivalently during
      rechallenge, indicating that the robust proliferative capacity of RTEs was
      maintained independently of central memory phenotype. Thus, the diminished
      effector function and delayed central memory differentiation of RTE-derived
      memory cells are counterbalanced by their increased proliferative capacity,
      driving the efficacy of the RTE response to that of mature T cells. 

PMID- 26873990
TI  - Simulated Night Shift Disrupts Circadian Rhythms of Immune Functions in Humans.
AB  - Recent research unveiled a circadian regulation of the immune system in rodents,
      yet little is known about rhythms of immune functions in humans and how they are
      affected by circadian disruption. In this study, we assessed rhythms of cytokine
      secretion by immune cells and tested their response to simulated night shifts.
      PBMCs were collected from nine participants kept in constant posture over 24 h
      under a day-oriented schedule (baseline) and after 3 d under a night-oriented
      schedule. Monocytes and T lymphocytes were stimulated with LPS and PHA,
      respectively. At baseline, a bimodal rhythmic secretion was detected for IL
      1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha: a night peak was primarily due to a higher
      responsiveness of monocytes, and a day peak was partly due to a higher proportion
      of monocytes. A rhythmic release was also observed for IL-2 and IFN-gamma, with a
      nighttime peak due to a higher cell count and responsiveness of T lymphocytes.
      Following night shifts, with the exception of IL-2, cytokine secretion was still
      rhythmic but with peak levels phase advanced by 4.5-6 h, whereas the rhythm in
      monocyte and T lymphocyte numbers was not shifted. This suggests distinct
      mechanisms of regulation between responsiveness to stimuli and cell numbers of
      the human immune system. Under a night-oriented schedule, only cytokine release
      was partly shifted in response to the change in the sleep-wake cycle. This led to
      a desynchronization of rhythmic immune parameters, which might contribute to the
      increased risk for infection, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic
      disorders, and cancer reported in shift workers. 

PMID- 26873991
TI  - Cutting Edge: Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces Aerobic Glycolysis in Human
      Alveolar Macrophages That Is Required for Control of Intracellular Bacillary
      Replication.
AB  - Recent advances in immunometabolism link metabolic changes in stimulated
      macrophages to production of IL-1beta, a crucial cytokine in the innate immune
      response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To investigate this pathway in the host
      response to M. tuberculosis, we performed metabolic and functional studies on
      human alveolar macrophages, human monocyte-derived macrophages, and murine bone
      marrow-derived macrophages following infection with the bacillus in vitro. M.
      tuberculosis infection induced a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic
      glycolysis in macrophages. Inhibition of this shift resulted in decreased levels
      of proinflammatory IL-1beta and decreased transcription of PTGS2, increased
      levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10, and increased intracellular bacillary
      survival. Blockade or absence of IL-1R negated the impact of aerobic glycolysis
      on intracellular bacillary survival, demonstrating that infection-induced
      glycolysis limits M. tuberculosis survival in macrophages through induction of IL
      1beta. Drugs that manipulate host metabolism may be exploited as adjuvants for
      future therapeutic and vaccination strategies. 

PMID- 26873993
TI  - Streptococci Engage TLR13 on Myeloid Cells in a Site-Specific Fashion.
AB  - Streptococci are common human colonizers with a species-specific mucocutaneous
      distribution. At the same time, they are among the most important and most
      virulent invasive bacterial pathogens. Thus, site-specific cellular innate
      immunity, which is predominantly executed by resident and invading myeloid cells,
      has to be adapted with respect to streptococcal sensing, handling, and response.
      In this article, we show that TLR13 is the critical mouse macrophage (MPhi)
      receptor in the response to group B Streptococcus, both in bone marrow-derived
      MPhis and in mature tissue MPhis, such as those residing in the lamina propria of
      the colon and the dermis, as well as in microglia. In contrast, TLR13 and its
      chaperone UNC-93B are dispensable for a potent cytokine response of blood
      monocytes to group B Streptococcus, although monocytes serve as the key
      progenitors of intestinal and dermal MPhis. Furthermore, a specific role for
      TLR13 with respect to MPhi function is supported by the response to
      staphylococci, where TLR13 and UNC-93B limit the cytokine response in bone marrow
      derived MPhis and microglia, but not in dermal MPhis. In summary, TLR13 is a
      critical and site-specific receptor in the single MPhi response to beta-hemolytic
      streptococci. 

PMID- 26873992
TI  - Cathelicidins Have Direct Antiviral Activity against Respiratory Syncytial Virus
      In Vitro and Protective Function In Vivo in Mice and Humans.
AB  - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory tract
      infection in infants, causing significant morbidity and mortality. No vaccine or
      specific, effective treatment is currently available. A more complete
      understanding of the key components of effective host response to RSV and novel
      preventative and therapeutic interventions are urgently required. Cathelicidins
      are host defense peptides, expressed in the inflamed lung, with key microbicidal
      and modulatory roles in innate host defense against infection. In this article,
      we demonstrate that the human cathelicidin LL-37 mediates an antiviral effect on
      RSV by inducing direct damage to the viral envelope, disrupting viral particles
      and decreasing virus binding to, and infection of, human epithelial cells in
      vitro. In addition, exogenously applied LL-37 is protective against RSV-mediated
      disease in vivo, in a murine model of pulmonary RSV infection, demonstrating
      maximal efficacy when applied concomitantly with virus. Furthermore, endogenous
      murine cathelicidin, induced by infection, has a fundamental role in protection
      against disease in vivo postinfection with RSV. Finally, higher nasal levels of
      LL-37 are associated with protection in a healthy human adult RSV infection
      model. These data lead us to propose that cathelicidins are a key, nonredundant
      component of host defense against pulmonary infection with RSV, functioning as a
      first point of contact antiviral shield and having additional later-phase roles
      in minimizing the severity of disease outcome. Consequently, cathelicidins
      represent an inducible target for preventative strategies against RSV infection
      and may inform the design of novel therapeutic analogs for use in established
      infection. 

PMID- 26873994
TI  - Metabolic Reprogramming Supports IFN-gamma Production by CD56bright NK Cells.
AB  - Human NK cells can be classified into phenotypically and functionally distinct
      subsets based on levels of CD56 receptor. CD56(dim) cells are generally
      considered more cytotoxic, whereas the CD56(bright) cells are potent producers of
      IFN-gamma. In this study, we define the metabolic changes that occur in
      peripheral blood NK cells in response to cytokine. Metabolic analysis showed that
      NK cells upregulate glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in response to
      either IL-2 or IL-12/15 cytokine combinations. Despite the fact that both these
      cytokine combinations robustly upregulated mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex
      1 in human NK cells, only the IL-2-induced metabolic changes were sensitive to
      mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 inhibition by rapamycin. Interestingly,
      we found that CD56(bright) cells were more metabolically active compared with
      CD56(dim) cells. They preferentially upregulated nutrient receptors and also
      differed substantially in terms of their glucose metabolism. CD56(bright) cells
      expressed high levels of the glucose uptake receptor, Glut1 (in the absence of
      any cytokine), and had higher rates of glucose uptake compared with CD56(dim)
      cells. Elevated levels of oxidative phosphorylation were required to support both
      cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production in all NK cells. Finally, although elevated
      glycolysis was not required directly for NK cell degranulation, limiting the rate
      of glycolysis significantly impaired IFN-gamma production by the CD56(bright)
      subset of cells. Overall, we have defined CD56(bright) NK cells to be more
      metabolically active than CD56(dim) cells, which supports their production of
      large amounts of IFN-gamma during an immune response. 

PMID- 26873995
TI  - Vaccine Targeting of Subdominant CD8+ T Cell Epitopes Increases the Breadth of
      the T Cell Response upon Viral Challenge, but May Impair Immediate Virus Control.
AB  - As a result of the difficulties in making efficient vaccines against genetically
      unstable viruses such as HIV, it has been suggested that future vaccines should
      preferentially target subdominant epitopes, the idea being that this should allow
      a greater breadth of the induced T cell response and, hence, a greater efficiency
      in controlling escape variants. However, to our knowledge the evidence supporting
      this concept is limited at best. To improve upon this, we used the murine
      lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus model and adenoviral vectors to compare a
      vaccine expressing unmodified Ag to a vaccine expressing the same Ag without its
      immunodominant epitope. We found that removal of the dominant epitope allowed the
      induction of CD8(+) T cell responses targeting at least two otherwise subdominant
      epitopes. Importantly, the overall magnitude of the induced T cell responses was
      similar, allowing us to directly compare the efficiency of these vaccines. Doing
      this, we observed that mice vaccinated with the vaccine expressing unmodified Ag
      more efficiently controlled an acute viral challenge. In the course of a more
      chronic viral infection, mice vaccinated using the vaccine targeting subdominant
      epitopes caught up with the conventionally vaccinated mice, and analysis of the
      breadth of the CD8(+) T cell response revealed that this was notably greater in
      the former mice. However, under the conditions of our studies, we never saw any
      functional advantage of this. This may represent a limitation of our model, but
      clearly our findings underscore the importance of carefully weighing the pros and
      cons of changes in epitope targeting before any implementation. 

PMID- 26873996
TI  - From a Death Sentence to a Disrupted Life: Palestinian Women's Experiences and
      Coping With Breast Cancer.
AB  - This study explores women's experiences of breast cancer in the occupied
      Palestinian territory. We use an inductive qualitative design with a thematic
      analytical approach for conducting and analyzing 35 semi-structured interviews
      with breast cancer patients. The interviews focused on diagnosis, experiences and
      coping with breast cancer, social support and care needs, and the impact of
      illness on their families and social relationships. Three themes emerged: (a) the
      transition from initial shock to the daily struggles with disruptions caused by
      illness, (b) the role of social support in helping women cope with the burden of
      disease, and the importance of (c) faith and reliance on God (tawakkul). In the
      Palestinian context, women's narratives highlighted the disruptive nature of
      breast cancer. Our findings underline the importance of social support provided
      by extended family members. Finally, faith is an important overarching theme that
      influences how women make sense of and cope with breast cancer.

PMID- 26873997
TI  - Holistic Experiences and Strategies for Conducting Research With Couples.
AB  - In this article, we outline methodological considerations for conducting research
      interviews with couples. We draw from two qualitative men's health studies, both
      developed to explore social interactions between men and their partners of either
      sex in relation to their health practices. We utilized a combination of separate
      interviews and joint couple interviews. From these studies, we offer insight into
      our experiences of using both types of interview styles, addressing four key
      areas which span elements across the research project journey: (a) choosing a
      mode of interview, (b) ethical concerns in couple research,

PMID- 26873998
TI  - Living Well With a Long-Term Condition: Service Users' Perspectives of a Self
      Management Intervention.
AB  - The outcomes of self-management interventions are commonly assessed using
      quantitative measurement tools, and few studies ask people with long-term
      conditions to explain, in their own words, what aspects of the intervention they
      valued. In this Grounded Theory study, a Health Trainers service in the north of
      England was evaluated based on interviews with eight service-users. Open,
      focused, and theoretical coding led to the development of a preliminary model
      explaining participants' experiences and perceived impact of the service. The
      model reflects the findings that living well with a long-term condition
      encompassed social connectedness, changed identities, acceptance, and self-care.
      Health trainers performed four related roles that were perceived to contribute to
      these outcomes: conceptualizer, connector, coach, and champion. The evaluation
      contributes a grounded theoretical understanding of a personalized self
      management intervention that emphasizes the benefits of a holistic approach to
      enable cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social adjustments.

PMID- 26873999
TI  - AG and UAG induce beta-casein expression via activation of ERK1/2 and AKT
      pathways.
AB  - The ghrelin peptides were found to circulate in two major forms: acylated ghrelin
      (AG) and unacylated ghrelin (UAG). Previous studies showed that AG regulates beta
      casein (CSN2) expression in mammary epithelial cells. However, little is known
      about the mechanisms by which AG regulates CSN2 gene and protein expression.
      Evidence suggests that UAG has biological activity through GHSR1a-independent
      mechanisms. Here, we investigated the possible GHSR1a-mediated effect of UAG on
      the expression of CSN2 in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pbMECs)
      isolated from lactating cow. We found that both AG and UAG increase the
      expression of CSN2 in a dose-dependent manner in pbMECs in comparison with the
      control group. Increased expression of CSN2 was blocked by [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (an
      antagonist of the GHSR1a) and NF449 (a Gs-alpha subunit inhibitor) in pbMECs. In
      addition, both AG and UAG activated AKT/protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular
      signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways, whereas [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 and NF449
      inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 in pbMECs respectively. Blockade
      of ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways prevented the expression of CSN2 induced by
      AG or UAG. Finally, we found that both AG and UAG cause cell proliferation
      through identical signaling pathways. Taken together, these results demonstrate
      that both AG and UAG act on ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways to facilitate the
      expression of CSN2 in a GHSR1a-dependent manner.

PMID- 26874000
TI  - KLF6 cooperates with NUR77 and SF1 to activate the human INSL3 promoter in mouse
      MA-10 leydig cells.
AB  - Insulin-like 3 (INSL3), a Leydig cell-specific hormone, is essential for testis
      descent during foetal life and bone metabolism in adults. Despite its essential
      roles in male reproductive and bone health, very little is known regarding its
      transcriptional regulation in Leydig cells. To date, few transcription factors
      have been shown to activate INSL3 promoter activity: the nuclear receptors AR,
      NUR77, COUP-TFII and SF1. To identify additional regulators, we have isolated and
      performed a detailed analysis of a 1.1 kb human INSL3 promoter fragment. Through
      5' progressive deletions and site-directed mutagenesis, we have mapped a 10 bp
      element responsible for about 80% of INSL3 promoter activity in Leydig cells.
      This element is identical to the CPE element of the placental-specific
      glycoprotein-5 (PSG5) promoter that is recognized by the developmental regulator
      Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6). Using PCR and western blotting, we found that KLF6
      is expressed in several Leydig and Sertoli cell lines. Furthermore,
      immunohistochemistry on adult mouse testis revealed the presence of KLF6 in the
      nuclei of both Leydig and Sertoli cells. KLF6 binds to the 10 bp KLF element at 
      108 bp and activates the -1.1 kb human, but not the mouse, INSL3 promoter. KLF6
      mediated activation of the human INSL3 promoter required an intact KLF element as
      well as Leydig/Sertoli-enriched factors because KLF6 did not stimulate the human
      INSL3 promoter activity in CV-1 fibroblast cells. Consistent with this, we found
      that KLF6 transcriptionally cooperates with NUR77 and SF1. Collectively, our
      results identify KLF6 as a regulator of human INSL3 transcription.

PMID- 26874001
TI  - eComment. The importance of choosing a proper predictor variable selection method
      in logistic regression analyses.

PMID- 26874002
TI  - eComment. Spontaneous conversion from atrial fibrillation to typical atrial
      flutter during the operation.

PMID- 26874003
TI  - eComment. What is the best perfusion strategy for minimally invasive mitral valve
      surgery in octogenarians?

PMID- 26874004
TI  - eComment. Creative solutions in order to treat sternal wound complications in
      cardiac surgery.

PMID- 26874005
TI  - eComment. Lung size mismatch and graft dysfunction immediately after reperfusion.

PMID- 26874006
TI  - eComment. An unusual cause of aortic mural thrombus in non-atherosclerotic
      vessel.

PMID- 26874007
TI  - eComment. Mural thrombus in normal appearing aorta: Unfinished saga in uncharted
      waters.

PMID- 26874009
TI  - Commentary: Post-GWAS era: What can we do beyond cancer genetic association
      studies?

PMID- 26874010
TI  - Cohort study for evaluation of dose omission without justification in a teaching
      general hospital in Bahia, Brazil.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of medication errors due to dose omissions
      and the reasons for non-administration of medications. DESIGN: A cohort study
      blinded to the nursing staff was conducted for 5 consecutive days to evaluate
      administration of prescribed medications to selected inpatients. SETTING: A major
      academic teaching hospital in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Dispensed doses to patients
      in medical and surgical wards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Doses returned to pharmacy
      were evaluated to identify the rate of dose omission without a justification for
      omission. RESULTS: Information was collected from 117 patients in 11 wards and
      1119 doses of prescribed medications were monitored. Overall, 238/1119 (21%)
      dispensed doses were not administered to the patients. Among these 238 doses, 138
      (58%) had no justification for not being administered. Failure in the
      administration of at least 1 dose occurred for 58/117 (49.6%) patients. Surgical
      wards had significantly more missed doses than that in medical wards (P = 0.048).
      The daily presence of a pharmacist in the wards was significantly correlated with
      lower frequency of omission errors (P = 0.019). Nervous system medications were
      missed more significantly than other medications (P < 0.001). No difference was
      noted in the omission doses in terms of route of administration. CONCLUSIONS:
      High incidence of omission errors occurs in our institution. Factors such as the
      deficit of nursing staff and clinical pharmacists and a weak medication
      dispensing system, probably contributed to incidence detected. Blinding nursing
      staff was essential to improve the sensibility of the method for detecting
      omission errors.

PMID- 26874012
TI  - Enhancement of the safety of live influenza vaccine by attenuating mutations from
      cold-adapted hemagglutinin.
AB  - In our previous study, X-31ca-based H5N1 LAIVs, in particular, became more
      virulent in mice than the X-31ca MDV, possibly by the introduction of the surface
      antigens of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus, implying that additional
      attenuation is needed in this cases to increase the safety level of the vaccine.
      In this report we suggest an approach to further increase the safety of LAIV
      through additional cold-adapted mutations in the hemagglutinin. The cold
      adaptation of X-31 virus resulted in four amino acid mutations in the HA. We
      generated a panel of 7:1 reassortant viruses each carrying the hemagglutinins
      with individual single amino acid mutations. We examined their phenotypes and
      found a major attenuating mutation, N81K. This attenuation marker conferred
      additional temperature-sensitive and attenuation phenotype to the LAIV. Our data
      indicate that the cold-adapted mutation in the HA confers additional attenuation
      to the LAIV strain, without compromising its productivity and immune response. 

PMID- 26874013
TI  - Simultaneous visualization of two Citrus tristeza virus genotypes provides new
      insights into the structure of multi-component virus populations in a host.
AB  - Complex Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) populations composed of mixtures of different
      strains of the virus are commonly found in citrus trees in the field. At present,
      little is known about how these populations are formed, maintained, and how they
      are structured within a host. Here we used a novel in situ hybridization approach
      allowing simultaneous visualization of two different RNA targets with high
      sensitivity and specificity to examine the distribution of two isolates, T36 and
      T68-1, representing phylogenetically distinct strains of CTV, in a citrus host in
      single and mixed infections. Remarkably, in doubly inoculated plants the two
      virus variants appeared to be well mixed within the infected tissue and showed no
      spatial segregation. In addition, both CTV variants were often found occupying
      the same cells. Possible mechanisms involved in shaping CTV populations and the
      biological significance of the observed lack of structural separation of the
      individual components are discussed. 

PMID- 26874011
TI  - Sf3b4-depleted Xenopus embryos: A model to study the pathogenesis of craniofacial
      defects in Nager syndrome.
AB  - Mandibulofacial dysostosis (MFD) is a human developmental disorder characterized
      by defects of the facial bones. It is the second most frequent craniofacial
      malformation after cleft lip and palate. Nager syndrome combines many features of
      MFD with a variety of limb defects. Mutations in SF3B4 (splicing factor 3b,
      subunit 4) gene, which encodes a component of the pre-mRNA spliceosomal complex,
      were recently identified as a cause of Nager syndrome, accounting for 60% of
      affected individuals. Nothing is known about the cellular pathogenesis underlying
      Nager type MFD. Here we describe the first animal model for Nager syndrome,
      generated by knocking down Sf3b4 function in Xenopus laevis embryos, using
      morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. Our results indicate that Sf3b4-depleted
      embryos show reduced expression of the neural crest genes sox10, snail2 and twist
      at the neural plate border, associated with a broadening of the neural plate.
      This phenotype can be rescued by injection of wild-type human SF3B4 mRNA but not
      by mRNAs carrying mutations that cause Nager syndrome. At the tailbud stage,
      morphant embryos had decreased sox10 and tfap2a expression in the pharyngeal
      arches, indicative of a reduced number of neural crest cells. Later in
      development, Sf3b4-depleted tadpoles exhibited hypoplasia of neural crest-derived
      craniofacial cartilages, phenocopying aspects of the craniofacial skeletal
      defects seen in Nager syndrome patients. With this animal model we are now poised
      to gain important insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of Nager type MFD,
      and to identify the molecular targets of Sf3b4.

PMID- 26874014
TI  - The aetiology of wobbly possum disease: Reproduction of the disease with purified
      nidovirus.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate a role of a recently discovered
      marsupial nidovirus in the development of a neurological disease, termed wobbly
      possum disease (WPD), in the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
      Four possums received 1 mL of a standard inoculum that had been prepared from
      tissues of WPD-affected possums, 4 possums received 1.8 mL (1 * 10(6) TCID50) of
      a cell lysate from inoculated cultures, and 4 possums received 1 mL (* 10(7)
      TCID50) of a purified WPD isolate. All but one possum that received infectious
      inocula developed neurological disease and histopathological lesions
      characteristic for WPD. High levels of viral RNA were detected in livers from all
      possums that received infectious inocula, but not from control possums.
      Altogether, our data provide strong experimental evidence for the causative
      involvement of WPD virus in development of a neurological disease in infected
      animals.

PMID- 26874015
TI  - Phosphorylation of NS5A Serine-235 is essential to hepatitis C virus RNA
      replication and normal replication compartment formation.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein is essential for HCV RNA replication and
      virus assembly. Here we report the identification of NS5A phosphorylation sites
      Ser-222, Ser-235 and Thr-348 during an infectious HCV replication cycle and
      demonstrate that Ser-235 phosphorylation is essential for HCV RNA replication.
      Confocal microscopy revealed that both phosphoablatant (S235A) and phosphomimetic
      (S235D) mutants redistribute NS5A to large juxta-nuclear foci that display
      altered colocalization with known replication complex components. Using electron
      microscopy (EM) we found that S235D alters virus-induced membrane rearrangements
      while EM using 'APEX2'-tagged viruses demonstrated S235D-mediated enrichment of
      NS5A in irregular membranous foci. Finally, using a customized siRNA screen of
      candidate NS5A kinases and subsequent analysis using a phospho-specific antibody,
      we show that phosphatidylinositol-4 kinase III alpha (PI4KIIIalpha) is important
      for Ser-235 phosphorylation. We conclude that Ser-235 phosphorylation of NS5A is
      essential for HCV RNA replication and normal replication complex formation and is
      regulated by PI4KIIIalpha. 

PMID- 26874016
TI  - The microviridae: Diversity, assembly, and experimental evolution.
AB  - The Microviridae, comprised of ssDNA, icosahedral bacteriophages, are a model
      system for studying morphogenesis and the evolution of assembly. Historically
      limited to the phiX174-like viruses, recent results demonstrate that this richly
      diverse family is broadly divided into two groups. The defining feature appears
      to be whether one or two scaffolding proteins are required for assembly. The
      single-scaffolding systems contain an internal scaffolding protein, similar to
      many dsDNA viruses, and have a more complex coat protein fold. The two
      scaffolding protein systems (phiX174-like) encode an internal and external
      species, as well as an additional structural protein: a spike on the icosahedral
      vertices. Here, we discuss recent in silico and in vivo evolutionary analyses
      conducted with chimeric viruses and/or chimeric proteins. The results suggest 1)
      how double scaffolding systems can evolve into single and triple scaffolding
      systems; and 2) how assembly is the critical factor governing adaptation and the
      maintenance of species boundaries. 

PMID- 26874017
TI  - Genomic analyses reveal that partial sequence of an earlier pseudorabies virus in
      China is originated from a Bartha-vaccine-like strain.
AB  - Pseudorabies virus (PRV), the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, has gained
      increased attention in China in recent years as a result of the outbreak of
      emergent pseudorabies. Several genomic and partial sequences are available for
      Chinese emergent and European-American strains of PRV, but limited sequence data
      exist for the earlier Chinese strains. In this study, we determined the complete
      genomic sequence of one earlier Chinese strain SC and one emergent strain HLJ8.
      Compared with other known sequences, we demonstrated that PRV strains from
      distinct geographical regions displayed divergent evolution. Additionally, we
      report for the first time, a recombination event between PRV strains, and show
      that strain SC is a recombinant of an endemic Chinese strain and a Bartha-vaccine
      like strain. These results contribute to our understanding of PRV evolution.

PMID- 26874018
TI  - Immediate Versus Delayed Treatment of Mandibular Fractures: A Stratified Analysis
      of Complications.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze the rate of complication outcomes of mandibular fracture
      repairs across different injury-to-repair time spans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We
      conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with repaired mandibular
      fractures. The independent variable was the time span from injury to surgical
      repair. The primary outcome variable was the rate of complications measured
      postoperatively during the follow-up appointments. Other variables were grouped
      for performance of a stratified analysis: favorability of the fracture, patient
      compliance, substance abuse, and fracture location. Descriptive and bivariate
      statistics were computed. RESULTS: The final sample was composed of 505 patients,
      and the time span from injury to repair ranged from 0 to 90 days. The total
      number of patients from the sample with reported complications was 124. There was
      no statistical significance correlating the time spans and complication rates (P
      = .796). The variables for the stratified analysis also showed no significant
      correlations except for fracture location. Body fractures resulted in the highest
      rate of complications (33%; P = .041). Of the noncompliant patients (n = 144),
      28.5% presented with complications (P = .352). No significance was seen in
      unfavorable fractures (n = 283), with a rate of complications of 28.6%. No
      significance could be correlated with substance abuse (n = 107, 29.9% with
      complications; P = .262). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that
      although time from injury to repair does not affect the rate of complications,
      the global standard of care for the management of non-emergent mandibular
      fractures should consider the cost-effectiveness of delaying treatment while
      exercising a reasonable length of delay for the comfort of the patient.

PMID- 26874019
TI  - Sensitive analysis of alpha-synuclein by nonlinear laser wave mixing coupled with
      capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - Multi-photon nonlinear laser wave-mixing spectroscopy is a novel absorption-based
      technique that offers excellent detection sensitivity for biomedical
      applications, including early diagnosis and investigation of neurodegenerative
      diseases. alpha-Synuclein is linked to Parkinson's disease (PD), and
      characterization of its oligomers and quantification of the protein may
      contribute to understanding PD. The laser wave-mixing signal has a quadratic
      dependence on analyte concentration, and hence the technique is effective in
      monitoring small changes in concentration within biofluids. A wide variety of
      labels can be employed for laser wave-mixing detection due to its ability to
      detect both chromophores and fluorophores. In this investigation, two
      fluorophores and a chromophore are studied and used as labels for the detection
      of alpha-synuclein. Wave-mixing detection limits of PD-related protein conjugated
      with fluorescein isothiocyanate, QSY 35 acetic acid, succinimidyl ester, and
      Chromeo P503 were determined to be 1.4 * 10(-13) M, 1.4 * 10(-10) M, and 1.9 *
      10(-13) M, respectively. Based on the laser probe volume used, the corresponding
      mass detection limits were determined to be 1.1 * 10(-23) mol, 1.1 * 10(-20) mol,
      and 1.5 * 10(-23) mol. This study also presents molecular-based separation and
      quantification of alpha-synuclein by laser wave mixing coupled with capillary
      electrophoresis. 

PMID- 26874020
TI  - Protocol for miRNA isolation from biofluids.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as promising biomarkers in cancer and
      other diseases. Packaging of miRNAs into vesicles and complexes with proteins
      ensures their stability in biological fluids but also complicates their
      isolation. Conventional protocols used to isolate cell-free RNA are generally
      successful in overcoming these difficulties; however, they are costly, labor
      intensive, or heavily reliant on the use of hazardous chemicals. Here we describe
      a protocol that is suitable for isolating miRNAs from biofluids, including blood
      plasma and urine. The protocol is based on precipitation of proteins,
      denaturation of miRNA-containing complexes with octanoic acid and guanidine
      isothiocyanate, and subsequent purification of miRNA on spin columns. The
      efficacy of miRNA extraction by phenol-chloroform extraction, miRCURY RNA
      isolation kit--biofluids (Exiqon), and the proposed protocol was compared by
      quantitative reverse-transcription PCR of miR-16 and miR-126. The proposed
      protocol was slightly more effective for isolating miRNA from plasma and
      significantly superior to the other two methods for miRNA isolation from urine.
      Spectrophotometry and SDS-PAGE data suggest that the disparity in performance
      between miRCURY Biofluids and the proposed protocol can be attributed to
      differences in precipitation mechanisms, as confirmed by the retention of
      different proteins in the supernatant.

PMID- 26874022
TI  - Letter to Editor, International Journal of Pharmaceutics.

PMID- 26874023
TI  - Response to letter to editor.

PMID- 26874021
TI  - Development of a RapidFire mass spectrometry assay and a fluorescence assay for
      the discovery of kynurenine aminotransferase II inhibitors to treat central
      nervous system disorders.
AB  - Kynurenine aminotransferases convert kynurenine to kynurenic acid and play an
      important role in the tryptophan degradation pathway. Kynurenic acid levels in
      brain have been hypothesized to be linked to a number of central nervous system
      (CNS) disorders. Kynurenine aminotransferase II (KATII) has proven to be a key
      modulator of kynurenic acid levels in brain and, thus, is an attractive target to
      treat CNS diseases. A sensitive, high-throughput, label-free RapidFire mass
      spectrometry assay has been developed for human KATII. Unlike other assays, this
      method is directly applicable to KATII enzymes from different animal species,
      which allows us to select proper animal model(s) to evaluate human KATII
      inhibitors. We also established a coupled fluorescence assay for human KATII. The
      short assay time and kinetic capability of the fluorescence assay provide a
      useful tool for orthogonal inhibitor validation and mechanistic studies. 

PMID- 26874024
TI  - Effects of occlusal disharmony on the hippocampal dentate gyrus in aged
      senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8).
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Malocclusion induced by raising the bite causes chronic
      stress. Chronic stress leads to increased plasma corticosterone levels and
      impaired hippocampal function due to impaired neurogenesis or increased apoptosis
      in the hippocampus. The present study aimed to clarify the mechanisms underlying
      the impaired hippocampal function induced by the bite-raised condition in aged
      senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8). DESIGN: Nine-month-old aged SAMP8
      mice were randomly divided into control and bite-raised groups. The vertical
      dimension of the bite was raised by applying resin to the molars. We evaluated
      newborn cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, and apoptosis in the
      hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor
      (BDNF) levels were also measured. RESULTS: The bite-raised mice exhibited a
      significant decrease in proliferation, survival, and differentiation of newborn
      cells into neurons in the hippocampal DG compared with controls. The number of
      apoptotic cells in the hippocampal DG was increased at 7 and 14 days after the
      bite-raising procedure. Expression of BDNF protein and mRNA in the hippocampus
      was also decreased in the bite-raised mice. CONCLUSION: Bite-raised aged SAMP8
      mice exhibited decreased neurogenesis, increased apoptosis in the hippocampal DG,
      and decreased hippocampal BDNF expression, in association with hippocampus
      dependent learning and memory deficits.

PMID- 26874025
TI  - "Angiotensin II memory" contributes to the development of hypertension and
      vascular injury via activation of NADPH oxidase.
AB  - AIMS: Activation of the rennin-angiotensin system plays a critical role in the
      development of hypertension and its complication. Our previous study has
      demonstrated that a cellular "memory" is involved in angiotensin II (Ang II)
      induced cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect
      of reversal of high Ang II to normal condition on hypertension and vascular
      damage. MAIN METHODS: Wild-type male mice were randomly divided into five groups.
      The vascular function, inflammation, oxidative stress and angiogenesis were
      examined by aortic ring relaxation studies, histological analysis, real-time PCR
      and Western blot analysis. KEY FINDINGS: We found that continuous high Ang II
      infusion for 3weeks (Ang II 3w) significantly elevated blood pressure, increased
      aortic wall thickness, collagen deposition, inflammation, oxidative stress,
      vascular function and activation of p38 MAPK, JNK1/2, STAT3 and NF-kappaB
      pathways in mouse aorta compared with saline group. High Ang II exposure for
      2weeks followed by saline for 1week (Ang II 2+1w) failed to reverse these
      alterations. This phenomenon was named "metabolic memory" (or persistent effect).
      However, addition of NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin during saline infusion (Ang
      II 2+1w+Apo) markedly ameliorated such deleterious effects. SIGNIFICANCE: These
      results showed that we report the first that persistent effect or "metabolic
      memory" of angiotensin II through NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress plays
      important roles in hypertension and vascular injury.

PMID- 26874026
TI  - Suckling-induced Fos activation and melanin-concentrating hormone
      immunoreactivity during late lactation.
AB  - AIMS: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is implicated in the control of food
      intake, body weight regulation and energy homeostasis. Lactation is an important
      physiological model to study the hypothalamic integration of peripheral sensory
      signals, such as suckling stimuli and those related to energy balance. MCH can be
      detected in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), especially around the 19th day of
      lactation, when this hormone is described as displaying a peak synthesis followed
      by a decrease after weaning. The physiological significance of this phenomenon is
      unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate hypothalamic changes associated to
      sensory stimulation by the litter, in special its influence over MCH synthesis.
      MAIN METHODS: Female Wistar rats (n=56) were euthanized everyday from lactation
      days 15-21, with or without suckling stimulus (WS and NS groups, respectively).
      MCH and Fos immunoreactivity were evaluated in the MPOA and lateral and incerto
      hypothalamic areas (LHA and IHy). KEY FINDINGS: Suckling stimulus induced Fos
      synthesis in all regions studied. An increase on the number of suckling-induced
      Fos-ir neurons could be detected in the LHA after the 18th day. Conversely, the
      amount of MCH decreased in the MPOA from days 15-21, independent of suckling
      stimulation. No colocalization between MCH and Fos could be detected in any
      region analyzed. SIGNIFICANCE: Suckling stimulus is capable of stimulating
      hypothalamic regions not linked to maternal behavior, possibly to mediate energy
      balance aspects of lactation. Although dams are hyperphagic before weaning, this
      behavioral change does not appear to be mediated by MCH.

PMID- 26874027
TI  - Metformin-induced protection against oxidative stress is associated with AKT/mTOR
      restoration in PC12 cells.
AB  - AIMS: Reactive oxygen species have been recognized to impair cell function
      through suppressing Akt the well-known pro-survival molecule. Pile of concrete
      evidence imply metformin as an Insulin sensitizer may enhance Akt/mTOR activity
      however the significance of Akt/mTOR recruitment has not yet been revealed in
      metformin induced neuroprotection against oxidative stress. MAIN METHODS: In the
      current study using H2O2 induced injury in PC12 cells; we first examined
      metformin impact on cell death by MTT assay and visual assessment. Metformin
      pretreated cells were then subjected to immunoblotting as well as real time PCR
      to find PI3K, Akt, mTOR and S6K concurrent transcriptional and post
      transcriptional changes. The proportions of phosphorylated to non-phosphorylated
      constituents of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K were determined to address their activation
      upon metformin treatment. KEY FINDINGS: According to cells morphology and MTT
      data metformin led to significant protection against H2O2 induced injury in 0.1
      and 0.5mM concentrations. Metformin induced protection concurred with elevated
      PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K activity as well as enhanced GSH levels. These changes
      paralleled with a profound decline in the corresponding transcripts as determined
      by real time PCR. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together our experimentation supports the
      hypothesis that Akt/mTOR/S6K cascade may contribute to metformin alleviating
      effect. The present work while highlighting metformin anti-oxidant
      characteristics, concludes that Akt/mTOR signaling might be central to the drug's
      alleviating effects.

PMID- 26874028
TI  - Structural changes in gastric glial cells and delayed gastric emptying as
      responses to early life stress and acute adulthood stress in rats.
AB  - AIM: Enteric glial cells (EGCs) modulate colonic motility in a maternal
      separation model. We aimed to investigate structural changes in gastric EGC and
      gastric emptying as responses to maternal separation and acute adulthood stress
      in rats to elucidate the pathophysiological roles of gastric EGC. MAIN METHODS:
      As a chronic stress, we subjected male Wistar rats to 3h of maternal separation
      during postnatal days 2-14. As an acute adulthood stress (7weeks of age), we used
      the 8-h water-immersion method. We morphologically evaluated gastric EGCs using
      whole-mount longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations. We analyzed
      gastric emptying by the phenol red method. KEY FINDING: The area of EGC processes
      that apparently overlapped with neurons increased according to stress intensity
      (acute stress, 10.4%; maternal separation, 10.2%; maternal separation plus acute
      stress, 26.6%; control, 5.0%). Ratios of morphologically changed leaf-like
      processes to the total processes were 8.1%, acute stress; 10.3%, maternal
      separation; 4.0%, control. Ratio dramatically increased in the combined stress
      group (20.5%, p=0.026 vs. control). The mean bulging head area of leaf-like
      processes in the combined stress group was greater by 6.4MUm(2) (control,
      2.4MUm(2); p=0.042). Gastric emptying in the maternal separation group was
      gradually delayed (104.1% at 7weeks, 66.7% at 17weeks, and 48.5% at 48weeks;
      p<0.05, respectively). Gastric emptying in the combined stress group tended to be
      delayed at 17weeks (45.7% vs. 81% in controls, p=0.066). SIGNIFICANCE: Gastric
      EGCs exhibited structural changes according to stress intensity, which may be
      associated with stress-induced dysfunction of the stomach.

PMID- 26874029
TI  - NOD2 contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating
      cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation.
AB  - AIMS: Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), an
      intracellular pattern recognition receptor, which plays an important role in the
      innate immunity and inflammation. However, its role in myocardial
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unknown. In this study, we sought to
      determine the role of NOD2 on cardiac I/R injury. MAIN METHODS: Mice were induced
      30min ischemia followed by 24h of reperfusion. Histological examinations were
      performed on heart sections with Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride
      (TTC) staining, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry and
      immunofluorescence staining. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and protein
      levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western
      blot analysis respectively. KEY FINDINGS: I/R injury markedly upregulated NOD2
      expression in heart tissue. Treatment of WT mice with NOD2 ligand (MDP)
      significantly increased infarct size, the number of apoptotic cells and
      inflammatory cells, as compared with wild-type mice after I/R injury.
      Furthermore, MDP enhanced I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation in
      vitro, and these effects were attenuated by NOD2-siRNA. The mechanism of NOD2 on
      cardiac I/R injury is partly associated with JNK, p38MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling
      pathways. SIGNIFICANCE: NOD2 aggravates myocardial I/R injury by inducing
      cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation through JNK, p38MAPK and NF-kappaB
      signaling pathways. This study provides insight into better understanding the
      molecular mechanism of NOD2, which may be served as a potential target for the
      treatment of myocardial I/R injury.

PMID- 26874030
TI  - Antigenic role of the adaptive immune response to d-ribose glycated LDL in
      diabetes, atherosclerosis and diabetes atherosclerotic patients.
AB  - AIMS: Glycation of proteins leads to the formation of advanced glycation end
      products (AGEs, which have significant role in the pathophysiology of diabetes
      complications. d-ribose appears to be the most reactive among the naturally
      occurring sugars and contribute significantly to the generation of AGEs.
      Glycation also results in the generation of free radicals causing structural
      modification which leads to the generation of neoantigenic epitopes. The aim of
      the present study was to investigate whether LDL modification results in auto
      antibodies formation against its glycated conformer in diabetes and
      atherosclerosis patients. METHODS: The binding characteristics of circulating
      auto-antibodies in patients against native and modified LDL were assessed. T2D
      (n=105), ATH (n=106) and T2D-ATH patients (n=72) were examined by direct binding
      ELISA as well as inhibition ELISA, compared with healthy age-matched controls
      (n=50). Furthermore, ketoamine moieties, HMF and carbonyl content were also
      estimated in these patient's and healthy subjects. KEY FINDINGS: High degree of
      specific binding was observed by 41.91% of T2D, 54.72% of ATH and 70.83% T2D-ATH
      patient's sera towards d-ribose glycated LDL, in comparison to its native analog
      (P<0.05). Normal human sera showed negligible binding with either antigen.
      Competitive inhibition ELISA reiterates the direct binding results. The higher
      concentration of HMF, ketoamine and carbonyl content was observed in patient's
      sera than healthy subjects. SIGNIFICANCE: LDL glycation results in structural
      perturbation causing generation of neoantigenic epitopes that are better antigens
      for antibodies in T2D, ATH and T2D-ATH patients where T2D-ATH subjects showed
      higher prevalence in auto-antibodies against ribosylated LDL.

PMID- 26874031
TI  - Endothelin ETA receptors predominate in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary
      hypertension.
AB  - AIMS: Endothelin-1 levels are raised in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary
      hypertension. Our aim in this study was to identify the presence of endothelin
      receptors in patients with CTEPH by analysing tissue removed at pulmonary
      endarterectomy. MAIN METHODS: Pulmonary endarterectomy tissue cross-sections were
      analysed using autoradiography with [(125)I]-ET-1 using ligands selective for ETA
      or ETB to determine sub-type distribution. The precise cellular localisation of
      ETA and ETB receptors was determined using selective antisera to both sub-types
      and compared with haematoxylin and eosin, Elastic Van Gieson and smooth muscle
      actin labelled sections. KEY FINDINGS: Two patterns of ET-1 binding were found.
      In sections with frequent recanalised channels, ET-1 bound to the smooth muscle
      cells surrounding the channels. In sections where there was less organised
      thrombus with no obvious re-canalisation, minimal ET-1 binding was observed. Some
      contractile type smooth muscle cells not associated with recanalised channels and
      diffusely spread throughout the PEA material were associated with ET receptor
      antibody binding on immunohistochemistry. There was a greater expression of the
      ETA receptor type in the specimens. SIGNIFICANCE: The presence of ET-1 receptors
      in the chronic thrombus in proximal CTEPH suggests ET-1 could act not only on the
      distal vasculopathy in the unobstructed vessels but may also stimulate smooth
      muscle cell proliferation within chronic clot. The abundance of ET receptors
      within the tissue provides evidence that the ET pathway is involved in the
      pathology of chronic thrombus reorganisation leading to CTEPH providing a
      rationale for the repurposing of ET receptor antagonists in the treatment of this
      condition.

PMID- 26874032
TI  - Bioactivity assessment of PLLA/PCL/HAP electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for bone
      tissue engineering.
AB  - AIMS: The purpose of this paper was to fabricate PLLA/PCL nanofibrous scaffolds
      containing HAP to mimic the native bone extracellular matrix for potential
      applications as bone tissue engineering scaffolds materials and ultimately to
      help the repairing of bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PLLA (MW 200kDa), PCL
      (MW 80kDa), HAP, dichloromethane, N,N-dimethylformamide; alpha-MEM, FBS, trypsin
      EDTA, penicillin G, streptomycin, beta-sodium glycerophosphate, l-ascorbic acid,
      dexamethasone; CCK-8, Alkaline Phosphatase Assay Kit, Mouse Osteocalcin ELISA
      Kit, MC3T3-E1 cells. PLLA, PCL and HAP were dissolved in the solution of DCM and
      DMF to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds through electrospinning. The morphology of
      the scaffolds was investigated with SEM, while the diameter of the fibers, pore
      size and water uptake of the scaffolds were tested, respectively. TGA was carried
      out to verify the percentage of HAP in the composite scaffolds fabricated with
      different HAP concentrations. Cell count kit-8 assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
      assay, and osteocalcin assay were applied to observe the MC3T3-E1 cells
      proliferation, differentiation on the composite scaffolds. KEY FINDINGS: MC3T3-E1
      cells were found to grow actively on the composite scaffolds based on the results
      of CCK-8 assay. The level of MC3T3-E1 differentiation was evaluated through the
      ALP activity and osteocalcin concentration, which showed higher value with HAP
      containing (PLLA/PCL/HAP) than that ones without (PLLA/PCL). SIGNIFICANCE: The
      results demonstrated that the biocomposite PLLA/PCL/HAP nanofibrous scaffold
      should be a promising candidate for proliferation, differentiation and
      mineralization of osteoblasts, and potentially can be used for bone tissue
      regeneration.

PMID- 26874033
TI  - Low dose aspirin like analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of mono
      hydroxybenzoic acids in stressed rodents.
AB  - AIMS: To compare analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of aspirin and mono
      hydroxybenzoic acids after their daily oral doses. MAIN METHODS: Efficacies of
      repeated daily stress response suppressing low oral doses (20mg/kg) of aspirin
      and 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids in mice hot plate test for centrally
      acting analgesics, and in acetic acid induced writing test were compared. Effects
      of their same daily doses and treatment regimen in cotton pellet granuloma and
      carrageenan edema test for anti-inflammatory drugs in stressed rats were compared
      in a second experiment. Effects of treatments on body weights, basal rectal
      temperatures, organ weights and plasma glucose, insulin and cortisol levels in
      stressed animals were compared also. KEY FINDINGS: Although stress response
      suppressing effects of aspirin and all the three hydroxybenzoic acids in both
      mice and rats were almost equal, effectiveness of 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids
      as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents were lower than those of aspirin or
      salicylic acid. SIGNIFICANCE: Observations made after single oral doses of
      aspirin or of mono-hydroxybenzoic acids are not very reliable predictors of their
      pharmacologically interesting bioactivity profiles and efficacies. Prostaglandin
      synthesis inhibition is not involved in low dose anti-inflammatory activities of
      3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. After their repeated daily low oral doses they are
      almost as potent stress response desensitizers as aspirin or salicylic acid.

PMID- 26874034
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of phytosterols and flavonoids from Cirsium setidens and
      Aster scaber in human brain neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.
AB  - AIMS: We investigated the neuroprotective effects and action mechanism of three
      major compounds [daucosterol (Dau), pectolinarin (Pec), and astragalin (Ast)]
      isolated from edible plants against H2O2-induced cell death of human brain
      neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. MAIN METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT and
      lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Apoptotic cell death was monitored by annexin
      V-FITC/PI double staining and by TUNEL assay. The formation of reactive oxygen
      species (ROS), expression of antioxidant enzymes and phosphorylation of mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by 2,7-dichlorofluorescein
      diacetate (DCF-DA) assay, RT-PCR, and western blotting, respectively. KEY
      FINDINGS: The ethyl acetate fractions from Cirsium setidens (CSEA) and Aster
      scaber (ASEA) showed neuroprotective effects in SK-N-SH cells. The phytochemicals
      were isolated from CSEA and ASEA and identified by spectral analyses, as beta
      sitosterol, Dau, Pec, Ast, or isoquercitrin. Pretreatment with Dau, Pec, or Ast
      showed protective effects against H2O2-induced cell death and inhibited ROS
      generation by oxidative stress. HO-1 mRNA and protein levels were increased by
      the presence of H2O2 and were further elevated by pretreatment with Dau and Ast.
      Dau pretreatment resulted in further increases of H2O2-induced enhancement in
      levels of CAT and SOD2. Pretreatment with Dau, Pec, and Ast inhibited
      phosphorylation of MAPK, such as extracellular protein regulated protein kinase,
      p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase by H2O2. SIGNIFICANCE: Dau exerts its
      neuroprotective effects by down regulation of MAPK pathways and upregulation of
      the HO-1, CAT and SOD2 antioxidant genes and is associated with reduced oxidative
      stress in SK-N-SH cells.

PMID- 26874035
TI  - Dictyoceratidan poisons: Defined mark on microtubule-tubulin dynamics.
AB  - Tubulin/microtubule assembly and disassembly is characterized as one of the chief
      processes during cell growth and division. Hence drugs those perturb these
      process are considered to be effective in killing fast multiplying cancer cells.
      There is a collection of natural compounds which disturb microtubule/tubulin
      dis/assemblage and there have been a lot of efforts concerted in the marine realm
      too, to surveying such killer molecules. Close to half the natural compounds
      shooting out from marine invertebrates are generally with no traceable definite
      mechanisms of action though may be tough anti-cancerous hits at nanogram levels,
      hence fatefully those discoveries conclude therein without a capacity of
      translation from laboratory to pharmacy. Astoundingly at least 50% of natural
      compounds which have definite mechanisms of action causing disorders in
      tubulin/microtubule kinetics have an isolation history from sponges belonging to
      the Phylum: Porifera. Poriferans have always been a wonder worker to treat
      cancers with a choice of, yet precise targets on cancerous tissues. There is a
      specific order: Dictyoceratida within this Phylum which has contributed to
      yielding at least 50% of effective compounds possessing this unique mechanism of
      action mentioned above. However, not much notice is driven to Dictyoceratidans
      alongside the order: Demospongiae thus dictating the need to know its select
      microtubule/tubulin irritants since the unearthing of avarol in the year 1974
      till date. Hence this review selectively pinpoints all the compounds, noteworthy
      derivatives and analogs stemming from order: Dictyoceratida focusing on the past,
      present and future. 

PMID- 26874036
TI  - Types and density of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive ganglion cells in mouse
      retina.
AB  - Single-cell injection after immunocytochemistry is a reliable technique for
      classifying neurons by their morphological structure and their expression of a
      particular protein. The aim of the present study was to classify the
      morphological types of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive retinal ganglion cells in
      the mouse using single-cell injection after immunocytochemistry, to estimate the
      density of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive retinal ganglion cells in the mouse
      retina. Calbindin D28k is an important calcium-binding protein that is widely
      expressed in the central nervous system. Calbindin D28k-immunoreactive retinal
      ganglion cells were identified by immunocytochemistry and then iontophoretically
      injected with the lipophilic dye, DiI. Subsequently, the injected cells were
      imaged by confocal microscopy to classify calbindin D28k-immunoreactive retinal
      ganglion cells based on their dendritic ramification depth within the inner
      plexiform layer, field size, and morphology. The cells were heterogeneous in
      morphology: monostratified or bistratified, with small to large dendritic field
      size and sparse to dense dendritic arbors. At least 10 different morphological
      types (CB1-CB10) of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive retinal ganglion cells were
      found in the mouse retina. The density of each cell type was quite variable (1.98
      23.76%). The density of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive cells in the ganglion cell
      layer of the mouse retina was 562 cells/mm(2), 8.18% of calbindin D28k
      immunoreactive cells were axon-less displaced amacrine cells, 91.82% were retinal
      ganglion cells, and approximately 18.17% of mouse retinal ganglion cells
      expressed calbindin D28k. The selective expression of calbindin D28k in cells
      with different morphologies may provide important data for further physiological
      studies of the mouse retina.

PMID- 26874037
TI  - Semi-empirical chemical model for indirect advanced oxidation of Acid Orange 7
      using an unmodified carbon fabric cathode for H2O2 production in an
      electrochemical reactor.
AB  - A commercial Unidirectional Carbon Fabric piece was used to design an electrode
      for the cathodic O2 reduction reaction in a divided (by a Nafion((r)) 117
      membrane) parallel plate reactor. The anode was a commercial stainless steel
      mesh. Under this approach it is feasible to produce H2O2 at low energy (2.08 kWh
      kg(-1) H2O2) in low ionic acidic medium. In the catholyte side the H2O2 can be
      activated with Fe(2+) to develop the Fenton reagent. It was found that Acid
      Orange 7 (AO7) indirect oxidation (in the concentration range of 0.12-0.24 mM) by
      Fenton chemistry follows a first order kinetic equation. The energy required for
      0.24 mM AO7 degradation is 1.04 kWhm(-3). From each experimental AO7 oxidation
      the main parameters (a, mM and k, min(-1)) of the first order kinetic equation
      are obtained. These parameters can be correlated with AO7 concentration in the
      concentration range studied. Based on this method a semi-empirical chemical model
      was developed to predict the AO7 abatement, by means of Fenton chemistry. Good
      AO7 oxidation predictions can be made in the concentration range studied. A
      detailed discussion of the energy required for oxidizing AO7 and the accuracy of
      the chemical model to predict its oxidation is included in this paper.

PMID- 26874038
TI  - Values of osteoprotegerin in aortic valve tissue in patients with significant
      aortic stenosis depend on the existence of concomitant coronary artery disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a serious clinical
      problem. The strongest predictor of CAVS progression is the amount of calcium in
      the aortic valve. The pathogenesis of CAVS is largely consistent with the
      pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; however, about 50% of patients with CAVS do not
      exhibit significant atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular calcification is currently
      considered an actively regulated process, in which the important role is
      attributed to the RANKL/RANK/OPG (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB
      ligand/RANK/osteoprotegerin) axis. We measured OPG levels in the tissue of
      calcified, stenotic aortic valves in relation to the presence or absence of
      coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aortic valve samples were
      collected from 105 patients with calcified, mainly severe aortic stenosis, who
      were divided into two groups according to the presence of CAD. In Group A (n=44),
      there were normal coronary artery findings, while in Group B (n=61), there was
      angiographically demonstrated >50% stenosis of at least one coronary artery. The
      control Group C (n=21) consisted of patients without aortic stenosis and with
      normal angiographic findings on coronary arteries. RESULTS: The highest tissue
      concentrations of OPG [median (pmol/L), 25th-75th percentile] were found in Group
      A [6.95, 3.96-18.37], which was significantly different compared to the other two
      groups (P=.026 and .001, respectively). The levels of OPG in Group B [4.15, 2.47
      9.16] and in Group C [2.25, 1.01-5.08] did not differ significantly (P=.078);
      however, the lowest concentrations of OPG were found in Group C. Neither age nor
      gender in our study had effect on tissue levels of OPG (P=.994 for gender; P=.848
      for age). CONCLUSION: Calcified and narrowed aortic valves, compared to the
      normal valves, were accompanied by a change in tissue concentrations of OPG,
      which is, in addition, dependent on the presence or absence of CAD. The highest
      tissue concentrations of OPG in our work were found in patients with significant
      aortic stenosis without concomitant CAD.

PMID- 26874039
TI  - Comparison of calcification potential of valvular interstitial cells isolated
      from individual aortic valve cusps.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most prevalent
      disorders among the elderly in developed countries. CAVD develops via cell
      mediated processes, and clinical data show that CAVD initiates mostly in the
      noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) populate
      the inside of heart valves and are a heterogeneous cell population. The goal of
      this study is to elucidate the difference in calcification potential among VICs
      isolated from the left, right, and noncoronary cusps of porcine aortic valves.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: VICs were isolated from each of the aortic valve cusps and
      cultured in calcifying medium for 14days to induce calcification. The samples
      were assessed for calcium deposits, nodule formation, and calcific markers using
      alizarin red and Von Kossa staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP
      enzyme activity assay, and Western blot. Extracellular matrix production and
      degradation were measured using collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) assay and
      gelatin zymography. We observed that VICs isolated from the noncoronary cusp
      expressed greatest amount of the above calcific markers as compared to the
      coronary cusps. Also, collagen and GAG content was the greatest in noncoronary
      VICs. However, our zymography results showed significant difference only for
      active matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression between right and noncoronary VICs.
      CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that VICs among the three cusps within aortic
      valve might be inherently different, where a subpopulation of VICs might be
      predisposed to calcification.

PMID- 26874040
TI  - A case of familial calcific aortic and mitral stenosis in association with
      hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma.
AB  - Hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma is a rare, familial disease with the primary
      clinical features being dermatologic. Widespread poikiloderma, as well as linear
      hyperkeratotic and sclerotic bands, tends to be the most common sign of this
      disease. It has been suggested that cardiac involvement may represent an
      important element of this disorder; however, this has not been well studied. We
      confirm here a case of hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma in a patient and his
      family with significant cardiac involvement characterized by heavily calcified
      stenotic aortic and mitral valves on echocardiography. Due to the patient's
      symptomatic severe valvular disease, he underwent simultaneous aortic and mitral
      valve replacement. Histopathologic analysis of the valves confirmed severe
      calcification of the aortic and mitral valve leaflets, suggesting a potential
      common mechanism between the cardiac and skin pathology of this disease. Multiple
      other family members had presented with similar cardiac and skin manifestations.
      Further research is needed to better understand the cardiac pathophysiology of
      this disease. 

PMID- 26874041
TI  - Postoperative plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha levels are associated with
      delirium and cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after hip fracture
      surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress may be involved in occurrence of postoperative
      delirium (POD) and cognitive dysfunction (POCD). 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2alpha (8
      iso-PGF2alpha), an isoprostane derived from arachidonic acid via lipid
      peroxidation, is considered a gold standard for measuring oxidative stress. The
      present study aimed to investigate the ability of postoperative plasma 8-iso
      PGF2alpha levels to predict POD and POCD in elderly patients undergoing hip
      fracture surgery. METHODS: Postoperative plasma 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels of 182
      patients were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We assessed the
      relationships between plasma 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels and the risk of POD and POCD
      using a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Plasma 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels and age
      were identified as the independent predictors for POD and POCD. Based on areas
      under receiver operating characteristic curve, the predictive values of 8-iso
      PGF2alpha were obviously higher than those of age for POD and POCD. In a combined
      logistic-regression model, 8-iso-PGF2alpha significantly enhanced the areas under
      curve of age for prediction of POD and POCD. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative plasma 8
      iso-PGF2alpha levels may have the potential to predict POD and POCD in elder
      patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

PMID- 26874042
TI  - New mutations in DYNC2H1 and WDR60 genes revealed by whole-exome sequencing in
      two unrelated Sardinian families with Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy.
AB  - Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy (JATD; Jeune syndrome, MIM 208500) is a
      rare autosomal recessive chondrodysplasia, phenotypically overlapping with short
      rib polydactyly syndromes (SRPS). JATD typical hallmarks include skeletal
      abnormalities such as narrow chest, shortened ribs, limbs shortened bones, extra
      fingers and toes (polydactyly), as well as extraskeletal manifestations (renal,
      liver and retinal disease). To date, disease-causing mutations have been found in
      several genes, highlighting a marked genetic heterogeneity that prevents a
      molecular diagnosis of the disease in most families. Here, we report the results
      of whole-exome sequencing (WES) carried out in four JATD cases, belonging to
      three unrelated families of Sardinian origin. The exome analysis allowed to
      identify mutations not previously reported in the DYNC2H1 (MIM 603297) and WDR60
      (MIM 615462) genes, both codifying for ciliary intraflagellar transport
      components whose mutations are known to cause Jeune syndrome. 

PMID- 26874043
TI  - Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in hemodialysis patients may be feasible
      by comparing variation of cardiac troponins during acute presentation to baseline
      variation.
AB  - Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is defined as a dynamic change in cardiac
      troponin (cTn) with at least one cTn value exceeding the 99 th percentile of a
      reference population in combination with typical clinical symptoms. In
      hemodialysis (HD) patients, a broad range of cTn concentrations is found,
      partially due to patient-specific comorbidities. Therefore, the 99 th percentile
      cannot be used in HD patients and decision algorithms to diagnose AMI should be
      based on temporal variations of troponin. In this study, relative and absolute
      variations of cTn in a large population of asymptomatic hemodialysis patients
      were established during a period of 15 months. Patients were stratified according
      to their history of coronary artery disease (CAD). An intra-individual long term
      variation of 23% for cTroponin I (cTnI) and 12% for cTroponin T (cTnT) was found
      for patients without a history of CAD. The corresponding reference change values
      (RCVs) were 69% and 39% respectively. For patients with a history of CAD this
      variation was 29% for cTnI and 10% for cTnT, with RCVs of 86% and 35%
      respectively. During follow up, 27 HD patients developed an acute myocardial
      infarction (AMI). During these events, irrespective of CAD history, cTnI
      increased>172% and cTnT increased>97% above baseline cTn as measured during
      clinically stable periods three months separate to the event. Therefore, if a HD
      patient has symptoms of an acute event and a cTn increase that exceeds the RCVs
      described here, AMI may be suspected. If the troponin increase exceeds 172% for
      cTnI or 97% for cTnT, AMI is likely.

PMID- 26874044
TI  - Scouting new sigma receptor ligands: Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and
      molecular modeling of 1,3-dioxolane-based structures and derivatives.
AB  - Herein we report the synthesis and biological activity of new sigma receptor
      (sigmaR) ligands obtained by combining different substituted five-membered
      heterocyclic rings with appropriate sigmaR pharmacophoric amines. Radioligand
      binding assay, performed on guinea pig brain membranes, identified 25b (1-(1,4
      dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-2-ylmethyl)-4-benzylpiperazine) as the most interesting
      compound of the series, displaying high affinity and selectivity for sigma1R
      (pKisigma1 = 9.13; sigma1/sigma2 = 47). The ability of 25b to modulate the
      analgesic effect of the kappa agonist (-)-U-50,488H and MU agonist morphine was
      evaluated in vivo by radiant heat tail-flick test. It exhibited anti-opioid
      effects on both kappa and MU receptor-mediated analgesia, suggesting an agonistic
      behavior at sigma1R. Docking studies were performed on the theoretical sigma1R
      homology model. The present work represents a new starting point for the design
      of more potent and selective sigma1R ligands.

PMID- 26874045
TI  - The epigenetics of tumour initiation: cancer stem cells and their chromatin.
AB  - Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in various tumours and are defined
      by their potential to initiate tumours upon transplantation, self-renew and
      reconstitute tumour heterogeneity. Modifications of the epigenome can favour
      tumour initiation by affecting genome integrity, DNA repair and tumour cell
      plasticity. Importantly, an in-depth understanding of the epigenomic alterations
      underlying neoplastic transformation may open new avenues for chromatin-targeted
      cancer treatment, as these epigenetic changes could be inherently more amenable
      to inhibition and reversal than hard-wired genomic alterations. Here we discuss
      how CSC function is affected by chromatin state and epigenomic instability.

PMID- 26874046
TI  - Household air pollution and lung cancer risk among never-smokers in Nepal.
AB  - More than half of the global population relies on biomass fuels (wood, charcoal,
      crop residue, dung) for cooking and/or heating purposes. Household air pollution
      (HAP) resulting from the use of these solid fuels is of particular concern, given
      the overall prevalence as well as the intensity of exposure and the range of
      potential adverse health outcomes. Long term exposure to HAP is a major public
      health concern, particularly among women and children in low and middle income
      countries. In this study, we investigated the association between exposure to HAP
      resulting from combustion of biomass and lung cancer risk among Nepalese
      population. Using a hospital-based case-control study (2009-2012), we recruited
      606 lung cancer cases and 606 healthy controls matched on age (+/-5 years),
      gender, and geographical residence. We used unconditional logistic regression to
      compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) for lung cancer
      risk associated with HAP exposures, adjusting for potential confounders (tobacco
      use, TB status, SES, age, gender, ethnicity, and exposure to second hand smoke.
      In our overall analysis, we observed increased risk of lung cancer among those
      who were exposed to HAPs (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.00-3.14). A more detailed analysis
      stratified by smoking status showed considerably higher risk of lung cancer
      associated with increasing duration of exposure to HAP from biomass combustion,
      with evidence of a borderline exposure-response relationship (Ptrend=0.05) that
      was more pronounced among never-smokers (Ptrend=0.01). Our results suggest that
      chronic exposure to HAP resulting from biomass combustion is associated with
      increased lung cancer risk, particularly among never-smokers in Nepal.

PMID- 26874047
TI  - In vitro short-term exposure to air pollution PM2.5-0.3 induced cell cycle
      alterations and genetic instability in a human lung cell coculture model.
AB  - Although its adverse health effects of air pollution particulate matter (PM2.5)
      are well-documented and often related to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory
      response, recent evidence support the role of the remodeling of the airway
      epithelium involving the regulation of cell death processes. Hence, the
      overarching goals of the present study were to use an in vitro coculture model,
      based on human AM and L132 cells to study the possible alteration of TP53-RB gene
      signaling pathways (i.e. cell cycle phases, gene expression of TP53, BCL2, BAX,
      P21, CCND1, and RB, and protein concentrations of their active forms), and
      genetic instability (i.e. LOH and/or MSI) in the PM2.5-0.3-exposed coculture
      model. PM2.5-0.3 exposure of human AM from the coculture model induced marked
      cell cycle alterations after 24h, as shown by increased numbers of L132 cells in
      subG1 and S+G2 cell cycle phases, indicating apoptosis and proliferation.
      Accordingly, activation of the TP53-RB gene signaling pathways after the
      coculture model exposure to PM2.5-0.3 was reported in the L132 cells. Exposure of
      human AM from the coculture model to PM2.5-0.3 resulted in MS alterations in 3p
      chromosome multiple critical regions in L132 cell population. Hence, in vitro
      short-term exposure of the coculture model to PM2.5-0.3 induced cell cycle
      alterations relying on the sequential occurrence of molecular abnormalities from
      TP53-RB gene signaling pathway activation and genetic instability.

PMID- 26874048
TI  - Country-specific estimates of the incidence of intellectual disability associated
      with prenatal exposure to methylmercury.
AB  - This paper describes country-specific estimates of the incidence of intellectual
      disability in children associated with prenatal exposure to methylmercury. A
      systematic review was undertaken to identify country-specific data on hair
      mercury concentrations in women of reproductive age. A variety of approaches were
      used to estimate biomarker concentrations for countries lacking such data. A dose
      effect relationship derived on the basis of the data from three large prospective
      studies relating prenatal methylmercury exposure to IQ in children was used to
      estimate the country-specific incidences of mild, moderate, severe, and profound
      intellectual disability in children as a result of prenatal methylmercury
      exposure. The incidence of methylmercury-associated mild intellectual disability
      (IQ scores 50-70) varied nearly 40-fold across countries, with the greatest
      incidences generally in countries that are islands or that are coastal. Countries
      with high birth rates and greater consumption of foods that contribute most to
      methylmercury intake in humans (seafood, rice) can be expected to make the
      largest contributions to the worldwide burden of disease associated with
      methylmercury. The assumptions and limitations of the estimates are discussed.

PMID- 26874049
TI  - Technical note: Efficient removal of a PCR inhibitory agent (vivianite) found on
      excavated bones.
AB  - During a rescue excavation in October 2011, archaeologists discovered a mass
      grave with 10 individuals. The skeletons should belong to victims of the battle
      of Reichenberg between the Austrian and Prussian armies on April 21, 1757.
      Several bones of the skeletons were covered with a blue colored encrustation.
      Initial DNA analysis failed due to strong inhibition. Chemical analysis of the
      bluish encrustation indicated the presence of the iron phosphate mineral
      vivianite (Fe3(PO4)2.(H2O)8). This technical note describes a novel procedure for
      the removal of this inhibitory substance. 

PMID- 26874050
TI  - Analysis of gunshot residues as trace in nasal mucus by GFAAS.
AB  - When a gun is fired, the majority of gunshot residues are deposited on the
      shooter's hands. But these residues disappear through contact with surfaces or
      washing. Therefore, the maximum time frame to find GSR on a suspect's hands is
      8h. The mucus, inside of a nostril, forms a surface layer where they are trapped
      foreign particles. In this way, mucus inside of a gunshot suspect's nostrils
      could act like an adhesive medium to stick on it gaseous particles from a
      gunshot. In this study, the presence of GSR in nasal mucus and its residence time
      is examined. A new procedure for the sampling of possible gunshot residue
      accumulated in the nasal mucus is designed. Samples are taken with cotton swabs
      moistened with a solution of EDTA and, after an acid digestion, are analysed by
      graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition, samples of hands
      are taken for comparison purposes. GSR recovery has been successful. The
      concentration of GSR in nasal mucus is found to be lower than on the hands, but
      with a longer residence time. Thus, it is possible to expand the sampling time of
      a suspect also, as nasal mucus cannot be contaminated by handling weapons. 

PMID- 26874051
TI  - Developing the use of Structure-from-Motion in mass grave documentation.
AB  - Methods for mass-grave documentation have changed markedly since the first
      forensic investigations nearly 70 years ago. Recently, however, there has been
      little advancement in developing new and better methodology, especially when
      compared to other forensic disciplines and even within traditional archaeology.
      This paper proposes a new approach, using 3D modelling for the documentation and
      eventual analysis of mass-graves. Structure-from-Motion (SfM), which creates
      digital 3D models from a set of still photographs, was tested on a small,
      simulated mass grave. The results of this test suggest that the method offers
      resolution previously unavailable to mass-grave investigators, and facilitates
      stronger analytical potential than the more traditional methods. Further tests
      are needed to validate these methods, but these initial findings are promising
      and their application could enhance our knowledge of mass grave dynamics. 

PMID- 26874052
TI  - Use of atomic force microscopy in the forensic application of chronological order
      of toners and stamping inks in questioned documents.
AB  - This paper describes the application of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a
      nano-indentation method and introduces a new method of identifying the
      chronological order of the application of the toner and stamping ink on the
      surface of documents by removing either of them. Various toners were used as
      samples for the AFM nano-indentation method. The chronological order of the
      application of the toner and stamping ink with either the toner placed over the
      stamping ink or the stamping ink placed over the toner, could be identified,
      regardless of the kinds of toners made by various companies. This paper provides
      the new approach for physically removing the toner and checking the material
      below it to identify questioned documents, which allows the method to be used to
      appraise documents forensically. Blind testing has shown that the method to
      analyze the chronological order of toner-printed documents and the seal stamping
      on them could accurately identify the order in all samples, while minimizing
      damage to the samples. 

PMID- 26874053
TI  - Internal switches modulating electron tunneling currents in respiratory complex
      III.
AB  - In different X-ray crystal structures of bc1 complex, some of the key residues of
      electron tunneling pathways are observed in different conformations; here we
      examine their relative importance in modulating electron transfer and propose
      their possible gating function in the Q-cycle. The study includes inter-monomeric
      electron transfer; here we provide atomistic details of the reaction, and discuss
      the possible roles of inter-monomeric electronic communication in bc(1) complex.
      Binding of natural ligands or inhibitors leads to local conformational changes
      which propagate through protein and control the conformation of key residues
      involved in the electron tunneling pathways. Aromatic-aromatic interactions are
      highly utilized in the communication network since the key residues are aromatic
      in nature. The calculations show that there is a substantial change of the
      electron transfer rates between different redox pairs depending on the different
      conformations acquired by the key residues of the complex.

PMID- 26874054
TI  - The switching mechanism of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier explored by free
      energy landscapes.
AB  - The ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) of mitochondria has been an early example for
      elucidating the transport mechanism alternating between the external (c-) and
      internal (m-) states (M. Klingenberg, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1778 (2008) 1978
      2021). An atomic resolution crystal structure of AAC is available only for the c
      state featuring a three repeat transmembrane domain structure. Modeling of
      transport mechanism remained hypothetical for want of an atomic structure of the
      m-state. Previous molecular dynamics studies simulated the binding of ADP or ATP
      to the AAC remaining in the c-state. Here, a full description of the AAC
      switching from the c- to the m-state is reported using well-tempered metadynamics
      simulations. Free-energy landscapes of the entire translocation from the c- to
      the m-state, based on the gyration radii of the c- and m-gates and of the center
      of mass, were generated. The simulations revealed three free-energy basins
      attributed to the c-, intermediate- and m-states separated by activation
      barriers. These simulations were performed with the empty and with the ADP- and
      ATP-loaded AAC as well as with the poorly transported AMP and guanine
      nucleotides, showing in the free energy landscapes that ADP and ATP lowered the
      activation free-energy barriers more than the other substrates. Upon binding AMP
      and guanine nucleotides a deeper free-energy level stabilized the intermediate
      state of the AAC2 hampering the transition to the m-state. The structures of the
      substrate binding sites in the different states are described producing a full
      picture of the translocation events in the AAC. 

PMID- 26874055
TI  - Accuracy of emotion labeling in children of parents diagnosed with bipolar
      disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Emotion labeling deficits have been posited as an endophenotype for
      bipolar disorder (BD) as they have been observed in both patients and their first
      degree relatives. It remains unclear whether these deficits exist secondary to
      the development of psychiatric symptoms or whether they can be attributed to risk
      for psychopathology. To explore this, we investigated emotion processing in
      symptomatic and asymptomatic high-risk bipolar offspring (HRO) and healthy
      children of healthy parents (HCO). METHODS: Symptomatic (n:18, age: 13.8 +/- 2.6
      years, 44% female) and asymptomatic (n:12, age: 12.8 +/- 3.0 years, 42% female)
      HRO and age- and sex-matched HCO (n:20, age: 13.3 +/- 2.5 years, 45% female)
      performed an emotion-labeling task. Total number of errors, emotion category and
      intensity of emotion error scores were compared. Correlations between total error
      scores and symptom severity were also investigated. RESULTS: Compared to HCO,
      both HRO groups made more errors on the adult face task (pcor=0.014). The HRO
      group were 2.3 times [90%CI:0.9-6.3] more likely and 4.3 times [90%CI:1.3-14.3]
      more likely to make errors on sad and angry faces, respectively. With the
      exception of sad face type errors, we observed no significant differences in
      error patterns between symptomatic and asymptomatic HRO, and no correlations
      between symptom severity and total number of errors. LIMITATIONS: This study was
      cross-sectional in design, limiting our ability to infer trajectories or
      heritability of these deficits. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further support
      for emotion labeling deficits as a candidate endophenotype for BD. Our study also
      suggests these deficits are not attributable to the presence of psychiatric
      symptoms.

PMID- 26874056
TI  - Natural variability in Drosophila larval and pupal NaCl tolerance.
AB  - The regulation of NaCl is essential for the maintenance of cellular tonicity and
      functionality, and excessive salt exposure has many adverse effects. The fruit
      fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a good osmoregulator and some strains can
      survive on media with very low or high NaCl content. Previous analyses of mutant
      alleles have implicated various stress signaling cascades in NaCl sensitivity or
      tolerance; however, the genes influencing natural variability of NaCl tolerance
      remain for the most part unknown. Here, we use two approaches to investigate
      natural variation in D. melanogaster NaCl tolerance. We describe four D.
      melanogaster lines that were selected for different degrees of NaCl tolerance,
      and present data on their survival, development, and pupation position when
      raised on varying NaCl concentrations. After finding evidence for natural
      variation in salt tolerance, we present the results of Quantitative Trait Loci
      (QTL) mapping of natural variation in larval and pupal NaCl tolerance, and
      identify different genomic regions associated with NaCl tolerance during larval
      and pupal development. 

PMID- 26874057
TI  - Large scale distribution of dioxins, PCBs, heavy metals, PAH-metabolites and
      radionuclides in cod (Gadus morhua) from the North Atlantic and its adjacent
      seas.
AB  - Regarding cod as sea food for human consumption and as bio indicator of the
      marine eco system, this study is the first approach to combine the analysis of
      organic and inorganic contaminants and radionuclides in cod muscle as well as
      PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in its livers from the same fishing areas. Concentrations of
      1-hydroxypyrene, PCDD/Fs, PCBs, cesium-137 (Cs-137), cadmium and lead were
      determined in individual or pooled samples over a wide geographic area, including
      Greenland Seas, Barents Sea, North and Baltic Sea. Highest concentrations were
      found in samples from the Baltic Sea, lowest in the pristine areas of the Barents
      Sea and Greenland. Levels of contaminants in cod muscle were found to be far
      below the established EU maximum levels (ML), regardless of which fishing
      grounds. In contrast to this, most cod liver samples from the North and Baltic
      Sea showed PCDD/F and PCB contents exceeding the ML. In addition, new background
      assessment criteria (BAC) for 1-hydroxypyrene in cod of 4.6 ng mL(-1) bile and
      for Cs-137 a BAC of 0.16 Bq kg(-1) wet weight are proposed to be included in the
      European Marine Strategy Framework Directive for cod from the Northeast Atlantic.

PMID- 26874058
TI  - Hepatic effects of the clomazone herbicide in both its free form and associated
      with chitosan-alginate nanoparticles in bullfrog tadpoles.
AB  - The use of agrochemicals in agriculture is intense and most of them could be
      carried out to aquatic environment. Nevertheless, there are only few studies that
      assess the effects of these xenobiotics on amphibians. Clomazone is an herbicide
      widely used in rice fields, where amphibian species live. Thus, those species may
      be threatened by non-target exposure. However, nanoparticles are being developed
      to be used as a carrier system for the agrochemicals. Such nanoparticles release
      the herbicide in a modified way, and are considered to be more efficient and less
      harmful to the environment. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate
      the effect of clomazone in its free form and associated with nanoparticles, in
      the liver of bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) when submitted to acute
      exposure for 96 h. According to semi-quantitative analysis, there was an increase
      in the frequency of melanomacrophage centres, in the accumulation of eosinophils
      and in lipidosis in the liver of experimental groups exposed to clomazone - in
      its free form and associated with nanoparticles - in comparison with the control
      group, and the nanotoxicity of chitosan-alginate nanoparticles. The increase of
      melanomacrophage centres in all exposed groups was significant (P < 0.0001) in
      comparison to control group. Therefore, the results of this research have shown
      that exposure to sublethal doses of the herbicide and nanoparticles triggered
      hepatic responses. Moreover, these results provided important data about the
      effect of the clomazone herbicide and organic nanoparticles, which act as
      carriers of agrochemicals, on the bullfrog tadpole liver.

PMID- 26874059
TI  - Determination of glucuronide conjugates of hydroxyl triphenyl phosphate (OH-TPHP)
      metabolites in human urine and its use as a biomarker of TPHP exposure.
AB  - In vitro studies using avian hepatocytes or human liver microsomes suggest that
      hydroxylation is an important pathway in the metabolism of triphenyl phosphate
      (TPHP), a chemical used as a flame retardant and plasticizer. TPHP metabolism can
      lead to the formation of para(p)- and meta(m)-hydroxyl-(OH-)TPHP products as well
      as their glucuronide conjugates. To determine whether the TPHP hydroxylation and
      depuration pathway also occurs in vivo in humans, the present study developed a
      sensitive method for quantification of p- and m-OH-TPHP glucuronides in human
      urine samples. In n = 1 pooled urine sample and n = 12 individual urine samples
      collected from four human volunteers from Ottawa (ON, Canada), p- and m-OH-TPHP
      glucuronides were detectable in 13 and 9 of the 13 analyzed samples and at
      concentrations ranging from <MLOQ-25 pg/mL and nd-4 pg/mL, respectively. A
      strong, positive correlation (p = 0.02, r = 0.6569) was observed between p-OH
      TPHP glucuronide and diphenyl phosphate concentrations (DPHP, a known dealkylated
      metabolite of TPHP). To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating
      that TPHP hydroxylation and conjugation occurs in vivo in humans, and further
      suggests that p-OH-TPHP glucuronide can be used as a specific biomarker of TPHP
      exposure in humans.

PMID- 26874060
TI  - Characterization of haze episodes and factors contributing to their formation
      using a panel model.
AB  - A haze episode is a complex pollution process with high levels of fine
      particulate matter smaller than 2.5 MUm (PM2.5). Understanding factors
      contributing to their formation is crucial to mitigate PM2.5 pollution, which
      varies substantially on the daily and city scales. In this study, we attempted to
      introduce the dynamic panel model that uses the group deviation method to
      generate unbiased estimates of contributions from different factors by
      eliminating time-invariant confounding variables. Taking 25 cities in the Yangtze
      Delta Region (YDR), China, as a case study and we analyzed how natural factors
      (e.g., wind) and anthropogenic emissions (e.g., sulfur dioxide (SO2)) together
      contribute to PM2.5 pollution. Results showed that there was significant lag
      effect on PM2.5 concentration, and approximately 45% of the PM2.5 remained from
      one day to the next. On the contrary, present day's emission had little effect on
      its PM2.5 concentration. It suggested that daily variation of PM2.5 concentration
      was largely affected by natural factors, while the long term PM2.5 pollution such
      as annual concentration was more determined by anthropogenic emissions. The
      unbiased estimates of this simple dynamic panel model could well predict the
      annual changes of PM2.5 concentration with an uncertainty of less than 2% on city
      scale. Reducing SO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions could mitigate PM2.5
      pollution to some extent in the YDR; however, to achieve the clean air standard,
      more pollutants such as ammonia should be added to the emission reduction list.
      The analyses provide an alternative method to easily quantify contributing
      factors and their variability to air pollution. It could be helpful to better
      understand the confounding factors on the assessment of air pollution governance
      despite the panel model still need to be improved on aspects such as long-range
      transportation.

PMID- 26874061
TI  - Photocatalytic degradation of commercially sourced naphthenic acids by TiO2
      graphene composite nanomaterial.
AB  - Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a major contributor to the toxicity in oil sands
      process-affected water (OSPW), which is produced by hot water extraction of
      bitumen. NAs are extremely difficult to be degraded due to its complex ring and
      side chain structure. Photocatalysis is recognized as a promising technology in
      the removal of refractory organic pollutants. In this work, TiO2-graphene (P25
      GR) composites were synthesized by means of solvothermal method. The results
      showed that P25-GR composite exhibited better photocatalytic activity than pure
      P25. The removal efficiency of naphthenic acids in acid solution was higher than
      that in neutral and alkaline solutions. It was the first report ever known on the
      photodegradation of NAs based on graphene, and this process achieved a higher
      removal rate than other photocatalysis degradation of NAs in a shorter reaction
      time. LC/MS analysis showed that macromolecular NAs (carbon number 17-22, z value
      -2) were easy to be degraded than the micromolecular ones (carbon number 11-16, z
      value -2). Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species that play the main role in
      the photocatalysis system were studied. It was found that holes and .OH were the
      main reactive species in the UV/P25-GR photocatalysis system. Given the high
      removal efficiency of refractory organic pollutants and the short degradation
      time, photodegradation based on composite catalysts has a broad and practical
      prospect. The study on the photodegradation of commercially sourced NAs may
      provide a guidance for the degradation of OSPW NAs by this method.

PMID- 26874062
TI  - Aquatic hazard, bioaccumulation and screening risk assessment for ammonium
      2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate.
AB  - The fluoropolymer manufacturing industry is moving to alternative polymerization
      processing aid technologies with more favorable toxicological and environmental
      profiles as part of a commitment to curtail the use of long-chain perfluoroalkyl
      acids (PFAAs). To facilitate the environmental product stewardship assessment and
      premanufacture notification (PMN) process for a candidate replacement chemical,
      we conducted acute and chronic aquatic toxicity tests to evaluate the toxicity of
      ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate (C6HF11O3.H3N) or
      the acid form of the substance to the cladoceran, Daphnia magna, the green alga,
      Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and a number of freshwater fish species
      including the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, In addition, testing with the
      common carp, Cyprinus carpio, was conducted to determine the bioconcentration
      potential of the acid form of the compound. Based on the relevant criteria in
      current regulatory frameworks, the results of the aquatic toxicity and
      bioconcentration studies indicate the substance is of low concern for aquatic
      hazard and bioconcentration in aquatic organisms. Evaluation of environmental
      monitoring data in conjunction with the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC)
      based on the available data suggest low risk to aquatic organisms.

PMID- 26874063
TI  - Durability of organobentonite-amended liner for decelerating chloroform
      transport.
AB  - Chloroform is added to landfill for suppressing methane generation, which however
      may transport through landfill liners and lead to contamination of groundwater.
      To decelerate chloroform transport, the enhanced sorption ability of clay liners
      following organobentonite addition was tested. In this study, we used batch
      sorption to evaluate sorption capacity of chloroform to organobentonite, followed
      by column tests and model simulations for assessing durability of different
      liners. Results show that adding 10% CTMAB-bentonite (organobentonite synthesized
      using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) increased the duration of a bentonite liner
      by 88.5%. CTMAB-bentonite consistently showed the highest sorption capacity (Qm)
      among six typical organobentonites under various environmental conditions. The
      removal rate of chloroform by CTMAB-bentonite was 3.6-23 times higher than that
      by natural soils. According to the results derived by model simulation, a 70-cm
      10% CTMAB-bentonite liner exhibited much better durability than a 100-cm compact
      clay liner (CCL) and natural bentonite liner evidenced by the delayed and lower
      peak of eluent concentration. A minimum thickness of 65.8 cm of the 10% CTMAB
      bentonite liner could completely sorb the chloroform in a 100-m-high landfill.
      The 10% CTMAB-bentonite liner exhibiting much better durability has the promise
      for reducing environmental risk of chloroform in landfill.

PMID- 26874064
TI  - Computational comparison of three posterior lumbar interbody fusion techniques by
      using porous titanium interbody cages with 50% porosity.
AB  - This study investigated the biomechanical response of porous cages and lumbar
      spine segments immediately after surgery and after bone fusion, in addition to
      the long-term effects of various posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)
      techniques, by using the finite element method. Lumbar L3-L4 models based on
      three PLIF techniques (a single cage at the center of the intervertebral space, a
      single cage half-anterior to the intervertebral space, and two cages bilateral to
      the intervertebral space) with and without bone ingrowth were used to determine
      the biomechanical response of porous cages and lumbar segments instrumented with
      porous titanium cages (cage porosity=50%, pore diameter=1mm). The results
      indicated that bone fusion enhanced the stability of the lumbar segments with
      porous cages without any posterior instrumentation and reduced the peak von Mises
      stress in the cortical bones and porous cages. Two cages placed bilateral to the
      intervertebral space achieved the highest structural stability in the lumbar
      segment and lowest von Mises stress in the cages under both bone fusion
      conditions. Under identical loading (2-Nm), the range of motion in the single
      cage at the center of the intervertebral space with bone fusion decreased by 11%
      (from 1.18 degrees  to 1.05 degrees ) during flexion and by 66.5% (from 4.46
      degrees  to 1.5 degrees ) during extension in the single cage half-anterior to
      the intervertebral space with bone fusion compared with no-fusion models. Thus,
      two porous titanium cages with 50% porosity can achieve high stability of a
      lumbar segment with PLIF. If only one cage is available, placing the cage half
      anterior to the intervertebral space is recommended for managing degenerated
      lumbar segments. 

PMID- 26874065
TI  - Numerical investigation of the mechanical properties of the additive manufactured
      bone scaffolds fabricated by FDM: The effect of layer penetration and post
      heating.
AB  - In recent years, thanks to additive manufacturing technology, researchers have
      gone towards the optimization of bone scaffolds for the bone reconstruction. Bone
      scaffolds should have appropriate biological as well as mechanical properties in
      order to play a decisive role in bone healing. Since the fabrication of scaffolds
      is time consuming and expensive, numerical methods are often utilized to simulate
      their mechanical properties in order to find a nearly optimum one. Finite element
      analysis is one of the most common numerical methods that is used in this regard.
      In this paper, a parametric finite element model is developed to assess the
      effects of layers penetration's effect on inter-layer adhesion, which is
      reflected on the mechanical properties of bone scaffolds. To be able to validate
      this model, some compression test specimens as well as bone scaffolds are
      fabricated with biocompatible and biodegradable poly lactic acid using fused
      deposition modeling. All these specimens are tested in compression and their
      elastic modulus is obtained. Using the material parameters of the compression
      test specimens, the finite element analysis of the bone scaffold is performed.
      The obtained elastic modulus is compared with experiment indicating a good
      agreement. Accordingly, the proposed finite element model is able to predict the
      mechanical behavior of fabricated bone scaffolds accurately. In addition, the
      effect of post-heating of bone scaffolds on their elastic modulus is
      investigated. The results demonstrate that the numerically predicted elastic
      modulus of scaffold is closer to experimental outcomes in comparison with as
      built samples.

PMID- 26874066
TI  - Sleep disorders in children with cerebral palsy: An integrative review.
AB  - Sleep disorders are more prevalent in children with cerebral palsy. The review
      aimed to identify and synthesize information about the nature of sleep disorders
      and their related factors in children with cerebral palsy. We performed an
      electronic search by using the search terms sleep/child*, and sleep/cerebral
      palsy in the following databases: Latin American literature on health sciences,
      SCOPUS, medical publications, cumulative index to nursing and allied health
      literature, psycinfo, worldcat, web of science, and the Cochrane library. The
      selection criteria were studies: available in Portuguese, English or Spanish and
      published between 2004 and 2014, with results addressing sleep disorders in
      children (ages 0-18 y) with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. 36,361 abstracts were
      identified. Of those, 37 papers were selected, and 25 excluded. Twelve papers
      were incorporated in the study sample: eight quantitative studies, three reviews,
      and one case study. Eleven types of sleep disorders were identified, such as
      difficult morning awakening, insomnia, nightmares, difficulties in initiating and
      maintaining nighttime sleep (night waking), and sleep anxiety. Twenty-one factors
      were linked to sleep disorders, which we classified as intrinsic factors
      associated with common comorbidities accompanying cerebral palsy, and extrinsic
      aspects, specifically environmental and socio-familial variables, and clinical
      surgical and pharmacological interventions.

PMID- 26874067
TI  - Health economics of insomnia treatments: The return on investment for a good
      night's sleep.
AB  - Chronic insomnia is the most common sleep disorder among adults and is associated
      with a wide range of negative outcomes. This article reviews the economic
      consequences of the disorder and the cost effectiveness of insomnia treatments.
      First, the total costs of insomnia are reviewed; in aggregate these costs exceed
      $100 billion USD per year, with the majority being spent on indirect costs such
      as poorer workplace performance, increased health care utilization, and increased
      accident risk. Next, the deleterious impact of insomnia on quality of life and
      the impact of treatment on quality of life are briefly considered. Finally, ten
      published studies evaluating the cost effectiveness of both pharmacological and
      behavioral treatments for insomnia are reviewed in detail. A significant majority
      of studies reviewed found that the cost of treating primary and comorbid insomnia
      is less than the cost of not treating it. Treatments were generally found to be
      cost-effective using commonly employed standards, with treatment costs being
      recouped within 6-12 mo.

PMID- 26874068
TI  - Expression and cellular distribution of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4
      in cortical tubers of the tuberous sclerosis complex.
AB  - Cortical tubers in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are highly
      associated with intractable epilepsy. Recent evidence has shown that transient
      receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) has direct effects on both neurons and
      glial cells. To understand the role of TRPV4 in pathogenesis of cortical tubers,
      we investigated the expression patterns of TRPV4 in cortical tubers of TSC
      compared with normal control cortex (CTX). We found that TRPV4 was clearly up
      regulated in cortical tubers at the protein levels. Immunostaining indicated that
      TRPV4 was specially distributed in abnormal cells, including dysplastic neurons
      (DNs) and giant cells (GCs). In addition, double immunofluorescent staining
      revealed that TRPV4 was localized on neurofilament proteins (NF200) positive
      neurons and glial fibrillary acidic portein (GFAP) positive reactive astrocytes.
      Moreover, TRPV4 co-localized with both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons.
      Furthermore, protein levels of protein kinase C (PKC), but not protein kinase A
      (PKA), the important upstream factors of the TRPV4, were significantly increased
      in cortical tubers. Taken together, the overexpression and distribution patterns
      of TRPV4 may be linked with the intractable epilepsy caused by TSC. 

PMID- 26874070
TI  - Prolactin mediates neuroprotection against excitotoxicity in primary cell
      cultures of hippocampal neurons via its receptor.
AB  - Recently it has been reported that prolactin (PRL) exerts a neuroprotective
      effect against excitotoxicity in hippocampus in the rat in vivo models. However,
      the exact mechanism by which PRL mediates this effect is not completely
      understood. The aim of our study was to assess whether prolactin exerts
      neuroprotection against excitotoxicity in an in vitro model using primary cell
      cultures of hippocampal neurons, and to determine whether this effect is mediated
      via the prolactin receptor (PRLR). Primary cell cultures of rat hippocampal
      neurons were used in all experiments, gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR,
      and protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis and
      immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was assessed by using the MTT method. The
      results demonstrated that PRL treatment of neurons from primary cultures did not
      modify cell viability, but that it exerted a neuroprotective effect, with cells
      treated with PRL showing a significant increase of viability after glutamate
      (Glu)--induced excitotoxicity as compared with neurons treated with Glu alone.
      Cultured neurons expressed mRNA for both PRL and its receptor (PRLR), and both
      PRL and PRLR expression levels changed after the excitotoxic insult.
      Interestingly, the PRLR protein was detected as two main isoforms of 100 and 40
      kDa as compared with that expressed in hypothalamic cells, which was present only
      as a 30 kDa variant. On the other hand, PRL was not detected in neuron cultures,
      either by western blot or by immunohistochemistry. Neuroprotection induced by PRL
      was significantly blocked by specific oligonucleotides against PRLR, thus
      suggesting that the PRL role is mediated by its receptor expressed in these
      neurons. The overall results indicated that PRL induces neuroprotection in
      neurons from primary cell cultures.

PMID- 26874071
TI  - Neuronal activity in primate prefrontal cortex related to goal-directed behavior
      during auditory working memory tasks.
AB  - Prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been documented to play critical roles in goal
      directed behaviors, like representing goal-relevant events and working memory
      (WM). However, neurophysiological evidence for such roles of PFC has been
      obtained mainly with visual tasks but rarely with auditory tasks. In the present
      study, we tested roles of PFC in auditory goal-directed behaviors by recording
      local field potentials in the auditory region of left ventrolateral PFC while a
      monkey performed auditory WM tasks. The tasks consisted of multiple events and
      required the monkey to change its mental states to achieve the reward. The events
      were auditory and visual stimuli, as well as specific actions. Mental states were
      engaging in the tasks and holding task-relevant information in auditory WM. We
      found that, although based on recordings from one hemisphere in one monkey only,
      PFC represented multiple events that were important for achieving reward,
      including auditory and visual stimuli like turning on and off an LED, as well as
      bar touch. The responses to auditory events depended on the tasks and on the
      context of the tasks. This provides support for the idea that neuronal
      representations in PFC are flexible and can be related to the behavioral meaning
      of stimuli. We also found that engaging in the tasks and holding information in
      auditory WM were associated with persistent changes of slow potentials, both of
      which are essential for auditory goal-directed behaviors. Our study, on a single
      hemisphere in a single monkey, reveals roles of PFC in auditory goal-directed
      behaviors similar to those in visual goal-directed behaviors, suggesting that
      functions of PFC in goal-directed behaviors are probably common across the
      auditory and visual modality. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled
      SI: Auditory working memory.

PMID- 26874069
TI  - Voltage-gated potassium channels involved in regulation of physiological function
      in MrgprA3-specific itch neurons.
AB  - Itch is described as an unpleasant or irritating skin sensation that elicits the
      desire or reflex to scratch. MrgprA3, one of members of the Mrgprs family, is
      specifically expressed in a subpopulation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in the
      peripheral nervous system (PNS). These MrgprA3-expressing DRG neurons have been
      identified as itch-specific neurons. They can be activated by the compound,
      chloroquine, which is used as a drug to treat malaria. In the present study, we
      labeled these itch-specific neurons using the method of molecular genetic
      markers, and then studied their electrophysiological properties. We also recorded
      the cutaneous MrgprA3(-) neurons retrogradely labeled by Dil dye (MrgprA3(-)
      Dil). We first found that MrgprA3(+) neurons have a lower excitability than
      MrgprA3(-) neurons (MrgprA3(-)-non-Dil and MrgprA3(-)-Dil). The number of action
      potential (AP) was reduced more obviously in MrgprA3(+) neurons than that of in
      MrgprA3(-) neurons. In most cases, MrgprA3(+) neurons only generated single AP;
      however, in MrgprA3(-) neurons, the same stimulation could induce multiple AP
      firing due to the greater voltage-gated potassium (Kv) current existence in
      MrgprA3(+) than in MrgprA3(-) neurons. Thus, Kv current plays an important role
      in the regulation of excitability in itch-specific neurons. 

PMID- 26874072
TI  - Nobiletin promotes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses and elicits
      protection against ischemic stroke in vivo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Post-ischemic oxidative stress and inflammation play pivotal roles in
      the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and may represent therapeutic targets.
      Nobiletin (NOB) has been reported to elicit a variety of biological effects
      through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Our previous study has
      demonstrated the beneficial effect of NOB in ischemic stroke, but the underlying
      mechanisms remain poorly defined. We therefore further investigated the role of
      NOB in cerebral ischemia and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: Adult male
      Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Sham (sham
      operated+0.05% Tween-80), permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO+0.9%
      saline), Vehicle (pMCAO+0.05% Tween-80), NOB-L (pMCAO+NOB 10mg/kg) and NOB-H
      (pMCAO+NOB 25mg/kg) groups. Rats were pre-administered intraperitoneally once
      daily for 3 days prior to ischemia and then received once again immediately after
      surgery. Neurological deficit, brain edema and infarct volume were evaluated at
      24h after stroke. Immunohistochemistry, western blot and RT-qPCR were used to
      detect the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD1, NF-kappaB and MMP-9. SOD1, GSH and MDA
      were measured by spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Compared with Vehicle group,
      neurological deficits and brain edema were relieved in NOB-H group, infarct
      volume was lessened in both NOB-L and NOB-H groups (P<0.05). NOB significantly
      increased the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD1 and GSH, while decreased the levels
      of NF-kappaB, MMP-9 and MDA (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: NOB may have a neuroprotective
      effect on cerebral ischemia, and this protection may be through upregulating
      Nrf2, HO-1 and downregulating NF-kappaB expression.

PMID- 26874073
TI  - Impact of neck failure on survival in older patients with differentiated thyroid
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Regional recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is often
      salvaged with neck dissection without survival penalty. It is unknown whether
      recurrence may be associated with inferior survival in older patients. METHODS:
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and Medicare data were linked
      to identify patients age >=65 with nonmetastatic DTC. Patients undergoing neck
      dissection >6 months after their initial diagnosis were considered to have
      regional recurrent disease. We compared overall survival (OS) and cause-specific
      survival (CSS) for patients with recurrent disease versus a matched cohort of
      patients with non-recurrent DTC. RESULTS: Of 6235 patients, 143 had treatment
      defined recurrent disease. Patients with recurrent disease had inferior OS (p <
      .01) and CSS (p < .01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that recurrent disease
      was independently associated with inferior 10-year OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.75;
      p < .01) and CSS (HR = 3.05; p < .01). CONCLUSION: Regional recurrence of DTC may
      negatively impact OS and CSS in patients >=65 years old. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 919-924, 2016.

PMID- 26874074
TI  - Radiation safety for anaesthesia providers in the orthopaedic operating room.
AB  - In many orthopaedic operating rooms, anaesthesia providers routinely wear lead
      aprons for protection from radiation, but some studies have questioned whether
      this is needed. We conducted a systematic review to identify studies that
      measured the amount of radiation that anaesthetists were exposed to in the
      orthopaedic operating room. Multiple studies have shown that at 1.5 m from the
      source of radiation, anaesthetists received no radiation, or amounts so small
      that a person would have to be present in an unreasonable number of operations to
      receive cumulative doses of any significance. Radiation doses at this distance
      were often at the limits of the sensitivity of the measuring dosimeter. We
      question the need to wear lead protection for anaesthesia providers who are
      routinely at 1.5 m or a greater distance from standard fluoroscopy units. 

PMID- 26874075
TI  - Should the Integrity of Mucosa Be Considered in Endoscopic Resection of Gastric
      Submucosal Tumors?

PMID- 26874077
TI  - Concordance of the location of the innervation zone of the tibialis anterior
      muscle using voluntary and imposed contractions by electrostimulation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The innervation zone (IZ) corresponds to the location of the
      neuromuscular junctions. Its location can be determined by using arranged surface
      linear electrode arrays. Typically, voluntary muscle contractions (VC) are used
      in this method. However, it also may be necessary to locate the IZ under clinical
      conditions such as spasticity, in which this type of contraction is difficult to
      perform. Therefore, contractions imposed by electrostimulation (ES) can be an
      alternative. There is little background comparing the locations of IZ obtained by
      two different types of contractions. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the concordance between
      using voluntary and imposed contractions from electrostimulation in order to
      determine the location of the innervation zone of the tibialis anterior muscle in
      healthy volunteers. METHODS: The tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of sixteen
      volunteers (men: 8; women: 8; age: 22.1+/-1.4years, weight: 61.6+/-7.5kg, height:
      167.1+/-7.5cm) were evaluated using a linear electrode array. The IZ of the TA
      muscle was located using two types of muscle contractions, voluntary (10% MVC)
      and imposed contractions by ES. The concordance between both conditions was
      evaluated using the Bland-Altman method and the concordance correlation
      coefficient (CCC). The analyses were applied to the absolute and relative
      positions to the length of an anatomical landmark frame. RESULTS: CCC for
      absolute position was 0.98 (p<0.0001, 95% CI [0.98-1.00], and CCC for relative
      positions also was 0.98 (p<0.0001, 95% CI [0.97-1.00]). The Bland-Altman analysis
      for absolute data showed an average difference of -0.63mm (SD: 4.1). Whereas, for
      adjusted data, the average difference was -0.20% (SD: 1.2). The power of the
      results, based on absolute data, was 98%, whereas for relative data, 82%.
      CONCLUSION: In healthy volunteers, there was a substantially concordance between
      the location of the IZ of the TA muscle derived from using contractions imposed
      by ES and the location derived from using VC.

PMID- 26874078
TI  - Neuromuscular response amplitude to mechanical stimulation using large-array
      surface electromyography in participants with and without chronic low back pain.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the neuromuscular response under
      various mechanical stimulations of the lumbar spine in participants with and
      without chronic low back pain (cLBP). METHODS: Four mechanical stimulations,
      characterized by forces ranging from 75 to 225N, were delivered using a servo
      controlled linear actuator motor to the L3 spinous process of 25 healthy
      participants and 26 participants with cLBP. Lumbar neuromuscular responses were
      recorded using 64-electrodes large surface electromyography arrays. Between-group
      differences in the dose-response relationship (neuromuscular response amplitude
      according to each force level) were assessed using mixed model ANOVAs. RESULTS:
      No differences between groups were shown (all p values>.05). A significant linear
      relationship was observed between forces and neuromuscular response amplitudes
      (p<.001) indicating an increase in response amplitudes with increasing
      stimulation force. Responses were observed throughout the lumbar region with
      highest response amplitudes in the vicinity of the contacted vertebra.
      CONCLUSION: The neuromuscular response amplitude triggered by localized lumbar
      mechanical stimulations does not differ between participants with and without
      cLBP. Moreover, even though stimulations were delivered at specific spinal
      segment, a neuromuscular response, although rapidly decreasing, was observed in
      areas distant from the contact site.

PMID- 26874076
TI  - Elafibranor, an Agonist of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-alpha
      and -delta, Induces Resolution of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Without Fibrosis
      Worsening.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Elafibranor is an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta.
      Elafibranor improves insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, and lipid
      metabolism and reduces inflammation. We assessed the safety and efficacy of
      elafibranor in an international, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled
      trial of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: Patients
      with NASH without cirrhosis were randomly assigned to groups given elafibranor 80
      mg (n = 93), elafibranor 120 mg (n = 91), or placebo (n = 92) each day for 52
      weeks at sites in Europe and the United States. Clinical and laboratory
      evaluations were performed every 2 months during this 1-year period. Liver
      biopsies were then collected and patients were assessed 3 months later. The
      primary outcome was resolution of NASH without fibrosis worsening, using protocol
      defined and modified definitions. Data from the groups given the different doses
      of elafibranor were compared with those from the placebo group using step-down
      logistic regression, adjusting for baseline nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
      activity score. RESULTS: In intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant
      difference between the elafibranor and placebo groups in the protocol-defined
      primary outcome. However, NASH resolved without fibrosis worsening in a higher
      proportion of patients in the 120-mg elafibranor group vs the placebo group (19%
      vs 12%; odds ratio = 2.31; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-5.24; P = .045), based
      on a post-hoc analysis for the modified definition. In post-hoc analyses of
      patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score >=4 (n = 234),
      elafibranor 120 mg resolved NASH in larger proportions of patients than placebo
      based on the protocol definition (20% vs 11%; odds ratio = 3.16; 95% confidence
      interval: 1.22-8.13; P = .018) and the modified definitions (19% vs 9%; odds
      ratio = 3.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.32-9.40; P = .013). Patients with NASH
      resolution after receiving elafibranor 120 mg had reduced liver fibrosis stages
      compared with those without NASH resolution (mean reduction of 0.65 +/- 0.61 in
      responders for the primary outcome vs an increase of 0.10 +/- 0.98 in
      nonresponders; P < .001). Liver enzymes, lipids, glucose profiles, and markers of
      systemic inflammation were significantly reduced in the elafibranor 120-mg group
      vs the placebo group. Elafibranor was well tolerated and did not cause weight
      gain or cardiac events, but did produce a mild, reversible increase in serum
      creatinine (effect size vs placebo: increase of 4.31 +/- 1.19 MUmol/L; P < .001).
      CONCLUSIONS: A post-hoc analysis of data from trial of patients with NASH showed
      that elafibranor (120 mg/d for 1 year) resolved NASH without fibrosis worsening,
      based on a modified definition, in the intention-to-treat analysis and in
      patients with moderate or severe NASH. However, the predefined end point was not
      met in the intention to treat population. Elafibranor was well tolerated and
      improved patients' cardiometabolic risk profile. ClinicalTrials.gov number:
      NCT01694849.

PMID- 26874080
TI  - Perceived discrimination and poor health: Accounting for self-blame complicates a
      well-established relationship.
AB  - Past research has reliably demonstrated that both perceiving oneself as a target
      of discrimination and a tendency to blame negative events on oneself undermine
      psychological and physical health. These two literatures, however, have evolved
      largely independently of one another. The present research sought to develop a
      deeper understanding of the health effects of perceived discrimination by taking
      into account the relationship between perceived discrimination and self-blame. In
      two correlational studies, we examined perceived ethnic-based discrimination,
      self-blame, and psychological and physical health among White and ethnic minority
      adults residing in the United States. Contrary to the hypothesis that attributing
      negative events to discrimination leads to the discounting of self-blame,
      perceived discrimination and self-blame were positively related. Replicating past
      research, perceived discrimination was negatively related to health when examined
      as an independent predictor. When perceived discrimination and self-blame were
      examined as simultaneous predictors of health, however, the negative health
      effects of perceived discrimination were weakened. Furthermore, an alternative
      model revealed that perceived discrimination indirectly predicted decreased
      health through increased self-blame. The present findings highlight the
      importance of taking self-blame into account when assessing and interpreting the
      negative health effects of perceived discrimination. 

PMID- 26874079
TI  - Human GBP1 does not localize to pathogen vacuoles but restricts Toxoplasma
      gondii.
AB  - Guanylate binding proteins (GBPs) are a family of large interferon-inducible
      GTPases that are transcriptionally upregulated upon infection with intracellular
      pathogens. Murine GBPs (mGBPs) including mGBP1 and 2 localize to and disrupt
      pathogen-containing vacuoles (PVs) resulting in the cell-autonomous clearing or
      innate immune detection of PV-resident pathogens. Human GBPs (hGBPs) are known to
      exert antiviral host defense and activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, but it is
      unclear whether hGBPs can directly recognize and control intravacuolar pathogens.
      Here, we report that endogenous or ectopically expressed hGBP1 fails to associate
      with PVs formed in human cells by the bacterial pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis
      or Salmonella typhimurium or the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. While we
      find that hGBP1 expression has no discernible effect on intracellular replication
      of C. trachomatis and S. typhimurium, we observed enhanced early Toxoplasma
      replication in CRISPR hGBP1-deleted human epithelial cells. We thus identified a
      novel role for hGBP1 in cell-autonomous immunity that is independent of PV
      translocation, as observed for mGBPs. This study highlights fundamental
      differences between human and murine GBPs and underlines the need to study the
      functions of GBPs at cellular locations away from PVs.

PMID- 26874082
TI  - A single adaptive point mutation in Japanese encephalitis virus capsid is
      sufficient to render the virus as a stable vector for gene delivery.
AB  - Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a neurotropic flavivirus that has broad
      range of hosts. Stable JEV vector has not been reported yet. Here, we constructed
      a JEV-EGFP by inserting a fragment of C38 (the N-terminal 38 amino acids of
      capsid)-EGFP-FMDV2A into the junction between 5'UTR and the N-terminus of capsid
      gene. An adaptive nucleotide mutation T45G (location at the N-terminus of capsid
      gene), resulting in an amino acid change from asparagine to lysine (N15K), was
      identified by genome sequencing. It stabilized the vector and enlarged the
      virion. The stabilizing effect might be general because it is also stable when
      EGFP was replaced with another marker, SNAP. A model was proposed for this
      stabilization effect based on previously published and our data. This finding may
      be used to construct various JEV-based stable delivery systems for virological
      studies and neural circuit tracing. 

PMID- 26874081
TI  - Evidence of social network influence on multiple HIV risk behaviors and normative
      beliefs among young Tanzanian men.
AB  - Research on network-level influences on HIV risk behaviors among young men in sub
      Saharan Africa is severely lacking. One significant gap in the literature that
      may provide direction for future research with this population is understanding
      the degree to which various HIV risk behaviors and normative beliefs cluster
      within men's social networks. Such research may help us understand which HIV
      related norms and behaviors have the greatest potential to be changed through
      social influence. Additionally, few network-based studies have described the
      structure of social networks of young men in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding
      the structure of men's peer networks may motivate future research examining the
      ways in which network structures shape the spread of information, adoption of
      norms, and diffusion of behaviors. We contribute to filling these gaps by using
      social network analysis and multilevel modeling to describe a unique dataset of
      mostly young men (n = 1249 men and 242 women) nested within 59 urban social
      networks in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We examine the means, ranges, and clustering
      of men's HIV-related normative beliefs and behaviors. Networks in this urban
      setting varied substantially in both composition and structure and a large
      proportion of men engaged in risky behaviors including inconsistent condom use,
      sexual partner concurrency, and intimate partner violence perpetration. We found
      significant clustering of normative beliefs and risk behaviors within these men's
      social networks. Specifically, network membership explained between 5.78 and
      7.17% of variance in men's normative beliefs and between 1.93 and 15.79% of
      variance in risk behaviors. Our results suggest that social networks are
      important socialization sites for young men and may influence the adoption of
      norms and behaviors. We conclude by calling for more research on men's social
      networks in Sub-Saharan Africa and map out several areas of future inquiry.

PMID- 26874083
TI  - Ebola virus disease diagnosis by real-time RT-PCR: A comparative study of 11
      different procedures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Ebola virus disease relies on the detection of viral
      RNA in blood by real-time reverse-transcription PCR. While several of these
      assays were developed during the unprecedented 2013-2015 Ebola virus disease
      outbreak in West Africa, few were applied in the field. OBJECTIVES: To compare
      technical performances and practical aspects of 11 Ebola virus real-time reverse
      transcription PCR procedures. STUDY DESIGN: We selected the most promising assays
      using serial dilutions of culture-derived Ebola virus RNA and determined their
      analytical sensitivity and potential range of quantification using quantified in
      vitro transcribed RNA; viral load values in the serum of an Ebola virus disease
      patient obtained with these assays were reported. Finally, ease of use and
      turnaround times of these kits were evaluated. RESULTS: Commercial assays were at
      least as sensitive as in-house tests. Five of the former (Altona, Roche, Fast
      track Diagnostics, and Life Technologies) were selected for further evaluation.
      Despite differences in analytical sensitivity and limits of quantification, all
      of them were suitable for Ebola virus diagnosis and viral load estimation. The
      Lifetech Lyophilized Ebola Virus (Zaire 2014) assay (Life Technologies) appeared
      particularly promising, displaying the highest analytical sensitivity and
      shortest turnaround time, in addition to requiring no reagent freezing.
      CONCLUSIONS: Commercial kits were at least as sensitive as in-house tests and
      potentially easier to use in the field than the latter. This qualitative
      comparison of real-time reverse transcription PCR assays may serve as a basis for
      the design of future Ebola virus disease diagnostics.

PMID- 26874084
TI  - Effects of pre-slaughter diet/management system and fasting period on
      physiological indicators and meat quality traits of lambs.
AB  - This study determined the effects of pre-slaughter diet/management system on
      blood and rumen parameters and meat-quality traits of Norduz lambs. Eighty lambs
      were divided into two groups according to diet (AH: alfalfa hay; BAH: alfalfa
      supplemented with 500 g/head barley) for 21 days. Following this period, lambs
      from each group were distributed among four groups according to pre-slaughter
      fasting period as 0, 12, 24 or 48 h. Cortisol concentrations were found to be
      significantly higher in the 24 h and 48 h groups when compared to the 0 h group
      (p<0.01). Diet and fasting period had limited effect on muscle glycogen content
      and ultimate pH.L*, WHC and moisture decreased in line with increases in the
      fasting period (p<0.01). In conclusion, carcass conformation and some meat
      quality traits were better in BAH lambs. Fasting had a negative effect on some
      meat quality parameters, with significant increases in some physiological stress
      indicators after fasting periods of 24 h or longer.

PMID- 26874085
TI  - Feed efficiency indexes and their relationships with carcass, non-carcass and
      meat quality traits in Nellore steers.
AB  - Five hundred and seventy-five Nellore steers were evaluated for residual feed
      intake and residual feed intake and gain and their relationships between carcass,
      non-carcass and meat quality traits. RFI was measured by the difference between
      observed and predicted dry matter intake and RIG was obtained by the sum of 
      1*RFI and residual gain. Efficient and inefficient animals were classified
      adopting +/-0.5 standard deviations from RFI and RIG mean. A mixed model was used
      including RFI or RIG and contemporary group as fixed effects, initial age as
      covariate and sire and experimental period as random effects, testing the
      significance of the regression slope for each evaluated trait. RIG was positively
      related to longissimus muscle area. Efficient-RFI animals had lower liver and
      internal fat proportions compared to inefficient-RFI animals. Efficient-RFI and
      efficient-RIG animals had 11.8% and 11.2% lower extracted intramuscular fat,
      compared to inefficient-RFI and inefficient-RIG animals, respectively. Efficient
      RFI animals had tougher meat compared to inefficient-RFI animals. 

PMID- 26874086
TI  - Pre-slaughter sound levels and pre-slaughter handling from loading at the farm
      till slaughter influence pork quality.
AB  - This study investigates the relationship between sound levels, pre-slaughter
      handling during loading and pork quality. Pre-slaughter variables were
      investigated from loading till slaughter. A total of 3213 pigs were measured 30
      min post-mortem for pH(30LT) (M. Longissimus thoracis). First, a sound level
      model for the risk to develop PSE meat was established. The difference in maximum
      and mean sound level during loading, mean sound level during lairage and mean
      sound level prior to stunning remained significant within the model. This
      indicated that sound levels during loading had a significant added value to
      former sound models. Moreover, this study completed the global classification
      checklist (Vermeulen et al., 2015a) by developing a linear mixed model for
      pH(30LT) and PSE prevalence, with the difference in maximum and mean sound level
      measured during loading, the feed withdrawal period and the difference in
      temperature during loading and lairage. Hence, this study provided new insights
      over previous research where loading procedures were not included.

PMID- 26874087
TI  - A study on the tensile properties of silicone rubber/polypropylene fibers/silica
      hybrid nanocomposites.
AB  - Metacarpophalangeal joint implants have been usually made of silicone rubber. In
      the current study, silica nano particles and polypropylene fibers were added to
      silicone rubber to improve silicone properties. The effect of the addition of
      silica nano particles and polypropylene fibers on the tensile behavior of the
      resultant composites were investigated. Composite samples with different content
      of PP fibers and Silica nano particles (i. e. 0, 1 and 2wt%) as well as the
      hybrid composite of silicone rubber with 1wt% SiO2 and 1wt% PP fiber were
      prepared. Tensile tests were done at constant cross head speed. To study the body
      fluid effect on the mechanical properties of silicone rubber composites, samples
      soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 degrees C were also tested. The
      morphology of the samples were studied by scanning electron microscope. Results
      of analysis revealed that an increase in PP fibers and silica nano particles
      content to 2wt%, increases the tensile strength of silicone rubber of about 75%
      and 42% respectively. It was found out that the strength of the samples decreases
      after being soaked in simulated body fluid, though composites with PP fibers as
      the reinforcement showed less property degradation. 

PMID- 26874088
TI  - Porous vitalium-base nano-composite for bone replacement: Fabrication,
      mechanical, and in vitro biological properties.
AB  - Porous nano-composites were successfully prepared on addition of 58S bioactive
      glass to Co-base alloy with porosities of 37.2-58.8% by the combination of
      milling, space-holder and powder metallurgy techniques. The results of X-ray
      diffraction analysis showed that induced strain during milling of the Co-base
      alloy powder and also isothermal heat treatment during sintering process led to
      HCP<->FCC phase transformation which affected mechanical properties of the
      samples during compression test. Field emission scanning electron microscopy
      images showed that despite the remaining 58S powder in nanometer size in the
      composite, there were micro-particles due to sintering at high temperature which
      led to two different apatite morphologies after immersion in simulated body
      fluid. Calculated elastic modulus and 0.2% proof strength from stress-strain
      curves of compression tests were in the range of 2.2-8.3GPa and 34-198MPa,
      respectively. In particular, the mechanical properties of sample with 37.2% were
      found to be similar to those of human cortical bone. Apatite formation which was
      identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pH meter and Fourier-transform
      infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that it could successfully convert
      bioinert Co-base alloy to bioactive type by adding 58S bioglass nano-particles.
      SEM images of cell cultured on the porous nano-composite with 37.2% porosity
      showed that cells properly grew on the surface and inside the micro and macro
      pores. 

PMID- 26874089
TI  - Correlation Between Femoral Neck Shaft Angle and Surgical Management in Trainees
      With Femoral Neck Stress Fractures.
AB  - The most common overuse injury leading to medical discharge of military recruits
      is a stress fracture. One of the high-risk stress fractures is of the lateral
      femoral neck which risks osteonecrosis of the femoral head, the need for
      arthroplasty and permanent disability. To prevent fracture progression early
      surgical intervention is recommended. Surgical repairs are performed in about 25%
      of cases of femoral neck stress fractures at military treatment facilities. Hip
      geometry is an important intrinsic risk for stress fractures. Loads in the
      average loading direction will not cause a fracture, but loads of extreme
      magnitude or extreme orientation may. The purpose of this study was to determine
      if, in the presence of femoral neck stress fracture, there is a correlation
      between femoral neck shaft angle, surgical treatment and outcomes. The results of
      this study suggest there is no correlation between return to full military duty
      rates, treatment, femoral neck shaft angle or fracture grade on MRI. Patients who
      underwent surgical fixation had greater fracture grade and pain than those that
      did not have surgery. Individuals who did not return to duty tended to have
      higher pain scores at initial evaluation. 

PMID- 26874090
TI  - Observed Rates of Lower Extremity Stress Fractures After Implementation of the
      Army Physical Readiness Training Program at JBSA Fort Sam Houston.
AB  - Millions of dollars are lost each year to the US military in medical discharges
      from injuries sustained in the initial training of recruits. Most medical
      discharges in recruits are related to musculoskeletal overuse injuries, including
      stress fractures. Any strategies that can reduce injury rates are also likely to
      reduce rates of medical discharge. This study evaluated the Army Physical
      Readiness Training (PRT) program which was established to provide a method of
      physical fitness training that would reduce the number of preventable injuries.
      We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the number of lower extremity
      stress fractures that were diagnosed in the 6 months prior to and 6 months
      following the implementation of the PRT program. Electronic medical records were
      queried for specific diagnoses of stress fractures to the pelvis, femoral neck,
      femoral shaft, tibia, fibula, tarsals and metatarsals. The observed number of
      diagnoses in each time period were compared using the chi2 method. Decrease was
      shown not only in the overall occurrence of stress fractures, but specifically in
      the occurrence of stress fractures of the femoral neck, femoral shaft, and
      tarsals. Our study was able to show a correlation between the PRT program and a
      decrease in the observed occurrence of lower extremity stress fractures. 

PMID- 26874091
TI  - What Soldiers Know and Want to Know About Preventing Injuries: A Needs Survey
      Regarding a Key Threat to Readiness.

PMID- 26874092
TI  - Rhabdomyolysis in a Sickle Cell Trait Positive Active Duty Male Soldier.
AB  - Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a complication of sickle cell trait (SCT) likely
      first reported in the military population over 40 years ago. Although commonly a
      benign condition, numerous studies and case reports have identified SCT positive
      patients to be at increased risk for rhabdomyolysis, compartment syndrome and
      sudden cardiac death. We report a recent case of an SCT positive African American
      active duty male Soldier who suffered exertional rhabdomyolysis following an Army
      Physical Fitness Test. His course was complicated by acute renal failure
      requiring hemodialysis, and he eventually recovered renal function. The diagnosis
      was significantly delayed despite a typical clinical presentation and available
      SCT screening results. The case highlights the importance of the recognition of
      SCT as a risk factor for severe rhabdomyolysis, and suggests more must be done
      for an effective SCT screening program for the active duty military population. 

PMID- 26874093
TI  - Hydration Status in US Military Officer Students.
AB  - Relocation from a cool to a hot climate is a frequent occurrence in military
      service. Acclimatization requires time and exposure to heat. Nonacclimatized
      individuals frequently consume inadequate fluid leading to hypohydration, which
      can quickly result in dehydration with increased risk of heat illness/injury.
      This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the hydration status of 196
      officers attending the US Army Medical Department's Officer Basic Course (67%) or
      Captain's Career Course (33%) in San Antonio, Texas, prior to taking the Army
      Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Consenting Soldiers provided a first morning void
      urine sample and demographic survey (age, rank, sex, previous geographic
      location, etc) prior to the APFT. Height, weight, and APFT event scores were
      collected from a subject-coded, APFT scorecard without personal information data.
      Binary logistic regression was performed to identify variables that contribute to
      predicting hypohydration status. The sample population was 54% male, a mean age
      of 30 years, 5.2 years of military service, and a mean body mass index of 25
      kg/m2. Nearly one-third met the criteria for hypohydration (>=1.02 urine specific
      gravity). Soldiers who relocated from a cool environment within 9 days of taking
      the APFT had 2.1 higher odds of being hypohydrated compared with individuals who
      had resided in a hot environment for more than 9 days. Women had a 0.5 lower odds
      of being hypohydrated as compared to males. Significantly more Soldiers were
      hypohydrated on Monday compared to those tested on Tuesday (33% vs 16%, P=.004).
      Given these findings, the authors provided 5 recommendations to reduce the number
      of Soldiers exercising in a hypohydrated state. 

PMID- 26874094
TI  - Muscle-related Disability Following Combat Injury Increases With Time.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Combat injuries are most often to the extremities, resulting in a
      majority of long term disabilities being of orthopaedic nature. Some injuries are
      expected to improve with time. The Army Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) gives
      consideration for conditions that may improve with further care by placing
      eligible patients on a temporary retirement list. While this may be appropriate
      for some conditions, injuries such as those to skeletal muscle can be
      irrecoverable. We aimed to examine combat injured subjects with known muscle
      injuries who were placed in temporary retirement status to determine if their
      muscle conditions improved. We hypothesized that muscle-related disability would
      not improve despite additional time for recovery. METHODS: The PEB results of 33
      combat wounded service members were reviewed to determine what individuals were
      placed in temporary retirement status. We compared what muscle conditions were
      present at each PEB examination including the initial review, internal temporary
      retirement reexaminations, and the final adjudication. We also compared if the
      disability rating assigned to the muscle condition changed with time. FINDINGS:
      Eighteen of the 33 subjects were placed in temporary retirement status prior to
      their final retirement. None of the subjects experienced improvement in their
      muscle condition as measured by disability ratings. Seven subjects worsened while
      9 subjects had muscle conditions recognized at their final disposition that were
      not recognized at initial exam. Two subjects have muscle disability ratings that
      were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: While temporary retirement status provided
      opportunities for injured service members to experience additional improvement
      prior to permanent retirement, not all conditions can be expected to improve.
      This study demonstrates that the Army PEB ratings for muscle conditions did not
      improve despite additional recovery time being granted to the subjects on
      temporary retirement status.

PMID- 26874095
TI  - War and Rehabilitation: Occupational Therapy's Power to Transform Disability Into
      Ability.

PMID- 26874096
TI  - Center for the Intrepid: Providing Patients POWER.

PMID- 26874097
TI  - Implementation of a Transition of Care Coordinator at a Military Treatment
      Facility.
AB  - A patient's transition from the inpatient to the outpatient setting is complex
      and prone to medical errors. This subsequently increases patient morbidity and
      cost to the healthcare system. METHODS: Our quality improvement initiative used a
      licensed clinical social worker from within a Family Medicine residency clinic to
      serve as a Transitions of Care Coordinator (TOCC) with the goal of decreasing
      patient morbidity and system cost. RESULTS: The number of documented patient
      contacts by our primary care office in the postdischarge period increased
      significantly after implementation of the TOCC (3.1% vs 40.2%, P=.01). Pearson
      correlation during our postimplementation period suggested an inverse
      relationship between contact by a TOCC and emergency department (ED) and hospital
      utilization rates (r=-0.68, P=.05 and r=0.062, P=.005, respectively). However,
      the percentage of ED visits (11.9% vs 20.8%, P=.02) and hospital readmissions
      (5.6% vs 13.7%, P=.01) significantly increased overall between the pre-and
      postimplementation periods. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a TOCC within a
      military Family Medicine residency clinic significantly increased the frequency
      of ED visits and readmissions to the inpatient service for patients discharged
      from the Family Medicine inpatient service.

PMID- 26874098
TI  - Influence of Individual Determinants on Physical Activity at Work and During
      Leisure Time in Soldiers: A Prospective Surveillance Study.
AB  - Quantified physical activity is an important parameter for evaluating the risk of
      the incidence of internal and musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this
      study was to evaluate the physical activity of German Soldiers on duty and during
      leisure time with regard to individual determinants and to evaluate if factors
      associated with the risk of the incidence of internal or musculoskeletal
      disorders are of relevance for physical activity. For this purpose, we conducted
      activity measurements on 169 subjects. The accelerometer-based activity sensor
      was worn for 7 consecutive days. The number of steps taken was evaluated as an
      activity marker.We observed that a high body mass index and a large waist
      circumference were associated with a low activity level. Women were found to be
      more active than men, particularly during leisure time. Personnel under 25 years
      of age were more physically active than those between 25 and 50 years of age.
      Subjects with underlying musculoskeletal disorders were less active than those
      who had internal disorders or were healthy. Men and overweight people run a
      higher risk of developing musculoskeletal and internal disorders. Health
      promotion should focus on raising the physical activity level with the aim of
      exerting a positive influence on the associated risk factors. 

PMID- 26874099
TI  - GEHS Neurophysiological Classification System for Patients with Carpal Tunnel
      Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Median neuropathy at or distal to the wrist or carpal tunnel syndrome
      (CTS) is one of a number of muscle, tendon, and nerve-related disorders that
      affect people performing intensive work with their hands. Following a thorough
      history and physical examination, electrophysiological examination including both
      nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) testing may be
      performed and currently serve as the reference standard for the diagnosis of CTS.
      The EMG and NCS exams should identify the peripheral nerve, specific location in
      the nerve pathway, involvement of sensory and/or motor axons, and the presence of
      myelinopathy and/or axonopathy neuropathic process. NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL
      CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS: Clinical electrophysiologists now have 2
      neurophysiological classification systems for patients with CTS from which to
      choose when preparing their electrophysiological testing reports. The Bland
      (2000) and GEHS (2012) neurophysiological classification systems for patients
      with CTS are discussed. CASE STUDIES: Two case studies of patients with
      electrophysiological evidence of CTS are presented. Application and comparison of
      categorizations by the Bland and GEHS neurophysiological classification systems
      are incorporated into the presentation and discussion of these case studies.
      SUMMARY AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This article describes 2 neurophysiological
      classification systems for patients with CTS. The Bland system documents the
      distribution of patients with CTS on a scale based upon nerve conduction study
      findings, but it does not include any EMG findings in its grading scale. The GEHS
      neurophysiological classification system includes findings for both the NCS and
      EMG components of the electrophysiological examination. The GEHS classification
      system provides electrophysiological evidence of myelinopathy and/or axonopathy
      for patients with CTS. Additional research comparing the psychometric properties
      and prognostic utility of the Bland and GEHS neurophysiologic classifications is
      warranted.

PMID- 26874100
TI  - Q Fever.
AB  - Q fever is a significant infectious disease threat to US military personnel
      deployed in the Middle East. Its environmental stability, aerosol transmission,
      and animal reservoir make it a considerable risk for deployed troops due to its
      potential for weaponization and risk of natural infection. It presents as a flu
      like illness that responds promptly to antimicrobial therapy. Q fever should be
      suspected in patients presenting with a compatible febrile illness in an endemic
      area and especially if the individual has been exposed to livestock. Diagnosis is
      confirmed with serologic blood tests, but empiric therapy should be initiated
      when Q fever is considered. If left untreated, patients with acute Q fever can
      develop severe complications as well as chronic disease manifesting several
      months after the initial infection. 

PMID- 26874101
TI  - Mobile Phone Health Applications for the Federal Sector.
AB  - PURPOSE: As the US healthcare system moves toward a mobile care model, mobile
      phones will play a significant role in the future of healthcare delivery. Today,
      90% of American adults own a mobile phone and 64% own a smartphone, yet many
      healthcare organizations are only beginning to explore the opportunities in which
      mobile phones can improve and streamline care. METHOD: After searching Google
      Scholar, the Association for Computing Machinery Database, and PubMed for
      articles related to mobile phone health applications and cell phone text message
      health, we selected articles and studies related to the application of mobile
      phones in healthcare. From our initial review, we identified the potential
      application areas and continued to refine our search, identifying a total of 55
      articles for additional review and analysis. FINDINGS: From the literature, we
      identified 3 main themes for mobile phone implementation in improving healthcare:
      primary, preventive, and population health. We recommend federal health leaders
      pursue the value and potential in these areas; not only because 90% of Americans
      already own mobile phones, but also because mobile phone integration can provide
      substantial access and potential cost savings. CONCLUSION: From the positive
      findings of multiple studies in primary, preventive, and population health, we
      propose a 5-year federal implementation plan to integrate mobile phone
      capabilities into federal healthcare delivery. Our proposal has the potential to
      improve access, reduce costs, and increase patient satisfaction, therefore
      changing the way the federal sector delivers healthcare by 2021.

PMID- 26874102
TI  - A Primary Care Telehealth Experience in a US Army Correctional Facility in
      Germany.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using telehealth (TH) equipment and
      infrastructure within the US Army's European Theater to evaluate and treat
      inmates with general medical complaints, and perform physicals and medical safety
      checks in a US Army Correctional Facility (CORFAC). METHODS AND MATERIALS:
      Synchronous TH encounters were performed using Polycom RealPresence software on
      providers' computers with high definition cameras on monitors at distant sites
      and PolyCom HDX9000 Practitioner Cart along with AMD Global Telemedicine devices
      at the originating site within the CORFAC. These devices included an AMD-2500
      General Exam Camera, AMD Fiber optic Otoscope, and AMD Telephonic Stethoscope.
      Patient consent for TH was obtained, and they were seen in the Medical Dispensary
      with Army Medics presenting the patients to the providers via TH. RESULTS: From
      May 22, 2014, to January 12, 2015, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and
      4 physicians completed 177 synchronous TH encounters primarily at a CORFAC in
      Mannheim, Germany. Of these 177 encounters, 114 were Special Housing Unit (SHU)
      safety checks and 63 encounters were for physicals, medication management, and a
      variety of medical complaints including acute infections, abdominal pain, and
      musculoskeletal and dermatological complaints. CONCLUSION: Synchronous TH was an
      effective option for the delivery of high quality routine medical care for minor
      illnesses, injuries, and other nonurgent conditions, as well as for general
      physicals and SHU checks in a correctional facility. Acceptance by providers and
      clinic staff was found to be high. Inmates were generally satisfied with their TH
      encounters. However, some inmates reported a preference to see providers in
      person, highlighting one of the challenges with acceptance of telehealth
      programs.

PMID- 26874103
TI  - Repair of a Gingival Fenestration Using an Acellular Dermal Matrix Allograft.
AB  - A case report illustrating the successful treatment of a gingival fenestration
      with an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft. After 21/2 months of healing,
      the ADM was completely integrated into the soft tissues of the mandibular
      anterior gingiva with complete resolution of the gingival fenestration, resulting
      in excellent gingival esthetics. 

PMID- 26874104
TI  - Reasons for Non-third Molar Extractions in a Military Population.

PMID- 26874105
TI  - Experimental and density functional theoretical study of the effects of Fenton's
      reaction on the degradation of Bisphenol A in a high voltage plasma reactor.
AB  - A novel electrical discharge plasma reactor configuration with and without iron
      ions was evaluated for the degradation of 0.02 mM Bisphenol A (BPA). The pseudo
      first-order reaction rate constant calculated for the plasma treatment of BPA
      with a stainless steel electrode in the presence of dissolved ferrous ion
      (Fe(2+)) salts (termed plasma/Fenton treatment) was higher than in the plasma
      treatment in the absence of iron salts. At the optimal ferrous ion concentration,
      longer plasma treatment times resulted in higher BPA degradation rates, likely
      due to increased hydroxyl (OH) radical concentration formed through the
      decomposition of H2O2. Replacing the stainless steel with a carbon steel grounded
      electrode resulted in the release of iron ions from the carbon steel thereby
      increasing the rate of BPA removal and eliminating the need for iron salts. After
      the plasma/Fenton treatment, >97% of the residual iron salts were removed by
      coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation. Byproduct identification coupled with
      density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that OH radical attack on
      BPA's hydroxyl group is the primary pathway for byproduct formation.

PMID- 26874106
TI  - Fabricating a novel label-free aptasensor for acetamiprid by fluorescence
      resonance energy transfer between NH2-NaYF4: Yb, Ho@SiO2 and Au nanoparticles.
AB  - Rare earth-doped upconversion nanoparticles have promising potential in the field
      of pesticide detection because of their unique frequency upconverting capability
      and high detection sensitivity. This paper reports a novel aptamer-based
      nanosensor for acetamiprid detection using fluorescence resonance energy transfer
      (FRET) between NH2-NaYF4: Yb, Ho@SiO2 (UCNPs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs).
      Herein, GNPs as acceptors efficiently quench the fluorescence of UCNPs and
      acetamiprid specifically interacts with acetamiprid binding aptamer (ABA),
      causing the conformation changes of ABA from random coil to hairpin structure.
      Accordingly, ABA no longer stabilizes the GNPs in salt solution, leading to the
      varying aggregation extent of GNPs. Thus, the fluorescence of UCNPs are
      proportionally recovered. Under the optimized conditions, the enhancement
      efficiency was observed to increase linearly with the concentration of
      acetamiprid from 50 nM to 1000 nM, resulting in a relatively low limit of 3.2 nM.
      Additionally, the aptasensor demonstrated high selectivity to similar structure
      pesticides such as imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos, and further confirmed its
      application capacity in adulterated tea samples.

PMID- 26874107
TI  - Low cost quantitative digital imaging as an alternative to qualitative in vivo
      bioassays for analysis of active aflatoxin B1.
AB  - Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) producing fungi contaminate food and feed and are a major
      health concern. To minimize the sources and incidence of AFB1 illness there is a
      need to develop affordable, sensitive mobile devices for detection of active
      AFB1. In the present study we used a low cost fluorescence detector and describe
      two quantitative assays for detection of detoxified and active AFB1 demonstrating
      that AFB1 concentration can be measured as intensity of fluorescence. When the
      assay plate containing increasing concentrations of AFB1 is illuminated with a
      366 nm ultraviolet lamp, AFB1 molecules absorb photons and emit blue light with
      peak wavelength of 432 nm. The fluorescence intensity increased in dose dependent
      manner. However, this method cannot distinguish between active AFB1 which poses a
      threat to health, and the detoxified AFB1 which exhibits no toxicity. To measure
      the toxin activity, we used a cell based assay that makes quantification more
      robust and is capable of detecting multiple samples simultaneously. It is an
      alternative to the qualitative duckling bioassay which is the "gold-standard"
      assay currently being used for quantitative analysis of active AFB1. AFB1 was
      incubated with transduced Vero cells expressing the green fluorescence protein
      (GFP) gene. After excitation with blue light at 475 nm, cells emitted green light
      with emission peak at 509 nm. The result shows that AFB1 inhibits protein
      expression in a concentration dependent manner resulting in proportionately less
      GFP fluorescence in cells exposed to AFB1. The result also indicates strong
      positive linear relationship with R(2)=0.90 between the low cost CCD camera and a
      fluorometer, which costs 100 times more than a CCD camera. This new analytical
      method for measuring active AFB1 is low in cost and combined with in vitro assay,
      is quantitative. It also does not require the use of animals and may be useful
      especially for laboratories in regions with limited resources.

PMID- 26874108
TI  - Detection EGFR exon 19 status of lung cancer patients by DNA electrochemical
      biosensor.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 mutation status is a very
      important prediction index for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy. In this
      paper, we constructed a superior selective sandwich-type electrochemical
      biosensor to detect in-frame deletions in exon 19 of EGFR in real samples of
      patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma. Based on the characteristics of
      different hybridization efficiency in different hybridization phase conditions,
      different region around EGFR exon 19 deletion hotspots was selected to design DNA
      probes to improve biosensor performance. The results confirm that alteration of
      deletion location in target deliberately according to different hybridization
      phase is able to improve selectivity of sandwich-type DNA biosensor. Satisfactory
      discrimination ability can be achieved when the deletions are located in the
      capture probe interaction region. In order to improve efficiency of ssDNA
      generation from dsDNA, we introduce Lambda exonuclease (lambda-exo) to sandwich
      type biosensor system. EGFR exon 19 statuses of clinical real samples from lung
      cancer patients can be discriminated successfully by the proposed method. Our
      research would make the electrochemical biosensor be an excellent candidate for
      EGFR detection for lung cancer patients. 

PMID- 26874109
TI  - Aptamer selection by direct microfluidic recovery and surface plasmon resonance
      evaluation.
AB  - A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based SELEX approach has been used to raise RNA
      aptamers against a structured RNA, derived from XBP1 pre-mRNA, that folds as two
      contiguous hairpins. Thanks to the design of the internal microfluidic cartridge
      of the instrument, the selection was performed during the dissociation phase of
      the SPR analysis by recovering the aptamer candidates directly from the target
      immobilized onto the sensor chip surface. The evaluation of the pools was
      performed by SPR, simultaneously, during the association phase, each time the
      amplified and transcribed candidates were injected over the immobilized target.
      SPR coupled with SELEX from the first to the last round allowed identifying RNA
      aptamers that formed highly stable loop-loop complexes (KD equal to 8nM) with the
      hairpin located on the 5' side of the target. High throughput sequencing of two
      key rounds confirmed the evolution observed by SPR and also revealed the
      selection of hairpins displaying a loop not fully complementary to the loop of
      its target. These candidates were selected mainly because they bound 79 times
      faster to the target than those having a complementary loop. SELEX coupled with
      SPR is expected to speed up the selection process because selection and
      evaluation are performed simultaneously. 

PMID- 26874110
TI  - Design and development of PCR-free highly sensitive electrochemical assay for
      detection of telomerase activity using Nano-based (liposomal) signal
      amplification platform.
AB  - Telomerase, which has been detected in almost all kinds of cancer tissues, is
      considered as an important tumor marker for early cancer diagnostics. In the
      present study, an electrochemical method based on liposomal signal amplification
      platform is proposed for simple, PCR-free, and highly sensitive detection of
      human telomerase activity, extracted from A549 cells. In this strategy,
      telomerase reaction products, which immobilized on streptavidin-coated
      microplate, hybridized with biotinylated capture probes. Then, dopamine-loaded
      biotinylated liposomes are attached through streptavidin to biotinylated capture
      probes. Finally, liposomes are ruptured by methanol and the released-dopamine is
      subsequently measured using differential pulse voltammetry technique by multi
      walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode. Using this strategy,
      the telomerase activity extracted from 10 cultured cancer cells could be
      detected. Therefore, this approach affords high sensitivity for telomerase
      activity detection and it can be regarded as an alternative to telomeric repeat
      amplification protocol assay, having the advantages of simplicity and less assay
      time. 

PMID- 26874111
TI  - Molecularly imprinted plasmonic nanosensor for selective SERS detection of
      protein biomarkers.
AB  - Molecularly imprinted plasmonic nanosensor has been prepared via the rational
      design of an ultrathin polymer layer on the surface of gold nanorods imprinted
      with the target protein. This nanosensor enabled selective fishing-out of the
      target protein biomarker even from a complex real sample such as human serum.
      Sensitive SERS detection of the protein biomarkers with a strong Raman
      enhancement was achieved by formation of protein imprinted gold nanorods
      aggregates, stacking of protein imprinted gold nanorods onto a glass plate, or
      self-assembly of protein imprinted gold nanorods into close-packed array. High
      specificity and sensitivity of this method were demonstrated with a detection
      limit of at least 10(-8)mol/L for the target protein. This could provide a
      promising alternative for the currently used immunoassays and fluorescence
      detection, and offer an ultrasensitive, non-destructive, and label-free technique
      for clinical diagnosis applications. 

PMID- 26874115
TI  - ESBRA Nordmann Award 2016.

PMID- 26874112
TI  - Ultrasensitive electrochemical immunoassay for surface array protein, a Bacillus
      anthracis biomarker using Au-Pd nanocrystals loaded on boron-nitride nanosheets
      as catalytic labels.
AB  - Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a well known bioterrorism
      agent. The determination of surface array protein (Sap), a unique biomarker for
      B. anthracis can offer an opportunity for specific detection of B. anthracis in
      culture broth. In this study, we designed a new catalytic bionanolabel and
      fabricated a novel electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of
      B. anthracis Sap antigen. Bimetallic gold-palladium nanoparticles were in-situ
      grown on poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) functionalized boron nitride
      nanosheets (Au-Pd NPs@BNNSs) and conjugated with the mouse anti-B. anthracis Sap
      antibodies (Ab2); named Au-Pd NPs@BNNSs/Ab2. The resulting Au-Pd NPs@BNNSs/Ab2
      bionanolabel demonstrated high catalytic activity towards reduction of 4
      nitrophenol. The sensitivity of the electrochemical immunosensor along with redox
      cycling of 4-aminophenol to 4-quinoneimine was improved to a great extent. Under
      optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor exhibited a wide working range from
      5 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL with a minimum detection limit of 1 pg/mL B. anthracis Sap
      antigen. The practical applicability of the immunosensor was demonstrated by
      specific detection of Sap secreted by the B. anthracis in culture broth just
      after 1h of growth. These labels open a new direction for the ultrasensitive
      detection of different biological warfare agents and their markers in different
      matrices.

PMID- 26874117
TI  - Nanomicelles based on a boronate ester-linked diblock copolymer as the carrier of
      doxorubicin with enhanced cellular uptake.
AB  - This study sought to develop a new type nanomicelle based on boronate ester
      linked poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(benzyl glutamate) (PEG-BC-PBLG) diblock
      copolymer as the carrier of doxorubicin (Dox) to achieve acid-induced detachment
      of PEG shells and subsequent boronic acid-mediated enhanced endocytosis. In vitro
      studies revealed that the PEG-BC-PBLG copolymer was stable in neutral solutions
      but tend to hydrolysed under acidic conditions, which was attributed to the acid
      sensitive properties of boronate ester bonds. The formation of PEG-BC@PBLG
      micelles was confirmed based on critical micelle concentration (CMC), particle
      size, and morphology observations. It was observed that these micelles were
      spherical with an average particle size of approximately 80nm, as measured by
      dynamic laser scattering (DLS), suggesting their passive targeting to tumour
      tissue and endocytosis potential. Dox-loaded PEG-BC@PBLG micelles (PEG
      BC@PBLG.Dox) showed sustained drug release profiles over 9h, and their cumulative
      drug release was dependent on the pH value of the environment. Remarkably,
      cellular uptake ability of PEG-BC@PBLG micelles was found to be higher than that
      of non-boronate ester-linked PEG@PBLG micelles due to boronic acid-mediated
      endocytosis, as revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging of
      fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) green-conjugated micelles, thereby providing
      higher cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells. The antitumour activity and toxicity of
      PEG-BC@PBLG.Dox micelles in vivo were evaluated in BLAB/c mice against HepG2 cell
      derived tumours. Compared with Dox, PEG-BC@PBLG.Dox showed reduced toxicity,
      whereas its tumour growth inhibition rate was 17% higher than that of free Dox.
      These results indicate the great potential of PEG-BC@PBLG micelles as the carrier
      of various lipophilic anticancer drugs with improved anti-tumour efficacy. 

PMID- 26874116
TI  - Analysis of chromosome translocation frequency after a single CT scan in adults.
AB  - We recently reported an increase in dicentric chromosome (DIC) formation after a
      single computed tomography (CT) scan (5.78-60.27 mSv: mean 24.24 mSv) and we
      recommended analysis of 2000 metaphase cells stained with Giemsa and centromere
      FISH for dicentric chromosome assay (DCA) in cases of low-dose radiation
      exposure. In the present study, we analyzed the frequency of chromosome
      translocations using stored Carnoy's-fixed lymphocyte specimens from the previous
      study; these specimens were from 12 patients who were subject to chromosome
      painting of Chromosomes 1, 2 and 4. Chromosomes 1, 2 and 4 were analyzed in ~5000
      cells, which is equivalent to the whole-genome analysis of almost 2000 cells. The
      frequency of chromosome translocation was higher than the number of DICs formed,
      both before and after CT scanning. The frequency of chromosome translocations
      tended to be higher, but not significantly higher, in patients with a treatment
      history compared with patients without such a history. However, in contrast to
      the results for DIC formation, the frequency of translocations detected before
      and after the CT scan did not differ significantly. Therefore, analysis of
      chromosome translocation may not be a suitable assay for detecting chromosome
      aberrations in cases of low-dose radiation exposure from a CT scan. A significant
      increase in the frequency of chromosome translocations was not likely to be
      detected due to the high baseline before the CT scan; the high and variable
      frequency of translocations was probably due to multiple confounding factors in
      adults. 

PMID- 26874118
TI  - Mussel-inspired functionalization of PEO/PCL composite coating on a biodegradable
      AZ31 magnesium alloy.
AB  - The rapid degradation of magnesium-based implants in physiological environments
      in vivo not only will quickly deteriorate their mechanical strengths but will
      also lead to a severe change of the micro-environment around the implants, which
      may cause the final failure of magnesium-based implants. In this work, a
      polycaprolactone (PCL) layer was prepared to seal the plasma electrolytic
      oxidization coating (PEO) to form a PEO/PCL composite coating on a biodegradable
      AZ31 magnesium alloy, followed by further surface functionalization with
      polydopamine. The in vitro degradation behaviors of the bare AZ31 alloy and
      coated samples were evaluated in a simulated body fluid (SBF) using the
      potentiodynamic polarization curve test and the static immersion test. The
      bioactivity of the samples was investigated using the SBF soaking test. The
      cytocompatibility of all samples was evaluated using the cytotoxicity test and
      analysis of the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1)
      directly cultivated on the sample surface. The results showed that the PCL layer
      successfully sealed the pores of the PEO coating, and then the polydopamine layer
      formed on its surface. The in vitro degradation tests showed that the PEO/PCL
      composite coating improved the corrosion resistance of the AZ31 alloy in SBF with
      a more positive corrosion potential and a lower corrosion current density. Due to
      the protection of the PEO/PCL composite coating, the surrounding environment
      showed nearly no influence on the degradation of the coated sample, which led to
      no obvious local alkalization and hydrogen evolution. Moreover, compared with the
      AZ31 alloy and PEO coating, the PEO/PCL composite coating was more suitable for
      cell adhesion and proliferation. After further surface functionalization by
      polydopamine, the corrosion resistance of the composite coating was maintained,
      while its bioactivity was significantly enhanced with a large amount of
      hydroxyapatite (HA) formed on its surface after immersion in SBF. The initial
      cell adhesion and spread were also improved by the polydopamine. By further
      immobilizing polyhexamethylene biguanidine (PHMB) onto the coating surface via
      the assistance of polydopamine, good antibacterial ability was obtained. This
      feasible method for fabricating a cytocompatible and antibacterial composite
      coating on a biodegradable AZ31 alloy may be promising in implant applications
      due to the osteointegration and anti-infection properties of these materials post
      operation. 

PMID- 26874120
TI  - Hepatocellular Carcinoma Masquerading as Gall Bladder Mass.

PMID- 26874119
TI  - Aqueous two-phase system cold-set gelation using natural and recombinant
      probiotic lactic acid bacteria as a gelling agent.
AB  - The present study aimed to entrap probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in a
      sodium alginate and sodium caseinate aqueous two-phase gel system. The natural
      acidifying properties of two therapeutic probiotic LAB were exploited to liberate
      calcium ions progressively from calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which caused the
      gelation of the co-existing phases. Bi-biopolymeric matrix gelation of GDL/CaCO3
      or LAB/CaCO3 was monitored by dynamic rheological measurements, and the final
      gels were characterized by frequency dependence measurements and confocal laser
      scanning microscopy. Weak to strong gels were formed with an elastic modulus G'
      from 10 to 1.000Pa, respectively. After cold-set gelation of our system, confocal
      laser scanning microscopy showed spherical protein microdomains trapped within a
      calcium alginate network. LAB cells were stained to study their partition in the
      self-gelling matrices. Our LAB strains showed two different behaviors, which may
      relate to the exopolysaccharide production: (i) Lactobacillus plantarum CNRZ1997
      cells were found mainly in continuous alginate networks, whereas (ii) Lactococcus
      lactis cells were localized in protein microdomains. This alginate-caseinate
      phase-separated system that was self-gelled by LAB cells may be an innovative
      approach for immobilizing and protecting LAB cells. 

PMID- 26874121
TI  - Pulmonary Synovial Sarcoma of Unknown Origin.

PMID- 26874122
TI  - Hidradenoma Papilliferum: A Case Report of an Uncommon Perianal Lesion.

PMID- 26874123
TI  - Appendicitis--Current Practices in a Tertiary Referral Center.

PMID- 26874124
TI  - Sleeve Gastrectomy: Exposure of the Left Pillar.

PMID- 26874125
TI  - An Uncommon Presentation of Gastric Outlet Obstruction: Bouveret's Syndrome.

PMID- 26874126
TI  - Sigmoidocutaneous Fistula 26 Years after Left Inguinal Hernia Repair with Mesh
      Plug Technique.

PMID- 26874127
TI  - Hemorrhagic Shock from Spontaneous Splenic Rupture Requiring Open Splenectomy in
      a Patient Taking Rivaroxaban.

PMID- 26874128
TI  - Crawford Long, Alfred Blalock, Louis Wright, and Georgia's Surgical Heritage.
AB  - Georgia and the Atlanta area are associated with three important figures in the
      history of surgery. Crawford Long (1815-1878) discovered the anesthetic effects
      of ether while in practice in Jefferson. Born in Culloden, Alfred Blalock (1899
      1964) was a pioneer researcher in shock and resuscitation, and developed the
      Blalock-Taussig shunt for Tetralogy of Fallot. His technician, African-American
      Vivien Thomas (1910-1985), was a full partner in the landmark advances. Louis T.
      Wright (1891-1952) was born in LaGrange and grew up in the Jim Crow South. As the
      country's leading black surgeon, he led the integration of major hospitals and
      helped lay the groundwork for the landmark civil rights legislation of the 1960s
      that integrated American medicine. Their stories, with roots in small towns in
      Georgia, reveal the deep surgical traditions of the South. 

PMID- 26874129
TI  - Factors Associated with Return to Work Postinjury: Can the Modified Rankin Scale
      Be Used to Predict Return to Work?
AB  - The ability to return to work (RTW) postinjury is one of the primary goals of
      rehabilitation. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a validated simple scale used
      to assess the functional status of stroke patients during rehabilitation. We
      sought to determine the applicability of mRS in predicting RTW postinjury in a
      general trauma population. The trauma registry was queried for patients, aged 18
      to 65 years, discharged from 2012 to 2013. A telephone interview for each patient
      included questions about employment status and physical ability to determine the
      mRS. Patients who had RTW postinjury were compared with those who had not (nRTW).
      Two hundred and thirty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 171
      (72.5%) patients RTW and 63 (26.7%) did nRTW. Patients who did nRTW were
      significantly older, had longer length of stay and higher rates of in-hospital
      complications. Multivariate analysis revealed that older patients were less
      likely to RTW (odds ratio = 0.961, P = 0.011) and patients with a modified Rankin
      score <=2 were 15 times more likely to RTW (odds ratio = 14.932, P < 0.001). In
      conclusion, an mRS <=2 was independently associated with a high likelihood of
      returning to work postinjury. This is the first study that shows applicability of
      the mRS for predicting RTW postinjury in a trauma population. 

PMID- 26874130
TI  - Acute Colonic Pseudo-obstruction: Defining the Epidemiology, Treatment, and
      Adverse Outcomes of Ogilvie's Syndrome.
AB  - Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) is a rare but often fatal disease.
      Herein, we present the largest study to date on ACPO. The National Inpatient
      Sample was queried for ACPO diagnoses from 1998 to 2011. Patients were analyzed
      by treatment into four groups: medical management (MM), colonoscopy alone
      [(endoscopy-only group) ENDO], surgery alone (SURG), or surgery and colonoscopy
      (SAC). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of adverse outcomes by
      treatment group. There were 106,784 cases of ACPO: 96,657 (90.5%) MM, 2,915
      (2.7%) ENDO, 6,731 (6.3%) SURG, and 481 (0.5%) SAC. The medical complication
      (45.7%), procedural complication (15.9%), and mortality rates (7.7%) were high.
      Increasing procedure invasiveness was independently associated with higher odds
      of medical complications, procedural complications, and death (P < 0.0125). The
      odds of death were significantly higher in the ENDO [odds ratio (OR) = 1.2], SURG
      (OR 1.4), and SAC (OR = 1.8) groups (P < 0.0125). Those who fail MM and require
      procedures have increasing morbidity and mortality with increasing invasiveness,
      likely reflecting the severity of their conditions. 

PMID- 26874131
TI  - Inguinal Hernia Repair Using Self-adhering Sutureless Mesh: AdhesixTM: A 3-Year
      Follow-up with Low Chronic Pain and Recurrence Rate.
AB  - To review our experience and outcomes after inguinal hernia repair using the
      lightweight self-adhering sutureless mesh "AdhesixTM" and demonstrate the safety
      and efficacy of this mesh. This is a 3-year retrospective study that included 143
      consecutive patients who underwent 149 inguinal hernia repairs at our department
      of surgery. All hernias were repaired using a modified Lichtenstein technique.
      Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were prospectively collected.
      Incidence of chronic pain, postoperative complications, recurrence, and patient
      satisfaction were assessed three years postoperatively by conducting a telephone
      survey. We had 143 patients with a mean age of 58 years (17-84), who underwent
      149 hernia repairs using the AdhesixTM mesh. Ninety-two per cent (131 patients)
      were males. Only 10 patients (7%) had a postoperative pain for more than three
      years. In our series, neither age nor gender was predictive of postoperative
      pain. Only one patient had a hematoma lasting for more than one month and only
      four patients (2.8%) had a recurrence of their hernia within three years of their
      initial surgery. Ninety per cent of the patient expressed their satisfaction when
      surveyed three years after their surgery. In conclusion, the use of the self
      adhering sutureless mesh for inguinal hernia repair has been proving itself as
      effective as the traditional mesh. AdhesixTM is associated with low chronic pain
      rate, recurrence rate, and postoperative complications rate, and can be safely
      adopted as the sole technique for inguinal hernia repair. 

PMID- 26874132
TI  - Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia on Core Needle Biopsy Does Not Require
      Surgical Excision.
AB  - Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is an uncommon, benign localized
      fibrotic lesion. Historically, PASH has been difficult to differentiate from
      angiosarcoma. This difficulty has led to recommendations of surgical excision. We
      sought to identify the incidence of upgraded pathology to atypia or malignancy on
      surgical excisional biopsy after identification of PASH on core needle biopsy
      (CNB). A 5-year retrospective review at a single institution was conducted
      including all cases of PASH confirmed on CNB. The data set was divided into
      patients who underwent excisional biopsy and those followed only by imaging.
      Primary end points included the incidence of subsequent malignancy or high-risk
      pathology on histologic analysis or the presentation of suspicious imaging.
      Thirty-seven patients were reviewed, 19 (51.4%) underwent surgical excision and
      18 (48.6%) were followed with imaging alone. A palpable mass was noted in 36.8
      per cent of patients in the excisional group versus 5.6 per cent in the imaging
      group (P = 0.02). The median follow-up for the excisional and imaging groups were
      43 and 35 months, respectively (P = 0.85). The 95 per cent confidence interval
      for the presence of malignancy was 0 to 9.4 per cent. Although further
      characterization of PASH is needed, our data support using CNB with follow-up
      imaging as a safe alternative to excisional biopsy in the absence of symptoms or
      other clinical factors. However, further research in this area is needed. 

PMID- 26874133
TI  - Multiple Preoperative Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Large
      Common Bile Duct Diameter Predict the Need for Complex Surgery.
AB  - Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is frequently used to clear
      the common bile duct (CBD) in patients with choledocholithiasis. While a single
      ERCP is usually effective, many patients undergo multiple ERCP attempts before
      cholecystectomy. Here we sought to identify preoperative factors predictive of
      surgical complexity beyond routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy after ERCP. Data
      were prospectively collected for all ERCPs between September 2010 and February
      2012 at a public academic medical center including demographics, indication,
      stone presence, CBD diameter, sphincterotomy, stent placement, and ERCP number. A
      total of 124 ERCPs were attempted in 73 patients with choledocholithiasis, 10 per
      cent of whom presented with cholangitis. Fifty-six per cent of patients underwent
      one ERCP, whereas 16 per cent required >= 3 procedures. Laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy was performed in 58 (79%) patients whereas 15 (21%) patients
      required more complex operations including eight open CBD explorations and two
      hepaticojejunostomies. The likelihood of requiring more complex surgery
      correlated with increasing number of ERCPs with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.75
      (95% confidence interval: 2.31-14.3, P <= 0.001). Increased CBD diameter also
      correlated with complex surgery with adjusted odds ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence
      interval: 1.10-2.06, P = 0.012) for each millimeter. The number of preoperative
      ERCPs and CBD diameter in choledocholithiasis patients are strong predictors of
      the need for open surgery and CBD exploration and should be considered in
      surgical planning and consent for patients requiring more than one ERCP
      procedure. 

PMID- 26874134
TI  - Surgical Management of Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Role of Curative
      Resection.
AB  - Retroperitoneal sarcomas are a rare group of malignant soft tissue tumors with a
      generally poor prognosis. However, factors affecting the recurrence and long-term
      survival are not well understood. The aim of this study was to assess clinical,
      pathological, and treatment-related factors affecting prognosis in patients with
      retroperitoneal sarcomas. The hospital records of 107 patients who underwent
      surgical exploration at our unit for primary or recurrent retroperitoneal
      sarcomas between 1984 and 2013 were reviewed. Of these patients, 92 had a primary
      tumor and 15 had a recurrent neoplasm. Study end points included factors
      affecting overall and recurrence-free survival for the 92 patients with primary
      disease. Mean follow-up was 79.7 +/- 56.3 months. Only the patients undergoing
      surgery for primary sarcoma were included in this study. Overall 5-year survival
      was 71 per cent. Disease-free 5-year survival was 65 per cent. Only tumor grade
      affects overall and disease-free survival. This study confirmed the importance of
      an aggressive surgical management for retroperitoneal sarcomas to offer these
      patients the best chance of cure. In our series, only the tumor grade seems to be
      associated with worse outcome and higher rate of recurrence, regardless of the
      size of the tumor. 

PMID- 26874135
TI  - Seat Belt Use and its Effect on Abdominal Trauma: A National Trauma Databank
      Study.
AB  - We sought to use the National Trauma Databank to determine the demographics,
      injury distribution, associated abdominal injuries, and outcomes of those
      patients who are restrained versus unrestrained. All victims of motor vehicle
      collisions (MVCs) were identified from the National Trauma Databank and
      stratified into subpopulations depending on the use of seat belts. A total of
      150,161 MVC victims were included in this study, 72,394 (48%) were belted. Young,
      male passengers were the least likely to be wearing a seat belt. Restrained
      victims were less likely to have severe injury as measured by Injury Severity
      Score and Abbreviated Injury Score. Restrained victims were also less likely to
      suffer solid organ injuries (9.7% vs 12%, P < 0.001), but more likely to have
      hollow viscous injuries (1.9% vs 1.3%, P < 0.001). The hospital and intensive
      care unit length of stay were significantly shorter in belted victims with
      adjusted mean difference: -1.36 (-1.45, -1.27) and -0.96 (-1.02, -0.90),
      respectively. Seat belt use was associated with a significantly lower crude
      mortality than unrestrained victims (1.9% vs 3.3%, P < 0.001), and after
      adjusting for differences in age, gender, position in vehicle, and deployment of
      air bags, the protective effect remained (adjusted odds ratio for mortality 0.50,
      95% confidence interval 0.47, 0.54). In conclusion, MVC victims wearing seat
      belts have a significant reduction in the severity of injuries in all body areas,
      lower mortality, a shorter hospital stay, and decreased length of stay in the
      intensive care unit. The nature of abdominal injuries, however, was significantly
      different, with a higher incidence of hollow viscous injury in those wearing seat
      belts. 

PMID- 26874136
TI  - Impact of a Transfusion-free Program on Patients Undergoing
      Pancreaticoduodenectomy.
AB  - Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) often require transfusion.
      However, transfusion-related complications and decreased blood donation in Korea
      encourage the development of new treatment strategies for PD patients. Although
      transfusion-free (TF) operation is thought to be beneficial, results supporting
      its beneficial effects are lacking. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the
      impact on PD patients of a TF program. From December 2003 to April 2013, 80
      consecutive patients with periampullary lesions underwent PD performed. These
      patients were divided into two groups as follows: 39 PD patients in the "before
      TF program" (Group 1) and 41 PD patients in the "after TF program" (Group 2).
      Among patients in Group 2, patients who agreed with the TF program were enrolled
      and proceed with the TF program prospectively. Participants in the TF program had
      perioperative blood augmentation and intraoperative acute normovolemic
      hemodilution. The perioperative data were compared with the two groups. The mean
      preoperative hemoglobin, operative times, and operative blood loss showed no
      significance between two groups. The mean postoperative hemoglobin was lower in
      Group 2 (11.7 g/dL vs 10.9 g/dL, P = 0.038). The mean amount of blood transfusion
      was significantly lower in Group 2. (950.8 mL vs 124.9 mL, P = 0.009). The TF
      program considerably decreases the amount of perioperative blood transfusion. The
      overall perioperative course and complication rate in the TF group were not
      inferior to those in the non-TF group. The TF program appears safe and should be
      considered in PD patients. 

PMID- 26874137
TI  - Use of Payer as a Proxy for Health Insurance Status on Admission Results in
      Misclassification of Insurance Status among Pediatric Trauma Patients.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to quantify health insurance misclassification
      among children treated at a pediatric trauma center and to determine factors
      associated with misclassification. Demographic, medical, and financial
      information were collected for patients at our institution between 2008 and 2010.
      Two health insurance variables were created: true (insurance on hospital
      admission) and payer (source of payment). Multivariable logistic regression was
      used to determine which factors were independently associated with health
      insurance misclassification. The two values of health insurance status were
      abstracted from the hospital financial database, the trauma registry, and the
      patient medical record. Among 3630 patients, 123 (3.4%) had incorrect health
      insurance designation. Misclassification was highest in patients who died: 13.9
      per cent among all deaths and 30.8 per cent among emergency department deaths.
      The adjusted odds of misclassification were 6.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.7,
      26.6) among patients who died and 16.1 (95% confidence interval: 3.2, 80.77)
      among patients who died in the emergency department. Using payer as a proxy for
      health insurance results in misclassification. Approaches are needed to
      accurately ascertain true health insurance status when studying the impact of
      insurance on treatment outcomes. 

PMID- 26874138
TI  - Outcomes of Recurrent Rectal Cancer after Transanal Excision.
AB  - Successful surgical salvage after transanal excision (TAE) of rectal cancers has
      historically been considered feasible, but results vary. We examine our
      experience in surgical salvage of locally recurrent rectal cancers after TAE. A
      retrospective review of patients undergoing salvage surgery for locally recurrent
      early-stage rectal cancer after TAE from March 1990 to March 2008 at our
      institution is presented here. Seventy-eight patients underwent TAE for tumor
      invades submucosa (T1) rectal cancer. Average age of patients was 68.3 years.
      Recurrence occurred in 17 patients (21.8%). Median number of months between the
      first operation and the recurrence was 41 months. Sixteen out of 17 patients
      recurred locally whereas one had only distant recurrence. Fourteen were eligible
      for surgical salvage. Ten patients underwent abdominoperineal resection, whereas
      four underwent repeat local excision. Eleven deaths were noted and the median
      survival after the first operation was 70.3 months. Disease-free survival after
      salvage surgery was 53 per cent (9/17), with a median follow-up of 68 months from
      the original surgery. Disease-specific mortality was 47 per cent (8/17), with a
      median survival of 72 months from the original surgery. Five-year survival in the
      recurrence group was 11/16 (69%). In conclusion, TAE for T1 rectal cancer carries
      a higher risk of recurrence. Of the local recurrences, 87.5 per cent underwent
      microscopic negative margins (R0) resection at the time of salvage and had a five
      year survival of 69 per cent. Long-term surveillance is encouraged, as recurrence
      can be seen even after 10 years from initial treatment. TAE can be considered for
      T1 rectal tumor with reasonable outcomes. 

PMID- 26874139
TI  - An Assessment of Margins after Lumpectomy in Breast Cancer Management.
AB  - We performed this study to evaluate our indications for margin re-excision (MRE)
      in the management of cancer patients opting for breast conservation therapy
      (BCT). We identified patients choosing breast conservation therapy from January
      2012 to May 2014. Margins were considered negative if >2 mm, close if <2 mm, and
      positive if ink was detected abutting tumor. Patients with close and positive
      margins underwent MRE. We identified 247 patients of which 190 had negative
      margins and did not require MRE, 46 patients had a close margin, and 11 had a
      positive margin, leading to an MRE rate of 23 per cent (57 of 247). The following
      variables were evaluated: tumor size, stage, estrogen receptor, progesterone
      receptor, HER2/neu receptor, and node status. None predicted the presence of
      tumor in the MRE specimen (P > 0.05). Patients with close margins had a 6.5 per
      cent (3 of 46), and patients with positive margins had a 36.4 per cent (4 of 11)
      incidence of tumor in the MRE specimens; this difference was statistically
      significant (P = 0.02). The low rate of finding tumor in MRE specimens of
      patients with close margins after lumpectomy for breast carcinoma argues for
      limiting MRE to patients with positive margins (ink on tumor) only. We have
      adopted this approach in our institution. 

PMID- 26874140
TI  - Right Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation: Carotid Artery-directed versus
      Sternocleidomastoid-directed Methods.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to explore a simple and safe method for central
      venous catheterization (CVC) from the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) by
      comparing carotid artery (CA) positioning with sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
      positioning. The medical records of patients who underwent CVC between January
      2011 and January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Central venous catheters
      were inserted into the RIJV either above the level of the cricoid cartilage using
      the CA-directed method (419 patients, Group 1) or below the level of the cricoid
      cartilage using the SCM-directed method (436 patients, Group 2). Success rate and
      related complications of catheterization were evaluated in the two groups. The
      total success rate of RIJV cannulation in Group 1 (97.2%) was higher than that in
      Group 2 (94.5%). Moreover, the success rate at first attempt was significantly
      higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (92.4% vs 86.9%). The incidence of hematoma was
      1.6 per cent in Group 1 and 3.8 per cent in Group 2. The rate of other
      complications such as pneumothorax, catheter-related infections, and catheter
      occlusion did not significantly differ between the groups. In conclusions, CA
      directed RIJV cannulation is more effective and simple to perform than the SCM
      directed method, and should become the preferred CVC technique in the absence of
      ultrasound guidance. 

PMID- 26874141
TI  - Reduced Survival in Bariatric Surgery Candidates Delayed or Denied by Lack of
      Insurance Approval.
AB  - Bariatric surgery reduces mortality for Americans who meet candidacy criteria and
      have insurance coverage. Unfortunately, some medically suitable candidates are
      denied or delayed during insurance approval processes. The long-term impact of
      such care delays on survival is unknown. Using a prospectively maintained
      bariatric intake database, we identified consecutive applicants who were
      evaluated and medically cleared by our multidisciplinary care team and for whom
      insurance approval was requested. We compared survival in those who were
      initially approved by their insurance carriers (controls) and those who were
      initially denied coverage (subjects). Mortality was determined using the Social
      Security Death Index. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and the log-rank
      test for significance was applied. From August 2003 to December 2008, 463
      patients (391 females, mean age 45 +/- 10 years, mean body mass index 52.5 +/-
      9.4 kg/m(2)) were medically cleared for a bariatric procedure. Of these, 363 were
      approved by insurance on initial request, whereas 100 were denied. Given the
      study's intention to measure the aggregate impact of delays and denials, nine
      patients who later came to operation after appeal or coverage change were
      maintained in the subject cohort. During 0- to 113-month follow-up, six subjects
      (6%) died compared with seven controls (1.9%), corresponding to a statistically
      significant survival benefit for patients initially approved for bariatric
      surgery without delay or denial (P < 0.001). In conclusion, access to bariatric
      surgical care was impeded by insurance certification processes in 22 per cent of
      medically acceptable candidates. Processes that delay or restrict efficient
      access to bariatric surgery are associated with a 3-fold mortality increase. 

PMID- 26874142
TI  - Inter-rater Variability Interferes with Reproducibility of Splenic Injury Grades
      Reported to the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine reproducibility of our splenic
      injury grading data, previously reported to the American College of Surgeons
      Committee on Trauma for our most recent site visit. The institutional registry of
      a Level I trauma center was queried to identify adult patients presenting with
      blunt splenic injury between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Original CT
      scans were scanned into the picture archiving and communication system and
      subsequently reviewed by four trauma surgeons and two radiologists for clinical
      impressions of splenic injury grade. Grades assigned by the clinician and the
      grade recorded in the registry were compared for inter-rater reliability using
      the intraclass correlation coefficient, as a means of assessing variance of
      ordinal data. The intraclass correlation coefficient in our model was 0.77, which
      indicates that 77 per cent of the observed variance was due to true variance and
      23 per cent of the variance was due to error. Variability in grading may, in some
      cases, underestimate injury severity and compromise the clinician's expectation
      of clinical outcome, both in real-time, as well as during retrospective review
      processes such as those used during the trauma center reverification process. 

PMID- 26874143
TI  - Thromboelastography Does Not Detect Preinjury Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute
      Trauma Patients.
AB  - Thromboelastography (TEG) with platelet mapping has been proposed as an assay to
      detect the presence of antiplatelet agents (APA), yet no study has evaluated TEG
      markers of platelet dysfunction in acute trauma patients stratified by the use of
      preinjury APA. We hypothesized that patients on preinjury APA would demonstrate
      prolonged TEG markers of platelet dysfunction compared with those not on
      preinjury APA. This retrospective review evaluated all trauma patients admitted
      to a Level I trauma center from February 2011 to April 2013 who received a TEG
      within the first 24 hours of admission. Patients were classified as receiving
      preinjury APA or no APA if their documented medications included either aspirin
      or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) antagonists, including clopidogrel, prasugrel, and
      ticagrelor. A total of 129 patients were included (APA, n = 35; no APA n = 94) in
      the study. The time from admission to the first TEG was similar (APA 175 +/- 289
      minutes versus no APA 216 +/- 321 minutes, P = 0.5). There was no significant
      difference in TEG markers of platelet dysfunction, including per cent ADP
      inhibition (APA 61.7 +/- 25.8% versus no APA 62.3 +/- 28.8%; P = 0.91) or per
      cent arachidonic acid inhibition (APA 58.2 +/- 31% versus no APA 53.8 +/- 34%; P
      = 0.54). Both groups had similar proportion of severe platelet dysfunction,
      defined as ADP inhibition greater than 70 per cent (APA 40% versus no APA 40%; P
      = 0.8) and arachidonic acid inhibition greater than 70 per cent (APA 40% versus
      no APA 39%; P = 0.89). In conclusion, platelet dysfunction after major trauma is
      common. Therefore, TEG alone should not be used to evaluate for the presence of
      APA due to apparent lack of specificity. 

PMID- 26874144
TI  - Colorectal Cancer Disparities at an Urban Tertiary Care Center.

PMID- 26874145
TI  - Does Isolated Hemoperitoneum Cause Peritonitis? A Review of 400 Trauma
      Laparotomies.

PMID- 26874147
TI  - Pediatric Unintentional Firearm injuries: A Northwestern Louisiana Trauma Center
      Analysis.

PMID- 26874146
TI  - Postoperative Ultrasound Evaluation of Gastric Distention: A Pilot Study.

PMID- 26874148
TI  - Management of severe asymmetric pectus excavatum complicating aortic repair in a
      patient with Marfan's syndrome.
AB  - We describe the case of a 28-year old man with Marfan's syndrome and severe
      pectus excavatum who required an aortic root replacement for an ascending aortic
      aneurysm. There was a near-vertical angulation of the sternum that presented
      challenges with opening and exposure of the heart during aortic surgery.
      Furthermore, removal of the sternal retractor after aortic repair resulted in
      sudden loss of cardiac output. A Ravitch procedure was then performed to
      successfully close the chest without further cardiovascular compromise. We
      propose that patients with a severe pectus excavatum and mediastinal displacement
      seen on preoperative CT scanning should be considered for simultaneous, elective
      repair.

PMID- 26874149
TI  - Editorial: 50 Years of the CJO: Looking back/looking forward.

PMID- 26874151
TI  - Prevalence of visual hallucinations in a national low vision client population.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet
      syndrome) in a national population undergoing vision rehabilitation. STUDY
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 2565 new clients
      older than 40 years attending a Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
      vision rehabilitation clinic. METHODS: Participants were asked the following
      question: "Many people who come to CNIB tell us that they see things they know
      are not there. Some see patterns or shapes. Others see images of people or
      animals. Have you ever experienced this?" Responses were cross-tabulated on the
      basis of age, sex, eye disease, visual acuity, and whether the clients lived
      alone. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the responses.
      RESULTS: Overall, 18.8% of people surveyed indicated that they had experienced
      hallucinations. In the multivariable model, females showed higher odds of
      hallucinations than males did (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.64, p = 0.02).
      Clients with greater vision loss had higher chances of experiencing
      hallucinations than those with the lowest level of vision loss (OR 1.49, 95% CI
      1.19-1.88, p = 0.0005). There was no significant difference in the chances of
      experiencing hallucinations between people with age-related macular degeneration,
      diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, or in older versus younger respondents.
      People who did not live alone had higher chances of experiencing hallucinations
      than those who lived alone (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.19-1.98, p = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS:
      Visual hallucinations are experienced by approximately 1 in 5 patients with
      vision loss caused by any eye disease, warranting greater awareness of the
      phenomenon among all vision health professionals and their patients.

PMID- 26874152
TI  - Wait times and volume of cataract surgery in Ontario: 2000-2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review cataract surgery trends and wait times in Ontario. DESIGN:
      Retrospective analysis of health records. METHODS: Ontario Health Insurance Plan
      billing service claims between 2000 and 2012 were analyzed for the yearly number
      of cataract surgeries, alone and in combination with other procedures. The number
      of Ontarians with cataracts was estimated by applying composite prevalence curves
      derived from published population data. This was then used to calculate the
      yearly number of procedures per 1000 Ontarians with cataracts. RESULTS: Per 1000
      people with cataract, the rate of cataract extraction increased 18.9% overall
      from 2000 to 2012, increasing by 38.3% from 2000 to 2006 and decreasing by 14.6%
      from 2006 to 2012. Mean wait times for cataract surgery decreased by 45.8% from
      2006 to 2009 and increased 28.5% from 2009 to 2013. The proportion of surgeries
      that were same-day bilateral cataract extraction increased 2.21-fold from 2000 to
      2012 but represented only 0.82% of total cataract surgeries in 2012. In 2000, 3%
      of cataract surgeries were combined with other procedures, and this decreased to
      1.8% in 2012. Of these combinations, the rates of combined glaucoma filtration
      procedures decreased by 44.3%, anterior vitrectomy decreased by 32.5%, posterior
      vitrectomy increased by 58.3%, and corneal transplantation decreased by 10.7%
      during this time period. CONCLUSIONS: The yearly rate of cataract surgery has
      decreased since 2006, and wait times have increased from 2009. Same-day bilateral
      cataract extraction represented less than 1% of the total cataract surgical
      volume. Rates of cataract combined with posterior vitrectomy have increased
      (58%), whereas anterior vitrectomy at the time of cataract surgery decreased
      (33%).

PMID- 26874153
TI  - Thermal evaluation of two phacoemulsification systems.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare thermal profiles of new transversal ultrasound power
      modulation to torsional ultrasound in an artificial chamber and cadaver eye.
      DESIGN: Laboratory investigation. METHODS: John A. Moran Eye Center Laboratories,
      University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, was the study setting. Temperature
      increase after 30 seconds was measured at the needle midshaft in an artificial
      chamber and at maximal friction point in a cadaver eye. Ellips FX (transverse)
      was tested at 100% power, as was Signature with micropulse settings (6
      milliseconds on and off). OZil (torsional only) was tested at 100% power in the
      artificial chamber and cadaver eye. Runs were completed with aspiration blocked.
      Temperature was continuously measured on the phacoemulsification sleeve using a
      microthermistor probe connected to the BAT-10 multipurpose thermometer, with an
      accuracy of +/-0.1 degrees C. RESULTS: Transversal FX had a greater temperature
      increase than micropulse (p < 0.001) and torsional (p < 0.001). Micropulse had a
      greater temperature increase than torsional (p < 0.001). The cadaver eye had a
      greater temperature increase than the artificial chamber for torsional (p <
      0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher heat accumulation and potential for incisional burn
      occurred with the cadaver model than with the artificial chamber, suggesting the
      need for caution when using 100% torsional ultrasound with aspiration blocked.
      Transversal FX generated more heat than was reported originally. Further study is
      needed to determine the incidence of incisional burn with varied power settings
      for this new model. Micropulse generated more heat than previous reports, but the
      increased efficiency is likely to negate potentially increased incisional burn
      risk.

PMID- 26874154
TI  - Comparison of intraocular pressure post penetrating keratoplasty vs Descemet's
      stripping endothelial keratoplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty
      (DSEK) with penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and use
      of ocular antihypertensives. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS:
      Thirty-five eyes in 33 patients undergoing PKP and 43 eyes in 38 patients
      undergoing DSEK were included in the analysis. Fifteen eyes undergoing PKP and 12
      undergoing DSEK had diagnosed glaucoma. Patients undergoing corneal transplant
      because of trauma, keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or prior failed
      transplant were excluded. METHODS: Charts were obtained for all patients who
      underwent PKP or DSEK by a single surgeon at the Ivey Eye Institute between 2003
      and 2010. IOP and all IOP-lowering medications were recorded preoperatively and
      at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Complications, graft survival, and
      glaucoma surgeries were noted. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in
      preoperative IOP between the 2 groups (p = 0.30). Postoperatively, IOP was
      significantly higher in the PKP group at 1 week (p < 0.01), 4 weeks (p < 0.01),
      and 8 and 12 weeks (p < 0.05), but not at 24 weeks (p = 0.62). Mean IOP increased
      significantly post-transplant in all groups (p < 0.05). In patients without
      glaucoma, postoperative IOP elevation requiring treatment occurred in 68% of PKP
      eyes and 23% of DSEK eyes. In patients with prior glaucoma, an increased
      requirement for ocular antihypertensives occurred in 60% of PKP eyes and 20% of
      DSEK eyes. Three trabeculectomies and 1 tube shunt were performed in the cohort
      with glaucoma undergoing PKP. No glaucoma surgery was required in the DSEK
      cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of IOP requiring treatment occurred at a lower
      rate after DSEK compared with PKP. This difference was significant during the
      early postoperative course but nonsignificant at 24 weeks. Additional long-term
      studies on the effect of DSEK on glaucoma and IOP control are warranted.

PMID- 26874155
TI  - Assessing accuracy of non-eye care professionals as trainee vision screeners for
      children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of agreement between non-eye care trainees and
      a trainer (ophthalmologist) in a vision screening program. DESIGN: Prospective,
      observational study carried out in 3 phases (Phase I-III). PARTICIPANTS: Study
      population included 1228 children, aged 6-14 years, at 5 elementary schools in
      the city of Hamilton. METHODS: In Phase I, 1228 children were screened by the
      trainee screeners, of which 273 children failed the vision testing. Of these 273
      children, 170 consented to enrolment into Phase II and were examined by an
      ophthalmologist, who confirmed that 105 of these children were true positives. On
      retesting (Phase III), the ophthalmologist passed 158 of the 163 randomly
      selected children who passed in Phase I. RESULTS: Overall, trainee screeners had
      a sample sensitivity of 95.5% and sample specificity of 70.8% in detecting
      children who should fail vision screening. When we used the positive and negative
      prediction values obtained, 198 of the 1228 children had vision impairment
      providing an estimated prevalence of 16.1%, or 161 children per 1000 population.
      CONCLUSIONS: Non-eye care professionals can be trained to an acceptable degree of
      accuracy to perform certain vision screening tests on children. Such screening
      methods may be a useful approach to address existing gaps in provision of eye
      care for many Canadian children, thereby ensuring that all children receive
      timely vision screening.

PMID- 26874156
TI  - Relationship between cantho-limbal distance and degree of head turn in a Korean
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between cantho-limbal distance and the
      degree of head turn in Koreans. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study.
      PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients without strabismus or nystagmus who had visited an
      ophthalmic clinic at a single medical center were included in the study. METHODS:
      The distance between the lateral canthus and lateral corneal limbus was measured
      using a 5 mm scale. The degree of head turn was measured with a goniometer when
      the cantho-limbal distances were 0, 5, and 10 mm. The degree of head turn was
      measured 3 times, and the mean value was used as the degree of head turn.
      RESULTS: When the cantho-limbal distances were 0, 5, and 10 mm, the degree of
      head turn values were 42.33, 30.47, and 2.53 degrees, respectively. The shorter
      the cantho-limbal distance, the higher the degree of head turn (r = -0.945, p <
      0.01). The relationship was expressed as: Degree of head turn = -2.98 * cantho
      limbal distance + 35.07. CONCLUSIONS: Cantho-limbal distance can be used to
      estimate the degree of head turn. This method may be simpler and easier in a
      clinical situation than checking the degree of head turn with a goniometer.

PMID- 26874157
TI  - Comparison of treatment for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
      controlled trials comparing the success and complication rates among various
      congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) procedures, intervention times,
      and tubes types. DESIGN: Systematic review with quantitative meta-analysis.
      METHODS: Studies were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and
      Cochrane databases. The comparisons between categorical variables were analyzed
      using the chi(2) test, and the dichotomous outcomes were reported as risk ratios.
      The precision of the effect size was based on the 95% confidence interval.
      RESULTS: Seven studies published between 2007 and 2013 were included. Immediate
      versus observation/deferred probing had similar rates of success (82.7% vs
      81.8%). Balloon dacryocystoplasty and silicone intubation had similar rates of
      success (79.8% vs 77.8%). Monocanalicular and bicanalicular intubation had
      similar rates of success (88.3% vs 88.0%). The dislocation rates for
      monocanalicular versus bicanalicular intubation were 8.5% and 9.8%, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Immediate and deferred probing do not differ in their success rates.
      No difference in success rates was observed between balloon dilation and
      intubation. Monocanalicular and bicanalicular intubation were similar in their
      success and dislocation rates. Therefore, the preference of surgeons on the
      treatment of CNLDO should be discussed with parents to ensure the best possible
      outcome.

PMID- 26874158
TI  - Epiretinal membrane in diabetes mellitus patients screened by nonmydriatic fundus
      camera.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) in patients
      with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to assess the associated risk factors.
      DESIGN: Retrospective, cross sectional study. METHODS: Patients with T2DM, seen
      for annual follow-up between 2009 and 2010, were evaluated by digital
      nonmydriatic retinal photography for the detection of diabetic retinopathy.
      Retinal photographs were assessed by a retina specialist. RESULTS: ERM was
      present in 102 of 1550 patients with T2DM (6.5%). Of the participants, 1443 had
      sufficient documented data to conduct statistical analysis for variant risk
      factors. The prevalence of ERM was significantly associated with age (p < 0.001;
      1.2% for <49 years, 4% for 50-59 years, 8.2% for 60-69 years, and 9.6% for >70
      years), cataract surgery (p < 0.001), diabetic nephropathy (p < 0.001), and
      chronic renal failure (p = 0.039). Prevalence was similar for both sexes (53%
      females, 47% males; p = 0.33). In logistic regression models, the prevalence of
      ERM was significantly associated with increasing age (p = 0.018), cataract
      surgery (p < 0.001), and diabetic nephropathy (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The
      prevalence of ERM in patients with T2DM in the present study was not
      significantly different than that of the general population. ERM was
      significantly associated with age, diabetic nephropathy, and cataract surgery.

PMID- 26874159
TI  - Topical difluprednate monotherapy for uveitic macular edema.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of topical difluprednate for the treatment of
      uveitic macular edema. DESIGN: Retrospective review of 3 consecutive cases of
      uveitic macular edema. METHODS: Patients were treated with topical difluprednate
      monotherapy. RESULTS: All patients experienced complete resolution of uveitic
      macular edema within 2-4 weeks. We observed a statistically significant
      improvement in central subfield macular thickness (p = 0.04). There was an
      overall improvement in visual acuity, but this result was not statistically
      significant (p = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Topical difluprednate can be effective for
      uveitic macular edema. Further investigation of this therapy in prospective
      randomized controlled trials is warranted.

PMID- 26874160
TI  - Comment on: Peripapillary RNFL thickness in nonexudative versus chronically
      treated exudative age-related macular degeneration.

PMID- 26874161
TI  - Assessment of online health resources for ophthalmology patients with age-related
      macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

PMID- 26874162
TI  - Combined hamartoma of the retina and RPE: A spectrum of presentation with
      epiretinal membrane masquerade.

PMID- 26874163
TI  - Case report: Choroidal abscess after double lung transplantation in a cystic
      fibrosis patient.

PMID- 26874164
TI  - Visual function alterations in Alzheimer Disease: A case report.

PMID- 26874165
TI  - Focal cross-linking: description of a novel technique for localizing collagen
      cross-linking.

PMID- 26874166
TI  - Bilateral Rhizopus keratitis in a cocaine user.

PMID- 26874168
TI  - Spontaneous resolution of optic disc pit maculopathy after posterior vitreous
      detachment.

PMID- 26874167
TI  - Bilateral conjunctival Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon associated with juvenile
      xanthogranuloma.

PMID- 26874169
TI  - Masquerade macular exudation in Mallatia Leventinese.

PMID- 26874170
TI  - Orbital dermoid presenting as a case of ptosis with monocular elevation
      deficiency.

PMID- 26874171
TI  - Eye love you.

PMID- 26874172
TI  - Radioactive seed implantation in treatment of an eyelid primary Merkel cell
      carcinoma.

PMID- 26874173
TI  - Intraorbital arteriovenous fistula of the ophthalmic vein-embolization using the
      thombosed superior ophthalmic vein approach.

PMID- 26874174
TI  - Posterior subcapsular cataracts and hypotony secondary to severe pembrolizumab
      induced uveitis: Case report.

PMID- 26874175
TI  - Coronary arteritis: An entity to be considered in giant cell arteritis.

PMID- 26874176
TI  - A case of POEMS and chronic papilledema with preserved optic nerve function.

PMID- 26874177
TI  - Endovascular Closure of Chronic Dissection Entries in the Aortic Arch Using the
      Amplatzer Vascular Plug II as a Sealing Button.
AB  - PURPOSE: To present a new endovascular technique to avoid open surgical arch
      reconstruction in selected patients with aneurysmal dilatation due to small
      chronic dissection entries in the aortic arch. TECHNIQUE: The true and the false
      lumen of the aortic arch are catheterized from the femoral arteries. An Amplatzer
      Vascular Plug II (AVP II) is advanced through the proximal entry from the false
      lumen side and deployed as a sealing button in the entry hole, with 1 disc in the
      true lumen and the remaining 2 discs in the false lumen. This technique was used
      in 4 patients with chronic dissection involving the aortic arch, three of whom
      had had previous surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. In 3 patients, the
      false lumen of the thoracic aorta was successfully obliterated, with thrombosis
      and aortic diameter reduction during follow-up. In 1 patient, false lumen flow
      persisted, and he was subsequently treated with a total arch reconstruction and
      frozen elephant trunk. CONCLUSION: Endovascular closure of small proximal
      dissection entries in the aortic arch with an AVP II used as a sealing button is
      feasible and may be an alternative to open surgical arch reconstruction in
      selected patients with chronic aortic dissection and secondary aneurysm
      expansion.

PMID- 26874178
TI  - Preservation of Clinically Relevant Accessory Renal Arteries in Infrarenal AAA
      Patients With Adequate Proximal Landing Zones Undergoing EVAR.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report techniques to preserve the flow to relevant accessory renal
      arteries (ARA) in patients undergoing infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair
      (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with adequate landing zones. METHODS:
      ARAs that originate inferior to the lowest ipsilateral main renal artery, supply
      one-third of the renal parenchyma, and having a diameter >4 mm have significant
      clinical importance. Between May 2012 and January 2015, among 389 high-risk
      patients with infrarenal AAAs who underwent standard EVAR, 9 (2.3%) patients each
      presented with a coexistent clinically relevant ARA. Their perfusion was secured
      by placing covered stents in the target ARA, parallel and outside of the main
      abdominal, as chimney grafts. Evaluation of acute and chronic renal decline was
      based on the consensus definition of RIFLE criteria (risk, injury, failure, loss,
      and end-stage) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging system, respectively.
      RESULTS: The procedure was completed successfully in all cases. In the immediate
      postoperative period, no acute kidney injury was observed based on the RIFLE
      criteria. Eight of the 9 covered stents remained patent during a mean follow-up
      of 13.8 +/- 6.2 months. A single covered stent occlusion was observed 30 days
      postoperatively with infarction of the caudal pole of the kidney. This patient
      developed renal function impairment based on the CKD staging system 12 months
      after the initial procedure. For the remaining 8 patients, improvement of one CKD
      stage (n=1) or no change (n=7) in the CKD stage was observed. CONCLUSION: In AAA
      patients unfit for surgical revascularization, EVAR is associated with a
      significant decline in renal function. For this reason, preservation of relevant
      coexistent ARAs using the chimney technique should be considered as an option.

PMID- 26874179
TI  - Impact of Perioperative Complications After Endovascular Therapy in Diabetic
      Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia due to Isolated Infrapopliteal Lesions.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the thus far poorly defined impact of perioperative
      complications (POCs) on clinical outcomes after endovascular therapy (EVT) of
      diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to isolated
      infrapopliteal lesions. METHODS: A multicenter registry of CLI patients was
      interrogated to identify 780 consecutive diabetic patients (mean age 71 +/- 10
      years; 553 men) who successfully underwent balloon angioplasty for isolated
      infrapopliteal lesions. More than half of the population (487 patients) was on
      dialysis. Independent predictors (logistic regression) and prognostic impact on
      outcomes (Cox proportional hazards model) of POC (ie, death, myocardial
      infarction, stroke, pseudoaneurysm, puncture site hemorrhage/hematoma, distal
      emboli, vascular rupture, transfusion, dialysis, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage)
      were investigated. Outcomes are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio
      (HR), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: POCs occurred in
      12.3% (96/780) of the population. Multivariate modeling identified body mass
      index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m(2) (adjusted OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.89, p=0.047) and
      tissue loss (adjusted OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.14 to 5.15, p=0.021) as independent
      predictors of POCs. In a Cox regression model adjusted for baseline clinical
      characteristics, the occurrence of POCs was independently associated with major
      adverse limb events (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.13, p=0.016) but not with
      mortality or wound healing. In follow-up, freedom from major adverse limb events
      was higher in the group without POC (85.2%) than with POC (69.7%, p=0.006) at up
      to 3 years. CONCLUSION: POCs within 30 days after balloon angioplasty for
      infrapopliteal disease in diabetics with CLI were more likely to occur in
      patients with low BMI and tissue loss. POC occurrence was associated with major
      adverse limb events in follow-up but not with mortality or wound healing.

PMID- 26874180
TI  - Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring for the prevention of neonatal morbidity
      and mortality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide (CO2) measurement is a fundamental evaluation in a
      neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), as both low and high values of CO2 might
      have detrimental effects on neonatal morbidity and mortality. Though measurement
      of CO2 in the arterial blood gas is the most accurate way to assess the amount of
      CO2, it requires blood sampling and it does not provide a continuous monitoring
      of CO2. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the use of continuous transcutaneous CO2
      (tcCO2) monitoring in newborn infants reduces mortality and improves short and
      long term respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes. SEARCH METHODS: We used
      the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Review group to search the
      Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2015, Issue 11), MEDLINE
      via PubMed (1966 to November 1, 2015), EMBASE (1980 to November 1, 2015), and
      CINAHL (1982 to November 1, 2015). We also searched clinical trials databases,
      conference proceedings, and the reference lists of retrieved articles for
      randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized trials. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Randomized, quasi-randomized and cluster randomized controlled trials comparing
      different strategies regarding tcCO2 monitoring in newborns. Three comparisons
      were considered, that is, continuous tcCO2 monitoring versus 1) any intermittent
      modalities to measure CO2; 2) other continuous CO2 monitoring; and 3) with or
      without intermittent CO2 monitoring. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used the
      standard methods of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. Two review authors
      independently assessed studies identified by the search strategy for inclusion.
      MAIN RESULTS: Our search strategy yielded 106 references. Two review authors
      independently assessed all references for inclusion. We did not find any
      completed studies for inclusion, nor ongoing trials. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There
      was no evidence to recommend or refute the use of transcutaneous CO2 monitoring
      in neonates. Well-designed, adequately powered randomized controlled studies are
      necessary to address efficacy and safety of transcutaneous CO2 monitoring in
      neonates.

PMID- 26874181
TI  - Parahippocampal Cortex Processes the Nonspatial Context of an Event.
AB  - Parahippocampal cortex (PHc) is known to process spatial information, both in
      perceptual and episodic memory studies. However, recent theories propose an
      expanded role for PHc in processing context information in general, whether
      spatial or nonspatial. The current study used a source memory paradigm to
      investigate encoding and retrieval of nonspatial context information. Human
      participants were asked to judge lexical aspects of word stimuli and to retrieve
      those judgments during a later memory test. Anterior PHc showed significantly
      greater activation for items associated with correct source judgments than items
      associated with incorrect source judgments during both encoding and retrieval
      phases. These findings suggest that the role of PHc in episodic memory cannot be
      limited to spatial information.

PMID- 26874182
TI  - Dynamic Brain Network Correlates of Spontaneous Fluctuations in Attention.
AB  - Human attention is intrinsically dynamic, with focus continuously shifting
      between elements of the external world and internal, self-generated thoughts.
      Communication within and between large-scale brain networks also fluctuates
      spontaneously from moment to moment. However, the behavioral relevance of dynamic
      functional connectivity and possible link with attentional state shifts is
      unknown. We used a unique approach to examine whether brain network dynamics
      reflect spontaneous fluctuations in moment-to-moment behavioral variability, a
      sensitive marker of attentional state. Nineteen healthy adults were instructed to
      tap their finger every 600 ms while undergoing fMRI. This novel, but simple,
      approach allowed us to isolate moment-to-moment fluctuations in behavioral
      variability related to attention, independent of common confounds in cognitive
      tasks (e.g., stimulus changes, response inhibition). Spontaneously increasing tap
      variance ("out-of-the-zone" attention) was associated with increasing activation
      in dorsal-attention and salience network regions, whereas decreasing tap variance
      ("in-the-zone" attention) was marked by increasing activation of default mode
      network (DMN) regions. Independent of activation, tap variance representing out
      of-the-zone attention was also time-locked to connectivity both within DMN and
      between DMN and salience network regions. These results provide novel mechanistic
      data on the understudied neural dynamics of everyday, moment-to-moment
      attentional fluctuations, elucidating the behavioral importance of spontaneous,
      transient coupling within and between attention-relevant networks.

PMID- 26874183
TI  - Direct Visualization and Mapping of the Spatial Course of Fiber Tracts at
      Microscopic Resolution in the Human Hippocampus.
AB  - While hippocampal connectivity is essential to normal memory function, our
      knowledge of human hippocampal circuitry is largely inferred from animal studies.
      Using polarized light microscopy at 1.3 um resolution, we have directly
      visualized the 3D course of key medial temporal pathways in 3 ex vivo human
      hemispheres and 2 ex vivo vervet monkey hemispheres. The multiple components of
      the perforant path system were clearly identified: Superficial sheets of fibers
      emanating from the entorhinal cortex project to the presubiculum and
      parasubiculum, intermixed transverse and longitudinal angular bundle fibers
      perforate the subiculum and then project to the cornu ammonis (CA) fields and
      dentate molecular layer, and a significant alvear component runs from the angular
      bundle to the CA fields. From the hilus, mossy fibers localize to regions of high
      kainate receptor density, and the endfolial pathway, mostly investigated in
      humans, merges with the Schaffer collaterals. This work defines human hippocampal
      pathways underlying mnemonic function at an unprecedented resolution.

PMID- 26874184
TI  - Structural and Maturational Covariance in Early Childhood Brain Development.
AB  - Brain structural covariance networks (SCNs) composed of regions with correlated
      variation are altered in neuropsychiatric disease and change with age. Little is
      known about the development of SCNs in early childhood, a period of rapid
      cortical growth. We investigated the development of structural and maturational
      covariance networks, including default, dorsal attention, primary visual and
      sensorimotor networks in a longitudinal population of 118 children after birth to
      2 years old and compared them with intrinsic functional connectivity networks. We
      found that structural covariance of all networks exhibit strong correlations
      mostly limited to their seed regions. By Age 2, default and dorsal attention
      structural networks are much less distributed compared with their functional
      maps. The maturational covariance maps, however, revealed significant couplings
      in rates of change between distributed regions, which partially recapitulate
      their functional networks. The structural and maturational covariance of the
      primary visual and sensorimotor networks shows similar patterns to the
      corresponding functional networks. Results indicate that functional networks are
      in place prior to structural networks, that correlated structural patterns in
      adult may arise in part from coordinated cortical maturation, and that regional
      co-activation in functional networks may guide and refine the maturation of SCNs
      over childhood development.

PMID- 26874186
TI  - Elder Abuse Severity: A Critical but Understudied Dimension of Victimization for
      Clinicians and Researchers.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: To describe the variation in severity of elder emotional
      abuse, physical abuse, and neglect and identify factors associated with more
      severe forms of elder mistreatment (EM). Design and Methods: Population-based
      study using random digit-dial sampling and telephone interviews with a
      representative sample (n = 4,156) of community-dwelling, cognitively intact older
      adults in New York State. The Conflict Tactics Scale and DUKE Older Americans
      Resources and Services scales were adapted to assess EM subtypes. For each EM
      subtype, severity was operationalized by summing the number of different
      mistreatment behaviors and the frequency of each behavior. Among older adults
      reporting some degree of mistreatment, ordinal or multinomial regression
      predicted severity of elder emotional abuse, physical abuse, and neglect.
      Results: Distribution of EM severity was characterized by a negative/right skew.
      More severe emotional abuse was predicted by younger age, living with the
      perpetrator only, Hispanic background, and higher education. Increasing physical
      abuse severity was associated with younger age and living only with the
      perpetrator. Higher neglect severity was associated with functional impairment,
      younger age, living only with the perpetrator, lower income, and lower education.
      The presence of nonperpetrator others living in the home served a protective
      function against escalating mistreatment severity. Implications: Extends existing
      EM risk factor research by operationalizing mistreatment phenomena along a
      continuum of severity. Findings enhance capacity to screen and report
      particularly vulnerable EM victims and inform targeted interventions to
      ameliorate the problem. Incorporation of severity into EM research/measurement
      reflects the clinical and phenomenological reality of the problem.

PMID- 26874185
TI  - Subtype-Specific Genes that Characterize Subpopulations of Callosal Projection
      Neurons in Mouse Identify Molecularly Homologous Populations in Macaque Cortex.
AB  - Callosal projection neurons (CPN) interconnect the neocortical hemispheres via
      the corpus callosum and are implicated in associative integration of multimodal
      information. CPN have undergone differential evolutionary elaboration, leading to
      increased diversity of cortical neurons-and more extensive and varied connections
      in neocortical gray and white matter-in primates compared with rodents. In mouse,
      distinct sets of genes are enriched in discrete subpopulations of CPN, indicating
      the molecular diversity of rodent CPN. Elements of rodent CPN functional and
      organizational diversity might thus be present in the further elaborated primate
      cortex. We address the hypothesis that genes controlling mouse CPN subtype
      diversity might reflect molecular patterns shared among mammals that arose prior
      to the divergence of rodents and primates. We find that, while early expression
      of the examined CPN-enriched genes, and postmigratory expression of these CPN
      enriched genes in deep layers are highly conserved (e.g., Ptn, Nnmt, Cited2,
      Dkk3), in contrast, the examined genes expressed by superficial layer CPN show
      more variable levels of conservation (e.g., EphA3, Chn2). These results suggest
      that there has been evolutionarily differential retraction and elaboration of
      superficial layer CPN subpopulations between mouse and macaque, with independent
      derivation of novel populations in primates. Together, these data inform future
      studies regarding CPN subpopulations that are unique to primates and rodents, and
      indicate putative evolutionary relationships.

PMID- 26874187
TI  - Perceptions of Sedentary Behavior Among Socially Engaged Older Adults.
AB  - Purpose: To better understand the perceptions of sedentary behavior, its pros and
      cons, and the barriers associated with reducing sedentary time as it pertains to
      older adults. Design and Methods: Four focus group sessions were conducted with
      older adults (n = 26). Each focus group lasted approximately 45min, was led by an
      experienced qualitative researcher, and utilized probing questions on the
      definition of sedentary behavior, pros and cons of sedentary behavior, and
      programming needs for sedentary time reduction. Sessions were recorded and
      transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently extracted data from the
      transcripts and identified major themes and subthemes. Data on sociodemographics
      and current activity levels were collected via questionnaires. Results:
      Participants were 74+/-8.5 years old and were primarily women (77%). They self
      reported sitting for 5.6+/-1.7h per day and engaging in physical activity for
      172+/-115min/day. Four themes were identified. The first theme indicated that
      older adults have varied definitions of the term sedentary behavior and that they
      have a negative perception of this term. The second theme indicated that
      participants perceived social, cognitive, and physical benefits to the sedentary
      activities in which they engaged, and that these activities were meaningful. The
      third theme indicated that physical health was the only perceived disadvantage of
      engaging in sedentary activities. Finally, the fourth theme indicated that there
      were several perceived barriers to sedentary time reduction, both person and
      environment related. Implications: These findings have implications for use of
      terminology in policy and public health strategies targeting sedentary time
      reduction in older adults.

PMID- 26874189
TI  - Attachment to Life: Psychometric Analyses of the Valuation of Life Scale and
      Differences Among Older Adults.
AB  - PURPOSE OF STUDY: Examine psychometric properties of Lawton's Valuation of Life
      (VOL) scale, a measure of an older adults' assessment of the perceived value of
      their lives; and whether ratings differ by race (White, Black/African American)
      and sex. DESIGN AND METHODS: The 13-item VOL scale was administered at baseline
      in 2 separate randomized trials (Advancing Better Living for Elders, ABLE; Get
      Busy Get Better, GBGB) for a total of 527 older adults. Principal component
      analyses were applied to a subset of ABLE data (subsample 1) and confirmatory
      factor analyses were conducted on remaining data (subsample 2 and GBGB). Once the
      factor structure was identified and confirmed, 2 subscales were created,
      corresponding to optimism and engagement. Convergent validity of total and
      subscale scores were examined using measures of depressive symptoms, social
      support, control-oriented strategies, mastery, and behavioral activation. For
      discriminant validity, indices of health status, physical function, financial
      strain, cognitive status, and number of falls were examined. RESULTS: Trial
      samples (ABLE vs. GBGB) differed by age, race, marital status, education, and
      employment. Principal component analysis on ABLE subsample 1 (n = 156) yielded
      two factors subsequently confirmed in confirmatory factor analyses on ABLE
      subsample 2 (n = 163) and GBGB sample (N = 208) separately. Adequate fit was
      found for the 2-factor model. Correlational analyses supported strong convergent
      and discriminant validity. Some statistically significant race and sex
      differences in subscale scores were found. IMPLICATIONS: VOL measures subjective
      appraisals of perceived value of life. Consisting of two interrelated subscales,
      it offers an efficient approach to ascertain personal attributions.

PMID- 26874188
TI  - Future-Oriented Thought Patterns Associated With Anxiety and Depression in Later
      Life: The Intriguing Prospects of Prospection.
AB  - Anxiety and mood disorders in later life are the focus of an increasing amount of
      intervention research, however basic mechanisms and paradigms explaining etiology
      and maintenance warrant further exploration. Research on future-oriented thought
      patterns associated with anxiety and depression in this age group may prove
      useful, as these disorders are both characterized by a tendency to generate and
      fixate on threat-related future scenarios that may or may not materialize.
      Additionally, depression is associated with a reduced expectancy of positive
      future events. In this paper, we review the literature relevant to future
      thinking in anxiety and depression in older adults. We focus on the mental
      construction and anticipation of negative future events, and their underlying
      neurocognitive mechanisms. We then consider clinical and research implications of
      anxious and depressive future-oriented thought patterns for older adults. We
      believe that more research investigating future-oriented thought patterns
      associated with emotional disorders in later life could improve
      conceptualization, measurement, and perhaps potential treatments for late-life
      anxiety and depression.

PMID- 26874190
TI  - Honoring the Everyday Preferences of Nursing Home Residents: Perceived Choice and
      Satisfaction With Care.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: The nursing home (NH) culture change movement advocates for
      residents to be able to make choices about important aspects of their care. This
      study seeks to understand NH residents' perceptions of choice that they have in
      the care they receive while in the NH setting. We examine the association between
      residents' perceived choice and satisfaction with care preferences being met
      using a mixed methods approach. Design and Methods: Using the Preferences of
      Everyday Living Inventory, cognitive interviews were completed with 39 NH
      residents which resulted in a total of 600 item-level ratings of residents'
      perceived choice and satisfaction and corresponding open-ended comments on
      choice. Results: Quantitative findings revealed a significant Pearson correlation
      between residents' perceived choice and satisfaction (r = .47, p < .001).
      Participants' responses of free choice were linked to significantly higher
      ratings of satisfaction compared to no choice and some choice. Responses of some
      choice were associated with significantly higher ratings of satisfaction than the
      no choice group. Open-ended comments provided greater depth in understanding
      regarding how residents perceive the level of choice in fulfilling their
      preferences. Implications: This study establishes a positive association between
      NH residents' perceived choice and feelings of satisfaction with their care
      preferences being met. Offering choices that are deemed favorable or solicited
      from NH residents is a fundamental step toward increasing resident satisfaction
      with NH care.

PMID- 26874191
TI  - Residential Reasoning and the Tug of the Fourth Age.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: Where to grow older occupies the minds of many aging
      adults. This study examines how anticipation of the fourth age influences third
      age residential reasoning. It also investigates the role of social relationships
      in choosing housing for later life. Design and Methods: Analyses were based on
      semi-structured interviews with 30 community-dwelling retirees aged 67-97 who
      were asked about preparations for the future, including housing. Results: Replies
      about future housing fell into two categories: preemptive and contingent. In
      preemptive reasoning, participants anticipated that their current homes would be
      suitable over the long term and explained why, while those engaged in contingent
      reasoning could imagine a possible future move to more supportive housing and
      even had destination places in mind. Both types of responses reflect residential
      reasoning that is ongoing and driven in large part by anticipation of fourth-age
      vulnerabilities. Peers influenced participants' thinking about whether, when, and
      where to move. Relationships with spouses and offspring were also factors
      commonly mentioned in residential reasoning, both in terms of sources of support
      and perceived obligations. Implications: The fourth age is generally conceived as
      an experience of loss, but it also functions as a social imaginary. Our study
      suggests that the fourth age, both as a potential personal destiny and a social
      construct, influences housing decisions among those firmly in the third age. More
      attention in housing research to prudential anticipation of the fourth age as
      well as the relational aspects of residential reasoning would enhance
      understanding of late-life housing choices.

PMID- 26874192
TI  - Central Airway Obstruction: Benign Strictures, Tracheobronchomalacia, and
      Malignancy-related Obstruction.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to provide an update on methods for palliating
      symptoms in patients with histologically benign and malignant central airway
      obstruction. We review the published literature within the past decade on
      postintubation, posttracheostomy, and TB- and transplant-related airway
      strictures; tracheobronchomalacia; and malignant airway obstruction. We review
      terminology, classification systems, and parameters that impact treatment
      decisions. The focus is on how airway stent insertion fits into the best
      algorithm of care. Several case series and cohort studies demonstrate that airway
      stents improve dyspnea, lung function, and quality of life in patients with
      airway obstruction. Airway stenting, however, is associated with high rates of
      adverse events and should be used only when curative open surgical interventions
      are not feasible or are contraindicated.

PMID- 26874195
TI  - Calebin A downregulates osteoclastogenesis through suppression of RANKL
      signalling.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is exacerbated by aging and age-associated
      chronic diseases such as cancer. Cancer-induced bone loss is usually treated with
      bisphosphonates or denosumab, an antibody against receptor activator of nuclear
      factor (NF)-kappaB ligand (RANKL). Because these drugs are expensive and have
      numerous side effects and high rates of toxicity, safer, more effective, and more
      affordable therapies for osteoporosis are still needed. We identified a compound,
      calebin A (CA), derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa) that affects
      osteoclastogenesis through modulation of the RANKL signalling pathway. The CA's
      effect on NF-kappaB activation was examined by electrophoretic mobility shift
      assay. Using mouse macrophages in vitro model, we found that CA suppressed RANKL
      induced osteoclast differentiation of macrophages into osteoclasts, and
      downregulate RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis-related marker gene expression,
      including NFATc-1, TRAP, CTR, and cathepsin K. CA also suppressed the
      osteoclastogenesis induced by multiple myeloma and breast cancer cells. This
      effect of CA was correlated with suppression of the phosphorylation and
      degradation of inhibitor of kappaB and, thus, inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.
      Furthermore, we found that an NF-kappaB-specific inhibitory peptide blocked RANKL
      induced osteoclastogenesis, demonstrating that the NF-kappaB signalling pathway
      is mandatory for RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. Our results conclusively
      indicate that CA downmodulates the osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL and by
      tumour cells through suppression of NF-kappaB pathway.

PMID- 26874193
TI  - Structural analysis of the TKB domain of ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b complexed with
      its small inhibitory peptide, Cblin.
AB  - Cbl-b is a RING-type ubiquitin ligase. Previously, we showed that Cbl-b-mediated
      ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation of IRS-1 contribute to muscle atrophy
      caused by unloading stress. The phospho-pentapeptide DGpYMP (Cblin) mimics Tyr612
      phosphorylated IRS-1 and inhibits the Cbl-b-mediated ubiquitination and
      degradation of IRS-1 in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we confirmed the direct
      interaction between Cblin and the TKB domain of Cbl-b using NMR. Moreover, we
      showed that the shortened tripeptide GpYM also binds to the TKB domain. To
      elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of Cblin, we solved the crystal structure of
      the TKB-Cblin complex at a resolution of 2.5 A. The pY in Cblin inserts into a
      positively charged pocket in the TKB domain via hydrogen-bond networks and
      hydrophobic interactions. Within this complex, the Cblin structure closely
      resembles the TKB-bound form of another substrate-derived phosphopeptide, Zap-70
      derived phosphopeptide. These peptides lack the conserved intrapeptidyl hydrogen
      bond between pY and a conserved residue involved in TKB-domain binding. Instead
      of the conserved interaction, these peptides specifically interact with the TKB
      domain. Based on this binding mode of Cblin to the TKB domain, we can design
      drugs against unloading-mediated muscle atrophy.

PMID- 26874194
TI  - Modeling IL-1 induced degradation of articular cartilage.
AB  - In this study, we develop a computational model to simulate the in vitro
      biochemical degradation of articular cartilage explants sourced from the
      femoropatellar grooves of bovine calves. Cartilage explants were incubated in
      culture medium with and without the inflammatory cytokine IL-1alpha. The spatio
      temporal evolution of the cartilage explant's extracellular matrix components is
      modelled. Key variables in the model include chondrocytes, aggrecan, collagen,
      aggrecanase, collagenase and IL-1alpha. The model is first calibrated for
      aggrecan homeostasis of cartilage in vivo, then for data on (explant) controls,
      and finally for data on the IL-1alpha driven proteolysis of aggrecan and collagen
      over a 4-week period. The model was found to fit the experimental data best when:
      (i) chondrocytes continue to synthesize aggrecan during the cytokine challenge,
      (ii) a one to two day delay is introduced between the addition of IL-1alpha to
      the culture medium and subsequent aggrecanolysis, (iii) collagen degradation does
      not commence until the total concentration of aggrecan (i.e. both intact and
      degraded aggrecan) at any specific location within the explant becomes <= 1.5
      mg/ml and (iv) degraded aggrecan formed due to the IL-1alpha induced proteolysis
      of intact aggrecan protects the collagen network while collagen degrades in a two
      step process which, together, significantly modulate the collagen network
      degradation. Under simulated in vivo conditions, the model predicts increased
      aggrecan turnover rates in the presence of synovial IL-1alpha, consistent with
      experimental observations. Such models may help to infer the course of events in
      vivo following traumatic joint injury, and may also prove useful in
      quantitatively evaluating the efficiency of various therapeutic molecules that
      could be employed to avoid or modify the course of cartilage disease states.

PMID- 26874196
TI  - Slow-binding inhibition of cholinesterases, pharmacological and toxicological
      relevance.
AB  - Slow-binding inhibition (SBI) of enzymes is characterized by slow establishment
      of enzyme-inhibitor equilibrium. Cholinesterases (ChEs) display slow onset of
      inhibition with certain inhibitors. After a survey of SBI mechanisms, SBI of ChEs
      is examined. SBI results either from simple slow interaction, induced-fit, or
      slow conformational selection. In some cases, the slow equilibrium is followed by
      an irreversible chemical step. This later was observed for the interaction of
      ChEs with certain irreversible inhibitors. Because slow-binding inhibitors
      present pharmacological advantages over classical reversible inhibitors (e.g.
      long target-residence times, resulting in prolonged efficacy with minimal
      unwanted side effects), slow-binding inhibitors of ChEs are promising new drugs
      for treatment of Alzheimer disease, myasthenia, and neuroprotection. SBI is also
      of toxicological importance; it may play a role in mechanisms of resistance and
      protection against poisoning by irreversible agents. 

PMID- 26874197
TI  - Biomonitoring of a polluted coastal area (Bay of Muggia, Northern Adriatic Sea):
      A five-year study using transplanted mussels.
AB  - The subcellular effects of pollution were evaluated using two lysosomal
      biomarkers in mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, deployed periodically over a
      period of 5 years in a harbour area in the Bay of Muggia (Gulf of Trieste, North
      Adriatic Sea) that is strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities. Mussels
      were collected from a clean marine farm and analysed (sample T0). A sub-sample
      was transplanted to the harbour site (sample M) and analysed after about 12
      weeks. An additional sub-sample was relocated within the farm as a control and
      was also tested at the end of the 12-week period (sample T1). The transplantation
      procedures were repeated twice yearly for 5 consecutive years, starting in 2009.
      Two well-established lysosomal biomarkers, i.e. lysosomal membrane stability and
      lipofuscin accumulation, were evaluated in hepatopancreas cells. The body
      condition index and mortality rate were also assessed. Moreover, various
      pollutants were determined in both mussel flesh, for a better comprehension of
      the biological response, and sediments, for a general characterization of the
      study area. As a whole, the applied biomarkers were found to be appropriate for
      determining the responses of mussels to environmental pollutant loads over time.
      Variations in lysosomal membrane stability and lipofuscin content were mostly
      related to total PAHs and metals respectively. Our results confirm the usefulness
      of active biomonitoring in evaluating pollution trends in marine coastal areas
      and in particular the value of lysosomal biomarkers as a rapid screening tool for
      highlighting pollutant effects at least at organism level. 

PMID- 26874198
TI  - A multiple regression normalization approach to evaluation of gait in total knee
      arthroplasty patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gait features characteristic of a cohort may be difficult to evaluate
      due to differences in subjects' demographic factors and walking speed. The aim of
      this study was to employ a multiple regression normalization method that accounts
      for subject age, height, body mass, gender, and self-selected walking speed in
      the evaluation of gait in unilateral total knee arthroplasty patients. METHODS:
      Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed on 45 total knee arthroplasty
      patients and 31 aged-matched controls walking at their self-selected speed. Gait
      data peaks including joint angles, ground reaction forces, net joint moments, and
      net joint powers were normalized using subject body mass, standard dimensionless
      equations, and a multiple regression approach that modeled subject age, height,
      body mass, gender, and self-selected walking speed. FINDINGS: Normalizing gait
      data using subject body mass, dimensionless equations, and multiple regression
      approach resulted in a significantly lower knee adduction moment and knee
      extensor power in total knee arthroplasty patients compared to controls (p<0.05).
      In contrast to normalization using body mass and dimensionless equations,
      multiple regression normalization greatly reduced variance in gait data by
      minimizing correlations with subject demographic factors and walking speed,
      resulting in significantly higher peak hip extension angles and peak hip flexion
      powers in total knee arthroplasty patients (p<0.05). INTERPRETATION: Total knee
      arthroplasty patients generate greater hip extension angles and hip flexor power
      and have a lower knee adduction moment than healthy controls. This gait pattern
      may be a strategy to reduce muscle and joint loading at the knee.

PMID- 26874199
TI  - Sestrin-2 is significantly increased in malignant pleural effusions due to lung
      cancer and is potentially secreted by pleural mesothelial cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sestrin-2 (Sesn2) belongs to a family of highly conserved antioxidant
      proteins that were discovered as p53-inducible proteins and inhibits cell growth
      and proliferation. Our aim was to assess the levels of Sesn2 in malignant pleural
      effusions of lung cancer patients compared to benign pleural effusions. DESIGN
      AND METHODS: We enrolled 73 patients (55/males and 18/females) diagnosed with
      pleural effusion (PE). PEs were grouped as 44 malignant pleural effusions (MPEs;
      lung cancer) and 29 benign (BPE; 7 congestive heart failure, 9 tuberculosis, 13
      parapneumonic). Pleural fluid (PF) Sesn2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Standard biochemical PF analysis was also
      performed and Sesn2 levels were correlated with PF lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
      protein, cell counts and age. RESULTS: Sesn2 was detected in 24/44 patients with
      MPEs and in 3/29 patients with BPEs (p=0.0001). The mean value (mean+/-SEM) of
      Sesn2 in patients with MPEs was 0.54+/-0.22ng/mL while in BPEs it was 0.12+/
      0.04ng/mL (p=0.0004). In MPEs Sesn2 pleural fluid levels did not correlate with
      PF LDH and cell counts (p=0.89 and p=0.64 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      shows that Sesn2 is significantly increased in MPEs compared to BPEs. Moreover,
      the lack of correlation of Sesn2 levels with PF cell counts and PF LDH suggests
      that it is potentially secreted by pleural mesothelial cells.

PMID- 26874200
TI  - Mass spectrometric quantification of salivary metanephrines-A study in healthy
      subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Determination of metanephrine (MN), normetanephrine (NMN), and 3
      methoxytyramine (3-MT) in saliva may offer potential diagnostic advantages in
      diagnosing pheochromocytoma. METHODS: In this preliminary study, we determined
      metanephrine concentrations in saliva of healthy subjects and the relationship
      with simultaneously measured plasma metanephrines. We also studied the possible
      influence of pre-analytical conditions such as a collection device, awakening,
      posture, and eating on the salivary metanephrine levels. RESULTS: Eleven healthy
      subjects were included. Fasting blood and saliva samples were collected in seated
      position and after 30min of horizontal rest. Plasma and salivary MN, NMN, and 3
      MT concentrations were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography
      tandem mass spectrometric technique (LC-MS/MS) with automated solid phase
      extraction sample preparation. Metanephrines were detectable in saliva from all
      participants both in seated and supine position. No significant correlations were
      observed between the MN, NMN, and 3-MT concentrations in saliva and plasma in
      seated or supine position. Furthermore, there was no difference between MN, NMN,
      and 3-MT samples collected with or without a collection device. CONCLUSION:
      Metanephrines can be detected in saliva with LC-MS/MS with sufficient sensitivity
      and precision. Our findings warrant evaluation of salivary metanephrine
      measurement as a novel laboratory tool in the work-up of patients suspected of
      having a pheochromocytoma.

PMID- 26874201
TI  - Hysteresis-like binding of coagulation factors X/Xa to procoagulant activated
      platelets and phospholipids results from multistep association and membrane
      dependent multimerization.
AB  - Binding of coagulation factors X (fX) and Xa (fXa) to activated platelets is
      required for the formation of membrane-dependent enzymatic complexes of intrinsic
      tenase and prothrombinase. We carried out an in-depth characterization of fX/fXa
      binding to phospholipids and gel-filtered, thrombin-activated platelets. Flow
      cytometry, surface plasmon resonance, and computational modeling were used to
      investigate interactions of fX/fXa with the membranes. Confocal microscopy was
      employed to study fXa binding to platelet thrombi formed in flowing whole blood
      under arterial conditions. Binding of fX/fXa to either vesicles or procoagulant
      platelets did not follow a traditional one-step reversible binding model. Their
      dissociation was a two-step process resulting in a plateau that was up to 10-fold
      greater than the saturation value observed in the association experiments.
      Computational modeling and experimental evidence suggested that this was caused
      by a combination of two-step association (mainly for fX) and multimerization on
      the membrane (mainly for fXa). Importantly, fX formed multimers with fXa, thereby
      improving its retention. The same binding/dissociation hysteresis was observed
      for annexin V known to form trimers on the membranes. Experiments with platelets
      from gray syndrome patients showed that alpha-granular factor Va provided an
      additional high-affinity binding site for fXa that did not affect the hysteresis.
      Confocal microscopy observation of fXa binding to platelet thrombi in a flow
      chamber and its wash-out confirmed that this phenomenon persisted under
      physiologically relevant conditions. This suggests its possible role of "locking"
      coagulation factors on the membrane and preventing their inhibition in plasma and
      removal from thrombi by flow. 

PMID- 26874203
TI  - Proteolytic cleavage in the S1-S2 linker of the Kv1.5 channel does not affect
      channel function.
AB  - Kv1.5 channels mediate the ultra-rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium
      current (IKur), which is important for atrial repolarization. It has been shown
      that cell-surface Kv1.5 channels are sensitive to cleavage by the extracellular
      serine protease, proteinase K (PK). Here, we investigated the effects of
      extracellular proteolytic digestion on the function of Kv1.5 channels stably
      expressed in HEK 293 cells. Our data demonstrate that PK treatment cleaved mature
      membrane-bound (75kDa) Kv1.5 channels at a single locus in the S1-S2 linker,
      producing 42-kDa N-terminal fragments and 33-kDa C-terminal fragments.
      Interestingly, such PK treatment did not affect the Kv1.5 current (IKv1.5)
      recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Analysis of cell-surface
      proteins isolated using biotinylation indicated that the PK-generated N- and C
      terminal fragments were both present in the plasma membrane. Co
      immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments indicated that the N- and C-terminal
      fragments are no longer associated after cleavage. Furthermore, following PK
      digestion, the N- and C-fragments degraded at different rates. PK is frequently
      used as a tool to analyze cell-surface localization of membrane proteins, and
      cleavage of cell-surface channels has been shown to abolish channel function
      (e.g. hERG). Our data, for the first time, demonstrate that cleavage of cell
      surface channels assessed by Western blot analysis does not necessarily correlate
      with an elimination of the channel activities. 

PMID- 26874204
TI  - Insights into the function of ion channels by computational electrophysiology
      simulations.
AB  - Ion channels are of universal importance for all cell types and play key roles in
      cellular physiology and pathology. Increased insight into their functional
      mechanisms is crucial to enable drug design on this important class of membrane
      proteins, and to enhance our understanding of some of the fundamental features of
      cells. This review presents the concepts behind the recently developed simulation
      protocol Computational Electrophysiology (CompEL), which facilitates the
      atomistic simulation of ion channels in action. In addition, the review provides
      guidelines for its application in conjunction with the molecular dynamics
      software package GROMACS. We first lay out the rationale for designing CompEL as
      a method that models the driving force for ion permeation through channels the
      way it is established in cells, i.e., by electrochemical ion gradients across the
      membrane. This is followed by an outline of its implementation and a description
      of key settings and parameters helpful to users wishing to set up and conduct
      such simulations. In recent years, key mechanistic and biophysical insights have
      been obtained by employing the CompEL protocol to address a wide range of
      questions on ion channels and permeation. We summarize these recent findings on
      membrane proteins, which span a spectrum from highly ion-selective, narrow
      channels to wide diffusion pores. Finally we discuss the future potential of
      CompEL in light of its limitations and strengths. This article is part of a
      Special Issue entitled: Membrane Proteins edited by J.C. Gumbart and Sergei
      Noskov. 

PMID- 26874202
TI  - Computational virology: From the inside out.
AB  - Viruses typically pack their genetic material within a protein capsid. Enveloped
      viruses also have an outer membrane made up of a lipid bilayer and membrane
      spanning glycoproteins. X-ray diffraction and cryoelectron microscopy provide
      high resolution static views of viral structure. Molecular dynamics (MD)
      simulations may be used to provide dynamic insights into the structures of
      viruses and their components. There have been a number of simulations of viral
      capsids and (in some cases) of the inner core of RNA or DNA packaged within them.
      These simulations have generally focussed on the structural integrity and
      stability of the capsid and/or on the influence of the nucleic acid core on
      capsid stability. More recently there have been a number of simulation studies of
      enveloped viruses, including HIV-1, influenza A, and dengue virus. These have
      addressed the dynamic behaviour of the capsid, the matrix, and/or of the outer
      envelope. Analysis of the dynamics of the lipid bilayer components of the
      envelopes of influenza A and of dengue virus reveals a degree of biophysical
      robustness, which may contribute to the stability of virus particles in different
      environments. Significant computational challenges need to be addressed to aid
      simulation of complex viruses and their membranes, including the need to
      integrate structural data from a range of sources to enable us to move towards
      simulations of intact virions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled:
      Membrane Proteins edited by J.C. Gumbart and Sergei Noskov. 

PMID- 26874205
TI  - Fullerenol C60(OH)24 increases ion permeability of lipid membranes in a pH
      dependent manner.
AB  - Fullerenols are water-soluble analogs of fullerene exhibiting both antioxidant
      and prooxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. Here we report, for the first
      time, that fullerenol C60(OH)24 can induce ion permeability of a planar lipid
      bilayer membrane via the formation of ion pores or conductive defects with a
      preference for cations over anions. The fullerenol-mediated electrical current
      displayed non-linear concentration dependence and was reversibly enhanced by
      alkalinization. Calcium and magnesium ions decreased the fullerenol-induced
      potassium ion permeability. Voltage dependence of the current was sensitive to
      membrane composition, with the conductance being well pronounced in fully
      saturated diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine. Fullerenol did not induce
      carboxyfluorescein leakage from liposomes, suggesting a small size of fullerenol
      induced pores. In contrast to ion permeability, the binding of C60(OH)24 to
      liposomes increased at acidic pH, as measured by fluorescence quenching of pyrene
      labeled lipid. In line with this, the photodynamic action of fullerenol on the
      peptide gramicidin A also increased at low pH. It is hypothesized that aggregates
      of fullerenol may stabilize transient conductive lipid defects or pores formed
      under a variety of stress conditions. 

PMID- 26874206
TI  - Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles in neural cells and neurodegenerative
      diseases.
AB  - The function of human nervous system is critically dependent on proper
      interneuronal communication. Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles are
      emerging as a novel form of information exchange within the nervous system.
      Intraluminal vesicles within multivesicular bodies (MVBs) can be transported in
      neural cells anterogradely or retrogradely in order to be released into the
      extracellular space as exosomes. RNA loading into exosomes can be either via an
      interaction between RNA and the raft-like region of the MVB limiting membrane, or
      via an interaction between an RNA-binding protein-RNA complex with this raft-like
      region. Outflow of exosomes from neural cells and inflow of exosomes into neural
      cells presumably take place on a continuous basis. Exosomes can play both neuro
      protective and neuro-toxic roles. In this review, we characterize the role of
      exosomes and microvesicles in normal nervous system function, and summarize
      evidence for defective signaling of these vesicles in disease pathogenesis of
      some neurodegenerative diseases. 

PMID- 26874207
TI  - Effect of dimerization on the mechanism of action of aurein 1.2.
AB  - The mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides depends on physicochemical
      properties such as structure, concentration, and oligomerization. Here, we
      focused on the effect of dimerization on the mechanism of action of aurein 1.2
      (AU). We designed a lysine-linked AU dimer, (AU)2K, and its interaction with
      membrane mimetics was studied using four biophysical techniques and molecular
      dynamics simulations. Circular dichroism and molecular dynamics studies showed
      that AU displayed a typical spectrum for disordered structures in aqueous
      solution whereas (AU)2K exhibited the typical spectrum of alpha-helices in a
      coiled-coil conformation, wherein helices are wrapped around each other. With the
      addition of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), AU adopted an alpha-helix
      structure whereas the coiled-coil structure of (AU)2K assumed an extended
      conformation. Carboxyfluorescein release experiments with LUVs showed that both
      peptides were able to permeabilize vesicles although the leakage response to
      increases in peptide concentration differed. Optical microscopy experiments
      showed that both peptides induced pore opening and the dimer eventually caused
      the vesicles to burst. Finally, calorimetric traces determined by isothermal
      titration calorimetry on the LUVs also showed significant differences in peptide
      membrane interactions. Together, the results of our study demonstrated that
      dimerization changes the mechanism of action of AU. 

PMID- 26874208
TI  - Cognitive autonomy among adolescents with and without hearing loss: Associations
      with perceived social support.
AB  - Cognitive autonomy is a skill which may help adolescents prepare for important
      decisions in adulthood. The current study examined the associations between
      cognitive autonomy and perceived social support among adolescents with and
      without hearing loss. Participants were 177 students: 55 were deaf and hard of
      hearing (dhh) and 122 were hearing. They completed the Cognitive Autonomy and
      Self-Evaluation Inventory, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social
      Support, and a demographic questionnaire. Significant positive correlations were
      found between some of the cognitive autonomy variables and some of the perceived
      social support variables. However, among the dhh group, they were fewer and
      weaker. Family support was found to be a significant predictor of three out of
      the five cognitive autonomy variables. In addition, significant differences were
      found between the dhh and hearing participants in some of the cognitive autonomy
      variables, but not in perceived social support. Implications for theory and
      practice are discussed. 

PMID- 26874209
TI  - A 3-year follow-up study on cardiovascular disease and mortality in older people
      with intellectual disabilities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With increasing longevity and a similar or increased prevalence of
      cardiovascular disease risk factors (as compared to the general population),
      people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at risk of developing
      cardiovascular disease. However, prospective studies on incidence and influencing
      factors of cardiovascular disease and mortality are lacking. METHODS: A three
      year follow-up study was undertaken to study the incidence and symptoms at
      presentation of myocardial accident, stroke and heart failure in older people
      with ID. Furthermore, the predictive value of cardiovascular disease risk factors
      on myocardial accident, stroke and heart failure and on all-cause mortality were
      studied. The baseline group consisted of the 1050 participants, aged 50 years and
      over, in the Dutch Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disability (HA-ID) study.
      Baseline measurements were conducted between November 2008 and July 2010. Three
      years after baseline, medical files of 790 participants were studied. RESULTS:
      Cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure) occurred
      in 5.9% of the population during 3 year follow-up, and 32% of them died due to
      the condition. Incidence of myocardial infarction is 2.8 per 1000 personyears,
      for stroke 3.2 per 1000 personyears and for heart failure 12.5 per 1000
      personyears. Incidence of these conditions is probably underestimated, due to
      atypical symptom presentation. The use of atypical antipsychotics and a history
      of heart failure were predictive for myocardial infarction. Heart failure was
      predicted by abdominal obesity, chronic kidney disease and a history of heart
      failure. A total of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke or
      heart failure) was predicted by abdominal obesity, a history of stroke and a
      history of heart failure. A low body-mass index, peripheral arterial disease,
      chronic kidney disease and inflammation were predictive for 3-year all-cause
      mortality. CONCLUSION: Incidence of cardiovascular disease in older people with
      ID is similar to that in the general population. A pro-active assessment and
      treatment of the presented cardiovascular disease risk factors may reduce
      cardiovascular disease and mortality in older people with ID.

PMID- 26874210
TI  - EMF protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury via heat shock protein
      70 activation.
AB  - Intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)i) overload induced by chronic hypoxia alters
      Ca(2+)i homeostasis, whereas ameliorating calcium homeostasis is believed to be
      responsible for cardioprotection. We hypothesize that cardioprotection by
      electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure may restore Ca(2+)i homeostasis altered by
      hypoxia insults. Cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were
      exposed to chronic hypoxia (1% O2, 5% CO2, 37  degrees C). We observed that
      cardiomyocytes injury and hypertrophy were alleviated in hypoxic cardiomyocytes
      exposed with EMF preconditioning. Compared with hypoxic cardiomyocytes, the
      diastolic [Ca(2+)]i was decreased, the amplitude of Ca(2+)i oscillations was
      recovered when cardiomyocytes exposed with EMF. In addition, we also found that
      EMF exposure significantly increased heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA
      expression in hypoxic cardiomyocytes. However, treatment with HSP70 blocker
      KNK437, almost completely inhibited the EMF induced-cardioprotection and the
      beneficial effects of Ca(2+) oscillation in hypoxic cardiomyocytes. These results
      suggest that EMF preconditioning ameliorates Ca(2+)i homeostasis through
      activating HSP70, thereby producing the cardioprotective effect and reduction in
      hypoxic cardiomyocytes damage.

PMID- 26874211
TI  - Theoretical calculations, DNA interaction, topoisomerase I and
      phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase studies of water soluble mixed-ligand nickel(II)
      complexes.
AB  - Eight water soluble mixed-ligand nickel(II) complexes of the type [NiL(1
      4)(diimine)H2O].(ClO4)2, (1-8) where L(1-4) = 2-((2-(piperazin-1
      yl)ethylimino)methyl)-4-substituted phenols, and diimine = 2,2'-bipyridyl (bpy)
      or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and characterized by elemental
      analysis and spectroscopic methods. The uncoordinated perchlorate anions was
      ascertained form IR spectra of the complexes, and the absorption spectra reveal
      the octahedron geometry around nickel(II) ion with tridentate Schiff base ligand,
      diimine and a coordinated water molecule. Cyclic voltammograms of the complexes
      indicate the one-electron irreversible processes in the cathodic and anodic
      region. In vitro antioxidant activity proved the significant radical scavenging
      activity of the complexes against DPPH radical. The groove/electrostatic binding
      nature of complexes with CT-DNA (calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid) were affirmed
      by absorption, hydrodynamic and voltammetric titration experiments and docking
      analysis. All the complexes exhibit significant cleavage activity on plasmid DNA
      via hydrolytic and oxidatively, in which the oxidative mechanism involves
      hydroxyl radicals and supports the possibility of minor-groove binding. The
      complex 4 shows significant topoisomerase I (Topo-I) inhibitory activity. The
      molecular modeling analysis of complexes with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase
      (PI3K) receptor indicate the hydrogen bonding with Met1039, Asp837 and Leu1027,
      and hydrophobic interactions with Ser488, Asn498, Asp500, Gln662, Lys668, Ile844,
      Ile847, Ile850, Val941, Leu942, Leu1020, Met1034, Leu1035, Thr1037, Met1039,
      Gln1041 and Ile1051 of subdomain IIA of BSA. The complexes show sigma-pi
      interaction between diimines and amino groups of Leu1030 and Arg839.

PMID- 26874212
TI  - Enhanced anti-tumor activity and reduced toxicity by combination andrographolide
      and bleomycin in ascitic tumor-bearing mice.
AB  - Bleomycin (BLM) is an effective anti-carcinogen. With the main detrimental
      effects of inducing pulmonary fibrosis on patients, its clinical use is limited.
      Developing agents that enhance the efficacy and attenuate the side effects of
      cancer chemotherapy are critical. Andrographolide (Andro), an active diterpenoid
      labdane component extracted from Andrographis panicula, is generally prescribed
      for treatment of inflammatory associated diseases. The study showed that BLM
      combined with Andro was significantly more effective than BLM alone on inhibiting
      the tumor growth, arresting the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, promoting the capase-3
      and capase-8 activity to induce cancer cell apoptosis. The underlying mechanisms
      may be related to the transcriptional regulation of P53/P21/Cyclin pathways.
      Moreover, BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis in tumor-bearing mice, but BLM combined
      with Andro dramatically alleviated the lesion in pulmonary fibrosis by activating
      the SOD, suppressing MDA and HYP production, in the meanwhile attenuating the IL
      1beta, TNF- alpha, IL-6 and TGF-beta1 level. These mechanisms were associated
      with its effect on inhibition of protein expression of TGF-beta, alpha-SMA, p
      Smad2/3, enhanced expression of Smad7. Thus, it demonstrated that Andro might be
      a potential adjuvant therapeutic agent for BLM. 

PMID- 26874214
TI  - Mechanisms of immune escape in central nervous system infection with neurotropic
      JC virus variant.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) with JC
      polyomavirus (JCV) usually occur as a result of immunocompromise and manifest as
      progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) or granule cell neuronopathy
      (GCN). After immune reconstitution, some of these cases may show long-term
      persistence of JCV and delayed clinical improvement despite inflammation.
      METHODS: We followed 4 patients with multiple sclerosis, who developed
      natalizumab-associated PML or GCN with regard to JC viral load and JCV-specific T
      cell responses in the CNS. All of them experienced immune reconstitution
      inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), but in 2 cases JCV persisted > 21 months after IRIS
      accompanied by delayed clinical improvement. RESULTS: Persistence of JCV was
      associated with a lack of JCV VP1-specific T-cell responses during immune
      reconstitution in 1 of the patients. Detailed analysis of the brain infiltrate in
      another patient with neuronal persistence of JCV revealed strong infiltration of
      CD8(+) T cells and clonal expansion of activated CD8(+) effector T cells with a
      CD4(dim) CD8(+) phenotype, both exhibiting exquisite specificity for conserved
      epitopes of JCV large T antigen. However, clearance of JCV was not efficient,
      because mutations in the major capsid protein VP1 caused reduced CD4(+) T-cell
      responses against the identified JCV variant and subsequently resulted in a
      decline of CD8(+) T-cell responses after IRIS. INTERPRETATION: Our findings
      suggest that efficient CD4(+) T-cell recognition of neurotropic JCV variants is
      crucial to support CD8(+) T cells in combating JCV infection of the CNS.

PMID- 26874215
TI  - In extremely preterm infants, do the Movement Assessment of Infants and the
      Alberta Infant Motor Scale predict 18-month outcomes using the Bayley-III?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extremely preterm infants are at high-risk for neurodevelopmental
      disabilities. The Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI) and the Alberta Infant
      Motor Scale (AIMS) have been designed to predict outcome with modest accuracy
      with the Bayley-I or Bayley-II. AIMS: To examine and compare the predictive
      validity of the MAI and AIMS in determining neurodevelopmental outcome with the
      Bayley-III. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 160 infants born at <= 28 weeks
      gestation. METHOD: At their corrected age, infants underwent the MAI at 4 months,
      the AIMS at 4 and 10-12 months, and the Bayley-III and neurological examination
      at 18 months. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: Infants had a
      mean gestation of 26.3 +/- 1.4 weeks and birth weight of 906 +/- 207 g. A high
      risk score (>= 14) for adverse outcome was obtained by 57% of infants on the MAI.
      On the AIMS, a high-risk score (<5th percentile) was obtained by 56% at 4 months
      and 30% at 10-12 months. At 18 months, infants with low-risk scores on either the
      MAI or AIMS had higher cognitive, language, and motor Bayley-III scores than
      those with high-risk scores. They were less likely to have severe
      neurodevelopmental impairment. To predict Bayley-III scores <70, sensitivity and
      specificity were 91% and 49%, respectively, for the MAI and 78% and 48%,
      respectively, for the AIMS. CONCLUSIONS: Extremely preterm infants with low-risk
      MAI at 4 months or AIMS scores at 4 or 10-12 months had better outcomes than
      those with high-risk scores. However, both tests lack specificity to predict
      individual neurodevelopmental status at 18 months.

PMID- 26874213
TI  - Effects of dopamine D1-like and D2-like antagonists on cocaine discrimination in
      muscarinic receptor knockout mice.
AB  - Muscarinic and dopamine brain systems interact intimately, and muscarinic
      receptor ligands, like dopamine ligands, can modulate the reinforcing and
      discriminative stimulus (S(D)) effects of cocaine. To enlighten the
      dopamine/muscarinic interactions as they pertain to the S(D) effects of cocaine,
      we evaluated whether muscarinic M1, M2 or M4 receptors are necessary for dopamine
      D1 and/or D2 antagonist mediated modulation of the S(D) effects of cocaine.
      Knockout mice lacking M1, M2, or M4 receptors, as well as control wild-type mice
      and outbred Swiss-Webster mice, were trained to discriminate 10mg/kg cocaine from
      saline in a food-reinforced drug discrimination procedure. Effects of
      pretreatments with the dopamine D1 antagonist SCH 23390 and the dopamine D2
      antagonist eticlopride were evaluated. In intact mice, both SCH 23390 and
      eticlopride attenuated the cocaine discriminative stimulus effect, as expected.
      SCH 23390 similarly attenuated the cocaine discriminative stimulus effect in M1
      knockout mice, but not in mice lacking M2 or M4 receptors. The effects of
      eticlopride were comparable in each knockout strain. These findings demonstrate
      differences in the way that D1 and D2 antagonists modulate the S(D) effects of
      cocaine, D1 modulation being at least partially dependent upon activity at the
      inhibitory M2/M4 muscarinic subtypes, while D2 modulation appeared independent of
      these systems. 

PMID- 26874216
TI  - Modeling the evolution of winner and loser effects: A survey and prospectus.
AB  - The evolution of winner or loser effects-higher probabilities of winning after
      winning or of losing after losing-has received remarkably little attention from
      theoreticians, even though such effects are widespread across the animal kingdom.
      We review game-theoretic models that regard such winner and loser effects as
      outcomes of a strategic response. We show that these models have been well
      supported by the empirical literature in the past, but are not designed to
      address some recent observations. In the light of this recent progress on the
      empirical front, we identify factors that newer theory must be developed to
      explore. 

PMID- 26874217
TI  - Ecoepidemic predator-prey model with feeding satiation, prey herd behavior and
      abandoned infected prey.
AB  - In this paper we analyse a predator-prey model where the prey population shows
      group defense and the prey individuals are affected by a transmissible disease.
      The resulting model is of the Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey type with an SI
      (susceptible-infected) disease in the prey. Modeling prey group defense leads to
      a square root dependence in the Holling type II functional for the predator-prey
      interaction term. The system dynamics is investigated using simulations,
      classical existence and asymptotic stability analysis and numerical bifurcation
      analysis. A number of bifurcations, such as transcritical and Hopf bifurcations
      which occur commonly in predator-prey systems will be found. Because of the
      square root interaction term there is non-uniqueness of the solution and a
      singularity where the prey population goes extinct in a finite time. This results
      in a collapse initiated by extinction of the healthy or susceptible prey and
      thereafter the other population(s). When also a positive attractor exists this
      leads to bistability similar to what is found in predator-prey models with a
      strong Allee effect. For the two-dimensional disease-free (i.e. the purely
      demographic) system the region in the parameter space where bistability occurs is
      marked by a global bifurcation. At this bifurcation a heteroclinic connection
      exists between saddle prey-only equilibrium points where a stable limit cycle
      together with its basin of attraction, are destructed. In a companion paper
      (Gimmelli et al., 2015) the same model was formulated and analysed in which the
      disease was not in the prey but in the predator. There we also observed this
      phenomenon. Here we extend its analysis using a phase portrait analysis. For the
      three-dimensional ecoepidemic predator-prey system where the prey is affected by
      the disease, also tangent bifurcations including a cusp bifurcation and a torus
      bifurcation of limit cycles occur. This leads to new complex dynamics.
      Continuation by varying one parameter of the emerging quasi-periodic dynamics
      from a torus bifurcation can lead to its destruction by a collision with a saddle
      cycle. Under other conditions the quasi-periodic dynamics changes gradually in a
      trajectory that lands on a boundary point where the prey go extinct in finite
      time after which a total collapse of the three-dimensional system occurs. 

PMID- 26874218
TI  - Singing on the fly: sensorimotor integration and acoustic communication in
      Drosophila.
AB  - The capacity to communicate via acoustic signals is prevalent across the animal
      kingdom, from insects to humans. What are the neural circuit mechanisms that
      underlie this ability? New methods for behavioral analysis along with an
      unparalleled genetic toolkit have recently opened up studies of acoustic
      communication in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Its nervous system
      comprises roughly 100,000 neurons, yet flies are able to both produce and process
      time-varying sounds during courtship. Just as with more complex animals, sensory
      feedback plays an important role in shaping communication between the sexes.
      Here, we review recent work in Drosophila that has laid the foundation for
      solving the mechanisms by which sensory information dynamically modulates
      behavior.

PMID- 26874220
TI  - Detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in
      Brazil using a multimarker genetic assay for katG and rpoB genes.
AB  - Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) is a serious world health problem that
      limits public actions to control tuberculosis, because the most used anti
      tuberculosis first-line drugs fail to stop mycobacterium spread. Consequently, a
      quick detection through molecular diagnosis is essential to reduce morbidity and
      medical costs. Despite the availability of several molecular-based commercial
      kits to diagnose multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, their diagnostic value might
      diverge worldwide since Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic variability differs
      according to geographic location. Here, we studied the predictive value of four
      common mycobacterial mutations in strains isolated from endemic areas of Brazil.
      Mutations were found at the frequency of 41.9% for katG, 25.6% for inhA, and
      69.8% for rpoB genes in multidrug-resistant strains. Multimarker analysis
      revealed that combination of only two mutations ("katG/S315T+rpoB/S531L") was a
      better surrogate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis than single-marker analysis
      (86% sensitivity vs. 62.8%). Prediction of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was
      not improved by adding a third or fourth mutation in the model. Therefore, rather
      than using diagnostic kits detecting several mutations, we propose a simple dual
      marker panel to detect multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, with 86% sensitivity and
      100% specificity. In conclusion, this approach (previous genetic study+analysis
      of only prevalent markers) would considerably decrease the processing costs while
      retaining diagnostic accuracy. 

PMID- 26874221
TI  - Anaerobic digestion of biowaste under extreme ammonia concentration:
      Identification of key microbial phylotypes.
AB  - Ammonia inhibition represents a major operational issue for anaerobic digestion
      (AD). In order to get more insights into AD microbiota resistance, anaerobic
      batch reactors performances were investigated under a wide range of Total Ammonia
      Nitrogen (TAN) concentrations up to 50.0g/L at 35 degrees C. The half maximal
      inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was determined to be 19.0g/L. Microbial
      community dynamics revealed that above a TAN concentration of 10.0g/L, remarkable
      modifications within archaeal and bacterial communities occurred. 16S rRNA gene
      sequencing analysis showed a gradual methanogenic shift between two OTUs from
      genus Methanosarcina when TAN concentration increased up to 25.0g/L. Proportion
      of potential syntrophic microorganisms such as Methanoculleus and Treponema
      progressively raised with increasing TAN up to 10.0 and 25.0g/L respectively,
      while Syntrophomonas and Ruminococcus groups declined. In 25.0g/L assays,
      Caldicoprobacter were dominant. This study highlights the emergence of AD key
      phylotypes at extreme ammonia concentrations. 

PMID- 26874219
TI  - Neuroimaging with magnetoencephalography: A dynamic view of brain
      pathophysiology.
AB  - Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive, silent, and totally passive
      neurophysiological imaging method with excellent temporal resolution (~1 ms) and
      good spatial precision (~3-5 mm). In a typical experiment, MEG data are acquired
      as healthy controls or patients with neurologic or psychiatric disorders perform
      a specific cognitive task, or receive sensory stimulation. The resulting data are
      generally analyzed using standard electrophysiological methods, coupled with
      advanced image reconstruction algorithms. To date, the total number of MEG
      instruments and associated users is significantly smaller than comparable human
      neuroimaging techniques, although this is likely to change in the near future
      with advances in the technology. Despite this small base, MEG research has made a
      significant impact on several areas of translational neuroscience, largely
      through its unique capacity to quantify the oscillatory dynamics of activated
      brain circuits in humans. This review focuses on the clinical areas where MEG
      imaging has arguably had the greatest impact in regard to the identification of
      aberrant neural dynamics at the regional and network level, monitoring of disease
      progression, determining how efficacious pharmacologic and behavioral
      interventions modulate neural systems, and the development of neural markers of
      disease. Specifically, this review covers recent advances in understanding the
      abnormal neural oscillatory dynamics that underlie Parkinson's disease, autism
      spectrum disorders, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive
      disorders, cerebral palsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive
      aging, and post-traumatic stress disorder. MEG imaging has had a major impact on
      how clinical neuroscientists understand the brain basis of these disorders, and
      its translational influence is rapidly expanding with new discoveries and
      applications emerging continuously.

PMID- 26874222
TI  - Corticotropin-releasing hormone: Mediator of vertebrate life stage transitions?
AB  - Hormones, particularly thyroid hormones and corticosteroids, play critical roles
      in vertebrate life stage transitions such as amphibian metamorphosis, hatching in
      precocial birds, and smoltification in salmonids. Since they synergistically
      regulate several metabolic and developmental processes that accompany vertebrate
      life stage transitions, the existence of extensive cross-communication between
      the adrenal/interrenal and thyroidal axes is not surprising. Synergies of
      corticosteroids and thyroid hormones are based on effects at the level of tissue
      hormone sensitivity and gene regulation. In addition, in representative
      nonmammalian vertebrates, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates
      hypophyseal thyrotropin secretion, and thus functions as a common regulator of
      both the adrenal/interrenal and thyroidal axes to release corticosteroids and
      thyroid hormones. The dual function of CRH has been speculated to control or
      affect the timing of vertebrate life history transitions across taxa. After a
      brief overview of recent insights in the molecular mechanisms behind the synergic
      actions of thyroid hormones and corticosteroids during life stage transitions,
      this review examines the evidence for a possible role of CRH in controlling
      vertebrate life stage transitions. 

PMID- 26874224
TI  - Identification and characterization of a heat-resistant protease from Serratia
      liquefaciens isolated from Brazilian cold raw milk.
AB  - The cold storage of raw milk before heat treatment in dairy industry promotes the
      growth of psychrotrophic microorganisms, which are known for their ability to
      produce heat-resistant proteolytic enzymes. Although Pseudomonas is described as
      the main causative genus for high proteolytic spoilage potential in dairy
      products, Serratia liquefaciens secretes proteases and may be found in raw milk
      samples as well. However, at the present there is no information about the
      proteolytic spoilage potential of S. liquefaciens in milk after heat-treatment.
      The main aim of this research was to assess the proteolytic spoilage potential of
      S. liquefaciens isolated from Brazilian raw milk and to characterize the involved
      protease. S. liquefaciens was shown to secrete one heat-resistant spoilage
      metalloprotease of, approximately, 52 kDa encoded by the ser2 gene. The heat
      resistance of Ser2 was similar to the aprX encoded metalloprotease produced by
      Pseudomonas. Although the ser2 gene was detected in all S. liquefaciens isolates
      tested in this study, the proteolytic activity of the isolates in milk was highly
      heterogeneous. Since nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of ser2 of all
      tested isolates are identical, this heterogeneity may be attributed to
      differences in enzyme expression levels or post-translational modifications.

PMID- 26874225
TI  - Radiation dose estimation for marine mussels following exposure to tritium: Best
      practice for use of the ERICA tool in ecotoxicological studies.
AB  - Accurate dosimetry is critically important for ecotoxicological and
      radioecological studies on the potential effects of environmentally relevant
      radionuclides, such as tritium ((3)H). Previous studies have used basic
      dosimetric equations to estimate dose from (3)H exposure in ecologically
      important organisms, such as marine mussels. This study compares four different
      methods of estimating dose to adult mussels exposed to 1 or 15 MBq L(-1)
      tritiated water (HTO) under laboratory conditions. These methods were (1) an
      equation converting seawater activity concentrations to dose rate with fixed
      parameters; (2) input into the ERICA tool of seawater activity concentrations
      only; (3) input into the ERICA tool of estimated whole organism concentrations
      (woTACs), comprising dry activity plus estimated tissue free water tritium (TFWT)
      activity (TFWT volume * seawater activity concentration); and (4) input into the
      ERICA tool of measured whole organism activity concentrations, comprising dry
      activity plus measured TFWT activity (TFWT volume * TFWT activity concentration).
      Methods 3 and 4 are recommended for future ecotoxicological experiments as they
      produce values for individual animals and are not reliant on transfer predictions
      (estimation of concentration ratio). Method 1 may be suitable if measured whole
      organism concentrations are not available, as it produced results between 3 and
      4. As there are technical complications to accurately measuring TFWT, we
      recommend that future radiotoxicological studies on mussels or other aquatic
      invertebrates measure whole organism activity in non-dried tissues (i.e.
      incorporating TFWT and dry activity as one, rather than as separate fractions)
      and input this data into the ERICA tool. 

PMID- 26874223
TI  - Molecular, cellular and functional events in axonal sprouting after stroke.
AB  - Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability. Yet there is a limited degree of
      recovery in this disease. One of the mechanisms of recovery is the formation of
      new connections in the brain and spinal cord after stroke: post-stroke axonal
      sprouting. Studies indicate that post-stroke axonal sprouting occurs in mice,
      rats, primates and humans. Inducing post-stroke axonal sprouting in specific
      connections enhances recovery; blocking axonal sprouting impairs recovery.
      Behavioral activity patterns after stroke modify the axonal sprouting response. A
      unique regenerative molecular program mediates this aspect of tissue repair in
      the CNS. The types of connections that are formed after stroke indicate three
      patterns of axonal sprouting after stroke: reactive, reparative and unbounded
      axonal sprouting. These differ in mechanism, location, relationship to behavioral
      recovery and, importantly, in their prospect for therapeutic manipulation to
      enhance tissue repair.

PMID- 26874226
TI  - Statistical mechanics of neocortical interactions: Large-scale EEG influences on
      molecular processes.
AB  - Calculations further support the premise that large-scale synchronous firings of
      neurons may affect molecular processes. The context is scalp
      electroencephalography (EEG) during short-term memory (STM) tasks. The mechanism
      considered is Pi=p+qA (SI units) coupling, where p is the momenta of free Ca(2+)
      waves, q the charge of Ca(2+) in units of the electron charge, and A the magnetic
      vector potential of current I from neuronal minicolumnar firings considered as
      wires, giving rise to EEG. Data has processed using multiple graphs to identify
      sections of data to which spline-Laplacian transformations are applied, to fit
      the statistical mechanics of neocortical interactions (SMNI) model to EEG data,
      sensitive to synaptic interactions subject to modification by Ca(2+) waves. 

PMID- 26874227
TI  - T cell and reticular network co-dependence in HIV infection.
AB  - Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) are arranged on a network in the T cell zone
      of lymph nodes, forming a scaffold for T cell migration, and providing survival
      factors, especially interleukin-7 (IL-7). Conversely, CD4(+) T cells are the
      major producers of lymphotoxin-beta (LT-beta), necessary for the construction and
      maintenance of the FRC network. This interdependence creates the possibility of a
      vicious cycle, perpetuating loss of both FRC and T cells. Furthermore, evidence
      that HIV infection is responsible for collagenation of the network suggests that
      long term loss of network function might be responsible for the attenuated
      recovery in T cell count seen in HIV patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy
      (ART). We present computational and mathematical models of this interaction
      mechanism and subsequent naive CD4(+) T-cell depletion in which (1) collagen
      deposition impedes access of naive T cells to IL-7 on the FRC and loss of IL-7
      production by loss of FRC network itself, leading to the depletion of naive T
      cells through increased apoptosis; and (2) depletion of naive T cells as the
      source of LT-beta on which the FRC depend for survival leads to loss of the
      network, thereby amplifying and perpetuating the cycle of depletion of both naive
      T cells and stromal cells. Our computational model explicitly includes an FRC
      network and its cytokine exchange with a heterogeneous T-cell population. We also
      derive lumped models, in terms of partial differential equations and reduced to
      ordinary differential equations, that provide additional insight into the
      mechanisms at work. The central conclusions are that (1) damage to the reticular
      network, caused by HIV infection is a plausible mechanism for attenuated recovery
      post-ART; (2) within this, the production of T cell survival factors by FRCs may
      be the key rate-limiting step; and (3) the methods of model reduction and
      analysis presented are useful for both immunological studies and other contexts
      in which agent-based models are severely limited by computational cost. 

PMID- 26874228
TI  - Experimental measurements and mathematical modeling of biological noise arising
      from transcriptional and translational regulation of basic synthetic gene
      circuits.
AB  - The small number of molecules, unevenly distributed within an isogenic cell
      population, makes gene expression a noisy process, and strategies have evolved to
      deal with this variability in protein concentration and to limit its impact on
      cellular behaviors. As translational efficiency has a major impact on biological
      noise, a possible strategy to control noise is to regulate gene expression
      processes at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, fluctuations in the
      concentration of a green fluorescent protein were compared, at the single cell
      level, upon transformation of an isogenic bacterial cell population with
      synthetic gene circuits implementing either a transcriptional or a post
      transcriptional control of gene expression. Experimental measurements showed that
      protein variability is lower under post-transcriptional control, when the same
      average protein concentrations are compared. This effect is well reproduced by
      stochastic simulations, supporting the hypothesis that noise reduction is due to
      the control mechanism acting on the efficiency of translation. Similar strategies
      are likely to play a role in noise reduction in natural systems and to be useful
      for controlling noise in synthetic biology applications. 

PMID- 26874229
TI  - Application of ionic liquids in vacuum microwave-assisted extraction followed by
      macroporous resin isolation of three flavonoids rutin, hyperoside and hesperidin
      from Sorbus tianschanica leaves.
AB  - Rutin, hyperoside and hesperidin were effectively extracted from Sorbus
      tianschanica leaves by an ionic liquid vacuum microwave-assisted method. A series
      of ionic liquids with various anions and alkyl chain length of the cations were
      studied and the extraction was performed in [C6mim][BF4] aqueous solution. After
      optimization by a factorial design and response surface methodology, total
      extraction yield of 2.37mg/g with an error of 0.12mg/g (0.71+/-0.04mg/g, 1.18+/
      0.06mg/g and 0.48+/-0.02 for rutin, hyperoside and hesperidin, respectively) was
      achieved under -0.08MPa for vacuum, 19min and 420W for microwave irradiation time
      and power, and 15mL/g for liquid-solid ratio. The proposed method here is more
      efficient and needs a shorter extraction time for rutin, hyperoside and
      hesperidin from S. tianschanica leaves than reference extraction techniques. In
      stability studies performed with standard rutin, hyperoside and hesperidin, the
      target analytes were stable under the optimum conditions. The proposed method had
      a high reproducibility and precision. In addition, separation of rutin,
      hyperoside and hesperidin from [C6mim][BF4] extraction solution was completed
      effectively by AB-8 macroporous resin adsorption and desorption process. Ionic
      liquid vacuum microwave-assisted extraction is a simple, rapid and efficient
      sample extraction technique. 

PMID- 26874230
TI  - Use of the Houghton Scale to Classify Community and Household Walking Ability in
      People With Lower-Limb Amputation: Criterion-Related Validity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the criterion-related validity of using the self-reported
      Houghton Scale to classify community-dwelling people with lower-limb amputation
      according to the suggested score ranges for independent community (Houghton Scale
      score >=9), household and limited community (Houghton Scale scores 6-8), and
      limited household (Houghton Scale score <=5) walking ability categories as
      referenced to performance-based balance ability and walking speed criteria.
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: Community-based wellness walking
      programs in 8 states in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast regions of the
      U.S. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteers (N=180; 66.5% men, n=118; mean age, 55.5+/-16y)
      7.1+/-13.1 years since amputation, with transtibial-level amputation in 47%
      (n=79) and amputation caused by vascular disease in 49.4% (n=89). INTERVENTIONS:
      None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported data: Houghton Scale, Prosthetic
      Evaluation Questionnaire mobility subscale, and Activities-specific Balance
      Confidence (ABC) Scale. Clinical performance-based measures: balance ability
      assessed with 3 Berg Balance Scale (BBS) items and walking ability assessed with
      the timed Up and Go (TUG) test and 2-minute walk test (2MWT). The primary
      reference criteria were performance-based balance ability measured with the 3 BBS
      items and gait speed calculated from the 2MWT. RESULTS: On the Houghton Scale,
      45.9% (78/170) of the participants scored >=9, 30.6% (52/170) of the participants
      scored between 6 and 8, and 23.5% (40/170) of the participants scored <=5. The
      Houghton Scale correlated with the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire mobility
      subscale (r=.73), ABC Scale (r=.76), balance ability (r=.67), TUG test (r=-.67),
      and 2MWT (r=.73). The 3 Houghton Scale ability categories differed significantly
      from each other (P<.05) for all outcome measures: Prosthetic Evaluation
      Questionnaire mobility subscale, ABC Scale, balance ability, TUG test, and 2MWT.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Houghton Scale demonstrated criterion-related validity by
      differentiating community-dwelling people with lower-limb amputation into
      community, limited community/household, and household ability categories that
      corresponded to performance-based balance and walking criteria. Average
      prosthetic walking speeds for each category compared with similar walking ability
      categories defined in other patient populations.

PMID- 26874231
TI  - Caregiver Factors in Stroke: Are They the Missing Piece of the Puzzle?
AB  - Stroke is a major global health problem and a leading cause of long-term
      disability. As health care professionals working with these patients, we work
      closely with their caregivers because we recognize the crucial role they play in
      our patients' recovery. Increasingly, the effect of patient factors on caregiver
      outcomes is being studied. However, the effect of the reverse relationship of
      caregiver factors on patient outcomes has received much less attention, although
      there is evidence that social and family support can positively (and sometimes
      negatively) affect patient outcomes. A better understanding of this relationship
      may have implications for rehabilitation research, professional practice, and
      policy directions in terms of resource allocation.

PMID- 26874232
TI  - Task-Dependent Bimanual Coordination After Stroke: Relationship With Sensorimotor
      Impairments.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) bimanual coordination deficits in patients with
      stroke using 3-dimensional kinematic analyses as they perform naturalistic tasks
      requiring collaborative interaction of the 2 arms; and (2) whether bimanual
      coordination deficits are related to clinical measures of sensorimotor
      impairments and unimanual performance of the paretic arm. DESIGN: Case-control
      study. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital research institute. PARTICIPANTS:
      Participants (N=24) were patients with unilateral chronic stroke (n=14) and age
      matched controls (n=10). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Temporal coordination between the 2 hands as participants performed (1) a
      symmetric task: reach to pick up a box using both hands; and (2) an asymmetric
      task: open a drawer with 1 hand to press a button inside with the other hand.
      RESULTS: During the symmetric task, patients and controls showed preserved
      temporal coupling while transporting the hands to the box. However, on reaching
      the box, patients demonstrated an impaired ability to cooperatively interact
      their 2 arms for an efficient pickup. This led to significantly longer pickup
      times compared with controls. Pickup time positively correlated with
      proprioceptive deficits of the paretic arm. During the asymmetric task, patients
      had a longer time delay between drawer opening and button pressing movements than
      controls. The deficits in asymmetric coordination did not significantly correlate
      with sensorimotor impairments or unimanual paretic arm performance. CONCLUSIONS:
      Bimanual coordination was impaired in patients poststroke during symmetric and
      asymmetric bimanual tasks that required cooperative interaction between the 2
      arms. While the proprioceptive system contributes to symmetric cooperative
      coordination, commonly tested measures of paretic arm impairment or performance,
      or both, do not strongly predict deficits in bimanual coordination.

PMID- 26874233
TI  - Do we really care about unintended outcomes? An analysis of evaluation theory and
      practice.
AB  - The concept of 'unintended outcomes' has a long history. Contributions to the
      topic have appeared under the guise of various disciplinary lenses, including
      programme evaluation. There is now solid consensus among the international
      evaluation community regarding the need to consider side effects as a key aspect
      in any evaluative study. However, this concern often equates to nothing more than
      false piety. In this article, shortcomings of existing theoretical developments
      to evaluate unintended outcomes are identified. Current evaluation practices in
      international development are then analysed to demonstrate ways in which
      unintended outcomes remain peripheral. Reasons for neglect are discussed and the
      need for a stronger re-focusing on unintended effects of development
      interventions is advocated. 

PMID- 26874234
TI  - Why so many "rigorous" evaluations fail to identify unintended consequences of
      development programs: How mixed methods can contribute.
AB  - Many widely-used impact evaluation designs, including randomized control trials
      (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs (QEDs), frequently fail to detect what are
      often quite serious unintended consequences of development programs. This seems
      surprising as experienced planners and evaluators are well aware that unintended
      consequences frequently occur. Most evaluation designs are intended to determine
      whether there is credible evidence (statistical, theory-based or narrative) that
      programs have achieved their intended objectives and the logic of many evaluation
      designs, even those that are considered the most "rigorous," does not permit the
      identification of outcomes that were not specified in the program design. We take
      the example of RCTs as they are considered by many to be the most rigorous
      evaluation designs. We present a numbers of cases to illustrate how infusing RCTs
      with a mixed-methods approach (sometimes called an "RCT+" design) can strengthen
      the credibility of these designs and can also capture important unintended
      consequences. We provide a Mixed Methods Evaluation Framework that identifies 9
      ways in which UCs can occur, and we apply this framework to two of the case
      studies. 

PMID- 26874235
TI  - Measuring program- and individual-level fidelity in a home visiting program for
      adolescent parents.

PMID- 26874236
TI  - Multiplex bead-based immunoassay for the free soluble forms of the HLA-G
      receptors, ILT2 and ILT4.
AB  - Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is an immune-inhibitory molecule that exerts its
      function via interaction with two main inhibitory receptors: ILT2 and ILT4. This
      interaction is considered to be an immune checkpoint. HLA-G can be found as a
      soluble molecule, but it is not known if its receptors can also be found as
      soluble molecules. In this work, we present a multiplex luminex-based assay to
      measure soluble ILT2 (sILT2) and soluble ILT4 (sILT4) molecules together. It is
      based on two antibody pairs, GHI/75 and HP-F1-PE for ILT2 and 27D6 and 42D1-PE
      for ILT4. The characterization of our method reveals that it specifically detects
      the free soluble forms of sILT2 and sILT4, and not those complexed to HLA Class I
      molecules such as their ligand of highest affinity HLA-G. A study on two small
      cohorts of cancer patients demonstrated that soluble ILT2 and ILT4 molecules were
      of low abundance in the plasma of healthy controls, but that elevated levels of
      plasmatic sILT2 were present in non-muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer patients.
      This demonstrated that the titration test is indeed working, and that soluble
      ILT2 molecules do exist in pathological contexts, which relevance may now be
      sought on larger cohorts and other pathologies. 

PMID- 26874237
TI  - Mechanisms and pharmacogenetic signals underlying thiazide diuretics blood
      pressure response.
AB  - Thiazide (TZD) diuretics are among the most commonly prescribed antihypertensives
      globally; however their chronic blood pressure (BP) lowering mechanism remains
      unclear. Herein we discuss the current evidence regarding specific mechanisms
      regulating the antihypertensive effects of TZDs, suggesting that TZDs act via
      multiple complex and interacting mechanisms, including natriuresis with short
      term use and direct vasodilatory effects chronically. Additionally, we review
      pharmacogenomics signals that have been associated with TZDs BP-response in
      several cohorts (i.e. NEDD4L, PRKCA, EDNRA-GNAS, and YEATS4) and discuss how
      these genes might be related to TZD BP-response mechanism. Understanding the
      association between these genes and TZD BP mechanism might facilitate the
      development of new drugs and therapeutic approaches based on a deeper
      understanding of the determinants of BP-response. 

PMID- 26874238
TI  - Preterm uterine contractions ultimately delivered at term: safe but not out of
      danger.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Patients with pregnancies complicated with premature uterine
      contractions (PMC), but delivered at term are considered as false preterm labor
      (PTL), and represent a common obstetric complication. We aimed to assess
      obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated with PMC, but
      delivered at term, as compared to term normal pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN:
      Obstetric, maternal and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies complicated
      with PMC between 24-33(6)/7 weeks (PMC group), necessitating hospitalization and
      treatment with tocolytics and/or steroids, during 2009-2014, were reviewed. The
      study group included only cases who eventually delivered >=37 weeks, which were
      compared to a control group of subsequent term singleton deliveries who had not
      experienced PMC during pregnancy. Neonatal adverse composite outcome included:
      phototherapy, RDS, sepsis, blood transfusion, cerebral injury, NICU admission.
      RESULTS: The PMC group (n=497) was characterized by higher rates of nulliparity
      (p=0.002), infertility treatments (p=0.02), and polyhydramnios (p<0.001), as
      compared to controls (n=497). Labor was characterized by higher rates of
      instrumental deliveries (p=0.03), non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings
      (p<0.001) prolonged third stage of labor (p=0.04), and increased rate of post
      partum maternal anemia (Hb<8g/dL) p=0.004, in the PMC group as compared to
      controls. Neonates in the PMC groups had lower birth weights compared to
      controls, 3149g+/-429 vs. 3318g+/-1.1, p<0.001, respectively. By logistic
      regression analysis, PMC during pregnancy was independently associated with
      neonatal birth-weight <3rd percentile (adjusted OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5-13.7).
      CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated with PMC, even-though delivered at term,
      entail adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and may warrant continued high
      risk follow up.

PMID- 26874240
TI  - Corrigendum to "Calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels mediate the
      beta2 -adrenergic regulation of Na,K-ATPase" [FEBS Lett. 588 (24) (2014) 4686
      4693].

PMID- 26874239
TI  - Are coping strategies and locus of control orientation associated with health
      related quality of life in older adults with and without depression?
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between coping and health
      related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults (aged >=60 years) with and
      without depression. This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed inpatients
      from seven psychogeriatric hospital units in Norway and 106 community-living
      older adults without depression. HRQoL was measured using Euro Qol Group's EQ-5D
      Index and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Two aspects of coping were of primary
      interest for HRQoL: locus of control (LOC) and ways of coping (WOC). Measures of
      depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, instrumental activities of daily
      living, and general physical health were included as covariates. In linear
      regression analyses adjusted for age, stronger external LOC was associated with
      poorer HRQoL in both depressed and non-depressed older adults. In the fully
      specified regression models for both groups, the association between stronger
      external LOC and poorer HRQoL remained significant for the EQ-VAS score but not
      the EQ-5D Index. WOC was not associated with HRQoL in either group. Total amount
      of explained variance in fully-specified models was considerably lower in the
      sample of depressed, hospitalized older adults (17.1% and 15.5% for EQ-5D index
      and EQ-VAS, respectively), than in the sample of non-depressed, community-based
      older adults (45.8% and 48.9% for EQ-5D Index and EQ-VAS, respectively). One
      aspect of coping (LOC orientation) was associated with HRQoL in both depressed
      and non-depressed older adult samples, and therefore may be an important target
      for intervention for both groups. Differences in the amount of variance explained
      in models for the two groups warrant further research. 

PMID- 26874242
TI  - Extracurricular participation among children with epilepsy in Canada.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Participation in extracurricular activities creates opportunities
      for children to foster friendships, promote a sense of belonging, and improve
      physical and mental well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the
      relationship(s) of personal factors, seizure variables, and social supports with
      extracurricular participation in children with epilepsy (CWE). METHODS: Baseline
      analysis of the QUALITE longitudinal study cohort of children aged 8-14 years
      (N=426) was conducted. Variables hypothesized to be related to the participation
      of CWE were classified using the International Classification of Functioning,
      Disability and Health according to body functions (presence of generalized tonic
      clonic seizures in the past month, on/off AEDs, and seizure severity),
      environmental factors (perceived social support from parents and friends), and
      personal factors (sex, age, family structure, and family income). Analysis of
      variables related to extracurricular participation was conducted with regression
      modeling. RESULTS: Personal factors of age, gender, and family structure as well
      as body function variables of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and seizure
      severity were found to be the most important to extracurricular participation
      based on how frequently they were included in the final models (16/16 and 13/16
      times, respectively). When parental support was found to be related to
      participation, the association was negative in 6 out of 16 models. DISCUSSION:
      The personal factors that are related to extracurricular participation among
      children with epilepsy mirror samples based on the general population, although
      seizures also play an important role. The relationship between perceived parental
      support and actual participation levels warrants further exploration.

PMID- 26874243
TI  - Psychiatric comorbidity in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures compared with
      epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) are closely linked with
      psychological distress, but their etiology is not well-understood. We reviewed
      psychiatric comorbidity in PNESs and epileptic seizures (ESs) with an aim to
      assist understanding, diagnosis, and management of PNESs. METHODS: A search of
      Web of Science, MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, and Scopus identified 32 relevant
      studies on the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in PNESs. We used meta
      analysis to compare psychiatric comorbidity between PNESs and ESs. RESULTS:
      Samples with PNESs had high rates of psychiatric comorbidity overall (53-100%),
      notably including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and
      personality and anxiety disorders. Compared with ESs, samples with PNESs had more
      psychiatric comorbidity overall (RR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.48, p<0.0001) with
      significantly elevated risks found for PTSD, personality disorder, and anxiety
      but not depression. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disorders are more common in PNESs
      than ESs. Because of methodological limitations of available studies, causality
      cannot be established; prospective longitudinal designs are required.

PMID- 26874244
TI  - Metabolite signature for diagnosing major depressive disorder in peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious debilitating psychiatric
      disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms of MDD remain largely unknown, and no
      objective laboratory-based tests are available to diagnose this disorder.
      METHODS: A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomic
      approach was used to compare peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) metabolic
      profiling of 50 first onset drug-naive MDD subjects and 50 healthy controls
      (training samples), to identify potential metabolite biomarkers for MDD. An
      independent sample cohort including 58 MDD patients, 40 schizophrenia (SCZ)
      patients and 56 healthy controls (test samples) was used to validate diagnostic
      generalizability and specificity of identified biomarkers. RESULTS: 17 PBMC
      metabolites responsible for discriminating MDD group from healthy control group
      were identified. These metabolites were mainly involved in disturbances of energy
      and neurotransmitter metabolism. This PBMC metabolite signature could effectively
      discriminate MDD subjects from the healthy controls with an AUC of 0.926 in
      training samples and 0.870 in test samples. Moreover, this metabolite signature
      enabled distinguishing MDD subjects from schizophrenia subjects with an AUC of
      0.899. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by potential confounding effects of
      different drug treatments in some MDD and schizophrenia subjects, and lack of
      animal studies to further validate the identified metabolite pathways in MDD.
      CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that early disturbances of PBMC energy and
      neurotransmitter metabolism may be associated with the onset of MDD. This PBMC
      metabolite signature may facilitate development of a laboratory-based diagnostic
      test for MDD.

PMID- 26874245
TI  - Top 10 research questions to promote physical activity in bipolar disorders: A
      consensus statement from the International Organization of Physical Therapists in
      Mental Health.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research has only recently started to consider the importance and
      applicability of physical activity (PA) for people with bipolar disorder (BD).
      The aim of the current study is to highlight 10 pertinent PA research questions
      in people with BD. METHODS: The International Organization of Physical Therapy in
      Mental Health executed a consultation with all National organizations (n=13) to
      identify the most salient questions to guide future research on PA in BD.
      RESULTS: We identified the following 10 questions: (1) What are the benefits of
      PA for people with BD? (2) What are the most prominent safety issues for PA
      prescription in BD? (3) What is the optimal PA prescription for people with BD?
      (4) What are the key barriers to PA among people with BD? (5) What are the most
      effective motivational strategies for ensuring PA adoption and maintenance in BD?
      (6) How do we translate PA research into community practice? (7) If one treatment
      goal is increased physical activity, what type of professionals are needed as
      part of a multidisciplinary team? (8) How do we incorporate PA as a vital sign in
      clinical practice? (9) How can we prevent sedentary behavior in BD? (10) What is
      the most appropriate PA assessment method? LIMITATIONS: We did not consult people
      with BD. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing these questions is critical for developing
      evidence-based approaches for promoting and sustaining an active lifestyle in BD.
      Ultimately, achieving this will reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and
      improve the quality of life of this population.

PMID- 26874247
TI  - Prolonged propofol infusion for mechanically ventilated children.
AB  - We retrospectively analysed 30-day mortality and duration of intubation for 8016
      children ventilated for three or more days, sedated with midazolam (n = 7716) or
      propofol (n = 300). We matched the propensity scores of 263 pairs of children.
      The propensity-matched 30-day mortality (95% CI) was similar: 17/263 (6.5%) with
      midazolam vs. 24/263 (9.1%) with propofol, p = 0.26. Weaning from mechanical
      ventilation of children sedated with midazolam was slower than weaning of
      children sedated with propofol, subhazard ratio (95% CI) 1.43 (1.18-1.73), p <
      0.001. 

PMID- 26874246
TI  - Expression and clinical significance of MAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigens
      in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is a rare but
      highly malignant tumor. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) represent an immunogenic
      family of cancer-specific proteins and thus represent an attractive target for
      immunotherapy. METHODS: Eighty-four cases of ACC were identified, the CTAs pan
      Melanoma antigen (pan-MAGE; M3H67) and New York esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma (NY-ESO-1; E978) were detected immunohistochemically (IHC) and
      correlated with clinical data. RESULTS: Expression of NY-ESO-1 was found in 48 of
      84 patients (57.1%) and of pan-MAGE in 28 of 84 patients (31.2%). Median overall
      survival (OS) in NY-ESO-1 positive versus negative patients was 130.8 and 282.0
      months (p = .223), respectively. OS in pan-MAGE positive versus negative patients
      was 105.3 and 190.5 months, respectively (p = .096). Patients expressing both NY
      ESO-1 and pan-MAGE simultaneously had significantly reduced OS with a median of
      90.5 months compared with 282.0 months in negative patients (p = .047).
      CONCLUSION: A significant fraction of patients with ACC show expression of the
      CTAs NY-ESO-1 and/or pan-MAGE with promising immunotherapeutic implications. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1008-1016, 2016.

PMID- 26874248
TI  - Microscopic anthropogenic litter in terrestrial birds from Shanghai, China: Not
      only plastics but also natural fibers.
AB  - The level of contamination by microscopic anthropogenic litter (0.5-5mm) in
      terrestrial ecosystems is not well understood. After chemical digestion in 10%
      KOH, microscopic anthropogenic litter from the gastrointestinal tracts of 17
      terrestrial birds was identified and categorized under a stereomicroscope based
      on its physical properties and melting tests. In total, 364 items from 16 birds
      were identified as microscopic anthropogenic litter, ranging in size from 0.5 to
      8.5mm. No relationship between plastic load and body condition was found. Natural
      fibers, plastic fibers and fragmented plastics represented, respectively, 37.4%
      (136 items), 54.9% (200 items) and 7.7% (28 items) of total litter items. Small
      sample sizes limited our ability to draw strong conclusions about the metabolism
      of natural fibers, but the decline in the proportion of natural fibers from the
      esophagus to stomach to intestine suggested that they may be digestible.
      Particles smaller than 5mm represented more than 90% of the total number of
      pollutant items. Particles with colors in the mid-tones and fibrous shapes were
      overwhelmingly common particles. The results reflect pollution by microscopic
      anthropogenic litter in the terrestrial ecosystem of the study area. Microscopic
      natural fibers, which may disperse and adsorb chemical pollutants differently
      from microplastic and may pose an even greater risk, are in urgent need of
      further research. 

PMID- 26874249
TI  - GEP-based method to formulate adhesion strength and hardness of Nb PVD coated on
      Ti-6Al-7Nb aimed at developing mixed oxide nanotubular arrays.
AB  - PVD process as a thin film coating method is highly applicable for both metallic
      and ceramic materials, which is faced with the necessity of choosing the correct
      parameters to achieve optimal results. In the present study, a GEP-based model
      for the first time was proposed as a safe and accurate method to predict the
      adhesion strength and hardness of the Nb PVD coated aimed at growing the mixed
      oxide nanotubular arrays on Ti67. Here, the training and testing analysis were
      executed for both adhesion strength and hardness. The optimum parameter
      combination for the scratch adhesion strength and micro hardness was determined
      by the maximum mean S/N ratio, which was 350W, 20 sccm, and a DC bias of 90V.
      Results showed that the values calculated in the training and testing in GEP
      model were very close to the actual experiments designed by Taguchi. The as
      sputtered Nb coating with highest adhesion strength and microhardness was
      electrochemically anodized at 20V for 4h. From the FESEM images and EDS results
      of the annealed sample, a thick layer of bone-like apatite was formed on the
      sample surface after soaking in SBF for 10 days, which can be connected to the
      development of a highly ordered nanotube arrays. This novel approach provides an
      outline for the future design of nanostructured coatings for a wide range of
      applications.

PMID- 26874250
TI  - Cell elasticity with altered cytoskeletal architectures across multiple cell
      types.
AB  - The cytoskeleton is primarily responsible for providing structural support,
      localization and transport of organelles, and intracellular trafficking. The
      structural support is supplied by actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate
      filaments, which contribute to overall cell elasticity to varying degrees. We
      evaluate cell elasticity in five different cell types with drug-induced
      cytoskeletal derangements to probe how actin filaments and microtubules
      contribute to cell elasticity and whether it is conserved across cell type.
      Specifically, we measure elastic stiffness in primary chondrocytes, fibroblasts,
      endothelial cells (HUVEC), hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HUH-7), and
      fibrosarcoma cells (HT 1080) subjected to two cytoskeletal destabilizers:
      cytochalasin D and nocodazole, which disrupt actin and microtubule
      polymerization, respectively. Elastic stiffness is measured by atomic force
      microscopy (AFM) and the disruption of the cytoskeleton is confirmed using
      fluorescence microscopy. The two cancer cell lines showed significantly reduced
      elastic moduli values (~0.5kPa) when compared to the three healthy cell lines
      (~2kPa). Non-cancer cells whose actin filaments were disrupted using cytochalasin
      D showed a decrease of 60-80% in moduli values compared to untreated cells of the
      same origin, whereas the nocodazole-treated cells showed no change in elasticity.
      Overall, we demonstrate actin filaments contribute more to elastic stiffness than
      microtubules but this result is cell type dependent. Cancer cells behaved
      differently, exhibiting increased stiffness as well as stiffness variability when
      subjected to nocodazole. We show that disruption of microtubule dynamics affects
      cancer cell elasticity, suggesting therapeutic drugs targeting microtubules be
      monitored for significant elastic changes.

PMID- 26874251
TI  - Breast cancer cells mechanosensing in engineered matrices: Correlation with
      aggressive phenotype.
AB  - The pathogenesis of cancer is often driven by the modulation of the tumor
      microenvironment. Recent reports have highlighted that the progressive stiffening
      of tumor matrix is crucial for malignant transformation. Though extensive work
      has been done analyzing the mechanotransductive signals involved in tumor
      progression, it is still not clear whether the stiffness induced changes in
      cancer cell behavior is conserved across the invasive/aggressive phenotype of
      cells. Here, we used synthetic hydrogel based cell culture platform to correlate
      the aggressive potential of the breast cancer cells to the responses to matrix
      stiffness. The cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, and
      angiogenic capability were characterized. We report that the proliferation and
      motility of the highly aggressive cell line MDA-MB-231 increased with increase in
      matrix rigidity. We also demonstrated for the first time that the change in
      matrix stiffness stimulated the angiogenic activity of these cells as manifested
      from enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Inhibition
      of actomyosin contractility attenuated proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells on stiff
      matrices while promoted the growth on soft gels. In addition, the release of VEGF
      was reduced upon inhibition of contractility. The less and non-aggressive breast
      cancer cells, SKBr3 and MCF-7 respectively displayed less dependency on matrix
      stiffness.

PMID- 26874252
TI  - Modelling of residually stressed materials with application to AAA.
AB  - Residual stresses are generated in living tissues by processes of growth and
      adaptation and they significantly influence the mechanical behaviour of the
      tissues. Thus, to effectively model the elastic response of the tissues relative
      to a residually stressed configuration the residual stresses need to be
      incorporated into the constitutive equations. The purposes of this paper are (a)
      to summarise a general elastic constitutive formulation that includes residual
      stress, (b) to specify the tensors needed for the three-dimensional
      implementation of the theory in a nonlinear finite element code, and (c) to use
      the theory and its implementation to evaluate the wall stress distribution in an
      abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using patient specific geometry and material
      model parameters. The considered material is anisotropic with two preferred
      directions indicating the orientation of the collagen fibres in the aortic
      tissue. The method described in this paper is general and can be used, by
      specifying appropriate energy functions, to investigate other residually stressed
      biological systems.

PMID- 26874253
TI  - Eutrophication mediates a common off-flavor compound, 2-methylisoborneol, in a
      drinking water reservoir.
AB  - Off-flavors, such as 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin, cause drinking water
      to have earthy or musty tastes and odors. Humans can detect such compounds at
      minute concentrations (10 and 30 ng/L for MIB and geosmin, respectively), and,
      although not a health risk, off-flavors can promote consumer distrust. Removal of
      these compounds is costly and often unreliable or only suitable under certain
      conditions. Minimizing off-flavor production at the watershed-scale may be more
      cost-effective in addition to improving ecosystem health and aesthetics.
      Cyanobacteria are considered to be the primary drivers of off-flavors in
      freshwater systems. Due to their ability to produce toxins, cyanobacteria have
      been under particular scrutiny, and environmental factors promoting
      cyanobacterial blooms are relatively well-studied. Using this body of literature,
      we conducted a seven-week, limnocorral experiment where we manipulated nitrogen
      and nitrogen-to-phosphorus concentrations to influence phytoplankton community
      structure and off-flavor production. The addition of a single nutrient across
      broad ranges (nitrogen or phosphorus) had no effect on MIB. However, the addition
      of both nitrogen and phosphorus promoted high concentrations of MIB relative to
      treatments that received no nutrients (448% increase) or only nitrogen or
      phosphorus (722% increase). Interestingly, cyanobacteria waned during the
      experiment and were replaced by diatoms, which were the dominant taxa by the end
      of the experiment. Our findings clearly show that eutrophication affects MIB
      production, but mechanisms leading to the production of this compound may differ
      from what has been previously predicted. 

PMID- 26874254
TI  - Use of dual carbon-chlorine isotope analysis to assess the degradation pathways
      of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in groundwater.
AB  - Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a powerful tool to track contaminant
      fate in groundwater. However, the application of CSIA to chlorinated ethanes has
      received little attention so far. These compounds are toxic and prevalent
      groundwater contaminants of environmental concern. The high susceptibility of
      chlorinated ethanes like 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) to be transformed via
      different competing pathways (biotic and abiotic) complicates the assessment of
      their fate in the subsurface. In this study, the use of a dual C-Cl isotope
      approach to identify the active degradation pathways of 1,1,1-TCA is evaluated
      for the first time in an aerobic aquifer impacted by 1,1,1-TCA and
      trichloroethylene (TCE) with concentrations of up to 20 mg/L and 3.4 mg/L,
      respectively. The reaction-specific dual carbon-chlorine (C-Cl) isotope trends
      determined in a recent laboratory study illustrated the potential of a dual
      isotope approach to identify contaminant degradation pathways of 1,1,1-TCA.
      Compared to the dual isotope slopes (Deltadelta(13)C/Deltadelta(37)Cl) previously
      determined in the laboratory for dehydrohalogenation/hydrolysis (DH/HY, 0.33 +/-
      0.04) and oxidation by persulfate (infinity), the slope determined from field
      samples (0.6 +/- 0.2, r(2) = 0.75) is closer to the one observed for DH/HY,
      pointing to DH/HY as the predominant degradation pathway of 1,1,1-TCA in the
      aquifer. The observed deviation could be explained by a minor contribution of
      additional degradation processes. This result, along with the little degradation
      of TCE determined from isotope measurements, confirmed that 1,1,1-TCA is the main
      source of the 1,1-dichlorethylene (1,1-DCE) detected in the aquifer with
      concentrations of up to 10 mg/L. This study demonstrates that a dual C-Cl isotope
      approach can strongly improve the qualitative and quantitative assessment of
      1,1,1-TCA degradation processes in the field. 

PMID- 26874255
TI  - An insight on the alkaloid content of Capparis spinosa L. root by HPLC-DAD-MS,
      MS/MS and (1)H qNMR.
AB  - The Capparis spinosa L. has a wide distribution in the Old World from South
      Europe, North and East Africa, Madagascar, Southwest and Central Asia to
      Australia and Oceania. The consolidated traditional use of C. spinosa root as
      remedy against different pains in human is well known since the antiquity.
      Various secondary metabolites have been found in caper plant, nevertheless, few
      studies have been focused to the analysis of root constituents. To date, several
      free and glycosilated spermidine alkaloids and a more polar alkaloid, the
      stachydrine, have been isolated from the root of C. spinosa. Aim of this work was
      to improve the knowledge on the alkaloid content of the root of a Syrian sample
      of C. spinosa by HPLC-DAD-MS(n) and to propose methods to quantify these
      molecules in different raw extracts. A decoction, an hydroalcoholic extraction
      and a fractionation process to selectively recover the spermidine alkaloids were
      applied. To our knowledge, this is the first HPLC-DAD-MS(n) profile that pointed
      out the co-presence of stachydrine, several isobaric forms of capparispine and/or
      capparisine in free and glycosylated forms and some isobars of isocodonocarpine
      or codonocarpine as monoglycosides in extracts of C. spinosa root. The
      determination by HPLC/DAD for the spermidine alkaloids expressed as p-OH-coumaric
      acid gave values up to 3.5mg/g dried root and the stachydrine evaluated by (1)H
      NMR was close to 12.5mg/g dried root. Overall, the total alkaloids were almost
      doubled in hydroalcoholic extract with respect to the decoction, and the
      stachydrine in the cortex was almost double than in the whole root. 

PMID- 26874256
TI  - Icariin reverses corticosterone-induced depression-like behavior, decrease in
      hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and metabolic network
      disturbances revealed by NMR-based metabonomics in rats.
AB  - Previously published reports have revealed the antidepressant-like effects of
      icariin in a chronic mild stress model of depression and in a social defeat
      stress model in mice. However, the therapeutic effect of icariin in an animal
      model of glucocorticoid-induced depression remains unclear. This study aimed to
      investigate antidepressant-like effect and the possible mechanisms of icariin in
      a rat model of corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression by using a combination of
      behavioral and biochemical assessments and NMR-based metabonomics. The depression
      model was established by subcutaneous injections of CORT for 21 consecutive days
      in rats, as evidenced by reduced sucrose intake and hippocampal brain-derived
      neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, together with an increase in immobility time
      in a forced swim test (FST). Icariin significantly increased sucrose intake and
      hippocampal BDNF level and decreased the immobility time in FST in CORT-induced
      depressive rats, suggesting its potent antidepressant activity. Moreover,
      metabonomic analysis identified eight, five and three potential biomarkers
      associated with depression in serum, urine and brain tissue extract,
      respectively. These biomarkers are primarily involved in energy metabolism, lipid
      metabolism, amino acid metabolism and gut microbe metabolism. Icariin reversed
      the pathological process of CORT-induced depression, partially via regulation of
      the disturbed metabolic pathways. These results provide important mechanistic
      insights into the protective effects of icariin against CORT-induced depression
      and metabolic dysfunction. 

PMID- 26874257
TI  - Characterization and identification of isoflavonoid glycosides in the root of
      Spiny restharrow (Ononis spinosa L.) by HPLC-QTOF-MS, HPLC-MS/MS and NMR.
AB  - Restharrow root has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years;
      however, the active ingredients responsible for the diuretic effect are still
      unknown. Previous studies have proved that the root extract contains
      isoflavonoids, however only few derivatives were identified, mostly relying on
      retention times or UV data. The aim of our work was to perform a detailed
      structural characterization of the complete isoflavonoid profile in the aqueous
      methanolic extract of Ononis spinosa root by high-performance liquid
      chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization accurate-mass quadrupole time
      of-flight and tandem mass spectrometry in positive ionization mode (HPLC-ESI-QTOF
      MS, HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). On the
      basis of the accurate masses and fragmentation patterns isoflavones
      (formononetin, calycosin and pseudobaptigenin) and pterocarpans (maackiain and
      medicarpin) were identified. Two further dihydroisoflavone aglycones, namely
      onogenin and sativanone and a unique glucoside were isolated and their structures
      were elucidated by NMR experiments. Calycosin, onogenin and sativanone were
      detected in this plant for the first time. In contrast to previous works, the
      presence of biochanin A could not be confirmed, however its regioisomer calycosin
      and its derivatives were identified. Similarly, neither tectorigenin derivatives
      could be detected, however the isobar compound sativanone and its various
      glucosides were elucidated. The presence of genistein and daidzein could not be
      confirmed in the extract. Fragmentation pathways for onogenin and sativanone are
      presented. In the aqueous-methanolic extract 9 glucosides, 6 minor and 8 major
      glucoside malonates, 4 glucoside acetates and 7 aglycones were found. In total,
      34 compounds were successfully identified. 

PMID- 26874258
TI  - Optimum dose of neostigmine to reverse shallow neuromuscular blockade with
      rocuronium and cisatracurium.
AB  - We examined the use of neostigmine for reversing shallow (defined as train-of
      four ratio of 0.5), cisatracurium- and rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in
      112 patients, by use of 0 MUg.kg(-1) , 10 MUg.kg(-1) , 20 MUg.kg(-1) or 40
      MUg.kg(-1) dose of neostigmine for reversal. The times from neostigmine
      administration to train-of-four ratios of 0.7, 0.9 and 1.0 were evaluated.
      Analysis of variance showed that the duration of action was significantly longer
      after cisatracurium compared with rocuronium. The time to reach a train-of-four
      ratio of 1.0 was significantly shorter with neostigmine 40 MUg.kg(-1) compared
      with lower neostigmine doses, and at this dose the time did not differ between
      cisatracurium and rocuronium. The recovery time from a train-of-four ratio of 0.5
      1.0 did not differ between cisatracurium and rocuronium, and was significantly
      shortened by the administration of neostigmine. We conclude that a neostigmine
      dose of 40 MUg.kg(-1) was the most effective at reducing recovery time after
      neuromuscular blockade. 

PMID- 26874259
TI  - Energy biotechnology in the CRISPR-Cas9 era.
AB  - The production of bioenergy from plant biomass previously relied on using
      microorganisms that rapidly and efficiently convert simple sugars into fuels and
      chemicals. However, to exploit the far more abundant carbon fixed in plant cell
      walls, future industrial production hosts will need to be engineered to leverage
      the most efficient biochemical pathways and most robust traits that can be found
      in nature. The CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology now enables writing the
      genome at will, which will allow biotechnology to become an 'information
      science.' This review covers recent advances in using CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer the
      genomes of a wide variety of organisms that could be use in the industrial
      production of biofuels and renewable chemicals. 

PMID- 26874260
TI  - Technical issues in the large-scale hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgal
      biomass to biocrude.
AB  - Much of the current knowledge on the hydrothermic liquefaction of biomass to
      biocrude is on the basis of laboratory benchtop findings, and the step up to
      industrial scale reactors will require a range of information that is currently
      either unavailable or insufficient. This work highlights a number of these issues
      such as the heat of reaction, process heat recovery, optimal reaction time and
      waste product treatment. Effects of these knowledge gaps on the reactor design,
      process economics, and impacts on the environment are discussed. Although
      technologies do exist to deal with some of these issues, their applications are
      often limited by economic considerations and further studies are required. 

PMID- 26874261
TI  - Synthetic bugs on the loose: containment options for deeply engineered
      (micro)organisms.
AB  - Synthetic Biology (SynBio) has brought up again questions on the environmental
      fate of microorganisms carrying genetic modifications. The growing capacity of
      editing genomes for deployment of man-made programs opens unprecedented
      biotechnological opportunities. But the same exacerbate concerns regarding
      fortuitous or deliberate releases to the natural medium. Most approaches to
      tackle these worries involve endowing SynBio agents with containment devices for
      halting horizontal gene transfer and survival of the live agents only at given
      times and places. Genetic circuits and trophic restraint schemes have been
      proposed to this end in the pursuit of complete containment. The most promising
      include adoption of alternative genetic codes and/or dependency on xenobiotic
      amino acids and nucleotides. But the field has to still overcome serious
      bottlenecks. 

PMID- 26874262
TI  - Biofuels from food processing wastes.
AB  - Food processing industry generates substantial high organic wastes along with
      high energy uses. The recovery of food processing wastes as renewable energy
      sources represents a sustainable option for the substitution of fossil energy,
      contributing to the transition of food sector towards a low-carbon economy. This
      article reviews the latest research progress on biofuel production using food
      processing wastes. While extensive work on laboratory and pilot-scale biosystems
      for energy production has been reported, this work presents a review of advances
      in metabolic pathways, key technical issues and bioengineering outcomes in
      biofuel production from food processing wastes. Research challenges and further
      prospects associated with the knowledge advances and technology development of
      biofuel production are discussed. 

PMID- 26874263
TI  - Into new territory: improved microbial synthesis through engineering of the
      essential metabolic network.
AB  - Advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering offer the promise of next
      generation bioprocesses to produce numerous products including specialty and bulk
      chemicals and even biofuels sustainably from renewable feedstocks. A primary
      challenge is the optimization of product flux, within a much larger and complex
      metabolic network. While simple gene deletion methods can be used in the case of
      non-essential byproduct pathways, more sophisticated approaches are required when
      competitive fluxes are essential to host cellular functions. Engineering
      essential metabolic networks has been traditionally off-limits to metabolic
      engineers. Newer approaches to be reviewed include the rebalancing or rewiring of
      the metabolic network by tuning the levels of essential enzymes and the use of
      dynamic metabolic control strategies to conditionally reduce essential
      competitive fluxes. 

PMID- 26874264
TI  - Scaling up of renewable chemicals.
AB  - The transition of promising technologies for production of renewable chemicals
      from a laboratory scale to commercial scale is often difficult and expensive. As
      a result the timeframe estimated for commercialization is typically
      underestimated resulting in much slower penetration of these promising new
      methods and products into the chemical industries. The theme of 'sugar is the
      next oil' connects biological, chemical, and thermochemical conversions of
      renewable feedstocks to products that are drop-in replacements for petroleum
      derived chemicals or are new to market chemicals/materials. The latter typically
      offer a functionality advantage and can command higher prices that result in less
      severe scale-up challenges. However, for drop-in replacements, price is of
      paramount importance and competitive capital and operating expenditures are a
      prerequisite for success. Hence, scale-up of relevant technologies must be
      interfaced with effective and efficient management of both cell and steel
      factories. Details involved in all aspects of manufacturing, such as utilities,
      sterility, product recovery and purification, regulatory requirements, and
      emissions must be managed successfully. 

PMID- 26874265
TI  - Development and Assessment of a Questionnaire to Study Protection, Promotion, and
      Support of Breastfeeding.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To develop an instrument to measure variables that influence health
      care professionals' behavior with regard to the protection, promotion, and
      support of breastfeeding, especially one that related to the Baby-Friendly
      Hospital Initiative (BFHI), and to conduct a psychometric assessment. DESIGN:
      Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two public health departments in eastern Spain.
      PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 201 maternity and primary care
      professionals. METHODS: The Questionnaire of Professional Breastfeeding Support
      of the Healthcare Quality Management Program of the Spanish Region of Murcia
      (QPBS-EMCA) was developed using the theory of reasoned action as a conceptual
      framework and the Global Criteria for evaluating implementation of the BFHI. It
      comprises 4 scales on beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral
      intention. The development process included item assessment and selection based
      on expert judgment and statistical criteria. The QPBS-EMCA scales were assessed
      for reliability and validity, including internal consistency, principal
      components factor analysis, criterion-related validity, and comparison of
      contrasted groups. RESULTS: The Beliefs, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms Scales
      were multidimensional, whereas the Behavioral Intention Scale was unidimensional.
      Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from .65 to .81. Total scores for the
      Beliefs, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms Scales predicted scores for the
      Behavioral Intention Scale. Scores for the different QPBS-EMCA scales were
      related to professionals' previous breastfeeding training, interest in new
      training, and appraisal of breastfeeding policy in the workplace. CONCLUSION: The
      psychometric characteristics of the QPBS-EMCA render it suitable for evaluation
      of professionals' beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intention
      in relation to breastfeeding and could be useful in health care facilities
      implementing quality improvement processes based on the BFHI.

PMID- 26874266
TI  - Validity of Measurement in Nursing or Any Other Science.

PMID- 26874268
TI  - GH response to intravenous clonidine challenge correlates with history of
      childhood trauma in personality disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma is a risk factor for personality disorder. We have
      previously shown that childhood trauma is associated with increased central
      corticotrophin-releasing hormone concentration in adults with personality
      disorder. In the brain, the release of corticotrophin-releasing hormone can be
      stimulated by noradrenergic neuronal activity, raising the possibility that
      childhood trauma may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis by
      altering brain noradrenergic function. In this study, we sought to test the
      hypothesis that childhood trauma is associated with blunted growth hormone
      response to the alpha-2 adrenergic autoreceptor agonist clonidine. METHODS: All
      subjects provided written informed consent. Twenty personality disordered and
      twenty healthy controls (without personality disorder or Axis I psychopathology)
      underwent challenge with clonidine, while plasma Growth Hormone (GH)
      concentration was monitored by intravenous catheter. On a different study
      session, subjects completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and underwent
      diagnostic interviews. RESULTS: Contrary to our a priori hypothesis, childhood
      trauma was associated with enhanced GH response to clonidine. This positive
      relationship was present in the group of 40 subjects and in the subgroup 20
      personality disordered subjects, but was not detected in the healthy control
      subjects when analyzed separately. The presence of personality disorder was
      unrelated to the magnitude of GH response. DISCUSSION: Childhood trauma is
      positively correlated with GH response to clonidine challenge in adults with
      personality disorder. Enhanced rather that blunted GH response differentiates
      childhood trauma from previously identified negative predictors of GH response,
      such as anxiety or mood disorder.

PMID- 26874267
TI  - Longitudinal Course of Risk for Parental Postadoption Depression.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory
      Revised (PDPI-R) could be used to reveal distinct classes of adoptive parents
      across time. DESIGN: Longitudinal data were collected via online surveys at 4 to
      6 weeks preplacement, 4 to 6 weeks postplacement, and 5 to 6 months
      postplacement. SETTING: Participants were primarily clients of the largest
      adoption agency in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 127
      adoptive parents (68 mothers and 59 fathers). METHODS: We applied a latent class
      growth analysis to the PDPI-R and conducted mixed effects modeling of class,
      time, and class * time interaction for the following categories of explanatory
      variables: parental expectations, interpersonal variables, psychological
      symptoms, and life orientation. RESULTS: Four latent trajectory classes were
      found. Class 1 (55% of sample) showed a stably low level of PDPI-R scores over
      time. Class 2 (32%) reported mean scores below the cut-off points at all three
      time points. Class 3 (8%) started with scores at an intermediate level that
      increased after postplacement but decreased at 5 to 6 months postplacement. Class
      4 (5%) had high mean scores at all three time points. Significant main effects
      were found for almost all explanatory variables for class and for several
      variables for time. Significant interactions between class and time were found
      for expectations about the child and amounts of love and ambivalence in parent's
      intimate relationship. CONCLUSION: Findings may help nurses be alert to
      trajectories of risk for postadoption depression. Additional factors not included
      in the PDPI-R may be needed to determine risk for postadoption depression in
      adoptive parents.

PMID- 26874269
TI  - Approach bias modification in inpatient psychiatric smokers.
AB  - Drug-related automatic approach tendencies contribute to the development and
      maintenance of addictive behavior. The present study investigated whether a
      nicotine-related approach bias can be modified in smokers undergoing inpatient
      psychiatric treatment by using a novel training variant of the nicotine Approach
      Avoidance-Task (AAT). Additionally, we assessed whether the AAT-training would
      affect smoking behavior. Inpatient smokers were randomly assigned to either an
      AAT-training or a sham-training condition. In the AAT-training condition, smokers
      were indirectly instructed to make avoidance movements in response to nicotine
      related pictures and to make approach movements in response to tooth-cleaning
      pictures. In the sham-training condition, no contingency between picture content
      und arm movements existed. Trainings were administered in four sessions,
      accompanied by a brief smoking-cessation intervention. Smoking-related self
      report measures and automatic approach biases toward smoking cues were measured
      before and after training. Three months after training, daily nicotine
      consumption was obtained. A total of 205 participants were recruited, and data
      from 139 participants were considered in the final analysis. Prior to the
      trainings, smokers in both conditions exhibited a stronger approach bias for
      nicotine-related pictures than for tooth-cleaning pictures. After both trainings,
      this difference was no longer evident. Although reduced smoking behavior at
      posttest was observed after both trainings, only the AAT-training led to a larger
      reduction of nicotine consumption at a three-month follow-up. Our preliminary
      data partially support the conclusion that the AAT might be a feasible tool to
      reduce smoking in the long-term in psychiatric patients, albeit its effect on
      other smoking-related measures remains to be explored. 

PMID- 26874270
TI  - Dual-targeting superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoprobes with high and low target
      density for brain glioma imaging.
AB  - A major limit of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as a
      magnetic resonance (MR) imaging nanoprobe in clinical applications is that the
      SPIONs are unable to reach sufficient concentrations at the tumor site by passive
      targeting to produce an obvious contrast effect for tumor imaging. Single
      targeting SPIONs systems have been applied to improve the contrast effect.
      However, they still suffer from a lack of efficiency and specificity of the
      SPIONs to tumors. Herein, we developed folic acid (FA) and cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp-D
      Tyr-Lys (c(RGDyK)) dual-targeting nanoprobes based on Cy5.5 labeled Fe3O4
      nanoparticles (NPs). The synergistic targeting ability of the dual-targeting
      Fe3O4 NPs and the effect of the dual-target density on targeting specificity were
      investigated in brain glioma-bearing mice. In vivo T2-weighted MR imaging of
      brain glioma-bearing mice and ex vivo near-infrared imaging of brains harboring
      gliomas suggested that the combination of dual-target increased the uptake of NPs
      by glioma, consequently, enhanced the contrast effect. Moreover, it was revealed
      that the density of dual-target plays an important role in targeting specificity.

PMID- 26874271
TI  - Aqueous extract from seeds of Silybum marianum L. as a green material for
      preparation of the Cu/Fe3O4 nanoparticles: A magnetically recoverable and
      reusable catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes.
AB  - In this paper, we report the green synthesis of the Cu/Fe3O4 nanoparticles using
      Silybum marianum L. seeds extract and their application as magnetically separable
      nanocatalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes. Our method is clean, nontoxic and
      environment friendly. The synthesized nanocatalyst is characterized by XRD, TEM,
      EDS and UV-visible techniques. UV-visible spectroscopy is used to monitor the
      kinetics of the Cu/Fe3O4 nanoparticles formation. The results from Fourier
      transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the C=O and C-O groups in the plant
      seeds extract played a critical role in capping the nanoparticles. The expected
      reaction mechanism in the formation of nanoparticles is also reported. The
      catalyst is recoverable by magnetic decantation and could be reused several times
      without significant loss in catalytic activity.

PMID- 26874272
TI  - Assembly of functional gold nanoparticle on silica microsphere.
AB  - We demonstrate a controlled synthesis of silica microsphere with the surface
      decorated functional gold nanoparticles. Surface of silica microsphere was
      modified by 3-aminopropypltriethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyldimethylethoxysilane
      to generate a positive electric field, by which the gold nanoparticles with the
      negative charges (unconjugated, thiolated polyethylene glycol functionalized with
      the traceable packing density and conformation) were able to be attracted to the
      silica microsphere. Results show that both the molecular conjugation on gold
      nanoparticle and the uniformity in the amino-silanization of silica microsphere
      influenced the loading and the homogeneity of gold nanoparticles on silica
      microsphere. The 3-aminopropyldimethylethoxysilane-functionalized silica
      microsphere provided an uniform field to attract gold nanoparticles. Increasing
      the ethanol content in aminosilane solution significantly improved the
      homogeneity and the loading of gold nanoparticles on the surface of silica
      microsphere. For the gold nanoparticle, increasing the molecular mass of
      polyethylene glycol yielded a greater homogeneity but a lower loading on silica
      microsphere. Bovine serum albumin induced the desorption of gold nanoparticles
      from silica microsphere, where the extent of desorption was suppressed by the
      presence of high-molecular mass polyethylene glycol on gold nanoparticles. This
      work provides the fundamental understanding for the synthesis of gold
      nanoparticle-silica microsphere constructs useful to the applications in chemo
      radioactive therapeutics. 

PMID- 26874273
TI  - Nano-diamond particles functionalized with single/double-arm amide-thiourea
      ligands for adsorption of metal ions.
AB  - Separation efficiency of solid-phase extractant is greatly subjected to the
      spatial configurations of functional ligands attached to the matrix, which has
      not been studied efficiently till now. In order to further understand the
      relationship between spatial configurations of the attached functional ligand and
      the adsorption ability of the extractant, two novel molecules (single-armed
      ligand, SA and double-armed ligand, DA) with identical coordination unit (amide
      thiourea) but different spatial configurations (single/double arms) were designed
      and synthesized. The corresponding extractants, ND-SA and ND-DA were obtained by
      modification of nanodiamond (ND) with SA and DA and both the extractants
      displayed good chemical and thermal stabilities. The batch adsorption experiments
      showed that ND-SA and ND-DA possess large adsorption capacities (~200 mg g(-1)),
      very fast adsorption kinetics (reaching equilibrium within 2 min) and excellent
      selectivities (up to 82% and 72%, respectively) for uranium. The study of the
      possible mechanism indicated that ND-DA tends to utilize its tweezer-like double
      arms to "clamp" metal ions and the stronger chelate interaction could to some
      extent weaken the coordination selectivity of attached DA ligand. In contrast,
      single-armed adsorbent ND-SA unexpectedly exhibited better adsorption selectivity
      for uranium than ND-DA owing to its more flexible spatial configuration and
      moderate complexing ability.

PMID- 26874274
TI  - Influence of internal composition on physicochemical properties of alginate
      aqueous-core capsules.
AB  - HYPOTHESIS: To enhance physicochemical properties of alginate aqueous-core
      capsules, conventional strategies were focused in literature on designing
      composite and coated capsules. In the present study, own effect of liquid-core
      composition on mechanical and release properties was investigated. EXPERIMENTS:
      Capsules were prepared by dripping a CaCl2 solution into an alginate gelling
      solution. Viscosity of CaCl2 solution was adjusted by adding cationic, anionic
      and non-ionic naturally derived polymers, respectively chitosan, xanthan gum and
      guar gum. In parallel, uniform alginate hydrogels were prepared by different
      methods (pouring, in situ forming and mixing). Mechanical stability of capsules
      and plane hydrogels were respectively evaluated by compression experiments and
      small amplitude oscillatory shear rheology and then correlated. Capsules
      permeability was evaluated by monitoring diffusion of encapsulated cochineal dye,
      riboflavin and BSA. The core-shell interactions were investigated by ATR-FTIR.
      FINDINGS: Results showed that inner polymer had an impact on membrane stability
      and could act as an internal coating or provide mechanical reinforcement.
      Mechanical properties of alginate capsules were in a good agreement with
      rheological behavior of plane hydrogels. Release behavior of the entrapped
      molecules changed considerably. This study demonstrated the importance of aqueous
      core composition, and gave new insights for possible adjusting of microcapsules
      physicochemical properties by modulating core-shell interactions.

PMID- 26874275
TI  - The safety of subcutaneously administered depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
      (104mg/0.65mL): A systematic review.
AB  - CONTEXT: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a progestogen-only
      contraceptive injectable, has traditionally been formulated as a crystalline
      suspension delivered intramuscularly (IM) at a dose of 150mg/1.0mL. A new, lower
      dose formulation of DMPA (104mg/0.65mL) has been developed for subcutaneous
      administration (SC). Given its increasing global availability and public health
      relevance, DMPA-SC was prioritized for inclusion as a new method referenced in
      the World Health Organization (WHO) Medical Eligibility Criteria for
      Contraceptive Use (MEC), 5th Edition. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review evaluated
      the published peer-reviewed literature regarding the safety of DMPA-SC among
      women with various characteristics or medical conditions. Results of this review
      informed the decision-making of a WHO Guideline Development Group in order to
      include recommendations on contraceptive eligibility within the revised MEC.
      METHODS: We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library databases to identify all
      relevant evidence published in peer-reviewed journals regarding the safety of
      DMPA-SC when used by women of reproductive age, particularly those with select
      characteristics or conditions specified in the MEC, from inception through June
      2015. The quality of each individual study was assessed using the system for
      grading evidence developed by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
      RESULTS: Fourteen studies met criteria for inclusion. Ten reported results
      relevant to DMPA users of varying age or with obesity, endometriosis or HIV; four
      compared the safety of DMPA-SC and DMPA-IM when used by general populations of
      healthy women. A randomized trial evaluating changes in bone mineral density
      among adult DMPA-SC and DMPA-IM users demonstrated no differences at 2years of
      follow-up. Limited evidence reported no consistent differences in weight change
      or bleeding patterns according to age; however, adolescents (<18years) were not
      included in any studies. Similar contraceptive efficacy, weight change, bleeding
      patterns and occurrence of other adverse effects among obese and nonobese DMPA-SC
      users were observed. Women with endometriosis using DMPA-SC over 6months had
      minimal decreases in bone mineral density, weight gain, few serious adverse
      events and experienced improved pain symptoms. Women living with HIV tolerated
      injection of DMPA-SC with rare complications. DMPA-SC and DMPA-IM also show
      therapeutic equivalence and similar effects on weight gain, changes in bleeding
      patterns and reports of other adverse effects when these different delivery
      systems were used by general populations of women. CONCLUSION: Evidence for use
      of DMPA-SC by women with select conditions and characteristics including age,
      obesity, endometriosis or HIV demonstrates that this method can generally be used
      safely in these contexts. Further, DMPA-SC and DMPA-IM appear to be
      therapeutically equivalent with similar safety profiles when used by healthy
      women.

PMID- 26874276
TI  - Reduction of PCN biosynthesis by NO in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - Pyocyanin (PCN), a virulence factor synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, plays
      an important role during clinical infections. There is no study of the effect of
      nitric oxide (NO) on PCN biosynthesis. Here, the effect of NO on PCN levels in
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1, a common reference strain, was tested. The
      results showed that the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) can significantly
      reduce PCN levels (82.5% reduction at 60MUM SNP). Furthermore, the effect of
      endogenous NO on PCN was tested by constructing PAO1 nor (NO reductase gene)
      knockout mutants. Compared to the wild-type strain, the Deltanor strain had a
      lower PCN (86% reduction in Deltanor). To examine whether the results were
      universal with other P. aeruginosa strains, we collected 4 clinical strains from
      a hospital, tested their PCN levels after SNP treatment, and obtained similar
      results, i.e., PCN biosynthesis was inhibited by NO. These results suggest that
      NO treatment may be a new strategy to inhibit PCN biosynthesis and could provide
      novel insights into eliminating P. aeruginosa virulence as a clinical goal.

PMID- 26874277
TI  - Prolyl isomerase Pin1 regulates doxorubicin-inducible P-glycoprotein level by
      reducing Foxo3 stability.
AB  - It has been known that the phosphoSer/Thr-Pro-specific peptidyl prolyl cis/trans
      isomerase Pin1 regulates a variety of intracellular signaling pathways, including
      the response to the genotoxic drug doxorubicin. Pin1 binds phosphorylated p53 and
      stabilizes p53 to cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis quickly in response to
      doxorubicin. Here we show another mechanism of Pin1 to maintain cell sensitivity
      to genotoxic stress, irrespective of whether p53 is present or not. In response
      to the genotoxic drug, Pin1 binds and decreases levels of the phosphorylated
      Foxo3, the positive transcription factor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) gene. Through
      this mechanism of action, Pin1 decreases the level of P-gp and signals the cell
      to pump the genotoxic drugs out. This shows that Pin1 is implemented in
      maintaining the susceptibility to the genotoxic drugs by controlling P-gp level
      as well as p53-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle signaling pathways. 

PMID- 26874278
TI  - TGF-beta1 activates the canonical NF-kappaB signaling to promote cell survival
      and proliferation in dystrophic muscle fibroblasts in vitro.
AB  - Activated fibroblasts continue to proliferate at injury sites, leading to
      progressive muscular fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). TGF-beta1 is
      a dominant profibrotic mediator thought to play a critical role in muscle
      fibrosis; however, the implicated mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we
      showed that TGF-beta1 increased the resistance to apoptosis and stimulated cell
      cycle progression in dystrophic muscle fibroblasts under serum deprivation
      conditions in vitro. TGF-beta1 treatment activated the canonical NF-kappaB
      pathway; and we found that pharmacological inhibition of IKKbeta with IMD-0354
      and RelA gene knockdown with siRNA attenuated these effects of TGF-beta1 on
      dystrophic muscle fibroblasts. Collectively, our data suggest that TGF-beta1
      prevents apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in dystrophic muscle fibroblasts through
      the canonical NF-kappaB signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26874280
TI  - A targeted nanoglobular contrast agent from host-guest self-assembly for MR
      cancer molecular imaging.
AB  - The clinical application of nanoparticular Gd(III) based contrast agents for
      tumor molecular MRI has been hindered by safety concerns associated with
      prolonged tissue retention, although they can produce strong tumor enhancement.
      In this study, a targeted well-defined cyclodextrin-based nanoglobular contrast
      agent was developed through self-assembly driven by host-guest interactions for
      safe and effective cancer molecular MRI. Multiple beta-cyclodextrins attached
      POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) nanoglobule was used as host
      molecule. Adamantane-modified macrocyclic Gd(III) contrast agent, cRGD (cyclic
      RGDfK peptide) targeting ligand and fluorescent probe was used as guest
      molecules. The targeted host-guest nanoglobular contrast agent cRGD-POSS-betaCD
      (DOTA-Gd) specifically bond to alphavbeta3 integrin in malignant 4T1 breast tumor
      and provided greater contrast enhancement than the corresponding non-targeted
      agent. The agent also provided significant fluorescence signal in tumor tissue.
      The histological analysis of the tumor tissue confirmed its specific and
      effective targeting to alphavbeta3 integrin. The targeted imaging agent has a
      potential for specific cancer molecular MR and fluorescent imaging. 

PMID- 26874282
TI  - H2O2-triggered bubble generating antioxidant polymeric nanoparticles as
      ischemia/reperfusion targeted nanotheranostics.
AB  - Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
      leads to oxidative stress, causing inflammation and cellular damages and death.
      H2O2 is one of the most stable and abundant ROS and H2O2-mediated oxidative
      stress is considered as a key mediator of cellular and tissue damages during
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Therefore, H2O2 could hold tremendous
      potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for oxidative stress
      associated inflammatory conditions such as I/R injury. Here, we report a novel
      nanotheranostic agent that can express ultrasound imaging and simultaneous
      therapeutic effects for hepatic I/R treatment, which is based on H2O2-triggered
      CO2-generating antioxidant poly(vanillin oxalate) (PVO). PVO nanoparticles
      generate CO2 through H2O2-triggered oxidation of peroxalate esters and release
      vanillin, which exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. PVO
      nanoparticles intravenously administrated remarkably enhanced the ultrasound
      signal in the site of hepatic I/R injury and also effectively suppressed the
      liver damages by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. To our best
      understanding, H2O2-responsive PVO is the first platform which generates bubbles
      to serve as ultrasound contrast agents and also exerts therapeutic activities. We
      therefore anticipate that H2O2-triggered bubble-generating antioxidant PVO
      nanoparticles have great potential for ultrasound imaging and therapy of H2O2
      associated diseases. 

PMID- 26874281
TI  - Transdifferentiation of human endothelial progenitors into smooth muscle cells.
AB  - Access to smooth muscle cells (SMC) would create opportunities for tissue
      engineering, drug testing, and disease modeling. Herein we report the direct
      conversion of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) to induced smooth muscle
      cells (iSMC) by induced expression of MYOCD. The EPC undergo a cytoskeletal
      rearrangement resembling that of mesenchymal cells within 3 days post initiation
      of MYOCD expression. By day 7, the reprogrammed cells show upregulation of smooth
      muscle markers ACTA2, MYH11, and TAGLN by qRT-PCR and ACTA2 and MYH11 expression
      by immunofluorescence. By two weeks, they resemble umbilical artery SMC in
      microarray gene expression analysis. The iSMC, in contrast to EPC control, show
      calcium transients in response to phenylephrine stimulation and a contractility
      an order of magnitude higher than that of EPC as determined by traction force
      microscopy. Tissue-engineered blood vessels constructed using iSMC show
      functionality with respect to flow- and drug-mediated vasodilation and
      vasoconstriction. 

PMID- 26874284
TI  - Iodinated hyaluronic acid oligomer-based nanoassemblies for tumor-targeted drug
      delivery and cancer imaging.
AB  - Nano-sized self-assemblies based on amphiphilic iodinated hyaluronic acid (HA)
      were developed for use in cancer diagnosis and therapy. 2,3,5-Triiodobenzoic acid
      (TIBA) was conjugated to an HA oligomer as a computed tomography (CT) imaging
      modality and a hydrophobic residue. Nanoassembly based on HA-TIBA was fabricated
      for tumor-targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). Cellular uptake of DOX from
      nanoassembly, compared to a DOX solution group, was enhanced via an HA-CD44
      receptor interaction, and subsequently, the in vitro antitumor efficacy of DOX
      loaded nanoassembly was improved in SCC7 (CD44 receptor positive squamous cell
      carcinoma) cells. Cy5.5, a near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) dye, was attached to
      the HA-TIBA conjugate and the in vivo tumor targetability of HA-TIBA
      nanoassembly, which is based on the interaction between HA and CD44 receptor, was
      demonstrated in a NIRF imaging study using an SCC7 tumor-xenografted mouse model.
      Tumor targeting and cancer diagnosis with HA-TIBA nanoassembly were verified in a
      CT imaging study using the SCC7 tumor-xenografted mouse model. In addition to
      efficient cancer diagnosis using NIRF and CT imaging modalities, improved
      antitumor efficacies were shown. HA and TIBA can be used to produce HA-TIBA
      nanoassembly that may be a promising theranostic nanosystem for cancers that
      express the CD44 receptor. 

PMID- 26874283
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal citrate-based
      mussel-inspired bioadhesives.
AB  - Bacterial and fungal infections in the use of surgical devices and medical
      implants remain a major concern. Traditional bioadhesives fail to incorporate
      anti-microbial properties, necessitating additional anti-microbial drug
      injection. Herein, by the introduction of the clinically used and inexpensive
      anti-fungal agent, 10-undecylenic acid (UA), into our recently developed
      injectable citrate-based mussel-inspired bioadhesives (iCMBAs), a new family of
      anti-bacterial and anti-fungal iCMBAs (AbAf iCs) was developed. AbAf iCs not only
      showed strong wet tissue adhesion strength, but also exhibited excellent in vitro
      cyto-compatibility, fast degradation, and strong initial and considerable long
      term anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ability. For the first time, the
      biocompatibility and anti-microbial ability of sodium metaperiodate (PI), an
      oxidant used as a cross-linking initiator in the AbAf iCs system, was also
      thoroughly investigated. Our results suggest that the PI-based bioadhesives
      showed better anti-microbial properties compared to the unstable silver-based
      bioadhesive materials. In conclusion, AbAf iCs family can serve as excellent anti
      bacterial and anti-fungal bioadhesive candidates for tissue/wound closure, wound
      dressing, and bone regeneration, especially when bacterial or fungal infections
      are a major concern. 

PMID- 26874285
TI  - Synergistic anti-tumor activity through combinational intratumoral injection of
      an in-situ injectable drug depot.
AB  - Here, we describe combinational chemotherapy via intratumoral injection of
      doxorubicin (Dox) and 5-fluorouracil (Fu) to enhance the efficacy and reduce the
      toxicity of systemically administered Fu and Dox in cancer patients. As the key
      concept in this work, mixture formulations of Dox-loaded microcapsules (Dox-M)
      and Fu-loaded Pluronic((r)) hydrogels (Fu-HP) or Fu-loaded diblock copolymer
      hydrogels (Fu-HC) have been employed as drug depots. The in vitro and in vivo
      drug depot was designed as a formulation of Dox-M dispersed inside an outer shell
      of Fu-HP or Fu-HC after injection. The Dox-M/Fu-HP and Dox-M/Fu-HC formulations
      are free flowing at room temperature, indicating injectability, and formed a
      structural gelatinous depot in vitro and in vivo at body temperature. The Fu-HP,
      Fu-HC, Dox-M/Fu-HP, Dox-M/Fu-HC, and Dox-M formulations were easily injected into
      tumor centers in mice using a needle. Dox-M/Fu-HC produced more significant
      inhibitory effects against tumor growth than that by Dox-M/Fu-HP, while Fu-HP, Fu
      HC and Dox-M had the weakest inhibitory effects of the tested treatments. The in
      vivo study of Dox and Fu biodistribution showed that high Dox and Fu
      concentrations were maintained in the target tumor only, while distribution to
      normal tissues was not observed, indicating that Dox and Fu concentrations below
      their toxic plasma concentrations should not cause significant systemic toxicity.
      The Dox-M/Fu-HP and Dox-M/Fu-HC drug depots described in this work showed
      excellent performance as chemotherapeutic delivery systems. The results reported
      here indicate that intratumoral injection using combination chemotherapy with Dox
      M/Fu-HP or Dox-M/Fu-HC could be of translational research by enhancing the
      synergistic inhibitory effects of Dox and Fu on tumor growth, while reducing
      their systemic toxicity in cancer patients.

PMID- 26874286
TI  - Optimization and evaluation of a method to detect adenoviruses in river water.
AB  - Adenoviruses are often implicated in recreational water disease outbreaks but
      existing methods for their detection perform poorly within these matrices. In
      this study, small volume (100mL) concentration was used to identify processes
      that promoted recovery of adenovirus from river water. Several alternative
      secondary concentration techniques were investigated and compared to the baseline
      method consisting of primary concentration via filtration, followed by celite
      mediated secondary concentration. The alternative secondary concentrations
      included multiple filter elutions, soaking the filter for 15 min prior to elution
      and concentration using pre-treated celite (river water, 1.5% and 3% milk)
      instead of a filter. Modifications of the viral nucleic acid extraction technique
      were also evaluated. Concentration using pre-treated celite and a modified
      extraction technique (10 min boil and a 1h ProK incubation at 37  degrees C)
      recovered significantly higher levels of adenovirus (P=0.001) than other methods
      tested. This optimized method increased recovery of spiked adenovirus (57 +/-
      27%) compared to baseline method performance (4 +/- 3%) indicating that use of
      pre-treated celite as opposed to filtration significantly improves recovery.
      Application of the optimized concentration method to larger volume (1L) of river
      water resulted in similar recoveries (42 +/- 19%) underlying the utility of this
      method to detect adenovirus from environmental samples.

PMID- 26874287
TI  - Development and validation of quantitative PCR for detection of Terrapene
      herpesvirus 1 utilizing free-ranging eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina
      carolina).
AB  - Diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract (URT) in chelonians have been
      well described as a significant contributor of morbidity and mortality.
      Specifically, herpesviruses are common pathogens in captive chelonians worldwide,
      but their importance on free-ranging populations is less well known. Historical
      methods for the diagnosis of herpesvirus infections include virus isolation and
      conventional PCR. Real-time PCR has become an essential tool for detection and
      quantitation of many pathogens, but has not yet been developed for herpesviruses
      in box turtles. Two quantitative real-time TaqMan PCR assays, TerHV58 and
      TerHV64, were developed targeting the DNA polymerase gene of Terrapene
      herpesvirus 1 (TerHV1). The assay detected a viral DNA segment cloned within a
      plasmid with 10-fold serial dilutions from 1.04 * 10(7) to 1.04 * 10(1) viral
      copies per reaction. Even though both primers had acceptable levels of efficiency
      and variation, TerHV58 was utilized to test clinical samples based on less
      variation and increased efficiency. This assay detected as few as 10 viral copies
      per reaction and should be utilized in free-ranging and captive box turtles to
      aid in the characterization of the epidemiology of this disease.

PMID- 26874288
TI  - Statistical shape analysis using 3D Poisson equation--A quantitatively validated
      approach.
AB  - Statistical shape analysis has been an important area of research with
      applications in biology, anatomy, neuroscience, agriculture, paleontology, etc.
      Unfortunately, the proposed methods are rarely quantitatively evaluated, and as
      shown in recent studies, when they are evaluated, significant discrepancies exist
      in their outputs. In this work, we concentrate on the problem of finding the
      consistent location of deformation between two population of shapes. We propose a
      new shape analysis algorithm along with a framework to perform a quantitative
      evaluation of its performance. Specifically, the algorithm constructs a Signed
      Poisson Map (SPoM) by solving two Poisson equations on the volumetric shapes of
      arbitrary topology, and statistical analysis is then carried out on the SPoMs.
      The method is quantitatively evaluated on synthetic shapes and applied on real
      shape data sets in brain structures. 

PMID- 26874289
TI  - Active membrane cholesterol as a physiological effector.
AB  - Sterols associate preferentially with plasma membrane sphingolipids and saturated
      phospholipids to form stoichiometric complexes. Cholesterol in molar excess of
      the capacity of these polar bilayer lipids has a high accessibility and fugacity;
      we call this fraction active cholesterol. This review first considers how active
      cholesterol serves as an upstream regulator of cellular sterol homeostasis. The
      mechanism appears to utilize the redistribution of active cholesterol down its
      diffusional gradient to the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, where it
      binds multiple effectors and directs their feedback activity. We have also
      reviewed a broad literature in search of a role for active cholesterol (as
      opposed to bulk cholesterol or lipid domains such as rafts) in the activity of
      diverse membrane proteins. Several systems provide such evidence, implicating, in
      particular, caveolin-1, various kinds of ABC-type cholesterol transporters,
      solute transporters, receptors and ion channels. We suggest that this larger role
      for active cholesterol warrants close attention and can be tested easily. 

PMID- 26874291
TI  - Differential treatment response trajectories in individuals with subclinical and
      clinical PTSD.
AB  - Subclinical presentations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), wherein
      patients are one or two symptom criteria short of the full disorder, are
      prevalent and associated with levels of distress and impaired functioning
      approximating that of full PTSD. Nonetheless, research examining treatment
      efficacy for this group is in the nascent stage. The purpose of the present study
      was to examine whether the subclinical PTSD group would: (1) show a greater
      reduction in PTSD symptoms at pre and post treatment in response to an exposure
      based treatment and (2) show a greater rate of change over the course of
      treatment, when compared to the full criteria PTSD group. We also examined
      whether differences would emerge when examining PTSD symptom clusters. Consistent
      with predictions, the subclinical PTSD group demonstrated a greater reduction in
      PTSD symptoms at post-treatment (29%) than those with a PTSD diagnosis (14%).
      Further, the groups had different treatment trajectories, with the subclinical
      PTSD group showing a marginally greater rate of change during the course of
      treatment. Findings also varied by symptom cluster with the subclinical group
      showing a greater rate of change in the intrusions, hypervigilance, and avoidance
      symptom clusters. There was not a significant between group difference in the
      numbing symptom cluster. This study provides preliminary evidence that treating
      PTSD symptoms at the subclinical level may result in a larger, and more rapid
      symptom reduction, and thus has implications supporting treatment earlier in the
      developmental trajectory of the disorder. 

PMID- 26874292
TI  - The shared and specific relationships between exposure to potentially traumatic
      events and transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology.
AB  - The experience of traumatic events has been linked to the development of
      psychopathology. Changing perspectives on psychopathology have resulted in the
      hypothesis that broad dimensional constructs account for the majority of variance
      across putatively distinct disorders. As such, traumatic events may be associated
      with several disorders due to their relationship with these broad dimensions
      rather than any direct disorder-specific relationship. The current study used
      data from 8871 Australians to test this hypothesis. Two broad dimensions
      accounted for the majority of relationships between traumatic events and mental
      and substance use disorders. Direct relationships remained between post-traumatic
      stress disorder and six categories of traumatic events in the total population
      and between drug dependence and accidents/disasters for males only. These results
      have strong implications for how psychopathology is conceptualized and offer some
      evidence that traumatic events are associated with an increased likelihood of
      experiencing psychopathology in general. 

PMID- 26874293
TI  - Risk appraisal of passing zones on two-lane rural highways and policy
      applications.
AB  - Passing on two-lane rural highways is associated with risks of head-on collision
      resulting from unsafe completion of passing maneuvers in the opposite traffic
      lane. In this paper, we explore the use of time-to-collision (TTC) as a surrogate
      safety measure of the risk associated with passing maneuvers. Logistic regression
      models to predict the probability to end the passing maneuver with TTC less than
      2 or 3s-threshold were developed with the time-gap from initiation of the
      maneuver to arrival of the opposite vehicle (effective accepted gap), and the
      passing duration as explanatory variables. The data used for model estimation was
      collected using stationary tripod-mounted camcorders at 19 passing zones in
      Uganda. Results showed that passing maneuvers completed with TTC less than 3s are
      unsafe and often involved sudden speed reduction, flashing headlights, and
      lateral shift to shoulders. Model sensitivity analysis was conducted for observed
      passing durations involving passenger cars or short trucks (2-3 axles), and long
      trucks (4-7 axles) as the passed vehicles for 3s TTC-threshold. Three risk levels
      were proposed based on the probability to complete passing maneuvers with TTC
      less than 3s for a range of opposite direction traffic volumes. Applications of
      the results for safety improvements of two-lane rural highways are also
      discussed. 

PMID- 26874294
TI  - Structural and transcriptional characterization of a novel member of the soybean
      urease gene family.
AB  - In plants, ureases have been related to urea degradation, to defense against
      pathogenic fungi and phytophagous insects, and to the soybean-Bradyrhizobium
      japonicum symbiosis. Two urease isoforms have been described for soybean: the
      embryo-specific, encoded by Eu1 gene, and the ubiquitous urease, encoded by Eu4.
      A third urease-encoding locus exists in the completed soybean genome. The gene
      was designated Eu5 and the putative product of its ORF as SBU-III. Phylogenetic
      analysis shows that 41 plant, moss and algal ureases have diverged from a common
      ancestor protein, but ureases from monocots, eudicots and ancient species have
      evolved independently. Genomes of ancient organisms present a single urease
      encoding gene and urease-encoding gene duplication has occurred independently
      along the evolution of some eudicot species. SBU-III has a shorter amino acid
      sequence, since many gaps are found when compared to other sequences. A mutation
      in a highly conserved amino acid residue suggests absence of ureolytic activity,
      but the overall protein architecture remains very similar to the other ureases.
      The expression profile of urease-encoding genes in different organs and
      developmental stages was determined by RT-qPCR. Eu5 transcripts were detected in
      seeds one day after dormancy break, roots of young plants and embryos of
      developing seeds. Eu1 and Eu4 transcripts were found in all analyzed organs, but
      Eu4 expression was more prominent in seeds one day after dormancy break whereas
      Eu1 predominated in developing seeds. The evidence suggests that SBU-III may not
      be involved in nitrogen availability to plants, but it could be involved in other
      biological role(s). 

PMID- 26874295
TI  - Molecular and biochemical characterization of rice pectin methylesterase
      inhibitors (OsPMEIs).
AB  - Cell wall modifications such as partial degradation and depolymerization by cell
      wall hydrolases are normal cellular processes and are required for the
      functionalities of different cell types. Pectin, one of the major cell wall
      polysaccharides, is predominantly found in primary cell walls and middle lamellae
      and is subjected to in muro modification, primarily by cell wall-localized pectin
      methylesterases (PMEs). Molecular biochemical studies have demonstrated that
      enzymatic activities of PMEs are governed by multiple pectin methylesterase
      inhibitors (PMEIs), which consequently control the pectin methylesterification
      status. Although a few studies in Arabidopsis have shown the importance of this
      PMEI-mediated regulation in the biophysical properties of cell walls, little is
      known about the molecular physiological functions of rice PMEIs. We found 49
      members of the PMEI family in the rice genome. Analysis of their transcript
      levels by quantitative real-time PCR and meta expression analysis showed that
      they are regulated spatially and temporally, as well as in response to diverse
      stresses. Quantification of cell wall-bound methylesters indicated that the
      degree of pectin methylesterification is developmentally regulated; in
      particular, higher PMEI activities were detected in cell wall proteins prepared
      from young leaves. Furthermore, an activity assay demonstrated that two
      recombinant OsPMEI proteins (OsPMEI8 and 12) were able to inhibit the enzymatic
      activity of a commercial PME protein. Subcellular localization indicated that
      OsPMEI8 is targeted to the middle lamella and OsPMEI12 is localized in the plasma
      membrane and nucleus. Taken together, our findings provide the first molecular
      and biochemical evidence for functional characterization of PMEIs in rice growth
      and development. 

PMID- 26874296
TI  - Relationship between potassium fertilization and nitrogen metabolism in the leaf
      subtending the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) boll during the boll development
      stage.
AB  - The nitrogen (N) metabolism of the leaf subtending the cotton boll (LSCB) was
      studied with two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars (Simian 3, low-K
      tolerant; Siza 3, low-K sensitive) under three levels of potassium (K)
      fertilization (K0: 0 g K2O plant(-1), K1: 4.5 K2O plant(-1) and K2: 9.0 g K2O
      plant(-1)). The results showed that total dry matter increased by 13.1-27.4% and
      11.2-18.5% under K supply for Simian 3 and Siza 3. Boll biomass and boll weight
      also increased significantly in K1 and K2 treatments. Leaf K content, leaf N
      content and nitrate (NO3(-)) content increased with increasing K rates, and leaf
      N content or NO3(-) content had a significant positive correlation with leaf K
      content. Free amino acid content increased in the K0 treatment for both
      cultivars, due to increased protein degradation caused by higher protease and
      peptidase activities, resulting in lower protein content in the K0 treatment. The
      critical leaf K content for free amino acid and soluble protein content were 14
      mg g(-1) and 15 mg g(-1) in Simian 3, and 17 mg g(-1) and 18 mg g(-1) in Siza 3,
      respectively. Nitrate reductase (NR), glutamic-oxaloace transaminase (GOT) and
      glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities increased in the K1 and K2
      treatments for both cultivars, while glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate
      synthase (GOGAT) activities increased under K supply treatments only for Siza 3,
      and were not affected in Simian 3, indicating that this was the primary
      difference in nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes activities for the two cultivars with
      different sensitivity to low-K. 

PMID- 26874297
TI  - Development and validation of a spontaneous preterm delivery predictor in
      asymptomatic women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery remains the leading cause of perinatal mortality.
      Risk factors and biomarkers have traditionally failed to identify the majority of
      preterm deliveries. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a mass spectrometry-based
      serum test to predict spontaneous preterm delivery in asymptomatic pregnant
      women. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 5501 pregnant women were enrolled between 17(0/7)
      and 28(6/7) weeks gestational age in the prospective Proteomic Assessment of
      Preterm Risk study at 11 sites in the United States between 2011 and 2013.
      Maternal blood was collected at enrollment and outcomes collected following
      delivery. Maternal serum was processed by a proteomic workflow, and proteins were
      quantified by multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. The discovery and
      verification process identified 2 serum proteins, insulin-like growth factor
      binding protein 4 (IBP4) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), as predictors
      of spontaneous preterm delivery. We evaluated a predictor using the log ratio of
      the measures of IBP4 and SHBG (IBP4/SHBG) in a clinical validation study to
      classify spontaneous preterm delivery cases (<37(0/7) weeks gestational age) in a
      nested case-control cohort different from subjects used in discovery and
      verification. Strict blinding and independent statistical analyses were employed.
      RESULTS: The predictor had an area under the receiver operating characteristic
      curve value of 0.75 and sensitivity and specificity of 0.75 and 0.74,
      respectively. The IBP4/SHBG predictor at this sensitivity and specificity had an
      odds ratio of 5.04 for spontaneous preterm delivery. Accuracy of the IBP4/SHBG
      predictor increased using earlier case-vs-control gestational age cutoffs (eg,
      <35(0/7) vs >=35(0/7) weeks gestational age). Importantly, higher-risk subjects
      defined by the IBP4/SHBG predictor score generally gave birth earlier than lower
      risk subjects. CONCLUSION: A serum-based molecular predictor identifies
      asymptomatic pregnant women at risk of spontaneous preterm delivery, which may
      provide utility in identifying women at risk at an early stage of pregnancy to
      allow for clinical intervention. This early detection would guide enhanced levels
      of care and accelerate development of clinical strategies to prevent preterm
      delivery.

PMID- 26874298
TI  - The impact of ambient operating room temperature on neonatal and maternal
      hypothermia and associated morbidities: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypothermia is common at the time of cesarean delivery and
      has been associated with a constellation of morbidities in addition to increased
      neonatal mortality. Additionally, maternal hypothermia is often uncomfortable for
      the surgical patient and has been associated with intraoperative and
      postoperative complications. Various methods to decrease the rates of neonatal
      and maternal hypothermia have been examined and found to have varying levels of
      success. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether an increase in operating room
      temperature at cesarean delivery results in a decrease in the rate of neonatal
      hypothermia and associated morbidities. STUDY DESIGN: In this single-center
      randomized trial, operating room temperatures were adjusted weekly according to a
      cluster randomization schedule to either 20 degrees C (67 degrees F), which was
      the standard at our institution, or 23 degrees C (73 degrees F), which was the
      maximum temperature allowable per hospital policy. Neonatal hypothermia was
      defined as core body temperature <36.5 degrees C (97.7 degrees F) per World
      Health Organization criteria. The primary study outcome was neonatal hypothermia
      on arrival to the admitting nursery. Measures of neonatal morbidity potentially
      associated with hypothermia were examined. RESULTS: From February through July
      2015, 791 women who underwent cesarean deliveries were enrolled, resulting in 410
      infants in the 20 degrees C standard management group and 399 in the 23 degrees C
      study group. The rate of neonatal hypothermia on arrival to the admitting nursery
      was lower in the study group as compared to the standard management group: 35% vs
      50%, P < .001. Moderate to severe hypothermia was infrequent when the operating
      room temperature was 23 degrees C (5%); in contrast such hypothermia occurred in
      19% of the standard management group, P < .001. Additionally, neonatal
      temperature in the operating room immediately following delivery and
      stabilization was also higher in the study group, 37.1 +/- 0.6 degrees C vs 36.9
      +/- 0.6 degrees C, P < .001. We found no difference in rates of intubation,
      ventilator use, hypoglycemia, metabolic acidemia, or intraventricular hemorrhage.
      Fever (temperature >38.0 degrees C or 100.4 degrees F) on arrival to the
      admitting unit was uncommon and did not differ between the study groups. Maternal
      temperature on arrival to the operating room was not different between the 2
      groups, however by delivery it was significantly lower in the standard management
      group, 36.2 +/- 0.6 degrees C vs 36.4 +/- 0.6 degrees C, P < .001. This effect
      persisted, as maternal temperature on arrival to the postoperative care area was
      lower in the standard management group, 36.1 +/- 0.6 degrees C vs 36.2 +/- 0.6
      degrees C, P < .001, and the rate of hypothermia was higher, 77% vs 69%, P =
      .008. CONCLUSION: A modest increase in operating room temperature at the time of
      cesarean reduces the rate of neonatal and maternal hypothermia. We did not detect
      a decrease in neonatal morbidity, but the power to detect a small change in these
      outcomes was limited.

PMID- 26874299
TI  - Universal cervical length screening: implementation and outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transvaginal measurement of cervical length (CL) has been advocated
      as a screening tool to prevent preterm birth, but controversy remains regarding
      the overall utility of universal screening. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the
      acceptability of a universal CL screening program. Additionally we evaluated risk
      factors associated with declining screening and subsequent delivery outcomes of
      women who accepted or declined screening. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective
      cohort study of transvaginal CL screening at a single institution from July 1,
      2011, through December 31, 2014. Institutional protocol recommended transvaginal
      CL measurement at the time of anatomic survey between 17-23 weeks in all women
      with singleton, viable pregnancies, without current or planned cerclage, with
      patients able to opt out. Patients with CL <=20 mm were considered to have
      clinically significant cervical shortening and were offered treatment. We
      assessed acceptance rate, risk factors for declining CL screening, and the trend
      of acceptance of CL screening over time. We also calculated the prevalence of CL
      <=25, <=20, and <=15 mm, and estimated the association between CL screening and
      spontaneous preterm birth. RESULTS: Of 12,740 women undergoing anatomic survey
      during the study period, 10,871 (85.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 84.7-85.9%)
      underwent CL screening. Of those, 215 (2.0%) had a CL <=25 mm and 131 (1.2%) had
      a CL <=20 mm. After the first 6 months of implementation, there was no change in
      rates of acceptance of CL screening over time (P for trend = .15). Women were
      more likely to decline CL screening if they were African American (adjusted odds
      ratio [aOR], 2.17; 95% CI, 1.93-2.44), obese (aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.31),
      multiparous (aOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.29-1.64), age <35 years (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI,
      1.08-1.43), or smokers (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.20-1.68). Rates of spontaneous
      preterm birth <28 weeks were higher in those who declined CL screening (aOR,
      2.01; 95% CI, 1.33-3.02). CONCLUSION: Universal CL screening was implemented
      successfully with 85% of women screened. Overall incidence of short cervix was
      low and women with significant risk factors for preterm birth were more likely to
      decline screening. Patients who declined CL screening were more likely to be
      African American, obese, multiparous, age <35 years, and smokers. Rates of early,
      but not late, spontaneous preterm birth were significantly higher among women who
      did not undergo CL screening.

PMID- 26874300
TI  - Novel lean type 2 diabetic rat model using gestational low-protein programming.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in lean individuals is not well studied and up
      to 26% of diabetes occurs in these individuals. Although the cause is not well
      understood, it has been primarily attributed to nutritional issues during early
      development. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to develop a lean T2D model using
      gestational low-protein (LP) programming. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant rats were fed
      control (20% protein) or isocaloric LP (6%) diet from gestational day 4 until
      delivery. Standard diet was given to dams after delivery and to pups after
      weaning. Glucose tolerance test was done at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Magnetic
      resonance imaging of body fat for females was done at 4 months. Rats were
      sacrificed at 4 and 8 months of age and their perigonadal, perirenal, inguinal,
      and brown fat were weighed and expressed relative to their body weight.
      Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp was done around 6 months of age. RESULTS: Male
      and female offspring exposed to a LP diet during gestation developed glucose
      intolerance and insulin resistance (IR). Further, glucose intolerance progressed
      with increasing age and occurred earlier and was more severe in females when
      compared to males. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp showed whole body IR in both
      sexes, with females demonstrating increased IR compared to males. LP females
      showed a 4.5-fold increase in IR while males showed a 2.5-fold increase when
      compared to their respective controls. Data from magnetic resonance imaging on
      female offspring showed no difference in the subcutaneous, inguinal, and visceral
      fat content. We were able to validate this observation by sacrificing the rats at
      4 and 8 months and measuring total body fat content. This showed no differences
      in body fat content between control and LP offspring in either males or females.
      Additionally, diabetic rats had a similar body mass index to that of the
      controls. CONCLUSION: LP gestational programming produces a progressively
      worsening T2D model in rats with a lean phenotype without obesity.

PMID- 26874301
TI  - A history of preeclampsia is associated with a risk for coronary artery
      calcification 3 decades later.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A history of preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for cardiac
      events and stroke. Changes in vasculature structure that contribute to these
      associations are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to
      quantify coronary artery calcification (CAC), a known risk factor for cardiac
      events, in a prospective cohort of women with and without histories of
      preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Women without prior cardiovascular events (40 with
      and 40 without histories of preeclampsia, matched for parity and age at index
      birth) were recruited from a large population-based cohort of women who were
      residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, and who delivered from 1976 through 1982.
      Computed tomography was performed to measure CAC in Agatston units. All pregnancy
      histories and covariates were confirmed by review of the medical records. Current
      clinical variables were assessed at the time of imaging. Differences between
      women with and without histories of preeclampsia were examined using chi(2) tests
      and tests; CAC, in particular, was compared as a categorical and ordinal
      variable, with a chi(2) test and with Wilcoxon 2-sample tests and ordinal
      logistic regression, as appropriate. RESULTS: Mean age (SD) at imaging was 59.5
      (+/-4.6) years. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, hyperlipidemia, and
      current diabetes status did not differ between women with and without histories
      of preeclampsia. However, the frequencies of having a current clinical diagnosis
      of hypertension (60% vs 20%, P < .001) and higher body mass index in kg/m(2)
      (expressed as median [25th-75th percentile], 29.8 [25.9-33.7] vs 25.3 [23.1
      32.0], P = .023) were both greater in the women with histories of preeclampsia
      compared to those without. The frequency of a CAC score >50 Agatston units was
      also greater in the preeclampsia group (23% vs 0%, P = .001). Compared to women
      without preeclampsia, the odds of having a higher CAC score was 3.54 (confidence
      interval [CI], 1.39-9.02) times greater in women with prior preeclampsia without
      adjustment, and 2.61 (CI, 0.95-7.14) times greater after adjustment for current
      hypertension. After adjustment for body mass index alone, the odds of having a
      higher CAC based on a history of preeclampsia remained significant at 3.20 (CI,
      1.21-8.49). CONCLUSION: In this first prospective cohort study with confirmation
      of preeclampsia by medical record review, a history of preeclampsia is associated
      with an increased risk of CAC >30 years after affected pregnancies, even after
      controlling individually for traditional risk factors. A history of preeclampsia
      should be considered in risk assessment when initiating primary prevention
      strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease in women. Among women with histories
      of preeclampsia, the presence of CAC may be able to identify those at a
      particularly high cardiovascular risk, and should be the subject of future
      studies.

PMID- 26874303
TI  - Synthesis, characterization and biological approach of metal chelates of some
      first row transition metal ions with halogenated bidentate coumarin Schiff bases
      containing N and O donor atoms.
AB  - The impregnation of halogen atoms in a molecule is an emerging trend in
      pharmaceutical chemistry. The presence of halogens (Cl, Br, I and F) increases
      the lipophilic nature of molecule and improves the penetration of lipid membrane.
      The presence of electronegative halogen atoms increases the bio- activity of core
      moiety. In the present study, Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are synthesised
      using Schiff bases (HL(I) and HL(II)), derived from 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4
      methylcoumarin/3-chloro-8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin with 2,4
      difluoroaniline/o-toluidine respectively. The synthesized compounds were
      characterized by spectral (IR, NMR, UV-visible, Mass, ESI-MS, ESR), thermal,
      fluorescence and molar conductivity studies. All the synthesized metal complexes
      are completely soluble in DMF and DMSO. The non-electrolytic nature of the metal
      complexes was confirmed by molar conductance studies. Elemental analysis study
      suggest [ML2(H2O)2] stoichiometry, here M=Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II),
      L=deprotonated ligand. The obtained IR data supports the binding of metal ion to
      Schiff base. Thermal study suggests the presence of coordinated water molecules.
      Electronic spectral results reveal six coordinated geometry for the synthesized
      metal complexes. The Schiff bases and their metal complexes were evaluated for
      antibacterial (Pseudomonas aureginosa and Proteus mirabilis), antifungal
      (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae), anthelmintic (Pheretima posthuma) and
      DNA cleavage (Calf Thymus DNA) activities. 

PMID- 26874304
TI  - Affinity capture elution bridging assay: A novel immunoassay format for detection
      of anti-therapeutic protein antibodies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increased emphasis on the development of biologics has placed a
      significant focus on anti-drug antibody (ADA) detection. To address this need,
      several immunoassay formats have been described for use in characterizing
      potential immune responses. Two commonly utilized methods include the affinity
      capture elution (ACE) and bridging formats. While these approaches have been
      effective in supporting many clinical initiatives, both possess potential
      disadvantages. Here, we compare these standard methods to a novel format that
      addresses these noted drawbacks. RESULTS: A novel assay format has been designed
      to incorporate the benefits of the ACE and bridging methods while overcoming the
      disadvantages incurred with each approach. The described ACE-Bridge format
      exhibits excellent sensitivity and precision while providing superior drug
      tolerance when compared to bridging formats. Further, this assay format is not
      susceptible to the endogenous target interference that can be an issue in the ACE
      format. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE-Bridge format provides an often superior option as a
      screening method to monitor patient ADA responses. This method is unique in its
      ability to measure ADA in the presence of high circulating endogenous target
      concentrations (>100 ng/mL) while demonstrating very high drug tolerance.

PMID- 26874302
TI  - Evaluation of proteomic biomarkers associated with circulating microparticles as
      an effective means to stratify the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The analysis of circulating microparticles in pregnancy is of
      revolutionary potential because it represents an in vivo biopsy of active
      gestational tissues. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that circulating microparticle
      signaling will differ in pregnancies that experience spontaneous preterm birth
      from those delivering at term and that these differences will be evident many
      weeks in advance of clinical presentation. STUDY DESIGN: Utilizing plasma
      specimens obtained between 10 and 12 weeks' gestation as part of a prospectively
      collected birth cohort in which pregnancy outcomes are independently validated by
      2 board-certified maternal-fetal medicine physicians, 25 singleton cases of
      spontaneous preterm birth <= 34 weeks were matched by maternal age, race, and
      gestational age of sampling (+/-2 weeks) with 50 uncomplicated term deliveries.
      Circulating microparticles from these first-trimester specimens were isolated and
      analyzed by multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry for potential protein
      biomarkers following previous studies. Markers with robust univariate performance
      in correlating spontaneous preterm birth were further evaluated for their
      biological relevance via a combined functional profiling/pathway analysis and for
      multivariate performance. RESULTS: Among the 132 proteins evaluated, 62
      demonstrated robust power of detecting spontaneous preterm birth in a bootstrap
      receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis at a false discovery rate of <
      20% estimated via label permutation. Differential dependency network analysis
      identified spontaneous preterm birth-associated coexpression patterns linked to
      biological processes of inflammation, wound healing, and the coagulation cascade.
      Linear modeling of spontaneous preterm birth using a multiplex of the candidate
      biomarkers with a fixed sensitivity of 80% exhibited a specificity of 83% with
      median area under the curve of 0.89. These results indicate a strong potential of
      multivariate model development for informative risk stratification. CONCLUSION:
      This project has identified functional proteomic factors with associated
      biological processes that are already unique in their expression profiles at 10
      12 weeks among women who go on to deliver spontaneously <= 34 weeks. These
      changes, with further validation, will allow the stratification of patients at
      risk of spontaneous preterm birth before clinical presentation.

PMID- 26874305
TI  - Developing and Implementing Major League Baseball's Health and Injury Tracking
      System.
AB  - In 2010, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association
      reached an agreement regarding the development and implementation of an
      electronic medical record system and a new league-wide injury surveillance
      system. The systems were developed to create a more efficient method to track
      medical histories of players longitudinally as they move across Major and Minor
      league affiliates, as well as to identify and monitor injury trends in the sport,
      identify areas of specific concern, and conduct epidemiologic research to better
      optimize player health and safety. The resulting injury surveillance system, the
      Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS), is a robust system that includes all
      players from the both the Major and Minor Leagues. HITS also allows for data
      linkage with other player- and game-level data to inform the development of
      injury prevention policies and programs. In the present article, we document the
      development and implementation of HITS; describe its utility for epidemiologic
      research; illustrate the potential analytic strength of the surveillance system
      and its ability to inform policy change; and note the potential for this new
      surveillance system to advance the field of sports injury epidemiology. 

PMID- 26874306
TI  - In vitro and in vivo identification of tetradentated polyamine complexes as
      highly efficient metallodrugs against Trypanosoma cruzi.
AB  - In order to identify new compounds to treat Chagas disease during the acute phase
      with higher activity and lower toxicity than the reference drug benznidazole
      (Bz), a series of tetraamine-based compounds was prepared and their trypanocidal
      effects against Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated by light microscopy through the
      determination of IC50 values. Cytotoxicity was determined by flow cytometry
      assays against Vero cells. In vivo assays were performed in BALB/c mice, in which
      the parasitemia levels were quantified by fresh blood examination; the assignment
      of a cure was determined by PCR and reactivation of blood parasitemia levels
      after immunosuppression. The mechanism of action was elucidated at metabolic and
      ultra-structural levels by (1)H NMR and TEM studies. Finally, as tetraamines are
      potentially capable of casuing oxidative damage in the parasites, the study was
      completed by assessing their activity as potential iron superoxide dismutase (Fe
      SOD) and trypanothione reductase (TR) inhibitors. High-selectivity indexes
      observed in vitro were the basis of promoting three of the tested compounds to in
      vivo assays. The tests on the murine model for the acute phase of Chagas disease
      showed better parasitemia inhibition values than those found for Bz. Tetraamines
      2 and 3 induced a remarkable decrease in the reactivation of parasitemia after
      immunosuppression and curative rates of 33 and 50%, respectively. Tetraamine 3
      turned out to be a great inhibitor of Fe-SOD and TR. The high anti-parasitic
      activity and low toxicity render these tetraamines appropriate molecules for the
      development of an affordable anti-Chagas agent.

PMID- 26874307
TI  - Beyond Content of Conversation.
AB  - Social interaction is pivotal to the formation of social relationships and
      groups. Much is known about the importance of interaction content (e.g., the
      transfer of information). The present review concentrates on the influence of the
      act of conversing on the emergence of a sense of solidarity, more or less
      independently of the content. Micro-characteristics of the conversation (e.g.,
      brief silences, smooth turn-taking) can profoundly influence the emergence and
      the regulation of relationships and of solidarity. We suggest that this might be
      because the form of a conversation is experienced as an expression of the social
      structures within the group. Because of its dynamic nature, moreover, the form of
      conversation provides group members with a continuous gauge of the group's
      structural features (e.g., its hierarchy, social norms, and shared reality).
      Therefore, minor changes in the form and flow of group conversation can have
      considerable consequences for the regulation of social structure.

PMID- 26874308
TI  - Bioaugmentation for treatment of full-scale diethylene glycol monobutyl ether
      (DGBE) wastewater by Serratia sp. BDG-2.
AB  - A novel bacterial strain BDG-2 was isolated and used to augment the treatment of
      silicon plate manufacturing wastewater that primarily contains diethylene glycol
      monobutyl ether (DGBE). BDG-2 was identified as a Serratia sp. Under the optimal
      conditions of 30  degrees C, pH 9 and DGBE concentration of 2000 mg L(-1), the
      bioaugmented system achieved 96.92% COD removal after 39.9h. Laboratory-scale
      technological matching results indicated that, in a biofilm process with the
      addition of 100 mg L(-1) ammonia and 5 mg L(-1) total phosphorus (TP), 70.61% COD
      removal efficiency could be obtained in 46 h. Addition of polyaluminium chloride
      (PAC) to the reactors during the suspension process enhanced the settleability of
      the BDG-2 culture. Subsequently, successful start-up and stable operation of a
      full-scale bioaugmented treatment facilities were accomplished, and the
      volumetric organic load in the plug-flow aeration tank was 2.17 +/- 0.81 kg m(-3)
      d(-1). The effluent COD of the facilities was stable and always below 100 mg L(
      1).

PMID- 26874309
TI  - Synthesis and application of a novel nanostructured ion-imprinted polymer for the
      preconcentration and determination of thallium(I) ions in water samples.
AB  - A novel synthesized nanostructured ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was investigated
      for the determination of trace amount of thallium(I). For this purpose, the
      thallium(I) IIP particles were synthesized using methacrylic acid (MAA) as the
      functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker,
      methyl-2-[2-(2-2-[2-(methoxycarbonyl) phenoxy] ethoxyethoxy) ethoxy] benzoate as
      the chelating agent and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The
      prepared IIP particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron
      microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermo
      gravimetric analysis (TGA). Various experimental factors such as pH, the amount
      of IIP particles, sorption and desorption time, sample volume, elution condition,
      and potentially interfering ions systematically examined. Under the optimum
      conditions, a sensitive response to Tl(I) within a wide concentration range (0.05
      18 MUg L(-1)) was achieved. The limit of detection (LOD, 3Sb/m) was 6.3 ng L(-1).
      The maximum adsorption capacity of the novel imprinted adsorbent for Tl(I) was
      calculated to be 18.3 mg g(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for eight
      replicate detections of 0.1 MUg L(-1) of thallium(I) was found to be 4.0%. An
      enrichment factor (EF) of 100 was obtained by this method. The proposed technique
      was successfully applied to monitoring thallium in different water samples and
      the certified reference material.

PMID- 26874310
TI  - Kinetics of aerobic cometabolic biodegradation of chlorinated and brominated
      aliphatic hydrocarbons: A review.
AB  - This review analyses kinetic studies of aerobic cometabolism (AC) of halogenated
      aliphatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) from 2001-2015 in order to (i) compare the
      different kinetic models proposed, (ii) analyse the estimated model parameters
      with a focus on novel HAHs and the identification of general trends, and (iii)
      identify further research needs. The results of this analysis show that aerobic
      cometabolism can degrade a wide range of HAHs, including HAHs that were not
      previously tested such as chlorinated propanes, highly chlorinated ethanes and
      brominated methanes and ethanes. The degree of chlorine mineralization was very
      high for the chlorinated HAHs. Bromine mineralization was not determined for
      studies with brominated aliphatics. The examined research period led to the
      identification of novel growth substrates of potentially high interest.
      Decreasing performance of aerobic cometabolism were found with increasing
      chlorination, indicating the high potential of aerobic cometabolism in the
      presence of medium- and low-halogenated HAHs. Further research is needed for the
      AC of brominated aliphatic hydrocarbons, the potential for biofilm aerobic
      cometabolism processes, HAH-HAH mutual inhibition and the identification of the
      enzymes responsible for each aerobic cometabolism process. Lastly, some
      indications for a possible standardization of future kinetic studies of HAH
      aerobic cometabolism are provided. 

PMID- 26874311
TI  - Removal of heavy metals in wastewater by using zeolite nano-particles impregnated
      polysulfone membranes.
AB  - In this study, the adsorption and the filtration processes were coupled by a
      zeolite nanoparticle impregnated polysulfone (PSf) membrane which was used to
      remove the lead and the nickel cations from synthetically prepared solutions. The
      results obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
      and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicated that the synthesized zeolite
      nanoparticles, using conventional hydrothermal method, produced a pure NaX with
      ultrafine and uniform particles. The performance of the hybrid membrane was
      determined under dynamic conditions. The results also revealed that the sorption
      capacity as well as the water hydraulic permeability of the membranes could both
      be improved by simply tuning the membrane fabricating conditions such as
      evaporation period of the casting film and NaX loading. The maximum sorption
      capacity of the hybrid membrane for the lead and nickel ions was measured as 682
      and 122 mg/g respectively at the end of 60 min of filtration, under 1 bar of
      transmembrane pressure. The coupling process suggested that the membrane
      architecture could be efficiently used for treating metal solutions with low
      concentrations and transmembrane pressures.

PMID- 26874312
TI  - Fabrication of highly hydrophobic organic-inorganic hybrid magnetic polysulfone
      microcapsules: A lab-scale feasibility study for removal of oil and organic dyes
      from environmental aqueous samples.
AB  - In this work, three kinds of organic-inorganic hybrid materials (vinyl benzene
      linear polymer modified SBA-15, attapulgite and halloysite nanotubes) in the
      shape of powder and the corresponding magnetic polysulfone microcapsules were
      developed for removal of oil and dyes from environmental aqueous samples,
      respectively. As determined from the oil and dye adsorption studies, the
      developed magnetic polysulfone microcapsules exhibited high adsorption capacity
      of 13.8-17.3g/g for oil. The prepared functionalized materials and the
      corresponding microcapsules can remove 85.0-91.6% and 81.8-87.8% Sudan I in 80
      min and 7.6h, respectively. The results showed a significant improvement in their
      adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies compared to the parent matrices,
      indicating that the introducing of the vinyl benzene linear polymer was a major
      factor in the removal of the hydrophobic pollutants. At the same time, the
      adsorption capacity for the investigated pollutants also depended on the textural
      feature of matrix itself. In view of the utilization of low-cost clay minerals
      (attapulgite and halloysite nanotubes), these proposed functionalized materials
      and the corresponding magnetic polysulfone microcapsules had a great promise to
      be used as an efficient sorbent for removal of pollutants from environmental
      aqueous samples.

PMID- 26874313
TI  - Brominated flame retardants in the surrounding soil of two manufacturing plants
      in China: Occurrence, composition profiles and spatial distribution.
AB  - Surface soil samples were collected surrounding two brominated flame retardants
      (BFRs) manufacturing plants in China in August 2014 and analyzed for 23
      polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 8 novel brominated flame retardants
      (NBFRs). BDE209 and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) were the predominant
      compounds in soil with the median levels of 1600 and 560 ng/g dw, respectively.
      The PBDEs profiles in soil samples were consistent with that of commercial
      product (comDecaBDE). The percentage contributions to total PBDEs decreased from
      higher to lower brominated homologues. Lower concentrations of NBFRs (excluding
      DBDPE) were detected in soil surrounding the two plants, suggesting they are
      byproducts or degradation products of the manufacturing activities. The
      concentrations of most BFRs dropped exponentially within 3-5 km of the
      manufacturing plants, suggesting recent deposition of these compounds to the
      soil. Directional distribution indicated that PBDEs and DBDPE concentrations were
      highest in the north direction of Plants 1. Three-day air parcel forward
      trajectories confirmed that the air parcel was responsible for the higher
      concentration of BFRs in the soil of north direction of the plant. 

PMID- 26874314
TI  - Municipal composts reduce the transfer of Cd from soil to vegetables.
AB  - Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential trace element that accumulates in agricultural
      soils through the application of Cd-rich phosphate fertiliser. Vegetables can
      accumulate Cd to concentrations that sometimes exceed food safety standards. We
      investigated the potential of low-cost soil amendments to reduce Cd uptake by
      spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and onion (Allium
      cepa L.). Batch sorption experiments revealed the relative sorption of Cd by
      biosolids, charcoal, lignite, sawdust, two types of compost, bentonite and
      zeolite. Lignite and compost had the greatest ability to sorb Cd and were
      subsequently selected for pot trials, which elucidated their effect on Cd uptake
      by onions, spinach and lettuce in two market garden soils with native Cd
      concentrations of 1.45 mg/kg and 0.47 mg/kg. The addition of 2.5% (dry w/w)
      municipal compost reduced the Cd concentration in onions, spinach and lettuce by
      up to 60% in both soils. The addition of lignite gave variable results, which
      depended on the soil type and rate of addition. This Cd immobilisation was offset
      by soil acidification caused by the lignite. The results indicate that municipal
      compost is a low-cost soil conditioner that is effective in reducing plant Cd
      uptake. 

PMID- 26874315
TI  - Analysis of Kidney Ultrasound Dimensions by Body Habitus and Position.
AB  - PURPOSE: Renal dimensions are an important assessment of the genitourinary tract
      used to evaluate critical aspects of renal growth and development. Understanding
      the effect of patient position is important to use and interpret these
      parameters. In this prospective study we determined the effect of patient
      position and general body habitus on renal length and parenchymal area in
      children undergoing renal ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2010
      and January 2011 children underwent renal ultrasound while prone and supine.
      Bilateral renal length and renal parenchymal area were measured. Pearson and
      Bland-Altman statistical analyses were used to examine correlations, measurement
      bias and the degree of agreement between methods. RESULTS: Renal length
      measurements in both positions were complete for 201 right and 196 left kidneys.
      Parenchymal area measurements were complete for both kidneys in 177 children.
      When compared individually, supine and prone measures of renal length and
      parenchymal area highly correlated on Pearson analysis (greater than 0.96 and
      greater than 0.89, respectively). When compared by method, Bland-Altman analyses
      of differences vs means showed greater than 50% variance, representing wide
      limits of agreement with poor interrelation. Neither persistent systematic bias
      nor body habitus influenced results. CONCLUSIONS: While Pearson analysis showed
      high correlation for supine and prone renal measurements, Bland-Altman analysis
      of renal length and parenchymal area demonstrated wide limits of agreement, not
      allowing interchangeable use of prone and supine measurements. As such, renal
      ultrasound should specify standardized positions and benchmarks. These results
      provide guidance to standardize renal ultrasound measurements when renal size is
      used as an indicator of kidney health.

PMID- 26874316
TI  - Prospective Assessment of Radiation in Pediatric Urology: The Pediatric Urology
      Radiation Safety Evaluation Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Pediatric tissues are exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation from
      diagnostic studies and therapies involving fluoroscopy. We prospectively
      monitored radiation exposure in our pediatric urology patients during fluoroscopy
      guided operative procedures with single point dosimeters to quantify radiation
      dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children undergoing fluoroscopy guided urological
      procedures were prospectively enrolled in the study from 2013 to 2015. Single
      point dosimeters were affixed to skin overlying the procedural site for the
      durations of the procedures to record dosimetry data. Patient demographics,
      procedural variables and fluoroscopic settings were recorded. RESULTS: A total of
      78 patients underwent 96 procedures, including retrograde pyelography, ureteral
      stent insertion, ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Median patient
      age was 12 years (range 0.3 to 17) and median body mass index percentile for age
      was 70.7 (1.0 to 99.1). Median skin entrance radiation dose for all procedures
      performed was 0.56 mGy. Median dosages associated with the 29 diagnostic
      procedures and 49 definitive interventions were 0.6 mGy (mean 0.8, range 0.1 to
      2.2) and 0.7 mGy (1.1, 0.0 to 5.5), respectively. The dose associated with the 18
      procedures of temporization was significantly higher by comparison (median 1.0
      mGy, mean 2.6, range 0.1 to 10.7, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric radiation
      exposure is not insignificant during urological procedures. Further multi
      institutional work would provide context for our findings. Protocols to optimize
      fluoroscopic settings and minimize patient exposure, and guidelines for radiation
      based imaging should have a key role in all pediatric radiation safety
      initiatives.

PMID- 26874317
TI  - A combined non-targeted and targeted metabolomics approach to study the
      stereoselective metabolism of benalaxyl enantiomers in mouse hepatic microsomes.
AB  - Understanding of xenobiotic metabolism is necessary for risk assessment as well
      as toxicological research. In the present study, nanoLC/LTQ-Orbitrap mass based
      non-targeted metabolomics method coupled with ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography (UPLC)/triple quadrupole mass based targeted metabolomics method
      was carried out to investigate the stereoselective metabolism of benalaxyl in
      mouse hepatic microsomes. As a result, 7 metabolites of benalaxyl were
      identified, including 5 previously reported and 2 newly identified metabolites in
      present work. Hydroxylation, oxidation and esterolysis were major
      biotransformation reactions of benalaxyl in mouse hepatic microsomes. For
      stereoselective metabolism study, (-)-R-benalaxyl degraded much faster than its
      antipode with the t1/2 of 81.24 and 190.38 min for (-)-R- and (+)-S-benalaxyl,
      respectively. More importantly, stereoselectivity was also observed in the
      formation of the identified metabolites. In conclusion, the combined use of the
      mass spectrometry based targeted and non-targeted metabolomics provided a new
      approach to investigate stereoselective metabolism and identify novel metabolites
      of chiral pesticides. This study highlights the stereoselective metabolic profile
      of benalaxyl enantiomers and provides reliable data for benalaxyl toxicological
      risk assessment in mammal. 

PMID- 26874318
TI  - Mercury remediation in wetland sediment using zero-valent iron and granular
      activated carbon.
AB  - Wetlands are hotspots for production of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) that can
      bioaccumulate in the food web. The objective of this study was to determine
      whether the application of zero-valent iron (ZVI) or granular activated carbon
      (GAC) to wetland sediment could reduce MeHg production and bioavailability to
      benthic organisms. Field mesocosms were installed in a wetland fringing Hodgdon
      Pond (Maine, USA), and ZVI and GAC were applied. Pore-water MeHg concentrations
      were lower in treated compared with untreated mesocosms; however, sediment MeHg,
      as well as total Hg (THg), concentrations were not significantly different
      between treated and untreated mesocosms, suggesting that smaller pore-water MeHg
      concentrations in treated sediment were likely due to adsorption to ZVI and GAC,
      rather than inhibition of MeHg production. In laboratory experiments with intact
      vegetated sediment clumps, amendments did not significantly change sediment THg
      and MeHg concentrations; however, the mean pore-water MeHg and MeHg:THg ratios
      were lower in the amended sediment than the control. In the laboratory
      microcosms, snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) accumulated less MeHg in sediment treated
      with ZVI or GAC. The study results suggest that both GAC and ZVI have potential
      for reducing MeHg bioaccumulation in wetland sediment. 

PMID- 26874319
TI  - Variability of PCB burden in 5 fish and sharks species of the French
      Mediterranean continental slope.
AB  - Despite being generally located far from contamination sources, deep marine
      ecosystems are impacted by chemicals like PCB. The PCB contamination in five fish
      and shark species collected in the continental slope of the Gulf of Lions (NW
      Mediterranean Sea) was measured, with a special focus on intra- and interspecific
      variability and on the driving factors. Significant differences occurred between
      species. Higher values were measured in Scyliorhinus canicula, Galeus melastomus
      and Helicolenus dactylopterus and lower values in Phycis blennoides and
      Lepidorhombus boscii. These differences might be explained by specific abilities
      to accumulate and eliminate contaminant, mostly through cytochrome P450 pathway.
      Interindividual variation was also high and no correlation was observed between
      contamination and length, age or trophic level. Despite its major importance,
      actual bioaccumulation of PCB in deep fish is not as documented as in other
      marine ecosystems, calling for a better assessment of the factors driving
      individual bioaccumulation mechanisms and originating high variability in PCB
      contamination. 

PMID- 26874320
TI  - Assessing estuarine quality: A cost-effective in situ assay with amphipods.
AB  - In situ assays based on feeding depression can be powerful ecotoxicological tools
      that can link physiological organism-level responses to population and/or
      community-level effects. Amphipods are traditional target species for toxicity
      tests due to their high sensitivity to contaminants, availability in the field
      and ease of handling. However, cost-effective in situ assays based on feeding
      depression are not yet available for amphipods that inhabit estuarine ecosystems.
      The aim of this work was to assess a short-term in situ assay based on
      postexposure feeding rates on easily quantifiable food items with an estuarine
      amphipod. Experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions using juvenile
      Echinogammarus marinus as the target individual. When 60 Artemia franciscana
      nauplii (as prey) were provided per individual for a period of 30 min in dark
      conditions, feeding rates could be easily quantified. As an endpoint,
      postexposure feeding inhibition in E. marinus was more sensitive to cadmium
      contamination than mortality. Assay calibration under field conditions
      demonstrated the relevance of sediment particle size in explaining individual
      feeding rates in uncontaminated water bodies. An evaluation of the 48-h in situ
      bioassay based on postexposure feeding rates indicated that it is able to
      discriminate between unpolluted and polluted estuarine sites. Using the
      harmonized protocol described here, the in situ postexposure feeding assay with
      E. marinus was found to be a potentially useful, cost-effective tool for
      assessing estuarine sediment and water quality. 

PMID- 26874321
TI  - Transformation of ionophore antimicrobials in poultry litter during pilot-scale
      composting.
AB  - Ionophores are the second top selling class of antimicrobials used in food
      producing animals in the United States. In chickens, ionophores are used as feed
      additives to control coccidiosis; up to 80% of administered ionophores are
      excreted in the litter. Because poultry litter is commonly used to fertilize
      agricultural fields, ionophore residues in litter have become contaminants of
      emerging concern. This study aims to develop a liquid chromatography with tandem
      mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantify ionophores, and identify their
      transformation products (TPs) in poultry litter after on-farm pilot-scale
      composting. The validation parameters of the optimized method showed good
      accuracy, ranging from 71 to 119% recovery and relative standard deviation
      (precision) of <=19% at three different concentration levels (10, 50 and 100
      MUg/kg). Monensin, salinomycin and narasin, were detected in the poultry litter
      samples prior to composting at 290.0 +/- 40, 426 +/- 46, and 3113 +/- 318 MUg kg(
      1), respectively. This study also aims to investigate the effect of different
      composting conditions on the removal of ionophores, such as the effect of turning
      or aeration. Results revealed a 13-68% reduction in ionophore concentrations
      after 150 d of composting, depending on whether the compost was aerated, turned,
      or subjected to a combination of both aeration and turning. Three transformation
      products and one metabolite of ionophores were identified in the composted litter
      using high-resolution liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass
      spectrometry (LC-QToF/MS). 

PMID- 26874322
TI  - Benzotriazole UV stabilizers in sediments, suspended particulate matter and fish
      of German rivers: New insights into occurrence, time trends and persistency.
AB  - Benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVSs) are widely applied in plastics to prevent
      discoloration and to enhance product stability. This study describes for the
      first time the occurrence of nine different lipophilic BUVSs (UV-326, UV-320, UV
      329, UV-350, UV-328, UV-327, UV-928, UV-234 and UV-360) in sediment, suspended
      particulate matter (SPM) and bream liver samples of German rivers. All
      investigated BUVSs were detected in sediments and SPM at concentrations in the
      low ng/g dry weight (dw) range. The so far rarely analyzed compound UV-360 as
      well as UV-326 were the predominant BUVSs in sediments and SPM from the river
      Rhine reaching maximum concentrations of 62 and 44 ng/g dw, respectively. Five
      BUVSs were also confirmed to bioaccumulate in bream liver, but neither UV-360 nor
      UV-326 was detected above the limit of quantification (LOQ). In contrast, highest
      concentrations in bream liver were determined for UV-327 (65 ng/g dw) and UV-328
      (40 ng/g dw). A retrospective time trend analysis of BUVSs in SPM from two sites
      (river Rhine, 2005 to 2013; river Saar, 2006 to 2013) revealed increasing
      contamination levels of UV-329 and decreasing levels of UV-320 and UV-350. At one
      site (river Rhine) time trends of BUVS concentrations were also investigated in
      bream liver (1995-2013) and supported a considerably reduced exposure to UV-350.
      A first assessment of the environmental fate of BUVSs by sediment-water batch
      systems revealed a rapid partitioning into the sediment and no considerable
      degradation within 100 d. 

PMID- 26874323
TI  - Seizure facilitating activity of the oral contraceptive ethinyl estradiol.
AB  - Contraceptive management is critical in women with epilepsy. Although oral
      contraceptives (OCs) are widely used by many women with epilepsy, little is known
      about their impact on epileptic seizures and epileptogenesis. Ethinyl estradiol
      (EE) is the primary component of OC pills. In this study, we investigated the
      pharmacological effect of EE on epileptogenesis and kindled seizures in female
      mice using the hippocampus kindling model. Animals were stimulated daily with or
      without EE until generalized stage 5 seizures were elicited. EE treatment
      significantly accelerated the rate of epileptogenesis. In acute studies, EE
      caused a significant decrease in the afterdischarge threshold and increased the
      incidence and severity of seizures in fully-kindled mice. In chronic studies, EE
      treatment caused a greater susceptibility to kindled seizures. Collectively,
      these results are consistent with moderate proconvulsant-like activity of EE.
      Such excitatory effects may affect seizure risk in women with epilepsy taking OC
      pills. 

PMID- 26874324
TI  - Oral administration of acarbose ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like
      dermatitis in a mouse model.
AB  - Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease of undefined etiology that involves
      dysregulated interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes. Acarbose was found
      to decrease inflammatory parameters in diabetic patients in addition to its anti
      diabetic effects. Here, we report that imiquimod (IMQ)-induced epidermal
      hyperplasia and psoriasis like-inflammation were significantly inhibited by
      acarbose treatment. Real-time PCR showed that mRNA levels of the cytokines TNF
      alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta IL-17A, and IL-22 in skin were also decreased significantly
      by acarbose. In addition, we found that acarbose reduced infiltration of CD3(+) T
      cells and GR-1(+) neutrophils in lesional skin and also reduced the percentage of
      IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells (Th17) and IL-17- and IL-22-producing gammadelta T
      cells in the spleen. In contrast, acarbose increased the frequency of IL-10
      producing CD4(+) regulator Tr1 T cells in the spleen and small intestine. These
      results indicate that oral administration of acarbose can attenuate the severity
      of imiquimod-induced psoriasis with local and systemic anti-inflammatory and
      immune modulation effects, thus suggesting that acarbose is an effective
      therapeutic strategy for psoriasis regulation. 

PMID- 26874326
TI  - Attributes of patient-centered primary care associated with the public perception
      of good healthcare quality in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and El Salvador.
AB  - This study evaluated primary care attributes of patient-centered care associated
      with the public perception of good quality in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and El
      Salvador. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a Latin American survey on
      public perceptions and experiences with healthcare systems. The primary care
      attributes examined were access, coordination, provider-patient communication,
      provision of health-related information and emotional support. A double-weighted
      multiple Poisson regression with robust variance model was performed. The study
      included between 1500 and 1503 adults in each country. The results identified
      four significant gaps in the provision of primary care: not all respondents had a
      regular place of care or a regular primary care doctor (Brazil 35.7%, Colombia
      28.4%, Mexico 22% and El Salvador 45.4%). The communication with the primary care
      clinic was difficult (Brazil 44.2%, Colombia 41.3%, Mexico 45.1% and El Salvador
      56.7%). There was a lack of coordination of care (Brazil 78.4%, Colombia 52.3%,
      Mexico 48% and El Salvador 55.9%). Also, there was a lack of information about
      healthy diet (Brazil 21.7%, Colombia 32.9%, Mexico 16.9% and El Salvador 20.8%).
      The public's perception of good quality was variable (Brazil 67%, Colombia 71.1%,
      Mexico 79.6% and El Salvador 79.5%). The primary care attributes associated with
      the perception of good quality were a primary care provider 'who knows relevant
      information about a patient's medical history', 'solves most of the health
      problems', 'spends enough time with the patient', 'coordinates healthcare' and a
      'primary care clinic that is easy to communicate with'. In conclusion, the public
      has a positive perception of the quality of primary care, although it has
      unfulfilled expectations; further efforts are necessary to improve the provision
      of patient-centered primary care services in these four Latin American countries.

PMID- 26874325
TI  - Immunogenicity of dimorphic and C-terminal fragments of Plasmodium falciparum
      MSP2 formulated with different adjuvants in mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum MSP2 is a blood stage protein that is
      associated with protection against malaria. It was shown that the MSP2 dimorphic
      (D) and constant (C) regions were well recognized by immune human antibodies, and
      were characterized by major conserved epitopes in different endemic areas and age
      groups. These Abs recognized merozoite-derived proteins in WB and IFA. Here, the
      goal was to determine in mice the immunogenicity of the two allelic MSP2 D and C
      domains formulated with different adjuvants, for their possible use in future
      clinical studies. METHOD: Female A/J, C3H, and ICR mice were immunized
      subcutaneously 3 times at 3-week interval with a mixture of allelic and conserved
      MSP2 long synthetic peptides formulated with different adjuvants. One week after
      the third injection, sera from each group were obtained and stored at -20 degrees
      C for subsequent testing. RESULTS: Both domains of the two MSP2 families are
      immunogenic and the fine specificity and intensity of the Ab responses are
      dependent on mouse strains and adjuvants. The major epitopes were restricted to
      the 20-mer peptide sequences comprising the last 8aa of D and first 12aa of C of
      the two allelic families and the first 20aa of the C region, this for most
      strains and adjuvants. Strong immune responses were associated with GLA-SE
      adjuvant and its combination with other TLR agonists (CpG or GDQ) compared to
      alhydrogel and Montanide. Further, the elicited Abs were also capable of
      recognizing Plasmodium-derived MSP2 and inhibiting parasite growth in ADCI.
      CONCLUSION: The data provide a valuable opportunity to evaluate in mice different
      adjuvant and antigen formulations of a candidate vaccine containing both MSP2 D
      and C fragments. The formulations with GLA-SE seem to be a promising option to be
      compared with the alhydrogel one in human clinical trials.

PMID- 26874327
TI  - Barriers to healthcare coordination in market-based and decentralized public
      health systems: a qualitative study in healthcare networks of Colombia and
      Brazil.
AB  - Although integrated healthcare networks (IHNs) are promoted in Latin America in
      response to health system fragmentation, few analyses on the coordination of care
      across levels in these networks have been conducted in the region. The aim is to
      analyse the existence of healthcare coordination across levels of care and the
      factors influencing it from the health personnel' perspective in healthcare
      networks of two countries with different health systems: Colombia, with a social
      security system based on managed competition and Brazil, with a decentralized
      national health system. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive-interpretative
      study was conducted, based on a case study of healthcare networks in four
      municipalities. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a three
      stage theoretical sample of (a) health (112) and administrative (66)
      professionals of different care levels, and (b) managers of providers (42) and
      insurers (14). A thematic content analysis was conducted, segmented by cases,
      informant groups and themes. The results reveal poor clinical information
      transfer between healthcare levels in all networks analysed, with added
      deficiencies in Brazil in the coordination of access and clinical management. The
      obstacles to care coordination are related to the organization of both the health
      system and the healthcare networks. In the health system, there is the existence
      of economic incentives to compete (exacerbated in Brazil by partisan political
      interests), the fragmentation and instability of networks in Colombia and weak
      planning and evaluation in Brazil. In the healthcare networks, there are
      inadequate working conditions (temporary and/or part-time contracts) which hinder
      the use of coordination mechanisms, and inadequate professional training for
      implementing a healthcare model in which primary care should act as coordinator
      in patient care. Reforms are needed in these health systems and networks in order
      to modify incentives, strengthen the state planning and supervision functions and
      improve professional working conditions and skills. 

PMID- 26874328
TI  - Conflicts of Interest and Solicited Replication Attempts.

PMID- 26874329
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Differences in What Smokers Report Paying for Their Cigarettes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Smoking rates and tobacco-related health problems vary by race and
      ethnicity. We explore whether cigarette prices, a determinant of tobacco use,
      differ across racial and ethnic groups, and whether consumer behaviors influence
      these differences. METHODS: We used national Tobacco Use Supplement data from 23
      299 adult smokers in the United States to calculate average reported cigarette
      pack prices for six racial and ethnic groups. Using multivariate regression
      models, we analyzed the independent effect of race and ethnicity on price, and
      whether these effects changed once indicators of carton purchasing, menthol use,
      Indian reservation purchase, and state market prices were incorporated. RESULTS:
      American Indians and whites pay similar amounts and report the lowest prices.
      Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians reported paying $0.42, $0.68, and $0.89 more for a
      pack of cigarettes than whites. After accounting for differences in consumer
      behaviors, these gaps shrunk to $0.27, $0.29, and $0.27, respectively, while
      American Indians paid $0.38 more than whites. Pack buying was associated with
      $0.99 higher per-pack prices than carton buying, which was most common among
      whites. Additionally, people who purchased off an Indian reservation reporting
      paying $1.54 more than those who purchased on reservation. CONCLUSIONS: Average
      reported cigarette prices vary by race and ethnicity, in part due to differences
      in product use and purchase location. Tobacco price policies, especially those
      that target low prices for multipack products or on Indian reservations may
      increase the prices paid by whites and American Indians, who smoke at the highest
      rates and pay the least per pack. IMPLICATIONS: This study examines differences
      in reported prices paid by different racial and ethnic groups, using recent,
      national data from the United States. Results indicating that racial and ethnic
      groups that smoke at the highest rates (American Indians and whites) also pay the
      least are consistent with evidence that price is a key factor in cigarette use.
      Additional analysis finds that cigarette purchasing behaviors, especially carton
      buying and purchasing on Indian reservations, partially account for the
      documented price differences, and suggest that policies focused on bulk purchases
      (carton, multipack) and reservation prices have strong tobacco control potential.

PMID- 26874331
TI  - Running to Forget.

PMID- 26874330
TI  - Naltrexone but Not Ketanserin Antagonizes the Subjective, Cardiovascular, and
      Neuroendocrine Effects of Salvinorin-A in Humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Salvinorin-A is a terpene found in the leaves of the plant Salvia
      divinorum. When administered to humans, salvinorin-A induces an intense but short
      lasting modified state of awareness, sharing features with those induced by the
      classical serotonin-2A receptor agonist psychedelics. However, unlike substances
      such as psilocybin or mescaline, salvinorin-A shows agonist activity at the kappa
      opioid receptor rather than at the serotonin-2A receptor. Here, we assessed the
      involvement of kappa-opioid receptor and serotonin-2A agonism in the subjective,
      cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine effects of salvinorin-A in humans. METHODS: We
      conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study with 2 groups of
      12 healthy volunteers with experience with psychedelic drugs. There were 4
      experimental sessions. In group 1, participants received the following treatment
      combinations: placebo+placebo, placebo+salvinorin-A, naltrexone+placebo, and
      naltrexone+salvinorin-A. Naltrexone, a nonspecific opioid receptor antagonist,
      was administered at a dose of 50mg orally. In group 2, participants received the
      treatment combinations: placebo+placebo, placebo+salvinorin-A,
      ketanserin+placebo, and ketanserin+salvinorin-A. Ketanserin, a selective
      serotonin-2A antagonist, was administered at a dose of 40mg orally. RESULTS:
      Inhalation of 1mg of vaporized salvinorin-A led to maximum plasma concentrations
      at 1 and 2 minutes after dosing. When administered alone, salvinorin-A severely
      reduced external sensory perception and induced intense visual and auditory
      modifications, increased systolic blood pressure, and cortisol and prolactin
      release. These effects were effectively blocked by naltrexone, but not by
      ketanserin. CONCLUSIONS: Results support kappa opioid receptor agonism as the
      mechanism of action underlying the subjective and physiological effects of
      salvinorin-A in humans and rule out the involvement of a serotonin-2A-mediated
      mechanism.

PMID- 26874332
TI  - Combining chemical and genetic approaches for development of responsive FRET
      based sensor systems for protein kinases.
AB  - Chemical and genetic approaches were combined for the development of responsive
      FRET-based sensor systems for protein kinases, using PIM2 as the model kinase.
      Fusions of PIM2 and a red fluorescent protein, TagRFP were expressed in mammalian
      cells and small-molecule ARC-Lum photoluminescent probes possessing different
      phosphorescent and fluorescent properties were constructed. Based on a variety of
      Forster-type resonant energy transfer (FRET) mechanisms (including intermolecular
      or intramolecular energy transfer and transfer between singlet-singlet or triplet
      singlet electronic states of interacting luminophores) of the probe and that of
      the fluorescently tagged PIM2, FRET-based sensor systems were constructed. The
      developed assays can be applied for analysis of PIM2 in biological samples and
      screening and characterization of PIM2 inhibitors in cell lysates. In screening
      studies sub-micromolar affinity of a d-arginine-rich peptide, nona(d-arginine)
      amide [(d-Arg)9-NH2], towards PIM2 was discovered that points to possible
      specific effect of this widely used transport peptide to cellular protein
      phosphorylation balance. 

PMID- 26874333
TI  - Shimming Halbach magnets utilizing genetic algorithms to profit from material
      imperfections.
AB  - In recent years, permanent magnet-based NMR spectrometers have resurfaced as low
      cost portable alternatives to superconducting instruments. While the development
      of these devices as well as clever shimming methods have yielded impressive
      advancements, scaling the size of these magnets to miniature lengths remains a
      problem to be addressed. Here we present the results of a study of a discrete
      shimming scheme for NMR Mandhalas constructed from a set of individual magnet
      blocks. While our calculations predict a modest reduction in field deviation by a
      factor of 9.3 in the case of the shimmed ideal Mandhala, a factor of 28 is
      obtained in the case of the shimmed imperfect Mandhala. This indicates that
      imperfections of magnet blocks can lead to improved field homogeneity. We also
      present a new algorithm to improve the homogeneity of a permanent magnet
      assembly. Strategies for future magnet construction can improve the agreement
      between simulation and practical implementation by using data from real magnets
      in these assemblies as the input to such an algorithm to optimize the homogeneity
      of a given design. 

PMID- 26874334
TI  - Paths of water entry and structures involved in the breaking of seed dormancy of
      Lupinus.
AB  - Physical dormancy is the water impermeability of the seed coat caused by one or
      more palisade cell layer(s) called macrosclereids. The specialised structure for
      water entry sites is the water gap, which serves as a detector of environmental
      cues for germination. In Fabaceae, the water gap is the lens, although another
      seed structure for water entry could exist. In this study, we identified the
      initial site of water entry, observed the hydration of a cushion-like structure
      near the radicle, described the anatomy of the water gap, and analysed the
      association of anatomical seed traits with the initial site of water entry and
      the imbibition velocity of six species of Lupinus from the state of Jalisco,
      Mexico. Dye tracking with a toluidine blue solution was used to identify the
      initial site of water entry. The anatomical description was performed using
      conventional microtechnique and a light microscope. The entry of the toluidine
      solution into seeds of L. montanus was observed after 6h, followed by L.
      exaltatus and L. mexicanus after 18h and L. elegans, L. reflexus and L.
      rotundiflorus after 48h. The site of water entry was the lens in L. elegans, L.
      exaltatus, L. reflexus and L. rotundiflorus and the micropyle in L. mexicanus and
      L. montanus. The cushion-like structure was responsible for water accumulation in
      embryo imbibition. Significant differences among anatomical seed traits such as
      thickness in the hilar region, the counter-palisade layer, cushion-like
      structure, epidermis, hypodermis, and innermost parenchyma layer were found among
      the species. 

PMID- 26874335
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of fluorinated cyclic
      beta(3) -amino acid derivatives on polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases.
      Comparison with nonfluorinated counterparts.
AB  - The stereoisomers of five fluorinated cyclic beta(3) -amino acid derivatives and
      their nonfluorinated counterparts were separated on chiral stationary phases
      containing as chiral selectors cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate),
      cellulose tris-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl carbamate), cellulose tris-(4
      methylbenzoate), cellulose tris-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl carbamate), amylose tris
      (3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate) or amylose tris-(5-chloro-2-methylphenyl
      carbamate). The enantioseparations were carried out in normal-phase mode with n
      hexane/alcohol/alkylamine mobile phases in the temperature range 5-40  degrees C.
      The effects of the mobile phase composition, the nature and concentration of the
      alcohol and alkylamine additives, the structures of the analytes and temperature
      on the separations were investigated. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated
      from plots of ln alpha vs. 1/T. The Delta(DeltaH degrees ) values ranged between 
      5.0 and +1.6 kJ/mol, while Delta(DeltaS degrees ) varied between -12.6 and +5.7
      J/mol/K. The enantioseparation was enthalpically controlled, the retention factor
      and the separation factor decreasing with increasing temperature, but
      entropically controlled separation was also observed. The elution sequence was
      determined for all of the investigated analytes. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26874336
TI  - Coronary microvascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - AIMS: The aims of this study were to compare the index of microcirculatory
      resistance (IMR) and its determinants in diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM
      patients with vascular risk factors, and to evaluate the potential differential
      involvement of coronary microvascular beds. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-six
      patients (32 with DM), without significant epicardial coronary disease, had IMR
      measured in the anterior and posterior circulations. There was no significant
      difference in the anterior compared to posterior circulation IMR in the whole
      group (27 vs. 26, p=0.92) or in the DM subgroup (35 vs. 28, p=0.31). DM patients
      had higher anterior circulation IMR compared to non-DM patients (27 vs. 15,
      p=0.009). Posterior circulation IMR was higher than anterior circulation IMR in
      non-DM patients (25 vs. 16, p=0.01). Multivariate determinants of higher anterior
      circulation IMR in DM were dyslipidaemia, hypertension, worsening glycaemic
      control, and higher body mass index; metformin had a protective effect.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is differential involvement of the coronary microvascular
      beds. In the presence of risk factors, microvascular function of the posterior
      circulation was affected before the anterior; DM patients had worse microvascular
      function in the anterior but not posterior circulation compared to patients
      without DM. Vascular risk factors, including DM, adversely affect coronary
      microvascular function, and their treatment was associated with improvement.

PMID- 26874337
TI  - QSARs for estimating intrinsic hepatic clearance of organic chemicals in humans.
AB  - Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were developed to predict
      the in vitro clearance (CLINT) of xenobiotics metabolised in human hepatocytes
      (118 compounds) and microsomes (115 compounds). Clearance values were gathered
      from the scientific literature and multiple linear models were built and
      validated selecting at most 6 predictors from a pool of over 2000 potential
      molecular descriptors. For the hepatocytes QSAR, the explained variance (Radj(2))
      was 67% and the predictive ability (Rext(2)) was 62%. For the microsomes QSAR,
      Radj(2) was 50% and Rext(2) 30%. For both liver assays, the most important
      descriptor relates to electronic properties of the compound. Functional groups of
      fragments were useful to identify specific compounds that have a deviating
      reaction rate compared to the others, such as polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and
      organic amides which were poorly metabolised by hepatocytes and microsomes,
      respectively. For hepatocytes, clearance was predominantly determined by
      electronic characteristics, while size and shape characteristics were less
      important and partitioning properties were absent. This may suggest that uptake
      across the membrane and enzyme binding are not rate-limiting steps. Particularly
      for hepatocytes the QSAR statistics are encouraging, allowing application of the
      outcomes in in vitro to in vivo extrapolation. 

PMID- 26874338
TI  - Cherry Picking Patients: Examining the Interval Between Patient Rooming and
      Resident Self-assignment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the association between patient chief complaint
      and the time interval between patient rooming and resident physician self
      assignment ("pickup time"). We hypothesized that significant variation in pickup
      time would exist based on chief complaint, thereby uncovering resident
      preferences in patient presentations. METHODS: A retrospective medical record
      review was performed on consecutive patients at a single, academic, university
      based emergency department with over 50,000 visits per year. All patients who
      presented from August 1, 2012, to July 31, 2013, and were initially seen by a
      resident were included in the analysis. Patients were excluded if not seen
      primarily by a resident or if registered with a chief complaint associated with
      trauma team activation. Data were abstracted from the electronic health record
      (EHR). The outcome measured was "pickup time," defined as the time interval
      between room assignment and resident self-assignment. We examined all complaints
      with >100 visits, with the remaining complaints included in the model in an
      "other" category. A proportional hazards model was created to control for the
      following prespecified demographic and clinical factors: age, race, sex, arrival
      mode, admission vital signs, Emergency Severity Index code, waiting room time
      before rooming, and waiting room census at time of rooming. RESULTS: Of the
      30,382 patients eligible for the study, the median time to pickup was 6 minutes
      (interquartile range = 2-15 minutes). After controlling for the above factors, we
      found systematic and significant variation in the pickup time by chief complaint,
      with the longest times for patients with complaints of abdominal problems,
      numbness/tingling, and vaginal bleeding and shortest times for patients with
      ankle injury, allergic reaction, and wrist injury. CONCLUSIONS: A consistent
      variation in resident pickup time exists for common chief complaints. We suspect
      that this reflects residents preferentially choosing patients with simpler
      workups and less perceived diagnostic ambiguity. This work introduces pickup time
      as a metric that may be useful in the future to uncover and address potential
      physician bias. Further work is necessary to establish whether practice patterns
      in this study are carried beyond residency and persist among attendings in the
      community and how these patterns are shaped by the information presented via the
      EHR.

PMID- 26874341
TI  - Lethal and sub-lethal effects of five pesticides used in rice farming on the
      earthworm Eisenia fetida.
AB  - The toxicity of five pesticides typically used in rice farming (trichlorfon,
      dimethoate, carbendazim, tebuconazole and prochloraz) was evaluated on different
      lethal and sub-lethal endpoints of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The evaluated
      endpoints included: avoidance behaviour after an exposure period of 2 days; and
      mortality, weight loss, enzymatic activities (cholinesterase, lactate
      dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase) and histopathological effects after an
      exposure period of 14 days. Carbendazim was found to be highly toxic to E. fetida
      (LC50=2mg/kg d.w.), significantly reducing earthworm weight and showing an
      avoidance response at soil concentrations that are close to those predicted in
      rice-fields and in surrounding ecosystems. The insecticide dimethoate showed a
      moderate acute toxicity (LC50=28mg/kg d.w.), whereas the rest of tested
      pesticides showed low toxicity potential (LC50 values above 100mg/kg d.w.). For
      these pesticides, however, weight loss was identified as a sensitive endpoint,
      with NOEC values approximately 2 times or lower than the calculated LC10 values.
      The investigated effects on the enzymatic activities of E. fetida and the
      observed histopathological alterations (longitudinal and circular muscle lesions,
      edematous tissues, endothelial degeneration and necrosis) proved to be sensitive
      biomarkers to monitor pesticide contamination and are proposed as alternative
      measures to evaluate pesticide risks on agro-ecosystems. 

PMID- 26874342
TI  - The expression of human beta-defensins (hBD-1, hBD-2, hBD-3, hBD-4) in gingival
      epithelia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the expression
      patterns of human beta-defensin-4 (hBD-4) with those of hBD-1, hBD-2, and hBD-3
      in healthy and chronically inflamed gingival tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      total of 96 gingival samples were collected, comprising 46 biopsies from chronic
      periodontitis (CP) patients and 50 from individuals with healthy tissue. Of
      these, 21CP and 21 healthy samples were used to examine the protein expression of
      the hBDs by immunohistochemistry. The remaining 25CP and 29 healthy tissue
      samples were subjected to real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction to quantify the mRNA expression of the hBDs. RESULTS: All four types of
      beta-defensin peptides were confined to the gingival epithelia. The percentage of
      samples positive for hBD-4 mRNA was significantly lower than the percentages for
      the other three beta-defensins, both in healthy (p=0.003) and in inflamed
      (p=0.030) gingiva. However, in the case of the relative mRNA expression levels,
      that of hBD-4 was significantly higher than the levels for hBD-2 (healthy group:
      p<0.01; CP group: p<0.01) and hBD-3 (healthy group: p=0.004; CP group: p<0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates differential expression of hBD-1, hBD-2, hBD
      3, and hBD-4 in healthy and CP gingiva.

PMID- 26874343
TI  - An investigation into the butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of
      formylthiocholine using heavy atom kinetic isotope effects.
AB  - Heavy atom kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were determined for the
      butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of formylthiocholine (FTC). The
      leaving-S, carbonyl-C, and carbonyl-O KIEs are (34)k=0.994+/-0.004,
      (13)k=1.0148+/-0.0007, and (18)k=0.999+/-0.002, respectively. The observed KIEs
      support a mechanism for both acylation and deacylation where the steps up to and
      including the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate are at least partially
      rate determining. These results, in contrast to previous studies with
      acetylthiocholine, suggest that the decomposition of a tetrahedral intermediate
      is not rate-determining for FTC hydrolysis. Structural differences between the
      two substrates are likely responsible for the observed mechanism change with FTC.

PMID- 26874344
TI  - Dihydropyrano [2,3-c] pyrazole: Novel in vitro inhibitors of yeast alpha
      glucosidase.
AB  - Inhibition of alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity is a reliable approach towards
      controlling post-prandial hyperglycemia associated risk factors. During the
      current study, a series of dihydropyrano[2,3-c] pyrazoles (1-35) were synthesized
      and evaluated for their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 1, 4,
      22, 30, and 33 were found to be the potent inhibitors of the yeast alpha
      glucosidase enzyme. Mechanistic studies on most potent compounds reveled that 1,
      4, and 30 were non-competitive inhibitors (Ki=9.75+/-0.07, 46+/-0.0001, and
      69.16+/-0.01MUM, respectively), compound 22 is a competitive inhibitor (Ki=190+/
      0.016MUM), while 33 was an uncompetitive inhibitor (Ki=45+/-0.0014MUM) of the
      enzyme. Finally, the cytotoxicity of potent compounds (i.e. compounds 1, 4, 22,
      30, and 33) was also evaluated against mouse fibroblast 3T3 cell line assay, and
      no toxicity was observed. This study identifies non-cytotoxic novel inhibitors of
      alpha-glucosidase enzyme for further investigation as anti-diabetic agents. 

PMID- 26874345
TI  - Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of benzophenone tagged pyridine
      analogues towards activation of caspase activated DNase mediated nuclear
      fragmentation in Dalton's lymphoma.
AB  - A series of benzophenones possessing pyridine nucleus 8a-l were synthesized by
      multistep reaction sequence and evaluated for antiproliferative activity against
      DLA cells by in vitro and in vivo studies. The results suggested that, compounds
      8b with fluoro group and 8e with chloro substituent at the benzoyl ring of
      benzophenone scaffold as well as pyridine ring with hydroxy group exhibited
      significant activity. Further investigation in mouse model suggests that
      compounds 8b and 8e have the potency to activate caspase activated DNase
      (endonuclease) which is responsible for DNA fragmentation, a primary hallmark of
      apoptosis and thereby inhibits the Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour growth. 

PMID- 26874346
TI  - The Challenges of Applying Massively Parallel Sequencing to Newborn Screening for
      Cystic Fibrosis.
AB  - This Commentary highlights the article by Lefterova et al that describes newborn
      screening of cystic fibrosis using massively parallel sequencing. 

PMID- 26874347
TI  - Three-stage Laparoscopic Ileal Pouch-anal Anastomosis Is the Best Approach for
      High-risk Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Analysis of 185
      Consecutive Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are very few studies and no consensus concerning the choice
      between two- and three-stage ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA] in inflammatory
      bowel diseases [IBD]. This study aimed to compare operative results between both
      surgical procedures. METHODS: Only patients who underwent a laparoscopic IPAA for
      IBD were included. They were divided into two groups: two-stage [IPAA and stoma
      closure] [Group A] and three-stage IPAA [subtotal colectomy, IPAA, stoma closure]
      [Group B]. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2015, 185 patients (107 men, median age of 42
      [range, 15-78] years) were divided into Groups A [n = 82] and B [n = 103].
      Patients in Group B were younger than in Group A (39 [15-78] vs 43 [16-74] years;
      p = 0.019), presented more frequently with Crohn's disease [16% vs 5%; p < 0.04],
      and were more frequently operated in emergency for acute colitis [37% vs 1%; p <
      0.0001]. Cumulative operative time and length of stay were significantly longer
      in Group B (580 [300-900] min, and 19 [13-60] days) than in Group A (290 [145
      490] min and 10 [7-47] days; p < 0.0001). Cumulative postoperative morbidity,
      delay for stoma closure, and function were similar between the two groups. Long
      term morbidity was similar between Group A [13%] and Group B [21%; p = 0.18].
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that postoperative morbidity was similar between
      two- and three-stage laparoscopic IPAA. It suggested that the three-stage
      procedure is probably safer for high-risk patients [ie in acute colitis].

PMID- 26874348
TI  - Higher Adalimumab Drug Levels Are Associated with Mucosal Healing in Patients
      with Crohn's Disease.

PMID- 26874349
TI  - Swallowing anti-TNFalpha in Ulcerative Colitis: Potentially More Gain Than Pain.

PMID- 26874350
TI  - Transportome Profiling Identifies Profound Alterations in Crohn's Disease
      Partially Restored by Commensal Bacteria.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several transport alterations have been described in
      intestinal inflammatory diseases. This is relevant because the primary function
      of the intestine is nutrient and mineral absorption. However, analysis of the
      transportome as a whole and the effect of commensal bacteria on it have not been
      addressed so far. METHODS: Five healthy and 6 Crohn's disease (CD) samples were
      hybridized to human HT-12 V4 Illumina GeneChip. Results were validated by reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and with additional
      array data. Organ culture assays were performed from mucosa ileal wall specimens
      collected at surgery. Samples were incubated with or without commensal bacteria
      for 4 hours. Finally, RNA was isolated for microarray processing. RESULTS: The
      analysis of CD versus healthy ileal mucosa demonstrated upregulation of
      previously described genes involved in immunity and the inflammatory response in
      this disease. Interestingly, whole transcriptional analysis revealed profound
      alterations in the transportome profile. Sixty-two solute carrier (SLC)
      transporters displayed different expression patterns, most of them being
      downregulated. Changes were confirmed by RT-PCR in a randomly chosen subset of
      SLCs. A large number of amino acid transporters and most members of the enteric
      purinome were found to be altered. Most of these proteins were found at the
      apical membrane of the enterocyte, which could impair both amino acid absorption
      and purinergic signalling. Treatment of ileum specimen explants with commensal
      bacteria restored almost all CD transportome alterations. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results describe the altered transportome profile in CD and open the possibility
      of restoring transportome complications with commensal bacteria.

PMID- 26874351
TI  - Faecal Lactoferrin, Calprotectin, PMN-elastase, CRP, and White Blood Cell Count
      as Indicators for Mucosal Healing and Clinical Course of Disease in Patients with
      Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Post Hoc Analysis of a Prospective Clinical
      Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the performance of blood and faecal biomarkers for
      differentiating between endoscopic inflammation and mucosal healing, and
      clinically active disease and sustained clinical remission, and determined the
      predictive value for a flare in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. METHODS:
      Clinical Activity Index [CAI], faecal lactoferrin [FLA], calprotectin [CAL], PMN
      elastase [PMN-e], C-reactive protein [CRP], white blood cells [WBC], Endoscopic
      Index [EI], and UC-Disease Activity Index [DAI] were determined repeatedly during
      12 months and at acute flares. RESULTS: Of 91 patients [45 female; mean age
      48.1+/-13.4 years] entering in remission, 42 [46%] patients developed a clinical
      flare. A total of 529 CAI and 179 EI assessments were performed. Median levels
      for active disease confirmed by EI [n = 35] vs clinical remission with endoscopic
      inflammation [n = 37] vs mucosal healing [n = 107] for FLA were 44/37/4 ug/g, CAL
      25/20/10 ug/g [both p < 0.0001], PMN-e 0.06/0.03/0.02 ug/g, CRP 0.7/0.2/0.2mg/dl
      [both p < 0.001], and WBC 7.0/6.5/6.4/nl [p = 0.1]. There was no difference for
      any of the markers for defining mucosal healing by EI = 0 vs EI = 1 with the
      exception of PMN-e [p = 0.03], where the difference was very small and with
      questionable clinical relevance. Using manufacturers' cut-offs, only FLA at
      baseline was associated with a significant higher relative risk [RR] of flaring
      [RR 1.69; p = 0.018]. Using optimised cut-offs, CAL, PMN-e, and CRP were also
      predictive of a flare. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal biomarkers FLA, CAL, and PMN-e were
      able to distinguish between UC patients with mucosal healing from clinical
      remission and mild disease, showed significant correlations with endoscopy, and
      were predictive of a flare.

PMID- 26874352
TI  - Increased Risk for Ophthalmic Complications in Patients with a History of Preterm
      Delivery.
AB  - Objective Spontaneous preterm deliveries (PTDs) have been consistently associated
      with maternal vascular complications. We aimed to investigate an association
      between PTD and subsequent maternal ophthalmic morbidity. Study Design In this
      population-based cohort study, we included all singleton deliveries occurring
      between 1988 and 2013. We excluded women with known ophthalmic disease. The
      exposure was at least one pregnancy with PTD. Outcomes included different
      maternal ophthalmic morbidity. The cumulative incidence and adjusted hazard
      ratios were assessed using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox hazards models.
      Results Of the 105,018 patients included, 17,600 (16.7%) delivered preterm.
      Patients with a history of PTD (both induced and spontaneous) had higher rates of
      ophthalmic complications (odds ratio [OR]: 2.12; confidence interval [CI]: 1.6
      2.7; p < 0.001), specifically diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma (OR: 4.79 and
      2.48, respectively). A linear association was found between the number of
      previous PTDs and ophthalmic complications (0.2% for no PTD; 0.4% for one PTD;
      0.6% for two or more PTDs; p < 0.001) and for early and late PTD (p < 0.001). A
      Cox model revealed an independent association between PTD and ophthalmic
      complications (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.6-2.9). Conclusion A history
      of PTD is an independent risk factor for ophthalmic morbidity.

PMID- 26874353
TI  - The understanding of circular RNAs as special triggers in carcinogenesis.
AB  - Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large type of noncoding RNAs characterized by
      their circular shape resulting from covalently closed continuous loops. They are
      known to regulate gene expression in mammals. These tissue-specific transcripts
      are largely generated from exonic or intronic sequences of their host genes.
      Although several models of circRNA biogenesis have been proposed, the
      understanding of their origin is far from complete. Unlike other noncoding RNAs,
      circRNAs are widely expressed, highly conserved and stable in cytoplasm, which
      confer special functionalities to them. They are known to serve as microRNA
      (miRNA) sponges, regulators of alternative splicing, transcription factors and
      encode for proteins. The expression of circRNAs is associated with several
      pathological states and may potentially serve as novel diagnostic or predictive
      biomarkers. CircRNAs are known to regulate the expression of numerous cancer
      related miRNAs. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis is a known regulatory pattern of
      several cancer-associated pathways, with both agonist and antagonist effects on
      carcinogenesis. In consideration of their potential clinical relevance, circRNAs
      are at the center of ongoing research initiatives on cancer prevention and
      treatment. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of circRNAs and
      the prospects for their potential clinical application in the management of
      cancer patients.

PMID- 26874354
TI  - Unit cohesion, traumatic exposure and mental health of military personnel.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The benefit of military unit cohesion to morale and psychological
      resilience is well established. But it remains unclear whether unit cohesion
      modifies the association between deployment-related traumatic exposure and mental
      health problems. AIMS: To examine the association between unit cohesion,
      traumatic exposure and poor mental health [symptoms of post-traumatic stress
      disorder (PTSD), psychological distress and alcohol dependency] and assess
      whether the relationship between traumatic exposure and poor mental health
      differs by level of unit cohesion. METHODS: A self-reported cross-sectional
      survey of Australian military personnel deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between
      2001 and 2009. RESULTS: Among 11411 participants, those with low levels of unit
      cohesion had higher odds of PTSD symptoms [aOR (95% CI): 2.54 (1.88, 3.42)], very
      high psychological distress [aOR (95% CI): 4.28 (3.04, 6.02)] and a high level of
      alcohol problems [aOR (95% CI): 1.71 (1.32, 2.22)] compared with those reporting
      high unit cohesion on deployment. Higher exposure to traumatic events on
      deployment was associated with greater risk of PTSD symptoms, very high levels of
      psychological distress and high levels of alcohol problems in this cohort.
      However, there was no evidence of a statistically significant interaction between
      unit cohesion and traumatic exposures in influencing poor mental health.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that both unit cohesion and traumatic exposure
      are independently associated with poor mental health. Efforts to improve military
      unit cohesion may help to improve the mental health resilience of military
      personnel, regardless of their level of traumatic exposure.

PMID- 26874356
TI  - Life history theory and breast cancer risk: methodological and theoretical
      challenges: Response to "Is estrogen receptor negative breast cancer risk
      associated with a fast life history strategy?".
AB  - In a meta-analysis published by myself and co-authors, we report differences in
      the life history risk factors for estrogen receptor negative (ER-) and estrogen
      receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers. Our meta-analysis did not find the
      association of ER- breast cancer risk with fast life history characteristics that
      Hidaka and Boddy suggest in their response to our article. There are a number of
      possible explanations for the differences between their conclusions and the
      conclusions we drew from our meta-analysis, including limitations of our meta
      analysis and methodological challenges in measuring and categorizing estrogen
      receptor status. These challenges, along with the association of ER+ breast
      cancer with slow life history characteristics, may make it challenging to find a
      clear signal of ER- breast cancer with fast life history characteristics, even if
      that relationship does exist. The contradictory results regarding breast cancer
      risk and life history characteristics illustrate a more general challenge in
      evolutionary medicine: often different sub-theories in evolutionary biology make
      contradictory predictions about disease risk. In this case, life history models
      predict that breast cancer risk should increase with faster life history
      characteristics, while the evolutionary mismatch hypothesis predicts that breast
      cancer risk should increase with delayed reproduction. Whether life history
      tradeoffs contribute to ER- breast cancer is still an open question, but current
      models and several lines of evidence suggest that it is a possibility. 

PMID- 26874357
TI  - The proteolytic activity of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A is potentially
      regulated by stanniocalcin-1 and -2 during human ovarian follicle development.
AB  - STUDY QUESTION: Is the proteolytic activity of pregnancy-associated plasma
      protein-A (PAPP-A) regulated by the stanniocalcins (STC1 and STC2) during human
      follicle maturation? SUMMARY ANSWER: The STCs and PAPP-A show similar expression
      by immunohistochemistry in developing follicles, and regulation of PAPP-A
      proteolytic activity is suggested by the identification of inhibited protein
      complexes between PAPP-A and STC1 or STC2 in human follicular fluid (FF). WHAT IS
      KNOWN ALREADY: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-regulating proteinase PAPP-A
      is secreted by the granulosa cells of estrogen-dominant follicles and is involved
      in follicle growth. STC1 and STC2 have recently been identified as novel PAPP-A
      inhibitors, and their expression in non-human mammalian ovaries has previously
      been observed. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The proteolytic activity of PAPP-A
      in human follicular fluid was assessed, and the interaction between PAPP-A and
      the STCs in human ovarian tissues and follicular fluid was analyzed using
      immunoassays. From 21 women, matched pairs of follicular fluid were obtained from
      one follicle just prior to final maturation of follicles with human chorionic
      gonadotrophin (hCG), and from another follicle in connection with oocyte
      aspiration after hCG treatment. Ovarian tissues were obtained from women having
      one ovary removed for fertility preservation by cryopreservation prior to
      gonadotoxic treatment. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The
      concentration and activity of PAPP-A were determined in all samples of follicular
      fluid. Furthermore, to investigate PAPP-A regulation during follicle development,
      immunohistochemical staining of PAPP-A, STC1, and STC2 was performed on pre
      antral and antral human follicles. To attempt the demonstration of native
      complexes between PAPP-A and the STCs, immunoprecipitation from a pool of human
      follicular fluid was performed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The
      concentration of PAPP-A antigen in follicular fluid increased upon stimulation of
      ovulation with hCG (P < 0.02), but at the same time, PAPP-A activity was
      decreased. PAPP-A, STC1, and STC2 were localized together in primordial, late
      primary, and antral follicles, indicating that complex formation is possible in
      ovarian tissue. Covalent PAPP-A:STC2 and non-covalent PAPP-A:STC1 complexes were
      immunoprecipitated from follicular fluid, documenting for the first time native
      inhibited complexes between PAPP-A and the STCs. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR
      CAUTION: We have demonstrated the presence of native complexes between PAPP-A and
      the STCs in the human ovary, indicating STC-mediated PAPP-A proteolytic
      inhibition. Further investigation is required to extend this principle to other
      tissues. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our data suggest that the STCs
      contribute to PAPP-A regulation during folliculogenesis and support a general
      model in which STC1 and STC2 are regulators of mammalian IGF activity through
      inhibition of PAPP-A. We suggest that future functional studies take both PAPP-A
      and the STCs into consideration. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was
      supported by grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Danish Council for
      Independent Research. No competing interests declared.

PMID- 26874355
TI  - CD4+ T-cell subsets in inflammatory diseases: beyond the Th1/Th2 paradigm.
AB  - CD4(+)T cells are crucial for directing appropriate immune responses during host
      defense and for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. In addition to the
      classical biphasic model of differentiation of T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells,
      unexpected increases in the numbers of CD4(+)T-cell subsets, including Th17, Th9,
      T follicular-helper (Tfh) and T-regulatory (Treg) cells, have been recognized. In
      the present review, we focus on how these various T-helper cell subsets
      contribute to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In
      particular, we focus on multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and asthma as typical model
      diseases in which multiple T-helper cell subsets have recently been suggested to
      play a role. We will also discuss various unique sub-populations of T-helper
      cells that have been identified. First, we will introduce the heterogeneous T
      helper cell subsets, which are classified by their simultaneous expression of
      multiple key transcription factors. We will also introduce different kinds of
      memory-type Th2 cells, which are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic type-2
      immune-related diseases. Finally, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms
      underlying the generation of the plasticity and heterogeneity of T-helper cell
      subsets. The latest progress in the study of T-helper cell subsets has forced us
      to reconsider the etiology of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases beyond the
      model based on the Th1/Th2 balance. To this end, we propose another model--the
      pathogenic T-helper population disease-induction model--as a possible mechanism
      for the induction and/or persistence of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 26874358
TI  - Vaginal estradiol use and the risk for cardiovascular mortality.
AB  - STUDY QUESTION: Does the use of post-menopausal vaginal estradiol (VE) affect the
      mortality risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. SUMMARY ANSWER: The
      use of VE reduces the risk for cardiovascular mortality. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: A
      growing number of women use VE for post-menopausal genitourinary symptoms.
      Although this therapy is intended to have only local effects, estrogen is
      absorbed into the blood circulation and thus VE use may also have systemic
      effects. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We studied a nationwide cohort in Finland
      1994-2009 during which post-menopausal women (n = 195 756) initiated the use of
      VE (age [mean +/- SD] 65.7 +/- 10.9 years). Follow-up data gathered 1.4 million
      women-years and we assessed the mortality risk due to CHD (n= 9656) or stroke (n
      = 4294). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The mortality risk in VE users
      was compared with that in the age-matched background population (standardized
      mortality ratio; [SMR]; 95% confidence interval) and related to various durations
      of exposure to VE (1 to <=3, >3 to <=5, >5 to <=10 and >10 years). MAIN RESULTS
      AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The use of VE was accompanied by decreases in the risk
      for CHD and stroke death. The risk reduction for CHD death was highest for >3 to
      <=5 years exposure (SMR 0.64; 0.57-0.70) and for stroke for >5 to <=10 years
      exposure (SMR 0.64; 0.57-0.72). The risk reductions for both CHD and stroke
      mortality were detected in all age groups with the highest risk reduction being
      in women aged 50-59 years (SMR 0.43; 0.19-0.88 and SMR 0.21; 0.06-0.58,
      respectively). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Our series lack a placebo arm
      and thus, may harbor a healthy woman bias. Moreover, data on clinical variables
      such as weight, smoking, blood pressure and family background were unobtainable
      for this study. Women using both VE and systemic hormone therapy (HT) were
      included in the comparator background population. This should not cause any
      significant error because the proportion of women using VE or other HT was modest
      (<10% in age-matched population) and because the use of systemic HT also reduces
      death risks in the same population. Our data cannot be directly applied for local
      regimens containing conjugated equine estrogens, because they are absorbed
      differently and may show effects that differ from those of estradiol. WIDER
      IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: In 1000 women using VE for up to 10 years, a
      maximum of 24 fewer CHD deaths and 18 fewer stroke deaths is likely to occur.
      STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by unrestricted grants
      from the Paivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation,
      the Finnish Medical Foundation, Finska Lakaresallskapet, the Orion Farmos
      Research Foundation, the Paavo Nurmi Foundation and a special governmental grant
      for health sciences research. The funding sources had no role in the study
      design, data handling or manuscript preparation. EPID Research is a company that
      performs financially supported studies for several pharmaceutical companies. Dr
      Korhonen, Dr Hoti and MSc Vattulainen, employed by Epid Research, report
      financial activities from several other pharmaceutical companies outside the
      submitted work. Dr Mikkola has been a speaker and/or received consulting fees
      from Mylan and Novo Nordisk. Dr Tuomikoski has been a speaker and/or received
      consulting fees from Orion and Mylan. The remaining authors report no conflict of
      interest.

PMID- 26874359
TI  - Single-cell transcriptome analysis of endometrial tissue.
AB  - STUDY QUESTION: How can we study the full transcriptome of endometrial stromal
      and epithelial cells at the single-cell level? SUMMARY ANSWER: By compiling and
      developing novel analytical tools for biopsy, tissue cryopreservation and
      disaggregation, single-cell sorting, library preparation, RNA sequencing (RNA
      seq) and statistical data analysis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Although single-cell
      transcriptome analyses from various biopsied tissues have been published
      recently, corresponding protocols for human endometrium have not been described.
      STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The frozen-thawed endometrial biopsies were
      fluorescence-activated cell sorted (FACS) to distinguish CD13-positive stromal
      and CD9-positive epithelial cells and single-cell transcriptome analysis
      performed from biopsied tissues without culturing the cells. We studied gene
      transcription, applying a modern and efficient RNA-seq protocol. In parallel,
      endometrial stromal cells were cultured and global expression profiles were
      compared with uncultured cells. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: For
      method validation, we used two endometrial biopsies, one from mid-secretory phase
      (Day 21, LH+8) and another from late-secretory phase (Day 25). The samples
      underwent single-cell FACS sorting, single-cell RNA-seq library preparation and
      Illumina sequencing. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Here we present a
      complete pipeline for single-cell gene-expression studies, from clinical sampling
      to statistical data analysis. Tissue manipulation, starting from disaggregation
      and cell-type-specific labelling and ending with single-cell automated sorting,
      is managed within 90 min at low temperature to minimize changes in the gene
      expression profile. The single living stromal and epithelial cells were sorted
      using CD13- and CD9-specific antibodies, respectively. Of the 8622 detected
      genes, 2661 were more active in cultured stromal cells than in biopsy cells. In
      the comparison of biopsy versus cultured cells, 5603 commonly expressed genes
      were detected, with 241 significantly differentially expressed genes. Of these,
      231 genes were up- and 10 down-regulated in cultured cells, respectively. In
      addition, we performed a gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed
      genes and found that these genes are mainly related to cell cycle, translational
      processes and metabolism. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Although CD9-positive
      single epithelial cells sorting was successfully established in our laboratory,
      the amount of transcriptome data per individual epithelial cell was low,
      complicating further analysis. This step most likely failed due to the high dose
      of RNases that are released by the cells' natural processes, or due to rapid
      turnaround time or the apoptotic conditions in freezing- or single-cell
      solutions. Since only the cells from the late-secretory phase were subject to
      more focused analysis, further studies including larger sample size from the
      different time-points of the natural menstrual cycle are needed. The methodology
      also needs further optimization to examine different cell types at high quality.
      WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The symbiosis between clinical biopsy and the
      sophisticated laboratory and bioinformatic protocols described here brings
      together clinical diagnostic needs and modern laboratory and bioinformatic
      solutions, enabling us to implement a precise analytical toolbox for studying the
      endometrial tissue even at the single-cell level.

PMID- 26874360
TI  - Elevated phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL-3) promotes cytoskeleton
      reorganization, cell migration and invasion in endometrial stromal cells from
      endometrioma.
AB  - STUDY QUESTION: Is phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) associated with
      increased motility of endometriotic cells from endometrioma? SUMMARY ANSWER:
      Elevated PRL-3 promotes cytoskeleton reorganization, cell migration and invasion
      of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from endometrioma. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY:
      Overexpression of PRL-3 is associated with cancer cell migration, invasion and
      metastatic phenotype. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Primary human ESCs were
      isolated from eutopic endometrium of women without endometriosis (EuCo, n = 10),
      with histologically proven endometrioma (EuEM, n = 19) and from the cyst wall of
      ovarian endometriosis (OvEM, n = 26). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS:
      The expression of PRL-3 in ESCs derived from EuCo, EuEM and OvEM at different
      phases of menstrual cycle were compared. The protein and mRNA levels of PRL-3
      were examined by western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. ESCs from OvEM were
      transfected with/without short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or small interfering RNA
      (siRNA). Additionally, a plasmid-mediated delivery system was used to achieve PRL
      3 overexpression in ESCs from EuEM. The cellular distribution of F-actin and
      alpha-tubulin were examined by immunocytochemistry. Cell motility was evaluated
      by a transwell migration/invasion assay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The
      protein and mRNA levels of PRL-3 are significantly elevated in ESCs from OvEM
      compared with EuCo and EuEM. The expression of PRL-3 was not altered between
      proliferative phase and secretory phase in ESCs from all groups. Knockdown of PRL
      3 significantly modified the distribution of F-actin and alpha-tubulin
      cytoskeleton, inhibited cell migration and invasion. Endogenous inhibition of PRL
      3 attenuated the expression of Ras homolog gene family members A and C (RhoA,
      RhoC), Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, but not MMP2 in ESCs from OvEM. Additionally,
      overexpression of PRL-3 in ESCs from EuEM up-regulates cell migration and
      invasion, and increases the expression of RhoA, RhoC, ROCK1 and MMP9.
      LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Lack of in vivo animal studies is the major
      limitation of our report. Our results should be further confirmed in a larger
      cohort of patients and extended to include eutopic and ectopic endometrium from
      patients with peritoneal endometriosis at different stages of the disease. WIDER
      IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our study describes that elevated expression of PRL
      3 contributes to the cell motility of ESCs from endometrioma. The results
      emphasize the importance of metastatic-related factor PRL-3 in the pathogenesis
      of endometrioma. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST: This work was supported by
      National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81170546) and Zhejiang Medicine
      Science and Technology Projects (No. Y13H040003). The authors declare no conflict
      of interest.

PMID- 26874361
TI  - Spontaneous fertility and pregnancy outcomes amongst 480 women with Turner
      syndrome.
AB  - STUDY QUESTION: What are the prevalence and the outcomes of spontaneous
      pregnancies (SP) in a large cohort of French women with Turner syndrome (TS)?
      SUMMARY ANSWER: Amongst 480 women with TS, 27 women (5.6%) had a total of 52 SP,
      with 30 full-term deliveries for 18 women. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Primary ovarian
      insufficiency is a classic feature of TS. So far, few studies have evaluated the
      rate of SP in these patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The French Ministry
      of Health set up a National Reference Centre for Rare Growth Disorders (CRMERC),
      including TS. We studied a cohort of adult TS patients from seven endocrine units
      (Saint-Antoine, Pitie-Salpetriere, Bicetre, Lyon, Marseille, Brest, Reims
      Hospitals) belonging to this centre, between January 1999 and January 2014.
      PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: A total of 480 adult patients with TS
      were included. The patients' clinical characteristics, karyotypes and
      reproductive histories had been collected, after informed consent, in a web
      database called CEMARA. Our reference population was issued from a database
      belonging to the French Health Ministry, collecting pregnancy outcomes in the
      French general population. In order to find predictive characteristics of SP, TS
      with spontaneous pregnancies were compared with non-pregnant TS patients from our
      cohort. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There were 27 patients (5.6%) who
      had a total of 52 SP. The two predictive factors which correlated with occurrence
      of a SP were spontaneous menarche and mosaic karyotype. The median delay to
      conception was 6 months (range 0-84). Miscarriage occurred in 16 pregnancies,
      30.8% versus 15% in the general French population (P < 0.01). The remaining
      pregnancy outcomes were legal abortion (n = 2), medical interruption (n = 3),
      intrauterine fetal death (n = 1) and delivery at term (n = 30). Caesarean section
      rates were higher than in the general population, respectively 46.7% versus 21%
      (P < 0.001). Pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders (PHDs) occurred in four
      cases (13.3%), including two cases of mild pre-eclampsia (6.7%). Neither aortic
      root dilatation nor aortic dissection were observed. The median birthweight was
      3030 g (range 2020-3460). Two cases of TS were identified in the 17 daughters
      issued from this cohort. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: It would have been
      interesting to evaluate AMH levels and SP occurrence, as a predictive factor.
      Unfortunately, hormonal measurements were missing for some patients. Prospective
      studies are necessary to display prognostic values of AMH for SP and thus better
      target fertility preservation programmes in TS patients. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF
      THE FINDINGS: This study suggests that pregnancy outcomes in SPs are more
      favourable than those after oocyte donation in TS patients. However, the risk of
      fetal chromosomal abnormalities remains high. Our study will be useful in order
      to give patients with TS, their families, paediatricians and physicians involved
      in reproduction, better counselling concerning their fertility. STUDY
      FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Funding was provided by the Association pour la
      recherche Claude Bernard, Paris France All authors claim no competing interests.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NA.

PMID- 26874362
TI  - Expanding the Nomological Net of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory: German
      Validation and Extension in a Clinical Inpatient Sample.
AB  - The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) is a multidimensional measure for
      assessing grandiose and vulnerable features in narcissistic pathology. The aim of
      the present research was to construct and validate a German translation of the
      PNI and to provide further information on the PNI's nomological net. Findings
      from a first study confirm the psychometric soundness of the PNI and replicate
      its seven-factor first-order structure. A second-order structure was also
      supported but with several equivalent models. A second study investigating
      associations with a broad range of measures ( DSM Axis I and II constructs,
      emotions, personality traits, interpersonal and dysfunctional behaviors, and well
      being) supported the concurrent validity of the PNI. Discriminant validity with
      the Narcissistic Personality Inventory was also shown. Finally, in a third study
      an extension in a clinical inpatient sample provided further evidence that the
      PNI is a useful tool to assess the more pathological end of narcissism.

PMID- 26874363
TI  - Experimental study on the effect of oral meloxicam administration in sows on pre
      weaning mortality and growth and immunoglobulin G transfer to piglets.
AB  - Parturation is an intrinsically risky and painful process for both the sow and
      the piglets that can cause welfare and economic problems. Non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been demonstrated to partially alleviate
      inflammation and pain after farrowing in sows. NSAIDs effects on piglet mortality
      and performance show discrepancies and no previous studies have investigated the
      underlying mechanism. The effects of oral meloxicam treatment to sows on
      immunoglobulin G (IgG) transfer to piglets around farrowing were investigated. A
      total of 30 multiparous sows were randomly treated with either oral meloxicam or
      a mock administration as control group. Treatment was administered as soon as
      possible at the beginning of the farrowing. A total of 325 piglets were
      individually weighed at farrowing (day 0) and at weaning (day +21) and piglet
      mortality was registered during lactation. Four piglets per sow (two piglets
      suckling from anterior teats and two piglets suckling from posterior teats) were
      selected for blood sampling at day +1, day +2 and day +20 for IgG analyses. Oral
      meloxicam treatment to sows significantly increased weight at weaning (mean+/-SE:
      6563+/-86.3g from oral meloxicam group and 6145+/-103.2g from control group;
      P=0.0017) and ADG (mean+/-SE: 236+/-3.4g/day from oral meloxicam group and 217+/
      4.5g/day from control group; P<0.001) during lactation, but failed to reduce
      piglet mortality during lactation (6.7% from oral meloxicam group and 6.8% from
      control group; P=0.89). IgG levels in piglets from the sows treated with oral
      meloxicam were significantly higher than the control group at day +1 (mean;
      median [95% CI] for median=31.9; 31.7 [29.6-33.6] vs. 27.9; 26.8 [25.9-28.3]
      mg/ml, P=0.0013) and day +2 (27.6; 27.0 [24.8-29.6] vs. 24.5; 24.2 [22.1-25.3]
      mg/ml, P=0.01). However, at day +20, IgG level in piglet serum was not
      significantly affected by the treatment (7.6; 7.6 [6.7-8.4] vs. 7.1; 6.9 [6.4
      7.3] mg/ml, P=0.59). The administration of meloxicam orally at the beginning of
      the farrowing in multiparous sows increased the concentration of IgG in serum of
      piglets and enhanced their pre-weaning growth. Future research is warranted to
      clearly identify the proximate mechanism behind IgG effect. 

PMID- 26874364
TI  - A case-control study to estimate the effects of acute clinical infection with the
      Schmallenberg virus on milk yield, fertility and veterinary costs in Swiss dairy
      herds.
AB  - Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was first detected in Switzerland in July 2012 and many
      Swiss dairy farmers reported acute clinical signs in dairy cattle during the
      spread of the virus until December 2012. The objectives of the present study were
      to investigate the effects of an acute infection with SBV on milk yield,
      fertility and veterinary costs in dairy farms with clinical signs of SBV
      infection (case farms), and to compare those farms to a matched control group of
      dairy farms in which cattle did not show clinical signs of SBV infection. Herd
      size was significantly (p<0.001) larger in case farms (33 cows, n=77) than in
      control farms (25 cows, n=84). Within case herds, 14.8% (median) of the cows
      showed acute clinical signs. Managers from case farms indicated to have observed
      a higher abortion rate during the year with SBV (6.5%) than in the previous year
      (3.7%). Analysis of fertility parameters based on veterinary bills and data from
      the breeding associations showed no significant differences between case and
      control farms. The general veterinary costs per cow from July to December 2012
      were significantly higher (p=0.02) in case (CHF 19.80; EUR 16.50) than in control
      farms (CHF 15.90; EUR 13.25). No differences in milk yield were found between
      groups, but there was a significant decrease in milk production in case farms in
      the second half year in 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 (p<0.001) and
      2013 (p=0.009). The average daily milk yield per cow (both groups together) was
      +0.73kg higher (p=0.03) in the second half year 2011 and +0.52kg (p=0.12) in the
      second half year 2013 compared to the same half year 2012. Fifty-seven percent of
      the cows with acute clinical signs (n=461) were treated by a veterinarian. The
      average calculated loss after SBV infection for a standardized farm was CHF 1606
      (EUR 1338), which can be considered as low at the national level, but the losses
      were subject to great fluctuations between farms, so that individual farms could
      have very high losses (>CHF 10,000, EUR 8333). 

PMID- 26874365
TI  - Analysis of Outcomes Using Low-Dose and Early Administration of Recombinant
      Activated Factor VII in Cardiac Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although not currently approved for postoperative cardiac surgical
      bleeding, recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has been used for this
      purpose. This study sought to analyze outcomes in patients who had cardiac
      surgical bleeding and received low-dose and early administration of rFVIIa versus
      outcomes in patients who had cardiac surgical bleeding and did not receive
      rFVIIa. METHODS: Fifty-one patients receiving rFVIIa were matched, using The
      Society of Thoracic Surgeons morbidity and mortality scores, with 51 patients who
      underwent cardiac surgical procedures and met criteria for surgical bleeding.
      Primary outcomes were ventilator hours and intensive care unit length of stay.
      Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, acute kidney injury, postoperative
      hospital length of stay, thromboembolic events, postoperative pneumonia, and
      sternal wound infections. Reoperations for bleeding were analyzed for each group
      to assess for achievement of hemostasis. RESULTS: The median total dose of rFVIIa
      was 12 mcg/kg. rFVIIa was given as the first and only treatment for bleeding in 7
      of 51 (13%) patients, whereas 13 of 51 patients receiving rFVIIa (25%) also
      received up to 1 unit of any blood product. Patients who received rFVIIa had
      increased duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.002) and increased length of
      stay in the intensive care unit (p = 0.02). There were no differences in hospital
      length of stay, 30-day mortality, acute kidney injury, postoperative pneumonia,
      sternal wound infections, postoperative thromboembolic events, or rate of
      reoperations for bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose and early administration of
      rFVIIa (median total dose 12 mcg/kg) for cardiac surgical bleeding shows
      potential in achieving hemostasis without increased risk of thromboembolism or
      acute kidney injury.

PMID- 26874367
TI  - Vitamin D3 treatment of vitamin D-insufficient asthmatic patients does not alter
      immune cell function.

PMID- 26874366
TI  - Prenatal, perinatal, and childhood vitamin D exposure and their association with
      childhood allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The role of early-life vitamin D in childhood allergy is
      controversial. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess vitamin D exposure in early life by
      multiple modalities and ascertain its association with childhood allergic
      rhinitis and allergic sensitization. METHODS: One thousand two hundred forty
      eight mother-child pairs from a US prebirth cohort unselected for any disease
      were studied. Vitamin D exposure was assessed by measures of maternal intake
      during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
      (25[OH]D) levels in mothers during pregnancy, cord blood, and children at school
      age (median age, 7.7 years; interquartile range, 1.0 years). Tests for
      associations between vitamin D exposure with ever allergic rhinitis, serum total
      IgE level, and allergen sensitization at school age were conducted. RESULTS: The
      correlations between maternal intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and serum
      25(OH)D levels in pregnant mothers, cord blood, and children at school age were
      weak to moderate (r = -0.03 to 0.53). Each 100 IU/d of food-based vitamin D
      intake during the first and second trimesters (equivalent to the amount of
      vitamin D in an 8-ounce serving of milk) was associated with 21% and 20% reduced
      odds of ever allergic rhinitis at school age (odds ratios of 0.79 [95% CI, 0.67
      0.92] and 0.80 [95% CI, 0.68-0.93]), respectively. There were no associations
      between maternal supplemental vitamin D intake or serum 25(OH)D levels at any
      time point with ever allergic rhinitis. There were no associations between any
      vitamin D exposure and serum total IgE level or allergen sensitization at school
      age. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of foods containing vitamin D in maternal diets
      during pregnancy may have beneficial effects on childhood allergic rhinitis.

PMID- 26874368
TI  - Calculating the effect of population-level implementation of the Learning Early
      About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) protocol to prevent peanut allergy.

PMID- 26874369
TI  - Self-assembly and sequence length dependence on nanofibrils of polyglutamine
      peptides.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is recognized as a currently incurable, inherited
      neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of misfolded polyglutamine
      (polyQ) peptide aggregates in neuronal cells. Yet, the mechanism by which newly
      formed polyQ chains interact and assemble into toxic oligomeric structures
      remains a critical, unresolved issue. In order to shed further light on the
      matter, our group elected to investigate the folding of polyQ peptides -
      examining glutamine repeat lengths ranging from 3 to 44 residues. To characterize
      these aggregates we employed a diverse array of technologies, including: nuclear
      magnetic resonance; circular dichroism; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy;
      fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and atomic force microscopy. The
      data we obtained suggest that an increase in the number of glutamine repeats
      above 14 residues results in disordered loop structures, with different repeat
      lengths demonstrating unique folding characteristics. This differential folding
      manifests in the formation of distinct nano-sized fibrils, and on this basis, we
      postulate the idea of 14 polyQ repeats representing a critical loop length for
      neurotoxicity - a property that we hope may prove amenable to future therapeutic
      intervention. Furthermore, FRET measurements on aged assemblages indicate an
      increase in the end-to-end distance of the peptide with time, most probably due
      to the intermixing of individual peptide strands within the nanofibril. Further
      insight into this apparent time-dependent reorganization of aggregated polyQ
      peptides may influence future disease modeling of polyQ-related proteinopathies,
      in addition to directing novel clinical innovations. 

PMID- 26874370
TI  - Bony contact area and displacement of the temporomandibular joint after high
      oblique and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy: a computer-simulated comparison.
AB  - The most common way to move the mandible during orthognathic surgery is by
      bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). The high-oblique sagittal split
      osteotomy (HSSO) is an alternative, although its use is limited by potential
      complications, mainly to do with the position of the condyle and reduced contact
      with bone. The aim of this study was to find out the optimal intercondylar
      distance and area of contact with the surface of the bone for mandibular
      advancement and setback in BSSO and HSSO. Data from computed tomographic (CT)
      images from 40 patients were loaded into special planning software, and virtual
      operations done for mandibular advancement and setback at 3, 5, 8, and 10mm using
      BSSO and HSSO, which resulted in 640 individual mandibular displacements. The
      resultant area of bony contact and intercondylar distance were calculated by the
      software. The mean (SD) areas of contact with the bony surface after 10mm
      advancement for HSSO and BSSO were 193.94 (63.76) mm(2) and 967.92 (229.21)
      mm(2), respectively, and after 10mm setback 202.64 (62.30) mm(2) and 1108.86
      (247.38) mm(2). The mean corresponding intercondylar distance after maximum
      advancement were 86.76 (6.40) mm and 86.59 (6.24) mm, and after maximum setback
      74.90 (5.73) mm and 73.06 (6.06) mm. There were significant differences between
      the two for the area of contact with the surface at each displacement distance
      (p<0.001), but not for intercondylar distance. A larger area of bony contact can
      be expected at any displacement distance for BSSO, so the changes in
      intercondylar distance should not be considered when deciding which osteotomy to
      select. 

PMID- 26874372
TI  - Computer-assisted preoperative simulation for positioning of plate fixation in
      Lefort I osteotomy: A case report.
AB  - Computed tomography images are used for three-dimensional planning in
      orthognathic surgery. This facilitates the actual surgery by simulating the
      surgical scenario. We performed a computer-assisted virtual orthognathic surgical
      procedure using optically scanned three-dimensional (3D) data and real computed
      tomography data on a personal computer. It helped maxillary bone movement and
      positioning and the titanium plate temporary fixation and positioning. This
      simulated the surgical procedure, which made the procedure easy, and we could
      perform precise actual surgery and could forecast the postsurgery outcome. This
      simulation method promises great potential in orthognathic surgery to help
      surgeons plan and perform operative procedures more precisely. 

PMID- 26874371
TI  - Effect of the osmolarity change in multipurpose solutions induced by an improper
      contact lens case cleaning procedure.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine whether variations in multipurpose disinfecting solution
      (MPDS) storage osmolarity from inappropriate contact lens (CL) case cleaning
      affect ocular surface integrity and wearer comfort. METHODS: There were twenty
      contact lens cases (study CLCs) in the study group. Ten were filled with ReNu
      Multiplus((r)) and 10 with SoloCare AquaTM (MPDS-1 and -2, respectively) and kept
      closed for 8h; the cases were then emptied and kept open for air-drying for 16h.
      This procedure was carried out every day for two months. Storage solution
      osmolarity was measured on days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60. Ten subjects were then
      fitted with both month-old lenses stored in the study CLCs and with new lenses
      stored in new cases with fresh solution for 24h (control CLCs). Symptoms, tear
      osmolarity and percentage of subjects whose conjunctival hyperaemia and ocular
      surface staining scores changed were determined after 1h of wear. RESULTS: Study
      CLC osmolarity increased in both solutions after two months (p<0.05). For MPDS-1
      there were differences in stinging between study CLCs and control CLCs after
      10min of CL wear (p=0.04), and in comfort after 10 (p=0.035) and 60min wear
      (p=0.042). Significant (p<0.05) differences between study CLC and control CLC
      groups were also found for MPDS-2 in limbal hyperaemia (study: 50% change;
      control: 0% change) and bulbar and corneal staining (study: 80% change; control:
      20% change). CONCLUSION: The stored-MPDS osmolarity increase caused by air-drying
      the CLCs could affect the ocular surface. This increase might reduce lens wear
      comfort.

PMID- 26874373
TI  - Burden of disease attributable to ambient fine particulate matter exposure in
      Taiwan.
AB  - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air
      pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung
      cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine
      particulate matter (PM2.5) among the Taiwanese population in 2014 at the national
      and subnational levels. METHODS: Subnational PM2.5 exposure levels were obtained
      from Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network. Relative risks were derived from a
      previously developed exposure-response model. Population attributable fraction
      for cause-specific mortality was estimated at the county level using the
      estimated ambient PM2.5 concentrations and the relative risk functions. RESULTS:
      In 2014, PM2.5 accounted for 6282 deaths [95% confidence interval (CI), 5716
      6847], from ischemic heart disease (2244 deaths; 95% CI, 2015-2473), stroke (2140
      deaths; 95% CI, 1760-2520), lung cancer (1252 deaths; 95% CI, 995-1509), and
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (645 deaths; 95% CI, 418-872). Nationally,
      the population attributable mortality fraction of PM2.5 for the four disease
      causes was 18.6% (95% CI, 16.9-20.3%). Substantial geographic variation in PM2.5
      attributable mortality fraction was found; the percentage of deaths attributable
      to PM2.5 ranged from 8.7% in Hualian County to 21.8% in Yunlin County. In terms
      of absolute number of deaths, New Taipei and Kaohsiung cities had the largest
      number of deaths associated with PM2.5 (874 and 829 deaths, respectively) among
      all cities and counties. CONCLUSION: Ambient PM2.5 pollution is a major mortality
      risk factor in Taiwan. Aggressive and multisectorial intervention strategies are
      urgently needed to bring down the impact of air pollution on environment and
      health.

PMID- 26874374
TI  - Scratch resistance of the ventral skin surface in four snake species (Squamata,
      Serpentes).
AB  - Snakes are limbless tetrapods highly specialized for sliding locomotion on
      various substrates. Their skin is constantly exposed to high friction forces,
      which promotes abrasion. Snake skin has material and surface specializations,
      presumably optimized for friction and abrasion resistance. We found that
      different snake species living in different habitats have different abrasion
      patterns and hypothesized that this correlates with specific epidermal
      architecture and surface topography. To test this hypothesis artificial
      scratches, under controlled load conditions, were created on the ventral skin
      material (epidermis) of four snake species adapted to different habitats:
      Lampropeltis getula californiae (stony and sandy soil substrates), Epicrates
      cenchria cenchria (trees, soil and water), Morelia viridis (trees), and
      Gongylophis colubrinus (burrowing in sand). Abrasion appearance on the skin
      surface was examined using scanning electron microscopy and white light
      interferometry. The material failure was different between the species, which we
      attribute to differences in the epidermis' response to the same abrasive
      challenge. We also discuss abrasion resistance mechanisms and the correlation
      with the different ultrastructure and surface microstructure. 

PMID- 26874375
TI  - One year online measurements of water-soluble ions at the industrially polluted
      town of Nanjing, China: Sources, seasonal and diurnal variations.
AB  - Half-hourly mass concentrations water-soluble ions (WSIs) and PM2.5 were measured
      online a Rapid Collector of Fine Particles and Ion Chromatography system (RCFP
      IC) and FH62C14 Continuous Particulate Monitor in Nanjing from October 18, 2013
      to November 17, 2014. The WSIs concentration ranged from 7.07 to 333.42 MUg m(-3)
      with an annual mean of 76.32 MUg m(-3). The WSIs ranked in the order of SO4(2-) >
      NH4(+) > NO3(-) > Cl(-) > NO2(-) > K(+) > Ca(2+) > Na(+) > Mg(2+). The PM2.5
      concentration ranged from 4.00 to 400 MUg m(-3) with an annual mean of 83.58 MUg
      m(-3). The concentrations of WSIs varied in the order of winter (115.77 MUg m(
      3)) > spring (76.10 MUg m(-3)) > autumn (63.72 MUg m(-3)) > summer (59.75 MUg m(
      3)), with the highest level in January (123.99 MUg m(-3)) and lowest level in
      August (43.73 MUg m(-3)). Different WSIs had distinct diurnal variations. The
      source analysis of the WSIs in the PCA/APCS mode illustrated that the sources
      consisted of secondary aerosol, coal combustion, mineral dust, biomass burning,
      traffic emissions and sea salt. In addition, there were seasonal variations
      amongst the various sources. The haze formation mechanism was different in summer
      and winter. The winter was dominated by NH4NO3 (18.56%), (NH4)2SO4 (28.63%),
      NH4(+) (11.27%), SO4(2-) (18.35%) and NO3(-) (13.13%), and by NH3 (25.93%),
      (NH4)2SO4 (13.37%), SO4(2-) (15.74%) and NO3(-) (9.97%) in summer. Consequently,
      the proportions of HCl, HNO3, NH4(+), SO4(2-) and NO3(-) were much larger during
      haze episodes in winter, while it was dominated by NH4NO3, NH4(+), (NH4)2SO4,
      SO4(2-) and NO3(-) during summer haze episodes.

PMID- 26874376
TI  - Asymmetric mono- and dinuclear GaIII and ZnII complexes as models for purple acid
      phosphatases.
AB  - Derivatives of the known dinucleating ligands HL1 (2,6-bis{[bis(pyridin-2
      ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol) and H2L2 (2-{[bis(pyridin-2
      ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4
      methylphenol) with two pivaloylamido hydrogen bond donor substituents, H3L3 and
      H3L5, have been prepared. The mono-, homo- and heterodinuclear ZnII and GaIII
      complexes of these ligands have been prepared and characterized. The solution
      equilibria are discussed on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic, mass
      spectrometric and pH-dependent UV-vis spectroscopic titrations. The phosphoester
      hydrolysis activity of the complexes has been studied as a function of pH and
      substrate concentration and analyzed using Michaelis-Menten kinetics. It emerges
      that the mixed metal (mixed valent) complex of the ligand with an asymmetric
      disposition of the hydrogen bonding substituents (H3L3) is a functional model for
      the mixed valent, dinuclear metallohydrolase purple acid phosphatase. This
      complex combines the essential structural features of the active site of PAP and
      is the first heterodinuclear model complex mimicking the essential function of
      PAPs, i.e. the hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters.

PMID- 26874377
TI  - A Machine Without an Owner's Manual.

PMID- 26874378
TI  - Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope and Breathing Reserve, Not Anaerobic Threshold,
      Discriminate Between Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Over Chronic
      Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study sought to compare the relative discrimination of various
      cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) variables between cardiac and respiratory
      disease. BACKGROUND: CPX testing is used in many cardiorespiratory diseases.
      However, discrimination of cardiac and respiratory dysfunction can be
      problematic. Anaerobic threshold (AT) and oxygen-uptake to work-rate relationship
      (VO2/WR slope) have been proposed as diagnostic of cardiac dysfunction, but
      multiple variables have not been compared. METHODS: A total of 73 patients with
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 25), heart failure with reduced
      ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n = 40), or combined COPD and HFrEF (n = 8) were
      recruited and underwent CPX testing on a bicycle ergometer. Following a
      familiarization test, each patient underwent a personalized second test aiming
      for maximal exercise after ~10 min. Measurements from this test were used to
      calculate area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS:
      Peak VO2 was similar between the 2 principal groups (COPD 17.1 +/- 4.6 ml/min/kg;
      HFrEF 16.4 +/- 3.6 ml/min/kg). Breathing reserve (AUC: 0.91) and percent
      predicted oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) (AUC: 0.87) had the greatest
      ability to discriminate between COPD and HFrEF. VO2/WR slope performed
      significantly worse (AUC: 0.68). VO2 at the AT did not discriminate (AUC for AT
      as percent predicted peak VO2: 0.56). OUES and breathing reserve remained strong
      discriminators when compared with an external cohort of healthy matched controls,
      and were comparable to B-type natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Breathing reserve
      and OUES discriminate heart failure from COPD. Despite it being considered an
      important determinant of cardiac dysfunction, the AT could not discriminate these
      typical clinical populations while the VO2/WR slope showed poor to moderate
      discriminant ability. (Identifying an Ideal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
      Parameter [PVA]; NCT01162083).

PMID- 26874379
TI  - Variable Contribution of Heart Failure to Quality of Life in Ambulatory Heart
      Failure With Reduced, Better, or Preserved Ejection Fraction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The relative contribution of heart failure (HF) compared with other
      medical and nonmedical factors on diminished quality of life (QOL) across
      subtypes with reduced, better, and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
      (LVEF) in a large ambulatory HF population was evaluated. BACKGROUND: Dominant
      factors influencing limited QOL in patients with HF have not been investigated.
      METHODS: Before routine HF clinic visits, 726 patients with ambulatory HF (mean
      age 56 +/- 15 years, 37% women) completed a 1-page questionnaire that assessed
      QOL and relative contributions of HF compared with other medical and nonmedical
      factors to their QOL limitations. Visual analogue scales were used to assess
      overall QOL, breathing, and energy level. Results were compared across reduced
      (57%), preserved (16%) and better (improvement in LVEF >=50%) (19%) subtypes.
      RESULTS: Just under one-half of patients (48%) rated QOL as limited dominantly by
      HF, 19% rated HF and medical problems as equally limiting, 18% cited medical
      problems as dominant, and 15% cited nonmedical factors. Patients with HF with
      better LVEF had the highest overall QOL score and less dyspnea burden than those
      with HF with preserved EF. Independent correlates of HF-dominated diminished QOL
      were prior cardiac surgery, worse New York Heart Association functional class,
      renin-angiotensin-aldosterone antagonism, use of diuretic agents, lower body mass
      index, lower LVEF, and lack of arthritis or history of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer
      than one-half of patients with ambulatory HF rated HF as the greatest limitation
      to their QOL, suggesting that this important outcome will be difficult to affect
      by HF-targeted therapies alone, particularly in those with higher LVEFs and
      comorbidities. Patients with HF with better LVEF represent a distinct subtype
      with better overall QOL.

PMID- 26874380
TI  - Cost-Effectiveness of Implantable Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring in Chronic
      Heart Failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the CardioMEMS
      (CardioMEMS Heart Failure System, St Jude Medical Inc, Atlanta, Georgia) device
      in patients with chronic heart failure. BACKGROUND: The CardioMEMS device, an
      implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitor, was shown to reduce
      hospitalizations for heart failure and improve quality of life in the CHAMPION
      (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in
      NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients) trial. METHODS: We developed a Markov
      model to determine the hospitalization, survival, quality of life, cost, and
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of CardioMEMS implantation compared with
      usual care among a CHAMPION trial cohort of patients with heart failure. We
      obtained event rates and utilities from published trial data; we used costs from
      literature estimates and Medicare reimbursement data. We performed subgroup
      analyses of preserved and reduced ejection fraction and an exploratory analysis
      in a lower-risk cohort on the basis of the CHARM (Candesartan in Heart failure:
      Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity) trials. RESULTS: CardioMEMS reduced
      lifetime hospitalizations (2.18 vs. 3.12), increased quality-adjusted life-years
      (QALYs) (2.74 vs. 2.46), and increased costs ($176,648 vs. $156,569), thus
      yielding a cost of $71,462 per QALY gained and $48,054 per life-year gained. The
      cost per QALY gained was $82,301 in patients with reduced ejection fraction and
      $47,768 in those with preserved ejection fraction. In the lower-risk CHARM
      cohort, the device would need to reduce hospitalizations for heart failure by 41%
      to cost <$100,000 per QALY gained. The cost-effectiveness was most sensitive to
      the device's durability. CONCLUSIONS: In populations similar to that of the
      CHAMPION trial, the CardioMEMS device is cost-effective if the trial
      effectiveness is sustained over long periods. Post-marketing surveillance data on
      durability will further clarify its value.

PMID- 26874381
TI  - Thinking Outside the Box.

PMID- 26874382
TI  - Bulking Up Skeletal Muscle to Improve Heart Failure Prognosis.

PMID- 26874383
TI  - Diffusion Capacity and Mortality in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Due to
      Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the prognostic importance of a low
      diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in patients with a
      catheter-based diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with
      preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). BACKGROUND: In patients with pulmonary
      arterial hypertension, a low DLCO is associated with poor outcome. It is unclear
      whether the same is true in patients with PH-HFpEF. METHODS: This study
      retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics, smoking history, lung function
      measurements, chest computed tomography, hemodynamics, and survival in 108
      patients with PH-HFpEF. The presence of post-capillary PH was determined by right
      heart catheterization. Patients with moderate or severe lung function
      abnormalities were excluded. RESULTS: On the basis of previous studies and
      receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the study cohort was divided
      into patients with a DLCO <45% of the predicted value (DLCO<45%, low DLCO; n =
      52) and patients with a DLCO >=45% of the predicted value (DLCO>=45%; n = 56).
      DLCO<45% was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 2.71; 95% confidence
      interval [CI]: 1.05 to 6.99; p = 0.039) and smoking history (OR: 5.01; 95% CI:
      1.91 to 13.10; p < 0.001). There were no correlations between DLCO and other lung
      function parameters and hemodynamics. Compared with patients with DLCO>=45%,
      patients with DLCO<45% had a significantly worse outcome (survival rate at 3
      years 36.5% vs. 87.8%, p < 0.001 by log-rank analysis). Cox proportional hazard
      analysis identified DLCO<45% as an independent predictor of death (hazard ratio:
      6.6; 95% CI: 2.6 to 16.9; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PH-HFpEF, a
      low DLCO is strongly associated with mortality.

PMID- 26874384
TI  - Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Dysfunction: To Screen or Not to Screen?

PMID- 26874385
TI  - Self-Care and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association of self-care with all-cause
      mortality in a cohort of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND:
      Although self-care is crucial to maintain health in patients with chronic HF,
      studies examining an association with clinical outcomes are scarce. METHODS:
      Consecutive patients with chronic HF (n = 559, mean age 66.3 +/- 9.5 years, 78%
      men) completed the 9-item European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour scale. Our
      endpoint was all-cause mortality. Associations between self-care and all-cause
      mortality were assessed with Kaplan-Meier analyses and multivariable Cox
      regression accounting for standard sociodemographic and clinical covariates,
      psychological distress, and self-rated health. RESULTS: After a median follow-up
      of 5.5 +/- 2.4 years (range 16 weeks to 9.9 years), 221 deaths (40%) from any
      cause were recorded. There was no evidence of a mortality benefit in patients
      high over those low in global self-care (p = 0.71). In post hoc analyses, low
      self-reported sodium intake was associated with increased mortality (adjusted
      hazard ratio: 1.47; 95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 1.96; p = 0.01). Other
      significant predictors of mortality were: male sex, lack of a partner, New York
      Heart Association functional class III to IV, and increasing comorbid conditions.
      CONCLUSIONS: Global self-care was not associated with long-term mortality whereas
      low self-reported sodium intake independently predicted increased all-cause
      mortality beyond parameters of disease severity. Replication of findings is
      needed as well as studies examining the correspondence of subjectively and
      objectively measured sodium intake and its effects on long-term prognosis in
      patients with chronic HF.

PMID- 26874386
TI  - Utility of Patient-Reported Outcome Instruments in Heart Failure.
AB  - Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are defined as reports coming directly from
      patients about how they feel or function in relation to a health condition and
      its therapy. Although there are numerous compelling reasons why PRO could be an
      important help in clinical care, they have not evolved into clinical tools
      integrated into care. The purpose of this review is to assess existing PRO
      instruments for heart failure with respect to their psychometric properties and
      potential for use in clinical care. We performed a systematic search of articles
      published between July 2008 and January 2015 within the MEDLINE, PROMIS,
      PROQOLID, and Cochrane Library databases. Included instruments had to be
      developed and tested for heart failure and have had their development processes
      and psychometric properties described. A total of 31 instruments were identified,
      9 of which met all inclusion criteria. After evaluating each remaining instrument
      in terms of psychometric and clinical criteria and symptom coverage, only 2
      instruments-Minnesota Living with Heart Failure and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy
      questionnaire-met all evaluation criteria. Although clinically useful PRO
      instruments exist, increasing education to providers on the value and
      interpretability of PRO instruments, as well as a more streamlined approach to
      their implementation in the clinical setting is necessary. A clinical trial
      comparing the routine use of disease-specific PRO with clinical care could
      further support their incorporation into practice. 

PMID- 26874387
TI  - Chronic Peptide Therapy With B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients With Pre
      Clinical Diastolic Dysfunction (Stage B Heart Failure).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether there is development of tachyphylaxis
      to enhancement of cardiorenal response to acute volume loading (AVL) with B-type
      natriuretic peptide (BNP) after 12-week, twice-daily subcutaneous BNP
      administration in patients with preclinical diastolic dysfunction (PDD).
      BACKGROUND: PDD is characterized by normal systolic function and moderate or
      severe diastolic dysfunction but no symptoms of heart failure (HF). Impairment in
      cardiorenal endocrine response to stress by AVL exists in PDD and is corrected by
      acute administration of subcutaneous BNP. METHODS: A double-blinded, placebo
      controlled proof-of-concept study was conducted to compare 12 weeks of twice
      daily subcutaneous BNP, 10 MUg/kg (n = 24), versus placebo (n = 12) in PDD.
      Subjects underwent 2 study visits, at baseline and after 12 weeks. At each study
      visit, echocardiography, renal, and neurohumoral assessments were performed
      before and after intravascular AVL. RESULTS: Among those with PDD, there was a
      statistically significant improvement in diastolic function after 12 weeks of
      BNP, as measured by a decrease in the Doppler E/e' ratio (where E is early mitral
      inflow velocity and e' is mitral annulus early diastolic motion) (p = 0.004) and
      improvement of diastolic dysfunction grade (p = 0.008). After 12 weeks, there was
      statistically significantly greater sodium excretion, urine flow, and urinary
      cyclic guanosine monophosphate excretion to AVL (all p < 0.001), as well as a
      trend toward greater glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.050) in the BNP group as
      compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with PDD, chronic BNP
      administration resulted in sustained improvement in diastolic function without
      development of tachyphylaxis to the enhancement of cardiorenal response to volume
      expansion with BNP. (Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide [BNP] [or Nesiritide] to
      Help Heart, Kidney and Humoral Function; NCT00405548).

PMID- 26874388
TI  - Interventions Linked to Decreased Heart Failure Hospitalizations During
      Ambulatory Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze medical therapy data from the CHAMPION
      (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in
      Class III Heart Failure) trial to determine which interventions were linked to
      decreases in heart failure (HF) hospitalizations during ambulatory pulmonary
      artery (PA) pressure-guided management. BACKGROUND: Elevated cardiac filling
      pressures, which increase the risk of hospitalizations and mortality, can be
      detected using an ambulatory PA pressure monitoring system before onset of
      symptomatic congestion allowing earlier intervention to prevent HF
      hospitalizations. METHODS: The CHAMPION trial was a randomized, controlled,
      single-blind study of 550 patients with New York Heart Association functional
      class III HF with a HF hospitalization in the prior year. All patients undergoing
      implantation of the ambulatory PA pressure monitoring system were randomized to
      the active monitoring group (PA pressure-guided HF management plus standard of
      care) or to the blind therapy group (HF management by standard clinical
      assessment), and followed for a minimum of 6 months. Medical therapy data were
      compared between groups to understand what interventions produced the significant
      reduction in HF hospitalizations in the active monitoring group. RESULTS: Both
      groups had similar baseline medical therapy. After 6 months, the active
      monitoring group experienced a higher frequency of medications adjustments;
      significant increases in the doses of diuretics, vasodilators, and neurohormonal
      antagonists; targeted intensification of diuretics and vasodilators in patients
      with higher PA pressures; and preservation of renal function despite diuretic
      intensification. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of a PA pressure-guided treatment
      algorithm to decrease filling pressures led to targeted changes, particularly in
      diuretics and vasodilators, and was more effective in reducing HF
      hospitalizations than management of patient clinical signs or symptoms alone.

PMID- 26874389
TI  - Inflammation in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Time to Put Out
      the Fire.

PMID- 26874390
TI  - One Week of Daily Dosing With Beetroot Juice Improves Submaximal Endurance and
      Blood Pressure in Older Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection
      Fraction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether a relatively low single dose
      or a week-long dosage of dietary inorganic nitrate could improve exercise
      tolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
      (HFpEF). BACKGROUND: Exercise intolerance is the primary manifestation of HFpEF
      and is largely due to noncardiac factors that reduce oxygen delivery to active
      skeletal muscles. A recent study showed improved exercise capacity in patients
      with HFpEF after a single, acute dose of beetroot juice (BRJ) (12.9 mmol
      inorganic nitrate) while another recent study showed neutral and negative effects
      of an organic nitrate. METHODS: Twenty HFpEF patients (69 +/- 7 years of age )
      were enrolled in an initial cross-over design comparing a single, acute dose of
      BRJ (6.1 mmol nitrate) to a nitrate-depleted placebo BRJ. A second phase, 1 week
      of daily doses, used an all-treated design in which patients consumed BRJ for an
      average of 7 days. The primary outcome of the study was submaximal aerobic
      endurance, measured as cycling time to exhaustion at 75% of measured maximal
      power output. RESULTS: No adverse events were associated with the intervention.
      Submaximal aerobic endurance improved 24% after 1 week of daily BRJ dosing (p =
      0.02) but was not affected by the single, acute dose of the BRJ compared to
      placebo. Consumption of BRJ significantly reduced resting systolic blood pressure
      and increased plasma nitrate and nitrite in both of the dosing schemes.
      CONCLUSIONS: One week of daily dosing with BRJ (6.1 mmol inorganic nitrate)
      significantly improves submaximal aerobic endurance and blood pressure in elderly
      HFpEF patients.

PMID- 26874391
TI  - Complementary Role of Arm Circumference to Body Mass Index in Risk Stratification
      in Heart Failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the complementary role of arm
      circumference to body mass index (BMI) in risk stratification of patients with
      heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: High BMI is associated with improved survival in
      patients with HF. However, it does not discriminate between fat and lean muscle
      as a predominant factor. METHODS: BMI, waist circumference (WC), and mid-upper
      arm circumference (MUAC) were evaluated in 570 consecutive Japanese patients with
      HF (mean age 67.4 +/- 14.0 years). Patients were stratified into low and high
      groups according to BMI, WC, and MUAC and combined into low- or high-BMI and low-
      or high-WC groups or low- or high-BMI and low- or high-MUAC groups. The endpoint
      was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Seventy deaths occurred over a median follow-up
      period of 1.5 years (interquartile range: 0.7 to 2.8 years). After adjusting for
      several pre-existing prognostic factors, including Seattle Heart Failure Score
      and exercise capacity, BMI (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68; p = 0.016), WC (HR: 0.76; p
      = 0.044), and MUAC (HR: 0.52; p < 0.001) were all inversely associated with
      prognosis. Compared with the high-BMI/high-WC group, both the low-BMI/high-WC and
      low-BMI/low-WC groups showed comparably poorer prognosis. However, the low
      BMI/low-MUAC group but not the low-BMI/high-MUAC group showed poorer prognosis
      than the high-BMI/high-MUAC group. Adding MUAC to BMI (0.70 vs. 0.63, p = 0.012)
      but not WC to BMI (0.64 vs. 0.63, p = 0.763) significantly increased the area
      under the curve on receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS:
      MUAC, but not WC, plays a complementary role to BMI in predicting prognosis in
      patients with HF.

PMID- 26874392
TI  - Temporal Trends of Digoxin Use in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure:
      Analysis From the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Heart
      Failure Registry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess temporal trends and factors
      associated with digoxin use at discharge among patients admitted with heart
      failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Digoxin has class IIa recommendations for treating HF
      with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the United States. Digoxin use,
      temporal trends, and clinical characteristics of HF patients in current clinical
      practice in the United States have not been well studied. METHODS: An
      observational analysis of 255,901 patients hospitalized with HF (117,761 with
      HFrEF and 138,140 with preserved EF [HFpEF]) from 398 hospitals participating in
      the Get With The Guidelines-HF registry between January 2005 and June 2014 was
      conducted to assess the temporal trends and factors associated with digoxin use.
      RESULTS: Among 117,761 HFrEF patients, only 19.7% received digoxin at discharge.
      Digoxin prescriptions decreased from 33.1% in 2005 to 10.7% in 2014 (ptrend <
      0.0001). Factors associated with digoxin use in HFrEF included atrial
      fibrillation (AF) (odds ratio [OR]: 2.14; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.02 to
      2.28), history of implantable cardioverter defibrillator use (OR: 1.39; 95% CI:
      1.32 to 1.46), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08 to
      1.18), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.14), younger age (OR: 0.96,
      95% CI: 0.95 to 0.97), lower blood pressure (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.96 to 0.97), and
      having no history of renal insufficiency (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.97). Use of
      digoxin in patients with HFpEF (n = 138,140) without AF was 9.8% in 2005, which
      decreased to 2.2% in 2014 (ptrend < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: One in 5 HFrEF patients
      received digoxin at discharge, with a significant downward temporal trend in use
      over the study period. Use of digoxin in HFpEF patients without AF was very low
      and decreased over the study period.

PMID- 26874393
TI  - Development of a Transplantation Risk Index in Patients With Mechanical
      Circulatory Support: A Decision Support Tool.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a risk index specific to
      patients on mechanical circulatory support that accurately predicts 1-year
      mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation using the United Network for
      Organ Sharing database. BACKGROUND: Few clinical tools are available to aid in
      the decision between continuing long-term device support and performing
      transplantation in patients bridging with mechanical circulatory support.
      METHODS: Using a prospectively collected, open cohort, 6,036 patients receiving
      mechanical circulatory support who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation
      between 2000 and 2013 were evaluated and randomly separated into derivation (80%)
      and validation (20%) groups. Multivariate logistic regression models were
      constructed using variables that improved the explanatory power of the model,
      which was determined using multiple methods. Points for a simple additive risk
      index were apportioned on the basis of relative effect on odds of 1-year
      mortality. RESULTS: A 75-point scoring system was created from 9 recipient and 4
      donor variables. The average score in the validation cohort was 14.4 +/- 7.7, and
      scores ranged from 0 to 57; these values were similar to those in the derivation
      cohort. Each 1-point increase predicted an 8.3% increase in the odds of 1-year
      mortality (odds ratio: 1.08; 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.11). Low (0 to
      10), intermediate (11 to 20), and high (>20) risk score cohorts were created,
      with predicted average 1-year mortalities of 8.6%, 12.8%, and 31%, respectively,
      in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The investigators present a novel,
      internally cross-validated risk index that accurately predicts mortality in
      bridge-to-transplantation patients.

PMID- 26874394
TI  - We Are Not Alone: Understanding the Contributions of Intestinal Microbial
      Communities and the Congested Gut in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26874395
TI  - Effect of predischarge blood pressure on follow-up outcomes in patients with
      severe hypertension in the ED.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although emergency department (ED) patients with asymptomatic severe
      hypertension (ASH) generally have no serious short-term hypertension-related
      adverse events, it is unclear whether persistently high discharge blood pressure
      (BP) affects the outcome due to the dynamic nature of BP. OBJECTIVES: This study
      aims to investigate the effect of predischarge BP on short-term follow-up results
      for ED patients with ASH. METHODS: The prospective observational study was
      performed in the ED of a tertiary care hospital during a 3-month period. Adult
      patients who had systolic BP >=180 mm Hg and diastolic BP >=100 mm Hg without
      acute end-organ damage were enrolled and treated at the emergency physicians'
      discretion. Discharge BP was precategorized into severely high and moderately
      high groups. We compared the groups using direct telephone contact and medical
      record reviews of follow-up BP within 1 week and identified their related adverse
      events. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-six eligible cases were identified in this
      study; 1 patient (0.7%) had a serious hypertension-related adverse event. One
      hundred and thirteen patients had follow-up BP information available. There was
      no difference in mean systolic BP and diastolic BP at follow-up between patients
      who were discharged from the ED with severely high vs moderately high BP.
      CONCLUSION: Predischarge BP value is not associated with immediate serious
      adverse events and does not affect short-term BP control in ED patients with ASH.
      Further study on the need to lower BP during the ED stay and on antihypertensive
      prescriptions for these patients is required.

PMID- 26874396
TI  - Morphine in the setting of acute myocardial infarction: pros and cons.

PMID- 26874397
TI  - The molecular structure of thio-ether fatty acids influences PPAR-dependent
      regulation of lipid metabolism.
AB  - Thio-ether fatty acids (THEFAs), including the parent 2-(tetradecylthio)acetic
      acid (TTA), are modified fatty acids (FAs) that have profound effects on lipid
      metabolism given that they are blocked for beta-oxidation, and able to act as
      peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists. Therefore, TTA in
      particular has been tested clinically for its therapeutic potential against
      metabolic syndrome related disorders. Here, we describe the preparation of THEFAs
      based on the TTA scaffold with either a double or a triple bond. These are tested
      in cultured human skeletal muscle cells (myotubes), either as free acid or
      following esterification as phospholipids, lysophospholipids or
      monoacylglycerols. Metabolic effects are assessed in terms of cellular
      bioavailabilities in myotubes, by FA substrate uptake and oxidation studies, and
      gene regulation studies with selected PPAR-regulated genes. We note that the
      inclusion of a triple bond promotes THEFA-mediated FA oxidation. Furthermore,
      esterification of THEFAs as lysophospholipids also promotes FA oxidation effects.
      Given that the apparent clinical benefits of TTA administration were offset by
      dose limitation and poor bioavailability, we discuss the possibility that a
      selection of our latest THEFAs and THEFA-containing lipids might be able to
      fulfill the therapeutic potential of the parent TTA while minimizing required
      doses for efficacy, side-effects and adverse reactions. 

PMID- 26874398
TI  - Giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma: The silent tumour.

PMID- 26874399
TI  - [How can we decrease mortality due to anastomotic fistula in colorectal
      surgery?].

PMID- 26874400
TI  - [Management of postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis. The experience of Amiens
      university hospital].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Postpartum ovarian vein thrombophlebitis is an uncommon complication
      that may threaten mothers' lives. The extension of thrombosis in the inferior
      vena cava causes a pulmonary embolisme risk and requires urgent care. The main
      objective of this study was, from a series of patients, to determine the clinical
      and paraclincal signs to suggest the diagnosis of postpartum ovarian vein
      thrombosis. Secondary objectives were to assess the location and extent of
      thrombosis and the therapeutic management of this disease at the University
      Hospital of Amiens. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in the
      Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Amiens University Hospital between
      January 2011 and May 2015. Were included in this study all patients for whom the
      diagnosis of postpartum ovarian thrombophlebitis was confirmed by computed
      tomography. RESULTS: Thirteen patients had postpartum thrombosis of the ovarian
      vein. The incidence of this disease in our series was 0.13%. The average age of
      patients was 30 years. The median onset of symptoms was located on the 4th day;
      in 92% of cases, they appeared within 10 days after delivery. The clinical
      picture was not specific and the main symptoms were fever (46.1%) and abdominal
      pain (53.8%). Biologically inflammatory syndrome was commonly found with elevated
      leukocytes and CRP. Bacteriological samples were in most cases negative. Sixty
      nine percent of lesions concerned the right ovarian vein; 23% had renal
      extension, 53.8% had inferior vena cava extension and 23% got complicated with
      pulmonary embolism. No maternal deaths were reported. One hundred percent of
      patients received anticoagulation at curative dose, the mean duration of which
      was 6 months. In all, 84.6% of patients received in combination antibiotic
      therapy with oral and parenteral initially broad spectrum. CONCLUSION: Ovarian
      postpartum thrombosis is a rare complication that must be evoked and sought,
      especially in front of a non-septic febrile abdominal pain syndrome in
      postpartum.

PMID- 26874402
TI  - Simple N(epsilon)-thioacetyl-lysine-containing cyclic peptides exhibiting highly
      potent sirtuin inhibition.
AB  - Transforming a linear pentapeptidic pan-SIRT1/2/3 inhibitor harboring the
      catalytic mechanism-based sirtuin inhibitory warhead N(epsilon)-thioacetyl-lysine
      into its side chain-to-side chain cyclized derivatives was able to furnish highly
      potent SIRT1/2/3 inhibition (low nM). This finding attests to the feasibility of
      developing structurally simple yet highly potent catalytic mechanism-based cyclic
      peptidic sirtuin inhibitors. 

PMID- 26874401
TI  - Synthesis of linear and cyclic peptide-PEG-lipids for stabilization and targeting
      of cationic liposome-DNA complexes.
AB  - Because nucleic acids (NAs) have immense potential value as therapeutics, the
      development of safe and effective synthetic NA vectors continues to attract much
      attention. In vivo applications of NA vectors require stabilized, nanometer-scale
      particles, but the commonly used approaches of steric stabilization with a
      polymer coat (e.g., PEGylation; PEG=poly(ethylene glycol)) interfere with
      attachment to cells, uptake, and endosomal escape. Conjugation of peptides to PEG
      lipids can improve cell attachment and uptake for cationic liposome-DNA (CL-DNA)
      complexes. We present several synthetic approaches to peptide-PEG-lipids and
      discuss their merits and drawbacks. A lipid-PEG-amine building block served as
      the common key intermediate in all synthetic routes. Assembling the entire
      peptide-PEG-lipid by manual solid phase peptide synthesis (employing a lipid-PEG
      carboxylic acid) allowed gram-scale synthesis but is mostly applicable to linear
      peptides connected via their N-terminus. Conjugation via thiol-maleimide or
      strain-promoted (copper-free) azide-alkyne cycloaddition chemistry is highly
      amenable to on-demand preparation of peptide-PEG-lipids, and the appropriate PEG
      lipid precursors are available in a single chemical step from the lipid-PEG-amine
      building block. Azide-alkyne cycloaddition is especially suitable for disulfide
      bridged peptides such as iRGD (cyclic CRGDKGPDC). Added at 10 mol% of a
      cationic/neutral lipid mixture, the peptide-PEG-lipids stabilize the size of CL
      DNA complexes. They also affect cell attachment and uptake of nanoparticles in a
      peptide-dependent manner, thereby providing a platform for preparing stabilized,
      affinity-targeted CL-DNA nanoparticles.

PMID- 26874403
TI  - Synthesis and anticancer evaluation of spermatinamine analogues.
AB  - Spermatinamine was isolated from an Australian marine sponge, Pseudoceratina sp.
      as an inhibitor of isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt), an
      attractive and novel anticancer target. Herein, we report the synthesis of
      spermatinamine analogues and their cytotoxic evaluation against three human
      cancer cell lines, that is, cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), breast adenocarcinoma
      (MCF-7), and prostate carcinoma (DU145). Analogues 12, 14 and 15 were found to be
      the most potent against one or more cell lines with the IC50 values in the range
      of 5-10 MUM. The obtained results suggested that longer polyamine linker along
      with aromatic oxime substitution provided the most potent analogue compounds
      against cancer cell lines.

PMID- 26874404
TI  - A unique macrolactam derivative via a [4+6]-cycloaddition from Streptomyces
      niveus.
AB  - One new macrolactam derivative, nivelactam (1) and one new polyenoic acid
      derivative, niveamide (2), along with two other known 20-atom macrolactams (3 and
      4) were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces niveus, which
      obtained from the forest soil in northeastern China. The structures of 1 and 2
      were elucidated on the basis of HRESIMS, IR, and NMR spectroscopic data analyses.
      Compound 1 was proposed as an intramolecular [4+6]-cycloaddition product of 3 by
      S. niveus, and displayed moderate cytotoxic activity against a panel of human
      tumor cell lines in vitro, with IC50 values ranging from 3.76 +/- 0.58 to 15.02
      +/- 2.81 MUM.

PMID- 26874405
TI  - Occupational exposure to infection risk and use of personal protective equipment
      by emergency medical personnel in the Republic of Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies of occupational exposure (OE) to infectious risk among
      emergency medical personnel (EMP) or their use of personal protective equipment
      (PPE) have been conducted in the Republic of Korea. OBJECTIVE: To determine the
      status of OE to infectious risks and use of PPE. METHODS: A convenience sample of
      907 questionnaires (response rate, 88.5%) was collected from September 1, 2014,
      to January 31, 2015, in 5 metropolitan Korean cities. RESULTS: Respiratory
      diseases were significantly prevalent (44.5%) and influenza (29.5%) was the most
      frequently reported illness. An exposure report was only made in 19.5% of cases.
      The primary reason for OE report noncompletion was the complexity of the
      reporting process (23.9%). A total of 365 participants reported OE to body fluids
      and blood (40.2%) with needlestick injury being the most frequent OE type
      (17.6%). More than 5 years of job experience (47.8%) (P < .001) and region (city)
      (P = .003) significantly increased OE to body fluids and blood. Puncture
      resistant containers (71.9%) and disposable gloves (68.9%) were used. Job
      training and education on infection risks and use of PPE were not uniformly
      conducted (77.5%). Anxiety about OE to risk of infection from patients was common
      among EMP (63.2%). CONCLUSIONS: EMP experienced significant OE to infectious risk
      and use PPE inadequately. Surveillance and education programs regarding OE should
      be developed.

PMID- 26874406
TI  - The influence of intensive care unit-acquired central line-associated bloodstream
      infection on in-hospital mortality: A single-center risk-adjusted analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk-adjusted association between intensive care unit
      (ICU)-acquired central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and in
      hospital mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Forty
      five-bed adult ICU. PATIENTS: All non-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ICU
      admissions between July 1, 2008, and April 30, 2014, requiring a central venous
      catheter (CVC), with a length of stay > 48 hours, were included. METHODS: Data
      were extracted from our infection prevention and ICU databases. A multivariable
      logistic regression model was constructed to identify independent risk factors
      for ICU-acquired CLABSI. The propensity toward developing CLABSI was then
      included in a logistic regression of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Six thousand
      three hundred fifty-three admissions were included. Forty-six cases of ICU
      acquired CLABSI were identified. The overall CLABSI rate was 1.12 per 1,000 ICU
      CVC-days. Significant independent risk factors for ICU-acquired CLABSI included:
      double lumen catheter insertion (odds ratio [OR], 2.59; 95% confidence interval
      [CI], 1.16-5.77), CVC exposure > 7 days (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.06-4.04), and CVC
      insertion before 2011 (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.22-3.97). ICU-acquired CLABSI was
      crudely associated with greater in-hospital mortality, although this was
      attenuated once the propensity to develop CLABSI was adjusted for (OR, 1.20; 95%
      CI, 0.54-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: A greater propensity toward ICU-acquired CLABSI was
      independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality, although line
      infection itself was not. The requirement for prolonged specialized central
      venous access appears to be a key risk factor for ICU-acquired CLABSI, and likely
      informs mortality as a marker of persistent organ dysfunction.

PMID- 26874407
TI  - A systematic approach for developing a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention
      bundle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is among the most common type
      of health care-associated infection in the intensive care unit and is associated
      with significant morbidity and mortality. Existing VAP prevention intervention
      bundles vary widely on the interventions included and in the approaches used to
      develop these bundles. The objective of this study was to develop a new VAP
      prevention bundle using a systematic approach that elicits clinician perceptions
      on which interventions are most important and feasible to implement. METHODS: We
      identified potential interventions to include through a review of current
      guidelines and literature. We implemented a 2-step modified Delphi method to gain
      consensus on the final list of interventions. An interdisciplinary group of
      clinical experts participated in the Delphi process, which was guided by a
      technical expert panel. RESULTS: We identified 65 possible interventions. Through
      the Delphi method, we narrowed that list to 19 interventions that included 5
      process and 14 structural measures. CONCLUSIONS: We described a structured
      approach for developing a new VAP prevention bundle. Obtaining clinician input on
      what interventions to include increases the likelihood that providers will adhere
      to the bundle.

PMID- 26874408
TI  - Utility of a single nasal polymerase chain reaction assay in predicting absence
      of skin and environmental contamination in hospitalized patients with past
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - We evaluated hospitalized patients with a history of methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for persistent colonization and need for contact
      precautions. Up to 3 daily cultures of nares, skin, and any present wounds were
      compared with a single nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Most patients
      (76.2%) were no longer colonized with MRSA. A single PCR assay was sufficient to
      exclude persistent colonization and environmental contamination and remove the
      contact precautions.

PMID- 26874409
TI  - Successful development of a direct observation program to measure health care
      worker hand hygiene using multiple trained volunteers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Direct observation of health care worker (HCW) hand hygiene (HH)
      remains the gold standard, but implementation is challenging. Our objective was
      to develop an accurate HH observation program using multiple HCW volunteers.
      METHODS: HH compliance was defined as correct HH performed before and after
      contact with a patient or a patient's environment. HCW volunteers from each unit
      at our children's hospital were trained by infection preventionists to covertly
      collect HH observations during routine care using an electronic tool.
      Questionnaires sent to observers in February and December 2014 recorded
      demographic characteristics, observation time, and scenarios assessing accuracy.
      HCWs were surveyed regarding their awareness that their HH behavior was being
      recorded. RESULTS: There were 146 HH observers. The majority of observers
      reported making 1-2 observations per shift (65%) and taking <=10 minutes
      recording an observation (85%). Between January 2012 and December 2014 there were
      22,484 HH observations (average, 622 per month), including nurses (46%),
      physicians (21%), and other HCWs (33%). Observers correctly recorded HH behavior
      more than 90% of the time in 5 of the 6 scenarios. Most HCWs (86%) were unaware
      they were being observed. CONCLUSION: A direct observation program staffed by
      multiple HCW volunteers can inexpensively and accurately collect HCW HH data.

PMID- 26874410
TI  - Australian milk fat--Seasonal and regional variation of melting properties.
AB  - The solid fat content and dropping point of milk fat obtained over 2 yr and from
      19 bulk milk production sites across Australia were characterized. Solid fat
      content at 5  degrees C and 20  degrees C, respectively, ranged between 49.9 and
      66.1% and between 14.6 and 29.6% across all sites. Dropping point ranged between
      30.5 and 35.4  degrees C. The dropping point did not correlate with solid fat
      content at lower temperatures across several sites, indicating that it is not an
      accurate or useful measure of functionality at temperatures of 15  degrees C or
      below. Although at times, considerable variation was observed in milk fat melting
      properties between sites located in similar geographic regions, statistical
      analysis by means of boxplots and multidimensional scaling revealed broad
      similarities within regions over the 24 mo. Multidimensional scaling also
      revealed similarities between some quite distant and diverse regions (e.g.,
      Queensland and South Australia with constant and seasonal production,
      respectively). These analyses were used to make 5 groups from the 19 sites to
      describe seasonal melting properties. The groups with sites in west Victoria,
      southeast Victoria, and Tasmania showed the largest seasonal variation and range
      of values, with peaks and lows in southeast Victoria and Tasmania occurring up to
      3 mo later than in west Victoria. The group with sites in New South Wales,
      Queensland, and South Australia had the least variation and range of values,
      which were relatively high throughout. The group with Western Australian sites
      showed medium levels of variation but distinct seasonal patterns, with solids
      fats typically below and dropping points higher than the national average. The
      Victorian group's lows in dropping point occurred about 2 mo later than did the
      low values of solid fat content. No single factor stood out as determining the
      variation in melting properties.

PMID- 26874411
TI  - Effect of salt stress on morphology and membrane composition of Lactobacillus
      acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and their adhesion
      to human intestinal epithelial-like Caco-2 cells.
AB  - The effects of NaCl reduction (10.0, 7.5, 5.0, 2.5, and 0% NaCl) and its
      substitution with KCl (50% substitution at each given concentration) on
      morphology of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium
      longum was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Changes in
      membrane composition, including fatty acids and phospholipids, were investigated
      using gas chromatography and thin layer chromatography. Adhesion ability of these
      bacteria to human intestinal epithelial-like Caco-2 cells, as affected by NaCl
      and its substitution with KCl, was also evaluated. Bacteria appeared elongated
      and the intracellular content appeared contracted when subjected to salt stress,
      as observed by transmission electron microscopy. Fatty acid content was altered
      with an increase in the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid content on
      increasing the NaCl-induced stress. Among the phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol
      was reduced, whereas phosphatidylinositol and cardioplipin were increased when
      the bacteria were subjected to salt stress. There was a significant reduction in
      adhesion ability of the bacteria to Caco-2 cells when cultured in media
      supplemented with NaCl; however, the adhesion ability was improved on
      substitution with KCl at a given total salt concentration. The findings provide
      insights into bacterial membrane damage caused by NaCl. 

PMID- 26874412
TI  - Effects of reducing dietary starch content by replacing barley grain with wheat
      dried distillers grains plus solubles in dairy cow rations on ovarian function.
AB  - Our objective was to evaluate the effects of dietary starch content, altered by
      partial substitution of dietary grain with wheat dried distillers grain with
      solubles (DDGS), on the interval from calving to first ovulation, concentrations
      of hormones and metabolites in plasma and follicular fluid, and granulosa cell
      gene expression in preovulatory follicles. Sixty lactating dairy cows were
      assigned to 1 of 2 diets from calving until 84d postpartum. Diets were formulated
      to contain either 17.3% rolled barley grain (29.2% starch) or 17.2% wheat DDGS
      (19.1% starch), with 43.0% barley silage and 21.6% rolled corn grain as the other
      major ingredients (dry matter basis). Transrectal ultrasonography was performed
      twice weekly to monitor ovarian dynamics from 7 +/- 2d postpartum until ovulation
      or until 56d in milk, whichever occurred earlier. Plasma concentrations of
      insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were determined in all 60 cows,
      and that of glucose, fatty acids, and urea in a subset of 24 cows, representing
      those in which the first ovulation occurred spontaneously within 5 wk postpartum.
      Estradiol (proestrus) and progesterone (12d postovulation) in plasma were also
      measured. Concentrations of insulin, IGF-1, glucose, fatty acids, and urea were
      determined in follicular fluid (wk 9), and the expression of LH receptor,
      estrogen receptor beta, cytochrome P450 aromatase, and plasma type glutathione
      peroxidase genes measured in granulosa cells obtained from the preovulatory
      follicles at wk 9 postpartum in the subset of 24 cows. Diets did not alter the
      interval from calving to first ovulation (32.3 +/- 2.5d), but a significantly
      lower proportion of cows on the DDGS diet (20%) ovulated multiple (>= 2)
      follicles at the first ovulation than those on the barley grain diet (40%). The
      incidence of multiple ovulations tended to be lower at first insemination (10 vs.
      21% for cows fed DDGS and barley grain diets, respectively). Mean plasma
      concentration of insulin was higher in cows fed the barley grain diet (2.5 vs 1.6
      IU/mL), and a diet by time interaction was noted, with cows on the barley grain
      ration having higher insulin from wk 6 to 12 postpartum; however, mean plasma IGF
      1 concentration did not differ between dietary groups. In the subsets, mean
      plasma concentrations of metabolites or estradiol and progesterone were not
      affected by diet, parity, or diet by parity interactions. Cows on the DDGS diet
      had lower concentrations of IGF-I (69 vs. 108 ng/mL) and higher fatty acids (222
      vs. 149 mEq/L) in the follicular fluid obtained from preovulatory follicles.
      Diet, parity, and diet by parity interactions did not affect the concentrations
      of insulin, glucose, urea, estradiol, and progesterone in follicular fluid. Diets
      did not alter the expression profiles of LHr, estrogen receptor beta, CYP19, and
      GPx3 genes in granulosa cells. In summary, diets did not affect the interval from
      calving to first ovulation or granulosa cell gene expression. However, reducing
      dietary starch content by a partial replacement of dietary grain with wheat DDGS
      increased fatty acids in follicular fluid and reduced the concentrations of
      insulin in plasma, IGF-1 in follicular fluid, and the incidence of multiple
      ovulations.

PMID- 26874413
TI  - Evaluation of udder health parameters and risk factors for clinical mastitis in
      Dutch dairy herds in the context of a restricted antimicrobial usage policy.
AB  - Recently, many changes have been implemented in Dutch dairy herds. Herd sizes
      have increased and antimicrobial use has been reduced. Certain types of
      antimicrobials can only be used in specific circumstances, and the preventive use
      of antimicrobials in dry cows is prohibited. The aim of this study was to
      quantify clinical mastitis (CM), subclinical mastitis (SCM), and risk factors
      associated with CM in Dutch dairy herds in 2013, in the context of these changes.
      For this study, 240 dairy herds were randomly selected from farms that
      participated in test-day milk recording, used a conventional milking system, and
      agreed to participate in the study. Eventually, 233 Dutch dairy farmers had
      complete records of CM in their herds in 2013 and 224 of these farmers completed
      a questionnaire on management factors potentially associated with CM. All
      participating farmers gave consent to use their routinely collected herd data
      such as test-day records and cow identification and registration data. Clinical
      and subclinical mastitis incidence rate (CMI and SCMI, respectively) per 100 cows
      per year, subclinical mastitis prevalence, and average bulk tank milk somatic
      cell count were obtained for 2013. The risk factor analysis was conducted using a
      generalized linear model with a log link function and a negative binomial
      distribution on herd level in Stata 13.1. A median CMI of 28.6 per 100 cows at
      risk per year, SCMI of 70.1 per 100 cows at risk per year, SCM prevalence of
      15.8%, and bulk tank milk somatic cell count of 171 * 10(3) cells/mL were
      observed in 2013. Factors that were significantly associated with a higher CMI
      were cleaning slatted floors only once per day compared with more than 4 times a
      day (i.e., mechanical), a higher percentage of Holstein Friesian cows present in
      the herd, treating less than 50% of the cows with CM with antimicrobials,
      postmilking teat disinfection, and treatment of cows with elevated somatic cell
      count with antimicrobials. The results of this study indicated that udder health
      had not deteriorated compared with udder health in previous Dutch studies where
      herd sizes were somewhat smaller and before the restrictions in antimicrobial
      use. Several of the risk factors that were found can be influenced by the farmer
      and can prevent the occurrence of CMI. Still, when cases of CM occur, treatment
      with antimicrobials might be necessary to cure the CM case and is beneficial for
      the overall udder health in the herd.

PMID- 26874414
TI  - Invited review: Growth-promoting effects of colostrum in calves based on
      interaction with intestinal cell surface receptors and receptor-like
      transporters.
AB  - The postnatal development and maturation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of
      neonatal calves is crucial for their survival. Major morphological and functional
      changes in the calf's GI tract initiated by colostrum bioactive substances
      promote the establishment of intestinal digestion and absorption of food. It is
      generally accepted that colostrum intake provokes the maturation of organs and
      systems in young calves, illustrating the significance of the cow-to-calf
      connection at birth. These postnatal adaptive changes of the GI tissues in
      neonatal calves are especially induced by the action of bioactive substances such
      as insulin-like growth factors, hormones, or cholesterol carriers abundantly
      present in colostrum. These substances interact with specific cell-surface
      receptors or receptor-like transporters expressed in the GI wall of neonatal
      calves to elicit their biological effects. Therefore, the abundance and activity
      of cell surface receptors and receptor-like transporters binding colostral
      bioactive substances are a key aspect determining the effects of the cow-to-calf
      connection at birth. The present review compiles the information describing the
      effects of colostrum feeding on selected serum metabolic and endocrine traits in
      neonatal calves. In this context, the current paper discusses specifically the
      consequences of colostrum feeding on the GI expression and activity of cell
      receptors and receptor-like transporters binding growth hormone, insulin-like
      growth factors, insulin, or cholesterol acceptors in neonatal calves. 

PMID- 26874415
TI  - The influence of casein haplotype on morphometric characteristics of fat globules
      and fatty acid composition of milk in Italian Holstein cows.
AB  - The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of casein haplotypes (alphaS1
      , beta-, and kappa-caseins) on morphometric characteristics of fat globules and
      fatty acid composition of Italian Holstein milk. Casein haplotypes were
      determined by isoelectric focusing; milk fat globule size was measured by using a
      fluorescence microscope; and fatty acid profile was determined by gas
      chromatography. Casein haplotype significantly affected the fat globule size, the
      percentage incidence of each globule size class on total measured milk fat
      globules, and fatty acid composition. A higher incidence of smaller milk fat
      globules was associated with the BB-A(2)A(2)-BB genotype (alphaS1-, beta-, and
      kappa-casein haplotypes, respectively), whereas small globules were not detected
      in BB-A(2)A(1)-AA milk, but that milk had the highest percentage of large
      globules. A higher content of monounsaturated fatty acids was associated with the
      BB-A(2)A(2)-AB genotype, whereas higher contents of conjugated linoleic acid and
      docosahexaenoic acid were detected in BB-A(1)A(1)-AA milk. Our results indicate
      that casein haplotype could affect fat characteristics and, therefore, the
      nutritional and technological quality of milk. 

PMID- 26874416
TI  - Invited review: Influence of climatic conditions on the development, performance,
      and health of calves.
AB  - The objective of this review is to provide the reader with an overview of
      thermoregulatory mechanisms and the influence of climatic conditions in different
      housing systems on the development, performance, and health of calves. Thermic
      stress is observed in association with extreme temperatures and large temperature
      variations, but other variables such as relative humidity and wind speed can also
      contribute to thermic stress. Thermoregulation in calves is similar to that in
      adult cattle, but especially dystocial calves are more prone to heat loss. Heat
      or cold stress results in direct economic losses because of increased calf
      mortality and morbidity, as well as indirect costs caused by reduced weight gain,
      performance, and long-term survival. The climatic conditions in a variety of
      housing systems, associated health problems, and strategies to mitigate thermic
      stress are discussed in this review. The goal of housing is to alleviate the
      effect of climate on calves and provide a microclimate. Adequate ventilation with
      fresh air is essential to reduce respiratory disease. Common practices such as
      raising calves in individual outdoor enclosures have been challenged lately.
      Recent research seeks to evaluate the suitability of group housing under
      practical, economic, and animal welfare considerations. Limited results for
      reducing thermic stress can be achieved by simple measures such as shades or
      shelter, but additional heat or cold stress relieving strategies can be required
      depending on the housing system. 

PMID- 26874417
TI  - Role of milk protein-based products in some quality attributes of goat milk
      yogurt.
AB  - Goat milk yogurts were manufactured with the fortification of 2% (wt/vol) skim
      goat milk powder (SGMP), sodium caseinate (NaCn), whey protein concentrate (WPC),
      whey protein isolate (WPI), or yogurt texture improver (YTI). Yogurts were
      characterized based on compositional, microbiological, and textural properties;
      volatile flavor components (with gas chromatography); and sensory analyses during
      storage (21d at 5  degrees C). Compared with goat milk yogurt made by using SGMP,
      the other goat milk yogurt variants had higher protein content and lower acidity
      values. Goat milk yogurts with NaCn and WPC, in particular, had better physical
      characteristics. Using WPI caused the hardest structure in yogurt, leading to
      higher syneresis values. Acetaldehyde and ethanol formation increased with the
      incorporation of WPI, WPC, or YTI to yogurt milk. The tyrosine value especially
      was higher in the samples with NaCn and YTI than in the samples with WPC and WPI.
      Counts of Streptococcus thermophilus were higher than the counts of Lactobacillus
      delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, possibly due to a stimulatory effect of milk protein
      based ingredients other than SGMP on the growth of S. thermophilus. Yogurt with
      NaCn was the best accepted among the yogurts. For the parameters used, milk
      protein-based products such as NaCn or WPC have promising features as suitable
      ingredients for goat milk yogurt manufacture.

PMID- 26874418
TI  - Comparison of milk oxidation by exposure to LED and fluorescent light.
AB  - Light-induced oxidation of milk has been well studied. Exposure of milk to UV
      light facilitates the oxidation of fats to aldehydes, and the degradation of
      sulfur-containing amino acids, both of which contribute to off-flavors. In
      addition, vitamin A and riboflavin are easily degraded by UV light. These
      reactions occur rapidly and are exacerbated by bright fluorescent lights in
      retail dairy cases. The invention of white light-emitting diodes (LED) may
      provide a solution to this oxidation problem. In this study, fresh milk
      containing 1% fat and fortified with vitamin A and riboflavin was exposed to LED
      at 4,000 lx, or fluorescent light at 2,200 lx for 24 h. Milk samples exposed to
      LED or fluorescent light, as well as milk protected from light, were analyzed by
      a consumer acceptance panel, and a trained flavor panel. In addition, vitamin A,
      riboflavin, and the production of volatile compounds were quantified. Exposure to
      light resulted in a reduction of cooked/sweet, milkfat, and sweet flavors and
      increased the intensity of butterscotch, cardboard, and astringency. In general,
      exposure to fluorescent light resulted in greater changes in the milk than
      exposure to LED even though the LED was at higher intensity. Consumers were able
      detect off-flavors in milk exposed to fluorescent light after 12 h and LED after
      24 h of exposure. The riboflavin and vitamin A content was reduced by exposure to
      fluorescent light, whereas there was no significant reduction caused by LED
      compared with the non-light-exposed control. Production of hexanal, heptanal, 2
      heptanal, octanal, 2-octanal nonanal, dimethyl sulfide, and caproic acid vinyl
      ester from the light-induced degradation of fats was significantly higher with
      fluorescent than LED. Production of these compounds was significantly higher with
      both light treatments than in the control milk. This study indicates that LED is
      less destructive to milk than fluorescent light. 

PMID- 26874419
TI  - Short communication: Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and resistant traits
      of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from cheese samples in Turkey.
AB  - A total of 17 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolates obtained from 72
      cheese samples were included in this study. Coagulase-negative staphylococci
      isolates obtained in this study comprised 6 (35.3%) Staphylococcus saprophyticus,
      3 (17.6%) Staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 (11.8%) Staphylococcus hominis, 2 (11.8%)
      Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 1 (5.9%) Staphylococcus xylosus, 1 (5.9%)
      Staphylococcus vitulinus, 1 (5.9%) Staphylococcus lentus, and 1 (5.9%)
      Staphylococcus warneri. The disc diffusion assay revealed that the highest
      occurrence of resistance was found for penicillin (76.5%), erythromycin (35.3%),
      tetracycline (29.4%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (17.6%) among CNS
      isolates. However, all CNS isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin,
      streptomycin, linezolid, and gentamycin. Of the isolates, 64.7% carried at least
      one of the following antimicrobial resistance genes: mecA, tet(M), erm(B), blaZ,
      ant(4')-la, aph(3')-IIIa, and lnu(A). The results suggest that improved hygienic
      conditions, such as safer handling of raw milk, proper cleaning, and sanitation
      during the manufacturing in the dairies, are urgently needed in Turkey. 

PMID- 26874420
TI  - The effect of bovine somatotropin on the cost of producing milk: Estimates using
      propensity scores.
AB  - Annual farm-level data from New York dairy farms from the years 1994 through 2013
      were used to estimate the cost effect from bovine somatotropin (bST) using
      propensity score matching. Cost of production was computed using the whole-farm
      method, which subtracts sales of crops and animals from total costs under the
      assumption that the cost of producing those products is equal to their sales
      values. For a farm to be included in this data set, milk receipts on that farm
      must have comprised 85% or more of total receipts, indicating that these farms
      are primarily milk producers. Farm use of bST, where 25% or more of the herd was
      treated, ranged annually from 25 to 47% of the farms. The average cost effect
      from the use of bST was estimated to be a reduction of $2.67 per 100 kg of milk
      produced in 2013 dollars, although annual cost reduction estimates ranged from
      statistical zero to $3.42 in nominal dollars. Nearest neighbor matching
      techniques generated a similar estimate of $2.78 in 2013 dollars. These cost
      reductions estimated from the use of bST represented a cost savings of 5.5% per
      kilogram of milk produced. Herd-level production increase per cow from the use of
      bST over 20 yr averaged 1,160 kg.

PMID- 26874421
TI  - Mastitis prevention and control practices and mastitis treatment strategies
      associated with the consumption of (critically important) antimicrobials on dairy
      herds in Flanders, Belgium.
AB  - The main objectives of this study were to evaluate to what extent variations in
      herd-level antimicrobial consumption (AMC) can be explained by differences in
      management practices that are consistently effective in the prevention of
      (sub)clinical mastitis, on the one hand, and by differences in mastitis treatment
      strategies, on the other hand. Antimicrobial consumption data were obtained
      during 2012 and 2013 by "garbage can audits" and expressed as antimicrobial
      treatment incidences (ATI) for all compounds combined (total ATI) and for the
      critically important antimicrobials for human health separately. Data on mastitis
      prevention and control practices were obtained via face-to-face interviews
      performed during herd visits in March 2013. Some management practices and
      treatment strategies related to udder health were associated with the total AMC.
      However, the results demonstrated that implementing effective udder health
      management practices does not necessarily imply a low AMC and vice versa. Herds
      participating in a veterinary herd health management program and herds
      selectively drying off cows used fewer antimicrobials compared with herds not
      participating in such a program or applying blanket dry-cow therapy. Moreover,
      herds treating (some) (sub)clinical mastitis cases with intramammary homeopathic
      substances consumed fewer antimicrobials than herds not applying such homeopathic
      treatments. Besides these factors, no other direct association was found between
      effective udder health management practices on the one hand and AMC on the other
      hand. Also, the use of critically important antimicrobials was only associated
      with the way in which subclinical mastitis cases were treated. The latter
      indicates that the AMC of critically important antimicrobials is potentially
      driven by factors other than those included in this study such as those related
      to the "mindset" of the veterinarians and their farmers. Future research should
      therefore aim to unravel the reasoning of vets and their farmers behind the use
      of those critically important antimicrobials for the treatment of mastitis and
      other diseases. 

PMID- 26874422
TI  - Analysis of behavioral changes in dairy cows associated with claw horn lesions.
AB  - Detecting lame cows is important in improving animal welfare. Automated tools are
      potentially useful to enable identification and monitoring of lame cows. The
      goals of this study were to evaluate the suitability of various physiological and
      behavioral parameters to automatically detect lameness in dairy cows housed in a
      cubicle barn. Lame cows suffering from a claw horn lesion (sole ulcer or white
      line disease) of one claw of the same hind limb (n=32; group L) and 10 nonlame
      healthy cows (group C) were included in this study. Lying and standing behavior
      at night by tridimensional accelerometers, weight distribution between hind limbs
      by the 4-scale weighing platform, feeding behavior at night by the nose band
      sensor, and heart activity by the Polar device (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele,
      Finland) were assessed. Either the entire data set or parts of the data collected
      over a 48-h period were used for statistical analysis, depending upon the
      parameter in question. The standing time at night over 12 h and the limb weight
      ratio (LWR) were significantly higher in group C as compared with group L,
      whereas the lying time at night over 12 h, the mean limb difference (?weight),
      and the standard deviation (SD) of the weight applied on the limb taking less
      weight were significantly lower in group C as compared with group L. No
      significant difference was noted between the groups for the parameters of heart
      activity and feeding behavior at night. The locomotion score of cows in group L
      was positively correlated with the lying time and ?weight, whereas it was
      negatively correlated with LWR and SD. The highest sensitivity (0.97) for
      lameness detection was found for the parameter SD [specificity of 0.80 and an
      area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84]. The highest specificity (0.90) for lameness
      detection was present for Deltaweight (sensitivity=0.78; AUC=0.88) and LWR
      (sensitivity=0.81; AUC=0.87). The model considering the data of SD together with
      lying time at night was the best predictor of cows being lame, accounting for 40%
      of the variation in the likelihood of a cow being lame (sensitivity=0.94;
      specificity=0.80; AUC=0.86). In conclusion, the data derived from the 4-scale
      weighing platform, either alone or combined with the lying time at night over 12
      h, represent the most valuable parameters for automated identification of lame
      cows suffering from a claw horn lesion of one individual hind limb.

PMID- 26874423
TI  - Invited review: Effects of group housing of dairy calves on behavior, cognition,
      performance, and health.
AB  - Standard practice in the dairy industry is to separate the calf and dam
      immediately after birth and raise calves in individual pens during the milk
      feeding period. In nature and in extensive beef systems, the young calf lives in
      a complex social environment. Social isolation during infancy has been associated
      with negative effects, including abnormal behavior and developmental problems, in
      a range of species. Here, we review empirical work on the social development of
      calves and the effects of social isolation in calves and other species; this
      evidence indicates that calves reared in isolation have deficient social skills,
      difficulties in coping with novel situations, as well as specific cognitive
      deficits. We also review the practices associated with group housing of dairy
      calves, and discuss problems and suggested solutions, especially related to cross
      sucking, competition, aggression, and disease. The studies reviewed indicate that
      social housing improves solid feed intakes and calf weight gains before and after
      calves are weaned from milk to solid feed. Evidence regarding the effects of
      social housing on calf health is mixed, with some studies showing increased risk
      of disease and other studies showing no difference or even improved health
      outcomes for grouped calves. We conclude that there is strong and consistent
      evidence of behavioral and developmental harm associated with individual housing
      in dairy calves, that social housing improves intakes and weight gains, and that
      health risks associated with grouping can be mitigated with appropriate
      management. 

PMID- 26874424
TI  - Advances in production and simplified methods for recovery and quantification of
      exopolysaccharides for applications in food and health.
AB  - The capacity of strains to produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) is widespread among
      species of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, although the physiological
      role of these molecules is not yet clearly understood. When EPS are produced
      during food fermentation, they confer technological benefits on the fermented end
      products, such as improved texture and stability. In addition, some of these EPS
      may have beneficial effects on consumer health. These uses of EPS necessitate
      optimal and sufficient production of these molecules, both in situ and ex situ,
      not only to improve their yields but also to obtain a particular functionality.
      The present study reviews the commonly used methods of production, isolation, and
      quantification that have been used in recent studies dealing with EPS-producing
      lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. 

PMID- 26874425
TI  - Consumers' attitudes about milk quality and fertilization methods in dairy cows
      in Germany.
AB  - Major advances in assisted reproductive technologies have improved reproductive
      efficiency in dairy cattle. However, these developments occurred regardless of
      the perception of consumers, who often distrust biotechnology in food production.
      Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate consumers' attitudes
      toward reproductive management practices in dairy cattle. In November 2012, 1,646
      participants were interviewed by a commercial market research institute.
      Participants were selected from all regions and demographic categories to
      represent the general public in Germany. Seven questions regarding milk-drinking
      preferences and reproductive technologies were asked in face-to-face interviews.
      Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were used.
      The majority of people drank milk at least weekly (63%) and found the taste of
      milk important (60%). Most people perceived advanced reproductive technologies
      negatively [e.g., the use of sexed semen (53%), embryo transfer (58%), cloning
      (81%), and hormone treatments to increase fertility (65%)]. Many people lacked
      basic knowledge about milk production (22% did not know that cows only give milk
      after calving; 51% did not know that milk naturally contains hormones); however,
      participants with a high school education, older participants, and those who had
      concerned themselves with dairy farming were more knowledgeable. Education and
      providing information might help to inform the public about reproductive
      management practices in dairy cows. 

PMID- 26874426
TI  - Effect of maternal nutrition and days of gestation on pituitary gland and gonadal
      gene expression in cattle.
AB  - This study investigated effects of maternal overnutrition on gonadal development
      and pituitary-gonadal gene expression in cattle fetuses at mid- and late
      gestation. Twenty-seven multiparous dry cows were fed either high (ad libitum, H)
      or moderate (M) intake of the same diet. Twelve cows from H (n=6) and M (n=6)
      intake carrying females fetuses were euthanized at 199 and 268d of gestation (DG;
      n=3 for H or M on each DG). Fifteen cows from H (n=6) and M intake (n=9) carrying
      male fetuses were euthanized at 139, 199, and 241 DG (n=2 for H and n=3 for M on
      each DG). Fetal gonads and pituitary gland were sampled for gene expression and
      histological analyses. Sex-specific responses to maternal intake were observed.
      Primordial and total follicle numbers were lower in fetal ovaries from H than in
      M intake cows. These results were the reverse for preantral and antral follicles.
      Volumetric proportion and diameter of seminiferous cord were lower in fetal
      testis of H than M intake cows. The expression level of FSHB was greater in
      pituitary gland of the female fetus from H compared with M intake cows,
      irrespective of DG, whereas LHB gene expression did not differ. In males, FSHB
      and LHB gene expression levels were similar between maternal intake groups. Fetal
      ovarian expression of P450 aromatase, StAR, BMPR2, TGFBR1, GDF9, FSHR, Bax, and
      CASP3 genes were higher in H than in M intake cows, irrespective of DG. Fetal
      testicular expression of StAR, HSD17B3, IGF1, IGF2, and IGF1R genes was higher in
      M than in H intake cows. The differences in gene expression for steroidogenesis,
      folliculogenesis, and apoptosis may explain the distinct pattern of follicular
      growth between offspring of M and H intake cows. By contrast, the lower
      volumetric proportion, diameter, and length of seminiferous cord may relate to
      decreased gene expression in fetal testis from H intake cows. In conclusion,
      maternal H intake seems to affect fetal ovarian follicular growth and number of
      follicles, which may affect the size of ovarian reserve in their offspring. In
      male fetus, maternal H intake seems to disturb testicular development and may
      have implications on sperm production. The underlying mechanism of differential
      gene expression and the effect on offspring reproductive potential should be the
      focus of further research, especially considering larger sample size, reducing
      the chance for type I errors. 

PMID- 26874427
TI  - Raman spectroscopy as an effective screening method for detecting adulteration of
      milk with small nitrogen-rich molecules and sucrose.
AB  - Adulteration of milk for commercial gain is acknowledged as a serious issue
      facing the dairy industry. Several analytical techniques can be used to detect
      adulteration but they often require time-consuming sample preparation, expensive
      laboratory equipment, and highly skilled personnel. Here we show that Raman
      spectroscopy provides a simple, selective, and sensitive method for screening
      milk, specifically for small nitrogen-rich compounds, such as melamine, urea,
      ammonium sulfate, dicyandiamide, and for sucrose. Univariate and multivariate
      statistical methods were used to determine limits of detection and quantification
      from Raman spectra of milk spiked with 50 to 1,000 mg/L of the N-rich compounds
      and 0.25 to 4% sucrose. Partial least squares (PLS) calibration provided limit of
      detection minimum thresholds <200mg/L (0.02%) for the 4 N-rich compounds and
      <0.8% for sucrose, without the need for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The
      results show high reproducibility (7% residual standard deviation) and 100%
      efficiency for screening of milk for these adulterants.

PMID- 26874428
TI  - Orthodontic treatment mediates dental pulp microenvironment via IL17A.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Orthodontic treatment induces dental tissue remodeling; however,
      dental pulp stem cell (DPSC)-mediated pulp micro-environmental alteration is
      still largely uncharacterized. In the present study, we identified elevated
      interleukin-17A (IL17A) in the dental pulp, which induced the osteogenesis of
      DPSCs after orthodontic force loading. DESIGN: Tooth movement animal models were
      established in Sprague-Dawley rats, and samples were harvested at 1, 4, 7, 14,
      and 21 days after orthodontic treatment loading. DPSC self-renewal and
      differentiation at different time points were examined, as well as the alteration
      of the microenvironment of dental pulp tissue by histological analysis and the
      systemic serum IL17A expression level by an ELISA assay. In vitro recombinant
      IL17A treatment was used to confirm the effect of IL17A on the enhancement of
      DPSC self-renewal and differentiation. RESULTS: Orthodontic treatment altered the
      dental pulp microenvironment by activation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL17A
      in vivo. Orthodontic loading significantly promoted the self-renewal and
      differentiation of DPSCs. Inflammation and elevated IL17A secretion occurred in
      the dental pulp during orthodontic tooth movement. Moreover, in vitro recombinant
      IL17A treatment mimicked the enhancement of the self-renewal and differentiation
      of DPSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment enhanced the differentiation and
      self-renewal of DPSCs, mediated by orthodontic-induced inflammation and
      subsequent elevation of IL17A level in the dental pulp microenvironment.

PMID- 26874429
TI  - MicroRNA-144 is unlikely to play a role in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

PMID- 26874430
TI  - Intracellular lipid dysregulation interferes with leukocyte function in the
      ovaries of meat-type hens under unrestricted feed intake.
AB  - Meat-type Red-feather country hens fed ad libitum (AD-hens) exhibit obesity
      associated morbidities and a number of ovarian irregularities. Leukocyte
      participations in ovarian activities are unstudied in AD-hens. In contrast to
      feed-restricted hens (R-hens), ovulatory process of the F1 follicle appeared
      delayed in AD-hens in association with reduced F1 follicle progesterone content,
      gelatinase A (MMP-2) and collagenase-3 (MMP-13) activities coincident with
      elevated IL-1beta and no production (P<0.05), and increased leukocyte
      infiltration of inflamed necrotic follicle walls. Extracts of AD-hen F1 follicle
      walls induced greater leukocyte migration than extracts from F1 follicle wall
      extracts of R-hens (P<0.05). Co-cultures of granulosa cells with increasing
      numbers of leukocytes from either AD-hens or R-hens exhibited dose dependent
      reductions in progesterone production and increases in cell death. AD-hen
      leukocytes were less proapoptotic than their R counterparts (P<0.05). Granulosa
      MMP-13 and MMP-2 activities were also suppressed in the co-cultures with
      heterophils or monocytes in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). AD heterophils and
      R monocytes had a greater inhibitory effect on MMP activities in the co-cultures
      than their respective counterparts (P<0.05). Both basal and LPS-induced IL-1beta
      secretion and MMP-22 or MMP-2 activities in freshly isolated AD-hen leukocytes
      were reduced (P<0.05). Exposure of AD or R leukocytes to 0.5mM palmitate impaired
      IL-1beta secretion and MMP-22 or MMP-2 activity. Inhibition of ceramide synthesis
      with FB1 and ROS production with n-MPG scavenging rescued MMP activity and IL
      1beta production in palmitate treated heterophils, but exacerbated monocyte
      suppression. These latter findings suggest that intracellular lipid dysregulation
      in leukocytes contributes to ovarian dysfunction in AD-hens. 

PMID- 26874431
TI  - Letter to the Editor on "Preoperative Mapping in Unicompartmental Knee
      Arthroplasty Using Computed Tomography Scans Is Associated With Radiation
      Exposure and Carries High Cost".

PMID- 26874432
TI  - Characterization of dissolved organic matter for prediction of trihalomethane
      formation potential in surface and sub-surface waters.
AB  - Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters used for drinking purposes can
      vary markedly in character dependent on their sources within catchments. The
      character of DOM further influences the formation of disinfection by products
      when precursor DOM present in drinking water reacts with chlorine during
      disinfection. Here we report the development of models that describe the
      formation potential of trihalomethanes (THMFP) dependent on the character of DOM
      in waters from discrete catchments with specific land-use and soil textures. DOM
      was characterized based on UV absorbance at 254 nm, apparent molecular weight and
      relative abundances of protein-like and humic-like compounds. DOM character and
      Br concentration (up to 0.5 mg/L) were used as variables in models (R(2)>0.93) of
      THMFP, which ranged from 19 to 649 MUg/L. Chloroform concentration (12-594 MUg/L)
      and relative abundance (27-99%) were first modeled (R(2)>0.85) and from these,
      the abundances of bromodichloromethane and chlorodibromomethane estimated using
      power and exponential functions, respectively (R(2)>0.98). From these, the
      abundance of bromoform is calculated. The proposed model may be used in risk
      assessment of catchment factors on formation of trihalomethanes in drinking
      water, in context of treatment efficiency for removal of organic matter.

PMID- 26874433
TI  - The use of pilocarpine eye drops for estimating the time since death.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the time since death using
      pilocarpine eye drops. METHODS: In this study, 100 postmortem cases with known
      time of death were included. In each case, the left pupil was measured in
      millimeter units using a vernier caliper, and pilocarpine eye drops were applied.
      The pupil was measured again 10 min later, and statistical analysis was used to
      analyze the correlation between the time since death and the change in the pupil.
      RESULTS: The longest duration since death that the pupils showed reaction to
      pilocarpine was 15 h. The correlation between the change in the pupil and the
      postmortem interval was found (Spearman's rho, r = -0.304, p = 0.002), and the
      change in the pupil may be used to predict the postmortem interval by the
      following regression equation: postmortem interval (PMI) = 8.310-3.702 (Diff) +/-
      0.735 (PMI was postmortem interval in hours and Diff was the difference in the
      size of the pupil after administering pilocarpine in millimeter units).
      CONCLUSION: The present study showed that pilocarpine eye drops can be used to
      estimate the time since death.

PMID- 26874434
TI  - Evaluating the temporal trend of completed suicides referred to the Iranian
      Forensic Medicine Organization during 2006-2010.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the temporal trend
      of the rate of completed suicides in Iran during 2006-2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Data on completed suicides were collected from the national suicide registry of
      the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organization. The rates were calculated for males
      and females for each year of the study period, from which the temporal trends
      were determined. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, using
      chi-squared and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. RESULTS: The overall rate of
      suicide was 4.7/100,000, with a male/female ratio of 2.4. The mean age of suicide
      was 31.9 years, which was significantly higher in males. Hanging was the most
      common method, followed by poisoning and self-immolation. During the study
      period, the rate of drug poisoning almost doubled, while that of firearms halved.
      The rates of hanging and self-immolation also increased in the last years of the
      study period. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be
      concluded that Iran has had a constant rate of completed suicides over the past
      decade. Our study also indicated the need for future nationwide studies on the
      risk factors of suicidal behavior and on different suicide methods in the entire
      Iranian population.

PMID- 26874435
TI  - A new formula for assessing skeletal age in growing infants and children by
      measuring carpals and epiphyses of radio and ulna.
AB  - The aim of this study is to develop a specific formula for the purpose of
      assessing skeletal age in a sample of Italian growing infants and children by
      measuring carpals and epiphyses of radio and ulna. A sample of 332 X-rays of left
      hand-wrist bones (130 boys and 202 girls), aged between 1 and 16 years, was
      analyzed retrospectively. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to study
      how sex affects the growth of the ratio Bo/Ca in the boys and girls groups. The
      regression model, describing age as a linear function of sex and the Bo/Ca ratio
      for the new Italian sample, yielded the following formula: Age = -1.7702 + 1.0088
      g + 14.8166 (Bo/Ca). This model explained 83.5% of total variance (R(2) = 0.835).
      The median of the absolute values of residuals (observed age minus predicted age)
      was -0.38, with a quartile deviation of 2.01 and a standard error of estimate of
      1.54. A second sample test of 204 Italian children (108 girls and 96 boys), aged
      between 1 and 16 years, was used to evaluate the accuracy of the specific
      regression model. A sample paired t-test was used to analyze the mean differences
      between the skeletal and chronological age. The mean error for girls is 0.00 and
      the estimated age is slightly underestimated in boys with a mean error of -0.30
      years. The standard deviations are 0.70 years for girls and 0.78 years for boys.
      The obtained results indicate that there is a high relationship between estimated
      and chronological ages.

PMID- 26874436
TI  - Major mental disorders, gender, and criminological circumstances of homicide.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the criminological circumstances of homicide in a group of
      French murderers with and without major mental disorders (MMD) stratified by the
      perpetrator's gender. METHODS: Sociodemographic, clinical, and criminological
      variables were collected from the psychiatric expert reports of 210 cases of
      homicide heard at the High Court of Angers, France. Murderers were categorized
      according to MMD diagnosis and gender. RESULTS: Among 210 murderers, 17.6% (n =
      37) had a MMD (20% of the female perpetrators). Logistic regression models showed
      that being a murderer with a MMD was associated with younger age (adjusted Odds
      Ratio OR = 1.03, P = 0.034), high school education (OR = 2.48, P = 0.036),
      previous use of psychiatric services (OR = 4.75, P = 0.003), alcohol intoxication
      (OR = 2.71, P = 0.027), and delusional state (OR = 3.96, P = 0.002) at the time
      of the homicide. Multiple correspondence analyses showed that female murderers
      with a MMD were more prone to have depression and to use drowning as a method
      than those without a MMD, and that male murderers with a MMD more often had a
      high school education and delusional beliefs at the time of the homicide than
      those without a MMD. CONCLUSION: Specific profiles of criminological
      circumstances of homicide could help to explore the risk of homicide in female
      and male patients with a MMD.

PMID- 26874437
TI  - Performance of primary repair on colon injuries sustained from low-versus high
      energy projectiles.
AB  - Among various reasons, colon injuries may be caused by low- or high-energy
      firearm bullets, with the latter producing a temporary cavitation phenomenon. The
      available treatment options include primary repair and two-stage management, but
      recent studies have shown that primary repair can be widely used with a high
      success rate. This paper investigates the differences in performance of primary
      repair on these two types of colon injuries. Two groups of patients who sustained
      colon injuries due to single gunshot wounds, were retrospectively categorized
      based on the type of bullet. Primary colon repair was performed in all patients
      selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Stone and Fabian's
      criteria). An almost absolute homogeneity was attained among the groups in terms
      of age, latent time before surgery, and four trauma indexes. Only one patient
      from the low-energy firearm projectile group (4%) developed a postsurgical
      complication versus nine patients (25.8%) from the high-energy group, showing
      statistically significant difference (p = 0.03). These nine patients experienced
      the following postsurgical complications: pneumonia, abscess, fistula, suture
      leakage, and one multiorgan failure with sepsis. Previous studies concluded that
      one-stage primary repair is the best treatment option for colon injuries.
      However, terminal ballistics testing determined the projectile's path through the
      body and revealed that low-energy projectiles caused considerably lesser damage
      than their high-energy counterparts. Primary colon repair must be performed
      definitely for low-energy short firearm injuries but very carefully for high
      energy injuries. Given these findings, we suggest that the treatment option
      should be determined based not only on the bullet type alone but also on other
      clinical findings.

PMID- 26874438
TI  - Co-fermentation of acetate and sugars facilitating microbial lipid production on
      acetate-rich biomass hydrolysates.
AB  - The process of lignocellulosic biomass routinely produces a stream that contains
      sugars plus various amounts of acetic acid. As acetate is known to inhibit the
      culture of microorganisms including oleaginous yeasts, little attention has been
      paid to explore lipid production on mixtures of acetate and sugars. Here we
      demonstrated that the yeast Cryptococcus curvatus can effectively co-ferment
      acetate and sugars for lipid production. When mixtures of acetate and glucose
      were applied, C. curvatus consumed both substrates simultaneously. Similar
      phenomena were also observed for acetate and xylose mixtures, as well as acetate
      rich corn stover hydrolysates. More interestingly, the replacement of sugar with
      equal amount of acetate as carbon source afforded higher lipid titre and lipid
      content. The lipid products had fatty acid compositional profiles similar to
      those of cocoa butter, suggesting their potential for high value-added fats and
      biodiesel production. This co-fermentation strategy should facilitate lipid
      production technology from lignocelluloses. 

PMID- 26874439
TI  - Microbiological mechanism of the improved nitrogen and phosphorus removal by
      embedding microbial fuel cell in Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic wastewater treatment
      process.
AB  - Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (AA/O) wastewater treatment process is a widely used
      wastewater treatment process for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
      Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electricity and treat the organic
      wastewater simultaneously. Our previous research showed that embedding MFC in
      AA/O wastewater treatment process could enhance the pollutants removal
      efficiency. However, the mechanism was not clear. In this study, a lab-scale
      corridor-style AA/O reactor with MFC embedded was operated and both the total
      nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies were enhanced. DGGE and
      Illumina Miseq results demonstrated that both the microbial community structures
      on the surface of the cathode and in the suspensions of cathode chamber have been
      changed. The percentage of Thauera and Emticicia, identified as denitrifying
      bacteria, increased significantly in the suspension liquid when the MFC was
      embedded in the AA/O reactor. Moreover, the genus Rheinheimera were significantly
      enriched on the cathode surface, which might contribute to both the nitrogen
      removal enhancement and electricity generation. 

PMID- 26874440
TI  - Illumina MiSeq sequencing reveals the key microorganisms involved in partial
      nitritation followed by simultaneous sludge fermentation, denitrification and
      anammox process.
AB  - A combined process including a partial nitritation SBR (PN-SBR) followed by a
      simultaneous sludge fermentation, denitrification and anammox reactor (SFDA) was
      established to treat low C/N domestic wastewater in this study. An average
      nitrite accumulation rate of 97.8% and total nitrogen of 9.4mg/L in the effluent
      was achieved during 140days' operation. The underlying mechanisms were
      investigated by using Illumina MiSeq sequencing to analyze the microbial
      community structures in the PN-SBR and SFDA. Results showed that the predominant
      bacterial phylum was Proteobacteria in the external waste activated sludge (WAS,
      added to the SFDA) and SFDA while Bacteroidetes in the PN-SBR. Further study
      indicated that in the PN-SBR, the dominant nitrobacteria, Nitrosomonas genus,
      facilitated nitritation and little nitrate was generated in the PN-SBR effluent.
      In the SFDA, the co-existence of functional microorganisms Thauera, Candidatus
      Anammoximicrobium and Pseudomonas were found to contribute to simultaneous sludge
      fermentation, denitrification and anammox. 

PMID- 26874441
TI  - Catalytic pyrolysis of wheat bran for hydrocarbons production in the presence of
      zeolites and noble-metals by using TGA-FTIR method.
AB  - Pyrolysis of wheat bran with or without catalysts was investigated using TGA-FTIR
      method in order to determine the influence of zeolite and noble metal catalysts
      on the evolution profile and relative yield of the volatile compounds. The
      addition of all catalysts decreased the volatile matter of wheat bran from 76.3%
      to 75.9%, 73.9%, 73.5%, 69.7% and increased the solid residue from 18.0% to
      18.4%, 20.4%, 20.8%, 24.6% under the catalyst of ZSM-5, 5% Pd/C, MCM-41, and 5%
      Pt/C. Noble-metal catalysts had higher activity for deoxygenation of compounds
      containing carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups than zeolites. Degradation of
      nitrogen containing compounds atom proceeded better in presence of zeolites.
      Noble-metal catalysts promoted formation of aromatics and changed the profiles of
      evolved compounds whereas zeolites advanced formation of aliphatics and olefins. 

PMID- 26874442
TI  - Effects of interspecific competition on the growth of macrophytes and nutrient
      removal in constructed wetlands: A comparative assessment of free water surface
      and horizontal subsurface flow systems.
AB  - The outcome of competition between adjoining interspecific colonies of Phragmites
      and Typha in two large field pilot-scale free water surface (FWS) and subsurface
      flow (SSF) CWs is evaluated. According to findings, the effect of interspecific
      competition was notable for Phragmites australis, whereby it showed the highest
      growth performance in both FWS and SSF wetland. In a mixed-culture, P. australis
      demonstrates superiority in terms of competitive interactions for space between
      plants. Furthermore, the interspecific competition among planted species seemed
      to cause different ecological responses of plant species in the two CWs. For
      example, while relatively high density and shoot height determined the high
      aboveground dry weight of P. australis in the FWS wetland, this association was
      not evident in the SSF. Additionally, while plants nutrients uptake accounts for
      a higher proportion of the nitrogen removal in FWS, that in the SSF accounts for
      a higher proportion of the phosphorous removal. 

PMID- 26874443
TI  - Does inter-tibiofibular graft still have a role in the treatment of lower-limb
      non-union?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Tibial non-union is a complication that poses a real challenge for
      surgeons. Several forms of treatment, depending on the type of non-union, have
      been described. The present study sought to assess results for treatment of
      tibial non-union by inter-tibiofibular graft (ITFG). MATERIAL AND METHOD: An
      exhaustive cohort study was performed on the files of 33 patients: 25 male, 8
      female; mean age, 44years. Twenty cases involved high-energy trauma. Twenty-four
      were open fractures. Twenty-two concerned diaphyseal fracture, 10 of which were
      complex segmental. Eleven concerned distal fracture, including 4 complete
      articular fractures. There were 17 cases of septic non-union. There were no cases
      of severe bone defect. ITFG was performed at a mean 8.7 months post-trauma, as
      first-line treatment in 30 cases and in second line in 3. RESULTS: Thirty-one
      patients showed bone consolidation, at a mean 7.2 months. The 2 failures resulted
      from technical error. Trauma kinetics emerged as a risk factor for failure.
      DISCUSSION: ITFG remains a useful treatment option in tibial non-union, whether
      infected or not. The present results are comparable with those of the literature.
      Although the present series comprised only tight non-union, a study of the
      literature showed that ITFG can treat bone defects up to 4 or 5cm. Functional
      results showed tibiotalar joint stiffening, due more to immobilization and non
      weight-bearing than to syndesmosis. ITFG thus remains relevant to the treatment
      of tibial non-union. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

PMID- 26874444
TI  - Intercondylar notch dysplasia in open-physis anterior cruciate ligament injuries:
      A case-control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in children
      is rising steadily due to a variety of factors including growing participation in
      sports. A narrow intercondylar notch is an intrinsic risk factor that is well
      documented in adults but rarely investigated in children. The objective of this
      study was to evaluate the potential association between a narrow intercondylar
      notch and ACL tears in children. HYPOTHESIS: A narrow intercondylar notch is
      associated with ACL tears. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a paediatric case-control
      study, we compared intercondylar notch morphology as assessed by magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) in 49 patients with ACL tears (33 males and 16 females
      with a mean age of 13.6 years) and 50 controls with normal knees (18 boys and 32
      girls with a mean age of 13.8 years). In each participant, posterior tibial slope
      was measured, as well as the notch width index (NWI) (width of the intercondylar
      notch over bicondylar width at the same level). In addition, to evaluate anterior
      impingement, the angle formed by Blumensaat's line and the axis of the tibia
      (alpha angle) was measured with the knee extended. RESULTS: The NWI was
      significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (0.244+/-0.02 and 0.263+/
      0.02, respectively; P<0.05). The alpha angle was also significantly smaller in
      the cases (138.74 degrees +/-4.6 degrees  vs. 141.30 degrees +/-7.9 degrees  in
      the controls; P<0.05). DISCUSSION: ACL tears are associated with a small NWI in
      children. A narrow intercondylar notch is an established risk factor for ACL
      tears and should be sought routinely to determine whether notch-plasty should be
      performed during the ACL reconstruction procedure in order to decrease the risk
      of recurrent ACL tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, case-control study.

PMID- 26874445
TI  - Bone lengthening using the Fitbone((r)) motorized intramedullary nail: The first
      experience in France.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Intramedullary limb lengthening systems include mechanical systems
      (the Albizzia nail and the ISKD nail) as well as motorized systems with the
      Fitbone((r)) (Wittenstein, Igersheim, Germany) and the Precice((r)) (Ellipse
      Technologies, Irvine, CA, USA) nails. We hypothesized that limb lengthening using
      the Fitbone((r)) nail was reliable, reproducible, and comfortable for the
      patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2010 and 2013, a prospective single
      center, single-operator (FA) study was conducted on patients who had undergone
      limb lengthening using the Fitbone((r)) nail. The inclusion criteria were length
      discrepancy of the limbs equal to or greater than 25 mm or a short stature. The
      exclusion criteria were indications for cosmetic reasons and/or growth plates
      that were still open. The lengthening parameters were assessed postoperatively
      and at the last follow-up. Lengthening was considered achieved when the
      lengthening objective did not differ by more than 5 mm. All complications were
      noted. A statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-six Fitbone((r))
      nails were implanted in 23 patients, in the femur in 15 cases and the tibia in 11
      cases. The patients' mean age was 22.5 years (range: 15-53 years) and the mean
      follow-up was 3.4 years (range: 2-5.3 years). The limb lengthening targeted was
      obtained in 23 cases (88%) and the mean lengthening was 45.3+/-18 mm (range: 20
      80 mm). The mean time to healing was 277+/-167 days (range: 86-638 days). The
      mean healing index was 73+/-57 days/cm for the femurs and 83.5+/-65 days/cm for
      the tibias. The mean complication rate was 15.4%. DISCUSSION: This study
      emphasizes the good short-term results of this motorized intramedullary
      lengthening system. An evaluation over the longer term and with a higher number
      of patients remains necessary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV: uncontrolled, prospective,
      continuous study.

PMID- 26874446
TI  - Aneurysmal bone cyst: A 19-case series managed by percutaneous sclerotherapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sclerotherapy offers an alternative to surgery for the treatment of
      aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). The main objective of the present study was to assess
      the radiological efficacy of sclerotherapy in terms of ossification on MRI.
      Secondary objectives were to assess clinical efficacy on pain evaluation and to
      analyze recurrence and complications according to type of sclerosing agent and
      intraoperative imaging technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2014,
      19 patients (7 females, 12 males, aged 3 to 17 years) with ABC treated by
      sclerotherapy were included. Six received Ethibloc((r)), 9 Aetoxisclerol((r)), 2
      liquid absolute alcohol, and 2 absolute alcohol gel. Assessment used fluoroscopy
      in 17 cases and CT in 2. Ossification was assessed on MRI and pain on a visual
      analog scale and HEDEN score. RESULTS: Ossification was complete in 11 cases
      (84.6%) and partial in 2 (15.4%). Eighteen patients (94.7%) were pain-free at 3
      months. There was no recurrence, at a minimum 2 years' follow-up. One case of
      skin necrosis was observed, associated with use of liquid absolute alcohol; there
      was 1 case of arterial reflux of Ethibloc((r)) under CT control. DISCUSSION:
      Sclerotherapy enables minimally invasive treatment of lesions that are deep,
      difficult of access to surgery and potentially damaging. Use of absolute alcohol
      gel and fluoroscopic control seems to improve the risk/benefit ratio, limiting
      complications by vascular extravasation of the sclerosing agent, thanks to real
      time visualization of diffusion. Its clinical and radiological efficacy makes
      sclerotherapy and alternative primary treatment choice in ABC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      IV, retrospective study.

PMID- 26874447
TI  - Can the presence of an infection be predicted before a revision total hip
      arthroplasty? Preliminary study to establish an infection score.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection can be challenging,
      in part because there is no universal diagnostic test. Current recommendations
      include several diagnostic criteria, and are mainly based on the results of deep
      microbiological samples; however, these only provide a diagnosis after surgery. A
      predictive infection score would improve the management of revision arthroplasty
      cases. The purpose of this study was to define a composite infection score using
      standard clinical, radiological and laboratory data that can be used to predict
      whether an infection is present before a total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision
      procedure. HYPOTHESIS: The infection score will make it possible to differentiate
      correctly between infected and non-infected patients in 75% of cases. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: One hundred and four records from patients who underwent THA
      revision for any reason were analysed retrospectively: 43 with infection and 61
      without infection. There were 54 men and 50 women with an average age of 70+/-12
      years (range 30-90). A univariate analysis was performed to look for individual
      discriminating factors between the data in the medical records of infected and
      non-infected patients. A multivariate analysis subsequently integrated these
      factors together. A composite score was defined and its diagnostic effectiveness
      was evaluated as the percentage of correctly classified records, along with its
      sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The score consisted of the following
      individually weighed factors: body mass index, presence of diabetes, mechanical
      complication, wound healing disturbance and fever. This composite infection score
      was able to distinguish correctly between the infected patients (positive score)
      and non-infected patients (negative score) in 78% of cases; the sensitivity was
      57% and the specificity 93%. DISCUSSION: Once this score is evaluated
      prospectively, it could be an important tool for defining the medical - surgical
      strategy during THA revision, no matter the reason for revision. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV - retrospective study.

PMID- 26874448
TI  - Repeated metal ion measurement in patients with bilateral metal on metal (ASRTM)
      hip replacements.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Blood metal ion measurements have become a cornerstone in the
      surveillance of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements. Interpretation of these
      levels in patients with bilateral MoM hip replacements, however, is challenging.
      We therefore asked (1) if there is a clinically significant change in whole blood
      (WB) Co or Cr levels in repeated WB assessment in patients operated on with
      bilateral ASR hip replacements, and (2) what proportion of patients has WB Co or
      Cr level below the previously established safe upper limits (SUL) (Co<5.0MUg/L,
      Cr<7.4MUg/L) in the repeated WB metal ion assessment. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized
      that there is a significant difference between repeated Co and Cr level
      measurement performed within one year+/-4 months interval in patients with
      bilateral ASR hip replacements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all patients
      (n=139) who had received bilateral ASR hip replacements (278 hips). Patients
      (n=76, 152 hips) who had undergone two blood metal ion measurements within eight
      to sixteen months' time interval were included in the study analysis. Study
      cohort included 38 patients with bilateral ASR hip resurfacings (mean age 53
      years, median follow-up 4.6 years, median femoral diameter 51mm) and 38 patients
      with bilateral ASR XL total hip replacements (mean age 60 years, median follow-up
      3.6 years, median femoral diameter 49mm). RESULTS: There was no significant
      change in Co and Cr levels between the repeated measurements in the HR cohort.
      Both Co and Cr were significantly higher in the THR cohort in the repeated
      measurement (Co: 8.3MUg/L vs. 12.6MUg/L, Cr: 3.15MUg/L vs. 3.4MUg/L, both
      P<0.001). WB Co and Cr levels remained below SUL and within their initial values
      during a mean one-year measurement interval in the majority of patients with
      bilateral high risk HR device. In contrast to this, 21.1% of patients with THRs
      had WB Co ion levels exceeding the SUL in the first measurement. WB Co values
      significantly increased over the measurement interval in the THR group.
      DISCUSSION: Annual blood metal ion measurement is not useful in patients with
      bilateral hip resurfacings who have undergone at least one preliminary screening
      including both metal ion measurement and cross-sectional imaging. It seems,
      however, to be beneficial in patients with bilateral high risk MoM THR. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III (retrospective comparative study).

PMID- 26874449
TI  - Femoral revision with a primary cementless stem.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The use of a primary cementless component is a tempting option for
      revision total hip arthrosplasty (reTHA), however, the results of this type of
      revision have not been clearly determined. The goal of this retrospective study
      was to determine: if revision with a primary anatomical cementless femoral stem
      gives adequate bone fixation; the rate of secondary subsidence or recurrent
      loosening; the survival rate with this device. HYPOTHESIS: Revision with a
      primary anatomical cementless femoral stem results in a low rate of subsidence
      and recurrent loosening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective series of 43
      reTHA performed between 1994 and 2012 included 43 patients, mean age 66 years old
      (37-90) with a minimum follow-up of 24months. There were grade 1 (n=24) or 2A
      (n=19) bone defects according to the Paprosky classification. The causes of
      revision were: aseptic loosening in 27, septic loosening in 6, malposition of the
      implant in 7 and periprosthetic fractures in 3. Clinical (Postel Merle d'Aubigne
      [PMA] and Harris scores), and radiological (subsidence) assessment was performed,
      as well as survival analysis (with a 95% confidence interval). RESULTS: All
      components were changed through posterolateral approach without femorotomy. In
      four cases de-escalation (use of a primary component for secondary revision of a
      prior revision component) was performed. There were no perioperative fractures or
      perforations. After a mean 47months (24-134), the mean PMA score increased from
      10 (5-15) to 16 (11-18), and the Harris score from 58 (20-80) to 85 (66-96).
      Radiological assessment did not show any extensive radiolucencies or secondary
      subsidence. Only 3 components were placed in a varus position, with no clinical
      consequences. One patient had subsequent revision for recurrent dislocations.
      Estimated survival at 80months by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 85% (CI 95%: 64
      100%). DISCUSSION: There are very few studies in the literature (7 series) on
      this topic, which shows the reluctance of surgeons to use this technique.
      Placement of a primary femoral stem requires good metaphyseal bone quality for
      primary stability. Thus, the indication is limited to Paprosky 1 and 2A stages.
      Revision surgery must be performed by endofemoral approach requiring good
      preoperative planning, as well as knowledge of the explanted component and a
      revision component must be available, if necessary, in the operating room. LEVEL
      OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective study, level 4.

PMID- 26874450
TI  - Diabetes mellitus and risk of ischemic stroke in patients with heart failure and
      no atrial fibrillation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The risk of ischemic stroke, systemic thromboembolism, and all-cause
      death among heart failure patients previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus is
      poorly described. We evaluated the risk of these endpoints among heart failure
      patients without diagnosed atrial fibrillation according to the presence of
      diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Population-based nationwide cohort study of non
      anticoagulated patients diagnosed with incident heart failure during 2000-2012,
      identified by record linkage between nationwide registries in Denmark. We
      calculated relative risks after 1year to evaluate the association between
      diabetes and risk of events in 39,357 heart failure patients, among whom 18.1%
      had diabetes. Analysis took into account competing risks of death. RESULTS:
      Absolute risks of all endpoints were higher in patients with diabetes compared to
      patients without diabetes after 1-year follow-up (ischemic stroke: 4.1% vs. 2.8%;
      systemic thromboembolism: 11.9% vs. 8.6%; all-cause death: 22.1% vs. 21.4%).
      Diabetes was significantly associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke
      (adjusted relative risk [RR]: 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.51);
      systemic thromboembolism (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.30); and all-cause death (RR:
      1.17, 95% CI: 1.11-1.23). Additionally, time since diabetes diagnosis was
      associated with higher adjusted cumulative incidences of ischemic stroke,
      systemic thromboembolism, and all-cause death (p for trend, p<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Among heart failure patients without atrial fibrillation, diabetes
      was associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic stroke, systemic
      thromboembolism, and all-cause death compared to those without diabetes, even
      after adjustment for concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. Increased focus on
      secondary prevention in heart failure patients with diabetes may be warranted.

PMID- 26874451
TI  - Percutaneous closure of three atrial septal defects with three interleaved atrial
      septal occluders in an adult patient.

PMID- 26874452
TI  - Predictive value of the SYNTAX score for short-term cognitive outcomes after off
      pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

PMID- 26874453
TI  - Increased creatine kinase with statin treatment may identify statin-associated
      muscle symptoms.

PMID- 26874454
TI  - Sudden death: A growing threat to doctors in China.

PMID- 26874455
TI  - Pathogen-driven treatment strategy in new onset dilated cardiomyopathy. Impact on
      ventricular function and clinical outcome.

PMID- 26874456
TI  - Factors Influencing Female Caregivers' Appraisals of Their Preschoolers'
      Behaviors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This study used the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment,
      and Adaptation to explore family factors associated with primary female
      caregivers' appraisals of children's behaviors, distortion of their appraisals,
      and children's risk of having behavioral problems. METHOD: A cross-sectional,
      correlational design was used. Data were collected from female caregivers of
      preschoolers. Instruments measured demographic characteristics, comfort in
      parenting, appraisal of behaviors, daily and parenting stress, depressive
      symptoms, social support, ratings of children's behaviors, and distortion in
      ratings. Analyses included chi2 and simultaneous linear regression. RESULTS:
      Greater parenting discomfort and daily stress were associated with lower
      appraisals of children's behaviors. Caucasian race and higher distortion in
      behavioral ratings were associated with higher risk of behavioral problems.
      Caregiver's appraisal was associated with daily stress level and parenting
      comfort. DISCUSSION: Additional research is needed regarding how these factors
      affect children's behavior and causes of distorted parental views of children's
      behaviors.

PMID- 26874457
TI  - Quality of Life and Health Outcomes in Overweight and Non-Overweight Children
      With Asthma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: During the past two decades, the number of children and adolescents
      who are obese has more than doubled. Following this trend in childhood obesity,
      there has been an alarming increase in the number of children with asthma who are
      overweight. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the differences in
      quality of life (QOL) and health outcomes of obese and overweight children with
      asthma compared with normal-weight children with asthma using a descriptive
      comparative survey design. METHODS: This comparative study consisted of 90
      overweight and normal-weight 9- to 14-year-olds with asthma. Health outcomes
      examined included asthma-related missed number of school days, emergency
      department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, number of days wheezing, and number of
      night awakenings. QOL was measured using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life
      Questionnaire. RESULTS: The obese group reported the highest percentage of ED
      visits, hospitalizations, and number of days wheezing compared with the normal
      weight group. A risk ratio analysis showed that the obese group had an overall
      2.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.15, 3.63) times higher likelihood of going
      to the ED and a 2.46 (95% CI 1.97, 3.19) times higher likelihood of
      hospitalization than the overweight and normal-weight groups. Asthma severity was
      a significant predictor of overall QOL (beta = -23.737, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS:
      The study results are consistent with other investigations that demonstrate that
      obese persons are at higher risk of experiencing severe asthma symptoms and
      support obesity as a potentially modifiable risk factor for asthma mitigation and
      prevention.

PMID- 26874458
TI  - Genetic and morphological consequences of Quaternary glaciations: A relic barbel
      lineage (Luciobarbus pallaryi, Cyprinidae) of Guir Basin (Algeria).
AB  - Climatic variations during the Quaternary period had a considerable impact on
      landscapes and habitat fragmentation (rivers) in North Africa. These historical
      events can have significant consequences on the genetic structure of the
      populations. Indeed, geographically separated and genetically isolated
      populations tend to differentiate themselves through time, eventually becoming
      distinct lineages, allowing new species to emerge in later generations. The aim
      of the present study is to use genetic and morphological techniques to evaluate
      the major role of the Saalian glaciation (Middle Quaternary) in the establishment
      of the geographic space and in the evolution of the intraspecific genetic
      diversity, by tracing the demographic history of barbels belonging to the
      Luciobarbus pallaryi (Cyprinidae) species in the Guir Basin (Algeria). In this
      context, two populations, from two distinct and isolated sites, were studied.
      Analysis of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial markers and of the "D-loop"
      control region has shown that the "upstream" and "downstream" Guir populations
      are genetically differentiated. The molecular analyses suggest that the upstream
      population was disconnected from this hydrographic system during the Saalian
      glaciation period of the Quaternary. Subsequently, it was isolated in the
      foggaras underground waters in the Great Western Erg, at approximately 320 000
      years BP, creating, through a bottleneck effect, a new allopatric lineage
      referred to as "Adrar". Conversely, the high genetic diversity in the upstream
      Guir (Bechar) population suggests that the stock is globally in expansion. These
      barbels (n=52) were also examined with meristic, morphometric, osteological, and
      biological features. These data also reveal a complete discrimination between the
      two populations, with a remarkable and distinctive behavioural adaptation for the
      Adrar specimens: neoteny.

PMID- 26874459
TI  - SSRs transferability and genetic diversity of three allogamous ryegrass species.
AB  - Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are widely applied in studies of plant
      molecular genetics due to their abundance in the genome, codominant nature, and
      high repeatability. However, microsatellites are not always available for the
      species to be studied and their isolation could be time- and cost-consuming. To
      investigate transferability in cross-species applications, 102 primer pairs
      previously developed in ryegrass and tall fescue were amplified across three
      allogamous ryegrass species including Lolium rigidum, Lolium perenne and Lolium
      multiflorum. Their highly transferability (100%) were evidenced. While, most of
      these markers were multiple loci, only 17 loci were selected for a robust, single
      locus pattern, which may be due to the recentness of the genome duplication or
      duplicated genomic regions, as well as speciation. A total of 87 alleles were
      generated with an average of 5.1 per locus. The mean polymorphism information
      content (PIC) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) values at genus was 0.5532 and
      0.5423, respectively. Besides, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed
      that all three levels contributed significantly to the overall genetic variation,
      with the species level contributing the least (P<0.001). Also, the unweighted
      pair group method with arithmetic averaging dendrogram (UPGMA), Bayesian model
      based STRUCTURE analysis and the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that
      accessions within species always tended to the same cluster firstly and then to
      related species. The results showed that these markers developed in related
      species are transferable efficiently across species, and likely to be useful in
      analyzing genetic diversity. 

PMID- 26874460
TI  - Stability and Marginal Bone Level Changes of SLActive Titanium-Zirconium Implants
      Placed with Flapless Surgery: A Prospective Pilot Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immediately-loaded, narrow-diameter implants can be a less invasive
      alternative for the implant-supported fixed rehabilitation of narrow, posterior
      crests. PURPOSE: To determine the stability and marginal bone level (MBL) changes
      of narrow-diameter, titanium-zirconium (TiZr) implants placed with flapless
      surgery and loaded immediately in the posterior region. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Thirty-eight TiZr implants (3.3 mm diameter, 10 mm length, Roxolid, Straumann AG)
      were placed in the posterior crests of 14 patients with computer-guided flapless
      surgery as a support of 3-unit posterior bridges. Eighteen implants were loaded
      immediately, and 20 implants were loaded conventionally. The implant stability
      quotients were determined at the 1, 2, 4, and 8. weeks of healing before
      conventional loading, and at the 3, 6, and 12. months after loading by resonance
      frequency analysis. The MBL changes were measured by digital radiography.
      RESULTS: The surgical protocols were accomplished without any biological
      complications. There was no significant difference in the stability changes of
      TiZr implants between the loading groups (p > .05). The MBL changes were -0.18 +/
      0.27 mm and -0.24 +/- 0.27 mm at the 12. month of immediate and conventional
      loading, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p > .05).
      CONCLUSION: The stability and MBL changes of TiZr implants supporting posterior 3
      unit bridges were clinically acceptable at the first year of loading.

PMID- 26874461
TI  - Recreational marijuana use and acute ischemic stroke: A population-based analysis
      of hospitalized patients in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recreational marijuana use is considered to have few adverse effects.
      However, recent evidence has suggested that it precipitates cardiovascular and
      cerebrovascular events. Here, we investigated the relationship between marijuana
      use and hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) using data from the
      largest inpatient database in the United States. METHODS: The Nationwide
      Inpatient Sample was queried from 2004 to 2011 for all patients (age 15-54) with
      a primary diagnosis of AIS. The incidence of AIS hospitalization in marijuana
      users and non-marijuana users was determined. We utilized multivariable logistic
      regression analyses to study the independent association between marijuana use
      and AIS. RESULTS: Overall, the incidence of AIS was significantly greater among
      marijuana users compared to non-users (Relative Risk [RR]: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.11
      1.15, P<0.0001) and had the greatest difference in the 25-34 age group (RR: 2.26,
      95% CI: 2.13-2.38, P<0.0001). Marijuana use was more prevalent among younger
      patients, males, African Americans, and Medicaid enrollees (P<0.0001). Marijuana
      users were more likely to use other illicit substances but had less overall
      medical comorbidity. In multivariable analysis, adjusted for potential
      confounders, marijuana (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.15-1.20), tobacco (OR:
      1.76, 95% CI: 1.74-1.77), cocaine (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.30-1.34), and amphetamine
      (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 2.12-2.30) usage were found to increase the likelihood of AIS
      (all P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Among younger adults, recreational marijuana use is
      independently associated with 17% increased likelihood of AIS hospitalization.

PMID- 26874462
TI  - BCOR internal tandem duplications in clear cell sarcoma of the kidney.

PMID- 26874463
TI  - Differential prevalence and demographic and clinical correlates of second
      generation antipsychotic use in bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder.
AB  - AIMS: To assess second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) use, demographics, and
      clinical correlates in patients with bipolar I disorder (BDI) versus bipolar II
      disorder (BDII). METHODS: Stanford Bipolar Disorder (BD) Clinic outpatients
      enrolled during 2000-2011 were assessed with the Systematic Treatment Enhancement
      Program for BD (STEP-BD) Affective Disorders Evaluation. Current SGA use,
      demographics, and clinical correlates were assessed for BDI versus BDII. RESULTS:
      Among 503 BD outpatients, in BDI versus BDII, SGA use was more than twice as
      common (44.0% versus 21.2%), and doses were approximately twice as high. BDI
      patients taking (N = 107) versus not taking (N = 136) SGAs less often had current
      full time employment and college degree; and more often had lifetime psychiatric
      hospitalization, current depression, and current complex pharmacotherapy, and had
      a higher mean current Clinical Global Impression for Bipolar Version Overall
      Severity score, and these persisted significantly after covarying for employment
      and education. Prior psychiatric hospitalization was the most robust correlate of
      SGA use in BDI patients. In contrast, these demographic and clinical correlates
      of SGA use were not statistically significant among patients with BDII, although
      BDII (but not BDI) patients taking (N = 55) versus not taking (N = 205) SGAs were
      more likely to have current mood stabilizer use (67.3% versus 51.7%).
      LIMITATIONS: American tertiary bipolar disorder clinic referral sample, cross
      sectional design. CONCLUSIONS: Current SGA use was robustly associated with prior
      psychiatric hospitalization in BDI and to a more limited extent with current mood
      stabilizer use in BDII. SGA use associations with other unfavorable illness
      characteristics in BDI were less robust.

PMID- 26874465
TI  - Description of Lecythium terrestris sp. nov. (Chlamydophryidae, Cercozoa), a Soil
      Dwelling Protist Feeding on Fungi and Algae.
AB  - Testate amoebae have been frequently studied by protistologists, but still little
      information is available on some groups like the Chlamydophryidae. These amoebae
      are difficult to culture and therefore quantitative information on their
      morphology, phylogeny and ecology is scarce. We isolated and cultured a small
      testate amoeba from an agricultural field at Muncheberg near Berlin, Germany.
      Morphological analyses revealed it to be a new species of the genus Lecythium. We
      describe Lecythium terrestris sp. nov. and present its morphology, mycophagous
      and algivorous feeding habits and its ability to form cell aggregates by fusion.
      Using small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene phylogeny, we could confirm the
      phylogenetic position of the genus Lecythium among the Cercozoa where it groups
      closely to Pseudodifflugiidae (Tectofilosida).

PMID- 26874464
TI  - Roles of N-Myc and STAT interactor in cancer: From initiation to dissemination.
AB  - N-myc & STAT Interactor, NMI, is a protein that has mostly been studied for its
      physical interactions with transcription factors that play critical roles in
      tumor growth, progression and metastasis. NMI is an inducible protein, thus its
      intracellular levels and location can vary dramatically, influencing a diverse
      array of cellular functions in a context-dependent manner. The physical
      interactions of NMI with its binding partners have been linked to many aspects of
      tumor biology including DNA damage response, cell death, epithelial-to
      mesenchymal transition and stemness. Thus, discovering more details about the
      function(s) of NMI could reveal key insights into how transcription factors like
      c-Myc, STATs and BRCA1 are contextually regulated. Although a normal,
      physiological function of NMI has not yet been discovered, it has potential roles
      in pathologies ranging from viral infection to cancer. This review provides a
      timely perspective of the unfolding roles of NMI with specific focus on cancer
      progression and metastasis.

PMID- 26874466
TI  - Chimeric antigen receptor T cell treatment in hematologic malignancies.
AB  - Adoptive transfer of T cells that have genetically engineered chimeric antigen
      receptors (CARs) is an encouraging treatment modality in the hematological
      malignancies. These T cells are capable of selectively recognizing tumor
      associated antigens. There are a variety of reported, as well as ongoing studies
      on the utilization of CAR-T cells in the treatment of leukemia, myeloma, as well
      as B and T cell lymphomas. In this review, we aimed to highlight current
      understanding of this promising treatment modality, including its efficacy and
      adverse effects. 

PMID- 26874467
TI  - Priority needs and wisdom strategy for blood transfusion safety in developing low
      resource countries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of alternative safety measures that
      reduce the risk of transfusion transmissible infections as an affordable measure
      in low resource countries. BACKGROUND: It is still difficult in developing
      countries with limited resources to mandate nucleic acid testing due to its high
      cost. Although NAT reduces the window period of infection, the developing
      countries are still in need of an efficient and effective transfusion programme
      before implementing the complex high cost NAT. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two
      thousand eight hundred eighty sero-negative first-time and repeat donations from
      Fayoum University Hospital blood bank were individually analysed by NAT for HIV,
      HBV and HCV. Only discriminatory-positive NAT were classified comparing the non
      remunerated and family replacement donations. RESULTS: Significant discriminatory
      positive differences were observed for HBV NAT results, 2 remunerated donations
      compared to 0 non-remunerated sero-negative donations. The discriminatory
      positive differences were also significant for HCV NAT results, 4 remunerated
      donations compared to 1 non-remunerated sero-negative donation. No sero-negative,
      discriminatory-positive NAT HIV case was found. Seven out of 8 discriminatory
      positive cases were from first time donations. CONCLUSION: In order to ensure
      blood safety, the recruitment and retention of voluntary, non-remunerated repeat
      donors should be a major commitment for low resource countries in which NAT
      implementation is costly and not feasible.

PMID- 26874468
TI  - Patient-derived xenografts as tools in pharmaceutical development.
AB  - Successful drug development in oncology is grossly suboptimal, manifested by the
      very low percentage of new agents being developed that ultimately succeed in
      clinical approval. This poor success is in part due to the inability of standard
      cell-line xenograft models to accurately predict clinical success and to tailor
      chemotherapy specifically to a group of patients more likely to benefit from the
      therapy. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) maintain the histopathological
      architecture and molecular features of human tumors, and offer a potential
      solution to maximize drug development success and ultimately generate better
      outcomes for patients. Although imperfect in mimicking all aspects of human
      cancer, PDXs are a more predictable platform for preclinical evaluation of
      treatment effect and in selected cases can guide therapeutic decision making in
      the clinic. This article summarizes the current status of PDX models, challenges
      associated with modeling human cancer, and various approaches that have been
      applied to overcome these challenges and improve the clinical relevance of PDX
      cancer models. 

PMID- 26874469
TI  - Developing LED UV fluorescence sensors for online monitoring DOM and predicting
      DBPs formation potential during water treatment.
AB  - Online monitoring dissolved organic matter (DOM) is urgent for water treatment
      management. In this study, high performance size exclusion chromatography with
      multi-UV absorbance and multi-emission fluorescence scans were applied to
      spectrally characterize samples from 16 drinking water sources across Yangzi
      River and Huai River Watersheds. The UV absorbance indices at 254 nm and 280 nm
      referred to the same DOM components and concentration, and the 280 nm UV light
      could excite both protein-like and humic-like fluorescence. Hence a novel UV
      fluorescence sensor was developed out using only one UV280 light-emitting diode
      (LED) as light source. For all samples, enhanced coagulation was mainly effective
      for large molecular weight biopolymers; while anion exchange further
      substantially removed humic substances. During chlorination tests, UVA280 and
      UVA254 showed similar correlations with yields of disinfection byproducts (DBPs);
      the humic-like fluorescence obtained from LED sensors correlated well with both
      trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids yields, while the correlation between
      protein-like fluorescence and trihalomethanes was relatively poor. Anion exchange
      exhibited more reduction of DBPs yields as well as UV absorbance and fluorescence
      signals than enhanced coagulation. The results suggest that the LED UV
      fluorescence sensors are very promising for online monitoring DOM and predicting
      DBPs formation potential during water treatment.

PMID- 26874470
TI  - Investigation of severe UF membrane fouling induced by three marine algal
      species.
AB  - Reducing membrane fouling caused by seawater algal bloom is a challenge for
      regions of the world where most of their freshwater is produced by seawater
      desalination. This study aims to compare ultrafiltration (UF) fouling potential
      of three ubiquitous marine algal species cultures (i.e., Skeletonema costatum
      SKC, Tetraselmis sp.-TET, and Hymenomonas sp.-HYM) sampled at different phases of
      growth. Results showed that flux reduction and irreversible fouling were more
      severe during the decline phase as compared to the exponential phase, for all
      species. SKC and TET were responsible for substantial irreversible fouling but
      their impact was significantly lower than HYM. The development of a transparent
      gel layer surrounding the cell during the HYM growth and accumulating in water is
      certainly responsible for the more severe observed fouling. Chemical backwash
      with a standard chlorine solution did not recover any membrane permeability. For
      TET and HYM, the Hydraulically Irreversible Fouling Index (HIFI) was correlated
      to their biopolymer content but this correlation is specific for each species.
      Solution pre-filtration through a 1.2 MUm membrane proved that cells and
      particulate algal organic matter (p-AOM) considerably contribute to fouling,
      especially for HYM for which the HIFI was reduced by a factor of 82.3.

PMID- 26874471
TI  - Toward the neural implementation of structure learning.
AB  - Despite significant advances in neuroscience, the neural bases of intelligence
      remain poorly understood. Arguably the most elusive aspect of intelligence is the
      ability to make robust inferences that go far beyond one's experience. Animals
      categorize objects, learn to vocalize and may even estimate causal relationships 
      all in the face of data that is often ambiguous and sparse. Such inductive leaps
      are thought to result from the brain's ability to infer latent structure that
      governs the environment. However, we know little about the neural computations
      that underlie this ability. Recent advances in developing computational
      frameworks that can support efficient structure learning and inductive inference
      may provide insight into the underlying component processes and help pave the
      path for uncovering their neural implementation.

PMID- 26874472
TI  - Quantifying collectivity.
AB  - In biological function emerges from the interactions of components with only
      partially aligned interests. An example is the brain-a large aggregation of
      neurons capable of producing unitary, coherent output. A theory for how such
      aggregations produce coherent output remains elusive. A first question we might
      ask is how collective is the behavior of the components? Here we introduce two
      properties of collectivity and illustrate how these properties can be quantified
      using approaches from information theory and statistical physics. First,
      amplification quantifies the sensitivity of the large scale to information at the
      small scale and is related to the notion of criticality in statistical physics.
      Second, decomposability reveals the extent to which aggregate behavior is
      reducible to individual contributions or is the result of synergistic
      interactions among components forming larger subgroups. These measures facilitate
      identification of causally important components and subgroups that might be
      experimentally manipulated to study the evolution and controllability of
      biological circuits and their outputs.

PMID- 26874474
TI  - Communication: Isotopic effects on tunneling motions in the water trimer.
AB  - We present results of ring polymer molecular dynamics simulations that shed light
      on the effects of nuclear quantum fluctuations on tunneling motions in cyclic
      [H2O]3 and [D2O]3, at the representative temperature of T = 75 K. In particular,
      we focus attention on free energies associated with two key isomerization
      processes: The first one corresponds to flipping transitions of dangling OH
      bonds, between up and down positions with respect to the O-O-O plane of the
      cluster; the second involves the interchange between connecting and dangling
      hydrogen bond character of the H-atoms in a tagged water molecule. Zero point
      energy and tunneling effects lead to sensible reductions of the free energy
      barriers. Due to the lighter nature of the H nuclei, these modifications are more
      marked in [H2O]3 than in [D2O]3. Estimates of the characteristic time scales
      describing the flipping transitions are consistent with those predicted based on
      standard transition-state-approximation arguments. 

PMID- 26874473
TI  - Perspective: Computer simulations of long time dynamics.
AB  - Atomically detailed computer simulations of complex molecular events attracted
      the imagination of many researchers in the field as providing comprehensive
      information on chemical, biological, and physical processes. However, one of the
      greatest limitations of these simulations is of time scales. The physical time
      scales accessible to straightforward simulations are too short to address many
      interesting and important molecular events. In the last decade significant
      advances were made in different directions (theory, software, and hardware) that
      significantly expand the capabilities and accuracies of these techniques. This
      perspective describes and critically examines some of these advances. 

PMID- 26874475
TI  - Communication: Real time observation of unimolecular decay of Criegee
      intermediates to OH radical products.
AB  - In the atmosphere, a dominant loss process for carbonyl oxide intermediates
      produced from alkene ozonolysis is also an important source of hydroxyl radicals.
      The rate of appearance of OH radicals is revealed through direct time-domain
      measurements following vibrational activation of prototypical methyl-substituted
      Criegee intermediates under collision-free conditions. Complementary theoretical
      calculations predict the unimolecular decay rate for the Criegee intermediates in
      the vicinity of the barrier for 1,4 hydrogen transfer that leads to OH products.
      Both experiment and theory yield unimolecular decay rates of ca. 10(8) and 10(7)
      s(-1) for syn-CH3CHOO and (CH3)2COO, respectively, at energies near the barrier.
      Tunneling through the barrier, computed from high level electronic structure
      theory and experimentally validated, makes a significant contribution to the
      decay rate. Extension to thermally averaged unimolecular decay of stabilized
      Criegee intermediates under atmospheric conditions yields rates that are six
      orders of magnitude slower than those evaluated directly in the barrier region. 

PMID- 26874476
TI  - A simple approach to the state-specific MR-CC using the intermediate Hamiltonian
      formalism.
AB  - This paper presents a rigorous state-specific multi-reference coupled cluster
      formulation of the method first proposed by Meller et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 104,
      4068 (1996)]. Guess values of the amplitudes of the single and double excitations
      (the T operator) on the top of the references are extracted from the knowledge of
      the coefficients of the Multi-Reference Singles and Doubles Configuration
      Interaction (MR-CISD) matrix. The multiple parentage problem is solved by scaling
      these amplitudes from the interaction between the references and the singles and
      doubles. Then one proceeds to a dressing of the MR-CISD matrix under the effect
      of the triples and quadruples, the coefficients of which are estimated from the
      action of exp(T). This dressing follows the logic of the intermediate effective
      Hamiltonian formalism. The dressed MR-CISD matrix is diagonalized and the process
      is iterated to convergence. As a simplification, the coefficients of the triples
      and quadruples may in practice be calculated from the action of T(2) only,
      introducing 5th-order differences in the energies. The so-simplified method is
      tested on a series of benchmark systems from Complete Active Spaces (CASs)
      involving 2-6 active electrons up to bond breakings. The comparison with full
      configuration interaction results shows that the errors are of the order of a few
      millihartree, five times smaller than those of the CAS-CISD, and the deviation to
      strict separability is lower than 10 MU hartree. The method is totally
      uncontracted, parallelizable, and extremely flexible since it may be applied to
      selected MR and/or selected CISD. Some potential generalizations are briefly
      discussed.

PMID- 26874477
TI  - A time-dependent formulation of multi-reference perturbation theory.
AB  - We discuss the time-dependent formulation of perturbation theory in the context
      of the interacting zeroth-order Hamiltonians that appear in multi-reference
      situations. As an example, we present a time-dependent formulation and
      implementation of second-order n-electron valence perturbation theory. The
      resulting time-dependent n-electron valence second-order perturbation theory (t
      NEVPT2) method yields the fully uncontracted n-electron valence perturbation
      wavefunction and energy, but has a lower computational scaling than the usual
      contracted variants, and also avoids the construction of high-order density
      matrices and the diagonalization of metrics. We present results of t-NEVPT2 for
      the water, nitrogen, carbon, and chromium molecules and outline directions for
      the future. 

PMID- 26874478
TI  - A view on coupled cluster perturbation theory using a bivariational Lagrangian
      formulation.
AB  - We consider two distinct coupled cluster (CC) perturbation series that both
      expand the difference between the energies of the CCSD (CC with single and double
      excitations) and CCSDT (CC with single, double, and triple excitations) models in
      orders of the Moller-Plesset fluctuation potential. We initially introduce the E
      CCSD(T-n) series, in which the CCSD amplitude equations are satisfied at the
      expansion point, and compare it to the recently developed CCSD(T-n) series [J. J.
      Eriksen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 064108 (2014)], in which not only the CCSD
      amplitude, but also the CCSD multiplier equations are satisfied at the expansion
      point. The computational scaling is similar for the two series, and both are term
      wise size extensive with a formal convergence towards the CCSDT target energy.
      However, the two series are different, and the CCSD(T-n) series is found to
      exhibit a more rapid convergence up through the series, which we trace back to
      the fact that more information at the expansion point is utilized than for the E
      CCSD(T-n) series. The present analysis can be generalized to any perturbation
      expansion representing the difference between a parent CC model and a higher
      level target CC model. In general, we demonstrate that, whenever the parent
      parameters depend upon the perturbation operator, a perturbation expansion of the
      CC energy (where only parent amplitudes are used) differs from a perturbation
      expansion of the CC Lagrangian (where both parent amplitudes and parent
      multipliers are used). For the latter case, the bivariational Lagrangian
      formulation becomes more than a convenient mathematical tool, since it
      facilitates a different and faster convergent perturbation series than the
      simpler energy-based expansion. 

PMID- 26874479
TI  - A reactant-coordinate-based wave packet method for full-dimensional state-to
      state quantum dynamics of tetra-atomic reactions: Application to both the
      abstraction and exchange channels in the H + H2O reaction.
AB  - An efficient and accurate wave packet method is proposed for the calculation of
      the state-to-state S-matrix elements in bimolecular reactions involving four
      atoms. This approach propagates an initial state specific wave packet in reactant
      Jacobi coordinates. The projection in product channels is carried out on
      projection planes, which have one less degree of freedom, by transforming both
      the time-dependent wave packet and final product states into a set of
      intermediate coordinates. This reactant-coordinate-based method is more efficient
      than product-coordinate-based methods because it typically requires a smaller
      number of basis functions or grid points and allows the determination of S-matrix
      elements for multiple product channels from a single propagation. This method is
      demonstrated in calculating the (Jtot = 0) state-to-state S-matrix elements for
      both the abstraction and exchange channels of the H + H2O reaction. 

PMID- 26874480
TI  - From dimers to collective dipoles: Structure and dynamics of methanol/ethanol
      partition by narrow carbon nanotubes.
AB  - Alcohol partitioning by narrow single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) holds the
      promise for the development of novel nanodevices for diverse applications.
      Consequently, in this work, the partition of small alcohols by narrow tubes was
      kinetically and structurally quantified via molecular dynamics simulations.
      Alcohol partitioning is a fast process in the order of 10 ns for diluted
      solutions but the axial-diffusivity within SWCNT is greatly diminished being two
      to three orders of magnitude lower with respect to bulk conditions. Structurally,
      alcohols form a single-file conformation under confinement and more
      interestingly, they exhibit a pore-width dependent transition from dipole dimers
      to a single collective dipole, for both methanol and ethanol. Energetic analyses
      demonstrate that this transition is the result of a detailed balance between
      dispersion and electrostatics interactions, with the latter being more pronounced
      for collective dipoles. This transition fully modifies the reorientational
      dynamics of the loaded particles, generating stable collective dipoles that could
      find usage in signal-amplification devices. Overall, the results herein have
      shown distinct physico-chemical features of confined alcohols and are a further
      step towards the understanding and development of novel nanofluidics within
      SWCNTs. 

PMID- 26874481
TI  - Comparison of simplified sum-over-state expressions to calculate resonance Raman
      intensities including Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller effects.
AB  - Sum-over-state (SOS) expressions to simulate absorption spectroscopy and
      resonance Raman (RR) scattering including Franck-Condon (FC) and Herzberg-Teller
      (HT) effects are described. Starting from the general SOS method, several
      simplified SOS formulae are derived. In particular, within the so-called
      independent mode displaced harmonic oscillator model, it is shown that including
      the vibronic structure in the absorption and RR spectra only requires the
      calculation of FC overlap integrals of the type thetag0|thetaev, where g, e, and
      v stand for the electronic ground state, excited state, and vibrational quantum
      number, respectively. Additionally, an approximation of the latter approach is
      introduced, referred as the simplified Phie method, in which the FC factors are
      neglected. This method is advantageous from the computational point of view and
      it is demonstrated that it reproduces the main characteristics of the more
      involved approaches. The merits and drawbacks of the different methods are
      discussed by applying them to the prototypical compound of Rhodamine 6G. Overall,
      this work intends to unravel and clarify some differences in the SOS theories of
      RR scattering. 

PMID- 26874482
TI  - Study of infrared emission spectroscopy for the B(1)Deltag-A(1)Piu and
      B'(1)Sigmag(+)-A(1)Piu systems of C2.
AB  - Thirteen bands for the B(1)Deltag-A(1)Piu system and eleven bands for the
      B'(1)Sigmag(+)-A(1)Piu system of C2 were identified in the Fourier transform
      infrared emission spectra of hydrocarbon discharges. The B'(1)Sigmag(+)v = 4 and
      the B(1)Deltag v = 6, 7, and 8 vibrational levels involved in nine bands were
      studied for the first time. A direct global analysis with Dunham parameters was
      carried out satisfactorily for the B(1)Deltag-A(1)Piu system except for a small
      perturbation in the B(1)Deltag v = 6 level. The calculated rovibrational term
      energies up to B(1)Deltag v = 12 showed that the level crossing between the
      B(1)Deltag and d(3)Pig states is responsible for many of the prominent
      perturbations in the Swan system observed previously. Nineteen forbidden
      transitions of the B(1)Deltag-a(3)Piu transition were identified and the off
      diagonal spin-orbit interaction constant AdB between d(3)Pig and B(1)Deltag was
      derived as 8.3(1) cm(-1). For the B'(1)Sigmag(+)-A(1)Piu system, only individual
      band analyses for each vibrational level in the B'(1)Sigmag(+) state could be
      done satisfactorily and Dunham parameters obtained from these effective
      parameters showed that the anharmonic vibrational constant omegaexe is
      anomalously small (nearly zero). Inspection of the RKR (Rydberg-Klein-Rees)
      potential curves for the B'(1)Sigmag(+) and X(1)Sigmag(+) states revealed that an
      avoided crossing or nearly avoided crossing may occur around 30,000 cm(-1), which
      is responsible for the anomalous molecular constants in these two states.

PMID- 26874483
TI  - Molecular dynamics and simulations study on the vibrational and electronic
      solvatochromism of benzophenone.
AB  - Solvent plays a key role in diverse physico-chemical and biological processes.
      Therefore, understanding solute-solvent interactions at the molecular level of
      detail is of utmost importance. A comprehensive solvatochromic analysis of
      benzophenone (Bzp) was carried out in various solvents using Raman and electronic
      spectroscopy, in conjunction with Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of
      supramolecular solute-solvent clusters generated using classical Molecular
      Dynamics Simulations (c-MDSs). The >C=O stretching frequency undergoes a
      bathochromic shift with solvent polarity. Interestingly, in protic solvents this
      peak appears as a doublet: c-MDS and ad hoc explicit solvent ab initio
      calculations suggest that the lower and higher frequency peaks are associated
      with the hydrogen bonded and dangling carbonyl group of Bzp, respectively.
      Additionally, the dangling carbonyl in methanol (MeOH) solvent is 4 cm(-1) blue
      shifted relative to acetonitrile solvent, despite their similar
      dipolarity/polarizability. This suggests that the cybotactic region of the
      dangling carbonyl group in MeOH is very different from its bulk solvent
      structure. Therefore, we propose that this blue-shift of the dangling carbonyl
      originates in the hydrophobic solvation shell around it resulting from extended
      hydrogen bonding network of the protic solvents. Furthermore, the 1(1)npi(*)
      (band I) and 1(1)pipi(*) (band II) electronic transitions show a hypsochromic and
      bathochromic shift, respectively. In particular, these shifts in protic solvents
      are due to differences in their excited state-hydrogen bonding mechanisms.
      Additionally, a linear relationship is obtained for band I and the >C=O
      stretching frequency (cm(-1)), which suggests that the different excitation
      wavelengths in band I correspond to different solvation states. Therefore, we
      hypothesize that the variation in excitation wavelengths in band I could arise
      from different solvation states leading to varying solvation dynamics. This will
      have implications for ultrafast processes associated with electron-transfer,
      charge transfer, and also the photophysical aspects of excited states. 

PMID- 26874484
TI  - Charged vanadium-benzene multidecker clusters: DFT and quantum Monte Carlo study.
AB  - Using explicitly correlated fixed-node quantum Monte Carlo and density functional
      theory (DFT) methods, we study electronic properties, ground-state multiplets,
      ionization potentials, electron affinities, and low-energy fragmentation channels
      of charged half-sandwich and multidecker vanadium-benzene systems with up to 3
      vanadium atoms, including both anions and cations. It is shown that, particularly
      in anions, electronic correlations play a crucial role; these effects are not
      systematically captured with any commonly used DFT functionals such as gradient
      corrected, hybrids, and range-separated hybrids. On the other hand, tightly bound
      cations can be described qualitatively by DFT. A comparison of DFT and quantum
      Monte Carlo provides an in-depth understanding of the electronic structure and
      properties of these correlated systems. The calculations also serve as a
      benchmark study of 3d molecular anions that require a balanced many-body
      description of correlations at both short- and long-range distances. 

PMID- 26874485
TI  - Multiple product pathways in photodissociation of nitromethane at 213 nm.
AB  - In this paper, we present a photodissociation dynamics study of nitromethane at
      213 nm in the pi -> pi(*) transition. Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization
      spectroscopy and ion-imaging were applied to measure the internal state
      distributions and state-resolved scattering distributions of the CH3, NO(X (2)Pi,
      A (2)Sigma(+)), and O((3)PJ) photofragments. The rotationally state-resolved
      scattering distribution of the CH3 fragment showed two velocity components, of
      which the slower one decreased the relative intensity as the rotational and
      vibrational excitations. The translational energy distribution of the faster CH3
      fragment indicated the production of the NO2 counter-product in the electronic
      excited state, wherein 1 (2)B2 was the most probable. The NO(v = 0) fragment
      exhibited a bimodal translational energy distribution, whereas the NO(v = 1 and
      2) fragment exhibited a single translational energy component with a relatively
      larger internal energy. The translational energy of a portion of the O((3)PJ)
      photofragment was found to be higher than the one-photon dissociation threshold,
      indicating the two-photon process involved. The NO(A (2)Sigma(+)) fragment, which
      was detected by ionization spectroscopy via the Rydberg <- A (2)Sigma(+)
      transition, also required two-photon energy. These experimental data corroborate
      the existence of competing photodissociation product pathways, CH3 + NO2,CH3 + NO
      + O,CH3O + NO, and CH3NO + O, following the pi -> pi(*) transition. The origins
      of the observed photofragments are discussed in this report along with recent
      theoretical studies and previous dynamics experiments performed at 193 nm.

PMID- 26874486
TI  - Quantum cluster equilibrium model of N-methylformamide-water binary mixtures.
AB  - The established quantum cluster equilibrium (QCE) approach is refined and applied
      to N-methylformamide (NMF) and its aqueous solution. The QCE method is split into
      two iterative cycles: one which converges to the liquid phase solution of the QCE
      equations and another which yields the gas phase. By comparing Gibbs energies,
      the thermodynamically stable phase at a given temperature and pressure is then
      chosen. The new methodology avoids metastable solutions and allows a different
      treatment of the mean-field interactions within the gas and liquid phases. These
      changes are of crucial importance for the treatment of binary mixtures. For the
      first time in a QCE study, the cis-trans-isomerism of a species (NMF) is
      explicitly considered. Cluster geometries and frequencies are calculated using
      density functional theory (DFT) and complementary coupled cluster single point
      energies are used to benchmark the DFT results. Independent of the selected
      quantum-chemical method, a large set of clusters is required for an accurate
      thermodynamic description of the binary mixture. The liquid phase of neat NMF is
      found to be dominated by the cyclic trans-NMF pentamer, which can be interpreted
      as a linear trimer that is stabilized by explicit solvation of two further NMF
      molecules. This cluster reflects the known hydrogen bond network preferences of
      neat NMF. 

PMID- 26874487
TI  - Extracting conformational information from single molecule photon statistics.
AB  - In this paper, we describe the approach of resonant trajectories of photon
      emission (Traj<N> and TrajQ) in the conformational coordinate X and external
      field frequency omegaL space to extract the conformational information of single
      molecule. The Smoluchowski equation is employed to describe the conformational
      dynamics of the single molecule in complex environments. This approach is applied
      to single Thioflavin T (ThT) molecule, and our results are in excellent agreement
      with the results of ab initio simulations.

PMID- 26874489
TI  - A new method to induce molecular low bias negative differential resistance with
      multi-peaks.
AB  - According to a first-principles study of the transport properties of two
      thiolated anthracene-9,10-diono molecules sandwiching ethyl, a new method to
      induce molecular low bias negative differential resistance with multi-peaks for
      strong n- or p-type molecules is proposed. The anthracene-9,10-diono molecule
      shows strong n-type characteristics when in contact with Au and Ag electrodes via
      a thiolate. The multiple negative differential resistance effect originated from
      the molecule-electrode couple is different between Ag and Au electrodes. Our
      investigations may promise potential for applications in molecular devices with
      low power dissipation and multifunction in the future. 

PMID- 26874488
TI  - Observation and characterization of the smallest borospherene, B28(-) and B28.
AB  - Free-standing boron nanocages or borospherenes have been observed recently for
      B40(-) and B40. There is evidence that a family of borospherenes may exist.
      However, the smallest borospherene is still not known. Here, we report
      experimental and computational evidence of a seashell-like borospherene cage for
      B28(-) and B28. Photoelectron spectrum of B28(-) indicated contributions from
      different isomers. Theoretical calculations showed that the seashell-like B28(-)
      borospherene is competing for the global minimum with a planar isomer and it is
      shown to be present in the cluster beam, contributing to the observed
      photoelectron spectrum. The seashell structure is found to be the global minimum
      for neutral B28 and the B28(-) cage represents the smallest borospherene observed
      to date. It is composed of two triangular close-packed B15 sheets, interconnected
      via the three corners by sharing two boron atoms. The B28 borospherene was found
      to obey the 2(n + 1)(2) electron-counting rule for spherical aromaticity.

PMID- 26874490
TI  - The Jahn-Teller plus pseudo-Jahn-Teller vibronic problem in the C3 radical and
      its topological implications.
AB  - The combined Jahn-Teller plus pseudo-Jahn-Teller [(E'+A1')?e'] problem is
      discussed for the tricarbon radical (C3) by means of ab initio calculations at
      the multireference configuration interaction level of theory. For the (1)E'
      electronic state arising from a e'(2) valence configuration, three additional
      symmetry-equivalent C2v seams are found to lie in close proximity to the D3h
      symmetry-required seam over the entire range of the breathing coordinate here
      considered. As the perimeter of the molecule increases, the C2v disjoint seams
      approach the D3h one almost linearly and ultimately coalesce with it at Q1 =
      5.005 a0, thence forming an intersection node or confluence. By further
      increasing the size of the molecular triangle, the C2v seams get rotated by +/-pi
      in the g-h plane. A three-state vibronic Hamiltonian is also proposed to model
      locally the title system and shown to accurately mimic the calculated data over
      the region close to the minimum energy crossing point. No net geometric phase
      effect is observed when the associated electronic wave functions are
      adiabatically transported along closed paths encircling the four singularity
      points. For all paths enclosing the intersection node, the sign reversal
      criterion is shown to be not fulfilled, even for infinitesimal loops. The results
      so obtained are expected to be valid for other ring systems experiencing similar
      topological attributes.

PMID- 26874491
TI  - Characteristics of energy exchange between inter- and intramolecular degrees of
      freedom in crystalline 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) with
      implications for coarse-grained simulations of shock waves in polyatomic
      molecular crystals.
AB  - In this report, we characterize the kinetics and dynamics of energy exchange
      between intramolecular and intermolecular degrees of freedom (DoF) in crystalline
      1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). All-atom molecular dynamics (MD)
      simulations are used to obtain predictions for relaxation from certain limiting
      initial distributions of energy between the intra- and intermolecular DoF. The
      results are used to parameterize a coarse-grained Dissipative Particle Dynamics
      at constant Energy (DPDE) model for TATB. Each TATB molecule in the DPDE model is
      represented as an all-atom, rigid-molecule mesoparticle, with explicit external
      (molecular translational and rotational) DoF and coarse-grained implicit internal
      (vibrational) DoF. In addition to conserving linear and angular momentum, the
      DPDE equations of motion conserve the total system energy provided that particles
      can exchange energy between their external and internal DoF. The internal
      temperature of a TATB molecule is calculated using an internal equation of state,
      which we develop here, and the temperatures of the external and internal DoF are
      coupled using a fluctuation-dissipation relation. The DPDE force expression
      requires specification of the input parameter sigma that determines the rate at
      which energy is exchanged between external and internal DoF. We adjusted sigma
      based on the predictions for relaxation processes obtained from MD simulations.
      The parameterized DPDE model was employed in large-scale simulations of shock
      compression of TATB. We show that the rate of energy exchange governed by sigma
      can significantly influence the transient behavior of the system behind the
      shock. 

PMID- 26874492
TI  - On the structure of crystalline and molten cryolite: Insights from the ab initio
      molecular dynamics in NpT ensemble.
AB  - Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in isobaric-isothermal ensemble have
      been performed to study the low- and the high-temperature crystalline and liquid
      phases of cryolite. The temperature induced transitions from the low-temperature
      solid (alpha) to the high-temperature solid phase (beta) and from the phase beta
      to the liquid phase have been simulated using a series of MD runs performed at
      gradually increasing temperature. The structure of crystalline and liquid phases
      is analysed in detail and our computational approach is shown to reliably
      reproduce the available experimental data for a wide range of temperatures.
      Relatively frequent reorientations of the AlF6 octahedra observed in our
      simulation of the phase beta explain the thermal disorder in positions of the F(
      ) ions observed in X-ray diffraction experiments. The isolated AlF6(3-), AlF5(2
      ), AlF4(-), as well as the bridged Al2Fm(6-m) ionic entities have been identified
      as the main constituents of cryolite melt. In accord with the previous high
      temperature NMR and Raman spectroscopic experiments, the compound AlF5(2-) has
      been shown to be the most abundant Al-containing species formed in the melt. The
      characteristic vibrational frequencies for the AlFn(3-n) species in realistic
      environment have been determined and the computed values have been found to be in
      a good agreement with experiment.

PMID- 26874493
TI  - Local structure, composition, and crystallization mechanism of a model two-phase
      "composite nanoglass".
AB  - We report a detailed study of the local composition and structure of a model, bi
      phasic nanoglass with nominal stoichiometry Cu55Nb45. Three dimensional atom
      probe data suggest a nanoscale-phase-separated glassy structure having well
      defined Cu-rich and Nb-rich regions with a characteristic length scale of ~ 3 nm.
      However, extended x-ray absorption fine structure analysis indicates subtle
      differences in the local environments of Cu and Nb. While the Cu atoms displayed
      a strong tendency to cluster and negligible structural order beyond the first
      coordination shell, the Nb atoms had a larger fraction of unlike neighbors
      (higher chemical order) and a distinctly better-ordered structural environment
      (higher topological order). This provides the first experimental indication that
      metallic glass formation may occur due to frustration arising from the
      competition between chemical ordering and clustering. These observations are
      complemented by classical as well as ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.
      Our study indicates that these nanoscale phase-separated glasses are quite
      distinct from the single phase nanoglasses (studied by Gleiter and others) in the
      following three respects: (i) they contain at least two structurally and
      compositionally distinct, nanodispersed, glassy phases, (ii) these phases are
      separated by comparatively sharp inter-phase boundaries, and (iii) thermally
      induced crystallization occurs via a complex, multi-step mechanism. Such
      materials, therefore, appear to constitute a new class of disordered systems that
      may be called a composite nanoglass.

PMID- 26874494
TI  - Thermal conductivity of Glycerol's liquid, glass, and crystal states, glass
      liquid-glass transition, and crystallization at high pressures.
AB  - To investigate the effects of local density fluctuations on phonon propagation in
      a hydrogen bonded structure, we studied the thermal conductivity kappa of the
      crystal, liquid, and glassy states of pure glycerol as a function of the
      temperature, T, and the pressure, p. We find that the following: (i) kappacrystal
      is 3.6-times the kappaliquid value at 140 K at 0.1 MPa and 2.2-times at 290 K,
      and it varies with T according to 138 * T(-0.95); (ii) the ratio kappaliquid
      (p)/kappaliquid (0.1 MPa) is 1.45 GPa(-1) at 280 K, which, unexpectedly, is about
      the same as kappacrystal (p)/kappacrystal (0.1 MPa) of 1.42 GPa(-1) at 298 K;
      (iii) kappaglass is relatively insensitive to T but sensitive to the applied p
      (1.38 GPa(-1) at 150 K); (iv) kappaglass-T plots show an enhanced, pressure
      dependent peak-like feature, which is due to the glass to liquid transition on
      heating; (v) continuous heating cold-crystallizes ultraviscous glycerol under
      pressure, at a higher T when p is high; and (vi) glycerol formed by cooling at a
      high p and then measured at a low p has a significantly higher kappa than the
      glass formed by cooling at a low p. On heating at a fixed low p, its kappa
      decreases before its glass-liquid transition range at that p is reached. We
      attribute this effect to thermally assisted loss of the configurational and
      vibrational instabilities of a glass formed at high p and recovered at low p,
      which is different from the usual glass-aging effect. While the heat capacity,
      entropy, and volume of glycerol crystal are less than those for its glass and
      liquid, kappacrystal of glycerol, like its elastic modulus and refractive index,
      is higher. We discuss these findings in terms of the role of fluctuations in
      local density and structure, and the relations between kappa and the
      thermodynamic quantities. 

PMID- 26874495
TI  - CCSD(T)/CBS fragment-based calculations of lattice energy of molecular crystals.
AB  - A comparative study of the lattice energy calculations for a data set of 25
      molecular crystals is performed using an additive scheme based on the individual
      energies of up to four-body interactions calculated using the coupled clusters
      with iterative treatment of single and double excitations and perturbative
      triples correction (CCSD(T)) with an estimated complete basis set (CBS)
      description. The CCSD(T)/CBS values on lattice energies are used to estimate
      sublimation enthalpies which are compared with critically assessed and
      thermodynamically consistent experimental values. The average absolute percentage
      deviation of calculated sublimation enthalpies from experimental values amounts
      to 13% (corresponding to 4.8 kJ mol(-1) on absolute scale) with unbiased
      distribution of positive to negative deviations. As pair interaction energies
      present a dominant contribution to the lattice energy and CCSD(T)/CBS
      calculations still remain computationally costly, benchmark calculations of pair
      interaction energies defined by crystal parameters involving 17 levels of theory,
      including recently developed methods with local and explicit treatment of
      electronic correlation, such as LCC and LCC-F12, are also presented. Locally and
      explicitly correlated methods are found to be computationally effective and
      reliable methods enabling the application of fragment-based methods for larger
      systems. 

PMID- 26874496
TI  - Dynamical properties of water-methanol solutions.
AB  - We study the relaxation times talpha in the water-methanol system. We examine new
      data and data from the literature in the large temperature range 163 < T < 335 K
      obtained using different experimental techniques and focus on how talpha affects
      the hydrogen bond structure of the system and the hydrophobicity of the alcohol
      methyl group. We examine the relaxation times at a fixed temperature as a
      function of the water molar fraction XW and observe two opposite behaviors in
      their curvature when the system moves from high to low T regimes. This behavior
      differs from that of an ideal solution in that it has excess values located at
      different molar fractions (XW = 0.5 for high T and 0.75 in the deep supercooled
      regime). We analyze the data and find that above a crossover temperature T ~ 223
      K, hydrophobicity plays a significant role and below it the water tetrahedral
      network dominates. This temperature is coincident with the fragile-to-strong
      dynamical crossover observed in confined water and supports the liquid-liquid
      phase transition hypothesis. At the same time, the reported data suggest that
      this crossover temperature (identified as the Widom line temperature) also
      depends on the alcohol concentration. 

PMID- 26874497
TI  - Water adsorption on the LaMnO3 surface.
AB  - Studying the adsorption of water on the metallic LaMnO3 surface can provide
      insight into this complicated surface-adsorbate interaction. Using density
      functional theory, we investigated the adsorption of a water monomer, dimer,
      trimer, and a monolayer on the surface. The electronic structure of ground state
      configurations is explored using analysis of density of states, charge density,
      and crystal orbital overlap populations. We found that the interaction between
      the surface and water molecules is stronger than hydrogen bonding between
      molecules, which facilitates wetting of the surface. Adsorbed water molecules
      form very strong hydrogen bonds, with substantially shifted OH stretch modes. For
      the monolayer of adsorbed water, a hint of a bilayer is observed with a height
      separation of only 0.2 A. However, simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images
      and vibrational spectra suggest a significant difference between the two layers
      due to intermolecular bonding and interaction with the substrate.

PMID- 26874498
TI  - Entropic screening preserves non-equilibrium nature of nematic phase while
      enthalpic screening destroys it.
AB  - The present manuscript describes the role of entropic and enthalpic forces
      mediated by organic non-polar (hexane) and polar (methanol) solvents on the bulk
      and microscopic phase transition of a well known nematic liquid crystalline
      material MBBA (N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline) through Differential
      Scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV-Visible (UV-Vis), and Fourier Transform Infrared
      (FTIR) spectroscopy. DSC study indicates continuous linear decreases in both
      nematic-isotropic (N-I) phase transition temperature and enthalpy of MBBA in
      presence of hexane while both these parameters show a saturation after an initial
      decay in methanol. These distinct transitional behaviours were explained in terms
      of the "depletion force" model for entropic screening in hexane and "screening
      self-screening" model for methanol. Heating rate dependent DSC studies find that
      non-Arrhenius behaviour, characteristic of pristine MBBA and a manifestation of
      non-equilibrium nature [Dan et al., J. Chem. Phys. 143, 094501 (2015)], is
      preserved in presence of entropic screening in the hexane solution, while it
      changes to Arrhenius behaviour (signifying equilibrium behaviour) in presence of
      enthalpic screening in methanol solution. FTIR spectra show similar dependence on
      the solvent induced screening in the intensities of the imine (-C = N) stretch
      and the out-of-plane distortion vibrations of the benzene rings of MBBA with
      hexane and methanol as in DSC, further establishing our entropic and enthalpic
      screening models. UV-Vis spectra of the electronic transitions in MBBA as a
      function of temperature also exhibit different dependences of intensities on the
      solvent induced screening, and an exponential decrease is observed in presence of
      hexane while methanol completely changes the nature of interaction to follow a
      linear dependence.

PMID- 26874499
TI  - Surfactant-induced core/shell phase equilibrium in hydrogels.
AB  - The formation of core/shell structures in hydrogels upon interaction with
      surfactants is a well-known phenomenon, but whether they are equilibrium states
      or not is still under debate. This paper presents an equilibrium theory of phase
      coexistence in hydrogels meant to answer the question of the stability of
      core/shell separation. The theory suggests that core/shell separation caused by
      surfactants can indeed be thermodynamically stable if the amount of added
      surfactant is not too large, but that the exact phase behaviour is governed by
      both the volume and concentration of the added surfactant solution. 

PMID- 26874500
TI  - Minimal physical requirements for crystal growth self-poisoning.
AB  - Self-poisoning is a kinetic trap that can impair or prevent crystal growth in a
      wide variety of physical settings. Here we use dynamic mean-field theory and
      computer simulation to argue that poisoning is ubiquitous because its emergence
      requires only the notion that a molecule can bind in two (or more) ways to a
      crystal; that those ways are not energetically equivalent; and that the
      associated binding events occur with sufficiently unequal probability. If these
      conditions are met then the steady-state growth rate is in general a non
      monotonic function of the thermodynamic driving force for crystal growth, which
      is the characteristic of poisoning. Our results also indicate that relatively
      small changes of system parameters could be used to induce recovery from
      poisoning. 

PMID- 26874501
TI  - Glass-like dynamics of the strain-induced coil/helix transition on a permanent
      polymer network.
AB  - We study the stress response to a step strain of covalently bonded gelatin gels
      in the temperature range where triple helix reversible crosslink formation is
      prohibited. We observe slow stress relaxation towards a T-dependent finite
      asymptotic level. We show that this is assignable to the strain-induced coil ->
      helix transition, previously evidenced by Courty et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
      U. S. A. 102, 13457 (2005)], of a fraction of the polymer strands. Relaxation
      proceeds, in a first stage, according to a stretched exponential dynamics, then
      crosses over to a terminal simple exponential decay. The respective
      characteristic times tauK and tauf exhibit an Arrhenius-like T-dependence with an
      associated energy E incompatibly larger than the activation barrier height for
      the isomerisation process which sets the clock for an elementary coil -> helix
      transformation event. We tentatively assign this glass-like slowing down of the
      dynamics to the long-range couplings due to the mechanical noise generated by the
      local elementary events in this random elastic medium. 

PMID- 26874502
TI  - Structural relaxation of acridine orange dimer in bulk water and inside a single
      live lung cell.
AB  - Structural relaxation of the acridine orange (AO) dimer in bulk water and inside
      a single live lung cell is studied using time resolved confocal microscopy and
      molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The emission maxima (lambdaem (max)~ 630 nm)
      of AO in a lung cancer cell (A549) and a non-cancer lung fibroblast cell (WI38)
      suggest that AO exists as a dimer inside the cell. Time-dependent red shift in
      emission maximum indicates dynamic relaxation of the AO dimer (in the excited
      state) with a time constant of 500-600 ps, both in bulk water and inside the
      cell. We have calculated the equilibrium relaxation dynamics of the AO dimer in
      the ground state using MD simulations and found a slow component of time scale ~
      350 ps. The intra- and inter-molecular components of the total relaxation
      dynamics of the AO dimer reveal the presence of a slow component of the order of
      a few hundred picoseconds. Upon restricting intra-molecular dye dynamics by
      harmonic constraint between AO monomers, the slow component vanishes. Combining
      the experimental observations and MD simulation results, we ascribe the slow
      component of the dynamic relaxation of the AO dimer to the structural relaxation,
      namely, fluctuations in the distance between the two monomers and associated
      fluctuation in the number of water molecules.

PMID- 26874503
TI  - Grand-canonical simulation of DNA condensation with two salts, effect of divalent
      counterion size.
AB  - The problem of DNA- DNA interaction mediated by divalent counterions is studied
      using a generalized grand-canonical Monte-Carlo simulation for a system of two
      salts. The effect of the divalent counterion size on the condensation behavior of
      the DNA bundle is investigated. Experimentally, it is known that multivalent
      counterions have strong effect on the DNA condensation phenomenon. While tri- and
      tetra-valent counterions are shown to easily condense free DNA molecules in
      solution into toroidal bundles, the situation with divalent counterions is not as
      clear cut. Some divalent counterions like Mg(+2) are not able to condense free
      DNA molecules in solution, while some like Mn(+2) can condense them into disorder
      bundles. In restricted environment such as in two dimensional system or inside
      viral capsid, Mg(+2) can have strong effect and able to condense them, but the
      condensation varies qualitatively with different system, different coions. It has
      been suggested that divalent counterions can induce attraction between DNA
      molecules but the strength of the attraction is not strong enough to condense
      free DNA in solution. However, if the configuration entropy of DNA is restricted,
      these attractions are enough to cause appreciable effects. The variations among
      different divalent salts might be due to the hydration effect of the divalent
      counterions. In this paper, we try to understand this variation using a very
      simple parameter, the size of the divalent counterions. We investigate how
      divalent counterions with different sizes can lead to varying qualitative
      behavior of DNA condensation in restricted environments. Additionally, a grand
      canonical Monte-Carlo method for simulation of systems with two different salts
      is presented in detail. 

PMID- 26874504
TI  - Erratum: "Tip-induced deformation of a phospholipid bilayer: Theoretical
      perspective of sum frequency generation imaging" [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 154201
      (2014)].

PMID- 26874506
TI  - PIPOM or the need of a new acronym.

PMID- 26874505
TI  - Does serotonin-modulating anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) influence the choice
      of turning direction in carps, Cyprinus carpio, in a T-maze?
AB  - Serotonin-modulating anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) can impair the formation of
      memory traces in mammals and fish. We have studied the influence of SMAP on
      behavioral lateralization of juvenile carps Cyprinus carpio in a T-maze without
      food reinforcement in three experimental groups (n = 8 each): (1) negative
      control (intact animals); (2) experimental group (fish injected ICV with SMAP; 2
      MUl, 1.2 mg ml(-1)) and (3) active control group (fish injected ICV with
      inactivated SMAP). The behavioral lateralization of carps was observed on the
      1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th days after the injections. In each observation session, a
      fish was placed five times in a start chamber of the T-maze. The direction of the
      turn upon leaving the start chamber, as well as the latency from the opening of
      start chamber flap to the fish's turn was registered. The number of right turns
      (of all five turns observed during the session) was a criterion of
      lateralization. It was found that carps have no inherent preference for turning
      left or right. The SMAP injection did not influence the choice of turning
      direction, but increases latency values insignificantly. The results are
      important for the correct interpretation and clarification of data reporting the
      role of SMAP in training and formation of spatial memory of fish in a maze. 

PMID- 26874507
TI  - Perioperative outcomes and costs of laparoscopic versus open inguinal hernia
      repair.
AB  - PURPOSE: Studies comparing laparoscopic (LIHR) vs. open inguinal hernia repair
      (OIHR) have shown similar recurrence rates but have disagreed on perioperative
      outcomes and costs. The aim of this study is to compare laparoscopic vs. open
      outcomes and costs. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
      (NSQIP) was used to compare durations of surgery, anesthesia time, and length of
      stay (LOS). The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) was used to review the
      cost and complications between approaches. Patients were matched on demographics,
      year of procedure and surgical approach between datasets for statistical
      analysis. RESULTS: A sample of 5468 patients undergoing OIHR (N = 4,693) or LIHR
      (N = 775) was selected from UHC from 2008-2011. An identical number of patients
      from NSQIP were matched to those from UHC resulting in a total of 10,936 records.
      LIHR patients had shorter duration of wait from admission to operation (p <
      0.05). Conversely, LIHR patients had longer operating time (p < 0.05), duration
      of anesthesia (p < 0.05), and time in the operating room (p < 0.05).Overall
      complication rate was higher in open (3.1 vs. 1.8 %, p < 0.05). Cost favored open
      over LIHR ($4360 vs $5105). The cost discrepancy mainly stemmed from LIHR
      supplies ($1448 vs. $340; p < 0.05) and OR services ($1380 vs. $1080; p < 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the LOS and perioperative outcomes were
      superior in the LIHR group; however, the overall cost was higher due to the
      supplies. Advancement in technology, surgeons' skill level and preference of
      supplies are all factors in decreasing the overall cost of LIHR.

PMID- 26874508
TI  - Mediators of repeat mammography in two tailored interventions for Iranian women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many theory-based interventions exist that incorporate theoretical
      constructs (e.g., self-efficacy, behavioral control) believed to increase the
      likelihood of mammography. Nonetheless, little work to date has examined if
      increased screening among women receiving such interventions occurs due to
      changes in these targeted constructs. The aim of this study is to address this
      gap in the literature in the context of two interventions for improving regular
      screening among Iranian women. METHODS: A sample of 176 women over 50 years old
      in Tehran, Iran were randomly allocated into one of these three conditions: 1) an
      intervention based on Health Belief Model (HBM); 2) an intervention based on an
      integration of the HBM and selected constructs from the TPB (TPB); and 3) a
      control group (CON). Questionnaires were administered before the intervention and
      after a 6-month follow-up. The Preacher and Hayes method of mediation was used in
      analytic models. RESULTS: Changes in susceptibility, self-efficacy, and perceived
      control appeared to mediate HBM-CON differences in screening. Barriers attenuated
      the mediating effect of self-efficacy. Changes in barriers and self-efficacy
      appeared to mediate TPB-CON differences in screening. CONCLUSION: This study was
      successful in identifying which theory-based constructs appear to underlie the
      effectiveness of HBM- and TPB-based interventions. Specific constructs have been
      identified that should be targeted in clinical practice to increase mammography
      practices among Iranian women.

PMID- 26874509
TI  - Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 polymorphism may be associated with enterovirus
      71 severe infection in a Chinese population.
AB  - Genetic polymorphism in the carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 (CPT2) gene has
      been reported to be a susceptibility factor in a number of syndromes of acute
      encephalopathy with various infectious diseases, but evidence of its effect on
      enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection is lacking. The goal of this study was to examine
      the relationship between genetic polymorphism of CPT2 and severity of EV71
      infection in a Chinese population. PCR of five exons of the CPT2 gene was carried
      out to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EV71-infected subjects
      (n = 333), including mild cases (n = 271) and severe cases (n = 62) as well as
      healthy controls (n = 328). Blood ATP levels were measured within 24 h of
      admission. The frequency of the A allele of rs1799821 (P = 0.023) and the G
      allele of rs2229291 (P = 0.009) in the CPT2 gene was higher in patients with
      severe EV71 infection. The A-G haplotype of rs1799821and rs2229291 was directly
      linked to EV71 severe infection risk when compared to all other haplotypes (OR =
      2.005, 95 % CI = 1.087-3.700, P = 0.024). The blood ATP levels of severe cases
      were significantly lower than in mild cases (P < 0.01) and controls (P < 0.01). A
      significant negative correlation was observed in haplotype A-G between ATP levels
      and physical findings in severe cases (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that
      CPT2 polymorphism may be associated with severity of EV71 infection and that the
      A-G haplotype of the CPT2 gene is involved in the inflammatory process of EV71
      infection.

PMID- 26874510
TI  - Detection and genome sequence of a new betapartitivirus associated with
      Cucurbitaria piceae Borthw. fungus causing bud blight of spruce in the Czech
      Republic.
AB  - A new bisegmented dsRNA virus has been detected in shoots of blue spruce with bud
      blight disease symptoms and infection by Cucurbitaria piceae (Bortw.) fungus. The
      virus genome consists of two segments that are 2071 and 2257 nt long, encoding
      the putative RNA polymerase and capsid protein, respectively. Rosellinia necatrix
      partitivirus 1 is a closely related virus with 45 % amino acid sequence identity
      in the polymerase, and crimson clover cryptic virus 2 has 36 % amino acid
      sequence identity in the capsid protein. Based on taxonomic criteria, the virus
      should be classified as a member of the genus Betapartitivirus (family
      Partitiviridae). The name Cucurbitaria piceae partitivirus 1 and acronym CpPV1
      are proposed.

PMID- 26874511
TI  - Effect of low-dose valsartan on proteinuria in normotensive immunoglobulin A
      nephropathy with minimal proteinuria: a randomized trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a generally progressive
      disease, even in patients with favorable prognostic features. In this study, we
      aimed to investigate the antiproteinuric effect and tolerability of low-dose
      valsartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker) therapy in normotensive IgAN
      patients with minimal proteinuria of less than 0.5 to 1.0 g/day. METHODS:
      Normotensive IgAN patients, who had persistent proteinuria with a spot urine
      protein-to-creatinine ratio of 0.3 to 1.0 mg/mg creatinine, were recruited from
      five hospitals and randomly assigned to either 40 mg of valsartan as the low-dose
      group or 80 mg of valsartan as the regular-dose group. Clinical and laboratory
      data were collected at baseline, and at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after valsartan
      therapy. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (low-dose group, n = 23; regular-dose
      group, n = 20) were enrolled in the study. Proteinuria decreased significantly
      not only in the regular-dose group but also in the low-dose group. The change in
      urine protein-to-creatinine ratio at week 24 was -41.3% +/- 26.1% (p < 0.001) in
      the regular-dose group and -21.1% +/- 45.1% (p = 0.005) in the low-dose group. In
      the low-dose group, blood pressure was constant throughout the study period, and
      there was no symptomatic hypotension. In the regular-dose group, blood pressure
      decreased at weeks 8 and 12. No significant change in glomerular filtration rate,
      serum creatinine level, or serum potassium level was observed during the study
      period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that low-dose valsartan can
      significantly reduce proteinuria without causing any intolerability in
      normotensive IgAN patients with minimal proteinuria.

PMID- 26874512
TI  - Combination transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy
      for early hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: We compared the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and
      the survival of patients who received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) after
      transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with patients treated with TACE or RFA
      alone. METHODS: This study included 201 patients with HCC, who were consecutively
      enrolled at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between December 2004 and February 2010.
      Inclusion criteria were a single HCC <= 5.0 cm or up to three HCCs <= 3.0 cm. We
      used a propensity score model to compare HCC patients (n = 87) who received RFA
      after TACE (TACE + RFA) with those who received TACE (n = 71) or RFA alone (n =
      43). RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 33.3 months (range, 6.8 to 80.9).
      The TACE + RFA group showed significantly lower local recurrence than the RFA or
      TACE groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.309; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.130 to
      0.736; p = 0.008; and HR, 0.352; 95% CI, 0.158 to 0.787; p = 0.011,
      respectively). The overall survival was significantly better in the TACE + RFA
      group compared to the RFA group (HR, 0.422; 95% CI, 0.185 to 0.964; p = 0.041).
      However, the survival benefit was not different between the TACE + RFA and TACE
      groups (p = 0.124). Subgroup analysis showed that among patients with a tumor
      size < 3 cm, the TACE + RFA group had significantly better long-term survival
      than those in the TACE or RFA groups (p = 0.017, p = 0.004, respectively).
      CONCLUSIONS: TACE + RFA combination treatment showed favorable local recurrence
      and better overall survival rates in early-stage HCC patients. Patients with
      tumors < 3 cm are likely to benefit more from TACE + RFA combination treatment.
      Additional studies are needed for the selection of suitable HCC patients for TACE
      + RFA treatment.

PMID- 26874513
TI  - Controlling endemic multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Intensive Care
      Units using antimicrobial stewardship and infection control.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR)
      Acinetobacter baumannii have become public-health problem. However, few studies
      have evaluated the control of endemic MDR A. baumannii in Intensive Care Units
      (ICUs). Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship
      and comprehensive intensified infection control measures for controlling endemic
      MDR A. baumannii in ICUs at a tertiary care center. METHODS: Carbapenem use was
      strictly restricted through antimicrobial stewardship. Environmental cleaning and
      disinfection was performed at least 3 times per day in addition to basic
      infection control measures. Isolation using plastic curtains and contact
      precautions were applied to patients who were colonized or infected with MDR A.
      baumannii. The outcome was measured as the incidence density rate of hospital
      onset MDR A. baumannii among patients in the ICUs. RESULTS: The incidence density
      rate of hospital-onset MDR A. baumannii decreased from 22.82 cases per 1,000
      patient-days to 2.68 cases per 1,000 patient-days after the interventions were
      implemented (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.4; p < 0.001).
      The mean monthly use of carbapenems also decreased from 134.99 +/- 82.26 defined
      daily doses per 1,000 patient-days to 94.85 +/- 50.98 defined daily doses per
      1,000 patient-days (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant implementation of strict
      antimicrobial stewardship and comprehensive infection control measures
      effectively controlled endemic MDR A. baumannii in our ICUs within 1 year.

PMID- 26874515
TI  - Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia treated with decitabine.

PMID- 26874514
TI  - Use of deferasirox, an iron chelator, to overcome imatinib resistance of chronic
      myeloid leukemia cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has achieved
      impressive success since the development of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase
      inhibitor, imatinib mesylate. Nevertheless, resistance to imatinib has been
      observed, and a substantial number of patients need alternative treatment
      strategies. METHODS: We have evaluated the effects of deferasirox, an orally
      active iron chelator, and imatinib on K562 and KU812 human CML cell lines.
      Imatinib-resistant CML cell lines were created by exposing cells to gradually
      increasing concentrations of imatinib. RESULTS: Co-treatment of cells with
      deferasirox and imatinib induced a synergistic dose-dependent inhibition of
      proliferation of both CML cell lines. Cell cycle analysis showed an accumulation
      of cells in the subG1 phase. Western blot analysis of apoptotic proteins showed
      that co-treatment with deferasirox and imatinib induced an increased expression
      of apoptotic proteins. These tendencies were clearly identified in imatinib
      resistant CML cell lines. The results also showed that co-treatment with
      deferasirox and imatinib reduced the expression of BcrAbl, phosphorylated Bcr
      Abl, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and beta-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: We observed
      synergistic effects of deferasirox and imatinib on both imatinib-resistant and
      imatinib-sensitive cell lines. These effects were due to induction of apoptosis
      and cell cycle arrest by down-regulated expression of NF-kappaB and beta-catenin
      levels. Based on these results, we suggest that a combination treatment of
      deferasirox and imatinib could be considered as an alternative treatment option
      for imatinib-resistant CML.

PMID- 26874517
TI  - Measurement of gastrocnemius muscle elasticity by shear wave elastography:
      association with passive ankle joint stiffness and sex differences.
AB  - PURPOSE: Passive joint stiffness is an important quantitative measure of
      flexibility, but is affected by muscle volume and all of the anatomical
      structures located within and over the joint. Shear wave elastography can assess
      muscle elasticity independent of the influences of muscle volume and the other
      nearby anatomical structures. We determined how muscle elasticity, as measured
      using shear wave elastography, is associated with passive joint stiffness and
      patient sex. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy men (24.4 +/- 5.9 years) and 26 healthy
      women (25.2 +/- 4.8 years) participated in this study. The passive ankle joint
      stiffness and tissue elasticity of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) were quantified
      with the ankle in 30 degrees  plantar flexion (PF), a neutral anatomical position
      (NE), and 20 degrees  dorsiflexion (DF). RESULTS: No significant difference in
      passive joint stiffness by sex was observed with the ankle in PF, but
      significantly greater passive ankle joint stiffness in men than in women was
      observed in NE and DF. The MG elasticity was not significantly associated with
      joint stiffness in PF or NE, but it was significantly associated with joint
      stiffness in DF. There were no significant differences in MG elasticity by sex at
      any ankle position. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle elasticity, measured independent of the
      confounding effects of muscle volume and the other nearby anatomical structures,
      is associated with passive joint stiffness in the joint position where the muscle
      is sufficiently lengthened, but does not vary by sex in any joint position
      tested.

PMID- 26874518
TI  - New future of cell biology and toxicology: thinking deeper.

PMID- 26874516
TI  - Identification of Relationships Between Interleukin 15 mRNA and Brain-Derived
      Neurotrophic Factor II mRNA Levels With Formal Components of Temperament in
      Asthmatic Patients.
AB  - Asthma is a chronic inflammatory and heterogeneous disease developing mostly
      through allergic inflammation, which modifies the expression of various cytokines
      and neurotrophins. Previous studies suggest the involvement of interleukin (IL)
      15 in the regulation of immune response in asthma. Brain-derived neurotrophic
      factor (BDNF) II plays an important role as a regulator of development and
      survival of neurons as well as maintenance of their physiological activity.
      Chronic stress associated with asthma and elevated IL-15 mRNA and BDNFII mRNA
      levels may affect the mood and a subjective sensation of dyspnoea-inducing
      anxiety. Psychopathological variables and numerous cytokine/neurotrophin
      interactions influence the formation of temperament and strategies of coping with
      stress. The aim of the study was to identify the role of IL-15 mRNA and BDNFII
      mRNA expressions and their effect on components of temperament and strategies of
      coping with stress in asthmatics. A total of 352 subjects (176 healthy volunteers
      and 176 asthmatic patients) participated in the study. The Formal Characteristic
      of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI), Coping Inventory for Stressful
      Situations (CISS), Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and
      Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale were applied in all the subjects.
      The expression of IL-15 and BDNFII gene was measured using quantitative real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Different levels of IL-15 and BDNFII
      expressions between healthy volunteers and patients were revealed in the study.
      IL-15 enhanced the BDNFII mRNA expression among patients with bronchial asthma.
      The depression level negatively correlated with the BDNFII mRNA expression. This
      neurotrophin modified the temperament variable. BDNFII significantly affected
      (proportional relationship) the level of briskness in asthmatic patients. BDNFII
      might influence the level and style of coping with stress (emotion-oriented
      style). This hypothesis requires further studies on protein functional models.
      The obtained data confirms the role of IL-15 and BDNFII in the pathomechanisms of
      depression and formation of selected traits defining the temperament in
      asthmatics.

PMID- 26874520
TI  - Single-strand gap repair involves both RecF and RecBCD pathways.
AB  - Homologous recombination repairs discontinuities in DNA including single-strand
      gaps (SSGs) and double-strand breaks (DSBs). This commentary describes how the
      RecBCD and RecF pathways might be exchangeable for the repair of their respective
      DSB and SSG canonical substrates. In particular, I will discuss how the RecBCD
      pathway could engage in the repair of an SSG even when the latter is not
      associated with a DSB. 

PMID- 26874521
TI  - Adapting to Florida's riverine woodlands: the population status and feeding
      ecology of the Silver River rhesus macaques and their interface with humans.
AB  - The study of primates living in novel environments represents an interesting
      context in which to examine patterns of behavioral and ecological flexibility.
      Our research focused on an understudied, anthropogenically introduced primate
      population living in Florida, USA: the Silver River rhesus macaques (Macaca
      mulatta). To better understand how this population has adapted to life in
      Florida's riparian woodlands, we collected data on the diet and size of the
      rhesus macaque population and its encounters with boaters along the Silver River
      from January to May 2013. Using scan sampling and all-occurrences sampling, we
      collected 166 h of diet data and 105 h of human-macaque encounter data,
      respectively. We confirmed previous reports that four social groups comprise the
      Silver River macaque population, totaling 118 individuals. The Silver River
      macaques predominantly consumed leaves and other vegetative plant parts (87.5 %),
      with ash trees serving as a staple food (66.5 % of feeding records). Although
      human-macaque encounters were frequent (80 % of 611 boats observed), only a small
      proportion of boats (11.5 %) provisioned the macaques. Motorized boats (e.g.,
      pontoon and motor boats) were more likely to provision, while kayaks and canoes
      were more likely to move in close proximity of the macaques situated at the
      river's edge. Our results indicate that the Silver River macaques have adjusted
      to life in the New World by adopting a temperate-dwelling feeding strategy and by
      incorporating locally available foods (e.g., sedges) into their diet. They have
      also learned that the river's edge provides opportunities to receive provisions
      from boaters. However, because the rate of provisioning is low, these foods
      likely play a filler fallback role. Given that provisioning and direct contact
      between macaques and boaters are infrequent but proximity to the macaques is a
      concern, our findings have important implications for the management of the human
      macaque interface along the Silver River and beyond. 

PMID- 26874519
TI  - Contemporary mechanical circulatory support therapy for postcardiotomy shock.
AB  - Significant progress has been made in the use of mechanical circulatory support
      (MCS), particularly in the clinical success in durable left ventricular assist
      device. Short-term MCS has also advanced in the form of venoarterial
      extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, external centrifugal VADs as well as
      percutaneous VADs. Postcardiotomy shock (PCS) is a rare clinical entity
      associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by heart
      failure that either results in an inability to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass
      or that occurs in the immediate postoperative period, accounting for the most
      common indication for MCS. The reported in-hospital mortality of the PCS patients
      remains high, consistently over 50%, despite ongoing refinements of MCS
      technology. The optimization of selection criteria and the prompt institution of
      MCS are likely the keys to improving this persistently high mortality rate.
      Unfortunately, the lack of a clear definition for PCS in the literature limits
      scientific analyses and comparison of the existing evidence. To establish the
      treatment strategy and appropriately manage this challenging disease, substantial
      and fundamental effort by the cardiovascular society is imperative.

PMID- 26874522
TI  - RBP-J is required for M2 macrophage polarization in response to chitin and
      mediates expression of a subset of M2 genes.
AB  - Development of alternatively activated (M2) macrophage phenotypes is a complex
      process that is coordinately regulated by a plethora of pathways and factors.
      Here, we report that RBP-J, a DNA-binding protein that integrates signals from
      multiple pathways including the Notch pathway, is critically involved in
      polarization of M2 macrophages. Mice deficient in RBP-J in the myeloid
      compartment exhibited impaired M2 phenotypes in vivo in a chitin-induced model of
      M2 polarization. Consistent with the in vivo findings, M2 polarization was
      partially compromised in vitro in Rbpj-deficient macrophages as demonstrated by
      reduced expression of a subset of M2 effector molecules including arginase 1.
      Functionally, myeloid Rbpj deficiency impaired M2 effector functions including
      recruitment of eosinophils and suppression of T cell proliferation. Collectively,
      we have identified RBP-J as an essential regulator of differentiation and
      function of alternatively activated macrophages. 

PMID- 26874523
TI  - Modeling xeroderma pigmentosum associated neurological pathologies with patients
      derived iPSCs.
AB  - Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations of
      XP-associated genes, resulting in impairment of DNA repair. XP patients
      frequently exhibit neurological degeneration, but the underlying mechanism is
      unknown, in part due to lack of proper disease models. Here, we generated patient
      specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) harboring mutations in five
      different XP genes including XPA, XPB, XPC, XPG, and XPV. These iPSCs were
      further differentiated to neural cells, and their susceptibility to DNA damage
      stress was investigated. Mutation of XPA in either neural stem cells (NSCs) or
      neurons resulted in severe DNA damage repair defects, and these neural cells with
      mutant XPA were hyper-sensitive to DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Thus, XP-mutant
      neural cells represent valuable tools to clarify the molecular mechanisms of
      neurological abnormalities in the XP patients. 

PMID- 26874524
TI  - Perineal body stretch during labor does not predict perineal laceration,
      postpartum incontinence, or postpartum sexual function: a cohort study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The perineum stretches naturally during obstetrical
      labor, but it is unknown whether this stretch has a negative impact on pelvic
      floor outcomes after a vaginal birth (VB). We aimed to evaluate whether perineal
      stretch was associated with postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and we
      hypothesized that greater perineal stretch would correlate with worsened
      outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of primiparous women who
      had a VB. Perineal body (PB) length was measured antepartum, during labor, and 6
      months postpartum. We determined the maximum PB (PBmax) measurements during the
      second stage of labor and PB change (DeltaPB) between time points. Women
      completed functional questionnaires and had a Pelvic Organ Prolapse
      Quantification (POP-Q) system exam 6 months postpartum. We analyzed the
      relationship of PB measurements to perineal lacerations and postpartum outcomes,
      including urinary, anal, and fecal incontinence, sexual activity and function,
      and POP-Q measurements. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty-eight women with VB and a
      mean age of 24 +/- 5.0 years with rare (5 %) third- or fourth-degree lacerations
      were assessed. During the second stage of labor, 270/448 (60 %) had perineal
      measurements. Mean antepartum PB length was 3.7 +/- 0.8 cm, with a maximum mean
      PB length (PBmax) during the second stage of 6.1 +/- 1.5 cm, an increase of 65 %.
      The change in PB length (DeltaPB) from antepartum to 6 months postpartum was a
      net decrease (-0.39 +/- 1.02 cm). PB change and PBmax were not associated with
      perineal lacerations or outcomes postpartum (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PB
      stretch during labor is unrelated to perineal laceration, postpartum
      incontinence, sexual activity, or sexual function.

PMID- 26874525
TI  - Pelvic organ prolapse repair using the UpholdTM Vaginal Support System: a 1-year
      multicenter study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to assess safety and clinical
      outcomes in women operated on using the UpholdTM Lite Vaginal Support System.
      METHODS: We carried out a 1-year, multicenter, prospective, single cohort study
      of 207 women with symptomatic Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage
      >=2 apical pelvic organ prolapse, with or without concomitant anterior vaginal
      wall prolapse. Safety data were collected using a standardized questionnaire.
      Anatomical outcome was assessed by the POP-Q and subjective outcomes by the
      Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory after 2 months and 1 year using a one-way
      repeated measures analysis of variance. Pain was evaluated using a visual analog
      scale. RESULTS: The overall rate of serious complications was 4.3 % (9 out of 207
      patients), including 3 patients with bladder perforations, 1 with bleeding >1,000
      ml, 2 who had undergone re-operations with complete mesh removal because of pain,
      and 3 surgical interventions during follow-up because of mesh exposure. POP-Q
      stage <=1 after 1 year was 94 % and subjective symptom relief was reported by 91
      % of patients (p < 0.001). Pain after 2 months and 1 year was 60 % lower compared
      with the preoperative mean (p < 0.001). Minor complications occurred in 20 women
      (9.7 %) and were dominated by lower urinary tract dysfunction. No predisposing
      risk factors for complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: The UpholdTM Lite
      procedure in women with apical pelvic organ prolapse provided satisfactory
      restoration of vaginal topography and symptom relief. However, serious
      complication rates were largely comparable with those of other transvaginal mesh
      kits.

PMID- 26874527
TI  - Editor's Introduction to the Special Section "Re-centering and Re-entering:
      Positioning Islam in the Bioethical Discourse".

PMID- 26874526
TI  - Locating the Social Origins of Mental Illness: The Explanatory Models of Mental
      Illness Among Clergy from Different Ethnic and Faith Backgrounds.
AB  - Clergy have historically provided 'healing' through various spiritual and medical
      modalities and even in modern, developed welfare economies they may still be an
      important help-seeking resource. Partnerships between religion and psychiatry are
      regularly advocated, but there is scant research on clergy explanatory models of
      illness. This paper aimed to explore their relationship with psychiatry and to
      examine how clergy in various faith groups conceptualised mental health problems.
      In this qualitative study using in-depth interviews, these issues were explored
      with 32 practising clergy in the UK from a range of different Christian, Muslim
      and Jewish faith organisations and ethnic backgrounds. This paper presents
      findings related to clergy explanatory models of mental illness and, in
      particular, how the social factors involved in causation are tinged with
      spiritual influences and implications, and how the meanings of mental distress
      assume a social and moral significance in distinctive localised matters. 

PMID- 26874528
TI  - Differential modulation of cytosolic lipases activities in liver and adipose
      tissue by high-carbohydrate diets.
AB  - Several studies have demonstrated that a high-fructose (FRUC) diet induces
      metabolic and haemodynamic abnormalities, known as the metabolic syndrome, which
      are characterised by obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance,
      dyslipidaemia and hypertension. In this study, the effect of a FRUC diet (60 %
      fructose) for 8 weeks on the metabolism of lipids in liver and epididymal adipose
      tissue from Wistar rats was compared with the AIN-93M diet and the effects of the
      AIN-93M diet were compared with a chow diet. The FRUC diet induced marked
      increases in both hepatocyte lipid droplet volume and postprandial serum levels
      of triacylglycerol (TAG), but reduced the postprandial serum levels of insulin.
      The AIN-93M diet induced marked increases in the hepatocyte lipid droplet volume
      and the serum levels of insulin, without affecting the serum levels of TAG. We
      found that isocaloric substitution of cornstarch, dextrinised cornstarch and
      sucrose (AIN-93M diet) for fructose did not affect the hepatic VLDL-TAG secretion
      and adipose tissue glucose uptake, lipolysis and cytosolic lipases activities in
      rats. However, the high-fructose diet induced a severe steatosis in liver
      accompanied by a decrease in cytosolic lipases activities. In adipose tissue, the
      FRUC diet induced a decrease in the lipoprotein lipase activity, and an increase
      in lipogenesis. FRUC and AIN-93M diets induced changes in lipid homeostasis in
      liver and adipose tissue by distinct biochemical mechanisms. 

PMID- 26874529
TI  - Underactive Bladder.
AB  - Underactive bladder (UAB) is a very common condition leading to disabling lower
      urinary tract symptoms. There has been an increasing interest in this condition
      as there is no effective treatment currently available. UAB has been described in
      many ways, but there is no agreed upon consensus on its terminology. The
      prevalence of UAB may be underestimated. This review focuses on the terminology,
      pathophysiology, common causes, its treatment, and future areas of research. 

PMID- 26874530
TI  - Prostate Cancer Imaging with Novel PET Tracers.
AB  - Molecular imaging of prostate cancer is in a dynamic phase of development.
      Currently approved techniques are limited and researchers have been working on
      novel agents to improve accuracy in targeting and detecting prostate tumors. In
      addition, the complexity of various prostate cancer states also contributes to
      the challenges in evaluating suitable radiotracer candidates. We have highlighted
      nuclear medicine tracers that focus on mechanisms involved in bone metastasis,
      prostate cancer cell membrane synthesis, amino acid analogs, androgen analogs,
      and the prostate specific membrane antigen. Encouraging results with many of
      these innovative radiotracer compounds will not only advance diagnostic
      capabilities for prostate cancer but open opportunities for theranostic
      applications to treat this worldwide malignancy. 

PMID- 26874531
TI  - Novel Technologies in Urologic Surgery: a Rapidly Changing Scenario.
AB  - The introduction of laparoscopy and robotic surgery revolutionized the surgical
      management of urologic patients. Nonetheless, we live in an era of rapid changes,
      and we are probably still in the infancy of technology applied to surgery. When
      considering currently available technologies, there are several unmet needs to be
      addressed. These include the application of augmented reality, haptic feedback,
      tissue recognition, distant remote control, miniaturization of surgical
      instruments, the learning curve typical of the introduction of novel techniques,
      and excessive costs. In the next few years, evolution in imaging modalities in
      pre- and intraoperative surgical planning, as well as the introduction of novel
      minimally invasive platforms, would in part address these issues, substantially
      improving surgical outcomes. In addition, validated training programs would allow
      for the safe implementation of novel techniques in the clinical practice.
      Finally, a reduction in costs would be necessary to make technology affordable
      and to optimize healthcare resources. 

PMID- 26874533
TI  - A Review Comparing Experience and Results with Bipolar Versus Monopolar Resection
      for Treatment of Bladder Tumors.
AB  - The standard treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is
      transurethral resection (TUR) commonly using a monopolar electrocautery system.
      This system requires high energy and voltage to allow an electric current to run
      from the loop to the patient's skin. The heat generated leads to desiccation of
      small cells and difficulty to perform adequate histological analysis for severely
      cauterized pieces of tissues. On contrary, the electric current in bipolar
      systems does not traverse the patient and hence lower energy and voltage are used
      and minimal tissue damage is anticipated. In addition, the use of saline as an
      irrigant fluid eliminates the potential TUR syndrome from excess hypotonic fluid
      reabsorption. Furthermore, the lower energy dissipates as heat in tissues
      contributing to adequate hemostasis. This review presents the most recent studies
      and evidence on the differences between monopolar and bipolar systems for TUR of
      NMIBC as regards the perioperative and long-term outcomes. 

PMID- 26874532
TI  - Pelvic Prolapse Repair in the Era of Mesh.
AB  - Pelvic organ prolapse repair with mesh remains the gold standard for advanced
      prolapse. There are several surgical approaches available to the pelvic
      reconstructive surgeon. Prolapse repair can be performed vaginally or abdominally
      using native tissue or may be augmented with a biologic or mesh patch. In this
      article, we will review the different approaches to prolapse repair, the role of
      mesh, and the risks and benefits of each option. Patient selection, surgical
      technique, and the rationale for using mesh will be explored. Complications from
      prolapse repair with mesh including dyspareunia, pelvic pain, mesh exposure, and
      reoperation will be discussed. 

PMID- 26874534
TI  - Rectourethral Fistula Management.
AB  - Rectourethral fistula (RUF) is a rare condition that occurs, in most cases, as a
      consequence of prostate cancer treatments. Clinical suspicion and proper
      assessment prior to surgery are essential to adapt and successfully carry out an
      appropriate treatment plan. There are no randomized trials to guide clinical
      practice, and therefore, scientific evidence in this respect is limited. Expert
      recommendations seem to agree on the transperineal approach with flap
      interposition as the surgical treatment of choice in cases of complex fistulas,
      especially in those that have undergone prior radiation. Undoubtedly, the key to
      the successful treatment of the disease is the multidisciplinary and standardized
      management by physicians with experience in the field. 

PMID- 26874535
TI  - Contemporary Status of Percutaneous Ablation for the Small Renal Mass.
AB  - Renal cell carcinoma is the tenth most common malignancy in the USA, with upwards
      of 61,000 new cases and resulting in more than 14,000 deaths annually. Although
      partial nephrectomy remains the standard treatment, image-guided nephron-sparing
      ablative techniques including cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and
      microwave ablation have emerged as treatment options in certain patient
      populations. Ablative therapies have high technical successes, low tumor
      recurrence rates, and preserve renal parenchymal volume. The purpose of this
      article is to provide an update on ablation therapies for small renal masses. 

PMID- 26874537
TI  - Grading of Prostate Cancer: Past, Present, and Future.
AB  - The grading of prostate cancer has undergone significant changes since the
      adoption of the Gleason grading system in the 1970s. Gleason patterns 1 and 2 are
      no longer in use and the current Gleason score 6 of 10 is the lowest grade
      possible. Several specific morphologies that were historically considered Gleason
      grade 3 are currently assigned a Gleason pattern 4. Consequently, current Gleason
      score 6 cancers have a better prognosis than historic ones. There is now ample
      literature that supports that Gleason score 7 includes patients with very
      different prognosis; those with Gleason score 3 + 4 have a much better prognosis
      than patients with Gleason score 4 + 3. Within patients with high-grade cancer,
      it is now also clear that patients with Gleason score 8 have a significantly
      better prognosis than men with Gleason scores 9-10. Additionally, more recent
      studies have demonstrated that there is no significant difference in the
      prognosis of patients with Gleason score 9 or 10, making the distinction between
      the two pointless. A new contemporary grading system has been proposed that
      addresses these changes/problems and provides a simpler system with only five
      grades that reflect more accurately the prognosis of each group. We review the
      different changes applied to the Gleason scoring system since its conception as
      well as the studies leading to a new contemporary grading system. 

PMID- 26874536
TI  - Evolving Guidance on Ureteric Calculi Management in the Acute Setting.
AB  - Ureteric colic is a common presentation to acute emergency services. The gold
      standard test for the diagnosis of acute ureteric colic is a non-contrast
      computer tomography of the kidneys ureters and bladder (CT KUB). Non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be used as first-line analgesia, with
      studies showing that there is no role for steroid or phosphodiesterase-5
      inhibitors. There is emerging evidence that a high body mass index (BMI) is a
      risk factor. The drugs used to facilitate stone passage are known as medical
      expulsive therapy (MET). The most evaluated being alpha-blockers. The Spontaneous
      Urinary Stone Passage Enabled by Drugs (SUSPEND) trial was designed to evaluate
      the use of MET (tamsulosin and nifedipine). This trial showed that there was no
      difference with MET and placebo for the spontaneous passage of ureteric stones.
      There is an emerging role for the use of primary ureteroscopy in the management
      of non-infective ureteric stones. 

PMID- 26874539
TI  - This diagnosis is nothing to sneeze at!

PMID- 26874540
TI  - Emergency Nurses' Perspectives: Factors Affecting Caring.
AB  - Caring is a universal phenomenon. However, as a result of higher patient acuity
      and staff shortages within the chaotic ED environment, caring behaviors may be in
      peril. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the meaning of caring
      from the perspective of emergency nurses. Exploring nurses' perspectives of
      caring is central to improving staffing and retention issues in this unique work
      environment. METHODS: As part of a larger study, a subsample of emergency nurses
      who work in public hospitals in Manitoba, Canada (n = 17) were interviewed. A
      qualitative descriptive design was used to gain insight into the caring
      perspectives of nurses by asking them, "What does caring meaning to you?" and
      "What affects caring in your practice in the emergency department?" Emerging
      themes were extracted through analysis of audio tapes and transcripts. RESULTS:
      Advocacy and holistic care emerged as major themes in the meaning of caring for
      emergency nurses. Caring was affected by a number of factors, including workload,
      lack of time, staffing issues, shift work, and lack of self-care. However, lack
      of management support was the most consistent hindrance to caring identified by
      study participants. DISCUSSION: Caring continues to be a unifying concept in
      nursing; however, influencing factors continue to undermine caring for emergency
      nurses. Caring is not subsidiary to nursing; it is the central core of nursing.
      Therefore, fostering a caring working environment is essential for nurses to
      practice holistic nursing care. It is also imperative to job satisfaction and the
      retention of emergency nurses.

PMID- 26874538
TI  - A review on factors affecting microcystins production by algae in aquatic
      environments.
AB  - Microcystins, a toxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa have become a global
      environmental issue in recent years. As a consequence of eutrophication,
      microcystins have become widely disseminated in drinking water sources, seriously
      impairing drinking water quality. This review focuses on the relationship between
      microcystins synthesis and physical, chemical, and biological environmental
      factors that are significant in controlling their production. Light intensity and
      temperature are the more important physical factors, and in many cases, an
      optimum level for these two factors has been observed. Nitrogen and phosphorus
      are the key chemical factors causing frequent occurrence of harmful algal blooms
      and microcystins production. The absorption of nutrients and metabolic activities
      of algae are affected by different concentrations and forms of nitrogen and
      phosphorus, leading to variations in microcystins production Metal ions and
      emerging pollutants are other significant chemical factors, whose comprehensive
      impact is still being studied. Algae can also interact with biological agents
      like predators and competitors in aquatic environments, and such interactions are
      suggested to promote MCs production and release. This review further highlights
      areas that require further research in order to gain a better understanding of
      microcystins production. It provides a theoretical basis for the control of
      microcystins production and releasing into aquatic environments. 

PMID- 26874541
TI  - Unfamiliar Devices and Handoff Assumptions Can Lead to Safety Consequences.

PMID- 26874543
TI  - Radiation dose distribution in functional heart regions from tangential breast
      cancer radiotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To analyze the distribution of individually-determined
      radiation dose to the heart and its functional sub-structures after radiotherapy
      in breast cancer patients treated in Germany during 1998-2008. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: We obtained electronic treatment planning records for 769 female breast
      cancer patients treated with megavoltage tangential field radiotherapy. All dose
      distributions were re-calculated using Eclipse with the anisotropic analytical
      algorithm (AAA) for photon fields, and the electron Monte Carlo algorithm for
      electron boost fields. Based on individual dose volume histograms for the
      complete heart and several functional sub-structures, we estimated various dose
      measures in patient groups. RESULTS: Mean heart dose spanned a range of 0.9
      19.1Gy for left-sided radiotherapy and 0.3-11.6Gy for right-sided radiotherapy.
      Average (median) mean heart dose was 4.6Gy (3.7Gy) for left-sided radiotherapy,
      and 1.7Gy (1.4Gy) for right-sided RT. With left-sided radiotherapy, 66% of the
      patients had 2cm(3) of the complete heart exposed to at least 40Gy. Younger age,
      higher body mass index, tumor location in a medial quadrant, and presence of a
      parasternal field were also associated with higher heart dose. CONCLUSION: Tumor
      location and treatment choices influence cardiac dose with complex interactions.
      There is considerable variability in heart dose, with dose metrics of different
      cardiac sub-structures showing different patterns in their dependency on external
      influences. Dose-response analysis of late cardiac effects after radiotherapy
      requires detailed individual dosimetry.

PMID- 26874544
TI  - Inactivated polio vaccine introduction in south Asia--1 year on.

PMID- 26874542
TI  - Myeloid-derived suppressor cells reveal radioprotective properties through
      arginase-induced l-arginine depletion.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High arginase-1 (Arg) expression by myeloid-derived
      suppressor cells (MDSC) is known to inhibit antitumor T-cell responses through
      depletion of l-arginine. We have previously shown that nitric oxide (NO), an
      immune mediator produced from l-arginine, is a potent radiosensitizer of hypoxic
      tumor cells. This study therefore examines whether Arg(+) overexpressing MDSC may
      confer radioresistance through depleting the substrate for NO synthesis. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: MDSC and Arg expression were studied in preclinical mouse CT26 and
      4T1 tumor models and further validated in rectal cancer patients in comparison
      with healthy donors. The radioprotective effect of MDSC was analyzed in hypoxic
      tumor cells with regard to l-arginine depletion. RESULTS: In both mouse tumors
      and cancer patients, MDSC expansion was associated with Arg activation causing
      accelerated l-arginine consumption. l-Arginine depletion in turn profoundly
      suppressed the capacity of classically activated macrophages to synthesize NO
      resulting in impaired tumor cell radiosensitivity. In advanced cT3-4 rectal
      cancer, circulating neutrophils revealed Arg overexpression approaching that in
      MDSC, therefore mounting a protumor compartment wherein Arg(+) neutrophils
      increased from 17% to over 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Protumor Arg(+) MDSC reveal a unique
      ability to radioprotect tumor cells through l-arginine depletion, a common
      mechanism behind both T-cell and macrophage inhibition.

PMID- 26874545
TI  - Reducing the population requiring interventions against lymphatic filariasis in
      Africa.

PMID- 26874546
TI  - Incidence, Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Takotsubo
      Cardiomyopathy With and Without Ventricular Arrhythmia.
AB  - Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a medical entity mimicking an acute coronary
      syndrome (ACS). Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in TC has been reported in small
      studies, leading to uncertain knowledge of its incidence. We sought to describe
      the characteristics, incidence, predictive factors, and outcomes of VA in
      patients presenting with TC. Over a 12-year period, we reviewed all patients (n =
      5,484) referred to our coronary care unit for a suspicion of ACS. TC was
      diagnosed in 90 patients according to the Mayo Clinic criteria. Incidence of VA
      among TC was 10%. In multivariate analysis, the factors significantly associated
      with an increased risk of VA were syncope (p = 0.007), age <55 years (p = 0.008),
      atypical TC (p = 0.04), a troponin I peak >7 MUg/L (p = 0.04), and dobutamine use
      during hospitalization (p = 0.04). During follow-up, there was no significant
      difference in mortality rate between patients with or without VA. In conclusion,
      VA occurred in 10% of patients at the acute phase of TC and independent
      predictive factors of VA were syncope, atypical pattern of TC, high troponin
      peak, dobutamine use, and a relatively young age in a female and menopausal
      population. During the acute phase, identification of high-risk patients with VA
      allows better management, with electrocardiographic monitoring and therapeutic
      intervention in the coronary care unit. 

PMID- 26874547
TI  - One-Year Results of Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds for Coronary Chronic Total
      Occlusions.
AB  - The potential of bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) technology has been
      demonstrated in first-in-man studies with up to 5-year follow-up. This study
      sought to investigate the 1-year outcomes of the BVS, for the treatment of
      chronic total occlusions (CTOs), using various imaging techniques. Thirty-five
      true CTO lesions treated with BVS were included in this prospective study.
      Scaffolds were deployed after mandatory predilation and intravascular ultrasound
      analysis. Optical coherence tomography was performed after BVS implantation and
      at 10 to 12 months. Multislice computed tomography was performed at baseline and
      at 6 to 8 months. Mean patient age was 61 +/- 10 years. The most frequent vessel
      treated was the right coronary artery (46%). Lesions were classified as
      intermediate (49%) or difficult/very difficult (26%) according to the Japanese
      CTO complexity score. Predilation was performed in 100% of lesions, using cutting
      balloons in 71% of these. The total scaffold length implanted per lesion was of
      52 +/- 23 mm. All scaffolds were delivered and deployed successfully.
      Postdilation was undertaken in 63%. By multislice computed tomography at 6
      months, we observed 2 cases of asymptomatic scaffold restenosis, subsequently
      confirmed by angiography. At 12 months, no scaffold thrombosis or major adverse
      cardiac events were reported. The optical coherence tomography at follow-up
      showed that 94% of struts were well apposed and covered (5% of uncovered struts
      and 1% of nonapposed struts), and only 0.6% of struts were nonapposed and
      uncovered. In conclusion, 1-year results suggest that BVS for CTO is associated
      with excellent clinical and imaging outcomes. Accurate percutaneous coronary BVS
      technique might have enabled these promising results. 

PMID- 26874549
TI  - Relation Between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Venous Thrombosis.

PMID- 26874548
TI  - Relation of Atrial Fibrillation in Acute Myocardial Infarction to In-Hospital
      Complications and Early Hospital Readmission.
AB  - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction
      (AMI) and contributes to high rates of in-hospital adverse events. However, there
      are few contemporary studies examining rates of AF in the contemporary era of AMI
      or the impact of new-onset AF on key in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes. We
      examined trends in AF in 6,384 residents of Worcester, Massachusetts, who were
      hospitalized with confirmed AMI during 7 biennial periods between 1999 and 2011.
      Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations
      between occurrence of AF and various in-hospital and postdischarge complications.
      The overall incidence of AF complicating AMI was 10.8%. Rates of new-onset AF
      increased from 1999 to 2003 (9.8% to 13.2%), and decreased thereafter. In
      multivariable adjusted models, patients developing new-onset AF after AMI were at
      a higher risk for in-hospital stroke (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence
      interval [CI] 1.6 to 4.1), heart failure (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.7 to 2.4), cardiogenic
      shock (OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.8 to 4.9), and death (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.0) than
      patients without AF. Development of AF during hospitalization for AMI was
      associated with higher rates of readmission within 30 days after discharge (21.7%
      vs 16.0%), but no significant difference was noted in early postdischarge 30-day
      all-cause mortality rates (8.3% vs 5.1%). In conclusion, new-onset AF after AMI
      is strongly related to in-hospital complications of AMI and higher short-term
      readmission rates. 

PMID- 26874551
TI  - Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutant concentrations in precipitation
      around the Great Lakes.
AB  - The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic
      hydrocarbons (PAHs), and several chlorinated insecticides in precipitation have
      been measured in samples collected every month since 1997 at six sites on the
      shores of the North American Great Lakes. We report here the geometric mean
      concentrations for each of these compounds for each year and at each site.
      Assuming a first-order rate decline for these data, we have calculated the time
      it takes for these concentrations to decrease by half. The halving times are not
      statistically distinguishable among the sites. Overall, the observed halving
      times are 11 +/- 2 years for the PCBs, 14 +/- 3 years for the PAHs, 4.0 +/- 0.2
      for the hexachlorocyclohexanes, 8.0 +/- 0.9 for the DDTs, 5.1 +/- 0.8 for the
      chlordanes, and 8.4 +/- 0.6 for the endosulfans. In general, the halving times
      calculated from precipitation concentrations agree with those calculated from
      atmospheric vapor and particle phase concentrations. 

PMID- 26874550
TI  - Temporal trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in arctic air: 20 years
      of monitoring under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP).
AB  - Temporal trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) measured in Arctic air
      are essential in understanding long-range transport to remote regions and to
      evaluate the effectiveness of national and international chemical control
      initiatives, such as the Stockholm Convention (SC) on POPs. Long-term air
      monitoring of POPs is conducted under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment
      Programme (AMAP) at four Arctic stations: Alert, Canada; Storhofdi, Iceland;
      Zeppelin, Svalbard; and Pallas, Finland, since the 1990s using high volume air
      samplers. Temporal trends observed for POPs in Arctic air are summarized in this
      study. Most POPs listed for control under the SC, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls
      (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and chlordanes, are declining
      slowly in Arctic air, reflecting the reduction of primary emissions during the
      last two decades and increasing importance of secondary emissions. Slow declining
      trends also signifies their persistence and slow degradation under the Arctic
      environment, such that they are still detectable after being banned for decades
      in many countries. Some POPs, e.g. hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and lighter PCBs,
      showed increasing trends at specific locations, which may be attributable to
      warming in the region and continued primary emissions at source. Polybrominated
      diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) do not decline in air at Canada's Alert station but are
      declining in European Arctic air, which may be due to influence of local sources
      at Alert and the much higher historical usage of PBDEs in North America. Arctic
      air samples are screened for chemicals of emerging concern to provide information
      regarding their environmental persistence (P) and long-range transport potential
      (LRTP), which are important criteria for classification as a POP under SC. The
      AMAP network provides consistent and comparable air monitoring data of POPs for
      trend development and acts as a bridge between national monitoring programs and
      SC's Global Monitoring Plan (GMP). 

PMID- 26874552
TI  - Evaluation of handwriting kinematics and pressure for differential diagnosis of
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We present the PaHaW Parkinson's disease handwriting database,
      consisting of handwriting samples from Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and
      healthy controls. Our goal is to show that kinematic features and pressure
      features in handwriting can be used for the differential diagnosis of PD. METHODS
      AND MATERIAL: The database contains records from 37 PD patients and 38 healthy
      controls performing eight different handwriting tasks. The tasks include drawing
      an Archimedean spiral, repetitively writing orthographically simple syllables and
      words, and writing of a sentence. In addition to the conventional kinematic
      features related to the dynamics of handwriting, we investigated new pressure
      features based on the pressure exerted on the writing surface. To discriminate
      between PD patients and healthy subjects, three different classifiers were
      compared: K-nearest neighbors (K-NN), ensemble AdaBoost classifier, and support
      vector machines (SVM). RESULTS: For predicting PD based on kinematic and pressure
      features of handwriting, the best performing model was SVM with classification
      accuracy of Pacc=81.3% (sensitivity Psen=87.4% and specificity of Pspe=80.9%).
      When evaluated separately, pressure features proved to be relevant for PD
      diagnosis, yielding Pacc=82.5% compared to Pacc=75.4% using kinematic features.
      CONCLUSION: Experimental results showed that an analysis of kinematic and
      pressure features during handwriting can help assess subtle characteristics of
      handwriting and discriminate between PD patients and healthy controls.

PMID- 26874553
TI  - Letter to Editor re Pavlovic et al. (2015).

PMID- 26874554
TI  - Assessment of voice, speech, and related quality of life in advanced head and
      neck cancer patients 10-years+ after chemoradiotherapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Assessment of long-term objective and subjective voice, speech,
      articulation, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC)
      treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for advanced, stage IV disease.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two disease-free survivors, treated with cisplatin
      based CRT for inoperable HNC (1999-2004), were evaluated at 10-years post
      treatment. A standard Dutch text was recorded. Perceptual analysis of voice,
      speech, and articulation was conducted by two expert listeners (SLPs). Also an
      experimental expert system based on automatic speech recognition was used.
      Patients' perception of voice and speech and related quality of life was assessed
      with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Speech Handicap Index (SHI)
      questionnaires. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 11-years, perceptual evaluation
      showed abnormal scores in up to 64% of cases, depending on the outcome parameter
      analyzed. Automatic assessment of voice and speech parameters correlated moderate
      to strong with perceptual outcome scores. Patient-reported problems with voice
      (VHI>15) and speech (SHI>6) in daily life were present in 68% and 77% of
      patients, respectively. Patients treated with IMRT showed significantly less
      impairment compared to those treated with conventional radiotherapy. CONCLUSION:
      More than 10-years after organ-preservation treatment, voice and speech problems
      are common in this patient cohort, as assessed with perceptual evaluation,
      automatic speech recognition, and with validated structured questionnaires. There
      were fewer complaints in patients treated with IMRT than with conventional
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 26874555
TI  - Relation between soft tissue and skeletal changes after mandibular setback
      surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Accurate prediction of hard and soft tissue changes is essential in orthognathic
      surgery. The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate the
      relation between soft and hard tissue relocation after mandibular setback
      surgery. A systematic search was performed, correlation coefficients and ratios
      were retrieved from the eligible studies, and the risk of bias was assessed. The
      random effects method was used to combine data. The five eligible studies showed
      that sagittal changes in pogonion, point B, and incision inferius incisalis are
      highly correlated with respective soft tissue movements and exhibit ratios
      ranging from 0.915 to 1.051. Only two studies were classified as having a
      moderate risk of bias. Although the characteristics of the included data limit
      the formation of definite conclusions, the soft to hard tissue movement ratios
      produced constitute initial clinically relevant guidance. Further long-term
      standardized and well-conducted trials are needed. 

PMID- 26874556
TI  - Impact of different sedation protocols and perioperative procedures on patients
      admitted to the intensive care unit after maxillofacial tumor surgery of the
      lower jaw: A retrospective study.
AB  - Maxillofacial tumor surgery often necessitates prolonged invasive ventilation to
      prevent blockage of the respiratory tract. To tolerate ventilation, continuously
      administered sedatives are recommended. Half-time of sedative or analgesic
      medication is an important characteristic by which narcotic drugs are chosen, due
      to the fact that weaning period increases with half-time. The aim of our study
      was to investigate whether a change in sedation regimen would affect the length
      of invasive ventilation or intensive care unit stay and medical costs.
      Additionally, the impact of various surgical procedures was analyzed. Data of 157
      patients after mandibular surgery were retrospectively analyzed over 5 years in
      count regression models. Of those patients, 84 received a sedation regimen with
      sufentanil and midazolam and 73 with remifentanil and propofol. The impact of the
      surgical procedures (tracheostomy, tumor resection, neck dissection and length of
      operation) and the patient age and sex were analyzed with respect to length of
      ventilation and ICU days. Cost savings were calculated. Our data show that
      patients receiving remifentanil/propofol had fewer ventilation days (2.5 +/- 2.5
      versus 6.1 +/- 4.6 days, P < 0.001) and were discharged earlier from the
      intensive care unit than patients receiving sufentanil/midazolam (5.1 +/- 3.8
      versus 9.2 +/- 6.2 days, P < 0.001), leading to calculated cost savings of about
      8000 Euro per patient. Length of operation negatively influenced length of ICU
      stay (P < 0.001). In conclusion, short-acting drugs such as
      remifentanil/propofol, as well as tracheostoma and shortened surgery duration may
      reduce the postoperative need for invasive ventilation and length of intensive
      care unit stay. 

PMID- 26874557
TI  - Effects of oral clonidine premedication on hemodynamic status in bimaxillary
      orthognathic surgery: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: Controlled hypotension during a surgical procedure is a way to decrease
      blood pressure and subsequently to improve the field of operation. Clonidine is
      an antihypertensive agent used for induced hypotension. Correction of
      maxillomandibular discrepancies may necessitate performing osteotomy on both jaws
      in many cases. Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery is a procedure that is associated
      with significant blood loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 30 participants who
      were candidates for double-jaw orthognathic surgery were classified into two
      groups with equal numbers. In one group, 300 MUg oral clonidine premedication was
      administered 90 min before the operation, and in the other group a placebo with
      the same condition as in the first group. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart
      rate at 10 min intervals, operation time, blood loss, and surgeon satisfaction
      were measured. RESULTS: A total of 10 men and 5 women with a mean age of 22.9 +/-
      2.9 years in the study group and 13 men and 2 women with a mean age of 22.1 +/-
      2.1 years in the control group were evaluated. The MAP was significantly lower in
      the clonidine group (P < 0.001). Intraoperative bleeding was 508.67 +/- 46.2 mL
      in the placebo group and 287.33 +/- 72.06 mL in the clonidine group, and the
      difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Significant differences were
      observed in operation time (P < 0.05) and surgeon satisfaction (P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSION: The authors of this study suggest clonidine premedication in
      bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Hemodynamic stability, bleeding control,
      decrease of operative time, and enhancement of surgical results are advantages of
      this method.

PMID- 26874558
TI  - The Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code (MITI 4): Rationale,
      Preliminary Reliability and Validity.
AB  - The Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code has been revised to
      address new evidence-based elements of motivational interviewing (MI). This new
      version (MITI 4) includes new global ratings to assess clinician's attention to
      client language, increased rigor in assessing autonomy support and client choice,
      and items to evaluate the use of persuasion when giving information and advice.
      METHOD: Four undergraduate, non-professional raters were trained in the MITI and
      used it to review 50 audiotapes of clinicians conducting MI in actual treatments
      sessions. Both kappa and intraclass correlation indices were calculated for all
      coders, for the best rater pair and for a 20% randomly selected sample from the
      best rater pair. RESULTS: Reliability across raters, with the exception of
      Emphasize Autonomy and % Complex Reflections, were in the good to excellent
      range. Reliability estimates decrease when smaller samples are used and when
      fewer raters contribute. CONCLUSION: The advantages and drawbacks of this
      revision are discussed including implications for research and clinical
      applications. The MITI 4.0 represents a reliable method for assessing the
      integrity of MI including both the technical and relational components of the
      method.

PMID- 26874559
TI  - Ghrelin activates hypophysiotropic corticotropin-releasing factor neurons
      independently of the arcuate nucleus.
AB  - Previous work has established that the hormone ghrelin engages the hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine axis via activation of corticotropin-releasing
      factor (CRF) neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The
      neuronal circuitry that mediates this effect of ghrelin is currently unknown.
      Here, we show that ghrelin-induced activation of PVN CRF neurons involved
      inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inputs, likely via ghrelin binding
      sites that were localized at GABAergic terminals within the PVN. While ghrelin
      activated PVN CRF neurons in the presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor
      antagonists or in arcuate nucleus (ARC)-ablated mice, it failed to do it so in
      mice with ghrelin receptor expression limited to ARC agouti gene related protein
      (AgRP)/NPY neurons. These data support the notion that ghrelin activates PVN CRF
      neurons via inhibition of local GABAergic tone, in an ARC-independent manner.
      Furthermore, these data suggest that the neuronal circuits mediating ghrelin's
      orexigenic action vs. its role as a stress signal are anatomically dissociated. 

PMID- 26874562
TI  - Diurnal cortisol variation and cortisol response to an MRI stressor in
      schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
AB  - Markers of HPA axis function, including diurnal cortisol rhythm and cortisol
      responses to stress or pharmacological manipulation, are increasingly reported as
      disrupted in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, there has
      been no direct comparison of cortisol responses to stress in SZ and BD in the
      same study, and associations between cortisol dysfunction and illness
      characteristics remain unclear. In this study we used spline embedded linear
      mixed models to examine cortisol levels of SZ and BD participants at waking,
      during the first 45min after waking (representing the cortisol awakening
      response; CAR), during the period of rapid cortisol decline post the awakening
      response, and in reaction to a stressor (MRI scan), relative to healthy controls
      (HC). Contrary to expectations, neither SZ nor BD showed differences in waking
      cortisol levels, CAR, or immediate post-CAR decline compared to HC; however,
      waking cortisol levels were greater in BD relative to SZ. In response to the MRI
      stressor, the SZ group showed a significant absence of the expected increase in
      cortisol responsivity to stress, which was seen in both the BD and HC groups.
      Clinical factors affecting the CAR differed between SZ and BD. In SZ, higher
      antipsychotic medication dosage was associated with a steeper incline of the CAR,
      while greater positive symptom severity was associated with a more blunted CAR,
      and greater levels of anxiety were associated with the blunted cortisol response
      to stress. In BD, longer illness duration was associated with a steeper incline
      in CAR and lower levels of waking cortisol. These results suggest that cortisol
      responses may normalize with medication (in SZ) and longer illness duration (in
      BD), in line with findings of aberrant cortisol levels in the early stages of
      psychotic disorders. 

PMID- 26874561
TI  - Exposure to acute stress enhances decision-making competence: Evidence for the
      role of DHEA.
AB  - Exposure to acute stress can impact performance on numerous cognitive abilities,
      but little is known about how acute stress affects real-world decision-making
      ability. In the present study, we induced acute stress with a standard laboratory
      task involving uncontrollable socio-evaluative stress and subsequently assessed
      decision-making ability using the Adult Decision Making Competence index. In
      addition, we took baseline and post-test saliva samples from participants to
      examine associations between decision-making competence and adrenal hormones.
      Participants in the stress induction group showed enhanced decision-making
      competence, relative to controls. Further, although both cortisol and
      dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) reactivity predicted decision-making competence
      when considered in isolation, DHEA was a significantly better predictor than
      cortisol when both hormones were considered simultaneously. Thus, our results
      show that exposure to acute stress can have beneficial effects on the cognitive
      ability underpinning real-world decision-making and that this effect relates to
      DHEA reactivity more than cortisol. 

PMID- 26874560
TI  - Adolescent caffeine consumption increases adulthood anxiety-related behavior and
      modifies neuroendocrine signaling.
AB  - Caffeine is a commonly used psychoactive substance and consumption by children
      and adolescents continues to rise. Here, we examine the lasting effects of
      adolescent caffeine consumption on anxiety-related behaviors and several
      neuroendocrine measures in adulthood. Adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats
      consumed caffeine (0.3g/L) for 28 consecutive days from postnatal day 28 (P28) to
      P55. Age-matched control rats consumed water. Behavioral testing for anxiety
      related behavior began in adulthood (P62) 7 days after removal of caffeine.
      Adolescent caffeine consumption enhanced anxiety-related behavior in an open
      field, social interaction test, and elevated plus maze. Similar caffeine
      consumption in adult rats did not alter anxiety-related behavior after caffeine
      removal. Characterization of neuroendocrine measures was next assessed to
      determine whether the changes in anxiety were associated with modifications in
      the HPA axis. Blood plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT) were assessed
      throughout the caffeine consumption procedure in adolescent rats. Adolescent
      caffeine consumption elevated plasma CORT 24h after initiation of caffeine
      consumption that normalized over the course of the 28-day consumption procedure.
      CORT levels were also elevated 24h after caffeine removal and remained elevated
      for 7 days. Despite elevated basal CORT in adult rats that consumed caffeine
      during adolescence, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and CORT response to
      placement on an elevated pedestal (a mild stressor) was significantly blunted.
      Lastly, we assessed changes in basal and stress-induced c-fos and corticotropin
      releasing factor (Crf) mRNA expression in brain tissue collected at 7 days
      withdrawal from adolescent caffeine. Adolescent caffeine consumption increased
      basal c-fos mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Adolescent
      caffeine consumption had no other effects on the basal or stress-induced c-fos
      mRNA changes. Caffeine consumption during adolescence increased basal Crf mRNA in
      the central nucleus of the amygdala, but no additional effects of stress or
      caffeine consumption were observed in other brain regions. Together these
      findings suggest that adolescent caffeine consumption may increase vulnerability
      to psychiatric disorders including anxiety-related disorders, and this
      vulnerability may result from dysregulation of the neuroendocrine stress response
      system. 

PMID- 26874563
TI  - Recurrence of stroke caused by nocturnal hypoxia-induced blood pressure surge in
      a young adult male with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
AB  - Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) causes resistant hypertension and a
      hypopnea-related nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge. This could lead to an
      increase of not only the nocturnal BP level but also nocturnal BP variability,
      both of which increase an individual's cardiovascular risk. We recently developed
      a trigger sleep BP monitoring method that initiates BP measurement when an
      individual's oxygen desaturation falls below a variable threshold, and we
      demonstrated that it can detect a BP surge during apnea episodes. We here report
      the case of a 36-year-old man with severe OSAS who experienced the recurrence of
      stroke due to nocturnal hypoxia and a nocturnal BP surge measured by this trigger
      sleep BP monitoring device. A nocturnal BP surge during sleep in OSAS patients
      could be a strong trigger of cardiovascular events. 

PMID- 26874564
TI  - Importance of inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter and its compelling
      indication in type 2 diabetes: pathophysiological hypothesis.
AB  - Primarily the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors suppress the
      cotransport of glucose and sodium from the tubular lumen of proximal tubules to
      the blood and enhance the glucose excretion into urine. Therefore, glucose and
      caloric balances become negative, making the blood glucose level as well as
      insulin secretion both reduced. On the other hand, the proximal tubular fluid,
      constituting with low chloride concentration because of SGLT2 inhibition, is
      transferred to the loop of Henle. On the low chloride conditions, the
      reabsorption mechanisms in the loop of Henle do not work, as if loop diuretics
      are given. Finally, blood pressure is also lowered secondarily due to the loop
      diuretic action by SGLT2 inhibitions. Thus, the metabolic and hemodynamic
      combined systems synergistically interact further to suppress the risks leading
      to atherosclerosis and organs damage. Precise mechanisms for SGLT2 inhibitors to
      work in various aspects especially in preventing organ damage and cardiovascular
      events must be clarified further.

PMID- 26874565
TI  - ST-segment abnormalities are associated with long-term prognosis in non-ST
      segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: The ERICO-ECG study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We aimed to identify whether ST-segment abnormalities, in the
      admission or during in-hospital stay, are associated with survival and/or new
      incident myocardial infarction (MI) in 623 non-ST-elevation acute coronary
      syndrome participants of the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome
      (ERICO) study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ERICO is conducted in a community-based
      hospital. ST-segment analysis was based on the Minnesota Code. We built Cox
      regression models to study whether ECG was an independent predictor for clinical
      outcomes. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 3years. We found higher risk of death due
      to MI in individuals with ST-segment abnormalities in the final ECG (adjusted
      hazard ratio: 2.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-6.28). Individuals with ST
      segment abnormalities in any tracing had a non-significant trend toward a higher
      risk of fatal or new non-fatal MI (p=0.088). CONCLUSIONS: ST-segment
      abnormalities after the initial tracing added long-term prognostic information.

PMID- 26874567
TI  - Clinical, biochemical, and molecular findings in a Colombian patient with Tay
      Sachs disease.

PMID- 26874566
TI  - Beat-to-beat determinants of the beat-to-beat temporal and spatial variability of
      repolarization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to compare the time series predictors of
      beat-to-beat variability in repolarization in healthy individuals. METHODS:
      Spatial QRS- and T-vector amplitudes, spatial QRS-T, RR' and TT' angles, RR' and
      QT intervals, and QRS- and T-loop roundness were measured on 453 consecutive
      sinus beats in 168 healthy subjects (mean age 39.8+/-15.6years; 50% men; 93%
      white). Panel time-series regression models were adjusted by age, sex, and race.
      Appropriate time series of ECG metrics served as predictors and outcomes.
      RESULTS: Increase in T-loop roundness index by 0.1 was associated with 1.1
      degrees  (95%CI 0.9-2.2; P=0.048) increase in corresponding TT' angle. One unit
      increase in a respiration index was associated with 4ms (95%CI 0.6-7.0; P=0.021)
      increase in QT interval. CONCLUSIONS: Spatial TT' angle and beat-to-beat
      variability in T-loop roundness represent intrinsic measures of repolarization
      variability. QT interval variability characterizes the effect of respiration and
      heart rate variability.

PMID- 26874568
TI  - Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy presenting as a bilateral
      brachial plexopathy.

PMID- 26874569
TI  - Toxic hepatitis after concomitant interferon beta and aloe vera treatment in a
      patient with multiple sclerosis: A case report.

PMID- 26874570
TI  - Retrospective multicentre observational study on clinical management and
      treatment of different types of status epilepticus in clinical practice.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency associated with
      significant mortality and morbidity. We analyse characteristics of this entity in
      our population. METHODS: Data from electronic medical records of adults diagnosed
      with SE were collected retrospectively from 5 hospitals over 4 years. RESULTS:
      Data reflected 84 episodes of SE in 77 patients with a mean age of 60.3 years. Of
      this sample, 52.4% had a previous history of epilepsy. Status classification:
      47.6% tonic-clonic, 21.4% complex partial, 17.9% partial motor, 6% partial
      simple, 3.6% myoclonic, and 3.6% subtle SE. Based on the duration of the episode,
      SE was defined in this study as early stage (up to 30min) in 13.1%, established
      (30-120min) in 20.2%, refractory (more than 120min) in 41.7%, and super
      refractory (episodes continuing or recurring after more than 24h of anaesthesia)
      in 13.1%. Ten patients (11.9%) died when treatment failed to control SE. The
      cumulative percentage of success achieved was 8.3% with the first treatment,
      27.3% for the second, 48.7% for the third, 58.2% for the fourth, 70.1% for the
      fifth, 80.8% for the sixth, 83.2% for the seventh, and 84.4% for the eighth.
      CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that SE did not respond to treatment within
      2h in approximately half the cases and 11.9% of the patients died without
      achieving seizure control, regardless of the type of status. Half the patients
      responded by the third treatment but some patients needed as many as 8 treatments
      to resolve seizures. Using large registers permitting analysis of the different
      types and stages of SE is warranted.

PMID- 26874571
TI  - Recurrent diaphoresis, acute confusional state, and pleural mesothelioma.

PMID- 26874573
TI  - Synchronous clear cell renal cell carcinoma and multilocular cystic renal cell
      neoplasia of low malignant potential: A clinico-pathologic and molecular study.
AB  - We report a rare case of synchronous clear cell renal cell carcinoma and
      multilocular cystic renal cell neoplasia of low malignant potential in the same
      kidney. The tumors were seen incidentally in a 45-year-old man. Pathologic study
      revealed that the former tumor was nucleolar grade 2, and the multilocular cystic
      renal cell neoplasia of low malignant potential was nucleolar grade 1. At
      immunohistochemistry, the clear cells in both tumors were positive for CD10 and
      CA IX. Interestingly, these uncommon synchronous tumors showed a different
      KRAS/NRAS mutation analysis that was characterized by KRAS mutation at codon
      p.G12C in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma, while this mutation was not
      present in the case of multilocular cystic renal cell neoplasia of low malignant
      potential. NRAS mutation was not seen in any of the tumors. 

PMID- 26874572
TI  - Diagnostic value of IMP3 and mesothelin in differentiating pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma from chronic pancreatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The discrimination between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and
      chronic pancreatitis may be confusing at both clinical and radiologic levels. So,
      the search for biomarkers able to distinguish both clinical conditions is of
      great interest. AIM: This study was undertaken to assess the value of insulin
      like growth factor II mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) and mesothelin to
      differentiate PDA from non-neoplastic/reactive pancreatic duct epithelium.
      METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for IMP3 and mesothelin was performed on 40
      formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of PDA, 20 biopsies of chronic
      pancreatitis and 10 normal pancreatic tissue obtained from tumor-free surgical
      margins. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative
      predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: IMP3
      immunoreactivity was observed in 34 of 40 (85%) cases of PDA. The staining
      reaction was moderate to strong in 30 (75%) cases and diffuse in 26 (65%) cases.
      Eighteen of 20 (90%) biopsies of chronic pancreatitis were negative for IMP3,
      while the other two cases (10%) showed weak and focal IMP3 immunoreactivity. On
      the other hand, mesothelin demonstrated positive immunoreactivity in 30 of 40
      (75%) cases of PDA. The staining reaction was moderate to strong in 24 (60%)
      cases and diffuse in 22 (55%) cases. Sixteen of 20 (80%) biopsies of chronic
      pancreatitis were negative for mesothelin, while weak and focal mesothelin
      staining was detected in the other 4 cases. All normal pancreatic tissues were
      negative for IMP3 and mesothelin expression. IMP3 showed higher sensitivity (85%)
      and specificity (90%) than mesothelin (75% and 80%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results showed that IMP3 immunostaining has a higher sensitivity and
      specificity than mesothelin for the diagnosis of PDA. IMP3 and mesothelin may be
      useful markers in distinguishing neoplastic from reactive lesions of the pancreas
      in instances where this is impossible by morphology alone in surgical pathology
      practice.

PMID- 26874574
TI  - Diagnostic value of a semi-nested PCR for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and
      aspergillosis from paraffin-embedded tissue: A single center experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The main aim of our study was to investigate the diagnostic value of a
      molecular method for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis from
      formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. METHODS: A retrospective
      chart review identified all cases with histology reports mentioning the presence
      of fungi with morphological characteristics of either Aspergillus or
      mucormycetes, for the period 2005-2012. Paraffin blocks were retrieved from the
      archives of the Department of Pathology. A semi-nested PCR specific for the
      detection of mucormycetes and Aspergillus species was applied in FFPE tissue from
      the above blocks. Results were compared with those of histological (gold
      standard) and microbiological methods. RESULTS: Twenty cases with fungal hyphae
      in tissue were revealed. Mucormycetes were detected in 9 cases (45%) by PCR, in
      only 4 of which culture was available. Species of Aspergillus were detected in 8
      cases (40%) by PCR, two of which were co-infection with mucormycetes. Five
      patients had other fungi, non-detectable with this specific PCR. At least one
      sample per patient was positive by PCR. Seven out of 30 samples tested overall
      were false negative. The calculated sensitivity of this method in our setting was
      79.3% (95% CI: 60.3-91.9%); specificity was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The specific PCR
      used appears to be an easy and useful tool for the prompt and accurate diagnosis
      of mucormycosis and aspergillosis, in combination with histology and direct
      examination. Mucormycosis was more frequent than aspergillosis during the study
      period, highlighting the importance of continuous epidemiological surveillance of
      these serious infections.

PMID- 26874577
TI  - Attention and spatial cognition: Neural and anatomical substrates of visual
      neglect.
AB  - Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a neurological disorder often observed
      following damage to the right cerebral hemisphere. Patients with USN are no
      longer able to take into account stimuli presented on the left side of space. In
      this article, we will discuss the neuroanatomical correlates that underlie
      visuospatial attention and can cause USN, an area of growing research interest in
      the past 20 years. This syndrome has often been related to cortical damage,
      notably in the inferior parietal lobule. Other data have also implicated lesions
      in the inferior frontal gyrus or the superior temporal gyrus. In this article, we
      will highlight the relevance of viewing USN as a disconnection syndrome of
      interconnected cerebral areas, as opposed to a focal cortical syndrome. We will
      review data that provide evidence of intrahemispheric disconnection, in
      particular within the right hemisphere's frontoparietal networks connected by the
      superior longitudinal fasciculus. Recent findings suggest that interhemispheric
      disconnection could also contribute to the manifestations of USN. Most
      importantly, interhemispheric disconnection might be a predictive factor for the
      chronicity of this disorder. This hypothesis implies that the left hemisphere by
      itself is not able to compensate for the patients' deficits. Recovery requires
      the ability to exchange information between the two hemispheres, particularly in
      the posterior parietal and occipital regions.

PMID- 26874576
TI  - Diabetes, Gray Matter Loss, and Cognition in the Setting of Parkinson Disease.
AB  - RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive
      neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive functions. Prior studies
      showed that patients with PD and diabetes (DM) demonstrate worse clinical
      outcomes compared to nondiabetic subjects with PD. Our study aimed at defining
      the relationship between DM, gray matter volume, and cognition in patients with
      PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 36 subjects with PD (12 with DM,
      24 without DM, mean age = 66). Subjects underwent high-resolution T1-weighted
      brain magnetic resonance imaging, [(11)C]dihydrotetrabenazine positron emission
      tomography imaging to quantify nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation, clinical,
      and cognitive assessments. Magnetic resonance images were postprocessed to
      determine total and lobar cortical gray matter volumes. Cognitive testing scores
      were converted to z-scores for specific cognitive domains and a composite global
      cognitive z-score based on normative data computed. Analysis of covariance,
      accounting for effects of age, gender, intracranial volume, and striatal
      [(11)C]dihydrotetrabenazine binding, was used to test the relationship between DM
      and gray matter volumes. RESULTS: Impact of DM on total gray matter volume was
      significant (P = 0.02). Post hoc analyses of lobar cortical gray matter volumes
      revealed that DM was more selectively associated with lower gray matter volumes
      in the frontal regions (P = 0.01). Cognitive post hoc analyses showed that
      interaction of total gray matter volume and DM status was significantly
      associated with composite (P = 0.007), executive (P = 0.02), and visuospatial
      domain cognitive z-scores (P = 0.005). These associations were also significant
      for the frontal cortical gray matter. CONCLUSION: DM may exacerbate brain atrophy
      and cognitive functions in PD with greater vulnerability in the frontal lobes.
      Given the high prevalence of DM in the elderly, delineating its effects on
      patient outcomes in the PD population is of importance.

PMID- 26874575
TI  - Emerging Complexities in Adipocyte Origins and Identity.
AB  - The global incidence of obesity and its comorbidities continues to rise along
      with a demand for novel therapeutic interventions. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is
      attracting attention as a therapeutic target because of its presence in adult
      humans and high capacity to dissipate energy as heat, and thus burn excess
      calories, when stimulated. Another potential avenue for therapeutic intervention
      is to induce, within white adipose tissue (WAT), the formation of brown-like
      adipocytes called brite (brown-like-in-white) or beige adipocytes. However,
      understanding how to harness the potential of these thermogenic cells requires a
      deep understanding of their developmental origins and regulation. Recent cell
      labeling and lineage-tracing experiments are beginning to shed light on this
      emerging area of adipocyte biology. We review here adipocyte development, giving
      particular attention to thermogenic adipocytes.

PMID- 26874578
TI  - Optic ataxia in Balint-Holmes syndrome.
AB  - The objective of this review is to reinstate the diversity of visual perception
      and visuomotor symptoms following lesions to the posterior parietal cortex
      (dorsal visual stream). This diversity was overshadowed for a long time and shows
      the contribution of the dorsal visual stream not only to action but also to
      perception. More precisely, we propose that the visuomotor deficit in optic
      ataxia stems from two distinct components: visual proprioceptive deficit (hand
      effect) and visual attentional deficit (field effect) also affecting the
      perception in peripheral vision.

PMID- 26874579
TI  - Eosinophil chemotaxis assay in nasal polyps by using a novel optical device EZ
      TAXIScan: Role of CC-chemokine receptor 3.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The chemokine receptor, CC-chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3), and its major
      ligands, eotaxin, RANTES, and MCP-4, are involved in eosinophil chemotaxis. It is
      thought that CCR3 plays an important role in the recruitment and activation of
      eosinophils in nasal polyposis. We examined nasal polyp extract-induced
      eosinophil chemotaxis and the effect of a CCR3 antagonist using EZ-TAXIScan, a
      novel real-time chemotaxis assay device. METHODS: Nasal polyps were obtained from
      chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients during surgery. The polyps were homogenized
      and eotaxin levels in the extracts were measured. Eosinophils were purified from
      human peripheral blood by the CD16 negative selection method. Nasal polyp extract
      induced eosinophil chemotaxis, with or without CCR3 antagonist, was assessed by
      EZ-TAXIScan. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between the
      eosinophil counts in nasal polyp and eotaxin levels in the nasal polyp extracts.
      Using EZ-TAXIScan, eosinophil chemotactic responses were observed following
      stimulation with nasal polyp extracts. There was a significant positive
      correlation between the chemotactic index toward the nasal polyp extracts and
      their eotaxin levels. Nasal polyp extract-induced chemotaxis was completely
      inhibited by CCR3 antagonist but not by chemoattractant receptor-homologous
      molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) antagonist which inhibited PGD2-induced
      eosinophil chemotaxis. CONCLUSIONS: The CCR3 pathway may play an important role
      in the pathogenesis of eosinophil recruitment in nasal polyps through selective
      eosinophil chemotaxis.

PMID- 26874580
TI  - The diversity of circulating neutrophils in cancer.
AB  - Neutrophils, the most abundant leukocyte in human circulation are being more and
      more recognized as part of the immune reaction to cancer. In the last years, the
      understanding that neutrophils possess a dual role in cancer development has
      emerged. During tumor progression the number of neutrophils increase, and their
      phenotype change. In advanced cancer, we can find several sub-populations of
      circulating neutrophils possessing different characteristics of maturity, tumor
      cytotoxicity and immune suppression. One important sub-population of circulating
      neutrophils is the granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (G-MDSC).
      Differencing G-MDSC from other sub-populations of neutrophils in the circulation
      is a complex and controversial task, as there are no clear definitions of the
      differences between these granulocytic sub-populations. Herein we review the
      differences described thus far between G-MDSC and other circulating neutrophils.
      We then compare the morphology, surface markers, function and prognostic
      importance of the different tumor-related circulating neutrophils, as described
      by us and others, and discuss the possible relations between the different sub
      populations, their source and fate. Lastly, we suggest a nomenclature to try and
      encompass the full range of circulating neutrophils in cancer.

PMID- 26874582
TI  - Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the cervix: A case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Primary signet cell carcinoma of the cervix has been reported only
      in 18 cases to date. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 48-year-old woman was seen at our
      Gynecologic Oncology Unit, because she complained postcoital bleeding during the
      last three months. She had 1-2 cm cervical mass, originating from the
      endocervical canal. A biopsy revealed a signet ring cell-type adenocarcinoma.
      Suspected primary sites were excluded after gastroscopy, colonoscopy and
      mammography. The patient underwent a laparoscopic type-3 radical hysterectomy
      with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection and paraaortic
      lymph node dissection with a presumed diagnosis of primary signet ring cell
      carcinoma of the cervix. Microscopically, the tumour consisted of 70% signet ring
      cell type and 30% endocervical adenocarcinoma. She did not receive any adjuvant
      treatment. Follow-up at 18 months after surgery showed no evidence of recurrence.
      DISCUSSION: Nineteenth case of a primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the cervix
      was presented. Immunohistochemical studies and HPV DNA positivity may help in
      diagnosis. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to differentiate primary tumour from
      metastatic signet cell carcinoma, while treatment and prognosis differ
      significantly.

PMID- 26874581
TI  - Lentiviral vector encoding ubiquitinated hepatitis B core antigen induces potent
      cellular immune responses and therapeutic immunity in HBV transgenic mice.
AB  - Predominant T helper cell type 1 (Th1) immune responses accompanied by boosted
      HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity are essential for the
      clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
      Ubiquitin (Ub) serves as a signal for the target protein to be recognized and
      degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Ubiquitinated hepatitis B
      core antigen (Ub-HBcAg) has been proved to be efficiently degraded into the
      peptides, which can be presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class
      I resulting in stimulating cell-mediated responses. In the present study,
      lentiviral vectors encoding Ub-HBcAg (LV-Ub-HBcAg) were designed and constructed
      as a therapeutic vaccine for immunotherapy. HBcAg-specific cellular immune
      responses and anti-viral effects induced by LV-Ub-HBcAg were evaluated in HBV
      transgenic mice. We demonstrated that immunization with LV-Ub-HBcAg promoted the
      secretion of cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and
      tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), generated remarkably high percentages of
      IFN-gamma-secreting CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) T cells, and enhanced HBcAg
      specific CTL activity in HBV transgenic mice. More importantly, vaccination with
      LV-Ub-HBcAg could efficiently decreased the levels of serum hepatitis B surface
      antigen (HBsAg), HBV DNA and the expression of HBsAg and HBcAg in liver tissues
      of HBV transgenic mice. In addition, LV-Ub-HBcAg could upregulate the expression
      of T cell-specific T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and downregulate the
      expression of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in spleen T lymphocytes. The
      therapeutic vaccine LV-Ub-HBcAg could break immune tolerance, and induce potent
      HBcAg specific cellular immune responses and therapeutic effects in HBV
      transgenic mice.

PMID- 26874583
TI  - Isolated omental metastasis of renal cell carcinoma after extraperitoneal open
      partial nephrectomy: A case report.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Metachronous metastatic spread of clinically localized renal cell
      carcinoma (RCC) affects almost 1/3 of the patients. They occur most frequently in
      lung, liver, bone and brain. Isolated omental metastasis of RCC has not been
      reported so far. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old patient previously diagnosed
      and treated due to pulmonary sarcoidosis has developed an omental metastatic
      lesion 13 years after having undergone open extraperitoneal partial nephrectomy
      for T1 clear-cell RCC. Constitutional symptoms and imaging findings that were
      attributed to the presence of a sarcomatoid paraneoplastic syndrome triggered by
      the development this metastatic focus complicated the diagnostic work-up. Biopsy
      of the [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (+) lesions confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic
      RCC and the patient was managed by the resection of the omental mass via near
      total omentectomy followed by targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
      DISCUSSION: Late recurrence of RCC has been reported to occur in 10-20% of the
      patients within 20 years. Therefore lifelong follow up of RCC has been advocated
      by some authors. Diffuse peritoneal metastases have been reported in certain RCC
      subtypes with adverse histopathological features. However, isolated omental
      metastasis without any sign of peritoneal involvement is an extremely rare
      condition. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of
      metachronously developed, isolated omental metastasis of an initially T1 clear
      cell RCC. Constitutional symptoms, despite a long interval since nephrectomy,
      should raise the possibility of a paraneoplastic syndrome being associated with
      metastatic RCC. Morphological and molecular imaging studies together with
      histopathological documentation will be diagnostic.

PMID- 26874584
TI  - Endophthalmitis of probable endogenous origin caused by Scedosporium boydii: A
      case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mycotic ocular infections caused by the Scedosporium apiospermum
      species complex are challenging to treat because of the delayed diagnoses and
      poor responses to antifungal drugs and surgical treatment. CASE REPORT: A case of
      a 69-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus type 2 and prior
      surgery on the right femur is described. In the 10 days prior to the ophthalmic
      consultation he started with ocular pain, adding to a previous and progressive
      loss of visual acuity in his right eye. The diagnosis of endophthalmitis of
      probable endogenous origin was established. Despite medical treatment, the
      patient's condition worsened and, due to the imminent risks, an enucleation was
      performed. Smears of the enucleation tissue revealed fungal cells, and the
      cultures yielded a fungus belonging to the S. apiospermum species complex, which
      was identified as Scedosporium boydii by morphological characteristics and
      sequencing of a PCR amplicon. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of endophthalmitis of
      probable endogenous origin in the right eye was based on a previous right femur
      surgery. Potential risk to the patient led to enucleation.

PMID- 26874585
TI  - High rate of Candida deep-seated infection in patients under chronic hemodialysis
      with extended central venous catheter use.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis has been described as an important risk factor for the
      development of candidemia in patients suffering from chronic renal failure. AIMS:
      The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of candidemia in
      outpatients with renal replacement therapy (RRT) by hemodialysis where the
      fungemia clearly represents a healthcare-associated infection. METHODS: We
      retrospectively collected clinical and laboratory data from patients undergoing
      at least 3 months of RRT by hemodialysis who developed candidemia within 48h of
      hospital admission. RESULTS: We identified 14 patients with candidemia with
      central venous catheters (CVC) in place for 11-277 days before developing
      fungemia. Deep-seated infection was documented in 6 out of 14 candidiasis cases
      (43%), including 5 cases of endocarditis (36%). CONCLUSIONS: CVC in patients
      under RRT should be promptly replaced by fistulas and grafts to avoid bloodstream
      infections. Facing a case of candidemia, adequate source control and prompt
      initiation of antifungal therapy are mandatory to avoid morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26874586
TI  - Structural and functional characterization of EIAV gp45 fusion peptide proximal
      region and asparagine-rich layer.
AB  - Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are
      members of the lentiviral genus. Similar to HIV gp41, EIAV gp45 is a fusogenic
      protein that mediates fusion between the viral particle and the host cell
      membrane. The crystal structure of gp45 reported reveals a different conformation
      in the here that includes the fusion peptide proximal region (FPPR) and
      neighboring asparagine-rich layer compared with previous HIV-1 gp41 structures. A
      complicated hydrogen-bond network containing a cluster of solvent molecules
      appears to be critical for the stability of the gp45 helical bundle.
      Interestingly, viral replication was relatively unaffected by site-directed
      mutagenesis of EIAV, in striking contrast to that of HIV-1. Based on these
      observations, we speculate that EIAV is more adaptable to emergent mutations,
      which might be important for the evolution of EIAV as a quasi-species, and could
      potentially contribute to the success of the EIAV vaccine. 

PMID- 26874587
TI  - Replication cycle of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 in duck embryonic hepatocytes.
AB  - Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) is an important agent of duck viral
      hepatitis. Until recently, the replication cycle of DHAV-1 is still unknown. Here
      duck embryonic hepatocytes infected with DHAV-1 were collected at different time
      points, and dynamic changes of the relative DHAV-1 gene expression during
      replication were detected by real-time PCR. And the morphology of hepatocytes
      infected with DHAV was evaluated by electron microscope. The result suggested
      that the adsorption of DHAV-1 saturated at 90 min post-infection, and the virus
      particles with size of about 50 nm including more than 20 nm of vacuum drying
      gold were observed on the infected cells surface. What's more, the replication
      lasted around 13 h after the early protein synthesis for about 5h, and the
      release of DHAV-1 was in steady state after 32 h. The replication cycle will
      enrich the data for DVH control and provide the foundation for future studies.

PMID- 26874589
TI  - [Molluscum contagiosum due to vertical transmission].

PMID- 26874590
TI  - What's Keeping Teenagers Up? Prebedtime Behaviors and Actigraphy-Assessed Sleep
      Over School and Vacation.
AB  - PURPOSE: Technology-related behaviors (e.g., computer use) before bedtime (BT)
      have been associated with poorer and shorter sleep in adolescents; however, less
      is known about other behaviors in relation to sleep. This study characterized a
      range of behaviors in the hour before bed (i.e., pre-BT behaviors [PBBs]) and
      examined their relationship with sleep parameters during school and vacation
      periods (i.e., restricted and extended sleep opportunities, respectively).
      Mechanistic roles of chronotype and cognitive presleep arousal (PSAcog) were also
      examined. METHODS: During the last week of a school term and throughout a 2-week
      vacation, 146 adolescents (47.26% male, age M +/- standard deviation = 16.2 +/-
      1.0 years) from the general community completed daily sleep measure using
      actigraphy, self-report measures on PBBs and PSAcog (Presleep Arousal Scale) for
      both school and vacation periods, and chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness
      Questionnaire). RESULTS: Adolescents engaged in a variety of behaviors before
      bed. Notably, playing video games was associated with significantly later school
      and vacation BT and shorter school sleep duration (controlling for chronotype).
      During vacation, online social media was associated with significantly longer
      sleep onset latency, and this relationship was mediated by higher PSAcog. In
      contrast, on school nights, spending time with family was associated with
      significantly earlier BT and longer sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Technology
      related PBBs video games and online social media were risk factors for shorter
      and poorer sleep, whereas time with family was protective of sleep duration. In
      addressing sleep problems in adolescents, therapeutic procedures that target the
      potentially addictive nature of technology use and reduce PSAcog were implicated.

PMID- 26874588
TI  - Heterologous challenge in the presence of maternally-derived antibodies results
      in vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease in weaned piglets.
AB  - Control of influenza A virus (IAV) in pigs is done by vaccination of females to
      provide maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) through colostrum. Our aim was to
      evaluate if MDA interfere with IAV infection, clinical disease, and transmission
      in non-vaccinated piglets. In the first study, naive sows were vaccinated with
      H1N2-delta1 whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccine. In a follow-up study
      seropositive sows to 2009 pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) were boosted with H1N1pdm09
      WIV or secondary experimental infection (EXP). MDA-positive pigs were challenged
      with homologous or heterologous virus, and MDA-negative control groups were
      included. WIV-MDA piglets were protected from homologous infection. However,
      piglets with WIV-derived MDA subsequently challenged with heterologous virus
      developed vaccine associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD), regardless of
      history of natural exposure in the sows. Our data indicates that although high
      titers of vaccine-derived MDA reduced homologous virus infection, transmission,
      and disease, MDA alone was sufficient to induce VAERD upon heterologous
      infection. 

PMID- 26874591
TI  - Assessing the associations among trait and state levels of deliberate and
      spontaneous mind wandering.
AB  - Recent research has demonstrated that mind wandering can be subdivided into
      spontaneous and deliberate types, and this distinction has been found to hold at
      both the trait and state levels. However, to date, no attempts have been made to
      link trait-level spontaneous and deliberate mind wandering with state-level
      assessments of these two subtypes of mind wandering. Here we evaluated whether
      trait-level deliberate and spontaneous mind wandering map onto state levels of
      these subtypes of mind wandering. Results showed correspondence between trait
      level reports of spontaneous and deliberate mind wandering and their state-level
      counterparts, indicating that people's reports on the intentionality of their
      mind wandering in the laboratory correspond to their reports of the
      intentionality of mind wandering in everyday life. Thus, the trait- and state
      level scales of mind wandering were found to validate each other: Whereas the
      state-level measures provided some construct validity for the trait-level
      measures, the trait-level measures indicated that the state-level measures may be
      generalizable to everyday situations. 

PMID- 26874592
TI  - Assessment of volatile compounds, neutral and polar lipid fatty acids of four
      beef muscles from USDA Choice and Select graded carcasses and their relationships
      with consumer palatability scores and intramuscular fat content.
AB  - Fatty acids (FA) in neutral and polar lipids (NL and PL) and volatile compounds
      were determined in Gluteus medius (GM), Longissimus lumborum (LL), Serratus
      ventralis (SV), and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles from upper 2/3 USDA Choice and
      Select quality grades (QG). Concentrations of NL FA (mg/g) were influenced by
      intramuscular fat (IMF) content being greater in upper 2/3 Choice compared with
      Select. The SV contained greater concentrations of NL FA; meanwhile, the SM
      contained the lowest quantities of NL FA. Percentages (g/100g of total FA) of NL
      SFA and MUFA were increased in beef with greater IMF content. Concentrations and
      percentages of PL FA had muscle specific differences between QG. Volatile
      compounds were primarily affected by muscle. Increases in SFA and MUFA were
      related with consumer liking, regardless of lipid fraction. Overall the influence
      of QG on SFA and MUFA was muscle specific. Therefore, each muscle may require
      specific considerations when considering FA, volatile compounds, and ultimately
      consumer liking. 

PMID- 26874593
TI  - The use of high pressure processing to enhance the quality and shelf life of
      reduced sodium naturally cured restructured cooked hams.
AB  - The combined effect of partial salt replacement with modified potassium chloride
      and high pressure processing (600 MPa for 3 min at 8 degrees C) on the quality
      and shelf life of naturally-cured restructured hams was investigated over a 12
      week storage period. Instrumental, microbiological and consumer acceptability
      testing was performed. A partial salt substitution with modified potassium
      chloride adversely affected textural and water binding characteristics of hams
      and led to a decrease in the consumer acceptance compared to regular salt hams.
      Celery powder used as a curing agent had beneficial effects on water holding and
      moisture retention and improved bind of restructured hams; however the consumer
      acceptability of flavor and aftertaste received significantly lower scores
      compared to nitrite. No significant differences in all consumer acceptability
      parameters resulted for hams subjected to HPP compared to non-HPP for all storage
      periods indicating that HPP can effectively extend shelf-life of restructured ham
      without compromising eating quality.

PMID- 26874594
TI  - Online monitoring of red meat color using hyperspectral imaging.
AB  - A hyperspectral imaging system in the spectral range of 400-1000 nm was tested to
      develop an online monitoring system for red meat (beef, lamb, and pork) color in
      the meat industry. Instead of selecting different sets of important wavelengths
      for beef, lamb, and pork, a set of feature wavelengths were selected using the
      successive projection algorithm for red meat colors (L*, a*, b) for convenient
      industrial application. Only six wavelengths (450, 460, 600, 620, 820, and 980
      nm) were further chosen as predictive feature wavelengths for predicting L*, a*,
      and b* in red meat. Multiple linear regression models were then developed and
      predicted L*, a*, and b* with coefficients of determination (R(2)p) of 0.97,
      0.84, and 0.82, and root mean square error of prediction of 1.72, 1.73, and 1.35,
      respectively. Finally, distribution maps of meat surface color were generated.
      The results indicated that hyperspectral imaging has the potential to be used for
      rapid assessment of meat color.

PMID- 26874596
TI  - Does the benefits schedule of cash assistance programs affect the purchase of
      temptation goods? Evidence from Peru.
AB  - A critique of cash assistance programs is that beneficiaries may spend the money
      on "temptation goods" such as alcohol and tobacco. We exploit a change in the
      payment schedule of Peru's conditional cash transfer program to identify the
      impact of benefit receipt frequency on the purchase of temptation goods. We use
      annual household data among cross-sectional and panel samples to analyze the
      effect of the policy change on the share of the household budget devoted to four
      categories of temptation goods. Using a difference-in-differences estimation
      approach, we find that larger, less frequent payments increased the expenditure
      share of alcohol by 55-80% and sweets by 10-40%, although the absolute magnitudes
      of these effects are small. Our study suggests that less frequent benefits
      scheduling may lead cash recipients to make certain types of temptation
      purchases. 

PMID- 26874595
TI  - Inequalities in dementia incidence between six racial and ethnic groups over 14
      years.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Reducing racial/ethnic disparities is a primary objective of the
      National Alzheimer's Plan (NAPA), yet direct comparisons within large samples
      representing diversity of the United States are lacking. METHODS: Dementia
      incidence from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2013 and a 25-year cumulative risk
      in 274,283 health care members aged 64+ (n = 18,778 African-American, n = 4543
      American Indian/Alaska Native [AIAN], n = 21,000 Latino, n = 440 Pacific
      Islander, n = 206,490 white, n = 23,032 Asian-Americans). Cox proportional hazard
      models were adjusted for age, sex, medical utilization, and comorbidities.
      RESULTS: Dementia incidence (n = 59,555) was highest for African-Americans
      (26.6/1000 person-years) and AIANs (22.2/1000 person-years); intermediate for
      Latinos (19.6/1000 person-years), Pacific Islanders (19.6/1000 person-years), and
      whites (19.3/1000 person-years) and lowest among Asian-Americans (15.2/1000
      person-years). Risk was 65% greater for African-Americans (hazard ratio = 1.65;
      95% confidence interval = 1.58-1.72) versus Asian-Americans. Cumulative 25-year
      risk at age 65 was as follows: 38% African-Americans, 35% AIANs, 32% Latino, 25%
      Pacific Islanders, 30% white, and 28% Asian-Americans. DISCUSSION: Dementia rates
      varied over 60% between groups, providing a comprehensive benchmark for the NAPA
      goal of reducing disparities.

PMID- 26874597
TI  - ASGE Technology Committee systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the ASGE
      Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable Endoscopic Innovations thresholds for
      adopting real-time imaging-assisted endoscopic targeted biopsy during endoscopic
      surveillance of Barrett's esophagus.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic real-time imaging of Barrett's esophagus (BE)
      with advanced imaging technologies enables targeted biopsies and may eliminate
      the need for random biopsies to detect dysplasia during endoscopic surveillance
      of BE. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by the American
      Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Technology Committee to
      specifically assess whether acceptable performance thresholds outlined by the
      ASGE Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable Endoscopic Innovations (PIVI)
      document for clinical adoption of these technologies have been met. METHODS: We
      conducted meta-analyses calculating the pooled sensitivity, negative predictive
      value (NPV), and specificity for chromoendoscopy by using acetic acid and
      methylene blue, electronic chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band imaging, and
      confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) for the detection of dysplasia. Random
      effects meta-analysis models were used. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated
      by means of I(2) statistics. RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity, NPV, and
      specificity for acetic acid chromoendoscopy were 96.6% (95% confidence interval
      [CI], 95-98), 98.3% (95% CI, 94.8-99.4), and 84.6% (95% CI, 68.5-93.2),
      respectively. The pooled sensitivity, NPV, and specificity for electronic
      chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band imaging were 94.2% (95% CI, 82.6-98.2),
      97.5% (95% CI, 95.1-98.7), and 94.4% (95% CI, 80.5-98.6), respectively. The
      pooled sensitivity, NPV, and specificity for endoscope-based CLE were 90.4% (95%
      CI, 71.9-97.2), 98.3% (95% CI, 94.2-99.5), and 92.7% (95% CI, 87-96),
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicates that targeted biopsies
      with acetic acid chromoendoscopy, electronic chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band
      imaging, and endoscope-based CLE meet the thresholds set by the ASGE PIVI, at
      least when performed by endoscopists with expertise in advanced imaging
      techniques. The ASGE Technology Committee therefore endorses using these advanced
      imaging modalities to guide targeted biopsies for the detection of dysplasia
      during surveillance of patients with previously nondysplastic BE, thereby
      replacing the currently used random biopsy protocols.

PMID- 26874598
TI  - Long-term outcomes after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer when
      unsuspected pN2 disease is found: A National Cancer Data Base analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There are few studies evaluating whether to proceed with planned
      resection when a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) unexpectedly is
      found to have N2 disease at the time of thoracoscopy or thoracotomy. To help
      guide management of this clinical scenario, we evaluated outcomes for patients
      who were upstaged to pN2 after lobectomy without induction therapy using the
      National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). METHODS: Survival of NSCLC patients treated
      with lobectomy for clinically unsuspected mediastinal nodal disease (cT1-cT3 cN0
      cN1, pN2 disease) from 1998-2006 in the NCDB was compared with "suspected" N2
      disease patients (cT1-cT3 cN2) who were treated with chemotherapy with or without
      radiation followed by lobectomy, using matched analysis based on propensity
      scores. RESULTS: Unsuspected pN2 disease was found in 4.4% of patients (2047 out
      of 46,691) who underwent lobectomy as primary therapy for cT1-cT3 cN0-cN1 NSCLC.
      The 5-year survival was 42%, 36%, 21%, and 28% for patients who underwent
      adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 385), chemoradiation (n = 504), radiation (n = 300),
      and no adjuvant therapy (n = 858), respectively. Five-year survival of the entire
      unsuspected pN2 cohort was worse than survival of 2302 patients who were treated
      with lobectomy after induction therapy for clinical N2 disease (30% vs 40%; P <
      .001), although no significant difference in 5-year survival was found in a
      matched-analysis of 655 patients from each group (37% vs 37%; P = .95).
      CONCLUSIONS: This population-based analysis suggests that, in the setting of
      unsuspected pN2 NSCLC, proceeding with lobectomy does not appear to compromise
      outcomes if adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy can be
      administered following surgery.

PMID- 26874599
TI  - Surgical team turnover and operative time: An evaluation of operating room
      efficiency during pulmonary resection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Health care resources are costly and should be used judiciously and
      efficiently. Predicting the duration of surgical procedures is key to optimizing
      operating room resources. Our objective was to identify factors influencing
      operative time, particularly surgical team turnover. METHODS: We performed a
      single-institution, retrospective review of lobectomy operations. Univariate and
      multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of different factors
      on surgical time (skin-to-skin) and total procedure time. Staff turnover within
      the nursing component of the surgical team was defined as the number of instances
      any nurse had to leave the operating room over the total number of nurses
      involved in the operation. RESULTS: A total of 235 lobectomies were performed by
      5 surgeons, most commonly for lung cancer (95%). On multivariate analysis,
      percent forced expiratory volume in 1 second, surgical approach, and lesion size
      had a significant effect on surgical time. Nursing turnover was associated with a
      significant increase in surgical time (53.7 minutes; 95% confidence interval, 6.4
      101; P = .026) and total procedure time (83.2 minutes; 95% confidence interval,
      30.1-136.2; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Active management of surgical team turnover
      may be an opportunity to improve operating room efficiency when the surgical team
      is engaged in a major pulmonary resection.

PMID- 26874600
TI  - Transfusion of sex-mismatched and non-leukocyte-depleted red blood cells in
      cardiac surgery increases mortality.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the mortality risk of blood transfusions when donor
      information, postdonation treatment, and a wide selection of risk factors are
      taken into account. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 9907 patients
      who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and/or aortic valve replacement.
      Several transfusion-related risk factors, including age of blood products, sex of
      donor, ABO group, Rh group, posttransfusion treatment, and sex matching, were
      included in the analysis. A wide selection of preoperative comorbidities were
      included as well. A Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to determine
      significant risk factors. Patients were followed for a period of up to 12 years
      posttransfusion. RESULTS: We found an excess mortality for transfusions of sex
      mismatched red blood cells (RBCs) per unit transfused (hazard ratio [HR], 1.083;
      95% confidence interval [CI] 1.028-1.140; P = .003). In addition, we found a
      significant risk during the first year for transfusing 1 to 2 units of non
      leukocyte-depleted RBCs (HR, 1.426; 95% CI, 1.004-2.024; P = .047). Transfusion
      of 1 to 2 units of leukocyte-depleted RBCs was not associated with increased risk
      (HR, 0.981; 95% CI, 0.866-1.110; P = not significant). The age of blood products
      was not associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this large
      retrospective study, transfusion of non-sex-matched RBCs was associated with
      increased mortality. In addition, in patients receiving small amounts of blood,
      leukocyte depletion of RBCs had a beneficial effect on patient survival.

PMID- 26874601
TI  - Adventitial inversion in the distal anastomosis in surgical treatment of acute
      DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

PMID- 26874602
TI  - The view from the other side of the table: Beginning a practice in academic
      thoracic surgery.

PMID- 26874603
TI  - Cardiothoracic surgery training in Israel: A critical look at the past, aiming
      for a better future.
AB  - Training the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons is a global persistent
      challenge. Major issues, including length of training, decreasing volume of
      cases, shift toward high-risk, complex, and less-invasive procedures, increased
      specialization, and uncertainty with regard to future employment, are relevant
      and affect residency training programs in the United States, Europe, and other
      parts of the world. To produce high-quality, mature, and qualified surgeons,
      these challenges mandate an ongoing effort by our specialty leadership aimed at
      identifying creative solutions and adapting the current residency training
      curricula and methodology to the dynamic changes in our field. The current
      situation in Israel is discussed with the hope that sharing our experience might
      be useful and lead to adoption of some of our solutions by other countries. 

PMID- 26874604
TI  - Arch reconstruction after a previous ascending-to-descending aortic bypass for
      coarctation of the aorta.

PMID- 26874605
TI  - Cardiothoracic surgical critical care certification: A future of distinction.
AB  - Cardiothoracic surgical critical care has emerged as a unique area of practice
      within cardiothoracic surgery. Leaders of multidisciplinary, high-performing
      teams are uniquely educated, trained, and skilled surgeons. Certification in this
      specialty by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery is a recognition of their
      distinction. A foundational framework is proposed toward this goal. 

PMID- 26874606
TI  - The concept of intraoperative, "unsuspected" N2: It's suspect.

PMID- 26874607
TI  - Benchtop hemodynamic studies of transcatheter valves: Has the horse come after
      the cart?

PMID- 26874608
TI  - Metal resistance systems in cultivated bacteria: are they found in complex
      communities?
AB  - Metal resistance systems found in complex bacterial communities by shotgun
      metagenomic approaches were reviewed. For that, 6 recent studies investigating 9
      metal-contaminated environments (water or sediments) were selected. Of the 22
      possible metal-resistance systems, only 14 were found in complex communities.
      These widespread and easily detected metal-resistance systems were mainly
      biogenic sulfide production (dsr genes), resistance mediated in the periplasm
      (CopK and multicopper oxidases such as PcoA/CopA), efflux proteins (HME-RND
      systems, P-type ATPases, and the cation diffusion facilitator CzcD) as well as
      proteins used to treat oxidative damages (e.g., SodA) and down-regulation of
      transporters. A total of 8 metal-resistance systems were not found in the complex
      communities investigated. These rare systems include metal resistance by
      phosphatases, ureases, metallophores, outer membrane vesicles, methylation genes
      and cytoplasmic metal accumulation systems. In this case rarity may also be
      explained by a lack of knowledge on the specific genes involved and/or analytical
      biases. 

PMID- 26874609
TI  - The membrane-biofilm reactor (MBfR) as a counter-diffusional biofilm process.
AB  - The membrane-biofilm reactor (MBfR), sometimes known as the membrane-aerated
      biofilm reactor (MABR), is an emerging treatment technology based on gas
      transferring membranes. The membranes typically supply a gaseous electron donor
      or acceptor substrate, such as oxygen, hydrogen, and methane. The substrate
      diffuses through the membrane to a biofilm naturally forming on the membrane
      outer surface. The complementary substrate (electron donor or acceptor) typically
      diffuses from the bulk liquid into the biofilm, making MBfR counter diffusional.
      This paper reviews the unique behavior of counter-diffusional biofilms and
      highlights recent research on the MBfR. Key advances include insights into the
      microbial community structure of MBfRs, applying the MBfR to novel contaminants,
      providing a better understanding of biofilm morphology and its effects on MBfR
      behavior, and the development of methane-based MBfR applications. These advances
      are likely to further the development of the MBfR for environmental applications,
      such as energy-efficient wastewater treatment and advanced water treatment. 

PMID- 26874610
TI  - Fate and transport of tylosin-resistant bacteria and macrolide resistance genes
      in artificially drained agricultural fields receiving swine manure.
AB  - Application of manure from swine treated with antibiotics introduces antibiotics
      and antibiotic resistance genes to soil with the potential for further movement
      in drainage water, which may contribute to the increase in antibiotic resistance
      in non-agricultural settings. We compared losses of antibiotic-resistant
      Enterococcus and macrolide-resistance (erm and msrA) genes in water draining from
      plots with or without swine manure application under chisel plow and no till
      conditions. Concentrations of ermB, ermC and ermF were all >10(9)copies g(-1) in
      manure from tylosin-treated swine, and application of this manure resulted in
      short-term increases in the abundance of these genes in soil. Abundances of ermB,
      ermC and ermF in manured soil returned to levels identified in non-manured
      control plots by the spring following manure application. Tillage practices
      yielded no significant differences (p>0.10) in enterococci or erm gene
      concentrations in drainage water and were therefore combined for further
      analysis. While enterococci and tylosin-resistant enterococci concentrations in
      drainage water showed no effects of manure application, ermB and ermF
      concentrations in drainage water from manured plots were significantly higher
      (p<0.01) than concentrations coming from non-manured plots. ErmB and ermF were
      detected in 78% and 44%, respectively, of water samples draining from plots
      receiving manure. Although ermC had the highest concentrations of the three genes
      in drainage water, there was no effect of manure application on ermC abundance.
      MsrA was not detected in manure, soil or water. This study is the first to report
      significant increases in abundance of resistance genes in waters draining from
      agricultural land due to manure application. 

PMID- 26874611
TI  - Photocatalytic, antimicrobial activities of biogenic silver nanoparticles and
      electrochemical degradation of water soluble dyes at glassy carbon/silver
      modified past electrode using buffer solution.
AB  - In the present research work a novel, nontoxic and ecofriendly procedure was
      developed for the green synthesis of silver nano particle (AgNPs) using Caruluma
      edulis (C. edulis) extract act as reductant as well as stabilizer agents. The
      formation of AgNPs was confirmed by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The small and spherical
      sizes of AgNPs were conformed from high resolution transmission electron
      microscopy (HRTEM) analysis and were found in the range of 2-10nm, which were
      highly dispersion without any aggregation. The crystalline structure of AgNPs was
      conformed from X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. For the elemental composition
      EDX was used and FTIR helped to determine the type of organic compounds in the
      extract. The potential electrochemical property of modified silver electrode was
      also studied. The AgNPs showed prominent antibacterial motion with MIC values of
      125 MUg/mL against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus while 250 MUg/mL
      against Escherichia coli. High cell constituents' release was exhibited by B.
      subtilis with 2 * MIC value of silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles also
      showed significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity. This research would
      have an important implication for the synthesis of more efficient antimicrobial
      and antioxidant agent. The AgNP modified electrode (GC/AgNPs) exhibited an
      excellent electro-catalytic activity toward the redox reaction of phenolic
      compounds. The AgNPs were evaluated for electrochemical degradation of
      bromothymol blue (BTB) dyes which showed a significant activity. From the strong
      reductive properties it is obvious that AgNPs can be used in water sanitization
      and converting some organic perilous in to non-hazardous materials. The AgNPs
      showed potential applications in the field of electro chemistry, sensor,
      catalyst, nano-devices and medical.

PMID- 26874612
TI  - Theoretical modeling of indoor radon concentration and its validation through
      measurements in South-East Haryana, India.
AB  - A three dimensional semi-empirical model deduced from the existing 1-D model has
      been used to predict indoor radon concentration with theoretical calculations.
      Since the major contributor of radon concentration in indoors originates from
      building materials used in construction of walls and floor which are mostly
      derived from soil. In this study different building materials have been analyzed
      for radon exhalation, diffusion length along with physical dimensions of
      observation area to calculate indoor radon concentration. Also calculated values
      have been validated by comparing with experimental measurements. The study has
      been carried out in the mud, brick and cement houses constructed from materials
      available locally in South-East region of Haryana. This region is also known for
      its protruding land structure consisting volcanic, felsite and granitic rocks in
      plane. Further, exhalation (Jw) ratio from wall and floor comparison has been
      plotted for each selected village dwelling to identify the high radon emanating
      source (building material) from the study region. All those measured factors
      might be useful in building construction code development and selection of
      material to be used in construction. 

PMID- 26874613
TI  - Conversion from forests to pastures in the Colombian Amazon leads to differences
      in dead wood dynamics depending on land management practices.
AB  - Dead wood, composed of coarse standing and fallen woody debris (CWD), is an
      important carbon (C) pool in tropical forests and its accounting is needed to
      reduce uncertainties within the strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing
      deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). To date, information on CWD stocks
      in tropical forests is scarce and effects of land-cover conversion and land
      management practices on CWD dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here we present
      estimates on CWD stocks in primary forests in the Colombian Amazon and their
      dynamics along 20 years of forest-to-pasture conversion in two sub-regions with
      different management practices during pasture establishment: high-grazing
      intensity (HG) and low-grazing intensity (LG) sub-regions. Two 20-year-old
      chronosequences describing the forest-to-pasture conversion were identified in
      both sub-regions. The line-intersect and the plot-based methods were used to
      estimate fallen and standing CWD stocks, respectively. Total necromass in primary
      forests was similar between both sub-regions (35.6 +/- 5.8 Mg ha(-1) in HG and
      37.0 +/- 7.4 Mg ha(-1) in LG). An increase of ~124% in CWD stocks followed by a
      reduction to values close to those at the intact forests were registered after
      slash-and-burn practice was implemented in both sub-regions during the first two
      years of forest-to-pasture conversion. Implementation of machinery after using
      fire in HG pastures led to a reduction of 82% in CWD stocks during the second and
      fifth years of pasture establishment, compared to a decrease of 41% during the
      same period in LG where mechanization is not implemented. Finally, average
      necromass 20 years after forest-to-pasture conversion decreased to 3.5 +/- 1.4 Mg
      ha(-1) in HG and 9.3 +/- 3.5 Mg ha(-1) in LG, representing a total reduction of
      between 90% and 75% in each sub-region, respectively. These results highlight the
      importance of low-grazing intensity management practices during ranching
      activities in the Colombian Amazon to reduce C emissions associated with land
      cover change from forest to pasture.

PMID- 26874614
TI  - The pH-dependent release of platinum group elements (PGEs) from gasoline and
      diesel fuel catalysts: Implication for weathering in soils.
AB  - Powdered samples of new and old gasoline catalysts (Pt, Pd, Rh) and new and old
      diesel (Pt) catalysts were subjected to a pH-static leaching procedure (pH 2-9)
      coupled with thermodynamic modeling using PHREEQC-3 to verify the release and
      mobility of PGEs (platinum group elements). PGEs were released under acidic
      conditions, mostly exhibiting L-shaped leaching patterns: diesel old: 5.47,
      0.005, 0.02; diesel new: 68.5, 0.23, 0.11; gasoline old: 0.1, 11.8, 4.79;
      gasoline new 2.6, 25.2, 35.9 in mg kg(-1) for Pt, Pd and Rh, respectively. Only
      the new diesel catalyst had a strikingly different leaching pattern with elevated
      concentrations at pH 4, probably influenced by the dissolution of the catalyst
      carrier and washcoat. The pH-static experiment coupled with thermodynamic
      modeling was found to be an effective instrument for understanding the leaching
      behavior of PGEs under various environmental conditions, and indicated that
      charged Pt and Rh species may be adsorbed on the negatively charged surface of
      kaolinite or Mn oxides in the soil system, whereas uncharged Pd and Rh species
      may remain mobile in soil solutions.

PMID- 26874615
TI  - Effects of tillage and poultry manure application rates on Salmonella and fecal
      indicator bacteria concentrations in tiles draining Des Moines Lobe soils.
AB  - Application of poultry manure (PM) to cropland as fertilizer is a common practice
      in artificially drained regions of the Upper Midwest United States. Tile-waters
      have the potential to contribute pathogenic bacteria to downstream waters. This 3
      year study (2010-2012) was designed to evaluate the impacts of manure management
      and tillage practices on bacteria losses to drainage tiles under a wide range of
      field conditions. PM was applied annually in spring, prior to planting corn, at
      application rates ranging from 5 to 40 kg/ha to achieve target rates of 112 and
      224 kg/ha nitrogen (PM1 and PM2). Control plots received no manure (PM0). Each
      treatment was replicated on three chisel-plowed (CP) plots and one no-till (NT)
      plot. Tile-water grab samples were collected weekly when tiles were flowing
      beginning 30 days before manure application to 100 days post application, and
      additional grab samples were obtained to target the full spectrum of flow
      conditions. Manure and tile-water samples were analyzed for the pathogen,
      Salmonella spp. (SALM), and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), Escherichia coli
      (EC), and enterococci (ENT). All three bacterial genera were detected more
      frequently, and at significantly higher concentrations, in tile-waters draining
      NT plots compared to CP plots. Transport of bacteria to NT tiles was most likely
      facilitated by macropores, which were significantly more numerous above tiles in
      NT plots in 2012 as determined by smoke-testing. While post-manure samples
      contained higher concentrations of bacteria than pre-manure samples, significant
      differences were not seen between low (PM1) and high (PM2) rates of PM
      application. The highest concentrations were observed under the NT PM2 plot in
      2010 (6.6 * 10(3) cfu/100 mL EC, 6.6 * 10(5) cfu/100 mL ENT, and 2.8 * 10(3)
      cfu/100 mL SALM). Individual and 30-day geometric mean ENT concentrations
      correlated more strongly to SALM than EC; however, SALM were present in samples
      with little or no FIB.

PMID- 26874616
TI  - Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to nitrates from agricultural sources
      using a GIS-compatible logic multicriteria model.
AB  - In the present study an overlay method to assess groundwater vulnerability is
      proposed. This new method based on multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) was
      developed and validated using an appropriate case study in Aragon area (NE
      Spain). The Vulnerability Index to Nitrates from Agricultural Sources (VINAS)
      incorporates a novel Logic Scoring of Preferences (LSP) approach, and it has been
      developed using public geographic information from the European Union. VINAS-LSP
      identifies areas with five categories of vulnerability, taking into account the
      hydrogeological and environmental characteristics of the territory as a whole.
      The resulting LSP map is a regional screening tool that can provide guidance on
      the potential risk of nitrate pollution, as well as highlight areas where
      specific research and farming planning policies are required. 

PMID- 26874617
TI  - TCR clonotypes: molecular determinants of T-cell efficacy against HIV.
AB  - Because of the enormous complexity and breadth of the overall HIV-specific CD8(+)
      T-cell response, invaluable information regarding important aspects of T-cell
      efficacy against HIV can be sourced from studies performed on individual
      clonotypes. Data gathered from ex vivo and in vitro analyses of T-cell responses
      and viral evolution bring us one step closer towards deciphering the correlates
      of protection against HIV. HIV-responsive CD8(+) T-cell populations are
      characterized by specific clonotypic immunodominance patterns and public TCRs.
      The TCR endows T-cells with two key features, important for the effective control
      of HIV: avidity and crossreactivity. While TCR avidity is a major determinant of
      CD8(+) T-cell functional efficacy against the virus, crossreactivity towards
      wildtype and mutant viral epitopes is crucial for adaptation to HIV evolution.
      The properties of CD4(+) T-cell responses in HIV controllers appear also to be
      shaped by high avidity public TCR clonotypes. The molecular nature of the TCR,
      together with the clonotypic composition of the HIV-specific T-cell response,
      emerge as major determinants of anti-viral efficacy. 

PMID- 26874618
TI  - Applications of calcium electroporation to effective apoptosis induction in
      fibrosarcoma cells and stimulation of normal muscle cells.
AB  - The electroporation (EP) supports various types of anticancer therapies by the
      selective transport of cytostatics. Increase in intracellular calcium level by EP
      may be a new approach to fibrosarcoma treatment. Calcium is one of the most
      important factors of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death
      (apoptosis or necrosis). Calcium level balanced by electroporation can cause
      different effects on normal and pathological cells. The efficiency and safety of
      electroporation combined with Ca(2+) ions were examined in our study. The two
      muscle cell lines were used: normal rat skeletal muscle cells - L6 and cancer
      muscle cells - Wehi-164 (fibrosarcoma). Two CaCl2 concentrations were tested: 0.5
      mM and 5 mM combined with EP parameters: 1000 V/cm, 1200 V/cm, and 1500 V/cm. The
      results show that EP supported by Ca(2+) is cytotoxic for Wehi-164 cells and
      simultaneously safe for normal muscle cells. The main type of cell death -
      apoptosis - was confirmed by Tunnel and Annexin V/PI assay. Additionally, sPLA2
      pro-tumorigenic influence was proved by immunocytochemistry. Moreover, EP with
      0.5 mM of Ca(2+) slightly stimulates the normal muscle cells - L6 to increase
      proliferation.

PMID- 26874620
TI  - The elusive global burden of dengue.

PMID- 26874619
TI  - The global burden of dengue: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study
      2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dengue is the most common arbovirus infection globally, but its
      burden is poorly quantified. We estimated dengue mortality, incidence, and burden
      for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. METHODS: We modelled mortality from
      vital registration, verbal autopsy, and surveillance data using the Cause of
      Death Ensemble Modelling tool. We modelled incidence from officially reported
      cases, and adjusted our raw estimates for under-reporting based on published
      estimates of expansion factors. In total, we had 1780 country-years of mortality
      data from 130 countries, 1636 country-years of dengue case reports from 76
      countries, and expansion factor estimates for 14 countries. FINDINGS: We
      estimated an average of 9221 dengue deaths per year between 1990 and 2013,
      increasing from a low of 8277 (95% uncertainty estimate 5353-10 649) in 1992, to
      a peak of 11 302 (6790-13 722) in 2010. This yielded a total of 576 900 (330 000
      701 200) years of life lost to premature mortality attributable to dengue in
      2013. The incidence of dengue increased greatly between 1990 and 2013, with the
      number of cases more than doubling every decade, from 8.3 million (3.3 million
      17.2 million) apparent cases in 1990, to 58.4 million (23.6 million-121.9
      million) apparent cases in 2013. When accounting for disability from moderate and
      severe acute dengue, and post-dengue chronic fatigue, 566 000 (186 000-1 415 000)
      years lived with disability were attributable to dengue in 2013. Considering
      fatal and non-fatal outcomes together, dengue was responsible for 1.14 million
      (0.73 million-1.98 million) disability-adjusted life-years in 2013.
      INTERPRETATION: Although lower than other estimates, our results offer more
      evidence that the true symptomatic incidence of dengue probably falls within the
      commonly cited range of 50 million to 100 million cases per year. Our mortality
      estimates are lower than those presented elsewhere and should be considered in
      light of the totality of evidence suggesting that dengue mortality might, in
      fact, be substantially higher. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

PMID- 26874621
TI  - Reference gene selection for quantitative real-time PCR in Solanum lycopersicum
      L. inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.
AB  - The gene expression stability of candidate reference genes in the roots and
      leaves of Solanum lycopersicum inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was
      investigated. Eight candidate reference genes including elongation factor 1 alpha
      (EF1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinase
      (PGK), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Acs), ribosomal protein L2 (RPL2), beta-tubulin
      (TUB), ubiquitin (UBI) and actin (ACT) were selected, and their expression
      stability was assessed to determine the most stable internal reference for
      quantitative PCR normalization in S. lycopersicum inoculated with the arbuscular
      mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The stability of each gene was
      analysed in leaves and roots together and separated using the geNorm and
      NormFinder algorithms. Differences were detected between leaves and roots,
      varying among the best-ranked genes depending on the algorithm used and the
      tissue analysed. PGK, TUB and EF1 genes showed higher stability in roots, while
      EF1 and UBI had higher stability in leaves. Statistical algorithms indicated that
      the GAPDH gene was the least stable under the experimental conditions assayed.
      Then, we analysed the expression levels of the LePT4 gene, a phosphate
      transporter whose expression is induced by fungal colonization in host plant
      roots. No differences were observed when the most stable genes were used as
      reference genes. However, when GAPDH was used as the reference gene, we observed
      an overestimation of LePT4 expression. In summary, our results revealed that
      candidate reference genes present variable stability in S. lycopersicum
      arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis depending on the algorithm and tissue analysed.
      Thus, reference gene selection is an important issue for obtaining reliable
      results in gene expression quantification. 

PMID- 26874622
TI  - Volatiles released by endophytic Pseudomonas fluorescens promoting the growth and
      volatile oil accumulation in Atractylodes lancea.
AB  - Atractylodes lancea is a well-known, but endangered, Chinese medicinal plant
      whose volatile oils are its main active components. As the volatile oil content
      in cultivated A. lancea is much lower than that in the wild herb, the application
      of microbes or related elicitors to promote growth and volatile oil accumulation
      in the cultivated herb is an important area of research. This study demonstrates
      that the endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens ALEB7B isolated from the
      geo-authentic A. lancea can release several nitrogenous volatiles, such as
      formamide and N,N-dimethyl-formamide, which significantly promote the growth of
      non-infected A. lancea. Moreover, the main bacterial volatile benzaldehyde
      significantly promotes volatile oil accumulation in non-infected A. lancea via
      activating plant defense responses. Notably, the bacterial nitrogenous volatiles
      cannot be detected in the A. lancea - Pseudomonas fluorescens symbiont while the
      benzaldehyde can be detected, indicating the nitrogenous volatiles or their
      precursors may have been consumed by the host plant. This study firstly
      demonstrates that the interaction between plant and endophytic bacterium is not
      limited to the commonly known physical contact, extending the ecological
      functions of endophyte in the phytosphere and deepening the understandings about
      the symbiotic interaction. 

PMID- 26874623
TI  - Changes of paralytic shellfish toxins in gills and digestive glands of the cockle
      Cerastoderma edule under post-bloom natural conditions.
AB  - Concentrations of the paralytic shellfish toxins C1+2, C3+4, GTX5, GTX6,
      dcGTX2+3, dcSTX, dcNEO, GTX2+3, GTX1+4, STX and NEO were determined by LC-FLD in
      composite samples of digestive glands and gills of Cerastoderma edule cockle. The
      specimens were sampled in Aveiro lagoon, Portugal, under natural depuration
      conditions (days 0, 8, 12, 14, 19, 21 and 25) after exposure to a bloom of
      Gymnodinium catenatum. Individual paralytic shellfish toxins indicated different
      pathways of elimination and biotransformation in digestive gland and gills. Toxin
      concentrations in gills were lower than in digestive gland. Most of the
      quantified toxins in digestive gland decreased during the 25 days of observation
      according to negative exponential curves, and only GTX5, GTX6 and NEO showed
      slight irregularities with time. Concentrations of C1+2, C3+4 and dcGTX2+3 in
      gills decreased progressively, however GTX5, GTX6 and dcSTX showed pronounced
      increases. Higher concentrations of those toxins in days 8 and 12 in comparison
      to the initial value (day 0) indicate conversion of other toxins into GTX5, GTX6
      and dcSTX during those periods. It appears that inter-conversion of toxins occurs
      as G. catenatum cells are retained in gills before being transferred to other
      compartments.

PMID- 26874624
TI  - Residues, spatial distribution and risk assessment of DDTs and HCHs in
      agricultural soil and crops from the Tibetan Plateau.
AB  - Due to its high elevation and cold temperature, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is
      regarded as the "Third Pole". Different from other polar regions, which are truly
      remote, the TP has a small population and a few agricultural activities. In this
      study, agricultural soil and crop samples (including highland barley and rape)
      were collected in the main farmland of the TP to obtain the contamination levels
      of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in the
      Tibetan agricultural system as well as the relevant human exposure risks. The
      average concentrations of DDTs and HCHs in the agricultural soil, highland barley
      and rape were 1.36, 0.661, 1.03 ng/g dw and 0.349, 0.0364, 0.0225 ng/g dw,
      respectively. In the agricultural soil, DDTs and HCHs metabolism (DDE, DDD and
      beta-HCH) were abundant, which indicated a "historical" source, whereas crops
      contained a similar composition ((DDE + DDD)/DDT, alpha/beta-HCH and alpha/gamma
      HCH) to that of wild plants, suggesting that the DDTs and HCHs in crops are
      likely from long range atmospheric transport. The human health risks via non
      dietary and dietary to DDTs and HCHs in the farmland were assessed. All of the
      hazard index (HI) values of DDTs and HCHs for non-carcinogenic risks were <1, and
      most of the cancer risk values were <10(-6), suggesting that DDTs and HCHs in the
      farmland will not pose non-carcinogenic risks and will pose only very low cancer
      risks to the Tibetan residents.

PMID- 26874625
TI  - Arsenic-induced plant growth of arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata: Impact
      of arsenic and phosphate rock.
AB  - Phosphate rock (PR) has been shown to promote plant growth and arsenic (As)
      uptake by As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata (PV). However, little is known about
      its behaviors in agricultural soils. In this study, impact of 50 mg kg(-1) As
      and/or 1.5% PR amendment on plant As accumulation and growth was investigated by
      growing PV for 90 d in three agricultural soils. While As amendment significantly
      increased plant As uptake and substantially promoted PV growth, the opposite was
      observed with PR amendment. Arsenic amendment increased plant frond As from 16.9
      265 to 961-6017 mg kg(-1),whereas PR amendment lowered frond As to 10.2-216 mg
      kg(-1). The As-induced plant growth stimulation was 69-71%. While PR amendment
      increased plant Ca and P uptake, As amendment showed opposite results. The PV
      biomass was highly correlated with plant As at r = 0.82, but with weak
      correlations with plant Ca or P at r < 0.30. This study confirmed that 1) As
      significantly promoted PV growth, probably independent of Ca or P uptake, 2) PR
      amendment didn't enhance plant growth or As uptake by PV in agricultural soils
      with adequate available P, and 3) PV effluxed arsenite (AsIII) growing in
      agricultural soils.

PMID- 26874627
TI  - What is the rationale for early intervention after osteoporotic fractures to
      avoid recurrent fractures?

PMID- 26874626
TI  - Biodegradation of phenolic compounds by Basidiomycota and its phenol oxidases: A
      review.
AB  - The phylum Basidiomycota include organisms with enormous bioremediation
      potential. A variety of processes were proposed at the lab scale for using these
      fungi and their phenol oxidases in the degradation of phenolics. Here we present
      a survey of this topic using literature published mostly over the last 10 years.
      First, the sources of the enzymes are summarized. The laccase and tyrosinase were
      mainly from Trametes versicolor and Agaricus bisporus, respectively. Recently,
      however, new promising wild-type producers of the enzymes have emerged and a
      number of recombinant strains were also constructed, based mainly on yeasts or
      Aspergillus strains as hosts. The next part of the study summarizes the enzyme
      and whole-cell applications for the degradation of phenols, polyphenols, cresols,
      alkylphenols, naphthols, bisphenols and halogenated (bis)phenols in model
      mixtures or real wastewaters from the food, paper and coal industries, or
      municipal and hospital sewage. The enzymes were applied as free (crude or
      purified) enzymes or as enzymes immobilized in various supports or CLEAs, and
      optionally recycled or used in continuous mode. Alternatively, growing cultures
      or harvested mycelia were used instead. The products, which were characterized as
      quinones and their polymers in some cases, could be eliminated by filtration,
      flocculation or adsorption onto chitosan. The purity of a treated wastewater was
      monitored using a sensitive aquatic organism. It is concluded that low-cost
      sources of these enzymes should be searched for and the benefits of enzymatic,
      biological and physico-chemical methods could be combined to make the processes
      fit for industrial use. 

PMID- 26874628
TI  - Sonoelastographic evaluation of the distal femoral cartilage in patients with
      anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate sonoelastographic properties of the
      distal femoral cartilage in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
      reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Demographic characteristics and operative
      data of 28 patients (27 males, 1 female; mean age 31.7+/-7.1 years; range 22 to
      48 years) with unilateral ACL reconstruction were evaluated. Reconstruction was
      performed with patellar tendon graft in 22 patients (78.6%) and hamstring tendon
      graft in six patients (21.4%). Lysholm knee score was used for functional
      evaluation and chair stand test was used for lower extremity strength. Medial,
      intercondylar, and lateral distal femoral cartilage thicknesses of operated knees
      and healthy knees were measured with B-mode ultrasound, while strain ratios were
      measured with real time sonoelastography. RESULTS: Postoperative mean follow-up
      duration was 20.4+/-9.8 months. Mean Lysholm knee and patient satisfaction scores
      were 88.0+/-8.5 and 8.2+/-1.8, respectively. Cartilage thicknesses were similar
      between operated and healthy knees (all p>0.05). Sonoelastographic strain ratio
      of medial distal femoral cartilage in operated knees was significantly higher
      (softer cartilage) (p=0.026). There was a negative correlation between strain
      ratio difference of medial cartilage of operated knees and lower extremity muscle
      strength (p=0.009, r= -0.487). CONCLUSION: While there was no difference for
      cartilage thickness between operated and healthy knees in B-mode ultrasound
      evaluation, detection of sonoelastographic strain ratio changes in medial distal
      femoral cartilage on the operated sides may indicate early structural changes
      following ACL reconstruction. Further studies are required to highlight the
      clinical effects of this relationship between the changes in cartilage structure
      and sonoelastography features.

PMID- 26874629
TI  - Histological and biomechanical effects of zoledronate on fracture healing in an
      osteoporotic rat tibia model.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of zoledronate therapy on
      histological and biomechanical properties of bone healing via a fracture model
      generated on osteoporotic rat tibiae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovariectomized 40
      Wistar-Dawley female rats weighing 300 g to 350 g were used in the study. After
      one week, 2 IU/g heparin injection was started subcutaneously. After four weeks
      of daily injections, osteoporosis was ensued proven with bone mineral density
      measurements. Osteoporotic rats were separated into four equal groups randomly as
      group A (control), group B (calcium and vitamin D), group C (0.1 mg/kg
      subcutaneous zoledronic acid), and group D (calcium and vitamin D / 0.1 mg/kg
      subcutaneous zoledronic acid). Six weeks later, all rats were sacrificed, their
      tibiae were resected, and histopathologic and biomechanical studies were
      performed. RESULTS: Group C (30.2+/-1 Nm) and group D (33.3+/-3 Nm) had
      significantly higher peak torque values than group A (21.6+/-6 Nm) and group B
      (23.6+/-4 Nm) (p=0.007 and p=0.005, respectively). Group C (1.8) and group D
      (2.0) had higher stiffness values than group A (1.4) and group B (1.7); however,
      the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05 for all). CONCLUSION:
      According to histopathological and biomechanical test results, single dose
      zoledronic acid treatment improves fracture healing in an osteoporotic rat
      fracture model. Orally administered daily calcium and vitamin D treatment had no
      effect on fracture healing. There was no additional improvement in fracture
      healing when calcium and vitamin D treatment was added to zoledronic acid
      treatment. Positive effects of zoledronic acid treatment on osteoporotic fracture
      healing and callus quality should be shown by future clinical studies.

PMID- 26874630
TI  - The effect of teicoplanin on fracture healing: an experimental study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effect of teicoplanin on fracture
      healing stereologically and histopatologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty
      male Wistar albino rats were separated into two as the study (teicoplanin) and
      control groups. After intramedullary fixation of the right tibia of all the rats
      with 0.5 mm Kirschner wire under general anesthesia, standard closed shaft
      fractures were created using fracture formation apparatus. Teicoplanin (10 mg/kg)
      and saline were administered intraperitoneally to the study and control groups,
      respectively. Control radiographs were taken at the end of the procedure and the
      rats were sacrificed after 28 days. New bone and connective tissue volumes were
      calculated on obtained tissue samples using unbiased stereological and
      histopathological techniques. RESULTS: It was observed that teicoplanin increased
      the formation of bone, vascularization, and connective tissue. There was a
      statistically significant difference between the two groups in respect of bone
      and vascular total volume (p<0.05). Although an increase was observed in
      connective tissue total volume, no statistically significant difference was
      detected between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In addition to its
      antibacterial effect, teicoplanin may increase new bone formation; thus, it may
      be used safely in the treatment of bone defects accompanied with infection.

PMID- 26874631
TI  - Are pedicular screws and lateral hook screws more resistant against pullout than
      conventional spinal hooks and screws in terminal vertebral segment fixation?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to biomechanically evaluate and compare four well
      known types of terminal spinal constructs to a novel construct composed of a
      transpedicular screw with a lateral hook screw in terms of axial pullout strength
      in terminal vertebral segment fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty fresh-frozen
      lamb spines were divided into five groups with eight spines each. To stabilize
      the transverse process, a pedicular screw alone was used in group 1, a sublaminar
      hook alone was used in group 2, a sublaminar hook and a pedicular screw were used
      in group 3, claw hook alone was used in group 4, and a pedicular screw with a
      lateral hook screw was used in group 5. Biomechanical tests were performed using
      an axial compression testing machine and two noncontact camera systems. RESULTS:
      The mean pullout strength value was 927 N for group 1, 626 N for group 2, 988 N
      for group 3, 972 N for group 4, and 1194 N for group 5. Pullout strength values
      were statistically significantly higher in groups 3 and 4 compared to groups 1
      and 2. There was no statistically significant difference between groups 3 and 4.
      Pullout strength value of group 5 was statistically significantly higher than the
      other groups. CONCLUSION: Pedicular screw with a lateral hook screw had the
      highest fixation value. Lateral hook screw may assist to prevent pullout in
      patients with pullout risk and hyperkyphosis and after hyperkyphosis surgery.
      Further prospective clinical studies are needed to show the benefit of such a
      construct in reducing the risk of distal instrumentation pullout.

PMID- 26874632
TI  - Should we continue to administer blind shoulder injections?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the accuracy and effectiveness of
      blind and fluoroscopic-guided intra-articular shoulder injections in patients
      with shoulder pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 17 patients (6
      males, 11 females; mean age 52.6+/-9.9 years; range 36 to 66 years) with shoulder
      pain more than three months. First intra-articular joint injections were
      performed with anterior approach blindly. Following the injection and after
      confirming that the needle tip was intra-articular with fluoroscopy and contrast
      distribution, the procedure was completed using 3 mL of local anesthetic
      (prilocaine and bupivacaine) and 1 mL of steroid (40 mg methylprednisolone). When
      the contrast distribution was observed to be extra-articular at the first
      administration, a second injection was continued under fluoroscopy guidance. All
      of the injections were intra-articular with the continuation of the procedure.
      Pain intensity was measured with visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: According to
      the contrast distribution viewed with fluoroscopy, first blind injections were
      intra-articular in 11 of the 17 shoulders (64.7%). Mean of initial VAS score was
      7.11. Improved pain was observed in the clinical follow-ups at the first hour
      (mean VAS: 2.35), third day (mean VAS: 2.64), and at the end of the first month
      (mean VAS: 2.23). The mean durations for blind and fluoroscopic-guided procedures
      excluding patients' preparation time were 0.8 minutes and 4.2 minutes,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: Although blind intra-articular shoulder injections are
      inexpensive and easily applicable, injections should be performed under
      fluoroscopy or another guide to ensure that the needle is intra-articular, not
      peri-articular.

PMID- 26874633
TI  - [Preferences of surgeons in total knee and hip arthroplasty, and operating room
      facilities in Turkey: a survey].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the pre- and postoperative approaches of
      orthopedic surgeons and operative room environment facilities in total knee
      arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) in Turkey. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire completed by
      234 physicians randomly identified from the database of Turkish Society of
      Orthopedics and Traumatology. The questionnaire comprised 19 questions
      investigating the operative room environment, demographic characteristics of
      surgeons, laboratory and radiologic analyses required by surgeons in pre- and
      postoperative patient evaluation, and management of postoperative complications.
      RESULTS: In Turkey, 48% of the operating rooms where TKA and THA are performed
      lack laminar airflow, while 35% lack HEPA filters. Only 20.5% of surgeons
      continue antibiotic prophylaxis for postoperative 24 hours. Low molecular weight
      heparins are the most preferred anticoagulant (86%) for thromboembolism
      prophylaxis. While all surgeons perform primary TKA or THA, only 63.7% perform
      revision TKA or THA. Of the surgeons, 84.6% do not recommended antibiotic
      prophylaxis before dental or urologic procedures in patients who were performed
      TKA or THA. CONCLUSION: In Turkey, although consensus has been built on many
      issues regarding TKA and THA, different approaches are adopted based on academic
      position, duration of specialty, and employer institution.

PMID- 26874634
TI  - Humeral shaft fractures and radial nerve palsy: early exploration findings.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to present the results of early nerve explorations in
      cases with radial nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fracture and to
      investigate in which cases early nerve explorations may be beneficial. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients (17 males, 7 females; mean age 36 years; range
      18 to 72 years) with complete sensory and motor radial nerve damage associated
      with humeral shaft fracture were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with high
      energy trauma and the ones who had spiral and segmental fractures with low energy
      traumas were included in the study. Early nerve exploration was performed in all
      patients within an average of 4.8 days (range 1 to 20 days) after fracture
      development. Electrophysiological assessments were performed in cases with no
      neurological recovery until 12th week. RESULTS: Spiral fractures of the humerus
      shaft observed in 14 (58.3%) of the 24 operated patients were the most common
      fracture type, followed by transverse fracture in four patients (16.6%) and
      comminuted fracture in two patients (8.3%). As a result of the exploration, we
      observed nerve compression between the fracture fragments in seven patients
      (29.1%); a majority of these patients (n=6) had spiral fractures of humerus and
      one patient had comminuted fracture. One patient with a spiral type fracture had
      nerve transection. Radial nerve function recovered in most of the patients
      (95.8%). Average duration for fracture union was 6.7+/-3.8 months (range 3 to 18
      months). CONCLUSION: Spiral fractures of humerus, particularly with wedge
      fragment, may be a candidate for early surgical exploration. Early exploration
      may be beneficial in terms of early identification of neural injury in patients
      with radial nerve dysfunction associated with spiral and comminuted humerus
      fracture.

PMID- 26874635
TI  - Aggressive hemangioma of the spine in a pregnant female: a case report and
      literature review.
AB  - Type and timing of treatment for symptomatic hemangiomas in pregnant females are
      challenging due to fetus survival and conflicts in neurological recovery. In this
      article, we report a 40-year-old female patient at pregnancy week 23 with a
      complicated hemangioma at T1 level. Physical examination revealed an incomplete
      spastic paraplegia. Patient did not accept any surgery due to child's death risk.
      Patient was started corticoid treatment and no more weight bearing was allowed.
      At the 28th week of pregnancy, the patient underwent cesarean section immediately
      followed by selective arterial embolization, decompression, fixation, and
      radiotherapy. At two-year follow-up, the patient was pain free, without any signs
      of local recurrence and with complete neurological recovery. A multidisciplinary
      approach is mandatory to save the life of the fetus without damaging the spinal
      cord functions of the mother. 

PMID- 26874636
TI  - One patient, one bone, and two different tumoral lesions.
AB  - In this article, we report a 67-year-old female patient who has two different
      tumoral lesions located in left humerus with clinical and radiological findings.
      Previously, the patient was diagnosed as impingement syndrome in shoulder, but,
      tumoral lesions were detected on the radiograms incidentally during evaluation. 

PMID- 26874637
TI  - Atypical femoral fracture following zoledronic acid treatment.
AB  - A 68-year-old female patient admitted to our clinic with right anterior thigh
      pain ongoing for six months and which increased in last two months. The patient
      had no trauma history. The patient had been followed-up for 15 years because of
      osteoporosis and administrated alendronate and ibandronate treatment for 10
      years. Patient had three shots of zoledronate once a year during the last three
      years. Her pain was increasing when she was walking. Physical examination
      revealed pain in her right thigh. Radiogram showed thickened lateral cortex of
      the subtrochanteric area. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed thickening and
      edema of the same area. These images were correlated with atypical fracture in
      right femoral subthrochanteric zone. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry revealed
      that T score was -3.3 in lumbar region and -2.5 in femoral neck. Zoledronate
      treatment was ended. Prophylactic surgical fixation was performed with titanium
      elastic nails. 

PMID- 26874638
TI  - An extraordinary mechanism causing intraoperative migration of the Kirschner
      wire.
AB  - Migration of Kirschner wires (K-wires) postoperatively and with use of cannulated
      implants intraoperatively is a well-known complication. In this article, we
      present an extraordinary mechanism causing intraoperative migration of a K-wire.
      A K-wire which was used for temporary fixation of fracture fragments migrated
      forwardly due to its contact with the drill bit while drilling a hole for a
      screw. The interaction between the K-wire and the drill bit simulated a gear
      wheel effect and thus the rotating K-wire advanced. Although no complications
      occurred in this case, we believe that the mentioned mechanism may be of
      importance particularly in osteoporotic patients and may cause damage to vital
      structures. 

PMID- 26874640
TI  - Survey of food-grade silica dioxide nanomaterial occurrence, characterization,
      human gut impacts and fate across its lifecycle.
AB  - There is increasing recognition of the importance of transformations in
      nanomaterials across their lifecycle, yet few quantitative examples exist. We
      examined food-grade silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanomaterials from its source (bulk
      material providers), occurrence in food products, impacts on human
      gastrointestinal tract during consumption, and fate at wastewater treatment
      plants. Based upon XRD, XPS and TEM analysis, pure SiO2 present in multiple food
      grade stock SiO2 exhibited consistent morphologies as agglomerates, ranging in
      size from below 100nm to >500nm, with all primary particle size in the range of 9
      26nm and were most likely amorphous SiO2 based upon high resolution TEM. Ten of
      14 targeted foods purchased in the USA contained SiO2 of the same morphology and
      size as the pristine bulk food-grade SiO2, at levels of 2 to 200mg Si per serving
      size. A dissolution study of pristine SiO2 showed up to 7% of the dissolution of
      the silica, but the un-dissolved SiO2 maintained the same morphology as the
      pristine SiO2. Across a realistic exposure range, pristine SiO2 exhibited adverse
      dose-response relationships on a cell model (microvilli) of the human gastro
      intestinal tract, association onto microvilli and evidence that SiO2 lead to
      production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also observed accumulation of
      amorphous nano-SiO2 on bioflocs in tests using lab-cultured activated sludge and
      sewage sludges from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Nano-scale
      SiO2 of the same size and morphology as pristine food-grade SiO2 was observed in
      raw sewage at a WWTP, but we identified non-agglomerated individual SiO2
      particles with an average diameter of 21.5+/-4.7nm in treated effluent from the
      WWTP. This study demonstrates an approach to track nanomaterials from source-to
      sink and establishes a baseline occurrence of nano-scale SiO2 in foods and WWTPs.

PMID- 26874639
TI  - Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Quickly Resolve Symptoms Associated with EBV
      Induced Infectious Mononucleosis in Patients with Atopic Predispositions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome most commonly
      associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In adults, the
      symptoms can often be severe and prolonged, sometimes causing serious
      complications. Analgesic or antipyretic drugs are normally used to relieve the
      symptoms. However, there is no causal treatment for the disease. CASE REPORT: Two
      cases of adult patients with atopic predispositions developed nocturnal fever,
      general fatigue, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy after an exacerbation of atopic
      symptoms or those of allergic rhinitis. Due to the positive results for EBV viral
      capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and negative results for EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG,
      diagnoses of infectious mononucleosis induced by EBV were made in both cases.
      Although oral antibiotics or acetaminophen alone did not improve the
      deteriorating symptoms, including fever, headache and general fatigue,
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as tiaramide or loxoprofen,
      completely improved the symptoms quickly after the initiation. CONCLUSIONS: In
      these cases, given the atopic predispositions of the patients, an enhanced
      immunological response was likely to be mainly responsible for the pathogenesis
      of the symptoms. In such cases, NSAIDs, that are known to reduce the activity of
      EBV, may dramatically improve the deteriorating symptoms quickly after the
      initiation. In the present cases, the immunosuppressive property of these drugs
      was considered to suppress the activity of lymphocytes and thus provide the rapid
      and persistent remission of the disease.

PMID- 26874641
TI  - Direct toxicity assessment - Methods, evaluation, interpretation.
AB  - Direct toxicity assessment (DTA) results provide the scale of the actual adverse
      effect of contaminated environmental samples. DTA results are used in
      environmental risk management of contaminated water, soil and waste, without
      explicitly translating the results into chemical concentration. The end points
      are the same as in environmental toxicology in general, i.e. inhibition rate,
      decrease in the growth rate or in yield and the 'no effect' or the 'lowest
      effect' measurement points of the sample dilution-response curve. The measurement
      unit cannot be a concentration, since the contaminants and their content in the
      sample is unknown. Thus toxicity is expressed as the sample proportion causing a
      certain scale of inhibition or no inhibition. Another option for characterizing
      the scale of toxicity of an environmental sample is equivalencing. Toxicity
      equivalencing represents an interpretation tool which enables toxicity of unknown
      mixtures of chemicals be converted into the concentration of an equivalently
      toxic reference substance. Toxicity equivalencing, (i.e. expressing the toxicity
      of unknown contaminants as the concentration of the reference) makes DTA results
      better understandable for non-ecotoxicologists and other professionals educated
      and thinking based on the chemical model. This paper describes and discusses the
      role, the principles, the methodology and the interpretation of direct toxicity
      assessment (DTA) with the aim to contribute to the understanding of the necessity
      to integrate DTA results into environmental management of contaminated soil and
      water. The paper also introduces the benefits of the toxicity equivalency method.
      The use of DTA is illustrated through two case studies. The first case study
      focuses on DTA of treated wastewater with the aim to characterize the treatment
      efficacy of a biological wastewater treatment plant by frequent bioassaying. The
      second case study applied DTA to investigate the cover layers of two bauxite
      residue (red mud) reservoirs. Based on the DTA results the necessary toxicity
      attenuation rate of the cover layers was estimated. 

PMID- 26874642
TI  - A Rare Case of Type III Dens Invaginatus in a Mandibular Second Premolar and Its
      Nonsurgical Endodontic Management by Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Case
      Report.
AB  - Invaginated teeth present technical difficulties in clinical management because
      of their abnormal anatomic configuration. Endodontic clinical management of type
      III dens invaginatus can be greatly enhanced by newer techniques and materials
      such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), mineral trioxide aggregate, and
      platelet-rich fibrin. This case report presents a 13-year-old male patient with
      type III dens invaginatus (DI) in left mandibular second premolar with history of
      recurrent swelling. Pulp testing revealed no response with the tooth. Dens
      invaginatus type III with an immature apex and periapical lesion was seen on
      radiograph. The case was diagnosed as Oehlers type III DI with pulp necrosis and
      chronic apical abscess. The treatment was planned and performed by using CBCT
      imaging. CBCT was performed to see the canal anatomy and to know the size of
      periapical lesion. Root canal treatment was completed in 2 visits. Calcium
      hydroxide dressing was placed in the first visit. In the second visit MTA was
      used for apexification in the main canal, and warm vertical compaction technique
      with gutta-percha was used in the invaginated canal. At the 2-year reevaluation,
      the patient was asymptomatic, and his tooth had remained functional since the
      treatment was completed. Radiographic assessment of the tooth showed significant
      osseous healing of the preoperative lesion. Three-dimensional imaging is a
      valuable tool for endodontic management of teeth with complex internal anatomy. 

PMID- 26874644
TI  - The power of advocacy.

PMID- 26874643
TI  - Biodentine Reduces Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-induced TRPA1 Expression in
      Odontoblastlike Cells.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels have emerged as
      important cellular sensors in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, with TRPA1
      playing a central role in nociception and neurogenic inflammation. The
      functionality of TRP channels has been shown to be modulated by inflammatory
      cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inflammation on
      odontoblast TRPA1 expression and to determine the effect of Biodentine
      (Septodent, Paris, France) on inflammatory-induced TRPA1 expression. METHODS:
      Immunohistochemistry was used to study TRPA1 expression in pulp tissue from
      healthy and carious human teeth. Pulp cells were differentiated to
      odontoblastlike cells in the presence of 2 mmol/L beta-glycerophosphate, and
      these cells were used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western
      blotting, calcium imaging, and patch clamp studies. RESULTS: Immunofluorescent
      staining revealed TRPA1 expression in odontoblast cell bodies and odontoblast
      processes, which was more intense in carious versus healthy teeth. TRPA1 gene
      expression was induced in cultured odontoblastlike cells by tumor necrosis factor
      alpha, and this expression was significantly reduced in the presence of
      Biodentine. The functionality of the TRPA1 channel was shown by calcium
      microfluorimetry and patch clamp recording, and our results showed a significant
      reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced TRPA1 responses after Biodentine
      treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study showed TRPA1 to be modulated by
      caries-induced inflammation and that Biodentine reduced TRPA1 expression and
      functional responses.

PMID- 26874645
TI  - Tolvaptan and Neurocognitive Function in Mild to Moderate Chronic Hyponatremia: A
      Randomized Trial (INSIGHT).
AB  - BACKGROUND: This trial assessed the effect of tolvaptan on cognition, gait, and
      postural stability in adult patients with mild to moderate asymptomatic
      hyponatremia. STUDY DESIGN: Phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled, parallel-group pilot study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 57 men
      and women 50 years or older with chronic asymptomatic euvolemic or hypervolemic
      hyponatremia (serum sodium concentration >120-<135 mEq/L) at 16 sites.
      INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive tolvaptan or
      matching placebo beginning at a dose of 15mg/d, with titration to 30 or 60mg/d
      based on change in serum sodium concentration and tolerance. OUTCOMES: Primary:
      change from baseline in the neurocognitive composite score of speed domains.
      Secondary: changes from baseline in individual neurocognitive domain scores,
      overall neurocognitive composite score, gait and postural stability test results,
      and serum sodium concentrations. RESULTS: Mean serum sodium concentration
      increased from 129 to 136 mEq/L in the tolvaptan group and from 130 to 132 mEq/L
      in the placebo group (P<0.001). There was no difference in overall neurocognitive
      composite scores of speed domains between groups, except for the psychomotor
      speed domain, which was statistically improved following hyponatremia correction
      with tolvaptan (treatment effect, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.04-0.51; P=0.03). LIMITATIONS:
      There were some imbalances between treatment groups in baseline neurocognitive
      function scores and some baseline test results were near normal, leaving little
      opportunity for improvement. Formal sample size calculations were not performed
      because this was a pilot study. The study population was small (n=57) and
      treatment was of short duration (3 weeks). The primary end point of the study was
      not significant; thus, subgroup analyses are subject to errors of multiplicity
      and should be regarded as hypothesis generating. CONCLUSIONS: Tolvaptan was
      effective in reversing chronic hyponatremia, and this correlated with
      improvements in results of a variety of neurocognition tests, particularly rapid
      motor movements, which tended to reverse following return to a low baseline serum
      sodium concentration after treatment withdrawal.

PMID- 26874646
TI  - Locomotive syndrome is associated not only with physical capacity but also degree
      of depression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reports of locomotive syndrome (LS) have recently been increasing.
      Although physical performance measures for LS have been well investigated to
      date, studies including psychiatric assessment are still scarce. Hence, the aim
      of this study was to investigate both physical and mental parameters in relation
      to presence and severity of LS using a 25-question geriatric locomotive function
      scale (GLFS-25) questionnaire. METHODS: 150 elderly people aged over 60 years who
      were members of our physical-fitness center and displayed well-being were
      enrolled in this study. Firstly, using the previously determined GLFS-25 cutoff
      value (=16 points), subjects were divided into two groups accordingly: an LS and
      non-LS group in order to compare each parameter (age, grip strength, timed-up-and
      go test (TUG), one-leg standing with eye open, back muscle and leg muscle
      strength, degree of depression and cognitive impairment) between the groups using
      the Mann-Whitney U-test followed by multiple logistic regression analysis.
      Secondly, a multiple linear regression was conducted to determine which variables
      showed the strongest correlation with severity of LS. RESULTS: We confirmed 110
      people for non-LS (73%) and 40 people for LS using the GLFS-25 cutoff value.
      Comparative analysis between LS and non-LS revealed significant differences in
      parameters in age, grip strength, TUG, one-leg standing, back muscle strength and
      degree of depression (p < 0.006, after Bonferroni correction). Multiple logistic
      regression revealed that functional decline in grip strength, TUG and one-leg
      standing and degree of depression were significantly associated with LS. On the
      other hand, we observed that the significant contributors towards the GLFS-25
      score were TUG and degree of depression in multiple linear regression analysis.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that LS is associated with not only the
      capacity of physical performance but also the degree of depression although most
      participants fell under the criteria of LS.

PMID- 26874647
TI  - Adherence to physical activity in an unsupervised setting: Explanatory variables
      for high attrition rates among fitness center members.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the attrition rate of members of a fitness center in the
      city of Rio de Janeiro and the potential explanatory variables for the
      phenomenon. DESIGN: An exploratory, observational study using a retrospective
      longitudinal frame. METHODS: The records of 5240 individuals, members of the
      fitness center between January-2005 and June-2014, were monitored for 12 months
      or until cancellation of membership, whichever occurred first. A Cox proportional
      hazard regression model was adjusted to identify variables associated to higher
      risk of 'abandonment' of activities. This study was approved by Southern Cross
      University's Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: ECN-15-176).
      RESULTS: The general survival curve shows that 63% of new members will abandon
      activities before the third month, and less than 4% will remain for more than 12
      months of continuous activity. The regression model showed that age, previous
      level of physical activity, initial body mass index and motivations related to
      weight loss, hypertrophy, health, and aesthetics are related to risk of
      abandonment. Combined, those variables represent an important difference in the
      probability to abandon the gym between individuals with the best and worse
      combination of variables. Even individuals presenting the best combination of
      variables still present a high risk of abandonment before completion of 12 months
      of fitness center membership. CONCLUSIONS: Findings can assist in the
      identification of high risk individuals and therefore help in the development of
      strategies to prevent abandonment of physical activity practice.

PMID- 26874648
TI  - Rates of attrition, non-compliance and missingness in randomized controlled
      trials of child physical activity interventions using accelerometers: A brief
      methodological review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this brief review was to describe the missingness,
      from both attrition and non-compliance, during physical activity randomized
      controlled trials among children which have used accelerometers to measure
      physical activity. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: Using a previously
      published search strategy, an updated search of the literature was performed in
      the MEDLINE database for articles published from 1996 to February 2015
      identifying physical activity RCTs in children (ages 2-18) measuring physical
      activity using accelerometers. Rates of attrition and non-compliance were
      extracted from identified articles. Twenty-three independent studies provided
      complete attrition and non-compliance data and were included. RESULTS: The mean
      attrition rate was 11.5% (SD 10.1%, range 0-30.9%). The mean accelerometer non
      compliance rate at baseline was 22.7% (SD 16.4%, range 1.7-67.8%) and 29.6% (SD
      19.4%, range 3.3-70.1%) at follow-up. The mean total study missingness was 37.4%
      (SD 20.2%, range 3.3-75.4%) and ranged from 3.3% to 75.4%. There was large
      variation in how missingness was accounted for between studies. There were no
      statistically significant differences in missingness between study
      characteristics including sample size, participant age, intervention setting,
      duration of follow-up, whether physical activity was the primary outcome, and
      weartime compliance criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Missingness is common among randomized
      controlled trials using accelerometry in children and is currently handled
      inconsistently. Researchers must plan for high levels of missingness in study
      design and account for missingness in reporting and analyses of trial outcomes.

PMID- 26874649
TI  - The organization and contribution of helicases to RNA splicing.
AB  - Splicing is an essential step of gene expression. It occurs in two consecutive
      chemical reactions catalyzed by a large protein-RNA complex named the
      spliceosome. Assembled on the pre-mRNA substrate from five small nuclear
      proteins, the spliceosome acts as a protein-controlled ribozyme to catalyze the
      two reactions and finally dissociates into its components, which are re-used for
      a new round of splicing. Upon following this cyclic pathway, the spliceosome
      undergoes numerous intermediate stages that differ in composition as well as in
      their internal RNA-RNA and RNA-protein contacts. The driving forces and control
      mechanisms of these remodeling processes are provided by specific molecular
      motors called RNA helicases. While eight spliceosomal helicases are present in
      all organisms, higher eukaryotes contain five additional ones potentially
      required to drive a more intricate splicing pathway and link it to an RNA
      metabolism of increasing complexity. Spliceosomal helicases exhibit a notable
      structural diversity in their accessory domains and overall architecture, in
      accordance with the diversity of their task-specific functions. This review
      summarizes structure-function knowledge about all spliceosomal helicases,
      including the latter five, which traditionally are treated separately from the
      conserved ones. The implications of the structural characteristics of helicases
      for their functions, as well as for their structural communication within the
      multi-subunits environment of the spliceosome, are pointed out.

PMID- 26874650
TI  - Corrigendum to "MiRNA-26b regulates the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in
      desferrioxamine-treated CNE cells" [FEBS Lett. 584 (5) (2010) 961-967].

PMID- 26874652
TI  - Re: physician suicide and physician health programs.

PMID- 26874654
TI  - Chemotherapy at First Diagnosis of Advanced Prostate Cancer - Revolution or
      Evolution? Findings from a British Uro-oncology Group UK Survey to Evaluate
      Oncologists' Views on First-line Docetaxel in Combination with Androgen
      Deprivation Therapy in Castrate-sensitive Metastatic and High-risk/Locally
      Advanced Prostate Cancer.
AB  - AIMS: There have been three randomised trials investigating docetaxel in
      combination with androgen deprivation therapy as first-line therapy for hormone
      sensitive metastatic and locally advanced/high-risk prostate cancer. The largest
      of these studies, UK STAMPEDE trial, recently presented in June 2015. The aim of
      this survey was to evaluate if oncologists' practice has changed as a result of
      these studies, or if their practice is likely to change in different clinical
      settings in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The British Uro-oncology Group
      issued a semi-structured online questionnaire to its membership of 160 specialist
      urological oncologists practising in the UK. Links to the abstracts of GETUG-AFU
      15, E3805 CHAARTED and STAMPEDE were attached with the survey for respondents to
      review before completing the survey. RESULTS: In total, 111 participants
      completed the survey; 87% stated that STAMPEDE will influence their clinical
      practice in the future. Almost all (96%) would offer docetaxel with androgen
      deprivation therapy to men presenting with high volume metastatic prostate
      cancer. Fewer oncologists would offer this treatment to men with low volume
      metastatic prostate cancer, locally advanced or relapsed disease. Various patient
      and disease-related factors were considered in decision making, as well as
      resource implications. CONCLUSIONS: This survey reports oncologists' attitudes
      towards a major change in practice in the standard of care for men with newly
      diagnosed advanced prostate cancer in the UK. The survey highlighted the
      complexities surrounding the clinical implementation of the data from these
      studies, including changes in referral pathways, with the early involvement of
      oncologists in such patients' care, increases in workloads for oncologists and
      chemotherapy units and the need for national approval for re-imbursement of these
      treatments.

PMID- 26874653
TI  - Recurrent recessive mutation in deoxyguanosine kinase causes idiopathic
      noncirrhotic portal hypertension.
AB  - Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic noncirrhotic
      portal hypertension, its pathogenesis remains elusive. Insight may be gained from
      study of early-onset familial idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in
      which Mendelian mutations may account for disease. We performed exome sequencing
      of eight subjects from six kindreds with onset of portal hypertension of
      indeterminate etiology during infancy or childhood. Three subjects from two
      consanguineous families shared the identical rare homozygous p.N46S mutation in
      DGUOK, a deoxyguanosine kinase required for mitochondrial DNA replication;
      haplotype sharing demonstrated that the mutation in the two families was
      inherited from a remote common ancestor. All three affected subjects had stable
      portal hypertension with noncirrhotic liver disease for 6-16 years of follow-up.
      This mutation impairs adenosine triphosphate binding and reduces catalytic
      activity. Loss-of-function mutations in DGUOK have previously been implicated in
      cirrhosis and liver failure but not in isolated portal hypertension.
      Interestingly, treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency viral infection
      with the nucleoside analogue didanosine is known to cause portal hypertension in
      a subset of patients and lowers deoxyguanosine kinase levels in vitro; the
      current findings implicate these effects on deoxyguanosine kinase in the causal
      mechanism. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms
      mediating inherited and acquired noncirrhotic portal hypertension, expand the
      phenotypic spectrum of DGUOK deficiency, and provide a new genetic test for a
      specific cause of idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension. (Hepatology
      2016;63:1977-1986).

PMID- 26874655
TI  - Injury, inflammation and the emergence of human-specific genes.
AB  - In light of the central role of inflammation in normal wound repair and
      regeneration, we hypothesize that the preponderance of human-specific genes
      expressed in human inflammatory cells is commensurate with the genetic
      versatility of inflammatory response and the emergence of injuries associated
      with uniquely hominid behaviors, like a bipedal posture and the use of tools,
      weapons and fire. The hypothesis underscores the need to study human-specific
      signaling pathways in experimental models of injury and infers that a selection
      of human-specific genes, driven in part by the response to injury, may have
      facilitated the emergence of multifunctional genes expressed in other tissues.

PMID- 26874656
TI  - Radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in 2015--The year of
      radiation therapy advances.
AB  - Surgery associated with radiation therapy is the standard treatment for early
      breast cancer. This paper reviews the new evidence on local control and survival,
      the indications of lymph-node irradiation, and the long-term results of large
      prospective trials. New shorter fractionation schemes allow a reduction in the
      constraints of daily treatment courses over several weeks, and recent technical
      improvements in treatment delivery will improve cancer outcomes in terms of local
      control, decreased toxicity and long-term sequelae. Research should focus on
      identifying molecular markers for radiation sensitivity while designing specific,
      targeted modulators of the radiation response in early breast cancer. 

PMID- 26874657
TI  - Caring for one and all - Exploring ethical challenges in an ICU.
AB  - This discussion paper explores some of the complex ethical and moral issues
      confronting contemporary critical care nurses. In contemporary healthcare
      discussions, there is an increased appreciation of the complexity of ethical
      challenges, the multiplicity of stakeholders and that a broad range of possible
      and practical outcomes exist. Furthermore, many scholars also acknowledge the
      limitations of principle based ethical frameworks. In seeking to build critical
      care nurses' capacity to negotiate the complex - and often conflicting - ethical
      challenges, the authors have adopted a person-centred, values-based approach in
      this case study. Furthermore, by exploring these complex issues, this paper
      supports and builds upon critical care nurses' decision making capacities in the
      clinical area. This case study has been purposefully left open-ended with the aim
      of inviting the reader to consider the questions posed in a collegial,
      collaborative manner within the particular context in which she/he is embedded. 

PMID- 26874658
TI  - Tumefactive gallbladder sludge: the MRI findings.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the conventional and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) images of tumefactive gallbladder sludge. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. Between January
      2006 and January 2015, 3478 patients were diagnosed with gallbladder sludge by
      ultrasonography (US). Of them, 12 patients (eight male, four female; mean age,
      63.6 years) with 12 tumefactive gallbladder sludge lesions, who underwent
      subsequent MRI for further evaluation within 1 month, were included in this
      study. Data regarding the clinical features, presence of enhancement, and signal
      intensities of the T2-, T1-, and diffusion-weighted images were collected.
      RESULTS: All cases of tumefactive sludge were detected incidentally. None of the
      patients had any predisposing factors for biliary sludge. The tumefactive
      gallbladder sludge was predominantly seen as a well-defined mass-like lesion. It
      showed hyperintensity on T1-weighted images (91.7%, 11/12), and variable signal
      intensities on T2-weighted images. Most of the tumefactive sludge lesions showed
      no enhancement on the dynamic phases (90%, 9/10). There were no cases with
      diffusion restriction. Among the patients with follow-up US data (n=7), all the
      lesions were found to have either disappeared or decreased in size. CONCLUSION:
      Although tumefactive gallbladder sludge on US can mimic gallbladder cancer, its
      hyperintensity on a T1-weighted image, and the absence of enhancement and
      diffusion restriction on MRI images can be helpful for differentiating it from a
      tumorous condition.

PMID- 26874659
TI  - Re: Differentiation of pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumour of the salivary
      gland: is long-to-short ratio a useful parameter?

PMID- 26874660
TI  - Interventional stem cell therapy.
AB  - The ability to deliver cells in appropriate doses to their targeted site of
      action is a well-known obstacle to optimising stem cell therapy. Systemic
      administration of cells results in pulmonary "trapping," which significantly
      decreases the number of available circulating cells to impact underlying
      disorders. Directed delivery of stem cells in interventional radiology may
      provide an additional option for bypassing the lungs, as well as introduce novel
      potential avenues for decreasing doses required to effect cellular therapy,
      efficiently obtain local paracrine effects, and/or to simplify targeting
      strategies. 

PMID- 26874661
TI  - Oblique vein of the left atrium - The Marshall vein.

PMID- 26874662
TI  - Nutrition and health claims in products directed at children via television in
      Spain in 2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of nutrition and health claims in products
      directed at children via television in Spain and to analyse their nutrient
      profile. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of television food advertisements over
      7 days in five Spanish television channels popular among children. The products
      were classified as core, non-core or miscellaneous, and as either healthy or less
      healthy, according to the United Kingdom Nutrient Profile Model. We registered
      all claims contained on the product (packaging and labelling) and its
      advertisement. We calculated the frequency distributions of health and nutrition
      claims. RESULTS: During the 420hours of broadcasting, 169 food products were
      identified, 28.5% in the dairy group and 60.9% in the non-core category. A total
      of 53.3% of products contained nutrition claims and 26.6% contained health
      claims; 62.2% of the products with claims were less healthy. Low-fat dairy
      products were the food category containing the highest percentage of health and
      nutrition claims. CONCLUSION: Over half of all food products marketed to children
      via television in Spain made some type of nutrition or health claim. Most of
      these products were less healthy, which could mislead Spanish consumers.

PMID- 26874663
TI  - [Association between oxytocin augmentation intervals and the risk of postpartum
      haemorrhage].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the association between the duration of oxytocin augmentation
      intervals and the risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) among primiparous women in
      spontaneous labour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort including
      primiparous women in spontaneous labour who received oxytocin during labour
      (n=454). Oxytocin augmentation intervals were dichotomized in intervals<20minutes
      and>=20minutes. Obstetrical and neonatal issues were analyzed according to the
      duration oxytocin augmentation intervals. The association between oxytocin
      augmentation intervals and PPH was analyzed using univariate and multivariate
      analysis. RESULTS: Oxytocin augmentation intervals were shorter than 20minutes
      for 43.8% of the study population. The rate of PPH was higher (9.1% vs 3.5%;
      P=0.014), and the use of sulprostone was more frequent (6.5% vs 3.5%; P=0.013) if
      oxytocin augmentation intervals were shorter than 20minutes in comparison with
      intervals>=20minutes. The association between oxytocin augmentation intervals and
      PPH remains significant after adjustment on other PPH risk factors (adjusted
      OR=3.48, 95% CI [1.45-8.34]). The rate of adverse neonatal issue, defined by
      arterial pH at birth<=7.10 and/or 5minutes score d'Apgar<=7, was higher if
      oxytocin augmentation intervals were<20minutes (12.1% vs 4.3%; P=0.002).
      CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated an increased risk of PPH for primiparous women
      in spontaneous labour who received oxytocin with augmentation intervals shorter
      than 20minutes.

PMID- 26874665
TI  - [Pictures balance for optimal surgical management of pelvic endometriosis.
      Imaging and surgery of endometriosis].
AB  - Endometriosis is a frequent benign pathology that is found in 10-15% of women and
      in 20% of infertile women. It has an impact on fertility, but also in everyday
      life. If medical treatment fails, surgical treatment can be offered to the
      patient. To provide adequate treatment and give clearer information to patients,
      it seems essential to achieve an optimal preoperative imaging assessment. Thus,
      the aim of this work is to define the information expected by the surgeon and the
      indications of each imaging test for each compartment of the pelvis, allowing an
      ideal surgical management of pelvic endometriosis. We will not discuss imaging
      techniques' principles and we will not develop the indications and surgical
      techniques. 

PMID- 26874666
TI  - [Curative pelvic exenteration for recurrent cervical carcinoma in the era of
      concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A systematic review].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to assess the preoperative management in
      case of recurrent cervical cancer, to assess patients for a surgical curative
      treatment. METHODS: English publications were searched using PubMed and Cochrane
      Library. RESULTS: In the purpose of curative surgery, pelvic exenteration
      required clear margins. Today, only half of pelvic exenteration procedures showed
      postoperative clear margins. Modern imaging (RMI and Pet-CT) does not allow
      defining local extension of microcopic disease, and thus postoperative clear
      margins. Despite the same generic term of pelvic exenteration, there is a wide
      heterogeneity in surgical procedures in published cohorts. CONCLUSION: Because
      clear margins are required for curative pelvic exenteration, but are not
      predictable by preoperative assessment. The larger surgery, i.e. the infra
      elevator exenteration with vulvectomy, could be the logical surgical choice to
      increase the rate of clear margins and therefore, recurrent cervical carcinoma
      patient survival.

PMID- 26874667
TI  - ["The two fontanelles sign": A new clinical sign for quality control in fetal
      head position diagnosis?]
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Determine the frequency at which palpation of two fontanelles is
      possible, in order to describe a new clinical diagnosis approach: "the two
      fontanelles sign". MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive study established in the
      obstetric and gynecology department at Lyon-Sud university hospital between March
      and November 2013. We followed-up one thousand successive singleton deliveries in
      cephalic presentation after 30 weeks of gestation. Before starting expulsive
      efforts, the number of fontanelles perceived (1, 2 or any) was documented. If the
      number of fontanelles were not noted, the patient was excluded. RESULTS: Nine
      hundred and seventy-eight patients were included. In 39.3% of cases (n=384), 2
      fontanelles were found, in 57.5% (n=563) only one and in 3.2% (n=31), none.
      CONCLUSION: Both fontanelles palpation is frequently possible and enables quality
      control of fetal head presentation variety without ultrasound assessment. In
      order to prove the reliability of clinical examination, study comparing
      presentation ultrasonography and digital examination finding 2 fontanelles is
      needed.

PMID- 26874668
TI  - A SimpleProbe((r)) real-time PCR assay for differentiating the cytochrome b M121I
      mutation in clinical specimens from dogs infected with Babesia gibsoni.
AB  - Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) causes a canine tick-borne disease worldwide. The
      substitution of methionine with isoleucine (M121I) in the cytochrome b (CYTb)
      gene of B. gibsoni was identified as being associated with atovaquone resistance.
      Rapid identification of the drug-resistant strain is required to select a more
      effective combination of drugs, e.g., from atovaquone and azithromycin (AA) to
      clindamycin, diminazene, and imidocarb (CDI) combination. A SimpleProbe((r)) real
      time PCR assay was designed to detect the single nucleotide polymorphism at
      nucleotide 363 in CYTb gene of B. gibsoni and the sensitivity and specificity
      were evaluated by comparing the results from the conventional DNA sequencing
      method. Eighty-nine clinical blood samples were collected and analyzed in
      parallel with the SimpleProbe((r)) assay and DNA sequencing. The assay identified
      50 of 54 nt363G samples and had a sensitivity of 92.6% and a specificity of 100%.
      Thirty nt363T samples were correctly identified, as well, with a sensitivity of
      100% and a specificity of 73.2%. However, this assay identified only one of 17
      nt363A samples; the other 16 samples were misidentified as nt363T. The
      sensitivity of the nt363A identification was only 5.9%, and the specificity was
      100%. When detecting the M121I mutation, 42 of 42 mutant samples were identified,
      with a sensitivity of 100%, and 45 of 47 wild type samples were identified, with
      a specificity of 95.7%. In conclusion, the SimpleProbe((r)) assay could be used
      to detect the M121I mutation of the B. gibsoni CYTb from clinical specimens. This
      assay provides a reliable and sensitive tool for differentiating between the
      atovaquone-resistant strain and the non-resistant strain.

PMID- 26874669
TI  - Bacterial agents in 248 ticks removed from people from 2002 to 2013.
AB  - A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the tick species removed from
      people and to detect tick-infecting bacteria in the specimens collected over the
      past 10 years at the reference center for rickettsioses, Marseille, France. A
      total of 248 ticks were removed from 200 people, including Dermacentor (73),
      Rhipicephalus (67), Ixodes (60), Amblyomma (8), Argas (3), Hyalomma (1), and
      Haemaphysalis (1) species. Bacterial DNA was detected in 101 ticks: Rickettsia
      slovaca (34%) and Rickettsia raoultii (23%) were detected in Dermacentor ticks;
      Rickettsia conorii (16%) and Rickettsia massiliae (18%) were found in
      Rhipicephalus ticks; and Anaplasma phagocytophylum (5%), Borrelia spp. (8%) and
      Rickettsia spp. (2%) were detected in Ixodes ticks. Among the bitten people for
      which clinical data and laboratory samples were available, tick borne diseases
      were confirmed in 11 symptomatic individuals. 

PMID- 26874670
TI  - First record of Babesia sp. in Antarctic penguins.
AB  - This is the first reported case of Babesia sp. in Antarctic penguins,
      specifically a population of Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) in the
      Vapour Col penguin rookery in Deception Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. We
      collected peripheral blood from 50 adult and 30 chick Chinstrap penguins.
      Examination of the samples by microscopy showed intraerythrocytic forms
      morphologically similar to other avian Babesia species in 12 Chinstrap penguin
      adults and seven chicks. The estimated parasitaemias ranged from 0.25*10(-2)% to
      0.75*10(-2)%. Despite the low number of parasites found in blood smears, semi
      nested PCR assays yielded a 274 bp fragment in 12 of the 19 positive blood
      samples found by microscopy. Sequencing revealed that the fragment was 97%
      similar to Babesia sp. 18S rRNA from Australian Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)
      confirming presence of the parasite. Parasite prevalence estimated by microscopy
      in adults and chicks was higher (24% vs. 23.3%, respectively) than found by semi
      nested PCR (16% vs. 13.3% respectively). Although sampled penguins were
      apparently healthy, the effect of Babesia infection in these penguins is unknown.
      The identification of Babesia sp. in Antarctic penguins is an important finding.
      Ixodes uriae, as the only tick species present in the Antarctic Peninsula, is the
      key to understanding the natural history of this parasite. Future work should
      address the transmission dynamics and pathogenicity of Babesia sp. in Chinstrap
      penguin as well as in other penguin species, such as Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis
      papua) and Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), present within the tick
      distribution range in the Antarctic Peninsula.

PMID- 26874671
TI  - Pararenal Aortic Ulcer Repair.
AB  - OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: In order to investigate techniques and outcomes of
      pararenal penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) repair, a retrospective cohort study was
      performed. METHODS: Over the 6 year study period, 12 patients treated for a
      pararenal PAU were included. Outcome measures included technical success,
      survival, and peri-operative complications, as well as stent patency. RESULTS:
      Treatment modalities included hybrid procedures with endovascular aneurysm repair
      (EVAR) and bypass grafting, chimney EVAR (Ch-EVAR), and fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR).
      Four of the 12 patients were symptomatic, and eight patients underwent elective
      surgery. The technical success rate was 100%. Symptom resolution was recorded in
      all symptomatic patients immediately post-operatively. Complications encountered
      included one type I endoleak in a patient who underwent Ch-EVAR, and one case of
      post-operative stroke, paralysis, and death in a patient who underwent FEVAR. No
      adverse events were recorded in the remaining 10 patients. The PAU protrusion
      distance was significantly greater in symptomatic patients. Perforation and
      leakage were more prevalent in patients with pre-operative abdominal or back
      pain. CONCLUSION: Encouraging results of endovascular treatment of pararenal PAUs
      were observed. One major and fatal complication was encountered, which underlines
      the complexity and risks of the techniques. Another patient required re
      intervention owing to an endoleak following off label use of covered stents for
      Ch-EVAR. FEVAR, which generally requires a custom made graft, was increasingly
      applied over the study period, potentially because of an increased awareness of
      this distinct pathology allowing for elective procedure planning. Ch-EVAR and
      hybrid procedures were predominantly used in symptomatic patients, whereas FEVAR
      was the preferred elective treatment option.

PMID- 26874673
TI  - Compliance with carbapenem guidelines in a university hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate carbapenem prescription compliance with
      guidelines for nosocomial and community-acquired infections. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: We conducted a prospective study over a four-month period at our
      university hospital. We included all adult and pediatric hospitalized patients
      who had received at least one dose of carbapenem. Data was collected from
      patients' medical records (hard copy and computerized data; CristalLink
      software). Compliance with guidelines was assessed by two infectious disease
      specialists. Assessment criteria included indication, antibiotic choice, dosage,
      and treatment duration. RESULTS: We included 152 patients in the study (65.4% of
      men). Carbapenem prescription was appropriate for 76.3% of prescriptions. The use
      of carbapenems was considered appropriate for 73.9% of empirical prescriptions
      and for 77.8% of documented prescriptions. Non-compliance with guidelines was
      mainly due to prescriptions for community-acquired infections. Antibiotic de
      escalation could not be initiated in 40.3% of patients and was only initiated in
      51.7% of patients for whom it could be considered. Although the average treatment
      duration was 7.5 days, 23.7% of patients received carbapenems for more than 10
      days. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for a strong carbapenem
      stewardship program in our hospital.

PMID- 26874672
TI  - Suplatast tosilate alleviates nasal symptoms through the suppression of nuclear
      factor of activated T-cells-mediated IL-9 gene expression in toluene-2,4
      diisocyanate-sensitized rats.
AB  - Histamine H1 receptor (H1R) gene is upregulated in patients with pollinosis; its
      expression level is highly correlated with the nasal symptom severity.
      Antihistamines are widely used as allergy treatments because they inhibit
      histamine signaling by blocking H1R or suppressing H1R signaling as inverse
      agonists. However, long-term treatment with antihistamines does not completely
      resolve toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI)-induced nasal symptoms, although it can
      decrease H1R gene expression to the basal level, suggesting additional signaling
      is responsible for the pathogenesis of the allergic symptoms. Here, we show that
      treatment with suplatast tosilate in combination with antihistamines markedly
      alleviates nasal symptoms in TDI-sensitized rats. Suplatast suppressed TDI
      induced upregulation of IL-9 gene expression. Suplatast also suppressed
      ionomycin/phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced upregulation of IL-2 gene
      expression in Jurkat cells, in which calcineurin (CN)/nuclear factor of activated
      T-cells (NFAT) signaling is known to be involved. Immunoblot analysis
      demonstrated that suplatast inhibited binding of NFAT to DNA. Furthermore,
      suplatast suppressed ionomycin-induced IL-9 mRNA upregulation in RBL-2H3 cells,
      in which CN/NFAT signaling is also involved. These data suggest that suplatast
      suppressed NFAT-mediated IL-9 gene expression in TDI-sensitized rats and this
      might be the underlying mechanism of the therapeutic effects of combined therapy
      of suplatast with antihistamine.

PMID- 26874674
TI  - [Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Is it a risk factor for diabetic
      retinopathy?].
AB  - PURPOSE: The goal of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of diabetic
      retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a comparative study including 60 type 2
      diabetics separated into 2 groups: a 1st group composed of 20 patients with
      obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and a 2nd group composed of 40 patients without
      this syndrome. The two groups were matched for age and length of diabetes. All
      patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. RESULTS: In both groups,
      the mean patient age was 59 years, the diabetes had been present for an average
      of 10 years, and the HbA1c was 10%. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed in 11
      patients from the 1st group (55%) and 6 cases from the 2nd group (15%) (P=0.03).
      Non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy were found in 7 cases (35%) and 4
      cases (20%), respectively, in the 1st group and in 3 cases (7.5%) in the 2nd
      group for both types (P=0.03 and P=0.042, respectively). Diabetic macular edema
      was observed in 4 patients (20%) in the 1st group and 2 patients (5%) in the 2nd
      group (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is an independent
      risk factor for the appearance and aggravation of diabetic retinopathy. This
      underscores the importance of systematic screening for, and timely management of,
      sleep apnea.

PMID- 26874676
TI  - Influence of metal(loid) bioaccumulation and maternal transfer on embryo-larval
      development in fish exposed to a major coal ash spill.
AB  - In December 2008, an earthen retaining wall at the Tennessee Valley Authority
      (TVA) Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant failed and released 4.1 millionm(3) of coal ash
      to rivers flowing into Watts Bar Reservoir in east Tennessee, United States
      (U.S.). As part of a comprehensive effort to evaluate the risks to aquatic
      resources from this spill - the largest in U.S. history - we compared
      bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of selenium (Se), arsenic (As), and mercury
      (Hg) in adult redear sunfish (Lepomis macrolophus), collected two years after the
      spill from both coal-ash exposed and non-exposed areas of the Emory and Clinch
      Rivers, with the success of embryo-larval development in their offspring. Whole
      body and ovary concentrations of Se in female sunfish at three study sites
      downstream of the spill were significantly elevated (site means=4.9-5.3 and 6.7
      9.0mg/kg d.w. whole body and ovary concentrations, respectively) compared with
      concentrations in fish from reference sites upstream of the spill site (2.2
      3.2mg/kg d.w. for whole bodies and 3.6-4.8mg/kg d.w. for ovaries). However, Se
      concentrations in coal ash-exposed areas remain below proposed U.S. Environmental
      Protection Agency (USEPA) criteria for the protection of aquatic life. Site-to
      site variation in fish concentrations of As and Hg were not well-correlated with
      ash-exposure, reflecting the multiple sources of these metal(loid)s in the
      affected watersheds. In 7-day laboratory tests of embryos and larvae derived from
      in vitro crosses of eggs and sperm from these field-collected sunfish,
      fertilization success, hatching success, embryo-larval survival, and incidences
      of developmental abnormalities did not differ significantly between ash-exposed
      and non-exposed fish. Furthermore, these developmental endpoints were not
      correlated with whole body or ovary concentrations of Se, As, or Hg in the
      maternal fish, or with fish size, ovary weight, or gonadal-somatic indices.
      Results from this and related studies associated with the Kingston coal ash spill
      are consistent with proposed USEPA fish-based water quality criteria for Se, and
      to date continue to suggest that long-term exposures to sediment containing
      residual ash may not present a significant chronic risk to fish populations
      exposed to this major coal ash release. 

PMID- 26874675
TI  - New insight into the effects of heparinoids on complement inhibition by C1
      inhibitor.
AB  - Complement activation is of major importance in numerous pathological conditions.
      Therefore, targeted complement inhibition is a promising therapeutic strategy. C1
      esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) controls activation of the classical pathway (CP) and
      the lectin pathway (LP). However, conflicting data exist on inhibition of the
      alternative pathway (AP) by C1-INH. The inhibitory capacity of C1-INH for the CP
      is potentiated by heparin and other glycosaminoglycans, but no data exist for the
      LP and AP. The current study investigates the effects of C1-INH in the presence
      or absence of different clinically used heparinoids on the CP, LP and AP.
      Furthermore, the combined effects of heparinoids and C1-INH on coagulation were
      investigated. C1-INH, heparinoids or combinations were analysed in a dose
      dependent fashion in the presence of pooled serum. Functional complement
      activities were measured simultaneously using the Wielisa((r)) -kit. The
      activated partial thrombin time was determined using an automated coagulation
      analyser. The results showed that all three complement pathways were inhibited
      significantly by C1-INH or heparinoids. Next to their individual effects on
      complement activation, heparinoids also enhanced the inhibitory capacity of C1
      INH significantly on the CP and LP. For the AP, significant potentiation of C1
      INH by heparinoids was found; however, this was restricted to certain
      concentration ranges. At low concentrations the effect on blood coagulation by
      combining heparinoids with C1-INH was minimal. In conclusion, our study shows
      significant potentiating effects of heparinoids on the inhibition of all
      complement pathways by C1-INH. Therefore, their combined use is a promising and a
      potentially cost-effective treatment option for complement-mediated diseases. 

PMID- 26874677
TI  - Application of molecular endpoints in early life stage salmonid environmental
      biomonitoring.
AB  - Molecular endpoints can enhance existing whole animal bioassays by more fully
      characterizing the biological impacts of aquatic pollutants. Laboratory and field
      studies were used to examine the utility of adopting molecular endpoints for a
      well-developed in situ early life stage (eyed embryo to onset of swim-up fry)
      salmonid bioassay to improve diagnostic assessments of water quality in the
      field. Coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) were exposed in the
      laboratory to the model metal (zinc, 40MUg/L) and the polycyclic aromatic
      hydrocarbon (pyrene, 100MUg/L) in water to examine the resulting early life stage
      salmonid responses. In situ field exposures and bioassays were conducted in
      parallel to evaluate the water quality of three urban streams in British Columbia
      (two sites with anthropogenic inputs and one reference site). The endpoints
      measured in swim-up fry included survival, deformities, growth (weight and
      length), vitellogenin (vtg) and metallothionein (Mt) protein levels, and hepatic
      gene expression (e.g., metallothioneins [mta and mtb], endocrine biomarkers [vtg
      and estrogen receptors, esr] and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes [cytochrome P450
      1A3, cyp1a3 and glutathione transferases, gstk]). No effects were observed in the
      zinc treatment, however exposure of swim-up fry to pyrene resulted in decreased
      survival, deformities and increased estrogen receptor alpha (er1) mRNA levels. In
      the field exposures, xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (cyp1a3, gstk) and zinc
      transporter (zntBigM103) mRNA were significantly increased in swim-up fry
      deployed at the sites with more anthropogenic inputs compared to the reference
      site. Cluster analysis revealed that gene expression profiles in individuals from
      the streams receiving anthropogenic inputs were more similar to each other than
      to the reference site. Collectively, the results obtained in this study suggest
      that molecular endpoints may be useful, and potentially more sensitive,
      indicators of site-specific contamination in real-world, complex exposure
      scenarios in addition to whole body morphometric and physiological measures. 

PMID- 26874678
TI  - [Update of hidradenitis suppurativa in Primary Care].
AB  - Hidradenitis suppurativa is a prevalent disease that is noted for its clinical
      variability and by its severe impact on quality of life. A meticulous scientific
      literature review is presented in this article in order to give an update on what
      is known on this condition. Primary Care physicians obviously play an important
      role in the early diagnosis and management of hidradenitis suppurativa. This
      review aims to provide a current and practical overview about this disease in
      order to optimise the healthcare for these patients by making the best use of
      available resources.

PMID- 26874679
TI  - Pulmonary recurrence in patients with endometrial cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In this article, we aimed to define the clinical, pathological, and
      surgical factors predicting pulmonary recurrence (PR) and determining survival
      after PR in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: Thirty-six (2.7%) patients
      were analyzed who suffered pulmonary failure in the first recurrence out of 1345
      patients who had at least extrafascial hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo
      oophorectomy for endometrial cancer between January 1993 and May 2013. The
      recurrence was designated as an isolated PR in cases of the presence of
      recurrence only in the lung, while it was called a synchronized PR if the patient
      had extrapulmonary recurrence in addition to PR. RESULTS: In the multivariate
      analysis in the entire cohort, only International Federation of Gynecology and
      Obstetrics stage was an independent prognostic factor for PR. Two-year overall
      survival (OS) was 52% in patients with PR. In the univariate analysis, early
      International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, absence of lymphatic
      metastasis, negative lymphovascular space invasion, absence of cervical invasion,
      negative adnexal spread, negative peritoneal cytology, negative omental
      metastasis, adjuvant radiotherapy after initial surgery, isolated PR, and
      chemotherapy upon recurrence were associated with improved OS after PR. The OS
      was 54 months for patients with isolated PR, while it was 10 months for patients
      who had synchronized PR. Furthermore, OS was 43 months and 13 months for the
      patients who took chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Advanced stage is associated with PR. If recurrence is only in the lung, survival
      is better. Systemic treatment after PR is associated with improved survival.
      However, multi-center studies are required to standardize the treatment for PR.

PMID- 26874680
TI  - Isolation of Streptococcus pyogenes from children with pharyngitis and emm type
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The group A streptococcus (GAS) M protein, encoded by the emm gene,
      acts as a major virulence factor. Emm-typing is the GAS gold standard molecular
      typing and is based on the DNA sequence of the nucleotides of the emm gene. The
      aim of the present study was to isolate GAS from patients and to detect the emm
      types of the isolates using emm typing. METHODS: A total of 1000 throat samples
      were collected from patients with pharyngitis referred to Aboozar Children's
      Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. We performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing on all
      isolates using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Additionally, amplification
      of the emm gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction using the standard
      primers and described protocol. RESULTS: From all throat samples screened, 25
      isolates (2.5%) were identified as GAS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing
      revealed that all the GAS isolates were susceptible to penicillin and
      erythromycin, but 44% showed resistance to vancomycin. Based on polymerase chain
      reaction for the emm gene, the obtained emm types were: emm-3, observed in 20
      isolates (80%); emm-1 observed in four isolates (16%); and emm-75 observed in one
      isolate (4%). CONCLUSION: The result of the present study showed that penicillin
      and erythromycin are still the most effective antibiotics against the organism.
      The emm typing revealed that emm type-3 was detected in most of the isolates from
      patients with purulent pharyngitis. On the basis of the findings of this study,
      we may conclude that emm typing provides new insights on the genetic diversity of
      the M proteins, and is of demonstrable value for molecular studies of GAS.

PMID- 26874681
TI  - Efficacy of continuous theta burst stimulation of the primary motor cortex in
      reducing migraine frequency: A preliminary open-label study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Theta burst stimulation is a type of pattern-specific repetitive
      transcranial magnetic stimulation that requires less stimulation time and lower
      intensity to induce long-lasting effects comparable to those of other repetitive
      transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols. This pilot study investigated
      whether continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) on the primary motor cortex
      reduced headache frequency in patients with migraine. METHODS: Nine patients with
      migraine were recruited into our study. All patients received 20 cTBS sessions
      (bursts of 3 50-Hz TMS pulses at 200-ms intervals for 40 seconds), administered
      every weekday for 4 consecutive weeks. All patients kept headache diaries for 4
      weeks before stimulation (baseline; T1), during stimulation (T2), and 4 weeks
      after stimulation (T3). The primary outcome measures were the changes of total
      headache and migraine days from baseline (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; T2 and T3
      vs. T1). RESULTS: The number of total headache days was reduced at T2 and T3
      compared with T1 [9.4 +/- 6.2 days (p = 0.024) and 8.7 +/- 10.1 days (p = 0.012)
      vs. 13.4 +/- 10.1 days]. The number of migraine days was also reduced at T2 and
      T3 compared with T1 [2.9 +/- 2.7 days (p = 0.021) and 1.0 +/- 1.6 days (p =
      0.008) vs. 8.6 +/- 8.7 days]. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that cTBS on the
      primary motor cortex might reduce the number of total headache and migraine days
      in patients with migraine. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are
      necessary to further validate the findings.

PMID- 26874682
TI  - Venous thromboembolism and risk of cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus.
AB  - AIM: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has long been regarded as a marker of
      underlying malignancy in the general population. Patients with diabetes mellitus
      are at increased risk of developing VTE, but it is unclear whether VTE in
      diabetes patients is also a harbinger of occult cancer. METHODS: From Danish
      medical health databases, we identified all diabetes patients (N=8783) with a
      first-time diagnosis of VTE during 1978-2011. We followed the patients until a
      first-time diagnosis of cancer, emigration, death, or study end, whichever came
      first. We calculated one-year absolute cancer risk and overall and site-specific
      standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer based on national cancer
      incidence. RESULTS: During the total study period 878 cancers were observed. The
      one-year absolute cancer risk was 4.1% and the corresponding SIR was 3.28 (95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 2.94-3.64). The highest SIRs were observed for cancers
      of the gallbladder and biliary tract (SIR 13.59; 6.77-24.31), the pancreas (SIR
      10.16; 6.85-14.50), the ovary (SIR 9.85; 5.63-16.00), and the liver (SIR 9.39;
      4.30-17.84). After the first year of follow-up, the overall cancer SIR associated
      with VTE and diabetes decreased to 1.05 (95% CI: 0.97-1.15). CONCLUSIONS: VTE may
      be a marker of underlying cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 26874683
TI  - Qualitative examination of cognitive change during PTSD treatment for active duty
      service members.
AB  - The current study investigated changes in service members' cognitions over the
      course of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder
      (PTSD). Sixty-three active duty service members with PTSD were drawn from 2
      randomized controlled trials of CPT-Cognitive Only (CPT-C). Participants wrote an
      impact statement about the meaning of their index trauma at the beginning and
      again at the end of therapy. Clauses from each impact statement were
      qualitatively coded into three categories for analysis: assimilation,
      accommodation, and overaccommodation. The PTSD Checklist, Posttraumatic Symptom
      Scale-Interview Version, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were administered
      at baseline and posttreatment. Repeated measures analyses documented a
      significant decrease in the percentage of assimilated or overaccommodated
      statements and an increase in the percentage of accommodated statements from the
      beginning to the end of treatment. Changes in accommodated statements over the
      course of treatment were negatively associated with PTSD and depression symptom
      severity, while statements indicative of overaccommodation were positively
      associated with both PTSD and depression symptom severity. Treatment responders
      had fewer overaccommodated and more accommodated statements. Findings suggest
      that CPT-C changes cognitions over the course of treatment. Methodological
      limitations and the lack of association between assimilation and PTSD symptom
      severity are further discussed. 

PMID- 26874687
TI  - Occupational injuries in times of labour market flexibility: the different
      stories of employment-secure and precarious workers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relationship between labour market flexibility, job insecurity
      and occupational injuries is not univocal. The literature generally focuses on
      the temporary character of work arrangements rather than on the precarity of
      careers. The aim of this paper is to identify, without defining a priori what a
      precarious career is, the most common professional profiles of young people who
      entered the labour market in the 2000s and to correlate them with occupational
      injury risks. METHODS: Using the Whip-Salute database, which combines individual
      work and health histories, we selected the subjects under 30 years of age whose
      first appearance in the database is dated after 2000. The occupational history of
      each individual between 2000 and 2005 was described according to 6 variables
      (type of entry contract, number of contracts, number of jobs, economic
      activities, work intensity and duration of the longest period of non-employment).
      Workers were grouped into homogeneous categories using cluster analysis
      techniques, which enable to identify different career profiles. Injury rates were
      calculated for each cluster, and compared within and between the groups. RESULTS:
      We selected 56,760 workers in the study period, who were classified in 6 main
      career profiles. About 1/3 of the subjects presented an employment-secure career
      profile, while about 45 % of them were classified into 3 clusters showing
      precarious career profiles with different work intensities. Precarious workers
      present significantly higher injury rates than those with secure careers, with an
      increase in risk between 24 and 57 % (p < 0.05). The comparison of injury rates
      at the beginning and at the end of the study period revealed a significant
      decrease in all clusters, but the gap between secure and precarious workers
      remained wide. CONCLUSIONS: Cluster analysis allowed to identify career patterns
      with clearly different characteristics. A positive association between injury
      risk and the level of career fragmentation was found. The association cannot be
      fully interpreted in a causal way, since reversed causality and selection
      processes may be in action. However the study indicates a disadvantage for
      precarious workers, who face significantly higher risks of both minor and severe
      injuries.

PMID- 26874684
TI  - Function and regulation of TRPM7, as well as intracellular magnesium content, are
      altered in cells expressing DeltaF508-CFTR and G551D-CFTR.
AB  - Cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the most common fatal hereditary disorders, is
      caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
      (CFTR) gene. The CFTR gene product is a multidomain adenosine triphosphate
      binding cassette (ABC) protein that functions as a chloride (Cl(-)) channel that
      is regulated by intracellular magnesium [Mg(2+)]i. The most common mutations in
      CFTR are a deletion of a phenylalanine residue at position 508 (DeltaF508-CFTR,
      70-80 % of CF phenotypes) and a Gly551Asp substitution (G551D-CFTR, 4-5 % of
      alleles), which lead to decreased or almost abolished Cl(-) channel function,
      respectively. Magnesium ions have to be finely regulated within cells for optimal
      expression and function of CFTR. Therefore, the melastatin-like transient
      receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 7 (TRPM7), which is
      responsible for Mg(2+) entry, was studies and [Mg(2+)]i measured in cells stably
      expressing wildtype CFTR, and two mutant proteins (DeltaF508-CFTR and G551D
      CFTR). This study shows for the first time that [Mg(2+)]i is decreased in cells
      expressing DeltaF508-CFTR and G551D-CFTR mutated proteins. It was also observed
      that the expression of the TRPM7 protein is increased; however, membrane
      localization was altered for both DeltaF508del-CFTR and G551D-CFTR. Furthermore,
      both the function and regulation of the TRPM7 channel regarding Mg(2+) is
      decreased in the cells expressing the mutated CFTR. Ca(2+) influx via TRPM7 were
      also modified in cells expressing a mutated CFTR. Therefore, there appears to be
      a direct involvement of TRPM7 in CF physiopathology. Finally, we propose that the
      TRPM7 activator Naltriben is a new potentiator for G551D-CFTR as the function of
      this mutant increases upon activation of TRPM7 by Naltriben.

PMID- 26874688
TI  - GRG Profiles: George Triadafilopoulos.

PMID- 26874685
TI  - Hydroxylation and translational adaptation to stress: some answers lie beyond the
      STOP codon.
AB  - Regulation of protein synthesis contributes to maintenance of homeostasis and
      adaptation to environmental changes. mRNA translation is controlled at various
      levels including initiation, elongation and termination, through post
      transcriptional/translational modifications of components of the protein
      synthesis machinery. Recently, protein and RNA hydroxylation have emerged as
      important enzymatic modifications of tRNAs, elongation and termination factors,
      as well as ribosomal proteins. These modifications enable a correct STOP codon
      recognition, ensuring translational fidelity. Recent studies are starting to show
      that STOP codon read-through is related to the ability of the cell to cope with
      different types of stress, such as oxidative and chemical insults, while
      correlations between defects in hydroxylation of protein synthesis components and
      STOP codon read-through are beginning to emerge. In this review we will discuss
      our current knowledge of protein synthesis regulation through hydroxylation of
      components of the translation machinery, with special focus on STOP codon
      recognition. We speculate on the possibility that programmed STOP codon read
      through, modulated by hydroxylation of components of the protein synthesis
      machinery, is part of a concerted cellular response to stress. 

PMID- 26874686
TI  - Deep characterization of blood cell miRNomes by NGS.
AB  - A systematic understanding of different factors influencing cell type specific
      microRNA profiles is essential for state-of-the art biomarker research. We
      carried out a comprehensive analysis of the biological variability and changes in
      cell type pattern over time for different cell types and different isolation
      approaches in technical replicates. All combinations of the parameters mentioned
      above have been measured, resulting in 108 miRNA profiles that were evaluated by
      next-generation-sequencing. The largest miRNA variability was due to inter
      individual differences (34 %), followed by the cell types (23.4 %) and the
      isolation technique (17.2 %). The change over time in cell miRNA composition was
      moderate (<3 %) being close to the technical variations (<1 %). Largest
      variability (including technical and biological variance) was observed for CD8
      cells while CD3 and CD4 cells showed significantly lower variations. ANOVA
      highlighted that 51.5 % of all miRNAs were significantly influenced by the
      purification technique. While CD4 cells were least affected, especially miRNA
      profiles of CD8 cells were fluctuating depending on the cell purification
      approach. To provide researchers access to the profiles and to allow further
      analyses of the tested conditions we implemented a dynamic web resource.

PMID- 26874689
TI  - Histological Assessment of NAFLD.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a spectrum of histological
      lesions ranging from steatosis to a complex pattern with hepatocyte injury and
      inflammation in an appropriate clinical context. The disease has been
      artificially dichotomized into NAFL (steatosis) and NASH (steatosis with
      hepatocellular injury and inflammation), but it is increasingly clear that
      intermediate patterns may exist. More than NASH, the stage of fibrosis was shown
      to govern prognosis, and for such evaluation, a liver biopsy of adequate size and
      width is needed. Like for any other chronic liver diseases, semi-quantitative
      histologic scores have been proposed. They are not useful in clinical practice
      but concur to categorize homogeneous group of patients according to their
      histology. Pediatric NAFLD is a growing concern. While a subgroup of children may
      harbor different but characteristic histological patterns, most of them display a
      mixed pattern or features similar to the adults. Today, liver histology is the
      mainstay for clinical trials. Biopsy is used both for enrollment and for
      assessing benefit of clinical trials. End points such as reversion of NASH or
      regression of fibrosis are acceptable but require a clear histological
      definition.

PMID- 26874690
TI  - Dysphagia Lusoria: An Unexpected Sequelum of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

PMID- 26874692
TI  - Tired of Hepatitis B?

PMID- 26874694
TI  - Fractionating power and outlet stream polydispersity in asymmetrical flow field
      flow fractionation. Part I: isocratic operation.
AB  - Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (As-FlFFF) has become the most
      commonly used of the field-flow fractionation techniques. However, because of the
      interdependence of the channel flow and the cross flow through the accumulation
      wall, it is the most difficult of the techniques to optimize, particularly for
      programmed cross flow operation. For the analysis of polydisperse samples, the
      optimization should ideally be guided by the predicted fractionating power. Many
      experimentalists, however, neglect fractionating power and rely on light
      scattering detection simply to confirm apparent selectivity across the breadth of
      the eluted peak. The size information returned by the light scattering software
      is assumed to dispense with any reliance on theory to predict retention, and any
      departure of theoretical predictions from experimental observations is therefore
      considered of no importance. Separation depends on efficiency as well as
      selectivity, however, and efficiency can be a strong function of retention. The
      fractionation of a polydisperse sample by field-flow fractionation never provides
      a perfectly separated series of monodisperse fractions at the channel outlet. The
      outlet stream has some residual polydispersity, and it will be shown in this
      manuscript that the residual polydispersity is inversely related to the
      fractionating power. Due to the strong dependence of light scattering intensity
      and its angular distribution on the size of the scattering species, the outlet
      polydispersity must be minimized if reliable size data are to be obtained from
      the light scattering detector signal. It is shown that light scattering detection
      should be used with careful control of fractionating power to obtain optimized
      analysis of polydisperse samples. Part I is concerned with isocratic operation of
      As-FlFFF, and part II with programmed operation.

PMID- 26874693
TI  - Inhibition-based first-generation electrochemical biosensors: theoretical aspects
      and application to 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid detection.
AB  - In this work, several theoretical aspects involved in the first-generation
      inhibition-based electrochemical biosensor measurements have been discussed. In
      particular, we have developed a theoretical-methodological approach for the
      characterization of the kinetic interaction between alkaline phosphatase (AlP)
      and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) as representative inhibitor studied
      by means of cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Based on these findings, a
      biosensor for the fast, simple, and inexpensive determination of 2,4-D has been
      developed. The enzyme has been immobilized on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs).
      To optimize the biosensor performances, several carbon-based SPEs, namely
      graphite (G), graphene (GP), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been
      evaluated. AlP was immobilized on the electrode surface by means of polyvinyl
      alcohol with styryl-pyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ) as cross-linking agent. In the
      presence of ascorbate 2-phosphate (A2P) as substrate, the herbicide has been
      determined, thanks to its inhibition activity towards the enzyme catalyzing the
      oxidation of A2P to ascorbic acid (AA). Under optimum experimental conditions,
      the best performance in terms of catalytic efficiency has been demonstrated by
      MWCNTs SPE-based biosensor. The inhibition biosensor shows a linearity range
      towards 2,4-D within 2.1-110 ppb, a LOD of 1 ppb, and acceptable repeatability
      and stability. This analysis method was applied to fortified lake water samples
      with recoveries above 90%. The low cost of this device and its good analytical
      performances suggest its application for the screening and monitoring of 2,4-D in
      real matrices.

PMID- 26874691
TI  - The Importance of Intestinal Eotaxin-1 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New
      Insights and Possible Therapeutic Implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Involvement of eotaxin-1 in inflammatory bowel disease has been
      previously suggested and increased levels of eotaxin-1 have been described in
      both ulcerative colitis and in Crohn's disease. The association between serum
      levels of eotaxin-1 and that within the colonic mucosa has not been well defined,
      as is the potential therapeutic value of targeting eotaxin-1. AIMS: To
      characterize serum and intestinal wall eotaxin-1 levels in various inflammatory
      bowel disease patients and to explore the effect of targeting eotaxin-1 by
      specific antibodies in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model. METHODS:
      Eotaxin-1 levels were measured in colonic biopsies and in the sera of 60
      ulcerative colitis patients, Crohn's disease patients and healthy controls. We
      also followed in experimental colitis the effect of targeting eotaxin-1 by a
      monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Colon eotaxin-1 levels were significantly increased
      in active but not in quiescent ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients
      compared to healthy controls. Levels of eotaxin-1 in the colon were correlated
      with eosinophilia only in tissues from active Crohn's disease patients. Our
      results did not show any statistically significant change in serum eotaxin-1
      levels among ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and healthy controls. Moreover,
      we demonstrate that in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis, targeting of
      eotaxin-1 with 2 injections of anti eotaxin-1 monoclonal antibody ameliorates
      disease activity along with decreasing colon weight and improving histologic
      inflammation. CONCLUSION: Eotaxin-1 is increasingly recognized as a major
      mediator of intestinal inflammation. Our preliminary human and animal results
      further emphasize the value of targeting eotaxin-1 in inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 26874695
TI  - Prevalence of presbyopia in a semi-urban population of southwest, Nigeria: a
      community-based survey.
AB  - Uncorrected presbyopia is a major cause of poor near vision in the developing
      countries. To determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of
      presbyopia among adult populations (40 years and above) in a sub-urban
      population, southwest Nigeria, a population-based cross-sectional study was
      carried out from April to May 2014. A multi-stage sampling method was used to
      select eligible respondents. All participants had distance visual acuity
      assessment done and participants with visual acuity of less than 6/6 were
      refracted. Near vision was then assessed at 40 cm with distance correction in
      place if required. Information on near vision was obtained from the participants
      using interviewer administered questionnaires. Data collected were analysed using
      SPSS version 22. A total of 440 subjects aged 40 years and above were studied.
      Prevalence of presbyopia was 75 % and was significantly associated with
      increasing age. There was higher prevalence of presbyopia among females than
      males (76.3 % vs. 73.5 %), though not statistically significant. Also prevalence
      of presbyopia was not significantly associated with educational and occupational
      status in the study. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of presbyopia.
      There is need for improved awareness on presbyopia screening and available
      correction in the local government.

PMID- 26874698
TI  - SIU Newsletter - March 2016.

PMID- 26874696
TI  - Emerging Histopathological and Genetic Parameters of Pituitary Adenomas: Clinical
      Impact and Recommendation for Future WHO Classification.
AB  - The review assesses immunohistochemical findings of somatostatin receptors and of
      metalloproteinases in different pituitary adenoma types and the significance of
      molecular genetic data. Current evidence does not support routine
      immunohistochemical assessment of somatostatin or dopamine receptor subtype
      expression on hormone-secreting or nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. Further
      prospective studies are needed to define its role for clinical decision making.
      Until then we suggest to restrict membrane receptor profiling to individual cases
      or for study purposes. The problems of adenoma expansion and invasion are
      discussed. Despite partially contradictory publications, proteases clearly play a
      major role in permission of infiltrative growth of pituitary adenomas. Therefore,
      detection of at least MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2, and uPA seems to be justified.
      Molecular characterization is important for familial adenomas, adenomas in MEN,
      Carney complex, and McCune-Albright syndrome and can gain insight into
      pathogenesis of sporadic adenomas. 

PMID- 26874699
TI  - Erratum to: Co-regulation of mitochondrial respiration by proline
      dehydrogenase/oxidase and succinate.

PMID- 26874697
TI  - Skp2 Regulates the Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and Enhances the Invasion
      Potential of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the
      head and neck regions and accounts for more than 90 % of cancers in the oral
      cavity. S-phase kinase-associated protein-2 (Skp2) is a member of the F-box
      protein family and the substrate recognition subunit of the Skp1-Cullin-F box
      protein E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Skp2 is oncogenic and overexpressed in human
      cancers. The aims of the present study were to determine the clinicopathological
      significance of Skp2 in OSCC and clarify its function in OSCC cell lines in
      vitro. Multiple methods including immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR, western
      blotting, migration and invasion assays, and siRNA transfection were employed in
      order to investigate the clinicopathological significance and molecular function
      of Skp2 in OSCC. The overexpression of Skp2 was more frequent in OSCC than in the
      normal oral epithelium. It was also more frequently detected in cancers with
      higher grades according to the T classification, N classification, and pattern of
      invasion. The high-Skp2 expression group had a significantly poorer prognosis, at
      30.1 %, than that of the low-expression group, at 63.0 %. The downregulation of
      Skp2 decreased migration and invasion potentials in HSC3 cells. Moreover, the
      suppression of Skp2 reduced the enzyme activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via Sp1.
      Skp2 may be a prognostic factor in OSCC patients, and may also play crucial roles
      in the migration and invasion potentials of OSCC cells. 

PMID- 26874700
TI  - The role of dietary creatine.
AB  - The daily requirement of a 70-kg male for creatine is about 2 g; up to half of
      this may be obtained from a typical omnivorous diet, with the remainder being
      synthesized in the body Creatine is a carninutrient, which means that it is only
      available to adults via animal foodstuffs, principally skeletal muscle, or via
      supplements. Infants receive creatine in mother's milk or in milk-based formulas.
      Vegans and infants fed on soy-based formulas receive no dietary creatine. Plasma
      and muscle creatine levels are usually somewhat lower in vegetarians than in
      omnivores. Human intake of creatine was probably much higher in Paleolithic times
      than today; some groups with extreme diets, such as Greenland and Alaskan Inuit,
      ingest much more than is currently typical. Creatine is synthesized from three
      amino acids: arginine, glycine and methionine (as S-adenosylmethionine). Humans
      can synthesize sufficient creatine for normal function unless they have an inborn
      error in a creatine-synthetic enzyme or a problem with the supply of substrate
      amino acids. Carnivorous animals, such as lions and wolves, ingest much larger
      amounts of creatine than humans would. The gastrointestinal tract and the liver
      are exposed to dietary creatine in higher concentrations before it is assimilated
      by other tissues. In this regard, our observations that creatine supplementation
      can prevent hepatic steatosis (Deminice et al. J Nutr 141:1799-1804, 2011) in a
      rodent model may be a function of the route of dietary assimilation. Creatine
      supplementation has also been reported to improve the intestinal barrier function
      of the rodent suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 26874701
TI  - 6-(4-Amino-2-butyl-imidazoquinolyl)-norleucine: Toll-like receptor 7 and 8
      agonist amino acid for self-adjuvanting peptide vaccine.
AB  - Generally, small peptides by themselves are weak to induce antibody responses.
      Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are attractive candidates of vaccine adjuvants
      to improve their antigenicity. The covalent conjugation of TLR ligands with
      antigens to produce self-adjuvanting peptide vaccine is a promising approach.
      Based on the structure of TLR7/8 ligands, a series of synthetic amino acids 6
      imidazoquinolyl-norleucines were synthesized, wherein an imidazoquinoline
      structure as the TLR7/8 agonistic pharmacophores was constructed on the epsilon
      NH2 group of Lys. Of them, 6-(4-amino-2-butyl-imidazoquinolyl)-norleucine showed
      the most potent TLR7 and TLR8 agonistic activities with EC50 values of 8.55 and
      106 MUM, respectively. Subsequently, mice were immunized with the influenza A
      virus M2e antigen mixed with or covalently conjugated to the TLR7/8 agonist amino
      acid, which led to induction of M2e specific antibody productions in the absence
      of other adjuvant. We successfully developed a novel efficient tool for self
      adjuvanting peptide vaccines targeting TLR7/8.

PMID- 26874702
TI  - Comparative study of the P2X gene family in animals and plants.
AB  - P2X receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that can bind with the adenosine
      triphosphate (ATP) and have diverse functional roles in neuropathic pain,
      inflammation, special sense, and so on. In this study, 180 putative P2X genes,
      including 176 members in 32 animal species and 4 members in 3 species of lower
      plants, were identified. These genes were divided into 13 groups, including 7
      groups in vertebrates and 6 groups in invertebrates and lower plants, through
      phylogenetic analysis. Their gene organization and motif composition are
      conserved in most predicted P2X members, while group-specific features were also
      found. Moreover, synteny relationships of the putative P2X genes in vertebrates
      are conserved while simultaneously experiencing a series of gene insertion,
      inversion, and transposition. Recombination signals were detected in almost all
      of the vertebrates and invertebrates, suggesting that intragenic recombination
      may play a significant role in the evolution of P2X genes. Selection analysis
      also identified some positively selected sites that acted on the evolution of
      most of the predicted P2X proteins. The phenomenon of alternative splicing
      occurred commonly in the putative P2X genes of vertebrates. This article explored
      in depth the evolutional relationship among different subtypes of P2X genes in
      animal and plants and might serve as a solid foundation for deciphering their
      functions in further studies.

PMID- 26874703
TI  - Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation-Is There a Role for More Than PVI?
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent condition
      that can be difficult to treat medically, and an ablation strategy is often
      sought. Currently, the cornerstone of AF ablation strategies is pulmonary vein
      isolation (PVI). Unfortunately, the single procedure success rates are limited,
      particularly when long-term outcomes (>1 year) are considered. As a result, the
      most recent consensus statement recommends that in patients with persistent AF a
      more extensive ablation be considered. Many additive procedural approaches to PVI
      have been investigated. These include electrical compartmentalization of the
      atria with linear lesions (LLs), ablation of complex fractionated atrial
      electrograms (CFAEs), ablation of the dominant frequency (DF) signals, and focal
      impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) ablation. Each of these approaches has
      demonstrated degrees of additive success when performed with a PVI in patients
      with persistent AF. This review provides an in-depth discussion of these
      techniques, their successes in treating persistent AF, and their shortcomings.

PMID- 26874704
TI  - A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Arrhythmias in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Cardiac sarcoidosis is a protean disease, capable of causing
      nearly any cardiac abnormality. Electrical abnormalities including heart block
      and ventricular tachyarrhythmias are some of the most feared manifestations of
      cardiac sarcoidosis. Despite increasing awareness, cardiac sarcoidosis remains
      underdiagnosed in clinical practice, and as a result, many patients do not
      receive potentially disease-altering immunosuppressant therapy. In this review,
      we discuss cardiac sarcoidosis and its management, focusing diagnostic and
      therapeutic approaches to arrhythmias in cardiac sarcoidosis.

PMID- 26874705
TI  - Evaluation and Management of Concomitant Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
      and Valvular Aortic Stenosis.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: The dilemma of the patient with both AS and LVOTO is now
      commonly encountered in clinical practice; indeed, physicians must be aware of
      the complex interaction and coexistent nature of both diseases, especially as
      both HOCM and TAVR have increased in awareness and prevalence. Importantly, the
      clinician must be aware of the complex interplay hemodynamically, with the two
      diseases confusing the TTE imaging and potentially affecting each other
      anatomically and clinically. There is no set guideline on how to approach this
      from a surgical or percutaneous approach, but we have outlined a set of
      recommendations which should serve the clinician and patient well. The three
      cases that are presented illustrate that methodical diagnosis in addition to the
      order of treatment do indeed matter. In the first case, there was AS and an
      underestimated LVOT gradient that was also present. Once the AS was corrected,
      the true LVOT gradient potential was evidenced and she decompensated, likely
      because there was a rapid decrease in afterload. Patients with concomitant LVOTO
      are not able to adjust quickly to the hemodynamic changes created by the rapid
      decline in afterload, as, for example, in HOCM patients who receive
      nitroglycerin. The second case demonstrated that when the LVOTO was severe and
      the AS nonsignificant (mild or moderate), the patient was able to live without
      symptoms for several years after successful alcohol septal ablation (ASA). She
      eventually needed an aortic valve and mitral valve replacement but that was
      postponed for several years until the AS became more significant, and the
      surgical risk was lowered by the elimination of the need for concomitant
      myectomy. In the last case, the patient was able to have both an ASA and TAVR
      within 3 months of each other without hemodynamic compromise. Indeed, this latter
      therapy sequence may be the best way to treat patients with both diseases in the
      future, as both ASA and TAVR continue to evolve into intermediate and lower-risk
      patient populations and the safety of ASA continues to be evident.

PMID- 26874706
TI  - New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Pulmonary Hypertension Associated
      with Left Heart Disease.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease (PH
      LHD) is a challenging entity to both diagnose and treat. A lack of consensus
      definitions, poorly understood pathophysiology, and the dynamic nature of
      hemodynamic assessments make this disease entity both underrecognized and
      misdiagnosed frequently. Diagnosing PH-LHD is crucial, because it not only alters
      management, but also has a direct effect on morbidity and mortality and
      ultimately leads to worse outcomes in this patient population. Though medical
      management remains challenging in these patients, an appropriate diagnosis, with
      careful assessment of hemodynamic parameters, can allow for appropriate advanced
      medical therapies and for improved quality of life.

PMID- 26874708
TI  - Regenerative Medicine: Potential Mechanisms of Cardiac Recovery in Takotsubo
      Cardiomyopathy.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an increasingly reported cause of
      acute chest pain and acute heart failure and is often associated with significant
      hemodynamic compromise. The illness is remarkable for the reversibility in
      systolic dysfunction seen in the disease course. While the pathophysiology of
      takotsubo syndrome is not completely elucidated, research suggests the presence
      of a cytoprotective process that allows the myocardium to recover following the
      inciting insult. Here, we summarize molecular and histologic studies exploring
      the response to injury in takotsubo disease and provide some discussion on how
      they may contribute to further investigations in cardiac recovery and
      regeneration.

PMID- 26874707
TI  - Unprotected Left Main Disease: Indications and Optimal Strategies for
      Percutaneous Intervention.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Although the incidence of left main (LM) coronary artery
      disease is relatively low in patients undergoing routine angiography, it is a
      common presentation in patients with acute coronary syndromes. With the current
      interventional tools and techniques, percutaneous intervention for LM disease has
      become a viable alternative to the traditional coronary artery bypass grafting.
      Factors that contribute to the success and appropriateness of percutaneous
      intervention for LM disease include coronary anatomy and patient-specific factors
      such as left ventricular function. Multiple considerations should be taken into
      account prior to intervention, including hemodynamic support if necessary,
      intravascular imaging to guide therapy, and stent technique. This review provides
      an overview of the current body of literature to support the use of percutaneous
      intervention in LM disease and serves as guideline for the interventionalist
      approaching LM revascularization.

PMID- 26874709
TI  - Importance of organellar proteins, protein translocation and vesicle transport
      routes for pollen development and function.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Protein translocation. Cellular homeostasis strongly depends on
      proper distribution of proteins within cells and insertion of membrane proteins
      into the destined membranes. The latter is mediated by organellar protein
      translocation and the complex vesicle transport system. Considering the
      importance of protein transport machineries in general it is foreseen that these
      processes are essential for pollen function and development. However, the
      information available in this context is very scarce because of the current focus
      on deciphering the fundamental principles of protein transport at the molecular
      level. Here we review the significance of protein transport machineries for
      pollen development on the basis of pollen-specific organellar proteins as well as
      of genetic studies utilizing mutants of known organellar proteins. In many cases
      these mutants exhibit morphological alterations highlighting the requirement of
      efficient protein transport and translocation in pollen. Furthermore, expression
      patterns of genes coding for translocon subunits and vesicle transport factors in
      Arabidopsis thaliana are summarized. We conclude that with the exception of the
      translocation systems in plastids-the composition and significance of the
      individual transport systems are equally important in pollen as in other cell
      types. Apparently for plastids only a minimal translocon, composed of only few
      subunits, exists in the envelope membranes during maturation of pollen. However,
      only one of the various transport systems known from thylakoids seems to be
      required for the function of the "simple thylakoid system" existing in pollen
      plastids. In turn, the vesicle transport system is as complex as seen for other
      cell types as it is essential, e.g., for pollen tube formation.

PMID- 26874710
TI  - Breeding for plant heat tolerance at vegetative and reproductive stages.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Thermotolerant crop research. Global warming has become a serious
      worldwide threat. High temperature is a major environmental factor limiting crop
      productivity. Current adaptations to high temperature via alterations to
      technical and management systems are insufficient to sustain yield. For this
      reason, breeding for heat-tolerant crops is in high demand. This review provides
      an overview of the effects of high temperature on plant physiology, fertility and
      crop yield and discusses the strategies for breeding heat-tolerant cultivars.
      Generating thermotolerant crops seems to be a challenging task as heat
      sensitivity is highly variable across developmental stages and processes. In
      response to heat, plants trigger a cascade of events, switching on numerous
      genes. Although breeding has made substantial advances in developing heat
      tolerant lines, the genetic basis and diversity of heat tolerance in plants
      remain largely unknown. The development of new varieties is expensive and time
      consuming, and knowledge of heat tolerance mechanisms would aid the design of
      strategies to screen germplasm for heat tolerance traits. However, gains in heat
      tolerance are limited by the often narrow genetic diversity. Exploration and use
      of wild relatives and landraces in breeding can increase useful genetic diversity
      in current crops. Due to the complex nature of plant heat tolerance and its
      immediate global concern, it is essential to face this breeding challenge in a
      multidisciplinary holistic approach involving governmental agencies, private
      companies and academic institutions.

PMID- 26874726
TI  - Piperlongumine induces gastric cancer cell apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest
      both in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Recently, several studies have shown that piperlongumine (PL) can selectively
      kill cancer cells by targeting reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the
      potential therapeutic effects and detailed mechanism of PL in gastric cancer are
      still not clear. In the current report, we found that PL significantly suppressed
      gastric cancer both in vitro and in vivo. PL obviously increased ROS generation
      in gastric cancer cells. Anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine
      (NAC) can abrogate PL-induced gastric cancer cell death and proliferation
      inhibition. GADD45alpha was induced in PL-treated cancer cells and led to G2/M
      phase arrest, whereas genetic depletion of GADD45alpha by small interfering RNAs
      (siRNAs) could partly reverse PL-induced cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer
      cells. Interestingly, we also found that PL treatment decreased the expression of
      telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, which plays an essential role in
      cancer initiation and progression. Our findings thus revealed a potential anti
      tumor effect of PL on gastric cancer cells and may have therapeutic implications.

PMID- 26874727
TI  - Computational prediction of Mycoplasma hominis proteins targeting in nucleus of
      host cell and their implication in prostate cancer etiology.
AB  - Cancer has long been assumed to be a genetic disease. However, recent evidence
      supports the enigmatic connection of bacterial infection with the growth and
      development of various types of cancers. The cause and mechanism of the growth
      and development of prostate cancer due to Mycoplasma hominis remain unclear.
      Prostate cancer cells are infected and colonized by enteroinvasive M. hominis,
      which controls several factors that can affect prostate cancer growth in
      susceptible persons. We investigated M. hominis proteins targeting the nucleus of
      host cells and their implications in prostate cancer etiology. Many vital
      processes are controlled in the nucleus, where the proteins targeting M. hominis
      may have various potential implications. A total of 29/563 M. hominis proteins
      were predicted to target the nucleus of host cells. These include numerous
      proteins with the capability to alter normal growth activities. In conclusion,
      our results emphasize that various proteins of M. hominis targeted the nucleus of
      host cells and were involved in prostate cancer etiology through different
      mechanisms and strategies. 

PMID- 26874728
TI  - HSPB1 polymorphisms might be associated with radiation-induced damage risk in
      lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.
AB  - Several studies investigating the association between heat shock protein beta-1
      (HSPB1) polymorphisms and radiation-induced damage in lung cancer patients
      administrated with radiotherapy have derived conflicting results. This meta
      analysis aimed to assess the association between the HSPB1 genes' (rs2868370 and
      rs2868371) polymorphisms and the risk of radiation-induced damage in lung cancer
      patients. After an electronic literature search, four articles including six
      studies were found to be eligible for this meta-analysis. No association was
      observed between rs2868370 genotypes and radiation-induced damage risk. However,
      rs2868371 showed a statistically increased risk of radiation-induced damage under
      CC vs. CG/GG model (OR = 1.59, 95 % CI = 1.10-2.29). Subgroup analysis by
      ethnicity showed that the genotypes of rs2868371 were also associated with a
      significantly increased risk of radiation-induced damage in CC vs. CG/GG model
      (OR = 1.86, 95 % CI = 1.21-2.83) among mixed ethnicities which are mainly
      comprised of white people. When the data was stratified by organ-damaged, a
      significant association was only observed in the esophagus group (OR = 2.94, 95 %
      CI = 1.35-6.37, for CC vs. CG/GG model). In conclusion, the present study
      demonstrated that the rs2868371 genotypes of HSPB1 might be associated with
      radiation-induced esophagus damage risk, especially in Caucasians but not in the
      Asian population. 

PMID- 26874729
TI  - The contribution of flowering time and seed content to uneven ripening initiation
      among fruits within Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir clusters.
AB  - MAIN CONCLUSION: Ripening initiation-associated hormonal changes and sugar
      accumulation for individual fruits differed by seed content and did not depend
      heavily on flowering time or duration from anthesis to clusters' onset of
      ripening. For Vitis vinifera, the ripening initiation of individual fruits in a
      cluster occurs unevenly. This developmental period is called veraison. Why
      individual fruits initiate ripening at different times is not well studied,
      though differences in seed content and unequal developmental durations that arise
      from asynchronous flowering within a cluster have been proposed. This study
      examined how much both variables contribute to individual fruits' ripening
      progress by mid-veraison, when half of berries in a cluster have initiated
      ripening, and whether either or both factors affect the timing of characteristic,
      ripening-initiation associated changes in abscisic acid and auxin before, at, and
      after veraison. Overall, developmental duration and flowering time did not
      sufficiently explain how far berries had progressed into the ripening stage
      because fruits did not require a fixed amount of time to initiate ripening.
      Fruits from early and late flowers but of similar seed content were able to
      initiate ripening at the same time despite differences in chronological age. This
      suggests either an early developmental enhancement occurred for late-initiated
      fruits or that flowering time is an inappropriate "day zero". Ultimately, only
      seed content was linked to the timing and magnitude of ripening-related hormone
      changes, supporting that seeds have a comparatively larger influence than
      flowering time on the ripening initiation of individual berries. More
      specifically, if the fraction of berry weight occupied by seed was high, then the
      initiation of ripening for that berry and its associated hormone changes were
      delayed relative to berries with less seed weight versus total berry weight.

PMID- 26874730
TI  - Necrotizing arteritis occurring in an intralobar pulmonary sequestration of a
      patient without systemic vasculitis syndrome.
AB  - Necrotizing arteritis is a complex lesion of pulmonary hypertension, as are
      plexiform lesions, and is classically recognized as grade 6 in the Heath and
      Edwards grading scheme for hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease. The vascular
      changes observed in intralobar pulmonary sequestration have been reported to be
      similar to those observed in pulmonary hypertension, such as plexiform lesions.
      However, necrotizing arteritis occurring in an intralobar sequestration of a
      patient without systemic vasculitis syndrome has never been reported to our
      knowledge. Here, we report a case of a 38-year-old woman with pulmonary
      sequestration detected on a medical checkup. She was treated with surgery, and
      subsequent pathological analyses revealed necrotizing vasculitis in her
      sequestrated lung. We suspected systemic vasculitis syndromes, such as Takayasu
      arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
      associated vasculitis. However, physical and blood examination did not show any
      other abnormalities, and hence, she did not have systemic vasculitis syndrome.
      Immunohistochemical analyses of the resected specimen showed that inflammatory
      cells of the arteries were mainly composed of T lymphocytes. T-lymphocytic
      inflammation with little neutrophil and histiocyte infiltration may be a
      pathological feature of necrotizing arteritis observed in pulmonary
      sequestration. This is the first case to our knowledge of necrotizing arteritis
      in an intralobar pulmonary sequestration of a patient without systemic vasculitis
      syndrome. 

PMID- 26874731
TI  - Nodal yield of neck dissections and influence on outcome in laryngectomized
      patients.
AB  - The appropriate extent of neck dissection (ND) in head and neck squamous cell
      carcinoma (SCC) continues to be investigated. This study aimed to determine
      whether the extent of ND as measured by nodal yield (NY) is a prognostic factor
      in patients undergoing primary total laryngectomy (TL) for advanced laryngeal
      SCC. A retrospective review at a tertiary referral centre identified 54 patients
      who underwent TL with elective (n = 39, cN0) or therapeutic (n = 15, cN+) ND with
      curative intent between 2002 and 2014. Survival analysis was obtained via
      regression analysis, calculated for overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
      Stage-independent 5-year OS was 32.1 %. Mean NY was 18.67 (standard deviation
      9.898; range 0-45). The rate of cervical lymph node metastasis on pathology (pN+)
      was 27.8 %. Uni- and multivariate regression analysis detected no association
      between NY and OS or DFS (P >= 0.05). Advantages in OS and DFS were seen among
      patients without cervical lymph node metastasis (pN0) in comparison to those with
      pN+ necks (OS: hazard ratio [HR] 0.179; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.046
      0.693; P = 0.013, and DFS: HR 0.190; 95 % CI 0.061-0.590; P = 0.004). ND resulted
      in pathologic upstaging of the neck in seven patients and downgrading in eight;
      increasing NY was not associated with an increased probability of a change in
      nodal stage. No significant association was found between NY and OS or DFS in
      patients undergoing TL with ND as primary therapy for advanced laryngeal SCC. 

PMID- 26874732
TI  - Effectiveness of superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy targeting
      retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis.
AB  - We sought to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of superselective intra
      arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin with concomitant radiotherapy (hereafter
      RADPLAT) for head and neck squamous cell cancer (hereafter HNSCC) patients with
      retropharyngeal lymph node (hereafter RPLN) metastasis. A retrospective case
      series review was conducted at University medical center in Japan. Ten HNSCC
      patients with RPLN metastasis treated by RADPLAT were analyzed. The ascending
      pharyngeal artery was targeted for the treatment of RPLN metastasis in 9
      patients. The median total dose of cisplatin was 26.6 mg/m(2) (mean 31.5 mg/m(2),
      range 11.7-87.9 mg/m(2)). In the remaining patient, the RPLN was supplied by the
      ascending palatine artery. As grade 3 and 4 adverse effects, leukopenia was
      observed in three, mucositis in four and nausea in one patient. No neurological
      complications were observed in any patients. Metastatic RPLNs were evaluated as a
      complete response in all patients. There was no recurrence of RPLN metastasis in
      any patients. Four patients remain alive without any evidence of disease and six
      patients died of disease. The 5-year overall survival rate was 50 %. We have
      shown that superselective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion for RPLNs was a
      feasible and effective approach for HNSCC patients with RPLN metastasis. 

PMID- 26874733
TI  - Predictors of post-treatment smoking and drinking behavior of head and neck
      cancer survivors: results of a population-based survey.
AB  - Predictors for smoking and alcohol drinking behavior were investigated in head
      and neck cancer survivors (HNCS) with survivorship of >=6 months. 165 HNCS
      registered in a regional cancer registry and treated 2005-2014 were included.
      Patients completed a survey including the Fagerstrom Test for nicotine dependence
      and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Smoking and drinking cessation
      rates were 51 and 13 %, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analyses
      showed that male patients [odds ratio (OR) 35.4; confidence interval (CI) 7.5
      168.1; p < 0.0001], single persons (OR 9.9; CI 2.5-40.0; p = 0.001), and younger
      patients (OR 1.1; CI 1.0-1.1; p = 0.002) had significantly higher probability to
      be current smokers. Male gender (OR 48.7; CI 5.0-470.7; p < 0.0001) and younger
      age (OR 1.1; CI 1.0-1.3; p = 0.003) were predictors of risky alcohol consumption.
      Male, young, and single smoking and/or drinking HNCS should be stimulated to take
      part in smoking and/or alcohol drinking cessation programs. 

PMID- 26874734
TI  - Cholesteatoma growth patterns: are there audiometric differences between
      posterior epitympanic and posterior mesotympanic cholesteatoma?
AB  - The objective of this is to verify whether the hearing impairment caused by
      posterior epitympanic differed from that caused by posterior mesotympanic
      cholesteatomas by a cross-sectional study. We evaluated 264 ears of patients with
      cholesteatoma, who had not been subjected to ear surgery. Otoendoscopy and pure
      tone audiometry were performed. Analyzed route involved in cholesteatoma
      formation: posterior epitympanic or posterior mesotympanic, air-bone gaps at 512
      4000 Hz and pure-tone averages. The mean age of the patients enrolled in this
      study was 33.8 years, and 51.8 % of them was male. Posterior epitympanic
      cholesteatoma was found in 50.4 % of the study population. When the air-bone gaps
      were compared, the mesotympanic group had greater thresholds at 500, 2000 Hz, and
      a greater pure-tone average (P = 0.003, P = 0.03, and P = 0.02, respectively).
      Posterior mesotympanic cholesteatoma showed greater air-bone gaps thresholds at
      the speech frequencies than posterior epitympanic cholesteatoma did. Moreover,
      the two growth patterns were very similar with regard to all other audiometric
      parameters analyzed in this study. 

PMID- 26874735
TI  - Systematic analytical characterization of new psychoactive substances: A case
      study.
AB  - New psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthesized compounds that are not usually
      covered by European and/or international laws. With a slight alteration in the
      chemical structure of existing illegal substances registered in the European
      Union (EU), these NPS circumvent existing controls and are thus referred to as
      "legal highs". They are becoming increasingly available and can easily be
      purchased through both the internet and other means (smart shops). Thus, it is
      essential that the identification of NPS keeps up with this rapidly evolving
      market. In this case study, the Belgian Customs authorities apprehended a parcel,
      originating from China, containing two samples, declared as being "white
      pigments". For routine identification, the Belgian Customs Laboratory first
      analysed both samples by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry and Fourier
      Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The information obtained by these techniques is
      essential and can give an indication of the chemical structure of an unknown
      substance but not the complete identification of its structure. To bridge this
      gap, scientific and technical support is ensured by the Joint Research Centre
      (JRC) to the European Commission Directorate General for Taxation and Customs
      Unions (DG TAXUD) and the Customs Laboratory European Network (CLEN) through an
      Administrative Arrangement for fast recognition of NPS and identification of
      unknown chemicals. The samples were sent to the JRC for a complete
      characterization using advanced techniques and chemoinformatic tools. The aim of
      this study was also to encourage the development of a science-based policy driven
      approach on NPS. These samples were fully characterized and identified as 5F-AMB
      and PX-3 using (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution
      tandem mass-spectrometry (HR-MS/MS) and Raman spectroscopy. A chemoinformatic
      platform was used to manage, unify analytical data from multiple techniques and
      instruments, and combine it with chemical and structural information. 

PMID- 26874736
TI  - A snapshot on NPS in Italy: Distribution of drugs in seized materials analysed in
      an Italian forensic laboratory in the period 2013-2015.
AB  - The diffusion of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the illicit drug market is
      a worldwide problem. The aim of the study is to describe the qualitative
      distribution of drugs of abuse in seized materials confiscated in the Italian
      territory over the last two years. Between 2013 and 2015 162 seizures of
      substances purchased through the Internet and confiscated by police authorities
      were analyzed: 35 seizures (22%) were crystals of 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC).
      Although 3-MMC is subject to the relevant legislation in Italy, it is not
      controlled in other countries such as the Netherlands, from which the shipments
      originated. 33 seizures (20%) were crystals of 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC), 19
      seizures (12%) were powders containing methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). N,N
      diallyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DALT) was identified in 5 powders, whereas
      ethylphenidate in six and pyrrolidinophenones in fourteen seized powders: 6 alpha
      PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone), 6 alpha-PHP (alpha-pyrrolidinohexiophenone)
      and 1 alpha-PVT (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiothiophenone). Other substances identified
      were cathinones such as pentedrone, methylone, buthylone, ethylone, methedrone, 3
      CMC (3-chloromethcathinone), 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC), flephedrone (4
      fluoromethcathinone or 4-FMC), 2-FMC and 3-FMC (2- and 3-fluoromethcathinone),
      MPPP (4-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone), bk-2C-B (2-amino-1-(4-bromo-2,5
      dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one). Other compounds were NM2AI (N-methyl-2
      aminoindane), MPA (1-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-methylaminopropane), MTTA (mephtetramine),
      4-APB and 6-APB (4- and 6- (2-aminopropyl)benzofuran), 2-fluoromethamphetamine,
      1mCPP (1-meta-chlorophenylpiperazine) and diphenidine, detected for the first
      time in Europe. Only three seizures contained synthetic cannabinoids, consisting
      of herbal blends soaked in N-(1-adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide
      (AKB48), or a mixture of 5-F-AKB48 and BB-22 (1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-8-quinolinyl
      ester-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid). In some mixtures of drugs - such as granules 
      4-MEC and pentedrone were detected, also with traces of diphenidine on one
      occasion. In other cases 5-MeO-DALT, ethylphenidate and caffeine were mixed
      together. In one batch, the mixture was flephedrone and methoxethamine, whereas
      in another one the sample contained methylone, ethylone, methedrone, 4
      fluoroamphetamine, 5-MeO-DALT and 5MeO-MiPT (N-methyl-N-isopropyl-5
      methoxytryptamine). In 9 seizures, tablets shipped together with NPS were also
      found to contain sildenafil. The analyses performed on these seizures showed the
      presence of a wide number of NPS within the Italian boundaries coming from
      abroad, therefore this study confirms the threat for the public health,
      especially when the content of NPS being sold is not reported on the label or
      misleading. 

PMID- 26874737
TI  - Non-oncology physician visits after diagnosis of cancer in adolescents and young
      adults.
AB  - PURPOSE: Health care needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are
      probably different from other age groups. Studying their non-oncology physician
      visits in the first years after diagnosis may provide insight into the specific
      health problems AYA patients experience and thereby help to improve care for
      these patients. METHODS: Seven hundred seventy-four AYAs identified from a
      Canadian provincial registry diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 and 24 years
      in 1991/2001 were included, matched by birth year and sex to ten controls. Based
      on provincial health insurance plan records, we determined the number of family
      physician and non-cancer specialist visits in the 5 years after diagnosis (for
      patients) or inclusion (for controls). RESULTS: The percentage of patients
      visiting a non-cancer specialist decreased from 96 to 49 % over the 5-year
      period. The percentage visiting a family physician decreased from 96 to 84 %.
      Visits in all years were significantly higher than among controls. In the first
      year after diagnosis, many patients visited a non-cancer specialist or a family
      physician for neoplasm-related health problems (77 and 55 %, respectively). In
      addition, family physicians were also consulted for general age-specific
      problems, such as genitourinary symptoms CONCLUSIONS: In the first years after
      diagnosis of cancer in AYAs, both non-cancer specialist and family physician
      visits are common, although non-cancer specialist visits are less common and
      decline considerably faster than in younger children. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER
      SURVIVORS: The specific pattern of physician visits of this age group calls for
      care that is tailored to their specific needs.

PMID- 26874738
TI  - Virtual and simulated striated toolmarks for forensic applications.
AB  - Large numbers of experimental toolmarks of screwdrivers are often required in
      casework of toolmark examiners and in research environments alike, to be able to
      recover the angle of attack of a crime scene mark and to determine statistically
      meaningful properties of toolmarks respectively. However, in practice the number
      of marks is limited by the time needed to create them. In this article, we
      present an approach to predict how a striated mark of a particular tool would
      look like, using 3D surface datasets of screwdrivers. We compare these virtual
      toolmarks qualitatively and quantitatively with real experimental marks in wax
      and show that they are very similar. In addition we study toolmark similarity,
      dependent on the angle of attack, with a very high angular resolution of 1
      degrees . The results show that for the tested type of screwdriver, our toolmark
      comparison framework yields known match similarity scores that are above the mean
      known non-match similarity scores, even for known match differences in angle of
      attack of up to 40 degrees . In addition we demonstrate an approach to
      automatically recover the angle of attack of an experimental toolmark and
      experiments yield high accuracy and precision of 0.618 +/- 4.179 degrees .
      Furthermore, we present a strategy to study the structural elements of striated
      toolmarks using wavelet analysis, and show how to use the results to simulate
      realistic toolmarks.

PMID- 26874739
TI  - Development and validation of a GC-MS method for nicotine detection in Calliphora
      vomitoria (L.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
AB  - Entomotoxicology is the application of toxicological methods and analytical
      procedures on necrophagous insects feeding on decomposing tissues to detect drugs
      and other chemical components, and their mechanisms affecting insect development
      and morphology and modifying the methodology for estimation of minimum time since
      death. Nicotine is a readily available potent poison. Because of its criminal
      use, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the detection of
      nicotine in Calliphora vomitoria L. (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was developed and
      validated. Furthermore, the effect of nicotine on the development, growth rate,
      and survival of this blowfly was studied. Larvae were reared on liver substrates
      homogeneously spiked with measured amounts of nicotine (2, 4, and 6 ng/mg) based
      on concentrations that are lethal to humans. The results demonstrated that (a)
      the GC-MS method can detect both nicotine and its metabolite cotinine in immature
      C. vomitoria; (b) the presence of nicotine in the aforementioned three
      concentrations in food substrates did not modify the developmental time of C.
      vomitoria; (c) during the pupation period, larvae exposed to nicotine died
      depending on the concentration of nicotine in the substrate; and (d) the
      resultant lengths of larvae and pupae exposed to 4 and 6 ng/mg concentrations of
      nicotine were significantly shorter than those of the control.

PMID- 26874742
TI  - 5-Carba-pterocarpens: A new scaffold with anti-HCV activity.
AB  - The synthesis of a series of 5-carba-pterocarpens derivatives involving the
      cyclization of alpha-aryl-alpha-tetralones is described. Several compounds
      demonstrated potent activity and selectivity in vitro against HCV replicon
      reporter cells. The best profile in Huh7/Rep-Feo1b replicon reporter cells was
      observed with 2h (EC50 = 5.5 MUM/SI = 20), while 2e was the most active in Huh7.5
      FGR-JC1-Rluc2A replicon reporter cells (EC50 = 1.5 MUM/SI = 70). Hydroxy groups
      at A- and D-rings are essential for anti-HCV activity, and substitutions in the A
      ring at positions 3 and 4 resulted in enhanced activity of the compounds.

PMID- 26874740
TI  - Multimodality imaging demonstrates trafficking of liposomes preferentially to
      ischemic myocardium.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Nanoparticles may serve as a promising means to deliver novel
      therapeutics to the myocardium following myocardial infarction. We sought to
      determine whether lipid-based liposomal nanoparticles can be shown through
      different imaging modalities to specifically target injured myocardium following
      intravenous injection in an ischemia-reperfusion murine myocardial infarction
      model. METHODS: Mice underwent ischemia-reperfusion surgery and then either
      received tail-vein injection with gadolinium- and fluorescent-labeled liposomes
      or no injection (control). The hearts were harvested 24h later and underwent T1
      and T2-weighted ex vivo imaging using a 7 Tesla Bruker magnet. The hearts were
      then sectioned for immunohistochemistry and optical fluorescent imaging. RESULTS:
      The mean size of the liposomes was 100nm. T1-weighted signal intensity was
      significantly increased in the ischemic vs. the non-ischemic myocardium for mice
      that received liposomes compared with control. Optical imaging demonstrated
      significant fluorescence within the infarct area for the liposome group compared
      with control (163+/-31% vs. 13+/-14%, p=0.001) and fluorescent microscopy
      confirmed the presence of liposomes within the ischemic myocardium. CONCLUSIONS:
      Liposomes traffic to the heart and preferentially home to regions of myocardial
      injury, enabling improved diagnosis of myocardial injury and could serve as a
      vehicle for drug delivery.

PMID- 26874743
TI  - Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling of pseudo-peptides based
      statine as inhibitors for human tissue kallikrein 5.
AB  - Human kallikrein 5 (KLK5) is a potential target for the treatment of skin
      inflammation and cancer. A new series of statine based peptidomimetic compounds
      were designed and synthesized through simple and efficient reactions. Some KLK5
      inhibitors (2a-c compounds) were identified with nanomolar affinity showing Ki
      values of 0.12-0.13 MUM. Our molecular modeling studies suggest that the
      inhibitors binding at the KLK5 through H-bond interactions with key residues
      (mainly His108, Gln242, Gly243, Ser245, and Ser260), disrupting the correlated
      motions mainly among the Ile67-Tyr127, Glu128-Val187, and Gly237-Ser293
      subdomains, which seems to be crucial for KLK5 activity. Therefore, we believe
      that these findings will significantly facilitate our understanding of the
      conformational dynamics in the course of KLK5 inhibition and, consequently, the
      development of more potent molecules as alternative for cancer treatment. 

PMID- 26874744
TI  - Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of some pyrazoline derivatives bearing phenyl
      pyridazine core as new apoptosis inducers.
AB  - The cyclization of chalcones 3a-3u with 3-hydrazinyl-6-phenylpyridazine 7 under
      basic condition led to the formation of new pyrazoline derivatives 8a-8u. All
      final compounds were characterized by spectral and elemental analyses. They were
      screened for their antiproliferative activities against A549 (lung), HepG-2
      (liver), CaCo-2 (intestinal) and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cell lines. Some of the
      synthesized compounds exhibited promising antiproliferative activities especially
      compound 8k with IC50 values of 8.33, 1.67 and 10 MUM against HepG-2, MCF-7 and
      CaCo-2 cancer cell lines, respectively. Moreover, their antiproliferative
      activity was due to apoptosis rather than necrosis induction except compound 8h
      which exhibited equal apoptotic and necrotic properties. Compound 8k showed 5
      fold increase in caspase-3 activity indicating that the apoptosis proceeds via
      caspase-3 activation.

PMID- 26874741
TI  - The discovery of 2-substituted phenol quinazolines as potent RET kinase
      inhibitors with improved KDR selectivity.
AB  - Deregulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase RET has been implicated in medullary
      thyroid cancer, a small percentage of lung adenocarcinomas, endocrine-resistant
      breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. There are several clinically approved multi
      kinase inhibitors that target RET as a secondary pharmacology but additional
      activities, most notably inhibition of KDR, lead to dose-limiting toxicities.
      There is, therefore, a clinical need for more specific RET kinase inhibitors.
      Herein we report our efforts towards identifying a potent and selective RET
      inhibitor using vandetanib 1 as the starting point for structure-based drug
      design. Phenolic anilinoquinazolines exemplified by 6 showed improved affinities
      towards RET but, unsurprisingly, suffered from high metabolic clearance. Efforts
      to mitigate the metabolic liability of the phenol led to the discovery that a
      flanking substituent not only improved the hepatocyte stability, but could also
      impart a significant gain in selectivity. This culminated in the identification
      of 36; a potent RET inhibitor with much improved selectivity against KDR. 

PMID- 26874745
TI  - Optimal modified tracking performance for MIMO systems under bandwidth
      constraint.
AB  - This paper investigates the optimal modified tracking performance of multi-input
      multi-output (MIMO) networked control systems (NCSs) with bandwidth and channel
      noise constraints. A new modified tracking performance index is proposed which
      prevents variations in the tracking error from leading to invalid data where
      there is no integrator in the plant. An expression for the optimal modified
      tracking performance is obtained using a method which includes co-prime
      factorization, partial factorization, spectral decomposition and H2 norm. The
      obtained results show that the optimal modified tracking performance is
      influenced by the non-minimum phase (NMP) zeros, unstable poles, and their
      directions. Furthermore, the characteristics of the input signal, the
      modification factor, the bandwidth and the channel noise are also shown to be
      closely related to the optimal modified tracking performance. Finally, the
      efficiency of the result is verified using some typical examples. 

PMID- 26874746
TI  - Enhancing public awareness and promoting co-responsibility for marine litter in
      Europe: The challenge of MARLISCO.
AB  - Marine litter is a pervasive and complex societal problem but has no simple
      solution. Inadequate practices at all levels of production-use-disposal
      contribute to accumulation of waste on land and at sea. Enhanced societal
      awareness but also co-responsibility across different sectors and improved
      interactions between stakeholders are necessary. MARLISCO was a European
      initiative, which developed and implemented activities across 15 countries. It
      worked towards raising societal awareness and engagement on marine litter,
      through a combination of approaches: public exhibitions in over 80 locations; a
      video competition involving 2100 students; and a legacy of educational and
      decision-supporting tools. 12 national participatory events designed to
      facilitate dialogue on solutions brought together 1500 stakeholders and revealed
      support for cross-cutting, preventive measures. Evaluation during implementation
      shows that these activities are effective in improving individuals' perceptions
      about the problem but also commitment in being part of the solution. This paper
      summarises MARLISCO's approach and highlights a selection of outcomes. 

PMID- 26874747
TI  - Paralytic shellfish toxin production by the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum
      (Chinhae Bay, Korea) in axenic, nutrient-limited chemostat cultures and nutrient
      enriched batch cultures.
AB  - Blooms of Alexandrium pacificum (formerly Alexandrium tamarense) are common in
      Chinhae Bay (Korea), presumably linked to anthropogenic eutrophication. Here we
      examine PSP toxin content and composition in axenic chemostat and batch cultures
      of A. pacificum using growth conditions that differed according to dilution rate,
      nutrient limitations, and enrichments. Phosphate (P)-limited cells in chemostat
      cultures had higher toxin content and a toxin composition that differed from that
      of nitrogen (N)-limited cells at the highest growth rates. Therefore, toxin
      composition changes do occur in axenic cultures of A. pacificum following
      extended growth under steady state conditions. In nutrient-limited batch cultures
      that received N and P enrichment, the N-enriched cultures showed a more diverse
      toxin profile than the P-enriched cells; the toxin content of N-enriched cells
      was lower than in the P-enriched cultures. We infer the following order for the
      biosynthesis of individual toxins: C1, C2>GTX3>GTX1>neoSTX. 

PMID- 26874748
TI  - Linkage between speciation of Cd in mangrove sediment and its bioaccumulation in
      total soft tissue of oyster from the west coast of India.
AB  - This study established a mechanistic linkage between Cd speciation and
      bioavailability in mangrove system from the west coast of India. High
      bioaccumulation of Cd was found in the oyster (Crassostrea sp.) even at low Cd
      loading in the bottom sediment. Bioaccumulation of Cd in the oyster gradually
      increased with the increasing concentrations of water soluble, exchangeable and
      carbonate/bicarbonate forms of Cd in the sediments. Fe/Mn oxyhydroxide phase was
      found to control Cd bioavailability in the sediment system. Cd-associated with
      sedimentary organic matter was bioavailable and organic ligands in the sediments
      were poor chelating agents for Cd. This study suggests that bioaccumulation of Cd
      in oyster (Crassostrea sp.) depends not on the total Cd concentration but on the
      speciation of Cd in the system. 

PMID- 26874749
TI  - Baseline trace elements in the seagrass Halodule wrightii Aschers (Cymodoceaceae)
      from Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil.
AB  - Trace elements concentrations (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were found
      in samples of Halodule wrightii Aschers (Cymodoceaceae) seagrass from Todos os
      Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP
      MS). This bay has been impacted by the presence of industrial activity that
      includes chemical and petrochemical plants as well as an oil refinery and harbor
      activities located in the north and northeastern area. Samples were collected at
      4 stations to evaluate the distribution of element concentrations in this area
      and under different climatic conditions. The mean concentrations, in mgkg(-1),
      found in dry tissues for all the studied metals and stations were: As (1.08
      5.42), Ba (3.72-32.0), Cd (0.135-1.68), Cr (1.15-10.4), Cu (2.23-13.4), Ni (1.95
      9.87), Pb (0.873-5.18), V (3.39-22.4) and Zn (13.1-39.5). Statistical analysis
      (ANOVA) of the seagrass data showed significant inter-site differences for all
      elements examined except nickel and vanadium. 

PMID- 26874750
TI  - Self-control over combined video feedback and modeling facilitates motor
      learning.
AB  - Allowing learners to control the video presentation of knowledge of performance
      (KP) or an expert model during practice has been shown to facilitate motor
      learning (Aiken, Fairbrother, & Post, 2012; Wulf, Raupach, & Pfeiffer, 2005).
      Split-screen replay features now allow for the simultaneous presentation of these
      modes of instructional support. It is uncertain, however, if such a combination
      incorporated into a self-control protocol would yield similar benefits seen in
      earlier self-control studies. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to
      examine the effects of self-controlled split-screen replay on the learning of a
      golf chip shot. Participants completed 60 practice trials, three administrations
      of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and a questionnaire on day one. Retention
      and transfer tests and a final motivation inventory were completed on day two.
      Results revealed significantly higher form and accuracy scores for the self
      control group during transfer. The self-control group also had significantly
      higher scores on the perceived competence subscale, reported requesting feedback
      mostly after perceived poor trials, and recalled a greater number of critical
      task features compared to the yoked group. The findings for the performance
      measures were consistent with previous self-control research. 

PMID- 26874751
TI  - Learning to modulate the partial powers of a single sEMG power spectrum through a
      novel human-computer interface.
AB  - New human-computer interfaces that use bioelectrical signals as input are
      allowing study of the flexibility of the human neuromuscular system. We have
      developed a myoelectric human-computer interface which enables users to navigate
      a cursor to targets through manipulations of partial powers within a single
      surface electromyography (sEMG) signal. Users obtain two-dimensional control
      through simultaneous adjustments of powers in two frequency bands within the sEMG
      spectrum, creating power profiles corresponding to cursor positions. It is
      unlikely that these types of bioelectrical manipulations are required during
      routine muscle contractions. Here, we formally establish the neuromuscular
      ability to voluntarily modulate single-site sEMG power profiles in a group of
      naive subjects under restricted and controlled conditions using a wrist muscle.
      All subjects used the same pre-selected frequency bands for control and underwent
      the same training, allowing a description of the average learning progress
      throughout eight sessions. We show that subjects steadily increased target hit
      rates from 48% to 71% and exhibited greater control of the cursor's trajectories
      following practice. Our results point towards an adaptable neuromuscular skill,
      which may allow humans to utilize single muscle sites as limited general-purpose
      signal generators. Ultimately, the goal is to translate this neuromuscular
      ability to practical interfaces for the disabled by using a spared muscle to
      control external machines. 

PMID- 26874752
TI  - Activation of microglia within paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus is NOT
      involved in maintenance of established hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammation within paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
      (PVN), a key circulatory control center in the hypothalamus, is an important
      pathology of sympathetic hyperactivity. Brain inflammation is mainly mediated by
      microglia, innate immune cells in the brain. Activated microglia produce
      inflammatory cytokines with alteration of their morphology. Increase in
      inflammatory cytokines synthesis coincides with activation of microglia within
      PVN of angiotensin II-induced hypertensive model and myocardial infarction
      induced heart failure model. Although the increase in inflammatory cytokines and
      the microglial activation within PVN were also seen in spontaneously hypertensive
      rats (SHR), the model of essential hypertension, their involvement in blood
      pressure regulation has still be fully clarified. In the present study, we
      examined whether activated microglia within PVN were involved in maintenance of
      established severe hypertension with sympathoexcitation. METHODS: Minocycline
      (25mg/kg/day), an inhibitor of microglial activation, or vehicle were orally
      administered to stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats
      for 2 weeks from 15-weeks-old, the age of established hypertension. RESULTS:
      Systolic blood pressure was comparable between minocycline treated-SHRSP and
      vehicle treated-SHRSP, whereas morphological analysis of microglia revealed
      smaller cell size in minocycline treated-SHRSP than vehicle treated-SHRSP,
      implying that minocycline deactivated microglia within PVN. CONCLUSIONS:
      Activated microglia with morphological alteration within PVN are not involved in
      the maintenance of established severe hypertension, and inflammation within PVN
      could not be the therapeutic target of established hypertension.

PMID- 26874753
TI  - Simple interventions to improve healthy eating behaviors in the school cafeteria.
AB  - The National School Lunch Program in the United States provides an important
      opportunity to improve nutrition for the 30 million children who participate
      every school day. The purpose of this narrative review is to present and evaluate
      simple, evidence-based strategies to improve healthy eating behaviors at school.
      Healthy eating behaviors are defined as increased selection/consumption of fruits
      and/or vegetables, increased selection of nutrient-dense foods, or decreased
      selection of low-nutrient, energy-dense foods. Data were collected from sales
      records, 24-hour food recalls, direct observation, and estimation of plate waste.
      The review is limited to simple, discrete interventions that are easy to
      implement. Sixteen original, peer-reviewed articles are included. Interventions
      are divided into 5 categories: modification of choice, behavior modification,
      marketing strategies, time-efficiency strategies, and fruit slicing. All
      interventions resulted in improved eating behaviors, but not all interventions
      are applicable or feasible in all settings. Because these studies were performed
      prior to the implementation of the new federally mandated school meal standards,
      it is unknown if these interventions would yield similar results if repeated now.

PMID- 26874754
TI  - The utility of two marine community indices to assess the environmental
      degradation of lotic systems using fish communities.
AB  - Multimetric approaches are commonly used to evaluate the ecological status of
      aquatic ecosystems. However, it has been recommended that the sensitivity of
      existing methods be improved through the investigation of the potential of new
      metrics to detect environmental disturbances. In this study we tested the
      effectiveness of two community indices (Taxonomic distinctness index (TDI) and
      Abundance biomass comparison (ABC) method), primarily proposed for marine
      ecosystems, to identify sites with different levels of environmental degradation
      in lotic systems using fish community data. Fish samples were collected over the
      period 2003-2011 at 131 sampling stations. To generate water and habitat quality
      classes, a self-organizing map (SOM) based on environmental data was applied.
      Gradients over the SOM map were investigated for the values of the TDI and ABC
      indices. The results of this study reveal that the values of both the TDI and ABC
      indices are highly correlated with water and habitat quality gradients. However,
      despite the observed correlation, the utility of TDI as a potential metric in
      bioassessment programs is rather limited, due to its lack of discriminatory
      power. In contrast, the ABC method could be proposed as a novel metric, but can
      only be applied in type-specific multimetric approaches. 

PMID- 26874755
TI  - Sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and oxytetracycline and related antibiotic
      resistance genes in a large-scale landfill, China.
AB  - Landfills are likely to be important reservoirs of antibiotics and antibiotic
      resistant genes (ARGs) as they receive unused and unwanted antibiotics and ARGs
      in municipal solid waste (MSW). The distribution, transportation and dynamics of
      antibiotics and ARGs in landfills remain largely unknown. In the present study, 3
      antibiotics - sulfamethoxazole (SMX), tetracycline (TC), and oxytetracycline
      (OTC) - and their related ARGs (sulI and tetO) were quantified in 51 refuse
      samples from different depths at 8 locations within a large-scale landfill in
      central China. The average concentration of OTC was the highest, up to 100.9+/
      141.81MUg/kg (dw, n=48), followed by TC (63.8+/-37.7MUg/kg, n=40), and SMX
      (47.9+/-8.1MUg/kg, n=30). Both sulI and tetO were detected in all samples. Of the
      ARGs, sul1 (-3.06+/-1.18, n=51, log10 ARGs/16SrDNA) was more abundant than tetO (
      4.37+/-0.97) in all refuse samples (p<0.05). Both sulI and tetO negatively
      correlated to refuse age, suggesting they are attenuated during landfill
      stabilization. OTC and TC positively correlated to tetO (r=0.41, p<0.01) and sulI
      (r=0.29, p=0.04), respectively. Chemical conditions (e.g. moisture content and
      nitrate concentrations) within the refuse correlated to antibiotics and ARGs
      suggesting environmental factors impact the distribution of antibiotics and ARGs
      in landfill matrix. This study is the first comprehensive in situ landfill study
      to connect the concentrations of antibiotic residues to ARGs. 

PMID- 26874756
TI  - Functional degradation of the water-sediment regulation scheme in the lower
      Yellow River: Spatial and temporal analyses.
AB  - Heavy sedimentation has led to the phenomenon of a secondary perched river in the
      lower reaches of the Yellow River. The water-sediment regulation scheme (WSRS)
      using the Xiaolangdi Reservoir was first implemented in 2002 to try to solve this
      problem. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal effects of the
      current WSRS (2005-2013) on the lower Yellow River. Our results suggest that the
      current WSRS is exhibiting a tendency towards functional degradation, meaning
      that the scheme is no longer as effective as it was initially for the lower
      Yellow River. Although the main river channel has been fully scoured in the lower
      reaches since the implementation of the WSRS, we found that the degree of erosion
      declined gradually in a top-down fashion from the braided reach, through the
      transitional reach, to the meandering reach. Of the total eroded sediment, 69.64%
      came from the braided reach and only 6.61% came from the meandering reach. In
      addition, the reduction in riverbed elevation-a key function of the WSRS-has
      clearly slowed since 2005. We discuss the mechanisms underlying this functional
      degradation of the current WSRS and future challenges for the management of the
      lower Yellow River. Insights gained from this study will likely be of use to
      those weighing up options for future implementations of the WSRS. 

PMID- 26874757
TI  - A batch assay to measure microbial hydrogen sulfide production from sulfur
      containing solid wastes.
AB  - Large volumes of sulfur-containing wastes enter municipal solid waste landfills
      each year. Under the anaerobic conditions that prevail in landfills, oxidized
      forms of sulfur, primarily sulfate, are converted to sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide
      (H2S) is corrosive to landfill gas collection and treatment systems, and its
      presence in landfill gas often necessitates the installation of expensive removal
      systems. For landfill operators to understand the cost of managing sulfur
      containing wastes, an estimate of the H2S production potential is needed. The
      objective of this study was to develop and demonstrate a biochemical sulfide
      potential (BSP) test to measure the amount of H2S produced by different types of
      sulfur-containing wastes in a relatively fast (30days) and inexpensive (125mL
      serum bottles) batch assay. This study confirmed the toxic effect of H2S on both
      sulfate reduction and methane production in batch systems, and demonstrated that
      removing accumulated H2S by base adsorption was effective for mitigating
      inhibition. H2S production potentials of coal combustion fly ash, flue gas
      desulfurization residual, municipal solid waste combustion ash, and construction
      and demolition waste were determined in BSP assays. After 30days of incubation,
      most of the sulfate in the wastes was converted to gaseous or aqueous phase
      sulfide, with BSPs ranging from 0.8 to 58.8mLH2S/g waste, depending on the
      chemical composition of the samples. Selected samples contained solid phase
      sulfide which contributed to the measured H2S yield. A 60day incubation in
      selected samples resulted in 39-86% additional sulfide production. H2S production
      measured in BSP assays was compared with that measured in simulated landfill
      reactors and that calculated from chemical analyses. H2S production in BSP assays
      and in reactors was lower than the stoichiometric values calculated from chemical
      composition for all wastes tested, demonstrating the importance of assays to
      estimate the microbial sulfide production potential of sulfur-containing wastes. 

PMID- 26874758
TI  - Screening for diets that reduce urinary nitrogen excretion and methane emissions
      while maintaining or increasing production by dairy cows.
AB  - Farmers face complex decisions at the time to feed animals, trying to achieve
      production goals while contemplating social and environmental constraints. Our
      purpose was to facilitate such decision making for pastoral dairy farmers, aiming
      to reduce urinary N (UN) and methane emissions (CH4), while maintaining or
      increasing milk production (MP). There is a number of feeds the farmers can
      choose from and combine. We used 50 feeds (forages and grains) combined
      systematically in different proportions producing 11,526 binary diets. Diets were
      screened, using an a posteriori approach and a Pareto front (PF) analysis of
      model (Molly) outputs. The objective was to identify combinations with the best
      possible compromise (i.e. frontier) between UN, CH4, and MP. Using high MP and
      low UN as objective functions, PF included 10, 14, 12 and 50 diets, for non
      lactating, early-, mid- and late-lactation periods, with cereals and beets
      featuring strongly. Using the same objective functions, but including ryegrass as
      dietary base PF included 2, 4, 8 and 4 diets for those periods. Therefore, from a
      wide range of diets, farmers could choose from few feeds combined into binary
      diets to reduce UN while maintaining or increasing MP. If the intention is
      maintaining pasture-based systems, there are fewer suitable options. Reducing UN
      will simply require dilution of N supplied by pasture by supplementing low N
      conserved forages. The results also evidence the risk of pollution swapping,
      reaching the frontier means arriving at a point where trade-off decisions need to
      be made. Any further reduction in UN implies an increment in CH4, or reduction in
      CH4 emissions increases UN. There is no perfect diet to optimize all objectives
      simultaneously; but if the current diet is not in the frontier some options can
      offset pollution swapping. The choice is with the farmers and conditioned by
      their context. 

PMID- 26874759
TI  - Operational and environmental determinants of in-vehicle CO and PM2.5 exposure.
AB  - This study presents a modeling framework to quantify the complex roles that
      traffic, seasonality, vehicle characteristics, ventilation, meteorology, and
      ambient air quality play in dictating in-vehicle commuter exposure to CO and
      PM2.5. For this purpose, a comprehensive one-year monitoring program of 25
      different variables was coupled with a multivariate regression analysis to
      develop models to predict in-vehicle CO and PM2.5 exposure using a database of
      119 mobile tests and 120 fume leakage tests. The study aims to improve the
      understanding of in-cabin exposure, as well as interior-exterior pollutant
      exchange. Model results highlighted the strong correlation between out-vehicle
      and in-vehicle concentrations, with the effect of ventilation type only discerned
      for PM2.5 levels. Car type, road conditions, as well as meteorological conditions
      all played a significant role in modulating in-vehicle exposure. The CO and PM2.5
      exposure models were able to explain 72 and 92% of the variability in measured
      concentrations, respectively. Both models exhibited robustness and no-evidence of
      over-fitting. 

PMID- 26874760
TI  - Radiative absorption enhancement from coatings on black carbon aerosols.
AB  - The radiative absorption enhancement of ambient black carbon (BC), by light
      refractive coatings of atmospheric aerosols, constitutes a large uncertainty in
      estimates of climate forcing. The direct measurements of radiative absorption
      enhancement require the experimentally-removing the coating materials in ambient
      BC-containing aerosols, which remains a challenge. Here, the absorption
      enhancement of the BC core by non-absorbing aerosol coatings was quantified using
      a two-step removal of both inorganic and organic matter coatings of ambient
      aerosols. The mass absorption cross-section (MAC) of decoated/pure atmospheric BC
      aerosols of 4.4+/-0.8m(2)g(-1) was enhanced to 9.6+/-1.8m(2)g(-1) at 678-nm
      wavelength for ambiently-coated BC aerosols at a rural Northern China site. The
      enhancement of MAC (EMAC) rises from 1.4+/-0.3 in fresh combustion emissions to
      ~3 for aged ambient China aerosols. The three-week high-intensity campaign
      observed an average EMAC of 2.25+/-0.55, and sulfates were primary drivers of the
      enhanced BC absorption. 

PMID- 26874761
TI  - Impact of vineyard abandonment and natural recolonization on metal content and
      availability in Mediterranean soils.
AB  - Abandonment of vineyards after uprooting has dramatically increased in last
      decades in Mediterranean countries, often followed by vegetation expansion
      processes. Inadequate management strategies can have negative consequences on
      soil quality. We studied how the age and type of vegetation cover and several
      environmental characteristics (lithology, soil properties, vineyard slope and so
      on) after vineyard uprooting and abandonment contribute to the variation patterns
      in total, HAc (acetic acid-method, HAc) and EDTA-extractable
      (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-method) concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in
      soils. We sampled 141 points from vineyards and abandoned vineyard Mediterranean
      soils recolonized by natural vegetation in recent decades. The contribution of
      several environmental variables (e.g. age and type of vegetation cover,
      lithology, soil properties and vineyard slope) to the total and extractable
      concentrations of metals was evaluated by canonical ordination based on
      redundancy analysis, considering the interaction between both environmental and
      response variables. The ranges of total metal contents were: 0.01-0.15 (Cd), 2.6
      34 (Cu), 6.6-30 (Pb), and 29-92mgkg(-1) (Zn). Cadmium (11-100%) had the highest
      relative extractability with both extractants, and Zn and Pb the lowest. The
      total and EDTA-extractable of Cd, Pb and Zn were positively related to the age of
      abandonment, to the presence of Agrostis castellana and Retama sphaerocarpa, and
      to the contents of Fe-oxides, clay and organic matter (OM). A different pattern
      was noted for Cu, positively related to vineyard soils. Soil properties
      successfully explained HAc-extractable Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn but the age and type of
      vegetation cover lost significance. Clay content was negatively related to HAc
      extractable Cu and Pb; and OM was positively related to HAc-Cd and Zn. In
      conclusion, the time elapsed after vineyard uprooting, and subsequent land
      abandonment, affects the soil content and availability of metals, and this impact
      depended on the colonizing plant species and soil properties. 

PMID- 26874762
TI  - Acute exposure to fine and coarse particulate matter and infant mortality in
      Tokyo, Japan (2002-2013).
AB  - Few studies have evaluated the effect of short-term exposure to particulate
      matter (PM) less than 2.5MUm in diameter (PM2.5) or to coarse particles on infant
      mortality. We evaluated the association between short-term exposure to PM and
      infant mortality in Japan and assessed whether adverse health effects were
      observable at PM concentrations below Japanese air quality guidelines. We used a
      time-stratified, case-crossover design. The participants included 2086 infants
      who died in the 23 urbanized wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government between
      January 2002 and December 2013. We obtained measures of PM2.5 and suspended
      particulate matter (SPM; PM<7MUm in diameter) from one general monitoring
      station. As a measure of coarse particles, we calculated PM7-2.5 by subtracting
      PM2.5 from SPM. We then used conditional logistic regression to analyze the data.
      Same-day PM2.5 was associated with increased risks of infant and postneonatal
      mortality, especially for mortality related to respiratory causes. For a
      10MUg/m(3) increase in PM2.5, the odds ratios were 1.06 (95% confidence interval:
      1.01-1.12) for infant mortality and 1.10 (1.02-1.19) for postneonatal mortality.
      PM7-2.5 was also associated with an increased risk of postneonatal mortality,
      independent of PM2.5. Even when PM2.5 and SPM concentrations were below Japanese
      air quality guidelines, we observed adverse health effects. This study provides
      further evidence that acute exposure to PM2.5 and coarse particles (PM7-2.5) is
      associated with an increased risk of infant mortality. Further, rigorous
      evaluation of air quality guidelines for daily average PM2.5 and larger particles
      is needed. 

PMID- 26874763
TI  - Modeling olive pollen intensity in the Mediterranean region through analysis of
      emission sources.
AB  - Aerobiological monitoring of Olea europaea L. is of great interest in the
      Mediterranean basin because olive pollen is one of the most represented pollen
      types of the airborne spectrum for the Mediterranean region, and olive pollen is
      considered one of the major cause of pollinosis in this region. The main aim of
      this study was to develop an airborne-pollen map based on the Pollen Index across
      a 4-year period (2008-2011), to provide a continuous geographic map for pollen
      intensity that will have practical applications from the agronomical and
      allergological points of view. For this purpose, the main predictor variable was
      an index based on the distribution and abundance of potential sources of pollen
      emission, including intrinsic information about the general atmospheric patterns
      of pollen dispersal. In addition, meteorological variables were included in the
      modeling, together with spatial interpolation, to allow the definition of a
      spatial model of the Pollen Index from the main olive cultivation areas in the
      Mediterranean region. The results show marked differences with respect to the
      dispersal patterns associated to the altitudinal gradient. The findings indicate
      that areas located at an altitude above 300ma.s.l. receive greater amounts of
      olive pollen from shorter-distance pollen sources (maximum influence, 27km) with
      respect to areas lower than 300ma.s.l. (maximum influence, 59km). 

PMID- 26874764
TI  - Application of disease burden to quantitative assessment of health hazards for a
      decentralized water reuse system.
AB  - The aim of this article is to introduce the methodology of disease burden (DB) to
      quantify the health impact of microbial regrowth during wastewater reuse, using
      the case study of a decentralized water reuse system in Xi'an Si-yuan University,
      located in Xi'an, China. Based on field investigation findings, Escherichia coli
      (E. coli), Salmonella and rotavirus were selected as typical regrowth pathogens
      causing potential health hazards during the reuse of reclaimed water.
      Subsequently, major exposure routes including sprinkler irrigation, landscape
      fountains and toilet flushing were identified. Mathematical models were
      established to build the relationship between exposure dose and disease burden by
      calculating the disability adjusted life year (DALY). Results of disease burden
      for this case study show that DALYs attributed to E. coli were significantly
      greater than those caused by other pathogens, and DALYs associated with sprinkler
      irrigation were higher than those originating from other routes. A correlation
      between exposure dose and disease was obtained by introducing a modified
      calculation of morbidity, which can extend the assessment endpoint of health risk
      to disease burden from the conventional infection rate. 

PMID- 26874765
TI  - Pan-Arctic concentrations of mercury and stable isotope ratios of carbon
      (delta(13)C) and nitrogen (delta(15)N) in marine zooplankton.
AB  - Zooplankton play a central role in marine food webs, dictating the quantity and
      quality of energy available to upper trophic levels. They act as "keystone"
      species in transfer of mercury (Hg) up through the marine food chain. Here, we
      present the first Pan-Arctic overview of total and monomethylmercury
      concentrations (THg and MMHg) and stable isotope ratios of carbon (delta(13)C)
      and nitrogen (delta(15)N) in selected zooplankton species by assembling data
      collected between 1998 and 2012 from six arctic regions (Laptev Sea, Chukchi Sea,
      southeastern Beaufort Sea, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Hudson Bay and northern
      Baffin Bay). MMHg concentrations in Calanus spp., Themisto spp. and Paraeuchaeta
      spp. were found to increase with higher delta(15)N and lower delta(13)C. The
      southern Beaufort Sea exhibited both the highest THg and MMHg concentrations.
      Biomagnification of MMHg between Calanus spp. and two of its known predators,
      Themisto spp. and Paraeuchaeta spp., was greatest in the southern Beaufort Sea.
      Our results show large geographical variations in Hg concentrations and isotopic
      signatures for individual species related to regional ecosystem features, such as
      varying water masses and freshwater inputs, and highlight the increased exposure
      to Hg in the marine food chain of the southern Beaufort Sea. 

PMID- 26874766
TI  - Monitoring of fluoride in water samples using a smartphone.
AB  - In several parts of India, groundwater is the only reliable, year round source
      for drinking water. Prevention of fluorosis, a chronic disease resulting from
      excess intake of fluoride, requires the screening of all groundwater sources for
      fluoride in endemic areas. In this paper, the authors present a field deployable
      colorimetric analyzer based on an inexpensive smartphone embedded with digital
      camera for taking photograph of the colored solution as well as an easy-fit, and
      compact sample chamber (Akvo Caddisfly). Phones marketed by different smartphone
      makers were used. Commercially available zirconium xylenol orange reagent was
      used for determining fluoride concentration. A software program was developed to
      use with the phone for recording and analyzing the RGB color of the picture.
      Linear range for fluoride estimation was 0-2mgl(-1). Around 200 samples, which
      consisted of laboratory prepared as well as field samples collected from
      different locations in Karnataka, India, were tested with Akvo Caddisfly. The
      results showed a significant positive correlation between Ion Selective Electrode
      (ISE) method and Akvo Caddisfly (Phones A, B and C), with correlation coefficient
      ranging between 0.9952 and 1.000. In addition, there was no significant
      difference in the mean fluoride content values between ISE and Phone B and C
      except for Phone A. Thus the smartphone method is economical and suited for
      groundwater fluoride analysis in the field. 

PMID- 26874767
TI  - Influence of climatic and hydrological factors on structure and composition of
      peat from northern wetland territories with low anthropogenic impact.
AB  - Northern wetlands ecosystems play an important role in the hydrological balance
      of neighboring areas, where they act as chemical barriers against anthropogenic
      and technogenic contaminations. Studied region is well known for quantity of peat
      deposits and the volume of peat resources. Peat can be considered as a highly
      informative marker for assessing change in environmental conditions. The study
      presents the results of the first investigation of peat samples, collected from
      representative ecosystems of northern wetland territories with low anthropogenic
      impact. Component and element composition of various peat types were studied in a
      relation to hydrologic, climate and sampling conditions. It was found out that
      organic and ash contents are more dependent on the type of the bog, than
      geographic location. Climatic factors are more important for the formation of
      bitumen. The degradation degree in peat increases proportionally to content of
      humates. High content of biogenic and lithogenic elements was observed in
      transition- and low-moor peat. The content of trace elements in peat samples do
      not depend on the type of the peat. The structural properties of peat were
      studied by the light microscopy, AFM and dynamic light scattering. It was
      determined that the conformation of studied peat samples is characterized by
      elements of asymmetry. The observed particles in the solutions exist in dynamic
      equilibrium with separated globular macromolecules. The size of these
      nanoparticles is comparable with the size of the particles of other biopolymers
      of similar nature. Swelling of peat in liquid water was studied. The relationship
      between structural specificities, origin of peat and its maximum degree of
      swelling was found. The degree of swelling can be used as structural-sensitive
      parameter in further research. 

PMID- 26874768
TI  - Organic nitrogen storage in mineral soil: Implications for policy and management.
AB  - Nitrogen is one of the most important ecosystem nutrients and often its
      availability limits net primary production as well as stabilization of soil
      organic matter. The long-term storage of nitrogen-containing organic matter in
      soils was classically attributed to chemical complexity of plant and microbial
      residues that retarded microbial degradation. Recent advances have revised this
      framework, with the understanding that persistent soil organic matter consists
      largely of chemically labile, microbially processed organic compounds. Chemical
      bonding to minerals and physical protection in aggregates are more important to
      long-term (i.e., centuries to millennia) preservation of these organic compounds
      that contain the bulk of soil nitrogen rather than molecular complexity, with the
      exception of nitrogen in pyrogenic organic matter. This review examines for the
      first time the factors and mechanisms at each stage of movement into long-term
      storage that influence the sequestration of organic nitrogen in the mineral soil
      of natural temperate ecosystems. Because the factors which govern persistence are
      different under this newly accepted paradigm we examine the policy and management
      implications that are altered, such as critical load considerations, nitrogen
      saturation and mitigation consequences. Finally, it emphasizes how essential it
      is for this important but underappreciated pool to be better quantified and
      incorporated into policy and management decisions, especially given the lack of
      evidence for many soils having a finite capacity to sequester nitrogen. 

PMID- 26874769
TI  - Is digestate safe? A study on its ecotoxicity and environmental risk on a pig
      manure.
AB  - Digestate represents a precious by-product in particular in agriculture, however
      its impact on the environment and human health is still unexplored. In this work,
      the toxicity of a pig slurry digestate was assessed through 7 ecotoxicity tests
      and considering 10 different endpoints. Besides, a synthetic index was applied to
      the outputs of the battery of tests for the environmental risk assessment, in
      order to evaluate the opportunity to use directly this kind of digestate in
      agriculture or to introduce an additional treatment. All the organisms were
      sensitive to digestate toxicity (EC50 ranged from 14.22% for Cucumissativus to
      0.77% for Raphidocelis subcapitata). The physical-chemical features at the base
      of this toxicity seem to be the high content of ammonium, salinity, COD,
      phosphate and colour. The synthetic index showed that the digestate was very
      toxic and associated to an extremely high environmental risk. Thus, a pre
      treatment is needed to reduce its toxicity and environmental impact, whatever
      could be its exploitation. 

PMID- 26874770
TI  - Differences in dissolved organic matter between reclaimed water source and
      drinking water source.
AB  - Dissolved organic matter (DOM) significantly affects the quality of reclaimed
      water and drinking water. Reclaimed water potable reuse is an effective way to
      augment drinking water source and de facto reuse exists worldwide. Hence, when
      reclaimed water source (namely secondary effluent) is blended with drinking water
      source, understanding the difference in DOM between drinking water source (dDOM)
      and reclaimed water source (rDOM) is essential. In this study, composition,
      transformation, and potential risk of dDOM from drinking water source and rDOM
      from secondary effluent were compared. Generally, the DOC concentration of rDOM
      and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content in reclaimed water source were
      higher but rDOM exhibited a lower aromaticity. Besides, rDOM comprises a higher
      proportion of hydrophilic fractions and more low-molecular weight compounds,
      which are difficult to be removed during coagulation. Although dDOM exhibited
      higher specific disinfection byproducts formation potential (SDBPFP), rDOM formed
      more total disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during chlorination including
      halomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) due to high DOC concentration.
      Likewise, in consideration of DOC basis, rDOM contained more absolute assimilable
      organic carbon (AOC) despite showing a lower specific AOC (normalized AOC per
      unit of DOC). Besides, rDOM exhibited higher biotoxicity including genotoxicity
      and endocrine disruption. Therefore, rDOM presents a greater potential risk than
      dDOM does. Reclaimed water source needs to be treated carefully when it is
      blended with drinking water source. 

PMID- 26874771
TI  - Radioactive Cs in the estuary sediments near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
      Plant.
AB  - The migration and dispersion of radioactive Cs (mainly (134)Cs and (137)Cs) are
      of critical concern in the area surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
      Plant (FDNPP). Considerable uncertainty remains in understanding the properties
      and dynamics of radioactive Cs transport by surface water, particularly during
      rainfall-induced flood events to the ocean. Physical and chemical properties of
      unique estuary sediments, collected from the Kuma River, 4.0km south of the
      FDNPP, were quantified in this study. These were deposited after storm events and
      now occur as dried platy sediments on beach sand. The platy sediments exhibit
      median particle sizes ranging from 28 to 32MUm. There is increasing radioactivity
      towards the bottom of the layers deposited; approximately 28 and 38Bqg(-1) in the
      upper and lower layers, respectively. The difference in the radioactivity is
      attributed to a larger number of particles associated with radioactive Cs in the
      lower part of the section, suggesting that radioactive Cs in the suspended soils
      transported by surface water has decreased over time. Sequential chemical
      extractions showed that ~90% of (137)Cs was strongly bound to the residual
      fraction in the estuary samples, whereas 60~80% of (137)Cs was bound to clays in
      the six paddy soils. This high concentration in the residual fraction facilitates
      ease of transport of clay and silt size particles through the river system.
      Estuary sediments consist of particles <100MUm. Radioactive Cs desorption
      experiments using the estuary samples in artificial seawater revealed that 3.4+/
      0.6% of (137)Cs was desorbed within 8h. More than 96% of (137)Cs remained
      strongly bound to clays. Hence, particle size is a key factor that determines the
      travel time and distance during the dispersion of (137)Cs in the ocean. 

PMID- 26874772
TI  - Urban surface water pollution problems arising from misconnections.
AB  - The impacts of misconnections on the organic and nutrient loadings to surface
      waters are assessed using specific household appliance data for two urban sub
      catchments located in the London metropolitan region and the city of Swansea.
      Potential loadings of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), soluble reactive
      phosphorus (PO4-P) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N) due to misconnections are
      calculated for three different scenarios based on the measured daily flows from
      specific appliances and either measured daily pollutant concentrations or average
      pollutant concentrations for relevant greywater and black water sources obtained
      from an extensive review of the literature. Downstream receiving water
      concentrations, together with the associated uncertainties, are predicted from
      derived misconnection discharge concentrations and compared to existing
      freshwater standards for comparable river types. Consideration of dilution ratios
      indicates that these would need to be of the order of 50-100:1 to maintain high
      water quality with respect to BOD and NH4-N following typical misconnection
      discharges but only poor quality for PO4-P is likely to be achievable. The main
      pollutant loading contributions to misconnections arise from toilets (NH4-N and
      BOD), kitchen sinks (BOD and PO4-P) washing machines (PO4-P and BOD) and, to a
      lesser extent, dishwashers (PO4-P). By completely eliminating toilet
      misconnections and ensuring misconnections from all other appliances do not
      exceed 2%, the potential pollution problems due to BOD and NH4-N discharges would
      be alleviated but this would not be the case for PO4-P. In the event of a
      treatment option being preferred to solve the misconnection problem, it is shown
      that for an area the size of metropolitan Greater London, a sewage treatment
      plant with a Population Equivalent value approaching 900,000 would be required to
      efficiently remove BOD and NH4-N to safely dischargeable levels but such a plant
      is unlikely to have the capacity to deal satisfactorily with incoming PO4-P loads
      from misconnections. 

PMID- 26874773
TI  - On the relationship between sea surface temperatures, circulation parameters and
      temperatures over west coast of India.
AB  - The oceans and the atmosphere are tightly linked and they together form the most
      dynamic component of the climate system. Topography and proximity to the
      surrounding seas of the region determine the temperature of the area. West Coast
      (WC) of India is a high elevated region surrounded by large oceanic area,
      therefore, an attempt is made in this study to examine the trends and variability
      in temperature over WC in relation to oceanic phenomena. Temperature over the WC
      shows considerable year-to-year variation with anomalous cool years in recent
      warm epoch. Therefore, sea surface temperature (SST) and associated winds have
      been analyzed to understand possible mechanism behind the variation in
      temperatures over the WC. During the winter, north-easterlies prevail over the WC
      which blows from land to ocean. Variations in SSTs alter the strength of these
      winds to cause anomalies in temperature over the WC. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
      appears to have a dominant role in climate of the WC, whereas SSTs over the
      equatorial Pacific do not show any impact on temperatures over the WC. Study
      indicates that the strengthening of north-easterlies due to negative phase of
      Indian Ocean Dipole causes cooling over the WC of India. 

PMID- 26874774
TI  - Monitoring priority substances, other organic contaminants and heavy metals in a
      volcanic aquifer from different sources and hydrological processes.
AB  - Irrigation with reclaimed water (R) is necessary to guarantee the sustainability
      of semi-arid areas. Results obtained during a two years monitoring network (2009
      2011) in Gran Canaria are presented, including the analysis of chemical
      parameters, N and S isotopes, priority substances (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU),
      other organic contaminants and heavy metals in groundwater and R used to irrigate
      a golf course. The aims of this work are to evaluate the contamination in a
      volcanic aquifer, relate the presence of organic contaminants and heavy metals
      with the hydrogeochemistry and identify pollution sources in the area. No
      priority substance exceeded the EU thresholds for surface water, although
      seventeen were detected in R. The most frequent compounds were hexachlorobenzene,
      chlorpyrifos ethyl, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene. These compounds were
      detected at low concentration, except chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos ethyl,
      terbuthylazine, diuron, terbutryn, procymidone, atrazine and propazine exceeded
      the European threshold concentration for pesticides in groundwater (100ngL(-1)).
      Therefore, the priority substances chlorpyrifos ethyl and diuron must be included
      in monitoring studies. The priority pesticides chlorfenvinphos and diazinon were
      always detected in R but rarely in groundwater. Besides, the existence of
      contaminants not related to the current R irrigation has been identified. Absence
      of environmental problems related to heavy metals can be expected. The
      relationship among contaminant presence, hydrogeochemistry, including the stable
      isotopic prints of delta(18)O, delta(15)N and delta(34)S and preferential
      recharge paths has been described. The coastal well shows high values of EC,
      nitrate, a variable chemistry, and 50% of organic contaminants detected above
      100ngL(-1). The well located in the recharge area presents a stable
      hydrochemistry, the lowest value of delta(15)N and the lowest contaminants
      occurrence. The area is an example of a complex volcanic media with several
      sources of contaminants such as leakages from septic tanks and sewerage,
      agriculture practices, irrigation with reclaimed water or urban runoff. 

PMID- 26874775
TI  - NO and N2O emissions from agricultural fields in the North China Plain:
      Origination and mitigation.
AB  - Agricultural soil has been recognized as a major source of atmospheric NO and N2O
      emissions which have important impacts on regional and global environments. Here
      we comparably investigated the effects of ammonium, nitrate fertilizers and
      nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) addition on NO and N2O emissions from
      the agricultural soil in the North China Plain (NCP). Compared with the ammonium
      fertilizer application, the reductions of NO emissions caused by nitrate
      fertilizer and DCD addition were 100% and 93%, and of N2O emissions were 54% and
      74%, respectively. Remarkable reductions of NO and N2O emissions were also
      observed from five different agricultural soils in the NCP by replacing ammonium
      with nitrate fertilizer, indicating that nitrification is the predominant process
      for the emissions of NO and N2O from the soils in the vast area of NCP. NO
      emission peaks were found to be several days later than N2O peaks after the
      application of ammonium fertilizer and flooding irrigation, implying that most of
      NO initially produced via nitrification process might be fast reduced to N2O
      under the high soil moisture condition. Interestingly, the relative contribution
      of denitrification to N2O emission showed obviously time-dependent, e.g., evident
      N2O emission caused by the application of nitrate was only observed after the
      basal fertilization for the maize and the topdressing for the wheat. Replacing
      ammonium with nitrate fertilizer and mixing with the nitrification inhibitor are
      verified to be effective measures for mitigating NO and N2O emissions from arable
      soils in the NCP. 

PMID- 26874776
TI  - Management of toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
AB  - Immune checkpoint inhibition with the anti-CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab and the
      anti-PD-1 antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab has improved survival in
      metastatic melanoma, lung cancer and renal cancer. Use of these agents holds
      promise in other malignancies. The augmented immune response enabled by these
      agents has led to a particular group of side effects called immune-related
      adverse events (irAEs). The main irAEs include diarrhea, colitis, hepatitis, skin
      toxicities and endocrinopathies such as hypophysitis and thyroid dysfunction. The
      anti-PD-1 antibodies have a different toxicity profile to ipilimumab with fewer
      high grade events. This article identifies the rates of common and uncommon irAEs
      associated with each immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) and their timing of
      onset, focusing mainly on the experience in melanoma and lung cancer. An approach
      to management for each class of irAE is provided. 

PMID- 26874777
TI  - Temporal dynamics of norovirus determined through monitoring of municipal
      wastewater by pyrosequencing and virological surveillance of gastroenteritis
      cases.
AB  - Norovirus is a leading etiological agent of viral gastroenteritis. Because of
      relatively mild disease symptoms and frequent asymptomatic infections,
      information on the ecology of this virus is limited. Our objective was to examine
      the genetic diversity of norovirus circulating in the human population by means
      of genotyping the virus in municipal wastewater. We investigated norovirus
      genogroups I and II (GI and GII) in municipal wastewater in Japan by
      pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) from November 2012 to March 2013.
      Virological surveillance for gastroenteritis cases was concurrently conducted in
      the same area. A total of fourteen distinct genotypes in total (GI.1, 3, 4, 6, 7,
      GII.2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 17), with up to eight genotypes detected per
      sample, were observed in wastewater using pyrosequencing; only four genotypes
      (GI.6, GII.4, 5, and 14) were obtained from clinical samples. Seventy-eight
      percent of norovirus-positive stool samples contained GII.4, but this genotype
      was not dominant in wastewater. The norovirus GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant, which
      appeared and spread during our study period, was detected in both the wastewater
      and clinical samples. These results suggest that an environmental approach using
      pyrosequencing yields a more detailed distribution of norovirus
      genotypes/variants. Thus, wastewater monitoring by pyrosequencing is expected to
      provide an effective analysis of the distribution of norovirus genotypes causing
      symptomatic and asymptomatic infections in human populations. 

PMID- 26874778
TI  - Nitrification inhibition by hexavalent chromium Cr(VI)--Microbial ecology, gene
      expression and off-gas emissions.
AB  - The goal of this study was to investigate the responses in the physiology,
      microbial ecology and gene expression of nitrifying bacteria to imposition of and
      recovery from Cr(VI) loading in a lab-scale nitrification bioreactor. Exposure to
      Cr(VI) in the reactor strongly inhibited nitrification performance resulting in a
      parallel decrease in nitrate production and ammonia consumption. Cr(VI) exposure
      also led to an overall decrease in total bacterial concentrations in the reactor.
      However, the fraction of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) decreased to a greater
      extent than the fraction of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In terms of
      functional gene expression, a rapid decrease in the transcript concentrations of
      amoA gene coding for ammonia oxidation in AOB was observed in response to the
      Cr(VI) shock. In contrast, transcript concentrations of the nxrA gene coding for
      nitrite oxidation in NOB were relatively unchanged compared to Cr(VI) pre
      exposure levels. Therefore, Cr(VI) exposure selectively and directly inhibited
      activity of AOB, which indirectly resulted in substrate (nitrite) limitation to
      NOB. Significantly, trends in amoA expression preceded performance trends both
      during imposition of and recovery from inhibition. During recovery from the
      Cr(VI) shock, the high ammonia concentrations in the bioreactor resulted in an
      irreversible shift towards AOB populations, which are expected to be more
      competitive in high ammonia environments. An inadvertent impact during recovery
      was increased emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO), consistent
      with recent findings linking AOB activity and the production of these gases.
      Therefore, Cr(VI) exposure elicited multiple responses on the microbial ecology,
      gene expression and both aqueous and gaseous nitrogenous conversion in a
      nitrification process. A complementary interrogation of these multiple responses
      facilitated an understanding of both direct and indirect inhibitory impacts on
      nitrification. 

PMID- 26874779
TI  - Analysis and assessment of the nutrients, biochemical indexes and heavy metals in
      the Three Gorges Reservoir, China, from 2008 to 2013.
AB  - The Three Gorges Reservoir, the world's largest hydropower project, has operated
      stably for more than five years. To understand its water quality status, the
      nutrient and biochemical indexes, the total nitrogen (TN), the total phosphorus
      (TP), the potassium permanganate index (CODMn), the five-day biochemical oxygen
      demand (BOD5) and fecal coliform (F. coli), as well as the heavy metals (Cu, Hg,
      As, Cd, Zn and Pb) of samples collected from 10 sites during the time period of
      2008-2013 were studied via using multiple analysis approaches. For each
      parameter, pictures of the spatial and temporal distributions were presented, and
      the reasons behind their variation trends were elaborated. Principal component
      analysis (PCA) was applied to identify the types of pollution. The Canadian
      Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) was
      calculated to concisely mark the water quality. In addition, a human health risk
      assessment of the heavy metals in a representative site was conducted. The
      results showed that the water quality state in the Three Gorges Reservoir was
      intricate but stable and acceptable from 2008 to 2013. The TN, TP and Pb were
      considered to be the key pollution indexes. Enforcements to alleviate industrial
      and urban pollution, along with ship management, have worked. The decrease in
      heavy metal concentrations from upstream to downstream was associated with the
      self-purification of the reservoir. However, rural pollution became worse in
      those years. Improper agricultural activity was an important reason for this
      trend. For local residents, drinking water was generally safe, but cancer caused
      by As and Pb is a potential issue. 

PMID- 26874780
TI  - On the genetic bias of the quarter of birth instrument.
AB  - Many studies in economics use quarter of birth as an instrument for identifying
      the causal effect of schooling on outcomes such as earnings and health. The key
      assumption in these studies is that people born in different quarters of the year
      do not differ systematically in their unobserved abilities. This study uses
      genetic data from the US Health and Retirement Study to analyze the validity of
      the quarter of birth instrument. We find some evidence that genetic factors
      influencing education are not randomly distributed over the year. However, these
      factors only slightly change the effect of quarter of birth on schooling.

PMID- 26874781
TI  - Applying geographical information systems (GIS) to arboviral disease surveillance
      and control: A powerful tool.

PMID- 26874783
TI  - Video gaming and gender differences in digital and printed reading performance
      among 15-year-olds students in 26 countries.
AB  - Video games are a favorite leisure-time activity among teenagers worldwide. This
      study examines cross-national gender differences in reading achievement and video
      gaming and whether video gaming explains gender differences in reading
      achievement and differences in performance between paper-based and computer-based
      reading. We use data from a representative sample of 145,953 students from 26
      countries who sat the PISA 2012 assessments and provided self-reports on use of
      video games. Although boys tend to have poorer results in both the computer-based
      and the paper-based reading assessments, boys' under achievement is smaller when
      the assessment is delivered on computer than when it is delivered on paper. Boys
      underperformance compared to girls in the two reading assessments is particularly
      pronounced among low-achieving students. Among both boys and girls moderate use
      of single-player games is associated with a performance advantage. However,
      frequent engagement with collaborative online games is generally associated with
      a steep reduction in achievement, particularly in the paper-based test and
      particularly among low-achieving students. Excessive gaming may hinder academic
      achievement, but moderate gaming can promote positive student outcomes. In many
      countries video gaming explains the difference in the gender gap in reading
      between the paper-based and the computer-based assessments. 

PMID- 26874782
TI  - Nephrotic-range proteinuria in an eight-year-old traveler with severe dengue:
      Case report and review of the literature.
AB  - We report a case of an eight-year-old male, native of the Dominican Republic, who
      visited the U.S. and was admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit with severe
      dengue. He needed aggressive fluid management for dengue shock syndrome and
      developed proteinuria on the sixth day of his illness, shortly after his nadir
      thrombocytopenia. His proteinuria peaked on the eight day, and reduced to trace
      levels by the tenth day of his illness, coinciding with normalization of his
      platelet count. His highest random urine protein/creatinine ratio was in the
      nephrotic range, at 3.9 g/g. Dengue fever can cause a wide spectrum of acute
      kidney injury (AKI), ranging in incidence from 0.9 to 36%. Review of the
      literature shows that nephrotic-range proteinuria is an uncommon complication of
      AKI caused by dengue, reported thus far only in Southeast Asia. Immune-mediated
      mechanisms may explain the observed association between dengue-induced
      thrombocytopenia and severe proteinuria, in this case, and previously reported
      cases. Dengue virus infection is the commonest mosquito-borne disease in the
      world with substantial morbidity and mortality. Well-designed prospective studies
      are needed to further characterize the extent and mechanisms of AKI in
      populations living in countries with ongoing transmission, as well as in those
      with travel-associated disease.

PMID- 26874784
TI  - Mutual long-term effects of school bullying, victimization, and justice
      sensitivity in adolescents.
AB  - In the present study, we investigate long-term relations between experiences of
      aggression at school and the development of justice sensitivity as a personality
      disposition in adolescents. We assessed justice sensitivity (from the victim,
      observer, and perpetrator perspective), bullying, and victimization among 565
      German 12- to 18-year-olds in a one-year longitudinal study with two measurement
      points. Latent path analyses revealed gender differences in long-term effects of
      bullying and victimization on observer sensitivity and victim sensitivity.
      Experiences of victimization at T1 predicted an increase in victim sensitivity
      among girls and a decrease in victim sensitivity among boys. Bullying behavior at
      T1 predicted an increase in victim sensitivity among boys and a decrease in
      observer sensitivity among girls. We did not find long-term effects of justice
      sensitivity on bullying and victimization. Our findings indicate that experiences
      of bullying and victimization have gender-specific influences on the development
      of moral personality dispositions in adolescents. 

PMID- 26874785
TI  - The Relationship of Fluid Overload as Assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance
      Analysis with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is common disease among
      hemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with increased morbidity and
      mortality. However, its pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated. We aimed
      to evaluate the frequency of PAH in HD patients, as well as the relationship
      between fluid status and PAH. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 77 HD patients in
      this study. Multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to assess fluid
      status. BIA was performed before and 30 min after the midweek of HD.
      Overhydration (OH)/extracellular water (ECW)% ratio was used as an indicator of
      fluid status. Fluid overload was defined as OH/ECW >=7%. Echocardiographic
      examinations were performed before and after the HD. Pulmonary arterial
      hypertension was defined as systolic pulmonary artery pressure at rest (sPAP)
      higher than 35 mmHg. RESULTS PAH was found in 33.7% of the HD patients. OH/ECW
      and the frequency of fluid overload were significantly higher in HD patients with
      PAH than those without PAH, whereas serum albumin and hemoglobin levels were
      significantly lower. sPAP level was significantly higher in HD patients with
      fluid overload than in those without fluid overload after hemodialysis session.
      Furthermore, sPAP, OH/ECW levels, and the frequency of PAH were significantly
      reduced after HD. We also found a significant positive correlation between sPAP
      and OH/ECW. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated fluid overload
      to be an independent predictor of PAH after HD. CONCLUSIONS PAH is prevalent
      among HD patients. This study demonstrated a strong relationship between fluid
      overload and PAH in HD patients. 

PMID- 26874786
TI  - Identification of Patient Characteristics Influencing Setting of Care Decisions
      for Patients With Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: Results of
      a Discrete Choice Experiment.
AB  - PURPOSE: Rates of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI)
      have sharply increased since 2000. Treatment may be administered in the inpatient
      or outpatient setting; clinical decision-making regarding hospitalization is
      inconsistent, often leading to hospitalization of some patients with ABSSSI who
      qualify for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, which leads to increased
      overall care costs. New antibiotics such as oritavancin are hypothesized to be a
      cost-effective option improving accessibility to ambulatory treatment of ABSSSI.
      The goal of this study was to understand the patient attributes that affect
      clinical decision-making regarding the setting of care for ABSSSI treatment.
      METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted that surveyed
      clinicians of various specialties from the United States and the United Kingdom.
      The survey collected quantitative responses and used a series of choice-based
      experimental designs to evaluate patient attributes influencing clinical
      treatment decisions. FINDINGS: Infection severity, severe comorbidities, and age
      >= 75 years were observed to have the greatest impact on treatment location
      decisions (odds ratio [OR], 0.000-0.004 [95% CI, 0.000-0.011], vs mild ABSSSI;
      OR, 0.246-0.484 [95% CI, 0.154-0.788], vs no active comorbidities; OR, 0.136
      0.523 [95% CI, 0.070-0.888], vs <= 18 years, respectively). The majority of
      respondents indicated they would consider oritavancin to avoid postdischarge
      outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy or oral therapy, regardless of the
      pathogen (63.5%-83.5%). IMPLICATIONS: Key factors influencing ABSSSI treatment
      setting were severity of infection, severity of comorbidities, and age.
      Clinicians surveyed identified patient profiles in which single-dose oritavancin
      might enable wholly outpatient or shortened inpatient management. Additional
      studies to elucidate the ABSSSI care pathways that include oritavancin and other
      novel antibiotics are needed.

PMID- 26874787
TI  - Seasonal Patterns of Medications for Treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
      Disorder: Comparison of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine.
AB  - PURPOSE: Medication is a first-line effective treatment for attention
      deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Currently, immediate-release
      methylphenidate (IR-MPH), the osmotic, controlled-release formulation of
      methylphenidate (OROS-MPH), and atomoxetine (ATX) are the only 3 medications
      approved in Taiwan for the treatment of ADHD. Short-term discontinuation of ADHD
      treatment is often seen among patients undergoing drug therapy. The goal of this
      study was to evaluate potential seasonal patterns in ADHD prescriptions and
      compare the seasonal changes of IR-MPH, OROS-MPH, and ATX use. METHODS: Taiwan's
      National Health Insurance database was used to gather information on patients
      diagnosed with ADHD (N = 145,269) from January 2000 to December 2011. The monthly
      data regarding person-days and receipt of treatment with IR-MPH, OROS-MPH, and
      ATX were analyzed. Time series analyses and autoregressive integrated moving
      average models were used to examine the seasonal patterns in person-days
      receiving ADHD pharmacotherapy. A general linear model with a post hoc test was
      used to determine the differences in monthly consumption of ADHD medications.
      FINDINGS: This study comprised 145,269 patients (mean age: 7.7 years; 78.6% were
      boys) diagnosed with ADHD. The prescriptions of IR-MPH (seasonal autoregressive:
      estimate [SE], 0.92 [0.04], t = 22.87, P < 0.001) and OROS-MPH (estimate [SE],
      0.84 [0.09], t = 9.41, P < 0.001) both showed significant seasonal patterns, but
      ATX prescriptions did not (estimate [SE], 0.50 [0.55]; t = 0.90; P = 0.373). IR
      MPH and OROS-MPH prescriptions shared similar seasonal trends. The mean person
      days of consumption in July were lower than in other months, with the exception
      of February and August. Meanwhile, for ATX, the person-days of consumption in
      February were the lowest. The mean person-days in February were significantly
      lower than in March and May but did not differ from those in other months.
      IMPLICATIONS: The seasonal patterns of IR-MPH and OROS-MPH use coincide with
      school holidays. These findings suggest that discontinuing a drug during the
      holiday period may be popular for people undergoing ADHD pharmacotherapy,
      especially with regard to methylphenidate prescriptions. However, additional
      research is necessary to determine whether temporary discontinuation of drug
      therapy is related to patient outcomes.

PMID- 26874788
TI  - Prevalence of parasitic infections and associations with pregnancy complications
      and outcomes in northern Tanzania: a registry-based cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parasitic infection(s) during pregnancy have been associated with
      increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes in low resource
      settings. However, little is known about their influence on pregnancy outcomes.
      This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections and their
      association with pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes. METHODS: A
      retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using maternally-linked data
      from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) medical birth registry. Birth
      records from all women who delivered singleton infants from 2000-2011 were
      utilized. We excluded multiple gestations and rural medical referral for various
      medical complications. A total of 30,797 births were evaluated. Data analysis was
      performed using SPSS version 18.0. Odds ratio (ORs) with 95 % confidence
      intervals (CIs) for adverse pregnancy outcomes and complications associated with
      parasitic infections were estimated using multiple logistic regression models. A
      p-value of less than 5 % was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The
      most prevalent parasitic infection recorded was malaria (17.0 %), while helminths
      and amebiasis were infrequently recorded (0.6 % vs. 0.7 %, respectively). Women
      who had malaria during pregnancy had 13 % increased odds of having a preterm
      delivery (OR = 1.13; 95 % CI: 1.01-1. 26) as compared to those who were not
      infected. They also had 33 % increased odds of getting maternal anemia (OR =
      1.33; 95 % CI: 1.11-1.72). Likewise, pregnant women who were recorded with
      helminths infections had 29 % increased odds of having maternal anemia as
      compared to those who had no helminths infection (OR = 1.29; 95 % CI:0.48-3.53).
      Moreover, pregnant women who were recorded to have amebiasis had 79 % increased
      odds of having a preterm delivery as compared to those who had no ameba infection
      (OR = 1.79; 95 % CI: 1.12-2.91). CONCLUSIONS: Malaria was the prevalent parasitic
      infection in the studied population while helminth and ameba infections were
      infrequently reported. These parasitic infections were also associated with
      increased risk of anemia and delivery of a preterm infant. These were the only
      three infections/infestations which were evaluated. Our analysis revealed that
      malaria, helminth and ameba infections during pregnancy is dangerous and has life
      threatening consequences. This highlight the need to provide early diagnosis and
      treatment for infected women to prevent pregnancy complications and associated
      adverse pregnancy outcomes.

PMID- 26874789
TI  - Photopolymerization study and adhesive properties of self-etch adhesives
      containing bis(acyl)phosphine oxide initiator.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates the photo-co-polymerization behavior of a
      blend of a diacrylamide (DEBAAP) with a phosphonylated acidic monomer using
      either bis(acyl)phosphine oxide or camphorquinone/amine as photo-initiator and
      studies the effect of variation of the structure of the phosphonylated acidic
      monomer on the shear bond strength to human dentin. METHODS: Photopolymerization
      kinetics has been assessed through the use of photo-DSC with either initiating
      system and with and without a phosphonic acid monomer, while the shear bond
      strengths (SBS) of dentin bonding agents formulated with several phosphonylated
      acidic monomers have been evaluated by macro SBS testing on human dentin.
      RESULTS: Photo-DSC results show that bis(acyl)phosphine oxide initiates a faster
      polymerization than camphorquinone/amine and that both photopolymerizations are
      accelerated by the phosphonic acid monomer. Similar results were obtained between
      adhesives based on camphorquinone/amine and a commercial adhesive (AdheSE,
      Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). The best performances were obtained
      when BAPO was used as the initiator, in many cases far better than the commercial
      adhesive. Adhesive SEA6 based on difluoromethylphosphonic acid C demonstrated the
      best adhesion results of this study. Significance The bis(acyl)phosphine oxide
      photo-initiator causes faster photopolymerization of two-step self-etching dental
      adhesive, and its use could yield better bonding performance.

PMID- 26874790
TI  - Headache and hand numbness in a young female.

PMID- 26874791
TI  - Left Ventricular Non-compaction in Holt-Oram Syndrome.
AB  - Holt-Oram Syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition with complete penetrance
      and which involves upper limb skeletal and cardiac abnormalities. The latter can
      be structural defects or involve the conduction system. This report details the
      occurrence of left ventricular non-compaction in multiple family members with
      Holt-Oram Syndrome. It is recommended that patients with the Holt-Oram Syndrome
      be considered for comprehensive cardiac evaluation to exclude non-compaction
      cardiomyopathy as this may have significant prognostic implications. 

PMID- 26874792
TI  - The Relationships of the Maxillary Sinus With the Superior Alveolar Nerves and
      Vessels as Demonstrated by Cone-Beam CT Combined With MU-CT and Histological
      Analyses.
AB  - There are no available detailed data on the three-dimensional courses of the
      human superior alveolar nerves and vessels. This study aimed to clarify the
      relationships of the maxillary sinus with the superior alveolar nerves and
      vessels using cone-beam computed tomography (CT) combined with MU-CT and
      histological analyses. Digital imaging and communication in medicine data
      obtained from the scanned heads/maxillae of cadavers used for
      undergraduate/postgraduate dissection practice and skulls using cone-beam CT were
      reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) images using software. The 3D images
      were compared with MU-CT images and histological sections. Cone-beam CT clarified
      the relationships of the maxillary sinus with the superior alveolar
      canals/grooves. The main anterior superior alveolar canal/groove ran anteriorly
      through the upper part of the sinus and terminated at the bottom of the nasal
      cavity near the piriform aperture. The main middle alveolar canal ran downward
      from the upper part of the sinus to ultimately join the anterior one. The main
      posterior alveolar canal ran through the lateral lower part of the sinus and
      communicated with the anterior one. Histological analyses demonstrated the
      existence of nerves and vessels in these canals/grooves, and the quantities of
      these structures varied across each canal/groove. Furthermore, the superior
      dental nerve plexus exhibited a network that was located horizontally to the
      occlusal plane, although these nerve plexuses appeared to be the vertical network
      that is described in most textbooks. In conclusion, cone-beam CT is suggested to
      be a useful method for clarifying the superior alveolar canals/grooves including
      the nerves and vessels.

PMID- 26874793
TI  - A Concept for the analysis of repeatability and precision of corneal shape
      measurements.
AB  - We propose a framework for the analysis of the repeatability and precision of
      corneal elevation and the repeatability of corneal thickness data measured by
      clinically used topographers and tomographers. The repeatability is given by the
      standard deviation of different measurements of the same eye for each data point.
      The differences between measurements can partially be explained by different
      positions of the eye at each measurement. The precision is given by the standard
      deviation of the data after correction for displacements (decentration, tilts,
      rotations). The applicability is demonstrated using measurements of the Pentacam
      HR [1] (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) Scheimpflug tomographer. It
      provides anterior corneal elevation data with a precision that was almost limited
      by the axial resolution of 1MUm in the central 6mm zone. This is approximately
      five times better than the precision of the posterior elevation. The results can
      be applied to surface approximation of the exported corneal elevation data and
      give a measure for the goodness of the fit. 

PMID- 26874795
TI  - The relationships between serum cytokine levels and tumor infiltrating immune
      cells and their clinical significance in colorectal cancer.
AB  - Increased inflammatory cell infiltration correlates to improved survival in
      colorectal cancer (CRC). Development and progression of CRC is associated with
      alterations in serum cytokine levels but their significance is not well defined.
      In this study, we investigated the relationships between the serum levels of 13
      cytokines and the densities of eight types of tumor infiltrating inflammatory
      cells and their impact on disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival
      (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in a prospectively recruited group of 147 CRC
      patients. There were strong positive correlations between the serum
      concentrations of different cytokines, as well as between the different types of
      tumor infiltrating immune cells, whereas the associations between serum cytokines
      and tumor infiltrating immune cells were generally weak. High serum IL-12 levels
      associated with increased densities of peritumoral CD8(+) T cells,
      intraepithelial CD3(+) T cells and intratumoral neutrophils, while high serum
      CCL4 levels associated with increased densities of peritumoral CD68(+) cells. In
      multivariate survival models, increased infiltration of intraepithelial CD3(+) T
      cells and increased serum CCL4 associated with improved DFS, whereas higher
      intratumoral CD83(+) dendritic cell density and increased serum interferon gamma
      levels associated with improved CSS and OS. Also high density of peritumoral
      CD3(+) T cells associated with improved CSS. In conclusion, serum cytokines and
      tumor infiltrating immune cells in CRC represent entities with high intragroup
      correlations but relatively weak intergroup correlations. The results suggest
      that tumor infiltrating CD3(+) T cells, CD83(+) dendritic cells, serum CCL4 and
      serum interferon gamma represent relevant markers of disease outcome. 

PMID- 26874796
TI  - Spur cell anemia in the setting of progressive liver allograft failure.

PMID- 26874794
TI  - Calpain-1 and Calpain-2: The Yin and Yang of Synaptic Plasticity and
      Neurodegeneration.
AB  - Many signaling pathways participate in both synaptic plasticity and neuronal
      degeneration. While calpains participate in these phenomena, very few studies
      have evaluated the respective roles of the two major calpain isoforms in the
      brain, calpain-1 and calpain-2. We review recent studies indicating that calpain
      1 and calpain-2 exhibit opposite functions in both synaptic plasticity and
      neurodegeneration. Calpain-1 activation is required for the induction of long
      term potentiation (LTP) and is generally neuroprotective, while calpain-2
      activation limits the extent of potentiation and is neurodegenerative. This
      duality of functions is related to their associations with different PDZ-binding
      proteins, resulting in differential subcellular localization, and offers new
      therapeutic opportunities for a number of indications in which these proteases
      have previously been implicated. 

PMID- 26874797
TI  - Response of human macrophages to wound matrices in vitro.
AB  - Chronic wounds remain a major burden to the global healthcare system. Myriad
      wound matrices are commercially available but their mechanisms of action are
      poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that macrophages are highly
      influenced by their microenvironment, but it is not known how different
      biomaterials affect this interaction. Here, it was hypothesized that human
      macrophages respond differently to changes in biomaterial properties in vitro
      with respect to phenotype, including pro-inflammatory M1, anti-inflammatory M2a,
      known for facilitating extracellular matrix deposition and proliferation, and
      M2c, which has recently been associated with tissue remodeling. Using multiple
      donors, it was found that collagen scaffolds cross-linked with 1-ethyl-3-(3
      dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) promoted the
      least inflammatory phenotype in primary human macrophages compared with scaffolds
      cross-linked with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde. Importantly, gene expression
      analysis trends were largely conserved between donors, especially TNFa (M1),
      CCL22 (M2a), and MRC1 (M2a). Then the response of primary and THP1 monocyte
      derived macrophages to four commercially available wound matrices were compared
      Integra Dermal Regeneration Template (Integra), PriMatrix Dermal Repair Scaffold
      (PriMatrix), AlloMend Acellular Dermal Matrix (AlloMend), and Oasis Wound Matrix
      (Oasis). Gene expression trends were different between primary and THP1 monocyte
      derived macrophages for all six genes analyzed in this study. Finally, the
      behavior of primary macrophages cultured onto the wound matrices over time was
      analyzed. Integra and Oasis caused down-regulation of M2a markers CCL22 and
      TIMP3. PriMatrix caused up-regulation of TNFa (M1) and CD163 (M2c) and down
      regulation of CCL22 and TIMP3 (both M2a). AlloMend caused up-regulation in CD163
      (M2c). Lastly, Oasis promoted the largest increase in the combinatorial M1/M2
      score, defined as the sum of M1 genes divided by the sum of M2 genes. This
      preliminary study suggested that biomaterials influenced the wound
      microenvironment to affect macrophage phenotype.

PMID- 26874798
TI  - Height and Depth Guidelines for Anatomic Femoral Tunnels in Anterior Cruciate
      Ligament Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop guidelines for femoral tunnel placement based on height and
      depth on the lateral wall of the notch and to apply these guidelines
      arthroscopically to show tunnel placements within the anterior cruciate ligament
      (ACL) femoral insertion site. METHODS: Twelve cadaveric knees were dissected to
      define the centers of the femoral ACL attachment and its anteromedial (AM) and
      posterolateral (PL) bundles. In 90 degrees  of flexion, the height and depth of
      each center were determined relative to the low point on the lateral
      intercondylar notch. Radiographic grid measurements were made to validate these
      measurements. Subsequently, the measurement guidelines were applied
      arthroscopically in 10 new cadaveric knees to evaluate their accuracy for an
      anatomic single-bundle femoral tunnel. Interobserver reliability analysis was
      evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: In 90 degrees  of
      flexion, the height of the ACL center was 8.7 +/- 0.6 mm from the low point of
      the lateral notch; PL center, 7.2 +/- 1.2 mm; and AM center, 9.6 +/- 1.1 mm.
      Relative to the low point, the ACL center was 1.7 +/- 1.7 mm posterior, the PL
      center was 3.4 +/- 1.5 mm anterior, and the AM center was 4.9 +/- 1.7 mm
      posterior (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.859). Radiographic grid
      measurements were consistent with the direct measurements. Application of the
      guidelines arthroscopically with or without the assistance of a 7-mm offset aimer
      placed all guide pins for tunnels within the femoral ACL footprint, with 90%
      within 4 mm of the ACL center. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed in cadaveric knees
      in 90 degrees  of flexion that the center of the ACL can be located on the
      lateral notch at a height of 8.7 +/- 0.6 mm from the lowest point and anterior
      11.5 +/- 1.3 mm from the deepest point. How anatomic tunnels can be placed using
      these measurements was also shown in cadaveric knees. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An
      anatomic femoral tunnel for ACL reconstruction can be placed using height and
      depth guidelines.

PMID- 26874799
TI  - Effect of Human Serum and 2 Different Types of Platelet Concentrates on Human
      Meniscus Cell Migration, Proliferation, and Matrix Formation.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of 10% human serum (HS), 5% platelet-rich plasma
      (PRP), and 5% autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) on migration, proliferation,
      and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis of human meniscus cells. METHODS: Cell
      migration and proliferation on stimulation with HS, PRP, and ACP were assessed by
      chemotaxis assays and measurement of genomic DNA content. Meniscus cells were
      cultivated in pellets stimulated with 10% HS, 5% PRP, or 5% ACP. Meniscal ECM
      formation was evaluated by histochemical staining of collagen type I, type II,
      and proteoglycans and by analysis of fibrochondrocyte marker gene expression.
      RESULTS: Human meniscus cells were significantly attracted by all 3 blood-derived
      products (10% HS and 5% ACP: P = .0001, 5% PRP: P = .0002). Cell proliferation at
      day 9 was significantly increased on stimulation with 10% HS (P = .0001) and 5%
      PRP (P = .0002) compared with 5% ACP and controls. Meniscus cell pellet cultures
      showed the formation of a well-structured meniscal ECM with deposition of
      collagen type I, type II, and proteoglycans on stimulation with 10% HS, whereas
      5% PRP or 5% ACP resulted in the formation of an inhomogeneous and more fibrous
      ECM. Stimulation with 10% HS and 5% ACP showed a significant induction of
      fibrochondrocyte marker genes such as aggrecan (HS: P = .0002, ACP: P = .0147),
      cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (HS: P = .0002, ACP: P = .0005), and biglycan
      (HS: P = .0002, ACP: P = .0003), whereas PRP showed no inducing effect.
      CONCLUSIONS: Among all tested blood-derived products, only stimulation with HS
      showed the formation of a meniscal ECM as well as positive cell proliferating and
      migrating effects in vitro. Regarding a potential biological repair of
      nonvascular meniscus lesions, our results may point toward the use of HS as a
      beneficial augment in regenerative meniscus repair approaches. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Our findings may suggest that HS might be a beneficial augment for
      meniscus repair.

PMID- 26874800
TI  - Does Gracilis Preservation Matter in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction? A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of gracilis harvest on hamstring strength, patient
      reported outcomes, and anterior knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament
      (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was
      performed to identify studies comparing the results of semitendinosus (ST) versus
      semitendinosus-gracilis (ST-G) harvest for ACL reconstruction. A meta-analysis
      using a random effects model was performed to determine overall pooled estimates
      of effect for the influence of additional gracilis harvest on hamstring strength,
      patient-reported outcomes, and anterior knee laxity after ACL reconstruction.
      RESULTS: Twelve studies were identified and included in the review. ST-G harvest
      was noted to decrease hamstring isokinetic strength at 60 degrees  per second by
      3.85% relative to isolated ST harvest (P = .01). Decreased isometric strength was
      also noted in the ST-G harvest group at both 90 degrees  of flexion (mean
      difference: 5.55%; P = .03) and 105 degrees  to 110 degrees  of flexion (mean
      difference: 13.68%; P = .003). Active knee flexion angle loss was also noted to
      be greater in the ST-G harvest group (mean difference: 3.91 degrees ; P = .006).
      No differences were found in isokinetic strength at 180 degrees  to 240 degrees 
      per second (mean difference: 3.20%; P = .08), patient-reported outcome scores
      (mean difference: 1.87 points; P = .06), or anterior knee laxity (mean
      difference: 0.03 mm; P = .78) based on gracilis harvest. CONCLUSIONS: The
      addition of gracilis harvest to an isolated ST harvest for ACL reconstruction
      results in statistically significant, but likely not clinically relevant
      differences in isokinetic and isometric hamstring strength as well as patient
      reported outcomes. Hamstring strength deficits may be larger at higher flexion
      angles. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, systematic review of level I-III studies.

PMID- 26874801
TI  - Morphology of the Lesser Tuberosity and Intertubercular Groove in Patients With
      Arthroscopically Confirmed Subscapularis and Biceps Tendon Pathology.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate for an association between the morphology of the lesser
      tuberosity and intertubercular groove and subscapularis tendon tears and biceps
      tendon pathology. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with arthroscopically confirmed
      subscapularis tendon tears were compared with 59 demographically matched control
      patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography
      arthrography examination of the shoulder. Measurements of the lesser tuberosity
      and intertubercular groove included maximum depth of the intertubercular groove,
      intertubercular groove depth at the midpoint of the glenoid, lesser tuberosity
      length, length from the top of the humeral head to the point of maximum depth of
      the intertubercular groove, length from the top of the humeral head to the top of
      the lesser tuberosity, and medial wall angle and depth. RESULTS: Patients with
      subscapularis tears showed a significantly decreased depth of the intertubercular
      groove at the mid glenoid (P = .01), shorter length of the lesser tuberosity (P =
      .002), and greater distance from the top of the humeral head to the top of the
      lesser tuberosity (P = .02). There was a trend toward a decreased medial wall
      angle (P = .07) and greater distance from the top of the humeral head to the
      point of maximum intertubercular groove depth (P = .06). Patients with biceps
      tendon pathology showed a significantly decreased depth of the intertubercular
      groove at the mid glenoid (P = .001), shorter length of the lesser tuberosity (P
      = .0003), greater distance from the top of the humeral head to the top of the
      lesser tuberosity (P = .01), and decreased medial wall angle (P = .01) and depth
      (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: There are several morphologic factors related to the
      lesser tuberosity and intertubercular groove that are associated with both
      subscapularis tendon tears and biceps tendon pathology. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level
      III, case-control study.

PMID- 26874802
TI  - Killing two birds or more with one stone.

PMID- 26874803
TI  - Grammar of binding in the languages of the world: Unity versus diversity.
AB  - Cole, Hermon, and Yanti (2015) present a number of far-reaching conclusions about
      language universals on the basis of their study of the anaphoric systems of the
      Austronesian languages of Indonesia. The present contribution critically assesses
      these conclusions. It reports a further set of data, and shows that contra to
      what these authors argue, the systems they discuss can be straightforwardly
      accounted for by a simple set of universal principles plus properties of the
      vocabulary of the languages involved. I conclude this article with some remarks
      on acquisition.

PMID- 26874804
TI  - Bile acids in drug induced liver injury: Key players and surrogate markers.
AB  - Bile acid research has gained great momentum since the role of bile acids as key
      signaling molecules in the enterohepatic circulation was discovered. Their
      physiological function in regulating their own homeostasis, as well as energy and
      lipid metabolism make them interesting targets for the pharmaceutical industry in
      the context of diseases such as bile acid induced diarrhea, bile acid induced
      cholestasis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Changes in bile acid homeostasis are
      also linked to various types of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, the
      key question whether bile acids are surrogate markers for monitoring DILI or key
      pathogenic players in the onset and progression of DILI is under intense
      investigation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the different facets of
      bile acids in the context of normal physiology, hereditary defects of bile acid
      transport and DILI. 

PMID- 26874805
TI  - Reply to Stephen B. Williams and Ashish M. Kamat's Letter to the Editor re:
      Samantha Cambier, Richard J. Sylvester, Laurence Collette, et al. EORTC Nomograms
      and Risk Groups for Predicting Recurrence, Progression, and Disease-specific and
      Overall Survival in Non-Muscle-invasive Stage Ta-T1 Urothelial Bladder Cancer
      Patients Treated with 1-3 Years of Maintenance Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Eur Urol
      2016;69:60-9.

PMID- 26874807
TI  - Do the Benefits of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors in Male Lower Urinary
      Tract Symptoms Go Beyond Improved Symptoms?

PMID- 26874806
TI  - Robot-assisted Versus Open Radical Prostatectomy: A Contemporary Analysis of an
      All-payer Discharge Database.
AB  - BACKGROUND: More than a decade since its inception, the benefits and cost
      efficiency of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) continue to elicit
      controversy. OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes and costs between RARP and open RP
      (ORP). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cohort study of 629 593 men who
      underwent RP for localized prostate cancer at 449 hospitals in the USA from 2003
      to 2013, using the Premier Hospital Database. INTERVENTION: RARP was ascertained
      through a review of the hospital charge description master for robotic supplies.
      OUTCOME MEASURES AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Outcomes were 90-d postoperative
      complications (Clavien), blood product transfusions, operating room time (ORT),
      length of stay (LOS), and direct hospital costs. Propensity-weighted regression
      analyses accounting for clustering by hospitals and survey weighting ensured
      nationally representative estimates. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: RARP utilization
      rapidly increased from 1.8% in 2003 to 85% in 2013 (p<0.001). RARP patients
      (n=311 135) were less likely to experience any complications (odds ratio [OR]
      0.68, p<0.001) or prolonged LOS (OR 0.28, p<0.001), or to receive blood products
      (OR 0.33, p=0.002) compared to ORP patients (n=318 458). The adjusted mean ORT
      was 131min longer for RARP (p=0.002). The 90-d direct hospital costs were higher
      for RARP (+$4528, p<0.001), primarily attributed to operating room and supplies
      costs. Costs were no longer signficantly different between ORP and RARP among the
      highest-volume surgeons (>=104 cases/yr; +$1990, p=0.40) and highest-volume
      hospitals (>=318 cases/yr; +$1225, p=0.39). Limitations include the lack of
      oncologic characteristics and the retrospective nature of the study. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our contemporary analysis reveals that RARP confers a perioperative morbidity
      advantage at higher cost. In the absence of large randomized trials because of
      the widespread adoption of RARP, this retrospective study represents the best
      available evidence for the morbidity and cost profile of RARP versus ORP. PATIENT
      SUMMARY: In this large study of men with prostate cancer who underwent either
      open or robotic radical prostatectomy, we found that robotic surgery has a better
      morbidity profile but costs more.

PMID- 26874808
TI  - Re: Samantha Cambier, Richard J. Sylvester, Laurence Collette, et al. EORTC
      Nomograms and Risk Groups for Predicting Recurrence, Progression, and Disease
      specific and Overall Survival in Non-Muscle-invasive Stage Ta-T1 Urothelial
      Bladder Cancer Patients Treated with 1-3 Years of Maintenance Bacillus Calmette
      Guerin. Eur Urol 2016;69:60-9.

PMID- 26874809
TI  - Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A
      Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: There is a potential risk that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
      may exacerbate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among aging men with late
      onset hypogonadism (LOH) because of testosterone's growth-promoting effects on
      the prostate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the change in LUTS severity as assessed using
      the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) between men receiving TRT versus
      placebo for the treatment of LOH. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Systematic search of
      MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and The Cochrane Library for randomized
      controlled trials of TRT for LOH published between January 1992 and September
      2015. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were a randomized control
      trial, used TRT, and assessed LUTS outcomes using the IPSS. Estimates were pooled
      using random effects meta-analysis. Differences by study-level characteristics
      were estimated using meta-regression. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted
      from 14 trials involving 2029 participants. The average age was 64.5 yr and the
      average follow-up was 34.4 mo. Seven studies used topical, five used injectable,
      and two used oral testosterone. There was no statistically significant difference
      in pooled changes in IPSS from baseline to follow up in men treated with TRT
      compared with those receiving placebo (-0.41 points [95% confidence interval: 
      0.89 to 0.07; I(2)=0%, p=0.28] vs. 0.12 points [95% confidence interval: -0.32 to
      0.55; I(2)=0%, p=0.81], between-group difference p>0.05). No between-group
      differences were noted in subanalyses that controlled for potential confounders
      such as type of testosterone, change in testosterone, aging male symptom scale,
      or prostate-specific antigen levels (p>0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: In
      this meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials of TRT for LOH, the change in IPSS was
      similar among men receiving TRT versus placebo, suggesting that TRT treatment
      does not worsen LUTS among men with LOH. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this analysis of 14
      clinical trials, testosterone replacement therapy did not worsen lower urinary
      tract symptoms among men being treated for late-onset hypogonadism.

PMID- 26874811
TI  - Lifelong Learning in Practice: The Age of Discussion Through Social Media.

PMID- 26874812
TI  - [Amyloidosis: Up-to-date].
AB  - Amyloidosis is mainly a systemic disease belonging to protein-folding diseases.
      The past 10 years have shown significant progress in typing and the clinical
      management of amyloidosis, in the identification of novel prognostic markers for
      risk-stratification, and also in the development of new therapeutic agents.
      Biological molecular techniques are now able to type amyloidosis which were
      unidentified. Cardiac MRI and biomarkers allow a precise risk-stratification,
      especially in AL amyloidosis. If necessary, this prognostic evaluation may lead
      to rapid changes in the chemotherapy treatment. Emerging treatments rely on
      biotherapies, gene therapy, immunotherapy and blocking analogous agents. They
      give hope about an increase of survival of patients with systemic amyloidosis. 

PMID- 26874810
TI  - Long-term Impact of Mode of Delivery on Stress Urinary Incontinence and Urgency
      Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI)
      are associated with physical and psychological morbidity, and large societal
      costs. The long-term effects of delivery modes on each kind of incontinence
      remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term impact of delivery mode
      on SUI and UUI. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We searched Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, and
      relevant major conference abstracts up to October 31, 2014, including any
      observational study with adjusted analyses or any randomized trial addressing the
      association between delivery mode and SUI or UUI >=1 yr after delivery. Two
      reviewers extracted data, including incidence/prevalence of SUI and UUI by
      delivery modes, and assessed risk of bias. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Pooled estimates
      from 15 eligible studies demonstrated an increased risk of SUI after vaginal
      delivery versus cesarean section (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.85; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 1.56-2.19; I(2)=57%; risk difference: 8.2%). Metaregression
      demonstrated a larger effect of vaginal delivery among younger women (p=0.005).
      Four studies suggested no difference in the risk of SUI between spontaneous
      vaginal and instrumental delivery (aOR: 1.11; 95% CI, 0.84-1.45; I(2)=50%). Eight
      studies suggested an elevated risk of UUI after vaginal delivery versus cesarean
      section (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02-1.65; I(2)=37%; risk difference: 2.6%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared with cesarean section, vaginal delivery is associated with
      an almost twofold increase in the risk of long-term SUI, with an absolute
      increase of 8%, and an effect that is largest in younger women. There is also an
      increased risk of UUI, with an absolute increase of approximately 3%. PATIENT
      SUMMARY: In this systematic review we looked for the long-term effects of
      childbirth on urinary leakage. We found that vaginal delivery is associated with
      an almost twofold increase in the risk of developing leakage with exertion,
      compared with cesarean section, with a smaller effect on leakage in association
      with urgency.

PMID- 26874813
TI  - [Incidental finding of situs inversus totalis using scintigraphy to rule out
      gastrointestinal bleeding and Meckel's diverticulum].

PMID- 26874814
TI  - Ganglioglioma arising from olfactory sheath: A rare site of an uncommon tumor.
AB  - Gangliogliomas are rare slow growing tumors with a mixed population of dysplastic
      ganglion cells and glial components, reported at variable sites within the
      central nervous system, including the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes, the
      striatum, cerebellum, pituitary and pineal glands as well as the spinal cord.
      Rarely gangliogliomas have been reported arising within the cranial nerves,
      including the optic and trigeminal nerve. We present the first patient, to our
      knowledge, where such a tumor originated from the olfactory sheath. Migration
      defects leading to entrapment of sensory neurons during development is believed
      to be responsible for the pathogenesis of these lesions. The extent of surgical
      extirpation and histopathological anaplasia are important prognosticators. While
      gangliogliomas are rare tumors, it is crucial to consider them in the
      differential diagnosis of non-enhancing, poorly localized lesions along the
      cranial nerves. 

PMID- 26874815
TI  - Subtle Cognitive Dysfunction in Resolving High Altitude Cerebral Edema Revealed
      by a Clock Drawing Test.
AB  - High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a life-threatening condition that can
      affect people who ascend to altitudes above 2500 m. Altered mental status and the
      presence of ataxia distinguishes HACE from acute mountain sickness (AMS). We
      describe a patient with subtle cognitive dysfunction, likely due to HACE that had
      not fully resolved. When he initially presented, the patient appeared to have
      normal mental status and was not ataxic. The diagnosis of HACE was missed
      initially but was made when further history became available. Cognitive
      dysfunction was then diagnosed based on abnormal performance of a clock drawing
      test. A formal mental status examination, using a clock drawing test, may be
      helpful in assessing whether a patient at high altitude with apparently normal
      mental status and with normal gait has HACE. 

PMID- 26874816
TI  - An exploration of familial associations of two movement pattern-derived subgroups
      of chronic disabling low back pain; a cross-sectional cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Altered movement patterns with pain have been demonstrated in
      children, adolescents and adults with chronic disabling low back pain (CDLBP). A
      previously developed classification system has identified different subgroups
      including active extension and multidirectional patterns in patients with CDLBP.
      While familial associations have been identified for certain spinal postures in
      standing, it is unknown whether a familial relationship might exist between
      movement pattern-derived subgroups in families with CDLBP. OBJECTIVES: This study
      explored whether familial associations in movement pattern-derived subgroups
      within and between members of families with CDLBP existed. DESIGN: Cross
      sectional cohort study. METHOD: 33 parents and 28 children with CDLBP were
      classified into two subgroups based on clinical analysis of video footage of
      postures and functional movements, combined with aggravating factors obtained
      from Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. Prevalence of subgroups within family
      members was determined, associations between parent and child's subgroup
      membership was evaluated using Fisher's exact test, and spearman's correlation
      coefficient was used to determine the strength of association between familial
      dyads. RESULTS: The majority of parents were classified as active extenders, sons
      predominately multidirectional and daughters were evenly distributed between the
      two subgroups. No significant association was found when comparing subgroups in
      nine parent-child relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The exploration of a small cohort
      of family dyads in this study demonstrated that children's movement pattern
      derived subgroups could not be explained by their parents' subgroup membership.
      These results cannot be generalised to the CLBP population due to this study's
      small sample. Larger sample studies are needed to further elucidate this issue.

PMID- 26874817
TI  - Feasibility of the subgroup criteria included in the treatment-strategy-based
      (TREST) classification system (CS) for patients with non-specific low back pain
      (NSLBP).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The new treatment-strategy based (TREST) classification system (CS)
      is in its exploratory phase with potential to impact clinical decision-making in
      the management of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the
      feasibility of subgroup criteria included in TREST subgroups: pain modulation,
      stabilization exercise, mobilization, and training. METHODS: An observational
      cross-sectional investigation involving a secondary analysis of data from 128
      examinations of NSLBP patients, categorized individually by four examiners into
      one of the TREST subgroups. Four separate multivariate logistic regression
      analyses in two models were applied to identify how examiners applied judgments
      on pain intensity, disability and predetermined signs and symptoms to categorize
      patients into subgroups. RESULTS: Associations were found between the presence of
      "neurological signs and symptoms" (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.9-16), "irritability" (OR
      3.0, 95% CI 3.2-20) and disability (ODI) >30 (OR 8.5, 95% CI 3-20) and the
      subgroup pain modulation; between the presence of "bilateral spinal signs" (OR
      5.6, 95% CI 1.1-29) and the subgroup stabilization exercise; between the presence
      of "specific segmental signs" (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.2-14) and ODI <=30 (OR 0.2, 95%
      CI 0.1-0.6) and the subgroup mobilization; between the presence of "neurological
      signs and symptoms" (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.4) and the subgroup training.
      CONCLUSIONS: Findings preliminary support feasibility of TREST subgroup criteria:
      neurological deficits, irritability, bilateral spinal signs, segmental signs and
      disability in the categorization of NSLBP patients. Further validation of the
      TREST classification system is required to establish its value in clinical
      reasoning and impact on patient outcomes.

PMID- 26874820
TI  - Fractional carbon-dioxide (CO2) laser-assisted topical therapy for the treatment
      of onychomycosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inability of topical medications to penetrate via nail plate brings a
      great challenge to clinicians in treating onychomycosis. Furthermore, oral
      medications are not appropriate for all patients because of drug interactions,
      adverse effects, and contraindications. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the
      clinical efficacy of fractional carbon-dioxide laser-assisted topical therapy for
      onychomycosis. METHODS: In total, 75 patients with 356 onychomycotic nails
      confirmed by mycologic examination were included in this study. All the affected
      nails received 3 sessions of laser therapy at 4-week intervals and once-daily
      application of terbinafine cream for 3 months. RESULTS: In all, 94.66% and 92% of
      the treated patients were potassium hydroxide and culture negative, respectively,
      after 3 months of treatment. However, only 84% and 80% were potassium hydroxide
      and culture negative, respectively, at 6 months of follow-up. Using Scoring
      Clinical Index for Onychomycosis electronic calculator, 73.33% of the patients
      scored higher than 6 and 26.66% of the patients scored 6 or less. Those who
      scored more than 6 were evaluated clinically and 98.18% of them showed response
      to treatment at 3 months and 78.18% of them at 6 months of follow-up. LIMITATION:
      Lack of control group and short duration of follow-up are limitations.
      CONCLUSIONS: Fractional carbon-dioxide laser therapy combined with topical
      antifungal was found to be effective in the treatment of onychomycosis. However,
      randomized clinical studies are needed before it can be widely used in clinics.

PMID- 26874819
TI  - Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL): Current practices in blood assessment and the
      utility of T-cell receptor (TCR)-Vbeta chain restriction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate quantification of malignant cells in the peripheral blood of
      patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is important for early detection,
      prognosis, and monitoring disease burden. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the
      spectrum of current clinical practices; critically evaluate elements of current
      International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas (ISCL) B1 and B2 staging criteria;
      and assess the potential role of T-cell receptor-Vbeta analysis by flow
      cytometry. METHODS: We assessed current clinical practices by survey, and
      performed a retrospective analysis of 161 patients evaluated at Yale (2011-2014)
      to compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative
      predictive value of parameters for ISCL B2 staging. RESULTS: There was
      heterogeneity in clinical practices among institutions. ISCL B1 criteria did not
      capture 5 Yale cohort cases with immunophenotypic abnormalities that later
      progressed. T-cell receptor-Vbeta testing was more specific than polymerase chain
      reaction and aided diagnosis in detecting clonality, but was of limited benefit
      in quantification of tumor burden. LIMITATIONS: Because of limited follow-up
      involving a single center, further investigation will be necessary to conclude
      whether our proposed diagnostic algorithm is of general clinical benefit.
      CONCLUSION: We propose further study of modified B1 criteria: CD4/CD8 ratio 5 or
      greater, %CD4(+) CD26(-) 20% or greater, or %CD4(+) CD7(-) 20% or greater, with
      evidence of clonality. T-cell receptor-Vbeta testing should be considered in
      future diagnostic and staging algorithms.

PMID- 26874821
TI  - Cutaneous involvement in multiple myeloma (MM): A case series with
      clinicopathologic correlation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Disease-specific skin lesions are rare in patients with multiple
      myeloma (MM). OBJECTIVE: We sought to further characterize the clinical and
      pathologic features of patients with cutaneous involvement with MM. METHODS: We
      identified 13 patients with cutaneous lesions of MM. RESULTS: Cutaneous lesions
      consisted of pink, red, and violaceous papules, nodules, and/or plaques that
      varied in size. Histopathology revealed atypical plasma cells with occasional
      plasmablastic features. MM had aggressive biologic features and was at an
      advanced stage in the majority of patients. Despite aggressive management,
      including chemotherapy and stem-cell transplantation, most patients died of
      progressive disease within a few months after the development of cutaneous
      lesions. LIMITATIONS: The study group was relatively small. CONCLUSIONS:
      Cutaneous involvement with MM is associated with aggressive biologic behavior and
      short survival.

PMID- 26874823
TI  - IMF-lending programs and suicide mortality.
AB  - While the economic consequences of IMF programs have been extensively analyzed in
      the literature, much less is known about how key welfare indicators, including
      suicide-mortality rates, correlate with countries' participation in such
      programs. This paper examines the impact of IMF lending on suicide mortality,
      using data from 30 developing and transition countries that received non
      concessionary IMF loans during 1991-2008. Our results support the hypothesis of a
      positive causal relationship between suicide mortality and participation in IMF
      programs but reveal no systematic suicide-increasing effect from the size of IMF
      loans. This holds after accounting for self-selection into programs, resulting
      from the endogeneity of a country's decision to resort to the IMF for funding,
      and after controlling for standard socio-economic influences on suicidal
      behaviour. In particular, we find a positive aggregate suicide-mortality
      differential due to IMF-program participation of between 4 and 14 percentage
      points. We also find that the positive association between suicides and program
      participation is stronger and more robust among males. Comparing age groups,
      individuals belonging to the age group 45-to-64 exhibit the highest increase in
      suicide due to program-participation, which amounts to over 18 percentage points.
      Overall, our results imply that when countries are exposed to IMF programs in an
      attempt to resolve their economic problems, social-safety nets need to be
      designed to protect the adversely-affected part of the population. 

PMID- 26874822
TI  - Expansion of highly activated invariant natural killer T cells with altered
      phenotype in acute dengue infection.
AB  - Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are capable of rapid activation and
      production of cytokines upon recognition of antigenic lipids presented by CD1d
      molecules. They have been shown to play a significant role in many viral
      infections and were observed to be highly activated in patients with acute dengue
      infection. In order to characterize further their role in dengue infection, we
      investigated the proportion of iNKT cells and their phenotype in adult patients
      with acute dengue infection. The functionality of iNKT cells in patients was
      investigated by both interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 ex-vivo enzyme
      linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays following stimulation with alpha-galactosyl
      ceramide (alphaGalCer). We found that circulating iNKT cell proportions were
      significantly higher (P = 0.03) in patients with acute dengue when compared to
      healthy individuals and were predominantly of the CD4(+) subset. iNKT cells of
      patients with acute dengue had reduced proportions expressing CD8alpha and CD161
      when compared to healthy individuals. The iNKT cells of patients were highly
      activated and iNKT activation correlated significantly with dengue virus-specific
      immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody levels. iNKT cells expressing Bcl-6 (P = 0.0003)
      and both Bcl-6 and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) (P = 0.006) were
      increased significantly in patients when compared to healthy individuals.
      Therefore, our data suggest that in acute dengue infection there is an expansion
      of highly activated CD4(+) iNKT cells, with reduced expression of CD161 markers.

PMID- 26874824
TI  - The myth of the total institution: Written narratives of patients' views of
      sanatorium care 1908-1959.
AB  - Drawing on written narratives by 72 former sanatorium patients, this article
      explores, from patients' perspectives, the nature of the relationships between
      patients and staff in a Swedish sanatorium during the first half of the twentieth
      century. These narratives are discussed in the context of the total institution.
      This article suggests that this phenomenon was marked by inconsistencies that can
      be understood in terms of its situational and contradictory characteristics.
      Simultaneously, these narratives are in opposition to the assumption of the
      static and powerless patient adapted only to suit the logic of the institution. 

PMID- 26874825
TI  - Poverty dynamics in Germany: Evidence on the relationship between persistent
      poverty and health behavior.
AB  - Previous studies have found poverty to be related to lower levels of health due
      to poor health behavior such as unhealthy eating, smoking or less physical
      activity. Longer periods of poverty seem to be especially harmful for individual
      health behavior. Studies have shown that poverty has a dynamic character.
      Moreover, poverty is increasingly regarded as being a multidimensional construct
      and one that considers more aspects than income alone. Against this background
      this paper analyzes the relationship between health behavior and persistent
      spells of income poverty as well as a combined poverty indicator using data of
      the German Socio-Economic Panel (2000-2010). Next to cross-sectional logistic
      regression models we estimate fixed-effects models to analyze the effect of
      persistent poverty on dietary behavior, tobacco consumption, and physical
      activity. Cross-sectional results suggest that persistent poverty is related to
      poor health behavior, particularly regarding tobacco consumption and physical
      activity. Results also show that multidimensional and dynamic aspects of poverty
      matter. Complementary panel analyses reveal negative effects for the combined
      poverty indicator only for dietary behavior in the total sample. However, by
      analyzing the sample by gender we identify further effects of persistent poverty
      on health behavior. The analyses show that not only do individuals in poverty but
      also those in precarious situations show health-damaging behavior more often. 

PMID- 26874826
TI  - [Conservative management of upper tract urinary fistulae using ureteral trans
      vesico-parietal stent].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Ureteral stents and ureteral catheters externalized through the
      urethra are not ideal solutions to manage complicated upper urinary tract
      fistulae. We sought an effective method of drainage, minimally invasive,
      reproducible allowing a rapid patient's discharge. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between
      November 2013 and February 2015, an ureteral stent was exteriorized in trans
      vesico-parietal by an endoscopic and percutaneous access in patients with
      complicated upper urinary tract fistulae. Monitoring of tolerance, complications
      and urinary fistula healing was performed. RESULTS: Nine consecutive patients had
      an ureteral stent exteriorized in trans-vesico-parietal to manage complicated
      upper urinary tract fistulae. There was no failure in introducing the catheter,
      or postoperative complication. Catheters were left in place on average 36.1days
      (24-55). The patients were able to return home with the catheter in place in
      77.8% of cases. The tolerance of the catheter was good. All fistulae were able to
      be treated conservatively at the end of the drainage period. CONCLUSION: Trans
      vesico-parietal ureteral catheters enable efficient and reproducible conservative
      treatment of upper tract urinary fistulae regardless of their cause. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 5.

PMID- 26874827
TI  - Fertility defects in Surfactant associated protein D knockout female mice:
      altered ovarian hormone profile.
AB  - Surfactant associated protein D (SFTPD, also known as SP-D), a pattern
      recognition molecule, is an integral component of the mucosal immune system of
      female reproductive tract (FRT). In addition to host defense functions in the
      FRT, recent evidences indicate immunomodulatory role of SFTPD in parturition and
      pre-term labor. Regulation of SFTPD expression by ovarian hormones in the mouse
      uterus implicates SFTPD of FRT in pregnancy establishment and maintenance. In the
      current study, we attempted to decipher the functional relevance of SFTPD in FRT
      by characterizing the fertility parameters of surfactant associated protein D
      knockout (Sftpd(tm1Jhf)/Sftpd(tm1Jhf)) female mice. Knockout female mice
      exhibited extended estrous cycle with altered serum profile of ovarian hormones.
      We also demonstrate altered expression of ovarian hormone receptors and hormone
      responsive genes ITGB1, LIF and HOXA10 in uteri of these mice. Knockout females
      mated with wild type males had significantly smaller litter size due to increased
      pre-implantation embryo loss. We also observed an altered immune profile in
      knockout mice uteri with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, increased
      numbers of pro-inflammatory monocytes/macrophages and lower FOXP3 levels during
      the pre-implantation period. LPS administration to pregnant knockout mice did not
      result in any increase in embryo implantation loss and was associated with a
      blunted uterine pro-inflammatory response, plausibly due to higher levels of
      serum progesterone. Taken together, our results demonstrate that SFTPD deficiency
      affects female fertility, highlighting roles for SFTPD in ovarian and uterine
      physiology. 

PMID- 26874828
TI  - A potential link between TSLP/TSLPR/STAT5 and TLR2/MyD88/NFkappaB-p65 in human
      corneal epithelial cells for Aspergillus fumigatus tolerance.
AB  - Our previous studies reported that pattern recognition receptors (PRRs),
      including the cell surface Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytoplasmic NOD-like
      receptors (NLRs), recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) to
      initiate downstream signal cascades to active immunity responses. Thymic stromal
      lymphopoietin (TSLP) has recently emerged as a key cytokine in the development of
      type 2 adaptive immune responses. However, the crosstalk between PRRs and TSLP
      has not been well elucidated in Aspergillus fumigates keratitis. Our studies
      demonstrated that HCECs not only respond to TSLP, but also initiate immunological
      regulation through TSLP/TSLPR/STAT5 signaling pathway. In addition, we revealed
      that zymosan TLR2 agonist enhanced the expression of TSLP and TSLPR and
      phosphorylation of STAT5. Furthermore, neutralization of TLR2 with monoclonal Ab
      prevented the production of TSLP and TSLPR and phosphorylation of STAT5 from
      increasing which induced by A. fumigatus hyphae. Interestingly, we also found
      that human recombinant TSLP induced the increase of TLR2 downstream signal
      molecules, and TSLP knockdown could reduce the increase of TLR2 downstream
      signaling molecules(MyD88 and NF-kappaB-p65) induced by A. fumigatus hyphae.
      These studies indicated that HCECs represent a novel target of TSLP,
      TSLP/TSLPR/STAT5 signaling plays an important role in response to A. fumigatus
      infection in HCECs, and TLR2 downstream signaling molecules up regulate
      TSLP/TSLPR/STAT5 signaling as well as TSLP downstream signaling molecules up
      regulate TLR2/MyD88/NFkappaB-p65 signaling in this phenomenon. 

PMID- 26874829
TI  - MicroRNA-21 as a novel biomarker in diagnosis and response to therapy in
      asthmatic children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to asthma remain largely
      unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs exert powerful effects on
      immunological function by tuning networks of target genes that orchestrate cell
      activity. However, the role of miRNAs, specifically microRNA-21 (miRNA- 21), in
      the regulation of allergic airway inflammation is not well defined. Our aim was
      to investigate the serum miRNA- 21 expression levels as potential biomarker in
      childhood asthma [with, without inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy, and steroid
      resistant (SR)]; and their possible contributions in disease status, its
      molecular target interleukin-12 (IL-12) p35, and response to therapy. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: This study included 175 children; 95 were asthmatic patients
      subdivided into 3 groups [40 asthmatic children without ICS, 40 steroid sensitive
      (SS) asthma children and 15 steroid resistant (SR) asthma children] and 80 were
      healthy children as healthy controls. The miRNA-21 expressions levels were
      determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in all
      children. Serum IL-12p35 and total IgE levels were measured using enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The expression levels of miRNA-21 were
      significantly higher in the asthmatic children than in control group (P<0.001);
      with significantly higher levels in asthmatic patients without ICS or in SR
      patients compared to SS children (P<0.001). On contrast, serum IL-12p35 levels
      were significantly decreased in asthmatic patients without ICS therapy or in SR
      asthma patients as compared to SS patients (P<0.001). Our data revealed that
      serum miRNA-21 expression levels was significant negatively correlated with serum
      IL-12p35 levels and FEV1, while it was positively correlated with both sputum and
      blood eosinophils. Importantly, serum miRNA-21 had a predictive value in
      differentiating SS from SR patients, with an AUC value of 0.99, specificity of
      86.7%, sensitivity of 97.5% and P<0.001. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that
      serum miRNA-21 is stable and detectable in serum of asthmatic children, which
      could promise potential biomarker in diagnosis as well as in response to therapy
      of asthma.

PMID- 26874830
TI  - Subtalar Arthroereisis Implant Removal in Adults: A Prospective Study of 100
      Patients.
AB  - Subtalar joint arthroereisis (STA) can be used in the management of adult
      acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD), including posterior tibial tendon
      dysfunction. The procedure is quick and normally causes little morbidity;
      however, the implant used for STA often needs to be removed because of sinus
      tarsi pain. The present study evaluated the rate and risk factors for removal of
      the implant used for STA in adults treated for AAFD/posterior tibial tendon
      dysfunction, including patient age, implant size, and the use of endoscopic
      gastrocnemius recession. Patients undergoing STA for adult acquired flatfoot were
      prospectively studied from 1996 to 2012. The inclusion criteria were an
      arthroereisis procedure for AAFD/posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, age >18
      years, and a follow-up period of >=2 years. The exclusion criteria were hindfoot
      arthritis, age <18 years, and a follow-up period of <2 years. A total of 100
      patients (average age 53 years) underwent 104 STA procedures. The mean follow-up
      period was 6.5 (range 2 to 17) years. The overall incidence of implant removal
      was 22.1%. Patient age was not a risk factor for implant removal (p = .09).
      However, implant size was a factor for removal, with 11-mm implants removed
      significantly more frequently (p = .02). Endoscopic gastrocnemius recession did
      not exert any influence on the rate of implant removal (p = .19). After STA for
      AAFD, 22% of the implants were removed. No significant difference was found in
      the incidence of removal according to patient age or endoscopic gastrocnemius
      recession. However, a significant difference was found for implant size, with 11
      mm implants explanted most frequently. 

PMID- 26874832
TI  - Automatic cytoplasm and nuclei segmentation for color cervical smear image using
      an efficient gap-search MRF.
AB  - Accurate and effective cervical smear image segmentation is required for
      automated cervical cell analysis systems. Thus, we proposed a novel superpixel
      based Markov random field (MRF) segmentation framework to acquire the nucleus,
      cytoplasm and image background of cell images. We seek to classify color non
      overlapping superpixel-patches on one image for image segmentation. This model
      describes the whole image as an undirected probabilistic graphical model and was
      developed using an automatic label-map mechanism for determining nuclear,
      cytoplasmic and background regions. A gap-search algorithm was designed to
      enhance the model efficiency. Data show that the algorithms of our framework
      provide better accuracy for both real-world and the public Herlev datasets.
      Furthermore, the proposed gap-search algorithm of this model is much more faster
      than pixel-based and superpixel-based algorithms. 

PMID- 26874831
TI  - Treatment of Calcified Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy by the Posterior Midline
      Approach.
AB  - The present study investigated the clinical outcomes of the posterior midline
      approach in the treatment of 34 patients with significantly calcified insertional
      Achilles tendinopathy. The posterior midline approach was applied for the
      surgical treatment of 34 patients with chronic significantly calcified
      insertional Achilles tendinopathy after failed conservative treatment.
      Gastrocnemius recession was performed simultaneously for patients with
      gastrocnemius contracture. The Fowler-Philip angle and parallel pitch lines were
      measured before surgery, and the visual analog scale, Tegner score, and Victorian
      Institute of Sport tendon study group score were recorded before and after
      surgery. The mean follow-up period was 45.2 +/- 17.7 (range 24 to 84) months.
      After surgery, the visual analog scale score had decreased notably, and the
      Tegner score and Victorian Institute of Sport tendon study group score had
      increased significantly. The posterior midline approach can achieve satisfactory
      outcomes in the treatment of significantly calcified insertional Achilles
      tendinopathy, and gastrocnemius recession (Strayer procedure) should be performed
      for patients with gastrocnemius contracture to improve the surgical outcome. 

PMID- 26874833
TI  - Country-level correlates of e-cigarette use in the European Union.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the
      prevalence of e-cigarette use and country-level factors across 28 European
      countries. METHODS: The study objectives were addressed in an ecological design
      in which both exposures and outcomes were measured at the country level. Data
      from the Eurobarometer Report, the Eurostat database and the WHO observatory were
      analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed considering the
      rates of current and ever smokers of e-cigarettes as dependent variables, and
      socio-economic factors, health status and policies against tobacco as independent
      variables. RESULTS: Both the rate of current smokers and ever smokers of e
      cigarette were positively associated to the offer of help to quit tobacco use (P
      < 0.01; P = 0.04) and to the raise of taxes on tobacco (P = 0.01; P = 0.01). The
      warn on dangers of tobacco negatively correlated with the rate of e-cigarette
      current smokers. The rate of current e-cigarette smokers correlated with the rate
      of current smokers and with national Gross Domestic Product, while the rate of
      ever e-cigarette smokers did not correlate with any socio-economic factor.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that both policy and non-policy factors are
      associated with the geographical variability seen in the prevalence of e
      cigarette use. Policies against the consumption of conventional tobacco products
      may lead to an increase of e-cigarette smokers.

PMID- 26874834
TI  - How to review a surgical paper: a guide for junior referees.
AB  - Reviewing a surgical manuscript is not an easy task, and there is no formal
      training available for young referees in the early stage of their careers.
      Accepting a peer review assignment represents a personal honor for the invited
      referee and a fundamental ethical responsibility towards the scientific
      community. Designated reviewers must be accomplished and knowledgeable in the
      area of the respective topic of investigation. More importantly, they must be
      aware and cognizant about the cardinal ethical responsibility and stewardship for
      ensuring the preservation of scientific knowledge of unbiased and unquestionable
      accuracy in the published literature. Accepting a review assignment should never
      be taken lightly or considered a simple task, regardless of the reviewer's level
      of seniority and expertise. Indeed, there are multiple challenges, difficulties,
      and 'hidden dangers' that jeopardize the completion of a high-quality review,
      particularly in the hands of less experienced or novice reviewers. The present
      article was designed to provide a brief, concise, and practical guide on how to
      review manuscripts for the 'junior referee' in the field of surgery. 

PMID- 26874835
TI  - Acute neurological symptoms secondary to hypomagnesemia induced by proton pump
      inhibitors: a case series.

PMID- 26874836
TI  - Docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, and trastuzumab as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2
      positive primary breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The standard primary systemic therapy for human epidermal growth
      factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is anthracyclines and/or taxanes
      combined with trastuzumab, which demonstrates a high pathological complete
      response (pCR). A pCR is a predictive marker of prognosis. However, results
      slightly differ, depending on the hormone receptor status. The efficacy and
      tolerability of docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, and trastuzumab (HER-TC) as
      neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remain unclear. We performed a prospective
      multicenter study of HER-TC NAC for HER2+ primary breast cancer. METHODS:
      Eligible patients had a clinical diagnosis of HER2+ invasive breast cancer
      greater than 1 cm but less than 7 cm and a tumor stage of N0 or N1. T hey were
      diagnosed between July 2011 and February 2014. For NAC, four cycles of HER-TC (6
      mg/kg loading dose, 8 mg/kg, 75, and 600 mg/m2) were administered intravenously
      every 3 weeks. We investigated the pCR of the primary breast tumors. A pCR was
      defined as no histological evidence of invasive carcinoma or the appearance of
      only ductal carcinoma in situ. RESULTS: We enrolled 42 patients. The completion
      rate for four cycles of HER-TC was 97.6 % (41/42 patients). The overall pCR rate
      was 43.9 % (18/41 patients). The pCR rate for patients with the luminal HER2
      subtype [estrogen receptor (ER)-positive+, HER2+] and the HER2-enriched subtype
      (ER-, HER2+) was 40.0 % (8/20 patients) and 47.6 % (10/21 patients),
      respectively. A pCR was achieved with nearly the same probability for each
      subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Four cycles of HER-TC may be a NAC option for HER2-positive
      breast cancer.

PMID- 26874837
TI  - A 'slow pace of life' in Australian old-endemic passerine birds is not
      accompanied by low basal metabolic rates.
AB  - Life history theory suggests that species experiencing high extrinsic mortality
      rates allocate more resources toward reproduction relative to self-maintenance
      and reach maturity earlier ('fast pace of life') than those having greater life
      expectancy and reproducing at a lower rate ('slow pace of life'). Among birds,
      many studies have shown that tropical species have a slower pace of life than
      temperate-breeding species. The pace of life has been hypothesized to affect
      metabolism and, as predicted, tropical birds have lower basal metabolic rates
      (BMR) than temperate-breeding birds. However, many temperate-breeding Australian
      passerines belong to lineages that evolved in Australia and share 'slow' life
      history traits that are typical of tropical birds. We obtained BMR from 30 of
      these 'old-endemics' and ten sympatric species of more recently arrived passerine
      lineages (derived from Afro-Asian origins or introduced by Europeans) with
      'faster' life histories. The BMR of 'slow' temperate-breeding old-endemics was
      indistinguishable from that of new-arrivals and was not lower than the BMR of
      'fast' temperate-breeding non-Australian passerines. Old-endemics had
      substantially smaller clutches and longer maximal life spans in the wild than new
      arrivals, but neither clutch size nor maximum life span was correlated with BMR.
      Our results suggest that low BMR in tropical birds is not functionally linked to
      their 'slow pace of life' and instead may be a consequence of differences in
      annual thermal conditions experienced by tropical versus temperate species. 

PMID- 26874839
TI  - Sleepwalking.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Sleepwalking (SW) is a parasomnia, an abnormal behavior
      occurring during sleep. SW is a non-REM sleep parasomnia, an arousal disorder,
      like sleep terrors and confusional arousals. SW results from an incomplete
      arousal from slow-wave sleep, some regions of the cerebral cortex being awake and
      allowing movement and vision for example and others being asleep, preventing
      memorization or judgment. Usually, SW is a quiet wandering of a child that occurs
      rarely (several times a month or a year), requiring no medical advice and
      treatment. To reassure the family and to secure the environment are the only
      things to do. However, sometimes, SW can become crippling because of its
      frequency (several times a week or a night) because of the risks associated with
      the behavior (going outside, manipulating sharp objects, etc.) or violence
      (throwing objects, using weapons, etc.) or because of its consequences on
      everyday quality of life (sleepiness, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depressive
      symptoms). In these conditions, treatment is required. It first associates sleep
      hygiene, reduction of alcohol consumption, and interruption of the treatments
      that could have promoted the episodes and the securing of the environment. The
      treatment of precipitants inducing sleep fragmentation such as sleep disordered
      breathing can be beneficial, reducing the number of events. If episodes persist
      or are too dangerous, medical treatment is needed. No adequate large controlled
      trial of drugs has yet been conducted in SW so that no medication has been
      evaluated properly for efficacy or side effects. However, experts in the field
      use clonazepam. This treatment is in our experience often effective. If
      inefficacious, antidepressants can also be proposed. Psychotherapy should be
      associated to improve anxiety and sometimes insomnia. Few published cases have
      described that deep relaxation, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy could
      be effective.

PMID- 26874840
TI  - Treatment Options in Intractable Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease
      (RLS/WED).
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease (RLS/WED) is a
      common condition characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs,
      concomitant with an unpleasant sensation in the lower limbs, which is typically
      relieved by movement. Symptoms occur predominantly at rest and prevail in the
      afternoon or evening. Treatment of patients with RLS/WED is indicated for those
      patients who suffer from clinically relevant symptoms. The management of mild
      forms of RLS/WED is mainly based on dopamine agonists (DA) therapy (including
      pramipexole and ropinirole) and alpha-2-delta calcium-channel ligand.
      Nevertheless, with passing of time, symptoms tend to become more severe and the
      patient can eventually develop pharmacoresistance. Furthermore, long-term
      treatment with dopaminergic agents may be complicated by the development of
      augmentation, which is defined by an increase in the severity and frequency of
      RLS/WED symptoms despite adequate treatment. Here, we discuss which are the best
      therapeutic options when RLS/WED becomes intractable, with a focus on advantages
      and side effects of the available medications. Prevention strategies include
      managing lifestyle changes and a good sleep hygiene. Different drug options are
      available. Switching to longer-acting dopaminergic agents may be a possibility if
      the patient is well-tolerating DA treatment. An association with alpha-2-delta
      calcium-channel ligand is another first-line approach. In refractory RLS/WED,
      opioids such as oxycodone-naloxone have demonstrated good efficacy. Other
      pharmacological approaches include IV iron, benzodiazepines such as clonazepam,
      and antiepileptic drugs, with different level of evidence of efficacy. Therefore,
      the final decision regarding the agent to use in treating severe RLS/WED symptoms
      should be tailored to the patient, taking into account the symptomatology,
      comorbidities, the availability of treatment and the history of the disease.

PMID- 26874841
TI  - Understanding and Managing the Ictal-Interictal Continuum in Neurocritical Care.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring has become
      an invaluable tool for the assessment of brain function in critically ill
      patients. However, interpretation of EEG waveforms, especially in the intensive
      care unit (ICU) setting is fraught with ambiguity. The term ictal-interictal
      continuum encompasses EEG patterns that are potentially harmful and can cause
      neuronal injury. There are no clear guidelines on how to treat EEG patterns that
      lie on this continuum. We advocate the following approaches in a step wise
      manner: (1) identify and exclude clear electrographic seizures and status
      epilepticus (SE), i.e., generalized spike-wave discharges at 3/s or faster; and
      clearly evolving discharges of any type (rhythmic, periodic, fast activity),
      whether focal or generalized; (2) exclude clear interictal patterns, i.e., spike
      wave discharges, periodic discharges, and rhythmic patterns at 1/s or slower with
      no evolution, unless accompanied by a clear clinical correlate, which would make
      them ictal regardless of the frequency; (3) consider any EEG patterns that lie in
      between the above two categories as being on the ictal-interictal continuum; (4)
      compare the electrographic pattern of the ictal-incterictal continuum to the
      normal background and unequivocal seizures (if present) from the same patient;
      (5) when available, correlate ictal-interictal continuum pattern with other
      markers of neuronal injury such as neuronal specific enolase (NSE) levels, brain
      imaging findings, depth electrode recordings, data from microdialysis,
      intracranial pressure fluctuations, and brain oxygen measurement; and (6) perform
      a diagnostic trial with preferably a nonsedating antiepileptic drug with the
      endpoint being both clinical and electrographic improvement. Minimize the use of
      anesthetics or multiple AEDs unless there is clear supporting evidence from
      ancillary tests or worsening of the EEG patterns over time, which could indicate
      possible neuronal injury.

PMID- 26874842
TI  - Treatment of Edema Associated With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Cerebral edema (i.e., "brain swelling") is a common
      complication following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and is associated with
      worse clinical outcomes. Perihematomal edema (PHE) accumulates during the first
      72 h after hemorrhage, and during this period, patients are at risk of clinical
      deterioration due to the resulting tissue shifts and brain herniation. First-line
      medical therapies for patients symptomatic of PHE include osmotic agents, such as
      mannitol in low- or high-dose bolus form, or boluses of hypertonic saline (HTS)
      at varied concentrations with or without subsequent continuous infusion.
      Decompressive craniectomy may be required for symptomatic edema refractory to
      osmotherapy. Other strategies that reduce PHE such as hypothermia and minimally
      invasive surgery have shown promise in pilot studies and are currently being
      evaluated in larger clinical trials. Ongoing basic, translational, and clinical
      research seek to better elucidate the pathophysiology of PHE to identify novel
      strategies to prevent edema formation as a next major advance in the treatment of
      ICH.

PMID- 26874843
TI  - Evidence suggests vocal production learning in a cross-fostered Risso's dolphin
      (Grampus griseus).
AB  - Vocal learning is a rare skill in mammals, and we have limited information about
      the contexts in which they use it. Previous studies suggested that cetaceans in
      general are skilled at imitating sounds, but only few species have been studied
      to date. To expand this investigation to another species and to investigate the
      possible influence of the social environment on vocal learning, we studied the
      whistle repertoire of a female Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) that was
      stranded at an early age and was subsequently raised in a group of bottlenose
      dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We show that this cross-fostered animal produced
      vocal signals more akin to those of its Tursiops poolmates than those of Risso's
      dolphins in the wild. This is one of very few systematic cross-fostering studies
      in cetaceans and the first to suggest vocal production learning in the Risso's
      dolphin. Our findings also suggest that social experience is a major factor in
      the development of the vocal repertoire in this species.

PMID- 26874844
TI  - A micro-RNA expression signature for human NAFLD progression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) describes
      disease conditions deteriorating from nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to
      nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis (CIR) to hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC). From a molecular and biochemical perspective, our understanding
      of the etiology of this disease is limited by the broad spectrum of disease
      presentations, the lack of a thorough understanding of the factors contributing
      to disease susceptibility, and ethical concerns related to repeat sampling of the
      liver. To better understand the factors associated with disease progression, we
      investigated by next-generation RNA sequencing the altered expression of
      microRNAs (miRNAs) in liver biopsies of class III obese subjects (body mass index
      >=40 kg/m(2)) biopsied at the time of elective bariatric surgery. METHODS:
      Clinical characteristics and unbiased RNA expression profiles for 233 miRs, 313
      transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 392 miscellaneous small RNAs (snoRNAs, snRNAs, rRNAs)
      were compared among 36 liver biopsy specimens stratified by disease severity.
      RESULTS: The abundances of 3 miRNAs that were found to be differentially
      regulated (miR-301a-3p and miR-34a-5p increased and miR-375 decreased) with
      disease progression were validated by RT-PCR. No tRNAs or miscellaneous RNAs were
      found to be associated with disease severity. Similar patterns of increased miR
      301a and decreased miR-375 expression were observed in 134 hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) samples deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our analytical results suggest that NAFLD severity is associated with a specific
      pattern of altered hepatic microRNA expression that may drive the hallmark of
      this disorder: altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The three identified
      miRNAs can potentially be used as biomarkers to access the severity of NAFLD. The
      persistence of this miRNA expression pattern in an external validation cohort of
      HCC samples suggests that specific microRNA expression patterns may permit and/or
      sustain NAFLD development to HCC.

PMID- 26874845
TI  - Inhibitory Effects of Triptolide on Human Liver Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and P
      Glycoprotein.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Triptolide is an active component derived from
      Tripterygium wilfordii and it possesses numerous pharmacological activities.
      However, it remains unclear how triptolide influences the activity of human liver
      cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and P-glycoprotein (P-gp). METHODS: In this study,
      the inhibitory effects of triptolide on the eight human liver CYP isoforms (i.e.,
      1A2, 3A4, 2A6, 2E1, 2D6, 2C9, 2C19, and 2C8) were investigated in vitro using
      human liver microsomes (HLMs), and the effects of triptolide on the activity of P
      gp were investigated using a rhodamine-123 uptake assay. RESULTS: The results
      showed that triptolide inhibited the activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, with 50 %
      inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 14.18 and 8.36 MUM, respectively, but
      that other CYP isoforms were not affected. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that
      triptolide was not only a non-competitive inhibitor of CYP1A2, but also a
      competitive inhibitor of CYP3A4, with inhibition constant (K i) values of 7.32
      and 5.67 MUM, respectively. In addition, triptolide is a time-dependent inhibitor
      for CYP1A2, and the concentration at 50 % maximum inactivation (K I) and maximum
      inactivation (K inact) values were 286.5 MUM and 0.024 min-1, respectively. The
      rhodamine-123 uptake assay showed that triptolide could not affect the activity
      of P-gp. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro studies of triptolide with CYP isoforms and P
      gp indicate that triptolide has the potential to cause pharmacokinetic drug
      interactions with other co-administered drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4.
      Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the significance of this
      interaction.

PMID- 26874847
TI  - A Qualitative Study on the Interconnected Nature of HIV, Water, and Family.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (HIV/AIDS) and poor access to water are two primary global health issues. Poor
      access to water may significantly affect families infected with HIV and result in
      adverse social and health consequences. A qualitative study used semi-structured
      interviews to understand health and social outcomes of families after the
      implementation of water interventions in rural Kenya. One major sub-theme emerged
      during this research, which included the effects of water on an HIV-affected
      family. Prior to the water interventions, common adverse health effects from lack
      of nutrition, water, and poor hygiene were experienced. After receiving access to
      water, nutrition and hygiene were improved and additional time was gained and
      used to reinforce relationships and spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. This study
      provides need-based evidence for access to safe drinking water in order to
      decrease adverse health outcomes and improve the quality of life for HIV-affected
      individuals.

PMID- 26874846
TI  - Patterns and Correlates of Serostatus Disclosure to Sexual Partners by
      Perinatally-Infected Adolescents and Young Adults.
AB  - Similar to same-age peers, perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV+) youth in the US are
      engaging in sex, including condomless sex. Understanding decisions about
      serostatus disclosure to sexual partners is important to domestic and global HIV
      prevention efforts, since large numbers of PHIV+ children are entering
      adolescence and becoming sexually active. Using Social Action Theory (SAT) to
      inform variable selection, we examined correlates of disclosure among 98 PHIV+
      adolescents/young adults in New York City. Over half of these youth reported not
      disclosing to any casual partners (59 %) or to any partners when using condoms
      (55 %). In bivariate analyses, increased disclosure was associated with older
      age; being female; earlier age of learning one's serostatus; and increased STD
      knowledge, disclosure intentions, and parent-child communication. Multiple
      regression analyses revealed a strong fit with the SAT model. As with adults,
      disclosure to sexual partners is difficult for PHIV+ youth and challenges
      prevention efforts. Effective interventions that help youth with disclosure
      decisions are needed to curb the epidemic.

PMID- 26874848
TI  - HIV and Elevated Mental Health Problems: Diagnostic, Treatment, and Risk Patterns
      for Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a National Community-Based
      Cohort of Gay Men Living with HIV.
AB  - People living with HIV (PLHIV) have almost double the risk of depression than the
      rest of the population, and depression and anxiety among PLHIV have been linked
      with greater disease progression and other physical health problems. Studies to
      date, however, have focused almost exclusively on depression or general mental
      health. Much less research has investigated predictors of anxiety and generalized
      stress among HIV-positive gay men. This paper reports findings from a national
      community-based sample of 357 HIV-positive Australians gay men aged 18 years and
      older. Participants reported elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and
      generalized stress symptoms. A significant proportion of men with elevated
      depression and anxiety symptoms were not receiving treatment or had not been
      diagnosed. Risk factors for elevated mental health concerns included experiences
      of internalized stigma and discrimination. Anxiety was also associated with lower
      T-cell CD4 counts. A key protective factor was access to social support. The type
      of support, in particular emotional support, was found to be more important than
      the source of support. Our findings suggest that greater emphasis is needed on
      mental health screening and the provision of emotional support for PLHIV.

PMID- 26874849
TI  - Standardization and Regulation of Allergen Products in the European Union.
AB  - Product-specific standardization is of prime importance to ensure persistent
      quality, safety, and efficacy of allergen products. The regulatory framework in
      the EU has induced great advancements in the field in the last years although
      national implementation still remains heterogeneous. Scores of methods for
      quantification of individual allergen molecules are developed each year and also
      the challenging characterization of chemically modified allergen products is
      progressing. However, despite the unquestionable increase in knowledge and the
      subsequent improvements in control of quality parameters of allergen products, an
      important aim has not been reached yet, namely cross-product comparability.
      Still, comparison of allergen product potency, either based on total allergenic
      activity or individual allergen molecule content, is not possible due to a lack
      of standard reference preparations in conjunction with validated standard
      methods. This review aims at presenting the most recent developments in product
      specific standardization as well as activities to facilitate cross-product
      comparability in the EU. 

PMID- 26874850
TI  - Classification of Food Allergens and Cross-Reactivity.
AB  - Patients with specific food allergies are commonly sensitized to related foods,
      for example, shrimp with other shellfish and peanut with other legumes. In some
      instances, this represents a true allergy to the related food, defined as cross
      reactivity, while in other instances, it represents a positive skin or IgE test
      only, in a patient who can eat the related food without difficulty. This is
      defined as cross-sensitization. It is extremely important that the clinician
      recognize these patterns of cross-sensitization and cross-reactivity, both to
      counsel patients on foods that should be avoided and to make sure that foods are
      not unnecessarily restricted from the diet. In fact, it is very common for
      patients to be instructed to avoid entire food groups based just on positive
      tests, which leads to unnecessary dietary restrictions with effects on food
      choices, nutrition, and quality of life. 

PMID- 26874851
TI  - Expression of ROR1 has prognostic significance in triple negative breast cancer.
AB  - Overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR1) in a
      variety of human malignancies is associated with aggressive behaviour.
      Therapeutic agents targeting ROR1 have shown promising results in vivo and in
      vitro studies. In breast cancer, high-level expression of ROR1 mRNA is associated
      with high-grade tumours and metastasis. We investigated the prevalence and
      prognostic significance of ROR1 expression in triple negative breast cancer
      (TNBC). ROR1 was immunohistochemically stained on full-face sections of 210 TNBC
      patient samples. Forty-seven TNBC cases (22.4 %) showed strong ROR1 expression,
      which was associated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS; P = 0.00015),
      distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS; P = 0.00013) and overall survival (OS; P
      = 0.026) in univariate analyses. Results were confirmed by multivariate analysis.
      Seventy TNBC cases (33.3 %) with medullary features showed longer OS (P =
      0.00013). We divided the whole series into two subgroups based on the presence or
      absence of medullary features. Strong ROR1 expression retained a predictive value
      of shorter DFS and DMFS in both subgroups. Our study suggests that strong ROR1
      expression might be an independent adverse prognostic factor in TNBC patients and
      may serve as a potential marker for patient selection in ROR1-targeted therapy.
      More large-scale studies are needed to clarify its potential usefulness. 

PMID- 26874854
TI  - Mebendazole crystal forms in tablet formulations. An ATR-FTIR/chemometrics
      approach to polymorph assignment.
AB  - Structural polymorphism of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is a relevant
      concern for the modern pharmaceutical industry, since different polymorphic forms
      may display dissimilar properties, critically affecting the performance of the
      corresponding drug products. Mebendazole (MEB) is a widely used broad spectrum
      anthelmintic drug of the benzimidazole class, which exhibits structural
      polymorphism (Forms A-C). Form C, which displays the best pharmaceutical profile,
      is the recommended one for clinical use. The polymorphs of MEB were prepared and
      characterized by spectroscopic, calorimetric and microscopic means. The
      polymorphs were employed to develop a suitable chemometrics-assisted sample
      display model based on the first two principal components of their ATR-FTIR
      spectra in the 4000-600 cm(-1) region. The model was internally and externally
      validated employing the leave-one-out procedure and an external validation set,
      respectively. Its suitability for revealing the polymorphic identity of MEB in
      tablets was successfully assessed analyzing commercial tablets under different
      physical forms (whole, powdered, dried, sieved and aged). It was concluded that
      the ATR-FTIR/PCA (principal component analysis) association is a fast, efficient
      and non-destructive technique for assigning the solid-state forms of MEB in its
      drug products, with minimum sample pre-treatment.

PMID- 26874852
TI  - Antiglycation and cell protective actions of metformin and glipizide in
      erythrocytes and monocytes.
AB  - Chronic hyperglycaemia causes glycation which subsequently results in the long
      term complications of diabetes. Albumin, the major plasma protein is more
      sensitive to glycation resulting in structural, biological and physiological
      modifications. The long-term benefits of commonly used anti-diabetic drugs such
      as metformin and glipizide in diabetic patients are well understood. However, no
      extensive study has been performed to assess their role in the glycation induced
      albumin modifications and cellular protection. We carried out the glycation of
      bovine serum albumin using methylglyoxal as a glycating agent in absence or
      presence of metformin and glipizide to establish their anti-glycation action.
      Different glycation markers (fructosamine, carbonyl groups, free thiol groups and
      beta-amyloid aggregation) and protein structural markers (absorption spectroscopy
      and native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) were examined. Further THP-1 cells
      (monocytes) and erythrocytes were treated with drugs that were exposed to
      glycated albumin samples for 24 h, respectively at 37  degrees C to investigate
      the cytoprotective actions of drugs against glycation. After the treatment
      different anti-oxidant indices (catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and
      nitric oxide), cell viability, lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte hemolysis were
      determined. Treatment with metformin and glipizide during in vitro albumin
      glycation significantly reduced the formation of glycation adducts and inhibited
      structural modifications. They restored the level of antioxidants in THP-1 and
      erythrocytes cells treated with glycated albumin thus protecting cells. Our
      results suggested protection mode of albumin glycation through inhibition by
      metformin and glipizide. Additionally, they exerted inhibitory actions on
      glycation-induced cellular damage by restoring cellular antioxidant defense.

PMID- 26874853
TI  - First molecular diagnosis of Donohue syndrome in Africa: novel unusual
      insertion/deletion mutation in the INSR gene.
AB  - Donohue syndrome (DS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disease affecting less
      than one in a million life births. It represents the most severe form of insulin
      resistance due to mutations involving the insulin receptor (IR) gene "INSR". DS
      is characterized by pre- and postnatal growth retardation with failure-to-thrive,
      lipoatrophy, acanthosis nigricans, hypertrichosis, and dysmorphic features. An
      exhaustive INSR gene sequencing was performed after PCR amplification of coding
      exons and introns boundaries. Bioinformatic tools, including ESEfinder, MFOLD and
      Proter software were also used to predict the impact of INSR mutation on INSR on
      gene expression as well as on the protein structure and function. The results
      have shown a novel unusual c.3003_3012delinsGGAAG (p.S1001_D1004delinsRE)
      insertion/deletion (indel) mutation within the exon 16 in the three patients,
      which represent the fourth indel mutation within the INSR gene. The mutation
      modifies the secondary structure of DNA and RNA, as well as the composition of
      exonic splicing enhancers of exon 16. Moreover, despite the conservation of the
      secondary structure of the IR, the p.S1001_D1004delinsRE in-frame mutation is
      accompanied by the loss of four amino acids replaced by two residues of different
      nature and hydrophobicity level in the juxtamembrane domain of the receptor. The
      results have confirmed the role of the juxtamembrane domain of IR involved in a
      crucial interaction of the IR with cellular effectors essentially the IR
      substrate 1 (IRS-1), the SHC and the Nck proteins that ensure the signal mediated
      by the insulin transduction pathway in target cells. Our findings have also
      proven the genotype/phenotype correlation between INSR mutation and DS phenotype
      severity. 

PMID- 26874855
TI  - Evaluation of the GHRH-arginine retest for young adolescents with childhood-onset
      GH deficiency.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Retesting of adolescents with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD) is
      recommended, but age-related reference data are scarce. We aimed to establish a
      cut-off value for the GHRH-arginine test (GHRH+ARG) at the typical age of
      retesting at near-adult height. DESIGNS: We retrospectively studied 149 patients
      (108 males) with childhood-onset GHD aged 16.8 +/- 1.7 years (mean +/- SD) with a
      BMI of 20.9 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2) who had received GHRH+ARG in one single center during
      8 consecutive years. Based on the IGF-I serum concentration falling below -2 SDS
      when off GH, 22 patients suffered from severe GHD of adulthood while 122 were GH
      sufficient. Five patients could not be determined definitively. GH and IGF-I were
      measured by in-house RIAs. IGF-I values were transformed into age-related SDS
      values. ROC-analysis was used to determine the cut-off value. RESULTS: For
      GHRH+ARG, a cut-off limit of 15.9 ng/ml had the highest pair of sensitivity (91%)
      and specificity (88%). GH peaks of the patients with a normal BMI between -1 and
      0 SDS were higher than those with a high BMI >1 SDS (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: When
      retesting adolescents at near-adult height for severe GHD of adulthood, a GH
      value of <15.9 ng/ml in GHRH+ARG is discriminatory with good accuracy. Conversion
      factors for other GH assays in use are provided. A rational decision for or
      against the continuation of GH therapy into adulthood can be made based on the
      clinical history of the patient and the combination of the GHRH+ARG retest result
      and the IGF-I serum concentrations when off GH.

PMID- 26874856
TI  - The efficacy, tolerability and safety of levetiracetam therapy in a pediatric
      population.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of
      levetiracetam monotherapy in a pediatric population. METHOD: A retrospective
      review was performed of the charts of 351 consecutive children who were 6 months
      to 18 years of age and were treated with levetiracetam. Levetiracetam monotherapy
      was initiated and dosed to efficacy or unacceptable side effects, with a range of
      10-112 mg/kg/day. Electroencephalographic examination was performed at pre
      treatment and 12th months in the post-treatment period. Following the
      commencement of levetiracetam treatment, the retention rate at 3, 6 and 12 months
      was 100%, 75% and 57%, respectively. RESULTS: The monotherapy retention rate at 3
      and 12 months following the commencement of levetiracetam treatment was (231/351,
      66%), and (126/200, 63%) respectively. A total of 165 (47%) patients had
      idiopathic epilepsy and 186 patients (53%) had symptomatic-cryptogenic epilepsy.
      The >90% seizure reduction rate was 65%, and the 50-90% seizure reduction rate
      was 14% at the 3rd month of treatment. Similarly, the >90% seizure reduction rate
      was 63%, and the 50-90% seizure reduction rate was 15% at the 12th month of
      treatment. EEG improvement (normalization of EEG) was observed in 65 (47%)
      patients. Overall, 61 (17%) patients showed adverse events. The most reported
      side effects were irritability (67%), hyperactivity (8%), somnolence (6%),
      behavioral disorders (5%), restlessness (5%), increased seizure frequency (3%),
      enuresis (2%), headache (2%) and attempted suicide (2%). CONCLUSION: The
      retrospective study of 231 consecutive pediatric patients to confirm that
      levetiracetam is effective as initial monotherapy for different types of seizures
      and/or epilepsy syndromes. However there is still a need for well-designed trials
      to justify the widespread use of levetiracetam monotherapy in children with
      specific epilepsy syndromes.

PMID- 26874857
TI  - Predictors of 6-month and 3-year outcomes after psychological intervention for
      psychogenic non epileptic seizures.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine outcome and its predictors following psychological
      intervention in people with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) METHODS:
      Prospective audit of 89 consecutive patients. PNES were recorded at baseline
      (initial psychology appointment), at 6 months and 3 years post the initial
      appointment. Six-month data was obtained by face-to-face interview, while 3-year
      data was obtained by contacting general practitioners and by postal survey.
      RESULTS: Eight patients had stopped having PNES at the first appointment and were
      discharged. At 6-month follow up 43/81 patients (53.1%) were free of seizures.
      Predictors of cessation of seizures were: patient employed (OR 4.48, p=0.004),
      short waiting time for intervention (OR 0.94, p=0.018), the patient feeling they
      had some control over the seizures (OR 3.30, p=0.021), and an internal locus of
      control ((OR 7.46, p=0.001). Outcomes at 3 years based on patient report were
      available in 32/81 patients (36%). 11/32 patients reported being free of
      seizures. 50/65 patients were not accessing any healthcare for seizures. There
      were no significant predictors of either outcome among the variables collected.
      CONCLUSION: Just over half of our patients reported being free of seizures
      following intervention. Being employed predicted good outcome, but the best
      predictor of being seizure free at 6 months was having an internal locus of
      control. This may be useful practically and requires further study. No good
      predictors of long-term outcome were found, possibly because of loss to follow
      up.

PMID- 26874858
TI  - Misdiagnosis in JME: Still a problem after 17 years?
AB  - PURPOSE: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is one of the most common and
      recognizable idiopathic generalized epilepsy with its characteristic clinical and
      EEG features. We think despite the well defined diagnostic criteria, and
      increasing awareness, misdiagnosis in JME may still be a problem. The present
      study aims to determine misdiagnosis in JME and to compare the results with our
      previous study reported in 1998. METHODS: Two hundred JME patients examined at
      epilepsy outpatient clinics of Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Training and
      Research Hospital for Psychiatric, Neurologic and Neurosurgical Diseases between
      the years 2014-2015 were enrolled. Medical records of all patients were evaluated
      retrospectively; demographical, clinical and electrophysiological data and causes
      of misdiagnosis were collected from chart reviews. RESULTS: Of 200 JME patients,
      49 were misdiagnosed at first medical evaluation. The most common presenting
      seizure types were generalized tonic clonic seizure and myoclonia in misdiagnosed
      patients and correctly diagnosed patients, respectively. EEG revealed generalized
      spike wave and polyspike-wave discharges in 52% of the misdiagnosed patients.
      Unfortunately the physician was a neurologist in 87.8% of cases with
      misdiagnoses. Nearly half of 49 misdiagnosed patients were prescribed an
      inappropriate antiepileptic drug, and the other half were prescribed none.
      CONCLUSIONS: Comparing our new results with the ones in 1998, misdiagnosis rate
      was less and time to put a correct diagnosis was shorter. However, proper
      diagnosis at first sight is still a problem among neurologists even the typical
      EEG changes are present.

PMID- 26874859
TI  - Select Bcl-2 antagonism restores chemotherapy sensitivity in high-risk
      neuroblastoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR NB) often fail to
      respond to upfront intensive multimodal therapy. Tumor-acquired suppression of
      apoptosis contributes to therapy resistance. Many HR NB tumors depend on the anti
      apoptotic protein Bcl-2 for survival, through Bcl-2 sequestration and inhibition
      of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bim. Bcl-2 dependent xenografts derived from
      aggressive human NB tumors are cured with a combination of cyclophosphamide and
      ABT-737, a Bcl-2/Bcl-XL/Bcl-w small molecule antagonist. The oral analogue to ABT
      737, Navitoclax (ABT-263), clinically causes an immediate drop in peripheral
      platelet counts as mature platelets depend on Bcl-xL for survival. This led to
      the creation of a Bcl-2 selective inhibitor, ABT-199 (Venetoclax). A Phase I
      trial of ABT-199 in CLL showed remarkable antitumor activity and stable patient
      platelet counts. Given Bcl-XL does not play a role in HR NB survival, we
      hypothesized that ABT-199 would be equally potent against HR NB. METHODS:
      Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were measured in human derived NB cell lines exposed
      to ABT-199 combinations. Co-Immunoprecipitation evaluated Bim displacement from
      Bcl-2, following ABT-199. Murine xenografts of NB cell lines were grown and then
      exposed to a 14-day course of ABT-199 alone and with cyclophosphamide. RESULTS:
      Bcl-2 dependent NB cell lines are exquisitely sensitive to ABT-199 (IC50 1.5-5
      nM) in vitro, where Mcl-1 dependent NBs are completely resistant. Treatment with
      ABT-199 displaces Bim from Bcl-2 in NB to activate caspase 3, confirming the
      restoration of mitochondrial apoptosis. Murine xenografts of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2
      dependent NBs were treated with a two-week course of ABT-199, cyclophosphamide,
      or ABT-199/cyclophosphamide combination. Mcl-1 dependent tumors did not respond
      to ABT-199 alone and showed no significant difference in time to tumor
      progression between chemotherapy alone or ABT-199/cyclophosphamide combination.
      In contrast, Bcl-2 dependent xenografts responded to ABT-199 alone and had
      sustained complete remission (CR) to the ABT-199/cyclophosphamide combination,
      with one recurrent tumor maintaining Bcl-2 dependence and obtaining a second CR
      after a second course of therapy. CONCLUSION: HR NB patients are often
      thrombocytopenic at relapse, raising concerns for therapies like ABT-263 despite
      its HR NB tumor targeting potential. Our data confirms that Bcl-2 selective
      inhibitors like ABT-199 are equally potent in HR NB in vitro and in vivo and
      given their lack of platelet toxicity, should be translated into the clinic for
      HR NB.

PMID- 26874860
TI  - Selection and use of pectinolytic yeasts for improving clarification and phenolic
      extraction in winemaking.
AB  - Pectinase enzymes have shown a considerable influence in both, sensitive and
      technological properties of wines. They can help to improve clarification
      process, releasing more color and flavor compounds entrapped in grape skin,
      facilitating the liberation of phenolic compounds. This work aims to find yeasts
      that, because of their native pectinases, can be applied on combined
      fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtaining significant benefits over
      single-inoculated traditional fermentations. 462 yeast strains isolated from
      wineries were identified and tested for several enzymatic activities of
      recognized interest for enology industry. Considering the 7 identified species,
      only Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Metschnikowia
      fructicola showed polygalacturonase activity. Because of its interest in
      winemaking, due to its reported incidence in wine flavor, the impact of M.
      pulcherrima as a source of pectinolytic enzymes was analyzed by measuring its
      influence in filterability, turbidity and the increase on color, anthocyanin and
      polyphenol content of wines fermented in combination with S. cerevisiae. Among
      the strains screened, M. pulcherrima NS-EM-34 was selected, due to its
      polygalacturonase activity, for further characterization in both, laboratory and
      semi-industrial scale assays. The kinetics concerning several metabolites of
      enological concern were followed during the entire fermentation process at
      microvinification scale. Improved results were obtained in the expected
      parameters when M. pulcherrima NS-EM-34 was used, in comparison to wines
      fermented with S. cerevisiae alone and combined with other pectinolytic and non
      pectinolytic yeasts (A. pullulans and Lachancea thermotolerans, respectively),
      even working better than commercial enzymes preparations in most parameters.
      Additionally, M. pulcherrima NS-EM-34 was used at a semi-industrial scale
      combined with three different S. cerevisiae strains, confirming its potential
      application for red wine improvement on the mentioned sensorial and technological
      properties. 

PMID- 26874861
TI  - Application of ultrasound in combination with heat and pressure for the
      inactivation of spore forming bacteria isolated from edible crab (Cancer
      pagurus).
AB  - This research was performed to characterize the resistance of three different
      bacterial spore species isolated from pasteurized edible crab (Cancer pagurus)
      meat to heat treatments and to assess the potential of manosonication (MS) and
      manothermosonication (MTS) as an alternative for their inactivation. The spore
      forming bacteria used in this study were Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus
      weihenstephanensis and Psychrobacillus psychrodurans. The thermal resistance of
      these three species was determined at different temperatures ranging from 80 to
      110  degrees C and their resistance to ultrasound under pressure from 35 to 95 
      degrees C. Ginafit Excel tool was used to fit the Geeraerd's 'Log-linear +
      shoulder' and Bigelow & Easty's equations to the survival curves for heat and
      MS/MTS treatments. From the results obtained it can be concluded that the profile
      of the survival curves either for heat or for ultrasound treatments depended on
      the bacterial spore species. When shoulders were detected in the inactivation
      curves for heat they were also present in the curves for MS/MTS treatments,
      although the application of an ultrasonic field reduced the shoulder length. B.
      weihenstephanensis was found to be the most resistant species to heat, requiring
      1.4 min to reduce 4log10 cycles at 107.5  degrees C (zT=7.1  degrees C) while B.
      mycoides was the most sensitive requiring 1.6 min at 95  degrees C (zT=9.1 
      degrees C). By contrast, B. mycoides was the most resistant to MS. The efficiency
      of the combination of ultrasonic waves under pressure with heat (MTS) for
      bacterial spore inactivation was directly correlated with the thermal resistance.
      Indeed, MTS showed a synergistic effect for the inactivation of the three spores.
      The highest percentage of synergism corresponded to the spore species with higher
      zT value (B. mycoides), but the highest temperature at which this synergism was
      detected corresponded to the most heat tolerant spore species (B.
      weihenstephanensis). This study revealed that MTS treatment is capable of
      inactivating spore-forming bacteria and that the inactivation efficiency of the
      combined treatment is correlated with the thermal resistance of the spore
      species.

PMID- 26874862
TI  - Evaluation of high hydrostatic pressure inactivation of human norovirus on
      strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and in their purees.
AB  - Human norovirus (HuNoV) has been an increasing concern of foodborne illness
      related to fresh and frozen berries. In this study, high hydrostatic pressure
      (HHP) inactivation of HuNoV on fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
      and in their purees was investigated. Porcine gastric mucin (PGM)-conjugated
      magnetic beads (PGM-MBs) and real-time reverse transcriptional polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-qPCR) were utilized for infectious HuNoV discrimination and
      quantification. Strawberry puree inoculated with HuNoV genogroup I.1 (GI.1)
      strain was HHP-treated at 450, 500 and 550 MPa for 2 min each at initial sample
      temperatures of 0, 4 and 20  degrees C. HuNoV GI.1 strain became more sensitive
      to HHP treatment as the temperature decreased from 20 to 0  degrees C. HuNoV GI.1
      or genogroup II.4 (GII.4) strains were inoculated into three types of berries and
      their purees and treated at pressure levels from 250 to 650 MPa for 2 min at
      initial sample temperature of 0  degrees C. For the purees, the HHP condition
      needed to achieve >2.9 log reduction of HuNoV GI.1 strain and >4.0 log reduction
      of HuNoV GII.4 strain was found to be >= 550 MPa for 2 min at 0  degrees C. HHP
      treatment showed better inactivation effect of HuNoV on blueberries than on
      strawberry quarters and raspberries. HuNoV GI.1 strain was more resistant to HHP
      treatment than HuNoV GII.4 strain under different temperatures and environment.
      The physical properties and sensory qualities of HHP-treated and untreated
      blueberries and the three types of berry purees were evaluated. Color, pH and
      viscosity of blueberries and three berry purees showed no or slight changes after
      HHP treatment. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that HHP treatment of 550 MPa for
      2 min at 0  degrees C did not significantly reduced the sensory qualities of
      three berry purees. The results demonstrated that the HHP treatment of 550 MPa
      for 2 min at 0  degrees C could be a potential nonthermal intervention for HuNoV
      in berry purees without adversely affecting their sensory qualities and physical
      properties.

PMID- 26874863
TI  - Development of spoilage bacterial community and volatile compounds in chilled
      beef under vacuum or high oxygen atmospheres.
AB  - Research into microbial community development and metabolism is essential to
      understand meat spoilage. Recent years have seen the emergence of powerful
      molecular techniques that are being used alongside conventional microbiology
      approaches. This enables more accurate studies on meat spoilage. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the influence of packaging (under vacuum and in high
      oxygen atmosphere) on the development of microbial communities and metabolic
      activities at 6  degrees C by using culture-dependent (cultivation, ribotyping)
      and culture-independent (amplicon sequencing) methods. At the beginning of shelf
      life, the microbial community mostly consisted of Carnobacterium and
      Lactobacillus. After two weeks of storage, Lactococcus and Lactobacillus were the
      dominant genera under vacuum and Leuconostoc in high oxygen meat packages. This
      indicates that oxygen favoured the genus Leuconostoc comprising only
      heterofermentative species and hence potential producers of undesirable
      compounds. Also the number of volatile compounds, such as diacetyl, 1-octen-3-ol
      and hexanoic acids, was higher in high oxygen packages than under vacuum
      packages. The beef in high oxygen atmosphere packaging was detected as spoiled in
      sensory evaluation over 10 days earlier than beef under vacuum packaging.
      Leuconostoc gelidum, Lactococcus piscium, Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus
      algidus were the most common species of bacteria. The results obtained from
      identification of the isolates using ribotyping and amplicon sequencing
      correlated, except for L. algidus, which was detected in both types of packaging
      by amplicon sequencing, but only in vacuum packaged samples using the culture
      based technique. This indicates that L. algidus grew, but was not cultivable in
      high oxygen beef using the Nordic Committee on Food Analysis standard method.

PMID- 26874865
TI  - The social space of empowerment within epilepsy services: The map is not the
      terrain.
AB  - Empowerment is now seen as an integral component of holistic practice and service
      design in healthcare, particularly as it relates to the improvement of quality of
      life for people with epilepsy. However, the literature suggests that empowerment
      is a neglected and poorly understood concept by service users and providers alike
      within epilepsy services. Conceptual ambiguity is a further impediment to its
      understanding and implementation. Bearing this in mind, a clear definition of
      empowerment is needed in order to realistically recognize, encourage, and
      prioritize empowerment as a service design philosophy. Therefore, this paper
      undertakes a concept analysis of empowerment with reference to epilepsy services.
      Results indicate that empowerment demands a transformation of consciousness and a
      readiness to act on this transformation in order to allow people to gain personal
      power and autonomy over their own life, including the self-management of their
      condition. With this in mind, a critical reflection on the 'micro' and 'macro'
      levels of power that exist within epilepsy services is warranted with reference
      to theoretical principles. In this context although the map is not the terrain,
      we argue that an educational intervention guided by critical social theory
      principles has the potential to encourage an understanding of empowerment and
      'holds the key' to future advances for its implementation within epilepsy
      services. 

PMID- 26874866
TI  - Improving upon provider-initiated opt-out prenatal HIV-screening approaches in
      Sub-Saharan Africa.

PMID- 26874864
TI  - Interictal epileptiform discharge effects on neuropsychological assessment and
      epilepsy surgical planning.
AB  - Both animal research and human research suggest that interictal epileptiform
      discharges (IEDs) may affect cognition, although the significance of such
      findings remains controversial. We review a wide range of literature with bearing
      on this topic and present relevant epilepsy surgery cases, which suggest that the
      effects of IEDs may be substantial and informative for surgical planning. In the
      first case, we present a patient with epilepsy with left anterior temporal lobe
      (TL) seizure onset who experienced frequent IEDs during preoperative
      neuropsychological assessment. Cognitive results strongly lateralized to the left
      TL. Because the patient failed performance validity tests and appeared amnestic
      for verbal materials inconsistent with his work history, selected
      neuropsychological tests were repeated 6 weeks later. Scores improved one to two
      standard deviations over the initial evaluation and because of this improvement,
      were only mildly suggestive of left TL impairment. The second case involves
      another patient with documented left TL epilepsy who experienced epileptiform
      activity while undergoing neurocognitive testing and simultaneous ambulatory EEG
      recording. This patient's verbal memory performance was impaired during the
      period that IEDs were present but near normal when such activity was absent.
      Overall, although the presence of IEDs may be helpful in confirming laterality of
      seizure onset, frequent IEDs might disrupt focal cognitive functions and distort
      accurate measurement of neuropsychological ability, interfering with accurate
      characterization of surgical risks and benefits. Such transient effects on daily
      performance may also contribute to significant functional compromise. We include
      a discussion of the manner in which IED effects during presurgical assessment can
      hinder individual patient presurgical planning as well as distort outcome
      research (e.g., IEDs occurring during presurgical assessment may lead to an
      underestimation of postoperative neuropsychological decline).

PMID- 26874867
TI  - Maternal risk factors for abnormal vaginal flora during pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora during pregnancy
      and associated maternal risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective study was
      undertaken of cervicovaginal smears performed on pregnant women at a center in
      Turin, Italy, between 2000 and 2010. Patients were divided into three groups:
      women with symptoms of genital infections (G1), asymptomatic women at risk of
      preterm birth (G2), and asymptomatic women with no risk (G3). Logistic regression
      models identified variables associated with microorganisms. RESULTS: Among 11 219
      samples, 4913 (43.8%) were positive, of which 3783 (77.0%) were positive for a
      single microorganism. Multivariate analysis for G1 showed positive associations
      between multiple sexual partners and bacterial vaginosis/Ureaplasma urealyticum,
      and multiparity with preterm birth and U. urealyticum (P<0.05 for all). In G2,
      there were significant associations between multiparity with preterm birth and
      bacterial vaginosis/aerobic vaginitis, and North African origin and bacterial
      vaginosis/U. urealyticum (P<0.05 for all). In G3, there were associations between
      little education (<8 years) and bacterial vaginosis/U. urealyticum, multiple
      sexual partners and bacterial vaginosis/U. urealyticum, and bacterial vaginosis
      and Eastern European origin and not being married (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION:
      Positive cervicovaginal smears were associated with a particular profile. Testing
      could be advisable for symptomatic women at any stage of pregnancy, during the
      first trimester for asymptomatic women at risk of preterm birth, and for some
      asymptomatic women.

PMID- 26874868
TI  - Intravaginal practices among HIV-negative female sex workers along the US-Mexico
      border and their implications for emerging HIV prevention interventions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe intravaginal practices (IVPs) among female sex workers
      (FSWs) who inject drugs in two cities-Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez-on the border
      between the USA and Mexico. METHODS: Data for a secondary analysis were obtained
      from interviews conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial in FSWs who
      injected drugs between October 28, 2008, and May 31, 2010. Eligible individuals
      were aged at least 18years and reported sharing injection equipment and having
      unprotected sex with clients in the previous month. Descriptive statistics were
      used to assess frequency and type of IVPs. Logistic regression was used to assess
      correlates of IVPs. RESULTS: Among 529 FSWs who completed both surveys, 229
      (43.3%) had performed IVPs in the previous 6months. Factors independently
      associated with IVPs were reporting any sexually transmitted infection in the
      previous 6months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1
      3.1; P=0.03), three or more pregnancies (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2; P=0.02), and
      having clients who became violent when proposing condom use (aOR 5.8, 95% CI 1.0
      34.3; P=0.05), which are all factors related to inconsistent condom use.
      CONCLUSION: Screening for IVPs could help to identify FSW at increased risk of
      HIV, and facilitate conversations about specific risk-reduction methods.

PMID- 26874869
TI  - Facial affect recognition in early and late-stage schizophrenia patients.
AB  - Prior studies have shown deficits in social cognition and emotion perception in
      first-episode psychosis (FEP) and multi-episode schizophrenia (MES) patients.
      These studies compared patients at different stages of the illness with only a
      single control group which differed in age from at least one clinical group. The
      present study provides new evidence of a differential pattern of deficit in
      facial affect recognition in FEP and MES patients using a double age-matched
      control design. Compared to their controls, FEP patients only showed impaired
      recognition of fearful faces (p=.007). In contrast to this, the MES patients
      showed a more generalized deficit compared to their age-matched controls, with
      impaired recognition of angry, sad and fearful faces (ps<.01) and an increased
      misattribution of emotional meaning to neutral faces. PANSS scores of FEP
      patients on Depressed factor correlated positively with the accuracy to recognize
      fearful expressions (r=.473). For the MES group fear recognition correlated
      positively with negative PANSS factor (r=.498) and recognition of sad and neutral
      expressions was inversely correlated with disorganized PANSS factor (r=-.461 and
      r=-.541, respectively). These results provide evidence that a generalized
      impairment of affect recognition is observed in advanced-stage patients and is
      not characteristic of the early stages of schizophrenia. Moreover, the finding
      that anomalous attribution of emotional meaning to neutral faces is observed only
      in MES patients suggests that an increased attribution of salience to social
      stimuli is a characteristic of social cognition in advanced stages of the
      disorder. 

PMID- 26874870
TI  - Childhood trauma as a risk factor for the onset of subclinical psychotic
      experiences: Exploring the mediating effect of stress sensitivity in a cross
      sectional epidemiological community study.
AB  - Childhood trauma is a risk factor for the onset of schizophrenic psychosis.
      Because the psychosis phenotype can be described as a continuum with varying
      levels of severity and persistence, childhood trauma might likewise increase the
      risk for psychotic experiences below the diagnostic threshold. But the impact of
      stressful experiences depends upon its subjective appraisal. Therefore, varying
      degrees of stress sensitivity possibly mediate how childhood trauma impacts in
      the end upon the occurrence of subclinical psychotic experiences. We investigated
      this research question in a representative community cohort of 1500 participants.
      A questionnaire, comprising five domains of physical and emotional neglect, as
      well as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, was used to assess childhood
      trauma. Based on different symptoms of subclinical psychotic experiences, we
      conducted a latent profile analysis (LPA) to derive distinct profiles for such
      experiences. Path modeling was performed to identify the direct and indirect (via
      stress sensitivity) pathways from childhood trauma to subclinical psychotic
      experiences. The LPA revealed four classes - unaffected, anomalous perceptions,
      odd beliefs and behavior, and combined anomalous perceptions/odd beliefs and
      behavior, that - except for sexual abuse - were all linked to childhood trauma.
      Moreover, except for physical abuse, childhood trauma was significantly
      associated with stress sensitivity. Thus, our results revealed that the pathways
      from emotional neglect/abuse and physical neglect to subclinical psychotic
      experiences were mediated by stress sensitivity. In conclusion, we can state that
      subclinical psychotic experiences are affected by childhood traumatic experiences
      in particular through the pathway of a heightened subjective stress appraisal. 

PMID- 26874871
TI  - Application of biotic ligand and toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic modeling to predict
      the accumulation and toxicity of metal mixtures to zebrafish larvae.
AB  - Predicting the accumulation and toxicity of mixtures of metals to aquatic
      organisms is a key challenge in ecotoxicological studies. In this study, the
      accumulation and toxicity of mixed essential (Cu) and nonessential (Cd and Pb)
      metals in zebrafish larvae exposed to a binary mixture of these elements at
      environmentally relevant concentrations were predicted using a refined
      toxicokinetic (TK)-toxicodynamic (TD) model aided with biotic ligand model (BLM)
      and toxic equivalent factor (TEF) approach. Competitive inhibition and non
      competitive interaction/inhibition were observed in bio-uptake. Both Pb and Cd
      behaved as competitive inhibitors of Cu uptake at high Cu concentrations (>0.1
      MUM). By contrast, Cu uptake was independent of Cd or Pb when the Cu
      concentrations were below 10(-7) M. Furthermore, low concentrations of Cu had an
      adiaphorous effect on Cd or Pb uptake. Cd uptake was inhibited by Pb, and the Pb
      uptake rates consistently decreased in the presence of Cd. The accumulation
      processes of Cd-Pb, Cu-Cd, and Cu-Pb were accurately predicted by the BLM-aided
      TK models. The traditional TD model could successfully predict the toxicity of Cd
      Pb mixtures, but not those of Cu-Cd or Cu-Pb mixtures. The revised TD model,
      which considered the possible different killing rates (Kk) above or below the
      threshold, offered better prediction for the toxicity of Cu-Cd or Cu-Pb mixtures.
      The overall findings may be of key significance in understanding and predicting
      metal uptake, accumulation, and toxicity in binary or multiple metal exposure
      scenarios. 

PMID- 26874872
TI  - Mercury dilution by autochthonous organic matter in a fertilized mangrove
      wetland.
AB  - A dated sediment core from a highly-fertilized mangrove wetland located in
      Cubatao (SE Brazil) presented a negative correlation between mercury (Hg) and
      organic carbon contents. This is an unusual result for a metal with well-known
      affinity to organic matter. A dilution of Hg concentrations by autochthonous
      organic matter explained this observation, as revealed by carbon stable isotopes
      signatures (delta(13)C). Mercury dilution by the predominant mangrove-derived
      organic matter counterbalanced the positive influences of algal-derived organic
      matter and clay contents on Hg levels, suggesting that deleterious effects of Hg
      may be attenuated. Considering the current paradigm on the positive effect of
      organic matter on Hg concentrations in coastal sediments and the expected
      increase in mangrove organic matter burial due to natural and anthropogenic
      stimulations of primary production, predictions on the influences of organic
      matter on Hg accumulation in mangrove wetlands deserve caution. 

PMID- 26874873
TI  - Increase in dust storm related PM10 concentrations: A time series analysis of
      2001-2015.
AB  - Over the last decades, changes in dust storms characteristics have been observed
      in different parts of the world. The changing frequency of dust storms in the
      southeastern Mediterranean has led to growing concern regarding atmospheric PM10
      levels. A classic time series additive model was used in order to describe and
      evaluate the changes in PM10 concentrations during dust storm days in different
      cities in Israel, which is located at the margins of the global dust belt. The
      analysis revealed variations in the number of dust events and PM10 concentrations
      during 2001-2015. A significant increase in PM10 concentrations was identified
      since 2009 in the arid city of Beer Sheva, southern Israel. Average PM10
      concentrations during dust days before 2009 were 406, 312, and 364 MUg m(-3)
      (median 337, 269,302) for Beer Sheva, Rehovot (central Israel) and Modi'in
      (eastern Israel), respectively. After 2009 the average concentrations in these
      cities during dust storms were 536, 466, and 428 MUg m(-3) (median 382, 335,
      338), respectively. Regression analysis revealed associations between PM10
      variations and seasonality, wind speed, as well as relative humidity. The trends
      and periodicity are stronger in the southern part of Israel, where higher PM10
      concentrations are found. Since 2009 dust events became more extreme with much
      higher daily and hourly levels. The findings demonstrate that in the arid area
      variations of dust storms can be quantified easier through PM10 levels over a
      relatively short time scale of several years. 

PMID- 26874874
TI  - Mutielemental concentration and physiological responses of Lavandula pedunculata
      growing in soils developed on different mine wastes.
AB  - This study aimed to: i) evaluate the accumulation and translocation patterns of
      potentially hazardous elements into the Lavandula pedunculata and their influence
      in the concentrations of nutrients; and ii) compare some physiological responses
      associated with oxidative stress (concentration of chlorophylls (Chla, Chlb and
      total), carotenoids, and total protein) and several components involved in
      tolerance mechanisms (concentrations of proline and acid-soluble thiols and
      total/specific activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), in
      plants growing in soils with a multielemental contamination and non-contaminated.
      Composite samples of soils, developed on mine wastes and/or host rocks, and L.
      pedunculata (roots and shoots) were collected in Sao Domingos mine (SE of
      Portugal) and in a reference area with non-contaminated soils, Corte do Pinto,
      with the same climatic conditions. Sao Domingos soils had high total
      concentrations of several hazardous elements (e.g. As and Pb) but their available
      fractions were small (mainly <5.8 % of the total). Translocation behaviour of
      elements was not clear according to the physiological importance of the elements.
      In general, plant shoots from Sao Domingos had the highest elements
      concentrations, but only As, Mn and Zn reached phytotoxic concentrations.
      Concentration of Chlb in shoots from Sao Domingos was higher than those from
      Corte do Pinto. No significant differences were obtained between concentrations
      of Chla, total protein, proline and acid-soluble thiols in shoots collected in
      both areas, as well as SOD activity (total and specific) and specific CAT
      activity. Total CAT activity varied with population being lower in the shoots of
      the plants from Sao Domingos, but no correlation was obtained between this
      enzymatic activity and the concentrations of the studied elements in shoots.
      Lavandula pedunculata plants are able to survive in soils developed on different
      mine wastes with multielemental contamination and low fertility showing no
      symptoms (visible and physiological) of phytotoxicity or deficiency. 

PMID- 26874875
TI  - Factors influencing aquatic-to-terrestrial contaminant transport to terrestrial
      arthropod consumers in a multiuse river system.
AB  - Emerging aquatic insects are important vectors of contaminant transfer from
      aquatic to terrestrial food webs. However, the environmental factors that
      regulate contaminant body burdens in nearshore terrestrial consumers remain
      largely unexplored. We investigated the relative influences of riparian landscape
      composition (i.e., land use and nearshore vegetation structure) and contaminant
      flux via the emergent aquatic insect subsidy on selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg)
      body burdens of riparian ants (Formica subsericea) and spiders of the family
      Tetragnathidae along 11 river reaches spanning an urban-rural land-use gradient
      in Ohio, USA. Model-selection results indicated that fine-scale land cover (e.g.,
      riparian zone width, shrub cover) in the riparian zone was positively associated
      with reach-wide body burdens of Se and Hg in both riparian F. subsericea and
      tetragnathid spiders (i.e., total magnitude of Hg and Se concentrations in ant
      and spider populations, respectively, for each reach). River distance downstream
      of Columbus, Ohio - where study reaches were impounded and flow through a large
      urban center - was also implicated as an important factor. Although stable
      isotope analysis suggested that emergent aquatic insects were likely vectors of
      Se and Hg to tetragnathid spiders (but not to F. subsericea), emergent insect
      contaminant flux did not emerge as a significant predictor for either reach-wide
      body burdens of spider Hg or Se. Improved understanding of the pathways and
      influences that control aquatic-to-terrestrial contaminant transport will be
      critical for effective risk management and remediation. 

PMID- 26874876
TI  - Resuspension of sediment, a new approach for remediation of contaminated
      sediment.
AB  - Natural events and anthropogenic activities are the reasons of undesirable
      resuspension of contaminated sediments in aquatic environment. Uncontrolled
      resuspension could remobilize weakly bound heavy metals into overlying water and
      pose a potential risk to aquatic ecosystem. Shallow harbours, with contaminated
      sediments are subjected to the risk of uncontrolled resuspension. Remediation of
      sediments in these areas cannot be performed by conventional in situ methods
      (e.g. capping with or without reactive amendment). Ex situ remediation also
      requires dredging of sediment, which could increase the risk of spreading
      contaminants. Alternatively, the resuspension technique was introduced to address
      these issues. The concept of the resuspension method is that finer sediments have
      a greater tendency to adsorb the contamination. Therefore, finer sediments,
      believed carry more concentration of contaminants, were targeted for removal from
      aquatic environment by a suspension mechanism in a confined water column. The
      objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the resuspension
      technique as a new approach for remediation of contaminated sediment and a viable
      option to reduce the risk of remobilization of contaminants in harbours due to an
      undesirable resuspension event. Unlike the common in situ techniques, the
      resuspension method could successfully reduce the total concentration of
      contaminants in almost all samples below the probable effect level (PEL) with no
      significant change in the quality of overlying water. The results indicated that
      removal efficiency could be drastically enhanced for metals in sediment with a
      higher enrichment factor. Moreover, availability of metals (e.g. Cd and Pb) with
      a high concentration in labile fractions was higher in finer sediments with a
      high enrichment factor. Consequently, removal of contaminants from sediment
      through the resuspension method could reduce the risk of mobility and
      availability of metals under changing environmental conditions. Potential
      dredging in harbours could be performed safer and more cost-effective afterward. 

PMID- 26874877
TI  - Sterol ratios as a tool for sewage pollution assessment of river sediments in
      Serbia.
AB  - In this work, source pollution tracing of the sediments of the Danube River and
      its tributaries in Serbia was performed using sterol ratios. Improved liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, which enabled complete
      chromatographic separation of four analytes with identical fragmentation
      reactions (epicoprostanol, coprostanol, epicholestanol and cholestanol), was
      applied for the determination of steroid compounds (hormones, human/animal and
      plant sterols). A widespread occurrence of sterols was identified in all analyzed
      samples, whereas the only detected hormones were mestranol and 17alpha-estradiol.
      A human-sourced sewage marker coprostanol was detected at the highest
      concentration (up to 1939 ng g(-1)). The ratios between the key sterol
      biomarkers, as well as the percentage of coprostanol relative to the total sterol
      amount, were applied with the aim of selecting the most reliable for distinction
      between human-sourced pollution and the sterols originated from the natural
      sources in river sediments. The coprostanol/(cholesterol + cholestanol) and
      coprostanol/epicoprostanol ratios do not distinguish between human and natural
      sources of sterols in the river sediments in Serbia. The most reliable sterol
      ratios for the sewage pollution assessment of river sediments in the studied area
      were found to be coprostanol/(coprostanol + cholestanol), coprostanol/cholesterol
      and epicoprostanol/coprostanol. For the majority of sediments, human-derived
      pollution was determined. Two sediment samples were identified as influenced by a
      combination of human and natural biogenic sources. 

PMID- 26874879
TI  - Herb-drug interaction of Epimedium extract on the pharmacokinetic of dapoxetine
      in rats.
AB  - The aim of study is to develop a high performance liquid chromatography tandem
      mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to investigate the pharmacokinetic
      interaction of Epimedium extract on the dapoxetine in rats. Experimental rats
      were divided into the following four parallel groups: (1) dapoxetine alone
      (10mg/kg, i.v.); (2) oral administration of Epimedium extract (2g/kg) for 3
      consecutive days and on the fourth day dapoxetine was administered (10mg/kg,
      i.v.); (3) dapoxetine alone (10mg/kg, p.o.); (4) oral administration of Epimedium
      extract (2g/kg) for 3 consecutive days and on the fourth day dapoxetine was
      administered (10mg/kg, p.o.). The calibration curves of dapoxetine were acquired
      over a concentration ranges from 1 to 500ng/mL with the R(2)=0.999. The mean
      matrix effects and extraction recoveries of dapoxetine at three different
      concentrations (1, 10, 500ng/mL) ranged from 107.3 to 110.9% and from 25.5 to
      28.2% respectively. The interday and intraday relative standard deviation were
      both <6% while the bias were both <14%. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated
      that pretreated with/without Epimedium extract for three consecutive days did not
      significant alter the pharmacokinetics of dapoxetine in rats. The oral
      bioavailability of dapoxetine was about 75% in rats. 

PMID- 26874881
TI  - Determination of ferric iron chelators by high-performance liquid chromatography
      using luminol chemiluminescence detection.
AB  - Iron is an essential element for higher plants, and its acquisition and
      transportation is one of the greatest limiting factors for plant growth because
      of its low solubility in normal soil pHs. Higher plants biosynthesize ferric iron
      [Fe(III)] chelator (FIC), which solubilizes the iron and transports it to the
      rhizosphere. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) post-column method
      has been developed for the analysis of FICs using the luminol/H2O2 system for
      chemiluminescence (CL) detection. A size-exclusion column was the most suited in
      terms of column efficiency and CL detection efficiency. Mixing of the luminol
      with H2O2 in a post-column reaction was feasible, and a two-pump system was used
      to separately deliver the luminol and H2O2 solutions. The luminol and H2O2
      concentrations were optimized using Fe(III)-EDTA and Fe(III)-citrate (Cit)
      solutions as analytes. A strong CL intensity was obtained for Fe(III)-Cit when
      EDTA was added to the luminol solution, probably because of an exchange of Cit
      with EDTA after separation on the HPLC column; CL efficiency was much higher for
      Fe(III)-EDTA than for Fe(III)-Cit with the luminol/H2O2 system. The present
      method can detect minute levels of Fe(III)-FICs; the detection limits of Fe(III)
      EDTA, Fe(III)-Cit and Fe(III)-nicotianamine were 0.77, 2.3 and 1.1pmol,
      respectively. 

PMID- 26874878
TI  - High throughput LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of multiple vitamin
      D analytes in serum.
AB  - Recent studies suggest that vitamin D-deficiency is linked to increased risk of
      common human health problems. To define vitamin D 'status' most routine
      analytical methods quantify one particular vitamin D metabolite, 25
      hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3). However, vitamin D is characterized by complex
      metabolic pathways, and simultaneous measurement of multiple vitamin D
      metabolites may provide a more accurate interpretation of vitamin D status. To
      address this we developed a high-throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to analyse multiple vitamin D analytes, with
      particular emphasis on the separation of epimer metabolites. A supportive liquid
      liquid extraction (SLE) and LC-MS/MS method was developed to quantify 10 vitamin
      D metabolites as well as separation of an interfering 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten
      3-one (7alphaC4) isobar (precursor of bile acid), and validated by analysis of
      human serum samples. In a cohort of 116 healthy subjects, circulating
      concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3), 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (3
      epi-25OHD3), 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24R,25(OH)2D3), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
      (1alpha,25(OH)2D3), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25OHD2) were quantifiable using
      220MUL of serum, with 25OHD3 and 24R,25(OH)2D3 showing significant seasonal
      variations. This high-throughput LC-MS/MS method provides a novel strategy for
      assessing the impact of vitamin D on human health and disease. 

PMID- 26874880
TI  - Study on the potential application of salivary inorganic anions in clinical
      diagnosis by capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity
      detection.
AB  - A capillary electrophoresis approach with capacitively coupled contactless
      conductivity detection method has been developed for the determination of
      inorganic metabolites (thiocyanate, nitrite and nitrate) in human saliva. Field
      amplified sample injection, as a simple sample stacking technique, was used in
      conjunction for online preconcentration of above inorganic anions. A selective
      separation for the target anions from other coexisting constituents present in
      saliva could be obtained within 14min in a 10mmol/L His-90mmol/L HAc buffer (pH
      3.70) at the separation voltage of -18kV. The limits of detection and limits of
      quantification of the three analytes were within the range of 3.1-4.9ng/mL
      (S/N=3) and 10-16ng/mL (S/N=10), respectively. The average recovery data were in
      the range of 81-108% at three different concentrations. This method provides a
      simple, rapid and direct approach for metabolite analyses of nitric oxide and
      cyanide based on noninvasive saliva sample, which presents a potential fast
      screening tool for clinical test. 

PMID- 26874882
TI  - The Prevalence and Cross-Sectional Associations of Neuropathic-like Pain Among
      Older, Community-Dwelling Women with Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and examine the associations of neuropathic
      like pain in a community-based sample of older Australian women with arthritis.
      DESIGN: Population based cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Participants were
      recruited from the 1946-1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of
      Women's Health. SUBJECTS: . Women with self-reported arthritis (n = 147).
      METHODS: . Primary outcome measure was self-reported neuropathic-like pain,
      defined as scores >=12 via the painDETECT screening tool. Descriptive statistics
      summarized health and socio-demographic characteristics, and comparisons made
      using student's t-test or Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, and Chi-square tests.
      Independent health and demographic variables were examined by univariable
      logistic regression, and significant variables included in multiple variable
      logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: Thirty-nine women (26.5%) were screened
      as having neuropathic-like pain. Women with neuropathic-like pain were more
      likely to have poorer health, worse pain, higher pain catastrophizing, more
      fatigue, and more depression than women with nociceptive pain. Neuropathic-like
      pain was significantly associated with higher scores on the SF-MPQ sensory scale
      and pain catastrophizing scale, and with more medication use. CONCLUSIONS: .
      Neuropathic-like pain in women with arthritis was common and is associated with
      greater disability and poorer quality of life.

PMID- 26874883
TI  - Stereotactic Approach Combined with 3D CT Reconstruction for Difficult-to-Access
      Foramen Ovale on Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Gasserian Ganglion for
      Trigeminal Neuralgia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The authors describe a technique that includes a stereotactic
      approach in the preoperative plan in cases where the foramen ovale is difficult
      to access for radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion.
      METHODS: The study included 395 patients for whom three-dimensional computed
      tomographic reconstruction of the skull base, maxilla, and mandible was conducted
      before surgery. Accessibility of the foramen ovale was defined using numerical
      data from the three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction images. In
      those patients for whom accessibility of the foramen ovale was considered
      difficult, the authors used a stereotactic frame to design an individual
      operative plan. Adjustments of a single point of data,-that is, a change in X
      axis, Y axis, or an arc angle-were guided by radiographic fluoroscopy images.
      After verifying successful cannulation and electroneurophysiology,
      thermocoagulation targets-especially multiple targets recorded as data on the Z
      axis of the stereotactic approach-were identified and treated. RESULTS: There
      were 24 patients who met the predetermined criteria for having a difficult-to
      access foramen ovales-that is, they had at least two contributing factors and/or
      involvement of division V1 . Twenty-one of the 24 patients required a single
      satisfactory puncture; three patients required two to three punctures to
      successfully access the foramen ovale. There were no permanent complications from
      the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that this stereotactic approach
      combined with three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction model can
      improve the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of percutaneous radiofrequency
      thermocoagulation in patients with trigeminal neuralgia for whom the foramen
      ovale is difficult to access.

PMID- 26874884
TI  - Reduced Short- and Long-Latency Afferent Inhibition Following Acute Muscle Pain:
      A Potential Role in the Recovery of Motor Output.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: . Corticomotor output is reduced in response to acute muscle pain, yet
      the mechanisms that underpin this effect remain unclear. Here the authors
      investigate the effect of acute muscle pain on short-latency afferent inhibition,
      long-latency afferent inhibition, and long-interval intra-cortical inhibition to
      determine whether these mechanisms could plausibly contribute to reduced motor
      output in pain. DESIGN: . Observational same subject pre-post test design.
      SETTING: . Neurophysiology research laboratory. SUBJECTS: . Healthy, right-handed
      human volunteers (n = 22, 9 male; mean age +/- standard deviation, 22.6 +/- 7.8
      years). METHODS: . Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess
      corticomotor output, short-latency afferent inhibition, long-latency afferent
      inhibition, and long-interval intra-cortical inhibition before, during,
      immediately after, and 15 minutes after hypertonic saline infusion into right
      first dorsal interosseous muscle. Pain intensity and quality were recorded using
      an 11-point numerical rating scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. RESULTS: .
      Compared with baseline, corticomotor output was reduced at all time points (p =
      0.001). Short-latency afferent inhibition was reduced immediately after (p =
      0.039), and long-latency afferent inhibition 15 minutes after (p = 0.035), the
      resolution of pain. Long-interval intra-cortical inhibition was unchanged at any
      time point (p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: . These findings suggest short- and long
      latency afferent inhibition, mechanisms thought to reflect the integration of
      sensory information with motor output at the cortex, are reduced following acute
      muscle pain. Although the functional relevance is unclear, the authors
      hypothesize a reduction in these mechanisms may contribute to the restoration of
      normal motor output after an episode of acute muscle pain.

PMID- 26874886
TI  - Eribulin in soft-tissue sarcoma.

PMID- 26874885
TI  - Eribulin versus dacarbazine in previously treated patients with advanced
      liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma: a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A non-randomised, phase 2 study showed activity and tolerability of
      eribulin in advanced or metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma. In this phase 3 study, we
      aimed to compare overall survival in patients with advanced or metastatic soft
      tissue sarcoma who received eribulin with that in patients who received
      dacarbazine (an active control). METHODS: We did this randomised, open-label,
      phase 3 study across 110 study sites in 22 countries. We enrolled patients aged
      18 years or older with intermediate-grade or high-grade advanced liposarcoma or
      leiomyosarcoma who had received at least two previous systemic regimens for
      advanced disease (including an anthracycline). Using an interactive voice and web
      response system, an independent statistician randomly assigned (1:1) patients to
      receive eribulin mesilate (1.4 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8) or
      dacarbazine (850 mg/m(2), 1000 mg/m(2), or 1200 mg/m(2) [dose dependent on centre
      and clinician] intravenously on day 1) every 21 days until disease progression.
      Randomisation was stratified by disease type, geographical region, and number of
      previous regimens for advanced soft-tissue sarcoma and in blocks of six. Patients
      and investigators were not masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint
      was overall survival in the intention-to-treat population. The study is
      registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01327885, and is closed to
      recruitment, but treatment and follow-up continue. FINDINGS: Between March 10,
      2011 and May 22, 2013, we randomly assigned patients to eribulin (n=228) or
      dacarbazine (n=224). Overall survival was significantly improved in patients
      assigned to eribulin compared with those assigned to dacarbazine (median 13.5
      months [95% CI 10.9-15.6] vs 11.5 months [9.6-13.0]; hazard ratio 0.77 [95% CI
      0.62-0.95]; p=0.0169). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 224 (99%) of
      226 patients who received eribulin and 218 (97%) of 224 who received dacarbazine.
      Grade 3 or higher adverse events were more common in patients who received
      eribulin (152 [67%]) than in those who received dacarbazine (126 [56%]), as were
      deaths (10 [4%] vs 3 [1%]); one death (in the eribulin group) was considered
      treatment-related by the investigators. INTERPRETATION: Overall survival was
      improved in patients assigned to eribulin compared with those assigned to an
      active control, suggesting that eribulin could be a treatment option for advanced
      soft-tissue sarcoma. FUNDING: Eisai.

PMID- 26874888
TI  - Response of MAPK pathway to iron oxide nanoparticles in vitro treatment promotes
      osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs.
AB  - Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are generally used in multiple biomedical
      applications. The tissue repair effect of IONPs had been demonstrated in the
      previous studies of our group, but the underlying mechanism is unclarified. It is
      well known that stem cell-based therapies show promising prospect in tissue
      engineering and regenerative medicine, however, whether IONPs could modulate stem
      cell fate to promote tissue repair is still unclear. Herein, we found that IONPs
      could promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone-derived mesenchymal stem
      cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. To insightfully understand the molecular mechanisms, we
      performed systematic analyses by use of gene microarray assay and bioinformatics
      analysis, which revealed that gene expression was widely regulated and classical
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway was activated by IONPs
      treatment. As a result, downstream genes of this pathway were regulated to
      promote osteogenic differentiation. In summary, the present study elucidates a
      molecular basis explaining how IONPs effect on hBMSCs, which could have many
      meaningful impacts for stem cells application in regenerative medicine. 

PMID- 26874890
TI  - Mine waste disposal leads to lower coral cover, reduced species richness and a
      predominance of simple coral growth forms on a fringing coral reef in Papua New
      Guinea.
AB  - A large gold mine has been operating at the Lihir Island Group, Papua New Guinea
      since 1997. The mine disposes of waste rock in nearshore waters, impacting nearby
      coral communities. During 2010, 2012 we conducted photographic surveys at 73
      sites within 40 km of the mine to document impacts of mining operations on the
      hard coral communities. Coral communities close to the mine (~2 km to the north
      and south of the mine) were depaurperate, but surprisingly, coral cover and
      community composition beyond this range appeared to be relatively similar,
      suggesting that the mine impacts were limited spatially. In particular, we found
      mining operations have resulted in a significant decrease in coral cover (4.4%
      1.48 km from the disposal site c.f. 66.9% 10.36 km from the disposal site),
      decreased species richness and a predominance of less complex growth forms within
      ~2 km to the north and south of the mine waste disposal site. In contrast to the
      two 'snapshot' surveys of corals performed in 2010 and 2012, long term data (1999
      2012) based on visual estimates of coral cover suggested that impacts on coral
      communities may have been more extensive than this. With global pressures on the
      world's coral reefs increasing, it is vital that local, direct anthropogenic
      pressures are reduced, in order to help offset the impacts of climate change,
      disease and predation. 

PMID- 26874889
TI  - Tissue segregation restores the induction of bone formation by the mammalian
      transforming growth factor-beta(3) in calvarial defects of the non-human primate
      Papio ursinus.
AB  - A diffusion molecular hypothesis from the dura and/or the leptomeninges below
      that would control the induction of calvarial membranous bone formation by the
      recombinant human transforming growth factor-beta3 (hTGF-beta3) was investigated.
      Coral-derived calcium carbonate-based macroporous constructs (25 mm diameter;
      3.5/4 mm thickness) with limited hydrothermal conversion to hydroxyapatite (7%
      HA/CC) were inserted into forty calvarial defects created in 10 adult Chacma
      baboons Papio ursinus. In 20 defects, an impermeable nylon foil membrane
      (SupraFOIL((r))) was inserted between the cut endocranial bone and the underlying
      dura mater. Twenty of the macroporous constructs were preloaded with hTGF-beta3
      (125 MUg in 1000 MUl 20 mM sodium succinate, 4% mannitol pH4.0), 10 of which were
      implanted into defects segregated by the SupraFOIL((r)) membrane, and 10 into non
      segregated defects. Tissues were harvested on day 90, processed for decalcified
      and undecalcified histology and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
      (qRT-PCR). Segregated untreated macroporous specimens showed a reduction of bone
      formation across the macroporous spaces compared to non-segregated constructs.
      qRT-PCR of segregated untreated specimens showed down regulation of osteogenic
      protein-1 (OP-1), osteocalcin (OC), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), RUNX-2
      and inhibitor of DNA binding-2 and -3 (ID2,ID3) and up regulation of TGF-beta3, a
      molecular signalling pathway inhibiting the induction of membranous bone
      formation. Non-segregated hTGF-beta3/treated constructs also showed non
      osteogenic expression profiles when compared to non-segregated untreated
      specimens. Segregated hTGF-beta3/treated 7% HA/CC constructs showed significantly
      greater induction of bone formation across the macroporous spaces and, compared
      to non-segregated hTGF-beta3/treated constructs, showed up regulation of OP-1,
      OC, BMP-2, RUNX-2, ID2 and ID3. Similar up-regulated expression profiles were
      seen for untreated non-segregated constructs. TGF-beta signalling via ID genes
      creates permissive or refractory micro-environments that regulate the induction
      of calvarial bone formation which is controlled by the exogenous hTGF-beta3 upon
      segregation of the calvarial defects. The dura is the common regulator of the
      induction of calvarial bone formation modulated by the presence or absence of the
      SupraFOIL((r)) membrane with or without hTGF-beta3. 

PMID- 26874891
TI  - Limpets compensate sea urchin decline and enhance the stability of rocky subtidal
      barrens.
AB  - Understanding the mechanisms that regulate shifts among alternative ecosystems
      has become a priority for ecologists and environmental scientists. This study
      assessed the relative importance of different herbivorous invertebrates (urchins
      and limpets) in regulating transitions from barren to vegetated states on
      Mediterranean rocky reefs, under different levels of nutrient availability.
      Nutrient concentration and the herbivore assemblage were manipulated to test i)
      whether limpets can compensate for the decline or loss of sea urchin populations,
      thereby contributing to the persistence of barrens, ii) whether limpet effects
      vary according to nutrient availability and iii) whether limpets affect the
      structure of the algal assemblage. The complete removal of sea urchins was not
      sufficient to trigger the recovery of erect and turf-forming macroalgae if
      limpets were left at natural density, suggesting that these herbivores play an
      important role in the stability of the barren state. The effect of these
      mesograzers was particularly important under oligotrophic conditions. This
      suggests that limpets play an important role in sustaining the stability of the
      barren state. A more comprehensive assessment of top-down forces, implying the
      quantification of the relative effect of different herbivore guilds, is therefore
      necessary to estimate the strength of hysteresis and to identify critical
      thresholds at which shifts back to the vegetated state are initiated. 

PMID- 26874887
TI  - Spatiotemporal control of cardiac anisotropy using dynamic nanotopographic cues.
AB  - Coordinated extracellular matrix spatiotemporal reorganization helps regulate
      cellular differentiation, maturation, and function in vivo, and is therefore
      vital for the correct formation, maintenance, and healing of complex anatomic
      structures. In order to evaluate the potential for cultured cells to respond to
      dynamic changes in their in vitro microenvironment, as they do in vivo, the
      collective behavior of primary cardiac muscle cells cultured on nanofabricated
      substrates with controllable anisotropic topographies was studied. A thermally
      induced shape memory polymer (SMP) was employed to assess the effects of a 90
      degrees  transition in substrate pattern orientation on the contractile direction
      and structural organization of cardiomyocyte sheets. Cardiomyocyte sheets
      cultured on SMPs exhibited anisotropic contractions before shape transition. 48 h
      after heat-induced shape transition, the direction of cardiomyocyte contraction
      reoriented significantly and exhibited a bimodal distribution, with peaks at ~45
      and -45 degrees  (P < 0.001). Immunocytochemical analysis highlighted the
      significant structural changes that the cells underwent in response to the shift
      in underlying topography. The presented results demonstrate that initial
      anisotropic nanotopographic cues do not permanently determine the organizational
      fate or contractile properties of cardiomyocytes in culture. Given the importance
      of surface cues in regulating primary and stem cell development, investigation of
      such tunable nanotopographies may have important implications for advancing
      cellular maturation and performance in vitro, as well as improving our
      understanding of cellular development in response to dynamic biophysical cues. 

PMID- 26874892
TI  - Clinically meaningful changes in functional performance resulting from self
      directed interventions in individuals with arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the clinical meaningfulness of changes observed in
      functional performance from two self-directed interventions targeting adults with
      arthritis. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Participants (n =
      312) were randomized to a 12-week self-directed exercise or nutrition
      intervention. Objective measures of functional performance (6-minute walk, seated
      reach, grip strength, 30-second chair stand, gait speed, balance) were obtained
      at baseline, 12 weeks, and nine months. Minimally (>=0.20 standard deviation) and
      substantially (>=0.50) meaningful changes in functional performance were
      examined. Changes in the percent 'impaired' and at risk for losing independence
      using established standards, and associations between physical activity and
      impairment/risk status were also examined. Group * Time interactions were not
      significant; therefore groups were combined in all analyses. RESULTS: Minimally
      (31-71%) and substantially (13-54%) meaningful changes in function were shown.
      There was a significant decrease in the percentage of participants 'impaired' on
      the 30-second chair stand (both time points) and gait speed (nine months). The
      percentage of participants at risk for losing independence significantly
      decreased for the 30-second chair stand (both time points) and the 6-minute walk
      (nine months). Those engaging in >=2 h of leisure-time physical activity were
      significantly less likely to be impaired on the 6-minute walk, 30-second chair
      stand, and gait speed at 12 weeks, and the 6-minute walk at nine months.
      CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that can slow functional declines, and ideally result
      in clinically meaningful improvements in functional performance among adults with
      arthritis are needed. Meaningful improvements in various indicators of functional
      performance can result from self-directed exercise and nutrition programs. These
      types of programs have the potential for wide-spread dissemination, and thus
      broad reach.

PMID- 26874893
TI  - Eating-Disordered Behaviour in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate dysfunctional eating behaviour, self-esteem, social
      physique anxiety and quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes who have
      differing desired weights and to evaluate the predictors of dysfunctional eating
      behaviour in these adolescents, with a focus on personal and psychological
      variables. METHODS: We evaluated 79 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (mean age of
      15.71 years) of both sexes (58.2% females) using the Eating Disorders Examination
      Questionnaire (EDE-Q), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Social
      Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS-R) and the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQoL) measure.
      RESULTS: Of the adolescents, 44 with type 1 diabetes reported the desire to
      maintain or increase their current weight, and 35 reported the desire to reduce
      their current weight. The participants with the desire to weigh less were mainly
      females who exercised regularly and demonstrated more frequent binge eating and
      purging. Additionally, this group exhibited an increased frequency of eating
      disturbances, such as restraint and eating, weight and shape concerns. Moreover,
      this group demonstrated increased social physique anxiety and decreased diabetes
      quality of life in relation to the impact of diabetes, worries about diabetes and
      satisfaction with life. Finally, predictors of eating disturbances included the
      desire for lower weight, higher social physique anxiety and lower diabetes
      related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The desire for a lower weight in
      adolescents with type 1 diabetes may increase problems related to eating
      behaviour and general quality of life.

PMID- 26874894
TI  - Lung density associates with survival in alpha 1 antitrypsin deficient patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: CT density correlates with quality of life (QOL) scores and
      impaired upper zone lung density associates with higher mortality in alpha one
      antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD). We hypothesised that decline in CT densitometry
      would relate to survival or deterioration in QOL in A1ATD. METHODS: All
      augmentation naive PiZZ patients in the UK A1ATD registry with >= two successive
      quantitative CT scans were selected. Patients were divided into groups based on
      CT density decline and the relationship to survival and change in QOL compared by
      univariate analyses and multivariate Cox regression. Analyses were performed for
      whole lung, upper zone and lower zone density separately. Exploratory analyses of
      FEV1 subgroups were conducted. RESULTS: 110 patients were identified; 77 had
      whole lung and lung zone density recorded on two CT scans, 33 patients had upper
      zone data only on four scans. Decline in lower zone density associated with
      survival, even after adjustment for baseline lung density (p = 0.048), however
      upper zone density and whole lung density decline did not. This difference
      appeared to be driven by those with FEV1 >30% predicted. CONCLUSION: Rate of
      change in lung densitometry could predict survival in A1ATD.

PMID- 26874895
TI  - Validity of transcutaneous PCO2 in monitoring chronic hypoventilation treated
      with non-invasive ventilation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an efficient treatment for patients
      with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CRF), but requires regular
      monitoring to detect both diurnal and nocturnal residual hypercapnia. The present
      study was designed to determine 1) whether transcutaneous PCO2 (PtcCO2) is a
      valid tool for monitoring PaCO2 in this group of patients, and 2) if overnight
      instrumental drift of the PtcCO2 sensor is clinically significant. METHODS: Sixty
      seven patients with CRF on long term NIV were included. Arterial blood gases
      (ABG) were sampled from the radial artery during PtcCO2 measurement. PtcCO2 was
      recorded 2 min after ABG sampling. Instrumental drift was tested by measuring a
      gas of known CO2 concentration after auto-calibration of the sensor in the
      evening, and on the following morning. FINDINGS: PaCO2 values ranged from 3.97
      kPa to 9.0 kPa. Thirty-six (53%) patients were hypercapnic. Correlation between
      PaCO2 and PtcCO2 was highly significant (r(2) = 0.9, p < 0.0001), Bias (d) and SD
      of bias (s) were 0.23 kPa and 0.28 kPa respectively, with a minor underestimation
      of PaCO2. Limits of agreement (d +/- 2s) were; -0.32; 0.79 kPa. None of the
      paired values of PaCO2/PtcCO2 had a difference exceeding 1 kPa. The mean drift of
      PtcCO2 was 0.14 +/- 0.54 kPa/8 h (p = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01-0.27). INTERPRETATION:
      With the device tested, in stable patients under NIV-treatment for CRF, PtcCO2
      accurately reflects PaCO2. PtcCO2 can be used to monitor CO2 overnight during NIV
      without any clinically significant drift. TRIAL REGISTRATION N degrees :
      NCT01845233.

PMID- 26874896
TI  - Primary school children often underestimate their nasal obstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No consensus has ever been reached about the correlation between
      nasal resistance and the subjective sensation of nasal patency. The aim of the
      present study was to better de ne whether primary school and secondary school
      aged children correctly estimate their nasal obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Two hundred eighty four children (168 males and 116 female) aged between 6 and 14
      years (9.5+2.9 years) affected by Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis underwent
      Rhinomanometry and they were considered as correctly estimating their nasal
      obstruction when the grade of nasal patency corresponded to the severity of the
      NOSE score, overestimating when the grade of nasal patency was <1 when compared
      to the severity of the score, underestimating when the grade of nasal patency was
      >1 when compared to the severity of the score. RESULTS: Correlation between NOSE
      score and nasal patency was statistically significant (r -0.74; p<0.001).
      Children between 6 and 9 years of age underestimate (43.7%) and children >12
      overestimate (34.7%) their symptoms more frequently than children among other age
      ranges (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although NOSE score approximately allow to quantify
      nasal obstruction, in children, especially between 6 and 9 years of age, an
      objective measurement of nasal patency should be performed to better define the
      therapeutic approach.

PMID- 26874897
TI  - Medicaid beneficiaries undergoing complex surgery at quality care centers:
      insights into the Affordable Care Act.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medicaid beneficiaries do not have equal access to high-volume
      centers for complex surgical procedures. We hypothesize there is a large Medicaid
      Gap between those receiving emergency general vs complex surgery at the same
      hospital. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998 to 2010, we
      identified high-volume pancreatectomy hospitals. We then compared the percentage
      of Medicaid patients receiving appendectomies vs pancreatectomies at these
      hospitals. Hospital characteristics associated with increased Medicaid Gap were
      evaluated using generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS: A total of 602
      hospital-years of data from 289 high-volume pancreatectomy hospitals were
      included. Median percentages of Medicaid appendectomies and pancreatectomies were
      12.1% (interquartile range: 5.8% to 19.8%) and 6.7% (interquartile range: 0% to
      15.4%), respectively. Hospitals that performed greater than or equal to 40
      pancreatic resections per year had higher odds of having significant Medicaid Gap
      (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 5.0). CONCLUSIONS: Gaps exist
      between the percentages of Medicaid patients receiving emergency general surgery
      vs more complex surgical care at the same hospital and may be exaggerated in
      hospitals with very high volume of complex elective surgeries.

PMID- 26874899
TI  - Tuberculosis outbreaks: Beyond the tuberculin skin test.

PMID- 26874898
TI  - Farmer's Lung Disease. A Review.
AB  - Farmer's lung disease (FLD) is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) caused
      by inhaling microorganisms from hay or grain stored in conditions of high
      humidity in the agricultural workplace. It is probably underdiagnosed, especially
      in northern Spain, where climatic conditions favor the development of this
      disease. According to previous studies, the most common antigens are usually
      thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi. The epidemiology of the disease is not well
      known, and is based on studies conducted by Central European and Asian groups.
      The clinical presentation may vary, differentiating the chronic (exposure to
      lower concentrations of the antigen over a longer period time) and the acute
      forms (after exposure to high concentrations of the antigen). In patients with
      respiratory symptoms and agricultural occupational exposure, radiological, lung
      function and/or anatomical pathology findings must be compatible with FLD,
      bronchoalveolar lavage must show lymphocytosis, and tests must find sensitivity
      to the antigen. The main treatment is avoidance of the antigen, so it is
      essential to educate patients on preventive measures. To date, no controlled
      studies have assessed the role of immunosuppressive therapy in this disease.
      Corticosteroid treatment has only been shown to accelerate resolution of the
      acute forms, but there is no evidence that it is effective in preventing disease
      progression in the long-term or reducing mortality. 

PMID- 26874900
TI  - [Fixed drug eruption secondary due to griseofulvin].

PMID- 26874902
TI  - HER2-positive breast cancer: is more treatment better?

PMID- 26874904
TI  - PKM2 uses control of HuR localization to regulate p27 and cell cycle progression
      in human glioblastoma cells.
AB  - The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PK) is upregulated in most cancers including
      glioblastoma. Although PKM2 has been reported to use dual kinase activities to
      regulate cell growth, it also interacts with phosphotyrosine (pY)-containing
      peptides independently of its kinase activity. The potential for PKM2 to use the
      binding of pY-containing proteins to control tumor growth has not been fully
      examined. We here describe a novel mechanism by which PKM2 interacts in the
      nucleus with the RNA binding protein HuR to regulate HuR sub-cellular
      localization, p27 levels, cell cycle progression and glioma cell growth.
      Suppression of PKM2 in U87, T98G and LN319 glioma cells resulted in increased p27
      levels, defects in entry into mitosis, increased centrosome number, and decreased
      cell growth. These effects could be reversed by shRNA targeting p27. The
      increased levels of p27 in PKM2 knock-down cells were caused by a loss of the
      nuclear interaction between PKM2 and HuR, and a subsequent cytoplasmic re
      distribution of HuR, which in turn led to increased cap-independent p27 mRNA
      translation. Consistent with these results, the alterations in p27 mRNA
      translation, cell cycle progression and cell growth caused by PKM2 suppression
      could be reversed in vitro and in vivo by suppression of HuR or p27 levels, or by
      introduction of forms of PKM2 that could bind pY, regardless of their kinase
      activity. These results define a novel mechanism by which PKM2 regulates glioma
      cell growth, and also define a novel set of potential therapeutic targets along
      the PKM2-HuR-p27 pathway. 

PMID- 26874903
TI  - Dispensing behaviour of pharmacies in prescription drug markets.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate pharmacies' dispensing behaviour under the
      existing dispensing regulations in Germany. METHODS: Using administrative data,
      we performed a cross-sectional retrospective study to analyse whether the
      competitive environment and pharmacy characteristics, i.e., organisation, lead to
      dispensing choices aimed at by third-party payers. We specified generalised
      linear models with the share of imported pharmaceuticals, generic share, and
      share of preferred brands as dependent variables. RESULTS: The final dataset
      contained 49,260,902 prescriptions from 16,797 pharmacies. The average share of
      imported pharmaceuticals across the pharmacies was 18.4% (standard deviation (SD)
      8.8), the average generic share was 92.8% (SD 2.1), and compliance with preferred
      brands was 81.3% (SD 5.9). Pharmacies with little competition used fewer imported
      pharmaceuticals (p<0.001), generics (p<0.001) and preferred brands (p<0.001);
      less organised pharmacies yielded similar results. The difference in outcomes
      between pharmacies in the first and 4th quartiles of the pharmacy organisation
      variable is 17.4% vs. 17.0% for share of imported pharmaceuticals, 92.8% vs.
      92.7% for generic share and 81.9% vs. 81.1% for compliance with preferred brands.
      CONCLUSION: We show that pharmacies' dispensing choices meet the aims of payers
      at high levels. However, dispensing behaviour varies between pharmacies.
      Increasing competition among pharmacies and targeting pharmacies with high shares
      of bill auditing seem viable options to improving dispensing behaviour as defined
      by payers.

PMID- 26874901
TI  - Neratinib after trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy in patients with HER2-positive
      breast cancer (ExteNET): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo
      controlled, phase 3 trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neratinib, an irreversible tyrosine-kinase inhibitor of HER1, HER2,
      and HER4, has clinical activity in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast
      cancer. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of 12 months of neratinib
      after trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy in patients with early-stage HER2
      positive breast cancer. METHODS: We did this multicentre, randomised, double
      blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at 495 centres in Europe, Asia,
      Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America. Eligible women (aged >=18
      years, or >=20 years in Japan) had stage 1-3 HER2-positive breast cancer and had
      completed neoadjuvant and adjuvant trastuzumab therapy up to 2 years before
      randomisation. Inclusion criteria were amended on Feb 25, 2010, to include
      patients with stage 2-3 HER2-positive breast cancer who had completed trastuzumab
      therapy up to 1 year previously. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive
      oral neratinib 240 mg per day or matching placebo. The randomisation sequence was
      generated with permuted blocks stratified by hormone receptor status (hormone
      receptor-positive [oestrogen or progesterone receptor-positive or both] vs
      hormone receptor-negative [oestrogen and progesterone receptor-negative]), nodal
      status (0, 1-3, or >=4), and trastuzumab adjuvant regimen (sequentially vs
      concurrently with chemotherapy), then implemented centrally via an interactive
      voice and web-response system. Patients, investigators, and trial sponsors were
      masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was invasive disease-free
      survival, as defined in the original protocol, at 2 years after randomisation.
      Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with
      ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00878709. FINDINGS: Between July 9, 2009, and Oct
      24, 2011, we randomly assigned 2840 women to receive neratinib (n=1420) or
      placebo (n=1420). Median follow-up time was 24 months (IQR 20-25) in the
      neratinib group and 24 months (22-25) in the placebo group. At 2 year follow-up,
      70 invasive disease-free survival events had occurred in patients in the
      neratinib group versus 109 events in those in the placebo group (stratified
      hazard ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.50-0.91; p=0.0091). The 2-year invasive disease-free
      survival rate was 93.9% (95% CI 92.4-95.2) in the neratinib group and 91.6% (90.0
      93.0) in the placebo group. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events in patients
      in the neratinib group were diarrhoea (grade 3, n=561 [40%] and grade 4, n=1
      [<1%] vs grade 3, n=23 [2%] in the placebo group), vomiting (grade 3, n=47 [3%]
      vs n=5 [<1%]), and nausea (grade 3, n=26 [2%] vs n=2 [<1%]). QT prolongation
      occurred in 49 (3%) patients given neratinib and 93 (7%) patients given placebo,
      and decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (>=grade 2) in 19 (1%) and 15
      (1%) patients, respectively. We recorded serious adverse events in 103 (7%)
      patients in the neratinib group and 85 (6%) patients in the placebo group. Seven
      (<1%) deaths (four patients in the neratinib group and three patients in the
      placebo group) unrelated to disease progression occurred after study drug
      discontinuation. The causes of death in the neratinib group were unknown (n=2), a
      second primary brain tumour (n=1), and acute myeloid leukaemia (n=1), and in the
      placebo group were a brain haemorrhage (n=1), myocardial infarction (n=1), and
      gastric cancer (n=1). None of the deaths were attributed to study treatment in
      either group. INTERPRETATION: Neratinib for 12 months significantly improved 2
      year invasive disease-free survival when given after chemotherapy and trastuzumab
      based adjuvant therapy to women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Longer follow
      up is needed to ensure that the improvement in breast cancer outcome is
      maintained. FUNDING: Wyeth, Pfizer, Puma Biotechnology.

PMID- 26874905
TI  - Dynamic subcellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha during the first two
      cleavages of mouse preimplantation embryos.
AB  - Zygotic gene activation (ZGA) is one of the most important events after mouse
      fertilization, but the mechanisms underpinning it are still unclear. Estrogen
      receptor alpha (ERalpha) is a versatile player in animal development. Our
      preliminary studies showed that ERalpha-specific antagonists blocked mouse 2-cell
      development and inhibited ZGA related gene expression, indicating an
      indispensable role of maternal ERalpha in early mouse preimplantation embryo
      development (PED). Here, we performed immunostaining detection to investigate the
      cell cycle specific subcellular localization of ERalpha, and serine 118
      phosphorylated ERalpha (pERalpha-S118), during the first two cleavages of mouse
      PED. Our results showed that ERalpha nuclear localization appeared at 1-cell S
      phase, disappeared at metaphase, and reappeared since the G1 phase of 2-cell
      embryos. Nuclear expression of pERalpha-S118 started at the 1-cell S-phase, but
      was absent at the G1 phase of 2-cell embryos, and reappeared since the 2-cell S
      phase. Interestingly, pERalpha-S118 showed a dynamic expression pattern among
      nuclear, nuclear surface, cytoplasm and cell membrane. These results indicate
      that maternal derived ERalpha might still function in the first two cleavages of
      mouse PED, during which ZGA occurs. 

PMID- 26874906
TI  - Interval aerobic training combined with strength-endurance exercise improves
      metabolic markers beyond caloric restriction in Zucker rats.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the effects of interval aerobic training combined with
      strength-endurance exercise (IASE) and caloric restriction (CR) on body
      composition, glycaemic and lipid profile and inflammatory markers. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Thirty-two Zucker diabetic fatty rats were randomised into 4 groups
      (sedentary + CR; sedentary + adlibitum; IASE + CR; and IASE + adlibitum).
      Training groups conducted an IASE programme in the same session, 5 days/week for
      2 months. Body weight, fat and muscle mass and body water were measured using a
      body composition analyser. Plasma total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, phospholipids,
      triglycerides, insulin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1
      and 10 were measured. Blood fasting and postprandial glucose were assessed. Body
      weight was lower in the CR compared to the adlibitum groups (p < 0.001). Fat mass
      was lower in the CR compared to the adlibitum (p < 0.05) and in the IASE compared
      to the sedentary groups (p < 0.001), but IASE increased lean mass (p < 0.001).
      Triglycerides were lower in the CR compared to the adlibitum groups (p < 0.001)
      whereas total and LDL-cholesterol and fasting glucose were reduced only in the
      IASE groups (all, p < 0.001). Phospholipids decreased in the CR compared to the
      adlibitum (p < 0.05) and the IASE compared to the sedentary groups (p < 0.001).
      The area under the curve after oral glucose tolerance test, insulin and
      homoeostatic model assessment were lower in the IASE and the CR compared to the
      sedentary and adlibitum groups, respectively (all, p < 0.001). Adiponectin was
      lower in the CR groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Overall, IASE as well as CR were
      both useful interventions, especially when combined. However, IASE showed greater
      improvements on body composition, inflammatory and glycaemic profile than CR did.

PMID- 26874908
TI  - [Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder: A case report].

PMID- 26874907
TI  - Neck circumference is associated with carotid intimal-media thickness but not
      with coronary artery calcium: Results from The ELSA-Brasil.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is uncertain whether neck circumference can be a risk
      indicator for subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate their
      relationships measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC) and common carotid intima
      media thickness (cc-IMT) with neck circumference in ELSA-Brasil. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: In cross-sectional and sex-specific analyses of 2266 women (50.6 +/- 8.4
      yrs) and 1886 men (50.7 +/- 9.0 yrs) with both cc-IMT and CAC, free from previous
      cardiovascular disease at baseline, we built logistic models using diverse cut
      off points for CAC score (0 vs > 0, < 100 vs >= 100, < 400 vs >= 400 Agatston
      units) and cc-IMT (< 75 th percentile vs >= 75 th; <90th percentile vs >= 90 th)
      as dependent variables, after which adjustments for age and traditional
      cardiovascular risk factors were made. Mean neck circumference was 33.6 (+/- 2.4
      cm) for women and 38.8 (+/- 2.6 cm) for men. In fully adjusted models including
      sociodemographic, cardiovascular risk factors and body-mass index and waist
      circumference, for each 1 standard deviation increase in neck circumference we
      found an odds ratio (OR, 95% CI) for IMT above the 75th percentile of (1.52,
      1.16; 1.99) for women and (1.66, 1.28; 2.14) for men, and above the 90th cc-IMT
      percentile [1.66 (1.19; 2.32) for men but not for women [1.21 (0.80; 1.82)]. We
      found no association between neck circumference and CAC using different cut-off
      points (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Neck circumference was significantly and
      independently associated with cc-IMT but not with CAC in women and men,
      indicating a possible effect of perivascular fat tissue on atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26874909
TI  - [Persistant Legionella pneumophila and Enterococcus faecium pulmonary infection:
      Look for an abscess!].

PMID- 26874910
TI  - Evaluation in vitro and in vivo of curcumin-loaded mPEG-PLA/TPGS mixed micelles
      for oral administration.
AB  - The aim of this work is to prepare and characterize curcumin-loaded methoxy
      poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (mPEG-PLA)/D-alpha-tocopherol polyethylene
      glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) mixed micelles (CUR-MPP-TPGS-MMs), analyze the
      influence of formulation on enhancing the solubility of curcumin in water, and
      evaluate the improvement of intestinal absorption after oral administration. CUR
      MPP-TPGS-MMs were prepared using the thin film diffusion method and optimized
      with the uniform design. The optimal CUR-MPP-TPGS-MMs were provided with high
      drug-loading (16.1%), small size (46.0 nm) and spherical shape. Low critical
      micelle concentration (CMC) and superior dilution stability showed that CUR-MPP
      TPGS-MMs could keep integrity during the dilution of gastrointestinal fluid. In
      vitro drug release study indicated a sustained release of curcumin from CUR-MPP
      TPGS-MMs in simulated gastrointestinal solution. The absorption mechanism of
      passive diffusion was obtained by measuring in situ intestinal absorption of CUR
      MPP-TPGS-MMs in rats, and the best absorption segment was found to be the
      duodenum. The pharmacokinetics was evaluated in rats at the dose of 75 mg/kg by
      intragastric administration. The Cmax and mean retention time (MRT0-24) for CUR
      MPP-TPGS-MMs were both increased, and the relative bioavailability of micelle
      formulation to curcumin suspension was 927.3%. These results suggested that mPEG
      PLA/TPGS mixed micelle system (MPP-TPGS-MMs) showed great potential in improving
      oral bioavailability of curcumin.

PMID- 26874911
TI  - Dietary pattern, inflammation and cognitive decline: The Whitehall II prospective
      cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Low-grade inflammation appears to play an etiological role in
      cognitive decline. However the association between an inflammatory dietary
      pattern and cognitive decline has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate
      dietary patterns associated with inflammation and whether such diet is associated
      with cognitive decline. METHODS: We analyzed 5083 participants (28.7% women) from
      the Whitehall II cohort study. Diet and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assessed
      in 1991-1993 and 1997-1999. We used reduced rank regression methods to determine
      a dietary pattern associated with elevated IL-6. Cognitive tests were performed
      in 1997-1999 and repeated in 2002-2004 and 2007-2009. The association between
      dietary pattern and cognitive decline between ages 45 and 79 was assessed using
      linear mixed models. RESULTS: We identified an inflammatory dietary pattern
      characterized by higher intake of red meat, processed meat, peas and legumes, and
      fried food, and lower intake of whole grains which correlated with elevated IL-6
      both in 1991-1993 and 1997-1999. A greater decline in reasoning was seen in
      participants in the highest tertile of adherence to the inflammatory dietary
      pattern (-0.37 SD; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.40, -0.34) compared to those
      in the lowest tertile (-0.31; 95% CI -0.34, -0.28) after adjustment for age, sex,
      ethnicity, occupational status, education, and total energy intake (p for
      interaction across tertiles = 0.01). This association remained significant after
      multivariable adjustment. Similarly for global cognition, the inflammatory
      dietary pattern was associated with faster cognitive decline after multivariable
      adjustment (p for interaction across tertiles = 0.04). Associations were stronger
      in younger participants (<56 years), reducing the possibility of reverse
      causation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that a dietary pattern characterized as
      higher intake of red and processed meat, peas, legumes and fried food, and lower
      intake of whole grains was associated with higher inflammatory markers and
      accelerated cognitive decline at older ages. This supports the case for further
      research.

PMID- 26874913
TI  - A large prospective audit of morbidity and mortality associated with feeding
      gastrostomies in the community.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Morbidity after 30 days and morbidity after 1 year from
      gastrostomy placement is poorly characterised as patients are discharged into the
      community. We prospectively recorded morbidity and mortality associated with
      gastrostomy placement over a five year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Community
      dietitians regularly reviewed all patients with a gastrostomy after hospital
      discharge, prospectively recording morbidity and mortality between 2008 and 2012.
      In addition hospital databases and case notes were examined. Recorded morbidity
      included insertion site infection, leakage, over granulation, haemorrhage and
      buried bumper. RESULTS: The commonest indication for PEG placement was following
      an acute cerebral injury. There were no deaths and few complications directly
      related to gastrostomy insertion in 350 patients. We collected a total of 571
      years of gastrostomy data. Mortality within 30 days was predominantly from a
      respiratory infection. 30 day, 3 and 12 month cumulative mortality (and
      morbidity) were 8% (2%), 16% (10%) and 35% (15%) respectively. 38% of patients
      required treatment for an insertion site infection with 70% of these having
      further infections. Overall there was a site infection every 2.1 years a
      gastrostomy was in situ. Complications such as buried bumpers (5(1.4%)),
      persistent fistulas (0) and over granulation (7(2%)) were rare. Few gastrostomies
      required replacement (11%). CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated reassuringly low
      rates of gastrostomy-associated morbidity and mortality. There was no direct
      mortality. The greatest morbidity resulted from gastrostomy-site infection.

PMID- 26874912
TI  - Effects of glucose ingestion on circulating inflammatory mediators: Influence of
      sex and weight excess.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Low-grade chronic inflammation is involved in the
      pathophysiology of obesity. However, little is known about the influence of sex
      and sex hormones on surrogate inflammatory markers and mediators, particularly
      after glucose ingestion. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: We measured the
      circulating concentrations of interleukin-6, interleukin-18, macrophage migration
      inhibitory factor, matrix metallopeptidase-9, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and
      pentraxin-3, in the fasting state and during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test,
      in 24 women and 25 men. Eleven men and 11 women were lean whereas 14 men and 13
      women had weight excess. RESULTS: Anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and
      interleukin-18) were increased in the fasting state and/or decreased in some
      women during the oral glucose tolerance test, as opposed to inflammatory
      mediators such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor and matrix
      metallopeptidase-9 that increased during the oral glucose tolerance test
      especially in subjects with weight excess. Body mass index and waist
      circumference were the main determinants of these changes. Fasting pentraxin-3
      levels were especially increased in lean women in parallel to a decrease in free
      testosterone levels, and decreased during the oral glucose tolerance test as
      opposed to the increase in insulin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The circulating
      concentrations of markers of low-grade chronic inflammation in young healthy
      adults are not only influenced by obesity but also by abdominal adiposity,
      fasting and glucose ingestion and, in some cases, by sex and sex hormones. These
      influences should be considered when these markers are used as surrogate markers
      of the inflammatory milieu associated with obesity.

PMID- 26874914
TI  - Predictors of survival in refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and
      thrombocytosis (RARS-T) and the role of next-generation sequencing.
AB  - Refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (RARS-T) shares
      overlapping features of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative
      neoplasms (MPN). RARS-T is characterized by SF3B1 and JAK2 mutations and
      prognosis is considered to be better than MDS but not as good as MPN. The
      objective of the study was to identify predictors of survival in RARS-T. We
      analyzed clinical and laboratory variables in 82 patients and applied a 27-gene
      NGS assay to 48 marrow samples obtained at diagnosis. 94% of patients had >=1
      mutations; common mutations being: SF3B1 85%, JAK2V617F 33%, ASXL1 29%, DNMT3A
      13%, SETBP1 13% and TET2 10%. In a multivariable survival analysis (n = 82),
      anemia (P = 0.02) [HB< 10 gm/dl: HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.6] and abnormal karyotype
      (P =.01) [HR 6.1, 95% CI 2.7-13.8] were independently prognostic for inferior
      survival. In patients with NGS information (n = 48), univariate analysis showed
      association between poor survival and presence of SETBP1 (P = 0.04) or ASXL1 (P =
      0.08) mutations whereas the absence of these mutations (ASXL1wt/SETBP1wt) was
      favorable (P = 0.04); the number of concurrent mutations did not provide
      additional prognostication (P = 0.3). We developed a HR-weighted prognostic
      model, with 2 points for an abnormal karyotype, 1 point for either ASXL1 and/or
      SETBP1 mutations, and 1 point for a HB level < 10 gm/dl, which effectively
      stratified patients into three risk categories; low (0 points), intermediate (1
      point) and high (>=2 points), with median survivals of 80, 42 and 11 months
      respectively (P = 0.01). In summary, we confirm the unique mutational landscape
      in RARS-T and provide a novel mutation-enhanced prognostic model.

PMID- 26874915
TI  - The profile of psychiatric symptoms exacerbated by methamphetamine use.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use can produce symptoms almost indistinguishable
      from schizophrenia. Distinguishing between the two conditions has been hampered
      by the lack of a validated symptom profile for methamphetamine-induced
      psychiatric symptoms. We use data from a longitudinal cohort study to examine the
      profile of psychiatric symptoms that are acutely exacerbated by methamphetamine
      use. METHODS: 164 methamphetamine users, who did not meet DSM-IV criteria for a
      lifetime primary psychotic disorder, were followed monthly for one year to assess
      the relationship between days of methamphetamine use and symptom severity on the
      24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms with
      methamphetamine use was quantified using random coefficient models. The
      dimensions of symptom exacerbation were examined using principal axis factoring
      and a latent profile analysis. RESULTS: Symptoms exacerbated by methamphetamine
      loaded on three factors: positive psychotic symptoms (suspiciousness, unusual
      thought content, hallucinations, bizarre behavior); affective symptoms
      (depression, suicidality, guilt, hostility, somatic concern, self-neglect); and
      psychomotor symptoms (tension, excitement, distractibility, motor hyperactivity).
      Methamphetamine use did not significantly increase negative symptoms.
      Vulnerability to positive psychotic and affective symptom exacerbation was shared
      by 28% of participants, and this vulnerability aligned with a past year DSM-IV
      diagnosis of substance-induced psychosis (38% vs. 22%, chi(2)(df1)=3.66,
      p=0.056). CONCLUSION: Methamphetamine use produced a symptom profile comprised of
      positive psychotic and affective symptoms, which aligned with a diagnosis of
      substance-induced psychosis, with no evidence of a negative syndrome.

PMID- 26874917
TI  - MY APPROACH to the practical management of anticoagulation in patients with
      atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 26874916
TI  - Neural correlates of cigarette health warning avoidance among smokers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eye-tracking technology has indicated that daily smokers actively
      avoid pictorial cigarette package health warnings. Avoidance may be due to a pre
      cognitive perceptual bias or a higher order cognitive bias, such as reduced
      emotional processing. Using electroencephalography (EEG), this study aimed to
      identify the temporal point at which smokers' responses to health warnings begin
      to differ. METHOD: Non-smokers (n=20) and daily smokers (n=20) viewed pictorial
      cigarette package health warnings and neutral control stimuli. These elicited
      Event Related Potentials reflecting early perceptual processing (visual P1), pre
      attentive change detection (visual Mismatch Negativity), selective attentional
      orientation (P3) and a measure of emotional processing, the Late Positive
      Potential (LPP). RESULTS: There was no evidence for a difference in P1 responses
      between smokers and non-smokers. There was no difference in vMMN and P3 amplitude
      but some evidence for a delay in vMMN latency amongst smokers. There was strong
      evidence for delayed and reduced LPP to health warning stimuli amongst smokers
      compared to non-smokers. CONCLUSION: We find no evidence for an early perceptual
      bias in smokers' visual perception of health warnings but strong evidence that
      smokers are less sensitive to the emotional content of cigarette health warnings.
      Future health warning development should focus on increasing the emotional
      salience of pictorial health warning content amongst smokers.

PMID- 26874918
TI  - Detection of an early adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma clone in lymph nodes with
      anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma involvement.
AB  - A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with systemic lymphadenopathy and
      was diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell
      lymphoma (ALCL) by lymph node biopsy. Although he was a human T-cell leukemia
      virus type I (HTLV-1) carrier, Southern blot analysis of the lymph node did not
      show monoclonal integration of HTLV-1 provirus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). He
      achieved complete remission after chemotherapy and subsequently, autologous
      peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) was performed. Fifteen
      months after the auto-PBSCT, abnormal lymphocytes in the peripheral blood
      gradually increased. Southern blot analysis revealed monoclonal integration of
      HTLV-1 provirus DNA and monoclonal rearrangement of TRB. He was diagnosed with
      chronic type adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL), which immediately progressed
      to the acute type. He died of tumor progression despite intensive chemotherapy.
      We analyzed genomic alterations of the ALCL and ATL cells using array comparative
      genomic hybridization. We found that the genomic alteration pattern differed
      between the two diseases. T-cell receptor clonality analysis using polymerase
      chain reaction (PCR) showed that the T-cell clone of the ATL was present in the
      lymph nodes with ALCL involvement, but not in peripheral blood. This finding
      suggests that lymph nodes can serve as a niche for ATL development. 

PMID- 26874920
TI  - A PROM primer.

PMID- 26874921
TI  - Fat grafting & the philosopher's stone.

PMID- 26874919
TI  - Parietal hyper-connectivity, aberrant brain organization, and circuit-based
      biomarkers in children with mathematical disabilities.
AB  - Mathematical disabilities (MD) have a negative life-long impact on professional
      success, employment, and health outcomes. Yet little is known about the intrinsic
      functional brain organization that contributes to poor math skills in affected
      children. It is now increasingly recognized that math cognition requires
      coordinated interaction within a large-scale fronto-parietal network anchored in
      the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). Here we characterize intrinsic functional
      connectivity within this IPS-network in children with MD, relative to a group of
      typically developing (TD) children who were matched on age, gender, IQ, working
      memory, and reading abilities. Compared to TD children, children with MD showed
      hyper-connectivity of the IPS with a bilateral fronto-parietal network.
      Importantly, aberrant IPS connectivity patterns accurately discriminated children
      with MD and TD children, highlighting the possibility for using IPS connectivity
      as a brain-based biomarker of MD. To further investigate regional abnormalities
      contributing to network-level deficits in children with MD, we performed whole
      brain analyses of intrinsic low-frequency fluctuations. Notably, children with MD
      showed higher low-frequency fluctuations in multiple fronto-parietal areas that
      overlapped with brain regions that exhibited hyper-connectivity with the IPS.
      Taken together, our findings suggest that MD in children is characterized by
      robust network-level aberrations, and is not an isolated dysfunction of the IPS.
      We hypothesize that intrinsic hyper-connectivity and enhanced low-frequency
      fluctuations may limit flexible resource allocation, and contribute to aberrant
      recruitment of task-related brain regions during numerical problem solving in
      children with MD.

PMID- 26874922
TI  - Mitochondrial Dysfunction Meets Senescence.
AB  - Cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of ageing, but
      until now their relationship has not been clear. Recent work by Wiley et al.
      shows that mitochondrial defects can cause a distinct senescence phenotype termed
      MiDAS (mitochondrial dysfunction-associated senescence). MiDAS has a specific
      secretome that is able to drive some of the aging phenotypes. These findings
      suggest novel therapeutic opportunities for treating age-related pathologies. 

PMID- 26874924
TI  - Cavernoplasty with oral mucosa graft for the surgical treatment of Peyronie's
      disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Peyronie's disease is a disorder of the tunica albuginea and causes
      penile curvature, requiring surgical correction when the deformity impedes
      penetration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the short-term
      results (penile length, angle of curvature and erectile function) of treating
      Peyronie's disease in 10 patients through cavernoplasty with oral mucosa graft.
      Essentially, the treatment included the incision of the fibrotic plaque with
      electrical scalpel and the subsequent coating of the cavernous defect using a
      patch of oral mucosa. At month 6, we measured the penile length and curvature and
      recorded the erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function
      5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Finally, the patients were asked "Would you undergo the
      same operation again?". RESULTS: The mean age was 53.4 years. The average and
      median follow-up was 22.7 months and 24 months, respectively. The mean
      preoperative curvature was 68.5 degrees  (50 degrees -90 degrees ), the mean
      penile length was 11.2cm (9-15) and the mean IIEF-5 score was 16.1 (8-25). The
      mean postoperative penile length was 10.7cm, and the mean IIEF-5 score was 18.9.
      The differences between the preoperative and postoperative values were not
      statistically significant (P=ns). One patient developed erectile dysfunction. In
      all cases, the residual curvature was <20 degrees . Nine patients (90%) stated
      that they would undergo the same operation. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results
      suggest that cavernoplasty with oral mucosa graft can be an alternative to
      traditional grafts for surgically correcting Peyronie's disease.

PMID- 26874925
TI  - Alignment of oral health-related with health-related quality of life assessment.

PMID- 26874923
TI  - Heat Shock Proteins Promote Cancer: It's a Protection Racket.
AB  - Heat shock proteins (HSP) are expressed at high levels in cancer and form a
      fostering environment that is essential for tumor development. Here, we review
      the recent data in this area, concentrating mainly on Hsp27, Hsp70, and Hsp90.
      The overriding role of HSPs in cancer is to stabilize the active functions of
      overexpressed and mutated cancer genes. Thus, elevated HSPs are required for many
      of the traits that underlie the morbidity of cancer, including increased growth,
      survival, and formation of secondary cancers. In addition, HSPs participate in
      the evolution of cancer treatment resistance. HSPs are also released from cancer
      cells and influence malignant properties by receptor-mediated signaling. Current
      data strongly support efforts to target HSPs in cancer treatment.

PMID- 26874926
TI  - Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw; what should we do as
      prosthodontists?

PMID- 26874927
TI  - Effectiveness of a pay-for-performance intervention to improve maternal and child
      health services in Afghanistan: a cluster-randomized trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A cluster randomized trial of a pay-for-performance (P4P) scheme was
      implemented in Afghanistan to test whether P4P could improve maternal and child
      (MCH) services. METHODS: All 442 primary care facilities in 11 provinces were
      matched by type of facility and outpatient volume, and randomly assigned to the
      P4P or comparison arm. P4P facilities were given bonus payments based on the MCH
      services provided. An endline household sample survey was conducted in 72
      randomly selected matched pair catchment areas (3421 P4P households; 3427
      comparison).The quality of services was assessed in 81 randomly sampled matched
      pairs of facilities. Data collectors and households were blinded to the
      intervention assignment. MCH outcomes were assessed at the cluster level.
      RESULTS: There were no substantial differences in any of the five MCH coverage
      indicators (P4P vs comparison): modern contraception(10.7% vs 11.2% (P = 0.90);
      antenatal care: 56.2% vs 55.6% (P = 0.94); skilled birth attendance (33.9% vs
      28.5%, P = 0.17); postnatal care (31.2% vs 30.3%, P = 0.98); and childhood
      pentavalent3 vaccination (49.6 vs 52.3%, P = 0.41), or in the equity measures.
      There were substantial increases in the quality of history and physical
      examinations index (P = 0.01); client counselling index (P = 0.01); and time
      spent with patients (P = 0.05). Health workers reported limited understanding
      about the bonuses. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention had minimal effect, possibly due
      to difficulties communicating with health workers and inattention to demand-side
      factors. P4P interventions need to consider management and community demand
      issues.

PMID- 26874928
TI  - Identification of neurodevelopmental trajectories in infancy and of risk factors
      affecting deviant development: a longitudinal birth cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We investigate patterns of neurodevelopmental trajectories in
      infants, using a representative population, and identify risk factors that
      predict delayed growth. METHODS: Participating infants (n = 952; 82.8% of the
      total sample) were assessed by Mullen Scales of Early Learning at seven time
      points, from 1 month to 24 months of age. Mothers were recruited in early
      pregnancy and data on demographic characteristics were collected during
      pregnancy. Trajectory patterns were investigated using latent class growth
      analysis, and risk factors for the derived trajectory classes were investigated
      by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Participants were found to be a
      fairly representative sample with respect to their demographic characteristics.
      Five classes of high normal (11.5%), normal (49.2%), low normal (21.2%), delayed
      (14.1%), and markedly delayed (4.0%) were identified. The markedly delayed class
      was characterized by overall delay from the early developmental stages; notably,
      such delay first became salient in motor domains and was then exceeded by
      language domains, especially receptive language. This class was predicted by male
      sex (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval 1.7-9.1), small for gestational age
      (2.8; 1.0-7.5), low placenta-to-birthweight ratio (2.8; 1.2-6.4) and low maternal
      education (4.7; 1.2-19.0). The delayed class was characterized by gradual
      downward deviation after the first birthday, and was predicted by male sex (2.5;
      1.5-4.2), preterm birth (4.4; 1.6-12.6) and advanced paternal age (1.9; 1.0-3.5).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that about 1 out of 5 infants exhibits
      delayed neurodevelopment. Infants with distinct patterns of delayed trajectories
      and varying risk factors are considered to have different pathophysiological
      mechanisms.

PMID- 26874929
TI  - Data Resource Profile: The Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey-Higher School of
      Economics (RLMS-HSE) Phase II: Monitoring the Economic and Health Situation in
      Russia, 1994-2013.

PMID- 26874930
TI  - Montelukast-induced metamorphopsia in a pediatric patient: A case report and a
      pharmacovigilance database analysis.

PMID- 26874931
TI  - Pharmacogenomic or -epigenomic biomarkers in drug treatment: Two sides of the
      same medal?
AB  - Interindividual differences in expression of ADME genes are controlled by both
      genetic and epigenetic factors. Much emphasis has been made to describe the
      genetic influence, whereas the epigenetic part is not fully understood.
      Currently, we utilize mainly genetic biomarkers for optimization of drug therapy,
      although many rare genetic variants are not taken into consideration. Now, also
      epigenomic biomarkers are at hand and together genetic and epigenetic biomarkers
      can indeed improve the predictability of drug treatment. 

PMID- 26874932
TI  - Current methods of the analysis of immunosuppressive agents in clinical
      materials: A review.
AB  - More than 100000 solid organ transplantations are performed every year worldwide.
      Calcineurin (cyclosporine A, tacrolimus), serine/threonine kinase (sirolimus,
      everolimus) and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor (mycophenolate
      mofetil), are the most common drugs used as immunosuppressive agents after solid
      organ transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy, although necessary after
      transplantation, is associated with many adverse consequences, including the
      formation of secondary metabolites of drugs and the induction of their side
      effects. Calcineurin inhibitors are associated with nephrotoxicity,
      cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity; moreover, they increase the risk of many
      diseases after transplantation. The review presents a study of the movement of
      drugs in the body, including the processes of absorption, distribution,
      localisation in tissues, biotransformation and excretion, and also their
      accompanying side effects. Therefore, there is a necessity to monitor
      immunosuppressants, especially because these drugs are characterised by narrow
      therapeutic ranges. Their incorrect concentrations in a patient's blood could
      result in transplant rejection or in the accumulation of toxic effects.
      Immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals are macrolide lactones, peptides, and high
      molecular weight molecules that can be metabolised to several metabolites.
      Therefore the two main analytical methods used for their determination are high
      performance liquid chromatography with various detection methods and immunoassay
      methods. Despite the rapid development of new analytical methods of analysing
      immunosuppressive agents, the application of the latest generation of detectors
      and increasing sensitivity of such methods, there is still a great demand for the
      development of highly selective, sensitive, specific, rapid and relatively simple
      methods of immunosuppressive drugs analysis. 

PMID- 26874933
TI  - Analysing risk factors for urinary tract infection based on automated monitoring
      of hospital-acquired infection.
AB  - Urinary tract infections account for as much as one-third of all nosocomial
      infections. The aim of this study was to examine previously reported
      characteristics of patients with hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (HA
      UTI) using an automated infection monitoring system (Hospital-Acquired Infection
      Registry: HAIR). A matched case-control study was conducted to investigate the
      association of risk factors with HA-UTI. Patients with HA-UTI more frequently had
      indwelling urinary catheters or a disease in the genitourinary or nervous system
      than the controls. Automated hospital-acquired infection monitoring enables
      documentation of key risk factors to better evaluate infection control
      interventions in general or for selected groups of patients. 

PMID- 26874934
TI  - Sequence type 72 community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
      emerged as a predominant clone of nasal colonization in newly admitted patients.
AB  - Current knowledge of community-associated (CA) meticillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in hospitalized patients is incomplete.
      Genotypic characteristics of 637 nasal MRSA isolates from newly admitted patients
      in South Korea were investigated. Sequence type (ST) 72 accounted for 52.1%,
      46.3%, and 52.8% of the isolates during the periods of 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and
      2013-2014, respectively. Instead of classic MRSA clones responsible for
      healthcare-associated infections, including ST5 and ST239, MRSA with community
      genotype ST72 was the predominant strain in newly admitted patients regardless of
      age and home province of the patients. Active strategies are needed to prevent
      healthcare-associated infection by CA-MRSA. 

PMID- 26874935
TI  - Acceptability of temporary suspension of visiting during norovirus outbreaks:
      investigating patient, visitor and public opinion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Noroviruses are a leading cause of outbreaks globally and the most
      common cause of service disruption due to ward closures. Temporary suspension of
      visiting (TSV) is increasingly a recommended public health measure to reduce
      exposure, transmission and impact during norovirus outbreaks; however, preventing
      patient-visitor contact may contravene the ethos of person-centred care, and
      public acceptability of this measure is not known. AIM: To investigate the
      acceptability of TSV during norovirus outbreaks from the perspectives of
      patients, visitors and the wider public. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of
      patients (N = 153), visitors (N = 175) and the public (N = 224) in three diverse
      areas in Scotland. Health Belief Model constructs were applied to understand
      ratings of acceptability of TSV during norovirus outbreaks, and to determine
      associations between these levels and various predictor variables. FINDINGS: The
      majority (84.6%) of respondents indicated that the possible benefits of TSV are
      greater than the possible disadvantages. Conversely, the majority (70%) of
      respondents disagreed that TSV 'is wrong as it ignores people's rights to have
      contact with family and friends'. The majority (81.6%) of respondents agreed that
      TSV would be more acceptable if exceptions were made for seriously ill or dying
      patients. Correlational analysis demonstrated that overall acceptability was
      positively related to perceived severity (r = 0.65), identified benefits (r =
      0.54) and implementing additional communication strategies (r = 0.60);
      acceptability was negatively related to potential barriers (r = -0.49).
      CONCLUSIONS: There is greater service user and public support for the use of TSV
      than concerns around impinging upon patients' rights to have visitors. TSV should
      be considered as an acceptable infection control measure that could be
      implemented consistently during norovirus outbreaks.

PMID- 26874936
TI  - The wide spectrum of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: Case report of a rare but
      treatable disease.
AB  - Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an autosomal-recessive disorder of lipid
      storage caused by mutations in the CYP27A1 gene, coding for a sterol 27
      hydroxylase, leading to increased deposition of cholesterol in multiple tissues.
      CTX is characterized by the association of early non-neurological manifestations
      and adult-onset neurological dysfunctions (spastic ataxia, dementia, psychiatric
      disorders, peripheral neuropathy). Early and long-term treatment with
      chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) can slow down neurological symptoms progression, but
      diagnosis usually has a delay of several years. We report two Italian siblings
      having quite different phenotypes associated to a G-to-A transition in the c-1263
      terminal causing a splicing alteration. This mutation has not been described
      before in Italy, and has been reported once in Japan. This case widens the
      clinical and genetic spectrum of Cerebrotendinous Xantomatosis in Italy and would
      like to suggest the importance of genetic testing in patients with autosomal
      recessive spastic paraparesis associated with typical non-neurological symptoms. 

PMID- 26874937
TI  - The value of dynamic radiographic myelography in addition to magnetic resonance
      imaging in detection lumbar spinal canal stenosis: A prospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: MRI is regarded as the study of choice in the diagnosis of lumbar
      spinal stenosis. In some cases, the supine MRI leads to a misdiagnosis in the
      extent of lumbar spinal stenosis. Dynamic myelography can detect lumbar spinal
      stenosis in these cases of where the MRI may not be as sensitive. To compare the
      sensitivities of dynamic radiographic myelography and supine MRI in lumbar canal
      stenosis (LCS) patients and to determine whether dynamic radiographic myelography
      is a valuable diagnostic exam in the work-up of lumbar canal stenosis. PATIENTS &
      METHODS: Over two years, the imaging data of 100 consecutive patients who were
      suspected of having LCS were prospectively analyzed. All lumbar intervertebral
      segments were evaluated in each patient on sagittal MR T2-weighted images and
      lateral plane images by myelography using a semi-quantitative scoring system. The
      differences in scores for 5 motion segments under 3 conditions (supine MRI,
      upright sitting myelography and standing myelography with extension) were
      analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Of 100 patients with 500 analyzed intervertebral
      segments, 23 patients with inconclusive supine MRI results had LCS in standing
      myelography with extension. Compared with upright sitting myelography and supine
      MRI, standing myelography with extension yielded the highest score for every
      segment from L1/2 to L5/S1. Compared with the upright sitting myelography
      position, 61 more patients received a diagnosis of lumbar stenosis in the
      standing myelography with extension position, and 121 more stenotic segments were
      diagnosed. Compared with the supine MRI position, standing myelography with
      extension detected 64 more stenotic patients and 137 more stenotic segments.
      CONCLUSIO: n Based on a large patient sample, dynamic myelography is a valuable
      diagnostic tool in detecting lumbar spinal stenosis. Patients with lumbar spinal
      stenosis may have inconclusive supine MRI in 23% of cases being misdiagnosed as
      normal. This missed rate of LCS patients with unclear supine MRI results can be
      avoided with dynamic myelography. The combination of supine MRI and dynamic
      myelography is critical in the evaluation of LCS, especially if multisegmental
      findings are detected.

PMID- 26874938
TI  - An Australian survey of women's use of pregnancy and parenting apps.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are now many pregnancy and parenting apps available on the
      market for both pregnancy and parenting. AIMS: To investigate how Australian
      women use pregnancy and parenting apps, their attitudes about the information
      provided and data privacy and security related to such use, and what features
      they look for in these apps. METHODS: An online survey was completed by 410 women
      who were pregnant or had given birth to at least one child in the past three
      years, were aged between 18 and 45 and were competent in English. FINDINGS: The
      use of pregnancy and parenting apps was common among the respondents. Almost
      three quarters of respondents had used at least one pregnancy app; half reported
      using at least one parenting app. Respondents found the apps useful or helpful,
      particularly for providing information, monitoring foetal or child development
      and changes in their own bodies and providing reassurance. Yet many users were
      not actively assessing the validity of the content of these apps or considering
      issues concerning the security and privacy of the personal information about
      themselves and their children that these apps collect. CONCLUSION: Apps are
      becoming important as a source of information and self-monitoring and for
      providing reassurance for Australian pregnant women and mothers with young
      children. Midwives and other healthcare professionals providing care and support
      for pregnant women and women in the early years of motherhood need to take
      women's app use into account and recognise both the potential and limitations of
      these apps.

PMID- 26874939
TI  - Getting lost: Topographic skills in acquired and developmental prosopagnosia.
AB  - Previous studies report that acquired prosopagnosia is frequently associated with
      topographic disorientation. Whether this is associated with a specific anatomic
      subtype of prosopagnosia, how frequently it is seen with the developmental
      variant, and what specific topographic function is impaired to account for this
      problem are not known. We studied ten subjects with acquired prosopagnosia from
      either occipitotemporal or anterior temporal (AT) lesions and seven with
      developmental prosopagnosia. Subjects were given a battery of topographic tests,
      including house and scene recognition, the road map test, a test of cognitive map
      formation, and a standardized self-report questionnaire. House and/or scene
      recognition were frequently impaired after either occipitotemporal or AT lesions
      in acquired prosopagnosia. Subjects with occipitotemporal lesions were also
      impaired in cognitive map formation: an overlap analysis identified right
      fusiform and parahippocampal gyri as a likely correlate. Only one subject with
      acquired prosopagnosia had mild difficulty with directional orientation on the
      road map test. Only one subject with developmental prosopagnosia had difficulty
      with cognitive map formation, and none were impaired on the other tests. Scores
      for house and scene recognition correlated most strongly with the results of the
      questionnaire. We conclude that topographic disorientation in acquired
      prosopagnosia reflects impaired place recognition, with a contribution from poor
      cognitive map formation when there is occipitotemporal damage. Topographic
      impairments are less frequent in developmental prosopagnosia. 

PMID- 26874941
TI  - Social coercion of larval development in an ant species.
AB  - Ants provide one of the best examples of the division of labor in animal
      societies. While the queens reproduce, workers generally refrain from laying eggs
      and dedicate themselves exclusively to domestic tasks. In many species, the small
      diploid larvae are bipotent and can develop either into workers or queens
      depending mostly on environmental cues. This generates a conflicting situation
      between the adults that tend to rear a majority of larvae into workers and the
      larvae whose individual interest may be to develop into reproductive queens. We
      tested the social regulation of larval caste fate in the fission-performing ant
      Aphaenogaster senilis. We first observed interactions between resident workers
      and queen- and worker-destined larvae in presence/absence of the queen. The
      results show that workers tend to specifically eliminate queen-destined larvae
      when the queen is present but not when she is absent or imprisoned in a small
      cage allowing for volatile pheromone exchanges. In addition, we found that the
      presence of already developed queen-destined larvae does not inhibit the
      development of younger still bipotent larvae into queens. Finally, we analyzed
      the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of queen- and worker-destined larvae and found
      no significant quantitative or qualitative difference. Interestingly, the total
      amount of hydrocarbons on both larval castes is extremely low, which lends
      credence on the chemical insignificance hypothesis of larval ants. Overall, our
      results suggest that workers control larval development and police larvae that
      would develop into queens instead of workers. Such policing behavior is similar
      in many aspects to what is known of worker policing among adults. 

PMID- 26874940
TI  - Human ventromedial prefrontal lesions alter incentivisation by reward.
AB  - Although medial frontal brain regions are implicated in valuation of rewards,
      evidence from focal lesions to these areas is scant, with many conflicting
      results regarding motivation and affect, and no human studies specifically
      examining incentivisation by reward. Here, 19 patients with isolated, focal
      damage in ventral and medial prefrontal cortex were selected from a database of
      453 individuals with subarachnoid haemorrhage. Using a speeded saccadic task
      based on the oculomotor capture paradigm, we manipulated the maximum reward
      available on each trial using an auditory incentive cue. Modulation of behaviour
      by motivation permitted quantification of reward sensitivity. At the group level,
      medial frontal damage was overall associated with significantly reduced effects
      of reward on invigorating saccadic velocity and autonomic (pupil) responses
      compared to age-matched, healthy controls. Crucially, however, some individuals
      instead showed abnormally strong incentivisation effects for vigour. Increased
      sensitivity to rewards within the lesion group correlated with damage in
      subgenual ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) areas, which have recently
      become the target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in depression. Lesion
      correlations with clinical apathy suggested that the apathy associated with
      prefrontal damage is in fact reduced by damage at those coordinates. Reduced
      reward sensitivity showed a trend to correlate with damage near nucleus
      accumbens. Lesions did not, on the other hand, influence reward sensitivity of
      cognitive control, as measured by distractibility. Thus, although medial frontal
      lesions may generally reduce reward sensitivity, damage to key subregions
      paradoxically protect from this effect. 

PMID- 26874942
TI  - Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genes and ligands and their role in
      hematologic malignancies.
AB  - Natural killer (NK) cells are considered crucial for the elimination of emerging
      tumor cells. Effector NK-cell functions are controlled by interactions of
      inhibitory and activating killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) on NK
      cells with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands on target cells. KIR and
      HLA are highly polymorphic genetic systems segregating independently, creating a
      great diversity in KIR/HLA gene profiles in different individuals. There is an
      increasing evidence supporting the relevance of KIR and HLA ligand gene
      background for the occurrence and outcome of certain cancers. However, the data
      are still controversial and the mechanisms of receptor-ligand mediated NK-cell
      action remain unclear. Here, the main characteristics and functions of KIRs and
      their HLA class I ligands are reviewed. In addition, we review the HLA and KIR
      correlations with different hematological malignancies and discuss our current
      understanding of the biological significance and mechanisms underlying these
      associations. 

PMID- 26874943
TI  - Timeliness of Colonoscopy After Abnormal Fecal Test Results in a Safety Net
      Practice.
AB  - Fecal testing can only reduce colorectal cancer mortality if patients with an
      abnormal test result receive a follow-up colonoscopy. As part of the Strategies
      and Opportunities to STOP Colon Cancer in Priority Populations (STOP CRC)
      project, we examined factors associated with adherence to follow-up colonoscopy
      among patients with abnormal fecal test results. As part of STOP CRC outreach,
      Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center staff distributed 1753 fecal
      immunochemical tests (FIT), of which 677 (39 %) were completed, and 56 had an
      abnormal result (8 %). Project staff used logistic regression analyses to examine
      factors associated with colonoscopy referral and completion. Of the 56 patients
      with abnormal FIT results; 45 (80 %) had evidence of a referral for colonoscopy,
      32 (57 %) had evidence of a completed colonoscopy within 18 months, and 14 (25 %)
      within 60 days of an abnormal fecal test result. In adjusted analysis, Hispanics
      had lower odds of completing follow-up colonoscopy within 60 days than non
      Hispanic whites (adjusted OR 0.20; 95 % CI 0.04, 0.92). Colonoscopy within 60
      days trended lower for women than for men (adjusted OR 0.25; 95 % CI 0.06-1.04).
      Among the 24 patients lacking medical record evidence of a colonoscopy, 19 (79 %)
      had a documented reason, including clinician did not pursue, patient refused, and
      colonoscopy not indicated. No reason was found for 21 %. Improvements are needed
      to increase rates of follow-up colonoscopy completion, especially among female
      and Hispanic patients.

PMID- 26874944
TI  - Worksite Cancer Prevention Activities in the National Comprehensive Cancer
      Control Program.
AB  - Workplaces are one setting for cancer control planners to reach adults at risk
      for cancer and other chronic diseases. However, the extent to which Centers for
      Disease Control and Prevention-funded National Comprehensive Cancer Control
      Programs (NCCCP) implement interventions in the workplace setting is not well
      characterized. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of program action
      plans submitted by NCCCP grantees from 2013 to 2015 to identify and describe
      cancer prevention objectives and interventions in the workplace setting. Nearly
      half of NCCCP action reports contained at least one cancer prevention objective
      or intervention in the workplace setting. Common interventions included education
      about secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace, and the importance of obtaining
      colorectal cancer screening. Workplace interventions were relatively common among
      NCCCP action plans, and serve as one way to address low percentages of CRC
      screening, and reduce risk for obesity- and tobacco-related cancers.

PMID- 26874946
TI  - Preventive effect of oral nicorandil on contrast-induced nephropathy in patients
      with renal insufficiency undergoing elective cardiac catheterization.
AB  - This study aims to investigate the preventive effect of oral nicorandil on
      contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with renal insufficiency
      undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. A total of 240 patients with an
      estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 mL/min or less, who were
      undergoing elective cardiac catheterization, were randomly assigned to nicorandil
      group (n = 120, 10 mg nicorandil, three times daily from 2 days before to 3 days
      after procedure) or control group (n = 120, matching placebo as the same method).
      The primary endpoint was the incidence of CIN defined as 25 % increase in serum
      creatinine (SCr) from baseline or 44 MUmol/L (0.5 mg/dL) increase in absolute
      value within 72 h after exposure to contrast medium. The secondary endpoints
      were: (1) the changes of SCr, Cystatin-C (Cys-C) and eGFR within 72 h; (2) major
      adverse events (MACE) occurring within 30 days. Baseline characteristics of the
      patients in the two groups were similar. The incidence of CIN was significantly
      lower in nicorandil group compared with control group (6.67 vs. 17.5 %, P =
      0.017). Compared with the control group, nicorandil group tended to have a lower
      SCr and Cys-C levels as well as a higher eGFR at 48 h after the procedure (all P
      < 0.05). There was no difference about the incidence of MACE within 30 days
      between nicorandil group and control group (4.16 vs. 5.83 %, P = 0.767).
      Multivariate logistic analysis showed that nicorandil was an independent
      protective factor against CIN (OR = 0.260, 95 % CI = 0.1-0.676, P = 0.006).
      Therefore, we concluded that oral nicorandil was associated with a decline in the
      incidence of CIN in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing elective cardiac
      catheterization.

PMID- 26874949
TI  - DFT investigation on the decarboxylation mechanism of ortho hydroxy benzoic acids
      with acid catalysis.
AB  - A density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to explore the mechanisms
      of the acid-catalyzed decarboxylation reaction of salicylic acids using the B3LYP
      method with 6-31++G(d,p) basis set in both gas phase and aqueous environment. The
      alpha-protonated cation of carboxylate acid was formed during the decarboxylation
      process in acidic conditions, and the presence of hydrogen ions promotes
      decarboxylation greatly by significantly decreasing the overall reaction energy
      barriers to 20.98 kcal mol(-1) in gas phase and 20.93 kcal mol(-1) in water,
      respectively. The hydrogen in the alpha-carbon came directly from the acid rather
      than from the carboxyl group in neutral state. Compared with the reaction in gas
      phase, water in aqueous state causes the reaction to occur more easily.
      Substituents of methyl group, chlorine and fluorine at the ortho-position to the
      carboxyl of salicylic acid could further lower the decarboxylation energy
      barriers and facilitate the reaction. 

PMID- 26874948
TI  - Estimation of melting points of large set of persistent organic pollutants
      utilizing QSPR approach.
AB  - The presence of polyhalogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as
      Cl/Br-substituted benzenes, biphenyls, diphenyl ethers, and naphthalenes has been
      identified in all environmental compartments. The exposure to these compounds can
      pose potential risk not only for ecological systems, but also for human health.
      Therefore, efficient tools for comprehensive environmental risk assessment for
      POPs are required. Among the factors vital for environmental transport and fate
      processes is melting point of a compound. In this study, we estimated the melting
      points of a large group (1419 compounds) of chloro- and bromo- derivatives of
      dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls, naphthalenes, diphenylethers, and
      benzenes by utilizing quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR)
      techniques. The compounds were classified by applying structure-based clustering
      methods followed by GA-PLS modeling. In addition, random forest method has been
      applied to develop more general models. Factors responsible for melting point
      behavior and predictive ability of each method were discussed. 

PMID- 26874947
TI  - Gender differences in plaque characteristics of culprit lesions in patients with
      ST elevation myocardial infarction.
AB  - There is limited research on plaque characteristics of ST elevation myocardial
      infarction (STEMI) patients according to the gender and age. 280 Consecutive
      STEMI patients who underwent VH-IVUS imaging on culprit before percutaneous
      coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in this study. Women were significantly
      older than men (69.8 +/- 10 vs. 55.9 +/- 11.3, p < 0.001). After propensity
      matching, men had higher plaque burden (79.7 +/- 7.8 vs. 73.7 +/- 13.0 %, p =
      0.010), more fibro-fatty tissue (12.8 +/- 9.9 vs. 9.5 +/- 6.8 %, p = 0.04) and
      less dense calcium than women (8.4 +/- 5.8 vs. 12.3 +/- 8.7 %, p = 0.007).
      Subgroups dividing by 50, 65, 75 years old, plaque burden was higher in elderly
      men aged 66-75 years compared to the young men aged less than 50 (75.5 +/- 9.2
      vs. 68.4 +/- 10.1 %, p = 0.012). And middle aged men ranged 51-65 years showed
      significantly more plaque burden at minimal lumen area site than matched aged
      women (77.5 +/- 8.0 vs. 69.0 +/- 17.6 %, p = 0.012). Elderly women aged 66-75
      years showed significantly more necrotic core (28.6 +/- 7.3 %) and dense calcium
      (14.9 +/- 7.5 %) compared to all the younger or matched subgroups of men. These
      differences in plaque composition are blunted in the very elderly of men and
      women aged over 75 years. The findings may explain the gender differences in
      clinical prognosis in STEMI patients.

PMID- 26874950
TI  - Age-related change in handgrip strength in men and women: is muscle quality a
      contributing factor?
AB  - Age-related changes in muscle quality and muscle mass in the forearm, which
      relate to decline in handgrip strength (HGS), have not been reported. The purpose
      of this study was to investigate the relationships between age-related declines
      in HGS and loss of muscle thickness and/or muscle quality in the forearm of 613
      adults (306 men and 307 women) aged 20-89. Anterior forearm muscle thickness (MT
      ulna) and HGS were measured using an ultrasound and a hand dynamometer,
      respectively, in the dominant hand. Muscle quality (fMQ) was defined as a ratio
      of HGS to MT-ulna. HGS was similar among younger (ages 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49)
      groups and was progressively lower with increasing age in both sexes. MT-ulna was
      similar between ages 20-29 and 60-69 in men and between ages 20-29 and 70-79 in
      women. In men, MT-ulna was lower in ages 70-79 and 80-89 compared with other age
      groups. In women, MT-ulna was lower in ages 80-89 compared with ages 20-29 and 40
      49. In both men and women, fMQ was identical among younger (ages 20-29, 30-39,
      and 40-49) groups. After that fMQ was progressively lower with age in both men
      and women. The results indicated that age-related decline in HGS is associated
      with fMQ, but it appears to be accelerated after the seventh decade due to muscle
      loss. 

PMID- 26874951
TI  - Monitoring the HER2 copy number status in circulating tumor DNA by droplet
      digital PCR in patients with gastric cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated the potential of circulating tumor DNA
      (ctDNA) for the amplification of detecting HER2 in patients with gastric cancer
      (GC). In the present study, we focused on the clinical courses of patients who
      developed recurrence with GC, and investigated the potential clinical utility of
      the ddPCR-based HER2 copy number (CN) as a marker for the temporal and/or spatial
      heterogeneities of GC during treatment progress. METHOD: We enrolled 30 healthy
      volunteers and 60 patients with GC who underwent surgery, including 17 patients
      who developed recurrence. Using ribonuclease P RNA component H1 (RPPH1) as a
      reference gene, plasma HER2 to RPPH1 ratios (the HER2 ratio) were determined
      using ddPCR. RESULTS: The preoperative plasma HER2 ratio correlated with the
      tumor HER2 status (p < 0.001), and sensitivity and specificity were 0.733 and
      0.933, respectively. Analyses of plasma samples during the postoperative follow
      up periods revealed that high plasma HER2 ratios were detected at the time of
      recurrence in 7 of 13 cases, which were diagnosed as being HER2 negative at the
      time of surgery. These results were supported by continuously increasing HER2
      ratios thereafter with the progression of recurrent cancer. CONCLUSION: The
      plasma HER2 ratio determined by ddPCR is a repeatable and noninvasive approach
      for real-time evaluations of the HER2 status to monitor the effects of treatments
      for patients with HER2-positive GC and enable treatment options for patients with
      HER2-negative GC but positive conversion of the HER2 status after recurrence.

PMID- 26874954
TI  - Infestation of Raoiella indica Hirst (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) on Host
      Plants of High Socio-Economic Importance for Tropical America.
AB  - The mite Raoiella indica Hirst was recently introduced into America, where it has
      shown amazing ability to disseminate and broaden its range of hosts. An
      experiment was conducted in Cancun, Mexico, to determine infestation levels of
      this mite on plants recorded as hosts: coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) of cultivars
      Pacific Tall and Malayan Dwarf, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) hybrids Deli x Ghana
      and Deli x Nigeria, Dwarf Giant banana (Musa acuminata, AAA subgroup Cavendish),
      Horn plantain (M. acuminata x Musa balbisiana, AAB subgroup Plantain), lobster
      claw (Heliconia bihai), and red ginger (Alpinia purpurata). Nursery plants of
      these host species or cultivars were artificially infested with R. indica in
      February 2011. In the four replications of 10 plants, each plant was infested
      with 200 R. indica specimens, and the numbers of infesting mites were recorded
      for 6 months. A maximum of 18,000 specimens per plant were observed on coconut
      Pacific Tall and Malayan Dwarf, followed by lobster claw, with a maximum of 1000
      specimens per plant. Infestations were minimal for the remaining plants. Mite
      numbers on all plants declined naturally during the rainy season. All plant
      materials sustained overlapping mite generations, indicating that they are true
      hosts. Complementarily, infestation level was determined in backyard bananas and
      plantains. Correlations of infestation with plant height, distance from coconuts,
      and exposure to direct sunlight were estimated. Both bananas and plantains were
      infested by R. indica even when situated far from infested coconut palms. A
      Spearman correlation was found between infestation and plant height, although it
      was significant only for Silk plantain. 

PMID- 26874952
TI  - Effect of depression and neuropathic pain using questionnaires on quality of life
      in patients with low back pain; cross-sectional retrospective study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present study investigated the percentage of low back pain (LBP)
      patients who have depressive symptoms and neuropathic pain and analyzed the
      effects of these on the quality of life (QOL) in these patients. METHODS: Of the
      650 new patients with LBP that visited the hospital between June 2012 and
      December 2013, 309 patients who completed questionnaires to assess LBP and QOL
      were included in the study. The questionnaire included demographic items, the
      self-rated depression scale (SDS)-Zung, the Japanese version of the PainDETECT
      questionnaire (PDQ-J), numerical pain rating scale (NRS), and QOL assessments.
      The patients were divided into two groups according to their SDS-Zung scores: a
      nondepressed group with SDS scores <40 and a depressed group with SDS-Zung scores
      >=50. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five patients (40.5 %) were classified as
      nondepressed and 63 (20.4 %) as depressed. The mean PDQ-J score was higher in
      depressed patients than in nondepressed patients. The frequency of neuropathic
      pain was greater in depressed patients, with neuropathic pain observed in 17 of
      the 63 (27 %) depressed LBP patients and 11 of the 125 (9 %) nondepressed LBP
      patients. The SDS-Zung and PDQ-J scores of LBP patients were correlated
      significantly (r = 0.261, p < 0.001). Depressed patients had higher pain NRS
      scores and lower QOL scores compared with nondepressed patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Both the depressed patients and those with neuropathic LBP had a higher level of
      pain, greater pain-related disability, and poorer QOL compared with nondepressed
      patients. This is the first study to use the SDS-Zung and PDQ-J screening
      questionnaires to estimate the presence of neuropathic pain associated with
      depressive symptoms in LBP patients and to evaluate the impact of these on QOL.

PMID- 26874955
TI  - Cardiovascular Disease Mortality of Medicaid Clients with Severe Mental Illness
      and a Co-occurring Substance Use Disorder.
AB  - Increasing attention focuses on cardiovascular disease (CVD) among persons with
      SMI. We examined, among persons with SMI, whether co-occurring substance use
      disorder (SUD) elevates the risk of CVD death. We linked 2002-2007 Medicaid
      claims data on 121,817 persons with SMI to cause and date of death information.
      We applied a proportional hazards model that controls for co-morbidity at
      baseline, atypical antipsychotic prescription medications, age, gender and
      race/ethnicity. Results among persons with co-occurring SUD indicate a 24 %
      increased risk of CVD death (hazard ratio 1.24; 95 % confidence interval 1.17
      1.33). We encourage further coordination of services for this population.

PMID- 26874953
TI  - The nerve root sedimentation sign for differential diagnosis of lumbar spinal
      stenosis: a retrospective, consecutive cohort study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Using MR imaging, nerve root sedimentation sign (SedSign) was
      demonstrated to have a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of
      symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in selected patients. This study was to
      evaluate the diagnostic value of SedSign in differential diagnosis of LSS and non
      specific low back pain (LBP) in consecutive patients. METHODS: A series of
      consecutive patients with lumbar spinal MRI examination for back/leg pain in
      orthopeadic clinic were included. These patients were followed up and divided
      into two groups, symptomatic LSS and non-specific LBP, according to symptoms and
      radiological findings. Using MR images, SedSign was assessed by two spine
      surgeons and one radiologist independently. Then sensitivity and specificity of
      SedSign was calculated. RESULT: A total of 320 patients (105 LSS and 215 non
      specific LBP) were included. The SedSign had a sensitivity of 77.1 % and
      specificity of 47.0 % in the whole cohort. When these patients were stratified by
      dural sac cross-sectional areas (CSA), the SedSign had a sensitivity of 95.0 %
      and specificity of 4.7 % in patients with CSA <= 80 mm2 (severe radiologic
      stenosis), sensitivity of 74.2 % and specificity of 22.6 % in patients with CSA
      80-100 mm2 (moderate radiologic stenosis), and sensitivity of 58.8 % and
      specificity of 61.0 % in patients with CSA 100-120 mm2 (mild radiologic
      stenosis). In selected cases composed by LSS patients with CSA <= 80 mm2 and non
      specific LBP patients with CSA > 120 mm2, however, the SedSign had a sensitivity
      of 95.0 % and specificity of 80.0 %. CONCLUSION: The present data demonstrated
      that the SedSign was not able to discriminate symptomatic LSS from non-specific
      LBP after adjusting by dural sac CSA. The diagnostic value of the SedSign was
      still uncertain.

PMID- 26874956
TI  - Relevant Cytokines in the Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia.
AB  - Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of infectious death in
      the world. Immune dysregulation during acute lung infection plays a role in lung
      injury and the systemic inflammatory response. Cytokines seem to be major players
      in severe lung infection cases. Here, we present a review of published papers in
      the last 3 years regarding this topic. The cytokine response during pneumonia is
      different in bacterial vs viral infections; some of these cytokines correlate
      with clinical severity scales such as CURB65 or SOFA. Treatment focused in the
      cytokine environment is an interesting area that could impact the prognosis of
      CAP. Some of the agents that have been studied as co-adjuvant therapy are
      corticosteroids, macrolides, and linezolid, but anyone of those have shown a
      clear or proven efficacy or have been recommended as a part of the standard of
      care for CAP. More studies designed to define the role of immunomodulatory
      agents, such as co-adjuvant therapy in pneumonia, are needed. 

PMID- 26874957
TI  - Biological trait analysis and stability of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in the
      house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae).
AB  - House flies, Musca domestica L., (Diptera: Muscidae), are pests of poultry and
      have the ability to develop resistance to insecticides. To design a strategy for
      resistance management, life history traits based on laboratory observations were
      established for lambda-cyhalothrin-resistant, susceptible and reciprocal crosses
      of M. domestica strains. Bioassay results showed that the lambda-cyhalothrin
      selected strain developed a resistance ratio of 98.34 compared to its susceptible
      strain. The lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain had a relative fitness of 0.26 and
      lower fecundity, hatchability, lower number of next generation larvae, and net
      reproductive rate compared with its susceptible strain. Mean population growth
      rates, such as intrinsic rate of population increase, and biotic potential were
      lower for the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain compared to its susceptible
      strain. Resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin, indoxacarb, and abamectin was unstable
      while resistance to bifenthrin and methomyl was stable in the lambda-cyhalothrin
      selected strain of M. domestica. Development of resistance can cost considerable
      fitness for the lambda-cyhalothrin-selected strain. The present study provided
      useful information for making potential management strategies to delay resistance
      development in M. domestica. 

PMID- 26874958
TI  - European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on the quality of eMental health
      interventions in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
AB  - The main aim was to develop recommendations on eMental health interventions for
      the treatment of psychotic disorders. A systematic literature search on eMental
      health interventions was performed, and 24 articles about interventions in
      psychotic disorders were retrieved and systematically assessed for their quality.
      Studies were characterized by a large heterogeneity with regard to study type,
      sample sizes, interventions and outcome measures. Five graded recommendations
      were developed dealing with the feasibility of eMental health interventions,
      beneficial effects of psychoeducation, preliminary results of clinical efficacy,
      the need of moderation in peer support eMental health groups and the need to
      develop quality standards. 

PMID- 26874959
TI  - EPA guidance on improving the image of psychiatry.
AB  - This paper explores causes, explanations and consequences of the negative image
      of psychiatry and develops recommendations for improvement. It is primarily based
      on a WPA guidance paper on how to combat the stigmatization of psychiatry and
      psychiatrists and a Medline search on related publications since 2010.
      Furthermore, focussing on potential causes and explanations, the authors
      performed a selective literature search regarding additional image-related issues
      such as mental health literacy and diagnostic and treatment issues.
      Underestimation of psychiatry results from both unjustified prejudices of the
      general public, mass media and healthcare professionals and psychiatry's own
      unfavourable coping with external and internal concerns. Issues related to
      unjustified devaluation of psychiatry include overestimation of coercion,
      associative stigma, lack of public knowledge, need to simplify complex mental
      issues, problem of the continuum between normality and psychopathology,
      competition with medical and non-medical disciplines and psychopharmacological
      treatment. Issues related to psychiatry's own contribution to being
      underestimated include lack of a clear professional identity, lack of biomarkers
      supporting clinical diagnoses, limited consensus about best treatment options,
      lack of collaboration with other medical disciplines and low recruitment rates
      among medical students. Recommendations are proposed for creating and
      representing a positive self-concept with different components. The negative
      image of psychiatry is not only due to unfavourable communication with the media,
      but is basically a problem of self-conceptualization. Much can be improved.
      However, psychiatry will remain a profession with an exceptional position among
      the medical disciplines, which should be seen as its specific strength. 

PMID- 26874963
TI  - The Xanthomonas type IV pilus.
AB  - Type IV pili, a special class of bacterial surface filaments, are key behavioral
      mediators for many important human pathogens. However, we know very little about
      the role of these structures in the lifestyles of plant-associated bacteria. Over
      the past few years, several groups studying the extensive genus of Xanthomonas
      spp. have gained insights into the roles of played by type IV pili in bacteria
      host interactions and pathogenesis, motility, biofilm formation, and interactions
      with bacteriophages. Protein-protein interaction studies have identified T4P
      regulators and these, along with structural studies, have begun to reveal some of
      the possible molecular mechanisms that may control the extension/retraction
      cycles of these dynamic filaments. 

PMID- 26874964
TI  - Linking bacterial type I toxins with their actions.
AB  - Bacterial type I toxin-antitoxin systems consist of stable toxin-encoding mRNAs
      whose expression is counteracted by unstable RNA antitoxins. Accumulating
      evidence suggests that these players belong to broad regulatory networks
      influencing overall bacterial physiology. The majority of known transmembrane
      type I toxic peptides have conserved structural characteristics. However, recent
      studies demonstrated that their mechanisms of toxicity are diverse and complex.
      To better assess the current state of the art, type I toxins can be grouped into
      two classes according to their location and mechanisms of action: membrane
      associated toxins acting by pore formation and/or by nucleoid condensation; and
      cytosolic toxins inducing nucleic acid cleavage. This classification will evolve
      as a result of future investigations. 

PMID- 26874961
TI  - Brain tumour differentiation: rapid stratified serum diagnostics via attenuated
      total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
AB  - The ability to diagnose cancer rapidly with high sensitivity and specificity is
      essential to exploit advances in new treatments to lead significant reductions in
      mortality and morbidity. Current cancer diagnostic tests observing tissue
      architecture and specific protein expression for specific cancers suffer from
      inter-observer variability, poor detection rates and occur when the patient is
      symptomatic. A new method for the detection of cancer using 1 MUl of human serum,
      attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pattern
      recognition algorithms is reported using a 433 patient dataset (3897 spectra). To
      the best of our knowledge, we present the largest study on serum mid-infrared
      spectroscopy for cancer research. We achieve optimum sensitivities and
      specificities using a Radial Basis Function Support Vector Machine of between
      80.0 and 100 % for all strata and identify the major spectral features, hence
      biochemical components, responsible for the discrimination within each stratum.
      We assess feature fed-SVM analysis for our cancer versus non-cancer model and
      achieve 91.5 and 83.0 % sensitivity and specificity respectively. We demonstrate
      the use of infrared light to provide a spectral signature from human serum to
      detect, for the first time, cancer versus non-cancer, metastatic cancer versus
      organ confined, brain cancer severity and the organ of origin of metastatic
      disease from the same sample enabling stratified diagnostics depending upon the
      clinical question asked. 

PMID- 26874965
TI  - Impact and insights from ancient repetitive elements in plant genomes.
AB  - Transposable elements and other repeated sequences are predominant contributors
      to most plant genomes. The vast majority of repeated elements accumulate
      mutations to the extent of becoming anonymous sequences, also known as 'genomic
      dark matter' which is also thought to contribute significantly to the composition
      of plant genomes. This review aims to highlight recent methods and analyses
      suggesting that ancient repeats have profound effects on plant genome biology.

PMID- 26874966
TI  - Future-proof crops: challenges and strategies for climate resilience improvement.
AB  - Breeding for stress-resilient crops strongly depends on technological and
      biological advancements that have provided a wealth of information on genetic
      variants and their contribution to stress tolerance. In the context of the
      upcoming challenges for agriculture due to climate change, such as prolonged
      and/or increased stress intensities, CO2 increase and stress combinations,
      hierarchizing this information is key to accelerating crop improvement towards
      sustained or even increased productivity. We propose traits with high scalability
      to yield and crop performance that can be targeted for improvement and provide
      examples of recent discoveries with potential applicability in breeding. Critical
      to success is the integrated analysis of the phenotypes of genetic variants
      across different environmental variables using modelling approaches and high
      throughput phenotyping.

PMID- 26874967
TI  - Learning contextualized semantics from co-occurring terms via a Siamese
      architecture.
AB  - One of the biggest challenges in Multimedia information retrieval and
      understanding is to bridge the semantic gap by properly modeling concept
      semantics in context. The presence of out of vocabulary (OOV) concepts
      exacerbates this difficulty. To address the semantic gap issues, we formulate a
      problem on learning contextualized semantics from descriptive terms and propose a
      novel Siamese architecture to model the contextualized semantics from descriptive
      terms. By means of pattern aggregation and probabilistic topic models, our
      Siamese architecture captures contextualized semantics from the co-occurring
      descriptive terms via unsupervised learning, which leads to a concept embedding
      space of the terms in context. Furthermore, the co-occurring OOV concepts can be
      easily represented in the learnt concept embedding space. The main properties of
      the concept embedding space are demonstrated via visualization. Using various
      settings in semantic priming, we have carried out a thorough evaluation by
      comparing our approach to a number of state-of-the-art methods on six annotation
      corpora in different domains, i.e., MagTag5K, CAL500 and Million Song Dataset in
      the music domain as well as Corel5K, LabelMe and SUNDatabase in the image domain.
      Experimental results on semantic priming suggest that our approach outperforms
      those state-of-the-art methods considerably in various aspects. 

PMID- 26874968
TI  - Projective synchronization of nonidentical fractional-order neural networks based
      on sliding mode controller.
AB  - This paper investigates global projective synchronization of nonidentical
      fractional-order neural networks (FNNs) based on sliding mode control technique.
      We firstly construct a fractional-order integral sliding surface. Then, according
      to the sliding mode control theory, we design a sliding mode controller to
      guarantee the occurrence of the sliding motion. Based on fractional Lyapunov
      direct methods, system trajectories are driven to the proposed sliding surface
      and remain on it evermore, and some novel criteria are obtained to realize global
      projective synchronization of nonidentical FNNs. As the special cases, some
      sufficient conditions are given to ensure projective synchronization of identical
      FNNs, complete synchronization of nonidentical FNNs and anti-synchronization of
      nonidentical FNNs. Finally, one numerical example is given to demonstrate the
      effectiveness of the obtained results. 

PMID- 26874960
TI  - EPA guidance on mental health and economic crises in Europe.
AB  - This European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance paper is a result of the
      Working Group on Mental Health Consequences of Economic Crises of the EPA Council
      of National Psychiatric Associations. Its purpose is to identify the impact on
      mental health in Europe of the economic downturn and the measures that may be
      taken to respond to it. We performed a review of the existing literature that
      yields 350 articles on which our conclusions and recommendations are based.
      Evidence-based tables and recommendations were developed through an expert
      consensus process. Literature dealing with the consequences of economic turmoil
      on the health and health behaviours of the population is heterogeneous, and the
      results are not completely unequivocal. However, there is a broad consensus about
      the deleterious consequences of economic crises on mental health, particularly on
      psychological well-being, depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, alcohol abuse,
      and suicidal behaviour. Unemployment, indebtedness, precarious working
      conditions, inequalities, lack of social connectedness, and housing instability
      emerge as main risk factors. Men at working age could be particularly at risk,
      together with previous low SES or stigmatized populations. Generalized austerity
      measures and poor developed welfare systems trend to increase the harmful effects
      of economic crises on mental health. Although many articles suggest limitations
      of existing research and provide suggestions for future research, there is
      relatively little discussion of policy approaches to address the negative impact
      of economic crises on mental health. The few studies that addressed policy
      questions suggested that the development of social protection programs such as
      active labour programs, social support systems, protection for housing
      instability, and better access to mental health care, particularly at primary
      care level, is strongly needed. 

PMID- 26874970
TI  - Impact responses of the cervical spine: A computational study of the effects of
      muscle activity, torso constraint, and pre-flexion.
AB  - Cervical spine injuries continue to be a costly societal problem. Future
      advancements in injury prevention depend on improved physical and computational
      models, which are predicated on a better understanding of the neck response
      during dynamic loading. Previous studies have shown that the tolerance of the
      neck is dependent on its initial position and its buckling behavior. This study
      uses a computational model to examine three important factors hypothesized to
      influence the loads experienced by vertebrae in the neck under compressive
      impact: muscle activation, torso constraints, and pre-flexion angle of the
      cervical spine. Since cadaver testing is not practical for large scale parametric
      analyses, these factors were studied using a previously validated computational
      model. On average, simulations with active muscles had 32% larger compressive
      forces and 25% larger shear forces-well in excess of what was expected from the
      muscle forces alone. In the short period of time required for neck injury,
      constraints on torso motion increased the average neck compression by less than
      250N. The pre-flexion hypothesis was tested by examining pre-flexion angles from
      neutral (0 degrees ) to 64 degrees . Increases in pre-flexion resulted in the
      largest increases in peak loads and the expression of higher-order buckling
      modes. Peak force and buckling modality were both very sensitive to pre-flexion
      angle. These results validate the relevance of prior cadaver models for neck
      injury and help explain the wide variety of cervical spine fractures that can
      result from ostensibly similar compressive loadings. They also give insight into
      the mechanistic differences between burst fractures and lower cervical spine
      dislocations. 

PMID- 26874971
TI  - Predictors of malignancy development in patients with chronic pruritus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with pruritus have been shown to have an increased incidence
      of certain subtypes of malignancy. OBJECTIVE: To assess predictors of malignancy
      in patients with chronic pruritus without prior dermatologic diagnoses. METHODS:
      Case-control study of 398 patients with chronic pruritus who developed a
      malignancy were compared with 8346 patients with chronic pruritus who did not
      develop a malignancy. Primary outcomes were odds of developing incident
      malignancy. RESULTS: Age greater than 60 years (OR 4.04, 95% CI 3.08, 5.31), male
      sex (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13, 1.71) and liver disease (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.00, 5.65)
      were predictors of malignancy development in patients with chronic pruritus and
      non-diseased skin. In an exploratory analysis with multiple imputation via
      chained equations, age greater than 60 years (OR 4.13, 95% CI 3.15, 5.42), male
      sex (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02, 1.55), and current or prior smoking (OR 2.02, 95% CI
      1.42, 2.88) were predictors of malignancy development in patients with chronic
      pruritus and non-diseased skin. LIMITATIONS: Potential for misclassification and
      detection biases. Missing data. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In patients with
      chronic pruritus without concomitant dermatologic diagnoses, older age, male sex,
      liver disease and tobacco abuse increase the odds of an underlying malignancy.

PMID- 26874969
TI  - Human cartilage endplate permeability varies with degeneration and intervertebral
      disc site.
AB  - Despite the critical functions the human cartilage endplate (CEP) plays in the
      intervertebral disc, little is known about its structural and mechanical
      properties and their changes with degeneration. Quantifying these changes with
      degeneration is important for understanding how the CEP contributes to the
      function and pathology of the disc. Therefore the objectives of this study were
      to quantify the effect of disc degeneration on human CEP mechanical properties,
      determine the influence of superior and inferior disc site on mechanics and
      composition, and simulate the role of collagen fibers in CEP and disc mechanics
      using a validated finite element model. Confined compression data and biochemical
      composition data were used in a biphasic-swelling model to calculate compressive
      extrafibrillar elastic and permeability properties. Tensile properties were
      obtained by applying published tensile test data to an ellipsoidal fiber
      distribution. Results showed that with degeneration CEP permeability decreased 50
      60% suggesting that transport is inhibited in the degenerate disc. CEP fibers are
      organized parallel to the vertebrae and nucleus pulposus and may contribute to
      large shear strains (0.1-0.2) and delamination failure of the CEP commonly seen
      in herniated disc tissue. Fiber-reinforcement also reduces CEP axial strains
      thereby enhancing fluid flux by a factor of 1.8. Collectively, these results
      suggest that the structure and mechanics of the CEP may play critical roles in
      the solute transport and disc mechanics. 

PMID- 26874972
TI  - De-coding and re-coding RNA recognition by PUF and PPR repeat proteins.
AB  - PUF and PPR proteins are two families of alpha-helical repeat proteins that
      recognize single-stranded RNA sequences. Both protein families hold promise as
      scaffolds for designed RNA-binding domains. A modular protein RNA recognition
      code was apparent from the first crystal structures of a PUF protein in complex
      with RNA, and recent studies continue to advance our understanding of natural PUF
      protein recognition (de-coding) and our ability to engineer specificity (re
      coding). Degenerate recognition motifs make de-coding specificity of individual
      PPR proteins challenging. Nevertheless, re-coding PPR protein specificity using a
      consensus recognition code has been successful. 

PMID- 26874973
TI  - Role of Inter-Observer Variability and Quantification of Muscularis Propria in
      the Pathological Staging of Bladder Cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pathological staging of bladder cancer (BC) on trans-urethral
      bladder resection (TURB) specimens is critical for the indication of radical
      cystectomy (RC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We aimed to assess the inter-observer
      variability among dedicated and not dedicated genito-urinary pathologists (GUP)
      and the predictive value of the amount of muscularis propria (MP) in the TURB
      specimens to predict accurate staging in RC. We selected 101 patients with at
      least 1 diagnosis of pT1 high grade BC who underwent RC during the history of
      disease. All the pathological TURB and RC specimens were reviewed by 3 GUPs, and
      concordance among them and with the original pathology report (OPR) was made. The
      presence and the extent of MP was measured in all the TURB specimens and
      correlated to stage at RC. RESULTS: Excellent (0.90 >= K >= 0.74) diagnostic
      concordance was reached among GUP while only good (0.77 >= K >= 0.67) with the
      OPR on stage and grade in TURBs. We found a general up-stage in the OPR compared
      with the GUP review. After histological review, 34.4% cases were downstaged to
      pT1 from pT2 and 10.1% from pT1 to pTa. The presence of MP was associated with a
      better discrimination of the stage at RC (P = .00065), and a trend towards
      correlation was found with its extent (area under the curve-receiver operator
      characteristic = 0.752; best cut-off 3.69 mm). CONCLUSION: The implementation of
      dedicated GUP can improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in BC diagnosis.
      The amount of MP and perhaps its extent in pT1 TURB speciments can predict more
      accurate cancer stage at RC.

PMID- 26874974
TI  - Correlation between overall survival and other endpoints in metastatic breast
      cancer with second- or third-line chemotherapy: Literature-based analysis of 24
      randomized trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Correlations between overall survival (OS) and other
      endpoints have been evaluated in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who
      received first-line chemotherapy. However, no corresponding analysis has been
      accomplished for patients who have undergone second- or third-line chemotherapy.
      METHODS: We evaluated the potential of progression-free survival (PFS)/time to
      progression (TTP) and objective response rate (ORR) as surrogates of OS when OS
      data were not available. Correlations were evaluated by Spearman's rank
      correlation coefficient (rs) and weighted linear regression model. Subgroup
      analyses were performed for previous chemotherapy, regimen, study endpoint, study
      period and HER2 status. RESULTS: Twenty-four randomized trials involving 8617
      patients were included for analysis. The correlation between PFS/TTP and OS was
      0.7824 (95% CI: 0.6034-0.8702), whereas ORR did not strongly correlate with OS
      (rs=0.5398, 95%CI: 0.2942-0.7233). Further, the association between hazard ratios
      (HRs) of PFS/TTP and OS of the 22 randomized studies showed a moderate
      correlation (rs=0.5725, 95%CI: 0.1735-0.8277); the slope of the regression model
      (beta) was 0.5366 (95%CI: 0.3479-0.7253). In particular, the PFS/OS correlation
      for HER2-positive MBC patients was stronger (rs=0.9515, 95%CI: 0.7009-1.0000;
      beta=0.8728, 95%CI: 0.0795-1.6661). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that
      PFS/TTP is a useful early endpoint for patients with MBC who have undergone
      second- or third-line chemotherapy, especially for those who are HER2-positive.

PMID- 26874975
TI  - [Systemic therapies administration for adult patients in neuro-oncology: The
      standards of the Association of the neuro-oncologists of French expression
      (ANOCEF)].

PMID- 26874976
TI  - Is high cancer rate in human due to a weakness in biology resulting from the
      rapid increase in lifetime expectancy?

PMID- 26874977
TI  - Lack of Utility of Nasopharyngeal Swabs for Diagnosis of Burkholderia
      pseudomallei Pneumonia in Paediatric Patients.
AB  - Diagnosis of Burkholderia pseudomallei pneumonia in children is challenging. We
      investigated the utility of nasopharyngeal swabs taken from 194 paediatric
      patients on admission with radiologically proven pneumonia. Melioidosis was
      proven in 0.5% of samples tested and only in a third of those known to be
      bacteraemic with B. pseudomallei. It appears unlikely that culture of
      nasopharyngeal secretions is helpful to confirm B. pseudomallei pneumonia in
      paediatric patients.

PMID- 26874979
TI  - Au@Cu2O stellated polytope with core-shelled nanostructure for high-performance
      adsorption and visible-light-driven photodegradation of cationic and anionic
      dyes.
AB  - Au nanoparticles were covered by Cu2O nanoparticles shell and then Au@Cu2O
      stellated polytope was synthesized by a facile aqueous solution approach. The
      samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron
      microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunner
      Emmet-Teller measurements, and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis. With
      good aqueous dispersibility, surface positive charge, and high chemisorption
      capacity, Au@Cu2O could be used for anionic dyes removal. Compared with Degussa
      P25-TiO2, the adsorption of anionic dyes (acid violet 43 or methyl blue, 5.0 mg
      L(-1)) onto Au@Cu2O was increased by 90.12% and 50.8%, respectively. The
      photodegradation activity of methyl orange and methyl violet were in the
      declining order: Au@Cu2O>Cu2O-Au nanocomposites>Cu2O>P25-TiO2. The synergistic
      effect of coupling Au core with Cu2O shell on the dyes photodegradation was
      observed. The photoexcited electrons from Cu2O conduction band could be captured
      by Au nanoparticles, resulting in an improved electron-hole separation. Moreover,
      a Schottky barrier was assumed to form at the Cu2O-Au interface and Au NPs as
      electron sink could reduce the recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes,
      facilitating the photocatalytic interface reaction. The geometry of core-shell
      and stellated polytope is effective in the design of Cu2O-Au nanocomposites for
      adsorption and photocatalysis.

PMID- 26874978
TI  - Titanium dental implants surface-immobilized with gold nanoparticles as
      osteoinductive agents for rapid osseointegration.
AB  - Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are quite attractive materials for use as osteogenic
      agents due to their potential effects on the stimulation of osteoblast
      differentiation. In this study, an osseo-integrated titanium (Ti) implant surface
      coated with GNPs was used for promotion of bone regeneration. We prepared a
      silanized Ti surface by chemical treatment of (3-Mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane
      (MPTMS) and immobilized the GNP layer (Ti-GNP) on their surfaces via Au-S
      bonding. The GNP layer is uniformly immobilized on the surface and the layer
      covers the titanium oxide surface well, as confirmed by scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Ti-GNP was used to
      investigate the effectiveness of this system both in vitro and in vivo. The in
      vitro results showed that the Ti-GNP significantly enhances the osteogenic
      differentiation with increased mRNA expression of osteogenic differentiation
      specific genes in human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Furthermore, the in
      vivo results showed that Ti-GNP had a significant influence on the osseous
      interface formation. Through these in vitro and vivo tests, we found that Ti-GNP
      can be useful as osseo-integration inducing dental implants for formation of an
      osseous interface and maintenance of nascent bone formation. 

PMID- 26874980
TI  - Drop impact on natural porous stones.
AB  - Drop impact and spreading on three natural porous stones are experimentally
      determined using high-speed imaging and compared with spreading over an
      impermeable steel surface. The dynamic non-wetting behavior during spreading and
      the hydrophobic contact angle >90 degrees  is attributed to the presence of an
      air layer between the droplet and the porous substrate. As the contact line pins
      at maximum spreading on the porous stone, the maximum spreading determines the
      liquid contact area on such substrate. The droplet gets pinned when the air layer
      is broken at the contact line and capillary forces develop in fines pores at the
      droplet edge, pinning the droplet. Maximum spreading on porous stones increases
      with impact velocity but does not scale with Weber number at low impact velocity.
      It is demonstrated that dynamic wetting plays an important role in the spreading
      at low velocity and that the dynamic wetting as characterized by the dynamic
      contact angle thetaD has to be taken into account for predicting the maximum
      spreading. Correcting the maximum spreading ratio with the dynamic wetting
      behavior, all data for porous stones and non-porous substrate collapse onto a
      single curve. 

PMID- 26874981
TI  - Dynamical behaviors of structural, constrained and free water in calcium- and
      magnesium-silicate-hydrate gels.
AB  - HYPOTHESIS: The mechanical properties of cement pastes depend strongly on their
      porosities. In a saturated paste, the porosity links to the free water volume
      after hydration. Structural water, constrained water, and free water have
      different dynamical behavior. Hence, it should be possible to extract information
      on pore system by exploiting the water dynamics. EXPERIMENTS: We investigated the
      slow dynamics of hydration water confined in calcium- and magnesium-silicate
      hydrate (C-S-H and M-S-H) gels using high-resolution quasi-elastic neutron
      scattering (QENS) technique. C-S-H and M-S-H are the chemical binders present in
      calcium rich and magnesium rich cements. We measured three M-S-H samples: pure M
      S-H, M-S-H with aluminum-silicate nanotubes (ASN), and M-S-H with carboxyl group
      functionalized ASN (ASN-COOH). A C-S-H sample with the same water content (i.e.
      0.3) is also studied for comparison. FINDINGS: Structural water in the gels
      contributes to the elastic component of the QENS spectrum, while constrained
      water and free water contribute the quasi-elastic component. The quantitative
      analysis suggests that the three components vary for different samples and
      indicate the variance in the system porosity, which controls the mechanical
      properties of cement pastes.

PMID- 26874982
TI  - A synergetic analysis method for antifouling behavior investigation on PES
      ultrafiltration membrane with self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles.
AB  - Fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes is a major impediment for their use in
      drinking water production. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) may have great
      opportunities in dealing with this challenge due to their hierarchical structures
      and multiple functionalities. In this study, a synergetic analysis method based
      on intermolecular adhesion force measurement and fouling process simulation was
      applied to investigate the fouling mechanism of polyethersulfone (PES) UF
      membranes containing in situ self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The fouling
      resistance behavior and antifouling mechanism of the newly developed composite
      membranes were investigated with sodium alginate (SA), bovine serum albumin (BSA)
      and humic acid (HA) as model organic foulants. An improved antifouling effect was
      conspicuously observed for the composite membranes, expressed by a lower flux
      decline and significantly better cleaning efficiency. A strong correlation
      between the self-assembled structure of TiO2 NPs and the antifouling behavior of
      the composite membrane was observed. A lower magnitude and a narrower
      distribution of adhesion forces for the composite membrane suggest the effective
      suppression of foulants adsorption on the clean or fouled membrane. The
      simulation analysis indicates that the main fouling mechanism was standard
      blocking and cake filtration, further confirming the superiority of the NPs self
      assembled structure in mitigating membrane fouling. This dual analysis method may
      provide a promising technological support for the application of modified UF
      membranes with self-assembled NPs in drinking water production. 

PMID- 26874983
TI  - Percutaneous irreversible electroporation of a renal tumor: Anesthetic
      management.
AB  - Percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel tumour ablation
      method. The application of short and high-voltage electrical pulses to the target
      lesion induces alterations in cell membrane permeability, finally causing tumour
      cell death. The extremely high-voltage that is needed in this technique requires
      the surveillance and management of an experienced anaesthesiologist, as it
      involves a significant risk of complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias or
      seizures. The case is presented of a 66 year-old patient diagnosed with a renal
      adenocarcinoma, and who received without intention-to-cure IRE under general
      anaesthesia. This case represents the first time this type of technique is used
      in Spain. 

PMID- 26874984
TI  - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs in the coastal
      seawater, surface sediment and oyster from Dalian, Northeast China.
AB  - A total of 46 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, 21 parent and 25 alkylated)
      were determined in seawater, surface sediment and oyster from coastal area of
      Dalian, North China. The concentration of Sigma46PAHs in seawater, sediment, and
      oyster were 136-621 ng/L, 172-4700 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 60.0-129 ng/g wet
      weight (ww) in winter, and 65.0-1130 ng/L, 71.1-1090 ng/g dw and 72.8-216 ng/g ww
      in summer, respectively. High PAH levels were found in industrial area both in
      winter and summer. Selected PAH levels in sediments were compared with Sediments
      Quality Guidelines (ERM-ERL, TEL-PEL indexes) for evaluation probable toxic
      effects on marine organism and the results indicate that surface sediment from
      all sampling sites have a low to medium ecotoxicological risk. Daily intake of
      PAHs via oyster as seafood by humans were estimated and the results indicated
      that oyster intake would not pose a health risk to humans even 30 days after a
      oil spill accident near by. Water-sediment exchange analysis showed that, both in
      winter and summer, the fluxes for most high molecular weight PAHs were from
      seawater to sediment, while for low molecular weight PAHs, an equilibrium was
      reached between seawater and sediment.

PMID- 26874985
TI  - Antioxidative responses of the tissues of two wild populations of Pelophylax kl.
      esculentus frogs to heavy metal pollution.
AB  - Heavy metal pollution of the aquatic environment is of great concern worldwide.
      Heavy metals are capable of inducing oxidative stress by increasing the formation
      of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and directly affecting the antioxidant defense
      system (AOS) in living organisms. The frog Pelophylax kl. esculentus is a
      semiaquatic species with semipermeable skin and a complex lifecycle, and
      represents a potentially useful bioindicator organism. The aim of this study was
      to investigate the accumulation of several heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg,
      Ni, Pb and Zn), and their effects on selected parameters of the AOS, including
      the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione
      peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), phase II biotransformation
      enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the total glutathione (GSH) contents and
      sulfhydryl (SH) group concentrations, as well as cholinesterases (ChEs)
      activities in the liver, skin and muscle of P. kl. esculentus. Frog samples were
      collected at two sites (the Danube-Tisza-Danube canal (DTDC) and the river
      Ponjavica) in Serbia, which are characterized by different levels of metal
      pollution. Differences between the metal contents in different tissues showed
      that the skin of frogs from the DTDC accumulated statistically higher
      concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, while only the Fe concentration was lower.
      No significant differences between metal concentrations in muscle tissues of
      frogs from the DTDC and Ponjavica were observed. Examination of the parameters of
      the AOS revealed that frogs from the DTDC had higher concentrations of GSH in the
      liver and of SH groups in the skin and muscle, whereas the activities of the
      antioxidative enzymes SOD, GHS-Px and GR in the liver and of GR in the skin were
      lower than in frogs from the Ponjavica. The relationship between metal
      concentrations and AOS parameters showed the highest number of correlations with
      GSH, GR and CAT, and with Ni, Zn, Hg, Cr and Cd. Based on the results in this
      study, we concluded that increased concentrations of heavy metals in frog tissues
      can alter the AOS, which leads to higher concentrations of GSH and SH groups and
      lower activities of antioxidative enzymes. The response of the AOS to metal
      pollutants allowed us to make a distinction between different frog tissues, and
      to conclude that the liver and skin are more suitable for assessing metal-induced
      oxidative stress in frogs than muscle. 

PMID- 26874986
TI  - Influence of phosphorus on copper toxicity to Selenastrum gracile (Reinsch)
      Korshikov.
AB  - Microalgae need a variety of nutrients for optimal growth and health. However,
      this rarely occurs in nature, and if nutrient proportions vary, biochemical
      changes can occur in phytoplankton community. This may result in modifications of
      zooplankton food quality, affecting aquatic food chains. Our aim was to
      investigate the toxicity of copper (Cu) to Selenastrum gracile, a common
      freshwater Chlorophyceae, at different physiological status induced by varying
      phosphorus (P) concentration in culture medium. Phosphorus was investigated at
      2.3*10(-4), 1.1*10(-4), 2.3*10(-5), 4.6*10(-6) and 2.3*10(-6) mol L(-1) and Cu at
      six concentrations, ranging from 6.9*10(-9) mol L(-1) to 1.0*10(-7) mol L(-1)
      free Cu(2+) ions. To guarantee the cells would be in a physiological status that
      reflected the external P concentration, they were previously acclimated up to
      constant growth rate at each P concentration. Phosphorus acclimated cells were
      then exposed to Cu and toxicity was evaluated through population density, growth
      rates and chlorophyll a content. Free Cu(2+) ions concentrations were calculated
      through the chemical equilibrium model MINEQL(+). The results showed that higher
      Cu toxicity was obtained in P-limited than in P-replete cells, and that
      chlorophyll a/cell was higher in P-limited cells and excess Cu than in P-replete
      cells. This confirms the importance of microalgae nutritional status to withstand
      the negative effects of the trace metal.

PMID- 26874987
TI  - Is polycystic ovary syndrome a sexual conflict? A review.
AB  - Several studies have attempted to explain the high overall prevalence of
      polycystic ovary syndrome among women worldwide (about 4-10%) despite its link to
      subfertile phenotypes. For this reason, it is considered an evolutionary paradox.
      In this review, we show that several genetic loci associated with the disease
      differently modulate the reproductive parameters of men and women. This
      observation suggests that such genetic variants lead to opposite effects in the
      two sexes in reproductive success. Intralocus sexual conflict as a cause of the
      persistence polycystic ovary syndrome genotypes among humans is supported. 

PMID- 26874988
TI  - Chromosomal analyses of 1510 couples who have experienced recurrent spontaneous
      abortions.
AB  - In this retrospective study, karyotype results of 1510 couples with a history of
      recurrent spontaneous abortion were evaluated. The study was conducted at Balcali
      Hospital in Adana region of Turkey. For all cases, peripheral blood lymphocytes
      were cultured for chromosome study using the standard method. Chromosome
      aberrations were detected in 62 couples (4.1% of all couples). At an individual
      level, chromosome aberrations were found in a total of 65 cases (41 females and
      24 male cases), with structural chromosomal aberrations in 58 cases including
      balanced translocations in 30 cases, Robertsonian translocations in 12 cases,
      deletions in seven cases, inversions in nine cases and numerical chromosome
      aberrations in seven cases. The results of the study indicated that structural
      aberrations, particularly translocations, were the most common type of aberration
      observed among couples who had experienced recurrent spontaneous abortions and
      that these couples might benefit from cytogenetic analyses. 

PMID- 26874989
TI  - Association between premature ovarian failure, polymorphisms in MTHFR and MTRR
      genes and serum homocysteine concentration.
AB  - This study investigated the association between premature ovarian failure (POF),
      MTHFR C677T/A1298C and MTRR A66G genotypes and serum homocysteine (Hcy)
      concentration. A prospective study was conducted in Chinese women, which included
      POF patients (n = 180) and controls (n = 195). Peripheral blood samples were used
      to determine MTHFR C677T/A1298C and MTRR A66G genotypes, and serum Hcy and sex
      hormone concentrations. Results showed that serum Hcy concentrations of POF
      patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.0001). In POF
      patients, serum Hcy concentrations were significantly correlated with oestradiol
      and FSH concentrations (r = -0.174, P = 0.037 and r = +0.238, P = 0.006,
      respectively). There were no significant differences in the distributions of
      MTHFR C677T/A1298C or MTRR A66G genotypes between the two groups. However, these
      genetic variants influenced serum Hcy concentrations in POF patients, especially
      for MTRR 66 AA/AG/GG genotypes, which were significantly correlated with the
      patients' Hcy concentrations (tau = 0.166, P = 0.033). These results suggest that
      serum Hcy concentrations in Chinese POF patients are increased and correlated
      with serum oestradiol/FSH concentrations. In conclusion, MTHFR C667T/A1298C and
      MTRR A66G genotypes are not associated with POF development, but they affect the
      patients' serum Hcy concentrations. 

PMID- 26874990
TI  - Positive youth development programmes to reduce substance use in young people:
      Systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Substance use has detrimental short-term and long-term consequences
      for young people. Positive youth development (PYD) interventions, which favour
      promotion of positive assets over traditional risk reduction, have received
      attention recently as a possible intervention to prevent adolescent substance
      use. We aimed to synthesise the evidence on PYD interventions for reduction in
      substance use in young people. METHODS: We searched 21 databases, including
      MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and CENTRAL, and hand-searched key journals and
      websites. We included studies with more than half of participants aged 11-18
      years where interventions meeting a pre-specified definition of PYD were
      delivered in community settings outside of normal school hours and did not target
      parents or young people with pre-defined conditions. Two reviewers screened
      records, assessed full-text studies for inclusion, and extracted data. A modified
      Cochrane risk of bias tool was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: Ten studies
      reported in 13 reports were included in our synthesis. PYD interventions did not
      have an effect of statistical or public health significance on any substance use,
      illicit drug use or alcohol outcomes in young people. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions
      were diverse in content and delivery. Our review suggests that existing PYD
      interventions subject to evaluation do not appear to have produced reductions in
      substance use of public health significance. However, these interventions may not
      be the best exemplars of a PYD approach. Therefore, our findings should not be
      taken as evidence for the ineffectiveness of PYD as a theory of change for
      reducing substance use among young people. Additional rigorous evaluation of PYD
      interventions is key before further investment. Evaluations were of highly
      variable quality. Though searches were extensive, we were unable to test for
      publication bias.

PMID- 26874991
TI  - Drug use among men by sexual behaviour, race and ethnicity: Prevalence estimates
      from a nationally representative US sample.

PMID- 26874992
TI  - Epilepsy through the ages: An artistic point of view.
AB  - The historical allure of epilepsy transcends academic circles and serves as
      fascinating critique of the state of the times-its values, judgments, mythos, and
      people. Immortalized and laid bare in artistic renderings of epilepsy are
      societal truths, at times both disparately grandiose and grotesque. During the
      middle ages and Renaissance, the European discourse on epilepsy assumed religious
      fervor. Epilepsy was considered a demonic machination and its cure an act of
      divine intercession. A similar theme is found in the artistic depiction of
      epilepsy from the Inca and Aztec civilizations of that time. After the 19th
      century drew to a close, the ascendency of empiricism coincided with waning
      creative interest in epilepsy, with few paintings or pieces to capture insightful
      perspectives on the illness. In this paper, we review the relationship between
      art and epilepsy and present two contemporary paintings that convey current
      western perceptions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Epilepsy,
      Art, and Creativity". 

PMID- 26874993
TI  - Pheochromocytoma in a 45 X, iso (Xq) Turner syndrome.

PMID- 26874994
TI  - Differential expression network analysis for diabetes mellitus type 2 based on
      expressed level of islet cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a metabolic disease that has become
      a pressing issue, with potential adverse impact on mental health. We aimed to
      explore the potential molecular mechanism of T2DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: GSE38642
      microarray data downloaded from gene expression omnibus was used to identify the
      differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Profiling of complex functionality
      (ProfCom) was used to analyze the complex function and mine T2DM signature genes.
      Finally, the differential expression network (DEN) was constructed. RESULTS: We
      identified 147 DEGs including 59 up- and 88 down-regulated genes. With increasing
      of degree, the specificity of functional description of DEGs was higher. GO term
      of "integral to membrane and immune response (not receptor activity) not
      regulation of immune response" in degree 4 was enriched by 6 DEGs, while the GO
      term of "immune response" in degree 1 was enriched by 12 DEGs. Two complex
      functions of integral to membrane an immune response and response to glucose
      stimulus were enriched by 11 T2DM signature genes including ARG2, GLP1R, PFKFB2,
      PTPRN, ACSL5, CCR7, IL2RA, IL7R, IL1R2, IL1RL1 and CHST4. Finally, DEN including
      11 signature genes and 491 edges was obtained. CONCLUSION: The identified DEGs
      especially 11 signature genes such as PTPRN, GLP1R, CCR7 and IL2RA may play
      important roles in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

PMID- 26874996
TI  - Reply to: Ezetimibe: A real effect?

PMID- 26874995
TI  - High prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases in patients with prolactinomas: A
      cross-sectional retrospective study in a single tertiary referral centre.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prolactin has been shown to exert potent immunomodulatory activities.
      DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of
      autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) in patients with prolactinomas. The medical
      files of 462 patients (367 women and 95 men) followed up at a single tertiary
      referral centre were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of AITD among prolactinoma
      patients was estimated at 21.0% (23.2% in females and 12.6% in males). In 51.5%
      of the patients, diagnosis of prolactinoma preceded the development of AITD; in
      37.2%, both diseases were simultaneously diagnosed and 11.3% of patients were
      diagnosed first with AITD. Hyperthyroidism was observed in 1.24% of the
      investigated subjects. Primary hypothyroidism was detected in 15.6% of all
      patients (16.4% in women; 10.7% in men) with a mean incidence of 24
      cases/1000/year. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the high frequency of AITD
      in patients with prolactinomas. The prevalence rate of hyperthyroidism is
      comparable with the literature data from community-based studies. In contrast,
      the prevalence of the spontaneous hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis is
      significantly higher in female and male subgroups of patients with prolactinomas
      in comparison with the general population. A possible role of
      supraphysiologically increased prolactin levels in the pathogenesis and the
      clinical course of AITD in patients with prolactinomas can be suggested. Based on
      these findings we recommend routine screening for AITD with simple thyroid tests
      (TSH, TPO-Abs and ultrasound examination) in all patients diagnosed with
      prolactinoma.

PMID- 26874997
TI  - Stent diameter and type matters in the decision of 6 FR or 7 FR guiding catheter
      selection during simultaneous kissing stent technique in bifurcation lesions.

PMID- 26874998
TI  - The Limits of Natural Selection in a Nonequilibrium World.
AB  - Evolutionary theory predicts that factors such as a small population size or low
      recombination rate can limit the action of natural selection. The emerging field
      of comparative population genomics offers an opportunity to evaluate these
      hypotheses. However, classical theoretical predictions assume that populations
      are at demographic equilibrium. This assumption is likely to be violated in the
      very populations researchers use to evaluate selection's limits: populations that
      have experienced a recent shift in population size and/or effective recombination
      rates. Here we highlight theory and data analyses concerning limitations on the
      action of natural selection in nonequilibrial populations and argue that
      substantial care is needed to appropriately test whether species and populations
      show meaningful differences in selection efficacy. A move toward model-based
      inferences that explicitly incorporate nonequilibrium dynamics provides a
      promising approach to more accurately contrast selection efficacy across
      populations and interpret its significance. 

PMID- 26874999
TI  - The increasing incidence of paranasal organizing hematoma: a 20-year experience
      of 23 cases at a single center.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sinonasal organized hematoma is a rare, benign disease
      that can be locally aggressive and may be mistaken for malignancy. Because of its
      rarity, the clinical characteristics are not well known. The aim of this study is
      to investigate the distinguishing features of organized hematoma with an emphasis
      on incidence change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we
      reviewed the records of 23 patients with organized hematoma confirmed
      histopathologically among 5,378 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery
      performed by a single surgeon from January 1995 to December 2014 at a tertiary
      care center. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic photography, computed tomography, and
      operative findings were reviewed. We also reviewed the relevant literature. Age,
      sex, site, origin subsite and histopathology were investigated. A statistical
      review was performed using R 3.1.2 to examine incidence change. RESULTS: The most
      common complaint was frequent epistaxis and nasal obstruction (52.1%). Of the 23
      patients, eight were women and 15 were men with an age range of 18 to 75 years.
      (mean 38.9 years). Nine of these hematomas occurred on the right side and 14 on
      the left side. The predominant occurrence site was the antrum (65%), followed by
      the septum (17.3%), inferior turbinate (8%), and ethmoid sinus (8%). The
      incidence steadily increased over 20 years. CONCLUSION: Investigation of the
      clinical characteristics and incidence change of organized hematoma can provide
      useful information. Through analysis of the 23 cases in our study, the age
      distribution was found to be bimodal and the incidence of organizing hematoma was
      observed to steadily increase. Clinicians should be aware of these
      characteristics to avoid misdiagnoses of malignant tumors.

PMID- 26875001
TI  - Association between Corneal Deformation Amplitude and Posterior Pole Profiles in
      Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships between corneal deformation amplitude
      and posterior pole profiles, including beta-zone parapapillary atrophy (betaPPA),
      optic disc tilt ratio, torsion degree, and disc-foveal angle, in patients with
      glaucoma. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 107 patients
      with glaucoma. METHODS: Each patient underwent measurement of deformation
      amplitude with Corvis ST (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany), color optic
      disc photography, red-free retinal nerve fiber layer photography, axial length
      measurement, and 24-2 standard automated perimetry. From fundus photographs, the
      betaPPA area, optic disc tilt ratio, torsion degree, and disc-foveal angle were
      obtained. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the relationships between
      deformation amplitude and posterior pole profiles. To determine the factors
      associated with the posterior pole profiles, univariate and multivariate
      regression analyses were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Deformation amplitude,
      betaPPA area, optic disc tilt ratio, torsion degree, and disc-foveal angle.
      RESULTS: The study included 50 men (46.7%) and 57 women (53.3%). The mean age was
      55.38+/-14.14 years. The mean tilt ratio, torsion degree, and disc-foveal angle
      were 1.16+/-0.14, 10.26+/-7.63 degrees , and 7.60+/-3.64 degrees , respectively.
      The mean betaPPA area was 18 211.00+/-28 725.53 pixels. The betaPPA (r = 0.391, P
      < 0.001) and tilt ratio (r = 0.408, P < 0.001) had significant relationships with
      deformation amplitude after adjusting for intraocular pressure (IOP). Torsion
      degree and disc-foveal angle showed no significant relationship with deformation
      amplitude. The betaPPA area was associated with deformation amplitude and axial
      length in both univariate (P = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively) and multivariate (P
      = 0.035 and <0.001, respectively) regression analyses. The tilt ratio was
      associated with deformation amplitude in univariate regression analysis (P =
      0.002), but not in multivariate regression analysis. Axial length was
      significantly associated with the tilt ratio in both univariate (P < 0.001) and
      multivariate (P < 0.001) regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Deformation amplitude
      was associated with PPA area and tilt ratio in patients with glaucoma, although
      in our data set betaPPA area and tilt ratio were not associated with visual field
      mean deviation.

PMID- 26875000
TI  - Prevalence of Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in Older Persons with and without Age
      Related Macular Degeneration, by Multimodal Imaging.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) in older
      adults with healthy maculas and early and intermediate age-related macular
      degeneration (AMD) using multimodal imaging. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
      PARTICIPANTS: A total of 651 subjects aged >=60 years enrolled in the Alabama
      Study of Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration from primary care ophthalmology
      clinics. METHODS: Subjects were imaged using spectral domain optical coherence
      tomography (SD OCT) of the macula and optic nerve head (ONH), infrared
      reflectance, fundus autofluorescence, and color fundus photographs (CFP). Eyes
      were assessed for AMD presence and severity using the Age-Related Eye Disease
      Study (AREDS) 9-step scale. Criteria for SDD presence were identification on >=1
      en face modality plus SD OCT or on >=2 en face modalities if absent on SD OCT.
      Subretinal drusenoid deposits were considered present at the person level if
      present in 1 or both eyes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of SDD in
      participants with and without AMD. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of SDD was 32%
      (197/611), with 62% (122/197) affected in both eyes. Persons with SDD were older
      than those without SDD (70.6 vs. 68.7 years, P = 0.0002). Prevalence of SDD was
      23% in subjects without AMD and 52% in subjects with AMD (P < 0.0001). Among
      those with early and intermediate AMD, SDD prevalence was 49% and 79%,
      respectively. After age adjustment, those with SDD were 3.4 times more likely to
      have AMD than those without SDD (95% confidence interval, 2.3-4.9). By using CFP
      only for SDD detection per the AREDS protocol, prevalence of SDD was 2% (12/610).
      Of persons with SDD detected by SD OCT and confirmed by at least 1 en face
      modality, 47% (89/190) were detected exclusively on the ONH SD OCT volume.
      CONCLUSIONS: Subretinal drusenoid deposits are present in approximately one
      quarter of older adults with healthy maculae and in more than half of persons
      with early to intermediate AMD, even by stringent criteria. The prevalence of SDD
      is strongly associated with AMD presence and severity and increases with age, and
      its retinal topography including peripapillary involvement resembles that of rod
      photoreceptors. Consensus on SDD detection methods is recommended to advance our
      knowledge of this lesion and its clinical and biologic significance.

PMID- 26875002
TI  - Latanoprostene Bunod 0.024% versus Timolol Maleate 0.5% in Subjects with Open
      Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension: The APOLLO Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of
      latanoprostene bunod (LBN) ophthalmic solution 0.024% every evening (qpm) with
      timolol maleate 0.5% twice daily (BID) in subjects with open-angle glaucoma (OAG)
      or ocular hypertension (OHT). DESIGN: Phase 3, randomized, controlled,
      multicenter, double-masked, parallel-group clinical study. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects
      aged >=18 years with a diagnosis of OAG or OHT in 1 or both eyes. METHODS:
      Subjects were randomized (2:1) to a 3-month regimen of LBN 0.024% qpm or timolol
      0.5% 1 drop BID. Intraocular pressure was measured at 8 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm of
      each postrandomization visit (week 2, week 6, and month 3). Adverse events were
      recorded throughout the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary efficacy end
      point was IOP in the study eye measured at each of the 9 assessment time points.
      Secondary efficacy end points included the proportion of subjects with IOP <=18
      mmHg consistently at all 9 time points and the proportion of subjects with IOP
      reduction >=25% consistently at all 9 time points. RESULTS: Of 420 subjects
      randomized, 387 completed the study (LBN 0.024%, n = 264; timolol 0.5%, n = 123).
      At all 9 time points, the mean IOP in the study eye was significantly lower in
      the LBN 0.024% group than in the timolol 0.5% group (P <= 0.002). At all 9 time
      points, the percentage of subjects with mean IOP <=18 mmHg and the percentage
      with IOP reduction >=25% were significantly higher in the LBN 0.024% group versus
      the timolol 0.5% group (mean IOP <=18 mmHg: 22.9% vs. 11.3%, P = 0.005; IOP
      reduction >=25%: 34.9% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.001). Adverse events were similar in both
      treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this phase 3 study, LBN 0.024% qpm demonstrated
      significantly greater IOP lowering than timolol 0.5% BID throughout the day over
      3 months of treatment. Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% was effective and safe in
      these adults with OAG or OHT.

PMID- 26875003
TI  - A Crossover Design for Comparative Efficacy: A 36-Week Randomized Trial of
      Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab for Diabetic Macular Edema.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the comparative efficacy of bevacizumab (Avastin) and
      ranibizumab (Lucentis; both Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA) for diabetic
      macular edema (DME) using a crossover study design. DESIGN: Randomized, double
      masked, 36-week, 3-period crossover clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-six
      subjects with DME involving the center of the macula in one or both eyes.
      METHODS: Monthly intravitreous injections of bevacizumab (1.25 mg) or ranibizumab
      (0.3 mg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of mean changes in visual acuity and
      central retinal thickness, tested using a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS:
      Based on the linear mixed-effects model, the 3-month estimated mean improvement
      in visual acuity was 5.3 letters for bevacizumab and 6.6 letters for ranibizumab
      (difference, 1.3 letters; P = 0.039). Estimated change in optical coherence
      tomography (OCT) central subfield mean thickness (CSMT) was -89 MUm for
      bevacizumab and -137 MUm for ranibizumab (difference, 48 MUm; P < 0.001).
      Incorporating cumulative treatment benefit, the model yielded a predicted 36-week
      (9-month) average improvement in visual acuity of 7.1 letters (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 5.0-9.2) for bevacizumab and 8.4 letters (95% CI, 6.3-10.5) for
      ranibizumab, and a change in OCT CSMT of -128 MUm (95% CI, -155 to -100) for
      bevacizumab and -176 MUm (95% CI, -202 to -149) for ranibizumab. There was no
      significant treatment-by-period interaction (i.e., treatment difference was
      constant in all 3 periods), nor was there a significant differential carryover
      effect from one period to the next. CONCLUSIONS: This trial demonstrated a
      statistically significant but small relative clinical benefit of ranibizumab
      compared with bevacizumab for treatment of DME, using a markedly reduced sample
      size relative to a full comparative efficacy study. The effects on visual acuity
      and central retinal thickness for the 2 drugs are consistent with those reported
      at 1 year for the concurrent parallel-group trial by the Diabetic Retinopathy
      Clinical Research Network testing bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept for
      DME. The 3-period crossover design allowed for meaningful and efficient
      comparison, suggesting that this approach may be useful for future comparative
      efficacy studies of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs for DME.

PMID- 26875004
TI  - Retinal and Optic Nerve Hemorrhages in the Newborn Infant: One-Year Results of
      the Newborn Eye Screen Test Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the birth prevalence, risk factors, characteristics, and
      location of fundus hemorrhages (FHs) of the retina and optic nerve present in
      newborns at birth. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study at Stanford University School
      of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: All infants who were 37 weeks postmenstrual age or
      older and stable were eligible for screening. Infants with known or suspected
      infectious conjunctivitis were excluded. METHODS: Infants born at Lucile Packard
      Children's Hospital (LPCH) from July 25, 2013, through July 25, 2014, were
      offered universal newborn screening via wide-angle digital retinal photography in
      the Newborn Eye Screen Test study. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal factors were
      obtained from hospital records. The location, retinal layer, and laterality of FH
      were recorded by 1 pediatric vitreoretinal specialist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Birth prevalence of FH. Secondary outcomes included rate of adverse events, risk
      factors for FH, hemorrhage characteristics, and adverse events. RESULTS: The
      birth prevalence of FH in this study was 20.3% (41/202 infants). Ninety-five
      percent of FHs involved the periphery, 83% involved the macula, and 71% involved
      multiple layers of the retina. The fovea was involved in 15% of FH cases (birth
      prevalence, 3.0%). No cases of bilateral foveal hemorrhage were found. Fundus
      hemorrhages were more common in the left eye than the right. Fundus hemorrhages
      were most commonly optic nerve flame hemorrhages (48%) and white-centered retinal
      hemorrhages (30%). Retinal hemorrhages were found most frequently in all 4
      quadrants (35%) and more often were multiple than solitary. Macular hemorrhages
      most often were intraretinal (40%). Among the risk factors examined in this
      study, vaginal delivery compared with cesarean section (odds ratio [OR], 9.34;
      95% confidence interval [CI], 2.57-33.97) showed the greatest level of
      association with FH. Self-identified ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino showed a
      protective effect (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.94). Other study factors were not
      significant. CONCLUSIONS: Fundus hemorrhages are common among newborns. They
      often involve multiple areas and layers of the retina. Vaginal delivery was
      associated with a significantly increased risk of FH, whereas self-identified
      Hispanic or Latino ethnicity was protective against FH in this study. The long
      term consequences of FH on visual development remain unknown.

PMID- 26875005
TI  - Correction of Moderate to High Myopia with a Foldable, Angle-Supported Phakic
      Intraocular Lens: Results from a 5-Year Open-Label Trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the 5-year efficacy of a foldable, hydrophobic, angle
      supported phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) when used to correct moderate to high
      myopia. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, open-label cohort study
      conducted in the United States, the European Union, and Canada (3 separate
      protocols). PARTICIPANTS: This was a pooled analysis of 515 eyes from 360
      patients 18 to 49 years of age with moderate to high myopia (preoperative
      corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA] <=0.34 logarithm of the minimum angle of
      resolution [logMAR]) and with variance in the manifest refraction spherical
      equivalent within +/-0.5 diopter (D) for a minimum of 12 months. INTERVENTION:
      Implantation of the AcrySof Cachet angle-supported anterior chamber pIOL (Alcon
      Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected distance
      visual acuity (UDVA), CDVA, predictability and stability of manifest refraction
      spherical equivalent (MRSE), serious adverse events, endothelial cell density,
      and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Of 360 patients who received implantation in
      at least 1 eye (515 eyes), 326 (90.6%) completed the study (5-year best-corrected
      visual acuity data available for 415 eyes). At 5 years, a decrease in CDVA of 2
      lines or more was observed in 0.5% of eyes (n = 2/415) compared with preoperative
      baseline. At 5 years, all 415 eyes achieved a CDVA of 0.34 logMAR or less; 91.3%
      (n = 379/415) had a CDVA of 0.04 logMAR or less. Mean UDVA +/- standard deviation
      (SD) was 0.01+/-0.18 logMAR; 94.7% (n = 393/415) and 66.3% (n = 275/415) of eyes
      had a UDVA of 0.34 logMAR or less or 0.04 logMAR or less, respectively, at 5
      years. Mean MRSE +/- SD was -0.34+/-0.57 D (range,-2.50 to 1.63 D). Most eyes
      (89.8%; n = 371/413) had an MRSE within +/-1.00 D of their target refractive
      error at 5 years and 67.3% (n = 278/413) were within +/-0.50 D. Mean annualized
      central endothelial cell loss was 1.46% (90% confidence interval [CI], -1.6% to 
      1.3%) from 6 months to 5 years. The most common pIOL-related serious adverse
      event was adhesion between the cornea and the iris (synechia; n = 24). Most
      patients (98.1%) indicated that they would have the same pIOL implanted again.
      CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate to high myopia, the AcrySof Cachet angle
      supported pIOL provided excellent refractive correction for up to 5 years after
      implantation, with a low rate of mean central endothelial cell loss. Careful
      patient selection is necessary to achieve optimal postsurgical outcomes.

PMID- 26875006
TI  - Lamination of the Outer Plexiform Layer in Optic Atrophy Caused by Dominant WFS1
      Mutations.

PMID- 26875007
TI  - Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through
      2050.
AB  - PURPOSE: Myopia is a common cause of vision loss, with uncorrected myopia the
      leading cause of distance vision impairment globally. Individual studies show
      variations in the prevalence of myopia and high myopia between regions and ethnic
      groups, and there continues to be uncertainty regarding increasing prevalence of
      myopia. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed a
      systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of myopia and high myopia
      and estimated temporal trends from 2000 to 2050 using data published since 1995.
      The primary data were gathered into 5-year age groups from 0 to >=100, in urban
      or rural populations in each country, standardized to definitions of myopia of 
      0.50 diopter (D) or less and of high myopia of -5.00 D or less, projected to the
      year 2010, then meta-analyzed within Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions. Any
      urban or rural age group that lacked data in a GBD region took data from the most
      similar region. The prevalence data were combined with urbanization data and
      population data from United Nations Population Department (UNPD) to estimate the
      prevalence of myopia and high myopia in each country of the world. These
      estimates were combined with myopia change estimates over time derived from
      regression analysis of published evidence to project to each decade from 2000
      through 2050. RESULTS: We included data from 145 studies covering 2.1 million
      participants. We estimated 1406 million people with myopia (22.9% of the world
      population; 95% confidence interval [CI], 932-1932 million [15.2%-31.5%]) and 163
      million people with high myopia (2.7% of the world population; 95% CI, 86-387
      million [1.4%-6.3%]) in 2000. We predict by 2050 there will be 4758 million
      people with myopia (49.8% of the world population; 3620-6056 million [95% CI,
      43.4%-55.7%]) and 938 million people with high myopia (9.8% of the world
      population; 479-2104 million [95% CI, 5.7%-19.4%]). CONCLUSIONS: Myopia and high
      myopia estimates from 2000 to 2050 suggest significant increases in prevalences
      globally, with implications for planning services, including managing and
      preventing myopia-related ocular complications and vision loss among almost 1
      billion people with high myopia.

PMID- 26875008
TI  - TERT promoter mutations in melanoma survival.
AB  - Despite advances in targeted therapies, the treatment of advanced melanoma
      remains an exercise in disease management, hence a need for biomarkers for
      identification of at-risk primary melanoma patients. In this study, we aimed to
      assess the prognostic value of TERT promoter mutations in primary melanomas.
      Tumors from 300 patients with stage I/II melanoma were sequenced for TERT
      promoter and BRAF/NRAS mutations. Cumulative curves were drawn for patients with
      and without mutations with progression-free and melanoma-specific survival as
      outcomes. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to determine the
      effect of the mutations on survivals. Individually, presence of TERT promoter and
      BRAF/NRAS mutations associated with poor disease-free and melanoma-specific
      survival with modification of the effect by the rs2853669 polymorphism within the
      TERT promoter. Hazard ratio (HR) for simultaneous occurrence of TERT promoter and
      BRAF/NRAS mutations for disease-free survival was 2.3 (95% CI 1.2-4.4) and for
      melanoma-specific survival 5.8 (95% CI 1.9-18.3). The effect of the mutations on
      melanoma-specific survival in noncarriers of variant allele of the polymorphism
      was significant (HR 4.5, 95% CI 1.4-15.2) but could not be calculated for the
      carriers due to low number of events. The variant allele per se showed
      association with increased survival (HR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9). The data in this
      study provide preliminary evidence that TERT promoter mutations in combination
      with BRAF/NRAS mutations can be used to identify patients at risk of aggressive
      disease and the possibility of refinement of the classification with inclusion of
      the rs2853669 polymorphism within TERT promoter. 

PMID- 26875009
TI  - Children Hospitalized with Rhinovirus Bronchiolitis Have Asthma-Like
      Characteristics.
AB  - Children with bronchiolitis often are considered a homogeneous group. However, in
      a multicenter, prospective study of 2207 young children hospitalized for
      bronchiolitis, we found that children with respiratory syncytial virus detected
      differ from those with rhinovirus detected; the latter patients resemble older
      children with asthma, including more frequent treatment with corticosteroids.

PMID- 26875010
TI  - Acute Appendicitis-An Unexpected Etiology.

PMID- 26875012
TI  - Reply to Letter From Campbell-Questionable Scientific Basis for Radical Dietary
      Sodium Recommendations.

PMID- 26875011
TI  - Executive Functioning and School Performance among Pediatric Survivors of Complex
      Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence and severity of real-world impairments in
      executive functioning-responsible for children's regulatory skills
      (metacognition, behavioral regulation)-and its potential impact on school
      performance among pediatric survivors of complex congenital heart disease (CHD).
      STUDY DESIGN: Survivors of complex CHD aged 8-16 years (n = 143) and their
      parents/guardians from a regional CHD survivor registry participated (81%
      participation rate). Parents completed proxy measures of executive functioning,
      school competency, and school-related quality of life (QOL). Patients also
      completed a measure of school QOL and underwent IQ testing. Patients were
      categorized into 2 groups based on heart lesion complexity: 2-ventricle or single
      ventricle. RESULTS: Survivors of complex CHD performed significantly worse than
      norms for executive functioning, IQ, school competency, and school QOL.
      Metacognition was more severely affected than behavioral regulation, and
      metacognitive deficits were more often present in older children. Even after
      taking into account demographic factors, disease severity, and IQ, metacognition
      uniquely and strongly predicted poorer school performance. In exploratory
      analyses, patients with single-ventricle lesions were rated as having lower
      school competency and school QOL, and patients with 2-ventricle lesions were
      rated as having poorer behavioral regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of complex
      CHD experience greater executive functioning difficulties than healthy peers,
      with metacognition particularly impacted and particularly relevant for day-to-day
      school performance. Especially in older children, clinicians should watch for
      metacognitive deficits, such as problems with organization, planning, self
      monitoring, and follow-through on tasks.

PMID- 26875013
TI  - Differentiating Exercise-Induced Cardiac Adaptations From Cardiac Pathology: The
      "Grey Zone" of Clinical Uncertainty.
AB  - Exercise-induced cardiac remodelling (EICR) refers to the cardiac structural and
      functional adaptations that occur in response to the hemodynamic stress of
      strenuous exercise. Differentiating physiological cardiac hypertrophy as a result
      of EICR from structural cardiac pathology may be challenging in clinical practice
      because of the phenotypic crossover between extreme forms of the "hearts of
      athletes" and mild forms of cardiomyopathy. This structural phenotypic overlap
      equates to a grey zone of clinical uncertainty. Specifically, asymptomatic
      athletes presenting with extreme left ventricular (LV) dilatation, LV wall
      thickening, or right ventricular (RV) dilatation require a systematic and
      integrative diagnostic approach to achieve accurate clinical differentiation. The
      combination of a careful clinical history and examination, appropriately used
      multimodality cardiac imaging, functional exercise testing, ambulatory rhythm
      monitoring, and occasional detraining typically provides the necessary data for
      diagnostic purposes and sports participation recommendations. Further clinical
      distinction of the hearts of athletes from cardiac pathology may emerge from
      future clinical and translational research efforts establishing exercise-related
      biomarker profiles and mechanisms underlying EICR adaptations. 

PMID- 26875014
TI  - The Demise of Morphine Oxygen Nitroglycerin Aspirin (MONA).

PMID- 26875015
TI  - Importance of Pulmonary Vein Preferential Fibrosis for Atrial Fibrillation
      Promotion in Hypertensive Rat Hearts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the independent risk factors for atrial
      fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary veins (PVs) play an important role as the substrate
      for AF and triggers of AF. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      structural remodelling of the PVs and its effect on promoting AF in hypertensive
      (HT) rat hearts. METHODS: Eighteen-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive HT rats and their
      controls were used for histological and immunohistological analyses, and
      electrophysiological studies were performed in Langendorff perfused hearts.
      RESULTS: Masson-trichrome staining revealed that hypertension significantly
      increased the fibrosis in the PVs, particularly in subendocardial and
      perivascular areas, compared with that in control rats, however, at this early
      stage of hypertension, left atrial fibrosis was not prominent. In the HT rat
      hearts with PVs, electrical stimulation significantly increased the number of
      repetitive atrial firing and atrial tachycardia inducibility, which significantly
      diminished after the excision of the PVs. An immunofluorescent analysis revealed
      that HT rats had PV specific endocardial smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA)-positive
      cells with remarkable proliferation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C
      and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which was lacking in the left
      atrial structures of the control and the HT rats. Pretreatment with imatinib, a
      PDGF receptor activity blocker, in HT rats reduced the alphaSMA-positive cell
      proliferation and fibrosis in the PVs and also induced a significant reduction in
      VEGF expression. Also, the drug pretreatment effectively prevented repetitive
      atrial firing promotion without affecting the blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: PV
      preferential fibrosis might play an important role in the arrhythmogenic
      substrate of AF in HT rat hearts.

PMID- 26875016
TI  - Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure: Did We Forget the Brain?
AB  - Exercise tolerance is affected in patients with heart failure (HF). Although the
      inability of the heart to pump blood to the working muscle has been the
      conventional mechanism proposed to explain the lowered capacity of patients with
      HF to exercise, evidence suggests that the pathophysiological mechanisms
      associated with their exercise intolerance is more complex. Recent findings
      indicate that lowered cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygenation likely represent
      limiting factors for exercise capacity in patients with HF. After an overview of
      cardiac and peripheral responses during acute and chronic exercise in healthy
      individuals, we succinctly review cardiac and noncardiac mechanisms by which HF
      influences exercise tolerance. We then consider how HF, comorbidity, and HF
      treatment influence CBF and oxygenation at rest and during exercise. Finally, we
      provide suggestions for further research to improve our understanding of the role
      of the brain in exercise intolerance in HF. 

PMID- 26875017
TI  - Questionable Scientific Basis for Relaxed Dietary Sodium Recommendations.

PMID- 26875018
TI  - In situ hybridization chain reaction mediated ultrasensitive enzyme-free and
      conjugation-free electrochemcial genosensor for BRCA-1 gene in complex matrices.
AB  - In this study, we report an enzyme-free and conjugation-free electrochemical
      genosensor enabling an ultrasensitive readout of BRCA-1, a breast cancer
      susceptibility gene. The sensor employs a target-responsive hybridization chain
      reaction (HCR) to significantly amplify the detectable current signals. By means
      of a functional auxiliary probe pair and a versatile initiator sequence, a linear
      DNA concatemer structure can be formed via spontaneous and continuous
      polymerization of DNA oligomers in the presence of target sequence. Such a DNA
      nanoassembly endows the genosensor an ultrahigh sensitivity up to 1 aM, which is
      higher than that of the nanomaterials-based or enzyme mediated amplification
      approaches by several orders of magnitude. More importantly, the sensor's
      responsive peak current exhibits a favorable linear correlation to the logarithm
      of the concentrations of target sequence ranging from 1 aM to 10 pM. In addition,
      the sensor is highly selective, and can discriminate a single mismatched
      sequence. This HCR-based genosensor is also capable of probing low-abundance BRCA
      1 gene sequence directly in complex matrices, such as 50% human serum, with
      minimal interference. These advantages will make our tailor-engineered HCR-based
      electrochemical genosensor appealing to genetic analysis and clinical
      diagnostics.

PMID- 26875019
TI  - Key Factors Associated with Major Depression in a National Sample of Stroke
      Survivors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Depression, one of the most common complications encountered after
      stroke, is associated with poorer outcomes. The aim of this study was to
      determine the factors independently associated with and predictive of poststroke
      depression (PSD). METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of depression (Patient
      Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8] score >10) among a national sample of adults (>=20
      years) with stroke who participated in the National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Surveys from 2005 to 2010. Logistic regression and random forest
      models were used to determine the factors associated with and predictive of PSD,
      after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Of the 17,132
      individuals surveyed, 546 stroke survivors were screened for depression, and 17%
      had depression, corresponding to 872,237 stroke survivors with depression in the
      United States. In the logistic regression model, after adjustment for
      sociodemographic variables, poverty (poverty index <200% versus >=200%, odds
      ratio [OR] 2.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-5.53) and 3 or more medical
      comorbidities (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.01-2.49) were associated with higher odds of
      PSD; increasing age was associated with lower odds of PSD (per year OR .95, 95%
      CI .94-.97). In the random forest model, the 10 most important factors predictive
      of PSD were younger age, lower education level, higher body mass index, black
      race, poverty, smoking, female sex, single marital status, lack of cancer
      history, and previous myocardial infarction (specificity = 70%, sensitivity =
      64%). CONCLUSION: Although numerous factors were predictive of developing PSD,
      younger age, poverty, and multiple comorbidities were strong and independent
      factors. More aggressive screening for depression in these individuals may be
      warranted.

PMID- 26875020
TI  - Autoimmune diseases and myelodysplastic syndromes.
AB  - Immune dysregulation and altered T-cell hemostasis play important roles in the
      pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Recent studies suggest an
      increased risk of MDS among patients with autoimmune diseases. Here, we
      investigated the prevalence of autoimmune diseases among MDS patients, comparing
      characteristics and outcomes in those with and without autoimmune diseases. From
      our study group of 1408 MDS patients, 391 (28%) had autoimmune disease, with
      hypothyroidism being the most common type, accounting for 44% (n = 171) of
      patients (12% among all MDS patients analyzed). Other autoimmune diseases with
      >=5% prevalence included idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in 12% (n = 46),
      rheumatoid arthritis in 10% (n = 41), and psoriasis in 7% (n = 28) of patients.
      Autoimmune diseases were more common in female MDS patients, those with RA or
      RCMD WHO subtype, and those who were less dependent on red blood cell
      transfusion. Median overall survival (OS) was 60 months (95% CI, 50-70) for
      patients with autoimmune diseases versus 45 months (95% CI, 40-49) for those
      without (log-rank test, P = 0.006). By multivariate analysis adjusting for
      revised IPSS and age >60 years, autoimmune diseases were a statistically
      significant independent factor for OS (HR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66-0.92; P = 0.004).
      The rate of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation was 23% (n = 89) in MDS
      patients with autoimmune disease versus 30% (n = 301) in those without (P =
      0.011). Patient groups did not differ in response to azacitidine or lenalidomide
      treatment. Autoimmune diseases are prevalent among MDS patients. MDS patients
      with autoimmune diseases have better OS and less AML transformation.

PMID- 26875021
TI  - The Predictors of Diet Quality among Australian Children Aged 3.5 Years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is critical to promote healthy eating early in life. OBJECTIVE:
      The aim of this study was to examine diet quality and its predictors among
      Australian preschool-aged children. DESIGN: Diet was assessed at age 3.5 years
      using multiple 24-hour recalls. Diet quality was assessed using an adapted
      version of the Revised Children's Diet Quality Index (RC-DQI). Potential
      predictors of diet quality were from questionnaires at age 3, 9, and 18 months
      and informed by the ecologic model of childhood overweight. Potential predictors
      included child's sex, age of introduction to solid foods, breastfeeding status,
      food acceptance, maternal nutrition knowledge, modeling of healthy eating, self
      efficacy, education, and home food availability. PARTICIPANTS: Data from 244
      children participating in the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity, and Nutrition
      Trial in 2008-2010 and follow-up data collection in 2011-2013 were examined. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Diet quality at age 3.5 years. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED:
      Bivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between
      diet quality and each predictor. A multivariable logistic regression model
      accounting for influences of covariates, treatment arm, and clustering by group
      tested associations between diet quality and significant predictors from
      bivariate analyses. RESULTS: RC-DQI scores had a mean+/-standard deviation score
      of 62.8+/-8.3 points out of a maximum of 85 points. Breastfeeding status (odds
      ratio [OR] 2.34, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.10) and maternal modeling of healthy eating (OR
      1.75, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.03) were positively associated with RC-DQI scores. Both
      breastfeeding status (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.63 to 5.85) and modeling (OR 2.01, 95% CI
      1.04 to 3.88) remained positively associated with diet quality after adjustment
      for child age, body mass index z score, energy intake, treatment arm, and
      clustering. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding status and modeling of healthy eating were
      independently associated with children's diet quality. Early intervention could
      assist mothers to practice these behaviors to provide support for improving child
      diet quality.

PMID- 26875022
TI  - Factors Associated with Self-Reported Menu-Labeling Usage among US Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Menu labeling can help people select foods and beverages with fewer
      calories and is a potential population-based strategy to reduce obesity and diet
      related chronic diseases in the United States. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross
      sectional study was to examine the prevalence of menu-labeling use among adults
      and its association with sociodemographic, behavioral, and policy factors.
      METHODS: The 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 17 states,
      which included 100,141 adults who noticed menu labeling at fast-food or chain
      restaurants ("When calorie information is available in the restaurant, how often
      does this information help you decide what to order?") were used. Menu-labeling
      use was categorized as frequent (always/most of the time), moderate (half the
      time/sometimes), and never. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine
      associations among sociodemographic, behavioral, and policy factors with menu
      labeling use. RESULTS: Overall, of adults who noticed menu labeling, 25.6%
      reported frequent use of menu labeling, 31.6% reported moderate use, and 42.7%
      reported that they never use menu labeling. Compared with never users, frequent
      users were significantly more likely to be younger, female, nonwhite, more
      educated, high-income, adults who were overweight or obese, physically active,
      former- or never-smokers, less than daily (<1 time/day) consumers of sugar
      sweetened beverage, and living in states where menu-labeling legislation was
      enacted or proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Menu labeling is one method that consumers can
      use to help reduce their calorie consumption from restaurants. These findings can
      be used to develop targeted interventions to increase menu-labeling use among
      subpopulations with lower use.

PMID- 26875023
TI  - Associations among Nine Family Dinner Frequency Measures and Child Weight,
      Dietary, and Psychosocial Outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Family meal frequency has been consistently and significantly
      associated with positive youth dietary and psychosocial outcomes, but less
      consistently associated with weight outcomes. Family meal frequency measurement
      has varied widely and it is unclear how this variation might impact relationships
      with youth weight, dietary, and psychosocial outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study
      assesses how five parent/caregiver-reported and four child-reported family dinner
      frequency measures correlate with each other and are associated with health
      related outcomes. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: This secondary, cross-sectional analysis
      uses baseline, parent/caregiver (n=160) and 8- to 12-year-old child (n=160) data
      from the Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus trial
      (collected 2011 to 2012). Data were obtained from objective measurements, dietary
      recall interviews, and psychosocial surveys. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included
      child body mass index z scores (BMIz); fruit, vegetable, and sugar-sweetened
      beverage intake; dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index-2010); family
      connectedness; and meal conversations. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Pearson
      correlations and general linear models were used to assess associations between
      family dinner frequency measures and outcomes. RESULTS: All family dinner
      frequency measures had comparable means and were correlated within and across
      parent/caregiver and child reporters (r=0.17 to 0.94; P<0.01). In unadjusted
      analyses, 78% of family dinner frequency measures were significantly associated
      with BMIz and 100% were significantly associated with fruit and vegetable intake
      and Healthy Eating Index-2010. In adjusted models, most significant associations
      with dietary and psychosocial outcomes remained, but associations with child BMIz
      remained significant only for parent/caregiver- (beta+/-standard error=-.07+/
      .03; P<0.05) and child-reported (beta+/-standard error=-.06+/-.02; P<0.01) family
      dinner frequency measures asking about "sitting and eating" dinner. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite phrasing variations in family dinner frequency measures (eg, which family
      members were present and how meals were occurring), few differences were found in
      associations with dietary and psychosocial outcomes, but differences were
      apparent for child BMIz, which suggests that phrasing of family dinner frequency
      measures can influence associations found with weight outcomes.

PMID- 26875025
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875026
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875024
TI  - Interactions between levels of attention ability and levels of bilingualism in
      children's executive functioning.
AB  - Attention difficulty is associated with poor performance on executive functioning
      (EF) tasks, yet EF is enhanced in bilingual children. However, no research to
      date has investigated the possible interaction between bilingualism and attention
      ability in children to determine the consequences for EF when both are present.
      We assessed a sample of typically developing children who were 8 to 11 years old
      for their ability in attention control and level of bilingualism on the basis of
      questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Children performed three tasks
      requiring aspects of EF: stop signal task (inhibition), flanker task
      (interference control), and frogs matrices task (spatial working memory). Results
      from hierarchical regressions confirmed that both attention ability and
      bilingualism contributed to performance on the EF tasks. Where interaction
      effects were significant, they showed that attention ability was a stronger
      predictor for an inhibition task, namely stop signal, and bilingualism a stronger
      predictor for an interference task, namely flanker. Furthermore, these results
      allow us to discuss the relation between EF and attention ability.

PMID- 26875027
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875028
TI  - Patient participation - What is it?

PMID- 26875029
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875030
TI  - What kind of health economics do we need?

PMID- 26875031
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875032
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875033
TI  - Taking up national safety alerts to improve patient safety in hospitals: The
      perspective of healthcare quality and risk managers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: National safety alert systems publish relevant information to improve
      patient safety in hospitals. However, the information has to be transformed into
      local action to have an effect on patient safety. We studied three research
      questions: How do Swiss healthcare quality and risk managers (qm/rm(1)) see their
      own role in learning from safety alerts issued by the Swiss national voluntary
      reporting and analysis system? What are their attitudes towards and evaluations
      of the alerts, and which types of improvement actions were fostered by the safety
      alerts? METHODS: A survey was developed and applied to Swiss healthcare risk and
      quality managers, with a response rate of 39 % (n=116). Descriptive statistics
      are presented. RESULTS: The qm/rm disseminate and communicate with a broad
      variety of professional groups about the alerts. While most respondents felt that
      they should know the alerts and their contents, only a part of them felt
      responsible for driving organizational change based on the recommendations.
      However, most respondents used safety alerts to back up their own patient safety
      goals. The alerts were evaluated positively on various dimensions such as
      usefulness and were considered as standards of good practice by the majority of
      the respondents. A range of organizational responses was applied, with
      disseminating information being the most common. An active role is related to
      using safety alerts for backing up own patient safety goals. CONCLUSIONS: To
      support an active role of qm/rm in their hospital's learning from safety alerts,
      appropriate organizational structures should be developed. Furthermore, they
      could be given special information or training to act as an information hub on
      the issues discussed in the alerts.

PMID- 26875034
TI  - [Involving patients, the insured and the general public in healthcare decision
      making].
AB  - No doubt, the public should be involved in healthcare decision making, especially
      when decision makers from politics and self-government agencies are faced with
      the difficult task of setting priorities. There is a general consensus on the
      need for a stronger patient centeredness, even in HTA processes, and
      internationally different ways of public participation are discussed and tested
      in decision making processes. This paper describes how the public can be involved
      in different decision situations, and it shows how preference measurement methods
      are currently being used in an international context to support decision making.
      It distinguishes between different levels of decision making on health
      technologies: approval, assessment, pricing, and finally utilization. The range
      of participation efforts extends from qualitative surveys of patients' needs
      (Citizen Councils of NICE in the UK) to science-based documentation of
      quantitative patient preferences, such as in the current pilot projects of the
      FDA in the US and the EMA at the European level. Possible approaches for the
      elicitation and documentation of preference structures and trade-offs in relation
      to alternate health technologies are decision aids, such as multi-criteria
      decision analysis (MCDA), that provide the necessary information for weighting
      and prioritizing decision criteria.

PMID- 26875035
TI  - [Patient attitudes and expectations towards conflicts of interest of attending
      physicians].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients can truly expect to be treated by their physicians without
      undue influences of secondary interests. It is not known what patients in Germany
      know about relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry and
      if and how they want to be informed about these relationships. METHOD: An
      information sheet explaining conflicts of interest and a 19-item questionnaire
      were distributed to 765 patients at various medical offices and hospitals in two
      German cities. 80 % (n=612) of the patients completed and returned the
      questionnaires anonymously. RESULTS: 65 % of the patients did not know of
      conflicts of interest (COI) doctors may have with the pharmaceutical industry. 74
      % of the patients would like to know if their doctor had obtained any benefits
      through contacts with the pharmaceutical industry. 71 % agreed that a disclosure
      would increase their confidence, and 74 % wanted their physicians to declare COI
      verbally to them during a consultation. 40 % would prefer a doctor who is not
      receiving any benefits from the pharmaceutical industry. The desire for
      disclosure was significantly higher in patients who had an awareness of the
      problems of COI (OR 4.95; 95 % CI 3.33 - 7.35). However, 35 % of the patients
      trusted their attending physicians anyway and did not see a need for disclosure
      of any COI. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients, but not all patients want to be
      informed about COI of their physicians. The best way to do this has yet to be
      determined.

PMID- 26875036
TI  - [A pilot study to evaluate the DMP for coronary heart disease - Development of a
      methodology and first results].
AB  - Regarding the effectiveness of disease management programs (DMPs) in Germany,
      several studies have been published on the DMP for type 2 diabetes. This pilot
      study provides methodological insights into evaluating the DMP for coronary heart
      disease (CHD), which currently includes 1.7 million participants, and reveals
      trends in healthcare outcomes for mortality, guideline adherent prescribing and
      costs. Major methodological challenges that need to be considered for the
      development of an appropriate matching method for this indication have been
      identified. The results show positive trends in favor of the DMP regarding
      mortality, costs and medication according to guidelines. A matching design is
      applicable to the CHD indication; the knowledge gained regarding the quality of
      care can be used for a targeted development of the program. 

PMID- 26875037
TI  - [Conflict of interest in continuing medical education - Studies on certified CME
      courses].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Although the problem of conflict of interest in medical education is
      discussed intensively, few valid data have been published on how to deal with the
      form, content, funding, sponsorship, and the influence of economic interests in
      continuing medical education (CME). Against this background, we carried out an
      analysis of data which had been documented for the purpose of certification by a
      German Medical Association. A central aim of the study was to obtain evidence of
      possible influences of economic interests on continuing medical education.
      Furthermore, strategies for quality assurance of CME contents and their
      implementation were to be examined. METHODS: We analyzed all registration data
      for courses certified in the category D ("structured interactive CME via print
      media, online media and audiovisual media") by the Bavarian Chamber of Physicians
      in 2012. To measure the effects of conflict of interest, relationships between
      topics of training and variables relating to the alleged self-interest of the
      organizer/sponsor (for example, drug sales in a group of physicians) were
      statistically verified. These data were taken from the Bavarian Medical
      Statistics 2012 and the GKV-Arzneimittelschnellinformation. RESULTS: In 2012, a
      total of 734 CME course offerings have been submitted for 51 medical specialties
      by 30 course suppliers in the Bavarian Medical Association. To ensure the
      neutrality of interests of the CME courses the course suppliers signed a
      cooperation treaty ensuring their compliance with defined behavior towards the
      Bavarian Medical Association concerning sponsorship. The correlation between
      course topics and drug data suggests that course suppliers tend to submit topics
      that are economically attractive to them. There was a significant correlation
      between the number of CME courses in a specific field and the sales from drug
      prescriptions issued by physicians in the respective field. CONCLUSIONS: The
      results show that neutrality of interests regarding continuing medical education
      is difficult to achieve under the current framework for the organization,
      certification, and especially the funding of CME events in Germany. The
      cooperation agreement between the Bavarian Medical Association and training
      applicants is taken as an example of how legal certainty can be ensured. Based on
      the findings described below, suggestions and strategies to strengthen assessment
      expertise of course participants have been developed and elaborated.

PMID- 26875038
TI  - [On the way to becoming an MD (Dr. med.): What kind of support do doctoral
      students need? Part 1: Survey and development of a program].
AB  - In Germany, medical doctorates are regularly criticized for their insufficient
      quality. In order to improve the quality of doctorates and to support doctoral
      candidates, a department-wide doctoral research program was established at the
      Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main in 2011 taking into account the practical
      needs of doctoral students at the School of Medicine. The program development
      proceeded in several steps: in the first step (2009/2010), a pilot study with
      eleven doctoral candidates was carried out at the Institute of General Practice.
      Their ratings of the perceived relevance and their own knowledge of 15 topics of
      scientific work were used to identify a provisional need for support.
      Subsequently an interdisciplinary panel of experts established the program
      throughout the faculty. Since its implementation, a requirements analysis in the
      form of questionnaires has been continuously carried out in order to assess the
      doctoral students' prior knowledge and their preferences expressed. At the same
      time, systematic searches for support programs in other medical fields have been
      conducted throughout Germany on several occasions. On the basis of the pilot
      study, the research results and the expert panel discussions the following topics
      were found to be particularly relevant: principles of good scientific practice,
      literature search, reference management, organization and structure of a doctoral
      thesis, formatting of Word documents, clinical epidemiology and data management.
      A specific, stepwise development process was used to design a concept for the
      faculty of medicine that pays close attention to the knowledge and interests of
      doctoral candidates. The establishment of the doctoral research program in
      Frankfurt and the results of its evaluation are presented in a second article
      (Paulitsch et al., 2016).

PMID- 26875039
TI  - [On the way to becoming an MD (Dr. med.): What kind of support do doctoral
      students need? Part 2: Establishing the program].
AB  - The poor quality of medical dissertations has repeatedly been criticized by
      scientific and higher education institutions. In medicine, doctoral students
      rated their own knowledge of fundamental scientific issues as low. The
      establishment of a doctoral research program could solve this problem. However,
      no scientific paper has yet been published showing how such support programs
      should be designed. Here we present an example of such a design on the basis of
      the doctoral research program which the Faculty of Medicine at the Goethe
      University, Frankfurt am Main, established in 2011. Using requirements analyses,
      eight basic courses have been developed that can be attended separately but are
      considered to contain essential information for all doctorates. To ensure a high
      quality of the doctoral research program and to take into account the needs of
      doctoral students, both the individual courses and the doctoral research program
      as a whole were evaluated. The doctoral research program has been very well
      accepted by doctoral students, with a total of 449 doctoral students, who
      attended an average of five courses from 2011 to 2014. The total number of
      participants amounted to 2,302 in 159 courses. The results of the evaluation show
      that on average all the basic courses were considered to be 'good' or 'very
      good'. After participating in eight courses, the doctoral students' overall
      evaluation of the doctoral research program resulted in a very positive
      assessment of the overall concept. Further aspects, such as the examination of
      the impact of participation in the doctoral research program on dissertation
      quality, are pending. Due to the positive feedback from participants, we
      recommend that other faculties establish similar programs. 

PMID- 26875040
TI  - [Good practice guidelines for health information].
AB  - Evidence-based health information is distinguished by the provision of an
      unbiased and trustworthy description of the current state of medical knowledge.
      It enables people to learn more about health and disease, and to make health
      related decisions - on their own or together with others - reflecting their
      attitudes and lifestyle. To adequately serve this purpose, health information
      must be evidence-based. A working group from the German Network for Evidence
      based Medicine (Deutsches Netzwerk Evidenzbasierte Medizin) has developed a first
      draft of good practice guidelines for health information (Gute Praxis
      Gesundheitsinformation) with the aim of providing support for authors and
      publishers of evidence-based health information. The group included researchers,
      patient representatives, journalists and developers of health information. The
      criteria for evidence-based health information were developed and agreed upon
      within this author group, and then made available for public comment. All
      submitted comments were documented and assessed regarding the need to revise or
      amend the draft. Changes were subsequently implemented following approval by the
      author group. Gute Praxis Gesundheitsinformation calls for a transparent
      methodological approach in the development of health information. To achieve
      this, evidence-based information must be based on (a) a systematic literature
      search, (b) a justified selection of evidence, (c) unbiased reporting of relevant
      results, (d) appropriate factual and linguistic communication of uncertainties,
      (e) either avoidance of any direct recommendations or a strict division between
      the reporting of results and the derivation of recommendations, (f) the
      consideration of current evidence on the communication of figures, risks and
      probabilities, and (g) transparent information about the authors and publishers
      of the health information, including their funding sources. Gute Praxis
      Gesundheitsinformation lists a total of 16 aspects to be addressed in methods
      papers. Gute Praxis Gesundheitsinformation is a tool that puts forward
      methodological aspects to be considered when developing health information. In
      order to be transparent, descriptions of the underlying methods and processes
      need to be published in easily accessible methods papers describing the general
      procedure.

PMID- 26875041
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875042
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26875043
TI  - Spanish multicentre PIBHE study: Prevalence and immunization of chronic hepatitis
      B in haemodialysis patients in Spain.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The PIBHE study, promoted by the Spanish Liver and Kidney
      Association and the Dialysis Virus Group of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, is
      the first study to determine the status of haemodialysis patients with chronic
      HBV infection and the immunisation against the vaccine. METHOD: The study has a
      national multicentre, observational, cross-sectional design and was carried out
      between January 2013 and 2014. A data collection folder was sent to all the
      nephrology departments and outpatient haemodialysis units in Spain, to be
      completed based on patient medical files after informed consent. The data were
      recorded in a central database. RESULTS: A total of 215 centres participated
      (15,645 patients), with an HBV prevalence of 1.03%. HCV or HIV was present in
      7.2% of the HBV(+) patients. Viral load was below 2,000 IU/ml in 80%. GOT and GPT
      levels were 19.1+/-10.1 and 15.9+/-9.6 IU/ml, respectively. Liver biopsy was
      performed in 7.1%. Antiviral treatment was prescribed in 30% and suspended in
      12.5%: entecavir (13.3%), lamivudine (10%), adefovir and tenofovir (6.7%), and
      interferon (3.3%). A total of 34.5% were candidates for renal transplantation and
      6.9% had not been evaluated; 64.3% were followed up by a gastroenterologist;
      27.2% of HBV(-) patients without immunisation had not been vaccinated. Fourteen
      different immunisation schedules had been used, with an immunisation rate of
      58.8%. Mean anti-HBs stood at 165.7+/-297.8mIU/ml. A total of 72.7% of patients
      had received a vaccination course; 26.4%, 2 cycles; 1.0%, 3 cycles; and 11.6%, a
      booster dose. A total of 28.3% had a poor response (anti-HBs 10-99mIU/ml); 22.4%,
      an optimal response (anti-HBs 100-999mIU/ml); and 7.9%, an excellent response
      (anti-HBs >= 1,000mIU/ml). Age was significantly associated with response to
      vaccination; the mean age of nonresponders was significantly higher than patients
      who had a response of any kind (P<.05). The highest probability of an immune
      response was achieved with 4 doses of 40 mcg of adjuvanted vaccine (OR: 7.3; 95%
      CI 3.4 to 15.7), for the same age and number of cycles and boosters. Age,
      adjuvanted vaccine, dose and vaccination schedule influenced the immune response
      and the anti-HBs titres reached (P<.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic
      HBV infection in haemodialysis in Spain is low and so are the rates of
      immunisation against the virus. The vaccination schedules used are very diverse
      and have been observed to correlate with the immune response. It would therefore
      be necessary to establish a protocol for the most effective vaccination schedule
      to increase immunisation in these patients.

PMID- 26875044
TI  - Association between ADAM12 polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis in Thai
      population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA), a common degenerative joint disorder in the
      elderly, is characterized by the destruction of articular cartilage, bony
      outgrowths at joint margins, and synovitis. The objective of this study was to
      evaluate whether there is an association between the ADAM12 (rs3740199)
      polymorphism and susceptibility to knee OA in a Thai population. METHODS: Genomic
      deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 200 Thai knee OA patients and 200
      healthy controls. High resolution melting analysis was used to detect ADAM12
      polymorphisms. The melt profile of all DNA samples was generated on the CFX96TM
      real-time polymerase chain reaction system and analyzed by Precision Melt
      AnalysisTM software. The genotype distributions and allele frequencies of ADAM12
      were compared between groups using the StatCalc program. RESULTS: The significant
      associations were shown from the C allele (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.16-3.79, P=0.008)
      and the CC genotype (OR=4.28, 95% CI=1.21-15.72, P=0.01) in male knee OA
      patients. No significant association was observed in female patients. CONCLUSION:
      The rs3740199 in ADAM12 was associated with knee OA susceptibility in Thai male
      patients, and individuals with the CC genotype carried the highest risk when
      compared with the GG and GC genotypes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The rs3740199
      polymorphism of the ADAM12 gene can potentially be used to determine genetically
      high-risk subgroup of knee osteoarthritis and to better understand the
      pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis.

PMID- 26875046
TI  - What are the bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement for finding the flexion
      extension plane of the knee with five tibial reference lines?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Internal-external (I-E) malrotation of the tibial component is
      associated with poor function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Kinematically
      aligned (KA) TKA uses a functionally defined flexion-extension (F-E) tibial
      reference line, which is parallel to the F-E plane of the extended knee, to set I
      E rotation of the tibial component. METHODS: Sixty-two, three-dimensional bone
      models of normal knees were analyzed. We computed the bias (mean), imprecision
      (+/-standard deviation), and limits of agreement (mean+/-2 standard deviations)
      of the angle between five anatomically defined tibial reference lines used in
      mechanically aligned (MA) TKA and the F-E tibial reference line (+external).
      RESULTS: The following are the bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement of the
      angle between the F-E tibial reference line and 1) the tibial reference lines
      connecting the medial border (-2 degrees +/-6 degrees , -14 degrees  to 10
      degrees ), medial 1/3 (6 degrees +/-6 degrees , -6 degrees  to 18 degrees ), and
      the most anterior point of the tibial tubercle (9 degrees +/-4 degrees , -1
      degrees  to 17 degrees ) with the center of the posterior cruciate ligament, and
      2) the tibial reference lines perpendicular to the posterior condylar axis of the
      tibia (-3 degrees +/-4 degrees , -11 degrees  to 5 degrees ), and a line
      connecting the centers of the tibial condyles (1 degrees +/-4 degrees , -7
      degrees  to 9 degrees ). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on these in vitro findings, it
      might be prudent to reconsider setting the I-E rotation of the tibial component
      to tibial reference lines that have bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement
      that fall outside the -7 degrees  to 10 degrees  range associated with high
      function after KA TKA.

PMID- 26875045
TI  - Contribution of altered hip, knee and foot kinematics to dynamic postural
      impairments in females with patellofemoral pain during stair ascent.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Altered hip, knee and foot kinematics have been systematically
      observed in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, less attention
      has been given to the altered dynamic postural control associated with PFP.
      Additionally, the relative contribution of kinematic impairments to the postural
      behavior of subjects with PFP remains an open question that warrants
      investigation. The aims of this study were: i) to investigate possible
      differences in hip adduction, rearfoot eversion, knee flexion and displacement
      area of the center of pressure (COP) in individuals with PFP in comparison to
      controls during stair ascent; and (ii) to determine which kinematic parameter is
      the best predictor of the displacement area of the COP measured during the stance
      phase of the stair ascent. METHODS: Twenty-nine females with PFP and 25
      asymptomatic pain-free females underwent three-dimensional kinematic and COP
      analyses during stair ascent. Between-group comparisons were made using
      independent t-tests. Regression models were performed to identify the capability
      of each kinematic factor in predicting the displacement area of the COP. RESULTS:
      Reduced knee flexion and displacement area of the COP as well as increased peak
      hip adduction and peak rearfoot eversion were observed in individuals with PFP as
      compared to controls. Peak hip adduction was the best predictor of the
      displacement area of the COP (r(2)=23.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The excessive hip
      adduction was the biggest predictor of the displacement area of the COP. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Based on our findings, proximally targeted interventions may be of
      major importance for the functional reestablishment of females with PFP.

PMID- 26875047
TI  - The influence of intraoperative soft tissue balance on patellar pressure in
      posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Appropriate soft tissue balance is essential for the success of total
      knee arthroplasty (TKA), and assessment with an offset-type tensor provides
      useful information about the femorotibial (FT) joint. The purpose of the study
      was to investigate the relationship between intraoperative soft tissue balance
      and patellar pressure at both medial and lateral sides. METHODS: Thirty varus
      type osteoarthritis patients who received mobile-bearing posterior-stabilized
      TKAs were enrolled in the study. Using the tensor, soft tissue balance, including
      joint component gap and varus ligament balance, was recorded at 0 degrees , 10
      degrees , 30 degrees , 60 degrees , 90 degrees , 120 degrees , and 135 degrees 
      with patellofemoral (PF) joint reduction and femoral component placement.
      Following final prostheses implanted with appropriate insert, the medial and
      lateral patellar pressures were measured at each flexion angle. A simple
      regression analysis was performed between each patellar pressure, parameter of
      soft tissue balance, and postoperative flexion angle. RESULTS: Both lateral and
      medial patellar pressures increased with flexion. The lateral patellar pressure
      was significantly higher than the medial patellar pressure at 60 degrees , 90
      degrees , and 135 degrees  of flexion (p<0.05). The lateral patellar pressure
      inversely correlated with the varus ligament balance at 60 degrees  and 90
      degrees  of flexion (p<0.05). The lateral patellar pressure at 120 degrees  and
      135 degrees  of flexion inversely correlated with the postoperative flexion angle
      (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Soft tissue balance influenced patellar pressure. In
      particular, a reduced lateral patellar pressure was found at the lateral laxity
      at flexion, leading to high postoperative flexion angle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

PMID- 26875048
TI  - Primary and coupled motions of the native knee in response to applied varus and
      valgus load.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the complex kinematics of the native knee is a
      prerequisite for a successful reconstructive procedure. The aim of this study is
      to describe the primary and coupled motions of the native knee throughout the
      range of knee flexion, in response to applied varus and valgus loads. METHODS:
      Twenty fresh-frozen cadaver knees were affixed to a six degree of freedom robotic
      arm with a universal force-moment sensor, and loaded with a 4Nm moment in varus
      and valgus at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 90 degrees  of knee flexion. The resulting
      tibiofemoral angulation, displacement, and rotation were recorded. RESULTS: For
      each parameter investigated, the knee joint demonstrated more laxity at higher
      flexion angles. Varus angulation increased progressively from zero (2.0 degrees 
      varus) to 90 (5.2 degrees  varus) degrees of knee flexion (p<0.001). Valgus
      angulation also increased progressively, from zero (1.5 degrees  valgus) to 90
      (3.9 degrees  valgus) degrees of knee flexion (p<0.001). At all flexion angles,
      the magnitude of tibiofemoral angle deviation was larger with varus than with
      valgus loading (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the native knee exhibits
      small increases in coronal plane laxity as the flexion angle increases, and that
      the knee has generally more laxity under varus load than with valgus load
      throughout the Range of Motion (ROM). Larger differences in laxity of more than 2
      to 3 degrees , or peak laxity specifically during the range of mid-flexion, were
      not found in our cadaver model and are not likely to represent normal coronal
      plane kinematics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, biomechanical cadaveric study.

PMID- 26875049
TI  - Monthly swelling of the knee - Case report and review of the literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We report a 17-year old with monthly swelling of her knee. The
      complaints are associated with the menstrual cycle. After physical examination,
      radiographs, MRI and an arthroscopy with biopsies, a diagnosis of intra-articular
      endometriosis and menstrual arthritis was made. DISCUSSION: Both an intra
      articular manifestation of endometriosis and menstrual arthritis are very rare
      diagnoses. Extraperitoneal lesions of endometriosis are rare and the mechanism
      for spreading outside the retroperitoneal space is unknown. A similar situation
      exists for menstrual arthritis, it is thought that cytokines, which are produced
      as a reaction to retrograde menstruation, are the trigger for menstrual
      arthritis. A review of literature is given. CONCLUSION: A monthly recurrent,
      painful swelling of a joint, can and should give rise to thorough investigation.
      Differential diagnostic one should think of intra-articular manifestation of
      endometriosis and menstrual arthritis. We give a proposal for treatment.

PMID- 26875051
TI  - Range of movement correlates with the Oxford knee score after total knee
      replacement: A prediction model and validation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient reported outcome measures are widely used in the evaluation
      of outcomes after Total Knee Replacement (TKR) in joint registries and large
      studies. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the Oxford
      knee score (OKS) and range of motion (ROM) after TKR, and to construct and
      validate prediction models of ROM from the measured OKS. METHODS: Eight hundred
      sixty patients reviewed five years postoperatively and 273 patients reviewed nine
      to 10 years postoperatively completed an OKS. Of these, 808 (94%) and 226 (83%)
      patients, respectively, had a complete dataset (knee extension and ROM) and
      formed the study cohort. RESULTS: Regression analysis demonstrated a significant
      correlation between the OKS and ROM (r=0.38, p<0.001) after adjusting for other
      confounding variables (age, sex, body mass index, and knee extension). A
      prediction model was constructed and validated using a second cohort of 226
      patients at nine to 10 years after their TKR. Intraclass correlation demonstrated
      good reliability (r=0.60, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.69) between predicted and actual
      measured ROM for this group. However, when the OKS is used in isolation the
      reliability of the predicted ROM is diminished (intraclass correlation r=0.41,
      95% CI 0.24 to 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The OKS is an independent predictor of ROM
      after TKR. It is also possible to predict ROM from the OKS, but the reliability
      of this is improved when other independent predictors such as age, gender, body
      mass index (BMI) and degree of knee extension are also acknowledged.

PMID- 26875050
TI  - Early evolving joint degeneration by cartilage trauma is primarily mechanically
      controlled.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mechanical and inflammatory processes add to osteoarthritis (OA). To
      what extent both processes contribute during the onset of OA after a cartilage
      trauma is unknown. This study evaluates whether local cartilage damage leads to
      focally confined or more generalized cartilage damage with synovial inflammation
      in the early development of joint tissue degeneration. METHODS: In nine goats,
      cartilage damage was surgically induced on the weight bearing area of exclusively
      the medial femoral condyle of the right knee joint. The other tibio-femoral
      compartments, lateral femoral condyle and lateral medial tibial plateau, were
      left untouched. The contralateral left knee joint of each animal served as an
      intra-animal control. Twenty weeks post-surgery changes in cartilage matrix
      integrity in each of the four compartments, medial and lateral synovial tissue
      inflammation, and synovial fluid IL-1beta and TNFalpha were evaluated. RESULTS:
      In the experimental medial femoral plateau, significant macroscopic, histologic,
      and biochemical cartilage damage was observed versus the contralateral control
      compartments. Also the articulating cartilage of the experimental medial tibial
      plateau was significantly more damaged. Whereas, no differences were seen between
      the lateral compartments of experimental and contralateral control joints.
      Synovial tissue inflammation was mild and only macroscopically (not
      histologically) significantly increased in the experimental medial compartments.
      Synovial fluid IL-1beta level was not different between experimental and
      contralateral control joints, and TNFalpha was overall beneath the detection
      limit. CONCLUSIONS: Local cartilage damage is a trigger for development of OA,
      which in early onset seems primarily mechanically driven. Early treatment of
      traumatic cartilage damage should take this mechanical component into
      consideration.

PMID- 26875053
TI  - Extension deficit after ACL reconstruction: Is open posterior release a safe and
      efficient procedure?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extension loss is a potentially devastating consequence of anterior
      cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). It can often be treated by anterior
      arthroscopic release. In rare cases, a chronic flexion contracture requires an
      additional posterior open release. To our knowledge, no study analysing the
      results of both posteromedial and posterolateral approaches has been performed so
      far. The purposes of this study were (1) to analyse the midterm outcome and
      complications of a combined procedure, anterior arthroscopic debridement and
      posterior open capsulotomy - for the treatment of chronic extension deficits
      after ACLR and (2) to describe the surgical technique of posterior open release
      with both posteromedial and posterolateral approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This
      is a retrospective clinical cohort study. Twelve patients presenting a chronic
      flexion contracture of 10 degrees  or more after ACLR treated by open posterior
      arthrolysis with an average follow-up time of 38months (range six to 90) were
      included. At last follow-up, they underwent both a clinical examination with
      range of motion analysis, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and
      KOOS scores. RESULTS: At follow-up, all patients except one (93%) achieved
      complete extension. Only one patient (7%) had a residual post-operative flexion
      deformity of five degrees. The range of motion (ROM) improved significantly after
      arthrolysis from 96 degrees +/-14.3 degrees  (SD) to 14.3 degrees +/-7 degrees
      (SD)(p<0.001). No post-operative complications were recorded. No patients
      required further open debridement. The post-operative objective IKDC score was
      grade A for five patients, B for seven versus C for five patients and D for seven
      preoperatively. The mean post-operative subjective IKDC score was 86.4+/-9.7. The
      post-operative Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) distribution
      was as follows: pain 93.8+/-5 (SD); symptoms 88+/-8.6 (SD); ADL 96.8+/-3.7 (SD);
      sports activities 83.6+/-12.3 (SD); and quality of life 82.9+/-8.8 (SD). Mean
      patients' satisfaction was 9.25+/-0.6 (SD) out of 10 after arthrolysis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Open posterior release with both posteromedial and posterolateral
      approaches is a safe and efficient additional procedure in case of persistent
      flexion contracture after ACLR with good ROM gain, functional scores and
      patients' satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study - Level IV.

PMID- 26875054
TI  - Spontaneous Right Atrial Dissection Resulting in Tricuspid Regurgitation.

PMID- 26875052
TI  - Percutaneous freezing of sensory nerves prior to total knee arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure resulting in
      significant post-operative pain. Percutaneous cryoneurolysis targeting the
      infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve and anterior femoral cutaneous nerve
      could relieve post-operative knee pain by temporarily blocking sensory nerve
      conduction. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 100 patients who underwent
      TKA was conducted to assess the value of adding perioperative cryoneurolysis to a
      multimodal pain management program. The treatment group consisted of the first 50
      patients consecutively treated after the practice introduced perioperative (five
      days prior to surgery) cryoneurolysis as part of its standard pain management
      protocol. The control group consisted of the 50 patients treated before
      cryoneurolysis was introduced. Outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS),
      post-operative opioid requirements, and patient-reported outcomes of pain and
      function. RESULTS: A significantly lower proportion of patients in the treatment
      group had a LOS of >=2days compared with the control group (6% vs. 67%, p<0.0001)
      and required 45% less opioids during the first 12weeks after surgery. The
      treatment group reported a statistically significant reduction in symptoms at the
      six- and 12-week follow-up compared with the control group and within-group
      significant reductions in pain intensity and pain interference at two- and six
      week follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative cryoneurolysis in
      combination with multimodal pain management may significantly improve outcomes in
      patients undergoing TKA. Promising results from this preliminary retrospective
      study warrant further investigation of this novel treatment in prospective,
      randomized trials. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

PMID- 26875055
TI  - Leadless Pacemaker After Complicated Hematoma.

PMID- 26875057
TI  - Educational innovations in clinical pharmacogenomics.
AB  - Genetic and genomic discovery is revolutionizing medicine at an extraordinary
      pace, leading to a better understanding of disease and improved treatments for
      patients. This advanced pace of discovery presents an urgency to expand medical
      school curricula to include genetic and genomic testing (including
      pharmacogenomics), and integration of genomic medicine into clinical practice.
      Consequently, organizations and healthcare authorities have charged medical
      schools with training future physicians to be competent in their knowledge of
      genomic implementation.

PMID- 26875058
TI  - TRAPID or Trapped?

PMID- 26875059
TI  - Bedside Washout of a Septic Shoulder in the Emergency Department: A Case Report.
AB  - We present a case of successful bedside irrigation of a septic joint in the
      emergency department. Complicating factors prevented the patient from undergoing
      operative management. With a simple 2 catheter technique the authors irrigated
      the patient's septic shoulder at the bedside. The patient's pain and range of
      motion improved immediately following the technique. The patient had complete
      recovery without open drainage. With further investigation, definitive management
      of septic joints could begin in the emergency department.

PMID- 26875056
TI  - Beneficial Microbes Affect Endogenous Mechanisms Controlling Root Development.
AB  - Plants have incredible developmental plasticity, enabling them to respond to a
      wide range of environmental conditions. Among these conditions is the presence of
      plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the soil. Recent studies show that
      PGPR affect Arabidopsis thaliana root growth and development by modulating cell
      division and differentiation in the primary root and influencing lateral root
      development. These effects lead to dramatic changes in root system architecture
      that significantly impact aboveground plant growth. Thus, PGPR may promote shoot
      growth via their effect on root developmental programs. This review focuses on
      contextualizing root developmental changes elicited by PGPR in light of our
      understanding of plant-microbe interactions and root developmental biology. 

PMID- 26875060
TI  - Use of Out-of-Hospital Ethanol Administration to Improve Outcome in Mass Methanol
      Outbreaks.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Methanol poisoning outbreaks are a global public health issue,
      with delayed treatment causing poor outcomes. Out-of-hospital ethanol
      administration may improve outcome, but the difficulty of conducting research in
      outbreaks has meant that its effects have never been assessed. We study the
      effect of out-of-hospital ethanol in patients treated during a methanol outbreak
      in the Czech Republic between 2012 and 2014. METHODS: This was an observational
      case-series study of 100 hospitalized patients with confirmed methanol poisoning.
      Out-of-hospital ethanol as a "first aid antidote" was administered by paramedic
      or medical staff before the confirmation of diagnosis to 30 patients; 70 patients
      did not receive out-of-hospital ethanol from the staff (12 patients self
      administered ethanol shortly before presentation). RESULTS: The state of
      consciousness at first contact with paramedic or medical staff, delay to
      admission, and serum methanol concentration were similar among groups. The median
      serum ethanol level on admission in the patients with out-of-hospital
      administration by paramedic or medical staff was 84.3 mg/dL (interquartile range
      32.7 to 129.5 mg/dL). No patients with positive serum ethanol level on admission
      died compared with 21 with negative serum ethanol level (0% versus 36.2%).
      Patients receiving out-of-hospital ethanol survived without visual and central
      nervous system sequelae more often than those not receiving it (90.5% versus
      19.0%). A positive association was present between out-of-hospital ethanol
      administration by paramedic or medical staff, serum ethanol concentration on
      admission, and both total survival and survival without sequelae of poisoning.
      CONCLUSION: We found a positive association between out-of-hospital ethanol
      administration and improved clinical outcome. During mass methanol outbreaks,
      conscious adults with suspected poisoning should be considered for administration
      of out-of-hospital ethanol to reduce morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26875061
TI  - Emergency Department Prescription Opioids as an Initial Exposure Preceding
      Addiction.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Opioid abuse and overdose constitute an ongoing health
      emergency. Many presume opioids have little potential for iatrogenic addiction
      when used as directed, particularly in short courses, as is typical of the
      emergency department (ED) setting. We preliminarily explore the possibility that
      initial exposure to opioids by EDs could be related to subsequent opioid misuse.
      METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of patients
      reporting heroin or nonmedical opioid use at an urban, academic ED. We estimated
      the proportion whose initial exposure to opioids was a legitimate medical
      prescription and the proportion of those prescriptions that came from an ED.
      Secondary measurements included the proportion of patients receiving nonopioid
      substances before initial opioid exposure, the source of opioids between initial
      exposure and onset of regular nonmedical use, and time from initial prescription
      to opioid use disorder. RESULTS: Of 59 subjects, 35 (59%; 95% confidence interval
      [CI] 47% to 71%) reported they were first exposed to opioids by a legitimate
      medical prescription, and for 10 of 35 (29%; 95% CI 16% to 45%), the prescription
      came from an ED. Most medically exposed subjects (28/35; 80%; 95% CI 65% to 91%)
      reported nonopioid substance use or treatment for nonopioid substance use
      disorders preceding the initial opioid exposure. Emergency providers were a
      source of opioids between exposure and onset of regular nonmedical use in 11 of
      35 cases (31%; 95% CI 18% to 48%). Thirty-one of the 35 medically exposed
      subjects reported the time of onset of nonmedical use; median time from exposure
      to onset of nonmedical use was 6 months for use to get high (N=25; interquartile
      range [IQR] 2 to 36), 12 months for regular use to get high (N=24; IQR 2 to 36),
      18 months for use to avoid withdrawal (N=26; IQR 2 to 38), and 24 months for
      regular use to avoid withdrawal (N=27; IQR 2 to 48). Eleven subjects (36%; 95% CI
      21% to 53%) began nonmedical use within 2 months, and 9 of 11 (82%; 95% CI 53% to
      96%) reported nonopioid substance use or treatment for alcohol abuse before
      initial opioid exposure. CONCLUSION: Although short-term opioid administration by
      emergency providers is unlikely to cause addiction by itself, ED opioid
      prescriptions may contribute to the development of addiction in some patients.
      There is an urgent need for further research to estimate long-term risks of short
      course opioid therapy so that the risk of iatrogenic addiction can be
      appropriately balanced with the benefit of analgesia.

PMID- 26875062
TI  - An Evaluation of Emergency Medicine Core Content Covered by Free Open Access
      Medical Education Resources.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency physicians are using free open access medical
      education (FOAM) resources at an increasing rate. The extent to which FOAM
      resources cover the breadth of emergency medicine core content is unknown. We
      hypothesize that the content of FOAM resources does not provide comprehensive or
      balanced coverage of the scope of knowledge necessary for emergency medicine
      providers. Our objective is to quantify emergency medicine core content covered
      by FOAM resources and identify the predominant FOAM topics. METHODS: This is an
      institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of all English-language
      FOAM posts between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, as aggregated on
      http://FOAMem.com. The topics of FOAM posts were compared with those of the
      emergency medicine core content, as defined by the American Board of Emergency
      Medicine's Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (MCPEM). Each
      FOAM post could cover more than 1 topic. Repeated posts and summaries were
      excluded. RESULTS: Review of the MCPEM yielded 915 total emergency medicine
      topics grouped into 20 sections. Review of 6,424 FOAM posts yielded 7,279 total
      topics and 654 unique topics, representing 71.5% coverage of the 915 topics
      outlined by the MCPEM. The procedures section was covered most often,
      representing 2,285 (31.4%) FOAM topics. The 4 sections with the least coverage
      were cutaneous disorders, hematologic disorders, nontraumatic musculoskeletal
      disorders, and obstetric and gynecologic disorders, each representing 0.6% of
      FOAM topics. Airway techniques; ECG interpretation; research, evidence-based
      medicine, and interpretation of the literature; resuscitation; and
      ultrasonography were the most overrepresented subsections, equaling 1,674 (23.0%)
      FOAM topics when combined. CONCLUSION: The data suggest an imbalanced and
      incomplete coverage of emergency medicine core content in FOAM. The study is
      limited by its retrospective design and use of a single referral Web site to
      obtain available FOAM resources. More comprehensive and balanced coverage of
      emergency medicine core content is needed if FOAM is to serve as a primary
      educational resource.

PMID- 26875063
TI  - Same Physician, Different Location, Different Patient Satisfaction Scores.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: We assess whether patient satisfaction scores differ for
      individual emergency physicians according to the clinical setting in which
      patients are treated. METHODS: We obtained Press Ganey satisfaction survey
      results from June 2013 to August 2014 for patients treated in either an urban
      hospital emergency department (ED) or 2 affiliated suburban urgent care centers.
      The same physicians work in all 3 facilities. Physicians with available survey
      results from at least 10 patients in both settings were included. Survey scores
      range from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Survey questions directly assessed
      physicians' courtesy, ability to keep patients informed about their treatment,
      concern for patient comfort, listening ability, and the overall care at the
      facility. We calculated differences in mean urgent care and ED scores for
      individual physicians, along with the mean of these differences. Our primary
      outcome was the mean difference between urgent care and ED score with respect to
      physician courtesy. RESULTS: Seventeen physicians met inclusion criteria. For all
      17 physicians, the point estimate for the mean urgent care courtesy score was
      higher than the point estimate for the mean ED courtesy score. The mean
      difference in courtesy scores between urgent care and the ED was 0.35 (95%
      confidence interval 0.22 to 0.49). ED scores were also consistently lower than
      urgent care scores for keeping patients informed about their treatment, concern
      for patient comfort, listening ability, and overall care rating. CONCLUSION:
      Although these results are limited by small sample size, we found that physicians
      consistently received lower satisfaction ratings from ED patients than from
      urgent care patients. This challenges the validity of using satisfaction scores
      to compare providers in different practice settings.

PMID- 26875064
TI  - Is it time for treat to target strategy in osteoporosis?

PMID- 26875065
TI  - Proper site of corticosteroid injection for the treatment of idiopathic frozen
      shoulder: Results from a randomized trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective is to determine whether corticosteroid injection into
      the subacromial space was not inferior to intra-articular injection in patients
      with idiopathic frozen shoulder (FS), and whether combined injections had an
      additive effect. METHODS: Patients with idiopathic FS (n=126) were randomly
      assigned to receive ultrasound-guided intra-articular (IA group), subacromial (SA
      group), or combined IA and subacromial injections (IA+SA group). All groups
      received a total dose of 40mg triamcinolone acetonide. The outcome measures
      included the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow
      Surgeon (ASES) shoulder score, subjective shoulder value (SSV), and passive range
      of motion before and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: There was
      significant effect of time on all measurements such that all measures improved in
      all groups (P<0.001) during the 12 weeks after treatment. Group-by-time
      interactions were significant for ASES (P=0.006), VAS (P<0.001), SSV (P=0.03),
      and internal rotation (P=0.014). Between-group comparisons revealed a significant
      improvement in the IA (P<0.001) and IA+SA (P<0.001) groups as compared to the SA
      group. The IA+SA group demonstrated significant improvement in internal rotation
      as compared to the IA group (P=0.046). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of corticosteroid
      injection into the SA space in idiopathic FS was inferior to IA injection up to
      12 weeks; however, combination injections had an additive effect on increasing
      the internal rotation angle. These results indicate that although the
      glenohumeral joint is a major site in the pathogenesis of idiopathic FS, the SA
      space may be a contributing site.

PMID- 26875066
TI  - TNFalpha antagonist therapy in axial spondyloarthritis: Can we do better?

PMID- 26875067
TI  - School-based exposure to hazardous air pollutants and grade point average: A
      multi-level study.
AB  - The problem of environmental health hazards around schools is serious but it has
      been neglected by researchers and analysts. This is concerning because children
      are highly susceptible to the effects of chemical hazards. Some ecological
      studies have demonstrated that higher school-level pollution is associated with
      lower aggregate school-level standardized test scores likely, related to
      increased respiratory illnesses and/or impaired cognitive development. However,
      an important question remains unexamined: How do school-level exposures impact
      individual children's academic performance? To address this, we obtained socio
      demographic and grades data from the parents of 1888 fourth and fifth grade
      children in the El Paso (Texas, USA) Independent School District in 2012. El Paso
      is located on the US-side of the Mexican border and has a majority Mexican-origin
      population. School-based hazardous air pollution (HAP) exposure was calculated
      using census block-level US Environmental Protection Agency National Air Toxics
      Assessment risk estimates for respiratory and diesel particulate matter (PM).
      School-level demographics were obtained from the school district. Multi-level
      models adjusting for individual-level covariates (e.g., age, sex, race/ethnicity,
      English proficiency, and economic deprivation) and school-level covariates (e.g.,
      percent of students economically disadvantaged and student-teacher ratio) showed
      that higher school-level HAPs were associated with lower individual-level grade
      point averages. An interquartile range increase in school-level HAP exposure was
      associated with an adjusted 0.11-0.40 point decrease in individual students'
      grade point averages (GPAs), depending on HAP type and emission source.
      Respiratory risk from HAPs had a larger effect on GPA than did diesel PM risk.
      Non-road mobile and total respiratory risk had the largest effects on children's
      GPA of all HAP variables studied and only mother's level of education had a
      larger effect than those two variables on children's GPA. The five school-level
      demographic indicators were only weakly associated with GPA. The study findings
      indicate the need for regulations on school siting and adjacent land uses to
      protect children's environmental health. 

PMID- 26875068
TI  - Parasaccharibacter apium, gen. nov., sp. nov., Improves Honey Bee (Hymenoptera:
      Apidae) Resistance to Nosema.
AB  - The honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is host to a variety of microorganisms. The
      bacterial community that occupies the adult worker gut contains a core group of
      approximately seven taxa, while the hive environment contains its own
      distribution of bacteria that is in many ways distinct from the gut.
      Parasaccharibacter apium, gen. nov., sp. nov., is a hive bacterium found in food
      stores and in larvae, worker jelly, worker hypopharyngeal glands, and queens.
      Parasaccharibacter apium increases larval survival under laboratory conditions.
      To determine if this benefit is extended to colonies in the field, we tested if
      P. apium 1) survives and reproduces in supplemental pollen patty, 2) is
      distributed throughout the hive when added to pollen patty, 3) benefits colony
      health, and 4) increases the ability of bees to resist Nosema. Parasaccharibacter
      apium survived in supplemental diet and was readily consumed by bees. It was
      distributed throughout the hive under field conditions, moving from the pollen
      patty to hive larvae. While P. apium did not significantly increase colony brood
      production, food stores, or foraging rates, it did increase resistance to Nosema
      infection. Our data suggest that P. apium may positively impact honey bee health.

PMID- 26875069
TI  - Risk rtPA: An iOS mobile application based on TURN for predicting 90-day outcome
      after IV thrombolysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We recently developed Thrombolysis risk Using mRS and NIHSS (TURN), a
      simple score using only prestroke mRS scores and admission NIHSS scores to
      predict 90-day outcome after IV thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients. Our
      purpose was to develop and test a mobile application for utilization of TURN at
      the bedside. METHODS: We developed Risk rtPA, an iOS mobile application based on
      TURN for prediction of 90-day excellent and severe outcome after IV thrombolysis.
      Excellent outcome was defined as 90-day mRS<=1. Severe outcome was defined as 90
      day mRS>=5. Predictors for excellent and severe outcome were calculated using the
      inverse logit of -TURN and TURN respectively. We retrospectively validated our
      mobile application using data from 303 patients who received IV rt-PA during the
      NINDS rt-PA trial. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed using
      receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Prediction of excellent
      and severe outcome using Risk rtPA followed an S-shaped curve as expected. We
      confirmed this finding using data from the NINDS trial. Cutoffs selected after
      ROC analysis predicted severe outcome with sensitivity of 94.4% and specificity
      of 52.2%, and excellent outcome with specificity of 83.9% and sensitivity of
      61.2%. CONCLUSION: The Risk rtPA mobile application predicted 90-day excellent
      and severe outcome in most clinically relevant cases. This mobile application
      brings the TURN score to the bedside for prediction of 90-day outcome in ischemic
      stroke patients being evaluated for IV thrombolysis.

PMID- 26875070
TI  - Molecular Staging of Sentinel Lymph Nodes Identifies Melanoma Patients at
      Increased Risk of Nodal Recurrence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Molecular staging of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) may identify
      patients who are node-negative by standard microscopic staging but are at
      increased risk for regional nodal recurrence; such patients may benefit from
      completion lymph node dissection (CLND). STUDY DESIGN: In a multicenter,
      randomized clinical trial, patients with tumor-negative SLNs by standard
      pathology (hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] serial sections and
      immunohistochemistry [IHC]) underwent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR) analysis of SLNs for melanoma-specific mRNA. Microscopically
      negative/PCR+ patients were randomized to observation, CLND, or CLND with high
      dose interferon (HDI). For this post-hoc analysis, clinicopathologic features and
      survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival
      (DFS), were compared between PCR+ patients who underwent CLND vs observation.
      Microscopic and molecular node-negative (PCR-) patients were included for
      comparison. RESULTS: A total of 556 patients were PCR+: 180 underwent
      observation, and 376 underwent CLND. An additional 908 PCR- patients were
      observed. Median follow-up was 72 months. Disease-free survival (DFS) was
      significantly better for PCR+ patients who underwent CLND compared with
      observation (p = 0.0218). No statistically significant differences in OS or
      distant disease-free survival (DDFS) were seen. Regional lymph node recurrence
      free survival (LNRFS) was improved in PCR+ patients with CLND compared to
      observation (p = 0.0065). The PCR+ patients in the observation group had the
      worst DFS; those with CLND had similar DFS to that in the PCR- group (p =
      0.9044). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with microscopically negative/PCR+ SLN have an
      increased risk of nodal recurrence that was mitigated by CLND. Although CLND did
      not affect OS, these data suggest that molecular detection of melanoma-specific
      mRNA in the SLN predicts a greater risk of nodal recurrence and deserves further
      study.

PMID- 26875071
TI  - Robotic-Assisted Transperitoneal Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Metastatic Melanoma:
      Early Outcomes Compared with Open Pelvic Lymphadenectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the absence of iliac or obturator nodal involvement, the role of
      pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) for melanoma is controversial, but for select
      patients, long-term survival can be achieved with the combination of superficial
      inguinal (inguinofemoral) and PLND. Open PLND (oPLND) is often limited in visual
      exposure and can be associated with considerable postoperative pain. Robotic PLND
      (rPLND) is a minimally invasive technique that provides excellent visualization
      of the iliac and obturator nodes. Outcomes comparing the open and robotic
      techniques have not been reported previously for patients with melanoma. STUDY
      DESIGN: We reviewed our experience with rPLND for melanoma and compared clinical
      and pathologic results with oPLND. We evaluated operative times, nodal yield, and
      short-term oncologic outcomes. RESULTS: Thirteen rPLND (2013 to 2015) (15
      attempted, 87% success rate) and 25 oPLND (2010 to 2015) consecutive cases were
      completed. Pelvic lymphadenectomy was combined with an open inguinofemoral
      dissection in 8 of 13 (62%) robotic and 17 of 25 (68%) open cases. Median length
      of stay was shorter in the rPLND group, with 1.0 vs 3.5 days for pelvic-only
      cases (p < 0.001) and 2.5 vs 4.0 days (p < 0.001) for combined ilioinguinal
      cases. Median operative time (227 vs 230 minutes; p = 0.96) and nodal yield (11
      vs 10 nodes; p = 0.53) were not different between rPLND and oPLND. CONCLUSIONS:
      Robotic PLND offers a safe, effective, minimally invasive approach to resect the
      pelvic lymph nodes in patients with melanoma, with no significant difference in
      nodal yield or operative times, but a shorter length of stay compared with oPLND.

PMID- 26875073
TI  - Erratum to: Cluster categorization of urban roads to optimize their noise
      monitoring.

PMID- 26875072
TI  - Fine mapping of barley locus Rps6 conferring resistance to wheat stripe rust.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Barley resistance to wheat stripe rust has remained effective for a
      long time and, therefore, the genes underlying this resistance can be a valuable
      tool to engineer durable resistance in wheat. Wheat stripe rust, caused by
      Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a major disease of wheat that is
      causing large economic losses in many wheat-growing regions of the world.
      Deployment of Pst resistance genes has been an effective strategy for controlling
      this pathogen, but many of these genes have been defeated by new Pst races. In
      contrast, genes providing resistance to this wheat pathogen in other grass
      species (nonhost resistance) have been more durable. Barley varieties (Hordeum
      vulgare ssp. vulgare) are predominately immune to wheat Pst, but we identified
      three accessions of wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) that are
      susceptible to Pst. Using these accessions, we mapped a barley locus conferring
      resistance to Pst on the distal region of chromosome arm 7HL and designated it as
      Rps6. The detection of the same locus in the cultivated barley 'Tamalpais' and in
      the Chinese barley 'Y12' by an allelism test suggests that Rps6 may be a frequent
      component of barley intermediate host resistance to Pst. Using a high-density
      mapping population (>10,000 gametes) we precisely mapped Rps6 within a 0.14 cM
      region (~500 kb contig) that is colinear to regions in Brachypodium (<94 kb) and
      rice (<9 kb). Since no strong candidate gene was identified in these colinear
      regions, a dedicated positional cloning effort in barley will be required to
      identify Rps6. The identification of this and other barley genes conferring
      resistance to Pst can contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms for
      durable resistance against this devastating wheat pathogen.

PMID- 26875074
TI  - New method for quantification of dye sorption using SBA mesoporous silica as a
      target sorbent.
AB  - In this work, a new method for the quantification of methyl violet cationic dye
      sorption onto SBA-15 mesoporous silica was developed. This method related the
      intensity of coloration of SBA-15 samples (after reached equilibrium sorption)
      within dye concentration in aqueous solution using Image-Pro Plus software. The
      sorption process of methyl violet dye onto SBA-15 was analyzed varying different
      initial parameters (dye concentration, mass of sorbent, pH of dye solution, and
      contact sorption time). SBA-15 proved as efficient sorbent for removal of methyl
      violet dye in contact time of 5 min, with maximum percentage of dye removal 99%
      at pH 8. The results obtained from Image-Pro Plus showed to be in good agreement
      with the sorption parameters obtained by UV/Vis spectroscopy, which has been the
      most commonly used instrument for quantification of dye sorption. The image
      analysis method proved well prediction of dye concentrations with maximum
      relative error of 1.83%. The advantages of this method are low cost and reliable
      quantitative evaluation with minimum of time.

PMID- 26875075
TI  - Soil quality index as affected by different cropping systems in northwestern
      Himalayas.
AB  - Soil quality assessment provides a tool for evaluating the sustainability of
      soils under different crop cafeterias. Our objective was to develop the soil
      quality index for evaluating the soil quality indicators under different cropping
      systems in northwest Himalaya-India. Composite soil samples were taken from the
      study area from different cropping systems which include T1 (forest soil
      control), T2 (rice-oilseed, lower belts), T3 (rice-oilseed, higher belts), T4
      (rice-oats), T5 (rice-fallow), T6 (maize-oats), T7 (maize-peas), T8 (apple), T9
      (apple-beans), and T10 (apple-maize). Physical, chemical, and biological soil
      indicators were determined, and it was found that soil enzyme activities involved
      in nutrient cycling were significantly higher in forest soils, which were
      reflected in higher levels of available pool of nutrients. Carbon stocks were
      found significantly higher in forest soil which was translated in improved soil
      physical condition. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to reduce
      multidimensionality of data followed by scoring by homothetic transformation of
      the selected indicators. Pearson's interclass correlation was performed to avoid
      redundancy, and highly correlated variables were not retained. Inclusion of
      legumes in the apple orchard floor recorded highest soil quality rating across
      the treatments. Cereal-based cropping systems were found in lower soil quality
      rating; however, the incorporation of peas in the system improved soil health. 

PMID- 26875076
TI  - Distance between intramuscular nerve and artery in the extraocular muscles: a
      preliminary immunohistochemical study using elderly human cadavers.
AB  - PURPOSE: Extraocular muscles are quite different from skeletal muscles in muscle
      fiber type and nerve supply; the small motor unit may be the most well known. As
      the first step to understanding the nerve-artery relationship, in this study we
      measured the distance from the arteriole (25-50 MUm in thickness) to the nerve
      terminal twigs in extraocular muscles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With the aid of
      immunohistochemistry for nerves and arteries, we examined the arteriole-nerve
      distance at 10-15 sites in each of 68 extraocular muscles obtained from ten
      elderly cadavers. The oblique sections were nearly tangential to the muscle plate
      and included both global and orbital aspects of the muscle. RESULTS: In all
      muscles, the nerve twigs usually took a course parallel to muscle fibers, in
      contrast to most arterioles that crossed muscles. Possibly due to
      polyinnervation, an intramuscular nerve plexus was evident in four rectus and two
      oblique muscles. The arteriole-nerve distance usually ranged from 300 to 400 MUm.
      However, individual differences were more than two times greater in each of seven
      muscles. Moreover, in each muscle the difference between sites sometimes reached
      1 mm or more. The distance was generally shorter in the rectus and oblique
      muscles than in the levator palpebrae muscle, which reached statistical
      significance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The differences in arteriole-nerve
      distances between sites within each muscle, between muscles, and between
      individuals might lead to an individual biological rhythm of fatigue in
      oculomotor performance.

PMID- 26875077
TI  - Muscle attachment to the condylar process of mandible: anatomical considerations.

PMID- 26875078
TI  - Improvement of a Privacy Authentication Scheme Based on Cloud for Medical
      Environment.
AB  - Medical systems allow patients to receive care at different hospitals. However,
      this entails considerable inconvenience through the need to transport patients
      and their medical records between hospitals. The development of Telecare Medicine
      Information Systems (TMIS) makes it easier for patients to seek medical treatment
      and to store and access medical records. However, medical data stored in TMIS is
      not encrypted, leaving patients' private data vulnerable to external leaks. In
      2014, scholars proposed a new cloud-based medical information model and
      authentication scheme which would not only allow patients to remotely access
      medical services but also protects patient privacy. However, this scheme still
      fails to provide patient anonymity and message authentication. Furthermore, this
      scheme only stores patient medical data, without allowing patients to directly
      access medical advice. Therefore, we propose a new authentication scheme, which
      provides anonymity, unlinkability, and message authentication, and allows
      patients to directly and remotely consult with doctors. In addition, our proposed
      scheme is more efficient in terms of computation cost. The proposed system was
      implemented in Android system to demonstrate its workability. 

PMID- 26875079
TI  - Assessment of the usability and impact of the Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE).
AB  - Eighty four health care professionals participated in an online survey assessing
      the usability, and clinical and administrative impact of the Idaho Health Data
      Exchange's (IHDE) Virtual Health Record (VHR). The IHDE VHR allows authorized
      users to use a secure web interface to view lab, radiology and transcribed
      reports from multiple facilities and view medical histories on patients in the
      data exchange. Results indicate the usability of the IHDE VHR was almost
      universally positively rated with the Software Usability Measurement Inventory
      (SUMI) utilized as the assessment method. Medical providers however had the
      lowest rating of the exchange, raising concerns about the need for additional
      training and support. The addition of other Idaho health care organizations to
      the health data exchange was most widely desired, with the most frequently cited
      benefit being more comprehensive access to patients' records. In contrast to
      other published evaluations of health data exchanges in the U.S., few of the
      concerns emerged about cost of implementation of the data exchange or trust in
      the quality of information contained therein. 

PMID- 26875080
TI  - Advances of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related
      death in the world, and its prognosis remains poor with a median overall survival
      of 12 months for advanced disease. Advances in the understanding of molecular
      genetics have led to the development of directed molecular targeted therapy in
      gastric cancer, leading to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
      DISCUSSION: In the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
      positive gastric cancer, the addition of trastuzumab significantly improves
      survival in the first-line setting of therapy. Ramucirumab, an antibody directed
      against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, significantly improved
      progression-free and overall survival and has been approved for second-line
      treatment of gastric cancer. Anti-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET),
      mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, and polo-like kinase 1 inhibitors are
      under investigation as a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of gastric
      cancer. The novel therapies target the key immune checkpoint interaction between
      a T cell co-inhibitory receptor called programmed death 1 (PD-1) and one of its
      immunosuppressive ligands, PD-L1. This article reviews molecular targeted
      therapies in gastric cancer, in light of recent advances.

PMID- 26875082
TI  - [Ecology of Glossina palpalis VANDERPLANK, 1949 (Diptera: Glossinidae) in
      mangrove area of Guinea: influence of tides on tsetse densities].
AB  - The mangrove area on the Guinea littoral constitutes a favourable habitat for
      transmission of Trypanosoma brucei gambiens, the parasite causing sleeping
      sickness also called Human African Trypanosmosis (HAT), due the simultaneous
      presence of the vector (tsetse flies) and the human hosts. In order to assess the
      influence of the sea tides on the densities of Glossina palpalis gambiensis
      (Gpg), major vector of HAT in the mangrove, entomological surveys were performed
      using two transects, according to tides coefficient (great and small) and tide
      daily fluctuations (high and low). On each transect, 12 biconical traps were
      deployed through the mangrove to the continent. In total, up to 612 Gpg were
      caught, giving a density of 2.13 flies/trap/day (f/t/d). Highest captures were
      recorded during small tides and more tsetse were caught during the dry season
      than in the wet season. There were significant differences between captures when
      considering the different biotopes, and highest tsetse densities were recorded at
      the junction of the river and the channel of the mangrove (6.17+/-5.24); and in
      the channels of mangrove (3.50+/-3.76), during high tides of small coefficients.
      The results of this study may be used to improve vector control methods. 

PMID- 26875081
TI  - Liposarcoma of Hypopharynx and Esophagus: a Unique Entity?
AB  - PURPOSE: Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults. It
      represents approximately 20 % of all mesenchymal malignancies. It most frequently
      involves retroperitoneum, trunk, and extremities. Hypopharyngeal and esophageal
      localization of liposarcoma is extremely rare. METHODS: We performed a systematic
      review of literature and reported 26 and 33 cases of hypopharyngeal and
      esophageal liposarcoma. We analyzed natural history, imaging features, histology,
      treatment, and prognosis, with a specific focus to similarities and differences
      between tumors of hypopharynx and esophagus. RESULTS: Hypopharyngeal and
      esophageal liposarcomas have more similarities than differences. Incidence has a
      peak at 6th and 7th decades. The diagnostic procedures are barium swallow,
      endoscopic examination, and CT/MR imaging. Well-differentiated liposarcoma
      represents the most frequent histological subtype. Surgical excision is the main
      treatment. Endoscopic resection can be useful for pedunculated tumors of
      hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Differences between hypopharyngeal and
      esophageal liposarcoma are represented by local recurrence rate (greater for
      hypopharyngeal tumors), number of giant tumors, and time to recurrence (greater
      for esophageal tumors). Finally, liposarcomas of distal esophagus need more
      extended approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Liposarcomas of hypopharynx and cervical
      esophagus could be considered a unique pathological entity, with similar features
      and treatment options. Survival rate is dependent on histological type and
      location. Local recurrence is common, especially for hypopharyngeal liposarcoma,
      while the risk of lymph node or distant metastasis is very low. Patients should
      undergo regular examinations to rule out local recurrence, also for a long time,
      especially for esophageal tumors.

PMID- 26875083
TI  - Facilitating triple rhomboid flaps for meningomyelocele defect closure using a
      honeycomb structure as a template.
AB  - PURPOSE: Various reconstruction options are available for the soft-tissue
      coverage of meningomyelocele defects. For small defects, primary closure or local
      single flaps may be sufficient, while large defects require more complex
      reconstructive techniques. This study suggests an easy way for surgeons to close
      large meningomyelocele defects using triple rhomboid flaps. METHODS: The
      hexagonal structure of a honeycomb was considered when planning for the coverage
      of large meningomyelocele defects. The intact skin around the defect was imagined
      as multiple hexagons, which allowed us to plan triple rhomboid flaps correctly
      and more easily. This technique was used in seven patients with defects ranging
      from 7 * 5 to 12 * 8 cm in size. RESULTS: No major postoperative complications
      were seen. Minimal dehiscence was observed in two patients and healed
      secondarily. CONCLUSIONS: The honeycomb modification for planning triple rhomboid
      flaps is an easy, practical, and memorable approach for surgeons reconstructing
      large meningomyelocele defects.

PMID- 26875084
TI  - A morphometric analysis of the mandibular canal by cone beam computed tomography
      and its relevance to the sagittal split ramus osteotomy.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to morphometrically analyze the
      mandibular canal through the mandibular ramus by cone beam computed tomography
      (CBCT) and to relate the findings to performing sagittal split ramus osteotomy.
      METHODS: CBCT of 200 patients were analyzed. Five parameters were measured at the
      axial scan, from the mandibular foramen to 21 mm below it (3-mm intervals). The
      canal was classified according to the position within the bone marrow space.
      Variations were evaluated according to age, sex, side, and number of mandibular
      teeth. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The following measurements increased gradually
      towards the most inferior level of measurement: the total thickness of the
      mandibular ramus through the center of the mandibular canal, the width of the
      bone marrow space (both buccal and lingual), and the narrowest width from the
      mandibular canal inner cortical to the mandibular ramus external cortical. The
      inner diameter of the mandibular canal slightly decreased to the same direction.
      Concerning the mandibular canal position within the bone marrow space, the
      percentage of the separate type increased towards the most inferior level of
      measurement, and the contact and fusion types decreased. Age, number of teeth,
      and sex had no significant influence on the total thickness of the mandibular
      ramus and on the narrowest width from the mandibular canal inner cortical to the
      mandibular ramus external cortical.

PMID- 26875085
TI  - Monitoring carcinogenesis in a case of oral squamous cell carcinoma using a panel
      of new metabolic blood biomarkers as liquid biopsies.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: One of the common malignant tumors of the head and neck worldwide
      with generally unfavorable prognosis is squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the
      oral cavity. Early detection of primary, secondary, or recurrent OSCC by liquid
      biopsy tools is much needed. CASE PRESENTATION: Twelve blood biomarkers were used
      for monitoring a case of OSCC suffering from precancerous oral lichen ruber
      planus mucosae (OLP). After curative R0 tumor resection of primary OSCC (buccal
      mucosa), elevated epitope detection in monocytes (EDIM)-Apo10, EDIM-transketolase
      like-1 (TKTL1), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), total serum lactate
      dehydrogenase (LDH), and its anaerobic isoforms (LDH-4, LDH-5) decreased to
      normal levels. Three and six months after surgery, transformation of suspicious
      mucosal lesions has been accompanied with an increase of EDIM scores, total serum
      LDH values, and a metabolic shift from aerobic (decrease of LDH-1, LDH-2) to
      anaerobic (increase of LDH-4, LDH-5) conditions. Two months later, secondary OSCC
      was histopathologically analyzed after tissue biopsy. Cytokeratin fraction 21-1
      (CYFRA 21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19
      9) were not affected during the clinical course of carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: A
      combination strategy using a standardized panel of established (metabolic) blood
      biomarkers (TKTL1, LDH, LDH isoenzymes) is worth and can be recommended among
      others (apoptosis resistance-related Apo10, SCC-Ag) for early detection and
      diagnosis of primary, secondary, and recurrent OSCC. A tandem strategy utilizing
      (metabolic pronounced) routine liquid biopsies with imaging techniques may
      enhance diagnosis of OSCC in the future. Although we demonstrated the diagnostic
      utility of separated liquid biopsies in our previous study cohorts, further
      investigations in a larger patient cohort are necessary to recommend this
      combination strategy (EDIM blood test, LDH value, metabolic shift of LDH
      isoenzymes, and others, e.g., SCC-Ag or immunophenotyping) as a diagnostic tool
      for the addition to the OSCC staging system and as a routine procedure in the
      aftercare.

PMID- 26875087
TI  - Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Interleukin-1beta Production in
      Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Monocytes by Methanolic Extract of Elephantopus
      scaber Linn and Identification of Bioactive Components.
AB  - The methanolic extract of E. scaber Linn was evaluated for anti-inflammatory
      activity by determining its effects on production of pro-inflammatory cytokines
      like Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in
      Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated monocytes. The cytotoxicity of the extract
      was analyzed prior to the cytokine quantification assays. The extract was further
      subjected to UPLC MS Q-TOF, for the identification of bioactive components
      present in the crude extract. The extract was found not to be cytotoxic against
      monocytes, and exhibited significant inhibition in the production of pro
      inflammatory cytokines. The presence of 34 components in the methanolic extract
      was detected through mass spectrum analysis. 

PMID- 26875086
TI  - Optimization of Biomass and 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Production by Rhodobacter
      sphaeroides ATCC17023 via Response Surface Methodology.
AB  - Microbial 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) produced from wastewater is considered as
      potential renewable energy. However, many hurdles are needed to be overcome such
      as the regulation of key influencing factors on ALA yield. Biomass and ALA
      production by Rhodobacter sphaeroides was optimized using response surface
      methodology. The culturing medium was artificial volatile fatty acids wastewater.
      Three additives were optimized, namely succinate and glycine that are precursors
      of ALA biosynthesis, and D-glucose that is an inhibitor of ALA dehydratase. The
      optimal conditions were achieved by analyzing the response surface plots.
      Statistical analysis showed that succinate at 8.56 mmol/L, glycine at 5.06
      mmol/L, and D-glucose at 7.82 mmol/L were the best conditions. Under these
      optimal conditions, the highest biomass production and ALA yield of 3.55 g/L and
      5.49 mg/g-biomass were achieved. Subsequent verification experiments at optimal
      values had the maximum biomass production of 3.41 +/- 0.002 g/L and ALA yield of
      5.78 +/- 0.08 mg/g-biomass. 

PMID- 26875088
TI  - Hinged external fixation for Regan-Morrey type I and II fractures and fracture
      dislocations.
AB  - Elbow fracture-dislocation is always demanding to manage due to the considerable
      soft-tissue swelling or damage involved, which can make an early open approach
      and ligamentous reconstruction impossible. The purpose of this study was to
      evaluate the role of elbow hinged external fixation (HEF) as a definitive
      treatment in patients with elbow dislocations associated with Regan-Morrey (R-M)
      type I and II coronoid fractures and soft-tissue damage. We treated 11 patients
      between 2010 and 2012 with HEF. Instability tests and standard X-ray examinations
      were performed before surgery and 1-3 to 3-6 months after surgery, respectively.
      All patients underwent a preoperative CT scan. Outcomes were assessed with a
      functional assessment scale (Mayo Elbow Performance Score, MEPS) that included 4
      parameters: pain, ROM, stability, and function. The results were good or
      excellent in all 11 patients, and no patient complained of residual instability.
      Radiographic examination showed bone metaplasia involving the anterior and medial
      sides of the joint in 5 patients. HEF presented several advantages: it improves
      elbow stability and it avoids long and demanding surgery in particular in cases
      with large soft tissue damage. We therefore consider elbow HEF to be a viable
      option for treating R-M type I and II fracture-dislocations. 

PMID- 26875089
TI  - If it can be done, it should be done,...or not?

PMID- 26875090
TI  - Co-expression of chimeric chitinase and a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein in
      transgenic canola (Brassica napus) confers enhanced resistance to Sclerotinia
      sclerotiorum.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one
      of the major fungal diseases of canola. To develop resistance against this fungal
      disease, the chit42 from Trichoderma atroviride with chitin-binding domain and
      polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein 2 (PG1P2) of Phaseolus vulgaris were co
      expressed in canola via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. RESULTS: Stable
      integration and expression of transgenes in T0 and T2 plants was confirmed by
      PCR, Southern blot and RT-PCR analyses. Chitinase activity and PGIP2 inhibition
      were detected by colorimetric and agarose diffusion assay in transgenic lines but
      not in untransformed plants. The crude proteins from single copy transformant
      leaves having high chitinase and PGIP2 activity (T16, T8 and T3), showed up to 44
      % inhibition of S. sclerotiorum hyphal growth. The homozygous T2 plants, showing
      inheritance in Mendelian fashion (3:1), were further evaluated under greenhouse
      conditions for resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Intact plants contaminated with
      mycelia showed resistance through delayed onset of the disease and restricted
      size and expansion of lesions as compared to wild type plants. CONCLUSIONS:
      Combined expression of chimeric chit42 and pgip2 in Brassica napus L. provide
      subsequent protection against SSR disease and can be helpful in increasing the
      canola production in Iran.

PMID- 26875091
TI  - Phylogenetic classification of Aureobasidium pullulans strains for production of
      feruloyl esterase.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective was to phylogenetically classify diverse strains of
      Aureobasidium pullulans and determine their production of feruloyl esterase.
      RESULTS: Seventeen strains from the A. pullulans literature were phylogenetically
      classified. Phenotypic traits of color variation and endo-beta-1,4-xylanase
      overproduction were associated with phylogenetic clade 10 and particularly clade
      8. Literature strains used for pullulan production all belonged to clade 7. These
      strains and 36 previously classified strains were tested for feruloyl esterase
      production, which was found to be associated with phylogenetic clades 4, 11, and
      particularly clade 8. Clade 8 strains NRRL 58552 and NRRL 62041 produced the
      highest levels of feruloyl esterase among strains tested. CONCLUSIONS: Production
      of both xylanase and feruloyl esterase are associated with A. pullulans strains
      in phylogenetic clade 8, which is thus a promising source of enzymes with
      potential biotechnological applications.

PMID- 26875092
TI  - Purification and characteristics of a novel bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus
      faecalis L11 isolated from Chinese traditional fermented cucumber.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To purify and characterize a novel bacteriocin with broad inhibitory
      spectrum produced by an isolate of Enterococcus faecalis from Chinese fermented
      cucumber. RESULTS: E. faecalis L11 produced a bacteriocin with antimicrobial
      activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The amino acid
      sequence of the purified bacteriocin, enterocin L11, was assayed by Edman
      degradation method. It differs from other class II bacteriocins and exhibited a
      broad antimicrobial activity against not only Gram-positive bacteria, including
      Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Sarcina flava,
      Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, L.
      delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, but also some Gram
      negative bacteria including Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli and Shigella
      flexneri. Enterocin L11 retained 91 % of its activity after holding at 121 
      degrees C for 30 min. It was also resistant to acids and alkalis. CONCLUSIONS:
      Enterocin L11 is a novel broad-spectrum Class II bacteriocin produced by E.
      faecalis L11, and may have potential as a food biopreservative.

PMID- 26875093
TI  - COMP-Ang1 promotes long-term survival of allogeneic islet grafts in a bioinert
      perforated chamber by inhibiting inflammation via inhibition of the TLR4
      signaling pathway.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP)
      angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) on allogeneic islet graft survival in a bioinert
      perforated chamber. RESULTS: COMP-Ang1 treatment significantly decreased
      lipopolysaccharide-induced cell apoptosis and islet-related lymph node cell
      proliferation (both P < 0.01). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin
      (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 levels in the chamber exudate were significantly lower in
      the COMP-Ang1 + chamber group than in the chamber group (all P < 0.05), as were
      the protein expression levels. COMP-Ang1 significantly inhibited the expression
      of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in cultured islets. Finally, full COMP-Ang1
      treatment resulted in the longest survival time among the treatment groups.
      CONCLUSION: Combined use of the bioinert perforated chamber with COMP-Ang1 is an
      effective strategy for improving islet allograft survival.

PMID- 26875094
TI  - Quantifying the legacy of the Chinese Neolithic on the maternal genetic heritage
      of Taiwan and Island Southeast Asia.
AB  - There has been a long-standing debate concerning the extent to which the spread
      of Neolithic ceramics and Malay-Polynesian languages in Island Southeast Asia
      (ISEA) were coupled to an agriculturally driven demic dispersal out of Taiwan
      4000 years ago (4 ka). We previously addressed this question using founder
      analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences to identify major
      lineage clusters most likely to have dispersed from Taiwan into ISEA, proposing
      that the dispersal had a relatively minor impact on the extant genetic structure
      of ISEA, and that the role of agriculture in the expansion of the Austronesian
      languages was therefore likely to have been correspondingly minor. Here we test
      these conclusions by sequencing whole mtDNAs from across Taiwan and ISEA, using
      their higher chronological precision to resolve the overall proportion that
      participated in the "out-of-Taiwan" mid-Holocene dispersal as opposed to earlier,
      postglacial expansions in the Early Holocene. We show that, in total, about 20%
      of mtDNA lineages in the modern ISEA pool result from the "out-of-Taiwan"
      dispersal, with most of the remainder signifying earlier processes, mainly due to
      sea-level rises after the Last Glacial Maximum. Notably, we show that every one
      of these founder clusters previously entered Taiwan from China, 6-7 ka, where
      rice-farming originated, and remained distinct from the indigenous Taiwanese
      population until after the subsequent dispersal into ISEA.

PMID- 26875096
TI  - Bone and Celiac Disease.
AB  - More than 50% of untreated patients with celiac disease (CD) have bone loss
      detected by bone densitometry (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry:DXA). Moreover,
      patients with CD are more likely to have osteoporosis and fragility fractures,
      especially of the distal radius. Although still controversial, we recommend DXA
      screening in all celiac disease patients, particularly in those with symptomatic
      CD at diagnosis and in those who present risk factors for fracture such as older
      age, menopausal status, previous fracture history, and familial hip fracture
      history. Bone microarchitecture, especially the trabecular network, may be
      deteriorated, explaining the higher fracture risk in these patients. Adequate
      calcium and vitamin D supplementation are also recommended to optimize bone
      recovery, especially during the first years of gluten free diet (GFD). If higher
      fracture risk persists after 1 or 2 years of GFD, specific osteoactive treatment
      may be necessary to improve bone health.

PMID- 26875095
TI  - Adaptive evolution of interleukin-3 (IL3), a gene associated with brain volume
      variation in general human populations.
AB  - Greatly expanded brain volume is one of the most characteristic traits that
      distinguish humans from other primates. Recent studies have revealed genes
      responsible for the dramatically enlarged human brain size (i.e., the
      microcephaly genes), and it has been well documented that many microcephaly genes
      have undergone accelerated evolution along the human lineage. In addition to
      being far larger than other primates, human brain volume is also highly variable
      in general populations. However, the genetic basis underlying human brain volume
      variation remains elusive and it is not known whether genes regulating human
      brain volume variation also have experienced positive selection. We have
      previously shown that genetic variants (near the IL3 gene) on 5q33 were
      significantly associated with brain volume in Chinese population. Here, we
      provide further evidence that support the significant association of genetic
      variants on 5q33 with brain volume. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that rs31480
      is likely to be the causal variant among the studied SNPs. Molecular evolutionary
      analyses suggested that IL3 might have undergone positive selection in primates
      and humans. Neutrality tests further revealed signatures of positive selection of
      IL3 in Han Chinese and Europeans. Finally, extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH)
      and relative EHH analyses showed that the C allele of SNP rs31480 might have
      experienced recent positive selection in Han Chinese. Our results suggest that
      IL3 is an important genetic regulator for human brain volume variation and
      implied that IL3 might have experienced weak or modest positive selection in the
      evolutionary history of humans, which may be due to its contribution to human
      brain volume. 

PMID- 26875097
TI  - Weekend working: a retrospective cohort study of maternal and neonatal outcomes
      in a large NHS delivery unit.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Mandatory weekend working for NHS consultants is currently the
      subject of intense political debate. The Secretary of State for Health's proposed
      7-day contract policy is based on the claim that such working patterns will
      improve patient outcomes. We evaluate this claim by taking advantage of as-if-at
      random presentation of women for non-elective deliveries throughout the week. We
      examine (i) whether consultants currently perform fewer deliveries during
      weekends versus weekdays, and (ii) whether adverse outcomes increase during
      weekends. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data on
      all non-elective deliveries from January 2008 to December 2013 in a large UK
      obstetrics centre (n=27,466). We used Pearson's chi-squared tests to make direct
      comparisons of adverse outcome rates during weekdays versus weekends. Outcomes
      included: estimated maternal blood loss >=1.5l; severe perineal trauma; delayed
      neonatal respiration; umbilical arterial pH <7.1; and critical incidents at
      delivery. RESULTS: Consultants currently perform the same proportion of non
      elective deliveries on weekends and weekdays (2.3% versus 2.6%, p=0.25). We found
      no increase in any adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes during weekends versus
      weekdays, despite high statistical power to detect such differences. Moreover,
      adverse outcomes are no higher during periods of the weekend when consultants are
      not routinely present compared to equivalent periods during weekdays.
      CONCLUSIONS: Under current working arrangements, women who would benefit from
      consultant-led delivery are equally likely to receive one on weekends compared to
      weekdays. Weekend delivery has no effect on maternal or neonatal morbidity.
      Adopting mandatory 7-day contracts is unlikely to make any difference to either
      consultant-led delivery during weekends or to patient outcomes.

PMID- 26875098
TI  - Prospective assessment of clinical symptoms associated with enterovirus and
      parechovirus genotypes in a multicenter study in Dutch children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human non-polio enterovirus (EV) and human parechovirus (HPeV) are
      important pathogens of viral infection and aseptic meningitis in children. The
      aim of this study is to prospectively compare the incidence, clinical signs,
      blood and cerebrospinal fluid in EV and HPeV infected children. OBJECTIVES: To
      compare the clinical symptoms and laboratory data of children with different EV
      and HPeV genotypes. STUDY DESIGN: This study is part of a multicenter prospective
      cohort study. Children were included in 3 different hospitals in The Netherlands
      from 2008 to 2011. RESULTS: Of 285 included patients, 140 (49%) had EV and 44
      (15%) HPeV infection. Of children with EV infection 9 (6%) had EV-A, 109 (78%) EV
      B, 12 (9%) had a non-type able EV and in 10 (7%) no genotyping was performed. Of
      children with HPeV infection, 24 (55%) had HPeV-3, 6 (14%) HPeV-1, 2 (5%) HPeV-4
      and 1 (2%) HPeV-6. Meningitis was more frequent in EV than in HPeV infected
      children (54% vs. 36%, p=0.046), and in EV-B than EV-A infected children (60 vs.
      33%). In contrast gastroenteritis was more frequent in HPeV than EV infected
      children (30% vs. 15%, p=0.030), and significantly more in HPeV-1 than HPeV-3
      infected children (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EV infection is more often associated
      with meningitis and HPeV infection more often with a gastro-enteritis. EV
      genotype B infection is more often associated with meningitis than EV genotype A
      infection. HPeV-1 infection was more often associated with gastroenteritis than
      HPeV-3 infection.

PMID- 26875099
TI  - Relative sensitivity of immunohistochemistry, multiple reaction monitoring mass
      spectrometry, in situ hybridization and PCR to detect Coxsackievirus B1 in A549
      cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses (EVs) have been linked to the pathogenesis of several
      diseases and there is a collective need to develop improved methods for the
      detection of these viruses in tissue samples. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates
      the relative sensitivity of immunohistochemistry (IHC), proteomics, in situ
      hybridization (ISH) and RT-PCR to detect one common EV, Coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1),
      in acutely infected human A549 cells in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: A549 cells were
      infected with CVB1 and diluted with uninfected A549 cells to produce a limited
      dilution series in which the proportion of infected cells ranged from 10(-1) to
      10(-8). Analyses were carried out by several laboratories using IHC with
      different anti-EV antibodies, ISH with both ViewRNA and RNAScope systems, liquid
      chromatography multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC/MRM/MS/MS), and
      two modifications of RT-PCR. RESULTS: RT-PCR was the most sensitive method for EV
      detection yielding positive signals in the most diluted sample (10(-8)).
      LC/MRM/MS/MS detected viral peptides at dilutions as high as 10(-7). The
      sensitivity of IHC depended on the antibody used, and the most sensitive antibody
      (Dako clone 5D8/1) detected virus proteins at a dilution of 10(-6), while ISH
      detected the virus at dilutions of 10(-4). CONCLUSIONS: All methods were able to
      detect CVB1 in infected A549 cells. RT-PCR was most sensitive followed by
      LC/MRM/MS/MS and then IHC. The results from this in vitro survey suggest that all
      methods are suitable tools for EV detection but that their differential
      sensitivities need to be considered when interpreting the results from such
      studies.

PMID- 26875100
TI  - Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on feeding methods and newborn growth
      at 1 month postpartum: results from the Fukushima Health Management Survey.
AB  - This study examined the effects of three disasters (the Great East Japan
      Earthquake of March 11, 2011, followed by a tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi
      Nuclear Power Plant accident) on feeding methods and growth in infants born after
      the disasters. Using results from the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Soso
      District (the affected area where the damaged nuclear power plant is located) and
      Aizu District (a less-affected area located farthest from the plant) were
      compared. In this study, newborn and maternal background characteristics were
      examined, as well as feeding methods, and other factors for newborn growth at the
      first postpartum examination for 1706 newborns born after the disaster in the
      affected (n = 836) and less-affected (n = 870) areas. Postpartum examinations
      took place 1 month after birth. Feeding method trends were examined, and
      multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate effects on newborn mass
      gain. There were no significant differences in background characteristics among
      newborns in these areas. When birth dates were divided into four periods to
      assess trends, no significant change in the exclusive breastfeeding rate was
      found, while the exclusive formula-feeding rate was significantly different
      across time periods in the affected area (p = 0.02). Multivariate analyses
      revealed no significant independent associations of maternal depression and
      change in medical facilities (possible disaster effects) with other newborn
      growth factors in either area. No area differences in newborn growth at the first
      postpartum examination or in exclusive breastfeeding rates were found during any
      period. Exclusive formula-feeding rates varied across time periods in the
      affected, but not in the less-affected area. It is concluded that effective
      guidance to promote breast-feeding and prevent exclusive use of formula is
      important for women in post-disaster circumstances.

PMID- 26875101
TI  - Factors Influencing the Frequency of Emergency Department Utilization by
      Individuals with Substance Use Disorders.
AB  - This study assessed the characteristics of individuals with substance use
      disorders (ISUDs) according to their frequency of emergency department (ED)
      utilization, and examined which variables were associated with an increase in ED
      visits using Andersen's model. Data linkage of administrative databanks from
      three sources [addiction rehabilitation centre registry, physician billing
      systems, and hospital discharge databank] for 4526 ISUDs was performed.
      Predisposing, enabling and need factors associated with number of ED visits were
      determined using a negative binomial regression model and generalised estimating
      equations. The rate of ED utilization for this population was 9.6 %. Increased
      number of ED visits was associated with the following variables: older age,
      social fragmentation, number of consultations with general practitioners, number
      of consultations with psychiatrists, number of consultations with other types of
      physicians, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders,
      personality disorders, co-occurring substance dependence and mental disorders, co
      occurring substance dependence and chronic physical disorders, and co-occurring
      mental health disorders and chronic physical disorders. By contrast, a diagnosis
      of substance dependence, co-occurring drug and alcohol abuse, and a co-occurring
      diagnosis of substance dependence with mental health and chronic physical
      disorders decreased ED visits. Efforts to reduce avoidable use of EDs should
      focus on chronic-disease management and other related strategies aimed at
      reinforcing services to ISUDs in the community, especially for ISUDs with a co
      occurring diagnosis of either mental health disorders or chronic physical
      disorders.

PMID- 26875102
TI  - Influencing Factors on Choosing Psychiatry as a Career: An Exploration in Chinese
      University Students.
AB  - There is a consistent need of psychiatric professionals in the world including
      China, and a consistent challenge to recruit more medical students into the
      psychiatric careers. We aimed to look for factors which have an impact on career
      choosing of psychiatry in Chinese university students. We invited 508 non-medical
      students (NM), 304 medical students without (MO) and 123 medical students with
      clinical internship experience (MW), to answer a matrix of 43 questions regarding
      factors influencing career-choosing of psychiatry. Answers to these questions
      were analyzed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, once the
      latent factors were identified and structurally-validated, their mean scores in
      three groups of students were calculated. Five factors with five items each were
      identified, namely social status inferiority, career importance, practice reward,
      career preference, and practice stress. NM scored lower than MO and MW did on
      Social Status Inferiority; NM group scored higher than MO and MW groups did on
      Career Importance; MW scored lower than NM and MO did on Practice Reward and on
      Career Preference; Regarding Practice Stress, NM scored higher than MO did, who
      then in turn, scored higher than MW did. In addition, Practice Stress was
      positively correlated with advice of the medical educators; and Social Status
      Inferiority and Career Preference were positively correlated with the psychiatry
      teaching of the medical educators. Raising career rewards, improving social
      status, and reinforcing psychiatric education might help to recruit more medical
      students to specialize in psychiatry practicing.

PMID- 26875103
TI  - The Relationship Between Gender, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Past Trauma,
      Alexithymia and Psychiatric Co-morbidity in Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated
      Mediational Analysis.
AB  - This study focused on a group of Chinese adolescents and examined whether the
      degree of alexithymia would mediate the effect of PTSD from past trauma onto
      psychiatric co-morbidities and whether gender differences would moderate the
      mediational effects of alexithymia. Three hundred and twenty-six adolescents were
      recruited from two schools and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic
      Scale, General Health Questionnaire-28 and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. The
      results showed that 54 % had no trauma in their lives; 10, 21 and 15 % met the
      criteria for full, partial and no-PTSD respectively. After adjusting the number
      of traumatic events, difficulty identifying feelings mediated the path between
      PTSD from past trauma and psychiatric co-morbidity. Gender moderated the
      mediational effect of difficulty identifying feelings. To conclude, adolescents
      can develop PTSD symptoms and psychiatric co-morbidity following exposure to a
      traumatic event. For both males and females, difficulty getting in touch with
      feelings can influence the impact of PTSD onto psychiatric co-morbidity.

PMID- 26875104
TI  - A Study of the Impact of Cannabis on Doses of Discharge Antipsychotic Medication
      in Individuals with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder.
AB  - Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder have a high prevalence of
      comorbid cannabis use disorder (CUD). CUD has been associated with poorer
      outcomes in patients. We compared doses of antipsychotic medications at the time
      of discharge from hospital among inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective
      disorder with or without concurrent cannabis use. We reviewed the medical records
      of patients (N = 8157) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder discharged
      from the hospital between 2008 and 2012. The patients were divided into two
      groups; those with urine drug tests positive for cannabis and those negative for
      cannabis. Doses of antipsychotic medications were converted to chlorpromazine
      equivalents. Bivariate analyses were done with Student's t test for continuous
      variables and chi 2 test for categorical variables. Linear regression was carried
      out to adjust for potential confounders. Unadjusted analysis revealed that the
      cannabis positive group was discharged on lower doses of antipsychotic medication
      compared with the cannabis negative group (geometric mean chlorpromazine
      equivalent doses 431.22 +/- 2.20 vs 485.18 +/- 2.21; P < 0.001). However, the
      difference in geometric mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses between the two
      groups was no longer significant after adjusting for sex, age, race, and length
      of stay (geometric mean difference 0.99; 95 % CI 0.92-1.10). Though limited by
      lack of information on duration, amount and severity of cannabis use, as well as
      inability to control for other non-antipsychotic medications, our study suggests
      that cannabis use did not significantly impact on doses of antipsychotics
      required during the periods of acute exacerbation in patients with schizophrenia
      or schizoaffective disorder.

PMID- 26875105
TI  - The Impact of Integrating Crisis Teams into Community Mental Health Services on
      Emergency Department and Inpatient Demand.
AB  - This investigation focused on the impact of integrating crisis team members into
      community mental health services on emergency department and adult mental health
      inpatient unit demand within an Australian public health service. Mixed methods
      were used including (a) the comparison of service use data with that of two other
      comparable services (both of which had community-based crisis teams), (b) surveys
      of (i) patients and carers and (ii) staff, and (c) focus groups with staff. The
      numbers of emergency department presentations with mental health conditions and
      adult mental health inpatient separations increased 13.9 and 5.7 %, respectively,
      from FY2006/07 to FY2012/13. Between the three services, there were minimal
      differences in the percentages of presentations with mental health conditions,
      the distribution of mental health presentations across a 24-h period, and the
      triage categories assigned to these patients. Survey participants reported that
      patients used the emergency department due to the urgency of situations,
      perceptions that gaining access to mental health services would take less time,
      and the unavailability of mental health services when help is needed. Staff
      identified several issues (e.g. inappropriate referrals) that may be unnecessary
      in increasing emergency department demand. The integration of crisis team members
      into community mental health services does not seem to have produced an increase
      in emergency department admissions or inpatient separations beyond what might be
      expected from population growth. The potential may exist, however, to reduce
      emergency department admissions through addressing the issue of inappropriate
      referrals.

PMID- 26875106
TI  - Comparison of Objective and Subjective Life Balance Between Women With and
      Without a Personality Disorder.
AB  - Life balance is associated to health, well-being and quality of life and is a
      target of psychiatric rehabilitation interventions. However, little is known
      about this life dimension in women living with personality disorders. The purpose
      of this descriptive-correlational study was to compare and explore relationships
      between subjective life balance, objective time use, quality of life and
      perceived stress in women without a mental health disorder (n = 43) and women
      with a personality disorder (clusters B and C) (n = 30), aged between 18 and 50
      years old. The variables were measured with the Life Balance Inventory
      (subjective life balance), the Occupational Questionnaire (objective time use),
      the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (perceived stress) and the Quality of Life
      Index (satisfaction and importance with life domains). The analyses showed that
      women with a personality disorder spend significantly less time in work but more
      time in daily tasks and leisure. Subjective life balance, quality of life and
      perceived stress were significantly lower in women with a personality disorder (p
      < 0.05). In women with a personality disorder, subjective life balance was
      explained by quality of life (R2 = 27.5 %). In women without a mental illness,
      subjective life balance was explained by quality of life and motherhood (R2 =
      36.1 %). To support the recovery of women with personality disorders and their
      quality of life, it is important to address objective and subjective time use to
      enable accomplishment of a variety of meaningful activities.

PMID- 26875108
TI  - Lesion guided stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation for palliative, in
      selected cases curative epilepsy surgery.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Resective epilepsy surgery is an established treatment option in
      patients with pharmacoresistant, lesion related epilepsy. Yet, if the presurgical
      work-up proves multi-focal organization of the epileptogenic zone, or the area of
      intended resection is close to eloquent brain areas, patients may decide against
      resections because of an unfavorable risk-benefit-ratio. We assess if lesion
      guided cortical stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation (L-RFTC) is a
      potential surgical alternative in these patients. METHODS: We performed seven
      procedures of L-RFTC. Three patients had monofocal epilepsy arising close to
      eloquent structures; in four, invasive pre-surgical workup documented monofocal
      seizure onset but strong interictal epileptic activity also independent and
      distant from the seizure onset zone. L-RFTC was restricted to the lesional area
      (=seizure onset site). RESULTS: 12 to 37 months after RFTC worthwhile seizure
      improvement was achieved in 6 patients. One patient became seizure free following
      complete coagulation of a focal cortical dysplasia, two had had 1-2 auras under
      tapered but not under continued medication. In one patient only subclinical
      seizures persisted. In one patient hypermotor seizures were transformed into
      milder short tonic seizures and another one had a seizure reduction by 50%. Only
      one patient did not profit at all. One patient developed a persisting
      neurological deficit. SIGNIFICANCE: In patients with complex epileptogenic zones
      L-RFTC can lead to worthwhile seizure reduction. This qualifies this procedure as
      a palliative surgical technique with potential good risk-benefit ratio. In
      patients with small focal cortical dysplasias L-RFTC may even allow minimal
      invasive surgery with curative intention.

PMID- 26875109
TI  - Genetics of reflex seizures and epilepsies in humans and animals.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Reflex seizures are epileptic events triggered by specific motor,
      sensory or cognitive stimulation. This comprehensive narrative review focuses on
      the role of genetic determinants in humans and animal models of reflex seizures
      and epilepsies. METHODS: References were mainly identified through MEDLINE
      searches until August 2015 and backtracking of references in pertinent studies.
      RESULTS: Autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance was proven in
      several families with photosensitivity. Molecular genetic studies on EEG
      photoparoxysmal response identified putative loci on chromosomes 6, 7, 13 and 16
      that seem to correlate with peculiar seizure phenotype. No specific mutation has
      been found in Papio papio baboon, although a genetic etiology is likely. Mutation
      in synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A was found in another animal model of
      photosensitivity (Fayoumi chickens). Autosomal dominant inheritance with
      incomplete penetrance overlapping with a genetic background for IGE was proposed
      for some families with primary reading epilepsy. Musicogenic seizures usually
      occur in patients with focal symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsies, but they have
      been reported in rare genetic epilepsies such as Dravet syndrome. A single LGI1
      mutation has been described in a girl with seizures evoked by auditory stimuli.
      Interestingly, heterozygous knockout (Lgi1(+/-)) mice show susceptibility to
      sound-triggered seizures. Moreover, in Frings and Black Swiss mice, the
      spontaneous mutations of MASS1 and JAMS1 genes, respectively, have been linked to
      audiogenic seizures. Eating seizures usually occur in symptomatic epilepsies but
      evidences for a genetic susceptibility were mainly provided by family report from
      Sri Lanka. Eating seizures were also reported in rare patients with MECP2
      duplication or mutation. Hot water seizures are genetically heterogeneous but two
      loci at chromosomes 4 and 10 were identified in families with likely autosomal
      dominant inheritance. Startle-induced seizures usually occur in patients with
      symptomatic epilepsies but have also been reported in the setting chromosomal
      disorders or genetically inherited lysosomal storage diseases. DISCUSSION: The
      genetic background of reflex seizures and epilepsies is heterogeneous and mostly
      unknown with no major gene identified in humans. The benefits offered by next
      generation sequencing technologies should be merged with increasing information
      on animal models that represent an useful tool to study the mechanism underlying
      epileptogenesis. Finally, we expect that genetic studies will lead to a better
      understanding of the multiple factors involved in the pathophysiology of reflex
      seizures, and eventually to develop preventive strategies focused on seizure
      control and therapy optimization.

PMID- 26875107
TI  - Effects of parent and child behaviours on overweight and obesity in infants and
      young children from disadvantaged backgrounds: systematic review with narrative
      synthesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the crucial need to develop targeted and effective approaches
      for obesity prevention in children most at risk, the pathways explaining
      socioeconomic disparity in children's obesity prevalence remain poorly
      understood. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature that
      investigated causes of weight gain in children aged 0-5 years from
      socioeconomically disadvantaged or Indigenous backgrounds residing in OECD
      countries. Major electronic databases were searched from inception until December
      2015. Key words identified studies addressing relationships between parenting,
      child eating, child physical activity or sedentary behaviour and child weight in
      disadvantaged samples. RESULTS: A total of 32 articles met the inclusion
      criteria. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool quality rating for the studies ranged
      from 25 % (weak) to 100 % (strong). Studies predominantly reported on
      relationships between parenting and child weight (n = 21), or parenting and child
      eating (n = 12), with fewer (n = 8) investigating child eating and weight. Most
      evidence was from socio-economically disadvantaged ethnic minority groups in the
      USA. Clustering of diet, weight and feeding behaviours by socioeconomic
      indicators and ethnicity precluded identification of independent effects of each
      of these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This review has highlighted significant gaps
      in our mechanistic understanding of the relative importance of different aspects
      of parent and child behaviours in disadvantaged population groups.

PMID- 26875110
TI  - Stabbing simulations and DNA transfer.
AB  - Technical developments have made it possible to analyze very low amounts of DNA.
      This has many advantages, but the drawback of this technological progress is that
      interpretation of the results becomes increasingly complex: the number of mixed
      DNA profiles increased relatively to single source DNA profiles and stochastic
      effects in the DNA profile, such as drop-in and drop-out, are more frequently
      observed. Moreover, the relevance of low template DNA material regarding the
      activities alleged is not as straightforward as it was a few years ago, when for
      example large quantities of blood were recovered. The possibility of secondary
      and tertiary transfer is now becoming an issue. The purpose of this research is
      twofold: first, to study the transfer of DNA from the handler and secondly, to
      observe if handlers would transfer DNA from persons closely connected to them. We
      chose to mimic cases where the offender would attack a person with a knife. As a
      first approach, we envisaged that the defense would not give an alternative
      explanation for the origin of the DNA. In our transfer experiments (4 donors, 16
      experiments each, 64 traces), 3% of the traces were single DNA profiles. Most of
      the time, the DNA profile of the person handling the knife was present as the
      major profile: in 83% of the traces the major contributor profile corresponded to
      the stabber's DNA profile (in single stains and mixtures). Mixture with no clear
      major/minor fraction (12%) were observed. 5% of the traces were considered of
      insufficient quality (more than 3 contributors, presence of a few minor peaks).
      In that case, we considered that the stabber's DNA was absent. In our
      experiments, no traces allowed excluding the stabber, however it must be noted
      that precautions were taken to minimize background DNA as knives were cleaned
      before the experiments. DNA profiles of the stabber's colleagues were not
      observed. We hope that this study will allow for a better understanding of the
      transfer mechanism and of how to assess and describe results given activity level
      propositions. In this preliminary research, we have focused on the transfer of
      DNA on the hand of the person. Besides, more research is needed to assign the
      probability of the results given an alternative activity proposed by the defense,
      for instance when the source of the DNA is not contested, but that the activities
      are. 

PMID- 26875111
TI  - Availability of Japanese Government's supplemental texts on radiation reflecting
      the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident for elementary and secondary
      education from dental students' understanding.
AB  - Following the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident, the Japanese government
      created two supplemental texts about radiation reflecting the accident for
      elementary, middle school, and high school students. These texts were made to
      explain radiation and consequently to obtain public consent for the continuation
      of the nuclear program. The present study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness
      of the content of the texts and to collect the basic data on the level of
      understanding necessary to improve radiation education. Lectures on radiology
      including nuclear energy and the Fukushima accident were given to 44 fourth-year
      dental students in 2013. The questionnaire was administered in 2014 when these
      students were in their sixth-year. The survey was also administered to 40 first
      year students and 41 fourth-year students who hadn't any radiology lectures.
      Students rated their level of understanding of 50 phrases used in the texts on a
      four-point scale (understanding = 3, a little knowledge = 2, having heard = 1, no
      knowledge = 0). Questions on taking an advanced physics course in high school and
      means of learning about radiation in daily life were also asked. The level of
      understanding of phrases in the supplemental text for middle and high school
      students was significantly higher among sixth-year students (mean = 1.43) than
      among first-year (mean = 1.12) or fourth-year (mean = 0.93) students (p < 0.05).
      Overall, the level of understanding was low, with scores indicating that most
      students knew only a little. First-year students learning about radiation from
      television but four-year and six-year students learning about radiation from
      newspaper scored significantly higher (p < 0.05). It was concluded that radiation
      education should be improved by using visual material and preparing educators to
      teach the material for improving the public's understanding of radiation use
      especially nuclear power generation because the phrases used in the supplementary
      texts are very difficult for students to understand.

PMID- 26875113
TI  - Correlating behaviour and gene expression endpoints in the dopaminergic system
      after modafinil administration in mouse.
AB  - The mechanisms of action of modafinil continue to be poorly characterised and its
      potential for abuse in preclinical models remains controverted. The aim of this
      study was to further elucidate the mechanism of action of modafinil, through a
      potential behavioural and molecular association in the mouse. A conditioned place
      preference (CPP) paradigm was implemented to investigate the rewarding properties
      of modafinil. Whole genome expression and qRT-PCR analysis were performed on the
      ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC)
      of modafinil-treated and control animals. Modafinil administration (65 mg/kg)
      induced an increase in locomotor activity, an increase in the change of
      preference for the drug paired side after a conditioning period as well as
      changes to gene expression profiles in the VTA (120 genes), NAC (23 genes) and
      PFC (19 genes). A molecular signature consisting of twelve up-regulated genes was
      identified as common to the three brain regions. Multiple linear correlation
      analysis showed a strong correlation (R(2)>0.70) between the behavioural and
      molecular endpoints in the three brain regions. We show that modafinil had a
      concomitant effect on CPP, locomotor activity, and up-regulation of interferon
      gamma (IFN-gamma) regulated genes (Gbp2, Gbp3, Gbp10, Cd274, Igtp), while
      correlating the latter set of genes with behaviour changes evaluated through the
      CPP. A potential association can be proposed based on the dysregulation of p47
      family genes and Gbp family of IFN-gamma induced GTPases. In conclusion, these
      findings suggest a link between the behavioural and molecular events in the
      context of modafinil administration.

PMID- 26875112
TI  - Is there a role of nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced non-small cell
      lung cancer? The data suggest yes.
AB  - Nab-paclitaxel is a novel therapeutic agent, which was approved in combination
      with carboplatin in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC) regardless of histologic subtype in the United States of America
      by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012 and by the European Commission in
      2015. This approval was based on the results of a phase III clinical trial
      showing superior response rates compared with solvent-based paclitaxel in
      combination with carboplatin. This review will focus on the early development and
      clinical data to date supporting the use of nab-paclitaxel in advanced NSCLC. The
      clinical question central to this review is whether nab-paclitaxel has a place in
      the current therapeutic landscape of advanced NSCLC. 

PMID- 26875114
TI  - Modulatory effect of the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone and the mixed non
      hallucinogenic 5-HT1A/2A agonist ergotamine on psilocybin-induced psychedelic
      experience.
AB  - The mixed serotonin (5-HT) 1A/2A/2B/2C/6/7 receptor agonist psilocybin dose
      dependently induces an altered state of consciousness (ASC) that is characterized
      by changes in sensory perception, mood, thought, and the sense of self. The
      psychological effects of psilocybin are primarily mediated by 5-HT2A receptor
      activation. However, accumulating evidence suggests that 5-HT1A or an interaction
      between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors may contribute to the overall effects of
      psilocybin. Therefore, we used a double-blind, counterbalanced, within-subject
      design to investigate the modulatory effects of the partial 5-HT1A agonist
      buspirone (20mg p.o.) and the non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A/1A agonist ergotamine
      (3mg p.o.) on psilocybin-induced (170 ug/kg p.o.) psychological effects in two
      groups (n=19, n=17) of healthy human subjects. Psychological effects were
      assessed using the Altered State of Consciousness (5D-ASC) rating scale.
      Buspirone significantly reduced the 5D-ASC main scale score for Visionary
      Restructuralization (VR) (p<0.001), which was mostly driven by a reduction of the
      VR item cluster scores for elementary and complex visual hallucinations. Further,
      buspirone also reduced the main scale score for Oceanic Boundlessness (OB)
      including derealisation and depersonalisation phenomena at a trend level
      (p=0.062), whereas ergotamine did not show any effects on the psilocybin-induced
      5D-ASC main scale scores. The present finding demonstrates that buspirone exerts
      inhibitory effects on psilocybin-induced effects, presumably via 5-HT1A receptor
      activation, an interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, or both. The data
      suggest that the modulation of 5-HT1A receptor activity may be a useful target in
      the treatment of visual hallucinations in different psychiatric and neurological
      diseases.

PMID- 26875115
TI  - Portraits of TET-mediated DNA hydroxymethylation in cancer.
AB  - The discovery of TET-mediated DNA hydroxymethylation as a mechanism of DNA
      demethylation, along with the observation of disrupted hydroxymethylation
      patterns in cancer, sparked high hopes of better understanding malignant
      processes. In this review, we discuss a plethora of recent studies that have shed
      light on the mechanisms and biological consequences of DNA hydroxymethylation
      pattern changes in various cancers. A picture is taking shape, in which TET
      proteins appear as both promoters and suppressors of cancer. Their impairment at
      multiple levels creates abnormal 5hmC landscapes that affect, often in concert
      with key cancer pathways, a wider range of biological processes than initially
      proposed. As the picture gains in scope and precision, the prospect of 5hmC
      pattern-targeting cancer therapies shimmers in the distance.

PMID- 26875116
TI  - Non-targeted chromatographic analyses of cuticular wax flavonoids from Physalis
      alkekengi L.
AB  - Since Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi L.) represents a rich source of various
      bioactive secondary metabolites, there is an urge for its detailed
      characterization. Non-polar flavonoid aglycones represent one of the few
      bioactive species found in plant's cuticular waxes. The separation of flavonoids
      is already extensively covered in the literature, but methods dedicated to
      separation and identification of methylated flavonoids are rather scarce. In the
      present study a non-targeted approach for the separation, isolation and
      identification of methylated flavonoids present in P. alkekengi L. var.
      franchetii cuticular waxes was established. A rapid and simple separation on
      HPTLC silica gel was developed for preliminary screening of flavonoids. Fast HPLC
      UV-MS(n) and HPLC-UV methods using a C6-Phenyl and a C18 stationary phase were
      also developed, respectively. In both cases, the right combination of temperature
      and tetrahydrofuran, as a mobile phase modifier, were shown to be crucial for a
      baseline separation of all studied compounds. By employing a semi-preparative
      analog of the C18 column, a simultaneous isolation of pure unknown analytes was
      achieved. Using these developed methods in combination with NMR, four 3-O
      methylated flavonols were detected and identified in P. alkekengi L. var.
      franchetii cuticular waxes: myricetin 3,7,3'-trimethyl ether, quercetin 3,7
      dimethyl ether, myricetin 3,7,3',5'-tetramethyl ether and quercetin 3,7,3'
      trimethyl ether. Moreover, the simple and fast isocratic HPLC-UV-MS(n) method
      (under 8min) should prove useful in quality control of P. alkekengi L. var.
      franchetii by enabling chromatographic fingerprinting of external methylated
      flavonols. Finally, a rationale for the mechanism of separation of these
      metabolites by HPLC is also given, which establishes a foundation for future
      development of chromatographic methods for methylated flavonols and related
      compounds. 

PMID- 26875117
TI  - Study of matrix effects for liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem
      mass spectrometric analysis of 4 aminoglycosides residues in milk.
AB  - Matrix effect (ME) is always a major issue for the development of LC-MS/MS
      method. ME resulting from co-eluting residual matrix components can affect the
      ionization efficiency of target analytes, leading to quantification errors of the
      analytes of interest. The present work evaluates MEs of milk samples on
      simultaneous analysis of four aminoglycosides residues via LC-ESI/MS/MS including
      streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, spectinomycin and kanamycin. Approaches to
      reduce MEs were examined: optimization of the sample preparation, sample dilution
      and lower flow rate used. Three commercial sorbents were tested including Oasis
      MCX, Oasis HLB and Oasis WCX. WCX behaved better for all analytes, but high MEs
      (80.8-134.9%) were obtained. Therefore, a consecutive SPE of tC18-WCX was found
      to effectively reduce ME. Milk samples from different manufacturers were analyzed
      and low MEs (85.6-112.9%) were obtained. 

PMID- 26875118
TI  - Self-assembled covalent capillary coating of diazoresin/carboxyl fullerene for
      analysis of proteins by capillary electrophoresis and a comparison with
      diazoresin/graphene oxide coating.
AB  - Self-assembled and covalently linked capillary coatings of carboxyl fullerenes
      (C60-COOH) were prepared using photosensitive diazoresin (DR) as a coupling
      agent. Layer by layer (LBL) self-assembled DR/C60-COOH coatings based on ionic
      bonding was fabricated first on the inner surface of silica capillary, and
      subsequently converted into covalent bonding after treatment with UV light
      through a unique photochemistry reaction of DR. The covalently bonded coatings
      had the ability of suppressing protein adsorption on the inner surface of silica
      capillary, and thus the baseline separation of lysozyme (Lys), cytochrome c (Cyt
      c), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and myoglobin (Mb) was achieved within 13min by
      using capillary electrophoresis (CE). The covalently linked DR/C60-COOH capillary
      coatings presented good chemical stability and repeatability. The reproducibility
      of the separation of proteins was less than 1%, 2.5%, and 3.5%, respectively, for
      run-to-run, day-to-day, capillary-to-capillary, respectively; and the RSD of
      migration time for the proteins are all less than 2.5% after a continuous 100
      times running in a coating column. Compared with DR/graphene oxide (GO) coatings
      prepared by the same method, the DR/C60-COOH capillary coatings showed excellent
      protein separation performance due to a self-lubrication based anti-fouling
      mechanism. Because of the replacement of highly toxic and moisture sensitive
      silane coupling agent by DR in the covalent coating preparation, this method may
      provide an environmentally friendly and simple way to prepare the covalently
      coated capillaries for CE. 

PMID- 26875119
TI  - Chiral separation by a terminal chirality triggered P-helical quinoline
      oligoamide foldamer.
AB  - A P-helical quinoline oligoamide foldamer was grafted on silica and applied as an
      HPLC stationary phase for chiral separation. The P-handedness of the quinoline
      oligoamide foldamer was induced by a (1S)-camphanyl group, which was introduced
      at the N-terminus of a tetrameric quinoline oligoamide foldamer (Cmp-Q4). To
      immobilize the foldamer on porous silica particles, a trimethoxysilyl group was
      introduced at the opposing end of the foldamer. Elemental analysis indicated that
      the amount of foldamer on the silica surface was 0.57MUmol/m(2). Circular
      dichroism and vibrational CD spectra of Cmp-Q4 and Cmp-Q4-immobilized silica (Sil
      Q4-Cmp) suggested that the helical structure of Cmp-Q4 was altered on the silica
      surface whilst retaining a chiral structure. The chiral recognition ability of
      Sil-Q4-Cmp was evaluated with various aromatic enantiomers. Sil-Q4-Cmp showed
      enantio-selectivity for axially chiral molecules (e.g., alphaTrigger's base=1.26
      and alphaBinaphthol=1.07). Sil-Q4-Cmp showed remarkable recognition of helical
      octameric quinoline oligoamides with isobutoxy and triethylene glycol side chains
      (alpha=10.35 and 14.98, respectively). In contrast, an (1S)-camphanyl group
      immobilized porous silica showed no chiral recognition for any enantiomers tested
      in this study. To elucidate the chiral separation mechanism of Sil-Q4-Cmp,
      thermodynamic parameters were calculated using van't Hoff plots. HPLC results and
      thermodynamic parameters suggested that the chiral recognition of Sil-Q4-Cmp is
      based on the helical structure of Cmp-Q4 and other thermally dependent
      interactions such as hydrophobic effects associated with aromatic stacking. This
      work represents the first known application of aromatic foldamers in chiral
      separation. 

PMID- 26875120
TI  - Separation of heavy metals from water by functionalized glycidyl methacrylate
      poly (high internal phase emulsions).
AB  - Removal of silver, lead and cadmium ions from both model solutions and real
      contaminated water was achieved, in a flow through manner, by using highly porous
      functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) materials, prepared by the
      polymerisation of high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPE), with significant
      sorption differences between metals allowing for selective removal. PolyHIPEs,
      initially prepared from glycidyl methacrylate as a functional monomer, were
      functionalized with pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), 1,9
      nonanedithiol and 2-aminobenzenethiol via the epoxy ring opening on the polymer
      supports and applied in a flow-through manner via encasements into dedicated disk
      holders. Capacity of 21.7mg Ag per gram of polymer was found for 1,9
      nonanedithiol functionalized polymers, while the capacity was decreasing with the
      decreasing ionic radius of the metal; the dynamics of sorption also depended on
      metal ion size and furthermore on the thiol used for the polymer
      functionalization. 

PMID- 26875122
TI  - [What is new in the European Society of Cardiology 2015 Guidelines for the
      Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Disease?].

PMID- 26875121
TI  - Acylated-naproxen as the surface-active template in the preparation of micro- and
      nanospherical imprinted xerogels by emulsion techniques.
AB  - A strategy based on water-in-oil emulsion for the dispersion of a sol-gel mixture
      into small droplets was employed with the view of the production of naproxen
      imprinted micro- and nanospheres. The procedure, aiming at a surface imprinting
      process, comprised the synthesis of a naproxen-derived surfactant. The imprinting
      process occurred at the interface of the emulsions or microemulsions, by the
      migration of the NAP-surfactant head into the sol-gel drops to leave surficial
      imprints due mainly to ion-pair interaction with a cationic group contained
      within the growing sol-gel network. The surface-imprinted microspheric particles
      exhibited a log-normal size distribution with geometric mean diameter of 3.1MUm.
      A mesoporous texture was found from measurements of the specific surface area
      (206m(2)/g) and pore diameter (Dp 2nm). Evaluation of the microspheres as packed
      HPLC stationary phases resulted in the determination of the selectivity factor
      against ibuprofen (alpha=2.1), demonstrating the successful imprinting.
      Chromatographic efficiency, evaluated by the number of theoretical plates
      (222platescm(-3)), emerged as an outstanding feature among the set of all
      relatable formats produced before, an advantage intrinsic to the location of the
      imprinted sites on the surface. The material presented a capacity of 3.2MUmolg(
      1). Additionally, exploratory work conducted on their nanoscale counterparts
      resulted in the production of nanospheres in the size order of 10nm providing
      good indications of a successful imprinting process. 

PMID- 26875123
TI  - [The new insights of 2015 ESC Pulmonary Hypertension Guidelines].

PMID- 26875124
TI  - [Comments on 2015 ESC Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Ventricular
      Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death].

PMID- 26875125
TI  - [What is new in 2015 ESC nonST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Guideline?].

PMID- 26875126
TI  - Cor triatriatum sinister: a case series.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: As a highly rare congenital defect, cor triatriatum sinister
      represents only 0.1% of congenital cardiac anomalies. Depending on the degree of
      obstruction and the accompanying symptoms, cor triatriatum can be diagnosed at
      any age. This case series described 5 patients with cor triatriatum sinister who
      underwent operation. METHODS: Five patients with cor triatriatum sinister were
      seen at our institution between 2007 and 2013. The demographic characteristics
      and surgical results of these patients are outlined in this retrospective review.
      RESULTS: The surgical approach consists of left or right atriotomy, excision of
      the obstructing membrane, and repair of the associated intracardiac anomalies.
      After an uneventful postoperative hospital stay, all patients were discharged 5
      10 days postoperatively. There were no instances of recurrent constriction after
      surgical treatment of the cor triatriatum membrane. Patients were followed up for
      a median of 4 years and were symptom free. CONCLUSION: In the surgical management
      of this easily and fully treatable congenital cardiac anomaly, it is difficult to
      determine which atriotomy approach is comparatively more advantageous. However,
      in the management of cor triatriatum sinister, priority should be given to
      confirmation of the diagnosis and full resection of the membrane. Thus, the
      surgeon should not hesitate to perform additional incisions if deemed necessary.

PMID- 26875127
TI  - Relationship between retinopathy and asymptomatic atherosclerosis determined by
      measurement of carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) may be used as an early marker
      of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. This study aimed to
      investigate the relationship between the presence of DR and carotid intima-media
      thickness (CIMT), which is an indicator of early atherosclerosis in patients with
      type 2 DM. METHODS: Thirty DM patients with retinopathy (DR group), 28 DM
      patients without retinopathy (non-DR group), and 27 healthy controls (control
      group) were included in the study. CIMT was assessed using a high-resolution B
      mode ultrasonography device. RESULTS: Mean CIMT was found to be 0.9+/-0.17 mm in
      the DR group, 0.8+/-0.16 mm in the non-DR group, and 0.7+/-0.13 mm in the control
      group. CIMT was found to be statistically significantly higher in the DR group
      compared to the other 2 groups (p<0.001). When multivariate analysis was
      performed, presence of DR still remained as an independent risk factor for
      increased CIMT values. CONCLUSION: Presence of DR in type 2 DM patients is an
      independent risk factor in terms of increased CIMT, which is considered to be a
      finding of subclinical atherosclerosis. Therefore, we believe that type 2 DM
      patients with retinopathy should be closely followed in terms of cardiovascular
      events.

PMID- 26875128
TI  - [Evaluation of transfer parameters in patients admitted to our hospital with ST
      elevation myocardial infarction].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute coronary syndrom (ACS) is a common disease that causes severe
      morbidity and mortality. The most important aspect of ST-elevation myocardial
      infarction (STEMI) as a subgroup of ACS treatment is the rapid reperfusion of
      arteries. Successful results depend not only on the experience of the center but
      also on the rapidity in which reperfusion is achieved. In our study, the transfer
      parameters were evaluated in patients who were admitted to our hospital with
      STEMI. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients (160 males, 40 females) who
      underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute STEMI
      between January 2011 and March 2013 were included in our study. Transfer
      parameters of symptom-to-reperfusion treatment, clinical characteristics, and
      laboratory parameters were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were admitted
      to our hospital with ambulances; 70 patients were admitted to centers without PCI
      capability, with a mean transfer time to our hospital of 73.9+/-12.5 min. Median
      pain-to-first medical contact time was 105 min (range: 5-600 min), and average
      first medical contact-to-balloon time was 115.5 min (range: 20-414 min). Total
      pain-to-balloon time in females was significantly higher than males (246 min
      [range: 70-840 min], 195 min [range: 45-684 min], respectively, p=0.032). Mean
      pain-to-balloon time was significantly lower in patients delivered to the
      hospital by ambulance than in patients admitted to emergency departments
      independently (185 min [range: 45-439 min], 248 min [range: 65-840 min],
      respectively, p=0.017). CONCLUSION: In this study, our hospital door-to-balloon
      time was found compatible with the target specified in the European Society of
      Cardiology and American College of Cardiology STEMI guidelines; however, first
      medical contact-to-balloon time was found to be above that advised by the current
      guidelines.

PMID- 26875129
TI  - [Microvascular obstruction due to thrombosis and fibrin deposition in myocardial
      infarction].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: It is widely known that myocardial damage is not immediately
      terminated after the elimination of epicardial occlusion in cases of myocardial
      infarction. In situ thrombosis during epicardial occlusion might contribute to
      poor myocardial perfusion after reperfusion of an occluded epicardial artery. In
      the current study, we sought to determine the effects of ischemia and reperfusion
      on microvascular thrombotic occlusion. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were
      included in the study. After the rats had been anesthetized and thoracotomized,
      the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 minutes in the first group, and it
      was occluded for 30 minutes and reperfused for an additional 20 minutes in the
      second group. Ten rats were used as a sham-operated control group. After
      completion of the study protocol, excised heart preparations were analyzed by
      immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. RESULTS: A significant difference
      was found between the infarction plus reperfusion group and the other 2 groups,
      with respect to microvascular fibrin and thrombocyte deposition in
      immunohistochemistry analysis. These results were confirmed by morphological
      examination with electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: In situ fibrin formation
      accompanies microvascular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction. Our results
      indicate that additional therapeutic approaches are needed in order to achieve
      better tissue perfusion in contemporary treatment of acute myocardial infarction
      after successful reopening of the infarct-related artery.

PMID- 26875130
TI  - Predictive role of left atrial and ventricular mechanical function in
      postoperative atrial fibrillation: a two-dimensional speckle-tracking
      echocardiography study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the role of left-sided
      mechanical parameters in postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients
      undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Ninety patients with
      coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular (LV) function in sinus rhythm
      were enrolled in the study. Preoperative LV and left atrial (LA) mechanics were
      evaluated by two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE),
      including strain and rotation parameters, and volume indices. Patients were
      monitored in order to detect POAF during the postoperative period. RESULTS:
      Twenty-three of 90 patients (25.6%) developed POAF. Age (p<0.001) and
      preoperative beta blocker usage (p=0.001) were the clinical parameters associated
      with POAF. Left atrial maximum volume index (LAV[max]i) increased, and peak left
      atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) was impaired in POAF patients (p=0.001,
      p<0.001, respectively). Left ventricular twist (LVtw) and left ventricular peak
      untwisting velocity (UntwV) were augmented in POAF patients (p=0.013, p=0.009,
      respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed N-terminal pro
      brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels above 70 pg/ml and predicted POAF
      with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 78% (area under curve: 0.758, 95%
      confidence interval [CI] 0.631-0.894, p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis
      demonstrated that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, CI 1.01-1.20, p=0.034), preoperative
      beta blocker usage (OR 8.84, CI 1.36-57.28, p=0.022), NT-proBNP (values >70
      pg/ml, OR 22.377, CI 3.286-152.381, p<0.001), PALS (OR 0.86, CI 0.75-0.98,
      p=0.023), and UntwV (OR 1.02, CI 1.00-1.04, p=0.029) were the independent
      predictors of POAF. CONCLUSION: The combination of 2D STE, clinical, and
      biochemical parameters may help predict POAF.

PMID- 26875131
TI  - Patient characteristics and statin discontinuation-related factors during
      treatment of hypercholesterolemia: an observational non-interventional study in
      patients with statin discontinuation (STAY study).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify patient characteristics and
      statin discontinuation-related factors in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
      METHODS: A total of 532 patients (age mean+/-SD: 57.4+/-11.5 years; 52.4% women,
      47.6% men) with hypercholesterolemia and statin discontinuation were included in
      this national cross-sectional non-interventional observational study. Data on
      socio-demographic characteristics of patients, cardiovascular risk factors, past
      treatment with and discontinuation of statin treatment were collected in one
      visit. RESULTS: Mean+/-SD duration of hypercholesterolemia was 4.9+/-4.2 years at
      time of discontinuation of statin treatment. Statin treatment was initiated by
      cardiologists in the majority of cases (55.8%), whereas discontinuation of statin
      treatment was decided by patients in the majority of cases (73.7%), with patients
      with higher (at least secondary education, 80.4%) more likely than those with
      lower (only primary education, 69.7%) to decide to discontinue treatment
      (p=0.022). Negative information about statin treatment disseminated by TV
      programs-mostly regarding coverage of hepatic (38.0%), renal (33.8%), and
      muscular (32.9%) side effects (32.9%)-was the most common reason for treatment
      discontinuation. CONCLUSION: The decision to discontinue statin treatment was
      made at the patient's discretion in 74% of cases, with higher likelihood of
      patients with higher educational status deciding to discontinue treatment and
      switch to non-drug lipid-lowering alternatives. Cardiologists were the physicians
      most frequently responsible for the initiation of the statin treatment; coverage
      of several non-life-threatening statin side effects by TV programs and patients'
      lack of information regarding high cholesterol and related risks were the leading
      factors predisposing to treatment discontinuation.

PMID- 26875132
TI  - A case of myocardial muscular bridging causing severe hypotension during exercise
      electrocardiography test.
AB  - Outlining the severity of the myocardial bridge (MB) is a critical step for
      selecting the appropriate option among medical, surgical, or angioplasty-based
      treatments. Invasive treatments are usually preferred if treatment-resistant
      symptoms are observed or ischemia is proven by tests such as fractional flow
      reserve or myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). In this report, we present a
      patient who developed severe hypotension during treadmill exercise test, even
      though there were no perfusion defects during adenosine-induced MPS. This case
      suggests MPS with adenosine is not a good choice for evaluating ischemia in MB
      patients, as it may cause false negative results. 

PMID- 26875133
TI  - Carbamazepine-induced atrioventricular block in an elderly woman.
AB  - An 88-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department after experiencing
      syncope while in a sitting position. Electrocardiogram showed advanced degree
      heart block. She has been on low-dose carbamazepine (200 mg/day) for the last
      year for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). After discontinuation of carbamazepine, the
      patient returned to normal sinus rhythm. 

PMID- 26875134
TI  - Capecitabine-induced coronary artery vasospasm in a patient who previously
      experienced a similar episode with fluorouracil therapy.
AB  - Capecitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of metastatic
      colon cancer and metastatic breast cancer. It is metabolized into fluorouracil (5
      FU) in the liver; hence, its mechanism of action is similar to that of 5-FU.
      Cardiac toxicity, although rarely seen, may be of concern in some patients.
      Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism of
      cardiotoxicity, coronary vasospasm is the most commonly accepted one, as patients
      usually present with chest pain resembling acute myocardial infarction.
      Electrocardiography may demonstrate ST-segment elevation, and cardiac biomarkers
      may be elevated. Cardiotoxicity with 5-FU has been reported widely. Capecitabine
      has been shown to be much less cardiotoxic compared to 5-FU, with only a handful
      of cases reporting cardiotoxicity with capecitabine. There are no cases reporting
      cardiotoxicity with both 5-FU and capecitabine in the same patient. In this case
      report, we present a patient with adverse cardiac effect with capecitabine whose
      previous 5-FU therapy was stopped due to cardiotoxicity. 

PMID- 26875135
TI  - Proximal embolization of Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis in transcatheter aortic valve
      implantation.
AB  - Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is considered an alternative
      therapy in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, this
      minimally invasive procedure carries potential complications, such as valve
      embolization at time of TAVI. We present a case of balloon-expandable aortic
      valve embolization which was managed nonsurgically. Valve embolization was
      managed conservatively, as the patient refused open heart surgery for definitive
      treatment. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit in stable
      hemodynamic condition and discharged 1 week following the procedure. 

PMID- 26875136
TI  - Inappropriate shock and battery switching to "End of Life" in a patient with
      biventricular ICD during magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
      is a relative contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Biventricular
      ICDs are often used in the treatment of advanced heart failure; however, reports
      on experience with biventricular ICDs are lacking in the literature. In this case
      report, we describe a pacemaker-dependent patient with a biventricular ICD on
      whom an MRI of the lumbar spine was performed without having realized the
      presence of the ICD. 

PMID- 26875137
TI  - Scorpion envenomation-induced acute thrombotic inferior myocardial infarction.
AB  - The occurrence of a serious cardiac emergency following scorpion envenomation has
      rarely been reported and, when so, mostly presented as non-ST segment elevation
      myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, or myocarditis. Possible mechanisms
      include imbalance in blood pressure and coronary vasospasm caused by the
      combination of sympathetic excitation, scorpion venom-induced release of
      catecholamines, and the direct effect of the toxin on the myocardium. We report a
      case of a 55-year-old man who presented with acute inferior wall myocardial
      infarction (MI) within 2 h of being stung by a scorpion. Coronary angiogram
      revealed total thrombotic occlusion of the left circumflex artery, which was
      treated successfully with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, thrombus aspiration,
      antivenom serum, and supportive therapy. Therefore, life-threatening MI can
      complicate the clinical course during some types of scorpion envenomation and
      should be managed as an acute coronary syndrome. 

PMID- 26875138
TI  - Malposition of an atrial pacemaker lead crossing through patent foramen ovale in
      a patient with ischemic stroke.

PMID- 26875139
TI  - Left atrial metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma mimicking atrial myxoma.

PMID- 26875140
TI  - An unusual cause of severe tricuspid stenosis.

PMID- 26875141
TI  - [A rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention: aortic
      pseudoaneurysm].

PMID- 26875142
TI  - Criss-cross heart with dextrocardia and transposition of the great arteries: a
      rare pathology.

PMID- 26875143
TI  - Combined effects of elevated CO2 and Cd-contaminated water on growth,
      photosynthetic response, Cd accumulation and thiolic components status in Lemna
      minor L.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of elevated
      CO2 and cadmium (Cd) treatments on growth, photosynthetic efficiency and
      phytoremediation ability in Lemna minor L. Plants of L. minor were exposed to
      different Cd concentrations (0, 1.5, 2.5 and 5 mg L(-1) Cd) for periods of 24, 48
      and 72 h at ambient (AC) and at elevated (EC) CO2 (350 and 700 ppm,
      respectively). Cadmium concentration, bioconcentration factor, enzyme activities
      and thiols content enhanced in plants with the increase of Cd treatments, time of
      exposure and at both CO2 levels. Glutathione levels increased only at AC. Growth,
      photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and the reduced
      glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio declined in plants with increasing
      exposure time, Cd treatments and at both CO2 levels. Our results suggested that
      the alleviation of toxicity, at low Cd doses, observed in L. minor grown at EC is
      dependent on both increased photosynthesis and an enhanced antioxidant capacity.

PMID- 26875144
TI  - The mechanism of degradation of bisphenol A using the magnetically separable
      CuFe2O4/peroxymonosulfate heterogeneous oxidation process.
AB  - The removal of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution by an oxidation process
      involving peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated by CuFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles
      (MNPs) is reported herein. The effects of PMS concentration, CuFe2O4 dosage,
      initial pH, initial BPA concentration, catalyst addition mode, and anions (Cl(-),
      F(-), ClO4(-) and H2PO4(-)) on BPA degradation were investigated. Results
      indicate that nearly complete removal of BPA (50 mg/L) within 60 min and 84.0%
      TOC removal in 120 min could be achieved at neutral pH by using 0.6 g/L CuFe2O4
      MNPs and 0.3 g/L PMS. The generation of reactive radicals (mainly hydroxyl
      radicals) was confirmed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Possible
      mechanisms on the radical generation from CuFe2O4/PMS system are proposed based
      on the results of radical identification tests and XPS analysis. The lack of
      inhibition of the reaction by free radical scavengers such as methanol and tert
      butyl alcohol suggests that these species may not be generated in the bulk
      solution, and methylene blue probe experiments confirm that this process does not
      involve free radical generation. Surface-bound, rather than free radicals
      generated by a surface catalyzed-redox cycle involving both Fe(III) and Cu(II),
      are postulated to be responsible for the mineralization of bisphenol A.

PMID- 26875145
TI  - Nanomechanical characterization of alumina coatings grown on FeCrAl alloy by
      thermal oxidation.
AB  - This work studies the feasibility of using repetitive-nano-impact tests with a
      cube-corner tip and low loads for obtaining quantitative fracture toughness
      values in thin and brittle coatings. For this purpose, it will be assumed that
      the impacts are able to produce a cracking, similar to the pattern developed for
      the classical fracture toughness tests in bulk materials, and therefore, from the
      crack developed in the repetitive impacts it will be possible to evaluate the
      suitability of the classical indentation models (Anstins and Laugier) for
      measuring fracture toughness. However, the length of this crack has to be lower
      than 10% of the total coating thickness to avoid substrate contributions. For
      this reason, and in order to ensure a small plastic region localized at the
      origin of the crack tip, low load values (or small distance between the indenter
      tip and the surface) have to be used. In order to demonstrate the validity of
      this technique, repetitive-nano-impact will be done in a fine and dense oxide
      layer (alpha-Al2O3), which has been developed on the top of oxide dispersion
      strengthened (ODS) FeCrAl alloys (PM 2000) by thermal oxidation at elevated
      temperatures. Moreover, it will be shown how it is possible to know with each new
      impact the crack geometry evolution from Palmqvist crack to half-penny crack,
      being able to study the proper evolution of the different values of fracture
      toughness in terms of both indentation models and as a function of the strain
      rate, epsilon, decreasing. Thereby, fracture toughness values for alpha-Al2O3
      layer decrease from ~4.40MPam , for high epsilon value (10(3)s(-1)), to
      ~3.21MPam, for quasi-static epsilon value (10(-3)s(-1)). On the other hand,
      epsilon a new process to obtain fracture toughness values will be analysed, when
      the classical indentation models are not met. These values are typically found in
      the literature for bulk alpha-Al2O3, demonstrating the use of repetitive-nano
      impact tests which not only provide qualitative information about fracture
      resistance of the materials but it also can be used to obtain quantitative
      information as fracture toughness values in the case of brittle materials. 

PMID- 26875146
TI  - The effects of decellularization and cross-linking techniques on the fatigue life
      and calcification of mitral valve chordae tendineae.
AB  - In cases of severely diseased mitral valves (MV), the required treatment is often
      valve replacement. Bioprosthetic and stentless replacement valves are usually
      either fully or partially composed of animal derived tissue treated with a
      decellularization process, a cross-linking process, or both. In this study, we
      analysed the effects of these treatments on the fatigue properties of porcine MV
      chordae tendineae (CT), as well as on the calcification of the CT using an in
      vitro technique. CT were tested in 4 groups; (1) native, (2) decellularized (DC),
      (3) decellularized and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (DC-GTH), and (4)
      decellularized and cross-linked with 1-ehtyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)
      carbodiimide (EDC)(DC-EDC). CT were tested in both uniaxial tension, and in
      fatigue at 10MPa peak stress (1Hz). The cycles to failure (mean+/-SD) for the
      four groups are as follows; Native- 53,397+/-55,798, DC- 28,013+/-30,634, DC-GTH-
      97,665+/-133,556, DC-EDC- 318,601+/-322,358. DC-EDC CT were found to have a
      slightly longer fatigue life than the native and DC groups. The DC-EDC group also
      had a marginally lower dynamic creep rate, meaning those CT elongate more slowly.
      After in vitro calcification, X-ray microtomography was used to determine
      relative levels of calcification. The DC-EDC and DC-GTH groups had the lowest
      volume of calcific deposits. Under uniaxial testing, the ultimate tensile
      strength (UTS) of the DC-GTH CT was statistically significantly reduced after
      calcification, while the UTS was relatively unchanged for the DC-EDC group.
      Overall, these results indicate that a treatment of decellularization plus cross
      linking with EDC may improve the fatigue life of porcine CT, reduce the rate of
      elongation, and help the CT resist the negative effects of calcification. This
      may be a preferable treatment in the preparation of porcine MVs for the
      replacement of diseased MVs. 

PMID- 26875147
TI  - Optimisation of composite bone plates for ulnar transverse fractures.
AB  - Metallic bone plates are commonly used for arm bone fractures where conservative
      treatment (casts) cannot provide adequate support and compression at the fracture
      site. These plates, made of stainless steel or titanium alloys, tend to shield
      stress transfer at the fracture site and delay the bone healing rate. This study
      investigates the feasibility of adopting advanced composite materials to overcome
      stress shielding effects by optimising the geometry and mechanical properties of
      the plate to match more closely to the bone. An ulnar transverse fracture is
      characterised and finite element techniques are employed to investigate the
      feasibility of a composite-plated fractured bone construct over a stainless steel
      equivalent. Numerical models of intact and fractured bones are analysed and the
      mechanical behaviour is found to agree with experimental data. The mechanical
      properties are tailored to produce an optimised composite plate, offering a 25%
      reduction in length and a 70% reduction in mass. The optimised design may help to
      reduce stress shielding and increase bone healing rates. 

PMID- 26875148
TI  - Effects of oxygen plasma treatment on interfacial shear strength and post-peak
      residual strength of a PLGA fiber-reinforced brushite cement.
AB  - Biodegradable calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are promising materials for
      minimally invasive treatment of bone defects. However, CPCs have low mechanical
      strength and fracture toughness. One approach to overcome these limitations is
      the modification of the CPC with reinforcing fibers. The matrix-fiber interfacial
      shear strength (ISS) is pivotal for the biomechanical properties of fiber
      reinforced CPCs. The aim of the current study was to control the ISS between a
      brushite-forming CPC and degradable PLGA fibers by oxygen plasma treatment and to
      analyze the impact of the ISS alterations on its bulk mechanical properties. The
      ISS between CPC matrix and PLGA fibers, tested in a single-fiber pull-out test,
      increased up to 2.3-fold to max. 3.22+/-0.92MPa after fiber oxygen plasma
      treatment (100-300W, 1-10min), likely due to altered surface chemistry and
      morphology of the fibers. This ISS increase led to more efficient crack bridging
      and a subsequent increase of the post-peak residual strength at biomechanically
      relevant, moderate strains (up to 1%). At the same time, the work of fracture
      significantly decreased, possibly due to an increased proportion of fractured
      fibers unable to further absorb energy by frictional sliding. Flexural strength
      and flexural modulus were not affected by the oxygen plasma treatment. This study
      shows for the first time that the matrix-fiber ISS and some of the resulting
      mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced CPCs can be improved by chemical
      modifications such as oxygen plasma treatment, generating the possibility of
      avoiding catastrophic failures at the implant site and thus enhancing the
      applicability of biodegradable CPCs for the treatment of (load-bearing) bone
      defects. 

PMID- 26875150
TI  - Splenomegaly and thrombosis risk in essential thrombocythemia: the Mayo Clinic
      experience.

PMID- 26875151
TI  - MicroRNAs and cancer resistance: A new molecular plot.
AB  - The most common cause of cancer relapse is drug resistance, acquired or
      intrinsic, which strongly limits the efficacy of both conventional and new
      targeted chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a growing, large family of short
      noncoding RNAs frequently dysregulated in malignancies. Although the mechanism of
      miRNA-mediated drug resistance is not fully understood, an increasing amount of
      evidence suggests their involvement in the acquisition of tumor cell drug
      resistance, pointing towards the need for novel and more innovative therapeutic
      approaches. Use of antagomiRs or mimics can modulate specific miRNAs in order to
      restore gene networks and signaling pathways, perhaps optimizing chemotherapies
      by increasing cancer cell sensitivity to drugs. The aim of this review is to
      provide a state-of-the-art scenario with regard to the most recent discoveries in
      the field of miRNAs involved in the process of resistance to cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26875153
TI  - Discrimination and common mental disorder among migrant and ethnic groups:
      findings from a South East London Community sample.
AB  - PURPOSE: Few studies have examined discrimination and mental health in the UK,
      particularly by migrant status and in urban contexts with greater demographic
      diversity. This study aims to (1) describe the prevalence of discrimination
      experiences across multiple life domains; (2) to describe associations between
      discrimination experiences and common mental disorder (CMD); (3) to determine
      whether or not the relationship between discrimination and CMD varies by migrant
      status and ethnicity. METHODS: Data on major, anticipated and everyday
      discrimination and CMD symptoms were collected from an ethnically diverse
      prospective sample of 1052 participants followed up from 2008 to 2013 in the
      South East London Community Health study, a population-based household survey.
      RESULTS: With few exceptions, discrimination was most prevalent among those in
      the Black Caribbean group. However, those in the White Other ethnic group had
      similar or greater reporting major and anticipated discrimination to Black or
      mixed ethnic minority groups. The effects of discrimination on CMD were most
      pronounced for individuals who had recently migrated to the UK, an ethnically
      heterogeneous group, and for Black and Mixed ethnic minority groups in partially
      adjusted models. Prior CMD accounted for differences between the Mixed and White
      British ethnic groups, but the strength of the association for the most recent
      migrant group and the Black ethnic groups remained two or more times greater than
      the reference groups. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the relationship suggests a
      need for more consideration of migration status along with ethnicity in examining
      the impact of discrimination on mental disorder in community and clinical
      samples.

PMID- 26875152
TI  - An examination of the long-term impact of job strain on mental health and
      wellbeing over a 12-year period.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Job strain has been implicated in a range of employee health outcomes
      including psychiatric health. Much of the literature is drawn from studies that
      utilise cross-sectional designs, whilst the long-term follow-up of participants
      is limited. We examine the short and long-term risks of job strain for depression
      and wellbeing over a 12-year period. In particular, we utilise measures of
      wellbeing to emphasise the importance of discriminating between indices of
      subjective and psychological wellbeing that complement measures of mental health.
      METHODS: Participants (n = 2530) were aged between 40 and 44 years at baseline
      and were drawn from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project.
      Participants were observed once every 4 years for 12 years. RESULTS: A high
      strain job was associated with an increased risk of reporting sub-syndromal [RRR
      = 1.66 (95 % CI 1.23; 2.25), p < 0.001], minor [RRR = 1.92 (95 % CI 1.19; 3.10),
      p < 0.001] and major depression [RRR = 2.19 (95 % CI 1.30; 3.67), p < 0.001], but
      strain was not a long-term risk for depression 4 years later. In contrast, strain
      was a risk for both cross-sectional and longitudinal wellbeing outcomes. Moving
      into a high strain job was a risk for developing depression [RRR = 1.81 (95 % CI
      1.26; 2.59), p < 0.001], but the cumulative exposure to a high strain job was not
      associated with poorer outcomes in adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our
      results emphasise the importance of current job strain, and the risk of moving
      into a high strain job, on adverse mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Effects
      were not consistent between indices of mental health, subjective or psychological
      wellbeing, supporting the need to dedifferentiate between wellbeing and mental
      health.

PMID- 26875154
TI  - Adaptive dosing of anticancer drugs in neonates: facilitating evidence-based
      dosing regimens.
AB  - PURPOSE: Selection of the most appropriate chemotherapy dosing regimens for
      neonates treated within the first weeks of life represents a significant clinical
      dilemma. Due to a lack of information relating to the clinical pharmacology of
      anticancer drugs in these challenging patients, current dosing guidelines are
      based on limited scientific rationale. In the current study, we investigate the
      utilisation of therapeutic drug monitoring approaches in neonates with localised
      hepatoblastoma, Wilms' tumour and stage 4S neuroblastoma, being treated with
      widely used anticancer drugs. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of cisplatin,
      vincristine, etoposide and carboplatin were quantified in two neonates being
      treated within the first 3 weeks of life and in a 32-week preterm infant treated
      at a gestational age of 40 weeks. Therapeutic drug monitoring was carried out
      where appropriate, based on the pharmacokinetic data obtained in conjunction with
      clinical response and toxicity. RESULTS: Treatment of a child aged 2 weeks with a
      recommended cisplatin dose reduction for weight to 1.8 mg/kg resulted in
      achievement of unbound cisplatin plasma concentrations of 0.01-0.08 ug/mL,
      markedly lower than exposures previously reported in infants and older children.
      A dose increase to 2.7 mg/kg was implemented, leading to the achievement of
      levels more in-line with those previously reported. This increased dose level was
      well tolerated over six courses of treatment, resulting in a good response to
      cisplatin monotherapy and the patient remains in remission at 3.5 years. In
      contrast, a 50 % vincristine dose reduction for weight in a 3-week-old neonate
      resulted in plasma concentrations comparable to levels observed in older
      children, leading to successful treatment and continued remission at 2 years. In
      a third patient, etoposide and carboplatin clearance values normalised to body
      weight were comparable to those reported in older children, resulting in
      comparatively lower exposures following reduced dosing. CONCLUSIONS: The current
      report provides unique data on the pharmacokinetics of several widely used
      anticancer drugs in neonates treated within the first few weeks of life. The
      provision of these data acts as a useful reference point to support future dosing
      decisions to be made by clinicians in the treatment of these challenging
      patients.

PMID- 26875149
TI  - Contribution of PPARalpha/beta/gamma, AP-1, importin-alpha3, and RXRalpha to the
      protective effect of 5,14-HEDGE, a 20-HETE mimetic, against hypotension,
      tachycardia, and inflammation in a rat model of septic shock.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We have previously demonstrated that downregulation of the MyD88/TAK1
      dependent signaling pathway associated with increased CYP4A1 expression and 20
      HETE formation participates in the protective effect of N-(20-hydroxyeicosa
      5[Z],14[Z]-dienoyl)glycine (5,14-HEDGE), a 20-HETE mimetic, against vascular
      hyporeactivity, hypotension, tachycardia, inflammation, and mortality in a rodent
      model of septic shock. The aim of this study was to determine whether increased
      renal and cardiovascular expression of PPARalpha/beta/gamma and RXRalpha
      associated with decreased expression and/or activity of AP-1 and importin-alpha3
      participates in the protective effect of 5,14-HEDGE in response to systemic
      administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Conscious male Wistar rats
      received saline (4 ml/kg) or LPS (10 mg/kg) at time 0. Blood pressure and heart
      rate were measured using a tail-cuff device. Separate groups of LPS-treated rats
      were given 5,14-HEDGE (30 mg/kg) 1 h after injection of saline or LPS. The rats
      were killed 4 h after saline or LPS administration and the kidney, heart,
      thoracic aorta, and superior mesenteric artery were collected for measurement of
      protein expression. RESULTS: Blood pressure fell by 33 mmHg and heart rate rose
      by 72 beats/min at 4 h after LPS administration. In LPS-treated rats, tissue
      protein expressions of cytosolic/nuclear PPARalpha/beta/gamma and nuclear
      RXRalpha, in addition to nuclear translocation of PPARalpha/beta/gamma proteins,
      were decreased, while cytosolic/nuclear AP-1 subunit c-jun/phosphorylated c-jun
      and importin-alpha3 protein expression as well as their nuclear translocation
      were increased. The LPS-induced changes were prevented by 5,14-HEDGE.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an increase in the expression of
      PPARalpha/beta/gamma and RXRalpha as well as a decrease in AP-1 and importin
      alpha3 expression/activity participates in the protective effect of 5,14-HEDGE
      against hypotension, tachycardia, and inflammation during endotoxemia and thus
      have a beneficial effect in septic shock treatment.

PMID- 26875155
TI  - Experiences of Participants in a Self-Management Program for Employees with
      Complaints of the Arm, Neck or Shoulder (CANS): A Mixed Methods Study.
AB  - Purpose To investigate the experiences of participants of a self-management
      program for employees with complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder (CANS). The
      program consisted of six group sessions combined with an eHealth module. Methods
      Semi-structured interviews with the first 31 consecutive participants of the
      intervention group participating in a randomized controlled trial. Participants
      were interviewed after their last group session. Semi-structured interviews were
      guided by an interview guide and audio-recorded. Data were analyzed using
      thematic analysis and the emerging themes were discussed. All participants in the
      intervention group were asked about their experiences with a questionnaire at
      three (n = 58) and 12-months (n = 53) follow-up. Results Most participants
      appreciated the diversity of the program and benefited from the interaction with
      their peers. The eHealth module, although not used by everyone, was generally
      experienced as positive, especially the section with the physical exercises.
      Participants obtained more insight into their complaints and increased awareness,
      which contributed to the acceptance of and coping with the complaints. There was
      also criticism about the content of the program and the lack of a follow-up
      session. Results of the questionnaires showed that participants had a high level
      of satisfaction. Conclusions In general, the intervention fitted the needs of
      employees with CANS. Participants obtained more knowledge and insight into their
      complaints, as well as increased awareness; all this contributed to a behavioral
      change and improved coping. Many participants made changes at work and during
      their leisure time, whereas some felt that continuing their 'changed' behavior
      would be a challenge.

PMID- 26875156
TI  - High microsatellite instability (MSI-H) colorectal carcinoma: a brief review of
      predictive biomarkers in the era of personalized medicine.
AB  - Approximately 15 % of colorectal carcinomas (CRC) display high level
      microsatellite instability (MSI-H) due to either a germline mutation in one of
      the genes responsible for DNA mismatch repair (Lynch syndrome, 3 %) or somatic
      inactivation of the same pathway, most commonly through hypermethylation of the
      MLH1 gene (sporadic MSI-H, 12 %). Although heterogeneous, MSI-H colorectal
      carcinomas as a group show some distinct biologic characteristics when compared
      to CRC with stable or low level microsatellite instability. In the present review
      we will highlight therapeutically relevant characteristics of MSI-H tumors which
      could lead to specific responses to some conventional chemotherapy or novel
      targeted therapy agents.

PMID- 26875159
TI  - History and current status of state graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws in the
      United States.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to describe changes in teenage
      driver licensing policies in the United States during the past two decades with
      the introduction of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, assess GDL laws
      currently in place, and discuss the possibilities and likely consequences of
      further changes. METHODS: The history of laws introducing and amending GDL
      programs was tracked, based on records maintained by the Insurance Institute for
      Highway Safety (IIHS). Counts of states included the District of Columbia.
      RESULTS: A few states had elements of GDL prior to the mid-1990s, and between
      1996 and 2006 all other states adopted a learner period of 2 months or more, a
      minimum supervised practice hours requirement for the learner period, or a night
      or passenger restriction once initially licensed. All but seven states have
      upgraded their original laws one or more times. Very few states weakened their
      laws, usually in minor ways. In 158 instances, minimum learner periods, minimum
      practice hour requirements, or night or passenger restrictions were added or
      strengthened. Fifteen states raised the minimum age for a license allowing any
      unsupervised driving. CONCLUSION: GDL policies have reduced teenage driver
      crashes. Most states now have at least minimum requirements for basic GDL
      features, although there is substantial opportunity for strengthening existing
      policies. Additional upgrades would result in further crash reductions, but very
      few have been made in recent years. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Guidelines for
      maximizing the crash reduction potential of GDL programs are available, based on
      the experience of U.S. states, other countries with GDL programs, and the
      evaluation literature in regard to GDL components.

PMID- 26875158
TI  - Degradation of fluorescent high-visibility colors used in safety garments for the
      Australian railway industry.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the compliance of four fluorescent orange
      high-visibility garment substrates that are predominantly used in the Australian
      railway industry. While Special Purpose Orange (SPO), a shade of the Fluorescent
      orange (Fl-orange) is recommended by most Australian states as the high
      visibility background color of a safety garment, there appear to be variations in
      the background color of clothing used by line-workers and rail contractors. The
      color of the garment was assessed for compliance with the Australian Standard
      AS/NZS 1906.2.2010 for high-visibility materials for safety garments. The results
      were also compared with ANSI Z535.2011 and BS EN ISO 20471.2013 Standards.
      METHOD: Photometric and colorimetric assessments of the background color of the
      garment substrates were performed using a spectrophotometer and were evaluated
      for compliance with the Standards after washing and exposure to UV. RESULTS: The
      spectrophotometry measurements showed that Fl-orange background color for all
      samples except one complied with the AS/NZS 1906.2 Standard for daytime high
      visibility garments after 20 washes but failed to comply after exposure to UV. It
      was also found that the chromaticity coordinates of the corners of the Fl-orange
      color space, specified in the AS/NZS 1906.4.2010 Standard are much wider and
      yellower when compared with the ANSI Z535.1.2011 and BS EN ISO 20471.2013
      Standards. The sample that failed to comply with the Australian and American
      Standards however complied with the ISO Standard. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:
      Irrespective of the Standard used, the research has shown the degrading effect of
      washing and light exposure and raises the questions as to how regularly, and
      under what conditions high-visibility garments need to be replaced. These
      findings will provide information for safety garment manufacturers about the
      characteristics and performance of high-visibility safety garments which make
      them conspicuous during daytime use. This research recommends that colors for
      railway workers should be chosen based on the conspicuity, commercial viability,
      reproducibility and durability rather than simply adopting standards from other
      industry domains or other countries.

PMID- 26875157
TI  - Mullerian intra-abdominal carcinomatosis in hereditary breast ovarian cancer
      syndrome: implications for risk-reducing surgery.
AB  - More than 40 years ago Lynch et al. described several multigenerational breast
      cancer family pedigrees which demonstrated autosomal dominant inheritance of a
      trait(s) that increased risks for both breast and ovarian cancers. Mutation
      carriers in at least 90 % of these hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC)
      syndrome families have been linked to cancer-associated mutations in the genes
      BRCA1 and BRCA2. This review focuses on the contributions of Lynch, colleagues
      and collaborators and pertinent literature, toward defining the HBOC syndrome,
      the cancer risks that the inherited adverse mutations convey, the gynecologic
      tissues and organs from which the malignancy may arise to disseminate throughout
      the pelvic and abdominal organs and peritoneum and how this information can be
      used to reduce the risk and morbidities of intra-abdominal carcinomatosis in
      effected individuals.

PMID- 26875160
TI  - Observed child restraint misuse in a large, urban community: Results from three
      years of inspection events.
AB  - PROBLEM: Child restraints (CRs) are vital for optimizing child passenger safety
      and reducing the risk of pediatric injury and fatality in motor vehicle crashes.
      However, most CRs are installed improperly. METHODS: This present study was an
      assessment of observed instances of CR misuse. Participants were recruited
      through advertisements for CR inspection events in Los Angeles County,
      California. Child Passenger Safety Technicians collected information about each
      child passenger, vehicle, and aspects of CR selection and installation. RESULTS:
      Of 693 CRs installed upon arrival, only 3.8% were used with no instances of
      misuse. The most common misuses were inappropriate use of the top tether and
      failure to secure the seatbelt in locked mode. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of
      observed CRs were installed with instances of misuse. CRs in newer vehicles were
      less likely to be installed in front of airbags and more likely to have the
      seatbelt routed inappropriately compared to those in older vehicles. Older
      children were more likely to be prematurely restrained in the front vehicle seat.
      PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The majority of CRs are installed improperly. We
      identified specific instances of CR misuse that are common in a large, urban
      community and present recommendations to improve child passenger safety practices
      and education.

PMID- 26875161
TI  - Using a cluster randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of
      intervention of battery and hardwired smoke alarms in New South Wales, Australia:
      Home fire safety checks pilot program.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In 2014, Fire & Rescue New South Wales piloted the delivery of its
      home fire safety checks program (HFSC) aimed at engaging and educating targeted
      top "at risk" groups to prevent and prepare for fire. This pilot study aimed to
      assess the effectiveness of smoke alarms using a cluster randomized controlled
      trial. METHODS: Survey questionnaires were distributed to the households that had
      participated in the HFSC program (intervention group). A separate survey
      questionnaire was distributed to the control group that was identified with
      similar characteristics to the intervention group in the same suburb. To adjust
      for potential clustering effects, generalized estimation equations with a log
      link were used. RESULTS: Multivariable analyses revealed that battery and
      hardwired smoking alarm usage increased by 9% and 3% respectively among the
      intervention group compared to the control group. Females were more likely to
      install battery smoke alarms than males. Respondents who possessed a certificate
      or diploma (AOR=1.31, 95% CI 1.00-1.70, P=0.047) and those who were educated up
      to years 8-12 (AOR=1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.64, P=0.012) were significantly more
      likely to install battery smoke alarms than those who completed bachelor degrees.
      Conversely, holders of a certificate or diploma and people who were educated up
      to years 8-12 were 31% (AOR=0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.93, P=0.014) and 24% (AOR=0.76,
      95% CI 0.60-0.95, P=0.015) significantly less likely to install a hardwired smoke
      alarm compared to those who completed bachelor degrees. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot
      study provided evidence of the benefit of the HFSC in New South Wales. PRACTICAL
      APPLICATIONS: Fire safety intervention programs, like HFSC, need to be targeted
      to male adults with lower level of schooling even when they are aware of their
      risks.

PMID- 26875162
TI  - Night club patrons who feel safe will return: Evidence to encourage management to
      address club violence.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is substantial evidence that heavy drinking is associated
      with aggression and violence. Most managers of drinking establishments are
      required to maintain a security staff to deal with disruptive patrons who
      threaten an organization's business or legal status. However, managers may focus
      little on minor instances of aggression even though these may escalate into more
      serious events. We hypothesize that proactive security efforts may positively
      affect patrons' perceptions of nighttime safety and influence their decisions to
      return to the club, thereby affecting the club's bottom line. METHOD: Data for
      this study were collected from entry and exit surveys with 1714 attendees at 70
      electronic music dance events at 10 clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area (2010
      2012). Participants were asked to report on observations and experiences with
      aggressive behavior while in the club, their overall perception of club safety,
      and their plans to return to the same club in the next 30 days. Mediational
      multiple regression analysis was used to relate observations of club security to
      perceptions of personal safety and plans to return to the club. RESULTS: Reported
      observations of an active club security staff were positively related to
      perceptions of personal safety. Safety perceptions, in turn, were significantly
      related to plans to return to the club. The indirect path between perceptions of
      security and plans to return was significant as well. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that an active security presence inside clubs can encourage club
      attendance by providing an environment where minor altercations are minimized,
      contributing to the perception of club safety. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Evidence
      that proactive security efforts appear to increase return customers might
      motivate managers to implement better security policies.

PMID- 26875163
TI  - An evaluation of Ontario's Group Education Session (GES) for license renewal of
      seniors aged 80 and above.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In 1996, the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario (MTO)
      implemented the Group Education Session (GES), which is a mandatory license
      renewal program for drivers aged 80 and older. This study describes an evaluation
      of the GES to assess its impact on road safety in Ontario, as well as its effect
      on the safety of individual drivers who participated in the program. METHODS:
      Time series analysis of senior driver records both before and after
      implementation of the GES, and logistic regression and survival analysis
      examining senior driver records prior to, and following, their participation in
      the GES. RESULTS: Using time series analysis there is some evidence to suggest
      that the GES had a positive impact on road safety. According to the other
      analyses, participation in the GES is associated with a decrease in the odds of
      collisions and convictions, regardless of whether drivers pass their first
      attempt of the knowledge test or not. In addition, failing the first road test
      and/or having demerit points are strong indicators of future collision and
      conviction involvement. DISCUSSION: Results from this evaluation suggest that the
      GES has had a protective effect on the safety of senior drivers. PRACTICAL
      APPLICATIONS: The findings and discussion will help MTO improve the GES program
      and provide insights to other jurisdictions that have, or are considering,
      introducing new senior driver programs.

PMID- 26875164
TI  - Global bike share: What the data tells us about road safety.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Bike share has emerged as a rapidly growing mode of transport in
      over 800 cities globally, up from just a handful in the 1990s. Some analysts had
      forecast a rise in the number of bicycle crashes after the introduction of bike
      share, but empirical research on bike share safety is rare. The goal of this
      study is to examine the impact of bike share programs on cycling safety. METHODS:
      The paper has two substudies. Study 1 was a secondary analysis of longitudinal
      hospital injury data from the Graves et al. (2014) study. It compared cycling
      safety in cities that introduced bike share programs with cities that did not.
      Study 2 combined ridership data with crash data of selected North American and
      European cities to compare bike share users to other cyclists. RESULTS: Study 1
      indicated that the introduction of a bike share system was associated with a
      reduction in cycling injury risk. Study 2 found that bike share users were less
      likely than other cyclists to sustain fatal or severe injuries. CONCLUSIONS: On a
      per kilometer basis, bike share is associated with decreased risk of both fatal
      and non-fatal bicycle crashes when compared to private bike riding. PRACTICAL
      APPLICATIONS: The results of this study suggest that concerns of decreased levels
      of cycling safety are unjustified and should not prevent decision makers from
      introducing public bike share schemes, especially if combined with other safety
      measures like traffic calming.

PMID- 26875165
TI  - Leader-member exchange: Moderating the health and safety outcomes of job
      insecurity.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Job insecurity has been repeatedly linked with poor employee health
      and safety outcomes. Although research on high quality leader-member exchange
      (LMX) has demonstrated many beneficial effects, no research to date has examined
      the extent to which positive LMX might attenuate those adverse health and safety
      related consequences of job insecurity. The current study extends research in
      this area by specifically examining the buffering impact of LMX on the
      relationship between job insecurity and safety knowledge, reported accidents, and
      physical health conditions. Furthermore, the study also examines whether positive
      LMX mitigates the typically seen negative impact of job insecurity on supervisor
      satisfaction. METHODS: The hypotheses were tested using survey data collected
      from 212 employees of a mine located in southwestern United States. RESULTS: As
      predicted, job insecurity was related to lower levels of supervisor satisfaction,
      more health ailments, and more workplace accidents, and was marginally related to
      lower levels of safety knowledge. Results indicated that LMX significantly
      attenuated these observed relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the dyadic
      relationship between supervisor and subordinate has a significant impact on the
      extent to which job insecurity is associated with adverse health and safety
      outcomes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Practical implications for supervisor behavior
      and developing high quality LMX are discussed in light of today's pervasive job
      insecurity.

PMID- 26875166
TI  - Analysis of the injury severity of crashes by considering different lighting
      conditions on two-lane rural roads.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Many studies have examined different factors contributing to the
      injury severity of crashes; however, relatively few studies have focused on the
      crashes by considering the specific effects of lighting conditions. This research
      investigates lighting condition differences in the injury severity of crashes
      using 3-year (2009-2011) crash data of two-lane rural roads of the state of
      Washington. METHOD: Separate ordered-probit models were developed to predict the
      effects of a set of factors expected to influence injury severity in three
      lighting conditions; daylight, dark, and dark with street lights. A series of
      likelihood ratio tests were conducted to determine if these lighting condition
      models were justified. RESULTS: The modeling results suggest that injury severity
      in specific lighting conditions are associated with contributing factors in
      different ways, and that such differences cannot be uncovered by focusing merely
      on one aggregate model. Key differences include crash location, speed limit,
      shoulder width, driver action, and three collision types (head-on, rear-end, and
      right-side impact collisions). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This paper highlights the
      importance of deploying street lights at and near intersections (or access
      points) on two-lane rural roads because injury severity highly increases when
      crashes occur at these points in dark conditions.

PMID- 26875167
TI  - Toyota drivers' experiences with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision
      System, and Lane-Keeping Assist.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Advanced crash avoidance and driver assistance technologies
      potentially can prevent or mitigate many crashes. Previous surveys with drivers
      have found favorable opinions for many advanced technologies; however, these
      surveys are not necessarily representative of all drivers or all systems. As the
      technologies spread throughout the vehicle fleet, it is important to continue
      studying driver acceptance and use of them. METHOD: This study focused on 2010
      2013 Toyota Sienna and Prius models that were equipped with adaptive cruise
      control, forward collision avoidance, and lane departure warning and prevention
      (Prius models only). Telephone interviews were conducted in summer 2013 with 183
      owners of vehicles with these technologies. RESULTS: About 9 in 10 respondents
      wanted adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance on their next
      vehicle, and 71% wanted lane departure warning/prevention again. Males and
      females reported some differences in their experiences with the systems; for
      example, males were more likely to have turned on lane departure
      warning/prevention than females, and when using this system, males reported more
      frequent warnings than did females. Relative to older drivers, drivers age 40 and
      younger were more likely to have seen or heard a forward collision warning.
      CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the results in previous surveys of owners of luxury
      vehicles, the present survey found that driver acceptance of the technologies was
      high, although less so for lane departure warning/prevention. Experiences with
      the Toyota systems differed by driver age and gender to a greater degree than in
      previous surveys, suggesting that the responses of drivers may begin to differ as
      crash avoidance technology becomes available on a wider variety of vehicles.
      PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Crash avoidance technologies potentially can prevent or
      mitigate many crashes, but their success depends in part on driver acceptance.
      These systems will be effective only to the extent that drivers use them.

PMID- 26875168
TI  - Urban green spaces activities: A preparatory groundwork for a safety management
      system.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Urban green spaces works and maintenance are high-risk activities
      and usually represent possible sources of injuries. The management issues are
      complex and strongly influenced by companies' policies in terms of safety
      management and human factor. A high number of tasks-including protecting public
      health and safety and safe working procedures-need to be faced by professional
      arborists or gardeners. METHOD: The present paper provides a preparatory
      groundwork for modeling and describing the real risk levels during the
      abovementioned activities. The methodology represents a useful tool for decision
      making both for group leaders and safety coordinators. This goal is reached by
      collecting data emerging from several workplaces located in North East Italy
      regarding the frequency and severity of injuries. RESULTS: The preliminary
      results point out that the most frequent injuries in green maintenance activities
      are represented by cuts, contusions, and ocular lesions, but none of them have
      lead to particularly serious consequences for the operators; indeed, the high
      levels of severity are related to traumas, fractures, and acute lumbar herniated
      discs. The riskiest activities are related to pruning, especially using mobile
      elevating work platforms, and grass cutting, especially when operated in
      escarpments and banks. Workers' behavior and companies' safety policies are key
      elements for a correct safety management system.

PMID- 26875169
TI  - A pedestrian's smile and drivers' behavior: When a smile increases careful
      driving.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Research has reported that smiles facilitate social relationships.
      However, the effect of a smile on driving behavior has received less interest.
      METHOD: This study attempts to evaluate how a pedestrian's smile influences an
      oncoming driver's behavior. In the first part of our study, male and female
      research assistants waiting at several pedestrian crossings were asked to smile
      or not at oncoming drivers. RESULTS: It was found that a smile increases the
      number of drivers who stop. The same effect was observed when the pedestrian
      tries to cross outside the pedestrian crossing. Finally, this study shows that
      motorists drive slower after they see a pedestrian smile, suggesting that a smile
      can induce a positive mood. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This leads to motorists
      stopping more readily and driving more carefully. These results also suggest that
      pedestrians may increase their own safety by using appropriate nonverbal signals
      toward drivers.

PMID- 26875170
TI  - Cultural values and random breath tests as moderators of the social influence on
      drunk driving in 15 countries.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The social influence on drunk driving has been previously observed
      in several countries. It is noteworthy, however, that the prevalence of alcohol
      in road fatalities is not the same in all countries. The present study aimed to
      explore whether cultural values and the number of roadside breath tests moderate
      the link between the perceived drunk driving of one's peers and self-reported
      behavior. METHODS: Based on the European survey SARTRE 4, the responses of 10,023
      car drivers from 15 countries were analyzed. Two cultural values, "tradition" and
      "conformism," were identified as possibly being linked to social influence.
      Country scores for these values were taken from the European Social Survey. The
      number of random roadside breath tests per inhabitant was used as an indicator of
      drunk-driving enforcement in each country. RESULTS: A hierarchical multilevel
      modeling analysis confirmed the link between friends' drunk driving and one's own
      drunk driving in all countries, but the strength of the link was much stronger in
      some countries (e.g., Italy, Cyprus, and Israel) than in others (e.g., Finland,
      Estonia, and Sweden). Both the measured value of "tradition" and the number of
      alcohol breath tests were found to moderate the link between friends' and one's
      own drunk driving. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: European stakeholders should take into
      account cultural specificities of target countries when designing campaigns
      against drunk driving.

PMID- 26875171
TI  - The effects of co-presence on risk perception and intention to engage in risky
      behaviors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the relation between co-presence and
      bicyclists' riding behavior. We assumed that the presence of peer riders would
      either facilitate or inhibit risky behaviors depending on bicyclists' perceptions
      of three traffic contexts conducive to risk taking (i.e., red-light, go straight,
      and turn to left). METHOD: Young bicyclists (N=207) were randomly assigned to two
      experimental conditions (alone vs. with peers). They filled in a scenario-based
      questionnaire about their intentions to adopt risky behaviors in three specific
      traffic situations as well as their risk perception of these situations and their
      general self-perceived efficacy as a bicyclist. We hypothesized that the presence
      of peer riders engaged in a risky behavior will facilitate the intention to adopt
      risky behaviors in situations where group risk is evaluated as lower than
      individual risk. In opposition, the presence of peer riders engaged in a risky
      behavior will inhibit the intention to adopt risky behaviors in situations where
      group risk is evaluated as higher than individual risk. RESULTS: The results
      confirmed the hypotheses. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The findings offer insights for
      developing new effective education and intervention programs in order to reduce
      the frequency of dangerous behavior among bicyclists.

PMID- 26875172
TI  - Unintentional injuries treated in hospital emergency departments among persons
      aged 65 years and older, United States, 2006-2011.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: With the aging of the United States population, unintentional
      injuries among older adults, and especially falls-related injuries, are an
      increasing public health concern. METHODS: We analyzed emergency department (ED)
      data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, 2006-2011. We examined
      unintentional injury trends by 5-year age groups, sex, mechanism, body region,
      discharge disposition, and primary payer. For 2011, we estimated the medical
      costs of unintentional injury and the distribution of primary payers, plus rates
      by injury mechanisms and body regions injured by 5-year age groups. RESULTS: From
      2006 to 2011, the age-adjusted annual rate of unintentional injury-related ED
      visits among persons aged >= 65 years increased significantly from 7987 to 8163,
      per 100,000 population. In 2011, 65% of injuries were due to falls. Rates for
      fall-related injury ED visits increased with age and the highest rate was among
      those aged >= 100. Each year, about 85% of unintentional injury-related ED visits
      in this population were expected to be paid by Medicare. In 2011, the estimated
      lifetime medical cost of unintentional injury-related ED visits among those aged
      >= 65 years was $40 billion. CONCLUSION: Increasing rates of ED-treated
      unintentional injuries, driven mainly by falls among older adults, will challenge
      our health care system and increase the economic burden on our society.
      Prevention efforts to reduce falls and resulting injuries among adults aged >= 65
      years have the potential to increase well-being and reduce health care spending,
      especially the costs covered by Medicare. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: With the aging
      of the U.S. population, unintentional injuries, and especially fall-related
      injuries, will present a growing challenge to our health care system as well as
      an increasing economic burden. To counteract this trend, we must implement
      effective public health strategies, such as increasing knowledge about fall risk
      factors and broadly disseminating evidence-based injury and fall prevention
      programs in both clinical and community settings.

PMID- 26875173
TI  - Introduction to the Special Issue on Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy.
AB  - This special issue is dedicated to spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and
      is based on the conference sponsored by the European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC)
      held in March 2015. SBMA, also known as Kennedy's disease, is a neurodegenerative
      disease caused by an expansion of a repeat of the trinucleotide CAG encoding
      glutamine in the gene encoding androgen receptor (AR). Expansion of polyglutamine
      in the AR results in selective lower motor neuron degeneration and skeletal
      muscle atrophy. SBMA belongs to the family of polyglutamine diseases, which also
      includes Huntington's disease, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, and
      spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17. Within the family of
      polyglutamine diseases, SBMA is unique in its gender-specificity, with full
      disease manifestation restricted to males. Since the disease is ligand (androgen)
      dependent, SBMA manifests primarily in males which have high levels of
      circulating androgens in the serum; females are usually asymptomatic. Indeed, the
      polyglutamine-expanded AR is converted to a neurotoxic species upon binding to
      androgens. The mechanisms through which androgen binding triggers the disease are
      under investigation. Although several therapeutic strategies have been proposed
      to date, there is currently no effective therapy to arrest or delay disease
      progression in patients. 

PMID- 26875175
TI  - Impact of the Bowel Management Program on the quality of life in children with
      fecal incontinence.
AB  - PURPOSE: Evaluate the impact of implementing Bowel Management Program (BMP) on
      quality of life (QoL) in children with fecal incontinence (FI). METHODS: Children
      3-12 years referred to the Children's Treatment Center of FI were included and
      categorized accordingto the tendency to constipation (dilated colon; group 1) or
      diarrhea (non-dilated colon; group 2). Evaluations were performed before and
      after 3 months of BMP implementation. Perceptions from parents and children about
      QoL were assessed by the instrument PedsQL4.0 and the severity of FI by the fecal
      incontinence index (FII) of Wexner scale. RESULTS: 43 children (mean age of 7.7
      +/- 3.1) were studied. 32 (74.4 %) belonged to group 1 and 11 (25.6 %) to group
      2. After 3 months of BMP, it was noticed a significant improvement of the FII
      (14.5 +/- 3.7 versus 2.8 +/- 2.5; p < 0.001) in both groups. QoL perception by
      the parents and children increased on PedsQL4.0 evaluation (p < 0.001). There was
      a medium inverse statistically significant correlation of the FII and the total
      PedsQL4.0 score among children and parents (r = -0.47, p = 0.009 and r = -0, 39,
      p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: The BMP applied by a multidisciplinary
      dedicated team significantly improves the QoL of children with FI in the short
      term period.

PMID- 26875176
TI  - Recurrent rhabdoid meningioma with lymph node, pulmonary and bone metastases: a
      diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
AB  - Rhabdoid meningioma is a rare meningioma variant, classified as WHO grade III.
      Although this tumor is known for its aggressive behavior and poor prognosis,
      extracranial metastasis is rare. We report the rare case of a 31-year-old patient
      with rhabdoid meningioma which recurred several times despite gross total
      resection, radiation therapy, and gamma knife radiosurgery, and the last
      recurrence was associated with metastases to lungs, lymph node and bone. The
      patient showed no response to paclitaxel-carboplatin, or vincristine
      cyclophosphamide-adriamycin chemotherapy, and succumbed to the disease.
      Metastases from rhabdoid meningioma prove to be a diagnostic challenge, and
      treatment for metastatic meningiomas is not optimized, thus necessitating
      documentation and interdisciplinary consensus on management protocols. 

PMID- 26875174
TI  - Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for children with Crohn's disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has been described in adults
      with Crohn's disease, but its use in pediatric Crohn's patients has been limited.
      The purpose of this study was to review our experience with SILS in pediatric
      patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for
      patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease who underwent small bowel resection or
      ileocecectomy at a freestanding children's hospital from 2006 to 2014. Data
      collected included demographic data, interval from diagnosis to surgery,
      operative time, length of stay, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Analysis
      identified 19 patients who underwent open surgery (OS) and 41 patients who
      underwent SILS. One patient (2.4 %) within the SILS group required conversion to
      OS. Demographic characteristics were similar between the 2 cohorts. The most
      common indication for surgery was stricture/obstruction (SILS 70.7 % vs. OS 68.4
      %, p = 0.86), and ileocecectomy was the most common primary procedure performed
      (SILS 90.2 % vs. OS 100 % OS). Operative times were longer for SILS (135 +/- 50
      vs. 105 +/- 37 min, p = 0.02). However, when the last 20 SILS cases were compared
      to all OS cases, the difference was no longer statistically significant (SILS
      123.3 +/- 34.2 vs. OS 105 +/- 36.5, p = 0.12). No difference was noted in
      postoperative length of stay (SILS 6.5 +/- 2.2 days vs. OS 7.4 +/- 2.2 days, p =
      0.16) or overall complication rate (SILS 24.4 % vs. OS 26.3 %, p = 0.16).
      CONCLUSION: SILS ileocecectomy is feasible in pediatric patients with Crohn's
      disease, achieving outcomes similar to OS. As experience increased, operative
      times also became comparable.

PMID- 26875177
TI  - Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Chicory and Milk Thistle on Serum Concentrations
      of Copper, Zinc, and Manganese in Tamoxifen-Treated Rats.
AB  - Some medications may change trace element levels in the body. Extracts of various
      plants, due to having the several elements, can have beneficial effects.
      Consumption of herbal extracts with chemical drugs may reduce adverse effects of
      medication. The goal of this study was to evaluate copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and
      manganese (Mn) concentrations in serum of rats treated with tamoxifen, chicory,
      and/or milk thistle extracts. Therefore, 36 adult female Wistar rats were divided
      into six groups: normal control, chicory control, milk thistle control,
      tamoxifen, tamoxifen-chicory, and tamoxifen-milk thistle. At the end of the
      study, the blood samples were collected and sera isolated by centrifugation and
      analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cu, Zn, and Mn levels.
      The Zn concentration increased in milk thistle-supplemented groups. The Cu level
      increased in the chicory control group only. Tamoxifen had no affect on Cu, Zn,
      and Mn levels, but seed extract of milk thistle increased Zn concentration, and
      chicory root extract increased Cu concentration. Although elevated levels of Cu
      in rats receiving tamoxifen-chicory were milder than rats treated only with
      chicory, it seems that the extract and tamoxifen impact on the Cu are in conflict
      with each other. 

PMID- 26875178
TI  - Clinical significance of pelvic lymph node status in prostate cancer: review of
      1690 cases.
AB  - To assess whether any relationship exists between the number of histologically
      examined lymph nodes and the detection of metastases in pelvic lymph node
      dissection (PLND) specimens taken from patients with radical prostatectomy (RP)
      for prostatic adenocarcinoma. 1690 cases of RP with PNLD were included in the
      study; 54 % of the patients were submitted to extended PLND (ePLND). Kaplan-Meier
      curves confirm the negative prognostic significance of nodal metastases on the
      overall patients' survival (P < 0.0001). Nodal metastases are significantly
      associated with older age of patients (P = 0.0466), higher pT status (P <
      0.0001), higher Gleason score (P < 0.0001) and positive surgical margin (P <
      0.0001). The frequency of nodal metastases is significantly increased in cases
      submitted to ePLND (P < 0.0001), presumably due to the significantly higher
      number of lymphnodes retrieved using this procedure (P < 0.0001). In addition,
      regardless of the extent of PLND procedure, entire histological examination of
      PLND specimens is significantly associated with a higher frequency of nodal
      metastases (P < 0.0001). When we considered only pN0 cases, 21 display adverse
      prognosis and died of disease during the follow-up. The number of pelvic
      lymphnodes examined is significantly lower in the group of patients who die of
      the disease compared to that of survivors (P = 0.0448). In addition, Kaplan-Meier
      analysis shows that patients with 10 or fewer examined lymphnodes have
      significantly shorter disease-specific survival (P = 0.0151). Our findings
      confirm the negative prognostic significance of N status in prostate cancer. We
      suggest the examination of a minimum number of 10 lymphnodes, together with
      entire PLND processing, for accurate assessment of N status.

PMID- 26875179
TI  - Direct oral anticoagulants in rare venous thrombosis.
AB  - The direct inhibitors of thrombin (dabigatran) or factor Xa (rivaroxaban,
      apixaban) are currently used in patients with venous thrombosis of the lower or
      upper limbs or with pulmonary embolism. However, the use of these direct oral
      anticoagulants (DOACs) in subjects with abdominal or cerebral venous thrombosis
      is more contentious due to the paucity of available data. In a few case reports
      and small series of patients hitherto published, the DOACs showed good efficacy
      and safety, supporting an extension of their use to these rare conditions. Thus,
      prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials have been set up. In
      this article, we review the published clinical experience with DOACs in rare
      venous thrombosis, and provide updated information on ongoing clinical trials. 

PMID- 26875180
TI  - Edematous face.

PMID- 26875181
TI  - The effects of Ni(2+) on electrical signaling of Nitellopsis obtusa cells.
AB  - The effect of nickel (Ni) on the generation of plant bioelectrical signals was
      evaluated in Nitellopsis obtusa, a Characean model organism. Conventional glass
      microelectrode technique and K(+)-anaesthesia method in current-clamp and voltage
      clamp modes were used for the measurement and analysis of electrical parameters.
      Ni(2+) treatment rapidly influenced the action potential (AP) parameters namely,
      excitation threshold, AP peak and duration, membrane potential at various
      voltages and dynamics of ion currents. We conclude that altered electrical
      signaling pathway in the test organism constituted the early target for Ni
      toxicity imposition. The observed Ni interference could be ascribed to disturbed
      [Ca(2+)]cyt content, impaired Cl(-) and K(+) channels activity resulting in
      decreased excitability and repolarization rate in generated AP. 

PMID- 26875182
TI  - Arsenic Exposure and Immunotoxicity: a Review Including the Possible Influence of
      Age and Sex.
AB  - Increasing evidence suggests that inorganic arsenic, a major environmental
      pollutant, exerts immunosuppressive effects in epidemiological, in vitro, and
      animal models. The mechanisms, however, remain unclear, and little is known about
      variation in susceptibilities due to age and sex. We performed a review of the
      experimental and epidemiologic evidence on the association of arsenic exposure
      and immune diseases. The majority of the studies described arsenic as a potent
      immunosuppressive compound, though others have reported an increase in allergy
      and autoimmune diseases, suggesting that arsenic may also act as an immune system
      stimulator, depending on the dose or timing of exposure. Limited information, due
      to either the high concentrations of arsenic used in in vitro studies or the use
      of non-human data for predicting human risks, is available from experimental
      studies. Moreover, although there is emerging evidence that health effects of
      arsenic manifest differently between men and women, we found limited information
      on sex differences on the immunotoxic effects of arsenic. In conclusion,
      preliminary data show that chronic early-life exposure to arsenic might impair
      immune responses, potentially leading to increased risk of infections and
      inflammatory-like diseases during childhood and in adulthood. Further
      investigation to evaluate effects of arsenic exposure on the developing immune
      system of both sexes, particularly in human cells and using concentrations
      relevant to human exposure, should be a research priority. 

PMID- 26875183
TI  - Multidimensional assessment of neuroendocrine and psychopathological profiles in
      maltreated youth.
AB  - It has been debated whether children who have experienced early life stress
      (ELS), such as early caregiver separation show elevated risk for stress-related
      psychiatric disorders and a multi-symptom psychopathological profile that is not
      fully reflected in categorical assessments. In this study, we investigated
      dimensional measures of stress-related psychopathology in children in permanent
      out-of-home care, taking into account potential neuroendocrine interactions. In
      the current study, 25 children who had been placed in permanent out-of-home care
      before age 3 (years) and 26 controls (aged 10.6 +/- 1.75 years) were investigated
      with categorical (DSM-IV) and dimensional assessments (CBCL) of psychopathology
      and diurnal salivary cortisol levels were assessed. Semi-structured interviews (K
      DIPS) revealed no significant group differences in full-scale psychiatric
      diagnoses, whereas dimensional assessment (CBCL) revealed significant group
      differences in externalizing and total problem behaviours within the clinical
      range for children with ELS. Only children with ELS showed a combined symptom
      profile of clinical-range internalizing and externalizing problems. Lower morning
      cortisol values and subsequent flatter decline was found in subjects with ELS
      children compared to controls, showing group differences in diurnal cortisol
      secretion. Lower morning cortisol values were associated with more problem
      behaviour in the ELS group. Results show that ELS children exhibited increased
      psychopathological symptom severity and complexity associated with lower morning
      cortisol levels, which was not fully reflected in categorical assessments. This
      highlights the importance of incorporating dimensional assessments and
      neurobiological factors into psychopathological evaluations of children in out-of
      home care in order to facilitate early identification of children at high risk
      for stress-related disorders.

PMID- 26875184
TI  - Clinical predictors of long-term survival in HER2-positive metastatic breast
      cancer.
AB  - Prior to availability of anti-HER2 therapies, HER2-positive metastatic breast
      cancer (MBC) was associated with a poor prognosis. Prospective randomized trials
      have demonstrated survival benefit from anti-HER2 treatments. Anecdotal
      observations have suggested that a small but meaningful fraction of patients with
      HER2-positive MBC may be "exceptional responders" with long survival. We
      hypothesized that demographic and/or clinicopathologic characteristics can be
      identified to distinguish short-term from long-term survivors. A retrospective,
      single-institution review of 168 patients with HER2-positive MBC who received
      treatment with anti-HER2 therapy in the metastatic setting was performed. Cox
      proportional hazards analysis was used to assess factors associated with long
      term survival. Median overall survival from the time of breast cancer recurrence
      was 3.9 years (95 % CI 3.4-5.2). From the time of diagnosis of MBC, 56 (33 %)
      survived for 5 or more years and 12 (7 %) survived more than 10 years. Of the 66
      patients diagnosed with central nervous system metastases, 9 (14 %) survived more
      than 5 years following that diagnosis. Younger age at diagnosis, lower stage,
      hormone receptor positive status, and only having one organ involved at diagnosis
      were associated with longer survival. Four patients discontinued anti-HER2
      therapy and are without evidence of progression of disease after a median 7.4
      years (0.2-12.0) since stopping therapy. In a cohort of patients with HER2
      positive MBC treated primarily with trastuzumab and lapatinib, 7 % of patients
      were "exceptional responders." Combining these clinical factors with molecular
      determinants of prolonged survival may provide insights for individualizing
      treatment selection. 

PMID- 26875185
TI  - A phase 1b study of the Akt-inhibitor MK-2206 in combination with weekly
      paclitaxel and trastuzumab in patients with advanced HER2-amplified solid tumor
      malignancies.
AB  - PURPOSE: Akt plays a key role in the aggressive pathogenesis of HER2+
      malignancies, suggesting that Akt-inhibitors may be of therapeutic value in the
      treatment of HER2+ tumors. Preclinical studies demonstrate synergy between MK
      2206, a selective allosteric Akt-inhibitor, with paclitaxel and trastuzumab. We
      aimed to evaluate the safety of this combination in patients with HER2+
      malignancies. METHODS: We conducted a phase 1b study of weekly MK-2206 in
      combination with weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and trastuzumab 2 mg/kg in patients
      with HER2+ malignancies. Dose escalation was performed using a modified toxicity
      probability interval method. Molecular profiling of archived tissue samples and
      limited PK analyses were performed. RESULTS: 16 patients with HER2+ tumors were
      enrolled (12 breast, 3 gastric, 1 esophageal). 81 and 75 % had received prior
      trastuzumab and taxane chemotherapy, respectively. MK-2206 135 mg/week was
      determined to be tolerable. Three dose-limiting toxicities were observed
      including two grade 3 rashes and 1 grade 3 neutropenia resulting in a > 7 day
      delay in treatment. Grade 3/4 adverse events include neutropenia (44 %), rash (13
      %), peripheral neuropathy (6 %), and depression (6 %). 10 patients (63 %)
      demonstrated tumor response (3 complete, 7 partial). Median duration of response
      was 6 months. Exploratory analyses identified STARD3, TM7SF2, and G3BP1 as
      potential biomarkers of response. CONCLUSIONS: MK-2206 at a dose of 135 mg/week
      in combination with weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab is safe and well tolerated,
      and is the recommended phase 2 dose for this combination. Preliminary data
      indicate significant clinical activity in patients with HER2+ tumors despite
      prior HER2-directed therapy.

PMID- 26875186
TI  - Phosphorus resorption by young beech trees and soil phosphatase activity as
      dependent on phosphorus availability.
AB  - Motivated by decreasing foliar phosphorus (P) concentrations in Fagus sylvatica
      L. forests, we studied P recycling depending on P fertilization in mesocosms with
      juvenile trees and soils of two contrasting F. sylvatica L. forests in a
      greenhouse. We hypothesized that forests with low soil P availability are better
      adapted to recycle P than forests with high soil P availability. The P resorption
      efficiency from senesced leaves was significantly higher at the P-poor site (70
      %) than at the P-rich site (48 %). P fertilization decreased the resorption
      efficiency significantly at the P-poor site to 41 %, while it had no effect at
      the P-rich site. Both acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were higher in the
      rhizosphere of the P-poor than of the P-rich site by 53 and 27 %, respectively,
      while the activities did not differ in the bulk soil. Fertilization decreased
      acid phosphatase activity significantly at the P-poor site in the rhizosphere,
      but had no effect on the alkaline, i.e., microbial, phosphatase activity at any
      site. Acid phosphatase activity in the P-poor soil was highest in the
      rhizosphere, while in the P-rich soil, it was highest in the bulk soil. We
      conclude that F. sylvatica resorbed P more efficiently from senescent leaves at
      low soil P availability than at high P availability and that acid phosphatase
      activity in the rhizosphere but not in the bulk soil was increased at low P
      availability. Moreover, we conclude that in the P-rich soil, microbial
      phosphatases contributed more strongly to total phosphatase activity than plant
      phosphatases.

PMID- 26875187
TI  - Wetland defense: naturally occurring pesticide resistance in zooplankton
      populations protects the stability of aquatic communities.
AB  - Anthropogenic stressors are ubiquitous and have been implicated in worldwide
      declines of terrestrial and aquatic species. Pesticides are one such stressor
      that can have profound effects on aquatic communities by directly affecting
      sensitive species and indirectly affecting other species via trophic cascades,
      which can alter ecosystem function. However, there is growing evidence that non
      target species can evolve increased resistance. When such species are important
      drivers of the food web, then evolved resistance should help buffer communities
      from the effects of pesticides. To examine this possibility, we cultured four
      populations of the common zooplankton Daphnia pulex that we previously
      demonstrated were either sensitive or resistant to a common insecticide (i.e.,
      chlorpyrifos) due to their proximity to agriculture. Using outdoor mesocosms that
      contained identical aquatic communities of phytoplankton, periphyton, and leopard
      frog tadpoles (Lithobates pipiens), we manipulated four D. pulex populations and
      four insecticide concentrations. As we monitored the communities for nearly 3
      months, we found that the insecticide caused direct mortality of D. pulex in
      communities containing sensitive populations, and this led to a bloom of
      phytoplankton. In contrast, the insecticide caused much less direct mortality in
      communities containing resistant D. pulex populations, and the trophic cascade
      was prevented under low to moderate insecticide concentrations. Across all
      insecticide treatments, survivorship of leopard frogs was approximately 72 % in
      communities with resistant D. pulex but only 35 % in communities with sensitive
      D. pulex. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to use naturally
      occurring population variation in insecticide resistance to show that the
      evolution of pesticide resistance in zooplankton can mitigate the effects of
      insecticide-induced trophic cascades, and that this outcome can have far-reaching
      community effects.

PMID- 26875188
TI  - First Record of the Larval Endoparasitoid Tachinaephagus zealandicus
      (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) From Fly Hosts Developing on Burnt Remains and in
      Pennsylvania.
AB  - Adults of the gregarious larval endoparasitoid Tachinaephagus zealandicus Ashmead
      (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) were collected from two species of carrion-inhabiting
      flies, Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Hydrotaea aenescens
      Wiedemann (Muscidae), associated with the burnt remains of a domesticated pig,
      Sus scrofa L. (Artiodactyla: Suidae), during late summer in south central
      Pennsylvania. This represents the first reported occurrence of the wasp in the
      state and only the second in the mid-Atlantic region. Collection from P. regina
      is a new host record for T. zealandicus and also the first for this parasitoid
      being attracted to flies on burnt remains.

PMID- 26875189
TI  - Conjugation-Mediated Transfer of Antibiotic-Resistance Plasmids Between
      Enterobacteriaceae in the Digestive Tract of Blaberus craniifer (Blattodea:
      Blaberidae).
AB  - Cockroaches, insects of the order Blattodea, seem to play a crucial role in the
      possible conjugation-mediated genetic exchanges that occur among bacteria that
      harbor in the cockroach intestinal tract. The gut of these insects can be thought
      of as an effective in vivo model for the natural transfer of antimicrobial
      resistance plasmids among bacteria. In our study, we evaluated the conjugation
      mediated horizontal transfer of resistance genes between Escherichia coli and
      other microorganisms of the same Enterobacteriaceae family within the intestinal
      tract of Blaberus craniifer Burmeister, 1838 (Blattodea: Blaberidae). Different
      in vivo mating experiments were performed using E. coli RP4 harboring the RP4
      plasmid carrying ampicillin, kanamycin, and tetracycline resistance genes as the
      donor and E. coli K12 resistant to nalidixic acid or Salmonella enterica serovar
      Enteritidis IMM39 resistant to streptomycin as the recipients. The RP4 plasmid
      was successfully transferred to both recipients, producing E. coli K12-RP4 and S.
      Enteritidis IMM39-RP4 transconjugants. Conjugation frequencies in vivo were
      similar to those previously observed in vitro. The transfer of the RP4 plasmid in
      all transconjugants was confirmed by small-scale plasmid isolation and agar gel
      electrophoresis, suggesting that the intestinal tract of cockroaches is an
      effective in vivo model for natural gene transfer. Our results confirm that
      cockroaches allow for the exchange of antimicrobial resistance plasmids among
      bacteria and may represent a potential reservoir for the dissemination of
      antibiotic-resistant bacteria in different environments. These findings are
      particularly significant to human health in the context of health care settings
      such as hospitals.

PMID- 26875190
TI  - How different are composite and traditional TTO valuations of severe EQ-5D-5L
      states?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Different variants of time trade-off (TTO) have been employed to
      elicit health state preferences and to create value sets for preference-based
      instruments. We compared composite TTO (cTTO) with traditional TTO (tTTO) in
      valuing severe EQ-5D-5L health states. METHODS: cTTO uses tTTO to elicit values
      for health states better than dead and the lead-time TTO for states worse than
      dead. Eighteen severe states were valued using both cTTO and tTTO. Participants
      meeting predefined inconsistency criteria were excluded from the analyses.
      Histograms were used to examine the distributions of cTTO and tTTO values. Mean
      difference between the cTTO and tTTO values was calculated. Bland-Altman plots
      were used to examine the agreement between the cTTO and tTTO values for each
      health state. We used a logistic mixed effects model with random intercepts to
      identify variables that were associated with the directional change between the
      two TTO values. RESULTS: A total of 1024 participants were included in the
      analysis with the mean age (SD) being 47.1 (17.4) years and 54.9 % female. For
      cTTO, 25 % of the values clustered at zero and there were few values between 0
      and -0.5. In contrast, tTTO had fewer values at zero and more falling between 
      0.5 and 0. The distribution of positive values was similar between cTTO and tTTO.
      For worse than dead health states, the cTTO values tended to be higher than the
      tTTO values. In the logistic mixed effects model, those who did not agree that it
      was easy to understand the cTTO questions more likely changed from positive
      values in cTTO to zero or negative values in tTTO or change from zero cTTO values
      to negative values in tTTO compared with those who agreed (odds ratio 1.314, p =
      0.037). CONCLUSION: cTTO is an appealing technique in eliciting health state
      preferences, but further evidence is needed for its performance in valuing EQ-5D
      health states on a wide spectrum of health state severity.

PMID- 26875191
TI  - Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents.
AB  - Chronic migraine is defined as having more than 15 headache days in a month, half
      of these showing migraine features, for at least 3 months. It is a chronic
      painful syndrome with aspects such as psychiatric comorbid, decreased quality of
      life, and environmental and intrinsic psychological factors that make face-to
      face treatment difficult. Children and adolescent migraine differ from adults as
      a result of growing brain and evolving disorder. In this paper, we will emphasize
      the definition, diagnosis, epidemiology, burden of life, and management of
      chronic migraine in children and adolescent. 

PMID- 26875192
TI  - Inflammatory markers and exposure to airborne particles among workers in a
      Swedish pulp and paper mill.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study the relationship between exposure to airborne particles in a
      pulp and paper mill and markers of inflammation and coagulation in blood.
      METHODS: Personal sampling of inhalable dust was performed for 72 subjects
      working in a Swedish pulp and paper mill. Stationary measurements were used to
      study concentrations of total dust, respirable dust, PM10 and PM2.5, the particle
      surface area and the particle number concentrations. Markers of inflammation,
      interleukins (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum
      amyloid A (SAA), and fibrinogen and markers of coagulation factor VIII, von
      Willebrand, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and D-dimer were measured in plasma
      or serum. Sampling was performed on the last day of the work free period of 5
      days, before and after the shift the first day of work and after the shifts the
      second and third day. In a mixed model analysis, the relationship between
      particulate exposures and inflammatory markers was determined. Sex, age, smoking,
      and BMI were included as covariates. RESULTS: The average 8-h time-weighted
      average (TWA) air concentration levels of inhalable dust were 0.30 mg/m(3), range
      0.005-3.3 mg/m(3). The proxies for average 8-h TWAs of respirable dust were 0.045
      mg/m(3). Significant and consistent positive relations were found between several
      exposure metrics (PM 10, total and inhalable dust) and CRP, SAA and fibrinogen
      taken post-shift, suggesting a dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSION: This study
      supports a relationship between occupational particle exposure and established
      inflammatory markers, which may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular
      disease.

PMID- 26875193
TI  - Is There a Role for Adjuvant Therapy in R0 Resected Gallbladder Cancer?: A
      Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the role of adjuvant therapy in
      stage I-III gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients who have undergone R0 resection.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data were collected on 441 consecutive patients
      who underwent R0 resection for stage I-III GBC. Eligible patients were classified
      into adjuvant therapy and surveillance only groups. Propensity score matching
      (PSM) between the two groups was performed, adjusting clinical factors. RESULTS:
      In total, 84 and 279 patients treated with adjuvant therapy and followed up with
      surveillance only, respectively, were included in the analysis. Before PSM, the 5
      year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was lower in the adjuvant therapy group
      than in the surveillance only group (50.8% vs. 74.8%, p < 0.001), although there
      was no statistically significant difference in the 5-year overall survival (OS)
      rate (66.2% vs. 79.5%, p=0.089). After the PSM, baseline characteristics became
      comparable and there were no differences in the 5-year RFS (50.8% vs. 64.8%,
      p=0.319) and OS (66.2% vs. 70.4%, p=0.703) rates between the two groups.
      CONCLUSION: The results suggest that fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant therapy is
      not indicated in stage I-III GBC patients who have undergone R0 resection.

PMID- 26875194
TI  - Venous Invasion in Colorectal Cancer: Impact of Morphologic Findings on Detection
      Rate.
AB  - PURPOSE: Venous invasion (VI) is widely accepted as a poor prognostic factor in
      colorectal cancer (CRC), and is indicated as a high-risk factor determining the
      use of adjuvant chemotherapy in CRC. However, there is marked interobserver and
      intraobserver variability in VI identification and marked variability in the real
      prevalence of VI in CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the detection
      rate of VI in 93 consecutive cases of T3 or T4 CRC based on the following:
      original pathology report, review of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides with
      attention to the "protruding tongue" and "orphan arteriole" signs, and elastic
      stain as the gold standard. RESULTS: Overall, the detection rate of VI was
      significantly increased as follows: 14/93 (15.1%) in the original pathology
      report, 38/93 (40.9%) in review of H&E slides with attention to the "protruding
      tongue" and "orphan arteriole" signs, and 45/93 (48.4%) using elastic stain. VI
      detection based on morphologic features showed 77.8% sensitivity and 91.1%
      specificity and showed a linear correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient,
      0.727; p < 0.001) with VI detected by elastic stain. In addition, improved
      agreement between detection methods (detection on the basis of morphologic
      features, kappa=0.719 vs. original pathology report, kappa=0.318) was observed
      using kappa statistics. CONCLUSION: Slide review with special attention to the
      "protruding tongue" and "orphan arteriole" signs could be used for better
      identification of VI in CRC in routine surgical practice.

PMID- 26875195
TI  - Efficacy and Toxicity of Mammalian Target Rapamycin Inhibitors in Patients with
      Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Renal Insufficiency: The Korean Cancer Study
      Group GU 14-08.
AB  - PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of mammalian target rapamycin
      inhibitors in Korean patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with
      chronic renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Korean
      patients with mRCC and chronic renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis treated
      with everolimus or temsirolimus between January 2008 and December 2014 were
      included. Patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and toxicities were
      evaluated. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) durations
      were evaluated according to the degree of renal impairment. RESULTS: Eighteen
      patients were considered eligible for the study (median age, 59 years). The
      median glomerular filtration rate was 51.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. The best response was
      partial response in six patients and stable disease in 11 patients. The median
      PFS and OS durations were 8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0 to 20.4) and
      32 months (95% CI, 27.5 to 36.5), respectively. The most common non-hematologic
      and grade 3/4 adverse events included stomatitis, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and
      anorexia as well as elevated creatinine level. CONCLUSION: Mammalian target
      rapamycin inhibitors were efficacious and did not increase toxicity in Korean
      patients with mRCC and chronic renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis.

PMID- 26875196
TI  - Comparison of Quality of Life and Sexuality between Cervical Cancer Survivors and
      Healthy Women.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare quality of life (QoL) and sexual
      functioning between sexually active cervical cancer survivors and healthy women.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, propensity-score-matched
      cervical cancer survivors (n=104) and healthy women (n=104) were compared. All
      women had engaged in sexual activity within the previous 3 months, and cervical
      cancer survivors showed no evidence of disease after primary treatment. QoL and
      sexual functioning were assessed using three questionnaires; the European
      Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire
      Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), Cervical Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-CX24), and the Female
      Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: Significantly higher scores for lymphedema
      were observed in the cervical cancer survivors group compared with the healthy
      women group (mean, 20.2 vs. 12.2; p < 0.05). Sexuality, both in terms of sexual
      activity, sexual enjoyment, and sexual worry (EORTC QLQ-CX24), and in terms of
      desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (FSFI) were similar
      between the groups. When the scale of sexual/vaginal functioning in EORTC QLQ
      CX24 was divided into individual questions, cervical cancer survivors reported
      shorter vaginal length than the control group, but without statistical
      significance (mean, 80.6 vs. 85.4; p=0.077). CONCLUSION: Compared with healthy
      women, sexuality was not impaired in cervical cancer survivors who showed no
      evidence of disease after primary treatment and engaging in sexual activity.
      Further prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

PMID- 26875197
TI  - Clinical Practices and Outcomes on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
      Management in South Korea: Comparison with Asia-Pacific Data of the Pan
      Australasian Chemotherapy Induced Emesis Burden of Illness Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study reported patient outcomes of chemotherapy-induced nausea and
      vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis for highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) and
      moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) regimens and evaluated its adherence to
      acute-phase CINV prophylaxis in the Korean population subset of the Pan
      Australasian Chemotherapy Induced Emesis burden of illness (PrACTICE) study.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: This subgroup analysis evaluated 158 Korean patients
      receiving HEC or MEC and compared the data (wherever possible) with that of 648
      patients from the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. Study endpoints included evaluation
      of primary CINV prophylaxis and adherence to acute-phase CINV prophylaxis in
      cycle 1 (American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO] Quality Oncology Practice
      Initiative [QOPI]). RESULTS: In South Korea and the AP, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3
      receptor antagonist (5HT3-RA) prophylaxis for the acute phase was administered to
      79/80 patients (98.8%) for HEC and 70/71 patients (98.6%) for MEC regimens (QOPI
      1). Triple regimen (corticosteroid-5HT3-RA-neurokinin 1-RA) was initiated in
      46/80 patients (57.5%) for prophylaxis of acute CINV in cycle 1 of HEC (QOPI-3).
      Double regimen (corticosteroid-5HT3-RA, with or within NK1-RA) was initiated in
      61/71 patients (83.1%) for control of acute CINV in cycle 1 of MEC a(QOPI-2).
      CONCLUSION: Active management of CINV is necessary in cycle 1 of HEC in South
      Korea, despite higher rates than the AP region. Adherence to the international
      guidelines for CINV prophylaxis requires attention in the acute phase in cycle 1
      of the HEC regimen.

PMID- 26875198
TI  - A Multi-centric Bioequivalence Trial in Ph+ Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients to
      Assess Bioequivalence and Safety Evaluation of Generic Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg
      Tablets.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was designed to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile and
      to assess bioequivalence of the sponsor's test formulation (imatinib mesylate 400
      mg tablets) with an innovator product (Gleevec 400 mg tablets, Novartis
      Pharmaceuticals) under fed conditions, in adult patients of Philadelphia
      chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) stabilized on imatinib
      mesylate 400 mg. In addition, the aim of this study was to monitor the safety
      profile of investigational medicinal products (IMPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      multicenter, randomized, open label, two-period, crossover, single dose
      bioequivalence study was designed for conduct under fed conditions in 42 adult
      Ph+ CML patients already stabilized on imatinib 400 mg tablets. Pharmacokinetic
      parameters Tmax, Cmax, and AUC0-24 were calculated using a non-compartmental
      model on validated WinNonlin software. Validated SAS software was used for
      statistical evaluation of data. The safety profile of investigational products
      was monitored during the course of study by applying a clinical process for
      recording observed untoward effects postadministration of investigational
      products. RESULTS: The 90% confidence intervals for the test/reference mean
      ratios of the ln-transformed PK variables Cmax (99.0%) and AUC0-24 (99.2%) were
      within an acceptable range of 80%-125%, as per bioequivalence assumptions. Both
      formulations were well tolerated after oral administration of IMPs. CONCLUSION:
      The test product was found to be bioequivalent and safe, and thus can be used
      interchangeably in clinical practice.

PMID- 26875199
TI  - Identification of Prognostic Risk Factors for Transient and Persistent Lymphedema
      after Multimodal Treatment for Breast Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for transient
      lymphedema (TLE) and persistent lymphedema (PLE) following treatment for breast
      cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,073 patients who underwent curative
      breast surgery were analyzed. TLE was defined as one episode of arm swelling that
      had resolved spontaneously by the next follow-up; arm swelling that persisted
      over two consecutive examinations was considered PLE. RESULTS: At a median follow
      up period of 5.1 years, 370 cases of lymphedema were reported, including 120 TLE
      (11.2%) and 250 PLE (23.3%). Initial grade 1 swelling was observed in 351
      patients, of which 120 were limited to TLE (34%), while the other 231 progressed
      to PLE (66%). All initial swelling observed in TLE patients was classified as
      grade 1. In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy with taxane and supraclavicular
      radiation therapy (SCRT) were associated with development of TLE, whereas SCRT,
      stage III cancer and chemotherapy with taxane were identified as risk factors for
      PLE (p < 0.05). The estimated incidence of TLE among initial grade 1 patients was
      calculated using up to three treatment-related risk factors (number of dissected
      axillary lymph nodes, SCRT, and taxane chemotherapy). The approximate ratios of
      TLE and PLE based on the number of risk factors were 7:1 (no factor), 1:1 (one
      factor), 1:2 (two factors), and 1:3 (three factors). CONCLUSION: One-third of
      initial swelling events were transient, whereas the other two-thirds of patients
      experienced PLE. Estimation of TLE and PLE based on known treatment factors could
      facilitate prediction of this life-long complication.

PMID- 26875200
TI  - Prognostic Scoring Index for Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study focused on implementation of a prognostic scoring index based
      on clinico-laboratory parameters measured routinely on admission in metastatic
      pancreatic cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records from 403 patients of
      metastatic disease were analyzed retrospectively. Continuous variables were
      dichotomized according to the normal range or the best cut-off values
      statistically determined by Contal and O'Quigley method, and then analyzed in
      association with prognosis-overall survival (OS), using Cox's proportional hazard
      model. Scores were calculated by summing the rounded chi-square scores for the
      factors that emerged in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Performance status,
      hemoglobin, leucocyte count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and carcinoembryonic
      antigen were independent factors for OS. When patients were divided into three
      risk groups according to these factors, median survival was 11.7, 6.2, and 1.3
      months for the low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively (p < 0.001).
      Palliative chemotherapy has a significant survival benefit for low and
      intermediate-risk patients (median OS; 12.5 months vs. 5.9 months, p < 0.001 and
      8.0 months vs. 2.0 months, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: We advocate the
      use of a multivariable approach with continuous variables for prognostic
      modeling. Our index is helpful in accurate patient risk stratification and may
      aid in treatment selection.

PMID- 26875202
TI  - Colorectal Cancer Incidence in Korea Is Not the Highest in the World.

PMID- 26875201
TI  - Robotic Surgery for Rectal Cancer: An Update in 2015.
AB  - During the last decade, robotic surgery for rectal cancer has rapidly gained
      acceptance among colorectal surgeons worldwide, with well-established safety and
      feasibility. The lower conversion rate and better surgical specimen quality of
      robotic compared with laparoscopic surgery potentially improves survival. Earlier
      recovery of voiding and sexual function after robotic total mesorectal excision
      is another favorable outcome. Long-term survival data are sparse with no evidence
      that robotic surgery offers major benefits in oncological outcomes. Although
      initial reports are promising, more rigorous scientific evaluation in
      multicenter, randomized clinical trials should be performed to definitely
      determine the advantages of robotic rectal cancer surgery. 

PMID- 26875204
TI  - Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, November 2015.

PMID- 26875203
TI  - Systemic Treatments for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: 10-Year Experience of
      Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of first-line
      systemic targeted therapy (TT) and immunotherapy (IT) in patients with metastatic
      renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a
      retrospective review of the data of 262 patients treated with systemic IT or TT
      with tyrosine kinase inhibitors between 2003 and 2013. The objective response
      rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were
      assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor ver. 1.0 criteria and
      the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test. RESULTS: During the median 4.3-month
      treatment and the 24-month follow-up period, the ORR/PFS/OS of the overall first
      line and second-line therapy were 41.9%/8.1 months/16.8 months and 27.5%/6.5
      months/15.3 months, respectively. The first-line TT/IT/sequential IT had a PFS of
      9.3/6.4/5.7 months and an OS of 15.8/16.5/40.6 months (all p < 0.05). The second
      line of TT/IT had a PFS of 7.1/2.1 months (both p < 0.05) and an OS of 16.6/8.6
      months (p=0.636), respectively. Pazopanib provided the best median PFS of 11.0
      months (p < 0.001) and a quadruple IT regimen had a superior PFS (p=0.522). For
      OS, sequential treatment with IT and TT was superior compared to treatment with
      either IT or TT alone (40.6/16.5/15.8 months, p=0.014). The prognosis according
      to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center model showed that
      favorable/intermediate/poor risk groups had a PFS of 8.5/10.4/2.3 months, and an
      OS of 43.1/20.4/5.6 months, respectively. The prognosis calculated using the Heng
      model showed that the favorable/intermediate/poor risk groups had a PFS of
      9.2/3.9/2.7 months, and an OS of 32.4/16.5/6.1months, respectively (all p <
      0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with mRCC, TT provided a better PFS and OS
      compared with IT.

PMID- 26875205
TI  - Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks in 5 countries, 2014-2015.

PMID- 26875206
TI  - Resident Rounds: Part III--Cutaneous Sarcoidosis in a Blepharoplasty Scar.

PMID- 26875207
TI  - Leslie Klenerman (1929-2015).

PMID- 26875209
TI  - The U.S. Has the Highest Drug Prices in the World. And Hating Martin Shkreli
      Won't Be Enough to Change It.

PMID- 26875210
TI  - Thoughtful Play on Mental Health.

PMID- 26875208
TI  - Integrating nutrition and child development interventions: scientific basis,
      evidence of impact, and implementation considerations.
AB  - The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have contributed to unprecedented
      reductions in poverty and improvement in the lives of millions of men, women, and
      children in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, hundreds of millions of
      children under 5 y of age are not reaching their developmental potential. This
      article reviews the scientific basis for early childhood nutrition and child
      development interventions, the impact of integrated interventions on children's
      linear growth and cognitive development, and implementation strategies for
      integrated nutrition and child development programs. Advances in brain science
      have documented that the origins of adult health and well-being are grounded in
      early childhood, from conception through age 24 mo (first 1000 d) and extending
      to age 5 y (second 1000 d). Young children with adequate nutrition, nurturant
      caregiving, and opportunities for early learning have the best chances of
      thriving. Evidence from adoption, experimental, and quasi-experimental studies
      has shown that stunting prevention is sensitive during the first 1000 d, and
      sensitivity to child development interventions extends through the second 1000 d.
      Cognitive development responds to interventions post-1000 d with effect sizes
      that are inversely associated with initial age and length of program exposure.
      Integrated interventions need governance structures that support integrated
      policies and programming, with attention to training, supervision, and
      monitoring. The MDGs have been replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals
      (SDGs), with targets for the next 15 y. Achievement of the SDGs depends on
      children receiving adequate nutrition, nurturant caregiving, and learning
      opportunities from conception through age 5.

PMID- 26875211
TI  - End-of-life care: The growing role of PCPs.

PMID- 26875212
TI  - The Secrets of Financial Flexibility.

PMID- 26875213
TI  - The value of a pension: Three considerations.

PMID- 26875214
TI  - Overcoming exchange plan payment challenges.

PMID- 26875215
TI  - Moving the conversation forward on scope of practice.

PMID- 26875216
TI  - Turning skilled physicians into strong leaders.

PMID- 26875217
TI  - The PCMH transition: A radical shift worth making.

PMID- 26875218
TI  - ABIM: Time to heal thyself.

PMID- 26875219
TI  - Save your breath.

PMID- 26875220
TI  - URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AT AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NAIROBI - A ONE YEAR
      EXPERIENCE.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In developing countries,most of these patients with urinary tract
      infections (UTI) are normally treated empirically and urine culture is usual
      ordered for as a last resort in patients refractory to antibiotic treatment.
      OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of designing empiric antibiotic therapy for
      symptomatic UTI in patients at Aga Khan University Hospital by looking at the
      trends of UTI, common pathogens isolated and their antibiotic susceptibility
      pattern. DESIGN: A retrospective clinical-laboratory study. SETTING: Aga Kahn
      University Hospital- Nairobi. SUBJECTS: Allpositive urine cultures between
      January and December 2008 were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 409
      urine specimens were retrieved and analysed and 100 cases had negative cultures.
      Three hundred and nine cases had positive cultures. Sixty eight point seven
      percent were females while 31.3% were males with a mean age of 31 years. One
      hundred and thirty five out of 409 patients (33%) had classical signs and
      symptoms. In 143 (35%) cases E. coli was isolated. The other cultures were
      organisms other than E. coli. There was a higher resistance to clotrimazole in E.
      coli (71%) as compared to non-E. coli organisms (23%. There was a higher
      resistance rate to Nalidixic acid in non-E. Coli organisms (35%) and higher
      resistance rate to Augmentin in E. Coli 43 versus 18% (c/f non-E.Coli. Forty
      patients in the study had predisposing factors for UTI. CONCLUSIONS: It is
      sometimes warranted to start the patient on empiric antibiotic treatmentbefore
      culture results are available. Nitrofurantoin, Cefuroxime, Ciprofloxacin have
      good sensitively rates and are therefore drugs of first choice for the treatment
      of uncomplicated urinary tract infection provided that the contraindications and
      specific precautions are noted.

PMID- 26875221
TI  - PERSPECTIVE ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH AND INTERVENTIONS PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY
      BASED HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM ILLUSTRATED BY THE POTENTIAL USE OF MOTIVATIONAL
      INTERVIEWING INTERVENTION.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With the growth of Community-Based Health Information (CBHIS) for
      decision making and service provision in the low income settings, innovative
      models of addressing Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) morbidity and mortality
      are necessary. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that five hundred
      thousand mothers and about three million newborns die each year in middle and low
      income countries. OBJECTIVES: To stimulate interest in utilisation CBHIS for
      research and interventions, with an illustration of potential using on
      Motivational Interviewing intervention. DATA SOURCE: Literature searched
      electronically, discussion with behavioural experts, health system researchers,
      and maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) experts, and book reviews. STUDY SELECTION:
      Broad selection criteria including all current literature relevantsubjects
      including CBHIS, behaviour change methods and Community MNH. DATA EXTRACTION: A
      checklist for relevance was used to identify the relevant behaviour change
      intervention to use in the illustration. DATA SYNTHESIS: A method that met the
      criteria was identified, and based on a discussion with behavioural experts, the
      decision to use it the illustration was reached. CONCLUSION: Motivational
      Interviewing Intervention (MII) should be considered for implementation and study
      on near-term Pregnant women in a setting where these mothers can be identified
      and a targeted intervention instituted.

PMID- 26875222
TI  - EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE CURE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTO-POLYMERISED DENTAL
      COMPOSITES.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the light intensity emitted by light curing units (LCUs)
      and its effect on the cure characteristics of composites polymerised with it.
      DESIGN: A laboratory based cross sectional study. SETTING: Public and private
      dental clinics in Nairobi, Kenya. RESULTS: Thirty five (42.17%) LCUs produced
      light of intensity <=300mWcm-2 while 43 (51.8%) LCUs had their intensities
      between 300 and 1200mWcm-2. Mean DOC and surface hardness for the 0-300mWcm-2
      LCUs was 1.34mm and 46.60VHN respectively. The mean DOC increased steadily from
      the lowest intensity group (1.34mm) to the 1200-15OOmWcm-2 group (2.32 mm) and
      then declined to 1.98mm for the 1500-1800mWcm-2 group. Statistical analysis
      showed significant differences in the mean DOC (p=0.000) and surface micro
      hardness (p=0.002) for the different intensity groups. CONCLUSION: Light
      intensity output of LCUs has a significant influence on the cure characteristics
      of dental composites with both DOC and surface micro-hardness increasing with
      increase in light intensity up to 1500mWcm-2.

PMID- 26875223
TI  - INTERNAL ROOT MORPHOLOGY IN MANDIBULAR FIRST PERMANENT MOLARS IN A KENYAN
      POPULATION.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the internal root morphology and gender variations in
      mandibular first permanent molars in a Kenyan population. DESIGN: In vitro
      descriptive cross sectional study. SETTING: School of Dental Sciences, University
      of Nairobi RESULTS: The mesial root of mandibular first molars had two canals in
      96.3% of the teeth in both males and females and-type IV canal configuration was
      most prevalent in the mesial root. The distal root of the mandibular first molar
      had one canal in 57.7% of the teeth in males and females. There were significant
      gender variations in the number of canals and canal configurations in the distal
      root. Two canals were more prevalent in females (53.6%) compared to males (30.4%)
      and a single canal was more frequent in males (69.6%) compared to females (46.4%)
      (P=0.001). Canal types 1, 11 and IV were the most frequent in the mandibular
      distal root. The gender variation in the frequency of canal types I, II and IV in
      the distal root was statistically significant (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Most of the
      mandibular first molars have three canals (56%). Two canals in the distal root
      are more frequent among females (53.6%) compared to males (30.4%).

PMID- 26875224
TI  - IS MISOPROSTOL A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE SURGICAL EVACUATION OF INCOMPLETE
      ABORTION IN RURAL SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of misoprostol for
      treatment of incomplete abortion. However, few studies have focused on the
      feasibility of treating incomplete abortion with misoprostol at the rural clinic
      level in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness, safety
      and acceptability of misoprostol as an alternative to the surgical treatment of
      incomplete abortion at a rural clinic. DESIGN: Open-label randomised controlled
      trial. SETTING: A private clinic in Ekeakpara community, Osisioma Ngwa Local
      Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Women of reproductive age
      presenting with incomplete abortion. RESULTS: Regardless of treatment allocation,
      nearly all women had a complete uterine evacuation with either oral misoprostol
      or manual vacuum aspiration (misoprostol: 98.8%, MVA: 100%, P = 0.99).
      Misoprostol users were more likely to report that they were'very satisfied'with
      the method (75.6% versus 45%, P<0.001). In the 72 hours after treatment, women
      using misoprostol reported heavier bleeding but lower levels of pain than those
      treated with manual vacuum aspiration. Women in the misoprostol group were more
      likely to choose that treatment again (96.9 versus 55.6%; P<0.001) and would
      recommend it to a friend. CONCLUSION: For treatment of first-trimester
      uncomplicated incomplete abortion at a rural facility, both MVA and 600 MUg oral
      misoprostol are safe, effective, and acceptable treatments. Depending on
      availability of each method and the desires of individual women, either option
      may be presented to women for the treatment of incomplete abortion.

PMID- 26875225
TI  - ILIOPSOAS MYOFIBROSITIS - A DIAGNOSTIC CONSIDERATION FOR CHRONIC LOWER ABDOMINAL
      PAIN IN RURAL KENYA.
AB  - Diagnosis for lower abdominal pain is always challenging clinically and more so
      inthe setting of rural Africa. Eighteen cases of sonographically-shownipsilateral
      enlargement and echo alteration of iliopsoas muscle have been compiled in
      patients with chronic lower abdominal pain. Seventy percent of the cases were
      treated with antibiotic and 30% with additional anti-inflammatory drug. A
      telephone interview follow up was done to nine patients, in which eight reported
      improvement after treatment. One case was biopsied and shown to be myofibrositis
      of iliopsoas muscle.

PMID- 26875226
TI  - Progress on the 2010 IOM Future of Nursing Report and Future Needs.

PMID- 26875227
TI  - Nephrology Nursing and New Graduates.

PMID- 26875228
TI  - Sleep Issues with Patients Receiving Hemodialysis.
AB  - Poor sleep among the general population is understudied, unrecognized, and often
      not assessed This is especially true for patients receiving hemodialysis. This
      study used a case study design to examine the impact of hemodialysis treatments
      on the sleep of two patients as measured by actigraphy and self-reported sleep
      logs. Patient 1 experienced an average sleep efficiency of 82.3% on non
      hemodialysis days compared to 75.0% on dialysis days, which resulted in a 7.3
      percentage point change and 9.7% better sleep efficiency on non-hemodialysis
      days. Patient 2 reported sleep efficiency 76.6% on non-hemodialysis days compared
      to 70.5% dialysis on days, resulting in a 6.1 percentage point change and 8.7%
      better sleep efficiency on non-hemodialysis days. Actigraphy sleep patterns
      provided an initial move toward best practice for sleep evaluation in this
      population.

PMID- 26875229
TI  - Gastrointestinal Symptoms among African Americans Undergoing Hemodialysis.
AB  - The incidence of end stage renal disease is more than three times higher in
      African Americans. Treatment regimens contribute to gastrointestinal (GI)
      complaints. This study's purpose was to examine the incidence of GI symptoms in
      African-American patients undergoing hemodialysis. Younger participants were more
      likely to report mild indigestion, while older participants reported severe
      indigestion or none at all. Females were more likely to report gastrointestinal
      symptoms. Commonly reported co-morbidities included hypertension, diabetes, and
      heart disease. Time on hemodialysis ranged from 1 to 279 months. Those who had
      been on hemodialysis the longest were more likely to report acid reflux, stomach
      rumbling and mild diarrhea. This study provides a foundation for early
      identification of GI symptoms in African-Americans patients undergoing
      hemodialysis.

PMID- 26875230
TI  - Work-Related Factors as Predictors of Burnout in Serbian Nurses Working in
      Hemodialysis.
AB  - Nurses who work in hemodialysis (HD) are considered highly susceptible to burnout
      due to their close relationship with incurable patients and handling
      sophisticated machinery. A total of 210 nurses from 12 state-owned HD centers in
      the Republic of Serbia anonymously completed a background information
      questionnaire providingfactual data on nurses' sociodemographic characteristics
      and working conditions using the Maslach Burnout Inventory--Health Services
      Survey. Almost half of the nurses (42.9%) were experiencing burnout High
      emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low level of personal
      accomplishment were present in 40.9%, 8.6%, and 31.3% of nurses, respectively.
      The number of children, involuntary choice of current position, and unwillingness
      to choose the same type of job again were significant predictors of burnout. Our
      population of nurses working in HD was more affected by emotional exhaustion than
      their colleagues in other countries, but maintained high level of empathy and
      feeling ofpersonal accomplishment.

PMID- 26875231
TI  - Changing Nephrology Nurses' Beliefs about the Value of Evidence-Based Practice
      and Their Ability to Implement in Clinical Practice.
AB  - A rapidly evolving healthcare environment demands sound research evidence to
      inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. Over the past several
      decades, nurses have generated new knowledge by conducting research studies, but
      it takes time for this evidence to be implemented in practice. As nurses strive
      to be leaders and active participants in healthcare redesign, it is essential
      that they possess the requisite knowledge and skills to engage in evidence-based
      practice (EBP). Professional nursing organizations can make substantial
      contributions to the move healthcare quality forward by providing EBP workshops
      similar to those conducted by the American Nephrology Nurses'Association.

PMID- 26875232
TI  - "Black"-Appearing Peritoneal Effluent.
AB  - When encountering unusually appearing dialysate effluent from a patient doing
      peri- toneal dialysis, it is important to review the patient's recent exposures.
      In the case of "black"-appearing dialysate effluent, consideration needs to be
      given to the possibility of someone having undergone a colonoscopy and having
      tattooing with India ink. Nephrology nurses are frequently the first to be
      notified when there has been a change in the character of a patient's peritoneal
      dialysis dialysate effluent. This article describes a case of "black"-appearing
      dialysate and includes some of the potential differentials that were considered
      in the evaluation process. Even though "black"-appearing dialysate is a rare
      occurrence, nephrology nurses need to be aware of some of the potential
      etiologies, including exposure to India ink.

PMID- 26875233
TI  - Does Hemodialysis Dialysate Potassium Composition Matter?.
AB  - Dyskalemia is known to cause cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. In persons
      undergoing hemodialysis, potassium dialysate composition has been identified as a
      contributingfactor in addition to co-morbidities, medications, dietary potassium
      intake, and stage of kidney disease. Current evidence recommends a thorough
      evaluation of all factors affecting potassium balance, and lower potassium
      concentration should be used cautiously in patients who are likely to develop
      cardiac arrhythmias. Nephrology nurses play a key role inpatient assessment and
      edu- cation related to potassium balance.

PMID- 26875234
TI  - Medication Adherence in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis: Practical Applications
      in Clinical Practice.

PMID- 26875235
TI  - THE VALUE OF TRAINING. We can all be heroes of our own Hudsons.

PMID- 26875236
TI  - THE LIFELINE OF HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES.

PMID- 26875237
TI  - IT PAYS TO BEHAVE LIKE AN INVESTMENT PARTNER.

PMID- 26875238
TI  - INTEGRATED CARE. New, cutting-edge social networking, the old way.

PMID- 26875239
TI  - INTEGRATED CARE. GPs can provide the perfect mix for hospitals.

PMID- 26875240
TI  - OVERVIEW. HOW SPECIALISTS CAN HELP YOU.

PMID- 26875241
TI  - ANALYSIS. TIME TO THINK AGAIN?

PMID- 26875242
TI  - EFFICIENCY. MEANINGFUL EFFICIENCIES.

PMID- 26875243
TI  - LEADERSHIP. DIFFERENT ANGLE.

PMID- 26875245
TI  - WORKFORCE. BROKERS CAN FIX IT.

PMID- 26875244
TI  - SERVICE REDESIGN HELP THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES.

PMID- 26875246
TI  - SERVICE IMPROVEMENT. THE WHOLE OF ME.

PMID- 26875247
TI  - PATIENT EXPERIENCE. 'A GOOD LEADER PICKS YOU UP'.

PMID- 26875248
TI  - Big data's big puzzle: Now what?.

PMID- 26875249
TI  - Word to the wise: Check your contract before you put your data on the cloud.

PMID- 26875250
TI  - Louisiana election could boost Medicaid expansion in other states.

PMID- 26875251
TI  - Community health dividends. Systems hope social initiatives will produce better
      health outcomes and lower costs.

PMID- 26875252
TI  - Rushing for trauma centers. Better financing drives a building boomlet in Level I
      trauma centers.

PMID- 26875253
TI  - Easy on those APPS. MOBILE MEDICAL APPS GAIN SUPPORT, BUT MANY LACK CLINICAL
      EVIDENCE.

PMID- 26875254
TI  - SAFETY NET LIFELINE. CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM GETS A BOOST FROM ITS NEW
      MEDICAID PLAN.

PMID- 26875255
TI  - ACA problems should come as no surprise.

PMID- 26875256
TI  - Celebrate the advances of modern medicine, but commit to healing other long-term
      ills.

PMID- 26875257
TI  - Software coordinates surgical implant orders.

PMID- 26875258
TI  - Value-based payment poses challenge to rural hospitals.

PMID- 26875259
TI  - Largest provider vendors of electronic health-record systems. Ranked by number of
      providers where company is the primary vendor.

PMID- 26875260
TI  - [COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS BETWEEN TWO OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES OF CORACOCLAVICULAR
      LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION FOR TREATMENT OF Tossy TYPE III ACROMIOCLAVICULAR JOINT
      DISLOCATION].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of double Endobutton
      technique and suture anchor combined Endobutton plate in the treatment of Tossy
      type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation. METHODS: Between May 2010 and March
      2014, a retrospective study was preformed on 56 patients with Tossy type III
      acromioclavicular joint dislocation. The coracoclavicular ligament was
      reconstructed with double Endobutton technique in 31 cases (Endobutton group),
      and with suture anchor combined Endobutton plate in 25 cases (Anchor group).
      There was no significant difference in age, gender, injury causes, injury side,
      associated injury, medical comorbidities, and disease duration between 2 groups
      (P>0.05). The operation time, medical device expenses, postoperative
      complications, preoperative and postoperative Constant-Murley scores, and
      postoperative Karlsson grading of the injured shoulder were compared between 2
      groups. RESULTS: The average operation time in Endobutton group was significantly
      greater than that in Anchor group (t = 4.285, P = 0.000); there was no
      significant difference in the medical device expenses between 2 groups (t =
      1.555, P = 0.126). Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients of 2
      groups; no early complications of infection and skin necrosis occurred. All
      patients were followed up 15.6 months on average (range, 11-35 months). During
      follow-up, some loss of reduction and ectopic ossification in the
      coracoclavicular gap were observed in 1 case and 6 cases of Endobutton group,
      respectively. No recurrence of acromioclavicular joint dislocation, implant
      fixation loosening and broken, and secondary fractures occurred in the other
      patients. There was significant difference in the incidence of postoperative
      complications between 2 groups (P = 0.013). Constant-Murley scores of the injured
      shoulder significantly increased at 9 months after operation when compared with
      preoperative values in 2 groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was
      observed between 2 groups (P > 0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant
      difference in Karlsson grading between 2 groups (Z = -0.628, P = 0.530).
      CONCLUSION: Both double Endobutton technique and suture anchor combined
      Endobutton plate have good effectiveness in the treatment of Tossy type III
      acromioclavicular joint dislocation. But the latter is associated with easier
      operation, less operation time, and less complications.

PMID- 26875261
TI  - [SURGICAL HIP DISLOCATION APPROACH FOR TREATMENT OF FEMORAL HEAD FRACTURE].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of surgical hip dislocation approach in the
      treatment of femoral head fracture. METHODS: A retrospectively analysis was made
      on the clinical data of 15 patients with femoral head fractures treated through
      surgical hip dislocation approach between January 2010 and February 2013. There
      were 11 men and 4 women with an average age of 30.8 years (range, 15-63 years).
      The causes included traffic accident injury in 9 cases, falling injury from
      height in 5 cases, and sports injury in 1 case. According to Pipkin typing, 2
      cases were rated as type I, 7 cases as type II, 1 case as type III, and 5 cases
      as type IV. The interval of injury and operation was 2-10 days (mean, 4.1 days).
      Reduction was performed in 10 patients within 6 hours after injury, and then bone
      traction was given for 4-6 weeks except 5 patients who received reduction in the
      other hospital. RESULTS: Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients
      after surgery without complications of dislocation and lower limbs deep venous
      thrombosis. The mean follow-up time was 29.9 months (range, 25-36 months). During
      follow-up, there was no infection, breakage of internal fixation, or nonunion of
      femoral greater trochanter fracture. In 3 patients having necrosis of the femoral
      head, 2 had no obvious symptoms [staging as IIa and IIb respectively according to
      Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging system], and 1 (stage
      IIIb) had nonunion of the femoral neck fracture, who underwent total hip
      arthroplasty (THA). In 4 patients having myositis ossificans (2 cases of grade I,
      1 case of grade II, and 1 case of grade III based on Brooker grading), no
      treatment was given in 3 cases and the focus was removed during THA in 1 case.
      According to the Thompson-Epstein scale at last follow-up, the results were
      excellent in 9 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 2 cases, and
      the excellent and good rate was 80%. CONCLUSION: Surgical hip dislocation
      approach can not only protect the residual vessels of the femoral head but also
      fully expose the acetabulum and femoral head, which is the ideal approach for the
      treatment of femoral head fractures.

PMID- 26875262
TI  - [IMPACT OF SALTER INNOMINATE OSTEOTOMY ON ACETABULAR MORPHOLOGY AND DIRECTION IN
      DEVELOPMENTAL DISLOCATION OF THE HIP BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the Salter innominate osteotomy on the
      acetabular morphology and direction and the relationship between them in children
      with developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH) by three-dimensional CT. METHODS:
      Between January 2013 and January 2015, 51 patients with unilateral DDH were
      treated. All patients were females with an average age of 2 years and 5 months
      (range, one year and 6 months to 5 years). All the patients underwent open
      reduction of the hip, Salter innominate osteotomy, proximal femoral osteotomy,
      and hip cast immobilization for treatment. The data of three-dimensional CT
      before surgery and at 1 week after surgery were measured and collected as
      follows: the anterior acetabular index (AAI), posterior acetabular index (PAI),
      axial acetabular index (AxAI), acetabular anteversion angle (AAA) of the
      acetabulum, and the distances of the forward, outward, and lateral rotation of
      the distal osteotomy fragments. The differences of AAI, PAI, AxAI, AAA between
      before and after surgeries were compared and the difference values of the data
      with significant difference results were calculated. The relationship between the
      difference values and the distances of three different rotation directions before
      and after surgeries were tested by Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: There
      were significant differences in the AAI, PAI, and AAA between before and after
      surgery (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the AxAI between
      before and after surgery (t = 0.878, P = 0.384). The difference values of AAI,
      PAI, and AAA were (4.518 +/- 4.601), (4.219 +/- 6.660), and (3.919 +/- 4.389)
      degrees  respectively. The distances of the outward, lateral, and forward
      rotation of the distal osteotomy fragments after surgery were (0.420 +/- 0.339),
      (2.440 +/- 0.230), and (0.421 +/- 0.311) cm. There was a significant correlation
      between the three different rotation directions and AAI difference (P < 0.05),
      especialy the outward rotation (r=0.981). There was a correlation between the
      outward, forward rotation and PAI, AAI differences (P < 0.05), and no significant
      correlation between the lateral rotation and PAI, AAA was found (P > 0.05). There
      was a significant correlation between the forward rotation and AAA difference (r
      = 0.841). CONCLUSION: Salter innominate osteotomy can increase the curvature of
      the anterior wall of the acetabulum in DDH, but reduce the curvature of the rear
      wall. At the same time, it can also change the direction of the acetabulum,
      significantly decrease the acetabular anteversion, but it can not change the
      depth of the acetabulum. The main factors of the curvature change after Salter
      innominate osteotomy of DDH is attributable to outward rotation, followed by
      forward rotation, and the main factor of the acetabular direction change is
      attributable to forward rotation.

PMID- 26875263
TI  - [EFFECTIVENESS COMPARISON BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED REDUCTION USING ELASTIC STABLE
      INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING FOR PEDIATRIC SUBTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness between open reduction and closed
      reduction of pediatric subtrochanteric fractures using elastic stable
      intramedullary nailing (ESIN). METHODS: Between January 2010 and January 2014, 22
      children with subtrochanteric fractures were treated by ESIN internal fixation
      combined with hip cast fixation, and the clinical data were retrospectively
      reviewed. Closed reduction was used in 12 cases (group A) and mini-open reduction
      in 10 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, sides,
      fracture causes, type of fracture, complications, and time from injury to
      operation between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood
      loss, fracture healing time, and complications were recorded and compared between
      2 groups, the limb function was evaluated according to the Flynn et al. outcome
      score. RESULTS: The intraoperative blood loss of group A was significantly less
      than that of group B, but the operation time of group A was significantly longer
      than that of group B (P < 0.05). All the patients were followed up 12-36 months
      (mean, 14.9 months). There was no major complications in the other patients of
      both groups except 1 patient having delayed wound healing in group B. There was
      no significant difference in fracture healing time between 2 groups (t = -1.006,
      P = 0.327). Inverted angle of 10 degrees  and shortened limb of 1.8 cm were
      observed in 1 case of group A, and sagittal plane angle of 15 degrees  and
      shortened limb of 2 cm in 1 case of group B. There was no abnormal walking and
      function of hip and knee activity at last follow-up. According to the Flynn et
      al. outcome score, the results were excellent in 8 cases and good in 4 cases in
      group A, and were excellent in 6 cases and good in 4 cases in group B, showing no
      significant difference between 2 groups (chi2 = 0.041, P = 0.956). CONCLUSION:
      Both closed and open fracture reduction using ESIN have satisfactory outcomes for
      treating pediatric subtrochanteric fractures. A mini-open reduction should be
      selected intraoperatively if closed reduction proves to be difficult.

PMID- 26875264
TI  - [EFFECTIVENESS OF UC ULTRA-CONGRUENT ROTATING PLATFORM PROSTHESIS IN TREATMENT OF
      KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of UC ultra-congruent rotating platform
      prosthesis in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by comparing with fixed
      bearing implant. METHODS: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, from
      98 patients (98 knees) with knee osteoarthritis undergoing primary total knee
      arthroplasty between January 2011 and December 2012. The UC ultra-congruent
      rotating platform prosthesis was used in 56 cases (mobile-bearing group) and
      fixed-bearing implant was used in 42 cases (fixed-bearing group). There was no
      significant difference in gender, age, side, weight, disease duration, grading of
      arthritis, the number of varus and valgus malformation, preoperative range of
      motion of the knee, the Knee Society Score (KSS) score, the visual analogue scale
      (VAS) score, femorotibial angle, tibial angle, and articular surface angle
      between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The operation time (including anesthetic time),
      intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, total hospitalization expenses,
      postoperative range of motion of the knee, the KSS score, and the VAS score were
      compared. The femorotibial angle, tibial angle, and articular surface angle were
      measured on the basis of anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films, and prosthesis
      loosening was observed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the
      operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time between 2
      groups (P > 0.05), while the total hospitalization expenses of fixed-bearing
      group were significantly lower than those of the mobile-bearing group (t = 8.506,
      P = 0.000). The patients were followed up 16-30 months in the mobile-bearing
      group, and for 16-38 months in the fixed-bearing group. Postoperative
      complications occurred in 3 cases (7.14%) of the fixed-bearing group (1 case of
      fat liquefaction of incision, 1 case of joint stiff, and 1 case of anterior knee
      pain), and in 3 cases (5.36%) of the mobile-bearing group (1 case of delayed
      wound healing, and 2 cases of anterior knee pain); there was no significant
      difference in the complication rate between 2 groups (chi2 = 0.133, P = 0.516).
      At last follow-up, the KSS score, VAS score, range of motion of the knee,
      femorotibial angle, tibial angle, and articular surface angle were superior
      significantly to those before operation in both groups (P < 0.05), but no
      significant difference was found between 2 groups (P > 0.05). No radiographic
      signs of radiolucent line, prosthetic dislocation, patellar dislocation,
      prosthetic loosening, and fracture was found. CONCLUSION: UC ultra-congruent
      rotating platform prosthesis in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis can
      effectively improve the knee joint function and relief pain, which has the same
      short-term effectiveness in fixed bearing implant.

PMID- 26875265
TI  - [BONE TRANSPORTATION BY RING TYPE EXTERNAL FIXATOR COMBINED WITH LOCKED
      INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL FOR TIBIAL NON-INFECTIOUS DEFECT].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of bone transportation by ring type
      extenal fixator combined with locked intramedullary nail for tibial non
      infectious defect. METHODS: Between June 2008 and October 2012, 22 cases of
      tibial large segment defect were treated. There were 15 males and 7 females, aged
      24-58 years (mean, 36.8 years), including 17 cases of postoperative nonunion or
      malunion healing, and 5 cases of large defect. After debridement, bone defect
      size was 5.0-12.5 cm (mean, 8.05 cm). Bone transportation was performed by ring
      type external fixator combined with locked intramedullary nail, the mean
      indwelling duration of external fixation was 10.2 months (range, 2-26 months);
      the external fixation index was 1.57 months/cm (range, 0.3-3.2 months/cm); and
      the mean length increase was 8.05 cm (range, 5.0-12.5 cm). RESULTS: All patients
      were followed up 19-58 months (mean, 32 months). No infection occurred after
      operation and all patients obtained bony union, and the union time was 4.7-19.4
      months (mean, 11.9 months). Complications included refracture (1 case), skin
      crease (1 case), lengthening failure (1 case), foot drop (2 cases), retractions
      of the transport segment (1 case), delay of mineralization (1 case), which were
      cured after corresponding treatment. According to Hohl knee evaluation system to
      assess knee joint function after removal of external fixator and intramedullary
      nail, the results were excellent in 15 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 2
      cases, with an excellent and good rate of 90.9%; according to Baird-Jackson ankle
      evaluation system to evaluate ankle joint function, the results were excellent in
      10 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 7 cases, and poor in 2 cases, with an
      excellent and good rate of 59.1%. CONCLUSION: Bone transportation by ring type
      external fixator combined with locked intramedullary nail could increase
      stability of extremities, allow early removal of external fixator and avoid axis
      shift of extremities, so it has good effect in treating tibial noninfectious
      defect.

PMID- 26875267
TI  - [EFFECTIVENESS COMPARISON OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION BY LONG
      FIBULAR MUSCLE TENDON AND HAMSTRING TENDON].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
      reconstruction between by long fibular muscle tendon and by hamstring tendon
      under arthroscopy after ACL rupture. METHODS: Between February 2010 and December
      2012, 56 cases of ACL rupture underwent ACL reconstruction under arthroscopy. The
      long fibular muscle tendon was used in 26 cases (group A) and the hamstring
      tendon was used in 30 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in
      gender, age, side, disease duration, and preoperative Lachman test, Lysholm
      score, and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score between 2
      groups (P > 0.05). The treatment after operation was identical in 2 groups.
      RESULTS: Primary healing of incision was obtained after operation in 2 groups.
      There was no major neurovascular injury and knee synovitis. There was no
      significant difference in operation time, hospitalization time, and postoperative
      24-hour drainage volume between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The patients were followed
      up 25-32 months (mean, 28 months) in group A, and 27-37 months (mean, 31 months)
      in group B. There was no related complication at donor site in 2 groups. MRI
      examination showed good ACL reconstruction. The Lysholm score and the IKDC score
      of group A at 6 months after operation were significantly better than those of
      group B (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between 2 groups at 2
      years after operation (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in Lachman
      score between 2 groups at 6 months and 2 years after operation (P > 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: The long fibular muscle tendon for arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL
      has much simpler operation, earlier knee function recovery, and better subjective
      satisfaction than the hamstring tendon.

PMID- 26875266
TI  - [EFFECTIVENESS OF ARTHROSCOPIC ULTRA-Braid SUTURE PLANE FIXATION FOR ANTERIOR
      CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TIBIAL EMINENCE AVULSION FRACTURES].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical technique and effectiveness of
      arthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation for anterior cruciate ligament
      (ACL) tibial eminence avulsion fractures. METHODS: Between June 2012 and October
      2014, 16 cases of ACL tibial eminence avulsion fracture were treated with ULTRA
      Braid suture plane fixation under arthroscopy. There werg 10 males and 6 females,
      aged from 17 to 38 years (mean, 25.8 years). The left knee was involved in 5
      cases and the right knee in 11 cases. The causes were traffic accident injury in
      9 cases, falling from height injury in 4 cases, and sports injury in 3 cases. The
      average interval from injury to operation was 7 days (range, 5-10 days) except 1
      patient who received operation at 6 weeks after injury. The knee joint swelling
      was obvious; the result of Lachman test was positive; and the knee joint Lysholm
      score was 45.38 +/- 9.87. According to classification standard introduced by
      Meyers-McKeever-Zaricnyj, 7 cases were rated as type II, 8 cases as type III, and
      1 case as type IV, excluding ligament and meniscus injury. RESULTS: All the
      incisions healed by first intention. The patients received follow-up of 6-18
      months (mean, 10 months). The postoperative X-ray and CT showed anatomic
      reduction (12 cases) or near anatomic reduction (4 cases); all fractures healed
      at 6 months after operation. The result of Lachman test was negative in the other
      15 patients except 1 patient (II degree). One patient had slight knee pain at 6
      months postoperatively, and pain symptom disappeared after 1 year; the other
      cases resumed daily activities. Lysholm score at last follow-up was 98.13 +/-
      2.34, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t = 
      20.801, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic ULTRA-Braid suture plane fixation
      for ACL tibial eminence avulsion fractures is an effective procedure with the
      advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, satisfactory functional
      recovery, and simultaneously avoiding the second surgery.

PMID- 26875268
TI  - [ARTHROSCOPIC SINGLE BUNDLE POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION USING
      HAMSTRING TENDONS THROUGH POSTERIOR TRANS-SEPTUM PORTAL APPROACH WITH
      PRESERVATION OF REMNANT POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT FIBERS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce the arthroscopic single bundle posterior cruciate
      ligament (PCL) reconstruction using hamstring tendons through posterior trans
      septum portal approach with preservation of the remnant PCL fibers, and to
      evaluate the clinical results. METHODS: Between June 2010 and April 2014, 57
      patients with PCL rupture were treated with arthroscopic single bundle PCL
      reconstruction using hamstring tendons through posterior trans-septum portal
      approach with preservation of the remnant PCL fibers. There were 41 males and 16
      females, aged 19-42 years (mean, 27.7 years). All the patients had history of
      injury. The results of posterior drawer test were positive, including 9 cases of
      grade II and 48 cases of grade III. The disease duration ranged from 2 weeks to
      25 months (mean, 13 months). The Lysholm score and the range of motion of knee
      joint were used to evaluate the knee function. RESULTS: The operation performed
      smoothly, and no complications of blood vessel and nerve injuries and infection
      occurred. Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no early complication
      occurred after operation. The patients were followed up 16.6 months on average
      (range, 12-20 months). At last follow-up, the knee range of motion returned to
      normal in all cases (120-130 degrees  in flexion). MRI at last follow-up showed
      good continuity of the PCL graft and complete healing of the remnant PCL tissues
      between the femoral and tibial attachments. The Lysholm score was significantly
      improved when compared with preoperative score (t= -27.429, P = 0.000).
      CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic single bundle PCL reconstruction using hamstring tendons
      through posterior trans-septum portal approach with preservation of the remnant
      PCL fibers has the advantages of firm fixation, simple operation, and good knee
      function recovery.

PMID- 26875269
TI  - [EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION RATIOS OF OSTEOPROTEGERIN COMBINED
      WITH DEPROTEINIZED BONE ON BONE TUNNEL AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT
      RECONSTRUCTION].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of
      osteoprotegerin (OPG) combined with deproteinized bone (DPB) on the bone tunnel
      after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: The femoral
      epiphyseal side was harvested from newborn calf, and allogenic DPB were prepared
      by hydrogen peroxide-chloroform/methanol method. Then, DPB were immersed in 3
      concentrations levels of OPG (30, 60, 100 ug/mL) and 3 concentration ratios (30%,
      60%, 100%) of the gel complex were prepared. Sixty healthy New Zealand white
      rabbits, male or female, weighing (2.7 +/- 0.4) kg, were divided randomly into 4
      groups (n = 15): control group (group A), 30% (group B), 60% (group C), and 100%
      (group D) OPG/DPB gel complex. The ACL reconstruction models were established by
      autologous Achilles tendon. Different ratios of OPG/DPB gel complex were
      implanted in the femoral and tibial bone tunnel of groups B, C, and D, but group
      A was not treated. The pathology observation (including the percentage of the
      femoral bone tunnel enlargement) and histological observation were performed and
      the biomechanical properties were measured at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation.
      RESULTS: One rabbit died of infection in groups A and D, 2 rabbits in groups B
      and C respectively, and were added. General pathology observation showed that the
      internal orifices of the femoral and tibia tunnels were covered by a little of
      scar tissue at 4 weeks in all groups. At 8 weeks, white chondroid tissues were
      observed around the internal orifices of the femoral and tibia tunnels,
      especially in groups C and D. At 12 weeks, the internal orifices of the femoral
      and tibia tunnels enlarged in groups A, B, and C, but it was completely closed in
      group D. At each time point, the rates of the femoral bone tunnel enlargement in
      groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than that in group A, and group D was
      significantly lower than groups B and C (P < 0.05); group C was significantly
      lower than group B at 8 weeks, but no significant difference was found at 4 and
      12 weeks (P < 0.05). Hisological observation showed that fresh fibrous connective
      tissue was observed in 4 groups at 4 weeks; there was various arrangements of
      Sharpey fiber in all groups at 8 weeks and the atypical 4-layer structure of bone
      was seen in group D; at 12 weeks, Sharpey fiber arranged regularly in all groups,
      with typical 4-layer structure of bone in groups B, C, and D, and an irregular
      "tidal line" formed, especially in group D. Biomechanics measurement showed that
      the maximum tensile load in group D was significantly higher than that in groups
      A and B at 4 weeks (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was shown among
      groups A, B, and C, and between groups C and D (P > 0.05); at 8 weeks, it was
      significantly higher in groups C and group D than group A, and in group D than
      group B (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A, C
      and group B (P > 0.05); at 12 weeks, it was significantly higher in groups C and
      D than groups A and B, and in group D than group C (P < 0.05), but difference was
      not significant between groups A and B (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Different
      concentrations ratios of OPG/DPB gel complexes have different effects on the bone
      tunnel after ACL reconstruction. 100% OPG/DPB gel complex has significant effects
      to prevent the enlargement of bone tunnel and to enhance tendon bone healing.

PMID- 26875270
TI  - [EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION OF HIGH MOBILITY GROUP BOX CHROMOSOMAL PROTEIN 1 IN
      SYNOVIOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathological role of high mobility group box
      chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) in osteoarthritis (OA) by comparing the difference
      of HMGB1 in the synoviocytes between OA and normal knees. METHODS: Synoviocyte
      lines from OA and normal knees were collected and cultured. Immunohistochemistry
      and Western blot were applied to identify the difference of HMGB1 between the OA
      and normal synoviocyte lines. The eukaryotic expression vector containing human
      Pgenesil-1/HMGB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) were constructed and identified.
      The synoviocyte lines were transfected with the eukaryotic expression vector of
      Pgenesil-1/HMGB1 siRNA (Pgenesil-1/HMGB1 siRNA group) and with Pgenesil-1 plasmid
      (Pgenesil-1 group) and were not transfected as a control (untransfected group).
      Western blot was applied to identify the difference of HMGB1 among groups, and
      the levels of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha) protein synthesis in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:
      Primary knee synoviocytes cultured in vitro were fibroblast-like cells with long-
      spindle shape. The immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed
      positive staining for HMGB1 in cytoplasm and weak positive staining in the
      nucleus in the OA synoviocyte line, but positive staining for HMGB1 in the
      nucleus and weak positive staining in the cytoplasm in the synoviocyte line of
      normal knee. The level of HMGB1 in the OA synoviocytes (0.687 +/- 0.025) was
      significantly higher than that of normal synoviocytes (0.172 +/- 0.030) (t =
      32.159, P = 0.000) by Western blot. The recombinant plasmid Pgenesil-1/HMGB1
      siRNA was successfully constructed. The expression of HMGB1 protein in Pgenesil
      1/HMGB1 siRNA group (0.134 +/- 0.048) was significantly lower than that of
      Pgenesil-1 group (0.581+/- 0.032) and untransfected group (0.514 +/- 0.069) (P <
      0.05). ELISA results showed that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in supernatants of
      Pgenesil-1/HMGB1 siRNA group were significantly lower than those of Pgenesil-1
      group and untransfected group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The up-regulated expression
      and expressed location (from nucleus to cytoplasm) of HMGB1 in the synoviocyte
      are closely related to CA. The siRNA targeting inhibition of HMGB1 gene
      expression can obviously inhibit II-lp and TNF-a in supernatants of the CA
      synoviocyte line and delayed the inflammation of CA.

PMID- 26875271
TI  - [CLINICAL APPLICATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED REFERENCE MODEL OF SAGITTAL CURVES AND
      NAVIGATION TEMPLATES OF PEDICLE SCREW BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING TECHNIQUE FOR
      THORACOLUMBAR FRACTURE WITH DISLOCATION].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of individualized reference
      model of sagittal curves and navigation templates of pedicle screw by three
      dimensional printing technique for thoracolumbar fracture with dislocation.
      METHODS: Between February 2011 and November 2013, 42 patients with thoracolumbar
      fracture and dislocation undergoing pedicle screw fixation were divided into 2
      groups: traditional pedicle screw internal fixation by fluoroscopy assistant was
      used in 24 cases (control group), and individualized reference model of sagittal
      curves and navigation templates of pedicle screw were used in 18 cases (trial
      group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury causes,
      segment, degree of dislocation, and Frankel classification between 2 groups (P >
      0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, perspective times, and
      dislocation rate, sagittal angle recovery rate at different time were compared.
      The success rate of pedicle screw insertion, sagittal screw angle, and Frankel
      classification were compared. The angle between sagittal screws, difference of
      screw entry point at horizontal position, and difference of screw inclined angle
      were compared. RESULTS: The operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and
      perspective times in trial group were significantly lower than those in control
      groups (P < 0.05). All the patients were followed up 12-40 months (mean, 22
      months). The dislocation rate at immediate after operation and last follow-up
      were significantly improved when compared with preoperative value in 2 groups (P
      < 0.05). At immediate after operation and last follow-up, the dislocation rate
      and sagittal angle recover rate in trial group were significantly better than
      those in control group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the one
      time success rate, final success rate of pedicle screw insertion, and saggital
      screw angle between 2 groups (chi2 = 9.38, P = 0.00; chi2 = 10.95, P = 0.00; chi2
      = 13.43, P = 0.00). The angle between sagittal screws, difference of screw entry
      point at horizontal position, and difference of screw inclined angle in trail
      group were significantly less than those in control group (P < 0.05). There was
      significant difference in the Frankel classification between 2 groups at last
      follow-up (Z = -1.99, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The application of individualized
      reference model of sagittal curves and navigation templates of pedicle screw by
      three-dimensional printing technique for thoracolumbar fracture with dislocation
      has the advantages of shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss,
      better recovery of thoracolumbar dislocation, and better Frankel classification.

PMID- 26875272
TI  - [COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS AND RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES BETWEEN SINGLE AND DOUBLE
      CAGE IMPLANTING THROUGH UNILATERAL TRANSFORAMINAL LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and imaging features between implanting
      single and double Cage into intervertebral body through unilateral transforaminal
      lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). METHODS: The clinical data were collected and
      analyzed from 104 patients who underwent unilateral TLIF between January 2013 and
      October 2014, who were divided into 2 groups: single Cage was implanted into
      intervertebral body in 64 cases (76 segments) in traditional group, and double
      Cage was implanted into intervertebral body in 56 cases (70 segments) in
      reformative group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, bone
      mineral density, operation segments between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The visual
      analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopedic
      Association (JOA) scores were used to evaluate the effectiveness; the area of
      intervertebral bone-graft, fusion rate, height of intervertebral space, and the
      number of Cage subsidence were measured by CT scan. RESULTS: All the patients
      were followed up 12.85 months on average (range, 9-15 months). The VAS, ODI, and
      JOA scores were significantly improved at each time point after operation when
      compared with preoperative values (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was
      found between 2 groups (P > 0.05) except VAS and ODI at 12 months after operation
      (P < 0.05). However, the area of intervertebral bone-graft in reformative group
      [(5.94 +/- 1.17) cm2] was significantly larger than that in traditional group
      [(4.81+/- 0.97) cm2] at 7 days after operation (t = -6.365, P = 0.000). At 3 and
      12 months after operation, the fusion rate was respectively 84.2% and 92.1% in
      traditional group and was respectively 88.6% and 94.3% in reformative group.
      Although the height of intervertebral space were increased when compared with
      preoperative height, the incidence rates of Cages subsidence in traditional group
      were 44.74% and 47.37% respectively at 3 and 12 months after operation and were
      significantly higher those that in reformative group (11.43% and 14.29%
      respectively) (P < 0.05). In addition, the height difference between affected
      side and normal side in traditional group was significantly larger than that in
      reformative group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both single and double Cage implanted
      into the intervertebral body through unilateral TLIF have good effectiveness.
      However, double Cage implanted into intervertebral body may hold the height of
      intervertebral space, reduce the incident rate of Cage subsidence, and prevent
      sagittal imbalance.

PMID- 26875273
TI  - [INDUCED MEMBRANCE TECHNIQUE OF HOLLOW POROUS ANTIBIOTIC- IMPREGNATED BONE CEMENT
      FORMING IN VITRO AND LAVAGE IN VIVO FOR TREATMENT OF OSTEOMYELITIS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of induced membrane technique of hollow
      porous antibiotic-impregnated bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo for
      the treatment of osteomyelitis. METHODS: Between January 2010 and March 2014, 14
      cases of osteomyelitis were treated by induced membrane technique of hollow
      porous antibiotic-impregnated bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo
      after debridement at the first stage, then the bone cement with bone graft was
      replaced during the induced membrane after infection was controlled at the second
      stage. The time from first to second stage operation was 8-12 weeks (average,
      10.2 weeks). There were 11 males and 3 females, aged 18 to 69 years (average,
      39.2 years). According to Cierny-Mader classification of osteomyelitis, 2 cases
      were rated as intramedullary type, 5 cases as limited type, and 7 cases as
      diffusing type. The course of osteomyelitis was 3 months to 20 years, averaged
      1.9 years. The healing of bone defect and the functionary recovery of adjacent
      joint were evaluated according to Paley's method. RESULTS Debridement was
      performed for two times in 1 case, and for one time in 13 cases for control of
      bone infection at the first stage. All incisions healed by first intention after
      second stage. All patients were followed up 15-48 months (average, 13.4 months),
      with no recurrence of infection. All bone defects healed, and the clinical
      healing time was 4-5 months (average, 4.4 months). The results of bone healing
      grade were excellent in all cases at 1 year after operation; the functional
      recovery of adjacent joint at last follow-up was excellent in 4 cases, good in 8
      cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 85.7%.
      CONCLUSION: Induced membrane technique of hollow porous antibiotic-impregnated
      bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo for treatment of osteomyelitis
      has the advantages of high rate of elution of antibiotics, ease of lavage of
      medullary cavity, and no damage to induced membrane and bony interface between
      bone and bone cement when removing cement, it is effective for control of bone
      infection and repair of bone defect.

PMID- 26875274
TI  - [PLASTIC SURGERY OF SCALP AND FACIAL PLEXIFORM NEUROFIBROMAS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the plastic surgical treatment and the way to reduce
      hemorrhage for scalp and facial plexiform neurofibromas. METHODS: Between July
      2004 and July 2013, 20 patients with scalp and facial plexiform neurofibromas (17
      cases of neurofibromatosis type I and 3 cases of plexiform neurofibroma) were
      treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males
      and 11 females with an average age of 37 years (range, 18-56 years). The disease
      duration ranged from 8 to 56 years (mean, 19 years). The scalp was involved in 6
      cases, the face in 7 cases, and both the scalp and face in 7 cases. The extent of
      involvement ranged from 4 cm x 3 cm to 15 cm x 13 cm. Obvious pigmentation was
      seen in 2 cases. Endovascular embolization was performed before surgical
      intervention in 4 cases. Preliminary sutures around the lesion were carried out
      in 18 cases having an involved range over 5 cmx5 cm. One-stage excision was
      performed in 17 cases, and two-stage excision in 3 cases. Wound repair and facial
      orthopedic treatment were performed after tumor excision. RESULTS: The
      intraoperative blood loss was 100-500 mL (mean, 300 mL) for patients undergoing
      single operation. For 3 patients undergoing two-stage excision, the blood loss of
      the first operation was 500, 600, and 800 mL respectively, and the blood loss of
      the second operation was all 50 mL. Autologous blood transfusion of 200, 400, and
      400 mL was performed in 3 cases respectively. The preliminary sutures were
      removed at 3-7 days (mean, 5 days) after operation. All the incisions healed
      primarily without secondary hemorrhage and hematoma, and the flap and skin graft
      survived totally. Fifteen patients were followed up 1 year to 7 years (mean, 2.5
      years). All patients showed significant improvement in appearance. No significant
      progression, expanding, and sagging were observed. CONCLUSION: Endovascular
      embolization and preliminary sutures around the lesion can be used to reduce
      hemorrhage in resection of plexiform neurofibroma in the scalp and face.
      Personalized surgical plan of benign neurofibromatosis should be made to reduce
      the tumor mass, to improve function and appearance.

PMID- 26875275
TI  - [USE OF ARTIFICIAL BONE OF TRICALCIUM PHOPHATE IN SELLAR FLOOR RECONSTRUCTION
      AFTER TRANSSPHENOIDAL MICROSURGERY FOR PITUITARY ADEOMA].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of the usage of artificial bone of
      tricalcium phophate in sellar floor reconstruction after transsphenoidal
      microsurgery for pituitary adeoma. METHODS: Between January and December 2014, 85
      patients with pituitary adema underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery, and the
      clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. "Sandiwich" was used for sellar
      floor reconstruction in 46 cases (control group), and "sandiwich" combined with
      the artificial bone of tricalcium phophate in 39 cases (trial group). There was
      no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, size of tumor,
      invasiveness, and the degree of damage to the sellar floor between 2 groups (P >
      0.05). RESULTS: Total removal and subtotal removal of tumors were achieved in 39
      cases and 7 cases of the control group, and in 33 cases and 6 cases of the trial
      group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (Z = -1.303, P =
      0.193). Cerebrospinal leakage occurred in 8 cases of the control group and in 10
      cases of the trial group during operation, showing no significant difference (Z =
      -1.748, P = 0.080). The case number of cerebrospinal leakage in the control group
      (4 cases) was significantly more than that in the trial group (0) after operation
      (P = 0.020). The time of gauze removal in the trial group (3 days) was
      significant shorter than that in the control group [(4.3 +/- 1.6) days] (t =
      2.236, P = 0.033). The patients were followed up 3-14 months in the control group
      and 5-13 months in the trial group. No cerebrospinal leakage occurred during
      follow-up. CONCLUSION: Sellar floor reconstruction with artificial bone of
      tricalcium phophate is safe, and it can reduce cerebrospinal leakage and shorten
      the time of gauze removal.

PMID- 26875276
TI  - [CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF COMPLETE DUPLICATION OF
      KIDNEY AND URETER IN 106 CHILDREN].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical classification and treatment protocols of
      complete duplication of kidney and ureter in children. METHODS: Between March
      2000 and February 2015, 106 children with complete duplication of kidney and
      ureter were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Of
      them, there were 11 boys and 95 girls, aged from 1 month to 11 years (mean, 3.5
      years); one side was involved in 88 cases and two sides in 18 cases. They were
      divided into 4 types according to image examinations and clinical presentations:
      14 patients who needed no special treatment were classified into the first type,
      15 patients who underwent reconstruction into the second type, 74 patients who
      underwent segment removal of renal dysplasia and subtotal excision of abnormal
      duplicated ureter into the third type, and 3 patients who underwent removal of
      the whole affected kidney and subtotal excision of whole ureter into the forth
      type. RESULTS: The patients were followed up 2 months to 14 years (median, 23
      months). There was no deteriorating case in the first type. There was no
      complication such as leakage of urine, discomfort over the back and loins,
      ureterocele, reproductive tract infection, or hematuresis in the other types. The
      results of white blood cell count, renal function, and electrolyte presented no
      abnormality. One patient in the second type and 6 patients in the third type had
      ureteral stump syndrome; 1 patient in the second type and 3 patients in the third
      type had urinary tract infection; and 3 patients in the second type had mild
      hydronephrosis after operation. CONCLUSION: It can obtain good clinical outcome
      to choose individualized treatment according to clinical classification of
      complete duplication of kidney and ureter, which can reserve effective renal
      units as much as possible and improves the patients' quality of life.

PMID- 26875277
TI  - [REPAIR OF COMPOSITE TISSUE DEFECTS OF DORSAL THUMB INCLUDING INTERPHALANGEAL
      JOINT BY TRANSPLANTATION OF MODIFIED HALLUX TOE-NAIL COMPOSITE TISSUE FLAP].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore a new improved technique and its effectiveness to repair
      dorsal thumb composite tissue defects including interphalangeal joint by
      transplantation of modified hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap. METHODS: The
      hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap carrying distal half hallux proximal
      phalanx, extensor hallucis longus, and interphalangeal joint capsule were
      designed and applied to repair the dorsal skin, nails, and interphalangeal joint
      defect of thumb in 14 cases between January 2007 and June 2013. They were all
      males, aged from 19 to 52 years (mean, 30 years). The time from injury to
      hospital was 0.5-2.0 hours (mean, 1.2 hours). The area of the thumb nail and
      dorsal skin defects ranged from 2.5 cm x 1.5 cm to 5.0 cm x 2.5 cm. The dorsal
      interphalangeal joint had different degrees of bone defect, with residual bone
      and joint capsule at the palm side. The length of bone defect ranged from 2.5 to
      4.0 cm (mean, 3.4 cm). The hallux nail flap size ranged from 3.0 cm x 2.0 cm to
      6.0 cm x 3.0 cm. The donor sites were repaired by skin grafting in 5 cases, and
      retrograde second dorsal metatarsal artery island flap in 9 cases. RESULTS: After
      operation, arterial crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived after
      relieving pressure; the other flaps survived, and wounds healed by first
      intention. Liquefaction necrosis of the skin grafting at donor site occurred in 3
      cases, and the other skin grafting and all retrograde second dorsal metatarsal
      artery island flaps survived. The follow-up ranged from 9 months to 3 years and 6
      months (mean, 23 months). The secondary plastic operation was performed in 4
      cases at 6 months after operation because of slightly bulky composite tissue
      flaps. The other composite tissue flaps had good appearance, color, and texture.
      The growth of the nail was good in 12 cases, and slightly thickened in 2 cases.
      At last follow-up, X-ray examination showed that bone graft and proximal phalanx
      of the thumb had good bone healing in 12 cases. Good bone healing was obtained at
      the donor site. According to the Hand Surgical Branch of Chinese Medical
      Association standard for thumb and finger reconstruction function, the results
      were excellent in 12 cases and good in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate
      was 100%. No pain at donor site was observed, with normal gait. CONCLUSION:
      Transplantation of modified hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap to repair
      dorsal thumb composite tissue defects including interphalangeal joint can
      effectively improve the appearance and function of the impaired thumb.

PMID- 26875278
TI  - [LONG-SEGMENTAL TRACHEA REPLACEMENT USING NICKEL-TITANIUM ALLOY STENT WRAPPED
      WITH AUTOLOGOUS PERICARDIUM].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To perfect the surgical process that trachea could be reconstructed by
      nickel-titanium (Ni- Ti) alloy stent wrapped with autologous pericardium, and to
      evaluate the effectiveness and observe the complications. METHODS: In the
      experiment, twelve healthy Bama suckling pigs with weight of 18-25 kg were
      selected. The pericardium was harvested to cover the Ni-Ti alloy stent. The
      compound artificial trachea was used to reconstruct long-segmental (6 cm) trachea
      defect. The effectiveness, complications, the properties, and growth rate of the
      new mucosa of the artificial trachea lumen were observed. RESULTS: Of 12 pigs, 2
      died soon because of hemorrhage and infection, respectively; 7 died at 2-4 months
      after operation because of hyperplasia at the middle section and blockage of
      phlegm plug; 3 survived after 42 weeks postoperatively, but accompanied with
      dyspnea symptom. At 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months after operation, the average crawl
      length of the new trachea mucosa was 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mm, respectively; the
      occurrence rates of anastomotic stenosis were 0 (0/10), 0 (0/9), 0 (0/4), 33.3%
      (1/3), and 33.3% (1/3) respectively; and the occurrence rates of scar hyperplasia
      in the middle of lumen were 20% (2/10), 66.7% (6/9), 75.0% (3/4), 66.7% (2/3),
      and 100% (3/3), respectively. At 7 months postoperatively, the bronchoscopy
      examination showed that the scar in central part of artificial trachea had the
      trends of stagnation, softening, and narrowing, and respiratory symptom had the
      trend of slight ease. Hyperplasia tissue could be found in central part of
      artificial trachea by autopsy and was verified to be fiber cells and necrotic
      tissue by pathology examination. CONCLUSION: Ni-Ti alloy stent with autologous
      pericardium can insure that the reconstructed tracheal lumen is unobstructed, and
      support the trachea epithelium regeneration; the main factors of the death of the

PMID- 26875279
TI  - [EPIDERMAI GROWTH FACTOR SECRETED BY ASTROCYTES STIMULATED WITH TACROLIMUS
      PROMOTING NEURITE OUTGROWTH].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) secreted by
      astrocytes in the process of tacrolimus (FK506) in promoting neurite outgrowth.
      METHODS: The spinal cord astrocytes and neuronal cells were isolated respectively
      from 2-day-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and 15-day SD pregnant rats, and cultured
      in vitro and identified by immunofluorescence staining. The spinal cord
      astrocytes were cultured with 20 umol/L FK506 medium in the experimental group,
      and with FK506 free medium in the control group. The supernatant was collected
      after 24 hours for preparing conditioned medium, and astrocytes were collected.
      EGF proteins in the conditioned medium were detected with ELISA, and EGF gene
      expressions of astrocytes were detected with real-time quantitative PCR (RT
      qPCR). The spinal cord neurons were cultured respectively with conditioned medium
      from the experimental group (FK506-CM) and the control group (C-CM) in group A
      and group B, also with neutralized C-CM and neutralized FK506-CM with anti-EGF
      neutralizing antibodies in group C and group D. Both the total neurite length and
      the longest neurite length were measured and compared among groups. RESULTS: Both
      astrocytes and neurons were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. The EGF
      content of experimental group (0.241 +/- 0.044) was significantly higher than
      that of the control group (0.166 +/- 0.014) (t = 3.93, P = 0.01); EGF gene
      expression of the experimental group (1.12 +/- 0.25) was significantly higher
      than that of the control group (0.46 +/- 0.11) (t = 5.78, P = 0.00). The neurite
      length measurement displayed that the total neurite length and the longest
      neurite length of groups C and D were significantly shorter than those of groups
      A and B (P < 0.05). Both the total and longest neurite length of group A were
      significantly longer than those of group B (P < 0.05), but no significant
      difference was shown between groups C and D (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The EGF
      secreted by spinal cord astrocytes can promote the neurite outgrowth. So spinal
      cord astrocytes can be used as an important intermediary target of FK506 to
      promote the recovery of neurological function.

PMID- 26875280
TI  - [FLUORESCENCE DISTRIBUTION IN BONE AND CARTILAGE TISSUE BY SECTIONING OF FROZEN
      UNDECALCIFIED BONE].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce a technique of frozen sections for undecalcified bone and
      discuss its feasiblity by observing the fluorescence distribution of the bone and
      cartilage. METHODS: The male Sprague Dawley transgenic rats at the age of 8
      weeks, which express green fluoreschent protein were selected to isolate the
      whole knee sectioned by teh undecalicified bone fronze section techynique. Under
      the fluorescence and light microscopy, the fluorescence and structure were
      observed within the organization of slice. Immunohistochemical staining (collagen
      type I and II, He staining, toluidine blue staining, and Alizarin red staining
      were performed to observe the distribution of fluorescent substance and cartilage
      and bone structure. RESULTS: The thickness of sections prepared by this
      technology was 6 um. General observation showed that the structure of secioned
      joint was complete. Under the light microscope, the morphology of cartilage
      cells, the arrangement of subchondral bone, and trabecular bone traveling could
      be clearly distinguished. Under fluorescence microscope, green fluorescence was
      shonw in the joint soft tissue, cartilage tissue, and bone tissue; collagen type
      I expressed in the bone tissue, collage type II in cartilage tissue. HE staining
      and toluidine blue staining could clearly distinguish the morphology of the
      cartilage layer. Alizarin red staining showed the structural integrity of
      subchondral bone plate and the organization within the meniscus, and proximal
      tibia cortical bone continuity. CONCLUSION: The fluorescence distribution can be
      directly observe in the bone and cartilage by sectioning of frozen undecalcified
      bone. This new technology can shorten the cycle of preparing sections.

PMID- 26875281
TI  - [RESEARCH PROGRESS OF KLIPPEL-FEIL SYNDROME WITH EAR MALFORMATION].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress in clinic, development, and
      genetics of the Klippel-Feil syndrome and its primary ear deformity. METHODS: The
      related literature at home and abroad concerning the Klippel-Feil syndrome with
      ear malformation was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. RESULTS: The clinical
      manifestation and classification of Klippel-Feil syndrome are complicated. As one
      of the most important accompany malformations, ear deformity mainly leads to
      hearing impairment and abnormal appearance. However, it is still unclear exactly
      how the ear deformity forms in Klippel-Feil syndrome, and there is little deep
      study on the internal connection between the ear deformity and other
      malformations. The premise for the treatment of Klippel-Feil syndrome includes
      accurate diagnoses and comprehensive disease assessment, and multidisciplinary
      collaboration will be the important direction of clinical practice in the future.
      CONCLUSION: Ear malformation is one of the most important congenital dysplasias
      in the Klippel-Feil syndrome. Its etiology should be based on research in the
      development and genetic mechanism. And its diagnosis and treatment should be
      followed by multidisciplinary collaboration. It is important to pay attention to
      identifying with ear malformation in other syndromes as well.

PMID- 26875282
TI  - [RESEARCH PROGRESS OF ROLE OF ESTROGEN AND ESTROGEN RECEPTOR ON ONSET AND
      PROGRESSION OF ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the recent progress in research on the role of estrogen and
      estrogen receptor on the onset and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
      (AIS). METHODS: The recently published clinical and experimental literature at
      home and abroad on abnormality of estrogen and its receptor in AIS was reviewed
      and summarized. RESULTS: There are many abnormal changes of estrogen and estrogen
      receptor in most AIS patients, including higher serum estrogen concentration,
      unusual cellular response to estrogen, late age at menarche, and gene
      polymorphisms of estrogen receptor, which are closely associated with AIS
      predisposition, curve severity, and scoliosis progression. CONCLUSION: Estrogen
      and its receptor participate in the onset and progression of AIS by certain
      mechanisms, but exact mechanism remains indefinite, which needs further research
      to better define the role of estrogen and its receptor in AIS.

PMID- 26875283
TI  - [RESEARCH PROGRESS OF AUTOLOGOUS VEIN NERVE CONDUIT FOR REPAIR OF PERIPHERAL
      NERVE DEFECT].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress of autologous vein nerve conduit
      for the repair of peripheral nerve defect. METHODS: The recent domestic and
      foreign literature concerning autologous vein nerve conduit for repair of
      peripheral nerve defect was analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: A large number of
      basic researches and clinical applications show that the effect of autologous
      venous nerve conduit is close to that of autologous nerve transplantation in
      repairing short nerve defect, especially the compound nerve conduit has a variety
      of autologous nerve tissue, cells, and growth factors, etc. CONCLUSION:
      Autologous vein nerve conduit for repair of non-nerve defect can be a good
      supplement of autologous nerve graft, improvement of autologous venous catheter
      to repair peripheral nerve defect is the research direction in the future.

PMID- 26875284
TI  - [Six Decades in the Service of a Science: The Communicationes de Historia Artis
      Medicinae].

PMID- 26875285
TI  - [Semmelweis Memorial Speech on the 150. Anniversary of His Death].
AB  - Two questions emerge as regards Semmelweis's reception and public memory: 1. How
      and why could turn Semmelweis into an emblematic representative of 19th-20th
      century science and medicine? 2. What sort of values and ideals does the fate of
      Semmelweis represent for us? Author calls our attention to the fact, that in
      Semmelweis's case, not only his discoveries and thought proved to be of abiding
      value, but during the last 120 years also his fate inspired a number of
      scientific, popular, non fictional and fictional analysis all over the world.
      Semmelweis, as a mythic representative of the modern "scientist" still owes a
      peculiar place in the common memory. His manipulated and partly intentionally
      coined story--based however on empirical facts--even today represents a relevant
      message and plays an important role in the making of the myth of modern
      physician. Author however emphasizes, that Semmelweis myth represent a somewhat
      different message for the international public and for the Hungarian one.

PMID- 26875286
TI  - [Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis -- remembrance and assessment of his achievement by the
      discovery of the causes of puerperal fever, in Austria in the 20th and 21st
      centuries].

PMID- 26875287
TI  - [The growth and spread of the antiseptic method in Italy (Semmelweis, Bottini,
      Lister)].

PMID- 26875288
TI  - [Surviving handwritten signatures of Ignac Semmelweis].
AB  - We know only rather few samples of Semmelweis's handwriting and therefore it is
      important to carefully preserve those we have. The first collection of his
      manuscripts was published by Antall et al in 1968. During the following 47 years
      only rather few further samples of his handwriting have been published. Our
      present collection completes the former list with two previously unknown letters
      and with an earlier unpublished document signed by Semmelweis. The first document
      is a certificate written by Semmelweis in 1854 regarding the age of a woman who
      delivered her child at Szent Rokus Hospital in Pest. The second document includes
      a request from the Court of Justice towards the Medical Faculty's of the
      University of Pest regarding the body's opinion in a case of infanticide. The
      third document is a registration book of a student at the University of Medicine
      signed by Semmelweis in 1859. Present work attempts to list all of Semmelweis's
      handwritings known at this moment. The list includes 29 documents written by
      Semmelweis and further 16 documents signed by him.

PMID- 26875289
TI  - [Health Policy in the Balkanic States during the 18-19th Centuries].

PMID- 26875291
TI  - ERVIN BAUER AND CANCER RESEARCH.

PMID- 26875290
TI  - [History of Smallpox Vaccination and of the Vaccine Supply in Hungary, up to
      1890].
AB  - One of the preconditions for the spread of vaccination against pox diseases was
      making vaccination available. The first vaccinations were carried out using
      original cowpox lymph sent by Jenner. For further vaccinations the vaccine was
      extracted from the blisters of those who had been successfully inoculated. In
      order to provide vaccine continuously six vaccine centres were set up in 1804 in
      the following cities: Pest, Buda, Kassa, Gyula, Pozsony and Zagrab (Croatia).
      Detailed information is available only about the centre in Pest which operated in
      Rokus Hospital under the leadership of the hospital director Andras Bossanyi.
      Besides regular vaccination they also provided vaccine for the countryside. From
      1824 the vaccine was relocated to the medical faculty of the university in Pest
      and Ferenc Gebhardt, an instructor of surgeons, became its head. The centre
      operated in the building of the medical faculty and vaccinations were given on
      Thursdays and Sundays. After the retirement of Gebhardt in 1860, the centre was
      taken over by the dermatologist Ferenc Poor for a short time, then by Ignac
      Semmelweis. From 1863 Gergely Patrubany was responsible for managing the centre.
      In 1874 the central vaccine institution moved to the Hospital for Poor Children
      in Pest where it was led first by Lazar Wittman, then by Geza Hainiss. In the
      1880s private institutions appeared, the best known were Dani Pecsi's centre in
      Pest and Bela Intze's one in Tirgu Lapus (Romania). Between 1873 an 1889 Andras
      Kreichel ran a vaccine centre in Nalepkovo (Slovakia).

PMID- 26875292
TI  - [Life and Work of Pharmacist Bernat Muller].

PMID- 26875293
TI  - [Participation of Hungarians in the Elaboration of Principles of Genetics and of
      Biotehchnology].
AB  - It was in 1983 that Robert Bud, director of The Science Museum in London, made it
      public that the principles of biotechnology, and the term itself were first put
      into words by a Hungarian scientist, Karoly Ereky (The use of life. A history of
      biotechnology. Cambridge - New York--Melbourne, Cambridge University Press,
      1993). Karoly Ereky stated that if raw material is used to produce consumer goods
      with the help of living organisms, the workflow data can be collected in
      biotechnology. He phrased the principles of biotechnology in his book published
      in German in 1919 called Biotechnology, ranking him among the world's greatest
      (Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin, 1919). In 1918 in Brno, three years before the birth
      of Mendel, count Imre Festetics formulated his theses in 4 points in his
      publication "Die genetische Gesetze der Natur" (Oekonomische Neuigkeiten und
      Verhandlungen. Brunn, 22: 169-170, 1819), using the word 'genetics' for the first
      time in the world. It was Vitezslav Orel, director of the Mendel Museum in Brno,
      who brought the attention of the world to this fact in 1989, based on the
      documents possessed by the Museum. The English scientist J.R. Wood published his
      new findings in 2001, accord- ing to which Festetics summarized his results in
      the form of four genetic laws well before Mendel, describing principles of the
      process of mutation and inheritance. Festetics provided evidence for the
      improvement of the stock by cross-breeding. He stated Mendel's second law on the
      importance of selection. He called attention to the priority of internal genetic
      fac- tors. Hungarians can rightly be proud of Karoly Ereky (1878-1952) and count
      Imre Festetics (1764-1847).

PMID- 26875294
TI  - [Healing Dental and Oral Problems by Remedies of Animal and of Human Origin].
AB  - Use of matierials of animal or human origin in dentistry (and generally in
      medicine) these days is regarded as an unusal way of intervention. However in
      earlier times, different tissues, parts, products and organs of animals were
      frequently used in healing. Some of these methods were rooted in magical
      thinking. As analogical treatments--based on similarity or analogy--e.g. powder
      of horn or teeth of pike was used for the treatment of decayed teeth and
      different worms, maggots, veenies were applied against "toothworm". By difficult
      eruption of primary teeth bone marrow or brain mixed with cockridge-blood and
      goatmilk was a widely used medicine. Butter and honey were able to help the
      growing of teeth, as well. Parts of frog (fe: flippers) were also components of
      curing materials. Egg as the symbol of life was often an ingredient of
      medicaments. For the treatment of inflamed gum different animal materials were
      used, like chin and teeth of wolf, pike, crayfish, milk, honey, human saliva etc.
      Animal or human stools, mucks (containing enzymes) did one's bit in healing of
      oral and dental illnesses and were applied as fomentation or swathing. Placing a
      leech on the inflamed face was a common procedure in the past even as the use of
      earwax in lipnook. In our days tissues, parts or products of animals (or human
      beings) usually never allowed to get into contact with the body of patients. It's
      a much safer routine, at the same time however a precious traditional knowledge
      vanishes forever.

PMID- 26875295
TI  - [Government Council Professor Karl Semmelweis (1906-1989), regional historian of
      Burgenland and Semmelweis researcher].

PMID- 26875296
TI  - [Dr. Jozsa Daniel (1795-1849)--Daniel Jozsa, MD (1795-1849)].
AB  - The present study summarizes the most important events of life and professional
      career of Daniel Jozsa born 220 years ago. Jozsa, the Medical Chief of former
      Crasna county was born in Uzon of Szekely region on 1, October, 1795. From the
      age of 10 he studied at the Bethlen College in Nagyenyed. In 1822 he attended the
      University of Medical Sciences in Vienna, where he got his doctor's degree in
      1828. He wrote his dissertation on the diseases of the female breast. In the same
      year he settled with his first wife in Szilagysomlyo, Crasna county, where he was
      appointed Medical Chief of the county by the Transylvanian Governor. He gained
      great medical reputation being a lively, correct and energetic man with rational
      medical principles ahead of his time. He took part and held a presentation at the
      general meeting of the Hungarian physicians and nature researchers in Kolozsvar
      in 1844. As a result, he was elected associate member by both the Royal Hungarian
      Natural Science Society and the Royal Medical Association of Budapest. While he
      successfully fought against the spread of cholera during the epidemics of 1831,
      1836 and 1848-49, he regularly took part in the public life of the county. From
      his first wife he had 6 children, from his second wife he had one child. He died
      in the village Balyok in Bihar county on 10, April, 1849. His tomb has been saved
      for future generations by the generosity of the local Reformed Church and of some
      doctors from Balyok.

PMID- 26875297
TI  - [Mor Karolyi was born 150 years ago].
AB  - Dr. Mor Karolyi was born in Szentes (County Csongrad, South-East Hungary) in 1865
      in a Jewish family. His original name was Moric Czukkermann--the name was changed
      to Mor Karolyi in 1883. Karolyi got his medical degree in 1889 at the Budapest
      Medical University. During his studies he was the student of Jozsef Arkovy, the
      founder of the Hungarian scientific dentistry. Karolyi later practised in Vienna
      from 1893 up to 1938. His main lines were the etiology of the diseases of the
      parodontal area and prosthetics. Thanks to his special method of treating
      traumatic parodontal diseases he made an international reputation. In 1932 he won
      the membership of the International Academy of Odontology (Buenos Aires). One of
      his etiological discoveries is still called Karolyi-effect in international
      terminology. After the so called Anschluss, Karolyi had to escape from Vienna. In
      1938 he settled back to his native city, Szentes. In 1944, being a Jew he was
      first internated, then deported to Theresienstadt. He died a few days after the
      liberation of the camp, 17th May 1945.

PMID- 26875298
TI  - AMBULANCE STATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

PMID- 26875299
TI  - Genetic profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treatment outcomes in human
      pulmonary tuberculosis in Tanzania.
AB  - Information on the different spoligotype families of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      in Tanzania is limited, and where available, restricted to small geographical
      areas. This article describes the genetic profile of M tuberculosis across
      Tanzania and suggests how spoligotype families might affect drug resistance and
      treatment outcomes for smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in
      Tanzania. We conducted the study from 2006 to 2008, and the isolates were
      obtained from samples collected under the routine drug resistance surveillance
      system. The isolates were from specimens collected from 2001 to 2007, and stored
      at the Central and Reference Tuberculosis Laboratory. A total of 487 isolates
      from 23 regions in the country were spoligotyped. We were able to retrieve
      clinical information for 446 isolates only. Out of the 487 isolates spoligotyped,
      195(40.0%) belonged to the Central Asian (CAS) family, 84 (17.5%) to the Latin
      American Mediterranean (LAM) family, 49 (10.1%) to the East-African Indian (EAI)
      family, and 33 (6.8%) to the Beijing family. Other isolates included 1 (0.2%) for
      H37Rv, 10 (2.1%) for Haarlem, 4 (0.8%) for S family, 58 (11.9%) for T family and
      52 (10.7%) for unclassified. No spoligotype patterns were consistent with M
      bovis. Regarding treatment outcomes, the cure rate was 80% with no significant
      variation among the spoligotype families. The overall level of MDR TB was 2.5%
      (3/12 1), with no significant difference among the spoligotype families. All
      Beijing strains (11.8%, 30/254) originated from the Eastern and Southern zones of
      the country, of which 80% were from Dar es Salaam. Isolates from the CAS and T
      families were reported disproportionately from the Eastern-Southern zone, and EAI
      and LAM families from the Northern-Lake zones but the difference was not
      statistically significant. Five isolates were identified as non-tuberculous
      Mycobacteria. In conclusion, M. tuberculosis isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis
      cases in Tanzania were classified mostly within the CAS, LAM, and EAI and T
      families, while the Beijing family comprised about 7% isolates only. Consistently
      good treatment outcomes were recorded across these spoligotype families. The
      proportion of drug resistance strains was low. The findings also suggest
      variation of spoligotype families with varying geographical localities within the
      country, and identify this area for further research to confirm this finding.

PMID- 26875300
TI  - Efficacy of a low-dose ferric-EDTA in reducing iron deficiency anaemia among
      underfive children living in malaria-holoendemic district of Mvomero, Tanzania.
AB  - Iron deficiency anaemia is a public health problem in Tanzania especially among
      children under the age of five years. In malaria holoendemic areas, control of
      anaemia by supplementation with iron has been reported to increase serious
      adverse events. The World Health Organization recommends that, programs to
      control anaemia in such areas should go concurrently with malaria control
      programmes. The objectives of the study were to: (i) to determine if a supplement
      providing 2.5 mg of iron as ferric EDTA and 2.5 mg of iron as ferrous lactate
      (low dose) is as effective in correcting anaemia as a supplement providing the
      standard 10 mg of iron as ferrous lactate (high dose); and ii) determine if iron
      supplementation increased the risk of malaria. This study was carried out in
      Mvomero District of east-central Tanzania. Two groups (69 and 70 subjects per
      treatment) of moderately anaemic children (7.0-9.1 g of Hb/dl), received one of
      the two micronutrient supplements differing only in iron content for a period of
      60 days. Results showed that, the average haemoglobin (Hb) concentration improved
      from 8.30 +/- 0.60 g/dl to 11.08 +/- 1.25 g/dl. The average weight-for-age for
      all children increased from 16.0 to 20.6% while their weight-for-height increased
      from 4.0 to 13.3%. The incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria ranged
      from 10.0 to 10.4% at all time points with no apparent increase in malaria
      severity due to iron supplementation. Overall, there was a significant reduction
      in anaemia during the 60 day supplementation period. This study demonstrated
      that, micronutrient supplements containing low-dose ferric-EDTA is just as
      effective as the high dose iron in reducing anaemia and can be safely utilized in
      malaria holoendemic areas to control iron deficiency anaemia. It is recommended
      that, a large study should be conducted to affirm the effectiveness of the low
      dose ferric-EDTA in controlling iron deficiency anaemia among underfive children.

PMID- 26875301
TI  - Providing anti-retroviral therapy in the context of self-perceived stigma: a
      mixed methods study from Tanzania.
AB  - Adherence to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) has been a significant step towards
      improving quality of life among people living with HIV. However, stigma has been
      described to influence adherence to ART. A cross-sectional mixed methods study
      was conducted to explore factors related to stigma and perceived influence of
      stigma on adherence to treatment amongst ART-prescribed patients and health care
      providers, respectively in Tanzania. Stigma was assessed through interviewer
      administered survey among 295 patients. The results from patients showed that
      279/295 (95%) were satisfied with the services provided at the Care and Treatment
      Centres (CTCs). The set up of CTCs 107/295 (36%), and queuing at the CTCs 88/295
      (30%) were associated with stigma (P < 0.001). The perceived influence of stigma
      on adherence to ART was assessed using focus group discussions (FGDs) of 33
      health care providers (HCPs). Through FGDs, HCPs perceived the set up of CTCs as
      friendly yet violated confidentiality. The HCPs reported that ART-prescribed
      patients hide identifiable cards to avoid being recognised by other people. Some
      patients were reported to rush to avoid familiar faces, and due to the rush they
      picked wrong medicines. Also some patients were reported to throw away
      manufacturers' box with dosage instructions written on the box, resulting in use
      of doses contrary to the prescriptions. We conclude that despite the fact that
      most patients were satisfied with the services provided at the CTCs, it is
      important that HCPs provide dosage instructions on another piece of paper or use
      disposable bags. A common dispensing window for all patients regardless of the
      diagnosis may be useful to minimize stigma. Also HCPs may introduce appointment
      system to avoid long queue at the CTCs.

PMID- 26875302
TI  - Prevalence and awareness of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adult population in
      Mwanza city, Tanzania.
AB  - Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence is increasing rapidly around the
      world. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence and
      awareness of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mwanza city, Tanzania. A multistage
      random sampling technique was used to obtain representative subjects. Information
      about causes and risk factors were collected using structured questionnaire. In
      addition, community random blood glucose testing was employed to identify those
      at risk. Subjects with >= 200 mg/dl on the following day were subjected to
      fasting blood glucose testing and they were confirmed to have T2DM if they had
      blood glucose level of >= 126 mg/ dl. In each subject, height, weight, waist and
      hip circumferences and total fat and fat free mass were measured using standard
      procedures. A total of 640 participants were included in this study, 55% were
      females and 45% were males. Mean age of the respondent was 43.84 +/- 10.80 years.
      Most (46.4%) respondents were in the age group 30-40 years. Mean age for females
      was 44.0 +/- 10.31 years while for males was 43.6 +/- 11.3 years (Table 1).
      Overall prevalence of T2DM was 11.9%, (n = 76). Prevalence was high in females
      (7.2%; n = 46) than in males (4.7%; n = 30). The age between 41-50 years had the
      highest prevalence of T2DM 28.6% followed by 51-60 years age group (17.2%).
      Significant independent associations were found for age (OR 3.88, 95% CI: 2.16
      6.95) positive first degree relative with T2DM (OR 1.34; 95% C: 1.10-1.64)
      alcohol intake (OR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02-1.48,) smoking (OR 3.86; 95% CI: 2.57-5.78)
      and hypertension (OR 0.096; 95% CI: 1.954-18.251). Only 49.2 (n = 315) of the
      respondents knew about the causes and symptoms of T2DM. Public education on T2DM
      should be emphasized and routine measurement of blood glucose levels is
      recommended among adults.

PMID- 26875303
TI  - Knowledge of diabetes and hypertension among members of teaching staff of higher
      learning institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - Diabetes and hypertension are among the most common non-communicable diseases
      (NCD) that contribute to a large number of adult morbidity and mortality. The
      objective of this study was to determine knowledge of diabetes and hypertension
      and the associated risk factors among members of teaching staff of Higher
      Learning Institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross sectional community
      based study was conducted in 10 higher learning institutions including
      universities. A structured pretested questionnaire was utilized. A total of 139
      participants were involved in this study. A total of 139 teaching members of
      staff from higher learning institutions participated in the study. The majority
      (74.8%; n=104) of the participants were males. Mean age of the participants was
      40.7 +/- 12.6. Over half (56.8%; 79/139) of the respondents correctly identified
      failure of body to use insulin as one of the causes of diabetes. Of the
      respondents, 43.2% (60/139) were able to identified heredity as cause of
      hypertension. Increasing age was correctly identified as one of risk factors for
      diabetes by 38.1% (53/139) and for hypertension by 36.7% (51/139) respondents.
      Thus knowledge of the causes, signs and symptoms, risk factors and complications
      was not as high as expected considering the respondents were among the highly
      educated and professional population. In conclusion, the majority of teaching
      staff in the higher learning Institutions in Dar es Salaam were aware of the
      diabetes and hypertension. However the knowledge of the causes, signs and
      symptoms, risk factors and complications was not as high as expected. It is
      important that this group of professionals is appropriately informed as regards
      to diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases as they may serve
      as key advocacy group to the community and policy makers in Tanzania.

PMID- 26875304
TI  - Addressing the human resource for health crisis in Tanzania: the lost in
      transition syndrome.
AB  - Tanzania is experiencing a serious Human Resource for Health (HRH) crisis.
      Shortages are 87.5% and 67% in private and public hospitals, respectively. Mal
      distribution and brain drain compound the shortage. The objective of this study
      was to improve knowledge on the HRH status in Tanzania by analyzing what happens
      to the number of medical doctors (MD) and doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree
      graduates during the transition period from graduation, internship to
      appointment. We analyzed secondary data to get the number of MDs and DDS; who
      graduated from 2001 to 2010, the number registered for internship from 2005 to
      2010 and the number allowed for recruitment by government permits from 2006 to
      2010. Self administered questionnaires were provided to 91 MDs and DDS who were
      pursuing postgraduate studies at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied
      Sciences during this study who went through the graduation-internship-appointment
      (GIA) period to get the insight of the challenges surrounding the MDs and DDS
      during the GIA period. From 2001 to 2010 a total of 2,248 medical doctors and 198
      dental surgeons graduated from five local training institutions and abroad. From
      2005 to 2010 a total of 1691 (97.13%) and 186 (126.53%) of all graduates in MD
      and DDS, respectively, registered for internship. The 2007/2008 recruitment
      permit allowed only 37.7% (80/218) and 25.0% (7/27) of the MDs and DDS graduated
      in 2006, respectively. The 2009/20 10 recruitment permit allowed 265 MDs (85.48%)
      out of 310 graduates of 2008. In 2010/2011 permission for MDs was 57.58% (190/
      330) of graduates of 2009 and in 2011/2012 permission for MDs was for 61.03%
      ((249/408) graduates of 2010. From this analysis the recruitment permits in
      2007/2008, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 1nd 2011/2012 could not offer permission for
      employment of 482 (38.10%) of all MDs graduated in the subsequent years. Major
      challenges associated with the GIA period included place of accommodation,
      allowance (for internship) or salary delay (for first appointment), difficulty
      working environment, limited carrier opportunities and concern for job security.
      The failure to enforce mandatory registration for internship and failure to
      absorb all produced MDs and DDS results to loss of a substantial number of these
      graduates during the graduation-internship-appointment period. To solve this
      problem, it is recommended to establish better human resource for health
      management system.

PMID- 26875305
TI  - Leptospira infections in freshwater fish in Morogoro Tanzania: a hidden public
      health threat.
AB  - Leptospirosis caused by spirochete bacterium of genus Leptospira affects humans
      and animals worldwide. Rodents are major reservoirs of leptospires whereas
      wetland and aquatic migratory birds also carry and transmit leptospires.
      Leptospirosis studies in fish are lacking in African countries despite favourable
      environment and abundant reservoirs, which can spread leptospires into aquatic
      habitats and infect fish. The objectives of this study were to determine presence
      of Leptospira in fish; the prevalent Leptospira serovars and whether are related
      to serovars reported in animals; and to ascertain potential public health risk.
      Live tilapia, catfish and eel fish (n = 48) were caught in Mindu Dam in Morogoro
      Municipality in eastern Tanzania. Blood sample was collected using syringes and
      needles to obtain serum for serological detection of leptospirosis using gold
      standard microagglutination test utilizing local and reference Leptospira
      serovars Sokoine, Kenya, Pomona and Hebdomadis. Twenty-six fish (54.2%) were
      positive for serovar Kenya (29.2%) and Sokoine (25%). Leptospira prevalence was
      high in both catfish (58.3%) and tilapia fish (47.8%). Thus, different fish types
      are infected with Leptospira found in animals. Fish could be source of Leptospira
      infection to humans since tilapia and catfish are the common fish type widely
      consumed in Tanzania. Further study covering lakes, rivers and dams is required
      to better understand the prevalence of Leptospira in fish and actual public
      health threats.

PMID- 26875306
TI  - Barriers to men who have sex with men attending HIV related health services in
      Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - The HIV/AIDS disease burden is disproportionately high among men who have sex
      with men (MSM) worldwide. If this group will continue to be ignored they will
      continue to be the focus of HIV infection to the general population. This study
      explored barriers impeding MSM utilizing the HIV related health services
      currently available. The objectives of the study were to: (i) determine how
      stigma and discrimination affect MSM attendance to HIV related health services;
      (ii) determine how health care worker's (HCW's) practices and attitudes towards
      MSM affect their attendance to HIV related health service; (iii) learn MSM's
      perception towards seeking HIV related health services and other factors
      affecting accessibility of HIV related health services among MSM in Dar es
      Salaam, Tanzania. This was a descriptive study whereby qualitative methods were
      employed, using in-depth interviews for 50 individuals and focus group
      discussions for 5 groups which were conducted at PASADA premises, in Temeke
      district in 2012. After transcription data was read through, codes created were
      then collapsed into themes which were interpreted. The findings of this study
      show that majority of the study participants access HIV related health services
      in Dar es Salaam when they need to. However, they reported stigma and
      discrimination, lack of confidentiality and privacy, lack of availability and MSM
      friendly HIV related health services, financial challenges, poor practices and
      negative attitudes directed towards them by health workers, fears and lack of HIV
      knowledge among them as barriers for them to access these services. With these
      findings, there is an importance of enabling MSM to overcome the perceived stigma
      when seeking for HIV related health services. Also there is a need to conduct
      further research with regards to how HCW's treat this group and their
      understanding on same sex practices.

PMID- 26875307
TI  - Thirty years old lady with nephrotic syndrome: a case of biopsy proven lupus
      nephritis in Tanzania.
AB  - We describe a case of a 30 years old female patient who presented with nephrotic
      syndrome and impaired renal function diagnosed to have systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE). This is the first biopsy proven lupus nephritis in Tanzania.
      SLE is common among females and is reported be more common among Africans as
      compared to other races. This patient presented with nephrotic syndrome, pleural
      effusion and pericardial effusion which depicts the multisystem effects of SLE.
      This patient was treated with cyclophosphamide in combination with steroid as
      induction therapy and attained remission after a month of treatment. Systemic
      lupus erythematosus should be considered in patients with nephrotic syndrome and
      these patients should have renal biopsy to determine renal involvement.

PMID- 26875308
TI  - Bromodeoxyuridine immunofluoresence and differential interference contrast
      imaging combination can precisely segregate adherent monolayer cells into
      specific cell-cycle phases.
AB  - Most cellular-level cancer studies involve the identification of the cell cycle
      phases in which individual cells are progressing through. Traditional methods
      such as Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) require several treatments
      before harvesting the cells-procedures which alter cellular architecture. This
      study describes a novel method of the cell cycle analysis that preserves the
      cellular morphology and architecture with minimal in situ milieu perturbation.
      Primary rat skin fibroblasts were isolated and cultured at standard conditions.
      The cells were stained with anti-BrdU and examined with LSM 510 laser scanning
      microscopy. S-phase cells incorporated BrdU while M-phase appeared smaller and
      spherical. Damaged cells also tended to round-off in shape but, unlike M-phase
      cells, they did not bind anti-Phospho H3 antibody. G1 and G2 phases did not
      incorporate BrdU or Phospho H3. The two gap phases were differentiated on the
      basis of their sizes and subtleties in their shapes. The method is technically
      simple and less time-consuming while preserving the cellular in situ
      architecture. Due to its simplicity and accuracy the technique can be easily
      employed in resource-limited laboratories. Further studies are needed to verify
      the usefulness of the technique in clinical diagnostics such as cancer
      biomarkers.

PMID- 26875310
TI  - Improve cyber security and protect practice finances.

PMID- 26875309
TI  - ["Epistemic Negotiations" and the Pluralism of the Radiation Protection Regime:
      The Determination of Radiation Protection Standards for the General Population in
      the Early Years After World War II].
AB  - Radiation protection standards for the general population have constituted one of
      the most controversial subjects in the history of atomic energy uses. This paper
      reexamines the process in which the first such standards evolved in the early
      postwar period. While the existing literature has emphasized a "collusion"
      between the standard-setters and users, the paper seeks to examine the horizontal
      relationship among the standard-setters. It first examines a series of expert
      consultations between the United States and the United Kingdom. Representing a
      different configuration of power and interest, the two failed to agree on the
      assessment of genetic damage and cancer induction whose occurrence might have no
      threshold and therefore be dependent on the population size. This stalemate
      prevented the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP),
      established in 1950, from formulating separate guidelines for the general public.
      Situations radically changed when the Bikini incident in 1954 led to the creation
      of more scientific panels. One such panel under the U.S. Academy of Sciences
      enabled the geneticists to bridge their internal divide, unanimously naming 100
      mSv as the genetically permissible dose for the general population. Not to be
      outdone, ICRP publicized its own guidelines for the same purpose. The case
      examined in this paper shows that the standard-setting process is best understood
      as a series of "epistemic negotiations" among and within the standard-setters,
      whose agendas were determined from the outset but whose outcomes were not.

PMID- 26875311
TI  - Top 10 Challenges Facing Physician in 2016.

PMID- 26875312
TI  - How relationship marketing can add value to your practice.

PMID- 26875313
TI  - Legal and ethical considerations for managing your online reputation.

PMID- 26875314
TI  - Making EHR alerts work for your practice.

PMID- 26875315
TI  - The covenant.

PMID- 26875316
TI  - Will 21st Century Cures Act harm patient safety?

PMID- 26875317
TI  - Hospitals launch specialty pharmacies to curb drug costs.

PMID- 26875318
TI  - States hold key role in big insurer mergers.

PMID- 26875319
TI  - Wisconsin systems are leaders in offering their own health plans.

PMID- 26875320
TI  - Providers struggle on CMS measures.

PMID- 26875321
TI  - Pre-existing conditions contribute to rising U.S. maternal mortality rates.

PMID- 26875322
TI  - Herding hospital docs. Staffing firms buy MD groups to strengthen rate clout.

PMID- 26875323
TI  - Policing the ethics police. Research review boards face scrutiny as feds propose
      new rules.

PMID- 26875324
TI  - Nurses turn to speech-recognition software to speed documentation.

PMID- 26875325
TI  - Why Congress must deal with drug prices.

PMID- 26875326
TI  - Behavioral-health organizations can partner with hospitals to reduce
      readmissions.

PMID- 26875327
TI  - Helping docs cope with federal reforms.

PMID- 26875328
TI  - Pharma 'could have done a better job' explaining drug costs.

PMID- 26875329
TI  - Hospital CEO turnover rate by state. Ranked by turnover percentage in 2014.

PMID- 26875330
TI  - Patient records: the struggle for ownership.

PMID- 26875331
TI  - Telehealth: the balance between access and ethics.

PMID- 26875332
TI  - Become a master planner and elevate your practice.

PMID- 26875333
TI  - Medical marijuana: Legal considerations for physicians.

PMID- 26875334
TI  - Budgeting for retirement: make a plan and stick to it.

PMID- 26875335
TI  - Tech tools to aid with revenue cycle management.

PMID- 26875336
TI  - Wearables: A healthcare fad or revolution?

PMID- 26875337
TI  - Medical records: creation vs. control.

PMID- 26875338
TI  - Gun-violence reduction must be treated like auto-safety movement.

PMID- 26875339
TI  - Major-player health systems look to broaden telehealth's bandwidth.

PMID- 26875340
TI  - Pfizer-Allergan deal could reduce biosimilar cost savings.

PMID- 26875341
TI  - ACA delivers expected spending jolt, but long-term cost growth uncertain.

PMID- 26875343
TI  - company doctoring. More employers offer on-site clinics to reduce workers' health
      costs.

PMID- 26875342
TI  - REPRICING HEALTHCARE: HOSPITALS SCRUTINIZE COSTS AS PATIENTS GROW MORE PRICE
      SENSITIVE.

PMID- 26875345
TI  - Intelligence sharing, collaboration essential to eliminate cyberthreats in
      healthcare.

PMID- 26875344
TI  - Tackle gun violence like other public health problems.

PMID- 26875346
TI  - Bedside handoffs boost patient satisfaction.

PMID- 26875347
TI  - Baltimore's recent violence a 'call to action' to address health disparities.

PMID- 26875348
TI  - Hospitals with best, worst 30-day readmission rates. Ranked by percentage
      readmitted within 30 days.

PMID- 26875351
TI  - THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU (AND YOUR DATA) NOW.

PMID- 26875350
TI  - CONTAGION CURTAILED. Can you stop disease with smart devices?

PMID- 26875349
TI  - The first genetically altered animal is approved for eating.

PMID- 26875352
TI  - For GOOD. THE BEST INVENTIONS MAKING THE WORLD BETTER.

PMID- 26875353
TI  - As third open enrollment arrives, the ACA enters its penalty phase.

PMID- 26875354
TI  - Budget deal could deter hospitals from buying surgery centers.

PMID- 26875355
TI  - Experts are skeptical value-based purchasing program is helping to boost quality.

PMID- 26875356
TI  - Medicaid programs brace for new home health wage rule.

PMID- 26875357
TI  - BOHAN's 'brand villages' work to create captivating stories.

PMID- 26875358
TI  - The communicator.

PMID- 26875359
TI  - Marketers reshape ad strategies.

PMID- 26875360
TI  - Anti-vaping ads show the power of the asterisk.

PMID- 26875361
TI  - Medicaid losses lead the pack.

PMID- 26875362
TI  - Advertising diversity.

PMID- 26875363
TI  - HealthCare.gov 3.0, behaviorally speaking.

PMID- 26875364
TI  - Quality gains, cost reductions make strong case for the modern house call.

PMID- 26875365
TI  - Helping tell a story through data.

PMID- 26875366
TI  - 'People need convincing there's something you can do about climate change'.

PMID- 26875367
TI  - Largest patient-satisfaction measurement firms. Ranked by total number of clients
      in 2014.

PMID- 26875368
TI  - Millennials in Medicine.

PMID- 26875369
TI  - Building patient relationships through your staff.

PMID- 26875370
TI  - Don't skimp on your HIPAA risk assessment.

PMID- 26875371
TI  - Cutting costs to help your practice thrive.

PMID- 26875372
TI  - Analyze EHR data to improve financial reporting.

PMID- 26875373
TI  - After the ICD-10 transition: Your questions answered.

PMID- 26875374
TI  - The payer merger effect: What it means for physicians.

PMID- 26875375
TI  - Expanded insurance access: its affect on physicians.

PMID- 26875376
TI  - Congress is final hurdle in removing EHR 'gag clauses'.

PMID- 26875377
TI  - HOW I DID IT....THE CEO OF ATHENAHEALTH on ON THE ROLE OF ANGER IN STARTING NEW
      BUSINESSES.
AB  - As a boy, Bush watched Emergency! on television and was captivated by the romance
      and seeming magic of saving lives. As an adult, he found the reality of medicine
      to be very different: There wasn't much humanity in the way health care was
      actually delivered. Believing that he'd be daunted by the course work required
      for a medical degree, he decided to take an entrepreneurial route to improving
      the system. His first sense of the opportunity came while he was driving an
      ambulance in New Orleans one summer during college. Some patients with chronic
      disease who couldn't afford their medicines would repeatedly call the ambulance
      to take them to a hospital where they could be stabilized. What if the ambulance
      itself were outfitted with treatments for the five most common chronic diseases
      and carried EMTs who were trained to use them? Those patients could be treated in
      place, at a radically lower cost than what the hospital would charge. That idea
      didn't work out, and Bush moved on to think about a network of maternity clinics.
      He and Todd Park drew up a business plan at Harvard Business School--one that was
      "unbelievably complicated to execute and very risky." But in the process of
      pursuing it, they created websites for the paperwork with rules that prevented
      mistakes. That was the seed for athenahealth, which today supports electronic
      medical records and a suite of practice management and care coordination
      services, leaving doctors free to spend more time with their patients.

PMID- 26875379
TI  - Breast cancer's race problem.

PMID- 26875378
TI  - What a daily glass of wine does over time.

PMID- 26875380
TI  - Not all screen time is a no-no for infants.

PMID- 26875381
TI  - We count pitches to save arms. It's time to track hits to save lives.

PMID- 26875382
TI  - China's growing deadly addiction.

PMID- 26875383
TI  - Mammogram guidance gets an overhaul--again.

PMID- 26875384
TI  - ON ENGAGING WITH SMEs. The NHS can contribute to growing local wealth.

PMID- 26875385
TI  - RISK TAKING NEEDS TO BE ASSESSED.

PMID- 26875386
TI  - WE NEED NEW INTERMEDIATE CARE SOLUTIONS.

PMID- 26875387
TI  - WORKFORCE. HOW TO REDUCE TEMP STAFF.

PMID- 26875388
TI  - INNOVATION. HSJ launches the Women Leaders network.

PMID- 26875389
TI  - PROCUREMENT. 'THE NURSES LOVED IT'.

PMID- 26875390
TI  - Should your blood pressure be way lower than it is?

PMID- 26875391
TI  - New hope for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's.

PMID- 26875392
TI  - MedAssets deal could pave way for regional, provider-led GPOs.

PMID- 26875394
TI  - Consumers face many plan changes on the insurance exchanges for 2016.

PMID- 26875393
TI  - ACA opponents boosted by Kentucky, Virginia elections.

PMID- 26875395
TI  - Honing cardiovascular care. Truven's top 50 cardiovascular hospitals use data to
      drive improvements.

PMID- 26875396
TI  - Outsourcing medical staffing. Hospitals turn to managed-service providers to
      handle all temporary staffing chores.

PMID- 26875397
TI  - A green light for attacking Obamacare.

PMID- 26875398
TI  - Hospitals must address housing in treating the homeless.

PMID- 26875399
TI  - Nursing home reduces antibiotic use.

PMID- 26875400
TI  - There's a risk that value-based payment 'is more lip service than the real
      thing'.

PMID- 26875401
TI  - Largest U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals. Ranked by number of total operating beds
      in fiscal 2014.

PMID- 26875402
TI  - ELECTRIFY YOUR MIND.

PMID- 26875403
TI  - Why (almost) everyone is embracing the digital doctor.

PMID- 26875404
TI  - THE WAR ON DELICIOUS.

PMID- 26875405
TI  - The New Food Rules. A SIMPLER, SANER WAY TO EAT IS HERE.

PMID- 26875406
TI  - The science of why people 'snap' in anger.

PMID- 26875407
TI  - The Diet Prescription.

PMID- 26875408
TI  - DIAGNOSTICS. TESTING TIMES.

PMID- 26875409
TI  - DIAGNOSTICS: CASE STUDIES. SO HOW EFFICIENT ARE YOU?

PMID- 26875410
TI  - PARTNERSHIPS. CAN I WATCH NETFLIX?

PMID- 26875411
TI  - ON THE JUNIOR DOCTORS CONTRACT. Ministers can't spin out of the contract
      standoff.

PMID- 26875412
TI  - CIRCLE'S BEDFORD CONTRACT IS FAR FROM PERFECT.

PMID- 26875413
TI  - AVOIDABLE HARM LACKS A STRATEGY.

PMID- 26875414
TI  - Legal. Seven day care can save money.

PMID- 26875415
TI  - INNOVATION. SMALL STEPS, GIANT LEAPS.

PMID- 26875417
TI  - WHY THE NHS NEEDS A SHARED STRATEGY.

PMID- 26875416
TI  - ON THE ROLE OF MERGERS IN THE NHS. Mergers should be the exception, not the rule.

PMID- 26875418
TI  - EMPLOY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

PMID- 26875419
TI  - SERVICE IMPROVEMENT. EVIDENCE WE CAN ALL USE.

PMID- 26875420
TI  - DIABETES CARE. THINK ON YOUR FEET.

PMID- 26875421
TI  - SERVICE IMPROVEMENT. IT'S TIME TO HEAL.

PMID- 26875422
TI  - MENTAL HEALTH. INTEGRATING ALL PARTNERS.

PMID- 26875423
TI  - COMMUNITY SERVICES. Work together to cut alcohol related hospital admissions.

PMID- 26875424
TI  - Integration is a question of balance.

PMID- 26875426
TI  - Sevoflurane and thiopental preconditioning attenuates the migration and activity
      of MMP-2 in U87MG glioma cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tumor cell migration and diffuse infiltration into brain parenchyma
      are known causes of recurrence after treatment in glioblastoma (GBM), mediated in
      part by the interaction of glioma cells with the extracellular matrix, followed
      by degradation of matrix by tumor cell derived proteases, particularly the matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMP). Sevoflurane and thiopental are anesthetics commonly
      used in cancer surgery. However, their effect on the progression of glioma cells
      remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the role of these
      anesthetics on the migration and activity of MMP-2 in glioma cells. METHODOLOGY:
      Cultured U87MG cells were pretreated with sevoflurane or thiopental and in vitro
      wound healing scratch assay was carried out to analyze their effect on migration
      of these cells. Gelatin zymography was carried out to examine the effect of these
      anesthetics on tumor cell MMP-2 activity using the conditioned media 24 h after
      pretreatment. Cell viability was analyzed using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5
      diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: U87MG cells exposed to 2.5%
      sevoflurane or different concentrations of thiopental significantly decreased
      migration and activity of MMP-2 compared to control. No effect was seen on the
      viability of these cells after pretreatment with sevoflurane or thiopental.
      CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that both sevoflurane and
      thiopental have inhibitory effect on the migration and MMP-2 activity in glioma
      cells. Thus, it is important that the choice of anesthetics to be used during
      glioma surgery takes into account their inhibitory properties against the tumor
      cells.

PMID- 26875427
TI  - Preservation and Microsurgical Repair of the Superficial Temporal Artery During
      Pterional Craniotomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the rate of superficial temporal artery (STA) preservation
      and the effectiveness of STA reconstruction in patients undergoing a pterional
      craniotomy. METHODS: Included patients (n = 136) underwent either an emergency or
      an elective pterional craniotomy. In case of deliberate transection or accidental
      damage of the STA, it was repaired microsurgically at the end of the procedure.
      Postoperatively, the patency of the STA was assessed on CT angiography, MR
      angiography, or conventional angiography and complications related to wound
      healing were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 136 operated patients, the STA could be
      identified in 120 cases (88%). Of these 120 cases, the STA could be dissected and
      left undamaged in 60 patients (44%). In 52 patients (38%), 1 of the 2 branches of
      the STA had to be transsected to elevate the muscle-skin flap. Forty-six of the
      transected arteries could be anastomosed at the end of the procedure. All of
      these arteries were patent directly after repair. In the remaining 16 patients
      (12%), the STA was not identified during approach. All anastomosed arteries (n =
      46) were patent. Two patients developed a postoperative infection. CONCLUSIONS:
      Preserving or reconstructing of the STA during pterional craniotomy is feasible
      in the majority of the patients with very high rate of anastomosis patency. STA
      hinders elevation of the skin/muscle flap in approximately 38% of the pterional
      approaches and without reconstruction afterwards, the STA would been occluded.

PMID- 26875428
TI  - Heart rate-guided, but not dose-guided titration of beta blockers stabilizes
      ventricular repolarization in patients with chronic heart failure.
AB  - AIMS: We compared the effects of heart rate-guided and dose-guided beta-blocker
      titration strategies on QT variability in patients with chronic heart failure
      (CHF). METHODS: In a prospective study we recorded 5-minute resting high
      resolution ECGs (HRECG) in 100 patients with CHF and measured heart rate (HR) and
      ventricular repolarization by QT variability index (QTVI). In a subgroup of
      patients not reaching target HR (<70bpm) we uptitrated beta blockers and repeated
      HRECG measurements 3months thereafter. RESULTS: Target HR was present in 46
      patients (group A), and in 54 patients HR was above target (group B). The groups
      did not differ in age, gender, NYHA class, NT pro-BNP, creatinine, or beta
      blocker dose. Patients in group A displayed significantly lower QTVI than
      patients in group B (-1.25+/-0.55 vs. -1.52+/-0.42, P=0.013). When uptitrating
      beta-blockers we found a decrease in HR (from 91+/-15bpm to 71+/-15bpm, P<0.001),
      NTpro BNP levels (from 4474+/-3878pg/ml to 3042+/-2566pg/ml, P=0.024), and NYHA
      class (from 3.0+/-0.8 to 2.5+/-0.7, P=0.006). With beta-blocker uptitration QTVI
      decreased in 10 of 24 patients (42%). In these patients HR decreased more than in
      the remaining cohort (-25+/-20bpm vs. -15+/-17bpm, P=0.017). On multivariate
      analysis, the presence of target HR was a predictor of QTVI decrease (P=0.017),
      but beta-blocker dose was not. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CHF treated by beta
      blockers, changes in QT variability appear to occur in parallel with changes of
      heart rate. This suggests that heart rate-guided titration of beta-blockers may
      be associated with decreased risk of sudden cardiac death.

PMID- 26875429
TI  - [Pathophysiology of inflammation].
AB  - Inflammation results from activation of the immune system in response to a broad
      range of different stimuli. The immune system is a highly complex and
      evolutionary optimized defense system with cellular and humoral components. The
      course of an inflammatory response is influenced by the immune condition of the
      host, the virulence e. g. of an infectious agent, and the fine tuning of the
      local tissue reaction, which may be influenced by individual genetic factors.
      Immunity is a compromise between insufficient (immunodeficiency) or exaggerated
      (autoimmunity) immune reactions. The dynamic balance between these two extremes
      is achieved through stringent T- and B-cell selection in the bone marrow and
      thymus on the one hand and through "checkpoint control" in peripheral lymphatic
      tissues. Many tumors have ways to suppress local immune responses and to escape
      destruction through the immune system (one of the so-called "hallmarks of
      cancer"). In recent years, different approaches have successfully been able to
      reverse this local immunosuppression. First clinical trials using these
      strategies have shown highly promising results indicating that the therapeutic
      use of the immune system will be a very effective instrument in the arsenal of
      cancer treatment agents. 

PMID- 26875430
TI  - Prognostic significance of volume-based 18F-FDG PET/CT parameter in patients with
      surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. Comparison with
      immunohistochemical biomarkers.
AB  - AIM: We investigated the prognostic value of volume-based 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose
      (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) parameters compared with other
      factors including several immunohistochemical biomarkers in patients with
      surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS, METHODS:  STUDY
      PARTICIPANTS: 290 patients with surgically resected and histopathologically
      confirmed NSCLC. The maxmum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic
      tumour volume (MTV) of the primary tumour were obtained on 18F-FDG PET/ computed
      tomography (CT) for initial staging and Ki-67 labeling index (LI), p16, CD31 and
      cyclin E were evaluated in the primary tumours by immunohistochemical staining.
      Survival analyses for variables including PET parameters, immunohistochemical
      biomarker and other clinical factors were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method
      and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: In univariate
      analyses, tumour stage, tumour size, and MTV were significant prognostic factors
      for decreased overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate
      analyses showed MTV and tumour stage were significant predictors of poor OS (MTV,
      hazard ratio (HR) = 1.135, p = 0.015; stage, HR = 0.644, p = 0.025) and DFS (MTV,
      HR = 1.128, p = 0.043; stage, HR = 0.541, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The MTV of
      primary tumours is a significant prognostic factor for survival along with tumour
      stage in patients with surgically resected NSCLC. The MTV can predict OS and DFS
      better than immunohistochemical biomarkers.

PMID- 26875431
TI  - A rare case of osteopetrosis mimicking osteosarcoma: 18F-FDG PET/CT findings in
      an unexpected diagnosis.

PMID- 26875433
TI  - Milestones in Genetics of Structural Skin Disorders.

PMID- 26875434
TI  - The Complexity of Elastic Fiber Biogenesis: The Paradigm of Cutis Laxa.

PMID- 26875432
TI  - Effects of breast cancer on chronic disease medication adherence among older
      women.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of breast cancer
      on chronic disease medication adherence among older women. METHODS: The
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked data and a 5%
      random sample of Medicare enrollees were used. Stage I-III breast cancer patients
      diagnosed in 2008 and women without cancer were eligible. Three cohorts of
      medication users 66+ years were identified using diagnosis codes and prescription
      fill records: diabetes, hypertension, and lipid disorders. For each cohort,
      breast cancer patients were frequency matched to comparison women by age and
      geographic area. Medication adherence was measured by the proportion of days
      covered and medication persistence. RESULTS: During the post-baseline period, the
      percentage of breast cancer patients who were non-adherent was 26.2% for diabetes
      medication, 28.9% for lipid-lowering medication, and 14.2% for hypertension
      medication. Breast cancer patients experienced an increased odds of diabetes
      medication non-adherence [odds ratio (OR) = 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) =
      1.07 to 1.95] and were more likely to be non-persistent with diabetes medication
      (hazard ratio = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.66) relative to women without cancer. The
      study failed to show a difference between breast cancer and comparison women in
      the odds of non-adherence to hypertensive (OR = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.71 to 1.05) or
      lipid-lowering medication (OR = 0. 91; 95%CI: 0.73 to 1.13) with a proportion of
      days covered threshold of 80%. CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to
      the coordination of primary care for older breast cancer patients with diabetes.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26875435
TI  - Heritable Ectopic Mineralization Disorders: The Paradigm of Pseudoxanthoma
      Elasticum.

PMID- 26875436
TI  - Molecular Heterogeneity of Blistering Disorders: The Paradigm of Epidermolysis
      Bullosa.

PMID- 26875437
TI  - Heritable Filaggrin Disorders: The Paradigm of Atopic Dermatitis.

PMID- 26875438
TI  - Genetics of Structural Hair Disorders.

PMID- 26875439
TI  - Next-Generation Diagnostics for Genodermatoses.

PMID- 26875440
TI  - Molecular Therapeutics for Heritable Skin Diseases.

PMID- 26875441
TI  - Heritable Collagen Disorders: The Paradigm of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

PMID- 26875442
TI  - Bayesian reclassification statistics for assessing improvements in diagnostic
      accuracy.
AB  - We propose a Bayesian approach to the estimation of the net reclassification
      improvement (NRI) and three versions of the integrated discrimination improvement
      (IDI) under the logistic regression model. Both NRI and IDI were proposed as
      numerical characterizations of accuracy improvement for diagnostic tests and were
      shown to retain certain practical advantage over analysis based on ROC curves and
      offer complementary information to the changes in area under the curve. Our
      development is a new contribution towards Bayesian solution for the estimation of
      NRI and IDI, which eases computational burden and increases flexibility. Our
      simulation results indicate that Bayesian estimation enjoys satisfactory
      performance comparable with frequentist estimation and achieves point estimation
      and credible interval construction simultaneously. We adopt the methodology to
      analyze a real data from the Singapore Malay Eye Study. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26875443
TI  - Principles of Virus Uncoating: Cues and the Snooker Ball.
AB  - Viruses are spherical or complex shaped carriers of proteins, nucleic acids and
      sometimes lipids and sugars. They are metastable and poised for structural
      changes. These features allow viruses to communicate with host cells during
      entry, and to release the viral genome, a process known as uncoating. Studies
      have shown that hundreds of host factors directly or indirectly support this
      process. The cell provides molecules that promote stepwise virus uncoating, and
      direct the virus to the site of replication. It acts akin to a snooker player who
      delivers accurate and timely shots (cues) to the ball (virus) to score. The
      viruses, on the other hand, trick (snooker) the host, hijack its homeostasis
      systems, and dampen innate immune responses directed against danger signals. In
      this review, we discuss how cellular cues, facilitators, and built-in viral
      mechanisms promote uncoating. Cues come from receptors, enzymes and chemicals
      that act directly on the virus particle to alter its structure, trafficking and
      infectivity. Facilitators are defined as host factors that are involved in
      processes which indirectly enhance entry or uncoating. Unraveling the mechanisms
      of virus uncoating will continue to enhance understanding of cell functions, and
      help counteracting infections with chemicals and vaccines.

PMID- 26875444
TI  - Vigilant attentiveness in families observing deterioration in the dying intensive
      care patient: A secondary analysis study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Family support in intensive care is often focussed on what
      information is communicated to families. This is particularly important during
      treatment withdrawal and end of life care. However, this positions families as
      passive receivers of information. Less is known about what bereaved family
      members actually observe at end of life and how this is interpreted. AIM:
      Secondary analysis study was conducted in order to explore the concept of
      vigilant attentiveness in family members of adult patients dying in intensive
      care. METHOD: Secondary analysis of eight interviews sorted from two primary data
      sets containing 19 interviews with 25 bereaved family members from two intensive
      care units in England was undertaken. Directed content analysis techniques were
      adopted. FINDINGS: Families are observant for physiological deterioration by
      watching for changes in cardiac monitors as well as paying attention to how their
      relative looks and sounds. Changes in treatment/interventions were also perceived
      to indicate deterioration. CONCLUSION: Families are vigilant and attentive to
      deterioration, implying that families are active participants in information
      gathering. By clarifying what families notice, or do not notice during the dying
      trajectory in ICU, health care professionals can tailor information, helping to
      prepare families for the death of their relative.

PMID- 26875445
TI  - Membrane engineering via trans unsaturated fatty acids production improves
      Escherichia coli robustness and production of biorenewables.
AB  - Constructing microbial biocatalysts that produce biorenewables at economically
      viable yields and titers is often hampered by product toxicity. For production of
      short chain fatty acids, membrane damage is considered the primary mechanism of
      toxicity, particularly in regards to membrane integrity. Previous engineering
      efforts in Escherichia coli to increase membrane integrity, with the goal of
      increasing fatty acid tolerance and production, have had mixed results. Herein, a
      novel approach was used to reconstruct the E. coli membrane by enabling
      production of a novel membrane component. Specifically, trans unsaturated fatty
      acids (TUFA) were produced and incorporated into the membrane of E. coli MG1655
      by expression of cis-trans isomerase (Cti) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. While the
      engineered strain was found to have no increase in membrane integrity, a
      significant decrease in membrane fluidity was observed, meaning that membrane
      polarization and rigidity were increased by TUFA incorporation. As a result,
      tolerance to exogenously added octanoic acid and production of octanoic acid were
      both increased relative to the wild-type strain. This membrane engineering
      strategy to improve octanoic acid tolerance was found to require fine-tuning of
      TUFA abundance. Besides improving tolerance and production of carboxylic acids,
      TUFA production also enabled increased tolerance in E. coli to other bio
      products, e.g. alcohols, organic acids, aromatic compounds, a variety of adverse
      industrial conditions, e.g. low pH, high temperature, and also elevated styrene
      production, another versatile bio-chemical product. TUFA permitted enhanced
      growth due to alleviation of bio-product toxicity, demonstrating the general
      effectiveness of this membrane engineering strategy towards improving strain
      robustness. 

PMID- 26875446
TI  - Fish, long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and incidence of
      atrial fibrillation: A pooled analysis of two prospective studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Whether high intakes of fish and long-chain omega-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF)
      remains uncertain. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the associations of total fish,
      types of fish, and omega-3 PUFA intake with AF incidence in a large prospective
      study. METHODS: We used data from the Cohort of Swedish Men and the Swedish
      Mammography Cohort to examine the associations of fish consumption and long-chain
      omega-3 PUFA intake with AF incidence. At baseline, information on fish and omega
      3 PUFA intakes was available from 72,984 men and women, aged 45-83 years, without
      cardiac disease. Cases of AF were identified through linkage with the Swedish
      National Patient Register. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks were estimated
      with the use of Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Over a follow-up period
      of 12 years, 6095 participants (3595 men and 2500 women) developed AF. Intakes of
      total fish, fatty fish (herring/mackerel and salmon/whitefish/char), and long
      chain omega-3 PUFAs were not associated with AF incidence after adjustment for
      other risk factors. However, high consumption of lean fish (cod/saithe/fish
      fingers) was associated with a lower risk; multivariable relative risk of AF for
      >=3 servings/week compared with never consumption was 0.79 (95% confidence
      interval, 0.65-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: These findings do not support a beneficial
      association of fatty fish or omega-3 PUFA intake with incident AF. The
      association between lean fish consumption and AF risk warrants further
      investigation.

PMID- 26875447
TI  - Energy-restricted, high-protein diets more effectively impact cardiometabolic
      profile in overweight and obese women than lower-protein diets.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: High-protein energy-restricted diets have demonstrated
      efficacy in promoting weight loss in overweight and obesity. However, the protein
      percentage that achieves optimal efficacy and acceptability remains unknown. We
      sought to assess the effects of three energy-reduced diets with different
      percentages of calories from protein (20%, 27%, and 35%) on weight loss and
      lipids. Secondary outcomes included diet acceptability and compliance. METHODS:
      Six-month, randomized study included women aged 18-80 years with BMI of 27.5-45
      kg/m2 and who were not taking lipid-lowering drugs. We randomly assigned 91 women
      to one of three calorie-reduced diets with: protein, 20%, 27%, or 35% (80% from
      animal protein); carbohydrates, 50%, 43%, or 35%; fat, 30%. Dietary intervention
      involved individual visits with a nutritionist every 2 weeks during the first 3
      months. We performed a follow-up visit at 6 months. RESULTS: Eighty women aged
      44.0 +/- 9.08 years with BMI of 37.7 +/- 3.39 kg/m2 completed the study. At 3
      months, weight loss was -8.16 +/- 4.18 kg, -9.66 +/- 5.28 kg, and -10.7 +/- 4.28
      kg in the 20%, 27%, and 35%-protein groups, respectively (P = 0.16). These
      figures slightly and homogeneously increased at 6 months. Around 65% of women
      following 35%-protein diet lost >=10% of body weight vs. ~33% in 20%-protein
      group (P = 0.023). Significant decreases occurred in fat mass, lipids and insulin
      resistance, especially in the 35%-protein group (P < 0.05 vs. 20% protein). This
      improvement was not fully explained by weight loss. Triglyceride change was
      negatively correlated with animal-protein intake. All groups provided similar
      responses to an acceptance, palatability, and satisfaction questionnaire.
      CONCLUSIONS: An energy-restricted diet with 35% protein, mostly of animal origin,
      more effectively impacts cardiometabolic profile than an energy-restricted diet
      with lower protein content although no clear benefit between diets in terms of
      overall weight loss was observed. The high-protein diet displayed an excellent
      safety profile and acceptability. This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov
      as NCT02160496. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial has been
      registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02160496).

PMID- 26875448
TI  - Frequency conversion of structured light.
AB  - Coherent frequency conversion of structured light, i.e. the ability to manipulate
      the carrier frequency of a wave front without distorting its spatial phase and
      intensity profile, provides the opportunity for numerous novel applications in
      photonic technology and fundamental science. In particular, frequency conversion
      of spatial modes carrying orbital angular momentum can be exploited in sub
      wavelength resolution nano-optics and coherent imaging at a wavelength different
      from that used to illuminate an object. Moreover, coherent frequency conversion
      will be crucial for interfacing information stored in the high-dimensional
      spatial structure of single and entangled photons with various constituents of
      quantum networks. In this work, we demonstrate frequency conversion of structured
      light from the near infrared (803 nm) to the visible (527 nm). The conversion
      scheme is based on sum-frequency generation in a periodically poled lithium
      niobate crystal pumped with a 1540-nm Gaussian beam. We observe frequency
      converted fields that exhibit a high degree of similarity with the input field
      and verify the coherence of the frequency-conversion process via mode projection
      measurements with a phase mask and a single-mode fiber. Our results demonstrate
      the suitability of exploiting the technique for applications in quantum
      information processing and coherent imaging.

PMID- 26875449
TI  - Heme: Modulator of Plasma Systems in Hemolytic Diseases.
AB  - Hemolytic diseases such as sickle-cell disease, beta-thalassemia, malaria, and
      autoimmune hemolytic anemia continue to present serious clinical hurdles. In
      these diseases, lysis of erythrocytes causes the release of hemoglobin and heme
      into plasma. Extracellular heme has strong proinflammatory potential and
      activates immune cells and endothelium, thus contributing to disease
      pathogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that heme can interfere with the
      function of plasma effector systems such as the coagulation and complement
      cascades, in addition to the activity of immunoglobulins. Any perturbation in
      such functions may have severe pathological consequences. In this review we
      analyze heme interactions with coagulation, complement, and immunoglobulins.
      Deciphering such interactions to better understand the complex pathogenesis of
      hemolytic diseases is pivotal. 

PMID- 26875450
TI  - Novel Immunotherapeutic Avenues for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease. It
      leads to irreversible joint damage, physical handicap, and reduced life
      expectancy. The past two decades have seen considerable therapeutic advances with
      the development of biologic treatments to block proinflammatory cytokines or
      modulate lymphocyte function, followed by the development of small molecules to
      target intracellular signaling. Nevertheless, only a minority of patients can
      achieve disease remission, especially long term, warranting further investigation
      into newer therapeutic options. Targeting single proinflammatory pathways may not
      be sufficient, as suggested by variable results with T helper (Th)-17-related
      cytokine blockade. Multilevel information from 'omics' techniques along with data
      from mechanistic studies might facilitate the identification of pivotal
      checkpoints in RA disease pathogenesis and the subsequent development of new
      effective treatments. 

PMID- 26875451
TI  - Exfoliation and Raman Spectroscopic Fingerprint of Few-Layer NiPS3 Van der Waals
      Crystals.
AB  - The range of mechanically cleavable Van der Waals crystals covers materials with
      diverse physical and chemical properties. However, very few of these materials
      exhibit magnetism or magnetic order, and thus the provision of cleavable magnetic
      compounds would supply invaluable building blocks for the design of
      heterostructures assembled from Van der Waals crystals. Here we report the first
      successful isolation of monolayer and few-layer samples of the compound nickel
      phosphorus trisulfide (NiPS3) by mechanical exfoliation. This material belongs to
      the class of transition metal phosphorus trisulfides (MPS3), several of which
      exhibit antiferromagnetic order at low temperature, and which have not been
      reported in the form of ultrathin sheets so far. We establish layer numbers by
      optical bright field microscopy and atomic force microscopy, and perform a
      detailed Raman spectroscopic characterization of bilayer and thicker NiPS3
      flakes. Raman spectral features are strong functions of excitation wavelength and
      sample thickness, highlighting the important role of interlayer coupling.
      Furthermore, our observations provide a spectral fingerprint for distinct layer
      numbers, allowing us to establish a sensitive and convenient means for layer
      number determination. 

PMID- 26875453
TI  - [The re-exploration of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children].

PMID- 26875452
TI  - Effect of excessive CO2 on physiological functions in coastal diatom.
AB  - Rising dissolution of anthropogenic CO2 in seawater may directly/indirectly cause
      ocean acidification and desalination. However, little is known about coastal
      physiological functions sensitivity to these processes. Here we show some links
      between ocean acidification/desalination and physiological functions in
      Thalassiosira weissflogii. Cell density (CD), protein, chlorophyll a (Chl a),
      malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and carbonic anhydrase (CAs)
      were determined for the assessment of algal biomass, nutritional value,
      photosynthesis and respiration, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, and
      carbon sequestration ability. The influence of pH on the algal Chl a and MDA were
      extremely significant (P < 0.01). Salinity (S) on cell density and acidity (pH)
      on protein was significant (0.01 < P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant
      negative-correlation was observed between cell density and CAs. CAs and SOD had
      negatively correlations with CD, Chl a, protein, and MDA under pH or S influence,
      but positive correlation between themselves. Coastal physiological functions were
      affected by increasing order was acidification < acidification + desalination <
      desalination for Chl a and protein, desalination < acidification + desalination <
      acidification for SOD and CAs. Thus, the ongoing excessive CO2-driven ocean
      acidification and desalination should be of high attention when assessing the
      risks of climate change on coastal phytoplankton.

PMID- 26875454
TI  - [Some hot issues on Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections].

PMID- 26875455
TI  - [Clinical microbiology of Mycoplasma pneumoniae].

PMID- 26875456
TI  - [Epidemiology of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae infections].

PMID- 26875457
TI  - [Pathogenic mechanism of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections].

PMID- 26875458
TI  - [The diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections].

PMID- 26875459
TI  - [Consensus on off-label use of drugs in pediatric patients in China].

PMID- 26875460
TI  - [Value of clinical signs in the identification of Mycoplasma pneumonia in
      community acquired pneumonia in children].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of clinical signs in the identification of
      Mycoplasma pneumonia in children's community acquired pneumonia. METHOD: We
      searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, CNKI, Wan Fang and VIP databases.
      According to the inclusion and exclusion criterias, we selected and extracted the
      related information in the literature. According to the QUADAS evaluation system,
      we established the quality evaluation standard to evaluate the quality of the
      included studies and analyzed the difference of the clinical manifestations
      between Mycoplasmae pneumoniae and non-Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children's
      community acquired pneumonia. We used the RevMan 5.3 software to do the meta
      analysis and collected the data according to the requirements. We calculated the
      pooled sensitivities, specificities and 95%CIs. Then we calculated the negative
      and positive likelihood ratio, the ratio of the diagnosis and the pre-/post-test
      probabilities with 95% CIs. RESULT: A total of 11 articles were included in the
      literature. In summary, the cases of the clinical signs of true positive (TP) and
      false positive (FP) were as follows : chest pain: TP: 287, FP: 1090; rales: TP:
      1906, FP: 6886; headache: TP: 590, FP: 2051; pleural effusion: TP: 10, FP: 16;
      consolidation: TP: 75, FP: 83; emphysema: TP: 443, FP: 116. The pooled
      sensitivity, the pooled specificity, the diagnostic ratio (DOR) and 95% CI were:
      chest pain: pooled sensitivity: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.10-0.13, pooled specificity:
      0.89, 95% CI: 0.88-0.90, DOR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.92-1.21; rales: pooled sensitivity:
      0.66, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.67, pooled specificity: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.37, DOR:
      1.12, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22; headache: pooled sensitivity: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.21-0.25,
      pooled specificity: 0.80, 95%CI: 0.79-0.80, DOR: 1.16, 95%CI: 1.05-1.29; pleural
      effusion: pooled sensitivity: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08, pooled specificity: 0.98,
      95% CI: 0.96, 0.99, DOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.56, 2.89; consolidation: pooled
      sensitivity: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.39, pooled specificity: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.84,
      0.90, DOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.90; emphysema: pooled sensitivity: 0.22, 95% CI:
      0.17, 0.29, pooled specificity: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.77, DOR: 1.05, 95% CI:
      0.68, 1.61. CONCLUSION: The value of clinical symptoms and signs in the
      identification of mycoplasma pneumonia in children's community acquired pneumonia
      was not significant. Although the clinical symptoms/signs of chest pain,
      headache, rales and chest X-ray manifestations of pleural effusion,
      consolidation, emphysema could suggest Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, the
      presence or absence of any clinical signs were not positive or negative
      indicators for the identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.

PMID- 26875461
TI  - [A systematic review of the therapy for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in
      children].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of antibacterial agents,
      glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating Mycoplasma
      pneumoniae(MP) infections. METHOD: The literature was screened by the inclusion
      and exclusion criteria after searching at Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Wanfang,
      CNKI, and Weipu databases. According to JADAD evaluation system, the relevant
      information in each included report from the literature was evaluated. The
      evidence-based analysis was performed for the therapeutic effects of macrolides,
      glucocorticoid, and IVIG in treating MP infections. Meta-analysis was conducted
      on the suitable literature by RevMan 5.3 software supplied by Cochrane
      collaboration. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the literature unsuitable
      for meta-analysis. RESULT: (1) Seven foreign RCT reports and 7 domestic RCT
      reports were included in the analysis of the therapeutic effect of macrolides.
      There was a high heterogeneity among the 7 foreign reports. Five of these reports
      showed no significant difference in clinical effects between macrolides and non
      macrolide antibacterial agents. The forest plot analysis of antipyretic timing
      and cough duration in the domestic literature with complete indicators suggested
      that for azithromycin sequential therapy vs. erythromycin intravenous therapy,
      the mean difference of antipyretic timing was-1.10 (95% CI: -1.60,-0.60) and the
      mean difference of cough duration was-1.56 (95% CI: -2.10,-1.03). (2) Three
      foreign RCT reports and 5 domestic RCT were included in the analysis of
      glucocorticoid therapy. The JADAD scores of all the reports were 1. The basic
      therapy drug was macrolides. The results of sub-group analysis suggested that for
      the patients who used glucocorticoid early vs. the patients who used non
      glucocorticoid therapy, the mean difference of antipyretic time was-1.77(95% CI: 
      2.44,-1.10) and the mean difference of cough duration was-2.47 (95% CI: -2.86,
      2.08); for the patients treated with glucocorticoid at 10 days after onset of
      diseases vs. the patients received non-glucocorticoid therapy, the mean
      difference of antipyretic time was-3.41 (95% CI: -4.10,-2.73) and the mean
      difference of cough duration was-2.25 (95%CI: -4.38,-0.12). (3) Regarding IVIG,
      all the included reports were case study or case report. Most of the literature
      focused on severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and those with extrapulmonary
      complications. The limited results suggested a trend of the shortening of disease
      process and improvement of clinical symptoms by IVIG. CONCLUSION: There was no
      exact evidence of the therapeutic effects of antibacterial agents in Mycoplasma
      pneumoniae infections. A trend of better therapeutic effect was inferred in
      macrolide antibiotics, especially azithromycin. The improvement of clinical
      symptoms was suggested with the usage of glucocorticoid as adjuvant therapy. IVIG
      as an adjuvant therapy is at an exploration stage.

PMID- 26875462
TI  - [Multicenter prospective epidemiological studies on Haemophilus influenzae
      infection among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infections].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To understand epidemiological characteristics of Haemophilus
      influenzae (Hi) infection in hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract
      infection (LRTI) in west Sichuan China. METHOD: The multicenter prospective cross
      sectional design was used; four hospitals in west Sichuan China were chosen as
      research field, sputum bacterial culture was done and biological typing, PCR
      identification and drug sensitivity test of Hi epidemic strains were carried out
      among 0-17y hospitalized patients with LRTI in four hospitals located in west
      Sichuan China. RESULT: Totally 5 748 cases with LRTI in four hospitals were
      investigated in west Sichuan from Nov. 2013 to April 2014 and the rate of sputum
      culture was 46.96% (2,699/5 748). The total pathogenic bacteria positive rate of
      sputum culture was 43.53% (1,175/2 699), and 279 Haemophilus influenzae (Hi)
      strain in 272 cases were isolated, the Hi positive rate was 10.08% (272/2 699).
      All the strains (100%) were non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi )
      indentified by PCR. The main biotype of 279 strains was type I with 39.07%
      (109/279) and type IV with 50.90% (142/279) ; 272 cases were enrolled in this
      survey, 12.50% (34/272) had broncheolitis, the rest of lower respiratory
      infection was 87.50 % (238/272), and 2.57% (7/272) was neonatal pneumonia,
      2.21%(6/272)was pneumonia complicated with sepsis; in four hospitals the overall
      positive rate of Hi in inpatients with lower respiratory infection was 10.21%,
      28.96%, 4.80%, 10.21% (chi(2) = 112.561, P = 0.000) and the positive rate of Hi
      inpatients with broncheolitis was 11.92%, 20.93%, 4.76%, and 66.67% (Fisher exact
      probability P = 0.001), with the rest lower respiratory infection was 9.96%,
      30.90%, 4.81%, 9.85% (chi(2) =108.876, P = 0.000); 2.87% (8/279) bacterial
      strains of beta-lactamase-nonproducing-ampicillin-intermediary (BLNAI)
      distributed in four hospitals, and 1.79% (5/279) bacterial strains of beta
      lactamase-nonproducing-ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR), 0.72% (2/279) bacterial
      strains of beta-lactamase-positive amoxicillin-clavulanate-resistance (BLPACR)
      were found in two hospitals respectively. CONCLUSION: All the Hi isolated from
      sputum were non-typeable among 0-17y inpatients with LRTI and the main biotype
      were type I and type IV in west Sichuan China. Much attention should be paid to
      BLNAR and BLPACR strains found in the west Sichuan region.

PMID- 26875463
TI  - [Significance of ikaros family zinc finger 1 deletion in pediatric B-acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia without reproducible cytogenetic abnormalities].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify ikaros family zinc finger1 (IKZF1) deletion in patients
      with pediatric B cells-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) without reproducible
      chromosomal abnomalities and further investigate its value in this part of
      patients' pathogenesis and prognosis. METHOD: The study was approved by the
      institutional review board of the authors' hospital and informed consent was
      obtained from the patients and/or their legal guardians. Data of 96 children with
      B-ALL patients without reproducible cytogenetic abnormalities whose bone marrows
      specimens were enough for DNA extraction for the detection were retrospectively
      selected. All the patients were diagnosed and systematically treated according to
      CCLG-ALL2008 in our hospital from April 2008 to April 2013. The 96 patients were
      divided into two groups according to the result of IKZF1's detection by multiplex
      ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA): The cases that with any of eight
      exons of IKZF1 deleted were entered into"Group with IKZF1 deletion"otherwise
      entered"Group without IKZF1 deletion". Disease free survival (DFS), event-free
      survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups.
      RESULT: Nineteen out of 96 B-ALL patients without reproducible cytogenetic
      abnormalities had IKZF1 deletion (20%). Three of 19 patients with IKZF1 deletions
      of the whole gene; ten of 19 patients with IKZF1 deletions of exon 1; 4 of 19
      patients with IKZF1 deletions of exons 4-7; one of 19 patients with IKZF1
      deletions of exons 2-7 and one of 19 patients with IKZF1 deletions of exons 1-6.
      Whose white blood cell (WBC) >= 50 * 10(9)/L inIKZF1 diletion group was more than
      whthout IKZF1 deletion group(42% vs. 13%, P=0.004). Patients with IKZF1 deletions
      had a lower 3-year DFS (0.67 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.93 +/- 0.04, P=0.001); EFS (0.67 +/-
      0.13 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.04, P = 0.012) and OS(0.79 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.96 +/- 0.02,
      P=0.010) compared to those without IKZF1 deletions. Excluding the influence of
      sex, age, WBC count at diagnosis, cerebrospinal fluid state and prednisone
      response IKZF1 deletion still affected the patients' DFS, EFS and OS ( P<0.05 for
      all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Some of pediatric B-cell precursor ALL without
      reproducible cytogenetic abnormalities had been detected to have IKZF1 deletion;
      IKZF1 deletion is an independent poor prognostic factor in these patients.

PMID- 26875464
TI  - [Effects of propranolol on oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mouse].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether propranolol application as collyrium or
      intraperitoneal (IP) injection can promote the recovery of oxygen-induced
      retinopathy (OIR). METHOD: Thirty-six 7-day-old mice were divided into the
      following 6 groups: normal control, propranolol eye drops, propranolol IP
      injection, eye drops negative control, IP injection negative control, and
      pathological model with 6 mice in each. In a typical model of OIR, litters of
      mice pups with their nursing mothers were exposed to an infant incubator to high
      oxygen concentration (75 +/- 5)% between postnatal day (PD) 7 and PD12, prior to
      returning to room air. Two routes of propranolol treatment were assessed from
      PD12 to PD17: IP injection and eye drop, with doses 2 mg/(kg.time), three times a
      day. Another three groups were given citric acid buffer eye drops, IP injection
      of citric acid buffer, and negative control were not treated with any drug.
      Neonatal mice fed in normal conditions served as normal control. Mice were
      sacrificed at PD17 to evaluate the morphological changes of retinal vessels by
      fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran perfusion and retinal whole mount. The retinal
      neovascularization was evaluated by counting the number of nuclei of the
      endothelial cell breaking through the internal limiting membrane (ILM). RESULT:
      Compared with the oxygen-exposed group, the branches of retinal vessels went
      normal with a less un-perfused area in the propranolol eye drops and propranolol
      IP injection groups [(38.9 +/- 9.9)% and (5.6 +/- 2.3)% vs. (16.2 +/- 10.0)% and
      (2.2 +/- 0.8)%, (25.9 +/- 5.0)% and (2.1 +/- 2.7)%, F=36.12 and 14.55, P
      both<0.001]. The number of nuclei of endothelial cells breaking through the ILM
      on the retinal cross-section in the propranolol eye drops group decreased (14.2
      +/- 5.1) per slide, which was less than that in the oxygen-exposed group (49.1 +/
      8.9) per slide and the propranolol IP injection group (18.0 +/- 5.9) per slide;
      it was also less than that in the eye drops negative control group (47.4 +/- 8.1)
      per slide (F=187.60, P<0.05). Moreover, the number of nuclei of endothelial cells
      breaking through the ILM on the retinal cross-section in the propranolol IP
      injection group was less than that in the IP injection negative control group
      (49.9 +/- 7.1) per slide (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Propranolol could effectively
      inhibit the formation of retinal neovascularization in mice; the eye drops was
      more effective than the IP injection.

PMID- 26875465
TI  - [Analysis of the etiology of hemoptysis and its diagnosis and treatment in 106
      cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology and clinical manifestation of hemoptysis
      in children. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed for 106 cases of
      hemoptysis who were admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying
      Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2005 to December
      2014.The clinical information including laboratory tests and image data were
      collected and analyzed. RESULT: A total of 106 patients (50 males and 56 females)
      were identified. The median age was 9.1 years (range 2 months to 18 years).
      Pneumonia (35, 31.1%) was the most common etiology of hemoptysis, which included
      bacterial pneumonia (27 cases), mycoplasmal pneumonia(4 cases), chlamydial
      pneumonia (3 cases), and influenza pneumonia(1 case). Other causes included
      bronchitis(15, 14.2%), pulmonary tuberculosis (11, 10.4%), bronchiectasis (11,
      10.4%), diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (8, 7.5%), idiopathic pulmonary
      hemosiderosis(6, 5.7%), cardiovascular dysplasia(6, 5.7%), pulmonary contusion
      (4, 3.8%), foreign body in bronchus (2, 1.9%), allergic bronchopulmonary
      aspergillosis (2, 1.9%). Eighty-six patients manifested mild hemoptysis; moderate
      and massive hemoptysis were found in nine and eleven patients, respectively.
      Pneumonia accounted for 33.7% of mild hemoptysis and 45.5% of massive hemoptysis
      were due to bronchiectasis; 80.2% were treated with antibiotics and 41.5% were
      given hemostatic agents; 8.5% received lobectomy. Ninety-six patients (90.6%)
      were cured and parents gave up treatment in 4 cases (3.8%). Six patients (5.7%)
      suffered from recurrent hemoptysis. CONCLUSION: Hemoptysis mainly occurred in
      children who were older than 6 years, the most common cause of hemoptysis was
      respiratory tract infection. In most cases, the amount of hemoptysis was small
      and the overall prognosis was good.

PMID- 26875466
TI  - [Clinical characteristics and prognosis analysis of vitamin B6 responsive
      infantile spasms].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis in a
      cohort of children with vitamin B6 responsive infantile spasms. METHOD: Ten
      patients were diagnosed as vitamin B6 responsive infantile spasms in Peking
      University First Hospital between January 2012 and May 2015.The clinical
      manifestations, diagnosis and treatment process, video-electroencephalogram,
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), epilepsy related genes and prognosis were
      retrospectively analyzed. RESULT: Of the 10 patients, 5 were male, and 5 were
      female. Eight of them were normal at birth, and the other 2 patients had
      intracranial hemorrhage or anoxia.The age of epilepsy onset was from 3.5 to 8.0
      months.All patients presented spasms primarily.Interictal electroencephalogram
      (EEG) showed hypsarrhythmia at seizures onset. MRI showed normal in 8 patients,
      and subarachnoid hemorrhage or multiple encephalomalacia foci after hemorrhage
      respectively in the other 2 patients. The results of blood biochemical,
      cerebrospinal fluid examination and urinary metabolic screening were negative.
      Epilepsy related genes including ALDH7A1 gene analysis showed wild type in all
      patients. Two patients were classified as symptomatic and eight might be
      idiopathic or cryptogenic. The initial dose of vitamin B6 was 10.0 mg/(kg.d). The
      interval between seizures onset and taking vitamin B6 was 0 to 4.0 months.
      Seizures disappeared completely within a week after administration of vitamin B6
      in 9 patients and in 1.5 months in one patient.Of the 8 patients whose seizures
      were controlled completely during the follow-up period, 7 patients' EEG recovered
      within 1.5 to 4.0 months and then continued to be normal. The EEG of the rest of
      a patient returned to normal, but showed abnormal discharges after stopping
      taking vitamin B6. Two patients' EEG continued abnormal and seizures recurred due
      to vitamin B6 withdrawal. At the last follow-up, seizures were controlled in all
      patients. Drug treatment in one case had stopped. Vitamin B6 was used in 9
      patients at a dose of 0.4 to 10.0 mg/(kg.d). Among them, vitamin B6 monotherapy
      or coadministration with one low dose antiepileptic drug was applied in 6 or 3
      patients respectively. The psychomotor development was normal in 5 patients, mild
      delay in 3 patients, and severe delay in 2 patients with autism behavior. Of the
      2 symptomatic patients, one developed normally and the other showed severe delay.
      CONCLUSION: Vitamin B6 might have effects on both idiopathic or cryptogenic and
      symptomatic patients, especially for the former. High dose vitamin B6 should be
      first tried in all patients with infantile spasms. Patients who had response to
      vitamin B6 could be controlled within a short time and might have better
      outcomes. Seizures were not easy to relapse in those whose seizures were
      controlled and EEG recovered completely. Vitamin B6 could be gradually reduced
      during the course and might be withdrawn in the future. The recurrence of
      seizures was closely related to EEG abnormality.

PMID- 26875467
TI  - [Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in pediatric patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)
      in pediatric patients. METHOD: From October 2011 to October 2014, children in the
      gastrointestinal ward of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center received
      PEG or jejunal tube PEG(JET-PEG). The success rate, operation time were recorded.
      The changes of their weight, enteral nutrition calories and the incidence of
      pneumonia before and after the first 6 months of operation were compared. Follow
      up was conducted until October 2014, the recent and long term complications, the
      length of indwelling time, the replacement or removal of the tube were recorded,
      the patients swallowing function or the primary disease's outcomes were observed.
      RESULT: Of the 13 cases, 10 were male, 3 were female, their average age was 2
      years (range 1.8 months-9 years). We performed PEG for 12 of the patients who had
      congenital craniofacial problems that led to feeding difficulties or recurrent
      cough and pneumonia (6/12), or neurological disorders (6/12) with inability to
      swallow, and in one case JET-PEG was performed, this child suffered from chronic
      intestinal pseudo-obstruction with vomiting and abdominal distension. The
      gastrostomy was successful in all the patients through one operation, the average
      operation time of PEG was (25 +/- 3) minutes, JET-PEG was 60 minutes. One local
      skin infection was noted, no long-term complication occurred. In the first 6
      months after operation, all the patients gained weight((5.5-30.5) kg
      postoperation vs. (3.0-30.0) kg preoperation), and 12 cases' enteral nutrition
      calories increased (from (209-502) to(272-543) kJ/(kg.d)), the incidence of
      pneumonia decreased in the children who had recurrent pneumonia before the
      operation (from (0-1.5) to (0-0.16) per month). Until October 2014, their average
      length of gastric tube indwelling time was 17.8 months (range 4-36 months). In 4
      cases PEG tube was removed when they could eat completely independently, the
      other 9 needed enteral vein nutrition via PEG tube or jejunal tube, in 3 of them
      balloon type gastric fistula tube was applied. Two of the 13 cases who had cleft
      palate received stomatological operations when their weight grew to meet the
      standard. CONCLUSION: PEG and JET-PEG are safe and effective method for enteric
      nutrition feeding in pediatrics, the technique causes minimal trauma and has
      rapid postoperative recovery, few complications, good aesthetic appearances and
      simple nursing, it can significantly improve their nutritional status and quality
      of life.

PMID- 26875468
TI  - [Clinical features and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli bloodstream
      infections in children].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors, clinical features, outcomes and antibiotic
      resistance of Escherichia coli(E.coli) causing bloodstream infections in
      children. METHOD: All inpatients with E. coli positive blood culture in Beijing
      Children's Hospital from January 2012 to May 2014 were enrolled; 112 cases were
      included, 66 cases (58.9%) were male, and 46 cases(41.1%) were female. Age range
      was 2 days to 16 years. Among them, 43 cases (38.4%) were neonates, 19 cases
      (17.0%) aged from 1 month to 1 year, 14 cases (12.5%) were 1-3 years old, and 36
      cases (32.1%) were over three years old. We analyzed the divisions to which the
      patients were admitted, source of infection, underlying diseases, clinical
      characteristics, antibiotic resistance, and treatment outcomes, etc. RESULT:
      Forty-six cases (41.1%) were treated in division of hematology, 42 (37.5%) in
      neonatology, 9 (8.0%) in internal medicine, 8 (7.1%) in surgery, and 7 (6.3%) in
      pediatric intensive care unit. Sixty-five cases(58.0%) had underlying diseases.
      Fever was the most frequently presented symptom, as it was seen in 91 cases
      (81.3%); 52 cases(46.4%) had respiratory symptoms. Among these, 43 cases had
      pneumonia, 3 cases had respiratory failure, 3 cases were diagnosed as upper
      respiratory tract infection, 2 had pulmonary hemorrhage and 1 case had
      bronchitis. Twenty-six cases (23.2%)were diagnosed as severe sepsis and purulent
      meningitis separately, 14 cases(12.5%) had urinary tract infection. There were 73
      (65.2%) strains inducing extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), of which 6
      (8.2%) and 10 (13.7%) strains were resistant to amikacin and carbapenems
      respectively. Resistance rate against other antimicrobial agents varied from
      64.6% to 100%. OUTCOMES: 92 (82.1%) cases were cured or had improvement while 20
      patients (17.9%) died or could not be cured at the end of treatment. Positive
      ESBLs (chi(2) = 6.609, P = 0.010), being complicated with severe sepsis (chi(2) =
      40.253, P = 0.000) and requiring mechanical ventilation (chi(2) = 34.441, P =
      0.000) indicate poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Patients with underlying diseases and
      newborns are susceptible to E. coli bloodstream infection. ESBLs infection,
      severe sepsis and mechanical ventilation indicate poor prognosis in E. coli blood
      stream infection. Clinicians may use carbapenems as empirical treatment for ESBLs
      infection. There may be carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae strains infection
      if patients receiving treatment with carbapenems have no response.

PMID- 26875469
TI  - [A case of hypersarcosinaemia].

PMID- 26875470
TI  - [A case of Kawasaki disease complicated with capillary leak syndrome,
      intrahepatic cholestasis].

PMID- 26875471
TI  - [Advances in the pathogenesis of vascular endothelial cells injury in Kawasaki
      disease].

PMID- 26875473
TI  - Perceptions of Black College Women on Barriers to HIV-Risk Reduction and Their
      HIV Prevention Intervention Needs.
AB  - HIV prevention interventions can help college students engage in safe sexual
      behaviors. We used the Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills model to frame
      four focus group discussions with Black women (n = 32) attending a historically
      Black college/university or a traditional university to understand their HIV
      prevention needs. Participants wanted clear information about sexually
      transmitted infections/HIV and access to contraception. Motivators for practicing
      safe sex were related to cultural and religious expectations, desire to avoid
      pregnancy, and conscious efforts to defy racial stereotypes. Barriers to
      practicing safe sex included issues of accountability, stigma associated with
      accessing HIV testing/prevention services, and media influences. We found general
      consensus about the need to develop skill-building HIV prevention interventions
      focused on communication skills, condom negotiation, access to services, and
      empowerment. We offer insight into culture- and age-appropriate HIV prevention
      for Black college women to guide the development of future interventions.

PMID- 26875474
TI  - Is one measurement enough to evaluate blood pressure among adolescents? A blood
      pressure screening experience in more than 9000 children with a subset comparison
      of auscultatory to mercury measurements.
AB  - Evaluation of blood pressure is recommended in all children older than 3 years.
      Auscultatory devices are the recommended method to assess blood pressure in
      pediatrics, but automated oscillometric devices are increasingly common. A
      retrospective analysis of our school-based blood pressure screening was performed
      to determine if multiple oscillometric blood pressure measurements are needed to
      approach true blood pressure. All children had 4 oscillometric measurements of
      blood pressures and a random subset of 287 had an additional auscultatory
      measurement. Among 9870 participants, we observed a nonlinear decrease in blood
      pressure over time. The largest decrease in systolic blood pressure was between
      first and second (-3.8 mm Hg) and in diastolic from second to third (-3.3 mm Hg)
      measurement. For systolic blood pressure, the second oscillometric measurement,
      the average of second to third and the average of first to third were
      statistically similar to a single auscultatory measurement. We conclude that
      assessment of blood pressure using oscillometric devices should include at least
      3 measurements in the same sitting to avoid inaccurate assessment. 

PMID- 26875475
TI  - Functionalized magnetic dextran-spermine nanocarriers for targeted delivery of
      doxorubicin to breast cancer cells.
AB  - In recent decades, targeted drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment
      emerged as an ideal alternative and promising solution to reduce systemic side
      effects of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, the preparation and
      characterization of cationic doxorubicin (DOX) loaded magnetic dextran-spermine
      (DEX-SP) nanocarriers (DEX-SP-DOX) by ionic gelation were fully investigated.
      Then, anti-HER2 as a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and targeting ligand was
      conjugated via EDC/NHS reagents. The binding was confirmed by Bradford assay and
      further assessments were carried out by size and zeta potential measurements.
      Cytotoxicity effect and internalization of magnetic nanocarriers were assessed by
      MTT and Prussian blue assays and transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
      respectively. DLS measurements indicated that the size of nanocarriers increased
      from 62 to 84 nm by conjugation of anti-HER2 to them. The in vitro release of DOX
      from mAb conjugated magnetic nanocarriers at pHs 5 and 7.4 was found to be 85 and
      55.5%, respectively. The MTT and Prussian blue assays demonstrated enhanced and
      selective uptake of DEX-SP-DOX-mAb by SKBR cell (HER2 overexpressed cells) in
      comparison with unconjugated nanocarriers due to higher cellular binding. The TEM
      result also confirmed cellular internalization of DEX-SP-DOX-mAb magnetic
      nanocarriers. These results are very promising for targeted delivery of DOX to
      HER2 positive breast cancer cells.

PMID- 26875476
TI  - Update on the management of non-obstetric acute abdomen in pregnant patients.
AB  - Acute abdomen is a rare entity in the pregnant patient, with an incidence of one
      in 500-635 patients. Its appearance requires a quick response and an early
      diagnosis to treat the underlying disease and prevent maternal and fetal
      morbidity. Imaging tests are essential, due to clinical and laboratory masking in
      this subgroup. Appendicitis and complicated biliary pathology are the most
      frequent causes of non-obstetric acute abdomen in the pregnant patient. The
      decision to operate, the timing, and the surgical approach are essential for a
      correct management of this pathology. The aim of this paper is to perform a
      review and update on the diagnosis and treatment of non-obstetric acute abdomen
      in pregnancy. 

PMID- 26875477
TI  - Treatment of presacral bleeding after colorectal surgery with Bakri balloon.

PMID- 26875478
TI  - [Hospital variation in anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery in the
      Spanish Association of Surgeons project: The contribution of hospital volume].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This multicentre observational study aimed to determine the
      anastomotic leak rate in the hospitals included in the Rectal Cancer Project of
      the Spanish Society of Surgeons and examine whether hospital volume may
      contribute to any variation between hospitals. METHODS: Hospital variation was
      quantified using a multilevel approach on prospective data derived from the
      multicentre database of all adenocarcinomas of the rectum operated by an anterior
      resection at 84 surgical departments from 2006 to 2013. The following variables
      were included in the analysis; demographics, American Society of
      Anaesthesiologists classification, use of defunctioning stoma, tumour location
      and stage, administration of neoadjuvant treatment, and annual volume of elective
      surgical procedures. RESULTS: A total of 7231 consecutive patients were included.
      The rate of anastomotic leak was 10.0%. Stratified by annual surgical volume
      hospitals varied from 9.9 to 11.3%. In multilevel regression analysis, the risk
      of anastomotic leak increased in male patients, in patients with tumours located
      below 12 cm from the anal verge, and advanced tumour stages. However, a
      defunctioning stoma seemed to prevent this complication. Hospital surgical volume
      was not associated with anastomotic leak (OR: 0.852, [0.487-1.518]; P=.577).
      Furthermore, there was a statistically significant variation in anastomotic leak
      between all departments (MOR: 1.475; [1.321-1.681]; P<0.001). CONCLUSION:
      Anastomotic leak varies significantly among hospitals included in the project and
      this difference cannot be attributed to the annual surgical volume.

PMID- 26875479
TI  - Giant anal tumor.

PMID- 26875480
TI  - Evaluating the attractiveness of the availability of injectable progestogen
      contraceptives at the community pharmacy setting in the United Kingdom.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pharmacists have extended opening hours and are located in
      communities. Many offer sexual and reproductive health services such as emergency
      contraception. The opportunity to receive injectable contraception from community
      pharmacists would improve availability of this method and might increase uptake
      and continuation. A self-administered survey of women attending a large urban
      sexual and reproductive health clinic was undertaken to determine the
      acceptability of receiving contraceptive injections from a community pharmacist.
      METHODS: Women aged 16-50 years attending an NHS walk-in sexual and reproductive
      health clinic were invited to complete questionnaires while they were waiting to
      attend an appointment with a clinician. Questionnaires asked women if they were
      current, previous or never users of the progestogen only injectable, their method
      of contraception and whether availability of the injectable from a local
      pharmacist would influence their decision to use this method. RESULTS: Two
      hundred and forty questionnaires were distributed and 220 completed (92%). A
      total of 9% of respondents were past users of the injectable (n = 21), 4% were
      current users (n = 8) and the remaining 87% were never users. Of those 191
      current non-users, 33% (n = 64) indicated that they would consider using this
      method if it was available at the pharmacy. The main perceived advantages of
      attending the pharmacy were quicker appointments (52%) and easier access (47%).
      CONCLUSION: Provision of the injectable contraceptive from a pharmacist might
      make this method attractive to almost one in three women who are not currently
      using it. This could be a strategy to improve uptake and continuation of this
      method.

PMID- 26875481
TI  - The development of an in-house dispensary in a college health center.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A small college health center discovered that students
      perceived obtaining prescribed medication was a barrier to adherence to short
      term antibiotic therapy. To address this specific barrier, an in-house dispensary
      was developed and modified over the past several years to meet the needs of
      students. Partnering with a local pharmacy has made the process of obtaining
      prescriptions easier for the students. DATA SOURCES: Data were extracted from the
      electronic health records at Student Health Services for the academic year 2014
      2015. A total of 910 prescriptions were filled in-house during that time,
      compared to 102 prescriptions written for purchase elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS:
      Students are utilizing the in-house dispensary more often than taking a
      prescription to a pharmacy and generally regard the service as convenient.
      Despite challenges in changing drug prices and other factors that influence
      medication adherence, dispensing a small number of drugs in the clinic has been
      feasible and well received. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS: Nurse
      practitioners must be aware of specific perceived barriers for their practice
      population and develop interventions to overcome them. The evaluation of such
      interventions is imperative for modifications and sustainability.

PMID- 26875483
TI  - Usefulness of Levocarnitine and/or Branched-Chain Amino Acids during Invasive
      Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are
      effective treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the extent of
      treatment depends on hepatic functional reserve. L-Carnitine is a vitamin-like
      substance and several reports have described the usefulness of L-carnitine
      supplementation in cases of cirrhosis, with confirmed effectiveness against
      refractory hepatic encephalopathy. On the other hand, we have previously reported
      that in patients who underwent TACE or RFA, administration of branched-chain
      amino acids (BCAAs) pre-intervention significantly reduced inflammatory
      reactions. We first determined serum levels of total, free, and acyl-carnitine
      before and at 7 d after performing TACE in 10 HCC patients. We administered
      levocarnitine (L-carnitine chloride, a biologically active form of carnitine) at
      900 mg/d to 69 consecutive HCC patients hospitalized to undergo TACE and/or RFA,
      and compared changes in blood test values with those in 119 consecutive patients
      not administered this drug. Sixty-seven patients had a history of using BCAAs at
      the time of admission. We found that after 7 d of TACE, serum levels of total and
      acyl-carnitine are significantly decreased. On comparing the four groups, the
      carnitine+BCAA, carnitine-alone, and BCAA-alone groups showed significantly
      higher values for changes in NH3 when compared with the non-dosed group. The
      decrease in albumin (Alb) was significantly suppressed in the carnitine+BCAA and
      BCAA-alone groups. We also conducted the same examinations in a subset of
      patients classified as Child-Pugh class A, and noted the same trends.
      Administration of levocarnitine and/or BCAAs during invasive treatments reduced
      blood NH3 concentrations and suppressed decreases in Alb. 

PMID- 26875482
TI  - Concentration of Potassium in Plasma, Erythrocytes, and Muscle Tissue in Cows
      with Decreased Feed Intake and Gastrointestinal Ileus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Healthy cows consume large amounts of potassium and a sudden loss in
      appetite can lead to hypokalemia. The routine method to evaluate potassium
      homeostasis is the measurement of the extracellular potassium in plasma or serum,
      but this does not provide information about the intracellular potassium pool.
      HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate potassium homeostasis by comparing the
      extracellular and intracellular potassium concentration in cows with reduced feed
      intake and gastrointestinal ileus. ANIMALS: Twenty cows 1-3 days postpartum
      (group 1) and 20 cows with gastrointestinal ileus (group 2). METHODS:
      Observational cross-sectional study. Plasma potassium was measured by using an
      ion-sensitive electrode. Intracellular potassium was measured in erythrocytes and
      muscle tissue (muscle biopsy) by using inductively coupled plasma optical
      emission spectroscopy. RESULTS: Cows of group 1 did not have hypokalemia. Overall
      cows with gastrointestinal ileus were hypokalemic (mean +/- SD, 2.9 mmol/L +/-
      0.78), but potassium concentration in erythrocytes and muscle tissue was not
      lower than in postpartum cows. Intracellular potassium in erythrocytes varied
      very widely; group 1: 3497-10735 mg/kg (5559 +/- 2002 mg/kg), group 2: 4139-21678
      mg/kg (7473 +/- 4034 mg/kg). Potassium in muscle tissue did not differ between
      group 1 (3356 +/- 735 mg/kg wet weight) and group 2 (3407 +/- 1069 mg/kg wet
      weight). No association between extracellular and intracellular potassium
      concentrations was detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: That
      measurement of plasma potassium concentration is not sufficient to evaluate
      potassium metabolism of cows.

PMID- 26875484
TI  - Down Regulation of Asparagine Synthetase and 3-Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase,
      and the Up-Regulation of Serine Dehydratase in Rat Liver from Intake of Excess
      Amount of Leucine Are Not Related to Leucine-Caused Amino Acid Imbalance.
AB  - Asparagine synthetase (ASNS), 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and serine
      dehydratase (SDS) in rat liver are expressed in response to protein and amino
      acid intake. In the present study, we examined the expression of these enzymes in
      relation to amino acid imbalance caused by leucine. Rats were subjected to
      leucine administration in the diet or orally between meals. Consumption of more
      than 2% leucine in a 6% casein diet suppressed food intake and caused growth
      retardation in a dose-dependent manner, but this was not seen in a 12% or 40%
      casein diet. ASNS and PHGDH expression in the liver was significantly induced by
      the 6% casein diet and was suppressed by leucine in a dose-dependent manner,
      whereas the SDS expression was induced. These effects were leucine specific and
      not seen with ingestion of isoleucine or valine. However, leucine orally
      administered between meals did not change the food intake or growth of rats fed a
      6% casein die, though it similarly affected the expression of ASNS, PHGDH and SDS
      in the liver. These results suggest that the growth retardation caused by leucine
      imbalance was mainly because of the suppression of food intake, and demonstrated
      that there are no causal relationships between ASNS, PHGDH and SDS expression and
      amino acid imbalance caused by leucine. 

PMID- 26875485
TI  - Lignosulfonic Acid-Induced Inhibition of Intestinal Glucose Absorption.
AB  - Lignosulfonic acid is a waste lignin produced from the sulfite pulping of
      softwood. We investigated the effect of lignosulfonic acid on alpha-glucosidase
      and found that lignosulfonic acid produced a reversible and non-competitive
      inhibition of the enzyme activity. Moreover, in human colorectal adenocarcinoma
      cells, lignosulfonic acid inhibited 2-deoxyglucose uptake, while in vivo studies
      demonstrated a significant reduction in the blood glycemic response to sucrose or
      glucose ingestion in rats treated with lignosulfonic acid. Feces of rats fed a
      diet supplemented with 5% lignosulfonic acid had higher sugar content compared to
      those of rats fed a control diet. These results suggest that lignosulfonic acid
      suppresses the rise in blood glucose levels through inhibition of alpha
      glucosidase activity and intestinal glucose absorption. 

PMID- 26875486
TI  - Gene-Nutrient Interaction between Folate and Dihydrofolate Reductase in Risk for
      Adenomatous Polyp Occurrence: A Preliminary Report.
AB  - Folate and related gene variants are significant risk factors in the aetiology of
      colorectal cancer. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is critical in the metabolism
      of synthetic folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamatamic, PteGlu) to tetrahydrofolate
      following absorption. Therefore, the 19bp deletion variant of DHFR may lead to
      the alteration of folate-related colorectal disease susceptibility. This study
      examined the association between PteGlu and 19bp del-DHFR, and adenomatous polyp
      (AP) occurrence, an antecedent of colorectal cancer. A total of 199 subjects (162
      controls and 37 AP cases) were analysed to determine dietary intake of total
      folate, natural methylfolate and synthetic PteGlu, level of erythrocyte folate
      and plasma homocysteine (tHcy), and genotype of 19bp del-DHFR. Dietary folate
      intake, erythrocyte folate, tHcy and 19bp del-DHFR variants did not independently
      predict the occurrence of AP. However, a gene-nutrient interaction was observed
      when subjects were stratified according to dietary folate intake. In subjects
      with a folate intake above the median value due to significant dietary PteGlu
      content, the presence of the 19bp-deletion allele decreased the risk for AP
      (OR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.13-0.97). However, such association was not evident in
      individuals with a folate intake below the median value. In conclusion, the
      finding suggests that folate nutrition and 19bp del-DHFR variation may interact
      to modify AP risk. 

PMID- 26875487
TI  - Low Serum Phosphorus Level in Massry's Phosphate Depletion Syndrome May Be One of
      the Causes of Acute Heart Failure.
AB  - Hypophosphatemia has been found to be associated with multiple organ dysfunction.
      In this study we aimed to investigate the association between low serum
      phosphorus and acute heart failure. A total of 213 subjects, 101 patients with
      acute heart failure and 112 healthy subjects were included in this case-control
      study. Serum phosphorus levels, calcium levels, and PTH concentrations were
      measured. Ejection fraction percentages, pulse rates, systolic and diastolic
      blood pressures were recorded. The groups were similar in terms of age and gender
      (p=0.067 and 0.995, respectively). The phosphorus levels and ejection fraction
      percentages of the patients with heart failure were lower than for the healthy
      subjects (p<0.001). Frequency of hypophosphatemia was higher in the heart failure
      group (p<0.001). There was a strong relationship between low serum phosphorus
      level and acute heart failure (OR 9.85, CI 95% 3.6-26.3, p<0.001). The phosphorus
      level of patients with acute heart failure was found to be low in this study.
      Therefore, the phosphorus level should be controlled in patients with acute heart
      failure and phosphorus supplementation can be a complimentary treatment for these
      patients. 

PMID- 26875488
TI  - An Efficient Purification Method for Quantitative Determinations of Protodioscin,
      Dioscin and Diosgenin in Plasma of Fenugreek-Fed Mice.
AB  - An efficient purification method for simultaneous recovery of polar saponins,
      protodioscin (PD) and dioscin (DC), and non-polar aglycon, diosgenin (DG), from
      plasma of mice fed diets containing seed flours of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum
      graecum) was established for subsequent quantitative analysis by LC-ESI-MS/MS.
      Mice plasma samples were first deproteinated by addition of acetonitrile, and the
      supernatant was applied to a carbon-based solid phase extraction tube. After
      successive washing with methanol and 35% chroloform/methanol (v/v), PD, DC and DG
      were eluted simultaneously with 80% chroloform/methanol (v/v). The eluate was
      evaporated to dryness, and re-dissolved in 80% methanol (v/v). The filtered
      sample was analyzed with an LC-ESI-MS/MS system. After the purification
      procedure, recovery rates between 89.3 to 117.4% were obtained without notable
      ion suppression or enhancement. The use of internal standards was therefore not
      necessary. The utility of the method was demonstrated by analyzing plasma of mice
      from a fenugreek feeding study. 

PMID- 26875489
TI  - Low-Dose Daily Intake of Vitamin K(2) (Menaquinone-7) Improves Osteocalcin gamma
      Carboxylation: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - Vitamin K is essential for bone health, but the effects of low-dose vitamin K
      intake in Japanese subjects remain unclear. We investigated the effective minimum
      daily menaquinone-7 dose for improving osteocalcin gamma-carboxylation. Study 1
      was a double-blind, randomized controlled dose-finding trial; 60 postmenopausal
      women aged 50-69 y were allocated to one of four dosage group and consumed 0, 50,
      100, or 200 MUg menaquinone-7 daily for 4 wk, respectively, with a controlled
      diet in accordance with recommended daily intakes for 2010 in Japan. Study 2 was
      a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial based on the results of Study
      1; 120 subjects aged 20-69 y were allocated to the placebo or MK-7 group and
      consumed 0 or 100 MUg menaquinone-7 daily for 12 wk, respectively. In both
      studies, circulating carboxylated osteocalcin and undercarboxylated osteocalcin
      were measured. The carboxylated osteocalcin/undercarboxylated osteocalcin ratio
      decreased significantly from baseline in the 0 MUg menaquinone-7 group, in which
      subjects consumed the recommended daily intake of vitamin K with vitamin K1 and
      menaquinone-4 (Study 1). Menaquinone-7 increased the carboxylated
      osteocalcin/undercarboxylated osteocalcin ratio dose dependently, and significant
      effects were observed in both the 100 and 200 MUg groups compared with the 0 MUg
      group. Undercarboxylated osteocalcin concentrations decreased significantly, and
      the carboxylated osteocalcin/undercarboxylated osteocalcin ratio increased
      significantly in the 100 MUg menaquinone-7 group compared with the placebo group
      (Study 2). Daily menaquinone-7 intake >=100 MUg was suggested to improve
      osteocalcin gamma-carboxylation. 

PMID- 26875490
TI  - beta-Carotene Increases Muscle Mass and Hypertrophy in the Soleus Muscle in Mice.
AB  - Supplements and naturally occurring nutraceuticals effective for maintenance or
      enhancement of skeletal muscle mass are expected to contribute to prevention of
      decreased mobility and increased risk of developing metabolic diseases. However,
      information about available food components remains widely unavailable. In the
      present study, we investigated the effects of dietary beta-carotene on the
      quantity and quality of skeletal muscle under physiological conditions. Male ddY
      mice (8 wk old) were orally administered beta-carotene (0.5 mg once daily) for 14
      d. Dietary beta-carotene had no influence on body weight, but increased the
      soleus muscle/body weight ratio. The cross-sectional area (CSA) in muscle fibers
      of the soleus muscle was increased, indicating that administration of beta
      carotene induces muscle hypertrophy. In the soleus muscle of the beta-carotene
      administered mice, twitch force tended to be increased (p=0.06) and tetanic force
      was significantly increased, whereas specific force (force per CSA) remained
      unchanged. Dietary beta-carotene increased the mRNA level of insulin-like growth
      factor 1 (Igf-1) as its splicing variant Igf-1ea, but had no influence on the
      liver Igf-1 mRNA level or serum IGF-1 level. beta-Carotene promoted protein
      synthesis in the soleus muscle and reduced levels of ubiquitin conjugates, but
      had no influence on the mRNA levels of two atrogenes, Atrogin-1 and Murf1. On the
      other hand, beta-carotene had no influence on the processing of the autophagy
      marker protein light chain 3. These results indicate that in mice, administration
      of beta-carotene increases mass and induces functional hypertrophy in the soleus
      muscle, perhaps by promoting IGF-1-mediated protein synthesis and by reducing
      ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. 

PMID- 26875491
TI  - Sasa borealis Extract Efficiently Enhanced Swimming Capacity by Improving Energy
      Metabolism and the Antioxidant Defense System in Mice.
AB  - This study was conducted to determine the effects of 50% ethanolic extract from
      Sasa borealis leaves (SBE) on swimming capacity and oxidative metabolism in mice.
      The mice were divided into 2 groups with similar swimming times and body weights;
      Ex-Control and Ex-SBE were orally administered with distilled water and 250 mg/kg
      body weight/d of SBE. Exhaustive swimming times were prolonged by 1.5-fold in the
      Ex-SBE group compared to the Ex-Control. The Ex-SBE group displayed lower lactate
      and higher non-esterified fatty acid levels 15 min after swimming and the hepatic
      and muscle glycogen levels were significantly higher than that in the Ex-Control.
      SBE potentially enhanced mRNA expression of citrate synthase (CS), carnitine
      palmitoyltransferase (CPT-1), and beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (beta
      HAD) in skeletal muscle. The activities and mRNA expression of catalase (CAT),
      glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were elevated in the
      Ex-SBE compared with the Ex-Control after exhaustive swimming. These results
      suggest that SBE might be used as an effective agent to enhance swimming capacity
      by utilization of energy substrates and might ameliorate physical exhaustion by
      facilitating energy-generating metabolic genes and enhancing endogenous
      antioxidants. 

PMID- 26875492
TI  - Annatto Tocotrienol Induces a Cytotoxic Effect on Human Prostate Cancer PC3 Cells
      via the Simultaneous Inhibition of Src and Stat3.
AB  - Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently occurring cancers and often
      acquires the potential of androgen-independent growth as a malignant phenotype.
      Androgen-independent prostate cancer has severe chemoresistance towards
      conventional chemotherapeutic agents, so a new treatment approach is required for
      curing such prostate cancer. In this context, the present study was undertaken to
      check if annatto tocotrienol (main component delta-tocotrienol) could suppress
      cell growth in human prostate cancer (PC3, androgen-independent type) cells via
      the inhibition of Src and Stat3. The tocotrienol showed cytotoxic effects on PC3
      cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the effect depended on G1 arrest in the
      cell cycle and subsequent induction of apoptosis. In a cytotoxic dose, the
      tocotrienol suppressed cellular growth via the simultaneous inhibition of Src and
      Stat3. Similarly, the treatment combination of both Src and Stat3 inhibitors
      induced cytotoxic effects in PC3 cells in an additive manner compared to each by
      itself. With respect to cell cycle regulation and the induction of apoptosis, the
      combination treatment showed a similar effect to that of the tocotrienol
      treatment. These results suggest that annatto tocotrienol effectively induces
      cytotoxicity in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells via the suppression of
      Src and Stat3. 

PMID- 26875493
TI  - Effects of Salmon Nasal Cartilage Proteoglycan on Plasma Glucose Concentration
      and Active Glucose Transport in the Small Intestine.
AB  - Recently, proteoglycan was purified from the nasal cartilage of salmon. Although
      several physiological effects have been reported, the effect of salmon nasal
      cartilage proteoglycan (salmon PG) on glucose metabolism remains unclear. We
      studied the effect of salmon PG on rat plasma glucose levels. Oral administration
      of 1% salmon PG significantly attenuated the increase in portal plasma glucose
      levels following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Additionally 1% salmon PG
      delayed the increase in peripheral glucose concentration induced by the OGTT.
      Mucosal administration of 1% salmon PG significantly decreased active glucose
      transport using the everted jejunal sac method. Furthermore, transmural potential
      difference (DeltaPD) measurements using the everted jejunum revealed that 1%
      salmon PG significantly decreased glucose-dependent and phlorhizin (inhibitor of
      sodium-glucose co-transporter 1; SGLT1)-sensitive DeltaPD. These results suggest
      that salmon PG decreases glucose absorption via SGLT1 in the jejunum, thereby
      attenuating the increase in portal and peripheral plasma glucose levels in rats. 

PMID- 26875494
TI  - Purification and Properties of Glycine Oxidase from Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
AB  - Glycine oxidase, encoded by the thiO gene, participates in the biosynthesis of
      thiamin by providing glyoxyl imine to form the thiazole moiety of thiamin. We
      have purified and characterized ThiO from Pseudomonas putida KT2440. It has a
      monomeric structure that is distinct from the homotetrameric ThiOs from Bacillus
      subtilis and Geobacillus kaustophilus. The P. putida ThiO is unique in that
      glycine is its preferred substrate, which differs markedly from the B. subtilis
      and G. kaustophilus enzymes that use D-proline as the preferred substrate. 

PMID- 26875495
TI  - Propionate Promotes Fatty Acid Oxidation through the Up-Regulation of Peroxisome
      Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.
AB  - Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the colonic lumen mainly by
      bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber. Emerging evidence shows that SCFA has
      important physiological and pathophysiological effects on colonic and systemic
      events. Recently, propionate, known as a kind of SCFA, has been shown to lower
      fatty acid contents in plasma and reduce food intake. However, the detailed
      mechanism underlying the propionate-mediated lipid metabolism action remains
      poorly understood. The intestinal lipid metabolism process is critical for
      systemic energy homeostasis. Therefore, we investigate here the effects of
      propionate on intestinal lipid metabolism. Results show that propionate induced
      peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) expression time
      dependently and concentration-dependently in YAMC (a mouse intestinal epithelial
      cell line) cells. The expression levels of PPARalpha-responsive genes such as
      carnitine palmitoyl transferase II (CPTII) and trifunctional protein alpha
      (TFPalpha) were up-regulated in the presence of propionate, thereby suppressing
      triglyceride (TG) accumulation. Furthermore, propionate-mediated PPARalpha
      induction required phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase.
      Collectively, these data indicate that propionate regulates intestinal lipid
      metabolism through the induction of PPARalpha expression. Results suggest that
      the inhibitory effect of propionate on TG accumulation partly contributes to the
      propionate-mediated fatty acid-lowering effect. 

PMID- 26875496
TI  - Hedgehog receptor function during craniofacial development.
AB  - The Hedgehog signalling pathway plays a fundamental role in orchestrating normal
      craniofacial development in vertebrates. In particular, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is
      produced in three key domains during the early formation of the head;
      neuroectoderm of the ventral forebrain, facial ectoderm and the pharyngeal
      endoderm; with signal transduction evident in both ectodermal and mesenchymal
      tissue compartments. Shh signalling from the prechordal plate and ventral midline
      of the diencephalon is required for appropriate division of the eyefield and
      forebrain, with mutation in a number of pathway components associated with
      Holoprosencephaly, a clinically heterogeneous developmental defect characterized
      by a failure of the early forebrain vesicle to divide into distinct halves. In
      addition, signalling from the pharyngeal endoderm and facial ectoderm plays an
      essential role during development of the face, influencing cranial neural crest
      cells that migrate into the early facial processes. In recent years, the
      complexity of Shh signalling has been highlighted by the identification of
      multiple novel proteins that are involved in regulating both the release and
      reception of this protein. Here, we review the contributions of Shh signalling
      during early craniofacial development, focusing on Hedgehog receptor function and
      describing the consequences of disruption for inherited anomalies of this region
      in both mouse models and human populations.

PMID- 26875497
TI  - Developmental transcriptomics in Atlantic haddock: Illuminating pattern formation
      and organogenesis in non-model vertebrates.
AB  - Gadiforms such as Atlantic haddock comprise some of the world's most economically
      important fisheries. Understanding the early life history of these fish is a
      prerequisite for predicting effects of a changing environment and increased human
      activities. Robust assessment of the effects of environmental impacts on the
      embryos of non-model vertebrates is hampered by a lack of molecular resources and
      detailed knowledge regarding the regulation of genes and pathways in early
      development. Here we used mRNA sequencing to link transcriptional changes to
      developmental processes in haddock, specifically, pattern formation and
      organogenesis. Temporal expression of key developmental genes was tightly
      anchored to either the appearance of visible structures or cellular processes
      characterised in model organisms. These findings demonstrate the high potential
      of developmental transcriptomics as an analytical tool for improved understanding
      of pathophysiological mechanisms leading to abnormal development in any
      vertebrate. 

PMID- 26875498
TI  - Thermal degradation mechanism of triangular Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles.
AB  - Triangular silver nanoparticles are promising materials for light harvesting
      applications because of their strong plasmon bands; these absorption bands are
      highly tunable, and can be varied over the entire visible range based on the
      particle size. A general concern with these materials is that they are unstable
      at elevated temperatures. When thermally annealed, they suffer from changes to
      the particle morphology, which in turn affects their optical properties. Because
      of this stability issue, these materials cannot be used in applications requiring
      elevated temperatures. In order to address this problem, it is important to first
      understand the degradation mechanism. Here, we measure the changes in particle
      morphology, oxidation state, and coordination environment of Ag@SiO2
      nanotriangles caused by thermal annealing. UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM reveal
      that upon annealing the Ag@SiO2 nanotriangles in air, the triangular cores are
      truncated and smaller nanoparticles are formed. Ag K-edge X-ray absorption
      spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) shows that the small particles consist of Ag(0),
      and that there is a decrease in the Ag-Ag coordination number with an increase in
      the annealing temperature. We hypothesize that upon annealing Ag in air, it is
      first oxidized to AgxO, after which it subsequently decomposes back to well
      dispersed Ag(0) nanoparticles. In contrast, when the Ag@SiO2 nanotriangles are
      annealed in N2, since there is no possibility of oxidation, no small particles
      are formed. Instead, the triangular core rearranges to form a disc-like shape. 

PMID- 26875500
TI  - Effect of Shufeng Jiedu capsules as a broad-spectrum antibacterial.
AB  - This study sought to investigate the broad-spectrum antibacterial action of an
      alternative medicine, Shufeng Jiedu capsules (SFJDC). Antibacterial testing was
      performed to determine whether SFJDC had broad-spectrum antibacterial action in
      vitro, and testing was performed to verify whether SFJDC prevented death due to a
      Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice. Results of
      antibacterial testing suggested that SFJDC are a broad-spectrum antibacterial and
      that SFJDC are superior to Lianhua Qingwen capsules as a broad-spectrum
      antibacterial. Results of testing revealed that SFJDC lowered the mortality rate,
      it reduced mortality, it increased average survival time, and it increased the
      lifespan of mice dying due to a Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus infection.
      Thus, SFJDC could become a complement to broad-spectrum antimicrobials in
      clinical settings. 

PMID- 26875499
TI  - Genetic engineering and heterologous expression of the disorazol biosynthetic
      gene cluster via Red/ET recombineering.
AB  - Disorazol, a macrocyclic polykitide produced by the myxobacterium Sorangium
      cellulosum So ce12 and it is reported to have potential cytotoxic activity
      towards several cancer cell lines, including multi-drug resistant cells. The
      disorazol biosynthetic gene cluster (dis) from Sorangium cellulosum (So ce12) was
      identified by transposon mutagenesis and cloned in a bacterial artificial
      chromosome (BAC) library. The 58-kb dis core gene cluster was reconstituted from
      BACs via Red/ET recombineering and expressed in Myxococcus xanthus DK1622. For
      the first time ever, a myxobacterial trans-AT polyketide synthase has been
      expressed heterologously in this study. Expression in M. xanthus allowed us to
      optimize the yield of several biosynthetic products using promoter engineering.
      The insertion of an artificial synthetic promoter upstream of the disD gene
      encoding a discrete acyl transferase (AT), together with an oxidoreductase (Or),
      resulted in 7-fold increase in disorazol production. The successful
      reconstitution and expression of the genetic sequences encoding for these
      promising cytotoxic compounds will allow combinatorial biosynthesis to generate
      novel disorazol derivatives for further bioactivity evaluation. 

PMID- 26875501
TI  - A differential impact of lithium on endothelium-dependent but not on endothelium
      independent vessel relaxation.
AB  - Lithium is drug for bipolar disorders with a narrow therapeutic window. Lithium
      was recently reported to prevent stroke and protect vascular endothelium but
      tends to accumulate particularly in the brain and kidney. Here, adverse effects
      are common; however mechanisms are still vaguely understood. If lithium could
      also negatively influence the endothelium is unclear. We hypothesize that at
      higher lithium levels, the effects on endothelium reverses--that lithium also
      impairs endothelial-dependent relaxation of blood vessels. Vessel grafts from de
      nerved murine aortas and porcine middle cerebral arteries were preconditioned
      using media supplemented with lithium chloride or acetate (0.4-100 mmol/L).
      Native or following phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction, the relaxation
      capacity of preconditioned vessels was assessed by isometric myography, using
      acetylcholine to test the endothelium-dependent or sodium nitroprusside to test
      the endothelium-independent vasorelaxation, respectively. At the 0.4 mmol/L
      lithium concentration, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vessel
      relaxation was slightly increased, however, diminished in a concentration
      dependent manner in vessel grafts preconditioned with lithium at higher
      therapeutic and supratherapeutic concentrations (0.8-100 mmol/L). In contrast,
      endothelium-independent vasorelaxation remained unaltered in preconditioned
      vessel grafts at any lithium concentration tested. Lithium elicits opposing
      effects on endothelial functions representing a differential impact on the
      endothelium within the narrow therapeutic window. Lithium accumulation or
      overdose reduces endothelium-dependent but not endothelium-independent
      vasorelaxation. The differentially modified endothelium-dependent vascular
      response represents an additional mechanism contributing to therapeutic or
      adverse effects of lithium.

PMID- 26875502
TI  - Treatment-refractory Tourette Syndrome.
AB  - Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition marked by tics
      and frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidities. While most cases are
      mild and improve with age, some are treatment-refractory. Here, we review
      strategies for the management of this population. We begin by examining the
      diagnosis of TS and routine management strategies. We then consider emerging
      treatments for refractory cases, including deep brain stimulation (DBS),
      electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
      (rTMS), and novel pharmacological approaches such as new vesicular monoamine
      transporter type 2 inhibitors, cannabinoids, and anti-glutamatergic drugs.

PMID- 26875503
TI  - Massage, a complementary therapy effectively promoting the health and well-being
      of older people in residential care settings: a review of the literature.
AB  - AIMS: To explore the potential benefits of massage within daily routine care of
      the older person in residential care settings. BACKGROUND: Globally, the
      proportion of people over 65 years is rapidly rising. Increased longevity means
      older people may experience a rise in physiological and psychological health
      problems. These issues potentially place an increased demand for quality long
      term care for the older person. Complementary approaches such as massage appear
      to be needed in quality residential care. DESIGN: A critical literature review
      was undertaken. METHODS: A literature review pertaining to massage in the older
      resident was conducted using a range of online databases. Fourteen studies dated
      1993-2012 met the inclusion criteria and were critically evaluated as suitable
      resources for this review. RESULTS: Evidence suggests massage may be advantageous
      from client and nursing perspectives. Clients' perceive massage to positively
      influence factors such as pain, sleep, emotional status and psychosocial health.
      Evidence also demonstrates massage to benefit the client and organisation by
      reducing the necessity for restraint and pharmacological intervention. Massage
      may be incorporated into care provision and adopted by care providers and family
      members as an additional strategy to enhance quality of life for older people.
      CONCLUSION: Massage offers a practical activity that can be used to enhance the
      health and well-being of the older person in residential care. IMPLICATIONS FOR
      PRACTICE: Massage offers benefit for promoting health and well-being of the older
      person along with potential increased engagement of family in care provision.
      Integration of massage into daily care activities of the older person requires
      ongoing promotion and implementation.

PMID- 26875504
TI  - Corrigendum: Modulating protein activity using tethered ligands with mutually
      exclusive binding sites.

PMID- 26875505
TI  - Aging and ABO blood type influence von Willebrand factor and factor VIII levels
      through interrelated mechanisms.
AB  - Essentials von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) levels are
      modulated by age and ABO status. The effect of aging and ABO blood type on VWF
      and FVIII was assessed in 207 normal individuals. Aging and ABO blood type showed
      combined and bidirectional influences on VWF and FVIII levels. Aging and ABO
      blood type influence VWF levels through both secretion and clearance mechanisms.
      SUMMARY: Background The effect of aging and ABO blood type on plasma levels of
      von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) have been widely reported;
      however, a comprehensive analysis of their combined effect has not been performed
      and the mechanisms responsible for the age-related changes have not been
      determined. Objectives To assess the influence of aging and ABO blood type on VWF
      and FVIII levels, and to evaluate the contribution of VWF secretion and clearance
      to the age-related changes. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was
      performed in a cohort of 207 normal individuals, whose levels of VWF, FVIII, VWF
      propeptide (VWFpp), VWFpp/VWF:Ag ratio and blood type A antigen content on VWF (A
      VWF) were quantified. Results Aging and ABO blood type exerted interrelated
      effects on VWF and FVIII plasma levels, because the age-related increase in both
      proteins was significantly higher in type non-O individuals (beta = 0.011 vs.
      0.005). This increase with age in non-O subjects drove the differences between
      blood types in VWF levels, as the mean difference increased from 0.13 U/mL in the
      young to 0.57 U/mL in the old. Moreover, A-VWF was associated with both VWF
      antigen (beta = 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09, 0.50) and VWF clearance
      (beta = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.25, -0.06). We also documented an effect of ABO blood
      type on VWF secretion with aging, as old individuals with blood type non-O showed
      higher levels of VWFpp (mean difference 0.29 U/mL). Conclusions Aging and ABO
      blood type have an interrelated effect on VWF and FVIII levels, where the effect
      of one is significantly influenced by the presence of the other.

PMID- 26875506
TI  - Integrity of Literature on Expressed Emotion and Relapse in Patients with
      Schizophrenia Verified by a p-Curve Analysis.
AB  - There is growing concern that much published research may have questionable
      validity due to phenomena such as publication bias and p-hacking. Within the
      psychiatric literature, the construct of expressed emotion (EE) is widely assumed
      to be a reliable predictor of relapse across a range of mental illnesses. EE is
      an index of the family climate, measuring how critical, hostile, and overinvolved
      a family member is toward a mentally ill patient. No study to date has examined
      the evidential value of this body of research as a whole. That is to say,
      although many studies have shown a link between EE and symptom relapse, the
      integrity of the literature from which this claim is derived has not been tested.
      In an effort to confirm the integrity of the literature of EE predicting
      psychiatric relapse in patients with schizophrenia, we conducted a p-curve
      analysis on all known studies examining EE (using the Camberwell Family
      Interview) to predict psychiatric relapse over a 9- to 12-month follow-up period.
      Results suggest that the body of literature on EE is unbiased and has integrity,
      as there was a significant right skew of p-values, a nonsignificant left skew of
      p-values, and a nonsignificant test of flatness. We conclude that EE is a robust
      and valuable predictor of symptom relapse in schizophrenia.

PMID- 26875507
TI  - The April Effect: A Multimedia Orientation Approach to Improve Rotation
      Transitions During Pediatric Residency.

PMID- 26875508
TI  - Parental Predictions and Perceptions Regarding Long-Term Childhood Obesity
      Related Health Risks.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess how parents perceive long-term risks for developing obesity
      related chronic health conditions. METHODS: A Web-based nationally representative
      survey was administered to 502 US parents with a 5- to 12-year-old child. Parents
      reported whether their child was most likely to be at a healthy weight or
      overweight, and the probability that their child would develop hypertension,
      heart disease, depression, or type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Responses of parents
      of children with overweight and obesity were compared to those of healthy-weight
      children using multivariate models. RESULTS: The survey had an overall response
      rate of 39.2%. The mean (SD) unadjusted parent predicted health risks were 15.4%
      (17.7%), 11.2% (14.7%), 12.5% (16.2%), and 12.1% (16.1%) for hypertension, heart
      disease, depression, and diabetes, respectively. Despite underperceiving their
      child's current body mass index class, parents of children with obesity estimate
      their children to be at greater risk for obesity-related health conditions than
      parents of healthy-weight children by 5 to 6 percentage points. Having a family
      history of a chronic disease, higher quality of care, and older parent age were
      also significant predictors of estimating higher risk probabilities. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite evidence that parents of children who are overweight may not perceive
      these children as being overweight, parents unexpectedly estimate greater future
      risk of weight-related health conditions for these children. Focusing
      communication about weight on screening for and reducing the risk of weight
      related diseases may prove useful in engaging parents and children in weight
      management.

PMID- 26875509
TI  - Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: poorer prognosis than non-head and
      neck sites.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive neurocutaneous
      malignancy. This study investigated whether patients with Merkel cell carcinoma
      in the head and neck had poorer outcomes than patients with Merkel cell carcinoma
      located elsewhere. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of patients with
      Merkel cell carcinoma treated at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Canada,
      from 1993 to 2013. Associations between clinicopathological characteristics and
      disease-free and disease-specific survival rates were examined according to the
      Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were identified. Although
      basic clinicopathological characteristics and treatments were similar between
      head and neck and non-head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma groups, disease-free
      and disease-specific survival rates were significantly lower in the head and neck
      Merkel cell carcinoma group (log-rank test; p = 0.043 and p = 0.001,
      respectively). Mortality was mainly due to distant metastasis. CONCLUSION:
      Patients with head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma had poorer survival rates than
      patients with non-head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma in our study. The tendency
      to obtain close margins, a less predictable metastatic pattern, and/or intrinsic
      tumour factors related to the head and neck may explain this discrepancy.

PMID- 26875510
TI  - Correlation between microbiota and growth in Mangrove Killifish (Kryptolebias
      marmoratus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).
AB  - The vertebrate gut is host to large communities of bacteria, and one of the
      beneficial contributions of this commensal gut microbiota is the increased
      nutritional gain from feed components that the host cannot degrade on its own.
      Fish larvae of similar age and under the same rearing conditions often diverge
      with regards to growth. The underlying reasons for this could be differences in
      genetic background, feeding behavior or digestive capacity. Both feeding behavior
      and digestion can be influenced by differences in the microbiota. To investigate
      possible correlations between the size of fish larvae and their gut microbiota,
      we analyzed the microbiota small and large genetically homogenous killifish and
      genetically heterogeneous cod larvae by Bray-Curtis Similarity measures of 16S
      DNA DGGE patterns. A significant difference in richness (p = 0.037) was observed
      in the gut microbiota of small and large killifish, but the overall gut
      microbiota was not found to be significantly different (p = 0.13), indicating
      strong genetic host selection on microbiota composition at the time of sampling.
      The microbiota of small and large cod larvae was significantly different with
      regards to evenness and diversity (p = 0.0001), and a strong correlation between
      microbiota and growth was observed.

PMID- 26875511
TI  - Cervical nodal metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: MRI
      criteria for treatment assessment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess MRI criteria for detecting
      residual malignant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) nodes after
      chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS: One hundred and six metastatic nodes were
      assessed 6 weeks posttreatment by MRI for necrosis, extranodal neoplastic spread
      (ENS), size, and percentage of size change. Size measurements were reanalyzed
      after dividing posttreatment nodes into "discrete solid," "discrete necrotic,"
      and "indiscrete" groups. Results were correlated with nodal response at 2 years.
      RESULTS: Eighty-three residual nodes were benign and 23 were malignant.
      Significant predictors of outcome were percentage of change in solid volume
      (total-necrotic volume; p = .0002) for all posttreatment nodes and percentage of
      change in total volume for "discrete solid" posttreatment nodes (p = .0003), the
      latter showing a <=78% reduction of predicted residual malignant nodes with a
      negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.2% and positive predictive value (PPV) of
      60%. Necrosis, ENS, and size of "discrete necrotic" and "indiscrete" nodes were
      not significant criteria. CONCLUSION: Necrosis and ENS were inaccurate criteria
      for residual malignant nodes and hindered the accuracy of size measurements. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1598-E1604, 2016.

PMID- 26875512
TI  - Malposition of epicardial left atrial appendage occlusion device proved by CT
      study.

PMID- 26875513
TI  - Predictors of incipient dysfunction of all cardiac chambers after treatment of
      metastatic renal cell carcinoma by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the hypothesis that early subclinical cardiac
      chamber dysfunction secondary to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients
      with metastatic renal cell carcinoma could be signaled by abnormal cardiac
      mechanics demonstrated by velocity vector imaging. METHODS: Echocardiographic
      images were acquired from the apical views in 23 metastatic renal cell carcinoma
      patients. All patients had baseline and at least a 3-month follow-up
      echocardiogram after receiving TKI therapy. Subendocardial borders of all the
      cardiac chambers were traced to obtain volumetric and deformation indices.
      RESULTS: Mean age was 67 +/- 9 years with 92% men. The right ventricle peak
      systolic global longitudinal strain (GLE) and strain rate were significantly
      lower after TKIs (-23.49 +/- 5.1 versus -19.81 +/- 5.5, p = 0.002 and -1.52 +/-
      0.52 versus -1.24 +/- 0.35 p = 0.02, respectively). LV GLE was not statistically
      different. Volumetric and deformation indices showed a minimal decrease of the
      right atrium reservoir and conduit functions, and no significant changes of left
      atrial function. CONCLUSIONS: The right heart exhibited greater strain changes
      than the left heart after TKI treatment. The implications of these findings and
      their potential significance warrant further work.

PMID- 26875514
TI  - Endocrine assessment of ovarian cycle activity in wild female mountain gorillas
      (Gorilla beringei beringei).
AB  - Variability of fertility (i.e. number of births per female per year) has been
      reported in females of many primate species but only a few studies have explored
      the associated physiological and behavioral patterns. To investigate the
      proximate mechanisms of variability in fertility of wild female mountain gorillas
      (Gorilla beringei beringei), we quantified the occurrence of ovulation, matings,
      and successful pregnancies among females. We examined the profiles of
      immunoreactive pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (iPdG) for sixteen females (seven
      nulliparous and nine parous females, including one geriatric female; average
      sampling period for fecal sample collection and behavioral observations per
      female=175 days; SD=94 days, range=66-358 days) monitored by the staff of the
      Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Karisoke Research Center in Parc National des Volcans,
      Rwanda. We quantified ovarian cycles from iPdG profiles using an algorithm that
      we developed by adjusting the method of Kassam et al. (1996) to the
      characteristics of ovarian cycle profiles based on fecal hormone measurements.
      The mean length of ovarian cycles was 29+/-4 days (median: 28 days, N=13 cycles),
      similar to ovarian cycle lengths of other great apes and humans. As expected, we
      found that female mountain gorillas exhibit longer follicular phases (mean+/-SD:
      21+/-3 days, N=13 cycles) than luteal phases (mean+/-SD: 8+/-3 days, N=13
      cycles). We also found that the frequency of ovarian cycles was greater in parous
      females (i.e. 20 ovarian cycles across 44 periods of 28 days; 45.5%) than in
      nulliparous females (i.e. two ovarian cycles across 34 periods of 28 days; 6%).
      However, the frequency of days on which matings were observed did not differ
      significantly between parous and nulliparous females, nor between pregnant and
      non-pregnant females. Five pregnancies were detected with iPdG levels, but only
      three resulted in live births, indicating miscarriages of the other two. In sum,
      this study provides information on the underlying endocrine patterns of variation
      in fertility depending on parity, mating behavior, and pregnancy success in a
      critically endangered great ape.

PMID- 26875515
TI  - Influence of exposure in ovo to different light wavelengths on the lateralization
      of social response in zebrafish larvae.
AB  - Exposure of the chick embryo to different wavelengths of light of the same
      intensity has shown that only certain wavelengths may be important in generating
      visual asymmetries. This study aimed to detect the possible influence of
      different wavelengths of light on development of asymmetry of social recognition
      in zebrafish larvae, tested using the fish's mirror image as the stimulus. From
      fertilization until day 10 post-hatching zebrafish were kept in five different
      lighting conditions: natural light/dark (LD) cycle, complete darkness (DD), and
      artificial LD cycles with 14 h of monochromatic light (red, green, or violet
      light) and 10 h of darkness (rLD 14:10, gLD 14:10, vLD 14:10, respectively). On
      day 10 after hatching, the zebrafish larvae were subjected to a mirror test. A
      preference for using the left eye to scrutinize their mirror image was apparent
      only in zebrafish larvae exposed to and reared under a natural LD cycle, and not
      following exposure to any of other lighting conditions. These results are
      discussed with reference to other evidence of brain lateralization.

PMID- 26875516
TI  - Catestatin and GABA(A)R related feeding habits rely on dopamine, ghrelin plus
      leptin neuroreceptor expression variations.
AB  - Catestatin (CST), an endogenously small sympathoinhibitory peptide is capable of
      interfering with the major cerebral neuroreceptor-blocking site, i.e. gamma
      aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) system especially in limbic brain areas that
      are involved with feeding behaviors. The GABAARergic-related effects seem to
      derive from its interaction with other molecular neuroreceptors such as
      dopaminergic, ghrelin and leptinergic. In this context, the present study aimed
      to investigate probable feeding responses (eating and drinking) induced by
      treatment with CST and the GABAAR antagonist bicucullin (BIC) alone or
      simultaneously (CST+BIC) in the Syrian hibernating hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
      model. Hamsters that received these compounds via intracerebroventricular
      infusions displayed notable variations of feeding and drinking bouts. In
      particular, an anorexigenic response was evident following treatment with CST
      while BIC evoked a significant increase of eating and drinking behaviors.
      Surprisingly when both agents were given simultaneously, a predominating
      anorexigenic response was detected as shown by evident CST-dependent reduction of
      feeding bouts. Contextually such behaviors, especially those following the
      combined treatment were tightly correlated with the significantly increased
      cerebral dopamine receptor 1 (D1) plus reduced ghrelin receptor (GhsR) and leptin
      receptor (LepR) transcript levels. Overall, the anorexigenic effect of CST
      deriving from its tight interaction with GABAARs activity plus D1 and GhsR
      transcripts tends to propose these neuronal elements as pivotal factors
      responsible for feeding disorders. 

PMID- 26875517
TI  - European public health policies for managing contacts of invasive meningococcal
      disease cases better harmonised in 2013 than in 2007.
AB  - In 2007, a European survey identified variation in country policies on public
      health management of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In 2009-10, the
      European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published evidence
      based guidance on IMD. We therefore surveyed again European countries to describe
      policies for managing IMD cases and contacts in 2013. We asked national IMD
      public health experts from 32 European countries to complete a questionnaire
      focusing on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for IMD contacts and meningococcal
      vaccination. Proportions in 2007 and 2013 were compared using the chi-squared
      test. All 32 countries responded, with responses from two regions for Belgium and
      Italy; half stated having used ECDC guidance to update national recommendations.
      PEP was recommended to close contacts in 33 of 34 countries/regions, mainly
      ciprofloxacin for adults (29/32 countries) and rifampicin for children (29/32
      countries). ECDC guidance for managing IMD contacts in airplanes was strictly
      followed by five countries/regions. Twenty-three countries/regions participated
      in both surveys. Compared with 2007, in 2013, more countries/regions recommended
      i) ceftriaxone for children (15/23 vs 6/20; p = 0.03), ii) PEP for all children
      in the same preschool group (8/23 vs 17/23; p = 0.02). More countries/regions
      recommended evidence-based measures for IMD public health management in 2013 than
      2007. However, some discrepancies remain and they call for further harmonisation.

PMID- 26875518
TI  - Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and Mortality due to Cardiovascular Disease in
      Japanese Men and Women.
AB  - AIM: Whether the association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GTP)
      levels and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is independent of alcohol
      drinking in East Asian populations is not well known. We conducted a pooled
      analysis of Japanese men and women that enabled an analysis restricted to never
      drinkers. METHODS: A total of 15,987 men and 25,053 women aged 40-79 years,
      pooled from seven cohort studies throughout Japan, were followed-up to examine
      sex-specific relationship between serum gamma-GTP levels and total CVD mortality.
      Cox regression model was used that was adjusted for age, smoking status, body
      mass index, and systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride, total
      cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels.
      RESULTS: During an average follow-up of 8.7 years, we documented 361 and 340
      deaths from total CVD, 146 and 168 from stroke, and 101 and 53 from coronary
      heart disease (CHD) for men and women, respectively. Among the never-drinkers,
      hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality for one standard deviation of log-gamma-GTP for
      men were 1.89 (1.00-3.58) for stroke, 1.04 (0.57-1.90) for CHD, and 1.43 (1.04
      1.96) for total CVD. For women, HRs were 1.28 (1.06-1.54), 1.81 (1.34-2.44), and
      1.30 (1.14-1.49), respectively. CONCLUSION: gamma-GTP may be a risk factor for
      total CVD mortality independent of alcohol drinking status in Japanese men and
      women.

PMID- 26875519
TI  - Apolipoprotein E Epsilon 4 Enhances the Association between the rs2910164
      Polymorphism of miR-146a and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cerebral Infarction.
AB  - AIM: To analyse the relationship between two potentially functional single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the miR-146a gene (rs2910164 and rs57095329)
      and the risk of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). METHODS: A total of
      297 patients with ACI and 300 matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the
      study. The miR-146a polymorphism was detected using the polymerase chain reaction
      restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: A significant
      difference in the C allele frequency at rs2910164 (p=0.028) was noted between
      patients with ACI and control subjects. In contrast, the genotype and allele
      frequencies of rs57095329 were not statistically associated with ACI. In
      addition, the decreased expression of miR-146a was significantly more frequent in
      ACI patients who were ApoEepsilon4 (+) carriers (p=0.0233), and rs2910164 G>C was
      intimately associated with the ApoEepsilon4-containing genotype in patients
      compared with the ApoEepsilon4 (-) carriers (p=0.0323). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      indicated that the C allele of rs2910164 miR-146a is an important risk factor for
      ACI, and ApoEepsilon4 may function through attenuating miR-146a expression to
      enhance ACI susceptibility. This study provides new information about the
      possible relationship between miR-146a and ApoEepsilon4 in the development of
      ACI, with potentially important therapeutic implications.

PMID- 26875520
TI  - A Proposal for the Optimal Management Target for Serum Non-High-Density
      Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level in Low-Risk Japanese Workers.
AB  - AIM: The Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for the Diagnosis and
      Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases 2012 (JAS Guidelines 2012)
      indicate that the management target for serum non-high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (non-HDLC) level is 30 mg/dL higher than that for low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) level. However, it remains unclear whether this
      value is applicable to subjects at a low risk of cardiovascular disease. This
      study aimed to propose the optimal management target for serum non-HDLC level in
      low-risk Japanese subjects. METHODS: Among 20,909 subjects who underwent annual
      medical checkup at a Japanese company in 2008, we analyzed the data of 17,023
      subjects (14,352 men, mean age 37.8+/-8.6 years) in risk category I according to
      the JAS Guidelines 2012. The correlation between LDLC and non-HDLC levels was
      examined. RESULTS: A strong correlation was found between LDLC and non-HDLC
      levels (r=0.95, p<0.001). The following regression equation for calculation of
      non-HDLC was obtained from linear regression analysis: non-HDLC (mg/dL)=1.09*LDLC
      (mg/dL)+7.79. According to this equation, the optimal management target for non
      HDLC level corresponding to that for LDLC level (160 mg/dL) was 180 mg/dL. A
      multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, obesity, habitual
      alcohol intake, and current smoking were significantly associated with non-HDLC
      >=180 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: The management target for non-HDLC level is recommended
      to be set at 20 mg/dL higher than that for the LDLC level (i.e., 180 mg/dL) in
      low-risk Japanese subjects.

PMID- 26875521
TI  - Management of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Hong Kong.
AB  - Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal-dominant genetic disease
      characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      (LDL-C) and increased risk of premature atherosclerotic coronary heart disease
      (CHD). Patients with FH in Hong Kong were found by the identification of
      potential probands with primary hypercholesterolemia manifesting total
      cholesterol levels greater than 7.5 mmol/L or LDL-C levels greater than 4.9
      mmol/L and undertaking cascade screening of available relatives in the Department
      of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of
      Hong Kong since the early 1990s. Our previous study in a group of 252 subjects
      from 87 pedigrees clinically diagnosed as having heterozygous FH reported the
      mean plasma LDL-C level as 7.2+/-1.5 mmol/L. Xanthomata were present in 40.6% of
      males and 54.8% of females. The prevalence of known CHD was relatively low at
      9.9% in males and 8.5% in females. All FH patients were offered treatment with
      statins and many of them reached the LDL-C goal with a moderate or high dose of
      potent statin alone. Ezetimibe is usually added for patients who have not
      achieved target LDL-C levels on statin alone, particularly in patients with
      established CHD. Some FH patients who have not achieved the LDL-C targets with
      this combination have entered into clinical trials with new cholesterol-modifying
      agents such as the monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin
      kexin type 9. Increased awareness, early identification, and optimal treatment
      are essential to reduce the risk of CHD, increase life expectancy, and improve
      the quality of life of patients with FH. 

PMID- 26875522
TI  - Temporal Trends in Clinical Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
      in Patients with Renal Insufficiency.
AB  - AIM: Renal insufficiency is associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients
      with coronary artery disease. Since the introduction of percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI), the revascularization therapy has evolved with advances of
      devices, improvements in operator techniques, and the establishment of medical
      therapy. We examined temporal trends of the clinical outcomes following PCI in
      patients with renal insufficiency. METHODS: Patients with renal insufficiency
      after PCI at Juntendo University across three eras (plain balloon angioplasty,
      bare metal stent (BMS), and drug-eluting stent (DES)) were examined in this
      study. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal
      acute coronary syndrome, nonfatal stroke, and repeat revascularization within 3
      years after the index revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 1,420 patients were
      examined. Baseline characteristics have become unfavorable over time, whereas
      administration rate of medications for secondary prevention has increased. The
      event-free survival rates for the endpoint were different among the groups.
      Adjusted relative risk reduction for the endpoint was 35% and 51% in the BMS and
      DES eras (using the plain angioplasty era as reference). The adjusted relative
      risk reduction of the DES era was 26% compared with that of the BMS era.
      CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of cardiovascular events after PCI has reduced during
      the 26-year period mainly because of the reduction in repeat revascularization in
      patients with renal insufficiency, despite the higher risk profiles in the recent
      era.

PMID- 26875523
TI  - Optimal Management Target for Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol.

PMID- 26875524
TI  - Constructing modular and universal single molecule tension sensor using protein G
      to study mechano-sensitive receptors.
AB  - Recently a variety of molecular force sensors have been developed to study
      cellular forces acting through single mechano-sensitive receptors. A common
      strategy adopted is to attach ligand molecules on a surface through engineered
      molecular tethers which report cell-exerted tension on receptor-ligand bonds.
      This approach generally requires chemical conjugation of the ligand to the force
      reporting tether which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover,
      ligand-tether conjugation can severely reduce the activity of protein ligands. To
      address this problem, we developed a Protein G (ProG)-based force sensor in which
      force-reporting tethers are conjugated to ProG instead of ligands. A recombinant
      ligand fused with IgG-Fc is conveniently assembled with the force sensor through
      ProG:Fc binding, therefore avoiding ligand conjugation and purification
      processes. Using this approach, we determined that molecular tension on E
      cadherin is lower than dsDNA unzipping force (nominal value: 12 pN) during
      initial cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, followed by an escalation to forces
      higher than 43 pN (nominal value). This approach is highly modular and
      potentially universal as we demonstrate using two additional receptor-ligand
      interactions, P-selectin &PSGL-1 and Notch &DLL1. 

PMID- 26875525
TI  - Correlation between topological band character and chemical bonding in a
      Bi14Rh3I9-based family of insulators.
AB  - Recently the presence of topologically protected edge-states in Bi14Rh3I9 was
      confirmed by scanning tunnelling microscopy consolidating this compound as a weak
      3D topological insulator (TI). Here, we present a density-functional-theory-based
      study on a family of TIs derived from the Bi14Rh3I9 parent structure via
      substitution of Ru, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt for Rh. Comparative analysis of the band
      structures throughout the entire series is done by means of a unified
      minimalistic tight-binding model that evinces strong similarity between the
      quantum-spin-Hall (QSH) layer in Bi14Rh3I9 and graphene in terms of Pz-molecular
      orbitals. Topologically non-trivial energy gaps are found for the Ir-, Rh-, Pt-
      and Pd-based systems, whereas the Os- and Ru-systems remain trivial. Furthermore,
      the energy position of the metal d-band centre is identified as the parameter
      which governs the evolution of the topological character of the band structure
      through the whole family of TIs. The d-band position is shown to correlate with
      the chemical bonding within the QSH layers, thus revealing how the chemical
      nature of the constituents affects the topological band character.

PMID- 26875526
TI  - Atypical natural killer T-cell receptor recognition of CD1d-lipid antigens.
AB  - Crucial to Natural Killer T (NKT) cell function is the interaction between their
      T-cell receptor (TCR) and CD1d-antigen complex. However, the diversity of the NKT
      cell repertoire and the ensuing interactions with CD1d-antigen remain unclear. We
      describe an atypical population of CD1d-alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer)
      reactive human NKT cells that differ markedly from the prototypical TRAV10-TRAJ18
      TRBV25-1(+) type I NKT cell repertoire. These cells express a range of TCR alpha-
      and beta-chains that show differential recognition of glycolipid antigens. Two
      atypical NKT TCRs (TRAV21-TRAJ8-TRBV7-8 and TRAV12-3-TRAJ27-TRBV6-5) bind
      orthogonally over the A'-pocket of CD1d, adopting distinct docking modes that
      contrast with the docking mode of all type I NKT TCR-CD1d-antigen complexes.
      Moreover, the interactions with alpha-GalCer differ between the type I and these
      atypical NKT TCRs. Accordingly, diverse NKT TCR repertoire usage manifests in
      varied docking strategies and specificities towards CD1d-alpha-GalCer and related
      antigens, thus providing far greater scope for diverse glycolipid antigen
      recognition. 

PMID- 26875528
TI  - Stable neutral radicals of planar N2O2-type dipyrrin platinum complexes: hybrid
      radicals of the delocalized organic pi-orbital and platinum d-orbital.
AB  - Neutral radicals of N2O2-dipyrrin platinum complexes were synthesized by the
      reaction of dipyrrin ligands with PtCl2(cod) and successive one-electron
      oxidation. The radicals are very stable even under aerobic and ambient
      conditions. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed the stacking array of the
      planar dipyrrin complex moieties. The ESR signals were broadened and
      significantly downfield shifted. The absorption spectra exhibited NIR bands.
      These results indicated a delocalized radical character with a contribution by
      the platinum d-orbital. 

PMID- 26875527
TI  - Inhibition of microRNA-210 provides neuroprotection in hypoxic-ischemic brain
      injury in neonatal rats.
AB  - Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is associated with high neonatal
      mortality and severe long-term neurologic morbidity. Yet the mechanisms of brain
      injury in infants with HIE remain largely elusive. The present study determined a
      novel mechanism of microRNA-210 (miR-210) in silencing endogenous neuroprotection
      and increasing hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats. The study further
      revealed a potential therapeutic effect of miR-210 inhibition using complementary
      locked nucleic acid oligonucleotides (miR-210-LNA) in 10-day-old neonatal rats in
      the Rice-Vannucci model. The underlying mechanisms were investigated with
      intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v) of miR-210 mimic, miR-210-LNA,
      glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist and antagonist. Luciferase reporter gene
      assay was conducted for identification of miR-210 targeting GR 3'untranslated
      region. The results showed that the HI treatment significantly increased miR-210
      levels in the brain, and miR-210 mimic significantly decreased GR protein
      abundance and exacerbated HI brain injury in the pups. MiR-210-LNA administration
      via i.c.v. 4h after the HI insult significantly decreased brain miR-210 levels,
      increased GR protein abundance, reduced HI-induced neuronal death and brain
      infarct size, and improved long-term neurological function recovery. Of
      importance, the intranasal delivery of miR-210-LNA 4h after the HI insult
      produced similar effects in decreasing HI-induced neonatal brain injury and
      improving neurological function later in life. Altogether, the present study
      provides evidence of a novel mechanism of miR-210 in a neonatal HI brain injury
      model, and suggests a potential therapeutic approach of miR-210 inhibition in the
      treatment of neonatal HIE. 

PMID- 26875529
TI  - Effects of fragment traits, burial orientation and nutrient supply on survival
      and growth in Populus deltoides * P. simonii.
AB  - Clonal propagations of shoot or root fragments play pivotal roles in adaptation
      of clonal trees to environmental heterogeneity, i.e. soil nutrient heterogeneity
      and burials after disturbance. However, little is known about whether burial
      orientation and nutrient supply can alter the effects of fragment traits in
      Populus. Shoot and root fragments of Populus deltoides * P. simonii were
      subjected to burials in two different fragment diameters (0.5 and 2.0 cm), two
      fragment lengths (5 and 15 cm) and three burial orientations (horizontal, upward
      and downward). For the shoot fragments, survival and growth were significantly
      higher in the larger pieces (either in length or diameter) and the
      horizontal/upward burial position. On the contrary, the effect of burial position
      was reversed for the root fragments. Shoot/root fragments of 15 cm in length in
      horizontal burial position were then subjected to two different fragment
      diameters (0.5 and 2.0 cm) and four types of nutrient supplies (without nutrient,
      low frequency, high frequency and patchy). Growth of shoot fragments of 2.0 cm in
      diameter significantly increased in high frequency and patchy nutrient supplies
      than that of without nutrient treatment. These results suggest that burial
      orientation and nutrient supply could be employed in clonal propagations of
      cuttings, afforestation or regeneration in Populus.

PMID- 26875530
TI  - Modeling Non-Heme Iron Halogenases: High-Spin Oxoiron(IV)-Halide Complexes That
      Halogenate C-H Bonds.
AB  - The non-heme iron halogenases CytC3 and SyrB2 catalyze C-H bond halogenation in
      the biosynthesis of some natural products via S = 2 oxoiron(IV)-halide
      intermediates. These oxidants abstract a hydrogen atom from a substrate C-H bond
      to generate an alkyl radical that reacts with the bound halide to form a C-X bond
      chemoselectively. The origin of this selectivity has been explored in biological
      systems but has not yet been investigated with synthetic models. Here we report
      the characterization of S = 2 [Fe(IV)(O)(TQA)(Cl/Br)](+) (TQA = tris(quinolyl-2
      methyl)amine) complexes that can preferentially halogenate cyclohexane. These are
      the first synthetic oxoiron(IV)-halide complexes that serve as spectroscopic and
      functional models for the halogenase intermediates. Interestingly, the nascent
      substrate radicals generated by these synthetic complexes are not as short-lived
      as those obtained from heme-based oxidants and can be intercepted by O2 to
      prevent halogenation, supporting an emerging notion that rapid rebound may not
      necessarily occur in non-heme oxoiron(IV) oxidations. 

PMID- 26875532
TI  - Liquid biopsy: Potential and challenges.

PMID- 26875533
TI  - Successful treatment of pachydermoperiostosis with etoricoxib in a patient with a
      homozygous splice-site mutation in the SLCO2A1 gene.
AB  - Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP), also named primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
      (PHO: MIM 167100), is a rare genetic disease characterized by 3 major symptoms:
      pachydermia including cutis verticis gyrata (CVG), periostosis, and digital
      clubbing. Additional clinical signs and symptoms include seborrheic hyperplasia,
      hyperhidrosis, and arthropathy. This article is protected by copyright. All
      rights reserved.

PMID- 26875531
TI  - Availability: A Metric for Nucleic Acid Strand Displacement Systems.
AB  - DNA strand displacement systems have transformative potential in synthetic
      biology. While powerful examples have been reported in DNA nanotechnology, such
      systems are plagued by leakage, which limits network stability, sensitivity, and
      scalability. An approach to mitigate leakage in DNA nanotechnology, which is
      applicable to synthetic biology, is to introduce mismatches to complementary fuel
      sequences at key locations. However, this method overlooks nuances in the
      secondary structure of the fuel and substrate that impact the leakage reaction
      kinetics in strand displacement systems. In an effort to quantify the impact of
      secondary structure on leakage, we introduce the concepts of availability and
      mutual availability and demonstrate their utility for network analysis. Our
      approach exposes vulnerable locations on the substrate and quantifies the
      secondary structure of fuel strands. Using these concepts, a 4-fold reduction in
      leakage has been achieved. The result is a rational design process that
      efficiently suppresses leakage and provides new insight into dynamic nucleic acid
      networks.

PMID- 26875534
TI  - Biomimetic interconnected porous keratin-fibrin-gelatin 3D sponge for tissue
      engineering application.
AB  - The medicated wound dressing material with highly interconnected pores, mimicking
      the function of the extracellular matrix was fabricated for the promotion of cell
      growth. In this study, keratin (K), fibrin (F) and gelatin (G) composite scaffold
      (KFG-SPG) was fabricated by freeze drying technique and the mupirocin (D) drug
      was successfully incorporated with KFG-SPG (KFG-SPG-D) intended for tissue
      engineering applications. The fabrication of scaffold was performed without the
      use of any strong chemical solvents, and the solid sponge scaffold was obtained
      with well interconnected pores. The porous morphology of the scaffold was
      confirmed by SEM analysis and exhibited competent mechanical properties. KFG-SPG
      and KFG-SPG-D possess high level of biocompatibility, cell proliferation and cell
      adhesion of NIH 3T3 fibroblast and human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell lines thereby
      indicating the scaffolds potential as a suitable medicated dressing for wound
      healing. 

PMID- 26875536
TI  - Mutagenesis for improvement of activity and thermostability of amylomaltase from
      Corynebacterium glutamicum.
AB  - This work aims to improve thermostability of amylomaltase from a mesophilic
      Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgAM) by random and site-directed mutagenesis. From
      error prone PCR, a mutated CgAM with higher thermostability at 50  degrees C
      compared to the wild-type was selected and sequenced. The result showed that the
      mutant contains a single mutation of A406V. Site-directed mutagenesis was then
      performed to construct A406V and A406L. Both mutated CgAMs showed higher
      intermolecular transglucosylation activity with an upward shift in the optimum
      temperature and a slight increase in the optimum pH for disproportionation and
      cyclization reactions. Thermostability of both mutated CgAMs at 35-40  degrees C
      was significantly increased with a higher peak temperature from DSC spectra when
      compared to the wild-type. A406V had a greater effect on activity and
      thermostability than A406L. The catalytic efficiency values kcat/Km of A406V- and
      A406L-CgAMs were 2.9 and 1.4 times higher than that of the wild-type,
      respectively, mainly due to a significant increase in kcat. LR-CD product
      analysis demonstrated that A406V gave higher product yield, especially at longer
      incubation time and higher temperature, in comparison to the wild-type enzyme.

PMID- 26875535
TI  - Isatis indigotica root polysaccharides as adjuvants for an inactivated rabies
      virus vaccine.
AB  - Adjuvants can enhance vaccine immunogenicity and induce long-term enhancement of
      immune responses. Thus, adjuvants are important for vaccine research.
      Polysaccharides isolated from select Chinese herbs have been demonstrated to
      possess various beneficial functions and excellent adjuvant abilities. In the
      present study, the polysaccharides IIP-A-1 and IIP-2 were isolated from Isatis
      indigotica root and compared with the common vaccine adjuvant aluminum hydroxide
      via intramuscular co-administration of inactivated rabies virus rCVS-11-G into
      mice. Blood was collected to determine virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) titers
      and B and T lymphocyte activation status. Inguinal lymph node samples were
      collected and used to measure B lymphocyte proliferation. Splenocytes were
      isolated, from which antigen-specific cellular immune responses were detected via
      ELISpot, ELISA and intracellular cytokine staining. The results revealed that
      both types of polysaccharides induce more rapid changes and higher VNA titers
      than aluminum hydroxide. Flow cytometry assays revealed that the polysaccharides
      activated more B lymphocytes in the lymph nodes and more B and T lymphocytes in
      the blood than aluminum hydroxide. Antigen-specific cellular immune responses
      showed that IIP-2 strongly induced T lymphocyte proliferation in the spleen and
      high levels of cytokine secretion from splenocytes, whereas aluminum hydroxide
      induced proliferation in only a small number of lymphocytes and the secretion of
      only small quantities of cytokines. Collectively, these data suggest that the
      polysaccharide IIP-2 exhibits excellent adjuvant activity and can enhance both
      cellular and humoral immunity. 

PMID- 26875537
TI  - Chitosan as a non-viral co-transfection system in a cystic fibrosis cell line.
AB  - Successful gene therapy requires the development of suitable vehicles for the
      selective and efficient delivery of genes to specific target cells at the expense
      of minimal toxicity. In this work, we investigated a non-viral gene delivery
      system based on chitosan (CS) to specifically address cystic fibrosis (CF). Thus,
      electrostatic self-assembled CS-pEGFP and CS-pEGFP-siRNA complexes were prepared
      from high-pure fully characterized CS (Mw ~ 20 kDa and degree of acetylation ~
      30%). The average diameter of positively-charged complexes (i.e. zeta ~+25 mV)
      was ~ 200 nm. The complexes were found relatively stable over 14h in Opti-MEM.
      Cell viability study did not show any significant cytotoxic effect of the CS
      based complexes in a human bronchial cystic fibrosis cell line (CFBE41o-). We
      evaluated the transfection efficiency of this cell line with both CS-pEGFP and co
      transfected with CS-pEGFP-siRNA complexes at (N/P) charge ratio of 12. We
      reported an increase in the fluorescence intensity of CS-pEGFP and a reduction in
      the cells co-transfected with CS-pEGFP-siRNA. This study shows proof-of-principle
      that co-transfection with chitosan might be an effective delivery system in a
      human CF cell line. It also offers a potential alternative to further develop
      therapeutic strategies for inherited disease treatments, such as CF.

PMID- 26875538
TI  - Vancomycin loaded superparamagnetic MnFe2O4 nanoparticles coated with PEGylated
      chitosan to enhance antibacterial activity.
AB  - Increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant and failed-treatment make more
      investigations to deal with these problems. Hence new therapeutic approaches for
      effective treatment are necessary. Ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles have
      potentially antibacterial activity. In this study we prepared MnFe2O4
      superparamagnetic nanoparticles as core by precipitation method and used chitosan
      crosslinked by glutaraldehyde as shell, then modified with PEG to increase
      stability of particles against RES. Chitosan coating not only improves the
      properties of ferrit nanoparticles but also has antibacterial activity. FT-IR
      confirmed this surface modification; XRD and SEM were developed to demonstrate
      particle size approximately 25 nm and characteristics of crystal structure of
      these nanoparticles. Magnetic properties of nanoparticles were evaluated by VSM.
      Actual drug loading and releasing were examined by UV-vis spectroscopy method. We
      employed liquid broth dilution method to assessment antibacterial activity of
      nanoparticles against microorganisms. Significant antibacterial effect against
      gram negative bacteria was developed.

PMID- 26875539
TI  - Effect of dietary net energy concentration on dry matter intake and energy
      partition in cows in mid-lactation under heat stress.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the net energy requirement of Holstein cows in mid
      lactation under heat stress. Twenty-five multiparous Holstein cows were randomly
      allocated to five groups corresponding to five isonitrogenous total mixed
      rations, with net energy for lactation (NEL ) content of 6.15 (NE-6.15), 6.36 (NE
      6.36), 6.64 (NE-6.64), 6.95 (NE-6.95), 7.36 (NE-7.36) MJ/kg of dry matter (DM),
      respectively. Throughout the experimental period the average temperature humidity
      index at 07.00, 14.00 and 22.00 hours was 72.1, 88.7, and 77.6, respectively. DM
      intake decreased significantly with the elevated dietary NEL concentration. Fat
      corrected milk increased quadratically, and milk fat content and milk energy
      (MJ/kg) reached the greatest in the NE-6.95 group with increasing dietary NEL
      content. Strong correlations were found between dietary NEL content and: (i) DM
      intake; (ii) NEL intake; (iii) milk energy (El ); (iv) El /metabolizable energy
      intake (MEI); (v) El /NEL intake, as well as between NEL intake and fat corrected
      milk yield (FCM). The suitable net energy required for dairy cows producing 1 kg
      FCM ranged from 5.01 to 5.03 MJ, was concluded from the above-stated regressions.
      Correlation between heat production (HP) and MEI could be expressed as: Log (HP)
      = -0.4304 + 0.2963*MEI (n = 15, R2  = 0.99, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) =
      0.18). Fasting HP was 0.3712 MJ/kg0.75 when extrapolating MEI to zero.

PMID- 26875541
TI  - Ampere Hour as a Predictor of Cardiac Resynchronization Defibrillator Pulse
      Generator Battery Longevity: A Multicenter Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (CRT-D) devices improve
      survival for New York Heart Association classes II-IV systolic heart failure
      patients with QRS > 120 ms and left ventricular ejection fraction < 35%. A
      limitation of 100% CRT pacing is excess battery depletion and pulse generator
      (PG) replacement compared to VVI or dual-chamber systems. Ampere hour (Ah)
      measures PG battery capacity and may predict CRT-D device longevity. METHODS: We
      performed a multicenter retrospective study of all CRT-D devices implanted at our
      centers from August 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. Analysis was performed for
      survival to elective replacement indicator (ERI) between 1.0 Ah, 1.4 Ah, and 2.0
      Ah devices, per manufacturers' specifications. RESULTS: One thousand three
      hundred and two patients were studied through December 31, 2014. Patients were
      followed for an average of 3.0 +/- 1.3 years (794 1.0 Ah, 322 2.0 Ah, and 186 1.4
      Ah devices under study). CRT-D generator ERI occurred in 13.5% of 1.0 Ah systems
      (107 out of 794), versus 3.8% in 1.4 Ah (seven out of 186), and 0.3% in 2.0 Ah
      devices (one out of 322) over mean follow-up of 3.0 years. Odds ratio (OR) for
      reaching ERI with 1.0 Ah device versus 1.4 Ah or 2.0 Ah was 9.73, P < 0.0001.
      Univariate predictors for ERI included 1.0 Ah device and LV pacing output >3V @ 1
      ms (OR: 3.74, P < 0.001). LV impedance >1,000 ohms predicted improved device
      survival (OR: 0.38, P = 0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: CRT-D battery capacity measured by
      Ah is a strong predictor of survival to ERI for modern systems. Further study on
      cost and morbidity associated with early PG change in 1.0 Ah systems is
      warranted.

PMID- 26875540
TI  - Oral tofacitinib efficacy, safety and tolerability in Japanese patients with
      moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: A randomized, double
      blind, phase 3 study.
AB  - Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor that is being investigated for
      psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Japanese patients aged 20 years or more with
      moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis were double
      blindly randomized 1:1 to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg b.i.d. for 16 weeks, open-label
      10 mg b.i.d. for 4 weeks, then variable 5 or 10 mg b.i.d. to Week 52. Primary end
      points at Week 16 were the proportion of patients achieving at least a 75%
      reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75) and Physician's Global
      Assessment of "clear" or "almost clear" (PGA response) for psoriasis, and 20% or
      more improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) for
      patients with psoriatic arthritis. Safety was assessed throughout. Eighty-seven
      patients met eligibility criteria for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (5 mg
      b.i.d., n = 43; 10 mg b.i.d., n = 44), 12 met eligibility criteria for psoriatic
      arthritis (5 mg b.i.d., n = 4; 10 mg b.i.d., n = 8) including five who met both
      criteria (10 mg b.i.d.). At Week 16, 62.8% and 72.7% of patients achieved PASI75
      with tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg b.i.d., respectively; 67.4% and 68.2% achieved PGA
      responses; all patients with psoriatic arthritis achieved ACR20. Responses were
      maintained through Week 52. Adverse events occurred in 83% of patients through
      Week 52, including four (4.3%) serious adverse events and three (3.2%) serious
      infections (all herpes zoster). No malignancies, cardiovascular events or deaths
      occurred. Tofacitinib (both doses) demonstrated efficacy in patients with
      moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis through 52 weeks;
      safety findings were generally consistent with prior studies. 

PMID- 26875542
TI  - In situ growth of carbon nanotube wrapped Si composites as anodes for high
      performance lithium ion batteries.
AB  - The composites of carbon nanotube wrapped Si particles (CNTWS) were synthesized
      in situ by using the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method. In this
      process, carbon nanotubes were produced in situ to wrap Si by the catalysis
      action of nascent Cu* under an acetylene atmosphere at a relatively low
      temperature of 400  degrees C, in which nascent Cu* was created by the reaction
      between Si particles and CuCl synchronously. The weight ratio of Si/C in CNTWS is
      0.76/0.24. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the CNTWS composites
      exhibit a reversible discharge capacity of 1031.1 mA h g(-1) at 1.8 A g(-1) after
      500 cycles, and 868.2 mA h g(-1) at 10.0 A g(-1). The high electrochemical
      performance of CNTWS composites is associated with the in situ formed carbon
      nanotubes. 

PMID- 26875543
TI  - Retrograde trafficking from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network mediated by
      the retromer is required for fungal development and pathogenicity in Fusarium
      graminearum.
AB  - In eukaryotes, the retromer is an endosome-localized complex involved in protein
      retrograde transport. However, the role of such intracellular trafficking events
      in pathogenic fungal development and pathogenicity remains unclear. The role of
      the retromer complex in Fusarium graminearum was investigated using cell
      biological and genetic methods. We observed the retromer core component FgVps35
      (Vacuolar Protein Sorting 35) in the cytoplasm as fast-moving puncta. FgVps35-GFP
      co-localized with both early and late endosomes, and associated with the trans
      Golgi network (TGN), suggesting that FgVps35 functions at the donor endosome
      membrane to mediate TGN trafficking. Disruption of microtubules with nocodazole
      significantly restricted the transportation of FgVps35-GFP and resulted in severe
      germination and growth defects. Mutation of FgVPS35 not only mimicked growth
      defects induced by pharmacological treatment, but also affected conidiation,
      ascospore formation and pathogenicity. Using yeast two-hybrid assays, we
      determined the interactions among FgVps35, FgVps26, FgVps29, FgVps17 and FgVps5
      which are analogous to the yeast retromer complex components. Deletion of any one
      of these genes resulted in similar phenotypic defects to those of the
      DeltaFgvps35 mutant and disrupted the stability of the complex. Overall, our
      results provide the first clear evidence of linkage between the retrograde
      transport mediated by the retromer complex and virulence in F. graminearum.

PMID- 26875544
TI  - Fast quantifying collision strength index of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
      coverings on the fields based on near infrared hyperspectral imaging techniques.
AB  - A novel strategy based on the near infrared hyperspectral imaging techniques and
      chemometrics were explored for fast quantifying the collision strength index of
      ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC) coverings on the fields. The reflectance
      spectral data of EVAC coverings was obtained by using the near infrared
      hyperspectral meter. The collision analysis equipment was employed to measure the
      collision intensity of EVAC materials. The preprocessing algorithms were firstly
      performed before the calibration. The algorithms of random frog and successive
      projection (SP) were applied to extracting the fingerprint wavebands. A
      correlation model between the significant spectral curves which reflected the
      cross-linking attributions of the inner organic molecules and the degree of
      collision strength was set up by taking advantage of the support vector machine
      regression (SVMR) approach. The SP-SVMR model attained the residual predictive
      deviation of 3.074, the square of percentage of correlation coefficient of 93.48%
      and 93.05% and the root mean square error of 1.963 and 2.091 for the calibration
      and validation sets, respectively, which exhibited the best forecast performance.
      The results indicated that the approaches of integrating the near infrared
      hyperspectral imaging techniques with the chemometrics could be utilized to
      rapidly determine the degree of collision strength of EVAC. 

PMID- 26875545
TI  - Roles of specific lipid species in the cell and their molecular mechanism.
AB  - Thousands of different molecular species of lipids are present within a single
      cell, being involved in modulating the basic processes of life. The vast number
      of different lipid species can be organized into a number of different lipid
      classes, which may be defined as a group of lipids with a common chemical
      structure, such as the headgroup, apart from the nature of the hydrocarbon
      chains. Each lipid class has unique biological roles. In some cases, a relatively
      small change in the headgroup chemical structure can result in a drastic change
      in function. Such phenomena are well documented, and largely understood in terms
      of specific interactions with proteins. In contrast, there are observations that
      the entire structural specificity of a lipid molecule, including the hydrocarbon
      chains, is required for biological activity through specific interactions with
      membrane proteins. Understanding of these phenomena represents a fundamental
      change in our thinking of the functions of lipids in biology. There are an
      increasing number of diverse examples of roles for specific lipids in cellular
      processes including: Signal transduction; trafficking; morphological changes;
      cell division. We are gaining knowledge and understanding of the underlying
      molecular mechanisms. They are of growing importance in both basic and applied
      sciences.

PMID- 26875546
TI  - Perspectives of HIV agencies on improving HIV prevention, treatment, and care
      services in the USA.
AB  - HIV healthcare services in the USA are made available through a complex funding
      and delivery system. We present perspectives of HIV agencies on improvements that
      could lead to an ideal system of HIV prevention, treatment and care. We conducted
      semi-structured interviews with representatives from 21 HIV agencies offering
      diverse services in Baltimore, MD. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: (1)
      Focusing on HIV prevention, (2) Establishing common entry-points for services,
      (3) Improving information availability, (4) Streamlining funding streams, (5)
      Removing competitiveness and (6) Building trust. We recommend that in addition to
      addressing operational issues regarding service delivery and patient care,
      initiatives to improve HIV service systems should address underlying social
      issues such as building trust.

PMID- 26875547
TI  - Blockade of cell adhesion molecules enhances cell engraftment in a murine model
      of liver cell transplantation.
AB  - AIM: OLT is the best alternative for patients with end-stage liver diseases.
      However, as the need for organs surpasses donor availability, alternatives to OLT
      are required. LCT could be a useful option versus OLT in several patients even
      though its low cell-engraftment hampers its efficiency. Endothelial cell barrier
      is the main obstacle for the implantation of cells into the parenchyma. Our study
      has focused on the modification of the endothelial barrier with monoclonal
      antibodies against adhesion molecules in order to increase cell engraftment in a
      mouse model of liver cell transplantation. METHODS: Anti-mouse CD54 and anti
      mouse CD61 antibodies were administered intrasplenically to healthy mice within
      60 min prior to stem cell transplantation. Animals were sacrificed either short
      term at 2h or middle term seven days after transplantation. Immunohistochemical
      techniques to detect alkaline phosphatase activity were used to identify the
      transplanted cells within the liver parenchyma. RESULTS: Anti-CD54 and anti-CD61
      administration increases vascular patency and cell engraftment. This represents a
      32% and 45% increase, respectively, of engrafted cells compared to the control
      (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Modification of the vascular wall with monoclonal
      antibodies against endothelial adhesion molecules before cell transplantation
      enhances cell engraftment into the mouse liver.

PMID- 26875549
TI  - Physical properties modulation of Fe3O4/Pb(ZrTi)O3 heterostructure via Fe
      diffusion.
AB  - The manipulation of material properties in perovskite oxide heterojunctions has
      been increasingly studied, owing to their interacting lattice, charge, spin and
      orbital degrees of freedom. In this work, the switching, ferroelectricity and
      magneto-transport properties of epitaxially grown perovskite Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3
      layers sandwiched between Fe3O4 (top electrode) and SrRuO3 (bottom electrode) are
      investigated. These films show a typical ferroelectric polarization of ~50
      MUC/cm(2). Once the Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 films become thinner (~30 nm), one can set
      (reset) the Fe3O4/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3/SrRuO3 structures into a low (high)
      resistance state via formation (rupture) of an Fe-related filament in
      Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 through manipulation of an electric field. Interestingly, at
      the low-resistance state, a prominent magnetoresistance signal of ~3% was
      observed. There is no magnetoresistance signal detected in the virgin
      Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 film (before switching), high-resistive state
      Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 film and Au/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3/SrRuO3. These phenomena are
      attributed to the diffusion of Fe-related ions into the Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 film,
      turning a non-magnetic and insulating layer of perovskite Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 into
      a magnetic and semiconducting-like Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3. The magneto-transport
      properties of Fe3O4/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3/SrRuO3 have been studied extensively. Such
      resistance-ferroelectric-ferromagnetic coupling in a single compound paves the
      way to the realization of a non-volatile multiple-state Pb(ZrTi)O3 hybrid memory,
      as well as new computing approaches.

PMID- 26875548
TI  - Macrophages programmed by apoptotic cells inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition in lung alveolar epithelial cells via PGE2, PGD2, and HGF.
AB  - Apoptotic cell clearance results in the release of growth factors and the action
      of signaling molecules involved in tissue homeostasis maintenance. Here, we
      investigated whether and how macrophages programmed by apoptotic cells inhibit
      the TGF-beta1-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in lung
      alveolar epithelial cells. Treatment with conditioned medium derived from
      macrophages exposed to apoptotic cells, but not viable or necrotic cells,
      inhibited TGF-beta1-induced EMT, including loss of E-cadherin, synthesis of N
      cadherin and alpha-smooth muscle actin, and induction of EMT-activating
      transcription factors, such as Snail1/2, Zeb1/2, and Twist1. Exposure of
      macrophages to cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors (NS-398 and COX-2 siRNA) or
      RhoA/Rho kinase inhibitors (Y-27632 and RhoA siRNA) and LA-4 cells to antagonists
      of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor (EP4 [AH-23848]), PGD2 receptors (DP1 [BW
      A868C] and DP2 [BAY-u3405]), or the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met
      (PHA-665752), reversed EMT inhibition by the conditioned medium. Additionally, we
      found that apoptotic cell instillation inhibited bleomycin-mediated EMT in
      primary mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells in vivo. Our data suggest a new
      model for epithelial cell homeostasis, by which the anti-EMT programming of
      macrophages by apoptotic cells may control the progressive fibrotic reaction via
      the production of potent paracrine EMT inhibitors. 

PMID- 26875550
TI  - [An updated review of 1p36 deletion (monosomy) syndrome].
AB  - : The Monosomy 1p36 deletion syndrome is part of the group of diseases known as
      Rare Diseases. The objective of the present work is to review the characteristics
      of Monosomy 1p36 deletion syndrome. The monosomy 1p36 deletion syndrome phenotype
      includes: dysmorphic craniofacial features; large anterior fontanelle, unibrow,
      deep-set eyes, epicanthus, wide nasal root/bridge, mandible hypoplasia, abnormal
      location of the pinna, philtrum and pointed chin; neurological alterations:
      seizures and hydrocephalus (in some cases). Cerebral malformations: ventricular
      hypertrophy, increased subarachnoid space, morphological alterations of corpus
      callosum, cortical atrophy, delays in myelinisation, periventricular leukomalacia
      and periventricular heterotopia. These alterations produce intellectual
      disability and delays in motor growth, communication skills, language, social and
      adaptive behaviour. It is Hearing and vision impairments are also observed in
      subjects with this syndrome, as well as alterations of cardiac, endocrine and
      urinary systems and alterations at skin and skeletal level. CONCLUSIONS:
      Approximately 100 cases have been documented since 1981. This rare disease is the
      most common subtelomeric-micro-deletion syndrome. In situ hybridization with
      fluorescence (FISH) and array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH-array) are
      at present the two best diagnostic techniques. There is currently no effective
      medical treatment for this disease.

PMID- 26875551
TI  - [Response to the Letter to the Editor: Diet, adolescence and pregnancy versus
      folic acid supplemation].

PMID- 26875552
TI  - Slab fractures of the third tarsal bone: Minimally invasive repair using a single
      3.5 mm cortex screw placed in lag fashion in 17 Thoroughbred racehorses.
AB  - REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY: A technique for minimally invasive repair of
      slab fractures of the third tarsal bone has not previously been reported. Results
      of third tarsal bone slab fracture repair in Thoroughbred racehorses are lacking.
      OBJECTIVES: To report the outcomes of repair of uniplanar frontal slab factures
      of the third tarsal bone using a single 3.5 mm cortex screw in lag fashion. STUDY
      DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Case records of horses that had
      undergone this procedure were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventeen horses underwent
      surgery. Eighteen percent of cases had wedge shaped third tarsal bones. A point
      midway between the long and lateral digital extensor tendons and centrodistal and
      tarsometatarsal joints created a suitable entry site for implants. The fracture
      location, configuration and curvature of the third tarsal bone and associated
      joints requires a dorsolateral proximal-plantaromedial distal trajectory for the
      screw, which was determined by preplaced needles. There were no complications and
      fractures healed in all cases at 4-6 months post surgery. Seventy-nine percent of
      horses returned to racing and, at the time of reporting, 3 are in post operative
      rehabilitation programmes. CONCLUSION: The technique reported provides a safe,
      appropriate and repeatable means of repairing slab fractures of the third tarsal
      bone. Surgical repair is a viable alternative to conservative management.

PMID- 26875554
TI  - Increased use of antimicrobial medication in bulimia nervosa and binge-eating
      disorder prior to the eating disorder treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the use of antimicrobial medication as a proxy for
      infections in large patient cohort treated for binge-eating disorder (BED),
      bulimia nervosa (BN), and anorexia nervosa (AN) over the five-year period
      preceding eating disorder treatment. METHOD: Patients (N = 1592) at the Eating
      Disorder Unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital between 2000 and 2010 were
      compared with matched general population controls (N = 6368). The study
      population was linked to the prescription data of antibacterial, antifungal and
      antiviral medication from the Register on Reimbursed Prescription Medicine. Data
      were analyzed using regression models. RESULTS: Individuals with BN and BED had
      received more often antimicrobial medication prescriptions compared to their
      controls (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1; OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4-4.6, respectively),
      while no significant difference emerged in AN (OR: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.7-1.0, p =
      0.10). Of the main drug categories, the respective pattern was seen in
      antibacterial and antifungal medication, while increased use for antivirals
      appeared only in BN (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3). Measured with the mean number of
      prescriptions or mean Defined Daily Doses per individual, patients with BN, BED
      and males with AN had also higher total antimicrobial medication use. DISCUSSION:
      Indicating increased infections, we found elevated use of antimicrobial
      medication in BN, BED and in males with AN. Infections may be consequence of
      hyperglycemia, weight gain, or dysregulation of intestinal microbiota associated
      with core eating disorder behaviors. Or the other way round; changes in
      intestinal microbiota due to infections, inflammation, or antibacterial
      medications might contribute to eating disorders in multiple ways. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:542-552).

PMID- 26875553
TI  - Direct interaction of the resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase type 3
      protein with the serotonin receptor type 3A intracellular domain.
AB  - Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGIC) are expressed in both excitable and
      non-excitable cells that are targeted by numerous clinically used drugs. Assembly
      from five identical or homologous subunits yields homo- or heteromeric pentamers,
      respectively. The protein known as Resistance to Inhibitors of Cholinesterase
      (RIC-3) was identified to interfere with assembly and functional maturation of
      pLGICs. We have shown previously for serotonin type 3A homopentamers (5-HT3A )
      that the interaction with RIC-3 requires the intracellular domain (ICD) of this
      pLGIC. After expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes RIC-3 attenuated serotonin
      induced currents in 5-HT3A wild-type channels, but not in functional 5-HT3A
      glvM3M4 channels that have the 115-amino acid ICD replaced by a heptapeptide. In
      complementary experiments we have shown that engineering the Gloeobacter
      violaceus ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC) to contain the 5-HT3A -ICD confers
      sensitivity to RIC-3 in oocytes to otherwise insensitive GLIC. In this study, we
      identify endogenous RIC-3 protein expression in X. laevis oocytes. We purified
      RIC-3 to homogeneity after expression in Echericia coli. By using heterologously
      over-expressed and purified RIC-3 and the chimera consisting of the 5-HT3A -ICD
      and the extracellular and transmembrane domains of GLIC in pull-down experiments,
      we demonstrate a direct and specific interaction between the two proteins. This
      result further underlines that the domain within 5-HT3 A R that mediates the
      interaction with RIC-3 is the ICD. Importantly, this is the first experimental
      evidence that the interaction between 5-HT3 A R-ICD and RIC-3 does not require
      other proteins. In addition, we demonstrate that the pentameric assembly of the
      GLIC-5-HT3A -ICD chimera interacts with RIC-3. We hypothesized that pentameric
      ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) associate directly with the chaperone protein
      RIC-3 (resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase type 3), and that the
      interaction does not require other protein factors. We found that the two
      proteins indeed interact directly, that the pLGIC intracellular domain is
      required for the effect, and that pLGICs in their pentameric form associate with
      RIC-3. These results provide the basis for future studies aimed at investigating
      which motifs provide the interaction surfaces, and at delineating the
      mechanism(s) of RIC-3 modulation of functional pLGIC surface expression.

PMID- 26875555
TI  - Characterizing MttA as a mitochondrial cis-aconitic acid transporter by metabolic
      engineering.
AB  - The mitochondrial carrier protein MttA is involved in the biosynthesis of
      itaconic acid in Aspergillus terreus. In this paper, the transport specificity of
      MttA is analyzed making use of different metabolically engineered Aspergillus
      niger strains. Furthermore, the mitochondrial localization of this protein is
      confirmed using fluorescence microscopy. It was found that MttA preferentially
      transports cis-aconitic acid over citric acid and does not transport itaconic
      acid. The expression of MttA in selected A. niger strains results in secretion of
      aconitic acid. MttA can be used in further strain engineering strategies to
      transport cis-aconitic acid to the cytosol to produce itaconic acid or related
      metabolites. The microbial production of aconitic acid (9g/L) is achieved in
      strains expressing this transport protein. Thus, metabolic engineering can be
      used for both the in vivo characterization of transport protein function like
      MttA and to make use of this protein by creating aconitic acid producing strains.

PMID- 26875557
TI  - A Heart too Drunk to Drive; AV Block following Acute Alcohol Intoxication.
AB  - Acute excessive alcohol consumption is associated with heart rhythm disorders
      like atrial fibrillation but also premature ventricular contractions,
      collectively known as the "holiday heart syndrome". More rarely but clinically
      significant are reports of atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbances in binge
      drinkers with no underlying heart disease or chronic alcohol consumption. To
      obtain better insights into common denominators and the potential underlying
      mechanisms we collected and compared individual case reports of AV block
      following acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy people. By screening
      PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and JSTOR, fifteen cases were found of which eight
      were sufficiently documented for full analysis. Blood alcohol levels ranged from
      90 to 958 mg/dl (19 to 205 mM). Second and third degree AV block was observed
      most (6/8) albeit that in two of these patients a vagal stimulus led to
      deterioration from first into higher order AV block. In all cases, patients
      reverted to normal sinus rhythm upon becoming sober again. Mildly lowered body
      temperature (35.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C) was observed but can be excluded as a major
      cause of conduction blockade. We hypothesize that ethanol induced partial
      inhibition of calcium and potentially also sodium currents in conductive tissue
      structures may be one of the mechanisms of conduction slowing and block that may
      become exaggerated upon increased vagal tone. An impairment of gap junction
      function cannot be excluded as a contributing factor. In conclusion, cases of
      documented alcohol induced AV block are very rare but events can occur at
      relatively low serum alcohol levels which should prompt to awareness of this
      phenomenon in alcohol intoxicated patients.

PMID- 26875556
TI  - Follicular thyroid carcinoma but not adenoma recruits tumor-associated
      macrophages by releasing CCL15.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and
      follicular adenoma (FA) before surgery is a clinical challenge. Many efforts have
      been made but most focusing on tumor cells, while the roles of tumor associated
      macrophages (TAMs) remained unclear in FTC. Here we analyzed the differences
      between TAMs in FTC and those in FA. METHODS: We first analyzed the density of
      TAMs by CD68 immunostaining in 59 histologically confirmed FTCs and 47 FAs.
      Cytokines produced by FTC and FA were profiled using antibody array, and
      validated by quantitative PCR. Chemotaxis of monocyte THP-1 was induced by
      condition medium of FTC cell lines (FTC133 and WRO82-1) with and without anti
      CCL15 neutralizing antibody. Finally, we analyzed CCL15 protein level in FTC and
      FA by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The average density of CD68(+) cells was 9.5
      +/- 5.4/field in FTC, significantly higher than that in FA (4.9 +/- 3.4/field, p
      < 0.001). Subsequently profiling showed that CCL15 was the most abundant
      chemokine in FTC compared with FA. CCL15 mRNA in FTC was 51.4-folds of that in
      FA. CM of FTC cell lines induced THP-1 cell chemotaxis by 33 ~ 77%, and anti
      CCL15 neutralizing antibody reduced THP-1 cell migration in a dose-dependent
      manner. Moreover, we observed positive CCL15 immunostaining in 67.8% of FTCs
      compared with 23.4% of FAs. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested FTC might induce TAMs
      infiltration by producing CCL15. Measurement of TAMs and CCL15 in follicular
      thyroid lesions may be applied clinically to differentiate FTC from FA pre
      operation.

PMID- 26875558
TI  - Inhibition of Neuropathic Pain by a Single Intraperitoneal Injection of Diazepam
      in the Rat: Possible Role of Neurosteroids.
AB  - Diazepam binds with the same high affinity to the central benzodiazepine receptor
      (CBR) and the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, which has been renamed
      translocator protein (TSPO). Both receptors could promote neurosteroid synthesis.
      In the present study, we investigated whether a single dose of diazepam could
      inhibit neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5 SNL), and
      whether CBR and TSPO mediated this effect. We found that a single intraperitoneal
      injection of diazepam 9 d after L5 SNL significantly depressed the established
      mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, which persisted until the end of
      the experiments. Furthermore, the effects were mimicked by a single
      intraperitoneal injection of Ro5-4864, a specific TSPO agonist and pregnenolone,
      a neurosteroid precursor. In addition, we found that the inhibitory effect of
      diazepam was also completely blocked by pretreatment with a specific CBR
      antagonist, flumazenil. The effects of diazepam or Ro5-4864 on neuropathic pain
      were completely blocked by pretreatment with a neurosteroid synthesis inhibitor,
      aminoglutethimide (AMG). Finally, any one of the three drugs, diazepam, Ro5-4864
      and pregnenolone, could reduce the activation of astrocytes and the production of
      interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the L5 spinal dorsal horn 14 d after L5 SNL.
      These results suggest that in addition to exerting effects on CBR, diazepam may
      inhibit neuropathic pain via TSPO, which promotes neurosteroid formation,
      subsequently reducing the activation of astrocytes and production of cytokines.

PMID- 26875559
TI  - Involvement of TRPV1 in the Olfactory Bulb in Rimonabant-Induced Olfactory
      Discrimination Deficit.
AB  - Rimonabant is well recognized as a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse
      agonist. Rimonabant not only antagonizes the effects induced by exogenous
      cannabinoids and endocannabinoids at CB1 receptors, it also exerts several
      pharmacological and behavioral effects independent of CB1 receptor inactivation.
      For example, rimonabant can function as a low-potency mixed agonist/antagonist of
      the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1). Hence, it is
      important to explain the underlying mechanisms of the diverse physiological
      effects induced by rimonabant with caution. Interestingly, CB1 receptor has
      recently been suggested to play a role in olfactory functions. Olfaction not only
      is involved in food intake, visual perception and social interaction, but also is
      proposed as a putative marker for schizophrenia and autism. Therefore, the
      present study aimed to investigate whether CB1 receptor and TRPV1 played a role
      in olfactory functions. We first used the genetic disruption approach to examine
      the role of CB1 receptor in olfactory functions and found that CB1 knockout mice
      exhibited olfactory discrimination deficit. However, it is important to point out
      that these CB1 knockout mice, despite their normal locomotivity, displayed
      deficiencies in the olfactory foraging and novel object exploration tasks. These
      results imply that general exploratory behaviors toward odorant and odorless
      objects are compromised in CB1 knockout mice. We next turned to the
      pharmacological approach to examine the role of CB1 receptor and TRPV1 in
      olfactory functions. We found that the short-term administration of rimonabant,
      injected systemically or directly into the olfactory bulb (OB), impaired
      olfactory discrimination that was rescued by the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine
      (CPZ), via the same route of rimonabant, in wild-type mice. These results suggest
      that TRPV1 in the OB is involved in rimonabant-induced olfactory discrimination
      deficit. However, the rimonabant and/or CPZ treatments neither affected
      locomotivity nor general exploratory behaviors in wild-type mice. Finally, the
      acute systemic administration of rimonabant, unlike the short-term administration
      regimen, did not affect olfactory discrimination. Taken together, this study not
      only is the first one, to the best of our knowledge, suggests that the olfactory
      TRPV1 plays a role in olfactory functions, but also provides a possible mechanism
      for the olfactory discrimination deficit induced by rimonabant.

PMID- 26875560
TI  - Environmental Factors Responsible for Variability of Hepatic Vein Flow: A Doppler
      Assessment in Healthy Twins.
AB  - Doppler interrogation studies of the liver blood flow indicate altered hepatic
      vein waveforms in association with impaired hepatocellular function. However,
      little is known about the mechanisms responsible for variations of these
      parameters in the absence of disease. We aimed to investigate the contribution of
      heritable and environmental factors to the physiological variability of hepatic
      vein flow in a twin cohort. Two hundred twenty-eight healthy adult Hungarian
      twins (69 monozygotic, 45 same-sex dizygotic pairs) underwent Doppler sonography
      of the hepatic vein. Age- and sex-adjusted heritability of the highest velocity
      (amplitude of S wave) of hepatic vein flow was negligible. Shared environment
      contributed to 33% (95% CI, 16%-51%), and unshared environment was responsible
      for the largest portion (67%; 95% CI, 49%-84%) of the variance. Duration of
      sports activities was significantly (P < 0.05) related to the magnitude of
      hepatic vein flow, while other risk factors and lifestyle characteristics had no
      significant influence. The data suggest that genetic factors have little impact
      on the parameters of hepatic venous blood flow. The variability observed in
      healthy twins by the Doppler interrogation can be explained by the effect of
      unshared environmental components primarily related to regular physical activity.
      These findings underscore the importance of unique environments in physiological
      variations of hepatic venous blood flow. 

PMID- 26875561
TI  - Activation of Strychnine-Sensitive Glycine Receptors by Shilajit on Preoptic
      Hypothalamic Neurons of Juvenile Mice.
AB  - Shilajit, a mineral pitch, has been used in Ayurveda and Siddha system of
      medicine to treat many human ailments, and is reported to contain at least 85
      minerals in ionic form. This study examined the possible mechanism of Shilajit
      action on preoptic hypothalamic neurons using juvenile mice. The hypothalamic
      neurons are the key regulator of many hormonal systems. In voltage clamp mode at
      a holding potential of -60 mV, and under a high chloride pipette solution,
      Shilajit induced dose-dependent inward current. Shilajit-induced inward currents
      were reproducible and persisted in the presence of 0.5 MUM tetrodotoxin (TTX)
      suggesting a postsynaptic action of Shilajit on hypothalamic neurons. The
      currents induced by Shilajit were almost completely blocked by 2 MUM strychnine
      (Stry), a glycine receptor antagonist. In addition, Shilajit-induced inward
      currents were partially blocked by bicuculline. Under a gramicidin-perforated
      patch clamp mode, Shilajit induced membrane depolarization on juvenile neurons.
      These results show that Shilajit affects hypothalamic neuronal activities by
      activating the Stry-sensitive glycine receptor with alpha2/alpha2beta subunit.
      Taken together, these results suggest that Shilajit contains some ingredients
      with possible glycine mimetic activities and might influence hypothalamic
      neurophysiology through activation of Stry-sensitive glycine receptor-mediated
      responses on hypothalamic neurons postsynaptically.

PMID- 26875562
TI  - Inhibitory Effects of Hydrogen on Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth
      Muscle Cells via Down-Regulation of Mitogen/Activated Protein Kinase and Ezrin
      Radixin-Moesin Signaling Pathways.
AB  - Molecular hydrogen (H2) has recently attracted considerable attention for the
      prevention of oxidative stress-related vascular diseases. The purpose of this
      study is to evaluate the effects of hydrogen on proliferation and migration of
      vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II) in
      vitro, and on vascular hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic coarctation (AAC)
      in vivo. Hydrogen-rich medium (0.6~0.9 ppm) was added 30 min before 10-7 M Ang II
      administration, then the proliferation and migration index were determined 24 h
      after Ang II stimulation. Hydrogen gas (99.999%) was given by intraperitoneal
      injection at the dose of 1 ml/100 g/day consecutively for one week before AAC and
      lasted for 6 weeks in vivo. Hydrogen inhibited proliferation and migration of
      VSMCs with Ang II stimulation in vitro, and improved the vascular hypertrophy
      induced by AAC in vivo. Treatment with hydrogen reduced Ang II- or AAC-induced
      oxidative stress, which was reflected by diminishing the induction of reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) in Ang II-stimulated VSMCs, inhibiting the levels of 3
      nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in vascular and serum malondialdehyde (MDA). Hydrogen
      treatment also blocked Ang II-induced phosphorylation of the extracellular signal
      regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and the
      ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) in vitro. Taken together, our studies indicate that
      hydrogen prevents AAC-induced vascular hypertrophy in vivo, and inhibits Ang II
      induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs in vitro possibly by targeting ROS
      dependent ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK and ERM signaling. It provides the molecular
      basis of hydrogen on inhibiting the abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs
      and improving vascular remodeling diseases.

PMID- 26875563
TI  - Effects of Sodium Benzoate Treatment in Combination with An Extinction Training
      on the Maintenance of Cocaine-Supported Memory.
AB  - Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor can facilitate the extinction
      of various maladaptive memories. Sodium benzoate (NaB) has been known to enhance
      a naturally occurring full agonist on the glycine binding site of the NMDA
      receptor. This study aimed to test whether systemic NaB treatment can affect the
      extinction of a cocaine-supported memory, the cocaine-induced conditioned place
      preference (CPP). Following the establishment of the cocaine (10
      mg/kg/conditioning * 3)-induced CPP, an extinction protocol, consisting of two
      consecutive extinction training bouts at an 8-h interval, was used. NaB (500
      mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of saline was given immediately following each
      extinction training bout to test the modulating effect of NaB on the maintenance
      of cocaine-induced CPP. Moreover, NaB was bilaterally micro-infused into the
      medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to validate the involvement of this brain region
      in mediating systemic NaB treatment-produced effect on cocaine-induced CPP.
      Systemic (500 mg/kg) and intra-mPFC (10 MUg/side) NaB treatment significantly
      decreased subsequent cocaine-induced CPP magnitude, although the NaB treatment or
      the extinction training alone did not affect such CPP magnitude. It was of
      importance to note that systemic or intra-mPFC NaB delivery did not affect mouse
      locomotor activity in the retests. These results, taken together, suggest that
      NaB treatment in combination with the extinction training may facilitate the
      extinction of the cocaine-supported memory. Moreover, systemic NaB treatment
      exerts such effects, at least in part, via its effect in the mPFC.

PMID- 26875564
TI  - Altered expression of human endogenous retroviruses syncytin-1, syncytin-2 and
      their receptors in human normal and gestational diabetic placenta.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Syncytins belong to the Human Endogenous Retrovirus family. The
      syncytin-1 receptor, SLC1A5, and syncytin-2 receptor, MFSD2, interact with their
      respective syncytin proteins to induce syncytiotrophoblast formation. However,
      there is no information about syncytins in gestational diabetic placenta.
      Therefore, we studied the expression and localization of syncytins and their
      receptors during normal placental development and in gestational diabetic
      placenta. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and Western-blot methods were performed
      with antibodies against syncytin-1, syncytin-2, SLC1A5 and MFSD2 in human first
      trimester placental tissues, normal term and gestational diabetic placentas.
      Syncytin-1, syncytin-2 and MFSD2 mRNA transcripts were determined by qRT-PCR in
      normal and diabetic term placentas. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic syncytin-1, syncytin-2,
      SLC1A5 and MFSD2 immunoreactions were observed in the trophoblastic layers in all
      placental samples. Some of the stromal cells showed strong cytoplasmic punctate
      staining. There were significantly weak syncytin-2 and MFSD2 immunoreaction
      intensities in diabetic placentas by ImageJ analysis, in parallel with decreased
      syncytin-2 and MFSD2 proteins in diabetic placentas by Western-blot. Protein
      expression of SLC1A5 increased dramatically in early pregnancy compared to term
      placenta. Syncytin-1, syncytin-2 and MFSD2 mRNA transcripts showed similar
      relative expression pattern by qRT-PCR. DISCUSSION: Syncytins were localized not
      only in cytotrophoblast cells and the basement membrane of the
      syncytiotrophoblast but also in the apical microvillous membrane and cytoplasm of
      syncytiotrophoblast, and some of the stromal cells and endothelium. Decreased
      syncytin-2 and MFSD2 proteins in gestational diabetic placentas might cause
      abnormal syncytiotrophoblast formation and possibly be involved in the pathology.
      Therefore, our study highlights an important potential relationship between
      syncytins and gestational diabetic placenta.

PMID- 26875565
TI  - The Cognitive Psychopathology of Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescence.
AB  - Adolescents are known to be an at-risk population for developing Internet gaming
      disorder (IGD). A recent clinical model has proposed that adolescents with IGD
      may endorse a unique set of maladaptive beliefs that underlie persistent and
      excessive involvement in Internet gaming activities. These include (a) beliefs
      about game reward value and tangibility, (b) maladaptive and inflexible rules
      about gaming behaviour, (c) over-reliance on gaming to meet self-esteem needs,
      and (d) gaming as a method of gaining social acceptance. A sample of 824
      adolescents (402 male and 422 female) were recruited from multiple secondary
      schools and administered a survey that included measures of IGD symptomatology,
      problematic Internet gaming cognition, and psychological distress. The results
      showed that adolescents with IGD report significantly more maladaptive gaming
      beliefs than adolescents without IGD, including those who play Internet games for
      more than 30 h per week. The size of observed effects were large. The strong
      association between gaming cognitions and IGD symptoms still held after
      controlling for measures of gaming activity and psychological distress. These
      findings indicate that adolescents with IGD have distinct problematic thoughts
      about gaming, and highlight the importance of addressing these cognitions in
      therapeutic interventions for the disorder.

PMID- 26875566
TI  - Cohort Profile: A study of influenza immunity in the urban and rural Guangzhou
      region of China: the Fluscape Study.

PMID- 26875567
TI  - [Bacteraemia and infection of the vascular catheter in the haematology patient:
      positioning and management based on the Delphi method].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Infectious complications are an important cause of morbidity and
      mortality in haematological patients with febrile neutropenia. The aim of this
      study was to develop a consensus document of recommendations to optimize the
      management of febrile neutropenic patients with haematological or vascular
      catheter infections in areas where there is no solid scientific evidence.
      METHODS: After reviewing the scientific evidence, a scientific committee composed
      of experts in haematology and infectious diseases developed a survey with 55
      statements. A two- round modified Delphi method was used to achieve consensus.
      RESULTS: The online survey was answered by 52 experts in the field of haematology
      and infectious diseases. After two rounds of evaluation, a consensus was possible
      in 43 of the 55 statements (78.2%): 40 in agreement and 3 in disagreement.
      Recommendations are given related to empirical antibiotic treatment of patients
      with febrile neutropenia, mechanisms of action, toxicity and synergism of
      antibiotics in this context, modifications of antibiotic treatment in the course
      of febrile neutropenia, and the management of central vascular catheter
      infections in the haematological setting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high degree of
      agreement among experts on some controversial issues concerning the management of
      febrile neutropenia and catheter infection in hematologic patients. This
      agreement has resulted in recommendations that may be useful in clinical
      practice.

PMID- 26875568
TI  - N, N-Dimethylglycine decreases oxidative stress and improves in vitro development
      of bovine embryos.
AB  - The antioxidant effect of N, N-dimethylglycine (DMG) on in vitro-produced (IVP)
      bovine embryos was examined. After in vitro fertilization, presumptive zygotes
      were cultured with or without 0.1 MUM DMG under different oxygen tensions. The
      percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage was lowest under a 20%
      oxygen concentration without DMG, and it was significantly increased (P < 0.05)
      by applying a 5% oxygen concentration. Under the 20% oxygen concentration,
      supplementation of the medium with DMG significantly improved blastocyst
      development, which was nearly equal to that achieved under 5% oxygen without DMG.
      Furthermore, a tendentious increase (P = 0.06) in blastocyst cell numbers was
      observed when DMG was applied. In the second experiment, addition of H2O2 (0.5
      mM) to the culture medium significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the percentage of
      embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. However, DMG supplementation
      prevented this reduction. In conclusion, DMG enhanced the invitro development of
      IVP bovine embryos by acting as an antioxidant. 

PMID- 26875569
TI  - The case for targeting community pharmacy-led health improvement: Findings from a
      skin cancer campaign in Wales.
AB  - The use of community pharmacies to deliver health improvement campaigns is well
      established. Cancer incidence is closely related to increasing levels of
      deprivation. Because community pharmacies are more prevalent in deprived areas
      there is potential for them to make an important contribution to health
      improvement by delivering interventions aimed at reducing cancer incidence
      amongst those at greatest risk. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were: to
      examine the association between high risk behaviour and deprivation and
      contribute evidence to the case for or against targeting cancer prevention
      campaigns at specific risky behaviour in areas of high deprivation. METHODS: This
      study has an ecological design and involved retrospective analysis of data
      derived from 5739 sun-safety quizzes completed by pharmacy users at 714 community
      pharmacies in Wales during May 2014. RESULTS: Levels of participation in the
      campaign and high risk sun-safety behaviours were higher in more deprived areas.
      Respondents from deprived areas had significantly lower sun-safety knowledge.
      3802 (66.2%) respondents reported 'excellent' or 'good' knowledge of behaviours
      which promote sun-safety but this did not necessarily translate into how
      individuals behaved. 3787 (66.1%) respondents considered community pharmacies an
      acceptable location for the campaign and for discussing the signs and symptoms of
      skin cancer. KEY FINDINGS: Results show association between high risk behaviour
      and geographically defined deprivation adding to the case for targeting cancer
      prevention campaigns at specific behaviours and geographies. CONCLUSIONS:
      Community pharmacies appear to be acceptable locations from which to deliver
      health improvement campaigns in terms of participant recruitment, ease of
      delivery, and pharmacy user feedback.

PMID- 26875571
TI  - [An international standard of clinical practice with Chinese characteristics].

PMID- 26875570
TI  - Finding common task-related regions in fMRI data from multiple subjects by
      periodogram clustering and clustering ensemble.
AB  - We propose an innovative and practically relevant clustering method to find
      common task-related brain regions among different subjects who respond to the
      same set of stimuli. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time
      series data, we first cluster the voxels within each subject on a voxel by voxel
      basis. To extract signals out of noisy data, we estimate a new periodogram at
      each voxel using multi-tapering and low-rank spline smoothing and then use the
      periodogram as the main feature for clustering. We apply a divisive hierarchical
      clustering algorithm to the estimated periodograms within a single subject and
      identify the task-related region as the cluster of voxels that have periodograms
      with a peak frequency matching that of the stimulus sequence. Finally, we apply a
      machine learning technique called clustering ensemble to find common task-related
      regions across different subjects. The efficacy of the proposed approach is
      illustrated via a simulation study and a real fMRI data set. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26875572
TI  - [The guidelines for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma in China
      (2015 revision) : interpretation of diagnosis].

PMID- 26875573
TI  - [The guidelines for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma in China
      (2015 revision) : interpretation of initial treatment].

PMID- 26875574
TI  - [The guidelines for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma in China
      (2015 revision) : interpretation of the treatment of relapsing and refractory
      multiple myeloma].

PMID- 26875575
TI  - [The guidelines for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma in China
      (2015 revision) : interpretation of response criteria].

PMID- 26875576
TI  - [A comparison of efficacy and safety of linezolid versus vancomycin for the
      treatment of infections in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of linezolid and vancomycin in
      patients diagnosed as gram positive bacterial infections after receiving
      allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: A total
      of 131 patients who were confirmed or suspected as gram positive coccal
      infections after allo-HSCT were enrolled in our study from July 2010 to December
      2012. Patients were administrated with linezolid (600 mg every 12 h) or
      vancomycin (1 g every 12 h). Clinical efficacy and safety were compared between
      the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 136 cases were detected gram positive coccal
      infections, among whom 120 cases were evaluable. Finally, 37 cases receiving
      linezolid and 83 cases receiving vancomycin were enrolled in this study. Clinical
      cure rates of infections were 81.1% (30/37) and 88.0% (73/83) in linezolid and
      vancomycin groups, respectively(P=0.319). The incidence of adverse reactions was
      similar in the two groups[50.0% (23/40) vs 45.6% (41/90), P=0.623]. Drug-related
      renal function injury was mild [6.5% (3/46) vs 6.7% (6/90), P=1.000]. The
      occurrence of liver damage with moderate and severe elevation enzymes was also
      similar between the two groups [2.2% (1/46) vs 6.7% (6/90), P=0.244]. As for
      hematologic events, linezolid was not found to have a negative effect on
      hematopoietic reconstitution. CONCLUSIONS: Linezolid is as effective as
      vancomycin in the treatment of gram positive bacterial infections after allo
      HSCT. Safety of Linezolid is also comparable with that of vancomycin, which needs
      to be further studied due to the complex interaction of medication in this
      special population.

PMID- 26875578
TI  - [Cytomegalovirus infection after haploidentical stem cell transplantation may
      reduce relapse risk in leukemia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation
      and leukemia relapse after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
      (haplo-HSCT). METHODS: A total of 61 patients diagnosed as hematological
      malignancies undergoing haplo-HSCT were analyzed retrospectively in our center.
      RESULTS: In the cohort, 36 patients had CMV reactivation after haplo-HSCT. The
      100-day cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation was 59%. Compared with that in
      patients without CMV reactivation after transplantation, the incidence of
      leukemia relapse was lower in patients with CMV reactivation (16.9% vs 40.0%,
      P=0.034). The correlation of CMV reactivation and decreased relapse rate was only
      found in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (P=0.019). In multivariate
      analysis, relapsed disease status before transplant was a significant negative
      predictor of overall survival (OS) and relapse after transplant (RR was 2.866 and
      3.331 respectively). CMV reactivation after transplant had a protective effect on
      disease relapse (RR=0.300, P=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of CMV reactivation
      after haplo-HSCT is high. CMV reactivation may reduce risk of relapse in patients
      diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia undergoing haplo-HSCT. However, CMV
      reactivation is one of the important predictors of non-relapse death after
      transplant, active anti-viral treatment is still needed.

PMID- 26875577
TI  - [A clinical study of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents: a single center
      experience].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment,
      prognostic factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents. METHODS:
      Adolescents de novo ALL patients in Blood Disease Hospital, Peking Union Medical
      College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from September 1999 to September
      2013 were enrolled in this study. Clinical data, therapeutic effect and
      prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of all 94 patients, 91
      patients were treated in our center. The overall complete remission (CR) rate was
      96.7% (88/91), CR rate after one cycle was 91.2%(83/91). The median follow-up
      time was 18 months. In all patients, the 6-year anticipated overall survival (OS)
      rate and disease free survival (DFS) rate were (47.6 +/- 6.7)% and (45.4 +/-
      6.0)% respectively. In standard risk ALL patients , 6-year anticipated OS rate
      and DFS rate were (65.7 +/- 8.1)% and (65.3 +/- 7.4)%. Hyperleukocytosis (white
      blood cell count >=30 * 10(9)/L in B-ALL; >=100 * 10(9)/L in T-ALL), Ph(+) ,
      MLL(+) , hypodiploid were risk factors associated with poor clinical outcome.
      CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effect and clinical outcome in adolescents with ALL
      are relatively favorable, especially in standard risk group. In high risk ALL
      patients, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve
      therapeutic efficacy.

PMID- 26875579
TI  - [A study of immunocyte subsets and serum cytokine profiles before and after
      immunal suppression treatment in patients with immune thrombocytopenia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of a series of cytokines and
      peripheral blood immunocyte subsets before and after immunosuppressive therapy in
      patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). METHODS: The percentages of
      immunocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of 20 patients with ITP and 20 healthy
      controls were detected by flow cytometry, including CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+),
      CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD19(+). ELISA was applied to detect the level of serum TNFalpha,
      IL-2, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, IL-11, IL-17, IL-27, transforming growth factor beta
      (TGFbeta), thrombopoietin (TPO) of 20 patients with ITP and 20 healthy controls.
      RESULTS: The percentage of CD3(+) T lymphocyte, CD4(+) T lymphocyte and the ratio
      of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte in patients with ITP were lower than those in
      healthy controls[(62.66 +/- 6.58)% vs (69.93 +/- 4.81)%, (29.46 +/- 5.02)% vs
      (39.08 +/- 3.50)%, 0.97 +/- 0.35 vs 1.56 +/- 0.26, all P<0.05]. After
      immunosuppressive therapy, the percentage of CD3(+) T lymphocyte, CD4(+) T
      lymphocyte and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte [(71.49 +/- 5.16)%, (39.25
      +/- 3.21)% and 1.56 +/- 0.28] recovered to the same levels in healthy controls.
      The percentage of CD8(+) T lymphocyte and CD19(+) B lymphocyte in patients with
      ITP were higher than those in the healthy controls [(30.28 +/- 4.63)% vs (25.90
      +/- 3.06)%, (18.92 +/- 4.27)% vs (13.17 +/- 3.64)%, all P<0.05]. After treatment
      of immunosuppressive therapy, the percentage of CD8(+) T lymphocyte and CD19(+) B
      lymphocyte [(25.16 +/- 3.45)% and (11.98 +/- 3.68)%] recovered to the similar
      levels in healthy controls. The serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-11, IL-17 and TPO
      in patients with ITP were significantly higher than those in healthy controls.
      While TGFbeta level was significantly decreased. There was no significant
      difference of IL-27 between ITP patients and healthy controls. After the
      treatment of immunosuppressive therapy, IL-4, IL-6, IL-11, IL-17, TPO and TGFbeta
      were down-regulated while IL-27 was up-regulated. There was no significant
      difference of IFNgamma, TNFalpha, IL-2 and IL-10 among ITP patients before or
      after immunosuppressive therapy and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present
      study suggests that the aberrant immunocyte subsets and cytokines are involved in
      the pathogenesis of ITP. Hyper-function of Th2 and Th17, dysfunction of Treg
      cells, up-regulation of IL-27, IL-11, TPO and other factors may contribute to the
      pathogenesis of ITP.

PMID- 26875580
TI  - [Clinical characteristics of 35 non-pregnant patients with Listeria monocytogenes
      sepsis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To better understand the clinical characteristics and predisposing
      factors in non-pregnant patients with Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) sepsis.
      METHODS: Clinical data were collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital
      between January 2002 and December 2014. A case with non-pregnant Listeria sepsis
      is defined as a non-pregnant person with clinically compatible illness and from
      whom Listeria was isolated from his/her blood culture. We define an underlying
      condition if a patient has been diagnosed of and/or has been treated for a
      concurrent baseline disease within 1 month prior to the onset of Listeria sepsis.
      RESULTS: A total of 35 patients were enrolled. The age of all patients was (49.1
      +/- 17.0) years. The male to female ratio was 2: 3. Most patients were combined
      with at least 1 underlying condition (33, 94.3%), including 42.9% patients with
      an autoimmune disease, 34.3% with malignancies. The majority (91.4%) represented
      an acute onset (<1 week) with median time of 3 days. Clinical manifestations
      included fever (34/35, 97.1%), central nervous system (CNS) symptoms (17/35,
      48.6%), gastrointestinal tract symptoms (13/35, 37.1%). Fourteen patients had
      undergone lumber puncture and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) tests, which revealed
      abnormalities comparable of Listeria meningitis. Listeria was isolated from CSF
      in 11 of 14 patients (78.6%). There were 34 patients receiving empiric
      antibiotics including 54.3% cephalosporins which are resistant to Listeria.
      Twenty five (71.4%) patients were switched to the target antimicrobials according
      to positive blood culture. Of the 35 patients with Listeria sepsis, 21 (60.0%)
      recovered or were cured, however the rest (40.0%) had dismal outcome. Six
      patients died in hospital, 8 critical patients were discharged and died after
      transferring to local hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Listeria sepsis is commonly
      associated with non-pregnant patients with compromised immune function. Clinical
      presentations include acute fever, CNS symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms
      etc. Empiric antibiotics covering Listeria should be considered when sepsis is
      suspected among susceptible hosts.

PMID- 26875581
TI  - [Analysis of clinical manifestations and risk factors of mortality in
      Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infection].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations, antimicrobial therapy, and
      risk factors of mortality in patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream
      infection. METHODS: Clinical data of 153 patients with Acinetobacter baumannii
      bloodstream infection hospitalized in First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang
      University from January 2013 to September 2014 were analyzed
      retrospectively.According to the 28-day survival after diagnosis, the patients
      were divided into death group (n=76) and survival group (n=77). Data related to
      demographic and clinical characteristics, underlying diseases, treatment,
      invasive procedures, bacterial resistance to antibiotics, acute physiology and
      chronic health evaluation II(APACHEII )scores at onset, and antimicrobial therapy
      were collected.The index as an independent risk factor of mortality was
      demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: This study
      included 153 patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infection. The 28
      day mortality was 49.7%. The independent risk factors of mortality were APACHE II
      score >= 22 at onset (OR=15.7, 95%CI 5.1-48.1, P<0.001), septic shock(OR=6.3,
      95%CI 1.9-21.3, P=0.003), and administration of steroids(OR=3.6, 95%CI 1.0-12.3,
      P=0.043). Compared with subjects treated with non-cefoperazone-sulbactam-based
      regimen , those treated with cefoperazone-sulbactam for multidrug-resistant
      Acinetobacter baumannii(MDR-AB) had significantly lower mortality on day7, day14
      and day28(8.9% vs 59.2%, 31.1% vs 65.8%, 44.4% vs 72.4% respectively).
      CONCLUSIONS: The patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infection have
      high mortality within one month. Administration of steroids and septic shock are
      associated with poor prognosis. APACHEII score >= 22 at onset predicts adverse
      outcome. Cefoperazone-sulbactam-based antimicrobial therapy improves patients'
      survival.

PMID- 26875582
TI  - [The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with peripartum
      cardiomyopathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors in patients
      with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). METHODS: A total of 35 patients admitted
      in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and diagnosed with PPCM between January
      1995 and December 2014 was included and analyzed in this study. The subjects were
      divided into two groups: the early recovery and delayed recovery. Early recovery
      was defined as normalization of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) >=50%
      before 6 months post-diagnosis. Delayed recovery was defined if the length of
      time required for recovery of LVEF was longer than 6 months or death was reported
      during follow-up. Risk factors for delayed recovery were assessed. RESULTS: The
      incidence of PPCM was 1 per 1 067 deliveries between the study periods. The age
      of the 35 patients was (28.9 +/- 5.6) years old. Among them, 20 (57.1%) patients
      were not in the first pregnancy, 13 (37.1%) had delivered before, and 5 (14.3%)
      patients had twin pregnancies. The LVEF at diagnosis was (34.1 +/- 8.0) %. 62.9%
      (22 cases) of the subjects were in the early recovery, while 37.1% (13 cases) of
      the subjects were in the delayed recovery group, 2 of whom suffered death.
      Multivariate logistic regression indicated that LVEF(OR=1.339, 95%CI 1.063-1.688,
      P=0.013)and left ventricle end-dilated diameter(OR 0.763, 95%CI 0.607-0.960,
      P=0.021)were independent risk factors for delayed recovery. CONCLUSIONS: PPCM is
      a rare but life-threatening complication of pregnancy. LVEF and left ventricle
      end-dilated diameter at diagnosis were two independent factors associated with
      the prognosis of PPCM.

PMID- 26875583
TI  - [A comparison study of diagnostic value between the old and revised guidelines in
      patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the strengths and limitations of the old and revised
      guidelines for the diagnosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF).
      METHODS: Patients who were admitted and diagnosed as interstitial lung diseases
      (ILDs) in our hospital from 2009 to 2014 were enrolled in our study.Eachpatient
      was reevaluated respectively according to the old and revised guidelines of IPF.
      RESULTS: A total of 553 cases were initially reviewed, among whom 355 cases were
      excluded for pulmonary fibrosis secondary to definite underlying diseases, 28
      excluded due to high resolution computed tomography(HRCT) not done, 26 excluded
      because serum immunology examination was not available.The remaining 144 cases
      were finally enrolled in this study including 92 males and 52 females with median
      age 21-92 (68 +/- 11) years old. Twenty five patients (17.4%, 25/144) met the
      diagnostic criteria of IPF by the old guideline.While by the revised guideline,
      53 patients (36.8%, 53/144) were diagnosed as classical IPF, 29 patients(20.1%,
      29/144) as probable cases, another 69 non-IPF patients accounting for 43.1%
      (62/144). The result revealed that there's a significant difference between the
      two guidelines in the diagnosis of IPF. CONCLUSIONS: The revised guideline favors
      an early diagnosis of IPF and simplifies the diagnostic process.However the
      possibility of over diagnosis or missed diagnosis by the revised guideline does
      exist.On the other hand, despite of the delayed diagnosis by the old guideline,
      it may reduce the misdiagnosis of IPF in some circumstance.

PMID- 26875584
TI  - How Can the Complications of Central Vein Catheters Be Reduced?: Intraluminal
      Prophylaxis and Management of Catheter Infections: Role of Antibiotic Locks.

PMID- 26875585
TI  - The overlap of upper functional gastrointestinal disorders with irritable bowel
      syndrome in Chinese outpatients: A multicenter study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel
      disease, and the overlap with upper functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs)
      is popular. However, the coexistent upper GI symptom profiles, upper FGID
      spectra, and related risk factors among IBS subjects remain unclear in mainland
      of China. METHODS: Consecutive patients from the outpatient gastroenterology
      clinics of three tertiary hospitals in China were enrolled in this multicenter
      study. All upper GI symptoms occurring at least once a week in the last 3 months
      were recorded. Diagnostic criteria of functional esophageal, gastroduodenal
      disorders and IBS were based on Rome III criteria. Risk factors were assessed
      using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 8906 consecutive
      patients, 751 patients met Rome III criteria for IBS and 735 IBS patients
      participated in the interview. Postprandial fullness (30.6%), belching (27.1%),
      and regurgitation (21.8%) were the three most prevalent upper GI symptoms in IBS.
      Functional dyspepsia (FD, 36.7%), belching disorders (27.1%), and functional
      heartburn (16.3%) were the three most frequent upper FGID in IBS patients. Female
      sex, divorced or widowed versus married status, defecation straining, reduced
      bowel movement, mixed IBS, abdominal distention, mild abdominal pain, moderate
      discomfort were positively associated with IBS-FD overlap. Female sex, drinking,
      moderate discomfort, and mild to moderate distension were independent risk
      factors for IBS-belching disorder overlap. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides
      detailed overlap spectra of upper FGID with IBS. Mixed IBS is an important risk
      factor for IBS-FD overlap, which deserved more concern.

PMID- 26875586
TI  - Self-weighing and simple dietary advice for overweight and obese pregnant women
      to reduce obstetric complications without impact on quality of life: a randomised
      controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of serial weighing and dietary advice compared
      with standard antenatal care on obstetric outcomes. DESIGN: Randomised controlled
      clinical trial. SETTING: Australian tertiary obstetric hospital. POPULATION:
      Three hundred and eighty-two overweight or obese non-diabetic pregnant women at
      less than 20 weeks gestation with a singleton pregnancy. METHODS: Women were
      randomised to targeted, serial self-weighing and simple dietary advice,
      (intervention), or standard antenatal care (control). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The
      primary outcome was a reduction in a composite of obstetric complications:
      gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, diabetes, assisted or caesarean birth,
      shoulder dystocia, severe perineal trauma, postpartum haemorrhage and maternal
      high dependency care. Secondary outcomes were gestational weight gain at 36
      weeks' gestation, quality of life (QOL) and maternal serum levels of 28-week
      leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: There was no
      difference in the rate of the primary composite outcome of obstetric
      complications: 124/184 (67% control), 124/187 (66% intervention) [relative risk
      0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-1.14)]. There was no difference in mean
      gestational weight gain [-0.9 kg (95% CI -2.0, 0.25)], QOL or leptin, adiponectin
      or CRP levels between intervention and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This low
      cost, pragmatic intervention failed to prevent obstetric complications or modify
      maternal biochemistry or gestational weight gain in overweight or obese pregnant
      women. Participation in the study did not impair participants' QOL. TWEETABLE
      ABSTRACT: Serial self-weighing and dietary advice failed to reduce obstetric
      complications in overweight pregnant women.

PMID- 26875587
TI  - Angiosarcoma of the thoracic wall responded well to nanoparticle albumin-bound
      paclitaxel: A case report.
AB  - An 81-year-old woman visited a local clinic due to chest pain and a skin
      induration on the right precordia. She had a history of right breast cancer, and
      she had undergone a mastectomy and radiation therapy 10 years prior. Computed
      tomography (CT) imaging of the chest demonstrated a lobular mass that involved
      the right anterior thoracic wall and partially extruded from the thoracic cavity
      into the subcutaneous tissue. The tumor was surgically excised, and pathological
      analyses yielded a diagnosis of angiosarcoma. Five months after the operation, CT
      imaging showed multiple masses on the right pleura, indicating a local relapse
      and pleural dissemination of the angiosarcoma. Systemic chemotherapy composed of
      nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) (80 mg/m(2)) was delivered
      weekly. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, the tumors regressed remarkably. Nab-PTX
      may be an effective treatment option for recurrent or metastatic angiosarcoma. 

PMID- 26875589
TI  - Glycemic control and complications in patients with type 1 diabetes - a registry
      based longitudinal study of adolescents and young adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The main aims of this study were to assess longitudinal glycemic
      control and the prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy in young people (aged
      14-30 yr) with type 1 diabetes in Norway. METHOD: Data on 874 patients were
      obtained by linking two nationwide, population-based medical quality registries:
      The Norwegian Diabetes Register for Adults and The Norwegian Childhood Diabetes
      Registry. RESULTS: Median age was 23 yr, median diabetes duration 9 yr and 51%
      were male. Median HbA1c increased through adolescence to peak at ages of 17 yr
      for females and 19 yr for males, females had higher HbA1c than males: 9.3% (78
      mmol/mol) vs. 9.1% (76 mmol/mol). Subsequently, median HbA1c declined but was
      still >8% (>64 mmol/mol) for patients approaching 30 yr. Half of the patients
      aged 14-17 yr and 40% of patients aged 18-25 yr had HbA1c >9% (75 mmol/mol).
      Retinopathy was found in 16% and nephropathy in 13% of the population. Patients
      transferring from the pediatric department to adult care between the ages of 14
      and 17 yr had higher median HbA1c and prevalence of late complications than those
      transferring at ages 18-22 yr. Less than 40% of patients with albuminuria were
      treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocker. CONCLUSION: Our
      results demonstrate that treatment of adolescents and young adults with type 1
      diabetes in Norway is not optimal, especially for patients in their late teens.
      We suggest that pediatricians and endocrinologists should critically assess the
      care offered to this group and consider new approaches to help them improve
      glycemic control.

PMID- 26875588
TI  - Assessment of the influence of intrinsic environmental and geographical factors
      on the bacterial ecology of pit latrines.
AB  - Improving the rate and extent of faecal decomposition in basic forms of
      sanitation such as pit latrines would benefit around 1.7 billion users worldwide,
      but to do so requires a major advance in our understanding of the biology of
      these systems. As a critical first step, bacterial diversity and composition was
      studied in 30 latrines in Tanzania and Vietnam using pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA
      genes, and correlated with a number of intrinsic environmental factors such as
      pH, temperature, organic matter content/composition and geographical factors.
      Clear differences were observed at the operational taxonomic unit, family and
      phylum level in terms of richness and community composition between latrines in
      Tanzania and Vietnam. The results also clearly show that environmental variables,
      particularly substrate type and availability, can exert a strong structuring
      influence on bacterial communities in latrines from both countries. The origins
      and significance of these environmental differences are discussed. This work
      describes the bacterial ecology of pit latrines in combination with inherent
      latrine characteristics at an unprecedented level of detail. As such, it provides
      useful baseline information for future studies that aim to understand the factors
      that affect decomposition rates in pit latrines. 

PMID- 26875590
TI  - Mortality risk in post-transplantation diabetes mellitus based on glucose and
      HbA1c diagnostic criteria.
AB  - Current diagnostic criteria for post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) are
      either fasting plasma glucose >=7.0 mmol/l (>=126 mg/dl) or postchallenge plasma
      glucose >=11.1 mmol/l (>=200 mg/dl) 2 h after glucose administration [oral
      glucose tolerance test (OGTT) criterion]. In this retrospective cohort study of
      1632 renal transplant recipients (RTRs) without known diabetes mellitus at the
      time of transplantation, we estimated mortality hazard ratios for patients
      diagnosed with PTDM by either conventional glucose criteria or the proposed
      glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) criterion [HbA1c >=6.5% (>=48 mmol/mol)]. During a
      median follow-up of 7.0 years, 311 patients died. Compared with nondiabetic
      patients and after adjustment for confounders, patients diagnosed with PTDM based
      on chronic hyperglycaemia early after transplantation (manifest PTDM) or by the
      OGTT criterion at 10 weeks post-transplant suffered a higher mortality risk (HR
      1.59, 95% CI 1.06-2.38, P = 0.02 and HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.04-2.38, P = 0.03,
      respectively). In contrast, patients diagnosed with PTDM by the HbA1c criterion
      at 10 weeks or between 10 weeks and 1 year post-transplant were not associated
      with mortality (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.61-1.51, P = 0.86 and 1.58, 95% CI 0.74-3.36, P
      = 0.24 respectively). After adjustment for confounders and competing risks, only
      patients with manifest PTDM had a significantly higher cardiovascular mortality
      risk (subdistributional HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.19-4.47, P < 0.001). Since many cases
      with PTDM were only identified by the OGTT, we recommend monitoring fasting
      plasma glucose early after renal transplantation followed by an OGTT at 2-3
      months post-transplant in patients without overt diabetes mellitus. 

PMID- 26875591
TI  - Evaluation of propensity scores, disease risk scores, and regression in
      confounder adjustment for the safety of emerging treatment with group sequential
      monitoring.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate regression, matching, and
      stratification on propensity score (PS) or disease risk score (DRS) in a setting
      of sequential analyses where statistical hypotheses are tested multiple times.
      METHODS: In a setting of sequential analyses, we simulated incident users and
      binary outcomes with different confounding strength, outcome incidence, and the
      adoption rate of treatment. We compared Type I error rate, empirical power, and
      time to signal using the following confounder adjustments: (i) regression; (ii)
      treatment matching (1:1 or 1:4) on PS or DRS; and (iii) stratification on PS or
      DRS. We estimated PS and DRS using lookwise and cumulative methods (all data up
      to the current look). We applied these confounder adjustments in examining the
      association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and bleeding. RESULTS:
      Propensity score and DRS methods had similar empirical power and time to signal.
      However, DRS methods yielded Type I error rates up to 17% for 1:4 matching and
      15.3% for stratification methods when treatment and outcome were common and
      confounding strength with treatment was stronger. When treatment and outcome were
      not common, stratification on PS and DRS and regression yielded 8-10% Type I
      error rates and inflated empirical power. However, when outcome and treatment
      were common, both regression and stratification on PS outperformed other matching
      methods with Type I error rates close to 5%. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest regression
      and stratification on PS when the outcomes and/or treatment is common and use of
      matching on PS with higher ratios when outcome or treatment is rare or moderately
      rare.

PMID- 26875592
TI  - An Analysis of UCNS Certified Headache Center Patient Intake Forms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Compare the similarities and differences among headache intake forms
      from headache centers with United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS)
      accredited headache medicine fellowships in the United States. Patient intake
      forms establish a first communication with patients. There have been no studies
      evaluating them at headache centers. Analysis of these forms can provide insight
      into their content and potential for improvement. METHODS: This observational
      study involved collection and analysis of intake forms from 25 UCNS fellowship
      accredited headache centers from July 2014 to October 2014. Forms were compared
      and contrasted in terms of data fields included, response format, and use of
      validated assessment tools. RESULTS: Forms shared many common elements, yet were
      highly variable in content, style, scales, and methods of analysis. Twenty
      percent (5/20) of centers did not have a formal intake form. Forms ranged from 1
      to 28 pages. Seventy percent (12/17) utilized a check box format, 23% (4/17)
      utilized an open ended/fill in the blank format, and 6% (1/17) utilized a circle
      the response(s) format. Family history was inquired about in 82% (14/17) of forms
      and past medical history (PMH) in 58% (10/17) of forms. Gender questions were
      asked 82% (14/17) of the time for women, 29% (5/17) for men. Eighty-eight percent
      (15/17) of forms had questions concerning any type of previous medication tried.
      DISCUSSION: Patient intake forms are useful for clinical purposes, but vary
      markedly between UCNS headache centers. Ultimately, a universal intake form could
      be generated, providing a research-based alternative to the form currently used
      at each center. Use of a standardized intake form by UCNS centers would
      streamline data collection, a good first step in the eventual generation of a
      headache registry.

PMID- 26875593
TI  - Vein graft thrombi, a niche for smooth muscle cell colonization - a hypothesis to
      explain the asymmetry of intimal hyperplasia.
AB  - Essentials Vein graft failure is the most frequent late onset complication of
      coronary artery bypass grafting. Cuff technique-based interposition mouse model
      including new anticoagulation regime was conducted. Early vein graft thrombi may
      serve as a niche for smooth muscle cell colonization. The focal character of
      early thrombi may form the basis for the asymmetry of intimal hyperplasia.
      SUMMARY: Background Autologous saphenous veins are widely used in coronary artery
      bypass grafting; however, 10 years after surgery, 40% of grafts are completely
      occluded, and another 30% show reduced blood flow. Objective In the past, the
      central processes and signaling pathways responsible for this loss of patency
      have been identified. However, one central finding in the process of graft
      failure is so far not understood: the asymmetric character of intimal
      hyperplasia. It was the goal of the present study to address this aspect. Methods
      By the use of a cuff technique-based vein interposition mouse model with a new
      anticoagulation regime, alterations in vein grafts were analyzed 1 h, 1 day, 2
      days, 3 days, 7 days and 21 days after reperfusion by means of immunolabeling,
      histochemistry, and high-resolution ultrasound. Results The novel and major
      finding of this study is that the vein graft thrombus may serve as a niche that
      is infiltrated and colonized by smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Fibroblast growth
      factor-1 and platelet-derived growth factor-B may be the SMC-attracting factors
      in the thrombus. The focal character of early thrombi may define the focal and
      asymmetric character of vein graft intimal hyperplasia. Conclusions Inhibiting
      the formation and reducing the size of early thrombi is an old concept for
      reducing vein graft failure. However, in light of the present new findings
      obtained under a clinic-like anticoagulation regime, early vein graft thrombus
      prevention/size reduction should be revisited in the prevention of graft failure.

PMID- 26875594
TI  - Reply: Choroidal thickness shows diurnal variation.

PMID- 26875595
TI  - Spermiophages on testicular fine needle aspiration cytology: A rare finding.
AB  - Macrophages usually reside in the testicular interstitial tissues and are
      normally not found within the seminiferous tubules. However, in certain cases of
      male infertility, the macrophages are activated and can then be found within the
      tubules where they can ingest spermatozoa and are labeled as "spermiophages."
      FNAC was performed in a 36 year male with history of primary infertility. On
      microscopy, smears made from right testis were indicative of hypospermatogenesis.
      On the contrary, smears made from the left testis were very cellular showing
      Sertoli cells and the entire spectrum of normal spermatogenesis. Also seen were
      many isolated spermiophages. The cytological impression given for the left testis
      was normal spermatogenesis with numerous spermiophages. Thus the patient fell in
      the category of obstructive azoospermia (OA). According to currently adopted
      hypothesis, macrophages carry ingested sperm heads with some antigenic components
      to the basal capillaries which may result in the formation of autoantibodies
      against the spermatozoa. This situation may further diminish the chances of
      fertility in men. The origin of these spermiophage cells is unknown. Although
      commonly reported in semen and epididymal biopsies, they have not been reported
      to occur on testicular fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). In our case, no
      sperms were found on semen examination which were easily picked up on testicular
      FNAC indicating usefulness of the latter in the diagnosis of cases of male
      infertility and eliminating the need for a testicular biopsy.

PMID- 26875596
TI  - Two cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of female breast: Role of fine-needle
      aspiration cytology and cell-block immunohistochemistry.
AB  - Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is an uncommon neoplastic condition. Though HIV
      infection is a known risk factor for the development of extranodal lymphomas,
      mammary involvement is still a rarity. Radiologically, PBL appears as well
      circumscribed, heteroechoic, noncalcifying mass. Fine-needle aspiration cytology
      (FNAC) is commonly used to diagnose this neoplasm; however, subcategorization
      requires immunophenotypic characterization of the neoplastic cells. Herein, we
      report two cases of PBL, including a HIV-infected lady; in both the cases FNAC
      expressed features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Finally, immunohistochemistry on
      cell-block with CD20 diagnosed both the cases as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
      (DLBCL).

PMID- 26875597
TI  - Cytology of low-grade cribriform cystadenocarcinoma in salivary glands:
      Cytological and immunohistochemical distinctions from other salivary gland
      neoplasms.
AB  - Low-grade cribriform cystadenocarcinoma of the parotid gland is rare malignancy
      that is classified as a variant of cystadenocarcinoma. In routine cytologic
      slides from fine-needle aspiration of a parotid gland, we found several
      pseudopapillary clusters comprising mucus-producing cells. They included a few
      tumor cells having three-dimensional nuclear atypia and slight hyperchromatism,
      although most of the tumor cells showed bland nuclei. Our initial cytological
      diagnosis was: "Indeterminate. Uncertain whether cystadenocarcinoma or
      cystadenoma." The subsequent histological diagnosis was low-grade cribriform
      cystadenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse and strong
      reactivity for S-100; tumor nests that were rimmed by p63(+) cells, which
      suggests intraductal proliferation. Here, we report cytomorphological findings of
      this case, and discuss cytological and immunohistochemical distinctions between
      low-grade cribriform cystadenocarcinoma and other salivary gland tumors,
      including a review of the literature.

PMID- 26875598
TI  - Associations of Total and Domain-Specific Sedentary Time With Type 2 Diabetes in
      Taiwanese Older Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in older adults has
      become a public health concern. We investigated the associations of total and
      domain-specific sedentary time with risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults.
      METHODS: The sample comprised 1046 older people (aged >=65 years). Analyses were
      performed using cross-sectional data collected via computer-assisted telephone
      based interviews in 2014. Data on six self-reported domains of sedentary time
      (Measure of Older Adults' Sedentary Time), type 2 diabetes status, and
      sociodemographic variables were included in the study. Binary logistic regression
      analysis was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) for total and individual sedentary behavior components
      and likelihood of type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: A total of 17.5% of the participants
      reported type 2 diabetes. No significant associations were found between total
      sitting time and risk of type 2 diabetes, after controlling for confounding
      factors. After total sedentary behavior was stratified into six domains, only
      watching television for more than 2 hours per day was associated with higher odds
      of type 2 diabetes (OR 1.56; 95% CI, 1.10-2.21), but no significant associations
      were found between other domains of sedentary behavior (computer use, reading,
      socializing, transport, and hobbies) and risk of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS:
      These findings suggest that, among domain-specific sedentary behavior, excessive
      television viewing might increase the risk of type 2 diabetes among older adults
      more than other forms of sedentary behavior.

PMID- 26875599
TI  - Five-Year Progression of Refractive Errors and Incidence of Myopia in School-Aged
      Children in Western China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine the change in refractive error and the incidence of
      myopia among school-aged children in the Yongchuan District of Chongqing City,
      Western China. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was initially
      conducted in 2006 among 3070 children aged 6 to 15 years. A longitudinal follow
      up study was then conducted 5 years later between November 2011 and March 2012.
      Refractive error was measured under cycloplegia with autorefraction. Age, sex,
      and baseline refractive error were evaluated as risk factors for progression of
      refractive error and incidence of myopia. RESULTS: Longitudinal data were
      available for 1858 children (60.5%). The cumulative mean change in refractive
      error was -2.21 (standard deviation [SD], 1.87) diopters (D) for the entire study
      population, with an annual progression of refraction in a myopic direction of 
      0.43 D. Myopic progression of refractive error was associated with younger age,
      female sex, and higher myopic or hyperopic refractive error at baseline. The
      cumulative incidence of myopia, defined as a spherical equivalent refractive
      error of -0.50 D or more, among initial emmetropes and hyperopes was 54.9% (95%
      confidence interval [CI], 45.2%-63.5%), with an annual incidence of 10.6% (95%
      CI, 8.7%-13.1%). Myopia was found more likely to happen in female and older
      children. CONCLUSIONS: In Western China, both myopic progression and incidence of
      myopia were higher than those of children from most other locations in China and
      from the European Caucasian population. Compared with a previous study in China,
      there was a relative increase in annual myopia progression and annual myopia
      incidence, a finding which is consistent with the increasing trend on prevalence
      of myopia in China.

PMID- 26875600
TI  - Dynamic changes in CD45RA(-)Foxp3(high) regulatory T-cells in chronic hepatitis C
      patients during antiviral therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T-cells (Treg) are known to accumulate
      under certain pathological conditions. This study was conducted to evaluate the
      characteristics of and dynamic changes in Treg cells in chronic hepatitis C (CHC)
      patients during antiviral therapy. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five subjects
      were enrolled in this study, including 105 CHC patients and 40 healthy donors.
      The phenotypes and functions of Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.
      RESULTS: A significant elevation in Treg cells was observed in the peripheral
      blood of CHC patients compared with healthy donors. Interestingly, compared with
      non-suppressive Treg (non-Treg) and resting Treg (rTreg) cells, activated Treg
      (aTreg) cells expressed higher levels of ectonucleotidase, CD39, and CD73. After
      treatment with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin (RBV) in vitro, the
      frequencies of total Treg cells and aTreg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells (PBMC), as well as the levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)
      secreted by aTreg and non-Treg cells, were significantly decreased. Importantly,
      it was found that levels of aTreg cells in patients with a sustained virological
      response (SVR) were lower than in relapsed patients, suggesting that a high
      frequency of aTreg cells might be associated with a poor clinical outcome in HCV
      infection. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate a decreasing trend in aTreg
      cells, which express higher levels of CD39, CD73, and TGF-beta, in SVR patients
      during antiviral therapy.

PMID- 26875601
TI  - The epidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the Kingdom
      of Saudi Arabia, 2012-2015.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to review the epidemiology of cases of
      Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reported in the Kingdom
      of Saudi Arabia from 2012 when the first MERS-CoV was confirmed up to July 2015.
      METHODS: MERS-CoV data were obtained from the Saudi Ministry of Health for the
      period 2012 to July 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the
      results regarding the risk factors and mortality of MERS-CoV infection. RESULTS:
      In this series, the risk factors and outcomes of 939 cases of MERS-CoV occurring
      in the last 3 years are described. The majority of the affected patients were
      aged >=40 years (n=657; 70%). Of the 657 patients aged >=40 years, 377 (57.3%)
      died. CONCLUSIONS: The case-fatality ratio was found to increase significantly
      with age. It ranged from 12.5% in those aged <=19 years to 86.2% in those aged
      >=80 years. The results confirmed the association between severe MERS-CoV illness
      and patients with a pre-existing health morbidity. The duration from symptom
      onset to admission was not statistically associated with the disease outcome.

PMID- 26875602
TI  - An INCA model for pathogens in rivers and catchments: Model structure,
      sensitivity analysis and application to the River Thames catchment, UK.
AB  - Pathogens are an ongoing issue for catchment water management and quantifying
      their transport, loss and potential impacts at key locations, such as water
      abstractions for public supply and bathing sites, is an important aspect of
      catchment and coastal management. The Integrated Catchment Model (INCA) has been
      adapted to model the sources and sinks of pathogens and to capture the dominant
      dynamics and processes controlling pathogens in catchments. The model simulates
      the stores of pathogens in soils, sediments, rivers and groundwaters and can
      account for diffuse inputs of pathogens from agriculture, urban areas or
      atmospheric deposition. The model also allows for point source discharges from
      intensive livestock units or from sewage treatment works or any industrial input
      to river systems. Model equations are presented and the new pathogens model has
      been applied to the River Thames in order to assess total coliform (TC) responses
      under current and projected future land use. A Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis
      indicates that the input coliform estimates from agricultural sources and decay
      rates are the crucial parameters controlling pathogen behaviour. Whilst there are
      a number of uncertainties associated with the model that should be accounted for,
      INCA-Pathogens potentially provides a useful tool to inform policy decisions and
      manage pathogen loading in river systems.

PMID- 26875603
TI  - Managing coastal environments under climate change: Pathways to adaptation.
AB  - This paper deals with the question of how to manage vulnerable coastal systems so
      as to make them sustainable under present and future climates. This is
      interpreted in terms of the coastal functionality, mainly natural services and
      support for socio-economic activities. From here we discuss how to adapt for long
      term trends and for short terms episodic events using the DPSIR framework. The
      analysis is presented for coastal archetypes from Spain, Ireland and Romania,
      sweeping a range of meteo-oceanographic and socio-economic pressures, resulting
      in a wide range of fluxes among them those related to sediment. The analysis
      emphasizes the variables that provide a higher level of robustness. That means
      mean sea level for physical factors and population density for human factors. For
      each of the studied cases high and low sustainability practices, based on
      stakeholders preferences, are considered and discussed. This allows proposing
      alternatives and carrying out an integrated assessment in the last section of the
      paper. This assessment permits building a sequence of interventions called
      adaptation pathway that enhances the natural resilience of the studied coastal
      systems and therefore increases their sustainability under present and future
      conditions.

PMID- 26875604
TI  - Assessing the capacity of zero valent iron nanofluids to remediate NAPL-polluted
      porous media.
AB  - A variety of aqueous suspensions (nanofluids) of zero-valent nano-particles
      (nZVI) are prepared by wet chemistry techniques, their stability and longevity is
      evaluated by physic-chemical methods of characterization, and their reactivity
      toward the dechlorination of per-chloro-ethylene (PCE) is examined with tests in
      batch reactors. For assessing the mobility, longevity and reactivity of nZVI
      suspensions (nanofluids), under flow-through conditions, visualization multiphase
      flow and transport tests are performed on a glass-etched pore network. The nZVI
      breakthrough curves are constructed by measuring the transient variation of the
      iron concentration in the effluent with atomic absorption spectroscopy. The
      capacity of nZVI to remediate the bulk phase of PCE is quantified by detecting
      the mass loss rate of PCE ganglia trapped in glass-etched pore networks during
      the continuous injection of nZVI suspension or pure water. The nZVI injection in
      porous media is simulated as an advection- dispersion process by accounting for
      the attachment/detachment of nanoparticles on the pore-walls, and describing the
      kinetics of PCE dissolution and reaction by 1st order equations. Visualization
      experiments reveal that the gradual elimination of PCE ganglia by the injected
      nZVI is associated with the preferential "erosion" of the upstream interfacial
      regions. The step controlling the overall process kinetics might be either (i)
      the enhanced PCE dissolution or (ii) the direct reaction of bulk PCE with the
      nZVI deposited upon the ganglia interfaces. Inverse modeling of the experiments
      under the simplifying assumption of one active mechanism indicates that the
      estimated kinetic coefficients are increasing functions of the flow rate. 

PMID- 26875605
TI  - Major and trace elements in soils and ashes of eucalypt and pine forest
      plantations in Portugal following a wildfire.
AB  - Wildfires can play an important role in the environmental distribution of major
      and trace elements, including through their mobilization by fire-induced runoff
      and associated transport of soil and ash particles. In particular, fire-induced
      inputs of these elements into the environment are relevant due to their toxicity
      and environmental persistence. This study aimed to evaluate the role of wildfire
      and time-since-fire on the redistribution of major and trace elements, which is a
      topic poorly documented. To this end, levels of V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb were
      assessed in soil and ash samples collected immediately following a wildfire in
      north-central Portugal as well as 4 (after the first post-fire rainfall events),
      8 and 15months later. The role of forest type was determined by sampling burnt
      eucalypt and pine plantations. The main findings of this study were the
      following: (1) levels of V, Mn, Ni, Cd and Pb were consistently higher in the
      burnt than unburnt soils, while levels of Co and Cu revealed no differences; (2)
      time-since-fire affected major and trace elements in three different ways:
      concentrations of Mn and Cd declined abruptly after the first rainfall events
      while levels of V, Co and Ni increased during the first 8months and levels of Cu
      and Pb hardly changed during the study period; (3) all studied elements revealed
      peak concentrations in the ashes immediately after the fire, which then declined
      sharply four months later; (4) levels of Co and Ni soils and ashes were higher at
      the pine plantations than at the eucalypt plantations. This study highlighted the
      role of wildfire in enhancing levels of major and trace elements in ashes and
      topsoil of forest plantations and their mobilization within the first year after
      fire, pointing towards recently burnt forest areas as a potential source of
      environmental contamination.

PMID- 26875606
TI  - Human annoyance, acceptability and concern as responses to vibration from the
      construction of Light Rapid Transit lines in residential environments.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of different self-reported
      measures for assessing the human response to environmental vibration from the
      construction of an urban LRT (Light Rapid Transit) system. The human response to
      environmental stressors such as vibration and noise is often expressed in terms
      of exposure-response relationships that describe annoyance as a function of the
      magnitude of the vibration. These relationships are often the basis of noise and
      vibration policy and the setting of limit values. This paper examines measures
      other than annoyance by expressing exposure-response relationships for vibration
      in terms of self-reported concern about property damage and acceptability. The
      exposure-response relationships for concern about property damage and for
      acceptability are then compared with those for annoyance. It is shown that
      concern about property damage occurs at vibration levels well below those where
      there is any risk of damage. Earlier research indicated that concern for damage
      is an important moderator of the annoyance induced. Acceptability, on the other
      hand, might be influenced by both annoyance and concern, as well as by other
      considerations. It is concluded that exposure-response relationships expressing
      acceptability as a function of vibration exposure could usefully complement
      existing relationships for annoyance in future policy decisions regarding
      environmental vibration. The results presented in this paper are derived from
      data collected through a socio-vibration survey (N=321) conducted for the
      construction of an urban LRT in the United Kingdom. 

PMID- 26875607
TI  - On the question of adjustment for multiple testing.

PMID- 26875608
TI  - Impact of Malaria in Pregnancy as Latin America Approaches Elimination.
AB  - In Latin America, four million pregnancies are at risk of malaria annually, but
      malaria in pregnancy is largely overlooked. As countries progress toward malaria
      elimination, targeting reservoirs of transmission is a priority. Pregnant women
      are an important risk group because they harbor asymptomatic infections and
      dormant liver stages of Plasmodium vivax that cause relapses. Of significant
      concern is the discovery that most infections in pregnant women fail to be
      detected by routine diagnostics. We review here recent findings on malaria in
      pregnancy within Latin America. We focus on the Amazon basin and Northwest
      Colombia, areas that harbor the greatest burden of malaria, and propose that more
      sensitive diagnostics and active surveillance at antenatal clinics will be
      necessary to eliminate malaria from these final frontiers.

PMID- 26875609
TI  - Zinc finger protein A20 is involved in the antipsoriatic effect of calcipotriol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Calcipotriol ameliorates psoriasis through inducing keratinocyte
      apoptosis and inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation, while
      zinc finger protein A20 exhibits an anti-apoptotic effect on various types of
      cells. OBJECTIVES: To understand the potential role of A20 in calcipotriol
      function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The A20 levels were evaluated in the psoriatic
      skins from both human patients and K14-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
      transgenic mice that received or did not receive topical calcipotriol treatment.
      The in vitro effect of calcipotriol on A20 expression and the downstream NF
      kappaB pathway was studied using a model of human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs)
      that were stimulated with psoriatic cytokines [M5, a cocktail of interleukin (IL)
      1a, IL-17A, IL-22, Oncostatin M and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, each at 10 ng
      mL(-1) ]. RESULTS: A20 expression was enhanced in both psoriatic tissues and
      keratinocytes when compared with controls, but decreased on calcipotriol
      treatment. The transfection of A20 small interfering RNA (siRNA) improved cell
      differentiation, and inhibited psoriatic inflammation in a HFK model. Moreover,
      the nuclear expression of NF-kappaB p65 decreased on A20 downregulation in
      psoriatic tissues and keratinocytes. Interestingly, calcipotriol enhanced the
      binding of A20 to ring finger protein 114 (RNF114) and A20-binding inhibitor of
      NF-kappaB-1 (ABIN-1) in HFKs, two negative regulators of the NF-kappaB pathway.
      CONCLUSIONS: Calcipotriol exhibits its antipsoriatic function through suppressing
      A20 expression and stabilizing negative regulators of the NF-kappaB pathway.

PMID- 26875610
TI  - Open access to journal articles in dentistry: Prevalence and citation impact.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the current prevalence of open access (OA) in the
      field of dentistry, the means used to provide OA, as well as the association
      between OA and citation counts. METHODS: PubMed was searched for dental articles
      published in 2013. The OA status of each article was determined by manually
      checking Google, Google Scholar, PubMed and ResearchGate. Citation data were
      extracted from Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science. Chi-square tests were
      used to compare the OA prevalence by different subjects, study types, and
      continents of origin. The association between OA and citation count was studied
      with multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A random sample of 908
      articles was deemed eligible and therefore included. Among these, 416 were found
      freely available online, indicating an overall OA rate of 45.8%. Significant
      difference in OA rate was detected among articles in different subjects (P<0.001)
      and among those from different continents (P<0.001). Of articles that were OA,
      74.2% were available via self-archiving ('Green road' OA), 53.3% were available
      from publishers ('Gold road' OA). According to multivariable logistic regression
      analyses, OA status was not significantly associated with either the existence of
      citation (P=0.37) or the level of citation (P=0.52). CONCLUSIONS/CLINICAL
      SIGNIFICANCE: In the field of dentistry, 54% of recent journal articles are
      behind the paywall (non-OA) one year after their publication dates. The 'Green
      road' of providing OA was more common than the 'Gold road'. No evidence suggested
      that OA articles received significantly more citations than non-OA articles.

PMID- 26875611
TI  - Clinical performance of anterior resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses with
      different framework designs: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the failure rate and complications of
      different framework designs of resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) in
      the anterior region. METHODS: A systematic search for clinical studies on RBFDPs
      published prior to December 2014 in Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library
      databases was conducted and complemented by a manual search. Randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) as well as prospective and retrospective cohort studies
      that compared at least two RBFDP framework designs with a minimum of 2 years
      follow up were included in this review. The quality of the included studies were
      assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort studies and Cochrane
      Handbook for RCT. Prostheses-based data on reported failure rate/survival rate,
      debonding, and fractures were analyzed by meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of 1010
      screened articles, one RCT and 4 cohort studies fit the inclusion criteria and
      were included in the meta-analysis. All included articles have a high risk of
      bias. Failure rates of single-retainer cantilever RBFDPs were lower than two
      retainer fixed-fixed RBFDPs (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.94, P=0.04). Metal-ceramic
      RBFDPs showed no difference of failure rates between cantilever RBFDPs and two
      retainer fixed-fixed RBFDPs (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.33-2.63, P=0.89). Debonding was
      not significantly different between cantilever RBFDPs and two-retainer fixed
      fixed RBFDPs (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.23-1.60, P=0.32). Metal-ceramic RBFDPs showed no
      difference of debonding between cantilever RBFDPs and two-retainer fixed-fixed
      RBFDPs (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.28-2.34, P=0.70,). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations
      of the present study, cantilever RBFDPs demonstrate lower clinical failure than
      two-retainer RBFDPs in the anterior region. The failure of metal-ceramic RBFDPs
      is independent of the framework design, while the failure of all-ceramic RBFDPs
      with different designs has not been clear yet. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on
      the principle of minimally invasive treatment, less number of retainers is
      recommended for RBFDPs.

PMID- 26875612
TI  - Influence of removing excess of resin-based materials applied to eroded enamel on
      the resistance to erosive challenge.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of removing excess
      of resin-based materials applied to eroded enamel, subjected to erosive
      challenge. METHODS: Bovine enamel blocks were immersed in HCl 0.01M, pH 2.3, for
      30s under agitation at 50 rpm in room temperature, in order to form a softened
      erosion lesion. The blocks were then randomly divided into eight groups (n=12)
      and treated as follows: Cn- and Ce-control without treatment, Hn- and He-fissure
      resin sealant (Helioseal Clear((r))), An- and Ae-self-etch adhesive
      (Adhese((r))), In- and Ie-infiltrant (Icon((r))); being n-with excess removal and
      e-without excess removal of the material. After application of the materials, the
      blocks were immersed in HCl for 2 min, followed by immersion in artificial saliva
      for 120 min. This cycle was repeated four times a day for five days. Material
      thickness and enamel wear were assessed using profilometry. Data were analyzed by
      two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (P<0.05). RESULTS: Groups He, Ae, and Ie resulted
      in the formation of a layer of material over enamel, being similar effective in
      inhibiting erosion progression (P>0.05). Groups Hn, An, and In (with excess
      removal) were similar to controls (Cn, Ce) and resulted in near enamel loss after
      application and after erosive challenge (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Resin-based
      materials are able to protect enamel against erosion only when they are present
      over enamel, as a physical barrier. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The resin-based
      materials demonstrated potential to prevent the progression of erosion lesions
      when the material remains on the dental surface.

PMID- 26875613
TI  - Antimicrobial effects of commensal oral species are regulated by environmental
      factors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to identify oral commensal species
      which can inhibit the growth of the main periodontopathogens, to determine the
      antimicrobial substances involved in these inhibitory activities and to evaluate
      the influence of environmental factors on the magnitude of these inhibitions.
      METHODS: The spotting technique was used to quantify the capacity of 13 commensal
      species to inhibit the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans,
      Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. By altering experimental
      conditions (distance between spots and size of spots and concentration of
      commensal and pathogen) as well as environmental factors (inoculation sequence,
      oxygen and nutrition availability) the influence of these factors was evaluated.
      Additionally, the mechanism of inhibition was elucidated by performing inhibition
      experiments in the presence of peroxidase, trypsin and pepsin and by evaluating
      acid production. RESULTS: Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus cristatus,
      Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus parasanguinis, Streptococcus mitis and
      Streptococcus oralis significantly inhibit the growth of all pathogens. The
      volume of the spots and concentration of the commensal have a significant
      positive correlation with the amount of inhibition whereas distance between the
      spots and concentration of the pathogen reduced the amount of inhibition.
      Inhibition is only observed when the commensal species are inoculated 24h before
      the pathogen and is more pronounced under aerobic conditions. Hydrogen peroxide
      production by the commensal is the main mechanism of inhibition. CONCLUSION:
      Bacterial antagonism is species specific and depending on experimental as well as
      environmental conditions. Blocking hydrogen peroxide production neutralizes the
      inhibitory effect. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Identifying beneficial oral bacteria
      and understanding how they inhibit pathogens might help to unravel the mechanisms
      behind dysbiotic oral diseases. In this context, this study points towards an
      important role for hydrogen peroxide. The latter might lead in the future to
      novel preventive strategies for oral health based on improving the antimicrobial
      properties of commensal oral bacteria.

PMID- 26875614
TI  - Long-term anti-cariogenic biofilm activity of glass ionomers related to fluoride
      release.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between anti
      cariogenic biofilm activities of glass ionomers (G-Is) during the initial and
      second fluoride release phases and to define relationships between the anti
      biofilm activities and fluoride release. METHODS: Fluoride release of three
      commercially available G-Is in a buffer was evaluated for 770 h, and then 70-h
      old Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilms were formed on the G-Is that had been
      immersed in the buffer for 0, 100, 200, or 700 h. The dry weight, bacterial cell
      number, water-insoluble extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), and accumulated
      fluoride concentration of the 70-h-old biofilms and fluoride release and acid
      production rates during biofilm formation were determined. Relationships between
      the experimental variables and fluoride release rate were also evaluated using
      linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In this study, fluoride release of the
      tested G-Is did not exhibit a biphasic pattern during biofilm formation. The
      release was sustained or did not rapidly decrease even over long immersion
      periods and was strongly correlated with an increase in accumulated fluoride
      concentration of the biofilms (R=0.99, R(2)=0.98) and reductions in dry weight,
      water-insoluble EPSs, and acid production rate of the biofilms (R=-0.99 to -0.96,
      R(2)=0.92-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that G-Is can effectively
      affect acid production, EPS formation, and accumulation of cariogenic biofilms
      even during the second fluoride release phase, and that the anti-cariogenic
      biofilm activity is strongly correlated with fluoride release, which may be
      enhanced by acid production of cariogenic biofilms. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: G-Is
      can affect cariogenic biofilm formation even during the second fluoride release
      phase.

PMID- 26875615
TI  - The liability of the anaesthesiologist in ambulatory surgery.
AB  - With the development of ambulatory surgery, there may be questions about the
      legal risk of this procedure. Indeed, the discharge of the patient from the
      hospital on the same day as the medical treatment raises the problem of
      monitoring and supervising potential complications, with a substantial delay in
      medical care, and the anaesthesiologists can be confronted with new areas of
      liability. This article specifies the French statutory and legal framework of the
      ambulatory surgery, and shows how the responsibility of the anaesthesiologist can
      be involved during patient care at all steps. The analysis of judicial precedent
      shows that the legal risk for the anaesthesiologist also exists in outpatient
      surgery. Surgery and anaesthesia are medical procedures involving a relatively
      high risk of damage for the patient. The damage can be attributed to malpractice
      from one or several health care professionals or to a medical complication
      (abnormal damage not related to malpractice and independent of past medical
      history of the patient). In the light of the ongoing and significant development
      in ambulatory surgery, there may be questions about the legal risk of this
      procedure. Indeed, the discharge of the patient from the hospital on the same day
      as the medical treatment raises the problem of monitoring and supervising
      potential complications, with a substantial delay in medical care. If the patient
      suffers any damage, the surgeon, the anaesthesiologist and in some cases, the
      hospital will have to answer in courts: the surgeon for the surgical procedure,
      the anaesthesiologist for the medical care and the hospital as the liable
      institution. After having specified the statutory framework of ambulatory
      surgery, we will see how the responsibility of the anaesthesiologist can be
      involved during patient care at all steps. 

PMID- 26875616
TI  - Inosine-5'-monophosphate is a candidate agent to resolve rigor mortis of skeletal
      muscle.
AB  - The object of the present study was to reveal the action of inosine-5'
      monophosphate (IMP) toward myofibrils in postmortem muscles. IMP solubilized
      isolated actomyosin within a narrow range of KCl concentration, 0.19-0.20 mol/L,
      because of the dissociation of actomyosin into actin and myosin, but it did not
      solubilize the proteins in myofibrils with 0.2 mol/L KCl. However, IMP could
      solubilize both proteins in myofibrils with 0.2 mol/L KCl in the presence of 1 m
      mol/L pyrophosphate or 1.0-3.3 m mol/L adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP). Thus, we
      presumed that pyrophosphate and ADP released thin filaments composed of actin,
      and thick filaments composed of myosin from restraints of myofibrils, and then
      both filaments were solubilized through the IMP-induced dissociation of
      actomyosin. Thus, we concluded that IMP is a candidate agent to resolve rigor
      mortis because of its ability to break the association between thick and thin
      filaments.

PMID- 26875618
TI  - A Deadly Path: Bacterial Spread During Bubonic Plague.
AB  - Yersinia pestis causes bubonic plague, a fulminant disease where host immune
      responses are abrogated. Recently developed in vivo models of plague have
      resulted in new ideas regarding bacterial spread in the body. Deciphering
      bacterial spread is key to understanding Y. pestis and the immune responses it
      encounters during infection. 

PMID- 26875619
TI  - Sharing Data for Global Infectious Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Detection.
AB  - Rapid global sharing and comparison of epidemiological and genomic data on
      infectious diseases would enable more rapid and efficient global outbreak control
      and tracking of diseases. Several barriers for global sharing exist but, in our
      opinion, the presumed magnitude of the problems appears larger than they are, and
      solutions can be found. 

PMID- 26875617
TI  - HIV-1 Reservoirs During Suppressive Therapy.
AB  - The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) 20 years ago has dramatically
      reduced morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1. Initially there was hope
      that ART would be curative, but it quickly became clear that even though ART was
      able to restore CD4(+) T cell counts and suppress viral loads below levels of
      detection, discontinuation of treatment resulted in a rapid rebound of infection.
      This is due to persistence of a small reservoir of latently infected cells with a
      long half-life, which necessitates life-long ART. Over the past few years,
      significant progress has been made in defining and characterizing the latent
      reservoir of HIV-1, and here we review how understanding the latent reservoir
      during suppressive therapy will lead to significant advances in curative
      approaches for HIV-1. 

PMID- 26875620
TI  - Long-term adverse effects associated with isolated below-knee deep-vein
      thrombosis: a 10-year follow-up study.
AB  - AIM: To assess the effect of the presence and locality of symptomatic lower-limb
      deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on mortality and morbidity following contrast
      venography (CV), the reference standard for diagnosing below-knee DVT, with a
      view to determining the prevalence of recurrent episodes of DVT and post
      thrombotic syndrome (PTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with clinical DVT
      undergoing investigation using CV were prospectively recorded. By retrospective
      case note examination and mortality data evaluation, 347 patients with DVT were
      matched with negative controls for mortality follow-up. Long-term complications
      were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-one (14.7%) of the DVT patients were diagnosed with
      PTS and 43 (12.4%) with possible PTS in the 10 years following presentation. The
      relative risk for developing definite PTS was 0.544 for below- versus above-knee
      DVT; 9.9% with below-knee DVT had PTS, and 9% had probable PTS. Recurrent DVT
      occurred in 23.3% of patients with proximal DVT as opposed to 12.6% of patients
      with isolated below-knee DVT. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity is greater in patients with
      proximal DVT; however, a significant, albeit smaller, proportion of patients with
      isolated below-knee DVT develop recurrent DVT and PTS. Below-knee DVT carries
      sufficient morbidity and mortality to warrant vigilance in diagnosis and
      management of this condition.

PMID- 26875621
TI  - Differentiation of benign and metastatic axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer:
      additive value of MRI computer-aided evaluation.
AB  - AIM: To retrospectively determine the qualitative and quantitative cut-off values
      of the magnetic resonance computer-aided evaluation (MR CAE) parameters to
      differentiate between benign and metastatic axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) and to
      investigate the combined diagnostic performance of MR CAE imaging. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: From July 2011 to June 2014, 124 patients who underwent preoperative
      conventional MR, diffusion-weighted (DW), and MR CAE imaging were included.
      Computer-generated qualitative and quantitative features for ALNs were recorded,
      and two breast imaging radiologists interpreted the MR images for the presence of
      metastatic ALNs using conventional MR and DW, and in combination with MR CAE
      images by consensus. The cut-off values of MR CAE and diagnostic performance were
      derived from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Thirty
      four (26.4%) were ALN positive and 90 (73.6%) were ALN negative on the final
      histopathological result. On qualitative analysis, visualization on the colour
      map (p=0.007) and kinetic curve type (p<0.001) were significantly different
      between the groups. On quantitative analysis, mean values (%) of persistent,
      plateau, and washout ratios differed significantly (p<0.001). Of these
      significant parameters, a washout ratio of >49% showed the greatest diagnostic
      accuracy (area under the ROC curve, 0.909). With conventional MR and DW images,
      sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 82.4%, 85.6%, and 84.7%,
      respectively. With added information from MR CAE images, accuracy significantly
      improved to 93.5% (p=0.043). The sensitivity and specificity improved to 91.2%
      (p=0.403) and 94.4% (p=0.086), respectively. CONCLUSION: The additive use of MR
      CAE improved diagnostic performance and can be helpful for differentiating benign
      from metastatic ALNs.

PMID- 26875622
TI  - Brain alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Assembly Requires NACHO.
AB  - Nicotine exerts its behavioral and additive actions through a family of brain
      nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Enhancing alpha7-type nAChR signaling
      improves symptoms in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. The pharmaceutical
      study of alpha7 receptors is hampered because these receptors do not form their
      functional pentameric structure in cell lines, and mechanisms that underlie
      alpha7 receptor assembly in neurons are not understood. Here, a genomic screening
      strategy solves this long-standing puzzle and identifies NACHO, a transmembrane
      protein of neuronal endoplasmic reticulum that mediates assembly of alpha7
      receptors. NACHO promotes alpha7 protein folding, maturation through the Golgi
      complex, and expression at the cell surface. Knockdown of NACHO in cultured
      hippocampal neurons or knockout of NACHO in mice selectively and completely
      disrupts alpha7 receptor assembly and abolishes alpha7 channel function. This
      work identifies NACHO as an essential, client-specific chaperone for nAChRs and
      has implications for physiology and disease associated with these widely
      distributed neurotransmitter receptors.

PMID- 26875623
TI  - Hippocampal Somatostatin Interneurons Control the Size of Neuronal Memory
      Ensembles.
AB  - Hippocampal neurons activated during encoding drive the recall of contextual fear
      memory. Little is known about how such ensembles emerge during acquisition and
      eventually form the cellular engram. Manipulating the activity of granule cells
      (GCs) of the dentate gyrus (DG), we reveal a mechanism of lateral inhibition that
      modulates the size of the cellular engram. GCs engage somatostatin-positive
      interneurons that inhibit the dendrites of surrounding GCs. Our findings reveal a
      microcircuit within the DG that controls the size of the cellular engram and the
      stability of contextual fear memory. 

PMID- 26875624
TI  - Post-learning Hippocampal Dynamics Promote Preferential Retention of Rewarding
      Events.
AB  - Reward motivation is known to modulate memory encoding, and this effect depends
      on interactions between the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area complex
      (SN/VTA) and the hippocampus. It is unknown, however, whether these interactions
      influence offline neural activity in the human brain that is thought to promote
      memory consolidation. Here we used fMRI to test the effect of reward motivation
      on post-learning neural dynamics and subsequent memory for objects that were
      learned in high- and low-reward motivation contexts. We found that post-learning
      increases in resting-state functional connectivity between the SN/VTA and
      hippocampus predicted preferential retention of objects that were learned in high
      reward contexts. In addition, multivariate pattern classification revealed that
      hippocampal representations of high-reward contexts were preferentially
      reactivated during post-learning rest, and the number of hippocampal
      reactivations was predictive of preferential retention of items learned in high
      reward contexts. These findings indicate that reward motivation alters offline
      post-learning dynamics between the SN/VTA and hippocampus, providing novel
      evidence for a potential mechanism by which reward could influence memory
      consolidation.

PMID- 26875625
TI  - A Large-Scale Interface for Optogenetic Stimulation and Recording in Nonhuman
      Primates.
AB  - While optogenetics offers great potential for linking brain function and behavior
      in nonhuman primates, taking full advantage of that potential will require stable
      access for optical stimulation and concurrent monitoring of neural activity. Here
      we present a practical, stable interface for stimulation and recording of large
      scale cortical circuits. To obtain optogenetic expression across a broad region,
      here spanning primary somatosensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices, we used
      convection-enhanced delivery of the viral vector, with online guidance from MRI.
      To record neural activity across this region, we used a custom micro
      electrocorticographic (MUECoG) array designed to minimally attenuate optical
      stimuli. Lastly, we demonstrated the use of this interface to measure
      spatiotemporal responses to optical stimulation across M1 and S1. This interface
      offers a powerful tool for studying circuit dynamics and connectivity across
      cortical areas, for long-term studies of neuromodulation and targeted cortical
      plasticity, and for linking these to behavior. 

PMID- 26875626
TI  - Positive Allosteric Modulators of GluN2A-Containing NMDARs with Distinct Modes of
      Action and Impacts on Circuit Function.
AB  - To enhance physiological function of NMDA receptors (NMDARs), we identified
      positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of NMDARs with selectivity for GluN2A
      subunit-containing receptors. X-ray crystallography revealed a binding site at
      the GluN1-GluN2A dimer interface of the extracellular ligand-binding domains
      (LBDs). Despite the similarity between the LBDs of NMDARs and AMPA receptors
      (AMPARs), GluN2A PAMs with good selectivity against AMPARs were identified.
      Potentiation was observed with recombinant triheteromeric GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B
      NMDARs and with synaptically activated NMDARs in brain slices from wild-type
      (WT), but not GluN2A knockout (KO), mice. Individual GluN2A PAMs exhibited
      variable degrees of glutamate (Glu) dependence, impact on NMDAR Glu EC50, and
      slowing of channel deactivation. These distinct PAMs also exhibited differential
      impacts during synaptic plasticity induction. The identification of a new NMDAR
      modulatory site and characterization of GluN2A-selective PAMs provide powerful
      molecular tools to dissect NMDAR function and demonstrate the feasibility of a
      therapeutically desirable type of NMDAR enhancement.

PMID- 26875627
TI  - Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: A published work-based comprehensive analysis
      of therapeutic responsiveness.
AB  - Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is a non-infectious inflammatory
      dermatosis of unknown etiology that principally affects the hair follicles. There
      are three variants of EPF: (i) classic EPF; (ii) immunosuppression-associated
      EPF, which is subdivided into HIV-associated (IS/HIV) and non-HIV-associated
      (IS/non-HIV); and (iii) infancy-associated EPF. Oral indomethacin is efficacious,
      especially for classic EPF. No comprehensive information on the efficacies of
      other medical management regimens is currently available. In this study, we
      surveyed regimens for EPF that were described in articles published between 1965
      and 2013. In total, there were 1171 regimens; 874, 137, 45 and 115 of which were
      applied to classic, IS/HIV, IS/non-HIV and infancy-associated EPF, respectively.
      Classic EPF was preferentially treated with oral indomethacin with efficacy of
      84% whereas topical steroids were preferred for IS/HIV, IS/non-HIV and infancy
      associated EPF with efficacy of 47%, 73% and 82%, respectively. Other regimens
      such as oral Sairei-to (a Chinese-Japanese herbal medicine), diaminodiphenyl
      sulfone, cyclosporin and topical tacrolimus were effective for indomethacin
      resistant cases. Although the preclusion of direct comparison among cases was one
      limitation, this study provides a dataset that is applicable to the construction
      of therapeutic algorithms for EPF. 

PMID- 26875628
TI  - Preventing Cardiovascular Disease.

PMID- 26875630
TI  - A data mining approach to selecting herbs with similar efficacy: Targeted
      selection methods based on medical subject headings (MeSH).
AB  - ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Natural products have long been the most
      important source of ingredients in the discovery of new drugs. Moreover, since
      the Nagoya Protocol, finding alternative herbs with similar efficacy in
      traditional medicine has become a very important issue. Although random selection
      is a common method of finding ethno-medicinal herbs of similar efficacy, it
      proved to be less effective; therefore, this paper proposes a novel targeted
      selection method using data mining approaches in the MEDLINE database in order to
      identify and select herbs with a similar degree of efficacy. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: From among sixteen categories of medical subject headings (MeSH)
      descriptors, three categories containing terms related to herbal compounds,
      efficacy, toxicity, and the metabolic process were selected. In order to select
      herbs of similar efficacy in a targeted way, we adopted the similarity
      measurement method based on MeSH. In order to evaluate the proposed algorithm, we
      built up three different validation datasets which contain lists of original
      herbs and corresponding medicinal herbs of similar efficacy. RESULTS: The average
      area under curve (AUC) of the proposed algorithm was found to be about 500%
      larger than the random selection method. We found that the proposed algorithm
      puts more hits at the front of the top-10 list than the random selection method,
      and precisely discerns the efficacy of the herbs. It was also found that the AUC
      of the experiments either remained the same or increased slightly in all three
      validation datasets as the search range was increased. CONCLUSION: This study
      reveals and proves that the proposed algorithm is significantly more accurate and
      efficient in finding alternative herbs of similar efficacy than the random
      selection method. As such, it is hoped that this approach will be used in diverse
      applications in the ethno-pharmacology field.

PMID- 26875629
TI  - Clinical, biophysical, immunohistochemical, and in vivo reflectance confocal
      microscopy evaluation of the response of subjects with sensitive skin to home-use
      fractional non-ablative photothermolysis device.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fractional photothermolysis using professional devices is a well
      accepted and a widely used technique for skin rejuvenation. Recently, the
      technology has also been implemented in devices for home-use. Yet, a
      subpopulation of consumers exists that reacts excessively to this stimulation and
      reports "sensitive skin" (SS). OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate
      the response of subjects with SS and NSS to fractional non-ablative
      photothermolysis to provide additional insights in the pathophysiology of SS.
      METHODS: Subjects with SS and non-sensitive skin (NSS), selected using a
      proprietary questionnaire were stimulated by applying a home-use fractional non
      ablative photothermolysis device. Self-reported perceptions and objective effects
      were evaluated after 0.5, 8, 24, and 72 hours by clinical, biophysical and
      immunohistochemical assessment, and in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy
      (RCM). RESULTS: Significantly fewer mast cells were found in SS compared to NSS
      subjects, 0.5 and 72 hours after stimulus based on tryptase staining, and SS
      subjects report discomfort more frequently. Immunohistochemical biomarkers
      revealed new insights in the effects of fractional non-ablative photothermolysis,
      which were supported by RCM: peri- and interlesional epidermal proliferation, and
      changes in keratinocyte differentiation. CONCLUSION: Previously, we have already
      reported that SS could be elicited by mechanical and chemical stimuli. Thus, mild
      yet excessive self-reported perceptions described here supports the hypothesis
      about existence of generalized skin sensitivity. Furthermore, it supports a view
      point suggesting involvement of TRPV1 receptors in this phenomenon. While
      histological evaluation, in line with our previous results points to the role of
      mast cells in SS, overall, however, fractional non-ablative photothermolysis
      causes only mild damage, nearly equal in SS and NSS and could be used as an in
      vivo model for skin regeneration without manipulating the skin barrier. Lasers
      Surg. Med. 48:474-482, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26875631
TI  - Characterization and functional analysis of two inhibitor of apoptosis genes in
      Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri.
AB  - The proteins of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family play important roles in
      regulation of apoptosis, immunological response and cell proliferation. Here we
      reported two IAP genes (named CfIAP1 and CfIAP2) in Zhikong scallop Chlamys
      farreri. The full-length CfIAP1 cDNA contained 1552 nucleotides, encoding a
      predicted protein of 251 amino acids with two BIR domains. The full-length CfIAP2
      cDNA contained 1243 nt, encoding a 356-aa protein with one BIR domain and one
      RING domain. The two genes are ubiquitously expressed in six types of tissue of
      C. farreri. The expression levels of CfIAP1 and CfIAP2 were significantly up
      regulated after challenged with acute viral necrobiotic disease virus,
      lipopolysaccharide and exposure to air. Subcellular localization assay showed
      that CfIAP1 was mainly distributed in cytoplasm and CfIAP2 was in cytoplasm and
      nucleus. As assessed using a kit designed to test Caspase3 function in mammalian
      cells, the activity of CfCaspase3 was enhanced as a result of the down-regulation
      of CfIAP2 expression by dsRNA-mediated gene silencing. Our study indicated that
      CfIAP1 and CfIAP2 may participate in the innate immunity and stress responses and
      that CfIAP2 might block apoptosis via inhibiting CfCaspase3 indirectly through an
      unexplored mechanism in C. farreri. 

PMID- 26875632
TI  - The symbiotic role of O-antigen of Burkholderia symbiont in association with host
      Riptortus pedestris.
AB  - Riptortus pedestris harboring Burkholderia symbiont is a useful symbiosis model
      to study the molecular interactions between insects and bacteria. We recently
      reported that the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen is absent in the Burkholderia
      symbionts isolated from Riptortus guts. Here, we investigated the symbiotic role
      of O-antigen comprehensively in the Riptortus-Burkholderia model. Firstly,
      Burkholderia mutant strains deficient of O-antigen biosynthesis genes were
      generated and confirmed for their different patterns of the lipopolysaccharide by
      electrophoretic analysis. The O-antigen-deficient mutant strains initially
      exhibited a reduction of infectivity, having significantly lower level of
      symbiont population at the second-instar stage. However, both the wild-type and O
      antigen mutant symbionts exhibited a similar level of symbiont population from
      the third-instar stage, indicating that the O-antigen deficiency did not affect
      the bacterial persistence in the host midgut. Taken together, we showed that the
      lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of gut symbiont plays an exclusive role in the
      initial symbiotic association. 

PMID- 26875633
TI  - Identification and involvement of ferritin in the response to pathogen challenge
      in the abalone, Haliotis diversicolor.
AB  - Accumulating data has demonstrated that ferritin plays an important role in host
      defense responses against infection by pathogens in many organisms. In this
      study, ultracentrifugation was used to isolate ferritin from abalone, Haliotis
      diversicolor, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS
      PAGE) analysis revealed that this ferritin consisted of two subunits (designated
      as HdFer1 and HdFer2). There are no disulfide bonds between the HdFer1 and HdFer2
      subunits; however, these subunits co-assemble to form heteropolymers. A novel
      ferritin subunit (HdFer2) was cloned from H. diversicolor by 5' and 3' RACE
      (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) approach. The full-length HdFer2 cDNA sequence
      consists of 878 bp with an open reading frame of 513 bp that encodes a protein
      that is 170 amino acids in length. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed
      that HdFer1 and HdFer2 were transcribed in various tissues, such as the mantle,
      gill and hepatopancreas, with the highest levels of expression in the
      hepatopancreas. Following a challenge with the pathogen, Vibrio harveyi, the
      expression of HdFer1 and HdFer2 were markedly induced at different times. This
      study has identified a novel ferritin subunit in H. diversicolor which will
      contribute to further exploration of the role of ferritin in mollusk innate
      immune defense against invading pathogens. 

PMID- 26875634
TI  - Neuropeptide Y is an angiogenic factor in cardiovascular regeneration.
AB  - In diabetic cardiomyopathy, there is altered angiogenic signaling and increased
      oxidative stress. As a result, anti-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory pathways are
      activated. These disrupt cellular metabolism and cause fibrosis and apoptosis,
      leading to pathological remodeling. The autonomic nervous system and
      neurotransmitters play an important role in angiogenesis. Therapies that promote
      angiogenesis may be able to relieve the pathology in these disease states.
      Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the most abundantly produced and expressed neuropeptide
      in the central and peripheral nervous systems in mammals and plays an important
      role in promoting angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte remodeling. It produces effects
      through G-protein-coupled Y receptors that are widely distributed and also
      present on the myocardium. Some of these receptors are also involved in diseased
      states of the heart. NPY has been implicated as a potent growth factor, causing
      cell proliferation in multiple systems while the NPY3-36 fragment is selective in
      stimulating angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte remodeling. Current research is
      focusing on developing a drug delivery mechanism for NPY to prolong therapy
      without having significant systemic consequences. This could be a promising
      innovation in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart
      disease. 

PMID- 26875635
TI  - Nerol alleviates pathologic markers in the oxazolone-induced colitis model.
AB  - Nerol is a natural monoterpene with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory
      properties. Its possible beneficial effects in ulcerative colitis and its
      corresponding mechanism of action have not been determined to date. The aim of
      this study was to investigate whether nerol prevents the appearance of
      pathological markers and hyperalgesia in oxazolone-induced colitis, and protects
      against gastric damage produced by ethanol. The experimental design included
      groups of oxazolone-treated mice receiving nerol at 10-300 mg/kg, p.o., or a
      reference drug (sulfasalazine, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) compared to sham and untreated
      groups. Gastric damage was evaluated in the absolute ethanol-induced ulcer model
      in rats. Variables measured in animals with oxazolone-induced colitis included
      weight loss, stool consistency and macroscopic colon damage; mechanical
      nociception was determined by the use of von Frey filaments, whereas levels of
      inflammatory cytokines were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nerol
      (30-300 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented or significantly decreased the pathological
      alterations observed in the oxazolone- induced colitis model. It also showed
      antinociceptive effects and reduced the increased levels of inflammatory
      cytokines (IL-13 and TNF-alpha). Gastric damage was also prevented starting at 10
      mg/kg, p.o. In conclusion, our results provide evidence for a beneficial effect
      of nerol after colitis induction involving tissue protection, antinociception and
      modulation of the immunological system, suggesting the therapeutic potential of
      this monoterpene as a novel alternative in controlling ulcerative colitis.

PMID- 26875636
TI  - Antihyperuricemic effects of thiadiazolopyrimidin-5-one analogues in oxonate
      treated rats.
AB  - Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for not only gout, but also to a variety of
      disorders that affect the vital organ systems of the human body. The xanthine
      oxidase (XO) is the key enzyme in the production of uric acid and its inhibition
      can inhibit hyperuricemia. Although, XO inhibitor allopurinol is widely
      prescribed antigout agent but its use is not without any side effects.
      Previously, we described the synthesis of four novel thiadiazolopyrimidin-5-one
      analogues as effective XO inhibitors and molecular docking studies also confirmed
      this. When these analogues were tested in potassium oxonate treated rats, their
      serum uric acid and creatinine levels were dropped significantly from 4.85+/-0.03
      mg/dl to 1.21+/-0.01 mg/dl and 0.92+/-0.02 mg/dl to 0.40+/-0.02 mg/dl
      respectively. Among the pyrimidine analogues tested, 6a was most potent.
      Histological examinations of both liver and kidney tissues exhibited severe
      necrosis in oxonate treated rats and pyrimidine analogues could significantly
      attenuate this with a correlative inhibitory profile of hepatic XO from the same
      rats. Our results demonstrate antihyperuricemic effect of novel
      thiadiazolopyrimidin-5-one analogues in oxonate treated rats, which can be
      further explored not only as antigout therapeutics but also in other systems
      where hyperuricemia is the driving cause of the disease.

PMID- 26875637
TI  - Orientin protects myocardial cells against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury through
      induction of autophagy.
AB  - Orientin, a flavonoid exists in Chinese traditional herbal Polygonum orientale
      L., has been previously demonstrated to protect against myocardial ischemia
      reperfusion injury (MIRI) through inhibition of apoptosis. However, the
      underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated and we therefore in this study
      investigated the effects of orientin on autophagy during MIRI in rats. The
      results indicate that orientin, at the concentrations of 10 and 30 MUM in the
      cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, promoted the induction of autophagy,
      increasing the formation of autophagosomes and enhancing the expression of LC3
      puncta, LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and Beclin 1 after hypoxia/reoxygenation. The
      induction of autophagy by orientin correlated with enhanced cell viability and
      decreased apoptosis, which was significantly attenuated by autophagy inhibitor
      wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. Moreover,
      application of orientin increased the activation of AMPK and Akt, downregulated
      the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the expression of
      Raptor, and enhanced the interaction between Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 in endoplasmic
      reticulum due to increased phosphorylation of Beclin 1 and decreased
      phosphorylation of Bcl-2. Our investigation suggests that the cardioprotective
      effects of orientin during MIRI may be mediated through the balance of autophagy
      through regulating AMPK, Akt, mTOR, and Bcl-2 associated signaling pathways.

PMID- 26875638
TI  - Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals rat colovesical fistula.
AB  - To establish the effects of BPC 157 on the healing of rat colovesical fistulas,
      Wistar Albino male rats were randomly assigned to different groups. BPC 157, a
      stable gastric pentadecapeptide, has been used in clinical applications
      specifically, in ulcerative colitis-and was successful in treating both external
      and internal fistulas. BPC 157 was provided daily, perorally, in drinking water
      (10ug/kg, 12ml/rat/day) until sacrifice or, alternatively, 10ug/kg or 10ng/kg
      intraperitoneally, with the first application at 30min after surgery and the last
      at 24h before sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline
      (5.0ml/kg ip) or water only (12ml/rat/day). Assessment (i.e., colon and vesical
      defects, fistula leaking, fecaluria and defecation through the fistula, adhesions
      and intestinal obstruction as healing processes) took place on days 7, 14 and 28.
      Control colovesical fistulas regularly exhibited poor healing, with both of the
      defects persisting; continuous fistula leakage; fecaluria and defecation through
      the fistula; advanced adhesion formation; and intestinal obstruction. By
      contrast, BPC 157 given perorally or intraperitoneally and in ug- and ng-regimens
      rapidly improved the whole presentation, with both colon and vesical defects
      simultaneously ameliorated and eventually healed. The maximal instilled volume
      was continuously raised until it reached the values of healthy rats, there were
      no signs of fecaluria and no defecation through the fistula, there was
      counteraction of advanced adhesion formation or there was an intestinal
      obstruction. In conclusion, BPC 157 effects appear to be suited to inducing full
      healing of colocutaneous fistulas in rats. 

PMID- 26875639
TI  - E3 ubiquitin ligases as novel targets for inflammatory diseases.
AB  - Ubiquitination is one of the post translational modifications which decide the
      fate of various proteins in the cells, by either directing them towards
      proteasomal degradation or participation in several cell signalling pathways.
      Recently, the role of ubiquitination has been unravelled in pathogenesis and
      progression of various diseases, where inflammation is critical, like obesity,
      insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, angiotensin-II induced cardiac inflammation
      and asthma. E3 ligases are known to be instrumental in regulation of the
      inflammatory cascade. This review focuses on the role of different E3 ligases in
      the development of inflammatory diseases and thus may help us to target these E3
      ligases in future drug discovery to prevent inflammation. 

PMID- 26875640
TI  - Nigella sativa (black seed) effects on plasma lipid concentrations in humans: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.
AB  - The effects of Nigella sativa (NS) on plasma lipid concentrations are
      controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
      trials (RCTs) was conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans. PubMed
      Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched (up
      to August 2015) to identify RCTs investigating the impact of NS on total
      cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides
      concentrations. A random-effects model and the generic inverse variance weighting
      method were used for quantitative data synthesis. Meta-regression, sensitivity
      analysis, and publication bias assessments were performed using standard methods.
      A total of 17 RCTs examining the effects of NS on plasma lipid concentrations
      were included. Meta-analysis suggested a significant association between NS
      supplementation and a reduction in total cholesterol (weighed-mean-difference
      [WMD]: -15.65mg/dL, 95% CI: -24.67, -6.63, p=0.001), LDL-C (WMD: -14.10mg/dL, 95%
      CI: -19.32, -8.88, p<0.001), and triglyceride levels (WMD: -20.64mg/dL, 95% CI: 
      30.29, -11.00, p<0.001). No significant effect on HDL-C concentrations (WMD:
      0.28mg/dL, 95% CI: -1.96, 2.53, p=0.804) was found. A greater effect of NS seed
      oil versus seed powder was observed on serum total cholesterol and LDL-C levels,
      and an increase in HDL-C levels was found only after NS seed powder
      supplementation. NS has a significant impact on plasma lipid concentrations,
      leading to lower total cholesterol, LDL-C, and TG levels while increased HDL-C is
      associated with NS powder only. Further RCTs are needed to explore the NS
      benefits on cardiovascular outcomes. 

PMID- 26875641
TI  - Influence of enrofloxacin traces in drinking water to doxycycline tissue
      pharmacokinetics in healthy and infected by Mycoplasma gallisepticum broiler
      chickens.
AB  - Most of antibiotics, administrated in the treatment of poultry diseases are
      dissolved in drinking water, and it can lead to water supply systems
      contamination, especially when the regular cleaning is not using. This situation
      can lead to unconscious administration of low doses of antibiotics to untreated
      animals. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of the exposure of
      enrofloxacin traces (500 MUg l(-1)) to doxycycline pharmacokinetics in healthy
      and experimentally Mycoplasma gallisepticum infected broiler chickens., Two
      experimental groups, received of enrofloxacin in water and all groups, received
      20 mg kg(-1) bw of doxycycline. The compounds concentrations in muscles and
      livers were determined by LC-MS/MS. The maximum drug tissue concentration (Cmax)
      of doxycycline was highest in liver obtained from infected chickens which,
      received enrofloxacin traces (ENR + DC/MG). It was about 40% higher than in
      healthy chickens from group I which received only doxycycline. It was found that
      the concentration-time curve AUC(0-t) values in group ENR + DC/MG were almost 75%
      higher than in the group (DC) and 35% higher than in group (ENR + DC) which also
      received enrofloxacin traces. The constant exposure of broiler chickens on
      enrofloxacin traces as well as infection, may significantly influenced on
      doxycycline tissue pharmacokinetic profile. 

PMID- 26875642
TI  - Assessment of the inhibition potential of Licochalcone A against human UDP
      glucuronosyltransferases.
AB  - Licochalcone A (LCA) is a major bioactive compound in Licorice, a widely used
      herbal medicine. In this study, the inhibitory effects of LCA against human UDP
      glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) and LCA associated herb-drug interactions were
      systematically investigated. Our results demonstrated that LCA displayed broad
      spectrum inhibition against human UGTs. LCA exhibited strong inhibitory effects
      against UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A7, 1A9, and 2B7 (both IC50 and Ki values lower
      than 5 MUM), while showing moderate inhibitory effects against UGT1A8, 1A10, 2B4,
      2B15, and 2B17. The inhibitory effects of LCA against two major UGTs, including
      UGT1A1 and 1A9, were further investigated in human liver microsomes (HLMs), where
      the potential risks of LCA via inhibition of UGT1A1 and 1A9 were predicted by
      combining the in vitro inhibitory data and physiological data. The results from
      this study also showed that several LCA-containing products were able to increase
      the area under the curve (AUC) of the substrates that were predominantly
      metabolized by UGT1A1 or 1A9. These findings together demonstrate that LCA has a
      potent and broad-spectrum inhibitory effect against most human UGTs and thus
      suggest that much caution should be exercised when high-dose LCA is co
      administered with UGT substrates. 

PMID- 26875643
TI  - Ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves protect the pre-pubertal
      spermatogonial cells from cyclophosphamide-induced damage.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Moringa oleifera Lam. is widely cultivated in
      Asian and African countries for its medicinal and dietary significance. The
      leaves are highly nutritious and are known to possess various biological
      activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-pubertal Swiss albino male mice were
      injected with single dose of cyclophosphamide (CP, 200mg/kg body weight) or
      ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOE, 100mg/kg body weight)
      intraperitoneally. In combination group, MOE was administered 24h prior to CP
      injection. RESULTS: CP induced a significant decrease in testicular weight
      (p<0.01) and depletion of germ cells (p<0.001) and higher level of DNA damage
      (p<0.001) compared to control. The expression of P53, Bax, Cytochrome C (Cyt C)
      was increased while there was a decrease in the expression of Bcl2, c-Kit and
      Oct4. Administration of MOE 24h prior to CP treatment ameliorated the depletion
      (p<0.001), DNA damage (p<0.001) and apoptosis (p<0.01) of germ cells induced by
      CP. The mitigating effect of MOE appears to be mediated by up-regulating the
      expression of c-Kit and Oct4 transcripts in P53-independent manner. CONCLUSION:
      MOE protects the spermatogonial cells from CP-induced damage by modulating the
      apoptotic response elicited by CP and therefore can be considered as an efficient
      method of male fertility preservation.

PMID- 26875645
TI  - Current therapeutic role and medicinal potential of Scutellaria barbata in
      Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western research.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Scutellaria barbata is a common herb in
      Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) most often used to treat cancer. S. barbata
      has been found to exhibit efficacy both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of
      cancer types. Similarly encouraging results have been shown in patients with
      metastatic breast cancer from Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials. This study aims to
      elucidate the current use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners and in current
      Western research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were
      conducted with fifteen TCM practitioners in Beijing and Nanjing, China to
      understand their clinical use of S. barbata. Practitioners were also asked to
      comment on the future development of TCM using Western research methods and the
      potential for integration of the two types of medicine in clinical therapy.
      Statistical analyses were conducted to compare use of S. barbata by disease and
      in conjunction with other herbs. RESULTS: Current Western research related to S.
      barbata is focused on cancer treatment, which corresponds to the most common use
      of S. barbata by TCM practitioners. Other common uses that practitioners reported
      included infection and inflammation, for which Beijing practitioners reported use
      of S. barbata more often than Nanjing practitioners (p<0.05). Hedyotis diffusa
      was found to be the most commonly cited herb to pair with S. barbata for cancer
      treatment (p<0.05). When compared to Western clinical trials of BZL101, an S.
      barbata extract, TCM practitioners reported using smaller doses of S. barbata in
      shorter durations, in combination with numerous other herbs with the goal to
      potentiate therapeutic efficacy and mitigate side effects. In addition, TCM
      practitioners repeatedly emphasized symptom differentiating as the key to
      achieving maximum therapeutic potential of S. barbata, a factor typically
      overlooked in Western research. CONCLUSION: Similarities and differences in
      diagnosis and treatment regimens between TCM practitioners and Western research
      have the potential to shed light on possible new avenues of research. Additional
      research may prove beneficial on possible synergistic effects of herbs commonly
      used with S. barbata, such as Hedyotis diffusa and Lobelia chinensis.

PMID- 26875644
TI  - Pharmacological characteristics of Artemisia vulgaris L. in isolated porcine
      basilar artery.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Vietnamese traditional herbalism, there are
      conflicting opinions about the effect of Artemisia vulgaris L. (AVL, English
      name: mugwort) on hypertension. Some ethnic doctors recommend the use of AVL for
      treatment of hypertension, whereas others advise against it. The purpose of this
      study was to clarify the pharmacological characteristics of AVL in isolated
      arteries to explain the conflicts surrounding the use of AVL for treatment of
      hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We initially performed a functional study
      using an organ bath system to investigate the effect of AVL extract on isolated
      porcine basilar artery. We then measured the change in intracellular free Ca(2+)
      concentration elicited by AVL using cultured smooth muscle cells loaded with the
      Ca(2+) indicator fluo-4. Finally, using HPLC, we determined the active components
      in AVL. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: AVL induced vasoconstriction at resting tension,
      and endothelial removal enhanced this effect significantly. Pretreatment with
      PD123319 (an AT2 receptor antagonist), Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (a nitric oxide
      synthase inhibitor), or both, also enhanced this effect. AVL-induced contraction
      was competitively inhibited by methiothepin (a 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor
      antagonist) in the presence of ketanserin (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist). Removal
      of extracellular calcium with nifedipine (an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker) or
      ruthenium red (a ryanodine receptor blocker) significantly reduced AVL-induced
      contraction, whereas losartan (an AT1 receptor antagonist) and diphenhydramine (a
      H1 receptor antagonist) had no effect on this contraction. AVL increased the
      intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration in cultured cells, and this increment was
      inhibited by methiothepin. HPLC analysis revealed that the retention time of the
      first peak in the AVL profile was similar to that of the 5-HT standard, and that
      addition of 5-HT to the AVL sample enhanced this peak. On the other hand, AVL
      induced endothelium-independent relaxation under precontracted conditions with
      60mM KCl. Captopril (an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor), atenolol (a
      beta1 receptor antagonist) and cimetidine (a H2 receptor antagonist) had no
      effect on this relaxation. In Ca(2+)-free 60mM KCl-containing solution,
      pretreatment with AVL significantly inhibited CaCl2-induced contraction.
      CONCLUSION: For the first time, the present study has demonstrated that AVL has
      two opposite effects, contraction and relaxation, on isolated artery, which may
      help to explain the conflicting indications for AVL in traditional herbalism. 5
      HT is a significant factor affecting artery contraction in the presence of AVL.

PMID- 26875646
TI  - Antibacterial constituents of Eremophila alternifolia: An Australian aboriginal
      traditional medicinal plant.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: For traditional medicinal purposes Aboriginal
      Australians have utilised numerous plant species, Eremophila alternifolia is
      among the most prominent. Traditionally, fresh leaves, leaf-infusions and
      handmade leaf-pastes have been used as both external and internal preparations to
      provide relief from a variety of conditions. Preparations of the species have
      been used to treat various infections of skin, eyes and throat including the
      treatment of septic wounds. These usages suggest that the plant contains
      antibacterial compounds; however, to date they have not been isolated and
      identified. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to identify antibacterial
      compounds from this important traditionally recorded medicinal species. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Bioassay-guided fractionation was used to isolate compounds from the
      crude leaf-extract. Antibacterial activity of pure compounds was assessed through
      broth microdilution method by determining both minimum inhibitory concentrations
      (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). Structure elucidation was
      performed using spectroscopic techniques such as 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Four
      compounds have been isolated from the leaf-extract; they include previously known
      flavanones [pinobanksin (1), pinobanksin-3-acetate (2) and pinobanksin-3
      cinnamate (3)] and a serrulatane diterpene, 8-hydroxyserrulat-14-en-19-oic acid
      (4). While compound 4 had been found in other Eremophilas, flavanones 2 and 3 are
      identified for the first time from the genus Eremophila. The flavanone 3 is the
      most promising antibacterial compound with significant activity (10-20uM) against
      strains of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus including
      methicillin resistant and biofilm forming strains. No activity was observed for
      any isolated compounds against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli.
      CONCLUSION: The antibacterial activity of the crude extract of E. alternifolia
      and of the isolated compounds against Gram-positive bacteria provides a Western
      scientific explanation of the therapeutic modality of this plant species in
      traditional Aboriginal medicinal practice.

PMID- 26875647
TI  - Antimycobacterial and cytotoxic activity of selected medicinal plant extracts.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis remains an ongoing threat to human health. Several medicinal plants
      are used traditionally to treat tuberculosis in Ghana. The current study was
      designed to investigate the antimycobacterial activity and cytotoxicity of crude
      extracts from five selected medicinal plants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The
      microplate alamar blue assay (MABA) was used for antimycobacterial studies while
      the CellTiter 96(r) AQueous Assay, which is composed of solutions of a novel
      tetrazolium compound [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2
      (4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt; MTS] and an electron coupling reagent
      (phenazine methosulfate) PMS, was used for cytotoxic studies. Correlation
      coefficients were used to compare the activity of crude extracts against
      nonpathogenic strains and the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      subsp.tuberculosis. RESULTS: Results of the MIC determinations indicated that all
      the crude extracts were active on all the three tested mycobacterial strains.
      Minimum inhibitory concentration values as low as 156.3ug/mL against M.
      tuberculosis; Strain H37Ra (ATCC(r) 25,177TM) were recorded from the leaves of
      Solanum torvum Sw. (Solanaceae). Cytotoxicity of the extracts varied, and the
      leaves from S. torvum had the most promising selectivity index. Activity against
      M. tuberculosis; Strain H37Ra was the best predictor of activity against
      pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis subsp.tuberculosis (correlation
      coefficient=0.8). CONCLUSION: The overall results of the present study provide
      supportive data on the use of some medicinal plants for tuberculosis treatment.
      The leaves of Solanum torvum are a potential source of anti-TB natural products
      and deserve further investigations to develop novel anti-TB agents against
      sensitive and drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.

PMID- 26875648
TI  - 1-Year Outcomes of Everolimus-Eluting Bioresorbable Scaffolds Versus Everolimus
      Eluting Stents: A Propensity-Matched Comparison of the GHOST-EU and XIENCE V USA
      Registries.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the 1-year outcomes of the
      ABSORB everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) (Abbott Vascular, Santa
      Clara, California) and the XIENCE everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (Abbott
      Vascular) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. BACKGROUND:
      Randomized studies of the ABSORB BRS have been performed in selected patient and
      lesion scenarios. The available registries of the ABSORB BRS reflect real-world
      practice more closely compared with randomized studies, but most of them are
      limited by the small sample size and the lack of comparative outcomes versus
      second-generation drug-eluting stents. METHODS: A total of 1,189 consecutive
      patients treated with ABSORB BRS from the GHOST-EU (Gauging coronary Healing with
      bioresorbable Scaffolding plaTforms in EUrope) registry and 5,034 patients
      treated with XIENCE EES from the XIENCE V USA registry were analyzed. Clinical
      outcomes were compared with the use of propensity-score matching techniques and
      reported as Kaplan-Meier estimates and absolute risk difference (D) with 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs). The primary endpoint was a device-oriented composite
      endpoint, including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and
      ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS:
      After propensity score matching was performed for the entire population (N =
      6,223), there were 905 matched pairs of patients. In the matched cohort (N =
      1,810), there was no significant difference between ABSORB BRS and XIENCE EES in
      the risk of device-oriented composite endpoint at 1 year (5.8% vs. 7.6%, D = -1.8
      [95% CI: -4.1 to 0.5]; p = 0.12). Cardiac death was less likely to occur in the
      ABSORB BRS group (0.7% vs. 1.9%, D = -1.2 [95% CI: -2.2 to 0.2]; p = 0.03), and a
      trend toward a reduction in myocardial infarction was noted with ABSORB BRS
      compared with XIENCE EES (2.4% vs. 4.0%, D = -1.6 [95% CI: -3.2 to 0.0]; p =
      0.07). Conversely, no differences in ischemia-driven target lesion
      revascularization (4.6% vs. 3.5%, D = 1.1 [95% CI: -0.7 to 2.9]; p = 0.22) and
      definite or probable device thrombosis (1.8% vs. 1.1%, D = 0.7 [95% CI: -0.4 to
      1.8]; p = 0.23) were detected between ABSORB BRS and XIENCE EES. CONCLUSIONS: In
      a contemporary large cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary
      intervention with ABSORB BRS, the combined rate of ischemic events at 1 year was
      low and nonsignificantly different compared with matched patients treated with
      XIENCE EES.

PMID- 26875649
TI  - Assessment of the Radiation Exposure of Surgeons and Patients During a Lumbar
      Microdiskectomy and a Cervical Microdiskectomy: A French Prospective Multicenter
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cervical and lumbar disk herniations are the most frequently carried
      out procedures in spinal surgery. Often, a few snapshots during the procedure are
      necessary to validate the level or to position the implant. The objective of this
      study is to quantitatively estimate the radiation received by a spine surgeon and
      patient during a low-dose radiation procedure. METHODS: We conducted a
      prospective multicenter study in France from November 2014 to April 2015. Four
      spine centers were monitored for radiation received by surgeons during
      interventions for lumbar disk herniation and cervical disk herniation. RESULTS: A
      total of 134 patients were included. For lumbar disk herniation, the average
      exposure for the surgeon was 0.584 MUSv on the chest, 5.291 MUSv on the lens, and
      9.295 MUSv on the hands per procedure. For these procedures, the dose area
      product (DAP) was 94.2 +/- 198.4 cGy.cm(2), and the fluoroscopic time was 10.2 +/
      16.9 seconds. For a herniated cervical disk, the average exposure for the
      surgeon was 0.122 MUSv on the chest, 3.106 MUSv on the lens, and 7.143 MUSv on
      the hands per procedure. For these procedures, the DAP was 35.7 +/- 72.1
      cGy.cm(2), and the fluoroscopic time was 19.7 +/- 13.7 seconds. CONCLUSIONS:
      Exposure to x-rays for surgeons and patients during surgery for lumbar disk
      herniation is higher than during surgery for cervical herniation disk. Our
      results show that radiation exposure to the spine surgeon is still far below the
      annual dose limits.

PMID- 26875650
TI  - Use of Intramedullary K-Wire to Enhance Fibular Graft Placement in 4-Level
      Thoracolumbar Corpectomy for Pott Disease: Case Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reports of tuberculosis involving >=4 contiguous spinal levels are
      rare. Surgery is often required in this population for neurological decompression
      and stabilization. These patients appear to be particularly predisposed to
      complications that include incomplete recovery of neurological function after
      decompression as well as post-treatment kyphosis. In settings with limited
      available instrumentation, reconstruction of the anterior column can be
      challenging. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old woman presented with back pain,
      progressive weakness in her bilateral lower extremities, and inability to walk
      for 2 months. Imaging demonstrated anterior destruction of T10, T11, T12, and L1
      with severe retropulsion and cord impingement at T11-T12. The patient was taken
      for anterolateral corpectomies of T10-L1 with decompression of the thoracic
      spinal cord and fibular strut autograft placement followed by a T8 to L3
      posterior spinal fusion. An intramedullary Kirschner-wire (K-wire) was placed
      during the anterolateral procedure to enhance fibular graft placement and prevent
      dislodgement before definitive posterior fusion. CONCLUSIONS: At follow-up five
      and-a-half months after the operation, the patient had recovered full strength
      and was ambulating without difficulty. Imaging at this time demonstrated stable
      restoration of alignment without graft dislodgement. Intramedullary fibular K
      wire placement in this procedure helped to optimize anterior column
      reconstruction. The principles used in this report may prove beneficial to
      surgeons in developing countries who encounter pathology of this extent.

PMID- 26875651
TI  - Anatomical Origin of Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma: Off-Midline Location and Its
      Clinical Implications.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSM) arise from the dura mater of
      tuberculum sellae, limbus sphenoidale, and chiasmatic sulcus and cause asymmetric
      visual disturbances. In this study, we analyzed the laterality of the origin of
      TSM and discussed its clinical implications on immediate and long-term visual
      outcomes. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2013, TSM was diagnosed in 100 patients after
      microsurgical resection. The medical records, radiologic features, and operative
      findings were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed in these patients. RESULTS:
      Visual disturbances were evident in 95 patients (95%) after neuro-ophthalmologic
      testing. Among them, 89 patients (89%) showed marked asymmetric visual field
      defect, and 6 patients (6%) had relatively symmetric visual field defect. On
      intraoperative inspection, the origin of TSM was at the one lateral end portion
      of the tuberculum sellae in 85 patients (85%). In 15 patients (15%), the TSM
      originated from the midline region, including the central portion of the
      tuberculum sellae (n = 13) and diaphragm sellae (n = 2). Optic canal involvement
      was observed in 73 patients (73%). Preexisting visual field defects were improved
      in 70 patients (70%), were stationary in 25 patients (25%), and aggravated in 5
      patients (5%) during postoperative follow-up (mean 58 months, 24~122 months). The
      preoperative symptom duration, the laterality of the origin of TSM, and optic
      disc atrophy were associated with long-term poor visual outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:
      Most TSMs that originated from the dura of one lateral end portion of the
      tuberculum sellae correlated with asymmetric visual symptoms and poor visual
      outcomes. This microsurgical feature should be considered in the planning of
      optimal surgical strategy to achieve favorable outcomes.

PMID- 26875652
TI  - Cost Analysis of Spinal Versus General Anesthesia for Lumbar Diskectomy and
      Laminectomy Spine Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lumbar spine surgery can be performed using various anesthetic
      modalities, most notably general or spinal anesthesia. Because data comparing the
      cost of these anesthetic modalities in spine surgery are scarce, this study asks
      whether spinal anesthesia is less costly than general anesthesia. METHODS: A
      total of 542 patients who underwent elective lumbar diskectomy or laminectomy
      spine surgery between 2007 and 2011 were retrospectively identified, with 364
      having received spinal anesthesia and 178 having received general anesthesia.
      Mean direct operating cost, indirect cost (general support staff, insurance,
      taxes, floor space, facility, and administrative costs), and total cost were
      compared among patients who received general and spinal anesthesia. Linear
      multiple regression analysis was used to identify the effect of anesthesia type
      on cost and determine the factors underlying this effect, while controlling for
      patient and procedure characteristics. RESULTS: When controlling for patient and
      procedure characteristics, use of spinal anesthesia was associated with a 41.1%
      lower direct operating cost (-$3629 +/- $343, P < 0.001), 36.6% lower indirect
      cost (-$1603 +/- $168, P < 0.001), and 39.6% lower total cost (-$5232 +/- $482, P
      < 0.001) compared with general anesthesia. Shorter hospital stay, shorter
      duration of anesthesia, shorter duration of operation, and lower estimated blood
      loss contributed to lower costs for spinal anesthesia, but other factors beyond
      these were also responsible for lower direct operating and total costs.
      CONCLUSIONS: When comparing the benefits of spinal and general anesthesia, spinal
      anesthesia is less costly when used in patients undergoing lumbar diskectomy and
      laminectomy spine surgery.

PMID- 26875653
TI  - Advantage of Extended Craniofacial Resection for Advanced Malignant Tumors of the
      Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses: Long-Term Outcome and Surgical Management.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Craniofacial resection (CFR) for advanced sinonasal malignant tumors
      (SNMTs) is mandatory for radical resection. Surgeons must be aware of
      perioperative complications and long-term outcome because this procedure is
      extremely invasive, especially when the tumor involves the anterior skull base.
      METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive surgical patients with advanced SNMT of T4
      stage or Kadish stage C (31 men and 7 women; mean age, 55 years; range: 19-76
      years) treated with CFR in the past 28 years were followed up for 59.4 months. In
      cases of unilateral orbital extension, en-bloc resection was achieved using
      several neurosurgical techniques (extended CFR) from 2005 onwards. Herein, we
      evaluated the safety and effectiveness of surgery by comparing survival data
      between 2 time periods (first stage: 1984-2004, second stage: 2005-2012).
      RESULTS: Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type observed
      (65.8%), followed by esthesioneuroblastoma (15.8%). Using a combination of
      adjuvant radiation therapy, the 5-year overall survival and the 5-year disease
      specific survival rates were 55.5% and 59.4%, respectively. Sarcomatous histology
      was a poor prognostic factor. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 48.9%
      in the first stage and improved to 82.1% in the second stage (P = 0.057); this
      was related to improvements in local control rate. CONCLUSIONS: CFR and
      postoperative radiotherapy are safe and effective for treating advanced SNMTs.
      Extended CFR, including radical orbital exenteration, may contribute to good long
      term outcomes. A diverse surgical team may help perform radical resection and
      reconstruction in patients with advanced tumors.

PMID- 26875654
TI  - "Inverted Gull Wing" Dural Closure and Middle Fossa Floor Reconstruction After
      Transzygomatic Infratemporal Fossa Approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ineffective closure of complex skull base approaches leads to wound
      complications and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. This can result in protracted
      hospital stays, additional procedures, delayed postoperative recovery, and
      increased cost of care. Removal of large middle fossa-infratemporal fossa tumors
      are particularly problematic as they result in a large dead space with gravity
      facilitated CSF leakage into the cavity. In this report we describe the use of a
      novel technique, the "inverted gull wing" titanium mesh reconstruction. METHODS:
      Attempts to address this problem have focused primarily on closure and the use of
      myocutaneous flaps. Patients who have had multiple prior treatments are often
      afflicted with significant tissue attenuation that preclude dural closure or the
      use of local flaps. Although vascularized free flaps are an effective option in
      this scenario, they can add significant operative time and often yield suboptimal
      cosmetic results. We describe the use of the inverted gull wing titanium mesh
      reconstruction in the closure of 2 patients who underwent complex transzygomatic
      infratemporal fossa approaches for tumor with dural and sinonasal transgression.
      RESULTS: Postoperatively, there were no pseudomeningoceles, CSF leaks, or
      technique-related morbidities. CONCLUSIONS: The inverted gull wing technique
      represents a simple, fast, and effective closure for complex transzygomatic
      infratemporal fossa approaches.

PMID- 26875655
TI  - Historical Risk Factors Associated with Seizure Outcome After Surgery for Drug
      Resistant Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible influence of risk factors on seizure
      outcome after surgery for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mesial
      temporal sclerosis (MTS). METHODS: This retrospective study recruited patients
      with drug-resistant MTS-TLE who underwent epilepsy surgery at Jefferson
      Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Patients
      had been prospectively registered in a database from 1986 through 2014. After
      surgery outcome was classified into 2 groups: seizure-free or relapsed. The
      possible risk factors influencing long-term outcome after surgery were
      investigated. RESULTS: A total of 275 patients with MTS-TLE were studied. Two
      thirds of the patients had Engel's class 1 outcome and 48.4% of the patients had
      sustained seizure freedom, with no seizures since surgery. Patients with a
      history of tonic-clonic seizures in the year preceding surgery were more likely
      to experience seizure recurrence (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval 1.19
      4.80; P = 0.01). Gender, race, family history of epilepsy, history of febrile
      seizure, history of status epilepticus, duration of disease before surgery,
      intelligence quotient, and seizure frequency were not predictors of outcome.
      CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with drug-resistant MTS-TLE respond favorably to
      surgery. It is critical to distinguish among different types and etiologies of
      TLE when predicting outcome after surgery.

PMID- 26875656
TI  - Minimally Invasive Spinal Decompression in Patients Older Than 75 Years of Age:
      Perioperative Risks, Complications, and Clinical Outcomes Compared with Patients
      Younger Than 45 Years of Age.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive spinal decompression for the treatment of spinal
      stenosis or disk herniation is often indicated if conservative management fails.
      However, the influence of old age on the risk of postoperative complications and
      clinical outcome is not well understood. We therefore sought to compare
      complication rates and outcomes after minimally invasive surgery decompression
      and discectomy in elderly patients with a cohort of younger patients undergoing
      similar procedures. METHODS: We evaluated medical records of 61 patients older
      than 75 years and 69 patients younger than 45 years that underwent minimally
      invasive lumbar decompression between April 2009 and July 2013 at our institute.
      Medical history, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, perioperative
      mortality, complications, and revision surgery rates were analyzed. Patient
      outcomes included visual analog scale and EuroQol-5 Dimension scores. RESULTS:
      The average age was 78.66 +/- 4.42 years in the elderly group and 33.59 +/- 6.7
      years in the younger group. No major postoperative complications were recorded in
      either group, and all recruited patients were still alive at the time of the last
      follow-up. No statistically significant difference existed in the surgical
      revision rate between the groups. Both groups showed significant improvement in
      their outcome scores after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that
      minimally invasive decompressive surgery is a safe and effective treatment for
      elderly patients and does not pose an increased risk of complications. Future
      prospective studies are necessary to validate the specific advantages of the
      minimally invasive techniques in the elderly population.

PMID- 26875657
TI  - The Microsurgical Anatomy of the Orbitofrontal Arteries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The orbitofrontal (or frontobasal) arteries (OFAs) are the medial
      (MOFA) and lateral (LOFA) orbitofrontal artery, branches of the anterior and
      middle cerebral artery, respectively. They supply the orbitofrontal cortex. The
      purpose of this microscopic cadaveric study was the detailed and precise anatomic
      identification of the OFAs along their course. METHODS: Twenty formalin-fixed,
      colored latex-injected cadaveric heads were studied with the aid of an operating
      microscope and microsurgical instrumentation. The anatomy of the OFAs was
      examined after removing the cerebrum from the cranial vault. Anatomic features of
      the MOFA and LOFA were investigated and assessed in relation to demographic and
      anthropometric variables. RESULTS: The MOFA supplies approximately 15 branches
      and LOFA almost 16 branches. The MOFA provides 1 branch to the olfactory bulb and
      4 branches to the olfactory tract, and there are approximately 2 MOFA-LOFA
      anastomoses per hemisphere (novel finding). The MOFA origin is located
      approximately 7.9 mm anterior to the anterior communicating artery and 4.7 cm
      posterior to the anterior limit of the gyrus rectus. The LOFA origin is located
      approximately 11.1 mm from the middle cerebral artery bifurcation. Younger,
      shorter, and lighter individuals have more MOFA-LOFA anastomoses. Finally, the
      number of MOFA branches for the olfactory bulb is positively correlated with the
      number of MOFA branches for the olfactory tract, as well as with the number of
      MOFA-LOFA anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a detailed
      description of the OFAs' microsurgical anatomy and can help neurosurgeons to
      easily identify, manipulate, and preserve these vessels during surgery.

PMID- 26875658
TI  - Endovascular Mechanical Thrombectomy with the Solitaire Device for the Treatment
      of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment with
      the Solitaire device for acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO) and identify
      factors affecting clinical outcomes. METHODS: We enrolled 36 consecutive ABAO
      patients (aged 58.6 +/- 8.10 years) who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with
      the Solitaire device. We analyzed baseline characteristics, mechanical
      thrombectomy results, and factors predicting clinical outcomes, which were
      assessed at 90 days. RESULTS: The median prethrombectomy National Institutes of
      Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 25.50 (interquartile range: 21.00-29.00);
      the median prethrombectomy Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 8.00 (5.00-9.75).
      Thirty patients (83.3%) had atherosclerotic stenosis of the occluded artery, and
      25 underwent angioplasty (69.4%). Recanalization was successful (Thrombolysis in
      Cerebral Infarction grade: 2b-3) in 34 patients (94.4%). Six symptomatic
      intracranial hemorrhages (16.67%) occurred. Favorable outcomes (modified Rankin
      scale [mRS] score: 0-2) were achieved in 27.8% patients (10/36). The overall
      mortality rate was 30.6% (11/36) at 90 days. On univariate analysis, low
      prethrombectomy GCS and high post-thrombectomy NIHSS scores were associated with
      poor outcomes (mRS score >2) and mortality. Prethrombectomy unconsciousness,
      onset-to-recanalization time > 10.5 hours, and severe stenosis were associated
      with poor outcomes. Age >= 60 years was associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS:
      Endovascular treatment with the Solitaire device yielded high recanalization
      rates in ABAO patients and favorable clinical outcomes in approximately one third
      of patients. Intracranial stenosis was the main cause of occlusion. Angioplasty
      was commonly performed during mechanical thrombectomy to improve recanalization
      and prognosis. Early recanalization and better prethrombectomy status predicted
      better outcomes.

PMID- 26875660
TI  - Risk Factors for the Development of Contralateral Epidural Hematoma Following
      Decompressive Craniectomy in Patients with Calvarial Skull Fracture Contralateral
      to the Craniectomy Site.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and risk factors of contralateral
      epidural hematoma (CEDH) following decompressive craniectomy (DC) in patients
      with calvarial skull fracture contralateral to the craniectomy site. METHODS:
      After reviewing the medical records and radiographs over a 5-year period, 72
      patients with calvarial fracture contralateral to the craniectomy site were
      enrolled to determine the risk factors for the development of CEDH following DC.
      RESULTS: Among 13 patients with CEDH following DC, all but 1 patient were younger
      than 60 years of age. In 10 patients (77%) with CEDH, the contralateral calvarial
      fracture involved more than 1 bone plate. Comparatively, contralateral calvarial
      fracture involving more than 1 bone plate was noted in 21 patients (35.6%)
      without CEDH. After multiple logistic regression analysis, only age (P = 0.008,
      odds ratio [OR] = 0.916, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.858-0.987) and number
      of fracture-involved bone plate (P = 0.006, OR = 10.971, 95% CI = 2.02-59.70)
      remained independently associated with CEDH development following DC, and CEDH
      development rate increased by 8.4% with every 1-year decrease in age.
      CONCLUSIONS: Age and number of fracture-involved bone plate are significant risk
      factors for CEDH development following DC. Involvement of 2 or more bone plates
      of contralateral calvarial skull fracture in young adult may prompt an immediate
      postoperative computed tomography scan to detect the occurrence of CEDH,
      irrespective of the operative findings and neurologic status. This may prevent
      devastating neurologic consequences of CEDH and improve therapeutic outcome.

PMID- 26875659
TI  - In Situ Cranioplasty Technique for Immediate Calvarial Reconstruction to Optimize
      Cosmesis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: One of the goals of calvarial reconstruction after craniectomy is
      optimization of cosmesis. A simple technique for intraoperative generation of an
      implant based on the patient's native skull contour for immediate skull
      reconstruction after craniectomy is described. METHODS: In this technique, a
      titanium mesh is molded to the contour of the skull in situ and temporarily
      secured to the calvarium before the craniectomy. After the definitive portion of
      the procedure, the implant is resecured using the predrilled holes in the skull.
      RESULTS: In situ titanium cranioplasties are easily contoured to the patient's
      native skull before, and resecured after, craniectomy. Postoperative cosmesis is
      excellent. CONCLUSIONS: In selected cases, this technique for in situ
      cranioplasty before craniectomy generates an implant that mimics the patient's
      calvarium and results in excellent cosmetic outcomes.

PMID- 26875661
TI  - Verification of multichannel electrode array integrity by use of cross-channel
      correlations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of multichannel electrode arrays (MEAs) presents a number of
      practical challenges to experimenters including correctly labelling different
      recording channel locations and identifying sites that may be non-functional or
      short-circuited. These challenges are likely to increase as the number of sites
      used in recording increases. NEW METHOD: This paper presents a simple method for
      assessing MEA integrity based on the observation that physiologically induced
      signal correlations between nearby channels fall off with distance. Channels that
      violate this relationship are flagged as being potentially problematic. RESULTS:
      The method is able to present to the user a list of potentially faulty channels
      for further inspection. Underlying problems include non-functional, shorted and
      mislocalised channels and channels carrying spurious noisy signals unrelated to
      those on other channels. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Computational methods
      which automatically screen MEAs for faulty electrode channels do not appear to
      exist in the literature. Currently a user would have to examine single channels,
      or channel pairs, individually, which would be very time-consuming. CONCLUSIONS:
      Shorted or mislocalised channels may be more prevalent in MEA recordings than
      users suspect. The paper presents a simple screening method for identifying such
      channels prior to carrying out spike-sorting.

PMID- 26875662
TI  - Reducing premature KCC2 expression rescues seizure susceptibility and spine
      morphology in atypical febrile seizures.
AB  - Atypical febrile seizures are considered a risk factor for epilepsy onset and
      cognitive impairments later in life. Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and a
      history of atypical febrile seizures often carry a cortical malformation. This
      association has led to the hypothesis that the presence of a cortical dysplasia
      exacerbates febrile seizures in infancy, in turn increasing the risk for
      neurological sequelae. The mechanisms linking these events are currently poorly
      understood. Potassium-chloride cotransporter KCC2 affects several aspects of
      neuronal circuit development and function, by modulating GABAergic transmission
      and excitatory synapse formation. Recent data suggest that KCC2 downregulation
      contributes to seizure generation in the epileptic adult brain, but its role in
      the developing brain is still controversial. In a rodent model of atypical
      febrile seizures, combining a cortical dysplasia and hyperthermia-induced
      seizures (LHS rats), we found a premature and sustained increase in KCC2 protein
      levels, accompanied by a negative shift of the reversal potential of GABA. In
      parallel, we observed a significant reduction in dendritic spine size and mEPSC
      amplitude in CA1 pyramidal neurons, accompanied by spatial memory deficits. To
      investigate whether KCC2 premature overexpression plays a role in seizure
      susceptibility and synaptic alterations, we reduced KCC2 expression selectively
      in hippocampal pyramidal neurons by in utero electroporation of shRNA.
      Remarkably, KCC2 shRNA-electroporated LHS rats show reduced hyperthermia-induced
      seizure susceptibility, while dendritic spine size deficits were rescued. Our
      findings demonstrate that KCC2 overexpression in a compromised developing brain
      increases febrile seizure susceptibility and contribute to dendritic spine
      alterations.

PMID- 26875663
TI  - Astrocyte membrane properties are altered in a rat model of developmental
      cortical malformation but single-cell astrocytic glutamate uptake is robust.
AB  - Developmental cortical malformations (DCMs) are linked with severe epilepsy and
      are caused by both genetic and environmental insults. DCMs include several
      neurological diseases, such as focal cortical dysplasia, polymicrogyria,
      schizencephaly, and others. Human studies have implicated astrocyte reactivity
      and dysfunction in the pathophysiology of DCMs, but their specific role is
      unknown. As astrocytes powerfully regulate glutamate neurotransmission, and
      glutamate levels are known to be increased in human epileptic foci, understanding
      the role of astrocytes in the pathological sequelae of DCMs is extremely
      important. Additionally, recent studies examining astrocyte glutamate uptake in
      DCMs have reported conflicting results, adding confusion to the field. In this
      study we utilized the freeze lesion (FL) model of DCM, which is known to induce
      reactive astrocytosis and cause significant changes in astrocyte morphology,
      proliferation, and distribution. Using whole-cell patch clamp recording from
      astrocytes, we recorded both UV-uncaging and synaptically evoked glutamate
      transporter currents (TCs), widely accepted assays of functional glutamate
      transport by astrocytes. With this approach, we set out to test the hypothesis
      that astrocyte membrane properties and glutamate transport were disrupted in this
      model of DCM. Though we found that the developmental maturation of astrocyte
      membrane resistance was disrupted by FL, glutamate uptake by individual
      astrocytes was robust throughout FL development. Interestingly, using an
      immunolabeling approach, we observed spatial and developmental differences in
      excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) expression in FL cortex. Spatially
      specific differences in EAAT2 (GLT-1) and EAAT1 (GLAST) expression suggest that
      the relative contribution of each EAAT to astrocytic glutamate uptake may be
      altered in FL cortex. Lastly, we carefully analyzed the amplitudes and onset
      times of both synaptically- and UV uncaging-evoked TCs. We found that in the FL
      cortex, synaptically-evoked, but not UV uncaging-evoked TCs, were larger in
      amplitude. Additionally, we found that the amount of electrical stimulation
      required to evoke a synaptic TC was significantly reduced in the FL cortex. Both
      of these findings are consistent with increased excitatory input to the FL
      cortex, but not with changes in how individual astrocytes remove glutamate. Taken
      together, our results demonstrate that the maturation of astrocyte membrane
      resistance, local distribution of glutamate transporters, and glutamatergic input
      to the cortex are altered in the FL model, but that single-cell astrocytic
      glutamate uptake is robust. 

PMID- 26875664
TI  - Gadd45beta ameliorates L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in a Parkinson's disease mouse
      model.
AB  - The dopamine precursor 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (L-DOPA) is currently the
      most efficacious pharmacotherapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, long-term
      L-DOPA treatment leads to the development of abnormal involuntary movements
      (AIMs) in patients and animal models of PD. Recently, involvement of growth
      arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45beta (Gadd45beta) was reported in neurological
      and neurobehavioral dysfunctions. However, little is known about the role of
      Gadd45beta in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway or L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia
      (LID). To address this issue, we prepared an animal model of PD using unilateral
      6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions in the substantia nigra of Gadd45beta(+/+) and
      Gadd45beta(-/-) mice. Dyskinetic symptoms were triggered by repetitive
      administration of L-DOPA in these 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Whereas dopamine
      denervation in the dorsal striatum decreased Gadd45beta mRNA, chronic L-DOPA
      treatment significantly increased Gadd45beta mRNA expression in the 6-OHDA
      lesioned striatum of wild-type mice. Using unilaterally 6-OHDA-lesioned
      Gadd45beta(+/+) and Gadd45beta(-/-) mice, we found that mice lacking Gadd45beta
      exhibited long-lasting increases in AIMs following repeated administration of L
      DOPA. By contrast, adeno-associated virus-mediated expression of Gadd45beta in
      the striatum reduced AIMs in Gadd45beta knockout mice. The deficiency of
      Gadd45beta in LID increased expression of DeltaFosB and c-Fos in the lesioned
      striatum 90 min after the last administration of L-DOPA following 11days of daily
      L-DOPA treatments. These data suggest that the increased expression of Gadd45beta
      induced by repeated administration of L-DOPA may be beneficial in patients with
      PD.

PMID- 26875665
TI  - Study of the cross-reactivity of fish allergens based on a questionnaire and
      blood testing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parvalbumin and collagen have been identified as cross-reactive
      allergens for fish allergies. Although doctors realize that various fish elicit
      allergies, the targets of food allergen labeling laws were only mackerels and
      salmons in Japan and mackerels in South Korea. This study aimed to reveal the
      causative species for fish allergy via questionnaires and blood tests. METHODS:
      Questionnaire research was conducted in Japan via the internet concerning
      allergies for fish-allergic patients or their family members. Next, IgE
      reactivities and cross-reactivities of 26 fish species were analyzed using sera
      obtained from 16 Japanese patients who were allergic to fish parvalbumin or
      collagen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and inhibition ELISA.
      RESULTS: Questionnaire research revealed that 88% patients cannot eat mackerel
      and salmon in addition to other fish. In addition, 85% respondents were not
      satisfied with the current food allergen labeling law. In ELISA analyses, we
      clarified that pooled serum obtained from patients with fish parvalbumin-specific
      allergies exhibited IgE reactivity to the extracts of most fish species, and
      pooled serum obtained from patients with fish collagen-specific allergies
      displayed IgE reactivity to the extracts of all types of fish. Inhibition ELISA
      experiments revealed cross-reactivities of parvalbumin or collagen to extracts
      from all fish tested. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with fish allergies displayed
      allergic symptoms following the intake of various fish species. In addition, fish
      parvalbumin and collagen were causative factors of fish allergy and were highly
      cross-reactive fish panallergens. Therefore, current laws should be revised in
      Japan and South Korea.

PMID- 26875666
TI  - Comprehensive profiling of lysine acetylproteome analysis reveals diverse
      functions of lysine acetylation in common wheat.
AB  - Lysine acetylation of proteins, a dynamic and reversible post-translational
      modification, plays a critical regulatory role in both eukaryotes and
      prokaryotes. Several researches have been carried out on acetylproteome in
      plants. However, until now, there have been no data on common wheat, the major
      cereal crop in the world. In this study, we performed a global acetylproteome
      analysis of common wheat variety (Triticum aestivum L.), Chinese Spring. In
      total, 416 lysine modification sites were identified on 277 proteins, which are
      involved in a wide variety of biological processes. Consistent with previous
      studies, a large proportion of the acetylated proteins are involved in metabolic
      process. Interestingly, according to the functional enrichment analysis, 26
      acetylated proteins are involved in photosynthesis and Calvin cycle, suggesting
      an important role of lysine acetylation in these processes. Moreover, protein
      interaction network analysis reveals that diverse interactions are modulated by
      protein acetylation. These data represent the first report of acetylome in common
      wheat and serve as an important resource for exploring the physiological role of
      lysine acetylation in this organism and likely in all plants. 

PMID- 26875667
TI  - Mechanisms and consequences of ATMIN repression in hypoxic conditions: roles for
      p53 and HIF-1.
AB  - Hypoxia-induced replication stress is one of the most physiologically relevant
      signals known to activate ATM in tumors. Recently, the ATM interactor (ATMIN) was
      identified as critical for replication stress-induced activation of ATM in
      response to aphidicolin and hydroxyurea. This suggests an essential role for
      ATMIN in ATM regulation during hypoxia, which induces replication stress.
      However, ATMIN also has a role in base excision repair, a process that has been
      demonstrated to be repressed and less efficient in hypoxic conditions. Here, we
      demonstrate that ATMIN is dispensable for ATM activation in hypoxia and in
      contrast to ATM, does not affect cell survival and radiosensitivity in hypoxia.
      Instead, we show that in hypoxic conditions ATMIN expression is repressed.
      Repression of ATMIN in hypoxia is mediated by both p53 and HIF-1alpha in an
      oxygen dependent manner. The biological consequence of ATMIN repression in
      hypoxia is decreased expression of the target gene, DYNLL1. An expression
      signature associated with p53 activity was negatively correlated with DYNLL1
      expression in patient samples further supporting the p53 dependent repression of
      DYNLL1. Together, these data demonstrate multiple mechanisms of ATMIN repression
      in hypoxia with consequences including impaired BER and down regulation of the
      ATMIN transcriptional target, DYNLL1. 

PMID- 26875668
TI  - Association between Functional MICA-TM and Behcet's Disease: A Systematic Review
      and Meta-analysis.
AB  - The relationships between polymorphisms of the trans-membrane(TM) region located
      in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA)
      and Behcet's disease (BD) have been discussed previously, however, the results
      were contradictory. In this study, we thoroughly assess whether MICA-TM gene
      variants are associated with BD by means of a systematic review and meta
      analysis. Our study focused on the effects of polymorphisms of MICA-A4, A5, A5.1,
      A6, and A9 from the included articles. Sixteen previous original publications
      representing 1,555 BD patients and 2,086 unrelated healthy controls analyzed the
      association of BD with MICA-TM gene polymorphisms. For the five alleles, MICA-A6
      showed a strongly positive correlation with BD patients and could be viewed as an
      increased risk factor of BD (OR = 2.34, 95%CI: 2.02-2.70). Furthermore, MICA-A4,
      A5, A5.1, and A9 exhibited negative associations with BD (OR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.58
      0.86; OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.63-0.90; OR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.44-0.91; OR = 0.70, 95%CI:
      0.58-0.84, respectively). Our meta-analysis confirmed MICA-A6 could be
      responsible for BD in three ethnic regions and should probably be treated as a
      risk factor for BD. MICA-A4, A5, A5.1, and A9 could be regarded as protective
      factors, especially in the Middle East and East Asia.

PMID- 26875670
TI  - Population surveys compared with wastewater analysis for monitoring illicit drug
      consumption in Italy in 2010-2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Monitoring consumption by population surveys (PS) is an important way
      to challenge the spread of illicit drugs (ID). To improve the information, we
      explored a complementary method, particularly wastewater analysis (WWA). METHODS:
      We estimated the prevalence of use by PS, and the consumption by WWA, of cocaine,
      opioids, cannabis, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy) from 2010 to 2014 in Italy
      and compared the results. RESULTS: According to PS, cannabis and cocaine were the
      ID most used in Italy (last month prevalence 3.0% and 0.43% respectively in 2010)
      followed by opioids (0.17%) and amphetamines (0.14%). WWA gave similar findings,
      with cannabis consumption (4.35 g THC/day/1000 inhabitants) exceeding cocaine
      (0.78 g), heroin (0.092 g), methamphetamine and MDMA (0.103 g). The time trend
      investigated by PS showed significant decreases for all ID from 2010 to 2012. WWA
      also indicated a reduction of consumption for methamphetamine (p<0.0001) and
      heroin (p<0.01). Both methods showed an increase for cannabis in 2014 (p<0.001)
      with the other ID unchanged. Spatial investigations by WWA showed that cannabis
      and cocaine were consumed significantly more in central Italy than in the north
      and south. PS indicated the same but only for cannabis. WWA was helpful to study
      weekly patterns of consumption, showing increases in cocaine and MDMA at
      weekends. CONCLUSIONS: PS and WWA were confirmed as complementary methods and
      when used together improved the information on ID use in Italy. We suggest that
      the combined use of the two approaches can give better information on ID use in
      the population.

PMID- 26875669
TI  - Gut immunity in a protochordate involves a secreted immunoglobulin-type mediator
      binding host chitin and bacteria.
AB  - Protochordate variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins (VCBPs) consist
      of immunoglobulin-type V domains and a chitin-binding domain (CBD). VCBP V
      domains facilitate phagocytosis of bacteria by granulocytic amoebocytes; the
      function of the CBD is not understood. Here we show that the gut mucosa of Ciona
      intestinalis contains an extensive matrix of chitin fibrils to which VCBPs bind
      early in gut development, before feeding. Later in development, VCBPs and
      bacteria colocalize to chitin-rich mucus along the intestinal wall. VCBP-C
      influences biofilm formation in vitro and, collectively, the findings of this
      study suggest that VCBP-C may influence the overall settlement and colonization
      of bacteria in the Ciona gut. Basic relationships between soluble immunoglobulin
      type molecules, endogenous chitin and bacteria arose early in chordate evolution
      and are integral to the overall function of the gut barrier. 

PMID- 26875671
TI  - Is cannabis use associated with an increased risk of onset and persistence of
      alcohol use disorders? A three-year prospective study among adults in the United
      States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relationship between cannabis use and alcohol use disorders
      (AUDs) over time remains unclear. The current study used longitudinal data from
      adults in the United States (U.S.) to investigate the association between
      cannabis use and risk of onset and persistence of AUDs three years later.
      METHODS: The study used data from respondents who completed both waves of the
      National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders (NESARC; Wave
      1, 2001-2001; Wave 2, 2004-2005) and for whom the age of first cannabis use
      preceded the age of any AUD. Incident AUDs were examined among respondents with
      no lifetime AUD diagnosis at Wave 1 (n=27,461). Persistent AUDs were examined
      among respondents with a lifetime AUD diagnosis at Wave 1 (n=2,121). RESULTS:
      Among adults with no history of AUD, cannabis use at Wave 1 was associated with
      increased incidence of an AUD three years later relative to no cannabis use (Odds
      Ratio (OR)=5.43; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=4.54-6.49). Among adults with a
      history of AUD, cannabis use at Wave 1 was associated with increased likelihood
      of AUD persistence three years later relative to no cannabis use (OR=1.74; 95%
      CI=1.56-1.95). These relationships remained significant after controlling for
      demographics, psychiatric disorders, and other substance use disorders.
      CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of AUD onset and
      persistence over the course of three years among U.S. adults. Community-based and
      clinical programs aimed at preventing or treating problematic alcohol use may
      benefit from integrating information about cannabis use in order to improve
      outcomes.

PMID- 26875672
TI  - Non-prescribed use of psychoactive prescription drugs among drug-impaired drivers
      in Sweden.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the prevalence of non-prescribed drug use among subjects
      suspected of drug-impaired driving with a psychoactive prescription drug, and to
      identify associated factors. METHODS: Subjects investigated for drug-impaired
      driving in Sweden during 2006-2009 with a confirmed intake of diazepam,
      flunitrazepam, tramadol, zolpidem or zopiclone were identified using the Swedish
      Forensic Toxicology Database. Information on dispensed prescription drugs was
      retrieved from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Non-prescribed use was our
      outcome, defined as a psychoactive prescription drug intake confirmed by
      toxicological analysis in a subject by whom it was not dispensed in the 12 months
      preceding the sampling. Prevalence proportions were calculated for each drug and
      logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. RESULTS: In total,
      2225 subjects were included. The median age (range) was 34 (15-80) years and 1864
      (83.8%) subjects were male. Non-prescribed use was found in 1513 subjects
      (58.7%); for flunitrazepam 103 (76.3%), diazepam 1098 (74.1%), tramadol 192
      (40.3%), zopiclone 60 (29.7%), and zolpidem 60 (21.2%) subjects, respectively.
      Younger age and multiple-substance use were associated with non-prescribed use,
      whereas ongoing treatment with other psychoactive drugs was negatively associated
      with non-prescribed use. CONCLUSIONS: Non-prescribed use of psychoactive
      prescription drugs was common in subjects suspected of drug-impaired driving and
      was more frequent for benzodiazepines and tramadol compared to zolpidem and
      zopiclone. The young and multi-substance users were more likely, whereas subjects
      with ongoing prescribed treatment with other psychoactive drugs were less likely,
      to use non-prescribed drugs.

PMID- 26875673
TI  - Qualitative process study of community pharmacist brief alcohol intervention
      effectiveness trial: Can research participation effects explain a null finding?
AB  - AIMS: This qualitative process study, nested within a randomised controlled trial
      evaluating community pharmacist brief alcohol intervention delivery, aims to
      explore participants' engagement with the trial, so as to identify whether
      research participation effects may explain why the brief intervention was not
      found to be effective. METHOD: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24
      randomly selected participants approximately one month after the end of the
      trial. Semi structured Interviews were conducted by telephone in which
      participants were asked to give a chronological account of their trial
      participation, leading to a discussion of possible impacts. These were digitally
      recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using the Framework method. RESULTS:
      A range of motivations for taking part in the trial were identified, including
      pharmacy visitors wanting to obtain an assessment of their drinking. Participants
      in both arms of the trial spoke of the potent effect that screening had on them.
      All participants were exposed to discussions about alcohol with empathic
      pharmacists and, as this is an integral intervention component, this constitutes
      contamination. Participants' pre-existing ideas about the nature of alcohol
      problems had an important bearing on how relevant they thought the intervention
      was to them. CONCLUSION: A detailed appreciation of participant engagement with
      the trial can provide a strong basis for interpretation of trial outcome data,
      and in this instance does help explain the null finding. Other findings also
      indicate the need for dedicated studies of public understanding of the nature of
      alcohol problems, and their implications for receptivity to brief interventions.

PMID- 26875675
TI  - Severe halitosis as presentation of epiphrenic diverticulum.
AB  - Halitosis is a common condition, whose main etiology does not respond to diseases
      of the gastrointestinal system. Epiphrenic diverticula are a rare cause of this
      manifestation, thus they are not frequent and they are usually asymptomatic.
      However, they may produce symptoms with inability for patient. A patient with
      severe halitosis is presented. In his study, an epiphrenic diverticulum is
      diagnosed and the laparoscopic abdominal diverticulectomy is performed with a
      complete resolution of symptomatology.

PMID- 26875674
TI  - Skeletal manifestations of Marfan syndrome associated to heterozygous R2726W FBN1
      variant: sibling case report and literature review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: FBN1 (15q21.1) encodes fibrillin-1, a large glycoprotein which is a
      major component of microfibrils that are widely distributed in structural
      elements of elastic and non-elastic tissues. FBN1 variants are responsible for
      the related connective tissue disorders, grouped under the generic term of type-1
      fibrillinopathies, which include Marfan syndrome (MFS), MASS syndrome (Mitral
      valve prolapse, Aortic enlargement, Skin and Skeletal findings, Acromicric
      dysplasia, Familial ectopia lentis, Geleophysic dysplasia 2, Stiff skin syndrome,
      and dominant Weill-Marchesani syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: Two siblings presented
      with isolated skeletal manifestations of MFS, including severe pectus excavatum,
      elongated face, scoliosis in one case, and absence of other clinical features
      according to Ghent criteria diagnosis, were screened for detection of variants in
      whole FBN1 gene (65 exons). Both individuals were heterozygous for the R2726W
      variant. This variant has been previously reported in association with some
      skeletal features of Marfan syndrome in the absence of both tall stature and non
      skeletal features. These features are consistent with the presentation of the
      siblings reported here. CONCLUSION: The presented cases confirm that the R2726W
      FBN1 variant is associated with skeletal features of MFS in the absence of
      cardiac or ocular findings. These findings confirm that FBN1 variants are
      associated with a broad phenotypic spectrum and the value of sequencing in
      atypical cases.

PMID- 26875676
TI  - Evidence of disrupted high-risk human papillomavirus DNA in morphologically
      normal cervices of older women.
AB  - High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) causes nearly 100% of cervical carcinoma.
      However, it remains unclear whether HPV can establish a latent infection, one
      which may be responsible for the second peak in incidence of cervical carcinoma
      seen in older women. Therefore, using Ventana in situ hybridisation (ISH),
      quantitative PCR assays and biomarkers of productive and transforming viral
      infection, we set out to provide the first robust estimate of the prevalence and
      characteristics of HPV genomes in FFPE tissue from the cervices of 99 women
      undergoing hysterectomy for reasons unrelated to epithelial abnormality. Our ISH
      assay detected HR-HPV in 42% of our study population. The majority of ISH
      positive samples also tested HPV16 positive using sensitive PCR based assays and
      were more likely to have a history of preceding cytological abnormality. Analysis
      of subsets of this population revealed HR-HPV to be transcriptionally inactive as
      there was no evidence of a productive or transforming infection. Critically, the
      E2 gene was always disrupted in those HPV16 positive cases which were assessed.
      These findings point to a reservoir of transcriptionally silent, disrupted HPV16
      DNA in morphologically normal cervices, re-expression of which could explain the
      increase in incidence of cervical cancer observed in later life. 

PMID- 26875677
TI  - A nomogram to predict the probability of axillary lymph node metastasis in early
      breast cancer patients with positive axillary ultrasound.
AB  - Among patients with a preoperative positive axillary ultrasound, around 40% of
      them are pathologically proved to be free from axillary lymph node (ALN)
      metastasis. We aimed to develop and validate a model to predict the probability
      of ALN metastasis as a preoperative tool to support clinical decision-making.
      Clinicopathological features of 322 early breast cancer patients with positive
      axillary ultrasound findings were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression
      analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of ALN metastasis. A
      model was created from the logistic regression analysis, comprising lymph node
      transverse diameter, cortex thickness, hilum status, clinical tumour size,
      histological grade and estrogen receptor, and it was subsequently validated in
      another 234 patients. Coefficient of determination (R(2)) and the area under the
      ROC curve (AUC) were calculated to be 0.9375 and 0.864, showing good calibration
      and discrimination of the model, respectively. The false-negative rates of the
      model were 0% and 5.3% for the predicted probability cut-off points of 7.1% and
      13.8%, respectively. This means that omission of axillary surgery may be safe for
      patients with a predictive probability of less than 13.8%. After further
      validation in clinical practice, this model may support increasingly limited
      surgical approaches to the axilla in breast cancer. 

PMID- 26875680
TI  - Plant genomics: Under the sea flowering plants adapt and thrive.

PMID- 26875678
TI  - Unravelling the human genome-phenome relationship using phenome-wide association
      studies.
AB  - Advances in genotyping technology have, over the past decade, enabled the focused
      search for common genetic variation associated with human diseases and traits.
      With the recently increased availability of detailed phenotypic data from
      electronic health records and epidemiological studies, the impact of one or more
      genetic variants on the phenome is starting to be characterized both in clinical
      and population-based settings using phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS).
      These studies reveal a number of challenges that will need to be overcome to
      unlock the full potential of PheWAS for the characterization of the complex human
      genome-phenome relationship. 

PMID- 26875681
TI  - Evidence from Multiple Species that Spider Silk Glue Component ASG2 is a
      Spidroin.
AB  - Spiders in the superfamily Araneoidea produce viscous glue from aggregate silk
      glands. Aggregate glue coats prey-capture threads and hampers the escape of prey
      from webs, thereby increasing the foraging success of spiders. cDNAs for
      Aggregate Spider Glue 1 (ASG1) and 2 (ASG2) have been previously described from
      the golden orb-weaver, Nephila clavipes, and Western black widow, Latrodectus
      hesperus. To further investigate aggregate glues, we assembled ASG1 and ASG2 from
      genomic target capture libraries constructed from three species of cob-web
      weavers and three species of orb-web weavers, all araneoids. We show that ASG1 is
      unlikely to be a glue, but rather is part of a widespread arthropod gene family,
      the peritrophic matrix proteins. For ASG2, we demonstrate its remarkable
      architectural and sequence similarities to spider silk fibroins, indicating that
      ASG2 is a member of the spidroin gene family. Thus, spidroins have diversified
      into glues in addition to task-specific, high performance fibers. 

PMID- 26875679
TI  - Cheating evolution: engineering gene drives to manipulate the fate of wild
      populations.
AB  - Engineered gene drives - the process of stimulating the biased inheritance of
      specific genes - have the potential to enable the spread of desirable genes
      throughout wild populations or to suppress harmful species, and may be
      particularly useful for the control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria.
      Although several types of selfish genetic elements exist in nature, few have been
      successfully engineered in the laboratory thus far. With the discovery of RNA
      guided CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
      CRISPR-associated 9) nucleases, which can be utilized to create, streamline and
      improve synthetic gene drives, this is rapidly changing. Here, we discuss the
      different types of engineered gene drives and their potential applications, as
      well as current policies regarding the safety and regulation of gene drives for
      the manipulation of wild populations. 

PMID- 26875683
TI  - Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on central aortic systolic blood pressure
      in hypertensive Asians measured using radial tonometry: an open prospective
      cohort study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) has been shown to be a
      stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than brachial blood pressure (BP).
      Different classes of drugs have differential effects on CASP and brachial BP.
      This open prospective cohort study aimed to observe changes in CASP (measured
      using radial tonometry) among hypertensive Asians after 12 weeks of treatment
      with valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). METHODS: Patients with
      treatment-naive hypertension or uncontrolled hypertension who were on non-ARB
      therapy were eligible for inclusion. Patients with uncontrolled BP (i.e. >=
      140/90 mmHg) received valsartan for 12 weeks. The patients' brachial systolic and
      diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), and CASP changes were monitored using the BPro(r)
      watch. RESULTS: The mean age of the 44 enrolled patients was 35 years. At
      baseline, the mean BP and CASP were 150.2/91.4 +/- 10.6/9.4 mmHg and 136.3 +/-
      12.2 mmHg, respectively. Valsartan reduced SBP, DBP and CASP by 14.9 +/- 10.7
      mmHg, 10.9 +/- 8.4 mmHg and 15.3 +/- 10.9 mmHg, respectively (all p < 0.001).
      Every 1.0-mmHg reduction in brachial SBP resulted in a 0.8-mmHg reduction in CASP
      (p < 0.001). A CASP cut-off of 122.5 mmHg discriminated between controlled and
      uncontrolled BP (sensitivity 74%, specificity 88%). CONCLUSION: Using radial
      tonometry, we demonstrated good correlation between CASP and brachial SBP
      reductions after 12 weeks of treatment with valsartan in our study cohort.
      Correlation analysis between CASP and SBP reductions may be useful for
      demonstrating whether a drug is able to lower CASP beyond lowering SBP.

PMID- 26875682
TI  - Early outcome of transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate versus
      transurethral resection of the prostate.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Recurrent prostate adenoma is a long-term complication following
      transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Transurethral enucleation and
      resection of the prostate (TUERP) is more appealing, since the nodular adenoma
      can be completely removed through endoscopy. TUERP is also hypothesised to result
      in a lower frequency of recurrent adenoma. This study aimed to compare the early
      outcomes of TUERP and TURP, and assess the feasibility and safety of TUERP.
      METHODS: We compared the outcome of 81 patients who underwent TUERP with that of
      85 patients who underwent TURP. International prostate symptom score, quality of
      life score, prostate volume, degree of intravesical prostatic protrusion, maximum
      flow rate, post-void residual volume and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level
      were obtained pre- and postoperatively. Complications (e.g. transfusion rate,
      incontinence, infection and urethral stricture) were analysed. RESULTS: Operative
      time was significantly longer in the TUERP group compared to the TURP group (85.3
      minutes vs. 51.6 minutes). After TUERP, the maximum flow rate was significantly
      higher (21.1 mL/s vs. 17.1 mL/s) and PSA level was significantly lower (1.2 ng/mL
      vs. 1.9 ng/mL) than after TURP. The rates of infection, transfusion and urethral
      stricture were similar for both groups, but the TUERP group had a higher rate of
      temporary incontinence (13.6% vs. 4.7%). CONCLUSION: The lower PSA level and
      better maximum flow rate achieved following TUERP suggest that prostate adenoma
      removal was more complete with TUERP. Long-term follow-up is required to
      establish whether TUERP results in fewer resections for recurrent adenoma.

PMID- 26875684
TI  - Detection of Vaccinia virus during an outbreak of exanthemous oral lesions in
      Brazilian equids.
AB  - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: In August 2014, an outbreak of oral exanthematous
      disease in equids was reported in Brazil, affecting 11 donkeys and 3 mules.
      OBJECTIVES: To investigate if Vaccinia virus (VACV) was the aetiological agent in
      this outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: Investigation of clinical cases using serological,
      molecular and phylogenetic approaches. METHODS: To analyse the presence of
      neutralising antibodies against VACV, samples were submitted in triplicate to a
      plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT50% ). On the basis of previous studies
      which detected VACV DNA in sera, we submitted extracted DNA samples to different
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platforms targeting Orthopoxvirus (OPV) genes
      (C11R, A56R and A26L). The PCR products were directly sequenced in both
      orientations using specific primers and capillary electrophoresis. The alignment
      and phylogenetic analysis of the A26L and A56R nucleotide sequences (maximum
      likelihood) were prepared with the obtained nucleotide fragments. RESULTS:
      Serological and molecular data suggested VACV as the aetiological agent. The
      neutralising antibodies against OPV were detected in 5 (55.5%) of the equids,
      with titres >=40 neutralising u/ml. Based on the results obtained from all PCR
      platforms, all samples were positive for OPV: 9 (100%) for A56R, 4 (44.4%) for
      C11R and 3 (33.3%) for A26L. The alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the
      A26L and A56R fragments revealed that the samples were highly similar to the
      homologous genes from other Brazilian VACV Group 1 isolates (98.8% identity on
      average). Furthermore, both the A26L and A56R sequences showed signature
      deletions also present in the sequences of Group 1 VACV isolates from Brazil.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our data raises questions about the role of equids in the chain of
      VACV epidemiology. The surveillance of equids in VACV-affected areas worldwide is
      relevant.

PMID- 26875685
TI  - Quantum-mechanical machinery for rational decision-making in classical guessing
      game.
AB  - In quantum game theory, one of the most intriguing and important questions is,
      "Is it possible to get quantum advantages without any modification of the
      classical game?" The answer to this question so far has largely been negative. So
      far, it has usually been thought that a change of the classical game setting
      appears to be unavoidable for getting the quantum advantages. However, we give an
      affirmative answer here, focusing on the decision-making process (we call
      'reasoning') to generate the best strategy, which may occur internally, e.g., in
      the player's brain. To show this, we consider a classical guessing game. We then
      define a one-player reasoning problem in the context of the decision-making
      theory, where the machinery processes are designed to simulate classical and
      quantum reasoning. In such settings, we present a scenario where a rational
      player is able to make better use of his/her weak preferences due to quantum
      reasoning, without any altering or resetting of the classically defined game. We
      also argue in further analysis that the quantum reasoning may make the player
      fail, and even make the situation worse, due to any inappropriate preferences. 

PMID- 26875686
TI  - Corrigendum: ImmuSort, a database on gene plasticity and electronic sorting for
      immune cells.

PMID- 26875687
TI  - Boron induced structure modifications in Pd-Cu-B system: new Ti2Ni-type
      derivative borides Pd3Cu3B and Pd5Cu5B2.
AB  - The formation of two distinct derivative structures of Ti2Ni-type, interstitial
      Pd3Cu3B and substitutive Pd5Cu5B2, has been elucidated in Pd-Cu-B alloys from
      analysis of X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction data and supported by
      SEM. The metal atom arrangement in the new boride Pd3Cu3B (space group Fd3m,
      W3Fe3C-type structure, a = 1.1136(3) nm) follows the pattern of atom distribution
      in the CdNi-type structure. Pd5Cu5B2 (space group F(4)3m, a = 1.05273(5) nm)
      exhibits a non-centrosymmetric substitutive derivative of the Ti2Ni-type
      structure. The reduction of symmetry on passing from Ti2Ni-type structure to
      Pd5Cu5B2 corresponds to the loss of an inversion centre delivered by an ordered
      occupation of the Ni position (32e) by dissimilar atoms, Cu and B. In both
      structures, the boron atom centers Pd forming [BPd6] octahedra in Pd3Cu3B and
      [BPd6] trigonal prisms in Pd5Cu5B2. Neither a perceptible homogeneity range nor
      mutual solid solubility was observed for two compounds at 600  degrees C, while
      in as cast conditions Pd5Cu5B2 exhibits an extended homogeneity range formed by a
      partial substitution of Cu atoms (in 24f) by Pd (Pd5+xCu5-xB2, 0 <=x<= 1).
      Electrical resistivity measurements performed on Pd3Cu3B as well as on Pd-poor
      and Pd-rich termini of Pd5+xCu5-xB2 annealed at 600  degrees C and in as cast
      conditions respectively demonstrated the absence of any phase transitions for
      this compounds in the temperature region from 0.3 K to 300 K.

PMID- 26875688
TI  - Hyperammonemia alters glycinergic neurotransmission and modulation of the
      glutamate-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway by extracellular glycine in cerebellum in
      vivo.
AB  - The glutamate-nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway modulates some forms of learning.
      How glycine modulates this pathway is unclear. Glycine could modulate the pathway
      biphasically, enhancing its function through NMDA receptor activation or reducing
      it through glycine receptor activation. Chronic hyperammonemia impairs the
      glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway in the cerebellum and induces cognitive impairment. The
      possible alterations in hyperammonemia of glycinergic neurotransmission and of
      glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway modulation by glycine remain unknown. The aims were to
      assess, by in vivo microdialysis in cerebellum: (i) the effects of different
      glycine concentrations, administered through the microdialysis probe, on the
      glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway function; (ii) the effects of tonic glycine receptors
      activation on the pathway function, by blocking them with strychnine; (iii)
      whether hyperammonemia alters the pathway modulation by glycine; (iv) and whether
      hyperammonemia alters extracellular glycine concentration and/or glycine receptor
      membrane expression. In control rats, low glycine levels reduce the pathway
      function, likely by activating glycine receptors, while 20 MUM glycine enhances
      the pathway function, likely by enhancing NMDA receptor activation. In
      hyperammonemic rats, glycine did not reduce the pathway function, but enhanced it
      when administered at 1-20 MUM. Hyperammonemia reduces extracellular glycine
      concentration by approximately 50% and glycine receptor membrane expression.
      However, tonic glycine receptor activation seems to be enhanced in hyperammonemic
      rats, as indicated by the larger increase in extracellular cGMP induced by
      strychnine. These data show that glycine modulates the glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway
      biphasically and that hyperammonemia strongly alters glycinergic
      neurotransmission and modulation by glycine of the glutamate-NO-cGMP pathway.
      These alterations may contribute to the cerebellar aspects of cognitive
      alterations in hyperammonemia. The findings reported in this study show that
      hyperammonemia alters glycinergic neurotransmission and the glutamate-NO-cGMP
      pathway modulation by glycine. In control rats, low glycine levels reduced the
      pathway function, likely by activating glycine receptors, while 20 MUM glycine
      enhanced the pathway, likely by enhancing NMDA receptor activation. In
      hyperammonemic rats, glycine (administered at 1-20 MUM) enhances the pathway,
      likely by activating NMDA receptors.

PMID- 26875689
TI  - Water Dynamics in Gyroid Phases of Self-Assembled Gemini Surfactants.
AB  - Water-mediated ion transport through functional nanoporous materials depends on
      the dynamics of water confined within a given nanostructured morphology. Here, we
      investigate H-bonding dynamics of interfacial water within a "normal" (Type I)
      lyotropic gyroid phase formed by a gemini dicarboxylate surfactant self-assembly
      using a combination of 2DIR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations.
      Experiments and simulations demonstrate that water dynamics in the normal gyroid
      phase is 1 order of magnitude slower than that in bulk water, due to specific
      interactions between water, the ionic surfactant headgroups, and counterions.
      Yet, the dynamics of water in the normal gyroid phase are faster than those of
      water confined in a reverse spherical micelle of a sulfonate surfactant, given
      that the water pool in the reverse micelle and the water pore in the gyroid phase
      have roughly the same diameters. This difference in confined water dynamics
      likely arises from the significantly reduced curvature-induced frustration at the
      convex interfaces of the normal gyroid, as compared to the concave interfaces of
      a reverse spherical micelle. These detailed insights into confined water dynamics
      may guide the future design of artificial membranes that rapidly transport
      protons and other ions. 

PMID- 26875690
TI  - Quercetin-loaded nanomicelles to circumvent human castration-resistant prostate
      cancer in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Prostate cancer is highly prevalent and has become the second leading cause of
      cancer-related death in men. Its treatment remains a challenge in the clinic,
      particularly in patients who have advanced to "castration-resistant prostate
      cancer" (CRPC). Thus, more effective therapeutic strategies are required.
      Quercetin (QCT) is a natural flavonoid compound that has attracted increasing
      interest due to its anticancer activity. However, the clinical application of
      quercetin is largely hampered by its poor water solubility and low
      bioavailability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic
      potential of novel QCT-loaded nanomicelles (M-QCTs) assembled from DSPE-PEG2000
      for prostate cancer treatment. Our results indicated that QCT was efficiently
      encapsulated into micelles up to 1 mg mL(-1), which corresponds to a 450-fold
      increase of its water solubility. In vitro studies showed that the half-maximal
      inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (20.2 MUM) of M-QCTs was much lower than
      free QCT (>200 MUM). Thus, M-QCTs were considerably more effective than free QCT
      in proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of human androgen-independent
      PC-3 cells. Furthermore, M-QCTs showed superior antitumor efficacy and the tumor
      proliferation rate reduced by 52.03% compared to the control group in the PC-3
      xenograft mouse model, possibly due to increased accumulation of M-QCTs at the
      tumor site by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Collectively,
      our studies demonstrated that M-QCTs significantly increase drug accumulation at
      the tumor site and exhibit superior anticancer activity in prostate cancer. Thus,
      our nanomicelle-based drug delivery system constitutes a promising and effective
      therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment. 

PMID- 26875691
TI  - Application of hollow fiber vitrification for cryopreservation of bovine early
      cleavage stage embryos and porcine morula-blastomeres.
AB  - A novel hollow fiber vitrification (HFV) method was applied to materials that
      have previously been difficult to cryopreserve, thereby expanding the potential
      application of this method. The results showed that zona-free porcine morulae and
      their isolated blastomeres remained viable even after vitrification. The rate of
      development to blastocysts after vitrification was similar for zona-free and zona
      intact morulae (21/23, 91.3% for both). Vitrified blastomeres had a developmental
      potential equal to that of non-vitrified blastomeres (blastocyst formation rate
      after reaggregation: 16/17, 94.1% for both). The HFV method was also effective
      for the cryopreservation of in vitro matured/fertilized bovine embryos at the 2-
      to 4-cell, 8- to 16-cell and morula stages. The blastocyst formation rates of
      vitrified embryos (66.1-82.5%) were similar to those of non-vitrified embryos
      (74.5-82.5%). These results indicate that this novel HFV method is an effective
      tool for embryo cryopreservation that can enhance current practices in
      reproductive biology. 

PMID- 26875692
TI  - Defect engineering of UiO-66 for CO2 and H2O uptake - a combined experimental and
      simulation study.
AB  - Defect concentrations and their compensating groups have been systematically
      tuned within UiO-66 frameworks by using modified microwave-assisted solvothermal
      methods. Both of these factors have a pronounced effect on CO2 and H2O adsorption
      at low and high pressure. 

PMID- 26875693
TI  - A Variable Temperature Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Study of Colossal
      Magnetoresistant NdMnAsO0.95F0.05.
AB  - The recent discovery of high temperature superconductivity in Fe arsenides has
      invigorated research into transition metal pnictides. Colossal magnetoresistance
      (CMR) has recently been reported for NdMnAsO1-xFx for x = 0.05-0.08, with a
      maximum magnetoresistance achieved at low temperature (MR9T(3 K)) = -95%). This
      appears to be a novel mechanism of CMR, which is as a result of a second order
      phase transition in field from an insulating antiferromagnet to a semiconducting
      paramagnet. Here we report a variable temperature synchrotron X-ray powder
      diffraction study of the CMR oxypnictide NdMnAsO0.95F0.05 between 4 K-290 K. An
      excellent fit to the tetragonal unit cell with space group P4/nmm is obtained
      over the entire temperature range, with no change in crystal structure detected
      down to 4 K. A coupling of the lattice and magnetic order is observed, where
      subtle discontinuities in the temperature variation of a and the c/a ratio are
      apparent as the Nd spins order antiferromagnetically and the Mn moments reorient
      into the basal plane at TSR. The results suggest that very small changes in
      lattice parameters effect the coupling between lattice, electronic and magnetic
      degrees of freedom.

PMID- 26875694
TI  - Shifts in excitatory/inhibitory balance by juvenile stress: A role for neuron
      astrocyte interaction in the dentate gyrus.
AB  - Childhood trauma is a well-described risk factor for the development of stress
      related psychopathology such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression later
      in life. Childhood adversity can be modeled in rodents by juvenile stress (JS)
      protocols, resulting in impaired coping with stressful challenges in adulthood.
      In the current study, we investigated the long-lasting impact of JS on the
      expression of molecular factors for glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
      uptake and turnover in sublayers of the dentate gyrus (DG) using laser
      microdissection and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We observed
      reduced mRNA expression levels after JS for factors mediating astrocytic
      glutamate and GABA uptake and degradation. These alterations were prominently
      observed in the dorsal but not ventral DG granule cell layer, indicating a
      lasting change in astrocytic GABA and glutamate metabolism that may affect dorsal
      DG network activity. Indeed, we observed increased inhibition and a lack of
      facilitation in response to paired-pulse stimulation at short interstimulus
      intervals in the dorsal DG after JS, while no alterations were evident in basal
      synaptic transmission or forms of long-term plasticity. The shift in paired-pulse
      response was mimicked by pharmacologically blocking the astrocytic GABA
      transporter GAT-3 in naive animals. Accordingly, reduced expression levels of GAT
      3 were confirmed at the protein level in the dorsal granule cell layer of rats
      stressed in juvenility. Together, these data demonstrate a lasting shift in the
      excitatory/inhibitory balance of dorsal DG network activity by JS that appears to
      be mediated by decreased GABA uptake into astrocytes.

PMID- 26875697
TI  - Etching of electrodeposited Cu2O films using ammonia solution for photovoltaic
      applications.
AB  - Impurities at the surface of electrodeposited p-Cu2O films have been efficiently
      removed through the use of concentrated aqueous ammonia solution as a wet etching
      agent. The performance of the Cu2O homojunction photovoltaic devices
      incorporating etched p-Cu2O as the bottom layer is higher compared to devices
      with as-deposited p-Cu2O layers due to an improvement of the homojunction
      interface quality. Reducing the density of defect states that act as carrier
      recombination centers led to larger open circuit voltages. The ammonia etchant
      has been found to preferentially interact with the {100} facets of Cu2O and
      expose a greater number of {111} facets, resulting in increased interface area
      for etched homojunction devices, which also improved short circuit current
      density values. 

PMID- 26875695
TI  - Conformational plasticity of RepB, the replication initiator protein of
      promiscuous streptococcal plasmid pMV158.
AB  - DNA replication initiation is a vital and tightly regulated step in all replicons
      and requires an initiator factor that specifically recognizes the DNA replication
      origin and starts replication. RepB from the promiscuous streptococcal plasmid
      pMV158 is a hexameric ring protein evolutionary related to viral initiators. Here
      we explore the conformational plasticity of the RepB hexamer by i) SAXS, ii)
      sedimentation experiments, iii) molecular simulations and iv) X-ray
      crystallography. Combining these techniques, we derive an estimate of the
      conformational ensemble in solution showing that the C-terminal oligomerisation
      domains of the protein form a rigid cylindrical scaffold to which the N-terminal
      DNA-binding/catalytic domains are attached as highly flexible appendages,
      featuring multiple orientations. In addition, we show that the hinge region
      connecting both domains plays a pivotal role in the observed plasticity. Sequence
      comparisons and a literature survey show that this hinge region could exists in
      other initiators, suggesting that it is a common, crucial structural element for
      DNA binding and manipulation. 

PMID- 26875698
TI  - Unique features associated with hepatic oxidative DNA damage and DNA methylation
      in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing
      cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, we reported that DNA
      oxidation induced epigenetic alteration of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and
      contributed to HCC emergence. Here, we examine the associations between
      clinicopathological characteristics of NAFLD and advanced oxidative DNA damage
      that is associated with TSG methylation in the NAFLD liver. METHODS: Liver
      biopsies from 65 NAFLD patients were analyzed for clinicopathological features
      and oxidative DNA damage using immunohistochemistry of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8
      OHdG). Abnormal DNA methylation in the promoters of 6 TSGs, HIC1, GSTP1, SOCS1,
      RASSF1, CDKN2A, and APC, was examined using MethyLight. Associations between
      clinicopathological characteristics, methylation of TSGs, and accumulation of 8
      OHdG were analyzed. RESULTS: We found that aspartate aminotransferase/alanine
      aminotransferase ratio, the fibrosis-4 index, and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
      level were associated with degree of 8-OHdG, and AFP was an independent factor
      among them (P = 0.0271). Regarding pathological findings, hepatocellular
      ballooning and stage of fibrosis were also associated with oxidative DNA damage
      (P = 0.0021 and 0.0054); ballooning was an independent risk for detecting high
      degree of 8-OHdG in hepatocytes (odds ratio 7.38, 95% confidence interval 1.41
      49.13, P = 0.0171). Accumulation of methylated TSGs was significantly associated
      with deposition of 8-OHdG (P = 0.0362). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high serum AFP
      and high degree of ballooning showed accumulation of oxidative DNA damage that
      could be a seed of DNA methylation responsible for hepatocarcinogenesis. These
      characteristics could be risk of HCC; such patients require urgent intervention
      such as lifestyle modification.

PMID- 26875699
TI  - Exploring barriers to and facilitators of preventive measures against infectious
      diseases among Australian Hajj pilgrims: cross-sectional studies before and after
      Hajj.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: For reasons that have yet to be elucidated, the uptake of preventive
      measures against infectious diseases by Hajj pilgrims is variable. The aim of
      this study was to identify the preventive advice and interventions received by
      Australian pilgrims before Hajj, and the barriers to and facilitators of their
      use during Hajj. METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys of Australians pilgrims
      aged >=18 years were undertaken, one before and one after the Hajj 2014. RESULTS:
      Of 356 pilgrims who completed the survey (response rate 94%), 80% had the
      influenza vaccine, 30% the pneumococcal vaccine, and 30% the pertussis vaccine.
      Concern about contracting disease at Hajj was the most cited reason for
      vaccination (73.4%), and not being aware of vaccine availability was the main
      reason for non-receipt (56%). Those who obtained pre-travel advice were twice as
      likely to be vaccinated as those who did not seek advice. Of 150 pilgrims
      surveyed upon return, 94% reported practicing hand hygiene during Hajj, citing
      ease of use (67%) and belief in its effectiveness (62.4%) as the main reasons for
      compliance; university education was a significant predictor of hand hygiene
      adherence. Fifty-three percent used facemasks, with breathing discomfort (76%)
      and a feeling of suffocation (40%) being the main obstacles to compliance.
      CONCLUSION: This study indicates that there are significant opportunities to
      improve awareness among Australian Hajj pilgrims about the importance of using
      preventive health measures.

PMID- 26875700
TI  - Vapor deposition of a smectic liquid crystal: highly anisotropic, homogeneous
      glasses with tunable molecular orientation.
AB  - Physical vapor deposition (PVD) has been used to prepare glasses of itraconazole,
      a smectic A liquid crystal. Glasses were deposited onto subtrates at a range of
      temperatures (Tsubstrate) near the glass transition temperature (Tg), with
      Tsubstrate/Tg ranging from 0.70 to 1.02. Infrared spectroscopy and spectroscopic
      ellipsometry were used to characterize the molecular orientation using the
      orientational order parameter, Sz, and the birefringence. We find that the
      molecules in glasses deposited at Tsubstrate = Tg are nearly perpendicular to the
      substrate (Sz = +0.66) while at lower Tsubstrate molecules are nearly parallel to
      the substrate (Sz = -0.45). The molecular orientation depends on the temperature
      of the substrate during preparation, allowing layered samples with differing
      orientations to be readily prepared. In addition, these vapor-deposited glasses
      are macroscopically homogeneous and molecularly flat. We interpret the
      combination of properties obtained for vapor-deposited glasses of itraconazole to
      result from a process where molecular orientation is determined by the structure
      and dynamics at the free surface of the glass during deposition. Vapor deposition
      of liquid crystals is likely a general approach for the preparation of highly
      anisotropic glasses with tunable molecular orientation for use in organic
      electronics and optoelectronics. 

PMID- 26875701
TI  - Towards nanometer-spaced silicon contacts to proteins.
AB  - A vertical nanogap device (VND) structure comprising all-silicon contacts as
      electrodes for the investigation of electronic transport processes in
      bioelectronic systems is reported. Devices were fabricated from silicon-on
      insulator substrates whose buried oxide (SiO2) layer of a few nanometers in
      thickness is embedded within two highly doped single crystalline silicon layers.
      Individual VNDs were fabricated by standard photolithography and a combination of
      anisotropic and selective wet etching techniques, resulting in p(+) silicon
      contacts, vertically separated by 4 or 8 nm, depending on the chosen buried oxide
      thickness. The buried oxide was selectively recess-etched with buffered
      hydrofluoric acid, exposing a nanogap. For verification of the devices'
      electrical functionality, gold nanoparticles were successfully trapped onto the
      nanogap electrodes' edges using AC dielectrophoresis. Subsequently, the
      suitability of the VND structures for transport measurements on proteins was
      investigated by functionalizing the devices with cytochrome c protein from
      solution, thereby providing non-destructive, permanent semiconducting contacts to
      the proteins. Current-voltage measurements performed after protein deposition
      exhibited an increase in the junctions' conductance of up to several orders of
      magnitude relative to that measured prior to cytochrome c immobilization. This
      increase in conductance was lost upon heating the functionalized device to above
      the protein's denaturation temperature (80  degrees C). Thus, the VND junctions
      allow conductance measurements which reflect the averaged electronic transport
      through a large number of protein molecules, contacted in parallel with permanent
      contacts and, for the first time, in a symmetrical Si-protein-Si configuration. 

PMID- 26875702
TI  - Synovial sarcoma presenting as a lung mass and diagnosed by cytology.
AB  - Synovial sarcoma is a common soft tissue sarcoma with variable fibrous and
      epithelial differentiation that rarely arises from other body sites, such as
      within the lung. A case of a 68-year-old male with an extensive smoking history
      who presented with chest pain and a primary, central, metabolically active lung
      mass was reported. The mass was biopsied by bronchial brushing, bronchoalveolar
      lavage (BAL), and transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Cytologic analysis
      of bronchial brushing, BAL, and FNA revealed single and clusters of atypical
      spindle cells, oval, or spindle-shaped nuclei with smooth nuclear membranes,
      hyperchromatic and granular chromatin, scant to moderate and delicate cytoplasm,
      a high degree of mitotic figures, and a lack of necrosis. Immunohistochemical
      studies showed that the tumor cells were positive for CD99, BCL2, and CK7. A
      diagnosis of synovial sarcoma was rendered. The differential diagnosis of primary
      pulmonary synovial sarcoma is discussed, including neuroendocrine tumors,
      squamous cell carcinoma, and various sarcomatous tumors.

PMID- 26875705
TI  - Endoscopic endonasal study of the cavernous sinus and quadrangular space:
      Anatomic relationships.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The quadrangular space permits an anterior entry into Meckel's cave
      while obviating the need for cerebral or cranial nerve retraction. This avenue is
      intimately associated with the cavernous sinus; thus, from this ventral
      perspective, it is feasible to visualize the anteromedial, anterolateral, and
      Parkinson triangles. METHODS: Twenty middle cranial fossae were dissected
      endonasally under direct endoscopic visualization. Measurements of the surface
      area of the quadrangular space and the ventrally accessible cavernous sinus
      triangles were performed using 3 coordinates under image-guided navigation.
      RESULTS: The surface area of the quadrangular space was 16.36 mm(2) (+/-2.89
      mm(2) ). The anterolateral triangle was the largest (47.27 +/- 5.37 mm(2) ),
      whereas Parkinson's was the smallest (22.46 +/- 5.54 mm(2) ); the anteromedial
      triangle presented an average surface area 36.07 mm(2) (+/-4.15 mm(2) ).
      CONCLUSION: The trajectory of the internal carotid artery (ICA) significantly
      impacts the quadrangular space area and may be a potential parameter for defining
      the feasibility of this corridor. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:
      E1680-E1687, 2016.

PMID- 26875706
TI  - Headache and Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

PMID- 26875707
TI  - [Focus on vestibular migraine].

PMID- 26875708
TI  - [Correlations between constipation and the axial symptoms, related motor symptoms
      in Parkinson's disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Parkinson's Disease
      (PD) patients with constipation and explore the correlation between constipation
      and motor symptoms. METHODS: The demographic data of outpatients with PD in our
      hospital was collected. According to Rome III criteria, we evaluated the status
      of constipation in PD patients. Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part III
      (UPDRSIII), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were performed in all the
      included patients. RESULTS: Among the 158 recruited PD patients, 96 (60.8%)
      patients had constipation. Among these patients, 41(42.7%) patients experienced
      constipation before motor symptoms. Compared to those without constipation, PD
      patients with constipation had higher axial scores (6.8+/-3.4 vs 4.3+/-2.5, t=
      4.887, P=0.000) and gait/postural stability scores (3.9+/-2.4 vs 2.4+/-1.5, t=
      4.529, P=0.000), higher proportion of axial and gait/postural stability scores in
      UPDRSIII (32%+/-11% vs 25%+/-12%, t=-3.485, P=0.001; 18%+/-9% vs 15%+/-10%, t=
      2.278, P=0.024), more rapid progression of axial and gait/postural stability
      symptoms (P<0.05). However, there were no differences in other sub-scores and
      progression of motor symptoms between the two groups (P>0.05). The PD patients
      with constipation preceding motor symptoms had higher proportion of axial and
      gait/postural stability scores in UPDRSIII (35%+/-11% vs 30%+/-10%, t=2.167,
      P=0.033; 21%+/-9% vs 16%+/-8%, t=2.733, P=0.008), indicating these patients may
      progress more rapidly, meanwhile, they had later onset age, shorter disease
      duration (P<0.05). Unconditioned Logistic regression showed that axial score was
      major influencing factor of constipation in PD patients (P=0.000, OR=1.330).
      CONCLUSIONS: PD patients with constipation have severer axial symptoms,
      indicating the progression of these patients is relatively rapid, especially
      those with constipation preceding motor symptoms. It is suggested that axial
      symptoms and constipation are acted as interactional factors in PD.

PMID- 26875709
TI  - [Virtual unenhanced images derived from spectral CT imaging accessing gastric
      carcinoma: a feasible study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively and quantitatively compare MSI images and WB images
      derived from spectral CT imaging with CU images in accessing gastric carcinoma.
      METHODS: The clinical data and imaging findings of 91 cases of gastric carcinomas
      between December 2013 and May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients
      underwent CU CT and enhanced CT with spectral imaging in AP and VP. MSI images
      were reconstructed based on monochromatic images of 70 keV in AP. WB images were
      obtained by water-iodine pair substance isolation of the AP images. Two abdominal
      radiologists independently evaluated the image quality and the depiction of
      gastric carcinoma in CU, MSI and WB images using a 5-point scale. The
      sensitivities of gastric cancer were evaluated by using enhanced images as the
      reference standard.The CT number of various regions, image noise, relative
      enhancement CT value of tumors and metastasis were measured and calculated on CU
      and MSI images. The CNR of gastric tumor were measured on CU, MSI and WB images.
      Effective radiation doses for triple-phase and dual-phase scan were calculated.
      Differences were tested for statistical significance using the Wilcoxon's signed
      rank test and the paired t-test. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement with regard to
      image quality and the depiction of gastric carcinoma was good(all kappa>0.70).
      There was no statistical significant difference in image quality between
      CU(4.30+/-0.63) and MSI(4.17+/-0.58) images(P>0.05), both higher than WB(3.87+/
      0.84) images (both P<0.01). The depiction of gastric carcinoma in CU(3.86+/-0.50)
      and MSI(3.73+/-0.55) images had no statistical significant difference (P>0.05),
      and both higher than WB(3.34+/-0.38) images( both P<0.01). The sensitivities of
      CU, MSI and WB images were 91.2%, 95.6%, 93.4%. The CT number of gastric tumors,
      liver metastasis and aorta, image noise on MSI images were slightly higher than
      on TNE images(P<0.05). The CT number of gastric tumors, liver metastasis and
      aorta, image noise on MSI images were slightly higher than on TNE images(P<0.05).
      The CT number of lymph nodes, liver and muscle, CT relative enhancement value of
      gastric tumors, lymph nodes and liver metastasis had no significant difference
      between TNE and MSI images (all P>0.05). The CNR of gastric tumors had
      significant difference between groups: WB images were higher than MSI and MSI
      were higher than CU images(all P<0.01). The dose saving by removing the CU was
      8.2 mSv(32%). CONCLUSION: The MSI images derived from spectral CT can provide
      comparable image quality to CU images and reliable diagnostic information for
      gastric tumors, which is superior to WB images, replacing CU images will lower
      radiation exposure by 32%.

PMID- 26875710
TI  - [Anterior and posterior default mode networks impairments in minimal hepatic
      encephalopathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional connectivity (FC) impairments within
      anterior and posterior default mode networks (aDMN and pDMN) for cirrhosis with
      minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), and to analyze relationship between DMNs
      alterations with neurocognitive impairments. METHODS: From March 2009 to December
      2011, a total of 43 cirrhotic patients without MHE (NMHE groups), 32 cirrhotic
      patients with current MHE (MHE groups), and 21 healthy controls were recruited in
      this study. All resting-state fMRI datasets were preprocessed and normalized into
      standard brain space. Two universal templates for aDMN and pDMN were applied to
      generate spatial patterns for aDMN and pDMN for each participate by dual
      regression. One sample t test were analyzed within groups, and one way ANOVA
      (analysis of variance) were performed to calculate the different FCs within aDMN
      and pDMN among groups. Additional correlation analysis was performed between
      different FCs within two DMNs and behavior scores. RESULTS: Within aDMN, FC of
      MHE patients were significantly deceased than controls and NMHE groups in right
      superior frontal gyrus (SFG)/ bilateral medial frontal gyrus (MFG); while within
      pDMN, FC of MHE patients were significantly increased than controls and NMHE
      groups in right superior temporal gyrus (STG)/ middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and
      left cuneus/ bilateral calcarine gyri (one way ANOVA, P<0.01, cluster sizes>40,
      AlphaSim correction). The FC alterations in those region were significantly
      correlated with neurocognitive test scores (Pearson correlation coefficient,
      P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dual regression based aDMN and pDMN method was firstly
      applied to investigated functional connectivity impairments in MHE patients'
      brain. Functional deficits were endogenous within aDMN, while functional
      connectivity was compensatory enhancements within pDMN. These compensatory
      enhancements indicated that patients with current MHE had the potential to
      additionally recruit more neurological resource to accomplish the specific
      actions. Therefore, the alterations of dual regression based aDMN and pDMN can be
      potential neuroimaging biomarkers for MHE studies.

PMID- 26875711
TI  - [Establishment of reference ranges for thyroid-related indicators in normal
      pregnant women].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the gestational age-specific reference ranges for thyroid
      related indicators of pregnant women in our hospital, especially for serum
      thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the first trimester. METHODS: A total of 548
      pregnant women in the first trimester were collected in Peking University First
      Hospital from June 2013 to April 2014. Among them, 254 pregnant women with single
      fetus who conformed to the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry criteria,
      without adverse pregnancy outcomes and obstetric complications, were enrolled in
      the current study. To establish their own self-sequential longitudinal reference
      intervals, serum TSH, total thyroxine (TT4) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels were
      measured using Siemens detection kits during three different trimesters. Urine
      iodine (UI) was measured using digestion instrument in some of the pregnant
      women. RESULTS: The gestational age-specific reference ranges for thyroid-related
      indicators of pregnant women in our hospital were as follows: in the first
      trimester: TSH 0.23-4.08 mU/L, TT4 92.59-186.25 nmol/L, FT4 13.36-20.81 pmol/L;
      in the second trimester: TSH 0.78-4.25 mU/L, TT4 103.20-180.95 nmol/L, FT4 11.57
      16.62 pmol/L; in the third trimester: TSH 0.65-4.52 mU/L, TT4 78.20-174.70
      nmol/L, FT4 10.01-20.57 pmol/L. The median level of TSH during 7 to 12 weeks of
      gestational age was lower than that of 4 to 6 weeks, but with no significant
      statistical difference (P=0.063). The medians of UI during three trimesters of
      pregnancy were 211.60 MUg/L, 195.55 MUg/L and 198.65 MUg/L, respectively, which
      were all classified as adequate iodine status. CONCLUSIONS: The gestational age
      specific reference ranges for thyroid-related indicators are different from the
      kits' reference ranges, which are also different among the three trimesters. It
      may be more reasonable to establish different reference ranges for thyroid
      related indicators at 4 to 6 weeks and 7 to 12 weeks in the first trimester
      separately.

PMID- 26875712
TI  - [Digital design of internal fixation for distal femoral fractures via 3D printing
      and standard parts database].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the method of internal fixation by the navigation embedded
      plate from standard parts database for the distal femoral fractures based on
      digital design by Mimics software with 3D printing technology, and to explore its
      feasibility and accuracy. METHODS: A total of 21 cases with distal femoral
      fractures admitted into the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of
      Putian University were included in this study. Dicom format data of lamellar CT
      scanning was imported into Mimics software for 3D anatomical modeling and virtual
      fracture reduction. The steel plates was chose from standard parts database for
      virtual internal fixation, and to design the navigation module with screw. 3D
      printing skeleton, steel plates, navigation module, internal fixation implants
      were simulated based on the printed bones model. Locations of steel plates and
      screws were determined by the navigation module. Then the sticking effects of
      navigation module, screws position and postoperative appearance were observed.
      After second CT scan and 3D reconstruction, 3D registration was performed to
      obtain the data of the three-dimensional coordinate values of screws entrance
      points and piercing points to analyze the results. RESULTS: A total of 21 plates
      and 180 screws were placed with the assistance of navigation module. CT scanning
      and 3D reconstruction was performed in twenty-one cases of postoperative bone
      model. The position of plates was in high accordance with the digital design by
      Mimics software. There were no significant differences between spatial location
      of screw entrance points and piercing points. The real operation was quite
      consistent with preoperative design. Navigation module and the corresponding
      distal femur bony structure jointed closely. The sticking effects and stability
      of navigation module were good, which was able to guide placement of steel plates
      and screws. CONCLUSION: These methods can enhance the accuracy of internal
      fixation of the standard parts database steel plate in distal femur fractures,
      with the assistance of navigation module.

PMID- 26875713
TI  - [Correlation of pre-operative factors with the outcome of surgical treatment of
      Hirayama disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of pre-operative clinical related
      factors with the outcome of surgical treatment in patients with Hirayama disease.
      METHODS: A total of 46 consecutive patients with Hirayama disease treated by
      anterior cervical discectomy decompression and fusion in Peking University Third
      Hospital from October 2006 to January 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Odom's
      criteria was used to evaluate the subjective outcome of surgical treatment. Five
      pre-operative factors were collected including duration of disease at the time of
      treatment, age of onset, extremity involvement, gross hand function score and
      fine hand function score. The correlation between these five clinical related
      factors and postoperative outcome was evaluated with Logistic regression. The
      receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve were
      used to evaluate the significant result of Logistic regression and the optimal
      diagnostic value. RESULTS: A total of 40 in 46 (87.0%) patients with complete
      clinical and radiographic follow-up data were included in this study. The mean
      follow-up period was 48.6 months (12-98 months). All patients were male. The
      outcome at the final follow-up according to Odom's criteria was: Excellent 5
      cases, Good 21 cases, Fair 14 cases and no Poor case. Only two pre-operative
      factors, age of onset and gross hand function score, showed statistical
      correlation with the post-operative outcome assessment by Logistic regression.
      ROC analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of age of onset and gross
      hand function score were 0.790 and 0.793 respectively. The optimal predictive
      threshold was 15.5 years old and 5.5 points respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Age of
      onset and gross hand function score were two pre-operative factors correlated
      with the post-operative outcome. These two factors could be used to predict the
      outcome of surgical treatment of Hirayama disease preoperatively.

PMID- 26875714
TI  - [Presence of subclinical inflammation in axial spondyloarthropathy patients in
      clinical remission].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint
      under examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with axial
      spondyloarthropathy (SpA) in remission. METHODS: A total of 87 patients with
      axial SpA were recruited. Disease activity was assessed by calculation of BASDAI
      and ASDAScrp scores. All the SpA patients completed MRI scan of sacroiliac joint
      and bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint was quantized by SPARCC scoring
      standard. RESULTS: According to BASDAI standard (n=87), 60 patients (69.0%) were
      categorized as remission, of which 40 patients (66.7%) exhibited bone marrow
      edema in sacroiliac joint (SPARCC>0). 27 patients (31.0%) were categorized as
      activity, while 23 patients (85.2%) exhibited bone marrow edema in sacroiliac
      joint (SPARCC>0). According to ASDAScrp standard (n=75), 12 patients (16.0%) were
      classified as remission, of which 4 patients (33.3%) exhibited bone marrow edema
      in sacroiliac joint (SPARCC>0). 63 patients (31.0%) were categorized as activity,
      while 52 patients (82.5%) exhibited bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint
      (SPARCC>0). SPARCC score positively correlated with BASDAI (r=0.271, P<0.05),
      ASDAScrp (r=0.291, P=0.011) and patient global assessment (r=0.414, P<0.01). All
      the patients were classified as non-regular treatment group, traditional drugs
      group, and biologics group based on the therapeutic conditions. Percentages of
      patients with SPARCC>0 in sacroiliac joint were also different among these groups
      (86.8%, 75.0%, 31.6%, chi(2)=21.483, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: About 1/3 to 2/3 axial
      SpA patients in clinical remission represent bone marrow edema in sacroiliac
      joint under MRI examination, which indicates presence of subclinical inflammation
      in axial SpA with clinical remission. SpA patients treated with biologics could
      have better remission of radiographic inflammation on MRI.

PMID- 26875715
TI  - [Expression of G-CSF and clinical pathological significance in cervical cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G
      CSF) in cervical cancer and to investigate its clinical significance. METHODS: A
      total of 53 cases of cervical cancer with a large number of granular cell
      infiltration were collected in the last ten years, and 57 cases of cervical
      cancer with no cell infiltration were selected as controls. The infiltration of
      neutrophils in cancer tissues was observed, and the expression of G-CSF in cancer
      tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry at the same time. And the
      relationship between the expression of G-CSF and clinical pathological
      significance in cervical cancer was analyzed. All the patients were followed up,
      and the effect of G-CSF on the prognosis of the patients was analyzed. RESULTS:
      Expression of G-CSF was observed in 53 cases out of the 110 cases cervical
      cancer. Among them, 48 (90.6%) cases were squamous cell carcinoma, 5(9.4%) cases
      were adenocarcinoma. The expression of G-CSF was closely related to granulocyte
      infiltration, histological type, necrosis, high grading and regional lymph node
      metastasis (P<0.01), but not related to size of tumor (P>0.05). G-CSF positive
      cases were 33.676 and 78.495 times more dangerous than those cases that were
      negative in high grading and regional lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). The
      difference in survival between the positive and the negative was also significant
      (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Certain cervical cancer can produce G-CSF, and the most
      common in non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Cervical cancer tissue that
      excretes G-CSF tends to have low differentiation, obvious dysplasia, high degree
      of malignancy, extensive necrosis and granulocyte cell infiltration, and is often
      associated with lymph node metastasis, with low survival rate and poor prognosis.

PMID- 26875716
TI  - [Clinical analysis of microsurgical treatment of giant intracranial arteriovenous
      malformations].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and microsurgical treatment
      strategies of giant intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVM). METHODS: A
      total of 15 cases of giant intracranial AVM treated with microsurgery were
      analyzed retrospectively. According to the Spetzler-Martin grade, there were 4
      cases of grade IV, 11 cases of grade V. Pre-operative endovascular embolizations
      were carried out in 3 AVMs. RESULTS: All the included patients were confirmed as
      giant intracranial AVM by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), digital
      subtraction angiography (DSA), 3-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) before
      surgery. All the resected tissues were sent for pathological examination, and the
      diagnoses were confirmed as AVM. The average operation time of the 15 patients
      was 10.3 +/-6.9 hours. After 1-3 months, all the patients were rechecked by DSA,
      the large vascular malformations in 12 cases were completely resected, 3 cases
      had a small amount of residual further treated with gamma knife treatment.
      Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRA examination indicated that the residual
      AVM was occluded after 12 months. Patients were followed up at 6, 12 and 24
      months after operation, and assessed by Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score: 13
      cases good, 1 cases mild disability, 1 cases severe disability; the good rate was
      86.6%, with no dead case. CONCLUSION: Sufficiently preoperative preparation,
      appropriate operative methods and skills are necessary to treat giant
      intracranial arteriovenous malformation.

PMID- 26875717
TI  - [Study based on sonoelastography technology for spastic gastrocnemius in rat with
      spinal cord injure].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathological characteristic of gastrocnemius (GM)
      and quantitatively assess GM tissue stiffness in spinal cord injury (SCI) rat
      models; to explore the novel method in evaluation of GM stiffness. METHODS: A
      total of 54 SD male rats (weight 260-280 g) were allocated into normal control
      group (0 w) and model groups (2, 4, 8 and 12 w) in this study. Complete SCI (T10
      level) was applied in model groups. At the above different time points, Modified
      Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to assess the GM spasticity; Basso, Beattie, and
      Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale (BBB) was used to assess the movement ability of
      lower limb. GM stiffness was assessed with shear wave sonoelastography technology
      in these groups. All GM at right side of rats was further checked by pathological
      examinations (muscle weight, ATP staining, myosin heavy chain (MyHC)
      electrophoretic analysis) after sonoelastography imaging examinations. RESULTS:
      After removing the overweight and underweight rat models which were alive, six
      rats were included in each group. There were some pathologic changes in GM in SCI
      rat models. Compared with normal control group, data from model groups showed
      ankle dorsiflexors MAS (1.5+/-0.8-0.8+/-0.7 score) was increased (P<=0.05), BBB
      scores of lower limb (3.2+/-1.0-7.2+/-1.3score) were decreased (P<=0.05). The GM
      elastic modulus was increased at dorsiflexion location in model group (25.1+/-2.4
      37.4+/-5.5 kPa, P<=0.05); GM weights were decreased, ratio of type I fibers was
      decreased and ratio of type II fibers was increased in GM. Compared with normal
      control group, MyHC-I was decreased, while MyHC-II was increased according
      electrophoretic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Both pathological characteristic and
      muscle stiffness of GM change after SCI. Shear-wave sonoelastography technology
      can be used to assess the GM stiffness in SCI rat models.

PMID- 26875718
TI  - [Oncolytic property of HSV-1 recombinant viruses carrying the p53 gene].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To obtain the recombinant herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) inserted p53
      gene with homologous recombination technology and investigate the virus'
      replication ability and oncolytic property in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A
      eukaryotic expression case with p53 gene was cloned into pKO5/BN. The pKO5/p53
      was constructed and transfected to the E. coli with pHSVDeltaIR-BAC by
      electroporation. Then the recombinant pHSVDeltaIR-BAC/p53 was obtained and
      transfected into Vero cells. Recombinant virus (MH1004) was identified by
      Southern blot and Western blot. Then the virus' replication abilities in several
      human tumors cells were tested by plaque assay. A murine melanoma model was
      established by subcutaneous inoculation of B16 cells. A dosage of 2*10(6) PFU
      (plaque forming unit) of MH1004, MH1001, HSV-1 wt or PBS was injected 3 times
      intratumorally in every 3 days. The tumor volume and survival rate were measured
      twice a week. RESULTS: The results of Western blot showed that the p53 protein
      can be detected from the Vero cells infected by MH1004. The replication abilities
      of MH1004 and HSV-1 wt in the same tumor cell was insignificant (P>0.05). And
      MH1004's replication abilities in SK-N-SH and U251 was significantly higher than
      other cancer cells. The tumors volume of group HSV-1 wt, MH1001(HSVDeltaIR)and
      MH1004 were (6 180+/-751), (5 760+/-267) and (4 850+/-532) mm(3) compared with
      PBS group (9 860+/-91) mm(3,) the difference of reduction of tumors volume was
      significant (P< 0.01). And the tumors volume of MH1004 group was smaller than HSV
      1 wt and MH1001 group, but without significant difference (P>0.05). And the
      survival rate of MH1004 treated mice (5/6) was greatly higher than PBS (3/6), HSV
      1 wt (3/6) and MH1001 (3/6). CONCLUSION: The replication abilities of MH1004 in
      neural tumor are very high and MH1004 can inhibit the growth of tumor so that
      prolong the survival of mice bearing murine melanoma.

PMID- 26875719
TI  - [Expression and significance of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in natural
      degeneration in vitro model of endplate chondrocytes of rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of AKT/mTOR signaling
      pathway in natural degeneration in vitro model of rat endplate chondrocytes.
      METHODS: Rat endplate chondrocytes were isolated and cultured, and the natural
      degeneration in vitro model of rat endplate chondrocytes was established. The
      endplate chondrocytes were divided into blank control group (P2 cells), natural
      degeneration passage group (P5 cells), AKT/mTOR signaling pathway inhibitor group
      (P5 cells), AKT/mTOR signaling pathway agonist group (P5 cells). The endplate
      chondrocyte morphology changes were observed under inverted microscope; Toluidine
      blue staining was used to detect the expression changes of proteoglycans in
      endplate chondrocytes; Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of
      AKT and P-AKT; real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the
      expression of type II collagen, proteoglycan, SOX9 and the key gene of AKT/mTOR
      signaling pathway, mTOR gene. RESULTS: With in vitro passage of rat endplate
      chondrocytes, phenotypes of rat endplate chondrocytes gradually reduced or even
      lost; the type II collagen (P5/P2=0.28, P=0.042 7), proteoglycan (P5/P2=0.33,
      P=0.026 3), SOX9 (P5/P2=0.40, P=0.018 2) and mTOR (P5/P2=0.28, P=0.038 1)
      expression were significantly reduced in natural degeneration passage group; in
      AKT/mTOR signaling pathway inhibitor group: type II collagen (P5/P2=0.19, P=0.034
      7), proteoglycan (P5/P2=0.25, P=0.023), SOX9 (P5/P2=0.31, P=0.034 2) and mTOR
      (P5/P2=0.20, P=0.024 1) expression were decreased compared with natural passage
      group; in AKT/mTOR signaling pathway agonist group: type II collagen (P5/P2=0.41,
      P=0.044 1), proteoglycan (P5/P2=0.53, P=0.015 1), SOX9 (P5/P2=0.61, P=0.019 7)
      and mTOR (P5/P2=0.41, P=0.038 1) expression were increased compared with natural
      passage group and inhibitor group. CONCLUSION: AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may
      play an important role in the degenerative process of rat endplate chondrocytes
      in vitro, artificial control or intervention of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may
      accelerate, inhibit or slow the degeneration of endplate cartilage of rats.

PMID- 26875720
TI  - [Effects of GABAB receptor expression level on cognitive impairment and
      Arc/Arg3.1 expression in induced epileptic rats model].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of GABAB receptor on cognitive impairment
      by using pilocarpine induced kindled rats model and also to check early gene
      (Arc/Arg3.1) expression. METHODS: Pilocarpine induced kindled rats were divided
      into four groups (Group normal, Baclofen, CGP and Kindled) randomly, and every
      group included 20 rats.We checked their cognitive impairment by using passive
      avoidance test and water maze test.The expression of GABAB receptor (GB1, GB2)
      and Arc/Arg3.1 was tested by immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR and Western
      blot. RESULTS: Passive avoidance test showed four Group rats shuttle times were
      6.8+/-0.6, 1.2+/-0.2, 5.4+/-0.5, 3.6+/-0.3, incubation period were 26.1+/-3.9,
      152.2+/-12.9, 65.8+/-7.0, 91.2+/-9.1, and water maze test had the same trend,
      with values in epilepsy groups significantly lower than the normal group of rats,
      which meant cognitive dysfunction.The above results also showed Baclofen further
      inhibited the learning and memory ability of the rats and CGP35348 promoted the
      learning and memory ability.The results of the Arc/Arg3.1 and GB1, GB2 level
      detection showed that epilepsy groups had significantly higher expression levels
      of Arc/Arg3.1 and GB1, GB2 than the normal group.Comparison among epilepsy groups
      showed that Baclofen group expressed lower levels of Arc/Arg3.1 and expressed
      higher levels of GB1, GB2, however CGP35348 group expressed higher levels of
      Arc/Arg3.1 and expressed lower levels of GB1, GB2. CONCLUSIONS: GABAB receptor
      can affect the ability of spatial learning and memory of epileptic rats by
      regulating Arc/Arg3.1.

PMID- 26875721
TI  - [The technique of hearing reconstruction in the cases of conductive hearing loss
      with malformed tympanic segment of facial nerve].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the technique of hearing reconstruction in the cases of
      conductive hearing loss with malformed tympanic segment of facial nerve. METHODS:
      Data of 10 cases from July 2010 to March 2015 were collected.The status of
      tympanic segment of facial nerve, malformed ossicles and the reconstructed
      methods of ossicular chain were analyzed and discussed based on the embryo
      anatomy and surgical technique. RESULTS: All facial nerves in 10 cases were
      exposed and drooping to stapes or cover the oval window.Three patients who had
      normal stapes, pushed by the exposed facial nerve, were reconstructed with
      partial ossicular replacement prostheses (PORP). Two patients who had footplate,
      with partial fixation, were reconstructed with total ossicular replacement
      prostheses (TORP). Three patients who had atresia of the oval window were
      implanted with Piston after being made hole in the atresia plate.Another two
      cases who had atresia of the oval window were implanted with TORP after
      promontory being drilled out.All cases had no injury of facial nerve and nervous
      hearing, and no tinnitus.Nine cases had conductive hearing improvement, except
      one with promontory drilled out. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had conductive hearing
      loss with malformed tympanic segment of facial nerve can be treated by the
      technique of hearing reconstruction.The fenestration technique in the bottom of
      the scala tympani of the basal turn provides us a new method for treating
      patients whose oval window was fully covered by malformed facial nerve.

PMID- 26875722
TI  - Dual neurocircuitry dysfunctions in disruptive behavior disorders: emotional
      responding and response inhibition.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine the functional integrity of the neural systems involved
      in emotional responding/regulation and response control/inhibition in youth (age
      10-18 years) with disruptive behavioral disorders (DBDs: conduct disorder and/or
      oppositional defiant disorder) as a function of callous-unemotional (CU) traits.
      METHOD: Twenty-eight healthy youths and 35 youths with DBD [high CU (HCU), n =
      18; low CU (LCU), n = 17] performed the fMRI Affective Stroop task. Participants
      viewed positive, neutral, and negative images under varying levels of cognitive
      load. A 3-way ANOVA (group*emotion by task) was conducted on the BOLD response
      data. RESULTS: Youth with DBD-HCU showed significantly less activation of
      ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and amygdala in response to negative
      stimuli, compared to healthy youth and youth with DBD-LCU. vmPFC responsiveness
      was inversely related to CU symptoms in DBD. Youth with DBD-LCU showed decreased
      functional connectivity between amygdala and regions including inferior frontal
      gyrus in response to emotional stimuli. Youth with DBD (LCU and HCU) additionally
      showed decreased insula responsiveness to high load (incongruent trials) compared
      to healthy youth. Insula responsiveness was inversely related to ADHD symptoms in
      DBD. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal two forms of pathophysiology in DBD. One
      associated with reduced amygdala and vmPFC responses to negative stimuli and
      related to increased CU traits. Another associated with reduced insula responses
      during high load task trials and related to ADHD symptoms. Appropriate treatment
      will need to be individualized according to the patient's specific
      pathophysiology.

PMID- 26875723
TI  - Retinal pigment epithelial cell multinucleation in the aging eye - a mechanism to
      repair damage and maintain homoeostasis.
AB  - Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are central to retinal health and
      homoeostasis. Dysfunction or death of RPE cells underlies many age-related
      retinal degenerative disorders particularly age-related macular degeneration.
      During aging RPE cells decline in number, suggesting an age-dependent cell loss.
      RPE cells are considered to be postmitotic, and how they repair damage during
      aging remains poorly defined. We show that RPE cells increase in size and become
      multinucleate during aging in C57BL/6J mice. Multinucleation appeared not to be
      due to cell fusion, but to incomplete cell division, that is failure of
      cytokinesis. Interestingly, the phagocytic activity of multinucleate RPE cells
      was not different from that of mononuclear RPE cells. Furthermore, exposure of
      RPE cells in vitro to photoreceptor outer segment (POS), particularly oxidized
      POS, dose-dependently promoted multinucleation and suppressed cell proliferation.
      Both failure of cytokinesis and suppression of proliferation required contact
      with POS. Exposure to POS also induced reactive oxygen species and DNA oxidation
      in RPE cells. We propose that RPE cells have the potential to proliferate in vivo
      and to repair defects in the monolayer. We further propose that the
      conventionally accepted 'postmitotic' status of RPE cells is due to a modified
      form of contact inhibition mediated by POS and that RPE cells are released from
      this state when contact with POS is lost. This is seen in long-standing
      rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as overtly proliferating RPE cells
      (proliferative vitreoretinopathy) and more subtly as multinucleation during
      normal aging. Age-related oxidative stress may promote failure of cytokinesis and
      multinucleation in RPE cells.

PMID- 26875724
TI  - The anorexic voice and severity of eating pathology in anorexia nervosa.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Internal "anorexic voices" are commonly described by individuals with
      eating disorders. This study examines whether the perceived power and nature of
      that voice are related to eating pathology in anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Sixty
      three women and one man with an ICD-10 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa participated
      in this study (mean age = 27.3 years; mean BMI = 16.0). Participants completed
      questionnaires measuring severity of eating pathology, perceived voice power, and
      beliefs about voices, either at the start or during treatment. RESULTS: A more
      powerful anorexic voice was associated with more negative eating attitudes in
      this clinical group. However, BMI was related to a moderating effect, with the
      interaction of greater voice power and malevolence being associated with a lower
      BMI. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest the anorexic voice may function as a
      maintenance factor in anorexia nervosa. Cognitive models of hearing voices may be
      applicable to disorders other than psychosis. Further explorations are warranted.
      (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:622-625).

PMID- 26875725
TI  - Visual adaptation provides objective electrophysiological evidence of facial
      identity discrimination.
AB  - Discrimination of facial identities is a fundamental function of the human brain
      that is challenging to examine with macroscopic measurements of neural activity,
      such as those obtained with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and
      electroencephalography (EEG). Although visual adaptation or repetition
      suppression (RS) stimulation paradigms have been successfully implemented to this
      end with such recording techniques, objective evidence of an identity-specific
      discrimination response due to adaptation at the level of the visual
      representation is lacking. Here, we addressed this issue with fast periodic
      visual stimulation (FPVS) and EEG recording combined with a symmetry/asymmetry
      adaptation paradigm. Adaptation to one facial identity is induced through
      repeated presentation of that identity at a rate of 6 images per second (6 Hz)
      over 10 sec. Subsequently, this identity is presented in alternation with another
      facial identity (i.e., its anti-face, both faces being equidistant from an
      average face), producing an identity repetition rate of 3 Hz over a 20 sec
      testing sequence. A clear EEG response at 3 Hz is observed over the right
      occipito-temporal (ROT) cortex, indexing discrimination between the two facial
      identities in the absence of an explicit behavioral discrimination measure. This
      face identity discrimination occurs immediately after adaptation and disappears
      rapidly within 20 sec. Importantly, this 3 Hz response is not observed in a
      control condition without the single-identity 10 sec adaptation period. These
      results indicate that visual adaptation to a given facial identity produces an
      objective (i.e., at a pre-defined stimulation frequency) electrophysiological
      index of visual discrimination between that identity and another, and provides a
      unique behavior-free quantification of the effect of visual adaptation.

PMID- 26875727
TI  - Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: Novel insights into pathophysiology, diagnosis and
      treatment.
AB  - Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is one of the major vision-threatening
      diseases in certain populations, such as Asians, native Americans, Hispanics and
      Middle Easterners. It is characterized by bilateral uveitis that is frequently
      associated with neurological (meningeal), auditory, and integumentary
      manifestations. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of VKH disease need to be
      further elucidated, it is widely accepted that the clinical manifestations are
      caused by an autoimmune response directed against melanin associated antigens in
      the target organs, i.e. the eye, inner ear, meninges and skin. In the past
      decades, accumulating evidence has shown that genetic factors, including VKH
      disease specific risk factors (HLA-DR4) and general risk factors for immune
      mediated diseases (IL-23R), dysfunction of immune responses, including the innate
      and adaptive immune system and environmental triggering factors are all involved
      in the development of VKH disease. Clinically, the criteria of diagnosis for VKH
      disease have been further improved by the employment of novel imaging techniques
      for the eye. For the treatment, early and adequate corticosteroids are still the
      mainstream regime for the disease. However, immunosuppressive and biological
      agents have shown benefit for the treatment of VKH disease, especially for those
      patients not responding to corticosteroids. This review is focused on our current
      knowledge of VKH disease, especially for the diagnosis, pathogenesis (genetic
      factors and immune mechanisms), ancillary tests and treatment. A better
      understanding of the role of microbiome composition, genetic basis and ongoing
      immune processes along with the development of novel biomarkers and objective
      quantitative assays to monitor intraocular inflammation are needed to improve
      current management of VKH patients.

PMID- 26875726
TI  - Post-Transcriptional Mechanisms Regulating Epidermal Stem and Progenitor Cell
      Self-Renewal and Differentiation.
AB  - Epidermal stem and progenitor cells exist within the basal layer of the epidermis
      and serve to replenish the loss of differentiated cells because of normal
      turnover or injury. Current efforts have focused on elucidating the
      transcriptional regulation of epidermal stem cell self-renewal and
      differentiation. However, recent studies have pointed to an emerging and
      prominent role for post-transcriptional regulation of epidermal cell fate
      decisions. In this review, we will focus on post-transcriptional mechanisms
      including noncoding RNAs, RNA binding proteins, and mRNA decay-mediated control
      of epidermal stem and progenitor cell function in the skin. 

PMID- 26875728
TI  - What do patients need to know? A study to assess patients' satisfaction with
      information about medicines.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the information needs and reported
      adherence of patients prescribed medicines for chronic conditions in those who
      have received a community pharmacy advanced service and those who have not.
      METHODS: A questionnaire was constructed using validated tools to measure
      medication information satisfaction and adherence together with questions
      eliciting information regarding the use of pharmacy services and demographic
      characteristics. This questionnaire was distributed from four community
      pharmacies to a convenience sample of 400 patients as they collected their
      medicines. Patients were eligible if prescribed more than one regular medicine
      and attending the pharmacy for longer than 3 months. The questionnaire was
      returned directly to the university. KEY FINDINGS: Two hundred and thirty-two
      (58%) questionnaires were returned. All respondents desired further information
      about their prescribed medicines, particularly about potential medication
      problems. Dissatisfaction centred on side effects, interactions and certain
      medicine characteristics such as how long it will take to act. Satisfaction with
      information about medicines and adherence were significantly greater in a
      subgroup reporting that they had received an advanced pharmacy service, e.g.
      medicine use review (MUR). CONCLUSION: Patients who had received an advanced
      service reported greater adherence and satisfaction with medicine-related
      information. This was a small, observational study, using a convenience sample of
      four pharmacies; in order to draw definitive conclusions, a larger study with
      participants randomised to receive an advanced service is required.

PMID- 26875729
TI  - Erratum to: Regulating Factors in Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a Function.

PMID- 26875730
TI  - A Pit-1 Binding Site Adjacent to E-box133 in the Rat PRL Promoter is Necessary
      for Pulsatile Gene Expression Activity.
AB  - Recent evidence reveals that prolactin gene expression (PRL-GE) in mammotropes
      occurs in pulses, but the molecular process(es) underlying this phenomenon
      remains unclear. Earlier, we have identified an E-box (E-box133) in the rat PRL
      promoter that binds several circadian elements and is critical for this dynamic
      process. Preliminary analysis revealed a Pit-1 binding site (P2) located
      immediately adjacent to this E-box133 raising the possibility that some type of
      functional relationship may exist between these two promoter regions. In this
      study, using serum shocked GH3 cell culture system to synchronize PRL-GE
      activity, we determined that Pit-1 gene expression occurred in pulses with time
      phases similar to that for PRL. Interestingly, EMSA analysis not only confirmed
      Pit-1 binding to the P2 site, but also revealed an interaction with factor(s)
      binding to the adjacent E-box133 promoter element. Additionally, down-regulation
      of Pit-1 by siRNA reduced PRL levels during pulse periods. Thus, using multiple
      evidences, our results demonstrate clearly that the Pit-1 P2 site is necessary
      for PRL-GE elaboration. Furthermore, the proximity of this critical Pit-1 binding
      site (P2) and the E-box133 element coupled with the evidences of a site-to-site
      protein interactions suggest that the process of PRL-GE pulse activity might
      involve more dynamic and intricate cross-talks between promoter elements that may
      span some, or all, of the proximal region of the PRL promoter in driving its
      pulsatile expression. 

PMID- 26875731
TI  - Insulin Stimulates S100B Secretion and These Proteins Antagonistically Modulate
      Brain Glucose Metabolism.
AB  - Brain metabolism is highly dependent on glucose, which is derived from the blood
      circulation and metabolized by the astrocytes and other neural cells via several
      pathways. Glucose uptake in the brain does not involve insulin-dependent glucose
      transporters; however, this hormone affects the glucose influx to the brain.
      Changes in cerebrospinal fluid levels of S100B (an astrocyte-derived protein)
      have been associated with alterations in glucose metabolism; however, there is no
      evidence whether insulin modulates glucose metabolism and S100B secretion.
      Herein, we investigated the effect of S100B on glucose metabolism, measuring D
      (3)H-glucose incorporation in two preparations, C6 glioma cells and acute
      hippocampal slices, and we also investigated the effect of insulin on S100B
      secretion. Our results showed that: (a) S100B at physiological levels decreases
      glucose uptake, through the multiligand receptor RAGE and mitogen-activated
      protein kinase/ERK signaling, and (b) insulin stimulated S100B secretion via PI3K
      signaling. Our findings indicate the existence of insulin-S100B modulation of
      glucose utilization in the brain tissue, and may improve our understanding of
      glucose metabolism in several conditions such as ketosis, streptozotocin-induced
      dementia and pharmacological exposure to antipsychotics, situations that lead to
      changes in insulin signaling and extracellular levels of S100B. 

PMID- 26875732
TI  - Blocking mPTP on Neural Stem Cells and Activating the Nicotinic Acetylcholine
      Receptor alpha7 Subunit on Microglia Attenuate Abeta-Induced Neurotoxicity on
      Neural Stem Cells.
AB  - beta-Amyloid (Abeta) can stimulate microglia to release a variety of
      proinflammatory cytokines and induce neurotoxicity. Nicotine has been reported to
      inhibit TNF-alpha, IL-1, and ROS production in microglia. Mitochondrial
      permeability transition pore (mPTP) plays an important role in neurotoxicity as
      well. Here, we investigated whether activating the microglial alpha7-nAChR has a
      neuroprotective role on neural stem cells (NSCs) and the function of mPTP in NSCs
      in this process. The expression of alpha7-nAChR in rat NSCs was detected by
      immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. The viability of microglia and NSCs was examined
      by MTT assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and morphological
      characteristics of NSCs was measured by JC-1 staining and transmission electron
      microscopy respectively. The distribution of cytochrome c in the subcellular
      regions of NSCs was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the
      expression levels of cyclophilin D and cleaved caspase-3 were assayed by western
      blot. The apoptotic rate of NSCs was measured by flow cytometry. The expression
      of alpha7-nAChR was detected in microglial cells, but no expression was found in
      NSCs. The viability of rat microglial cells and NSCs was not affected by reagents
      or coculture itself. Abeta1-42-mediated microglial activation impaired the
      morphology and the DeltaPsim of mitochondria of NSCs as well as increased cell
      apoptosis. However, the damage was attenuated when the alpha7-nAChRs on
      microglial cells were activated or the mPTPs on NSCs were blocked. Blockade of
      mPTPs on NSCs and activation of alpha7-nAChRs on microglia exhibit
      neuroprotective roles in Abeta-induced neurotoxicity of NSCs. 

PMID- 26875734
TI  - Introduction to the Milestones in Autoimmune Bullous Diseases.

PMID- 26875733
TI  - Diphenyl Diselenide Protects Against Mortality, Locomotor Deficits and Oxidative
      Stress in Drosophila melanogaster Model of Manganese-Induced Neurotoxicity.
AB  - Several experimental and epidemiological reports have associated manganese
      exposure with induction of oxidative stress and locomotor dysfunctions. Diphenyl
      diselenide (DPDS) is widely reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
      and neuroprotective effects in in vitro and in vivo studies via multiple
      biochemical mechanisms. The present study investigated the protective effect of
      DPDS on manganese-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. The flies were
      exposed, in a dietary regimen, to manganese alone (30 mmol per kg) or in
      combination with DPDS (10 and 20 umol per kg) for 7 consecutive days. Exposure to
      manganese significantly (p < 0.05) increased flies mortality, whereas the
      survivors exhibited significant locomotor deficits with increased
      acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. However, dietary supplementation with DPDS
      caused a significant decrease in mortality, improvement in locomotor activity and
      restoration of AChE activity in manganese-exposed flies. Additionally, the
      significant decreases in the total thiol level, activities of catalase and
      glutathione-S-transferase were accompanied with significant increases in the
      generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and thiobarbituric acid
      reactive substances in flies exposed to manganese alone. Dietary supplementation
      with DPDS significantly augmented the antioxidant status and prevented manganese
      induced oxidative stress in the treated flies. Collectively, the present data
      highlight that DPDS may be a promising chemopreventive drug candidate against
      neurotoxicity resulting from acute manganese exposure. 

PMID- 26875735
TI  - Autoimmune Bullous Diseases: Historical Perspectives.

PMID- 26875736
TI  - Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases.

PMID- 26875737
TI  - Pathophysiology of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases.

PMID- 26875738
TI  - Duplicating Autoimmune Bullous Diseases by Passively Transferring Autoantibodies
      into Animals.

PMID- 26875739
TI  - The Relationship between Autoimmune Bullous Disease and Systemic Disorders.

PMID- 26875740
TI  - Epidemiology and Immunogenetics of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases.

PMID- 26875741
TI  - Xylella fastidiosa Transmission and Life History of Two Cicadellinae
      Sharpshooters, Kolla paulula and Bothrogonia ferruginea (Hemiptera:
      Cicadellidae), in Taiwan.
AB  - Xylella fastidiosa causes Pierce's disease (PD) and is transmitted by xylem-sap
      feeding insects. While X. fastidiosa-infected grapevines have been detected, the
      transmission vectors reported have never been recorded in Taiwan. Previous
      studies have suggested that Kolla paulula (Walker) and Bothrogonia ferruginea
      (F.) are candidate vectors in Taiwan. Here, we explored the life history of these
      two leafhoppers, evaluated the transmission efficiency of X. fastidiosa by the
      vectors, and investigated the genetic identity of three collected X. fastidiosa
      strains, namely, GMb, BQa, and BQ7f from the grapevine cultivars Golden Muscat
      (GM) and Black Queen (BQ), and one previously extracted strain GV148 from Kyoho
      (GV) showing PD symptoms in local vineyards. The results showed that all four
      strains were 100% identical to X. fastidiosa isolate Temecula1 from a naturally
      infected grapevine in the United States based on sequence analyses of 16S rRNA
      and 16S-23S ITS. The acquisition rates by K. paulula and B. ferruginea from the
      symptomatic cultivar Golden Muscat were 83.3 and 70.0% per individual, and the
      transmission rates to healthy grapevines were 13.3 and 6.7%, respectively. The
      acquisition rates by the groups of three K. paulula from the symptomatic
      cultivars Golden Muscat and Black Queen were 54.7 and 49.6%, respectively.
      Additionally, the transmission rates by K. paulula from and to each of these two
      grapevine cultivars were not significantly different. In view of their
      acquisition from infected grapevines and the effective transmission of X.
      fastidiosa to healthy grapevines, these two sharpshooter species are vectors of
      X. fastidiosa in Taiwan.

PMID- 26875742
TI  - The safety of generic substitution in epilepsy.

PMID- 26875743
TI  - Generic-to-generic lamotrigine switches in people with epilepsy: the randomised
      controlled EQUIGEN trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients and clinicians share concerns that generic drug substitution
      might lead to loss of efficacy or emergence of adverse events. In this trial, we
      assessed US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bioequivalence standards by
      studying the effects of switching between two disparate generic immediate-release
      lamotrigine products in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: The Equivalence among
      Generic Antiepileptic Drugs (EQUIGEN) chronic-dose study was a randomised, double
      blind, crossover study that enrolled adults (aged >=18 years) with epilepsy from
      six epilepsy centres at academic institutions across the USA who were receiving
      immediate-release lamotrigine dosed at 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, or 400 mg twice
      daily. Eligible patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to one of two treatment
      sequences (sequence 1 or sequence 2), comprising four study periods of 14 days
      each. During each 14-day treatment period, patients received balanced doses of an
      oral generic lamotrigine product every 12 h (200-800 mg total, identical to
      lamotrigine dose prior to study enrolment); after each 14-day period, patients
      were crossed over to receive the other generic product. Computer-based
      randomisation was done using random permuted blocks of size two or four for each
      site to prevent sequence predictability. Both patients and study personnel were
      masked to the generic products selected, their predicted exposure (ie, "high" vs
      "low"), and their group allocation. The primary outcome of this trial was
      bioequivalence between the generic products, which was assessed at the end of the
      study through a comparison of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under
      the concentration-time curve (AUC) for each product in the analysis population
      (all patients who completed all four treatment periods). Bioequivalence was
      established if the 90% CIs of the ratios of these two parameters for the two
      products were within equivalence limits (80-125%) in the analysis population.
      This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov?, number NCT01713777. FINDINGS:
      Between April 25, 2013, and Aug 12, 2014, 35 eligible patients were enrolled and
      randomly assigned to treatment sequence 1 (n=15) or treatment sequence 2 (n=20).
      33 patients completed all four treatment periods and were included in the primary
      outcome analysis. The 90% CIs of the ratios of both Cmax and AUC were within
      equivalence limits (AUC 90% CI 98-103, Cmax 90% CI 99-105), showing that
      lamotrigine exposures were equivalent between the generic products. No
      significant changes in seizure frequency or adverse events were recorded. No
      deaths, study-related serious adverse events, or changes in clinical laboratory
      values or vital signs occurred during this study. INTERPRETATION: Disparate
      generic lamotrigine products in patients with epilepsy showed bioequivalence with
      no detectable difference in clinical effects, confirming that US Food and Drug
      Administration bioequivalence standards are appropriate. FUNDING: American
      Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, and US Food and Drug Administration.

PMID- 26875744
TI  - Single-leaf partial meniscectomy in extensive horizontal tears of the discoid
      lateral meniscus: Does decreased peripheral meniscal thickness affect outcomes?
      (Mean four-year follow-up).
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether single-leaf partial meniscectomy in horizontal
      tears along the entire discoid lateral meniscus has any advantages in clinical
      and radiological results compared with other meniscectomies in discoid lateral
      meniscus. METHODS: A total of 145 patients with a horizontal tear pattern in
      symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-seven
      patients had undergone full-extent single-leaf partial meniscectomy (group A), 60
      had undergone conventional partial meniscectomy (saucerization) maintaining
      peripheral meniscal height (group B), and 58 patients had undergone total
      meniscectomy (group C). Each patient was evaluated with the Lysholm knee score,
      International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective grading, and
      modified Kellgren-Lawrence grade in plain radiography at their last follow-up.
      RESULTS: Group C had inferior functional results to groups A and B on the Lysholm
      knee score and IKDC subjective score. There was no significant difference between
      groups A and B. Group C fared significantly worse than groups A and B (p=0.003,
      p<0.001) by modified Kellgren-Lawrence grade. CONCLUSION: With regard to clinical
      and radiological evaluations in lateral discoid meniscus tears, the full-extent
      single-leaf partial meniscectomy group had no adverse results compared with the
      total meniscectomy group and was not significantly different compared to the
      conventional partial meniscectomy group. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete
      description of levels of evidence.

PMID- 26875745
TI  - Repairable Woven Carbon Fiber Composites with Full Recyclability Enabled by
      Malleable Polyimine Networks.
AB  - Carbon-fiber reinforced composites are prepared using catalyst-free malleable
      polyimine networks as binders. An energy neutral closed-loop recycling process
      has been developed, enabling recovery of 100% of the imine components and carbon
      fibers in their original form. Polyimine films made using >21% recycled content
      exhibit no loss of mechanical performance, therefore indicating all of the
      thermoset composite material can be recycled and reused for the same purpose. 

PMID- 26875746
TI  - Reduction of CRKL expression in patients with partial DiGeorge syndrome is
      associated with impairment of T-cell functions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Partial DiGeorge syndrome (pDGS) is caused by deletion of the 22q11.2
      region. Within this region lies CrK-like (CRKL), a gene encoding an adapter
      protein belonging to the Crk family that is involved in the signaling cascade of
      IL-2, stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha, and type I interferon. Although
      recurrent infections can be observed in patients with deletion of chromosome 22
      syndrome, the immune pathogenesis of this condition is yet not fully understood.
      OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the role of CRKL in T-cell functional
      responses in patients affected with pDGS. METHODS: Protein expression levels and
      phosphorylation of CRKL were evaluated in patients with pDGS. T-cell functional
      assays in vitro and gene-silencing experiments were also performed. RESULTS: CRKL
      protein expression, as well as its phosphorylation, were reduced in all patients
      with pDGS, especially on IL-2 stimulation. Moreover, T cells presented impaired
      proliferation and reduced IL-2 production on anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation and
      decreased c-Fos expression. Finally, CRKL silencing in Jurkat T cells resulted in
      impaired T-cell proliferation and reduced c-Fos expression. CONCLUSIONS: The
      impaired T-cell proliferation and reduction of CRKL, phosphorylated CRKL, and c
      Fos levels suggest a possible role of CRKL in functional deficiencies of T cells
      in patients with pDGS.

PMID- 26875747
TI  - Impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation on left atrial appendage flow
      velocities.
AB  - PURPOSE: Left atrial appendage (LAA) flow velocity has not been extensively
      studied in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter
      aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to assess the impact
      of TAVI on LAA flow velocity. METHODS: Medical records of consecutive TAVI
      recipients were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with persistent atrial
      fibrillation were excluded. LAA velocities were measured before and after TAVI by
      transesophageal echocardiography. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were included. Mean
      LAA emptying (EV) and filling (FV) flow velocity before TAVI were 33 +/- 16 cm/s
      and 31 +/- 14 cm/s, respectively. They increased to 37 +/- 20 (p = 0.0036) and 33
      +/- 13 cm/s (p = 0.047) after TAVI in the whole population sample, but not in
      patients with normal flow AS. In low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) AS patients, EV
      and FV increased from 36 +/- 22 to 47 +/- 30 cm/s (p < 0.01), and from 29 +/- 12
      to 40 +/- 15 cm/s (p < 0.01), respectively, after TAVI. There was no difference
      between normal flow and LFLG AS patients in the number of patients who achieved
      EV >= 40 cm/s post-TAVI (35% versus 47%, p = 0.54, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:
      LAA EV and FV were low prior to TAVI and increased significantly after TAVI only
      in patients with LFLG AS. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound
      44:375-382, 2016.

PMID- 26875748
TI  - Comprehensive detection of bacterial carbohydrate-active enzyme coding genes
      expressed in cow rumen.
AB  - To find the abundant and characteristic fibrolytic enzyme-coding gene expressed
      in fiber-associating microbiota, a metatranscriptomic data set was obtained from
      fiber-associating microbiota, and it was compared with that of rumen fluid
      floating microbiota and two metagenomic data sets. Fibrolytic rumen bacteria
      associate with plant polysaccharide and hydrolyze it in the rumen. We obtained a
      metatranscriptomic assembly from fiber-associating microbiota in three ruminally
      fistulated Holstein cows fed timothy (Phleum pratense) hay. Each
      metatranscriptomic data set involved over a thousand of the glycoside hydrolase
      (GH) gene transcripts that accounted for about 1% of total protein coding gene
      transcripts. Three-quarters of the total GH gene transcripts were dominated by
      non-structural oligosaccharide-acting hydrolase gene transcripts. In the fiber
      associating microbiota, endo-cellulase coding gene families, especially GHs 9 and
      5, were abundantly detected, and GHs 9, 11, 30 and 43, carbohydrate esterase 8
      and carbohydrate-binding module 6 were characteristically detected. Most
      fibrolytic gene transcripts assigned to Fibrobacter succinogenes were detected in
      fiber-associating sections, and GHs 45, 44, 74, 11, 30 and 16 were Fibrobacter
      characteristically detected. The metatranscriptomic assembly highlighted the
      characteristic fibrolytic enzymes expressed in the fiber-associated rumen
      microbiota and offered access to the fibrolytic activities in each fibrolytic
      bacteria.

PMID- 26875749
TI  - Investigation of mental health in Indonesian health workers immigrating to Japan
      under the Economic Partnership Agreement.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the mental health status of Indonesian nurses
      and care workers who immigrated to Japan after the Economic Partnership Agreement
      was signed by the governments of Japan and Indonesia in 2008. From November 2012
      to March 2013, questionnaires were mailed to 206 workers in 87 medical and
      caregiving facilities that openly accept Indonesian EPA immigrant workers.
      Responses were received from 71 workers in 35 facilities. Responses from 22.5% of
      workers suggested that they were at risk of developing mental health problems,
      and "gender" and "acquisition state of national qualifications" were the main
      factors influencing their mental health status. The results suggest that support
      after obtaining national qualifications is inadequate and that mid and long-term
      support systems that focus on the needs of immigrant healthcare workers after
      passing national examinations are necessary. 

PMID- 26875750
TI  - Succession of lignocellulolytic bacterial consortia bred anaerobically from lake
      sediment.
AB  - Anaerobic bacteria degrade lignocellulose in various anoxic and organically rich
      environments, often in a syntrophic process. Anaerobic enrichments of bacterial
      communities on a recalcitrant lignocellulose source were studied combining
      polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, amplicon
      sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and culturing. Three consortia were constructed
      using the microbiota of lake sediment as the starting inoculum and untreated
      switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) (acid or heat) or treated (with either acid or
      heat) as the sole source of carbonaceous compounds. Additionally, nitrate was
      used in order to limit sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. Bacterial growth
      took place, as evidenced from 3 to 4 log unit increases in the 16S rRNA gene copy
      numbers as well as direct cell counts through three transfers on cleaned and
      reused substrate placed in fresh mineral medium. After 2 days, Aeromonas
      bestiarum-like organisms dominated the enrichments, irrespective of the substrate
      type. One month later, each substrate revealed major enrichments of organisms
      affiliated with different species of Clostridium. Moreover, only the heat-treated
      substrate selected Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides-affiliated bacteria
      (Bacteroidetes). Towards the end of the experiment, members of the Proteobacteria
      (Aeromonas, Rhizobium and/or Serratia) became dominant in all three types of
      substrates. A total of 160 strains was isolated from the enrichments. Most of the
      strains tested (78%) were able to grow anaerobically on carboxymethyl cellulose
      and xylan. The final consortia yield attractive biological tools for the
      depolymerization of recalcitrant lignocellulosic materials and are proposed for
      the production of precursors of biofuels. 

PMID- 26875751
TI  - The Presence of a Reticulated Trabecula-Like Structure Increases the Risk for the
      Recurrence of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax after Thoracoscopic Bullectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Deteriorated alveolar structure at the base of blebs and bullae is
      known as the reticulated trabecula-like structure. Its clinical significance in
      primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) remains unclear. This study aimed to
      investigate the impact of the structure on recurrence of PSP after video-assisted
      thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) bullectomy. METHODS: Between April 2010 and March
      2014, 80 cases of PSP in 76 patients who underwent VATS bullectomy using
      endoscopic staplers were included. The staple line was covered with polyglycolic
      acid sheets and fibrin glue. Cases were assigned to a normal alveolar structure
      (NAS) group (n = 54) and a reticulated trabecula-like structure (RT) group (n =
      26) based on the histological analysis. Factors associated with recurrence were
      analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The reticulated trabecula-like
      structure was significantly related to apical lung blebs. The recurrence rate of
      PSP was significantly higher in the RT group than in the NAS group (38.5% vs.
      3.7%; P <0.001). On multivariate analysis, the reticulated trabecula-like
      structure was an independent factor for recurrence of PSP after VATS bullectomy.
      CONCLUSION: The change of alveolar structure at the base of apical lung blebs
      would increase the risk for recurrence of PSP after VATS bullectomy.

PMID- 26875752
TI  - Brazilian immigrants' oral health literacy and participation in oral health care
      in Canada.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inadequate functional health literacy is a common problem in
      immigrant populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the association
      between oral (dental) health literacy (OHL) and participation in oral health care
      among Brazilian immigrants in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. METHODS: The study used a
      cross-sectional design and a convenience sample of 101 Brazilian immigrants
      selected through the snowball sampling technique. Data were analyzed using
      descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Most of the
      sample had adequate OHL (83.1 %). Inadequate/marginal OHL was associated with not
      visiting a dentist in the preceding year (OR = 3.61; p = 0.04), not having a
      dentist as the primary source of dental information (OR = 5.55; p < 0.01), and
      not participating in shared dental treatment decision making (OR = 1.06; p =
      0.05; OHL as a continuous variable) in multivariate logistic regressions
      controlling for covariates. A low average annual family income was associated
      with two indicators of poor participation in oral health care (i.e., not having
      visited a dentist in the previous year, and not having a dentist as regular
      source of dental information). CONCLUSION: Limited OHL was linked to lower
      participation in the oral health care system and with barriers to using dental
      services among a sample of Brazilian immigrants. More effective knowledge
      transfer will be required to help specific groups of immigrants to better
      navigate the Canadian dental care system.

PMID- 26875753
TI  - Liver failure secondary to poisoning by a homemade product made of star and green
      anise in a 4-month-old infant.
AB  - Intoxications in pediatric age represent a frequent cause of visit to the
      hospital emergency unit. Herb-made products can be toxic for the infant. The
      neurotoxic properties of the star anise (Illicium verum) have been widely
      described, although it is a classic product used to treat the infantile colic.
      Hepatic failure due to the consumption of anise herb elaborated infusions is
      presented as an exceptional finding in our environment. A case of a 4-month-old
      infant with hypertransaminasemia, severe coagulopathy, non ketotic hypoglycemia,
      moderated metabolic acidosis and neurologic symptoms such as seizures and
      nistagmus is described. After discarding infectious, metabolic and autoimmune
      etiology and through a meticulous anamnesis, the family referred having
      administered in the last two months a daily star anise and green anise
      (Pimpinella anisum) infusion to the patient. It is important to emphasize the
      serious risk of administering homemade herb infusions to infants.

PMID- 26875754
TI  - Implementation and validation of an economic module in the Be-FAST model to
      predict costs generated by livestock disease epidemics: Application to classical
      swine fever epidemics in Spain.
AB  - Be-FAST is a computer program based on a time-spatial stochastic spread
      mathematical model for studying the transmission of infectious livestock diseases
      within and between farms. The present work describes a new module integrated into
      Be-FAST to model the economic consequences of the spreading of classical swine
      fever (CSF) and other infectious livestock diseases within and between farms. CSF
      is financially one of the most damaging diseases in the swine industry worldwide.
      Specifically in Spain, the economic costs in the two last CSF epidemics (1997 and
      2001) reached jointly more than 108 million euros. The present analysis suggests
      that severe CSF epidemics are associated with significant economic costs,
      approximately 80% of which are related to animal culling. Direct costs associated
      with control measures are strongly associated with the number of infected farms,
      while indirect costs are more strongly associated with epidemic duration. The
      economic model has been validated with economic information around the last
      outbreaks in Spain. These results suggest that our economic module may be useful
      for analysing and predicting economic consequences of livestock disease
      epidemics. 

PMID- 26875755
TI  - Strain dependency of the effects of nicotine and mecamylamine in a rat model of
      attention.
AB  - RATIONALE: Processes of attention have a heritable component, suggesting that
      genetic predispositions may predict variability in the response to attention
      enhancing drugs. Among lead compounds with attention-enhancing properties are
      nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to
      test, by comparing three rat strains, whether genotype may influence the
      sensitivity to nicotine in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT), a
      rodent model of attention. METHODS: Strains tested were Long Evans (LE), Sprague
      Dawley (SD), and Wistar rats. The 5-CSRTT requires responses to light stimuli
      presented randomly in one of five locations. The effect of interest was an
      increased percentage of responses in the correct location (accuracy), the
      strongest indicator of improved attention. RESULTS: Nicotine (0.05-0.2 mg/kg
      s.c.) reduced omission errors and response latency and increased anticipatory
      responding in all strains. In contrast, nicotine dose-dependently increased
      accuracy in Wistar rats only. The nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (0.75-3 mg/kg
      s.c.) increased omissions, slowed responses, and reduced anticipatory responding
      in all strains. There were no effects on accuracy, which was surprising giving
      the clear improvement with nicotine in the Wistar group. CONCLUSIONS: The
      findings suggest strain differences in the attention-enhancing effects of
      nicotine, which would indicate that genetic predispositions predict variability
      in the efficacy of nAChR compounds for enhancing attention. The absence of effect
      of mecamylamine on response accuracy may suggest a contribution of nAChR
      desensitization to the attention-enhancing effects of nicotine.

PMID- 26875756
TI  - Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol-like effects of novel synthetic cannabinoids in
      mice and rats.
AB  - RATIONALE: Novel cannabinoid compounds continue to be marketed as "legal"
      marijuana substitutes, even though little is known about their molecular and
      behavioral effects. OBJECTIVES: Six of these compounds (ADBICA, ADB-PINACA, THJ
      2201, RCS-4, JWH-122, JWH-210) were tested for in vitro and in vivo cannabinoid
      like effects to determine their abuse liability. METHODS: Binding to and
      functional activity at CB1 cannabinoid receptors was tested. Locomotor activity
      in mice was tested to screen for behavioral activity and to identify behaviorally
      active dose ranges and times of peak effect. Discriminative stimulus effects of
      the six compounds were tested in rats trained to discriminate Delta(9)
      tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC). RESULTS: ADBICA, ADB-PINACA, THJ-2201, RCS
      4, JWH-122, and JWH-210 showed high affinity binding at the CB1 receptor at
      nanomolar affinities (0.59 to 22.5 nM), and all acted as full agonists with
      nanomolar potencies (0.024 to 111 nM) when compared to the CB1 receptor full
      agonist CP 55940. All compounds depressed locomotor activity below 50 % of
      vehicle responding, with depressant effects lasting 1.5 to nearly 4 h. All
      compounds fully substituted (<80 % Delta(9)-THC-appropriate responding) for the
      discriminative stimulus effects of Delta(9)-THC. 3,4-Methylenedioxy
      methamphetamine (MDMA) was tested as a negative control and did not substitute
      for Delta(9)-THC (11 % Delta(9)-THC-appropriate responding). CONCLUSIONS: All six
      of the compounds acted at the CB1 receptor and produced behavioral effects common
      to abused cannabinoid compounds, which suggest that these compounds have
      substantial abuse liability common to controlled synthetic cannabinoid compounds.

PMID- 26875757
TI  - Smoke and mirrors: The overnight abstinence paradigm as an index of disrupted
      cognitive function.
AB  - RATIONALE: Smoking abstinence is known to cause decrements in cognition, but the
      effects are small and variable. One way to reduce variance may be to aggregate
      measures or visits. Although trait-like individual differences in smoking
      abstinence effects on cognition are theorized to predict relapse, the test-retest
      reliability (TRR) assumed in trait models has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The
      objectives of this study were to assess the value of aggregating measures to
      determine effect sizes (ESs) of smoking versus abstinence on measures of
      cognition and to assess the short-term TRR of abstinence effects on cognition.
      METHODS: Thirty adult smokers completed the typical overnight abstinence paradigm
      twice; each visit pair consisted of one smoking visit and one abstinent visit.
      Measures of attention, working memory, and inhibitory control were obtained in
      each visit. RESULTS: There were small to medium ESs for smoking abstinence on
      individual cognitive measures during the first abstinence experience ("visit
      pair"). Aggregating the measures within the visit pair and across visit pairs
      additively increased the ES of smoking versus abstinence. Although TRRs were
      acceptable between smoking visits and between abstinent visits, TRRs for
      abstinence effects (smoking vs. abstinent visit differences) on cognition were
      consistently weak. DISCUSSION: The ability of the typical overnight abstinence
      paradigm to reflect disrupted cognition at the group level can be substantially
      improved by aggregating across cognitive outcomes and/or multiple study visits.
      However, the patterns of poor TRR of smoking-abstinence differences in cognition
      caution against their use as trait-like markers in studies of relapse or
      treatment response.

PMID- 26875758
TI  - Interobserver Variability of Ki-67 Measurement in Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As measurement of Ki-67 proliferation index is an important part of
      breast cancer diagnostics, we conducted a multicenter study to examine the degree
      of concordance in Ki-67 counting and to find factors that lead to its
      variability. METHODS: Thirty observers from thirty different institutions
      reviewed Ki-67-stained slides of 20 different breast cancers on whole sections
      and tissue microarray (TMA) by online system. Ten of the 20 breast cancers had
      hot spots of Ki-67 expression. Each observer scored Ki-67 in two different ways:
      direct counting (average vs. hot spot method) and categorical estimation.
      Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of Ki-67 index was calculated for
      comparative analysis. RESULTS: For direct counting, ICC of TMA was slightly
      higher than that of whole sections using average method (0.895 vs 0.858). The ICC
      of tumors with hot spots was lower than that of tumors without (0.736 vs 0.874).
      In tumors with hot spots, observers took an additional counting from the hot
      spot; the ICC of whole sections using hot spot method was still lower than that
      of TMA (0.737 vs 0.895). In categorical estimation, Ki-67 index showed a wide
      distribution in some cases. Nevertheless, in tumors with hot spots, the range of
      distribution in Ki-67 categories was decreased with hot spot method and in TMA
      platform. CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver variability of Ki-67 index for direct
      counting and categorical estimation was relatively high. Tumors with hot spots
      showed greater interobserver variability as opposed to those without, and
      restricting the measurement area yielded lower interobserver variability.

PMID- 26875759
TI  - Prognostic Implication of Semi-quantitative Immunohistochemical Assessment of
      CD20 Expression in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immunohistochemical demonstration of CD20 in diffuse large B-cell
      lymphoma (DLBCL) is prerequisite not only for the diagnosis but also for
      assigning patients to rituximab-containing chemotherapy. However, little is known
      about the impact of abundance of CD20 expression assessed by immunohistochemistry
      on the clinical outcome of DLBCL. We performed a semi-quantitative
      immunohistochemical analysis of CD20 expression in DLBCL to examine the
      prognostic implication of the level of CD20 expression. METHODS: Pre-treatment
      diagnostic tissue samples from 48 DLBCL patients who were treated with rituximab,
      cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) regimen were
      represented in a tissue microarray and immunostained for CD20. The relative
      abundance of CD20 expression was semi-quantitatively scored using a web-based
      ImmunoMembrane plug-in. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used
      to determine a prognostically relevant cut-off score in order to dichotomize the
      patients into CD20-high versus CD20-low groups. RESULTS: The levels of CD20
      expression were heterogeneous among the patients, with a wide and linear
      distribution of scores. Patients in CD20-low group showed significantly poor
      clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of CD20 expression in DLBCL are
      heterogeneous among the patients with DLBCL. A subgroup of the patients with CD20
      expression levels below the cut-off score showed poor clinical outcome.

PMID- 26875760
TI  - Morphologic Analysis of Cytomegalovirus Infected Cells in Bronchial Washing
      Cytology: Comparison of Liquid-Based Preparation and Conventional Smear.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cytopathic effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have been
      well described since the virus was first reported; however, the morphology of CMV
      infection has not been clearly studied. We examined the difference in detailed
      cytologic findings in bronchial washing cytology between liquid-based and
      conventionally prepared smears. METHODS: Bronchial washing cytology was processed
      using either the conventional preparation (CP) or liquid-based preparation (LBP).
      Sixty-nine cells with typical cytopathic effects of CMV infection were detected
      on CP slides and 18 cells on LBP slides. Using the image analyzer, area,
      circumference, major axis, and minor axis of the cytoplasm, nucleus, and
      intranuclear inclusion were measured in singly scattered CMV-infected cells, and
      histiocytes were used as a control. RESULTS: The mean cytoplasmic area of CMV
      infected cells was 1.47 times larger than that of histiocytes in CP and 2.92
      times larger in LBP (p<.05). The mean nuclear area of CMV-infected cells was 2.61
      times larger than that of histiocytes in CP and 4.25 times larger in LBP (p<.05).
      The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and intranuclear inclusion to cytoplasm ratio of
      the mean area, circumference, major axis, and minor axis in CP were larger than
      those in LBP (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The sizes of cytoplasm, nucleus, and
      intranuclear inclusion were larger in LBP than in CP, indicating that CMV
      infected cells are easily detectable in LBP. However, the nucleus-to-cytoplasm
      ratio was larger in CP, suggesting that differentiation from malignancy or
      regenerative atypia requires caution in CP.

PMID- 26875761
TI  - Phleboviruses associated with sand flies in arid bio-geographical areas of
      Central Tunisia.
AB  - An entomological investigation was carried out in 2014 at two sites located in
      Central Tunisia, one irrigated and another non-irrigated situated in arid bio
      geographical areas. Sand flies of the subgenus Larroussius namely Phlebotomus
      perfiliewi, Phlebotomus perniciosus, and Phlebotomus longicuspis are the most
      abundant sand fly species in the irrigated site. However, in the non-irrigated
      site, Phlebotomus papatasi of the Phlebotomus genus is the most abundant species.
      A total of 3191 sand flies were collected and pooled with up to 30 specimens per
      pool based on sex, trapping location and collection date, were tested for the
      presence of phleboviruses by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain
      reaction in the polymerase gene and sequenced. Of a total of 117 pools, 4 were
      positive, yielding a minimum infection rate of sand flies with phleboviruses of
      0.12%. Phylogenetic analysis performed using partial nucleotide and amino acid
      sequence in the polymerase gene showed that these phleboviruses belonged to four
      different clusters corresponding to Toscana virus (TOSV), Saddaguia virus (SADV),
      Sandfly Fever Sicilian Virus (SFSV) and Utique virus (UTIV). This study provides
      more evidence that the abundance of P. perfiliewi is associated with the
      development of irrigation in arid bio-geographical areas of Central Tunisia which
      may have led to the emergence of phleboviruses. We report the first detection of
      TOSV from sand flies collected from Central Tunisia. 

PMID- 26875762
TI  - Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Crotalus durissus collilineatus kept in
      captivity and its zoonotic relevance.
AB  - Leptospirosis is a worldwide spread zoonosis that can affect all groups of
      vertebrates, including reptiles. Because it has been little studied in snakes,
      this study focused on determining the occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp.
      antibodies in 64 Crotalus durissus collilineatus kept in captivity and on
      identifying the most common serovars in these animals, using the microscopic
      agglutination test. Of these, almost 90% were positive and there were reactions
      to the 22 serovars used in the study. The most common serovar in these snakes was
      Javanica, Andamana and Patoc. Most frequent titers were 25 and 50, although high
      titers (such as 1600) were also recorded, despite the absence of clinical
      symptoms. The possibility should be considered of captive snakes serving as a
      serious source of leptospiral infection in humans, which is why it is essential
      to study, prevent and control the disease in breeding centers and serpentariums. 

PMID- 26875763
TI  - Molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance related genes in
      Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Eritrea.
AB  - The introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy has led to
      extraordinary results in malaria control, however the recent emergence of partial
      resistance to artemisinin therapy in Southeast Asia jeopardizes these successes.
      This study aimed at investigating resistance to the antimalarial drugs by
      evaluating the polymorphisms in the PfK13, Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes in Plasmodium
      falciparum isolates obtained from patients in Eritrea. 

PMID- 26875764
TI  - Spatial spread of dengue in a non-endemic tropical city in northern Argentina.
AB  - After more than eighty years dengue reemerged in Argentina in 1997. Since then,
      the largest epidemic in terms of geographical extent, magnitude and mortality,
      was recorded in 2009. In this report we analyzed the DEN-1 epidemic spread in
      Oran, a mid-size city in a non-endemic tropical area in Northern Argentina, and
      its correlation with demographic and socioeconomic factors. Cases were diagnosed
      by ELISA between January and June 2009. We applied a space-time and spatial scan
      statistic under a Poisson model. Possible association between dengue incidence
      and socio-economic variables was studied with the Spearman correlation test. The
      epidemic started from an imported case from Bolivia and space-time analysis
      detected two clusters: one on February and other in April (in the south and the
      northeast of the city respectively) with risk ratios of 25.24 and 4.07 (p<0.01).
      Subsequent cases spread widely around the city without significant space-temporal
      clustering. Maximum values of the entomological indices were observed in January,
      at the beginning of the epidemic (B=21.96; LH=8.39). No statistically significant
      association between socioeconomic variables and dengue incidence was found but
      positive correlation between population size and the number of cases (p<0.05) was
      detected. Two mechanisms may explain the observed pattern of epidemic spread in
      this non-endemic tropical city: a) Short range dispersal of mosquitoes and people
      generates clusters of cases and b) long-distance (within the city) human movement
      contributes to a quasi-random distribution of cases. 

PMID- 26875765
TI  - A novel antimicrobial peptide derived from membrane-proximal external region of
      human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
AB  - With increasing microbial drug resistance worldwide, antimicrobial peptides
      (AMPs) are considered promising alternatives to addressing this problem. In this
      study, a series of synthetic peptides were designed based on the membrane
      disrupting properties of the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein. The peptide AP16-A was
      found to exhibit the most effective antimicrobial activities against both Gram
      negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC)
      of AP16-A ranged from 2 MUg/ml to 16 MUg/ml. AP16-A had no detectable
      cytotoxicity in various tissue cultures and a mouse model. Furthermore, results
      of confocal fluorescence microscopy and the SYTOX Green uptake assay indicated
      that AP16-A killed Gram-negative bacteria by the combined effects of relatively
      slow membrane permeabilization and interaction with an intracellular target,
      while it killed Gram-positive bacteria by a fast membrane permeabilization
      process, which achieved relatively more rapid bacterial killing kinetics. The
      results of this study support the potential use of AP16-A as an AMP. 

PMID- 26875766
TI  - Sesamoid Position in Healthy Volunteers Without Deformity: A Computed Tomography
      Study.
AB  - We used coronal computed tomography to determine the normal sesamoid position in
      20 healthy volunteers. The sample involved 40 feet (20 left [50%] and 20 right
      [50%]) in 20 volunteers, including 11 females (55%) and 9 males (45%). The
      relationship between the first metatarsal head and the sesamoid complex was
      categorized as Yildirim grade 0 in every case (100%). The mean width of the foot
      was 77.7 +/- 5.8 mm, and the ratio of the foot width to the distance from the
      second metatarsal head to the tibial sesamoid was 39.6% +/- 2.02%. Based on our
      findings, we consider Yildirim grade 0 to be the normal sesamoid alignment. 

PMID- 26875767
TI  - Use of a Proximal Humeral Locking Plate for Complex Ankle and Hindfoot Fusion.
AB  - Arthrodesis of the ankle and hindfoot in the setting of major deformity is
      challenging and associated with substantial risks. Patients often have
      significant comorbidities that lead to unforgiving soft tissues, poor
      vascularity, and poor bone quality. This creates the high-risk scenario of poor
      wound healing and poor implant fixation. Complications can be devastating,
      leading to loss of the limb and sepsis. The use of locking plate technology might
      provide biomechanical and operative technique advantages in such patients. We
      retrospectively assessed the results of the modified use of the PHILOS(TM)
      (Synthes((r)), Zuchwil, Switzerland) proximal humeral locking plate in 21
      patients (11 males, 10 females; mean age 56.1 years, range 25 to 74 years) who
      had undergone complex fusions, including tibiotalar (n = 4), tibiocalcaneal (n =
      7), or tibiotalocalcaneal (n =10) fusions. The average follow-up period was 14.6
      (median 10, range 6 to 49) months. Of the 21 fusions, 18 achieved union (85.7%)
      at an average period of 4.8 (median 4.3, range 3 to 12) months. The overall deep
      infection rate was 14.3%. Overall, 17 of the 21 patients (81%) were satisfied
      with the result (good to excellent), 1 reported the result was fair (4.8%), and 3
      patients developed nonunion and were dissatisfied with the procedure (14.3%). The
      present study is the largest series to date of patients undergoing complex ankle
      and hindfoot arthrodesis with the use of a proximal humeral locking plate and
      confirms previous findings that the technique is reliable with union,
      satisfaction, and complication rates comparable to those of other techniques. 

PMID- 26875768
TI  - Cement Calcaneoplasty: An Innovative Method for Treating Nonunion in Calcaneal
      Insufficiency Fracture.
AB  - Insufficiency type stress fractures are common in older patients with
      osteoporosis. Persistent pain after nonunion of these fractures can be disabling,
      with the management options often limited. We aimed to assess the suitability of
      fluoroscopic-guided injection of bone cement into a persistently symptomatic
      nonuniting calcaneal insufficiency fracture. To the best of our knowledge, this
      technique has not previously been described in the published data. After local
      subcutaneous anesthesia, the midpoint of the fracture site was accessed by trocar
      insertion under radiographic guidance, and bone cement was injected directly into
      the site. A preprocedure visual analog scale pain score of 90 of 100 was
      recorded. This had improved to 0 of 100 at the 12-month follow-up point after the
      procedure. The aim of the present case report was to raise awareness of
      percutaneous calcaneoplasty, which we believe to be a safe and well-tolerated
      technique for the management of osteoporotic insufficiency fracture of the
      calcaneus. We propose that this technique be considered when conservative methods
      aimed at promoting fracture healing have failed. 

PMID- 26875769
TI  - Therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of laser acupuncture on
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The laser acupuncture has many potential therapeutic
      effects. Currently, they are not evaluated for their therapeutic effects on
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the
      effects of laser acupuncture on the oxidative and antioxidative markers, as well
      as the inflammatory markers and disease activity of RA patients. DESIGN/MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 RA patients and 20 healthy subjects.
      The patients were subjected to laser acupuncture (904 nm, 100 mW power output, 1
      minute irradiation time, beam area of 1 cm(2) , total energy per point 6 J,
      energy density 6 J/ cm(2) , irradiance 0.1 W/cm(2) , frequency 10000 Hz, duty
      cycle 100%) for 3 days/week for duration of 4 weeks. The acupuncture points of
      exposure were LI4, TE5, LI 11, DU 14, LIV3, SP6, GB34, and S36. The levels of
      oxidative and antioxidant markers were determined by spectrophotometric methods
      whereas the inflammatory markers were determined by ELISA methods. Lastly, using
      DAS28 scores the disease activity was assessed. RESULTS: After laser acupuncture,
      the study group revealed significantly increased plasma superoxide dismutase
      (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase activities, blood glutathione (GSH),
      and plasma ATP concentrations, compared to those before treatment (P < 0.0005).
      Moreover, the results revealed significantly reduced plasma malondialdehyde
      (MDA), serum nitrate and nitrite, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and significantly reduced glutathione peroxidase
      (GPx) activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in laser exposed
      patients, compared to those before treatment (P < 0.0005). The RA patients
      subjected to laser acupuncture showed highly significant reduction in disease
      activity (P < 0.0005) based on DAS28 score. CONCLUSION: Our study results
      confirmed the effectiveness of laser acupuncture in alleviating oxidative stress
      and inflammation, improving antioxidant and energy metabolic status, while also
      suppressing the disease activity in RA patients. Laser acupuncture is a promising
      treatment modality to reduce the pain and suffering of RA patients because of its
      efficiency in inhibiting most of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of
      this disease. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:490-497, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26875770
TI  - Mouse macrophage polarity and ROCK1 activity depend on RhoA and non-apoptotic
      Caspase 3.
AB  - The macrophages have different subtypes with different functions in immune
      response and disease. It has been generally accepted that M1 macrophages are
      responsible for stimulation of immune system and inflammation while M2
      macrophages play a role in tissue repair. Irrespective of the type, macrophage
      functions depend on actin cytoskeleton, which is under the control of small
      GTPase RhoA pathway and its downstream effector ROCK1. We generated RhoA-deleted
      macrophages and compared the effect of RhoA deletion on M0, M1 and M2 macrophage
      phenotype. Our studies showed that, unexpectedly, the RhoA deletion did not
      eliminate macrophage ROCK1 expression and increased ROCK1 activity. The RhoA
      deletion effect on macrophage phenotype, structure and polarity was different for
      each subtype. Moreover, our study indicates that the up-regulation of ROCK1
      activity in RhoA-deleted macrophages and macrophage phenotype/polarity are
      dependent on non-apoptotic Caspase-3 and are sensitive to Caspase-3 inhibition.
      These novel findings will revise/complement our understanding of RhoA pathway
      regulation of cell structure and polarity. 

PMID- 26875771
TI  - Comparing the effect of bleach and water baths on skin barrier function in atopic
      dermatitis: a split-body randomized controlled trial.

PMID- 26875772
TI  - Conserved stem fragment from H3 influenza hemagglutinin elicits cross-clade
      neutralizing antibodies through stalk-targeted blocking of conformational change
      during membrane fusion.
AB  - Currently available influenza vaccines typically fail to elicit/boost broadly
      neutralizing antibodies due to the mutability of virus sequences and
      conformational changes during protective immunity, thereby limiting their
      efficacy. This problem needs to be addressed by further understanding the
      mechanisms of neutralization and finding the desired neutralizing site during
      membrane fusion. This study specifically focused on viruses of the H3N2 subtype,
      which have persisted as a principal source of influenza-related morbidity and
      mortality in humans since the 1968 influenza pandemic. Through sequence alignment
      and epitope prediction, a series of highly conserved stem fragments (spanning 47
      years) were found and coupled to the Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) protein. By
      application of a combinatorial display library and crystal structure modeling, a
      stem fragment immunogen, located at the turning point of the HA neck undergoing
      conformational change during membrane fusion with both B- and T-cell epitopes,
      was identified. After synthesis of the optimal stem fragment using a multiple
      antigen peptide (MAP) system, strong humoral immune responses and cross-clade
      neutralizing activities against strains from the H3 subtype of group 2 influenza
      viruses after animal immunizations were observed. By detection of nuclear protein
      immunofluorescence with acid bypass treatment, antisera raised against MAP4
      immunogens of the stem fragment showed the potential to inhibit the
      conformational change of HA in stem-targeted virus neutralization. The
      identification of this conserved stem fragment provides great potential for
      exploitation of this site of vulnerability in therapeutic and vaccine design.

PMID- 26875773
TI  - Good's syndrome and hypoparathyroidism combined with hypocalcaemia, hypokalemia,
      hypomagnesemia, and hypophosphatemia-Case report.

PMID- 26875774
TI  - Altered expression of miR-125a-5p in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis and its
      down-regulation of foxp3 expression in Jurkat cells.
AB  - Myasthenia gravis is an autoantibody-mediated and T cell-dependent autoimmune
      disease of neuromuscular junctions. Thymomas may play a crucial role in the
      pathogenesis of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (TAMG), but the thymic
      pathogenesis of TAMG is unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules
      21-24 nt in length that regulate the expression of their target genes in a post
      transcriptional manner. In this study, we used a miRNA microarray chip to
      identify, for the first time, 137 miRNAs in normal tissue adjacent to the thymoma
      from TAMG patients that were significantly dysregulated compared with normal
      thymus controls. We confirmed the differential expression of miR-125a-5p in
      larger samples using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
      Using bioinformatics analysis, we identified the foxp3 3' untranslated region
      (UTR) as a target of miR-125a-5p. Importantly, miR-125a-5p expression exhibited a
      negative correlation with foxp3 expression in normal tissue adjacent to the
      thymoma from TAMG patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression of
      the foxp3 gene was modulated by miR-125a-5p in Jurkat cells. Taken together, our
      results suggest that the abnormal expression of miR-125a-5p and its effect on
      foxp3 expression are likely involved in the pathogenesis of TAMG.

PMID- 26875775
TI  - Progesterone suppressed vasoconstriction in human umbilical vein via reducing
      calcium entry.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the actions of progesterone on human
      umbilical vein (HUV) from normal pregnancies and the possible underlying
      mechanisms involved. HUV rings were suspended in organ baths and exposed to
      progesterone followed by phenylephrine (PE) or serotonin (5-HT). Progesterone
      suppressed PE- or 5-HT-induced vasoconstriction in HUV rings. The inhibitory
      effect induced by progesterone was not influenced by nitric oxide syntheses
      inhibitor, prostaglandins syntheses blocker, the integrity of endothelium,
      selective progesterone receptor or potassium channel antagonists. Further testing
      showed that progesterone and nifedipine (a blocker for L-type calcium channels)
      produced similar inhibitory effects on PE-, 5-HT-, Bay-k8644-, KCl-induced
      vasoconstriction in Krebs solution as well as CaCl2-induced vasoconstriction in
      Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution. But the inhibitory effect of mibefradil (mibe, a
      blocker for L-type (CaV1.2) and T-type calcium channels (CaV3.2)) on PE-, 5-HT
      induced vasoconstriction was significantly greater than progesterone or
      nifedipine in Krebs solution. Furthermore, progesterone did not affect the
      vasoconstriction caused by PE, 5-HT, or caffeine in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution.
      In addition, incubation HUV with progesterone did not change CaV1.2 and
      progesterone receptor (PR) expressions. The results gained demonstrated that
      progesterone could suppress multiple agonist-induced vasoconstrictions in HUV,
      mainly due to a reduction of calcium entry through L-type calcium channels, not
      endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation pathways, potassium channels, or Ca(2+)
      release from intracellular stores, providing new information important to further
      understanding the contribution of progesterone in the regulation of the placental
      fetal circulation. 

PMID- 26875776
TI  - The case for plant-made veterinary immunotherapeutics.
AB  - The excessive use of antibiotics in food animal production has contributed to
      resistance in pathogenic bacteria, thereby triggering regulations and consumer
      demands to limit their use. Alternatives for disease control are therefore
      required that are cost-effective and compatible with intensive production. While
      vaccines are widely used and effective, they are available against a minority of
      animal diseases, and development of novel vaccines and other immunotherapeutics
      is therefore needed. Production of such proteins recombinantly in plants can
      provide products that are effective and safe, can be orally administered with
      minimal processing, and are easily scalable with a relatively low capital
      investment. The present report thus advocates the use of plants for producing
      vaccines and antibodies to protect farm animals from diseases that have thus far
      been managed with antibiotics; and highlights recent advances in product
      efficacy, competitiveness, and regulatory approval.

PMID- 26875777
TI  - Advances in pulmonary therapy and drug development: Lung tissue engineering to
      lung-on-a-chip.
AB  - Lung disease is one of the major causes of death, and the rate of pulmonary
      diseases has been increasing for decades. Although lung transplantation is the
      only treatment for majority of patients, this method has been limited due to lack
      of donors. Therefore, recently, attentions have increased to some new strategies
      with the aid of tissue engineering and microfluidics techniques not only for the
      functional analysis, but also for drug screening. In fact, in tissue engineering,
      the engineered tissue is able to grow by using the patient's own cells without
      intervention in the immune system. On the other hand, microfluidics devices are
      applied in order to evaluate drug screenings, function analysis and toxicity.
      This article reviews new advances in lung tissue engineering and lung-on-a-chip.
      Furthermore, future directions, difficulties and drawbacks of pulmonary therapy
      in these areas are discussed.

PMID- 26875778
TI  - Neural plasticity and behavior - sixty years of conceptual advances.
AB  - This brief review summarizes 60 years of conceptual advances that have
      demonstrated a role for active changes in neuronal connectivity as a controller
      of behavior and behavioral change. Seminal studies in the first phase of the six
      decade span of this review firmly established the cellular basis of behavior - a
      concept that we take for granted now, but which was an open question at the time.
      Hebbian plasticity, including long-term potentiation and long-term depression,
      was then discovered as being important for local circuit refinement in the
      context of memory formation and behavioral change and stabilization in the
      mammalian central nervous system. Direct demonstration of plasticity of neuronal
      circuit function in vivo, for example, hippocampal neurons forming place cell
      firing patterns, extended this concept. However, additional neurophysiologic and
      computational studies demonstrated that circuit development and stabilization
      additionally relies on non-Hebbian, homoeostatic, forms of plasticity, such as
      synaptic scaling and control of membrane intrinsic properties. Activity-dependent
      neurodevelopment was found to be associated with cell-wide adjustments in post
      synaptic receptor density, and found to occur in conjunction with synaptic
      pruning. Pioneering cellular neurophysiologic studies demonstrated the critical
      roles of transmembrane signal transduction, NMDA receptor regulation, regulation
      of neural membrane biophysical properties, and back-propagating action potential
      in critical time-dependent coincidence detection in behavior-modifying circuits.
      Concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, regulation of
      gene transcription was found to serve as a bridge between experience and
      behavioral change, closing the 'nature versus nurture' divide. Both active DNA
      (de)methylation and regulation of chromatin structure have been validated as
      crucial regulators of gene transcription during learning. The discovery of
      protein synthesis dependence on the acquisition of behavioral change was an
      influential discovery in the neurochemistry of behavioral modification. Higher
      order cognitive functions such as decision making and spatial and language
      learning were also discovered to hinge on neural plasticity mechanisms. The role
      of disruption of these processes in intellectual disabilities, memory disorders,
      and drug addiction has recently been clarified based on modern genetic
      techniques, including in the human. The area of neural plasticity and behavior
      has seen tremendous advances over the last six decades, with many of those
      advances being specifically in the neurochemistry domain. This review provides an
      overview of the progress in the area of neuroplasticity and behavior over the
      life-span of the Journal of Neurochemistry. To organize the broad literature
      base, the review collates progress into fifteen broad categories identified as
      'conceptual advances', as viewed by the author. The fifteen areas are delineated
      in the figure above. This article is part of the 60th Anniversary special issue.

PMID- 26875779
TI  - Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
AB  - Ultrasonography remains the screening modality of choice for abdominal aortic
      aneurysms despite many advances in imaging modalities. Several randomized trials
      were performed that demonstrated the effectiveness of ultrasound-based screening
      to reduce aneurysm-related mortality. Ultrasound is both cost effective and low
      risk. Controversies do persist in selecting the appropriate populations for
      screening, and several national societies have set recommendations. 

PMID- 26875780
TI  - Maternal thyroid function in pregnant women with a breech presentation in late
      gestation.

PMID- 26875781
TI  - Primary hyperhidrosis: Implications on symptoms, daily life, health and alcohol
      consumption when treated with botulinum toxin.
AB  - Primary hyperhidrosis affects approximately 3% of the population and reduces
      quality of life in affected persons. Few studies have investigated the symptoms
      of anxiety, depression and hazardous alcohol consumption among those with
      hyperhidrosis and the effect of treatment with botulinum toxin. The first aim of
      this study was to investigate the effect of primary hyperhidrosis on mental and
      physical health, and alcohol consumption. Our second aim was to study whether and
      how treatment with botulinum toxin changed these effects. One hundred and
      fourteen patients answered questionnaires regarding hyperhidrosis and symptoms,
      including hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS), visual analog scale (VAS)
      10-point scale for hyperhidrosis symptoms, hospital anxiety and depression scale
      (HADS), alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) and short-form health
      survey (SF-36) before treatment with botulinum toxin and 2 weeks after. The age
      of onset of hyperhidrosis was on average 13.4 years and 48% described heredity
      for hyperhidrosis. Significant improvements were noted in patients with axillary
      and palmar hyperhidrosis regarding mean HDSS, VAS 10-point scale, HADS, SF-36 and
      sweat-related health problems 2 weeks after treatment with botulinum toxin.
      Changes in mean AUDIT for all participants were not significant. Primary
      hyperhidrosis mainly impairs mental rather than physical aspects of life and also
      interferes with specific daily activities of the affected individuals. Despite
      this, our patients did not show signs of anxiety, depression or hazardous alcohol
      consumption. Treatment with botulinum toxin reduced sweat-related problems and
      led to significant improvements in HDSS, VAS, HADS and SF-36 in our patients. 

PMID- 26875782
TI  - Imaging viral RNA using multiply labeled tetravalent RNA imaging probes in live
      cells.
AB  - Viruses represent an important class of pathogens that have had an enormous
      impact on the health of the human race. They are extraordinarily diverse; viral
      particles can range in size from ~80nm to ~10MUm in length, and contain genomes
      with RNA or DNA strands. Regardless of their genome type, RNA species are
      frequently generated as a part of their replication process, and for viruses with
      RNA genomes, their loading into the virion represents a critical step in the
      creation of infectious particles. RNA imaging tools represent a powerful approach
      to gain insight into fundamental viral processes, including virus entry,
      replication, and virion assembly. Imaging viral processes in live cells is
      critical due to both the heterogeneity of these processes on a per cell basis,
      and the inherent dynamics of these processes. There are a number of methods for
      labeling RNA in live cells; we'll introduce the myriad of methods and then focus
      on one approach for labeling viral RNA, using multiply-labeled tetravalent RNA
      imaging probes (MTRIPs), which do not require engineering of the target RNAs. We
      feel this approach is advantageous given many viral genomes may not tolerate
      large nucleotide insertions into their sequences. 

PMID- 26875783
TI  - Targeted and controlled anticancer drug delivery and release with magnetoelectric
      nanoparticles.
AB  - It is a challenge to eradicate tumor cells while sparing normal cells. We used
      magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENs) to control drug delivery and release. The
      physics is due to electric-field interactions (i) between MENs and a drug and
      (ii) between drug-loaded MENs and cells. MENs distinguish cancer cells from
      normal cells through the membrane's electric properties; cancer cells have a
      significantly smaller threshold field to induce electroporation. In vitro and in
      vivo studies (nude mice with SKOV-3 xenografts) showed that (i) drug (paclitaxel
      (PTX)) could be attached to MENs (30-nm CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 nanostructures) through
      surface functionalization to avoid its premature release, (ii) drug-loaded MENs
      could be delivered into cancer cells via application of a d.c. field (~100 Oe),
      and (iii) the drug could be released off MENs on demand via application of an
      a.c. field (~50 Oe, 100 Hz). The cell lysate content was measured with scanning
      probe microscopy and spectrophotometry. MENs and control ferromagnetic and
      polymer nanoparticles conjugated with HER2-neu antibodies, all loaded with PTX
      were weekly administrated intravenously. Only the mice treated with PTX-loaded
      MENs (15/200 MUg) in a field for three months were completely cured, as confirmed
      through infrared imaging and post-euthanasia histology studies via energy
      dispersive spectroscopy and immunohistochemistry.

PMID- 26875785
TI  - Chronic use of pravastatin reduces insulin exocytosis and increases beta-cell
      death in hypercholesterolemic mice.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor knockout
      (LDLr(-/-)) mice secrete less insulin than wild-type mice. Removing cholesterol
      from isolated islets using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin reversed this defect. In this
      study, we hypothesized that in vivo treatment of LDLr(-/-) mice with the HMGCoA
      reductase inhibitor pravastatin would improve glucose-stimulated insulin
      secretion. Female LDLr(-/-) mice were treated with pravastatin (400mg/L) for 1-3
      months. Isolated pancreatic islets were assayed for insulin secretion rates,
      intracellular calcium oscillations, cholesterol levels, NAD(P)H and SNARE protein
      levels, apoptosis indicators and lipidomic profile. Two months pravastatin
      treatment reduced cholesterol levels in plasma, liver and islets by 35%, 25% and
      50%, respectively. Contrary to our hypothesis, pravastatin treatment increased
      fasting and fed plasma levels of glucose and decreased markedly (40%) fed plasma
      levels of insulin. In addition, ex vivo glucose stimulated insulin secretion was
      significantly reduced after two and three months (36-48%, p<0.05) of pravastatin
      treatment. Although reducing insulin secretion and insulinemia, two months
      pravastatin treatment did not affect glucose tolerance because it improved global
      insulin sensitivity. Pravastatin induced islet dysfunction was associated with
      marked reductions of exocytosis-related SNARE proteins (SNAP25, Syntaxin 1A,
      VAMP2) and increased apoptosis markers (Bax/Bcl2 protein ratio, cleaved caspase-3
      and lower NAD(P)H production rates) observed in pancreatic islets from treated
      mice. In addition, several oxidized phospholipids, tri- and diacylglycerols and
      the proapoptotic lipid molecule ceramide were identified as markers of
      pravastatin-treated islets. Cell death and oxidative stress (H2O2 production)
      were confirmed in insulin secreting INS-1E cells treated with pravastatin. These
      results indicate that chronic treatment with pravastatin impairs the insulin
      exocytosis machinery and increases beta-cell death. These findings suggest that
      prolonged use of statins may have a diabetogenic effect. 

PMID- 26875784
TI  - Genome size and ploidy influence angiosperm species' biomass under nitrogen and
      phosphorus limitation.
AB  - Angiosperm genome sizes (GS) range c. 2400-fold, and as nucleic acids are amongst
      the most phosphorus- (P) and nitrogen (N)-demanding cellular biomolecules, we
      test the hypothesis that a key influence on plant biomass and species composition
      is the interaction between N and P availability and plant GS. We analysed the
      impact of different nutrient regimes on above-ground biomass of angiosperm
      species with different GS, ploidy level and Grime's C-S-R (competitive, stress
      tolerant, ruderal) plant strategies growing at the Park Grass Experiment
      (Rothamsted, UK), established in 1856. The biomass-weighted mean GS of species
      growing on plots with the addition of both N and P fertilizer were significantly
      higher than that of plants growing on control plots and plots with either N or P.
      The plants on these N + P plots are dominated by polyploids with large GS and a
      competitive plant strategy. The results are consistent with our hypothesis that
      large genomes are costly to build and maintain under N and P limitation. Hence GS
      and ploidy are significant traits affecting biomass growth under different
      nutrient regimes, influencing plant community composition and ecosystem dynamics.
      We propose that GS is a critical factor needed in models that bridge the
      knowledge gap between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

PMID- 26875786
TI  - Broadband coherent Raman spectroscopy running at 24,000 spectra per second.
AB  - We present a Fourier-transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (FT-CARS)
      spectroscopy technique that achieves broadband CARS measurements at an ultrahigh
      scan rate of more than 20,000 spectra/s - more than 20 times higher than that of
      previous broadband coherent Raman scattering spectroscopy techniques. This is
      made possible by an integration of a FT-CARS system and a rapid-scanning retro
      reflective optical path length scanner. To demonstrate the technique's strength,
      we use it to perform broadband CARS spectroscopy of the transient mixing dynamics
      of toluene and benzene in the fingerprint region (200-1500 cm(-1)) with spectral
      resolution of 10 cm(-1) at a record high scan rate of 24,000 spectra/s. Our rapid
      scanning FT-CARS technique holds great promise for studying chemical dynamics and
      wide-field label-free biomedical imaging.

PMID- 26875787
TI  - A nanoparticulate pre-chemosensitizer for efficacious chemotherapy of multidrug
      resistant breast cancer.
AB  - Small-molecule chemosensitizers can reverse cancer multidrug resistance (MDR),
      thus significantly improving the in vitro effect of chemotherapy drugs for MDR
      cancer cells, however, their in vivo effects are not always very good, because
      they are difficult to effectively accumulate in tumor and enter the same cancer
      with chemotherapy drugs after systemic administration due to individual
      biopharmaceutical properties. To overcome these limitations, here we study a
      novel nanoparticular pre-chemosensitizer which can be also used as nanocarrier of
      chemotherapy drugs. We take an 'all in one' approach to develop a self-assembled
      nanoparticle formula of amphiphilic poly(curcumin-dithiodipropionic acid)-b
      poly(ethylene glycol)-biotin. The nanoparticle is capable of tumor-targeted
      delivery, responsive degradation at the intracellular level of glutathione and
      subsequent intracellular co-release of the chemosensitizer curcumin and the
      encapsulated chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin to maximize a synergistic effect
      of chemosensitization and chemotherapy. We demonstrate that the antitumor
      efficacy of nanoparticle is much superior to that of doxorubicin in the multidrug
      resistant MCF-7/ADR xenografted nude mice. 

PMID- 26875788
TI  - Impact of a cytomegalovirus kinase inhibitor on infection and neuronal progenitor
      cell differentiation.
AB  - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital infections.
      Symptomatic newborns present with a range of sequelae including disorders of the
      CNS such as visual impairment, microcephaly, mental retardation and hearing loss.
      HCMV congenital infection causes gross changes in brain morphology and
      disturbances in glial and neuronal distribution, number and migration. In these
      studies, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the antiviral maribavir in
      inhibiting HCMV infections of ES cell-derived neuronal progenitor cells (NPC). We
      used EZ-spheres generated from H9 ES cells which are pre-rosette NPCs that retain
      long-term potential to differentiate into diverse central and peripheral neural
      lineages following directed differentiation. Our results demonstrate that the
      maribavir disrupts HCMV replication and viral yield in undifferentiated EZ-sphere
      derived NPCs. In addition, we observed that maribavir limits HCMV replication and
      reduces the percentage of infected cells during differentiation of NPCs. Finally,
      early steps in differentiation are maintained during infection by treating with
      maribavir, likely an indirect effect resulting from decreased viral spread.
      Future studies of NPC proliferation and differentiation during infection treated
      with maribavir could provide the impetus for studying maribavir as an antiviral
      agent for congenital HCMV disease. 

PMID- 26875789
TI  - Insights from Analysis of Binding Sites of Human Meprins: Screening of Inhibitors
      by Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.
AB  - Human meprin-alpha and-beta are important regulators of angiogenesis, cancer,
      inflammation, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative diseases and hence important
      therapeutic targets. Meprins are the only astacin proteases that are expressed in
      membrane-bound and secreted form. The cleavage specificity of human meprins is
      similar in certain cases but differs markedly in others. The inhibitor
      selectivity of human meprins is controlled by the specific residues involved in
      binding at the active-site cleft of the proteases. Meprins are inhibited by
      various small molecular inhibitors as well as macromolecular endogenous
      inhibitors, making them good drug targets. In the current study, molecular
      dynamics simulation was performed for 10 ns on ten systems consisting of two
      apoenzymes of meprin -alpha/beta and eight complexes of human meprin-alpha and 
      beta complexed to four inhibitors with different metal binding moieties and
      comparable Ki values. These simulation studies helped to elucidate the molecular
      details of how several parameters influence protein-inhibitor binding affinity.
      Analysis of the interaction energies of the protein-inhibitor complexes revealed
      the diverse binding nature of this series of inhibitors. Several structural
      segments of human meprins exhibited certain conformational changes during the
      simulation time course. Among the inhibitors studied captopril had a different
      disposition in the meprin-bound complexes compared to the other three inhibitors,
      namely Pro- Leu-Gly-hydroxamate, galardin and EDTA. Comparison of the interaction
      energies for each system helped us to conclude that the hydroxamic acid-based
      inhibitors are the most potent inhibitors of meprins. 

PMID- 26875790
TI  - Maintenance of aversive memories shown by fear extinction-impaired phenotypes is
      associated with increased activity in the amygdaloid-prefrontal circuit.
AB  - Although aversive memory has been mainly addressed by analysing the changes
      occurring in average populations, the study of neuronal mechanisms of outliers
      allows understanding the involvement of individual differences in fear
      conditioning and extinction. We recently developed an innovative experimental
      model of individual differences in approach and avoidance behaviors, classifying
      the mice as Approaching, Balancing or Avoiding animals according to their
      responses to conflicting stimuli. The approach and avoidance behaviors appear to
      be the primary reactions to rewarding and threatening stimuli and may represent
      predictors of vulnerability (or resilience) to fear. We submitted the three mice
      phenotypes to Contextual Fear Conditioning. In comparison to Balancing animals,
      Approaching and Avoiding mice exhibited no middle- or long-term fear extinction.
      The two non-extinguishing phenotypes exhibited potentiated glutamatergic
      neurotransmission (spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents/spinogenesis) of
      pyramidal neurons of medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala. Basing on
      the a priori individuation of outliers, we demonstrated that the maintenance of
      aversive memories is linked to increased spinogenesis and excitatory signaling in
      the amygdala-prefrontal cortex fear matrix. 

PMID- 26875791
TI  - Bednar Tumor Mimicking Congenital Melanocytic Nevus.

PMID- 26875792
TI  - Lentigo Maligna: Keys to Dermoscopic Diagnosis.
AB  - Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique that improves accuracy in the diagnosis of
      cutaneous lesions. The recognition and differential diagnosis of lentigo maligna
      (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is challenging, especially in the early
      stages when there are no distinctive clinical features. Early diagnosis and
      appropriate treatment can improve prognosis. Several dermoscopic features have
      been described for LM and LMM. The following 4 criteria in combination have
      achieved a diagnostic sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 96%: asymmetric
      pigmented follicular openings, dark rhomboidal structures, slate gray dots, and
      slate gray globules. A biopsy is warranted when dermoscopic examination reveals a
      grayish coloring. For a flat pigmented lesion acquired in adulthood, a
      histopathological diagnosis of "atypical junctional nevus" is not to be accepted
      uncritically. LM and LMM can also appear in sites other than the face, and
      dermoscopy can facilitate their recognition. Dermoscopy is an essential tool for
      physical examination. 

PMID- 26875793
TI  - Omega-3 fatty acids partially revert the metabolic gene expression profile
      induced by long-term calorie restriction.
AB  - Calorie restriction (CR) consistently extends longevity and delays age-related
      diseases across several animal models. We have previously shown that different
      dietary fat sources can modulate life span and mitochondrial ultrastructure,
      function and membrane fatty acid composition in mice maintained on a 40% CR. In
      particular, animals consuming lard as the main fat source (CR-Lard) lived longer
      than CR mice consuming diets with soybean oil (CR-Soy) or fish oil (CR-Fish) as
      the predominant lipid source. In the present work, a transcriptomic analysis in
      the liver and skeletal muscle was performed in order to elucidate possible
      mechanisms underlying the changes in energy metabolism and longevity induced by
      dietary fat in CR mice. After 8 months of CR, transcription downstream of several
      mediators of inflammation was inhibited in liver. In contrast, proinflammatory
      signaling was increased in the CR-Fish versus other CR groups. Dietary fish oil
      induced a gene expression pattern consistent with increased transcriptional
      regulation by several cytokines (TNF, GM-CSF, TGF-beta) and sex hormones when
      compared to the other CR groups. The CR-Fish also had lower expression of genes
      involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and increased expression of mitochondrial and
      peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation genes than the other CR diet groups. Our
      data suggest that a diet high in n-3 PUFA, partially reverts CR-related changes
      in gene expression of key processes, such as inflammation and steroid hormone
      signaling, and this may mitigate life span extension with CR in mice consuming
      diets high in fish oil.

PMID- 26875794
TI  - CAV1 Prevents Gallbladder Cholesterol Crystallization by Regulating Biosynthesis
      and Transport of Bile Salts.
AB  - Cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD) is a hepatobiliary disorder which results
      from a biochemical imbalance in the gallbladder bile. Here we show that loss of
      CAV1 sensitized mice to lithogenic diet-induced gallbladder cholesterol
      crystallization, which was associated with dysregulation of several hepatic
      transporters that efflux cholesterol, phospholipids, and bile salts. The combined
      effect of increased biliary cholesterol concentration and decreased biliary bile
      salt secretion in CAV1(-/-) mice led to an increased cholesterol saturation index
      and the formation of cholesterol crystals. At the signaling level, the ERK/AP-1
      pathway seems to mediate the effects of CAV1 on biliary BA homeostasis and might
      be developed as a therapeutic target for CGD. We propose that CAV1 is an anti
      lithogenic factor and that the CAV1(-/-) mice may offer a convenient CGD model to
      develop therapeutic interventions for this disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2118
      2127, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26875795
TI  - Systematic investigations on the biodegradation and viscosity reduction of long
      chain hydrocarbons using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens.
AB  - The use of microorganisms has been researched extensively for possible
      applications related to hydrocarbon degradation in the petroleum industry.
      However, attempts to improve the effect of microorganisms on the viscosity of
      hydrocarbons, which find potential use in the development of robust models for
      biodegradation, have been rarely documented. This study investigates the
      degradation of long chain hydrocarbons, such as hexadecane and eicosane using
      Pseudomonas fluorescens PMMD3 (P. fluorescens) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa CPCL
      (P. aeruginosa). P. aeruginosa used here is isolated from petroleum contaminated
      sediments and the P. fluorescens is from the coastal area, and both have
      hydrocarbon degrading genes. The degradation of hydrocarbons is studied using
      carbon profiling and reduction in viscosity pre- and post-degradation of
      hydrocarbons. The carbon profiling has been obtained using gas chromatography
      mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR)
      results. GC-MS results have indicated an improved biodegradation of hydrocarbons
      by 77-93% in one day. The yield coefficients of biomass (YX/S) for P. aeruginosa
      and P. fluorescens using hexadecane as a carbon source are 1.35 and 0.81 g g(-1),
      and the corresponding values with eicosane are 0.84 and 0.88 g g(-1). The
      viscosity of hexadecane is reduced by the order of 53 and 47%, while that of
      eicosane was reduced by 53 and 65%, using P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens,
      respectively. This study also presents information on the activity of enzymes
      responsible for the hydrocarbon degradation. Pseudomonas species have shown their
      use in potential applications for bioremediation, oil-spill treatment, and flow
      assurance. We believe that this study will also provide stringent tests for
      possible model development for the bioremediation of long chain paraffins
      suitable for oilfield applications. 

PMID- 26875796
TI  - The risk of surgical never events.

PMID- 26875797
TI  - Working in paediatric emergency medicine.

PMID- 26875799
TI  - Blunt chest trauma: bony injury in the thorax.
AB  - The management of blunt chest trauma is an evolving concept with no clear current
      guidelines. This article explores the bony injuries associated with this,
      focusing on rib fractures and flail segments and the themes around investigation
      and best management. 

PMID- 26875800
TI  - Blunt chest trauma: soft tissue injury in the thorax.
AB  - The management of blunt chest trauma is evolving. This article discusses the soft
      tissue injuries associated with blunt chest trauma. 

PMID- 26875801
TI  - Shoulder replacements: a review.
AB  - Shoulder replacement surgery is a common elective surgical procedure for those
      with progressive osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This review explores
      the history of shoulder replacements, the different types of replacements and
      their advantages or disadvantages. 

PMID- 26875802
TI  - Liver biopsy: past, present and future.
AB  - Liver biopsy is an integral part of evaluation of liver disease. Indications and
      techniques have developed to allow functional and prognostic liver assessment,
      along with biochemistry and dynamic imaging, in both diffuse and focal liver
      disease. However, non-invasive techniques are changing the way clinicians use
      liver biopsy. 

PMID- 26875803
TI  - Tracheostomies for the non-expert 2: routine and emergency care.
AB  - Recent reports have emphasized shortcomings in routine and emergency care leading
      to adverse outcomes in patients with tracheostomies. This two-part article
      provides a guide to the principles of care for staff looking after adult patients
      with tracheostomies in the hospital. The second part looks at routine and
      emergency care. 

PMID- 26875804
TI  - Frailty and surgery.
AB  - Surgery in people aged over 65 years has led to many postoperative gains,
      although mortality and morbidity is higher than in younger counterparts. The
      problem is the vulnerability that comes with age, so these patients with complex
      needs require multidisciplinary care for the best outcomes. 

PMID- 26875805
TI  - Demystifying professional support for trainees: what does it mean?
AB  - 'Professional support' is a commonly used term in medical training but it is not
      always clear what is meant by it and what the implications are for an individual
      trainee and his/her trainer. This article explores the concept of professional
      support in medical training. 

PMID- 26875806
TI  - Sir Arthur Keith: distinguished conservator of the Hunterian Museum, London.

PMID- 26875807
TI  - Recurrent coronary spasm necessitating primary percutaneous coronary
      intervention.

PMID- 26875808
TI  - Survival of ingestion of a potentially lethal dose of caffeine.

PMID- 26875809
TI  - Accidental ingestion of two magnets: should we intervene?

PMID- 26875810
TI  - Cognitive dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia.

PMID- 26875812
TI  - Should anaesthetic technique be modified for cancer surgery?

PMID- 26875813
TI  - Age-related macular degeneration.

PMID- 26875814
TI  - Diagnosing dementia.

PMID- 26875815
TI  - Urinary incontinence in older people.

PMID- 26875816
TI  - The antineoplastic drug flavopiridol reverses memory impairment induced by
      Amyloid-beta1-42 oligomers in mice.
AB  - The ectopic re-activation of cell cycle in neurons is an early event in the
      pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which could lead to synaptic failure
      and ensuing cognitive deficits before frank neuronal death. Cytostatic drugs that
      act as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors have been poorly investigated in
      animal models of AD. In the present study, we examined the effects of
      flavopiridol, an inhibitor of CDKs currently used as antineoplastic drug, against
      cell cycle reactivation and memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular
      injection of Abeta1-42 oligomers in CD1 mice. Cycling neurons, scored as NeuN
      positive cells expressing cyclin A, were found both in the frontal cortex and in
      the hippocampus of Abeta-injected mice, paralleling memory deficits. Starting
      from three days after Abeta injection, flavopiridol (0.5, 1 and 3mg/kg) was
      intraperitoneally injected daily, for eleven days. Here we show that a treatment
      with flavopiridol (0.5 and 1mg/kg) was able to rescue the loss of memory induced
      by Abeta1-42, and to prevent the occurrence of ectopic cell-cycle events in the
      mouse frontal cortex and hippocampus. This is the first evidence that a
      cytostatic drug can prevent cognitive deficits in a non-transgenic animal model
      of AD. 

PMID- 26875817
TI  - Optimization of a nanotechnology based antimicrobial platform for food safety
      applications using Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS).
AB  - A chemical free, nanotechnology-based, antimicrobial platform using Engineered
      Water Nanostructures (EWNS) was recently developed. EWNS have high surface
      charge, are loaded with reactive oxygen species (ROS), and can interact-with, and
      inactivate an array of microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens. Here, it
      was demonstrated that their properties during synthesis can be fine tuned and
      optimized to further enhance their antimicrobial potential. A lab based EWNS
      platform was developed to enable fine-tuning of EWNS properties by modifying
      synthesis parameters. Characterization of EWNS properties (charge, size and ROS
      content) was performed using state-of-the art analytical methods. Further their
      microbial inactivation potential was evaluated with food related microorganisms
      such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria innocua, Mycobacterium
      parafortuitum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculated onto the surface of
      organic grape tomatoes. The results presented here indicate that EWNS properties
      can be fine-tuned during synthesis resulting in a multifold increase of the
      inactivation efficacy. More specifically, the surface charge quadrupled and the
      ROS content increased. Microbial removal rates were microorganism dependent and
      ranged between 1.0 to 3.8 logs after 45 mins of exposure to an EWNS aerosol dose
      of 40,000 #/cm(3).

PMID- 26875818
TI  - Simvastatin and atorvastatin facilitates amyloid beta-protein degradation in
      extracellular spaces by increasing neprilysin secretion from astrocytes through
      activation of MAPK/Erk1/2 pathways.
AB  - One of the major neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the
      deposition of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) in the brain. Abeta accumulation seems
      to arise from an imbalance between Abeta production and clearance. Neprilysin
      (NEP) and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) are the important Abeta-degrading
      enzymes in the brain, and deficits in their expression may promote Abeta
      deposition in patients with sporadic late-onset AD. Statins, which are used
      clinically for reducing cholesterol levels, can exert beneficial effects on AD.
      Therefore, we examined whether various statins are associated with Abeta
      degradation by inducing NEP and IDE expression, and then evaluating the relation
      between activation of intracellular signaling transduction, inhibition of
      cholesterol production, and morphological changes to astrocytes. Treating
      cultured rat astrocytes with simvastatin and atorvastatin significantly decreased
      the expression of NEP but not IDE in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.
      The decrease in NEP expression was a result of activation of extracellular signal
      regulated kinase (ERK) but not the reduction of cholesterol synthesis pathway.
      This NEP reduction was achieved by the release to the extracellular space of
      cultured astrocytes. Furthermore, the cultured medium prepared from simvastatin-
      and atorvastatin-treated astrocytes significantly induced the degradation of
      exogenous Abeta. These results suggest that simvastatin and atorvastatin induce
      the increase of Abeta degradation of NEP on the extracellular of astrocytes by
      inducing ERK-mediated pathway activity and that these reagents regulate the
      differential mechanisms between the secretion of NEP, the induction of
      cholesterol reduction, and the morphological changes in the cultured astrocytes.

PMID- 26875819
TI  - Prediction of an arc-tunable Weyl Fermion metallic state in Mo(x)W(1-x)Te2.
AB  - A Weyl semimetal is a new state of matter that hosts Weyl fermions as emergent
      quasiparticles. The Weyl fermions correspond to isolated points of bulk band
      degeneracy, Weyl nodes, which are connected only through the crystal's boundary
      by exotic Fermi arcs. The length of the Fermi arc gives a measure of the
      topological strength, because the only way to destroy the Weyl nodes is to
      annihilate them in pairs in the reciprocal space. To date, Weyl semimetals are
      only realized in the TaAs class. Here, we propose a tunable Weyl state in
      Mo(x)W(1-x)Te2 where Weyl nodes are formed by touching points between metallic
      pockets. We show that the Fermi arc length can be changed as a function of Mo
      concentration, thus tuning the topological strength. Our results provide an
      experimentally feasible route to realizing Weyl physics in the layered compound
      Mo(x)W(1-x)Te2, where non-saturating magneto-resistance and pressure-driven
      superconductivity have been observed.

PMID- 26875820
TI  - Cadmium accumulation and tolerance of Macleaya cordata: a newly potential plant
      for sustainable phytoremediation in Cd-contaminated soil.
AB  - Heavy metal pollution is a major concern of the public due to their threats to
      the safety of food chains. A 60-day pot experiment was conducted using Macleaya
      cordata as plant material to investigate the phytoremediation potential and anti
      oxidative responses of M. cordata under different Cd stress. Significant growth
      inhibition phenomenon and toxic symptoms were not detected in the experiment. The
      high biomass of the plant provided high accumulation capacity for Cd with an
      average dry weight of 3.6 g. The maximum extraction amount of Cd was 393
      MUg.plant(-1), suggesting that this species had potential for phytoremediation of
      Cd-contaminated soil. A slight increase of chlorophyll (CHL) content was observed
      in Cd10 treatment. The plant was confirmed to have relatively high tolerance to
      the Cd stress on the basis of tolerance indexes (TI), relative water content, and
      CHLa/CHLb ratio. M. cordata could maintain high level of superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) activity under Cd stress, indicating strong tolerance capacity for reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. Catalase (CAT) activity show a certain range
      of decline in the experiment compare to the control. And peroxidase (POD)
      activity in leaves changed irregularly when compared to the control. The
      malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased as Cd concentration elevated compared to
      the control. In addition, as an inedible crop with relatively high economic
      value, M. cordata have shown the advantage of high biomass and high tolerance
      under Cd stress, which can provide a new plant resource for sustainable
      phytoremediation. 

PMID- 26875821
TI  - Magnetic properties and element concentrations in lichens exposed to airborne
      pollutants released during cement production.
AB  - The content of selected elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S,
      Ti, V and Zn) was measured in samples of the lichen Evernia prunastri exposed for
      30, 90 and 180 days around a cement mill, limestone and basalt quarries and urban
      and agricultural areas in SW Slovakia. Lichens transplanted around the
      investigated quarries and the cement mill rapidly (30 days) reflected the
      deposition of dust-associated elements, namely Ca (at the cement mill and the
      limestone quarry) and Fe, Ti and V (around the cement mill and the basalt
      quarry), and their content remained significantly higher throughout the whole
      period (30-180 days) with respect to the surrounding environment. Airborne
      pollutants (such as S) progressively increased in the study area from 30 to 180
      days. The magnetic properties of lichen transplants exposed for 180 days have
      been characterized and compared with those of native lichens (Xanthoria
      parietina) and neighbouring bark, soil and rock samples, in order to test the
      suitability of native and transplanted samples as air pollution magnetic
      biomonitors. The magnetic mineralogy was homogeneous in all samples, with the
      exception of the samples from the basalt quarry. The transplants showed excellent
      correlations between the saturation remanent magnetization (Mrs) and the content
      of Fe. Native samples had a similar magnetic signature, but the values of the
      concentration-dependent magnetic parameters were up to two orders of magnitude
      higher, reflecting higher concentrations of magnetic particles. The
      concentrations of As, Ca and Cr in lichens correlated with Mrs values after
      neglecting the samples from the basalt quarry, which showed distinct magnetic
      properties, suggesting the cement mill as a likely source. Conversely, Ti and Mn
      were mostly (but not exclusively) associated with dust from the basalt quarry. It
      is suggested that the natural geological characteristics of the substrate may
      strongly affect the magnetic properties of lichen thalli. Taking this into
      account, the results of this study point out the suitability of lichens as air
      pollution magnetic biomonitors.

PMID- 26875822
TI  - Culturable endophytic bacteria from the salt marsh plant Halimione portulacoides:
      phylogenetic diversity, functional characterization, and influence of metal(loid)
      contamination.
AB  - Halimione portulacoides is abundant in salt marshes, accumulates mercury (Hg),
      and was proposed as useful for phytoremediation and pollution biomonitoring.
      Endophytic bacteria promote plant growth and provide compounds with industrial
      applications. Nevertheless, information about endophytic bacteria from H.
      portulacoides is scarce. Endophytic isolates (n = 665) were obtained from
      aboveground and belowground plant tissues, from two Hg-contaminated sites (sites
      E and B) and a noncontaminated site (site C), in the estuary Ria de Aveiro.
      Representative isolates (n = 467) were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and
      subjected to functional assays. Isolates affiliated with Proteobacteria (64 %),
      Actinobacteria (23 %), Firmicutes (10 %), and Bacteroidetes (3 %).
      Altererythrobacter (7.4 %), Marinilactibacillus (6.4 %), Microbacterium (10.2 %),
      Salinicola (8.8 %), and Vibrio (7.8 %) were the most abundant genera. Notably,
      Salinicola (n = 58) were only isolated from site C; Hoeflea (17), Labrenzia (22),
      and Microbacterium (67) only from belowground tissues. This is the first report
      of Marinilactibacillus in the endosphere. Principal coordinate analysis showed
      that community composition changes with the contamination gradient and tissue.
      Our results suggest that the endosphere of H. portulacoides represents a diverse
      bacterial hotspot including putative novel species. Many isolates, particularly
      those affiliated to Altererythrobacter, Marinilactibacillus, Microbacterium, and
      Vibrio, tested positive for enzymatic activities and plant growth promoters,
      exposing H. portulacoides as a source of bacteria and compounds with
      biotechnological applications. 

PMID- 26875823
TI  - Combination of sunlight, oxidants, and Ce-doped TiO2 for phenol degradation.
AB  - The degradation of phenol was used as a model reaction to investigate the
      photocatalytic properties of cerium-doped (0.1 nominal atomic percent) TiO2
      catalysts in the presence and in the absence of oxidants: persulfate (PS) or
      hydrogen peroxide (HP). Experiments were performed in batch reactors using either
      artificial light (ultraviolet or visible) or solar exposure during spring-summer
      seasons in La Plata City (34.90 degrees  S, 57.92 degrees  W, 15 MASL). The
      formation of hydroquinone, catechol, and p-benzoquinone was observed in all the
      experiments. Additionally, for the experiments with PS (with or without
      catalyst), evidence of the formation of dimers and trimers was found. Total
      degradation of phenol (250 MUM) was achieved with doped material and 7 mM of PS
      (two doses) after 3 h of solar exposure (H SUV, T  = 2.9 +/- 0.6 105 J m-2).

PMID- 26875825
TI  - Printable photonic crystals with high refractive index for applications in
      visible light.
AB  - Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) of functional high-refractive index materials has
      proved to be a powerful candidate for the inexpensive manufacturing of high
      resolution photonic devices. In this paper, we demonstrate the fabrication of
      printable photonic crystals (PhCs) with high refractive index working in the
      visible wavelengths. The PhCs are replicated on a titanium dioxide-based high
      refractive index hybrid material by reverse NIL with almost zero shrinkage and
      high-fidelity reproducibility between mold and printed devices. The optical
      responses of the imprinted PhCs compare very well with those fabricated by
      conventional nanofabrication methods. This study opens the road for a low-cost
      manufacturing of PhCs and other nanophotonic devices for applications in visible
      light. 

PMID- 26875824
TI  - Differences in Quality of Life Between Bendamustine-Rituximab and R-CHOP/R-CVP in
      Patients With Previously Untreated Advanced Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or
      Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously reported results of the phase III, randomized,
      noninferiority trial comparing bendamustine-rituximab (BR) with standard R-CHOP
      (rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone)/R-CVP
      (rituximab/cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisone) in previously untreated
      advanced indolent non-Hodgkin and mantle cell lymphomas. Here we report health
      related quality of life (HRQOL) results from the trial. METHODS: HRQOL, as
      measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
      Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), was a secondary end point.
      Differences between group means in global health status (GHS), 5-item
      functioning, and 9 symptoms/single-item measures at week 1 of cycle 1 and end-of-
      cycles 3 and 6 were examined using the screening (baseline) score as a covariate
      in analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Overall EORTC QLQ-C30 compliance was 75.2%,
      89.5%, and 89.9% at week 1 of cycle 1 and end-of-cycles 3 and 6, respectively.
      Patients treated with BR reported improvements in Cognitive Functioning, Physical
      Functioning, Social Functioning, Emotional Functioning, and GHS as well as
      reduction in dyspnea, constipation, and fatigue at some, but not all, time
      points. Patients treated with standard therapy reported less nausea/vomiting at
      one time point. CONCLUSION: Compared with patients treated with standard therapy,
      patients treated with BR reported better quality of life in several areas.

PMID- 26875826
TI  - 3D Printing Surgical Implants at the clinic: A Experimental Study on Anterior
      Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
AB  - Desktop three-dimensional (3D) printers (D3DPs) have become a popular tool for
      fabricating personalized consumer products, favored for low cost, easy operation,
      and other advantageous qualities. This study focused on the potential for using
      D3DPs to successfully, rapidly, and economically print customized implants at
      medical clinics. An experiment was conducted on a D3DP-printed anterior cruciate
      ligament surgical implant using a rabbit model. A well-defined, orthogonal,
      porous PLA screw-like scaffold was printed, then coated with hydroxyapatite (HA)
      to improve its osteoconductivity. As an internal fixation as well as an ideal
      cell delivery system, the osteogenic scaffold loaded with mesenchymal stem cells
      (MSCs) were evaluated through both in vitro and in vivo tests to observe bone
      ligament healing via cell therapy. The MSCs suspended in Pluronic F-127 hydrogel
      on PLA/HA screw-like scaffold showed the highest cell proliferation and
      osteogenesis in vitro. In vivo assessment of rabbit anterior cruciate ligament
      models for 4 and 12 weeks showed that the PLA/HA screw-like scaffold loaded with
      MSCs suspended in Pluronic F-127 hydrogel exhibited significant bone ingrowth and
      bone-graft interface formation within the bone tunnel. Overall, the results of
      this study demonstrate that fabricating surgical implants at the clinic
      (fab@clinic) with D3DPs can be feasible, effective, and economical. 

PMID- 26875828
TI  - Tumour immunology: Microbiota predicts side-effects of immunotherapy.

PMID- 26875827
TI  - Characterization of DWARF14 Genes in Populus.
AB  - Strigolactones are a new class of plant hormones regulating shoot branching and
      symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Studies of branching
      mutants in herbaceous plants have identified several key genes involved in
      strigolactone biosynthesis or signaling. The strigolactone signal is perceived by
      a member of the alpha/beta-fold hydrolase superfamily, known as DWARF14 (D14).
      However, little is known about D14 genes in the woody perennial plants. Here we
      report the identification of D14 homologs in the model woody plant Populus
      trichocarpa. We showed that there are two D14 homologs in P. trichocarpa,
      designated as PtD14a and PtD14b that are over 95% similar at the amino acid
      level. Expression analysis indicated that the transcript level of PtD14a is
      generally more abundant than that of PtD14b. However, only PtD14a was able to
      complement Arabidopsis d14 mutants, suggesting that PtD14a is the functional D14
      ortholog. Amino acid alignment and structural modeling revealed substitutions of
      several highly conserved amino acids in the PtD14b protein including a
      phenylalanine near the catalytic triad of D14 proteins. This study lays a
      foundation for further characterization of strigolactone pathway and its
      functions in the woody perennial plants. 

PMID- 26875829
TI  - Tumour immunology: Innate surveillance.

PMID- 26875831
TI  - Macrophages: Embracing those nerves.

PMID- 26875832
TI  - A green synthesis route for the phase and size tunability of copper antimony
      sulfide nanocrystals with high yield.
AB  - Until now, it is a great challenge for the controllable synthesis of copper
      antimony sulfide (CAS) nanocrystals (NCs), as the reactivity of precursors is
      quite difficult to be controlled during the synthesis process. In the present
      work, a novel solution-based method is proposed to synthesize CAS NCs by choosing
      N,N'-diphenylthiourea as the sulfide precursor, which is favorable for balancing
      the relative reactivity of Cu and Sb ions. It is found that three phases (CuSbS2,
      Cu12Sb4S13 and Cu3SbS4) of CAS NCs with size tunability were successfully
      synthesized for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, the lowest reaction
      temperature of 110  degrees C and the highest yield over 90% for CAS NCs were
      also achieved for the first time, which may be considered to be a green synthesis
      route compared with other conventional methods. Optical properties indicate that
      the as-prepared CAS NCs have strong optical absorption in the visible light
      region of the solar spectrum, and we also observed the band gap tunability of
      CuSbS2 and Cu3SbS4 materials for the first time. 

PMID- 26875830
TI  - Harnessing the plasticity of CD4(+) T cells to treat immune-mediated disease.
AB  - CD4(+) T cells differentiate and acquire distinct functions to combat specific
      pathogens but can also adapt their functions in response to changing
      circumstances. Although this phenotypic plasticity can be potentially
      deleterious, driving immune pathology, it also provides important benefits that
      have led to its evolutionary preservation. Here, we review CD4(+) T cell
      plasticity by examining the molecular mechanisms that regulate it - from the
      extracellular cues that initiate and drive cells towards varying phenotypes, to
      the cytosolic signalling cascades that decipher these cues and transmit them into
      the cell and to the nucleus, where these signals imprint specific gene expression
      programmes. By understanding how this functional flexibility is achieved, we may
      open doors to new therapeutic approaches that harness this property of T cells. 

PMID- 26875833
TI  - Rapid Hydrogen Peroxide release from the coral Stylophora pistillata during
      feeding and in response to chemical and physical stimuli.
AB  - Corals make use of different chemical compounds during interactions with prey,
      predators and aggressors. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is produced and released by a
      wide range of organisms as part of their defense against grazers or pathogens. In
      coral reefs, the large fluxes and relatively long half-life of H2O2, make it a
      potentially important info-chemical or defense molecule. Here we describe a
      previously unstudied phenomenon of rapid H2O2 release from the reef-building
      coral Stylophora pistillata during feeding on zooplankton and in response to
      chemical and physical stimuli. Following stimuli, both symbiotic and bleached
      corals were found to rapidly release H2O2 to the surrounding water for a short
      period of time (few minutes). The H2O2 release was restricted to the site of
      stimulus, and an increase in physical stress and chemical stimuli concentration
      resulted in elevated H2O2 release. Omission of calcium (a key regulator of
      exocytotic processes) from the experimental medium inhibited H2O2 release. Hence
      we suggest that H2O2 is actively released in response to stimuli, rather than
      leaking passively from the coral tissue. We estimate that at the site of stimulus
      H2O2 can reach concentrations potentially high enough to deter predators or
      motile, potentially pathogenic, bacteria. 

PMID- 26875834
TI  - La-Activated Bicyclo-oligomerization of Acetylene to Naphthalene.
AB  - We report the first example of metal-mediated acetylene bicyclopentamerization to
      form naphthalene in the gas phase. The bicyclic aromatic compound was observed in
      a complex with La. The La(naphthalene) complex was formed by the reaction of
      laser-ablated La atoms with acetylene molecules in a molecular beam source and
      was characterized by mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. The bicyclo
      oligomerization reaction occurs through sequential acetylene additions coupled
      with dehydrogenation. Three intermediates in the reaction have been identified:
      lanthanacyclopropene [La(C2H2)], La(cyclobut-1-en-3-yne) [La(C4H2)], and
      La(benzyne) [(La(C6H4)]. The metal-ligand bonding in the three intermediates is
      considerably different from that in the La(naphthalene) complex, as suggested by
      accurately measured adiabatic ionization energies. 

PMID- 26875835
TI  - The pharmacological effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone
      combined with medetomidine and butorphanol in dogs.
AB  - The pharmacological effects of intramuscular (IM) administration of alfaxalone
      combined with medetomidine and butorphanol were evaluated in 6 healthy beagle
      dogs. Each dog received three treatments with a minimum 10-day interval between
      treatments. The dogs received an IM injection of alfaxalone 2.5 mg/kg (ALFX),
      medetomidine 2.5 ug/kg and butorphanol 0.25 mg/kg (MB), or their combination
      (MBA) 1 hr after the recovery from their instrumentation. Endotracheal intubation
      was attempted, and dogs were allowed to breath room air. Neuro-depressive effects
      (behavior changes and subjective scores) and cardiorespiratory parameters (rectal
      temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, direct blood pressure, central venous
      pressure and blood gases) were evaluated before and at 2 to 120 min after IM
      treatment. Each dog became lateral recumbency, except for two dogs administered
      the MB treatment. The duration was longer in the MBA treatment compared with the
      ALFX treatment (100 +/- 48 min vs 46 +/- 13 min). Maintenance of the endotracheal
      tube lasted for 60 +/- 24 min in five dogs administered the MBA treatment and for
      20 min in one dog administered the ALFX treatment. Cardiorespiratory variables
      were maintained within clinically acceptable ranges, although decreases in heart
      and respiratory rates, and increases in central venous pressure occurred after
      the MBA and MB treatments. The MBA treatment provided an anesthetic effect that
      permitted endotracheal intubation without severe cardiorespiratory depression in
      healthy dogs. 

PMID- 26875836
TI  - Predictors of fatal outcomes resulting from acute Escherichia coli mastitis in
      dairy cows.
AB  - To evaluate the prognostic criteria for identifying cows at an increased risk of
      a fatal outcome from acute Escherichia coli mastitis, the potential cut-off
      values for five diagnostic parameters associated with a high mortality were
      determined by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. These criteria
      were hematocrit value >32%, blood non-esterified fatty acid concentration >0.4
      mEq/l, antithrombin activity <120%, platelet count <15 * 10(4)/ml and presence of
      dysstasia. Exceeding the cut-off values for at least three parameters on day 2
      after onset predicted fatality (predictive value 87.5). When these prognostic
      criteria were applied to 34 clinical cases, cows that met three criteria were
      seven times more likely to die than cows that met fewer than three criteria. 

PMID- 26875837
TI  - Comparison of pharmacokinetics of tramadol between young and middle-aged dogs.
AB  - This study aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics of tramadol between young and
      middle-aged dogs. Tramadol (4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously (IV) to young
      and middle-aged dogs (2 and 8-10 years, respectively). Plasma concentrations of
      tramadol were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and
      its pharmacokinetics best fit a two-compartment model. The volume of distribution
      (Vd), elimination half-life (t1/2,beta) and total body clearance (CLtot) of the
      young group were 4.77 +/- 1.07 l/kg, 1.91 +/- 0.26 hr and 29.9 +/- 7.3 ml/min/kg,
      respectively, while those of the middle-aged group were 4.73 +/- 1.43 l/kg, 2.39
      +/- 0.97 hr and 23.7 +/- 5.4 ml/min/kg, respectively. Intergroup differences in
      the t1/2,beta and CLtot were significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, tramadol
      excretion was significantly prolonged in middle-aged dogs. 

PMID- 26875838
TI  - Maternal betaine supplementation during gestation modifies hippocampal expression
      of GR and its regulatory miRNAs in neonatal piglets.
AB  - Methyl donor nutrients are critical for embryonic development of brain.
      Hippocampus is the most susceptible brain region to various factors including
      prenatal supply of methyl donors. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressed in
      hippocampus is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and stress
      sensitivity. Hippocampal GR expression is highly susceptible to epigenetic
      regulation, yet the effect of maternal methyl donor supplementation on epigenetic
      regulation of GR transcription in offspring hippocampus remains unclear. In this
      study, we fed sows with betaine (3 g/kg) throughout the gestation and analyzed
      the hippocampal expression of GR mRNA and its variants, as well as the CpG
      methylation status of the promoter and the microRNAs predicted to target 3' UTR
      of porcine GR gene in neonatal piglets. Total GR mRNA (P<0.01) and its variants
      GR 1-4 (P<0.05) and 1-9,10 (P<0.01), were significantly higher in the hippocampus
      of betaine-treated piglets, while the content of GR protein was not significantly
      changed. The CpGs located in the -1650 ~ -1515 segment of GR gene were
      hypermethylated (P<0.05). The hippocampal expression of miR-130b (P<0.05), miR
      181a (P<0.05) and miR-181d (P<0.01) was significantly up-regulated. The targeting
      efficacy of miR-130b and miR-181d was validated in vitro using dual-luciferase
      reporter assay system. Our results demonstrate that maternal betaine
      supplementation during gestation enhances GR mRNA expression in offspring
      hippocampus, which involves alterations in miRNAs expression. 

PMID- 26875839
TI  - Regulation of cell migration and inflammation by ceramide 1-phosphate.
AB  - Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite first shown to
      regulate cell growth and death. Subsequent studies revealed that C1P was a potent
      stimulator of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) with ensuing release of
      arachidonic acid and prostaglandin biosynthesis. The latter findings placed C1P
      on the list of pro-inflammatory metabolites. More recently, C1P was found to
      potently stimulate cell migration, an action that is associated to diverse
      physiological effects, as well as to inflammatory responses and tumor
      dissemination. The implication of C1P in inflammation has gained further interest
      in the last few years due to the discovery that it can exert anti-inflammatory
      actions in some cell types and tissues. In particular, C1P has been demonstrated
      to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine release and blockade of the pro-inflammatory
      transcription factor NF-kappaB in some cell types, as well as to reduce airway
      inflammation and lung emphysema. The present review is focused on novel aspects
      of C1P regulation of cell migration and the impact of C1P as novel anti
      inflammatory agent. GLOSS: Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) is a phosphosphingolipid
      with potent biological activities. It promotes cell growth and survival, and is a
      key regulator of cell migration. Both C1P and the enzyme that catalyzes its
      biosynthesis, ceramide kinase, are implicated in inflammatory responses. Although
      C1P has pro-inflammatory properties, it reduces pulmonary emphysema and exerts
      anti-inflammatory actions in the lung. Synthetic C1P analogs may be promising
      tools to treat lung inflammation.

PMID- 26875840
TI  - Nursing home nurses' experiences of resident transfers to the emergency
      department: no empathy for our work environment difficulties.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the experiences of nursing home nurses when they
      transfer residents from nursing homes to the emergency department in Taiwan.
      BACKGROUND: The transfer of residents between nursing homes and emergency
      departments challenges continuity of care. Understanding nursing home nurses'
      experiences during these transfers may help to improve residents' continuity of
      care. However, few empirical data are available on these nurses' transfer
      experiences worldwide, and none could be found in Asian countries. DESIGN:
      Qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Data were collected from August 2012-June
      2013 in audiotaped, individual, in-depth interviews with 25 nurses at five
      nursing homes in Taiwan. Interview transcripts were analysed by constant
      comparative analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of interview transcripts revealed that
      the core theme of nursing home nurses' transfer experience was discontinuity in
      nursing home to emergency department transitions. This core theme comprised three
      themes: discontinuity in family involvement, discontinuity in medical resources
      and expectations, and discontinuity in nurses' professional role. CONCLUSIONS:
      Nursing home nurses need a working environment that is better connected to
      residents' family members and more immediate and/or easier access to acute care
      for residents. Communication between nurses and residents' family could be
      improved by using text messages or social media by mobile phones, which are
      widely used in Taiwan and worldwide. To improve access to acute care, we suggest
      developing a real-time telehealth transfer system tailored to the medical culture
      and policies of each country. This system should facilitate communication among
      nursing home staff, family members and hospital staff. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL
      PRACTICE: Our findings on nurses' experiences during transfer of nursing home
      residents to the emergency department can be used to design more effective
      transfer policies such as telemedicine systems in Taiwan and other Asian
      countries or in those with large populations of Chinese immigrants.

PMID- 26875841
TI  - Processes in healthcare teams that include nurse practitioners: what do patients
      and families perceive to be effective?
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore patient and family perceptions of team
      effectiveness of teams those include nurse practitioners in acute and primary
      care. BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners provide safe and effective care. Patients
      are satisfied with the care provided by nurse practitioners. Research examining
      patient and family perceptions of team effectiveness following the implementation
      of nurse practitioners in teams is lacking. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative
      design was used. METHODS: We used purposeful sampling to identify participants in
      four clinical specialties. We collected data from March 2014-January 2015 using
      semi-structured interviews and demographic questionnaires. Content analysis was
      used. Descriptive statistics were generated. RESULTS: Participants (n = 49)
      believed that the teams were more effective after the implementation of a nurse
      practitioner and this was important to them. They described processes that teams
      with nurse practitioners used to effectively provide care. These processes
      included improved communication, involvement in decision-making, cohesion, care
      coordination, problem-solving, and a focus on the needs of patients and families.
      Participants highlighted the importance of interpersonal team dynamics. A human
      approach, trust, being open to discussion, listening to patient and family
      concerns and respect were particularly valued by participants. Different
      processes emerged as priorities when data were examined by speciality. However,
      communication, trust and taking the time to provide care were the most important
      processes. CONCLUSION: The study provides new insights into the views of patients
      and families and micro-level processes in teams with nurse practitioners. The
      relative importance of each process varied according to the patient's health
      condition. Patients and providers identified similar team processes. Future
      research is needed to identify how team processes influence care outcomes.
      RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings can support patients, clinicians and
      decision-makers to determine the processes to focus on to promote effective team
      functioning, and involve patients and families as team members.

PMID- 26875842
TI  - Nutritional screening of patients at a memory clinic--association between
      patients' and their relatives' self-reports.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare individual reports by patients and relatives
      (proxy) of the Nutritional Form For the Elderly and relate the Nutritional Form
      For the Elderly scores to Mini Mental Status Examination scores, weight loss,
      Body Mass Index, five-point Clock Drawing Test and background variables.
      BACKGROUND: Undernutrition or risk of undernutrition is a significant problem
      among people with dementia. A poor nutritional state increases the risk of
      infections, delayed convalescence after acute illness and reduced quality of
      life. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHOD: Application of the Nutritional
      Form For the Elderly in addition to clinical nutrition parameters and cognitive
      tests in a memory clinic among 213 persons referred for assessment due to
      possible cognitive impairment or dementia. RESULTS: Patients' and proxy
      Nutritional Form For the Elderly scores yielded comparative results. Nutritional
      Form For the Elderly scores >=6 (medium to high risk of undernutrition) were
      found in 32% of the patients vs. 43% of proxy. Mean Mini Mental Status
      Examination score was 23.2 (SD 4.5) and 50% failed the Clock Drawing Test.
      Involuntary weight loss was reported by 42% of the patients, and in 26% of the
      patients, Body Mass Index values were below 22 kg/m(2) , indicating
      undernutrition. By regression analysis, Clock Drawing Test (p = 0.019) and Mini
      Mental Status Examination (p = 0.04) might predict the risk of reduced
      nutritional status. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that a significant
      proportion of patients at our memory clinic were at nutritional risk.
      Corresponding results exist between patients' and proxy Nutritional Form For the
      Elderly scores; however, the patients assessed themselves more well-nourished as
      compared to proxy assessment. The discrepancies seem to increase with more severe
      cognitive impairment. Females and single-dwelling individuals were at higher risk
      of undernutrition compared to males and cohabitants. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL
      PRACTICE: Self-reporting and proxy-rating seem both applicable for nutritional
      screening among moderate cognitive impaired. Cognitive decline seems to affect
      the accuracy when patients rate themselves. A reduced Mini Mental Status
      Examination and/or failed Clock Drawing Test might predict the risk of
      undernutrition.

PMID- 26875844
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26875843
TI  - Changes in decision-making among Italian nurses and nursing students over the
      last 15 years.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at identifying the cognitive strategies used
      by nurses and nursing students in using information for clinical decision-making
      and comparing such abilities retrospectively, over the past 15 years. BACKGROUND:
      Within the context of Italian healthcare professions, a process of cultural role
      development has been ongoing for several years, in the wake of normative and
      institutional changes. However, the ability to use information for clinical
      nursing decision-making has been little studied. DESIGN: Three independent
      observational studies, with convenience samples of Italian clinical nurses and
      nursing students recruited at three time-points (1997, 2007, 2012). METHODS: The
      total sample consisted of 2855 subjects (1406 Nurses and 1449 Nursing Students).
      Nurses from various clinical realities were subdivided into two classes (less or
      more than 10 years of experience). Data were collected according to Jenkins'
      'Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale'. RESULTS: A trend of decreasing
      skills in information strategies emerged in both nurses and nursing students from
      1997-2012. All subjects totalled values in the lowest class (0-130) of the
      Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale of final scoring. Particularly evident
      were the decreased scores for nursing students from 1997 to 2007-2012. Comparing
      nurses with nursing students, the former had significantly higher scores.
      Comparing experienced nurses with novices, the former again had significantly
      higher scores. Interestingly, in 1997, nursing students had higher scores than
      nurses, although this result was not confirmed for the other 2 years.
      CONCLUSIONS: Results showed consistently decreased competence in the use of
      information skills, particularly among nursing students. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL
      PRACTICE: All transformations in training in university-level teaching of nursing
      show that decision-making skills are continually and significantly worsening.
      These results are of special interest in view of changes in professional and
      educational systems.

PMID- 26875845
TI  - Superoxide Ion: Generation and Chemical Implications.
AB  - Superoxide ion (O2(*-)) is of great significance as a radical species implicated
      in diverse chemical and biological systems. However, the chemistry knowledge of
      O2(*-) is rather scarce. In addition, numerous studies on O2(*-) were conducted
      within the latter half of the 20th century. Therefore, the current advancement in
      technology and instrumentation will certainly provide better insights into
      mechanisms and products of O2(*-) reactions and thus will result in new findings.
      This review emphasizes the state-of-the-art research on O2(*-) so as to enable
      researchers to venture into future research. It comprises the main
      characteristics of O2(*-) followed by generation methods. The reaction types of
      O2(*-) are reviewed, and its potential applications including the destruction of
      hazardous chemicals, synthesis of organic compounds, and many other applications
      are highlighted. The O2(*-) environmental chemistry is also discussed. The
      detection methods of O2(*-) are categorized and elaborated. Special attention is
      given to the feasibility of using ionic liquids as media for O2(*-), addressing
      the latest progress of generation and applications. The effect of electrodes on
      the O2(*-) electrochemical generation is reviewed. Finally, some remarks and
      future perspectives are concluded. 

PMID- 26875846
TI  - Functional Effectiveness of Inpatient Rehabilitation After Heart Transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation (HT) is the treatment of choice for many
      patients with end-stage heart failure who remain symptomatic despite optimal
      medical therapy, but no study has looked directly into functional improvement of
      HT patients after an inpatient rehabilitation program. OBJECTIVE: To determine
      functional improvement in HT patients who completed an inpatient rehabilitation
      program. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: An inpatient rehabilitation
      facility (IRF) associated with a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Seventeen
      patients admitted between March 2011 and September 2014 after HT. METHODS:
      Demographic, clinical, and functional data (admission and discharge Functional
      Independence Measure [FIM] scores) were recorded. Change in FIM scores and FIM
      efficiency (change in FIM score/length of stay) were analyzed. FIM outcomes for
      HT patients were compared with regional and national averages for patients
      undergoing an inpatient rehabilitation program for cardiac debility. As a
      secondary outcome, we evaluated whether body mass index of HT patients had an
      impact on FIM gains in an IRF. Individual FIM items were analyzed for trends.
      Results are reported as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: Twelve male and 5 female patients
      with mean age of 61.2 +/- 4.5 years were identified. Three patients were
      readmitted to acute hospital because of complications. For those 14 patients who
      completed the IRF stay, the mean admission and discharge motor FIM were 51.5 (+/
      14.6) and 74.7 (+/-12.0), respectively. The mean admission and discharge
      cognition FIM were 30.9 (+/-3.2) and 32.9 (+/-1.7), respectively. The mean total
      FIM gain was 26.9 +/- 13.3 (P < .05). The mean FIM efficiency was 3.2 (+/-2.0).
      After admission to an IRF, 82% were discharged home with statistically
      significant improvement in their functional ability. In addition, all individual
      FIM items improved from admission to discharge. There was positive relationship
      between body mass index and FIM gain but this was not statistically significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: An inpatient rehabilitation program appears to positively impact
      optimal outcomes (functional recovery and discharge to home) for selected
      patients with HT and is comparable with regional and national FIM gain and
      efficiency for patients admitted to IRFs with other cardiac conditions.

PMID- 26875847
TI  - Methyl jasmonate induction of tanshinone biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza
      hairy roots is mediated by JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN repressor proteins.
AB  - Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important plant hormone involved in regulation of many
      aspects of plant growth and development including secondary metabolism and
      JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins are key components in JA signal processes. In
      this study, two new JAZ genes named SmJAZ3 and SmJAZ9 were cloned from S.
      miltiorrhiza hairy roots and characterized. Expression profiles under methyl
      jasmonate (MJ) treatment revealed that SmJAZ3 and SmJAZ9 were both MJ-responsive.
      Subcellular localization assay showed that SmJAZ3 was located in nucleus while
      SmJAZ9 was preferentially in nucleus. Expression of SmJAZ3 and SmJAZ9 in S.
      miltiorrhiza hairy roots differently affected the production of tanshinone. Over
      expression of SmJAZ3 or SmJAZ9 in hairy roots produced lower level of tanshinone
      compared with the control, tanshinone production was as low as 0.077 mg/g DW in
      line SmJAZ3-3 and 0.266 mg/g DW in line SmJAZ9-22. Whereas, down-regulation of
      SmJAZs enhanced tanshione production, the content of tanshinone increased to 2.48
      fold in anti-SmJAZ3-3 line, and 1.35-fold in anti-SmJAZ9-23 line. Our work
      indicated that SmJAZ3 and SmJAZ9 are involved in regulation of tanshinone
      biosynthesis and act as repressive transcriptional regulators in the JA signaling
      pathway, which paves the way to further dissect molecular mechanism in details in
      the future.

PMID- 26875848
TI  - Optometry's role in managing patients with glaucoma.

PMID- 26875849
TI  - Sports eyewear protective standards.
AB  - Eye injuries sustained during sport comprise up to 20 per cent of all injuries to
      the eye serious enough for medical attention to be sought. The prevalence of eye
      injuries in sport is not easily assessed due to lack of authoritative
      participation rates, so most studies report total numbers in a time period. The
      evidence on the proportion of all ocular injuries that are from sport is
      reviewed. The relative frequencies in different sports are compared in a
      qualitative manner and the sports with greater numbers of ocular injuries are
      detailed. In common with occupational injuries to the eye, most sports eye
      injuries are considered preventable. The hierarchy of action for occupational
      risk is detailed and adapted to use in a sports scenario. All the available
      international, regional and national standards on sports eye protection are
      detailed and their provisions compared. The major function of the standards is to
      provide adequate protection against the hazard of the sport concerned. These are
      detailed and compared as a function of energy transfer. Eye protection must not
      introduce additional or secondary hazards (for instance, fracturing into sharp
      fragments on impact) and not introduce features that would deter the wearing of
      eye protection (for instance, restricting field of view to impede playing the
      sport). The provisions of the standards intended to limit secondary hazards are
      detailed and compared. The need for future work in standards writing and the
      activities of the International Standardization Organization in sports eye
      protection are detailed. 

PMID- 26875850
TI  - A review of proximal inputs to the near response.
AB  - Maddox proposed that the perceived nearness of a target could influence the
      ocular vergence response. Proximal inputs have been used to refer to all static
      and dynamic cues to depth other than disparity and blur. In this paper, we review
      a number of studies in which proximal influences have been assessed. While
      general agreement exists that proximal contributions are significant when blur
      and disparity cues are absent (open-loop conditions), there are conflicting
      reports on the role of proximal vergence and accommodation under closed-loop
      conditions. 

PMID- 26875851
TI  - Optical quality comparison among different Boston contact lens materials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the optical quality of four Boston contact lens
      materials with an optical device based on Schlieren interferometry. METHODS: The
      NIMO TR1504 (Lambda-X, Nivelles, Belgium) was used to measure higher-order
      aberrations and their corresponding root mean square values of four different
      rigid gas permeable contact lenses made from four different Boston materials: EO,
      ES, XO and XO2 . For each lens, 30 measurements were performed with two optical
      apertures: 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm. The modulation transfer function, point spread
      function, Strehl ratio and a simulation of the image provided by the lens were
      computed from the Zernike coefficients measured up to the fourth order. RESULTS:
      The root mean square error of higher-order aberrations varied significantly with
      material type for both optical apertures (p < 0.01). The largest difference was
      obtained between the Boston EO and the Boston ES materials (for a 6.0 mm
      aperture), the mean difference being (8.3 +/- 0.2) * 10(-2) um. The modulation
      transfer functions, point spread functions and Strehl ratio values were similar
      among all Boston materials at the smaller optical aperture; however, differences
      between each material were more apparent for the 6.0 mm aperture, with the Boston
      ES material exhibiting the best optical quality. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of all
      metrics analysed, all Boston materials examined showed comparable optical quality
      for a 3.0 mm aperture but the Boston ES material displayed the best optical
      quality for a 6.0 mm optical aperture.

PMID- 26875852
TI  - The effect of viewing distance on responses to the pattern glare test.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We investigated whether symptoms of pattern glare were affected by
      viewing distance, as distinct from spatial frequency, because of an association
      between symptoms and anomalies of accommodation and vergence. METHODS: One
      hundred young adults viewed gratings with spatial frequencies of 0.3, 2.3 and 9.4
      cycles per degree (cpd) at four test distances (0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 metres).
      Participants were asked to grade the presence of 15 symptoms of visual perceptual
      distortions and discomfort, on a scale from zero (no symptoms) to 10 (maximum
      perceptual and somatic symptoms). RESULTS: The viewing distance did not affect
      the nature and strength of symptoms, when viewing gratings with similar spatial
      frequencies. The symptoms increased with spatial frequency (p < 0.008 for all
      comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms from the Pattern Glare Test do not appear
      to be modulated by the changes in accommodation and vergence associated with
      viewing distance, at least in an unselected sample of students. The highest
      spatial frequency of the current Pattern Glare Test was 9.4 cpd at 0.4 metre and
      this is insufficiently high to measure the reduction in symptoms at high spatial
      frequencies. If assessing relative aversion to gratings of different spatial
      frequencies, it may be useful to increase the testing distance to 0.6 metre so as
      to increase the spatial frequency of the third grating to 14.2 cpd.

PMID- 26875853
TI  - Optical densitometric measurements of the cornea and lens in children with
      allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our aim was to investigate the impact of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
      on corneal and lenticular optical densitometry, pachymetry and anterior chamber
      depth in children. METHODS: Fifty-four patients who had allergic
      rhinoconjunctivitis (study group) and 54 age-matched healthy children (control
      group) were recruited in this cross-sectional and comparative study. Corneal and
      lenticular optical densitometry, pachymetry, corneal volume and anterior chamber
      depth measurements were taken with the Scheimpflug imaging system. RESULTS: The
      lens density and anterior chamber depth were similar between the groups (p >
      0.05), while corneal density and thickness were significantly higher in the study
      group (p < 0.05). Although the corneal volume was higher in children with
      allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, the difference was not statistically significant (p
      = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The cornea is affected in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in
      respect to optical density and thickness, while the anterior chamber and lens are
      not influenced.

PMID- 26875854
TI  - Self-recognition of recurrences among patients with exudative age-related macular
      degeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate factors influencing a patient's self
      recognition of the recurrence of exudative changes secondary to age-related
      macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed
      medical records for patients with exudative AMD who were diagnosed with a
      recurrence of exudation. Various parameters were compared, including age, sex,
      diagnosis, spectacle use, visual acuity before and after the recurrence and the
      extent of the decrease in visual acuity. In addition, visual acuity and unaided
      vision before the recurrence were compared in patients who did not use
      eyeglasses. RESULTS: Forty-eight eyes from 48 patients were included in the
      analysis. Twenty-seven patients (56.3 per cent) identified a decrease in visual
      acuity. These patients had better visual acuity before the recurrence (p = 0.023)
      and reported a greater decrease in visual acuity (p = 0.005) than patients who
      did not identify a visual change. Patients who wore spectacles were also more
      likely to notice the change in their visual acuity (p = 0.027). Visual acuity was
      significantly better than uncorrected vision (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients
      who do not use eyeglasses or who have relatively poor vision tend not to promptly
      recognise visual deterioration caused by the recurrence of exudation. Prescribing
      eyeglasses may facilitate accurate self-recognition of the recurrence of
      exudation in cases where vision can be improved with correction.

PMID- 26875855
TI  - Profile of paediatric low vision population: a retrospective study from Nepal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood blindness and low vision have become major public health
      problems in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to categorise the
      causes of visual impairment according to aetiology and provide detailed local
      information on visually impaired children seeking low-vision services in a
      tertiary eye centre in Nepal. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of all
      visually impaired children (visual acuity of less than 6/18 in the better eye),
      aged less than 17 years seen in the low-vision clinic at the Sagarmatha Chaudhary
      Eye Hospital in Lahan between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. RESULTS: Of
      the 558 visually impaired children, the majority were males, 356 (63.7 per cent).
      More than half (56.5 per cent) of the children were in the 11 to 16 years age
      group. Many of the low-vision children (52.9 per cent) were identified as having
      moderate visual impairment (visual acuity less than 6/18 to 6/60). Most children
      were diagnosed with childhood (36.2 per cent) or genetic (35.5 per cent)
      aetiology, followed by prenatal (22.2 per cent) and perinatal (6.1 per cent)
      aetiologies. Refractive error and amblyopia (20.1 per cent), retinitis pigmentosa
      (14.9 per cent) and macular dystrophy (13.4 per cent) were the most common causes
      of paediatric visual impairment. Nystagmus (50.0 per cent) was the most common
      cause of low vision in the one to five years age group, whereas refractive error
      and amblyopia were the major causes in the six to 10 and 11 to 16 years age group
      (17.6 and 22.9 per cent, respectively). Many of the children (86.0 per cent) were
      prescribed low-vision aids and 72.0 per cent of the low-vision aid users showed
      an improvement in visual acuity either at distance or near. CONCLUSION:
      Paediatric low vision has a negative impact on the quality of life in children.
      Data from this study indicate that knowledge about the local characteristics and
      aetiological categorisation of the causes of low vision are essential in tackling
      paediatric visual impairment. The findings also signify the importance of early
      intervention to ensure a better quality of life.

PMID- 26875856
TI  - Retinal tissue thickness in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective was to investigate full retinal and inner retinal
      thickness in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Eighty-four
      individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), 67 individuals with type 2 diabetes
      (T2DM) and 42 non-diabetic individuals (control group) were enrolled.
      Participants underwent full retinal thickness evaluation in the central retinal,
      parafoveal and perifoveal zones and in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and
      ganglion cell complex (GCC), using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
      As a preliminary step, the key variables of interest - age, sex, diabetic
      retinopathy (DR), duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels - were analysed and
      compared between the three groups. Full retinal thickness, RNFL and GCC
      thicknesses were also compared between the groups. The relationship between the
      type of diabetes and retinal tissue thickness was explored, adjusting for the
      five potential confounders. RESULTS: Compared to individuals with T1DM,
      individuals with T2DM had significantly reduced full retinal thickness in the
      parafovea and perifovea and reduced RNFL and GCC thickness. The mean differences
      were six (p = 0.020), seven (p = 0.008), six (p = 0.021) and four micrometres (p
      = 0.013) for the parafovea, perifovea, RNFL and GCC thicknesses, respectively.
      Thicknesses within the central zone (p = 0.018) and at the parafovea (p = 0.007)
      were significantly reduced in T2DM when compared to the control group. After
      adjusting for age, sex, diabetic retinopathy, duration of diabetes and HbA1c
      levels, the relationship between type of diabetes and retinal tissue thickness
      was not statistically significant (p > 0.056). CONCLUSION: Retinal tissue
      thickness is not significantly different between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, when
      adjusted for age, sex, diabetic retinopathy, duration of diabetes and HbA1c
      levels.

PMID- 26875857
TI  - Minor trauma resulting in subretinal haemorrhage with choroidal rupture: a case
      of subtle pseudoxanthoma elasticum in a child.

PMID- 26875858
TI  - Retinal vasculitis associated with autoantibodies of primary Sjogren's syndrome
      after cataract surgery.

PMID- 26875859
TI  - A case of pigmented, free-floating vitreous cyst treated with micropulse diode
      laser.

PMID- 26875860
TI  - Re: Contact lens management of keratoconus.

PMID- 26875861
TI  - Utility of folate receptor alpha immunohistochemistry in cytology specimens of
      metastatic breast carcinoma, metastatic serous carcinoma of Mullerian origin, and
      primary lung adenocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Folate receptor alpha (FRA) overexpression by immunohistochemistry
      (IHC) has been shown to various degrees in histologic specimens from breast
      ductal carcinoma (DC), serous carcinoma of Mullerian origin (SCM), and primary
      lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) among others. Antifolate therapies have recently shown
      usefulness in FRA overexpressing malignancies. We assessed the feasibility for
      detecting FRA overexpression by IHC in cytologic cell blocks (CB) from the
      aforementioned carcinomas. METHOD: Cases of breast DC, SCM and lung ADC were
      included. The CB were immunostained with FRA employing mAb 26B.3.F2 (Biocare
      Medical, Concord, CA). FRA staining was scored qualitatively, by intensity, and
      staining area. RESULTS: 4/20 (20%) triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), 27/29
      (93%) SCM, and 20/22 (91%) lung ADC showed positive FRA immunoreactivity. All
      ER/PR positive (n = 5) and Her2-neu positive (n = 5) DC were negative with FRA
      IHC. CONCLUSIONS: FRA expression can be detected with a higher degree of
      confidence in SCM (93%) and lung ADC (91%) in CB, and to a lesser degree in TNBC.
      Our data also shows that FRA expression by IHC was more frequently associated
      with TNBC (20%) when compared with ER/PR positive or Her2neu positive breast
      cancers. FRA overexpression detected by IHC in CB is highly concordant with the
      published results of surgical specimens from SCM and lung ADC and less so from
      TNBC. Hence, IHC FRA analysis can be performed in the CB preparation with a high
      degree of confidence in SCM and lung ADC.

PMID- 26875862
TI  - Fluorinated triazapentadienyl ligand supported ethyl zinc(ii) complexes: reaction
      with dioxygen and catalytic applications in the Tishchenko reaction.
AB  - Ethyl zinc complexes [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnEt,
      [N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnEt and [N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnEt have been
      synthesized from the corresponding 1,3,5-triazapentadiene and diethyl zinc. X-ray
      data show that [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt has a distorted trigonal planar geometry
      at the zinc center. The triazapentadienyl ligand binds to zinc in a kappa(2)
      mode. The zinc-ethyl bonds of [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]ZnEt, [N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnEt,
      [N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnEt and [N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnEt readily
      undergo oxygen insertion upon exposure to dry air to produce the corresponding
      zinc-ethoxy or zinc-ethylperoxy compounds. The ethoxy zinc adducts
      {[N{(CF3)C(2,4,6-Br3C6H2)N}2]ZnOEt}2 and {[N{(C3F7)C(2,6-Cl2C6H3)N}2]ZnOEt}2 as
      well as the ethylperoxy zinc adduct {[N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnOOEt}2 have been
      isolated and fully characterized by several methods including X-ray
      crystallography. They feature dinuclear structures with four-coordinate zinc
      sites and bridging-ethoxy or -ethylperoxy groups. The ethyl zinc complexes
      catalyze the Tishchenko reaction of benzaldehyde under solventless conditions
      affording benzyl benzoate. The reaction of ethyl zinc complexes with dioxygen and
      their catalytic behaviour in the Tishchenko reaction are affected by the
      electronic and steric factors of the triazapentadienyl ligand.
      {[N{(C3F7)C(Cy)N}2]ZnOOEt}2 is an excellent reagent for the epoxidation of trans
      chalcone. 

PMID- 26875863
TI  - Development of a light-regulated cell-recovery system for non-photosynthetic
      bacteria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the understanding of photosensing in biological
      systems have enabled the use of photoreceptors as novel genetic tools. Exploiting
      various photoreceptors that cyanobacteria possess, a green light-inducible gene
      expression system was previously developed for the regulation of gene expression
      in cyanobacteria. However, the applications of cyanobacterial photoreceptors are
      not limited to these bacteria but are also available for non-photosynthetic
      microorganisms by the coexpression of a cyanobacterial chromophore with a
      cyanobacteria-derived photosensing system. An Escherichia coli-derived self
      aggregation system based on Antigen 43 (Ag43) has been shown to induce cell self
      aggregation of various bacteria by exogenous introduction of the Ag43 gene.
      RESULTS: An E. coli transformant harboring a plasmid encoding the Ag43 structural
      gene under a green light-regulated gene expression system derived from the
      cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 was constructed. Ag43 was inserted
      downstream of the cpcG 2 promoter P cpcG2 , and its expression was regulated by
      green light induction, which was achieved by the functional expression of
      cyanobacterial CcaS/CcaR by coexpressing its chromophore synthesis gene cassette
      in E. coli. E. coli transformants harboring this designed system self-aggregated
      under green light exposure and precipitated, whereas transformants lacking the
      green light induction system did not. The green light induction system
      effectively functioned before the cell culture entered the stationary growth
      phase, and approximately 80 % of the cell culture was recovered by simple
      decantation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the construction of a cell
      recovery system for non-photosynthetic microorganisms induced by exposure of
      cells to green light. The system was regulated by a two-component regulatory
      system from cyanobacteria, and cell precipitation was mediated by an
      autotransporter protein, Ag43. Although further strict control and an increase of
      cell recovery efficiency are necessary, the system represents a novel tool for
      future bioprocessing with reduced energy and labor required for cell recovery.

PMID- 26875864
TI  - Intussusception as clinical presentation of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the
      colon in a HIV-patient.
AB  - Intestinal intussusception rarely occurs in the adult population and accounts
      only for 1% to 5% of all the causes of intestinal obstruction. This complication
      is more frequent in the small bowel and can be due to different aetiologies,
      including inflammatory, infectious or neoplastic diseases. Malignancies account
      for 50% to 60% of all cases of colon invagination. The gastrointestinal (GI)
      tract is the most common site for extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL),
      representing 5% to 20% of all the cases. However, primary NHL of the GI tract is
      a very infrequent clinic-pathological entity and accounts only for 1% to 4% of
      all the neoplasms of the GI tract. Primary NHL of the colon is a rare disease and
      it comprises only 0.2% to 1.2% of all colonic malignancies. Here we describe a
      case of an AIDS adult patient who developed an intussusception secondary to a
      primary large B cell lymphoma of the transverse colon. English and Spanish
      literature was reviewed.

PMID- 26875865
TI  - Complex Interdependence Regulates Heterotypic Transcription Factor Distribution
      and Coordinates Cardiogenesis.
AB  - Transcription factors (TFs) are thought to function with partners to achieve
      specificity and precise quantitative outputs. In the developing heart,
      heterotypic TF interactions, such as between the T-box TF TBX5 and the
      homeodomain TF NKX2-5, have been proposed as a mechanism for human congenital
      heart defects. We report extensive and complex interdependent genomic occupancy
      of TBX5, NKX2-5, and the zinc finger TF GATA4 coordinately controlling cardiac
      gene expression, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Interdependent binding
      serves not only to co-regulate gene expression but also to prevent TFs from
      distributing to ectopic loci and activate lineage-inappropriate genes. We define
      preferential motif arrangements for TBX5 and NKX2-5 cooperative binding sites,
      supported at the atomic level by their co-crystal structure bound to DNA,
      revealing a direct interaction between the two factors and induced DNA bending.
      Complex interdependent binding mechanisms reveal tightly regulated TF genomic
      distribution and define a combinatorial logic for heterotypic TF regulation of
      differentiation.

PMID- 26875866
TI  - Graded Control of Microtubule Severing by Tubulin Glutamylation.
AB  - Microtubule-severing enzymes are critical for the biogenesis and maintenance of
      complex microtubule arrays in axons, spindles, and cilia where tubulin
      detyrosination, acetylation, and glutamylation are abundant. These modifications
      exhibit stereotyped patterns suggesting spatial and temporal control of
      microtubule functions. Using human-engineered and differentially modified
      microtubules we find that glutamylation is the main regulator of the hereditary
      spastic paraplegia microtubule severing enzyme spastin. Glutamylation acts as a
      rheostat and tunes microtubule severing as a function of glutamate number added
      per tubulin. Unexpectedly, glutamylation is a non-linear biphasic tuner and
      becomes inhibitory beyond a threshold. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of
      localized glutamylation propagates across neighboring microtubules, modulating
      severing in trans. Our work provides the first quantitative evidence for a graded
      response to a tubulin posttranslational modification and a biochemical link
      between tubulin glutamylation and complex architectures of microtubule arrays
      such as those in neurons where spastin deficiency causes disease. 

PMID- 26875868
TI  - Oxygen vacancies as active sites for H2S dissociation on the rutile TiO2(110)
      surface: a first-principles study.
AB  - Spin-polarized DFT+U computations have been performed to investigate the role of
      oxygen vacancies in dissociating H2S on the rutile TiO2(110) surface. A bridged
      O2c atom is demonstrated to be the most energetically favorable oxygen vacancy
      site, which makes V(O2c) an electron donator center and induces an isolated
      defect level with narrowed band gaps. A H2S molecule is adsorbed dissociatively
      over V(O2c), but molecularly on the perfect surface. For H2S dissociation, the
      HS/H intermediate state reveals the best thermal stability on both defected and
      perfect surfaces. Moreover, potential energy surface analysis shows that V(O2c)
      reduces markedly the energy barriers for the paths along H2S dissociation. This
      indicates oxygen vacancies to be efficient trap centers for H2S dissociation, as
      evidenced by a significant interfacial charge transfer promoted by vacancies.
      This work could provide insights into the role of oxygen vacancies in
      facilitating the decomposition of H2S on rutile TiO2(110) surface. 

PMID- 26875867
TI  - Structure and Engineering of Francisella novicida Cas9.
AB  - The RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 cleaves double-stranded DNA targets
      complementary to the guide RNA and has been applied to programmable genome
      editing. Cas9-mediated cleavage requires a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)
      juxtaposed with the DNA target sequence, thus constricting the range of
      targetable sites. Here, we report the 1.7 A resolution crystal structures of Cas9
      from Francisella novicida (FnCas9), one of the largest Cas9 orthologs, in complex
      with a guide RNA and its PAM-containing DNA targets. A structural comparison of
      FnCas9 with other Cas9 orthologs revealed striking conserved and divergent
      features among distantly related CRISPR-Cas9 systems. We found that FnCas9
      recognizes the 5'-NGG-3' PAM, and used the structural information to create a
      variant that can recognize the more relaxed 5'-YG-3' PAM. Furthermore, we
      demonstrated that the FnCas9-ribonucleoprotein complex can be microinjected into
      mouse zygotes to edit endogenous sites with the 5'-YG-3' PAM, thus expanding the
      target space of the CRISPR-Cas9 toolbox.

PMID- 26875869
TI  - [Theoretical reflection on the place of memory and temporal cognitive mechanisms
      in addictive disorders].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Addictions can be regarded as cognitive disorders related to
      neurobiological impairments. On the one hand, some cognitive impairments occur as
      a result of substance intake and withdrawal upon stopping intake, while, on the
      other hand, cognitive mechanisms are responsible for initiating and maintaining
      addiction. In this review, we detail the memory and temporal mechanisms involved
      in this pathology. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the literature dedicated to the
      mechanisms of conditioning association between a substance and a context, and the
      memory and temporal mechanisms involved in the maintenance of addiction.
      Cognitive impairments in this context are accompanied by both short-term and long
      term neurobiological disorders. RESULTS: Drug-context conditioning is dependent
      on learning abilities in rats and humans, and it is the first step towards the
      development of an addiction. In fact, with the beginning of an addiction, it is
      the context associated with the substance intake, which determines the
      reinforcing factors (such as pleasure in the case of drug consumption) for the
      development of an addiction. Maintenance of addiction is related to the
      persistence of this association between context and substance. Furthermore, the
      impulsiveness of patients renders them unable to delay their gratification.
      Consequently, even if delayed gratifications are more valuable, patients prefer
      immediate gratification such as substance use. DISCUSSION: The memory and
      temporal mechanisms of addiction are central to the initiation and maintenance of
      drug addiction. They also affect patients' ability to develop projects for the
      future. The salience of the memory association between drug and context is
      accompanied by a decline in autobiographical memories, which become poor and
      lacking in detail. It is probably these impairments which are responsible for the
      difficulty that the patients have while investigating their story during
      psychotherapy. On the other hand, given that even though delayed gratification is
      greater patients prefer immediate gratification, they have difficulty making
      plans for the future and constructing their own personality. These cognitive
      impairments are sustained by neurobiological correlates such as dopamine
      dysregulation in the short-term and changes in neural plasticity in the cortico
      meso-limbic system in the long term. CONCLUSION: We reviewed full arguments which
      highlight that addiction is mediated by cognitive mechanisms which are related on
      the one hand to clinical symptoms and, on the other hand, to neurobiological
      alterations. According to the literature, memory and time mechanisms seem to be
      central to the initiation and maintenance of addictive behaviours. More research
      is needed to improve our knowledge of the cognitive mechanisms of addiction and
      to develop new tools for treating patients.

PMID- 26875870
TI  - From junk to master regulators of invasion: lncRNA functions in migration, EMT
      and metastasis.
AB  - Metastasis is a multistep process that involves the dissemination of cells from
      the primary tumor and colonization of distant secondary organs. Epithelial cells
      at the invasive front of a carcinoma acquire an enhanced migratory phenotype in a
      process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This cellular
      plasticity seems to drive the initiation of metastasis. Identifying important
      molecules and understanding their molecular mechanisms is a key to cancer
      prognosis and the development of therapeutics for late stage malignancies. Recent
      advances in sequencing technology uncovered that the mammalian genome is
      pervasively transcribed into many nonprotein-coding RNAs including the class of
      long noncoding RNA, a.k.a. lncRNA. Several lncRNAs are differentially expressed
      in carcinomas and they are emerging as potent regulators of tumor progression and
      metastasis. Here, we review the diverse molecular mechanisms, cellular roles and
      regulatory patterns that are becoming apparent for the noncoding transcriptome.
      Chromatin modification, epigenetic regulation, alternative splicing and
      translational control by MALAT1, HOTAIR and TRE lncRNAs represent important
      examples of lncRNA-mediated control of cell migration and invasion, EMT and
      metastasis. Beyond these better characterized examples, numerous additional
      transcripts have been associated with cancer metastasis, but their functional
      roles await their discovery.

PMID- 26875871
TI  - Can a simple question predict prolonged uroflow lag times in children?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: It is our experience that some children with bowel and bladder
      dysfunction (BBD) who have bladder neck dysfunction had a tendency to complain of
      dizziness when we subjected the patients with dizziness to tilt-table testing to
      confirm the diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction. From these findings we postulated
      that patients who complain of dizziness are likely to have prolonged lag times
      that are a proxy for bladder neck dysfunction (BND). STUDY DESIGN: This was an
      Institute Review Board-approved study in which we enrolled new patients in a
      sequential fashion who were referred to our outpatient urology offices for
      evaluation of BBD over a 3-month period. All patients were asked if they
      frequently experienced dizziness when they rapidly stood from a sitting or lying
      down position or when they raised their head rapidly. An analysis of the
      following parameters was undertaken: prevalence of dizziness, bladder neck
      dysfunction, and comorbid psychiatric problems. Uroflowmetry findings were
      analyzed as well. RESULTS: Tilt-table group: In the tilt-table group the median
      age of the patients was 14.5 (4.5-18) years for the five males and five females
      who were tested. All males and four out of five females experienced a blood
      pressure drops of 20 mmHg or more on table tilting and three experienced syncope.
      All patients had prolonged lag times, with an average lag time of 16.5 s. All
      these patients were able to tolerate alpha-blockers once they were adequately
      hydrated and salt loaded. Alpha-blocker dosing was increased gradually. In the
      questionnaire group, 212 patients were initially enrolled: 125 girls and 87 boys.
      Eleven of 12 males and eleven of 16 females had prolonged lag times when
      dizziness was present. Sensitivity was 92% and 69%, specificity was 80% and 91%
      respectively for male and females. Analysis of the psychiatric history revealed a
      statistically significant association with dizziness and neuropsychiatric
      problems in the patients and family members. CONCLUSION: We have been able to
      show a high degree of sensitivity in male patients and a high degree of
      specificity in female patients that a simple question, "Do you get dizzy on
      rising in the morning or with rapid standing?", is a reliable marker for BND in
      children. We have also seen that there is an association between dizziness and
      psychiatric problems in patients and in family members. It appears from our
      results and the available literature that autonomic dysfunction is commonly
      associated with BND and dizziness can be a simple proxy question to identify this
      problem.

PMID- 26875872
TI  - Metabolic pathway of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose in carrageenan-degrading
      microorganisms.
AB  - Complete hydrolysis of kappa-carrageenan produces two sugars, D-galactose and 3,6
      anhydro-D-galactose (D-AnG). At present, however, we do not know how carrageenan
      degrading microorganisms metabolize D-AnG. In this study, we investigated the
      metabolic pathway of D-AnG degradation by comparative genomic analysis of
      Cellulophaga lytica LIM-21, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica T6c, and Epulopiscium sp.
      N.t. morphotype B, which represent the classes Flavobacteria,
      Gammaproteobacteria, and Clostridia, respectively. In this bioinformatic
      analysis, we found candidate common genes that were believed to be involved in D
      AnG metabolism. We then experimentally confirmed the enzymatic function of each
      gene product in the D-AnG cluster. In all three microorganisms, D-AnG
      metabolizing genes were clustered and organized in operon-like arrangements,
      which we named as the dan operon (3,6-d-anhydro-galactose). Combining
      bioinformatic analysis and experimental data, we showed that D-AnG is metabolized
      to pyruvate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate via four enzyme-catalyzed reactions
      in the following route: 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose -> 3,6-anhydro-D-galactonate -> 2
      keto-3-deoxy-D-galactonate (D-KDGal) -> 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phospho-D-galactonate ->
      pyruvate + D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The pathway of D-AnG degradation is
      composed of two parts: transformation of D-AnG to D-KDGal using two D-AnG
      specific enzymes and breakdown of D-KDGal to two glycolysis intermediates using
      two DeLey-Doudoroff pathway enzymes. To our knowledge, this is the first report
      on the metabolic pathway of D-AnG degradation. 

PMID- 26875873
TI  - Genetic dissection of fruiting body-related traits using quantitative trait loci
      mapping in Lentinula edodes.
AB  - To provide a better understanding of the genetic architecture of fruiting body
      formation of Lentinula edodes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping was
      employed to uncover the loci underlying seven fruiting body-related traits
      (FBRTs). An improved L. edodes genetic linkage map, comprising 572 markers on 12
      linkage groups with a total map length of 983.7 cM, was constructed by
      integrating 82 genomic sequence-based insertion-deletion (InDel) markers into a
      previously published map. We then detected a total of 62 QTLs for seven target
      traits across two segregating testcross populations, with individual QTLs
      contributing 5.5 %-30.2 % of the phenotypic variation. Fifty-three out of the 62
      QTLs were clustered in six QTL hotspots, suggesting the existence of main genomic
      regions regulating the morphological characteristics of fruiting bodies in L.
      edodes. A stable QTL hotspot on MLG2, containing QTLs for all investigated
      traits, was identified in both testcross populations. QTLs for related traits
      were frequently co-located on the linkage groups, demonstrating the genetic basis
      for phenotypic correlation of traits. Meta-QTL (mQTL) analysis was performed and
      identified 16 mQTLs with refined positions and narrow confidence intervals (CIs).
      Nine genes, including those encoding MAP kinase, blue-light photoreceptor,
      riboflavin-aldehyde-forming enzyme and cyclopropane-fatty-acyl-phospholipid
      synthase, and cytochrome P450s, were likely to be candidate genes controlling the
      shape of fruiting bodies. The study has improved our understanding of the genetic
      architecture of fruiting body formation in L. edodes. To our knowledge, this is
      the first genome-wide QTL detection of FBRTs in L. edodes. The improved genetic
      map, InDel markers and QTL hotspot regions revealed here will assist considerably
      in the conduct of future genetic and breeding studies of L. edodes. 

PMID- 26875874
TI  - The zinc cluster transcriptional regulator Asg1 transcriptionally coordinates
      oleate utilization and lipid accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - In this study, we characterize a new function for activator of stress response
      genes (Asg1) in fatty acid utilization. Asg1 is required for full activation of
      genes in several pathways, including beta-oxidation (POX1, FOX2, and POT1),
      gluconeogenesis (PCK1), glyoxylate cycle (ICL1), triacylglycerol breakdown
      (TGL3), and peroxisomal transport (PXA1). In addition, the transcriptional
      activator Asg1 is found to be enriched on promoters of genes in beta-oxidation
      and gluconeogenesis pathways, suggesting that Asg1 is directly involved in the
      control of fatty acid utilizing genes. In agreement, impaired growth on non
      fermentable carbons such as fatty acids and oils and increased sensitivity to
      some oxidative agents are found for the Deltaasg1 strain. The lipid class profile
      of the Deltaasg1 cells grown in oleate displays approximately 3-fold increase in
      free fatty acid (FFA) content in comparison to glucose-grown cells, which
      correlates with decreased expression of beta-oxidation genes. The ?asg1 strain
      grown in glucose also exhibits higher accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs)
      during log phase, reaching levels typically observed in stationary phase cells.
      Altered TAG accumulation is partly due to the inability of the Deltaasg1 cells to
      efficiently break down TAGs, which is consistent with lowered expression of TGL3
      gene, encoding triglycerol lipase. Overall, these results highlight a new role of
      the transcriptional regulator Asg1 in coordinating expression of genes involved
      in fatty acid utilization and its role in regulating cellular lipid accumulation,
      thereby providing an attractive approach to increase FFAs and TAGs content for
      the production of lipid-derived biofuels and chemicals in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. 

PMID- 26875875
TI  - Changes in the soil microbial community after reductive soil disinfestation and
      cucumber seedling cultivation.
AB  - Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) has been proven to be an effective and
      environmentally friendly way to control many soilborne pathogens and diseases. In
      this study, the RSDs using ethanol (Et-RSD) and alfalfa (Al-RSD) as organic
      carbons were performed in a Rhizoctonia solani-infected soil, and the
      dissimilarities of microbial communities during the RSDs and after planting two
      seasons of cucumber seedlings in the RSDs-treated soil were respectively
      investigated by MiSeq pyrosequencing. The results showed that, as for bacteria,
      Coprococcus, Flavisolibacter, Rhodanobacter, Symbiobacterium, and UC
      Ruminococcaceae became the dominant bacterial genera at the end of Al-RSD. In
      contrast, Et-RSD soil involved more bacteria belonging to Firmicutes, such as
      Sedimentibacter, UC-Gracilibacteraceae, and Desulfosporosinus. For fungi,
      Chaetomium significantly increased at the end of RSDs, while Rhizoctonia and
      Aspergillus significantly decreased. After planting two seasons of cucumber
      seedlings, those bacteria belonging to Firmicutes significantly decreased, but
      Lysobacter and Rhodanobacter belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria as well as UC
      Sordariales and Humicola belonging to Ascomycota alternatively increased in Al-
      and Et-RSD-treated soils. Besides, some nitrification, denitrification, and
      nitrogen fixation genes were apparently increased in the RSD-treated soils, but
      the effect was more profound in Al-RSD than Et-RSD. Overall, Et-RSD could induced
      more antagonists belonging to Firmicutes under anaerobic condition, whereas Al
      RSD could continuously stimulate some functional microorganisms (Lysobacter and
      Rhodanobacter) and further improve nitrogen transformation activities in the soil
      at the coming cropping season. 

PMID- 26875876
TI  - Saturation mutagenesis on Arg244 of the tryptophan C4-prenyltransferase FgaPT2
      leads to enhanced catalytic ability and different preferences for tryptophan
      containing cyclic dipeptides.
AB  - FgaPT2 from Aspergillus fumigatus catalyzes a Friedel-Crafts alkylation at C-4 of
      L-tryptophan and is involved in the biosynthesis of the ergot alkaloids
      fumigaclavines. Several tryptophan-containing cyclic dipeptides had also been
      prenylated by FgaPT2, but the turnover rate (k cat) was low. Here, we report the
      generation of FgaPT2 mutants by saturation mutagenesis at the amino acid residue
      Arg244 to improve its catalytic efficiency toward cyclic dipeptides. Thirteen
      mutated enzymes demonstrated up to 76-fold higher turnover number toward seven
      cyclic dipeptides than the non-mutated FgaPT2. More importantly, the mutated
      enzymes exhibited different preferences toward these substrates. This study
      provides a convenient approach for creation of new biocatalysts for production of
      C4-prenylated cyclic dipeptides. 

PMID- 26875877
TI  - L-Rhamnose isomerase and its use for biotechnological production of rare sugars.
AB  - L-Rhamnose isomerase (L-RI, EC 5.3.1.14), catalyzing the isomerization between L
      rhamnose and L-rhamnulose, plays an important role in microbial L-rhamnose
      metabolism and thus occurs in a wide range of microorganisms. It attracts more
      and more attention because of its broad substrate specificity and its great
      potential in enzymatic production of various rare sugars. In this article, the
      enzymatic properties of various reported L-RIs were compared in detail, and their
      applications in the production of L-rhamnulose and various rare sugars including
      D-allose, D-gulose, L-lyxose, L-mannose, L-talose, and L-galactose were also
      reviewed. 

PMID- 26875878
TI  - Impact of the freeze-drying process on product appearance, residual moisture
      content, viability, and batch uniformity of freeze-dried bacterial cultures
      safeguarded at culture collections.
AB  - In this study, causes of collapsed bacterial cultures in glass ampoules observed
      after freeze-drying were investigated as well as the influence of collapse on
      residual moisture content (RMC) and viability. Also, the effect of heat radiation
      and post freeze-drying treatments on the RMC was studied. Cake morphologies of 21
      bacterial strains obtained after freeze-drying with one standard protocol could
      be classified visually into four major types: no collapse, porous, partial
      collapse, and collapse. The more pronounced the collapse, the higher residual
      moisture content of the freeze-dried product, ranging from 1.53 % for non
      collapsed products to 3.62 % for collapsed products. The most important cause of
      collapse was the mass of the inserted cotton plug in the ampoule. Default cotton
      plugs with a mass between 21 and 30 mg inside the ampoule did not affect the
      viability of freeze-dried Aliivibrio fischeri LMG 4414(T) compared to ampoules
      without cotton plugs. Cotton plugs with a mass higher than 65 mg inside the
      ampoule induced a full collapsed product with rubbery look (melt-back) and
      decreasing viability during storage. Heat radiation effects in the freeze-drying
      chamber and post freeze-drying treatments such as exposure time to air after
      freeze-drying and manifold drying time prior to heat sealing of ampoules
      influenced the RMC of freeze-dried products. To produce uniform batches of freeze
      dried bacterial strains with intact cake structures and highest viabilities,
      inserted cotton plugs should not exceed 21 mg per ampoule. Furthermore, heat
      radiation effects should be calculated in the design of the primary drying phase
      and manifold drying time before heat sealing should be determined as a function
      of exposure time to air. 

PMID- 26875879
TI  - Homologous expression and biochemical characterization of the arylsulfatase from
      Kluyveromyces lactis and its relevance in milk processing.
AB  - The industrial manufacturing process of lactose-free milk products depends on the
      application of commercial beta-galactosidase (lactase) preparations. These
      preparations are often obtained from Kluyveromyces lactis. There is a gene
      present in the genome of K. lactis which should encode for an enzyme called
      arylsulfatase (EC 3.1.6.1). Therefore, this enzyme could also be present in beta
      galactosidase preparations. The arylsulfatase is suspected of being responsible
      for an unpleasant "cowshed-like" off-flavor resulting from the release of p
      cresol from milk endogenous alkylphenol sulfuric esters. So far, no
      gene/functionality relationship is described. In addition, no study is available
      which has shown that arylsulfatase from K. lactis is truly responsible for the
      flavor generation. In this study, we cloned the putative arylsulfatase gene from
      K. lactis GG799 into the commercially available vector pKLAC2. The cloning
      strategy chosen resulted in a homologous, secretory expression of the
      arylsulfatase. We showed that the heretofore putative arylsulfatase has the
      desired activity with the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl sulfate and with the
      natural substrate p-cresol sulfate. The enzyme was biochemically characterized
      and showed an optimum temperature of 45-50  degrees C and an optimum pH of 9-10.
      Additionally, the arylsulfatase was activated by Ca(2+) ions and was inactivated
      by Zn(2+) ions. Moreover, the arylsulfatase was inhibited by p-cresol and sulfate
      ions. Finally, the enzyme was added to ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk and a
      sensory triangle test verified that the arylsulfatase from K. lactis can cause an
      unpleasant "cowshed-like" off-flavor. 

PMID- 26875880
TI  - Prospective investigation and literature review of tolerance dose on salivary
      glands using quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy in the intensity-modulated
      radiotherapy era.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the
      scintigraphic results on patients who undergo intensity-modulated radiotherapy
      (IMRT) to investigate the tolerance doses for the salivary glands. METHODS:
      Salivary scintigraphy was performed on 35 patients with head and neck cancer
      before the beginning of radiotherapy (RT), and then at 6 weeks and again at 3
      months after the completion of RT. Xerostomia was recorded according to the
      Radiation Therapy and Oncology Group (RTOG) grade. Salivary function was
      evaluated by calculating the excretion rate changes (DeltaF) for each salivary
      gland before and after RT. RESULTS: The parotid mean dose was significantly
      related to parotid DeltaF and the submandibular gland mean dose to the
      submandibular gland DeltaF. The parotid mean dose of 23 Gy was best correlated
      with the RTOG grades. The submandibular gland mean dose significantly related to
      DeltaF <=-50% and <=-75% was 42 Gy. CONCLUSION: The parotid mean dose of 23 Gy
      and the submandibular gland mean dose of 42 Gy is feasible for salivary function
      preservation in the IMRT era. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:
      E1746-E1755, 2016.

PMID- 26875881
TI  - The role of the antioxidant ascorbic acid in the elicitation of contact allergic
      reactions to p-phenylenediamine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An allergic contact reaction is accompanied by high oxidative stress
      in the skin. Pretreatment of the skin with antioxidative substances could reduce
      the elicitation reaction. OBJECTIVES: To investigate, in a proof-of-principle
      study, whether pretreatment of the skin with the antioxidant ascorbic acid
      reduces the elicitation reaction to a p-phenylenediamine (PPD)-containing hair
      dye in sensitized subjects. METHODS: Twelve subjects with contact allergy to PPD,
      a documented skin reaction to a hair dye simulation exposure model and a history
      of hair dye-related skin complaints were included in this study. Skin areas on
      the forearms were, in a left versus right design, exposed to an emulsion with
      ascorbic acid and an emulsion without ascorbic acid, and then to a 2% PPD
      containing hair dye testing formulation. In addition, control areas were exposed
      to the emulsions and to the PPD-containing hair dye formulation without
      pretreatment. Skin reactions were graded on day (D)2 and D3. RESULTS:
      Pretreatment with ascorbic acid emulsion resulted in a reduction in the
      elicitation reaction in 7 of 12 subjects at D3 (p = 0.046). No statistically
      significant difference was observed at D2. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment of the skin
      with the antioxidant ascorbic acid had an attenuating effect on the elicitation
      reaction to PPD in sensitized individuals.

PMID- 26875882
TI  - Ovarian transposition in young women and fertility sparing.

PMID- 26875883
TI  - Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in unusual form of hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26875884
TI  - Autonomic nervous system and hypertension.

PMID- 26875885
TI  - Ulipristal acetate prior to in vitro fertilization in a female patient affected
      by uterine fibroids: a case report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Uterine leiomyomatosis and especially submucosal myomas hamper the
      outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART). Even though surgical
      treatment eliminates gross anatomical anomalies, medical treatment should be
      encouraged to improve the overall structure of the uterus, thereby enabling ART.
      CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of an infertile female patient suffering
      from symptomatic uterine fibromatosis, who received 5 mg/day ulipristal acetate
      (UPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRMs), for three months
      before and after hysteroscopic myomectomy. Uterine bleeding reduced on the eight
      days of treatment, with a subsequent improvement of pelvic pain. Under
      transvaginal ultrasound the uterus appeared globally enlarged with a diffuse
      leiomyomatosis of the myometrial layer. Saline infusion showed a markedly
      distorted cavity due two submucosal myomas (sized 31 * 24 mm and 21 * 19 mm,
      respectively) and one intramural myoma (37 * 34 mm). After three months the size
      of the myomas was reduced by 30-40%, allowing the hysteroscopic removal of the
      submucosal fibroids and the bigger intramural one. The smaller fibroids involving
      the myometrial layer were instead too diffused to be removed. At the conclusion
      of the subsequent cycle of UPA, the overall appearance of the cavity had
      improved, and the endometrial layer was regular, allowing the patient to undergo
      in vitro fertilization (IVF). There was no adverse effect related to treatment,
      and the endometrial biopsy did not reveal any histologic change. CONCLUSIONS: UPA
      seems to have a triple effect: it ensures prompt symptom relief, it reduces the
      size of the myomas enabling surgery and it improves the morphology of the uterus.

PMID- 26875886
TI  - A combined partially threaded cancellous lag screw for achieving maximum
      compressive force without compromising pullout strength.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The partially threaded cancellous lag screw (PTLS) could not provide
      maximum compressive force (C(MAX)) for compression due to compromised pullout
      strength (POS). The combined partially threaded cancellous lag screw (CPTLS)
      could provide higher C(MAX) than PTLS. However, the change of POS at the point of
      C(MAX) when using CPTLS for compression has never been explored. The aim of this
      study was to determine whether POS decreased at the point of C(MAX) during CPTLS
      compression for different bone mineral densities (BMDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Three synthetic cancellous bone blocks were used for this study, and the BMDs
      were 0.12 g/cm3, 0.16 g/cm3, and 0.20 g/cm3, respectively. 20 pilot holes with
      3.2 mm diameters were prepared equably in each block. A CPTLS was inserted
      through the custom-designed measuring device into a pilot hole manually until
      failure for measuring C(MAX), and the pullout test was done with the identical
      CPTLS for measuring POS. RESULTS: The C(MAX) and POS of the CPTLS were not
      significantly different in the three specimens, and the ratios of the mean C(MAX)
      to the mean POS were very similar in the three specimens (0.98 in the 0.12 g/cc
      specimen, 1.01 in the 0.16 g/cc specimen and 0.98 in the 0.20 g/cc specimen).
      CONCLUSIONS: C(MAX) is achieved without a decrease in POS during CPTLS
      compression independent of the BMD.

PMID- 26875887
TI  - The curative efficacy of arthroscopic therapy in treating anterior cruciate
      ligament rupture with secondary osteoarthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the clinical effects of arthroscopic therapy
      and drug therapy in treating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture with
      secondary osteoarthritis (OA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 68 patients that
      were diagnosed as ACL rupture with secondary OA in our hospital from February
      2014 to February 2015 were enrolled in our study. All of the patients were
      randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and observation group (n = 38)
      according to the order of admission. The patients in the control group were given
      analgesic, anti-inflammatory drugs + functional rehabilitation training whereas
      the patients in the observation group were given ACL reconstruction + OA
      debridement and functional rehabilitation training under arthroscopy. RESULTS:
      The success rate of the observation group was 92.1%. After 3-month follow-up, the
      clinical total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher
      than that of the control group, the prevalence of complications in the
      observation group was significantly lower than in the control group, and
      differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Lysholm scale scoring of
      observation group was significantly higher than of the control group, modified
      McGill pain scale score was significantly lower than that of the control group,
      and differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Quadriceps muscle peak
      torque, average power, and the optimal single work at 60 degrees /s, 120 degrees
      /s, and 180 degrees /s were significantly higher than those of the control group,
      and differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      Arthroscopic operative therapy was safe and effective for the treatment of ACL
      with secondary OA. Compared with drug therapy, it can significantly improve the
      movement function of the knee joint, so it was worthy of clinical application.

PMID- 26875888
TI  - Descriptive epidemiology of clubfoot in Romania: a clinic-based study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Congenital clubfoot affects 1 per 1000 live births per year in
      Romania. To date, no epidemiological studies have been conducted in this country
      to assess risk factors associated with the deformity. The aim of this study was
      to evaluate specific environmental and socio-demographic factors that may
      increase the risk of an infant to be born with clubfoot. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A
      descriptive clinic-based study over a twelve-week period was conducted using
      structured questionnaires given to biological parents of clinically confirmed
      clubfoot and control subjects. 62 parents of probands and 66 parents of control
      patients were enrolled for risk factor questionnaires. Phenotypic data from
      clubfoot children was also collected. RESULTS: We found that males were twice as
      likely to have clubfoot and half of clubfoot subjects were affected bilaterally.
      There was no significant difference in the rate of left versus right clubfoot.
      Infant and maternal characteristics showing a strong association with clubfoot
      included breech presentation and old maternal age at conception. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results support reported literature data that males are two times as likely to
      have clubfoot which indicates a genetic influence. Previous reports suggest
      clubfoot babies are born to young mothers but in Romania advanced maternal age
      (>= 35 years) was an indicator which may suggest genetic influence. This clinic
      based study does not support previously recorded data of a positive association
      for maternal or household smoking. Data from this Romanian population also does
      not support previous data suggesting strong associations with maternal diabetes.

PMID- 26875889
TI  - Efficacy of 3.6% topical ALA-PDT for the treatment of severe acne vulgaris.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical 5-aminolevulinic acid
      (ALA) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of severe acne
      vulgaris. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 125 patients with Pillsbury III-IV
      severe facial acne were treated with 3 courses of ALA-PDT with an interval of 2
      weeks. ALA gel (3.6%) was applied topically to acne lesions for 1.5 h. The
      lesions were irradiated by a LED light of 633 nm with a light intensity of 66
      mW/cm2 and a light dose of 126 J/cm2. Patients were evaluated for efficacy and
      safety at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 after the initial treatment. RESULTS: The total
      effective rates were 1.6%, 24.8%, 68.8%, 89.6% and 88.8% at the 2- 4- 6- 8- and
      12-week after the initial treatment respectively. The clinical outcomes were the
      best at 4 weeks after the final treatment. The best effective rate and cure rate
      were 89.6% and 44% respectively. 26 patients and 16 patients showed apparent
      exacerbation of acne lesions before the 2nd and 3rd treatment respectively, but
      all of them showed good or excellent improvement after 3-course treatment.
      Adverse reactions were mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: 3.6% ALA-PDT is a simple,
      safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of severe acne vulgaris.

PMID- 26875890
TI  - Combination therapy with hydrogen peroxide (4%), salicylic acid (0.5%) and D
      panthenol (4%): efficacy and skyn tolerability in common acne vulgaris during sun
      exposure period.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acne vulgaris is a disease of the sebaceous follicle which affects up
      to 90% of adolescent patients. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and
      antibiotics are the main treatments for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. The use
      of such topical treatments is often associated with local irritation and dryness
      making the skin more sensitive to the sun. The aim of our study was to assess the
      efficacy and skin tolerability of a fixed-dose combination therapy with hydrogen
      peroxide (4%), Salicylic acid (0.5%) and D-panthenol (4%) (HSD) gel, in mild
      moderate acne vulgaris, during the period of sun exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      We retrospectively observed 30 patients of Central Italy with mild to moderate
      acne between April and September 2012. All the patients selected underwent only
      therapy with HSD gel once a day in the evening for 60 days, while in the morning
      they just applied SPF 50 sunscreen. We evaluate the efficacy at 30 and 60 days
      with the "Global Evaluation Scale" (GES) and the tolerability with a 0-3
      qualitative scale. RESULTS: The mean GES value showed a statistically significant
      reduction: 2.03 (SD 0.81) at baseline, 1.63 (SD 0.81) and 0.90 (SD 0.71)
      respectively at 30 and 60 days (p < 0.01). 21 (70%) and 27 patients (90%) did
      show good or very good tolerability at 30 and 60 days respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      Topical treatments with retinoids, antibiotics and antiseptics may increase skin
      irritation reducing patient adherence to the treatment. HSD gel has shown a good
      skin tolerability and efficacy in reducing acne lesions, even during the sun
      exposure period in which traditional treatments should be cautiously used.

PMID- 26875891
TI  - Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The phenotypic "ABO" blood groups are inherited antigenic substances
      which are found on the surface of red blood cells in addition to other tissues.
      Certain hypothesis advocates that genetic predisposition like "ABO" blood group
      would be associated with occurrence of diseases including type 2 diabetes. This
      study aimed to investigate the potential association between "ABO" and "Rhesus"
      blood groups with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 47
      research documents in a data based search including ISI-Web of Science, EMBASE
      and PubMed. Literature was explored using the key terms including "ABO blood
      groups" "type 2 diabetes". Studies in which "ABO" blood types and diabetes
      mellitus were discussed included without restrictions of research documents,
      types, status and language of the publications. Finally, 15 publications which
      matched our criteria were included, and remaining studies were excluded. RESULTS:
      Blood group "B" was associated with high incidence of type 2 diabetes and blood
      group "O" has a minimum association with type 2 diabetes. Blood group "A" and
      "AB" were almost equally distributed in both diabetic and non-diabetic
      population. However, we were unable to find an association between "Rh+ve" and
      "Rh-ve" blood groups with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with blood group
      "B" are at high risk while individuals with blood group "O" are at low peril of
      evolving type 2 diabetes. It is suggested that subjects with blood group "B"
      should be closely monitored by physicians as these subjects have an increased
      risk of type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26875892
TI  - Clinical significance of serum protease activated receptor1 levels in patients
      with lung cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Protease-activated receptors (PAR) are G protein coupled receptors and
      they regulate many biological processes, including coagulation and cell survival
      and they might be good markers in some types of malignant tumors, providing
      useful information in diagnosis and prognosis. The objective of this study was to
      determine the clinical significance of the serum levels of PAR1 in lung cancer
      patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients with lung cancer were enrolled
      into this study. Serum PAR1 levels were determined by the solid-phase sandwich
      ELISA method. Median age was 58.5-years old, range 36 to 80 years. RESULTS: The
      majority of the patients had NSCLC (85%) and stage IV disease (56%). The baseline
      serum PAR1 concentrations of the lung cancer patients were significantly higher
      than control group (median values 26.45 ng/mL v 0.07 ng/mL, p < 0.001). However,
      clinical variables including age, gender, histology, stage of disease, and
      response to chemotherapy were not found to be correlated with serum PAR1 levels
      (p > 0.05). Moreover, it failed to show any prognostic value on the survival of
      the lung cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of PAR1 might have a
      diagnostic value in lung cancer patients. However, its predictive and prognostic
      values were not determined.

PMID- 26875893
TI  - Interleukin-17A inhibits cell autophagy under starvation and promotes cell
      migration via TAB2/TAB3-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in
      hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by progressive
      development and poor prognosis against a background of chronic inflammation.
      Interleukin (IL)-17A is an important proinflammatory cytokine that contributes to
      inflammatory pathology and tumor microenvironment. Research on autophagy has
      increasingly focused on its role in inflammation. Thus, we investigated the
      effect of IL-17A on the progression of HCC through the autophagic pathway.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression and prognostic values of IL-17A and
      autophagic gene Beclin-1 were determined using immunohistochemistry in 83 HCC
      patients after resection. The effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of IL
      17A on human HCC were explored in vitro using recombinant human IL-17A. RESULTS:
      High expression of IL-17A and low expression of Beclin-1 were associated with
      worse TNM stage in HCC patients. And the level of autophagy was lower in tumor
      tissues compared with tumor-adjacent tissues. In vitro, recombinant human IL-17A
      inhibited starvation-induced autophagy and maintained cell viability through
      activating TAK1-binding protein 2 (TAB2 and TAK1-binding protein 3 (TAB3)
      inducing p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Huh7 and HepG2 HCC cells.
      IL-17A promoted migration of HCC cells through the TAB2/p38 MAPK and TAB3/p38
      MAPK pathways. CONCLUSIONS: IL-17A promotes migration of HCC cells and prevents
      autophagic cell death from starvation by activating TAB2/p38 MAPK and TAB3/p38
      MAPK.

PMID- 26875894
TI  - Clinical analysis on argon plasma coagulation (APC) under painless colonoscopy
      for treatment of patients with colorectal polyp canceration.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of argon plasma coagulation
      combined high frequency electric knife in treating patients with colorectal polyp
      canceration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 56 patients diagnosed with colorectal polyp
      canceration were divided into control group (n=23) and observation group (n=33).
      Patients in the control group were treated with high frequency electric band
      ligation electroexcision while patients in observation group were treated with
      argon coagulation combined high frequency electric knife therapy. The patients
      were followed up for 6 months and, then, compared for their clinical effects and
      prognosis. RESULTS: The average diameter of the polyp, the ratios of sessile and
      flat polyps in observation group were significantly higher than those in the
      control group with p<0.05. While the differences in the ratio of adenomatous
      polyp, middle and high differentiated as well as leafless polyps between the two
      groups had no statistical significance with p>0.05. Further, the differences in
      operation completion rate and polyp resection rate at one time in observation
      group was significantly higher than those of control group while operative
      complication rate and operation time was significantly lower than those in the
      control group with p<0.05. Also, the differences in recurrence in situ and
      recurrence time did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS:
      Treating colorectal polyps by argon plasma coagulation combined high frequency
      electric knife could extend polyp resection indication, along with improvement in
      the operation effect and reduction of complications.

PMID- 26875895
TI  - MiR-874 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis by targeting STAT3 in human
      colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA-874 (miR-874) has previously been identified as a tumor
      suppressor in several cancers. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has
      not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to investigate its potential
      roles in regulating cell growth and apoptosis in human CRC cells. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: MiR-874 expression was detected by real-time PCR analysis. Cell
      viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Protein expression level was detected by
      Western blot, and luciferase activity assay was used to validate the interaction
      between mir-874 and STAT3 mRNA 3'UTR. RESULTS: We found that miR-874 was
      significantly downregulated in CRC tissues. Gain and loss of function of miR-874
      proved that miR-874 could inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in CRC cells.
      Luciferase reporter assay and Western blot analysis showed that miR-874 repressed
      STAT3 expression by targeting its mRNA 3'UTR. Silencing STAT3 recapitulated the
      phenotype of miR-874 overexpression. Moreover, the inverse correlation between
      miR-874 expression and STAT3 expression was validated in CRC specimens.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that miR-874 functions as a tumor suppressor
      by repression of STAT3, suggesting its potential therapeutic value in CRC
      treatment.

PMID- 26875896
TI  - Whole genome sequencing identified new somatic mutations for chronic
      myelomonocytic leukemia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to gain new insight into the molecular alterations of Chronic
      Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed whole-genome
      sequencing (WGS) and subsequent Sanger sequencing validation analysis in three
      individuals with CMML. Genomic DNA samples from bone marrow and matching buccal
      mucosa samples were sequenced. RESULTS: For all six samples, a total of 806.43 Gb
      data were generated, achieving a minimum mean depth of 30.76. A total of 22
      somatic variants were found to be protein-altering, including 1 exonic frame
      shift indel, 18 missense SNVs, 2 stop gain SNVs, and 1 stop loss SNV. We focused
      on the five novel variants which have not been reported in known databases and
      successfully validated three missense SNVs in AKAP4, COL2A1, and MAML1,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: WGS analyzes provided us a new insight into the
      molecular events governing the pathogenesis of CMML. The somatic variants we
      reported here may provide new targets for further therapeutic studies.

PMID- 26875897
TI  - Laparoscopic treatment experience of severe acute pancreatitis complicated by
      peptic ulcer perforation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of emergency laparoscopic repair of
      perforation and conventional open surgery in the treatment of severe acute
      pancreatitis (SAP) complicated with peptic ulcer perforation. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: A total of 34 patients diagnosed as severe acute pancreatitis
      complicated by peptic ulcer perforation were selected as experimental group and a
      total of 38 patients diagnosed as severe acute pancreatitis complicated by peptic
      ulcer perforation were selected as control group. The experimental group was
      treated with emergency laparoscopic perforation repair and the control group was
      treated with conventional open operation, comparing the difference between the
      results and the prognosis of the patients. RESULTS: The success rate of the
      experimental group and the control group are compared was not statistically
      significant (p > 0.05). While the operation time, postoperative intestinal
      function recovery time, the time of drainage tube pulled out and the occurrence
      of complications in experimental group was significantly lower than those in
      control group. The survival rate of the experimental group was significantly
      higher than that of the control group, the recurrence rate was significantly
      lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The high sensitive C reactive
      protein (hs CRP) and tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha levels of the experimental
      group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Emergency laparoscopic repair of peptic ulcer perforation in the
      treatment of SAP complicated with perforation is safe and effective, which can
      reduce the systemic inflammatory response and better than conventional open
      surgery.

PMID- 26875898
TI  - The correlation between Doppler US measurement of hepatic arterial flow and the
      MELD score in patients with chronic liver disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the
      Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and hepatic arterial hemodynamic
      parameters measured via Doppler US. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Etiologic causes and
      hepatic artery hemodynamic parameters of 121 patients with chronic liver
      parenchymal disease were compared with MELD scores.  Doppler ultrasonography (US)
      was used to assess flow velocity, pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index
      (RI) in the hepatic artery (HA). Each patient's MELD scores were calculated at
      the time of Doppler ultrasound performed. RESULTS: There was statistically
      significant difference between MELD score and hepatic artery RI value (p < 0.001,
      r = 0.616). This difference was statistically more significant in the group which
      consisted of multiple etiologic causes (p < 0.001, r = 0.837). CONCLUSIONS: We
      found significant relation between MELD score and hepatic artery RI measurements
      in patients with chronic liver parenchymal disease.

PMID- 26875899
TI  - High dose amoxicillin-based first line regimen is equivalent to sequential
      therapy in the eradication of H. pylori infection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Helicobater (H.) pylori eradication rates with standard first-line
      triple therapy have declined to unacceptable levels. To date, amoxicillin
      resistant H. pylori strains have rarely been detected. Whether increasing the
      dosage of amoxicillin in a standard 7 days eradicating regimen may enhance its
      efficacy is not known. The aim of this paper is to compare the efficacy of a 7
      days high-dose amoxicillin based first-line regimen with sequential therapy.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed data from 300 sex and age
      matched patients, who underwent 3 different therapeutic schemes: (1) standard
      LCA, lansoprazole 30 mg bid, clarithromycin 500 mg bid and amoxicillin 1000 mg
      bid for 7 days; (2) high dose LCA (HD-LCA), lansoprazole 30 mg bid,
      clarithromycin 500 mg bid and amoxicillin 1000 mg tid for 7 days; (3) sequential
      LACT, lansoprazole 30 mg bid plus amoxicillin 1000 mg bid for 5 days, followed by
      lansoprazole 30 mg bid, clarithromycin 500 mg bid and tinidazole 500 mg bid for 5
      days. Eradication was confirmed by 13C-urea breath test. Compliance and
      occurrence of adverse effects were also assessed. RESULTS: Eradication rates
      were: 55% for LCA, 75% for HD-LCA and 73% for LACT. Eradication rates were higher
      in HD-LCA group compared to LCA (p<0.01), while no significant differences were
      observed in HD-LCA group compared to LACT (p=ns). Compliance and occurrence of
      adverse effects were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose amoxicillin
      based eradicating treatment is superior to standard triple therapy and equivalent
      to sequential therapy; compared to the latter, the shorter duration may represent
      an advantage.

PMID- 26875900
TI  - Acute coronary syndrome and platypnoea-orthodeoxia with thoracic and
      interauricular septal aneurysms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome characterized by dyspnea
      induced by the upright position and relieved by supine position and an arterial
      deoxygenation increased by the upright position which improves during recumbency.
      Several anatomical factors that can alter the atrial anatomy and facilitate
      shunting through an interatrial defect have been related to this syndrome. In
      many cases, this syndrome has been associated with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and
      right-to-left shunt. Rarely platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome has been described
      associated with an aortic and with an interauricular septal aneurysm too. CASE
      PRESENTATION: We present a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in a 85-year
      old woman with patent foramen ovale, interauricular septal aneurysm and ascending
      aortic aneurysms who was admitted for an acute coronary syndrome which could be
      of embolic origin and was responsible for ventricular fibrillation during the
      transfer to the hospital. PFO closure was performed by percutaneous device and
      right coronary artery obstruction was treated by transluminal angioplasty and
      stenting.

PMID- 26875901
TI  - The clinical research of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting by small
      incision at the left chest.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of off-pump coronary artery bypass
      grafting by small incision at the left chest, and develop a better surgical
      regimen for coronary heart disease patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 201 coronary
      heart disease patients who need coronary artery bypass grafting were required and
      randomly divided into 2 groups including a control group and an observation
      group. There were 107 cases in the control group who received coronary bypass
      grafting by extracorporeal circulation; there were 103 cases in the observation
      group who received off-pump coronary bypass grafting by small incision at the
      left chest. The duration of the mechanism ventilation, length of stay in ICU,
      hospitalization time, postoperative drainage volume, and the occurrence rate of
      complications were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The duration of mechanism
      ventilation, length of stay in ICU, hospitalization time and postoperative
      drainage volume in the control group were (19.21 +/- 1.33) hours, (5.08 +/- 0.57)
      days, (21.20 +/- 2.34) days and (997.68 +/- 96.35) mL, which were (7.73 +/- 0.74)
      hours, (2.83 +/- 0.16) days, (15.67 +/- 1.18) days and (901.53 +/- 89.32) mL in
      the observation group respectively, with statistical difference between the two
      groups (p<0.05). The occurrence rates of renal insufficiency and arrhythmia were
      both 6.54% and 0.97% in the control group and the observation group,
      respectively. The occurrence rates of postoperative renal insufficiency and
      arrhythmia in the observation group were both significantly lower than those in
      the control group, with statistical significance analysis (p < 0.05).
      Postoperative low cardiac output, second thoracotomy, cerebrovascular disease,
      pulmonary infection, perioperative cardiac infarction and mortality did not
      display a significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting by small incision at the left chest is a
      surgical method with less injury and fast recovery, which can be used as the
      preferred therapeutical method for the coronary heart disease patients who need
      coronary artery bypass grafting.

PMID- 26875902
TI  - Study of a novel coating strategy for coronary stents: evaluation of stainless
      metallic steel coated with VEGF and anti-CD34 antibody in vitro.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To access the cytotoxicity and the effect on the endothelial
      progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation of stainless steel sheets simultaneously
      coated with VEGF and anti-CD34 antibody. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 316L stainless
      steel sheets (diameter 6 mm, thickness 1 mm) were divided into the D-H (Bare
      metal), D-(H-V)10 (VEGF-coated metal) and D-(H-V)10-A (VEGF and anti-CD34
      antibody co-coated metal) groups. The cytotoxicity effect of the three groups was
      measured using MTT assay. Percentage of EPC positive for CD34, CD133 and KDR were
      detected by flow cytometric assay. Endothelial cells positive for CD31 and VE
      Cadherin were also detected by flow cytometric assay. RESULTS: The percentages of
      isolated cells positive for CD133, CD34 and KDR were 89.9%, 91.3%, and 90.4%,
      respectively, suggesting that the EPCs were successfully isolated. MTT results
      showed that the stainless steel sheets coated with VEGF and anti-CD34 antibody
      have less toxicity on seeded EPCs than single VEGF coating or bare metal. We
      further found that with VEGF and anti-CD34 antibody co-coating could
      significantly promote the differentiation of EPCs in vitro when compared with
      that of single VEGF coating and bare metal. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided a
      preliminary evaluation of metallic steel sheet coated with VEGF and anti-CD34
      antibody in vitro. Our findings suggest that simultaneously coating the stents
      with VEGF and anti-CD34 antibody might be a novel research direction for
      facilitating re-endothelialization in order to reduce ISR after stent
      implantation.

PMID- 26875903
TI  - Impact of QRS morphology on heart rate turbulence and heart rate variability
      after cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Impairment of heart rate turbulence (HRT) and heart rate variability
      (HRV) are associated with poor prognosis in chronic heart failure (CHF). Although
      previous studies have demonstrated that patients with a left bundle branch block
      (LBBB) have a better outcome with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), the
      effect of QRS morphology on HRV and HRT is not known. We aimed to evaluate the
      effect of QRS morphology on HRV and HRT after CRT implantation in patients with
      CHF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who had been implanted a CRT device with
      cardioversion-defibrillation feature were included to the study. Forty-three
      patients with LBBB (group 1) were compared with 21 patients without LBBB (group
      2). HRV and HRT parameters were compared before and one month after CRT
      implantation. RESULTS: We compared the echocardiographic and electrocardiographic
      changes in both groups after CRT. Cardiac output (CO) was found to be
      significantly much more increased in group 1 (1.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.4, p =
      0.001). Similarly, except SDNN and LF, all HRT and HRV parameters were
      significantly changed in the patients with LBBB (TO 1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.2,
      p = 0.001; TS -1.8 +/- 0.7 vs. -0.9 +/- 0.7, p = 0.001; RMSSD -15.7 +/- 9.9 vs. 
      6.3 +/- 6.2, p = 0.001; PNN50 -7.0 +/- 4.6 vs. -1.7 +/- 1.1, p = 0.001; HF -13.3
      +/- 6.7 vs. -4.3 +/- 3.5, p = 0.001; LF/HF 1.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.2, p =
      0.001) compared to those without LBBB. Lineer regression analysis showed that the
      CO (beta = 0.2, t = 2.8, p = 0.007) and QRS configuration (beta = 0.6, t = 0.5, p
      = 0.001) were independent parameters affecting TO. CONCLUSIONS: HRV and HRT are
      improved after CRT but these improvements are more remarkable in patients with
      LBBB. CO, QRS configuration (but not duration) were two independent parameters
      affecting TO, LF and LF/HF ratio after CRT.

PMID- 26875904
TI  - Plasma microRNA-21 is a potential diagnostic biomarker of acute myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-21 (miR-21) is
      involved in the pathogenesis of myocardium infarction and cardiac fibrosis; the
      present study aimed to investigate its potential role in the diagnosis of acute
      myocardium infarction (AMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of patients with AMI
      and angina pectoris (AP) were studied, plasma miR-21 level was determined by
      Realtime-PCR. RESULTS: We found that the plasma miR-21 level was significantly
      elevated in patients with AMI compared with those with AP or healthy people.
      Further studies demonstrated the correlation of miR-21 and several traditional
      markers such as creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and troponin I
      (cTnI) in study subjects. Finally, receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC)
      analysis showed that miR-21 has similar diagnostic ability compared with CK, CK
      MB and cTnI. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma miR-21 may be a novel biomarker for the
      diagnosis of AMI. Our study may also provide implications for the development of
      new biomarkers.

PMID- 26875905
TI  - Cardiac shock wave therapy shows better outcomes in the coronary artery disease
      patients in a long term.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Almost all the past CSWT studies show the beneficial effects on CAD
      patients in a maximum duration of 1-year follow-up. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the actual CSWT effects in 6 years follow-up period. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The subjects were selected exclusively on the basis of inclusion
      criteria. The total number of patients was 52, out of which control group (n =
      11) and the shock wave group (SW group, n = 41) was selected. RESULTS: The wall
      motion, MPI, nitrate dosage, NYHA classification, SAQ scores, CCS grading, 6 MWT
      were markedly improved in the long-term (6 years) follow-up for SW group than the
      control group. CONCLUSIONS: Following 6 years of follow-up, the CSWT provided
      agreeable results that improved myocardial function and quality of life in
      comparing to the month 0 and the control group. These outcomes advise that on a
      long-term (72 months) CSWT shows better parameters than the control group. These
      findings highlight that CSWT can improve clinical symptoms, morphology, functions
      of the heart and quality of life in patients with CHD than the patients just on
      drug therapy for a long-term.

PMID- 26875906
TI  - Effect of bedtime dosing of barnidipine hydrochloride in non-dipper hypertensive
      patients with obstructive sleep apnoea not treated with continuous positive
      airway pressure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is considered a cause of secondary
      hypertension. About 50% of patients with OSA show elevated blood pressure levels.
      Non-dipper pattern (blunted or absent nocturnal decrease of blood pressure) is
      frequently observed in patients with OSA and is associated with increased
      cerebral, cardiovascular and renal events. The aim of this study was to observe
      the effect of barnidipine calcium channel blocker on these patients. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Forty-one patients (mean age 69 +/- 17 years, 18 females) with
      previously diagnosed OSA (by reduced channel home-based polysomnography) who were
      not being treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) because of
      contraindications or because of patient intolerance or rejection were evaluated.
      Non-dipper status was defined as the presence of a nighttime fall in systolic
      blood pressure (BP) which was < 10% that of daytime systolic BP as observed in a
      previous ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring. OSA was defined according to
      the presence of 5 or more episodes per hour of apnoea, hypopnoea or arousal due
      to respiratory effort. The reproducibility of non-dipping status was confirmed
      through a second 24-h ABP monitoring performed at baseline. On top of the
      previous stable treatment regimen (which excluded calcium-channel blockers), a 10
      mg dosing of barnidipine hydrochloride at bedtime was added to all subjects
      during a 12-week period. RESULTS: Among the 41 non-dipper patients, 32 (78%)
      showed complete normalization of circadian rhythm. Add-on treatment with
      barnidipine was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Bedtime dosing of the
      calcium-channel blocker (CCB) barnidipine significantly reduced mean nighttime
      systolic and diastolic ABP in hypertensive patients presenting with non-dipper
      pattern and OSA--not on CPAP treatment. Moreover, it restored the previously
      altered circadian rhythm in the majority of them.

PMID- 26875907
TI  - Valsartan attenuates cardiac and renal hypertrophy in rats with experimental
      cardiorenal syndrome possibly through down-regulating galectin-3 signaling.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Aortocaval fistula (AV) induced chronic volume overload in rats with
      preexisting mild renal dysfunction (right kidney remove: UNX) could mimic the
      type 4 cardiorenal syndrome (CRS): chronic renocardiac syndrome. Galectin-3, a
      beta-galactoside binding lectin, is an emerging biomarker in cardiovascular as
      well as renal diseases. We observed the impact of valsartan on cardiac and renal
      hypertrophy and galectin-3 changes in this model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult
      male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (200-250 g) were divided into S (Sham, n = 7), M
      (UNX+AV, n = 7) and M+V (UNX+AV+valsartan, n = 7) groups. Eight weeks later,
      cardiac function was measured by echocardiography. Renal outcome was measured by
      glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, renal blood flow and 24
      hours albuminuria. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to evaluate
      the expressions of galectin-3 in heart and renal. RESULTS: Cardiac hypertrophy
      and renal hypertrophy as well as cardiac enlargement were evidenced in this AV
      shunt induced chronic volume overload rat model with preexisting mild renal
      dysfunction. Cardiac and renal hypertrophy were significantly attenuated but
      cardiac enlargement was unaffected by valsartan independent of its blood pressure
      lowering effect. 24 hours urine albumin was significantly increased, which was
      significantly reduced by valsartan in this model. Immunohistochemistry and real
      time PCR evidenced significantly up-regulated galectin-3 expression in heart and
      kidney and borderline increased myocardial collagen I expression, which tended to
      be lower post valsartan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulated galectin-3 signaling
      might also be involved in the pathogenesis in this CRS model. The beneficial
      effects of valsartan in terms of attenuating cardiac and renal hypertrophy and
      reducing 24 hours albumin in this model might partly be mediated through down
      regulating galectin-3 signal pathway.

PMID- 26875908
TI  - High-volume hemofiltration combined with early goal-directed therapy improves
      alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange in patients with refractory septic shock.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study is to evaluate the effect of high-volume hemofiltration
      (HVHF) and early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) on alveolar-arterial oxygen
      exchange in patients with refractory septic shock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients
      were classified into two groups by a prospective cohort study: 86 received both
      HVHF and EGDT (the HVHF group), and 81 treated with EGDT only (the control
      group). Alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure was taken at baseline and at days 1, 3,
      and 7, and respiratory index (RI, ratio of P(a)O2 alveolar-arterial oxygen
      pressure difference (P(A-a)DO2) to arterial oxygen pressure (P(a)O2) was
      calculated. RESULTS: At day 7, the levels of central venous and arterial blood
      oxygen content were significantly higher in the HVHF vs. the control group (both
      with p < 0.05). The level of oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER) was significantly
      higher in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.01). The levels of P(A-a)DO2 and
      RI were significantly lower in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.05 and p <
      0.01, respectively). RI and the ratio of P(a)O2 to the fraction of inspired
      oxygen were significantly higher in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.05 and
      p < 0.01, respectively). The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score
      and the sequential organ failure assessment score in the HVHF group were
      significantly lower compared to the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05,
      respectively). At day 28, the mortality rate was lower in the HVHF vs. the
      control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that HVHF,
      when used as an adjunctive therapy to the EGDP protocol, could improve alveolar
      arterial oxygen exchange, clinical outcome and survival in patients with
      refractory septic shock.

PMID- 26875909
TI  - Comparative effects of Quercetin and SRT1720 against D
      galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats: biochemical and
      molecular biological investigations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Quercetin, a plant flavonoid with potent antioxidant action, has been
      shown to be ameliorative against different types of liver insults, including D
      Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS). The notion that its cytoprotective
      effects are SIRT1 mediated is still controversial. In this work, we examined
      whether the synthetic allosteric SIRT1 activator, SRT1720, may similarly
      attenuate D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar
      rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups: (1) Control, (2) Quercetin, (3)
      SRT1720, (4) D-GalN/LPS, (5) Quercetin + D-GalN/LPS and (6) SRT1720 + D-GalN/LPS.
      After twenty-four hours, the effects of these treatments were evaluated by
      biochemical studies, real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: D-GalN/LPS
      treatment downregulated SIRT1 expression and markedly increased the
      aminotransferase, bilirubin and conjugated diene levels. Conversely, quercetin
      and SRT1720 pretreatments upregulated SIRT1 expression and decreased the levels
      of the aforementioned markers. Quercetin had more profound effect on SIRT1
      expression than SRT1720. Moreover, quercetin was more efficacious than SRT1720 in
      combatting the cytotoxic effects of D-GalN/LPS, as evidenced by lower markers of
      liver injury. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest the involvement of
      SIRT1 in the cytoprotective effects of quercetin and SRT1720 against D-GalN/LPS
      induced hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 26875910
TI  - Assessment of the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and sedative effects of the
      dichloromethanol extract of Schinus molle.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Determination of the active fraction and compounds of the
      dichloromethanol extract of Schinus molle seeds and evaluation of their
      biological effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried seeds of Schinus molle were
      sequentially extracted in hexane, acetyl acetate and dichloromethane. The
      dichloromethane extract was separated into two fractions (1 and 2) by column
      chromatography. Fraction 2 was further separated into its two constituent
      compounds which were characterized as belonging to the lanosteroid group of
      compounds. Both factions were tested for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and
      sedative effects. RESULTS: The two fractions significantly increased (p<0.05) the
      tail flick latency though fraction 2 provided better and more long lasting
      protection against thermal pain. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory effect
      of ibuprofen, though inferior to the anti-inflammatory effect of fraction 2 was
      better than the effects of fraction 1. Fraction 2 significantly (p<0.01) reduced
      rat paw oedema compared to the saline treatment group throughout the experiments
      while fraction 2 compared to fraction 1 showed significantly (p<0.01) greater
      inflammatory effects. On the other hand both fractions lacked significant
      sedative effects. CONCLUSIONS: Given that fraction 2 had only two constituent
      compounds (isomasticadienonic and Masticatrienonate), one or both of these
      compounds should be contributing to the observed analgesic and anti-inflammatory
      effects.

PMID- 26875911
TI  - Newer antifungal agents micafungin and voriconazole for fungal infection
      prevention during hematopoietic cell transplantation: a meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The new antifungal agents provide further opportunities for effective
      prophylaxis for fungal infections during stem cell transplantation for patients
      with hematologic malignancies; however, the efficacy of these antifungal
      prophylactic drugs has not yet been established. This study was to compare the
      newer antifungal agents micafungin and voriconazole for prophylaxis effects on
      the clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We electronically searched the
      database of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Pubmed, EMbase, and
      relevant database articles (1996.01-2013.12). Comparative studies were carried
      out on proved fungal infections, mortality, and adverse effects. Meta-analysis
      was performed by Review Manager 5.1.6 software and the funnel plot regression was
      adopted to assess the publication bias. RESULTS: We found 1508 records and 13
      studies totaling 3767 patients included in analyses. Pooled comparisons of
      studies found that antifungal prophylaxis with the new agents does reduce the
      incidence of invasive fungal infections than fluconazole or itraconazole. The
      reduction in invasive fungal infections was achieved by using micafungin,
      voriconazole for antifungal prophylaxis. Using voriconazole prophylaxis can
      decrease the transplant mortality compared with fluconazole or itraconazole
      prophylaxis. Voriconazole had higher rates of liver dysfunction, lower
      gastrointestinal side effects over fluconazole, and lower rates of nephrotoxic
      effects than amphotericin B. Both micafungin and voriconazole had a significant
      decrease in adverse events requiring drug discontinuation compared with
      itraconazole. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis indicated the 2 agents appear to be well
      tolerated with manageable side effects and beneficial in the prophylaxis of IFI.
      Further work is needed with a large scale of random controlled trials on the
      effect of these drugs.

PMID- 26875912
TI  - Computational model of the fathead minnow hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis:
      Incorporating protein synthesis in improving predictability of responses to
      endocrine active chemicals.
AB  - There is international concern about chemicals that alter endocrine system
      function in humans and/or wildlife and subsequently cause adverse effects. We
      previously developed a mechanistic computational model of the hypothalamic
      pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in female fathead minnows exposed to a model
      aromatase inhibitor, fadrozole (FAD), to predict dose-response and time-course
      behaviors for apical reproductive endpoints. Initial efforts to develop a
      computational model describing adaptive responses to endocrine stress providing
      good fits to empirical plasma 17beta-estradiol (E2) data in exposed fish were
      only partially successful, which suggests that additional regulatory biology
      processes need to be considered. In this study, we addressed short-comings of the
      previous model by incorporating additional details concerning CYP19A (aromatase)
      protein synthesis. Predictions based on the revised model were evaluated using
      plasma E2 concentrations and ovarian cytochrome P450 (CYP) 19A aromatase mRNA
      data from two fathead minnow time-course experiments with FAD, as well as from a
      third 4-day study. The extended model provides better fits to measured E2 time
      course concentrations, and the model accurately predicts CYP19A mRNA fold changes
      and plasma E2 dose-response from the 4-d concentration-response study. This study
      suggests that aromatase protein synthesis is an important process in the
      biological system to model the effects of FAD exposure. 

PMID- 26875913
TI  - Bioconcentration and endocrine disruption effects of diazepam in channel catfish,
      Ictalurus punctatus.
AB  - Recently, the detection of pharmaceuticals in surface waters has increased
      worldwide. Pharmaceuticals are typically found in the environment at
      concentrations well below therapeutic levels in humans; however, their mechanisms
      of action may be largely unknown in non-target organisms, such as teleost
      species. Thus, chronic exposure to these types of compounds warrants further
      investigation. The goal of this study was to examine the potential for diazepam,
      a model benzodiazepine drug, to bioconcentrate in tissues of channel catfish and
      to examine its ability to interact with the endocrine system through modulation
      of steroid hormones and/or steroidogenic genes. To investigate the
      bioconcentration potential of diazepam, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
      were exposed to 1 ng/mL diazepam for seven days, followed by clean water for
      another seven days, using an abbreviated OECD 305 Fish Bioconcentration Test
      study design. This concentration of diazepam is well below environmentally
      relevant concentrations of diazepam (ng/L). To evaluate steroidogenic effects,
      fish were exposed to 1 ng/mL diazepam for seven days only. Steroid hormone
      concentrations were analyzed for various tissues, as well as expression of
      selected steroidogenic genes. Calculated bioconcentration factors for diazepam
      were well below regulatory threshold values in all tissues analyzed. No changes
      in steroid hormone concentration were detected in any tissue analyzed; however,
      the steroidogenic gene cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc) was
      significantly down-regulated at day 5 and 3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase
      (3beta-HSD) was significantly down-regulated at day 7 in the gonad. These results
      indicate that although diazepam does not significantly bioconcentrate, low-level
      chronic exposure to diazepam may have the potential to interact with endocrine
      function by altering gene expression.

PMID- 26875914
TI  - Gastroschisis in a fetus with a congenital neuroblastoma: Association or
      coincidence?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis is the most common abdominal wall defect. It is
      characterized by herniation of the intestine and other abdominal organs through a
      defect in the abdominal wall. Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant tumor
      observed during the neonatal period. It is a neuroendocrine tumor derived from
      neural crest cells that develops into the adrenal gland. CASE: We report on the
      undescribed association between gastrochisis and congenital neuroblastoma,
      diagnosised during the prenatal period. The mother was a 20-year-old healthy
      pregnant woman in her second pregnancy. Obstetric ultrasound examination showed a
      fetus presenting an abdominal wall defect on the right side of the umbilical
      cord, compatible with gastroschisis, and a hyperechogenic and spherical solid
      lesion on the left adrenal gland. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging disclosed
      similar features associated to a heterogeneous aspect of the liver. The diagnosis
      of metastatic neuroblastoma was confirmed after birth through liver biopsy. At 2
      days of life, the prothrombrin time was abnormal, and the patient needed vitamin
      K. CONCLUSION: We cannot rule out the possibility that a clotting defect,
      commonly observed in disseminated malignancies such as a metastatic neuroblastoma
      may be associated with the etiology of the gastroschisis, as this defect may
      result from a thrombosis occurring around 3 to 4 weeks of gestation, a period
      when neuroblasts development occurs into the adrenal medulla. However, we cannot
      exclude the possibility that both events may have occurred simultaneously by
      chance.

PMID- 26875915
TI  - [Precision medicine, opportunities and challenges for pancreatic cancer
      prevention and treatment].

PMID- 26875916
TI  - [Multidisciplinary treatment and survival analysis for 497 cases of pancreatic
      cancer with liver metastases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the multidisciplinary therapeutic mode, clinical effect and
      prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer with liver metastases (PCLM). METHODS: We
      retrospectively selected 497 consecutive patients with PCLM who were
      pathologically diagnosed and treated at Tianjin Medical University Cancer
      Hospital, from January, 2000 to December, 2012. Clinical characteristics,
      treatment modality, survival condition and factors associated with prognosis of
      these cases were analyzed, and efficacy of multidisciplinary treatment model was
      evaluated. RESULTS: Of these patients, the male/female ratio was 1.85?1, with a
      median age of 59. A total of 358 (72.0%) cases had synchronous liver metastases,
      and 173 (34.8%) cases complicated with extrahepatic metastases. The 0.5, 1, 3, 5
      year survival rates of 497 patients were 44.1%, 19.7%, 3.2% and 2.2%,
      respectively, with a median survival (MS) of 5.4 months. Patients who were
      treated with 3 or more approaches (including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
      therapy, interventional therapy, and physiotherapy) had a longer median survival
      time than patients treated with 2 or only 1 approach (MS: 8.6 vs 5.2 vs 4.6
      months, P< 0.001). Multivariate analysis for clinical features and treatment
      modality showed that age, weight loss, ascites, karnofsky performance score
      (KPS), primary site resection, albumin, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, resection
      of liver metastases, radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy were prognostic
      variables with statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: PCLM is a refractory
      malignant tumor. Age >60, weight loss (>=10% within 3 months), ascites, KPS <80,
      albumin<35 g/L, and CA19-9 >=500 U/ml were the most relevant predictors of poor
      survival. Multimodal treatment using curative resection of pancreatic cancer
      and/or liver metastases, systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy may improve
      the prognosis and survival rate sufficiently.

PMID- 26875917
TI  - [Observation on the efficacy of modified Appleby operation for carcinoma of the
      body and tail of the pancreas].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the security, feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of
      modified Appleby operation for carcinoma of the body and tail of pancreas.
      METHODS: From March 2010 to February 2015 modified Appleby operation was
      performed in 17 patients with carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. The
      biochemical indices of fasting plasma blood (FPB), body weight (BW), visual
      analogue pain intensity scale (VAS score) and the quality of life index were
      evaluated before and 1 day , 1, 2, 6weeks after surgery. Survival time, tumor
      recurrence time, hospitalization time and treatment-related complications were
      analyzed. RESULTS: There was no hospital mortality in this study. Pancreatic
      fistula and diarrhea were the major complications. The overall complication rate
      was 47.1%. The liver function index of ALT and AST were increased on
      postoperative day 1, and they were restored to normal after one week. Blood
      glucose has no obvious abnormal increase and abdominal pain was completely
      relieved. The VAS score decreased after surgery comparing with before (1.9+/-3.6
      vs 83.2+/-8.5, P<0.05). Life quality assessment was significantly higher. The
      body weight of patients after surgery has a mean increment of (4.1+/-1.3)kg than
      that before surgery (68.1+/-4.3 vs 64.0+/-6.7, P<0.05). A significant rise of the
      overall quality of life index was observed after surgery (93.8+/-9.7 vs 68.6+/
      6.7, P<0.05). The recurrence rates of 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 22.9%, 58.9%,
      72.6% and 72.6%, respectively. Median recurrence time was (20.0+/-3.8 m) (95%CI:
      12.6-27.4 m). The survival rates of 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 80.4%, 54.2%, 32.5%
      and 16.3%, respectively. The median survival time was (26.0+/-6.0)m (95%CI: 14.2
      37.8 m). CONCLUSIONS: Modified Appleby operation for pancreatic cancer is safe
      and feasible. It can relieve abdominal pain, improve the quality of life, improve
      the survival rate and prolong the survival time.

PMID- 26875918
TI  - [Telescopic technique associated with mucosectomy in pancreaticoduodenectomy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of the telescopic technique associated with
      mucosectomy in preventing pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).
      METHODS: The data of 39 patients who received PD in the Affiliated Hospital of
      Nantong University was retrospecively analyzed. We developed a safe and simple
      method of pancreaticojejunostomy in 39 patients, in whom approximately 3 cm of
      jejunal mucosa was cut to improve the adhesion between the loop and pancreatic
      parenchyma after end-to-end invagination. RESULTS: This procedure was proved to
      be much more expeditious, and only 2 of 39(5.1%)patients had pancreatic leakages,
      who were treated with drainage only. No hemorrhage or cholangitis was observed.
      No postoperative mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: The telescopic technique
      associated with mucosectomy is an acceptable and safe surgery for
      pancreaticojejunal anastomosis.

PMID- 26875919
TI  - [Inhibition of Sirolimus on the growth of pancreatic carcinoma and its effect on
      the expression of glucose transporter and hexokinase II].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Sirolimus could affect the glycolytic
      catabolism pathways of pancreatic carcinoma through the control of hypoxia
      induced factor (HIF-1alpha) to inhibit the growth of tumor, and explore the
      potential mechanism of targeting the signaling pathways of mTOR for the treatment
      of pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS: Sirolimus was applied to treat the pancreatic
      carcinoma in nude mice orthotopic transplantation model, its difference with the
      control group was compared; RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA
      and protein expression of mTOR, HIF-1alpha, Glucose carrier protein 1 (GLUT-1)
      and Hexokinase II (HK-II), respectively; the changes of activity of HK-II in the
      tumor was determined. RESULTS: The tumor mass of the control group (1.97+/-0.21)g
      was significantly larger than that of the Sirolimus group (0.38+/-0.10)g
      (P<0.01), and the volume of the control group (1.40+/-0.15) mm(3) was
      significantly larger than that of the Sirolimus group (0.27+/-0.07) mm(3)
      (P<0.01). The expressions of mTOR, GLUT-1 and HK-II mRNA in the control group
      were higher than those of the Sirolimus group (P<0.05), while no significant
      change was observed in the expression of HIF-1alpha (P>0.05); the expressions of
      p-mTOR, HIF-1alpha, GLUT-1 and HK-II proteins in the control group were higher
      than those of the Sirolimus group (P<0.05). The activity of HK-II in the control
      group was higher than that of the Sirolimus group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sirolimus
      could affect the expression of GLUT-1 and HK-II in pancreatic carcinoma through
      the effects of HIF-1alpha to inhibit tumor growth, indicating that blocking the
      mTOR pathway could control the glycolytic metabolism pathways of pancreatic
      carcinoma, which may become the new strategy for the treatment of pancreatic
      carcinoma.

PMID- 26875920
TI  - [Nutritional risk screening in patients with Crohn's disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To screen the nutritional risk in patients with Crohn's disease (CD),
      to explore the prevalence and characteristics of nutritional risk in CD patients,
      and to identify the possible risk factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was
      performed in 712 patients who was diagnosed as CD in the Center for Inflammatory
      Bowel Disease of First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between
      January 2003 and January 2014. Montreal classification was used to classify CD,
      Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used to evaluate disease activity, and
      Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) was used to assess the nutritional risk
      in each patient. Reappraisal with NRS 2002 was conducted in patients followed up
      for 1 year to identify the possible effect of treatment on nutritional risk of
      the CD patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of nutritional risk was 65.2% (464/712)
      in the enrolled CD patients. The prevalence of nutritional risk was significantly
      different among patients with different disease activity (chi(2)=117.169,
      P<0.001), also significantly different among patients of different age at
      diagnosis (chi(2)=11.256, P=0.004), with different lesion location
      (chi(2)=18.841, P=0.001) and different disease behavior (chi(2)=15.793, P<0.001),
      but not significantly different in patients of different sex (chi(2)=0.601,
      P=0.245). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that the independent predictive
      risk factors for nutritional risk included abdominal tenderness (OR=1.895, 95%CI:
      1.080-3.324); mild (OR=1.846, 95%CI: 1.179-2.890), moderate (OR=4.410, 95%CI:
      2.701-7.200) and severe (OR=14.069, 95%CI: 1.718-115.192) disease activity; B2
      (stricturing) (OR=1.620, 95%CI: 1.034-2.538) and B3 (penetrating) (OR=1.920,
      95%CI: 1.025-3.596) types of disease behavior; and high level with erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate (ESR) (OR=1.024, 95%CI: 1.015-1.034). On the other hand, >40
      years at diagnosis (A3 type) (OR=0.332, 95%CI: 0.135-0.814) and high albumin
      level (OR=0.962, 95%CI: 0.934-0.990) were independent protective factors for
      nutritional risk. After 1-year follow-up, nutritional risk was eliminated in
      32.0%(111/347)of the patients, and the rate was higher in patients received
      surgery than in those treated with medicine alone (42.9%(54/126)vs 25.8%(57/221),
      chi(2)=10.742, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Two thirds of CD patients may have
      nutritional risk at diagnosis, which may differ with disease activity and
      Montreal classification. Abdominal tenderness, disease activity, B2 and B3 types
      of disease behavior, and high ESR may be independent risk factors for nutritional
      risk, whereas A3 type of age at diagnosis and high albumin level may be
      independent protective factors.

PMID- 26875921
TI  - [Efficacy and safety analysis of surgical bypass and endovascular management in
      the treatment of 116 Takayasu arteritis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of surgery and endovascular
      management in treating Takayasu arteritis. METHODS: The data of 116 patients (24
      males and 92 females; mean age (32+/-12) years) with Takayasu arteritis and
      underwent surgery or endovascular therapy was retrospective analyzed. According
      to the two different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into two
      groups: open repair group and endovascular repair group. One hundred and fifty
      four surgical procedures were done including 69 cases of open repair and 85 cases
      of endovascular repair. A total of 211 arterial lesions were revascularized (open
      repair 114; endovascular repair 97). RESULTS: Among the 154 surgical procedures,
      11(7.1%) presented a complication during perioperative period including 6(8.7%)
      of open repair and 5(5.9%) of endovascular repair. After a median follow-up of
      38.5(0.5-142.0) months, three(4.3%) cases of stroke and death were observed in
      open repair group, two(2.3%) cases of stroke and 4(4.7%) cases of death were
      observed in endovascular repair group. At 1, 3, 5 and 10 years of follow-up,
      primary patency rate of open repair and endovascular repair were 95.0% and 89.3%,
      84.3% and 69.8%, 73.3% and 56.3%, 53.4% and 48.1%, respectively; Primary assisted
      patency rate were 100% and 97.5%, 90.4% and 78.2%, 79.1% and 72.8%, 60.7% and
      54.0%, respectively; Secondary patency rate were 100% and 98.8%, 95.6% and 92.7%,
      85.8% and 78.1%, 74.8% and 58.0%, respectively. Cumulative survival rate were
      97.0% and 100%, 97.0% and 97.6%, 97.0% and 90.6%, 91.3% and 84.5%, respectively
      (chi(2)=0.182, P=0.669). CONCLUSIONS: Both of the surgical revascularization and
      endovascular management are safe and effective in the treatment of Takayasu
      arteritis. Although long-term patency of endovascular therapy is low, it can be
      performed repeatedly and can be used as a preferred approach in treating a short
      stenosis. Surgical repair shows excellent long-term durability, it seems to be
      more suitable for complex lesions and failure cases of endovascular management.

PMID- 26875922
TI  - [Comparison of jaw thrust and trapezius squeezing test as indicators for
      laryngeal mask airway insertion in infants and young children].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the jaw thrust and the trapezius
      squeezing test(TST) for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion in infants and
      children under sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 100 children aged from
      6 month to 3 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) I-II and
      undergoing minor operation were enrolled from January to June 2015 in Tianjin
      Children's Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into jaw thrusting group
      (Group J, n=50)and trapezius squeezing group(Group T, n=50). Anesthesia was
      induced with sevoflurane. When children's eyelash reflex lose, jaw
      thrust/trapezius squeeze was applied every 15 seconds.It's considered that the
      depth of anesthesia was not enough, and test reaction was positive if any
      movements of body, limbs or toes were found at the point of test. Sevoflurane
      should be keep on inhalation until negative test reaction was appeared. Then LMA
      was inserted immediately.The time required for the negative test, end-tidal
      sevoflurane concentrations (ETsev), the index of Narcotrend anesthesia
      monitor(NT), the occurrence of gross purposeful movements, coughing, gagging,
      breath-holding, laryngospasm or an SpO2 < 90% during LMA insertion in two groups
      of patients were observed and recorded. The condition of LMA insertion and the
      rate of successful insertion were evaluated. The blood pressure(BP), heart
      rate(HR) and SpO2 were also recorded before and after LMA insertion. RESULTS: In
      group J and group T, the time required for the negative test was (2.31+/-1.03) vs
      (2.85+/-0.97)min(t=-2.462, P<0.05), ETsev was(3.25+/-1.02)% vs (3.81+/-0.87) %(t=
      2.361, P<0.05), the depth of anesthesia NT index was(50.41+/-5.38) vs (41.32+/
      4.92)(t=3.021, all P<0.05). All of above results were significantly different.
      The successful rate of the first attempt LMA insertion was 78% vs
      100%(chi(2)=12.36 , P<0.01), respectively. The differences had statistical
      significance. The conditions of LMA insertion in group T were superior to those
      in group J. The incidences of gross purposeful movements, coughing, gagging,
      breath-holding and SpO2<90% during LMA insertion in group J were 20%, 16%, 10%,
      14% and 8%, which were higher than those in group T (2%, 2%, 0, 2%, 0), the
      differences were significant(chi(2)=8.27, 5.98, 5.26, 4.89, 4.17, all P<0.05). No
      significant change in blood pressure, heart rate and SpO2 were found before and
      after inserting LMA in two groups. CONCLUSION: The trapezius squeezing test is a
      superior indicator of adequate condition for LMA insertion compared to the jaw
      thrust in infants and young children under sevoflurane anesthesia.

PMID- 26875923
TI  - [Methylation status of PCDH10 and RASSF1A gene promoters in colorectal cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the methylation status of promoters of protocadherin-10
      (PCDH10) and Ras-association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) genes in colorectal
      cancer (CRC), and to study its relationship with development and progress of CRC.
      METHODS: Tumor tissues were collected from 75 CRC patients who received surgical
      treatment in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University in the period
      from 2007 to 2010. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was
      applied to detect the methylation status of PCDH10 and RASSF1A gene promoters in
      CRC and adjacent normal colorectal mucosa. The relationship between methylation
      of PCDH10 and RASSF1A and clinicopathological features of CRC was analyzed using
      chi-squared test. RESULTS: The rate of PCDH10 methylation in CRC tissue was
      significantly higher than that in colorectal normal mucosa (58.7%(44/75)vs
      22.7%(17/75), P<0.01). There was no significantly correlation between methylation
      of PCDH10 and patients' age, gender, tumor site, Dukes stage, and lymph node
      metastasis(all P>0.05). The rate of RASSF1A methylation in CRC tissue was
      significantly higher than that in colorectal normal mucosa (64.6%(42/65)vs
      15.4%(10/65), P<0.01). There was no significantly correlation between methylation
      of RASSF1A and patients' age, gender, and tumor site (all P>0.05), but the
      patients in high Dukes stages and with lymph node metastasis had higher RASSF1A
      methylation rate(92.9%(26/28)vs 43.2%(16/37), 92.9%(26/28)vs 43.2%(16/37), both
      P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CRC tissues demonstrate high level of methylation of PCDH10
      and RASSF1A genes, which may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of CRC. The
      aberrant hypermethylation of RASSF1A gene is observed in more advanced CRC,
      suggesting that the RASSF1A gene methylation may be related to progression of
      CRC.

PMID- 26875924
TI  - [Survival and prognostic evaluation of superficial esophageal cancer after
      surgery].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To calculate the survival rate of patients with superficial esophageal
      squamous carcinoma who received esophageal resection and to explore factors that
      affect prognosis. METHODS: There were 285 patients with pTis-T1 esophageal
      carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy during 2007-2011. Their cumulative survival
      rates were calculated using life tables. Nine factors that may have impact on
      postoperative survival of superficial esophageal carcinoma were selected. The
      Kaplan-Meier method and COX's regression model were used to select prognostic
      factors, estimate prognostic index, and establish risk stratification. RESULTS:
      The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of superficial esophageal carcinoma
      patients were 97%, 86%, and 82%, respectively. Tumor length, stenosis, depth of
      invasion, differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis, and vascular tumor
      thrombus were associated with prognosis according to univariate analysis. Depth
      of invasion (OR=2.065, P=0.029), lymph node metastasis (OR=2.049, P=0.041),
      differentiation degree (OR=3.828, P=0.000), stenosis(OR=2.129, P=0.048), and
      vascular tumor thrombus (OR=4.222, P=0.004) were independent prognostic factors
      in multivariate analysis. A prognostic models was thus established and all the
      patients were divided into low-risk, moderate-risk and high-risk group, with the
      3-year survival rates being 95%, 84%, and 51%, and 5-year survival rates being
      93%, 79%, and 44%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with superficial
      esophageal cancer have relatively favorable prognosis. Depth of invasion,
      differentiation degree, stenosis, lymph node metastasis, and vascular tumor
      thrombus may be independent factors of poor prognosis. Survival rate of moderate-
      and high-risk patients is yet to be improved.

PMID- 26875925
TI  - [Protective effect of compound bismuth and magnesium granules on aspirin-induced
      gastric mucosal injury in rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of compound bismuth and magnesium
      granules on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats and its possible
      mechanism. METHODS: Acute gastric mucosal injury model was developed with
      intraperitoneal injection of aspirin in Wistar rats. The rats were divided into
      normal control group, injury group, sucralfate protection group, compound bismuth
      and magnesium granules protection group and its herbal components protection
      group(each group 12 rats). In the protection groups, drugs as mentioned above
      were administered by gavage before treated with intraperitoneal injection of
      aspirin. To evaluate the extent of gastric mucosal injury and the protective
      effect of drugs, gastric mucosal lesion index, gastric mucosal blood flow,
      content of gastric mucosal hexosamine, prostaglandins (PG), nitric oxide(NO),
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL) -1, 2, 8 were measured in each
      group, and histological changes were observed by gross as well as under
      microscope and electron microscope. RESULTS: Contents of hexosamine, NO, and PG
      in all the protection groups were significantly higher than those in the injury
      group (all P<0.01), and content of NO in the compound bismuth and magnesium
      granules group was significantly higher than that in the sucralfate group
      ((11.29+/-0.51) vs(10.80+/-0.36)nmol/ml, P<0.05). The gastric mucosal lesion
      index, contents of TNF, and IL-1, 2, 8 were significantly lower in all the
      protection groups than in the injury group (all P<0.01), and contents of IL-2 and
      IL-8 in the compound bismuth and magnesium granules group were significantly
      lower than those in the sucralfate group ((328.17+/-6.56) vs(340.23+/-8.05)pg/ml,
      P<0.01; (170.82+/-7.31) vs(179.31+/-7.80)pg/ml, P<0.05). Tissue injury and
      inflammatory reaction in all the protection groups were obviously mitigated
      compared with the injury group. CONCLUSION: Compound bismuth and magnesium
      granules and its herbal components may have significant protective effect on
      aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury.

PMID- 26875926
TI  - [Expression and mechanism of nitric oxide synthase in cerebral hyperperfusion
      rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and mechanism of different nitric oxide
      synthase in cerebral hyperperfusion rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were
      anesthetized and a ventral midline incision was made. The bilateral common
      carotid arteries were gently separated. Each artery was ligated with a 5-0 silk
      suture. Sham groups underwent the same operation without occlusion two weeks
      later, the ligature was loosened under a microscope to induce reperfusion.
      Phenylephrine was administered at concentration of 50 MUg/ml via tail vein.After
      hyperperfusion, the expression of iNOS and eNOS in hippocampus , cortex and
      common carotid arteries of rats brain was observed by using Western blot of each
      group. RESULTS: The expression of iNOS in differernt sites were increased
      significantly after reperfusion of 24 hours. The ratio of iNOS and beta-actin in
      hippocampus in sham, BCAO, HP, HP 24 and HP 48 groups were 21.10+/-2.53, 24.37+/
      2.30, 28.34+/-2.86, 43.76+/-2.58, 38.90+/-3.17, respectively. There was
      significant difference between HP 24 and other groups (F=13.03, all P<0.05). The
      ratio of iNOS and beta-actin in cortex in each group were 12.98+/-2.31, 15.00+/
      1.66, 14.71+/-1.48, 34.76+/-5.01, 32.60+/-5.73, respectively (F=8.42, all
      P<0.05). The ratio of iNOS and beta-actin in common carotid arteries in each
      group were 7.30+/-2.55, 8.83+/-1.45, 4.76+/-0.71, 28.00+/-2.21, 26.29+/-3.33
      (F=24.82, all P<0.05). While the levels of eNOS in that three sites presented no
      significant change(all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperperfusion can induce iNOS
      ecpression in quantities in hippocamps, cortex and common carotid arteries. These
      levesl would last until 48 hours after reperfusion. This process suggests that
      iNOS is the possible mechanism of hyperperfusion.

PMID- 26875928
TI  - Corrigenda.

PMID- 26875927
TI  - Age- and performance-related differences in hippocampal contributions to episodic
      retrieval.
AB  - The goal of the present study was to investigate whether hippocampal contribution
      to episodic memory retrieval varies as a function of age (8-9 versus 10-11 versus
      adults), performance levels (high versus low) and hippocampal sub-region (head,
      body, tail). We examined fMRI data collected during episodic retrieval from a
      large sample (N=126). Participants judged whether a stimulus had been encoded
      previously, and, if so, which of three scenes it had been paired with (i.e.,
      source judgment). For 8- to 9-years-olds as well as low-performing 10- to 11-year
      olds, hippocampal activations did not reliably differentiate between trials on
      which item-scene associations were correctly recalled (correct source),
      incorrectly recalled (incorrect source), or trials on which the item was
      forgotten (miss trials). For high-performing 10-11-year olds and low-performing
      adults, selective hippocampal activation was observed for correct source relative
      to incorrect source and miss trials; this effect was observed across the entire
      hippocampus. For high-performing adults, hippocampal activation also
      distinguished between correct and incorrect source trialsl, but only in the
      hippocampal head, suggesting that good performance in adults is associated with
      more focal hippocampal recruitment. Thus, both age and performance are important
      factors for understanding the development of memory and hippocampal function.

PMID- 26875929
TI  - Thermally stable dielectric responses in uniaxially (001)-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15
      nanofilms grown on a Ca2Nb3O10- nanosheet seed layer.
AB  - To realize a high-temperature capacitor, uniaxially (001)-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15
      films with various film thicknesses were prepared on (100)cSrRuO3/Ca2Nb3O10(-)
      nanosheet/glass substrates. As the film thickness decreases to 50 nm, the out-of
      plane lattice parameters decrease while the in-plane lattice ones increase due to
      the in-plane tensile strain. However, the relative dielectric constant (epsilonr)
      at room temperature exhibits a negligible degradation as the film thickness
      decreases to 50 nm, suggesting that epsilonr of (001)-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15 is
      less sensitive to the residual strain. The capacitance density increases
      monotonously with decreasing film thickness, reaching a value of 4.5 MUF/cm(2)
      for a 50-nm-thick nanofilm, and is stable against temperature changes from room
      temperature to 400  degrees C irrespective of film thickness. This behaviour
      differs from that of the widely investigated perovskite-structured dielectrics.
      These results show that (001)-oriented CaBi4Ti4O15 films derived using Ca2Nb3O10(
      ) nanosheets as seed layers can be made candidates for high-temperature capacitor
      applications by a small change in the dielectric properties against film
      thickness and temperature variations.

PMID- 26875930
TI  - HOSPITAL MANAGERS' NEED FOR INFORMATION ON HEALTH TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in implementing hospital-based health
      technology assessment (HB-HTA) as a tool to facilitate decision making based on a
      systematic and multidisciplinary assessment of evidence. However, the decision
      making process, including the informational needs of hospital decision makers, is
      not well described. The objective was to review empirical studies analysing the
      information that hospital decision makers need when deciding about health
      technology (HT) investments. METHODS: A systematic review of empirical studies
      published in English or Danish from 2000 to 2012 was carried out. The literature
      was assessed by two reviewers working independently. The identified informational
      needs were assessed with regard to their agreement with the nine domains of
      EUnetHTA's Core Model. RESULTS: A total of 2,689 articles were identified and
      assessed. The review process resulted in 14 relevant studies containing 74 types
      of information that hospital decision makers found relevant. In addition to
      information covered by the Core Model, other types of information dealing with
      political and strategic aspects were identified. The most frequently mentioned
      types of information in the literature related to clinical, economic and
      political/strategic aspects. Legal, social, and ethical aspects were seldom
      considered most important. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital decision makers are able to
      describe their information needs when deciding on HT investments. The different
      types of information were not of equal importance to hospital decision makers,
      however, and full agreement between EUnetHTA's Core Model and the hospital
      decision-makers' informational needs was not observed. They also need information
      on political and strategic aspects not covered by the Core Model.

PMID- 26875932
TI  - Effective medical treatment strategies to help cessation of purging behaviors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Herein we review the major medical issues involved in the "detoxing"
      of patients who engage in purging behaviors and the pathophysiology of why they
      occur. METHODS: Given a limited evidence base of randomized controlled trials, we
      conducted a thorough qualitative review to identify salient literature with
      regard to the medical issues involved in "detoxing" patients from their purging
      behaviors. RESULTS: Pseudo Bartter's Syndrome is the root cause of much of the
      medical difficulties which can arise when purging behaviors are abruptly
      discontinued. However, this is imminently treatable and even preventable with a
      judicious medical treatment plan which targets the increased serum aldosterone
      levels which would otherwise promote salt and water retention and a propensity
      towards severe edema formation. Effective recommendations are provided which can
      make this process much less vexing for patients attempting to cease their purging
      behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: "Detoxing" from purging behaviors can be fraught with
      medical complications which frustrate these patients and can lead to unsuccessful
      outcomes. Medical providers should become familiar with the pathophysiology which
      is the basis for Pseudo Bartter's Syndrome and the effective medical treatments
      which can lead to a successful outcome.

PMID- 26875931
TI  - Sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care: Staff experiences.
AB  - There is an increased interest in exploring the use of sensory rooms in
      psychiatric inpatient care. Sensory rooms can provide stimulation via sight,
      smell, hearing, touch and taste in a demand-free environment that is controlled
      by the patient. The rooms may reduce patients' distress and agitation, as well as
      rates of seclusion and restraint. Successful implementation of sensory rooms is
      influenced by the attitudes and approach of staff. This paper presents a study of
      the experiences of 126 staff members who worked with sensory rooms in a Swedish
      inpatient psychiatry setting. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was
      used. Data were collected by a web based self-report 12-item questionnaire that
      included both open- and closed-ended questions. Our findings strengthen the
      results of previous research in this area in many ways. Content analyses revealed
      three main categories: hopes and concerns, focusing on patients' self-care, and
      the room as a sanctuary. Although staff initially described both negative and
      positive expectations of sensory rooms, after working with the rooms, there was a
      strong emphasis on more positive experiences, such as letting go of control and
      observing an increase in patients' self-confidence, emotional self-care and well
      being. Our findings support the important principals of person-centred nursing
      and recovery-oriented mental health and the ability of staff to implement these
      principles by working with sensory rooms. 

PMID- 26875933
TI  - Development of 3-(4-aminosulphonyl)-phenyl-2-mercapto-3H-quinazolin-4-ones as
      inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isoforms involved in tumorigenesis and glaucoma.
AB  - A series of heterocyclic benzenesulfonamides incorporating 2-mercapto-3H
      quinazolin-4-one tails were prepared by condensation of substituted anthranilic
      acids with 4-isothiocyanato-benzenesulfonamide. These sulfonamides were
      investigated as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1)
      isoforms hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA IX and XII (trans
      membrane, tumor-associated enzymes). They acted as medium potency inhibitors of
      hCA I (KIs of 81.0-3084 nM), being highly effective as hCA II (KIs in the range
      of 0.25-10.8 nM), IX (KIs of 3.7-50.4 nM) and XII (KIs of 0.60-52.9 nM)
      inhibitors. These compounds should thus be of interest as preclinical candidates
      in pathologies in which the activity of these enzymes should be inhibited, such
      as glaucoma (CA II and XII as targets) or some tumors in which the activity of
      three isoforms (CA II, IX and XII) is dysregulated.

PMID- 26875934
TI  - Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of nucleoside prodrugs designed to
      target siderophore biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - The nucleoside antibiotic, 5'-O-[N-(salicyl)sulfamoyl]adenosine (1), possesses
      potent whole-cell activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the
      etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB). This compound is also active in vivo, but
      suffers from poor drug disposition properties that result in poor bioavailability
      and rapid clearance. The synthesis and evaluation of a systematic series of
      lipophilic ester prodrugs containing linear and alpha-branched alkanoyl groups
      from two to twelve carbons at the 3'-position of a 2'-fluorinated analog of 1 is
      reported with the goal to improve oral bioavailability. The prodrugs were stable
      in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and under physiological conditions (pH 7.4).
      The prodrugs were also remarkably stable in mouse, rat, and human serum (relative
      serum stability: human~rat?mouse) displaying a parabolic trend in the SAR with
      hydrolysis rates increasing with chain length up to eight carbons (t1/2=1.6 h for
      octanoyl prodrug 7 in mouse serum) and then decreasing again with higher chain
      lengths. The permeability of the prodrugs was also assessed in a Caco-2 cell
      transwell model. All of the prodrugs were found to have reduced permeation in the
      apical-to-basolateral direction and enhanced permeation in the basolateral-to
      apical direction relative to the parent compound 2, resulting in efflux ratios 5
      28 times greater than 2. Additionally, Caco-2 cells were found to hydrolyze the
      prodrugs with SAR mirroring the serum stability results and a preference for
      hydrolysis on the apical side. Taken together, these results suggest that the
      described prodrug strategy will lead to lower than expected oral bioavailability
      of 2 and highlight the contribution of intestinal esterases for prodrug
      hydrolysis.

PMID- 26875935
TI  - Discovery of human Golgi beta-galactosidase with no identified glycosidase using
      a QMC substrate design platform for exo-glycosidase.
AB  - Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play important roles in the
      physiology of eukaryotes. In the PTMs, non-reversible glycosylations are
      classified as N-glycosylations and O-glycosylations, and are catalyzed by various
      glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. However, beta-glycosidases are not known
      to play a role in N- and O-glycan processing, although both glycans provide
      partial structures as substrates for beta-galactosidase and beta-N
      acetylglucosaminidase in the Golgi apparatus of human cells. We explored human
      Golgi beta-galactosidase using fluorescent substrates based on a quinone methide
      cleavage (QMC) substrate design platform that was previously developed to image
      exo-type glycosidases in living cells. As a result, we discovered a novel Golgi
      beta-galactosidase in human cells. It is possible to predict a novel and
      important function in glycan processing of this beta-galactosidase, because
      various beta-galactosyl linkages in N- and O-glycans exist in Golgi apparatus. In
      addition, these results show that the QMC platform is excellent for imaging exo
      type glycosidases. 

PMID- 26875936
TI  - (99m)Tc-bioorthogonal click chemistry reagent for in vivo pretargeted imaging.
AB  - Metal-free click chemistry has become an important tool for pretargeted
      approaches in the molecular imaging field. The application of bioorthogonal click
      chemistry between a pretargeted trans-cyclooctene (TCO) derivatized monoclonal
      antibody (mAb) and a (99m)Tc-modified 1,2,4,5-tetrazine for tumor imaging was
      examined in vitro and in vivo. The HYNIC tetrazine compound was synthesized and
      structurally characterized, confirming its identity. Radiolabeling studies
      demonstrated that the HYNIC tetrazine was labeled with (99m)Tc at an efficiency
      of >95% and was radiochemically stable. (99m)Tc-HYNIC tetrazine reacted with the
      TCO-CC49 mAb in vitro demonstrating its selective reactivity. In vivo
      biodistribution studies revealed non-specific liver and GI uptake due to the
      hydrophobic property of the compound, however pretargeted SPECT imaging studies
      demonstrated tumor visualization confirming the success of the cycloaddition
      reaction in vivo. These results demonstrated the potential of (99m)Tc-HYNIC
      tetrazine for tumor imaging with pretargeted mAbs. 

PMID- 26875938
TI  - Dendronized Anionic Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and
      Antiviral Activity.
AB  - Anionic carbosilane dendrons decorated with sulfonate functions and one thiol
      moiety at the focal point have been used to synthesize water-soluble gold
      nanoparticles (AuNPs) through the direct reaction of dendrons, gold precursor,
      and reducing agent in water, and also through a place-exchange reaction. These
      nanoparticles have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, TEM, thermogravimetric
      analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental
      analysis, and zeta-potential measurements. The interacting ability of the anionic
      sulfonate functions was investigated by EPR spectroscopy with copper(II) as a
      probe. Different structures and conformations of the AuNPs modulate the
      availability of sulfonate and thiol groups for complexation by copper(II).
      Toxicity assays of AuNPs showed that those produced through direct reaction were
      less toxic than those obtained by ligand exchange. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection
      was higher in the case of dendronized AuNPs than in dendrons. 

PMID- 26875939
TI  - Solid-State NMR and DFT Studies on the Formation of Well-Defined Silica-Supported
      Tantallaaziridines: From Synthesis to Catalytic Application.
AB  - Single-site, well-defined, silica-supported tantallaaziridine intermediates [=Si
      O-Ta(eta(2) -NRCH2 )(NMe2 )2 ] [R=Me (2), Ph (3)] were prepared from silica
      supported tetrakis(dimethylamido)tantalum [=Si-O-Ta(NMe2 )4 ] (1) and fully
      characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and (1) H,(13) C HETCOR
      and DQ TQ solid-state (SS) NMR spectroscopy. The formation mechanism, by beta-H
      abstraction, was investigated by SS NMR spectroscopy and supported by DFT
      calculations. The C-H activation of the dimethylamide ligand is favored for R=Ph.
      The results from catalytic testing in the hydroaminoalkylation of alkenes were
      consistent with the N-alkyl aryl amine substrates being more efficient than N
      dialkyl amines. 

PMID- 26875940
TI  - Breaking and Making of Carbon-Carbon Bonds by Lanthanides and Third-Row
      Transition Metals.
AB  - Carbon-atom extrusion from the ipso-position of a halobenzene ring (C6 H5 X; X=F,
      Cl, Br, I) and its coupling with a methylene ligand to produce acetylene is not
      confined to [LaCH2 ](+) ; also, the third-row transition-metal complexes [MCH2
      ](+) , M=Hf, Ta, W, Re, and Os, bring about this unusual transformation. However,
      substrates with substituents X=CN, NO2 , OCH3 , and CF3 are either not reactive
      at all or give rise to different products when reacted with [LaCH2 ](+) . In the
      thermal gas-phase processes of atomic Ln(+) with C7 H7 Cl substrates, only those
      lanthanides with a promotion energy small enough to attain a 4f(n) 5d(1) 6s(1)
      configuration are reactive and form both [LnCl](+) and [LnC5 H5 Cl](+) .
      Branching ratios and the reaction efficiencies of the various processes seem to
      correlate with molecular properties, like the bond-dissociation energies of the C
      X or M(+) -X bonds or the promotion energies of lanthanides. 

PMID- 26875942
TI  - Could procoagulant cell-derived microparticles have a more crucial role in
      pregnancy complications rather than exosomes?

PMID- 26875941
TI  - Overuse of external beam radiotherapy for stage I endometrial cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy has long been part of the treatment of endometrial
      cancer. Despite the long history of radiation use, prospective trials in the
      United States and Europe have been unable to demonstrate a survival benefit with
      adjuvant radiotherapy compared with observation. Whereas radiation has been
      associated with a decreased rate of locoregional failure, the treatment is also
      associated with substantial toxicity. However, a randomized trial published in
      2010 demonstrated that, compared with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT),
      vaginal brachytherapy was less toxic and as effective in reducing locoregional
      relapses. OBJECTIVE: We examined patterns of use of external beam radiation
      therapy for women with high intermediate risk endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN:
      We examined the use of external beam radiation therapy in women registered in the
      National Cancer Data Base with high intermediate risk, stage I endometrial cancer
      treated from 2008 through 2012. High intermediate risk was defined as age > 60
      years with a stage IA, grade 3 tumors or stage IB, grade 1 or 2 tumors.
      Multivariable models of EBRT use were developed. RESULTS: Among 8242 women, 915
      (11.1%) received EBRT, 2614 (31.7%) were treated with brachytherapy, and 4713
      (57.2%) did not receive any adjuvant radiation. The use of EBRT was 18.1% in 2008
      and declined to 8.6% in 2012, whereas the use of brachytherapy rose each year
      from 26.5% in 2008 to 37.6% in 2012 (P < .0001). External beam radiation was
      administered to 7.9% of patients with stage IA/grade 3 tumors, 8.8% of those with
      stage IB/grade 1 cancers, and to 15.2% of women with stage IB/grade 2 neoplasms
      (P < .0001). EBRT was utilized in 10.1% of women who underwent lymphadenectomy
      compared with 22.0% who did not undergo lymphadenectomy (P < .0001). In a
      multivariable model, black women were more likely to receive EBRT than white
      women (relative risk [RR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.70).
      Similarly, patients in the eastern United States, those treated at community
      cancer centers and comprehensive community cancer programs, patients in
      metropolitan areas, and those diagnosed in earlier years were more likely to
      undergo EBRT. Patients with stage IB/grade 2 tumors (RR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.65-2.32)
      were more likely to receive EBRT than those with stage IA/grade 3 neoplasms.
      Those women who did not undergo lymphadenectomy were more than twice as likely to
      receive EBRT compared with those who had a lymphadenectomy (RR, 2.32; 95% CI,
      1.99-2.72). CONCLUSION: Despite data from randomized trials, approximately 9% of
      women with high intermediate risk of endometrial cancer continue to receive EBRT.
      Performance of lymphadenectomy is associated with a lower likelihood of external
      beam radiation therapy.

PMID- 26875943
TI  - Diagnosis and management of vasa previa.

PMID- 26875944
TI  - The effect of distance traveled on disease outcomes in gestational trophoblastic
      neoplasia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is a rare gynecological
      malignancy often treated at tertiary referral centers. Patients frequently travel
      long distances to obtain care for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, which may
      affect cancer outcomes in these patients. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association
      between distance traveled to obtain care and disease burden at time of
      presentation as well as recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective
      cohort analysis of all patients diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic
      neoplasia from January 1995 to June 2015 at a high-volume tertiary referral
      center. Patients were included if they met International Federation of Gynecology
      and Obstetrics 2000 criteria for postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia or
      had choriocarcinoma, placental-site trophoblastic tumor, or epithelioid
      trophoblastic tumor. Sixty patients were identified. Disease burden at
      presentation was examined using both the World Health Organization prognostic
      score and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Patients who
      traveled more than 50 miles were considered long-distance travelers based on
      previous literature on the effect of distance traveled on cancer outcomes.
      Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were obtained by chart review.
      Bivariable comparisons were performed using the chi(2) test or Fisher exact test
      for categorical variables. The t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to
      compare continuous variables when normally or not normally distributed. RESULTS:
      Most patients presented at stage I (61%) with low-risk gestational trophoblastic
      neoplasia (70%). Median distance to care was 40 miles (range, 4-384). Eighteen
      patients (30%) had no insurance and 42 (70%) had either private or public
      insurance. Patients traveling more than 50 miles for care were more likely to
      have high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (46% vs 19%, P = .03), but
      there was no difference in recurrence (13% vs 11%, P = .89). Patients with high
      risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia lived 63 miles farther (92 vs 28 miles,
      P < .001) than patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Long
      distance travelers had a longer period between antecedent pregnancy and
      gestational trophoblastic neoplasia diagnosis (10 weeks vs 4.5 weeks, P = .009)
      and were more likely to receive multiagent chemotherapy (86% vs 61%, P = .03).
      CONCLUSION: In this cohort, long distance traveled to obtain care for gestational
      trophoblastic neoplasia was associated with an increased risk of presenting with
      high-risk disease and requiring multiagent chemotherapy for treatment. Patients
      with high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia traveled nearly 100 miles to
      obtain care. There may be a delay in diagnosis in women traveling more than 50
      miles to obtain care; however, we found no difference in recurrence risk for long
      distance travelers.

PMID- 26875945
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26875946
TI  - Underuse of BRCA testing in patients with breast and ovarian cancer.

PMID- 26875947
TI  - Cell-free DNA fetal fraction and preterm birth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is increasingly being used to
      screen for fetal aneuploidy. The majority of fetal cell-free DNA in the maternal
      blood results from release from the syncytiotrophoblast as a result of cellular
      apoptosis and necrosis. Elevated levels of fetal cell-free DNA may be indicative
      of underlying placental dysfunction, which has been associated with preterm
      birth. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that fetal cell-free DNA is
      increased in pregnancies complicated by spontaneous preterm birth. There are
      limited data on the association between fetal cell-free DNA levels and fetal
      fraction and preterm birth in asymptomatic women in the first and second
      trimesters. Preliminary studies have failed to find an association between first
      trimester cell-free DNA levels and preterm birth, whereas there is conflicting
      evidence as to whether elevated second-trimester cell-free DNA is associated with
      a subsequent spontaneous preterm birth clinical event. OBJECTIVE: The objective
      of the study was to evaluate the association between first- and second-trimester
      cell-free DNA fetal fraction and preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: This was a
      retrospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies at increased risk
      for aneuploidy who had cell-free DNA testing at 10-20 weeks' gestation between
      October 2011 and May 2014. The cohort was subdivided by gestational age at the
      time of cell-free DNA testing (10-14 weeks or 14.1-20 weeks). The primary outcome
      was preterm birth less than 37 weeks' gestation, and the secondary outcomes were
      preterm birth at less than 34 weeks' gestation and spontaneous preterm birth at
      less than 37 and 34 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Among 1349 pregnancies meeting
      inclusion criteria 119 (8.8 %) had a preterm birth prior to 37 weeks with 49
      cases (3.6 %) delivering prior to 34 weeks. Whereas there was no significant
      association between fetal fraction and the preterm birth outcomes for those who
      underwent cell-free DNA testing at 10-14 weeks' gestation, there were significant
      associations among those screened at 14.1-20.0 weeks' gestation. Fetal fraction
      greater than or equal to the 95th percentile at 14.1-20.0 weeks' gestation was
      associated with an increased risk for preterm birth less than 37 and 34 weeks'
      gestation (adjusted odds ratio, 4.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-15.2;
      adjusted odds ratio, 22.0; 95% confidence interval, 5.02-96.9). CONCLUSION:
      Elevated fetal fraction levels at 14.1-20.0 weeks' gestation were significantly
      associated with an increased incidence of preterm birth. Our findings warrant
      future exploration including validation in a larger, general population and
      investigation of the potential mechanisms that may be responsible for the
      initiation of preterm labor associated with increased fetal cell-free DNA.

PMID- 26875948
TI  - Accuracy of self-reported survey data on assisted reproductive technology
      treatment parameters and reproductive history.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether data obtained from maternal self-report for
      assisted reproductive technology treatment parameters and reproductive history
      are accurate for use in research studies. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the accuracy
      of self-reported in assisted reproductive technology treatment and reproductive
      history from the Upstate KIDS study in comparison with clinical data reported to
      the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System.
      STUDY DESIGN: Upstate KIDS maternal questionnaire data from deliveries between
      2008 and 2010 were linked to data reported to Society for Assisted Reproductive
      Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System. The 617 index deliveries were
      compared as to treatment type (frozen embryo transfer and donor egg or sperm) and
      use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and assisted hatching. Use of injectable
      medications, self-report for assisted reproductive technology, or frozen embryo
      transfer prior to the index deliveries were also compared. We report agreement in
      which both sources had yes or both no and sensitivity of maternal report using
      Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System as
      the gold standard. Significance was determined using chi(2) at P < 0.05. RESULTS:
      Universal agreement was not reached on any parameter but was best for treatment
      type of frozen embryo transfer (agreement, 96%; sensitivity, 93%) and use of
      donor eggs (agreement, 97%; sensitivity, 82%) or sperm (agreement, 98%;
      sensitivity, 82%). Use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (agreement, 78%:
      sensitivity, 78%) and assisted hatching (agreement, 57%; sensitivity, 38%) agreed
      less well with self-reported use (P < .0001). In vitro fertilization (agreement,
      82%) and frozen embryo transfer (agreement, 90%) prior to the index delivery were
      more consistently reported than was use of injectable medication (agreement, 76%)
      (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Women accurately report in vitro fertilization treatment
      but are less accurate about procedures handled in the laboratory
      (intracytoplasmic sperm injection or assisted hatching). Clinics might better
      communicate with patients on the use of these procedures, and researchers should
      use caution when using self-reported treatment data.

PMID- 26875949
TI  - Assessing ureteral patency using 10% dextrose cystoscopy fluid: evaluation of
      urinary tract infection rates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intravenous indigo carmine has routinely been used to confirm
      ureteral patency after urogynecologic surgery. Recent discontinuation of the dye
      has altered clinical practice. In the absence of indigo carmine, we have used 10%
      dextrose in sterile water (D10) as cystoscopic fluid to evaluate ureteral
      patency. Glucosuria has been associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) in
      vivo and significantly enhanced bacterial growth in vitro. The concern is that
      the use of D10 would mimic a state of glucosuria albeit transient and increase
      the risk of postoperative UTI. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to
      compare the rates of postoperative UTI and lower urinary tract (LUT) injuries
      between patients who underwent instillation of D10 vs normal saline at the time
      of intraoperative cystoscopy after urogynecological surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This
      was a retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent cystoscopic
      evaluation of ureteral patency at the time of urogynecological surgery from May
      through December 2014 at a tertiary care referral center. We compared patients
      who received D10 cystoscopy fluid vs those who used normal saline. Outcomes
      included UTI and diagnosis of ureteral or LUT injuries. UTI was diagnosed
      according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by symptoms
      alone, urine dipstick, urinalysis, or urine culture. Descriptive statistics
      compared the rates of UTI between the 2 groups, and a multivariable model was fit
      to the data to control for potential confounders and significant baseline
      differences between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 303 women were included. D10
      was used in 113 cases and normal saline (NS) was used in 190. The rate of UTI was
      higher in the D10 group than the NS group: 47.8% (95% confidence interval [CI],
      38.3-57.4) vs 25.9% (95% CI, 19.8-32.8, P < .001). After adjusting for age,
      pelvic organ prolapse stage, use of perioperative estrogen, days of postoperative
      catheterization, menopausal status, diabetes mellitus, and history of recurrent
      UTI, the UTI rate remained significantly higher with the use of D10 (adjusted
      odds ratio, 3.4 [95% CI, 1.6-7.5], P = .002) compared with NS. Overall, 3 cases
      of transient ureteral kinking (1.0%) and one cystotomy (0.3%) were identified
      intraoperatively. However, ureteral and LUT injuries were not different between
      groups. No unidentified injuries presented postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Although
      the use of D10 cystoscopy fluid has been successful in identifying ureteral
      patency in the absence of indigo carmine, it is associated with an increased rate
      of postoperative UTI compared with NS.

PMID- 26875951
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26875950
TI  - Eliminating health disparities in unintended pregnancy with long-acting
      reversible contraception (LARC).
AB  - Significant public health disparities exist surrounding teen and unplanned
      pregnancy in the United States. Women of color and those with lower education and
      socioeconomic status are at much greater risk of unplanned pregnancy and the
      resulting adverse outcomes. Unplanned pregnancies reduce educational and career
      opportunities and may contribute to socioeconomic deprivation and widening income
      disparities. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including intrauterine
      devices and implants, offer the opportunity to change the default from drifting
      into parenthood to planned conception. LARC methods are forgettable; once placed,
      they offer highly effective, long-term pregnancy prevention. Increasing evidence
      in the medical literature demonstrates the population benefits of use of these
      methods. However, barriers to more widespread use of LARC methods persist and
      include educational, access, and cost barriers. With increasing insurance
      coverage under the Affordable Care Act and more widespread, no-cost coverage of
      methods, more and more women are choosing intrauterine devices and the
      contraceptive implant. Increasing the use of highly effective contraceptive
      methods may provide one solution to the persistent problem of the health
      disparities of unplanned and teen pregnancies in the United States and improve
      women's and children's health.

PMID- 26875952
TI  - Pregnancy-induced adaptations in intramuscular extracellular matrix of rat pelvic
      floor muscles.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Birth trauma to pelvic floor muscles is a major risk factor for
      pelvic floor disorders. Intramuscular extracellular matrix determines muscle
      stiffness, supports contractile component, and shields myofibers from mechanical
      strain. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether pregnancy alters
      extracellular matrix mechanical and biochemical properties in a rat model, which
      may provide insights into the pathogenesis of pelvic floor muscle birth injury.
      To examine whether pregnancy effects were unique to pelvic floor muscles, we also
      studied a hind limb muscle. STUDY DESIGN: Passive mechanical properties of
      coccygeus, iliocaudalis, pubocaudalis, and tibialis anterior were compared among
      3-month old Sprague-Dawley virgin, late-pregnant, and postpartum rats. Muscle
      tangent stiffness was calculated as the slope of the stress-sarcomere length
      curve between 2.5 and 4.0 MUm, obtained from a stress-relaxation protocol at a
      bundle level. Elastin and collagen isoform concentrations were quantified by the
      use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Enzymatic and glycosylated collagen
      crosslinks were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Data were
      compared by the use of repeated-measures, 2-way analysis of variance with Tukey
      post-hoc testing. Correlations between mechanical and biochemical parameters were
      assessed by linear regressions. Significance was set to P < .05. Results are
      reported as mean +/- SEM. RESULTS: Pregnancy significantly increased stiffness in
      coccygeus (P < .05) and pubocaudalis (P < .0001) relative to virgin controls,
      with no change in iliocaudalis. Postpartum, pelvic floor muscle stiffness did not
      differ from virgins (P > .3). A substantial increase in collagen V in coccygeus
      and pubocaudalis was observed in late-pregnant, compared with virgin, animals, (P
      < .001). Enzymatic crosslinks decreased in coccygeus (P < .0001) and pubocaudalis
      (P < .02) in pregnancy, whereas glycosylated crosslinks were significantly
      elevated in late-pregnant rats in all pelvic floor muscles (P < .05).
      Correlations between muscle stiffness and biochemical parameters were
      inconsistent. In contrast to the changes observed in pelvic floor muscles, the
      tibialis anterior was unaltered by pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to other
      pelvic tissues, pelvic floor muscle stiffness increased in pregnancy, returning
      to prepregnancy state postpartum. This adaptation may shield myofibers from
      excessive mechanical strain during parturition. Biochemical alterations in pelvic
      floor muscle extracellular matrix due to pregnancy include increase in collagen V
      and a differential response in enzymatic vs glycosylated collagen crosslinks. The
      relationships between pelvic floor muscle biochemical and mechanical parameters
      remain unclear.

PMID- 26875953
TI  - Competing risks model in screening for preeclampsia by maternal factors and
      biomarkers at 30-34 weeks' gestation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) affects 2-3% of all pregnancies and is a major
      cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. We have proposed a 2
      stage strategy for the identification of pregnancies at high risk of developing
      PE. The objective of the first stage, at 11-13 weeks' gestation, is a reduction
      in the prevalence of the disease through pharmacological intervention in the high
      risk group. The objective of the second stage, during the second and/or third
      trimesters, is to improve perinatal outcome through close monitoring of the high
      risk group for earlier diagnosis of the clinical signs of the disease and
      selection of the appropriate, time, place, and method of delivery. OBJECTIVE: The
      objective of the study was to examine the performance of screening for PE by a
      combination of maternal factors with early third-trimester biomarkers. STUDY
      DESIGN: This was a cohort study and data were derived from consecutive women with
      singleton pregnancies attending for their routine hospital visit at 30-34 weeks'
      gestation in 3 maternity hospitals in England between March 2011 and December
      2014. In the first phase of the study, only uterine artery pulsatility index
      (UTPI) was measured and then measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) was
      added, and in the final phase, the serum concentration of placental growth factor
      (PLGF) was measured and then soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (SFLT) was added.
      We had data on UTPI, MAP, PLGF, and SFLT from 30,935, 29,042, 10,123, and 8,264
      pregnancies, respectively. The Bayes theorem was used to combine the a priori
      risk from maternal factors with various combinations of biomarker multiple of the
      median values. Ten-fold cross-validation was used to estimate the performance of
      screening for PE requiring delivery at < 37 weeks' gestation (preterm-PE) and
      those delivering at >= 37 weeks (term-PE). The empirical performance was compared
      with model predictions. RESULTS: In pregnancies that developed PE, the values of
      MAP, UTPI, and SFLT were increased and PLGF was decreased. For all biomarkers the
      deviation from normal was greater for preterm-PE than term-PE, and therefore, the
      performance of screening was inversely related to the gestational age at which
      delivery become necessary for maternal and/or fetal indications. Combined
      screening by maternal factors, MAP, UTPI, PLGF, and SFLT predicted 98% (95%
      confidence interval, 88-100%) of preterm-PE and 49% (95% confidence interval, 42
      57%) of term-PE, at a false-positive rate of 5%. These empirical detection rates
      are compatible with the respective model-based rates of 98% and 54%, but the
      latter were optimistically biased. CONCLUSION: Combination of maternal factors
      and biomarkers in the early third trimester could predict nearly all cases of
      preterm-PE and half of those with term-PE, at 5% false-positive rate.

PMID- 26875954
TI  - Antepartum and intrapartum interventions to prevent preterm birth and its
      sequelae.
AB  - Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. This review
      provides an overview of antepartum and intrapartum management of threatened
      preterm birth. The most effective method to identify women at high risk of
      delivering within seven days is the combination of cervical length and fetal
      fibronectin test. Antenatal corticosteroids administered for 48 h improve
      neonatal outcome. Although tocolysis has been shown to prolong pregnancy, there
      is no evidence that tocolytic therapy improves neonatal outcomes. Intrapartum
      administration of magnesium sulfate improves neurologic outcomes, such as
      cerebral palsy and gross motor function. In women with preterm premature rupture
      of membranes, prophylactic antibiotic treatment with erythromycin improves short
      term neonatal outcomes, but proof of long-term benefit is lacking. In threatened
      preterm birth with intact membranes, prophylactic antibiotic treatment is thought
      to be harmful. Critical appraisal of the long-term benefits and harms of all
      these treatments questions their use. 

PMID- 26875955
TI  - Clinical Backgrounds and Outcomes of Elderly Japanese Patients with
      Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Elderly gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) patients sometimes cannot be
      discharged home. In some cases, they die after hemostasis, even following
      appropriate treatment. This study investigates the clinical backgrounds and
      outcomes of elderly Japanese GIB patients. METHODS: The medical records of 185
      patients (123 men, 62 women; mean age 68.2 years; range 10-99 years) with GIB
      symptoms who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy to detect or
      treat the source of GIB were retrospectively reviewed. We compared the outcomes
      between patients <=70 (n=85) and >70 (n=100) years. The clinical backgrounds of
      the patients who died or changed hospitals to undergo rehabilitation or receive
      palliative care were evaluated, as were the association of four factors with
      these poor outcomes: GIB (re-bleeding or uncontrolled bleeding), endoscopic
      procedure-related complications, exacerbation of the pre-existing comorbidity,
      and any complications that were not directly related to GIB. RESULTS: Of the
      patients <=70 and >70 years of age, three (3.5%) and 17 (17.0%), respectively,
      were transferred to another hospital (p=0.003). One (1.2%) and five (5.0%),
      respectively, died (p=0.144). All three patients <=70 years old that changed
      hospitals did so because their comorbidities became worse. The reasons for
      changing hospitals in the 17 patients >70 years of age included exacerbation of a
      pre-existing comorbidity (41.1%, 7/17), other complications (35.4%, 6/17), GIB
      itself (17.6%, 3/17), and endoscopic procedure-related complications (5.9%,
      1/17). CONCLUSION: Although non-elderly and elderly GIB patients had similar
      mortality rates, many more elderly patients could not be discharged home for
      various reasons.

PMID- 26875956
TI  - Unfractionated Heparin during the Interruption of Antiplatelet Therapy for Non
      cardiac Surgery after Drug-eluting Stent Implantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Heparin is not recommended to be administered during the interruption
      of antiplatelet therapy for non-cardiac surgery. However, there are insufficient
      data to determine the value. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the
      clinical results of the administration of unfractionated heparin during the
      interruption of antiplatelet therapy in non-cardiac surgery patients who had
      previously undergone drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. METHODS: We
      retrospectively identified 210 elective non-cardiac surgical procedures that were
      performed with the administration of unfractionated heparin during interruption
      of all antiplatelet therapies in patients who had previously undergone DES
      implantation. Heparin was administered during the perioperative period in
      accordance with the local practice guideline at out institution. We examined the
      clinical outcomes within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: The mean number of
      implanted DESs was 2.1+/-1.3. No major adverse cardiac events (including cardiac
      death, definite stent thrombosis, and non-fatal myocardial infarction) occurred
      in any of the 210 cases within 30 days of surgery. Four of the 210 cases (1.9%)
      required reoperation for bleeding within 30 days of surgery. CONCLUSION: Our data
      showed the potential for the perioperative management with unfractionated heparin
      administration in Japanese patients who had previously undergone DES implantation
      who required non-cardiac surgery with the interruption of all antiplatelet
      therapies.

PMID- 26875957
TI  - Pleural Effusion in Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pleural effusion is rarely observed in patients with multiple myeloma
      (MM). Myeloma cell infiltration or invasion to the pleura is very rare. This
      study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of pleural effusion in
      patients with MM. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of
      patients diagnosed with pleural effusion, MM, and pleural effusion with MM
      between 2004 and 2014 at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. The present study included
      patients with pleural effusion who underwent cytological, bacteriological,
      biochemical and other testing. The cytopathology of abnormal pleural effusion
      cells was not diagnostic, thus flow cytometry was performed. MM was defined using
      the diagnosis standard of NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN
      Guidelines) 2014 for MM. RESULTS: This study included 3,480 pleural effusion
      patients and 319 MM patients. There were 34 patients with both MM and pleural
      effusion (17 men and 17 women). The average age was 63 years (range, 48-84
      years). Pleural effusion with MM was caused by congestive heart disease, chronic
      renal failure, hypoalbuminemia, pulmonary infarctions, cirrhosis, pulmonary
      arterial hypertension, parapneumonic effusion, tuberculous pleural effusion, and
      myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE). The diagnosis of MPE was confirmed by the
      detection of myeloma cells in the pleural fluid using flow cytometric analyses.
      There were only 2 MPE cases in our study. The first MPE case was a woman. The
      first clinical manifestation was pleural effusion, and the diagnosis was non
      secretory MM, DSS stage IIIA (Durie-Salmon staging system); ISS stage I (the
      International Staging System). The second MPE case was a man who was diagnosed
      with MM IgA-kappa, DSS stage IIIA; ISS stage II. CONCLUSION: The detection rate
      of MPE was very low. MPE tended to present with yellow exudates and the lack of
      physical and chemical characteristics. Furthermore, patients with MPE exhibited
      many yellow nodules on the pleura. These nodules were lobulated and had abundant
      blood supply. The routine pleural effusion pathological examination had low
      sensitivity. Flow cytometry may be more useful for improving the detection rate
      of MPE.

PMID- 26875958
TI  - A Feasibility Study of Virtual Reality Exercise in Elderly Patients with
      Hematologic Malignancies Receiving Chemotherapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Adherence to rehabilitation exercise is much lower in patients with
      hematologic malignancies (22.5-45.8%) than in patients with solid tumors (60-85%)
      due to the administration of more intensive chemotherapeutic regimens in the
      former. Virtual reality exercise can be performed even in a biological clean room
      and it may improve the adherence rates in elderly patients with hematologic
      malignancies. Thus, in this pilot study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility
      and safety of virtual reality exercise intervention using Nintendo Wii Fit in
      patients with hematologic malignancies receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: In this
      feasibility study, 16 hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies aged
      >=60 years performed virtual reality exercise for 20 minutes using the Nintendo
      Wii Fit once a day, five times a week, from the start of chemotherapy until
      hospital discharge. The adherence rate, safety, and physical and psychological
      performances were assessed. RESULTS: The adherence rate for all 16 patients was
      66.5%. Nine patients completed the virtual reality exercise intervention with 88
      sessions, and the adherence rate was 62.0%. No intervention-related adverse
      effects >Grade 2, according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology
      Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0, were observed. We noted maintenance of
      the physical performance (e.g., Barthel index, handgrip strength, knee extension
      strength, one-leg standing time, and the scores of timed up and go test and
      Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) and psychosocial performance (e.g.,
      score of hospital anxiety and depression scale). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality
      exercise using the Wii Fit may be feasible, safe and efficacious, as demonstrated
      in our preliminary results, for patients with hematologic malignancies receiving
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 26875959
TI  - Calcification around the Struts of a Sirolimus-eluting Stent Approximately 16
      Months after Implantation in an Autopsy Case.
AB  - Drug-eluting stents (DES) are widely used for the treatment of coronary artery
      disease, and a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES; Cypher) was the first DES introduced
      into clinical practice. Although pathological reactions of coronary arteries to
      SES have been described in autopsy cases, there are few reports regarding
      calcification of the coronary arteries after SES implantation. The present report
      describes the findings of an autopsy conducted 16 months after SES implantation
      that showed remarkable persistent calcification. In addition, previously reported
      pertinent pathological findings are also described. 

PMID- 26875961
TI  - Hemodialysis Associated with Severe and Unpredictable Hypoglycemia.
AB  - We herein report the case of a 68-year-old man receiving hemodialysis who
      developed severe hypoglycemia. He became unconscious and exhibited a blood
      glucose level below 10 mg/dL. We ruled out the possibility of other causes;
      however, severe hypoglycemia was observed even after starting glucose injections.
      The patient developed pneumonia and finally died. Although we conducted an
      autopsy, there were no specific findings explaining the severe hypoglycemia. We
      believe that carnitine deficiency was possibly involved in the severe
      hypoglycemia observed in this case. Physicians should be aware of the possibility
      of carnitine deficiency and/or severe hypoglycemia, especially in hemodialysis
      patients with malnutrition. 

PMID- 26875960
TI  - Detecting Cardiac Sarcoidosis with a Right Atrial Mass Using Transthoracic
      Echocardiography.
AB  - An asymptomatic 40-year-old woman with a first-degree atrioventricular block
      presented a right atrial mass in transthoracic echocardiograms. Transesophageal
      echocardiograms showed abnormally thickened tissue on the interatrial septum,
      which extended around the aortic annulus. Multimodality examinations demonstrated
      lesions in the heart, lungs, liver, and spleen, suggesting sarcoidosis. She was
      diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis after we detected granulomas in a lung
      specimen. A right atrial mass shrunk following steroid therapy. We should
      therefore consider the possibility of cardiac sarcoidosis when we see wall
      thickening and a mass echo in the atrium. These signs may point to an early-phase
      lesion of cardiac sarcoidosis. 

PMID- 26875962
TI  - Renal Light Chain Deposition Associated with the Formation of Intracellular
      Crystalline Inclusion Bodies in Podocytes: A Rare Case Report.
AB  - We herein report the case of an elderly woman with bone pain and proteinuria as
      the main clinical manifestations. The patient was diagnosed with the IgG kappa
      type of multiple myeloma. Her renal pathology consisted of widespread kappa light
      chain protein deposition associated with the formation of large quantities of rod
      like crystals in podocytes. This phenomenon is very rare. We explored the
      significance of this crystal formation via a detailed and descriptive analysis
      and also performed a literature review, thus providing data to increase the
      available information about this type of disease. 

PMID- 26875964
TI  - Primary Pulmonary Synovial Sarcoma Showing a Prolonged Survival with
      Multimodality Therapy.
AB  - A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to a mass shadow noted on a
      chest X-ray. Thoracoscopic lobectomy yielded a diagnosis of primary pulmonary
      synovial sarcoma according to the histology and SYT-SSX1 gene analyses. Five
      months after the thoracic surgery, he developed brain metastasis; therefore, we
      performed resection of the brain metastatic focus followed by radiotherapy. As a
      local recurrence in the thoracic cavity concurrently emerged, systemic
      chemotherapy was also administered. These observations indicated that a
      multidisciplinary approach may be useful against primary pulmonary synovial
      sarcoma, although there is presently no established therapeutic strategy due to
      its rarity and highly aggressive nature. 

PMID- 26875963
TI  - Post-Transplant Membranous Nephropathy Associated with Chronic Active Antibody
      Mediated Rejection and Hepatitis C Infection after Deceased Donor Renal
      Transplantation.
AB  - A 53-year-old woman who had undergone deceased donor kidney transplantation
      twice, at 35 and 43 years of age, presented with renal impairment. She was
      infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The histology of the graft kidney revealed
      post-transplant membranous nephropathy (MN) with podocytic infolding and antibody
      mediated rejection (AMR). IgG subclass staining showed fine granular deposits of
      IgG1 and IgG3, but not IgG4, in the glomerular capillary walls. Panel reactive
      antibody scores for human leukocyte antigen class I and class II were 92.67% and
      66.68%, respectively. Thus, this case of post-transplanted MN was considered to
      be associated with AMR and HCV infection. 

PMID- 26875965
TI  - Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Following Treatment for
      Cushing's Syndrome.
AB  - A 64-year-old Japanese man with mild reticular shadows in both lungs developed a
      lung tumor causing ectopic Cushing's syndrome. He was prescribed an adrenal
      inhibitor, which controlled his hypercortisolemia. However, he developed acute
      exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and died within weeks.
      Previous studies have suggested a dosage reduction of corticosteroids for IPF as
      a triggering event for acute exacerbation. The present case suggests that IPF
      coexisting with Cushing's syndrome may have been exacerbated after the correction
      of hypercortisolemia. Therefore, close monitoring of cortisol levels along with
      the clinical course of IPF is required in similar cases that require the
      correction of hypercortisolemia. 

PMID- 26875966
TI  - Occurrence of Donor Cell-derived Lymphoid Blast Crisis 24 Years Following Related
      Bone Marrow Transplantation for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - We herein report a unique case of donor cell leukemia (DCL), as donor cell
      derived lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was observed 24
      years after related bone marrow transplantation for CML in the chronic phase.
      Short tandem repeat testing of the leukemic blast sample revealed full donor
      chimerism, strongly indicative of DCL. The original donor is healthy with a
      normal complete blood cell count for the past 24 years. This rare case may
      provide a precious opportunity to consider not only the underlying mechanism of
      DCL, but also the pathogenesis of CML. 

PMID- 26875967
TI  - Gamma Heavy Chain Disease with T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case
      Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Gamma heavy chain disease (gHCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder
      characterized by the production of a truncated immunoglobulin heavy chain.
      Although some cases of gHCD are concurrent with other lymphoid neoplasms, few
      have been reported. We herein present the case of a 73-year-old woman with gHCD
      and T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia. A multiparameter flow cytometry
      analysis revealed neoplastic cells that were positive for CD28, a marker of T
      cell activation, the anti-apoptotic antigen of neoplastic plasma cells, CD38 and
      CD45. The results of this multiparameter flow cytometry analysis may contribute
      to furthering the understanding of the clinicopathological features of gHCD. 

PMID- 26875968
TI  - A CSF3R T618I Mutation in a Patient with Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia and Severe
      Bleeding Complications.
AB  - Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare form of myeloproliferative neoplasm
      characterized by the drastic elevation of mature neutrophils. One of the major
      causes of death among patients with CNL is severe bleeding; however, the
      difficulty of accurately diagnosing this disease has caused confusion in this
      field. Recently, somatic mutations of the CSF3R gene have been associated with
      CNL. This has led to the establishment of more accurate diagnostic criteria for
      CNL. We herein report a case study of a patient with CNL with a T618I point
      mutation on the CSF3R gene who showed severe bleeding. 

PMID- 26875971
TI  - Catheter-induced Spasm Presenting with Ventricular Fibrillation.

PMID- 26875969
TI  - Cardiovascular Instability Preceded by Orolingual Angioedema after Alteplase
      Treatment.
AB  - An 87-year-old man taking antihypertensive medications, including 10 mg
      enalapril, daily visited our hospital complaining of motor aphasia, dysarthria,
      and right hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ischemic lesion in
      the left frontal lobe including the insular cortex and severe stenosis of the
      left middle cerebral artery. After he received intravenous alteplase infusion, he
      developed orolingual angioedema followed by transient bradycardia with subsequent
      hypotension, resulting in the deterioration of his neurological signs and
      expansion of the ischemic lesion. Orolingual angioedema after intravenous
      alteplase infusion may follow cardiovascular instability and disease progression
      in stroke patients. 

PMID- 26875972
TI  - Dropped Head Syndrome Following Mantle Radiation Therapy.

PMID- 26875970
TI  - Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis as a Delayed Complication of Granulomatosis with
      Polyangiitis.
AB  - A 69-year-old man presented with upper airway symptoms, multiple lung nodules and
      masses, proteinuria and hematuria, and an increased level of proteinase 3 anti
      neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA). Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
      (GPA) was diagnosed by a transbronchial lung biopsy. All of these symptoms were
      ameliorated and the level of PR3-ANCA declined following treatment with
      prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. The patient developed a headache 16 months
      after the onset of symptoms, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
      showed the thickening of the dura mater, which suggested that hypertrophic
      pachymeningitis (HP) had developed as a complication of GPA. HP can be a unique
      complication of GPA at recurrence, and can occur without the relapse of other
      lesions or an increase in PR3-ANCA level. 

PMID- 26875973
TI  - An Unusual Cause of Hip Pain.

PMID- 26875974
TI  - Role of codon usage and tRNA changes in rat cytomegalovirus latency and
      (re)activation.
AB  - Herpesviruses can remain in their hosts by establishing a latent infection with a
      low pattern of viral gene expression. Passage from latency to reactivation may
      occur under particular conditions such as immunosuppressive treatments or during
      fetal development, and often is accompanied by heavy pathologic sequelae. To
      investigate the molecular basis underlying herpesvirus latency and
      (re)activation, codon usage of rat cytomegalovirus was comparatively analyzed
      with respect to the rat codon usage. Two major points stand out as follows: (i)
      six codons - GCG (Ala), CCG (Pro), CGG (Arg), CGC (Arg), TCG (Ser), and ACG (Thr)
      - are rare in rat genes and intensively used in rat cytomegalovirus coding
      sequences; (ii) in many instances, the codons seldom used by the host are
      clustered along viral sequences coding for single amino acid repeats such as poly
      Ala and poly-Thr stretches. The results indicate that rare host codons and their
      iteration along viral sequences might represent major constraints that lock rat
      cytomegalovirus translation in its host during the viral latent phase.
      Consequently, the data also suggest a link between rat cytomegalovirus
      quiescence/activation and the functional tRNA coadaptation phenomenon. Indeed,
      increases in minor tRNA species corresponding to rare rat codons mark rat cell
      proliferation and might rescue difficult viral translational contexts. Ala
      isoaccepting-tRNA (CGC) is reported as an example. On the whole, the present
      findings may contribute to explain how the molecular mechanisms that normally
      control host gene expression can silence/(re)activate viral gene expression, and
      might address research toward new approaches in anti-viral therapeutics. 

PMID- 26875975
TI  - Yeast Biosensors for Detection of Environmental Pollutants: Current State and
      Limitations.
AB  - Yeast biosensors have become suitable tools for the screening and detection of
      environmental pollutants because of their various advantages compared to other
      sensing technologies. On the other hand, many limitations remain with regard to
      their optimal performance and applicability in several contexts, such as low
      concentration samples and on-site testing. This review summarizes the current
      state of yeast biosensors, with special focus on screening and assessment of
      environmental contaminants, discusses both pros and cons, and suggests steps
      towards their further development and effective use in the environmental
      assessment.

PMID- 26875976
TI  - Glycoconjugates and Glycomimetics as Microbial Anti-Adhesives.
AB  - Microbial adhesion is an essential step in infection and is mediated primarily by
      protein-carbohydrate interactions. Antagonists of such interactions have become a
      promising target for anti-adhesive therapy in several infective diseases.
      Monovalent protein-sugar interactions are often weak, and most successful anti
      adhesive materials consist of multivalent glycoconjugates. Although often very
      effective in hampering microbial adhesion, natural epitopes often show limited
      resistance to enzymatic degradation. The use of carbohydrate mimics
      (glycomimetics) as a replacement for natural sugars potentially allows higher
      metabolic stability and also higher selectivity towards the desired protein
      target. In this review we describe the state of the art in the design and
      synthesis of glycoconjugates and glycomimetics employed for the construction of
      anti-adhesive biomaterials.

PMID- 26875977
TI  - Morphology and N2 Permeance of Sputtered Pd-Ag Ultra-Thin Film Membranes.
AB  - The influence of the temperature during the growth of Pd-Ag films by PVD
      magnetron sputtering onto polished silicon wafers was studied in order to avoid
      the effect of the support roughness on the layer growth. The surfaces of the Pd
      Ag membrane films were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the results
      indicate an increase of the grain size from 120 to 250-270 nm and film surface
      roughness from 4-5 to 10-12 nm when increasing the temperature from around 360
      510 K. After selecting the conditions for obtaining the smallest grain size onto
      silicon wafer, thin Pd-Ag (0.5-2-um thick) films were deposited onto different
      types of porous supports to study the influence of the porous support, layer
      thickness and target power on the selective layer microstructure and membrane
      properties. The Pd-Ag layers deposited onto ZrO2 3-nm top layer supports
      (smallest pore size among all tested) present high N2 permeance in the order of
      10(-6) mol.m(-2).s(-1).Pa(-1) at room temperature. 

PMID- 26875978
TI  - Chemical Characterization and Trypanocidal, Leishmanicidal and Cytotoxicity
      Potential of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) Essential Oil.
AB  - Drug resistance in the treatment of neglected parasitic diseases, such as
      leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, has led to the search and development of
      alternative drugs from plant origins. In this context, the essential oil
      extracted by hydro-distillation from Lantana camara leaves was tested against
      Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. The results demonstrated that L.
      camara essential oil inhibited T. cruzi and L. braziliensis with IC50 of 201.94
      MUg/mL and 72.31 MUg/mL, respectively. L. camara essential oil was found to be
      toxic to NCTC929 fibroblasts at 500 MUg/mL (IC50 = 301.42 MUg/mL). The
      composition of L. camara essential oil analyzed by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed large amounts of (E)-caryophyllene (23.75%),
      biciclogermacrene (15.80%), germacrene D (11.73%), terpinolene (6.1%), and
      sabinene (5.92%), which might be, at least in part, responsible for its activity.
      Taken together, our results suggest that L. camara essential oil may be an
      important source of therapeutic agents for the development of alternative drugs
      against parasitic diseases. 

PMID- 26875979
TI  - Novel Cholinesterase Inhibitors Based on O-Aromatic N,N-Disubstituted Carbamates
      and Thiocarbamates.
AB  - Based on the presence of carbamoyl moiety, twenty salicylanilide N,N
      disubstituted (thio)carbamates were investigated using Ellman's method for their
      ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE).
      O-Aromatic (thio)carbamates exhibited weak to moderate inhibition of both
      cholinesterases with IC50 values within the range of 1.60 to 311.0 uM. IC50
      values for BChE were mostly lower than those obtained for AChE; four derivatives
      showed distinct selectivity for BChE. All of the (thio)carbamates produced a
      stronger inhibition of AChE than rivastigmine, and five of them inhibited BChE
      more effectively than both established drugs rivastigmine and galantamine. In
      general, 5-chloro-2-hydroxy-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]benzamide, 2-hydroxy-N
      phenylbenzamide as well as N-methyl-N-phenyl carbamate derivatives led to the
      more potent inhibition. O-{4-Chloro-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}
      dimethylcarbamothioate was identified as the most effective AChE inhibitor (IC50
      = 38.98 uM), while 2-(phenylcarbamoyl)phenyl diphenylcarbamate produced the
      lowest IC50 value for BChE (1.60 uM). Results from molecular docking studies
      suggest that carbamate compounds, especially N,N-diphenyl substituted
      representatives with considerable portion of aromatic moieties may work as non
      covalent inhibitors displaying many interactions at peripheral anionic sites of
      both enzymes. Mild cytotoxicity for HepG2 cells and consequent satisfactory
      calculated selectivity indexes qualify several derivatives for further
      optimization. 

PMID- 26875983
TI  - Local Tiled Deep Networks for Recognition of Vehicle Make and Model.
AB  - Vehicle analysis involves license-plate recognition (LPR), vehicle-type
      classification (VTC), and vehicle make and model recognition (MMR). Among these
      tasks, MMR plays an important complementary role in respect to LPR. In this
      paper, we propose a novel framework for MMR using local tiled deep networks. The
      frontal views of vehicle images are first extracted and fed into the local tiled
      deep networks for training and testing. A local tiled convolutional neural
      network (LTCNN) is proposed to alter the weight sharing scheme of CNN with local
      tiled structure. The LTCNN unties the weights of adjacent units and then ties the
      units k steps from each other within a local map. This architecture provides the
      translational, rotational, and scale invariance as well as locality. In addition,
      to further deal with the colour and illumination variation, we applied the
      histogram oriented gradient (HOG) to the frontal view of images prior to the
      LTCNN. The experimental results show that our LTCNN framework achieved a 98%
      accuracy rate in terms of vehicle MMR. 

PMID- 26875981
TI  - Selenoprotein R Protects Human Lens Epithelial Cells against D-Galactose-Induced
      Apoptosis by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.
AB  - Selenium is an essential micronutrient for humans. Much of selenium's beneficial
      influence on health is attributed to its presence within 25 selenoproteins.
      Selenoprotein R (SelR), known as methionine sulfoxide reductase B1 (MsrB1), is a
      selenium-dependent enzyme that, like other Msrs, is required for lens cell
      viability. In order to investigate the roles of SelR in protecting human lens
      epithelial (hLE) cells against damage, the influences of SelR gene knockdown on d
      galactose-induced apoptosis in hLE cells were studied. The results showed that
      both d-galactose and SelR gene knockdown by siRNA independently induced oxidative
      stress. When SelR-gene-silenced hLE cells were exposed to d-galactose, glucose
      regulated protein 78 (GRP78) protein level was further increased, mitochondrial
      membrane potential was significantly decreased and accompanied by a release of
      mitochondrial cytochrome c. At the same time, the apoptosis cells percentage and
      the caspase-3 activity were visibly elevated in hLE cells. These results
      suggested that SelR might protect hLE cell mitochondria and mitigating apoptosis
      in hLE cells against oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress
      induced by d-galactose, implying that selenium as a micronutrient may play
      important roles in hLE cells. 

PMID- 26875982
TI  - Overexpression of Glucocorticoid Receptor beta Enhances Myogenesis and Reduces
      Catabolic Gene Expression.
AB  - Unlike the glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRalpha), GR beta (GRbeta) has a
      truncated ligand-binding domain that prevents glucocorticoid binding, implicating
      GRalpha as the mediator of glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle loss. Because
      GRbeta causes glucocorticoid resistance, targeting GRbeta may be beneficial in
      impairing muscle loss as a result of GRalpha activity. The purpose of this study
      was to determine how the overexpression of GRbeta affects myotube formation and
      dexamethasone (Dex) responsiveness. We measured GR isoform expression in C2C12
      muscle cells in response to Dex and insulin, and through four days of myotube
      formation. Next, lentiviral-mediated overexpression of GRbeta in C2C12 was
      performed, and these cells were characterized for cell fusion and myotube
      formation, as well as sensitivity to Dex via the expression of ubiquitin ligases.
      GRbeta overexpression increased mRNA levels of muscle regulatory factors and
      enhanced proliferation in myoblasts. GRbeta overexpressing myotubes had an
      increased fusion index. Myotubes overexpressing GRbeta had lower forkhead box O3
      (Foxo3a) mRNA levels and a blunted muscle atrophy F-box/Atrogen-1 (MAFbx) and
      muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1) response to Dex. We showed that GRbeta may serve as
      a pharmacological target for skeletal muscle growth and protection from
      glucocorticoid-induced catabolic signaling. Increasing GRbeta levels in skeletal
      muscle may cause a state of glucocorticoid resistance, stabilizing muscle mass
      during exposure to high doses of glucocorticoids.

PMID- 26875980
TI  - Endocannabinoids as Guardians of Metastasis.
AB  - Endocannabinoids including anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are involved in
      cancer pathophysiology in several ways, including tumor growth and progression,
      peritumoral inflammation, nausea and cancer pain. Recently we showed that the
      endocannabinoid profiles are deranged during cancer to an extent that this
      manifests in alterations of plasma endocannabinoids in cancer patients, which was
      mimicked by similar changes in rodent models of local and metastatic cancer. The
      present topical review summarizes the complexity of endocannabinoid signaling in
      the context of tumor growth and metastasis. 

PMID- 26875984
TI  - Suppressive Effects of the Site 1 Protease (S1P) Inhibitor, PF-429242, on Dengue
      Virus Propagation.
AB  - Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes one of the most widespread mosquito-borne
      diseases in the world. Despite the great need, effective vaccines and practical
      antiviral therapies are still under development. Intracellular lipid levels are
      regulated by sterol regulatory elements-binding proteins (SREBPs), which are
      activated by serine protease, site 1 protease (S1P). Small compound PF-429242 is
      known as a S1P inhibitor and the antivirus effects have been reported in some
      viruses. In this study, we examined the anti-DENV effects of PF-429242 using all
      four serotypes of DENV by several primate-derived cell lines. Moreover, emergence
      of drug-resistant DENV mutants was assessed by sequential passages with the drug.
      DENV dependency on intracellular lipids during their infection was also evaluated
      by adding extracellular lipids. The addition of PF-429242 showed suppression of
      viral propagation in all DENV serotypes. We showed that drug-resistant DENV
      mutants are unlikely to emerge after five times sequential passages through
      treatment with PF-429242. Although the levels of intracellular cholesterol and
      lipid droplets were reduced by PF-429242, viral propagations were not recovered
      by addition of exogenous cholesterol or fatty acids, indicating that the
      reduction of LD and cholesterol caused by PF-429242 treatment is not related to
      its mechanism of action against DENV propagation. Our results suggest that PF
      429242 is a promising candidate for an anti-DENV agent. 

PMID- 26875985
TI  - Genetic Variability of HIV-1 for Drug Resistance Assay Development.
AB  - A hybridization-based point-of-care (POC) assay for HIV-1 drug resistance would
      be useful in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where resistance testing is
      not routinely available. The major obstacle in developing such an assay is the
      extreme genetic variability of HIV-1. We analyzed 27,203 reverse transcriptase
      (RT) sequences from the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database originating from
      six LMIC regions. We characterized the variability in a 27-nucleotide window
      surrounding six clinically important drug resistance mutations (DRMs) at
      positions 65, 103, 106, 181, 184, and 190. The number of distinct codons at each
      DRM position ranged from four at position 184 to 11 at position 190. Depending on
      the mutation, between 11 and 15 of the 24 flanking nucleotide positions were
      variable. Nonetheless, most flanking sequences differed from a core set of 10
      flanking sequences by just one or two nucleotides. Flanking sequence variability
      was also lower in each LMIC region compared with overall variability in all
      regions. We also describe an online program that we developed to perform similar
      analyses for mutations at any position in RT, protease, or integrase. 

PMID- 26875987
TI  - Cholesterol Promotes Interaction of the Protein CLIC1 with Phospholipid
      Monolayers at the Air-Water Interface.
AB  - CLIC1 is a Chloride Intracellular Ion Channel protein that exists either in a
      soluble state in the cytoplasm or as a membrane bound protein. Members of the
      CLIC family are largely soluble proteins that possess the intriguing property of
      spontaneous insertion into phospholipid bilayers to form integral membrane ion
      channels. The regulatory role of cholesterol in the ion-channel activity of CLIC1
      in tethered lipid bilayers was previously assessed using impedance spectroscopy.
      Here we extend this investigation by evaluating the influence of cholesterol on
      the spontaneous membrane insertion of CLIC1 into Langmuir film monolayers
      prepared using 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn
      glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L
      serine alone or in combination with cholesterol. The spontaneous membrane
      insertion of CLIC1 was shown to be dependent on the presence of cholesterol in
      the membrane. Furthermore, pre-incubation of CLIC1 with cholesterol prior to its
      addition to the Langmuir film, showed no membrane insertion even in monolayers
      containing cholesterol, suggesting the formation of a CLIC1-cholesterol pre
      complex. Our results therefore suggest that CLIC1 membrane interaction involves
      CLIC1 binding to cholesterol located in the membrane for its initial docking
      followed by insertion. Subsequent structural rearrangements of the protein would
      likely also be required along with oligomerisation to form functional ion
      channels. 

PMID- 26875988
TI  - Making the practically impossible "Merely difficult"--Cryogenic FIB lift-out for
      "Damage free" soft matter imaging.
AB  - The preparation of thinned lamellae from bulk samples for transmission electron
      microscopy (TEM) analysis has been possible in the focussed ion beam scanning
      electron microscope (FIB-SEM) for over 20 years via the in situ lift-out method.
      Lift-out offers a fast and site specific preparation method for TEM analysis,
      typically in the field of materials science. More recently it has been applied to
      a low-water content biological sample (Rubino 2012). This work presents the
      successful lift-out of high-water content lamellae, under cryogenic conditions
      (cryo-FIB lift-out) and using a nanomanipulator retaining its full range of
      motion, which are advances on the work previously done by Rubino (2012).
      Strategies are explored for maintaining cryogenic conditions, grid attachment
      using cryo-condensation of water and protection of the lamella when transferring
      to the TEM.

PMID- 26875989
TI  - A sustainable approach to training nurses in acute care skills in a resource
      limited setting (Network for Intensive Care Skills Training, NICST).

PMID- 26875990
TI  - Systematic review and meta-analysis of hemodynamic-directed feedback during
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cardiac arrest.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Physiologic monitoring of resuscitative efforts during
      cardiac arrest is gaining in importance, as it provides a real-time window into
      the cellular physiology of patients. The aim of this review is to assess the
      quality of evidence surrounding the use of physiologic monitoring to guide
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to examine whether the evidence
      demonstrates an improvement in patient outcome when comparing hemodynamic
      directed CPR versus standard CPR. METHODS: Studies were obtained through a search
      of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Peer-reviewed randomized trials,
      case-control studies, systematic reviews, and cohort studies that titrated CPR to
      physiologic measures, compared results to standard CPR, and examined patient
      outcome were included. RESULTS: Six studies met inclusion criteria, with all
      studies conducted in animal populations. Four studies examined the effects of
      hemodynamic-directed CPR on survival, with 35/37 (94.6%) animals surviving in the
      hemodynamic-directed CPR groups and 12/35 (34.3%) surviving in the control groups
      (p<0.001). Two studies examined the effects of hemodynamic-directed CPR on ROSC,
      with 22/30 (73.3%) achieving ROSC in the hemodynamic-directed CPR group and 19/30
      (63.3%) achieving ROSC in the control group (p=0.344). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION:
      These results suggest a trend in survival from hemodynamic-directed CPR over
      standard CPR, however the small sample size and lack of human data make these
      results of limited value. Future human studies examining hemodynamic-directed CPR
      versus current CPR standards are needed to enhance our understanding of how to
      effectively use physiologic measures to improve resuscitation efforts and
      ultimately incorporate concrete targets into international resuscitation
      guidelines.

PMID- 26875991
TI  - Defibrillation success during different phases of the mechanical chest
      compression cycle.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Animal studies indicate higher termination of VF/VT (TOF) rates
      after shocks delivered during the decompression phase of the compression cycle
      for manual and mechanical CPR. We investigated TOF for shocks delivered in
      different compression cycle phases during load distributing band (LDB) mechanical
      CPR in the CIRC trial. METHODS: Shocks were retrospectively categorized as
      delivered during the compression, decompression, or relaxation phase of LDB
      compressions using transthoracic impedance data. Shocks delivered when the LDB
      device was paused, were used as controls. The first shock and the first up-to
      three shocks (first shocks plus shocks two and three if given) from patients with
      initial VF/VT and LDB CPR prior to shock were grouped according to compression
      cycle phase. TOF rates for these groups versus the control group were analyzed
      using logistic regression for first shocks and the general estimating equations
      (GEE) model for the up-to-three shocks. Adjustments were made for bystander CPR,
      witnessed arrest, defibrillator shock energy and transthoracic impedance.
      RESULTS: Among 244 first shocks and 685 up-to-three shocks TOF success rates were
      lower (p<0.05 and p<0.02) for shocks given during the compression phase (72% and
      71% respectively) than for control shocks given during compression pauses (86%
      and 82% respectively). Decompression and relaxation phase shocks had TOF rates
      not different from the controls. CONCLUSION: Shocks delivered in the compression
      phase of LDB chest compressions had lower TOF rates than shocks delivered while
      pausing the LDB device. More research is needed to see how defibrillation during
      chest compressions affect ROSC and survival.

PMID- 26875992
TI  - Measuring teamwork performance: Validity testing of the Team Emergency Assessment
      Measure (TEAM) with clinical resuscitation teams.
AB  - AIM: To test the resuscitation non-technical Team Emergency Assessment Measure
      (TEAM) for feasibility, validity and reliability, in two Australian Emergency
      Departments (ED). BACKGROUND: Non-technical (teamwork) skills have been
      identified as inadequate and as such have a significant impact on patient safety.
      Valid and reliable teamwork assessment tools are an important element of
      performance assessment and debriefing processes. METHODS: A quasi experimental
      design based on observational ratings of resuscitation non-technical skills in
      two metropolitan ED. Senior nursing staff rated 106 adult resuscitation team
      events over a ten month period where three or more resuscitation team members
      attended. Resuscitation events, team performance and validity and reliability
      data was collected for the TEAM. RESULTS: Most rated events were for full cardiac
      resuscitation (43%) with 3-15 team members present for an average of 45 min. The
      TEAM was found to be feasible and quickly completed with minimal or no training.
      Discriminant validity was good as was internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha
      of 0.94. Uni-dimensional and concurrent validity also reached acceptable
      standards, 0.94 and >0.63 (p=<0.001), respectively, and a single 'teamwork'
      construct was identified. Non-technical skills overall were good but leadership
      was rated notably lower than task and teamwork performance indicating a need for
      leadership training. CONCLUSION: The TEAM is a feasible, valid and reliable non
      technical assessment measure in simulated and real clinical settings. Emergency
      teams need to develop leadership skills through training and reflective
      debriefing.

PMID- 26875993
TI  - Dissecting the role of redox signaling in neuronal development.
AB  - The generation of abnormally high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is
      linked to cellular dysfunction, including neuronal toxicity and
      neurodegeneration. However, physiological ROS production modulates redox
      sensitive roles of several molecules such as transcription factors, signaling
      proteins, and cytoskeletal components. Changes in the functions of redox
      sensitive proteins may be important for defining key aspects of stem cell
      proliferation and differentiation, neuronal maturation, and neuronal plasticity.
      In neurons, most of the studies have been focused on the pathological
      implications of such modifications and only very recently their essential roles
      in neuronal development and plasticity has been recognized. In this review, we
      discuss the participation of NADPH oxidases (NOXs) and a family of protein
      methionine sulfoxide oxidases, named molecule interacting with CasLs, as
      regulated enzymatic sources of ROS production in neurons, and describes the
      contribution of ROS signaling to neurogenesis and differentiation, neurite
      outgrowth, and neuronal plasticity. We review the role of reactive oxygen species
      (ROS) in neurogenesis, axon growth, and guidance and NMDA-receptor-mediated
      plasticity, LTP, and memory. ROS participation is presented in the context of
      NADPH oxidase and MICAL functions and their importance for brain functions.

PMID- 26875995
TI  - Endothelial chimerism in chronic sclerotic-type chronic graft-versus-host disease
      (GVHD) and GVHD-associated angiomatosis.
AB  - Graft-versus-host disease-associated angiomatosis (GVHD-AA) is an uncommon
      manifestation of chronic GVHD consisting of friable vascular proliferations.
      Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrate the presence of donor
      derived endothelial cells within areas of GVHD-AA. This is the first documented
      occurrence of a benign neoplastic growth in relationship to a form of chronic
      GVHD. 

PMID- 26875994
TI  - A controlled spinal cord contusion for the rhesus macaque monkey.
AB  - Most in vivo spinal cord injury (SCI) experimental models use rodents. Due to the
      anatomical and functional differences between rodents and humans, reliable large
      animal models, such as non-human primates, of SCI are critically needed to
      facilitate translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical applications. Here
      we report the establishment of a controlled spinal contusion model that produces
      severity-dependent functional and histological deficits in non-human primates.
      Six adult male rhesus macaque monkeys underwent mild to moderate contusive SCI
      using 1.0 and 1.5mm tissue displacement injuries at T9 or sham laminectomy
      (n=2/group). Multiple assessments including motor-evoked potential (MEP),
      somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP), MR imaging, and monkey hindlimb score
      (MHS) were performed. Monkeys were sacrificed at 6 months post-injury, and the
      lesion area was examined for cavitation, axons, myelin, and astrocytic responses.
      The MHS demonstrated that both the 1.0 and 1.5mm displacement injuries created
      discriminative neurological deficits which were severity-dependent. The MEP
      response rate was depressed after a 1.0mm injury and was abolished after a 1.5mm
      injury. The SSEP response rate was slightly decreased following both the 1.0 and
      1.5mm SCI. MRI imaging demonstrated an increase in T2 signal at the lesion site
      at 3 and 6months, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography showed
      interrupted fiber tracts at the lesion site at 4h and at 6 months post-SCI.
      Histologically, severity-dependent spinal cord atrophy, axonal degeneration, and
      myelin loss were found after both injury severities. Notably, strong astrocytic
      gliosis was not observed at the lesion penumbra in the monkey. In summary, we
      describe the development of a clinically-relevant contusive SCI model that
      produces severity-dependent anatomical and functional deficits in non-human
      primates. Such a model may advance the translation of novel SCI repair strategies
      to the clinic.

PMID- 26875986
TI  - The Deep Correlation between Energy Metabolism and Reproduction: A View on the
      Effects of Nutrition for Women Fertility.
AB  - In female mammals, mechanisms have been developed, throughout evolution, to
      integrate environmental, nutritional and hormonal cues in order to guarantee
      reproduction in favorable energetic conditions and to inhibit it in case of food
      scarcity. This metabolic strategy could be an advantage in nutritionally poor
      environments, but nowadays is affecting women's health. The unlimited
      availability of nutrients, in association with reduced energy expenditure, leads
      to alterations in many metabolic pathways and to impairments in the finely tuned
      inter-relation between energy metabolism and reproduction, thereby affecting
      female fertility. Many energetic states could influence female reproductive
      health being under- and over-weight, obesity and strenuous physical activity are
      all conditions that alter the profiles of specific hormones, such as insulin and
      adipokines, thus impairing women fertility. Furthermore, specific classes of
      nutrients might affect female fertility by acting on particular signaling
      pathways. Dietary fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins and food-associated
      components (such as endocrine disruptors) have per se physiological activities
      and their unbalanced intake, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, might
      impair metabolic homeostasis and fertility in premenopausal women. Even though we
      are far from identifying a "fertility diet", lifestyle and dietary interventions
      might represent a promising and invaluable strategy to manage infertility in
      premenopausal women. 

PMID- 26875996
TI  - Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of photophobia.
AB  - Photophobia, an abnormal intolerance to light, is associated with a number of
      ophthalmic and neurologic conditions. In the presence of normal neurologic and
      ophthalmologic examinations, the most common conditions associated with
      photophobia are migraine, blepharospasm, and traumatic brain injury. Recent
      evidence indicates that the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
      play a key role in the pathophysiology of photophobia. Although pharmacologic
      manipulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and the
      neural pathways that mediate photophobia may be possible in the future, current
      therapies are directed at the underlying cause of the photophobia and optical
      modulation of these cells and pathways.

PMID- 26875997
TI  - Comparison of cell-based and PCR-based assays as methods for measuring
      infectivity of Tulane virus.
AB  - In this study, we used Tulane virus (TV) as a surrogate for HuNoV to evaluate for
      correlation between two cell-based assays and three PCR-based assays.
      Specifically, the cell-based plaque and TCID50 assays measure for infectious
      virus particles, while the PCR-based RNase exposure, porcine gastric mucin in
      situ-capture qRT-PCR (PGM-ISC-qRT-PCR), and antibody in-situ-capture qRT-PCR (Ab
      ISC-qRT-PCR) assays measure for an amplicon within encapsidated viral genome. Ten
      batches of viral stocks ranging from 3.41 * 10(5) to 6.67 * 10(6) plaque forming
      units (PFUs) were used for side by side comparison with PFU as a reference. The
      results indicate that one PFU was equivalent to 6.69 +/- 2.34 TCID50 units, 9.75
      +/- 10.87 RNase-untreated genomic copies (GCs), 2.87 +/- 3.05 RNase-treated GCs,
      0.07 +/- 0.07 PGM-ISC-qRT-PCR GCs, and 0.52 +/- 0.39 Ab-ISC-qRT-PCR GCs. We
      observed that while the cell-based assays were consistent with each other, the
      TCID50 assay was more sensitive than the plaque assay. In contrast, the PCR-based
      assays were not always consistent with the cell-based assays. The very high
      variations in GCs as measured by both ISC-RT-qPCR assays made them difficult to
      correlate against the relatively small variations (<20-fold) in the PFUs or
      TCID50 units as measured by the cell-based assays.

PMID- 26875998
TI  - Akkermansia muciniphila and its role in regulating host functions.
AB  - Akkermansia muciniphila is an intestinal bacterium that was isolated a decade ago
      from a human fecal sample. Its specialization in mucin degradation makes it a key
      organism at the mucosal interface between the lumen and host cells. Although it
      was isolated quite recently, it has rapidly raised significant interest as A.
      muciniphila is the only cultivated intestinal representative of the
      Verrucomicrobia, one of the few phyla in the human gut that can be easily
      detected in phylogenetic and metagenome analyses. There has also been a growing
      interest in A. muciniphila, due to its association with health in animals and
      humans. Notably, reduced levels of A. muciniphila have been observed in patients
      with inflammatory bowel diseases (mainly ulcerative colitis) and metabolic
      disorders, which suggests it may have potential anti-inflammatory properties. The
      aims of this review are to summarize the existing data on the intestinal
      distribution of A. muciniphila in health and disease, to provide insight into its
      ecology and its role in founding microbial networks at the mucosal interface, as
      well as to discuss recent research on its role in regulating host functions that
      are disturbed in various diseases, with a specific focus on metabolic disorders
      in both animals and humans.

PMID- 26875999
TI  - Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on nutritional and immunologic
      status in HIV-infected children in the low-income country of Ethiopia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: HIV/AIDS and malnutrition combine to undermine the immunity of
      individuals and are inextricably interrelated. Although the effect of highly
      active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on growth in HIV-infected children is well
      known, the influence of prior nutritional and immunologic status on the response
      to HAART is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to determine
      the effects of HAART on nutritional and immunological status in HIV-infected
      children in the low-income country of Ethiopia. METHODS: A multicenter,
      retrospective cohort study was conducted on HIV-infected children receiving
      antiretroviral therapy at the pediatric units of public hospitals in Addis Ababa
      (Black Lion, Zewditu, Yekatit 12 and ALERT hospitals), Ethiopia. Nutritional
      status was defined as stunting (height-for-age Z score [HAZ] <-2), wasting
      (weight-for-height Z score [WHZ] <-2), and underweight (weight-for-age Z score
      [WAZ] <-2). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze factors
      associated with treatment success and to establish whether growth (baseline
      nutritional status) in children predicts immunologic outcomes. In all, 556 HIV
      infected children receiving HAART from January 2008 to December 2009 were
      included in this study. RESULTS: Over the 24-mo follow-up period, the study
      showed that the immunologic recovery of stunted and underweight children,
      regardless of their baseline nutritional status, responded equally to treatment.
      However, wasted children showed less immunologic recovery at the different follow
      up visits. Predictors of positive shift in WHZ after 24 mo of follow-up were
      advanced disease stage (World Health Organization clinical stages 3 and 4) with
      odds ratio (OR), 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-0.99; P = 0.045) and
      baseline severe underweight OR, 0.19 (95% CI, 0.09-0.56; P = 0.003). The
      independent predictors of positive shift of growth shift in WAZ over 24 mo were
      lower baseline age (<36 mo) with OR, 0.21 (95% CI, 0.04-0.90; P = 0.036) and
      baseline moderate underweight itself with OR, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.05-0.25; P =
      0.0001) were predictors of positive shift (shift to normal). CONCLUSION: Despite
      the apparent growth response in HIV-infected children after initiation of HAART,
      moderate and severe underweight are both independent predictors of a positive
      shift. The latter suggests that children on HAART require nutritional
      supplementation, especially during the early initiation of HAART.

PMID- 26876000
TI  - Indices of dietary fat quality during midpregnancy is associated with gestational
      diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between gestational diabetes mellitus
      (GDM) and the usual intake of fatty acids and indices of dietary fat quality [the
      atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity indices (TI), and the ratios of hypo-and
      hypercholesterolemic (hH), ?n-3/?n-6, and polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids
      (P:S)], during mid-pregnancy. METHODS: 799 adult pregnant women living in
      Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil were screened and accepted for this cross-sectional
      GDM study. The Multiple Source Method was used to estimate participants' usual
      diet, using two 24-hour dietary recalls during mid-pregnancy. Diagnosis of GDM
      was defined by the American Diabetes Association criteria of 2015. Logistic
      regression analysis were used to assess the association between GDM and dietary
      fat, adjusted for age, education, parity, gestational age at the time of the
      interview, pre-pregnancy and current BMI, prior GDM, family history of diabetes,
      smoking, physical activity, energy, fiber, and fatty acids. RESULTS: The mean
      (standard deviation) age of the women was 28 (5) years, and 19% had GDM. After
      multiple adjustments, inverse associations between the highest tertile of ?n-3
      fatty acids intake [0.21 (0.08-0.56)], alpha-linolenic intake [0.15 (0.05-0.42)],
      and GDM were found. A positive association between GDM and the highest tertile of
      TI [2.66 (1.34-5.29)], and a negative association with the highest tertile of hH
      ratio [0.41 (0.22-0.77)], were observed. No association between GDM and other
      indices of dietary fat quality were found. CONCLUSION: The quality of dietary fat
      during pregnancy is strongly associated with GDM. Randomized clinical trial are
      needed to confirm these findings.

PMID- 26876001
TI  - Association of anti-RNA polymerase III antibody and silicone breast implants in
      patients with systemic sclerosis.
AB  - Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is believed to be caused by a complex interplay between
      genetic factors and environmental influences. Although silicone has been
      considered to be a candidate of environmental agents, clinical data presented so
      far fail to show a significant association between silicone breast implant (SBI)
      and the development of SSc. Because we recently experienced two consecutive SSc
      patients with anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) antibody who underwent SBI, we
      here investigated the association of SBI history with the development of SSc
      positive for anti-RNAP III antibody. Among 262 Japanese SSc patients, of note,
      the frequency of SBI history was significantly higher in the anti-RNAP III
      antibody group (16.0% [4/25]) than in the anti-topoisomerase I antibody group (0%
      [0/87], P < 0.005) and in the anticentromere antibody group (1.2% [2/150], P <
      0.005). These results suggest that SBI could influence the development of SSc in
      a certain subset of patients with anti-RNAP III antibody. 

PMID- 26876003
TI  - Expression of active chimeric-tissue plasminogen activator in tobacco hairy
      roots, identification of a DNA aptamer and purification by aptamer functionalized
      MWCNTs chromatography.
AB  - Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease that plays a crucial
      role in the fibrinolytic system. We increased the activity of tPA by splicing the
      active site of dodder-cuscutain gene to human tPA. The chimeric cDNA of tPA was
      constructed by Splicing by Overlap Extension Polymerase Chain Reaction (SOEing
      PCR) method and transferred to the hairy roots of tobacco using different strains
      of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Chimeric-tPA was purified by lysine-sepharose
      chromatography and specific aptamers were designed using SELEX method. Multi wall
      carbon nanotubes were functionalized with selected aptamers, packed in a column,
      and used for purification. The results demonstrated that selected aptamer having
      KD values of 0.320 nM and IC50 of 28.9 nM possessed good affinity to tPA, and the
      chimeric-tPA was properly purified by aptamer-chromatography. Hairy roots
      expressing chimeric-tPA and normal-tPA produced 900 and 450 ngmg-1 of total
      protein, respectively. The activities of chimeric-tPA and normal-tPA were 90 and
      60 IUml-1, respectively. Compared to the normal-tPA, chimeric-tPA showed more
      activity.

PMID- 26876002
TI  - Molecular characterization of IFN-T expressed in buffalo embryonic trophoblasts
      and expression of recombinant BuIFN-T1a2 and BuIFN-T8 isoforms in E. coli.
AB  - Interferon tau (IFN-T) acts as a signaling molecule for maternal recognition of
      pregnancy (MRP) in ruminants. Aim of the present study was to identify various
      Buffalo Interferon tau (BuIFN-T) transcripts in buffalo trophoblast, phylogenetic
      comparison of these sequences with known mRNA sequences of buffalo, bovine,
      caprine and ovine and to express and purify the recombinant BuIFN-T (rBuIFN-T)
      isoforms. Following RNA extraction from trophectodermal cells, RT-PCR was
      performed using Ifn-t gene specific primers. 13 distinct cDNA variants encoding
      eight different BuIFN-T proteins were identified. BuIFN-T1a2 and BuIFN-T8 were
      expressed in prokaryotic expression system at 37  degrees C, 25  degrees C and 16
      degrees C with 1 mM IPTG for 12 h and the recombinant proteins expressed at 16 
      degrees C were partially purified by Immobilised Metal Affinity Chromatography
      (IMAC). BuIFN-T isoforms have greater nucleotide and amino acid homology with
      caprine (98-100%, 96-100%), ovine (94-97%, 90-95%) and bovine (89.6-90.6%, 82
      86%). These novel BuIFN-T isoforms contained pronounced nucleotide and amino acid
      sequence identity with one another (99.1-99.8%, 98-99%) but moderate sequence
      identity with previously identified buffalo IFN-T (90-92%, 82-86%). Solubility of
      expressed recombinant isoforms (rBuIFN-T1a2 and rBuIFN-T8) was highest at 16 
      degrees C. In conclusion, 13 distinct Ifn-t gene variants exist in trophectoderm
      of in vitro developed buffalo blastocysts that encode eight different proteins.
      rBuIFN-T1a2 and rBuIFN-T8 were successfully expressed in soluble form in
      Escherichia coli expression system at 16  degrees C with 1 mM IPTG and the
      resulting recombinant proteins were partially purified by IMAC.

PMID- 26876004
TI  - Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus spp. from crows and their environment in
      metropolitan Washington State, USA: Is there a correlation between VRE positive
      crows and the environment?
AB  - Vancomycin-resistant enterococci [VRE] have been isolated from municipal,
      hospital and agricultural wastewater, recreational beaches, wild animals, birds
      and food animals around the world. In this study, American crows (Corvus
      brachyrhynchos) from sewage treatment plants (WWTP), dairy farms, and a large
      roost in a restored wetland with corresponding environmental samples were
      cultured for VRE. A total of 245 samples [156 crows, 89 environmental] were
      collected and screened for acquired vanA, vanB and/or intrinsic vanC1 genes.
      Samples were enriched overnight in BHI supplemented with 20MUg/mL aztreonam,
      4MUg/mL vancomycin and plated on m-Enterococcus agar media supplemented with
      6MUg/mL vancomycin. Selected colonies were grown on BHI media supplemented with
      18MUg/mL vancomycin. Of these, 24.5% of the crow and 55% the environmental/cow
      samples were VRE positive as defined by Enterococcus spp. able to grow on media
      supplemented with 18MUg/mL vancomycin. A total of 122 VRE isolates, 43 crow and
      79 environmental isolates were screened, identified to species level using 16S
      sequencing and further characterized. Four vanA E. faecium and multiple vanC1 E.
      gallinarum were identified from crows isolated from three sites. E. faecium vanA
      and E. gallinarum vanC1 along with other Enterococcus spp. carrying vanA, vanB,
      vanC1 were isolated from three environments. All enterococci were multidrug
      resistant. Crows were more likely to carry vanA E. faecium than either the cow
      feces or wetland waters/soils. Comparing E. gallinarum vanC1 from crows and their
      environment would be useful in determining whether crows share VRE strains with
      their environment.

PMID- 26876006
TI  - Physiologic effect of repeated adrenaline (epinephrine) doses during
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the cath lab setting: A randomised porcine
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This porcine study was designed to explore the effects of repetitive
      intravenous adrenaline doses on physiologic parameters during CPR. METHODS:
      Thirty-six adult pigs were randomised to four injections of: adrenaline 0.02
      mg(kgdose)(-1), adrenaline 0.03 mg(kgdose)(-1) or saline control. The effect on
      systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure
      (CePP), end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), arterial oxygen saturation via pulse
      oximetry (SpO2), cerebral tissue oximetry (SctO2), were analysed immediately
      prior to each injection and at peak arterial systolic pressure and arterial blood
      gases were analysed at baseline and after 15 min. RESULT: In the group given 0.02
      mg(kgdose)(-1), there were increases in all arterial blood pressures at all 4
      pressure peaks but CePP only increased significantly after peak 1. A decrease in
      ETCO2 following peak 1 and 2 was observed. SctO2 and SpO2 were lowered following
      injection 2 and beyond. In the group given a 0.03 mg(kgdose)(-1), all ABP's
      increased at the first 4 pressure peaks but CePP only following 3 pressure peaks.
      Lower ETCO2, SctO2 and SpO2 were seen at peak 1 and beyond. In the two adrenaline
      groups, pH and Base Excess were lower and lactate levels higher compared to
      baseline as well as compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Repetitive intravenous
      adrenaline doses increased ABP's and to some extent also CePP, but significantly
      decreased organ and brain perfusion. The institutional protocol number:
      Malmo/Lund Committee for Animal Experiment Ethics, approval reference number: M
      192-10.

PMID- 26876005
TI  - Endocardial Remodeling in Heart Failure Patients with Impaired and Preserved Left
      Ventricular Systolic Function--A Magnetic Resonance Image Study.
AB  - Left ventricular (LV) trabeculation has been studied in certain forms of
      cardiomyopathy. However, the changes of LV endocardial trabeculation during the
      remodeling process leading to heart failure (HF) are unclear. Seventy-four
      patients with systolic heart failure (SHF), 65 with heart failure with preserved
      ejection fraction (HFpEF) and 61 without HF were prospectively enrolled. All
      subjects received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study including cine, T1 and
      late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images. Trabecular-papillary muscle (TPM) mass,
      fractal dimension (FD) and extracellular volume (ECV) were derived. The results
      showed that TPM mass index was higher in patients with SHF than that in patients
      with HFpEF and non-HF. The TPM mass-LV mass ratio (TPMm/LVM) was higher in SHF
      group than that in HFpEF and non-HF. FD was not different among groups. The
      presence of LGE was inversely associated with TPM mass index and TPMm/LVM while
      the ECV were positively associated with TPMm/LVM. The FD was positively
      associated with LV chamber size. In conclusion, TPM increases in patients with
      SHF and are probably related to myocardial cell hypertrophy and fibrotic repair
      during remodeling. The FD increases with the dilatation of LV chamber but remain
      unchanged with the deterioration of LV function. 

PMID- 26876007
TI  - Nonrandom seedling establishment corresponds with distance-dependent decline in
      mycorrhizal abundance in two terrestrial orchids.
AB  - In plant species that critically rely on mycorrhizal symbionts for germination
      and seedling establishment, distance-dependent decline of mycorrhizal fungi in
      the soil can be hypothesized to lead to significant spatial clustering as a
      result of nonrandom spatial patterns of seedling establishment. To test this
      hypothesis, we investigated the abundance and distribution of mycorrhizal fungi
      in the soil and how they relate to spatial patterns of adults and seedling
      recruitment in two related orchid species. We combined assessments of spatial
      variation in fungal abundance using quantitative PCR (qPCR) with spatial point
      pattern analyses based on long-term demographic data and cluster point process
      models. qPCR analyses showed that fungal abundance declined rapidly with distance
      from the adult host plants. Spatial point pattern analyses showed that successful
      recruitment in both species was clustered significantly around adult plants and
      that the decline in the neighborhood density of recruits around adults coincided
      with the decline of fungal abundance around adult plants. Overall, these results
      indicate that the distribution and abundance of fungal associates in the soil may
      have a strong impact on the aboveground distribution of its partner.

PMID- 26876009
TI  - Determination of critical diameters for intrinsic carrier diffusion-length of GaN
      nanorods with cryo-scanning near-field optical microscopy.
AB  - Direct measurements of carrier diffusion in GaN nanorods with a designed
      InGaN/GaN layer-in-a-wire structure by scanning near-field optical microscopy
      (SNOM) were performed at liquid-helium temperatures of 10 K. Without an applied
      voltage, intrinsic diffusion lengths of photo-excited carriers were measured as
      the diameters of the nanorods differ from 50 to 800 nm. The critical diameter of
      nanorods for carrier diffusion is concluded as 170 nm with a statistical
      approach. Photoluminescence spectra were acquired for different positions of the
      SNOM tip on the nanorod, corresponding to the origins of the well-defined
      luminescence peaks, each being related to recombination-centers. The phenomenon
      originated from surface oxide by direct comparison of two nanorods with similar
      diameters in a single map has been observed and investigated.

PMID- 26876008
TI  - Periodic, Quasi-periodic and Chaotic Dynamics in Simple Gene Elements with Time
      Delays.
AB  - Regulatory gene circuit motifs play crucial roles in performing and maintaining
      vital cellular functions. Frequently, theoretical studies of gene circuits focus
      on steady-state behaviors and do not include time delays. In this study, the
      inclusion of time delays is shown to entirely change the time-dependent dynamics
      for even the simplest possible circuits with one and two gene elements with self
      and cross regulations. These elements can give rise to rich behaviors including
      periodic, quasi-periodic, weak chaotic, strong chaotic and intermittent dynamics.
      We introduce a special power-spectrum-based method to characterize and
      discriminate these dynamical modes quantitatively. Our simulation results suggest
      that, while a single negative feedback loop of either one- or two-gene element
      can only have periodic dynamics, the elements with two positive/negative feedback
      loops are the minimalist elements to have chaotic dynamics. These elements
      typically have one negative feedback loop that generates oscillations, and
      another unit that allows frequent switches among multiple steady states or
      between oscillatory and non-oscillatory dynamics. Possible dynamical features of
      several simple one- and two-gene elements are presented in details. Discussion is
      presented for possible roles of the chaotic behavior in the robustness of
      cellular functions and diseases, for example, in the context of cancer. 

PMID- 26876010
TI  - The right hemisphere is dominant in organization of visual search-A study in
      stroke patients.
AB  - Cancellation tasks are widely used for diagnosis of lateralized attentional
      deficits in stroke patients. A disorganized fashion of target cancellation has
      been hypothesized to reflect disturbed spatial exploration. In the current study
      we aimed to examine which lesion locations result in disorganized visual search
      during cancellation tasks, in order to determine which brain areas are involved
      in search organization. A computerized shape cancellation task was administered
      in 78 stroke patients. As an index for search organization, the amount of
      intersections of paths between consecutive crossed targets was computed (i.e.,
      intersections rate). This measure is known to accurately depict disorganized
      visual search in a stroke population. Ischemic lesions were delineated on CT or
      MRI images. Assumption-free voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping and region of
      interest-based analyses were used to determine the grey and white matter
      anatomical correlates of the intersections rate as a continuous measure. The
      right lateral occipital cortex, superior parietal lobule, postcentral gyrus,
      superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, inferior
      longitudinal fasciculus, first branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus
      (SLF I), and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, were related to search
      organization. To conclude, a clear right hemispheric dominance for search
      organization was revealed. Further, the correlates of disorganized search overlap
      with regions that have previously been associated with conjunctive search and
      spatial working memory. This suggests that disorganized visual search is caused
      by disturbed spatial processes, rather than deficits in high level executive
      function or planning, which would be expected to be more related to frontal
      regions.

PMID- 26876011
TI  - Ketogenic diet restores aberrant cortical motor maps and excitation-to-inhibition
      imbalance in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental
      disorder characterized by deficits in sociability and communication, and
      restricted and/or repetitive motor behaviors. Amongst the diverse hypotheses
      regarding the pathophysiology of ASD, one possibility is that there is increased
      neuronal excitation, leading to alterations in sensory processing, functional
      integration and behavior. Meanwhile, the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic
      diet (KD), traditionally used in the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy,
      has already been shown to reduce autistic behaviors in both humans and in rodent
      models of ASD. While the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear, we
      hypothesized that this dietary approach might shift the balance of excitation and
      inhibition towards more normal levels of inhibition. Using high-resolution
      intracortical microstimulation, we investigated basal sensorimotor
      excitation/inhibition in the BTBR T+Itpr(tf)/J (BTBR) mouse model of ASD and
      tested whether the KD restores the balance of excitation/inhibition. We found
      that BTBR mice had lower movement thresholds and larger motor maps indicative of
      higher excitation/inhibition compared to C57BL/6J (B6) controls, and that the KD
      reversed both these abnormalities. Collectively, our results afford a greater
      understanding of cortical excitation/inhibition balance in ASD and may help
      expedite the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at improving functional
      outcomes in this disorder. 

PMID- 26876012
TI  - Behavioral abnormalities in mice lacking mesenchyme-specific Pten.
AB  - Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) is a negative regulator of cell
      proliferation and growth. Using a Cre-recombinase approach with Lox sequences
      flanking the fibroblast-specific protein 1 (Fsp1 aka S100A4; a mesenchymal
      marker), we probed sites of expression using a beta-galactosidase Rosa26(LoxP)
      reporter allele; the transgene driving deletion of Pten (exons 4-5) was found
      throughout the brain parenchyma and pituitary, suggesting that deletion of Pten
      in Fsp1-positive cells may influence behavior. Because CNS-specific deletion of
      Pten influences social and anxiety-like behaviors and S100A4 is expressed in
      astrocytes, we predicted that loss of Pten in Fsp1-expressing cells would result
      in deficits in social interaction and increased anxiety. We further predicted
      that environmental enrichment would compensate for genetic deficits in these
      behaviors. We conducted a battery of behavioral assays on Fsp1
      Cre;Pten(LoxP/LoxP) male and female homozygous knockouts (Pten(-/-)) and compared
      their behavior to Pten(LoxP/LoxP) (Pten(+/+)) conspecifics. Despite extensive
      physical differences (including reduced hippocampal size) and deficits in
      sensorimotor function, Pten(-/-) mice behaved remarkably similar to control mice
      on nearly all behavioral tasks. These results suggest that the social and anxiety
      like phenotypes observed in CNS-specific Pten(-/-) mice may depend on neuronal
      Pten, as lack of Pten in Fsp1-expressing cells of the CNS had little effect on
      these behaviors. 

PMID- 26876013
TI  - Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor regulates the visual cycle genes
      Rlbp1 and Rdh5 in the retinal pigment epithelium.
AB  - Regeneration of the visual pigment by cells of the retinal pigment epithelium
      (RPE) is fundamental to vision. Here we show that the microphthalmia-associated
      transcription factor, MITF, which plays a central role in the development and
      function of RPE cells, regulates the expression of two visual cycle genes, Rlbp1
      which encodes retinaldehyde binding protein-1 (RLBP1), and Rdh5, which encodes
      retinol dehydrogenase-5 (RDH5). First, we found that Rlbp1 and Rdh5 are
      downregulated in optic cups and presumptive RPEs of Mitf-deficient mouse embryos.
      Second, experimental manipulation of MITF levels in human RPE cells in culture
      leads to corresponding modulations of the endogenous levels of RLBP1 and RDH5.
      Third, the retinal degeneration associated with the disruption of the visual
      cycle in Mitf-deficient mice can be partially corrected both structurally and
      functionally by an exogenous supply of 9-cis-retinal. We conclude that the
      expression of Rlbp1 and Rdh5 critically depends on functional Mitf in the RPE and
      suggest that MITF has an important role in controlling retinoid processing in the
      RPE. 

PMID- 26876014
TI  - Outcomes in Stable Patients With Previous Atherothrombotic Events Receiving
      Vorapaxar Who Experience a New Acute Coronary Event (from TRA2 degrees P-TIMI
      50).
AB  - Vorapaxar is a first-in-class protease-activated receptor-1 antagonist indicated
      for secondary prevention in stable patients with previous myocardial infarction
      (MI) or peripheral artery disease and no cerebrovascular disease. Vorapaxar is
      not recommended for initiation in the acute phase of acute coronary syndromes
      (ACS) because of an unfavorable balance between bleeding and efficacy when
      started in that setting. The aim of this analysis was to investigate outcomes in
      patients who experienced a new ACS while receiving vorapaxar for long-term
      secondary prevention. Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of
      Atherothrombotic ischemic Events-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 50 was a
      randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vorapaxar (n = 26,449). We
      evaluated bleeding and ischemic events during the acute care of patients with a
      new ACS during the trial. During a median follow-up of 30 months, 799 patients
      (8.9%) randomized to vorapaxar and 913 (10.0%) to placebo had a new ACS event (p
      = 0.003); 87% and 86%, respectively, were on study therapy at the time of the
      event. In a landmark analysis through 7 days after ACS, the rates of Global Use
      of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) severe bleeding were
      0.8% versus 0.8% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.94) and GUSTO
      moderate/severe bleeding were 2.5% versus 1.6% (HR 1.59, 95% CI 0.78 to 3.24)
      with vorapaxar versus placebo. The effect of vorapaxar on cardiovascular death,
      MI, or stroke (2.4% vs 4.4%; HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.93; p = 0.027) was
      consistent with the overall trial result. In conclusion, in patients who
      experience a new ACS event while receiving vorapaxar for secondary prevention,
      continuing therapy was associated with favorable efficacy without excess severe
      bleeding during the period of acute ACS management.

PMID- 26876015
TI  - Bioaccessibility tests accurately estimate bioavailability of lead to quail.
AB  - Hazards of soil-borne lead (Pb) to wild birds may be more accurately quantified
      if the bioavailability of that Pb is known. To better understand the
      bioavailability of Pb to birds, the authors measured blood Pb concentrations in
      Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) fed diets containing Pb-contaminated soils.
      Relative bioavailabilities were expressed by comparison with blood Pb
      concentrations in quail fed a Pb acetate reference diet. Diets containing soil
      from 5 Pb-contaminated Superfund sites had relative bioavailabilities from 33% to
      63%, with a mean of approximately 50%. Treatment of 2 of the soils with
      phosphorus (P) significantly reduced the bioavailability of Pb. Bioaccessibility
      of Pb in the test soils was then measured in 6 in vitro tests and regressed on
      bioavailability: the relative bioavailability leaching procedure at pH 1.5, the
      same test conducted at pH 2.5, the Ohio State University in vitro
      gastrointestinal method, the urban soil bioaccessible lead test, the modified
      physiologically based extraction test, and the waterfowl physiologically based
      extraction test. All regressions had positive slopes. Based on criteria of slope
      and coefficient of determination, the relative bioavailability leaching procedure
      at pH 2.5 and Ohio State University in vitro gastrointestinal tests performed
      very well. Speciation by X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that, on
      average, most of the Pb in the sampled soils was sorbed to minerals (30%), bound
      to organic matter (24%), or present as Pb sulfate (18%). Additional Pb was
      associated with P (chloropyromorphite, hydroxypyromorphite, and tertiary Pb
      phosphate) and with Pb carbonates, leadhillite (a lead sulfate carbonate
      hydroxide), and Pb sulfide. The formation of chloropyromorphite reduced the
      bioavailability of Pb, and the amendment of Pb-contaminated soils with P may be a
      thermodynamically favored means to sequester Pb. Environ Toxicol Chem
      2016;35:2311-2319. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This
      article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the
      United States of America.

PMID- 26876016
TI  - Jasmonate-responsive transcription factors regulating plant secondary metabolism.
AB  - Plants produce a large variety of secondary metabolites including alkaloids,
      glucosinolates, terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. These compounds play key roles
      in plant-environment interactions and many of them have pharmacological activity
      in humans. Jasmonates (JAs) are plant hormones which induce biosynthesis of many
      secondary metabolites. JAs-responsive transcription factors (TFs) that regulate
      the JAs-induced accumulation of secondary metabolites belong to different
      families including AP2/ERF, bHLH, MYB and WRKY. Here, we give an overview of the
      types and functions of TFs that have been identified in JAs-induced secondary
      metabolite biosynthesis, and highlight their similarities and differences in
      regulating various biosynthetic pathways. We review major recent developments
      regarding JAs-responsive TFs mediating secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and
      provide suggestions for further studies.

PMID- 26876018
TI  - Point-of-Need bioanalytics based on planar optical interferometry.
AB  - This review brings about a comprehensive presentation of the research on
      interferometric transducers, which have emerged as extremely promising candidates
      for viable, truly-marketable solutions for PoN applications due to the attested
      performance that has reached down to 10(-8) in term of effective refractive index
      changes. The review explores the operation of the various interferometric
      architectures along with their design, fabrication, and analytical performance
      aspects. The issues of biosensor functionalization and immobilization of
      receptors are also addressed. As a conclusion, the comparison among them is
      attempted in order to delve into and acknowledge their current limitations, and
      define the future trends. 

PMID- 26876017
TI  - Aptamer-based 'point-of-care testing'.
AB  - Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that can be artificially generated
      by a method called Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment
      (SELEX). The generated aptamers have been assessed for high-performance sensing
      applications due to their appealing characteristics. With either aptamers alone
      or complementing with antibodies, several high sensitive and portable sensors
      have been demonstrated for use in 'point-of-care testing'. Due to their high
      suitability and flexibility, aptamers are conjugated with nanostructures and
      utilized in field applications. Moreover, aptamers are more amenable to chemical
      modifications, making them capable of utilization with most developed sensors. In
      this overview, we discuss novel, portable, and aptamer-based sensing strategies
      that are suitable for 'point-of-care testing'. 

PMID- 26876019
TI  - Fish oil diet modulates epididymal and inguinal adipocyte metabolism in mice.
AB  - We aimed to investigate the impact of different high-fat diets containing fish
      oil on adiposity and white adipose tissue (WAT) function in mice, comparing the
      effects on epididymal (eWAT) and subcutaneous (sWAT) depots. For this, we used
      C57BL/6 male mice fed four types of diets for eight weeks: standard chow (SC),
      high-fat lard (HF-L), high-fat lard plus fish oil (HF-L + FO), and high-fat fish
      oil (HF-FO). The HF-L group had a greater body mass (BM) gain, insulin
      resistance, increased gene expression related to lipogenesis (CD36, aP2, SREBP1c,
      and FAS), decreased gene expression of perilipin in both eWAT and sWAT, and
      reduced expression of genes related to beta-oxidation (CPT-1a) and to
      mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC1alpha, NRF1, and TFAM) in eWAT and sWAT. On the
      other hand, the HF-L + FO and HF-FO groups showed a smaller BM gain and
      adiposity, and normalization of insulin resistance and lipogenic genes in both
      eWAT and sWAT. These animals also showed decreased perilipin gene expression and
      elevated expression of beta-oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis genes in eWAT
      and sWAT. 'Beige' adipocytes were identified in sWAT of the HF-FO animals. In
      conclusion, fish oil intake has anti-obesity effects through modulation of both
      eWAT and sWAT metabolism in mice and is relevant in diminishing the BM gain,
      adiposity, and insulin resistance even in combination with a high-fat lard diet
      in mice. 

PMID- 26876021
TI  - Cleavage of fusion proteins on the affinity resins using the TEV protease
      variant.
AB  - It is documented that the tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) variant TEVp3M is
      less efficient in cleaving the fusion protein bound to Ni-NTA resin at relatively
      low temperature. Here, we determined that, using the GFP fusion substrate bound
      to Ni-NTA or Strep-tactin agarose, activity of the TEVp5M variant was higher than
      that of the other TEVp construct, and about 15% higher than that of the TEVp3M.
      The GST fusion proteins immobilized on Strep-tactin agarose or Glutathione
      Sepharose were efficiently cleaved by purified TEVp5M at specified conditions
      using GFP reporter for visual track and detection. After on-column cleavage of
      three fusion constructs using the cognate TEVp5M constructs, two target proteins
      with relatively high purity were separated from Ni-NTA or Amylose agarose. With
      elution of the buffer containing 1 M NaCl, maize sulfiredoxin was released from
      Ni-NTA resin via on-column cleavage. Our results confirmed that TEVp5M
      efficiently cleaved the fusion proteins bound to the four affinity matrices. By
      combination with appropriate affinity handles, the cognate TEVp5M mediating tag
      removal enabled purification and cleavage of the fusion proteins, removal of the
      protease, and separation of the target proteins from the affinity resin to be
      accomplished in one step.

PMID- 26876022
TI  - Biomineral shell formation under ocean acidification: a shift from order to
      chaos.
AB  - Biomineral production in marine organisms employs transient phases of amorphous
      calcium carbonate (ACC) in the construction of crystalline shells. Increasing
      seawater pCO2 leads to ocean acidification (OA) with a reduction in oceanic
      carbonate concentration which could have a negative impact on shell formation and
      therefore survival. We demonstrate significant changes in the hydrated and
      dehydrated forms of ACC in the aragonite and calcite layers of Mytilus edulis
      shells cultured under acidification conditions (1000 MUatm pCO2) compared to
      present day conditions (380 MUatm pCO2). In OA conditions, Mytilus edulis has
      more ACC at crystalisation sites. Here, we use the high-spatial resolution of
      synchrotron X-ray Photo Emission Electron Microscopy (XPEEM) combined with X-ray
      Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) to investigate the influence of OA on the ACC
      formation in the shells of adult Mytilus edulis. Electron Backscatter Diffraction
      (EBSD) confirms that OA reduces crystallographic control of shell formation. The
      results demonstrate that OA induces more ACC formation and less crystallographic
      control in mussels suggesting that ACC is used as a repair mechanism to combat
      shell damage under OA. However, the resultant reduced crystallographic control in
      mussels raises concerns for shell protective function under predation and
      changing environments.

PMID- 26876024
TI  - Editorial: New Drug Targets for Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Prostate
      Cancer.

PMID- 26876023
TI  - GAME9 regulates the biosynthesis of steroidal alkaloids and upstream isoprenoids
      in the plant mevalonate pathway.
AB  - Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are cholesterol-derived molecules produced by
      solanaceous species. They contribute to pathogen defence but are toxic to humans
      and considered as anti-nutritional compounds. Here we show that GLYCOALKALOID
      METABOLISM 9 (GAME9), an APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor, related to regulators
      of alkaloid production in tobacco and Catharanthus roseus, controls SGA
      biosynthesis. GAME9 knockdown and overexpression in tomato and potato alters
      expression of SGAs and upstream mevalonate pathway genes including the
      cholesterol biosynthesis gene STEROL SIDE CHAIN REDUCTASE 2 (SSR2). Levels of
      SGAs, C24-alkylsterols and the upstream mevalonate and cholesterol pathways
      intermediates are modified in these plants. Delta(7)-STEROL-C5(6)-DESATURASE (C5
      SD) in the hitherto unresolved cholesterol pathway is a direct target of GAME9.
      Transactivation and promoter-binding assays show that GAME9 exerts its activity
      either directly or cooperatively with the SlMYC2 transcription factor as in the
      case of the C5-SD gene promoter. Our findings provide insight into the regulation
      of SGA biosynthesis and means for manipulating these metabolites in crops. 

PMID- 26876025
TI  - Side-gated ultrathin-channel nanopore FET sensors.
AB  - A side-gated, ultrathin-channel nanopore FET (SGNAFET) is proposed for fast and
      label-free DNA sequencing. The concept of the SGNAFET comprises the detection of
      changes in the channel current during DNA translocation through a nanopore and
      identifying the four types of nucleotides as a result of these changes. To
      achieve this goal, both p- and n-type SGNAFETs with a channel thicknesses of 2 or
      4 nm were fabricated, and the stable transistor operation of both SGNAFETs in
      air, water, and a KCl buffer solution were confirmed. In addition, synchronized
      current changes were observed between the ionic current through the nanopore and
      the SGNAFET's drain current during DNA translocation through the nanopore. 

PMID- 26876026
TI  - Fast Virtual Stenting with Active Contour Models in Intracranical Aneurysm.
AB  - Intracranial stents are becoming increasingly a useful option in the treatment of
      intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Image simulation of the releasing stent
      configuration together with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation prior
      to intervention will help surgeons optimize intervention scheme. This paper
      proposed a fast virtual stenting of IAs based on active contour model (ACM) which
      was able to virtually release stents within any patient-specific shaped vessel
      and aneurysm models built on real medical image data. In this method, an initial
      stent mesh was generated along the centerline of the parent artery without the
      need for registration between the stent contour and the vessel. Additionally, the
      diameter of the initial stent volumetric mesh was set to the maximum inscribed
      sphere diameter of the parent artery to improve the stenting accuracy and save
      computational cost. At last, a novel criterion for terminating virtual stent
      expanding that was based on the collision detection of the axis aligned bounding
      boxes was applied, making the stent expansion free of edge effect. The experiment
      results of the virtual stenting and the corresponding CFD simulations exhibited
      the efficacy and accuracy of the ACM based method, which are valuable to
      intervention scheme selection and therapy plan confirmation. 

PMID- 26876027
TI  - D-beta-aspartyl residue exhibiting uncommon high resistance to spontaneous
      peptide bond cleavage.
AB  - Although L-amino acids were selected as main constituents of peptides and
      proteins during chemical evolution, D-aspartyl (Asp) residue is found in a
      variety of living tissues. In particular, D-beta-Asp is thought to be stable than
      any other Asp isomers, and this could be a reason for gradual accumulation in
      abnormal proteins and peptides to modify their structures and functions. It is
      predicted that D-beta-Asp shows high resistance to biomolecular reactions. For
      instance, less reactivity of D-beta-Asp is expected to bond cleavage, although
      such information has not been provided yet. In this work, the spontaneous peptide
      bond cleavage was compared between Asp isomers, by applying real-time solution
      state NMR to eye lens alphaAlpha-crystallin 51-60 fragment,
      S(51)LFRTVLD(58)SG(60) and alphaBeta-crystallin 61-67 analog, F(61)D(62)TGLSG(67)
      consisting of L-alpha- and D-beta-Asp 58 and 62, respectively. Kinetic analysis
      showed how tough the uncommon D-beta-Asp residue was against the peptide bond
      cleavage as compared to natural L-alpha-Asp. Differences in pKa and conformation
      between L-alpha- and D-beta-Asp side chains were plausible factors to determine
      reactivity of Asp isomers. The present study, for the first time, provides a
      rationale to explain less reactivity of D-beta-Asp to allow abnormal
      accumulation. 

PMID- 26876036
TI  - Brain structural changes in spasmodic dysphonia: A multimodal magnetic resonance
      imaging study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The pathophysiology of spasmodic dysphonia is poorly understood.
      This study evaluated patterns of cortical morphology, basal ganglia, and white
      matter microstructural alterations in patients with spasmodic dysphonia relative
      to healthy controls. METHODS: T1-weighted and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) scans were obtained from 13 spasmodic dysphonia patients and 30
      controls. Tract-based spatial statistics was applied to compare diffusion tensor
      MRI indices (i.e., mean, radial and axial diffusivities, and fractional
      anisotropy) between groups on a voxel-by-voxel basis. Cortical measures were
      analyzed using surface-based morphometry. Basal ganglia were segmented on T1
      weighted images, and volumes and diffusion tensor MRI metrics of nuclei were
      measured. RESULTS: Relative to controls, patients with spasmodic dysphonia showed
      increased cortical surface area of the primary somatosensory cortex bilaterally
      in a region consistent with the buccal sensory representation, as well as right
      primary motor cortex, left superior temporal, supramarginal and superior frontal
      gyri. A decreased cortical area was found in the rolandic operculum bilaterally,
      left superior/inferior parietal and lingual gyri, as well as in the right angular
      gyrus. Compared to controls, spasmodic dysphonia patients showed increased
      diffusivities and decreased fractional anisotropy of the corpus callosum and
      major white matter tracts, in the right hemisphere. Altered diffusion tensor MRI
      measures were found in the right caudate and putamen nuclei with no volumetric
      changes. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-level alterations in voice-controlling networks, that
      included regions devoted not only to sensorimotor integration, motor preparation
      and motor execution, but also processing of auditory and visual information
      during speech, might have a role in the pathophysiology of spasmodic dysphonia.

PMID- 26876037
TI  - Identifying clinical measures that most accurately reflect the progression of
      disability in Parkinson disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The temporal relationship between disease and disability
      progression in Parkinson disease (PD) is not well understood. Our objective was
      to describe the natural, multidimensional trajectory of disability in persons
      with PD over a two-year period. METHODS: We conducted a multi-center, prospective
      cohort study involving four institutions. Data were collected at baseline and at
      6-month intervals over 2 years using standardized clinical tests representing
      three World Health Organization defined disability domains: impairment, activity
      limitation, and participation restriction. Unadjusted mixed effects growth models
      characterized trajectories of disability in the three disability domains. The
      data set was analyzed using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation.
      Standardized estimates of change were also computed using Cohen's d for each
      measure. RESULTS: Of the 266 enrolled participants, we analysed data from
      individuals who participated in at least 3 assessments (n = 207, 79%). Rates of
      disability progression over the 2-year period differed across domains. Moderate
      effects were detected for motor impairment (d = .28) and walking-related activity
      limitation (gait-related balance (d = .31); gait speed (d = .30)). Marginal
      effects were noted for upper extremity-related activity limitation (d = .11) and
      health-related quality of life participation restriction (d = .08). CONCLUSIONS:
      The natural trajectory of walking-related activity limitation was the most potent
      indicator of evolving disability, suggesting that routine assessment of walking
      and periodic rehabilitation is likely to be warranted for many persons with PD.
      Natural trajectories of disability provide important comparison data for future
      intervention studies.

PMID- 26876038
TI  - A novel pyrimidine tetrad contributing to stabilize tetramolecular G-quadruplex
      structures.
AB  - G-quadruplex structures formed by oligodeoxyribonucleotides TGGU(NH2)GGT (AM,
      U(NH2) = 5-amino-2'-deoxyuridine), TGGU(Br)GGT (BR, U(Br) = 5-bromo-2'
      deoxyuridine) and TGGTGGT (TH) have been investigated through circular dichroism,
      nuclear magnetic resonance, gel electrophoresis and molecular modeling
      techniques. Collected data indicate that all 7-mer oligonucleotides form
      tetramolecular parallel G-quadruplex structures with all residues adopting anti
      glycosidic bonds. In the case of AM, data suggest the occurrence of a novel
      U(NH2)-tetrad characterized by eight hydrogen bonds that stabilizes the G
      quadruplex structure more efficiently than U(Br)- and T-tetrads. 

PMID- 26876035
TI  - 'Add, stir and reduce': Yersinia spp. as model bacteria for pathogen evolution.
AB  - Pathogenic species in the Yersinia genus have historically been targets for
      research aimed at understanding how bacteria evolve into mammalian pathogens. The
      advent of large-scale population genomic studies has greatly accelerated the
      progress in this field, and Yersinia pestis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and
      Yersinia enterocolitica have once again acted as model organisms to help shape
      our understanding of the evolutionary processes involved in pathogenesis. In this
      Review, we highlight the gene gain, gene loss and genome rearrangement events
      that have been identified by genomic studies in pathogenic Yersinia species, and
      we discuss how these findings are changing our understanding of pathogen
      evolution. Finally, as these traits are also found in the genomes of other
      species in the Enterobacteriaceae, we suggest that they provide a blueprint for
      the evolution of enteropathogenic bacteria. 

PMID- 26876034
TI  - Synthetic biology to access and expand nature's chemical diversity.
AB  - Bacterial genomes encode the biosynthetic potential to produce hundreds of
      thousands of complex molecules with diverse applications, from medicine to
      agriculture and materials. Accessing these natural products promises to
      reinvigorate drug discovery pipelines and provide novel routes to synthesize
      complex chemicals. The pathways leading to the production of these molecules
      often comprise dozens of genes spanning large areas of the genome and are
      controlled by complex regulatory networks with some of the most interesting
      molecules being produced by non-model organisms. In this Review, we discuss how
      advances in synthetic biology--including novel DNA construction technologies, the
      use of genetic parts for the precise control of expression and for synthetic
      regulatory circuits--and multiplexed genome engineering can be used to optimize
      the design and synthesis of pathways that produce natural products.

PMID- 26876039
TI  - Impact of Metal Nanoform Colloidal Solution on the Adaptive Potential of Plants.
AB  - Nanoparticles are a known cause of oxidative stress and so induce antistress
      action. The latter property was the purpose of our study. The effect of two
      concentrations (120 and 240 mg/l) of nanoform biogenic metal (Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn)
      colloidal solution on antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase; the
      level of the factor of the antioxidant state; and the content of thiobarbituric
      acid reactive substances (TBARSs) of soybean plant in terms of field experience
      were studied. It was found that the oxidative processes developed a metal
      nanoparticle pre-sowing seed treatment variant at a concentration of 120 mg/l, as
      evidenced by the increase in the content of TBARS in photosynthetic tissues by 12
      %. Pre-sowing treatment in a double concentration (240 mg/l) resulted in a
      decrease in oxidative processes (19 %), and pre-sowing treatment combined with
      vegetative treatment also contributed to the reduction of TBARS (10 %). Increased
      activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed in a variant by increasing
      the content of TBARS; SOD activity was at the control level in two other
      variants. Catalase activity decreased in all variants. The factor of antioxidant
      activity was highest (0.3) in a variant with nanoparticle double treatment (pre
      sowing and vegetative) at a concentration of 120 mg/l. Thus, the studied
      nanometal colloidal solution when used in small doses, in a certain time
      interval, can be considered as a low-level stress factor which according to
      hormesis principle promoted adaptive response reaction. 

PMID- 26876040
TI  - Outdoor Temperature, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Chinese Adults: Effect
      Modification by Individual Characteristics.
AB  - We collected data from Kailuan cohort study from 2006 to 2011 to examine whether
      short-term effects of ambient temperature on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure
      (BP) are non-linear or linear, and their potential modifying factors. The HR, BP
      and individual information, including basic characteristics, life style, socio
      economic characteristics and other characteristics, were collected for each
      participant. Daily mean temperature and relative humidity were collected. A
      regression model was used to evaluate associations of temperature with HR and BP,
      with a non-linear function for temperature. We also stratified the analyses in
      different groups divided by individual characteristics. 47,591 residents were
      recruited. The relationships of temperature with HR and BP were "V" shaped with
      thresholds ranging from 22  degrees C to 28  degrees C. Both cold and hot effects
      were observed on HR and BP. The differences of effect estimates were observed
      among the strata of individual characteristics. The effect estimate of
      temperature was higher among older people. The cold effect estimate was higher
      among people with lower Body Mass Index. However, the differences of effect
      estimates among other groups were inconsistent. These findings suggest both cold
      and hot temperatures may have short-term impacts on HR and BP. The individual
      characteristics could modify these relationships. 

PMID- 26876041
TI  - Serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) as a biochemical marker for wasting
      marmoset syndrome.
AB  - Use of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as a non-human primate
      experimental animal has increased in recent years. Although wasting marmoset
      syndrome (WMS) is one of the biggest problems in captive marmoset colonies, the
      molecular mechanisms, biochemical markers for accurate diagnosis and a reliable
      treatment remain unknown. In this study, as a first step to finding biochemical
      marker(s) for the accurate diagnosis of WMS, we conducted blood cell counts,
      including hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelets, and examined serum chemistry
      values, including albumin, calcium and levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase 9
      (MMP9), using a colony of marmosets with and without weight loss. MMP9 is thought
      to be an enzyme responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix
      components and participates in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions, such
      as human and murine inflammatory bowel disease, which, like WMS, are
      characterized histologically by inflammatory cell infiltrations in the
      intestines. The values of hematocrit and hemoglobin and levels of serum albumin
      and calcium in the WMS group were significantly decreased versus the control
      group. The platelet values and serum MMP9 concentrations were increased
      significantly in the WMS group compared with the control group. MMP9 could be a
      new and useful marker for the diagnosis of WMS in addition to hematocrit,
      hemoglobin, serum albumin and calcium. Our results also indicate that MMP9 could
      be a useful molecular candidate for treatment. 

PMID- 26876042
TI  - Dopant-Free Hole-Transporting Material with a C3h Symmetrical Truxene Core for
      Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.
AB  - Herein we present a new structural design of hole-transporting material, Trux
      OMeTAD, which consists of a C3h Truxene-core with arylamine terminals and hexyl
      side-chains. This planar, rigid, and fully conjugated molecule exhibits excellent
      hole mobility and desired surface energy to the perovskite uplayer. Perovskite
      solar cells fabricated using the p-i-n architecture with Trux-OMeTAD as the p
      layer, show a high PCE of 18.6% with minimal hysteresis. 

PMID- 26876043
TI  - Author's Response: Which cesarean scar defect should be treated; by which
      technique and by whom?

PMID- 26876044
TI  - Should Cesarean Scar Defect Be Treated Laparoscopically? A Case Report and Review
      of the Literature.

PMID- 26876045
TI  - Laparoscopic Gender Confirmation Surgery.

PMID- 26876047
TI  - Applying an ecological restoration approach to study patient safety culture in an
      intensive care unit.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To gain an understanding of medication safety culture and
      other quality issues in a Brazilian intensive care unit using a restorative
      approach. BACKGROUND: Patient safety should be considered one of the pillars of
      quality in health care. Thus, patient safety culture is increasingly being
      explored as a guide for quality improvement efforts. DESIGN: A qualitative
      approach. METHODS: Participatory photographic research methods from the field of
      ecological restoration were adapted in this study. This study used focus groups,
      then subsequent nurse-led photo-narrated walkabouts, and photo elicitation with
      23 nurses and one physician in interactive phases of data collection and analysis
      over an eight-month timeframe. RESULTS: The core themes identified were: the
      'medication system shapes patient safety' and the 'feeling of helplessness in the
      face of the prevailing organization culture'. Participants discussed supports
      exiting in the intensive care unit that shape medication safety, the barriers
      that impede safe medication management, the solutions to improve medication
      safety and the creation of a better medication safety culture. CONCLUSIONS: The
      methods used allowed participants to visualise sound practices as well as key
      safety issues, reflect on their day-to-day work, re-think potential improvements,
      and enact changes to improve medication safety and medication safety culture.
      However, the patient safety culture is also marked by administrative pressure.
      The hospital needs to adopt participatory management, where the health
      professionals can act together with the organisational leaders to promote a just
      culture. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The participatory photographic research
      methods from the field of ecological restoration provided participants with a
      tool to promote patient safety culture and engage policy change dialogue.
      However, it will be important in future restorative research to track-specific
      safety outcomes over time to assess the cost-benefit of the adoption of
      participatory management models.

PMID- 26876046
TI  - Protein Allostery and Conformational Dynamics.
AB  - The functions of many proteins are regulated through allostery, whereby effector
      binding at a distal site changes the functional activity (e.g., substrate binding
      affinity or catalytic efficiency) at the active site. Most allosteric studies
      have focused on thermodynamic properties, in particular, substrate binding
      affinity. Changes in substrate binding affinity by allosteric effectors have
      generally been thought to be mediated by conformational transitions of the
      proteins or, alternatively, by changes in the broadness of the free energy basin
      of the protein conformational state without shifting the basin minimum position.
      When effector binding changes the free energy landscape of a protein in
      conformational space, the change affects not only thermodynamic properties but
      also dynamic properties, including the amplitudes of motions on different time
      scales and rates of conformational transitions. Here we assess the roles of
      conformational dynamics in allosteric regulation. Two cases are highlighted where
      NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation have been used as
      complementary approaches to identify residues possibly involved in allosteric
      communication. Perspectives on contentious issues, for example, the relationship
      between picosecond-nanosecond local and microsecond-millisecond conformational
      exchange dynamics, are presented.

PMID- 26876049
TI  - Atomic and electronic structure of twin growth defects in magnetite.
AB  - We report the existence of a stable twin defect in Fe3O4 thin films. By using
      aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy
      the atomic structure of the twin boundary has been determined. The boundary is
      confined to the (111) growth plane and it is non-stoichiometric due to a missing
      Fe octahedral plane. By first principles calculations we show that the local
      atomic structural configuration of the twin boundary does not change the nature
      of the superexchange interactions between the two Fe sublattices across the twin
      grain boundary. Besides decreasing the half-metallic band gap at the boundary the
      altered atomic stacking at the boundary does not change the overall ferromagnetic
      (FM) coupling between the grains. 

PMID- 26876048
TI  - Transcriptional profiling of cortical versus cancellous bone from mechanically
      loaded murine tibiae reveals differential gene expression.
AB  - Mechanical loading is an anabolic stimulus that increases bone mass, and thus a
      promising method to counteract osteoporosis-related bone loss. The mechanism of
      this anabolism remains unclear, and needs to be established for both cortical and
      cancellous envelopes individually. We hypothesized that cortical and cancellous
      bone display different gene expression profiles at baseline and in response to
      mechanical loading. To test this hypothesis, the left tibiae of 10-week-old
      female C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to one session of axial tibial compression
      (9N, 1200cycles, 4Hz triangle waveform) and euthanized 3 and 24h following
      loading. The right limb served as the contralateral control. We performed RNA-seq
      on marrow-free metaphyseal samples from the cortical shell and the cancellous
      core to determine differential gene expression at baseline (control limb) and in
      response to load. Differential expression was verified with qPCR. Cortical and
      cancellous bone exhibited distinctly different transcriptional profiles basally
      and in response to mechanical loading. More genes were differentially expressed
      with loading at 24h with more genes downregulated at 24h than at 3h in both
      tissues. Enhanced Wnt signaling dominated the response in cortical bone at 3 and
      24h, but in cancellous bone only at 3h. In cancellous bone at 24h many muscle
      related genes were downregulated. These findings reveal key differences between
      cortical and cancellous genetic regulation in response to mechanical loading.
      Future studies at different time points and multiple loading sessions will add to
      our knowledge of cortical and cancellous mechanotransduction with the potential
      to identify new targets for mouse genetic knockout studies and drugs to treat
      osteoporosis. 

PMID- 26876050
TI  - Genetic association analysis of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit gene GRIN2B
      and clinical response to clozapine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Approximately 30% of patients with schizophrenia fail to respond to
      antipsychotic therapy and are classified as having treatment-resistant
      schizophrenia. Clozapine is the most efficacious drug for treatment-resistant
      schizophrenia and may deliver superior therapeutic effects partly by modulating
      glutamate neurotransmission. Response to clozapine is highly variable and may
      depend on genetic factors as indicated by twin studies. We investigated eight
      polymorphisms in the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor subunit gene GRIN2B
      with response to clozapine. METHODS: GRIN2B variants were genotyped using
      standard TaqMan procedures in 175 European patients with schizophrenia deemed
      resistant or intolerant to treatment. Response was assessed using change in Brief
      Psychiatric Rating Scale scores following six months of clozapine therapy.
      Categorical and continuous response was assessed using chi-squared test and
      analysis of covariance, respectively. RESULTS: No associations were observed
      between the variants and response to clozapine. A-allele carriers of rs1072388
      responded marginally better to clozapine therapy than GG-homozygotes; however,
      the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.067, uncorrected).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support a role for these GRIN2B variants in
      altering response to clozapine in our sample. Investigation of additional
      glutamate variants in clozapine response is warranted.

PMID- 26876051
TI  - Signatures of protein thermal denaturation and local hydrophobicity in domain
      specific hydration behavior: a comparative molecular dynamics study.
AB  - We investigate, using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the association
      of surface hydration accompanying local unfolding in the mesophilic protein Yfh1
      under a series of thermal conditions spanning its cold and heat denaturation
      temperatures. The results are benchmarked against the thermally stable protein,
      Ubq, and behavior at the maximum stability temperature. Local unfolding in Yfh1,
      predominantly in the beta sheet regions, is in qualitative agreement with recent
      solution NMR studies; the corresponding Ubq unfolding is not observed.
      Interestingly, all domains, except for the beta sheet domains of Yfh1, show
      increased effective surface hydrophobicity with increase in temperature, as
      reflected by the density fluctuations of the hydration layer. Velocity
      autocorrelation functions (VACF) of oxygen atoms of water within the hydration
      layers and the corresponding vibrational density of states (VDOS) are used to
      characterize alteration in dynamical behavior accompanying the temperature
      dependent local unfolding. Enhanced caging effects accompanying transverse
      oscillations of the water molecules are found to occur with the increase in
      temperature preferentially for the beta sheet domains of Yfh1. Helical domains of
      both proteins exhibit similar trends in VDOS with changes in temperature. This
      work demonstrates the existence of key signatures of the local onset of protein
      thermal denaturation in solvent dynamical behavior. 

PMID- 26876052
TI  - Hidradenocarcinoma presenting as soft tissue mass: Case report with
      cytomorphologic description, histologic correlation, and differential diagnosis.
AB  - Hidradenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare adenexal tumor with a propensity for the head
      and neck region and extremities. We report a case of hidradenocarcinnoma in a 56
      year-old woman with a mass on her right palm sampled by fine-needle aspiration
      and later confirmed on histological examination. Fine-needle aspiration cytology
      revealed a dual population of cells including polyhedral eosinophilic cells and
      glycogen containing cells with pale/clear cytoplasm. The nuclei were pleomorphic
      with prominent nucleoli. Occassional papillary structures were identified on the
      cell block material. A series of immunohistochemical stains were performed and an
      adnexal neoplasm was suggested. The mass was resected. On histologic sections,
      infiltration into the adjacent soft tissue was identified. After an additional
      series of immunohistochemical stains, the diagnosis was confirmed as a HAC.
      Herein, we present our findings and discuss the differential diagnoses.

PMID- 26876053
TI  - Shade of Resin-Based Luting Agents and Final Color of Porcelain Veneers.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the influence of different shades of flowable
      resin composite used as luting agent on the final shade of porcelain veneers of
      different opacities over A2 and B1 simulated dental substrate. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: One millimeter monolithic (enamel E1.0 or dentin D1.0) and bilayer
      (E0.5D0.5) porcelain discs shade A2 were paired with flowable resin composite
      disks (0.1 mm thick) of different shades (A1, A2, B1, white opaque - WO or IL -
      translucent), as veneer + luting agent (n = 10). The CIE L*a*b* color coordinates
      were measured with a spectrophotometer over white and black standard background,
      as well as over A2 and B1 simulated dental substrates. Translucency of all
      specimens and the shade matching of the pairs over the A2 and B1 substrates
      (DeltaE*00 ) were calculated by Translucency Parameter and CIEDE2000 methods.
      Data were statistically analyzed by 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Porcelain
      veneer E1.0 groups were the most translucent, while the pairs veneer + luting
      agent WO showed the lowest translucency, and A1, A2, B1, and IL yielded little to
      no differences in translucency of the pairs. The overall best shade matching with
      A2 substrate was observed for D1.0 veneer + WO luting agent. CONCLUSION: The
      opacity of the porcelain veneer paired with luting agents of different shades
      affected the final appearance of the restorations over distinct simulated tooth
      substrates. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Distinct shades of flowable resin composites
      used as luting agent might yield clinically visible color differences on
      porcelain veneers facilitating an excellent shade match with adjacent teeth. (J
      Esthet Restor Dent 28:295-303, 2016).

PMID- 26876054
TI  - Synchronization of ovulation in cattle with an aromatase inhibitor-based
      protocol.
AB  - A study was designed to determine the effect of stage of the estrous cycle on the
      proportion of animals that ovulated and the synchrony of ovulation of heifers
      treated with an aromatase inhibitor-based protocol. Forty-eight heifers were
      treated intramuscularly with 500 MUg of cloprostenol (PGF) followed by 100 MUg of
      GnRH 24 hours later to serve as control data for comparison of the ovulatory
      response to a subsequent aromatase inhibitor protocol. Daily ultrasound
      examinations were done to determine the incidence of and interval to ovulation.
      At the time of ovulation (Day 0), heifers were assigned randomly to five day
      groups (n = 8-11/group) and given an intravaginal device containing 3 g of
      letrozole for 4 days starting on Day 0, 4, 8, 12, or 16. At the time of device
      removal, heifers were given PGF followed by GnRH 24 hours later. Ultrasound
      examinations were done daily from 2 days before device insertion to 9 days after
      the posttreatment ovulation. The preovulatory follicle diameter after letrozole
      treatment was larger in the Day 4 group compared to the Day 0 and 16 groups and
      intermediate in the Day 8 and 12 groups (P < 0.001). Compared to control data,
      the percentage of heifers that ovulated after letrozole treatment was greater
      (87.1% vs. 69.4%, respectively; P < 0.05) as was the synchrony of ovulation
      (residuals: 0.24 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.13; P < 0.01). The day on which
      letrozole treatment was initiated did not affect the proportion of heifers that
      ovulated or the interval to ovulation. Plasma estradiol concentrations at the
      time of removal of the letrozole device in the Day 0 and 4 groups was lower (P <
      0.05) than in the corresponding controls. Estradiol concentrations in the Day 8
      and 12 groups did not differ from already low concentrations in the respective
      controls. Corpus luteum diameter profiles and progesterone production were not
      affected by day-group although reduced luteal lifespan after letrozole treatment
      was observed and requires further investigation. In summary, a protocol involving
      a letrozole-impregnated intravaginal device for 4 days, PGF treatment at device
      removal, and GnRH 24 later resulted in a greater ovulation rate and greater
      synchrony of ovulation than in heifers not given letrozole. Results suggest that
      the protocol may be initiated effectively at random stages of the estrous cycle
      and may provide impetus for further studies to assess the efficacy of a letrozole
      based synchronization protocol for fixed-time insemination. 

PMID- 26876056
TI  - Incorrect DFT-GGA predictions of the stability of non-stoichiometric/polar
      dielectric surfaces: the case of Cu2O(111).
AB  - Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and hybrid density functional theory (DFT)
      have been used to study the stability and electronic characteristics of the
      Cu2O(111) surface. We challenge previous interpretations of its structure and
      composition and show that only appropriate (hybrid) calculations can correctly
      account for the relative thermodynamic stability of stoichiometric versus Cu
      deficient terminations. Our theoretical finding of the stoichiometric surface to
      be most stable at oxygen-lean conditions is confirmed by an excellent matching
      between STM spectroscopy data and the calculated surface electronic structure.
      Beyond the specific case of the Cu2O(111) surface, and beyond the known
      deficiencies of GGA-based approaches in the description of oxide electronic
      structures, our work highlights the risk of an erroneous evaluation of the
      surface stability, in cases where the energetics and electronic characteristics
      are strongly coupled, as in a wide class of polar and/or non-stoichiometric oxide
      surfaces. 

PMID- 26876055
TI  - Connexin 37 and 43 gene and protein expression and developmental competence of
      isolated ovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro after vitrification of
      ovarian tissue.
AB  - Cryoinjuries caused by vitrification of tissues and organs lead to the loss of
      membrane proteins that mediate intercellular communications, such as connexins 37
      (Cx37) and 43 (Cx43). Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate ovine Cx37 and
      Cx43 gene and protein expressions and developmental competence by in vitro
      cultured secondary follicles retrieved from vitrified ovarian tissue. Ovarian
      fragments for the same ovary pair were distributed into six treatments: (1) fresh
      ovarian tissue (FOT); (2) vitrified ovarian tissue (VOT); (3) isolated follicles
      from fresh ovarian tissue (FIF); (4) isolated follicles from vitrified ovarian
      tissue; (5) isolated follicles from fresh ovarian tissue followed by in vitro
      culture (CFIF); (6) isolated follicles from vitrified ovarian tissue followed by
      in vitro culture (CVIF). In all treatments, Cx37 and Cx43 gene and protein
      expression patterns were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction and immunocytochemistry. In addition, secondary follicles were analyzed
      according to follicular integrity and growth, apoptosis, and cell proliferation.
      In vitro-cultured secondary follicles (CFIF and CVIF) were evaluated based on
      morphology (extruded follicles), antrum formation, and viability. The percentage
      of intact follicles was higher, whereas antrum formation, oocyte extrusion rate,
      and follicle viability were lower in CVIF than in CFIF treatment (P < 0.05).
      Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated deoxyuridine
      triphosphates nick end-labeling assay demonstrated that apoptosis was absent in
      FIF, whereas follicles from all other treatments showed positive labeling. Cell
      proliferation index was higher in isolated follicles from vitrified ovarian
      tissue and CVIF treatments than in follicles from FIF. Expression of Cx43
      messenger RNA was lower in CVIF treatment when compared with follicles from all
      other treatments (P < 0.05). Follicle Cx37 messenger RNA levels did not show
      alterations in any treatment (P > 0.05). Cx37 and Cx43 immunolabeling was
      localized mainly on granulosa cells and oocytes, respectively. In conclusion,
      isolation of ovine secondary follicles could be done successfully after
      vitrification of ovarian tissue, and the basement membrane integrity remained
      intact after in vitro culture. Although the gene and protein expression of Cx37
      did not change after vitrification of ovarian tissue, Cx43 turned out to be
      altered in secondary follicles after vitrification and in vitro culture. 

PMID- 26876057
TI  - Mesalamine-induced myopericarditis - A case report.
AB  - Myopericarditis has occasionally been reported as a side effect of mesalamine in
      patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We present a 20-year-old woman with
      ulcerative colitis admitted with chest pain. After thorough investigation she was
      diagnosed with myopericarditis potentially related to mesalamine. There was
      complete clinical and laboratorial recovery following drug withdrawal. Although
      uncommon, the possibility of myopericarditis should be considered in patients
      with inflammatory bowel disease presenting with cardiac complaints. Early
      recognition can avoid potential life-threatening complications.

PMID- 26876059
TI  - Clinical features and laboratory findings of dengue fever in German travellers: A
      single-centre, retrospective analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dengue fever (DF) is one of the most relevant human arboviral
      infections worldwide and has become a frequent cause of fever in the returning
      traveller. This retrospective study aimed to characterize epidemiological and
      clinical features and laboratory findings of dengue fever in German travellers.
      METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed medical records of patients diagnosed
      with DF presenting at the Section of Tropical Medicine of the University Medical
      Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf from 2007 to 2011. Data were collected and analyzed
      retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, data of 119 DF patients (52 female, 67 male)
      were included in this study. The median age of the patients was 35 (range 15-75
      years). DF was most frequently acquired in South-East Asia (n = 65; 54.7%), and
      in particular in Thailand (n = 23; 19.7%). A considerable percentage of DF
      infections (n = 14; 11.8%) was imported from Africa. Patients predominantly
      presented with fever, headache, rash, myalgia and arthralgia but also with
      gastrointestinal symptoms, i.e. diarrhoea. Nine patients showed signs of minor
      haemorrhagic manifestations. Neurological complications occurred in 13 patients.
      Low platelet count, leukopenia and elevated liver enzymes were the most relevant
      laboratory findings. Twenty patients (17.8%) had to be hospitalized. Overall, the
      clinical course was mostly mild to moderate, 13 patients (10.9%) showed DF
      warnings signs, no fatalities occurred. CONCLUSIONS: DF presented as a mostly
      mild to moderate disease in this study cohort. Outpatient treatment was adequate
      for the majority of patients. Still, detailed knowledge of clinical symptoms and
      laboratory features is essential for appropriate triage.

PMID- 26876058
TI  - Early determinants of food liking among 5y-old children: a longitudinal study
      from the EDEN mother-child cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identifying the determinants of child's liking for different foods
      may help to prevent future choices of unhealthy food. OBJECTIVE: To study early
      life food-related characteristics associated with child's liking for different
      foods at 5y with a longitudinal study. DESIGN: 1142 5y- old children completed a
      liking test for "fruit and vegetables", "meat, fish and eggs", desserts and
      cheese. Data related to maternal food intake before pregnancy, infant feeding
      during the first year of life, maternal feeding practices at 2y, child's food
      intake at 3y, and child's food neophobia from 1 to 4y were collected
      prospectively from the mother. The associations between these factors and child's
      liking for each category of foods were analyzed using structural equation
      modelling. RESULTS: High food neophobia at 4 y was related to lower child's
      liking for all food groups. Maternal feeding practices at 2y were associated with
      liking for dessert: negatively for the practices allowing child to control
      his/her own food intake, positively for restriction of child's food intake for
      weight reasons. Moreover, child's food intake at 3y was positively associated
      with child's liking for "fruit and vegetables" as well as for cheese. Finally,
      adherence to the infant feeding pattern "long breastfeeding, later introduction
      of main meal components and use of home-made products" was positively associated
      with child's liking for meat/fish/eggs. CONCLUSIONS: For all food groups, food
      neophobia was a common determinant of child's liking for food at 5y, whereas
      other factors were associated with food liking for specific food groups.

PMID- 26876060
TI  - Preventing mosquito bites--Websites and apps how well do we manage the advice?

PMID- 26876061
TI  - Zika without symptoms in returning travellers: What are the implications?
AB  - Against the background of the emergence and rapid spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) in
      the Americas, we report the case of an afebrile ZIKV infection in a traveller
      returning from Central America to highlight relevant clinical and diagnostic
      aspects. ZIKV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with
      clinical symptoms suggestive of dengue or chikungunya fever. Given the frequent
      subfebril and afebrile manifestations of ZIKV infections, we propose abstaining
      from the term "Zika fever (ZF)" in favour of "Zika virus disease (ZVD)". Owing to
      its unspecific clinical presentation and cross-reactivity in serological assays,
      ZVD may easily be missed or misdiagnosed as dengue fever. Until conclusive data
      on the currently suspected link between ZIKV infection in pregnancy and foetal
      microcephaly become available, pregnant women and women who are trying to become
      pregnant should be advised against travelling to regions with ongoing ZIKV
      transmission. In addition, male travellers returning from regions with ongoing
      transmission should be informed of the potential risk of sexual transmission
      until conclusive data on the significance of this mode of transmission become
      available. Although probably low and seasonally restricted, there is a risk of
      ZIKV importation to Aedes mosquito-infested regions in temperate climates
      (including regions of North America and Europe) with consecutive autochthonous
      transmission. 

PMID- 26876062
TI  - Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 kindred with novel tandem RET mutations: Case
      report with an applied in silico mutational tolerance analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has established guidelines for
      prophylactic thyroidectomy in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) based
      on rearranged during transfection (RET) mutations. In silico analysis, which uses
      computer modeling to predict alterations in protein structure, is a new method
      for studying these mutations. METHODS: We describe a kindred with MEN2A, all
      sharing a well-documented RET mutation, p.C634Y, as well as a mutation of
      undetermined significance, p.I852M, which we analyzed via in silico analysis.
      RESULTS: The p.C634Y mutation resulted in severe predicted RET alterations,
      whereas the p.I852M resulted in only modest changes. Both mutations together
      resulted in only a small additional disruptive effect in protein structure beyond
      that which occurred with p.C634Y alone. CONCLUSION: Although in silico analysis
      may be helpful in quantitating changes in protein structure that occur in
      patients who have novel RET mutations (single or multiple), additional factors
      must account for the highly variable aggressiveness of the disease (C-cell
      hyperplasia/medullary thyroid carcinoma [MTC]) noted in our kindred. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1881-E1885, 2016.

PMID- 26876063
TI  - Ethylhexylglycerin: a low-risk, but highly relevant, sensitizer in 'hypo
      allergenic' cosmetics.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ethylhexylglycerin is a relatively new cosmetic ingredient that is
      used for its surfactant, emollient, skin-conditioning and antimicrobial
      properties. Since 2002, it has been occasionally reported as a contact allergen.
      OBJECTIVES: To report on 13 patients who presented with allergic contact
      dermatitis caused by ethylhexylglycerin, evaluated at two Belgian university
      patch test clinics during the period 1990-2015. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The
      patients were patch tested with the European baseline series, a cosmetic series,
      and - if indicated - additional series. Both the cosmetic products used and their
      single ingredients were patch tested. RESULTS: All but one of the
      ethylhexylglycerin-allergic patients were female, with a median age of 43 years
      (range: 29-81 years), most often suffering from dermatitis on the face, and
      sometimes on the hands and/or axillae. As the culprit products, leave-on
      cosmetics were identified, including a high number of proclaimed 'hypo
      allergenic' and 'preservative-free' facial creams, sun protection creams, and
      deodorants. CONCLUSIONS: Ethylhexylglycerin is a rare, but highly relevant,
      cosmetic sensitizer, even in those products advertised to be safe for consumers.
      Targeted patch testing with ethylhexylglycerin 5% pet. is very useful, and
      routine patch testing in a cosmetic series may be considered. Higher test
      concentrations might be indicated in selected cases.

PMID- 26876064
TI  - Should we wait until severe pulmonary hypertension develops? Efficacy of
      percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with severe pulmonary
      hypertension: A subgroup analysis of our experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the immediate and long
      term ef-fects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PBMV) on patients
      with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) complicated with severe pulmonary
      hypertension (PH). METHODS: The study population consisted of 85 patients with MS
      complicated with severe PH (systolic pulmonary pressure > 75 mm Hg). PBMV was
      performed with Inoue balloon technique. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up
      was scheduled at 6 months and 1 year and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: Mitral valve
      area (MVA) was increased (pre-PBMV MVA was 1.03 +/- 0.21 cm2, post-PBMV MVA 1.89
      +/- 0.34 cm2, p < 0.001) significantly. The mean and the maximum transmitral
      pressure gradient significantly decreased (pre-PBMV mean transmitral gradient was
      18.47 +/- 6.59 mm Hg, post-PBMV 6.84 +/- 3.84 mm Hg, p < 0.001, pre-PBMV maximum
      transmitral pressure gradient was 27.6 +/- 8.38 mm Hg, post-PBMV 12.68 +/- 4.74
      mm Hg, p < 0.001). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) significantly
      decreased (pre-PBMV 89.9 +/- 23.38 mm Hg, post-PBMV 54.5 +/- 14.6 mm Hg, p <
      0.001). Two patients underwent surgery due to rupture of anterior mitral leaflet.
      There was no peri-procedural mortality. The procedure time was 29.12 +/- 11.37
      min. Follow-up duration was 108.2 +/- 31.4 months. One patient died due to heart
      failure. One patient underwent re-PBMV and 7 patients mitral valve replacement.
      At the last follow-up, MVA still remained high (1.52 +/- 0.34 cm2) and mean
      transmitral pressure gradient was low (9.2 +/- 5.7 mm Hg). SPAP was 56.5 +/- 20.8
      mm Hg which was the same as after PBMV. CONCLUSIONS: PBMV in patients with MS
      with severe PH is an effective therapy with low procedure time. However, it is
      recommended to perform PBMV before developing severe PH.

PMID- 26876065
TI  - Incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch in patients receiving mitral Biocor(r)
      porcine prosthetic valves.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch
      (PPM) after mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients receiving Biocor(r)
      porcine or mechanical valves, and to evaluate the effect of PPM on long-term
      survival. METHODS: All patients undergoing MVR between 2009 and 2013 received
      either mechanical or bioprosthetic valves (Biocor(r) porcine). PPM was defined as
      severe when the indexed effective ori-fice area was < 0.9 cm2/m2, moderate
      between 0.9 cm2/m2 and 1.2 cm2/m2 or absent > 1.2 cm2/m2. The primary endpoint
      was all-cause long-term mortality. RESULTS: Among a total of 136 MVR, PPM was
      severe in 27%, moderate in 44% and absent in 29% of patients. Implanted valves
      were 57% mechanical and 43% bioprosthetic. Only 3% of patients with mechanical
      valves had severe PPM vs. 59% with bioprostheses (p < 0.0001). Sixty-month
      survival with severe mismatch was 0.559 (SE 0.149) and with no mismatch 0.895 (SE
      0.058) (p = 0.043). Survival of patients suffering from severe mismatch, or
      moderate mismatch with pulmonary hypertension (PH) was 0.749 (SE 0.101); while
      for patients with no mismatch or with moderate mismatch without PH, survival was
      0.951 (SE 0.028) (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: About one-fourth of patients had
      severe PPM and almost all of them had received a bioprosthesis. Sixty-month
      survival was significantly lower in patients with severe mismatch, or moderate
      mismatch with PH. Specifically, when a bioprothesis is chosen and while further
      evidence on the impact of PPM on clinical outcomes appears, surgeons are
      recommended to follow a preoperative strategy to implant a mitral prosthesis of
      adequate size in order to prevent PPM.

PMID- 26876067
TI  - Clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms in the changing paradigm of
      vivax malaria in India.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax once considered benign is now being increasingly
      associated with complicated malaria where the spectrum of complications is vast
      and like Plasmodium falciparum. The clinical data is important with respect to
      the immunopathological status of the patient. Several genes like the vir genes
      and pvcrt-o are speculated to be attributing to the severity of P. vivax malaria.
      METHODS: In the present study we carried out the transcription analysis of five
      vir genes (vir 14-related, vir 12, vir 17-like, putative vir 14 and vir 10
      related) and pvcrt-o gene in severe (n=12) and non-severe (n=7) P. vivax clinical
      infections and studied the correlation of these genes with clinical disease
      severity. RESULTS: This study revealed multiorgan involvement in severe vivax
      cases with severe thrombocytopenia and anemia, the predominantly occurring
      symptoms. Four out of five vir genes and pvcrt-o showed a significant increase in
      expression levels of severe infections compared to the non-severe infections
      indicating their possible role in the changing pathogenesis of P. vivax.
      CONCLUSIONS: The increased virulence in vivax malaria seems to be the result of
      multifactorial parameters changing it phenotypically as well as genotypically.
      However more studies are needed to understand the still nascent severity of P.
      vivax malaria.

PMID- 26876066
TI  - The effect of hemodynamically-guided hypotensive therapy in one-year observation:
      Randomized, prospective and controlled trial (FINEPATH study).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of impedance cardiography (ICG) revealed to provide
      beneficial blood pressure (BP) lowering effect. However, the follow-up in
      previous trials was short and brachial BP was the only evaluated hemodynamic
      variable. Thus, we aimed to estimate the influence of ICG-guided therapy on
      brachial and central BP, impedance-derived hemodynamic profile and
      echocardiographic features after 12 months in a randomized, prospective and
      controlled trial (NCT01996085). METHODS: One hundred and forty-four hypertensives
      were randomly assigned to groups of empiric (GE) and ICG-guided therapy (HD).
      Office BP, ambulatory BP monitoring, central BP and echocardiography (left
      ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function assessment) were performed before
      and after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Blood pressure reduction was higher in
      HD (office BP: 21.8/14.1 vs. 19.9/11.8 mm Hg; mean 24-h BP: 19.0/10.9 vs.
      14.4/9.2 mm Hg). However, the only statistically significant differences were:
      percentage of patients achieving BP reduction of minimum 20 mm Hg for of-fice
      diastolic BP (27.3% vs. 12.1%; p = 0.034) and mean 24-h systolic BP (49.1% vs.
      27.3%; p = 0.013). More pronounced improvement in the left ventricular diastolic
      dysfunction (delta E/A 0.34 vs. 0.12, p = 0.017) was the only other beneficial
      hemodynamic effect. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial BP lowering effect of hemodynamically
      guided pharmacotherapy, observed previously in short-term observation, persists
      over time. Hemodynamic effects of such a treatment approach, especially those of
      prognostic value (central BP, myocardial hypertrophy), should be evaluated in
      further studies including patients with resistant hypertension, heart failure,
      diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.

PMID- 26876068
TI  - Establishing the Feasibility of Face Transplantation in Granulomatosis With
      Polyangiitis.
AB  - Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly Wegener's granulomatosis) is a
      rare vasculitis that commonly starts in the craniofacial region. We report a case
      that was masked by prior facial trauma and associated with pyoderma gangrenosum
      (PG). Disease progression and aggressive debridements led to severe facial tissue
      loss. The decision to perform a face transplant was controversial because of the
      risk of disease relapse on the facial allograft. We reviewed renal transplant
      outcomes in GPA for possible relevance. A PubMed search retrieved 29 studies.
      Patient and graft survival, relapse, morbidity, mortality, rejection and
      immunosuppression were assessed. Ten-year patient survival and graft survival
      were 84.4% and 72.6%, respectively. GPA relapse occurred in 31.5%, and upper
      airway/ocular relapse occurred in 17.8% (resolved in 76.9%). Mortality was 12.3%.
      Acute and chronic rejection rates were 14.9% and 6.8%, respectively. Traditional
      posttransplant immunosuppression was effective. Our review suggests that GPA
      renal transplant outcomes are comparable to general renal transplant cohorts.
      Furthermore, transplanted GPA patients exhibit lower disease relapse secondary to
      lifelong immunosuppression. This supported our decision to perform a face
      transplant in this patient, which has been successful up to the present time (1
      year posttransplantation). Untreated GPA and PG are potential causes of worse
      surgical outcomes in the craniofacial region.

PMID- 26876069
TI  - Time for hand-sewn anastomosis again? Comments on risk factors for anastomotic
      leak and postoperative morbidity and mortality after elective right colectomy for
      cancer: results from a prospective, multicentric study of 1102 patients.

PMID- 26876071
TI  - [Interpretation and consideration of the Society for Vascular Surgery practice
      guidelines for atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities
      management of asymptomatic disease and claudication].
AB  - Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities (ASO-LE) has the third
      highest rate among systematic atherosclerosis obliterans, ranking after coronary
      heart disease and stoke, and the disease burden of ASO-LE has been continuously
      increasing. Invasive revascularizations, which is presented by endovascular
      therapy technique, has undergone a dramatic development in the past couples of
      decades. However, controversy concerned about the surgical management and
      operative indications has heated up in the meanwhile. Thus Society for Vascular
      Surgery (SVS) published the practice guidelines for ASO-LE with asymptomatic
      disease and claudication in March, 2015. At the first time the guideline
      definitely opposed the aggressive invasive revascularization for ASO-LE patients
      with asymptomatic disease or claudication under satisfied tolerance. Instead, it
      posed the extreme emphasis on the pharmacotherapy with risk reduction of
      atherosclerosis at the core and the exercise therapy with supervised or home
      based exercise program at the core for ASO-LE patients with asymptomatic disease
      and claudication. 

PMID- 26876070
TI  - Skeletal muscle mass and quality as risk factors for postoperative outcome after
      open colon resection for cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of colorectal cancer in the elderly is increasing and,
      therefore, surgical interventions with a risk of potential complications are more
      frequently performed. This study investigated the role of low skeletal muscle
      mass (sarcopenia), muscle quality, and the sarcopenic obesity as prognostic
      factors for postoperative complications and survival in patients with resectable
      colon cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 91
      consecutive patients who underwent an elective open colon resection for cancer
      with primary anastomosis between 2011 and 2013. Skeletal muscle mass was measured
      as total psoas area (TPA) and total abdominal muscle area (TAMA) at three
      anatomical levels on the preoperative CT scan. Skeletal muscle quality was
      measured using corresponding mean Hounsfield units (HU) for TAMA. Their relation
      with complications (none vs one or more), severe complications, and survival was
      analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 91 patients with a mean age of 71.2 +/- 9.7
      years. Complications were noted in 55 patients (60 %), of which 15 (16.4 %) were
      severe. Lower HU for TAMA, as an indicator for impaired skeletal muscle quality,
      was an independent risk factor for one or more complications (all P <= 0.002),
      while sarcopenic obesity (TPA) was an independent risk factor for severe
      complications (all P <= 0.008). Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of worse
      overall survival (HR 8.54; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.07-68.32). CONCLUSION:
      Skeletal muscle quality is a predictor for overall complications, whereas
      sarcopenic obesity is a predictor for severe postoperative complications after
      open colon resection for cancer. Sarcopenia on itself is a predictor for worse
      overall survival.

PMID- 26876072
TI  - [Early experience of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy on 66 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic
      pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD). METHODS: Data of 66 patients from Sir Run Run Shaw
      Hospital undergoing LPD from September 2012 to September 2014 were reviewed.
      There were 44 male and 22 female with the mean age of (58.7+/-10.3) years and
      mean body mass index of (23.5+/-3.9)kg/m(2). Forty-five patients presented the
      symptoms and four of all had the history of abdominal surgery, including 2 cases
      of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. RESULTS: Of 66 patients underwent
      laparoscopic procedure, 1 patient underwent LPD combined with right hepatic
      resection, 1 patient underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with LPD, and 1
      patient underwent LPD after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. The mean
      operative time was (367+/-49) minutes. The mean blood loss was(193+/-126)ml. The
      rate of overall postoperative complications was 36.4%(24/66), with 4.5%(3/66) of
      B or C pancreatic fistula and 7.6% (5/66) of bleeding. The mean postoperative
      hospital stay was (18.9+/-12.1) days. Mean tumor size was (3.8+/-2.3) cm, and the
      mean number of lymph nodes harvested was (20.3+/-10.9). Forty-severn patients
      were diagnosed as pancreatic adenocarcinoma(n=18), cholangiocarcinoma(n=7),
      ampullary adenocarcinoma(n=21), and gastric cancer(n=1), respectively.
      CONCLUSION: LPD is feasible and safe under the skilled hand.

PMID- 26876073
TI  - [Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (<=5
      cm) underwent hepatectomy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and pathological factors influencing the
      prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)(<=5 cm) after
      hepatectomy. METHODS: Two hundreds and nineteen cases with HCC(<=5 cm) undergoing
      hepatectomy in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between
      December 2003 and July 2013 were collected. The alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level,
      tumor number, tumor size (diameter), liver cirrhosis, vascular invasion, capsular
      invasion, differentiation, surgical methods, resection margin, the way of
      treatments, the situation of recurrence and time to recurrence were analyzed. Log
      rank test and the stepwise Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compare
      the prognosis, respectively. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10- year overall
      survival rates were 95.9%, 85.3%, 67.8% and 53.3% respectively in all
      patients.Single factor analysis indicated that vascular invasion, capsular
      invasion, tumor size, hepatic vascular occult, liver cirrhosis, tumor
      differentiation, AFP, the way of treatments, the situation of recurrence and time
      to recurrence can affect the prognosis significantly (all P<0.05). The
      multifactor analysis showed that AFP, tumor differentiation, liver cirrhosis,
      capsular invasion, tumor size and the situation of recurrence and time to
      recurrence were independent prognostic factors (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The
      prognosis of patients with HCC(<=5 cm) underwent hepatectomy are affected by
      multi-factors, such as AFP, tumor differentiation, liver cirrhosis, capsular
      invasion, tumor size and the situation of recurrence and time to recurrence.

PMID- 26876074
TI  - [Predictive factors of pathological complete response in primary human epidermal
      growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab-based
      neoadjuvant chemotherapy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive factors of pathological complete
      response (pCR) in primary human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
      positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy
      (NAC). METHODS: Totally 101 patients of primary HER2-positive breast cancer
      treated with trastuzumab-based NAC and subsequent curative surgical therapy in
      the Breast Disease Center of Peking University First Hospital from September 2007
      to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were female with a
      median age of 53 (range 23 to 70) years.All patients received a taxanes- and
      carboplatin-containing chemotherapy, and trastuzumab was administered
      concurrently.A pCR, defined as the absence of invasive tumor cells in the breast
      and axillary lymph nodes, was achieved in 37.6% of patients (38/101). For
      analysis of the associations between clinicopathological factors and pCR, the
      chi(2) test or Fisher's exact test was used for univariate analysis, and
      multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate OR and 95%
      CI. RESULTS: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (chi(2)=14.981, P=0.000), hormone
      receptor (HR) status (chi(2)=9.513, P=0.002), and tumor grade (chi(2)=4.005,
      P=0.045) were significantly associated with pCR in univariate analysis. Tumor
      infiltrating lymphocytes positive (OR=4.74, 95% CI: 1.87 to 12.01, P=0.001) and
      HR-negative (OR=3.28, 95% CI: 1.31 to 8.20, P=0.011) were independent predictive
      factors of pCR in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Tumor-infiltrating
      lymphocytes-positive and HR-negative were independent predictive factors of pCR
      in primary HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab-based NAC.

PMID- 26876075
TI  - [Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm in a clinical analysis of 9
      cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of endovascular repair of popliteal artery
      aneurysm (PAA) and to summarize the clinical experience and lessons. METHODS: A
      clinical data of 9 PAA cases (males 8, females 1, age range 55-84) undergoing
      endovascular repair from October 2006 to December 2014 at Zhongshan Hospital
      Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed. CT angiography was made in all of
      the 9 cases preoperatively, and 10 PAA were included in the analysis. Of the 9
      cases, 6 cases were symptomatic. The mean diameter of PAA was 3.9 cm (range, 2.1
      8.2). RESULTS: The technique successful rate of endovascular repair was 10/10.
      The preoperative complications were 2/10, including one case suffered hematoma in
      the arterial puncture site and 1 case with distal artery embolization. The mean
      follow-up was 33 months (range, 3-87). During the follow-up, 2 cases received the
      secondary intervention and drug thrombolysis because of the stent distal
      thrombosis. The stent-graft primary patency at 1 year was 78.8% (95% CI: 48%
      91%). One case suffered stent fracture, and one case died of brainstem hemorrhage
      15 months post endovascular repair of PAA. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of
      PAA is safe and effective in perioperative and midterm follow-up. However,
      individual endovascular strategy and postoperative complications in the long-term
      follow-up should be payed more attention.

PMID- 26876076
TI  - [An imaging study on effect of total artificial disc replacement on lumbar
      sagittal alignment].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of Activ L total lumbar disc replacement on
      lumbar sagittal alignment. METHODS: The imaging data of patients with
      degenerative disc disease received Activ L total lumbar disc replacement at
      Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University
      from March 2009 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was
      45.6 years(range, 35-60 years)and the surgery levels were as follows: L3-4 2
      cases, L4-5 15 cases, L5/S1 5 cases, L3-4+ L4-5 3 cases, L4-5+ L5/S1 7 cases. All
      patients were followed up for 15 to 63 months(average, 32 months). Radiographic
      parameters such as lumbar lordosis angle(LL), segment lordosis angle(SL) and
      sacral slope angle(SS) were recorded. All the radiographic parameters were
      compared using one-way ANOVA at different stage. Lumbar lordosis angle of the two
      level was compared with the one of one-level by using independent sample t-test
      before and after the operation. A partial correction test was carried out to
      determine the corrections between the parameters preoperatively, one month after
      the operation and at final follow-up. RESULTS: One month after the operation, the
      lumbar lordosis angle decreased by an average of 1.8 degrees , but there was no
      statistically significant(P>0.05). Compared with one month postoperation, the
      lumbar lordosis angle increased by an average of 6.8 degrees (P<0.05), which also
      increased a lot compared with preoperation(P<0.05). The value of segment lordosis
      angle was rising up from preoperation to the final follow-up(P<0.05), so was the
      value of sacral slope angle, but there was no statistically significant between
      different stage(P>0.05). The lumbar lordosis angle showed no significant
      difference between double-level ones and single-level ones at different
      stage(P<0.05). The lumbar lordosis angle showed positive correlation with the
      sacral slope(P<0.001), however, the lumbar lordosis angle showed no corrected
      with the segment angle all the time(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The total lumbar disc
      replacement with Activ L prosthesis had contributed to maintain and improve the
      lumbar alignment in the short and medium term. Double- or single-level total
      lumbar disc replacement had no significant effect on the value of lumbar lordosis
      angle. The lumbar lordosis angle showed positive correlation with the sacral
      slope all the time with no correlation between lumbar lordosis angle and sacral
      slope.

PMID- 26876077
TI  - [The efficacy and safety of postoperative retransfusion drain following total hip
      arthroplasty: a Meta-analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of post-operative
      retransfusion drain(PRD) after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A systematic
      literature review based on PubMed, EMBase, the Cochrane Library, China Biology
      Medicine disc, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Database in any language regarding PRD
      following total hip arthroplasty was performed.The data was evaluated using
      modified Jadad score and then analyzed using RevMan 5.2. RESULTS: Nine randomized
      controlled trials totaling 1 824 patients, 913 patients in PRD group and 911 in
      control group, were eligible for data extraction and Meta-analysis.The results
      indicated that the use of PRD could reduce the requirement of allogeneic blood
      transfusion when compared with ordinary vacuum drainage (RR=0.61, 95% CI= 0.47
      0.79), but the benefit was not found when compared with no drainage
      group(RR=1.07, 95% CI=0.67-1.71). And the postoperative hemoglobin level was
      higher in PRD group(MD=0.14, 95% CI=0.01-0.27, P=0.04). No significant difference
      was identified regarding transfusion index, length of hospital stay, the
      incidence of febrile reaction and wound-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: PRD
      in reducing requirement of blood transfusion following THA is effective and safe
      when compared with ordinary vacuum drainage, but the benefit is not found when
      compared with no drainage.And more robust evidence is needed to confirm this
      result.

PMID- 26876078
TI  - [Diagnosis and treatment for intrathoracic gastroesophageal anastomotic leak:
      investigation of a new mode].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of a new mode to diagnose and treat
      intrathoracic gastroesophageal anastomotic leak. METHODS: From January 2007 to
      December 2014, fifty-five patients were confirmed intrathoracic gastroesophageal
      anastomotic leak among those were performed surgical operation due to esophageal
      or cardiac carcinoma in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. To
      retrospectively analyze the clinical data of these patients, thirty-six male and
      nineteen female were included with the ages from 49 to 81 years (average age of
      (67+/-6)years). Among them, forty-two were middle esophageal carcinoma, eleven
      were lower esophageal carcinoma and two were cardiac carcinoma. According to the
      differences of diagnosis and treatment methods for anastomotic leak, fifty-five
      patients were divided into two groups. Thirty-one patients distributed from
      January 2007 to November 2011 were received conventional management (conventional
      group): to definitively diagnose by contrast swallow when suspected to be
      developing anastomotic leaks, to place an esophageal stent when the drainage was
      sufficient and the infection was controlled. Twenty-four patients distributed
      from March 2011 to December 2014 were received new-mode management (new-mode
      group): to perform a anastomotic radioscopy under digital subtraction angiography
      -guidance instantly when suspected anastomotic leak and find out the fistula,
      search the shape and size, place a drainage tube into the fistula to drain or
      lavage the vomica according to the exploration results, pull back the tube
      gradually and close the leak by clips under endoscope later. The pathoclinical
      features, the confirmation time (time from clinical signs emergence to leak
      confirmation), the hospital duration after confirmation, the incidence of severe
      complications and total mortality were compared between the two groups by t-test
      and chi(2) test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There was no significant
      statistical differences in pathoclinical features between two groups (P>0.05).
      The confirmation time was significantly reduced in new-mode group than that in
      conventional group ((1.2+/-0.8) d vs. (3.6+/-2.2) d, t=5.212, P=0.000), and so
      was the hospital duration after confirmation ((26+/-12) d vs. (55+/-25) d,
      t=4.992, P=0.000) and the incidence of severe complications (16.7% vs. 48.4%,
      chi(2)=6.019, P=0.014), although there was no statistical differences in total
      mortality (4.2% vs. 22.6%, P=0.119). CONCLUSION: The new mode of early
      interventional diagnosis, early fistula drainage through nose and clipping under
      endoscope later is able to shorten diagnosis and treatment period, reduce
      incidence of severe complications.

PMID- 26876079
TI  - [Surgical outcomes of off-pump technique in extensive thoracoabdominal aorta
      replacement].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of off-pump technique with
      normothemia to extend thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm replacement compared with
      traditional hypothermic circulatory arrest. METHODS: From January 2004 to
      December 2013, 128 consecutive patients underwent surgical repair of
      thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (type Crawford II) in Fuwai Hospital. The mean
      age was (37+/-11) years. The patients included 74 cases (57.8%) with chronic
      Stanford A dissection, 34 cases (26.6%) with chronic Stanford B dissection, 20
      cases (15.6%) with thoracoabdominal aortic true aneurysm. There were 71 patients
      who underwent hypothermic circulatory arrest surgery (cardiopulmonary bypass
      (CPB) group) and 57 patients who underwent off-pump surgery with normothermia
      (off-pump group). The clinic data was compared between the 2 groups using paired
      t tests and chi(2) test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for
      postoperative survival stays. RESULTS: The mean CPB time in CPB group was (251 +/
      87) minuets and the circulatory arrest time was (45+/-24) minuets. Spinal cord
      ischemia time in the two groups was (21+/-12) minuets and (18+/-10) minuets
      (t=5.68, P=0.51). The operation time, ventilator time, length of ICU stay and
      length of hospital stay of off-pump group were shorter than CPB group ((408+/
      114) minuets vs.(630+/-156) minuets, t=-7.67, P=0.05; (18+/-13) hours vs. (113+/
      89) hours, t=-3.86, P=0.00; (4+/-2) days vs.(10+/-9) days, t=-4.19, P=0.00; (15+/
      7) days vs.(25+/-14) days, t=-4.47, P=0.00). The intraoperative blood loss in off
      pump group and CPB group was (900+/-750) ml and (1 400+/-400) ml (t=-2.23,
      P=0.04). The mortality was 1.7% and 9.8% in the off-pump group and CPB groups
      (chi(2)=3.544, P=0.05). The cerebral complication rate in the normal temperature
      group was 1.7% vs. 22.6% in extracorporeal group (chi(2)=9.35, P<0.05). A total
      of 113 patients were followed up, with a follow-up rate of 88.2%. Duration of
      follow-up was (78+/-54) months. Five patients died during the follow-up period,
      including 2 who died of cerebral infarction and 3 paraplegia patients who died of
      infection. Eight patients had phase II aortic arch replacement after a mean time
      of 6 months. The overall postoperative survival rate was 97%, 93% and 87% at 3
      years, 5 years and 7 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Off-pump technique with
      normothemia was associated with a lower risk of a composite outcome of mortality
      and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events during repair of extensive
      thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

PMID- 26876080
TI  - [Intraoperative autologous based blood conservation strategies in mitral valve
      replacement].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether intraoperative autologous donation (IAD) can
      reduce perioperative blood transfusion for patients underwent mitral valve
      replacement (MVR). METHODS: A total of 318 patients received implementation of
      IAD from January 2011 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively, and
      compared with 517 patients of the previous 36-month period (from January 2008 to
      December 2012). The method of small-volume retrograde autologous priming, strict
      blood transfusion standard along with IAD together constituted a progressive
      blood-saving strategy. Statistical methods including Students' t-test, Pearson's
      chi(2) test, Kruskal-Wallis analysis and multivariate Logistic regression model
      were used for comparisons of the data. RESULTS: There were no significant
      difference between IAD group and non-IAD group considering preoperative patient
      demographics, characteristics and preoperative comorbidities. However, IAD group
      significantly reduced number of patients transfused with intra/post-operative
      packed red-blood cell (PRBC) (55(17.0%) vs. 215 (42.1%), chi(2)=53.0, P=0.000),
      and had significantly reduced postoperative chest tube output (150(380) ml vs.
      700(660) ml, H=195.648, P=0.000), length of stay ((16+/-6) d vs. (20+/-8)d,
      t=9.60, P=0.000). But hematocrit were lower in IAD group (30%+/-5% vs.33%+/-4% at
      end of operation, t=7.76, P=0.000; 30%+/-4% vs. 32%+/-5% at discharge, P=0.000,
      t=3.86). Multivariate logistic aggression analysis revealed that age, IAD and
      smoking history were factors influencing the probability of intra or
      postoperative blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Implementation of blood conservation
      strategies based on intraoperative autologous donation in mitral valve
      replacement surgery can significantly reduce intra/postoperative blood
      transfusion as well as postoperative complications.

PMID- 26876081
TI  - [A clinical observation of cool-tip radiofrequency ablation assisted enucleation
      for giant renal angiomyolipoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To initially explore the clinical effect of cool-tip radiofrequency
      ablation combined with enucleation for the giant hamartoma of kidney with narrow
      base and export-oriented way of growth. METHODS: The clinical date of 15 patients
      including 6 male and 9 female with special hamartoma of kidney underwent cool-tip
      radiofrequency ablation assisted enucleation from July 2011 to October 2014 were
      reviewed.The median age was 49 years (ranging from 35 to 71 years). There were 6
      cases with left renal tumor, 8 cases with right renal tumor and 1 case with
      solitary kidney tumor.All patients were confirmed by B ultrasound or CT scan, the
      mean diameter of hamartoma of kidney was 9.7 cm(8.5-12.7)cm, all tumors were
      located distant from the collecting system and presents with a special way of
      growth.The preoperative hemoglobin was (129+/-18)g/L, SCr was (92+/-41)MUmol/L,
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was (32+/-12)ml.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). RESULTS:
      Cool-tip radiofrequency ablation assisted enucleation was technically successful
      in all patients.The mean operative duration was (115+/-31)minutes, and the
      average intraoperative bleeding was (72+/-21)ml with no blooding transfusion.The
      postoperative hospital stay was(7+/-2)days, and the postoperative hemoglobin
      was(129+/-18)g/L, SCr (92+/-41)MUmol/L, GFR(30+/-15)ml.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). No
      statistic change of hemoglobin and SCr or glomerular filtration rate after
      operations(all P>0.05). Postoperative pathology showed that all cases were
      hamartoma of kidney.During a mean follow-up period of 19.5 months, none of them
      had local tumor recurrence or chronic renal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Cool-tip
      radiofrequency ablation assisted enucleation is both safe and effective in the
      treatment of huge hamartoma of kidney with a narrow base and export-oriented way
      of growth. The short-term follow-up shows a satisfactory therapeutic effect.

PMID- 26876082
TI  - [Clinical diagnosis and treatment of adrenocortical adenoma in patients aged 60
      years or above].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of adrenocortical adenoma's
      diagnosis and treatment in patients aged 60 years or above. METHODS: A
      retrospective study was performed with a total of 249 patients aged 60 years or
      above who suffered from adrenocortical adenoma and treated in Peking Union
      Medical College Hospital from January 2004 to January 2014.The clinical features,
      treatments and prognosis of the 249 patients aged 60 years or above were compared
      with another 249 patients which were randomly selected during the same period
      aged from 30 to 50 years.t-test or chi(2) test was used to analyze the data
      between the two groups. RESULTS: Endocrine examinations were performed in all 249
      patients aged 60 years or above.There were 144 patients diagnosed as non
      functional adrenocortical adenoma, 94 cases as aldosterone-producing adenoma and
      11 cases as Cushing adenoma.For the patients aged 60 years or above, the rate of
      cardio-cerebral vascular incident in non-functional adrenocortical adenoma group
      was 26.4%(38/144), which was significantly lower than that of the aldosterone
      producing adenoma and Cushing adenoma group(54.3%, 57/105)(chi(2)=20.027,
      P=0.000). There were 91.5%(65/71) of the patients aged 60 years or above who got
      a relief in low blood potassium symptoms after the operation.Forty-nine point one
      percent(53/108) of the non-functional adrenocortical adenoma patients aged 60
      years or above had a better control of their blood pressure level, while
      functional adrenocortical adenoma group were 64.0%(48/75) which indicated that
      the functional adrenocortical adenoma patients have a better control of their
      blood pressure then the non-functional adrenocortical adenoma patients after the
      operation(chi(2)=3.987, P=0.046). There were 37.1% of the patients aged 60 years
      or above whose fasting blood-glucose was higher than 7.1 mmol/L, while the
      patients aged from 30 to 50 years was 14.1%(chi(2)=22.02, P=0.000). The
      differences in plasma aldosterone and blood potassium between the patients aged
      60 years or above and the patients aged from 30 to 50 years had statistical
      significance(t=10.48, -2.58; P=0.00, 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the
      adrenocortical adenoma in patients aged 60 years or above is non-functional
      adrenocortical adenoma.Among who, patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma
      tend to have lower plasma aldosterone concentration and higher blood potassium
      level then the patients aged from 30 to 50 years.The patients aged 60 years or
      above with functional adrenocortical adenoma are tend to have severe cardio
      cerebral vascular incidence.A few of non-functional adrenocortical adenoma
      patients who combine with hypertension can benefit for the operation.

PMID- 26876083
TI  - [Efficacy of thromboelastography to monitor the clinical massive transfusion in
      scoliosis: a randomized controlled trial].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To systematically assess the benefits and harms of a thromboela
      stogram (TEG) guided transfusion strategy with severe bleeding. METHODS: In this
      prospective study, 60 patients scheduled for scoliosis were included in the
      Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, from May 2014 to
      February 2014.Patients were allocated into either an TEG group or a standard
      management group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, weight,
      height and operation time between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant
      differences in red blood cell concentration((4.5+/-1.5)units and(7.1+/
      1.2)units)(t=4.343, P=0.001), platelet((2.5+/-1.3)units and (4.2+/
      0.6)units)(t=4.554, P=0.002), fresh frozen plasma((234+/-46)ml and(514+/
      41)ml)(t=3.723, P=0.004), fibrinogen((2.4+/-0.6)g and (4.6+/-0.7)g)(t=3.451,
      P=0.006) between the TEG group and the standard management group.The two groups
      in intraoperative blood loss((1 023+/-103)ml and (1 314+/-116)ml)(t=2.260,
      P=0.120), incidence of rebleeding after operation(3.1% and 3.6%)(chi(2)=0.340,
      P=0.450), hospitalization time((18+/-4)d and (16+/-6)d)(t=2.140, P=0.160) had no
      statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Application of a TEG guided
      transfusion strategy seems to reduce the amount of bleeding during correction
      operation of scoliosis.

PMID- 26876084
TI  - [Progress in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma].
AB  - The surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma have advanced greatly in
      recent years: associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged
      hepatectomy can bring hope and relief to patients with advanced liver cancer and
      less future liver remnant; the application range of laparoscopic hepatectomy and
      robotic hepatectomy were amplified; hepatectomy following anatomic or non
      anatomic direction should be decided by particular situations; the precise
      preoperative assessment of liver reserve function ensured the success of extended
      hepatectomy; the further discussion of United Network for Organ Sharing criteria
      for liver transplantation made the appearance of University of California at San
      Francisco, Up-to-seven and Hangzhou criteria; bridge therapy can decrease tumor
      progression and the dropout rate from the liver transplantation waiting list;
      downstaging treatment is used in selected patients with more advanced liver
      cancer who are beyond the accepted transplant criteria to acquire the chance of
      liver transplantation and increase survival rates. 

PMID- 26876085
TI  - [Reevaluation of transperineal prostate biopsy].
AB  - In these recent over twenty years, transrectal prostate biopsy takes predominant
      place in diagnosing prostate cancer for its relatively convenient procedure and
      low cost. In contrast, transperineal biopsy approach is much less popular.
      However, transrectal prostate biopsy has disadvantages of"blind region"in the
      anterior apex regions of the prostate gland and relatively high risk of biopsy
      associated sepsis. The transperineal biopsy approach is again gaining attention
      and even becoming a mainstream approach. The advantages of transperineal prostate
      biopsy are the following: a high positive rate, particularly in the detection of
      tumors at the anterior or apical prostate; accurate assessment of the volume and
      Gleason score of prostate cancer; the possibility of providing information about
      the spatial distribution of the cancer; good consistency of pathology with
      radical resection; and a lower infection rate, making it suitable for patients
      with a high infection risks. The expansion of transperineal biopsy has been
      propagated by the increase in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsies, which often
      use the transperineal approach. 

PMID- 26876086
TI  - [Progress of clinical application of functional MRI in the localization of brain
      language area].
AB  - For surgical operation in the functional area in the brain, it's commonly
      demanded to resect the lesion to the maximal extent on the basis of preserve the
      normal neural function, thus the precise localization of functional area is
      extremely important. As for the advantages of being widely available, easy to
      grasp and non-invasive, the functional MRI (fMRI) has come into wide use, while
      the application of language fMRI is still in the initial stage. It's important to
      choose appropriate fMRI task according to the individual condition of the
      subject, the commonly-adopted tasks include verb generation, picture naming, word
      recognition, word generation, etc. However, the effectiveness of using fMRI to
      localize language area is not totally satisfactory, adopting multiple task is an
      effective approach to improve the sensitivity of this technique. The application
      of resting state fMRI in the localization of language area and the further
      research of the role of fMRI in localizing the Chinese language area are the
      important future directions. 

PMID- 26876087
TI  - Expression of IL-1 and IL-6 and their natural regulators in leukocytes of B-cell
      chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was the assessment of the expression of IL
      1beta and IL-6, and the proteins regulating their biological activity, namely IL
      1RII, IL-1Ra, as well as sIL-6Ralpha, sgp-130 in leukemic lymphocytes and
      autologous neutrophils of B-CLL patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study involved a
      group of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and healthy volunteer blood
      donors. The presence of chosen proteins and their natural regulators was
      confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed a decreased
      expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 in the leukocytes of B-CLL patients. Decreased
      expression of sIL-6Ralpha has been observed in lymphocytes, with a simultaneous
      increase of expression in PMNs. Lower expression of sgp-130 was found in B cells
      while its expression was elevated in the neutrophils of patients in early stages
      of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The changes observed in the expression of IL-1 and
      IL-6 seem to exclude their immediate involvement in the progress of B-CLL.
      However, the presented changes in the expression of proteins regulating IL-1beta
      and IL-6 in PMNs indicate a potential role of early immune response cells also in
      advanced stages of the disease.

PMID- 26876088
TI  - Changes of glycosylation of IgG in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with
      methotrexate.
AB  - PURPOSE: In patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) decrease of
      galactosylation is correlated with disease activity. The aim of our study was to
      evaluate an effect of methotrexate therapy on glycosylation disturbances of IgG
      in RA patients. MATERIALS/METHODS: IgG glycosylation in 40 patients with active
      RA treated with methotrexate for 12 months prior to and after treatment were
      compared. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. IgG glycosylation
      was assessed using biotinylated lectins and immunosorbent ELISA assay. For
      galactose specificity Datura stramonium lectin (DSA), for sialic acid Sambucus
      nigra (SNA) and Maackia amurensis (MAA) and for fucose residue Areulia auranta
      (AAA) lectins were used. RESULTS: In RA-cases N-glycan galactosylation and
      sialylation of IgG before treatment were significantly lower than in healthy
      subjects (for DSA, MAA lectins p<0.001 and SNA p<0.05). Significant increase of
      IgG galactosylation and sialylation in RA patients after therapy (for DSA, MAA
      and SNA lectin p<0.05) was detected. Moreover the glycosylation disturbances of N
      glycan IgG were strongly associated with changes of disease activity based on
      disease activity score. For fucose residues significantly higher absorbency of
      AAA lectin in RA patients before treatment was observed compared to control
      subjects (p<0.05) and slightly, not significantly decreased after MTX therapy.
      CONCLUSIONS: Defect of galactosylation of IgG in RA patients is a useful marker
      of disease activity that may be used for the assessment of therapy effectiveness.
      The role of IgG fucosylation and sialylation in RA pathogenesis has still to be
      determined.

PMID- 26876089
TI  - Long-term follow up of ileal pouch anal anastomosis in a large cohort of
      pediatric and young adult patients with ulcerative colitis.
AB  - AIM: The study's aim is to determine long-term outcomes in a large cohort of
      pediatric and young adult patients who underwent proctocolectomy with ileal pouch
      anal anastomsis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Patients diagnosed
      with UC in childhood or adolescence (age<=21years) who underwent IPAA in
      childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood between 1982 and 1997 were contacted
      to determine pouch history, complications, and quality of life. RESULTS: Data
      were obtained from 74 patients out of a previously reported cohort. Median age at
      diagnosis of UC was 15years and at surgery was 18years. Median follow-up was
      20years. Complications during follow-up were pouchitis (45%), strictures (16%),
      fistulae (30%), obstruction (20%), and change of diagnosis to Crohn's (28%).
      Twenty-three percent reported no complications. Fourteen percent had pouch
      failure, with Crohn's and fistulae reported to be the most frequent
      complications. Seventy-nine percent reported being very satisfied at 20years
      follow-up. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study represents the largest cohort
      with the longest follow-up of pediatric and young adult patients undergoing IPAA
      for UC. Change in diagnosis to Crohn's and development of fistulae are risk
      factors for pouch failure. Despite reported complications, IPAA remains an
      excellent option for pediatric patients with UC.

PMID- 26876091
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26876090
TI  - Optimizing fluid resuscitation in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is the most common diagnosis
      requiring surgery in infants. Electrolytes are used as a marker of resuscitation
      for these patients prior to general anesthesia induction. Often multiple fluid
      boluses and electrolyte panels are needed, delaying operative intervention. We
      have attempted to predict the amount of IV fluid boluses needed for electrolyte
      correction based on initial values. METHODS: A single center retrospective review
      of all patients diagnosed with HPS from 2008 through 2014 was performed. Abnormal
      electrolytes were defined as chloride <100mmol/L, bicarbonate >=30mmol/L or
      potassium >5.2 or <3.1mmol/L. Patients with abnormal electrolytes were
      resuscitated with 20ml/kg saline boluses and continuous fluids at 1.5 times
      maintenance rate. RESULTS: During the study period 542 patients were identified
      with HPS. Of the 505 who were analyzed 202 patients had electrolyte abnormalities
      requiring IV fluid resuscitation above maintenance, and 303 patients had normal
      electrolytes at time of diagnosis. Weight on presentation was significantly lower
      in the patients with abnormal electrolytes (3.8 vs 4.1kg, p<0.01). Length of stay
      was significantly longer in the patients with electrolyte abnormalities, 2.6 vs
      1.9days (p<0.01). Fluid given was higher over the entire hospital stay for
      patients with abnormal electrolytes (106 vs 91ml/kg/d, p<0.01). The number of
      electrolyte panels drawn was significantly higher in patients with initial
      electrolyte abnormalities, 2.8 vs 1.3 (p<0.01). Chloride was the most sensitive
      and specific indicator of the need for multiple saline boluses. Using an ROC
      curve, parameters of initial Cl(-)80mmol/L and the need for 3 or more boluses AUC
      was 0.71. Modifying the parameters to initial Cl(-) <=97mmol/L and 2 boluses AUC
      was 0.65. A patient with an initial Cl(-)85 will need three 20ml/kg boluses 73%
      (95% CI 52-88%) of the time. A patient with an initial Cl(-) <=97 will need two
      20ml/kg boluses at a rate of 73% (95% CI 64-80%). CONCLUSION: Children with
      electrolyte abnormalities at time of diagnosis of HPS have a longer length of
      stay; require more fluid resuscitation and more lab draws. This study reveals
      high sensitivity and specificity of presenting chloride in determining the need
      for multiple boluses. We recommend the administration of two 20ml/kg saline
      boluses separated by an hour prior to rechecking labs in patients with initial
      Cl(-) value <=97mmol/L. If the presenting Cl(-) <85 three boluses of 20ml/kg of
      saline separated by an hour are recommended. If implemented these modifications
      have potential to save time by not delaying care for extraneous lab results and
      money in the form of fewer lab draws.

PMID- 26876093
TI  - Complex sentence profiles in children with Specific Language Impairment: Are they
      really atypical?
AB  - Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) have language difficulties of
      unknown origin. Syntactic profiles are atypical, with poor performance on non
      canonical structures, e.g. object relatives, suggesting a localized deficit.
      However, existing analyses using ANOVAs are problematic because they do not
      systematically address unequal variance, or fully model random effects.
      Consequently, a Generalised Linear Model (GLM) was used to analyze data from a
      Sentence Repetition (SR) task involving relative clauses. seventeen children with
      SLI (mean age 6;7), twenty-one Language Matched (LM) children (mean age 4;8), and
      seventeen Age Matched (AM) children (mean age 6;5) repeated 100 canonical and non
      canonical sentences. ANOVAs found a significant Group by Canonicity interaction
      for the SLI versus AM contrast only. However, the GLM found no significant
      interaction. Consequently, arguments for a localized deficit may depend on
      statistical methods which are prone to exaggerate profile differences.
      Nonetheless, a subgroup of SLI exhibited particularly severe structural language
      difficulties.

PMID- 26876092
TI  - Coral community response to bleaching on a highly disturbed reef.
AB  - While many studies of coral bleaching report on broad, regional scale responses,
      fewer examine variation in susceptibility among coral taxa and changes in
      community structure, before, during and after bleaching on individual reefs. Here
      we report in detail on the response to bleaching by a coral community on a highly
      disturbed reef site south of mainland Singapore before, during and after a major
      thermal anomaly in 2010. To estimate the capacity for resistance to thermal
      stress, we report on: a) overall bleaching severity during and after the event,
      b) differences in bleaching susceptibility among taxa during the event, and c)
      changes in coral community structure one year before and after bleaching.
      Approximately two thirds of colonies bleached, however, post-bleaching recovery
      was quite rapid and, importantly, coral taxa that are usually highly susceptible
      were relatively unaffected. Although total coral cover declined, there was no
      significant change in coral taxonomic community structure before and after
      bleaching. Several factors may have contributed to the overall high resistance of
      corals at this site including Symbiodinium affiliation, turbidity and
      heterotrophy. Our results suggest that, despite experiencing chronic
      anthropogenic disturbances, turbid shallow reef communities may be remarkably
      resilient to acute thermal stress. 

PMID- 26876094
TI  - Physical health nurse consultant role to improve physical health in mental health
      services: A carer's perspective.
AB  - The physical health of people diagnosed with a mental illness is significantly
      poorer in comparison with the general population. Awareness of this health
      disparity is increasing; however, strategies to address the problem are limited.
      Carers play an important role in the physical health care of people with mental
      illness, particularly in facilitating navigation of and advocating in the health
      care system. A specialist physical health nurse consultant position has been
      suggested as a way to address the physical health care disparity and limited
      research available suggests that positive outcomes are possible. In the present
      study, a qualitative exploratory research project was undertaken, involving in
      depth interviews with people identifying as mental health carers. Two focus
      groups and one individual interview were conducted involving a total of 13
      carers. The resulting data were analyzed thematically. Views and opinions about
      the proposed physical health nurse consultant (PHNC) position were sought during
      these interviews and are reported in this paper. Two main sub-themes were evident
      relating to characteristics of this role: reliability and consistency; and
      communication and support. Essentially carers expressed a need for support for
      themselves and consumers in addressing physical health concerns. Successful
      implementation of this position would require a consistent and reliable approach.
      Carers are significant stakeholders in the physical health of consumers of mental
      health services and their active involvement in identifying and tailoring
      services, including development of the physical health nurse consultant must be
      seen as a priority. 

PMID- 26876095
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26876096
TI  - Munc18-1 and the Syntaxin-1 N Terminus Regulate Open-Closed States in a t-SNARE
      Complex.
AB  - Neuronal exocytosis is mediated by SNARE proteins, which assemble into a highly
      stable four-helical bundle in a process that is not well understood. Here,
      electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine how the t-SNAREs
      syntaxin and SNAP25 assemble in the presence and absence of the regulatory
      protein Munc18-1. Syntaxin and SNAP25 form a 2:1 complex, which is structurally
      heterogeneous and persists in the presence of excess SNAP25. Munc18-1 dissociates
      this 2:1 complex, but a 1:1 complex is retained where syntaxin is in a closed
      state. In the absence of an N-terminal fragment of syntaxin, Munc18-1 also
      stabilizes a 1:1 complex of sytaxin/SNAP25; however, syntaxin now samples an open
      state. These data demonstrate that the open-closed syntaxin equilibrium is
      shifted toward the open state when syntaxin and Munc18-1 are associated with
      SNAP25, and the results indicate that a syntaxin/SNAP25:Munc18-1 complex is a
      likely starting point for SNARE assembly.

PMID- 26876097
TI  - Structural Basis for the Unique Multivalent Readout of Unmodified H3 Tail by
      Arabidopsis ORC1b BAH-PHD Cassette.
AB  - DNA replication initiation relies on the formation of the origin recognition
      complex (ORC). The plant ORC subunit 1 (ORC1) protein possesses a conserved N
      terminal BAH domain with an embedded plant-specific PHD finger, whose function
      may be potentially regulated by an epigenetic mechanism. Here, we report
      structural and biochemical studies on the Arabidopsis thaliana ORC1b BAH-PHD
      cassette which specifically recognizes the unmodified H3 tail. The crystal
      structure of ORC1b BAH-PHD cassette in complex with an H3(1-15) peptide reveals a
      strict requirement for the unmodified state of R2, T3, and K4 on the H3 tail and
      a novel multivalent BAH and PHD readout mode for H3 peptide recognition. Such
      recognition may contribute to epigenetic regulation of the initiation of DNA
      replication.

PMID- 26876098
TI  - Reconstructing the TIR Side of the Myddosome: a Paradigm for TIR-TIR
      Interactions.
AB  - Members of the Toll-like receptor and interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor families all
      signal via Toll/IL-1R (TIR) domain-driven assemblies with adaptors such as MyD88.
      We here combine the mammalian two-hybrid system MAPPIT and saturation mutagenesis
      to complement and extend crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance data,
      and reveal how TIR domains interact. We fully delineate the interaction sites on
      the MyD88 TIR domain for homo-oligomerization and for interaction with Mal and
      TLR4. Interactions between three sites drive MyD88 homo-oligomerization. The BB
      loop interacts with the alphaE-helix, explaining how BB-loop mimetics inhibit
      MyD88 signaling. The alphaC'-helix interacts symmetrically. The MyD88 TIR domains
      thus assemble into a left-handed helix, compatible with the Myddosome death
      domain crystal structure. This assembly explains activation of MyD88 by Mal and
      by an oncogenic mutation, and regulation by phosphorylation. These findings
      provide a paradigm for the interaction of mammalian TIR domains. 

PMID- 26876099
TI  - Linkage via K27 Bestows Ubiquitin Chains with Unique Properties among
      Polyubiquitins.
AB  - Polyubiquitination, a critical protein post-translational modification, signals
      for a diverse set of cellular events via the different isopeptide linkages formed
      between the C terminus of one ubiquitin (Ub) and the E-amine of K6, K11, K27,
      K29, K33, K48, or K63 of a second Ub. We assembled di-ubiquitins (Ub2) comprising
      every lysine linkage and examined them biochemically and structurally. Of these,
      K27-Ub2 is unique as it is not cleaved by most deubiquitinases. As this remains
      the only structurally uncharacterized lysine linkage, we comprehensively examined
      the structures and dynamics of K27-Ub2 using nuclear magnetic resonance, small
      angle neutron scattering, and in silico ensemble modeling. Our structural data
      provide insights into the functional properties of K27-Ub2, in particular that
      K27-Ub2 may be specifically recognized by K48-selective receptor UBA2 domain from
      proteasomal shuttle protein hHR23a. Binding studies and mutagenesis confirmed
      this prediction, further highlighting structural/recognition versatility of
      polyubiquitins and the potential power of determining function from elucidation
      of conformational ensembles.

PMID- 26876101
TI  - Cardiac troponins--Translational biomarkers in cardiology: Theory and practice of
      cardiac troponin high-sensitivity assays.
AB  - Tn is a unique translational biomarker in cardiology whose potential has not been
      diminished in the new era of high sensitive assays. cTns can be valuable markers
      in cardiac diseases as well as in infectious diseases and respiratory diseases.
      Furthermore, the role of cTns is growing in the routine evaluation of
      cardioxicity and in determining the efficacy/safety ratio of novel
      cardioprotective strategies in clinical settings. cTns can detect myocardial
      injury not only in a wide spectrum of laboratory animals in experimental studies
      in vivo, but also in isolated heart models or cardiomyocytes in vitro. The
      crucial issue regarding the cross-species usage of cardiac troponin investigation
      remains the choice of cardiac troponin testing. This review summarizes the recent
      proteomic data on aminoacid sequences of cTnT and cTnI in various species, as
      well as selected analytical characteristics of human cardiac troponin high
      sensitivity assays. Due to the highly phylogenetically conserved structure of
      troponins, the same bioindicator can be investigated using the same method in
      both clinical and experimental cardiology, thus contributing to a better
      understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases as well as to increased
      effectiveness of troponin use in clinical practice. Measuring cardiac troponins
      using commercially available human high-sensitivity cardiac troponin tests with
      convenient antibodies selected on the basis of adequate proteomic knowledge can
      solve many issues which would otherwise be difficult to address in clinical
      settings for various ethical and practical reasons. Our survey could help
      elaborate the practical guidelines for optimizing the choice of cTns assay in
      cardiology.

PMID- 26876100
TI  - Selective Binding of AIRAPL Tandem UIMs to Lys48-Linked Tri-Ubiquitin Chains.
AB  - Lys48-linked ubiquitin chains act as the main targeting signals for protein
      degradation by the proteasome. Here we report selective binding of AIRAPL, a
      protein that associates with the proteasome upon exposure to arsenite, to Lys48
      linked tri-ubiquitin chains. AIRAPL comprises two ubiquitin-interacting motifs in
      tandem (tUIMs) that are linked through a flexible inter-UIM region. In the
      complex crystal structure UIM1 binds the proximal ubiquitin, whereas UIM2 (the
      double-sided UIM) binds non-symmetrically to the middle and distal ubiquitin
      moieties on either side of the helix. Specificity of AIRAPL for Lys48-linked
      ubiquitin chains is determined by UIM2, and the flexible inter-UIM linker
      increases avidity by placing the two UIMs in an orientation that facilitates
      binding of the third ubiquitin to UIM1. Unlike middle and proximal ubiquitins,
      distal ubiquitin binds UIM2 through a novel surface, which leaves the Ile44
      hydrophobic patch accessible for binding to the proteasomal ubiquitin receptors.

PMID- 26876102
TI  - Characterization of a Colletotrichum population causing anthracnose disease on
      Olive in northern Tunisia.
AB  - AIMS: To phenotypically, physiologically and molecularly characterize the causal
      agent of olive anthracnose in the northern Tunisia and to study its genetic
      variability and pathogenicity. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 43 isolates were
      obtained from symptomatic olives collected from four regions in northern Tunisia.
      A range of morphological and physiological characteristics was recorded; and a
      phylogenetic study, based on the sequence analysis of both internal transcribed
      spacers and TUB2 gene regions, was performed. Of the 43 isolates, 41 were
      identified as Colletotrichum acutatum s.s, and only two were affiliated to
      Colletotrichum gloeosporioides s.s. Two more representative Spanish isolates,
      included for comparison, were identified as Colletotrichum godetiae. Using six
      inter-simple-sequence-repeat markers, homogeneity between isolates from different
      locations and within the same species was recorded. In pathogenicity and
      virulence studies, C. gloeosporioides s.s was found to be less virulent, while
      the Spanish C. godetiae isolate was significantly more virulent than the Tunisian
      C. acutatum s.s. CONCLUSIONS: Olive anthracnose in the North of Tunisia is mainly
      caused by C. acutatum s.s species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is
      the first study of olive anthracnose in Tunisia, which combines both phenotypic
      and molecular approaches. Colletotrichum acutatum s.s group was recorded for the
      first time in the country as the causal agent of olive anthracnose.

PMID- 26876103
TI  - Growth trend of small uterine fibroids and human chorionic gonadotropin serum
      levels in early pregnancy: an observational study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the growth trend of small uterine fibroids during early
      pregnancy, evaluating the potential factors involved, with particular interest in
      hCG levels. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care university
      hospital. PATIENT(S): Women who had an ultrasound diagnosis of small myomas
      (diameter, >=10 mm and <=50 mm) from January 2007 to December 2013, and who
      subsequently became pregnant within 1 year. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURE(S): Three additional ultrasound examinations were performed during early
      pregnancy (7-8, 10-13, and 20-22 complete gestational weeks, respectively) and
      the modifications in diameter and volume of each uterine fibroid were recorded. A
      serial evaluation of hCG serum levels from 5-12 weeks was performed. RESULT(S):
      From the 109 women who fulfilled the study inclusion/exclusion criteria, a
      significant increase emerged, both for volume and diameter of the detected
      fibroids. Specifically, a median growth rate (GR) of 122% was observed during the
      interval of the first to the second ultrasound, whereas a median GR of 108% was
      detected during the interval between the second and the third ultrasound, and a
      median GR of 25% between the third and the fourth ultrasound. A significant
      positive correlation between hCG levels and diameter (R = 0.69) of myomas between
      5 and 12 weeks emerged. CONCLUSION(S): A remarkable nonlinear growth of small
      fibroids during initial pregnancy was observed, with a faster rate in the first
      trimester and a slowdown by midpregnancy. Those changes seem to be related to the
      similar increase of hCG levels until 12 weeks.

PMID- 26876104
TI  - Long-acting follicle-stimulating hormone versus daily follicle-stimulating
      hormone for women undergoing assisted reproduction.
AB  - Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) given as a weekly injection in a medium dose
      is as safe and effective as a daily FSH injection for women undergoing assisted
      reproduction. 

PMID- 26876105
TI  - Comparison of fluorescent tags for analysis of mannose-6-phosphate glycans.
AB  - Mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P) glycan analysis is important for quality control of
      therapeutic enzymes for lysosomal storage diseases. Here, we found that the
      analysis of glycans containing two M-6-Ps was highly affected by the
      hydrophilicity of the elution solvent used in high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC). In addition, the performances of three fluorescent tags--2
      aminobenzoic acid (2-AA), 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB), and 3-(acetyl-amino)-6
      aminoacridine (AA-Ac)--were compared with each other for M-6-P glycan analysis
      using HPLC and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass
      spectrometry. The best performance for analyzing M-6-P glycans was shown by 2-AA
      labeling in both analyses.

PMID- 26876106
TI  - A transverse pull-through suture technique to repair volar plate avulsion for a
      chronic swan neck deformity.

PMID- 26876107
TI  - Poly Implant ProtheseTM (PIP) experience in the United Kingdom: A prospective
      cohort study into the accuracy of diagnostic imaging findings in comparison to
      operative findings of 1029 implants.

PMID- 26876108
TI  - Oncological outcomes of lipofilling breast reconstruction: 195 consecutive cases
      and literature review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Lipofilling has become a widely used procedure in breast
      reconstruction after mastectomy or breast-conserving treatment. The possibility
      that this technique may increase stimulation of cancer development between the
      potential tumor bed and the lipoaspirates grafts has been raised regarding its
      safety. The aim of this study was to identify the oncological risks associated
      with this procedure in our institution. METHODS: Between years 2007 and 2014 we
      record 195 consecutive patients with fat grafting technique for reconstructive
      purpose after breast cancer treatment. The loco-regional recurrence (LRR) as
      first event of relapse was the primary end point of this study. RESULTS: We
      performed 319 lipofilling procedures in 132 mastectomy and 63 breast-conserving
      surgery patients. Invasive carcinoma represents 81.6% of the series. The median
      follow-up from primary cancer surgery and fat grafting was 74 and 31 months
      respectively. Median time between oncologic surgery and lipofilling was 36
      months. The authors observed a complication rate of 8.2%, most of them
      liponecrosis and oil cysts (7.2%). Four local, 2 regional and 4 distant
      recurrences were observed as first event of relapse in 10 patients with invasive
      ductal carcinoma. The loco-regional recurrence rate was 3.1% (1.08% per year).
      CONCLUSIONS: Although larger prospective trials are needed, these results support
      the fact that lipofilling following breast cancer treatment leads to a very low
      rate of complications and similar to other authors, it does not seem to interfere
      in patient's oncological prognosis when compared with prior publications.

PMID- 26876109
TI  - [A case of myasthenia gravis with transient taste disorders followed by aplastic
      anemia after thymectomy].
AB  - A 45-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of taste disorders in
      March 2014. He exhibited cervical muscle weakness and left eye ptosis, which
      responded to Tensilon test, and was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG). He
      developed aspiration pneumonia and myasthenic crisis, which was treated with
      intravenous immunoglobulin and steroid pulse therapy. All symptoms disappeared.
      Oral administration of prednisolone and tacrolimus was started. Chest CT revealed
      thymoma and extended thymectomy was performed in May 2014. In December 2014,
      seven months after the thymectomy, hematological examination showed pancytopenia
      including severe neutropenia. We diagnosed his illness as aplastic anemia (AA).
      Cyclosporine therapy with transfusion was administerd and led to reticulocyte
      count recovery. Since May 2015, hemoglobin recovery reached a blood transfusion
      free period. To our knowledge, this is the first case report with the patient
      supposed of relationship among taste disorders, AA and thymoma-associated MG. 

PMID- 26876110
TI  - [Diagnoses of corticobasal syndrome and corticobasal degeneration].
AB  - Experts use the term corticobasal syndrome (CBS) for patients with a clinical
      diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and reserve CBD for those whose
      conditions have been diagnosed on the basis of neuropathological analyses.
      Several studies demonstrated that patients with CBD may also present with
      progressive supranuclear syndrome (PSPS), aphasia, Alzheimer disease-like
      dementia or behavioral change, suggesting that CBS is merely one of the
      presenting phenotypes of CBD. Although previous CBD diagnostic criteria reflected
      only CBS, the international consortium proposed new diagnostic criteria for CBD
      in 2013 (Armstrong's criteria). The new criteria include 4 CBD subtypes; CBS,
      frontal behavioral-spatial syndrome (FBS), nonfluent/agrammatic variant of
      primary progressive aphasia (naPPA),and PSPS. These subtypes were combined to
      create 2 sets of criteria: more specific clinical research criteria for probable
      CBD (cr-CBD) and broader criteria for possible CBD that are more inclusive but
      have a higher chance to detect other tau-based pathologies (p-CBD). Two studies
      have already revealed that the sensitivity and specificity of the criteria were
      not high. Because therapeutic interventions that target abnormally-phosphorylated
      tau have started, further refinement of the criteria is needed via biomarker
      researches with prospective study designs. 

PMID- 26876111
TI  - Effect of adding amino acids residues in N- and C-terminus of Vip3Aa16 (L121I)
      toxin.
AB  - To study the importance of N- and C-terminus of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa16
      (L121I) toxin (88 kDa), a number of mutants were generated. The addition of two
      (2R: RS) or eleven (11R: RSRPGHHHHHH) amino acid residues at the Vip3Aa16 (L121I)
      C-terminus allowed to an unappropriated folding illustrated by the abundant
      presence of the 62 kDa proteolytic form. The produced Vip3Aa16 (L121I) full
      length form was less detected when increasing the number of amino acids residues
      in the C-terminus. Bioassays demonstrated that the growth of the lepidopteran
      Ephestia kuehniella was slightly affected by Vip3Aa16 (L121I)-2R and not affected
      by Vip3Aa16 (L121I)-11R. Additionally, the fusion at the Vip3Aa16 (L121I) N
      terminus of 39 amino acids harboring the E. coli OmpA leader peptide and the His
      tag sequence allowed to the increase of protease sensitivity of Vip3Aa16 (L121I)
      full length form, as only the 62 kDa proteolysis form was detected. Remarkably,
      this fused protein produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) was biologically
      inactive toward Ephestia kuehniella larvae. Thus, the N-terminus of the protein
      is required to the accomplishment of the insecticidal activity of Vip3 proteins.
      This report serves as guideline for the study of Vip3Aa16 (L121I) protein
      stability and activity. 

PMID- 26876112
TI  - Burkitt's Lymphoma of the Rectosigmoid and Stomach Presenting as Hematochezia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an uncommon cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      in adults and accounts for only 0.1-0.5% of all malignant tumors of the colon and
      rectum. Very few cases of rectosigmoid and stomach BL have been reported in
      adults. CASE REPORT: A 51-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a 1-month
      history of hematochezia, associated with a foreign-body sensation in the rectum
      and 7 kg weight loss. Initial laboratory workup showed normocytic anemia and
      positive fecal occult blood. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed an
      asymmetric appearance of the stomach and pylorus with nodularity of the mucosa
      and thickening of the posterior wall, and a 10.8-cm rectal mass.
      Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were performed and biopsies of the
      stomach and rectum were obtained; histopathology demonstrated involvement by
      Burkitt's lymphoma in the gastric body nodule and rectal mass. After 4 cycles of
      chemotherapy, a follow-up abdominal CT demonstrated complete resolution of the
      mural thickening of the rectum and no intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our case illustrates the importance of considering BL in the
      extensive differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, and
      other lower and upper GI symptoms, since the rapidly growing nature of this rare
      malignancy requires a prompt diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy.

PMID- 26876113
TI  - The Role of Sequential Pneumatic Compression in Limb Salvage in Non
      reconstructable Critical Limb Ischemia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is an increasingly alarming presentation
      of advanced generalized circulatory failure. Most patients presenting with CLI
      have profound cardiovascular comorbidities that hinder surgical intervention.
      Moreover, some patients present with non-reconstructable arterial anatomy. For
      this vulnerable cohort, primary amputation is often the only available option.
      This study aims at answering the question: Can sequential pneumatic compression
      (SPC) preclude amputation? METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 187 patients (262
      limbs) prescribed the Artassist SPC compared outcomes between the group of
      patients who acquired the device and those who did not. The primary end point was
      limb salvage; secondary end points were amputation-free survival and improvement
      in toe pressures. RESULTS: The mean age was 74.78 years, the median follow-up was
      16 months, and the median duration of usage was 4 months. 81.72% of the patient
      acquired the device and 18.28% did not. The mean toe pressure was 61.4 mmHg pre
      application, and 65 mmHg after application (p = .071). Amputation-free survival
      was 98% and 96% for those who acquired the device and 90% and 84% for those who
      did not at 6 and 12 months, respectively. There was a non-significant association
      between limb salvage and device acquisition (p = .714); however, there was a
      significant improvement in rest pain (p < .0001), reduction in minor amputation
      (p = .023), and amputation-free survival associated with using the device (p =
      .01). CONCLUSIONS: Although limb salvage is the paramount ambition for patients
      referred to vascular services, some patients with CLI are better served with
      primary amputation. Although the mechanism of SPC action is still ambiguous,
      there is strong evidence to support its role in preventing minor amputation,
      prolonging amputation-free survival, and improving rest pain in patients with non
      reconstructable CLI; nevertheless, its role in prevention of major amputation
      lacks statistical significance.

PMID- 26876114
TI  - Visualization of microbleeds with optical histology in mouse model of cerebral
      amyloid angiopathy.
AB  - Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a neurovascular disease that is strongly
      associated with an increase in the number and size of spontaneous microbleeds.
      Conventional methods of magnetic resonance imaging for detection of microbleeds,
      and positron emission tomography with Pittsburgh Compound B imaging for amyloid
      deposits, can separately demonstrate the presence of microbleeds and CAA in
      affected brains in vivo; however, there still is a critical need for strong
      evidence that shows involvement of CAA in microbleed formation. Here, we show in
      a Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, that the combination of
      histochemical staining and an optical clearing method called optical histology,
      enables simultaneous, co-registered three-dimensional visualization of cerebral
      microvasculature, microbleeds, and amyloid deposits. Our data suggest that
      microbleeds are localized within the brain regions affected by vascular amyloid
      deposits. All observed microhemorrhages (n=39) were in close proximity (0 to 144
      MUm) with vessels affected by CAA. Our data suggest that the predominant type of
      CAA-related microbleed is associated with leaky or ruptured hemorrhagic
      microvasculature. The proposed methodological and instrumental approach will
      allow future study of the relationship between CAA and microbleeds during disease
      development and in response to treatment strategies.

PMID- 26876115
TI  - Microarterial anastomoses: A parameterised computational study examining the
      effect of suture position on intravascular blood flow.
AB  - This study investigates the extent to which individual aspects of suture
      placement influence local haemodynamics within microarterial anastomoses. An
      attempt to physically quantify flow characteristics of blood past microvascular
      sutures is made using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Particular
      focus has been placed on increased shear strain rate (SSR), a known precipitant
      of intravascular platelet activation and thrombosis. Measurements were taken from
      micrographs of sutured anastomoses in chicken femoral vessels, with each assessed
      for bite width, suture angle and suture spacing. Computational geometries were
      then created to represent the anastomosis. Each suture characteristic was
      parameterised to allow independent or simultaneous adjustment. Flow rates were
      obtained from anonymised Doppler ultrasound scans of analogous vessels during
      preoperative assessment for autologous breast reconstruction. Vessel simulations
      were performed in 2.5mm ducts with blood as the working fluid. Vessel walls were
      non-compliant and a continuous Newtonian flow was applied, in accordance with
      current literature. Suture bite angle and spacing had significant effects on
      local haemodynamics, causing notably higher local SSRs, when simulated at
      extremes of surgical practice. A combined simulation, encompassing subtle changes
      of each suture parameter simultaneously i.e. representing optimum technique,
      created a more favourable SSR profile. As such, haemodynamic changes associated
      with optimum suture placement are unlikely to influence thrombus formation
      significantly. These findings support adherence to the basic principles of good
      microsurgical practice. 

PMID- 26876116
TI  - Perceived stress, coping, and cortisol reactivity in daily life: A study of
      adolescents during the first year of college.
AB  - Adolescents change how they cope with stress across different situations, but
      also differ from one another in their general capacity to cope. The current study
      examined whether cortisol reactivity to perceived daily stress varies with both
      situational (within-person) and individual (between-person) differences in
      coping. First-year college students (N=63; Mage=18.85) provided 15 stress-coping
      diaries and 15 corresponding saliva samples across 3 weekdays. Results from
      hierarchical linear growth models revealed that perceiving greater stress than
      usual in the last hour was significantly associated with elevations in cortisol
      (relative to diurnal patterning) only during situations characterized by greater
      than usual diary-reported engagement coping. Regarding individual differences,
      perceiving greater stress than usual was significantly associated with elevations
      in cortisol only for adolescents below average on trait measures of engagement
      coping or belief in their ability to handle stress. Findings indicate that
      cortisol reactivity to daily stress varies with both situational variation and
      individual differences in coping.

PMID- 26876117
TI  - Dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor interaction in the context of the
      effects of antipsychotics - in vitro studies.
AB  - The serotonin 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1 A R) and dopamine D2 receptor (D2 R) have
      been implicated as important sites of action in antipsychotics. Several lines of
      evidence indicate the key role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) heteromers
      in pathophysiology of schizophrenia and highlight these complexes as novel drug
      targets. Because heterodimers can form only on those cells co-expressing
      constituent receptors, they present a target of high pharmacological specificity
      in the context of biochemical effects induced by antipsychotic drugs. In studies
      conducted in the HEK 293 cell line, we demonstrated that 5-HT1 A R and D2 R are
      able to form constitutive heterodimers, and antipsychotic drugs (clozapine,
      olanzapine, aripiprazole, and lurasidone) enhanced this process, with clozapine
      being most effective. Various functional tests (cAMP and IP1 as well as ERK
      activation) indicated that the drugs had different effects on signal transduction
      by the heteromer. Interestingly, co-incubation of heterodimer-expressing HEK 293
      cells with clozapine and the 5-HT1 A R agonist 8-OH DPAT potentiated post
      synaptic effects, especially with respect to ERK activation. Our results indicate
      that the D2 -5-HT1A complex possesses biochemical, pharmacological, and
      functional properties distinct from those of mono- and homomers. This result has
      implications for the development of improved pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia or
      other disorders (activating the heteromer might be cognitive enhancing, since it
      is expressed in frontal cortex) through the specific targeting of heterodimers.
      We reported the constitutive formation of D2 -5-HT1A heteromers, which possess
      biochemical, pharmacological, and functional properties distinct from those of
      mono- and homomers, as revealed by antipsychotics action. We also showed that
      these two receptors are co-expressed in mouse cortical neurons; therefore their
      potential to heterodimerize may comprise an essential target for the development
      of novel strategies for schizophrenia treatment.

PMID- 26876118
TI  - Risk Assessment and Management of the Mother with Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Chronic medical conditions account for most nonobstetrical pregnancy-related
      maternal complications. Preconception counseling of women with cardiovascular
      disease can be aided by an understanding of cardiovascular physiology in
      pregnancy and risk scores to guide management. 

PMID- 26876119
TI  - Fetal Diagnostics and Fetal Intervention.
AB  - Advances in ultrasound technology and specialized training have allowed
      clinicians to diagnose congenital heart disease in utero and counsel families on
      perinatal outcomes and management strategies, including fetal cardiac
      interventions and fetal surgery. This article gives a detailed approach to fetal
      cardiac assessment and provides the reader with accompanying figures and video
      clips to illustrate unique views and sweeps invaluable to diagnosing congenital
      heart disease. We demonstrate that using a sequential segmental approach to
      evaluate cardiac anatomy enables one to decipher the most complex forms of
      congenital heart disease. Also provided is a review of fetal cardiac intervention
      and surgery from the fetal cardiologist's perspective. 

PMID- 26876121
TI  - Perinatal and Delivery Management of Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - Advances in fetal echocardiography have improved prenatal diagnosis of congenital
      heart disease (CHD) and allowed better delivery and perinatal management. Some
      newborns with CHD require urgent intervention after delivery. In these cases,
      delivery close to a pediatric cardiac center may be considered, and the presence
      of a specialized cardiac team in the delivery room or urgent transport of the
      infant should be planned in advance. Delivery planning, monitoring in labor,
      rapid intervention at birth if needed, and avoidance of iatrogenic preterm
      delivery have the potential to improve outcomes for infants with prenatally
      diagnosed CHD. 

PMID- 26876120
TI  - Genetic and Developmental Basis of Cardiovascular Malformations.
AB  - Cardiovascular malformations (CVMs) are the most common birth defect, occurring
      in 1% to 5% of all live births. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors
      all influence the development of CVMs, and an improved understanding of the
      causation of CVMs is a prerequisite for prevention. Cardiac development is a
      complex, multistep process of morphogenesis that is under genetic regulation.
      Although the genetic contribution to CVMs is well recognized, the genetic causes
      of human CVMs are still identified infrequently. This article discusses the key
      genetic concepts characterizing human CVMs, their developmental basis, and the
      critical developmental and genetic concepts underlying their pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26876122
TI  - Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - Screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) was added to the United
      States Recommended Uniform Screening Panel in 2011. Since that time, CCHD
      screening with pulse oximetry has become nearly universal for newborns born in
      the United States. There are various algorithms in use. Although the goal of the
      screening program is to identify children who may have CCHD, most newborns who
      have a low oxygen saturation will not have CCHD. Further study is needed to
      determine optimal guidelines for CCHD screening in special settings such as the
      neonatal intensive care unit, areas in high altitude, and home births. 

PMID- 26876123
TI  - Recognition of Undiagnosed Neonatal Heart Disease.
AB  - Heart defects are the most common congenital malformation. Approximately 8000
      infants per year in the United States require diagnosis in the newborn period to
      avoid severe injury or death. It is incumbent on the neonatologist and
      pediatrician to expeditiously detect the presence of symptomatic heart disease so
      that infants can be stabilized before cardiovascular decompensation. Evaluating
      infants and further categorizing them into the particular pathophysiology are
      necessary to stabilize them in anticipation of more definitive care by the
      pediatric cardiac team. 

PMID- 26876124
TI  - Fetal and Neonatal Arrhythmias.
AB  - Cardiac arrhythmias are an important aspect of fetal and neonatal medicine.
      Premature complexes of atrial or ventricular origin are the main cause of an
      irregular heart rhythm. The finding is typically unrelated to an identifiable
      cause and no treatment is required. Tachyarrhythmia most commonly relates to
      supraventricular reentrant tachycardia, atrial flutter, and sinus tachycardia.
      Several antiarrhythmic agents are available for the perinatal treatment of
      tachyarrhythmias. Enduring bradycardia may result from sinus node dysfunction,
      complete heart block and nonconducted atrial bigeminy as the main arrhythmia
      mechanisms. The management and outcome of bradycardia depend on the underlying
      mechanism. 

PMID- 26876125
TI  - Recent Advances in the Treatment of Preterm Newborn Infants with Patent Ductus
      Arteriosus.
AB  - A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with several adverse clinical
      conditions. Several strategies for PDA treatment exist, although data regarding
      the benefits of PDA treatment on outcomes are sparse. Moreover, the optimal
      treatment strategy for preterm neonates with PDA remains subject to debate. It is
      still unknown whether and when PDA treatment should be initiated and which
      approach (conservative, pharmacologic, or surgical) is best for individual
      patients (tailored therapies). This article reviews the current strategies for
      PDA treatment with a special focus on recent developments such as oral ibuprofen,
      high-dose regimens, and the use of paracetamol (oral, intravenous). 

PMID- 26876126
TI  - Nutrition in the Cardiac Newborns: Evidence-based Nutrition Guidelines for
      Cardiac Newborns.
AB  - Both protein and energy malnutrition are common in neonates and infants with
      congenital heart disease (CHD). Neonates with CHD are at increased risk of
      developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), particularly the preterm population.
      Mortality in patients with CHD and NEC is higher than for either disease process
      alone. Standardized feeding protocols may affect both incidence of NEC and growth
      failure in infants with CHD. The roles of human milk and probiotics have not yet
      been explored in this patient population. 

PMID- 26876127
TI  - Developmental Care Rounds: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Support
      Developmentally Appropriate Care of Infants Born with Complex Congenital Heart
      Disease.
AB  - Newborn infants with complex congenital heart disease are at risk for
      developmental delay. Developmental care practices benefit prematurely born
      infants in neonatal intensive care units. Cardiac intensive care units until
      recently had not integrated developmental care practices into their care
      framework. Interdisciplinary developmental care rounds in our center have helped
      in the promotion of developmentally supportive care for infants before and after
      cardiac surgery. This article discusses basic principles of developmental care,
      the role of each member of the interdisciplinary team on rounds, common
      developmental care practices integrated into care from rounds, and impacts to
      patients, families, and staff. 

PMID- 26876128
TI  - Management of the Preterm Infant with Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - The premature neonate with congenital heart disease (CHD) represents a
      challenging population for clinicians and researchers. The interaction between
      prematurity and CHD is poorly understood; epidemiologic study suggests that
      premature newborns are more likely to have CHD and that fetuses with CHD are more
      likely to be born premature. Understanding the key physiologic features of this
      special patient population is paramount. Clinicians have debated optimal timing
      for referral for cardiac surgery, and management in the postoperative period has
      rapidly advanced. This article summarizes the key concepts and literature in the
      care of the premature neonate with CHD. 

PMID- 26876129
TI  - Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of the Child with Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - Survival after bypass surgery in moderate and severe congenital heart disease
      (CHD) has increased dramatically. Although cardiac outcome is often very good,
      these children are at increased risk of developmental impairments in all
      developmental domains. Risk factors for developmental impairment include a
      genetic disorder, preterm birth, longer intensive care stay, poorer socioeconomic
      environment, and more complex forms of CHD. Health care providers, patients, and
      parents must be aware and informed about noncardiac sequelae and tertiary centers
      performing open-heart surgery in neonates and infants must establish a
      neurodevelopmental follow-up program to provide regular neurodevelopmental
      assessments. These allow for individual counseling and early detection and
      treatment of developmental problems. 

PMID- 26876130
TI  - Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Vasodilators.
AB  - Pulmonary hypertension in the perinatal period can present acutely (persistent
      pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) or chronically. Clinical and
      echocardiographic diagnosis of acute pulmonary hypertension is well accepted but
      there are no broadly validated criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of
      pulmonary hypertension later in the clinical course, although there are
      significant populations of infants with lung disease at risk for this diagnosis.
      Contributing cardiovascular comorbidities are common in infants with pulmonary
      hypertension and lung disease. It is not clear who should be treated without
      confirmation of pulmonary vascular disease by cardiac catheterization, with
      concurrent evaluation of any contributing cardiovascular comorbidities. 

PMID- 26876131
TI  - The Journey to Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

PMID- 26876132
TI  - Perinatal Cardiovascular Disease.

PMID- 26876133
TI  - CDKN2A mutations with p14 loss predisposing to multiple nerve sheath tumours,
      melanoma, dysplastic naevi and internal malignancies: a case series and review of
      the literature.
AB  - An inherited germline mutation in CDKN2A is the most common cause of familial
      atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome. Although it is well known that
      CDKN2A mutations confer an increased risk for melanoma and pancreatic carcinoma,
      the association with an increased risk for nerve sheath tumours and other tumour
      types is under-recognized. We report a family with a missense mutation (c.151
      1G>C) at the acceptor splice site of intron 1 of CDKN2A, resulting in loss of
      function of both tumour suppressor proteins p16(INK) (4) and p14(ARF) . This
      mutation is associated with a clinical phenotype of FAMMM syndrome in which
      patients develop numerous benign and malignant mutations, brain tumours, sarcomas
      and other solid tumours, in addition to melanoma and dysplastic naevi. Our
      proband initially presented with multiple nerve sheath tumours, leading to
      diagnostic confusion with Neurofibromatosis type 1. Loss of p14 expression
      results in increased MDM2-mediated degradation of the tumour suppressor protein
      p53, and predisposes mutation carriers to multiple benign and malignant
      neoplasms. This article highlights the importance of considering CDKN2A mutations
      in patients with dysplastic naevi, melanoma and multiple nerve sheath tumours,
      specifically those with histological features of both neurofibromas and
      schwannomas. We also present a discussion of medical management for patients with
      this high-risk cancer susceptibility syndrome. 

PMID- 26876134
TI  - In vivo analysis of effects of venom from the jellyfish Chrysaora sp. in
      zebrafish (Danio rerio).
AB  - The jellyfishes of the genus Chrysaora are present in all of the world's oceans,
      but the toxicity of their venoms has not yet been thoroughly characterized. The
      zebrafish as a toxicology model can be used for general toxicity testing of drugs
      and the investigation of toxicological mechanisms. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the effect of crude venom from jellyfish Chrysaora sp., a species of
      jellyfish observed in the tropical lagoons of the Gulf of Mexico, on the
      zebrafish Danio rerio. Juvenile zebrafish were injected with different
      concentrations of venom from Chrysaora sp. via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous
      injections. The effects of the venom were determined by histopathological
      analysis and through the measurement of hemolytic and phospholipase A2
      activities. The crude venom was examined by SDS-PAGE. The effect of sublethal
      concentrations of crude venom from Chrysaora sp. on D. rerio was hemorrhaging in
      the eyes, while the histopathological analysis demonstrated that the primary
      organs targeted were the pseudobranch, which displayed hyperemia, and the gill,
      which displayed hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The blood analysis exhibited
      hemolysis, nuclear abnormalities, and echinocytes by the action of phospholipase
      A2, which was determined to have 596 units of activity/mg of protein in the
      venom. The crude venom has proteins with molecular weights ranging from 250 to 6
      kDa, with more density in the bands corresponding to 70, 20 and 15 kDa. The venom
      of Chysaora sp. caused disturbances in circulation associated with vascular
      dilation due to the localized release of inflammatory mediators. The hemolysis of
      erythrocytes was caused by the action of phospholipase A2. These findings not
      only provide an excellent study model but also have a great pharmacological
      potential for designing new drugs and for the elucidation of the mechanisms of
      action of and treatment against stings.

PMID- 26876135
TI  - Hippocampal-dependent memory in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task: The
      role of spatial cues and CA1 activity.
AB  - The plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PMDAT) has been used to investigate
      interactions between aversive memory and an anxiety-like response in rodents.
      Suitable performance in this task depends on the activity of the basolateral
      amygdala, similar to other aversive-based memory tasks. However, the role of
      spatial cues and hippocampal-dependent learning in the performance of PMDAT
      remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of proximal and distal cues in
      the retrieval of this task. Animals tested under misplaced proximal cues had
      diminished performance, and animals tested under both misplaced proximal cues and
      absent distal cues could not discriminate the aversive arm. We also assessed the
      role of the dorsal hippocampus (CA1) in this aversive memory task. Temporary
      bilateral inactivation of dorsal CA1 was conducted with muscimol (0.05 MUg, 0.1
      MUg, and 0.2 MUg) prior to the training session. While the acquisition of the
      task was not altered, muscimol impaired the performance in the test session and
      reduced the anxiety-like response in the training session. We also performed a
      spreading analysis of a fluorophore-conjugated muscimol to confirm selective
      inhibition of CA1. In conclusion, both distal and proximal cues are required to
      retrieve the task, with the latter being more relevant to spatial orientation.
      Dorsal CA1 activity is also required for aversive memory formation in this task,
      and interfered with the anxiety-like response as well. Importantly, both effects
      were detected by different parameters in the same paradigm, endorsing the
      previous findings of independent assessment of aversive memory and anxiety-like
      behavior in the PMDAT. Taken together, these findings suggest that the PMDAT
      probably requires an integration of multiple systems for memory formation,
      resembling an episodic-like memory rather than a pure conditioning behavior.
      Furthermore, the concomitant and independent assessment of emotionality and
      memory in rodents is relevant to elucidate how these memory systems interact
      during aversive memory formation. Thus, the PMDAT can be useful for studying
      hippocampal-dependent memory when it involves emotional content.

PMID- 26876137
TI  - Stereotypic behaviour in standard non-enriched cages is an alternative to
      depression-like responses in C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - Depressive-like forms of waking inactivity have been recently observed in
      laboratory primates and horses. We tested the hypotheses that being awake but
      motionless within the home-cage is a depression-like symptom in mice, and that in
      impoverished housing, it represents an alternative response to stereotypic
      behaviour. We raised C57BL/6 ('C57') and DBA/2 ('DBA') females to adulthood in
      non-enriched (n=62 mice) or enriched (n=60 mice) cages, observing home-cage
      behaviour during the active (dark) phases. We predicted that being still but
      awake would be reduced by environmental enrichment; more pronounced in C57s, as
      the strain most prone to learned helplessness; negatively related to stereotypic
      behaviour; and positively related to immobility in Forced Swim Tests (FST).
      Compared to enriched mice, non-enriched subjects did spend more time spent being
      inactive but awake, especially if they displayed relatively little stereotypic
      behaviour. C57 mice also spent more time awake but motionless than DBAs.
      Furthermore, even after statistically controlling for housing type and strain,
      this behaviour very strongly tended to predict increased immobility in the FST,
      while high levels of stereotypic behaviours in contrast predicted low immobility
      in the FST. Being awake but motionless is thus a reaction to non-enriched housing
      that seems to be an alternative to stereotypic behaviour, and could reflect
      depression-like states. 

PMID- 26876138
TI  - Distinct state anxiety after predictable and unpredictable fear training in mice.
AB  - Sustained fear paradigms in rodents have been developed to monitor states of
      anxious apprehension and to model situations in patients suffering from long
      lasting anxiety disorders. A recent report describes a fear conditioning
      paradigm, allowing distinction between phasic and sustained states of conditioned
      fear in non-restrained mice. However, so far no prospective studies have yet been
      conducted to elucidate whether induction of phasic or sustained fear can affect
      states of anxiety. Here, we used CS (conditioned stimulus) and US (unconditioned
      stimulus) pairing with predictable and unpredictable timing to induce phasic and
      sustained fear in mice. State anxiety during various fear response components was
      assessed using the elevated plus-maze test. Training with unpredictable CS-US
      timing resulted in CS-evoked sustained components of fear (freezing), while
      predictable CS-US timing resulted in rapid decline. Data suggested the influence
      of training procedure on state anxiety which is dependent on progression of
      conditioned fear during fear memory retrieval. Animals trained with unpredictable
      CS-US timing showed an unchanged high anxiety state throughout behavioral
      observation. In contrast, mice trained with predictable CS-US timing showed
      anxiolytic-like behavior 3 min after CS onset, which was accompanied by a fast
      decline of the fear conditioned response (freezing). Further systematic studies
      are needed to validate the phasic/sustained fear model in rodents as
      translational model for anxiety disorders in humans.

PMID- 26876136
TI  - Adolescent social defeat alters N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor expression and
      impairs fear learning in adulthood.
AB  - Repeated social defeat of adolescent male rats results in adult mesocortical
      dopamine hypofunction, impaired working memory, and increased contextual anxiety
      like behavior. Given the role of glutamate in dopamine regulation, cognition, and
      fear and anxiety, we investigated potential changes to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid
      (NMDA) receptors following adolescent social defeat. As both NMDA receptors and
      mesocortical dopamine are implicated in the expression and extinction of
      conditioned fear, a separate cohort of rats was challenged with a classical fear
      conditioning paradigm to investigate whether fear learning is altered by
      adolescent defeat. Quantitative autoradiography was used to measure 3H-MK-801
      binding to NMDA receptors in regions of the medial prefrontal cortex, caudate
      putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus. Assessment of fear learning
      was achieved using an auditory fear conditioning paradigm, with freezing toward
      the auditory tone used as a measure of conditioned fear. Compared to controls,
      adolescent social defeat decreased adult NMDA receptor expression in the
      infralimbic region of the prefrontal cortex and central amygdala, while
      increasing expression in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Previously defeated
      rats also displayed decreased conditioned freezing during the recall and first
      extinction periods, which may be related to the observed decreases and increases
      in NMDA receptors within the central amygdala and CA3, respectively. The
      alteration in NMDA receptors seen following adolescent social defeat suggests
      that dysfunction of glutamatergic systems, combined with mesocortical dopamine
      deficits, likely plays a role in the some of the long-term behavioral
      consequences of social stressors in adolescence seen in both preclinical and
      clinical studies.

PMID- 26876139
TI  - Enriched rehabilitation promotes motor recovery in rats exposed to neonatal
      hypoxia-ischemia.
AB  - Despite continuous improvement in neonatology there is no clinically effective
      treatment for perinatal hypoxia ischemia (HI). Therefore, development of a new
      therapeutic intervention to minimize the resulting neurological consequences is
      urgently needed. The immature brain is highly responsive to environmental
      stimuli, such as environmental enrichment but a more effective paradigm is
      enriched rehabilitation (ER), which combines environmental enrichment with daily
      reach training. Another neurorestorative strategy to promote tissue repair and
      functional recovery is cyclosporine A (CsA). However, potential benefits of CsA
      after neonatal HI have yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the effects of a combinational therapy of CsA and ER in attempts to
      promote cognitive and motor recovery in a rat model of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic
      injury. Seven-day old rats were submitted to the HI procedure and divided into 4
      groups: CsA+Rehabilitation; CsA+NoRehabilitation; Vehicle+Rehabilitation;
      Vehicle+NoRehabilitation. Behavioural parameters were evaluated pre (experiment
      1) and post 4 weeks of combinational therapy (experiment 2). Results of
      experiment 1 demonstrated reduced open field activity of HI animals and increased
      foot faults relative to shams in the ladder rung walking test. In experiment 2,
      we showed that ER facilitated acquisition of a staircase skilled-reaching task,
      increased number of zone crosses in open-field exploration and enhanced
      coordinated limb use during locomotion on the ladder rung task. There were no
      evident deficits in novel object recognition testing. Delayed administration of
      CsA, had no effect on functional recovery after neonatal HI. There was a
      significant reduction of cortical and hemispherical volume and hippocampal area,
      ipsilateral to arterial occlusion in HI animals; combinational therapy had no
      effect on these morphological measurements. In conclusion, the present study
      demonstrated that ER, but not CsA was the main contributor to enhanced recovery
      of motor ability after neonatal HI. 

PMID- 26876140
TI  - Neonatal exposure to whole body ionizing radiation induces adult neurobehavioural
      defects: Critical period, dose--response effects and strain and sex comparison.
AB  - Development of the brain includes periods which can be critical for its normal
      maturation. The present study investigates specifically vulnerable peri
      /postnatal periods in mice which are essential for understanding the etiology
      behind radiation induced neurotoxicity and functional defects, including
      evaluation of neurotoxicity between sexes or commonly used laboratory mouse
      strains following low/moderate doses of ionizing radiation (IR). Male Naval
      Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice, whole body irradiated to a single 500 mGy
      IR dose, on postnatal day (PND) 3 or PND 10 showed an altered adult spontaneous
      behaviour and impaired habituation capacity, whereas irradiation on PND 19 did
      not have any impact on the studied variables. Both NMRI and C57bl/6 male and
      female mice showed an altered adult spontaneous behaviour and impaired
      habituation following a single whole body irradiation of 500 or 1000 mGy, but not
      after 20 or 100 mGy, on PND 10. The present study shows that exposure to
      low/moderate doses of IR during critical life stages might be involved in the
      induction of neurological/neurodegenerative disorder/disease. A specifically
      vulnerable period for radiation induced neurotoxicity seems to be around PND 3-10
      in mice. Further studies are needed to investigate mechanisms involved in
      induction of developmental neurotoxicity following low-dose irradiation.

PMID- 26876141
TI  - The dog nose "KNOWS" fear: Asymmetric nostril use during sniffing at canine and
      human emotional stimuli.
AB  - Previous studies have reported striking asymmetries in the nostril use of dogs
      during sniffing at different emotive stimuli. Here we report, for the first time,
      that this asymmetry is also manifested during sniffing of both human and canine
      odours collected during different emotional events. Results showed that during
      sniffing of conspecific odour collected during a stressful situation (e.g. an
      "isolation" situation in which a dog was isolated from its owner in an unfamiliar
      environment) dogs consistently used their right nostril (right hemisphere). On
      the other hand, dogs consistently used the left nostril to sniff human odours
      collected during fearful situations (emotion-eliciting movies) and physical
      stress, suggesting the prevalent activation of the left hemisphere. The opposite
      bias shown in nostril use during sniffing at canine versus human odours suggests
      that chemosignals communicate conspecific and heterospecific emotional cues using
      different sensory pathways. 

PMID- 26876142
TI  - Pregnancy outcomes following the use of thiocolchicoside.
AB  - Thiocolchicoside is a commonly used muscle relaxant in orthopedic, rheumatologic
      or musculoskeletal disorders to treat painful muscle spasms. It is
      contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation. There is no previously published
      experience with thiocolchicoside exposure during pregnancy. In this observational
      study, we collected and evaluated 18 pregnancy outcomes of the women referred to
      our prenatal consultation service for thiocolchicoside exposure between 2007
      2012, and offspring were followed up until 2 years of age. There were 16 live
      births, 1 spontaneous abortion and 1 elective termination of pregnancy. No major
      birth defect was observed. The mothers and their babies were free of perinatal
      complications. No growth or developmental abnormalities were found during follow
      up period. Our findings add information on inadvertent use of thiocolchicoside in
      pregnancy. Further large prospective cohort studies are required to investigate
      this issue.

PMID- 26876143
TI  - Angiotensin receptor-1A knockout leads to hydronephrosis not associated with a
      loss of pyeloureteric peristalsis in the mouse renal pelvis.
AB  - The action of angiotensin II (AngII) on the Ca(2+) signals driving pyeloureteric
      peristalsis was investigated using both conventional and angiotensin receptor
      (ATr) ATr1A and ATr2 knockout ((-/-)) mice. Contractility in the renal pelvis of
      adult ATr1A(-/-) and ATr2(-/-) mice was compared to their respective wildtype
      (ATr1A(+/+) and ATr2(+/+)) controls of the same genetic background (FVB/N and
      C57Bl/6 respectively) using video microscopy. The effects of AngII on the Ca(2+)
      signals in typical and atypical smooth muscle cells (TSMCs and ASMCs,
      respectively) within the pelvic wall of conventional mice were recorded using
      Fluo-4 Ca(2+) imaging. Compared to ATr1A(+/+) , ATr2(+/+) and ATr2(-/-) mice,
      kidneys of the ATr1A(-/-) mouse were mildly-to-severely hydronephrotic,
      associated with an enlarged calyx, an atrophic papilla and a hypoplastic renal
      pelvis. Contraction frequencies in the renal pelvis of moderately hydronephrotic
      ATr1A(-/-) and unaffected ATr2(-/-) mice were not significantly different from
      their ATr1A(+/+), ATr2(+/+) controls. No contractions were observed in severely
      hydronephrotic ATr1A(-/-) kidneys. AngII increased the spontaneous contraction
      frequency of the renal pelvis in ATr1A(+/+), ATr2(+/+) and ATr2(-/-) mice, but
      had little effect on the contractions in the mildly-hydronephrotic ATr1A(-/-)
      renal pelvis. The ATr1 blocker, candesartan prevented the positive chronotropic
      effects of AngII. AngII increased the frequency and synchronicity of Ca(2+)
      transients in both TSMCs and ASMCs. It was concluded that the hydronephrosis
      observed in ATr1A(-/-) mouse kidneys does not arise from a failure in the
      development of the essential pacemaker and contractile machinery driving
      pyeloureteric peristalsis.

PMID- 26876144
TI  - Osteogenesis effect of guided bone regeneration combined with alveolar cleft
      grafting: assessment by cone beam computed tomography.
AB  - Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows for a significantly lower radiation
      dose than conventional computed tomography (CT) scans and provides accurate
      images of the alveolar cleft area. The osteogenic effect of guided bone
      regeneration (GBR) vs. conventional alveolar bone grafting alone for alveolar
      cleft defects was evaluated in this study. Sixty alveolar cleft patients were
      divided randomly into two groups. One group underwent GBR using acellular dermal
      matrix film combined with alveolar bone grafting using iliac crest bone grafts
      (GBR group), while the other group underwent alveolar bone grafting only (non-GBR
      group). CBCT images were obtained at 1 week and at 3 months following the
      procedure. Using Simplant 11.04 software, the bone resorption rate was calculated
      and compared between the two groups. The bone resorption rate from 1 week to 3
      months following bone grafting without the GBR technique was 36.50+/-5.04%,
      whereas the bone resorption rate using the GBR technique was 31.69+/-5.50%
      (P=0.017). The application of autogenous iliac bone combined with the GBR
      technique for alveolar bone grafting of alveolar cleft patients can reduce bone
      resorption and result in better osteogenesis. 

PMID- 26876145
TI  - Successful treatment of primary cutaneous Nocardia brasiliensis infection with
      oral potassium iodide.

PMID- 26876146
TI  - Cholesteryl ester transfer between lipoproteins does not require a ternary tunnel
      complex with CETP.
AB  - The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) enables the transfer of cholesteryl
      ester (CE) from high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
      in the plasma compartment. CETP inhibition raises plasma levels of HDL
      cholesterol; a ternary tunnel complex with CETP bridging HDL and LDL was
      suggested as a mechanism. Here, we test whether the inhibition of CETP tunnel
      complex formation is a promising approach to suppress CE transfer from HDL to
      LDL, for potential treatment of cardio-vascular disease (CVD). Three monoclonal
      antibodies against different epitopes of CETP are assayed for their potential to
      interfere with CE transfer between HDL and/or LDL. Surprisingly, antibodies that
      target the tips of the elongated CETP molecule, interaction sites sterically
      required to form the suggested transfer complexes, do not interfere with CETP
      activity, but an antibody binding to the central region does. We show that CETP
      interacts with HDL, but not with LDL. Our findings demonstrate that a ternary
      tunnel complex is not the mechanistic prerequisite to transfer CE among
      lipoproteins. 

PMID- 26876148
TI  - An improved cryo-FIB method for fabrication of frozen hydrated lamella.
AB  - Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) provides great insights into the
      ultrastructure of cells and tissues in their native state and provides a
      promising way to study the in situ 3D structures of macromolecular complexes.
      However, this technique has been limited on the very thin specimen, which is not
      applicable for most cells and tissues. Besides cryo-sectioning approach, cryo
      focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) appeared recently to achieve 'artifact-free' thin
      frozen hydrated lamella via fabrication. Considering that the current cryo-FIB
      methods need modified holders or cartridges, here, with a "D-shaped" molybdenum
      grid and a specific shutter system, we developed a simple cryo-FIB approach for
      thin frozen hydrated lamella fabrication, which fits both standard transmission
      cryo-electron microscopes with side-entry cryo-holders and state-of-the-art ones
      with AutoGrids. Our approach will expand the usage of cryo-FIB approach in many
      labs. 

PMID- 26876147
TI  - X-ray structures of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase from Entamoeba
      histolytica and prevailing hypothesis of the mechanism of Auranofin action.
AB  - The anti-arthritic gold-containing drug Auranofin is lethal to the protozoan
      intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of human
      amebiasis, in both culture and animal models of the disease. A putative mechanism
      of Auranofin action proposes that monovalent gold, Au(I), released from the drug,
      can bind to the redox-active dithiol group of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Au(I)
      binding in the active site is expected to prevent electron transfer to the
      downstream substrate thioredoxin (Trx), thus interfering with redox homeostasis
      in the parasite. To clarify the molecular mechanism of Auranofin action in more
      detail, we determined a series of atomic resolution X-ray structures for E.
      histolytica thioredoxin (EhTrx) and thioredoxin reductase (EhTrxR), the latter
      with and without Auranofin. Only the disulfide-bonded form of the active site
      dithiol (Cys(140)-Cys(143)) was invariably observed in crystals of EhTrxR in
      spite of the addition of reductants in various crystallization trials, and no
      gold was found associated with these cysteines. Non-catalytic Cys(286) was
      identified as the only site of modification, but further mutagenesis studies
      using the C286Q mutant demonstrated that this site was not responsible for
      inhibition of EhTrxR by Auranofin. Interestingly, we obtained both of the
      catalytically-relevant conformations of this bacterial-like, low molecular weight
      TrxR in crystals without requiring an engineered disulfide linkage between Cys
      mutants of TrxR and Trx (as was originally done with Escherichia coli TrxR and
      Trx). We note that the -CXXC- catalytic motif, even if reduced, would likely not
      provide space sufficient to bind Au(I) by both cysteines of the dithiol group. 

PMID- 26876149
TI  - Differential expression of GDF-9 and BMP- 15 during follicular development in
      canine ovaries evaluated by flow cytometry.
AB  - Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP
      15) play important functions in follicular and oocyte development in many
      species. This study evaluated the dynamic expression of GDF-9 and BMP-15 in
      canine follicles cells using flow cytometry analysis. Follicular cells were
      removed from three sizes of antral follicles (small, medium and large) from
      ovaries of bitches throughout the estrus cycle. Cells were incubated with anti
      human GDF-9 polyclonal and anti-mouse BMP-15 monoclonal antibodies. A size and
      complexity discriminatory gate was used for the cytometryc analysis in the
      initial dot plot and, additionally, a CD45 marker for leukocyte and propidium
      iodide (PI) were used for erythrocyte and debris discrimination. The evidence
      corroborated the presence of both proteins in canine follicle cells, but these
      proteins were not expressed equally during follicular development. The results
      analyzed by ANOVA showed that GDF-9 expression decreased (P<0.05) during
      follicular growth in anestrus and proestrous/estrous, but increased in diestrus
      (P<0.05). The expression levels of BMP-15 rose (P<0.05) from small to medium
      sizes in anestrous without changing at diestrus. Small antral follicles expressed
      the highest values of GDF-9 at anestrus while only BMP-15 showed higher value in
      small antral follicles at proestrous-estrus compared to diestrus and anestrus.
      Both proteins decreased in proestrous/estrous (P<0.05) with increasing follicle
      size, registering the lowest levels in large follicles. The flow cytometric assay
      was able to assess GDF-9 and BMP-15 expression in canine follicular cells,
      showing that these proteins were differentially expressed during follicular
      development, possibly related to the special features of canine reproduction. 

PMID- 26876150
TI  - A network including TGFbeta/Smad4, Gata2, and p57 regulates proliferation of
      mouse hematopoietic progenitor cells.
AB  - Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is a potent inhibitor of hematopoietic
      stem and progenitor cell proliferation. However, the precise mechanism for this
      effect is unknown. Here, we have identified the transcription factor Gata2,
      previously described as an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell
      function, as an early and direct target gene for TGFbeta-induced Smad signaling
      in hematopoietic progenitor cells. We also report that Gata2 is involved in
      mediating a significant part of the TGFbeta response in primitive hematopoietic
      cells. Interestingly, the cell cycle regulator and TGFbeta signaling effector
      molecule p57 was found to be upregulated as a secondary response to TGFbeta. We
      observed Gata2 binding upstream of the p57 genomic locus, and importantly, loss
      of Gata2 abolished TGFbeta-stimulated induction of p57 as well as the resulting
      growth arrest of hematopoietic progenitors. Our results connect key molecules
      involved in hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and reveal a functionally
      relevant network, regulating proliferation of primitive hematopoietic cells. 

PMID- 26876151
TI  - Hippocampal subfield volumetry in patients with subcortical vascular mild
      cognitive impairment.
AB  - Memory impairment is a typical characteristic of patients with subcortical
      vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) or with amnestic mild cognitive
      impairment (aMCI). The hippocampus, which plays an important role in the
      consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory, is a
      heterogeneous structure that consists of several anatomically and functionally
      distinct subfields. However, whether distinct hippocampal subfields are
      differentially and selectively affected by svMCI pathology and whether these
      abnormal changes in hippocampal subfields are different between svMCI and aMCI
      patients are largely unknown. A total of 26 svMCI patients, 26 aMCI patients and
      26 healthy controls matched according to age, gender and years of education were
      enrolled in this study. We utilized an automated hippocampal subfield
      segmentation method provided by FreeSurfer to estimate the volume of several
      hippocampal subfields, including the cornu ammonis (CA) areas, the dentate gyrus
      (DG), the subiculum and the presubiculum. Compared with controls, the left
      subiculum and presubiculum and the right CA4/DG displayed significant atrophy in
      patients with svMCI. Interestingly, we also found significant differences in the
      volume of the right CA1 between the svMCI and aMCI groups. Taken together, our
      results reveal region-specific vulnerability of hippocampal subfields to svMCI
      pathology and identify distinct hippocampal subfield atrophy patterns between
      svMCI and aMCI patients. 

PMID- 26876152
TI  - UVB Generates Microvesicle Particle Release in Part Due to Platelet-activating
      Factor Signaling.
AB  - The lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) and oxidized
      glycerophosphocholine PAF agonists produced by ultraviolet B (UVB) have been
      demonstrated to play a pivotal role in UVB-mediated processes, from acute
      inflammation to delayed systemic immunosuppression. Recent studies have provided
      evidence that microvesicle particles (MVPs) are released from cells in response
      to various signals including stressors. Importantly, these small membrane
      fragments can interact with various cell types by delivering bioactive molecules.
      The present studies were designed to test if UVB radiation can generate MVP
      release from epithelial cells, and the potential role of PAF receptor (PAF-R)
      signaling in this process. We demonstrate that UVB irradiation of the human
      keratinocyte-derived cell line HaCaT resulted in the release of MVPs. Similarly,
      treatment of HaCaT cells with the PAF-R agonist carbamoyl PAF also generated
      equivalent amounts of MVP release. Of note, pretreatment of HaCaT cells with
      antioxidants blocked MVP release from UVB but not PAF-R agonist N-methyl carbamyl
      PAF (CPAF). Importantly, UVB irradiation of the PAF-R-negative human epithelial
      cell line KB and KB transduced with functional PAF-Rs resulted in MVP release
      only in PAF-R-positive cells. These studies demonstrate that UVB can generate
      MVPs in vitro and that PAF-R signaling appears important in this process.

PMID- 26876153
TI  - Role of C-N Configurations in the Photoluminescence of Graphene Quantum Dots
      Synthesized by a Hydrothermal Route.
AB  - Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) containing N atoms were successfully synthesized
      using a facile, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly hydrothermal reaction
      of urea and citric acid, and the effect of the GQDs' C-N configurations on their
      photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. High-resolution transmission
      electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images confirmed that the dots were spherical, with
      an average diameter of 2.17 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis
      indicated that the C-N configurations of the GQDs substantially affected their PL
      intensity. Increased PL intensity was obtained in areas with greater percentages
      of pyridinic-N and lower percentages of pyrrolic-N. This enhanced PL was
      attributed to delocalized pi electrons from pyridinic-N contributing to the C
      system of the GQDs. On the basis of energy electron loss spectroscopy (EELS) and
      UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses, we propose a PL mechanism for hydrothermally
      synthesized GQDs.

PMID- 26876156
TI  - Observation of the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism in Microscopic Acoustic Crackling
      Noises.
AB  - Characterizing the fast evolution of microstructural defects is key to
      understanding "crackling" phenomena during the deformation of solid materials.
      For example, it has been proposed using atomistic simulations of crack
      propagation in elastic materials that the formation of a nonlinear hyperelastic
      or plastic zone around moving crack tips controls crack velocity. To date,
      progress in understanding the physics of this critical zone has been limited due
      to the lack of data describing the complex physical processes that operate near
      microscopic crack tips. We show, by analyzing many acoustic emission events
      during rock deformation experiments, that the signature of this nonlinear zone
      maps directly to crackling noises. In particular, we characterize a weakening
      zone that forms near the moving crack tips using functional networks, and we
      determine the scaling law between the formation of damages (defects) and the
      traversal rate across the critical point of transition. Moreover, we show that
      the correlation length near the transition remains effectively frozen. This is
      the main underlying hypothesis behind the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM) and the
      obtained power-law scaling verifies the main prediction of KZM. 

PMID- 26876155
TI  - Lovastatin protects keratinocytes from DNA damage-related pro-apoptotic stress
      responses stimulated by anticancer therapeutics.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a relevant adverse effect of anticancer
      therapy involving ionizing radiation (IR) and doxorubicin (Doxo). Because DNA
      damage of keratinocytes is causative for the pathogenesis of OM, we aim to
      identify pharmacological measures for geno- and cytoprotection of keratinocytes.
      METHODS: We investigated the influence of the lipid-lowering drug lovastatin on
      cell death, proliferation and DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms of human
      keratinocytes following treatment with IR and Doxo. RESULTS: Lovastatin protected
      keratinocytes from the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of IR and Doxo as shown by
      a diminished induction of apoptosis as well as a reduced formation and slightly
      improved repair of DNA damage following Doxo and IR treatment, respectively.
      Lovastatin selectively blocked the activation of Chk1 and ATR kinases following
      treatment with IR, Doxo and the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea,
      indicating that the statin antagonizes ATR/Chk1-regulated replicative stress
      responses. Part of the cytoprotective activity of lovastatin seems to rest on a
      delayed entry of lovastatin treated cells into S-phase. Yet, because the statin
      also protected non-proliferating keratinocytes from IR- and Doxo-induced
      cytotoxicity, cell cycle independent protective mechanisms are involved, too.
      CONCLUSIONS: Lovastatin attenuates pro-toxic DNA damage-related responses of
      keratinocytes stimulated by OM-inducing anticancer therapeutics. The data
      encourage forthcoming in vivo and clinical studies addressing the usefulness of
      statins in the prevention of OM.

PMID- 26876154
TI  - Pyruvate Kinase M2 Activates mTORC1 by Phosphorylating AKT1S1.
AB  - In cancer cells, the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) that
      requires hormonal and nutrient signals for its activation, is constitutively
      activated. We found that overexpression of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) activates
      mTORC1 signaling through phosphorylating mTORC1 inhibitor AKT1 substrate 1
      (AKT1S1). An unbiased quantitative phosphoproteomic survey identified 974 PKM2
      substrates, including serine202 and serine203 (S202/203) of AKT1S1, in the
      proteome of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Phosphorylation of S202/203 of AKT1S1 by
      PKM2 released AKT1S1 from raptor and facilitated its binding to 14-3-3, resulted
      in hormonal- and nutrient-signals independent activation of mTORC1 signaling and
      led accelerated oncogenic growth and autophagy inhibition in cancer cells.
      Decreasing S202/203 phosphorylation by TEPP-46 treatment reversed these effects.
      In RCCs and breast cancers, PKM2 overexpression was correlated with elevated
      S202/203 phosphorylation, activated mTORC1 and inhibited autophagy. Our results
      provided the first phosphorylome of PKM2 and revealed a constitutive mTORC1
      activating mechanism in cancer cells. 

PMID- 26876157
TI  - Cost-conscious decisions in the timing of operation for minimally symptomatic
      inguinal hernias in male patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Expectant management (EM) and early open repair (OR) are safe and
      effective as initial management strategies for minimally symptomatic inguinal
      hernia in male patients. Extended follow-up of patients in EM protocols have
      shown that most patients will eventually require repair, but it is not clear
      which strategy is less costly over the long term. METHODS: We constructed a
      mathematical model to compare 3rd-party payer expenditures for EM vs OR or
      laparoscopic repair in a simulated cohort of patients with inguinal hernia.
      Cohort characteristics and expenditures were calibrated to recent randomized
      trials that reported initial follow-up and expenditures at 2 years and long-term
      crossover rates from EM to OR. RESULTS: Cost comparisons between OR and EM are
      sensitive to direct long-term costs of inpatient and outpatient care, the
      likelihood of crossover from EM to operation, cost differences between OR and
      laparoscopic repair, and the net present value of longer-term costs. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our findings suggest that short-term costs of EM are less than those of OR and
      Lap-R, but early OR provides the highest long-term savings.

PMID- 26876158
TI  - Development of Helisoma trivolvis pond snails as biological samplers for
      biomonitoring of current-use pesticides.
AB  - Nontarget aquatic organisms residing in wetlands are commonly exposed to current
      use pesticides through spray drift and runoff. However, it is frequently
      challenging to measure exposure because of rapid dissipation of pesticides from
      water and reduced bioavailability. The authors' hypothesis is that freshwater
      snails can serve as bioindicators of pesticide exposure based on their capacity
      to passively accumulate tissue residues. Helisoma trivolvis snails were evaluated
      as biomonitors of pesticide exposure using a fungicide formulation that contains
      pyraclostrobin and metconazole and is frequently applied to crops surrounding
      depressional wetlands. Exposure-response studies indicate that H. trivolvis are
      tolerant of pyraclostrobin and metconazole at concentrations >10 times those
      lethal to many aquatic species, with a median lethal concentration based on
      pyraclostrobin of 441 MUg/L (95% confidence interval of 359-555 MUg/L).
      Bioconcentration factors ranged from 137 mL/g to 211 mL/g and from 39 mL/g to 59
      mL/g for pyraclostrobin and metconazole, respectively. Elimination studies
      suggested one-compartmental elimination and snail tissue half-lives (t50 ) of
      approximately 15 h and 5 h for pyraclostrobin and metconazole, respectively.
      Modeling derived toxicokinetic parameters in the context of an environmentally
      relevant pulsed exposure suggests that residues can be measured in snails long
      after water concentrations fall below detection limits. With high fungicide
      tolerance, rapid accumulation, and slow elimination, H. trivolvis may be viable
      for biomonitoring of pyraclostrobin and should be investigated for other
      pesticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2320-2329. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26876159
TI  - The Impact of Pain and Itch on Functioning and Health-Related Quality of Life in
      Systemic Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study.
AB  - CONTEXT: Pain and itch are common symptoms reported by patients with systemic
      sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), which can markedly diminish function and health
      related quality of life (HRQL). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this exploratory study was
      to examine the impact that pain, itch, and the interaction of both have on
      function (depressive symptoms, overall disability, fatigue, sleep disturbance)
      and HRQL in patients with SSc. METHODS: A total of 964 patients from the Canadian
      Scleroderma Reserch Group Registry completed questionnaires measuring itch and
      pain severity, function, and HRQL. Multiple regression analyses were performed to
      examine the impact that pain, itch, and pain * itch interaction have on each
      outcome variable while controlling for demographic measures. A P-value of <=0.01
      was required for a difference to be deemed statistically significant. RESULTS:
      Our results revealed that patients with SSc who reported higher pain and itch
      severity were also more likely to have greater depressive symptoms, overall
      disability, sleep and fatigue problems, even when demographic measures were
      controlled for (P-values <=0.001). Similar results were obtained for HRQL,
      regardless of the domains (P-values <=0.001). A significant association between
      pain * itch interaction and sleep (P = 0.002), physical functioning (P = 0.003),
      and general health (P <= 0.001) variables also was found. Further investigation
      of the nature of the pain * itch interaction showed that the effect of pain
      severity on outcome variables diminishes as itch severity increases. CONCLUSION:
      Both pain and itch appear to have a detrimental impact on functioning and HRQL in
      patients with SSc, suggesting that more targeted approaches to symptom management
      are warranted.

PMID- 26876160
TI  - Bioactivity, proximate, mineral and volatile profiles along the flowering stages
      of Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.): defining potential applications.
AB  - Opuntia spp. flowers have been traditionally used for medical purposes, mostly
      because of their diversity in bioactive molecules with health promoting
      properties. The proximate, mineral and volatile compound profiles, together with
      the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties were characterized in O. microdasys
      flowers at different maturity stages, revealing several statistically significant
      differences. O. microdasys stood out mainly for its high contents of dietary
      fiber, potassium and camphor, and its high activities against HCT15 cells,
      Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium funiculosum. The
      vegetative stage showed the highest cytotoxic and antifungal activities, whilst
      the full flowering stage was particularly active against bacterial species. The
      complete dataset has been classified by principal component analysis, achieving
      clearly identifiable groups for each flowering stage, elucidating also the most
      distinctive features, and comprehensively profiling each of the assayed stages.
      The results might be useful to define the best flowering stage considering
      practical application purposes. 

PMID- 26876161
TI  - AnnoTALE: bioinformatics tools for identification, annotation, and nomenclature
      of TALEs from Xanthomonas genomic sequences.
AB  - Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are virulence factors, produced by
      the bacterial plant-pathogen Xanthomonas, that function as gene activators inside
      plant cells. Although the contribution of individual TALEs to infectivity has
      been shown, the specific roles of most TALEs, and the overall TALE diversity in
      Xanthomonas spp. is not known. TALEs possess a highly repetitive DNA-binding
      domain, which is notoriously difficult to sequence. Here, we describe an improved
      method for characterizing TALE genes by the use of PacBio sequencing. We present
      'AnnoTALE', a suite of applications for the analysis and annotation of TALE genes
      from Xanthomonas genomes, and for grouping similar TALEs into classes. Based on
      these classes, we propose a unified nomenclature for Xanthomonas TALEs that
      reveals similarities pointing to related functionalities. This new classification
      enables us to compare related TALEs and to identify base substitutions
      responsible for the evolution of TALE specificities. 

PMID- 26876162
TI  - Non-equilibrium behaviour in coacervate-based protocells under electric-field
      induced excitation.
AB  - Although numerous strategies are now available to generate rudimentary forms of
      synthetic cell-like entities, minimal progress has been made in the sustained
      excitation of artificial protocells under non-equilibrium conditions. Here we
      demonstrate that the electric field energization of coacervate microdroplets
      comprising polylysine and short single strands of DNA generates membrane-free
      protocells with complex, dynamical behaviours. By confining the droplets within a
      microfluidic channel and applying a range of electric field strengths, we produce
      protocells that exhibit repetitive cycles of vacuolarization, dynamical
      fluctuations in size and shape, chaotic growth and fusion, spontaneous ejection
      and sequestration of matter, directional capture of solute molecules, and pulsed
      enhancement of enzyme cascade reactions. Our results highlight new opportunities
      for the study of non-equilibrium phenomena in synthetic protocells, provide a
      strategy for inducing complex behaviour in electrostatically assembled soft
      matter microsystems and illustrate how dynamical properties can be activated and
      sustained in microcompartmentalized media. 

PMID- 26876163
TI  - Web-based volume slicer for 3D electron-microscopy data from EMDB.
AB  - We describe the functionality and design of the Volume slicer - a web-based slice
      viewer for EMDB entries. This tool uniquely provides the facility to view slices
      from 3D EM reconstructions along the three orthogonal axes and to rapidly switch
      between them and navigate through the volume. We have employed multiple rounds of
      user-experience testing with members of the EM community to ensure that the
      interface is easy and intuitive to use and the information provided is relevant.
      The impetus to develop the Volume slicer has been calls from the EM community to
      provide web-based interactive visualisation of 2D slice data. This would be
      useful for quick initial checks of the quality of a reconstruction. Again in
      response to calls from the community, we plan to further develop the Volume
      slicer into a fully-fledged Volume browser that provides integrated visualisation
      of EMDB and PDB entries from the molecular to the cellular scale. 

PMID- 26876164
TI  - Molecular characterization of clear cell renal cell carcinoma identifies CSNK2A1,
      SPP1 and DEFB1 as promising novel prognostic markers.
AB  - The prognosis associated with clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) can vary widely
      and novel molecular prognostic markers are needed to assess prognosis at an
      earlier stage. Several gene products have been investigated for this purpose, but
      none of them have been implemented in clinical practice. Here we hypothesized
      that we, using TaqMan(r) Array, could identify superior prognostic messenger RNA
      (mRNA)s in long-term follow-up. Messenger RNA level of 19 candidate genes was
      investigated in 97 patients with ccRCC. Three genes impacted significantly on
      prognosis in both univariate and multivariate analysis. In univariate analysis,
      CSNK2A1 was a strong indicator of a poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 5.01, p <
      0.001), disease specific survival (DSS) (HR = 6.21, p = 0.007) and progression
      free survival (PFS) (HR = 5.93, p = 0.005). High expression of SPP1 was
      associated to poor PFS (HR = 4.41, p = 0.04). DEFB1 was associated with a better
      PFS (HR = 0.24, p = 0.006). In multivariate analysis, CSNK2A1 was associated to a
      worse OS (HR = 3.56, p = 0.008) and PFS (HR = 3.84, p = 0.005), whereas SPP1 was
      an independent predictor of a worse PFS (HR = 3.46, p = 0.007) and DEFB1 of a
      better PFS (HR = 0.37, p = 0.027). These results show that with TaqMan(r)) Array
      we could identify three superior gene products related to prognosis. Further
      studies are needed to elucidate the pathways and roles of these genes in renal
      cacer development.

PMID- 26876165
TI  - Differential Regulation of Interferon Responses by Ebola and Marburg Virus VP35
      Proteins.
AB  - Suppression of innate immune responses during filoviral infection contributes to
      disease severity. Ebola (EBOV) and Marburg (MARV) viruses each encode a VP35
      protein that suppresses RIG-I-like receptor signaling and interferon-alpha/beta
      (IFN-alpha/beta) production by several mechanisms, including direct binding to
      double stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here, we demonstrate that in cell culture, MARV
      infection results in a greater upregulation of IFN responses as compared to EBOV
      infection. This correlates with differences in the efficiencies by which EBOV and
      MARV VP35s antagonize RIG-I signaling. Furthermore, structural and biochemical
      studies suggest that differential recognition of RNA elements by the respective
      VP35 C-terminal IFN inhibitory domain (IID) rather than affinity for RNA by the
      respective VP35s is critical for this observation. Our studies reveal functional
      differences in EBOV versus MARV VP35 RNA binding that result in unexpected
      differences in the host response to deadly viral pathogens. 

PMID- 26876167
TI  - Loss of Muscle MTCH2 Increases Whole-Body Energy Utilization and Protects from
      Diet-Induced Obesity.
AB  - Mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2) is a repressor of mitochondrial oxidative
      phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and its locus is associated with increased BMI in
      humans. Here, we demonstrate that mice deficient in muscle MTCH2 are protected
      from diet-induced obesity and hyperinsulinemia and that they demonstrate
      increased energy expenditure. Deletion of muscle MTCH2 also increases
      mitochondrial OXPHOS and mass, triggers conversion from glycolytic to oxidative
      fibers, increases capacity for endurance exercise, and increases heart function.
      Moreover, metabolic profiling of mice deficient in muscle MTCH2 reveals a
      preference for carbohydrate utilization and an increase in mitochondria and
      glycolytic flux in muscles. Thus, MTCH2 is a critical player in muscle biology,
      modulating metabolism and mitochondria mass as well as impacting whole-body
      energy homeostasis. 

PMID- 26876166
TI  - MiR-980 Is a Memory Suppressor MicroRNA that Regulates the Autism-Susceptibility
      Gene A2bp1.
AB  - MicroRNAs have been associated with many different biological functions, but
      little is known about their roles in conditioned behavior. We demonstrate that
      Drosophila miR-980 is a memory suppressor gene functioning in multiple regions of
      the adult brain. Memory acquisition and stability were both increased by miR-980
      inhibition. Whole cell recordings and functional imaging experiments indicated
      that miR-980 regulates neuronal excitability. We identified the autism
      susceptibility gene, A2bp1, as an mRNA target for miR-980. A2bp1 levels varied
      inversely with miR-980 expression; memory performance was directly related to
      A2bp1 levels. In addition, A2bp1 knockdown reversed the memory gains produced by
      miR-980 inhibition, consistent with A2bp1 being a downstream target of miR-980
      responsible for the memory phenotypes. Our results indicate that miR-980
      represses A2bp1 expression to tune the excitable state of neurons, and the
      overall state of excitability translates to memory impairment or improvement. 

PMID- 26876168
TI  - C. elegans Body Cavity Neurons Are Homeostatic Sensors that Integrate
      Fluctuations in Oxygen Availability and Internal Nutrient Reserves.
AB  - It is known that internal physiological state, or interoception, influences CNS
      function and behavior. However, the neurons and mechanisms that integrate sensory
      information with internal physiological state remain largely unknown. Here, we
      identify C. elegans body cavity neurons called URX(L/R) as central homeostatic
      sensors that integrate fluctuations in oxygen availability with internal
      metabolic state. We show that depletion of internal body fat reserves increases
      the tonic activity of URX neurons, which influences the magnitude of the evoked
      sensory response to oxygen. These responses are integrated via intracellular cGMP
      and Ca(2+). The extent of neuronal activity thus reflects the balance between the
      perception of oxygen and available fat reserves. The URX homeostatic sensor
      ensures that neural signals that stimulate fat loss are only deployed when there
      are sufficient fat reserves to do so. Our results uncover an interoceptive
      neuroendocrine axis that relays internal state information to the nervous system.

PMID- 26876169
TI  - The C. elegans CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein Gamma Is Required for Surveillance
      Immunity.
AB  - Pathogens attack host cells by deploying toxins that perturb core host processes.
      Recent findings from the nematode C. elegans and other metazoans indicate that
      surveillance or "effector-triggered" pathways monitor functioning of these core
      processes and mount protective responses when they are perturbed. Despite a
      growing number of examples of surveillance immunity, the signaling components
      remain poorly defined. Here, we show that CEBP-2, the C. elegans ortholog of
      mammalian CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein gamma, is a key player in surveillance
      immunity. We show that CEBP-2 acts together with the bZIP transcription factor
      ZIP-2 in the protective response to translational block by P. aeruginosa Exotoxin
      A as well as perturbations of other processes. CEBP-2 serves to limit pathogen
      burden, promote survival upon P. aeruginosa infection, and also promote survival
      upon Exotoxin A exposure. These findings may have broad implications for the
      mechanisms by which animals sense pathogenic attack and mount protective
      responses. 

PMID- 26876170
TI  - Growth Hormone Receptor Deficiency Protects against Age-Related NLRP3
      Inflammasome Activation and Immune Senescence.
AB  - The hallmarks of age-related immune senescence are chronic inflammation, aberrant
      expansion of effector memory, and loss of naive T lymphocytes due in part to
      systemic activation of innate immune sensor NLRP3 inflammasome in myeloid lineage
      cells. The endogenous mechanisms that regulate inflammasome activation during
      aging are unknown. Here, we present evidence that growth hormone receptor (GH-R)
      dependent downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages is linked to pro
      longevity effects that maintain immune system homeostasis in aging. Deletion of
      GH-R prevented the macrophage-driven age-related activation of inflammasome in
      response to NLRP3 ligands and also increased the preservation of naive T cells,
      even in advanced age and with higher IFNgamma secretion from effector cells. The
      mechanism of inflammasome inhibition is linked to autocrine somatotropic axis as
      ablation of IGF1R in macrophages lowered the NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
      Together, our findings show that functional somatotropic axis in macrophages
      controls inflammation, thus linking NLRP3-mediated innate immune signaling to
      health span and longevity. 

PMID- 26876171
TI  - Targeting Macrophages Sensitizes Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia to Apoptosis and
      Inhibits Disease Progression.
AB  - The role of monocytes/macrophages in the development and progression of chronic
      lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is poorly understood. Transcriptomic analyses show
      that monocytes/macrophages and leukemic cells cross talk during CLL progression.
      Macrophage depletion impairs CLL engraftment, drastically reduces leukemic
      growth, and favorably impacts mouse survival. Targeting of macrophages by either
      CSF1R signaling blockade or clodrolip-mediated cell killing has marked inhibitory
      effects on established leukemia also. Macrophage killing induces leukemic cell
      death mainly via the TNF pathway and reprograms the tumor microenvironment toward
      an antitumoral phenotype. CSF1R inhibition reduces leukemic cell load, especially
      in the bone marrow, and increases circulating CD20(+) leukemic cells.
      Accordingly, co-targeting TAMs and CD20-expressing leukemic cells provides a
      survival benefit in the mice. These results establish the important role of
      macrophages in CLL and suggest therapeutic strategies based on interfering with
      leukemia-macrophage interactions. 

PMID- 26876173
TI  - An ER-Localized SNARE Protein Is Exported in Specific COPII Vesicles for
      Autophagosome Biogenesis.
AB  - The de novo formation of autophagosomes for the targeting of cytosolic material
      to the vacuole/lysosome is upregulated upon starvation. How autophagosomes
      acquire membranes remains still unclear. Here, we report that, in yeast, the
      endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized Qa/t-SNARE Ufe1 has a role in autophagy.
      During starvation, Ufe1 is increasingly exported from the ER and targeted to
      intracellular sites that contain the autophagy markers Atg8 and Atg9. In
      addition, Ufe1 interacts with non-ER SNARE proteins implicated in autophagosome
      formation. Loss of Ufe1 function impairs autophagy and results in fewer and
      smaller autophagosomes. Unlike conventional cargo, the ER export of Ufe1 is
      significantly reduced in sec23-1 cells, which affects the coat protein (COP)II
      complex, already at the permissive temperature. Under the same conditions, sec23
      1 cells are hypersensitive to starvation and deficient in autophagy. Our data
      suggest that ER membranes containing Ufe1 are delivered to sites of autophagosome
      formation in specific COPII vesicles. 

PMID- 26876172
TI  - Satb1 Overexpression Drives Tumor-Promoting Activities in Cancer-Associated
      Dendritic Cells.
AB  - Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (Satb1) governs genome-wide
      transcriptional programs. Using a conditional knockout mouse, we find that Satb1
      is required for normal differentiation of conventional dendritic cells (DCs).
      Furthermore, Satb1 governs the differentiation of inflammatory DCs by regulating
      major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression through Notch1
      signaling. Mechanistically, Satb1 binds to the Notch1 promoter, activating Notch
      expression and driving RBPJ occupancy of the H2-Ab1 promoter, which activates MHC
      II transcription. However, tumor-driven, unremitting expression of Satb1 in
      activated Zbtb46(+) inflammatory DCs that infiltrate ovarian tumors results in an
      immunosuppressive phenotype characterized by increased secretion of tumor
      promoting Galectin-1 and IL-6. In vivo silencing of Satb1 in tumor-associated DCs
      reverses their tumorigenic activity and boosts protective immunity. Therefore,
      dynamic fluctuations in Satb1 expression govern the generation and
      immunostimulatory activity of steady-state and inflammatory DCs, but continuous
      Satb1 overexpression in differentiated DCs converts them into tolerogenic/pro
      inflammatory cells that contribute to malignant progression. 

PMID- 26876174
TI  - Intralymphatic CCL21 Promotes Tissue Egress of Dendritic Cells through Afferent
      Lymphatic Vessels.
AB  - To induce adaptive immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) migrate through afferent
      lymphatic vessels (LVs) to draining lymph nodes (dLNs). This process occurs in
      several consecutive steps. Upon entry into lymphatic capillaries, DCs first
      actively crawl into downstream collecting vessels. From there, they are next
      passively and rapidly transported to the dLN by lymph flow. Here, we describe a
      role for the chemokine CCL21 in intralymphatic DC crawling. Performing time-lapse
      imaging in murine skin, we found that blockade of CCL21-but not the absence of
      lymph flow-completely abolished DC migration from capillaries toward collecting
      vessels and reduced the ability of intralymphatic DCs to emigrate from skin.
      Moreover, we found that in vitro low laminar flow established a CCL21 gradient
      along lymphatic endothelial monolayers, thereby inducing downstream-directed DC
      migration. These findings reveal a role for intralymphatic CCL21 in promoting DC
      trafficking to dLNs, through the formation of a flow-induced gradient. 

PMID- 26876175
TI  - RONIN Is an Essential Transcriptional Regulator of Genes Required for
      Mitochondrial Function in the Developing Retina.
AB  - A fundamental principle governing organ size and function is the fine balance
      between cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Here, we identify RONIN
      (THAP11) as a key transcriptional regulator of retinal progenitor cell (RPC)
      proliferation. RPC-specific loss of Ronin results in a phenotype strikingly
      similar to that resulting from the G1- to S-phase arrest and photoreceptor
      degeneration observed in the Cyclin D1 null mutants. However, we determined that,
      rather than regulating canonical cell-cycle genes, RONIN regulates a cohort of
      mitochondrial genes including components of the electron transport chain (ETC),
      which have been recently implicated as direct regulators of the cell cycle.
      Coincidentally, with premature cell-cycle exit, Ronin mutants exhibited deficient
      ETC activity, reduced ATP levels, and increased oxidative stress that we ascribe
      to specific loss of subunits within complexes I, III, and IV. These data
      implicate RONIN as a positive regulator of mitochondrial gene expression that
      coordinates mitochondrial activity and cell-cycle progression. 

PMID- 26876176
TI  - Dynamics of CDKN1A in Single Cells Defined by an Endogenous Fluorescent Tagging
      Toolkit.
AB  - Observing the endogenous abundance, localization, and dynamics of proteins in
      mammalian cells is crucial to understanding their function and behavior.
      Currently, there is no systematic approach for the fluorescent tagging of
      endogenous loci. Here, we used Cas9-catalyzed DNA breaks, short homology arms,
      and a family of donor plasmids to establish endogenous Fluorescent tagging
      (eFlut): a low-cost and efficient approach to generating endogenous proteins with
      fluorescent labels. We validated this protocol on multiple proteins in several
      cell lines and species and applied our tools to study the cell-cycle inhibitor
      CDKN1A in single cells. We uncover heterogeneity in the timing and rate of CDKN1A
      induction post-DNA damage and show that this variability is post
      transcriptionally regulated, depends on cell-cycle position, and has long-term
      consequences for cellular proliferation. The tools developed in this study should
      support widespread study of the dynamics and localization of diverse proteins in
      mammalian cells. 

PMID- 26876177
TI  - Proteolytic Cleavage Governs Interleukin-11 Trans-signaling.
AB  - Interleukin (IL)-11 has been shown to be a crucial factor for intestinal
      tumorigenesis, lung carcinomas, and asthma. IL-11 is thought to exclusively
      mediate its biological functions through cell-type-specific expression of the
      membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R). Here, we show that the metalloprotease
      ADAM10, but not ADAM17, can release the IL-11R ectodomain. Chimeric proteins of
      the IL-11R and the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) revealed that a small juxtamembrane
      portion is responsible for this substrate specificity of ADAM17. Furthermore, we
      show that the serine proteases neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 can also
      cleave the IL-11R. The resulting soluble IL-11R (sIL-11R) is biologically active
      and binds IL-11 to activate cells. This IL-11 trans-signaling pathway can be
      inhibited specifically by the anti-inflammatory therapeutic compound sgp130Fc. In
      conclusion, proteolysis of the IL-11R represents a molecular switch that controls
      the IL-11 trans-signaling pathway and widens the number of cells that can be
      activated by IL-11. 

PMID- 26876178
TI  - Atypical Protein Kinase C-Dependent Polarized Cell Division Is Required for
      Myocardial Trabeculation.
AB  - A hallmark of cardiac development is the formation of myocardial trabeculations
      exclusively from the luminal surface of the primitive heart tube. Although a
      number of genetic defects in the endocardium and cardiac jelly disrupt myocardial
      trabeculation, the role of cell polarization remains unclear. Here, we
      demonstrate that atypical protein kinase C iota (Prkci) and its interacting
      partners are localized primarily to the luminal side of myocardial cells of early
      murine embryonic hearts. A subset of these cells undergoes polarized cell
      division with the cell division plane perpendicular to the heart's lumen.
      Disruption of the cell polarity complex by targeted gene mutations results in
      aberrant mitotic spindle alignment, loss of polarized cardiomyocyte division, and
      loss of normal myocardial trabeculation. Collectively, these results suggest
      that, in response to inductive signals, Prkci and its downstream partners direct
      polarized cell division of luminal myocardial cells to drive trabeculation in the
      nascent heart. 

PMID- 26876179
TI  - MCT1 Modulates Cancer Cell Pyruvate Export and Growth of Tumors that Co-express
      MCT1 and MCT4.
AB  - Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) inhibition is thought to block tumor growth
      through disruption of lactate transport and glycolysis. Here, we show MCT1
      inhibition impairs proliferation of glycolytic breast cancer cells co-expressing
      MCT1 and MCT4 via disruption of pyruvate rather than lactate export. MCT1
      expression is elevated in glycolytic breast tumors, and high MCT1 expression
      predicts poor prognosis in breast and lung cancer patients. Acute MCT1 inhibition
      reduces pyruvate export but does not consistently alter lactate transport or
      glycolytic flux in breast cancer cells that co-express MCT1 and MCT4. Despite the
      lack of glycolysis impairment, MCT1 loss-of-function decreases breast cancer cell
      proliferation and blocks growth of mammary fat pad xenograft tumors. Our data
      suggest MCT1 expression is elevated in glycolytic cancers to promote pyruvate
      export that when inhibited, enhances oxidative metabolism and reduces
      proliferation. This study presents an alternative molecular consequence of MCT1
      inhibitors, further supporting their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. 

PMID- 26876180
TI  - Folate Acts in E. coli to Accelerate C. elegans Aging Independently of Bacterial
      Biosynthesis.
AB  - Folates are cofactors for biosynthetic enzymes in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic
      cells. Animals cannot synthesize folate and must acquire it from their diet or
      microbiota. Previously, we showed that inhibiting E. coli folate synthesis
      increases C. elegans lifespan. Here, we show that restriction or supplementation
      of C. elegans folate does not influence lifespan. Thus, folate is required in E.
      coli to shorten worm lifespan. Bacterial proliferation in the intestine has been
      proposed as a mechanism for the life-shortening influence of E. coli. However, we
      found no correlation between C. elegans survival and bacterial growth in a screen
      of 1,000+ E. coli deletion mutants. Nine mutants increased worm lifespan
      robustly, suggesting specific gene regulation is required for the life-shortening
      activity of E. coli. Disrupting the biosynthetic folate cycle did not increase
      lifespan. Thus, folate acts through a growth-independent route in E. coli to
      accelerate animal aging. 

PMID- 26876182
TI  - Leptin Raises Defended Body Temperature without Activating Thermogenesis.
AB  - Leptin has been believed to exert its weight-reducing action not only by inducing
      hypophagia but also by increasing energy expenditure/thermogenesis. Leptin
      deficient ob/ob mice have correspondingly been thought to be thermogenically
      limited and to show hypothermia, mainly due to atrophied brown adipose tissue
      (BAT). In contrast to these established views, we found that BAT is fully
      functional and that leptin treatment did not increase thermogenesis in wild-type
      or in ob/ob mice. Rather, ob/ob mice showed a decreased but defended body
      temperature (i.e., were anapyrexic, not hypothermic) that was normalized to wild
      type levels after leptin treatment. This was not accompanied by increased energy
      expenditure or BAT recruitment but, instead, was mediated by decreased tail heat
      loss. The weight-reducing hypophagic effects of leptin are, therefore, not
      augmented through a thermogenic effect of leptin; leptin is, however, pyrexic,
      i.e., it alters centrally regulated thresholds of thermoregulatory mechanisms, in
      parallel to effects of other cytokines. 

PMID- 26876181
TI  - The Apoptotic Engulfment Machinery Regulates Axonal Degeneration in C. elegans
      Neurons.
AB  - Axonal degeneration is a characteristic feature of neurodegenerative disease and
      nerve injury. Here, we characterize axonal degeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans
      neurons following laser-induced axotomy. We show that this process proceeds
      independently of the WLD(S) and Nmnat pathway and requires the axonal clearance
      machinery that includes the conserved transmembrane receptor CED-1/Draper, the
      adaptor protein CED-6, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor complex
      Crk/Mbc/dCed-12 (CED-2/CED-5/CED-12), and the small GTPase Rac1 (CED-10). We
      demonstrate that CED-1 and CED-6 function non-cell autonomously in the
      surrounding hypodermis, which we show acts as the engulfing tissue for the
      severed axon. Moreover, we establish a function in this process for CED-7, an ATP
      binding cassette (ABC) transporter, and NRF-5, a lipid-binding protein, both
      associated with release of lipid-vesicles during apoptotic cell clearance. Thus,
      our results reveal the existence of a WLD(S)/Nmnat-independent axonal
      degeneration pathway, conservation of the axonal clearance machinery, and a
      function for CED-7 and NRF-5 in this process. 

PMID- 26876183
TI  - Improved Ribosome-Footprint and mRNA Measurements Provide Insights into Dynamics
      and Regulation of Yeast Translation.
AB  - Ribosome-footprint profiling provides genome-wide snapshots of translation, but
      technical challenges can confound its analysis. Here, we use improved methods to
      obtain ribosome-footprint profiles and mRNA abundances that more faithfully
      reflect gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results support
      proposals that both the beginning of coding regions and codons matching rare
      tRNAs are more slowly translated. They also indicate that emergent polypeptides
      with as few as three basic residues within a ten-residue window tend to slow
      translation. With the improved mRNA measurements, the variation attributable to
      translational control in exponentially growing yeast was less than previously
      reported, and most of this variation could be predicted with a simple model that
      considered mRNA abundance, upstream open reading frames, cap-proximal structure
      and nucleotide composition, and lengths of the coding and 5' UTRs. Collectively,
      our results provide a framework for executing and interpreting ribosome-profiling
      studies and reveal key features of translational control in yeast. 

PMID- 26876185
TI  - Phase diagram and segregation of Ag-Co nanoalloys: insights from theory and
      simulation.
AB  - Understanding the phase diagram is the first step to identifying the structure
      performance relationship of a material at the nanoscale. In this work, a modified
      nanothermodynamical model has been developed to predict the phase diagrams of Ag
      Co nanoalloys with the size of 1 ~ 100 nm, which also overcomes the difference in
      the predicted results between theory and simulation for the first time. Based on
      this modified model, the phase diagrams of Ag-Co nanoalloys with various
      polyhedral morphologies (tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, decahedron, dodecahedron,
      rhombic dodecahedron, truncated octahedron, cuboctahedron, and icosahedron) have
      been predicted, showing good agreement with molecular dynamics simulations at the
      nanoscale of 1 ~ 4 nm. In addition, the surface segregation of Ag-Co nanoalloys
      has been predicted with a Co-rich core/Ag-rich surface, which is also consistent
      with the simulation results. Our results highlight a useful roadmap for bridging
      the difference between theory and simulation in the prediction of the phase
      diagram at the nanoscale, which will help both theorists and experimentalists. 

PMID- 26876186
TI  - Interferon gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and anti-IFI16 antibodies in
      primary Sjogren's syndrome: findings in serum and minor salivary glands.
AB  - The interferon (IFN) signature, namely the overexpression of IFN-inducible genes
      is a crucial aspect in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). The
      IFN-inducible IFI16 protein, normally expressed in cell nuclei, may be
      overexpressed, mislocalized in the cytoplasm and secreted in the extracellular
      milieu in several autoimmune disorders including pSS. This leads to tolerance
      breaking to this self-protein and development of anti-IFI16 antibodies. The aim
      of this study was to identify pathogenic and clinical significance of IFI16 and
      anti-IFI16 autoantibodies in pSS. IFI16 and anti-IFI16 were assessed in the serum
      of 30 pSS patients and one-hundred healthy donors (HD) by ELISA. IFI16 was also
      evaluated in 5 minor salivary glands (MSGs) of pSS patients and 5 MSGs of non-pSS
      patients with sicca symptoms by immunohistochemistry. Normal MSGs do not
      constitutively express IFI16. Conversely, in pSS-MSGs a marked expression and
      cytoplasmic mislocalization of IFI16 by epithelial cells was observed with
      infiltrations in lymphocytes and peri/ intra-lesional endothelium. pSS patients
      display higher serum levels of both IFI16 and anti-IFI16 autoantibodies compared
      to HD. Our data suggest that IFI16 protein may be involved in the initiation and
      perpetuation of glandular inflammation occurring in pSS. 

PMID- 26876184
TI  - Genome-wide Analysis Identifies Bcl6-Controlled Regulatory Networks during T
      Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation.
AB  - T follicular helper (Tfh) cell is a unique T cell subset specialized in promoting
      humoral immunity. B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (Bcl6) has been identified as an
      obligatory transcription factor in Tfh cells; however, the molecular mechanism
      underlying Bcl6 function remains largely unknown. Here, we defined Bcl6 target
      genes in Tfh cells by analyzing genome-wide Bcl6 occupancy together with
      transcriptome profiling. With consensus sequences being different from those in
      Th9, B cells, and macrophages, Bcl6 binding in Tfh cell was closely associated
      with a decrease in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Importantly, Bcl6 promoted Tfh
      cell differentiation through antagonizing IL-7R (CD127)/signal transducer and
      activator of transcription (STAT) 5 axis; deletion of the Bcl6 gene in T cells
      resulted in enhanced IL-7R-STAT5 signaling and substantial expansion of CD127(hi)
      non-Tfh cells. Thus, our study systemically examines Bcl6-controlled regulatory
      networks and provides important insights into Bcl6's biological functions in Tfh
      cells. 

PMID- 26876187
TI  - The role of biomechanical factors in ankylosing spondylitis: the patient's
      perspective.
AB  - Biomechanical factors including occupational joint physical stressing and joint
      injury have been linked to spondyloarthritis. We explored such factors in
      ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A retrospective, online survey was developed
      alongside the UK National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS). Questions on
      early entheseal symptoms, potential precipitating trauma, sporting activity, and
      physiotherapy were asked. A total of 1026 patients responded with 44% recalling
      an instance of injury or trauma as a potential trigger for their AS. After
      symptom onset, 55% modified sporting activities and 28% reported that the initial
      AS recommended exercises exacerbated symptoms. Patients report physical trauma,
      exercise and physiotherapy as potential triggers for AS symptoms. These findings
      further support the experimental evidence for the role of biomechanical factors
      in disease. 

PMID- 26876188
TI  - Influence of TNF-alpha inhibition on oxidative stress of rheumatoid arthritis
      patients.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess circulating levels of reactive oxygen
      metabolites (ROMs) as a marker of oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      patients during an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. We
      enrolled 40 patients with RA (36 females; age 53 +/- 13 yrs) treated with
      different subcutaneously administered TNF-alpha inhibitors. The oxidative status
      was determined on the basis of plasma samples taken before, at 24 and 52 weeks of
      the anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Hydroperoxide levels were measured using the d-ROMs
      test, a useful clinically proven oxidative stress marker. During the anti-TNF
      alpha therapy, we observed a significant reduction in serum ROMs levels in RA
      patients from 33.2 +/- 10 mg H2O2/L at baseline to 29.5 +/- 7 and 29.3 +/- 9 mg
      H2O2/L, at 24 and 52 weeks, respectively (p<0.05). We also identified a
      significant correlation between the oxidative stress status and the disease
      activity score on 28 joints/C-reactive protein and health assessment
      questionnaire disability index. The results of our study demonstrate that a good
      control of the disease with anti-TNF-alpha agents can reduce oxidative stress in
      RA patients. However, further studies of larger patient cohorts are needed to
      confirm these preliminary data.

PMID- 26876189
TI  - Color Doppler analysis of female reproductive vasculature in Behcet's disease.
AB  - Behcet's disease (BD) may affect female reproductive vasculature. We aimed to
      evaluate Doppler sonographic characteristics of female reproductive vasculature
      and also ovarian volume, endometrial thickness (EMT) and antral follicle count of
      BD patients in comparison with a healthy control group. Seventeen premenopausal
      women aged between 18-45 years with BD, and a control group of 31 age- and body
      mass index-matched healthy women was included in the study. Uterine, spiral and
      intraovarian artery blood flow were examined by Doppler sonography in the late
      follicular phase. Resistance index, pulsatility index and systolic/diastolic
      ratio were recorded together with ovarian volume, EMT and antral follicle count.
      In particular this is a pilot study including the evaluation of the spiral and
      uterine arteries in BD. Doppler sonographic parameters, ovarian volume, EMT and
      antral follicle count of BD patients and healthy controls were not found to be
      statistically different. As a result of our analysis, we found similar Doppler
      sonographic features of both BD patients and the control group. Further studies
      conducted on a larger sample population with more aggressive BD symptoms may
      reveal the actual effect of BD on the female reproductive system. 

PMID- 26876190
TI  - Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, pain perception, and disease activity score may
      serve as important predictive markers for sustained remission in rheumatoid
      arthritis.
AB  - The implementation of new treatment strategies based on current recommendations
      has enabled a greater number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to
      achieve remission. However, there are no definite predictors of sustained
      remission. Moreover, the absence of clear consensus on the time of withdrawal or
      reduction of treatment further adds to the treatment burden. This pilot study was
      intended to evaluate the prognostic potential of various RA-related parameters.
      All the enrolled subjects (n=124) were clinically evaluated on the basis of
      various parameters including age, gender, duration of illness before the
      initiation of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, tender and swollen joints
      (28 joints), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP),
      hemoglobin percentage, lymphocyte count, total white-blood cell counts, and
      neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Student's t-test and discriminant function
      analysis were performed. The specificity of all parameters and their best
      possible cut-off to predict relapse were calculated using the receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) analysis. A significant difference in terms of pain
      perception, NLR, tendency to have a significant tender joint count and absolute
      lymphocyte counts was identified between the patients in sustained remission and
      those in relapse. The ROC analysis indicated that NLR was consistent in
      predicting remission. CRP, ESR, and/or disease activity score may not be very
      effective in differentiating patients with sustainable remission/low disease
      activity. NLR along with patient's perception of pain may assist in predicting
      sustained remission. 

PMID- 26876191
TI  - Erasmus syndrome in a marble worker.
AB  - Erasmus syndrome is defined as the association of silica exposure and subsequent
      development of systemic sclerosis. The limited number of cases reported in the
      literature mainly involves miners and only sporadically other professionals. We
      describe a case of Erasmus syndrome in a marble worker. A 68 year old man came to
      our observation complaining pelvic and scapular girdle pain, evening fever,
      intense weakness and emaciation for about 1 month. He also reported to have had
      Raynaud's phenomenon in his hands for the last 13 years. Also, his occupational
      history revealed a chronic exposure to silica dust. The patient presented pain in
      his shoulders and hips, moderate skin thickening and sclerosis in his hands and
      fingers extending proximally to his wrists. The diagnosis of systemic sclerosis
      was determined according to his clinical and medical history, the positivity of
      anti-Scl 70 antibodies, the nailfold capillaroscopy suggestive of an active
      scleroderma pattern and the detection of a mild restrictive pulmonary syndrome.
      The evaluation of the organbased complications excluded a gastroenterological and
      cardiovascular involvement, while the chest computed tomography (CT) detected
      multiple small nodules with a mantle distribution and enlarged lymph nodes with
      no signs of interstitial lung disease and fibrosis. Additional tests (positron
      emission tomography-CT, flexible bronchoscopy and broncho-alveolar lavage)
      excluded infectious diseases and cancer. However, given the pulmonary
      involvement, we performed a histological examination of the parenchyma and lymph
      nodes, which revealed a picture of pneumoconiosis. In the end, the occupational
      history and the findings from the diagnostic procedures led to the diagnosis of
      pulmonary silicosis. The precise definition of the pulmonary involvement was
      essential to the therapeutic approach to this patient. 

PMID- 26876192
TI  - Rheumatoid trigger wrist.

PMID- 26876193
TI  - Myasthenia gravis due to hydroxychloroquine.

PMID- 26876194
TI  - Ultrafast Optical Microscopy of Single Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide Flakes.
AB  - We have performed ultrafast optical microscopy on single flakes of atomically
      thin CVD-grown molybdenum disulfide, using non-degenerate femtosecond pump-probe
      spectroscopy to excite and probe carriers above and below the indirect and direct
      band gaps. These measurements reveal the influence of layer thickness on carrier
      dynamics when probing near the band gap. Furthermore, fluence-dependent
      measurements indicate that carrier relaxation is primarily influenced by surface
      related defect and trap states after above-bandgap photoexcitation. The ability
      to probe femtosecond carrier dynamics in individual flakes can thus give much
      insight into light-matter interactions in these two-dimensional nanosystems. 

PMID- 26876195
TI  - Lessons from Domestication: Targeting Cis-Regulatory Elements for Crop
      Improvement.
AB  - Domestication of wild plant species has provided us with crops that serve our
      human nutritional needs. Advanced DNA sequencing has propelled the unveiling of
      underlying genetic changes associated with domestication. Interestingly, many
      changes reside in cis-regulatory elements (CREs) that control the expression of
      an unmodified coding sequence. Sequence variation in CREs can impact gene
      expression levels, but also developmental timing and tissue specificity of
      expression. When genes are involved in multiple pathways or active in several
      organs and developmental stages CRE modifications are favored in contrast to
      mutations in coding regions, due to the lack of detrimental pleiotropic effects.
      Therefore, learning from domestication, we propose that CREs are interesting
      targets for genome editing to create new alleles for plant breeding.

PMID- 26876196
TI  - HPV16 oncogene expression levels during early cervical carcinogenesis are
      determined by the balance of epigenetic chromatin modifications at the integrated
      virus genome.
AB  - In cervical squamous cell carcinomas, high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) DNA
      is usually integrated into host chromosomes. Multiple integration events are
      thought to be present within the cells of a polyclonal premalignant lesion and
      the features that underpin clonal selection of one particular integrant remain
      poorly understood. We previously used the W12 model system to generate a panel of
      cervical keratinocyte clones, derived from cells of a low-grade premalignant
      lesion naturally infected with the major HRHPV type, HPV16. The cells were
      isolated regardless of their selective advantage and differed only by the site of
      HPV16 integration into the host genome. We used this resource to test the
      hypothesis that levels of HPV16 E6/E7 oncogene expression in premalignant cells
      are regulated epigenetically. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the
      epigenetic landscape of the integrated HPV16 DNA in selected clones, in which
      levels of virus oncogene expression per DNA template varied ~6.6-fold. Across the
      cells examined, higher levels of virus expression per template were associated
      with more open chromatin at the HPV16 long control region, together with greater
      loading of chromatin remodelling enzymes and lower nucleosome occupancy. There
      were higher levels of histone post-translational modification hallmarks of
      transcriptionally active chromatin and lower levels of repressive hallmarks.
      There was greater abundance of the active/elongating form of the RNA polymerase
      II enzyme (RNAPII-Ser2P), together with CDK9, the component of positive
      transcription elongation factor b complex responsible for Ser2 phosphorylation.
      The changes observed were functionally significant, as cells with higher HPV16
      expression per template showed greater sensitivity to depletion and/or inhibition
      of histone acetyltransferases and CDK9 and less sensitivity to histone
      deacetylase inhibition. We conclude that virus gene expression per template
      following HPV16 integration is determined through multiple layers of epigenetic
      regulation, which are likely to contribute to selection of individual cells
      during cervical carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26876197
TI  - Heterozygous p53(V172F) mutation in cisplatin-resistant human tumor cells
      promotes MDM4 recruitment and decreases stability and transactivity of p53.
AB  - Cisplatin is an important antitumor agent, but its clinical utility is often
      limited by multifactorial mechanism of resistance. Loss of tumor suppressor p53
      function is a major mechanism that is affected by either mutation in the DNA
      binding domain or dysregulation by overexpression of p53 inhibitors MDM2 and
      MDM4, which destabilize p53 by increasing its proteosomal degradation. In the
      present study, cisplatin-resistant 2780CP/Cl-16 ovarian tumor cells expressed a
      heterozygous, temperature-sensitive p53(V172F) mutation, which reduced p53 half
      life by two- to threefold compared with homozygous wild-type (wt) p53 in parental
      A2780 cells. Although reduced p53 stability in 2780CP/Cl-16 cells was associated
      with moderate cellular overexpression of MDM2 or MDM4 (<1.5-fold), their binding
      to p53 was substantially enhanced (five- to eightfold). The analogous cisplatin
      resistant 2780CP/Cl-24 cells, which express loss of p53 heterozygosity, retained
      the p53(V172F) mutation and high p53-MDM4 binding, but demonstrated lower p53
      bound MDM2 that was associated with reduced p53 ubiquitination and enhanced p53
      stability. The inference that p53 was unstable as a heteromeric
      p53(wt)/p53(V172F) complex was confirmed in 2780CP/Cl-24 cells transfected with
      wt p53 or multimer-inhibiting p53(L344P) mutant, and further supported by
      normalization of p53 stability in both resistant cell lines grown at the
      permissive temperature of 32.5  degrees C. Surprisingly, in 2780CP/Cl-16 and
      2780CP/Cl-24 models, cisplatin-induced transactivity of p53 was attenuated at 37 
      degrees C, and this correlated with cisplatin resistance. However, downregulation
      of MDM2 or MDM4 by small interfering RNA in either resistant cell line induced
      p53 and restored p21 transactivation at 37  degrees C, as did cisplatin-induced
      DNA damage at 32.5  degrees C that coincided with reduced p53-MDM4 binding and
      cisplatin resistance. These results demonstrate that cisplatin-mediated
      p53(V172F) mutation regulates p53 stability at the normothermic temperature, but
      it is the increased recruitment of MDM4 by the homomeric or heteromeric mutant
      p53(V172F) complex that inhibits p53-dependent transactivation. This represents a
      novel cellular mechanism of p53 inhibition, and, thereby, induction of cisplatin
      resistance.

PMID- 26876198
TI  - CDCP1 cleavage is necessary for homodimerization-induced migration of triple
      negative breast cancer.
AB  - Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and metastatic form
      of breast cancer that lacks the estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors and is
      resistant to targeted and hormone therapies. TNBCs express high levels of the
      transmembrane glycoprotein, complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB)-domain
      containing protein 1 (CDCP1), which has been correlated with the aggressiveness
      and poor prognosis of multiple carcinomas. Full-length CDCP1 (flCDCP1) can be
      proteolytically cleaved, resulting in a cleaved membrane-bound isoform (cCDCP1).
      CDCP1 is phosphorylated by Src family kinases in its full-length and cleaved
      states, which is important for its pro-metastatic signaling. We observed that
      cCDCP1, compared with flCDCP1, induced a dramatic increase in phosphorylation of
      the migration-associated proteins: PKCdelta, ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated
      protein kinase in HEK 293T. In addition, only cCDCP1 induced migration of HEK
      293T cells and rescued migration of the TNBC cell lines expressing short hairpin
      RNA against CDCP1. Importantly, we found that only cCDCP1 is capable of
      dimerization, which can be blocked by expression of the extracellular portion of
      cCDCP1 (ECC), indicating that dimerization occurs through CDCP1's ectodomain. We
      found that ECC inhibited phosphorylation of PKCdelta and migration of TNBC cells
      in two-dimensional culture. Furthermore, ECC decreased cell invasiveness,
      inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of TNBC cells in three
      dimensional culture, indicating that the cCDCP1 dimer is an important contributor
      to TNBC aggressiveness. These studies have important implications for the
      development of a therapeutic to block CDCP1 activity and TNBC metastasis.

PMID- 26876199
TI  - Disruption of insulin receptor function inhibits proliferation in endocrine
      resistant breast cancer cells.
AB  - The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is a well-studied growth regulatory
      pathway implicated in breast cancer biology. Clinical trials testing monoclonal
      antibodies directed against the type I IGF receptor (IGF1R) in combination with
      estrogen receptor-alpha (ER) targeting have been completed, but failed to show
      benefits in patients with endocrine-resistant tumors compared to ER targeting
      alone. We have previously shown that the closely related insulin receptor (InsR)
      is expressed in tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) breast cancer cells. Here we examined
      if inhibition of InsR affected TamR breast cancer cells. InsR function was
      inhibited by three different mechanisms: InsR short hairpin RNA, a small InsR
      blocking peptide, S961 and an InsR monoclonal antibody (mAb). Suppression of InsR
      function by these methods in TamR cells successfully blocked insulin-mediated
      signaling, monolayer proliferation, cell cycle progression and anchorage
      independent growth. This strategy was not effective in parental cells likely
      because of the presence of IGFR /InsR hybrid receptors. Downregulation of IGF1R
      in conjunction with InsR inhibition was more effective in blocking IGF- and
      insulin-mediated signaling and growth in parental cells compared with single
      receptor targeting alone. Our findings show TamR cells were stimulated by InsR
      and were not sensitive to IGF1R inhibition, whereas in tamoxifen-sensitive
      parental cancer cells, the presence of both receptors, especially hybrid
      receptors, allowed cross-reactivity of ligand-mediated activation and growth. To
      suppress the IGF system, targeting of both IGF1R and InsR is optimal in endocrine
      sensitive and -resistant breast cancer.

PMID- 26876200
TI  - Radiotherapy-induced miR-223 prevents relapse of breast cancer by targeting the
      EGF pathway.
AB  - In breast cancer (BC) patients, local recurrences often arise in proximity of the
      surgical scar, suggesting that response to surgery may have a causative role.
      Radiotherapy (RT) after lumpectomy significantly reduces the risk of recurrence.
      We investigated the direct effects of surgery and of RT delivered
      intraoperatively (IORT), by collecting irradiated and non-irradiated breast
      tissues from BC patients, after tumor removal. These breast tissue specimens have
      been profiled for their microRNA (miR) expression, in search of differentially
      expressed miR among patients treated or not with IORT. Our results demonstrate
      that IORT elicits effects that go beyond the direct killing of residual tumor
      cells. IORT altered the wound response, inducing the expression of miR-223 in the
      peri-tumoral breast tissue. miR-223 downregulated the local expression of
      epidermal growth factor (EGF), leading to decreased activation of EGF receptor
      (EGFR) on target cells and, eventually, dampening a positive EGF-EGFR
      autocrine/paracrine stimulation loop induced by the post-surgical wound-healing
      response. Accordingly, both RT-induced miR-223 and peri-operative inhibition of
      EGFR efficiently prevented BC cell growth and reduced recurrence formation in
      mouse models of BC. Our study uncovers unknown effects of RT delivered on a
      wounded tissue and prompts to the use of anti-EGFR treatments, in a peri
      operative treatment schedule, aimed to timely treat BC patients and restrain
      recurrence formation.

PMID- 26876201
TI  - Prolyl-isomerase Pin1 controls Notch3 protein expression and regulates T-ALL
      progression.
AB  - Deregulated Notch signaling is associated with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic
      Leukemia (T-ALL) development and progression. Increasing evidence reveals that
      Notch pathway has an important role in the invasion ability of tumor cells,
      including leukemia, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain mostly
      unclear. Here, we show that Notch3 is a novel target protein of the prolyl
      isomerase Pin1, which is able to regulate Notch3 protein processing and to
      stabilize the cleaved product, leading to the increased expression of the
      intracellular domain (N3IC), finally enhancing Notch3-dependent invasiveness
      properties. We demonstrate that the combined inhibition of Notch3 and Pin1 in the
      Notch3-overexpressing human leukemic TALL-1 cells reduces their high invasive
      potential, by decreasing the expression of the matrix metalloprotease MMP9.
      Consistently, Pin1 depletion in a mouse model of Notch3-induced T-ALL, by
      reducing N3IC expression and signaling, impairs the expansion/invasiveness of
      CD4(+)CD8(+) DP cells in peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs. Notably, in
      in silico gene expression analysis of human T-ALL samples we observed a
      significant correlation between Pin1 and Notch3 expression levels, which may
      further suggest a key role of the newly identified Notch3-Pin1 axis in T-ALL
      aggressiveness and progression. Thus, combined suppression of Pin1 and Notch3
      proteins may be exploited as an additional target therapy for T-ALL.

PMID- 26876202
TI  - Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor is a survival and proliferation factor for
      castration-resistant prostate cancer.
AB  - Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated gene expression continues to have a critical role
      in promoting castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) survival and growth even
      after androgen deprivation therapy. AR cistrome analyses in CRPC cells have
      identified a large number of AR target genes involved in proliferative and cell
      cycle-related functions, and hold promise for development of novel therapeutic
      approaches for CRPC. However, there is little understanding of how these genes
      function in vivo and what the clinical implications are. We previously reported
      that secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) is regulated by the AR in a
      ligand-independent manner in CRPC cells and required for CRPC cell proliferation
      under androgen-deprived conditions. SLPI is a secreted serine protease inhibitor,
      which is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including lung, breast and ovarian
      cancer, and involved in tumor progression. However, the oncogenic potential of
      SLPI in prostate cancer remains unknown. Here we provide the first evidence that
      SLPI is upregulated in a subset of CRPC cell lines and CRPC patient tumors. In
      addition, serum SLPI levels are significantly elevated in metastatic CRPC
      patients compared with hormone naive patients, raising the possibility that this
      could serve as a biomarker. We demonstrated that SLPI expression has functional
      significance, as it promotes CRPC cell survival and growth after androgen
      withdrawal in vivo and in vitro. Last, we demonstrated that the oncogenic effect
      of SLPI may be due to protection of growth factor progranulin from enzymatic
      cleavage or suppression of CRPC cell apoptosis independent of anti-protease
      activity of SLPI. These findings implicate SLPI as a potential biomarker of
      resistance to AR inhibition and therapeutic target for CRPC treatment.

PMID- 26876203
TI  - Pygo2 activates MDR1 expression and mediates chemoresistance in breast cancer via
      the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.
AB  - The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has important roles in chemoresistance and multidrug
      resistance 1 (MDR1) expression in some cancers, but its involvement in breast
      cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism are undefined. In this study, we
      demonstrated that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is activated in chemoresistant
      breast cancer cells. Using a Wnt pathway-specific PCR array screening assay, we
      detected that Pygo2, a newly identified Wnt/beta-catenin pathway component, was
      the most upregulated gene in the resistant cells. Additional experiments
      indicated that Pygo2 activated MDR1 expression in the resistant cells via the
      Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Moreover, the inhibition of Pygo2 expression restored
      the chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity of the resistant cells and reduced the
      breast cancer stem cell population in these cells in response to chemotherapy.
      Importantly, these activities induced by Pygo2 were mediated by MDR1. We also
      determined the effect of Pygo2 on the sensitivity of breast tumors resistant to
      doxorubicin in a mouse model. Finally, RNA samples from 64 paired patient tumors
      (before and after chemotherapy) highly and significantly overexpressed Pygo2
      and/or MDR1 after treatment, thus underlining a pivotal role for the Pygo2
      mediated Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in the clinical chemoresistance of breast
      cancer. Our data represent the first implication of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway
      in breast cancer chemoresistance and identify potential new targets to treat the
      recurrence of breast cancer.

PMID- 26876204
TI  - A novel KLF6-Rho GTPase axis regulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration
      and dissemination.
AB  - The presence of invasion into the extra-hepatic portion of the portal vein or the
      development of distant metastases renders hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients
      ineligible for the only potential curative options for this malignancy-tumor
      resection or organ transplantation. Gene expression profiling of murine HCC cell
      lines identified KLF6 as a potential regulator of HCC cell migration. KLF6
      knockdown increases cell migration, consistent with the correlation between
      decreased KLF6 mRNA levels and the presence of vascular invasion in human HCC.
      Concordantly, single-copy deletion of Klf6 in a HCC mouse model results in
      increased tumor formation, increased metastasis to the lungs and decreased
      survival, indicating that KLF6 suppresses both HCC development and metastasis. By
      combining gene expression profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to
      deep sequencing, we identified novel transcriptional targets of KLF6 in HCC cells
      including VAV3, a known activator of the RAC1 small GTPase. Indeed, RAC1 activity
      is increased in KLF6-knockdown cells in a VAV3-dependent manner, and knockdown of
      either RAC1 or VAV3 impairs HCC cell migration. Together, our data demonstrate a
      novel function for KLF6 in constraining HCC dissemination through the regulation
      of a VAV3-RAC1 signaling axis.

PMID- 26876205
TI  - Upregulation of the oncoprotein SET determines poor clinical outcomes in
      hepatocellular carcinoma and shows therapeutic potential.
AB  - The SET protein is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Here, we
      report the oncogenic role of SET in hepatocarcinogenesis, clinical aggressiveness
      and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapeutics. By analyzing samples
      obtained from 147 HCC patients, we found that SET overexpression was detected
      specifically in 30.6% HCC tumor samples, and was significantly associated with
      worse clinical features and high p-Akt expression in HCC tumors. Co-expression of
      SET and Akt predicted shorter post-operative recurrence-free survival in this
      cohort (P=0.045). Furthermore, SET was significantly associated with cell growth
      and hepatosphere formation. To elucidate the anti-HCC potential of targeting SET,
      we generated a novel SET antagonist, EMQA (N(4)-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy
      N(2)-(4-phenoxyphenyl) quinazoline-2,4-diamine). EMQA enhanced PP2A activity via
      disrupting SET-PP2Ac (catalytic domain of PP2A) binding in HCC cells, which
      restored PP2A-mediated p-Akt downregulation and promoted HCC cell death. In HCC
      cells or recombinant proteins expressing the N- and C- truncated forms of SET,
      only the C-terminal SET was required for EMQA targeting. Furthermore, combining
      sorafenib and EMQA showed good synergism in inhibiting HCC survival. Our findings
      suggested the oncogenic role of SET and the adverse prognostic value of SET
      overexpression in HCC. This alteration defines a subgroup of HCC patients who
      could benefit from SET antagonists, such as EMQA.

PMID- 26876206
TI  - Cyclin G2 inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by disrupting Wnt/beta
      catenin signaling.
AB  - Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has the highest mortality rate among
      gynecological malignancies owing to poor screening methods, non-specific symptoms
      and limited knowledge of the cellular targets that contribute to the disease.
      Cyclin G2 is an unconventional cyclin that acts to oppose cell cycle progression.
      Dysregulation of the cyclin G2 gene (CCNG2) in a variety of human cancers has
      been reported; however, the role of cyclin G2 in tumorigenesis remains unclear.
      In this study, we investigated the function of cyclin G2 in EOC. In vitro and in
      vivo studies using several EOC-derived tumor cell lines revealed that cyclin G2
      inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and spheroid formation, as well
      as tumor formation and invasion. By interrogating cDNA microarray data sets, we
      found that CCGN2 mRNA is reduced in several large cohorts of human ovarian
      carcinoma when compared with normal ovarian surface epithelium or borderline
      tumors of the ovary. Mechanistically, cyclin G2 was found to suppress epithelial
      to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as demonstrated by the differential regulation
      of various EMT genes, such as Snail, Slug, vimentin and E-cadherin. Moreover,
      cyclin G2 potently suppressed the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway by
      downregulating key Wnt components, namely LRP6, DVL2 and beta-catenin, which
      could be linked to inhibition of EMT. Taken together, our novel findings
      demonstrate that cyclin G2 has potent tumor-suppressive effects in EOCs by
      inhibiting EMT through attenuating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.

PMID- 26876207
TI  - Loss of DAB2IP in RCC cells enhances their growth and resistance to mTOR-targeted
      therapies.
AB  - Targeted therapies using small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are commonly used in
      metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) patients; patients often develop drug
      resistance and eventually succumb to disease. Currently, understanding of
      mechanisms leading to SMIs resistance and any identifiable predictive marker(s)
      are still lacking. We discovered that DAB2IP, a novel Ras-GTPase-activating
      protein, was frequently epigenetically silenced in RCC, and DAB2IP loss was
      correlated with the overall survival of RCC patients. Loss of DAB2IP in RCC cells
      enhances their sensitivities to growth factor stimulation and resistances to SMI
      (such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors). Mechanistically, loss
      of DAB2IP results in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/RSK1
      and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/mTOR pathway, which synergizes the induction of
      hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2alpha expression. Consequently, elevated HIF
      2alpha suppresses p21/WAF1 expression that is associated with resistance to mTOR
      inhibitors. Thus combinatorial targeting both pathways resulted in a synergistic
      tumor inhibition. DAB2IP appears to be a new prognostic/predictive marker for
      mRCC patients, and its function provides a new insight into the molecular
      mechanisms of drug resistance to mTOR inhibitors, which also can be used to
      develop new strategies to overcome drug-resistant mRCC.

PMID- 26876208
TI  - Long non-coding antisense RNA KRT7-AS is activated in gastric cancers and
      supports cancer cell progression by increasing KRT7 expression.
AB  - Alterations in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with human
      carcinogenesis. One group of lncRNAs, which are antisense in orientation to
      coding mRNAs (ASs), have been recently described in cancers but are poorly
      understood. We sought to identify ASs involved in human gastric cancer (GC) and
      to elucidate their mechanisms of action in carcinogenesis. We performed massively
      parallel RNA sequencing in GCs and matched normal tissues, as well as in GC
      derived and normal gastric epithelial cell lines. One AS, designated Homo sapiens
      keratin 7 (KRT7-AS), was selected due to its marked upregulation and concordant
      expression with its cognate sense counterpart, KRT7, in GC tissues and cell
      lines. KRT7-AS formed an RNA-RNA hybrid with KRT7 and controlled KRT7 expression
      at both the mRNA and the post-transcriptional levels. Moreover, forced
      overexpression of the KRT7-overlapping region (OL) of KRT7-AS (but not its non
      KRT7-OL portions) increased keratin 7 protein levels in cells. Finally, forced
      overexpression of full-length KRT7-AS or OL KRT7-AS (but not its non-KRT7-OL
      regions) promoted GC cell proliferation and migration. We conclude that lncRNA
      KRT7-AS promotes GC, at least in part, by increasing KRT7 expression.

PMID- 26876209
TI  - Loss of MLCK leads to disruption of cell-cell adhesion and invasive behavior of
      breast epithelial cells via increased expression of EGFR and ERK/JNK signaling.
AB  - Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression is downregulated in breast cancer,
      including invasive ductal carcinoma compared with ductal breast carcinoma in situ
      and metastatic breast tumors. However, little is known about how loss of MLCK
      expression contributes to tumor progression. MLCK is a component of the actin
      cytoskeleton and its known role is the phosphorylation of the regulatory light
      chain of myosin II. To gain insights into the role of MLCK in breast cancer, we
      perturbed its function using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or pharmacological
      inhibition in untransformed breast epithelial cells (MCF10A). Loss of MLCK by
      siRNAs led to increased cell migration and invasion, disruption of cell-cell
      adhesions and enhanced formation of focal adhesions at the leading edge of
      migratory cells. In addition, downregulation of MLCK cooperated with HER2 in
      MCF10A cells to promote cell migration and invasion and low levels of MLCK is
      associated with a poor prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
      Associated with these altered migratory behaviors were increased expression of
      epidermal growth factor receptor and activation of extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways in MLCK downregulated
      MCF10A cells. By contrast, inhibition of the kinase function of MLCK using
      pharmacological agents inhibited cell migration and invasion, and did not affect
      cellular adhesions. Our results show that loss of MLCK contributes to the
      migratory properties of epithelial cells resulting from changes in cell-cell and
      cell-matrix adhesions, and increased epidermal growth factor receptor signaling.
      These findings suggest that decreased expression of MLCK may have a critical role
      during tumor progression by facilitating the metastatic potential of tumor cells.

PMID- 26876210
TI  - Rad54 and Mus81 cooperation promotes DNA damage repair and restrains chromosome
      missegregation.
AB  - Rad54 and Mus81 mammalian proteins physically interact and are important for the
      homologous recombination DNA repair pathway; however, their functional
      interactions in vivo are poorly defined. Here, we show that combinatorial loss of
      Rad54 and Mus81 results in hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, defects on
      both the homologous recombination and non-homologous DNA end joining repair
      pathways and reduced fertility. We also observed that while Mus81 deficiency
      diminished the cleavage of common fragile sites, very strikingly, Rad54 loss
      impaired this cleavage to even a greater extent. The inefficient repair of DNA
      double-strand breaks (DSBs) in Rad54(-/-)Mus81(-/-) cells was accompanied by
      elevated levels of chromosome missegregation and cell death. Perhaps as a
      consequence, tumor incidence in Rad54(-/-)Mus81(-/-) mice remained comparable to
      that in Mus81(-/-) mice. Our study highlights the importance of the cooperation
      between Rad54 and Mus81 for mediating DNA DSB repair and restraining chromosome
      missegregation.

PMID- 26876211
TI  - Extracellular lumican augments cytotoxicity of chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma cells via autophagy inhibition.
AB  - Lumican, an extracellular matrix proteoglycan overexpressed by pancreatic
      stellate cells (PSCs) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (PDACs), drives
      the formation of a tumor-specific microenvironment. We recently showed that
      extracellular lumican inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and is associated
      with prolonged survival after surgery. Here we investigated the role of
      extracellular lumican in chemotherapy-mediated cancer therapy. Lumican secretion
      was increased by chemotherapeutic agents in PDAC, and especially in PSCs, and
      appeared to be linked to the extent of cells' response to chemotherapy-induced
      growth inhibition. In multiple PDAC models, including cell lines, patient-derived
      xenografts and lumican knockout mice, lumican significantly increased antitumor
      effect of chemotherapy. This effect was associated with DNA damage, apoptosis and
      inhibition of cell viability, glucose consumption, lactate production and
      vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. In PDAC cells, chemotherapeutic
      agents triggered autophagosome formation and increased LC3 expression through the
      reactive oxygen species-mediated AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway.
      Inhibition of gemcitabine-induced autophagy in cancer cells by treatment with
      AMPK inhibitor compound C, lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine or autophagy inhibitor
      3MA enhanced gemcitabine-induced apoptosis, suggesting that autophagy is a
      protective cellular response to gemcitabine treatment. Importantly, lumican
      dramatically decreased AMPK activity, inhibiting chemotherapy-induced autophagy
      in both in vitro and in vivo PDAC models. Co-treatment of PDAC cells with lumican
      and gemcitabine increased mitochondrial damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      production and cytochrome c release, indicating that lumican-induced disruption
      of mitochondrial function may be the mechanism of sensitization to gemcitabine.
      Together, our findings demonstrate that extracellular lumican augments
      cytotoxicity of chemotherapy in PDAC cells through inhibition of chemotherapeutic
      agent-induced autophagy.

PMID- 26876212
TI  - Overexpression of PIK3CA in murine head and neck epithelium drives tumor invasion
      and metastasis through PDK1 and enhanced TGFbeta signaling.
AB  - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients have a poor prognosis,
      with invasion and metastasis as major causes of mortality. The
      phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway regulates a wide range of cellular
      processes crucial for tumorigenesis, and PIK3CA amplification and mutation are
      among the most common genetic alterations in human HNSCC. Compared with the well
      documented roles of the PI3K pathway in cell growth and survival, the roles of
      the PI3K pathway in tumor invasion and metastasis have not been well delineated.
      We generated a PIK3CA genetically engineered mouse model (PIK3CA-GEMM) in which
      wild-type PIK3CA is overexpressed in head and neck epithelium. Although PIK3CA
      overexpression alone was not sufficient to initiate HNSCC formation, it
      significantly increased tumor susceptibility in an oral carcinogenesis mouse
      model. PIK3CA overexpression in mouse oral epithelium increased tumor
      invasiveness and metastasis by increasing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and
      by enriching a cancer stem cell phenotype in tumor epithelial cells. In addition
      to these epithelial alterations, we also observed marked inflammation in tumor
      stroma. AKT is a central signaling mediator of the PI3K pathway. However,
      molecular analysis suggested that progression of PIK3CA-driven HNSCC is
      facilitated by 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PDK1) and enhanced
      transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling rather than by AKT.
      Examination of human HNSCC clinical samples revealed that both PIK3CA and PDK1
      protein levels correlated with tumor progression, highlighting the significance
      of this pathway. In summary, our results offer significant insight into how
      PIK3CA overexpression drives HNSCC invasion and metastasis, providing a rationale
      for targeting PI3K/PDK1 and TGFbeta signaling in advanced HNSCC patients with
      PIK3CA amplification.

PMID- 26876213
TI  - EGFR-targeted mAb therapy modulates autophagy in head and neck squamous cell
      carcinoma through NLRX1-TUFM protein complex.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy in head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients frequently results in tumor resistance
      to treatment. Autophagy is an emerging underlying resistance mechanism, however,
      the molecular autophagy machinery in HNSCC cells and potential biomarkers of
      patient response to EGFR-targeted therapy remain insufficiently characterized.
      Here we show that the EGFR blocking with cetuximab leads to varied autophagic
      responses, which modulate cancer cell susceptibility to EGFR inhibition.
      Inhibition of autophagy sensitizes HNSCC cells to EGFR blockade. Importantly, we
      identify a novel signaling hub centering on the NLRX1 (nucleotide-binding, lots
      of leucine-rich repeats-containing protein member X1)-TUFM (Tu translation
      elongation factor mitochondrial) protein complex, promoting autophagic flux.
      Defects in the expression of either NLRX1 or TUFM result in compromised autophagy
      when treated with EGFR inhibitors. As a previously undefined autophagy-promoting
      mechanism, we found that TUFM serves as a novel anchorage site, recruiting Beclin
      1 to mitochondria, promoting its polyubiquitination, and interfering with its
      interaction with Rubicon. This protein complex is also essential for endoplasmic
      reticulum stress signaling induction, possibly as an additional mechanism to
      promote autophagy. Utilizing tumor specimens from a novel neoadjuvant clinical
      trial, we show that increased expression of the autophagy adaptor protein,
      SQSTM1/p62, is associated with poor response to cetuximab therapy. These findings
      expand our understanding of the components involved in HNSCC autophagy machinery
      that responds to EGFR inhibitors, and suggest potential combinatorial approaches
      to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

PMID- 26876217
TI  - Construction of enantioenriched polysubstituted hexahydropyridazines via a
      sequential multicatalytic process merging palladium catalysis and aminocatalysis.
AB  - An efficient multicatalytic strategy for the construction of nitrogen-containing
      heterocycles has been reported. The powerful combination of organic and metal
      catalysis in a single vessel allowed the formation of enantioenriched
      polysubstituted cyclic 6-membered hydrazines bearing a quaternary stereocenter in
      good yields and selectivities. 

PMID- 26876215
TI  - Microtubule-associated protein 4 is an important regulator of cell
      invasion/migration and a potential therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - Cell invasion and migration significantly contribute to tumor metastasis.
      Microtubule-associated protein 4 (MAP4) protein is one member of microtubule
      associate proteins family. It is responsible for stabilization of microtubules by
      modulation of microtubule dynamics. However, there is little information about
      the involvement of MAP4 in human cancer. Here we show that MAP4 serves as a
      regulator of invasion and migration in esophageal squamous cancer cells. By
      activating the ERK-c-Jun-vascular endothelial growth factor A signaling pathway,
      MAP4 promotes cell invasion and migration in vitro, tumor growth and metastasis
      in mouse models. Immunohistochemical staining of operative tissues indicated that
      MAP4 expression was associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and
      shorter survival of the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
      Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that MAP4 is an independent
      prognostic indicator. In the serial sections of ESCC tissues, there was a
      positive correlation between MAP4 and vascular endothelial growth factor A
      expression. Notably, an intratumoral injection of MAP4-small interfering RNA
      (siRNA) remarkably inhibited the growth of the tumors that formed by the MAP4
      expressing ESCC cells in nude mice, and a combination of MAP4-siRNA and
      Bevacizumab significantly enhanced the inhibition effect. Our data suggest that
      MAP4 is probably a useful prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target
      for the disease.

PMID- 26876214
TI  - STRIPAK complexes in cell signaling and cancer.
AB  - Striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complexes are striatin
      centered multicomponent supramolecular structures containing both kinases and
      phosphatases. STRIPAK complexes are evolutionarily conserved and have critical
      roles in protein (de)phosphorylation. Recent studies indicate that STRIPAK
      complexes are emerging mediators and regulators of multiple vital signaling
      pathways including Hippo, MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), nuclear
      receptor and cytoskeleton remodeling. Different types of STRIPAK complexes are
      extensively involved in a variety of fundamental biological processes ranging
      from cell growth, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis to metabolism,
      immune regulation and tumorigenesis. Growing evidence correlates dysregulation of
      STRIPAK complexes with human diseases including cancer. In this review, we
      summarize the current understanding of the assembly and functions of STRIPAK
      complexes, with a special focus on cell signaling and cancer.

PMID- 26876216
TI  - HGF/Met and FOXM1 form a positive feedback loop and render pancreatic cancer
      cells resistance to Met inhibition and aggressive phenotypes.
AB  - Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met signaling has critical roles in pancreatic
      ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) development and progression and is considered a
      potential therapeutic target for this disease. However, the mechanism of aberrant
      activation of HGF/Met signaling and resistance to Met inhibition in PDA remains
      unclear. The mechanistic role of cross talk between Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and
      HGF/Met signaling in promotion of PDA growth and resistance to Met inhibition was
      examined using cell culture, molecular biology and mouse models; and the
      relevance of our experimental and mechanistic findings were validated using human
      PDA tissues. Met was markedly overexpressed in both PDA cell lines and pancreatic
      tumor specimens, and the expression of Met correlated directly with that of FOXM1
      in human tumor specimens. Mechanistically, FOXM1 bound to the promoter region of
      the Met gene and transcriptionally increased the expression of Met. Increased
      expression of FOXM1 enhanced the activation of HGF/Met signaling and its
      downstream pathways, including retrovirus-associated DNA sequences/extracellular
      signal-regulated kinase 1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT and signal transducer
      and activator of transcription 3. Furthermore, activation of HGF/Met signaling
      increased the expression and transcriptional activity of FOXM1, and the cross
      talk between FOXM1 and HGF/Met signaling promoted PDA growth and resistance to
      Met inhibition. Collectively, our findings identified a positive feedback loop
      formed by FOXM1 and HGF/Met and revealed that this loop is a potentially
      effective therapeutic target for PDA.

PMID- 26876218
TI  - Promising Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent progressive
      neurodegenerative disease. Cholinergic dysfunction is one of the major
      pathological alteration, although depletion of cholinergic neurons is caused by
      the well-established toxicity of the beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary
      tangles. Cholinergic dysfunctions are consequences of the decrease in
      acetylcholine synthesis and release, and altered function of muscarinic and
      nicotinic cholinergic receptors. In addition, a direct correlation between
      cholinergic alteration, amyloidbeta production and tau phosphorylation, two main
      AD-pathology hallmarks, has been identified. METHODS: In the present review we
      focused our discussion on the identification of new allosteric or bitopic ligands
      able to modulate the cholinergic receptor activity. Moreover drug delivery
      methodology (nanoparticeles, liposomes, etc.) that might contribute to drive the
      drug in the brain, reducing their toxicity and potential side effects have been
      also discussed. RESULTS: Many drugs are currently in use for AD (e.g. donepezil,
      rivastigmine etc.) and several of those in development such as muscarininc and
      nicotinic agonists, target specifically the cholinergic system; the main
      mechanism aims to rescue the cholinergic dysfunction, to reduce neurotoxic
      protein accumulation and improve the cholinergic impairments responsible of the
      cognitive deficits. Promising approaches aim to either improve drug delivery into
      the brain or develope new compounds targeting known or new molecular pathways.
      Nanoparticles and liposomes are also described as new nanotechnology tools that
      overcome traditional routes of administration, with a particular focus on their
      employment for compounddelivery that targets the cholinergic system. Ultimately,
      a new fields of research is emerging as the use of induced pluripotent stem
      cells, a technology that allows to obtain cells directly from the patients that
      can be propagated indefinetely and differentiated into the susceptible neuronal
      subtypes. This may significantly contribute to improve the understanding of AD
      pathological processes and enhance current AD pharmacology beyond the cholinergic
      dysfunction. CONCLUSION: From the topics discussed in the present review, emerges
      that the combination between pharmacological studies and nanotechnological
      approaches for drug delivery and the identification of new specific models may
      largely enhance and improve the therapeutic strategies for different neurological
      disease including AD.

PMID- 26876219
TI  - Relationship of bovine TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms with the risk of bovine
      tuberculosis in Holstein cattle.
AB  - Many studies suggest significant genetic variation in the resistance of cattle
      and humans to infection with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the causative agent
      of zoonotic tuberculosis. TNF-alpha promotes inflammation and induces apoptosis
      in response to mycobacterial infection. The aim of the present study was to
      investigate the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha
      gene on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) susceptibility. We genotyped the TNF-alpha gene
      in 74 bTB-infected Holstein cows and 90 healthy control animals. The influence in
      the exon 3 region of TNF-alpha polymorphisms on bTB susceptibility was
      subsequently investigated by association analysis. Our finding demonstrated that
      the g.27534932A>C polymorphism of the TNF-alpha is associated with bTB in
      Holstein cattle. The susceptibility of cattle with the g.27534932A>C genotype
      compared with the CC genotype was 4.11-fold (95% CI, 1.27-13.36; P=0.02) higher.
      The g.27534932A>C polymorphism located in exon 3 of the TNF-alpha gene, and the
      functional consequence was missense. The deduced amino acid sequence for the
      protein product revealed an arginine to serine conversion at position 159, which
      may affect initiation of protein synthesis and disrupt normal TNF-alpha function
      that protects animals against mycobacterial infection. A significant association
      was observed with the A allele as a risk factor for bTB susceptibility (OR, 3.84;
      95% CI, 1.21-12.17; P=0.02). In conclusion, this is the first report showing that
      the g.27534932A>C polymorphism may contribute to TNF-alpha-mediated bTB
      susceptibility. 

PMID- 26876220
TI  - High genetic diversity and frequent genetic reassortment of avian influenza
      A(H9N2) viruses along the East Asian-Australian migratory flyway.
AB  - To understand the molecular epidemiology and evolution of avian influenza viruses
      (AIV) along the East Asian-Australian migration flyway, we collected faecal
      samples (n=2859) between November 2014 and March 2015 from poultry, environmental
      sources and wild birds in Dongying, Shandong province and Yancheng, Jiangsu
      province in eastern China. The presence of AIV RNA was evaluated by real-time PCR
      and the positivity rate ranged from 0 to 29.3%. In both Dongying and Yancheng,
      samples collected from live poultry markets had the highest positivity rate for
      AIV RNA. AIV whole genomes were generated and phylogenetically analysed. Our
      results demonstrate that most of the viruses belonged to the H9N2 subtype, and
      could be classified into nine novel genotypes based on the phylogenetic analysis
      of the eight gene segments of the AIV genomes. This revealed a high genetic
      diversity of H9N2 in this region and suggested that they might have undergone
      frequent genetic reassortment. In addition, the internal genes (PB2, etc.) of two
      viruses from wild birds and several viruses from poultry belonged to the same
      gene constellation, suggesting a potential inter-host transmission of AIV between
      wild birds and poultry in live markets along routes of migratory flyways. Our
      results highlight the high genetic diversity of AIV along the East Asian
      Australian migration flyway and the need for more extensive AIV surveillance in
      eastern China. 

PMID- 26876221
TI  - Complete genome sequence of mumps viruses isolated from patients with parotitis,
      pancreatitis and encephalitis in India.
AB  - Limited information is available regarding epidemiology of mumps in India. Mumps
      vaccine is not included in the Universal Immunization Program of India. The
      complete genome sequences of Indian mumps virus (MuV) isolates are not available,
      hence this study was performed. Five isolates from bilateral parotitis and
      pancreatitis patients from Maharashtra, a MuV isolate from unilateral parotitis
      patient from Tamil Nadu, and a MuV isolate from encephalitis patient from Uttar
      Pradesh were genotyped by the standard protocol of the World Health Organization
      and subsequently complete genomes were sequenced. Indian MuV genomes were
      compared with published MuV genomes, including reference genotypes and eight
      vaccine strains for the genetic differences. The SH gene analysis revealed that
      five MuV isolates belonged to genotype C and two belonged to genotype G strains.
      The percent nucleotide divergence (PND) was 1.1% amongst five MuV genotype C
      strains and 2.2% amongst two MuV genotype G strains. A comparison with widely
      used mumps Jeryl Lynn vaccine strain revealed that Indian mumps isolates had 54,
      54, 53, 49, 49, 38, and 49 amino acid substitutions in Chennai-2012, Kushinagar
      2013, Pune-2008, Osmanabad-2012a, Osmanabad-2012b, Pune-1986 and Pune-2012,
      respectively. This study reports the complete genome sequences of Indian MuV
      strains obtained in years 1986, 2008, 2012 and 2013 that may be useful for
      further studies in India and globally. 

PMID- 26876223
TI  - Machine Learning Strategy for Accelerated Design of Polymer Dielectrics.
AB  - The ability to efficiently design new and advanced dielectric polymers is
      hampered by the lack of sufficient, reliable data on wide polymer chemical
      spaces, and the difficulty of generating such data given time and
      computational/experimental constraints. Here, we address the issue of
      accelerating polymer dielectrics design by extracting learning models from data
      generated by accurate state-of-the-art first principles computations for polymers
      occupying an important part of the chemical subspace. The polymers are
      'fingerprinted' as simple, easily attainable numerical representations, which are
      mapped to the properties of interest using a machine learning algorithm to
      develop an on-demand property prediction model. Further, a genetic algorithm is
      utilised to optimise polymer constituent blocks in an evolutionary manner, thus
      directly leading to the design of polymers with given target properties. While
      this philosophy of learning to make instant predictions and design is
      demonstrated here for the example of polymer dielectrics, it is equally
      applicable to other classes of materials as well. 

PMID- 26876222
TI  - Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with praziquantel as a
      potential therapy for Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver fibrosis.
AB  - Liver fibrosis is one of the most serious consequences of S. mansoni infection.
      The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic
      effect of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) combined
      with praziquantel (PZQ) in S. mansoni-infected mice. S. mansoni-infected mice
      received early (8(th) week post infection) and late (16(th) week post infection)
      treatment with WJMSCs, alone and combined with oral PZQ. At the 10(th) month post
      infection, livers were collected for subsequent flow cytometric,
      histopathological, morphometric, immunohistochemical, gene expression, and
      gelatin zymographic studies. After transplantation, WJMSCs differentiated into
      functioning liver-like cells as evidenced by their ability to express human
      hepatocyte-specific markers. Regression of S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis was
      also observed in transplanted groups, as evidenced by histopathological,
      morphometric, and gelatin zymographic results besides decreased expression of
      three essential contributors to liver fibrosis in this particular model; alpha
      smooth muscle actin, collagen-I, and interleukin-13. PZQ additionally enhanced
      the beneficial effects observed in WJMSCs-treated groups. Our results suggest
      that combining WJMSCs to PZQ caused better enhancement in S. mansoni-induced
      liver fibrosis, compared to using each alone. 

PMID- 26876224
TI  - A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group, efficacy study of
      alpha BRAIN(r) administered orally.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Alpha BRAIN(r) is a nootropic supplement that purports to enhance
      cognitive functioning in healthy adults. The goal of this study was to
      investigate the efficacy of this self-described cognitive enhancing nootropic on
      cognitive functioning in a group of healthy adults by utilizing a randomized,
      double blind, placebo-controlled design. METHODS: A total of 63-treatment naive
      individuals between 18 and 35 years of age completed the randomized, double
      blind, placebo controlled trial. All participants completed a 2-week placebo run
      in before receiving active product, Alpha BRAIN(r) or new placebo, for 6 weeks.
      Participants undertook a battery of neuropsychological tests at randomization and
      at study completion. Primary outcome measures included a battery of
      neuropsychological tests and measures of sleep. RESULTS: Compared with placebo,
      Alpha BRAIN(r) significantly improved on tasks of delayed verbal recall and
      executive functioning. Results also indicated significant time-by-group
      interaction in delayed verbal recall for the Alpha BRAIN(r) group. CONCLUSIONS:
      The use of Alpha BRAIN(r) for 6 weeks significantly improved recent verbal memory
      when compared with controls, in a group of healthy adults. While the outcome of
      the study is encouraging, this is the first randomized controlled trial of Alpha
      BRAIN(r), and the results merit further study.

PMID- 26876226
TI  - Oxygen Reduction Catalysis at a Dicobalt Center: The Relationship of Faradaic
      Efficiency to Overpotential.
AB  - The selective four electron, four proton, electrochemical reduction of O2 to H2O
      in the presence of a strong acid (TFA) is catalyzed at a dicobalt center. The
      faradaic efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is furnished from a
      systematic electrochemical study by using rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE)
      methods over a wide potential range. We derive a thermodynamic cycle that gives
      access to the standard potential of O2 reduction to H2O in organic solvents,
      taking into account the presence of an exogenous proton donor. The difference in
      ORR selectivity for H2O vs H2O2 depends on the thermodynamic standard potential
      as dictated by the pKa of the proton donor. The model is general and rationalizes
      the faradaic efficiencies reported for many ORR catalytic systems. 

PMID- 26876225
TI  - Niacin Alternatives for Dyslipidemia: Fool's Gold or Gold Mine? Part I:
      Alternative Niacin Regimens.
AB  - Niacin was the first drug demonstrating lowered cholesterol prevents coronary
      heart disease (CHD) events, with two clinical CHD outcome studies establishing a
      cardioprotective niacin regimen: 1 g thrice daily with meals. Though
      cardioprotective, skin toxicity limits niacin's use, fostering several variations
      to improve tolerability. One of these, an extended-release (ER) alternative,
      proved immensely successful commercially, dominating clinical practice despite
      departing from the established regimen in several critical ways. Hence, improved
      tolerability may have come at the cost of diminished efficacy, posing a
      conundrum: Does it still help the population at risk for CHD to broaden a drug's
      acceptance by "watering it down"? This question is crucial at this stage now that
      the ER alternative failed to recapitulate the benefits of the established
      cardioprotective niacin regimen in two trials of the alternative approach: AIM
      HIGH and HPS2-THRIVE. Part I of this review discusses how vastly the ER
      alternative departs from the established cardioprotective regimen, why that is
      important physiologically, and how it may explain the findings of AIM-HIGH and
      HPS2-THRIVE. Given important gaps left by statin therapy, the established
      cardioprotective niacin regimen remains an important evidence-based therapy for
      the statin intolerant or statin averse. 

PMID- 26876227
TI  - Retracted: Modern Concepts for Caries Tissue Removal.
AB  - "Modern Concepts for Caries Tissue Removal", by Falk Schwendicke The above
      article, published online on 15 February 2016 in Wiley Online Library
      (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.llll/jerd.12201), has been retracted by
      agreement between the author, Dr. Falk Schwendicke, the journal Editor-in-Chief,
      Dr. Harald O. Heymann, Associate Editor, Dr. Edward Swift and Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc. The retraction has been agreed as the article was published in advance of
      other companion work which should have had precedence. The article pages have
      been replaced by the Retraction Statement and the article condensed accordingly.
      Schwendicke, F. Swift, EJ. Modern concepts for caries tissue removal. Dent J
      Esthet Rest 2016; 28:1; DOI: 10.1111/jerd.12201. 

PMID- 26876228
TI  - Protonation state of F420H2 in the prodrug-activating deazaflavin dependent
      nitroreductase (Ddn) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - The protonation state of the deazaflavin dependent nitroreductase (Ddn) enzyme
      bound cofactor F420 was investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy and
      computational simulations. The reduced cofactor F420H2 was determined to be
      present in its deprotonated state in the holoenzyme form. The mechanistic
      implications of these findings are discussed. 

PMID- 26876231
TI  - Tracking the elusive history of diversification in plant-herbivorous insect
      parasitoid food webs: insights from figs and fig wasps.
AB  - The food webs consisting of plants, herbivorous insects and their insect
      parasitoids are a major component of terrestrial biodiversity. They play a
      central role in the functioning of all terrestrial ecosystems, and the number of
      species involved is mind-blowing (Nyman et al. 2015). Nevertheless, our
      understanding of the evolutionary and ecological determinants of their diversity
      is still in its infancy. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Sutton et al. (2016)
      open a window into the comparative analysis of spatial genetic structuring in a
      set of comparable multitrophic models, involving highly species-specific
      interactions: figs and fig wasps. This is the first study to compare genetic
      structure using population genetics tools in a fig-pollinating wasp
      (Pleistodontes imperialis sp1) and its main parasitoid (Sycoscapter sp.A). The
      fig-pollinating wasp has a discontinuous spatial distribution that correlates
      with genetic differentiation, while the parasitoid bridges the discontinuity by
      parasitizing other pollinator species on the same host fig tree and presents
      basically no spatial genetic structure. The full implications of these results
      for our general understanding of plant-herbivorous insect-insect parasitoids
      diversification become apparent when envisioned within the framework of recent
      advances in fig and fig wasp biology.

PMID- 26876232
TI  - Aquatic biodiversity assessment for the lazy.
AB  - The world is covered in DNA. In any ecosystem, extracellular DNA fragments can be
      found that once formed the genomes of a variety of micro- and macroorganisms. A
      few years ago, it was proposed to use this environmental DNA (eDNA) as a source
      of information on local vertebrate biodiversity (Ficetola et al. 2008; Taberlet
      et al. 2012). This idea offered an elegant solution to take up the gauntlet of
      rapidly increasing monitoring needs. Coupled with barcoding efforts, it promised
      to be cost-efficient in many respects, for example man-hours and taxonomic
      expertise. Ecologists and conservation biologists with an interest in aquatic
      ecosystems have enthusiastically adopted and pioneered this new method, producing
      dozens of eDNA studies. Most of these studies have, however, focused on a single
      or a few aquatic species. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Valentini et al.
      (2016) move the field a step further by demonstrating that metabarcoding
      approaches - which simultaneously target large groups of organisms such as
      amphibians or fish - can match and sometimes even outperform other inventory
      methods.

PMID- 26876233
TI  - One step ahead: a parasitoid disperses farther and forms a wider geographic
      population than its fig wasp host.
AB  - The structure of populations across landscapes influences the dynamics of their
      interactions with other species. Understanding the geographic structure of
      populations can thus shed light on the potential for interacting species to co
      evolve. Host-parasitoid interactions are widespread in nature and also represent
      a significant force in the evolution of plant-insect interactions. However, there
      have been few comparisons of population structure between an insect host and its
      parasitoid. We used microsatellite markers to analyse the population genetic
      structure of Pleistodontes imperialis sp. 1, a fig-pollinating wasp of Port
      Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa), and its main parasitoid, Sycoscapter sp. A, in
      eastern Australia. Besides exploring this host-parasitoid system, our study also
      constitutes, to our knowledge, the first study of population structure in a
      nonpollinating fig wasp species. We collected matched samples of pollinators and
      parasitoids at several sites in two regions separated by up to 2000 km. We found
      that pollinators occupying the two regions represent distinct populations, but,
      in contrast, parasitoids formed a single population across the wide geographic
      range sampled. We observed genetic isolation by distance for each species, but
      found consistently lower FST and RST values between sites for parasitoids
      compared with pollinators. Previous studies have indicated that pollinators of
      monoecious figs can disperse over very long distances, and we provide the first
      genetic evidence that their parasitoids may disperse as far, if not farther. The
      contrasting geographic population structures of host and parasitoid highlight the
      potential for geographic mosaics in this important symbiotic system.

PMID- 26876235
TI  - Uveal melanoma: An analysis of cellular features and comparison to monosomy 3
      status.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Choroidal and ciliary body melanomas divide into two approximately
      equal groups. Local therapy cures one group while the other metastasizes and
      proves lethal. Monosomy 3 strongly associates with aggressive behavior. We
      analyzed a series of choroidal and ciliary body melanomas to describe the
      cellular features and to compare them to monosomy 3 status using the latter as a
      surrogate for survival. METHODS: One hundred eleven specimens met the study's
      inclusion criteria. Following ThinPrep processing, samples were analyzed for
      cellular features including: cell type, nuclear grade, tumor infiltrating
      lymphocytes, and the presence of necrosis and melanin. FISH analysis for monosomy
      3 was performed on ThinPrep slides using a threshold of 20% monosomic cells per
      200 melanoma cells. RESULTS: Seventy-two tumors (65%) had a mixed cell type while
      spindle cell type and epithelioid cell type occurred in 37 (33%) and 2 (1.8%),
      respectively. Seventy-five tumors (68%) had Grade 2 nuclear atypia. Monosomy 3
      occurred in 57 tumors (51%). Significantly more tumors with Grade 3 nuclei had
      monosomy 3 (79% vs.43%, P = 0.002) and metastases (29% vs. 8%, P = 0.01). None of
      the 11 pure spindle cell tumors with Grade 1 nuclei metastasized or had monosomy
      3. CONCLUSIONS: Uveal melanoma has a relatively consistent cellular appearance,
      characterized by a mixed cell pattern and no more than moderate nuclear atypia.
      This consistent appearance aids in the cellular diagnosis but limits
      prognostication using cellular features. Cellular features significantly
      associate with monosomy 3 status only in the minority of tumors at the extremes
      of the morphologic spectrum.

PMID- 26876234
TI  - Near-infrared imaging of secondary caries lesions around composite restorations
      at wavelengths from 1300-1700-nm.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Current clinical methods for diagnosing secondary
      caries are unreliable for identifying the early stages of decay around
      restorative materials. The objective of this study was to access the integrity of
      restoration margins in natural teeth using near-infrared (NIR) reflectance and
      transillumination images at wavelengths between 1300 and 1700-nm and to determine
      the optimal NIR wavelengths for discriminating composite materials from dental
      hard tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting
      of class I, II and V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The
      samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance,
      polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high
      magnification digital microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200-MUm
      slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and
      transverse microradiography (TMR). Two independent examiners evaluated the
      presence of demineralization at the sample margin using visible detection with
      10* magnification and NIR images presented digitally. Composite restorations were
      placed in sixteen sound teeth (n=16) and imaged at multiple NIR wavelengths
      ranging from lambda=1300 to 1700-nm using NIR transillumination. The image
      contrast was calculated between the composite and sound tooth structure. RESULTS:
      Intensity changes in NIR images at wavelengths ranging from 1300 to 1700-nm
      correlate with increased mineral loss measured using TMR. NIR reflectance and
      transillumination at wavelengths coincident with increased water absorption
      yielded significantly higher (P<0.001) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent
      demineralized enamel. In addition, NIR reflectance exhibited significantly higher
      (P<0.01) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent composite restorations than
      visible reflectance. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that NIR imaging is well
      suited for the rapid screening of secondary caries lesions.

PMID- 26876237
TI  - Investigating molecular interactions and surface morphology of wax-doped
      asphaltenes.
AB  - The nature and origin of bee-like microstructures (bees) in asphalt binders and
      their impact on asphalt oxidation have been the subject of extensive discussions
      in recent years. While several studies refer to the bees as solely surface
      features, some others consider them to be bulk microcrystalline components that
      are formed due to co-precipitation of wax and asphaltene molecules. In this
      study, we use a rigorous theoretical and experimental approach to investigate the
      interplay of asphalt components (mainly asphaltene and wax) and their impact on
      bee formation. In the theoretical section, quantum-mechanical calculations using
      density functional theory (DFT) are used to evaluate the strength of interactions
      between asphaltene unit sheets in the presence and absence of a wax component, as
      well as the mutual interactions between asphaltene molecules (monomers and
      dimers) and paraffin wax. The results of this section reveal that paraffin waxes
      not only do not reinforce the interaction between the asphaltene unit sheets,
      they destabilize asphaltene assembly and dimerization. AIM (Atom in Molecules)
      analysis shows the destabilizing effect of wax on asphaltene assembly as a
      reduction in the number of cage and bond critical points between asphaltenes.
      This destabilization effect among interacting systems (asphaltene-asphaltene and
      wax-asphaltene) does not support the hypothesis that interaction between paraffin
      waxes and non-wax components, such as asphaltene, is responsible for their co
      precipitation and bee formation. To further examine the effect of wax component
      on asphalt microstructure experimentally, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM)
      to study the surface morphology of an asphalt sample doped with 1% to 25%
      paraffin wax. In agreement with the conclusions drawn from the DFT approach, our
      experiments indicate that paraffin wax tends to crystallize separately and form
      lamellar paraffin wax crystal inclusions with 10 nm thickness. Moreover, the
      addition of 3% wax into asphalt results in a significant increase in surface
      roughness from 0.5 nm to 4.1 nm and an increase in bee wavelength from 651 nm to
      1038 nm. 

PMID- 26876236
TI  - The relationship between unhealthy food sales, socio-economic deprivation and
      childhood weight status: results of a cross-sectional study in England.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent increases in obesity prevalence have led to research into the
      neighbourhood food environment. Research suggests that proximity and density of
      food outlets around the home is associated with childhood obesity prevalence,
      however, the evidence is inconclusive, and associations between food outlet
      locations and diet are less clear. The purpose of this study is to assess area
      level associations between sales of unhealthy foods in supermarkets and weight
      status of children. METHODS: This study examined the association between weight
      status in children (4-5 year olds and 10-11 year olds) measured in the National
      Child Measurement Programme over three time points (2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11) and
      annual sales of unhealthy foods (2012/3), as identified from a large supermarket
      chain. Geographical analysis was conducted to link store-based food sales for 537
      stores with 6517 UK Census Areas. Unadjusted associations were examined with
      error-bar plots and linear regression was used to examine the relationship
      between the prevalence of overweight and obesity and sales of unhealthy food,
      while controlling for covariates known to predict weight status in children.
      RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was identified between the
      sales of unhealthy foods and the prevalence of overweight and obese children in
      both age groups (p < 0.01). Of the covariates, area deprivation was positively
      associated with weight status (p < 0.001). Non-white population (%) was
      negatively associated (p < 0.001) with overweight and obesity among Reception
      children, but positively associated with the other weight statuses (p < 0.001). A
      higher proportion of children in the same age group were associated with
      statistically significantly lower overweight and obesity prevalence in Reception
      (p <0.01) but not Year 6 children. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides novel findings
      linking supermarket food sales with the weight status of children. Food sales in
      geographically referenced supermarkets are a valuable source of data for research
      into the factors that influence the weight of the surrounding population. Future
      research could identify factors that might modify food shopping in supermarkets
      and use of purchasing data could be an effective way to measure the impact of
      healthy eating campaigns on the weight status of children over time.

PMID- 26876238
TI  - Exercise therapy for trismus secondary to head and neck cancer: A systematic
      review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effects of exercise therapy for trismus secondary to head and neck
      cancer have not been reviewed systematically since 2004. METHODS: Four databases
      were searched. The quality of observational studies and randomized controlled
      trials was assessed. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven articles were found, 20 studies
      were included. A large variation in research methodology, stretching techniques,
      duration of stretch, and repetition of exercises was found. The overall quality
      was moderate. Five of the 8 preventive studies found that exercises during
      (chemo)radiotherapy could not prevent a reduction in mouth opening. In 4
      therapeutic case studies, mouth opening increased between 17 and 24 mm. In 8
      other therapeutic studies, mouth opening increased between -1.9 and 13.6 mm. No
      exercise therapy was clearly superior to the others. CONCLUSION: Changes in mouth
      opening ranged considerably and no stretching technique was superior to others
      regarding either prevention or treatment of trismus. Clinical guidelines cannot
      be given based on this systematic review. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head
      Neck 39: 160-169, 2017.

PMID- 26876239
TI  - Erratum to: Effect of different culture media and deswelling agents on survival
      of human corneal endothelial and epithelial cells in vitro.

PMID- 26876240
TI  - Efficacy of combined orbital radiation and systemic steroids in the management of
      Graves' orbitopathy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with orbital
      irradiation and systemic steroids versus steroid monotherapy in the management of
      active Graves' orbitopathy (GO). METHODS: The clinical charts of 127 patients
      with active inflammation due to GO who received intravenous steroid pulse therapy
      as a first-line treatment with or without orbital radiotherapy between 2010 and
      2014 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two treatment groups: 1) combined
      orbital radiotherapy and steroid pulse therapy (SRT group) and 2) steroid pulse
      therapy only (ST group). Primary outcome measures included clinical activity
      score (CAS); NOSPECS classification; ocular motility impairment; and exophthalmos
      at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The secondary outcome measure was the
      change in orbital, extraocular muscle (EOM), and fat volume after treatment
      measured by orbit computed tomography. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were
      included in the SRT group, and 59 patients were in the ST group. In both
      treatments, CAS and NOSPECS were significantly reduced. In the comparison of the
      degree of change from baseline between the groups, the SRT group demonstrated
      more improvement in NOSPECS and scores of ocular motility. Orbital, EOM, and fat
      volume significantly decreased in the SRT group; however, only fat volume was
      reduced in the ST group. Compressive optic neuropathy after treatment developed
      in 0 % of the SRT group and 3.4 % (2/59) of the ST group. Reactivation of
      inflammation occurred in 11.8 % (8/68) of the SRT group and 28.8 % (17/59) of the
      ST group. CONCLUSIONS: Orbital radiotherapy in combination with steroid treatment
      significantly improved ocular motility by reducing EOM volume in patients with
      active GO.

PMID- 26876242
TI  - Introductory Note.

PMID- 26876241
TI  - Adverse effects of a 10-day course of ibuprofen in Holstein calves.
AB  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for various
      conditions in cattle. Ibuprofen is an inexpensive short-acting NSAID and is
      readily available in liquid formulation for administration to bottle-fed calves.
      We compared the adverse effects of a 10-day course of ibuprofen and placebo in 16
      five- to six-week-old Holstein bull calves that were being treated for
      experimentally induced bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection. Ibuprofen
      was administered as a liquid in milk replacer at 30 mg/kg divided three times
      daily. We found an increased prevalence of abomasal ulceration 5 of 8 in the
      ibuprofen compared to placebo group 2 of 6 (P = NS). There was one (1 of 8) case
      of mild interstitial nephritis in the ibuprofen and none (0 of 8) in the placebo
      group (P = NS). Renal function as measured by serum BUN and creatinine levels was
      not different between groups; no animal demonstrated an increase in creatinine. 

PMID- 26876243
TI  - Exploring the universal ecological responses to climate change in a univoltine
      butterfly.
AB  - Animals with distinct life stages are often exposed to different temperatures
      during each stage. Thus, how temperature affects these life stages should be
      considered for broadly understanding the ecological consequences of climate
      warming on such species. For example, temperature variation during particular
      life stages may affect respective change in body size, phenology and geographic
      range, which have been identified as the "universal" ecological responses to
      climate change. While each of these responses has been separately documented
      across a number of species, it is not known whether each response occurs together
      within a species. The influence of temperature during particular life stages may
      help explain each of these ecological responses to climate change. Our goal was
      to determine if monthly temperature variation during particular life stages of a
      butterfly species can predict respective changes in body size and phenology. We
      also refer to the literature to assess if temperature variability during the
      adult stage influences range change over time. Using historical museum
      collections paired with monthly temperature records, we show that changes in body
      size and phenology of the univoltine butterfly, Hesperia comma, are partly
      dependent upon temporal variation in summer temperatures during key stages of
      their life cycle. June temperatures, which are likely to affect growth rate of
      the final larval instar, are important for predicting adult body size (for males
      only; showing a positive relationship with temperature). July temperatures, which
      are likely to influence the pupal stage, are important for predicting the timing
      of adult emergence (showing a negative relationship with temperature). Previous
      studies show that August temperatures, which act on the adult stage, are linked
      to range change. Our study highlights the importance of considering temperature
      variation during each life stage over historic time-scales for understanding
      intraspecific response to climate change. Range edge studies of ectothermic
      species that have annual life cycles, long time-series occurrence data, and
      associated temperature records (ideally at monthly resolutions) could be useful
      model systems for intraspecific tests of the universal ecological responses to
      climate change and for exploring interactive effects.

PMID- 26876244
TI  - Brain fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET in dementia.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to present a selective and concise summary of
      fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in dementia imaging.
      FDG PET is used to visualize a downstream topographical marker that indicates the
      distribution of neural injury or synaptic dysfunction, and can identify distinct
      phenotypes of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy bodies, and
      frontotemporal lobar degeneration. AD dementia shows hypometabolism in the
      parietotemporal association area, posterior cingulate, and precuneus.
      Hypometabolism in the inferior parietal lobe and posterior cingulate/precuneus is
      a predictor of cognitive decline from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD
      dementia. FDG PET may also predict conversion of cognitively normal individuals
      to those with MCI. Age-related hypometabolism is observed mainly in the anterior
      cingulate and anterior temporal lobe, along with regional atrophy. Voxel-based
      statistical analyses, such as statistical parametric mapping or three-dimensional
      stereotactic surface projection, improve the diagnostic performance of imaging of
      dementias. The potential of FDG PET in future clinical and methodological studies
      should be exploited further.

PMID- 26876245
TI  - [Efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia patients with iron
      overload: a single arm, multi-center,prospective study in China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia
      (AA)patients with iron overload. METHODS: A single arm, multi- center,
      prospective, open- label study was conducted to evaluate absolute change in serum
      ferritin (SF)from baseline to 12 months of deferasirox administration, initially
      at a dose of 20 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), and the safety in 64 AA patients with iron
      overload. RESULTS: All patients started their deferasirox treatment with a daily
      dose of 20 mg . kg(-1) .d(-1). The mean actual dose was (18.6+/-3.60) mg . kg(
      1).d(-1). The median SF decreased from 4 924 (2 718- 6 765)MUg/L at baseline
      (n=64) to 3 036 (1 474- 5 551)MUg/L at 12 months (n=23) with the percentage
      change from baseline as 38%. A median SF decrease of 651 (126-2 125)MUg/L was
      observed at the end of study in 23 patients who completed 12 months' treatment,
      the median SF level decreased by 1 167(580-4 806)MUg/L [5 271(3 420-8 278)MUg/L
      at baseline; 3 036(1 474-5 551)MUg/L after 12 months' treatment; the percentage
      change from baseline as 42% ] after 12 months of deferasirox treatment. The most
      common adverse events (AEs) were increased serum creatinine levels (40.98%),
      gastrointestinal discomfort (40.98%), elevated liver transaminase (ALT: 21.31%;
      AST: 13.11%)and proteinuria (24.59%). The increased serum creatinine levels were
      reversible and non-progressive. Of 38 patients with concomitant cyclosporine use,
      12(31.8%)patients had two consecutive values >ULN, 10(26.3%)patients had two
      consecutive values >1.33 baseline values, but only 1(2.6%)patient's serum
      creatinine increased more than 1.33 baseline values and exceeded ULN. For both
      AST and ALT, no patients experienced two post- baseline values >5 *ULN or >10 *
      ULN during the whole study. In AA patients with low baseline PLT count (less than
      50 * 10(9)/L), there was no decrease for median PLT level during 12 months'
      treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: AA patients with iron overload could achieve
      satisfactory efficacy of iron chelation by deferasirox treatment. The drug was
      well tolerated with a clinically manageable safety profile and no major adverse
      events.

PMID- 26876246
TI  - [Dasatinib treatment based on BCR- ABL mutation detection in imatinib- resistant
      patients with chronic myeloid leukemia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of dasatinib as the second- or third-line
      tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)in imatinib-resistant patients with chronic
      myeloid leukemia (CML)based on BCR-ABL mutation detection. METHODS: 122 CML
      patients received dasatinib treatment, including 83 with imatinib-resistance and
      39 with both imatinib- and nilotinib-resistance, 55 in the chronic-phase (CP), 21
      in the accelerated- phase (AP)and 46 in the blast- phase (BP). Those harboring
      dasatinib highly- resistant mutations (T315I/A, F317L/V/C and V299L)were excluded
      based on BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation screening by Sanger sequencing at
      baseline. Hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular responses were evaluated
      regularly, and rates of progression-free-survival (PFS)and overall survival
      (OS)were analyzed. BCR- ABL mutation detection was performed once the patients
      failed on dasatinib. RESULTS: In the CP patients, the rates of complete
      hematological response (CHR), complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), major
      molecular response (MMR)and molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5)were 92.7%, 53.7%,
      29.6% and 14.8%, respectively. 4-year PFS and OS rates were 84.4% and 89.5%,
      respectively. In the AP patients, HR and CCyR rates were 81.0% and 35.0%; and 3
      year PFS and OS rates were 56.1% and 59.3%, respectively. In the BP patients, HR
      and CCyR rates were 63.0% and 21.4%; and 1-year PFS and OS rates were 43.6% and
      61.8%, respectively. Outcomes were similar when dasatinib was used as the second-
      line TKI or the third-line TKI. Of the 75 patients who were resistant to
      dasatinib, 37 (48.7%)developed new mutation(s), and T315I (59.5%)was the most
      common mutation type. The patients who already harbored mutation(s)before
      dasatinib therapy achieved similar responses and outcomes to those with no
      mutation at baseline. However, they had higher likelihood of developing
      additional mutations associated with resistance to dasatinib (65.7%vs
      34.1%,P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Dasatinib was proved to be effective in the
      treatment of imatinib- or/and nilotinib-resistant CML patients, especially in
      both CP and AP cohorts. The significance of BCR-ABL mutation screening and
      monitoring should be highlighted before and during dasatinib therapy.

PMID- 26876247
TI  - [Efficacy and prognostic factors of induction therapy combined with autologous
      stem cell transplantation in 201 patients with multiple myeloma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and prognostic factors of induction therapy
      combined with autogenetic peripheral blood stem cells transplantation (APBSCT)in
      patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: From January 1998 to May 2015, 201
      patients with MM were enrolled. All patients received APBSCT after induction
      therapy. With the follow up to 20 June 2015, the overall survival (OS),
      progression free survival (PFS)and prognostic factor were analyzed. RESULTS: 1
      With a media follow up of 36.67 months, the median PFS and OS were 22.87 (17.48-
      28.26)and 69.63 (63.57- 75.69)months, 5-year PFS and OS were 17% and 49%,
      respectively. 2After APBSCT, when the subgroup (n= 112) achieved complete
      response (CR)compared with the subgroup (n=89) not achieved CR, the median PFS
      were 32.93 (21.03-44.83) and 18.13 (14.46-21.80) months (P<0.001), respectively;
      And the media OS were 96.77 (71.79- 121.75)and 54.70 (49.53- 59.87) months
      (P=0.004), respectively. The risks for disease progression and death declined in
      CR subgroup. 3 Two subgroups included or not included bortezomib/thalidomide at
      induction therapy (123 patientsvs 21 patients), the media PFS were 31.67 (24.36-
      38.98)and 15.20 (10.11- 20.29) months (P=0.013), respectively; And the media OS
      were 76.30 (55.44- 97.15)and 52.03 (33.76- 70.30) months (P=0.014), respectively.
      4According to the ISS stage, the media OS of stageI, II, III were 99.47 (59.58
      139.36), 66.77 (52.17-81.37), 53.97 (28.71-79.23) (P< 0.001), respectively. The
      risk for death of stage II, III were 2.16 and 3.04 times higher than stage I,
      with no difference in terms of PFS. 5 The media PFS in IgD (n=22) and IgG (n=101)
      type MM were 11.17 (10.27- 13.13)and 35.43 (22.69- 48.17)months (P=0.007) ,
      respectively; The media OS were 30.83 (0.24-61.42)and 70.70 (53.52-87.88) months
      (P=0.039), respectively. The risk for disease progression of IgD type was 2.47
      times higher than IgG type. 6 Patients received 1 line induction therapy (n=132)
      compared with more than 1 line (n=69), the media PFS were 25.43 (16.09- 34.77)and
      20.27 (15.04- 25.50) months (P=0.042). 7Cox analysis showed that CR after APBSCT
      and ISS stage were independent prognostic factors for OS. IgD type MM and CR
      after APBSCT were independent prognosis factor for PFS. CONCLUSION: CR after
      APBSCT and ISS stage were independent prognostic factors for OS in MM. CR after
      APBSCT was independent prognostic factor for PFS in MM. However, disease
      progression more likely occurred in IgD type MM, which was independent negative
      prognostic factor for PFS in MM.

PMID- 26876248
TI  - [The role of different KIR haplotypes in haplo-identical hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of different immunoglobulin- like receptor
      (KIR)haplotypes in haplo- identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
      (HSCT). METHOD: Killer cell KIR genotyping was performed on 468 individuals from
      156 unrelated families by PCR-SSP. A total of 624 KIR haplotypes from the parents
      were used for haplotype analysis. Ninety-two patients received haplo-identical
      HSCT from one of the parents. RESULTS: The family study showed segregation of one
      A haplotype and at least 20 unique B haplotypes. The frequency of haplotype A was
      72.92% (455/624). The most commonly observed haplotypes in group B were B1, B2,
      and B3, present at a frequency of 10.26%, 5.77%, and 4.48%, respectively.
      Compared to KIR gene matched donors (n=17), grafts from KIR gene mismatched
      donors (n= 14) had a positive effect on survival after haplo- identical HSCT for
      AML/MDS patients (OS: 88.2%vs 42.9%,P=0.015; RFS: 88.2%vs 35.7%,P=0.007). No
      effect was observed for ALL/NHL patients (OS: 76.0%vs 75.0%,P=0.727; RFS: 68.0%vs
      65.0%,P=0.866). A significantly lower survival rate was observed for transplants
      from AA (n=52) and AB1/AB2 donors (n=15), compared to other group Bx donors
      (n=25) (OS: 53.3%vs 96.0%,P=0.017; RFS: 53.3%vs 92.0%,P=0.019). Meanwhile, the
      risk of relapse was much higher in AA group (n=52) compared to Bx group (n=40)
      (25.0%vs 5.0%,P=0.009). A higher risk of TRM was observed in AB1/AB2 group
      (P=0.012). In addition, transplant from donors carried Cen-B was associated with
      an increased survival compared with Cen-A homozygous donors (OS: 94.7%vs
      68.5%,P=0.036; RFS: 89.5%vs 64.4%,P=0.045). CONCLUSION: Overall, KIR genotyping
      and haplotype analyses should be useful for selection of the most optimal donors
      with favorable KIR gene grafts. KIR gene mismatch donors should be preferred for
      AML/MDS patients. Selecting donors carried Cen- B and avoiding the selection of
      donors of KIR genotype AA/AB1/AB2 was strongly advisable for haplo-identical
      HSCT.

PMID- 26876249
TI  - [The assessment of symptomatic burden among Ph/BCR- ABL negative
      myeloproliferative neoplasm patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of myeloproliferative neoplasms Symptom
      Assessment Form total symptom score (MPN-SAF-TSS)in assessing constitutional
      symptoms among Ph/BCR- ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN)patients.
      METHODS: A cohort of 628 MPN patients were evaluated by MPN- SAF- TSS. RESULTS:
      Fatigue was the most common symptom (76.0%, 76.2%vs 89.9%)and the highest average
      severity of all the symptoms (3.46+/-2.97, 3.47+/-2.99vs 4.74+/-3.04 scores)among
      polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET)and primary myelofibrosis
      (PMF)patients. Using the MPN- SAF- TSS analysis, PMF patients showed highest
      burden of symptoms (28.9 +/- 19.1), followed by PV patients (19.2 +/- 16.8), and
      finally ET patients (17.1 +/- 15.3). Instinct differences were observed between
      PMF and PV patients (chi(2)=6.371,P=0.021), PMF and ET patients (chi(2)=
      14.020,P<0.001). No significant difference was found between PV and ET patients
      (chi(2)=2.281,P=0.191). CONCLUSION: MPN- SAF- TSS was effective in evaluating the
      symptomatic burden among Ph/BCRABL negative MPN patients and could be used for
      serial assessment in this clinical setting.

PMID- 26876250
TI  - [Expression and prognostic value of CARD11 in diffuse large B cell lymphoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the CARD11 expression and its prognostic value in diffuse
      large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: This retrospective study included
      previously untreated patients diagnosed with DLBCL from January 2007 to December
      2012. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of these patients were collected.
      Tissue microarray was built and expression of CARD11 was examined
      immunohistochemically. Subtype of DLBCL was determined by Hans algorithm (CD10,
      BCL6, MUM1). The pattern of CARD11 was further studied and their correlation with
      outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: 79 patients with DLBCL were enrolled and two
      reactive lymph nodes were used as control. The positive rate of high CARD11
      expression in DLBCL was 65.33%, which showed no significant associations with
      patients' characteristics. Positive CARD11 expression was associated with an
      inferior event free survival (EFS)(2- year EFS: 52.03%vs 86.12%,P=0.036). Even in
      patients with a high international prognostic index (IPI, 3-5 points), this
      difference still remained significant (Median EFS not reached vs 557
      days,P=0.033). CONCLUSION: DLBCL patients with high CARD11 expression had a
      shorter EFS compared with low level of CARD11. This difference remained
      significant when patients were in high IPI (3-5 points), which might indicate the
      value of CARD11 in stratification of high-risk DLBCL patients.

PMID- 26876251
TI  - [HLA- haploidentical donor hematopoietic transplantation for severe aplastic
      anemia achieved comparable outcomes with HLA- unrelated donor transplantation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of HLA- haploidentical donor hematopoietic
      transplantation (Haplo- HSCT)for severe aplastic anemia (SAA)by compared with the
      same period of unrelated donor transplantation (UD- HSCT). METHODS: Of a cohort
      of 50 SAA patients between September 2012 and July 2014, 26 patients underwent UD
      HSCT and 24 patients Haplo- HSCT. RESULTS: OS rate was 91.3% with a median
      follow-up of 9 (2-26)months. According to transplant type, there was no
      significant difference between UD- and Haplo-HSCT (96.1%vs 86.0%,P=0.30). 3 of 50
      (6%)patients had primary engraft failure. Haplo- HSCT developed higher
      significantly incidence of II- IV aGVHD (37.5%vs 3.83%,P=0.003)and cGVHD (37.5%vs
      15.3%,P=0.030)than UD-HSCT. Haplo-HSCT also had significantly higher incidences
      of CMV viremia (78.2%vs 46.1%,P=0.005)and EBV viremia (43.1%vs 16.0%,P=0.040),
      respectively than UD-HSCT. But the incidences of hemorrhagic cystitis were
      similar between two transplant types (39.1%vs 23.0%,P=0.120). CONCLUSION: This
      study showed favorable outcome of Haplo-HSCT for SAA, which was comparable with
      UD-HSCT.

PMID- 26876252
TI  - [Marginal zone lymphoma with monoclonal immunoglobulin: three cases report and
      literatures review].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and treatment in patients of
      marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)with monoclonal immunoglobulin (McIg). METHODS: The
      clinical data of MZL patients with McIg, including 3 cases diagnosed and treated
      in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from Jan 2007 to Dec 2014 were retrospectively
      studied, meanwhile 36 patients searched from literatures were reviewed. RESULTS:
      Of a total of 39 patients, the ratio of male and female was 1.05?1 with an
      average age of 65.1+/- 12.3 years old. 28 cases (71.8%)were with mucosa
      associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas (MALTL), 9 cases (23.1% )with nodal marginal
      zone lymphoma, and 2 cases (5.1%)with splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Nine cases
      (23.1% )were in the early stage, 30 cases (76.9%)in the advanced stage. The
      common initial symptom was non-mass lesions (65.5%), such as skin purpura,
      peripheral neuropathy; 13 patients (33.3% )were accompanied by autoimmune
      phenomenon, and most were with Sjogren's syndrome. Among MALTL patients, the
      common primary lesion was in non- gastrointestinal tract (17 cases, 60.7%). Most
      of patients with McIg were one with McIgM (82.0%); the others with McIgA, Mckappa
      light chain, McIgG and double McIg. The level of plasma McIgM was (25.55+/
      21.31)g/L, which was higher in advanced stage patients than in early stage ones
      [(29.85+/-20.60)g/Lvs (3.23+/-2.95)g/L,P= 0.008]. The complete remission (CR)rate
      was 56.0% and the overall response rate (ORR)92.0%, respectively in 30 patients
      treated by chemotherapy. At a median follow- up of 10 months, the 3- year
      progression free survival and the 3-year overall survival were 44.7% and 76.5%,
      respectively. The rates of ORR and CR in the patients received rituximab-
      included regimen were seemly better than those without rituximab one (100.0%vs
      78.6%, 63.6%vs 50.0%;P>0.05), but no statistic differences were found. The CR
      rate in patients with McIgM was significantly higher than that with non- McIgM
      (P=0.026). The plasma McIgM level decreased after chemotherapy (P=0.002).
      CONCLUSION: The MZL with McIg, perhaps a kind of unique subtype, usually occurred
      in 60 years or older patients. It was often diagnosed in patients of advanced
      stage and susceptible to autoimmune phenomenon. MALTL in non- gastrointestinal
      tract was more prone to find McIg. In MZL patients with McIg, McIgM was more
      common and other McIg rare. Rituximab-included regimen produced a better
      therapeutic response.

PMID- 26876253
TI  - [The induction and cryopreservation of erythroid progenitor cells derived from
      umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discover the techniques for ex vivo generation and cryopreservation
      of erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs)derived from umbilical cord blood
      (UCB)mononuclear cells (MNCs). METHODS: UCB was chosen as the source of EPCs.
      Erythrocytes were precipitated by hydroxyethyl starch (HES). MNCs were separated
      by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Erythroid progenitor cell were
      generated from MNC ex vivo in suspension culture supplemented with stem cell
      growth factor, insulin growth factor, erythropoietin, Fms- liketyrosinekinase
      ligand, transferrin and dexamethasone. Cell maturation was evaluated by
      morphologic analysis and CD71/CD235a expression profiling. In vitro induced cells
      were cryopreserved using different cryopreservation media. The cell survival
      rate, phenotype and proliferation curves were detected after cell thawing.
      RESULTS: With the extension of culture time, the total number of cells increased
      significantly accompanied with the elevation of CD71 and CD235 positive
      populations. After 14- day inducing, the cells reached to approximately 110 times
      of the starting number with the cell viability as (88.92+/-0.95)%. The
      percentages of cell surface markers were (86.77+/-9.11)% for CD71 and (64.47+/
      16.67)% for CD71/CD235, respectively. With the extension of inducing time, wright
      Giemsa staining showed that the middle erythroblasts appeared mostly at day 10,
      and the late erythroblasts were seen at day 14. The red pellets were present at
      day 14, which indicated the more production of hemoglobin. Colony forming assay
      showed that erythroid colonies at induction day 7 were higher than that for non
      induced cells (326.00+/-97.96vs 61.60+/-20.03 per 2 000 cells). With the
      extension of culture time, the number of erythroid colonies decreased. Induced
      EPCs were preserved with different cryopreservation solutions, in which 10% DMSO
      were better than 5% DMSO. Additionally, 10% DMSO + 2% HSA showed no different
      with 10% DMSO + 5% HSA. Combined 50% plasma with 2% HSA was more effective.
      CONCLUSIONS: This non- serum culture media could effectively induced and expanded
      EPCs, and 10% DMSO + 2% HSA + 50% plasma appeared to be a desirable
      cryopreservation solution for EPCs from UCB.

PMID- 26876254
TI  - [Promoter methylation status of SFRP genes and induced apoptosis by demethylation
      in Jurkat cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the promoter methylation status of SFRP genes and the effect
      of 5- aza- 2'- deoxycytidine (5- Aza- CdR)induced apoptosis via Wnt/beta- catenin
      pathway by demethylation in Jurkat cells. METHODS: Jurkat cells were treated with
      different concentrations of 5- Aza- CdR. The cell proliferation level of Jurkat
      cells was detected by MTT assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry.
      Methylation- spcific PCR (MSP) was used to determine the methylation status of
      SFRP genes. The expressions of SFRP genes were detected by real time fluorescence
      quantitative PCR. The mRNA expression levels of survivin, c- myc and cyclin- D1
      were analyzed by RT- PCR. Western blot was used to detect the levels of beta
      catenin protein. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the different
      concentrations of 5-Aza-CdR could significantly inhibit the proliferation of
      Jurkat cells in a time-dose dependent manner (P<0.05). After being treated by 5-
      Aza- CdR for 48 hours, the cell early apoptosis rate in experiment group was
      significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The promoters of SFRP1,
      SFRP2, SFRP4, SFRP5 genes were hypermethylation state in the control group, after
      being treated by 5-Aza-CdR for 72 hours, the brightness of SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP4,
      SFRP5 genes' methylation strips weakened in a dose- dependent manner. SFRP mRNA
      expression increased (P<0.05) when 5- Aza- CdR concentration increased, and the
      level of beta- catenin protein was dampened in a dose- dependent manner (P<0.05).
      As compared to the control group, the mRNA expressions of associated apoptosis
      genes survivin, c-myc and cyclin- D1, respectively were obviously down- regulated
      in a dose- dependent manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of demethylation
      could up- regulate SFRP genes expressions by reversing its hypermethylation and
      induced apoptosis by down-regulation of beta-catenin and associated apoptosis
      genes.

PMID- 26876255
TI  - [Antiproliferative effect of silencing LSD1 gene on Jurkat cell line and its
      mechanism].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of silencing LSD1 gene by RNA interference
      on the proliferation, apoptosis on human lymphocytic leukemia Jurkat cell line
      and its mechanism. METHODS: The hairpin- like oligonucleotide sequences targeting
      LSD1 gene was transfected into Jurkat cells by lipofectamine(TM) 2000. The LSD1
      mRNA and protein were detected by RQ- PCR and Western blot. Cell growth was
      determined by MTT. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression
      of Bcl-2, Bax, procaspase- 3, and histone H3K4me, H3K4me2, H3K4me3, Act- H3,
      H3K9me were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: LSD1 mRNA was markedly suppressed
      by the shRNA targeting LSD1. LSD1 shRNA suppressed the proliferation and induced
      cells apoptosis of Jurkat cells. The cell apoptotic rate was (41.34+/-3.58)%,
      (3.45+/-1.54)%, (1.76+/-0.52)% in LSD1 shRNA, Neg-shRNA and Blank respectively,
      the difference among them was statistically significant (P<0.05). LSD1 shRNA down
      regulated the expressions of Bcl- 2 and procaspase- 3, and up- regulated the
      expression of Bax. The methylation of H3K4me1, me2 and acetylation of Act- H3
      improved without change of the methylation of H3K4me3. CONCLUSIONS: Deplete of
      LSD1 gene maybe through modifying the methylation of histone H3K4 to promote the
      cell apoptosis and inhibit cell growth in Jurkat cell line.

PMID- 26876256
TI  - [Clinical characteristics and outcome of 216 indolent B cell lymphomas].

PMID- 26876257
TI  - [Clinical analysis of four multiple myeloma patients with - 13/13q- and 17p].

PMID- 26876258
TI  - [Acute promyelocytic leukemia with stat5b- RARalpha fusiongene: a case report and
      literatures review].

PMID- 26876259
TI  - [Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma initially manifested with pleuraleffusion: seven case
      reports and literatures review].

PMID- 26876260
TI  - [Pregnancy-associated lymphoma: report of three cases].

PMID- 26876261
TI  - [Diagnostic and therapeutic advances in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell
      neoplasm].

PMID- 26876262
TI  - [Progress of chronic graft-versus-host disease].

PMID- 26876263
TI  - [Comprehensive diagnosis of hematologic neoplasms].

PMID- 26876264
TI  - [Clinical and genetic background of familial myelodysplasia and acute myeloid
      leukemia].
AB  - Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia are mainly sporadic
      diseases, however, rare familial cases exist. These disorders are considered
      rare, but are likely to be more common than currently appreciated, and are
      characterized by the autosomal dominant mutations of hematopoietic transcription
      factors. These syndromes have typical phenotypic features and are associated with
      an increased risk for developing overt malignancy. Currently, four recognized
      syndromes could be separated: familial acute myeloid leukemia with mutated CEBPA,
      familial myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia with mutated GATA2,
      familial platelet disorder with propensity to myeloid malignancy with RUNX1
      mutations, and telomere biology disorders due to mutations of TERC or TERT.
      Furthermore, there are new, emerging syndromes associated with germline mutations
      in novel genes including ANKRD26, ETV6, SRP72 or DDX41. This review will discuss
      the current understanding of the genetic basis and clinical presentation of
      familial leukemia and myelodysplasia.

PMID- 26876265
TI  - [Various pathways leading to the progression of chronic liver diseases].
AB  - As the result of various effects (viruses, metabolic diseases, nutritional
      factors, toxic agents, autoimmune processes) abnormal liver function, liver
      steatosis and connective tissue remodeling may develop. Progression of this
      process is complex including various pathways and a number of factors. The
      authors summarize the factors involved in the progression of chronic liver
      disease. They describe the role of cells and the produced inflammatory mediators
      and cytokines, as well as the relationship between the disease and the intestinal
      flora. They emphasize the role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and
      cell death in disease progression. Insulin resistance and micro-elements (iron,
      copper) in relation to liver damage are also discussed, and genetic and
      epigenetic aspects underlying disease progression are summarized. Discovery of
      novel treatment options, assessment of the effectiveness of treatment, as well as
      the success and proper timing of liver transplantation may depend on a better
      understanding of the process of disease progression.

PMID- 26876266
TI  - [Banff score changes in kidneys from marginal donors].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Despite an increase in the number of cadaver donors and the number
      of overall organ transplantations, the dramatic increase in the waiting list
      makes it necessary to reconsider donor criteria. AIM: The authors examined
      whether differences could exist in the function and/or morphology of transplanted
      kidneys originated from marginal and ideal donors one and five years after
      transplantation. METHOD: Kidney function and histopathologic findings were
      analysed and compared one and 5 years after transplantation in 97 patients having
      marginal donor kidneys and 178 patients who received ideal donor kidneys.
      RESULTS: Serum creatinine level was significantly higher (p = 0.0001) and
      estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower (p = 0.003) in
      patients having marginal donor kidneys as compared to those with ideal donor
      kidneys 5 years after transplantation. Morphological changes in the transplanted
      kidneys such as tubulitis (p = 0.014) and interstitial inflammation (p = 0.025)
      were significantly more frequently present in patients with marginal donor
      kidneys than in those with ideal donor kidneys one year after transplantation.
      CONCLUSION: Despite an absence of differences in kidney function one year after
      kidney transplantation between patients having marginal and ideal donor kidneys,
      morphologic differences in the transplanted kidneys can be detected between the
      two groups of patients.

PMID- 26876267
TI  - [Consumer knowledge about dietary fibre -- Results of a national questionnaire
      survey].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dietary fibres are key elements of healthy and balanced diet. AIM:
      The aim of the present study was to explore consumers' knowledge considering
      fibre, their role in the purchasing decisions, and the cognition of the currently
      used as well as the possible information sources to encourage the fibre
      consumption. METHOD: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 303 respondents.
      RESULTS: Knowledge about the fibre sources has showed a kind of uncertainty of
      the respondents, while knowledge about their possible health effects was
      relatively profound. Internet appeared as a remarkable information source in the
      topic; however, results pointed out the importance of education, too.
      Participants more often consuming foodstuffs rich in fibre, women and respondents
      over 45 years old showed conscious attitudes regarding fibres. CONCLUSIONS:
      Guidelines and education containing authentic information and practical elements
      are essential, and as a result, consumers' latent knowledge will appear in their
      conscious food choice decisions.

PMID- 26876269
TI  - [Cancelled quarter century jubilee of Faculty of Medicine at University of
      Debrecen in 1943-44].

PMID- 26876268
TI  - [Differential diagnosis of Graves' orbitopathy. Case report].
AB  - Graves' orbitopathy is the extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease, which
      is the most common cause of exophthalmos. As eye symptoms usually coincide with
      the development of thyrotoxicosis, the diagnosis of the disease is rarely
      difficult. The aim of the authors was to summarize the differential diagnosis of
      Graves' orbitopathy based on literature review and presentation of their own four
      problematic cases on this topic. They conclude that symptoms similar to endocrine
      orbitopathy are present in other disorders. Endocrinologists need to be aware of
      these other conditions to avoid treatment failures.

PMID- 26876272
TI  - Preventing HIV infection among injecting drug users in high-risk countries: an
      assessment of the evidence.

PMID- 26876273
TI  - Seductive delusions: how everyday people catch STDs.

PMID- 26876271
TI  - Asymmetric Preorganization of Inverted Pair Residues in the Sodium-Calcium
      Exchanger.
AB  - In analogy with many other proteins, Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers (NCX) adapt an
      inverted twofold symmetry of repeated structural elements, while exhibiting a
      functional asymmetry by stabilizing an outward-facing conformation. Here,
      structure-based mutant analyses of the Methanococcus jannaschii Na(+)/Ca(2+)
      exchanger (NCX_Mj) were performed in conjunction with HDX-MS (hydrogen/deuterium
      exchange mass spectrometry) to identify the structure-dynamic determinants of
      functional asymmetry. HDX-MS identified hallmark differences in backbone dynamics
      at ion-coordinating residues of apo-NCX_Mj, whereas Na(+)or Ca(2+) binding to the
      respective sites induced relatively small, but specific, changes in backbone
      dynamics. Mutant analysis identified ion-coordinating residues affecting the
      catalytic capacity (kcat/Km), but not the stability of the outward-facing
      conformation. In contrast, distinct "noncatalytic" residues (adjacent to the ion
      coordinating residues) control the stability of the outward-facing conformation,
      but not the catalytic capacity. The helix-breaking signature sequences (GTSLPE)
      on the alpha1 and alpha2 repeats (at the ion-binding core) differ in their
      folding/unfolding dynamics, while providing asymmetric contributions to transport
      activities. The present data strongly support the idea that asymmetric
      preorganization of the ligand-free ion-pocket predefines catalytic reorganization
      of ion-bound residues, where secondary interactions with adjacent residues couple
      the alternating access. These findings provide a structure-dynamic basis for ion
      coupled alternating access in NCX and similar proteins. 

PMID- 26876274
TI  - Neuropsychiatry of creativity.
AB  - In this paper, we review in brief the development of ideas that over time have
      tried to explain why some individuals are more creative than others and what may
      be the neurobiological links underlying artistic creativity. We note associations
      with another unique human idea, that of genius. In particular, we discuss
      frontotemporal dementia and bipolar, cyclothymic mood disorder as clinical
      conditions that are helping to unravel the underlying neuroanatomy and
      neurochemistry of human creativity. This article is part of a Special Issue
      entitled "Epilepsy, Art, and Creativity". 

PMID- 26876275
TI  - Pharmacological and neuroethological study of the acute and chronic effects of
      lamotrigine in the genetic audiogenic seizure hamster (GASH:Sal).
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the behavioral and anticonvulsant effects
      of lamotrigine (LTG) on the genetic audiogenic seizure hamster (GASH:Sal), an
      animal model of audiogenic seizure that is in the validation process. To evaluate
      the efficiency of acute and chronic treatments with LTG, GASH:Sals were treated
      with LTG either acutely via intraperitoneal injection (5-20mg/kg) or chronically
      via oral administration (20-25mg/kg/day). Their behavior was assessed via
      neuroethological analysis, and the anticonvulsant effect of LTG was evaluated
      based on the appearance and the severity of seizures. The results showed that
      acute administration of LTG exerts an anticonvulsant effect at the lowest dose
      tested (5mg/kg) and that chronic oral LTG treatment exerts an anticonvulsant
      effect at a dose of 20-25mg/kg/day. Furthermore, LTG treatment induced a low rate
      of secondary adverse effects. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled
      "Genetic and Reflex Epilepsies, Audiogenic Seizures and Strains: From
      Experimental Models to the Clinic".

PMID- 26876276
TI  - Syllabic parsing in children: a developmental study using visual word-spotting in
      Spanish.
AB  - Some inconsistency is observed in the results from studies of reading development
      regarding the role of the syllable in visual word recognition, perhaps due to a
      disparity between the tasks used. We adopted a word-spotting paradigm, with
      Spanish children of second grade (mean age: 7 years) and sixth grade (mean age:
      11 years). The children were asked to detect one-syllable words that could be
      found at the beginning of pseudo-words, with the boundary between the word and
      the remaining letters being manipulated. The end of the embedded word could
      either match the syllabic boundary (e.g. the word FIN in the pseudo-word FINLO,
      where the syllable boundary is between N and L) or not (e.g. FINUS, where the
      syllable boundary is located between I and N). The results showed that children
      of both grades were faster in the syllabic than the non-syllabic condition, and
      that the magnitude of this effect was the same regardless of reading ability. The
      results suggest an early universality in the use of syllables in Spanish,
      regardless of reading level.

PMID- 26876277
TI  - Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (neem) mouthrinse in plaque and gingivitis
      control: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness
      of Azadirachta indica (neem)-based herbal mouthrinse in improving plaque control
      and gingival health. METHODS: Literature search was accomplished using electronic
      databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE) and
      manual searching, up to February 2015, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      presenting clinical data for efficacy of neem mouthrinses when used alone or as
      an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene as compared to chlorhexidine mouthrinses
      for controlling plaque and gingival inflammation in patients with gingivitis.
      RESULTS: Of the total 206 articles searched, three randomized controlled trials
      evaluating neem-based herbal mouthrinses were included. Due to marked
      heterogeneity observed in study characteristics, meta-analysis was not performed.
      These studies reported that neem mouthrinse was as effective as chlorhexidine
      mouthrinse when used as an adjunct to toothbrushing in reducing plaque and
      gingival inflammation in gingivitis patients. However, the quality of reporting
      and evidence along with methods of studies was generally flawed with unclear risk
      of bias. CONCLUSION: Despite the promising results shown in existing randomized
      controlled trials, the evidence concerning the clinical use of neem mouthrinses
      is lacking and needs further reinforcement with high-quality randomized
      controlled trials based on the reporting guidelines of herbal CONSORT statement.

PMID- 26876278
TI  - Group II introns: versatile ribozymes and retroelements.
AB  - Group II introns are catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) and retroelements found in the
      genomes of bacteria, archaebacteria, and organelles of some eukaryotes. The
      prototypical retroelement form consists of a structurally conserved RNA and a
      multidomain reverse transcriptase protein, which interact with each other to
      mediate splicing and mobility reactions. A wealth of biochemical, cross-linking,
      and X-ray crystal structure studies have helped to reveal how the two components
      cooperate to carry out the splicing and mobility reactions. In addition to the
      standard retroelement form, group II introns have evolved into derivative forms
      by either losing specific splicing or mobility characteristics, or becoming
      functionally specialized. Of particular interest are the eukaryotic derivatives
      the spliceosome, spliceosomal introns, and non-LTR retroelements-which together
      make up approximately half of the human genome. On a practical level, the
      properties of group II introns have been exploited to develop group II intron
      based biotechnological tools. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:341-355. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1339
      For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

PMID- 26876281
TI  - Electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities associated with purging behaviors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders that are associated with purging behaviors are
      complicated by frequent blood electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities. Herein, we
      review the major electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities and their treatment
      methods. The body of rigorous, eating disorder-specific literature on this
      topical area is not robust enough to perform a systematic review as defined by
      PRISMA guidelines. Therefore, a qualitative review of mostly medical literature
      was conducted. RESULTS: Hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and sodium chloride-responsive
      metabolic alkalosis are the most common serum changes that occur as a result of
      purging behaviors. They vary depending on the mode and frequency of purging
      behaviors. They can all potentially cause dangerous medical complications and are
      in need of definitive medical treatment. DISCUSSION: Eating disorders that are
      associated with purging behaviors are associated with a number of electrolyte and
      acid-base changes which are complex in their origin, documented to be medically
      dangerous and this definitive treatment is necessary to help achieve a successful
      treatment outcome, and in need of definitive treatment as described herein.

PMID- 26876280
TI  - Prophylactic and abundant intake of alpha-lipoic acid causes hepatic steatosis
      and should be reconsidered in usage as an anti-aging drug.
AB  - The majority of research has suggested that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a
      potential therapeutic agent for chronic diseases associated with oxidative
      stress, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Therefore, a
      nutritional supplementation with ALA is recommended although the effects of a
      short- and long-term intake of ALA on central organs in healthy individuals are
      not studied in detail yet. Therefore, liver tissue of 4 and 74 weeks ALA-treated
      healthy C57BL6/J mice with respect to lipid metabolism was analyzed. In doing so,
      it was shown that short-term and long-term ALA treatment caused a marked increase
      of beta-oxidation, as indicated by a significant rise of mRNA expression of
      fgf21, pparalpha, and its target genes, for example, acox1, cpt1alpha, and cpt2,
      as well as of Fgf21 plasma concentration. Glycolytic activity, as assessed by
      pklr1 mRNA expression and pyruvate kinase activity, was also found increased. In
      addition, it was shown that both short- and long-term ALA treatment increased
      cholesterol content, induced systemic triglyceridemia, and enhanced rxralpha and
      lxralpha mRNA expression. Despite the fact that short-term ALA intake reduced
      lipogenesis, as given by significant declines of fas and srebp1c mRNA expression,
      and that a long-term ALA intake induced a significant rise of these lipogenic
      genes, both treatment regimen caused fat accumulation. This, however, was more
      pronounced upon long-term ALA intake, leading to hepatic steatosis and liver
      injury, as indicated by increased inflammation and disruption of the general
      hepatic architecture. In summary, the prophylactic and abundant use of ALA under
      healthy conditions should be considered with caution.

PMID- 26876279
TI  - Cost-Effectiveness/Cost-Benefit Analysis of Newborn Screening for Severe Combined
      Immune Deficiency in Washington State.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expected cost-effectiveness and net benefit of the
      recent implementation of newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined
      immunodeficiency (SCID) in Washington State. STUDY DESIGN: We constructed a
      decision analysis model to estimate the costs and benefits of NBS in an annual
      birth cohort of 86 600 infants based on projections of avoided infant deaths.
      Point estimates and ranges for input variables, including the birth prevalence of
      SCID, proportion detected asymptomatically without screening through family
      history, screening test characteristics, survival rates, and costs of screening,
      diagnosis, and treatment were derived from published estimates, expert opinion,
      and the Washington NBS program. We estimated treatment costs stratified by age of
      identification and SCID type (with or without adenosine deaminase deficiency).
      Economic benefit was estimated using values of $4.2 and $9.0 million per death
      averted. We performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the influence of key
      variables on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of net direct cost
      per life-year saved. RESULTS: Our model predicts an additional 1.19 newborn
      infants with SCID detected preclinically through screening, in addition to those
      who would have been detected early through family history, and 0.40 deaths
      averted annually. Our base-case model suggests an ICER of $35 311 per life-year
      saved, and a benefit-cost ratio of either 5.31 or 2.71. Sensitivity analyses
      found ICER values <$100 000 and positive net benefit for plausible assumptions on
      all variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our model suggests that NBS for SCID in Washington is
      likely to be cost-effective and to show positive net economic benefit.

PMID- 26876282
TI  - Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia against
      Ralstonia solanacearum under different application conditions.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was the monitoring of different mechanisms involved in
      the antibacterial activity of the biocontrol agent, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
      (PD4560), against Ralstonia solanacearum in vitro and in vivo. Optimization of
      conditions that favour these mechanisms was the second target of this study.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Proteolytic activity of Sten. maltophilia (PD 4560), was
      tested on skimmed milk medium. The biocontrol agent was able to produce an
      alkaline serine protease enzyme with a molecular weight of 40 KDa as determined
      by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses. Spraying
      of salicylic acid (SA) led to an increase in the efficacy of Sten. maltophilia in
      controlling the Ralstonia potato wilt while spraying of ammonium sulphate (AmS)
      did not affect the biocontrol efficacy. The efficacy was correlated with the
      expression of protease enzyme genes; Prt genes (mainly PrtP and Prt4) and PR
      genes (mainly PR-1 and PRQ) as evaluated using real-time polymerase chain
      reaction analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The biocontrol activity of Sten. maltophilia can
      be attributed to the direct mechanism alkaline serine proteolytic enzyme
      production and through induction of host systemic acquired resistance as indirect
      mechanism. Tuber bulking was the most suitable physiological growth stage to
      apply either SA or the biocontrol agent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:
      Both SA and peat-moss as an organic carrier enhanced the antibacterial efficiency
      of the biocontrol agent. Application of Sten. maltophilia is more suitable under
      alkaline soil conditions.

PMID- 26876283
TI  - TopoisomeraseIIbeta in HIV-1 transactivation.
AB  - TopoisomeraseIIbeta, an isoform of type II topoisomerase, was found to be
      functional in various viral infections. Its plausible role in HIV life cycle was
      also suggested earlier, but not clearly established. In the present study, we
      have investigated the role of TopoIIbeta in HIV-1 infection by its gain and loss
      of function. Overexpression of TopoIIbeta lead to an increase in viral
      replication, resulting in enhanced virion production. HIV-1 replication was
      impaired when TopoIIbeta was down regulated by siRNA and inhibited by ICRF-193
      and merbarone. The role of TopoIIbeta in HIV-1 transcription was shown through
      its interaction with Tat and recruitement to long terminal repeat (LTR) region by
      co-immunoprecipitation and ChIP assays. Involvement of TopoIIbeta in
      transactivation of HIV-1 LTR was confirmed by luciferase assay in reporter cell
      line, TZM bl and also by transfection of reporter exogenously. It was also
      observed that LTR transactivation commensurated with the expression of TopoIIbeta
      in the presence of Tat. In addition, a decreased viral gene expression on
      treatment with merbarone exemplifies the importance of catalytic activity of
      TopoIIbeta in viral replication. These observations indicate that TopoIIbeta is
      involved in the cascade of coactivator complexes that are recruited to LTR for
      regulation of HIV-1 transcription. 

PMID- 26876285
TI  - Editorial: PPI-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia and long-term PPI treatment.

PMID- 26876284
TI  - Evaluation of a novel echocardiographic view for the assessment of the pulmonary
      artery in dogs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: 1) To describe a novel echocardiographic view (left cranial oblique)
      for the assessment of the pulmonary artery in dogs 2) To compare this novel view
      with other standard views. ANIMALS: Prospective inclusion of 48 echocardiograms
      performed on client-owned dogs. METHODS: Two standard views and the novel view
      were compared for quality of 2D images and spectral Doppler traces and also for
      pulmonary annulus diameter and spectral Doppler velocities. Association between
      view, heart rate and body weight and quality, annulus diameter, pulsed-wave and
      continuous-wave velocities were analyzed using regression analysis. Agreement
      between views was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. Pulsed-wave and continuous
      wave velocities were compared using the sign test for medians. RESULTS: Forty
      eight studies were undertaken of which thirty-nine were analyzed. The quality of
      2D images was associated with view and heart rate. No significant difference was
      found in quality of spectral Doppler traces between views. Annulus diameter
      showed significant association with view, heart rate and weight. This measured
      about 0.26 cm less on one particular view. Spectral Doppler velocities showed no
      association with view, heart rate or weight. Continuous-wave velocities were
      significantly higher than pulsed-wave velocities in every view. CONCLUSIONS: The
      novel left cranial oblique view can be used as an additional tool for the
      echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary annulus
      diameter was consistently smaller measured from the one standard view compared to
      both the novel and other standard views. Comparable quality and velocities were
      obtained for spectral Doppler. Continuous-wave and pulsed-wave modes were not
      interchangeable.

PMID- 26876286
TI  - Editorial: PPI-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia and long-term PPI treatment-
      authors' reply.

PMID- 26876287
TI  - Letter: aberrant GSTP1 promoter methylation in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver
      failure.

PMID- 26876288
TI  - Letter: aberrant GSTP1 promoter methylation in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver
      failure--authors' reply.

PMID- 26876289
TI  - Letter: long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of neuroendocrine
      tumours.

PMID- 26876290
TI  - Letter: ileal bile acid transporter inhibition--is there a potential for drug
      drug interaction?

PMID- 26876291
TI  - Letter: ileal bile acid transporter inhibition- is there a potential for drug
      drug interaction? Authors' reply.

PMID- 26876292
TI  - Letter: self-pay behaviour patients with chronic hepatitis C who required direct
      acting anti-viral urgently in a real-world setting.

PMID- 26876294
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26876293
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26876295
TI  - Decreased Vertebral Artery Hemodynamics in Patients with Loss of Cervical
      Lordosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND Because loss of cervical lordosis leads to disrupted biomechanics, the
      natural lordotic curvature is considered to be an ideal posture for the cervical
      spine. The vertebral arteries proceed in the transverse foramen of each cervical
      vertebra. Considering that the vertebral arteries travel in close anatomical
      relationship to the cervical spine, we speculated that the loss of cervical
      lordosis may affect vertebral artery hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to
      compare the vertebral artery values between subjects with and without loss of
      cervical lordosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty patients with loss of cervical
      lordosis and 30 controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index were included
      in the study. Sixty vertebral arteries in patients with loss of cervical lordosis
      and 60 in controls without loss of cervical lordosis were evaluated by Doppler
      ultrasonography. Vertebral artery hemodynamics, including lumen diameter, flow
      volume, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and resistive index, were
      measured, and determined values were statistically compared between the patient
      and the control groups. RESULTS The means of diameter (p=0.003), flow volume
      (p=0.002), and peak systolic velocity (p=0.014) in patients were significantly
      lower as compared to controls. However, there was no significant difference
      between the 2 groups in terms of the end-diastolic velocity (p=0.276) and
      resistive index (p=0.536) parameters. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed a
      significant association between loss of cervical lordosis and decreased vertebral
      artery hemodynamics, including diameter, flow volume, and peak systolic velocity.
      Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to investigate their
      possible clinical implications. 

PMID- 26876296
TI  - Explaining differences in stakeholder take up of disease management programmes: A
      comparative analysis of policy implementation in Austria and Germany.
AB  - PURPOSE: Understanding why policies to improve care for people with chronic
      conditions fail to be implemented is a pressing issue in health system reform. We
      explore reasons for the relatively high uptake of disease management programmes
      (DMPs) in Germany, in contrast to low uptake in Austria. We focus on the
      motivation, information and power of key stakeholder groups (payers, physician
      associations, individual physicians and patients). METHODS: We conducted a
      comparative stakeholder analysis using qualitative data from interviews (n=15 in
      Austria and n=26 in Germany), legal documents and media reports. RESULTS:
      Stakeholders in Germany appeared to have systematically stronger motivation,
      exposure to more positive information about DMPs and better ability to implement
      DMPs than their counterparts in Austria. Policy in Austria focused on financial
      incentives to physicians only. In Germany, limited evidence about the quality
      improvement and cost savings potential of DMPs was mitigated by strong financial
      incentives to sickness funds but proved a fundamental obstacle in Austria.
      CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to promote DMPs should seek to ensure the cooperation of
      payers and patients, not just physicians, using a mix of financial and non
      financial instruments suited to the context. A singular focus on financially
      incentivising providers is unlikely to stimulate uptake of DMPs.

PMID- 26876297
TI  - Social network analysis of duplicative prescriptions: One-month analysis of
      medical facilities in Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Duplicative prescriptions refer to situations in which patients
      receive medications for the same condition from two or more sources. Health
      officials in Japan have expressed concern about medical "waste" resulting from
      this practices. We sought to conduct descriptive analysis of duplicative
      prescriptions using social network analysis and to report their prevalence across
      ages. METHODS: We analyzed a health insurance claims database including 1.24
      million people from December 2012. Through social network analysis, we examined
      the duplicative prescription networks, representing each medical facility as
      nodes, and individual prescriptions for patients as edges. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of duplicative prescription for any drug class was strongly correlated
      with its frequency of prescription (r=0.90). Among patients aged 0-19, cough and
      colds drugs showed the highest prevalence of duplicative prescriptions (10.8%).
      Among people aged 65 and over, antihypertensive drugs had the highest frequency
      of prescriptions, but the prevalence of duplicative prescriptions was low (0.2
      0.3%). Social network analysis revealed clusters of facilities connected via
      duplicative prescriptions, e.g., psychotropic drugs showed clustering due to a
      few patients receiving drugs from 10 or more facilities. CONCLUSION: Overall, the
      prevalence of duplicative prescriptions was quite low - less than 10% - although
      the extent of the problem varied by drug class and age group. Our approach
      illustrates the potential utility of using a social network approach to
      understand these practices.

PMID- 26876298
TI  - Overexpression of CD158 and NKG2A Inhibitory Receptors and Underexpression of
      NKG2D and NKp46 Activating Receptors on NK Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune system cells
      that are actively involved in immune-surveillance of tumor cells. Recognition of
      tumors by NK cells occurred via natural cytotoxicity receptors and killer cell
      immunoglobulin-like receptors. Some ligands of the activating receptors seem to
      be present on malignant cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The aim
      of the study was to evaluate the expression of activating receptors such as
      NKG2D, DNAM-1, NKp30, and NKp46, and inhibitory receptors such as NKG2A, CD158b,
      CD158a, and CD158e1 on NK cells from patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid
      leukemia before and after stimulation with IL-2 and IL-12. METHODS: Patients were
      divided into two groups: group 1 AML M3, and group 2 non-M3 AML. Flow cytometry
      was performed on whole PBMC to evaluate NK cell receptors. RESULTS: Twenty one
      AML patients, aged 26-78 years, and 11 matched healthy individuals were studied.
      NKG2D, and NKp46 expression was decreased in group 1 (p <0.019). Patients in
      Group 2 showed underexpression of the activating receptors NKp46. Differences
      after stimulation of NK cells with IL-2 and IL-12 were observed only in Group 2,
      in which a significant decrease in the expression of NKp46 receptor was found (p
      <0.0016). Patients in groups 1 and 2 showed overexpression of the inhibitory
      receptors CD158b (p <0.007) and NKG2A (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: NKG2D receptor
      expression is decreased in patients with AML M3. In addition, patients with all
      FAB types of AML have overexpression of inhibitory receptors such as CD158b and
      NKG2A and decreased expression of the activating receptor NKp46.

PMID- 26876300
TI  - Cytokine production and mRNA expression in pulmonary tuberculosis patients and
      their household contacts of younger age group (15-25years).
AB  - Household contacts of tuberculosis patients are at high risk of infection and
      development of active disease. In this study we evaluated the cytokine production
      and mRNA expression of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10&IL-6 stimulated with r32kDa M.
      bovis BCGAg in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB), household contacts
      (HHC) and healthy controls (HC). The results showed the stimulated levels of IFN
      gamma and TNF-alpha were low while IL-10 levels were high in APTB and HHC
      compared to HC. IL-6 has not shown any significant difference. The mRNA
      expression of TNF- alpha was 8 fold high in HCs compared to APTB and HHC. The IL
      6 expression was 2.2 fold &1 fold less in APTB and HHC compared to HCs.
      Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that the stimulated levels of
      IFN-gamma & IL-6 and sex significantly predicted the HHC group from HCs at
      p<0.05.In conclusion further follow up studies with r32kd antigen might help to
      identify the high risk individuals. 

PMID- 26876299
TI  - The beta isoform of GSK3 mediates podocyte autonomous injury in proteinuric
      glomerulopathy.
AB  - Converging evidence points to glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3 as a key player in
      the pathogenesis of podocytopathy and proteinuria. However, it remains unclear if
      GSK3 is involved in podocyte autonomous injury in glomerular disease. In normal
      kidneys, the beta isoform of GSK3 was found to be the major GSK3 expressed in
      glomeruli and intensely stained in podocytes. GSK3beta expression in podocytes
      was markedly elevated in experimental or human proteinuric glomerulopathy.
      Podocyte-specific somatic ablation of GSK3beta in adult mice attenuated
      proteinuria and ameliorated podocyte injury and glomerular damage in experimental
      adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy. Mechanistically, actin cytoskeleton integrity in
      podocytes was largely preserved in GSK3beta knockout mice following ADR insult,
      concomitant with a correction of podocyte hypermotility and lessened
      phosphorylation and activation of paxillin, a focal adhesion-associated adaptor
      protein. In addition, GSK3beta knockout diminished ADR-induced NFkappaB RelA/p65
      phosphorylation selectively at serine 467; suppressed de novo expression by
      podocytes of NFkappaB-dependent podocytopathic mediators, including B7-1,
      cathepsin L, and MCP-1; but barely affected the induction of NFkappaB target pro
      survival factors, such as Bcl-xL. Moreover, the ADR-elicited podocytopenia and
      podocyte death were significantly attenuated in GSK3beta knockout mice,
      associated with protection against podocyte mitochondrial damage and reduced
      phosphorylation and activation of cyclophilin F, a structural component of
      mitochondria permeability transition pores. Overall, our findings suggest that
      the beta isoform of GSK3 mediates autonomous podocyte injury in glomerulopathy by
      integrating multiple podocytopathic signalling pathways.

PMID- 26876301
TI  - Generation of mouse and human dendritic cells in vitro.
AB  - Dendritic cells (DC) that can orchestrate immune responses and maintain host
      homeostasis, are indispensable components of the immune system. Although
      distributed widely in many lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, their rarity in
      number has become a limiting factor for DC related research and therapies.
      Therefore, methods for efficiently generating large numbers of DC resembling
      their in vivo counterparts are urgently needed for DC related research and
      therapies. Herein we summarize the current methods for generating mouse and human
      DC in vitro and hope that these will facilitate both studies of DC biology and
      their clinical applications. 

PMID- 26876302
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit resistance to topoisomerase inhibition.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inhibition of cellular topoisomerases has been established as an
      effective way of treating certain cancers, albeit with often high levels of
      toxicity to the bone marrow. While the involvement of mesenchymal stem cells
      (MSCs) in bone marrow homeostasis and regeneration has been well established, the
      effects of topoisomerase-inhibiting anticancer agents remain largely unknown.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bone marrow MSCs were treated with topoisomerase I
      inhibitor irinotecan or topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide, and survival and
      apoptosis levels were measured. The influence of topoisomerase inhibition on
      cellular morphology, adhesion and migration potential and the ability to
      differentiate was assessed. Additionally, the role of individual DNA double
      strand break repair pathways in MSCs was investigated as a potential cellular
      mechanism of resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors. RESULTS: Human bone marrow
      MSCs were found relatively resistant to topoisomerase I and II inhibitors and
      show survival levels comparable to these of differentiated fibroblasts. Treatment
      with irinotecan or etoposide did not significantly influence cellular adhesion,
      migratory ability, surface marker expression or induction of apoptosis in human
      MSCs. The ability to differentiate was found preserved in MSCs after exposure to
      high doses of irinotecan or etoposide. MSCs were able to efficiently repair DNA
      double-strand breaks induced by topoisomerase inhibitors both by non-homologous
      end joining and homologous recombination pathways. CONCLUSION: Our data
      demonstrate a topoisomerase-resistant phenotype of human MSCs that may at least
      in part be due to the stem cells' ability to efficiently remove DNA damage caused
      by these anticancer agents. The observed resistance of MSCs warrants further
      investigation of these cells as a potential therapeutic option for treating
      topoisomerase inhibitor-induced bone marrow damage.

PMID- 26876304
TI  - A new case of the enigmatic Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98) in a fox from the
      Czech Republic.
AB  - This study reports a new case of Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98) infection in
      a fox from the Czech Republic, and provides confirmatory evidence on the
      occurrence of this newly identified sequence type. However, further studies are
      needed to investigate the distribution, host range and possible vector(s) for
      this bacterium, as well as its impact on animals and humans.

PMID- 26876303
TI  - Testosterone affects language areas of the adult human brain.
AB  - Although the sex steroid hormone testosterone is integrally involved in the
      development of language processing, ethical considerations mostly limit
      investigations to single hormone administrations. To circumvent this issue we
      assessed the influence of continuous high-dose hormone application in adult
      female-to-male transsexuals. Subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging before
      and after 4 weeks of testosterone treatment, with each scan including structural,
      diffusion weighted and functional imaging. Voxel-based morphometry analysis
      showed decreased gray matter volume with increasing levels of bioavailable
      testosterone exclusively in Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Particularly, this may
      link known sex differences in language performance to the influence of
      testosterone on relevant brain regions. Using probabilistic tractography, we
      further observed that longitudinal changes in testosterone negatively predicted
      changes in mean diffusivity of the corresponding structural connection passing
      through the extreme capsule. Considering a related increase in myelin staining in
      rodents, this potentially reflects a strengthening of the fiber tract
      particularly involved in language comprehension. Finally, functional images at
      resting-state were evaluated, showing increased functional connectivity between
      the two brain regions with increasing testosterone levels. These findings suggest
      testosterone-dependent neuroplastic adaptations in adulthood within language
      specific brain regions and connections. Importantly, deteriorations in gray
      matter volume seem to be compensated by enhancement of corresponding structural
      and functional connectivity. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1738-1748, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26876305
TI  - The unaccountable risks of LIBOR.
AB  - One of the on-going consequences of recent financial crises seems to be that the
      conventional 'anchor' measures of global finance (such as the US dollar, treasury
      bonds and AAA rated securities) are no longer playing the anchoring role once
      believed of them. LIBOR now needs to be added to this list and not just because
      it has been tarnished by illegal practices, but because it is looking
      increasingly surpassed by financial market practices. LIBOR was believed to
      provide a risk-free rate of interest, but has been revealed to be risk-laden.
      Moreover, LIBOR is a measure of the costs of borrowing, whilst market concern is
      increasingly with measures of interest rate volatility. This paper looks at why,
      in the context of crisis, financial market focus on interest rates is turning
      towards other benchmarks, notably the overnight indexed swap (OIS) market, and
      what this shift might be telling us about the anchoring requirements of global
      financial markets. 

PMID- 26876306
TI  - RNA helicase Belle (DDX3) is essential for male germline stem cell maintenance
      and division in Drosophila.
AB  - The present study showed that RNA helicase Belle (DDX3) was required
      intrinsically for mitotic progression and survival of germline stem cells (GSCs)
      and spermatogonial cells in the Drosophila melanogaster testes. We found that
      deficiency of Belle in the male germline resulted in a strong germ cell loss
      phenotype. Early germ cells are lost through cell death, whereas somatic hub and
      cyst cell populations are maintained. The observed phenotype is related to that
      of the human Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome caused by the loss of DBY (DDX3)
      expression in the human testes and results in a complete lack of germ cells with
      preservation of somatic Sertoli cells. We found the hallmarks of mitotic G2 delay
      in early germ cells of the larval testes of bel mutants. Both mitotic cyclins, A
      and B, are markedly reduced in the gonads of bel mutants. Transcription levels of
      cycB and cycA decrease significantly in the testes of hypomorph bel mutants.
      Overexpression of Cyclin B in the germline partially rescues germ cell survival,
      mitotic progression and fertility in the bel-RNAi knockdown testes. Taken
      together, these results suggest that a role of Belle in GSC maintenance and
      regulation of early germ cell divisions is associated with the expression control
      of mitotic cyclins. 

PMID- 26876307
TI  - Epithelial membrane protein 2 regulates sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced
      keratin 8 phosphorylation and reorganization: Changes of PP2A expression by
      interaction with alpha4 and caveolin-1 in lung cancer cells.
AB  - Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is found at increased in the malignant ascites
      of tumor patients and induces perinuclear reorganization of keratin 8 (K8)
      filaments that contribute to the viscoelasticity of metastatic cancer cells.
      However, the detailed mechanism of SPC-induced K8 phosphorylation and
      reorganization is not clear. We observed that SPC dose-dependently reduced the
      expression of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) in lung cancer cells. Then, we
      examined the role of EMP2 in SPC-induced phosphorylation and reorganization of K8
      in lung cancer cells. We found that SPC concentration-dependently reduced EMP2 in
      A549, H1299, and other lung cancer cells. This was verified at the mRNA level by
      RT-PCR and real-time PCR (qPCR), and intracellular variation through confocal
      microscopy. EMP2 gene silencing and stable lung cancer cell lines established
      using EMP2 lentiviral shRNA induced K8 phosphorylation and reorganization. EMP2
      overexpression reduced K8 phosphorylation and reorganization. We also observed
      that SPC-induced loss of EMP2 induces phosphorylation of JNK and ERK via reduced
      expression of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Loss of EMP2 induces ubiquitination
      of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). SPC induced caveolin-1 (cav-1) expression and
      EEA1 endosome marker protein but not cav-2. SPC treatment enhanced the binding of
      cav-1 and PP2A and lowered binding of PP2A and alpha4. Gene silencing of EMP2
      increased and gene silencing of cav-1 reduced migration of A549 lung cancer
      cells. Overall, these results suggest that SPC induces EMP2 down-regulation which
      reduces the PP2A via ubiquitination induced by cav-1, which sequestered alpha4,
      leading to the activation of ERK and JNK. 

PMID- 26876308
TI  - beta-Amyloid induces nuclear protease-mediated lamin fragmentation independent of
      caspase activation.
AB  - beta-Amyloid (Abeta), a hallmark peptide of Alzheimer's disease, induces both
      caspase-dependent apoptosis and non-apoptotic cell death. In this study, we
      examined caspase-independent non-apoptotic cell death preceding caspase
      activation in Abeta42-treated cells. We first determined the optimal treatment
      conditions for inducing cell death without caspase activation and selected a
      double-treatment method involving the incubation of cells with Abeta42 for 4 and
      6 h (4+6 h sample). We observed that levels of lamin A (LA) and lamin B (LB) were
      reduced in the 4+6 h samples. This reduction was decreased by treatment with suc
      AAPF-CMK, an inhibitor of nuclear scaffold (NS) protease, but not by treatment
      with z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor. In addition, suc-AAPF-CMK decreased the
      changes in nuclear morphology observed in cells in the 4+6 h samples, which were
      different from nuclear fragmentation observed in STS-treated cells. Furthermore,
      suc-AAPF-CMK inhibited cell death in the 4+6 h samples. LA and LB fragmentation
      occurred in the isolated nuclei and was also inhibited by suc-AAPF-CMK. Together,
      these data indicated that the fragmentation of LA and LB in the Abeta42-treated
      cells was induced by an NS protease, whose identity is not clearly determined
      yet. A correlation between Abeta42 toxicity and the lamin fragmentation by NS
      protease suggests that inhibition of the protease could be an effective method
      for controlling the pathological process of AD.

PMID- 26876310
TI  - h-indices: an update on the performance of professors in nursing in the UK.

PMID- 26876309
TI  - Predictors of cognitive decline and treatment response in a clinical trial on
      suspected prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - We determined the value of hippocampus (Hp) and basal forebrain (BF) volumes for
      predicting cognitive decline and treatment response in a double-blind,
      randomized, placebo-controlled phase 4 trial at 28 academic centers (France) in
      patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) receiving Donepezil 10 mg
      daily or placebo over 12 months, and 6 months open label follow-up. Outcome
      measures were the rates of global and domain specific cognitive decline as non
      primary efficacy endpoint. The intention-to-treat (ITT) sample analyzed comprised
      215 cases. Baseline Hp volume was a significant predictor of rates of change in
      global cognitive function in linear mixed effects models. This effect was
      independent of treatment. BF volume was not associated with rates of global or
      domain specific cognitive decline. Rates of delayed free recall decline were
      higher in MCI cases treated with donepezil compared to placebo. Only Hp, but not
      BF volume was a useful predictor of cognitive decline in suspected prodromal AD
      patients. Both Hp and BF volumes were poor predictors of treatment response,
      questioning previous approaches on predicting treatment response without placebo
      control. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00403520.

PMID- 26876311
TI  - Decreased protein S-palmitoylation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in
      schizophrenia.
AB  - Recent reports suggest abnormalities of neurotransmitter receptor trafficking,
      targeting, dendritic localization, recycling, and degradation in the brain in
      schizophrenia. We hypothesized that a potential explanation for these findings
      may be abnormal posttranslational modifications that influence intracellular
      targeting and trafficking of proteins between subcellular compartments.
      Dysregulation of protein palmitoylation is a strong candidate for such a process.
      S-palmitoylation is a reversible thioesterification of palmitoyl-groups to
      cysteine residues that can regulate trafficking and targeting of intracellular
      proteins. Using a biotin switch assay to study S-palmitoylation of proteins in
      human postmortem brain, we identified a pattern of palmitoylated proteins that
      cluster into 17 bands of discrete molecular masses, including numerous proteins
      associated with receptor signal transduction. Using mass spectrometry, we
      identified 219 palmitoylated proteins in human frontal cortex, and individually
      validated palmitoylation status of a subset of these proteins. Next, we assayed
      protein palmitoylation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from 16 schizophrenia
      patients and paired comparison subjects. S-palmitoylation was significantly
      reduced for proteins in most of the 17 schizophrenia bands. In rats chronically
      treated with haloperidol, the same pattern of palmitoylation was observed but the
      extent of palmitoylation was unchanged, suggesting that the diminution in protein
      palmitoylation in schizophrenia is not due to chronic antipsychotic treatment.
      These results indicate there are changes in the extent of S-palmitoylation of
      many proteins in the frontal cortex in schizophrenia. Given the roles of this
      posttranslational modification, these data suggest a potential mechanism
      reconciling previous observations of abnormal intracellular targeting and
      trafficking of neurotransmitter receptors in this illness.

PMID- 26876312
TI  - Cortical thinning in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
AB  - Although schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share some clinical
      features such as psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions, little is known
      about possible pathophysiological similarities between both diseases. Therefore,
      we investigated the potential topographical overlap and segregation of cortical
      thickness abnormalities in SZ and BD patients. We analyzed 3D-anatomical magnetic
      resonance imaging datasets with the FreeSurfer 5.1.0 software to examine cortical
      thickness and volumes in three groups of participants: n=34 BD patients, n=32 SZ
      patients and n=38 healthy controls. We observed similar bilateral cortical
      thickness reductions in BD and SZ patients predominantly in the pars opercularis
      of the inferior frontal gyrus and in the anterior and posterior cingulate. We
      also found disease-specific cortical reductions in the orbitofrontal cortex for
      BD patients and in dorsal frontal and temporal areas for SZ. Furthermore,
      inferior frontal gyrus cortical thinning was associated with deficits in
      psychomotor speed and executive functioning in SZ patients and with age at onset
      in both groups. Our findings support the hypothesis that thinning of the frontal
      cortex may represent a biological feature shared by both disease groups. The
      associations between cognitive deficits and the reported findings in SZ and to a
      lesser degree in BD patients add to the functional relevance of our results.
      However, further studies are needed to corroborate a model of shared
      pathophysiological disease features across BD and SZ. 

PMID- 26876313
TI  - Cannabis-induced psychosis associated with high potency "wax dabs".
AB  - With mounting evidence that the risk of cannabis-induced psychosis may be related
      to both dose and potency of tetrahydrocannbinol (THC), increasing reports of
      psychosis associated with cannabinoids containing greater amounts of THC are
      anticipated. We report two cases of emergent psychosis after using a concentrated
      THC extract known as cannabis "wax," "oil," or "dabs" raising serious concerns
      about its psychotic liability. Although "dabbing" with cannabis wax is becoming
      increasingly popular in the US for both recreational and "medicinal" intentions,
      our cases raise serious concerns about its psychotic liability and highlight the
      importance of understanding this risk by physicians recommending cannabinoids for
      purported medicinal purposes. 

PMID- 26876314
TI  - Effect of hyperglycemia on the number of CD117+ progenitor cells and their
      differentiation toward endothelial progenitor cells in young and old ages.
AB  - Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has been reported either in
      aging or diabetes, though the influence of an "old" environment on numerical and
      functional changes of diabetes associated EPCs is not known. We evaluated the
      effect of both aging and early stage of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the
      number of bone marrow-derived CD117+ progenitor cells, and on their
      differentiation in vitro toward EPCs. The phenotype of progenitor cells and the
      uptake of acetylated-low density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) were evaluated after cell
      culture in VEGF, FGF-1, and IGF-1 supplemented medium. Hyperglycemia similarly
      reduced the number of CD117+ cells both in young and old mice. CD117+ cells from
      young mice differentiated better than those from old animals "in vitro", with a
      greater reduction of CD117+ cells and an higher increase of CD184+VEGFR-2+ cells.
      In diabetic mice, in vitro CD117+ cells differentiation was significantly reduced
      in young animals. Diabetes did not impact on the scarce differentiation of CD117+
      cells from old mice. Hyperglycemia reduced the uptake of acLDL by EPCs greatly in
      young than in old mice. These findings indicate that part of the EPCs functional
      alterations induced by hyperglicemia in young mice are observed in normal aged
      mice.

PMID- 26876315
TI  - Discriminating Between Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.
AB  - Rates of misdiagnosis between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder have
      been reported to be substantial, and the consequence of such misdiagnosis is
      likely to be a delay in achieving effective control of symptoms, in some cases
      spanning many years. Particularly in the midst of a depressive episode, or early
      in the illness course, it may be challenging to distinguish the 2 mood disorders
      purely on the basis of cross-sectional features. To date, no useful biological
      markers have been reliably shown to distinguish between bipolar disorder and
      major depressive disorder. 

PMID- 26876316
TI  - Treatment of Bipolar Depression: Evolving Recommendations.
AB  - Bipolar depression is the most common and difficult-to-treat phase of bipolar
      disorder. Antidepressants for unipolar depression are among the most widely used
      drugs, but recent data and meta-analyses indicate a lack of efficacy. Many of the
      drugs discussed here are graded provisionally for the strength of the findings in
      the literature, safety and tolerability, and likely utility of use in patients
      with bipolar disorder. Successful long-term treatment of bipolar depression is
      critical to preventing illness-related morbidity, disability, cognitive decline,
      suicide, and premature loss of years of life expectancy largely from the excess
      medical mortality associated with cardiovascular disorders. 

PMID- 26876317
TI  - Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Bipolar Depression.
AB  - The gold standard for treating bipolar depression is based on the combination of
      mood stabilizers and psychotherapy. Therefore, the authors present evidence-based
      models and promising approaches for psychotherapy for bipolar depression.
      Cognitive-behavioral therapy, family focused therapy, interpersonal and social
      rhythm therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and dialectical behavior
      therapy are discussed. Behavioral activation, the cognitive behavioral analysis
      system of psychotherapy, and the unified protocol as promising future directions
      are presented. This review informs medical providers of the most appropriate
      referral guidelines for psychotherapy for bipolar depression. The authors
      conclude with a decision tree delineating optimal referrals to each psychotherapy
      approach. 

PMID- 26876318
TI  - Bipolar Depression: Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Lactation.
AB  - Medication management of bipolar depression in pregnancy and lactation is best
      done by assessing each patient's and family's needs in detail. Keeping pregnant
      patients as psychiatrically stable as possible is the most important principle
      for clinicians. Unfortunately, there is no risk-free situation for patients with
      psychiatric illness. This is often the most difficult and hard to accept reality
      for these patients, families, and clinicians. Clinicians serve these patients
      best by being as transparent as possible about the risk/benefit analysis of each
      patient's situation with the realization that ultimately the decisions are made
      by the patient and family. 

PMID- 26876319
TI  - Nutrition and Bipolar Depression.
AB  - As with physical conditions, bipolar disorder is likely to be impacted by diet
      and nutrition. Patients with bipolar disorder have been noted to have relatively
      unhealthy diets, which may in part be the reason they also have an elevated risk
      of metabolic syndrome and obesity. An improvement in the quality of the diet
      should improve a bipolar patient's overall health risk profile, but it may also
      improve their psychiatric outcomes. New insights into biological dysfunctions
      that may be present in bipolar disorder have presented new theoretic frameworks
      for understanding the relationship between diet and bipolar disorder. 

PMID- 26876320
TI  - The Influence of Trauma, Life Events, and Social Relationships on Bipolar
      Depression.
AB  - A growing body of research suggests that the social environment exerts a powerful
      influence on the course of bipolar depression. This article reviews longitudinal
      research to suggest that trauma, negative life events, social support deficits,
      and family difficulties are common and predict a more severe course of depression
      when present among those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The triggers of bipolar
      depression overlap with those documented for unipolar depression, suggesting that
      many of the treatment targets for unipolar depression may be applicable for
      bipolar depression. 

PMID- 26876322
TI  - Suicide Behaviors in Bipolar Disorder: A Review and Update for the Clinician.
AB  - Suicide behaviors (ideation, attempts, and completions) are unfortunately common
      in patients with bipolar disorder. It is estimated that 25 to 50% attempt suicide
      at least once during their lifetime, and 6% to 19% complete suicide. Risk factors
      include a family history of suicide, previous suicide attempts, younger age of
      onset, comorbid psychiatric illnesses, and psychological constructs like
      hopelessness. Pharmacologic treatment may impact suicidal behaviors, either
      increasing vulnerability or resilience. Clinicians need to be particularly
      sensitive to their patient's thoughts and beliefs about death, particularly
      during stressful times of life or when in a depressive/mixed episode of bipolar
      disorder. 

PMID- 26876321
TI  - Bipolar Depression and Cognitive Impairment: Shared Mechanisms and New Treatment
      Avenues.
AB  - Depression and cognitive impairment are pervasive and highly disabling aspects of
      bipolar disorder. Although cognitive impairment is partially independent from
      mood episodes, depressive symptoms may increase the risk of cognitive impairment
      in bipolar disorder through inflammatory processes as well as health risks such
      as obesity and sedentary behavior. Novel treatment avenues at the intersection of
      bipolar depression and cognitive impairment target inflammation directly or
      indirectly health behaviors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep hygiene. 

PMID- 26876323
TI  - Bipolar Disorder and Inflammation.
AB  - The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) remains poorly understood. Current
      psychopharmacologic treatments are often poorly tolerated and carry high rates of
      treatment resistance. Mounting evidence has suggested that innate immune system
      dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of BD. Elevated
      proinflammatory cytokine levels have been identified. The innate immune system is
      a novel therapeutic target in BD. Lithium has been shown to have antiinflammatory
      properties. Further research is needed to establish the role of antiinflammatory
      agents in the treatment of BD; however, evidence from several clinical trials
      indicates that antiinflammatory agents may be incorporated into clinical practice
      soon. 

PMID- 26876324
TI  - Genetics of Bipolar Disorder: Recent Update and Future Directions.
AB  - Although genetic studies of Bipolar Disorder have been pursued for decades, it
      has only been in the last several years that clearly replicated findings have
      emerged. These findings, typically of modest effects, point to a polygenic
      genetic architecture consisting of multiple common and rare susceptibility
      variants. While larger genome-wide association studies are ongoing, the advent of
      whole exome and genome sequencing should lead to the identification of rare, and
      potentially more penetrant, variants. Progress along both fronts will provide
      novel insights into the biology of Bipolar Disorder and help usher in a new era
      of personalized medicine and improved treatments. 

PMID- 26876325
TI  - The Challenge of Bipolar Depression in the 21st Century.

PMID- 26876326
TI  - Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: Trends in therapeutic options.

PMID- 26876327
TI  - Prospective Pilot Study of Mirabegron in Pediatric Patients with Overactive
      Bladder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antimuscarinics are the pharmacologic mainstay of overactive bladder
      (OAB) management, but side effects limit their use. Mirabegron, a new molecule
      with a distinct mechanism of action (beta3-adrenoreceptor agonist), was recently
      approved as monotherapy for idiopathic OAB in adults but has not been studied in
      the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of
      mirabegron to treat urinary incontinence in children with idiopathic OAB who were
      refractory to and/or intolerant of antimuscarinics. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: A prospective off-label study using mirabegron was conducted.
      Pediatric patients without symptom improvement under behavioral and medical
      therapies and/or with significant side effects with at least two different
      antimuscarinic agents were recruited. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS: Our primary outcome was better reported efficacy than with the use of
      prior anticholinergic medication. Secondary end points were tolerability, safety,
      and satisfaction. Efficacy and tolerability were assessed with voiding diaries,
      postvoid residuals, urine cultures, electrocardiogram, and vital signs. Families
      were questioned for continence, side effects, compliance, and Patient Perception
      of Bladder Condition (PPBC) questionnaire. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and
      Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS AND
      LIMITATIONS: A total of 58 patients were recruited at a median age of 10.1 yr and
      were on mirabegron for a median of 11.5 mo. Median bladder capacity improved from
      150ml to 200ml (p<0.001). Continence improved in 52 of 58, with 13 being
      completely dry. Median PPBC improved from 4.0 to 2.0 (p<0.001). Eight patients
      reported mild or moderate side effects. Absence of a placebo group is a
      limitation of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Mirabegron, a novel first-in-class therapy,
      appeared as a safe and effective alternative for children with idiopathic OAB
      refractory to antimuscarinics. PATIENT SUMMARY: We evaluated the efficacy and
      safety of mirabegron to treat incontinence in pediatric patients. Continence,
      median voided volumes, and quality of life were improved after the introduction
      of mirabegron, and few side effects were reported.

PMID- 26876328
TI  - Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Update, Trends, and Future Directions.
AB  - CONTEXT: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the surgical standard for
      treating large or complex renal stones. Since its inception, the technique of
      PCNL has undergone many modifications. OBJECTIVE: To perform a collaborative
      review on the latest evidence related to outcomes and innovations in the practice
      of PCNL since 2000. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature review was performed using
      the PubMed database between 2000 and July 2015, restricted to human species,
      adults, and the English language. The Medline search used a strategy including
      the following keywords: percutaneous nephrolithotomy, PNL, advances, trends,
      technique, and the Medical Subject Headings term percutaneous nephrostomy.
      EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Population-based studies have now provided a wealth of
      information regarding patient outcomes following PCNL. The complexity of the
      stone treated can be quantified using a variety of validated nephrolithometry
      classification systems. Increasing familiarity with the supine approach to PCNL
      has enabled simultaneous combined retrograde and antegrade surgery. Advances such
      as endoscopic guided percutaneous access may help urologists achieve access with
      less morbidity. Increasing miniaturization of equipment has led to the
      development of mini, micro, and ultramini techniques. The tubeless method of PCNL
      is now accepted practice with good evidence of safety in appropriately selected
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Modern-day PCNL allows personalized stone management
      tailored to individual patient and surgeon factors. Future studies should
      continue to refine methods to assess complexity and safety and to determine
      consensus on the use of miniaturized PCNL. PATIENT SUMMARY: Modern-day
      percutaneous nephrolithotomy has transformed from an operation traditionally
      undertaken in one position, using one access method with one set of
      instrumentation and one surgeon, to one with a variety of options at each step.

PMID- 26876329
TI  - A transmembrane C-type lectin receptor mediates LECT2 effects on head kidney
      derived monocytes/macrophages in a teleost, Plecoglossus altivelis.
AB  - Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) is a multifunctional cytokine
      involved in many diseases in which immune dysfunction is present. Ayu LECT2
      (PaLECT2), which interacts with a C-type lectin receptor (PaCLR), was shown to
      activate ayu head kidney-derived monocytes/macrophages (MO/MPhi) to improve the
      outcomes of fish upon bacterial infections. However, it is not known if PaCLR
      mediates PaLECT2 effects on ayu MO/MPhi. In this study, we determined the role of
      PaCLR in signal transduction of PaLECT2 on ayu MO/MPhi. We expressed the PaCLR
      ectodomain in Escherichia coli and produced a refolded recombinant protein
      (rPaCLR) that was then used to produce the anti-PaCLR IgG (anti-PaCLR) for
      neutralization. Addition of the refolded PaLECT2 mature peptide (rPaLECT2m) to
      ayu MO/MPhi cultures, increased cytokine expression, induced chemotaxis, and
      enhanced phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of these cells were observed.
      When we added anti-PaCLR to block the ectodomain of PaCLR, these effects were
      significantly inhibited. Based on our previous works and the data presented here,
      we conclude that PaCLR mediates the immunomodulatory effects of PaLECT2 on ayu
      MO/MPhi, thus defining a mechanism by which LECT2 protects fish against
      pathogens. 

PMID- 26876330
TI  - A preliminary study on the antibacterial mechanism of Tegillarca granosa
      hemoglobin by derived peptides and peroxidase activity.
AB  - The blood clam, Tegillarca granosa, is one of the few bivalve molluscs containing
      hemoglobin (Hb). In the present study, we purified two types of T. granosa
      hemoglobin, Tg-HbI and Tg-HbII, using size exclusion chromatography and measured
      their antibacterial and peroxidase activities. We also tested antibacterial
      activities of peptides prepared by trypsin digestion of purified Tg-Hb and
      reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography purification. Purified Tg
      HbI and Tg-HbII showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli,
      Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus firmus, with differences in
      minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), but lacked antibacterial activity
      against Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi and
      Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, 7 Tg-Hb derived peptides exhibited varying
      degrees of antibacterial activity against V. alginolyticus (MICs: 12-200 MUg/ml),
      V. parahaemolyticus (11-100 MUg/ml) and V. harveyi (1-200 MUg/ml). The
      antibacterial activity of Hb derived peptides was confirmed by fluorescence
      microscopy. In addition, peroxidase activity was detected in Tg-HbI and Tg-HbII.
      The results indicated that in addition to functioning as a respiratory protein T.
      granosa hemoglobins likely play a role in host antibacterial defense probably via
      a peroxidase activity of native molecules and some internal peptides released
      from the proteins. 

PMID- 26876332
TI  - A framework for modeling information propagation of biological systems at
      critical states.
AB  - We explore the dynamics of information propagation at the critical state of a
      biologically inspired system by an individual-based computer model. "Quorum
      response", a type of social interaction which has been recognized taxonomically
      in animal groups, is applied as the sole interaction rule among individuals. In
      the model, we assume a truncated Gaussian distribution to depict the distribution
      of the individuals' vigilance level. Each individual can assume either a naive
      state or an alarmed one and only switches from the former state to the latter
      one. If an individual has turned into an alarmed state, it stays in the state
      during the process of information propagation. Initially, each individual is set
      to be at the naive state and information is tapped into the system by perturbing
      an individual at the boundaries (alerting it to the alarmed state). The system
      evolves as individuals turn into the alarmed state, according to the quorum
      response rules, consecutively. We find that by fine-tuning the parameters of the
      mean and the standard deviation of the Gaussian distribution, the system is
      poised at a critical state. We present the phase diagrams to exhibit that the
      parameter space is divided into a super-critical and a sub-critical zone, in
      which the dynamics of information propagation varies largely. We then investigate
      the effects of the individuals' mobility on the critical state, and allow a
      proportion of randomly chosen individuals to exchange their positions at each
      time step. We find that mobility breaks down criticality of the system. 

PMID- 26876331
TI  - Downregulation of vimentin in macrophages infected with live Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis is mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species.
AB  - Mycobacterium tuberculosis persists primarily in macrophages after infection and
      manipulates the host defence pathways in its favour. 2D gel electrophoresis
      results showed that vimentin, an intermediate filament protein, is downregulated
      in macrophages infected with live Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv when compared
      to macrophages infected with heat- killed H37Rv. The downregulation was confirmed
      by Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. Besides, the expression of vimentin in
      avirulent strain, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra- infected macrophages was
      similar to the expression in heat-killed H37Rv- infected macrophages. Increased
      expression of vimentin in H2O2- treated live H37Rv-infected macrophages and
      decreased expression of vimentin both in NAC and DPI- treated heat-killed H37Rv
      infected macrophages showed that vimentin expression is positively regulated by
      ROS. Ectopic expression of ESAT-6 in macrophages decreased both the level of ROS
      and the expression of vimentin which implies that Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      mediated downregulation of vimentin is at least in part due to the downregulation
      of ROS by the pathogen. Interestingly, the incubation of macrophages with anti
      vimentin antibody increased the ROS production and decreased the survival of
      H37Rv. In addition, we also showed that the pattern of phosphorylation of
      vimentin in macrophages by PKA/PKC is different from monocytes, emphasizing a
      role for vimentin phosphorylation in macrophage differentiation. 

PMID- 26876333
TI  - Spin dynamics and relaxation in graphene dictated by electron-hole puddles.
AB  - The understanding of spin dynamics and relaxation mechanisms in clean graphene,
      and the upper time and length scales on which spin devices can operate, are
      prerequisites to realizing graphene-based spintronic technologies. Here we
      theoretically reveal the nature of fundamental spin relaxation mechanisms in
      clean graphene on different substrates with Rashba spin-orbit fields as low as a
      few tens of MUeV. Spin lifetimes ranging from 50 picoseconds up to several
      nanoseconds are found to be dictated by substrate-induced electron-hole
      characteristics. A crossover in the spin relaxation mechanism from a Dyakonov
      Perel type for SiO2 substrates to a broadening-induced dephasing for hBN
      substrates is described. The energy dependence of spin lifetimes, their ratio for
      spins pointing out-of-plane and in-plane, and the scaling with disorder provide a
      global picture about spin dynamics and relaxation in ultraclean graphene in the
      presence of electron-hole puddles. 

PMID- 26876334
TI  - Detection of Brownian Torque in a Magnetically-Driven Rotating Microsystem.
AB  - Thermal fluctuations significantly affect the behavior of microscale systems
      rotating in shear flow, such as microvortexes, microbubbles, rotating
      micromotors, microactuators and other elements of lab-on-a-chip devices. The
      influence of Brownian torque on the motion of individual magnetic microparticles
      in a rotating magnetic field is experimentally determined using optical tweezers.
      Rotational Brownian motion induces the flattening of the breakdown transition
      between the synchronous and asynchronous modes of microparticle rotation. The
      experimental findings regarding microparticle rotation in the presence of
      Brownian torque are compared with the results of numerical Brownian dynamics
      simulations. 

PMID- 26876336
TI  - Electric Field-Assisted Photochemical Water Splitting Should Operate with 287 nm
      Light.
AB  - The major photoreaction of water is the homolytic splitting of one O-H bond
      starting from the 1(1) B1 excited state (lambdamax = 167 nm). This reaction
      produces H* and *OH radicals. The combination of two H* atoms leads to the
      potential energy carrier dihydrogen. However, the energy required to obtain the
      photoreactive 1(1) B1 electronic state is about 7.4 eV, which cannot be
      effectively provided by solar radiation. The sun light spectrum on earth
      comprises the visible and ultraviolet region, but shows vanishing intensity near
      7 eV (177.1 nm). This work provides theoretical evidence that the photoreactive
      1(1) B1 state of water can be shifted into the ultraviolet (UV-B) light region
      (~287 nm) by including explicitly an electric field in the calculations of the
      water absorption spectrum. To accomplish such bathochromic shift, a large field
      strength of 3.08 VA(-1) is required. The field-dependent excitation energies were
      calculated by applying the symmetry-adapted cluster configuration interaction
      (SAC-CI) procedure. Based on this theoretical analysis, we propose that
      photochemical water splitting can be accomplished by means of 287 nm light
      provided the water molecule is favorably oriented by an external electric field
      and is subsequently activated by a reversal of the field orientation.

PMID- 26876335
TI  - Rigor and replication in time-frequency analyses of cognitive electrophysiology
      data.
AB  - Cognitive electrophysiology is a subfield of neuroscience that focused on linking
      M/EEG data to aspects of cognition and the neurophysiological processes that
      produce them. This field is growing in terms of the novelty and sophistication of
      findings, data, and data analysis methods. Simultaneously, many areas of modern
      sciences are experiencing a "replication crisis," prompting discussions of best
      practices to produce robust and replicable research. The purpose of this paper is
      to contribute to this discussion with a particular focus on cognitive
      electrophysiology. More issues are raised than are answered. Several
      recommendations are made, including (1) incorporate replications into new
      experiments, (2) write clear Methods and Results sections, and (3) publish null
      results.

PMID- 26876337
TI  - Prevalence of mutations in HBV DNA polymerase gene associated with nucleos(t)ide
      resistance in treatment-naive patients with Chronic Hepatitis B in Central China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There are a lot of disagreements in the studies on hepatitis B virus
      (HBV) DNA polymerase mutation rate associated with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)
      in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. This is the first study
      aimed to investigate the prevalence of spontaneous HBV resistance mutations in
      Central China. METHODS: This study included treatment-naive patients with CHB
      from June 2012 to May 2015 receiving care at the Institute of Liver Disease in
      Central China. All patients completed a questionnaire covering different aspects,
      such as family medical history, course of liver disease, medication history,
      alcohol use, among others. Mutations in HBV DNA polymerase associated with NAs
      resistance were detected using INNO-LiPA assay. RESULTS: 269 patients were
      infected with HBV genotype B (81.4%), C (17.9%), and both B and C (0.7%).
      Mutations in HBV DNA polymerase were detected in 24 patients (8.9%) including
      rtM204I/V (n=6), rtN236T (n=5), rtM250V (n=2), rtL180M (n=2), rtT184G (n=1),
      rtM207I (n=1), rtS202I (n=1), rtM204V/I & rtL180M (n=5), and rtM204I & rtM250V
      (n=1). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous HBV resistance mutations in HBV DNA polymerase
      were found in treatment-naive patients with CHB in Central China. These findings
      suggest that we should analyze HBV DNA polymerase resistance mutation associated
      with NAs before giving antiviral therapy such as lamivudine (LAM), adefovir
      (ADV), and telbivudine (LdT).

PMID- 26876338
TI  - Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates.

PMID- 26876339
TI  - Ghostbusting-taking the sheet off the ghost.

PMID- 26876340
TI  - Results of Open Surgical Repair in Patients With Marfan Syndrome and Distal
      Aortic Dissection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS), distal aortic dissection can
      necessitate thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair in survivors of acute
      DeBakey type I dissection and those with DeBakey type III dissection. We examined
      outcomes of surgical repair of TAAA in patients with MFS with distal aortic
      dissection. METHODS: Data were analyzed for 127 consecutive TAAA repairs
      performed between January 2004 and June 2014 in patients with MFS and distal
      aortic dissection-DeBakey types I (n = 73) and III (n = 54). The median time from
      dissection onset to TAAA repair was 5.2 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.1 to
      9.8 years) for the overall group and was longer in patients with DeBakey I (6.5
      years, IQR: 3.5 to 13.9 years) than patients with DeBakey III (2.9 years, IQR:
      0.6 to 6.0 years, p < 0.001). Eleven patients (9%) had acute or subacute
      dissection at the time of repair. Sixty-six patients (52%) underwent Crawford
      extent II TAAA repair. A composite end point, adverse event, was defined as
      operative death or permanent stroke, renal failure, paraplegia, or paraparesis.
      RESULTS: Eight patients had adverse events (6%), including 5 operative deaths
      (4%). There was no permanent stroke and 1 case each of permanent paraplegia and
      paraparesis. At discharge, 2 early survivors (2%) had renal failure. Extent II
      repairs did not have substantially different outcomes from other repairs.
      CONCLUSIONS: In these patients with MFS with aortic dissection, open TAAA repair
      incurred reasonable operative risk, but improvements are needed to reduce rates
      of renal failure. Extent II TAAA repair does not appear to increase operative
      risk in patients with MFS.

PMID- 26876341
TI  - Use of One-Way Intrabronchial Valves in Air Leak Management After Tube
      Thoracostomy Drainage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A persistent air leak represents significant clinical management
      problems, potentially affecting morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. In
      2008, a unidirectional, intrabronchial valve received humanitarian device
      exemption for use in managing prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection. Since
      its introduction, numerous reports exist but no large series describe current
      utilization or outcomes. Our aim was to report current use of intrabronchial
      valves for air leaks and review outcome data associated with its utilization.
      METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective review of intrabronchial valve utilization
      from January 2013 to August 2014 was performed at eight centers. Data regarding
      demographics, valve utilization, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: We
      identified 112 patients undergoing evaluation for intrabronchial valve placement,
      with 67% (75 of 112) undergoing valve implantation. Nearly three quarters of
      patients underwent valve placement for off-label usage (53 of 75). A total of 195
      valves were placed in 75 patients (mean 2.6 per patient; range, 1 to 8) with
      median time to air leak resolution of 16 days (range, 2 to 156). CONCLUSIONS: We
      present the largest, multicenter study of patients undergoing evaluation for
      intrabronchial valve use for air leak management. Our data suggest the majority
      of intrabronchial valve placements are occurring for off-label indications.
      Although the use of intrabronchial valves are a minimally invasive intervention
      for air leak management, the lack of rigorously designed studies demonstrating
      efficacy remains concerning. Prospective randomized controlled studies remain
      warranted.

PMID- 26876342
TI  - Community-Based Multidisciplinary Computed Tomography Screening Program Improves
      Lung Cancer Survival.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the United
      States. Overall survival is less than 20%, with the majority of patients
      presenting with advanced disease. The National Lung Screening Trial, performed
      mainly in academic medical centers, showed that cancer mortality can be reduced
      with computed tomography (CT) screening compared with chest radiography in high
      risk patients. To determine whether this survival advantage can be duplicated in
      a community-based multidisciplinary thoracic oncology program, we initiated a CT
      scan screening program for lung cancer within an established health care system.
      METHODS: In 2008, we launched a lung cancer CT screening program within the
      WellStar Health System (WHS) consisting of five hospitals, three health parks,
      140 outpatient medical offices, and 12 imaging centers that provide care in a
      five-county area of approximately 1.4 million people in Metro-Atlanta. Screening
      criteria incorporated were the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program
      (2008 to 2010) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines (2011 to
      2013) for moderate- and high-risk patients. RESULTS: A total of 1,267 persons
      underwent CT lung cancer screening in WHS from 2008 through 2013; 53% were men,
      87% were 50 years of age or older, and 83% were current or former smokers.
      Noncalcified indeterminate pulmonary nodules were found in 518 patients (41%).
      Thirty-six patients (2.8%) underwent a diagnostic procedure for positive findings
      on their CT scan; 30 proved to have cancer, 28 (2.2%) primary lung cancer and 2
      metastatic cancer, and 6 had benign disease. Fourteen patients (50%) had their
      lung cancer discovered on their initial CT scan, 11 on subsequent scans
      associated with indeterminate pulmonary nodules growth and 3 patients who had a
      new indeterminate pulmonary nodules. Only 15 (54%) of these 28 patients would
      have qualified as a National Lung Screening Trial high-risk patient; 75% had
      stage I or II disease. Overall 5-year survival was 64% and 5-year cancer specific
      survival was 71% in the screened patients, whereas nonscreened lung cancer
      patients during that time in WHS had an overall survival of only 19% (p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: A community-based multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program
      can improve survival of patients with lung cancer outside of a large multicenter
      study. This survival advantage was caused by a significant stage shift to earlier
      disease. Lung cancer CT screening may also benefit patients not meeting the
      National Lung Screening Trial criteria who are at moderate or high risk for lung
      cancer.

PMID- 26876343
TI  - Relationship of Intraoperative Transit Time Flowmetry Findings to Angiographic
      Graft Patency at Follow-Up.
AB  - Early and late graft occlusion remains a significant complication of coronary
      artery bypass grafting. Transit time flowmetry is the most commonly used imaging
      technique to assess graft patency intraoperatively. Although the value of transit
      time flowmetry for intraoperative quality control of coronary anastomosis is well
      established, its standard variables for predicting eventual graft failure remain
      controversial. This review readdresses the issue of intraoperative transit time
      flowmetry, with a particular emphasis on defining cutoff values for standard
      variables and correlating them with the ability to predict midterm and long-term
      graft patency for arterial and venous conduits. Further research is warranted to
      support clinically useful recommendations on the intraoperative application and
      interpretation of transit time flowmetry. 

PMID- 26876345
TI  - Nurses Count: Tracking Performance to Improve Cesarean Delivery Rates.

PMID- 26876344
TI  - Feminization and masculinization of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
      observed in rivers impacted by municipal wastewaters.
AB  - Municipal wastewaters have been known to contain various estrogens and androgens.
      Little is known about the joint action of these chemicals from wastewaters on
      fishes in the aquatic environment. The objectives of this study were to
      investigate the estrogenic and/or androgenic effects in wild mosquitofish
      (Gambusia affinis) of two effluent-impacted rivers in South China by determining
      morphological changes and hepatic mRNA expression levels of relevant genes such
      as vitellogenin (Vtg), estrogen receptor (ERalpha) and androgen receptors
      (ARalpha and ARbeta), and to assess the linkages of those morphological changes
      and hepatic mRNA expression levels to the chemical concentrations measured by in
      vitro bioassays and chemical analysis. The results showed a significant induction
      of Vtg and ERalpha mRNA in the livers of the males and a gonopodium-like anal fin
      in the females collected at the majority of sites. Redundancy analysis and
      Pearson correlation analysis showed that the chemical concentrations obtained by
      in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis had significant correlations with some
      of the endpoints for the estrogenic and/or androgenic effects in mosquitofish.
      The findings from this study indicate that the estrogens and androgens present in
      the two rivers could cause the observed estrogenic and androgenic effects in
      mosquitofish. 

PMID- 26876346
TI  - Particulate matter induces prothrombotic microparticle shedding by human
      mononuclear and endothelial cells.
AB  - Particulate airborne pollution is associated with increased cardiopulmonary
      morbidity. Microparticles are extracellular vesicles shed by cells upon
      activation or apoptosis involved in physiological processes such as coagulation
      and inflammation, including airway inflammation. We investigated the hypothesis
      that particulate matter causes the shedding of microparticles by human
      mononuclear and endothelial cells. Cells, isolated from the blood and the
      umbilical cords of normal donors, were cultured in the presence of particulate
      from a standard reference. Microparticles were assessed in the supernatant as
      phosphatidylserine concentration. Microparticle-associated tissue factor was
      assessed by an one-stage clotting assay. Nanosight technology was used to
      evaluate microparticle size distribution. Particulate matter induces a dose- and
      time- dependent, rapid (1h) increase in microparticle generation in both cells.
      These microparticles express functional tissue factor. Particulate matter
      increases intracellular calcium concentration and phospholipase C inhibition
      reduces microparticle generation. Nanosight analysis confirmed that upon exposure
      to particulate matter both cells express particles with a size range consistent
      with the definition of microparticles (50-1000 nm). Exposure of mononuclear and
      endothelial cells to particulate matter upregulates the generation of
      microparticles at least partially mediated by calcium mobilization. This
      observation might provide a further link between airborne pollution and
      cardiopulmonary morbidity.

PMID- 26876347
TI  - Sample pre-concentration with high enrichment factors at a fixed location in
      paper-based microfluidic devices.
AB  - The lack of sensitivity is a major problem among microfluidic paper-based
      analytical devices (MUPADs) for early disease detection and diagnosis.
      Accordingly, the present study presents a method for improving the enrichment
      factor of low-concentration biomarkers by using shallow paper-based channels
      realized through a double-sided wax-printing process. In addition, the enrichment
      factor is further enhanced by exploiting the ion concentration polarization (ICP)
      effect on the cathodic side of the nanoporous membrane, in which a stationary
      sample plug is obtained. The occurrence of ICP on the shallow-channel MUPAD is
      confirmed by measuring the current-voltage response as the external voltage is
      increased from 0 to 210 V (or the field strength from 0 to 1.05 * 10(4) V m(-1))
      over 600 s. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, the electroosmotic flow
      (EOF) speed on the MUPAD fabricated with a wax-channel is measured for the first
      time using a current monitoring method. The experimental results show that for a
      fluorescein sample, the concentration factor is increased from 130-fold in a
      conventional full-thickness paper channel to 944-fold in the proposed shallow
      channel. Furthermore, for a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum
      albumin (FITC-BSA) sample, the proposed shallow-channel MUPAD achieves an 835
      fold improvement in the concentration factor. The concentration technique
      presented here provides a novel strategy for enhancing the detection sensitivity
      of MUPAD applications. 

PMID- 26876349
TI  - Immediate Single-Tooth Implant Placement in Bony Defects in the Esthetic Zone: A
      1-Year Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess, with regard to marginal bone level (MBL),
      whether the outcome of immediate implant placement in bony defects in the
      esthetic zone was non-inferior to delayed implant placement after 1 year.
      METHODS: Forty patients with a failing tooth in the esthetic zone and a labial
      bony defect of >=5 mm after removal of a tooth were randomly assigned for
      immediate (n = 20) or delayed (n = 20) implant placement. Second-stage surgery
      and provisionalization occurred after 3 months of healing. Follow-up was at 1
      month and 1 year after definitive crown placement. The study was powered to
      detect a difference in MBL of >0.9 mm. Buccal bone thickness, soft tissue peri
      implant parameters, esthetic indices, and patient satisfaction were also
      assessed. RESULTS: One year after definitive crown placement, MBL loss was 0.56
      +/- 0.39 mm mesially and 0.74 +/- 0.51 mm distally for the immediate placement
      group and 0.51 +/- 0.43 mesially and 0.54 +/- 0.45 distally mm for the delayed
      placement group, respectively (not significant). Regarding differences in means,
      non-inferiority was observed after 1 year (difference in mean for immediate
      versus delayed: mesially 0.04 mm [95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.22 to 0.30
      mm, P = 0.40]; distally 0.21 mm [95% CI = -0.10 to 0.51 mm, P = 0.58]). No
      significant differences in the other outcome variables were observed.
      CONCLUSIONS: Immediate implant placement with delayed provisionalization was non
      inferior to delayed implant placement with delayed provisionalization in labial
      bony defects of >=5 mm regarding change in MBL. Although not powered for other
      outcome variables, no clinically relevant differences were observed in these
      variables.

PMID- 26876350
TI  - Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-Induced AIM2 Inflammasome Activation Is
      Suppressed by Xylitol in Differentiated THP-1 Macrophages.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aggressive periodontitis is characterized by rapid destruction of
      periodontal tissue caused by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Interleukin
      (IL)-1beta is a proinflammatory cytokine, and its production is tightly regulated
      by inflammasome activation. Xylitol, an anticaries agent, is anti-inflammatory,
      but its effect on inflammasome activation has not been researched. This study
      investigates the effect of xylitol on inflammasome activation induced by A.
      actinomycetemcomitans. METHODS: The differentiated THP-1 macrophages were
      stimulated by A. actinomycetemcomitans with or without xylitol and the
      expressions of IL-1beta and inflammasome components were detected by real time
      PCR, ELISA, confocal microscopy and Immunoblot analysis. The effects of xylitol
      on the adhesion and invasion of A. actinomycetemcomitans to cells were measured
      by viable cell count. RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans increased pro IL-1beta
      synthesis and IL-1beta secretion in a multiplicity of infection- and time
      dependent manner. A. actinomycetemcomitans also stimulated caspase-1 activation.
      Among inflammasome components, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing
      a CARD (ASC) and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) proteins were upregulated by A.
      actinomycetemcomitans infection. When cells were pretreated with xylitol, proIL
      1beta and IL-1beta production by A. actinomycetemcomitans infection was
      significantly decreased. Xylitol also inhibited ASC and AIM2 proteins and
      formation of ASC puncta. Furthermore, xylitol suppressed internalization of A.
      actinomycetemcomitans into differentiated THP-1 macrophages without affecting
      viability of A. actinomycetemcomitans within cells. CONCLUSIONS: A.
      actinomycetemcomitans induced IL-1beta production and AIM2 inflammasome
      activation. Xylitol inhibited these effects, possibly by suppressing
      internalization of A. actinomycetemcomitans into cells. Thus, this study proposes
      a mechanism for IL-1beta production via inflammasome activation and discusses a
      possible use for xylitol in periodontal inflammation caused by A.
      actinomycetemcomitans.

PMID- 26876348
TI  - A short G1 phase imposes constitutive replication stress and fork remodelling in
      mouse embryonic stem cells.
AB  - Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) represent a transient biological state, where
      pluripotency is coupled with fast proliferation. ESCs display a constitutively
      active DNA damage response (DDR), but its molecular determinants have remained
      elusive. Here we show in cultured ESCs and mouse embryos that H2AX
      phosphorylation is dependent on Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) and
      is associated with chromatin loading of the ssDNA-binding proteins RPA and RAD51.
      Single-molecule analysis of replication intermediates reveals massive ssDNA gap
      accumulation, reduced fork speed and frequent fork reversal. All these marks of
      replication stress do not impair the mitotic process and are rapidly lost at
      differentiation onset. Delaying the G1/S transition in ESCs allows formation of
      53BP1 nuclear bodies and suppresses ssDNA accumulation, fork slowing and reversal
      in the following S-phase. Genetic inactivation of fork slowing and reversal leads
      to chromosomal breakage in unperturbed ESCs. We propose that rapid cell cycle
      progression makes ESCs dependent on effective replication-coupled mechanisms to
      protect genome integrity. 

PMID- 26876351
TI  - Crevicular Fluid Growth Factors Release Profile Following the Use of Platelet
      Rich Fibrin and Plasma Rich Growth Factors in Treating Periodontal Intrabony
      Defects: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The open, usually contaminated nature of periodontal defects could
      negatively affect availability and activity of platelet concentrate-suggested
      growth factors (GF). The aim of this study is to test this hypothesis and
      investigate concentrations of: 1) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and
      2) platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)
      from localized intrabony defects treated with platelets rich in growth factors
      (PRGF) or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) compared with a control xenograft defect
      filling. METHODS: Thirty non-smoking patients suffering severe chronic
      periodontitis were allocated to this randomized, prospective, single-masked
      trial. Each patient had one interproximal defect randomly distributed to: 1)
      group 1: bone-substitute grafting control (n = 10); 2) group 2: experimental PRGF
      (n = 10); or 3) group 3: PRF (n = 10). Clinical parameters were measured at
      baseline and 6 and 9 months following therapy. GCF samples were obtained on days
      1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 after therapy for evaluation of VEGF and PDGF-BB levels.
      RESULTS: On days 1, 3, and 7 following surgery, mean levels of VEGF and PDGF-BB
      at sites treated with PRGF and PRF were not significantly different versus the
      control. Levels of PDGF-BB and VEGF were higher in the PRGF-treated group, but
      differences were not significant. Growth factor levels decreased significantly in
      samples collected on days 14, 21, and 30 with non-significant differences among
      the three groups. No significant clinical differences were reported among the
      three groups during the two observation periods (early period: days 1, 3, and 7;
      and later period: days 14, 21, and 30). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the
      present study, it can be concluded that PRF and PRGF platelet concentrate failed
      to augment clinical effects achieved with the xenograft alone in treating
      intrabony defects. Periodontal defects could not retain extraphysiologic levels
      of GF suggested to be associated with platelet concentrate.

PMID- 26876352
TI  - Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Detection of Intrabony and Furcation Defects: A
      Systematic Review Based on a Hierarchical Model for Diagnostic Efficacy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this review is to assess the diagnostic efficacy of cone
      beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the diagnosis of and/or treatment planning
      for intrabony and furcation defects, using a well-known six-tiered hierarchical
      model for diagnostic efficacy. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library
      bibliographic databases were searched until August 2015 for studies evaluating
      CBCT imaging for the diagnosis of and/or treatment planning for intrabony and/or
      furcation defects. The search strategy was restricted to English language
      publications using the combination of MeSH terms, free terms, and key words.
      RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 16 publications that qualitatively or
      quantitatively evaluated the use of CBCT for the detection of intrabony and/or
      furcation defects and how CBCT influenced the diagnosis and/or treatment plan.
      According to Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy-2, all included
      studies were medium to low risk of bias. The review identified only one study
      that investigated the societal efficacy, and none evaluated the patient outcome
      efficacy or therapeutic efficacy. One study investigated the diagnostic thinking
      efficacy. All other included studies investigated the diagnostic accuracy of
      CBCT. CONCLUSIONS: From the assessed studies, it can be concluded that there is
      not sufficient scientific evidence to justify the use of CBCT for the diagnosis
      of and/or treatment planning for intrabony and furcation defects. Furthermore,
      the effectiveness of CBCT for such diagnostic tasks has been assessed only at low
      diagnostic efficacy levels.

PMID- 26876354
TI  - Comparative analysis of innate immune responses to Streptococcus phocae strains
      in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
AB  - Streptococcus phocae subsp. salmonis is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes
      mortality only in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farmed in Chile, even when this
      species is co-cultured with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This
      susceptibility could be determined by innate immune response components and their
      responses to bacterial infection. This fish pathogen shares subspecies status
      with Streptococcus phocae subsp. phocae isolated from seals. The present study
      compared innate immune system mechanisms in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout
      when challenged with different S. phocae, including two isolates from Atlantic
      salmon (LM-08-Sp and LM-13-Sp) and two from seal (ATCC 51973(T) and P23).
      Streptococcus phocae growth was evaluated in the mucus and serum of both species,
      with rainbow trout samples evidencing inhibitory effects. Lysozyme activity
      supported this observation, with significantly higher (p < 0.01) expression in
      rainbow trout serum and mucus as compared to Atlantic salmon. No differences were
      found in phagocytic capacity between fish species when stimulated with ATCC
      51973(T) and P23. Against all S. phocae strains, rainbow trout and Atlantic
      salmon showed up to two-fold increased bactericidal activity, and rainbow trout
      demonstrated up to three-fold greater reactive oxygen species production in
      macrophages. In conclusion, the non-specific humoral and cellular barriers of
      Atlantic salmon were immunologically insufficient against S. phocae subsp.
      salmonis, thereby facilitating streptococcosis. Moreover, the more robust
      response of rainbow trout to S. phocae could not be attributed to any specific
      component of the innate immune system, but was rather the consequence of a
      combined response by the evaluated components. 

PMID- 26876355
TI  - Molecular cloning and functional analysis of nucleotide-binding oligomerization
      domain-containing protein 1 in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.
AB  - NOD1 has important roles in innate immunity as sensor of microbial components
      derived from bacterial peptidoglycan. In this study, we identified genes encoding
      components of the NOD1 signaling pathway, including NOD1 (OmNOD1) and RIP2
      (OmRIP2) from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and investigated whether OmNOD1
      has immunomodulating activity in a rainbow trout hepatoma cell line RTH-149
      treated with NOD1-specific ligand (iE-DAP). The deduced amino acid sequence of
      OmNOD1 contained conserved CARD, NOD and LRR domains. Loss-of-function and gain
      of-function experiments indicated that OmNOD1 is involved in the expression of
      pro-inflammatory cytokines. Silencing of OmNOD1 in RTH-149 cells treated with iE
      DAP decreased the expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha. Conversely,
      overexpression of OmNOD1 resulted in up-regulation of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and
      TNF-alpha expression. In addition, RIP2 inhibitor (gefitinib) significantly
      decreased the expression of these pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by iE-DAP in
      RTH-149 cells. These findings highlight the important role of NOD1 signaling
      pathway in fish in eliciting innate immune response. 

PMID- 26876356
TI  - Heat-killed whole-cell products of the probiotic Pseudomonas aeruginosa VSG2
      strain affect in vitro cytokine expression in head kidney macrophages of Labeo
      rohita.
AB  - Present study was undertaken to investigate the efficiency of heat-killed whole
      cell products (HKWCPs) of probiotic Pseudomonas aeruginosa VSG2 strain in
      stimulating the cytokine responses in the head kidney (HK) macrophages of Labeo
      rohita. The HK macrophages were incubated with HKWCPs or lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS), and the responses of cytokine genes, namely interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL
      1beta, IL-p35, IL-12p40, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nuclear factor
      kappa B (NF-kappaB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), and
      interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT
      PCR) at 2, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 h post-stimulation (hps). Among proinflammatory
      cytokines, significantly higher expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha was observed
      at 8-24 hps, and 2-16 hps with HKWCPs, respectively, as compared to controls.
      However, COX-2 and NF-kappaB displayed strong expression (P < 0.05) at 2-8 hps,
      and 8, 16 and 72 hps with HKWCPs, respectively. Antiviral cytokines IFN-alpha and
      IFN-gamma displayed strong expression (P < 0.05) at 8-24 hps, and 2, 24 and 48
      hps with HKWCPs, respectively. Expressions of cell-mediated immune factor genes
      (IL-12p35 and IL-12p40) were also significantly upregulated at various time
      points, except IL-12p40 at 72 hps, in HK macrophages stimulated with HKWCPs.
      Expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was upregulated (P < 0.05) at
      2-24 hps HKWCPs, compared to controls. Enhanced cellular (phagocytic activity and
      superoxide anion production) and humoral (lysozyme) immune parameters of treated
      HK macrophages confirmed the induction of inflammatory response. Thus, our
      results indicated that HKWCPs of probiotic P. aeruginosa VSG2 had greater
      potential for stimulating the in vitro expression of cytokines in fish and that
      these HKWCPs may be used as vaccine adjuvants in aquaculture.

PMID- 26876357
TI  - Abundant members of Scavenger receptors family and their identification,
      characterization and expression against Vibrio alginolyticus infection in
      juvenile Larimichthys crocea.
AB  - Scavenger receptors (SRs) are crucial pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to
      defense pathogen infection in fish innate immunity. In this paper, some members
      in SRs family of Larimichthys crocea were identified, including eight genes in
      the class A, B, D and F families. (G + C) % of all SRs members held 51% ~ 59%,
      and these genes were no obvious codon bias by analyzing the distribution of A-, T
      , G- and C-ended codons. The order of Enc for all SRs members by sequencing was
      LycCD68 > LycSCARA5 > LycSCARB1 > LycCD163 > LycMARCO > LycSREC1 > LycSCARA3 >
      LycSREC2. Moreover, different lengths and numbers of exons and introns led to the
      diverse mRNAs and respective functional domains or motifs, for example, an
      optional cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain in LycMARCO and LycSCARA5, an epidermal
      growth factor (EGF) and EGF-like domain in LycSREC1 and LycSREC2. The sub
      cellular localization demonstrated SRs members mainly located in plasma membrane
      or extracellular matrix. Further, all of the SRs members in L. crocea were almost
      low expressed in heart, gill and intestine, whereas high in spleen and liver.
      After stimulation by Vibrio alginolyticus, the class A and F families were
      induced significantly, but the class B and D families expressed less even none
      after pathogenic infection. All the findings would pave the way to understand not
      only the evolution of the SR-mediated immune response, but also the complexity of
      fish immunity.

PMID- 26876358
TI  - Piscidin: Antimicrobial peptide of rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus.
AB  - The piscidin family consists of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are mainly
      found in fish and are crucial effectors of fish innate immune responses. The
      piscidin family typically has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and can
      modulate immune responses. In this study, we cloned rock bream piscidin (Rbpisc)
      and investigated its gene expression and biological activity (including
      antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities). The coding region of Rbpisc consisted of
      213 base pairs (bp) encoding 70 amino acid residues. The tertiary structure
      predicted for Rbpisc includes an amphipathic helix-loop-helix structure. The
      Rbpisc gene was highly expressed in the gills of healthy fish. The gene
      expression of Rbpisc increased in the gills after pathogen infection, while the
      expression was down-regulated in other tissues. A synthetic peptide based on the
      AMP 12 domain amino acid sequence of Rbpisc appeared to have broad-spectrum
      antimicrobial activity against various bacteria. However, the synthetic peptide
      exhibited weak haemolytic activity against fish erythrocytes. These results
      suggest that Rbpisc might play an important role in the innate immune responses
      of rock bream. 

PMID- 26876359
TI  - Assessment of salivary total antioxidant capacity in patients with primary
      untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with ORAC.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oxidative DNA damage leads to abnormalities in endogenous cellular
      processes and constitutes a direct link between free radicals, antioxidants and
      squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method
      is used to measure antioxidant capacity versus oxygen free radicals. There is no
      report on the application of ORAC to evaluate salivary antioxidant capacity in
      patients with head and neck SCC. This study investigated the relation between
      total antioxidant capacity of saliva, measured with ORAC method, and the
      incidence, location, size and histopathological grading of SCC. METHODS: Salivary
      antioxidant capacity was assessed in 30 male and female patients with
      histopathologically confirmed oral and laryngeal SCC. Histopathological grading
      of SCC was based on WHO classification. RESULTS: Mean ORAC in patients with SCC
      was higher than the mean value in the control group. Statistically significant
      difference was observed in the study group versus the control group. No
      significant differences were observed for ORAC values in relation to
      histopathological grading, tumour size and spread to lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS:
      The obtained results can advocate local compensatory mechanism in saliva in
      response to increased oxidative stress associated with primary tumour. ORAC can
      become an additional factor in head and neck SCC prognosis, but further
      investigation is required.

PMID- 26876360
TI  - The Possibilities of Reducing Food Choice to Improve the Performance of College
      Foodservices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: College administrative and management leaders, foodservice personnel,
      and student residents value social, nutritional, financial, and environmental
      sustainability in their dining expectations. Menu choice reduction looks
      promising as a strategy to achieve these goals. However, foodservice research
      about dominant attitudes across these stakeholders is limited. OBJECTIVE: To
      identify qualitative views from all stakeholders about choice reduction to ensure
      that any changes to the meal service are not to the detriment of consumer
      satisfaction. DESIGN: A comprehensive list of 74 statements representing the
      spectrum of attitudes surrounding choice was generated by searching a variety of
      resources, including academic literature and Internet sites, and by conducting
      semistructured interviews with stakeholders. A final set of 42 statements
      resulted from researcher scrutiny for optimum balance, clarity, appropriateness,
      simplicity, and applicability. A new sample of participants was then asked to
      sort these 42 statements into a normal distribution grid from "strongly disagree"
      to "strongly agree." PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: A purposive convenience sample of
      stakeholders (staff n=5 and residents n=4) was used to identify statements about
      choice reduction. A second sample of stakeholders (staff n=6 and residents n=29)
      were recruited to sort the final 42 statements. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Q
      methodology analysis techniques were used. This involved conducting a by-person
      factor analysis, using the centroid factor extraction method because of the
      permissiveness it allows for data exploration. A varimax factor rotation to
      enhance interpretability of the results identified shared viewpoints. RESULTS:
      Three dominant viewpoints toward the possibility of choice reduction in the meal
      service were identified. Factor 1 was "health driven" (in which healthiness was
      paramount). Factor 2 was "variety seekers" (in which choice had instrumental
      value). Factor 3 was "choice lovers" (in which choice had intrinsic value).
      CONCLUSIONS: Although participants could see a number of benefits of choice
      reduction, strong attitudinal barriers existed toward adopting choice reduction
      initiatives. These barriers need to be overcome to avoid dissatisfaction with the
      foodservice should choice reduction measures be implemented.

PMID- 26876361
TI  - Two chiroptical modes of silver nanospirals.
AB  - As an emerging three-dimensional chiral metamaterial, plasmonic nanospirals (NSs)
      possess inherent chiroptical activity that has attracted increasing attention for
      developing potential photonic applications. However, the study of chiroptical
      activity of plasmonic NSs is still in its infancy, especially for NSs made of
      silver, which is a typical plasmonic material with high plasmonic quality.
      Herein, we present a systematic study of circular dichroism (CD) of silver NSs
      (AgNSs) that are fabricated and engineered in helical lengths by glancing-angle
      deposition (GLAD) and dispersed in ethanol. The CD spectrum is composed of a
      bisignated mode of two peaks, one in the UV regime and the other in the visible.
      The UV mode has a resonance wavelength saturating at ~375 nm and a linewidth
      decoupled from the helical elongation, while the visible mode tends to have a
      redshift and its linewidth broadens linearly with the elongation of AgNS. Helical
      elongation generally amplifies the chiroptical activity of both modes. Finite
      element simulation shows good agreement with the experimental CD results, and
      accounts for the wavelength-related chiroptical distinction in terms of the
      resonance wavelength. This work contributes to understanding the bisignated
      chiroptical responses of plasmonic nanospirals, and introduces a simple method to
      tailor the visible chiroptical activity that is strongly desired to explore a
      wide range of chirality-related bio-applications. 

PMID- 26876353
TI  - Method parameters' impact on mortality and variability in mouse stroke
      experiments: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Although hundreds of promising substances have been tested in clinical trials,
      thrombolysis currently remains the only specific pharmacological treatment for
      ischemic stroke. Poor quality, e.g. low statistical power, in the preclinical
      studies has been suggested to play an important role in these failures.
      Therefore, it would be attractive to use animal models optimized to minimize
      unnecessary mortality and outcome variability, or at least to be able to power
      studies more exactly by predicting variability and mortality given a certain
      experimental setup. The possible combinations of methodological parameters are
      innumerous, and an experimental comparison of them all is therefore not feasible.
      As an alternative approach, we extracted data from 334 experimental mouse stroke
      articles and, using a hypothesis-driven meta-analysis, investigated the method
      parameters' impact on infarct size variability and mortality. The use of Swiss
      and C57BL6 mice as well as permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery
      rendered the lowest variability of the infarct size while the emboli methods
      increased variability. The use of Swiss mice increased mortality. Our study
      offers guidance for researchers striving to optimize mouse stroke models. 

PMID- 26876362
TI  - Superconductivity in Ta3Pd3Te14 with quasi-one-dimensional PdTe2 chains.
AB  - We report bulk superconductivity at 1.0 K in a low-dimensional ternary telluride
      Ta3Pd3Te14 containing edge-sharing PdTe2 chains along crystallographic b axis,
      similar to the recently discovered superconductor Ta4Pd3Te16. The electronic heat
      capacity data show an obvious anomaly at the transition temperature, which
      indicates bulk superconductivity. The specific-heat jump is DeltaC/(gamma(n)T(c))
      ~ 1.35, suggesting a weak coupling scenario. By measuring the low-temperature
      thermal conductivity, we conclude that Ta3Pd3Te14 is very likely a dirty s-wave
      superconductor. The emergence of superconductivity in Ta3Pd3Te14 with a lower
      T(c), compared to that of Ta4Pd3Te16, may be attributed to the lower density of
      states.

PMID- 26876363
TI  - Fashioning the Face: Sensorimotor Simulation Contributes to Facial Expression
      Recognition.
AB  - When we observe a facial expression of emotion, we often mimic it. This automatic
      mimicry reflects underlying sensorimotor simulation that supports accurate
      emotion recognition. Why this is so is becoming more obvious: emotions are
      patterns of expressive, behavioral, physiological, and subjective feeling
      responses. Activation of one component can therefore automatically activate other
      components. When people simulate a perceived facial expression, they partially
      activate the corresponding emotional state in themselves, which provides a basis
      for inferring the underlying emotion of the expresser. We integrate recent
      evidence in favor of a role for sensorimotor simulation in emotion recognition.
      We then connect this account to a domain-general understanding of how sensory
      information from multiple modalities is integrated to generate perceptual
      predictions in the brain. 

PMID- 26876365
TI  - Bacteriophage can lyse antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from
      canine diseases.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen frequently identified as the cause of
      diverse infections or chronic disease. This microbe has natural resistance to
      several kinds of antibiotics, because of the species' outer membrane, efflux
      pumps and growth as a biofilm. This bacterium can acquire increased resistance
      with specific point mutations. Bacteriophage (phage), however, can lyse these
      bacteria. Therefore, in the present study, we assessed the host range of phages
      isolates and their ability to lyse antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa. Present
      phages could lyse many strains of P. aeruginosa (28/39), including strains with
      high resistance to fluoroquinolones (4/6). In conclusion, application of phages
      for antibiotic-resistant bacteria is greatly effective. To avoid pervasive
      antibiotic-resistant bacteria, further development of phage usage for disease
      treatment is required. 

PMID- 26876364
TI  - Gr/gr deletions on Y-chromosome correlate with male infertility: an original
      study, meta-analyses, and trial sequential analyses.
AB  - We analyzed the AZFc region of the Y-chromosome for complete (b2/b4) and distinct
      partial deletions (gr/gr, b1/b3, b2/b3) in 822 infertile and 225 proven fertile
      men. We observed complete AZFc deletions in 0.97% and partial deletions in 6.20%
      of the cases. Among partial deletions, the frequency of gr/gr deletions was the
      highest (5.84%). The comparison of partial deletion data between cases and
      controls suggested a significant association of the gr/gr deletions with
      infertility (P = 0.0004); however, the other partial deletions did not correlate
      with infertility. In cohort analysis, men with gr/gr deletions had a relatively
      poor sperm count (54.20 +/- 57.45 million/ml) in comparison to those without
      deletions (72.49 +/- 60.06), though the difference was not statistically
      significant (p = 0.071). Meta-analysis also suggested that gr/gr deletions are
      significantly associated with male infertility risk (OR = 1.821, 95% CI = 1.39
      2.37, p = 0.000). We also performed trial sequential analyses that strengthened
      the evidence for an overall significant association of gr/gr deletions with the
      risk of male infertility. Another meta-analysis suggested a significant
      association of the gr/gr deletions with low sperm count. In conclusion, the gr/gr
      deletions show a strong correlation with male infertility risk and low sperm
      count, particularly in the Caucasian populations.

PMID- 26876366
TI  - Evaluation of a Labelled Bacteriophage with 99mTc as a Potential Agent for
      Infection Diagnosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The design of target-specific molecular imaging probes
      to determine infection sites are mainly based on the biochemistry of the
      inflammatory response that may lead to an ideal agent for infection imaging.
      Infectious diseases timely and specifically diagnosed can be clinically
      challenging but essential for the patient's recovery. Laboratory tests can detect
      the responsible microorganism but cannot discriminate between sterile
      inflammatory disease and truly infectious disease. On the other hand,
      scintigraphic images, can pinpoint the infection in the body. METHODS:
      Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect specific bacterial strains. Given
      the composition of the protein capsid, they could be used as radiopharmaceuticals
      to diagnose bacterial infection. In this case, PP7 phage was labelled and
      evaluated as a specific tracer for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. 99mTc-Phage
      synthesis used HYNIC as a bifunctional agent. Physicochemical evaluation included
      studies such as stability in time, ligand exchange, lipophilicity and bacterial
      binding assay. Three groups of animals namely; healthy, infected with Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa and induced sterile inflammation were used to conduct biological
      evaluation Results: The radiolabelling process required size exclusion
      purification of the 99mTc-Phage, which was obtained with a radiochemical purity
      higher than 90%, during 18 hours post labelling. The collective accumulation in
      the stomach, small intestine and large intestine and thyroid of 99mTc-Phage was
      negligible, indicating no in vivo reoxidation. The complex presented urinary
      elimination. Target/ non-target ratio (T/NT) was determined both for sterile
      inflammation and for infection. Values were 2.5 +/- 0.4 and 4.2 +/- 0.3
      respectively. These values indicate significant differences between sterile
      inflammation and infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p<0.05 unpaired two sided t
      test). CONCLUSION: Targeted biodistribution profile and good T/NT ratios,
      indicate that this complex presents enough specificity to discriminate between
      infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sterile inflammation.

PMID- 26876368
TI  - Plain to point network reduced graphene oxide-activated carbon composites
      decorated with platinum nanoparticles for urine glucose detection.
AB  - In this study, a hydrothermal technique was applied to synthesize glucose-treated
      reduced graphene oxide-activated carbon (GRGO/AC) composites. Platinum
      nanoparticles (PtNP) were electrochemically deposited on the modified GRGO/AC
      surface, and chitosan-glucose oxidase (Chit-GOx) composites and nafion were
      integrated onto the modified surface of the working electrode to prepare a highly
      sensitive glucose sensor. The fabricated biosensor exhibited a good amperometric
      response to glucose in the detection range from 0.002 mM to 10 mM, with a
      sensitivity of 61.06 MUA/mMcm(2), a short response time (4 s) and a low detection
      limit of 2 MUM (signal to noise ratio is 3). The glucose sensor exhibited a
      negligible response to interference and good stability. In addition, the glucose
      levels in human urine were tested in order to conduct a practical assessment of
      the proposed sensor, and the results indicate that the sensor had superior urine
      glucose recognition. These results thus demonstrate that the noble nano
      structured electrode with a high surface area and electrocatalytic activity
      offers great promise for use in urine glucose sensing applications.

PMID- 26876367
TI  - Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 and episodic memory decline in Alzheimer's
      disease: A review.
AB  - A growing body of research has examined the relationship between episodic memory
      decline, the cognitive hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the presence of
      Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE epsilon4) allele, a major genetic risk factor for
      the disease. Our review attempts to summarize and critically evaluate this
      literature. We performed a systematic search for studies assessing episodic
      memory in AD patients who were genotyped for APOE epsilon4 and identified
      fourteen papers. Although most of these papers reported significant relationships
      between APOE epsilon4 and episodic memory decline in AD, some papers did not
      confirm this relationship. Our review links this controversy to the conflicting
      literature about the effects of APOE epsilon4 on general cognitive functioning in
      AD. We identify several shortcoming and limitations of the research on the
      relationship between APOE epsilon4 and episodic memory in AD, such as small
      sample sizes, non-representative populations, lack of comparison of early-onset
      vs. late-onset disease, and lack of comparison among different genotypes that
      include APOE epsilon4 (i.e., zero, one, or two epsilon4 alleles). Another major
      shortcoming of the reviewed literature was the lack of comprehensive evaluation
      of episodic memory decline, since episodic memory was solely evaluated with
      regard to encoding and retrieval, omitting evaluation of core episodic features
      that decline in AD, such as context recall (e.g., how, where, and when an
      episodic event has occurred) and subjective experience of remembering (e.g.,
      reliving, emotion and feeling during episodic recollection). Future research
      taking these limitations into consideration could illuminate the nature of the
      relationship between APOE epsilon4 and episodic memory decline in AD. 

PMID- 26876369
TI  - Critical Appraisal. Comparative Performance of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Versus
      Calcium Hydroxide as a Direct Pulp Capping Agent.
AB  - Vital pulp therapy is the general concept involved in the "regenerative"
      restorative treatment of the reversibly injured dental pulp with the intention of
      maintaining its vitality in a restored, functioning tooth. While this procedure
      has been attempted with various materials and techniques over a period of several
      centuries, the advent of hard-setting calcium hydroxide materials in the late
      1950s made the procedure of direct pulp capping a more routine and relatively
      predictable procedure. More recently, in the mid 1990s, a new type of water
      based, "hydraulic-type," calcium silicate-based cement, mineral trioxide
      aggregate (MTA), was introduced to dentistry as a possible alternative to the
      established standard of hard-setting calcium hydroxide. Over the last two
      decades, a slowly growing body of pre-clinical and human clinical studies
      evaluating and comparing these two materials has developed. Most recently, a
      number of well-designed, randomized controlled studies and resultant systematic
      reviews have been completed and published regarding the comparative efficacy of
      calcium hydroxide versus MTA for direct pulp capping. This Critical Appraisal
      considers and reviews some of the more recently published reports which provide a
      more definitive answer to this clinical research question. 

PMID- 26876370
TI  - Keto-Enol Thermodynamics of Breslow Intermediates.
AB  - Breslow intermediates, first postulated in 1958, are pivotal intermediates in
      carbene-catalyzed umpolung. Attempts to isolate and characterize these fleeting
      amino enol species first met with success in 2012 when we found that saturated
      bis-Dipp/Mes imidazolidinylidenes readily form isolable, though reactive diamino
      enols with aldehydes and enals. In contrast, triazolylidenes, upon stoichiometric
      reaction with aldehydes, gave exclusively the keto tautomer, and no isolable
      enol. Herein, we present the synthesis of the "missing" keto tautomers of
      imidazolidinylidene-derived diamino enols, and computational thermodynamic data
      for 15 enol-ketone pairs derived from various carbenes/aldehydes. Electron
      withdrawing substituents on the aldehyde favor enol formation, the same holds for
      N,N'-Dipp [2,6-di(2-propyl)phenyl] and N,N'-Mes [2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]
      substitution on the carbene component. The latter effect rests on stabilization
      of the diamino enol tautomer by Dipp substitution, and could be attributed to
      dispersive interaction of the 2-propyl groups with the enol moiety. For three
      enol-ketone pairs, equilibration of the thermodynamically disfavored tautomer was
      attempted with acids and bases but could not be effected, indicating kinetic
      inhibition of proton transfer. 

PMID- 26876371
TI  - Hydrothermal synthesis of Ag@MSiO2@Ag three core-shell nanoparticles and their
      sensitive and stable SERS properties.
AB  - An Ag@MSiO2@Ag three core-shell architecture was synthesized by a facial
      hydrothermal method. The features of the sample were characterized by SEM, TEM,
      and AFM images, EDS analyses and absorption spectra. This novel nanostructure
      exhibited excellent SERS properties due to the formation of hot spots around the
      inner and outer Ag NPs, which were identified by theoretical calculations. A
      detection limit of the analyte molecule was obtained as low as 10(-11) M by using
      this SERS nanostructure. Moreover, the homogeneity of SERS signals from the three
      core-shell nanostructure was checked by Raman mapping. Our studies show that the
      unique Ag@MSiO2@Ag three core-shell nanostructure has significant potential to
      realize a SERS substrate with both sensitivity and stability, which are important
      in SERS-based immunoassay. 

PMID- 26876372
TI  - High-throughput 3D whole-brain quantitative histopathology in rodents.
AB  - Histology is the gold standard to unveil microscopic brain structures and
      pathological alterations in humans and animal models of disease. However, due to
      tedious manual interventions, quantification of histopathological markers is
      classically performed on a few tissue sections, thus restricting measurements to
      limited portions of the brain. Recently developed 3D microscopic imaging
      techniques have allowed in-depth study of neuroanatomy. However, quantitative
      methods are still lacking for whole-brain analysis of cellular and pathological
      markers. Here, we propose a ready-to-use, automated, and scalable method to
      thoroughly quantify histopathological markers in 3D in rodent whole brains. It
      relies on block-face photography, serial histology and 3D-HAPi (Three Dimensional
      Histology Analysis Pipeline), an open source image analysis software. We
      illustrate our method in studies involving mouse models of Alzheimer's disease
      and show that it can be broadly applied to characterize animal models of brain
      diseases, to evaluate therapeutic interventions, to anatomically correlate
      cellular and pathological markers throughout the entire brain and to validate in
      vivo imaging techniques. 

PMID- 26876373
TI  - Zika virus and microcephaly: why is this situation a PHEIC?

PMID- 26876375
TI  - Effect of Sodium Fluoride on Bone Biomechanical and Histomorphometric Parameters
      and on Insulin Signaling and Insulin Sensitivity in Ovariectomized Rats.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by bone degradation and
      decreased bone mass that promotes increased bone fragility and eventual fracture
      risk. Studies have investigated the use of sodium fluoride (NaF) for the
      treatment of osteoporosis. However, fluoride can alter glucose homeostasis. The
      aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NaF intake (50 mg/L) from water
      on the following parameters of ovariectomized (OVX) rats: (1) tyrosine
      phosphorylation status of insulin receptor substrate (pp185 (IRS-1/IRS-2)) in
      white adipose tissue; (2) insulin sensitivity; (3) plasma concentrations of
      glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, TNF-alpha, IL-6, osteocalcin,
      calcium, and fluoride; (4) bone density and biomechanical properties in the
      tibia; and (5) tibia histomorphometric analysis. Fifty-two Wistar rats (2 months
      old) were ovariectomized and distributed into two groups: control group (OVX-C)
      and NaF group (OVX-F), which was subjected to treatment with NaF (50 mg/L)
      administered in drinking water for 42 days. The chronic treatment with NaF
      promoted (1) a decrease in pp185 (IRS-1/IRS-2) tyrosine phosphorylation status
      after insulin infusion in white adipose tissue and in insulin sensitivity; (2) an
      increase in the plasma concentration of insulin, fluoride, osteocalcin, calcium,
      triglyceride, VLDL-cholesterol, TNF-alpha, and IL-6; (3) a reduction in the
      trabecular width, bone area, stiffness, maximum strength, and tenacity; (4) no
      changes in body weight, food and water intake, plasma glucose, total cholesterol,
      HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density.
      It was concluded that chronic treatment with NaF (50 mg/L) in OVX rats causes a
      decrease in insulin sensitivity, insulin signaling transduction, and biochemical,
      biomechanical, and histomorphometric bone parameters. 

PMID- 26876374
TI  - Is there a role for the thinprep imaging system in reporting anal cytology?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The ThinPrep Imaging System (TIS) is an accurate time-saving method
      of reading cervical ThinPrep slides in screening programs. As anal and cervical
      cytology are morphologically similar, TIS can potentially be used for anal
      cytology. We assessed the performance of TIS on anal ThinPrep slides from
      homosexual men in a natural history study of human papillomavirus-related anal
      abnormalities. METHODS: Four hundred nineteen anal cytology slides were processed
      by TIS and classified by a cytologist as either No further review (slide
      archived) or Manual review (slide requiring full manual screen). The results were
      compared with the original manual screening report for all slides and
      specifically for those screening episodes accompanied by a high-grade squamous
      intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) on concurrent biopsy. RESULTS: One hundred seventy
      six of 419 (42.0%) slides were classified as No further review, with a trend of
      decreasing proportions as the degree of severity of the cytological abnormality
      increased. Thirteen (27.7%) slides with an original unsatisfactory report were
      classified as No further review. Eighty two (92.1%) of those with biopsy HSIL and
      cytological abnormality were classified for Manual review, including all 45
      (100%) with cytological HSIL. CONCLUSION: The cervical algorithm of TIS performed
      best on anal samples when HSIL was present both cytologically and histologically.
      The 27.7% unsatisfactory slides classified as No further review may indicate need
      for use of different criteria from cervical cytology. Because of the high
      prevalence of abnormalities, and hence the large proportion of slides needing
      manual review, the cytologist time-saving would compare unfavorably with use of
      TIS in cervical screening.

PMID- 26876376
TI  - A biomimetic molecular switch at work: coupling photoisomerization dynamics to
      peptide structural rearrangement.
AB  - In spite of considerable interest in the design of molecular switches towards
      photo-controllable (bio)materials, few studies focused on the major influence of
      the surrounding environment on the switch photoreactivities. We present a
      combined experimental and computational study of a retinal-like molecular switch
      linked to a peptide, elucidating the effects on the photoreactivity and on the
      alpha-helix secondary structure. Temperature-dependent, femtosecond UV-vis
      transient absorption spectroscopy and high-level hybrid quantum
      mechanics/molecular mechanics methods were applied to describe the
      photoisomerization process and the subsequent peptide rearrangement. It was found
      that the conformational heterogeneity of the ground state peptide controls the
      excited state potential energy surface and the thermally activated population
      decay. Still, a reversible alpha-helix to alpha-hairpin conformational change is
      predicted, paving the way for a fine photocontrol of different secondary
      structure elements, hence (bio)molecular functions, using retinal-inspired
      molecular switches. 

PMID- 26876377
TI  - An improved low-voltage ride-through performance of DFIG based wind plant using
      stator dynamic composite fault current limiter.
AB  - In this paper, an enhanced low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) performance of a grid
      connected doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) has been presented with the usage
      of stator dynamic composite fault current limiter (SDCFCL). This protection
      circuit comprises of a suitable series resistor-inductor combination and parallel
      bidirectional semiconductor switch. The SDCFCL facilitates double benefits such
      as reduction of rotor induced open circuit voltage due to increased value of
      stator total inductance and concurrent increase of rotor impedance. Both effects
      will limit rotor circuit over current and over voltage situation more secured way
      in comparison to the conventional scheme like the dynamic rotor current limiter
      (RCL) during any type of fault situation. The proposed concept is validated
      through the simulation study of the grid integrated 2.0MW DFIG. 

PMID- 26876378
TI  - An integer order approximation method based on stability boundary locus for
      fractional order derivative/integrator operators.
AB  - This paper introduces an integer order approximation method for numerical
      implementation of fractional order derivative/integrator operators in control
      systems. The proposed method is based on fitting the stability boundary locus
      (SBL) of fractional order derivative/integrator operators and SBL of integer
      order transfer functions. SBL defines a boundary in the parametric design plane
      of controller, which separates stable and unstable regions of a feedback control
      system and SBL analysis is mainly employed to graphically indicate the choice of
      controller parameters which result in stable operation of the feedback systems.
      This study reveals that the SBL curves of fractional order operators can be
      matched with integer order models in a limited frequency range. SBL fitting
      method provides straightforward solutions to obtain an integer order model
      approximation of fractional order operators and systems according to matching
      points from SBL of fractional order systems in desired frequency ranges. Thus,
      the proposed method can effectively deal with stability preservation problems of
      approximate models. Illustrative examples are given to show performance of the
      proposed method and results are compared with the well-known approximation
      methods developed for fractional order systems. The integer-order approximate
      modeling of fractional order PID controllers is also illustrated for control
      applications. 

PMID- 26876379
TI  - Linkage-length dependent structuring behaviour of bent-core molecules in helical
      nanostructures.
AB  - We studied the correlation between the molecular structure and the formation of
      helical nanofilaments (HNFs) of bent-core dimeric molecules with varying linkage
      lengths. To obtain precise structural data, a single domain of HNFs was prepared
      under physical confinement using porous 1D nanochannels, made up of anodic
      aluminium oxide films. Electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray
      diffraction were used to elucidate the linkage length-dependent formation of
      HNFs. 

PMID- 26876381
TI  - Association between FAT1 mutation and overall survival in patients with human
      papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to characterize the mutation profile of
      FAT atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1) and determine the prognostic significance of FAT1
      mutation for overall survival in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)
      negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Data were
      downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome
      Consortium (ICGC) data portals and used as discovery and validation sets. FAT1
      mutational status was determined in 234 and 37 patients with HPV-negative HNSCC,
      respectively, and overall survival analysis was performed. For comparison, HPV
      positive patients were also analyzed for overall survival. RESULTS: Most of the
      identified nonsynonymous somatic FAT1 mutations were loss-of-function mutations.
      FAT1 mutation was significantly associated with better overall survival in HPV
      negative patients from both the TCGA cohort (p = .026) and the ICGC cohort (p =
      .047), but not in HPV-positive patients. CONCLUSION: FAT1 mutational status is a
      strong independent prognostic factor in patients with HPV-negative HNSCC. (c)
      2016 The Authors Head & Neck Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:
      E2021-E2029, 2016.

PMID- 26876380
TI  - Virus-mediated EpoR76E gene therapy preserves vision in a glaucoma model by
      modulating neuroinflammation and decreasing oxidative stress.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a complex neurodegeneration and a leading cause of
      blindness worldwide. Current therapeutic strategies, which are all directed
      towards lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP), do not stop progression of the
      disease. We have demonstrated that recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene
      delivery of a form of erythropoietin with attenuated erythropoietic activity
      (EpoR76E) can preserve retinal ganglion cells, their axons, and vision without
      decreasing IOP. The goal of this study was to determine if modulation of
      neuroinflammation or oxidative stress played a role in the neuroprotective
      activity of EPO.R76E. METHODS: Five-month-old DBA/2J mice were treated with
      either rAAV.EpoR76E or a control vector and collected at 8 months of age.
      Neuroprotection was assessed by quantification of axon transport and visual
      evoked potentials. Microglia number and morphology and cytokine and chemokine
      levels were quantified. Message levels of oxidative stress-related proteins were
      assessed. RESULTS: Axon transport and visual evoked potentials were preserved in
      rAAV.EpoR76E-treated mice. The number of microglia was decreased in retinas from
      8-month-old rAAV.EpoR76E-treated mice, but proliferation was unaffected. The
      blood-retina barrier was also unaffected by treatment. Levels of some pro
      inflammatory cytokines were decreased in retinas from rAAV.EpoR76E-treated mice
      including IL-1, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, CCL4, and CCL5. TNFalpha messenger RNA
      (mRNA) was increased in retinas from 8-month-old mice compared to 3-month-old
      controls regardless of treatment. Expression of several antioxidant proteins was
      increased in retinas of rAAV.EpoR76E-treated 8-month-old mice. CONCLUSIONS:
      Treatment with rAAV.EpoR76E preserves vision in the DBA/2J model of glaucoma at
      least in part by decreasing infiltration of peripheral immune cells, modulating
      microglial reactivity, and decreasing oxidative stress.

PMID- 26876382
TI  - Pharmacological Manipulation of the Rostromedial Tegmental Nucleus Changes
      Voluntary and Operant Ethanol Self-Administration in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aversive properties of ethanol (EtOH) that limit its intake are
      poorly understood. There is an increasing interest in the role of the
      rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), because it encodes aversion signals and
      inhibits motivated behaviors. It is also a major source of inhibitory GABAergic
      inputs to the midbrain dopamine neurons. Up to this time, the role of the RMTg in
      EtOH-drinking behaviors has not been well explored. METHODS: Male Long-Evans rats
      were trained either to drink EtOH under the intermittent 2-bottle-choice protocol
      or to self-administer EtOH in operant chambers under fixed-ratio-3 schedules.
      Changes in drinking behaviors induced by the bilateral infusion into the RMTg of
      alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), an agonist of
      AMPA-type glutamate receptors, or muscimol, an agonist of GABAA receptors, were
      measured. RESULTS: Consumption and preference for EtOH, numbers of active lever
      pressing, and head entrance to the EtOH port were all significantly decreased
      upon activation of the RMTg by the infusion of AMPA, but were increased upon
      inhibition of the RMTg by the infusion of muscimol. By contrast, intra-RMTg
      infusion of these agents did not change sucrose consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These
      data show for the first time that EtOH-drinking and EtOH-seeking behaviors of
      rats changed inversely with RMTg function, supporting the idea that the RMTg
      plays a crucial role in EtOH-drinking behaviors.

PMID- 26876384
TI  - Relapsing polychondritis: A clinical update.
AB  - Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare connective tissue disease in which
      recurrent bouts of inflammation, involve the cartilage of the ears, nose, larynx,
      tracheobronchial tree and cardiovascular system. RP is generally observed in the
      fourth and fifth decades of life and occurs with equal frequency in both sexes.
      The cause of RP is still unknown. It is considered an immune-mediated disease, as
      there is an overlap between well documented RP with other rheumatic and
      autoimmune diseases. There is a significant association of RP with the antigen
      HLA-DR4. RP includes loss of basophilic staining of cartilage matrix perichondral
      accompanied by inflammation of the cartilage. Cells are present perivascular
      mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells infiltrated. The chondrocytes become
      vacuolated and necrotic and are replaced by fibrous tissue. Common symptoms are
      often absent in the early stages of the disease in almost half the cases,
      resulting in delay in diagnosis. The development of chondrite allows the
      diagnosis of RP in patients initially evaluated for joint abnormalities, ocular,
      cutaneous, or audio-vestibular. Diagnostic criteria for RP are based on
      characteristic clinical manifestations. According to Damiani and Levine, the
      diagnosis can be considered final when one or more of the clinical features are
      present in conjunction with biopsy confirmation. The course of symptoms for
      patients with relapsing polychondritis is often unpredictable. Patients with mild
      signs of acute inflammation are usually treated with non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs and small doses of prednisone. Patients with severe
      manifestations, such as airway compromise may require high doses of prednisone or
      even intravenous pulse methyl-prednisone. 

PMID- 26876383
TI  - New insights into immune mechanisms underlying response to Rituximab in patients
      with membranous nephropathy: A prospective study and a review of the literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common immune-mediated
      glomerular disease and the main cause of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in Caucasian
      adults. Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to safely reduce proteinuria in
      patients with primary MN and severe NS. However, the effects of RTX treatment on
      T-cells including regulatory T-cells (Treg) in MN have not been fully determined.
      METHODS: Seventeen patients [mean age 67 (29-86) years, 6 women, 11 men] with
      biopsy-proven MN, and persistent proteinuria >3.5 g/24h were prospectively
      enrolled and received RTX, 375 mg/m(2) (iv) on days 1, 8, 15 and 22. Changes in
      circulating B and T cell homeostasis were examined in the peripheral blood by
      flow-cytometry studies; serum levels of IL-35 were measured using a high
      sensitivity ELISA kits (baseline, at month 3, 6, 9 and 12). RESULTS: Patients had
      been followed-up for a mean of 36.3 months (24-48). Proteinuria decreased from
      5.6 (3.5-8) g/24h to 2.4 (0.06-13) g/24h at 6 months (p<0.05) and to 1.3 (0.06-8)
      at 12 months (p<0.01), respectively after therapy with RTX. Four patients
      received a 2nd course of RTX (one at 6 months because of persistent NS, and three
      at 12, 18, or 30 months for relapse). The three relapsing patients became
      proteinuria-free (<0.5 g/24h) in the following 6 months. Serum creatinine
      remained stable during the follow-up: median 1mg/dl (0.7-1.6) at 12 months and
      1.1 (0.7-1.7) at 24 months as compared to 1 (0.5-2.4) at baseline. At 6 months
      after RTX, complete remission (CR) was observed in 7 patients, partial remission
      (PR) in 4, while 6 were non responders (NR) non responder (NR). At the end of the
      follow-up, 14 patients were in CR, 1 in PR, while 2 were NR. In the T-cell
      compartment, upon detection of B cell depletion, there was an increase in Treg up
      to 10-fold when comparing baseline and at month 12 (mean +/- SD 1.2 +/- 0.6%, and
      5.8 +/- 0.7% p=0.02, respectively). When stratifying patients in responders
      (CR+PR) and NRs at month 12, we observed a significant increase in Treg cells
      from month 6 which persisted till 12 months only in the responder group (5.5 +/-
      0.6% and 1.1 +/- 0.6%, p=0.04, respectively in responders and NRs). A
      statistically significant decrease in the levels of active T-lymphocytes (HLA
      DR+CD8+ cells) was observed, with a maximum reached at 12 months after treatment
      with RTX [6 +/- 1.1% baseline, 4.7 +/- 1.7% at 6 months (p=0.043) and 1.5 +/-
      1.4% at 12 months (p=0.05)]. A marked increase in IL-35 levels [defined as delta
      >40% (serum values at 6 months minus baseline values)] was seen in 68% of the
      patients who achieved clinical response (CR or PR) at 12 month, but in none of
      the patients who failed to respond (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Our findings and data
      from literature support the idea that RTX can be envisaged as a first-line
      therapy for patients at risk of progression because of persistent NS due to
      idiopathic MN. Insights into the putative T cell-related mechanisms of action
      have been discussed.

PMID- 26876385
TI  - Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory profiles of cutaneous polyarteritis
      nodosa patients: Report of 22 cases and literature review.
AB  - Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is a rare disease that affects small and
      middle caliber vessels of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue and its
      etiopathology remains yet to be understood. METHODS: Retrospective review of
      twenty two cases diagnosed as CPAN and confirmed by skin biopsy over the last 11
      years was evaluated in our department. RESULTS: We found predominance in white
      woman, mean age of 39.4 years, showing no comorbidities in most of our sample.
      Mean follow-up time was 58 months. The most frequent cutaneous manifestations
      were ulcers, livedo racemosa, subcutaneous nodules, atrophie blanche lesions and
      purpuras; with lower limb involvement in all cases, however other areas were also
      involved. The main regional symptoms were pain and paresthesia, while systemic
      complaints were absent in the majority of cases. Mononeuritis multiplex was
      identified in a quarter of our sample. Most of the laboratory findings were non
      specific. There was evidence for previous contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      in 46.1% of cases which were tested for purified protein derivative (PPD) test.
      In our patients the disease course was benign and without complications, and
      systemic polyarteritis nodosa did not develop in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: An
      extensive work-up including laboratory tests on autoimmunity and thrombophilic
      factors and investigation of infectious diseases, especially previous contact
      with tuberculosis agent, should be part of the CPAN investigation.

PMID- 26876387
TI  - Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review.
AB  - Cannabinoids have shown to have a variety effects on body systems. Through CB1
      and CB2 receptors, amongst other, they exert an effect by modulating
      neurotransmitter and cytokine release. Current research in the role of
      cannabinoids in the immune system shows that they possess immunosuppressive
      properties. They can inhibit proliferation of leucocytes, induce apoptosis of T
      cells and macrophages and reduce secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In mice
      models, they are effective in reducing inflammation in arthritis, multiple
      sclerosis, have a positive effect on neuropathic pain and in type 1 diabetes
      mellitus. They are effective as treatment for fibromyalgia and have shown to have
      anti-fibrotic effect in scleroderma. Studies in human models are scarce and not
      conclusive and more research is required in this field. Cannabinoids can be
      therefore promising immunosuppressive and anti-fibrotic agents in the therapy of
      autoimmune disorders. 

PMID- 26876386
TI  - New insight into the pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome: Role of
      the persistence of respiratory tract virus in immune disorders.
AB  - The pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is a complex
      clinical problem which, unfortunately, has been in need of significant
      breakthroughs for decades. Improved understanding of the mechanisms is important
      to develop effective treatment strategies. To our knowledge, the pathogenesis of
      MCNS is multifactorial, involving both intrinsic and extrinsic factors,
      reasonable to be regarded as a "long chain" cascade reaction. Current studies
      implicating that the disease could probably be caused by immune disorders,
      however, have focused merely on the middle or terminal of this "long chain". It
      remains unclear what really triggers the immune disorders. It is noteworthy that
      the close association of respiratory tract infection with the occurrence, relapse
      and aggravation of nephrotic syndrome has been confirmed for over two decades.
      Derived from what we demonstrated in earlier studies, that the persistence of
      respiratory tract virus may contribute to the onset and development of MCNS, this
      review summarizes current evidence investigating the possible mechanisms of viral
      persistence, and discusses the role of viral persistence in the pathogenesis of
      MCNS. The key point is: whether the persistence of respiratory tract virus
      results in immune disorders. The available evidence under review also highlight
      the fact that the background of genetic susceptibility to the disease was found
      in many patients, which could be triggered by extrinsic factors, e.g. by the
      infection of respiratory tract virus. 

PMID- 26876389
TI  - Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever: An Emerging Public Health Care Challenge in
      Pakistan.

PMID- 26876388
TI  - Plasma membrane insertion of epithelial sodium channels occurs with dual
      kinetics.
AB  - The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) constitutes the rate-limiting step for Na(+)
      transport across electrically tight epithelia. Regulation of ENaC activity is
      critical for electrolyte and extracellular volume homeostasis, as well as for
      lung liquid clearance and colon Na(+) handling. ENaC activity is tightly
      controlled by a combination of mechanisms involving changes in open probability
      and plasma membrane abundance. The latter reflects a combination in channel
      biosynthesis and trafficking to and from the membrane. Studying ENaC trafficking
      with different techniques in a variety of expression systems has yielded
      inconsistent results, indicating either fast or slow rates of insertion and
      retrieval, which range from the order of minutes to several hours. Here, we use
      Xenopus oocytes as ENaC expression system to study channel insertion rate in the
      membrane using two different techniques under comparable conditions: (1) confocal
      microscopy coupled to fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)
      measurements; and (2) fluorescent bungarotoxin (BTX) binding to ENaC subunits
      modified to include BTX binding sites (BBSs) in their extracellular domain, a
      technique that has not been previously used to study ENaC trafficking. Our
      confocal-FRAP data indicate a fast rate of ENaC incorporation to the membrane in
      a process conditioned by channel subunit composition. On the other hand, BTX
      binding experiments indicate much slower channel insertion rates, with matching
      slow ENaC retrieval rates. The data support a model that includes fast recycling
      of endocytosed ENaC with parallel incorporation of newly synthesized channels at
      a slower rate.

PMID- 26876390
TI  - In Vitro Comparative Study of Two Different Bleaching Agents on Micro-hardness
      Dental Enamel.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of home-use bleaching agent containing 16%
      Carbamide Peroxide (CP) and in-office bleaching agent containing 38% Hydrogen
      Peroxide (HP) on enamel micro-hardness. STUDY DESIGN: An in vitroexperimental
      study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Operative Dentistry and Science
      of Dental Materials at Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences,
      Dow University of Health Sciences and Material Engineering Department of NED
      University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, from July to December 2014.
      METHODOLOGY: Atotal of 90 enamel slabs from 45 sound human 3rd molar were
      randomly divided into 3 groups. Each group contained 30 specimens (n=30). Group 1
      was kept in artificial saliva at 37 degrees C in incubator during the whole
      experiment. However, Groups 2 and 3 were treated with power whitening gel and
      tooth whitening pen respectively. After bleaching session, specimens were
      thoroughly rinsed with deionized water again for 10 seconds and then stored in
      artificial saliva at 37 degrees C in incubator. Artificial saliva was changed
      after every 2 days. The Vickers hardness tester (Wolpert 402 MVD, Germany) was
      adjusted to a load of 0.1 kg (100 gm) and dwell time of 5 seconds. Three Vickers
      were performed on each specimen using a hardness tester according to the ISO 6507
      3:1998 specification. Micro-hardness measurements were performed before and after
      bleaching at day 1, 7 and 14. RESULTS: In the control group, the baseline micro
      hardness was 181.1 &plusmn;9.3 which was reduced after the storage on day 1, 7
      and 14 (p = 0.104). In Group 2, baseline micro-hardness was 180.4 &plusmn;10.1
      which was reduced to 179.79 &plusmn;10.0 units after day 1. Whereas, on day 7 and
      14, the values of micro-hardness were 179.8 &plusmn;10 and 179.7 &plusmn;10.29,
      respectively (p=0.091). Furthermore, the baseline micro-hardness in Group 3 was
      174.0 &plusmn;22.9 units which was reduced to 173 &plusmn;23 on day 1, 170
      &plusmn;30 on day 7 and 173 &plusmn;23 on day 14 (p = 0.256). The statistically
      insignificant difference was found among micro-hardness values of different
      bleaching agents (p = 0.118). CONCLUSION: Bleaching with 38% Hydrogen Peroxide
      (HP) and 16% Carbamide Peroxide (CP) resulted in insignificant effect on surface
      micro-hardness of enamel.

PMID- 26876391
TI  - Decreased Serum 25-Hydroxycalciferol Levels in Pre-diabetic Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum 25-hydroxycalciferol levels [25(OH)D] in adults
      with pre-diabetes and normoglycaemia to examine a possible association of vitamin
      D deficiency with pre-diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. PLACE AND
      DURATION OF STUDY: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from November
      2012 to July 2013. METHODOLOGY: Atotal of 272 adults including 136 pre-diabetics
      and 136 normoglycaemics of either gender aged 20 years and above were
      consecutively inducted. Patients with diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, rickets and
      osteomalacia, ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease and chronic liver
      disease were excluded. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) was estimated with hexokinase
      method on Modular p800 Roche chemistry analyzer while serum 25(OH)D was measured
      on Diasorin Liaison immunoassay analyzer using the chemiluminescent technique.
      Mean 25(OH)D levels in pre-diabetic and normoglycaemic groups were compared using
      Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman's correlation coefficient 'rs' was determined
      between serum 25(OH)D and FPG. Odds ratio for vitamin D deficiency was also
      calculated. RESULTS: Mean serum 25(OH)D level was low in pre-diabetics (23.2
      nmol/L) as compared to normoglycaemics (29 nmol/L; p=0.001). Serum 25(OH)D level
      had inverse correlation with FPG (rs= -0.448, p=0.000). There was also
      significant association of vitamin D deficiency with pre-diabetes compared with
      normoglycaemia (OR: 2.21, p= 0.016; 95% CI: 1.15-4.27). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D
      deficiency with pre-diabetes suggested that vitamin D may have an important role
      in pathogenesis of pre-diabetes.

PMID- 26876392
TI  - New-Style Laparoscope and Endoscope Cooperative Gallbladder-Preserving Surgery
      for Polyps.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new style of Laparoscope
      and Endoscope Cooperative gallbladderpreserving Surgery (LECS), an improved
      method of minimally invasive gallbladder-preserving polypectomy. STUDY DESIGN: An
      experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of General Surgery,
      The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China, from January 2009 to
      July 2013. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data of patients subjected to LECS and
      Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) was analysed. The inclusion criteria were
      normal size clear gallbladder bile with total volume (FV) of the gallbladder = 15
      - 25 ml, the Residual Volume (RV) = 5 ml, and the Emptying Figure (EF) > 75%,
      with polyps diagnosed definitively by B-type ultrasonic imaging or CTdesirous of
      preserving gallbladder. Exclusion criteria were a history of midsection surgery,
      serious diseases of any organ, hepatic injury, or coagulation disturbance. Mean
      hospital stay and complications were also noted. Independent sample t-test, the
      frequency comparison used chi-square test (N > 5), and Fisher's exact test (N <
      5) were used for statistical test. RESULTS: The mean hospital stay after LECS was
      3.50 +/-0.31 days, and 3.50 +/-0.31 days for the LC group. The mean age in LC and
      LECS group was 50 +/-25.4 and 44 +/-12.1 years, respectively. Complications after
      operation in the LECS were indigestion and diarrhea; LC group had indigestion
      (9.33%), diarrhea (10.67%), and gastroesophageal reflux (6.6.7%). In the 3 months
      follow-up after discharging from the hospital, no patient had recurrence of any
      gallbladder disease; at 1 year follow-up, 1 patient (1.28%) developed cholesterol
      crystals; at 3-year follow-up, 3 cases (3.84%) were found to have recurring
      polyps (2~4 pieces), and 2 (2.56%) patients developed cholesterol crystals.
      CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive gallbladder-preserving polypectomy which used a
      CHIAO cholecystoscopy compared with a laparoscope is safe, feasible, and can
      effectively reduce the vestiges and recrudescence of polyps in
      gallbladderpreserving surgery.

PMID- 26876393
TI  - Pancreas Divisum.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the complications, technical success, diagnostic
      evaluation and various endoscopic management options in patients with pancreas
      divisum. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Endoscopy
      Suite, Surgical Unit 4, Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to December
      2013. METHODOLOGY: All Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-pancreatography (ERCPs)
      procedure performed in patients with pancreas divisum were analyzed. Success was
      defined as having authentic diagnostic information or a successful endoscopic
      therapy for the condition. RESULTS: During the study period, 3600 patients
      underwent 4500 ERCPprocedures. Pancreas divisum was found in 17 patients (0.47%);
      7 ERCPs (41.2%) were performed for diagnostic and 10 (58.8%) for therapeutic
      purposes. Sixteen (94.1%) had complete PD and one (5.9%) had incomplete PD. Male
      and Female ratio was 1:1.83 with a mean age of 26.3 years and median symptom
      duration of 11 months. Atotal of 23 procedures were performed in 17 patients; 2
      had ERCP done thrice, 2 underwent the procedure twice, while the rest had single
      procedure done. Six (35.3%) patients had chronic pancreatitis, 7 (41.2%) had
      acute recurrent pancreatitis and 4 (23.5%) had acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic
      minor papillotomy was performed. There was no procedure-related mortality.
      ERCPaffected management in 88.2% (15/17 procedures). CONCLUSION: ERCPis a safe
      and feasible procedure for pancreas divisum patients.

PMID- 26876394
TI  - Surgical Site Infection in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Undergoing
      Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of surgical site infections in patients with
      type II diabetes undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy as compared with non
      diabetic patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY:
      Surgical Unit 2, Services Hospital, Lahore, from May to October 2012.
      METHODOLOGY: Patients were divided into two groups of 60 each, undergoing
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Group A comprised non-diabetic patients and group B
      comprised type II diabetic patients. Patients were followed postoperatively upto
      one month for the development of SSIs. Proportion of patients with surgical site
      infections or otherwise was compared between the groups using chi-square test
      with significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In group A, 35 patients were above the
      age of 40 years. In group B, 38 patients were above the age of 40 years. Four
      patients in group Adeveloped a surgical site infection. Seven patients in group B
      developed SSIs (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Presence of diabetes mellitus did not
      significantly affect the onset of surgical site infection in patients undergoing
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PMID- 26876395
TI  - Immunohistochemical Profile of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequencies of histological types of lymphoma,
      diagnosed with complete immunohistochemical profile in younger and older age
      group. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF
      STUDY: Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory, Dow University of Health
      Sciences, Karachi, from January 2009 to September 2013. METHODOLOGY: Consecutive
      cases of lymphomas, which were diagnosed using immunohistochemistry, were
      analyzed according to WHO classification. Frequency and percentages for different
      types of lymphomas were calculated. Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas
      characteristics in two age groups of less than and more than 40 years were
      compared, applying chi-square test. RESULTS: Out of the 318 cases, 79 (25%) were
      Hodgkin Lymphomas (HL) and 239 (75%) were Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL). Mixed
      Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma (MCHL) was the commonest (n=48). Amongst the NHL,
      215 (89.95%) were B cell lymphomas and 24 (10.05%) were T-cell lymphomas. Diffuse
      Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) was the commonest lymphoma (n=165, 69.95% of NHL).
      Anaplastic T-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL, n=10) was the commonest T-cell lymphoma. The
      frequency of HLwas significantly higher in the younger age group and that of
      NHLwas higher in the older age group (p < 0.001). Primary lymph node involvement
      was reported in 175 (55%) and cervical lymph node was the most frequent site.
      Extra nodal involvement was seen in 93 (29%) of all cases and was reported in 87
      (36.4%) of NHLand 6 (7.5%) of HL. The most common extra nodal site was the
      gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Hodgkin lymphoma comprises 25% and non
      Hodgkin lymphoma comprises 75% of all lymphomas. Both occur in younger age groups
      than reported in the West. B-cell NHLis three times more common than T-cell
      lymphoma. DLBCLis the most frequent lymphoma. ALCLis the most common T-cell, and
      mixed cellularity is the most common Hodgkin lymphoma.

PMID- 26876396
TI  - Immunoinformatic Analysis of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Glycoproteins
      and Epitope Prediction for Synthetic Peptide Vaccine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus M
      segement glycoprotein's immunoinformatic parameters, and identify Human Leukocyte
      Antigen (HLA) class I binders as candidates for synthetic peptide vaccines. STUDY
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Combined Military
      Hospital, Khuzdar Cantt, in May 2015. METHODOLOGY: Data acquisition, antigenicity
      prediction, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, residue analysis were
      done using immunoinformatics tools. HLAclass I binders in glycoprotein's sequence
      were identified at nanomer length using NetMHC 3.4 and mapped onto tertiary
      structure. Docking was done for strongest binder against its corresponding allele
      with CABS-dock. RESULTS: HLAA*0101, 0201, 0301, 2402, 2601 and B*0702, 0801,
      2705, 3901, 4001, 5801, 1501 were analyzed against two glycoprotein components of
      the virus. Atotal of 35 nanomers from GP1, and 3 from GP2 were identified.
      HLAB*0702 bound maximum number of peptides (6), while HLAB*4001 showed strongest
      binding affinity. CONCLUSION: HLAspecific glycoproteins epitope prediction can
      help identify synthetic peptide vaccine candidates.

PMID- 26876397
TI  - Frequency of Candida albicans in Patients with Funguria.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of Candida albicansin patients with
      funguria. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF
      STUDY: Department of Microbiology, Sindh Institute of Urology and
      Transplantation, from July to December 2012. METHODOLOGY: Patients' urine samples
      with fungus/Candida were included. Candida albicans was identified by the
      production of tubular structures (germ tubes) on microscopy as per standard
      procedure followed by inoculation on Chrom agar (Oxoid) and Corn Meal-Tween 80
      agar (Oxoid). The identification of other non-albicans Candidaspecies was also
      done both microscopically and macroscopically as per standard procedure. RESULTS:
      Out of the 289 isolates, 204 (70.6%) were male patients and 85 (29.4%) were
      female patients, with 165 (57.1%) from the out-patients and 124 (42.9%) from the
      in-patients. Five species of Candidawere found to be prevalent including 87
      (30.1%) Candida albicans, 176 (60.9%) Candida tropicalis, 14 (4.8%) Candida
      parapsilosis, 8 (2.8%) Candida glabrata and 4 (1.4%) Candida lusitaniae. Majority
      of patients with funguria were aged above 50 years (60.2%). CONCLUSION: In the
      present study, 30.1% patients with funguria had Candida albicans. The most
      frequently isolated species was Candida tropicalis(60.9%), followed by other non
      albicansCandida. This study has shown the emergence of non-albicans Candidaas a
      major cause of candiduria.

PMID- 26876398
TI  - Postoperative Functional Outcome of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors
      Through Posterior Approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine functional outcome of intradural extramedullary spinal
      tumors in patients undergoing excision through the posterior approach alone.
      STUDY DESIGN: Interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Neurosurgery
      Department, JPMC, Karachi, from March 2011 to February 2014. METHODOLOGY:
      Patients with intradural extramedullary spinal tumors (IDEM), confirmed on MRI,
      were admitted through Outpatient Department. Those with bleeding disorders,
      diabetes mellitus, previously operated and with no histopathological evidence of
      tumor on biopsy, were excluded. Clinical signs, symptoms and location of the
      tumor were noted. These patients then underwent laminectomy and excision of tumor
      through the posterior approach, regardless of the location or type of tumor.
      Transpedicular screw was placed where the tumor was so large, as to cause
      posterior instability. The functional outcome was evaluated by assessment of
      Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale for Muscle Strength preoperatively and at 6
      months follow-up postoperatively. Good outcome was labelled when there was
      improvement from previous grade before surgery to higher grade, as assessed by
      muscle strength on follow-up at 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of
      the 38 patients was 42.6 +/-10 years. Majority were females (68.42%). Meningioma
      was the commonest tumor (63.15%). The commonest location was thoracic spine
      (73.68%). Backache was present in all (100%) patients, motor weakness in 30
      (78.92%) patients, sensory disturbance in 5 (13.5%) patients, sphincter
      disturbance in 7 (18.42%) patients, and shortness of breath in 1 (2.63%) patient.
      Preoperatively, there were 10 patients (26.31%) in grade 3, 9 (23.68%) patients
      in grade 0, 8 (21.05%) in grade 1, 7 (18.42%) patients in grade 2. After 6
      postoperative months, there were 23 (60.52%) patients in grade 5, 5 (13.15%)
      patients in grade 3, 5 (13.15%) patients in grade 2 and 2 (5.26%) patients in
      grade 1. Postoperative complications were CSF leak, respiratory distress, wound
      infection and incontinence. CONCLUSION: Functional outcome of intradural
      extramedullary spinal tumors was found to be good.

PMID- 26876399
TI  - Efficacy of 2.5% and 1.25% Povidone-Iodine Solution for Prophylaxis of Ophthalmia
      Neonatorum.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of 2.5% and 1.25% Povidone-Iodine solution
      for Ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Interventional study. PLACE
      AND DURATION OF STUDY: Eye Department, Combined Military Hospital, Sargodha, from
      May to November 2014. METHODOLOGY: Atotal of 200 eyes of 100 newborn babies were
      enrolled and divided into two groups of 100 right eyes and 100 left eyes.
      Aconjunctival swab for bacterial culture was taken within 30 minutes after
      delivery. Asingle drop of 2.5% Povidone-Iodine was then placed in the right eye
      while in the left eye a single drop of 1.25% Povidone-Iodine was placed. Thirty
      minutes after placing Povidone-Iodine, a conjunctival swab was again taken.
      Abacterial suspension was prepared from each swab in determining bacterial
      counts. The bacterial suspension was inoculated on yeast extract agar and the
      number of colony forming units were counted. At each culture, the number of
      colony forming units before and after instillation of 2.5% Povidone-Iodine and
      1.25% Povidone-Iodine were compared. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used for
      statistical analysis. RESULTS: The 2.5% Povidone-Iodine solution caused a
      statistically significant decrease in the number of colony forming units
      (p=0.001). Similarly, the 1.25% Povidone-Iodine solution also reduced the number
      of colony forming units to a statistically significant level (p=0.001).
      CONCLUSION: The 1.25% concentration of Povidone-Iodine is as effective as the
      2.5% concentration of Povidone-Iodine in reducing the number of colony forming
      units in healthy conjunctivae of newborns.

PMID- 26876400
TI  - The Impact of Body Mass Index on Oral Hygiene Practices of Adolescents in Bhopal
      City, India.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on oral hygiene
      practices of adolescents in Bhopal City, India. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Arts College, Bhopal, from February to March
      2014. METHODOLOGY: Aconvenience sample of 17 - 23 years college-going adolescents
      from Arts College, Bhopal city was selected for the study. Self-reported
      questionnaire for adolescents to assess BMI and oral hygiene attitude, knowledge
      and practices was used. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were applied.
      RESULTS: Out of the total study population, 53.54% (n=166) were males and 46.45%
      (n=144) were females. Two hundred and six (66.45%) were of optimal weight, 27.74%
      (n=86) were underweight and only 4.52% (n=14) were overweight. There was a
      significant association between BMI and oral hygiene practice of toothbrushing (p
      < 0.001) and mouth rinsing (p=0.001) among both male and female subjects.
      CONCLUSION: Hence, BMI is significantly associated with the oral hygiene
      practices of adolescent population. There is growing interest in the relationship
      between BMI and oral health because both are significant public health concerns.
      These public health problems are related to common lifestyle factors such as
      unhealthy eating habits and smoking among children. These maladapted habits track
      into later life as predictors of increased BMI and oral health problems. Hence,
      it is required that the dentists are aware of the influence of body mass Index
      and lifestyle on oral health practices among children and adolescents.

PMID- 26876401
TI  - Dual Diagnosis and Suicide Probability in Poly-Drug Users.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of suicidal thoughts and suicidal
      probability among poly-substance abusers in Saudi population, and to examine the
      relation between dual diagnosis and suicidal thoughts. STUDY DESIGN: Case control
      study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Al-Baha Psychiatric Hospital, Saudi Arabia,
      from May 2011 to June 2012. METHODOLOGY: Participants were 239 subjects, aged 18 
      45 years. We reviewed 122 individuals who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria of
      substance abuse for two or more substances, and their data were compared with
      that collected from 117 control persons. RESULTS: Suicidal cases were highly
      present among poly-substance abusers 64.75%. Amphetamine and cannabis were the
      most abused substances, (87.7% and 70.49%, respectively). Astatistically
      significant association with suicidality was found with longer duration of
      substance abuse (p < 0.001), using alcohol (p=0.001), amphetamine (p=0.007),
      volatile substances (p=0.034), presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders (dual
      diagnosis) as substance induced mood disorder (p=0.001), schizo-affective
      disorder (p=0.017), major depressive disorders (p=0.001), antisocial (p=0.016)
      and borderline (p=0.005) personality disorder. Suicidal cases showed significant
      higher scores (p < 0.001) of suicide probability scale and higher scores in Beck
      depressive inventory (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Abusing certain substances for long
      duration, in addition to comorbid psychiatric disorders especially with disturbed
      mood element, may trigger suicidal thoughts in poly-substance abusers. Depression
      and suicide probability is common consequences of substance abuse.

PMID- 26876402
TI  - Pathological Investigation of Childhood Foreskin: Are Lichen Sclerosus and
      Phimosis Common?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate histopathological results of foreskin removed during
      circumcision in the pediatric age group and the relationship between these and
      the degree of phimosis. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION
      OF STUDY: Department of Urology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun,
      Turkey, from June to December 2014. METHODOLOGY: Male children undergoing planned
      circumcision were examined for the presence and degree of phimosis which was
      recorded before the operation. After circumcision, the preputial skin was
      dermatopathologically investigated. Pathological investigation carefully
      evaluated findings such as acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, increased
      pigmentation and atrophy in addition to findings of Lichen Sclerosus (LS) in all
      specimens. The pathological findings obtained were classified by degree of
      phimosis and evaluated. RESULTS: The average age of the 140 children was 6.58 +/
      2.35 years. While 61 (43.6%) children did not have phimosis, 79 (56.4%) patients
      had different degrees of phimosis. Classic LS was not identified in any patient.
      In a total of 14 (10%) children, early period findings of LS were discovered. The
      frequency of LS with phimosis was 12.6%, without phimosis was 6.5% (p=0.39). The
      incidence of histopathologically normal skin in non-phimosis and phimosis groups
      was 37.7% and 22.7%, respectively. In total, 41 (29.3%) of the 140 cases had
      totally normal foreskin. CONCLUSION: Important dermatoses such as LS may be
      observed in foreskin with or without phimosis. The presence of phimosis may be an
      aggravating factor in the incidence of these dermatoses.

PMID- 26876403
TI  - Repair and Regenerative Therapies of the Annulus Fibrosus of the Intervertebral
      Disc.
AB  - Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is implicated as the main cause of low
      back pain. Current treatment strategies for degenerative disc disease, such as
      conservative treatments and surgeries, only relieve the symptoms of low back pain
      without treating the causes of underlying degeneration. Surgical treatments
      cannot reverse the degeneration of the intervertebral disc degeneration, and may
      even accelerate the degeneration. The development of tissue engineering and
      regenerative therapeutic strategies have brought new hope for repair and
      regeneration of the degenerated intervertebral disc. These strategies have been
      developed mainly targeting to the repair and regeneration of the nucleus pulposus
      of the degenerated but intervertebral disc. Although many studies that focused on
      the nucleus pulposus repair have achieved successes in laboratory settings but
      disc repair without giving much regard to annulus fibrosus could not recover the
      normal mechanical environment, which might make the disc degenerative change
      continuously exacerbate. Lately, the strategy to simultaneously repair the
      damaged annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus has attracted more attention, which
      could be considered to slow the disc degenerative rate and obtain better repair
      effect. An extensive literature search up to March 2015 for annulus fibrosus
      repair and regeneration in vitro or in vivo studies and clinical trials with the
      key words of "annulus fibrosus, repair, regeneration, tissue engineering,
      intervertebral disc and scaffold" were performed through PubMed, China National
      Knowledge Infrastructure and China Biology Medicine. The goal of this paper was
      to review the current research progress of annulus fibrosus repair and
      regeneration, and also suggest directions for future research.

PMID- 26876404
TI  - Thinking Out of the Box: Alternative Career Choices for Young Doctors in
      Pakistan.
AB  - The number of young medical graduates in Pakistan is increasing every year. Most
      of whom wish to specialize in a particular clinical field. Considering the
      competition faced for specialty training selection and later on for job
      placement, it is suggested that these young graduates should explore some
      alternative careers as well. Opportunities can be availed and decision made based
      on graduates' personal interest, preference to work in Pakistan or abroad, and
      availability of suitable employment in local and international hospitals among
      other factors. Careers in the basic medical sciences, medical education, medical
      research, medical writing and bioethics can be considered, too. There are very
      few trained professionals in these fields in Pakistan and once trained, these
      young doctors will hopefully find rewarding employment.

PMID- 26876405
TI  - Distal Esophageal Duplication Cyst with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease: A Rare
      Association and a Management Challenge.
AB  - Esophageal duplication cysts are rare congenital abnormalities of the foregut and
      may be associated with other conditions. Association of esophageal duplication
      with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) has not been reported in children.
      We are reporting a case of a 16 months baby who had antenatal diagnosis of
      diaphragmatic hernia. Postnatal CTchest, however, suggested a distal esophageal
      duplication cyst and a contrast esophagogram showed grade-IV GER. A thoracoscopy
      in another hospital excluded esophageal duplication at that time. Later, he
      presented with hematemesis in our department and was re-evaluated. Repeat
      CTconfirmed a persistent 2.5 x 1.3 cm cyst in distal esophagus. Upper GI
      endoscopy suggested grade-II esophagitis with a wide patent gastro-esophageal
      junction. The child was treated with left thoracotomy, excision of the
      duplication cyst and thoracic fundoplication. He had an uneventful post-operative
      recovery and is doing well at 6 months follow-up.

PMID- 26876406
TI  - An Unusual Case of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Prolonged Bleeding with
      Successful Recovery.
AB  - Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease with a major
      reservoir in both domestic and wild animals. In Pakistan, it is endemic largely
      in rural areas and most cases occur in spring and autumn. Recently, cases are
      being reported throughout the year, including winter months, with some even from
      urban areas. Death from CCHF is most likely to occur during the hemorrhagic
      phase. We report a case presenting from an urban locality in December. Clinical
      presentation was characterized by a prolonged hemorrhagic phase and a delayed
      normalization of platelet counts.

PMID- 26876408
TI  - Reach the Leech: An Unusual Cause of Hematuria.
AB  - Leeches are found in fresh water as well as moist marshy tropical areas. Orifical
      Hirudiniasis is the presence of leech in natural human orifices. Leech have been
      reported in nose, oropharynx, vagina, rectum and bladder but leech per urethra is
      very rare. We report a case of leech in urethra causing hematuria and bleeding
      disorder in the form of epistaxis and impaired clotting profile after use of
      stream water for ablution. The case was diagnosed after a prolonged diagnostic
      dilemma. Asingle alive leech was recovered from the urethra after ten days with
      the help of forceps. The hematuria and epistaxis gradually improved over next 48
      hours and the patient became asymptomatic. Natives of leech infested areas should
      be advised to avoid swimming in fresh water and desist from drinking and using
      stream water without inspection for leeches.

PMID- 26876407
TI  - Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva.
AB  - Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder
      characterized by postnatal progressive heterotopic ossification of connective
      tissue and congenital malformation of big toes. We report a 3-year male toddler
      with clinical and radiological features of FOP. He was born with bilateral hallux
      valgus and at the age of 3 years presented with hard swellings over back,
      scapular region and forehead that were initially inflammatory and then became
      bony hard. There is also tilting of neck towards the left due to calcification in
      neck region. The radiographs showed heterotopic ossification in thoracic region,
      neck, spine and region of hip joint.

PMID- 26876409
TI  - Medical Students' Perception of OSCE at the Department of Internal Medicine,
      College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, KSA.
AB  - The aim of this study was to explore the students' acceptance of Objective
      Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a method of assessment of clinical
      competence in internal medicine. This cross sectional study was conducted from
      June to August 2013, at King Khalid University, Abha, KSA, through a self
      administered questionnaire which was completed by fourth year medical students,
      immediately after the OSCE. Student feedback confirmed their acceptance of OSCE.
      This was encouraging to the department to consider implementing OSCE for
      graduating students.

PMID- 26876410
TI  - Use of Massive Online Open Courses as a Potential Resource to Provide Continuing
      Medical Education in Pakistan.
AB  - The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has made Continuing Medical
      Education (CME) mandatory for doctors, from 2015 onwards. Aminimum of 15 credit
      hours of CME per year for general practitioners and 30 credit hours for
      specialist doctors have been made mandatory for renewal of the PMDC registration.
      While doctors can attend conferences to earn this CME credit, the opportunities
      are minimum and limited to major cities across Pakistan. Webbased CME is an
      attractive alternative to attending conferences. It can make up for 25% of the
      yearly PMDC requirement. So far, only two web-based CME providers have been
      launched in Pakistan, which is a shortage. Could Massive Online Open Courses
      (MOOCs) be used to fill this shortage? The MOOCs are online courses that are
      easily accessible to all learners irrespective of geographical boundary and
      resources, and can be used as a tool to provide CME to physicians. The problem as
      to how credit from PM&DC can be obtained, will need to be explored further.

PMID- 26876411
TI  - Energetics of the Heart.

PMID- 26876412
TI  - An Analysis of 3-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: How often 4th Port is
      Required?

PMID- 26876413
TI  - Tailoring Precision of the Size-15 Surgical Knife at Laparoscopic Porting.

PMID- 26876415
TI  - ERRATUM.

PMID- 26876414
TI  - Expanding the HINARI Initiative for Healthcare Research in Pakistan.

PMID- 26876416
TI  - Short Communication: Do Cytomegalovirus Antibody Levels Associate with Age
      Related Syndromes in HIV Patients Stable on Antiretroviral Therapy?
AB  - HIV(+) persons stable on antiretroviral therapy (ART) face early onset of age
      related diseases. This may arise from a high burden of cytomegalovirus (CMV). To
      address the role of CMV, we investigated univariate and multivariate associations
      between markers of systemic and endothelial inflammation, vascular damage,
      insulin resistance (IR), neurocognitive decline, and antibodies reactive with
      CMV. In this study, HIV(+) participants (n = 91) aged >45 years with <50 copies
      HIV RNA/ml plasma after >2 years on ART were assessed for cardiovascular risk
      (the D:A:D algorithm), type II diabetes (the HOMA-IR index), and neurocognitive
      performance. Blood samples were assayed for lipids, T cells, insulin, glucose, C
      reactive protein, CX3CL1, sTNF-R1, total immunoglobulin G (IgG), and antibodies
      reactive with CMV lysate, glycoprotein B, or immediate-early-1. Levels of
      antibodies detected with the three antigens were tightly correlated. Levels of
      CMV lysate antibody were higher in patients than in age-matched healthy controls
      and reflected their nadir CD4 T-cell count (p = .001), total IgG (p = .02), and
      age (p = .08). Levels of CMV lysate antibody correlated with D:A:D score (p =
      .04), neurocognitive performance (p = .045), and fasting insulin (p = .02). In
      multivariable analyses, some associations reflected the effect of age, but CMV
      lysate antibody and CD8 T-cell counts were significant predictors of the HOMA-IR
      index (R(2) = 0.09, p = .01) independent of age. We conclude that associations
      between levels of CMV antibodies, cardiovascular risk, and neurocognitive health
      in HIV(+) patients stable on ART are moderated by age-associated increases in
      response to CMV, while CMV antibodies may be independently linked with IR.

PMID- 26876417
TI  - Context-dependent seed dispersal by a scatter-hoarding corvid.
AB  - Corvids (crows, jays, magpies and nutcrackers) are important dispersers of large
      seeded plants. Studies on captive or supplemented birds suggest that they
      flexibly adjust their scatter-hoarding behaviour to the context of social
      dynamics and relative seed availability. Because many corvid-dispersed trees show
      high annual variation in seed production, context-dependent foraging can have
      strong effects on natural corvid scatter-hoarding behaviour. We investigated how
      seed availability and social dynamics affected scatter-hoarding in the island
      scrub jays (Aphelocoma insularis). We quantified rates of scatter-hoarding
      behaviour and territorial defence of 26 colour-marked birds over a three-year
      period with variable acorn crops. We tested whether caching parameters were
      correlated with variation in annual seed production of oaks as predicted by the
      predator dispersal hypothesis, which states that caching rates and distances
      should vary with seed abundance in ways that benefit tree fitness. We also tested
      whether antagonistic interactions with conspecifics would affect scatter-hoarding
      adversely, as found in experimental studies. Caching behaviour varied with acorn
      availability. Caching distances correlated positively with annual acorn crop
      size, increasing by as much as 40% between years. Caching rates declined over
      time in years with small acorn crops, but increased when crops were large. Acorn
      foraging and caching rates were also negatively correlated with rates of
      territorial aggression. Overall foraging rates, however, were not associated with
      aggression, suggesting that reduced dispersal rates were not simply due to time
      constraints. Our field results support laboratory findings that caching rates and
      distances by scatter-hoarding corvids are context-dependent. Furthermore, our
      results are consistent with predictions of the predator dispersal hypothesis and
      suggest that large seed crops and social interactions among scatter-hoarders
      affect dispersal benefits for oaks and other masting tree species.

PMID- 26876419
TI  - Natural history of coexistent mitral regurgitation after aortic valve
      replacement.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The long-term evolution of coexistent mitral regurgitation (MR) after
      aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis remains poorly defined. Prior
      studies have demonstrated that acute improvement in MR after AVR is modest, and
      more aggressive approaches have been advocated. This study examines the evolution
      of MR after AVR and identifies prognostic indicators for MR improvement. METHODS:
      We retrospectively evaluated demographic and echocardiographic data of 423
      patients who underwent primary isolated AVR for aortic stenosis with coexistent
      mild (n = 314) or moderate (n = 109) MR at our institution, from 2004 to 2013.
      For each patient, preoperative and postoperative MR was extracted from 903
      echocardiograms and graded on a 0 to 4+ scale. Hierarchic linear models were used
      to estimate postoperative residual MR over a 5-year follow-up period. Patients
      were then stratified by improvement in MR, and preoperative risk factors and
      survival were compared between groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was
      used to assess the association between survival and preoperative and
      postoperative MR. RESULTS: The overall acute reduction in MR was -0.23 degrees
      per patient. Patients with moderate MR had a -0.53 degree reduction in MR,
      whereas patients with mild MR had only a -0.13 degree reduction in MR (P < .001).
      Residual MR, however, worsened over time and regressed back to baseline,
      particularly in patients with preoperative moderate MR. At last follow-up, 70
      (17%) patients returned to 2+ or worse MR. Residual MR at last echocardiographic
      follow-up was not affected by left ventricular ejection fraction, severity of
      preoperative aortic valve gradient (AVG), magnitude of reduction of AVG, or other
      comorbidities. Degree of preoperative MR did not affect midterm survival.
      Patients whose MR improved after AVR demonstrated a trend toward improved
      survival (75% vs 65% 5-year survival; P = .06), compared with those without MR
      whose survival remained unchanged or worsened. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistent MR
      modestly improves after AVR, but eventually regresses back to baseline or worsens
      over time in many patients. Preoperative AVG, reduction of AVG, heart failure, or
      atrial fibrillation was not predictive of residual MR. Moderate preoperative MR
      did not adversely affect 5-year survival. Patients with improvement in MR,
      however, demonstrated a trend toward improved survival at 5 years. More
      aggressive approaches for coexistent moderate MR should be considered in patients
      who need AVR for aortic stenosis.

PMID- 26876420
TI  - Defining operative mortality: Impact on outcome reporting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Death is an important outcome of procedural interventions. The death
      rate, or mortality rate, is subject to variability by definition. The Society of
      Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database definition of "operative"
      mortality originally included all in-hospital deaths and deaths occurring within
      30 days of the procedure. In recent versions of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
      Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, "in-hospital" has been modified to include
      "patients transferred to other acute care facilities," and "deaths within 30 days
      unless clearly unrelated to the procedure" has been changed to "deaths within 30
      days regardless of cause." This study addresses the impact of these redefinitions
      on outcome reporting. METHODS: The California Office of Statewide Health Planning
      and Development hospitalized patient discharge database was queried for the year
      2009, the most recent year that data files could be linked to the vital
      statistics death files to include all-cause mortality. Isolated coronary artery
      bypass grafting, isolated valve, coronary artery bypass grafting valve, and
      percutaneous coronary intervention procedures were identified by International
      Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification procedure codes.
      Percutaneous coronary intervention procedures were further divided into acute
      coronary syndrome (percutaneous coronary intervention acute coronary syndrome)
      and all other percutaneous coronary intervention (percutaneous coronary
      intervention no acute coronary syndrome). Deaths were counted by 5 methods
      depending on the time and place of occurrence: (1) in-hospital or during the
      index hospitalization; (2) in-hospital + connected hospitalization, defined as a
      transfer to another acute care facility on the same day or within 24 hours of
      discharge; (3) in-hospital + 30 day, death during index hospitalization or within
      30 days after the procedure; (4) in-hospital + connected + 30 day readmission,
      death during index hospitalization, transfer to acute care facility, or deaths
      during readmission within 30 days; and (5) in-hospital + connected + 30 day. To
      study the impact of these operative mortality definitions, we examined 5
      different methods to track mortality and performed 2 separate analyses. The first
      analysis did not exclude any patients, and the second analysis excluded any
      patient who could not be accurately tracked after hospital discharge. RESULTS: In
      the first analysis with no patients excluded, a total of 17% (117/697) of
      surgical deaths and 31% (409/1324) of percutaneous coronary intervention deaths
      were counted after the original hospitalization. The highest percentage of
      posthospital deaths occurred after elective percutaneous coronary intervention:
      45% (135/301). In surgical patients, the highest percentage of posthospital
      deaths occurred in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures: 20% (57/284). In
      the second analysis, with untrackable patients excluded, hospital deaths included
      12% (161/1324) for percutaneous coronary intervention compared with 4% (30/697)
      for surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of procedural
      deaths occur after transfer or discharge from the index hospital. This is
      especially evident in the percutaneous coronary intervention group. These
      findings illustrate the importance of the definition of "operative" mortality and
      the need to ensure accuracy in the reporting of data to voluntary clinical
      registries, such as the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery
      Database and National Cardiovascular Data Registry.

PMID- 26876421
TI  - Discussion.

PMID- 26876422
TI  - Discussion.

PMID- 26876423
TI  - The Metabolic Syndrome: A Risk Factor for the Frailty Syndrome?

PMID- 26876424
TI  - Magnetoelectric effect in organic molecular solids.
AB  - The Magnetoelectric (ME) effect in solids is a prominent cross correlation
      phenomenon, in which the electric field (E) controls the magnetization (M) and
      the magnetic field (H) controls the electric polarization (P). A rich variety of
      ME effects and their potential in practical applications have been investigated
      so far within the transition-metal compounds. Here, we report a possible way to
      realize the ME effect in organic molecular solids, in which two molecules build a
      dimer unit aligned on a lattice site. The linear ME effect is predicted in a long
      range ordered state of spins and electric dipoles, as well as in a disordered
      state. One key of the ME effect is a hidden ferroic order of the spin-charge
      composite object. We provide a new guiding principle of the ME effect in
      materials without transition-metal elements, which may lead to flexible and
      lightweight multifunctional materials. 

PMID- 26876425
TI  - A Randomised Trial of a Positive Intervention to Promote Well-Being in Cardiac
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Negative emotions are linked to the onset and development of coronary
      heart diseases (CHD), whereas positive emotions are associated with better health
      and lower mortality rates among patients with these diseases. The objective of
      this randomised trial was to improve cardiac patients' emotional states using a
      Programme to Improve Well-being (PIW) based exclusively on positive interventions
      (those that promote intentional behaviours and thoughts to improve well-being).
      METHODS: Cardiac patients (n = 108) were randomly assigned to two parallel
      groups. In the control group, they participated in only a Cardiac Rehabilitation
      Programme (CRP group), whereas the intervention group also participated in the
      PIW (CRP+PIW group). Physical functional capacity, depressive symptoms,
      hostility, and negative and positive affect were assessed at T1 (baseline) and T2
      (8 weeks later). RESULTS: At T2, after controlling for functional capacity, the
      CRP+PIW group reported a significantly less negative affect than the CRP group.
      Moreover, the CRP group did not change from T1 to T2, whereas the CRP+PIW group
      reported more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions and hostility at T2
      than at T1. CONCLUSIONS: Positive interventions effectively improve the emotional
      state of cardiac patients. We suggest that specific modules should be included in
      the CRP to improve well-being.

PMID- 26876426
TI  - Quantitative agreement between [(15)O]H2O PET and model free QUASAR MRI-derived
      cerebral blood flow and arterial blood volume.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess whether there was an agreement between
      quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial cerebral blood volume (CBVA)
      measurements by [(15)O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET) and model-free
      QUASAR MRI. Twelve healthy subjects were scanned within a week in separate MRI
      and PET imaging sessions, after which quantitative and qualitative agreement
      between both modalities was assessed for gray matter, white matter and whole
      brain region of interests (ROI). The correlation between CBF measurements
      obtained with both modalities was moderate to high (r(2): 0.28-0.60, P < 0.05),
      although QUASAR significantly underestimated CBF by 30% (P < 0.001). CBVA was
      moderately correlated (r(2): 0.28-0.43, P < 0.05), with QUASAR yielding values
      that were only 27% of the [(15)O]H2O-derived values (P < 0.001). Group-wise voxel
      statistics identified minor areas with significant contrast differences between
      [(15)O]H2O PET and QUASAR MRI, indicating similar qualitative CBVA and CBF
      information by both modalities. In conclusion, the results of this study
      demonstrate that QUASAR MRI and [(15)O]H2O PET provide similar CBF and CBVA
      information, but with systematic quantitative discrepancies.

PMID- 26876428
TI  - Reaction Mechanism for Direct Proton Transfer from Carbonic Acid to a Strong Base
      in Aqueous Solution II: Solvent Coordinate-Dependent Reaction Path.
AB  - The protonation of methylamine base CH3NH2 by carbonic acid H2CO3 within a
      hydrogen (H)-bonded complex in aqueous solution was studied via Car-Parrinello
      dynamics in the preceding paper (Daschakraborty, S.; Kiefer, P. M.; Miller, Y.;
      Motro, Y.; Pines, D.; Pines, E.; Hynes, J. T. J. Phys. Chem. B 2016, DOI:
      10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b12742). Here some important further details of the reaction
      path are presented, with specific emphasis on the water solvent's role. The
      overall reaction is barrierless and very rapid, on an ~100 fs time scale, with
      the proton transfer (PT) event itself being very sudden (<10 fs). This transfer
      is preceded by the acid-base H-bond's compression, while the water solvent
      changes little until the actual PT occurrence; this results from the very strong
      driving force for the reaction, as indicated by the very favorable acid
      protonated base DeltapKa difference. Further solvent rearrangement follows
      immediately the sudden PT's production of an incipient contact ion pair,
      stabilizing it by establishment of equilibrium solvation. The solvent water's
      short time scale ~120 fs response to the incipient ion pair formation is
      primarily associated with librational modes and H-bond compression of water
      molecules around the carboxylate anion and the protonated base. This is
      consistent with this stabilization involving significant increase in H-bonding of
      hydration shell waters to the negatively charged carboxylate group oxygens'
      (especially the former H2CO3 donor oxygen) and the nitrogen of the positively
      charged protonated base's NH3(+).

PMID- 26876427
TI  - Prevention of antibiotic-associated metabolic syndrome in mice by intestinal
      alkaline phosphatase.
AB  - AIMS: To examine whether co-administration of intestinal alkaline phosphatase
      (IAP) with antibiotics early in life may have a preventive role against metabolic
      syndrome (MetS) in mice. METHODS: A total of 50 mice were allocated to four
      treatment groups after weaning. Mice were treated with azithromycin (AZT) +/-
      IAP, or with no AZT +/- IAP, for three intermittent 7-day cycles. After the last
      treatment course, the mice were administered a regular chow diet for 5 weeks and
      subsequently a high-fat diet for 5 weeks. Body weight, food intake, water intake,
      serum lipids, glucose levels and liver lipids were compared. 16S rRNA gene
      pyrosequencing was used to determine the differences in microbiome composition.
      RESULTS: Exposure to AZT early in life rendered mice susceptible to MetS in
      adulthood. Co-administration of IAP with AZT completely prevented this
      susceptibility by decreasing total body weight, serum lipids, glucose levels and
      liver lipids to the levels of control mice. These effects of IAP probably occur
      as a result of changes in the composition of specific bacterial taxa at the genus
      and species levels (e.g. members of Anaeroplasma and Parabacteroides).
      CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of IAP with AZT early in life prevents mice from
      susceptibility to the later development of MetS. This effect is associated with
      alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. IAP may represent a novel
      treatment against MetS in humans.

PMID- 26876430
TI  - The ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1): A master regulator of energy metabolism and
      of cell survival.
AB  - In this contribution we summarize most of the findings reported for the molecular
      and cellular biology of the physiological inhibitor of the mitochondrial H(+)-ATP
      synthase, the engine of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and gate of cell
      death. We first describe the structure and major mechanisms and molecules that
      regulate the activity of the ATP synthase placing the ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1
      (IF1) as a major determinant in the regulation of the activity of the ATP
      synthase and hence of OXPHOS. Next, we summarize the post-transcriptional
      mechanisms that regulate the expression of IF1 and emphasize, in addition to the
      regulation afforded by the protonation state of histidine residues, that the
      activity of IF1 as an inhibitor of the ATP synthase is also regulated by
      phosphorylation of a serine residue. Phosphorylation of S39 in IF1 by the action
      of a mitochondrial cAMP-dependent protein kinase A hampers its interaction with
      the ATP synthase, i.e., only dephosphorylated IF1 interacts with the enzyme. Upon
      IF1 interaction with the ATP synthase both the synthetic and hydrolytic
      activities of the engine of OXPHOS are inhibited. These findings are further
      placed into the physiological context to stress the emerging roles played by IF1
      in metabolic reprogramming in cancer, in hypoxia and in cellular differentiation.
      We review also the implication of IF1 in other cellular situations that involve
      the malfunctioning of mitochondria. Special emphasis is given to the role of IF1
      as driver of the generation of a reactive oxygen species signal that, emanating
      from mitochondria, is able to reprogram the nucleus of the cell to confer by
      various signaling pathways a cell-death resistant phenotype against oxidative
      stress. Overall, our intention is to highlight the urgent need of further
      investigations in the molecular and cellular biology of IF1 and of its target,
      the ATP synthase, to unveil new therapeutic strategies in human pathology. This
      article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC 2016: 19th European
      Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-6, 2016', edited by Prof.
      Paolo Bernardi. 

PMID- 26876431
TI  - Review article: recent advances in pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics for safe
      and effective thiopurine therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Azathioprine and mercaptopurine have a pivotal role in the treatment
      of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, because of their complex metabolism
      and potential toxicities, optimal use of biomarkers to predict adverse effects
      and therapeutic response is paramount. AIM: To provide a comprehensive review
      focused on pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics for safe and effective
      thiopurine therapy in IBD. METHODS: A literature search up to July 2015 was
      performed in PubMed using a combination of relevant MeSH terms. RESULTS: Pre
      treatment thiopurine S-methyltransferase typing plus measurement of 6-tioguanine
      nucleotides and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides levels during treatment
      have emerged with key roles in facilitating safe and effective thiopurine
      therapy. Optimal use of these tools has been shown to reduce the risk of adverse
      effects by 3-7%, and to improve efficacy by 15-30%. For the introduction of
      aldehyde oxidase (AOX) into clinical practice, the association between AOX
      activity and AZA dose requirements should be positively confirmed. Inosine
      triphosphatase assessment associated with adverse effects also shows promise.
      Nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15 variants have been shown to
      predict myelotoxicity on thiopurines in East Asian patients. However, the impact
      of assessments of xanthine oxidase, glutathione S-transferase, hypoxanthine
      guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase appears
      too low to favour incorporation into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement
      of thiopurine-related enzymes and metabolites reduces the risk of adverse effects
      and improves efficacy, and should be considered part of standard management.
      However, this approach will not predict or avoid all adverse effects, and careful
      clinical and laboratory monitoring of patients receiving thiopurines remains
      essential.

PMID- 26876429
TI  - The medical complications associated with purging.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Purging behaviors, including self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse,
      and diuretic abuse, are present across many of the eating disorders. Here we
      review the major medical complications of these behaviors. METHOD: Although we
      identified over 100 scholarly articles describing medical complications
      associated with purging, most papers involved case studies or small, uncontrolled
      samples. Given the limited evidence base, we conducted a qualitative (rather than
      systematic) review to identify medical complications that have been attributed to
      purging behaviors. RESULTS: Medical conditions affecting the teeth, esophagus,
      gastrointestinal system, kidneys, skin, cardiovascular system, and
      musculoskeletal system were identified, with self-induced vomiting causing the
      most medical complications. DISCUSSION: Purging behavior can be associated with
      severe medical complications across all body systems. Mental health professionals
      should refer patients with purging behaviors to medical providers for screening
      and treatment as needed. The medical work-up for individuals with eating
      disorders should include a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count,
      and a full body exam including the teeth to prevent severe complications. Medical
      providers should screen patients for purging behaviors and associated medical
      complications, even in the absence of an eating disorder diagnosis, to increase
      the detection of eating disorders. Recognizing the link between purging and
      medical complications can aid in identifying potential eating disorders,
      particularly those that often elude detection such as purging disorder.

PMID- 26876432
TI  - A case of Lemierre's Syndrome with a brief literature review.
AB  - The last fifteen years have witnessed a remarkable increase in the reported cases
      of Lemierre's Syndrome (LS), which was once called the forgotten disease. LS
      manifests as oropharyngitis and a blood stream infection with Fusobacterium
      necrophorum and internal jugular vein thrombosis. LS is a challenge for
      clinicians, as it is often difficult to diagnose and is associated with
      significant morbidity. In recognition of the importance of raising the awareness
      about rare diseases, herein, we describe a case of LS in a 21-year-old male that
      was treated successfully after two weeks of hospitalization; we have also
      included a brief literature review. 

PMID- 26876433
TI  - Molecular detection and antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae from
      house flies (Musca domestica) in kitchens, farms, hospitals and slaughterhouses.
AB  - Identifying disease vectors and pathogens is one of the key steps in controlling
      vector-borne diseases. This study investigated the possible role of house flies
      (Musca domestica) as vectors in the transmission of Klebsiella pneumoniae in
      Chaharmahal VA Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces of Iran. House flies were captured
      from household kitchens, cattle farms, chicken farms, animal hospitals, human
      hospitals and slaughterhouses. Isolation of K. pneumoniae from external surfaces
      and guts of the flies was performed using MacConkey agar (MA) and thioglycollate
      broth (TGB). Identification of the isolates was performed with phenotypic
      techniques and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 600 house flies were
      sampled during the study period from different locations in four different
      seasons. Overall, 11.3% of the captured house flies were positive for K.
      pneumoniae. In Chaharmahal VA Bakhtiari province, the prevalence was 12.7%, while
      in Isfahan province, 10.0% of the sampled house flies were infected with K.
      pneumoniae. Season-wise, the highest prevalence of infections among the house
      flies was in summer. The organisms were highly resistant to ampicillin,
      amoxicillin, cefotaxime and piperacillin. A lowest level of resistance was
      observed for imipenem/cilastatin. The findings of this study demonstrated that
      house flies are potential vectors of antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae in
      Isfahan and Chaharmahal provinces, Iran. Control efforts for infections caused by
      this particular bacterium should take M. domestica into account. 

PMID- 26876434
TI  - Upregulation of inflammasome activity and increased gut permeability are
      associated with obesity in children and adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immune activation contributes to the persistent state of inflammation
      associated with metabolic dysfunction in obesity. The specific immune receptors
      that sense metabolic stress signals and trigger inflammation are nevertheless
      largely unknown, and little is known on inflammatory and immune gene regulation
      in obesity. METHODS: The study includes a cross-sectional and a longitudinal arm.
      Forty children and adolescents were enrolled: 22 obese subjects and 18 age
      matched normal weight controls. Obese subjects participated in an 18-month
      therapeutic protocol, based on intensive lifestyle modification (dietary regimen,
      physical activity and behavioral interventions). Expression of genes involved in
      the inflammasome pathway, plasma concentration of the inflammasome-associated pro
      inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18) and indexes of
      microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), soluble CD14 (sCD14) and
      intestinal fatty acid-binding protein) were analyzed at baseline in obese
      subjects compared with controls, and after 18 months in obese subjects. RESULTS:
      Cross-sectional analyses showed that the LPS-induced expression of genes involved
      in inflammasome (NLRP3, caspase 5 and NAIP), Nod-like receptors (NLRX1 and NOD1),
      downstream signaling (P2RX7, RAGE, RIPk2, TIRAP and BIRC2) and effector molecules
      (IFN-gamma, IL-12beta, IL-1beta, CCL2, CCL5, IL-6 and TNFalpha) was significantly
      increased in obese subjects at baseline as compared with normal weight controls.
      The baseline plasma concentration of inflammasome-related cytokines (IL-1beta and
      IL-18) and of microbial translocation markers (LPS and sCD14) was augmented in
      obese subjects as compared with controls as well. Longitudinal analyses indicated
      that intensive lifestyle modification resulted in a normalization of parameters
      in subjects with a significant reduction of BMI after 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: In
      children and adolescents, obesity is characterized by the activation of the
      inflammasome and by an alteration of gut permeability. Successful lifestyle
      modification is effective in reducing inflammation, suggesting that inhibition of
      the inflammasome may be a potential therapeutic strategy in obesity.

PMID- 26876435
TI  - Omega-3 fatty acids prevent early-life antibiotic exposure-induced gut microbiota
      dysbiosis and later-life obesity.
AB  - Early-life antibiotic exposure can disrupt the founding intestinal microbial
      community and lead to obesity later in life. Recent studies show that omega-3
      fatty acids can reduce body weight gain and chronic inflammation through
      modulation of the gut microbiota. We hypothesize that increased tissue levels of
      omega-3 fatty acids may prevent antibiotic-induced alteration of gut microbiota
      and obesity later in life. Here, we utilize the fat-1 transgenic mouse model,
      which can endogenously produce omega-3 fatty acids and thereby eliminates
      confounding factors of diet, to show that elevated tissue levels of omega-3 fatty
      acids significantly reduce body weight gain and the severity of insulin
      resistance, fatty liver and dyslipidemia resulting from early-life exposure to
      azithromycin. These effects were associated with a reversal of antibiotic-induced
      dysbiosis of gut microbiota in fat-1 mice. These results demonstrate the
      beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and
      obesity, and suggest the potential utility of omega-3 supplementation as a safe
      and effective means for the prevention of obesity in children who are exposed to
      antibiotics.

PMID- 26876436
TI  - Preventive effect of sildenafil on right ventricular function in rats with
      monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of sildenafil treatment
      on pulmonary hypertension (PH) induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Fifty-four
      12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with MCT or saline solution
      (MCT-injected rats: n=36; saline: n=18). Serial echocardiography and right
      ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) measurements via a cardiac catheter were
      performed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the injection. After injection of MCT, rats
      received oral sildenafil (MCT/sildenafil group: n=18) or no treatment (MCT group:
      n=18) until undergoing echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. RVSP in the
      MCT/sildenafil group was lower than that in the MCT group at 4 (P<0.001) and 6
      weeks (P<0.001). The septal curvature was improved in the MCT/sildenafil group
      compared with the MCT group. This finding showed that sildenafil prevented
      flattening of the interventricular septum because of right ventricular pressure
      overload. The ratio of peak trans-tricuspid early diastolic wave velocity to
      active filling with atrial systolic velocity showed that sildenafil improved
      diastolic function. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and tricuspid
      annular systolic velocity in the MCT/sildenafil group did not show preserved
      myocardial contraction after administration of sildenafil. Administration of
      sildenafil leads to a reduction in RVSP and improvement in cardiac function in
      rats with PH induced by MCT. The vasodilatory action of sildenafil improves right
      ventricular diastolic function, but the intrinsic, positive, inotropic effect of
      sildenafil is minimal. 

PMID- 26876437
TI  - Combining isoflurane anesthesia with midazolam and butorphanol in rats.
AB  - Representative inhalant anesthetic agent, isoflurane is commonly used during
      surgery in rats. However, isoflurane mediates relatively strong respiratory
      depression. In human and veterinary medicine, sedatives and analgesics are co
      administered to complement the anesthetic action of inhalant anesthesia. The
      present study aimed to establish the novel balanced anesthesia that combines
      midazolam and butorphanol with isoflurane (MBI) in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats
      were divided into 2 groups, and administered either isoflurane monoanesthesia or
      isoflurane with midazolam (2.5 mg/kg, ip) and butorphanol (2.0 mg/kg, ip). The
      minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in each group was evaluated. Induction and
      recovery times were measured in each group. Adverse reactions during induction
      were also recorded. In each group, vital signs were assessed for 1 h under
      1.5*MAC of isoflurane. Instability of vital signs was assessed under each
      anesthesia by calculating coefficient of variance. Compared with isoflurane
      monoanesthesia, MBI anesthesia caused 32% MAC reduction (isoflurane
      monoanesthesia: 1.30 +/- 0.09%, MBI 0.87 +/- 0.08%, P<0.05). MB premedication
      mediated smooth sedating action with low incidence of adverse reactions such as
      urination and defecation. Isoflurane monoanesthsesia remarkably decreased
      respiratory rate and saturation O2 (SPO2). In contrast, MBI anesthesia resulted
      in a relatively stable respiratory rate without decreases in SPO2 during the
      anesthetic period. In summary, MB premedication is effective for attenuating
      respiratory depression induced by isoflurane, and achieving smooth induction.
      This anesthetic protocol serves as a novel option for appropriate anesthesia in
      rats. 

PMID- 26876438
TI  - Innocuity of a commercial live attenuated vaccine for epizootic hemorrhagic
      disease virus serotype 2 in late-term pregnant cows.
AB  - Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an arthropod-borne infectious viral
      disease sustained by the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). The only
      commercially available and currently used vaccines are manufactured for EHDV-2 in
      Japan, either live or inactivated vaccines. In this study we tested the innocuity
      for fetuses of the live attenuated EHDV-2 vaccine in five late-term pregnant
      cows. Whole blood and serum samples were collected from dams and screened for the
      presence of EHDV-2 RNA, infectious virus and antibodies. After calving, whole
      blood and serum samples collected from calves, before and after colostrum intake,
      were also tested for antibodies and for virus detection. In dams, neither fever
      nor clinical signs were observed. All of them seroconverted and a strong humoral
      response was detected throughout the sampling period. All blood samples tested
      negative for EHDV-2 except for one sample collected from a dam 11 days post
      vaccination which tested positive at virus isolation at the third cell passage
      following two rounds of blind passages. Although they had free access to
      colostrum, calves tested serologically negative for EHDV-2 during the entire
      course of the experiment. Overall, the tested live attenuated vaccine can be
      safely administered to late-term pregnant cows as it was not demonstrated to
      cross the placental barrier. The safety of the live-attenuated vaccine is further
      confirmed by the emergence of Ibaraki virus in 2013 in Japan which is apparently
      not related to the spread of the vaccine strain currently used in Japan. 

PMID- 26876439
TI  - Global epidemiology of capsular group W meningococcal disease (1970-2015):
      Multifocal emergence and persistence of hypervirulent sequence type (ST)-11
      clonal complex.
AB  - Following an outbreak in Mecca Saudi Arabia in 2000, meningococcal strains
      expressing capsular group W (W) emerged as a major cause of invasive
      meningococcal disease (IMD) worldwide. The Saudi Arabian outbreak strain (Hajj
      clone) belonging to the ST-11 clonal complex (cc11) is similar to W cc11 causing
      occasional sporadic disease before 2000. Since 2000, W cc11 has caused large
      meningococcal disease epidemics in the African meningitis belt and endemic
      disease in South America, Europe and China. Traditional molecular epidemiologic
      typing suggested that a majority of current W cc11 burden represented global
      spread of the Hajj clone. However, recent whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses
      revealed significant genetic heterogeneity among global W cc11 strains. While
      continued spread of the Hajj clone occurs in the Middle East, the meningitis belt
      and South Africa have co-circulation of the Hajj clone and other unrelated W cc11
      strains. Notably, South America, the UK, and France share a genetically distinct
      W cc11 strain. Other W lineages persist in low numbers in Europe, North America
      and the meningitis belt. In summary, WGS is helping to unravel the complex
      genomic epidemiology of group W meningococcal strains. Wider application of WGS
      and strengthening of global IMD surveillance is necessary to monitor the
      continued evolution of group W lineages. 

PMID- 26876440
TI  - Risk factors for measles in children aged 8 months-14 years in China after
      nationwide measles campaign: A multi-site case-control study, 2012-2013.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Endemic measles persists in China, despite >95% reported coverage
      of two measles-containing vaccine doses and nationwide campaign that vaccinated
      more than 100 million children in 2010. In 2011, almost half of the 9943 measles
      cases in China occurred in children eligible for measles vaccination. We
      conducted a case-control study during 2012-2013 to identify risk factors for
      measles infection in children aged 8 months-14 years. METHODS: Children with
      laboratory-confirmed measles were age- and neighborhood-matched with three
      controls. We interviewed parents of case and control infants on potential risk
      factors for measles. We calculated adjusted matched odds ratios and 95%
      confidence intervals of risk factors. We calculated attributable fractions for
      risk factors that could be interpreted as causal and vaccine efficacy (VE) for
      the measles containing vaccine (MCV) used in the Chinese immunization program.
      RESULTS: In all, 969 case-patients and 2845 controls were enrolled. In
      multivariable analysis, lack of measles vaccination both overall (mOR 22.7 [16.6,
      31.1] and when stratified by region (east region, mOR 74.2 [27.3, 202];
      central/western regions mOR 17.4 [12.5, 24.3]), hospital exposure (mOR 63.0, 95%
      CI [32.8, 121]), and migration among counties (overall mOR 3.0 [2.3, 3.9]) were
      significant risk factors. The calculated VE was 91.9-96.1% for a single dose of
      MCV and 96.6-99.5% for 2 doses. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of vaccination was the leading
      risk factor for measles infection, especially in children born since the 2010
      supplementary immunization activity. Reducing missed vaccination opportunities,
      improving immunization access for migrant children, and strengthening
      school/kindergarten vaccine checks are needed to strengthen the routine
      immunization program and maintain progress toward measles elimination in China.

PMID- 26876441
TI  - Heat shock protein complex vaccines induce antibodies against Neisseria
      meningitidis via a MyD88-independent mechanism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neisseria meningitidis are common colonizers of the human
      nasopharynx. In some circumstances, N. meningitidis becomes an opportunistic
      pathogen that invades tissues and causes meningitis. While a vaccine against a
      number of serogroups has been in effective use for many years, a vaccine against
      N. meningitidis group B has not yet been universally adopted. Bacterial heat
      shock protein complex (HSPC) vaccines comprise bacterial HSPs, purified with
      their chaperoned protein cargo. HSPC vaccines use the intrinsic adjuvant activity
      of their HSP, thought to act via Toll-like receptors (TLR), to induce an immune
      response against their cargo antigens. This study evaluated HSPC vaccines from N.
      meningitidis and the closely related commensal N. lactamica. RESULTS: The protein
      composition of N. lactamica and N. meningitidis HSPCs were similar. Using human
      HEK293 cells we found that both HSPCs can induce an innate immune response via
      activation of TLR2. However, stimulation of TLR2 or TLR4 deficient murine
      splenocytes revealed that HSPCs can activate an innate immune response via
      multiple receptors. Vaccination of wildtype mice with the Neisseria HSPC induced
      a strong antibody response and a Th1-restricted T helper response. However,
      vaccination of mice deficient in the major TLR adaptor protein, MyD88, revealed
      that while the Th1 response to Neisseria HSPC requires MyD88, these vaccines
      unexpectedly induced an antigen-specific antibody response via a MyD88
      independent mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: N. lactamica and N. meningitidis HSPC
      vaccines both have potential utility for immunising against neisserial meningitis
      without the requirement for an exogenous adjuvant. The mode of action of these
      vaccines is highly complex, with HSPCs inducing immune responses via both MyD88
      dependent and -independent mechanisms. In particular, these HSPC vaccines induced
      an antibody response without detectable T cell help.

PMID- 26876442
TI  - Context-dependent use of muscle spindles for human position sense.

PMID- 26876443
TI  - Acid-sensing ion channel 1a induces AMPA receptor plasticity: a link between
      acidotoxicity and excitotoxicity in hippocampal CA1 neurons.

PMID- 26876444
TI  - Intravenous PEP-1-GDNF is protective after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
AB  - Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potential therapeutic
      protein on a variety of central nervous system diseases including ischemic
      stroke. However, GDNF is a large molecule that cannot cross the blood-brain
      barrier (BBB), which is still intact in the early hours after stroke when neural
      rescue is possible. PEP-1 protein transduction domain can deliver protein cargo
      across the cell membrane and the BBB. In the present study, we generated a novel
      fusion protein PEP-1-GDNF and examined whether PEP-1-GDNF is protective in focal
      cerebral ischemia. PEP-1-GDNF (200 MUg/kg) or PBS was intravenously applied over
      5 min immediately after reperfusion of 90 min transient middle cerebral artery
      occlusion (MCAO). After 28 days, rats were deeply anesthetized and decapitated.
      Behavioral tests were performed during this period. The results showed that PEP-1
      GDNF significantly reduced the infarct volume and improved behavioral function.
      Further, PEP-1-GDNF promoted the cell proliferation and differentiation in the
      dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and attenuated ischemia-induced learning and
      memory damage.

PMID- 26876446
TI  - The role of the cerebellum in motor imagery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although it is well documented that the cerebellum plays a role in
      motor imagery (MI), its exact role in MI is still obscure. Since motor imagery
      and execution of movement share common pathways, and the cerebellum has an
      inhibitory effect on the motor cortex, we speculated that the cerebellum also has
      an inhibitory role on MI. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, 12 healthy
      individuals aged 27-47 years (mean age 33.3 years) were enrolled in the study.
      Subjects were asked to imagine two different tasks, one complex (MI-c) and one
      simple (MI-s) motor task. The intensity of anodal cerebellar transcranial direct
      current stimulation (ctDCS) was set at 2 mA for 20 min. Sham ctDCS consisted of
      30s current stimulation. RESULTS: MI-s resulted in significantly increased log
      MEP amplitude during MI, compared with control MEP amplitude,(p=0.000). The
      increase in log MEP amplitude during MI disappeared after anodal ctDCS. Before
      sham ctDCS, both MI-s and MI-c resulted in log MEP amplitude increases (p=0.000).
      This facilitator effect of both MI-c and MI-s on log MEP amplitude was also
      persistent after sham ctDCS (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates for
      the first time that the cerebellum has an inhibitory effect on MI. SIGNIFICANCE:
      Combining ctDCS with MI significantly modulates corticomotor excitability.

PMID- 26876445
TI  - Protective effects of a Chotosan Fraction and its active components on beta
      amyloid-induced neurotoxicity.
AB  - Chotosan (CTS) is a traditional Kampo prescription used to treat chronic headache
      and hypertension. Recent clinical studies demonstrated that CTS has ameliorative
      effects on dementia. This study aims to identify the anti-Alzheimer components in
      CTS. beta-amyloid (Abeta) is considered to play a central role in the
      pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. CTS-E, a fraction of CTS, showed
      significant protective effects on Abeta-induced neurotoxicity. High-performance
      liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry
      was used for the qualitative analysis of it. Among the identified constituents,
      neuroprotective effects against Abeta(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity of 10 major
      compounds were tested by MTT assay. Their inhibitory action on Abeta(1-42) self
      induced aggregation was measured by Thioflavin T-binding assay. The results
      showed that caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5
      dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid had significant
      neuroprotective effects on Abeta(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity. Besides these
      phenolic acids, nobiletin and hesperidin could also inhibit Abeta(1-42) self
      induced aggregation. In conclusion, the neuroprotective fraction, CTS-E, could
      protect PC12 cells from Abeta-induced neurotoxicity. Anti-oxidative effects may
      at least partly mediate the neuroprotective effects of it. Phenolic acids from
      Chrysanthemi Flos and flavonoids from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium might be the
      effective constituents in CTS-E.

PMID- 26876447
TI  - Effects of botulinum toxin type A facial injection on monoamines and their
      metabolites in sensory, limbic and motor brain regions in rats.
AB  - Despite its toxicity, botulinum neurotoxin type A (BTX-A) is a valuable
      therapeutic agent for several motor, autonomic and pain disorders. Numerous
      studies have described its peripheral as well as central effects. Using reversed
      phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection (HPLC
      ED) and gradient elution, we quantified the concentrations of dopamine (DA),
      noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites in 10 brain regions,
      ipsilateral and contralateral from the site of unilateral BTX-A administration (5
      U/kg) into the rat whisker pad. In regions associated with nociception and pain
      processing we also examined possible BTX-A effects in combination with formalin
      induced inflammatory orofacial pain. The dominant BTX-A effects on the monoamines
      and their metabolites were insignificant. The only significant increase caused by
      BTX-A alone was that of NA in striatum and serotonin in hypothalamus. While
      antinociceptive effects of BTX-A are most probably not related to central
      monoamine concentrations, the localized increased NA and 5-HT concentrations
      might play a role in reported BTX-A efficacy for the treatment of depression.

PMID- 26876448
TI  - Serum apolipoprotein E is associated with long-term risk of Alzheimer's disease:
      The Rotterdam Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serum levels of apolipoprotein E (apoE) have been suggested as
      potential biomarker for dementia, but the long-term association between apoE and
      risk of dementia is uncertain. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1993, we measured serum
      apoE by immunoassay in 1042 non-demented individuals (mean +/- SD age 68.4 +/-
      7.3 years; 59.3% women) from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Follow-up for
      dementia was complete until 2014. We used Cox models to determine the risk of
      dementia and Alzheimer's disease in relation to apoE, adjusting for age, sex,
      educational level, cardiovascular risk factors, and additionally APOE genotype.
      RESULTS: Serum apoE was associated to APOE genotype (p-trend=1.0E-51, r(2)=0.21).
      In men, apoE tended to be lower with age, whereas in women the opposite was
      observed (p-trend=0.07 and 0.08, respectively). During a median follow-up of 15.7
      years (IQR 9.7-21.7), 220 participants developed dementia, of whom 180 had
      Alzheimer's disease. Lower serum apoE was associated with an increased risk of
      dementia (HR, 95%CI, per SD decrease: 1.25, 1.05-1.48) and in particular
      Alzheimer's disease (1.51, 1.23-1.86), which remained statistically significant
      for Alzheimer's disease after additionally adjusting for APOE genotype (1.28,
      1.01-1.62). When stratifying analyses in 5-year time frames, risk estimates were
      similar throughout the study period. Serum apoE tended to marginally improve 20
      year prediction of Alzheimer's disease (IDI 0.008, 95%CI -0.001-0.026, p=0.086),
      but not all dementia. CONCLUSION: Serum apoE is associated with long-term risk of
      Alzheimer's disease in the general population, independent of APOE genotype.
      Additional predictive value of serum apoE was limited.

PMID- 26876449
TI  - The influence of dental occlusion on the body balance in unstable platform
      increases after high intensity exercise.
AB  - Existing evidence suggests that body balance ability is associated with dental
      occlusion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether: (i) there are
      differences in balance between opposed dental occlusion (intercuspal position,
      ICP; cotton rolls, CR) for two extreme levels of stability and (ii) the influence
      of dental occlusion on the balance control gets stronger under fatigue
      conditions. To this aim, various measures for assessing postural control in ten
      physically active subjects were obtained prior to and following a maximal lower
      limbs exercise consisting in six sets of fifteen seconds stretch-shortening cycle
      jumping. Balance control at stable and unstable condition was evaluated on an
      unstable platform Balance System SD for both dental occlusion conditions at
      random order. Metabolic and psychological measurements ensured the high intensity
      of the exercise. At unstable level, balance control was significantly improved in
      the CR condition, for both rest (p=0.03) and fatigue (p<0.001). Whereas at stable
      level, the influence of dental occlusion only reached significance in fatigue
      condition (p=0.04). It could be concluded that the sensory information linked to
      the dental occlusion for the balance control comes strongly into effect when more
      difficult conditions for the balance control are present (i.e., unstable
      conditions, fatigue). 

PMID- 26876450
TI  - Sall1 transiently marks undifferentiated heart precursors and regulates their
      fate.
AB  - Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) are a crucial source of cells in cardiac
      development and regeneration. However, reported CPCs are heterogeneous, and no
      gene has been identified to transiently mark undifferentiated CPCs throughout
      heart development. Here we show that Spalt-like gene 1 (Sall1), a zing-finger
      transcription factor, is expressed in undifferentiated CPCs giving rise to both
      left and right ventricles. Sall1 was transiently expressed in precardiac mesoderm
      contributing to the first heart field (left ventricle precursors) but not in the
      field itself. Similarly, Sall1 expression was maintained in the second heart
      field (outflow tract/right ventricle precursors) but not in cardiac cells. In
      vitro, high levels of Sall1 at mesodermal stages enhanced cardiomyogenesis,
      whereas its continued expression suppressed cardiac differentiation. Our study
      demonstrates that Sall1 marks CPCs in an undifferentiated state and regulates
      cardiac differentiation. These findings provide fundamental insights into CPC
      maintenance, which can be instrumental for CPC-based regenerative medicine. 

PMID- 26876453
TI  - A computer program for fast and easy typing of a partial endoglucanase gene
      sequence into genospecies and sequevars 1&2 of the Ralstonia solanacearum species
      complex.
AB  - The phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is a species complex that contains race
      3 biovar 2 strains belonging to phylotype IIB sequevars 1 and 2 that are
      quarantined or select agent pathogens. Recently, the R. solanacearum species
      complex strains have been reclassified into three genospecies: R. solanacearum,
      Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and Ralstonia syzygii. An unidentified R.
      solanacearum strain is considered a select agent in the US until proven to be a
      non-race 3 biovar 2 (non-phylotype IIB sequevars 1&2). Currently, sequevars of R.
      solanacearum species complex strains can only be determined by phylogenetic
      analysis of a partial endoglucanase (egl) sequence of approximately 700-bp in
      length. Such analysis, however, requires expert knowledge to properly trim the
      sequence, to include the correct reference strains, and to interpret the results.
      By comparing GenBank egl sequences of representative R. solanacearum species
      complex strains, we identified genospecies- and sequevar 1 and 2-specific single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We also designed primers to amplify a shorter,
      526-bp, egl fragment from R. solanacearum species complex strains for easy
      sequencing of the amplicon, and to facilitate direct and specific amplification
      of egl from R. solanacearum-infected plant samples without the need of bacterial
      isolation. We wrote a computer program (Ralstonia solanacearum typing program)
      that analyzes a minimum 400-bp user-input egl sequence from a R. solanacearum
      strain for egl homology and SNP content to determine 1) whether it belongs to the
      R. solanacearum species complex, 2) if so, to which genospecies, and 3) whether
      it is of the sequevar type (sequevars 1 and 2) associated with the select
      agent/quarantined R. solanacearum strain. The program correctly typed all 371
      tested egl sequences with known sequevars, obtained either from GenBank or
      through personal communication. Additionally, the program successfully typed 25
      R. solanacearum strains in our collection with no prior sequevar information, as
      well as 4 strains in infected plant samples, using their partial egl sequences
      amplified and sequenced with primers designed in this study. The Ralstonia
      solanacearum typing program does not require expertise or specific knowledge to
      use, gives results in seconds, and provides data interpretation for the user. The
      program and primers can help expert or non-expert users to quickly type an
      unknown R. solanacearum species-complex strain and determine whether it is a
      highly regulated R. solanacearum strain. The program can also serve as a
      confirmation method, since it is the only method that can easily and directly
      determine whether the strain in question is a sequevar 1 or 2 strain of R.
      solanacearum. 

PMID- 26876451
TI  - Epigenetic regulation of cardiac fibrosis.
AB  - Fibrosis is defined as excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting
      in tissue scarring and organ dysfunction. In the heart, fibrosis may be
      reparative, replacing areas of myocyte loss with a structural scar following
      infarction, or reactive, which is triggered in the absence of cell death and
      involves interstitial ECM deposition in response to long-lasting stress.
      Interstitial fibrosis can increase the passive stiffness of the myocardium,
      resulting in impaired relaxation and diastolic dysfunction. Additionally,
      fibrosis can lead to disruption of electrical conduction in the heart, causing
      arrhythmias, and can limit myocyte oxygen availability and thus exacerbate
      myocardial ischemia. Here, we review recent studies that have illustrated key
      roles for epigenetic events in the control of pro-fibrotic gene expression, and
      highlight the potential of small molecules that target epigenetic regulators as a
      means of treating fibrotic cardiac diseases. 

PMID- 26876452
TI  - Neurobiological origin of spurious brain morphological changes: A quantitative
      MRI study.
AB  - The high gray-white matter contrast and spatial resolution provided by T1
      weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made it a widely used imaging
      protocol for computational anatomy studies of the brain. While the image
      intensity in T1-weighted images is predominantly driven by T1, other MRI
      parameters affect the image contrast, and hence brain morphological measures
      derived from the data. Because MRI parameters are correlates of different
      histological properties of brain tissue, this mixed contribution hampers the
      neurobiological interpretation of morphometry findings, an issue which remains
      largely ignored in the community. We acquired quantitative maps of the MRI
      parameters that determine signal intensities in T1-weighted images (R1 (=1/T1),
      R2 *, and PD) in a large cohort of healthy subjects (n = 120, aged 18-87 years).
      Synthetic T1-weighted images were calculated from these quantitative maps and
      used to extract morphometry features-gray matter volume and cortical thickness.
      We observed significant variations in morphometry measures obtained from
      synthetic images derived from different subsets of MRI parameters. We also
      detected a modulation of these variations by age. Our findings highlight the
      impact of microstructural properties of brain tissue-myelination, iron, and water
      content-on automated measures of brain morphology and show that microstructural
      tissue changes might lead to the detection of spurious morphological changes in
      computational anatomy studies. They motivate a review of previous morphological
      results obtained from standard anatomical MRI images and highlight the value of
      quantitative MRI data for the inference of microscopic tissue changes in the
      healthy and diseased brain. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1801-1815, 2016. (c) 2016 The
      Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26876454
TI  - Effects of inorganic arsenic exposure on glucose transporters and insulin
      receptor in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 male mice.
AB  - Children and adolescent populations chronically exposed to high doses of
      inorganic arsenic (iAs) in drinking water in some regions around the world have
      shown behavioral and memory deficits. Recent studies have also associated iAs
      exposure with dysregulation of glucose metabolism. The hippocampus is a cerebral
      region well known for its role in learning and memory. Studies in vitro and in
      vivo have shown that the hippocampus is vulnerable to iAs exposure, and to
      changes in glucose metabolism. The glucose transporters (GLUTs) and insulin
      receptor (IR) regulate glucose metabolism in brain; they are expressed by
      hippocampal cells, and alterations in these proteins have been associated with
      memory deficits. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of iAs
      exposure via drinking water (DW) on GLUT1, GLUT3 and insulin receptor (INSR) mRNA
      expression in the hippocampus, on performance in a spatial memory task, and on
      peripheral glucose regulation. C57Bl/6 male mice were exposed to 50 mg iAs/L via
      DW for one, two, or three months. The qRT-PCR analyses indicated that, compared
      to a control group, GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA levels were decreased, while INSR mRNA
      levels were increased in the hippocampus of iAs exposed animals. The levels of
      iAs and its methylated species in the hippocampus of the iAs-exposed group were
      significantly higher than in controls. Mice exposed to iAs learned the spatial
      task but showed increased latency to find the submerged platform 48 h after the
      last training session; these animals also showed dysregulation of peripheral
      glucose. These results suggest that the effects of iAs exposure on a spatial
      memory task performance could be mediated by disruptions of glucose regulation in
      the CNS.

PMID- 26876455
TI  - Low-level gestational exposure to mercury and maternal fish consumption:
      Associations with neurobehavior in early infancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies examining the effects of low-level gestational methylmercury
      exposure from fish consumption on infant neurobehavioral outcomes in the
      offspring are limited and inconclusive. Our objective was to examine the effects
      of low-level gestational exposure to methylmercury on neurobehavioral outcomes in
      early infancy. METHODS: We assessed neurobehavior of 344 infants at 5-weeks using
      the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). Gestational mercury exposure was
      measured as whole blood total mercury (WBTHg) in maternal and cord blood. We
      collected fish consumption information and estimated polyunsaturated fatty acid
      (PUFA) intake. We examined the association between gestational mercury exposure
      and NNNS scales using regression, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Geometric
      mean of maternal and cord WBTHg were 0.64 and 0.72 MUg/L, respectively. Most
      mothers (84%) reported eating fish during pregnancy. Infants with higher prenatal
      mercury exposure showed increased asymmetric reflexes among girls (p=0.04 for
      maternal WBTHg and p=0.03 for cord WBTHg), less need for special handling during
      the assessment (p=0.03 for cord WBTHg) and a trend of better attention (p=0.054
      for both maternal WBTHg and cord WBTHg). Similarly, infants born to mothers with
      higher fish consumption or estimated PUFA intake also had increased asymmetric
      reflexes and less need for special handling. In models simultaneously adjusted
      for WBTHg and fish consumption (or PUFA intake), the previously observed WBTHg
      effects were attenuated; and higher fish consumption (or PUFA intake) was
      significantly associated with less need for special handling. CONCLUSIONS: In a
      cohort with low level mercury exposure and reporting low fish consumption, we
      found minimal evidence of mercury associated detrimental effects on
      neurobehavioral outcomes during early infancy. Higher prenatal mercury exposure
      was associated with more frequent asymmetric reflexes in girls. In contrast,
      infants with higher prenatal mercury exposure and those whose mothers consumed
      more fish had better attention and needed less special handling, which likely
      reflect the beneficial nutritional effects of fish consumption.

PMID- 26876457
TI  - The tradition of home nurse visiting: 40 years strong in JAN.

PMID- 26876456
TI  - Cognitive function at rest and during exercise following breakfast omission.
AB  - It has been suggested that breakfast omission, as opposed to breakfast
      consumption, has the detrimental effects on cognitive function. However, the
      effects of acute exercise following breakfast omission on cognitive function are
      poorly understood, particularly during exercise. The purpose of this study was to
      examine the interactive effects of breakfast and exercise on cognitive function.
      Ten participants completed cognitive tasks at rest and during exercise in the
      breakfast consumption or omission conditions. Blood glucose concentration was
      measured immediately after each cognitive task. We used cognitive tasks to assess
      working memory [Spatial Delayed Response (DR) task] and executive function [Go/No
      Go (GNG) task]. The participants cycled ergometer for 30 min while keeping their
      heart rate at 140 beats.min(-1). Accuracy of the GNG task was lower at rest in
      the breakfast omission condition than that in the breakfast consumption condition
      (Go trial: P=0.012; No-Go trial: P=0.028). However, exercise improved accuracy of
      the Go trial in the breakfast omission condition (P=0.013). Reaction time in the
      Go trial decreased during exercise relative to rest in both conditions (P=0.002),
      and the degree of decreases in reaction time was not different between conditions
      (P=0.448). Exercise and breakfast did not affect the accuracy of the Spatial DR
      task. The present results indicate that breakfast omission impairs executive
      function, but acute exercise improved executive function even after breakfast
      omission. It appears that beneficial effects of acute exercise on cognitive
      function are intact following breakfast omission.

PMID- 26876458
TI  - Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemo-intensity-modulated Radiotherapy for
      Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the toxicity and tumour control rates after chemo-intensity
      modulated radiotherapy (chemo-IMRT) for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers
      (LA-NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with LA-NPC were enrolled in a trial to
      receive induction chemotherapy followed by parotid-sparing chemo-IMRT. The
      primary site and involved nodal levels received 65 Gy in 30 fractions and at risk
      nodal levels received 54 Gy in 30 fractions. Incidence of >=grade 2 subjective
      xerostomia was the primary end point. Secondary end points included incidences of
      acute and late toxicities and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with
      American Joint Committee on Cancer stages II (12%), III (26%) and IV (62%) (World
      Health Organization subtype: I [5%]; II [40%]; III [55%]) completed treatment
      between January 2006 and April 2010 with a median follow-up of 32 months.
      Incidences of >=grade 2 acute toxicities were: dysphagia 83%; xerostomia 76%;
      mucositis 97%; pain 76%; fatigue 99% and ototoxicity 12%. At 12 months, >=grade 2
      subjective xerostomia was observed in 31%, ototoxicitiy in 13% and dysphagia in
      4%. Two year locoregional control was 86.2% (95% confidence interval: 70.0-94.0)
      with 2 year progression-free survival at 78.4% (61.4-88.6) and 2 year overall
      survival at 85.9% (69.3-93.9). CONCLUSIONS: Chemo-IMRT for LA-NPC is feasible
      with good survival outcomes. At 1 year, 31% experience >=grade 2 subjective
      xerostomia.

PMID- 26876459
TI  - Emergency Responses and Health Consequences after the Fukushima Accident;
      Evacuation and Relocation.
AB  - The Fukushima accident was a compounding disaster following the strong earthquake
      and huge tsunami. The direct health effects of radiation were relatively well
      controlled considering the severity of the accident, not only among emergency
      workers but also residents. Other serious health issues include deaths during
      evacuation, collapse of the radiation emergency medical system, increased
      mortality among displaced elderly people and public healthcare issues in
      Fukushima residents. The Fukushima mental health and lifestyle survey disclosed
      that the Fukushima accident caused severe psychological distress in the residents
      from evacuation zones. In addition to psychiatric and mental health problems,
      there are lifestyle-related problems such as an increase proportion of those
      overweight, an increased prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and
      dyslipidaemia and changes in health-related behaviours among evacuees; all of
      which may lead to an increased cardiovascular disease risk in the future. The
      effects of a major nuclear accident on societies are diverse and enduring. The
      countermeasures should include disaster management, long-term general public
      health services, mental and psychological care, behavioural and societal support,
      in addition to efforts to mitigate the health effects attributable to radiation. 

PMID- 26876460
TI  - Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer in a Community Practice: How to Measure,
      Manage, and Improve?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To measure past active surveillance (AS) adoption rates, institute the
      best practice, and measure the AS adoption rates following implementation. We
      report our findings over a 3-year period. METHODS: Patient prostate needle biopsy
      and treatment data from the period August 2011 to August 2014 were retrieved from
      an integrated electronic medical records (Allscripts) and stored in a Microsoft
      Access database for analysis. Structured data were queried using the automated
      software program WizMD and unstructured data were abstracted by manual review. AS
      adoption was calculated according to four different selection criteria. Between
      2013 and 2014, physicians at Genesis Healthcare Partners (GHP) underwent an
      educational training program on the University of California, San Diego/GHP AS
      best practice for managing low-risk prostate cancer patients and were provided
      report cards on their AS adoption and comparative reporting. RESULTS: AS adoption
      increased for the 3 years of the study. AS adoption for all newly diagnosed
      patients managed at GHP increased from 12.9% to 14.74%. AS adoption for patients
      with low-risk prostate cancer (as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer
      Network) increased from 31.90% to 58.46% from year 1 to year 3 of the study (P <
      .001), and AS adoption for the most strict (restrictive) criteria increased from
      43.75% to 82.61% (P < .001) after the educational and comparative reporting
      intervention. CONCLUSION: These data highlight the potential benefit of physician
      education and comparative reporting to enhance AS adoption. AS adoption rates
      vary according to selection criteria used for analysis. Carefully selected
      outcomes from evidence-based guidelines have the potential to enhance medical
      quality.

PMID- 26876461
TI  - Adynamic Graciloplasty With a Pedicled Gracilis Muscle Flap Wrapped Around Bulbar
      Urethra for Treatment of Male Acquired Urinary Incontinence.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of adynamic gracilis urethral myoplasty with
      a pedicled gracilis muscle flap wrapped around bulbar urethra for treatment of
      male acquired urinary incontinence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients
      with acquired urinary incontinence (8 after radical prostatectomy, 7 after
      transurethral resection of the prostate, and 9 after posterior urethroplasty)
      were included in our study. Eighteen of these patients (75.0%) had mild to
      moderate urinary incontinence, and 6 (25.0%) had severe urinary incontinence. All
      patients received adynamic gracilis urethral myoplasty with a pedicled gracilis
      muscle flap wrapped around bulbar urethra and had a close follow-up. RESULTS: The
      mean postoperative maximum urethral pressure after the gracilis muscle wrapped
      around bulbar urethra was significantly higher than that of the preoperative
      measurements (P <.05). After a mean follow-up of 31.5 months (6-64 months), 18
      patients were cured, 4 patients improved, and 2 patients were considered
      failures. The total cure rate was 75.0% (18 of 24). Five out of 6 patients with
      severe incontinence did not have a great success. CONCLUSION: A pedicled gracilis
      muscle flap wrapped around bulbar urethra can raise the urethral pressure.
      Adynamic graciloplasty with a pedicled gracilis muscle flap wrapped around bulbar
      urethra is a safe and effective surgical option in the treatment of male patients
      with mild to moderate incontinence, but is not suitable for severe incontinence.

PMID- 26876462
TI  - PLK-1 Silencing in Bladder Cancer by siRNA Delivered With Exosomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To use exosomes as a vector to deliver small interfering ribonucleic
      acid (siRNA) to silence the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) gene in bladder cancer
      cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exosomes were isolated from both human embryonic
      kidney 293 (HEK293) cell and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) conditioned media.
      Fluorescently labeled exosomes were co-cultured with bladder cancer and normal
      epithelial cells and uptake was quantified by image cytometry. PLK-1 siRNA and
      negative control siRNA were loaded into HEK293 and MSC exosomes using
      electroporation. An invasive bladder cancer cell line (UMUC3) was co-cultured
      with the electroporated exosomes. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase
      chain reaction was performed. Protein analysis was performed by Western blot.
      Annexin V staining and MTT assays were used to investigate effects on apoptosis
      and viability. RESULTS: Bladder cancer cell lines internalize an increased
      percentage of HEK293 exosomes when compared to normal bladder epithelial cells.
      Treatment of UMUC3 cells with exosomes electroporated with PLK-1 siRNA achieved
      successful knockdown of PLK-1 mRNA and protein when compared to cells treated
      with negative control exosomes. CONCLUSION: HEK293 and MSC exosomes were
      effectively used as a delivery vector to transport PLK-1 siRNA to bladder cancer
      cells in vitro, resulting in selective gene silencing of PLK-1. The use of
      exosomes as a delivery vector for potential intravesical therapy is attractive.

PMID- 26876463
TI  - Laparoscopic Resection of a Renal Hilar Pheochromocytoma in an Adolescent With a
      Circumaortic Left Renal Vein.
AB  - Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor that usually develops from the
      chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. Extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas arise in
      the neural crest cells of the retroperitoneal paraganglia and renal hilum is a
      common site for their occurrence. We describe a 17-year-old boy, whom we believe
      to be the first reported case of successful laparoscopic resection of a renal
      hilar extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma in the setting of a circumaortic left renal
      vein. 

PMID- 26876464
TI  - Giant Fungating Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Scrotum.
AB  - We present an unusual case of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arising from a non-sun
      exposed area. The patient was 69-year-old male with an enlarging giant fungating
      mass protruding from his scrotum for which he did not seek medical treatment
      until recently. The mass did not involve the scrotum or epididymis and was
      confirmed on ultrasound. The patient underwent wide surgical excision and was
      diagnosed with BCC of the scrotum. Scrotal BCC appears to be more aggressive and
      more likely to metastasize compared with lesions arising from other areas of the
      body. 

PMID- 26876465
TI  - Outcomes of Surgical Management of Men With Peyronie's Disease With Hourglass
      Deformity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes of two surgical interventions for
      Peyronie's disease (PD) with hourglass deformity: partial excision and grafting
      (PEG) or inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Retrospective data were collected from two centers: Technical University of
      Munich (PEG) and Tulane University Medical Center (IPP). Collected variables
      included patient demographics, sexual function, penile vascular measurements, and
      treatment outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 50 PD patients with hourglass deformity
      (26 PEG [group 1] and 24 IPP [group 2]) were included in this study. Patients in
      group 1 had higher mean preoperative Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores (22.2
      vs 10.3, P < 0001), required less erectile dysfunction treatment (35% vs 79%, P =
      .005), and had more nonvascular etiology (77% vs 21%, P < .0001). There were no
      intraoperative complications, 2 patients in group 1 had postoperative glans
      hypoesthesia, and 1 patient in group 2 required surgical revision. All patients
      in both groups had significant >=20% improvements in penile curvature with mean
      changes of 68.1 degrees (12.7) in group 1 and 49.6 degrees (13.5) in group 2, P <
      .0001. Resolution of hourglass deformity was achieved in 85% of patients in group
      1 and 100% of patients in group 2, P = .045. The mean postoperative change in
      Sexual Health Inventory for Men score was -0.3 (1.3) in group 1 and 16.7 (4.7) in
      group 2, P < .0001. CONCLUSION: Both options provide excellent outcomes for well
      selected patients with PD and an hourglass deformity. PEG can be offered to
      patients with good erectile function, whereas the IPP remains the preferred
      option for patients with poor erections.

PMID- 26876466
TI  - Impact of Changing Trends in Medical Therapy on Transurethral Resection of the
      Prostate: Two Decades of Change in China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess that over the 2 decades, whether medical
      therapy has changed indications, patient characteristics, and outcomes in men
      undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (1992-2013). METHODS: At our
      institution, medical history of all patients undergoing surgery before 1998,
      between 2001 and 2003, and between 2011 and 2013 was reviewed. Patient
      demographics, preoperative clinical profile, clinical management, and operative
      complications were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1157 patients were enrolled in
      the study. Mean ages of patients increased from 67.0 to 70.4 years old over the
      past 2 decades. Furthermore, comorbidities increased significantly as well.
      Although prostate size and weight of resected tissue increased from 57.3 to 92.3
      g and from 24.3 to 36.6 g, the surgical time decreased from 78.21 to 72.29
      minutes. From 2011 to 2013, patients undergoing surgery had their catheters
      remove earlier (from 5.7 to 4.5 days), whose postoperative days in hospital were
      shorter (from 9.3 to 4.4 days). Although operative complications decreased from
      12.3% to 5.7%, especially bleeding, re-operation due to bleeding increased from
      0.4% to 2.7%. Moreover, no statistical difference was observed in operative
      complications between patients with medical therapy and those without medical
      therapy. CONCLUSION: The increasing application of medical therapy resulted in
      surgical interventions delay. The prostate size was significantly greater, as was
      the weight of resected tissue. Although patients with medication were older with
      more comorbidities and larger prostates, surgical technique advancements have
      benefited them and transurethral resection of the prostate is still considered as
      a safe and recommendable surgical treatment.

PMID- 26876467
TI  - Traumatic neuroma on the digital tip: Immunohistochemical analysis of
      inflammatory signaling pathways.

PMID- 26876468
TI  - Self-assembled platinum nanoparticles on sulfonic acid-grafted graphene as
      effective electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells.
AB  - In this article, sulfonic acid-grafted reduced graphene oxide (S-rGO) were
      synthesized using a one-pot method under mild conditions, and used as Pt catalyst
      supports to prepare Pt/S-rGO electrocatalysts through a self-assembly route. The
      structure, morphologies and physicochemical properties of S-rGO were examined in
      detail by techniques such as atomic force microscope (AFM), transmission electron
      microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The S-rGO nanosheets
      show excellent solubility and stability in water and the average particle size of
      Pt nanoparticles supported on S-rGO is ~3.8 nm with symmetrical and uniform
      distribution. The electrocatalytic properties of Pt/S-rGO were investigated for
      methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In
      comparison to Pt supported on high surface area Vulcan XC-72 carbon (Pt/VC) and
      Pt/rGO, the Pt/S-rGO electrocatalyst exhibits a much higher electrocatalytic
      activity, faster reaction kinetics and a better stability. The results indicate
      that Pt/S-rGO is a promising and effective electrocatalyst for MOR of DMFCs.

PMID- 26876469
TI  - H1N1 influenza presenting as severe acute pancreatitis and multiorgan
      dysfunction.

PMID- 26876470
TI  - Posttraumatic pneumatization of the optic sheath.

PMID- 26876471
TI  - Orienting attention to visual or verbal/auditory imagery differentially impairs
      the processing of visual stimuli.
AB  - When attention is oriented toward inner thoughts, as spontaneously occurs during
      mind wandering, the processing of external information is attenuated. However,
      the potential effects of thought's content regarding sensory attenuation are
      still unknown. The present study aims to assess if the representational format of
      thoughts, such as visual imagery or inner speech, might differentially affect the
      sensory processing of external stimuli. We recorded the brain activity of 20
      participants (12 women) while they were exposed to a probe visual stimulus in
      three different conditions: executing a task on the visual probe (externally
      oriented attention), and two conditions involving inward-turned attention i.e.
      generating inner speech and performing visual imagery. Event-related potentials
      results showed that the P1 amplitude, related with sensory response, was
      significantly attenuated during both task involving inward attention compared
      with external task. When both representational formats were compared, the visual
      imagery condition showed stronger attenuation in sensory processing than inner
      speech condition. Alpha power in visual areas was measured as an index of
      cortical inhibition. Larger alpha amplitude was found when participants engaged
      in an internal thought contrasted with the external task, with visual imagery
      showing even more alpha power than inner speech condition. Our results show, for
      the first time to our knowledge, that visual attentional processing to external
      stimuli during self-generated thoughts is differentially affected by the
      representational format of the ongoing train of thoughts.

PMID- 26876472
TI  - Using [(11)C]Ro15 4513 PET to characterise GABA-benzodiazepine receptors in
      opiate addiction: Similarities and differences with alcoholism.
AB  - The importance of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex and its subtypes are
      increasingly recognised in addiction. Using the alpha1/alpha5 benzodiazepine
      receptor PET radioligand [(11)C]Ro15 4513, we previously showed reduced binding
      in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus in abstinent alcohol dependence. We
      proposed that reduced [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding in the nucleus accumbens was a
      marker of addiction whilst the reduction in hippocampus and positive relationship
      with memory was a consequence of chronic alcohol abuse. To examine this further
      we assessed [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding in another addiction, opiate dependence, and
      used spectral analysis to estimate contributions of alpha1 and alpha5 subtypes to
      [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding in opiate and previously acquired alcohol-dependent
      groups. Opiate substitute maintained opiate-dependent men (n=12) underwent an
      [(11)C]Ro15 4513 PET scan and compared with matched healthy controls (n=13). We
      found a significant reduction in [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding in the nucleus
      accumbens in the opiate-dependent compared with the healthy control group. There
      was no relationship between [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding in the hippocampus with
      memory. We found that reduced [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding was associated with
      reduced alpha5 but not alpha1 subtypes in the opiate-dependent group. This was
      also seen in an alcohol-dependent group where an association between memory
      performance and [(11)C]Ro15 4513 binding was primarily driven by alpha5 and not
      alpha1 subtype. We suggest that reduced alpha5 levels in the nucleus accumbens
      are associated with addiction since we have now shown this in dependence to two
      pharmacologically different substances, alcohol and opiates.

PMID- 26876474
TI  - Weight restoration therapy rapidly reverses cortical thinning in anorexia
      nervosa: A longitudinal study.
AB  - Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies have documented reduced gray matter
      in acutely ill patients with anorexia nervosa to be at least partially reversible
      following weight restoration. However, few longitudinal studies exist and the
      underlying mechanisms of these structural changes are elusive. In particular, the
      relative speed and completeness of brain structure normalization during
      realimentation remain unknown. Here we report from a structural neuroimaging
      study including a sample of adolescent/young adult female patients with acute
      anorexia nervosa (n=47), long-term recovered patients (n=34), and healthy
      controls (n=75). The majority of acutely ill patients were scanned longitudinally
      (n=35): at the beginning of standardized weight restoration therapy and again
      after partial weight normalization (>10% body mass index increase). High
      resolution structural images were processed and analyzed with the longitudinal
      stream of FreeSurfer software to test for changes in cortical thickness and
      volumes of select subcortical regions of interest. We found globally reduced
      cortical thickness in acutely ill patients to increase rapidly (0.06 mm/month)
      during brief weight restoration therapy (~3 months). This significant increase
      was predicted by weight restoration alone and could not be ascribed to
      potentially mediating factors such as duration of illness, hydration status, or
      symptom improvements. By comparing cortical thickness in partially weight
      restored patients with that measured in healthy controls, we confirmed that
      cortical thickness had normalized already at follow-up. This pattern of thinning
      in illness and rapid normalization during weight rehabilitation was largely
      mirrored in subcortical volumes. Together, our findings indicate that structural
      brain insults inflicted by starvation in anorexia nervosa may be reversed at a
      rate much faster than previously thought if interventions are successful before
      the disorder becomes chronic. This provides evidence drawing previously
      speculated mechanisms such as (de-)hydration and neurogenesis into question and
      suggests that neuronal and/or glial remodeling including changes in
      macromolecular content may underlie the gray matter alterations observed in
      anorexia nervosa.

PMID- 26876473
TI  - In vivo quantification of demyelination and recovery using compartment-specific
      diffusion MRI metrics validated by electron microscopy.
AB  - There is a need for accurate quantitative non-invasive biomarkers to monitor
      myelin pathology in vivo and distinguish myelin changes from other pathological
      features including inflammation and axonal loss. Conventional MRI metrics such as
      T2, magnetization transfer ratio and radial diffusivity have proven sensitivity
      but not specificity. In highly coherent white matter bundles, compartment
      specific white matter tract integrity (WMTI) metrics can be directly derived from
      the diffusion and kurtosis tensors: axonal water fraction, intra-axonal
      diffusivity, and extra-axonal radial and axial diffusivities. We evaluate the
      potential of WMTI to quantify demyelination by monitoring the effects of both
      acute (6weeks) and chronic (12weeks) cuprizone intoxication and subsequent
      recovery in the mouse corpus callosum, and compare its performance with that of
      conventional metrics (T2, magnetization transfer, and DTI parameters). The
      changes observed in vivo correlated with those obtained from quantitative
      electron microscopy image analysis. A 6-week intoxication produced a significant
      decrease in axonal water fraction (p<0.001), with only mild changes in extra
      axonal radial diffusivity, consistent with patchy demyelination, while a 12-week
      intoxication caused a more marked decrease in extra-axonal radial diffusivity
      (p=0.0135), consistent with more severe demyelination and clearance of the extra
      axonal space. Results thus revealed increased specificity of the axonal water
      fraction and extra-axonal radial diffusivity parameters to different degrees and
      patterns of demyelination. The specificities of these parameters were
      corroborated by their respective correlations with microstructural features: the
      axonal water fraction correlated significantly with the electron microscopy
      derived total axonal water fraction (rho=0.66; p=0.0014) but not with the g
      ratio, while the extra-axonal radial diffusivity correlated with the g-ratio
      (rho=0.48; p=0.0342) but not with the electron microscopy derived axonal water
      fraction. These parameters represent promising candidates as clinically feasible
      biomarkers of demyelination and remyelination in the white matter.

PMID- 26876476
TI  - Effects of simulated interpersonal touch and trait intrinsic motivation on the
      error-related negativity.
AB  - The error-related negativity (ERN or Ne) is a negative event-related brain
      potential that peaks about 20-100 ms after people perform an incorrect response
      in choice reaction time tasks. Prior research has shown that the ERN may be
      enhanced by situational and dispositional factors that promote intrinsic
      motivation. Building on and extending this work the authors hypothesized that
      simulated interpersonal touch may increase task engagement and thereby increase
      ERN amplitude. To test this notion, 20 participants performed a Go/No-Go task
      while holding a teddy bear or a same-sized cardboard box. As expected, the ERN
      was significantly larger when participants held a teddy bear rather than a
      cardboard box. This effect was most pronounced for people high (rather than low)
      in trait intrinsic motivation, who may depend more on intrinsically motivating
      task cues to maintain task engagement. These findings highlight the potential
      benefits of simulated interpersonal touch in stimulating attention to errors,
      especially among people who are intrinsically motivated.

PMID- 26876478
TI  - Importance of visual inputs quality for postural stability in strabismic
      children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The first goal of the present study is to analyze the postural control
      in strabismic children in four different visual conditions (eyes open, eyes
      closed and monocular viewing with squint eye and non-squint eye). Secondly, we
      wish to explore the effect of strabismus surgery in postural control. METHOD:
      Postural stability was recorded with a platform (TechnoConcept) in 23 strabismic
      children aged from 4.4 to 14.8 years old (mean age: 8.4 years); 12 of these
      children were also examined at least two months after strabismus surgery. We
      analyzed the surface, the length, and the mean speed of the Center of Pressure
      displacement (CdP), and we calculated the Romberg's Quotient (that is for each
      postural parameter the ratio between eyes closed relative to eyes open). RESULTS:
      Strabismic children are significantly more stable when they can use their visual
      information to control their posture. Also, postural stability was better when
      the non-squint eye was viewing. For the first time, we observed the important
      role of vision (by calculating Romberg's Quotient) in strabismic children with
      binocular vision in comparison of strabismic children without binocular vision.
      Finally, we found that eye surgery improves postural stability. CONCLUSION:
      Strabismic children use visual inputs to control their posture. Moreover,
      binocular vision plays an important role in postural control. Strabismus surgery
      improves postural stability. SIGNIFICANCE: Visual inputs from the non-squint eye
      and binocular vision are important to control stability.

PMID- 26876477
TI  - Epigenetic regulation of mitochondrial function in neurodegenerative disease: New
      insights from advances in genomic technologies.
AB  - The field of mitochondrial epigenetics has received increased attention in recent
      years and changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation has been implicated in
      a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis. However, current publications have been limited by the use of
      global or targeted methods of measuring DNA methylation. In this review, we
      discuss current findings in mitochondrial epigenetics as well as its potential
      role as a regulator of mitochondria within the brain. Finally, we summarize the
      current technologies best suited to capturing mtDNA methylation, and how a move
      towards whole epigenome sequencing of mtDNA may help to advance our current
      understanding of the field.

PMID- 26876475
TI  - Age-related changes in binding of the D2/3 receptor radioligand [(11)C](+)PHNO in
      healthy volunteers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous imaging studies with positron emission tomography (PET) have
      reliably demonstrated an age-associated decline in the dopamine system. Most of
      these studies have focused on the densities of dopamine receptor subtypes D2/3R
      (D2R family) in the striatum using antagonist radiotracers that are largely
      nonselective for D2R vs. D3R subtypes. Therefore, less is known about any
      possible age effects in D3-rich extrastriatal areas such as the substantia
      nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA) and hypothalamus. This study sought to
      investigate whether the receptor availability measured with [(11)C](+)PHNO, a D3R
      preferring agonist radiotracer, also declines with age. METHODS: Forty-two
      healthy control subjects (9 females, 33 males; age range 19-55 years) were
      scanned with [(11)C](+)PHNO using a High Resolution Research Tomograph (HRRT).
      Parametric images were computed using the simplified reference tissue model
      (SRTM2) with cerebellum as the reference region. Binding potentials (BPND) were
      calculated for the amygdala, caudate, hypothalamus, pallidum, putamen, SN/VTA,
      thalamus, and ventral striatum and then confirmed at the voxel level with whole
      brain parametric images. RESULTS: Regional [(11)C](+)PHNO BPND displayed a
      negative correlation between receptor availability and age in the caudate (r=
      0.56, corrected p=0.0008) and putamen (r=-0.45, corrected p=0.02) in healthy
      subjects (respectively 8% and 5% lower per decade). No significant correlations
      with age were found between age and other regions (including the hypothalamus and
      SN/VTA). Secondary whole-brain voxel-wise analysis confirmed these ROI findings
      of negative associations and further identified a positive correlation in
      midbrain (SN/VTA) regions. CONCLUSION: In accordance with previous studies, the
      striatum (an area rich in D2R) is associated with age-related declines of the
      dopamine system. We did not initially find evidence of changes with age in the
      SN/VTA and hypothalamus, areas previously found to have a predominantly D3R
      signal as measured with [(11)C](+)PHNO. A secondary analysis did find a
      significant positive correlation in midbrain (SN/VTA) regions, indicating that
      there may be differential effects of aging, whereby D2R receptor availability
      decreases with age while D3R availability stays unchanged or is increased.

PMID- 26876479
TI  - Durable, superoleophobic polymer-nanoparticle composite surfaces with re-entrant
      geometry via solvent-induced phase transformation.
AB  - Superoleophobic plastic surfaces are useful in a wide variety of applications
      including anti-fouling, self-cleaning, anti-smudge, and low-drag. Existing
      examples of superoleophobic surfaces typically rely on poorly adhered coatings or
      delicate surface structures, resulting in poor mechanical durability. Here, we
      report a facile method for creating re-entrant geometries desirable for
      superoleophobicity via entrapment of nanoparticles in polycarbonate surfaces.
      Nanoparticle incorporation occurs during solvent-induced swelling and subsequent
      crystallization of the polymer surface. The resulting surface was found to
      comprise of re-entrant structures, a result of the nanoparticle agglomerates
      acting as nucleation points for polymer crystallization. Examples of such
      surfaces were further functionalized with fluorosilane to result in a durable,
      super-repellent surface. This method of impregnating nanoparticles into polymer
      surfaces could prove useful in improving the anti-bacterial, mechanical, and
      liquid-repellent properties of plastic devices. 

PMID- 26876480
TI  - Co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin by pH-sensitive prodrug nanoparticle for
      combination therapy of cancer.
AB  - Ample attention has focused on cancer drug delivery via prodrug nanoparticles due
      to their high drug loading property and comparatively lower side effects. In this
      study, we designed a PEG-DOX-Cur prodrug nanoparticle for simultaneous delivery
      of doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (Cur) as a combination therapy to treat cancer.
      DOX was conjugated to PEG by Schiff's base reaction. The obtained prodrug
      conjugate could self-assemble in water at pH 7.4 into nanoparticles (PEG-DOX NPs)
      and encapsulate Cur into the core through hydrophobic interaction (PEG-DOX-Cur
      NPs). When the PEG-DOX-Cur NPs are internalized by tumor cells, the Schiff's base
      linker between PEG and DOX would break in the acidic environment that is often
      observed in tumors, causing disassembling of the PEG-DOX-Cur NPs and releasing
      both DOX and Cur into the nuclei and cytoplasma of the tumor cells, respectively.
      Compared with free DOX, free Cur, free DOX-Cur combination, or PEG-DOX NPs, PEG
      DOX-Cur NPs exhibited higher anti-tumor activity in vitro. In addition, the PEG
      DOX-Cur NPs also showed prolonged blood circulation time, elevated local drug
      accumulation and increased tumor penetration. Enhanced anti-tumor activity was
      also observed from the PEG-DOX-Cur-treated animals, demonstrating better tumor
      inhibitory property of the NPs. Thus, the PEG-DOX-Cur prodrug nanoparticle system
      provides a simple yet efficient approach of drug delivery for chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26876481
TI  - Complete genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain L10.10, a psychrotolerant biofertilizer
      that could promote plant growth.
AB  - Pseudomonas sp. strain L10.10 (=DSM 101070) is a psychrotolerant bacterium which
      was isolated from Lagoon Island, Antarctica. Analysis of its complete genome
      sequence indicates its possible role as a plant-growth promoting bacterium,
      including nitrogen-fixing ability and indole acetic acid (IAA)-producing trait,
      with additional suggestion of plant disease prevention attributes via hydrogen
      cyanide production. 

PMID- 26876482
TI  - Effects of Narrow-band IR-A and of Water-Filtered Infrared A on Fibroblasts.
AB  - Exposures of the skin with electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths between 670
      nm and 1400 nm are often used as a general treatment to improve wound healing and
      reduce pain, for example, in chronic diabetic skin lesions. We investigated the
      effects of water-filtered infrared A (wIRA) and of narrow-band IR-A provided by a
      light-emitting diode LED (LED-IR-A) irradiation in vitro on 3T3 fibroblast
      cultures under defined conditions with and without glyoxal administration.
      Glyoxal triggers the formation of advanced glycation end products, thereby
      mimicking a diabetic metabolic state. Cell viability and apoptotic changes were
      determined by flow cytometry after vital staining with Annexin V, YO-PRO-1 and
      propidium iodide (PI), and by SubG1 assay. Mitochondrial function and oxidative
      stress were examined by vital staining for radical production, mitochondrial
      membrane potential (MMP) and the ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione
      (GSH/GSSG). The metabolic state was monitored by a resazurin conversion assay.
      The numbers of apoptotic cells were reduced in cultures irradiated with wIRA or
      LED-IR-A. More mitochondria showed a well-polarized MMP after wIRA irradiation in
      glyoxal damaged cells. LED-IR-A treatment specifically restored the GSH/GSSG
      ratio. The immediate positive effects of wIRA and LED-IR-A observed in living
      cells, particularly on mitochondria, reflect the therapeutic benefits of wIRA and
      LED-IR-A.

PMID- 26876483
TI  - Ribosomal small subunit domains radiate from a central core.
AB  - The domain architecture of a large RNA can help explain and/or predict folding,
      function, biogenesis and evolution. We offer a formal and general definition of
      an RNA domain and use that definition to experimentally characterize the rRNA of
      the ribosomal small subunit. Here the rRNA comprising a domain is compact, with a
      self-contained system of molecular interactions. A given rRNA helix or stem-loop
      must be allocated uniquely to a single domain. Local changes such as mutations
      can give domain-wide effects. Helices within a domain have interdependent
      orientations, stabilities and interactions. With these criteria we identify a
      core domain (domain A) of small subunit rRNA. Domain A acts as a hub, linking the
      four peripheral domains and imposing orientational and positional restraints on
      the other domains. Experimental characterization of isolated domain A, and
      mutations and truncations of it, by methods including selective 2'OH acylation
      analyzed by primer extension and circular dichroism spectroscopy are consistent
      with our architectural model. The results support the utility of the concept of
      an RNA domain. Domain A, which exhibits structural similarity to tRNA, appears to
      be an essential core of the small ribosomal subunit. 

PMID- 26876484
TI  - Ulcerative colitis with hepatitis B virus infection treated successfully by
      granulocyte monocyte apheresis.
AB  - Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major type of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease
      (IBD). Immunosuppressive therapies are used to treat IBD patients. Clinicians
      have strong concerns about using immunosuppressive therapies for IBD patients
      with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection because aggressive immunosuppressive
      therapy can promote reactivation of HBV. For that reason, physicians hesitate to
      use steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for IBD patients with HBV
      infection. Granulocyte monocyte apheresis (GMA) is a safe and effective therapy
      for UC patients. In Japan, a maximum of 11 sessions of GMA are allowed for
      moderate-to-severe, steroid-resistant UC patients. However, the effects of GMA on
      HBV remain unclear. This case report describes a 39-year-old man with active UC
      complicated by HBV infection. Although his symptoms improved with steroid
      treatment while under entecavir therapy, clinical remission could not be
      maintained after the steroid dosage was decreased, so GMA was started. After GMA
      initiation, the frequency of diarrhea decreased and his symptoms improved, and
      the steroid dosage could be decreased. During the course of GMA, the patient did
      not experience deterioration in his hepatitis and the HBV DNA level gradually
      decreased, although GMA itself did not affect the HBV DNA level during each
      session of GMA. Results show that GMA is a safe and efficacious strategy against
      UC complicated by HBV without affecting hepatitis because GMA had no remarkable
      effect on HBV activity. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:584-586, 2016. (c) 2015 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26876485
TI  - Field studies versus database studies on the risks and benefits of medication use
      during pregnancy: Distinct pieces of the same puzzle.
AB  - Over the past two decades, findings on medication use during pregnancy have been
      accumulating from observational data. Generally, field studies with prospective
      recruitment of subjects have better outcome ascertainment, and more control on
      the longitudinal collection of data, but have lower sample sizes and thus they
      often lack statistical power to detect increased risks for rare events such as
      major congenital malformations. In addition, given the rarity of specific drug
      exposures in a population, even relatively common outcomes, such as low birth
      weight, may become rare in combination with the specific exposure. On the other
      hand, administrative databases usually provide larger samples and thus increased
      statistical power, decrease the probability of selection and recall bias, but
      often have missing data on potential confounders. Hence, debate amongst
      researchers, regulators and public health officials has been ongoing with regard
      to the most appropriate study populations for perinatal epidemiologic research.
      With this commentary, we aim to highlight the importance of both study
      populations, which can make complementary and crucial contributions to the
      iterative determination of causality as well as discuss basic epidemiologic
      principles that need to be applied in the field of perinatal pharmacoepidemiology
      for the purpose of causality assessment. This is relevant at present given that
      the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has modified their
      medication label requirements, especially given the international importance of
      these modifications.

PMID- 26876486
TI  - High resolution atomic force microscopy of double-stranded RNA.
AB  - Double-stranded (ds) RNA mediates the suppression of specific gene expression, it
      is the genetic material of a number of viruses, and a key activator of the innate
      immune response against viral infections. The ever increasing list of roles
      played by dsRNA in the cell and its potential biotechnological applications over
      the last decade has raised an interest for the characterization of its mechanical
      properties and structure, and that includes approaches using Atomic Force
      Microscopy (AFM) and other single-molecule techniques. Recent reports have
      resolved the structure of dsDNA with AFM at unprecedented resolution. However, an
      equivalent study with dsRNA is still lacking. Here, we have visualized the double
      helix of dsRNA under near-physiological conditions and at sufficient resolution
      to resolve the A-form sub-helical pitch periodicity. We have employed different
      high-sensitive force-detection methods and obtained images with similar spatial
      resolution. Therefore, we show here that the limiting factors for high-resolution
      AFM imaging of soft materials in liquid medium are, rather than the imaging mode,
      the force between the tip and the sample and the sharpness of the tip apex. 

PMID- 26876489
TI  - Are hypertensive women at additional risk of ischaemic heart disease from
      physically demanding work?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The combination of hypertension and high physical activity at work
      may increase blood pressure considerably and increase the risk of atherosclerosis
      and thereby ischaemic heart disease (IHD), but only a few studies in men, and
      none among women, have examined this topic. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort
      study. METHODS: In 1993, 12,093 female nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort Study,
      aged 45-64 years answered a baseline questionnaire on physical activity at work,
      history of hypertension, a selection of known risk factors for IHD and
      occupational factors. Information on incident IHD from baseline to 2008 was
      retrieved by individual linkage to the National Register of Hospital Discharges.
      RESULTS: In a fully adjusted Cox model, hypertensive nurses with high physical
      activity at work had nearly three times higher risk of IHD (hazard ratio (HR)
      2.87 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.12-3.87)) compared to normotensive nurses
      with moderate physical activity at work. Significant additive interaction between
      physical activity at work and hypertension was found measured by the relative
      excess risk due to additive interaction (RERI) (1.20 (95% CI 0.26-2.14), and in
      an additive hazards model. Hypertensive nurses with high physical activity at
      work had 60 additional cases of IHD per 10,000 person years compared to
      normotensive nurses with moderate physical activity at work (60.0 (95% CI 38.1
      81.9; p < 0.001)), of which more than half was explained by additive interaction
      (40.7 (95% CI 11.7-69.7; p = 0.006)). No multiplicative interaction (p = 0.249)
      was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study among Danish nurses indicated that
      hypertensive women may be at particular high risk of IHD from physically
      demanding work.

PMID- 26876487
TI  - The histone variant H2A.X is a regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition.
AB  - The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), considered essential for metastatic
      cancer, has been a focus of much research, but important questions remain. Here,
      we show that silencing or removing H2A.X, a histone H2A variant involved in
      cellular DNA repair and robust growth, induces mesenchymal-like characteristics
      including activation of EMT transcription factors, Slug and ZEB1, in HCT116 human
      colon cancer cells. Ectopic H2A.X re-expression partially reverses these changes,
      as does silencing Slug and ZEB1. In an experimental metastasis model, the HCT116
      parental and H2A.X-null cells exhibit a similar metastatic behaviour, but the
      cells with re-expressed H2A.X are substantially more metastatic. We surmise that
      H2A.X re-expression leads to partial EMT reversal and increases robustness in the
      HCT116 cells, permitting them to both form tumours and to metastasize. In a human
      adenocarcinoma panel, H2A.X levels correlate inversely with Slug and ZEB1 levels.
      Together, these results point to H2A.X as a regulator of EMT. 

PMID- 26876488
TI  - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promoter methylation and cortical thickness in
      recurrent major depressive disorder.
AB  - Recent studies have reported that methylation of the brain-derived neurotrophic
      factor (BDNF) gene promoter is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD).
      This study aimed to investigate the association between cortical thickness and
      methylation of BDNF promoters as well as serum BDNF levels in MDD. The
      participants consisted of 65 patients with recurrent MDD and 65 age- and gender
      matched healthy controls. Methylation of BDNF promoters and cortical thickness
      were compared between the groups. The right medial orbitofrontal, right lingual,
      right lateral occipital, left lateral orbitofrontal, left pars triangularis, and
      left lingual cortices were thinner in patients with MDD than in healthy controls.
      Among the MDD group, right pericalcarine, right medical orbitofrontal, right
      rostral middle frontal, right postcentral, right inferior temporal, right cuneus,
      right precuneus, left frontal pole, left superior frontal, left superior
      temporal, left rostral middle frontal and left lingual cortices had inverse
      correlations with methylation of BDNF promoters. Higher levels of BDNF promoter
      methylation may be closely associated with the reduced cortical thickness among
      patients with MDD. Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in MDD, and showed
      an inverse relationship with BDNF methylation only in healthy controls.
      Particularly the prefrontal and occipital cortices seem to indicate key regions
      in which BDNF methylation has a significant effect on structure. 

PMID- 26876491
TI  - Cell phone use is associated with an inflammatory cytokine profile of parotid
      gland saliva.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is controversy on the effects of the non-ionizing radiation
      emitted by cell phones on cellular processes and the impact of such radiation
      exposure on health. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cell
      phone use alters cytokine expression in the saliva produced by the parotid
      glands. METHODS: Cytokine expression profile was determined by enzyme linked
      immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) in the saliva produced by the parotid glands in
      healthy volunteers, and correlated with self-reported cell phone use and
      laterality. RESULTS: The following parameters were determined, in 83 Brazilian
      individuals in saliva produced by the parotid glands comparing the saliva from
      the gland exposed to cell phone radiation (ipsilateral) to that from the
      contralateral parotid: salivary flow, total protein concentration, interleukin 1
      beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interferon gamma
      (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) salivary levels by
      ELISA. After multiple testing correction, decreased IL-10 and increased IL-1beta
      salivary levels in the ipsilateral side compared with the contralateral side (P <
      0.05) were detected. Subjects who used cell phones for more than 10 years
      presented higher differences between IL-10 levels in ipsilateral versus
      contralateral parotids (P = 0.0012). No difference was observed in any of the
      tested parameters in correlation with cell phone monthly usage in minutes.
      CONCLUSION: The exposure of parotid glands to cell phones can alter salivary IL
      10 and IL-1beta levels, consistent with a pro-inflammatory microenvironment that
      may be related to heat production.

PMID- 26876490
TI  - Serotonin 2A receptor agonist binding in the human brain with [(11)C]Cimbi-36:
      Test-retest reproducibility and head-to-head comparison with the antagonist
      [(18)F]altanserin.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: [(11)C]Cimbi-36 is a recently developed serotonin 2A (5-HT2A)
      receptor agonist positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand that has been
      successfully applied for human neuroimaging. Here, we investigate the test-retest
      variability of cerebral [(11)C]Cimbi-36 PET and compare [(11)C]Cimbi-36 and the 5
      HT2A receptor antagonist [(18)F]altanserin. METHODS: Sixteen healthy volunteers
      (mean age 23.9 +/- 6.4years, 6 males) were scanned twice with a high resolution
      research tomography PET scanner. All subjects were scanned after a bolus of
      [(11)C]Cimbi-36; eight were scanned twice to determine test-retest variability in
      [(11)C]Cimbi-36 binding measures, and another eight were scanned after a bolus
      plus constant infusion with [(18)F]altanserin. Regional differences in the brain
      distribution of [(11)C]Cimbi-36 and [(18)F]altanserin were assessed with a
      correlation of regional binding measures and with voxel-based analysis. RESULTS:
      Test-retest variability of [(11)C]Cimbi-36 non-displaceable binding potential
      (BPND) was consistently <5% in high-binding regions and lower for reference
      tissue models as compared to a 2-tissue compartment model. We found a highly
      significant correlation between regional BPNDs measured with [(11)C]Cimbi-36 and
      [(18)F]altanserin (mean Pearson's r: 0.95 +/- 0.04) suggesting similar cortical
      binding of the radioligands. Relatively higher binding with [(11)C]Cimbi-36 as
      compared to [(18)F]altanserin was found in the choroid plexus and hippocampus in
      the human brain. CONCLUSIONS: Excellent test-retest reproducibility highlights
      the potential of [(11)C]Cimbi-36 for PET imaging of 5-HT2A receptor agonist
      binding in vivo. Our data suggest that Cimbi-36 and altanserin both bind to 5
      HT2A receptors, but in regions with high 5-HT2C receptor density, choroid plexus
      and hippocampus, the [(11)C]Cimbi-36 binding likely represents binding to both 5
      HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors.

PMID- 26876492
TI  - A painful swelling of the mandible.

PMID- 26876493
TI  - Surgical evaluation of panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography
      for therapy planning of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical
      significance of panoramic radiography (orthopantomography [OPTG]) and cone beam
      computed tomography (CBCT) for therapy planning of bisphosphonate-related
      osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) by surgeons. STUDY DESIGN: Using standardized
      questionnaire, eight maxillofacial surgeons evaluated intraoral photographs of
      the clinical situation of 14 patients with BRONJ as well as the corresponding
      radiographic images (OPTG, CBCT). The presence of five typical BRONJ signs (bone
      remodeling, periosteal reaction, osteosclerosis, sequestra, and continuity of
      cortical bone) was evaluated with OPTG and CBCT. The influence of radiologic
      information on therapy decision was examined as well. RESULTS: On the basis of
      the information from intraoral photographs only, seven of the eight surgeons
      indicated that an additional radiographic examination was necessary for further
      therapy planning. For evaluation of the five radiographic BRONJ signs, CBCT
      provided significantly better values compared with OPTG (all P < .05). A before
      and-after comparison showed that four of the eight surgeons changed their therapy
      concept after having three-dimensional CBCT information. The majority (6 of 8) of
      the surgeons considered that an additional CBCT was required for therapy
      planning, even after having studied the clinical photographs and OPTG images.
      CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate a significant advantage of CBCT over OPTG for
      surgeons with regard to therapeutic planning for BRONJ.

PMID- 26876494
TI  - Droplet-mediated formation of embedded GaAs nanowires in MBE GaAs(1-x)Bi(x)
      films.
AB  - We have examined the morphology and composition of embedded nanowires that can be
      formed during molecular beam epitaxy of GaAs(1-x)Bi(x) using high angle annular
      dark field ('Z-contrast') imaging in an aberration-corrected scanning
      transmission electron microscope. Samples were grown in Ga-rich growth conditions
      on a stationary GaAs substrate. Ga-rich droplets are observed on the surface with
      lateral trails extending from the droplet in the [110] direction. Cross-sectional
      scanning transmission electron microscopy of the film reveals epitaxial nanowire
      structures of composition ~GaAs embedded in the GaAs(1-x)Bi(x) epitaxial layers.
      These nanowires extend from a surface droplet to the substrate at a shallow angle
      of inclination (~4 degrees ). They typically are 4 MUm long and have a lens
      shaped cross section with major and minor axes dimensions of 800 and 120 nm. The
      top surface of the nanowires exhibits a linear trace in longitudinal cross
      section, across which the composition change from ~GaAs to GaAs(1-x)Bi(x) appears
      abrupt. The bottom surfaces of the nanowires appear wavy and the composition
      change appears to be graded over ~25 nm. The droplets have phase separated into
      Ga- and Bi-rich components. A qualitative model is proposed in which Bi is
      gettered into Ga droplets, leaving Bi depleted nanowires in the wakes of the
      droplets as they migrate in one direction across the surface during GaAs(1
      x)Bi(x) film growth.

PMID- 26876495
TI  - With a little help from DNA barcoding: investigating the diversity of Gastropoda
      from the Portuguese coast.
AB  - The Gastropoda is one of the best studied classes of marine invertebrates. Yet,
      most species have been delimited based on morphology only. The application of DNA
      barcodes has shown to be greatly useful to help delimiting species. Therefore,
      sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene from 108 specimens of 34 morpho
      species were used to investigate the molecular diversity within the gastropods
      from the Portuguese coast. To the above dataset, we added available COI-5P
      sequences of taxonomically close species, in a total of 58 morpho-species
      examined. There was a good match between ours and sequences from independent
      studies, in public repositories. We found 32 concordant (91.4%) out of the 35
      Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) generated from our sequences. The application of a
      ranking system to the barcodes yield over 70% with top taxonomic congruence,
      while 14.2% of the species barcodes had insufficient data. In the majority of the
      cases, there was a good concordance between morphological identification and DNA
      barcodes. Nonetheless, the discordance between morphological and molecular data
      is a reminder that even the comparatively well-known European marine gastropods
      can benefit from being probed using the DNA barcode approach. Discordant cases
      should be reviewed with more integrative studies. 

PMID- 26876497
TI  - In response: UV-vis light transmittance through tinted contact lenses and the
      effect of color on values.

PMID- 26876496
TI  - Reference frames for reaching when decoupling eye and target position in depth
      and direction.
AB  - Spatial representations in cortical areas involved in reaching movements were
      traditionally studied in a frontoparallel plane where the two-dimensional target
      location and the movement direction were the only variables to consider in neural
      computations. No studies so far have characterized the reference frames for
      reaching considering both depth and directional signals. Here we recorded from
      single neurons of the medial posterior parietal area V6A during a reaching task
      where fixation point and reaching targets were decoupled in direction and depth.
      We found a prevalent mixed encoding of target position, with eye-centered and
      spatiotopic representations differently balanced in the same neuron. Depth was
      stronger in defining the reference frame of eye-centered cells, while direction
      was stronger in defining that of spatiotopic cells. The predominant presence of
      various typologies of mixed encoding suggests that depth and direction signals
      are processed on the basis of flexible coordinate systems to ensure optimal motor
      response. 

PMID- 26876498
TI  - Glaucoma surgical considerations for PROSE lens use in patients with ocular
      surface disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine challenges of Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface
      Ecosystem (PROSE) treatment in patients with glaucoma drainage implants (GDI) and
      the surgical management of patients where both GDI and PROSE treatment are
      indicated. METHODS: A retrospective noncomparative observational study was
      performed to investigate the outcomes of 7 eyes of 6 patients that required PROSE
      lens wear and GDI implantation. RESULTS: Group A consisted of 2 cases where PROSE
      lens wear was problematic due to scleral surface irregularities following GDI
      placement. These included changes in surface morphology caused by the elevated
      scleral patch graft tissue adjacent to the corneal limbus in one case and the
      presence of two anteriorly located shunts in the other. Group B consisted of 3
      eyes where the previously placed GDI led to poor lens alignment due to the
      proximity of the lens edge to the scleral graft. Group C consisted of 2 cases
      where both patients underwent placement of the GDI in the pars plana and
      insertion of the drainage tube 3-3.5mm from the limbus in order to facilitate
      PROSE lens use. The posterior location of the tube and patch allowed for proper
      PROSE device alignment over the ocular surface. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical
      considerations and prior planning for GDI placement allows PROSE lens use for
      management of ocular surface disease. Pars plana tube placement with a
      posteriorly placed patch graft, instead of anterior chamber tube positioning with
      more anterior graft, enables adequate lens wear in scleral-lens-dependent
      patients.

PMID- 26876499
TI  - Chronic type 2 diabetes reduces the integrity of the blood-brain barrier by
      reducing tight junction proteins in the hippocampus.
AB  - In the present study, we investigated the effects of type 2 diabetes-induced
      hyperglycemia on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and tight junction
      markers in the rat hippocampus. Forty-week-old diabetic (Zucker diabetic fatty,
      ZDF) rats and littermate control (Zucker lean control, ZLC) rats were used in
      this study. We evaluated the integrity of the blood-brain barrier by measuring
      sodium fluorescein extravasation and blood vessel ultrastructure. In addition,
      tight junction markers, such as zona occludens-1, occludin and claudin-5, were
      quantified by western blot analysis. ZDF rats showed significantly increased
      sodium fluorescein leakage in the hippocampus. Tight junction markers, such as
      occludin and claudin-5, were significantly decreased in the hippocampi of ZDF
      rats compared to those of ZLC rats. In addition, ZDF rats showed ultrastructural
      changes with phagocytic findings in the blood vessels. These results suggest that
      chronic untreated diabetes impairs the permeability of the hippocampal blood
      brain barrier by down-regulating occludin and claudin-5, indicating that chronic
      untreated diabetes may cause hippocampus-dependent dysfunction. 

PMID- 26876500
TI  - Mass spectrometry analysis of the oxidation states of the pro-oncogenic protein
      anterior gradient-2 reveals covalent dimerization via an intermolecular
      disulphide bond.
AB  - Anterior Gradient-2 (AGR2) is a component of a pro-oncogenic signalling pathway
      that can promote p53 inhibition, metastatic cell migration, limb regeneration,
      and cancer drug-resistance. AGR2 is in the protein-disulphide isomerase
      superfamily containing a single cysteine (Cys-81) that forms covalent adducts
      with its client proteins. We have found that mutation of Cysteine-81 attenuates
      its biochemical activity in its sequence-specific peptide docking function,
      reduces binding to Reptin, and reduces its stability in cells. As such, we
      evaluated how chemical oxidation of its cysteine affects its biochemical
      properties. Recombinant AGR2 spontaneously forms covalent dimers in the absence
      of reductant whilst DTT promotes dimer to monomer conversion. Mutation of
      Cysteine-81 to alanine prevents peroxide catalysed dimerization of AGR2 in vitro,
      suggesting a reactive cysteine is central to covalent dimer formation. Both
      biochemical assays and ESI mass spectrometry were used to demonstrate that low
      levels of a chemical oxidant promote an intermolecular disulphide bond through
      formation of a labile sulfenic acid intermediate. However, higher levels of
      oxidant promote sulfinic or sulfonic acid formation thus preventing covalent
      dimerization of AGR2. These data together identify the single cysteine of AGR2 as
      an oxidant responsive moiety that regulates its propensity for oxidation and its
      monomeric-dimeric state. This has implications for redox regulation of the pro
      oncogenic functions of AGR2 protein in cancer cells. 

PMID- 26876501
TI  - Clinicopathological correlates of depression in early Alzheimer's disease in the
      NACC.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Depression may be a prodrome to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed
      whether AD neuropathology is associated with depression in mild cognitive
      impairment (MCI) and mild dementia (dAD). METHODS: All clinical and
      neuropathological data for this study came from the National Alzheimer's
      Coordinating Center (NACC). Healthy control (HC, n = 120), MCI (n = 77), and mild
      dAD (n = 93) patients who underwent brain autopsy were included. In regression
      models with Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) as the outcome, neuritic plaque (NP)
      score or Braak Stages of neurofibrillary (NF) pathology were covariates. RESULTS:
      GDS was not associated with cognitive status, NP score, Braak Stages, or their
      interaction. In both models, a history of TIAs, depression within the last 2
      years, current benzodiazepine use, and greater severity of neuropsychiatric
      symptoms were associated with greater depression. In the Braak Stages model, less
      education was another significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Depression in early AD
      appears to be independent of NP and NF pathology. Studies are needed to
      investigate other mechanisms that may be responsible for depression in MCI and
      dAD.

PMID- 26876502
TI  - Graphene Oxide Attenuates the Cytotoxicity and Mutagenicity of PCB 52 via
      Activation of Genuine Autophagy.
AB  - Graphene oxide (GO), owing to its large surface area and abundance of oxygen
      containing functional groups, is emerging as a potential adsorbent for
      polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which accumulate over time and are harmful to
      both natural ecosystems and human health. However, the effect of GO against PCB
      induced toxicity remains largely unexplored. The present study aimed to
      investigate the protective effect of GO against PCB 52 induced cytotoxic and
      genotoxic response in mammalian cells at various exposure conditions and clarify
      the protective role of autophagy. Pretreatment with GO dramatically decreased PCB
      52 induced cytotoxicity and CD59 gene mutation in human-hamster hybrid (AL)
      cells. The toxic response in cells either pretreated with PCB 52 and then treated
      with GO or concurrently treated with GO and PCB 52 did not differ significantly
      from the toxic response in the cells treated with PCB 52 alone. Using autophagy
      inhibitors (3-methyladenine and wortmannin) and inducers (trehalose and
      rapamycin), we found that genuine autophagy induced by GO was involved in
      decreasing PCB 52 induced toxicity. These findings suggested that GO has an
      antagonistic effect against the toxicity of PCB 52 mainly by triggering a genuine
      autophagic process, which might provide new insights into the potential
      application of GO in PCB disposal and environmental and health risk assessment. 

PMID- 26876504
TI  - An Adsorbate Discriminatory Gate Effect in a Flexible Porous Coordination Polymer
      for Selective Adsorption of CO2 over C2H2.
AB  - The adsorptive separation of C2H2 and CO2 via porous materials is nontrivial due
      to the close similarities of their boiling points and kinetic diameters. In this
      work, we describe a new flexible porous coordination polymer (PCP) [Mn(bdc)(dpe)]
      (H2bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dpe = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene) having
      zero-dimensional pores, which shows an adsorbate discriminatory gate effect. The
      compound shows gate opening type abrupt adsorption for C2H2 but not for CO2,
      leading to an appreciable selective adsorption of CO2 over C2H2 at near ambient
      temperature (273 K). The origin of this unique selectivity, as unveiled by in
      situ adsorption-X-ray diffraction experiments and density functional theory
      calculations, is due to vastly different orientations between the phenylene ring
      of bdc and each gas in the nanopores. The structural change by photochemical
      transformation of this PCP via [2 + 2] photodimerization leads to the removal of
      inverse CO2/C2H2 selectivity, verifying the mechanism of the guest discriminatory
      gate effect. 

PMID- 26876503
TI  - Efficacy of covered and bare stent in TIPS for cirrhotic portal hypertension: A
      single-center randomized trial.
AB  - We conducted a single-center randomized trial to compare the efficacy of 8 mm
      Fluency covered stent and bare stent in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic
      shunt (TIPS) for cirrhotic portal hypertension. From January 2006 to December
      2010, the covered (experimental group) or bare stent (control group) was used in
      131 and 127 patients, respectively. The recurrence rates of gastrointestinal
      bleeding (18.3% vs. 33.9%, P = 0.004) and refractory hydrothorax/ascites (6.9%
      vs. 16.5%, P = 0.019) in the experimental group were significantly lower than
      those in the control group. The cumulative restenosis rates in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
      years in the experimental group (6.9%, 11.5%, 19.1%, 26.0%, and 35.9%,
      respectively) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those in the control
      group (27.6%, 37.0%, 49.6%, 59.8%, 74.8%, respectively). Importantly, the 4 and 5
      year survival rates in the experimental group (83.2% and 76.3%, respectively)
      were significantly higher (P = 0.001 and 0.02) than those in the control group
      (71.7% and 62.2%, respectively). The rate of secondary interventional therapy in
      the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group
      (20.6% vs. 49.6%; P < 0.001). Therefore, Fluency covered stent has advantages
      over the bare stent in terms of reducing the restenosis, recurrence, and
      secondary interventional therapy, whereas improving the long-term survival for
      post-TIPS patients.

PMID- 26876505
TI  - SCAI's future: The 2016 Strategic Plan.

PMID- 26876506
TI  - Restenosis after PCI: Battered but not beaten.

PMID- 26876507
TI  - It is not paradoxical: Risk reduction from transradial occurs across all weight
      classes proportional to baseline risk.

PMID- 26876508
TI  - Statin attenuation of stent inflammatory response.

PMID- 26876509
TI  - Best practices for treating coronary ostial lesions.

PMID- 26876510
TI  - Look left, look right, but it is mostly just straight ahead.

PMID- 26876511
TI  - On the search for an "easy" FFR: Submaximal hyperemia and NTG-induced
      translesional pressure drop (Pd/Pa-NTG).

PMID- 26876512
TI  - The alternative approach to transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

PMID- 26876513
TI  - Vascular complications in steroid treated patients undergoing trans-femoral
      aortic valve implantation.

PMID- 26876515
TI  - A facile solution-phase synthesis of cobalt phosphide nanorods/hollow
      nanoparticles.
AB  - A simple one-step solution-phase synthesis of cobalt phosphide nanorods (NRs) and
      hollow nanoparticles (NPs) has been reported in this paper. The phase and
      morphology evolutions of cobalt phosphide were researched by varying the reaction
      conditions. The detailed research confirms that oleylamine (OAm) in the reaction
      firstly reduces Co(acac)2 to the Co phase and the reaction between P atoms from
      TOP and Co atoms results in the Co2P phase. The as-synthesized NRs and NPs show
      superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature and ferromagnetic properties at 2
      K. The current route provides a new and general chemical method for tunable
      preparation of cobalt phosphide nanostructures, which are important for further
      magnetic and catalytic studies. 

PMID- 26876514
TI  - Critical assessment and ramifications of a purported marine trophic cascade.
AB  - When identifying potential trophic cascades, it is important to clearly establish
      the trophic linkages between predators and prey with respect to temporal
      abundance, demographics, distribution, and diet. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean,
      the depletion of large coastal sharks was thought to trigger a trophic cascade
      whereby predation release resulted in increased cownose ray abundance, which then
      caused increased predation on and subsequent collapse of commercial bivalve
      stocks. These claims were used to justify the development of a predator-control
      fishery for cownose rays, the "Save the Bay, Eat a Ray" fishery, to reduce
      predation on commercial bivalves. A reexamination of data suggests declines in
      large coastal sharks did not coincide with purported rapid increases in cownose
      ray abundance. Likewise, the increase in cownose ray abundance did not coincide
      with declines in commercial bivalves. The lack of temporal correlations coupled
      with published diet data suggest the purported trophic cascade is lacking the
      empirical linkages required of a trophic cascade. Furthermore, the life history
      parameters of cownose rays suggest they have low reproductive potential and their
      populations are incapable of rapid increases. Hypothesized trophic cascades
      should be closely scrutinized as spurious conclusions may negatively influence
      conservation and management decisions. 

PMID- 26876516
TI  - Synthesis of Gold Mediated Biocompatible Nanocomposite of Lactone Enriched
      Fraction from Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea Lees): An Assessment of Antimalarial
      Potential.
AB  - Metals reduction into submicro/nano size through bhasma preparations for
      therapeutic use is well established in ancient traditional system of Indian
      medicines i.e. Ayurveda. Recently, nanotechnology has drawn the attention of
      researchers to develeope various size and shape nanoparicles / composite for
      number of applications.In this article, we report the enrichment of lactone
      enriched fraction (LEF) by liquid-liquid portioning of Vernonia cinerea metabolic
      extract and sysnthesis of mediated nano-gold composite (LEF-AuNPs) in single step
      process. The morphological characteristic based on transmission electron
      microscope (TEM) image analysis showed that LEF-AuNPs were predominantly
      nanopolygons and nanobots in shapes ranging from 50-200 nm in size. Abundance of
      phytochemicals in both LEF and LEF-AuNPs was dissimilar. In LEF, montanol- a
      diterpenoid, while in LEF-AuNPs, neophytadiene- a phytanes was the major
      compound. HPLC profile of relatively polar compounds also varied drastically. In
      vitro biocompatibility, cytotoxicity [MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5
      diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) based assay] and storage stabilitiy of LEF-AuNPs
      were evaluated. The moderate ability of LEF-AuNPs to restrict parasitaemia,
      extended mean survival time of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and lack of
      any evident toxicity provides new opportunities for the safe delivery and
      applications of such nanocomposites in malaria therapy. 

PMID- 26876517
TI  - Development of Quercetin Based Nanodispersions.
AB  - Polyphenols are a large group of structurally diverse natural products, including
      flavonoids. One of the most bioactive compounds of this class is the flavonol
      quercetin, a recognized antioxidant. Despite several studies were carried out
      aiming to develop nanoformulations with secondary metabolites, to our knowledge,
      quercetin was not used as raw material for nanodispersion production without
      coating polymers. This type of nanosize formulation is often prepared using
      organic solvents and quercetin nanodispersions were prepared by emulsification
      evaporation technique, using 1(6).2(2) experimental factorial design,
      ("surfactant type" evaluated at 6 levels, "surfactant amount" and "stirring
      speed" evaluated at 2 levels). Variance analysis, after one day of
      nanodispersions preparation, revealed that only the surfactant type was
      statistically significant on particle size, while none of factors presented
      statistically significant effect on polydispersity index. Variance analysis after
      seven days of nanodispersions preparation revealed that either surfactant type
      and surfactant amount presented significant effect on particle size, while only
      surfactant type influenced polydispersity index. Some nanodispersions presented
      small diameter and narrow size distribution, suggesting potential stability of
      these systems. Special attention was given to nanodispersion prepared with 3 %
      (w/w) of polyethylene glycol 400 monooleate (expressed as function of surfactant
      concentration at aqueous phase). It presented mean droplet size of 129.4 +/- 0.5
      nm and polydispersity index of 0.173 +/- 0.018, after 7 days of preparation. Low
      polydispersity index indicates a high homogeneity concerning particle size
      distribution and suggests stability of the system. Moreover, absence of coating
      polymers and utilization of a low energy method would be an advantage in terms of
      reducing costs for industrial application, without any nanosize impairment. 

PMID- 26876518
TI  - Development and Characterization of Cassia grandis and Bixa orellana
      Nanoformulations.
AB  - Cassia grandis and Bixa orellana are important plant species with folk use and
      great potential for phytopharmaceuticals. Nanodispersions are disperse systems of
      insoluble or immiscible substances in a liquid medium that may be prepared with
      or without coating polymers. To our knowledge, no studies were carried in order
      to achieve coating-polymer free nanoformulations using B. orellana extract or any
      C. grandis-based nanoformulations. Thus, on the present study we aimed to develop
      C. grandis nanoformulations using three different coating polymers (Eudragit(r) L
      100 55, PEG 4000 and Kollicoat(r)), while B. orellana nanodispersions were
      obtained using different surfactants (polysorbate 80, polysorbate 20,
      polyethylene glycol 400 monooleate, polyethylene glycol 600 monooleate,
      polyethylene glycol 400 dioleate and polyethylene glycol 600 dioleate) as coating
      polymer-free nanoformulations. Characterization of nanoformulations was performed
      by different parameters, including particle size, polydispersity index and zeta
      potential. Our results suggested that some optimal nanoformulations were obtained
      for both plant species. Moreover, possible stable behavior was observed during
      storage period for C. grandis (30 days) and B. orellana (21 days). On this
      context, the present study contributes to nanobiotechnology development of
      phytopharmaceuticals, allowing achievement of novel nano-delivery systems with
      two important folk medicinal plant extracts and making them potential products
      for innovative phytopharmaceuticals. 

PMID- 26876519
TI  - Biosynthesis of Anti-Proliferative Gold Nanoparticles Using Endophytic Fusarium
      oxysporum Strain Isolated from Neem (A. indica) Leaves.
AB  - Here we report a simple, rapid, environment friendly approach for the synthesis
      of gold nanoparticles using neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) fungal endophyte,
      which based upon morphological and cultural characteristics was eventually
      identified as Fusarium oxysporum. The aqueous precursor (HAuCl4) solution when
      reacted with endophytic fungus resulted in the biosynthesis of abundant amounts
      of well dispersed gold nanoparticles of 10-40 nm with an average size of 22nm.
      These biosynthesized gold nanoparticles were then characterized by standard
      analytical techniques such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction,
      Transmission Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
      Cytotoxic activity of these nanoparticles was checked against three different
      cell types including breast cancer (ZR-75-1), Daudi (Human Burkitt's lymphoma
      cancer) and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), where it was
      found that our gold nanoparticles are anti-proliferative against cancer cells but
      completely safe toward normal cells. In addition to this, assessment of toxicity
      toward human RBC revealed less than 0.1 % hemolysis as compared to Triton X-100
      suggesting safe nature of our biosynthesized gold nanoparticles on human cells.
      Also, our nanoparticles exhibited no anti-fungal (against Aspergillus niger) or
      anti-bacterial [against Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis & Staphylococcus aureus)
      and Gram negative (Escherichia coli & Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria] activity
      thus suggesting their non-toxic, biocompatible nature. The present investigation
      opens up avenues for ecofriendly, biocompatible nanomaterials to be used in a
      wide variety of application such as drug delivery, therapeutics, theranostics and
      so on. 

PMID- 26876520
TI  - Development of Crystalline Cellulosic Fibres for Sustained Release of Drug.
AB  - Natural quinoline alkaloid camptothecin (CPT) is used for the treatment of colon,
      lung, breast and ovarian cancers still facing challenges due to low solubility in
      aqueous and biological fluids. Its lactone form easily converts into a toxic
      carboxylic form at slightly basic pH, typical in blood and tissue fluid has rapid
      clearance from systemic administration. We report a new approach based on micro
      crystalline cellulose (MCC) and nano crystalline cellulose (NCC) isolated from
      natural sources such as Cymbopogan flexuosus to stabilize and regulate the
      release kinetics of CPT in physiological solution. Langmuir and Freundlich
      isotherm studies approve that degree of crystallinity i.e. ratio of amorphous and
      crystalline cellulose regulate the adsorption of CPT. The freeze dried celluloses
      of Cymbopogan flexuosus origin (MCC and NCC) further were optimized for drug
      delivery with a mimicked physiologically relevant solution. Both carriers can
      significantly extend the release of drug as compared to reported values, however,
      NCC showed better results. Not only the crystallinity but crystal size and
      hydrogen bonding play critical role in drug release. Free diffusion of drug into
      physiological solution follows the Ritger- Peppes kinetic model. The coefficient
      of the model signifies the Fickian diffusion mechanism of release. The
      investigation indicates that NCC cellulosic matrix can act as a better carrier of
      CPT for its sustained release formulation. 

PMID- 26876521
TI  - Biosynthesis of Fluorescent Bi2S3 Nanoparticles and their Application as Dual
      Function SPECT-CT Probe for Animal Imaging.
AB  - Bismuth sulphide (Bi2S3) is an excellent semiconductor and its nanoparticles have
      numerous significant applications including photovoltaic materials, photodiode
      arrays, bio-imaging, etc. Nevertheless, these nanoparticles when fabricated by
      chemical and physical routes tend to easily aggregate in colloidal solutions, are
      eco-unfriendly, cumbrous and very broad in size distribution. The aim of the
      present manuscript was to ecologically fabricate water dispersible, safe and
      stable Bi2S3 nanoparticles such that these may find use in animal imaging,
      diagnostics, cell labeling and other biomedical applications. Herein, we for the
      first time have biosynthesized highly fluorescent, natural protein capped Bi2S3
      nanoparticles by subjecting the fungus Fusarium oxysporum to bismuth nitrate
      pentahydrate [Bi(NO3)3.5H2O] alongwith sodium sulphite (Na2SO3) as precursor
      salts under ambient conditions of temperature, pressure and pH. The nanoparticles
      were completely characterized using recognized standard techniques. These natural
      protein capped Bi2S3 nanoparticles are quasi-spherical in shape with an average
      particle size of 15 nm, maintain long term stability and show semiconductor
      behavior having blue shift with a band gap of 3.04 eV. Semiconductor nanocrystals
      are fundamentally much more fluorescent than the toxic fluorescent chemical
      compounds (fluorophores) which are presently largely employed in imaging,
      immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, etc. Biologically fabricated fluorescent
      nanoparticles may replace organic fluorophores and aid in rapid development of
      biomedical nanotechnology. Thus, biodistribution study of the so-formed Bi2S3
      nanoparticles in male Sprague Dawley rats was done by radiolabelling with
      Technitium-99m (Tc-99m) and clearance time from blood was calculated. The
      nanoparticles were then employed in SPECT-CT probe for animal imaging where these
      imparted iodine equivalent contrast. 

PMID- 26876523
TI  - Advancements in Devices and Particle Engineering in Dry Powder Inhalation
      Technology.
AB  - Dry powder inhalers (DPI) attracted the attention of pharmaceutical field due to
      its enlarging market share in inhalable formulations. These formulations also
      pose patient compliance and good shelf life. Earlier DPI formulations were
      intended for local effect in lung (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary
      diseases), whereas 21(st) century witnessed formulations intended for systemic
      effect too. A better understanding of physiology of lung and fluidics of air flow
      helped in targeting alveoli using DPI technology. Modern characterization tools
      also accelerated the research pace. In addition to the synthetic molecules, DPI
      also was proved to be a better system for delivering biological molecules
      including vaccines. This review includes the mechanisms of drug deposition,
      advancements in the fields of DPI devices, various characterization tools and
      particle engineering. In this review we have related the chronological
      advancement of inhalational technology starting from 1788 AD to the present. 

PMID- 26876522
TI  - The Unexpected Advantages of Using D-Amino Acids for Peptide Self- Assembly into
      Nanostructured Hydrogels for Medicine.
AB  - Self-assembled peptide hydrogels have brought innovation to the medicinal field,
      not only as responsive biomaterials but also as nanostructured therapeutic agents
      or as smart drug delivery systems. D-amino acids are typically introduced to
      increase the peptide enzymatic stability. However, there are several reports of
      unexpected effects on peptide conformation, self-assembly behavior, cytotoxicity
      and even therapeutic activity. This mini-review discusses all the surprising
      twists of heterochiral self-assembled peptide hydrogels, and delineates emerging
      key findings to exploit all the benefits of D-amino acids in this novel medicinal
      area. 

PMID- 26876524
TI  - The Glitter of Carbon Nanostructures in Hybrid/Composite Hydrogels for Medicinal
      Use.
AB  - In recent years, we have witnessed to fast developments in the medicinal field of
      hydrogels containing various forms of integrated nanostructured carbon that adds
      interesting mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties. Besides key advances
      in tissue engineering (especially for conductive tissue, such as for the brain
      and the heart), there has been innovation also in the area of drug delivery on
      demand, with engineered hydrogels capable of repeated response to light, thermal,
      or electric stimuli. This mini-review focusses on the most promising developments
      as applied to the gelation of protein/ peptide (including self-assembling amino
      acids and low-molecular-weight gelators), polysaccharide, and/or synthetic
      polymer components in medicine. The emerging field of graphene-only hydrogels is
      also briefly discussed, to give the reader a full flavor of the rising new
      paradigms in medicine that are made possible through the integration of
      nanostructured carbon (e.g., carbon nanotubes, nanohorns, nanodiamonds,
      fullerene, etc.). Nanocarbons are offering great opportunities to bring on a
      revolution in therapy that the modern medicinal chemist needs to master, to
      realise their full potential into powerful therapeutic solutions for the patient.

PMID- 26876525
TI  - Nano Particles: Emerging Warheads Against Bacterial Superbugs.
AB  - Infectious diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in
      children in developing and underdeveloped countries. Limited knowledge of targets
      (cell wall synthesis, replication, transcription, protein synthesis) for
      antibiotics and lack of novel antibiotics have lead to an emergence of different
      level of resistance in bacterial pathogens. Multidrug resistance is the
      phenomenon by which the bacteria exerts resistance against the two or more
      structurally unrelated drugs/antibiotics. A common goal in the post-genomic era
      is to identify novel targets/drugs for various life threatening bacterial
      pathogens. Nanoparticles are broadly defined as submicron colloidal particles of
      size less than 1MUm. Nanoparticles of size less than 100nm are the most promising
      warheads to overcome microbial drug resistance because they can act as
      antibacterial/antibiotic modulating agents at the site of infection and may have
      more than one mode of action. These nanoparticles will be of immense help in
      transporting drugs directly at the infected sites. Thus prevent drug resistance
      development to a great extent. In this review, the key mechanisms of resistance
      in bacterial superbugs have been discussed as well as how nanoparticles can
      overcome them. It is hypothesized that the nanoparticles can overcome the drug
      resistance via a novel mechanism of action. Additionaly, nanopaticles may also
      work synergistically with antibiotics via increased uptake, decreased efflux and
      inhibition of biofilm formation. The degradation by metallo beta lactamases and
      synthesis of porins may also be facilitated through these nanoparticles. 

PMID- 26876528
TI  - Nanoarchitectonics for carbon-material-based sensors.
AB  - Recently, the nanoarchitectonics concept has been proposed to fabricate
      functional materials on the basis of concerted harmonization actions to control
      materials organization. In this review, we introduce recent several sensor
      designs from viewpoints of nanoarchitectonics that are classified into three
      categories: (i) inside nanoarchitectonics, (ii) outside nanoarchitectonics, and
      (iii) hierarchic nanoarchitectonics. In addition, various nanocarbons, such as
      carbon nanotubes, graphene derivatives, fullerene assemblies and nanoporous
      carbons, are selected as standard materials. In the first section, design and
      fabrication of mesoporous or nanoporous materials for enhanced sensing are
      especially exemplified as inside nanoarchitectonics. In the next section, recent
      examples of layer-by-layer nanoarchitectures for sensor fabrications are
      explained for outside nanoarchitectonics. Finally, their combined strategies for
      hierarchic carbon nanoarchitectonics are introduced as advanced sensor materials
      designs.

PMID- 26876526
TI  - Insulin and IGF-1 regularize energy metabolites in neural cells expressing full
      length mutant huntingtin.
AB  - Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder
      linked to the expression of mutant huntingtin. Bioenergetic dysfunction has been
      described to contribute to HD pathogenesis. Thus, treatment paradigms aimed to
      ameliorate energy deficits appear to be suitable candidates in HD. In previous
      studies, we observed protective effects of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in
      YAC128 and R6/2 mice, two HD mouse models, whereas IGF-1 and/or insulin halted
      mitochondrial-driven oxidative stress in mutant striatal cells and mitochondrial
      dysfunction in HD human lymphoblasts. Here, we analyzed the effect of IGF-1
      versus insulin on energy metabolic parameters using striatal cells derived from
      HD knock-in mice and primary cortical cultures from YAC128 mice. STHdh(Q111/Q111)
      cells exhibited decreased ATP/ADP ratio and increased phosphocreatine levels.
      Moreover, pyruvate levels were increased in mutant cells, most probably in
      consequence of a decrease in pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) protein expression and
      increased PDH phosphorylation, reflecting its inactivation. Insulin and IGF-1
      treatment significantly decreased phosphocreatine levels, whereas IGF-1 only
      decreased pyruvate levels in mutant cells. In a different scenario, primary
      cortical cultures derived from YAC128 mice also displayed energetic
      abnormalities. We observed a decrease in both ATP/ADP and phosphocreatine levels,
      which were prevented following exposure to insulin or IGF-1. Furthermore,
      decreased lactate levels in YAC128 cultures occurred concomitantly with a decline
      in lactate dehydrogenase activity, which was ameliorated with both insulin and
      IGF-1. These data demonstrate differential HD-associated metabolic dysfunction in
      striatal cell lines and primary cortical cultures, both of which being alleviated
      by insulin and IGF-1. 

PMID- 26876527
TI  - Effects of Task-Oriented Training as an Added Treatment to Electromyogram
      Triggered Neuromuscular Stimulation on Upper Extremity Function in Chronic Stroke
      Patients.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of electromyogram
      triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) combined with task-oriented
      training (TOT) on upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients. Twenty
      chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n =
      10) or control (n = 10) group. The intervention group conducted TOT with EMG-stim
      on the wrist and finger extensor of the affected arm for 30 minutes per day, 5
      days per week, for 4 weeks. The control group was provided EMG-stim for 20
      minutes per day for the same duration. The intervention group exhibited
      significant improvement relative to the control group in muscle activation, motor
      recovery (Fugl-Meyer assessment) and dexterity (Box and Block Test) (p < 0.05).
      Significant differences in hand function between the groups were detected in the
      writing of short sentences and in stacking checkers (p < 0.05). It is concluded
      that EMG-stim in combination with TOT may be better than EMG-stim alone for the
      treatment of arm paresis in stroke patients. Further research with a larger
      sample is recommended to examine neurologic changes or cerebral cortex
      reorganization. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26876529
TI  - An insight to the role of Cr in the process of intrinsic point defects in alpha
      Al2O3.
AB  - Cr is a commonly existing impurity in alpha-Al2O3, and thus the role of Cr in the
      process of intrinsic point defects in alpha-Al2O3 has been studied based on first
      principle calculations. The results show that Cr has significant influence on the
      formation, charge state, relative stability and equilibrium configuration of
      isolated intrinsic point defects in alpha-Al2O3, resulting in the variation of
      defect process. Specifically, depending on the O-condition, the possible defect
      types, the dominant defects and the defect formation energies will be altered in
      alpha-Al2O3 after Cr doping. Generally speaking, Cr is favorable for the
      formation of Schottky defects, Frenkel defects and antisite pairs, giving a
      different insight to the defect process in alpha-Al2O3. 

PMID- 26876530
TI  - 3D Printed models of distal radius fractures.

PMID- 26876531
TI  - Validation of methodology for assessment of pulmonary function in patients who
      undergo total laryngectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients submitted to laryngectomy, pulmonary complications may
      lead to death. A simple method with a standardized extratracheal device for the
      pulmonary assessment of laryngectomized patients would be very useful. The
      purpose of this study was to validate the methodology for pulmonary assessment in
      these patients through the application of an adhesive extratracheal device.
      METHODS: This transversal study included 50 patients who had been submitted to
      total laryngectomy. Pulmonary tests were used to characterize the presence of
      respiratory functional limitation. Aiming at evaluating the reproducibility of
      the performed tests, parameters were used for the acceptance of the tests. A
      comparison of these parameters was made with 50 tests performed in
      nonlaryngectomized patients. RESULTS: The total of rejected tests was greater in
      the control group when compared to the laryngectomized group. CONCLUSION: The
      methodology for the assessment of the pulmonary function by using the
      extratracheal proposed device is reliable, accurate, and reproducible. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2030-E2034, 2016.

PMID- 26876532
TI  - EZH2 and ZFX oncogenes in malignant behaviour of parathyroid neoplasms.
AB  - Several studies reported somatic mutations of many genes (MEN1, CTNNB1, CDKIs and
      others) in parathyroid adenoma, although with different prevalence. Recently,
      activating mutations of the EZH2 and ZFX oncogenes were identified in benign
      parathyroid adenoma by whole exome sequencing. The same mutations had been found
      in blood and ovary malignant tumours. On one hand, this result raised the
      hypothesis that these oncogenes may play a role in the onset of parathyroid
      tumour, but it would also suggest they may be involved in malignant, rather
      benign, parathyroid neoplasm. Our aim was to verify the occurrence of selected
      mutations of the EZH2 and ZFX genes in an Italian cohort of 23 sporadic
      parathyroid carcinomas, 12 atypical and 45 typical adenomas. DNA was extracted
      from paraffin-embedded tissues, PCR amplified and directly sequenced. No
      mutations were detected in the coding sequence and boundaries of both genes in
      any of the samples. Two polymorphisms of the EZH2 gene were identified with
      different prevalence: the rs2072407 variant was present in the 30 % of the
      samples, in keeping with the overall frequency in larger populations, while the
      rs78589034 variant, located close to the 5' end of the exon 16, was detected in
      only one proband with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism; we investigated the
      possible outcome on the splicing process. EZH2 and ZFX genes do not seem to have
      an impact on the onset of most parathyroid tumours, both benign and malignant,
      though further studies on larger cohorts of different ethnicity are needed.

PMID- 26876533
TI  - Maternal sleep deprivation at different stages of pregnancy impairs the emotional
      and cognitive functions, and suppresses hippocampal long-term potentiation in the
      offspring rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation during pregnancy is a serious public health problem
      as it can affect the health of pregnant women and newborns. However, it is not
      well studied whether sleep deprivation at different stages of pregnancy has
      similar effects on emotional and cognitive functions of the offspring, and if so,
      the potential cellular mechanisms also remain poorly understood. METHODS: In the
      present study, the pregnant rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for 6 h per
      day by gentle handling during the first (gestational days 1-7), second
      (gestational days 8-14) and third trimester (gestational days 15-21) of
      pregnancy, respectively. The emotional and cognitive functions as well as
      hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) were tested in the offspring rats
      (postnatal days 42-56). RESULTS: The offspring displayed impaired hippocampal
      dependent spatial learning and memory, and increased depressive- and anxiety-like
      behaviors. Quantification of BrdU-positive cells revealed that adult hippocampal
      neurogenesis was significantly reduced compared to control. Electrophysiological
      recording showed that maternal sleep deprivation impaired hippocampal CA1 LTP and
      reduced basal synaptic transmission, as reflected by a decrease in the frequency
      and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic current in the hippocampal CA1
      pyramidal neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that
      maternal sleep deprivation at different stages of pregnancy disrupts the
      emotional and cognitive functions of the offspring that might be attributable to
      the suppression of hippocampal LTP and basal synaptic transmission.

PMID- 26876534
TI  - Transgenerational Transmission of the Effect of Gestational Ethanol Exposure on
      Ethanol Use-Related Behavior.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) enhances the risk for alcoholism by
      increasing the propensity to consume alcohol and altering neurophysiological
      response to alcohol challenge. Trans-generationally transmittable genetic
      alterations have been implicated in these behavioral changes. To date,
      transgenerational transmission of PAE-induced behavioral responses to alcohol has
      never been experimentally investigated. Therefore, we explored the
      transgenerational transmission of PAE-induced behavioral effects across 3
      generations. METHODS: Pregnant Sprague Dawley dams received 1 g/kg ethanol (EtOH)
      or water daily on gestational days 17 through 20 via gavage, or remained
      untreated in their home cages. To produce second filial (F2) or F3 generations,
      similarly treated adult F1 or F2 offspring were mated and left undisturbed
      through gestation. On postnatal day (PND) 14, male and female F1, F2, and F3
      offspring were tested for consumption of 5% (w/v) EtOH (in water), or water.
      Using the loss of righting reflex (LORR) paradigm on PND 42, F1 and F2 adolescent
      male offspring were tested for sensitivity to acute EtOH-induced sedation
      hypnosis at 3.5 or 4.5 g/kg dose. F3 male adolescents were similarly tested at
      3.5 g/kg dose. Blood EtOH concentration (BEC) was measured at waking. RESULTS:
      EtOH exposure increased EtOH consumption compared to both water and untreated
      control groups in all generations. EtOH-treated group F1 and F2 adolescents
      displayed attenuated LORR duration compared to the water group. No attenuated
      LORR was observed in the F3 generation. BEC at waking corroborated with the
      significant LORR duration differences while also revealing differences between
      untreated control and water groups in F1 and F2 generations. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results provide novel behavioral evidence attesting that late gestational
      moderate EtOH exposure increases EtOH intake across 3 generations and may alter
      sensitivity to EtOH-induced sedation-hypnosis across 2 generations.

PMID- 26876535
TI  - The cationic peptide LL-37 binds Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) with a low dissociation rate
      and promotes phagocytosis.
AB  - As a broad-spectrum anti-microbial peptide, LL-37 plays an important role in the
      innate immune system. A series of previous reports implicates LL-37 as an
      activator of various cell surface receptor-mediated functions, including
      chemotaxis in integrin CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1)-expressing cells. However, evidence is
      scarce concerning the direct binding of LL-37 to these receptors and
      investigations on the associated binding kinetics is lacking. Mac-1, a member of
      the beta2 integrin family, is mainly expressed in myeloid leukocytes. Its
      critical functions include phagocytosis of complement-opsonized pathogens. Here,
      we report on interactions of LL-37 and its fragment FK-13 with the ligand-binding
      domain of Mac-1, the alpha-chain I domain. LL-37 bound the I-domain with an
      affinity comparable to the complement fragment C3d, one of the strongest known
      ligands for Mac-1. In cell adhesion assays both LL-37 and FK-13 supported binding
      by Mac-1 expressing cells, however, with LL-37-coupled surfaces supporting
      stronger cell adhesion than FK-13. Likewise, in phagocytosis assays with primary
      human monocytes both LL-37 and FK-13 enhanced uptake of particles coupled with
      these ligands but with a tendency towards a stronger uptake by LL-37. 

PMID- 26876536
TI  - The molecular mechanism of heme loss from oxidized soluble guanylate cyclase
      induced by conformational change.
AB  - Heme oxidation and loss of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is thought to be an
      important contributor to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
      Nevertheless, it remains unknown why the heme loses readily in oxidized sGC. In
      the current study, the conformational change of sGC upon heme oxidation by ODQ
      was studied based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between
      the heme and a fluorophore fluorescein arsenical helix binder (FlAsH-EDT2)
      labeled at different domains of sGC beta1. This study provides an opportunity to
      monitor the domain movement of sGC relative to the heme. The results indicated
      that heme oxidation by ODQ in truncated sCC induced the heme-associated alphaF
      helix moving away from the heme, the Per/Arnt/Sim domain (PAS) domain moving
      closer to the heme, but led the helical domain going further from the heme. We
      proposed that the synergistic effect of these conformational changes of the
      discrete region upon heme oxidation forces the heme pocket open, and subsequent
      heme loss readily. Furthermore, the kinetic studies suggested that the heme
      oxidation was a fast process and the conformational change was a relatively slow
      process. The kinetics of heme loss from oxidized sGC was monitored by a new
      method based on the heme group de-quenching the fluorescence of FlAsH-EDT2. 

PMID- 26876537
TI  - Seed thioredoxin h.
AB  - Thioredoxins are nearly ubiquitous disulfide reductases involved in a wide range
      of biochemical pathways in various biological systems, and also implicated in
      numerous biotechnological applications. Plants uniquely synthesize an array of
      thioredoxins targeted to different cell compartments, for example chloroplastic f
      and m-type thioredoxins involved in regulation of the Calvin-Benson cycle. The
      cytosolic h-type thioredoxins act as key regulators of seed germination and are
      recycled by NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase. The present review on
      thioredoxin h systems in plant seeds focuses on occurrence, reaction mechanisms,
      specificity, target protein identification, three-dimensional structure and
      various applications. The aim is to provide a general background as well as an
      update covering the most recent findings. This article is part of a Special Issue
      entitled: Plant Proteomics--a bridge between fundamental processes and crop
      production, edited by Dr. Hans-Peter Mock.

PMID- 26876538
TI  - Surgical outcome and patterns of recurrence for retroperitoneal sarcoma at a
      single centre.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Retroperitoneal sarcoma is a surgically managed condition that can
      recur locally following macroscopically complete resection. Owing to the low
      incidence of the condition, advances in treatment are reported infrequently but
      complete compartmental resection and adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy are
      areas under investigation. Given the practical difficulty of randomised trials,
      observational data can highlight advantages from progressive treatment
      approaches. METHODS: A retrospective database of consecutive retroperitoneal
      sarcoma resections performed at a single referral centre between March 1997 and
      March 2013 was interrogated. Histological, radiological and clinical data were
      collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses for disease free and overall
      survival were performed to establish independent predictors of disease recurrence
      and patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients underwent 90 resections (63
      primary). The mean five-year overall and disease free survival rates were 55.3%
      and 24.8% respectively. Higher patient age, high tumour grade, presence of
      extraretroperitoneal disease and invasive tumour phenotype were found to
      significantly predict survival following multivariate analysis. Half (50%) of the
      tumours displayed invasive behaviour on histopathology and 42% of locoregional
      recurrence was intraperitoneal. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal sarcoma is commonly
      an infiltrative tumour and often recurs outside of the retroperitoneum. These
      features limit the therapeutic impact of interventions that focus on gaining
      local control such as complete compartmental resection and radiotherapy. It seems
      likely that future advances in the management of this cancer will involve new
      systemic agents to treat this frequently systemic disease.

PMID- 26876539
TI  - Detection of cross-sex chimerism in the common marmoset monkey (Callithrix
      jacchus) in interphase cells using fluorescence in situ hybridisation probes
      specific for the marmoset X and Y chromosomes.
AB  - Chimerism associated with placental sharing in marmosets has been traditionally
      analysed using conventional chromosome staining on metaphase spreads or
      polymerase chain reaction. However, the former technique requires the presence of
      proliferating cells, whereas the latter may be associated with possible blood
      cell contamination. Therefore, we aimed to develop a single-cell analysis
      technique for sexing marmoset cells. We applied fluorescent in situ hybridisation
      (FISH) to cell nuclei using differentially labelled X and Y chromosome-specific
      probes. Herein we present the validation of this method in metaphase cells from a
      marmoset lymphoblastoid cell line, as well as application of the method for
      evaluation of cross-sex chimerism in interphase blood lymphocytes and
      haematopoietic bone marrow cells from marmosets of same- and mixed-sex litters.
      The results show conclusively that haematopoietic cells of bone marrow and
      leucocytes from blood are cross-sex chimeric when the litter is mixed sex. In
      addition, single samples of liver and spleen cell suspensions from one individual
      were tested. Cross-sex chimerism was observed in the spleen but not in liver
      cells. We conclude that FISH is the method of choice to identify cross-sex
      chimerism, especially when combined with morphological identification of nuclei
      of different cell types, which will allow a targeted tissue-specific analysis.

PMID- 26876557
TI  - Photodegradation of PAHs in passive water samplers.
AB  - Losses of deuterated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) used as performance
      reference compounds (PRCs) in semipermeable membrane devices deployed at fifteen
      coastal sampling sites near Harstad harbour in Northern Norway were used to
      investigate photodegradation of these photosensitive compounds. Unusual PRC
      dissipation profiles, especially for samplers exposed <5m below the water surface
      are indicative of photodegradation. A strong correlation between loss rates for
      d12-chrysene and d12-benzo[e]pyrene with consistently higher losses of the latter
      was found. The observed photodegradation rates may be sufficiently high to impact
      PAH masses absorbed by a factor of two. This study demonstrates that
      photodegradation during exposure of passive water samplers needs to be taken into
      account, particularly with deployments close to the water surface, when using
      SPMD canisters, or when sampling in the Arctic. 

PMID- 26876558
TI  - Water quality dynamics in an urbanizing subtropical estuary(Oso Bay, Texas).
AB  - Results are presented from a study of water quality dynamics in a shallow
      subtropical estuary, Oso Bay, Texas, which has a watershed that has undergone
      extensive urbanization in recent decades. High inorganic nutrient, dissolved
      organic matter and chlorophyll concentrations, as well as low pH (<8), were
      observed in a region of Oso Bay that receives wastewater effluent. Despite being
      shallow (<1 m) and subjected to strong winds on a regular basis, this region also
      exhibited episodic hypoxia/anoxia. The low oxygen and pH conditions are likely to
      impose significant stress on benthic organisms and nekton in the affected area.
      Signatures of eutrophied water were occasionally observed at the mouth of Oso
      Bay, suggesting that it may be exported to adjacent Corpus Christi Bay and
      contribute to seasonal hypoxia development in that system as well. These results
      argue for wastewater nutrient input reductions in order to alleviate the symptoms
      of eutrophication.

PMID- 26876559
TI  - Comparison of heavy metal contamination during the last decade along the coastal
      sediment of Pakistan: Multiple pollution indices approach.
AB  - Heavy metals concentrations (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Co, Pb, and Cd) were scrutinized
      during two monitoring years (2001 and 2011) in the coastal sediment of Pakistan.
      The status of metal contamination in coastal sediment was interpreted using
      sediment quality guidelines, and single and combined metal pollution indices. Ni,
      Cr, and Cd were recognized for their significant (p<0.05) intensification in the
      sediment during the last decade. Sediment quality guidelines recognized the
      frequent adverse biological effect of Ni and the occasional adverse biological
      effect of Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd. Single metal pollution indices (Igeo, EF, CF, and
      ER) revealed that sediment pollution is predominantly caused by Pb and Cd. Low to
      moderate contamination was appraised along the coast by multi-metal pollution
      indices (CD and PERI). Correlation study specifies that heavy metals were
      presented diverse affiliations and carriers for distribution in the sediment
      during the last decade. 

PMID- 26876560
TI  - Multidrug-resistant Vibrio associated with an estuary affected by shrimp farming
      in Northeastern Brazil.
AB  - Bacteria of genus Vibrio with multidrug resistance in shrimp farm environment
      were recurrent. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial
      resistance profile of 70 strains of Vibrio isolated from water and sediment of
      Acarau estuary, Ceara, Brazil. In order to achieve this goal, disk diffusion
      technique was used with the following antimicrobial agents: ampicillin (Amp),
      aztreonam (Atm), cephalothin (Cef), cefotaxime (Ctx), ceftriaxone (Cro),
      ciprofloxacin (Cip), chloramphenicol (Clo), florfenicol (Flo), nitrofurantoin
      (Nit), gentamicin (Gen), oxytetracycline (Otc), tetracycline (Tet), streptomycin
      (Str), nalidixic acid (Nal), and sulfazotrim (Sut). All Vibrio strains were
      resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, being verified as 17 multidrug
      resistant profiles. All strains resistant to Otc and Tet were characterized to
      exhibit plasmidial resistance. Therefore, Vibrio strains from Acarau estuary pose
      a risk to public health and aquatic culture. 

PMID- 26876561
TI  - Liraglutide Compromises Pancreatic beta Cell Function in a Humanized Mouse Model.
AB  - Incretin mimetics are frequently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes because
      they potentiate beta cell response to glucose. Clinical evidence showing short
      term benefits of such therapeutics (e.g., liraglutide) is abundant; however,
      there have been several recent reports of unexpected complications in association
      with incretin mimetic therapy. Importantly, clinical evidence on the potential
      effects of such agents on the beta cell and islet function during long-term,
      multiyear use remains lacking. We now show that prolonged daily liraglutide
      treatment of >200 days in humanized mice, transplanted with human pancreatic
      islets in the anterior chamber of the eye, is associated with compromised release
      of human insulin and deranged overall glucose homeostasis. These findings raise
      concern about the chronic potentiation of beta cell function through incretin
      mimetic therapy in diabetes.

PMID- 26876563
TI  - Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at
      1.0 A resolution - a potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery.
AB  - The biosynthetic pathway for the branched-chain amino acids is present in plants,
      fungi and bacteria, but not in animals, making it an attractive target for
      herbicidal and antimicrobial drug discovery. Ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI;
      EC 1.1.1.86) is the second enzyme in this pathway, converting in a Mg(2+) - and
      NADPH-dependent reaction either 2-acetolactate or 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate to
      their corresponding 2,3-dihydroxy-3-alkylbutyrate products. Here, we have
      determined the crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mt) KARI, a class
      I KARI, with two magnesium ions bound in the active site. X-ray data were
      obtained to 1.0 A resolution and the final model has an Rfree of 0.163. The
      structure shows that the active site is solvent-accessible with the two metal
      ions separated by 4.7 A. A comparison of this structure with that of Mg(2+) -free
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa KARI suggests that upon magnesium binding no movement of
      the N domain relative to the C domain occurs. However, upon formation of the
      Michaelis complex, as illustrated in the structure of Slackia exigua KARI in
      complex with NADH.Mg(2+) . N-hydroxy-N-isopropyloxamate (IpOHA, a transition
      state analog), domain movements and reduction of the metal-metal distance to 3.5
      A are observed. This inherent flexibility therefore appears to be critical for
      initiation of the KARI-catalyzed reaction. This study provides new insights into
      the complex structural rearrangements required for activity of KARIs,
      particularly those belonging to class I, and provides the framework for the
      rational design of Mt KARI inhibitors that can be tested as novel
      antituberculosis agents. DATABASE: Coordinates and structure factors for the Mt
      KARI.Mg(2+) complex are available in the Protein Data Bank under accession number
      4YPO.

PMID- 26876562
TI  - A Secreted Slit2 Fragment Regulates Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis and Metabolic
      Function.
AB  - Activation of brown and beige fat can reduce obesity and improve glucose
      homeostasis through nonshivering thermogenesis. Whether brown or beige fat also
      secretes paracrine or endocrine factors to promote and amplify adaptive
      thermogenesis is not fully explored. Here we identify Slit2, a 180 kDa member of
      the Slit extracellular protein family, as a PRDM16-regulated secreted factor from
      beige fat cells. In isolated cells and in mice, full-length Slit2 is cleaved to
      generate several smaller fragments, and we identify an active thermogenic moiety
      as the C-terminal fragment. This Slit2-C fragment of 50 kDa promotes adipose
      thermogenesis, augments energy expenditure, and improves glucose homeostasis in
      vivo. Mechanistically, Slit2 induces a robust activation of PKA signaling, which
      is required for its prothermogenic activity. Our findings establish a previously
      unknown peripheral role for Slit2 as a beige fat secreted factor that has
      therapeutic potential for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic
      disorders.

PMID- 26876564
TI  - One-pass deep brain stimulation of dentato-rubro-thalamic tract and subthalamic
      nucleus for tremor-dominant or equivalent type Parkinson's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Refractory tremor in tremor-dominant (TD) or equivalent-type (EQT)
      idiopathic Parkinson's syndrome (IPS) poses the challenge of choosing the best
      target region to for deep brain stimulation (DBS). While the subthalamic nucleus
      is typically chosen in younger patients as the target for dopamine-responsive
      motor symptoms, it is more complicated if tremor does not (fully) respond under
      trial conditions. In this report, we present the first results from simultaneous
      bilateral DBS of the DRT (dentato-rubro-thalamic tract) and the subthalamic
      nucleus (STN) in two elderly patients with EQT and TD IPS and dopamine-refractory
      tremor. METHODS: Two patients received bilateral octopolar DBS electrodes in the
      STN additionally traversing the DRT region. Achieved electrode positions were
      determined with helical CT, overlaid onto DTI tractography data, and compared
      with clinical data of stimulation response. RESULTS: Both patients showed
      immediate and sustained improvement of their tremor, bilaterally. CONCLUSIONS:
      The proposed approach appears to be safe and feasible and a combined stimulation
      of the two target regions was performed tailored to the patients' symptoms.
      Clinically, no neuropsychiatric effects were seen. Our pilot data suggest a
      viable therapeutic option to treat the subgroup of TD and EQT IPS and with tremor
      as the predominant symptom. A clinical study to further investigate this approach
      ( OPINION: www.clinicaltrials.gov ; NCT02288468) is the focus of our ongoing
      research.

PMID- 26876565
TI  - Uncontrolled spread following radiosurgery for a skull base aspergilloma
      misdiagnosed as schwannoma: is radiosurgery responsible?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the natural history of skull base fungal
      lesions in immunocompetent individuals and the effect of high-dose radiation on
      fungal lesions. METHOD AND RESULTS: We report a case where radiosurgery was given
      to a skull base aspergilloma, mistaking it to be a trigeminal schwannoma. There
      was dramatic spread of the lesion to periventricular region with significant
      increase in the skull base lesion. The patient never received steroids. A
      stereotactic biopsy established the diagnosis, and treatment with voriconazole
      helped. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that radiosurgery decreases local immunity
      due to vascular sclerosis and aids in spread of the fungal lesion, though it is
      only speculative. This again highlights the importance of establishing the
      diagnosis prior to radiosurgery.

PMID- 26876566
TI  - How I do it: the combined petrosectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Petroclival and ventral brain stem tumors require a complex approach.
      METHOD: The combined petrosectomy is an epidural transtentorial-transpetrosal
      otoneurosurgical approach to achieve a retrolabyrinthine presigmoidal approach
      and an anterior petrosectomy in one single procedure. The different steps of this
      approach are described and illustrated by figures and a video. The indications
      and limitations of the technique are presented. CONCLUSION: The combined
      petrosectomy offers multiple corridors to the petroclival region and ventral
      brainstem while preserving the intrapetrous neurotological structures. Meticulous
      stepwise bony resection optimizing the dural opening and preservation of veins
      contributes to reducing the risk inherent to this technique.

PMID- 26876568
TI  - Activity-dependent actin dynamics are required for the maintenance of long-term
      plasticity and for synaptic capture.

PMID- 26876569
TI  - Assessment of conjunctival microvilli abnormality by micro-Raman analysis - by G.
      Rusciano et al.
AB  - Conjunctival microvilli are microscopic cellular membrane protrusions on apical
      epithelial cells, which increase the surface area available for tear adherence.
      Pathological alterations of microvilli structure affect the tear film stability
      and, conversely, dysfunctions of tear film composition can lead to a suffering
      epithelium (dry-eye syndrome). In this work we propose the use of micro-Raman
      analysis to reveal conjunctival microvilli abnormalities. Samples were obtained
      by impression cytology from patients by different stage of dry-eye syndrome. Our
      experimental outcomes demonstrate that Raman analysis, combined with the use of
      Principal Component Analysis, is able to detect different stages of microvilli
      reduction. Globally, these results hold promise for the use of Raman analysis for
      an objective, effective, non-invasive and potentially also in-vivo analysis of
      the conjunctiva in all the cases of microvilli-related ocular pathologies.

PMID- 26876571
TI  - Model Dependency of TMAO's Counteracting Effect Against Action of Urea: Kast
      Model versus Osmotic Model of TMAO.
AB  - Classical molecular dynamics simulation of GB1 peptide (a 16-residue beta
      hairpin) in different osmotic environments is studied. Urea is used for
      denaturation of the peptide, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is used to offset
      the effect of urea. Protein-urea electrostatic interactions are found to play a
      major role in protein-denaturation. To emphasize on protein protecting action of
      TMAO against urea, two different models of TMAO are used, viz., the Kast model
      and the Osmotic model. We observe that the Osmotic model of TMAO gives the best
      protection to counteract urea's action when used in ratio 1:2 of urea:TMAO (i.e.,
      reverse ratio). This is because the presence of TMAO makes urea-protein
      electrostatic interactions more unfavorable. Preferential solvation of TMAO
      molecules by urea (and water) molecules is also observed, which causes depletion
      in the number of urea molecules in the vicinity of the protein. The calculations
      of intraprotein hydrogen bonds between different residues of protein further
      reveal the breaking of backbone hydrogen bonds of residues 2 and 15 in the
      presence of urea, and the same is preserved in the presence of TMAO. Free energy
      landscapes show that the narrowest distribution is obtained for the osmotic TMAO
      model when used in reverse ratio. 

PMID- 26876567
TI  - Tissue Metabonomic Phenotyping for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Human Colorectal
      Cancer.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death
      worldwide and prognosis based on the conventional histological grading method for
      CRC remains poor. To better the situation, we analyzed the metabonomic signatures
      of 50 human CRC tissues and their adjacent non-involved tissues (ANIT) using high
      resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) (1)H NMR spectroscopy together with the
      fatty acid compositions of these tissues using GC-FID/MS. We showed that tissue
      metabolic phenotypes not only discriminated CRC tissues from ANIT, but also
      distinguished low-grade tumor tissues (stages I-II) from the high-grade ones
      (stages III-IV) with high sensitivity and specificity in both cases. Metabonomic
      phenotypes of CRC tissues differed significantly from that of ANIT in energy
      metabolism, membrane biosynthesis and degradations, osmotic regulations together
      with the metabolism of proteins and nucleotides. Amongst all CRC tissues, the
      stage I tumors exhibited largest differentiations from ANIT. The combination of
      the differentiating metabolites showed outstanding collective power for
      differentiating cancer from ANIT and for distinguishing CRC tissues at different
      stages. These findings revealed details in the typical metabonomic phenotypes
      associated with CRC tissues nondestructively and demonstrated tissue metabonomic
      phenotyping as an important molecular pathology tool for diagnosis and prognosis
      of cancerous solid tumors. 

PMID- 26876572
TI  - Preface for International Journal of Eating Disorders special issue medical
      complications in eating disorders.

PMID- 26876570
TI  - Contact radiotherapy boost in association with 'watch and wait' for rectal
      cancer: initial experience and outcomes from a shared programme between a
      district general hospital network and a regional oncology centre.
AB  - AIM: Recent data have highlighted the potential of more intensive neoadjuvant
      protocols to increase and sustain the rate of complete response in rectal cancer
      managed nonoperatively. This study aimed to review the outcome of all patients
      from our district general hospitals network who had received standard neoadjuvant
      therapy and were additionally referred to a centre of excellence for contact X
      ray brachytherapy or high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost. METHOD: A retrospective,
      chart-based review of all patients co-managed in this manner was performed.
      Patient details were retrieved from a prospectively maintained departmental
      database. Indications for treatment, patient outcome and serial data from follow
      up clinical and radiological assessment were analysed. RESULTS: Seventeen
      patients treated over a 6-year period were identified. Median follow-up was 20 (5
      54) months. Fourteen patients were clinically staged as T2 or T3 and eight were
      clinically node positive. Three patients died, of whom only one was initially a
      surgical candidate but refused an exenteration. Of the 14 patients who remain
      alive, 11 (79%) have a sustained complete (n = 8) or partial (n = 3) response.
      Two patients had an incomplete response, one is being palliated and the other
      awaits salvage surgery. One patient underwent abdominoperineal excision for
      suspected local recurrence. Currently 13 (93%) surviving patients are stoma free.
      CONCLUSIONS: This series shows that the addition of a radiotherapy boost offered
      sustained responses and stoma-free survival even in advanced disease and adverse
      patient populations whilst providing the majority of care closer to home.

PMID- 26876574
TI  - P38/JNK signaling pathway mediates the fluoride-induced down-regulation of
      Fam83h.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIM: The similar clinical and pathological feature in fluorosis and
      amelogenesis imperfect with FAM83H mutations imply that excess fluoride could
      have effects on the expression of FAM83H and could elaborate this process by some
      signal pathways regulation. The present study aims to investigate the effects of
      fluoride on Fam83h expression and try to explore the molecular signaling
      regulation between them as well as the association of high concentration fluoride
      with mineralization in ameloblast lineage cells. METHODS: Protein expression and
      signaling pathways of mouse ameloblast-like LS8 cells, exposed to fluoride or
      MAPK inhibitors, were compared to control cells without exposure. Fam83h,
      proteins of MAPK signal pathways (ERK, P38 and JNK) were examined by Quantitative
      real-time PCR and/or Western-blot. ALP activity and ALP staining were used to
      detect the mineralization in the cells with exposure during 7-day mineralization
      inducing differentiation. RESULTS: The results showed that Fam83h protein level
      in LS8 cells decreased in the presence of fluoride and MAPK inhibitors. Down
      regulation of Fam83h by fluoride was related to suppression of JNK and P38
      phosphorylation, and the descending degree of P38 was more obvious. Fluoride and
      MAPK inhibitors treatment significantly decreased the mineralization level in LS8
      cells. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that JNK and P38 could be key regulatory
      element for Fam83h expression, and that LS8 cells can respond to fluoride by down
      regulating Fam83h expression through the regulation of JNK and p38 signaling
      pathways.

PMID- 26876573
TI  - Noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of mutations by deep sequencing of
      circulating tumor DNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is becoming an important biomarker in noninvasive
      diagnosis and monitoring of tumor dynamics. This study tested the feasibility of
      plasma ctDNA for the non-invasive analysis of tumor mutations in esophageal
      squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by sequencing of tumor, tumor-adjacent, and normal
      tissue, as well as pre-surgery and post-surgery plasma. Exome sequencing of eight
      patients identified between 29 and 134 somatic mutations in ESCCs, many of which
      were also determined in ctDNA. Comparison of pre-surgery and post-surgery plasma
      has shown that mutations had reduced frequency or disappeared after surgery
      treatment. We further evaluated the TruSight Cancer sequencing panel by using it
      to detect mutations in the plasma of three patients. Tumor mutations were only
      found in one of them. To design a sequencing panel with improved targeting, we
      identified significantly mutated genes by meta-analysis of 532 ESCC genomes. Our
      results confirmed the well-known driver genes and found several uncharacterized
      genes. The new panel consisted of 90 recurrent genes, which theoretically
      achieved 94% and 75% of sensitivity when detecting at least 1 and 2 mutant genes
      in ESCC patients, respectively. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using
      ctDNA to detect ESCCs and monitor treatment effect. The low-cost and sensitive
      target panel could facilitate clinical usage of ctDNA as a noninvasive biomarker.

PMID- 26876575
TI  - MicroRNA-218 promotes high glucose-induced apoptosis in podocytes by targeting
      heme oxygenase-1.
AB  - Emerging evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a mediatory role
      in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we found that miR-218
      was upregulated in high glucose (HG) treated podocytes, which are essential
      components of the glomerular filtration barrier and a major prognostic
      determinant in diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, up-regulation of miR-218 was
      accompanied by an increased rate of podocyte death and down-regulation in the
      level of nephrin, a key marker of podocytes. However, inhibition of miR-218
      exerted the opposite effect. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter assay
      showed that miR-218 directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of heme
      oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and further study confirmed an increase of HO-1 in HG-treated
      podocytes transfected with anti-miR-218. Knockdown of HO-1 blocked the anti
      apoptotic effect of anti-miR-218. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-218 was
      associated with decreased expression of the known pro-apoptotic molecule p38
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) activation. Following preconditioning
      with SB203580, an inhibitor of p38-MAPK, the stimulatory effect of HG on podocyte
      apoptosis was strikingly ameliorated. These findings suggested that miR-218
      accelerated HG-induced podocyte apoptosis through directly down-regulating HO-1
      and facilitating p38-MAPK activation. 

PMID- 26876576
TI  - Autophagy in allografts rejection: A new direction?
AB  - Despite the introduction of new and effective immunosuppressive drugs, acute
      cellular graft rejection is still a major risk for graft survival. Modulating the
      dosage of immunosuppressive drugs is not a good choice for all patients, new
      rejection mechanisms discovery are crucial to limit the inflammatory process and
      preserve the function of the transplant. Autophagy, a fundamental cellular
      process, can be detected in all subsets of lymphocytes and freshly isolated naive
      T lymphocytes. It is required for the homeostasis and function of T lymphocytes,
      which lead to cell survival or cell death depending on the context. T cell
      receptor (TCR) stimulation and costimulator signals induce strong autophagy, and
      autophagy deficient T cells leads to rampant apoptosis upon TCR stimulation.
      Autophagy has been proved to be activated during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)
      injury and associated with grafts dysfunction. Furthermore, Autophagy has also
      emerged as a key mechanism in orchestrating innate and adaptive immune response
      to self-antigens, which relates with negative selection and Foxp3(+) Treg
      induction. Although, the role of autophagy in allograft rejection is unknown,
      current data suggest that autophagy indeed sweeps across both in the graft organs
      and recipients lymphocytes after transplantation. This review presents the
      rationale for the hypothesis that targeting the autophagy pathway could be
      beneficial in promoting graft survival after transplantation. 

PMID- 26876577
TI  - O-GlcNAc regulates NEDD4-1 stability via caspase-mediated pathway.
AB  - O-GlcNAc modification of cytosolic and nuclear proteins regulates essential
      cellular processes such as stress responses, transcription, translation, and
      protein degradation. Emerging evidence indicates O-GlcNAcylation has a dynamic
      interplay with ubiquitination in cellular regulation. Here, we report that O
      GlcNAc indirectly targets a vital E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme of NEDD4-1. The
      protein level of NEDD4-1 is accordingly decreased following an increase of
      overall O-GlcNAc level upon PUGNAc or glucosamine stimulation. O-GlcNAc
      transferase (OGT) knockdown, overexpression and mutation results confirm that the
      stability of NEDD4-1 is negatively regulated by cellular O-GlcNAc. Moreover, the
      NEDD4-1 degradation induced by PUGNAc or GlcN is significantly inhibited by the
      caspase inhibitor. Our study reveals a regulation mechanism of NEDD4-1 stability
      by O-GlcNAcylation. 

PMID- 26876578
TI  - STAT5A is regulated by DNA damage via the tumor suppressor p53.
AB  - Here we report that the STAT5A transcription factor is a direct p53
      transcriptional target gene. STAT5A is well expressed in p53 wild type cells but
      not in p53-null cells. Inhibition of p53 reduces STAT5A expression. DNA damaging
      agents such as doxorubicin also induced STAT5A expression in a p53 dependent
      manner. Two p53 binding sites were mapped in the STAT5A gene and named PBS1 and
      PBS2; these sites were sufficient to confer p53 responsiveness in a luciferase
      reporter gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that PBS2 has
      constitutive p53 bound to it, while p53 binding to PBS1 required DNA damage. In
      normal human breast lobules, weak p53 staining correlated with regions of intense
      STAT5A staining. Interestingly, in a cohort of triple negative breast tumor
      tissues there was little correlation between regions of p53 and STAT5A staining,
      likely reflecting a high frequency of p53 mutations that stabilize the protein in
      these tumors. We thus reveal an unexpected connection between cytokine signaling
      and p53.

PMID- 26876579
TI  - Real-Space Evidence of Rare Guanine Tautomer Induced by Water.
AB  - Water is vital for life as a solvent. Specifically, it has been well established
      that DNA molecules are hydrated in vivo, and water has been found to be
      responsible for the presence of some noncanonical DNA base tautomers. Theoretical
      investigations have shown that the existence of water could significantly
      influence the relative stability of different DNA base tautomers, reduce the
      energy barrier of tautomeric conversions, and thus promote the formation of some
      rare base tautomers. In this work, we report the real-space experimental evidence
      of rare base tautomers. From the high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy
      imaging, we surprisingly find the formation of the rare guanine tautomer, i.e.,
      G/(3H,7H) form, on the Au(111) surface by delicately introducing water into the
      system. The key to the formation of this rare tautomer is proposed to be the
      "water bridge" that largely reduces the energy barriers of intramolecular proton
      transfer processes as revealed by extensive density functional theory
      calculations. The real-space experimental evidence and the proposed mechanism
      make a step forward toward the fundamental understanding of water-assisted base
      tautomerization processes. 

PMID- 26876580
TI  - Sensitive determination of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and 5
      hydroxytryptamine by coupling HPLC with [Ag(HIO6 )2 ](5-) -luminol
      chemiluminescence detection.
AB  - Based on the enhancing effects of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EP), dopamine
      (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction
      between [Ag(HIO6 )2 ](5-) and luminol in alkaline solution, a high-performance
      liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with CL detection was explored for the
      sensitive determination of monoamine neurotransmitters for the first time. The UV
      visible absorption spectra were recorded to study the enhancement mechanism of
      monoamine neurotransmitters on the CL of [Ag(HIO6 )2 ](5-) and luminol reaction.
      The HPLC separation of NE, EP, DA and 5-HT was achieved with isocratic elution
      using a mixture of aqueous 0.2% phosphoric acid and methanol (5:95, v/v) within
      11.0 min. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of NE, EP, DA, and
      5-HT were 4.8, 0.9, 1.9 and 2.3 ng/mL, respectively, corresponding to 17.6-96.0
      pg for 20 MUL sample injection. The recoveries of monoamine neurotransmitters in
      rat brain were >95.6% with the precisions expressed by RSD <5.0%. The validated
      HPLC-CL method was successfully applied for the quantification of NE, EP, DA and
      5-HT in rat brain. This method has promising potential for some biological and
      clinical investigations focusing on the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26876581
TI  - JSH Guidelines for the Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A 2016 update
      for genotype 1 and 2.

PMID- 26876583
TI  - Reply by Authors.

PMID- 26876582
TI  - Re: Lifestyle and Risk of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome in a
      Cohort of United States Male Health Professionals: R. Zhang, S. Sutcliffe, E.
      Giovannucci, W. C. Willett, E. A. Platz, B. A. Rosner, J. D. Dimitrakoff and K.
      Wu J Urol 2015;194:1295-1300.

PMID- 26876584
TI  - Re: Primary Endoscopic Realignment of Urethral Disruption Injuries-A Double-Edged
      Sword?: N. V. Johnsen, R. R. Dmochowski, S. Mock, W. S. Reynolds, D. F. Milam and
      M. R. Kaufman J Urol 2015;194:1022-1026.

PMID- 26876585
TI  - Re: Renin-Angiotensin Inhibitors Decrease Recurrence after Transurethral
      Resection of Bladder Tumor in Patients with Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: M.
      L. Blute, Jr., T. J. Rushmer, F. Shi, B. J. Fuller, E. J. Abel, D. F. Jarrard and
      T. M. Downs J Urol 2015;194:1214-1219.

PMID- 26876587
TI  - Reply by Authors.

PMID- 26876586
TI  - Re: Transperineal Template Guided Prostate Biopsy Selects Candidates for Active
      Surveillance-How Many Cores are Enough?: K. N. Pham, C. R. Porter, K. Odem-Davis,
      E. M. Wolff, C. Jeldres, J. T. Wei and T. M. Morgan J Urol 2015;194:674-679.

PMID- 26876588
TI  - Reply by Authors.

PMID- 26876589
TI  - Reply by Authors.

PMID- 26876590
TI  - Infiltration of lymphocyte subpopulations into cancer microtissues as a tool for
      the exploration of immunomodulatory agents and biomarkers.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The interaction between the immune system and malignant diseases is
      a proven key target for cancer therapy. We describe an innovative 3D cell culture
      system comprising both immune and cancer cells to evaluate their interaction and
      immune cell infiltration to provide an innovative in vitro screening of
      immunomodulatory agents and biomarkers. METHODS: 3D tumor microtissues were
      cultivated using a hanging drops system. Human non-small-cell lung cancer cell
      lines were incubated for 7 days to form microtissues. On day 5, peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells (PBMC) were added with or without interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 24
      or 48h. Viability of cancer cells and the infiltrating PBMC subpopulations were
      investigated by flow cytometry. Aggregation of tumor cells and PBMC and the
      infiltration of the PBMC into the tumor microtissues were analyzed by
      immunohistochemistry. Quantification of infiltration was measured by applying the
      TissueFAXS system. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry revealed PBMC infiltration in
      all cell lines which increased under IL-2 stimulation. Analysis of infiltrating
      populations showed both lymphocyte subpopulations and monocytes within the tumor
      microtissues. In all three co-cultures, CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD8+CD45R0+CD28+
      lymphocytes were increased with IL-2, whereas CD3+CD8+CD45R0-CD28+ PBMCs were
      decreased with and without IL-2 stimulation. CONCLUSION: In summary, we present a
      novel cell culture system to study the interaction between cancer cells and
      immune cells in 3-dimensional microtissues. In addition, we report for the first
      time an in vitro infiltration assay based on 3D microtissues. This model has the
      potential to provide a tool for ex-vivo drug testing and biomarker screening of
      immunomodulatory agents.

PMID- 26876591
TI  - TGF-beta signalling in tumour associated macrophages.
AB  - Tumour associated macrophages (TAM) represent an important component of tumour
      stroma. They develop under the influence of tumour microenvironment where
      transforming growth factor (TGF)beta is frequently present. Activities of TAM
      regulated by TGFbeta stimulate proliferation of tumour cells and lead to tumour
      immune escape. Despite high importance of TGFbeta-induction of TAM activities
      till now our understanding of the mechanism of this induction is limited. We have
      previously developed a model of type 2 macrophages (M2) resembling certain
      properties of TAM. We established that in M2 TGFbetaRII is regulated on the level
      of subcellular sorting by glucocorticoids. Further studies revealed that in M2
      with high levels of TGFbetaRII on the surface TGFbeta activates not only its
      canonical Smad2/3-mediated signaling, but also Smad1/5-mediated signaling, what
      is rather typical for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) stimulation. Complexity of
      macrophage populations, however, allows assumption that TGFbeta signalling may
      function in different ways depending on the functional state of the cell. To
      understand the peculiarities of TGFbeta signalling in human TAMs experimental
      systems using primary cells have to be developed and used together with the
      modern mathematical modelling approaches.

PMID- 26876592
TI  - Complete response to gemtuzumab ozogamicin in a patient with refractory mast cell
      leukemia.

PMID- 26876593
TI  - Interleukin-15 deficiency promotes the development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia in non-obese diabetes mice with severe combined immunodeficiency.

PMID- 26876594
TI  - Clonal history of a cord blood donor cell leukemia with prenatal somatic JAK2
      V617F mutation.

PMID- 26876595
TI  - The TCA cycle transferase DLST is important for MYC-mediated leukemogenesis.
AB  - Despite the pivotal role of MYC in the pathogenesis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia (T-ALL) and many other cancers, the mechanisms underlying MYC-mediated
      tumorigenesis remain inadequately understood. Here we utilized a well
      characterized zebrafish model of Myc-induced T-ALL for genetic studies to
      identify novel genes contributing to disease onset. We found that heterozygous
      inactivation of a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme, dihydrolipoamide S
      succinyltransferase (Dlst), significantly delayed tumor onset in zebrafish
      without detectable effects on fish development. DLST is the E2 transferase of the
      alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC), which converts
      alpha-KG to succinyl-CoA in the TCA cycle. RNAi knockdown of DLST led to
      decreased cell viability and induction of apoptosis in human T-ALL cell lines.
      Polar metabolomics profiling revealed that the TCA cycle was disrupted by DLST
      knockdown in human T-ALL cells, as demonstrated by an accumulation of alpha-KG
      and a decrease of succinyl-CoA. Addition of succinate, the downstream TCA cycle
      intermediate, to human T-ALL cells was sufficient to rescue defects in cell
      viability caused by DLST inactivation. Together, our studies uncovered an
      important role for DLST in MYC-mediated leukemogenesis and demonstrated the
      metabolic dependence of T-lymphoblasts on the TCA cycle, thus providing
      implications for targeted therapy.

PMID- 26876597
TI  - Cryopreservation of ovaries from neonatal marmoset monkeys.
AB  - The ovary of neonatal nonhuman primates contains the highest number of immature
      oocytes, but its cryopreservation has not yet been sufficiently investigated in
      all life stages. In the current study, we investigated cryodamage after
      vitrification/warming of neonatal ovaries from a nonhuman primate, the common
      marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). A Cryotop was used for cryopreservation of whole
      ovaries. The morphology of the vitrified/warmed ovaries was found to be
      equivalent to that of fresh ovaries. No significant difference in the number of
      oocytes retaining normal morphology per unit area in histological sections was
      found between the two groups. In an analysis of dispersed cells from the ovaries,
      however, the cell viability of the vitrified/warmed group tended to be decreased.
      The results of a comet assay showed no significant differences in DNA damage.
      These results show that cryopreservation of neonatal marmoset ovaries using
      vitrification may be useful as a storage system for whole ovaries. 

PMID- 26876599
TI  - Challenges in RNA Structural Modeling and Design.

PMID- 26876596
TI  - DNMT3A(R882H) mutant and Tet2 inactivation cooperate in the deregulation of DNA
      methylation control to induce lymphoid malignancies in mice.
AB  - TEN-ELEVEN-TRANSLOCATION-2 (TET2) and DNA-METHYLTRANSFERASE-3A (DNMT3A), both
      encoding proteins involved in regulating DNA methylation, are mutated in
      hematological malignancies affecting both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. We
      previously reported an association of TET2 and DNMT3A mutations in progenitors of
      patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITL). Here, we report on the
      cooperative effect of Tet2 inactivation and DNMT3A mutation affecting arginine
      882 (DNMT3A(R882H)) using a murine bone marrow transplantation assay. Five out of
      eighteen primary recipients developed hematological malignancies with one mouse
      developing an AITL-like disease, two mice presenting acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
      like and two others T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)-like diseases
      within 6 months following transplantation. Serial transplantations of
      DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-) progenitors led to a differentiation bias toward the T
      cell compartment, eventually leading to AITL-like disease in 9/12 serially
      transplanted recipients. Expression profiling suggested that DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(
      /-) T-ALLs resemble those of NOTCH1 mutant. Methylation analysis of DNMT3A(R882H)
      Tet2(-/-) T-ALLs showed a global increase in DNA methylation affecting tumor
      suppressor genes and local hypomethylation affecting genes involved in the Notch
      pathway. Our data confirm the transformation potential of DNMT3A(R882H) Tet2(-/-)
      progenitors and represent the first cooperative model in mice involving Tet2
      inactivation driving lymphoid malignancies.

PMID- 26876598
TI  - The ROS-generating oxidase Nox1 is required for epithelial restitution following
      colitis.
AB  - Accumulating evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by
      endogenous metabolic enzymes are involved in a variety of intracellular
      mechanisms. In particular, superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase (Nox) 1 is highly
      expressed in the colon and has been implicated in physiological and
      pathophysiological states of colon tissues. However, its role in tissue repair
      following colitis has not been fully elucidated. Our study using experimental
      colitis in mice showed that repair of the mucosal layer did not occur in Nox1
      deficient mice following dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. This was
      accompanied by inhibition of proliferation, cell survival, migration, and
      terminal differentiation (generation of goblet cells) of crypt progenitor cells,
      as determined by histochemical analyses. Furthermore, Nox1 expression as well as
      ROS production in the colon crypt was increased during the repair process, and
      Nox1 deficiency suppressed these events. The results suggest that Nox1 promotes
      colon mucosal wound repair by sustaining the bioactivity of crypt progenitor
      cells and plays a crucial role in the epithelial restitution in the case of
      damage associated with colitis. 

PMID- 26876601
TI  - Homo-trimeric Structure of the Type IVb Minor Pilin CofB Suggests Mechanism of
      CFA/III Pilus Assembly in Human Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
AB  - In gram-negative bacteria, the assembly of type IV pilus (T4P) and the
      evolutionally related pseudopilus of type II secretion system involves
      specialized structural proteins called pilins and pseudopilins, respectively, and
      is dynamically regulated to promote bacterial pathogenesis. Previous studies have
      suggested that a structural "tip"-like hetero-complex formed through the
      interaction of at least three minor (pseudo) pilins plays an important role in
      this process, while some members of the pathogenic type IVb subfamily are known
      to have only one such minor pilin subunit whose function is still unknown. Here,
      we determined the crystal structure of the type IVb minor pilin CofB of
      colonization factor antigen/III from human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli at
      1.88-A resolution. The crystal structure, in conjunction with physicochemical
      analysis in solution, reveals a symmetrical homo-trimeric arrangement distinct
      from the hetero-complexes of minor (pseudo) pilins observed in other T4P and type
      II secretion systems. Each CofB monomer adopts a unique three-domain
      architecture, in which the C-terminal beta-sheet-rich lectin domain can
      effectively initiate trimer association of its pilin-like N-terminal domain
      through extensive hydrophobic interactions followed by domain swapping at the
      central hinge-like domain. Deletion of cofB produces a phenotype with no
      detectable pili formation on the cell surface, while molecular modeling indicates
      that the characteristic homo-trimeric structure of CofB is well situated at the
      pilus tip of colonization factor antigen/III formed by the major pilin CofA,
      suggesting a role for the minor pilin in the efficient initiation of T4P
      assembly.

PMID- 26876602
TI  - Novel helical assembly in arginine methyltransferase 8.
AB  - Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) is unique among PRMTs, as it is
      specifically expressed in brain and localized to the plasma membrane via N
      terminal myristoylation. Here, we describe the crystal structure of human PRMT8
      (hPRMT8) at 3.0-A resolution. The crystal structure of hPRMT8 exhibited a novel
      helical assembly. Biochemical, biophysical and mutagenesis experiments
      demonstrated that hPRMT8 forms an octamer in solution. This octameric structure
      is necessary for proper localization to the plasma membrane and efficient
      methyltransferase activity. The helical assembly might be a relevant quaternary
      form for hPRMT1, which is the predominant PRMT in mammalian cells and most
      closely related to hPRMT8.

PMID- 26876600
TI  - Recruitment, Duplex Unwinding and Protein-Mediated Inhibition of the Dead-Box RNA
      Helicase Dbp2 at Actively Transcribed Chromatin.
AB  - RNA helicases play fundamental roles in modulating RNA structures and
      facilitating RNA-protein (RNP) complex assembly in vivo. Previously, our
      laboratory demonstrated that the DEAD-box RNA helicase Dbp2 in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae is required to promote efficient assembly of the co-transcriptionally
      associated mRNA-binding proteins Yra1, Nab2, and Mex67 onto poly(A)(+)RNA. We
      also found that Yra1 associates directly with Dbp2 and functions as an inhibitor
      of Dbp2-dependent duplex unwinding, suggestive of a cycle of unwinding and
      inhibition by Dbp2. To test this, we undertook a series of experiments to shed
      light on the order of events for Dbp2 in co-transcriptional mRNP assembly. We now
      show that Dbp2 is recruited to chromatin via RNA and forms a large, RNA-dependent
      complex with Yra1 and Mex67. Moreover, single-molecule fluorescence resonance
      energy transfer and bulk biochemical assays show that Yra1 inhibits unwinding in
      a concentration-dependent manner by preventing the association of Dbp2 with
      single-stranded RNA. This inhibition prevents over-accumulation of Dbp2 on mRNA
      and stabilization of a subset of RNA polymerase II transcripts. We propose a
      model whereby Yra1 terminates a cycle of mRNP assembly by Dbp2.

PMID- 26876604
TI  - The RNA Polymerase II CTD: The Increasing Complexity of a Low-Complexity Protein
      Domain.
AB  - The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II contains a C-terminal domain (CTD) that
      plays key roles in coordinating transcription with co-transcriptional events. The
      heptapeptide repeats that form the CTD are dynamically phosphorylated on serine,
      tyrosine and threonine residues during the various steps of transcription,
      thereby regulating the recruitment of various proteins involved in gene
      expression. In this "Perspective," we review the recent literature related to the
      function of the CTD, to CTD kinases (Kin28, CDK7, CDK9, CDK12, ERK1/2 and DYRK1A)
      and to CTD phosphatases (Rtr1, RPAP2, Ssu72, Fcp1 and Gcl7). We discuss
      unresolved and controversial issues and try to provide constructive suggestions.
      This review also highlights emerging themes in the CTD field, such as crosstalk
      and feedback mechanisms, as well as gene-specific and tissue-specific functions
      of the CTD. Finally, promising therapeutic avenues for a recently developed CTD
      kinase inhibitor are discussed. 

PMID- 26876603
TI  - Mechanisms of Selective Autophagy.
AB  - Selective autophagy contributes to intracellular homeostasis by mediating the
      degradation of cytoplasmic material such as aggregated proteins, damaged or over
      abundant organelles, and invading pathogens. The molecular machinery for
      selective autophagy must ensure efficient recognition and sequestration of the
      cargo within autophagosomes. Cargo specificity can be mediated by autophagic
      cargo receptors that specifically bind the cargo material and the autophagosomal
      membrane. Here we review the recent insights into the mechanisms that enable
      cargo receptors to confer selectivity and exclusivity to the autophagic process.
      We also discuss their different roles during starvation-induced and selective
      autophagy. We propose to classify autophagic events into cargo-independent and
      cargo-induced autophagosome formation events.

PMID- 26876605
TI  - Early development of synchrony in cortical activations in the human.
AB  - Early intermittent cortical activity is thought to play a crucial role in the
      growth of neuronal network development, and large scale brain networks are known
      to provide the basis for higher brain functions. Yet, the early development of
      the large scale synchrony in cortical activations is unknown. Here, we tested the
      hypothesis that the early intermittent cortical activations seen in the human
      scalp EEG show a clear developmental course during the last trimester of
      pregnancy, the period of intensive growth of cortico-cortical connections. We
      recorded scalp EEG from altogether 22 premature infants at post-menstrual age
      between 30 and 44 weeks, and the early cortical synchrony was quantified using
      recently introduced activation synchrony index (ASI). The developmental
      correlations of ASI were computed for individual EEG signals as well as
      anatomically and mathematically defined spatial subgroups. We report two main
      findings. First, we observed a robust and statistically significant increase in
      ASI in all cortical areas. Second, there were significant spatial gradients in
      the synchrony in fronto-occipital and left-to-right directions. These findings
      provide evidence that early cortical activity is increasingly synchronized across
      the neocortex. The ASI-based metrics introduced in our work allow direct
      translational comparison to in vivo animal models, as well as hold promise for
      implementation as a functional developmental biomarker in future research on
      human neonates.

PMID- 26876606
TI  - Ataxin-1 regulates proliferation of hippocampal neural precursors.
AB  - Polyglutamine expansion in the protein ATAXIN-1 (ATXN1) causes spinocerebellar
      ataxia type 1 (SCA1), an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by
      motor deficits, cognitive impairment and depression. Although ubiquitously
      expressed, mutant ATXN1 causes neurodegeneration primarily in the cerebellum,
      which is responsible for the observed motor deficits. The role of ATXN1 outside
      of the cerebellum and the causes of cognitive deficits and depression in SCA1 are
      less understood. In this study, we demonstrate a novel role of ATXN1 in the
      hippocampus as a regulator of adult neurogenesis. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis
      is the process of generating new hippocampal neurons and is linked to cognition
      and mood. We found that loss of ATXN1 causes a decrease in hippocampal
      neurogenesis in ATXN1 null (Atxn1(-/-)) mice. This decrease was caused by reduced
      proliferation of neural precursors in the hippocampus of Atxn1(-/-) mice, and
      persisted even when Atxn1(-/-) hippocampal neural precursors were removed from
      their natural environment and grown in vitro, suggesting that ATXN1 affects
      proliferation in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, expression of ATXN1 with a
      pathological polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in wild-type neural precursor cells
      inhibited their proliferation. Our data establish a novel role for ATXN1 in the
      hippocampus as an intrinsic regulator of precursor cell proliferation, and
      suggest a mechanism by which polyQ expansion and loss of ATXN1 affect hippocampal
      function, potentially contributing to cognitive deficits and depression. These
      results indicate that while depletion of ATXN1 is a promising therapeutic
      approach to treat the cerebellar aspects of SCA1, this approach should be
      employed with caution given the potential for side effects on hippocampal
      function with loss of wild-type ATXN1. 

PMID- 26876609
TI  - Manipulation of nanofiber-based beta-galactosidase nanoenvironment for
      enhancement of galacto-oligosaccharide production.
AB  - The nanoenvironment of nanobiocatalysts, such as local hydrophobicity, pH and
      charge density, plays a significant role in optimizing the enzymatic selectivity
      and specificity. In this study, Kluyveromyces lactis beta-galactosidase (Gal) was
      assembled onto polystyrene nanofibers (PSNFs) to form PSNF-Gal nanobiocatalysts.
      We proposed that local hydrophobicity on the nanofiber surface could expel water
      molecules so that the transgalactosylation would be preferable over hydrolysis
      during the bioconversion of lactose, thus improve the galacto-oligosaccharides
      (GOS) yield. PSNFs were fabricated by electro-spinning and the operational
      parameters were optimized to obtain the nanofibers with uniform size and ordered
      alignment. The resulting nanofibers were functionalized for enzyme immobilization
      through a chemical oxidation method. The functionalized PSNF improved the enzyme
      adsorption capacity up to 3100 mg/g nanofiber as well as enhanced the enzyme
      stability with 80% of its original activity. Importantly, the functionalized PSNF
      Gal significantly improved the GOS yield and the production rate was up to 110
      g/l/h in comparison with 37 g/l/h by free beta-galactosidase. Our research
      findings demonstrate that the localized nanoenvironment of the PSNF-Gal
      nanobiocatalysts favour transgalactosylation over hydrolysis in lactose
      bioconversion.

PMID- 26876608
TI  - Dorsal premotor activity and connectivity relate to action selection performance
      after stroke.
AB  - Compensatory activation in dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) during movement execution
      has often been reported after stroke. However, the role of PMd in the planning of
      skilled movement after stroke has not been well studied. The current study
      investigated the behavioral and neural response to the addition of action
      selection (AS) demands, a motor planning process that engages PMd in controls, to
      movement after stroke. Ten individuals with chronic, left hemisphere stroke and
      16 age-matched controls made a joystick movement with the right hand under two
      conditions. In the AS condition, participants moved right or left based on an
      abstract, visual rule; in the execution only condition, participants moved in the
      same direction on every trial. Despite a similar behavioral response to the AS
      condition (increase in reaction time), brain activation differed between the two
      groups: the control group showed increased activation in left inferior parietal
      lobule (IPL) while the stroke group showed increased activation in several
      right/contralesional regions including right IPL. Variability in behavioral
      performance between participants was significantly related to variability in
      brain activation. Individuals post-stroke with relatively poorer AS task
      performance showed greater magnitude of activation in left PMd and dorsolateral
      prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), increased left primary motor cortex-PMd connectivity,
      and decreased left PMd-DLPFC connectivity. Changes in the premotor-prefrontal
      component of the motor network during complex movement conditions may negatively
      impact the performance and learning of skilled movement and may be a prime target
      for rehabilitation protocols aimed at improving the function of residual brain
      circuits after stroke. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1816-1830, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26876607
TI  - Regulation of neuronal chloride homeostasis by neuromodulators.
AB  - KCC2 is the central regulator of neuronal Cl(-) homeostasis, and is critical for
      enabling strong hyperpolarizing synaptic inhibition in the mature brain. KCC2
      hypofunction results in decreased inhibition and increased network
      hyperexcitability that underlies numerous disease states including epilepsy,
      neuropathic pain and neuropsychiatric disorders. The current holy grail of KCC2
      biology is to identify how we can rescue KCC2 hypofunction in order to restore
      physiological levels of synaptic inhibition and neuronal network activity. It is
      becoming increasingly clear that diverse cellular signals regulate KCC2 surface
      expression and function including neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. In the
      present review we explore the existing evidence that G-protein-coupled receptor
      (GPCR) signalling can regulate KCC2 activity in numerous regions of the nervous
      system including the hypothalamus, hippocampus and spinal cord. We present key
      evidence from the literature suggesting that GPCR signalling is a conserved
      mechanism for regulating chloride homeostasis. This evidence includes: (1) the
      activation of group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors and metabotropic Zn(2+)
      receptors strengthens GABAergic inhibition in CA3 pyramidal neurons through a
      regulation of KCC2; (2) activation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2A serotonin
      receptors upregulates KCC2 cell surface expression and function, restores
      endogenous inhibition in motoneurons, and reduces spasticity in rats; and (3)
      activation of A3A-type adenosine receptors rescues KCC2 dysfunction and reverses
      allodynia in a model of neuropathic pain. We propose that GPCR-signals are novel
      endogenous Cl(-) extrusion enhancers that may regulate KCC2 function.

PMID- 26876611
TI  - The sunflower transcription factor HaHB11 improves yield, biomass and tolerance
      to flooding in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.
AB  - HaHB11 is a member of the sunflower homeodomain-leucine zipper I subfamily of
      transcription factors. The analysis of a sunflower microarray hybridized with RNA
      from HaHB11-transformed leaf-disks indicated the regulation of many genes
      encoding enzymes from glycolisis and fermentative pathways. A 1300bp promoter
      sequence, fused to the GUS reporter gene, was used to transform Arabidopsis
      plants showing an induction of expression after flooding treatments, concurrently
      with HaHB11 regulation by submergence in sunflower. Arabidopsis transgenic plants
      expressing HaHB11 under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter and its own promoter
      were obtained and these plants exhibited significant increases in rosette and
      stem biomass. All the lines produced more seeds than controls and particularly,
      those of high expression level doubled seeds yield. Transgenic plants also showed
      tolerance to flooding stress, both to submergence and waterlogging. Carbohydrates
      contents were higher in the transgenics compared to wild type and decreased less
      after submergence treatments. Finally, transcript levels of selected genes
      involved in glycolisis and fermentative pathways as well as the corresponding
      enzymatic activities were assessed both, in sunflower and transgenic Arabidopsis
      plants, before and after submergence. Altogether, the present work leads us to
      propose HaHB11 as a biotechnological tool to improve crops yield, biomass and
      flooding tolerance. 

PMID- 26876610
TI  - Hyperforin production in Hypericum perforatum root cultures.
AB  - Extracts of the medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum are used to treat depression
      and skin irritation. A major API is hyperforin, characterized by sensitivity to
      light, oxygen and temperature. Total synthesis of hyperforin is challenging and
      its content in field-grown plants is variable. We have established in vitro
      cultures of auxin-induced roots, which are capable of producing hyperforin, as
      indicated by HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS analyses. The extraction yield and the
      productivity upon use of petroleum ether after solvent screening were ~5 mg/g DW
      and ~50 mg/L culture after six weeks of cultivation. The root cultures also
      contained secohyperforin and lupulones, which were not yet detected in intact
      plants. In contrast, they lacked another class of typical H. perforatum
      constituents, hypericins, as indicated by the analysis of methanolic extracts.
      Hyperforins and lupulones were stabilized and enriched as dicyclohexylammonium
      salts. Upon up-scaling of biomass production and downstream processing, H.
      perforatum root cultures may provide an alternative platform for the preparation
      of medicinal extracts and the isolation of APIs.

PMID- 26876612
TI  - Changes in melanocytic nevi after laser treatment evaluated by dermoscopy and
      reflectance confocal microscopy.

PMID- 26876613
TI  - Inhibition of mTOR by apigenin in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes: A new implication
      of skin cancer prevention.
AB  - Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the major environmental risk factor for
      developing skin cancer, the most common cancer worldwide, which is characterized
      by aberrant activation of Akt/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). Importantly,
      the link between UV irradiation and mTOR signaling has not been fully
      established. Apigenin is a naturally occurring flavonoid that has been shown to
      inhibit UV-induced skin cancer. Previously, we have demonstrated that apigenin
      activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which leads to suppression of
      basal mTOR activity in cultured keratinocytes. Here, we demonstrated that
      apigenin inhibited UVB-induced mTOR activation, cell proliferation and cell cycle
      progression in mouse skin and in mouse epidermal keratinocytes. Interestingly,
      UVB induced mTOR signaling via PI3K/Akt pathway, however, the inhibition of UVB
      induced mTOR signaling by apigenin was not Akt-dependent. Instead, it was driven
      by AMPK activation. In addition, mTOR inhibition by apigenin in keratinocytes
      enhanced autophagy, which was responsible, at least in part, for the decreased
      proliferation in keratinocytes. In contrast, apigenin did not alter UVB-induced
      apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate the important role of mTOR
      inhibition in UVB protection by apigenin, and provide a new target and strategy
      for better prevention of UV-induced skin cancer. 

PMID- 26876615
TI  - EZH2, an on-off valve in signal network of tumor cells.
AB  - Enhancer Zeste 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase catalyzing histone
      H3K27me3 to mediate gene silence. It is implicated in governing various
      biological behaviors of human malignancies. In this review, we over-review EZH2
      serves as an "on-off valve"--not only as a critical epigenetic repressor, but as
      a brand-new activator for specific downstream targets as well. Time and space it
      "switching on-off" depends on the context and its cellular type. Moreover, EZH2
      could act as a Tumor-Defender under certain circumstances. Moreover, the "Mutual
      Inhibition" relationship between EZH2 and microRNAs is elaborated. In addition,
      we focus on different functions of phosphorylatied EZH2 in tumor cells. Finally,
      EZH2 inhibitors are summarized and newly-discovered strategies of targeting-EZH2
      treatment are prospected.

PMID- 26876614
TI  - Shoc2-tranduced ERK1/2 motility signals--Novel insights from functional genomics.
AB  - The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway plays a
      central role in defining various cellular fates. Scaffold proteins modulating
      ERK1/2 activity control growth factor signals transduced by the pathway. Here, we
      analyzed signals transduced by Shoc2, a critical positive modulator of ERK1/2
      activity. We found that loss of Shoc2 results in impaired cell motility and
      delays cell attachment. As ERKs control cellular fates by stimulating
      transcriptional response, we hypothesized that the mechanisms underlying changes
      in cell adhesion could be revealed by assessing the changes in transcription of
      Shoc2-depleted cells. Using quantitative RNA-seq analysis, we identified 853
      differentially expressed transcripts. Characterization of the differentially
      expressed genes showed that Shoc2 regulates the pathway at several levels,
      including expression of genes controlling cell motility, adhesion, crosstalk with
      the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) pathway, and expression of
      transcription factors. To understand the mechanisms underlying delayed attachment
      of cells depleted of Shoc2, changes in expression of the protein of extracellular
      matrix (lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3-binding protein; LGALS3BP) were
      functionally analyzed. We demonstrated that delayed adhesion of the Shoc2
      depleted cells is a result of attenuated expression and secretion of LGALS3BP.
      Together our results suggest that Shoc2 regulates cell motility by modulating
      ERK1/2 signals to cell adhesion. 

PMID- 26876616
TI  - The value of integrating pre-clinical data to predict nausea and vomiting risk in
      humans as illustrated by AZD3514, a novel androgen receptor modulator.
AB  - Nausea and vomiting are components of a complex mechanism that signals food
      avoidance and protection of the body against the absorption of ingested toxins.
      This response can also be triggered by pharmaceuticals. Predicting clinical
      nausea and vomiting liability for pharmaceutical agents based on pre-clinical
      data can be problematic as no single animal model is a universal predictor.
      Moreover, efforts to improve models are hampered by the lack of translational
      animal and human data in the public domain. AZD3514 is a novel, orally
      administered compound that inhibits androgen receptor signaling and down
      regulates androgen receptor expression. Here we have explored the utility of
      integrating data from several pre-clinical models to predict nausea and vomiting
      in the clinic. Single and repeat doses of AZD3514 resulted in emesis, salivation
      and gastrointestinal disturbances in the dog, and inhibited gastric emptying in
      rats after a single dose. AZD3514, at clinically relevant exposures, induced dose
      responsive "pica" behaviour in rats after single and multiple daily doses, and
      induced retching and vomiting behaviour in ferrets after a single dose. We
      compare these data with the clinical manifestation of nausea and vomiting
      encountered in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving
      AZD3514. Our data reveal a striking relationship between the pre-clinical
      observations described and the experience of nausea and vomiting in the clinic.
      In conclusion, the emetic nature of AZD3514 was predicted across a range of pre
      clinical models, and the approach presented provides a valuable framework for
      predicition of clinical nausea and vomiting. 

PMID- 26876618
TI  - BFD-22 a new potential inhibitor of BRAF inhibits the metastasis of B16F10
      melanoma cells and simultaneously increased the tumor immunogenicity.
AB  - Benzofuroxan is an interesting ring system, which has shown a wide spectrum of
      biological responses against tumor cell lines. We investigated, herein, the
      antitumor effects of benzofuroxan derivatives (BFDs) in vitro and in a melanoma
      mouse model. Cytotoxic effects of twenty-two BFDs were determined by MTT assay.
      Effects of BFD-22 in apoptosis and cell proliferation were evaluated using
      Annexin V-FITC/PI and CFSE staining. In addition, the effects in the cell cycle
      were assessed. Flow cytometry, western blot, and fluorescence microscopy analysis
      were employed to investigate the apoptosis-related proteins and the BRAF
      signaling. Cell motility was also exploited through cell invasion and migration
      assays. Molecular docking approach was performed in order to verify the BFD-22
      binding mode into the ATP catalytic site of BRAF kinase. Moreover, the BFD-22
      antitumor effects were evaluated in a melanoma murine model using B16F10. BFD-22
      was identified as a potential hit against melanoma cells. BFD-22 induced
      apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation of B16F10 cells. BFD-22 has
      suppressed, indeed, the migratory and invasive behavior of B16F10 cells. Cyclin
      D1 and CDK4 expression were reduced leading to cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase.
      Of note, phosphorylation of BRAF at Ser338 was strongly down-regulated by BFD-22
      in B16F10 cells. The accommodation/orientation into the binding site of BRAF was
      similar of BAY43-9006 (co-crystallized inhibitor of BRAF, sorafenib).
      Importantly, BFD-22 presented in vivo antimetastatic effects and showed better
      therapeutic efficacy than sorafenib and taxol. BFD-22 can be considered as a new
      lead compound and, then, can be helpful for the designing of novel drug
      candidates to treat melanoma. 

PMID- 26876619
TI  - Instruments for measuring meaningful learning in healthcare students: a
      systematic psychometric review.
AB  - AIM: To identify, evaluate and describe the psychometric properties of
      instruments that measure learning outcomes in healthcare students. BACKGROUND:
      Meaningful learning is an active process that enables a wider and deeper
      understanding of concepts. It is the result of an interaction between new and
      prior knowledge and produces a long-standing change in knowledge and skills. In
      the field of education, validated and reliable instruments for assessing
      meaningful learning are needed. DESIGN: A psychometric systematic review. DATA
      SOURCES: MEDLINE CINAHL, SCOPUS, ERIC, Cochrane Library, Psychology & Behavioural
      Sciences Collection Database from 1990-December 2013. REVIEW METHOD: Using pre
      determined inclusion criteria, three reviewers independently identified studies
      for full-text review. Then they extracted data for quality appraisal and graded
      instrument validity using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of the
      health status Measurement INstruments checklist and the Psychometric Grading
      Framework. RESULTS: Of the 57 studies identified for full-text review, 16 met the
      inclusion criteria and 13 different instruments were assessed. Following quality
      assessment, only one instrument was considered of good quality but it measured
      meaningful learning only in part; the others were either fair or poor. The
      Psychometric Grading Framework indicated that one instrument was weak, while the
      others were very weak. No instrument displayed adequate validity. CONCLUSIONS:
      The systematic review produced a synthesis of the psychometric properties of
      tools that measure learning outcomes in students of healthcare disciplines.
      Measuring learning outcomes is very important when educating health
      professionals. The identified tools may constitute a starting point for the
      development of other assessment tools.

PMID- 26876617
TI  - Equol inhibits growth, induces atresia, and inhibits steroidogenesis of mouse
      antral follicles in vitro.
AB  - Equol is a non-steroidal estrogen metabolite produced by microbial conversion of
      daidzein, a major soy isoflavone, in the gut of some humans and many animal
      species. Isoflavones and their metabolites can affect endogenous estradiol
      production, action, and metabolism, potentially influencing ovarian follicle
      function. However, no studies have examined the effects of equol on intact
      ovarian antral follicles, which are responsible for sex steroid synthesis and
      further development into ovulatory follicles. Thus, the present study tested the
      hypothesis that equol inhibits antral follicle growth, increases follicle
      atresia, and inhibits steroidogenesis in the adult mouse ovary. To test this
      hypothesis, antral follicles isolated from adult CD-1 mice were cultured with
      vehicle control (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO) or equol (600 nM, 6 MUM, 36 MUM, and
      100 MUM) for 48 and 96 h. Every 24h, follicle diameters were measured to monitor
      growth. At 48 and 96 h, the culture medium was subjected to measurement of
      hormone levels, and the cultured follicles were subjected to gene expression
      analysis. Additionally, follicles were histologically evaluated for signs of
      atresia after 96 h of culture. The results indicate that equol (100 MUM)
      inhibited follicle growth, altered the mRNA levels of bcl2-associated X protein
      and B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2, and induced follicle atresia. Further, equol
      decreased the levels of estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, and
      progesterone, and it decreased mRNA levels of cholesterol side-chain cleavage,
      steroid 17-alpha-hydroxalase, and aromatase. Collectively, these data indicate
      that equol inhibits growth, increases atresia, and inhibits steroidogenesis of
      cultured mouse antral follicles.

PMID- 26876620
TI  - Could larger diameter of 4th generation ceramic bearing decrease the rate of
      dislocation after THA?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fourth generation (Delta) ceramic bearing was developed to reduce
      dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) by increasing the head diameter.
      We tested a hypothesis that 32/36 mm Delta ceramic bearing decreases the
      dislocation rate. We also evaluated ceramic-related complications and early
      outcome of this thin liner-on-large head ceramic bearing. METHODS: We performed a
      prospective study on patients who underwent THA with use of 32/36 mm Delta
      ceramic bearing. The dislocation rate was compared with the historical
      dislocation rate of third generation 28 mm ceramic bearing. We also evaluated
      ceramic fracture, squeak, short-term results and survival. Follow-up period was
      minimum 2 years. RESULTS: Between April 2010 and February 2012, we enrolled 250
      consecutive patients (278 hips). All patients received cementless prostheses.
      Four patients (4 hips) who received metal shells <= 46 mm and 28 mm heads were
      excluded. Three patients died and 2 patients were lost within 2 years. The
      remaining 241 patients (269 hips) were followed for 24-46 months. There were 142
      men (161 hips) and 99 women (108 hips) with a mean age of 53.7 years (range, 17
      75 years) at the index operation. Dislocation occurred in three hips (1.1%). An
      old age was a risk factor for dislocation. Ceramic fracture and squeaking did not
      occur in any patient. Mean Harris hip score was 90.3 points at the latest follow
      up. All acetabular and femoral components had bone-ingrowth stability. No hip had
      detectable wear or osteolysis. The survival was 99.3% in the best case scenario
      and 97.8% in the worst at 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: Total hip arthroplasty with use
      of 32/36 mm Delta ceramic bearing showed lower incidence of hip dislocation
      compared with 28 mm third generation ceramic bearing. A caution should be paid to
      prevent a fall in senile patients even though a large head is used. The short
      term results of THA with this type of ceramic articulation are encouraging and we
      did not find any ceramic-related complications.

PMID- 26876621
TI  - Limited efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors on nerve growth factor and
      metalloproteinases expressions in human synovial fibroblasts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is associated with arthritic pain and
      metalloproteinases are implicated in collagen and aggrecan degradation. Although
      selective COX-2 inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of arthritic
      diseases, their effects on NGF and metalloproteinases remain unclear. This study
      investigated the regulations of NGF and metalloproteinases by selective COX-2
      inhibitors in isolated human synovial cells. METHODS: The isolated human synovial
      cells were stimulated with IL-1beta in the presence of selective COX-2 inhibitors
      (NS-398 or celecoxib) with or without exogenous PGE2 or its receptor (EP1-4)
      agonists. The expressions of NGF, MMP-1, -3, -13, ADAMTS-4, and -5 were
      quantified by real-time PCR and their proteins were determined by Western
      blotting. The amount of PGE2 released was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The IL-1beta inductions of NGF and MMP-1 and MMP-13 were
      augmented by the COX-2 inhibitors, whereas the inductions of ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS
      5 were inhibited. These actions were reversed by supplementing PGE2 or the EP4
      agonist exogenously. CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive analysis revealed that COX-2
      inhibitors may be beneficial for suppressing aggrecan degradation and for
      reducing inflammatory pain by inhibiting PGE2 release, although they may have
      limited efficacy in suppressing collagen degradation and nerve growth. This study
      suggests the feedback roles of PGE2 in the negative regulation of NGF and MMP-1
      and MMP-13 and the positive regulation of ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5.

PMID- 26876622
TI  - Topography and ultrasonographic identification of the equine pulmonary vein
      draining pattern.
AB  - Information on ultrasound examination of equine pulmonary veins is scarce due to
      a lack of in-depth anatomical information. Each pulmonary vein drains a specific
      lung lobe region, after which those veins merge into a collecting antrum, before
      opening into the left atrium through their respective ostia. The aim of this
      study was, by using anatomical dissection and silicone casting of equine
      cardiopulmonary sets, to study the venous drainage of both lungs and the position
      of the ostia and to investigate whether the ostia can be identified and
      differentiated using ultrasound. Three out of the four ostia could be observed
      echocardiographically in the standing horse. The ostium draining the most caudal
      aspects of both lungs showed little variability, while the ostium draining the
      rest of the right lung could be used as an easily recognisable landmark, since it
      was located adjacent to the interatrial septum. The identification of the equine
      pulmonary vein ostia using ultrasound might allow for the determination of size
      and flow patterns in the assessment of cardiovascular disease. 

PMID- 26876623
TI  - Pro-inflammatory cytokines: Useful markers for the diagnosis of canine mammary
      tumours?
AB  - The aim of the present study was to analyse the expression of 60 pro-inflammatory
      cytokines as possible markers of malignancy in canine mammary tumours using a
      human cytokine antibody array. The cytokines were grouped into two different
      categories: (1) cytokines in which expression indicated the presence of a mammary
      tumour and (2) cytokines in which expression differentiated between simple
      mammary adenoma, tubulopapillary carcinoma or complex carcinoma. These data
      suggest that specific pro-inflammatory cytokines could be useful as tools for the
      diagnosis of canine mammary tumours. 

PMID- 26876624
TI  - A systematic review and meta-analysis of primary prevention programmes to improve
      cardio-metabolic risk in non-urban communities.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) prevention programmes have been effective in urban residents, their
      effectiveness in non-urban settings, where cardio-metabolic risk is typically
      elevated, is unknown. We systematically reviewed the effectiveness of primary
      prevention programmes aimed at reducing risk factors for CVD/T2DM, including
      blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood lipid and glucose, diet, lifestyle,
      and knowledge in adults residing in non-urban areas. METHODS: Twenty-five
      manuscripts, globally, from 1990 were selected for review (seven included in the
      meta-analyses) and classified according to: 1) study design (randomised
      controlled trial [RCT] or pre-/post-intervention); 2) intervention duration
      (short [<12months] or long term [>=12months]), and; 3) programme type (community
      based programmes or non-community-based programmes). RESULTS: Multiple strategies
      within interventions focusing on health behaviour change effectively reduced
      cardio-metabolic risk in non-urban individuals. Pre-/post-test design studies
      showed more favourable improvements generally, while RCTs showed greater
      improvements in physical activity and disease and risk knowledge. Short-term
      programmes were more effective than long-term programmes and in pre-/post-test
      designs reduced systolic blood pressure by 4.02mmHg (95% CI -6.25 to -1.79)
      versus 3.63mmHg (95% CI -7.34 to 0.08) in long-term programmes. Community-based
      programmes achieved good results for most risk factors except BMI and (glycated
      haemoglobin) HbA1c. CONCLUSION: The setting for applying cardio-metabolic
      prevention programmes is important given its likelihood to influence programme
      efficacy. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the individual
      determinants of cardio-metabolic risk in non-urban populations and in contrast to
      urban populations.

PMID- 26876625
TI  - Prevention Neuroscience: A new frontier for preventive medicine.
AB  - Prevention neuroscience may be defined as follows: an interdisciplinary field
      concerned with the neurobiological factors that influence susceptibility to
      preventable disease, disability or mortality. It includes, but is not limited to:
      examination of brain health as an outcome, brain activity as a predictor of
      health outcomes, brain structures/systems as causal determinants of health
      outcomes (e.g., health behaviours), and the brain as a mediator of other causal
      influences (e.g., social conditions) on health outcomes. This commentary
      describes concepts, theory and research illustrating each of these scenarios
      using exercise, smoking cessation, dietary behaviour, and health disparities as
      examples. It is argued that neuroscience may provide both concepts and methods
      that may be possible (even fruitful) to incorporate into preventive medicine
      research and health promotion practise. Although public health practitioners and
      cognitive neuroscientists have not traditionally crossed paths outside of the
      context of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and other dementias, it
      is easy to envision a future where many common disease prevention activities
      involve collaboration between the two disciplines, and the cache of tools
      available to the preventive medicine expert includes neuroimaging and
      neuromodulation techniques. 

PMID- 26876626
TI  - An overview of tobacco control and prevention policy status in Africa.
AB  - Tobacco smoking prevalence remains low in many African countries. However,
      growing economies and the increased presence of multinational tobacco companies
      in the African Region have the potential to contribute to increasing tobacco use
      rates in the future. This paper used data from the 2014 Global Progress Report on
      implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco
      Control (WHO FCTC), as well as the 2015 WHO report on the global tobacco
      epidemic, to describe the status of tobacco control and prevention efforts in
      countries in the WHO African Region relative to the provisions of the WHO FCTC
      and MPOWER package. Among the 23 countries in the African Region analyzed, there
      are large variations in the overall WHO FCTC implementation rates, ranging from
      9% in Sierra Leone to 78% in Kenya. The analysis of MPOWER implementation status
      indicates that opportunities exist for the African countries to enhance
      compliance with WHO recommended best practices for monitoring tobacco use,
      protecting people from tobacco smoke, offering help to quit tobacco use, warning
      about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco advertising and
      promotion, and raising taxes on tobacco products. If tobacco control
      interventions are successfully implemented, African nations could avert a tobacco
      related epidemic, including premature death, disability, and the associated
      economic, development, and societal costs.

PMID- 26876627
TI  - Establishing school day pedometer step count cut-points using ROC curves in low
      income children.
AB  - Previous research has not established pedometer step count cut-points that
      discriminate children that meet school day physical activity recommendations
      using a tri-axial ActiGraph accelerometer criterion. The purpose of this study
      was to determine step count cut-points that associate with 30min of school day
      moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in school-aged children.
      Participants included 1053 school-aged children (mean age=8.4+/-1.8years)
      recruited from three low-income schools from the state of Utah in the U.S.
      Physical activity was assessed using Yamax DigiWalker CW600 pedometers and
      ActiGraph wGT3X-BT triaxial accelerometers that were concurrently worn during
      school hours. Data were collected at each school during the 2014-2015 school
      year. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine
      pedometer step count cut-points that associated with at least 30min of MVPA
      during school hours. Cut-points were determined using the maximum Youden's J
      statistic (J max). For the total sample, the area-under-the-curve (AUC) was 0.77
      (p<0.001) with a pedometer cut-point of 5505 steps (J max=0.46, Sensitivity=63%,
      Specificity=84%; Accuracy=76%). Step counts showed greater diagnostic ability in
      girls (AUC=0.81, p<0.001; Cut-point=5306 steps; Accuracy=78.8%) compared to boys
      (AUC=0.72, p<0.01; Cut-point=5786 steps; Accuracy=71.4%). Pedometer step counts
      showed good diagnostic ability in girls and fair diagnostic ability in boys for
      discriminating children that met at least 30min of MVPA during school hours. 

PMID- 26876628
TI  - Does socioeconomic status moderate the relationships between school connectedness
      with psychological distress, suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Research has indicated that school connectedness acts as a buffer
      against depressive symptoms and suicidality. However, little is known about the
      role of socioeconomic status (SES) on these links. The present study examined the
      moderating role of subjective SES and parental education on the relationships
      between school connectedness and psychological distress, suicidal ideation and
      suicide attempts. METHODS: Data were gathered from 4955 participants within the
      2013 cycle of the Ontario Students Drug Use and Health Survey, a province-wide
      repeated school-based survey of students in grade 7 to 12 across Ontario, Canada.
      RESULTS: Results indicated that higher subjective SES is associated with high
      levels of school connectedness. Subjective SES is also a significant moderator of
      the association between school connectedness and psychological distress, but not
      between school connectedness and suicidal ideation or attempts. At low subjective
      SES, there was no difference in risk of psychological distress between students
      with high and low levels of school connectedness. However, at higher subjective
      SES, students with high levels of school connectedness have lower odds of
      psychological distress than those with low levels of school connectedness. The
      associations between school connectedness and each of the mental health outcomes
      did not significantly vary with parental education. CONCLUSIONS: These findings
      suggest that the beneficial effects of school connectedness on mental health
      problems may be more strongly related to adolescents' status beliefs rather than
      parental education. Future research is needed to better understand the mechanism
      through which subjective SES and school connectedness influence psychological
      distress.

PMID- 26876629
TI  - Association of after school sedentary behaviour in adolescence with mental
      wellbeing in adulthood.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Sedentary behaviour is associated with poorer mental health in
      adolescence but no studies have followed participants into mid-life. We
      investigated the association between after-school sedentary behaviours (screen
      time and homework) in adolescence with mental wellbeing in adulthood when
      participants were aged 42. METHODS: Participants (n=2038, 59.2% female) were
      drawn from The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). At age 16 respondents were
      asked separate questions about how long they spent in three types of screen based
      activities (TV, video films, computer games) and homework 'after school
      yesterday'. Mental well-being and psychological distress were assessed at the age
      42 sweep in 2012 using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and
      Malaise Inventory, respectively. RESULTS: After adjustment for all covariates,
      participants reporting more than 3h of after school screen time as an adolescent
      had -1.74 (95% CI, -2.65, -0.83) points on the WEMWBS compared with adults
      reporting less than 1h screen time as an adolescent. Participants that reported
      high screen time both at age 16 (>=3h/d) and age 42 (>=3h/d TV viewing)
      demonstrated even lower scores (-2.91; -4.12, -1.69). Homework was unrelated to
      wellbeing after adjustment for covariates. The longitudinal association between
      adolescent screen time and adult psychological distress was attenuated to the
      null after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Screen time in adolescence was
      inversely associated with mental wellbeing in adulthood.

PMID- 26876631
TI  - Obesity prevention and obesogenic behavior interventions in child care: A
      systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Review peer-reviewed interventions designed to reduce obesity and
      improve obesogenic behaviors, including physical activity, diet, and screen time,
      at child care centers. Interventions components and outcomes, study design,
      duration, use of behavioral theory, and level of social ecological influence are
      detailed. METHODS: Article searches were conducted from March 2014, October 2014,
      March 2015, January 2016 across three databases. Eligible interventions were
      conducted in child care settings, included 3-to-5-year-old children, included an
      outcome measure of obesity or obesogenic behavior, and published in English.
      Study design quality was assessed using Stetler's Level of Quantitative Evidence.
      RESULTS: All unique records were screened (n=4589): 237 articles were assessed
      for eligibility. Of these, 97 articles describing 71 interventions met inclusion
      criteria. Forty-four articles included multi-level interventions. Twenty-nine
      interventions included an outcome measure of obesity. Forty-one interventions
      included physical activity. Forty-five included diet. Eight included screen time.
      Fifty-five percent of interventions were Level II (randomized controlled trials),
      while 37% were Level III (quasi-experimental or pre-post only study design), and
      8% were Level IV (non-experimental or natural experiments). Most interventions
      had the intended effect on the target: obesity 48% (n=14), physical activity 73%
      (n=30), diet 87% (n=39), and screen time 63% (n=5). CONCLUSION: Summarizing
      intervention strategies and assessing their effectiveness contributes to the
      existing literature and may provide direction for practitioners and researchers
      working with young children in child care. Most interventions produced the
      targeted changes in obesity and obesity-associated behaviors, supporting current
      and future efforts to collaborate with early-care centers and professionals for
      obesity prevention.

PMID- 26876630
TI  - Use of population-referenced total activity counts percentiles to assess and
      classify physical activity of population groups.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Population-referenced total activity counts per day (TAC/d)
      percentiles provide public health practitioners a standardized measure of
      physical activity (PA) volume obtained from an accelerometer that can be compared
      across populations. The purpose of this study was to describe the application of
      TAC/d population-referenced percentiles to characterize the PA levels of
      population groups relative to US estimates. METHODS: A total of 679 adults
      participating in the 2011 NYC Physical Activity Transit survey wore an ActiGraph
      accelerometer on their hip for seven consecutive days. Accelerometer-derived
      TAC/d was classified into age- and gender-specific quartiles of US population
      referenced TAC/d to compare differences in the distributions by borough (N=5).
      RESULTS: Males in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island had significantly
      greater TAC/d than US males. Females in Brooklyn and Queens had significantly
      greater levels of TAC/d compared to US females. The proportion of males in each
      population-referenced TAC/d quartile varied significantly by borough
      (chi(2)(12)=2.63, p=0.002), with disproportionately more men in Manhattan and the
      Bronx found to be in the highest and lowest US population-referenced TAC/d
      quartiles, respectively. For females, there was no significant difference in US
      population-reference TAC/d quartile by borough (chi(2)(12)=1.09, p=0.36).
      CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the utility of population-referenced TAC/d
      percentiles in public health monitoring and surveillance. These findings also
      provide insights into the PA levels of NYC residents relative to the broader US
      population, which can be used to guide health promotion efforts.

PMID- 26876633
TI  - Moderating effect of gross family income on the association between demographic
      indicators and active commuting to work in Brazilian adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the moderating effect of gross family income on the
      association between demographic indicators and active commuting to work in
      Brazilian adults. METHODS: Secondary analysis of the survey "Lifestyle and
      leisure habits of industry workers" (n=46,981), conducted in 24 Brazilian states
      (2006-2008). Self-reported information was collected with a previously tested
      questionnaire. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were applied to
      analyze the association between sociodemographic variables (sex, age, marital
      status, number of children, education, country area and company size) and active
      commuting to work in different strata of gross family income. To test the
      moderating effect, an interaction analysis was applied. RESULTS: The proportion
      of active commuters among low-, medium- and high-income workers was 40.7%
      (95%CI:40.0%;41.5%), 27.0% (95%CI:26.3;27.6%) and 11.1%, (95%CI:10.5%;11.7%),
      respectively. The moderating effect of gross family income was confirmed. Men
      were more likely (OR:1.22 95%CI:1.12;1.32) to commute actively than women among
      low-income individuals. Active commuting was less likely among older workers in
      low-(OR30-39:0.90 95%CI: 0.83;0.98; OR>=40: 0.76 95%CI: 0.68;0.85) and medium
      income strata (OR30-39:0.87 95%CI:0.80;0.95; OR>=40:0.84 95%CI:0.76;0.93) and
      among married individuals in high-income strata (OR:0.72 95%IC:0.61;0.84). Adults
      with lower education (ORhigh:10.80 95%CI:8.47;13.77), working in the south
      (ORhigh:1.93 95%CI:1.53;2.44) and in small companies (ORlow:2.50 95%CI:2.28;2.74)
      were more likely to commute actively; however, the magnitude of these
      associations differed at each income strata. CONCLUSION: There was an inverse
      association between gross family income and active commuting. Gross family income
      acts as a moderator of the association between demographic indicators and active
      commuting.

PMID- 26876632
TI  - Eating behaviors among low-income obese adults in the United States: Does health
      care provider's advice carry any weight.
AB  - The U.S. Preventive Task Force recommends that all patients be screened for
      obesity and given appropriate weight loss advice, if needed, as nutrition
      counseling by primary care physicians is a key objective for Healthy People 2020.
      This study assesses the association between health care provider's (HCP) advice
      to lose weight and eating behaviors among obese individuals. Data were collected
      using a household survey of adults in five New Jersey cities in 2009-10. Analyses
      presented are limited to 548 obese participants. Negative-binomial regression
      analysis determined the association of participants' eating behaviors and HCP's
      advice to lose weight, after adjusting for the participant's attempt to lose
      weight and demographic variables. Despite being obese, only 48% of the
      participants received weight loss advice from their HCP while 68% stated they
      were attempting to lose weight. HCP's advice to lose weight was associated with
      increased salad and fruit consumption (PR 1.3, 95% CI 1.06-1.61; PR 1.23, 95% CI
      1.02-1.48). Attempting to lose weight was positively associated with a higher
      consumption of fruit (PR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13-1.72), vegetables (PR 1.22, 95% CI
      1.07-1.39), and with eating fruits and vegetables as snacks (PR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28
      2.05). Attempting to lose weight was negatively associated with consumption of
      sweet snacks (PR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.94), sugar sweetened beverages (PR 0.71, 95%
      CI 0.58-0.87) and fast food (PR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.97). There were no
      significant interactions between HCP's advice and attempts to lose weight. Obese
      adult's attempt to lose weight, and not HCP's advice to lose weight, was a
      predictor for healthy eating behaviors. Interventions in medical practices should
      train HCPs on effective strategies for motivating obese patients to adopt
      healthier lifestyles.

PMID- 26876634
TI  - Pustular prurigo pigmentosa treated with doxycycline.

PMID- 26876636
TI  - The clinical significance of para-aortic nodal dissection for advanced gastric
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer with the risk of extensive nodal involvement
      has a poor prognosis even after radical surgery. We aimed to comprehensively
      review the clinical significance of extended radical dissection. METHODS: Between
      1990 and 1999, 232 patients underwent radical gastrectomy with D2 plus para
      aortic lymph node dissection at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo. We
      analyzed the short-term surgical and long-term oncological outcomes of these
      operations. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 34 patients (14.7%). Median
      operation time was 325 min (range: 182-555) and median blood loss was 715 ml
      (range: 95-4457). There were 2 (0.9%) hospital deaths. Nodal involvement of the
      para-aortic area was seen in 33 patients (14.2%). The overall 5- and 10-year
      survival rates in patients with para-aortic node involvement were 21.2 and 15.2%,
      respectively. Multivariate analysis of patients with para-aortic node involvement
      revealed advanced age and metastasis in the interaorticocaval lymph nodes above
      the left renal vein to be independent risk factors impacting overall survival.
      CONCLUSIONS: PAN dissection has limited applicability and effectiveness to the
      patients with advanced gastric cancer. Above all, advanced age and metastasis in
      the interaorticocaval lymph nodes above the left renal vein are significant poor
      prognostic factor even after radical resection.

PMID- 26876635
TI  - Zebrafish Collagen Type I: Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the
      Major Structural Protein in Bone and Skin.
AB  - Over the last years the zebrafish imposed itself as a powerful model to study
      skeletal diseases, but a limit to its use is the poor characterization of
      collagen type I, the most abundant protein in bone and skin. In tetrapods
      collagen type I is a trimer mainly composed of two alpha1 chains and one alpha2
      chain, encoded by COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes, respectively. In contrast, in
      zebrafish three type I collagen genes exist, col1a1a, col1a1b and col1a2 coding
      for alpha1(I), alpha3(I) and alpha2(I) chains. During embryonic and larval
      development the three collagen type I genes showed a similar spatio-temporal
      expression pattern, indicating their co-regulation and interdependence at these
      stages. In both embryonic and adult tissues, the presence of the three alpha(I)
      chains was demonstrated, although in embryos alpha1(I) was present in two
      distinct glycosylated states, suggesting a developmental-specific collagen
      composition. Even though in adult bone, skin and scales equal amounts of
      alpha1(I), alpha3(I) and alpha2(I) chains are present, the presented data suggest
      a tissue-specific stoichiometry and/or post-translational modification status for
      collagen type I. In conclusion, this data will be useful to properly interpret
      results and insights gained from zebrafish models of skeletal diseases.

PMID- 26876637
TI  - Tempo and mode of speciation in Holacanthus angelfishes based on RADseq markers.
AB  - In this study we estimated the timing of speciation events in a group of
      angelfishes using 1186 RADseq markers corresponding to 94,880 base pairs. The
      genus Holacanthus comprises seven species, including two clades of Panama trans
      Isthmian geminates, which diverged approximately 3-3.5Mya. These clades
      diversified within the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP, three species) and Tropical
      Western Atlantic (TWA, two species) which our data suggest to have occurred
      within the past 1.5My in both ocean basins, but may have proceeded via different
      mechanisms. In the TEP, speciation is likely to have followed a peripatric
      pathway, while in the TWA, sister species are currently partially sympatric, thus
      raising the possibility of sympatric speciation. This study highlights the use of
      RADseq markers for estimating both divergence times and modes of speciation at a
      1-3My timescale. 

PMID- 26876638
TI  - A global molecular phylogeny and timescale of evolution for Cryptocercus
      woodroaches.
AB  - Cryptocercus is a genus of sub-social wood-feeding cockroaches that represents
      the sister group to the eusocial termites. We generated mitochondrial (12S+16S
      rRNA, COII), nuclear (28S rRNA) and Blattbacterium endosymbiont (16S+23S rRNA)
      sequence data for 8 new Chinese species, and combined these with previously
      available data to undertake the most extensive analysis of phylogenetic
      relationships within the genus to date. As expected, phylogenetic relationships
      among Blattabacterium strains were found to be congruent with those of their
      hosts. Three major clades were found to exist in Asian populations, one
      representing taxa from the Hengduan mountains in Southwestern China, a second
      including taxa from Russia, Korea, Northeastern China, and Yunnan in the Hengduan
      Mountains, and a third including taxa from the Qinling Mountains and Daba
      Mountains in Central China. A molecular dating analysis using 7 termite fossils
      to calibrate the molecular clock indicated that the divergence of American and
      Asian Cryptocercus occurred 55.09Ma (41.55-72.28Ma 95% CI), and that the
      radiations of American and Asian taxa occurred 28.48Ma (20.83-37.95Ma 95% CI) and
      20.97Ma (15.78-27.21Ma 95% CI) respectively. Reconstruction of ancestral
      geographic distributions using S-DIVA suggested Cryptocercus was originally
      distributed across both continents, as opposed to ancestral migration of
      Cryptocercus from one continent to the other. The last common ancestor of Asian
      Cryptocercus was inferred to have existed in Central China. An examination of
      male chromosome numbers in Asian Cryptocercus showed that diploid numbers vary
      from 2n=15 to 2n=41, and indicates the presence of eight new species. Our study
      represents the most comprehensive phylogenetic and biogeographic study yet
      performed for this important group of cockroaches. 

PMID- 26876639
TI  - Peeking through the trapdoor: Historical biogeography of the Aegean endemic
      spider Cyrtocarenum Ausserer, 1871 with an estimation of mtDNA substitution rates
      for Mygalomorphae.
AB  - The Aegean region, located in the Eastern Mediterranean, is an area of rich
      biodiversity and endemism. Its position, geographical configuration and complex
      geological history have shaped the diversification history of many animal taxa.
      Mygalomorph spiders have drawn the attention of researchers, as excellent model
      systems for phylogeographical investigations. However, phylogeographic studies of
      spiders in the Aegean region are scarce. In this study, we focused on the
      phylogeography of the endemic ctenizid trap-door spider Cyrtocarenum Ausserer,
      1871. The genus includes two morphologically described species: C. grajum (C.L.
      Koch, 1836) and C. cunicularium (Olivier, 1811). We sampled 60 specimens from the
      distributions of both species and analyzed four mitochondrial and two nuclear
      markers. Cyrtocarenum served as an example to demonstrate the importance of
      natural history traits in the inference of phylogeographic scenarios. The mtDNA
      substitution rates inferred for the genus are profoundly higher compared to
      araneomorph spiders and other arthropods, which seems tightly associated with
      their biology. We evaluate published mtDNA substitution rates followed in the
      literature for mygalomorph spiders and discuss potential pitfalls. Following gene
      tree (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference) and species tree approaches
      ((*)BEAST), we reconstructed a time-calibrated phylogeny of the genus. These
      results, combined with a biogeographical ancestral-area analysis, helped build a
      biogeographic scenario that describes how the major palaeogeographic and
      palaeoclimatic events of the Aegean may have affected the distribution of
      Cyrtocarenum lineages. The diversification of the genus seems to have begun in
      the Middle Miocene in the present west Aegean area, while major phylogenetic
      events occurred at the Miocene-Pliocene boundary for C. cunicularium, probably
      related to the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Our results also demonstrate the clear
      molecular distinction of the two morphologically described species, but possible
      cryptic lineages may exist within C. cunicularium. 

PMID- 26876640
TI  - Demographic history and asynchronous spawning shape genetic differentiation among
      populations of the hard coral Acropora tenuis in Western Australia.
AB  - Genetic subdivision within populations can ultimately lead to the evolution of
      new species, and in populations of broadcast-spawners a potential facilitator of
      genetic subdivision is asynchronous reproduction. However, the factors that shape
      genetic variation in marine systems are complex and ambiguous, and ecological
      genetic structure may be influenced by the overriding signature of past
      demographic events. Here, the relative roles of the timing of reproduction and
      historical geography on the partitioning of genetic variation were examined in
      seven populations of the broadcast-spawning coral Acropora tenuis over 12 degrees
      of latitude. The analysis of multiple loci (mitochondrial control region, two
      nuclear introns and six microsatellites) revealed significant genetic division
      between the most northern reef and all other reefs, suggesting that WA reefs were
      re-colonized from two different sources after the Pleistocene glaciation.
      Accompanying this pattern was significant genetic differentiation associated with
      different breeding seasons (spring and autumn), which was greatest in PaxC, in
      which there were two divergent lineages (PhiST=0.98). This is the second study to
      find divergent clades of PaxC associated with spring and autumn spawners,
      strengthening the suggestion of some selective connection to timing of
      reproduction in corals. This study reiterates the need to incorporate
      reproductive timing into population genetic studies of corals because it
      facilitates genetic differentiation; however, careful analysis of population
      genetic data is required to separate ecological and evolutionary processes. 

PMID- 26876641
TI  - Genetic Improvements in Rice Yield and Concomitant Increases in Radiation- and
      Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in Middle Reaches of Yangtze River.
AB  - The yield potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has experienced two significant
      growth periods that coincide with the introduction of semi-dwarfism and the
      utilization of heterosis. In present study, we determined the annual increase in
      the grain yield of rice varieties grown from 1936 to 2005 in Middle Reaches of
      Yangtze River and examined the contributions of RUE (radiation-use efficiency,
      the conversion efficiency of pre-anthesis intercepted global radiation to
      biomass) and NUE (nitrogen-use efficiency, the ratio of grain yield to
      aboveground N accumulation) to these improvements. An examination of the 70-year
      period showed that the annual gains of 61.9 and 75.3 kg ha(-1) in 2013 and 2014,
      respectively, corresponded to an annual increase of 1.18 and 1.16% in grain
      yields, respectively. The improvements in grain yield resulted from increases in
      the harvest index and biomass, and the sink size (spikelets per panicle) was
      significantly enlarged because of breeding for larger panicles. Improvements were
      observed in RUE and NUE through advancements in breeding. Moreover, both RUE and
      NUE were significantly correlated with the grain yield. Thus, our study suggests
      that genetic improvements in rice grain yield are associated with increased RUE
      and NUE.

PMID- 26876642
TI  - Ion microscopy based on laser-cooled cesium atoms.
AB  - We demonstrate a prototype of a Focused Ion Beam machine based on the ionization
      of a laser-cooled cesium beam and adapted for imaging and modifying different
      surfaces in the few-tens nanometer range. Efficient atomic ionization is obtained
      by laser promoting ground-state atoms into a target excited Rydberg state, then
      field-ionizing them in an electric field gradient. The method allows obtaining
      ion currents up to 130pA. Comparison with the standard direct photo-ionization of
      the atomic beam shows, in our conditions, a 40-times larger ion yield.
      Preliminary imaging results at ion energies in the 1-5keV range are obtained with
      a resolution around 40nm, in the present version of the prototype. Our ion beam
      is expected to be extremely monochromatic, with an energy spread of the order of
      the eV, offering great prospects for lithography, imaging and surface analysis. 

PMID- 26876643
TI  - Dissecting the hybridization of oligonucleotides to structured complementary
      sequences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: When oligonucleotides hybridize to long target molecules, the process
      is slowed by the secondary structure in the targets. The phenomenon has been
      analyzed in several previous studies, but many details remain poorly understood.
      METHODS: I used a spectrofluorometric strategy, focusing on the
      formation/breaking of individual base pairs, to study the kinetics of association
      between a DNA hairpin and >20 complementary oligonucleotides ('antisenses').
      RESULTS: Hybridization rates differed by over three orders of magnitude.
      Association was toehold-mediated, both for antisenses binding to the target's
      ends and for those designed to interact with the loop. Binding of these latter,
      besides being consistently slower, was affected to variable, non-uniform extents
      by the asymmetric loop structure. Divalent metal ions accelerated hybridization,
      more pronouncedly when nucleation occurred at the loop. Incorporation of locked
      nucleic acid (LNA) residues in the antisenses substantially improved the kinetics
      only when LNAs participated to the earliest hybridization steps. The effects of
      individual LNAs placed along the antisense indicated that the reaction transition
      state occurred after invading at least the first base pair of the stem.
      CONCLUSIONS: The experimental approach helps dissect hybridization reactions
      involving structured nucleic acids. Toehold-dependent, nucleation-invasion models
      appear fully appropriate for describing such reactions. Estimating the stability
      of nucleation complexes formed at internal toeholds is the major hurdle for the
      quantitative prediction of hybridization rates. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: While
      analyzing the mechanisms of a fundamental biochemical process (hybridization),
      this work also provides suggestions for the improvement of technologies that rely
      on such process.

PMID- 26876645
TI  - Interactive mechanism between avian infectious bronchitis S1 protein T cell
      peptide and avian MHC I molecule.
AB  - This study aims to construct a 3D structure of the avian major histocompatibility
      complex (MHC)-beta2M complex through homology modelling technology, perform
      molecular docking of the predicted infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1 protein
      potential epitope peptide Sp6 (NQFYIKLT) and the avian MHC-beta2M complex, and
      demonstrate the interactive mechanism between Sp6 and MHC using molecular
      dynamical simulations. The peptide Sp6 and the non-related peptide NP89-97
      (PKKTGGPIY) were used to stimulate in vitro recombinant plasmid (pCAGGS-S1) avian
      splenic lymphocytes. Flow cytometric results show that CD8(+) T lymphocytes
      reproduce stimulated by the Sp6 and the nonrelated peptide proliferate by 34.8%
      and 2.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, fluorescent quantitative PCR results show that
      the secretion of IFN-gamma in avian splenic lymphocytes increases after Sp6
      stimulation. These data suggest that Sp6 can induce the activated avian
      lymphocytes in vitro to produce CTL, which is the CTL epitope in IBV S1. 

PMID- 26876644
TI  - Evolution and comparative analysis of the bat MHC-I region.
AB  - Bats are natural hosts to numerous viruses and have ancient origins, having
      diverged from other eutherian mammals early in evolution. These characteristics
      place them in an important position to provide insights into the evolution of the
      mammalian immune system and antiviral immunity. We describe the first detailed
      partial map of a bat (Pteropus alecto) MHC-I region with comparative analysis of
      the MHC-I region and genes. The bat MHC-I region is highly condensed, yet
      relatively conserved in organisation, and is unusual in that MHC-I genes are
      present within only one of the three highly conserved class I duplication blocks.
      We hypothesise that MHC-I genes first originated in the beta duplication block,
      and subsequently duplicated in a step-wise manner across the MHC-I region during
      mammalian evolution. Furthermore, bat MHC-I genes contain unique insertions
      within their peptide-binding grooves potentially affecting the peptide repertoire
      presented to T cells, which may have implications for the ability of bats to
      control infection without overt disease. 

PMID- 26876646
TI  - Definition of a core module for the nuclear retrograde response to altered
      organellar gene expression identifies GLK overexpressors as gun mutants.
AB  - Retrograde signaling can be triggered by changes in organellar gene expression
      (OGE) induced by inhibitors such as lincomycin (LIN) or mutations that perturb
      OGE. Thus, an insufficiency of the organelle-targeted prolyl-tRNA synthetase
      PRORS1 in Arabidopsis thaliana activates retrograde signaling and reduces the
      expression of nuclear genes for photosynthetic proteins. Recently, we showed that
      mTERF6, a member of the so-called mitochondrial transcription termination factor
      (mTERF) family, is involved in the formation of chloroplast (cp) isoleucine-tRNA.
      To obtain further insights into its functions, co-expression analysis of MTERF6,
      PRORS1 and two other genes for organellar aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases was
      conducted. The results suggest a prominent role of mTERF6 in aminoacylation
      activity, light signaling and seed storage. Analysis of changes in whole-genome
      transcriptomes in the mterf6-1 mutant showed that levels of nuclear transcripts
      for cp OGE proteins were particularly affected. Comparison of the mterf6-1
      transcriptome with that of prors1-2 showed that reduced aminoacylation of proline
      (prors1-2) and isoleucine (mterf6-1) tRNAs alters retrograde signaling in similar
      ways. Database analyses indicate that comparable gene expression changes are
      provoked by treatment with LIN, norflurazon or high light. A core OGE response
      module was defined by identifying genes that were differentially expressed under
      at least four of six conditions relevant to OGE signaling. Based on this module,
      overexpressors of the Golden2-like transcription factors GLK1 and GLK2 were
      identified as genomes uncoupled mutants. 

PMID- 26876647
TI  - Extracellular microcystin prediction based on toxigenic Microcystis detection in
      a eutrophic lake.
AB  - Existing models for predicting microcystin concentration in water body generally
      use chlorophyll or cyanobacteria concentration as input variables, although
      microcystins only originate from toxigenic strains of a few species. Moreover,
      the nonconcurrency between harmful algal growth and toxin release has yet to be
      quantified. Therefore, this study explored a new prediction method that considers
      these toxin production mechanisms for the eutrophic Yangcheng Lake, a large-scale
      drinking water source in China. The Lake was monitored weekly at six sampling
      sites from July to October in 2012, including the detection of toxigenic
      Microcystis (expressed as mcyA copy number) by qPCR. Compared with chlorophyll a,
      cyanobacteria, and total Microcystis abundance, toxigenic Microcystis
      concentration was more significant in predicting extracellular microcystin. Site
      specific nonlinear regression models that link mcyA to microcystins were
      established. Parameters for toxin release delay (i.e., one or two weeks) were
      embedded in these models. Further analysis ascribed the different release
      timescale to NH3-N:TN and TN:TP ratios of approximately 0.015 and 9.2,
      respectively, which may decrease the delay in microcystin release. Model
      applications in determining mcyA monitoring frequency and its warning thresholds
      were discussed. 

PMID- 26876650
TI  - Exercise-induced skeletal muscle signaling pathways and human athletic
      performance.
AB  - Skeletal muscle is a highly malleable tissue capable of altering its phenotype in
      response to external stimuli including exercise. This response is determined by
      the mode, (endurance- versus resistance-based), volume, intensity and frequency
      of exercise performed with the magnitude of this response-adaptation the basis
      for enhanced physical work capacity. However, training-induced adaptations in
      skeletal muscle are variable and unpredictable between individuals. With the
      recent application of molecular techniques to exercise biology, there has been a
      greater understanding of the multiplicity and complexity of cellular networks
      involved in exercise responses. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular
      events mediating adaptation processes in skeletal muscle in response to exercise.
      We discuss established and novel cell signaling proteins mediating key
      physiological responses associated with enhanced exercise performance and the
      capacity for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to modulate training adaptation
      responses. We also examine the molecular bases underpinning heterogeneous
      responses to resistance and endurance exercise and the dissociation between
      molecular 'markers' of training adaptation and subsequent exercise performance.

PMID- 26876649
TI  - Ageing-induced changes in the redox status of peripheral motor nerves imply an
      effect on redox signalling rather than oxidative damage.
AB  - Ageing is associated with loss of skeletal muscle fibres, atrophy of the
      remaining fibres and weakness. These changes in muscle are accompanied by
      disruption of motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions although the direct
      relationship between the nerve and muscle degeneration is not understood.
      Oxidative changes have been implicated in the mechanisms leading to age-related
      loss of muscle mass and in degeneration of the central nervous system, but little
      is known about age-related changes in oxidation in specific peripheral nerves
      that supply muscles that are affected by ageing. We have therefore examined the
      sciatic nerve of old mice at an age when loss of tibialis anterior muscle mass
      and function is apparent. Sciatic nerve from old mice did not show a gross
      increase in oxidative damage, but electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies
      indicated an increase in the activity of superoxide and/or peroxynitrite in the
      nerves of old mice at rest that was further exacerbated by electrical stimulation
      of the nerve to activate muscle contractions. Proteomic analyses indicated that
      specific redox-sensitive proteins are increased in content in the nerves of old
      mice that may reflect an adaptation to regulate the increased
      superoxide/peroxynitrite and maintain redox homoeostasis. Analysis of redox
      active cysteines showed some increase in reversible oxidation in specific
      proteins in nerves of old mice, but this was not universally seen across all
      redox-active cysteines. Detailed analysis of the redox-active cysteine in one
      protein in the nerve of old mice that is key to redox signalling (Peroxiredoxin
      6, Cys 47) showed a minor increase in reversible oxidation that would be
      compatible with a change in its redox signalling function. In conclusion, the
      data presented indicate that sciatic nerve from old mice does not show a gross
      increase in oxidative damage similar to that seen in the TA and other muscles
      that it innervates. Our results indicate an adaptation to increased oxidation
      with minor changes in the oxidation of key cysteines that may contribute to
      defective redox signalling in the nerve.

PMID- 26876651
TI  - Poly(trimethylene carbonate) as a carrier for rifampicin and vancomycin to target
      therapy-recalcitrant staphylococcal biofilms.
AB  - Standard antibiotic therapy in osteomyelitis patients is of limited value when
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis
      (MRSE), or small-colony variants (SCV) are present. Far better results are
      obtained by local drug delivery of antibiotic combinations including rifampicin,
      using a suitable carrier. We therefore investigated release kinetics of
      antibiotics from biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and in vitro
      biofilm inhibition of MRSA, MRSE, and S. aureus SCV strains in the course of 24,
      72, and 168 h treatment by PTMC, either unloaded, gentamicin-loaded, loaded with
      rifampicin and fosfomycin, or rifampicin and vancomycin. PTMC appeared to be a
      suitable carrier for rifampicin alone or in combination with other antibiotics.
      Biofilm colony forming units and metabolic activity measurement (MTT assay)
      demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) inhibition for all strains when PTMC loaded
      with rifampicin and vancomycin was employed, especially after 168 h treatment.
      Confocal laser scanning microscopy images showed similar qualitative results.
      PTMC loaded with only gentamicin did not show any inhibition. This exemplifies
      that PTMC loaded with rifampicin and vancomycin holds promise for the treatment
      of recalcitrant osteomyelitis. (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published
      by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1828-1837, 2016.

PMID- 26876652
TI  - A multifunctional polymeric nanofilm with robust chemical performances for
      special wettability.
AB  - A multifunctional polymeric nanofilm of a triazinedithiolsilane compound, which
      can protect metallic substrates and activate the corresponding surface
      simultaneously, is introduced onto a copper mesh surface via facile solution
      immersion approaches. The resultant interface exhibits hydrophilic features due
      to the existence of silanol groups (SiOH) outward and has the potential to act as
      a superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic material. As the polymeric
      nanofilm atop the copper mesh is modified with long-chain
      octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), the functionalized surface becomes
      superhydrophobic and superoleophilic. The OTS-modified polymeric nanofilm shows
      outstanding chemical durability and stability that are seldom concurrently
      satisfied for a material with special wettability, owing to its inherent
      architecture. These textures generate high separation efficiency, durable
      separation capability and excellent thermal stability. The protective ability,
      originating from the textures of the underlying cross-linked disulfide units (-SS
      ) and siloxane networks (SiOSi) on the top of the nanofilm, prolongs the chemical
      durability. The activating capability stemming from the residual SiOH groups
      improves the chemical stability as a result of the chemical bonds developed by
      these sites. The significant point of this investigation lies in enlightening us
      on the fabrication of multifunctional polymeric nanofilms on different metal
      surfaces using various triazinedithiolsilane compounds, and on the construction
      of interfaces with controllable wettable performances in demanding research or
      industrial applications. 

PMID- 26876653
TI  - Impact of marital status on survival of gastric adenocarcinoma patients: Results
      from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Database.
AB  - Marital status was found to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in
      various cancer types. In this study, we used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and
      End Results database to analyze the survival difference among different marital
      status in the United States. Gastric adenocarcinoma patients from 2004-2012 were
      enrolled for study. The 5-year cause specific survival (CSS) was our primary
      endpoint. Totally 29,074 eligible patients were identified. We found that more
      male patients were married than female. Asian patients had the highest
      percentages of married than the other races. More married patients were covered
      by the insurance. Married patients had better 5-year CSS than unmarried, 30.6% vs
      25.7%, P < 0.001. The median overall CSS was 17.87 and 13.61 months for the
      married and unmarried patients, hazard ratio: 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.01
      1.17), P = 0.027. The survival difference was significant in the insured but not
      in the uninsured patients. Widowed patients had the worst prognosis compared with
      other groups even though they had more stage I disease and more well / moderate
      differentiated tumors. These results indicated that unmarried gastric
      adenocarcinoma patients were at greater risk of cancer specific mortality. We
      recommend every patient should have access to best available gastric cancer
      therapy.

PMID- 26876648
TI  - Regulation of exercise blood flow: Role of free radicals.
AB  - During exercise, oxygen and nutrient rich blood must be delivered to the active
      skeletal muscle, heart, skin, and brain through the complex and highly regulated
      integration of central and peripheral hemodynamic factors. Indeed, even minor
      alterations in blood flow to these organs have profound consequences on exercise
      capacity by modifying the development of fatigue. Therefore, the fine-tuning of
      blood flow is critical for optimal physical performance. At the level of the
      peripheral circulation, blood flow is regulated by a balance between the
      mechanisms responsible for vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Once thought of as
      toxic by-products of in vivo chemistry, free radicals are now recognized as
      important signaling molecules that exert potent vasoactive responses that are
      dependent upon the underlying balance between oxidation-reduction reactions or
      redox balance. Under normal healthy conditions with low levels of oxidative
      stress, free radicals promote vasodilation, which is attenuated with exogenous
      antioxidant administration. Conversely, with advancing age and disease where
      background oxidative stress is elevated, an exercise-induced increase in free
      radicals can further shift the redox balance to a pro-oxidant state, impairing
      vasodilation and attenuating blood flow. Under these conditions, exogenous
      antioxidants improve vasodilatory capacity and augment blood flow by restoring an
      "optimal" redox balance. Interestingly, while the active skeletal muscle, heart,
      skin, and brain all have unique functions during exercise, the mechanisms by
      which free radicals contribute to the regulation of blood flow is remarkably
      preserved across each of these varied target organs.

PMID- 26876654
TI  - Observations of narrow bipolar events reveal how lightning is initiated in
      thunderstorms.
AB  - A long-standing but fundamental question in lightning studies concerns how
      lightning is initiated inside storms, given the absence of physical conductors.
      The issue has revolved around the question of whether the discharges are
      initiated solely by conventional dielectric breakdown or involve relativistic
      runaway electron processes. Here we report observations of a relatively unknown
      type of discharge, called fast positive breakdown, that is the cause of high
      power discharges known as narrow bipolar events. The breakdown is found to have a
      wide range of strengths and is the initiating event of numerous lightning
      discharges. It appears to be purely dielectric in nature and to consist of a
      system of positive streamers in a locally intense electric field region. It
      initiates negative breakdown at the starting location of the streamers, which
      leads to the ensuing flash. The observations show that many or possibly all
      lightning flashes are initiated by fast positive breakdown. 

PMID- 26876655
TI  - Screening for and Diagnosis of Depression Among Adolescents in a Large Health
      Maintenance Organization.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to determine changes in patterns of
      depression screening and diagnosis over three years in primary and specialty
      mental health care in a large health maintenance organization (HMO) as part of a
      project to develop quality measures for adolescent depression treatment. METHODS:
      Two series of aggregate data (2010-2012) were gathered from the electronic health
      records of the HMO for 44,342 unique adolescents (ages 12 to 21) who had visits
      in primary and mental health care. Chi square tests assessed the significance of
      changes in frequency and departmental location of Patient Health Questionnaire-9
      (PHQ-9) administration, incidence of depression symptoms, and depression
      diagnoses. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in PHQ-9 use, predominantly
      in primary care, consistent with internally generated organizational
      recommendations to increase screening with the PHQ-9. The increase in PHQ-9 use
      led to an increase in depression diagnoses in primary care and a shift in the
      location of some diagnoses from specialty mental health care to primary care. The
      increase in PHQ-9 use was also linked to a decrease in the proportion of positive
      PHQ-9 results that led to formal depression diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of
      depression screening in primary care increased over the study period. This
      increase corresponded to an increase in the number of depression diagnoses made
      in primary care and a shift in the location in which depression diagnoses were
      made, from the mental health department to primary care. The frequency of
      positive PHQ-9 administrations not associated with depression diagnoses also
      increased.

PMID- 26876656
TI  - Predictors of Pharmacy-Based Measurement and Self-Report of Antidepressant
      Adherence: Are Individuals Overestimating Adherence?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study considered various factors as predictors of antidepressant
      adherence over time as assessed by self-report and medication possession ratios
      (MPRs) derived from administrative pharmacy data. METHODS: Adherence was assessed
      at six and 12 months among 443 veterans in ongoing treatment for depression in a
      trial of peer support. Logistic regression models were utilized to consider
      predictors of adequate adherence. RESULTS: At six and 12 months, respectively,
      36% and 35% of patients had poor adherence on the basis of MPRs and 24% and 18%
      had poor adherence on the basis of self-report. MPRs indicating poor adherence
      were more likely among men, members of racial groups other than white, and
      patients with Hispanic ethnicity. Poor self-reported adherence was associated
      with increased depressive symptoms and unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: These adherence
      measures may be complementary. Strategies to improve adherence might target
      specific demographic groups, unemployed persons, and persons with higher levels
      of depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26876657
TI  - Effects of Housing First on Employment and Income of Homeless Individuals:
      Results of a Randomized Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Housing First is emerging as an evidence-based practice for housing
      and supporting people who are homeless and have a mental illness. The objective
      of this study was to determine whether Housing First increases the odds of
      obtaining competitive employment in this population and affects income, including
      income from informal and illegal sources. METHODS: A total of 2,148 people with a
      mental illness were recruited from five Canadian cities while they were homeless,
      classified as having moderate or high needs, and randomly assigned to Housing
      First or usual care. Housing First participants with high needs received
      assertive community treatment (ACT), and those with moderate needs received
      intensive case management (ICM). Every three months, participants were
      interviewed about employment and earnings in the previous months (median follow
      up=745 days). Regression models were estimated via generalized estimating
      equations. RESULTS: ICM recipients had lower odds of obtaining employment
      compared with the control group with moderate needs. The odds of obtaining
      employment among ICM recipients increased but their employment rate never
      exceeded that of the control group. For ACT recipients, the odds of obtaining
      employment were not significantly different from those of the control group.
      Among Housing First participants, persons employed at baseline, men, and younger
      participants had greater odds of employment compared with control participants.
      Housing First did not appear to significantly increase income. CONCLUSIONS: This
      was the first large-scale randomized controlled study of Housing First's effects
      on employment. Further research is needed to determine how Housing First may be
      enhanced to increase odds of obtaining employment.

PMID- 26876659
TI  - Use of Modified Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in a Psychiatric
      Inpatient Unit for High-Risk Youths.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Despite a call for the reduction and ultimate elimination of the use
      of seclusion and restraint, research on reduction of these practices in
      behavioral programs has been limited. This study sought to examine the
      effectiveness of a modified version of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and
      Supports (M-PBIS) implemented in a youth psychiatric inpatient unit to reduce use
      of seclusion and restraint. METHODS: This naturalistic, prospective study covered
      a four-year period (1,485 admissions). RESULTS: The number of seclusion and
      restraint events, mean duration of events, and percentage of patients placed in
      seclusion or restraint were reduced, as was the overall seclusion rate for the
      unit. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in the use of pro re nata
      (PRN) medications for agitation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that M-PBIS
      is a promising intervention to use in youth psychiatric inpatient units to reduce
      seclusion and restraint and PRNs.

PMID- 26876658
TI  - Therapist- and Client-Level Predictors of Use of Therapy Techniques During
      Implementation in a Large Public Mental Health System.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many youths receiving community mental health treatment do not receive
      evidence-based interventions. Research suggests that community mental health
      therapists use a broad range of therapeutic techniques at low intensities. This
      study examined the relationship between therapist- and client-level predictors of
      community-based therapists' report of cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and
      family techniques within the context of implementation efforts. METHODS: A total
      of 130 therapists participated from 23 organizations in an urban, publicly funded
      behavioral health system implementing evidence-based practices. Therapist-level
      predictors included age, gender, clinical experience, licensure status, and
      participation in evidence-based practice initiatives. Child-level predictors
      included therapist-reported child primary disorder (externalizing, internalizing,
      or other) and child age. Therapists completed the Therapist Procedures Checklist
      Family Revised, a self-report measure of therapeutic techniques used. RESULTS:
      Unlicensed therapists were more likely than licensed therapists to report using
      psychodynamic and behavioral techniques. Therapists who did not participate in an
      evidence-based practice initiative were less likely to report use of cognitive
      techniques. Those with clients with externalizing disorders were more likely to
      report use of behavioral and family techniques. Therapists with the youngest
      clients (ages three to seven years) were most likely to report use of behavioral
      techniques and less likely to report use of cognitive and psychodynamic
      techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that both therapist and client factors
      predict self-reported use of therapy techniques. Participating in an evidence
      based practice initiative was associated with increased reports of using
      cognitive techniques. Therapists reported using behavioral and family techniques
      more than other techniques when working with youths with externalizing disorders
      and using fewer cognitive and psychodynamic techniques with young clients.

PMID- 26876660
TI  - Effects of Clinical Decision Topic on Patients' Involvement in and Satisfaction
      With Decisions and Their Subsequent Implementation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Clinical decision making is an important aspect of mental health care.
      Predictors of how patients experience decision making and whether decisions are
      implemented are underresearched. This study investigated the relationship between
      decision topic and involvement in the decision, satisfaction with it, and its
      subsequent implementation from both staff and patient perspectives. METHODS: As
      part of the Clinical Decision Making and Outcome in Routine Care for People With
      Severe Mental Illness study, patients (N=588) and their providers (N=213) were
      recruited from community-based mental health services in six European countries.
      Both completed bimonthly assessments for one year using the Clinical Decision
      Making in Routine Care Scale to assess the decision topic and implementation;
      both also completed the Clinical Decision Making Involvement and Satisfaction
      Scale. RESULTS: Three categories of decision topics were determined: treatment
      (most frequently cited), social, and financial. The topic identified as most
      important remained stable over the follow-up. Patients were more likely to rate
      their involvement as active rather than passive for social decisions (odds ratio
      [OR]=5.7, p<.001) and financial decisions (OR=9.5, p<.001). They were more likely
      to report higher levels of satisfaction rather than lower levels for social
      decisions (OR=1.5, p=.01) and financial decisions (OR=1.7, p=.01). Social
      decisions were more likely to be partly implemented (OR=3.0, p<.001) or fully
      implemented (OR=1.7, p=.03) than not implemented. CONCLUSIONS: Patients reported
      poorer involvement, satisfaction, and implementation in regard to treatment
      related decisions, compared with social and financial decisions. Clinicians may
      need to employ different interactional styles for different types of decisions to
      maximize satisfaction and decision implementation.

PMID- 26876661
TI  - Trajectories of Recovery Among Formerly Homeless Adults With Serious Mental
      Illness.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recovery from mental illness is possible, but individuals with co
      occurring disorders and homelessness face challenges. Although a nonlinear
      recovery course is assumed, few studies have analyzed recovery over time. This
      mixed-methods study examined recovery trajectories over 18 months after
      enrollment in supportive housing programs of 38 participants with DSM axis I
      diagnoses. METHODS: Qualitative interview data were quantified through consensual
      ratings to generate a recovery score for four waves of data collection based on
      eight recovery domains culled from the literature. Case study analyses were
      conducted of participants whose scores varied by one standard deviation or more
      between baseline and 18 months to identify which domains were important. RESULTS:
      Most of the 38 participants (N=23) had no significant change in recovery; seven
      had a negative trajectory, and eight had a positive trajectory. Case studies of
      these 15 participants indicated domains that contributed to change: significant
      other relationships (N=9), engagement in meaningful activities (N=9), mental
      health (N=7), family relationships (N=6), general medical health (N=5), housing
      satisfaction (N=5), employment (N=2), and substance use (N=1). Except for mental
      health and substance use (which contributed only to negative trajectories), the
      influence of domains was both positive and negative. Domains were intertwined;
      for example, variation in relationships was linked to changes in meaningful
      activities. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed little change in recovery over time
      for most participants and a decline in mental health for a small minority.
      Findings underscore the importance of social relationships and meaningful
      activities among individuals with serious mental illness, who experience complex
      challenges.

PMID- 26876662
TI  - Attitudes Toward Mental Health Help Seeking as Predictors of Future Help-Seeking
      Behavior and Use of Mental Health Treatments.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association of attitudes toward mental health
      help seeking and beliefs about the effectiveness of treatments with future help
      seeking behavior and use of specific services in the general population. METHODS:
      Data on attitudes and beliefs at baseline were taken from the U.S. National
      Comorbidity Survey (NCS), a general population survey conducted in 1990-1992.
      Help seeking from various providers and use of psychiatric medications and
      counseling or therapy were examined in the NCS follow-up, in which 5,001 of the
      original NCS participants were reinterviewed in 2001-2003. RESULTS: Willingness
      to seek professional help for a serious emotional problem and feeling comfortable
      talking about personal problems with professionals were significantly associated
      with future help seeking and treatment use. One-third (33.4%) of participants who
      stated at baseline that they would "definitely go" to a professional if they had
      a serious emotional problem sought future help, compared with 20.7% of those who
      would "definitely not go." Corresponding values were 33.4% and 24.4% for those
      who reported feeling "very comfortable" and "not at all comfortable,"
      respectively, talking about personal problems with a professional. The
      associations were consistent among participants with and without a history of
      help seeking and with and without mood, anxiety, or substance use disorders
      during the follow-up. Embarrassment if friends found out and beliefs about
      treatment effectiveness were not associated with future help seeking or service
      use. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of attitudinal factors most closely linked to
      future mental health help seeking has potential implications for public mental
      health campaigns.

PMID- 26876664
TI  - Use of ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code V62.89 (Other Psychological or Physical Stress,
      Not Elsewhere Classified) Following a Suicide Attempt.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study examined the demographic, diagnostic, and service
      characteristics of veterans who received services for "other psychological or
      physical stress, not elsewhere classified" (ICD-9-CM V62.89) in the month
      following a suicide attempt. METHODS: An electronic search of a Veterans Health
      Administration (VHA) suicide event reporting system identified 22,701 veterans
      who were survivors of a suicide attempt. Their clinical service encounter records
      were extracted from a VHA administrative database to identify those who received
      services related to V62.89. RESULTS: Services related to V62.89 were provided to
      N=2,173 (9.6%) of the sample. Chaplains were the predominant service provider,
      identified in N=1,745 (80%) of the service encounters. Differences were noted
      between those who received services related to V62.89 from a chaplain or from
      another service provider. CONCLUSIONS: V62.89 appears to be a focus of clinical
      concern for some veteran suicide attempt survivors. Additional research is needed
      to better understand any implications for suicide "postvention."

PMID- 26876663
TI  - Behavioral Health Services in the Changing Landscape of Private Health Plans.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Health plans play a key role in facilitating improvements in
      population health and may engage in activities that have an impact on access,
      cost, and quality of behavioral health care. Although behavioral health care is
      becoming more integrated with general medical care, its delivery system has
      unique aspects. The study examined how health plans deliver and manage behavioral
      health care in the context of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the 2008 Mental
      Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This is a critical time to
      examine how health plans manage behavioral health care. METHODS: A nationally
      representative survey of private health plans (weighted N=8,431 products; 89%
      response rate) was conducted in 2010 during the first year of MHPAEA, when plans
      were subject to the law but before final regulations, and just before the ACA
      went into effect. The survey addressed behavioral health coverage, cost-sharing,
      contracting arrangements, medical home innovations, support for technology, and
      financial incentives to improve behavioral health care. RESULTS: Coverage for
      inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services was stable between 2003 and
      2010. In 2010, health plans were more likely than in 2003 to manage behavioral
      health care through internal arrangements and to contract for other services.
      Medical home initiatives were common and almost always included behavioral
      health, but financial incentives did not. Some plans facilitated providers' use
      of technology to improve care delivery, but this was not the norm. CONCLUSIONS:
      Health plans are key to mainstreaming and supporting delivery of high-quality
      behavioral health services. Since 2003, plans have made changes to support
      delivery of behavioral health services in the context of a rapidly changing
      environment.

PMID- 26876665
TI  - Generalizability of the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program: Evidence From an
      Efficacy Study.
AB  - Previous studies conducted in Maryland of the Family-to-Family (FTF) education
      program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that FTF reduced
      subjective burden and distress and improved empowerment, mental health knowledge,
      self-care, and family functioning, establishing it as an evidence-based practice.
      In the study reported here, the FTF program of NAMI-NYC Metro was evaluated.
      Participants (N=83) completed assessments at baseline and at completion of FTF.
      Participants had improved family empowerment, family functioning, engagement in
      self-care activities, self-perception of mental health knowledge, and emotional
      acceptance as a form of coping. Scores for emotional support and positive
      reframing also improved significantly. Displeasure in caring for the family
      member, a measure of subjective burden, significantly declined. Despite the lack
      of a control group and the limited sample size, this study further supports the
      efficacy of FTF with a diverse urban population.

PMID- 26876666
TI  - From the mountains to the coast and back again: Ancient biogeography in a
      radiation of short-range endemic harvestmen from California.
AB  - The harvestmen genus Calicina is represented by 25 short-range endemic species
      occurring in the western Sierra Nevada, Transverse and Coast Ranges of
      California. Our principal aim was to reconstruct the temporal and spatial
      biogeographic history of this arachnid lineage. We inferred a time-calibrated
      species tree for 21 of 25 described Calicina species using multiple genes and
      multilocus coalescent-based methods. This species tree was used as a framework
      for algorithmic biogeographic and divergence time analyses, and a phylogenetic
      canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to examine the relationship between
      morphological evolution and environmental variables. Species tree and
      biogeographic analyses indicate that high-elevation Sierran taxa are early
      diverging in Calicina, with subsequent biogeographic "criss-crossing" of lineages
      from the Sierra Nevada to the Coast Ranges, back to the Sierra Nevada, then back
      to Coast Ranges. In both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges, distantly-related
      parapatric lineages essentially never occur in sympatry. CCA reveals that in both
      the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, distant phylogenetic relatives evolve
      convergent morphologies. Our evidence shows that Calicina is clearly dispersal
      limited, with an ancient biogeographic history that provides unique insight into
      the complex geologic evolution of California since the mid-Paleogene. 

PMID- 26876667
TI  - Oncometabolic Nuclear Reprogramming of Cancer Stemness.
AB  - By impairing histone demethylation and locking cells into a reprogramming-prone
      state, oncometabolites can partially mimic the process of induced pluripotent
      stem cell generation. Using a systems biology approach, combining mathematical
      modeling, computation, and proof-of-concept studies with live cells, we found
      that an oncometabolite-driven pathological version of nuclear reprogramming
      increases the speed and efficiency of dedifferentiating committed epithelial
      cells into stem-like states with only a minimal core of stemness transcription
      factors. Our biomathematical model, which introduces nucleosome modification and
      epigenetic regulation of cell differentiation genes to account for the direct
      effects of oncometabolites on nuclear reprogramming, demonstrates that
      oncometabolites markedly lower the "energy barriers" separating non-stem and stem
      cell attractors, diminishes the average time of nuclear reprogramming, and
      increases the size of the basin of attraction of the macrostate occupied by stem
      cells. These findings establish the concept of oncometabolic nuclear
      reprogramming of stemness as a bona fide metabolo-epigenetic mechanism for
      generation of cancer stem-like cells. 

PMID- 26876668
TI  - Early Developmental Perturbations in a Human Stem Cell Model of MODY5/HNF1B
      Pancreatic Hypoplasia.
AB  - Patients with an HNF1B(S148L/+) mutation (MODY5) typically exhibit pancreatic
      hypoplasia. However, the molecular mechanisms are unknown due to inaccessibility
      of patient material and because mouse models do not fully recapitulate MODY5.
      Here, we differentiated MODY5 human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into
      pancreatic progenitors, and show that the HNF1B(S148L/+) mutation causes a
      compensatory increase in several pancreatic transcription factors, and
      surprisingly, a decrease in PAX6 pancreatic gene expression. The lack of
      suppression of PDX1, PTF1A, GATA4, and GATA6 indicates that MODY5-mediated
      pancreatic hypoplasia is mechanistically independent. Overexpression studies
      demonstrate that a compensatory increase in PDX1 gene expression is due to mutant
      HNF1B(S148L/+) but not wild-type HNF1B or HNF1A. Furthermore, HNF1B does not
      appear to directly regulate PAX6 gene expression necessary for glucose tolerance.
      Our results demonstrate compensatory mechanisms in the pancreatic transcription
      factor network due to mutant HNF1B(S148L/+) protein. Thus, patients typically
      develop MODY5 but not neonatal diabetes despite exhibiting pancreatic hypoplasia.

PMID- 26876670
TI  - Optimal architectures for long distance quantum communication.
AB  - Despite the tremendous progress of quantum cryptography, efficient quantum
      communication over long distances (>= 1000 km) remains an outstanding challenge
      due to fiber attenuation and operation errors accumulated over the entire
      communication distance. Quantum repeaters (QRs), as a promising approach, can
      overcome both photon loss and operation errors, and hence significantly speedup
      the communication rate. Depending on the methods used to correct loss and
      operation errors, all the proposed QR schemes can be classified into three
      categories (generations). Here we present the first systematic comparison of
      three generations of quantum repeaters by evaluating the cost of both temporal
      and physical resources, and identify the optimized quantum repeater architecture
      for a given set of experimental parameters for use in quantum key distribution.
      Our work provides a roadmap for the experimental realizations of highly efficient
      quantum networks over transcontinental distances.

PMID- 26876669
TI  - MicroRNAs for Fine-Tuning of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Fate Decision through
      Regulation of TGF-beta Signaling.
AB  - Over the past years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial factors that
      regulate self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs).
      Although much is known about their role in maintaining ESC pluripotency, the
      mechanisms by which they affect cell fate decisions remain poorly understood. By
      performing deep sequencing to profile miRNA expression in mouse ESCs (mESCs) and
      differentiated embryoid bodies (EBs), we identified four differentially expressed
      miRNAs. Among them, miR-191 and miR-16-1 are highly expressed in ESCs and repress
      Smad2, the most essential mediator of Activin-Nodal signaling, resulting in the
      inhibition of mesendoderm formation. miR-23a, which is also down-regulated in the
      differentiated state, suppresses differentiation toward the endoderm and ectoderm
      lineages. We further identified miR-421 as a differentiation-associated regulator
      through the direct repression of the core pluripotency transcription factor Oct4
      and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-signaling components, Smad5 and Id2.
      Collectively, our findings uncover a regulatory network between the studied
      miRNAs and both branches of TGF-beta/BMP-signaling pathways, revealing their
      importance for ESC lineage decisions. 

PMID- 26876671
TI  - Spatially resolved optical absorption spectroscopy of single- and few-layer MoS2
      by hyperspectral imaging.
AB  - The possibility of spatially resolving the optical properties of atomically thin
      materials is especially appealing as they can be modulated at the micro- and
      nanoscale by reducing their thickness, changing the doping level or applying a
      mechanical deformation. Therefore, optical spectroscopy techniques with high
      spatial resolution are necessary to get a deeper insight into the properties of
      two-dimensional (2D) materials. Here we study the optical absorption of single-
      and few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) in the spectral range from 1.24 eV to
      3.22 eV (385 nm to 1000 nm) by developing a hyperspectral imaging technique that
      allows one to probe the optical properties with diffraction limited spatial
      resolution. We find hyperspectral imaging very suited to study indirect bandgap
      semiconductors, unlike photoluminescence which only provides high luminescence
      yield for direct gap semiconductors. Moreover, this work opens the door to study
      the spatial variation of the optical properties of other 2D systems, including
      non-semiconducting materials where scanning photoluminescence cannot be employed.

PMID- 26876673
TI  - Double emulsions for the compatibilization of hydrophilic nanocellulose with non
      polar polymers and validation in the synthesis of composite fibers.
AB  - A route for the compatibilization of aqueous dispersions of cellulose nanofibrils
      (CNFs) with a non-polar polymer matrix is proposed to overcome a major challenge
      in CNF-based material synthesis. Non-ionic surfactants were used in CNF aqueous
      dispersions equilibrated with an organic phase (for demonstration, a polystyrene
      solution, PS, was used). Stable water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions
      were produced as a result of the compromise between composition and formulation
      variables. Most remarkably, the proposed route for CNF integration with
      hydrophobic polymers removed the need for drying or solvent-exchange of the CNF
      aqueous dispersion prior to processing. The rheological behavior of the double
      emulsions showed strong shear thinning behavior and facilitated CNF-PS co-mixing
      in solid nanofibers upon electrospinning. The morphology and thermal properties
      of the resultant nanofibers revealed that CNFs were efficiently integrated in the
      hydrophobic matrix which was consistent with the high interfacial area of the
      precursor double emulsion. In addition, the morphology and quality of the
      composite nanofibers can be controlled by the conductivity (ionic strength) of
      the CNF dispersion. Overall, double emulsion systems are proposed as a novel,
      efficient and scalable platform for CNF co-processing with non-polar systems and
      they open up the possibility for the redispersion of CNFs after removal of the
      organic phase. 

PMID- 26876672
TI  - Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 protects podocytes from apoptosis.
AB  - Loss of podocytes is an early feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and predicts
      its progression. We found that treatment of podocytes with sera from
      normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetes patients with high lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      activity, known to predict progression of DN, downregulated CDK2 (cyclin
      dependent kinase 2). LPS-treatment of mice also reduced CDK2 expression. LPS
      induced downregulation of CDK2 was prevented in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting
      the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway using immunomodulatory agent GIT27. We also
      observed that CDK2 is downregulated in the glomeruli of obese Zucker rats before
      the onset of proteinuria. Knockdown of CDK2, or inhibiting its activity with
      roscovitine in podocytes increased apoptosis. CDK2 knockdown also reduced
      expression of PDK1, an activator of the cell survival kinase Akt, and reduced Akt
      phosphorylation. This suggests that CDK2 regulates the activity of the cell
      survival pathway via PDK1. Furthermore, PDK1 knockdown reduced the expression of
      CDK2 suggesting a regulatory loop between CDK2 and PDK1. Collectively, our data
      show that CDK2 protects podocytes from apoptosis and that reduced expression of
      CDK2 associates with the development of DN. Preventing downregulation of CDK2 by
      blocking the TLR pathway with GIT27 may provide a means to prevent podocyte
      apoptosis and progression of DN. 

PMID- 26876674
TI  - Production of Diacylglycerol-enriched Oil by Glycerolysis of Soybean Oil using a
      Bubble Column Reactor in a Solvent-free System.
AB  - In this study, diacylglycerol-enriched soybean oil (DESO) was synthesized through
      Lipozyme 435-catalyzed glycerolysis of soybean oil (SO) in a solvent-free system
      using a modified bubble column reactor. The effects of enzyme load, mole ratio of
      glycerol to soybean oil, reaction temperature, gas flow and reaction time on DAG
      production were investigated. The selected conditions were established as being
      enzyme load of 4 wt% (mass of substrates), glycerol/soybean oil mole ratio of
      20:1, reaction temperature of 80 degrees C, gas flow of 10.6 cm/min, and a
      reaction time of 2.5 h, obtaining the DAG content of 49.4+/-0.5 wt%. The
      reusability of Lipozyme 435 was evaluated by monitoring the contents of DAG,
      monoacylglycerol (MAG) and triacylglycerol (TAG) in 10 consecutive runs. After
      purified by one-step molecular distillation, the DAG content of 63.5+/-0.3 wt%
      was achieved in DESO. The mole ratio of 1, 3-DAG to 1, 2-DAG was 2:1 and the
      fatty acid composition had no significant difference from that of soybean oil.
      However, the thermal properties of DESO and SO had considerable differences.
      Polymorphic form of DESO were mainly the beta form and minor amounts of the beta'
      form. Granular aggregation and round-shaped crystals were detected in DESO. 

PMID- 26876675
TI  - Dietary Effects of Oxidized Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Intact EPA on Hepatic
      Steatosis Induced by a High-sucrose Diet and Liver-X-receptor alpha Agonist in
      Mice.
AB  - Numerous studies have shown that dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
      (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), improve lipid metabolism. The
      beneficial effects of PUFA-derived oxidation products have been increasingly
      reported. However, EPA is easily oxidized in food products and in the human body,
      generating various derivatives of oxidized EPA (oxEPA), such that these oxidation
      products may partially contribute to EPA's effect. We previously reported that
      oxEPA was more potent than intact EPA in reducing liver-X-receptor alpha
      (LXRalpha)-induced cellular triacylglycerol (TG) accumulation. However, the in
      vivo hypolipidemic effects of oxEPA remain unclear. In the present study, we
      evaluated the effect of oral administration of EPA and oxEPA on hepatic steatosis
      in mice induced by a high-sucrose diet and a synthetic LXRalpha agonist, TO
      901317. Both EPA and oxEPA reduced TG accumulation in the liver and plasma
      biomarkers of liver injury. Furthermore, they suppressed the expression of
      lipogenic genes, but not beta-oxidation genes, in a similar pattern as the
      biomarkers. Our results suggest that oxEPA and intact EPA suppress de novo
      lipogenesis to ameliorate hepatic steatosis. 

PMID- 26876676
TI  - Unexpected Irregular Monoterpene "Yomogi Alcohol" in the Volatiles of the
      Lathyrus L. species (Leguminosae) of Cyprus.
AB  - Lathyrus species including L. ochrus and L. sativus are known for their food,
      feed and horticultural uses. Despite their widespread uses and cultivation, there
      is limited information on their chemistry. Previously, only the essential oil
      composition of L. rotundifolius, L. vernus and volatiles of L. odoratus have been
      reported. In the present research, volatiles of seven Lathyrus L. species,
      namely, L. aphaca, L. ochrus, L. cicera, L. sativus, L. gorgonei, L. saxatilis
      and L. blepharicarpos var. cyprius were analyzed by SPME GC-MS for the first
      time. Plant materials were collected from five different locations in Cyprus
      (February-March 2012). The main components of L. aphaca volatiles from four
      locations were yomogi alcohol 26.1-16.5%, camphor 21.6-10.1%, tetradecane 14.3
      0%; L. cicera from five locations were yomogi alcohol 20.3-3.0%, camphor 18.7
      2.0%; L. gorgonei from two locations were yomogi alcohol 24.5-13.1%, camphor 17.1
      9.0% and L. sativus was yomogi alcohol 11.4%, camphor 9.0%. Yomogi alcohol was
      not present as the major compound in L. ochrus (2-methyl butanoic acid 7.2%), L.
      saxatilis (hexanal 7.7%) and L. blepharicarpos var. cyprius ((Z)-3-hexenal 8.6%)
      volatiles. The volatiles of the Lathyrus species were also compared with each
      other quantitative and qualitatively using AHC analysis to find out differences
      among the species. The irregular monoterpene yomogi alcohol is reported from the
      Lathyrus and the Leguminosae family for the first time. The existence of yomogi
      alcohol in Lathyrus volatiles points out that the irregular monoterpenes are not
      restricted solely to Asteraceae family. 

PMID- 26876677
TI  - Synthesis and Characterization of Dioctanoyl Glycerate as Water-soluble Trypsin
      Inhibitor.
AB  - Glyceric acids (GAs) esterified with long acyl chains (> C16) exhibit antitrypsin
      activity (Folia Microbiol. 46, 21-23 (2001)). However, their hydrophobic nature,
      derived from the long acyl chains, has limited the number of studies on their
      physical and biological properties. To improve the water solubility of diacyl
      GAs, GA was esterified with octanoyl groups (C8), and its physical properties
      were investigated. Synthesized dioctanoyl GA was not water-soluble, whereas its
      sodium salt was. Surface tension measurements of dioctanoyl GA sodium salt
      (diC8GA-Na) in water revealed that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) was
      0.82 mM, and surface tension at the CMC was 25.5 mN/m. Additionally, diC8GA-Na
      inhibited casein digestion by trypsin to a greater extent than dioleoyl GA. These
      data suggest that water-soluble diacyl GAs may have utility as surfactants and
      bioactive compounds. 

PMID- 26876678
TI  - Enhancement of Biodegradable Plastic-degrading Enzyme Production from Paraphoma
      like Fungus, Strain B47-9.
AB  - To improve the productivity of Paraphoma-like fungal strain B47-9 for
      biodegradable plastic (BP)-degrading enzyme (PCLE), the optimal concentration of
      emulsified poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) in the medium was
      determined. Emulsified PBSA was consumed as a sole carbon source and an inducer
      of PCLE production by strain B47-9. Among the various concentrations of
      emulsified PBSA [0.09-0.9% (w/v)] used in flask cultivation, 0.27% yielded the
      maximum enzyme activity within a short cultivation period. To evaluate the
      residual concentration of emulsified PBSA in culture, emulsified PBSA in aliquots
      of culture supernatant was digested in vitro, and the concentration of released
      monomerised succinic acid was determined. Regardless of the initial concentration
      of emulsified PBSA in medium, PCLE activity was detected after residual succinic
      acid decreased below 0.04 mg/mL in culture broth. Jarfermentation was performed
      at a 0.27% PBSA concentration. Among the various airflow rates tested, 1 LPM
      resulted in a PCLE production rate of 1.0 U/mL/day. The enzyme activity in the
      resulting culture filtrate (4.2 U/2 mL) was shown to degrade commercial BP films
      (1 * 1 cm, 20 um thickness) within 8 hours. 

PMID- 26876679
TI  - Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Composition in Premenopausal Patients with Iron
      Deficiency Anemia.
AB  - Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common nutritional disorders in
      the world. In the present study, we evaluated erythrocyte membrane fatty acid
      composition in premenopausal patients with IDA. Blood samples of 102
      premenopausal women and 88 healthy control subjects were collected. After the
      erythrocytes were separated from the blood samples, the membrane lipids were
      carefully extracted, and the various membrane fatty acids were measured by gas
      chromatography (GC). Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS software
      program. We used blood ferritin concentration <15 ng/mL as cut-off for the
      diagnosis of IDA. The five most abundant individual fatty acids obtained were
      palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1, n-9c), linoleic acid (18:2, n-6c),
      stearic acid (18:0), and erucic acid (C22:1, n-9c). These compounds constituted
      about 87% of the total membrane fatty acids in patients with IDA, and 79% of the
      total membrane fatty acids in the control group. Compared with control subjects,
      case patients had higher percentages of palmitic acid (29.9% case versus 25.3%
      control), oleic acid (16.8% case versus 15.1% control), and stearic acid (13.5%
      case versus 10.5% control), and lower percentages of erucic acid (11.5% case
      versus 13.6% control) and linoleic acid (15.2% case versus 15.4% control) in
      their erythrocyte membranes. In conclusion, the total-erythrocyte-membrane
      saturated fatty acid (SFA) composition in premenopausal women with IDA was found
      to be higher than that in the control group; however, the total-erythrocyte
      membrane unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) composition in premenopausal women with IDA
      was found to be lower than that in the control group. The differences in these
      values were statistically significant. 

PMID- 26876680
TI  - Preparation and Properties of Nonionic Vesicles Prepared with Polyglycerol Fatty
      Acid Esters Using the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Reverse Phase Evaporation
      Method.
AB  - Previously, we reported a new preparation method for liposomes and niosomes
      (nonionic vesicles) using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as the solvent
      (scRPE method). In this study, niosomes were prepared from polyglycerol fatty
      acid ester (PG ester)-type nonionic surfactants. These surfactants are made from
      naturally derived materials and are neither harmful to the human body nor to the
      environment. Niosomes were prepared using the scRPE method with ethanol as the co
      solvent. Through this method, decaglycerol distearate (DG2S) and decaglycerol
      diisostearate (DG2IS) formed niosomes. On the other hand, decaglycerol
      monostearate (DG1S), which has a high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value,
      yielded a solution of spherical micelles, and decaglycerol tristearate (DG3S),
      which has a low HLB value, yielded a gel-like solution. Niosomes of DG2IS had
      higher trapping efficiencies and dispersion stabilities than those of DG2S
      because the membrane fluidity of the DG2IS niosomes was greater than that of the
      DG2S niosomes. The niosomes obtained in the present study are candidates for
      cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications because they are formed from nonionic
      surfactants derived from natural sources, and prepared using the scRPE method,
      which avoids the use of harmful organic solvents. 

PMID- 26876681
TI  - Immunomodulatory Effectiveness of Fish Oil and omega-3 Fatty Acids in Human Non
      melanoma Skin Carcinoma Cells.
AB  - Fish oil is composed of various fatty acids among which omega-3 fatty acids are
      considered as most beneficial. The effects of fish oil on the activity of a
      topical anticancer drug, imiquimod, and the immunomodulatory activity of omega-3
      fatty acids was investigated in human basal and squamous cell carcinoma cell
      lines. Imiquimod-fish oil mixture exhibited higher carcinoma cell growth
      inhibition and immunomodulatory activity than imiquimod alone, especially against
      squamous cell carcinoma cells. Omega-3 fatty acids exhibited growth inhibition of
      both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and modulated the immune
      response. Omega-3 fatty acids of fish oil serve as inducers of interleukin-10, an
      anti-inflammatory cytokine, and as suppressors of interleukin-6 and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha, which not only depress tumor growth but also adequately
      control the inflammatory side effects of imiquimod. Thus, imiquimod
      administration with fish oil could be beneficial for inhibition of non-melanoma
      skin carcinoma cells but further in vivo studies are needed to understand their
      role in skin cancer. 

PMID- 26876682
TI  - ALA-PDT elicits oxidative damage and apoptosis in UVB-induced premature
      senescence of human skin fibroblasts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has been used
      for the treatment of skin photoaging. It can significantly improve the appearance
      of fine lines, dotted pigmentation, and roughness of photoaged skin. However, the
      mechanisms by which ALA-PDT yields rejuvenating effects on photoaged skin have
      not been well elucidated. Thus, in this study we explored the effects of ALA-PDT
      in photoaged fibroblasts. METHODS: We established a stress-induced premature
      senescence (SIPS) model by repeated exposures of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs)
      to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. Cells were irradiated by red light laser at
      635nm wavelength (50mW/cm(2)). Intracellular protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was
      detected by confocal microscopy. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      level and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) change were detected by
      fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Morphological changes were observed
      by optical microscopy. Proliferative activity was measured by a cell counting kit
      8 (CCK-8). Cell apoptosis was detected by fluorescence microscopy using Hoechst
      staining and flow cytometry using annexin V/propidium Iodide double staining.
      RESULTS: Intracellular PpIX fluorescence in UVB-induced premature senescent HDFs
      (UVB-SIPS-HDFs) reached the highest intensity after incubation with 1.00mmol/L
      ALA for 6h (P<0.05). Compared with control group, intracellular ROS level, MMP,
      and apoptotic rate were increased (P<0.05) and proliferative activity was
      decreased (P<0.05) in UVB-SIPS-HDFs treated with ALA-PDT, which were positively
      correlated to ALA incubation time and red light laser dose. CONCLUSION: Our study
      demonstrated that ALA-PDT elicits oxidative damage and apoptosis in photoaged
      fibroblasts in vitro, which may be the basis for the rejuvenating effects on
      photoaged skin.

PMID- 26876683
TI  - The prevalence and characteristics of hallucinations, delusions and minor
      phenomena in a non-demented population sample aged 60 years and over.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Psychotic phenomena can occur in non-clinical subjects. The goals of
      this study were to assess the prevalence of delusions, hallucinations and minor
      'psychotic' phenomena (visual illusions, feeling of presence and passage
      hallucinations) and to describe the characteristics of the latter in a non
      clinical older population. METHODS: Three hundred and thirteen individuals aged
      60 years and older, without cognitive deficits (according to mini-mental state
      examination scores) or patent psychotic disease, answered a structured
      questionnaire focusing on delusions, hallucinations and minor phenomena that they
      had experienced in the previous month. The study sample was stratified by age and
      gender according to French demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Twenty per cent
      of participants reported one or more psychotic phenomena. These subjects did not
      differ from those without psychotic symptoms as regards their age, mini-mental
      state examination scores or education. Minor phenomena were the most common
      (13%). Hallucinations, in any sensory modality, occurred in 9% of participants.
      No verbal auditory hallucinations or delusions were reported. The prevalence of
      minor phenomena increased with age and was associated with the use of
      psychoactive drugs. CONCLUSION: By extending the spectrum of psychotic symptoms
      to minor phenomena, we found that psychotic symptoms were common in a non
      clinical older population. Whether the increasing prevalence of minor phenomena
      with age is due to prodromal neurodegenerative disease or to other factors
      remains to be investigated. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26876684
TI  - Arsenic Metabolites, Including N-Acetyl-4-hydroxy-m-arsanilic Acid, in Chicken
      Litter from a Roxarsone-Feeding Study Involving 1600 Chickens.
AB  - The poultry industry has used organoarsenicals, such as 3-nitro-4
      hydroxyphenylarsonic acid (Roxarsone, ROX), to prevent disease and to promote
      growth. Although previous studies have analyzed arsenic species in chicken litter
      after composting or after application to agricultural lands, it is not clear what
      arsenic species were excreted by chickens before biotransformation of arsenic
      species during composting. We describe here the identification and quantitation
      of arsenic species in chicken litter repeatedly collected on days 14, 24, 28, 30,
      and 35 of a Roxarsone-feeding study involving 1600 chickens of two strains. High
      performance liquid chromatography separation with simultaneous detection by both
      inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization tandem
      mass spectrometry provided complementary information necessary for the
      identification and quantitation of arsenic species. A new metabolite, N-acetyl-4
      hydroxy-m-arsanilic acid (N-AHAA), was identified, and it accounted for 3-12% of
      total arsenic. Speciation analyses of litter samples collected from ROX-fed
      chickens on days 14, 24, 28, 30, and 35 showed the presence of N-AHAA, 3-amino-4
      hydroxyphenylarsonic acid (3-AHPAA), inorganic arsenite (As(III)), arsenate
      (As(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)), and ROX.
      3-AHPAA accounted for 3-19% of the total arsenic. Inorganic arsenicals (the sum
      of As(III) and As(V)) comprised 2-6% (mean 3.5%) of total arsenic. Our results on
      the detection of inorganic arsenicals, methylarsenicals, 3-AHPAA, and N-AHAA in
      the chicken litter support recent findings that ROX is actually metabolized by
      the chicken or its gut microbiome. The presence of the toxic metabolites in
      chicken litter is environmentally relevant as chicken litter is commonly used as
      fertilizer.

PMID- 26876686
TI  - Light-Regulated Molecular Trafficking in a Synthetic Water-Soluble Host.
AB  - Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-mediated complexation of a dicationic azobenzene in water
      allows for the light-controlled encapsulation of a variety of second guest
      compounds, including amino acids, dyes, and fragrance molecules. Such controlled
      guest sequestration inside the cavity of CB[8] enables the regulation of the
      thermally induced phase transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-which is not
      photosensitive-thus demonstrating the robustness and relevancy of the light
      regulated CB[8] complexation.

PMID- 26876685
TI  - An Ultra-thin Amniotic Membrane as Carrier in Corneal Epithelium Tissue
      Engineering.
AB  - Amniotic membranes (AMs) are widely used as a corneal epithelial tissue carrier
      in reconstruction surgery. However, the engineered tissue transparency is low due
      to the translucent thick underlying AM stroma. To overcome this drawback, we
      developed an ultra-thin AM (UAM) by using collagenase IV to strip away from the
      epithelial denuded AM (DAM) some of the stroma. By thinning the stroma to about
      30 MUm, its moist and dry forms were rendered acellular, optically clear and its
      collagen framework became compacted and inerratic. Engineered rabbit corneal
      epithelial cell (RCEC) sheets generated through expansion of limbal epithelial
      cells on UAM were more transparent and thicker than those expanded on DAM.
      Moreover, DeltaNp63 and ABCG2 gene expression was greater in tissue engineered
      cell sheets expanded on UAM than on DAM. Furthermore, 2 weeks after surgery, the
      cornea grafted with UAM based cell sheets showed higher transparency and more
      stratified epithelium than the cornea grafted with DAM based cell sheets. Taken
      together, tissue engineered corneal epithelium generated on UAM has a preferable
      outcome because the transplanted tissue is more transparent and better resembles
      the phenotype of the native tissue than that obtained by using DAM for this
      procedure. UAM preserves compact layer of the amniotic membrane and maybe an
      ideal substrate for corneal epithelial tissue engineering.

PMID- 26876689
TI  - Current control by electrode coatings formed by polymerization of dopamine at
      prussian blue-modified electrodes.
AB  - Electrode coating with polydopamine (PDA) is fast becoming a popular surface
      modification technique. In this study we report the investigation of the use of
      PDA as electrode coatings with Prussian blue (PB) as an electrode material model.
      The PB layer was galvanostatically deposited at an Au electrode, followed by PDA
      coating with the assistance of ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. The thickness
      of PDA coatings was measured to be ~60 nm. Electrochemical characterization of
      the PDA-coated PB electrode revealed that the PDA coatings could stabilize the PB
      at neutral pH and allow the permeation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Moreover, the
      PDA coatings were found to effectively exclude the common interfering compounds
      such as cysteine, ascorbic acid and uric acid, and exhibit selective
      electrocatalysis towards the electroreduction of H2O2. Accordingly, the PDA
      coated PB electrode was applied for determination of H2O2 released from live
      cells. 

PMID- 26876688
TI  - Comparison between two-dimensional and three-dimensional quantitative coronary
      angiography for the prediction of functional severity in true bifurcation
      lesions: Insights from the randomized DK-CRUSH II, III, and IV trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional
      quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) compared with conventional 2D-QCA for
      predicting functional severity assessed by fractional flow reserve (FFR) for true
      bifurcation lesions. METHODS: Based on pooled data from the randomized DK-CRUSH
      II, III, and IV trials, we evaluated the patients with true bifurcation lesions
      who underwent coronary angiography together with functional evaluations using FFR
      in both the main vessel and the side branch. Off-line 2D- and 3D-QCA analyses
      were conducted using dedicated bifurcation QCA analysis software. Measurements of
      minimum lumen diameter (MLD), percentage diameter stenosis (% DS), and minimum
      lumen area (MLA) were compared between 2D- and 3D-QCA, and we evaluated their
      predictive values of functionally significant FFR. RESULTS: Ninety patients were
      eligible for enrollment in the present study. In the main vessel, MLA measured by
      3D-QCA was the most accurate predictor of FFR <0.75 (C statistic 0.85, P <
      0.001), while MLD measured by 2D-QCA was a similarly accurate predictor (C
      statistic 0.85, P < 0.001). In the side branch, the best metrics for predicting
      FFR <0.75 were % DS measured by 2D-QCA with a C statistic value of 0.91 (P <
      0.001) and MLA measured by 3D-QCA with a C statistic value of 0.81 (P < 0.001).
      However, both 2D- and 3D-QCA metrics exhibited low accuracies for predicting FFR
      <0.75 in intermediate bifurcation lesions. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-QCA analysis for true
      bifurcation lesions did not improve the predictive accuracy of functionally
      significant FFR compared with 2D-QCA analysis. In lesions with intermediate
      stenosis, the diagnostic performance of both 2D- and 3D-QCA-derived measurements
      in differentiating functional severity is limited.

PMID- 26876687
TI  - Perilipin2 plays a positive role in adipocytes during lipolysis by escaping
      proteasomal degradation.
AB  - Perilipin2 (Plin2), also known as adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP),
      or adipophilin, is a member of the PAT family involved in lipid droplet (LD)
      formation in the liver and peripheral tissues. Although Plin2 was originally
      identified as a highly expressed gene in adipocytes, its physiological role in
      mature adipocytes is largely unknown. In this report, we investigated the
      regulation of Plin2 expression and its function in differentiated adipocytes of
      mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Plin2 mRNA levels increased during adipocyte
      differentiation whereas protein levels did not. Plin2 was degraded through the
      ubiquitin-proteasome pathway but was inhibited by lipolytic inducers.
      Furthermore, lentiviral-mediated Plin2 knockdown attenuated lipolysis in
      differentiated MEFs in a time-dependent manner. Oleic acid-induced LD formation
      enhanced Plin2 protein stability when it was localized to LDs. Furthermore, a
      mutational analysis revealed that the ubiquitination and degradation of Plin2
      required both the second and third alanine in the N-terminal region. These
      results suggest that Plin2 is degraded in the cytosol in its N-terminal amino
      acid sequence-dependent manner and instead becomes stable when localized on LDs.
      Our findings highlight the relationship between protein stability and a
      previously unnoticed function of Plin2 during lipolysis in adipocytes. 

PMID- 26876690
TI  - Effects of Brain-Computer Interface-controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation
      Training on Shoulder Subluxation for Patients with Stroke: A Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of brain-computer
      interface (BCI)-controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) training on
      shoulder subluxation of patients with stroke. Twenty subjects were randomly
      divided into two groups: the BCI-FES group (n = 10) and the FES group (n = 10).
      Patients in the BCI-FES group were administered conventional therapy with the BCI
      FES on the shoulder subluxation area of the paretic upper extremity, five times
      per week during 6 weeks, while the FES group received conventional therapy with
      FES only. All patients were assessed for shoulder subluxation (vertical distance,
      VD; horizontal distance, HD), pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) and the Manual
      Function Test (MFT) at the time of recruitment to the study and after 6 weeks of
      the intervention. The BCI-FES group demonstrated significant improvements in VD,
      HD, VAS and MFT after the intervention period, while the FES group demonstrated
      significant improvements in HD, VAS and MFT. There were also significant
      differences in the VD and two items (shoulder flexion and abduction) of the MFT
      between the two groups. The results of this study suggest that BCI-FES training
      may be effective in improving shoulder subluxation of patients with stroke by
      facilitating motor recovery. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26876691
TI  - Insomnia symptoms, perceived stress and coping strategies in patients with
      systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate perceived stress and coping
      strategies in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to
      the presence of insomnia symptoms, using a set of variables that include anxiety
      and depressive symptoms evaluation. METHODS: Ninety SLE women were evaluated in a
      cross-sectional study using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Brief COPE,
      Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck
      Depression Inventory (BDI) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). RESULTS:
      Individuals with insomnia symptoms (n = 57, 66%) presented higher PSS (p <
      0.001), PSQI (p < 0.0001), BDI, (p < 0.0001) scores and showed less-effective
      coping strategies such as the use of behavioral disengagement (p = 0.04), self
      blame (p = 0.02) and emotional-focused coping (p = 0.001). In a multi-regression
      model ISI was the independent determinant of high PSS and of behavioral
      disengagement; PSQI was the only determinant of self-blame (p = 0.02) and
      emotional-focused coping. CONCLUSIONS: SLE individuals with insomnia symptoms
      show high levels of perceived stress and more frequent use of disengaging and
      emotional-focused coping strategies. This body of evidence suggests that
      individuals with SLE and comorbid insomnia symptoms may therefore require
      additional interventions for insomnia.

PMID- 26876693
TI  - Indented Cu2MoS4 nanosheets with enhanced electrocatalytic and photocatalytic
      activities realized through edge engineering.
AB  - Edges often play a role as active centers for catalytic reactions in some
      nanomaterials. Therefore it is highly desirable to enhance catalytic activity of
      a material through modulating the microstructure of the edges. However, the study
      associated with edge engineering is less investigated and still at its
      preliminary stage. Here we report that Cu2MoS4 nanosheets with indented edges can
      be fabricated through a simple chemical etching route at room temperature, using
      Cu2MoS4 nanosheets with flat ones as sacrifice templates. Taking the
      electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), photocatalytic degradation of
      rhodamine B (RhB) and conversion of benzyl alcohol as examples, the catalytic
      activity of Cu2MoS4 indented nanosheets (INSs) obtained through edge engineering
      was comparatively studied with those of Cu2MoS4 flat nanosheets (FNSs) without
      any modification. The photocatalytic tests revealed that the catalytic active
      sites of Cu2MoS4 nanosheets were associated with their edges rather than basal
      planes. Cu2MoS4 INSs were endowed with larger electrochemically active surface
      area (ECSA), more active edges and better hydrophilicity through the edge
      engineering. As a result, the as-fabricated Cu2MoS4 INSs exhibited an excellent
      HER activity with a small Tafel slope of 77 mV dec(-1), which is among the best
      records for Cu2MoS4 catalysts. The present work demonstrated the validity of
      adjusting catalytic activity of the material through edge engineering and
      provided a new strategy for designing and developing highly efficient catalysts. 

PMID- 26876692
TI  - Quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus: description in a cohort of
      French patients and association with blood hydroxychloroquine levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Benefits of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use on physician reported
      outcomes are well documented in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We assess for
      the first time the association and predictive value of blood HCQ levels towards
      health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in SLE. METHODS: Data from the PLUS study
      (a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study) were
      utilized. Blood HCQ levels were quantified by high-performance liquid
      chromatography along with HRQOL assessments (Medical Outcomes Study-SF-36) at
      baseline (V1) and month 7 (V2). RESULTS: 166 SLE patients' data were analysed.
      Mean (SD) age and disease duration were 44.4 (10.7) and 9.3 (6.8) years. Eighty
      seven per cent were women. Mean (SD, median, IQR) HCQ concentrations in the blood
      at V1 were 660 (314, 615, 424) ng/ml and increased to 1020 (632, 906, 781) ng/ml
      at V2 (mean difference 366 units, 95% confidence interval -472 to -260, p <
      0.001). No significant correlations between HCQ concentrations with HRQOL domains
      at V1 or V2 were noted. There were no differences in HRQOL stratified by HCQ
      concentrations. HCQ concentrations at V1 or changes in HCQ concentration (V2-V1)
      were not predictive of HRQOL at V2 or changes in HRQOL (V2-V1). CONCLUSIONS: No
      association of HCQ concentrations with current or longitudinal HRQOL were found
      in SLE.

PMID- 26876694
TI  - Comparison of boron-assisted oxime and hydrazone formations leads to the
      discovery of a fluorogenic variant.
AB  - We use kinetic data, photophysical properties, and mechanistic analyses to
      compare recently developed high-rate constant oxime and hydrazone formations. We
      show that when Schiff base formation between aldehydes and arylhydrazines is
      carried out with an appropriately positioned boron atom, then aromatic B-N
      heterocycles form irreversibly. These consist of an extended aromatic structure
      amenable to the tailoring of specific properties such as reaction rate and
      fluorescence. The reactions work best in neutral aqueous buffer and can be
      designed to be fluorogenic - properties which are particularly interesting in
      bioconjugation. 

PMID- 26876695
TI  - Jules Stein, MD: Ophthalmologist, Entertainment Magnate, and Advocate for Vision.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the lifetime activities and accomplishments of Jules Stein,
      MD. DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: Assessment of published and
      unpublished biographical material. RESULTS: Jules Stein combined his love of
      music and medicine with organizational skills to achieve successive careers as a
      musician, an ophthalmologist, an entertainment magnate, and an advocate for
      vision. To preserve vision, he founded Research to Prevent Blindness, founded the
      Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and led a
      multiyear campaign to establish the National Eye Institute. CONCLUSIONS: With
      successive careers and extraordinary achievements, Jules Stein created an
      enduring legacy of benefits to ophthalmology, vision research, and the prevention
      of blindness.

PMID- 26876697
TI  - The Frequency of Signs of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Children with
      Epidermolysis Bullosa.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in
      children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). DESIGN: Hospital-based cross-sectional
      study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred five children with different forms of EB.
      METHODS: Prospective ophthalmic examination of children with EB presenting over
      seventeen months including meibomian gland assessment using a recognized
      classification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of MGD. RESULTS: One hundred
      five children were recruited, 8.6% with junctional EB, 34.3% with simplex EB,
      34.3% with autosomal recessive dystrophic EB, and 22.9% autosomal dominant
      dystrophic EB. Mean age was 7.42 years (range, 0.08-17.75 years). Ninety-two
      children (87.62%) demonstrated 1 or more features of MGD. CONCLUSIONS: Most
      children with EB exhibit signs of MGD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the
      first prospective ocular surface evaluation in children with EB to include lid
      margin evaluation using a recognized classification system. Our findings help
      explain some of the ocular surface anomalies seen in children with EB.

PMID- 26876696
TI  - Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Asymptomatic Neovascularization in
      Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine whether angiography with swept-source (SS) optical
      coherence tomography (OCT) identifies subclinical type 1 neovascularization in
      asymptomatic eyes with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD).
      DESIGN: Prospective, observational, consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS:
      Patients with asymptomatic iAMD in one eye and neovascular age-related macular
      degeneration (AMD) in their fellow eye. METHODS: The patients underwent SS OCT
      angiography (OCTA), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green
      angiography (ICGA), and the images from these 3 angiographic techniques were
      compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of subclinical type 1
      neovascularization with SS OCTA in asymptomatic eyes with iAMD. RESULTS: Eleven
      consecutive patients with iAMD in one eye and neovascular AMD in their fellow eye
      were imaged with FA, ICGA, and SS OCTA between August 2014 and September 2015.
      Clinical examination of the 11 eyes revealed drusen and pigmentary abnormalities
      in the central macula and no evidence of macular fluid on routine OCT imaging.
      Ten of the 11 eyes had no evidence of leakage on FA and 1 eye had questionable
      fluorescein leakage. Indocyanine green angiography revealed the presence of
      central macular plaques in 3 of the 11 asymptomatic eyes with iAMD, and SS OCTA
      revealed unambiguous type 1 neovascularization corresponding to the plaques in
      all 3 eyes. Optical coherence tomography angiography did not identify
      neovascularization in the remaining 8 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Swept-source OCTA
      identified type 1 neovascularization corresponding to ICGA plaques in
      asymptomatic eyes with iAMD. The ability of OCTA to provide noninvasive, fast,
      detailed, depth-resolved identification of nonexudative neovascular lesions in
      eyes with iAMD suggests the need for a new classification system that
      distinguishes between neovascular and nonneovascular iAMD.

PMID- 26876698
TI  - BAP1 Germline Mutations in Finnish Patients with Uveal Melanoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: Germline mutations of the BRCA1-associated protein-1 gene (BAP1)
      predispose carriers to uveal melanoma. We report the population-based frequency
      of germline pathogenic variants of BAP1 in Finnish patients with uveal melanoma
      who live in a high-risk region for this cancer. DESIGN: Cohort study.
      PARTICIPANTS: In Finland, uveal melanomas are treated centrally in the Ocular
      Oncology Service, Helsinki University Hospital. We collected clinical data and
      genomic DNA from 148 of 188 consecutive patients diagnosed from January 2010
      through December 2012. Seven of these patients from 6 families had a history of
      uveal melanoma in 1 relative, and 2 patients from 2 additional families had such
      a history in 2 relatives. METHODS: Sequencing BAP1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Pathogenic variants in BAP1. RESULTS: We found 2 different pathogenic variants in
      BAP1 in 3 patients. Two patients had a single nucleotide insertion in exon 14
      resulting in a shift of reading frame. Both had a family history of uveal
      melanoma in at least 1 relative. One patient without a family history of uveal
      melanoma had a single nucleotide substitution in the conserved splice donor site
      of intron 2. BAP1 cancer predisposition syndrome-related cancers were present in
      all 3 families. The overall frequency of BAP1 pathogenic variants was 2.0%
      (3/148; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-5.8), the frequency among patients 50 years
      of age or younger was 3.6% (1/28; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-18), and a
      pathogenic variant was detected in 2 of 8 families with a history of uveal
      melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of BAP1 germline pathogenic variants in
      consecutive Finnish patients with uveal melanoma who come from a high-risk region
      for the development of this cancer is comparable with reports from other
      populations.

PMID- 26876699
TI  - Non-hormonal interruption of incessant ovulation as a potential approach for
      ovarian cancer prevention.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. There is a need to intensify research efforts
      on prevention strategies. The causative role of incessant ovulation has been
      supported by the protective effect of oral hormonal contraceptives. The released
      follicular fluid in the process of ovulation bathes not only the surface of the
      ovary but also the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube. Evidence has been
      accumulating about a fimbrial tubal origin for ovarian high-grade serous
      carcinoma, and for the potential of opportunistic or elective salpingectomy as an
      intervention strategy. Alternatively, periodic suppression of ovulation could be
      beneficial among women who have no need or are not using oral hormonal
      contraceptives. Rupture of the ovarian follicle releasing the ovum and follicular
      fluid is a prostaglandin-mediated inflammatory process. It can be stopped by
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, leading to pharmacologic production of a
      luteinized unruptured follicle, simulating a normal non-conception cycle with
      unaltered steroid patterns/levels and cycle length. Non-hormonal periodic
      interruption of incessant ovulation could be recommended for women who are at
      high risk of ovarian cancer, but further research is needed to validate the
      potential of this approach. 

PMID- 26876700
TI  - Evolution of surgical techniques for mandibular reconstruction using free fibula
      flaps: The next generation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has contributed to a number of
      technical innovations in mandible reconstruction. We report on these innovations
      and the overall evolution of mandible reconstruction using free fibula flaps at
      our institution. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all
      patients who underwent virtually planned free fibula flap reconstruction of the
      mandible. Comparisons were made between cohorts based on distinct eras related to
      the virtual planning approach. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients underwent a total of
      78 VSP-assisted mandible reconstructions with free fibula flaps. Significant
      differences were noted among the groups with regard to mean number of segments,
      percentage of flaps that had at least 3 segments, percentage of flaps that had
      double-barrel components, and innovations per flap. CONCLUSION: VSP-assisted
      mandible reconstruction has contributed to more complex surgeries at our
      institution. The technology ensures functional restoration, permitting an
      optimized aesthetic reconstruction that has not increased operative times or
      complications. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2066-E2073, 2016.

PMID- 26876701
TI  - Smouldering progress in tobacco control.

PMID- 26876702
TI  - Morocco's long road to comprehensive palliative care.

PMID- 26876703
TI  - Australia's immigration centres are no place for children.

PMID- 26876704
TI  - France releases interim report on drug trial disaster.

PMID- 26876705
TI  - NIH hopes funding increases will continue.

PMID- 26876706
TI  - The CONFIDeNT trial.

PMID- 26876707
TI  - The CONFIDeNT trial.

PMID- 26876708
TI  - The CONFIDeNT trial - Authors' reply.

PMID- 26876709
TI  - The CONFIDeNT trial.

PMID- 26876710
TI  - Epilepsy in women during pregnancy.

PMID- 26876711
TI  - Health-care improvements in a financially constrained environment.

PMID- 26876712
TI  - Epilepsy in women during pregnancy.

PMID- 26876714
TI  - A call to improve the submission process.

PMID- 26876713
TI  - Manochaitanya: integrating mental health into primary health care.

PMID- 26876715
TI  - Profiles of Childhood Trauma in Patients with Alcohol Dependence and Their
      Associations with Addiction-Related Problems.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The high occurrence of childhood trauma in individuals with alcohol
      dependence is well-recognized. Nevertheless, researchers have rarely studied
      which types of childhood trauma often co-occur and how these combinations of
      different types and severities of childhood trauma are related to the patients'
      current addiction-related problems. We aimed to identify childhood trauma
      profiles in patients with alcohol dependence and examined relations of these
      trauma profiles with the patients' current addiction-related problems. METHODS:
      In 347 alcohol-dependent patients, 5 types of childhood trauma (sexual abuse,
      physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) were
      measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Childhood trauma profiles were
      identified using cluster analysis. The patients' current severity of addiction
      related problems was assessed using the European Addiction Severity Index.
      RESULTS: We identified 6 profiles that comprised different types and severities
      of childhood trauma. The patients' trauma profiles predicted the severity of
      addiction-related problems in the domains of psychiatric symptoms, family
      relationships, social relationships, and drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood trauma
      profiles may provide more useful information about the patient's risk of current
      addiction-related problems than the common distinction between traumatized versus
      nontraumatized patients.

PMID- 26876716
TI  - Use of a Canine Model of Atopic Dermatitis to Investigate the Efficacy of a CCR4
      Antagonist in Allergen-Induced Skin Inflammation in a Randomized Study.
AB  - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by
      infiltration of skin homing lymphocytes into the dermis. Most of these
      lymphocytes express the chemokine receptor CCR4, and the frequency of blood
      CCR4(+) lymphocytes correlates with AD disease severity. Canine AD is a pruritic
      inflammatory condition that shows many features of the human disease, including
      CCR4 overexpression. Therefore, we tested a potent selective CCR4 antagonist in
      an allergen challenge model of canine AD, both clinically and histologically, to
      investigate whether this chemokine pathway plays a role in the inflammatory
      response. Using a four-period randomized cross-over study design, 14 beagles were
      challenged with allergen and clinically monitored. Biopsy samples were taken
      before and after allergen challenge. A clear reduction of clinical scores was
      observed with oral prednisolone (P < 0.0001) but not for the CCR4 inhibitor. A
      subset of the dogs (5/13) showed partial inhibition (30-49%) of the clinical
      signs with CCR4 inhibitor treatment, and this finding was supported by the
      results of histopathologic analysis of skin biopsy samples. This partial response
      is consistent with redundancy in chemokine pathways and highlights the need for
      therapies blocking multiple pathways. This study shows the utility of this canine
      model of AD for testing new therapeutic agents. 

PMID- 26876717
TI  - A Key to Genome Maze in 3D.

PMID- 26876718
TI  - Translational Bioinformatics: Past, Present, and Future.
AB  - Though a relatively young discipline, translational bioinformatics (TBI) has
      become a key component of biomedical research in the era of precision medicine.
      Development of high-throughput technologies and electronic health records has
      caused a paradigm shift in both healthcare and biomedical research. Novel tools
      and methods are required to convert increasingly voluminous datasets into
      information and actionable knowledge. This review provides a definition and
      contextualization of the term TBI, describes the discipline's brief history and
      past accomplishments, as well as current foci, and concludes with predictions of
      future directions in the field. 

PMID- 26876721
TI  - Fibrin sealants for the prevention of postoperative pancreatic fistula following
      pancreatic surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is one of the most frequent and
      potentially life-threatening complications following pancreatic resections.
      Fibrin sealants are introduced to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula by some
      surgeons. However, the use of fibrin sealants during pancreatic surgery is
      controversial. OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety, effectiveness, and potential
      adverse effects of fibrin sealants for the prevention of postoperative pancreatic
      fistula following pancreatic surgery. SEARCH METHODS: We searched The Cochrane
      Library (2015, Issue 7), MEDLINE (1946 to 26 August 2015), EMBASE (1980 to 26
      August 2015), Science Citation Index Expanded (1900 to 26 August 2015), and
      Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) (1978 to 26 August 2015). SELECTION
      CRITERIA: We included all randomized controlled trials that compared fibrin
      sealant group (fibrin glue or fibrin sealant patch) versus control group (no
      fibrin sealant or placebo) in people undergoing pancreatic surgery. DATA
      COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently identified the trials
      for inclusion, collected the data, and assessed the risk of bias. We performed
      the meta-analyses using Review Manager 5. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) for
      dichotomous outcomes (or a Peto odds ratio for very rare outcomes), and the mean
      difference (MD) for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN
      RESULTS: We included nine trials involving 1095 participants who were randomized
      to the fibrin sealant group (N = 550) and the control group (N = 545) after
      pancreatic surgery. All of the trials were at high risk of bias. There was no
      evidence of differences in overall postoperative pancreatic fistula (fibrin
      sealant 29.6%; control 31.0%; RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.21; P = 0.58; nine
      studies; low-quality evidence), postoperative mortality (3.1% versus 2.1%; Peto
      OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.82; P = 0.53; eight studies; very low-quality
      evidence), overall postoperative morbidity (29.6% versus 28.9%; RR 1.04, 95% CI
      0.82 to 1.32; P = 0.77; five studies), reoperation rate (8.7% versus 10.7%; RR
      0.80, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.21; P = 0.29; five studies), or length of hospital stay
      (12.9 days versus 13.1 days; MD -0.73 days, 95% CI -2.20 to 0.74; P = 0.331; six
      studies) between the groups. The proportion of postoperative pancreatic fistula
      that was clinically significant was not mentioned in most trials. On inclusion of
      trials that clearly distinguished clinically significant fistulas, there was
      inadequate evidence to establish the effect of fibrin sealants on clinically
      significant postoperative pancreatic fistula (9.4% versus 13.4%; RR 0.72, 95% CI
      0.42 to 1.21; P = 0.21; three studies). Quality of life and cost effectiveness
      were not reported in any of the trials. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      current available evidence, fibrin sealants do not seem to prevent postoperative
      pancreatic fistula in people undergoing pancreatic surgery.

PMID- 26876720
TI  - Single-cell Transcriptome Study as Big Data.
AB  - The rapid growth of single-cell RNA-seq studies (scRNA-seq) demands efficient
      data storage, processing, and analysis. Big-data technology provides a framework
      that facilitates the comprehensive discovery of biological signals from inter
      institutional scRNA-seq datasets. The strategies to solve the stochastic and
      heterogeneous single-cell transcriptome signal are discussed in this article.
      After extensively reviewing the available big-data applications of next
      generation sequencing (NGS)-based studies, we propose a workflow that accounts
      for the unique characteristics of scRNA-seq data and primary objectives of single
      cell studies. 

PMID- 26876723
TI  - The cross-mammalian neurophenomenology of primal emotional affects: From animal
      feelings to human therapeutics.
AB  - The neural correlates of human emotions are easy to harvest. In contrast, the
      neural constitution of emotional feelings in humans has resisted systematic
      scientific analysis. This review summarizes how preclinical affective
      neuroscience initiatives are making progress in decoding the neural nature of
      such feelings in animal brains. This has been achieved by studying the rewarding
      and punishing effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of subcortical emotional
      networks (labeled SEEING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC, and PLAY systems) that
      evoke distinct emotion action patterns, as well as rewarding and punishing
      effects in animals. The implications of this knowledge for development of new
      psychiatric interventions, especially depression, are discussed. Three new
      antidepressive therapeutics arising from this work are briefly noted: 1) DBS of
      the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in humans, 2) reduction of psychological pain
      that may arise from excessive PANIC arousal, and 3) facilitation of social joy
      through the study of social play in rats The overall argument is that we may more
      readily develop new psychiatric interventions through preclinical models if we
      take animal emotional feelings seriously, as opposed to just behavioral changes,
      as targets for development of new treatments.

PMID- 26876722
TI  - Implementation of a telephone-based secondary preventive intervention after acute
      coronary syndrome (ACS): participation rate, reasons for non-participation and 1
      year survival.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of death from a non
      communicable disease. Secondary prevention is effective for reducing morbidity
      and mortality, but evidence-based targets are seldom reached and new
      interventional methods are needed. The present study is a feasibility study of a
      telephone-based secondary preventive programme in an unselected ACS cohort.
      METHODS: The NAILED (Nurse-based Age-independent Intervention to Limit Evolution
      of Disease) ACS trial is a prospective randomized controlled trial. All eligible
      patients admitted for ACS were randomized to usual follow-up by a general
      practitioner or telephone follow-up by study nurses. The intervention was made by
      continuous telephone contact, with counseling on healthy living and titration of
      medicines to reach target values for blood pressure and blood lipids. Exclusion
      criteria were limited to physical inability to follow the study design or
      participation in another study. RESULTS: A total of 907 patients were assessed
      for inclusion. Of these, 661 (72.9%) were included and randomized, 100 (11%)
      declined participation, and 146 (16.1%) were excluded. The main reasons for
      exclusion were participation in another trial, dementia, and advanced disease.
      "Excluded" and "declining" patients were significantly older with more co
      morbidity, decreased functional status, and had more seldom received education
      above compulsory school level than "included" patients. Non-participants had a
      higher 1-year mortality than participants. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led telephone-based
      follow-up after ACS can be applied to a large proportion in an unselected
      clinical setting. Reasons for non-participation, which were associated with
      increased mortality, include older age, multiple co-morbidities, decreased
      functional status and low level of education. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International
      Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): ISRCTN96595458 (archived by
      WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6RlyhYTYK). Application date: 10 July 2011.

PMID- 26876719
TI  - Understanding Spatial Genome Organization: Methods and Insights.
AB  - The manner by which eukaryotic genomes are packaged into nuclei while maintaining
      crucial nuclear functions remains one of the fundamental mysteries in biology.
      Over the last ten years, we have witnessed rapid advances in both microscopic and
      nucleic acid-based approaches to map genome architecture, and the application of
      these approaches to the dissection of higher-order chromosomal structures has
      yielded much new information. It is becoming increasingly clear, for example,
      that interphase chromosomes form stable, multilevel hierarchical structures.
      Among them, self-associating domains like so-called topologically associating
      domains (TADs) appear to be building blocks for large-scale genomic organization.
      This review describes features of these broadly-defined hierarchical structures,
      insights into the mechanisms underlying their formation, our current
      understanding of how interactions in the nuclear space are linked to gene
      regulation, and important future directions for the field. 

PMID- 26876724
TI  - Dietary-induced gestational iron deficiency inhibits postnatal tissue iron
      delivery and postpones the cessation of active nephrogenesis in rats.
AB  - Gestational iron deficiency (ID) can alter developmental programming through
      impaired nephron endowment, leading to adult hypertension, but nephrogenesis is
      unstudied. Iron status and renal development during dietary-induced gestational
      ID (<6 mg Fe kg-1 diet from Gestational Day 2 to Postnatal Day (PND) 7) were
      compared with control rats (198 mg Fe kg-1 diet). On PND2-PND10, PND15, PND30 and
      PND45, blood and tissue iron status were assessed. Nephrogenic zone maturation
      (PND2-PND10), radial glomerular counts (RGCs), glomerular size density and total
      planar surface area (PND15 and PND30) were also assessed. Blood pressure (BP) was
      measured in offspring. ID rats were smaller, exhibiting lower erythrocyte and
      tissue iron than control rats (PND2-PND10), but these parameters returned to
      control values by PND30-PND45. Relative kidney iron (ug g-1 wet weight) at PND2
      PND10 was directly related to transport iron measures. In ID rats, the maturation
      of the active nephrogenic zone was later than control. RGCs, glomerular size,
      glomerular density, and glomerular planar surface area were lower than control at
      PND15, but returned to control by PND30. After weaning, the kidney weight/rat
      weight ratio (mg g-1) was heavier in ID than control rats. BP readings at PND45
      were lower in ID than control rats. Altered kidney maturation and renal
      adaptations may contribute to glomerular size, early hyperfiltration and long
      term renal function.

PMID- 26876728
TI  - Recent Temporal Trends in Parent-Reported Physical Activity in Children in the
      United States, 2009 to 2014.
AB  - The objective of this study was to provide recent temporal trends in parent
      reported physical activity in children (6-11 years) between 2009 and 2014. Data
      from the 2009 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used.
      The analytic sample included 3946 children. Parent proxy of child physical
      activity at each of the 3 2-year cycles was assessed. For the entire sample,
      there was a quadratic trend, with the number of days children engaged in at least
      60 min/d of physical activity increasing in the period 2011 to 2012 (6.12 days)
      when compared with the period 2009 to 2010 (5.96 days) and then decreasing in the
      period 2013 to 2014 (5.83 days). A similar quadratic trend was evident for boys,
      those above the poverty level, non-Hispanic whites (particularly boys), and those
      with less than the 85th body mass index-for-age percentile based on sex. A
      negative linear trend was observed for those above the poverty level and non
      Hispanic whites (particularly girls). In conclusion, these findings provide
      suggestive evidence that over the past 6 years (1999-2014), parents report that
      children's physical activity has slightly decreased in the latest years, with
      this observation being most pronounced in boys, those above the poverty level,
      non-Hispanic whites, and those with less than the 85th body mass index-for-age
      and sex percentile. Encouragingly, however, across all evaluated subpopulations,
      most children (55%-82%), as determined by their parents, engaged in 60 min/d of
      physical activity (consistent with government recommendations). 

PMID- 26876729
TI  - Influencing referral patterns of primary care providers.

PMID- 26876730
TI  - Strategies for Using Plagiarism Software in the Screening of Incoming Journal
      Manuscripts: Recommendations Based on a Recent Literature Survey.
AB  - In recent years, several online tools have appeared capable of identifying
      potential plagiarism in science. While such tools may help to maintain or even
      increase the originality and ethical quality of the scientific literature, no
      apparent consensus exists among editors on the degree of plagiarism or self
      plagiarism necessary to reject or retract manuscripts. In this study, two entire
      volumes of published original papers and reviews from Basic & Clinical
      Pharmacology & Toxicology were retrospectively scanned for similarity in
      anonymized form using iThenticate software to explore measures to predictively
      identify true plagiarism and self-plagiarism and to potentially provide
      guidelines for future screening of incoming manuscripts. Several filters were
      applied, all of which appeared to lower the noise from irrelevant hits. The main
      conclusions were that plagiarism software offers a unique opportunity to screen
      for plagiarism easily but also that it has to be employed with caution as
      automated or uncritical use is far too unreliable to allow a fair basis for
      judging the degree of plagiarism in a manuscript. This remains the job of senior
      editors. Whereas a few cases of self-plagiarism that would not likely have been
      accepted with today's guidelines were indeed identified, no cases of fraud or
      serious plagiarism were found. Potential guidelines are discussed. 

PMID- 26876733
TI  - Raised arterial blood pressure in neurokinin-1 receptor-deficient mice (NK1R(-/-)
      ): evidence for a neural rather than a vascular mechanism.
AB  - NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does genetic ablation
      of neurokinin-1 receptors alter arterial blood pressure? What is the main finding
      and its importance? NK1R(-/-) mice have increased mean arterial blood pressure,
      but without a concomitant change in vascular reactivity. This finding suggests
      that neurokinin-1 receptors play a role in the neural regulation of blood
      pressure. Mice with functional ablation of the neurokinin-1 receptor gene, Tacr1,
      (NK1R(-/-) ) express behavioural abnormalities equivalent to those seen in
      attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An established model of ADHD is
      the spontaneously hypertensive rat, which exhibits high blood pressure owing to
      increased central sympathetic drive. In light of the evidence that the neurokinin
      1 receptor (NK1R) also influences cardiovascular haemodynamics, we have
      investigated whether NK1R(-/-) mice exhibit raised blood pressure. Cardiovascular
      parameters were recorded for 24 h in conscious mice using radiotelemetry.
      Vascular function was assessed in mesenteric resistance arteries by wire
      myography. The NK1R(-/-) mice exhibited a higher blood pressure than wild-type
      animals throughout the 24 h period. Heart rate and locomotor activity in NK1R(-/
      ) mice were higher than in wild-type mice during the night period (active phase),
      consistent with an ADHD-like phenotype, but not during the day. Mesenteric and
      renal arteries from NK1R(-/-) mice exhibited normal vascular function; the
      responses to vasoconstrictors (U46619 and phenylephrine) and the endothelium
      dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine, were not altered in these animals,
      suggesting that the NK1R does not regulate vascular tone. Analysis of heart rate
      variability revealed a higher low-frequency to high-frequency ratio in NK1R(-/-)
      mice, indicative of increased cardiac sympathetic activity. We propose that the
      raised blood pressure in NK1R(-/-) mice could be due to a neural mechanism rather
      than a change in vascular reactivity. Further studies are required to understand
      this mechanism and to establish whether a subgroup of ADHD patients with
      polymorphism of the equivalent (TACR1) gene are affected in a similar way.

PMID- 26876732
TI  - Screening for Viral Pathogens in African Simian Bushmeat Seized at A French
      Airport.
AB  - Illegal bushmeat traffic is an important threat to biodiversity conservation of
      several endangered species and may contribute to the emergence and spread of
      infectious diseases in humans. The hunting, manipulation and consumption of
      wildlife-based products, especially those of primate origin, may be a threat to
      human health; however, few studies have investigated the role of bushmeat trade
      and consumption as a potential source of human infections to date. In this study,
      we report the screening of viral pathogens in African simian game seized by
      French customs at Toulouse Blagnac Airport. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed
      the presence of virus-like particles in the samples, and further metagenomic
      sequencing of the DNA and RNA viromes confirmed the presence of sequences related
      to the Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae bacteriophage families; some of
      them infecting bacterial hosts that could be potentially pathogenic for humans.
      To increase the sensitivity of detection, twelve pan-generic PCRs targeting
      several viral zoonoses were performed, but no positive signal was detected. A
      large-scale inventory of bacteria, viruses and parasites is urgently needed to
      globally assess the risk for human health of the trade, manipulation and
      consumption of wildlife-related bushmeat.

PMID- 26876731
TI  - Selective potentiation of 2-APB-induced activation of TRPV1-3 channels by acid.
AB  - Temperature-sensitive TRP channels are important for responses to pain and
      inflammation, to both of which tissue acidosis is a major contributing factor.
      However, except for TRPV1, acid-sensing by other ThermoTRP channels remains
      mysterious. We show here that unique among TRPV1-3 channels, TRPV3 is directly
      activated by protons from cytoplasmic side. This effect is very weak and involves
      key cytoplasmic residues L508, D512, S518, or A520. However, mutations of these
      residues did not affect a strong proton induced potentiation of TRPV3 currents
      elicited by the TRPV1-3 common agonist, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), no
      matter if the ligand was applied from extracellular or cytoplasmic side. The acid
      potentiation was common among TRPV1-3 and only seen with 2-APB-related ligands.
      Using (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance to examine the solution structures of 2-APB
      and its analogs, we observed striking structural differences of the boron
      containing compounds at neutral/basic as compared to acidic pH, suggesting that a
      pH-dependent configuration switch of 2-APB-based drugs may underlie their
      functionality. Supporting this notion, protons also enhanced the inhibitory
      action of 2-APB on TRPM8. Collectively, our findings reveal novel insights into 2
      APB action on TRP channels, which should facilitate the design of new drugs for
      these channels. 

PMID- 26876734
TI  - Pre-coating deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) with bone-conditioned medium
      (BCM) improves osteoblast migration, adhesion, and differentiation in vitro.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Autogenous bone grafting has remained the gold standard for bone
      augmentation procedures with ability to release growth factors to the surrounding
      microenvironment. Recent investigations have characterized these specific growth
      factors released by autogenous bone chips with further isolation into a "bone
      conditioned medium" (BCM). The aim of the present investigation was to utilize
      autologous growth factors from bone chips (BCM) in combination with deproteinized
      bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and investigate the ability for BCM to enhance
      osteoblast behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse ST2 cells were seeded on (1)
      DBBM particles alone or (2) DBBM + BCM. Thereafter, samples were compared for
      cell recruitment, adhesion, proliferation, and real-time PCR for osteoblast
      differentiation markers including Runx2, collagen 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2), alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OCN). Alizarin red staining was used to
      assess mineralization. RESULTS: Coating BCM on DBBM particles improved cell
      migration of ST2 cells and significantly enhanced a 2-fold increase in cell
      adhesion. While no significant increase in cell proliferation was observed, BCM
      significantly increased mRNA levels of COL1A2, ALP, and OCN at 3 days post
      seeding. Furthermore, a 3-fold increase in alizarin red staining was observed on
      DBBM particles pre-coated with BCM. CONCLUSION: Pre-coating DBBM with BCM
      enhanced the osteoconductive properties of DBBM by mediating osteoblast
      recruitment, attachment, and differentiation towards bone-forming osteoblasts.
      Future animal study is necessary to further characterize the added benefit of BCM
      as an autogenous growth factor source for combination therapies. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: The application of BCM in combination with biomaterials may serve as
      an autogenous growth factor source for bone regeneration.

PMID- 26876735
TI  - Shaping ability of two nickel-titanium instruments activated by continuous
      rotation or adaptive motion: a micro-computed tomography study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the shaping ability of
      curved root canals using Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) files (SybronEndo, Orange,
      CA) and Mtwo (Sweden & Martina, Padova, Italy) activated by continuous rotation
      or adaptive motion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two mandibular molars with two
      separate mesial canals and severe angles of curvature were selected. Each canal
      was randomly assigned to one of the four experimental groups (n = 16): TFA and
      Mtwo files used in continuous rotation (groups 1 and 3) or in adaptive motion
      (groups 2 and 4). Root canals before and after preparation were assessed by micro
      computed tomography. Volume, surface area, canal transportation, and centering
      ability were recorded and analyzed using two-way analyses of variance. RESULTS:
      Volume and surface area increased less with TFA files in continuous rotation than
      in other groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively, for each comparison) that
      were not different (P > 0.05). TFA files had significantly less transportation
      and higher centering ability than Mtwo both in continuous and adaptive motion (P
      < 0.0001). Centering ratio, but not canal transportation, was improved by
      adaptive motion compared with continuous rotation for both instruments (P <
      0.01). However, no differences were found in canal transportation and centering
      ability in the apical third for both instruments and motions (P > 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: No difference between the devices and kinematics was found in the
      apical third; TFA performed significantly better in the middle and coronal parts
      of the root canal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of NiTi files made by heat-treated
      alloy and/or adaptive motion could improve the qualities of root canal shaping
      rather than the use of conventional NiTi instruments and/or continuous rotation
      in the coronal and middle thirds of the root canals, but not in the apical one.
      Moreover, these findings encourage the use of adaptive motion with conventional
      NiTi files to improve centering ability without affecting other preparation
      qualities of root canals.

PMID- 26876737
TI  - Change in risk factors for eating disorder symptomatology in Malay students
      sojourning in the United Kingdom.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine change in risk for
      eating disorders in higher education students sojourning in the United Kingdom
      (UK), as well as associations between such risk and experiences in the host
      culture. METHOD: Participants were 98 female students from Malaysia, who
      completed a measure of risk factors for eating disorder symptomatology (the
      Eating Disorder Inventory-3 subscales of drive for thinness, body
      dissatisfaction, and bulimia symptoms) at two time points: two months prior to
      beginning their sojourn in the UK (Time 1) and four months after the sojourn
      began (Time 2). At Time 2, participants also completed measures of sociocultural
      adjustment, cultural distance between home and host cultures, and perceived
      discrimination in the host culture. RESULTS: Analyses indicated that, compared to
      scores at Time 1, participants had significantly higher drive for thinness (d =
      0.64), body dissatisfaction (d = 0.54), and bulimia symptoms (d = 0.29) at Time
      2. Poorer sociocultural adjustment and greater perceived discrimination
      significantly predicted greater risk of eating disorders at Time 2. DISCUSSION:
      The stress associated with culture change may place sojourning students at risk
      for disordered eating. Further research is needed to determine the extent to
      which this risk is related to culture-change specifically, as opposed to a
      general set of factors associated with transition-related psychopathology more
      broadly. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:695-700).

PMID- 26876738
TI  - Colloidal Synthesis of Lettuce-like Copper Sulfide for Light-Gating Heterogeneous
      Nanochannels.
AB  - Lettuce-like CuxS micron particles were successfully prepared by a colloidal hot
      injection method, and the preliminary evaluation of the light-gating artificial
      ionic nanochannels designed using these particles was also demonstrated. A likely
      underlying mechanism behind the formation of the lettuce architecture was
      tentatively proposed via monitoring the evolution process. These particles are
      hydrophobic and possess a high surface area that can readily absorb the light
      responsive 1,3,3-trimethylindolino-6'-nitrobenzopyrylospiran (Spiro) molecules.
      Finally, the heterogeneous nanochannels were constructed by spin-coating the
      preprepared CuxS particles loaded with Spiro onto the commercially available
      anodic alumina (AAO) substrate. The AAO-CuxS/Spiro heterogeneous nanochannels
      "close" under illumination of ultraviolet light (365 nm) and then "open" by
      visible light irradiation, which exhibits a regulated ionic transport property
      with good responsive switchability and stability. 

PMID- 26876736
TI  - Effects of topical corticosteroid administration on intraocular pressure in
      normal and glaucomatous cats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of topical
      corticosteroid (CCS) therapy on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal cats and
      cats with primary feline congenital glaucoma (FCG). ANIMALS STUDIED: Five normal
      and 11 FCG cats were studied in two cohorts. PROCEDURES: IOP was measured by a
      single, masked observer, once daily, 3-5 days/week throughout the course of CCS
      treatment and for up to 11 days after treatment discontinuation. One eye per cat
      was randomly assigned for treatment twice daily with CCS; balanced salt solution
      (BSS) applied to the contralateral eye served as a control. Differences between
      eyes and between weeks of the study period were calculated for each cat. A
      positive response to CCS was defined as a consistent >15% or >25% higher IOP in
      the treated relative to control eye in normal and FCG cats, respectively.
      RESULTS: A total of 8 of 11 FCG cats responded to topical CCS after 1-5 weeks of
      treatment with an increase in IOP relative to the untreated eye (maximum IOP
      discrepancy of 56 mmHg). Two of five normal cats responded to topical CCS with an
      appreciable, but clinically unimportant increase in IOP in the treated eye
      (maximum IOP discrepancy of 6.4 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the
      incidence of steroid-induced IOP elevation in cats is lower than that of
      previously published feline studies. Cats with preexisting compromise in aqueous
      humor outflow may show a greater, clinically relevant response to topical CCS
      than normal cats.

PMID- 26876739
TI  - Effects of nicotinic receptor agonists on bladder afferent nerve activity in an
      in vitro bladder-pelvic nerve preparation.
AB  - Effects of nicotinic receptor agonists (epibatidine and nicotine) on mechano
      sensitive bladder afferent nerve (MS-BAN) activity were studied in an in vitro
      bladder-pelvic afferent nerve preparation. MS-BAN activity was induced by
      isotonic distention of the bladder at pressures of 10-40 cmH2O. The effect of
      epibatidine varied according to the concentration, route of administration and
      the intravesical pressure stimulus. Epibatidine (300-500 nM) administered in the
      perfusate to the serosal surface of the bladder decreased distension evoked
      afferent firing by 30-50% depending on the bladder pressure. However these
      concentrations also produced an immediate increase in tonic afferent firing in
      the empty bladder. Lower concentrations (50-100 nM) elicited weaker and more
      variable effects. The inhibitory effects were blocked by bath application of
      mecamylamine (150 uM) a nicotinic receptor antagonist. Bath application of
      nicotine (20 uM) elicited similar effects. Intravesical administration of
      epibatidine (500 nM) significantly increased MS-BAN firing by 15-30%; while lower
      concentrations (200-300 nM) were ineffective. This facilitatory effect of
      epibatidine was blocked by intravesical administration of mecamylamine (250 uM).
      Electrical stimulation on the surface of the bladder elicited action potentials
      (AP) in BAN. Bath application of epibatidine (300 nM) or nicotine (20 uM) did not
      change either the voltage threshold or the area of evoked AP. These results
      indicate that nicotinic agonists: (1) enhance MS-BAN activity originating at
      afferent receptors near the urothelium, (2) inhibit MS-BAN activity originating
      at afferent receptors located at other sites in the bladder, (3) directly excite
      unidentified afferents, (4) do not alter afferent axonal excitability.

PMID- 26876740
TI  - Learning impairment by minimal cortical injury in a mouse model of Alzheimer's
      disease.
AB  - Brain injury accelerates amyloid-beta (Abeta) deposits and exacerbates
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulation of intracellular soluble Abeta impairs
      cognition prior to emergence of Abeta plaques. However, it is not known whether
      brain injury affects learning impairment attributable to intracellular soluble
      Abeta. We made a small injury by injecting glutamate into the parietal cortex in
      3xTg AD mice of 4-5 months old, at which age soluble Abeta is accumulated without
      Abeta deposits. The size of glutamate-induced lesion was significantly larger
      than that of saline-injected control lesion. We reduced the relative difficulty
      of Morris water maze (MWM) task by repeating it twice, so that saline-injected
      3xTg mice could perform as well as wild-type control mice. Under this condition,
      glutamate-injected 3xTg mice exhibited learning deficits. DNA microarray analysis
      revealed that 3 genes are upregulated, with one gene downregulated, more than 2
      folds in the hippocampus. These 4 genes do not appear to be involved directly in
      learning but may be a part of signal cascade triggered by glutamate-induced small
      injury. Hippocampal content of soluble Abeta1-42 was increased in the glutamate
      3xTg group. Facilitation of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK)
      channel accompanied learning recovery in the saline-control 3xTg group in
      agreement with our previous reports, in which learning deficits attributable to
      intracellular Abeta were alleviated by facilitating BK channels. However, BK
      channel remained suppressed in the glutamate 3xTg group. It is suggested that
      glutamate-induced injury worsens learning by enhancing the toxicity of soluble
      Abeta or increasing its content per se.

PMID- 26876741
TI  - Altered hypothalamic inflammatory gene expression correlates with heat stroke
      severity in a conscious rodent model.
AB  - It has been suggested that heat-induced hypothalamic damage mediates core
      temperature (Tc) disturbances during heat stroke (HS) recovery; this is
      significant as hypothermia and/or fever have been linked to severity and overall
      pathological insult. However, to date there has been a lack of histological
      evidence in support of these claims. We hypothesized that local hypothalamic
      cytokines and/or chemokines, known regulators of Tc, are mediating the elevation
      in Tc during HS recovery even in the absence of histological damage. In
      experiment 1, the hypothalamus of Fischer 344 rats was examined for 84
      cytokine/chemokine genes (real-time PCR) at multiple time points (Tc,Max, 1, 3,
      and 10 days) during mild HS recovery. In experiment 2, the hypothalamus of three
      different HS severities (MILD, moderate [MOD], and severe [SEV]) in rats were
      examined for the same genes as experiment 1 as well as six oxidative damage
      markers, at a single intermediate time point (1 day). Systemic cytokines were
      also analyzed in experiment 2 across the three severities. There were significant
      alterations in 25 cytokines/chemokines expression at Tc,Max, but little or no
      changes in expression at longer time points in experiment 1. In experiment 2
      there were significant changes in gene expression in SEV rats only, with MILD and
      MOD rats showing baseline expression at 1 day, despite an absence of systemic
      cytokine expression in any severity. There was also no change in any oxidative
      marker of damage at 1 day, regardless of severity. In conclusion, we show only
      limited changes during long term recovery from HS, but demonstrate differences in
      hypothalamic gene expression patterns that may be driving HS pathology and
      morbidity. These findings contribute to our overall understanding of HS pathology
      in the CNS, as well as providing avenues for future pharmacological intervention.

PMID- 26876742
TI  - Development and validation of a reliable and rapid LC-MS/MS method for
      simultaneous quantification of sacubitril and valsartan in rat plasma and its
      application to a pharmacokinetic study.
AB  - A selective, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic method with electrospray
      ionization tandem mass spectrometric detection has been developed and validated
      for simultaneous quantification of sacubitril and valsartan in rat plasma using
      telmisartan as internal standard (IS). The analytes were extracted by
      deprotenization of 50 MUL of plasma sample using 200 MUL of acetonitrile. In a
      short chromatographic run of 1.50 min run time, separation was achieved on a
      Hypersil Gold C18 column using a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid in
      Milli-Q water-0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile in gradient elution mode. The
      quantification of target compounds was performed in a positive electrospray
      ionization mode and multiple reaction monitoring. Response was a linear function
      of concentration in the ranges of 0.5-20,000 ng/mL for both analytes, with r(2) 
      > 0.9997. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy results were <15% and
      acceptable as per US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Stability of
      compounds were established in a battery of stability studies, i.e. bench-top,
      autosampler and long-term storage stability as well as freeze-thaw cycles. The
      validated method can be used as a routine method to support pharmacokinetic
      studies. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26876743
TI  - Virtual planning and guided surgery in fibular free-flap mandibular
      reconstruction: A 29-case series.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Virtual planning and guided surgery (VPGS) has been recently
      developed for mandibular reconstruction, but benefit remains to be assessed. The
      aim of this study was to analyze the impact of VPGS on operative time and
      postoperative course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients who underwent fibula
      free-flap mandibular reconstruction between 2013 and 2014 in our institution were
      included in a retrospective study. Operative times and postoperative course were
      compared between patients who underwent conventional surgery in 2013 and those
      who underwent VPGS in 2014. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were included: 11 in
      2013 and 18 in 2014. Taking all types of mandibular defect together, ischemia
      time was significantly decreased by VPGS (75min, vs 150min for conventional
      surgery; P<0.001), whereas overall operative time was not significantly reduced
      (481 and 516min, respectively; P=0.4). VPGS had no impact on postoperative
      course: local or general complications, time to decannulation and nasogastric
      tube removal, or length of stay. CONCLUSION: VPGS significantly reduced fibula
      free-flap ischemia time. Long-term functional and esthetic benefit remains to be
      evaluated.

PMID- 26876744
TI  - Early impact of rotavirus vaccination in a large paediatric hospital in the UK.
AB  - The impact of routine rotavirus vaccination on community-acquired (CA) and
      healthcare-associated (HA) rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) at a large paediatric
      hospital, UK, was investigated over a 13-year period. A total of 1644
      hospitalized children aged 0-15 years tested positive for rotavirus between July
      2002 and June 2015. Interrupted time-series analysis demonstrated that, post
      vaccine introduction (July 2013 to June 2015), CA- and HA-RVGE hospitalizations
      were 83% [95% confidence interval (CI): 72-90%) and 83% (95% CI: 66-92%] lower
      than expected, respectively. Rotavirus vaccination has rapidly reduced the
      hospital rotavirus disease burden among both CA- and HA-RVGE cases. 

PMID- 26876745
TI  - Fatal acquisition of vanD gene during vancomycin treatment of septicaemia caused
      by Enterococcus faecium.

PMID- 26876746
TI  - Trends in the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of causative
      pathogens of device-associated infection in Korean intensive care units from 2006
      to 2013: results from the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System
      (KONIS).
AB  - BACKGROUND: For all countries, information on pathogens causing healthcare
      associated infections is important in order to develop proper strategies for
      preventing and treating nosocomial infections. AIM: To assess the change in
      frequencies and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens causing device-associated
      infections (DAIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) in South Korea between July 2006
      and June 2014. METHODS: Data from the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance
      System (KONIS) were analysed, including three major DAI types in ICUs. FINDINGS:
      The frequency of Gram-negative bacteria gradually increased for central line
      associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and ventilator-associated pneumonia
      (VAP) (from 24.6% to 32.6% and from 52.8% to 73.5%, respectively). By contrast,
      the frequency of Gram-positive bacteria decreased from 58.6% to 49.2% for CLABSI,
      and from 44.3% to 23.8% for VAP (P < 0.001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most
      frequent causative pathogen in CLABSI throughout the surveillance period, but for
      VAP was replaced as the most frequent pathogen by Acinetobacter baumannii as of
      2010. Candida albicans was the most frequent pathogen for catheter-associated
      urinary tract infection. The meticillin resistance rate in S. aureus decreased
      from 95% to 90.2% (P < 0.001); amikacin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and
      Escherichia coli decreased from 43.8% to 14.7% and from 15.0% to 1.8%,
      respectively (P < 0.001); imipenem resistance in A. baumannii increased from
      52.9% to 89.8% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria
      as nosocomial pathogens for CLABSI and VAP has increased. The prevalence of A.
      baumannii causing DAIs in Korean ICUs has increased rapidly, as has the rate of
      carbapenem resistance in these bacteria.

PMID- 26876747
TI  - Pseudo-outbreaks of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia on an intensive care unit in
      England.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In June 2014, a cluster of identical S. maltophilia isolates was
      reported in an adult intensive care unit (ICU) at a district general hospital. An
      outbreak control team was convened to investigate the cluster and inform control
      measures. AIM: To identify potential risk factors for isolation of S. maltophilia
      in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of ICU patients for whom a
      bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimen was submitted between October 2013 and
      October 2014. Cases were patients with S. maltophilia-positive BAL. We calculated
      the association between isolation of S. maltophilia and patient characteristics
      using risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and univariate
      logistic regression. Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were used. BAL specimens
      were microbiologically typed using pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
      FINDINGS: Eighteen patients met the case definition. Two patients had clinical
      presentations that warranted antibiotic treatment for S. maltophilia. All cases
      were exposed to bronchoscopy. PFGE typing revealed clusters of two strain types.
      We found statistically significant elevated risks of isolating BRISPOSM-4 in
      patients exposed to bronchoscope A (RR: 13.56; 95% CI: 1.82-100; P < 0.001) and
      BRISPOSM-3 in patients exposed to bronchoscope B (RR: 16.89; 95% CI: 2.14-133; P
      < 0.001). S. maltophilia type BRISPOSM-4 was isolated in water used to flush
      bronchoscope A after decontamination. CONCLUSION: Two pseudo-outbreaks occurred
      in which BAL specimens had been contaminated by reusable bronchoscopes. We cannot
      exclude the potential for colonization of the lower respiratory tract of exposed
      patients. Introduction of single-use bronchoscopes was an effective control
      measure.

PMID- 26876748
TI  - Significant intolerability of efavirenz in HIV occupational postexposure
      prophylaxis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Completion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occupational
      postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is important for successful prophylaxis. AIM: To
      determine factors associated with failure to complete the four-week HIV PEP.
      METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs)
      accidentally exposed to blood or body fluids of patients at the Bamrasnaradura
      Infectious Diseases Institute, Thailand, between March 1996 and June 2014.
      Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with
      failure to complete the four-week HIV PEP. FINDINGS: In total, 225 exposure
      episodes were reported. The mean age of HCWs was 33.1 (standard deviation 9.9)
      years, and 189 (84%) were female. Nurses (43%) were exposed most frequently. The
      HIV status of the source was defined in 149 (66%) episodes, and 101 (68%) of
      these were positive. Of 225 exposures, PEP was prescribed in 155 (69%) cases,
      with intentional discontinuation in 26 cases. Ninety-one of 129 (71%) HCWs
      completed the four-week regimen. Multi-variate analysis showed that a regimen of
      two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) + efavirenz (EFV) was the
      only significant factor associated with non-completion of the four-week course
      (odds ratio 37.8, 95% confidence interval 4.2-342.3; P < 0.01). Other factors
      including age, sex, staff position, status of the source and other PEP regimens
      were not associated with non-completion of the four-week course (P > 0.05). None
      of the HCWs were documented to have HIV seroconversion. CONCLUSION: A regimen of
      two NRTIs + EFV was significantly associated with premature discontinuation of
      occupational PEP. This regimen should not be used for HIV prophylaxis following
      occupational exposure.

PMID- 26876749
TI  - Management of a hospital outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter
      baumannii using a multimodal intervention including daily chlorhexidine baths.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-Ab) is an
      increasingly important cause of healthcare-associated infection. Uncertainties
      remain concerning optimal control measures for healthcare-associated outbreaks.
      AIM: To describe the epidemiology and control of an XDR-Ab outbreak that involved
      multiple units of a large hospital from March 2012 to January 2014. METHODS: Case
      finding included screening of rectum, groin, throat, nose, wounds, iatrogenic
      portals of entry, and catheterized sites. Antimicrobial susceptibility was
      evaluated by disc diffusion and E-test. Resistance genes were detected by
      polymerase chain reaction. Clonality was assessed by pulsed-field gel
      electrophoresis. Charts of cases were reviewed to identify risk factors for
      invasive infection. Control measures included isolation and cohorting of cases,
      hand hygiene reinforcement, environmental decontamination, and source control
      with daily baths using wipes pre-impregnated with chlorhexidine gluconate.
      FINDINGS: A single clonal strain of XDR-Ab colonized or infected 29 patients.
      Five patients died of XDR-Ab bacteraemia. Transmission occurred primarily on two
      wards. Colonization was detected at all anatomical screening sites; only 57%
      (16/28) of cases were rectal carriers. Advanced malignancy was a risk factor for
      bacteraemia (relative risk: 5.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-27.0). Transmission
      ended following implementation of the multimodal control strategy. No additional
      nosocomial cases occurred during the following 20 months. CONCLUSION: Our study
      highlights the need to screen multiple anatomic sites to diagnose carriage and
      identifies risk factors for XDR-Ab bacteraemia. A multimodal intervention that
      included daily chlorhexidine baths for cases was rapidly followed by the
      termination of the outbreak. Hospitals should consider similar interventions when
      managing future XDR-Ab outbreaks.

PMID- 26876751
TI  - Magnesium and manganese binding sites on proteins have the same predominant motif
      of secondary structure.
AB  - Manganese ion (Mn(2+)) can substitute magnesium ion (Mg(2+)) in active sites of
      numerous enzymes. Binding sites for these two ions have been studied in two sets
      of protein 3D structures from the Protein Data Bank with the homology level lower
      than 25%. The structural motif "beta strand - binder - random coil" is
      predominant in both Mn(2+) and Mg(2+) coordination spheres, especially in
      functionally relevant ones. That predominant motif works as an active binder of
      those divalent cations which can then attract additional ligands, such as
      different phosphate-containing compounds. In contrast, such Mg(2+) and Mn(2+)
      binding motif as "GK(T/S)T" being the N-terminal part of alpha helices works as
      an active binder of phosphates which can then attract divalent cations. There are
      few differences between Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) coordination spheres responsible of the
      cation specificity. His residues are underrepresented in certain positions around
      Asp and Glu residues involved in Mg(2+) coordination, while they are
      overrepresented in certain positions around Asp and Glu residues coordinating
      Mn(2+). The random coil region in the "beta strand - random coil - alpha helix"
      motif for Mg(2+) binding is usually shorter than that in the same motif for
      Mn(2+) coordination. This feature is associated with the lower number of binding
      amino acids (and lower levels of usage of such "major" binders as Asp and Glu)
      for Mg(2+) (which is a hard Lewis acid) in comparison with those for Mn(2+) (an
      intermediate Lewis acid). 

PMID- 26876750
TI  - Periodic patterning of the Drosophila eye is stabilized by the diffusible
      activator Scabrous.
AB  - Generation of periodic patterns is fundamental to the differentiation of multiple
      tissues during development. How such patterns form robustly is still unclear. The
      Drosophila eye comprises ~750 units, whose crystalline order is set during
      differentiation of the eye imaginal disc: an activation wave sweeping across the
      disc is coupled to lateral inhibition, sequentially selecting pro-neural cells.
      Using mathematical modelling, here we show that this template-based lateral
      inhibition is highly sensitive to spatial variations in biochemical parameters
      and cell sizes. We reveal the basis of this sensitivity, and suggest that it can
      be overcome by assuming a short-range diffusible activator. Clonal experiments
      identify Scabrous, a previously implicated inhibitor, as the predicted activator.
      Our results reveal the mechanism by which periodic patterning in the fly eye is
      stabilized against spatial variations, highlighting how the need to maintain
      robustness shapes the design of patterning circuits. 

PMID- 26876752
TI  - Maximal gene number maintainable by stochastic correction - The second error
      threshold.
AB  - There is still no general solution to Eigen's Paradox, the chicken-or-egg problem
      of the origin of life: neither accurate copying, nor long genomes could have
      evolved without one another being established beforehand. But an array of small,
      individually replicating genes might offer a workaround, provided that multilevel
      selection assists the survival of the ensemble. There are two key difficulties
      that such a system has to overcome: the non-synchronous replication of genes, and
      their random assortment into daughter cells (the units of higher-level selection)
      upon fission. Here we find, using the Stochastic Corrector Model framework, that
      a large number (tau>=90) of genes can coexist. Furthermore, the system can
      tolerate about 10% replication rate asymmetry (competition) among the genes. On
      this basis, we put forward a plausible (and testable!) scenario for how novel
      genes could have been incorporated into early living systems: a route to complex
      metabolism.

PMID- 26876753
TI  - Efficacy of Schwann cell transplantation for spinal cord repair is improved with
      combinatorial strategies.
AB  - When cells (including Schwann cells; SCs) of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
      could be purified and expanded in number in tissue culture, Richard Bunge in 1975
      envisioned that the SCs could be introduced to repair the central nervous system
      (CNS), as SCs enable axons to regenerate after PNS injury. Importantly,
      autologous human SCs could be transplanted into injured human spinal cord.
      Availability of the new culture systems to study interactions between sensory
      neurons, SCs and fibroblasts increased our knowledge of SC biology in the 1970s
      and '80s. Joining the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in 1989 brought the
      opportunity to use this knowledge to initiate spinal cord repair studies.
      Development of a rat complete spinal cord transection/SC bridge model allowed the
      demonstration that axons regenerate into the SC bridge. Together with study of
      contused rat spinal cord, it was concluded that implanted SCs reduce cavitation,
      protect tissue around the lesion, support axon regeneration and form myelin. SC
      transplantation efficacy was improved when combined with neurotrophins, elevation
      of cyclic AMP levels, olfactory ensheathing cells, a steroid or chondroitinase.
      Increased efficacy meant higher numbers of axons, particularly from the
      brainstem, and more SC-myelinated axons in the implants and improvement in
      hindlimb movements. Human SCs support axon regeneration as do rat SCs. Astrocytes
      at the SC bridge-host spinal cord interfaces play a key role in determining
      whether axons enter the SC milieu. The SC work described here contributed to
      gaining approval from the FDA for an initial autologous human SC clinical trial
      (at the Miami Project) that has been completed and found to be safe.

PMID- 26876754
TI  - Peripheral neurosteroids enhance P2X receptor-induced mechanical allodynia via a
      sigma-1 receptor-mediated mechanism.
AB  - The role of peripheral neurosteroids and their related mechanisms on nociception
      have not been thoroughly investigated. Based on emerging evidence in the
      literature indicating that neurosteroids and their main target receptors, i.e.,
      sigma-1, GABAA and NMDA, affect P2X-induced changes in neuronal activity, this
      study was designed to investigate the effect of peripherally injected
      dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS) on P2X
      receptor-mediated mechanical allodynia in rats. Intraplantar injection of either
      neurosteroids alone did not produced any detectable changes in paw withdrawal
      frequency to the innocuous mechanical stimulation in naive rats. However, When
      DHEAS or PREGS were co-injected with a sub-effective dose of alphabetameATP,
      mechanical allodynia was developed and this was dose dependently blocked by pre
      injection of the P2X antagonist, TNP-ATP. These results demonstrates that DHEAS
      and PREGS potentiate the activity of P2X receptors which results in the
      enhancement of alphabetameATP-induced mechanical allodynia. In order to
      investigate the potential role of peripheral sigma-1, GABAA and NMDA receptors in
      this facilitatory action, we pretreated animals with BD-1047 (a sigma-1
      antagonist), muscimol (a GABAA agonist) or MK-801 (a NMDA antagonist) prior to
      DHEAS or PREGS+alphabetameATP injection. Only BD-1047 effectively prevented the
      facilitatory effects induced by neurosteroids on alphabetameATP-induced
      mechanical allodynia. Collectively, we have shown that peripheral neurosteroids
      potentiate P2X-induced mechanical allodynia and that this action is mediated by
      sigma-1, but not by GABAA nor NMDA, receptors. 

PMID- 26876755
TI  - Metformin prevents cerebellar granule neurons against glutamate-induced
      neurotoxicity.
AB  - Metformin, a wildly used drug for type 2 diabetes, has recently been proven to
      protect a variety of cells from stress including stroke. Glutamate is an
      excitatory neurotransmitter that contributes to excitatory neuronal damage
      involved in stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we
      demonstrated that pretreatment of rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) with
      metformin greatly enhanced cell viability against glutamate-induced
      neurotoxicity. Metformin significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis in glutamate
      treated CGN by reducing cytochrome c releasing, caspase-3 activation and
      phosphorylation of MAP kinases. Our results suggested that metformin was able to
      directly inhibit glutamate induced excitotoxicity in neurons and might be
      beneficial to patients suffered from stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. 

PMID- 26876756
TI  - Ecological momentary assessment of affect and craving in patients in treatment
      for prescription opioid dependence.
AB  - Low positive affect (PA) is likely to contribute to risk of relapse; however, it
      has received relatively little attention in clinical research. This study
      examined the associations among positive affect, negative affect (NA), and
      craving in medically withdrawn patients using ecological momentary assessment
      (EMA). Participants (n=73) provided reports of their PA, NA, and craving 4 times
      a day for an average of 10.47 (SD=3.80) days. Person- and day-level associations
      between PA, NA, and craving were examined using multilevel models. A significant
      interaction emerged between person- and day-level PA such that PA on the day
      level was negatively associated with craving for individuals experiencing low
      mean PA throughout the study. No significant interaction emerged between person-
      and day-level NA. The main effects for both person- and day-level NA were
      significant. Individuals experiencing high NA throughout the study experienced
      higher craving overall and on days when NA was higher than usual, craving was
      also higher. Results suggest that high person- and day-level NA may directly
      contribute to the risk for relapse via increased craving, whereas low day- level
      PA may contribute to risk for relapse among individuals exhibiting low person
      level PA via increased craving on days with lower than average levels of PA for
      those individuals. Given that there is a paucity of research relating low PA to
      craving, continued investigation into how and when low PA creates risk for
      relapse is warranted.

PMID- 26876757
TI  - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes vesicular glutamate transporter 3
      expression and neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion neurons through the
      activation of the transcription factors Etv4 and Etv5.
AB  - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for sensory neuron survival
      and is necessary for vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3) expression.
      Whether the transcription factors Etv4 and Etv5 are involved in these BDNF
      induced effects remains unclear. In the present study, primary cultured dorsal
      root ganglion (DRG) neurons were used to test the link between BDNF and
      transcription factors Etv4 and Etv5 on VGLUT3 expression and neurite outgrowth.
      BDNF promoted the mRNA and protein expression of Etv4 and Etv5 in DRG neurons.
      These effects were blocked by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2
      (ERK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 but not phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor
      LY294002 or phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) inhibitor U73122. Etv4 siRNA and
      Etv5 siRNA effectively blocked the VGLUT3 expression and neurite elongation
      induced by BNDF. The overexpression of Etv4 or Etv5 potentiated the effects of
      BNDF-induced neurite elongation and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), medium
      neurofilament (NF-M), and light neurofilament (NF-L) expression while these
      effects could be inhibited by Etv4 and Etv5 siRNA. These data imply that Etv4 and
      Etv5 are essential transcription factors in modulating BDNF/TrkB signaling
      mediated VGLUT3 expression and neurite outgrowth. BDNF, through the ERK1/2
      signaling pathway, activates Etv4 and Etv5 to initiate GAP-43 expression, promote
      neurofilament (NF) protein expression, induce neurite outgrowth, and mediate
      VGLUT3 expression for neuronal function improvement. The biological effects
      initiated by BDNF/TrkB signaling linked to E26 transformation-specific (ETS)
      transcription factors are important to elucidate neuronal differentiation, axonal
      regeneration, and repair in various pathological states. 

PMID- 26876758
TI  - Resveratrol provides neuroprotection by inhibiting phosphodiesterases and
      regulating the cAMP/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway after stroke in rats.
AB  - Dysfunction of energy metabolism can be a significant and fundamental
      pathophysiological basis for strokes. In studies of both humans and rodents,
      resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, has been reported to provide protection from
      cerebral ischemic injury by regulating expression of silent mating type
      information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1). However, direct evidence
      demonstrating that resveratrol exerts neuroprotection from cerebral ischemia
      injury by decreasing energy consumption is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of
      this study was to elucidate the mechanisms and signaling pathways through which
      resveratrol regulates energy metabolism in the ischemic brain, and to identify
      potential targets of resveratrol. ATP levels in brain tissues were detected by
      high performance liquid chromatography. SIRT1 and the phosphorylation of
      adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (P-AMPK) expressiones were
      evaluated by western blot. Levels of phosphodiesterase (PDEs) and cAMP were
      quantitated by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results showed that
      resveratrol significantly reduced the harmful effects of cerebral ischemic injury
      in vivo. Moreover, levels of ATP, p-AMPK, SIRT1, and cAMP were increased by
      resveratrol and PDE inhibitors. In conclusion, our findings indicate that
      resveratrol provides neuroprotection by inhibiting PDEs and regulating the
      cAMP/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway, which reduces ATP energy consumption during ischemia. 

PMID- 26876759
TI  - Contrasting regional Fos expression in adolescent and young adult rats following
      acute administration of the antidepressant paroxetine.
AB  - Adolescents and adults may respond differently to antidepressants, with poorer
      efficacy and greater probability of adverse effects in adolescents. The
      mechanisms underlying this differential response are largely unknown, but likely
      relate to an interaction between the neural effects of antidepressants and brain
      development. We used Fos immunohistochemistry to examine regional differences in
      adolescent (postnatal day (PND) 28) and young adult (PND 56) male, Wistar rats
      given a single injection of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine
      (10mg/kg). Paroxetine induced widespread Fos expression in both adolescent and
      young adult rats. Commonly affected areas include the bed nucleus of the stria
      terminalis (dorsolateral), medial preoptic area, paraventricular hypothalamic and
      thalamic nuclei and central nucleus of the amygdala. Fos expression was generally
      lower in adolescents with significantly greater Fos expression observed in young
      adults in the prelimbic cortex, supraoptic nucleus, basolateral amygdala, lateral
      parabrachial and Kolliker-Fuse nuclei. However, a small subset of regions showed
      greater adolescent Fos expression including the nucleus accumbens shell, lateral
      habenula and dorsal raphe. Paroxetine increased plasma corticosterone
      concentrations in young adults, but not adolescents. Plasma paroxetine levels
      were not significantly different between the age groups. These results indicate a
      different c-Fos signature of acute paroxetine in adolescent rats, with greater
      activation in key mesolimbic and serotonergic regions, but a more subdued
      cortical, brainstem and hypothalamic response. This suggests that the atypical
      response of adolescents to paroxetine may be related to a blunted neuroendocrine
      response, combined with insufficient top-down regulation of limbic regions
      involved in reward and impulsivity. 

PMID- 26876760
TI  - Synthetic long peptide-based vaccine formulations for induction of cell mediated
      immunity: A comparative study of cationic liposomes and PLGA nanoparticles.
AB  - Nanoparticulate formulations for synthetic long peptide (SLP)-cancer vaccines as
      alternative to clinically used Montanide ISA 51- and squalene-based emulsions are
      investigated in this study. SLPs were loaded into TLR ligand-adjuvanted cationic
      liposomes and PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) to potentially induce cell-mediated immune
      responses. The liposomal and PLGA NP formulations were successfully loaded with
      up to four different compounds and were able to enhance antigen uptake by
      dendritic cells (DCs) and subsequent activation of T cells in vitro. Subcutaneous
      vaccination of mice with the different formulations showed that the SLP-loaded
      cationic liposomes were the most efficient for the induction of functional
      antigen-T cells in vivo, followed by PLGA NPs which were as potent as or even
      more than the Montanide and squalene emulsions. Moreover, after transfer of
      antigen-specific target cells in immunized mice, liposomes induced the highest in
      vivo killing capacity. These findings, considering also the inadequate safety
      profile of the currently clinically used adjuvant Montanide ISA-51, make these
      two particulate, biodegradable delivery systems promising candidates as delivery
      platforms for SLP-based immunotherapy of cancer. 

PMID- 26876761
TI  - Energy restriction impairs dendritic cell development in C57BL/6J mice.
AB  - Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells known for stimulating naive T
      lymphocytes. The sequential stages of DC development from common myeloid
      progenitors have been elucidated in murine bone marrow. Energy-restriction (ER)
      is a pro-longevity dietary intervention with mixed immunological outcomes. The
      objective of this study was to examine the development of DC in adult C57Bl6J
      mice fed a 40% ER diet. We observed increased myeloid progenitors, but decreased
      common DC progenitors, precursor conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC.
      Furthermore, we observed increased macrophages and cells expressing CD169 in the
      bone marrow of ER mice. There was no significant difference in DC subsets from
      unfractionated ER and ad libitum-fed murine bone marrow samples cultured in GM
      CSF-supplemented media or Flt3L-supplemented media. Examining rates of
      proliferation with 6h BrdU incorporation and Ki-67 staining showed these DC
      progenitor populations have different proliferation rates in ER compared with AL
      mice. We show here, for the first time, ER results in altered myelopoiesis
      resulting in reduced DC development but enhanced monocyte/macrophage development
      in steady-state C57Bl6J mice. In conclusion, these data may partially explain
      prior observations of impaired early innate immune responses to primary infection
      such as influenza in ER mice. 

PMID- 26876763
TI  - The impact of nutrients on the aging rate: A complex interaction of demographic,
      environmental and genetic factors.
AB  - Nutrition has a strong influence on the health status of the elderly, with many
      dietary components associated to either an increased risk of disease or to an
      improvement of the quality of life and to a delay of age-related pathologies. A
      direct effect of a reduced caloric intake on the delay of aging phenotypes is
      documented in several organisms. The role of nutrients in the regulation of human
      lifespan is not easy to disentangle, influenced by a complex interaction of
      nutrition with environmental and genetic factors. The individual genetic
      background is fundamental for mediating the effects of nutritional components on
      aging. Classical genetic factors able to influence nutrient metabolism are
      considered those belonging to insulin/insulin growth factor (INS/IGF-1)
      signaling, TOR signaling and Sirtuins, but also genes involved in
      inflammatory/immune response and antioxidant activity can have a major role.
      Considering the worldwide increasing interest in nutrition to prevent age related
      diseases and achieve a healthy aging, in this review we will discuss this complex
      interaction, in the light of metabolic changes occurring with aging, with the aim
      of shedding a light on the enormous complexity of the metabolic scenario
      underlying longevity phenotype. 

PMID- 26876762
TI  - Longitudinal telomere length shortening and cognitive and physical decline in
      later life: The Lothian Birth Cohorts 1936 and 1921.
AB  - Telomere length is hypothesised to be a biological marker of both cognitive and
      physical ageing. Here we measure telomere length, and cognitive and physical
      abilities at mean ages 70, 73 and 76 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936
      (LBC1936), and at mean ages 79, 87, 90 and 92 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort
      1921 (LBC1921). We investigate whether telomere length change predicts change in
      cognitive and physical abilities. In LBC1936 telomere length decreased by an
      average of 65 base pairs per year and in LBC1921 by 69 base pairs per year.
      However, change in telomere length did not predict change in cognitive or
      physical abilities. This study shows that, although cognitive ability, walking
      speed, lung function and grip strength all decline with age, they do so
      independently of telomere length shortening. 

PMID- 26876764
TI  - Impact of the digital revolution on the future of pharmaceutical formulation
      science.
AB  - The ongoing digital revolution is no longer limited to the application of apps on
      the smart phone for daily needs but starts to affect also our professional life
      in formulation science. The software platform F-CAD (Formulation-Computer Aided
      Design) of CINCAP can be used to develop and test in silico capsule and tablet
      formulations. Such an approach allows the pharmaceutical industry to adopt the
      workflow of the automotive and aircraft industry. Thus, the first prototype of
      the drug delivery vehicle is prepared virtually by mimicking the composition
      (particle size distribution of the active drug substance and of the excipients
      within the tablet) and the process such as direct compression to obtain a defined
      porosity. The software is based on a cellular automaton (CA) process mimicking
      the dissolution profile of the capsule or tablet formulation. To take account of
      the type of dissolution equipment and all SOPs (Standard Operation Procedures)
      such as a single punch press to manufacture the tablet, a calibration of the F
      CAD dissolution profile of the virtual tablet is needed. Thus, the virtual tablet
      becomes a copy of the real tablet. This statement is valid for all tablets
      manufactured within the same formulation design space. For this reason, it is
      important to define already for Clinical Phase I the formulation design space and
      to work only within this formulation design space consisting of the composition
      and the processes during all the Clinical Phases. Thus, it is not recommended to
      start with a simple capsule formulation as service dosage form and to change
      later to a market ready tablet formulation. The availability of F-CAD is a
      necessary, but not a sufficient condition to implement the workflow of the
      automotive and aircraft industry for developing and testing drug delivery
      vehicles. For a successful implementation of the new workflow, a harmonization of
      the equipment and the processes between the development and manufacturing
      departments is a must. In this context, the clinical samples for Clinical Phases
      I and II should be prepared with a mechanical simulator of the high-speed rotary
      press used for large batches for Clinical Phases III & IV. If not, the problem of
      working practically and virtually in different formulation design spaces will
      remain causing worldwide annually billion of $ losses according to the study of
      Benson and MacCabe. The harmonization of equipment and processes needs a close
      cooperation between the industrial pharmacist and the pharmaceutical engineer. In
      addition, Virtual Equipment Simulators (VESs) of small and large scale equipment
      for training and computer assisted scale-up would be desirable. A lean and
      intelligent management information and documentation system will improve the
      connectivity between the different work stations. Thus, in future, it may be
      possible to rent at low costs F-CAD as an IT (Information Technology) platform
      based on a cloud computing solution. By the adoption of the workflow of the
      automotive and aircraft industry significant savings, a reduced time to market, a
      lower attrition rate, and a much higher quality of the final marketed dosage form
      can be achieved. 

PMID- 26876765
TI  - The nurse practitioner-client therapeutic encounter: an integrative review of
      interaction in aged and primary care settings.
AB  - AIMS: To review the key features of the nurse practitioner-client interaction in
      the thera-peutic encounter to inform the development of nurse practitioner-led
      memory clinics. BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners spend significant time
      interacting with clients and their families/caregivers yet there is limited
      research on this interaction during therapeutic encounters in aged and primary
      care contexts. DESIGN: Integrative review. DATA SOURCES: Electronic search of
      CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science 2004-2013;
      hand search of the Journal of Advanced Nursing, Journal of the American Academy
      of Nurse Practitioners and Journal of Clinical Nursing. REVIEW METHODS:
      Integrative literature review using Whittemore and Knafl's methodology. RESULTS:
      Ten published studies were included, representing over 900 nurse practitioners
      and their clients. Three key factors of nurse practitioner-client interaction
      were identified: nurse practitioner expertise and the influence of the
      therapeutic encounter context; affirming exchange as a bedrock of communication;
      and high levels of client engagement. In aged and primary care settings, where
      the therapeutic encounter requires and allows longer consultations, such as nurse
      practitioner-led memory clinics, patient-centred approaches can engage clients in
      consultations using a biopsychosocial framework, resulting in improved client
      satisfaction and, potentially, increased adherence to treatment plans. Nurse
      practitioners who are open and respectful, who encourage patients to provide more
      information about their lives and condition and are perceived by the client to be
      empathetic, are providing affirmation to the client. CONCLUSION: Affirming
      interactions are a key feature of successful therapeutic encounters when time and
      context do not allow or warrant the full repertoire of patient-centred
      communication.

PMID- 26876766
TI  - Parietal and occipital encephalocele in same child: A rarest variety of double
      encephalocele.
AB  - An encephalocele is a protrusion of the brain and/or meninges through a defect in
      the skull. Based on the location of the skull defect they are classified into
      sincipital, basal, occipital or parietal varieties. Occurrence of more than one
      Encephalocele in a patient is very rare and very few cases of double
      encephalocele are reported. We report an interesting case where a parietal and an
      occipital encephalocele were present together. The patient was a 2 months boy who
      was brought to us with complaints of two swelling on the scalp since birth.
      Neuroimaging studies confirmed it to be a case of double encephalocele. The
      rarity of the findings prompted us to report this case. The presentation and
      management of the case along with and review of the relevant literature is
      presented. 

PMID- 26876767
TI  - Expanding phenotype of PRRT2 gene mutations: A new case with epilepsy and benign
      myoclonus of early infancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mutations in the gene PRRT2 have been identified in a variety of
      early-onset paroxysmal disorders. To date associations between PRRT2 mutations
      and benign myoclonus of early infancy have not been reported. CLINICAL REPORT: We
      describe a baby affected by PRRT2 mutation and benign infantile epilepsy, with an
      episode of focal status epilepticus. During follow-up he developed benign
      myoclonus of early infancy. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize a pathogenic role of PRRT2
      mutation in inducing benign myoclonus of early infancy, similarly to that at the
      origin of other PRRT2-related paroxysmal movement disorders, such as paroxysmal
      kinesigenic dyskinesia. CONCLUSIONS: Currently the function of PRRT2 is poorly
      understood, even if a marked pleiotropy and variable penetrance of its mutations
      are well known. Our case concurs in expanding the broad clinical spectrum of
      PRRT2-related disorders.

PMID- 26876768
TI  - Safety of levetiracetam among infants younger than 12 months--Results from a
      European multicenter observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the use of the antiepileptic drug (AED)
      levetiracetam for the treatment of infants. AIM: To prospectively evaluate the
      safety of levetiracetam oral solution and its impact on epilepsy severity in
      infants with different seizure types. METHODS: This noninterventional post
      authorization safety study included patients 1-11 months of age. Patients'
      treatment - levetiracetam dose, and addition, withdrawal or changes in the doses
      of concomitant medications and AEDs - was at the discretion of the physician. The
      primary variable was treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). RESULTS: Of 101
      infants, 75 completed and 26 discontinued the study. Mean age was 6.0 months, 50
      were male, most (80%) took 1 >= concomitant AED and had cryptogenic or
      symptomatic epilepsy that was focal (38.6%) or generalized (20.8%), particularly
      frontal lobe epilepsy (20.0%) or West syndrome/infantile spasms (20.0%). Among
      known aetiologies, congenital factors (22.8%) such as dysplastic lesions or
      perinatal events (17.8%) were predominant. Overall, 54.5% of patients had >= 1
      TEAE. Five patients experienced drug-related TEAEs - convulsion, irritability,
      somnolence and hypotonia, all listed in the product label, with the exception of
      hypotonia, which was reported for one patient and resolved without any change in
      study medication. Seven patients discontinued due to TEAEs, mainly due to
      infantile spasms and respiratory disorders. At study end, 71.8% of patients
      showed improvement in epilepsy severity, 18.8% remained stable and 9.4% showed
      worsening. Levetiracetam did not appear to have a negative effect on growth
      parameters. CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, which included the largest
      number of patients in this age range so far, levetiracetam was found to be well
      tolerated and efficacious for the treatment of infants with epilepsy.

PMID- 26876769
TI  - Long-term motor, cognitive and behavioral outcome of acute disseminated
      encephalomyelitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term motor and
      neurocognitive outcome of children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and
      to identify prognostic risk factors. METHODS: The study included 43 children who
      were hospitalized due to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis during the years
      2002-2012. The children underwent full neurological examinations, along with
      comprehensive neurocognitive and behavioral assessments. RESULTS: Twenty-six
      (61%) children had different degrees of neurological sequelae after a mean follow
      up of 5.5 +/- 3.5 years. The most common residual impairment included attention
      deficit hyperactivity disorder (44%), behavioral problems (32%), and learning
      disabilities (21%). Five (12%) children had a full-scale IQ of 70 or less,
      compared to 2.2% in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Neurocognitive sequelae
      were found even in children who were considered as fully recovered at the time of
      discharge. Risk factors for severe neurological sequelae were older age at
      diagnosis and male gender. We suggest neuropsychological testing and long-term
      follow-up for all children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, even in the
      absence of neurological deficits at discharge.

PMID- 26876770
TI  - Neutrophil extracellular Taps play an important role in clearance of
      Streptococcus suis in vivo.
AB  - Streptococcus suis infection induces formation of neutrophil extracellular traps
      (NETs) in vitro; however, the contribution of NETs-mediated killing to the
      pathogenesis of S. suis in vivo is yet to be elicited. The findings of the
      present study indicated that extracellular DNA fiber can be induced in a murine
      model in response to S. suis infection. A nuclease that destroys their structure
      was used to evaluate the role of NETs on S. suis infection. Treatment with
      nuclease resulted in a greater bacteria load and higher serum TNF-alpha
      concentrations in response to S. suis infection, indicating that NETs structure
      played an essential role in S. suis clearance and inflammation. Furthermore,
      nuclease treatment resulted in more severe clinical signs during and higher
      mortality from S. suis infection. These findings indicated that NETs structure
      contributes to protection against S. suis infection.

PMID- 26876771
TI  - Sensitizing Future Health Professionals to Determinants of Childhood Obesity.
AB  - Long-term solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic will require concerted
      interdisciplinary efforts that are sensitive to both individual and social
      determinants of health. The Junior Doctors of Health(c) (JDOH) program involves
      interprofessional education (IPE) with university students from health science
      fields (e.g., medicine, pharmacy, social work, public health) who deliver an
      interactive program in teams to at-risk school-aged youth. The purpose of this
      study was to assess the impact of participation in the JDOH IPE program on
      university students' beliefs about childhood obesity. Fifty-three of the 71
      health sciences students enrolled in the JDOH IPE program between 2011 and 2013
      participated in this study. Pre- and post-surveys assessed students' beliefs
      about the importance, causes of, and responsibility for reducing childhood
      obesity with both closed- and open-ended questions. In 2013, quantitative data
      were analyzed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests and qualitative data
      were analyzed through open coding to identify emergent themes. Results indicate
      that after participation in the JDOH IPE program, students' identification of
      social and environmental causes of childhood obesity increased significantly.
      Further, students' ranking of the importance of obesity was initially higher than
      those of different issues typically portrayed as social or environmental (e.g.,
      youth violence) but it was similarly ranked after participation in JDOH. This
      suggests a greater sensitivity to social and environmental challenges faced by
      youth. Findings suggest that IPE experiences that bring clinical and community
      oriented health professions together to engage with disadvantaged youth foster
      sensitivity to the complexities of childhood obesity in low-income settings.

PMID- 26876773
TI  - Spontaneous cooperation for prosocials, but not for proselfs: Social value
      orientation moderates spontaneous cooperation behavior.
AB  - Cooperation is essential for the success of societies and there is an ongoing
      debate whether individuals have therefore developed a general spontaneous
      tendency to cooperate or not. Findings that cooperative behavior is related to
      shorter decision times provide support for the spontaneous cooperation effect,
      although contrary results have also been reported. We show that cooperative
      behavior is better described as person * situation interaction, in that there is
      a spontaneous cooperation effect for prosocial but not for proself persons. In
      three studies, one involving population representative samples from the US and
      Germany, we found that cooperation in a public good game is dependent on an
      interaction between individuals' social value orientation and decision time.
      Increasing deliberation about the dilemma situation does not affect persons that
      are selfish to begin with, but it is related to decreasing cooperation for
      prosocial persons that gain positive utility from outcomes of others and score
      high on the related general personality trait honesty/humility. Our results
      demonstrate that the spontaneous cooperation hypothesis has to be qualified in
      that it is limited to persons with a specific personality and social values.
      Furthermore, they allow reconciling conflicting previous findings by identifying
      an important moderator for the effect.

PMID- 26876772
TI  - Revisiting the Rise of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Using Search Query
      Surveillance.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Public perceptions of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)
      remain poorly understood because surveys are too costly to regularly implement
      and, when implemented, there are long delays between data collection and
      dissemination. Search query surveillance has bridged some of these gaps. Herein,
      ENDS' popularity in the U.S. is reassessed using Google searches. METHODS: ENDS
      searches originating in the U.S. from January 2009 through January 2015 were
      disaggregated by terms focused on e-cigarette (e.g., e-cig) versus vaping (e.g.,
      vapers); their geolocation (e.g., state); the aggregate tobacco control measures
      corresponding to their geolocation (e.g., clean indoor air laws); and by terms
      that indicated the searcher's potential interest (e.g., buy e-cigs likely
      indicates shopping)-all analyzed in 2015. RESULTS: ENDS searches are rapidly
      increasing in the U.S., with 8,498,000 searches during 2014 alone. Increasingly,
      searches are shifting from e-cigarette- to vaping-focused terms, especially in
      coastal states and states where anti-smoking norms are stronger. For example,
      nationally, e-cigarette searches declined 9% (95% CI=1%, 16%) during 2014
      compared with 2013, whereas vaping searches increased 136% (95% CI=97%, 186%),
      even surpassing e-cigarette searches. Additionally, the percentage of ENDS
      searches related to shopping (e.g., vape shop) nearly doubled in 2014, whereas
      searches related to health concerns (e.g., vaping risks) or cessation (e.g., quit
      smoking with e-cigs) were rare and declined in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: ENDS popularity
      is rapidly growing and evolving. These findings could inform survey questionnaire
      development for follow-up investigation and immediately guide policy debates
      about how the public perceives the health risks or cessation benefits of ENDS.

PMID- 26876774
TI  - Corrigendum: Irisin promotes osteoblast proliferation and differentiation via
      activating the MAP kinase signaling pathways.

PMID- 26876775
TI  - Effects of operational parameters on dark fermentative hydrogen production from
      biodegradable complex waste biomass.
AB  - This work aimed to investigate the effect of the initial pH, combination of food
      to microorganism ratio (F/M) and initial pH, substrate pre-treatment and
      different inoculum sources on the dark fermentative biohydrogen (H2) yields.
      Three model complex waste biomasses (food waste, olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and
      rice straw) were used to assess the effect of the aforementioned parameters. The
      effect of the initial pH between 4.5 and 7.0 was investigated in batch tests
      carried out with food waste. The highest H2 yields were shown at initial pH 4.5
      (60.6 +/- 9.0 mL H2/g VS) and pH 5.0 (50.7 +/- 0.8 mL H2/g VS). Furthermore,
      tests carried out with F/M ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 at initial pH 5.0 and 6.5
      revealed that a lower F/M ratio (0.5 and 1.0) favored the H2 production at an
      initial pH 5.0 compared to pH 6.5. Alkaline pre-treatment of raw rice straw using
      4% and 8% NaOH at 55 degrees C for 24h, increased the H2 yield by 26 and 57-fold,
      respectively. In the dark fermentation of OMWW, the H2 yield was doubled when
      heat-shock pre-treated activated sludge was used as inoculum in comparison to
      anaerobic sludge. Overall, this study shows that the application of different
      operating parameters to maximize the H2 yields strongly depends on the
      biodegradability of the substrate.

PMID- 26876776
TI  - Stabilization/solidification of lead in MSWI fly ash with mercapto functionalized
      dendrimer Chelator.
AB  - This work compares the performance of stabilizing Pb by Sodium sulfide (Na2S),
      Sodium phosphate (Na3PO4), thiourea (H2NCSNH2), and mercapto functionalized
      dendrimer (TEPA-SNa) in MSWI fly ash, including leaching toxicity analysis and
      leaching behavior analysis, as a function of pH. The leaching toxicity in fly ash
      indicated that leaching value of Pb stabilized by Na2S, Na3PO4, and H2NCSNH2 has
      remained higher than the limit value (0.25mg/L) with a dosage of 10%. However,
      the leaching value associated with TEPA-SNa approaches zero at a dosage of 3%.
      The effective leaching test results showed the leaching amount of Pb stabilized
      by TEPA-SNa with a dosage of 3% to be 3.58 mg/kg less than the maximum allowable
      amount of leaching (5mg/kg), but the amount of Pb leached by Na2S, Na3PO4, and
      H2NCSNH2 was much higher than 5mg/kg. The leaching behavior of Pb as a function
      of pH showed that the leaching concentration of Pb stabilized by TEPA-SNa can
      approach zero at a dosage of 5% no matter how the pH changes. In summary, TEPA
      SNa can interact with Pb(2+) in the acid-base environment and effectively
      immobilize Pb(2+) in fly ash in the long term.

PMID- 26876777
TI  - Preliminary investigation on the thermal conversion of automotive shredder
      residue into value-added products: Graphitic carbon and nano-ceramics.
AB  - Large increasing production volumes of automotive shredder residue (ASR) and its
      hazardous content have raised concerns worldwide. ASR has a desirable calorific
      value, making its pyrolysis a possible, environmentally friendly and economically
      viable solution. The present work focuses on the pyrolysis of ASR at temperatures
      between 950 and 1550 degrees C. Despite the high temperatures, the energy
      consumption can be minimized as the decomposition of ASR can be completed within
      a short time. In this study, the composition of ASR was investigated. ASR was
      found to contain about 3% Ti and plastics of high calorific value such as
      polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate and polyurethane. Based on
      thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of ASR, the non-isothermal degradation kinetic
      parameters were determined using Coats-Redfern's and Freeman and Carroll methods.
      The evolved gas analysis indicated that the CH4 was consumed by the reduction of
      some oxides in ASR. The reduction reactions and the presence of Ti, silicates, C
      and N in ASR at 1550 degrees C favor the formation of specific ceramics such as
      TiN and SiC. The presence of nano-ceramics along with a highly-crystalline
      graphitic carbon in the pyrolysis residues obtained at 1550 degrees C was
      confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD)
      and Raman imaging microscope (RIM) analyses. 

PMID- 26876778
TI  - Sensitivity-to-change and validity of semi-automatic joint space width
      measurements in hand osteoarthritis: a follow-up study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess sensitivity-to-change and validity of longitudinal
      quantitative semi-automatic joint space width (JSW) measurements and to compare
      this method with semi-quantitative joint space narrowing (JSN) scoring in hand
      osteoarthritis (OA) patients. DESIGN: Baseline and 2-year follow-up radiographs
      of 56 hand OA patients (mean age 62 years, 86% women) were used. JSN was scored 0
      3 using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas and JSW was
      quantified in millimetres (mm) in the second to fifth distal, proximal
      interphalangeal and metacarpal joints (DIPJs, PIPJs, MCPJs). Sensitivity-to
      change was evaluated by calculating Standardized Response Means (SRMs). Change in
      JSW or JSN above the Smallest Detectable Difference (SDD) defined progression on
      joint level. To assess construct validity, progressed joints were compared by
      cross-tabulation and by associating baseline ultrasound variables with
      progression (using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for age and sex).
      RESULTS: The JSW method detected statistically significant mean changes over 2.6
      years (-0.027 mm (95%CI -0.01; -0.04), -0.024 mm (-0.01; -0.03), -0.021 mm (
      0.01; -0.03) for DIPJs, PIPJs, MCPJs, respectively). Sensitivity-to-change was
      low (SRMs: 0.174, 0.168, 0.211, respectively). 9.1% (121/1336) of joints
      progressed in JSW, but 3.6% (48/1336) widened. 83 (6.2%) joints progressed in JSW
      only, 36 (2.7%) in JSN only and 37 (2.8%) in both methods. Progression in JSW
      showed weaker associations with baseline inflammatory ultrasound features than
      progression in JSN. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of progression in hand OA defined by
      JSW measurements is possible, but performs less well than progression defined by
      JSN scoring. Therefore, the value of JSW measurements in hand OA clinical trials
      remains questionable.

PMID- 26876779
TI  - Lateral habenula integration of proactive and retroactive information mediates
      behavioral flexibility.
AB  - The lateral habenula (LHb) is known to play an important role in signaling
      aversive or adverse events that have happened or are predicted by cues under
      Pavlovian conditions. In rodents, it is also required for behavioral flexibility
      when changes in reward outcomes signal that strategies should be changed. It is
      not known whether the LHb also controls appetitive behaviors when an animal is
      able to utilize external cues proactively to guide upcoming decisions. In order
      to test this, male Long-Evans rats were trained to switch between two arms of a
      figure eight maze based on the tone presented prior to the choice. Importantly,
      the tones were switched every three to six trials so rats were able establish a
      response pattern before being required to switch. This caused rats to rely on
      both proactive (tones) and retroactive information (reward feedback) to guide
      behavior. Inactivation of the LHb with the GABA agonists baclofen and muscimol
      impaired overall performance by increasing both errors when the tones are
      switched (switch errors) as well as on subsequent trials (perseverative errors)
      indicating that both proactive and retroactive information are utilized by the
      LHb to guide behavioral flexibility. Once a correct choice was made in a given
      block, LHb inactivated rats did not make more errors than controls. A control
      study revealed that the LHb is not required for tone or reward magnitude
      discrimination per se. These results demonstrate for the first time that the LHb
      contributes to behavioral flexibility through utilizing both proactive and
      retroactive information when performing appetitive tasks.

PMID- 26876780
TI  - Spectral variation of fluorescence lifetime near single metal nanoparticles.
AB  - We explore the spectral dependence of fluorescence enhancement and the associated
      lifetime modification of fluorescent molecules coupled to single metal
      nanoparticles. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and single-particle dark
      field spectroscopy are combined to correlate the dependence of fluorescence
      lifetime reduction on the spectral overlap between the fluorescence emission and
      the localised surface plasmon (LSP) spectra of individual gold nanoparticles. A
      maximum lifetime reduction is observed when the fluorescence and LSP resonances
      coincide, with good agreement provided by numerical simulations. The explicit
      comparison between experiment and simulation, that we obtain, offers an insight
      into the spectral engineering of LSP mediated fluorescence and may lead to
      optimized application in sensing and biomedicine. 

PMID- 26876781
TI  - Exploring interactions between pathogens and the Drosophila gut.
AB  - Gastrointestinal infection can provoke substantial disturbance at both a local as
      well as at a systemic level and may evolve into a chronic disease state. Our
      growing knowledge of gut-pathogen interactions has been based to a large extent
      on the use of genetically tractable model hosts such as the fruit fly Drosophila
      melanogaster. In this review we will summarise the growing literature and
      critically address the advantages and disadvantages of using this model to
      extrapolate results from studying pathogen virulence and intestinal responses to
      humans.

PMID- 26876782
TI  - Tungiasis in Italy: An imported case of Tunga penetrans and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Tungiasis is an animal and human parasitic disease caused by fleas of the genus
      Tunga (Siphonaptera, Tungidae), endemic in equatorial and subtropical regions and
      rarely described in European countries, where clinicians and general pathologists
      could be not aware of this parasitic disease. To our knowledge, only 75 cases of
      human tungiasis (not all described in detail) were previously reported in Italy.
      We described a new case in a 34-year-old Italian flight attendant who developed a
      granuloma-like, ulcerated nodule in the subungual region of his left 5th toe,
      partially detaching the nail, about 20-30 days after his return from Brazil. We
      performed a detailed review of the literature of the Italian cases, suggesting
      the use of histochemical stains (especially Trichrome stain) in order to
      underline parasitic details. Tourism in endemic regions and globalization may
      result in new cases in developed countries and previously unaffected regions,
      therefore pathologists should consider this parasitic disease. 

PMID- 26876783
TI  - Liposomal nanocarriers for plasminogen activators.
AB  - Several plasminogen activators (PAs) have been found effective in treating
      different thromboembolic diseases. However, administration of conventional
      thrombolytic therapy is limited by a low efficacy of present formulations of PAs.
      Conventional treatments using these therapeutic proteins are associated with
      several limitations including rapid inactivation and clearance, short half-life,
      bleeding complications or non-specific tissue targeting. Liposome-based
      formulations of PAs such as streptokinase, tissue-plasminogen activator and
      urokinase have been developed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of these
      proteins. Resulting liposomal formulations were found to preserve the original
      activity of PAs, promote their selective delivery and improve thrombus targeting.
      Therapeutic potential of these liposome-based PAs has been demonstrated
      successfully in various pre-clinical models in vivo. Reductions in unwanted side
      effects (e.g., hemorrhage or immunogenicity) as well as enhancements of efficacy
      and safety were achieved in comparison to currently existing treatment options
      based on conventional formulations of PAs. This review summarizes present
      achievements in: (i) preparation of liposome-based formulations of various PAs,
      (ii) development of PEGylated and targeted liposomal PAs, (iii) physico-chemical
      characterization of these developed systems, and (iv) testing of their
      thrombolytic efficacy. We also look to the future and the imminent arrival of
      theranostic liposomal formulations to move this field forward. 

PMID- 26876784
TI  - Perioperative blood ordering optimization process using information from an
      anesthesia information management system.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As part of ongoing perioperative surgical home implantation process,
      we applied a previously published algorithm for creation of a maximum surgical
      blood order schedule (MSBOS) to our operating rooms. We hypothesized that using
      the MSBOS we could show a reduction in unnecessary preoperative blood testing and
      associated costs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data regarding all surgical cases
      done at UC Irvine Health's operating rooms from January 1, 2011, to January 1,
      2014 were extracted from the anesthesia information management systems (AIMS).
      After the data were organized into surgical specialties and operative sites,
      blood order recommendations were generated based on five specific case
      characteristics of the group. Next, we assessed current ordering practices in
      comparison to actual blood utilization to identify potential areas of wastage and
      performed a cost analysis comparing the annual hospital costs from preoperative
      blood orders if the blood order schedule were to be followed to historical
      practices. RESULTS: Of the 19,138 patients who were categorized by the MSBOS as
      needing no blood sample, 2694 (14.0%) had a type and screen (T/S) ordered and
      1116 (5.8%) had a type and crossmatch ordered. Of the 6073 procedures where MSBOS
      recommended only a T/S, 2355 (38.8%) had blood crossmatched. The cost analysis
      demonstrated an annual reduction in actual hospital costs of $57,335 with the
      MSBOS compared to historical blood ordering practices. CONCLUSION: We showed that
      the algorithm for development of a multispecialty blood order schedule is
      transferable and yielded reductions in preoperative blood product screening at
      our institution.

PMID- 26876785
TI  - Corrigendum: Basolateral amygdala rapid glutamate release encodes an outcome
      specific representation vital for reward-predictive cues to selectively
      invigorate reward-seeking actions.

PMID- 26876786
TI  - Histone deacetylase inhibitors suppress mutant p53 transcription via HDAC8/YY1
      signals in triple negative breast cancer cells.
AB  - There is an urgent need to investigate the potential targeted therapy approach
      for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our present study reveals that histone
      deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) suberoyl anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and
      sodium butyrate (NaB) significantly inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycle
      at G0/G1 phase, and induce mitochondrial related apoptosis of TNBC cells.
      Further, SAHA and NaB decrease the phosphorylation, protein and mRNA levels of
      mutant p53 (mtp53) in TNBC cells. While SAHA or NaB has no similar inhibition
      effect on wild type p53 (wtp53). The inhibition apparently occurs at the level of
      transcription because the down regulation of precursor p53 transcription is much
      more rapid (less than 2h) and sharp than that of mature p53. The knockdown of
      HDAC8, while not HDAC6, inhibits the transcription of mtp53 in TNBC cells. The
      luciferase assay and ChIP analysis reveal that both SAHA and NaB can reduce the
      binding of transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) with the -102 to -96 position of
      human p53 promoter. Knockdown of YY1 also significantly inhibits the
      transcription of mtp53 in TNBC cells. Further, SAHA and NaB can inhibit the
      association of HDAC8 and YY1, increase acetylation of residues 170-200 of YY1,
      then decrease its transcription activities, and finally suppress YY1 induced p53
      transcription. Together, our data establish that SAHA and NaB can be considered
      as drug candidates for TNBC patients, and HDAC8/YY1/mtp53 signals act as an
      important target for TNBC treatment. 

PMID- 26876787
TI  - Extracellular-signal regulated kinase (Erk1/2), mitogen-activated protein kinase
      activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) and tristetraprolin (TTP) comprehensively
      regulate injury-induced immediate early gene (IEG) response in in vitro liver
      organ culture.
AB  - Differentiated hepatocytes are long-lived and normally do not undergo cell
      division, however they have the unique capacity to autonomously decide their
      replication fate after liver injury. In this context, the key players of liver
      regeneration immediately after injury have not been adequately studied. Using an
      in vitro liver culture system, we show that after liver injury, p38 mitogen
      activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated
      protein kinase 2 (MK2) and extracellular-signal regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 were
      activated within 15 min and continued to be phosphorylated for more than 2h. Both
      p38MAPK and Erk1/2 were activated at the edge of the cut as well as on the liver
      surface where the mesothelial cell sheet expresses several cytokines. Notably, in
      human liver Erk1/2 was also activated under the mesothelial cell sheet shortly
      after liver resections. Furthermore, in in vitro liver slice culture immediate
      early genes (IEGs) were upregulated within 1-2 h and the S phase marker
      proliferation-cell-nuclear-antigen (PCNA) appeared 24 h after injury. Although
      Erk1/2 was activated after injury, in MK2 depleted liver a set of IEGs, such as
      Dusp1, Cox2, or c-Myc and proliferation marker gene Ki67 were not induced. In
      addition, in immortalized hepatocyte cells, THLE-2, the same subset of genes was
      upregulated upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not in the
      presence of MK2 inhibitor. The protein level of tristetraprolin (TTP), a
      substrate for MK2 that plays a role in mRNA degradation, was increased in the
      presence of MK2 inhibitor. In this context, the depletion of TTP gene rescued
      Dusp1, Cox2, or c-Myc upregulation in the presence of MK2 inhibitor. These data
      imply that MK2 pathway is positively involved in Erk1/2 induced IEG response
      after liver injury. These data also suggest that in vitro liver culture may be a
      useful tool for measuring the proliferation potential of hepatocytes in
      individual liver.

PMID- 26876788
TI  - pH sensitive coiled coils: a strategy for enhanced liposomal drug delivery.
AB  - Stimuli responsive controlled release from liposome based vesicles is a promising
      strategy for the site specific delivery of drugs. Herein, we report the design of
      pH sensitive coiled coils and their incorporation into the liposome as triggers
      for the controlled release of encapsulated drugs. The designed coiled coil
      peptides with the incorporation of environment sensitive fluorescent amino acids
      were found to be stable at physiological pH and unstructured while changing the
      pH of the environment to either acidic or basic. This pH dependent conformational
      switch of the coiled-coil polypeptides was exploited as triggers for the enhanced
      release of the encapsulated drug molecules from liposomes. The SEM, DLS and TEM
      analysis revealed the uniform morphology of the peptide liposome hybrid vesicles.
      Further, the drug encapsulated liposome internalization experiments with cancer
      cells revealed the enhanced release and accumulation of drugs in the acidic
      lysosomal compartments in comparison with liposomes without coiled coils. 

PMID- 26876789
TI  - Simulation shows that HLA-matched stem cell donors can remain unidentified in
      donor searches.
AB  - The heterogeneous nature of HLA information in real-life stem cell donor
      registries may hamper unrelated donor searches. It is even possible that fully
      HLA-matched donors with incomplete HLA information are not identified. In our
      simulation study, we estimated the probability of these unnecessarily failed
      donor searches. For that purpose, we carried out donor searches in several
      virtual donor registries. The registries differed by size, composition with
      respect to HLA typing levels, and genetic diversity. When up to three virtual HLA
      typing requests were allowed within donor searches, the share of unnecessarily
      failed donor searches ranged from 1.19% to 4.13%, thus indicating that non
      identification of completely HLA-matched stem cell donors is a problem of
      practical relevance. The following donor registry characteristics were positively
      correlated with the share of unnecessarily failed donor searches: large registry
      size, high genetic diversity, and, most strongly correlated, large fraction of
      registered donors with incomplete HLA typing. Increasing the number of virtual
      HLA typing requests within donor searches up to ten had a smaller effect. It
      follows that the problem of donor non-identification can be substantially reduced
      by complete high-resolution HLA typing of potential donors. 

PMID- 26876790
TI  - Cell therapy licensing: a web for the unwary in Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment?

PMID- 26876791
TI  - Don't Be a One-Trick Pony.

PMID- 26876792
TI  - Directed block copolymer self-assembly implemented via surface-embedded
      electrets.
AB  - Block copolymer (BCP) nanolithography is widely recognized as a promising
      complementary approach to circumvent the feature size limits of conventional
      photolithography. The directed self-assembly of BCP thin film to form ordered
      nanostructures with controlled orientation and localized pattern has been the key
      challenge for practical nanolithography applications. Here we show that BCP
      nanopatterns can be directed on localized surface electrets defined by electron
      beam irradiation to realize diverse features in a simple, effective and non
      destructive manner. Charged electrets can generate a built-in electric field in
      BCP thin film and induce the formation of perpendicularly oriented microdomain of
      BCP film. The electret-directed orientation control of BCP film can be either
      integrated with mask-based patterning technique or realized by electron-beam
      direct-writing method to fabricate microscale arbitrary lateral patterns down to
      single BCP cylinder nanopattern. The electret-directed BCP self-assembly could
      provide an alternative means for BCP-based nanolithography, with high resolution.

PMID- 26876793
TI  - Prostate-specific antigen lowering effect of metabolic syndrome is influenced by
      prostate volume.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of metabolic syndrome on prostate
      specific antigen levels by considering prostate volume and plasma volume.
      METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 4111 men who underwent routine check-ups
      including prostate-specific antigen and transrectal ultrasonography. The
      definition of metabolic syndrome was based on the modified Adult Treatment Panel
      III criteria. Prostate-specific antigen mass density (prostate-specific antigen *
      plasma volume / prostate volume) was calculated for adjusting plasma volume and
      prostate volume. We compared prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific
      antigen mass density levels of participants with metabolic syndrome (metabolic
      syndrome group, n = 1242) and without metabolic syndrome (non-prostate-specific
      antigen metabolic syndrome group, n = 2869). To evaluate the impact of metabolic
      syndrome on prostate-specific antigen, linear regression analysis for the natural
      logarithm of prostate-specific antigen was used. RESULTS: Patients in the
      metabolic syndrome group had significantly older age (P < 0.001), larger prostate
      volume (P < 0.001), higher plasma volume (P < 0.001) and lower mean serum
      prostate-specific antigen (non-metabolic syndrome group vs metabolic syndrome
      group; 1.22 +/- 0.91 vs 1.15 +/- 0.76 ng/mL, P = 0.006). Prostate-specific
      antigen mass density in the metabolic syndrome group was still significantly
      lower than that in the metabolic syndrome group (0.124 +/- 0.084 vs 0.115 +/-
      0.071 MUg/mL, P = 0.001). After adjusting for age, prostate volume and plasma
      volume using linear regression model, the presence of metabolic syndrome was a
      significant independent factor for lower prostate-specific antigen (prostate
      specific antigen decrease by 4.1%, P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Prostate-specific
      antigen levels in patients with metabolic syndrome seem to be lower, and this
      finding might be affected by the prostate volume.

PMID- 26876794
TI  - The incretin effect in healthy individuals and those with type 2 diabetes:
      physiology, pathophysiology, and response to therapeutic interventions.
AB  - The incretin effect describes the phenomenon whereby oral glucose elicits higher
      insulin secretory responses than does intravenous glucose, despite inducing
      similar levels of glycaemia, in healthy individuals. This effect, which is
      uniformly defective in patients with type 2 diabetes, is mediated by the gut
      derived incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and
      glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The importance of the incretin effect for the
      maintenance of glucose homoeostasis is clearly established, and incretin-based
      therapies are among the most promising new therapies for type 2 diabetes.
      However, despite the effectiveness of these therapies in many patients, the idea
      that they restore the incretin effect is a common misconception. In type 2
      diabetes, the endocrine pancreas remains responsive to GLP-1 but is no longer
      responsive to GIP, which is the most likely reason for a reduced or absent
      incretin effect. Incretin-based drugs, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and
      dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, stimulate GLP-1 receptors and thus
      augment insulin secretion in response to both oral and intravenous glucose
      stimulation, thereby abolishing any potential difference in the responses to
      these stimuli. These drugs therefore do not restore the defective incretin effect
      in patients. By contrast, some bariatric surgical procedures enhance GLP-1
      responses and also restore the incretin effect in obese individuals with type 2
      diabetes. Thus, not all biological actions elicited by the stimulation of GLP-1
      receptors lead to quantitative changes to the incretin effect.

PMID- 26876795
TI  - Metabolic disorders: how can systems modelling help?

PMID- 26876796
TI  - Occam's Quantum Strop: Synchronizing and Compressing Classical Cryptic Processes
      via a Quantum Channel.
AB  - A stochastic process' statistical complexity stands out as a fundamental
      property: the minimum information required to synchronize one process generator
      to another. How much information is required, though, when synchronizing over a
      quantum channel? Recent work demonstrated that representing causal similarity as
      quantum state-indistinguishability provides a quantum advantage. We generalize
      this to synchronization and offer a sequence of constructions that exploit
      extended causal structures, finding substantial increase of the quantum
      advantage. We demonstrate that maximum compression is determined by the process'
      cryptic order--a classical, topological property closely allied to Markov order,
      itself a measure of historical dependence. We introduce an efficient algorithm
      that computes the quantum advantage and close noting that the advantage comes at
      a cost-one trades off prediction for generation complexity.

PMID- 26876797
TI  - Ac-susceptibility investigations of superspin blocking and freezing in
      interacting magnetic nanoparticle ensembles.
AB  - We have investigated the effect of dipolar interactions on the superspin blocking
      and freezing of 9 nm average size Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle ensembles. Our
      dynamic susceptibility data reveals a two-regime behavior of the blocking
      temperature, T(B), upon diluting a Fe3O4/hexane magnetic fluid. As the
      nanoparticle volume ratio, Phi, is reduced from an as-prepared reference Phi = 1
      to Phi = 1/96, the blocking temperature decreases from 46.1 K to 34.2 K, but
      higher values reenter upon further diluting the magnetic fluid to Phi = 1/384
      (where T(B) = 42.5 K). We found evidence that cooling below T B within the higher
      concentration range (Phi > 1/48) leads to the collective freezing of the
      superspins, whereas individual superspin blocking occurs in the presence of
      weaker interactions (Phi < 1/96). The unexpected increase of the blocking
      temperature with the decrease of the inter-particle interactions observed at low
      nanoparticle concentrations is well described by the Morup-Tronc model.

PMID- 26876798
TI  - Sarcopenia and survival in patients undergoing pancreatic resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that lean core muscle area may predict
      outcomes from major abdominal surgeries. Pancreatic resections have been
      independently analyzed less frequently. METHODS: Pancreatic resections from 2005
      to 2012 were reviewed. Sarcopenia was defined as the lowest tertile for lean
      psoas muscle area (LPMA). Preoperative risk factors, including comorbidities,
      albumin, weight loss, age and gender, were analyzed with a primary endpoint of
      overall survival. Secondary endpoints included complications, discharge
      destination and readmission. RESULTS: The study sample of 270 patients had
      complications in 42% of patients, with 26% developing serious complication. The
      majority (80%) were discharged home, and 1.9% died in the peri-operative period.
      The mean length of follow up was 31.2 months (range 0-94), and 37% required at
      least one readmission. LPMA was predictive of discharge destination for females
      (p = 0.038). Sarcopenia was predictive of readmission in males, compared to
      subjects in the second LPMA tertile (HR 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-0.9). In all male
      subjects, including a subset with adenocarcinoma, patients with sarcopenia were
      more likely to die than males in the highest LPMA tertile (HR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4
      4.8 and HR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.9, respectively). In all patients with pancreatic
      ductal adenocarcinoma, transfusion (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4) and positive
      margins (HR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2-3.3) were the only factors predictive of overall
      survival. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia appears to be a predictor of overall survival
      in male patients undergoing pancreatic resections, but not specifically for
      patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. As prospective data in future
      studies are identified, sarcopenia may become a useful tool in predicting
      outcomes.

PMID- 26876799
TI  - Automated spectrophotometric bicarbonate analysis in duodenal juice compared to
      the back titration method.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We have recently evaluated a short endoscopic secretin test for
      exocrine pancreatic function. Bicarbonate concentration in duodenal juice is an
      important parameter in this test. Measurement of bicarbonate by back titration as
      the gold standard method is time consuming, expensive and technically difficult,
      thus a simplified method is warranted. We aimed to evaluate an automated
      spectrophotometric method in samples spanning the effective range of bicarbonate
      concentrations in duodenal juice. We also evaluated if freezing of samples before
      analyses would affect its results. METHODS: Patients routinely examined with
      short endoscopic secretin test suspected to have decreased pancreatic function of
      various reasons were included. Bicarbonate in duodenal juice was quantified by
      back titration and automatic spectrophotometry. Both fresh and thawed samples
      were analysed spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: 177 samples from 71 patients were
      analysed. Correlation coefficient of all measurements was r = 0.98 (p < 0.001).
      Correlation coefficient of fresh versus frozen samples conducted with automatic
      spectrophotometry (n = 25): r = 0.96 (p < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of
      bicarbonate in fresh and thawed samples by automatic spectrophotometrical
      analysis correlates excellent with the back titration gold standard. This is a
      major simplification of direct pancreas function testing, and allows a wider
      distribution of bicarbonate testing in duodenal juice. Extreme values for
      Bicarbonate concentration achieved by the autoanalyser method have to be
      interpreted with caution.

PMID- 26876800
TI  - Pharmacological therapies for infantile hemangiomas: A clinical study in 853
      consecutive patients using a standard treatment algorithm.
AB  - Infantile hemangiomas are the most common infantile benign vascular tumor. While
      most infantile hemangiomas proliferate then involute, some may persist and
      require treatment for reasons including risk of disfigurement or functional
      impairment. Treatments currently include observation, pharmacological therapy,
      laser, cryosurgery, surgery and radiotherapy. Although pharmacological therapy is
      a well accepted treatment option, limited studies have evaluated the efficacy of
      different drug therapies. In this study, we compare different pharmacological
      modalities in the management of infantile hemangiomas. The study included 853
      infants with proliferative infantile hemangiomas who were treated with topical
      timolol, oral propranolol, intralesional pingyangmycin, or intravenous
      vincristine from 2009 to 2012. Treatment stratification was based on clinical
      severity of the tumor. Response to the treatment was clinically evaluated and
      graded as: excellent, good, poor, or no response. Response to pharmacological
      therapies was excellent in almost all infantile hemangiomas. In addition,
      patients younger than 8 months responded highly to pharmacological treatment
      (89.1%), while patients older than 8 months were less responsive to treatment
      (36.3%). There were no instances of life-threatening complications. Overall,
      these findings support the efficacy of timolol, propranolol, pingyangmycin and
      vincristine in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas, especially in the youngest
      patient cohort (8 months or younger). 

PMID- 26876801
TI  - Increasing Incidence of Degenerative Spinal Diseases in Japan during 25 Years:
      The Registration System of Spinal Surgery in Tohoku University Spine Society.
AB  - Spinal disorders affect mainly older people and cause pain, paralysis and/or
      deformities of the trunk and/or extremities, which could eventually disturb
      locomotive functions. For ensuring safe and high-quality treatment of spinal
      disorders, in 1987, the Tohoku University Spine Society (TUSS) was established by
      orthopedic departments in Tohoku University School of Medicine and its affiliated
      hospitals in and around Miyagi Prefecture. All spine surgeries have been enrolled
      in the TUSS Spine Registry since 1988. Using the data from this registration
      system between 1988 and 2012, we demonstrate here the longitudinal changes in
      surgical trends for spinal disorders in Japan that has rushed into the most
      advanced "aging society" in the world. In total, data on 56,744 surgeries were
      retrieved. The number of spinal surgeries has annually increased approximately 4
      fold. There was a particular increase among patients aged >= 70 years and those
      aged >= 80 years, with a 20- to 90-fold increase. Nearly 90% of the spinal
      operations were performed for degenerative disorders, with their number
      increasing approximately 5-fold from 705 to 3,448. The most common disease for
      surgery was lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) (35.9%), followed by lumbar disc
      herniation (27.7%) and cervical myelopathy (19.8%). In 2012, approximately half
      of the patients with LSS and cervical myelopathy were >= 70 years of age. In
      conclusion, the number of spinal operations markedly increased during the 25-year
      period, particularly among older patients. As Japan has a notably aged
      population, the present study could provide a near-future model for countries
      with aging population. 

PMID- 26876802
TI  - Bio-nanocapsules displaying various immunoglobulins as an active targeting-based
      drug delivery system.
AB  - The bio-nanocapsule (BNC) is an approximately 30-nm particle comprising the
      hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope L protein and a lipid bilayer. The L protein
      harbors the HBV-derived infection machinery; therefore, BNC can encapsulate
      payloads such as drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins and deliver them into human
      hepatocytes specifically in vitro and in vivo. To diversify the possible
      functions of BNC, we generated ZZ-BNC by replacing the domain indispensable for
      the human hepatotrophic property of BNC (N-terminal region of L protein) with the
      tandem form of the IgG Fc-binding Z domain of Staphylococcus aureus protein A.
      Thus, the ZZ-BNC is an active targeting-based drug delivery system (DDS)
      nanocarrier that depends on the specificity of the IgGs displayed. However, the Z
      domain limits the animal species and subtypes of IgGs that can be displayed on ZZ
      BNC. In this study, we introduced into BNC an Ig kappa light chain-binding B1
      domain of Finegoldia magna protein L (protein-L B1 domain) and an Ig Fc-binding
      C2 domain of Streptococcus species protein G (protein-G C2 domain) to produce LG
      BNC. The LL-BNC was constructed in a similar way using a tandem form of the
      protein-L B1 domain. Both LG-BNC and LL-BNC could display rat IgGs, mouse IgG1,
      human IgG3, and human IgM, all of which not binding to ZZ-BNC, and accumulate in
      target cells in an antibody specificity-dependent manner. Thus, these BNCs could
      display a broad spectrum of Igs, significantly improving the prospects for BNCs
      as active targeting-based DDS nanocarriers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We
      previously reported that ZZ-BNC, bio-nanocapsule deploying the IgG-binding Z
      domain of protein A, could display cell-specific antibody in an oriented
      immobilization manner, and act as an active targeting-based DDS nanocarrier.
      Since the Z domain can only bind to limited types of Igs, we generated BNCs
      deploying other Ig-binding domains: LL-BNC harboring the tandem form of Ig
      binding domain of protein L, and LG-BNC harboring the Ig binding domains of
      protein L and protein G sequentially. Both BNCs could display a broader spectrum
      of Igs than does the ZZ-BNC. When these BNCs displayed anti-CD11c IgG or anti
      EGFR IgG, both of which cannot bind to Z domain, they could bind to and then
      enter their respective target cells.

PMID- 26876803
TI  - The relationship between age and neurocognitive and daily functioning in adults
      with hoarding disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Given the increase in hoarding symptoms with age, there is a pressing
      need for understanding the clinical features as they relate to potential
      interventions for older adults with hoarding disorder (HD). The aim of the
      current investigation was to explore age-related differences in the level of
      functional and cognitive impairment in individuals with HD. METHODS: The current
      study utilized the baseline assessments of 122 adults with HD. Age-related
      differences in the raw scores of psychiatric, cognitive, and daily functioning
      were analyzed using a series of multiple regression models controlling for the
      possible age-related differences in premorbid IQ. RESULTS: Our results suggested
      that older adults with HD may experience increased levels of impairment in skills
      related to executive functioning and everyday functioning when compared with
      younger adults with HD. CONCLUSIONS: Given these difficulties with neurocognitive
      functioning, older HD patients may require interventions that focus more on
      behavioral and functional skills, rather than focusing on changing thought
      processes. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26876804
TI  - New Insights into the Cytotoxic Mechanism of Hexabromocyclododecane from a
      Metabolomic Approach.
AB  - The toxic effects of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) are complex, and the
      underlying toxicological mechanisms are still not completely understood. In this
      study, a pseudotargeted metabolomic approach based on the UHPLC/Q-Trap MS system
      was developed to assess the HBCD-intervention-related metabolic alteration in
      HepG2 cells. In addition, some physiologic indicators and relevant enzyme
      activities were measured. HBCD exposure obviously impaired metabolic homeostasis
      and induced oxidative stress, even at an environmentally relevant dose (0.05
      mg/L). Metabolic profiling and multivariate analysis indicated that the main
      metabolic pathways perturbed by HBCD included amino acid metabolism, protein
      biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and phospholipid metabolism. HBCD suppressed
      the cell uptake of amino acids, mainly through inhibition of the activity of
      membrane transport protein Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase. HBCD down-regulated glycolysis and
      beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, causing a large decrease of ATP
      production. As a result, the across-membrane transport of amino acids was further
      inhibited. Meanwhile, HBCD induced a significant increase of total phospholipids,
      mainly through the remodeling of phospholipids from the increased free fatty
      acids. The obtained metabolomic results also provided some new evidence and clues
      regarding the toxicological mechanisms of HBCD that contribute to obesity,
      diabetes, nervous system damage, and developmental disorders. 

PMID- 26876806
TI  - Reciprocal and unidirectional scattering of parity-time symmetric structures.
AB  - Parity-time (PT) symmetry is of great interest. The reciprocal and unidirectional
      features are intriguing besides the (PT) symmetry phase transition. Recently, the
      reciprocal transmission, unidirectional reflectionless and invisibility are
      intensively studied. Here, we show the reciprocal reflection/transmission in (PT)
      symmetric system is closely related to the type of (PT) symmetry, that is, the
      axial (reflection) (PT) symmetry leads to reciprocal reflection (transmission).
      The results are further elucidated by studying the scattering of rhombic ring
      form coupled resonators with enclosed synthetic magnetic flux. The nonreciprocal
      phase shift induced by the magnetic flux and gain/loss break the parity (P) and
      time-reversal (T) symmetry but keep the parity-time (PT) symmetry. The reciprocal
      reflection (transmission) and unidirectional transmission (reflection) are found
      in the axial (reflection) (PT)-symmetric ring centre. The explorations of
      symmetry and asymmetry from (PT) symmetry may shed light on novel one-way optical
      devices and application of (PT)-symmetric metamaterials.

PMID- 26876805
TI  - The Role of Physical Stabilization in Whole Blood Preservation.
AB  - The rapid degradation of blood ex vivo imposes logistical limitations on the
      utilization of blood-borne cells in medical diagnostics and scientific
      investigations. A fundamental but overlooked aspect in the storage of this fluid
      tissue is blood settling, which induces physical stress and compaction,
      aggregates blood cells, and causes collateral damage due to leukocyte activation.
      Here we show that the polymer Ficoll 70 kDa stabilized blood samples and
      prevented blood settling over the course of 72 hours, primarily by inhibiting
      depletion-mediated red blood cell aggregation. Physical stabilization decreased
      echinocyte formation, improved leukocyte viability, and inhibited the release of
      neutrophil elastase--a marker of neutrophil extracellular trap formation. In
      addition, Ficoll-stabilized blood was compatible with common leukocyte enrichment
      techniques including red blood cell lysis and immunomagnetic purification. This
      study showed for the first time that blood settling can be prevented using
      polymers and has implications in diagnostics.

PMID- 26876807
TI  - Time-dependent sorption of two novel fungicides in soils within a regulatory
      framework.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Convincing experimental evidence suggests increased sorption of
      pesticides on soil over time, which, so far, has not been considered in the
      regulatory assessment of leaching to groundwater. Recently, Beulke and van Beinum
      (2012) proposed a guidance on how to conduct, analyse and use time-dependent
      sorption studies in pesticide registration. The applicability of the recommended
      experimental set-up and fitting procedure was examined for two fungicides,
      penflufen and fluxapyroxad, in four soils during a 170 day incubation experiment.
      RESULTS: The apparent distribution coefficient increased by a factor of 2.5-4.5
      for penflufen and by a factor of 2.5-2.8 for fluxapyroxad. The recommended two
      site, one-rate sorption model adequately described measurements of total mass and
      liquid phase concentration in the calcium chloride suspension and the calculated
      apparent distribution coefficient, passing all prescribed quality criteria for
      model fit and parameter reliability. CONCLUSION: The guidance is technically
      mature regarding the experimental set-up and parameterisation of the sorption
      model for the two moderately mobile and relatively persistent fungicides under
      investigation. These parameters can be used for transport modelling in soil,
      thereby recognising the existence of the experimentally observed, but in the
      regulatory leaching assessment of pesticides not yet routinely considered
      phenomenon of time-dependent sorption. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26876808
TI  - Mesomeric configuration makes polyleucine micelle an optimal nanocarrier.
AB  - Micelle with mesomeric polyleucine (PDLLeu) core demonstrated the most uniform
      morphology, the smallest diameter and the highest drug loading capability
      compared to those with dextrorotatory (PDLeu), levorotatory (PLLeu) and racemic
      PLeu (PD/LLeu) cores. In addition, the modification with c(RGDfC) endowed the
      optimal PDLLeu micelle with enhanced intracellular drug release and cytotoxicity,
      indicating its great potential for targeted drug delivery. 

PMID- 26876812
TI  - Plasma total C-terminal agrin fragment (tCAF) as a marker for kidney function in
      patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total C-terminal agrin fragment (tCAF) is a new biomarker that was
      previously correlated with kidney function. This article studies the validity of
      tCAF as a biomarker for kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS:
      Plasma tCAF, serum creatinine (Cr), cystatin C (CyC), blood urea-nitrogen (BUN)
      concentrations and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR CKD-EPIcrea
      cystatin) were assessed in 426 individuals [71 without CKD (CKD 0 degrees ) and
      355 CKD patients]. In addition to descriptive statistics, univariate correlation
      between tCAF and biomarkers/eGFR was calculated; multiple linear regression
      modeling was applied between logarithmic (log) tCAF and log eGFR and adjusted for
      demographic data. The same methods were used to analyze the association of
      demographic factors and the different biomarkers adjusted for eGFR. RESULTS: Mean
      tCAF levels were 1012.2+/-789.9 pM. tCAF correlated with all biomarkers/eGFR in
      univariate analysis (eGFR: r=-0.77, Cr: r=0.74, BUN: r=0.66, CyC: r=0.75). Linear
      regression modeling revealed an excellent coefficient estimate between log tCAF
      and log eGFR (CKD-EPIcrea-cystatin) (-0.91, p<0.001). tCAF was the parameter
      least associated with demographic parameters in both univariate and multivariate
      regression modeling (only with age, coefficient estimate r=-0.159, p=0.001 in
      multivariate regression). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, tCAF is a promising
      biomarker for the assessment of kidney function in CKD patients showing an
      excellent correlation with eGFR and being less influenced by demographic
      parameters compared to conventional biomarkers. These preliminary results
      encourage further evaluation of tCAF in larger CKD cohorts and other clinical
      settings such as acute renal failure.

PMID- 26876813
TI  - What do we know about homocysteine and exercise? A review from the literature.
AB  - High total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations contribute to an increased risk of
      cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Several investigations
      have focused on the effect of exercise on tHcy concentrations, but results remain
      controversial. The differences among the methodologies in the investigations make
      difficult the interpretation of results. This review differentiates the effects
      of exercise on tHcy and establishes the relation with the implicated biomarkers
      on tHcy metabolism related to exercise. The electronic database MEDLINE
      (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) was used for searching studies published between
      years 2002 and 2015. 'Homocysteine', 'Training ', 'Exercise', 'Physical Activity'
      as well as combinations out of these terms were entered in the database. Articles
      were grouped in: 1) Acute effect of exercise on tHcy, 2) chronic exercise and
      tHcy, 3) relationship of physical activity (PA) level and cardiorespiratory
      fitness with tHcy, and 4) biomarkers related to tHcy and exercise. From a total
      of 30 articles, most of the studies analyzing the acute effect of exercise showed
      an increase on tHcy concentrations. Studies analyzing the chronic effect on tHcy
      concentrations showed contradictory results and no consensus exists probably due
      to the differences in the methodology, exercise interventions and participants
      characteristics. Low cardiorespiratory fitness seems to be associated with high
      tHcy; in contrast, the relation of PA levels and tHcy needs further research.
      Regarding biomarkers related to tHcy and exercise, some studies showed an
      increase of folate, vitamin B12, and creatine after acute exercise that could to
      be due to requirement of protein turnover and an increased metabolic demand of
      vitamin-B. 

PMID- 26876814
TI  - Aldosterone and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) has recently been demonstrated to be strictly
      associated to metabolic syndrome as compared with essential hypertension (EH).
      Besides, the characteristics of metabolic syndrome are different in PA compared
      to EH, as high fasting glucose is more frequent in the former condition. The
      adverse effect of excess aldosterone on insulin metabolic signaling has generated
      increasing interest in the role of hyperaldosteronism in the pathogenesis of
      insulin resistance and resistant hypertension. Moreover, aldosterone receptor
      antagonist therapy in diabetic and cardiopathic patients improved coronary flow.
      The aim of this review is to present recent knowledge about the relationship
      between aldosterone, insulin resistance and diabetes. 

PMID- 26876815
TI  - 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and type 2 diabetes: Ca2+-dependent molecular mechanisms
      and the role of vitamin D status.
AB  - The hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] induces cellular Ca2+ signals
      which regulate insulin secretion, while low vitamin D status may be a risk factor
      for type 2 diabetes (T2D). In pancreatic beta-cells in vitro, 1,25(OH)2D3
      induces, via multiple Ca2+ signaling pathways, synchronous Ca2+ oscillations,
      which quantitatively, temporally, and spatially pattern pulsatile insulin
      secretion from these cells. In animal studies employing a high fat diet-induced
      obesity model of pre-T2D, an increased intake of vitamin D delayed development of
      T2D and adiposity and was associated with the improved blood markers of diabetes
      and the vitamin D nutritional and hormonal status [plasma concentrations of
      glucose, insulin, adiponectin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25(OH)2D3].
      Observational studies demonstrated associations between vitamin D status, insulin
      secretion and resistance to T2D, however, randomized controlled trials did not
      provide conclusive insights into the potential role of vitamin D in prevention of
      T2D. The 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent cellular Ca2+ signaling can be important for
      maintaining the normal level of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells, and
      an increased intake of vitamin D may contribute to the prevention of T2D and
      metabolic disorders associated with this disease. 

PMID- 26876816
TI  - Tuning the flexibility in MOFs by SBU functionalization.
AB  - A new approach for the fine tuning of flexibility in MOFs, involving
      functionalization of the secondary building unit, is presented. The "gate
      pressure" MOF [Zn3(bpydc)2(HCOO)2] was used as a model material and SBU
      functionalization was performed by using monocarboxylic acids such as acetic,
      benzoic or cinnamic acids instead of formic acid in the synthesis. The resulting
      materials are isomorphous to [Zn3(bpydc)2(HCOO)2] in the "as made" form, but show
      different structural dynamics during the guest removal. The activated materials
      have entirely different properties in the nitrogen physisorption experiments
      clearly showing the tunability of the gate pressure, at which the structural
      transformation occurs, by using monocarboxylic acids with varying backbone
      structure in the synthesis. Thus, increasing the number of carbon atoms in the
      backbone leads to the decreasing gate pressure required to initiate the
      structural transition. Moreover, in situ adsorption/PXRD data suggest differences
      in the mechanism of the structural transformations: from "gate opening" in the
      case of formic acid to "breathing" if benzoic acid is used. 

PMID- 26876817
TI  - Preparation, optical and electrochemical properties, and molecular orbital
      calculations of tetraazaporphyrinato ruthenium (II) bis(4-methylpyridine) fused
      with one to four diphenylthiophene units.
AB  - 2,5-Diphenyl-3,4-dicyanothiophene (1) and phthalonitrile (2) were mixed and
      treated with ruthenium (III) trichloride, 4-methylpyridine, and 1,8
      diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in 2-ethoxyethanol at 135 degrees C, to
      produce low-symmetrical tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs) (3), (4), (5), and (6) with one
      to three thiophene rings. Two thiophene-annelated tetraazaporphyrins were
      isolated as opposite and adjacent isomers 4 and 5. The structure of 3 was
      determined by X-ray crystallography, showing that the thiophene ring linked at
      the 3,4-positions on the tetraazaporphyrin scaffold deviates from the mean plane
      of the four central pyrrole nitrogen atoms (N1-N3-N5-N7). Optical and
      electrochemical properties of the products were examined by UV-vis and magnetic
      circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, together with cyclic voltammetry. In the
      (1)H NMR spectra, the signals of 4-methylpyridine coordinating to the central
      ruthenium atom appeared at a higher magnetic field than those of uncoordinated 4
      methylpyridine itself due to the shielding effect of the TAP ring. Increasing the
      number of fused thiophene rings resulted in 1) lower magnetic field shifts of the
      signals of axially coordinated 4-methylpyridine in the (1)H NMR spectra, 2) lower
      energy shifts of the Q band absorption in the UV-vis spectra, and 3) decreasing
      (cathodic shift) of the first oxidation potentials. The structures of simplified
      model compounds were optimized using the DFT method with the Gaussian 09 program
      at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level for the Ru atom and the B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) level for
      the C, H, N, and S atoms. The optimized structures were utilized to calculate the
      NMR shielding constants, the HOMO and LUMO orbital energies, and the electronic
      absorption spectra.

PMID- 26876818
TI  - Impact of preoperative embolization on the outcomes of carotid body tumor
      surgery: A meta-analysis and review of the literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the impact of preoperative embolization
      (EMB) on the surgical outcomes of carotid body tumor (CBT) resections. METHODS: A
      systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to clarify the role of
      preoperative EMB in patients undergoing surgical removal of CBTs. RESULTS:
      Fifteen studies with a total number of 470 patients met the inclusion criteria.
      The results of the meta-analysis showed that there is no significant difference
      in estimated blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, or risks of
      cranial nerve injury, vascular injury, and stroke between the EMB and
      nonembolization (NEMB) groups. CONCLUSION: This systemic review and meta-analysis
      demonstrate that preoperative EMB does not confer any operative or postoperative
      advantage in patients scheduled for CBT surgery. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
      Head Neck 38: E2386-E2394, 2016.

PMID- 26876819
TI  - Genetic Variation in the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1 (VMAT1/SLC18A1) Gene
      and Alcohol Withdrawal Severity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alcohol withdrawal (AW) can be a serious consequence of alcohol
      dependence and consists of various neurochemical adaptations in the brain. One
      such neuroadaptation occurs in the monoamine neurotransmitter system. Recently, a
      functional variant in the presynaptic vesicular monoamine transporter gene
      (VMAT1/SLC18A1-Thr136Ile-rs1390938) was found to significantly increase transport
      of monoamines into synaptic vesicles in vitro. We hypothesize that the alteration
      of magnitude of monoamine release contributes to severity of AW symptoms.
      METHODS: Alcohol-dependent individuals (n = 609; European American n = 340;
      African American n = 216; other n = 53) were administered the Clinical Institute
      Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar) questionnaire at the
      time of inpatient admission. Patients were subsequently genotyped for 12 single
      nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in VMAT1. Association analyses were
      conducted on the combined sample and separated by ethnicity. RESULTS: Single
      marker association tests revealed a significant association between 3 VMAT1
      markers and CIWA-Ar scores in the EA sample. The minor alleles of rs1390938 (A)
      and rs952859 (C) were significantly associated with lower CIWA-Ar scores (p =
      0.0006; p = 0.0007), whereas the minor allele of rs3779672 (G) was significantly
      associated with higher scores (p = 0.006). Additionally, these 3 SNPs were found
      in a haplotype block that was significantly associated with lower CIWA-Ar scores
      after haplotype analyses were run (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that
      genetic variants in VMAT1, including the functional SNP rs1390938, contribute to
      the severity of AW in patients of European descent. Our data show for the first
      time a role of presynaptic neurotransmitter release in AW severity. This finding
      could contribute to identifying patients at risk for severe AW and shed light
      into the pathophysiology of AW and its treatment.

PMID- 26876820
TI  - Recognizing a limitation of the TBLC-activated peroxide system on low-temperature
      cotton bleaching.
AB  - In this study, cotton was bleached at low temperatures with an activated peroxide
      system which was established by incorporating a bleach activator, namely, N-[4
      (triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]caprolactam chloride (TBCC) into an aqueous
      solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Experimental results showed that the
      bleaching performance was unexpectedly diminished as the TBCC concentration was
      increased over the range of 25-100g/L. Kinetic adsorption experiment indicated
      that this was most likely ascribed to the adsorptive interactions of TBCC and the
      in situ-generated compounds with cotton fibers. Such a limitation was especially
      fatal to cold pad-batch bleaching process of cotton in which a high TBCC
      concentration was often required. The results of this study may stimulate further
      research to avoid or overcome the limitation of the TBCC-activated peroxide
      system on low-temperature cotton bleaching. 

PMID- 26876821
TI  - Structural analysis and immunoregulation activity comparison of five
      polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis.
AB  - Four fractional polysaccharides (CAPS30, CAPS50, CAPS70 and CAPS80) and total
      polysaccharides (CAPSt) were obtained from Angelica sinensis. Their structures
      were identified by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), molecular
      weights were evaluated by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC)
      and compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
      Their immunoregulation activities were further compared in vitro. The results
      showed that they displayed different structural features and immuno-enhancement
      activities. They all could cause the proliferation of the lymphocyte, up-regulate
      stimulate the productions of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-alpha secretion in the
      peripheral lymphocytes. Further experiments showed that CAPS50 and CAPS70 could
      increase the ratio of CD3(+)CD56(+) cells to some extent. These indicated that
      five CAPSs displayed different activities which were associated with their
      different structural characteristics and CAPS70, with the molecular weights of
      20.82kDa and consisting of mannose and glucose in the molar ratio of 1.20:1.01,
      possessed the strongest immuno-enhancement activity. 

PMID- 26876822
TI  - Photochemical depolymerisation of dermatan sulfate and analysis of the generated
      oligosaccharides.
AB  - Radical depolymerisation is the method of choice for the depolymerisation of
      glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), especially when enzymatic depolymerisation cannot be
      performed due to the lack of suitable enzymes. The established Fenton type free
      radical depolymerisation generates radicals from a solution of H2O2 in the
      presence of Cu(2+) or Fe(2+). When applied to dermatan sulfate (DS), the Fenton
      type depolymerisation of DS (Panagos, Thomson, Bavington, & Uhrin, 2012) produced
      exclusively oligosaccharides with reducing end GalNAc, which was partially
      oxidised to acetylgalactosaminic acid. We report here the results of the TiO2
      catalysed photochemical depolymerisation of DS. NMR analysis of these DS
      oligosaccharides revealed the presence of reducing end IdoA, observed for the
      first time. The reducing end acetylgalactosaminic acid was also detected. The
      photochemical depolymerisation method thus enables preparation of new types of
      GAG oligosaccharides suitable for further biochemical and biological
      investigation. 

PMID- 26876823
TI  - Microencapsulation of saffron petal anthocyanins with cress seed gum compared
      with Arabic gum through freeze drying.
AB  - In this research, encapsulation efficiency of cress seed gum (CSG) as a native
      hydrocolloid was compared with Arabic gum (AG) and maltodextrin (dextrose
      equivalent of 20 (M20), and 7 (M7)) for saffron (Crocus sativus) petal's extract
      by freeze drying method. Combinations of CSG-M20, AG-M20, and M7-M20 with ratios
      of 50:50 and M20 alone (100%) were used as wall materials. A mixture of 1:5
      (based on dry matter) between core (concentrated anthocyanin extract of saffron
      petal) and wall materials were freeze dried and stability of encapsulated
      anthocyanins along with color parameters (a*, b*, L*, C, H degrees  and TCD) of
      final powders were measured during 10 weeks of storage (at 35 degrees C as an
      accelerated method). Total anthocyanins were determined through pH differential
      method every week. Four prepared formulations of encapsulated powders didn't show
      any significant differences (P>0.01) in terms of total anthocyanin content
      measured immediately after production and after 10 weeks storage. AG-M20 mixture
      and M20 alone showed the highest and lowest TCD, respectively. The mixture of CSG
      M20 in comparison with AG-M20 and M20 had the same protecting effect (P<0.01) but
      showed a relatively high TCD (9.33). 

PMID- 26876824
TI  - Study of intragastric structuring ability of sodium alginate based o/w emulsions
      under in vitro physiological pre-absorptive digestion conditions.
AB  - In the present work, the intragastric structuring ability of o/w emulsions either
      stabilised (1-4%, w/w of sodium alginate (SA)) or structured with sheared ionic
      gel (1-3%, w/w of SA crosslinked with Ca(2+)) in the absence (saliva and gastric
      phases constituted of deionised water) or presence of in vitro pre-absorptive
      conditions (physiological simulated saliva and gastric fluids) was investigated.
      Visualisation of the morphological aspects of the gastric chymes, in the absence
      of multivalent counterions, demonstrated that SA stabilised systems underwent a
      remarkable swelling in the pH range of 2-3, whilst at the same pH range, ionic SA
      gel structured systems maintained their major structure configuration. When the
      aforementioned systems were exposed to physiological intragastric fluids, a
      reduction of the length and the hydrodynamic volume of the alginate fibres was
      detected regardless the structuring approach. On their exposure to physiological
      intragastric conditions (pH=2), SA stabilised emulsions underwent sol-gel
      transition achieving a ca. 3- to 4-order increase of storage modulus (at 1Hz). In
      the case of ionic sheared gel structured emulsions, exposure to physiological
      intragastric fluids resulted in a 10-fold reduction ability of their acid
      structuring ability, most likely due to the dialysis of egg-box dimer
      conformations by monovalent cations and protons and the sterical hindering of
      hydrogen bonding of MM and GG sequences under acidic conditions. Using of non
      physiological simulated intragastric fluids was associated with overestimated
      structuring performance of SA regardless its physical state. 

PMID- 26876825
TI  - Reversible redox activity of ferrocene functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose and
      its application to detect H2O2.
AB  - Novel ferrocene functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC-Fc) were prepared by
      azide-alkyne cycloaddition and characterized. HPC-Fc exhibits an excellent
      reversible redox activity and could establish amazing electron transfer ability
      between enzyme and electrode. HPC-Fc and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were coated
      on a platinized carbon electrode to prepare an amperometric biosensor for
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection. The amperometric response was measured as a
      function of H2O2 concentration at a fixed potential of 0.35V in 100mM phosphate
      buffer solution (pH 7.0). The novel biosensor exhibits a fast linear response
      toward H2O2 in the range of 0.1-8MUM with sensitivity of 4.21nA/MUM. Moreover,
      the enzyme assays measured by the spectrophotometer method confirm that abundant
      hydroxyl groups of HPC backbones are conductive for HRP to maintaining or even
      enhancing their activity. The redox active HPC-Fc with the unique properties of
      both ferrocene and cellulose is a good candidate for biosensor applications. 

PMID- 26876826
TI  - Flexible conductive nanocellulose combined with silicon nanoparticles and
      polyaniline.
AB  - Here we describe a unique conductive bacterial cellulose (BC) composite with
      silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) and polyaniline. BC was used as a template for
      binding SiNPs resulting in a very promising anode material for Li-ion
      rechargeable batteries that showed a high specific capacity. The surfaces of the
      SiNPs were modified with phytic acid to enhance the binding of aniline monomer to
      the surface. A conformal coating of polyaniline (PANi) was formed on the modified
      SiNPs by in situ polymerization of aniline monomers. We also found that the
      phytic acid on the SiNPs was critical to ensure encapsulation of SiNPs with PANi.
      In addition, the phosphoric acid-tagged surface of the SiNPs enhanced the
      adhesion of SiNPs to the BC fibers. The resulting three dimensional network of BC
      was flexible and provided stress dissipation in the conductive BC composites.
      Flexural testing of conductive BC composites showed stable electrical
      conductivity even after repetitive bending over 100 times. 

PMID- 26876827
TI  - Rapid enrichment of rare-earth metals by carboxymethyl cellulose-based open
      cellular hydrogel adsorbent from HIPEs template.
AB  - A series of monolithic open-cellular hydrogel adsorbents based on
      carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were prepared through high internal phase emulsions
      (HIPEs) and used to enrich the rare-earth metals La(3+) and Ce(3+). The changes
      of pore structure, and the effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration on
      the adsorption performance were systematically studied. The results show that the
      as-prepared monolithic hydrogel adsorbents possess good open-cellular framework
      structure and have fast adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacity for
      La(3+) and Ce(3+). The involved adsorption system can reach equilibrium within
      30min and the maximal adsorption capacity is determined to be 384.62mg/g for
      La(3+) and 333.33mg/g for Ce(3+). Moreover, these porous hydrogel adsorbents show
      an excellent adsorptive reusability for La(3+) and Ce(3+) through five adsorption
      desorption cycles. Such a pore hierarchy structure makes this monolithic open
      cellular hydrogel adsorbent be an effective adsorbent for effective enrichment of
      La(3+) and Ce(3+) from aqueous solution. 

PMID- 26876828
TI  - Optimization of microwave assisted extraction of pectin from sour orange peel and
      its physicochemical properties.
AB  - Microwave assisted extraction technique was used to extract pectin from sour
      orange peel. Box-Behnken design was used to study the effect of irradiation time,
      microwave power and pH on the yield and degree of esterification (DE) of pectin.
      The results showed that the optimum conditions for the highest yield of pectin
      (29.1%) were obtained at pH of 1.50, microwave power of 700W, and irradiation
      time of 3min. DE values of pectin ranged from 1.7% to 37.5%, indicating that the
      obtained pectin was low in methoxyl. Under optimal conditions, the galacturonic
      acid content and emulsifying activity were 71.0+/-0.8% and 40.7%, respectively.
      In addition, the emulsion stability value ranged from 72.1% to 83.4%. Viscosity
      measurement revealed that the solutions of pectin at low concentrations showed
      nearly Newtonian flow behavior, and as the concentration increased, pseudoplastic
      flow became dominant. 

PMID- 26876829
TI  - Facile and green synthesis of cellulose nanocrystal-supported gold nanoparticles
      with superior catalytic activity.
AB  - The emphasis of science and technology shifts toward environmentally friendly and
      sustainable resources and processes. Herein, we report a facile, one-pot and
      green synthesis of biomaterial-supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with superior
      catalytic activity. Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-supported AuNPs were prepared by
      heating the aqueous mixture of HAuCl4, CNCs and polyethylene glycol, avoiding
      toxic chemicals, extreme condition and complicated procedure. The resultant CNC
      supported AuNPs exhibited catalytic activities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol
      by sodium borohydride. The maximum apparent rate constant reached 1.47*10(-2)s(
      1), and the turnover frequency reached 641h(-1). The superior catalytic
      performance can be ascribed to the large amount of highly dispersed AuNPs with
      few nanometers in size which are loaded on CNCs. About 90% of the AuNPs are
      smaller than 10nm, and nearly 60% of the AuNPs are smaller than 5nm. The
      synthesis is eco-friendly, facile and low-cost, thus has great potential for
      industrial and medical applications. 

PMID- 26876830
TI  - Hydrogels made from chitosan and silver nitrate.
AB  - This work describes a gelation of chitosan solution with silver nitrate. Above
      the critical concentration of chitosan (c*), continuous hydrogels of chitosan
      silver can be formed. At lower concentrations, the formation of nano- and micro
      hydrogels is discussed. The sol-gel analysis was performed to characterise the
      hydrogels' swelling properties. Moreover, the following were employed: (i)
      mechanical testing of hydrogels, (ii) inductively coupled plasma-optical emission
      spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for the measurement of silver concentration, (iii)
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the morphology of products
      obtained, and (iv) dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-vis spectrophotometry to
      examine products formed at low concentration of chitosan (c<c*). Some hydrogels
      were used for modification of cotton fabric in order to give it antimicrobial
      properties. The products obtained acted against Escherichia coli and Bacillus
      subtilis apart from the chitosan used that showed no such activity. 

PMID- 26876831
TI  - Cellulose nanocrystals mediated assembly of graphene in rubber composites for
      chemical sensing applications.
AB  - In this study, we report a green assembled approach to prepare natural rubber
      (NR) composites with 3D interconnected graphene-based conductive networks. Taking
      advantage of the water-dispersity and amphiphilicity of cellulose nanocrystals
      (CNC), well suspended graphene@CNC aqueous colloids could be prepared by the CNC
      mediated reduction of graphene oxide. When homogenized with NR latex under
      ultrasonication and subsequently co-coagulation, the graphene@CNC nanohybrids
      selectively located in the interstitial space between the NR latex microspheres
      and constructed an ordered 3D conductive structure. This unique 3D conductive
      network endowed the NR composites with remarkably enhanced electric conductivity
      (the percolation threshold is twofold lower than that of the conventional
      NR/graphene composites), mechanical properties and more importantly resistivity
      response to organic liquids. Our strategy offered a novel, simple and eco
      friendly route for the fabrication of liquid sensors capable of sensing and
      discriminating various solvent leakage in chemical industry as well as
      environmental monitoring. 

PMID- 26876832
TI  - Miscanthus*giganteus xylooligosaccharides: Purification and fermentation.
AB  - A procedure was developed to recover xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from
      Miscanthus*giganteus (M*G) hydrolyzate. M*G hydrolyzate was prepared using
      autohydrolysis, and XOS rich fractions were acquired using activated carbon
      adsorption and stepwise ethanol elution. The combined XOS fractions were purified
      using a series of ion exchange resin treatments. The end product, M*G XOS, had
      89.1% (w/w) total substituted oligosaccharides (TSOS) composed of arabinose,
      glucose, xylose and acetyl group. Bifidobacterium adolescentis and
      Bifidobacterium catenulatum (health promoting bacteria) were cultured in vitro on
      M*G XOS and a commercial XOS source, which was used as a comparison. B.
      adolescentis grew to a higher cell density than B. catenulatum in both XOS
      cultures. Total xylose consumption for B. adolescentis was 84.1 and 84.8%,
      respectively for M*G and commercial XOS cultures; and for B. catenulatum was 76.6
      and 73.6%, respectively. The xylobiose (X2), xylotriose (X3) and xylotetraose
      (X4) were almost utilized for both strains. Acetic and lactic acids were the
      major fermentation products of the XOS cultures.

PMID- 26876833
TI  - Gum tragacanth/poly(l-lactic acid) nanofibrous scaffolds for application in
      regeneration of peripheral nerve damage.
AB  - Nanofibrous nerve guides have gained huge interest in supporting the peripheral
      nerve regeneration due to their abilities to simulate the topography, mechanical,
      biological and extracellular matrix morphology of native tissue. Gum tragacanth
      (GT) is a biocompatible mixture of polysaccharides that has been used in
      biomedical applications. During this study, we fabricated aligned and random
      nanofibers from poly(l-lactic acid) and gum tragacanth (PLLA/GT) in various
      ratios (100:0, 75:25, and 50:50) by electrospinning. Scanning electron microscope
      demonstrated smooth and uniform nanofibers with diameters in the range of 733+/
      65nm and 226+/-73nm for align PLLA and random PLLA/GT 50:50 nanofibers,
      respectively. FTIR analysis, contact angle, in vitro biodegradation and tensile
      measurements were carried out to evaluate the chemical and mechanical properties
      of the different scaffolds. PLLA/GT 75:25 exhibited the most balanced properties
      compared to other scaffolds and was used for in vitro culture of nerve cells
      (PC12) to assess the potential of using these scaffolds as a substrate for nerve
      regeneration. The cells were found to attach and proliferate on aligned PLLA/GT
      75:25 scaffolds, expressing bi-polar neurite extensions and the orientation of
      nerve cells was along the direction of the fiber alignment. Results of 8 days of
      in vitro culture of PC12 cells on aligned PLLA/GT 75:25 nanofibers, showed 20%
      increase in cell proliferation compared to PLLA/GT 75:25 random nanofibers.
      PLLA/GT 75:25 aligned nanofibers acted as a favorable cue to support neurite
      outgrowth and nerve cell elongation compared with PLLA nanofibers. Our results
      showed that aligned PLLA/GT 75:25 nanofibers are promising substrates for
      application as bioengineered grafts for nerve tissue regeneration. 

PMID- 26876834
TI  - Small differences in amylopectin fine structure may explain large functional
      differences of starch.
AB  - Four amylose-free waxy rice starches were found to give rise to gels with clearly
      different morphology after storage for seven days at 4 degrees C. The thermal and
      rheological properties of these gels were also different. This was remarkable in
      light of the subtle differences in the molecular structure of the amylopectin in
      the samples. Addition of iodine to the amylopectin samples suggested that not
      only external chains, but also the internal chains of amylopectin, could form
      helical inclusion complexes. It is suggested that these internal helical segments
      participate in the retrogradation of amylopectin, thereby stabilising the gels
      through double helical structures with external chains of adjacent molecules.
      Albeit few in number, such interactions appear to have important influences on
      starch functional properties. 

PMID- 26876835
TI  - Facile fabrication and selective detection for cysteine of xylan/Au nanoparticles
      composite.
AB  - This work reported a facile and green method to prepare highly stable and
      uniformly distributed Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), using biopolymer xylan as
      stabilizing and reducing agent. Full characterizations were performed and the
      results revealed that AuNPs were well dispersed with the diameters of 10-30nm.
      The optimal condition was as follows: the ratio of xylan to HAuCl4 was
      150mg:15mg, reaction temperature was 80 degrees C and reaction time was 40min.
      The xylan/AuNPs composite exhibited highly selective and sensitive sensing of
      cysteine in aqueous solution, it could distinguish cysteine among dozens kinds of
      amino acids, and the limit of detection (LOD) for cysteine was calculated as
      0.57MUM. Besides, the xylan/AuNPs composite was applied for Cys detection in
      human serum. This study provides a new way for high-value utilization of the rich
      biomass resource and a cheap, rapid and simple method for Cys detection in real
      biological samples. 

PMID- 26876836
TI  - Layer-by-layer polysaccharide-coated liposomes for sustained delivery of
      epidermal growth factor.
AB  - A three-dimensional layer-by-layer (LbL) structure composed by xanthan and
      galactomannan biopolymers over dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB)
      liposome template was proposed and characterized for protein drug delivery. The
      polymers and the surfactant interaction were sufficiently strong to create a LbL
      structure up to 8 layers, evaluated using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and
      zeta potential analysis. The polymer-liposome binding enthalpy was determined by
      isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The bilayer of biopolymer-coated
      liposomes with diameters of 165 (+/-15)nm, measured by dynamic light scattering
      (DLS), and zeta-potential of -4 (+/-13)mV. These bilayer-coated nanoparticles
      increased up to 5 times the sustained release of epidermal growth factor (EGF) at
      a first order rate of 0.005min(-1). This system could be useful for improving the
      release profile of low-stability drugs like EGF. 

PMID- 26876837
TI  - The role of cyclodextrin-tetrabutylammonium complexation on the cellulose
      dissolution.
AB  - Cellulose dissolution is a challenging process which is typically very sensitive
      to the solvent characteristics such as pH, temperature or presence of additives.
      Regarding the later aspect, it is here reported the interaction between alpha
      cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with the
      tetrabutylammonium cation (TBA(+)) by (1)H NMR titration experiments. The
      analysis by the continuous variation method suggests the formation of 1:1
      CD:TBA(+) complexes. However, the computed apparent association constants reveal
      that the interaction of TBA(+) with the beta-CD (K=1580M(-1)) is unexpectedly
      stronger than with alpha-CD (K=106M(-1)). In both CD cases, the formation of
      CD:TBA(+) complexes decrease the dissolution efficiency of the solvent and this
      has been rationalized as an effective decrease in the concentration of the
      amphiphilic cation and concomitant weakening of the hydrophobic interactions in
      solution influencing the overall performance of the solvent. Additionally, the
      data also supports the fact that amphiphilic species in solution are beneficial
      for the enhancement of cellulose solubility. 

PMID- 26876838
TI  - Nano-fibrin stabilized CaSO4 crystals incorporated injectable chitin composite
      hydrogel for enhanced angiogenesis & osteogenesis.
AB  - Calcium sulfate (CaSO4), an excellent biodegradable bone forming agent that is an
      ideal choice as additive in gels, however, its disadvantage being poor gel
      rheology and angiogenesis. Here, we have synthesized chitin-CaSO4-nano-fibrin
      based injectable gel system which shows improved rheology and angiogenic
      potential. Rheological studies showed that the composite gel was a shear thinning
      gel with elastic modulus of 15.4+/-0.275kPa; a 1.67 fold increase over chitin
      control. SEM and XRD analyses revealed the effect of nano-fibrin (nFibrin) in
      transforming CaSO4 crystal shape from needle to hexagonal. It also masked the
      retarding effect of CaSO4 towards in vitro early cell attachment and angiogenesis
      using rabbit adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (rASCs) and HUVECs,
      respectively. rASCs osteogenesis was confirmed by spectrophotometric endpoint
      assay, which showed 6-fold early increase in alkaline phosphatase levels and
      immuno-cytochemistry analysis. These in vitro results highlight the potential of
      injectable chitin-CaSO4-nFibrin gel for osteo-regeneration via enhanced
      angiogenesis. 

PMID- 26876839
TI  - Synthesis of a novel chitosan-based Ce(IV) complex with proteolytic activity in
      vitro toward edible biological proteins.
AB  - The occurrence of enzymatic activities is attributed to proper spatial
      organization of functional groups from first principles. A novel chitosan-based
      Ce(IV) complex (CC[Ce(IV)]), an artificial metalloproteinase, was synthesized by
      attaching cyclen, Ce(IV), and chlorophyll-Cu(II) to a chitosan-based matrix. The
      enzymatic hydrolytic efficiency (HE) and the procedure of catalyzing myoglobin
      (Mb) by CC[Ce(IV)] in vitro were investigated using spectrophotometry,
      electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography. The results showed that the HE of Mb
      was up to 60% at 60 degrees C within 24h, displaying a catalytic proficiency. The
      pseudo-first-order kinetic constant (kobs) for CC[Ce(IV)] treatment within 24h
      was 3.85*10(-2)h(-1), higher than that for alpha-chymotrypsin treatment, which
      was 2.63*10(-2)h(-1). Moreover, the peptide bond derived from Asp-Phe/Phe-Asp in
      Mb could be specifically cleaved by CC[Ce(IV)], which could simulate the
      functionality of alpha-chymotrypsin. This work provides an experimental basis for
      potential utilization of the chitosan-based Ce(IV) complexes in the food
      industry. 

PMID- 26876840
TI  - Effect of non-cross-linked calcium on characteristics, swelling behaviour, drug
      release and mucoadhesiveness of calcium alginate beads.
AB  - In this study, ibuprofen-loaded calcium alginate beads (CABs) with varying
      amounts of non-cross-linked calcium (NCL-Ca) were prepared using different
      washing methods. The influence of NCL-Ca on beads properties was investigated.
      Increasing the number or duration of washes led to significant decreases in the
      amount of NCL-Ca whereas the impact of the volume of washes was not significant.
      Approximately 70% of the initial amount of Ca(2+) was NCL-Ca which was removable
      by washing while only 30% was cross-linked (CL-Ca). Ca(2+) release from the CABs
      was bimodal; NCL-Ca was burst-released followed by a slower release of CL-Ca.
      Washing methods and the amount of NCL-Ca had significant influences on the
      encapsulation efficiency, beads weight, beads swelling, drug release profile and
      the mucoadhesiveness of CABs. This study highlighted the importance of washing
      methods and the amount of NCL-Ca to establish CABs properties and understand
      their behaviour in the simulated intestinal fluids (SIFs). 

PMID- 26876841
TI  - The effect of solvent composition on grafting gallic acid onto chitosan via
      carbodiimide.
AB  - The primary antioxidant (AOX) activity of chitosan can be introduced by grafting
      of phenolic compound - gallic acid (GA) to its amino and/or hydroxyl groups. The
      objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol (EtOH)
      concentration (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% in water) on efficiency of grafting GA onto
      chitosan in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide
      (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The grafting was confirmed by FTIR and the
      efficiency was quantified as Folin's total phenolics. When pure deionized water
      was used as a sole solvent (0% EtOH), GA was grafted to chitosan at the largest
      extent (285.9mg GA/g chitosan). As the concentration of EtOH increased, the
      grafting efficiency proportionally decreased. NMR studies showed that EtOH
      inhibited grafting of GA by prohibiting the production of the intermediate - NHS
      ester. The results confirm that the concentration of EtOH in grafting solution
      significantly affects grafting efficiency of GA on chitosan. 

PMID- 26876842
TI  - A new method for the quantification of monosaccharides, uronic acids and
      oligosaccharides in partially hydrolyzed xylans by HPAEC-UV/VIS.
AB  - A new method for the chemical characterization of xylans is presented, to
      overcome the difficulties in quantification of 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronic acid
      (meGlcA). In this regard, the hydrolysis behavior of xylans from beech and birch
      wood was investigated to obtain the optimum conditions for hydrolysis, using
      sulfuric acid. Due to varying linkage strengths and degradation, no general
      method for complete hydrolysis can be designed. Therefore, partial hydrolysis was
      applied, yielding monosaccharides and small meGlcA containing oligosaccharides.
      For a new method by HPAEC-UV/VIS, these samples were reductively aminated by 2
      aminobenzoic acid. By quantification of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, as
      well as comparison with borate-HPAEC and (13)C NMR-spectroscopy, we revealed that
      the concentrations meGlcA are significantly underestimated compared to
      conventional methods. The detected concentrations are 85.4% (beech) and 76.3%
      (birch) higher with the new procedure. Furthermore, the quantified concentrations
      of xylose were 9.3% (beech) and 6.5% (birch) higher by considering the
      unhydrolyzed oligosaccharides as well. 

PMID- 26876843
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of a porous and hydrophobic cellulose-based
      composite for efficient and fast oil-water separation.
AB  - Oily wastewater is generated in diverse industrial processes, and its treatment
      has become crucial due to increasing environmental concerns. Herein, silanized
      cellulose was prepared by sol-gel reaction between microcrystalline cellulose
      (MCC) and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) using for oil-water separation. The
      silanized cellulose was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
      (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy
      (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). A higher mass ratio of HDTMS to MCC
      made silanized cellulose become looser, and showed lower water absorbency. The
      silanized cellulose exhibited specific separation performance towards vegetable
      oil-water mixture (not for mineral oil-water mixture) with separation efficiency
      of 99.93%. Moreover, the separation was fast with a water flux of 4628.5Lm(-2)h(
      1). The separation efficiency still remained at 99.77% even after recycling for
      10 times. 

PMID- 26876844
TI  - Chitin nanowhisker-supported sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) proton exchange for
      fuel cell applications.
AB  - To balance the relationship among proton conductivity and mechanic strength of
      sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) membrane, chitin nanowhisker-supported
      nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporating whiskers into SPES. The as
      prepared chitin whiskers were prepared by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl
      radical (TEMPO) mediated oxidation of alpha-chitin from crab shells. The
      structure and properties of the composite membranes were examined as proton
      exchange membrane (PEM). Results showed that chitin nanowhiskers were dispersed
      incompactly in the SPES matrix. Thermal stability, mechanical properties, water
      uptake and proton conductivity of the nanocomposite films were improved from
      those of the pure SPES film with increasing whisker content, which ascribed to
      strong interactions between whiskers and between SPES molecules and chitin
      whiskers via hydrogen bonding. These indicated that composition of filler and
      matrix got good properties and whisker-supported membranes are promising
      materials for PEM. 

PMID- 26876845
TI  - Effects of heat treatment on chitosan nanocomposite film reinforced with
      nanocrystalline cellulose and tannic acid.
AB  - This article presents an analysis of the influence of heat treatment on chitosan
      nanocomposite film. A series of samples comprising: pure chitosan film, chitosan
      film embedded with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), chitosan film crosslinked
      with tannic acid and chitosan film with a blend of NCC and tannic acid were heat
      treated using a convection oven. Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
      and X-ray diffraction test (XRD) shows the changes in chemical interaction of the
      heat treated films. The heat treated films show significant improvements in
      moisture absorption. Tensile strength and Young's Modulus were increased up to
      7MPa and 259MPa, respectively when the samples were subjected to heat treatment.
      For the NCC particles, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to
      inspect the structural properties of cellulose particle in suspension form. 

PMID- 26876846
TI  - Fabrication of multifunctional cellulose nanocrystals/poly(lactic acid)
      nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles by spraying method.
AB  - The poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/functionalized cellulose nanocrystals formates
      (CNFs) were prepared by solution casting and then the binary films were sprayed
      with silver ammonia aqueous solution to fabricate PLA/CNF/Ag ternary
      nanocomposites. It was found that both deposited silver (Ag) nanoparticles and
      CNFs showed efficient reinforcing effect on the thermal, mechanical, barrier
      properties and antibacterial activity of PLA matrix. Especially, the maximum
      decomposition temperature (Tmax) and Young's modulus of PLA/CNF/Ag(6)
      nanocomposite film increased by 15.5 degrees C and 48.7%, respectively. Meanwhile
      an obvious reduction in the water vapor permeability was detected. Furthermore,
      the migration levels of the ternary nanocomposite films were well below the
      permitted limits in both non-polar and polar food simulants (60mgkg(-1)), and
      they showed a significant antibacterial activity influenced by the Ag contents.
      This study reveals that the novel nanocomposite films will offer a good
      perspective for food packaging applications. 

PMID- 26876847
TI  - Development of new active packaging film made from a soluble soybean
      polysaccharide incorporating ZnO nanoparticles.
AB  - This study aimed to develop a soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) nanocomposite
      incorporating ZnO nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were prepared using the
      solvent-casting method. SEM, AFM, DSC and X-ray diffraction methods were applied
      to characterize the resulting films. Furthermore, the antibacterial and anti-mold
      activities of SSPS/ZN films were assessed against the selected microorganisms.
      The results indicated that incorporating ZNs into the SSPS film affected the
      tensile strength and elongation at break significantly. In addition, the
      antibacterial, antifungal and yeasticidal activities of ZnO/SSPS films have been
      approved. XRD results showed a crystal plane of hexagonal ZN, while SEM showed
      that there was not a good affinity between ZN and SSPS. Mono-dispersed particles
      with clearly spherical morphology and with no voids on the surface were observed
      using AFM. Fluctuation in Tg and Tm resulted from incorporating ZN. In summary,
      the potential of ZNs as a functional filler in SSPS film has been demonstrated. 

PMID- 26876848
TI  - Controllable layer-by-layer assembly of PVA and phenylboronic acid-derivatized
      chitosan.
AB  - Phenylboronic acid-derivatized chitosan (chitosan-PBA) were prepared by grafting
      small molecules bearing phenylboronic acid groups onto chitosan with N
      hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide
      hydrochloride (EDC) as a coupling reagent pair. Self-assembly multilayer thin
      films of chitosan-PBA and poly(vinyl alcohol) were subsequently produced under pH
      control on supporting surfaces, either a silicon wafer or polystyrene latex
      particles. The driving force of the self-assembly was the ester formation of
      phenylboronic acid containing polymers with PVA, which can be "turned off" by
      simple pH control. 

PMID- 26876849
TI  - Preparation of starch-poly-glutamic acid graft copolymers by microwave
      irradiation and the characterization of their properties.
AB  - Graft copolymers of waxy maize starch and poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) were
      produced in an aqueous solution using microwave irradiation. The microwave
      reaction conditions were optimized with regard to temperature and pH. The
      temperature of 180 degrees C and pH7.0 were the best reaction conditions
      resulting in a PGA graft of 0.45% based on nitrogen analysis. The average graft
      content and graft efficiency for the starch-PGA graft copolymer prepared at 180
      degrees C and pH7.0 were 4.20% and 2.73%, respectively. The starch-PGA graft
      copolymer produced at 180 degrees C and pH7.0 could absorb more than 20 times its
      own weight amount of water and form a gel. The preliminary rheology study
      revealed that the starch-PGA graft copolymer gel exhibited viscoelastic solid
      behavior while the control sample of waxy starch showed viscoelastic liquid
      behavior. 

PMID- 26876850
TI  - Well-aligned cellulose nanofiber-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol composite film:
      Mechanical and optical properties.
AB  - Uniaxially aligned cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which are fabricated by
      electrospinning of cellulose acetate derived from bamboo cellulose (B-CA)
      followed by deacetylation, were used as reinforcements to make optically
      transparent composite films. We examined the effects of B-CA concentration and
      electrospinning parameters (e.g. spinning distance, and collection speed) on
      fiber morphology and orientation, which act on mechanical-to-optical properties
      of the CNFs-reinforced composites. Consequently, the resultant composite film
      exhibits high visible-light transmittance even with high fiber content, as well
      as improved mechanical properties. The understanding obtained from this study may
      facilitate the development of novel nanofibrous materials for various optical
      uses. 

PMID- 26876851
TI  - Formation of inclusion complexes between high amylose starch and octadecyl
      ferulate via steam jet cooking.
AB  - Amylose-ligand inclusion complexes represent an interesting approach to deliver
      bioactive molecules. However, ferulic acid has been shown not to form single
      helical inclusion complexes with amylose from high amylose maize starch. To
      overcome this problem a lipophilic ferulic acid ester, octadecyl ferulate, was
      prepared and complexed with amylose via excess steam jet cooking. Jet-cooking
      octadecyl ferulate and high amylose starch gave an amylose-octadecyl ferulate
      inclusion complex in 51.0% isolated yield. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
      differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that a 61 V-type inclusion
      complex was formed. Amylose and extraction assays showed the complex to be
      enriched in amylose (91.9+/-4.3%) and contain 70.6+/-5.6mgg(-1) octadecyl
      ferulate, although, minor hydrolysis (~4%) of the octadecyl ferulate was observed
      under the excess steam jet-cooking conditions utilized. This study demonstrates
      that steam jet cooking is a rapid and scalable process in which to prepare
      amylose-octadecyl ferulate inclusion complexes. 

PMID- 26876852
TI  - Preparation of aqueous alpha-lipoic acid dispersions with octenylsuccinylated
      high amylose starch.
AB  - Aqueous dispersions prepared with OSA-modified high amylose starch were
      investigated in comparison with native high amylose starch and beta-cyclodextrin
      using alpha-lipoic acid as a model substance. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a
      lipophilic antioxidant essential for energy metabolism in human, was dispersed in
      gelatinized starch solutions (1.0% w/v) at different temperatures (50-90 degrees
      C) and times (3-12h). High amylose starch modified with 3% OSA (dry starch base)
      was most favored in maximizing the dispersibility of ALA (84% recovery) under
      mild heating (70 degrees C for 3h). The optimally prepared dispersion was milky
      white and contained particles with a narrow size distribution (200-300nm). The
      precipitate isolated from the dispersion contained crystalline V-complexes of ALA
      and amylose while the supernatant contained free ALA accounting for 1/3 of total
      ALA, indicating OSA-modified high amylose starch stabilized ALA either by
      complexing with amylose or by retarding aggregation of ALA. 

PMID- 26876854
TI  - Effect of dual modification with hydroxypropylation and cross-linking on
      physicochemical properties of taro starch.
AB  - Dual modification of taro starch by hydroxypropylation and cross-linking was
      carried out and the properties of the modified starches were investigated. Two
      different levels of hydroxypropylation (5 and 10%) and cross-linking (0.05 and
      0.10%) were used in different sequences. The amylose contents of the starch
      decreased due to single and dual modification. For the dual-modified starches,
      the swelling, solubility and clarity was found to increase with level of
      hydroxypropylation and decrease with level of cross-linking. The freeze-thaw
      stability of the dual-modified starches was also affected by the sequence of
      modification. The viscosities of the cross-linked and dual-modified starches were
      more than native and hydroxypropylated starches. The firmness of the dual
      modified starches was also higher than native and single modified starches. The
      dual-modified starches have benefits of both type of modifications and could be
      used for specific purposes e.g. food products requiring high viscosity as well as
      freeze-thaw stability. 

PMID- 26876853
TI  - The synthesis and application of heparin-based smart drug carrier.
AB  - Heparin based polymer drug which could self-assemble into sphere micelle in water
      was firstly prepared by grafting paclitaxel (PTX) into the hydroxyl of heparin
      via aconitic bond as pH sensitive spacer. Positive charged drug DOX.HCl and
      cationic folic acid (CFA) can be further loaded into the polymer drug via
      electrostatic interaction in aqueous solution so as to prepare smart drug
      carrier. The drug carrier was able to release more PTX and DOX at pH 4.8 than
      that at pH 7.4, exhibiting pH sensitivity for two drugs. Furthermore, tumor cell
      cytotoxicity test proved it possessed significant cytotoxicity against tumor
      cells MDA-MB-231 as well as its active tumor targeting ability resulting from the
      loading of CFA. Cellular uptake and intracellular distribution were further
      revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In conclusion, this paper
      not only provided a simple strategy but also indicated heparin is a versatile
      platform for the design of smart drug carrier. The as-prepared drug carrier also
      showed promising potential in chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26876855
TI  - Enzymatic saccharification of high pressure assist-alkali pretreated cotton stalk
      and structural characterization.
AB  - Cotton stalk is a potential biomass for bioethanol production, while the
      conversion of direct saccharification or biotransformation of cotton stalk is
      extremely low due to the recalcitrant nature of lignocellulose. To enhance the
      enzymatic conversion of cotton stalks, the enzymatic saccharification parameters
      of high pressure assist-alkali pretreatment (HPAP) cotton stalk were optimized in
      the present study. Results indicated that a maximum reducing sugar yield of
      54.7g/100g dry biomass cellulose was achieved at a substrate concentration of 2%,
      100rpm agitation, 0.6g/g enzyme loading, 40 degrees C hydrolysis temperature, 50h
      saccharification time, and pH 5.0. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray
      diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to identify
      structural changes in native, pretreated biomass and hydrolyzed residues.
      Structural analysis revealed large part of amorphous cellulose and partial
      crystalline cellulose in the HPAP cotton stalk were hydrolyzed during enzymatic
      treatment. HPAP cotton stalk can be used as a potential feed stock for bioethanol
      production. 

PMID- 26876856
TI  - Antibacterial electrospun chitosan-polyethylene oxide nanocomposite mats
      containing bioactive silver nanoparticles.
AB  - The antimicrobial chitosan-polyethylene oxide (CS-PEO) nanofibrous mats were
      developed by electrospinning technique for wound dressing applications. Indeed, a
      green route was introduced for fabrication of antibacterial mats loaded with
      0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) of bioactive silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, ~70nm diameter)
      reduced by Falcaria vulgaris herbal extract. The mats were characterized by FE
      SEM, EDAX, elemental mapping, FT-IR, contact angle, TGA/DSC as well as tensile
      strength analysis. All of the nanofibers had an average ~200nm diameter.
      Interestingly, both of the CS-PEO mats containing 0.25% and 0.50% bioactive F.
      vulgaris-Ag NPs revealed 100% bactericidal activities against both Staphylococcus
      aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. The silver release from nanofiber mats was
      sharply increased within first eight hours for both CS-PEO mats including 0.25%
      and 0.50% F. vulgaris-Ag NPs but after that the Ag nanoparticles were released
      very slowly (almost constant). The improved hydrophilicity, higher tensile
      strength and much greater silver release for CS-PEO-0.50% F. vulgaris-Ag NPs
      relative to those of the CS-PEO 0.25% F. vulgaris-Ag NPs suggested that the
      former was superior for biomedical applications. 

PMID- 26876857
TI  - Chemical filtration of Cr (VI) with electrospun chitosan nanofiber membranes.
AB  - Chitosan nanofibers (average diameter of 75nm) were electrospun on polyester
      (PET) scrim to form composite nanofiber membranes with controlled pore size. The
      membranes were then stacked as a membrane bed for chemical filtration of Cr (VI)
      of 1-5mg/L. The performance of the bed with respect to loading capacity at
      breakthrough, bed saturation and utilization efficiency were carefully
      investigated. The results showed that while these three parameters were dependent
      on pH, flow rate, flow distribution and packed pattern of the membrane, the
      latter two were less affected by feed Cr (VI) concentration and bed length. The
      maximum bed loading capacity for 1mg/L Cr (VI) filtration at breakthrough was
      found to be 16.5mg-chromium/g-chitosan, higher than the static adsorption
      capacity of 11.0mg-chromium/g-chitosan using nanofiber mats, indicating the
      membranes' better potential for dynamic adsorption. The minimum bed length
      required to avoid breakthrough was determined to be three layers of stacked
      membranes with nanofiber deposition density of 1g/m(2) by applying bed depth
      service time (BDST) model. 

PMID- 26876858
TI  - Purification, characterization and in vitro anticoagulant activity of
      polysaccharides from Gentiana scabra Bunge roots.
AB  - Three water-soluble polysaccharide fractions (GSP-1, GSP-2 and GSP-3) were
      obtained from Gentiana scabra Bunge roots by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and Sepharose
      CL-6B column chromatography. Their chemical characterizations were determined by
      high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), high performance anion
      exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD)
      and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. Moreover, their in vitro
      anticoagulant activities were evaluated by activated partial thromboplastin time
      (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and prothrombin time (PT) assays. GSP-1 and GSP-2 were
      composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose and galacturonic acid, while
      GSP-3 consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and galacturonic acid with a
      weight-average molecular weight of 5.8*10(4)Da. In comparison with the control
      group (saline), GSP, GSP-1, GSP-2 and GSP-3 could prolong APTT and TT, but not
      PT. Overall, GSP-3 exhibited potent anticoagulant activity and would be expected
      to be a potential source of anticoagulant. 

PMID- 26876859
TI  - Application of carbohydrate polymers as corrosion inhibitors for metal substrates
      in different media: A review.
AB  - Naturally occurring polysaccharides are biopolymers existing as products of
      biochemical processes in living systems. A wide variety of them have been
      employed for various material applications; as binders, coatings, drug delivery,
      corrosion inhibitors etc. This review describes the application of some green and
      benign carbohydrate biopolymers and their derivatives for inhibition of metal
      corrosion. Their modes and mechanisms of protection have also been described as
      directly related to their macromolecular weights, chemical composition and their
      unique molecular and electronic structures. For instance, cellulose and chitosan
      possess free amine and hydroxyl groups capable of metal ion chelation and their
      lone pairs of electrons are readily utilized for coordinate bonding at the
      metal/solution interface. Some of the carbohydrate polymers reviewed in this work
      are either pure or modified forms; their grafted systems and nanoparticle
      composites with multitude potentials for metal protection applications have also
      been highlighted. Few inhibitors grafted to introduce more compact structures
      with polar groups capable of increasing the total energy of the surface have also
      been mentioned. Exudate gums, carboxymethyl and hydroxyethyl cellulose, starch,
      pectin and pectates, substituted/modified chitosans, carrageenan,
      dextrin/cyclodextrins and alginates have been elaborately reviewed, including the
      effects of halide additives on their anticorrosion performances. Aspects of
      computational/theoretical approach to corrosion monitoring have been recommended
      for future studies. This non-experimental approach to corrosion could foster a
      better understanding of the corrosion inhibition processes by correlating actual
      inhibition mechanisms with molecular structures of these carbohydrate polymers. 

PMID- 26876860
TI  - The effect of pH and salt on the stability and physicochemical properties of oil
      in-water emulsions prepared with gum tragacanth.
AB  - The effect of pH (2.5, 4.0 and 5.4) and salt concentration (0.0, 0.5 and 1.0wt%)
      on the physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized with gum
      tragacanth were investigated during 150 days of storage. Mean droplet diameter,
      zeta-potential, interfacial tension and steady-shear and dynamic rheological
      properties were determined to achieve more information about the likely stability
      mechanisms. The results showed that increasing salt concentration did not have a
      significant effect on emulsion stability. Emulsions were highly unstable at pH
      2.5, with their emulsion-stability index declining almost three times more than
      that of other emulsions during the storage time. Based on the size distribution
      data, a direct correlation was not observed between droplet size distribution and
      emulsion stability. Rheological analysis revealed that pH 2.5 had the lowest
      apparent viscosity, storage modulus, energy of cohesion (EC) and a-value, and the
      highest tandelta and b-value. 

PMID- 26876861
TI  - Novel electrically conducting 2-hydroxyethylcellulose/polyaniline nanocomposite
      cryogels: Synthesis and application in tissue engineering.
AB  - Novel electrically conducting 2-hydroxyethylcellulose/polyaniline (HEC/PANI)
      nanocomposite cryogels were fabricated via the combination of cryogenic treatment
      and photochemical crosslinking. PANI nanofillers (one-dimentional tubes and three
      dimentional particles) were synthesized via oxidative polymerization of aniline
      in aqueous media and, then, embedded in the HEC matrix. The effect of PANI
      content and morphology on the gel fraction yield and electrical conductivity of
      material was studied. Nanocomposite cryogels of high gel fraction yield (65-95%)
      and rather high electrical conductivity (0.02-0.1S/m) were obtained by using a
      relatively small amount (0.5-3wt.% to HEC) of pre-formed PANI nanofillers. The
      behavior of L929 cells adhered on HEC/PANI cryogels in the presence of electric
      field were also investigated. Cytotoxicity test showed very good survival and
      proliferation of cells on cryogels, while the electrical stimulation triggered
      changes in cell morphology as well as a specific alignment of cells in parallel
      to the electrical field. 

PMID- 26876862
TI  - Effect of vapor-phase glutaraldehyde crosslinking on electrospun starch fibers.
AB  - In this work, we have proven that starch nanofibrous membranes with high tensile
      strength, water stability and non-cytotoxicity can be produced by electrospinning
      of starch solution and post-treatment with GTA in vapor phase. GTA vapor phase
      crosslinking plays a key role in forming water-stable nanofiber membrane and
      improving the mechanical properties. Comparing with non-crosslinked starch
      fibers, the crosslinked fibers are increased by nearly 10 times in tensile
      strength. The crosslinked starch fibrous membranes are non-cytotoxic. They may
      find applications in the fields of tissue engineering, pharmaceutical therapy and
      medical. 

PMID- 26876863
TI  - Crystallographic evidence for beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexation
      facilitating the improvement of antioxidant activity of tea (+)-catechin and (-)
      epicatechin.
AB  - Single-crystal X-ray analysis to 0.6A resolution using synchrotron radiation of
      the inclusion complexes of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with (+)-catechin (CA) and
      (-)-epicatechin (EC) has been carried out to gain atomistic insight into how the
      inclusion complexation helps to improve tea catechin antioxidant activity. The
      beta-CD-CA complex crystallizes in the monoclinic P21 space group, whereas the
      beta-CD-EC complex crystallizes in both the monoclinic P21 and triclinic P1 space
      groups. In comparing the inclusion structures, the beta-CD-EC dimeric structure
      having higher numbers of OH?O hydrogen bonds combined with pi?pi interactions is
      associated with its greater interaction energy, as derived from DFT/B3LYP single
      point energy calculations. Detailed structural analysis of the CA, EC
      conformation and inclusion geometry reveals that the interplay of the
      intermolecular OH?O hydrogen bond stabilized catechol moiety and the protection
      of OH groups in the beta-CD cavity plays a key role in the improvement of
      antioxidant capacity upon inclusion complexation. 

PMID- 26876864
TI  - Reinforcement effect of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)-grafted cellulose
      nanocrystal on toughened PBS/polylactic acid blends.
AB  - Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/polylactic acid (PLA) blends modified with dicumyl
      peroxide (DCP) were reinforced by PBS-g-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) through melt
      mixing. PBS-g-CNC was prepared through in situ polymerization and its structure
      was confirmed by FTIR, (13)C NMR, XPS and GPC analysis after saponification. The
      morphological analysis of PBS/PLA/PBS-g-CNC composites before and after etched by
      CH2Cl2 shows that the addition of DCP and PBS-g-CNC could decrease the size of
      PBS as a dispersed phase in PLA matrix and improve the dispersion of PBS-g-CNC in
      both PBS and PLA phases, which could affect the crystallization and mechanical
      properties of composites. The crystallinity of PLA alpha'-phase crystal in
      PBS/PLA/PBS-g-CNC composites is increased obviously by the addition of PBS-g-CNC,
      leading to an increase of the crystallinity of the composites. PBS/PLA blends
      modified by DCP have high Notched Izod impact strength and moduli, and the values
      are increased by the addition of PBS-g-CNC. Both storage modulus and glass
      translation temperature of PBS/PLA blend are increased by DCP and PBS-g-CNC,
      which is proved by DMA results, showing a weak molecular segment mobility of
      PBS/PLA matrix. The addition of DCP decreases the crystallization temperature and
      crystallinity of PBS/PLA composite, but increases the thermal stability of
      composites, mostly because of the crosslink effect of DCP on PBS/PLA matrix. 

PMID- 26876865
TI  - Effect of stretching on the mechanical properties in melt-spun poly(butylene
      succinate)/microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) nanocomposites.
AB  - In order to prepare poly(butylene succinate)/microfibrillated cellulose
      composites with high performance, in this work, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)
      was first treated by acetylchloride with ball-milling to improve its interfacial
      compatibility with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). Then melt stretching
      processing was adopted to further improve the dispersion and orientation of MFC
      in as-spun PBS fiber. And the effect of MFC on the crystalline structure and
      mechanical properties were systematically investigated for the melt-spun fibers
      prepared with two different draw ratios. The dispersion, alignment of the MFC and
      interfacial crystalline structure in the composite fibers are significantly
      influenced by the stretching force during the melt spinning. The possible
      formation of nanohybrid shish kebab (NHSK) superstructure where aligned MFC as
      shish and PBS lamellae as kebab has been suggested via SEM and SAXS in the
      composite fibers prepared at the high draw ratio. Large improvement in tensile
      strength has been realized at the high draw ratio due to the enhanced orientation
      and dispersion of MFC as well as the formation of NHSK. 

PMID- 26876866
TI  - Method to reinforce polylactic acid with cellulose nanofibers via a
      polyhydroxybutyrate carrier system.
AB  - The elastic moduli of PLA reinforced with 5 and 10wt.% CNF with the carrier, at a
      frequency (omega) of 0.07, were 67% and 415% higher, respectively, than that of
      neat PLA. The shear viscosity at a shear rate of 0.01 (eta0.01) for PLA+10wt.%
      CNF was 32% higher than that of the neat PLA matrix. The eta0.01 of PLA
      reinforced with 5wt.% CNF and the PHB carrier was similar to neat PLA. The
      tensile and flexural moduli of elasticity of the nanocomposites continuously
      increased with increased CNF loading. The results of the mechanical property
      measurements are in accordance with the rheological data. The CNF appeared to be
      better dispersed (less-aggregated nanofibers) in the PLA reinforced with 5wt.%
      CNF and the PHB carrier. Possible applications for the composites studied in this
      research are packaging materials, construction materials, and auto parts for
      interior applications. 

PMID- 26876867
TI  - Spontaneous arrangement of a tumor targeting hyaluronic acid shell on irinotecan
      loaded PLGA nanoparticles.
AB  - The arrangement of tumor targeting hyaluronic acid (HA) moieties on irinotecan
      (IRIN)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) has been
      directed by means of a gradient of lipophilicity between the oil and water phases
      of the emulsion used to produce the NPs. PLGA constitutes the NP bulk while HA is
      superficially exposed, with amphiphilic poloxamers acting as a bridge between
      PLGA and HA. Differential scanning calorimetry, zeta potential analyses and ELISA
      tests were employed to support the hypothesis of polymer assembly in NP
      formulations. The presence of flexible HA chains on NP surface enhances NP size
      stability over time due to an increased electrostatic repulsion between NPs and a
      higher degree of hydration of the device surface. IRIN in vitro release kinetics
      can be sustained up to 7-13 days. In vitro biologic studies indicated that HA
      containing NPs were more toxic than bare PLGA NPs against CD44-overexpressing
      breast carcinoma cells (HS578T), therefore indicating their ability to target
      CD44 receptor. 

PMID- 26876868
TI  - Preparation, characterization, mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties
      of chitosan/PVOH/clay nanocomposites.
AB  - In the current study low molecular weight poly(vinylalcohol) (PVOH) was used to
      prepare chitosan/PVOH blends and chitosan/PVOH/montmorillonite nanocomposites via
      a reflux - solution - heat pressing method. The effect of PVOH content and
      montmorillonite type (hydrophylic vs. organically modified) on the morphology,
      mechanical, thermomechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties of the
      obtained polymer blends and nanocomposite films was studied. Higher amounts of
      PVOH (20 and 30%) resulted in plasticization of the films, with an increase in
      the elongation at break and decrease of the stiffness and the strength while
      effective blending between chitosan and PVOH chains was observed based on the XRD
      and DMA findings. Addition of PVOH was beneficial for water and oxygen barrier
      properties of the obtained films while it did not influence the antimicrobial
      activity of films against the growth of Escherichia coli. Intercalated structures
      were obtained after the addition of hydrophilic and organo-modified clays leading
      into stiffening of the nano-modified films and enhancement of their barrier and
      antimicrobial properties. 

PMID- 26876869
TI  - Imidazole-based deep eutectic solvents for starch dissolution and plasticization.
AB  - Potato starch and high-amylose starch were treated with imidazole-based deep
      eutectic solvents (DESs) as dissolution and plasticization media. Beside
      imidazole (IM) for two-component DESs preparation choline chloride (CC), glycerol
      (G) or carboxylic acids (citric or malic) were used. An influence of water
      content in starch (as well as an extra water in the starch/DES system) on polymer
      dissolution and plasticization processes was investigated. Dissolution and
      gelatinization of starch in DESs were followed via DSC and laser scanning
      microscopy. A rheometric characteristics revealed an influence of starch/DES
      system storage time on the plasticization process. The tendency to
      recrystallization of compression-molded-starch films was evaluated using XRD
      technique. High dissolution and plasticization effectiveness of CC/IM and G/IM
      and a low tendency to film retrogradation of thermoplasticized starch were noted.

PMID- 26876870
TI  - Efficient biosynthesis of polysaccharides chondroitin and heparosan by
      metabolically engineered Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - Chondroitin and heparosan, important polysaccharides and key precursors of
      chondroitin sulfate and heparin/heparan sulfate, have drawn much attention due to
      their wide applications in many aspects. In this study, we designed two
      independent synthetic pathways of chondroitin and heparosan in food-grade
      Bacillus subtilis, integrating critical synthases genes derived from Escherichia
      coli into B. subtilis genome. By RT-PCR analysis, we confirmed that synthases
      genes transcripted an integral mRNA chain, suggesting co-expression. In shaken
      flask, chondroitin and heparosan were produced at a level of 1.83gL(-1) and
      1.71gL(-1), respectively. Since B. subtilis endogenous tuaD gene encodes the
      limiting factor of biosynthesis, overexpressing tuaD resulted in enhanced
      chondroitin and heparosan titers, namely 2.54gL(-1) and 2.65gL(-1). Moreover,
      production reached the highest peaks of 5.22gL(-1) and 5.82gL(-1) in 3-L fed
      batch fermentation, respectively, allowed to double the production that in shaken
      flask. The weight-average molecular weight of chondroitin and heparosan from B.
      subtilis E168C/pP43-D and E168H/pP43-D were 114.07 and 67.70kDa, respectively.
      This work provided alternative safer synthetic pathways for metabolic engineering
      of chondroitin and heparosan in B. subtilis and a useful approach for enhancing
      production, which can be optimized for further improvement. 

PMID- 26876871
TI  - Swelling induced regeneration of TiO2-impregnated chitosan adsorbents under
      visible light.
AB  - Since only the molecules that are in direct contact with the TiO2 surface undergo
      photosensitization, it is challenging to regenerate the TiO2-impregnated chitosan
      (TIC) adsorbent beads under visible light. This study focused on the role of
      chitosan swelling properties. It was found that dye-loaded TIC adsorbent
      exhibited a pH-dependent swelling owing to protonation/deprotonation of free
      amino groups on chitosan chains. In the acidic medium (pH<6.0), the adsorbent
      underwent a 'smart' phase transition from a dry contracted state to a hydrated
      swollen state, and its physicochemical properties were also significantly
      changed, which eventually enabled the photosensitized oxidation of dye. This
      swelling induced regeneration was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared
      (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The involvement
      of oxygen radical species (O2(-)/HOO and OH) was also confirmed with electron
      spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Moreover, the adsorption effectiveness of TIC
      adsorbent was mostly recovered after six regeneration cycles. 

PMID- 26876872
TI  - Structural, thermal, functional, antioxidant & antimicrobial properties of beta-d
      glucan extracted from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cereviseae)-Effect of gamma
      irradiation.
AB  - This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of gamma-irradiation (0, 5, 10,
      20, 30 & 50kGy) on the structural, functional, antioxidant and antimicrobial
      properties of yeast beta-d-glucan. The samples were characterized by ATR-FTIR,
      gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the thermal properties were studied using
      DSC. There was a decrease in the average molecular weight of beta-d-glucan as the
      irradiation dose increased. The functional properties of irradiated yeast beta-d
      glucan were largely influenced by the action of gamma radiation like swelling
      power and viscosity decreases with increase in the irradiation dose while as fat
      binding capacity, emulsifying properties, foaming properties and bile acid
      binding capacity shows an increasing trend. All the antioxidant properties
      carried out using six different assays increased significantly (p<=0.05) in a
      dose dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of yeast beta-d-glucan also
      showed an increasing trend with increase in the irradiation dose from 5 to 50kDa.

PMID- 26876873
TI  - Physicochemical properties and structural characterization of a galactomannan
      from Sophora alopecuroides L. seeds.
AB  - A water-soluble neutral polysaccharide (F25) was fractionated from crude
      polysaccharides of Sophora alopecuroides L. seeds. Its physicochemical properties
      and structural characterization were investigated. The I2-KI and Congo red
      reactions showed F25 possessed many branches without triple-helical conformation,
      which coincided with methylation and NMR analyses, i.e., F25 was a galactomannan
      with 1,4-linked beta-d-Manp backbone distributed randomly (M/G 1.48-1.84) by
      major T-alpha-d-Galp (86.82%) or minor 1,4-linked alpha-d-Galp (13.18%) at O-6.
      Compared with [eta] of deionized water (2.98dL/g), it was indicated that NaCl
      (2.89-2.90dL/g) and NaOH (2.27-2.28dL/g) could affect intrinsic interactions and
      conformation of F25 in solution, leading to molecular non-entanglements and
      intramolecular associations. This was demonstrated by 3D molecular modeling.
      Furthermore, the amorphous nature of F25 was revealed with higher crystallinity
      (25.7%) and crystallite size (7.6nm) compared to other polysaccharides. In this
      study, the possible relationships between molecular structure and physicochemical
      properties were obtained for F25, which could be potentially applied in food and
      pharmaceutical industries. 

PMID- 26876874
TI  - Effects of extraction methods on the yield, chemical structure and anti-tumor
      activity of polysaccharides from Cordyceps gunnii mycelia.
AB  - This study was to investigate the effects of different extraction methods on the
      yield, chemical structure and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from
      Cordyceps gunnii (C. gunnii) mycelia. Five extraction methods were used to
      extract crude polysaccharides (CPS), which include room-temperature water
      extraction (RWE), hot-water extraction (HWE), microwave-assisted extraction
      (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and cellulase-assisted extraction
      (CAE). Then Sephadex G-100 was used for purification of CPS. As a result, the
      antitumor activities of CPS and PPS on S180 cells were evaluated. Five CPS and
      purified polysaccharides (PPS) were obtained. The yield of CPS by microwave
      assisted extraction (CPSMAE) was the highest and its anti-tumor activity was the
      best and its macromolecular polysaccharide (3000-1000kDa) ratio was the largest.
      The PPS had the same monosaccharide composition, but their obvious difference was
      in the antitumor activity and the physicochemical characteristics, such as
      intrinsic viscosity, specific rotation, scanning electron microscopy and circular
      dichroism spectra. 

PMID- 26876875
TI  - Stepping into the omics era: Opportunities and challenges for biomaterials
      science and engineering.
AB  - The research paradigm in biomaterials science and engineering is evolving from
      using low-throughput and iterative experimental designs towards high-throughput
      experimental designs for materials optimization and the evaluation of materials
      properties. Computational science plays an important role in this transition.
      With the emergence of the omics approach in the biomaterials field, referred to
      as materiomics, high-throughput approaches hold the promise of tackling the
      complexity of materials and understanding correlations between material
      properties and their effects on complex biological systems. The intrinsic
      complexity of biological systems is an important factor that is often
      oversimplified when characterizing biological responses to materials and
      establishing property-activity relationships. Indeed, in vitro tests designed to
      predict in vivo performance of a given biomaterial are largely lacking as we are
      not able to capture the biological complexity of whole tissues in an in vitro
      model. In this opinion paper, we explain how we reached our opinion that
      converging genomics and materiomics into a new field would enable a significant
      acceleration of the development of new and improved medical devices. The use of
      computational modeling to correlate high-throughput gene expression profiling
      with high throughput combinatorial material design strategies would add power to
      the analysis of biological effects induced by material properties. We believe
      that this extra layer of complexity on top of high-throughput material
      experimentation is necessary to tackle the biological complexity and further
      advance the biomaterials field. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this opinion paper,
      we postulate that converging genomics and materiomics into a new field would
      enable a significant acceleration of the development of new and improved medical
      devices. The use of computational modeling to correlate high-throughput gene
      expression profiling with high throughput combinatorial material design
      strategies would add power to the analysis of biological effects induced by
      material properties. We believe that this extra layer of complexity on top of
      high-throughput material experimentation is necessary to tackle the biological
      complexity and further advance the biomaterials field.

PMID- 26876876
TI  - Decellularized skin/adipose tissue flap matrix for engineering vascularized
      composite soft tissue flaps.
AB  - Using a perfusion decellularization protocol, we developed a decellularized
      skin/adipose tissue flap (DSAF) comprising extracellular matrix (ECM) and intact
      vasculature. Our DSAF had a dominant vascular pedicle, microcirculatory
      vascularity, and a sensory nerve network and retained three-dimensional (3D)
      nanofibrous structures well. DSAF, which was composed of collagen and laminin
      with well-preserved growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor,
      basic fibroblast growth factor), was successfully repopulated with human adipose
      derived stem cells (hASCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs),
      which integrated with DSAF and formed 3D aggregates and vessel-like structures in
      vitro. We used microsurgery techniques to re-anastomose the recellularized DSAF
      into nude rats. In vivo, the engineered flap construct underwent
      neovascularization and constructive remodeling, which was characterized by the
      predominant infiltration of M2 macrophages and significant adipose tissue
      formation at 3months postoperatively. Our results indicate that DSAF co-cultured
      with hASCs and HUVECs is a promising platform for vascularized soft tissue flap
      engineering. This platform is not limited by the flap size, as the entire
      construct can be immediately perfused by the recellularized vascular network
      following simple re-integration into the host using conventional microsurgical
      techniques. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Significant soft tissue loss resulting
      from traumatic injury or tumor resection often requires surgical reconstruction
      using autologous soft tissue flaps. However, the limited availability of
      qualitative autologous flaps as well as the donor site morbidity significantly
      limits this approach. Engineered soft tissue flap grafts may offer a clinically
      relevant alternative to the autologous flap tissue. In this study, we engineered
      vascularized soft tissue free flap by using skin/adipose flap extracellular
      matrix scaffold (DSAF) in combination with multiple types of human cells.
      Following vascular reanastomosis in the recipient site, the engineered products
      successful regenerated large-scale fat tissue in vivo. This approach may provide
      a translatable platform for composite soft tissue free flap engineering for
      microsurgical reconstruction.

PMID- 26876878
TI  - Nationwide incidence of serious complications of epidural analgesia in the United
      States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the incidence and risk factors of in
      hospital spinal hematoma and abscess associated with epidural analgesia in adult
      obstetric and non-obstetric populations in the United States. METHODS: The
      Nationwide Inpatient Sample was analyzed to identify patients receiving epidural
      analgesia from 1998 to 2010. Primary outcomes were incidence of spinal hematoma
      and epidural abscess. Use of decompressive laminectomy was also investigated.
      Regression analyses were conducted to assess predictors of epidural analgesia
      complications. Differences in mortality and disposition of patients at discharge
      were compared in patients with and without neuraxial complications. Obstetric and
      non-obstetric patients were studied separately. RESULTS: A total of 3,703,755
      epidural analgesia procedures (2,320,950 obstetric and 1,382,805 non-obstetric)
      were identified. In obstetric patients, the incidence of spinal hematoma was 0.6
      per 100,000 epidural catheterizations (95% CI, 0.3 to 1.0 * 10(-5) ). The
      incidence of epidural abscess was zero. In non-obstetric patients, the incidence
      of spinal hematoma and epidural abscess were, respectively, 18.5 per 100,000 (95%
      CI, 16.3 to 20.9 * 10(-5) ) and 7.2 per 100,000 (95% CI, 5.8 to 8.7 * 10(-5) )
      catheterizations. Predictors of spinal hematoma included type of surgical
      procedure (higher in vascular surgery), teaching status of hospital, and
      comorbidity score. Patients with spinal complications had higher in-hospital
      mortality (12.2% vs. 1.1%, P < 0.0001) and were significantly less likely to be
      discharged to home. CONCLUSIONS: This large nationwide data analysis reveals that
      the incidence of epidural analgesia-related complications is very low in
      obstetric population epidural analgesia and much higher in patients having
      vascular surgery.

PMID- 26876877
TI  - Heparinization of cell surfaces with short peptide-conjugated PEG-lipid regulates
      thromboinflammation in transplantation of human MSCs and hepatocytes.
AB  - Infusion of therapeutic cells into humans is associated with immune responses,
      including thromboinflammation, which result in a large loss of transplanted
      cells. To address these problems, heparinization of the cell surfaces was
      achieved by a cell-surface modification technique using polyethylene glycol
      conjugated phospholipid (PEG-lipid) derivatives. A short heparin-binding peptide
      was conjugated to the PEG-lipid for immobilization of heparin conjugates on the
      surface of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human hepatocytes. Here three
      kinds of heparin-binding peptides were used for immobilizing heparin conjugates
      and examined for the antithrombogenic effects on the cell surface. The
      heparinized cells were incubated in human whole blood to evaluate their
      hemocompatibility by measuring blood parameters such as platelet count,
      coagulation markers, complement markers, and Factor Xa activity. We found that
      one of the heparin-binding peptides did not show cytotoxicity after the
      immobilization with heparin conjugates. The degree of binding of the heparin
      conjugates on the cell surface (analyzed by flow cytometer) depended on the ratio
      of the active peptide to control peptide. For both human MSCs and hepatocytes in
      whole-blood experiments, no platelet aggregation was seen in the heparin
      conjugate-immobilized cell group vs. the controls (non-coated cells or control
      peptide). Also, the levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), C3a, and sC5b
      9 were significantly lower than those of the controls, indicating a lower
      activation of coagulation and complement. Factor Xa analysis indicated that the
      heparin conjugate was still active on the cell surface at 24h post-coating. It is
      possible to immobilize heparin conjugates onto hMSC and human hepatocyte surfaces
      and thereby protect the cell surfaces from damaging thromboinflammation.
      STATEMENT OF SIGNIGFICANCE: We present a promising approach to enhance the
      biocompatibility of therapeutic cells. Here we used short peptide-conjugated PEG
      lipid for cell surface modification and heparin conjugates for the coating of
      human hepatocytes and MSCs. We screened the short peptides to find higher
      affinity for heparinization of cell surface and performed hemocompatibility assay
      of heparinized human hepatocytes and human MSCs in human whole blood. Using
      heparin-binding peptide with higher affinity, not only coagulation activation but
      also complement activation was significantly suppressed. Thus, it was possible to
      protect human hepatocytes and human MSCs from the attack of thromboinflammatory
      activation, which can contribute to the improvement graft survival.

PMID- 26876879
TI  - The lung in systemic vasculitis: radiological patterns and differential
      diagnosis.
AB  - The respiratory system may be involved in all systemic vasculitides, although
      with a variable frequency. The aim of our review is to describe radiographic and
      high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary vasculitides and to correlate
      radiological findings with pathological results. Lung disease is a common feature
      of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated small-vessel vasculitides,
      including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), eosinophilic
      granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) and microscopic polyangiitis.
      Pulmonary involvement is less frequent in immune-complex-mediated small-vessel
      vasculitides, such as Behcet's disease and Goodpasture's syndrome. Pulmonary
      involvement associated to large-vessel (gigantocellular arteritis and Takayasu's
      disease) or medium-vessel (nodose polyarteritis and Kawasaki's disease)
      vasculitides is extremely rare. The present review describes the main clinical
      and radiological features of pulmonary vasculitides with major purpose to
      correlate HRCT findings (solitary or multiple nodules, cavitary lesions,
      micronodules with centrilobular or peribronchial distribution, airspace
      consolidations, "crazy paving", tracheobronchial involvement, interstitial
      disease) with pathological results paying particular attention to the description
      of acute life-threatening manifestations. A thorough medical history, careful
      clinical examination and the knowledge of radiological patterns are mandatory for
      a correct and early diagnosis. 

PMID- 26876881
TI  - Exploration of the Medicinal Peptide Space.
AB  - The chemical properties of peptide medicines, known as the 'medicinal peptide
      space' is considered a multi-dimensional subset of the global peptide space,
      where each dimension represents a chemical descriptor. These descriptors can be
      linked to biofunctional, medicinal properties to varying degrees. Knowledge of
      this space can increase the efficiency of the peptide-drug discovery and
      development process, as well as advance our understanding and classification of
      peptide medicines. For 245 peptide drugs, already available on the market or in
      clinical development, multivariate dataexploration was performed using peptide
      relevant physicochemical descriptors, their specific peptidedrug target and their
      clinical use. Our retrospective analysis indicates that clusters in the medicinal
      peptide space are located in a relatively narrow range of the physicochemical
      space: dense and empty regions were found, which can be explored for the
      discovery of novel peptide drugs. 

PMID- 26876880
TI  - Quantification of hepatic and visceral fat by CT and MR imaging: relevance to the
      obesity epidemic, metabolic syndrome and NAFLD.
AB  - Trends in obesity have continued to increase in the developed world over the past
      few decades, along with related conditions such as metabolic syndrome, which is
      strongly associated with this epidemic. Novel and innovative methods to assess
      relevant obesity-related biomarkers are needed to determine the clinical
      significance, allow for surveillance and intervene if appropriate. Aggregations
      of specific types of fat, specifically hepatic and visceral adiposity, are now
      known to be correlated with these conditions, and there are a variety of imaging
      techniques to identify and quantify their distributions and provide diagnostic
      information. These methods are particularly salient for metabolic syndrome, which
      is related to both hepatic and visceral adiposity but currently not defined by
      it. Simpler non-specific fat measurements, such as body weight, abdominal
      circumference and body mass index are more frequently used but lack the ability
      to characterize fat location. In addition, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD) is a related condition that carries relevance not only for obesity
      related diseases but also for the progression of the liver-specific disease,
      including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, albeit at a much lower
      frequency. Recent CT and MRI techniques have emerged to potentially optimize
      diagnosing metabolic syndrome and NAFLD through non-invasive quantification of
      visceral fat and hepatic steatosis with high accuracy. These imaging modalities
      should aid us in further understanding the relationship of hepatic and visceral
      fat to the obesity-related conditions such as metabolic syndrome, NAFLD and
      cardiovascular disease. 

PMID- 26876882
TI  - Trophic segregation of a fish assemblage along lateral depth gradients in a
      subtropical coastal lagoon revealed by stable isotope analyses.
AB  - Stable isotopes were used to evaluate the hypothesis that fish assemblages
      occurring in shallow and deep areas of a large coastal lagoon are structured in
      partially segregated trophic modules with consumers showing contrasting reliance
      on benthic or pelagic food sources. The results revealed that fishes in deep
      areas were mainly dependent on particulate organic matter in the sediment (SOM),
      whereas emergent macrophytes were as important as SOM to fish consumers in
      shallow areas. Conceptual trophic diagrams depicting relationships among basal
      food sources and consumers in different regions of the lagoon highlighted the
      greater use of multiple basal food sources by more feeding mode functional guilds
      in shallow water compared with the use of predominantly benthic resources (SOM)
      in deep areas. The findings appear to corroborate the initial hypothesis and
      offer complementary perspectives in understanding the role of spatial ecology in
      structuring coastal ecosystem function and productivity. 

PMID- 26876883
TI  - Obesity causes weight increases in prepubertal and pubertal male offspring and is
      related to changes in spermatogenesis and sperm production in rats.
AB  - The effect of obesity on testicular activity in prepubertal and pubertal rats was
      investigated in the present study. Obesity was induced in adult females by
      feeding a high-calorie diet (HCD). These females were mated with normal males and
      were fed an HCD during pregnancy and lactation. The male offspring born to obese
      mothers and fed an HCD after weaning were found to be obese. Seminiferous tubules
      of offspring from control mothers (OCM) and offspring from HCD-fed mothers
      (OHCDM) had the same set of germ cells at different age intervals, namely
      spermatogonia, leptotene spermatocytes, zygotene spermatocytes, pachytene
      spermatocytes and round and elongated spermatids on postnatal days (PND) 7, 13,
      17, 24 and 36, and on the day of preputial separation, respectively. However,
      there was a significant decrease in round and elongated spermatids and the
      epididymal sperm count, coupled with a significant decrease in testosterone and
      an increase in leptin serum concentrations in OHCDM compared with OCM. These
      results show that obesity in prepubertal rats does not affect the age-dependent
      appearance of germ cells according to developmental hierarchy, but it does
      interfere with spermatid formation, resulting in a reduced sperm count, which may
      be due to a deficiency of testosterone mediated by hyperleptinaemia.

PMID- 26876888
TI  - Early Childhood Adversity and its Associations With Anxiety, Depression, and
      Distress in Women With Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Certain vulnerability factors have been found to place patients at
      risk for depression and anxiety, especially within the context of medical
      illness. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the relationships among early
      childhood adversity (ECA) and anxiety, depression and distress in patients with
      breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with breast cancer (stages 0-IV) were assessed
      for ECA (i.e., the Risky Families Questionnaire subscales include
      Abuse/Neglect/Chaotic Home Environment), distress (i.e., Distress Thermometer and
      Problem List), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety),
      depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression), meeting
      standardized cut-off thresholds for distress (Distress Thermometer and Problem
      List >=4 or >=7)/anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety
      >=8)/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression >=8) and
      demographic factors. RESULTS: A total of 125 participants completed the study
      (78% response rate). ECA was associated with depression (p <0.001), anxiety (p =
      0.001), and distress (p = 0.006), meeting cut-off threshold criteria for distress
      (p = 0.024), anxiety (p = 0.048), and depression (p = 0.001). On multivariate
      analysis, only depression (p = 0.04) and emotional issues (i.e., component of
      Distress Thermometer and Problem List) (p = 0.001) were associated with ECA.
      Neglect, but not Abuse and Chaotic Home Environment, was associated with
      depression (beta = 0.442, p < 0.001), anxiety (beta = 0.342, p = 0.002), and self
      identified problems with family (beta = 0.288, p = 0.022), emotion (beta = 0.345,
      p = 0.004), and physical issues (beta = 0.408, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ECA and
      neglect are associated with multiple psychologic symptoms, but most specifically
      depression in the setting of breast cancer. ECA contributes to psychologic burden
      as a vulnerability factor. ECA may help to explain individual patient
      trajectories and influence the provision of patient-centered care for psychologic
      symptoms in patients with breast cancer.

PMID- 26876890
TI  - Expression and Purification of Recombinant Mouse Interleukin-4 and -6 from
      Transgenic Rice Seeds.
AB  - Transgenic rice seed can be utilized as a bioreactor to produce high-value
      recombinant proteins. Mouse interleukin 4 (mIL-4) and mIL-6 were specifically
      expressed as secretory proteins in rice endosperm by ligating the N-terminal
      glutelin B-1 (GluB-1) signal peptide and the C-terminal KDEL endoplasmic
      reticulum retention signal under control of the endosperm-specific GluB-1
      promoter. In the transgenic rice seed, mIL-4 and mIL-6 accumulated in levels up
      to 0.43 mg/g grain and 0.16 mg/g grain, respectively. The reducing agents and
      detergents required for extraction from the transgenic rice seeds differed
      between the two proteins, indicating differences in their intracellular
      localization within the endosperm cell. Purified mIL-4 and mIL-6 exhibited high
      activity and very low endotoxin contamination.

PMID- 26876891
TI  - Comparative speed of kill of sarolaner (Simparica) and afoxolaner (NexGard
      against induced infestations of Ixodes scapularis on dogs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The black-legged (or deer) tick, Ixodes scapularis, commonly infests
      dogs and cats in North America and is the main vector for the pathogen that
      causes Lyme disease in dogs and humans. The speed of kill of a parasiticide is
      critical to minimize the direct and deleterious effects of tick infestation and
      especially to reduce the risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission. In this study,
      speed of kill of a novel orally administered isoxazoline parasiticide, sarolaner
      chewable tablets (Simparica), against I. scapularis on dogs was evaluated and
      compared with afoxolaner (NexGard) for five weeks after a single oral dose.
      METHODS: Twenty four dogs were randomly allocated to treatment with either
      placebo, sarolaner (2 to 4 mg/kg), or afoxolaner (2.5 to 6.8 mg/kg) based on
      pretreatment tick counts. Dogs were examined and live ticks counted at 8, 12, and
      24 h after treatment and subsequent re-infestations on Days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35.
      Efficacy was determined at each time point relative to counts for placebo dogs.
      RESULTS: A single oral dose of sarolaner provided >99% efficacy within 24 h of
      treatment and >95% against subsequent weekly re-infestations of ticks
      consistently to Day 35. For the earlier time points, sarolaner significantly
      reduced tick counts versus placebo from Day 0 to Day 21 at 8 and 12 h, and on Day
      35 at 12 h (P <= 0.0174), while afoxolaner was only significantly lower at 8 h on
      Days 0 and 14 (P <= 0.0309), and at 12 h on Day 0 only (P < 0.0001).
      Significantly more live ticks were recovered from afoxolaner-treated dogs than
      from sarolaner-treated dogs at 24 h after infestation from Day 14 to Day 35 (P <=
      0.0278). At 24 h, efficacy (based on geometric mean counts) of afoxolaner
      declined to less than 80% from Day 21 through the end of the study, while
      efficacy for sarolaner was >95% for 35 days. There were no adverse reactions to
      treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In this controlled laboratory evaluation, sarolaner had
      a faster speed of kill against I. scapularis than afoxolaner. This was noticeably
      more pronounced towards the end of the monthly treatment period. The rapid and
      consistent kill of ticks provided by sarolaner within 24 h after a single oral
      dose and re-infestation over 35 days suggests this treatment will provide highly
      effective and reliable control of ticks over the entire treatment interval, and
      should reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease whose agent
      is vectored by I. scapularis.

PMID- 26876892
TI  - Cavernous hemangioma of the internal auditory canal encasing the VII and VIII
      cranial nerve complex: case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Cavernous angiomas originating in the internal auditory canal are very rare. In
      the available literature, only 65 cases of cavernomas in this location have been
      previously reported. We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman surgically
      treated for a cavernous hemangioma in the left internal auditory canal, mimicking
      on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging MRI an acoustic neuroma. Neurological
      symptoms were hypoacusia and dizziness. The cavernous angioma encased the seventh
      and, partially, the eighth cranial nerve complex. A "nearly total" removal was
      performed, leaving a thin residual of malformation adherent to the facial nerve.
      Postoperative period was uneventful; hearing was unchanged, but the patient had a
      moderate inferior left facial palsy (House-Brackmann grade II) slightly improved
      during the following weeks. On the basis of the observation of this uncommon
      case, we propose a revision of the literature and discuss clinical features,
      differential diagnosis, and treatment. 

PMID- 26876889
TI  - Translational bioinformatics in the era of real-time biomedical, health care and
      wellness data streams.
AB  - Monitoring and modeling biomedical, health care and wellness data from
      individuals and converging data on a population scale have tremendous potential
      to improve understanding of the transition to the healthy state of human
      physiology to disease setting. Wellness monitoring devices and companion software
      applications capable of generating alerts and sharing data with health care
      providers or social networks are now available. The accessibility and clinical
      utility of such data for disease or wellness research are currently limited.
      Designing methods for streaming data capture, real-time data aggregation, machine
      learning, predictive analytics and visualization solutions to integrate wellness
      or health monitoring data elements with the electronic medical records (EMRs)
      maintained by health care providers permits better utilization. Integration of
      population-scale biomedical, health care and wellness data would help to stratify
      patients for active health management and to understand clinically asymptomatic
      patients and underlying illness trajectories. In this article, we discuss various
      health-monitoring devices, their ability to capture the unique state of health
      represented in a patient and their application in individualized diagnostics,
      prognosis, clinical or wellness intervention. We also discuss examples of
      translational bioinformatics approaches to integrating patient-generated data
      with existing EMRs, personal health records, patient portals and clinical data
      repositories. Briefly, translational bioinformatics methods, tools and resources
      are at the center of these advances in implementing real-time biomedical and
      health care analytics in the clinical setting. Furthermore, these advances are
      poised to play a significant role in clinical decision-making and implementation
      of data-driven medicine and wellness care.

PMID- 26876893
TI  - Management of symptomatic hemifacial spasm or trigeminal neuralgia.
AB  - Hemifacial spasm (HFS) or trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a kind of hyperactivity
      disorder of cranial nerves caused by vascular compression. However, sometimes,
      the disease may arise from nerve damage produced by tumors, which was called as
      symptomatic HFS/TN. Until now, little is known about the exact mechanism and the
      necessity of microvascular decompression (MVD) regarding the tumor-induced
      HFS/TN, which is necessary to be retrospectively analyzed in a considerable
      sample. Among the 4021 patients who underwent MVD in our department between 2006
      and 2014, 44 were finally diagnosed as symptomatic HFS or TN. These patients were
      focused in this study and their clinical features as well as intraoperative
      findings and postoperative outcomes were retrospectively investigated. Data
      analysis exhibited the symptomatic HFS/TN cases accounted for 1.1 % in the study,
      which were caused by epidermoid in 18 (40.9 %) and meningioma in 15 (34.1 %)
      followed by neuroma in 7 (15.9 %) as well as aneurysm in 2 (4.5 %) and
      arteriovenous malformation in 2 (4.5 %). Compared to those with idiopathic
      HFS/TN, younger females were more susceptible (p < 0.05). After resection of the
      neoplasm, the offending vessel was identified in 26 (59.1 %), which were followed
      by MVD process. Postoperatively, the symptoms relief rate was 88.6 %. Our study
      showed that surgical management of patients with symptomatic HFS/TN may lead to a
      satisfactory result, yet those primary lesions should be removed firstly. In some
      cases, a microvascular decompression process might be unnecessary afterward, but
      the entire nerve root should be checked to exclude any vessel in contact with. 

PMID- 26876894
TI  - Cultural immersion through international experiences among Japanese nurses:
      Present status, future intentions, and perceived barriers.
AB  - AIM: Given limited exposure to various ethnicities, languages, and cultures,
      providing health care to an increasing foreign population in Japan will likely be
      challenging for Japanese nurses. This study aimed to examine past and intended
      future international experiences of Japanese nurses to assess their cultural
      immersion level. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among
      2029 nurses in 2010. Participants were categorized by travel purpose, and the
      frequency of non-holiday travel was analyzed. To examine participants' desire for
      and perceived feasibility of future non-holiday international experiences by
      background characteristics, logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS:
      Of 1039 participants, 10.1% had past non-holiday international experiences, with
      80% having traveled to high-income, English-speaking countries. The median value
      for travel frequency was once, and the median duration of travel was less than 1
      month. The most common purpose of travel was participation in short-term programs
      (e.g. professional training, language study). Fifty-one percent of female nurses
      reported a desire for future non-holiday international experiences. Of these,
      37.2% considered such experiences feasible. Age of the youngest child, having
      nursing specialization, English proficiency, and past international experience
      were significant predictors for feasibility. CONCLUSION: Japanese nurses with
      foreign experience were considered valuable human resources for culturally
      appropriate care. Efforts should be made to integrate them into the Japanese
      healthcare setting. The present study revealed room for improvement in foreign
      language proficiency and cross-cultural training with a focus on non-English
      speaking and developing countries. A supportive workplace environment should be
      created that allows nurses to pursue the international experiences they desire.

PMID- 26876896
TI  - Success rates for product development strategies in new drug development.
AB  - WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: While research has examined the likelihood that
      drugs progress across phases of clinical trials, no research to date has examined
      the types of product development strategies that are the most likely to be
      successful in clinical trials. This research seeks to identify the strategies
      that are most likely to reach the market-those generated using a novel product
      development strategy or strategies that combine a company's expertise with both
      drugs and indications, which we call combined experience strategies. METHODS: We
      evaluate the success of product development strategies in the drug development
      process for a sample of 2562 clinical trials completed by 406 US pharmaceutical
      companies. To identify product development strategies, we coded each clinical
      trial according to whether it consisted of an indication or a drug that was new
      to the firm. Accordingly, a clinical trial that consists of both an indication
      and a drug that were both new to the firm represents a novel product development
      strategy; indication experience is a product development strategy that consists
      of an indication that a firm had tested previously in a clinical trial, but with
      a drug that was new to the firm; drug experience is a product development
      strategy that consists of a drug that the firm had prior experience testing in
      clinical trials, but with an indication that was new to the firm; combined
      experience consists of both a drug and an indication that the firm had experience
      testing in clinical trials. Success rates for product development strategies
      across clinical phases were calculated for the clinical trials in our sample.
      RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Combined experience strategies had the highest success
      rate. More than three and a half percent (0.036) of the trials that combined
      experience with drugs and indications eventually reached the market. The next
      most successful strategy is drug experience (0.025) with novel strategies
      trailing closely (0.024). Indication experience strategies are the least
      successful (0.008). These differences are statistically significant. WHAT IS NEW
      AND CONCLUSION: The primary contribution of this study is that product
      development strategies combining experience with drugs and indications strategies
      are the most likely to reach the market, even though they are least common
      strategy. Therefore, combined experience strategies remain underutilized. The
      findings also suggest a promising path for pursuing combined experience
      strategies: gaining expertise with drugs is likely to be a more effective path to
      gaining the expertise necessary for developing subsequent recombination
      strategies.

PMID- 26876897
TI  - Where we are with screening and risk prediction for prostate cancer in 2016.

PMID- 26876895
TI  - Ultrasound-guided plasma rich in growth factors injections and scaffolds hasten
      motor nerve functional recovery in an ovine model of nerve crush injury.
AB  - In the present study we evaluated the motor recovery process of peripheral nerve
      injury (PNI), based on electrophysiological and histomorphometric criteria, after
      treatment with plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) injections and scaffolds in
      an ovine model. Three groups of sheep underwent a nerve crush lesion: the first
      group (n = 3) was left to recover spontaneously (SR); the second group was
      administered saline injections (SI; n = 5) and a third group (n = 6) received
      PRGF injections and scaffolds immediately after the crush injury. At post
      intervention week 8, 70% of sheep in the PRGF group were CMAP-positive, with no
      electrophysiological response in the rest of the groups. Histomorphometric
      analysis 12 weeks after the surgical intervention revealed that the average
      axonal density of the SR (1184 +/- 864 axons/um2 ) and SI (3109 +/- 2450
      axons/um2 ) groups was significantly inferior to the control (8427 +/- 2433
      axons/um2 ) and also inferior to the PRGF group (5276 +/- 4148 axons/um2 ),
      showing no significant differences between the control and PRGF groups. The
      axonal size of the SR and SI groups was significantly smaller compared with the
      control group (18 +/- 4 um2 ), whereas the axonal size of the PRGF group (6 +/- 5
      um2 ) did not show statistical differences from the control. Morphometry of the
      target muscles indicated that the PRGF group had the lowest percentage volume
      reduction 12 weeks after the crush injury. The PRGF group had larger muscle fibre
      areas than the SI and SR groups, although the differences did not reach
      statistical significance. Overall, these data suggest that the PRGF injections
      and scaffolds hastened functional axon recovery and dampened atrophy of the
      target muscles in an ovine model. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26876898
TI  - Prostate cancer risk prediction and the persistence of uncertainty.

PMID- 26876899
TI  - TRPM8 antagonists to treat lower urinary tract symptoms: don't lose your cool
      just yet.

PMID- 26876900
TI  - New evidence from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial may exculpate
      cyclooxygenase (COX) blockers in erectile dysfunction.

PMID- 26876901
TI  - Design of defect spins in piezoelectric aluminum nitride for solid-state hybrid
      quantum technologies.
AB  - Spin defects in wide-band gap semiconductors are promising systems for the
      realization of quantum bits, or qubits, in solid-state environments. To date,
      defect qubits have only been realized in materials with strong covalent bonds.
      Here, we introduce a strain-driven scheme to rationally design defect spins in
      functional ionic crystals, which may operate as potential qubits. In particular,
      using a combination of state-of-the-art ab-initio calculations based on hybrid
      density functional and many-body perturbation theory, we predicted that the
      negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center in piezoelectric aluminum nitride
      exhibits spin-triplet ground states under realistic uni- and bi-axial strain
      conditions; such states may be harnessed for the realization of qubits. The
      strain-driven strategy adopted here can be readily extended to a wide range of
      point defects in other wide-band gap semiconductors, paving the way to
      controlling the spin properties of defects in ionic systems for potential
      spintronic technologies. 

PMID- 26876902
TI  - Recent Progress in Cell Reprogramming Technology for Cell Transplantation
      Therapy.
AB  - The discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells opened the gate for
      reprogramming technology with which we can change the cell fate through
      overexpression of master transcriptional factors. Now we can prepare various
      kinds of neuronal cells directly induced from somatic cells. It has been reported
      that overexpression of a neuron-specific transcriptional factors might change the
      cell fate of endogenous astroglia to neuronal cells in vivo. In addition, some
      research groups demonstrated that chemical compound can induce chemical-induced
      neuronal cells, without transcriptional factors overexpression. In this review,
      we briefly review recent progress in the induced neuronal (iN) cells, and discuss
      the possibility of application for cell transplantation therapy. 

PMID- 26876903
TI  - Hearing Preservation after Low-dose Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of Vestibular
      Schwannomas.
AB  - The objective of the retrospective study was to evaluate the factors associated
      with hearing preservation after low-dose Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) of
      vestibular schwannomas performed according to the modern standards. From January
      2005 to September 2010, 141 consecutive patients underwent such treatment in
      Tokyo Women's Medical University. Mean marginal dose was 11.9 Gy (range, 11-12
      Gy). The doses for the brain stem, cranial nerves (V, VII, and VIII), and cochlea
      were kept below 14 Gy, 12 Gy, and 4 Gy, respectively. Out of the total cohort,
      102 cases with at least 24 months follow-up were analyzed. Within the median
      follow-up of 56 months (range, 24-99 months) the crude tumor growth control was
      92% (94 cases), whereas its actuarial rate at 5 years was 93%. Out of 49 patients
      with serviceable hearing on the side of the tumor before GKS, 28 (57%)
      demonstrated its preservation at the time of the last follow-up. No one evaluated
      factor, namely Gardner-Robertson hearing class before irradiation, Koos tumor
      stage, extension of the intrameatal part of the neoplasm up to fundus, nerve of
      tumor origin, presence of cystic changes in the neoplasm, and cochlea dose
      demonstrated statistically significant association with preservation of the
      serviceable hearing after radiosurgery. In conclusion, GKS of vestibular
      schwannomas performed according to the modern standards of treatment permits to
      preserve serviceable hearing on the side of the tumor in more than half of the
      patients. The actual causes of hearing deterioration after radiosurgery remain
      unclear. 

PMID- 26876904
TI  - Origin of polyproline-rich peptides in human butyrylcholinesterase tetramers.
AB  - The human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE) tetramer is composed of 4 identical
      subunits and a noncovalently bound polyproline-rich peptide. In a previous report
      we identified lamellipodin as the source of the polyproline-rich peptides in
      HuBChE tetramers purified from plasma. Our current goal was to identify proteins
      in addition to lamellipodin that donate polyproline-rich peptides to plasma
      HuBChE tetramers. Peptides were released from 1 mg of pure plasma-derived HuBChE
      tetramers by boiling. Mass spectrometry identified 74 polyproline-rich peptides.
      MALDI-TOF mass spectra and spectral counting of the LC-MS/MS data supported the
      conclusion that lamellipodin accounted for 70% of the polyproline-rich peptides.
      Additional precursor proteins were matched through BLASTp searches, suggesting
      but not proving, that 20 proteins including UDP-N-acetyl glucosamine transferase
      ALG13 homolog, leiomodin 2, and zinc finger homeobox protein 2 are sources of
      polyproline-rich peptides found in HuBChE tetramers. Eighteen polyproline-rich
      peptides had no match in the human protein database. In conclusion, HuBChE
      assembles into tetramers through interaction of its C-terminal domain with
      polyproline peptides derived from a variety of proteins.

PMID- 26876905
TI  - Flavonoids, the emerging dietary supplement against cisplatin-induced
      nephrotoxicity.
AB  - The letter illustrates the emerging potential of flavonoids as dietary supplement
      to ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and refers to the recent article
      on ''Anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects of naringin on cisplatin
      induced renal injury in the rat'' by Chtourou et al. They demonstrated that
      supplementation of naringin, a flavanone glycoside, found in grape and citrus
      fruit species, can attenuate cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction via restoration
      of redox balance and suppression of inflammation, NF-kappaB activation and
      apoptosis. The chemotherapeutic efficacy of cisplatin has always compelled the
      researchers to find solution to ameliorate its side effects. In recent years,
      numerous candidates have been evaluated for their protective potential against
      cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and flavonoids have come up with promising
      results. The future prospects might be promising with a proper refinement and
      collective integration of the preclinical and clinical research in the field of
      flavonoid supplementation to cisplatin therapy.

PMID- 26876906
TI  - Eating disorder pathology in elite adolescent athletes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate eating disorder pathology in German elite
      adolescent athletes. Evidence suggests that eating disorder pathology is more
      common in adult elite sports, especially in female athletes and in sports
      emphasizing leanness. There is a scarcity of studies in elite adolescent athletes
      who are in a vulnerable developmental stage and are affected by general as well
      as sport-specific risk factors. METHOD: Our data was derived from the German
      Young Olympic Athletes' Lifestyle and Health Management Study (GOAL) which
      conducted a survey in 1138 elite adolescent athletes. In this sample, we assessed
      body weight, weight control behavior, body acceptance and screened overall for
      core symptoms of eating disorders, depression and anxiety. We performed a tree
      analysis to identify high risk groups for eating disorder pathology. RESULTS:
      High risk groups comprised (a) athletes competing in weight dependent sports, and
      among athletes competing in disciplines other than weight dependent sports (b)
      athletes who are high on negative affectivity, (c) female athletes and (d) male
      athletes competing in endurance, technical or power sports. Athletes competing in
      weight dependent disciplines reported wide spread use of compensatory behaviors
      to influence body weight. Athletes reporting eating disorder pathology showed
      higher levels of depression and anxiety than athletes without eating disorder
      pathology. DISCUSSION: Increased psychosocial burden in athletes with eating
      disorder pathology suggests that eating disorder symptoms should not be accepted
      as an unproblematic and functional part of elite sports. The prevention and
      management of eating disorder pathology is especially important in weight
      dependent sports. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:553
      562).

PMID- 26876907
TI  - Hybrid framework with cobalt-chromium alloy and gold cylinder for implant
      superstructure: Bond strength and corrosion resistance.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate tensile bond strengths
      and corrosion resistance of CoCr alloys joined with gold cylinder by a soldering
      system in comparison with the conventional cast-joining system. METHODS: CoCr
      alloys joined with gold cylinder by a soldering system using a high-fusing gold
      solder (CoCr/Solder/Gold cylinder), gold alloy joined with gold cylinder by a
      cast joining system (Gold alloy/Gold cylinder) and CoCr castings were fabricated.
      The tensile bond strength and corrosion resistance in 0.9% NaCl solution (pH 7.4
      and pH 2.3) were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fractured
      surface and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of the joined interfaces were
      also performed. RESULTS: The tensile bond strengths of the CoCr/Solder/Gold
      cylinder specimens showed similar values as the Gold alloy/Gold cylinder
      specimens. SEM observation and EPMA analyses suggested firm bonding between the
      CoCr alloy and gold cylinder. The released elements from the CoCr/Solder/Gold
      cylinder specimens were similar to ones from CoCr castings. CONCLUSIONS: Results
      showed that superstructures made of CoCr alloys joined with the gold cylinder
      using a high-fusing gold solder had sufficient bond strength and high corrosion
      resistance. These hybrid frameworks with cobalt-chromium alloy and gold cylinder
      are promising prosthesis for implant superstructures with the low cost and
      favorable mechanical properties instead of conventional high-gold alloys.

PMID- 26876908
TI  - Diagnostic validity of self-reported measures of sleep bruxism using an
      ambulatory single-channel EMG device.
AB  - PURPOSE: Self-reported measures have been widely used to indicate the presence of
      possible and probable sleep bruxism (SB) in both research and clinical
      situations. However, few studies have attempted to assess the diagnostic validity
      of this approach. The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic validity
      of self-reported measures of SB using an ambulatory single-channel
      electromyographic (EMG) device. METHODS: A total of 115 participants were
      enrolled and examined by standardized Research Diagnostic Criteria for
      Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) including two questions related to SB: self
      reported SB and morning-jaw symptoms. An ambulatory single-channel EMG device
      (GrindCare3TM, Medotech A/S) was used for measuring jaw-muscle EMG activity
      during sleep for seven consecutive nights. Cut-off values for different measures
      of EMG activity (average, maximum and minimum) and the coefficient of variation
      (CV) were selected to divide participants into two groups, with higher or lower
      EMG activity or CV values. The sensitivity and specificity for each question and
      combination of them were calculated. RESULTS: Self-reported SB had the highest
      sensitivity (compared with morning-jaw symptoms) for all measures of EMG activity
      and CV, although the values were low to modest (average: 76.0%, maximum: 76.9%,
      minimum: 77.3%, CV: 61.0%). The specificity was low for both the questions
      related to the different measures of EMG activity and CV (35.1-52.4%).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the diagnostic validity of self-reported
      measures of SB was low to modest using an ambulatory EMG device assessment as a
      reference. Using only self-reported measures for the assessment of SB may not
      have a high validity, which should be taken into consideration in the clinical
      evaluation of patients.

PMID- 26876909
TI  - Exploring the relationship between nature sounds, connectedness to nature, mood
      and willingness to buy sustainable food: A retail field experiment.
AB  - Nature sounds are increasingly used by some food retailers to enhance in-store
      ambiance and potentially even influence sustainable food choices. An in-store, 2
      * 3 between-subject full factorial experiment conducted on 627 customers over 12
      days tested whether nature sound directly and indirectly influenced willingness
      to buy (WTB) sustainable foods. The results show that nature sounds positively
      and directly influence WTB organic foods in groups of customers (men) that have
      relatively low initial intentions to buy. Indirectly, we did not find support for
      the effect of nature sound on influencing mood or connectedness to nature (CtN).
      However, we show that information on the product's sustainability characteristics
      moderates the relationship between CtN and WTB in certain groups. Namely, when
      CtN is high, sustainability information positively moderated WTB both organic and
      climate friendly foods in men. Conversely, when CtN was low, men expressed lower
      WTB organic and climate friendly foods than identical, albeit conventionally
      labelled products. Consequently, our study concludes that nature sounds might be
      an effective, yet subtle in-store tool to use on groups of consumers who might
      otherwise respond negatively to more overt forms of sustainable food information.

PMID- 26876911
TI  - Eating less from bigger packs: Preventing the pack size effect with diet primes.
AB  - An increase in the package size of food has been shown to lead to an increase in
      energy intake from this food, the so-called pack size effect. Previous research
      has shown that providing diet-concerned individuals with a reminder, or prime, of
      their dieting goal can help them control their consumption. Here, we investigated
      if providing such a prime is also effective for reducing the magnitude of the
      pack size effect. We conducted two experiments in which the cover of a dieting
      magazine (Experiment 1) and diet-related commercials (Experiment 2) served as
      diet goal primes. Both experiments had a 2 (pack size: small vs. large) * 2
      (prime: diet vs. control) * 2 (dietary restraint: high vs. low) between
      participants design. We measured expected consumption of four snack foods in
      Experiment 1 (N = 477), and actual consumption of M&M's in Experiment 2 (N =
      224). Results showed that the diet prime reduced the pack size effect for both
      restrained and unrestrained eaters in Experiment 1 and for restrained eaters only
      in Experiment 2. Although effect sizes were small, these findings suggest that a
      diet prime motivates restrained eaters to limit their consumption, and as a
      result the pack size has less influence on the amount consumed. We discuss
      limitations of this research as well as potential avenues for further research
      and theoretical and practical implications.

PMID- 26876912
TI  - The prevalence of leucocyte alloantibodies in blood donors from South China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies had demonstrated that leucocyte antibodies including
      anti-human leucocyte antigen (anti-HLA) antibodies (class I and class II) and
      anti-human neutrophil antigen (anti-HNA) antibodies (HNA-1, -2 and -3) present in
      the blood products are responsible for transfusion-related acute lung injury
      (TRALI). Therefore, selection of blood products exclusive of anti-HLA and anti
      HNA antibodies may lower the risk of TRALI reaction. However, the prevalence of
      leucocyte antibodies among blood donors in China is currently not known. STUDY
      DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 454 male and 560 female
      donors (143 nulliparous and 417 multiparous female). HLA class I and II
      antibodies were analyzed by bead assays. Anti-HNA-1 and -2 antibodies were
      screened by the LABScreen assay (One Lambda Inc.), and HNA-3 were detected by
      antigen capture assay, and confirmed by the granulocyte agglutination test (GAT).
      RESULTS: Screening of the total cohort showed higher prevalence of HLA antibodies
      in female compared with male donors (19.64 vs. 4.63%). We found antibodies
      against HLA class I (13.21%) and HLA class II (11.43%) in 560 female donors. The
      most frequent antibodies against HLA class I and II in parous females (n = 69)
      reacted with were A*11 (28.81%), B*07 (42.37%), Cw*07 (20.34%) and DRB1*04
      (40.43%) molecules. Among 778 donors (randomly selected from 1014 donors), we
      found three donors with neutrophil reactive antibodies, two against HNA-2 and one
      without known specificity. Anti-HNA-3 antibodies were not found so far.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, we found alloimmunization against HLA class I, II and
      HNA in 4.63, 24.70 and 0.39%, respectively, in our female blood donors,
      indicating that the use of plasma containing blood products from parous female
      blood donors without HLA antibodies pre-testing may increase the risk of TRALI
      reaction. Although immunization against HNA seems to be a rare event in China,
      further observation is necessary to decide the necessity of HNA antibodies
      screening in our blood donors.

PMID- 26876910
TI  - Confirmatory factor analysis of the Infant Feeding Styles Questionnaire in Latino
      families.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parent feeding practices affect risk of obesity in children. Latino
      children are at higher risk of obesity than the general population, yet valid
      measure of feeding practices, one of which is the Infant Feeding Styles
      Questionnaire (IFSQ), have not been formally validated in Spanish. OBJECTIVE: To
      validate the IFSQ among Latino families, we conducted confirmatory factor
      analysis of pressuring, restrictive, and responsive feeding constructs from the
      IFSQ. DESIGN/METHODS: The IFSQ was administered at the 12-month visit in the
      Greenlight study, a multi-center cluster randomized trial to prevent obesity.
      Parents were included if they were of Latino origin (n = 303) and completed an
      English or Spanish language modified IFSQ (without the indulgence construct).
      Scores from nine sub-constructs of the IFSQ were compared between English and
      Spanish language versions. We tested reliability with Cronbach's alpha
      coefficients and performed confirmatory factor analysis to examine factor
      loadings and goodness of fit characteristics, modifying constructs to achieve
      best fit. RESULTS: Of 303 parents completing the IFSQ, 84% were born outside the
      US, and 74% completed the IFSQ in Spanish. Reliability coefficients ranged from
      0.28 to 0.61 for the laissez-faire sub-constructs and from 0.58 to 0.83 for the
      pressuring, restrictive, and responsive sub-constructs. Results for all
      coefficients were similar between participants responding to an English and
      Spanish version of the IFSQ. Goodness of fit indices ranged from CFI 0.82-1 and
      RMSEA 0.00-0.31, and the model performed best in pressuring-soothing (CFI 1.0,
      RMSEA 0.00) and restrictive-amount (CFI 0.98, RMSEA 0.1) sub-constructs.
      CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of Latino families, pressuring, restrictive, and
      responsive constructs performed well. The modified IFSQ in both English and
      Spanish-speaking Latino families may be used to assess parenting behaviors
      related to early obesity risk in this at-risk population.

PMID- 26876913
TI  - Cognitive impairment in late-life bipolar disorder is not associated with
      Alzheimer's disease pathological signature in the cerebrospinal fluid.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment is a common feature of late-life bipolar
      disorder (BD). Yet, there is limited information on the biological mechanisms
      associated with this process. It is uncertain whether cognitively impaired
      patients with BD may present the Alzheimer's disease (AD) bio-signature in the
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), defined as a combination of low concentrations of the
      amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta1-42 ) and high concentrations of total tau (T-tau)
      and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-tau). In this study, we sought to
      determine whether cognitive impairment in elderly patients with BD is associated
      with the AD CSF bio-signature. METHODS: Seventy-two participants were enrolled in
      the study. The test group comprised older adults with BD and mild cognitive
      impairment (BD-MCI; n = 16) and the comparison groups comprised patients with
      dementia due to AD (n = 17), patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI; n = 14), and
      cognitively healthy older adults (control group; n = 25). CSF samples were
      obtained by lumbar puncture and concentrations of Abeta1-42 , T-tau and P-tau
      were determined. RESULTS: CSF concentrations of all biomarkers were significantly
      different in the AD group compared to all other groups, but did not differentiate
      BD-MCI subjects from aMCI subjects and controls. BD-MCI patients had a non
      significant reduction in CSF Abeta1-42 compared to controls, but this was still
      higher than in the AD group. Concentrations of T-tau and P-tau in BD-MCI patients
      were similar to those in controls, and significantly lower than those in AD.
      CONCLUSIONS: Cognitively impaired patients with BD do not display the so-called
      AD bio-signature in the CSF. We therefore hypothesize that cognitive
      deterioration in BD is not associated with the classical pathophysiological
      mechanisms observed in AD, i.e., amyloid deposition and hyperphosphorylation of
      microtubule-associated tau protein.

PMID- 26876915
TI  - Molecular mechanisms underlying chemopreventive potential of curcumin: Current
      challenges and future perspectives.
AB  - In recent years, natural compounds have received considerable attention in
      preventing and curing most dreadful diseases including cancer. The reason behind
      the use of natural compounds in chemoprevention is associated with fewer numbers
      of side effects than conventional chemotherapeutics. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane,
      PubMed CID: 969516), a naturally occurring polyphenol, is derived from turmeric,
      which is used as a common Indian spice. It governs numerous intracellular
      targets, including proteins involved in antioxidant response, immune response,
      apoptosis, cell cycle regulation and tumor progression. A huge mass of available
      studies strongly supports the use of Curcumin as a chemopreventive drug. However,
      the main challenge encountered is the low bioavailability of Curcumin. This
      extensive review covers various therapeutic interactions of Curcumin with its
      recognized cellular targets involved in cancer treatment, strategies to overcome
      the bioavailability issue and adverse effects associated with Curcumin
      consumption. 

PMID- 26876914
TI  - Manganese protects against the effects of alcohol on hypothalamic puberty-related
      hormones.
AB  - AIMS: Since manganese (Mn) is capable of stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary
      unit and advancing female puberty, we assessed the possibility that this element
      might overcome some of the detrimental effects of prepubertal alcohol (ALC)
      exposure on the hypothalamic control of pituitary function. MAIN METHODS: Rats
      received either saline or Mn (10mg/kg) daily by gastric gavage from day 12 to day
      31. After weaning, all rats were provided Lab Chow diet ad libitum until day 27
      when they began receiving either the Bio Serv control or ALC diet regime. On day
      31, the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) was collected to assess luteinizing
      hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) protein levels.
      Release of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), LHRH and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) were
      also assessed. Other animals were not terminated on day 31, but remained in study
      to assess timing of puberty. KEY FINDINGS: Short-term ALC exposure caused
      elevated hypothalamic LHRH content, suggesting an inhibition in peptide release,
      resulting in a decrease in LH. Both actions of ALC were reversed by Mn
      supplementation. COX2 synthesis, as well as PGE2 and LHRH release were suppressed
      by ALC exposure, but Mn supplementation caused an increase in COX2 synthesis and
      subsequent PGE2 and LHRH release in the presence of ALC. Mn supplementation also
      ameliorated the action of ALC to delay puberty. SIGNIFICANCE: These results
      suggest that low level Mn supplementation acts to protect the hypothalamus from
      some of the detrimental effects of ALC on puberty-related hormones.

PMID- 26876916
TI  - Therapeutic potential of chalcones as cardiovascular agents.
AB  - Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death affecting 17.3 million
      people across the globe and are estimated to affect 23.3 million people by year
      2030. In recent years, about 7.3 million people died due to coronary heart
      disease, 9.4 million deaths due to high blood pressure and 6.2 million due to
      stroke, where obesity and atherosclerotic progression remain the chief
      pathological factors. The search for newer and better cardiovascular agents is
      the foremost need to manage cardiac patient population across the world. Several
      natural and (semi) synthetic chalcones deserve the credit of being potential
      candidates to inhibit various cardiovascular, hematological and anti-obesity
      targets like angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), cholesteryl ester transfer
      protein (CETP), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), acyl-coenzyme A:
      cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), pancreatic lipase (PL), lipoprotein lipase
      (LPL), calcium (Ca(2+))/potassium (K(+)) channel, COX-1, TXA2 and TXB2. In this
      review, a comprehensive study of chalcones, their therapeutic targets, structure
      activity relationships (SARs), mechanisms of actions (MOAs) have been discussed.
      Chemically diverse chalcone scaffolds, their derivatives including structural
      manipulation of both aryl rings, replacement with heteroaryl scaffold(s) and
      hybridization through conjugation with other pharmacologically active scaffold
      have been highlighted. Chalcones which showed promising activity and have a well
      defined MOAs, SARs must be considered as prototype for the design and development
      of potential anti-hypertensive, anti-anginal, anti-arrhythmic and
      cardioprotective agents. With the knowledge of these molecular targets,
      structural insights and SARs, this review may be helpful for (medicinal) chemists
      to design more potent, safe, selective and cost effective chalcone derivatives as
      potential cardiovascular agents. 

PMID- 26876917
TI  - Synergetic cholesterol-lowering effects of main alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis
      in HepG2 cells and hypercholesterolemia hamsters.
AB  - AIMS: Hyperlipidemia contributes to the progression of cardiovascular diseases.
      Main alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis including berberine (BBR), coptisine (COP),
      palmatine (PAL), epiberberine (EPI) and jatrorrhizine (JAT), improved
      dyslipidemia in hypercholesterolemic hamsters to a different degree. In this
      study, HepG2 cells and hypercholesterolemic hamsters were used to investigate the
      synergetic cholesterol-lowering efficacy of these five main alkaloids. MAIN
      METHODS: The cellular lipid and cholesterol accumulation and in HepG2 cells were
      evaluated by Oil Red O staining and HPLC analysis. LDL receptor, 3-Hydroxy-3
      methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) and cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1)
      that involving cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells were measured by qRT-PCR,
      western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. The serum profiles including total
      cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)
      and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), as well as TC and total bile
      acids (TBA) of feces in hypercholesterolemic hamsters were also measured. KEY
      FINDING: As compared to single alkaloids, the combination of five main alkaloids
      (COM) reduced the lipid and cholesterol accumulation in HepG2 cells more
      effectively and performed an advantageous effect on controlling TC, TG, LDL-c and
      HDL-c in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. More effective reduction of TBA and TC
      levels in feces of hamsters were achieved after the administration of COM. These
      effects were derived from the up-regulation of LDL receptor and CYP7A1, as well
      as HMGCR downregulation. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrated that COM showed a
      synergetic cholesterol-lowering efficacy, which was better than single alkaloids
      and it might be considered as a potential therapy for hypercholesterolemia.

PMID- 26876918
TI  - Cardiovascular responses elicited by continuous versus intermittent electrical
      stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve in conscious rats.
AB  - AIMS: Short-term (seconds or minutes) continuous electrical activation of the
      aortic depressor nerve (ADN) in conscious rats has been successfully used to
      investigate baroafferent function in experimental hypertension, heart failure,
      and peripheral inflammation. The aim of this study was to characterize the
      hemodynamic responses elicited by longer periods (60min) of continuous or
      intermittent electrical baroreflex activation. MAIN METHODS: Wistar rats were
      implanted with an electrode around the left ADN and a catheter into a femoral
      artery. The systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure and heart rate were
      recorded in subjects randomly assigned to continuous or intermittent electrical
      stimulation. The time-course of cardiovascular responses in conscious rats was
      examined during longer-term (60min) continuous (n=6) or intermittent (5s ON/3s
      OFF; n=10) electrical stimulation (0.5mA; 0.25ms; 30Hz) of the ADN. KEY FINDINGS:
      The prompt (20s) hypotensive response was greater under continuous stimulation,
      but no difference was detected in the bradycardic response. The hypotensive
      response was sustained only by continuous stimulation while no sustained
      bradycardia was observed in either protocol. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings
      indicate that continuous stimulation of the ADN is more effective in reducing
      arterial pressure over a longer period (60min) of stimulation. Nevertheless, both
      protocols - continuous or intermittent - were unable to elicit a sustained
      bradycardia.

PMID- 26876919
TI  - Physical, emotional, and cognitive effort discounting in gain and loss
      situations.
AB  - Evidence suggests that factors associated with obtaining a reward, such as the
      probability of receiving it, or temporal delays, could influence the reward's
      subjective value. Several studies have suggested that increasing the effort
      required decreases the subjective value of a reward. Nevertheless, the nature of
      effort that results in discounting, discounting in a loss situation, and
      individual consistency in effort aversion across different types of effort have
      all remained unclear. Therefore, the present study examined whether physical,
      emotional, and cognitive efforts induce discounting of subjective reward value
      under two hypothetical situations. In the gain situation, participants made a
      choice about engaging in effortful work to obtain a reward, whereas in the loss
      situation they paid a reward to another person to do the work. The results
      demonstrated that increasing physical, emotional, and cognitive effort caused
      discounting of the subjective reward value in both situations. Additionally, the
      results suggested a relatively high degree of individual consistency in effort
      aversion in each situation, and a moderate degree of consistency across the two
      situations. 

PMID- 26876921
TI  - Trends and concepts in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.
AB  - A number of factors have contributed to a paradigm shift in US post-mastectomy
      breast reconstruction. The increasing numbers of contralateral prophylactic
      mastectomies strongly correlated to a rise in implant-based reconstructions.
      Autologous reconstruction, however, has faced a number of barriers including
      technically complicated perforator flaps and declining reimbursements. As such, a
      market concentration has developed within high volume microsurgical centers. As
      more patients receive radiation, the timing and method of reconstruction has
      become a controversial topic. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:891-894. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26876922
TI  - Psoriasis with verrucous appearance.

PMID- 26876923
TI  - Intensity modulated radiation therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer refractory to
      chemotherapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate local control, survival outcomes, and toxicity after
      intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for recurrent chemorefractory ovarian
      cancer. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2014, 33 patients were treated with IMRT for
      recurrent ovarian cancer. Patients received a median of 3 chemotherapy regimens
      prior to IMRT (range, 1-12) with 11 (33%) undergoing concurrent therapy. Local
      control (LC), recurrence free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were
      calculated via Kaplan-Meier method. Toxicity was assessed using the Common
      Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03. Impact of patient
      characteristics on outcomes was evaluated via Cox's proportional hazard model.
      RESULTS: Median follow up was 23.7 months. Forty-nine sites were treated to a
      median dose of 5040cGy (range, 4500-7000). Nine (18%) of the 49 sites had in
      field failures. Two year actuarial LC, RFS, and OS were 82%, 11%, and 63%,
      respectively. Seventeen patients had both a pre and post-treatment FDG-PET/CT; 6
      (35%) had a complete metabolic response while 11 (65%) had a partial metabolic
      response. Acute >= grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities occurred in 2 (6%)
      patients, late >= grade 3 GI toxicities occurred in 12 (36%), acute >= grade 3
      hematological toxicities occurred in 5 (15%) and late >= grade 3 hematological
      toxicities occurred in 14 (42%). CONCLUSIONS: IMRT for recurrent chemorefractory
      ovarian cancer is associated with excellent local control and limited radiation
      related toxicity. Future studies will be required to determine which
      subpopulation will benefit most from IMRT and whether alternative techniques such
      as stereotactic body radiotherapy may be feasible.

PMID- 26876920
TI  - ZEB1 turns into a transcriptional activator by interacting with YAP1 in
      aggressive cancer types.
AB  - Early dissemination, metastasis and therapy resistance are central hallmarks of
      aggressive cancer types and the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. The
      EMT-inducing transcriptional repressor ZEB1 is a crucial stimulator of these
      processes, particularly by coupling the activation of cellular motility with
      stemness and survival properties. ZEB1 expression is associated with aggressive
      behaviour in many tumour types, but the potent effects cannot be solely explained
      by its proven function as a transcriptional repressor of epithelial genes. Here
      we describe a direct interaction of ZEB1 with the Hippo pathway effector YAP, but
      notably not with its paralogue TAZ. In consequence, ZEB1 switches its function to
      a transcriptional co-activator of a 'common ZEB1/YAP target gene set', thereby
      linking two pathways with similar cancer promoting effects. This gene set is a
      predictor of poor survival, therapy resistance and increased metastatic risk in
      breast cancer, indicating the clinical relevance of our findings. 

PMID- 26876925
TI  - Barrier crossing in small avian migrants: individual tracking reveals prolonged
      nocturnal flights into the day as a common migratory strategy.
AB  - Over decades it has been unclear how individual migratory songbirds cross large
      ecological barriers such as seas or deserts. By deploying light-level geolocators
      on four songbird species weighing only about 12 g, we found that these otherwise
      mainly nocturnal migrants seem to regularly extend their nocturnal flights into
      the day when crossing the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. The proportion
      of the proposed diurnally flying birds gradually declined over the day with
      similar landing patterns in autumn and spring. The prolonged flights were
      slightly more frequent in spring than in autumn, suggesting tighter migratory
      schedules when returning to breeding sites. Often we found several patterns for
      barrier crossing for the same individual in autumn compared to the spring
      journey. As only a small proportion of the birds flew strictly during the night
      and even some individuals might have flown non-stop, we suggest that prolonged
      endurance flights are not an exception even in small migratory species. We
      emphasise an individual's ability to perform both diurnal and nocturnal migration
      when facing the challenge of crossing a large ecological barrier to successfully
      complete a migratory journey.

PMID- 26876927
TI  - Imbalance of Gastrointestinal Microbiota in the Pathogenesis of Helicobacter
      pylori-Associated Diseases.
AB  - The development of new nucleotide sequencing techniques and advanced
      bioinformatics tools has opened the field for studying the diversity and
      complexity of the gastrointestinal microbiome independent of traditional cultural
      methods. Owing largely to the gastric acid barrier, the human stomach was long
      thought to be sterile. The discovery of Helicobacter pylori, the gram-negative
      bacterium that infects upwards of 50% of the global population, has started a
      major paradigm shift in our understanding of the stomach as an ecologic niche for
      bacteria. Recent sequencing analysis of gastric microbiota showed that H. pylori
      was not alone and the interaction of H. pylori with those microorganisms might
      play a part in H. pylori-associated diseases such as gastric cancer. In this
      review, we summarize the available literature about the changes of
      gastrointestinal microbiota after H. pylori infection in humans and animal
      models, and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms including the alterations
      of the gastric environment, the secretion of hormones and the degree of
      inflammatory response. In general, information regarding the composition and
      function of gastrointestinal microbiome is still in its infancy, future studies
      are needed to elucidate whether and to what extent H. pylori infection perturbs
      the established microbiota. It is assumed that clarifying the role of
      gastrointestinal communities in H. pylori-associated diseases will provide an
      opportunity for translational application as a biomarker for the risk of serious
      H. pylori diseases and perhaps identify specific organisms for therapeutic
      eradication. 

PMID- 26876926
TI  - Preferential recruitment of the basolateral amygdala during memory encoding of
      negative scenes in posttraumatic stress disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The vast majority of functional neuroimaging studies in posttraumatic
      stress disorder (PTSD) have examined the amygdala as a unitary structure.
      However, an emerging body of studies indicates that separable functions are
      subserved by discrete amygdala subregions. The basolateral subdivision (BLA), as
      compared with the centromedial amygdala (CMA), plays a unique role in learning
      and memory-based processes for threatening events, and alterations to the BLA
      have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PTSD. We assessed whether PTSD is
      associated with differential involvement of the BLA versus the CMA during
      successful encoding of emotionally charged events. METHODS: Participants with
      PTSD (n=11) and a trauma-exposed comparison (TEC) group (n=11) viewed a series of
      photos that varied in valence (negative versus positive) and arousal (high versus
      low) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Subsequently,
      participants completed an old/new recognition memory test. RESULTS: Using
      analytic methods based on probabilistic cytoarchitectonic mapping, PTSD was
      associated with greater activation of the BLA, as compared to the CMA, during
      successful encoding of negative scenes, a finding which was not observed in the
      TEC group. Moreover, this memory-related activity in the BLA independently
      predicted PTSD status. Contrary to hypotheses, there was no evidence of altered
      BLA activity during memory encoding of high arousing relative to low arousing
      scenes. CONCLUSIONS: Task-related brain activation in PTSD does not appear to be
      consistent across the entire amygdala. Importantly, memory-related processing of
      negative information in PTSD is associated with preferential recruitment of the
      BLA.

PMID- 26876928
TI  - The effect of polymer size and charge of molecules on permeation through synovial
      membrane and accumulation in hyaline articular cartilage.
AB  - The treatment of joint related diseases often involves direct intra-articular
      injections. For rational development of novel delivery systems with extended
      residence time in the joint, detailed understanding of transport and retention
      phenomena within the joint is mandatory. This work presents a systematic study on
      the in vitro permeation, penetration and accumulation of model polymers with
      differing charges and molecular weights in bovine joint tissue. Permeation
      experiments with bovine synovial membrane were performed with PEG polymers (6-200
      kDa) and methylene blue in customized diffusion chambers. For polyethylene
      glycol, 2-fold (PEG 6 kDa), 3-fold (PEG 10 kDa) and 13-fold (PEG 35 kDa)
      retention by the synovial membrane in reference to the small molecule methylene
      blue was demonstrated. No PEG 200 kDa was found in the acceptor in detectable
      amounts after 48 h. This showed the potential for a distinct extension of joint
      residence times by increasing molecular weights. In addition, experiments with
      bovine cartilage tissue were conducted. The ability for positively charged, high
      molecular weight chitosans and HEMA-Co-TMAP (HCT) polymers (up to 233 kDa) to
      distribute throughout the entire cartilage matrix was demonstrated. In contrast,
      a distribution into cartilage was not observed for neutral PEG polymers (6-200
      kDa). Furthermore, the positive charge density of different compounds (chitosan,
      HEMA-Co-TMAP, methylene blue, MSC C1 (neutral NCE) and MSC D1 (positively charged
      NCE) was found to correlate with their accumulation in bovine cartilage tissue.
      In summary, the results offer pre-clinical in vitro data, indicating that the
      modification of molecular size and charge of a substance has the potential to
      decelerate its clearance through the synovial membrane and to promote
      accumulation inside the cartilage matrix.

PMID- 26876929
TI  - Novel indole sulfides as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs.
AB  - In a previous communication we described a series of indole based NNRTIs which
      were potent inhibitors of HIV replication, both for the wild type and K103N
      strains of the virus. However, the methyl ether functionality on these compounds,
      which was crucial for potency, was susceptible to acid promoted indole assisted
      SN1 substitution. This particular problem did not bode well for an orally
      bioavailable drug. Here we describe bioisosteric replacement of this problematic
      functional group, leading to a series of compounds which are potent inhibitors of
      HIV replication, and are acid stable. 

PMID- 26876924
TI  - Functional neuroanatomy of amygdalohippocampal interconnections and their role in
      learning and memory.
AB  - The amygdalar nuclear complex and hippocampal/parahippocampal region are key
      components of the limbic system that play a critical role in emotional learning
      and memory. This Review discusses what is currently known about the neuroanatomy
      and neurotransmitters involved in amygdalo-hippocampal interconnections, their
      functional roles in learning and memory, and their involvement in mnemonic
      dysfunctions associated with neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases. Tract
      tracing studies have shown that the interconnections between discrete amygdalar
      nuclei and distinct layers of individual hippocampal/parahippocampal regions are
      robust and complex. Although it is well established that glutamatergic pyramidal
      cells in the amygdala and hippocampal region are the major players mediating
      interconnections between these regions, recent studies suggest that long-range
      GABAergic projection neurons are also involved. Whereas neuroanatomical studies
      indicate that the amygdala only has direct interconnections with the ventral
      hippocampal region, electrophysiological studies and behavioral studies
      investigating fear conditioning and extinction, as well as amygdalar modulation
      of hippocampal-dependent mnemonic functions, suggest that the amygdala interacts
      with dorsal hippocampal regions via relays in the parahippocampal cortices.
      Possible pathways for these indirect interconnections, based on evidence from
      previous tract tracing studies, are discussed in this Review. Finally, memory
      disorders associated with dysfunction or damage to the amygdala, hippocampal
      region, and/or their interconnections are discussed in relation to Alzheimer's
      disease, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and temporal lobe epilepsy. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26876930
TI  - Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of a novel series of 6
      phenoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-carboxamide derivatives.
AB  - The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) controls many
      physiological processes including inflammation, immunity, and apoptosis. In this
      study, a novel series of 6-phenoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3
      carboxamide derivatives were synthesized as potent anti-inflammatory agents,
      which acted on tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) as inhibitors of NF-kappaB
      activation. We showed that compounds 6h (6-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)
      [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-carboxamide) and 6i (6-(3-tolyloxy)
      [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-carboxamide) showed more prominent anti
      inflammatory activity than other compounds, with similar activities as the
      reference drug dihydrotanshinone; compound 6i showed the lowest cellular toxicity
      among the tested compounds. In vivo evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity
      showed that compound 6i exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activity with
      58.19% inhibition at 50mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.), with equal efficacy as the
      positive control indomethacin (100mg/kg i.p.; 59.21% inhibition). 

PMID- 26876931
TI  - Optimization of N'-(arylsulfonyl)pyrazoline-1-carboxamidines by exploiting a
      novel interaction site in the 5-HT6 antagonistic binding pocket.
AB  - The discovery of non-basic N'-(arylsulfonyl)pyrazoline-1-carboxamidines as 5-HT6
      antagonists with unique structural features was recently disclosed. Here we
      describe how this structural class was further developed by addressing an
      unexplored interaction site of the 5-HT6 receptor. Compound 13 resulting from
      this effort is a highly potent and selective 5-HT6 antagonist with improved
      metabolic stability. It is furthermore devoid of hERG affinity. Despite its
      modest CNS/plasma ratio, a high brain free fraction ensured substantial exposure
      to allow for rodent cognition studies. 

PMID- 26876932
TI  - Biocatalyzed synthesis of difuranosides and their ability to trigger production
      of TNF-alpha.
AB  - Transglycosylation reactions biocatalyzed by the native arabinofuranosidase
      Araf51 and using d-galactosyl, d-fucosyl and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-D-galactosyl
      derivatives as donors and acceptors provided di-to pentahexofuranosides. The
      immunostimulatory potency of these compounds, and more especially their ability
      to induce production of TNF-alpha, was evaluated on the murine macrophage cell
      line, Raw 264.7. The results obtained showed concentration-dependent and most
      importantly, structure-dependent responses. Interestingly,
      oligoarabinofuranosides belonging to the oligopentafuranoside family displayed
      concentration-, chain length and aglycon-dependent bioactivities irrespective of
      their fine chemical variations. Thus, neo-oligofuranosides in D-Galf series, as
      well as their D-Fucf and 6-fluorinated counterparts are indeed potential sources
      of immunostimulating agents.

PMID- 26876934
TI  - Retraction. Clc-2 knockout attenuated experimental temporal lobe epilepsy in mice
      by tonic inhibition mediated by GABAA receptors.
AB  - Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most prevalent form of epilepsy, is often
      associated with drug-resistant seizures. In TLE, altered function of gamma
      aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors (GABAARs) results in potentiation of
      excitatory and/or failure of inhibitory neurotransmission, which contributes to
      seizure induction and propagation. Our previous study suggested that chloride
      channel-2 (Clc-2) contributed to chronically elevated tonic inhibition mediated
      by GABAARs in a rat model of TLE. In the present study, we used Clc-2 knockout
      mice to investigate further the role of Clc-2 and its interaction with tonic
      GABAergic inhibition in a model of TLE. The results revealed that knockout of Clc
      2 decreased tonic seizure protection, latency of clonic seizure, seizure
      threshold and mortality protection in mice. Clc-2 knockout decreased the action
      potential (AP)peak and APthreshold, Clc-2 currents and GABAAR-mediated tonic
      inhibition in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Thus, the voltage-gated chloride channel Clc
      2, which was functionally upregulated in CA1 pyramidal cells after seizures, may
      provide protection against TLE by its regulation of action potentials, Clc-2
      currents and GABAARs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. 

PMID- 26876933
TI  - Suppression of Mcl-1 induces apoptosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages infected
      with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - The effect of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) inhibition on apoptosis of
      peritoneal macrophages in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was
      investigated and the primary signaling pathway associated with the
      transcriptional regulation of Mcl-1 was identified. Real-time PCR and western
      blotting indicated that Mcl-1 transcript and protein expression are upregulated
      during infection with virulent M. tuberculosis H37Rv and Xinjiang strains but not
      with attenuated M. tuberculosis strain H37Ra or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Mcl-1
      transcript and protein expression were downregulated by specific inhibitors of
      the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT),
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)
      pathways (AG490, PD98059 and LY294002, respectively). The strongest inhibitor of
      Mcl-1 expression was PD98059, the MAPK inhibitor. Flow cytometry demonstrated
      that the rate of apoptosis in peritoneal macrophages is significantly higher in
      mice infected with M. tuberculosis and the rate of apoptosis is correlated with
      the virulence of the strain of M. tuberculosis. Apoptosis was found to be
      upregulated by AG490, PD98059 and LY294002, whereas inhibition of the MAPK
      pathway sensitized the infected macrophages to apoptosis. Taken together, these
      results suggest that specific downregulation of Mcl-1 significantly increases
      apoptosis of peritoneal macrophages and that the MAPK signaling pathway is the
      primary mediator of Mcl-1 expression.

PMID- 26876935
TI  - Effects of 1-cyclohexyl- and 1-cyclohexyl-N-propargyl-1,2,3,4
      tetrahydroisoquinoline on dopaminergic spontaneous discharge in nigral neurons of
      rats.
AB  - 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) and some of its derivatives, such as 1
      benzyl-TIQ and 1-methyl-TIQ, are endogenously present in human brain and are
      thought to contribute to induction or prevention of Parkinson's disease. In the
      present study, we estimated the effects of the artificially synthesized TIQ
      derivatives 1-cyclohexyl-TIQ (1-cHex-TIQ) and 1-cyclohexyl-N-propargyl-TIQ (1
      cHex-N-proTIQ) on spontaneous nigral dopaminergic discharge in rats. Low to
      middle doses of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced a
      transient and significant, but not relatively potent, increase in the firing
      rate, followed by a sustained decrease with higher doses. 1-cHex-TIQ increased
      the firing frequency at low and high doses. In contrast, 1-cHex-N-proTIQ had no
      effects on spontaneous firing. Although intraperitoneal pretreatment with 1-cHex
      TIQ did not inhibit this MPTP-induced decrease in firing, pretreatment with 1
      cHex-N-proTIQ significantly depressed this decreased firing in a dose-dependent
      and long-lasting manner. Selegiline, a monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor that is
      used as a therapeutic drug for Parkinson's disease, also significantly inhibited
      the decrease in dopaminergic spontaneous firing induced by MPTP, but the effect
      was transient. These results suggest that although the decrease in firing induced
      by 1-cHex-TIQ is clearly more potent compared to that induced by MPTP, its effect
      is eliminated by adding an N-propargyl functional group. The antagonizing effect
      of 1-cHex-N-proTIQ on MPTP-induced firing loss may be exerted by a different
      mechanism than that of selegiline. 

PMID- 26876936
TI  - Stem cell secretome-rich nanoclay hydrogel: a dual action therapy for
      cardiovascular regeneration.
AB  - A nanocomposite hydrogel with photocrosslinkable micro-porous networks and a
      nanoclay component was successfully prepared to control the release of growth
      factor-rich stem cell secretome. The proven pro-angiogenic and cardioprotective
      potential of this new bioactive system provides a valuable therapeutic platform
      for cardiac tissue repair and regeneration. 

PMID- 26876937
TI  - Nuclear m(6)A Reader YTHDC1 Regulates mRNA Splicing.
AB  - The regulatory role of N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) and its nuclear binding
      protein YTHDC1 in pre-mRNA splicing remains an enigma. Here we show that YTHDC1
      promotes exon inclusion in targeted mRNAs through recruiting pre-mRNA splicing
      factor SRSF3 (SRp20) while blocking SRSF10 (SRp38) mRNA binding. Transcriptome
      assay with PAR-CLIP-seq analysis revealed that YTHDC1-regulated exon-inclusion
      patterns were similar to those of SRSF3 but opposite of SRSF10. In vitro pull
      down assay illustrated a competitive binding of SRSF3 and SRSF10 to YTHDC1.
      Moreover, YTHDC1 facilitates SRSF3 but represses SRSF10 in their nuclear speckle
      localization, RNA-binding affinity, and associated splicing events, dysregulation
      of which, as the result of YTHDC1 depletion, can be restored by reconstitution
      with wild-type, but not m(6)A-binding-defective, YTHDC1. Our findings provide the
      direct evidence that m(6)A reader YTHDC1 regulates mRNA splicing through
      recruiting and modulating pre-mRNA splicing factors for their access to the
      binding regions of targeted mRNAs.

PMID- 26876938
TI  - Deubiquitination and Activation of AMPK by USP10.
AB  - The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the master regulator of metabolic
      homeostasis by sensing cellular energy status. When intracellular ATP levels
      decrease during energy stress, AMPK is initially activated through AMP or ADP
      binding and phosphorylation of a threonine residue (Thr-172) within the
      activation loop of its kinase domain. Here we report a key molecular mechanism by
      which AMPK activation is amplified under energy stress. We found that
      ubiquitination on AMPKalpha blocks AMPKalpha phosphorylation by LKB1. The
      deubiquitinase USP10 specifically removes ubiquitination on AMPKalpha to
      facilitate AMPKalpha phosphorylation by LKB1. Under energy stress, USP10 activity
      in turn is enhanced through AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of Ser76 of USP10.
      Thus, USP10 and AMPK form a key feedforward loop ensuring amplification of AMPK
      activation in response to fluctuation of cellular energy status. Disruption of
      this feedforward loop leads to improper AMPK activation and multiple metabolic
      defects. 

PMID- 26876940
TI  - Optimizing HCV treatment - Moving beyond the cost conundrum.

PMID- 26876939
TI  - mTORC1 Coordinates Protein Synthesis and Immunoproteasome Formation via PRAS40 to
      Prevent Accumulation of Protein Stress.
AB  - Reduction of translational fidelity often occurs in cells with high rates of
      protein synthesis, generating defective ribosomal products. If not removed, such
      aberrant proteins can be a major source of cellular stress causing human
      diseases. Here, we demonstrate that mTORC1 promotes the formation of
      immunoproteasomes for efficient turnover of defective proteins and cell survival.
      mTORC1 sequesters precursors of immunoproteasome beta subunits via PRAS40. When
      activated, mTORC1 phosphorylates PRAS40 to enhance protein synthesis and
      simultaneously to facilitate the assembly of the beta subunits for forming
      immunoproteasomes. Consequently, the PRAS40 phosphorylations play crucial roles
      in clearing aberrant proteins that accumulate due to mTORC1 activation. Mutations
      of RAS, PTEN, and TSC1, which cause mTORC1 hyperactivation, enhance
      immunoproteasome formation in cells and tissues. Those mutations increase
      cellular dependence on immunoproteasomes for stress response and survival. These
      results define a mechanism by which mTORC1 couples elevated protein synthesis
      with immunoproteasome biogenesis to protect cells against protein stress.

PMID- 26876941
TI  - pNEB193-derived suicide plasmids for gene deletion and protein expression in the
      methane-producing archaeon, Methanosarcina acetivorans.
AB  - Gene deletion and protein expression are cornerstone procedures for studying
      metabolism in any organism, including methane-producing archaea (methanogens).
      Methanogens produce coenzymes and cofactors not found in most bacteria, therefore
      it is sometimes necessary to express and purify methanogen proteins from the
      natural host. Protein expression in the native organism is also useful when
      studying post-translational modifications and their effect on gene expression or
      enzyme activity. We have created several new suicide plasmids to complement
      existing genetic tools for use in the methanogen, Methanosarcina acetivorans. The
      new plasmids are derived from the commercially available Escherichia coli
      plasmid, pNEB193, and cannot replicate autonomously in methanogens. The designed
      plasmids facilitate markerless gene deletion, gene transcription, protein
      expression, and purification of proteins with cleavable affinity tags from the
      methanogen, M. acetivorans.

PMID- 26876943
TI  - The Prevalence of Positive Findings on Metal Artifact Reduction Sequence Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging in Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We sought to assess the prevalence of soft tissue changes seen on
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after metal-on-metal (MOM) total hip
      arthroplasty (THA) and determine if the presence of pseudotumors was associated
      with metal ion levels, acetabular cup position, outcomes scores, and femoral head
      size. METHODS: After receiving an institutional review board exemption for
      secondary data analysis, we performed a cross-sectional study identifying 55
      patients (55 hips) that underwent primary THA with a MOM articulation and had
      subsequent MRI imaging between February 2013 and February 2014 at a single
      academic medical center. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (44%) had no evidence of
      pseudotumors, 27 (49%) had type I pseudotumors, and 4 (7%) were classified as
      having type II pseudotumors. The presence and severity of pseudotumors were
      associated with higher serum chromium levels (P = .043). Neither acetabular
      inclination nor acetabular version was associated with the presence of
      pseudotumors, the severity of pseudotumors, or elevated serum metal ion levels
      (all P > .05). Increased metal ion levels were associated with lower Harris Hip
      Score and higher Harris Hip Score pain subscores (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: In
      conclusion, pseudotumors on metal artifact reduction sequencing MRI may be
      present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic MOM THAs. Surgeons should therefore
      exercise caution in placing too much emphasis on isolated studies such as cross
      sectional imaging. Instead, a structured approach to evaluation of MOM
      arthroplasty should be followed.

PMID- 26876942
TI  - pBR322 vectors having tetracycline-dependent replication.
AB  - Few Escherichia coli cloning vectors are available that can both be stably
      maintained and efficiently cured. One such vector is pAM34, a pBR332 derivative
      constructed by Gil and Bouche (1991). Replication of this plasmid is driven by
      the lacZYA promoter under control of a gratuitous inducer. However, lac operator
      repressor interactions are also used to regulate many expression systems which
      limit the utility of pAM34. In this report pAM34 has been modified by replacement
      of the lac regulatory elements with those of the transposon Tn10 tetracycline
      resistance module. This resulted in medium copy number plasmids that are
      dependent on the presence of tetracycline (or less satisfactorily,
      anhydrotetracycline) for replication. The tetracycline-dependent plasmids are
      rapidly lost in the absence of tetracycline and plasmid loss is markedly
      accelerated when the host strain expresses a tetracycline efflux pump.

PMID- 26876944
TI  - Does the Canal Fill Ratio and Femoral Morphology of Asian Females Influence Early
      Radiographic Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty With an Uncemented Proximally
      Coated, Tapered-Wedge Stem?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Noncement femoral fixation in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been
      gaining popularity. However, owing to the numerous varieties of uncemented stems
      and differing types of femoral stem morphology, it is unclear whether the
      clinical outcomes of all uncemented stems are equal. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the relationships between canal fill ratio and femoral morphology and
      early radiologic outcomes in Japanese patients who underwent THA with an
      uncemented proximally hydroxyapatite-coated, tapered-wedge stem. METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed 103 patients who had undergone THA using a single
      proximally coated tapered-wedge stem. The relationships between canal fill ratio
      and femoral morphology and early radiologic outcomes after THA with those stem
      were investigated. RESULTS: Eighty-one hips were analyzed after inclusion and
      exclusion criteria were applied. Failed osteointegration proximally was observed
      in 4 hips (4.9%). Canal flare index was significantly greater in hips with failed
      osteointegration than in those with successful osteointegration (P = .009).
      Distal hypertrophy was observed in 14 hips (17.3%). Proximal-distal matching
      ratio was significantly lower in hips with distal hypertrophy than in those
      without (P = .01). Canal fill ratio at 2 cm above the lesser trochanter was
      smaller in hips with failed osteointegration and distal hypertrophy than in those
      without (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Suboptimal radiologic changes were seen with
      greater distal fill with smaller proximal fill and with a narrow femoral canal.
      It is important to select the stem that can achieve the original concept of
      intended primary and secondary fixation areas.

PMID- 26876945
TI  - How do we transfuse blood components in cirrhotic patients undergoing
      gastrointestinal procedures?
AB  - The liver plays a pivotal role in hemostasis. Consequently, patients with
      cirrhosis frequently demonstrate abnormal coagulation profiles on routine
      laboratory tests. These tests mainly reflect decreased procoagulant proteins.
      However, in cirrhosis, complex changes also occur in anticoagulant and
      fibrinolytic pathways. Recent evidence demonstrates that patients with cirrhosis
      exist in a state of hemostatic rebalance. Accordingly, routine tests inadequately
      represent hemostatic alterations in these patients. Unfortunately, these tests
      are regularly used to guide the transfusion of blood components with the
      assumption that they will correct laboratory abnormalities and improve hemostasis
      in a bleeding patient or prevent excessive bleeding following a procedure. With
      an absence of both accurate laboratory testing to assess hemostasis and evidence
      based guidelines to direct the transfusion of blood components, management of
      patients with cirrhosis poses a significant challenge to clinicians. Therefore,
      we developed multidisciplinary guidelines for the periprocedural transfusion of
      blood components in patients with cirrhosis based on concurrent evidence and
      personal experience at our medical center. 

PMID- 26876946
TI  - A Human Open Field Test Reveals Thigmotaxis Related to Agoraphobic Fear.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thigmotaxis refers to a specific behavior of animals (i.e., to stay
      close to walls when exploring an open space). Such behavior can be assessed with
      the open field test (OFT), which is a well-established indicator of animal fear.
      The detection of similar open field behavior in humans may verify the
      translational validity of this paradigm. Enhanced thigmotaxis related to anxiety
      may suggest the relevance of such behavior for anxiety disorders, especially
      agoraphobia. METHODS: A global positioning system was used to analyze the
      behavior of 16 patients with agoraphobia and 18 healthy individuals with a risk
      for agoraphobia (i.e., high anxiety sensitivity) during a human OFT and compare
      it with appropriate control groups (n = 16 and n = 19). We also tracked 17
      patients with agoraphobia and 17 control participants during a city walk that
      involved walking through an open market square. RESULTS: Our human OFT triggered
      thigmotaxis in participants; patients with agoraphobia and participants with high
      anxiety sensitivity exhibited enhanced thigmotaxis. This behavior was evident in
      increased movement lengths along the wall of the natural open field and fewer
      entries into the center of the field despite normal movement speed and length.
      Furthermore, participants avoided passing through the market square during the
      city walk, indicating again that thigmotaxis is related to agoraphobia.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to our knowledge to verify the translational
      validity of the OFT and to reveal that thigmotaxis, an evolutionarily adaptive
      behavior shown by most species, is related to agoraphobia, a pathologic fear of
      open spaces, and anxiety sensitivity, a risk factor for agoraphobia.

PMID- 26876948
TI  - Notch-dependent EMT is attenuated in patients with aortic aneurysm and bicuspid
      aortic valve.
AB  - Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart malformation and the
      reasons for the aortopathies associated with bicuspid aortic valve remain
      unclear. NOTCH1 mutations are associated with bicuspid aortic valve and have been
      found in individuals with various left ventricular outflow tract abnormalities.
      Notch is a key signaling during cardiac valve formation that promotes the
      endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We address the role of Notch signaling in
      human aortic endothelial cells from patients with bicuspid aortic valve and
      aortic aneurysm. Aortic endothelial cells were isolated from tissue fragments of
      bicuspid aortic valve-associated thoracic aortic aneurysm patients and from
      healthy donors. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition was induced by activation
      of Notch signaling. Effectiveness of the transition was estimated by loss of
      endothelial and gain of mesenchymal markers by immunocytochemistry and qPCR. We
      show that aortic endothelial cells from the patients with aortic aneurysm and
      bicuspid aortic valve have down regulated Notch signaling and fail to activate
      Notch-dependent endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in response to its
      stimulation by different Notch ligands. Our findings support the idea that
      bicuspid aortic valve and associated aortic aneurysm is associated with
      dysregulation of the entire Notch signaling pathway independently on the specific
      gene mutation.

PMID- 26876947
TI  - Pharmacogenomic Study of Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis/Granulocytopenia in a
      Japanese Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (CIA)/clozapine-induced
      granulocytopenia (CIG) (CIAG) is a life-threatening event for schizophrenic
      subjects treated with clozapine. METHODS: To examine the genetic factor for CIAG,
      a genome-wide pharmacogenomic analysis was conducted using 50 subjects with CIAG
      and 2905 control subjects. RESULTS: We identified a significant association in
      the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region (rs1800625, p = 3.46 * 10(-9), odds
      ratio [OR] = 3.8); therefore, subsequent HLA typing was performed. We detected a
      significant association of HLA-B*59:01 with CIAG (p = 3.81 * 10(-8), OR = 10.7)
      and confirmed this association by comparing with an independent clozapine
      tolerant control group (n = 380, p = 2.97 * 10(-5), OR = 6.3). As we observed
      that the OR of CIA (OR: 9.3~15.8) was approximately double that in CIG (OR:
      4.4~7.4), we hypothesized that the CIG subjects were a mixed population of those
      who potentially would develop CIA and those who would not develop CIA (non-CIA).
      This hypothesis allowed the proportion of the CIG who were non-CIA to be
      calculated, enabling us to estimate the positive predictive value of the nonrisk
      allele on non-CIA in CIG subjects. Assuming this model, we estimated that 1) ~50%
      of CIG subjects would be non-CIA; and 2) ~60% of the CIG subjects without the
      risk allele would be non-CIA and therefore not expected to develop CIA.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HLA-B*59:01 is a risk factor for CIAG in
      the Japanese population. Furthermore, if our model is true, the results suggest
      that rechallenging certain CIG subjects with clozapine may not be always
      contraindicated.

PMID- 26876949
TI  - Corrigendum: Neural substrate of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia:
      a magnetisation transfer imaging study.

PMID- 26876950
TI  - Membrane topologies of the PGLa antimicrobial peptide and a transmembrane anchor
      sequence by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization/solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) has been introduced to overcome the
      sensitivity limitations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also of
      supported lipid bilayers. When investigated by solid-state NMR techniques the
      approach typically involves doping the samples with biradicals and their
      investigation at cryo-temperatures. Here we investigated the effects of
      temperature and membrane hydration on the topology of amphipathic and hydrophobic
      membrane polypeptides. Although the antimicrobial PGLa peptide in dimyristoyl
      phospholipids is particularly sensitive to topological alterations, the DNP
      conditions represent well its membrane alignment also found in bacterial lipids
      at ambient temperature. With a novel membrane-anchored biradical and purpose
      built hardware a 17-fold enhancement in NMR signal intensity is obtained by DNP
      which is one of the best obtained for a truly static matrix-free system.
      Furthermore, a membrane anchor sequence encompassing 19 hydrophobic amino acid
      residues was investigated. Although at cryotemperatures the transmembrane domain
      adjusts it membrane tilt angle by about 10 degrees, the temperature dependence of
      two-dimensional separated field spectra show that freezing the motions can have
      beneficial effects for the structural analysis of this sequence. 

PMID- 26876951
TI  - Probing the phenomenon of trained immunity in invertebrates during a
      transgenerational study, using brine shrimp Artemia as a model system.
AB  - The invertebrate's innate immune system was reported to show some form of
      adaptive features, termed trained immunity. However, the memory characteristics
      of innate immune system and the mechanisms behind such phenomena remain unclear.
      Using the invertebrate model Artemia, we verified the possibility or
      impossibility of trained immunity, examining the presence or absence of enduring
      memory against homologous and heterologous antigens (Vibrio spp.) during a
      transgenerational study. We also determined the mechanisms behind such
      phenomenon. Our results showed the occurrence of memory and partial
      discrimination in Artemia's immune system, as manifested by increased resistance,
      for three successive generations, of the progenies of Vibrio-exposed ancestors
      towards a homologous bacterial strain, rather than to a heterologous strain. This
      increased resistance phenotype was associated with elevated levels of hsp70 and
      hmgb1 signaling molecules and alteration in the expression of key innate immunity
      related genes. Our results also showed stochastic pattern in the acetylation and
      methylation levels of H4 and H3K4me3 histones, respectively, in the progenies
      whose ancestors were challenged. Overall results suggest that innate immune
      responses in invertebrates have the capacity to be trained, and epigenetic
      reprogramming of (selected) innate immune effectors is likely to have central
      place in the mechanisms leading to trained immunity. 

PMID- 26876952
TI  - Behaviour of the Pleistocene marsupial lion deduced from claw marks in a
      southwestern Australian cave.
AB  - The marsupial lion, Thylacoleo carnifex, was the largest-ever marsupial
      carnivore, and is one of the most iconic extinct Australian vertebrates. With a
      highly-specialised dentition, powerful forelimbs and a robust build, its overall
      morphology is not approached by any other mammal. However, despite >150 years of
      attention, fundamental aspects of its biology remain unresolved. Here we analyse
      an assemblage of claw marks preserved on surfaces in a cave and deduce that they
      were generated by marsupial lions. The distribution and skewed size range of claw
      marks within the cave elucidate two key aspects of marsupial lion biology: they
      were excellent climbers and reared young in caves. Scrutiny of >10,000 co-located
      Pleistocene bones reveals few if any marsupial lion tooth marks, which dovetails
      with the morphology-based interpretation of the species as a flesh specialist. 

PMID- 26876953
TI  - Transvesical laparoscopic surgery for double renal pelvis and ureter with or
      without ureterocele.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of transvesical laparoscopic surgery for
      patients with complete double pelvis and ureter. METHODS: A total of 10 patients
      were included in the present study: five had complete double pelvis and ureter
      with ureterocele (group A), and five did not have ureterocele (group B). Three
      small incisions of 5 mm were used, without incision in the lower abdomen. In
      group A patients, the ureterocele wall was resected, and two ureters were
      sufficiently detached as a combined ureteral complex. Ureterocele on the side of
      the bladder wall was sutured to the bladder neck, and the bladder wall was
      strengthened. According to the cross-trigonal technique, ureterocystoneostomy was
      carried out in two ureters as a combined ureteral complex. In group B patients,
      two ureters were sufficiently detached, and ureterocystoneostomy was carried out
      as in group A. RESULTS: In group A, the mean age was 13.4 years (range 2-34
      years). The mean operation time was 304.6 min (242-346 min). In group B, the mean
      age was 16.6 years (range 2-48 years). The mean operation time was 207.8 min (150
      249 min). There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications in both
      study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transvesical laparoscopic surgery can be safely and
      effectively used in patients with double pelvis and ureter.

PMID- 26876954
TI  - Bioluminescence Tomography-Guided Radiation Therapy for Preclinical Research.
AB  - PURPOSE: In preclinical radiation research, it is challenging to localize soft
      tissue targets based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) guidance. As a more
      effective method to localize soft tissue targets, we developed an online
      bioluminescence tomography (BLT) system for small-animal radiation research
      platform (SARRP). We demonstrated BLT-guided radiation therapy and validated
      targeting accuracy based on a newly developed reconstruction algorithm. METHODS
      AND MATERIALS: The BLT system was designed to dock with the SARRP for image
      acquisition and to be detached before radiation delivery. A 3-mirror system was
      devised to reflect the bioluminescence emitted from the subject to a stationary
      charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Multispectral BLT and the incomplete
      variables truncated conjugate gradient method with a permissible region shrinking
      strategy were used as the optimization scheme to reconstruct bioluminescent
      source distributions. To validate BLT targeting accuracy, a small cylindrical
      light source with high CBCT contrast was placed in a phantom and also in the
      abdomen of a mouse carcass. The center of mass (CoM) of the source was recovered
      from BLT and used to guide radiation delivery. The accuracy of the BLT-guided
      targeting was validated with films and compared with the CBCT-guided delivery. In
      vivo experiments were conducted to demonstrate BLT localization capability for
      various source geometries. RESULTS: Online BLT was able to recover the CoM of the
      embedded light source with an average accuracy of 1 mm compared to that with CBCT
      localization. Differences between BLT- and CBCT-guided irradiation shown on the
      films were consistent with the source localization revealed in the BLT and CBCT
      images. In vivo results demonstrated that our BLT system could potentially be
      applied for multiple targets and tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The online BLT/CBCT/SARRP
      system provides an effective solution for soft tissue targeting, particularly for
      small, nonpalpable, or orthotopic tumor models.

PMID- 26876956
TI  - Worldwide productivity in the hand and wrist literature: A bibliometric analysis
      of four highly cited subspecialty journals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hand and wrist research has recently shown obvious progress. The
      quantity and quality of publications from different nations, however, have not
      been analyzed. In our study, we aimed to assess the characteristics of worldwide
      productivity in hand and wrist literature using highly cited subspecialty
      journals. METHODS: Literature search using the Web of Science database was
      conducted to identify hand and wrist articles in four highly cited subspecialty
      journals from 2005 to 2014. The number of articles, impact factors and citations
      were analyzed to evaluate the contributions of different countries. Publication
      activity was adjusted for the countries by population size. RESULTS: A total of
      4268 publications were identified. The number of articles showed a significant
      increase of 2.10-fold between 2005 and 2014 (p = 0.0001). North America, West
      Europe, and East Asia were the most prolific areas. The majority of publications
      (92.03%) were from high-income countries, 7.97% from middle-income countries, and
      no publications from lower-income countries. The United States published the most
      articles (53.89%), followed by United Kingdom (6.51%), Japan (6.14%), Canada
      (3.70%), and China (3.37%). Articles originating from the United States showed
      the greatest number of total 5-year impact factors (5y-IF) (4059.56) and total
      citations (17,998). When normalized to population size, United States ranked the
      first (7.16), followed by Sweden (6.53), and Netherlands (5.72). However,
      Netherlands (1.893) had the highest mean 5y-IF, followed by Germany (1.884) and
      Australia (1.883). Sweden had the highest average citations per article (11.38),
      followed by Germany (9.63), and Australia (9.08). CONCLUSIONS: The number of
      publications of hand and wrist research shows a significant increase during the
      past 10 years. The United States is the most productive country in hand and wrist
      literature. However, some European countries and Australia may have higher
      quality of articles according to mean 5y-IF and mean citations per article.

PMID- 26876955
TI  - Health-Related Quality of Life in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients After
      Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy Including Image Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy:
      An Analysis From the EMBRACE Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study analyzed functioning and symptom scores for longitudinal
      quality of life (QoL) from patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who
      underwent definitive chemoradiation therapy with image guided adaptive
      brachytherapy in the EMBRACE study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In total, 744 patients
      at a median follow-up of 21 months were included. QoL was prospectively assessed
      using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life
      core module 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC cervical cancer module 24 (CX24)
      questionnaires at baseline, then every 3 months during the first year, every 6
      months in the second and third years, and finally yearly thereafter in patients
      with no evidence of disease. Outcomes were evaluated over time and compared to
      those from an age-matched female reference population. RESULTS: General QoL and
      emotional and social functioning were impaired at baseline but improved during
      the first 6 months after treatment, to reach a level comparable to that of the
      reference population, whereas cognitive functioning remained impaired. Both
      social and role functioning showed the lowest scores at baseline but which
      increased after treatment to reach a plateau at 6 months and then declined
      slightly at 3 and 4 years. The overall symptom experience was elevated at
      baseline and decreased to a level within the range of that of the reference
      population. Similarly, tumor-related symptoms (eg, pain, appetite loss, and
      constipation), which were present before treatment, decreased substantially at
      the first follow-up after treatment. Several treatment-related symptoms developed
      either immediately after and persisted over time (diarrhea, menopausal symptoms,
      peripheral neuropathy, and sexual functioning problems) or developed gradually
      after treatment (lymphedema and dyspnea). CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal
      prospective QoL analysis showed that patients' general QoL and functioning were
      impaired before treatment compared to those of reference data. Several tumor
      related symptoms resolved after treatment, and functioning and general QoL
      returned to that of the level of the reference population, indicating a transient
      impact of diagnosis and treatment. However, several treatment-related symptoms
      and problems did develop and persist, either immediately or gradually after
      treatment.

PMID- 26876957
TI  - Adapting the IDEAL Framework and Recommendations for medical device evaluation: A
      modified Delphi survey.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Current regulatory systems for medical device marketing approval
      lack adequate requirements for evidence of safety and efficacy. The Total Product
      Life Cycle (TPLC) concept, with clinical use and marketing expanding as evidence
      develops, has won support, but lacks a template to define evidence requirements
      at different stages. The IDEAL Framework & Recommendations, originally developed
      for new surgical procedures, might provide such a template, but may require
      modification. METHODS: We conducted a Delphi expert consensus exercise to
      determine how IDEAL might be modified to accommodate the needs of device
      regulation. 34 experts were invited to participate in 3 rounds of questioning,
      with feedback of the results of each round to participants before the next.
      RESULTS: 27 of 34 experts responded in at least one survey round. Experts agreed
      that, after appropriate modifications, IDEAL could form an evidence template for
      a TPLC-based regulatory system. Necessary modifications include a new Stage 0
      should guide reporting of pre-clinical studies, expansion of registries to all
      stages, and omission of IDEAL stages 2 and 3 for "successor" devices under
      certain conditions. DISCUSSION: A standard approach to TPLC evaluation of medical
      devices does not currently exist. The IDEAL Framework, if modified appropriately,
      could fill such a void and improve the safety of new medical devices.

PMID- 26876958
TI  - HAL-RAR (Doppler guided haemorrhoid artery ligation with recto-anal repair) is a
      safe and effective procedure for haemorrhoids. Results of a prospective study
      after two-years follow-up.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyse prospectively results of HAL-RAR technique by evaluating
      pain, perioperative complications and clinical outcome after two years followup.
      METHODS: A prospective study design including 30 consecutive patients with
      haemorrhoids grade III-IV treated from June 2012. After discharge, patients
      received a specific questionnaire to record postoperative pain, delayed
      complications, evolution/disappearance of the symptoms that led to the surgical
      intervention (bleeding, prolapse, itching, pain and soiling). A visual analog
      scale (VAS) was used to measure pain. Outpatient follow-up was carried out at 7
      days, and 1, 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Pre, intra and
      postoperative data (including physical examination) had been recorded
      prospectively. RESULTS: The median operating time (range) was 40 (26-60) minutes.
      Average hospital stay (range) was 11 (3-25) hours. No postoperative complications
      were observed in 29 cases (96.6%). Median follow-up was 26 (12-36) months. All
      the patients attended the follow-up. Mean postoperative pain was VAS = 1.7 on the
      seventh day and it was practically non-existent (VAS = 0.7) 1 month after the
      procedure. 87.5% of patients confirmed complete relief of symptoms after 30 days
      and 93% of patients feel free of symptoms 6 months after the procedure. No
      patient has experienced late complications as dyschezia, urgency, soiling or
      faecal incontinence. After 24 months follow-up, recurrence of bleeding and
      prolapse was observed in only 1 patient; 93% of patients have considered results
      of HAL-RAR as very good or excellent. CONCLUSION: HAL-RAR is safe and almost
      painless technique and it has very good results in the control of haemorrhoidal
      symptoms. This procedure should be considered as an effective first treatment
      option for haemorrhoids.

PMID- 26876959
TI  - The New Calcium Imaging Trend (Front Cell Neurosci 2015;9:436).

PMID- 26876960
TI  - Polymer thick film technology for improved simultaneous dEEG/MRI recording:
      Safety and MRI data quality.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop a 256-channel dense-array electroencephalography (dEEG)
      sensor net (the Ink-Net) using high-resistance polymer thick film (PTF)
      technology to improve safety and data quality during simultaneous dEEG/MRI.
      METHODS: Heating safety was assessed with temperature measurements in an
      anthropomorphic head phantom during a 30-min, induced-heating scan at 7T. MRI
      quality assessment used B1 field mapping and functional MRI (fMRI) retinotopic
      scans in three humans at 3T. Performance of the 256-channel PTF Ink-Net was
      compared with a 256-channel MR-conditional copper-wired electroencephalography
      (EEG) net and to scans with no sensor net. A visual evoked potential paradigm
      assessed EEG quality within and outside the 3T scanner. RESULTS: Phantom
      temperature measurements revealed nonsignificant heating (ISO 10974) in the
      presence of either EEG net. In human B1 field and fMRI scans, the Ink-Net showed
      greatly reduced cross-modal artifact and less signal degradation than the copper
      wired net, and comparable quality to MRI without sensor net. Cross-modal
      ballistocardiogram artifact in the EEG was comparable for both nets. CONCLUSION:
      High-resistance PTF technology can be effectively implemented in a 256-channel
      dEEG sensor net for MR conditional use at 7T and with significantly improved
      structural and fMRI data quality as assessed at 3T. Magn Reson Med 77:895-903,
      2017. (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26876961
TI  - Effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to hepatitis B vaccination in
      dialysis patients.
AB  - We undertook this study to assess the response of hepatitis B vaccination in
      dialysis patients and the effect of vitamin D level on the immunogenicity to
      hepatitis B vaccination. It was an observational study, which included 60
      patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis. Patients with anti
      HBs antibody positive at baseline were excluded. All received intramuscular
      recombinant hepatitis B vaccination at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months 20 MUg on each
      deltoid muscle bilateral. Anti-HBs antibody titers were measured at 4 and 7
      months of vaccination and the titer >=10 mIU/mL was considered as "positive".
      Vitamin D levels were measured at baseline before starting the vaccination. The
      mean vitamin D level was 15.0 +/- 7.8 ng/mL. The vitamin D level <10 and <20 were
      23.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The patients on hemodialysis had relatively higher
      vitamin D level than on peritoneal dialysis patients, i.e. 16.3 +/- 8.5 and 11.5
      +/- 3.1 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.03). Overall, 38 patients responded to the
      immunization (63.3%) and 11 patients were non-responders (36.7%) at 4 months.
      Difference of vitamin D level in responder (16.6 +/- 9.1 ng/mL) and non-responder
      (12.4 +/- 4.1 ng/mL) was not significant (p = 0.16). At 7 months (1 month after
      completion of vaccination) 61.9% were responders and 38.1% were non-responders.
      The vitamin D level in responders and non-responders were statistically not
      significant (p = 0.11). In responder, titer >=100 mIU/mL was seen in 30% at 4
      months and in 42.9% at 7 months (p = 0.05). In the good and weak responders at 7
      months, vitamin D levels were 21.5 +/- 10.8 and 10.1 +/- 3.7 ng/mL, respectively
      (p = 0.37). The association of vitamin D level and anti-HBs antibody titer were
      not significant (r = 0.03 and 95% CI was -0.43 to 0.48, p = 0.89) in those who
      responded. Most patients on dialysis were vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D levels
      did not differ between responding and non-responding dialysis patients.

PMID- 26876962
TI  - Longitudinal PBL in Undergraduate Medical Education Develops Lifelong-Learning
      Habits and Clinical Competencies in Social Aspects.

PMID- 26876963
TI  - Correction of the auditory phenotype in C57BL/6N mice via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated
      homology directed repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nuclease-based technologies have been developed that enable targeting
      of specific DNA sequences directly in the zygote. These approaches provide an
      opportunity to modify the genomes of inbred mice, and allow the removal of strain
      specific mutations that confound phenotypic assessment. One such mutation is the
      Cdh23 (ahl) allele, present in several commonly used inbred mouse strains, which
      predisposes to age-related progressive hearing loss. RESULTS: We have used
      targeted CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology directed repair (HDR) to correct the Cdh23
      (ahl) allele directly in C57BL/6NTac zygotes. Employing offset-nicking Cas9
      (D10A) nickase with paired RNA guides and a single-stranded oligonucleotide donor
      template we show that allele repair was successfully achieved. To investigate
      potential Cas9-mediated 'off-target' mutations in our corrected mouse, we
      undertook whole-genome sequencing and assessed the 'off-target' sites predicted
      for the guide RNAs (<=4 nucleotide mis-matches). No induced sequence changes were
      identified at any of these sites. Correction of the progressive hearing loss
      phenotype was demonstrated using auditory-evoked brainstem response testing of
      mice at 24 and 36 weeks of age, and rescue of the progressive loss of sensory
      hair cell stereocilia bundles was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy of
      dissected cochleae from 36-week-old mice. CONCLUSIONS: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HDR
      has been successfully utilised to efficiently correct the Cdh23 (ahl) allele in
      C57BL/6NTac mice, and rescue the associated auditory phenotype. The corrected
      mice described in this report will allow age-related auditory phenotyping studies
      to be undertaken using C57BL/6NTac-derived models, such as those generated by the
      International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) programme.

PMID- 26876964
TI  - Women's views on autologous cell-based therapy for post-obstetric incontinence.
AB  - AIM: Fecal and urinary incontinence are devastating consequences of obstetric
      related perineal injury. The aim of the present study is to determine
      acceptability to parous women of autologous cell-based therapy for fecal and
      urinary incontinence that arises due to pelvic diaphragm tearing during vaginal
      childbirth. MATERIALS & METHODS: A multiple choice questionnaire survey was
      offered to 76 parous women at the Maternity Unit, University College Hospital,
      London, UK. Seventy completed questionnaires - response rate: 92%. RESULTS: In
      total, 84% of women indicated a willingness to accept autologous cell-based
      therapy for obstetric injury-induced incontinence rather than surgery.
      CONCLUSION: These observational data provide an indication of likely acceptance
      of autologous cell-based therapies for birth injury incontinence and will help
      with designing new therapeutic approaches.

PMID- 26876965
TI  - An integrated microfluidic chip for immunomagnetic detection and isolation of
      rare prostate cancer cells from blood.
AB  - The quantitative and qualitative analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has
      the potential to improve the clinical management of several cancers, including
      prostate cancer. As such, there is much interest in the isolation of CTCs from
      the peripheral blood of cancer patients. We report the design, fabrication, and
      proof-of-principle testing of an integrated permalloy-based microfluidic chip for
      immunomagnetic isolation of blood-borne prostate cancer cells using an antibody
      targeting prostate surface membrane antigen (PSMA). The preliminary results using
      spiked blood samples indicate that the proposed device is consistently capable of
      isolating prostate cancer cells with high sensitivity (up to 98 %) at clinically
      relevant low concentrations (down to 20 cells/mL) and an acceptable throughput
      (100 MUL/min). 

PMID- 26876966
TI  - Mean Platelet Volume, a Novel Biomarker in Adolescents with Severe Primary
      Dysmenorrhea.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether mean platelet volume (MPV) would be a
      profitable marker in predicting disease severity in adolescents with severe
      primary dysmenorrhea (PD). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of 67 patients diagnosed with PD and 37 healthy
      adolescents with regular menstrual cycles were included in the study. Hemoglobin,
      MPV, and white blood cell, platelet, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts were
      measured as part of the automated complete blood examination. Neutrophil to
      lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio were obtained from the absolute
      neutrophil or platelet count, respectively, divided by the absolute lymphocyte
      count. The visual analog scale was used to assess the level of pain, as mild (<40
      mm), moderate (40-60 mm) and severe (>60 mm) PD. RESULTS: The MPV level of the
      combined severity of PD and control groups were similar. However, the MPV was
      significantly lower in the severe PD group compared with the control group (P =
      .04). There were no significant differences in the other hematological parameters
      between the groups. The mean visual analog scale score of the PD and control
      subjects were 7.35 +/- 2.25 and 1.07 +/- 1.96, respectively (P < .01). There was
      a poor negative correlation, which was statistically insignificant, between MPV
      and white blood cell count. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that MPV is
      decreased in adolescents with severe PD. Further studies with larger numbers of
      subjects are necessary to clarify the roles of platelets in the pathogenesis of
      severe PD and evaluate the changes in MPV value in response to treatment.

PMID- 26876967
TI  - Heavy Menstrual Bleeding as a Common Presenting Symptom of Rare Platelet
      Disorders: Illustrative Case Examples.
AB  - Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common symptom in patients who present to the
      obstetrician-gynecologist or adolescent medicine specialist and might result from
      an underlying inherited bleeding disorder. Whereas relatively common bleeding
      disorders such as von Willebrand disease are often included in standard
      laboratory assessments, rarer platelet function disorders can be challenging to
      diagnose. Additionally, HMB can be a particularly difficult symptom to manage in
      adolescents with platelet function disorders, and it is associated with decreased
      quality of life. We review the diagnostic and management issues of patients with
      platelet function disorders through the presentation of 2 patient case reports,
      with a focus on a diagnosis of Glanzmann thrombasthenia, an inherited qualitative
      disorder that affects platelet function. Whereas the first patient presented to
      the emergency department before the diagnosis of a bleeding disorder and required
      a hematologic referral and extensive laboratory assessments, the second patient
      had been diagnosed with Glanzmann thrombasthenia as a child but experienced
      severe management challenges at the onset of menarche. In both patients,
      collaboration between the obstetrician-gynecologist or adolescent medicine
      specialist and the hematologist was critical for achieving acute management of
      the bleeding symptoms and for ensuring optimal long-term disease management.
      Together, these cases highlight the importance of properly identifying females
      with HMB who might have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder and of consulting with a
      hematologist to determine an appropriate management plan throughout all life
      stages.

PMID- 26876968
TI  - Spontaneous Reformation of Imperforate Hymen after Repeated Hymenectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Imperforate hymen prevents menstrual blood drainage, which causes
      cyclic lower abdominal pain and amenorrhea. Untreated patients might develop
      serious complications such as endometriosis and infertility. Hymenectomy
      represents the adequate treatment. CASE: In a 16-year-old female virgin presented
      with recurrent lower abdominal pain, urine retention, and secondary amenorrhea
      after 3 hymenectomy surgeries. The examination revealed imperforate hymen. A
      fourth hymenectomy was performed with continuous locked sutures over all of the
      edges. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Recurrent imperforate hymen after hymenectomy
      should be suspected if symptoms recur. Diagnosis can be achieved through
      meticulous clinical examination and appropriate imaging techniques.

PMID- 26876969
TI  - Inadvertent Intrathecal Injection during Percutaneous Epidural Neuroplasty
      Triggering Takotsubo Syndrome: What could be the Mechanism?

PMID- 26876970
TI  - Addition of an Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Bovine Globulins to Bread and
      Determination of Hypotensive Effects in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.
AB  - The aim of this study was to develop bread containing a papain hydrolysate of
      bovine alpha- and beta-globulins (GPH) with in vitro and in vivo antihypertensive
      activities. The physical characteristics of the formulated bread were assessed
      over a six day period and results suggested that the overall quality and
      acceptance of bread was not affected by the inclusion of GPH at a concentration
      of 4% (w/w). Bright field light microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy
      images were used to visualize the main ingredients of the bread. In addition, the
      antihypertensive activity of the bread was assessed in spontaneously hypertensive
      rats (SHRs) over a 24 h period where a maximum significant decrease in systolic
      blood pressure of 36.2 +/- 1.9 mmHg was observed 8 h after oral administration.
      Results demonstrate that the antihypertensive activity of GPH was resistant to
      the baking process and shows potential for use as a functional antihypertensive
      ingredient. 

PMID- 26876971
TI  - Community Sewage Sensors towards Evaluation of Drug Use Trends: Detection of
      Cocaine in Wastewater with DNA-Directed Immobilization Aptamer Sensors.
AB  - Illicit drug use has a global concern and effective monitoring and interventions
      are highly required to combat drug abuse. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is
      an innovative and cost-effective approach to evaluate community-wide drug use
      trends, compared to traditional population surveys. Here we report for the first
      time, a novel quantitative community sewage sensor (namely DNA-directed
      immobilization of aptamer sensors, DDIAS) for rapid and cost-effective estimation
      of cocaine use trends via WBE. Thiolated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe was
      hybridized with aptamer ssDNA in solution, followed by co-immobilization with 6
      mercapto-hexane onto the gold electrodes to control the surface density to
      effectively bind with cocaine. DDIAS was optimized to detect cocaine at as low as
      10 nM with a dynamic range from 10 nM to 5 MUM, which were further employed for
      the quantification of cocaine in wastewater samples collected from a wastewater
      treatment plant in seven consecutive days. The concentration pattern of the
      sampling week is comparable with that from mass spectrometry. Our results
      demonstrate that the developed DDIAS can be used as community sewage sensors for
      rapid and cost-effective evaluation of drug use trends, and potentially
      implemented as a powerful tool for on-site and real-time monitoring of wastewater
      by un-skilled personnel. 

PMID- 26876972
TI  - The presence of extra chromosomes leads to genomic instability.
AB  - Aneuploidy is a hallmark of cancer and underlies genetic disorders characterized
      by severe developmental defects, yet the molecular mechanisms explaining its
      effects on cellular physiology remain elusive. Here we show, using a series of
      human cells with defined aneuploid karyotypes, that gain of a single chromosome
      increases genomic instability. Next-generation sequencing and SNP-array analysis
      reveal accumulation of chromosomal rearrangements in aneuploids, with break point
      junction patterns suggestive of replication defects. Trisomic and tetrasomic
      cells also show increased DNA damage and sensitivity to replication stress.
      Strikingly, we find that aneuploidy-induced genomic instability can be explained
      by the reduced expression of the replicative helicase MCM2-7. Accordingly,
      restoring near-wild-type levels of chromatin-bound MCM helicase partly rescues
      the genomic instability phenotypes. Thus, gain of chromosomes triggers
      replication stress, thereby promoting genomic instability and possibly
      contributing to tumorigenesis. 

PMID- 26876973
TI  - Early Nephrology Referral 6 Months Before Dialysis Initiation Can Reduce Early
      Death But Does Not Improve Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcome on Dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of studies on whether early referral (ER) to
      nephrologist could reduce cardiovascular mortality on dialysis, and the length of
      pre-dialysis nephrological care needed to reduce mortality on dialysis. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: A total of 604 consecutive patients who started dialysis between
      2001 and 2009 in Senshu region, Osaka, Japan were analyzed. Non-linear
      associations between mortality and pre-dialysis duration of nephrological care
      were assessed using restricted cubic spline function, and predictors for death
      analyzed on Cox modeling. A total of 31.6%, 18.2%, 11.3% and 6.1% of patients had
      >12, 24, 36 and 48 months of pre-dialysis care, respectively. A total of 258
      patients (42.7%) were categorized as ER (>=6 months pre-dialysis duration).
      During the follow-up period (median, 31.1 months), 218 patients died
      (cardiovascular, n=70; infection, n=69). Although patients with late referral
      (LR) had a proxy of inappropriate pre-dialysis care compared with the ER group,
      Cox multivariate analysis failed to show a favorable association between ER and
      cardiovascular outcome. In contrast, a deleterious effect of LR on overall
      survival was observed but was limited only to the first 12 months of dialysis
      (HR, 1.957; 95% CI: 1.104-3.469; P=0.021), but not observed thereafter.
      CONCLUSIONS: Current pre-dialysis nephrological care may reduce short-term
      mortality but may not improve cardiovascular mortality after dialysis initiation.

PMID- 26876974
TI  - Cytomegalovirus-based vaccine expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein protects
      nonhuman primates from Ebola virus infection.
AB  - Ebolaviruses pose significant public health problems due to their high lethality,
      unpredictable emergence, and localization to the poorest areas of the world. In
      addition to implementation of standard public health control procedures, a number
      of experimental human vaccines are being explored as a further means for outbreak
      control. Recombinant cytomegalovirus (CMV)-based vectors are a novel vaccine
      platform that have been shown to induce substantial levels of durable, but
      primarily T-cell-biased responses against the encoded heterologous target
      antigen. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of rhesus CMV (RhCMV) expressing
      Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein (GP) to provide protective immunity to rhesus
      macaques against lethal EBOV challenge. Surprisingly, vaccination was associated
      with high levels of GP-specific antibodies, but with no detectable GP-directed
      cellular immunity. 

PMID- 26876975
TI  - Effects of Chronic Stress on Alcohol Reward- and Anxiety-Related Behavior in High
      and Low-Alcohol Preferring Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stress exposure (SE) during adolescence is associated with an
      increased risk for the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Past research
      has shown that SE during adolescence increases voluntary alcohol consumption in
      mice during adulthood; however, little is known about the positive or negative
      motivational aspects of this relationship. METHODS: High-alcohol preferring
      (HAP2) and low-alcohol preferring (LAP2) male mice were exposed to stress during
      adolescence, stress during adulthood, or no stress. After a 30-day interim,
      subjects were exposed to alcohol-induced place and footshock-induced fear
      conditioning procedures to measure stress-induced behavioral alterations during
      adulthood. RESULTS: SE during adolescence did not increase the magnitude of
      alcohol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), as hypothesized, but
      increased the magnitude of conditioned fear, as measured by fear-potentiated
      startle (FPS), in HAP2 subjects only. Regardless of stress treatment group, LAP2
      subjects showed greater alcohol-induced CPP expression than HAP2 mice. HAP2 mice
      also showed greater FPS than LAP2 mice, as previously shown. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results in mice, taken together with past research, suggest that mice exposed to
      stress during adolescence do not increase alcohol consumption during adulthood
      because of a greater sensitivity to the rewarding effects of alcohol, as measured
      via place conditioning. These results in mice also suggest that humans exposed to
      stress during adolescence may be more susceptible to developing anxiety during
      adulthood. The findings may be particularly relevant for humans with a familial
      history of AUDs.

PMID- 26876976
TI  - Exposure to psychosocial risks at work in prisons: does contact with inmates
      matter? A pilot study among prison workers in Spain.
AB  - Research has lately increased its focus on work conditions as predictors of
      stress among prison workers but only few studies have focused on how the exposure
      of workers to psychosocial risks vary according to their occupational groups and
      their contact with inmates. Work psychosocial risks (demands, control and social
      support) were assessed using the Spanish version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial
      Questionnaire among 164 Spanish prison workers (43 per cent of those surveyed).
      Regression analysis was used to explore how psychosocial hazards and their
      combinations (outcome variables) vary according to occupational groups. Results
      suggest that psychosocial risks were highest among guards that have more contact
      with inmates. Implications of the findings for policy making and practice
      application are discussed.

PMID- 26876978
TI  - World Health Organization Global AIDS Statistics.

PMID- 26876979
TI  - "Nanofiltration" Enabled by Super-Absorbent Polymer Beads for Concentrating
      Microorganisms in Water Samples.
AB  - Detection and quantification of pathogens in water is critical for the protection
      of human health and for drinking water safety and security. When the pathogen
      concentrations are low, large sample volumes (several liters) are needed to
      achieve reliable quantitative results. However, most microbial identification
      methods utilize relatively small sample volumes. As a consequence, a
      concentration step is often required to detect pathogens in natural waters.
      Herein, we introduce a novel water sample concentration method based on
      superabsorbent polymer (SAP) beads. When SAP beads swell with water, small
      molecules can be sorbed within the beads, but larger particles are excluded and,
      thus, concentrated in the residual non-sorbed water. To illustrate this approach,
      millimeter-sized poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) (P(AM-co-IA)) beads are
      synthesized and successfully applied to concentrate water samples containing two
      model microorganisms: Escherichia coli and bacteriophage MS2. Experimental
      results indicate that the size of the water channel within water swollen P(AM-co
      IA) hydrogel beads is on the order of several nanometers. The millimeter size
      coupled with a negative surface charge of the beads are shown to be critical in
      order to achieve high levels of concentration. This new concentration procedure
      is very fast, effective, scalable, and low-cost with no need for complex
      instrumentation. 

PMID- 26876980
TI  - Emergence of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 genogroup 6B and drug resistant virus,
      India, January to May 2015.
AB  - To investigate the aetiology of the 2015 A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza outbreak in
      India, 1,083 nasopharyngeal swabs from suspect patients were screened for
      influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Of 412 positive specimens,
      six were further characterised by phylogenetic analysis of haemagglutinin (HA)
      sequences revealing that they belonged to genogroup 6B. A new mutation (E164G)
      was observed in HA2 of two sequences. Neuraminidase genes in two of 12 isolates
      from fatal cases on prior oseltamivir treatment harboured the H275Y mutation. 

PMID- 26876981
TI  - Role of endoscopic surgery in the management of sinonasal and skull base
      schwannomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report our experience with the
      endoscopic management of sinonasal schwannomas, analyzing the advantages,
      limitations, and outcomes of the technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was
      carried out on 11 patients treated endoscopically between 2000 and 2014 at a
      single institution. RESULTS: Eight patients underwent an exclusive endoscopic
      endonasal approach, whereas, in 3 patients, an osteoplastic flap was combined
      because of massive or lateral frontal sinus involvement. The tumor extended into
      the orbit in 5 cases, and involved the skull base in 5 patients who required a
      concomitant endoscopic duraplasty. No evidence of disease was observed in 10
      patients after a mean follow-up of 90.1 months (range, 14-189 months). One
      patient was alive with persistence of disease, although asymptomatic. CONCLUSION:
      The endoscopic endonasal approach is a valid alternative for the vast majority of
      sinonasal schwannomas with minimal morbidity for the patient. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2074-E2082, 2016.

PMID- 26876982
TI  - ChemProt-3.0: a global chemical biology diseases mapping.
AB  - ChemProt is a publicly available compilation of chemical-protein-disease
      annotation resources that enables the study of systems pharmacology for a small
      molecule across multiple layers of complexity from molecular to clinical levels.
      In this third version, ChemProt has been updated to more than 1.7 million
      compounds with 7.8 million bioactivity measurements for 19,504 proteins. Here, we
      report the implementation of global pharmacological heatmap, supporting a user
      friendly navigation of chemogenomics space. This facilitates the visualization
      and selection of chemicals that share similar structural properties. In addition,
      the user has the possibility to search by compound, target, pathway, disease and
      clinical effect. Genetic variations associated to target proteins were
      integrated, making it possible to plan pharmacogenetic studies and to suggest
      human response variability to drug. Finally, Quantitative Structure-Activity
      Relationship models for 850 proteins having sufficient data were implemented,
      enabling secondary pharmacological profiling predictions from molecular
      structure. Database URL: http://potentia.cbs.dtu.dk/ChemProt/.

PMID- 26876983
TI  - Regulators of Androgen Action Resource: a one-stop shop for the comprehensive
      study of androgen receptor action.
AB  - Androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is the
      main target for treatment of non-organ-confined prostate cancer (CaP). Failure of
      life-prolonging AR-targeting androgen deprivation therapy is due to flexibility
      in steroidogenic pathways that control intracrine androgen levels and variability
      in the AR transcriptional output. Androgen biosynthesis enzymes, androgen
      transporters and AR-associated coregulators are attractive novel CaP treatment
      targets. These proteins, however, are characterized by multiple transcript
      variants and isoforms, are subject to genomic alterations, and are differentially
      expressed among CaPs. Determining their therapeutic potential requires evaluation
      of extensive, diverse datasets that are dispersed over multiple databases,
      websites and literature reports. Mining and integrating these datasets are
      cumbersome, time-consuming tasks and provide only snapshots of relevant
      information. To overcome this impediment to effective, efficient study of AR and
      potential drug targets, we developed the Regulators of Androgen Action Resource
      (RAAR), a non-redundant, curated and user-friendly searchable web interface. RAAR
      centralizes information on gene function, clinical relevance, and resources for
      55 genes that encode proteins involved in biosynthesis, metabolism and transport
      of androgens and for 274 AR-associated coregulator genes. Data in RAAR are
      organized in two levels: (i) Information pertaining to production of androgens is
      contained in a 'pre-receptor level' database, and coregulator gene information is
      provided in a 'post-receptor level' database, and (ii) an 'other resources'
      database contains links to additional databases that are complementary to and
      useful to pursue further the information provided in RAAR. For each of its 329
      entries, RAAR provides access to more than 20 well-curated publicly available
      databases, and thus, access to thousands of data points. Hyperlinks provide
      direct access to gene-specific entries in the respective database(s). RAAR is a
      novel, freely available resource that provides fast, reliable and easy access to
      integrated information that is needed to develop alternative CaP therapies.
      Database URL: http://www.lerner.ccf.org/cancerbio/heemers/RAAR/search/.

PMID- 26876984
TI  - Association between DCHS2 gene and mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's
      disease in an elderly Brazilian sample.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In 2012, Kamboh and colleagues published a genome-wide association
      study that identified the DCHS2 gene (rs1466662 T/A) influencing the age at onset
      of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to investigate if there is association
      between the DCHS2 gene and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD in a
      sample of the Brazilian population. METHODS: 143 controls, 79 aMCI and 299 AD
      patients were selected and submitted to the same protocol of tests. Genotyping
      was performed using the Real Time PCR RESULTS: Amnestic MCI patients showed a
      higher prevalence of AA than controls and a lower frequency of TT when compared
      with controls. We also stratified the sample according to the APOE epsilon4
      status. No difference in DCHS2 genotype or allelic frequency occurred in the APOE
      epsilon4 allele carrier subgroup. Amnestic MCI patients showed a higher frequency
      of AA genotype and a lower frequency of TA and TT when compared with controls in
      APOE epsilon4 allele non-carrier subgroup. The allelic distribution followed the
      same pattern. In AD group, we observed a significant difference with a higher A
      allelic frequency in AD in this subgroup. A multiple logistic regression
      demonstrated that in APOE epsilon4 non-carriers, allele rs1466662 was associated
      to aMCI group. Different variables were associated with aMCI and AD according to
      APOE epsilon4 status in our sample. Low level of education was associated with
      AD, while diabetes mellitus type 2 was associated with aMCI. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a possible role for
      DCHS2 gene in aMCI and AD.

PMID- 26876985
TI  - Aluminum alkyl complexes: synthesis, structure, and application in ROP of cyclic
      esters.
AB  - Aluminum alkyl complexes have very useful applications as catalysts or reagents
      in small molecule transformations and as cocatalysts in olefin polymerization.
      This short review focuses on some recent developments in the design, synthesis
      and structure of aluminum(iii) alkyl complexes supported by various ligands
      bearing nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur or phosphorus atoms, and their catalytic
      applications in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters. The
      coordination chemistry of the Al metal centre and the catalytic activity changes
      of the complexes caused by ligand modifications are also discussed. 

PMID- 26876986
TI  - Prognostic factors in children with PRES and hematologic diseases.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and
      radiological entity characterized by focal neurological signs, headache,
      confusion, and seizure, associated with transitory lesions in the posterior areas
      of the brain detectable with neuroimaging. Among children, one of the most common
      causes of PRES is cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this review, we present the
      cases of 5 children developing PRES after stem cell transplantation for
      hematological disease and review all the cases reported in English literature to
      investigate outcomes and associated risk factors. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven
      cases were reported. Hypertension was very frequent (80%). Clinical features
      included seizures (80.1%), headache (44.1%), visual disturbance (26.1%), and
      mental change (48.6%). EEG was abnormal in 27 of 32 patients. MRI revealed
      characteristic lesions in all patients even in early stages. Abnormal MRI
      findings in late stages were associated with neurological sequelae. Nineteen
      patients died (17.1%) of which 2 of PRES. Among alive patients, 17 had
      neurological sequelae. Four cases of PRES relapse were described. CONCLUSIONS:
      Thus, all transplant recipients with symptoms consistent with PRES should be
      promptly recognized to avoid long-term complications or even death.

PMID- 26876987
TI  - Predicting manual arm strength: A direct comparison between artificial neural
      network and multiple regression approaches.
AB  - In ergonomics, strength prediction has typically been accomplished using linked
      segment biomechanical models, and independent estimates of strength about each
      axis of the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. It has recently been shown that
      multiple regression approaches, using the simple task-relevant inputs of hand
      location and force direction, may be a better method for predicting manual arm
      strength (MAS) capabilities. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) also serve as a
      powerful data fitting approach, but their application to occupational
      biomechanics and ergonomics is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was
      to perform a direct comparison between ANN and regression models, by evaluating
      their ability to predict MAS with identical sets of development and validation
      MAS data. Multi-directional MAS data were obtained from 95 healthy female
      participants at 36 hand locations within the reach envelope. ANN and regression
      models were developed using a random, but identical, sample of 85% of the MAS
      data (n=456). The remaining 15% of the data (n=80) were used to validate the two
      approaches. When compared to the development data, the ANN predictions had a much
      higher explained variance (90.2% vs. 66.5%) and much lower RMSD (9.3N vs. 17.2N),
      vs. the regression model. The ANN also performed better with the independent
      validation data (r(2)=78.6%, RMSD=15.1) compared to the regression approach
      (r(2)=65.3%, RMSD=18.6N). These results suggest that ANNs provide a more accurate
      and robust alternative to regression approaches, and should be considered more
      often in biomechanics and ergonomics evaluations. 

PMID- 26876988
TI  - Representation of economic preferences in the structure and function of the
      amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
AB  - Social value orientations (SVOs) are economic preferences for the distribution of
      resources - prosocial individuals are more cooperative and egalitarian than are
      proselfs. Despite the social and economic implications of SVOs, no systematic
      studies have examined their neural correlates. We investigated the amygdala and
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) structures and functions in prosocials and
      proselfs by functional magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated cooperative
      behavior in the Prisoner's Dilemma game. We found for the first time that
      amygdala volume was larger in prosocials and positively correlated with
      cooperation, while DLPFC volume was larger in proselfs and negatively correlated
      with cooperation. Proselfs' decisions were marked by strong DLPFC and weak
      amygdala activity, and prosocials' decisions were marked by strong amygdala
      activity, with the DLPFC signal increasing only in defection. Our findings
      suggest that proselfs' decisions are controlled by DLPFC-mediated deliberative
      processes, while prosocials' decisions are initially guided by automatic amygdala
      processes. 

PMID- 26876989
TI  - Treatment-related toxicities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
      predisposition syndromes.
AB  - Although most children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) do not harbor
      germline mutations that strongly predispose them to development of this
      malignancy, large syndrome registries and detailed mapping of exomes or whole
      genomes of familial leukaemia kindreds have revealed that 3-5% of all childhood
      ALL cases are due to such germline mutations, but the figure may be higher. Most
      of these syndromes are primarily characterized by their non-malignant phenotype,
      whereas ALL may be the dominating or even only striking manifestation of the
      syndrome in some families. Identification of such ALL patients is important in
      order to adjust therapy and offer genetic counseling and cancer surveillance to
      mutation carriers in the family. In the coming years large genomic screening
      projects are expected to reveal further hitherto unrecognised familial ALL
      syndromes. The treatment of ALL cases harboring cancer predisposing mutations can
      be challenging for both the physician and the patient due to their preexisting
      symptoms, their reduced tolerance to radio- and/or chemotherapy with enhanced
      risk of life-threatening organ toxicities, and the paucity of data from ALL
      patients with the same or similar syndromes being treated by contemporary
      protocols. Recent studies clearly indicate that many of these patients stand a
      good chance of cure, and that they should be offered chemotherapy with the
      intention to cure. Some of these syndromes are characterized by reduced tolerance
      to radiotherapy and/or specific anticancer agents, while others are not. This
      review summarises our current knowledge on the risk of acute toxicities for these
      ALL patients and provides guidance for treatment adjustments.

PMID- 26876990
TI  - Integrated chemical and multi-scale structural analyses for the processes of acid
      pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover.
AB  - Corn stover was pretreated with acid under moderate conditions (1.5%, w/w, 121
      degrees C, 60min), and kinetic enzymolysis experiments were performed on the
      pretreated substrate using a mixture of Celluclast 1.5L (20FPU/g dry substrate)
      and Novozyme 188 (40CBU/g dry substrate). Integrated chemical and multi-scale
      structural methods were then used to characterize both processes. Chemical
      analysis showed that acid pretreatment removed considerable hemicellulose (from
      19.7% in native substrate to 9.28% in acid-pretreated substrate) and achieved a
      reasonably high conversion efficiency (58.63% of glucose yield) in the subsequent
      enzymatic hydrolysis. Multi-scale structural analysis indicated that acid
      pretreatment caused structural changes via cleaving acetyl linkages, solubilizing
      hemicellulose, relocating cell wall surfaces and enlarging substrate porosity
      (pore volume increased from 0.0067cm(3)/g in native substrate to 0.019cm(3)/g in
      acid-pretreated substrate), thereby improving the polysaccharide digestibility. 

PMID- 26876991
TI  - Exopolysaccharides of Lactobacillus reuteri: Their influence on adherence of E.
      coli to epithelial cells and inflammatory response.
AB  - The aim of the study was to characterize exopolysaccharides (EPS) originated from
      Lactobacillus reuteri strain DSM 17938 (EPS-DSM17938) and L. reuteri strain L26
      BiocenolTM (EPS-L26) and evaluate their influence on adherence of enterotoxigenic
      Escherichia coli (ETEC) to IPEC-1 cells and proinflammatory gene expression. Both
      EPS were d-glucan polysaccharides with higher molecular weight (Mw), but
      differing in spatial conformation and elicited variable cytokine profile. EPS
      DSM17938, relatively linear polysaccharide with (1->4) and (1->6) glycosidic
      linkages, increased IL-1beta gene expression (0.1mg/mL; P<0.05), while EPS-L26,
      more branched polysaccharide with (1->3) and (1->6) glycosidic linkages, exerted
      slight but statistically significant up-regulation of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL
      6 mRNA (P<0.05). The most significant finding is that preincubation of IPEC-1
      cells with both EPS followed by ETEC infection inhibit ETEC adhesion on IPEC-1
      cells (P<0.01) and ETEC-induced gene expression of proinflammatory cytokine IL
      1beta and IL-6 (P<0.01). 

PMID- 26876992
TI  - Extraction of cellulose from agricultural waste using Montmorillonite K-10/LiOH
      and its conversion to renewable energy: Biofuel by using Myrothecium gramineum.
AB  - Cellulose was extracted from agricultural waste like Rice Husk (RH) a renewable
      resource of India as well as in the World. Cellulose was isolated from rice husk
      (RH) using eco-friendly method with Montmorillonite K-10/LiOH solution and
      bleaching with 2% H2O2. The reaction parameters like time, temperature, catalyst,
      acid and alkali were studied to evaluate the optimum reaction conditions 6h, 80
      degrees C, 20% maleic acid and 10% LiOH (in H2O) for time, temperature, acid and
      alkali, respectively. Renewable energy, biofuel from agricultural waste using
      Myrothecium gramineum was also investigated herein. Cellulose was converted to
      glucose by using acid hydrolysis and the optimum reaction conditions were 140
      degrees C for 60min. in presence of H2SO4 (5% v/v). It has been recognized
      significantly as potential sustainable sources of sugars for fermentation to
      bioethanol. So, our effort was given to obtain bioethanol from RH using new and
      novel renewable fungal strain M. gramineum. M. gramineum was isolated from acacia
      plant available in NE region of India. The results revealed that % yields of
      cellulose, glucose and bioethanol were 68%, 60% and 25%, respectively. Moreover,
      the bioethanol was compared with the standard ethanol (Laboratory grade) and also
      the ethanol produced from the known microb Aspergillus niger. The synthesized
      products were characterized with the help of analytical techniques like FT-IR,
      GC, TGA, DSC and XRD. 

PMID- 26876993
TI  - New antimicrobial chitosan derivatives for wound dressing applications.
AB  - Chitosan is a non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable natural cationic polymer
      known for its low imunogenicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant effects and wound
      healing activity. To improve its therapeutic potential, new chitosan-sulfonamide
      derivatives have been designed to develop new wound dressing biomaterials. The
      structural, morphological and physico-chemical properties of synthesized chitosan
      derivatives were analyzed by FT-IR, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron
      microscopy, swelling ability and porosity. Antimicrobial, in vivo testing and
      biodegradation behavior have been also performed. The chitosan derivative
      membranes showed improved swelling and biodegradation rate, which are important
      characteristics required for the wound healing process. The antimicrobial assay
      evidenced that chitosan-based sulfadiazine, sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethoxazole
      derivatives were the most active. The MTT assay showed that some of chitosan
      derivatives are nontoxic. Furthermore, the in vivo study on burn wound model
      induced in Wistar rats demonstrated an improved healing effect and enhanced
      epithelialization of chitosan-sulfonamide derivatives compared to neat chitosan.
      The obtained results strongly recommend the use of some of the newly developed
      chitosan derivatives as antimicrobial wound dressing biomaterials. 

PMID- 26876994
TI  - Chitosan-phenylalanine-mPEG nanoparticles: From a single step water-based
      conjugation to the potential allergen delivery system.
AB  - The chemical modification to obtain biocompatible chitosan (CS) nanoparticles for
      the application in biological system is still on expectation. By simply mixing CS
      with hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), the CS aqueous solution obtained allows a
      successful single step conjugation of both hydrophobic biomolecules, i.e.
      phenylalanine (Phe), and hydrophilic polymers, i.e. poly(ethylene glycol) methyl
      ether (mPEG), on CS, in water at room temperature. The CS-Phe-mPEG nanoparticles
      (20-50nm) exhibit positive charge leading to an entrapment of negatively charged
      house dust mite allergen (HDM) extract (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). The HDM
      entrapped CS-Phe-mPEG shows biocompatibility as evidenced from the cell
      viability, the ROS (reactive oxygen species) reduction, and the HaCaTs
      proliferation. The clinical implementation on the healthy- and HDM-allergic
      volunteers indicates that the HDM-entrapped CS-Phe-mPEG stimulates cell-mediated
      immune response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and favors T cell
      immune response as seen from the reduction of interferon-(IFN)-gamma and
      interleukin-(IL)-10 in the PBMCs of the HDM-allergic volunteers. 

PMID- 26876995
TI  - Characterization and antioxidant activities of extracellular and intracellular
      polysaccharides from Fomitopsis pinicola.
AB  - Fomitopsis pinicola (F. pinicola) is a kind of medicinal fungi, and few studies
      has been carried out on F. pinicola polysaccharides from liquid submerged
      cultivation. The characterization and antioxidant activities of extracellular
      polysaccharide (EPS) and intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) isolated from F.
      pinicola were investigated. The results showed that the molecular weight of EPS
      was 2.30*10(4)Da, and EPS was composed of mannose, rhamnose, xylose and galactose
      with the molar ratio of 0.1:1.0:0.3:0.5. The molecular weight of IPS was
      4.07*10(5)Da, and the monosaccharide compositions included glucose, mannose,
      rhamnose, xylose and galactose with the molar ratio of 1.0:0.9:0.9:0.8:1.1.
      Antioxidant activities of both EPS and IPS including in vitro scavenging
      activities on 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals, cellular
      protective effects on yeast cells from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and H2O2
      oxidative damage were tested. Both EPS and IPS showed antioxidant activities in a
      dose dependent manner, and IPS had higher antioxidant activity than EPS. So EPS
      and IPS could be potential novel antioxidants for functional food. 

PMID- 26876996
TI  - Starch composites with aconitic acid.
AB  - The aim of this project is to examine the effectiveness of using aconitic acid
      (AcA), a tricarboxylic acid which contains a carbon/carbon double bond (CC), to
      enhance the properties of starch-based films. Starch/glycerol cast films were
      prepared with 0, 2, 5, 10 and 15wt% AcA (starch wt% basis) and the properties
      analysed. It was shown that AcA acted as both a cross-linking agent and also a
      strong plasticising agent. The 5wt% AcA derived starch films were the most
      effectively cross-linked having the lowest solubility (28wt%) and decreased
      swelling coefficient (35vol.%) by approximately 3 times and 2.4 times
      respectively compared to the control film submerged in water (23 degrees C).
      There was also a significant increase in the film elongation at break by
      approximately 35 times (compared to the control) with the addition of 15wt% AcA,
      emphasising the plasticising effect of AcA. However, generally there was a
      reduced tensile strength, softening of the film, and reduced thermal stability
      with increased amounts of AcA. 

PMID- 26876997
TI  - The interactions between cationic cellulose and Gemini surfactant in aqueous
      solution.
AB  - Due to the extensive application of cationic cellulose in cosmetic, drug delivery
      and gene therapy, combining the improvement effect of surfactant-cellulose
      complexes, to investigate the properties of cellulose in aqueous solution is an
      important topic from both scientific and technical views. In this study, the
      phase behavior, solution properties and microstructure of Gemini surfactant
      sodium 5-nonyl-2-(4-(4-nonyl-2-sulfonatophenoxy)butoxy)phenyl sulfite (9-4
      9)/cationic cellulose (JR400, the ammonium groups are directly bonded to the
      hydroxyethyl substituent with a degree substitution of 0.37) mixture was
      investigated using turbidity, fluorescence spectrophotometer and shear rheology
      techniques. As a control, the interaction of corresponding monovalent surfactant,
      sodium 2-ethoxy-5-nonylbenzenesulfonate (9-2) with JR400 in aqueous solution was
      also studied. Experimental results showed that 9-4-9/JR400 mixture has lower
      critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and critical micelle concentration (CMC)
      (about one order of magnitude) than 9-2/JR400 mixture. A low concentration of
      Gemini surfactant 9-4-9 appeared to induce an obvious micropolarity and viscosity
      value variation of the mixture, while these effects required a high concentration
      of corresponding monovalent one. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and
      transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements illuminated the formation and
      collapse procedure of network structure of the 9-4-9/JR400 mixture, which
      resulted in the increase and decrease of viscosity. These results suggest that
      the molecular structure of the surfactant has a great effect on its interaction
      with cationic cellulose. Moreover, the Gemini surfactant/cationic cellulose
      mixture may be used as a potencial stimuli-responsive drug delivery vector which
      not only load hydrophilic drugs, but also deliver hydrophobic substances. 

PMID- 26876998
TI  - Effect of nanoclay on the properties of low density polyethylene/linear low
      density polyethylene/thermoplastic starch blend films.
AB  - The aim of this work is to study effect of nanoclay (Cloisite((r))15A) on
      morphology and properties of low-density polyethylene/linear low-density
      polyethylene/thermoplastic starch (LDPE/LLDPE/TPS) blend films. LDPE/LLDPE blend
      (70/30wt/wt) containing 15wt.% TPS in the presence of PE-grafted maleic anhydride
      (PE-g-MA, 3wt.%) with 1, 3 and 5phr of nanoclay are compounded in a twin-screw
      extruder and then film blown using a blowing machine. Nanocomposites with
      intercalated structures are obtained, based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
      transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. However, some exfoliated single
      platelets in the samples are also observable. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM)
      images confirm the ability of both exfoliated nanoclay and PE-g-MA to reduce the
      size of TPS domains and deform their particles within the PE matrices. As the
      nanoclay content increases from 1 to 5phr, the tensile strength, tear resistance
      and impact strength of the films increase, whereas a slight decrease in the
      elongation at break is observed. The film samples with 5phr nanoclay possess the
      required packaging properties, as specified by ASTM D4635. These films provide
      desired optical transparency and surface roughness which are more attractive for
      packaging applications. 

PMID- 26876999
TI  - Development of biomimetic nanocomposites as bone extracellular matrix for human
      osteoblastic cells.
AB  - Here, we have developed biomimetic nanocomposites containing chitosan, poly(vinyl
      alcohol) and nano-hydroxyapatite-zinc oxide as bone extracellular matrix for
      human osteoblastic cells and characterized by Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy images
      revealed interconnected macroporous structures. Moreover, in this study, the
      problem related to fabricating a porous composite with good mechanical strength
      has been resolved by incorporating 5wt% of nano-hydroxyapatite-zinc oxide into
      chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix; the present composite showed high tensile
      strength (20.25MPa) while maintaining appreciable porosity (65.25%). These values
      are similar to human cancellous bone. These nanocomposites also showed superior
      water uptake, antimicrobial and biodegradable properties than the previously
      reported results. Compatibility with human blood and pH was observed, indicating
      nontoxicity of these materials to the human body. Moreover, proliferation of
      osteoblastic MG-63 cells onto the nanocomposites was also observed without having
      any negative effect. 

PMID- 26877000
TI  - PEGylation of 6-amino-6-deoxy-curdlan for efficient in vivo siRNA delivery.
AB  - RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved gene-silencing phenomenon
      that shows great promise for developing new therapies. However, the development
      of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapies need to establish efficient
      delivery system that silences target genes with siRNA doses that is clinically
      feasible in humans. Here we report synthesis and in vivo study of a novel
      PEGylated curdlan-based nanoparticle, designated as 6AC-100PEG, obtained by
      conjugation of mPEG 2000 to 6-amino-6-deoxy-curdlan. The complex of siRNA/6AC
      100PEG showed homogenous nanoparticles with an average diameter of 200nm. MTT
      assay indicated that 6AC-100PEG does not have apparent cytotoxicity. Systemic
      administration of a complex of siapoB/6AC-100PEG significantly reduced the level
      of apoB mRNA in mouse liver, indicating that 6AC-100PEG can efficiently deliver
      siRNA to mouse liver and induce RNAi. Administration of siRNA/6AC-100PEG to mouse
      did not elevate liver enzyme level in the serum, indicating that 6AC-100PEG
      nanoparticle is a promising in vivo siRNA delivery agent. 

PMID- 26877001
TI  - Conformation study of E-cyclodextrin: Replica exchange molecular dynamics
      simulations.
AB  - There is growing interest in large-ring cyclodextrins (LR-CDs) which are known to
      be good host molecules for larger ligands. The isolation of a defined size LR-CD
      is an essential prerequisite for studying their structural properties.
      Unfortunately the purification procedure of these substances turned out to be
      very laborious. Finally the problem could be circumvented by a theoretical
      consideration: the highly advantageous replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD)
      simulation (particularly suitable for studies of conformational changes) offers
      an ideal approach for studying the conformational change of E-cyclodextrin
      (CD10), a smaller representative of LR-CDs. Three carbohydrate force fields and
      three solvent models were tested. The conformational behavior of CD10 was
      analyzed in terms of the flip (turn) of the glucose subunits within the
      macrocyclic ring. In addition a ranking of conformations with various numbers of
      turns was preformed. Our findings might be also helpful in the temperature
      controlled synthesis of LR-CDs as well as other experimental conditions, in
      particular for the host-guest reaction. 

PMID- 26877002
TI  - Morphological characteristics, oxidative stability and enzymic hydrolysis of
      amylose-fatty acid complexes.
AB  - Complexes of amylose with fatty acids varying in carbon chain length and degree
      of unsaturation were prepared at 30, 50 or 70 degrees C by dissolving amylose in
      0.1N KOH and mixing with fatty acid potassium soap solution. The complexes were
      obtained in solid form as precipitates after neutralization. SEM microscopy
      revealed that the morphology of the complexes was that of ordered lamellae
      separated from amorphous regions whereas confocal laser scanning microscopy
      showed images of the topography of the guest molecules in the complex matrix.
      FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the absorption peak attributed to carbonyl group
      of free fatty acid was shifted when the fatty acid was in the form of amylose
      complex. Thermo-gravimetry showed that the unsaturated fatty acids were
      effectively protected from oxidation when they were complexed with amylose
      whereas enzymic hydrolysis experiments showed that the guest molecules were
      quantitatively released from the amylose complexes. 

PMID- 26877003
TI  - Nano-photo active cellulosic fabric through in situ phytosynthesis of star-like
      Ag/ZnO nanocomposites: Investigation and optimization of attributes associated
      with photocatalytic activity.
AB  - In this study, nano-photo active cellulosic fabric was prepared through in situ
      phytosynthesis of star-like Ag/ZnO nanocomposites using the ashes of Seidlitzia
      rosmarinus plants so-called Keliab. This is provided alkali media as a vital
      condition for synthesis of nanocomposites, further increasing the reduce-ability
      of cellulosic chains by activation of hydroxyl groups. The intermolecular
      dehydrolysis of intermediates ions under thermal and alkaline conditions leads to
      formation of Ag/ZnO heterostructure. Various analytical techniques were employed
      to confirm Ag/ZnO nanocomposites on the cotton fabric. The surface morphology,
      crystal phase and chemical structure of the treated fabrics were characterized by
      field emission and scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM and SEM), X-ray
      diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Moreover,
      influence of precursors: silver nitrate, zinc acetate and Keliab solution on
      attributes associated with photocatalytic activities including self-cleaning,
      whiteness and wettability was investigated via central composite design (CCD).
      The treated cotton samples exhibited self-cleaning activities through methylene
      blue degradation under day-light exposure along with improved wettability and
      whiteness. The prepared sample in optimized conditions showed good antibacterial
      activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with enhanced
      fabric tensile strength. 

PMID- 26877004
TI  - Thixotropic properties of waxy potato starch depending on the degree of the
      granules pasting.
AB  - This paper presents the rheological instability (thixotropy/antithixotropy) of
      waxy potato starch (WPS) pastes depending on their concentration (1-5% w/w) and
      pasting temperature (80, 95 and autoclaved: 121 degrees C, at 0.1MPa). The
      hysteresis loop, apparent viscosity at constant shear rate as well as the in
      shear structural recovery tests with and without pre-shearing were applied. The
      pastes were also characterized by the granularity profile, molecular weight,
      polydispersity and optical transmittance. Differences in rheological properties
      of the pastes prepared at 80 and 95 degrees C as well as autoclaved resulted from
      degree of granules pasting. At 121  degrees C dissolution of the granules
      occurred, while at the lower temperatures only the partial pasting of the
      granules took place. Pasting temperature of WPS significantly influenced
      rheological parameters of the resulted pastes which had thixotropic,
      antithixotropic or mixed thixotropic/antithixotropic behavior. Autoclaved pastes,
      regardless their concentration were antithixotropic as demonstrated by the areas
      of hysteresis loops derived from the flow curves signalized by the degree of
      structure recovery (DSR) which exceeded unity. The apparent viscosity of WPS
      pasted at 121 degrees C strongly decreased as compared to the samples pasted at
      lower temperatures. Samples pasted at 80 and 95 degrees C showed both thixotropic
      and antithixotropic behavior, with a predominance of the latter. The starch
      concentration played an important role in the formation of the rheological
      properties of the resulted pastes. Its influence was strongly connected with the
      degree of the granules pasting, therefore with the temperature of pastes
      preparation. For the pastes prepared at 80 and 95 degrees C the values of
      thixotropy and apparent viscosity increased, while the values of DSR decreased
      with an increase of concentration. In the autoclaved pastes the antithixotropy,
      DSR and apparent viscosity increased with increasing starch concentration. It was
      also found that apart from the concentration and temperature also the shear rate
      influence the thixotropic behavior. 

PMID- 26877005
TI  - Study on oil absorbency of succinic anhydride modified banana cellulose in ionic
      liquid.
AB  - Banana cellulose contained number of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups which were
      succinylated to be hydrophobic groups with high oil affinity. Succinic anhydride
      was used to modify banana cellulose in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic
      liquid in this study. The modified banana cellulose had a high oil absorption
      capacity. The effects of reaction time, temperature, and molar ratio of succinic
      anhydride to anhydroglucose on the degree of substitution of modified banana
      cellulose were evaluated. The optimal reaction condition was at a ratio of
      succinic anhydride and anhydroglucose 6:1 (m:m), reaction time 60min and
      temperature 90 degrees C. The maximum degree of acylation reaction reached to
      0.37. The characterization analysis of the modified banana cellulose was
      performed using X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer,
      scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The oil absorption capacity
      and kinetics of the modified banana cellulose were evaluated at the modified
      cellulose dose (0.025-0.3g), initial oil amount (5-30g), and temperature (15-35
      degrees C) conditions. The maximum oil absorption capacity was 32.12g/g at the
      condition of the cellulose dose (0.05g), initial oil amount (25g) and temperature
      (15 degrees C). The kinetics of oil absorption of the cellulose followed a pseudo
      second-order model. The results of this study demonstrated that the modified
      banana cellulose could be used as an efficient bio-sorbent for oil adsorption. 

PMID- 26877006
TI  - In situ development of self-reinforced cellulose nanocrystals based thermoplastic
      elastomers by atom transfer radical polymerization.
AB  - Recently, the utilization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a reinforcing
      material has received a great attention due to its high elastic modulus. In this
      article, a novel strategy for the synthesis of self-reinforced CNCs based
      thermoplastic elastomers (CTPEs) is presented. CNCs were first surface
      functionalized with an initiator for surface-initiated atom transfer radical
      polymerization (SI-ATRP). Subsequently, SI-ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and
      butyl acrylate (BA) was carried out in the presence of sacrificial initiator to
      form CTPEs in situ. The CTPEs together with the simple blends of CNCs and linear
      poly(MMA-co-BA) copolymer (P(MMA-co-BA)) were characterized for comparative
      study. The results indicated that P(MMA-co-BA) was successfully grafted onto the
      surface of CNCs and the compatibility between CNCs and the polymer matrix in
      CTPEs was greatly enhanced. Specially, the CTPEs containing 2.15wt% CNCs
      increased Tg by 19.2 degrees C and tensile strength by 100% as compared to the
      linear P(MMA-co-BA). 

PMID- 26877007
TI  - Preparation and characterization of resistant starch type IV nanoparticles
      through ultrasonication and miniemulsion cross-linking.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the properties of resistant starch type IV (chemically
      modified starch, RS4) prepared from a new and convenient synthesis route by using
      ultrasonication combined with water-in-oil miniemulsion cross-linking technique.
      A three-factor Box-Behnken design and optimization was used to minimize particle
      size through the developed RS4 nanoparticles. The predicted minimized Z-Avel
      (576.1nm) under the optimum conditions of the process variables (ultrasonic
      power, 214.57W; sonication time, 114.73min; and oil/water ratio, 10.54:1) was
      very close to the experimental value (651.0nm) determined in a batch experiment.
      After preparing the RS4 nanoparticles, morphological, physical, chemical, and
      functional properties were assessed. Results revealed that RS4 nanoparticle size
      reached about 600nm. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that
      ultrasonication induced notches and grooves on the surface. Under polarized
      light, the polarized cross was impaired. X-ray diffraction results revealed that
      the crystalline structure was disrupted. Smaller or no endotherms were exhibited
      in DSC analysis. In the FTIR graph, new peaks at 1532.91 and 1451.50cm(-1) were
      observed, and pasting properties were reduced. Amylose content, solubility, and
      SP increased, but RS content decreased. Anti-digestibility remained after
      ultrasonication. The prepared RS4 nanoparticles could be extensively used in
      biomedical applications and in the development of new medical materials. 

PMID- 26877009
TI  - Purification of cress seed (Lepidium sativum) gum: Physicochemical
      characterization and functional properties.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different
      purification methods (ethanol, isopropanol and ethanol-isopropanol) on the
      physicochemical and functional characteristics of cress seed gum. Sugar
      composition and molecular weight of the samples varied significantly. All the
      purification methods reduced ash and protein content and molecular weight of
      cress seed gum. The main decomposition of the purified samples started above 200
      degrees C and initial decomposition temperature of the crude gum was 190.21
      degrees C. DSC thermograms of the purified gums showed two exothermic events at
      257.81-261.95 degrees C and 302.46-311.57 degrees C. Crude gum displayed an
      exothermic peak at 259.42 degrees C. Sample I (purified using isopropanol)
      imparted the best surface activity among the purified samples as it had the
      highest protein and uronic acid contents and the lowest Mw. All the purification
      methods could improve emulsifying properties of cress seed gum and there was no
      significant difference among the purified samples. Crude gum showed the lowest
      foaming properties, while samples I and E (purified using ethanol) showed the
      highest foaming capacity and foam stability, respectively. 

PMID- 26877008
TI  - Culture of low density E. coli cells in alginate-chitosan microcapsules
      facilitates stress resistance by up-regulating luxS/AI-2 system.
AB  - Entrapped low density cells with culture (ELDCwc) have been proved as a more
      effective way than direct entrapped high density cells (dEHDC) and free cells to
      protect probiotics from harsh environment, that is, to improve their stress
      resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bacterial quorum
      sensing (QS) facilitated the stress resistance of Escherichia coli in
      microcapsules by detecting the expression of luxS/AI-2 system. As a result, both
      the expression of luxS gene and the concentration of autoinducer-2 (AI-2, QS
      signal molecule) have been discovered higher in ELDCwc than in dEHDC and free
      cells. Besides that, the luxS mutant E. coli strain was used as a negative
      control of QS to verify the influence of QS on bacterial stress resistance in
      microcapsules. The significantly decreased viability of luxS mutant strain in
      simulated gastric fluid also indicated that the QS played a critical role in
      protecting microorganisms from severe environment. 

PMID- 26877010
TI  - Preparation and characterization of crosslinked chitosan/gelatin scaffolds by ice
      segregation induced self-assembly.
AB  - Chitosan and gelatin are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers which may be
      used in the preparation of 3D scaffolds with applications in biomedicine.
      Chitosan/gelatin scaffolds crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were prepared by ice
      segregation induced self-assembly (ISISA); a unidirectional freezing at -196
      degrees C followed freeze-drying to produce macroporous materials with a well
      patterned structure. This process may be included within the green chemistry by
      the preparation of the porous structures without using organic solvents, moreover
      is a versatile, non-difficult and cheap process. The scaffolds prepared by ISISA
      were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis,
      differential scanning calorimetry, and their stability was evaluated by degree
      swelling and degradation tests. The scaffolds present properties as high
      porosity, high degree swelling and good stability which make them suitable of
      applications as biomaterials. 

PMID- 26877011
TI  - Rapid determination of gamma-value and xanthate group distribution on viscose by
      liquid-state (1)H NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - A method for the determination of the gamma-value and more importantly the
      distribution of xanthate groups on cellulose xanthate produced during the viscose
      process is presented. The method is based upon stabilization of xanthate groups
      attached to the cellulose chain by reaction with 4-methylbenzyl bromide and
      analysis of the resulting product by liquid-state (1)H NMR. Careful analysis of
      the proton-spectrum using deconvolution gave a very fast method for the
      measurement of the gamma-value which compared well with the data obtained by IR
      spectroscopy. In addition it could be shown that the distribution of the xanthate
      groups on the anhydroglucose monomeric unit (xanthation at position 2, 3 or 6)
      changes significantly during ripening. The method gave useful results even for
      viscose with low gamma-values of about 25. 

PMID- 26877012
TI  - The immune adjuvant response of polysaccharides from Atractylodis macrocephalae
      Koidz in chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND).
AB  - Build on our previous research, polysaccharides from the rhizome of Atractylodis
      macrocephalae Koidz (RAMPS), RAMPStp and RAMPS60c were prepared and the
      structural characterization and immune response of ND vaccine in chicken were
      investigated. Immune organ index, Lymphocyte proliferation, antibody titers, cell
      cycle distribution, and percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were determined.
      GPC analysis showed that the Mn of RAMPS with two peaks were 1.29*10(5) and
      1.74*10(3), respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that RAMPS was composed of
      glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, d-Ribose and rhamnose, with mass
      percentages of 66.39%, 21.24%, 5.64%, 2.65%, 2.30%, 1.15% and 0.64%,
      respectively. NMR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that a preliminary
      structure of RAMPS was proposed as 1,3-linked beta-d-Galp and 1,6-linked beta-d
      Galpresidues. In vivo test showed that RAMPStp and RAMPS60c could promote
      peripheral lymphocytes proliferation and entering into S and G2/M phases, enhance
      serum HI antibody titer and effectively improve the percentages of CD4(+) and
      CD8(+) T cells in chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine at most time points. The
      actions of RAMPStp and RAMPS60c were stronger than that of Lev, and RAMPStp
      presented the best efficacy. These results indicated that RAMPStp and RAMPS60c
      characterize of the immune-enhancing activity and RAMPStp possessed the strongest
      activity. It would be anticipated as a component of new-type immunopotentiator. 

PMID- 26877013
TI  - Development of a rapid method for simultaneous separation of hyaluronic acid,
      chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparin by capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - This study reports the use of diethylenetriamine as background electrolyte for
      the simultaneous separation of hyaluronan acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan
      sulfate and heparin. The analytes were baseline separated by using an uncoated
      fused silica capillary at 37 degrees C with a run time of 23min. The migration
      order, with hyaluronan acid at first and heparin at last, was related to the
      sulfation degree. The effect of salt concentration on resolution and migration
      order was also investigated. The developed method was applied to the simultaneous
      determination of hyaluronan acid and chondroitin sulfate in mouse plasma.
      Interferences in plasma were removed by protein precipitation and
      glycosaminoglycans were further purified by ethanol precipitation. The method was
      validated over the concentration range from 50 to 600MUg/mL for hyaluronan acid
      and 500 to 6000MUg/mL for chondroitin sulfate in mouse plasma. Results from assay
      validations showed that the method was selective and robust. 

PMID- 26877014
TI  - Characterization and toxicology evaluation of chitosan nanoparticles on the
      embryonic development of zebrafish, Danio rerio.
AB  - In the present study, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared, characterized and
      used to evaluate the embryonic toxicology on zebrafish (Danio rerio). The average
      particle size of chitosan nanoparticles was 84.86nm. The increased mortality and
      decreased hatching rate was found in the zebrafish embryo exposure to normal
      chitosan particles and chitosan nanoparticles with the increased addition
      concentration. At 120h post-fertilization (hpf), the rate of mortality were 25.0
      and 44.4% in the groups treated with chitosan nanoparticles and normal chitosan
      particles at 250mg/L, respectively. At 72hpf, the hatching rate in the groups
      treated with normal chitosan particles were lower (P<0.01) at 300 and 400mg/L
      than those of the corresponding control groups, respectively. However, there were
      no significant differences between the groups treated with chitosan nanoparticles
      and the control groups across all the addition concentrations. More abundant
      typical malformation of embryos was observed in the groups treated with normal
      chitosan particles compared with those treated with chitosan nanoparticles. The
      LC50 (medium lethal concentration) of chitosan nanoparticles was 280mg/L at 96hpf
      and 270mg/L at 120hpf. As for normal chitosan particles, the LC50 was 257mg/L at
      both 96hpf and 120hpf. The TC50 (medium teratogenic concentration) of the
      zebrafish treated with chitosan nanoparticles and normal chitosan particles were
      257mg/L and 137mg/L, respectively. It indicated that the chitosan nanoparticles
      were relatively more secure compared with normal chitosan particles. 

PMID- 26877015
TI  - Crystalline structure and morphological properties of porous cellulose/clay
      composites: The effect of water and ethanol as coagulants.
AB  - In this study, cellulose foams incorporated with surface-modified montmorillonite
      (SM-MMT) were prepared following NaOH dissolution and regeneration into water and
      ethanol. According to the SEM images, the type of coagulating agent significantly
      affected the morphological properties of composite foams. The crystalline
      parameters were evaluated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), which showed
      an increase in crystal size as the effect of SM-MMT; however, the crystal size
      decreased for the samples treated with ethanol. The distribution of hydrogen bond
      types was also investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Resolving
      the hydrogen-bonded OH stretching band at around 3340 into five bands indicated
      that presence of SM-MMT caused the shift of OH-stretching vibration band to lower
      wave number due to new hydrogen bonds between cellulose and SM-MMT. In general,
      the results indicated a change in the contents of the intra- and inter-molecular
      hydrogen bonds when the coagulant was changed or SM-MMT was incorporated. 

PMID- 26877016
TI  - Structure and antinociceptive effects of beta-D-glucans from Cookeina tricholoma.
AB  - Structurally different water-insoluble (1->3),(1->6) beta-D-glucans were isolated
      from aqueous and alkaline extracts of the mushroom-forming ascomycete Cookeina
      tricholoma, a wild edible mushroom found in Brazilian Amazon forest. The
      structures showed different substitution patterns, which may influence their
      extractability and consequently their conformation in solution, and different MW
      (4.3*10(5)Da, 3.7*10(5)Da and 8.2*10(5)Da, for ICW-Ct, IHW-Ct and IK2-Ct,
      respectively). The main-chains are composed of (1->3)-linked beta-D-Glcp units O
      6 substituted by side chains with different lengths of (1->6)-linked beta-d-Glcp
      units (ICW-Ct and IHW-Ct) or by a combination of (1->6)-linked beta-D-Glcp units
      and single units of beta-D-Glcp (IK2-Ct). beta-D-glucans with similar MW and
      showing only (1->6)-linked beta-D-Glcp units as side chains (ICW-Ct and IHW-Ct)
      showed significant inhibition of neurogenic pain, 69+/-11 and 57+/-11% at the
      dose of 10mgkg(-1), respectively, in the model of nociception induced by
      intraplantar injection of formalin.

PMID- 26877017
TI  - Controlled growth of Cu2O nanoparticles bound to cotton fibres.
AB  - A green, safe and fast procedure is presented for in situ generation of
      nanoparticles (NPs) of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) onto cotton fibres at room
      temperature using water as a solvent. The method is based on a mild surface
      oxidation of cellulose fibres to generate in a controlled way carboxylic groups
      acting as a binding site for the adsorption of Cu(2+) via electrostatic
      coordination. Then, the adsorbed Cu(2+) ions were readly converted into Cu2O by
      dipping the treated cotton fibres into a aqueous solution of a reducing agent.
      Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as UV-vis absorption and
      emission spectroscopic methods were used to analyse the size, morphology,
      chemical composition and the crystalline structure of the generated nanoparticles
      on the fabrics. The morphology of the ensuing Cu2O nanoparticles was shown to be
      dependent on the reduycing agent used. Antibacterial properties of the modified
      fibres were also investigated. 

PMID- 26877018
TI  - Hemicellulose isolation, characterization, and the production of xylo
      oligosaccharides from the wastewater of a viscose fiber mill.
AB  - Viscose fiber mills generate a lot of wastewater enriched with hemicelluloses.
      The structure of the hemicellulose in the wastewater was characterized and the
      hemicellulose was isolated to produce xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS). It was
      confirmed that the hemicellulose was mainly 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan with a small
      amount of glucomannan and xyloglucan. The 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan was completely
      de-acetylated and linear with a few 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid attached. After
      purified by the acid precipitation and washing, the hemicellulose was pretreated
      by dilute acid, and then subjected to xylanase hydrolysis. After the dilute H2SO4
      pretreatment at pH 2.6 and 150 degrees C for 30min and the followed xylanase
      hydrolysis (65IU/g xylan), the total XOS yield was improved from 0.215 to
      0.578g/g xylan. The percentage of XOS in the final sugar product was 68.9%. These
      results demonstrated the potential economical and environmental benefits of the
      process to utilize the byproducts from viscose fiber mills. 

PMID- 26877019
TI  - Reaction efficiency and retention of poly(styrene-co-maleimide) nanoparticles
      deposited on fibrillated cellulose surfaces.
AB  - Surface modification of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MFC and NFC) under
      aqueous environment was performed by deposition of poly(styrene-co-maleimide)
      nanoparticles synthesized by imidization of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) in
      presence of wax and ammonium hydroxide in variable amounts. Specifically, the
      influences of fiber fibrillation on nanoparticle formation (i.e., reaction
      efficiency) and permanent nanoparticle deposition on the fiber surface (i.e.,
      retention) were investigated. The surface modification was mainly governed by the
      fiber diameter, surface charges and amount of wax. As such, the MFC affected the
      imidization reaction to a smaller extent (i.e., high reaction efficiency) and was
      more densely deposited by nanoparticles than NFC (i.e., high retention).
      Moreover, wax protected the fibers against fibrillation and peeling-off at high
      temperature and favored nanoparticle deposition. As a result, water contact
      angles of 142 degrees  were obtained for modified MFC in parallel with a surface
      coverage of 92%. 

PMID- 26877020
TI  - Formation of type 4 resistant starch and maltodextrins from amylose and
      amylopectin upon dry heating: A model study.
AB  - Starch is one of the main components of human diet. During food processing,
      starch is submitted to high temperatures in the presence or absence of water.
      Thus, the main goal of this work was to identify structural modifications caused
      by dry heating in starch polysaccharides (amylose and amylopectin) and
      structurally related oligosaccharides, maltotetraose (M4) and glucosyl
      maltotriose (GM3), simulating processing conditions. The structural modifications
      were evaluated by methylation analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS),
      tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and anionic chromatography after in vitro
      enzymatic digestion. Dry heating promoted dehydration, depolymerization, as well
      as changes in Glc glycosidic linkage positions and anomeric configuration. In
      oligosaccharides, polymerization was also observed. All these changes resulted in
      a lower in vitro digestibility, suggesting that dry heating of starch
      polysaccharides and related oligosaccharides may be associated with the formation
      of type 4 resistant starch and maltodextrins, non-digestible carbohydrates that
      are responsible for beneficial effects in human intestinal tract. 

PMID- 26877021
TI  - Enzyme-Dependent [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Depends on Lid-like Interaction of the N
      Terminal Sequence with the Catalytic Core in PyrI4.
AB  - The Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction is one of the most powerful and
      elegant organic synthesis methods for forming 6-membered molecules and has been
      known for nearly a century. However, whether and how enzymes catalyze this type
      of reaction is still not completely clear. Here we focus on PyrI4, an enzyme
      found in the biosynthetic pathway of pyrroindomycins where it catalyzes the
      formation of a spiro-conjugate via an enzyme-dependent exo-selective [4 + 2]
      cycloaddition reaction. We report the crystal structures of PyrI4 alone and in
      complex with its product. Comparative analysis of these structures, combined with
      biochemical analysis, lead us to propose a unique trapping mechanism whereby the
      lid-like action of the N-terminal tail imposes conformational constraints on the
      beta barrel catalytic core, which enhances the proximity and polarization effects
      of reactive groups (1,3-diene and alkene) to drive cyclization in a regio- and
      stereo-specific manner. This work represents an important step toward the wider
      application of enzyme-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclization for synthetic purposes. 

PMID- 26877022
TI  - Fluorescent RNA Aptamers as a Tool to Study RNA-Modifying Enzymes.
AB  - RNA-modifying enzymes are difficult to assay due to the absence of fluorometric
      substrates. Here we show that the Broccoli, a previously reported fluorescent RNA
      dye complex, can be modified to contain N(6)-methyladenosine, a prevalent mRNA
      base modification. Methylated Broccoli is nonfluorescent but, upon demethylation
      by the RNA demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) or ALKBH5,
      it binds and activates the fluorescence of its cognate fluorophore. We describe a
      high-throughput screen (HTS) for FTO inhibitors using the fluorogenic methylated
      Broccoli substrate HTS assay, which performs robustly with a Z' factor >0.8 in
      the LOPAC1280 library. This allowed the identification of novel high-affinity FTO
      inhibitors. Several of these compounds were selective for FTO over the related
      demethylase, ALKBH5, and increase methylation of endogenous FTO target mRNAs in
      cells. Lastly, we show that Broccoli can be modified to contain other base
      modifications, suggesting that this approach could be generally applicable for
      assaying diverse RNA-modifying enzymes. 

PMID- 26877023
TI  - Drug Repurposing Approach Identifies Inhibitors of the Prototypic Viral
      Transcription Factor IE2 that Block Human Cytomegalovirus Replication.
AB  - New targets for antiviral strategies are needed against human cytomegalovirus
      (HCMV), a major human pathogen. A cell-based screen aimed at finding inhibitors
      of the viral transcription factor Immediate-Early 2 (IE2) was performed in HCMV
      infected cells expressing EGFP under the control of an IE2-inducible viral
      promoter. Screening of a library of bioactive small molecules led to the
      identification of several compounds able to inhibit EGFP expression and also HCMV
      replication with potency in the low-micromolar range. Follow-up studies with four
      selected hits indicated that they all block viral DNA synthesis as well as viral
      Early and Late gene expression. Furthermore, mechanistic studies confirmed that
      the compounds specifically act via inhibition of IE2 transactivating activity,
      thus blocking viral Early gene expression and the progression of virus
      replication. These results provide proof of concept for identifying small
      molecules that modulate the activity of a microbial transcription factor to
      control pathogen replication. 

PMID- 26877025
TI  - Nanoscale covalent organic frameworks as smart carriers for drug delivery.
AB  - Two porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with good biocompatibility were
      employed as drug nanocarriers, where three different drugs were loaded for
      subsequent drug release in vitro. The present work demonstrates that COFs are
      applicable in drug delivery for therapeutic applications. 

PMID- 26877024
TI  - Structure and tRNA Specificity of MibB, a Lantibiotic Dehydratase from
      Actinobacteria Involved in NAI-107 Biosynthesis.
AB  - Class I lantibiotic dehydratases dehydrate selected Ser/Thr residues of a
      precursor peptide. Recent studies demonstrated the requirement of glutamyl
      tRNA(Glu) for Ser/Thr activation by one of these enzymes (NisB) from the
      Firmicute Lactococcus lactis. However, the generality of glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) usage
      and the tRNA specificity of lantibiotic dehydratases have not been established.
      Here we report the 2.7-A resolution crystal structure, along with the glutamyl
      tRNA(Glu) utilization of MibB, a lantibiotic dehydratase from the Actinobacterium
      Microbispora sp. 107891 involved in the biosynthesis of the clinical candidate
      NAI-107. Biochemical assays revealed nucleotides A73 and U72 within the tRNA(Glu)
      acceptor stem to be important for MibB glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) usage. Using this
      knowledge, an expression system for the production of NAI-107 analogs in
      Escherichia coli was developed, overcoming the inability of MibB to utilize E.
      coli tRNA(Glu). Our work provides evidence for a common tRNA(Glu)-dependent
      dehydration mechanism, paving the way for the characterization of lantibiotics
      from various phyla. 

PMID- 26877026
TI  - Overview of legislation on sewage sludge management in developed countries
      worldwide.
AB  - The need to apply innovative technologies for maximizing the efficiency and
      minimizing the carbon footprint of sewage treatment plants has upgraded sewage
      sludge management to a highly sophisticated research and development sector.
      Sewage sludge cannot be regarded solely as 'waste'; it is a renewable resource
      for energy and material recovery. From this perspective, legislation on sewage
      sludge management tends to incorporate issues related to environmental
      protection, public health, climate change impacts and socio-economic benefits.
      This paper reviews the existing legislative frameworks and policies on sewage
      sludge management in various countries, highlighting the common ground as well as
      the different priorities in all cases studied. More specifically, the key
      features of legislation regarding sludge management in developed countries such
      as the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union (EU27) are
      discussed. 

PMID- 26877027
TI  - The anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) treating communal wastewater under mesophilic
      conditions: a review.
AB  - A review concerning the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) treating communal
      wastewater under mesophilic conditions is presented. Existing studies indicate
      strong resilience of the reactor towards loading variations and shock-loads. The
      compartmentalisation of the ABR is a strongly stabilising factor with feed
      fluctuations being evened out across reactor chambers. Significant chemical
      oxygen demand (COD) reduction occurs almost exclusively in the first three
      chambers. The hydraulic rather than the organic loading rate is treatment
      limiting. Laboratory-scale studies show high treatment efficiencies of above 80%
      COD removal. It was found that most laboratory-scale studies do not factor in
      important aspects of field operation, such as diurnal fluctuations of feed
      characteristics, adequate start-up periods and periods of constant loading and
      optimised chamber outlet design, and never studied the effect of loading on
      sludge digestion. Performance data on full-scale ABR implementations, however,
      are extremely scarce, and existing studies are without exception affected by site
      specific treatment-limiting factors hindering the extrapolation of generally
      valid conclusions. In view of a large-scale roll-out, communal ABRs are not
      sufficiently understood. Current challenges concerning the optimisation of
      reactor design require numerous well-monitored long-term full-scale reactor
      investigations. Existing ABR investigations yield encouraging results, supporting
      that the ABR may be one of the solutions answering the global call for low
      maintenance, robust treatment systems. 

PMID- 26877028
TI  - Nitrogen removal from raw landfill leachate by an algae-bacteria consortium.
AB  - A remediation system for the removal of nitrogen from landfill leachate by a
      mixed algae-bacteria culture was investigated. This system was designed to treat
      leachate with minimal inputs and maintenance requirements, and was operated as an
      open semi-batch reactor in an urban greenhouse. The results of this study showed
      a maximum nitrogen removal rate of 9.18 mg N/(L.day) and maximum biomass density
      of 480 mg biomass/L. The ammonia removal rates of this culture increased with
      increasing initial ammonia concentration; maximum nitrogen removal occurred at an
      ammonia concentration of 80 mg N-NH3/L. At starting ammonia concentrations above
      80 mg N-NH3/L a reduction in nitrogen removal was seen; this inhibition is
      hypothesized to be caused by ammonia toxicity. This inhibiting concentration is
      considerably higher than that of many other published studies. 

PMID- 26877029
TI  - Preparation and photoelectrocatalytic performance of N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite
      membrane composite electrode material.
AB  - A novel composite electrode material based on a N-doped TiO2-loaded NaY zeolite
      membrane (N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane) for photoelectrocatalysis was
      presented. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV
      visible (UV-vis) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization
      techniques were used to analyze the structure of the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite
      membrane. The XRD and SEM results verified that the N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles
      with the size of ca. 20 nm have been successfully loaded on the porous stainless
      steel-supported NaY zeolite membrane. The UV-vis result showed that the N-doped
      TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane exhibited a more obvious red-shift than that of N-TiO2
      nanoparticles. The XPS characterization revealed that the doping of N element
      into TiO2 was successfully achieved. The photoelectrocatalysis performance of the
      N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane composite electrode material was evaluated by
      phenol removal and also the effects of reaction conditions on the catalytic
      performance were investigated. Owing to exhibiting an excellent catalytic
      activity and good recycling stability, the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane
      composite electrode material was of promising application for
      photoelectrocatalysis in wastewater treatment. 

PMID- 26877030
TI  - Activation of persulfate/copper by hydroxylamine via accelerating the
      cupric/cuprous redox couple.
AB  - Cuprous copper [Cu(I)] reacts with sodium persulfate (PDS) to generate sulfate
      radical SO4(-)*, but it has been seldom investigated owing to its instability and
      difficulty in dissolving it. This study proposes a new method to regenerate Cu(I)
      from cupric copper [Cu(II)] by addition of hydroxylamine (HA) to induce the
      continuous production of radicals through active PDS, and investigates the
      resulting enhanced methyl orange (MO) degradation efficiency and mechanism in the
      new system. HA accelerated the degradation of MO markedly in the pH range from
      6.0 to 8.0 in the HA/Cu(II)/PDS process. Both SO4(-)* and hydroxyl radicals (*OH)
      were considered as the primary reactive radicals in the process. The MO
      degradation in the HA/Cu(II)/PDS process can be divided into three stages: the
      fast stage, the transitory stage, and the low stage. MO degradation was enhanced
      with increased dosage of PDS. Although high dosage of HA could accelerate the
      transformation of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) cycle to produce more reactive radicals,
      excess HA can quench the reactive radicals. This study indicates that through a
      copper-redox cycling mechanism by HA, the production of SO4(-)* and *OH can be
      strongly enhanced, and the effective pH range can be expanded to neutral
      conditions. 

PMID- 26877031
TI  - Hydrophobic aggregation of fine particles in high muddied coal slurry water.
AB  - The hydrophobic aggregation of fine particles in high muddied coal slurry water
      in the presence of four quaternary ammonium salts of 1231(dodecyl trimethyl
      ammonium chloride), 1431(tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride), 1631(cetyl
      trimethyl ammonium chloride) and 1831(octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) was
      investigated through the measurement of contact angles, zeta potentials,
      aggregation observation, adsorption and sedimentation. The results show that
      quaternary ammonium salts can enhance the hydrophobicity and reduce the
      electronegativity of particle surface, and thus induce a strong hydrophobic
      aggregation of slurry fine particles which promotes the settlement of coal slurry
      water. The adsorption of quaternary ammonium salts on slurry particles increases
      with the increase of alkyl chain length and reagent dosage, and will reach
      equilibrium when the dosage reaches a certain value. Weak alkaline conditions
      also can promote quaternary ammonium salts to be adsorbed on the coal slurry fine
      particles. In addition, reasonable energy input and a chemical environment of
      weak alkaline solution are conducive to hydrophobic aggregation settlement of
      high muddied coal slurry water with quaternary ammonium salts. The main mechanism
      of hydrophobic aggregation of coal slurry particles with quaternary ammonium
      salts is 'adsorption charge neutralization' and hydrophobic interaction. 

PMID- 26877032
TI  - Pretreatment of concentrated leachate by the combination of coagulation and
      catalytic ozonation with Ce/AC catalyst.
AB  - A raw concentrated leachate produced from membrane bioreactor-nanofiltration (MBR
      NF) was taken from Chengdu Chang'an Waste Landfill Site, China. The major
      fraction of this concentrated leachate was large refractory humic substances. A
      coagulation-ozonation process was applied to treat this leachate, aiming at
      enhancing chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and increasing its
      biodegradability. Meanwhile the molecular size distribution of the leachate,
      before and after coagulation and ozonation treatment, was analyzed by using
      ultrafiltration membrane separation. Coagulation pretreatment effectively removed
      varieties of large molecules in the raw concentrated leachate. The addition of
      Ce/AC greatly improved the oxidative ability of O3 in COD removal in the
      ozonation of coagulated leachate. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5)/COD ratio
      increased from 0.011 for the untreated concentrated leachate to 0.30 for the
      effluent of the coagulation-catalytic ozonation process, which indicated that a
      subsequent biological treatment could be readily conducted. The stability test
      demonstrated that the Ce/AC catalyst was effective and stable in the catalytic
      ozonation process. According to the results of molecular size distribution
      analysis, a direct correlation was observed between the increase of BOD5/COD and
      the decrease of apparent molecular weight. 

PMID- 26877033
TI  - Seepage-zone recognition of river water based on Cl(-) spatial difference.
AB  - Based on Cl(-) monitoring data of river water and shallow groundwater samples on
      both sides of the Dashi River, we analyzed spatial distribution of Cl(-) content
      in surface water and groundwater, and evaluated the retardation strength, pCl(-),
      the average retardation strength, pA, and the average residual retardation
      strength, pAR, of surface-groundwater Cl(-) content. We introduce the difference,
      Q, of the average retardation strength and the average residual retardation
      strength, which can be used to identify the seepage zone and the transition
      seepage zone of the river, and to quantitatively express the seepage range. The
      results show that Cl(-) content in the river gradually increased in areas with
      industrial agglomeration, but decreased in areas with non-agglomeration, and
      gradually decreased along the river flow. If Q >= 0, then there is no seepage
      zone in the study area, but if Q < 0, then there is a seepage zone in the study
      area. The sampling point is in the seepage zone when pCl(-) <= pA, in the
      transition seepage zone when pA < pCl(-) <= pAR, and in the no-seepage zone when
      pCl(-) > pAR. The recognition results are more consistent with field
      investigation. 

PMID- 26877034
TI  - Numerical simulation of wrinkle morphology formation and the evolution of
      different Bacillus subtilis biofilms.
AB  - Wrinkle morphology is a distinctive phenomenon observed in mature biofilms that
      are produced by a great number of bacteria. The wrinkle pattern depends on the
      mechanical properties of the agar substrate and the biofilm itself, governed by
      the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we study the macroscopic structures and the
      evolution of Bacillus subtilis biofilm wrinkles using the commercial finite
      element software ABAQUS. A mechanical model and simulation are set up to analyze
      and evaluate bacteria biofilm's wrinkle characteristics. We uncover the wrinkle
      formation mechanism and enumerate the quantitative relationship between wrinkle
      structure and mechanical properties of biofilm and its substrate. Our work can be
      used to modify the wrinkle pattern and control the biofilm size. 

PMID- 26877035
TI  - Exploration of rapid start-up of the CANON process from activated sludge inoculum
      in a sequencing biofilm batch reactor (SBBR).
AB  - In this study, a laboratory-scale sequencing biofilm batch reactor (SBBR) was
      employed to explore a fast start-up of completely autotrophic nitrogen removal
      over nitrite (CANON) process. Partial nitrification was achieved by controlling
      free ammonia concentration and operating at above 30  degrees C; then the reactor
      was immediately operated with alternating periods of aerobiosis and anaerobiosis
      to start the anammox process. The CANON process was successfully achieved in less
      than 50 d, and the total-nitrogen removal efficiency and the nitrogen removal
      rate were 81% and 0.14 kg-N m(-3) d(-1) respectively. Afterwards, with the
      increasing of ammonium loading rate a maximum nitrogen removal rate of 0.39 kg-N
      m(-3) d(-1) was achieved on day 94. DNA analysis showed that 'Candidatus
      Brocadia' was the dominant anammox species and Nitrosomonas was the dominant
      aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the CANON reactor. This study revealed
      that due to shortening the persistent and stable nitrite accumulation period the
      long start-up time of the CANON process can be significantly reduced. 

PMID- 26877036
TI  - A new and effective approach to boron removal by using novel boron-specific fungi
      isolated from boron mining wastewater.
AB  - Boron-resistant fungi were isolated from the wastewater of a boron mine in
      Turkey. Boron removal efficiencies of Penicillium crustosum and Rhodotorula
      mucilaginosa were detected in different media compositions. Minimal Salt Medium
      (MSM) and two different waste media containing molasses (WM-1) or whey + molasses
      (WM-2) were tested to make this process cost effective when scaled up. Both
      isolates achieved high boron removal yields at the highest boron concentrations
      tested in MSM and WM-1. The maximum boron removal yield by P. crustosum was
      45.68% at 33.95 mg l(-1) initial boron concentration in MSM, and was 38.97% at
      42.76 mg l(-1) boron for R. mucilaginosa, which seemed to offer an economically
      feasible method of removing boron from the effluents. 

PMID- 26877037
TI  - Biogas production in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor by using tequila
      vinasses: effect of pH and temperature.
AB  - In recent years, anaerobic digestion has been recognized as a suitable
      alternative for tequila vinasses treatment due to its high energy recovery and
      chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency. However, key factors such as the
      lack of suitable monitoring schemes and the presence of load disturbances, which
      may induce unstable operating conditions in continuous systems, have limited its
      application at full scale. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the
      anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (AnSBR) configuration in order to provide a
      low cost and easy operation alternative for the treatment of these complex
      effluents. In particular, the AnSBR was evaluated under different pH-temperature
      combinations: 7 and 32  degrees C; 7 and 38  degrees C; 8 and 32  degrees C and 8
      and 38  degrees C. Results showed that the AnSBR configuration was able to
      achieve high COD removal efficiencies (around 85%) for all the tested conditions,
      while the highest methane yield was obtained at pH 7 and 38  degrees C (0.29 L/g
      COD added). Furthermore, high robustness was found in all the AnSBR experiments.
      Therefore, the full-scale application of the AnSBR technology for the treatment
      of tequila vinasses is quite encouraging, in particular for small and medium size
      tequila industries that operate under seasonal conditions. 

PMID- 26877038
TI  - Thermodynamic modelling of a membrane distillation crystallisation process for
      the treatment of mining wastewater.
AB  - Membrane distillation (MD) could be applicable in zero liquid discharge
      applications. This is due to the fact that MD is applicable at high salinity
      ranges which are generally outside the scope of reverse osmosis (RO)
      applications, although this requires proper management of precipitating salts to
      avoid membrane fouling. One way of managing these salts is with MD
      crystallisation (MDC). This paper focuses on the applicability of MDC for the
      treatment of mining wastewater by thermodynamically modelling the aqueous
      chemistry of the process at different temperatures. The paper is based on the
      typical brine generated from an RO process in the South African coal mining
      industry and investigates the effect water recovery and operating temperature
      have on the salts that are predicted to crystallise out, the sequence in which
      they will crystallise out and purities as a function of the water recovery. The
      study confirmed the efficacy of using thermodynamic modelling as a tool for
      investigating and predicting the crystallisation aspects of the MDC process. The
      key finding from this work was that, for an MDC process, a purer product can be
      obtained at higher operating temperatures and recoveries because of the inverse
      solubility of calcium sulphate. 

PMID- 26877039
TI  - Role of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in micropollutant removal from wastewater with
      aerobic granular sludge.
AB  - Nitrifying wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are more efficient than non
      nitrifying WWTPs to remove several micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and
      pesticides. This may be related to the activity of nitrifying organisms, such as
      ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOBs), which could possibly co-metabolically oxidize
      micropollutants with their ammonia monooxygenase (AMO). The role of AOBs in
      micropollutant removal was investigated with aerobic granular sludge (AGS), a
      promising technology for municipal WWTPs. Two identical laboratory-scale AGS
      sequencing batch reactors (AGS-SBRs) were operated with or without nitrification
      (inhibition of AMOs) to assess their potential for micropollutant removal. Of the
      36 micropollutants studied at 1 MUg l(-1) in synthetic wastewater, nine were over
      80% removed, but 17 were eliminated by less than 20%. Five substances (bisphenol
      A, naproxen, irgarol, terbutryn and iohexol) were removed better in the reactor
      with nitrification, probably due to co-oxidation catalysed by AMOs. However, for
      the removal of all other micropollutants, AOBs did not seem to play a significant
      role. Many compounds were better removed in aerobic condition, suggesting that
      aerobic heterotrophic organisms were involved in the degradation. As the AGS-SBRs
      did not favour the growth of such organisms, their potential for micropollutant
      removal appeared to be lower than that of conventional nitrifying WWTPs. 

PMID- 26877040
TI  - An investigation into the potential use of nutrients recovered from urine
      diversion on a summer housing site: self-sufficiency based on nitrogen balance.
AB  - ECOSAN is a recent domestic wastewater management concept which suggests
      segregation at the source. One of these streams, yellow water (human urine) has
      the potential to be used as fertilizer, directly or indirectly, because of its
      rich content of plant nutrients. One physicochemical method for indirect use is
      adsorption/ion exchange using clinoptilolite. This paper aims to present the
      results of a scenario focusing on possible diversion of urine and self
      sufficiency of nutrients recovered on site through the use of this process, using
      actual demographic and territorial information from an existing summer housing
      site. Specifically, this paper aims to answer the questions: (i) how much
      nitrogen can be recovered to be used as fertilizer by diverting urine? and (ii)
      is this sufficient or in surplus within the model housing site? This sets an
      example of resource-oriented sanitation using stream segregation as a wastewater
      management strategy in a small community. Nitrogen was taken as the basis of
      calculations/predictions and the focus was placed on whether nitrogen is self
      sufficient or in excess as fertilizer for use within the premises. The results
      reveal that the proposed application makes sense and that urine coming from the
      housing site is self-sufficient as fertilizer within the housing site itself. 

PMID- 26877041
TI  - Effect of different pH coking wastewater on adsorption of coking coal.
AB  - H2SO4 has an effect on the sorption of organic contaminants by coking coal (CC)
      in wastewater. This paper focused on the effect of pH on the removal of chemical
      oxygen demand (COD), phenols and ammonia. UV-vis spectra, Fourier transform
      infrared spectra, zeta potential and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis
      were investigated to characterize the changes of CC properties and coking
      wastewater (CW) at different pH values. The results showed that the COD and
      phenol removal efficiencies increased with decreasing pH value, while the ammonia
      removal efficiency was decreased gradually. A new transmittance band in the
      region of 340-600 cm(-1) was observed in UV-vis spectra of CW in acidic
      condition. The absolute value of the zeta potential as the solution was gradually
      increasing with the increasing of pH value. Surface area and total pore volume of
      CC which was immersed in acidic solutions measured by BET were much higher than
      that of raw CC. CC has a greater adsorption capacity to organic pollution in the
      acidic solution mainly by van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. 

PMID- 26877042
TI  - Examination of food waste co-digestion to manage the peak in energy demand at
      wastewater treatment plants.
AB  - Many digesters in Germany are not operated at full capacity; this offers the
      opportunity for co-digestion. Within this research the potentials and limits of a
      flexible and adapted sludge treatment are examined with a focus on the digestion
      process with added food waste as co-substrate. In parallel, energy data from a
      municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) are analysed and lab-scale semi
      continuous and batch digestion tests are conducted. Within the digestion tests,
      the ratio of sewage sludge to co-substrate was varied. The final methane yields
      show the high potential of food waste: the higher the amount of food waste the
      higher the final yield. However, the conversion rates directly after charging
      demonstrate better results by charging 10% food waste instead of 20%. Finally,
      these results are merged with the energy data from the WWTP. As an illustration,
      the load required to cover base loads as well as peak loads for typical daily
      variations of the plant's energy demand are calculated. It was found that 735 m3
      raw sludge and 73 m3 of a mixture of raw sludge and food waste is required to
      cover 100% of the base load and 95% of the peak load. 

PMID- 26877043
TI  - Laboratory-scale membrane up-concentration and co-anaerobic digestion for energy
      recovery from sewage and kitchen waste.
AB  - This study assessed an alternative concept for co-treatment of sewage and organic
      kitchen waste in Vietnam. The goal was to apply direct membrane filtration for
      sewage treatment to generate a permeate that is suitable for discharge. The
      obtained chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations in the permeate of
      ultrafiltration tests were indeed under the limit value (50 mg/L) of the local
      municipal discharge standards. The COD of the concentrate was 5.4 times higher
      than that of the initial feed. These concentrated organics were then co-digested
      with organic kitchen wastes at an organic loading rate of 2.0 kg VS/m(3).d. The
      volumetric biogas production of the digester was 1.94 +/- 0.34 m(3)/m(3).d. The
      recovered carbon, in terms of methane gas, accounted for 50% of the total carbon
      input of the integrated system. Consequently, an electrical production of 64
      Wh/capita/d can be obtained when applying the proposed technology with the
      current wastes generated in Ho Chi Minh City. Thus, it is an approach with great
      potential in terms of energy recovery and waste treatment. 

PMID- 26877044
TI  - Wastewater treatment--adsorption of organic micropollutants on activated HTC
      carbon derived from sewage sludge.
AB  - Organic micropollutants (MPs), in particular xenobiotics and their transformation
      products, have been detected in the aquatic environment and the main sources of
      these MPs are wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, an additional cleaning step
      is necessary. The use of activated carbon (AC) is one approach to providing this
      additional cleaning. Industrial AC derived from different carbonaceous materials
      is predominantly produced in low-income countries by polluting processes. In
      contrast, AC derived from sewage sludge by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a
      regional and sustainable alternative, based on waste material. Our experiments
      demonstrate that the HTC-AC from sewage sludge was able to remove most of the
      applied MPs. In fact more than 50% of sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac and
      bezafibrate were removed from artificial water samples. With the same approach
      carbamazepine was eliminated to nearly 70% and atrazine more than 80%. In
      addition a pre-treated (phosphorus-reduced) HTC-AC was able to eliminate 80% of
      carbamazepine and diclofenac. Atrazine, sulfamethoxazole and bezafibrate were
      removed to more than 90%. Experiments using real wastewater samples with high
      organic content (11.1 g m(-3)) succeeded in proving the adsorption capability of
      phosphorus-reduced HTC-AC. 

PMID- 26877045
TI  - Investigation of equilibrium and kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption by dried Bacillus
      cereus using response surface methodology.
AB  - In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on three-variable-five
      level central composite rotatable design was used to analyze the effects of
      combined and individual operating parameters (biomass dose, initial concentration
      of Cr(VI) and pH) on the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of dried Bacillus cereus. A
      quadratic polynomial equation was obtained to predict the adsorbed Cr(VI) amount.
      Analysis of variance showed that the effect of biomass dose was the key factor in
      the removal of Cr(VI). The maximum adsorbed Cr(VI) amount (30.93 mg g(-1)) was
      found at 165.30 mg L(-1), 2.96, and 3.01 g L(-1) for initial Cr(VI)
      concentration, pH, and biosorbent dosage, respectively. The surface chemical
      functional groups and microstructure of unloaded and Cr(VI)-loaded dried Bacillus
      cereus were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Besides, the results gained
      from these studies indicated that Langmuir isotherm and the second-order rate
      expression were suitable for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater. The results
      revealed RSM was an effective method for optimizing biosorption process, and
      dried Bacillus cereus had a remarkable performance on the removal of Cr(VI) from
      wastewater. 

PMID- 26877046
TI  - Using sediment cores to establish targets for the remediation of aquatic
      environments.
AB  - When assigning site-specific restoration targets for deteriorating aquatic
      systems, it is necessary to have an understanding of the undisturbed or
      background state of the system. However, the site-specific characteristics of
      aquatic systems prior to disturbance are mostly unknown, due to the lack of
      historical water and sediment quality data. This study aims to introduce a method
      for filling this gap in our understanding, using dated sediment cores from the
      beds of aquatic environments. We used Bolin Billabong, a floodplain lake of the
      Yarra River (South-East Australia), as a case study to demonstrate the
      application of this method. We identified the concentrations of aluminium,
      cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, tin and zinc at 8 cm
      intervals through the sediment core. This showed that aluminium, chromium,
      copper, iron, lead, nickel, tin and zinc concentrations in Bolin Billabong
      sediments significantly increased after European settlement in the river
      catchment in the mid-19th century. The differences between current Australian
      sediment quality guidelines trigger values and the background metal
      concentrations in Bolin Billabong sediments underscore the value of using locally
      relevant background toxicant concentrations when setting water and sediment
      quality targets. 

PMID- 26877047
TI  - Spatial and seasonal distribution of phosphorus in the mainstem within the Three
      Gorges Reservoir before and after impoundment.
AB  - The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) began to store water in 2003. The water level
      reached 135 m in 2003, 156 m in 2006, 172 m in 2008 and 175 m (target level) in
      every year from 2010 through 2013. Impacts of dams on the environment are a
      concern all over the world. A major concern for reservoirs is phosphorus and
      possible eutrophication. Therefore, total phosphorus (TP) in the TGR mainstem was
      determined at five stations (S1-S5) from 1998 through 2013 to investigate
      variations of phosphorus with water level elevations. Results revealed that a new
      spatial and seasonal TP distribution has occurred after the impoundment. TP
      levels in the reach between S3 (nearly 300 km from the dam) and S5 (near the dam)
      have decreased sharply compared with those before the impoundment. The reduction
      degree of TP in wet season was greater than in dry season. Additionally, TP
      spatially decreased from upstream to the dam after the impoundment. The reduction
      of TP levels was mainly attributed to the settling of suspended solids and
      adsorbed phosphorus. These findings will inform research about transport and fate
      of phosphorus in TGR and Yangtze River. The challenge remains to implement
      measures to limit the release of phosphorus from sediments. 

PMID- 26877048
TI  - Microbial degradation of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in surface water and bacteria
      responsible for the process.
AB  - Due to widespread utilization in many industrial spheres and agrochemicals, N
      methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a potential contaminant of different surface water
      ecosystems. Hence, investigation was made into its aerobic microbial
      degradability in samples of water from a river, wetland area and spring. The
      results showed that the compound was degradable in all water types, and that the
      fastest NMP removal occurred in 4 days in river water, while in the wetland and
      spring samples the process was relatively slow, requiring several months to
      complete. Key bacterial degraders were successfully isolated in all cases, and
      their identification proved that pseudomonads played a major role in NMP
      degradation in river water, while the genera Rhodococcus and Patulibacter
      fulfilled a similar task in the wetland sample. Regarding spring water, degrading
      members of the Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium genera were found. 

PMID- 26877049
TI  - Fault detection and isolation of sensors in aeration control systems.
AB  - In this paper, we consider the problem of fault detection (FD) and isolation in
      the aeration system of an activated sludge process. For this study, the dissolved
      oxygen in each aerated zone is assumed to be controlled automatically. As the
      basis for an FD method we use the ratio of air flow rates into different zones.
      The method is evaluated in two scenarios: using the Benchmark Simulation Model
      no. 1 (BSM1) by Monte Carlo simulations and using data from a wastewater
      treatment plant. The FD method shows good results for a correct and early FD and
      isolation. 

PMID- 26877050
TI  - Evaluation of watershed-derived mass loads to prioritize TMDL decision-making.
AB  - A total maximum daily load (TMDL) for oxygen demanding substances is being
      implemented in the San Joaquin River (SJR) in California (USA) due to frequently
      occurring low dissolved oxygen conditions. The SJR is a eutrophic river, heavily
      impacted by agriculture. A mass balance was developed to identify the sources of
      oxygen-demanding substances and nutrients to the river with the objective of
      providing a scientific basis for management actions needed to meet TMDL
      requirements. Data were collected for flow and water quality and mass loads
      calculated for sites within the main stem of the SJR, river inputs (tributaries),
      and diversions in the study area. Using a quadrant analysis, tributary flows and
      loads are ranked to identify targets for water quality improvement efforts.
      Additionally, all mass loads were summed (inputs minus diversions) and compared
      with observed loads at the downstream limit of the study area. The mass balance
      analysis identifies major contributors of mass loads and mass balance closure is
      assessed for each constituent. These analysis methods inform the TMDL process
      which includes a load allocation, and is useful for determining locations for
      implementation of improvement projects needed to improve the health of the river.

PMID- 26877051
TI  - A case study of coupling upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and ANITATM Mox
      process to treat high-strength landfill leachate.
AB  - A pilot study was conducted to study the treatability of high-strength landfill
      leachate by a combined process including upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB),
      carbon removal (C-stage) moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and ANITATM Mox
      process. The major innovation on this pilot study is the patent-pending process
      invented by Veolia that integrates the above three unit processes with an
      effluent recycle stream, which not only maintains the low hydraulic retention
      time to enhance the treatment performance but also reduces inhibiting effect from
      chemicals present in the high-strength leachate. This pilot study has
      demonstrated that the combined process was capable of treating high-strength
      leachate with efficient chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen removals. The
      COD removal efficiency by the UASB was 93% (from 45,000 to 3,000 mg/L) at a
      loading rate of 10 kg/(m(3).d). The C-stage MBBR removed an additional 500 to
      1,000 mg/L of COD at a surface removal rate (SRR) of 5 g/(m(2).d) and
      precipitated 400 mg/L of calcium. The total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency
      by the ANITA Mox reactor was about 70% at SRR of 1.0 g/(m(2).d). 

PMID- 26877052
TI  - Experimental study on improvement effect of guide wall to water flow in bend of
      spillway chute.
AB  - In order to improve water flow in a bend of a spillway chute using a guide wall,
      modeling experiments with or without a guide wall under conditions of three
      different bend axial radii, three chute bottom slopes and three flow rates were
      carried out in this study. Two indexes were calculated, which are the improved
      water surface uniformity and the reduced rate of water surface difference in
      concave and convex banks of the cross-section. The results show that: (1) setting
      a guide wall in a bend can improve water flow in the bend because it increased
      the water surface uniformity of the cross-section and reduced the water surface
      difference in the concave and convex banks; (2) the smaller the bend axial
      radius, the better the water surface improvement effect will be using a guide
      wall; (3) the steeper the bottom slope, the more cross-sections with less water
      surface difference; and (4) flow rates have a great influence on water surface
      improvement in the bend, and the guide wall can improve water flow obviously when
      the water depth in the starting section of the bend is lower than the height of
      the guide wall. This study has important implications in engineering design of
      guide walls. 

PMID- 26877053
TI  - Microbial density and diversity in constructed wetland systems and the relation
      to pollutant removal efficiency.
AB  - Microbes are believed to be at the core of the wastewater treatment processes in
      constructed wetlands (CWs). The aim of this study was to assess the microbial
      biomass carbon (MBC) and Shannon's diversity index (SDI) in the substrate of CWs
      planted with Phragmites australis, Hymenocallis littoralis, Canna indica and
      Cyperus flabelliformis, and to relate MBC and SDI to the pollutant removal in the
      systems. Significant higher MBC was observed in CWs with H. littoralis and C.
      indica than in CWs with P. australis, and the MBC differed with season and
      substrate depth. The microbial community in the wetlands included four phyla:
      Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria, with a more
      diverse community structure in wetlands with C. flabelliformis. The MBC in the
      substrate and the SDI of the 15-20 cm depth correlated with the removal of
      biochemical oxygen demand, NH4-N and NO3-N. Our results indicate that substrate
      SDI and MBC can both be regarded as bioindicators of the pollutant removal
      ability in CWs. 

PMID- 26877054
TI  - Effect of microalgae inoculation on the start-up of microalgae-bacteria systems
      treating municipal, piggery and digestate wastewaters.
AB  - The effect of the inoculation of a microalgae-bacteria system on the removal of
      nutrients and organic matter using municipal, piggery and digestate wastewaters
      was evaluated. Three conditions for each substrate were evaluated: (1)
      inoculation with activated sludge and illumination, (2) inoculation with
      activated sludge without illumination, and (3) inoculation with activated sludge
      plus a native microalgae consortium under illumination. The illuminated reactors
      that were inoculated only with activated sludge developed microalgae after 12
      operation days. In these reactors, the formation of flocs was observed affecting
      the sedimentation of the biomass positively. The removal of chemical oxygen
      demand, ammonium and phosphorous reached 84%, 65% and 77%, respectively. 

PMID- 26877055
TI  - Implementation of an automatic and miniature on-line multi-parameter water
      quality monitoring system and experimental determination of chemical oxygen
      demand and ammonia-nitrogen.
AB  - An automatic, miniature and multi-parameter on-line water quality monitoring
      system based on a micro-spectrometer is designed and implemented. The system is
      integrated with the flow-batch analysis and spectrophotometric detection method.
      The effectiveness of the system is tested by measuring chemical oxygen demand
      (COD) and ammonia-nitrogen in water. The results show that the modified system
      provides a cost-effective, sensitive, reproducible and reliable way to measure
      COD and ammonia-nitrogen in water samples with automatic operation and low toxic
      chemical consumption. In addition, the experiment results show that the relative
      error of the system is less than 10%, the limit of detection is 2 mg/L COD and
      0.032 mg/L ammonia-nitrogen, respectively, and the relative standard deviation
      was 6.6% at 15.0 mg/L COD (n = 7) and 5.0% at 0.300 mg/L ammonia-nitrogen (n =
      7). Results from the newly designed system are consistent with the data collected
      through the Chinese national standard analysis methods. 

PMID- 26877056
TI  - Development of an International Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To establish a Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry-Australia and New
      Zealand (PCOR-ANZ) for monitoring outcomes of prostate cancer treatment and care,
      in a cost-effective manner. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stakeholders were recruited
      based on their interest, importance in achieving the monitoring and reporting of
      clinical practice and patient outcomes, and in amalgamation of existing
      registries. Each participating jurisdiction is responsible for local governance,
      site recruitment, data collection, and data transfer into the PCOR-ANZ. To
      establish each local registry, hospitals and clinicians within a jurisdiction
      were approached to voluntarily contribute to the registry following relevant
      ethical approval. Patient contact occurs following notification of prostate
      cancer through a hospital or pathology report, or from a cancer registry. Patient
      registration is based on an opt-out model. The PCOR-ANZ is a secure web-based
      registry adhering to ISO 27001 standards. Based on a standardised minimum data
      set, information on demographics, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and patient
      reported quality of life, are collected. RESULTS: Eight of nine jurisdictions
      have agreed to contribute to the PCOR-ANZ. Each jurisdiction has commenced
      implementation of necessary infrastructure to support rapid rollout. PCOR-ANZ has
      defined a minimum data set for collection, to enable analysis of key quality
      indicators that will aid in assessing clinical practice and patient focused
      outcomes. CONCLUSION: PCOR-ANZ will provide a useful resource of risk-adjusted
      evidence-based data to clinicians, hospitals, and decision makers on prostate
      cancer clinical practice.

PMID- 26877057
TI  - Genetic testing of 10 patients with features of Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
AB  - Inherited aortopathy, characterized with a high risk of fetal aortic
      aneurysms/dissections, could occur secondary to several syndromes. To identify
      genetic mutations and help to give a precise diagnosis, we performed a gene panel
      testing, involving 15 genes related to inherited aortopathy. Here we reported 10
      patients, combining with the genetic testing results, were diagnosed or suspected
      with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which would be the largest group of Loeys-Dietz
      syndrome ever reported in China till now. 10 likely pathogenic mutations or rare
      variants of uncertain significance were found. These results expanded the
      mutation spectrum of Loeys-Dietz syndrome and might be implicated in its wide
      phenotypic spectrum. 

PMID- 26877058
TI  - Near-infrared spectroscopy for medical applications: Current status and future
      perspectives.
AB  - The near-infrared radiation (NIR) window, also known as the "optical window" or
      "therapeutic window", is the range of wavelengths that has the maximum depth of
      penetration in tissue. Indeed, because NIR is minimally absorbed by water and
      hemoglobin, spectra readings can be easily collected from the body surface.
      Recent reports have shown the potential of NIR spectroscopy in various medical
      applications, including functional analysis of the brain and other tissues, as
      well as an analytical tool for diagnosing diseases. The broad applicability of
      NIR spectroscopy facilitates the diagnosis and therapy of diseases as well as
      elucidating their pathophysiology. This review introduces recent advances and
      describes new studies in NIR to demonstrate potential clinical applications of
      NIR spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26877059
TI  - Two-dimensional magnetic colloids under shear.
AB  - Complex rheological properties of soft disordered solids, such as colloidal gels
      or glasses, inspire a range of novel applications. However, the microscopic
      mechanisms of their response to mechanical loading are not well understood. Here,
      we elucidate some aspects of these mechanisms by studying a versatile model
      system, i.e. two-dimensional superparamagnetic colloids in a precessing magnetic
      field, whose structure can be tuned from a hexagonal crystal to a disordered gel
      network by varying the external field opening angle theta. We perform Langevin
      dynamics simulations subjecting these structures to a constant shear rate and
      observe three qualitatively different types of material response. In hexagonal
      crystals (theta = 0 degrees ), at a sufficiently low shear rate, plastic flow
      occurs via successive stress drops at which the stress releases due to the
      formation of dislocation defects. The gel network at theta = 48 degrees , on the
      contrary, via bond rearrangement and transient shear banding evolves into a
      homogeneously stretched network at large strains. The latter structure remains
      metastable after switching off of the shear. At theta = 50 degrees , the external
      shear makes the system unstable against phase separation and causes a failure of
      the network structure leading to the formation of hexagonal close packed clusters
      interconnected by particle chains. At a microcopic level, our simulations provide
      insight into some of the mechanisms by which strain localization as well as
      material failure occur in a simple gel-like network. Furthermore, we demonstrate
      that new stretched network structures can be generated by the application of
      shear. 

PMID- 26877061
TI  - Neutrophil P2X7 receptors mediate NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent IL-1beta secretion
      in response to ATP.
AB  - Although extracellular ATP is abundant at sites of inflammation, its role in
      activating inflammasome signalling in neutrophils is not well characterized. In
      the current study, we demonstrate that human and murine neutrophils express
      functional cell-surface P2X7R, which leads to ATP-induced loss of intracellular
      K(+), NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1beta secretion. ATP-induced P2X7R
      activation caused a sustained increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)], which is
      indicative of P2X7R channel opening. Although there are multiple polymorphic
      variants of P2X7R, we found that neutrophils from multiple donors express P2X7R,
      but with differential efficacies in ATP-induced increase in cytosolic [Ca(2+)].
      Neutrophils were also the predominant P2X7R-expressing cells during Streptococcus
      pneumoniae corneal infection, and P2X7R was required for bacterial clearance.
      Given the ubiquitous presence of neutrophils and extracellular ATP in multiple
      inflammatory conditions, ATP-induced P2X7R activation and IL-1beta secretion by
      neutrophils likely has a significant, wide ranging clinical impact. 

PMID- 26877063
TI  - Consolidation With Radiation or Concurrent Chemo-Radiation After Chemotherapy
      Results in Durable Complete Remissions of Isolated Nodal Recurrences of
      Urothelial Cancer: A Case Series and Review.

PMID- 26877064
TI  - Motivation of Community Health Volunteers in rural Uganda: the interconnectedness
      of knowledge, relationship and action.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In some countries, full-time Community Health Workers (CHWs) have
      contributed to improvements in under-5 morbidity and mortality. Based on these
      successes, other low- and middle-income countries are in the process of
      reconsidering their current health care delivery systems and integrating CHWs as
      a means by which to fill the gaps. It may be important to make the distinction
      between CHWs and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), both of which have a unique
      but complementary role. While remuneration in motivation of CHWs has been
      extensively discussed in the literature, other motivators that may prevent high
      attrition rates amongst volunteers have gained less attention. The objective of
      this study was to understand whether full-time professional CHWs can potentially
      work with volunteers in the community to widen their reach and scope and if so
      what motivators might be of key importance to the CHVs remaining active in the
      field. STUDY DESIGN: CHVs were selected and trained in eight villages in East
      Uganda as part of a mixed-method trial conducted between March 2014 and February
      2015. METHODS: Eight to twelve CHVs from each village were trained by CHWs to
      make home-visits to pregnant women and newborn babies and to improve hygiene.
      This paper reports on a) demographic data about CHVs (n = 81) and; b) in-depth
      interviews with retained CHVs (n = 81). RESULTS: There was a 95% retention rate
      amongst CHVs. In-depth interviews showed that acquisition and sharing of
      knowledge, relationship building and seeing health-related knowledge put into
      action were more important motivators than the transport allowances or the hope
      of gaining employment. Additionally, CHVs put what they learnt into practice by
      building tippy taps, having dish-racks and purifying water in their homes and as
      such were role models in the community. CONCLUSION: CHVs can be retained and
      motivated by factors other than remuneration. Gaining and sharing of knowledge
      with community members, relationship building and community action were inter
      related and ranked higher by CHVs as motivators than the hope of employment or
      the transport allowance.

PMID- 26877065
TI  - A systematic review of tobacco use among adolescents with physical disabilities.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematic review of tobacco use among adolescents with
      physical disabilities. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review. METHODS: A search was
      performed of English articles published prior to December 2014 in the PubMed
      database for studies examining smoking rates among adolescents with and without
      physical disabilities. Ten studies were retrieved (all cross-sectional surveys)
      of which six compared adolescent populations from nationally representative
      samples and four examined those based on convenience sampling. Pooled analyses of
      smoking rates by disability status were performed. RESULTS: In studies from
      nationally representative samples (n = 6 studies), adolescents with physical
      disabilities were significantly more likely to use tobacco as compared to
      adolescents without (pooled analyses = 29.7% vs 23.3%). However, in studies from
      non-representative samples, adolescents with physical disabilities were less
      likely to use tobacco as compared to adolescents without (pooled analyses = 22.7%
      vs 39.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with physical disabilities may have an
      increased risk of tobacco use relative to those without disabilities. Tailored
      tobacco use prevention and cessation strategies may be appropriate for this high
      risk population. Future longitudinal studies which determine factors associated
      with tobacco use among adolescents with different disabilities should be
      considered to reduce the disproportionate tobacco use in this population.

PMID- 26877066
TI  - Barriers to evidence-based disaster management in Nepal: a qualitative study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Globally, the incidence of natural disasters is increasing with
      developing countries tending to be worst affected. Implementing best practices in
      disaster management that are evidence-based is essential in order to improve
      disaster resilience and response. This study explores the barriers to evidence
      based disaster management encountered in Nepal. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study
      was conducted in Nepal involving interviews with key informants in the disaster
      management field. METHODS: Government officials, academics, programme managers,
      disaster management practitioners and policymakers involved in disaster
      management were purposively sampled and invited to interview. 11 agreed to
      participate and were interviewed. The face-to-face interviews were recorded,
      transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The interviews
      uncovered population-level barriers such as contextual factors (e.g. poverty),
      local custom and culture, as well as community-level issues (e.g. level of
      engagement and understanding). System-level barriers included limited demand for,
      availability and accessibility of the evidence-base. The implementation of
      evidence was influenced by the configuration of the disaster management system
      and system processes. Political ownership and leadership is an essential
      determinant of practice. CONCLUSIONS: Several barriers to evidence-based practice
      in disaster management exist in Nepal. The relative influence of the different
      barriers varies with political determinants likely to have greater importance in
      countries such as Nepal where system governance and leadership is insufficiently
      developed. These issues affect a country's vulnerability to disasters and need to
      be addressed.

PMID- 26877067
TI  - The Italian version of Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale: psychometric
      proprieties and its associations with pathological narcissism and adult
      attachment in an adult non clinical sample.
AB  - The present study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian
      version of the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale (PSPS) in 447 nonclinical
      adult volunteers (63.5% female; mean age = 36.89 years). In our sample the PSPS
      total score and PSPS scales showed adequate internal consistency reliability
      estimates, and both the dimensionality analyses and WLSMV exploratory structural
      model supported the original three factors structure for PSPS items. We found a
      significant correlation between perfectionistic self-presentation and
      pathological narcissism and a significant role of attachment patterns in
      explaining the differences between these two constructs. Perfectionistic
      participants were characterized by avoidant and anxiety attachment styles, while
      narcissistic participants reported an anxiety style only. As a whole, our
      findings support the hypothesis that the Italian version of the PSPS is a
      reliable measure of perfectionist self-presentation in an adult community sample.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26877069
TI  - Impact of Adsorption on Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Voltammetry and
      Implications for Nanogap Measurements.
AB  - Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a powerful tool that enables
      quantitative measurements of fast electron transfer (ET) kinetics when coupled
      with modeling predictions from finite-element simulations. However, the advent of
      nanoscale and nanogap electrode geometries that have an intrinsically high
      surface area-to-solution volume ratio realizes the need for more rigorous data
      analysis procedures, as surface effects such as adsorption may play an important
      role. The oxidation of ferrocenylmethyl trimethylammonium (FcTMA(+)) at highly
      oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is used as a model system to demonstrate the
      effects of reversible reactant adsorption on the SECM response. Furthermore, the
      adsorption of FcTMA(2+) species onto glass, which is often used to encapsulate
      ultramicroelectrodes employed in SECM, is also found to be important and affects
      the voltammetric tip response in a nanogap geometry. If a researcher is unaware
      of such effects (which may not be readily apparent in slow to moderate scan
      voltammetry) and analyzes SECM data assuming simple ET kinetics at the substrate
      and an inert insulator support around the tip, the result is the incorrect
      assignment of tip-substrate heights, kinetics, and thermodynamic parameters.
      Thus, SECM kinetic measurements, particularly in a nanogap configuration where
      the ET kinetics are often very fast (only just distinguishable from reversible),
      require that such effects are fully characterized. This is possible by expanding
      the number of experimental variables, including the voltammetric scan rate and
      concentration of redox species, among others. 

PMID- 26877068
TI  - Race-Specific Influence of CYP4F2 on Dose and Risk of Hemorrhage Among Warfarin
      Users.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The p.V433M in cytochrome P450 4F2 (rs2108622, CYP4F2*3) is associated
      with a higher warfarin dose and lower risk of hemorrhage among European
      Americans. We evaluate the influence of CYP4F2*3 on warfarin dose, time to target
      international normalized ratio (INR), and stable dose, proportion of time spent
      in target range (PTTR), as well as the risk of overanticoagulation and hemorrhage
      among European and African Americans. DESIGN: CYP4F2*3 was genotyped in 1238
      patients initiated on warfarin in a prospective inception cohort. Multivariable
      linear regression was used to assess warfarin dose and PTTR; proportional hazards
      analysis was performed to evaluate time to target INR and stable dose,
      overanticoagulation, and hemorrhage. SETTING: Two outpatient anticoagulation
      clinics. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1238 anticoagulated patients. OUTCOMES:
      Warfarin dose (mg/day), time to target INR and stable dose, PTTR,
      overanticoagulation (INR more than 4), and major hemorrhage. RESULTS: Minor
      allele frequency for the CYP4F2*3 variant was 30.3% among European Americans and
      8.4% among African Americans. CYP4F2*3 was associated with higher dose among
      European Americans but not African Americans. Compared to CYP4F2*1/*1, *1/*3 was
      associated with a statistically nonsignificant increase in dose (4.5%, p=0.22)
      and *3/*3 was associated with a statistically significant increase in dose
      (13.2%, p=0.02). CYP4F2 genotype did not influence time to target INR, time to
      stable dose, or PTTR in either race group. CYP4F2*3/*3 was associated with a 31%
      lower risk of over anticoagulation (p=0.06). Incidence of hemorrhage was lower
      among participants with CYP4F2 *3/*3 compared with *1/*3 or *1/*1 (incidence rate
      ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.14-1.11, p=0.09). After controlling for
      covariates, CYP4F2 *3/*3 was associated with a 52% lower risk of hemorrhage,
      although this was not statistically significant (p=0.24). CONCLUSION: Possession
      of CYP4F2*3 variant influences warfarin dose among European Americans but not
      African Americans. The CYP4F2-dose, CYP4F2-overanticoagulation, and CYP4F2
      hemorrhage association follows a recessive pattern with possession of CYP4F2*3/*3
      genotype likely demonstrating a protective effect. These findings need further
      confirmation.

PMID- 26877070
TI  - Psychometric validation of the Spanish version of the USS-PROM questionnaire for
      patients who undergo anterior urethral surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To translate into Spanish and validate the Urethral Stricture Surgery
      Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (USS-PROM) questionnaire, assessing its
      psychometric properties and determining its suitability for clinical use in our
      community. We also assessed the potential changes in ejaculatory function using
      the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-Ejaculatory Dysfunction (MSHQ-EjD). MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: A systematic translation of the British version was performed.
      Patients scheduled for anterior urethral stricture surgery between September 2014
      and September 2015 were prospectively included in the study. All patients
      completed the questionnaire before and after the surgery. We conducted an in
      depth psychometric study of the questionnaire. RESULTS: We assessed the responses
      of a total of 40 patients. The questionnaire showed its validity, presenting an
      excellent negative correlation between the voiding symptom scores and the maximum
      flow (r=-0.6, P<.001), and also showed significant improvement in the EQ5D-VAS
      (visual analogue scale) and the time trade-off. For internal consistency, the
      Cronbach's alpha was 0.701. For the test-retest reliability, the overall
      intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.974, and the ICC for each item
      separately ranged from 0.799 to 0.980. We observed significant improvement in all
      items regarding urinary symptoms and health-related quality of life (P<.001),
      thereby demonstrating the response capacity to changing the questionnaire. There
      were no significant changes in the MSHQ-EjD. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of
      the USS-PROM questionnaire is a valid instrument for quantifying changes in
      voiding symptoms and the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing
      anterior urethral surgery.

PMID- 26877071
TI  - Hydrodistension plus Onabotulinumtoxin A in bladder pain syndrome refractory to
      conservative treatments.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: For bladder pain syndrome (BPS) refractory to conservative
      treatment, the European guidelines consider bladder hydrodistention (HD) under
      anaesthesia and the injection of Onabotulinumtoxin A (OnabotA) jointly. The
      objective of this study was to assess our experience in implementing this
      technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of 25 patients with BPS who
      underwent HD plus a submucosal injection of 100 U of OnabotA in trigone. The
      Hunner lesions were treated endoscopically using resection or electrocoagulation.
      Thirty-eight procedures were performed (25 first interventions and 13
      reoperations). To study the clinical change, we evaluated the subjective
      improvement (Treatment Benefit Scale [TBS] and Patient Global Impression of
      Change [PGIC] scales), the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the Bladder
      Pain/Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Score (BPIC-SS) questionnaire and the voiding
      diary for 3 days. For the data analysis, we employed the Wilcoxon, Kruskal
      Wallis, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. RESULTS: We observed subjective
      improvement in 21 patients (84%), which was significant in 47% of these patients,
      moderate in 41.2% and slight in 11.8%. Four patients did not improve. A post
      treatment reduction in the pain VAS (from 7.1 to 1.8 points; P=.001), in daytime
      (from 11.8 to 7.5; P=.012) and night-time (from 5.9 to 3.6; P=.003) voiding
      frequency and in the BPIC-SS (from 27.9 to 11.2 points; P=.042). The degree of
      improvement was not related to age, the presence of bladder lesions or the
      treatment of relapses. The median duration of improvement was 7 months (95% CI
      5.69-8.31), although this duration was somewhat longer for the patients younger
      than 65 years. Mild complications occurred in 23.7% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS:
      The joint implementation of HD plus OnabotA is a valid therapeutic option in
      refractory BPS, which provides good clinical results and maintains its
      effectiveness in retreatments.

PMID- 26877072
TI  - Mathematical modeling of bone marrow--peripheral blood dynamics in the disease
      state based on current emerging paradigms, part I.
AB  - Stemming from current emerging paradigms related to the cancer stem cell
      hypothesis, an existing mathematical model is expanded and used to study cell
      interaction dynamics in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The proposed
      mathematical model is described by a system of nonlinear differential equations
      with delay, to quantify the dynamics in abnormal hematopoiesis. The steady states
      of the model are analytically and numerically obtained. Some conditions for the
      local asymptotic stability of such states are investigated. Model analyses
      suggest that malignancy may be irreversible once it evolves from a nonmalignant
      state into a malignant one and no intervention takes place. This leads to the
      proposition that a great deal of emphasis be placed on cancer prevention.
      Nevertheless, should malignancy arise, treatment programs for its containment or
      curtailment may have to include a maximum and extensive level of effort to
      protect normal cells from eventual destruction. Further model analyses and
      simulations predict that in the untreated disease state, there is an evolution
      towards a situation in which malignant cells dominate the entire bone marrow -
      peripheral blood system. Arguments are then advanced regarding requirements for
      quantitatively understanding cancer stem cell behavior. Among the suggested
      requirements are, mathematical frameworks for describing the dynamics of cancer
      initiation and progression, the response to treatment, the evolution of
      resistance, and malignancy prevention dynamics within the bone marrow -
      peripheral blood architecture. 

PMID- 26877073
TI  - Voluntary vaccination strategy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
AB  - In this work, we investigate the spread and control of sexually transmitted
      diseases when a game-theory based vaccination strategy is involved. An
      individual's decision on vaccination uptake may follow a cost-benefit analysis
      since the individual obtains immunity against the disease from the vaccination
      and, at the same time, may have some perceived side effects. Evolutionary game
      theory is integrated into the epidemic model to reveal the relationship between
      individuals' voluntary decisions on vaccination uptake and the spread and control
      of such diseases. We show that decreasing the perceived cost of taking vaccine or
      increasing the payoff from social obligation is beneficial to controlling the
      disease. It is also shown how the "degree of rationality" of males and females
      affects the disease spread through the net payoff of the game. In particular,
      individual awareness of the consequences of the disease on the infectives also
      contributes to slowing down the disease spread. By analyzing an asymmetric
      version of our evolutionary game, it is shown that the disease is better
      controlled when individuals are more sensitive to fitness differences when net
      payoff is positive than when it is negative. 

PMID- 26877074
TI  - Stochasticity and bifurcations in a reduced model with interlinked positive and
      negative feedback loops of CREB1 and CREB2 stimulated by 5-HT.
AB  - The cyclic AMP (cAMP)-response element-binding protein (CREB) family of
      transcription factors is crucial in regulating gene expression required for long
      term memory (LTM) formation. Upon exposure of sensory neurons to the
      neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), CREB1 is activated via activation of the
      protein kinase A (PKA) intracellular signaling pathways, and CREB2 as a
      transcriptional repressor is relieved possibly via phosphorylation of CREB2 by
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Song et al. [18] proposed a minimal
      model with only interlinked positive and negative feedback loops of
      transcriptional regulation by the activator CREB1 and the repressor CREB2.
      Without considering feedbacks between the CREB proteins, Pettigrew et al. [8]
      developed a computational model characterizing complex dynamics of biochemical
      pathways downstream of 5-HT receptors. In this work, to describe more simply the
      biochemical pathways and gene regulation underlying 5-HT-induced LTM, we add the
      important extracellular sensitizing stimulus 5-HT as well as the product Ap-uch
      into the Song's minimal model. We also strive to examine dynamical properties of
      the gene regulatory network under the changing concentration of the stimulus, [5
      HT], cooperating with the varying positive feedback strength in inducing a high
      state of CREB1 for the establishment of long-term memory. Different dynamics
      including monostability, bistability and multistability due to coexistence of
      stable steady states and oscillations is investigated by means of codimension-2
      bifurcation analysis. At the different positive feedback strengths, comparative
      analysis of deterministic and stochastic dynamics reveals that codimension-1
      bifurcation with respect to [5-HT] as the parameter can predict diverse
      stochastic behaviors resulted from the finite number of molecules, and the number
      of CREB1 molecules more and more preferentially resides near the high steady
      state with increasing [5-HT], which contributes to long-term memory formation. 

PMID- 26877075
TI  - Random migration processes between two stochastic epidemic centers.
AB  - We consider the epidemic dynamics in stochastic interacting population centers
      coupled by random migration. Both the epidemic and the migration processes are
      modeled by Markov chains. We derive explicit formulae for the probability
      distribution of the migration process, and explore the dependence of outbreak
      patterns on initial parameters, population sizes and coupling parameters, using
      analytical and numerical methods. We show the importance of considering the
      movement of resident and visitor individuals separately. The mean field
      approximation for a general migration process is derived and an approximate
      method that allows the computation of statistical moments for networks with
      highly populated centers is proposed and tested numerically. 

PMID- 26877076
TI  - Japanese nurses' perception of their preparedness for disasters: Quantitative
      survey research on one prefecture in Japan.
AB  - AIM: The objective of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions regarding
      their knowledge, skills, and preparedness for disasters and how they acquired
      their knowledge about disaster preparation using a quantitative approach.
      METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey using the Disaster Preparedness
      Evaluation Tool was distributed to nurses in six hospitals (three private, three
      public) throughout Miyazaki Prefecture located in southern Japan. RESULTS: Nine
      hundred and seventy-three surveys (87.4%) were returned. Seventy-two were
      eliminated leaving 902 (81.0%) for data analysis. Mean scores for preparedness,
      response abilities, and evaluation all scored below normal on a 6 point Likert
      scale (2.63, 2.02, and 2.05, respectively). Overall, nurses felt they were not
      able to respond in a variety of disaster situations, were aware of their
      workplace emergency disaster plan, but did not think they could execute them, and
      were not aware of the level of preparedness of the healthcare systems in their
      communities. CONCLUSION: The amount of information nurses need to know on the
      knowledge, skills, and preparation of disasters are in great need. Such skills
      are understood, but lacking for various reasons. In-house programs for nurses to
      learn more about disaster nursing are needed. Furthermore, a curriculum for
      disaster preparedness for undergraduate and graduate nursing programs would also
      help these future nurses gain more information earlier on to better prepare them
      for possible disaster situations in their future careers.

PMID- 26877078
TI  - A randomized controlled trial of web-based training to increase activity in
      children with cerebral palsy.
AB  - AIM: To determine the efficacy of web-based training on activity capacity and
      performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: In a matched
      pairs randomized waitlist controlled trial, independently ambulant children and
      adolescents with unilateral CP were allocated to receive 30 minutes of training
      (intervention) 6 days per week, or usual care (waitlist control) for 20 weeks.
      Activity capacity was assessed using maximal repetitions of functional strength
      tasks and 6-minute walk test (6MWT); performance using 4-day ActiGraph GT3X+
      accelerometer records at baseline and 20 weeks. Data were analysed by intention
      to treat comparing between groups using hierarchical linear modelling. RESULTS:
      Participants were n=101, 52 males, mean age 11 years 3 months (SD 2y 4mo).
      Intervention participants completed a mean 32.4 hours (SD 17.2) of training,
      associated with significant improvements in functional strength (mean difference
      19.3 repetitions; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10.8-27.7; p<0.001) and 6MWT
      distance (mean difference 38.9m; 95% CI 12.3-51.9; p<0.001) compared with the
      control group at 20 weeks, although not activity performance (p>0.05).
      INTERPRETATION: Training was effective at increasing functional strength and
      walking endurance in independently ambulant children with unilateral CP. This did
      not translate into improvements in activity performance.

PMID- 26877079
TI  - The Role of Dopamine in Value-Based Attentional Orienting.
AB  - Reward learning gives rise to strong attentional biases. Stimuli previously
      associated with reward automatically capture visual attention regardless of
      intention. Dopamine signaling within the ventral striatum plays an important role
      in reward learning, representing the expected reward initiated by a cue. How
      dopamine and the striatum may be involved in maintaining behaviors that have been
      shaped by reward learning, even after reward expectancies have changed, is less
      well understood. Nonspecific measures of brain activity have implicated the
      striatum in value-based attention. However, the neurochemical mechanisms
      underlying the attentional priority of learned reward cues remain unexplored.
      Here, we investigated the contribution of dopamine to value-based attention using
      positron emission tomography (PET) with [(11)C]raclopride. We show that, in the
      explicit absence of reward, the magnitude of attentional capture by previously
      reward-associated but currently task-irrelevant distractors is correlated across
      individuals with changes in available D2/D3 dopamine receptors (presumably due to
      intrasynaptic dopamine) linked to distractor processing within the right caudate
      and posterior putamen. Our findings provide direct evidence linking dopamine
      signaling within the striatum to the involuntary orienting of attention, and
      specifically to the attention-grabbing quality of learned reward cues. These
      findings also shed light on the neurochemical basis of individual susceptibility
      to value-driven attentional capture, which is known to play a role in addiction.
      More broadly, the present study highlights the value and feasibility of using PET
      to relate changes in the release of a neurotransmitter to learning-dependent
      changes in healthy adults.

PMID- 26877080
TI  - Shoot-to-Root Mobile Transcription Factor HY5 Coordinates Plant Carbon and
      Nitrogen Acquisition.
AB  - Coordination of shoot photosynthetic carbon fixation with root inorganic nitrogen
      uptake optimizes plant performance in a fluctuating environment [1]. However, the
      molecular basis of this long-distance shoot-root coordination is little
      understood. Here we show that Arabidopsis ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), a bZIP
      transcription factor that regulates growth in response to light [2, 3], is a
      shoot-to-root mobile signal that mediates light promotion of root growth and
      nitrate uptake. Shoot-derived HY5 auto-activates root HY5 and also promotes root
      nitrate uptake by activating NRT2.1, a gene encoding a high-affinity nitrate
      transporter [4]. In the shoot, HY5 promotes carbon assimilation and
      translocation, whereas in the root, HY5 activation of NRT2.1 expression and
      nitrate uptake is potentiated by increased carbon photoassimilate (sucrose)
      levels. We further show that HY5 function is fluence-rate modulated and enables
      homeostatic maintenance of carbon-nitrogen balance in different light
      environments. Thus, mobile HY5 coordinates light-responsive carbon and nitrogen
      metabolism, and hence shoot and root growth, in a whole-organismal response to
      ambient light fluctuations.

PMID- 26877077
TI  - Mechanobiology of TGFbeta signaling in the skeleton.
AB  - Physical and biochemical cues play fundamental roles in the skeleton at both the
      tissue and cellular levels. The precise coordination of these cues is essential
      for skeletal development and homeostasis, and disruption of this coordination can
      drive disease progression. The growth factor TGFbeta is involved in both the
      regulation of and cellular response to the physical microenvironment. It is
      essential to summarize the current findings regarding the mechanisms by which
      skeletal cells integrate physical and biochemical cues so that we can identify
      and address remaining gaps that could ultimately improve skeletal health. In this
      review, we describe the role of TGFbeta in mechanobiological signaling in bone
      and cartilage at the tissue and cellular levels. We provide detail on how static
      and dynamic physical cues at the macro-level are transmitted to the micro-level,
      ultimately leading to regulation at each level of the TGFbeta pathway and to cell
      differentiation. The continued integration of engineering and biological
      approaches is needed to answer many remaining questions, such as the mechanisms
      by which cells generate a coordinated response to physical and biochemical cues.
      We propose one such mechanism, through which the combination of TGFbeta and an
      optimal physical microenvironment leads to synergistic induction of downstream
      TGFbeta signaling.

PMID- 26877081
TI  - Effective Modulation of Male Aggression through Lateral Septum to Medial
      Hypothalamus Projection.
AB  - Aggression is a prevalent behavior in the animal kingdom that is used to settle
      competition for limited resources. Given the high risk associated with fighting,
      the central nervous system has evolved an active mechanism to modulate its
      expression. Lesioning the lateral septum (LS) is known to cause "septal rage," a
      phenotype characterized by a dramatic increase in the frequency of attacks. To
      understand the circuit mechanism of LS-mediated modulation of aggression, we
      examined the influence of LS input on the cells in and around the ventrolateral
      part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl)-a region required for male mouse
      aggression. We found that the inputs from the LS inhibited the attack-excited
      cells but surprisingly increased the overall activity of attack-inhibited cells.
      Furthermore, optogenetic activation of the projection from LS cells to the VMHvl
      terminated ongoing attacks immediately but had little effect on mounting. Thus,
      LS projection to the ventromedial hypothalamic area represents an effective
      pathway for suppressing male aggression.

PMID- 26877082
TI  - ER-PM Contacts Define Actomyosin Kinetics for Proper Contractile Ring Assembly.
AB  - The cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER), an elaborate network of tubules and
      cisternae [1], establishes contact sites with the plasma membrane (PM) through
      tethering machinery involving a set of conserved integral ER proteins [2]. The
      physiological consequences of forming ER-PM contacts are not fully understood.
      Here, we reveal a kinetic restriction role of ER-PM contacts over ring compaction
      process for proper actomyosin ring assembly in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We show
      that fission yeast cells deficient in ER-PM contacts exhibit aberrant equatorial
      clustering of actin cables during ring assembly and are particularly susceptible
      to compromised actin filament crosslinking activity. Using quantitative image
      analyses and computer simulation, we demonstrate that ER-PM contacts function to
      modulate the distribution of ring components and to constrain their compaction
      kinetics. We propose that ER-PM contacts have evolved as important physical
      modulators to ensure robust ring assembly.

PMID- 26877083
TI  - How Wasps Acquire and Use Views for Homing.
AB  - Nesting insects perform learning flights to establish a visual representation of
      the nest environment that allows them to subsequently return to the nest. It has
      remained unclear when insects learn what during these flights, what determines
      their overall structure, and, in particular, how what is learned is used to guide
      an insect's return. We analyzed learning flights in ground-nesting wasps
      (Sphecidae: Cerceris australis) using synchronized high-speed cameras to
      determine 3D head position and orientation. Wasps move along arcs centered on the
      nest entrance, whereby rapid changes in gaze assure that the nest is seen at
      lateral positions in the left or the right visual field. Between saccades, the
      wasps translate along arc segments around the nest while keeping gaze fixed. We
      reconstructed panoramic views along the paths of learning and homing wasps to
      test specific predictions about what wasps learn during their learning flights
      and how they use this information to guide their return. Our evidence suggests
      that wasps monitor changing views during learning flights and use the differences
      they experience relative to previously encountered views to decide when to begin
      a new arc. Upon encountering learned views, homing wasps move left or right,
      depending on the nest direction associated with that view, and in addition appear
      to be guided by features on the ground close to the nest. We test our predictions
      on how wasps use views for homing by simulating homing flights of a virtual wasp
      guided by views rendered in a 3D model of a natural wasp environment. 

PMID- 26877084
TI  - Adaptive Radiation in Socially Advanced Stem-Group Ants from the Cretaceous.
AB  - Across terrestrial ecosystems, modern ants are ubiquitous. As many as 94 out of
      every 100 individual arthropods in rainforests are ants, and they constitute up
      to 15% of animal biomass in the Amazon. Moreover, ants are pervasive agents of
      natural selection as over 10,000 arthropod species are specialized inquilines or
      myrmecomorphs living among ants or defending themselves through mimicry. Such
      impact is traditionally explained by sociality: ants are the first major group of
      ground-dwelling predatory insects to become eusocial, increasing efficiency of
      tasks and establishing competitive superiority over solitary species. A wealth of
      specimens from rich deposits of 99 million-year-old Burmese amber resolves
      ambiguity regarding sociality and diversity in the earliest ants. The stem-group
      genus Gerontoformica maintained distinct reproductive castes including
      morphotypes unknown in solitary aculeate (stinging) wasps, providing insight into
      early behavior. We present rare aggregations of workers, indicating group
      recruitment as well as an instance of interspecific combat; such aggression is a
      social feature of modern ants. Two species and an unusual new genus are
      described, further expanding the remarkable diversity of early ants. Stem-group
      ants are recovered as a paraphyletic assemblage at the base of modern lineages
      varying greatly in size, form, and mouthpart structure, interpreted here as an
      adaptive radiation. Though Cretaceous stem-group ants were eusocial and
      adaptively diverse, we hypothesize that their extinction resulted from the rise
      of competitively superior crown-group taxa that today form massive colonies,
      consistent with Wilson and Holldobler's concept of "dynastic succession."

PMID- 26877085
TI  - Morphologically Specialized Termite Castes and Advanced Sociality in the Early
      Cretaceous.
AB  - A hallmark of animals that are eusocial, or those with advanced sociality, is
      reproductive specialization into worker and queen castes. In the most derived
      societies, these divisions are essentially fixed and in some arthropods, include
      further specialization--a tripartite system with a soldier caste that defends the
      colony. Eusociality has originated numerous times among insects but is believed
      to have appeared first in the termites (Isoptera), in the Early Cretaceous.
      However, all termites known from the Cretaceous have, until now, only been winged
      reproductives (alates and dealates); the earliest soldiers and definitive workers
      were known from just the Miocene (ca. 17-20 million years ago [mya]). Here, we
      report six termite species preserved in Early Cretaceous (ca. 100 mya) amber from
      Myanmar, one described as Krishnatermes yoddha gen. et sp. nov., comprising the
      worker/pseudergate, winged reproductive, and soldier, and a second species,
      Gigantotermes rex gen. et sp. nov., based on one of the largest soldier termites
      yet known. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Krishnatermes are in the basal
      "Meiatermes-grade" of Cretaceous termites. Workers/pseudergates of another four
      species are briefly described, but not named. One of these workers/pseudergates
      reveals that ants--the most serious enemies of modern termites--lived in close
      proximity to termites in the Burmese paleofauna. These discoveries demonstrate
      the Mesozoic antiquity of specialized termite caste systems and corroborate that
      among all social species, termites probably had the original societies.

PMID- 26877086
TI  - Four Individually Identified Paired Dopamine Neurons Signal Reward in Larval
      Drosophila.
AB  - Dopaminergic neurons serve multiple functions, including reinforcement processing
      during associative learning [1-12]. It is thus warranted to understand which
      dopaminergic neurons mediate which function. We study larval Drosophila, in which
      only approximately 120 of a total of 10,000 neurons are dopaminergic, as judged
      by the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme of
      dopamine biosynthesis [5, 13]. Dopaminergic neurons mediating reinforcement in
      insect olfactory learning target the mushroom bodies, a higher-order "cortical"
      brain region [1-5, 11, 12, 14, 15]. We discover four previously undescribed
      paired neurons, the primary protocerebral anterior medial (pPAM) neurons. These
      neurons are TH positive and subdivide the medial lobe of the mushroom body into
      four distinct subunits. These pPAM neurons are acutely necessary for odor-sugar
      reward learning and require intact TH function in this process. However, they are
      dispensable for aversive learning and innate behavior toward the odors and sugars
      employed. Optogenetical activation of pPAM neurons is sufficient as a reward.
      Thus, the pPAM neurons convey a likely dopaminergic reward signal. In contrast,
      DL1 cluster neurons convey a corresponding punishment signal [5], suggesting a
      cellular division of labor to convey dopaminergic reward and punishment signals.
      On the level of individually identified neurons, this uncovers an organizational
      principle shared with adult Drosophila and mammals [1-4, 7, 9, 10] (but see [6]).
      The numerical simplicity and connectomic tractability of the larval nervous
      system [16-19] now offers a prospect for studying circuit principles of dopamine
      function at unprecedented resolution. 

PMID- 26877088
TI  - Globally distributed Xyleborus species reveal recurrent intercontinental
      dispersal in a landscape of ancient worldwide distributions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems
      and therefore impose a significant threat to human welfare. The introduction rate
      of invasive species has accelerated dramatically in recent times due to human
      activity (anthropogenic effects), with a steadily growing pool of widespread
      tramp species. We present an in-depth analysis of four pantropical species of
      Xyleborus ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborus perforans, Xyleborus
      ferrugineus, and Xyleborus affinis) with similar ecology (fungus cultivation in
      dead wood), reproductive biology (permanent inbreeding) and genetic system
      (haplodiploidy). The unique combination of reproductive traits and broad host
      plant usage pre-adapts these beetles for colonizing of new areas. RESULTS: We
      found that all four species were broadly distributed long before human-assisted
      dispersal became common, and that the impact of anthropogenic effects varied
      among the species. For X. volvulus, X. perforans, and X. affinis there was
      evidence of ancient establishment in numerous regions, but also of abundant
      recent introductions into previously colonized areas. For X. ferrugineus, we
      found clear biogeographical structuring of old clades, but little evidence for
      recent successful introductions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that current
      human-aided transoceanic dispersal has strongly affected the genetic makeup of
      three of the species in this study. However, current biogeographical patterns of
      all four species are equally, if not more strongly, influenced by ancient
      establishment on different continents.

PMID- 26877089
TI  - Overcoming Short-Circuit in Lead-Free CH3NH3SnI3 Perovskite Solar Cells via
      Kinetically Controlled Gas-Solid Reaction Film Fabrication Process.
AB  - The development of Sn-based perovskite solar cells has been challenging because
      devices often show short-circuit behavior due to poor morphologies and undesired
      electrical properties of the thin films. A low-temperature vapor-assisted
      solution process (LT-VASP) has been employed as a novel kinetically controlled
      gas-solid reaction film fabrication method to prepare lead-free CH3NH3SnI3 thin
      films. We show that the solid SnI2 substrate temperature is the key parameter in
      achieving perovskite films with high surface coverage and excellent uniformity.
      The resulting high-quality CH3NH3SnI3 films allow the successful fabrication of
      solar cells with drastically improved reproducibility, reaching an efficiency of
      1.86%. Furthermore, our Kelvin probe studies show the VASP films have a doping
      level lower than that of films prepared from the conventional one-step method,
      effectively lowering the film conductivity. Above all, with (LT)-VASP, the short
      circuit behavior often obtained from the conventional one-step-fabricated Sn
      based perovskite devices has been overcome. This study facilitates the path to
      more successful Sn-perovskite photovoltaic research. 

PMID- 26877087
TI  - The Neuronal Kinesin UNC-104/KIF1A Is a Key Regulator of Synaptic Aging and
      Insulin Signaling-Regulated Memory.
AB  - Aging is the greatest risk factor for a number of neurodegenerative diseases,
      such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, normal aging is
      associated with a decline in sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. Emerging
      evidence suggests that synapse alterations, rather than neuronal cell death, are
      the causes of neuronal dysfunctions in normal aging and in early stages of
      neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms
      underlying age-related synaptic decline. Here, we uncover a surprising role of
      the anterograde molecular motor UNC-104/KIF1A as a key regulator of neural
      circuit deterioration in aging C. elegans. Through analyses of synapse protein
      localization, synaptic transmission, and animal behaviors, we find that reduced
      function of UNC-104 accelerates motor circuit dysfunction with age, whereas
      upregulation of UNC-104 significantly improves motor function at advanced ages
      and also mildly extends lifespan. In addition, UNC-104-overexpressing animals
      outperform wild-type controls in associative learning and memory tests. Further
      genetic analyses suggest that UNC-104 functions downstream of the DAF-2-signaling
      pathway and is regulated by the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16, which
      contributes to the effects of DAF-2 in neuronal aging. Together, our cellular,
      electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses highlight the importance of axonal
      transport in the maintenance of synaptic structural integrity and function during
      aging and raise the possibility of targeting kinesins to slow age-related neural
      circuit dysfunction.

PMID- 26877090
TI  - Human Fibroblast Sheet Promotes Human Pancreatic Islet Survival and Function In
      Vitro.
AB  - In previous work, we engineered functional cell sheets using bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) to promote islet graft survival. In the present
      study, we hypothesized that a cell sheet using dermal fibroblasts could be an
      alternative to MSCs, and then we aimed to evaluate the effects of this cell sheet
      on the functional viability of human islets. Fibroblast sheets were fabricated
      using temperature-responsive culture dishes. Human islets were seeded onto
      fibroblast sheets. The efficacy of the fibroblast sheets was evaluated by
      dividing islets into three groups: the islets-alone group, the coculture with
      fibroblasts group, and the islet culture on fibroblast sheet group. The
      ultrastructure of the islets cultured on each fibroblast sheet was examined by
      electron microscopy. The fibroblast sheet expression of fibronectin (as a
      component of the extracellular matrix) was quantified by Western blotting. After
      3 days of culture, islet viabilities were 70.2 +/- 9.8%, 87.4 +/- 5.8%, and 88.6
      +/- 4.5%, and survival rates were 60.3 +/- 6.8%, 65.3 +/- 3.0%, and 75.8 +/-
      5.6%, respectively. Insulin secretions in response to high-glucose stimulation
      were 5.1 +/- 1.6, 9.4 +/- 3.8, and 23.5 +/- 12.4 uIU/islet, and interleukin-6 (IL
      6) secretions were 3.0 +/- 0.7, 5.1 +/- 1.2, and 7.3 +/- 1.0 ng/day,
      respectively. Islets were found to incorporate into the fibroblast sheets while
      maintaining a three-dimensional structure and well-preserved extracellular
      matrix. The fibroblast sheets exhibited a higher expression of fibronectin
      compared to fibroblasts alone. In conclusion, human dermal fibroblast sheets
      fabricated by tissue-engineering techniques could provide an optimal substrate
      for human islets, as a source of cytokines and extracellular matrix.

PMID- 26877092
TI  - Implementing evidence-driven individualized treatment plans within Morquio A
      Syndrome.
AB  - Morquio A Syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis IVA [MPS IVA]) is an inherited,
      autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder that occurs in ~1 in 200,000 to
      300,000 live births.(1) (Online access http://www.elseviercme.com/559)
      Individuals with Morquio A Syndrome have mutations in the gene that encodes N
      acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS), an enzyme responsible for the
      metabolism of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratin sulfate and chondroitin-6
      sulfate.(2-4) Reduced activity or lack of GALNS leads to cellular and tissue
      accumulation of these GAGs to result in progressive, multisystem dysfunction and
      impaired functional capacity.(5) Individuals with Morquio A Syndrome suffer from
      a broad spectrum of impairment, including a variety of widespread skeletal
      abnormalities, respiratory compromise, valvular heart disease, visual and
      auditory impairments, and dental abnormalities.(6-8) Cognition is not typically
      affected.(9) Morquio A Syndrome exhibits extensive allelic heterogeneity, which
      results in extensive clinical heterogeneity.(2-4) This educational intervention
      on the management of patients with Morquio A Syndrome provides updated
      information and guidelines concerning the early and accurate diagnosis as well as
      an earlier intervention to improve patient outcomes. The activity is based on a
      live satellite symposium conducted during the 2015 official ACMG Annual Clinical
      Genetics Meeting program. Recent advances in the science of enzyme replacement
      therapies have presented opportunities for pharmacological interventions that
      improve quality of life. Clinicians will be updated on the clinical trial data
      and practical solutions for applying newer therapeutics to daily practice.
      Strategies to manage cardiopulmonary comorbidities and recommendations for the
      ideal clinical care model will wrap up this informative and up-to-date review of
      Morquio A Syndrome. This CME activity is also available through the Website of
      Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. Click on the CME button in the navigation bar
      for full access. Or access: http://www.elseviercme.com/559. 

PMID- 26877091
TI  - Critical POU domain residues confer Oct4 uniqueness in somatic cell
      reprogramming.
AB  - The POU domain transcription factor Oct4 plays critical roles in self-renewal and
      pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Together with Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc,
      Oct4 can reprogram any other cell types to pluripotency, in which Oct4 is the
      only factor that cannot be functionally replaced by other POU family members. To
      investigate the determinant elements of Oct4 uniqueness, we performed Ala scan on
      all Ser, Thr, Tyr, Lys and Arg of murine Oct4 by testing their capability in
      somatic cell reprogramming. We uncovered a series of residues that are important
      for Oct4 functionality, in which almost all of these key residues are within the
      POU domains making direct interaction with DNA. The Oct4 N- and C-terminal
      transactivation domains (TADs) are not unique and could be replaced by the Yes
      associated protein (YAP) TAD domain to support reprogramming. More importantly,
      we uncovered two important residues that confer Oct4 uniqueness in somatic cell
      reprogramming. Our systematic structure-function analyses bring novel mechanistic
      insight into the molecular basis of how critical residues function together to
      confer Oct4 uniqueness among POU family for somatic cell reprogramming. 

PMID- 26877093
TI  - 25 years of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): The EMDR
      therapy protocol, hypotheses of its mechanism of action and a systematic review
      of its efficacy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
AB  - Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new
      psychotherapy that has gradually gained popularity for the treatment of post
      traumatic stress disorder. In the present work, the standardised EMDR protocol is
      introduced, along with current hypotheses of its mechanism of action, as well as
      a critical review of the available literature on its clinical effectiveness in
      adult post-traumatic stress disorder. A systematic review of the published
      literature was performed using PubMed and PsycINFO databases with the keywords
      "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing" and "post-traumatic stress
      disorder" and its abbreviations "EMDR" and "PTSD". Fifteen randomised controlled
      trials of good methodological quality were selected. These studies compared EMDR
      with unspecific interventions, waiting lists, or specific therapies. Overall, the
      results of these studies suggest that EMDR is a useful, evidence-based tool for
      the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, in line with recent
      recommendations from different international health organisations.

PMID- 26877096
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26877094
TI  - Effect of bisphenol A on morphology, apoptosis and proliferation in the resting
      mammary gland of the adult albino rat.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic oestrogen that is extensively used in a wide
      range of daily used plastic products. This makes it one of the environmental
      chemicals that may have impact on human health. Due to its oestrogenic effect,
      BPA might affect the mammary gland. This study aimed to investigate the influence
      of BPA on the histological structure of the mammary gland of the adult female
      albino rat and its effect on epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis status,
      in addition to its possible modulating effect on estrogen receptor expression.
      Thirty female adult albino rats were divided into control and experimental
      groups. The rats in the experimental group were gavaged with 5 mg/kg BPA daily
      for 8 weeks. The mammary glands were dissected and processed for histological and
      immunohistochemical stains for Ki-67, activated caspase-3 and estrogen receptor
      alpha (ER-alpha). BPA induced an increase in the number and size of the acini and
      ducts in the mammary gland of treated rats with hyperplasia of their lining
      epithelial cells. The collagen fibre content was significantly increased in the
      connective tissue stroma separating the ducts. Immunohistochemical results showed
      a significant increase in Ki-67 and caspase-3, but a non-significant increase in
      ER-alpha expression. Bisphenol A induced structural changes and affected the
      proliferation rate of mammary glands, so it might be one of the predisposing
      factors for breast cancer.

PMID- 26877095
TI  - Restaurant Menu Labeling Policy: Review of Evidence and Controversies.
AB  - In response to high rates of obesity in the USA, several American cities,
      counties, and states have passed laws requiring restaurant chains to post labels
      identifying the energy content of items on menus, and nationwide implementation
      of menu labeling is expected in late 2016. In this review, we identify and
      summarize the results of 16 studies that have assessed the impact of real-world
      numeric calorie posting. We also discuss several controversies surrounding the US
      Food and Drug Administration's implementation of federally mandated menu
      labeling. Overall, the evidence regarding menu labeling is mixed, showing that
      labels may reduce the energy content of food purchased in some contexts, but have
      little effect in other contexts. However, more data on a range of ong-term
      consumption habits and restaurant responses is needed to fully understand the
      impact menu labeling laws will have on the US population's diet.

PMID- 26877097
TI  - 99mTc-labelled anti-CD11b SPECT/CT imaging allows detection of plaque
      destabilization tightly linked to inflammation.
AB  - It remains challenging to predict the risk of rupture for a specific
      atherosclerotic plaque timely, a thrombotic trigger tightly linked to
      inflammation. CD11b, is a biomarker abundant on inflammatory cells, not
      restricted to monocytes/macrophages. In this study, we fabricated a probe named
      as (99m)Tc-MAG3-anti-CD11b for detecting inflamed atherosclerotic plaques with
      single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). The
      ApoE-knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice were selected to establish animal models, with
      C57BL/6J mice used for control. A higher CD11b(+)-cell recruitment with higher
      CD11b expression and more serious whole-body inflammatory status were identified
      in ApoE(-/-) mice. The probe showed high in vitro affinity and specificity to the
      Raw-264.7 macrophages, as well as inflammatory cells infiltrated in
      atherosclerotic plaques, either in ex vivo fluorescent imaging or in in vivo
      micro-SPECT/CT imaging, which were confirmed by ex vivo planar gamma imaging, Oil
      Red-O staining and CD11b-immunohistochemistry staining. A significant positive
      relationship was identified between the radioactivity intensity on SPECT/CT
      images and the CD11b expression in plaques. In summary, this study demonstrates
      the feasibility of anti-CD11b antibody mediated noninvasive SPECT/CT imaging of
      inflammatory leukocytes in murine atherosclerotic plaques. This imaging strategy
      can identify inflammation-rich plaques at risk for rupture and evaluate the
      effectiveness of inflammation-targeted therapies in atheroma. 

PMID- 26877099
TI  - Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use Differ between Younger and Older
      African-American Female Adolescents.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in factors associated with contraceptive
      use between younger and older adolescent age groups, which has not previously
      been well described. DESIGN: Age group-specific analyses were performed on cross
      sectional survey data to identify factors associated with any contraceptive use
      at last sex among younger (14- to 16-year-old) and older (17- to 19-year-old)
      sexually active African American female adolescents; interaction analyses were
      used to assess whether these associations differed by age. SETTING: Adolescent
      reproductive health clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. PARTICIPANTS: Sexually active
      African American female adolescents 14-19 years of age. INTERVENTIONS: No
      intervention tested; cross-sectional design. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-reported
      contraceptive use during most recent vaginal sex with a male partner. RESULTS:
      The prevalence of contraceptive use at last sex was identical in both groups;
      however, factors associated with contraceptive use differed according to age. The
      only factor associated with contraceptive use in both age groups was involvement
      in decisions about sexual health in the most recent relationship. Associations
      between factors and contraceptive use significantly differed according to age.
      History of sexually transmitted infection, age difference with partner,
      discussion of condoms with partner, and concurrent partners were important
      factors among younger adolescents; worry about pregnancy and discussion of birth
      control with partner were important among older adolescents. CONCLUSION: Factors
      associated with contraceptive use at last sex differ according to adolescent age;
      this should be considered when designing counseling and interventions for teens,
      as well as research.

PMID- 26877100
TI  - Cytotoxic cochlioquinone derivatives from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris
      sorokiniana derived from Pogostemon cablin.
AB  - Chemical investigation of the liquid culture of the endophytic fungus Bipolaris
      sorokiniana A606, which was isolated from the medicinal plant Pogostemon cablin
      resulted in the isolation of four new cytotoxic compounds, named
      isocochlioquinones D-E (1-2) and cochlioquinones G-H (3-4), along with five known
      cochlioquinone analogues (5-9). Their structures were determined on the basis of
      extensive spectroscopic analysis. Isocochlioquinone D (1) possessed a rare
      benzothiazin-3-one moiety and cochlioquinone G (3) was the first example of
      cochlioquinones bearing an indole-4,7-dione fragment. All of the isolates (1-9)
      were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against MCF-7, NCI-H460, SF-268 and
      HepG-2 tumor cell lines by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Compounds 4 and 6-9,
      featuring a cochlioquinone core, exhibited potent cytotoxicities in vitro against
      the four tumor cell lines, and a preliminary structure-activity relationship of
      these compounds was also discussed.

PMID- 26877101
TI  - Diagnostic reliability in schizoaffective disorder.

PMID- 26877098
TI  - Extracellular Matrix Rigidity-dependent Sphingosine-1-phosphate Secretion
      Regulates Metastatic Cancer Cell Invasion and Adhesion.
AB  - Dynamic interaction between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment is
      critical for cancer progression via changes in cellular behavior including
      alteration of secreted molecules. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying
      the influence exerted by the cancer microenvironment on secretion of molecules
      during cancer progression remain largely unknown. In this study, we report that
      secretion of spingsine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its regulator, SphK1 expression is
      dependent of the substrate rigidity, which is critical for the balance between
      cancer cell invasion and adhesion. Conditioned media (CM) of MDA-MB-231, an
      aggressive breast cancer cell obtained from soft substrate (~0.5 kPa) induced
      chemo-attractive invasion, while CM obtained from stiff substrate (~2.5 kPa)
      increased cell adhesion instead. We found that the expression of SphK1 is
      upregulated in the stiff substrate, resulting in an increase in S1P levels in the
      CM. We also found that upregulation of SphK1 expression in the stiff substrate is
      dominant in metastatic cancer cells but not in primary cancer cells. These
      results suggest that alterations in the mechanical environment of the ECM
      surrounding the tumor cells actively regulate cellular properties such as
      secretion, which in turn, may contribute to cancer progression.

PMID- 26877102
TI  - Cancer stem cells: Radioresistance, prediction of radiotherapy outcome and
      specific targets for combined treatments.
AB  - Inactivation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is of utmost importance for tumor cure
      after radiotherapy. An increasing body of evidence complies with a higher
      radioresistance of CSCs compared to the mass of tumor cells, supporting the use
      of CSC related biomarkers for prediction of radiotherapy outcome. Treatment
      individualization strategies for patient groups with vastly different risk of
      recurrence will most likely require application of more than one biomarker.
      Specifically, inclusion of established biomarkers like tumor size for primary
      radio(chemo)therapy or human papilloma virus (HPV) infection status in head and
      neck squamous cell carcinoma seems to be of very high relevance. The high
      heterogeneity of CSC subclones along with changes of the functional behavior of
      individual tumors under treatment underlines the importance of the selection of
      the optimal timepoint(s) of biomarker evaluation, but also provides a potential
      therapeutic target for combined treatment approaches with irradiation.

PMID- 26877103
TI  - When barriers ignore the "rule-of-five".
AB  - Why are a few drugs with properties beyond the rule of 5 (bRo5) absorbed across
      the intestinal mucosa while most other bRo5 compounds are not? Are such
      exceptional bRo5 compounds exclusively taken up by carrier-mediated transport or
      are they able to permeate the lipid bilayer (passive lipoidal diffusion)? Our
      experimental data with liposomes indicate that tetracycline, which violates one
      rule of the Ro5, and rifampicin, violating three of the rules, significantly
      permeate a phospholipid bilayer with kinetics similar to labetalol and
      metoprolol, respectively. Published data from experimental work and molecular
      dynamics simulations suggest that the formation of intramolecular H-bonds and the
      possibility to adopt an elongated shape besides the presence of a significant
      fraction of net neutral species facilitate lipid bilayer permeation. As an
      alternative to lipid bilayer permeation, carrier proteins can be targeted to
      improve absorption, with the potential drawbacks of drug-drug interactions and
      non-linear pharmacokinetics.

PMID- 26877104
TI  - Cognitive mechanisms for responding to mimicry from others.
AB  - Compared to our understanding of neurocognitive processes involved producing
      mimicry, the downstream consequences of being mimicked are less clear. A wide
      variety of positive consequences of mimicry, such as liking and helping, have
      been reported in behavioural research. However, an in-depth review suggests the
      link from mimicry to liking and other positive outcomes may be fragile. Positive
      responses to mimicry can break down due to individual factors and social
      situations where mimicry may be unexpected. It remains unclear how the complex
      behavioural effects of mimicry relate to neural systems which respond to being
      mimicked. Mimicry activates regions associated with mirror properties, self-other
      processing and reward. In this review, we outline three potential models linking
      these regions with cognitive consequences of being mimicked. The models suggest
      that positive downstream consequences of mimicry may depend upon self-other
      overlap, detection of contingency or low prediction error. Finally, we highlight
      limitations with traditional research designs and suggest alternative methods for
      achieving highly ecological validity and experimental control. We also highlight
      unanswered questions which may guide future research. 

PMID- 26877105
TI  - Dynamic construction of the neural networks underpinning empathy for pain.
AB  - When people witness or imagine the pain of another person, their nervous system
      may react as if they were feeling that pain themselves. Early neuroscientific
      evidence indicates that the firsthand and vicarious experiences of pain share
      largely overlapping neural structures, which typically correspond to the lateral
      and medial brain regions that encode the sensory and the affective qualities of
      pain. Such neural circuitry is highly malleable and allows people to flexibly
      adjust the empathic behavior depending on social and personal factors. Recent
      views posit, however, that the brain can be conceptualized as a complex system,
      in which behavior emerges from the interaction between functionally connected
      brain regions, organized into large-scale networks. Beyond the classical modular
      view of the brain, here we suggest that empathic behavior may be understood
      through a dynamic network-based approach where the cortical circuits associated
      with the experience of pain flexibly change in order to code self- and other
      related emotions and to intrinsically map our mentality to empathetically react
      to others. 

PMID- 26877106
TI  - Inflammatory mediators in human epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests a role for inflammation in the
      pathophysiology of epilepsy. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta
      analysis of studies that investigated inflammatory mediators in human epilepsy.
      Studies reporting on inflammatory mediators in serum, cerebrospinal fluid or
      brain tissue of epilepsy patients were included. Studies comparing patients to
      controls were included in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: 66 articles reporting on 1934
      patients were included. IL-1ra, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha
      were the most extensively investigated proteins. Elevated levels for IL-1ra, IL
      1beta, IL-6 and CXCL8/IL-8 were reported in several different epilepsy etiologies
      and media, while other proteins were specifically increased for one etiology. IL
      1alpha, IL-7 and IL-13, as well as the chemokines CCL2-5, -19 and -22, were
      increased exclusively in brain tissue. In an aggregate meta-analysis, we found
      significantly different protein levels for serum IL-6, IL-17 and CSF IL-1beta and
      IL-10. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory pathways are involved in epilepsy. Future studies
      may further clarify their role, and prove potential of targeted anti-inflammatory
      treatment.

PMID- 26877107
TI  - Social regulation of adult neurogenesis: A comparative approach.
AB  - The social environment sculpts the mammalian brain throughout life. Adult
      neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons in the mature brain, can be up- or down
      regulated by various social manipulations. These include social isolation, social
      conflict, social status, socio-sexual interactions, and parent/offspring
      interactions. However, socially-mediated changes in neuron production are often
      species-, sex-, and/or region-specific. In order to reconcile the variability of
      social effects on neurogenesis, we need to consider species-specific social
      adaptations and other contextual variables (e.g. age, social status, reproductive
      status, etc.) that shift the valence of social stimuli. Using a comparative
      approach to understand how adult-generated neurons in turn influence social
      behaviors will shed light on how adult neurogenesis contributes to survival and
      reproduction in diverse species.

PMID- 26877108
TI  - Leaf aging of Amazonian canopy trees as revealed by spectral and physiochemical
      measurements.
AB  - Leaf aging is a fundamental driver of changes in leaf traits, thereby regulating
      ecosystem processes and remotely sensed canopy dynamics. We explore leaf
      reflectance as a tool to monitor leaf age and develop a spectra-based partial
      least squares regression (PLSR) model to predict age using data from a
      phenological study of 1099 leaves from 12 lowland Amazonian canopy trees in
      southern Peru. Results demonstrated monotonic decreases in leaf water (LWC) and
      phosphorus (Pmass ) contents and an increase in leaf mass per unit area (LMA)
      with age across trees; leaf nitrogen (Nmass ) and carbon (Cmass ) contents showed
      monotonic but tree-specific age responses. We observed large age-related
      variation in leaf spectra across trees. A spectra-based model was more accurate
      in predicting leaf age (R2  = 0.86; percent root mean square error (%RMSE) = 33)
      compared with trait-based models using single (R2  = 0.07-0.73; %RMSE = 7-38) and
      multiple (R2  = 0.76; %RMSE = 28) predictors. Spectra- and trait-based models
      established a physiochemical basis for the spectral age model. Vegetation indices
      (VIs) including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced
      vegetation index 2 (EVI2), normalized difference water index (NDWI) and
      photosynthetic reflectance index (PRI) were all age-dependent. This study
      highlights the importance of leaf age as a mediator of leaf traits, provides
      evidence of age-related leaf reflectance changes that have important impacts on
      VIs used to monitor canopy dynamics and productivity and proposes a new approach
      to predicting and monitoring leaf age with important implications for remote
      sensing.

PMID- 26877109
TI  - Molecular cloning and expression analysis on LPL of Coilia nasus.
AB  - Coilia nasus is one important commercial anadromous species which mainly
      distributed in the Yangtze River in China. At present, it has been on the
      "National Key Protective Species List" because of its severe resource damage.
      Lipid metabolism is very important during its long-distance migration. To make
      further research on lipid metabolism of C. nasus, we cloned lipoprotein lipase
      gene with homologous cloning method. A full-length cDNA of LPL of C. nasus was
      cloned from liver which covered 3537 bp with a 1519 bp open reading frame
      encoding 505 deduced amino acids whose molecular mass was 57.5 kDa and
      theoretical isoelectric point was 7.58. The deduced amino acids had high
      similarity with the reported LPL sequence of other species. It had typical
      conserved domain of LPL protein containing catalytic triad, N-linked
      glycosylation sites and conserved heparin-binding site, etc. We adopted
      quantitative real-time RT-PCR method to detect the mRNA expression of LPL of C.
      nasus in ten tissues including mesenteric adipose, liver, muscle, stomach,
      spleen, heart, head kidney, trunk kidney, gill and brain with beta-actin as
      internal reference. LPL expressed in all the detected tissues. The highest
      expression was in mesenteric adipose, and followed by liver, muscle, stomach.
      Lipid expressed lowly in spleen, heart, head kidney, trunk kidney, gill and
      brain. The research on the cloning and differential expression of LPL of C. nasus
      will lay foundation for further research on lipid metabolism of C. nasus.

PMID- 26877110
TI  - Characterization of an Apis cerana cerana cytochrome P450 gene (AccCYP336A1) and
      its roles in oxidative stresses responses.
AB  - Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450), widely distributed multifunctional
      enzymes, that play an important role in the oxidative metabolism of endogenous
      compounds and xenobiotics. Studies have found that these enzymes show peroxidase
      like activity and may thus be involved in protecting organisms against reactive
      oxygen species (ROS). In this work, Apis cerana cerana was used to investigate
      the molecular mechanisms of P450 family genes in resisting ROS damage. A
      cytochrome P450 gene was isolated, AccCYP336A1. The open reading frame (ORF) of
      AccCYP336A1 is 1491bp in length and encodes a predicted protein of 496 amino
      acids. The obtained amino acid sequence of AccCYP336A1 shared a high sequence
      identity with homologous proteins and contained the highly conserved features of
      this protein family. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that
      AccCYP336A1 was present in some fast developmental stages and had a higher
      expression in the epidermis than in other tissues. Additionally, the expression
      levels of AccCYP336A1 were up-regulated by cold (4  degrees C), heat (42  degrees
      C), ultraviolet (UV) radiation, H2O2 and pesticide (thiamethoxam, deltamethrin,
      methomyl and phoxim) treatments. These results were confirmed by the western blot
      assays. Furthermore, the recombinant AccCYP336A1 protein acted as an antioxidant
      that resisted paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, these results
      suggest that AccCYP336A1 may play a very significant role in antioxidant defense
      against ROS damage.

PMID- 26877111
TI  - [Update on the control of patients on treatment with vitaminK antagonist oral
      anticoagulants in Primary Care].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Spain, more than 80% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)
      receive oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT), and 72% of these patients are followed
      up in the Primary Care (PC) setting. Recent studies have shown that there is
      insufficient control of patients on OAT. The objective of the present study was
      to obtain more detailed information on the state of control of patients on
      treatment with vitaminK antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulants (OAC), on the
      diseases for which the therapy was indicated and on concomitant diseases.
      METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study with the
      participation of patients from a single health area included in an OAT programme
      throughout 2014. In patients on treatment with OAC, International Normalised
      Ratio (INR) control was considered insufficient when the percentage time in
      therapeutic range (TTR) was below 65% during an evaluation period of at least
      6months. RESULTS: A total of 368 patients were included in the study, where the
      most frequent indication for oral anticoagulation was non-valvular AF. A total of
      5,128 INR controls were performed, of which 2,359 (46%) were outside the
      therapeutic range, and 2,769 (54%) were within range. The risk of thromboembolism
      was very high in 91% of patients on treatment with VKA OAC. CONCLUSIONS: The
      indication for anticoagulation is correct in our population, assuming a low
      intermediate risk of haemorrhage in the majority of patients. Measurement of the
      TTR using the Rosendaal method shows that the control of patients on treatment
      with VKA OAC is insufficient.

PMID- 26877112
TI  - Three-dimensional reconstruction of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon)
      spermatozoa using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy.
AB  - Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) was used in this study
      to examine the ultrastructural morphology of Penaeus monodon spermatozoa. SBF-SEM
      provided a large dataset of sequential electron-microscopic-level images that
      facilitated comprehensive ultrastructural observations and three-dimensional
      reconstructions of the sperm cell. Reconstruction divulged a nuclear region of
      the spermatophoral spermatozoon filled with decondensed chromatin but with two
      apparent levels of packaging density. In addition, the nuclear region contained,
      not only numerous filamentous chromatin elements with dense microregions, but
      also large centrally gathered granular masses. Analysis of the sperm cytoplasm
      revealed the presence of degenerated mitochondria and membrane-less dense
      granules. A large electron-lucent vesicle and "arch-like" structures were
      apparent in the subacrosomal area, and an acrosomal core was found in the
      acrosomal vesicle. The spermatozoal spike arose from the inner membrane of the
      acrosomal vesicle, which was slightly bulbous in the middle region of the
      acrosomal vesicle, but then extended distally into a broad dense plate and to a
      sharp point proximally. This study has demonstrated that SBF-SEM is a powerful
      technique for the 3D ultrastructural reconstruction of prawn spermatozoa, that
      will no doubt be informative for further studies of sperm assessment,
      reproductive pathology and the spermiocladistics of penaeid prawns, and other
      decapod crustaceans.

PMID- 26877113
TI  - Editorial Comment to Transvesical laparoscopic surgery for double renal pelvis
      and ureter with or without ureterocele.

PMID- 26877114
TI  - Reshaping clinical science: Introduction to the Special Issue on Psychophysiology
      and the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative.
AB  - The National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)
      initiative seeks to establish new dimensional conceptions of mental health
      problems, through the investigation of clinically relevant "process" constructs
      that have neurobiological as well as psychological referents. This special issue
      provides a detailed overview of the RDoC framework by NIMH officials Michael
      Kozak and Bruce Cuthbert, and spotlights RDoC-oriented investigative efforts by
      leading psychophysiological research groups as examples of how clinical science
      might be reshaped through application of RDoC principles. Accompanying
      commentaries highlight key aspects of the work by each group, and discuss
      reported methods/findings in relation to promises and challenges of the RDoC
      initiative more broadly. 

PMID- 26877115
TI  - The NIMH Research Domain Criteria Initiative: Background, Issues, and Pragmatics.
AB  - This article describes the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain
      Criteria (RDoC) initiative. The description includes background, rationale,
      goals, and the way the initiative has been developed and organized. The central
      RDoC concepts are summarized and the current matrix of constructs that have been
      vetted by workshops of extramural scientists is depicted. A number of theoretical
      and methodological issues that can arise in connection with the nature of RDoC
      constructs are highlighted: subjectivism and heterophenomenology, desynchrony and
      theoretical neutrality among units of analysis, theoretical reductionism,
      endophenotypes, biomarkers, neural circuits, construct "grain size," and analytic
      challenges. The importance of linking RDoC constructs to psychiatric clinical
      problems is discussed. Some pragmatics of incorporating RDoC concepts into
      applications for NIMH research funding are considered, including sampling design.

PMID- 26877117
TI  - Studies of auditory verbal hallucinations.
AB  - Neuroscientists have been exploring the mechanism of auditory verbal
      hallucinations. In this commentary, I review studies by Judy Ford, who employed a
      vocalization paradigm to test the hypothesis of impaired corollary discharge in
      psychotic patients who experience auditory verbal hallucinations. I highlight the
      strengths of this research program and reflect on the challenge of reducing a
      complex clinical feature to an abnormality of basic cognitive processes, such as
      language and memory. 

PMID- 26877116
TI  - Studying auditory verbal hallucinations using the RDoC framework.
AB  - In this paper, I explain why I adopted a Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach
      to study the neurobiology of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), or voices. I
      explain that the RDoC construct of "agency" fits well with AVH phenomenology. To
      the extent that voices sound nonself, voice hearers lack a sense of agency over
      the voices. Using a vocalization paradigm like those used with nonhuman primates
      to study mechanisms subserving the sense of agency, we find that the auditory N1
      ERP is suppressed during vocalization, that EEG synchrony preceding speech onset
      is related to N1 suppression, and that both are reduced in patients with
      schizophrenia. Reduced cortical suppression is also seen across multiple
      psychotic disorders and in clinically high-risk youth, but it is not related to
      AVH. The motor activity preceding talking and connectivity between frontal and
      temporal lobes during talking have both proved sensitive to AVH, suggesting
      neural activity and connectivity associated with intentions to act may be a
      better way to study agency and predictions based on agency. 

PMID- 26877118
TI  - Achieving success with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC): Going beyond the
      matrix.
AB  - Achieving Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) goals depends in part on how well
      scientists can grasp its principles and execute studies within its framework.
      Ford provides an exemplary illustration of a research program that aligns with
      RDoC guidelines. The future success of RDoC depends not just on research like
      that of Ford and colleagues. RDoC also must inspire the development of reliable
      neurobehavioral measures with demonstrable clinical validity that produce
      replicable findings leading to the establishment of neurocircuit-based behavioral
      dimensions that inform clinical work. Large samples not typically attainable in a
      clinical neuroscience laboratory or easily imagined within the confines of the
      RDoC matrix will be required if RDoC is to develop the insights and tools needed
      to establish incremental value over the DSM. Innovation that goes beyond reliance
      on the RDoC matrix and measures of neurocircuitry can help facilitate achievement
      of RDoC's goal of developing a science of psychopathology based on
      neurobiological systems. 

PMID- 26877119
TI  - Panic disorder with agoraphobia from a behavioral neuroscience perspective:
      Applying the research principles formulated by the Research Domain Criteria
      (RDoC) initiative.
AB  - In the current review, we reconceptualize a categorical diagnosis-panic disorder
      and agoraphobia-in terms of two constructs within the domain "negative valence
      systems" suggested by the Research Domain Criteria initiative. Panic attacks are
      considered as abrupt and intense fear responses to acute threat arising from
      inside the body, while anxious apprehension refers to anxiety responses to
      potential harm and more distant or uncertain threat. Taking a dimensional view,
      panic disorder with agoraphobia is defined with the threat-imminence model
      stating that defensive responses are dynamically organized along the dimension of
      the proximity of the threat. We tested this model within a large group of
      patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia (N = 369 and N = 124 in a
      replication sample) and found evidence that panic attacks are indeed instances of
      circa strike defense. This component of the defensive reactivity was related to
      genetic modulators within the serotonergic system. In contrast, anxious
      apprehension-characterized by attentive freezing during postencounter defense-was
      related to general distress and depressive mood, as well as to genetic
      modulations within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Patients with a
      strong behavioral tendency for active and passive avoidance responded better to
      exposure treatment if the therapist guides the patient through the exposure
      exercises.

PMID- 26877120
TI  - Reconciling RDoC and DSM approaches in clinical psychophysiology and
      neuroscience.
AB  - The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative endeavors to foster a science of
      psychopathology based around dimensions of brain-behavior relationships as
      opposed to subjectively based diagnostic categories. A rapidly accumulating array
      of transdiagnostic commonalities, across multiple objective and subjective
      measures, underscores the clear potential of this initiative. At the same time, a
      road map for guiding future RDoC research efforts is needed that draws upon the
      wealth of extant disorder-specific findings. In this issue, Hamm and colleagues
      provide an example of conceptualizing within-disorder processes in terms of
      dimensional brain-behavior relationships that advances the understanding of panic
      disorder with agoraphobia beyond the conventional nosological framework. Their
      findings and conceptual model are reviewed and discussed in terms of broader
      transdiagnostic implications. 

PMID- 26877121
TI  - Taking an RDoC lens to the study of panic disorder: A commentary on Hamm et al.
      and other thoughts on RDoC.
AB  - The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative put forth by the National
      Institute of Mental Health represents an exciting new framework in which to study
      psychopathology. The article by Hamm et al. (2016) is an interesting application
      of an "RDoC lens" toward a program of research on panic disorder. This commentary
      highlights the many strengths of the Hamm et al. (2016) study-most notably the
      article's application of a well-studied animal model of anxiety (Fanselow's, ,
      threat imminence model) to humans, utilization of an interesting behavioral
      paradigm (as an analog for avoidance behaviors in panic disorder), and using RDoC
      to examine predictors of treatment response. This commentary also discusses
      several questions about RDoC that arise out of Hamm et al. For example, (a) How
      should participants be selected for RDoC studies? (b) Are RDoC constructs risk
      factors (and risk factors for what)? (c) Besides Hamm et al.'s, approach, how
      else can RDoC be used in treatment studies? In sum, Hamm et al. is a very good
      example of an RDoC study, and in this early phase of the initiative, more
      examples for how the approach plays out are needed. 

PMID- 26877122
TI  - Applying Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) to the study of fear and anxiety: A
      critical comment.
AB  - The goal of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is to develop an
      interdisciplinary science of psychopathology, forming a template for research and
      disconnecting conceptual and empirical questions from traditional diagnostic
      entities. In this article, we review some of the challenges in the implementation
      of this framework within the field of pathological fear and anxiety, specifically
      commenting on the article by Hamm and colleagues (2016). The study of
      pathological fear and anxiety has had considerable, yet stalled, success in its
      understanding of underlying mechanisms, prevention, and treatment. With a shift
      toward RDoC, it is unclear what to do with the existing diagnostic labels, and
      the importance of defining and measuring phenotypes becomes paramount. Additional
      concerns include the role of psychological constructs and mechanisms, the use of
      self-report measures, the examination of replication and clinical utility, and
      the measurement of the role of the environment. Though a laudable and potentially
      necessary shift in focus, it remains to be seen whether new overall insights into
      psychopathology will emerge from focusing on small units of analyses and piecing
      them together and whether these insights will directly translate into the
      prevention of psychopathology, more efficacious treatments, and improved lives of
      patients. 

PMID- 26877124
TI  - Psychophysiology of threat response, paradigm shifts in psychiatry, and RDoC:
      Implications for genetic investigation of psychopathology.
AB  - Two articles in this issue seek to further the goal of NIMH's Research Domain
      Criteria (RDoC) initiative to develop new approaches for investigating mental
      disorders, using fundamental dimensions that cut across traditional disorder
      categories and align more closely with mechanisms that underlie psychopathology.
      One article, by Lang, McTeague, and Bradley, describes the construction of such a
      disorder cross-crossing dimension of fear response. The other, by Kozak and
      Cuthbert, expounds upon the basis and conceptualization of research targets under
      RDoC. Possible implications of these developments for psychiatric genetics
      research are discussed. 

PMID- 26877123
TI  - RDoC, DSM, and the reflex physiology of fear: A biodimensional analysis of the
      anxiety disorders spectrum.
AB  - Evidence is presented supporting a dimension of defensive reactivity that varies
      across the anxiety disorder spectrum and is defined by physiological responses
      during threat-imagery challenges that covary with objective measures of
      psychopathology. Previous imagery studies of anxiety disorders are reviewed,
      highlighting that, regardless of contemporary diagnostic convention, reliable
      psychophysiological patterns emerge for patients diagnosed with circumscribed
      fear compared to those diagnosed with pervasive anxious-misery disorders. Based
      on the heuristic outlined by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, an
      exploratory transdiagnostic analysis is presented, based on a sample of 425
      treatment-seeking patients from across the spectrum of DSM-IV anxiety diagnoses.
      Using a composite index of startle reflex and heart rate reactivity during
      idiographic fear imagery for each patient, a defensive dimension was defined by
      ranking patients from most defensively reactive to least reactive and then
      creating five groups of equivalent size (quintile; N = 85). Subsequent analyses
      showed significant parallel trends of diminishing reactivity in both
      electrodermal and facial electromyographic reactions across this defensive
      dimension. Negative affectivity, defined by questionnaire and extent of
      functional interference, however, showed consistent, inverse trends with
      defensive reactivity-as reports of distress increased, defensive reactivity was
      increasingly attenuated. Notably, representatives of each principal diagnosis
      appeared in each quintile, underscoring the reality of pronounced within
      diagnosis heterogeneity in defensive reactivity. In concluding, we describe our
      new RDoC research project, focusing on the assessment of brain circuit function
      as it determines hypo/hyperreactivity to challenge-somatic and autonomic-and may
      relate to patients' stress history and genetic inheritance. 

PMID- 26877125
TI  - The RDoC initiative and the structure of psychopathology.
AB  - The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project represents a welcome effort to
      circumvent the limitations of psychiatric categories as phenotypes for
      psychopathology research. Here, we describe the hierarchical and dimensional
      structure of phenotypic psychopathology and illustrate how this structure
      provides phenotypes suitable for RDoC research on neural correlates of
      psychopathology. A hierarchical and dimensional approach to psychopathology
      phenotypes holds great promise for delineating connections between neuroscience
      constructs and the patterns of affect, cognition, and behavior that constitute
      manifest psychopathology. 

PMID- 26877126
TI  - Displacement behaviors in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): A neurogenomics
      investigation of the RDoC Negative Valence Systems domain.
AB  - The current study aimed to systematically investigate genetic and neuroanatomical
      correlates of individual variation in scratching behaviors, a well-validated
      animal-behavioral indicator of negative emotional states with clear links to the
      NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) response to potential harm ("anxiety")
      construct within the Negative Valence Systems domain. Utilizing data from a
      sample of 76 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), we (a) examined the
      association between scratching and presence or absence of the RS3-containing DupB
      element in the AVPR1A 5' flanking region, (b) utilized voxel-based morphometry
      (VBM) to identify gray matter (GM) voxel clusters that differentiated AVPR1A
      genotype, and (c) conducted a VBM-guided voxel-of-interest analysis to examine
      the association between GM intensity and scratching. AVPR1A evidenced sexually
      dimorphic associations with scratching. VBM analyses revealed significant
      differences in GM by genotype across twelve clusters largely in the frontal
      cortex. Regions differentiating AVPR1A genotype showed sex-specific associations
      with scratching. Results suggest that sexually dimorphic associations between
      AVPR1A and scratching may be explained by genotype-specific neuroanatomical
      variation. The current study provides an example of the way in which chimpanzee
      research is uniquely poised for multilevel, systematic investigations of
      psychopathology-relevant constructs within the context of the RDoC framework. 

PMID- 26877127
TI  - Neuroethology as a translational neuroscience strategy in the era of the NIMH
      Research Domain Criteria.
AB  - The article by Latzman et al. in the current special issue utilizes a novel
      dataset consisting of behavioral, brain, and genomic data from a sample of 76
      captive chimpanzees to make the case that negative affective expression is
      influenced by variation in the gene coding for arginine vasopressin receptor 1A
      (AVPR1A), in a sex-linked manner. A novel feature of this study is the
      ethological approach employed by the authors, i.e., the use of scratching as a
      behavioral indicator of negative affective state. I comment on conceptual and
      methodological aspects of this work, and consider how it interfaces with the
      Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework as described by Kozak and Cuthbert in
      their article for this issue. 

PMID- 26877128
TI  - Using the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) in human and nonhuman primate
      research.
AB  - In this article, we provide a commentary on Kozak and Cuthbert ()'s theoretical
      paper discussing the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative and on
      Latzman et al. (2016)'s empirical investigation of the RDoC negative valence
      systems domain in chimpanzees, conducted with experimental procedures across
      genetic, neurobiological, and behavioral levels of analysis. We discuss the pros
      and cons of the RDoC approach to research on mental illness as well as the
      strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of this approach in the chimpanzee
      study. 

PMID- 26877130
TI  - The NIMH Research Domain Criteria initiative and error-related brain activity.
AB  - Research on the neural response to errors has an important role in the Research
      Domain Criteria (RDoC) project, since it is likely to link psychopathology to the
      dysfunction of neural systems underlying basic behavioral functions, with the
      error-related negativity (ERN) appearing as a unit of measurement in three RDoC
      domains. A recent report builds on previous research by examining the ERN as a
      measure of the sustained threat construct and providing evidence that the ERN may
      reflect sensitivity more specifically to endogenous threat. Data from 515
      adolescent females indicate that the ERN was enlarged primarily in older
      adolescents with self-reported checking behaviors, although it was blunted in
      adolescents with depressive symptoms regardless of age. Potential future studies
      for replicating and extending the research on the ERN and obsessive-compulsive
      (OC) behaviors are discussed, including studies that more fully characterize OC
      symptom dimensions, studies that integrate other measures of error-related brain
      activity and use computational modeling, studies that combine longitudinal,
      family, and molecular genetic measures, and interventional studies that
      specifically modulate error-related brain activity in individuals with OC
      behaviors. 

PMID- 26877131
TI  - The error-related negativity: A transdiagnostic marker of sustained threat?
AB  - The creation of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain
      Criteria (RDoC) project has been the driving force behind the reconceptualization
      of the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. In this commentary, I explore
      whether the error-related negativity can be considered as a transdiagnostic
      marker of sustained threat based on findings from Weinberg, Meyer et al.'s (2016)
      study in relation to current findings in the literature. Potential alternative
      study designs, use of a multimodal approach to the assessment of a specific
      phenotype of clinical phenomenon, and the importance of integrating a
      neurodevelopmental perspective are also discussed. 

PMID- 26877129
TI  - Error-related negativity (ERN) and sustained threat: Conceptual framework and
      empirical evaluation in an adolescent sample.
AB  - The error-related negativity (ERN) currently appears as a physiological measure
      in relation to three Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) constructs: Cognitive
      Control, Sustained Threat, and Reward Learning. We propose a conceptual model in
      which variance in the ERN reflects individual differences in the degree to which
      errors are evaluated as threatening. We also discuss evidence for the placement
      of the ERN in the "Sustained Threat" construct, as well as evidence that the ERN
      may more specifically reflect sensitivity to endogenous threat. Following this,
      we present data from a sample of 515 adolescent females demonstrating a larger
      ERN in relation to self-reported checking behaviors, but only in older
      adolescents, suggesting that sensitivity to internal threat and the ERN-checking
      relationship may follow a developmental course as adolescents develop behavioral
      control. In contrast, depressive symptoms were linked to a smaller ERN, and this
      association was invariant with respect to age. Collectively, these data suggest
      that the magnitude of the ERN is sensitive both to specific anxiety-related
      processes and depression, in opposing directions that may reflect variation in
      internal threat sensitivity. We discuss directions for future research, as well
      as ways in which findings for the ERN complement and challenge aspects of the
      current RDoC matrix. 

PMID- 26877132
TI  - Psychoneurometric operationalization of threat sensitivity: Relations with
      clinical symptom and physiological response criteria.
AB  - The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)
      initiative calls for the incorporation of neurobiological approaches and findings
      into conceptions of mental health problems through a focus on biobehavioral
      constructs investigated across multiple domains of measurement (units of
      analysis). Although the constructs in the RDoC system are characterized in
      "process terms" (i.e., as functional concepts with brain and behavioral
      referents), these constructs can also be framed as dispositions (i.e., as
      dimensions of variation in biobehavioral functioning across individuals).
      Focusing on one key RDoC construct, acute threat or "fear," the current article
      illustrates a construct-oriented psychoneurometric strategy for operationalizing
      this construct in individual difference terms-as threat sensitivity (THT+).
      Utilizing data from 454 adult participants, we demonstrate empirically that (a) a
      scale measure of THT+ designed to tap general fear/fearlessness predicts
      effectively to relevant clinical problems (i.e., fear disorder symptoms), (b)
      this scale measure shows reliable associations with physiological indices of
      acute reactivity to aversive visual stimuli, and (c) a cross-domain factor
      reflecting the intersection of scale and physiological indicators of THT+
      predicts effectively to both clinical and neurophysiological criterion measures.
      Results illustrate how the psychoneurometric approach can be used to create a
      dimensional index of a biobehavioral trait construct, in this case THT+, which
      can serve as a bridge between phenomena in domains of psychopathology and
      neurobiology. Implications and future directions are discussed with reference to
      the RDoC initiative and existing report-based conceptions of psychological
      traits. 

PMID- 26877135
TI  - RDoC: Translating promise into progress.
AB  - As highlighted by articles in the current special issue, the RDoC initiative
      holds promise for advancing understanding of mental health problems. However, the
      initiative is at its early stages and it remains unclear what level of progress
      can be achieved and how quickly. In this closing article, we identify major
      challenges facing RDoC and propose concrete approaches to addressing these
      challenges, including (a) clearer specification of clinical problems for study,
      with use of symptom dimensions from integrative dimensional models of
      psychopathology as provisional, modifiable referents; (b) encouragement of
      research on a distinct set of traits corresponding to process constructs from the
      RDoC matrix-those represented across animal, child temperament, and adult
      personality literatures-to serve as interfaces between matrix constructs and
      clinical problems; (c) an emphasis in the near term on use of proximal units of
      analysis in RDoC studies-in particular, on physiological, behavioral, and self
      report measures of matrix constructs (examined as states or traits, or both); (d)
      inclusion of a clear ontogenetic-developmental component in RDoC research
      projects; (e) routine analysis of the psychometric properties of nonreport (e.g.,
      physiological, task-behavioral) variables, including systematic evaluation of
      their reliability and convergent-discriminant validity; (f) modification of
      existing grant review criteria to prioritize replication and synergy in RDoC
      investigative work; and (g) creation of a cumulative data network system (RDoC
      DataWeb) to encourage and facilitate coordination of research efforts across RDoC
      research groups. 

PMID- 26877133
TI  - Psychobiological operationalization of RDoC constructs: Methodological and
      conceptual opportunities and challenges.
AB  - NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project seeks to advance the diagnosis,
      prevention, and treatment of mental disorders by promoting psychobiological
      research on dimensional constructs that might cut across traditional diagnostic
      boundaries (Kozak & Cuthbert, ). At the core of this approach is the notion that
      these dimensional constructs can be assessed across different units of analysis
      (e.g., genes, physiology, behavior), enriching the constructs and providing more
      complete explanations of clinical problems. While the conceptual aspects of RDoC
      have been discussed in several prior papers, its methodological aspects have
      received comparatively less attention. For example, how to integrate data from
      different units of analysis has been relatively unclear. Here, we discuss one
      means of psychobiologically operationalizing RDoC constructs across different
      units of analysis (the psychoneurometric approach; Yancey et al., ), highlighting
      ways in which this approach might be refined in future iterations. We conclude
      that there is much to be learned from this technique; however, greater attention
      to scale-development methods and to psychometrics will likely benefit this and
      other methodological approaches to combining measurements across multiple units
      of analysis. 

PMID- 26877134
TI  - Psychophysiology as a core strategy in RDoC.
AB  - The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative of the National Institute of
      Mental Health shows great promise in providing guidance for research on mental
      illness but has prompted considerable controversy. Papers by Yancey, Venables,
      and Patrick and Kozak and Cuthbert illustrate and clarify a number of important
      features of RDoC. The present commentary evaluates the former paper in light of
      the latter paper and addresses several common misunderstandings about RDoC. The
      concept of endophenotypes and diverse psychophysiological approaches will likely
      be central in RDoC-inspired research. 

PMID- 26877136
TI  - FLDS: A Comprehensive dsRNA Sequencing Method for Intracellular RNA Virus
      Surveillance.
AB  - Knowledge of the distribution and diversity of RNA viruses is still limited in
      spite of their possible environmental and epidemiological impacts because RNA
      virus-specific metagenomic methods have not yet been developed. We herein
      constructed an effective metagenomic method for RNA viruses by targeting long
      double-stranded (ds)RNA in cellular organisms, which is a hallmark of infection,
      or the replication of dsRNA and single-stranded (ss)RNA viruses, except for
      retroviruses. This novel dsRNA targeting metagenomic method is characterized by
      an extremely high recovery rate of viral RNA sequences, the retrieval of terminal
      sequences, and uniform read coverage, which has not previously been reported in
      other metagenomic methods targeting RNA viruses. This method revealed a
      previously unidentified viral RNA diversity of more than 20 complete RNA viral
      genomes including dsRNA and ssRNA viruses associated with an environmental diatom
      colony. Our approach will be a powerful tool for cataloging RNA viruses
      associated with organisms of interest. 

PMID- 26877137
TI  - Temperature-Dependent Expression of NodC and Community Structure of Soybean
      Nodulating Bradyrhizobia.
AB  - In order to assess the physiological responses of bradyrhizobia and competition
      for the nodulation of soybean at different temperatures, we investigated the
      expression of the nodC gene at 20, 25, and 30 degrees C and the abilities of
      bacteria to nodulate soybean in microcosms at day/night cultivation temperatures
      of 23/18 degrees C, 28/23 degrees C, and 33/28 degrees C for 16/8 h. We tested
      five Bradyrhizobium USDA strains: B. diazoefficiens USDA 110(T) and 122, B.
      japonicum USDA 123, and B. elkanii USDA 31 and 76(T). The expression of nodC was
      up-regulated by increasing culture temperatures in USDA 110(T), 122, 31, and
      76(T), but was down-regulated in USDA 123. The proportions of USDA 110(T) and 122
      within the community were the greatest at 28/23 degrees C. The population of USDA
      31 increased, whereas that of USDA 123 decreased with increasing cultivation
      temperatures. On the other hand, infection by USDA 76(T) was not detected, and
      low numbers of USDA 76(T) nodules confirmed its poor nodulation ability. These
      results indicate that the competitiveness of and infection by USDA 110(T), 122,
      123, and 31 for soybean nodulation depend on cultivation temperatures, and
      suggest that the temperature dependence of nodC expression affects the
      bradyrhizobial community structure. 

PMID- 26877139
TI  - Mechanisms of pulmonary cyst pathogenesis in Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome: The stretch
      hypothesis.
AB  - Loss-of-function mutations in the folliculin gene (FLCN) on chromosome 17p cause
      Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (BHD), which is associated with cystic lung disease. The
      risk of lung collapse (pneumothorax) in BHD patients is 50-fold higher than in
      the general population. The cystic lung disease in BHD is distinctive because the
      cysts tend to be basilar, subpleural and lentiform, differentiating BHD from most
      other cystic lung diseases. Recently, major advances in elucidating the primary
      functions of the folliculin protein have been made, including roles in mTOR and
      AMPK signaling via the interaction of FLCN with FNIP1/2, and cell-cell adhesion
      via the physical interaction of FLCN with plakophilin 4 (PKP4), an armadillo
      repeat containing protein that interacts with E-cadherin and is a component of
      the adherens junctions. In addition, in just the last three years, the pulmonary
      impact of FLCN deficiency has been examined for the first time. In mouse models,
      evidence has emerged that AMPK signaling and cell-cell adhesion are involved in
      alveolar enlargement. In addition, the pathologic features of human BHD cysts
      have been recently comprehensively characterized. The "stretch hypothesis"
      proposes that cysts in BHD arise because of fundamental defects in cell-cell
      adhesion, leading to repeated respiration-induced physical stretch-induced stress
      and, over time, expansion of alveolar spaces particularly in regions of the lung
      with larger changes in alveolar volume and at weaker "anchor points" to the
      pleura. This hypothesis ties together many of the new data from cellular and
      mouse models of BHD and from the human pathologic studies. Critical questions
      remain. These include whether the consequences of stretch-induced cyst formation
      arise through a destructive/inflammatory program or a proliferative program (or
      both), whether cyst initiation involves a "second hit" genetic event inactivating
      the remaining wild-type copy of FLCN (as is known to occur in BHD-associated
      renal cell carcinomas), and whether cyst initiation involves exclusively the
      epithelial compartment versus an interaction between the epithelium and
      mesenchyme. Ultimately, understanding the mechanisms of cystic lung disease in
      BHD may help to elucidate the pathogenesis of primary spontaneous pneumothorax,
      with more than 20,000 cases reported annually in the United States alone. 

PMID- 26877138
TI  - Sordaria, a model system to uncover links between meiotic pairing and
      recombination.
AB  - The mycelial fungus Sordaria macrospora was first used as experimental system for
      meiotic recombination. This review shows that it provides also a powerful
      cytological system for dissecting chromosome dynamics in wild-type and mutant
      meioses. Fundamental cytogenetic findings include: (1) the identification of
      presynaptic alignment as a key step in pairing of homologous chromosomes. (2) The
      discovery that biochemical complexes that mediate recombination at the DNA level
      concomitantly mediate pairing of homologs. (3) This pairing process involves not
      only resolution but also avoidance of chromosomal entanglements and the
      resolution system includes dissolution of constraining DNA recombination
      interactions, achieved by a unique role of Mlh1. (4) Discovery that the central
      components of the synaptonemal complex directly mediate the re-localization of
      the recombination proteins from on-axis to in-between homologue axis positions.
      (5) Identification of putative STUbL protein Hei10 as a structure-based signal
      transduction molecule that coordinates progression and differentiation of
      recombinational interactions at multiple stages. (6) Discovery that a single
      interference process mediates both nucleation of the SC and designation of
      crossover sites, thereby ensuring even spacing of both features. (7) Discovery of
      local modulation of sister-chromatid cohesion at sites of crossover
      recombination.

PMID- 26877140
TI  - Energy sensing and cancer: LKB1 function and lessons learnt from Peutz-Jeghers
      syndrome.
AB  - We describe in this review increasing evidence that loss of LKB1 kinase in Peutz
      Jeghers syndrome (PJS) derails the existing natural balance between cell survival
      and tumour growth suppression. LKB1 deletion can plunge cells into an
      energy/oxidative stress-induced crisis which leads to the activation of
      alternative and often carcinogenic pathways to maintain cellular energy levels.
      It therefore appears that although LKB1 deficiency can suppress oncogenic
      transformation in the short term, it can ultimately lead to more progressed and
      malignant phenotypes by driving abnormal cell differentiation, genomic
      instability and increased tumour heterogeneity. 

PMID- 26877141
TI  - Making the invisible visible.
AB  - In this review, I will discuss how careful scrutiny of genetic skin disorders
      could help us to understand human biology. Like other organs, the skin and its
      appendages, such as hairs and teeth, experience fundamental biological processes
      ranging from lipid metabolism to vesicular transport and cellular migration.
      However, in contrast to other organ systems, they are accessible and can be
      studied with relative ease. By visually revealing the functional consequences of
      single gene defects, genetic skin diseases offer a unique opportunity to study
      human biology. Here, I will illustrate this concept by discussing how human
      genetic disorders of skin pigmentation reflect the mechanisms underlying this
      complex and vital process. 

PMID- 26877142
TI  - Nosocomial infection and its molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
AB  - Nosocomial infection is a kind of infection, which is spread in various hospital
      environments, and leads to many serious diseases (e.g. pneumonia, urinary tract
      infection, gastroenteritis, and puerperal fever), and causes higher mortality
      than community-acquired infection. Bacteria are predominant among all the
      nosocomial infection-associated pathogens, thus a large number of antibiotics,
      such as aminoglycosides, penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems, are
      adopted in clinical treatment. However, in recent years antibiotic resistance
      quickly spreads worldwide and causes a critical threat to public health. The
      predominant bacteria include Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and
      Acinetobacter baumannii. In these bacteria, resistance emerged from antibiotic
      resistant genes and many of those can be exchanged between bacteria. With
      technical advances, molecular mechanisms of resistance have been gradually
      unveiled. In this review, recent advances in knowledge about mechanisms by which
      (i) bacteria hydrolyze antibiotics (e.g. extended spectrum beta-lactamases, (ii)
      AmpC beta-lactamases, carbapenemases), (iii) avoid antibiotic targeting (e.g.
      mutated vanA and mecA genes), (iv) prevent antibiotic permeation (e.g. porin
      deficiency), or (v) excrete intracellular antibiotics (e.g. active efflux pump)
      are summarized. 

PMID- 26877143
TI  - Effects of Cocoa Husk Feeding on the Composition of Swine Intestinal Microbiota.
AB  - A two-diet/two-period change over experiment was performed to investigate the
      effects of cocoa husks, as a source of dietary fiber and polyphenols, on pig
      intestinal microbial composition. Six pigs were fed a conventional cereal-based
      diet or a diet obtained by substitution of 7.5% of the conventional diet with
      cocoa husks for 3 weeks. Experimental diets were isoproteic and isoenergetic. At
      the end of each 3 week testing period, samples of fresh feces were collected and
      analyzed for microbial composition by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cocoa
      husks did not affect feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency. Analysis of
      fecal microbial populations, grouped by phyla, showed a decrease of Firmicutes
      and an increase of Bacteroidetes in cocoa husk-fed pigs. Particularly, cocoa
      husks reduced fecal populations of the Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group and
      Clostridium histolyticum and increased the Bacteroides-Prevotella group and
      Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, suggesting a potential for cocoa husks in the
      improvement of intestinal microbial balance. 

PMID- 26877144
TI  - Assembly of coupled redox fuel cells using copper as electron acceptors to
      generate power and its in-situ retrieval.
AB  - Energy extraction from waste has attracted much interest nowadays. Herein, a
      coupled redox fuel cell (CRFC) device using heavy metals, such as copper, as an
      electron acceptor is assembled to testify the recoveries of both electricity and
      the precious metal without energy consumption. In this study, a NaBH4-Cu(II) CRFC
      was employed as an example to retrieve copper from a dilute solution with self
      electricity production. The properties of the CRFC have been characterized, and
      the open circuit voltage was 1.65 V with a maximum power density of 7.2 W m(-2)
      at an initial Cu(2+) concentration of 1,600 mg L(-1) in the catholyte. 99.9% of
      the 400 mg L(-1) copper was harvested after operation for 24 h, and the product
      formed on the cathode was identified as elemental copper. The CRFC demonstrated
      that useful chemicals were recovered and the electricity contained in the
      chemicals was produced in a self-powered retrieval process.

PMID- 26877145
TI  - Ultrasound-mediated modulation of the emission of gold nanodots.
AB  - In this study, we employed ultrasound-based treatment to mediate the emission
      properties of (11-mercaptoundecyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide-capped gold
      nanodots (11-MUTAB-Au NDs). The as-prepared 11-MUTAB-Au NDs (sizes: ca. 1.8 nm),
      obtained from the reaction of gold nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm) and 11-MUTAB,
      exhibited very weak red photoluminescence (PL) near 670 nm [quantum yield (QY):
      0.01%] upon excitation at 365 nm. After ultrasonication (20 W) for 2 h, however,
      the 11-MUTAB-Au NDs exhibited a >1000-fold enhancement in their PL intensity (QY:
      11.5%), which shifted to a green color (ca. 540 nm) with a longer PL lifetime,
      due to the smaller size of the resulting NDs and the higher density of their
      capping 11-MUTAB ligands. Moreover, the PL of the 11-MUTAB-Au NDs returned to the
      near-infrared region (ca. 810 nm) after ultrasonication for a long period of time
      (>5 h). The dramatically different optical properties of these alkanethiol
      protected Au NDs after ultrasonication were presumably due to variation in their
      ligand densities; these effects were highly regulated by varying the
      ultrasonication time and power. Because the size, oxidation state, surface ligand
      density, and PL of these Au NDs could be controlled simply through ultrasonic
      treatment, this approach might open up new avenues for the preparation of
      emission-tunable metallic (e.g., Au, Ag, Pt) NDs presenting various capping
      ligands. 

PMID- 26877146
TI  - Big Five Personality Traits and the General Factor of Personality as Moderators
      of Stress and Coping Reactions Following an Emergency Alarm on a Swiss University
      Campus.
AB  - We conducted an online survey including 306 participants aged 18-64 years to
      assess the general factor of personality (GFP) and Big Five personality traits in
      relation to individual stress and coping reactions following a shooting emergency
      alarm at a Swiss university campus. Although the emergency eventually turned out
      to be a false alarm, various witnesses showed pronounced distress owing to a vast
      police operation. The GFP structure was replicated using two alternative
      modelling approaches. Neuroticism related substantially to acute fear and
      traumatic distress as well as to more enduring maladaptive coping. Agreeableness
      was negatively associated with the coping strategy of medication use, whereas
      both agreeableness and conscientiousness related positively to social activity
      following the emergency. The GFP related moderately to peri-traumatic distress
      and showed a substantial negative association with medication use and a strong
      positive association with social activity. In conclusion, both the GFP and Big
      Five traits significantly moderate stress responses following a stressful life
      event. The GFP predominantly relates to socially adaptive coping, whereas in
      particular neuroticism accounts for acute stress reactions such as fear and
      traumatic distress. These findings support the notion that personality influences
      how persons react in the face of adversity. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26877147
TI  - An experimental 'Life' for an experimental life: Richard Waller's biography of
      Robert Hooke (1705).
AB  - Richard Waller's 'Life of Dr Robert Hooke', prefixed to his edition of Hooke's
      Posthumous Works (1705), is an important source for the life of one of the most
      eminent members of the early Royal Society. It also has the distinction of being
      one of the earliest biographies of a man of science to be published in English. I
      argue that it is in fact the first biography to embrace the subject's natural
      philosophical work as the centre of his life, and I investigate Waller's reasons
      for adopting this strategy and his struggle with the problem of how to represent
      an early experimental philosopher in print. I suggest that Waller eschews the
      'Christian philosopher' tradition of contemporary biography - partly because of
      the unusually diverse and fragmentary nature of Hooke's intellectual output - and
      draws instead upon the structure of the Royal Society's archive as a means of
      organizing and understanding Hooke's life. The most quoted phrase from Waller's
      biography is that Hooke became 'to a crime close and reserved' in later life;
      this essay argues that Waller's biographical sketch was fashioned in order to
      undo the effects of that reserve. In modelling his approach very closely on the
      structure of the society's records he was principally concerned with making
      Hooke's work and biography accessible, intelligible and useful to the fellowship
      in a context familiar to them, a context which had provided the institutional
      framework for most of Hooke's adult life. I argue that Waller's 'Life' was also
      intended to make the largest claims for Hooke's intellectual standing that the
      author dared in the context of the enmity between Hooke and Isaac Newton once the
      latter became president of the Royal Society. However, I also adduce fresh
      manuscript evidence that Waller actually compiled, but did not publish, a defence
      of Hooke's claim to have discovered the inverse square law of gravity, allowing
      us to glimpse a much more assertive biography of Hooke than the published
      version. 

PMID- 26877148
TI  - Involvement of an octose ketoreductase and two acyltransferases in the
      biosynthesis of paulomycins.
AB  - C-4 hydroxyethyl branched octoses have been observed in polysaccharides of
      several genera of gram negative bacteria and in various antibiotics produced by
      gram positive bacteria. The C-4 hydroxyethyl branch was proposed to be converted
      from C-4 acetyl branch by an uncharacterized ketoreduction step. Paulomycins
      (PAUs) are glycosylated antibiotics with potent inhibitory activity against gram
      positive bacteria and are structurally defined by its unique C-4' hydroxyethyl
      branched paulomycose moiety. A novel aldo-keto-reductase, Pau7 was characterized
      as the enzyme catalyzing the stereospecific ketoreduction of 7'-keto of PAU E (1)
      to give the C-4' hydroxyethyl branched paulomycose moiety of PAU F (2). An
      acyltransferase Pau6 further decorates the C-4' hydroxyethyl branch of
      paulomycose moiety of 2 by attaching various fatty acyl chains to 7'-OH to
      generate diverse PAUs. In addition, another acyltransferase Pau24 was proposed to
      be responsible for the 13-O-acetylation of PAUs.

PMID- 26877149
TI  - Genome wide transcriptome profiling reveals differential gene expression in
      secondary metabolite pathway of Cymbopogon winterianus.
AB  - Advances in transcriptome sequencing provide fast, cost-effective and reliable
      approach to generate large expression datasets especially suitable for non-model
      species to identify putative genes, key pathway and regulatory mechanism.
      Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) is an aromatic medicinal grass used for anti
      tumoral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, detoxifying and natural insect
      repellent properties. Despite of having number of utilities, the genes involved
      in terpenes biosynthetic pathway is not yet clearly elucidated. The present study
      is a pioneering attempt to generate an exhaustive molecular information of
      secondary metabolite pathway and to increase genomic resources in Citronella.
      Using high-throughput RNA-Seq technology, root and leaf transcriptome was
      analysed at an unprecedented depth (11.7 Gb). Targeted searches identified
      majority of the genes associated with metabolic pathway and other natural product
      pathway viz. antibiotics synthesis along with many novel genes. Terpenoid
      biosynthesis genes comparative expression results were validated for 15 unigenes
      by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Thus the coverage of these transcriptome is comprehensive
      enough to discover all known genes of major metabolic pathways. This
      transcriptome dataset can serve as important public information for gene
      expression, genomics and function genomics studies in Citronella and shall act as
      a benchmark for future improvement of the crop.

PMID- 26877150
TI  - Mining the genome of Rhodococcus fascians, a plant growth-promoting bacterium
      gone astray.
AB  - Rhodococcus fascians is a phytopathogenic Gram-positive Actinomycete with a very
      broad host range encompassing especially dicotyledonous herbaceous perennials,
      but also some monocots, such as the Liliaceae and, recently, the woody crop
      pistachio. The pathogenicity of R. fascians strain D188 is known to be encoded by
      the linear plasmid pFiD188 and to be dictated by its capacity to produce a
      mixture of cytokinins. Here, we show that D188-5, the nonpathogenic plasmid-free
      derivative of the wild-type strain D188 actually has a plant growth-promoting
      effect. With the availability of the genome sequence of R. fascians, the
      chromosome of strain D188 was mined for putative plant growth-promoting functions
      and the functionality of some of these activities was tested. This analysis
      together with previous results suggests that the plant growth-promoting activity
      of R. fascians is due to production of plant growth modulators, such as auxin and
      cytokinin, combined with degradation of ethylene through 1-amino-cyclopropane-1
      carboxylic acid deaminase. Moreover, R. fascians has several functions that could
      contribute to efficient colonization and competitiveness, but there is little
      evidence for a strong impact on plant nutrition. Possibly, the plant growth
      promotion encoded by the D188 chromosome is imperative for the epiphytic phase of
      the life cycle of R. fascians and prepares the plant to host the bacteria, thus
      ensuring proper continuation into the pathogenic phase. 

PMID- 26877151
TI  - Whole transcriptome analysis of transgenic barley with altered cytokinin
      homeostasis and increased tolerance to drought stress.
AB  - Cytokinin plant hormones have been shown to play an important role in plant
      response to abiotic stresses. Herein, we expand upon the findings of Pospisilova
      et al. [30] regarding preparation of novel transgenic barley lines overexpressing
      cytokinin dehydrogenase 1 gene from Arabidopsis under the control of mild root
      specific promotor of maize beta-glycosidase. These lines showed drought-tolerant
      phenotype mainly due to alteration of root architecture and stronger
      lignification of root tissue. A detailed transcriptomic analysis of roots of
      transgenic plants subjected to revitalization after drought stress revealed
      attenuated response through the HvHK3 cytokinin receptor and up-regulation of two
      transcription factors implicated in stress responses and abscisic acid
      sensitivity. Increased expression of several genes involved in the
      phenylpropanoid pathway as well as of genes encoding arogenate dehydratase/lyase
      participating in phenylalanine synthesis was found in roots during
      revitalization. Although more precursors of lignin synthesis were present in
      roots after drought stress, final lignin accumulation did not change compared to
      that in plants grown under optimal conditions. Changes in transcriptome indicated
      a higher auxin turnover in transgenic roots. The same analysis in leaves revealed
      that genes encoding putative enzymes responsible for production of jasmonates and
      other volatile compounds were up-regulated. Although transgenic barley leaves
      showed lower chlorophyll content and down-regulation of genes encoding proteins
      involved in photosynthesis than did wild-type plants when cultivated under
      optimal conditions, they did show a tendency to return to initial photochemical
      activities faster than did wild-type leaves when re-watered after severe drought
      stress. In contrast to optimal conditions, comparative transcriptomic analysis of
      revitalized leaves displayed up-regulation of genes encoding enzymes and proteins
      involved in photosynthesis, and especially those encoded by the chloroplast
      genome. Taken together, our results indicate that the partial cytokinin
      insensitivity induced in barley overexpressing cytokinin dehydrogenase
      contributes to tolerance to drought stress. 

PMID- 26877152
TI  - Chalcogen bonding interactions between reducible sulfur and selenium compounds
      and models of zinc finger proteins.
AB  - Reducible sulfur and selenium (r-S/Se) compounds, defined as sulfur and selenium
      compounds not in the lowest -2 oxidation state (e.g., -1 to +6), release Zn(2+)
      from zinc-sulfur proteins such as zinc fingers (ZFs) and metallothionein. A
      series of density functional theory calculations was performed on donor-acceptor
      complexes between r-S/Se compounds and models of the Cys2His2, Cys3His and Cys4
      ZF sites. These S?S/Se chalcogen bonding interactions consist of the donation of
      electron density from a S lone pair on the ZF model to a S/Se-X antibonding
      molecular orbital of the r-S/Se compound. The strength of the interaction was
      shown to be dependent upon the Lewis basicity of the ZF model
      (Cys4>Cys3His>Cys2His2) and the Lewis acidity of the r-S/Se compound as measured
      by the energy of the S/Se-X antibonding orbital. Interactions with the softer r
      Se compounds were stronger than the r-S compounds, consistent with the greater
      reactivity of the former with ZF proteins. 

PMID- 26877153
TI  - Does allostatic load calculation method matter? Evaluation of different methods
      and individual biomarkers functioning by race/ethnicity and educational level.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Using nationally representative data for adults of age 25 years and
      older from four waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
      (NHANES), collected from 2003 through 2010, this study examines differences in
      individual health markers used to calculate allostatic load, with particular
      attention given to stratification by race/ethnicity and educational level.
      METHODS: Factor analysis with maximum likelihood estimation was used. Fisher's r
      to z transformation test was used to determine whether or not observed
      differences in factor loadings were statistically significant. RESULTS: The
      findings reveal the unidimensionality of the concept of allostatic load and the
      underlying differences in associations between individual biomarkers and summary
      measures of allostatic load. Additionally, metabolic processes tend to be the
      most important predictor of allostatic load for all adults; however, inflammatory
      measures are more important in determining allostatic load scores for non
      Hispanic blacks compared to non-Hispanic whites and for adults with less than a
      college education compared to adults with some college or a college degree.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the continued importance of studying the
      concept of "weathering" or allostatic load at the population level and need to
      better understand how population groups facing exclusion from economic, social,
      and political power may internalize this position which may cause early health
      deterioration and ultimate mortality chance through different expression of
      health insults and premature aging. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:627-635, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26877154
TI  - Cyclosporine A lipid nanoparticles for oral administration: Pharmacodynamics and
      safety evaluation.
AB  - The pharmacodynamic effect and the safety of cyclosporine A lipid nanoparticles
      (CsA LN) for oral administration were investigated using Sandimmune Neoral(r) as
      reference. First, the biocompatibility of the unloaded LN on Caco-2 cells was
      demonstrated. The pharmacodynamic response and blood levels of CsA were studied
      in Balb/c mice after 5 and 10 days of daily oral administration equivalent to 5
      and 15 mg/kg of CsA in different formulations. The in vivo nephrotoxicity after
      15 days of treatment at the high dose was also evaluated. The results showed a
      significant decrease in lymphocyte count (indicator of immunosuppression) for the
      CsA LN groups which was not observed with Sandimmune Neoral(r). CsA blood levels
      remained constant over the time after treatment with LN, whereas a proportional
      increase in drug blood concentration was observed with Sandimmune Neoral(r).
      Therefore, CsA LN exhibited a better pharmacological response along with more
      predictable pharmacokinetic information, diminishing the risk of toxicity.
      Moreover, a nephroprotective effect against CsA related toxicity was observed in
      the histopathological evaluation when LN containing Tween(r) 80 were
      administered. Therefore, our preliminary findings suggest LN formulations would
      be a good alternative for CsA oral delivery, enhancing efficacy and reducing the
      risk of nephrotoxicity.

PMID- 26877156
TI  - Tissue engineering advances in spine surgery.
AB  - Autograft, while currently the gold standard for bone grafting, has several
      significant disadvantages including limited supply, donor site pain, hematoma
      formation, nerve and vascular injury, and fracture. Bone allografts have their
      own disadvantages including reduced osteoinductive capability, lack of
      osteoprogenitor cells, immunogenicity and risk of disease transmission. Thus
      demand exists for tissue-engineered constructs that can produce viable bone while
      avoiding the complications associated with human tissue grafts. This review will
      focus on recent advancements in tissue-engineered bone graft substitutes
      utilizing nanoscale technology in spine surgery applications. An evaluation will
      be performed of bone graft substitutes, biomimetic 3D scaffolds, bone
      morphogenetic protein, mesenchymal stem cells and intervertebral disc
      regeneration strategies. 

PMID- 26877155
TI  - Clinical Relevance of Liver Kinase B1(LKB1) Protein and Gene Expression in Breast
      Cancer.
AB  - Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a tumor suppressor, and its loss might lead to
      activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and tumorigenesis. This
      study aimed to determine the clinical relevance of LKB1 gene and protein
      expression in breast cancer patients. LKB1 protein expression was evaluated using
      immunohistochemistry in tumors from early breast cancer patients in two Taiwanese
      medical centers. Data on LKB1 gene expression were obtained from the Molecular
      Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) data set. The
      correlations between LKB1 expression, clinicopathologic factors, and patient
      outcome were analyzed. LKB1 expression was significantly associated with estrogen
      receptor (ER) expression in 2 of the 4 cohorts, but not with other
      clinicopathologic factors. LKB1 expression was not a predictor for relapse-free
      survival, overall survival (OS), or breast cancer-specific survival. In a
      subgroup analysis of the two Taiwanese cohorts, high LKB1 protein expression was
      predictive of high OS in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive
      breast cancer patients (P = 0.013). Our study results indicate that LKB1
      expression is not prognostic in the whole population of breast cancer patients,
      but it is a potential predictor of OS in the subset of HER2-positive patients.

PMID- 26877157
TI  - Serum sTREM-1 level is quite higher in Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, a viral
      infection.
AB  - Members of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) family are known
      as immunmodulators in several infectious or noninfectious inflammatory disorders.
      The information about their role in viral infections is very limited. To
      enlighten if there is a relation between soluble TREM-1(sTREM-1) and a viral
      infection, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), we investigated the levels of
      sTREM-1 in the sera of 39 CCHF patients both at admission and at recovery and
      compared with 40 healthy controls by using microELISA technique. Statistical
      analysis was made by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for
      Windows 20 programme. Value of P < 0.05 was accepted as significant for
      statistical analyses. Median sTREM-1 level was higher in CCHF group when compared
      to the control group (1,961 vs. 151.1 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). In CCHF
      patients, sTREM-1 levels were significantly decreased at recovery compared to
      initial level measured at hospital admission (1,961 vs. 948 pg/ml, respectively;
      P = 0.019). DeltasTREM-1 is correlated with DeltaCRP, DeltaWBC, and DeltaPlt. We
      found that serum levels of sTREM-1 higher than 405.9 pg/ml existed as a cut off
      point for differentiating CCHF patients and control group with a sensitivity of
      94.9% and specifity of 87.5%. It is proved that sTREM-1 is increased and
      correlates with the clinical and laboratory findings in CCHF, a viral infection
      characterized by activation of inflammation. This finding may lead new studies to
      enlighten the pathogenesis of infections developing by activation of inflammatory
      cascades and high level cytokine releases, especially. J. Med. Virol. 88:1473
      1478, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26877158
TI  - Optimizing the acceleration and resolution of three-dimensional fat image
      navigators for high-resolution motion correction at 7T.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of spatial resolution and parallel imaging
      acceleration factor on the quality of the motion estimates derived from image
      navigators with a three-dimensional (3D) gradient-recalled echo (GRE) acquisition
      with fat excitation (3D FatNavs) for neuroimaging at 7T. METHODS: Six healthy
      subjects were scanned for 10 min, during which time repeated GRE volumes were
      acquired during small movements-alternating between fat and water excitations
      (WaterNavs)-allowing retrospective decimation of the data to simulate a variety
      of combinations of image resolution and acceleration factor. Bias and error in
      the motion estimates were then compared across navigator parameters. RESULTS: The
      2-mm, 4 * 4 accelerated data (TRvolume  = 1.2 s) provided motion estimates that
      were almost indistinguishable from those from the full original acquisition (2
      mm, 2 * 2, TRvolume  = 5.2 s). For faster navigators, it was found that good
      accuracy and precision were achievable with TRvolume  = 144 ms, using a lower
      spatial resolution (4 mm, 6 * 6 acceleration) to avoid the bias observed at
      exceptionally high acceleration factors (8 * 8 or higher). Parameter estimates
      from WaterNavs and FatNavs showed close agreement with FatNavs, with better
      performance at exceptionally high acceleration factors. CONCLUSION: Our data help
      to guide the parameter choice for 3D FatNavs when a compromise must be reached
      between the quality of the motion estimates and the available scan time. Magn
      Reson Med 77:547-558, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance
      in Medicine.

PMID- 26877159
TI  - Association between allergies and reduced risk of glioma.

PMID- 26877160
TI  - FDA confronts opioid addiction and overdose deaths.

PMID- 26877161
TI  - Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee and conflicts of interest.

PMID- 26877162
TI  - Efficient mental workload estimation using task-independent EEG features.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Mental workload is frequently estimated by EEG-based mental state
      monitoring systems. Usually, these systems use spectral markers and event-related
      potentials (ERPs). To our knowledge, no study has directly compared their
      performance for mental workload assessment, nor evaluated the stability in time
      of these markers and of the performance of the associated mental workload
      estimators.  This study proposes a comparison of two processing chains, one based
      on the power in five frequency bands, and one based on ERPs, both including a
      spatial filtering step (respectively CSP and CCA), an FLDA classification and a
      10-fold cross-validation. APPROACH: To get closer to a real life implementation,
      spectral markers were extracted from a short window (i.e. towards reactive
      systems) that did not include any motor activity and the analyzed ERPs were
      elicited by a task-independent probe that required a reflex-like answer (i.e.
      close to the ones required by dead man's vigilance devices). The data were
      acquired from 20 participants who performed a Sternberg memory task for 90 min
      (i.e. 2/6 digits to memorize) inside which a simple detection task was inserted.
      The results were compared both when the testing was performed at the beginning
      and end of the session. MAIN RESULTS: Both chains performed significantly better
      than random; however the one based on the spectral markers had a low performance
      (60%) and was not stable in time. Conversely, the ERP-based chain gave very high
      results (91%) and was stable in time. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that
      an efficient and stable in time workload estimation can be achieved using task
      independent spatially filtered ERPs elicited in a minimally intrusive manner.

PMID- 26877163
TI  - Corrigendum: EPPS rescues hippocampus-dependent cognitive deficits in APP/PS1
      mice by disaggregation of amyloid-beta oligomers and plaques.

PMID- 26877164
TI  - Influence of zinc on bacterial populations and their proteolytic enzyme
      activities in freshwater environments: a cross-site comparison.
AB  - Temporal responses of indigenous bacterial populations and proteolytic enzyme
      (i.e., aminopeptidase) activities in the bacterioplankton assemblages from 3
      separate freshwater environments were examined after exposure to various zinc
      (Zn) concentrations under controlled microcosm conditions. Zn concentrations
      (ranging from 0 to 10 MUmol/L) were added to water samples collected from the
      Kalamazoo River, Rice Creek, and Huron River and examined for bacterial abundance
      and aminopeptidase activities at various time intervals over a 48 h incubation
      period in the dark. The results showed that the Zn concentrations did not
      significantly influence total bacterial counts directly; however, aminopeptidase
      activities varied significantly to increasing zinc treatments over time. Also,
      analysis of variance and linear regression analyses revealed significant positive
      relationships between bacterial numbers and their hydrolytic enzyme activities,
      suggesting that both probably co-vary with increasing Zn concentrations in
      aquatic systems. The results from this study serve as additional evidence of the
      ecological role of Zn as an extracellular peptidase cofactor on the dynamics of
      bacterial assemblages in aquatic environments. 

PMID- 26877165
TI  - Evaluation of a temporary vaccination recommendation in response to an outbreak
      of invasive meningococcal serogroup C disease in men who have sex with men in
      Berlin, 2013-2014.
AB  - Meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) vaccination of men who have sex with men (MSM)
      was temporarily recommended to control an outbreak of invasive MenC disease among
      MSM in Berlin in 2012-2013. Vaccination was offered to HIV-infected MSM free of
      charge; others had to request reimbursement or pay out of pocket. We aimed to
      assess (i) awareness and acceptance of this recommendation through an online
      survey of MSM, (ii) implementation through a survey of primary care physicians
      and analysis of vaccine prescriptions, and (iii) impact through analysis of
      notified cases. Among online survey respondents, 60% were aware of the
      recommendation. Of these, 39% had obtained vaccination (70% of HIV-infected, 13%
      of HIV-negative/non-tested MSM). Awareness of recommendation and vaccination were
      positively associated with HIV infection, primary care physicians' awareness of
      respondents' sexual orientation, and exposure to multiple information sources.
      Most (26/30) physicians informed clients about the recommendation. Physicians
      considered concerns regarding reimbursement, vaccine safety and lack of perceived
      disease risk as primary barriers. After the recommendation, no further outbreak
      related cases occurred. To reach and motivate target groups, communication of a
      new outbreak-related vaccination recommendation should address potential concerns
      through as many information channels as possible and direct reimbursement of
      costs should be enabled. 

PMID- 26877168
TI  - Tailoring treatments using treatment effect modification.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Applying results from clinical studies to individual
      patients can be a difficult process. Using the concept of treatment effect
      modification (also referred to as interaction), defined as a difference in
      treatment response between patient groups, we discuss whether and how treatment
      effects can be tailored to better meet patients' needs. RESULTS: First we argue
      that contrary to how most studies are designed, treatment effect modification
      should be expected. Second, given this expected heterogeneity, a small number of
      clinically relevant subgroups should be a priori selected, depending on the
      expected magnitude of effect modification, and prevalence of the patient type.
      Third, by defining generalizability as the absence of treatment effect
      modification we show that generalizability can be evaluated within the usual
      statistical framework of equivalence testing. Fourth, when equivalence cannot be
      confirmed, we address the need for further analyses and studies tailoring
      treatment towards groups of patients with similar response to treatment. Fifth,
      we argue that to properly frame, the entire body of evidence on effect
      modification should be quantified in a prior probability.

PMID- 26877166
TI  - Influence of light exposure at nighttime on sleep development and body growth of
      preterm infants.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that a light-dark cycle has promoted better
      sleep development and weight gain in preterm infants than constant light or
      constant darkness. However, it was unknown whether brief light exposure at night
      for medical treatment and nursing care would compromise the benefits brought
      about by such a light-dark cycle. To examine such possibility, we developed a
      special red LED light with a wavelength of >675 nm which preterm infants cannot
      perceive. Preterm infants born at <36 weeks' gestational age were randomly
      assigned for periodic exposure to either white or red LED light at night in a
      light-dark cycle after transfer from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to the
      Growing Care Unit, used for supporting infants as they mature. Activity,
      nighttime crying and body weight were continuously monitored from enrolment until
      discharge. No significant difference in rest-activity patterns, nighttime crying,
      or weight gain was observed between control and experimental groups. The data
      indicate that nursing care conducted at 3 to 4-hour intervals exposing infants to
      light for <15 minutes does not prevent the infants from developing circadian rest
      activity patterns, or proper body growth as long as the infants are exposed to
      regular light-dark cycles. 

PMID- 26877169
TI  - Self-administered methoxyflurane for procedural analgesia: experience in a
      tertiary Australasian centre.
AB  - Methoxyflurane, an agent formerly used as a volatile anaesthetic but that has
      strong analgesic properties, will soon become available again in the UK and
      Europe in the form of a small hand-held inhaler. We describe our experience in
      the use of inhaled methoxyflurane for procedural analgesia within a large
      tertiary hospital. In a small pilot crossover study of patients undergoing burns
      dressing procedures, self-administered methoxyflurane inhalation was preferred to
      ketamine-midazolam patient-controlled analgesia by five of eight patients.
      Patient and proceduralist outcomes and satisfaction were recorded from a
      subsequent case series of 173 minor surgical and radiological procedures in 123
      patients performed using inhaled methoxyflurane. The procedures included change
      of dressing, minor debridement, colonoscopy and incision-and-drainage of abscess.
      There was a 97% success rate of methoxyflurane analgesia to facilitate these
      procedures. Limitations of methoxyflurane include maximal daily and weekly doses,
      and uncertainty regarding its safety in patients with pre-existing renal disease.

PMID- 26877167
TI  - Strain-dependent profile of misfolded prion protein aggregates.
AB  - Prions are composed of the misfolded prion protein (PrP(Sc)) organized in a
      variety of aggregates. An important question in the prion field has been to
      determine the identity of functional PrP(Sc) aggregates. In this study, we used
      equilibrium sedimentation in sucrose density gradients to separate PrP(Sc)
      aggregates from three hamster prion strains (Hyper, Drowsy, SSLOW) subjected to
      minimal manipulations. We show that PrP(Sc) aggregates distribute in a wide range
      of arrangements and the relative proportion of each species depends on the prion
      strain. We observed a direct correlation between the density of the predominant
      PrP(Sc) aggregates and the incubation periods for the strains studied. The
      relative presence of PrP(Sc) in fractions of different sucrose densities was
      indicative of the protein deposits present in the brain as analyzed by histology.
      Interestingly, no association was found between sensitivity to proteolytic
      degradation and aggregation profiles. Therefore, the organization of PrP
      molecules in terms of the density of aggregates generated may determine some of
      the particular strain properties, whereas others are independent from it. Our
      findings may contribute to understand the mechanisms of strain variation and the
      role of PrP(Sc) aggregates in prion-induced neurodegeneration. 

PMID- 26877170
TI  - In Memoriam: Lawrence Cohn.

PMID- 26877171
TI  - Very high or close to zero thermal expansion by the variation of the Sr/Ba ratio
      in Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Zn2Si2O7- solid solutions.
AB  - The compound BaZn2Si2O7 shows a highly positive coefficient of thermal expansion.
      At a temperature of 280  degrees C, it transforms to a high temperature phase,
      which exhibits a coefficient of thermal expansion near zero. The partial
      replacement of Ba(2+) against Sr(2+) leads to a decrease of the phase transition
      temperature. If more than 10% of Ba(2+) are replaced by Sr(2+), the high
      temperature phase is completely stable at room temperature and consequently, the
      thermal expansion is near zero or negative. The effect of the Sr(2+)/Ba(2+)-ratio
      on the phase transition temperature and the thermal expansion behavior is
      measured using high-temperature X-ray diffraction up to 1000  degrees C. The
      Sr(2+)/Ba(2+)-ratio strongly affects the overall thermal expansion as well as the
      anisotropy. The latter increases with decreasing Sr-concentration. The strong
      differences in the thermal expansion behavior between phases with the structure
      of the low-temperature phase and the high-temperature phase of BaZn2Si2O7 can be
      explained by a comparison of the ZnO4-chains inside these two crystal structures.

PMID- 26877173
TI  - Dual ultrasonic-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with
      microwave-assisted derivatization for simultaneous determination of 20(S)
      protopanaxadiol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol by ultra high performance liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - This paper, for the first time, reported a speedy hyphenated technique of low
      toxic dual ultrasonic-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (dual
      UADLLME) coupled with microwave-assisted derivatization (MAD) for the
      simultaneous determination of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and 20(S)
      protopanaxatriol (PPT). The developed method was based on ultra high performance
      liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) detection using
      multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. A mass spectrometry sensitizing reagent,
      4'-carboxy-substituted rosamine (CSR) with high reaction activity and ionization
      efficiency was synthesized and firstly used as derivatization reagent. Parameters
      of dual-UADLLME, MAD and UHPLC-MS/MS conditions were all optimized in detail. Low
      toxic brominated solvents were used as extractant instead of traditional
      chlorinated solvents. Satisfactory linearity, recovery, repeatability, accuracy
      and precision, absence of matrix effect and extremely low limits of detection
      (LODs, 0.010 and 0.015ng/mL for PPD and PPT, respectively) were achieved. The
      main advantages were rapid, sensitive and environmentally friendly, and exhibited
      high selectivity, accuracy and good matrix effect results. The proposed method
      was successfully applied to pharmacokinetics of PPD and PPT in rat plasma. 

PMID- 26877172
TI  - Apocynin and ebselen reduce influenza A virus-induced lung inflammation in
      cigarette smoke-exposed mice.
AB  - Influenza A virus (IAV) infections are a common cause of acute exacerbations of
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Oxidative stress is increased in
      COPD, IAV-induced lung inflammation and AECOPD. Therefore, we investigated
      whether targeting oxidative stress with the Nox2 oxidase inhibitors and ROS
      scavengers, apocynin and ebselen could ameliorate lung inflammation in a mouse
      model of AECOPD. Male BALB/c mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) generated
      from 9 cigarettes per day for 4 days. On day 5, mice were infected with 1 *
      10(4.5) PFUs of the IAV Mem71 (H3N1). BALF inflammation, viral titers, superoxide
      production and whole lung cytokine, chemokine and protease mRNA expression were
      assessed 3 and 7 days post infection. IAV infection resulted in a greater
      increase in BALF inflammation in mice that had been exposed to CS compared to non
      smoking mice. This increase in BALF inflammation in CS-exposed mice caused by IAV
      infection was associated with elevated gene expression of pro-inflammatory
      cytokines, chemokines and proteases, compared to CS alone mice. Apocynin and
      ebselen significantly reduced the exacerbated BALF inflammation and pro
      inflammatory cytokine, chemokine and protease expression caused by IAV infection
      in CS mice. Targeting oxidative stress using apocynin and ebselen reduces IAV
      induced lung inflammation in CS-exposed mice and may be therapeutically exploited
      to alleviate AECOPD.

PMID- 26877174
TI  - Application of modified stir bar with nickel:zinc sulphide nanoparticles loaded
      on activated carbon as a sorbent for preconcentration of losartan and valsartan
      and their determination by high performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - In this study, the stir bar was coated for the first time with the nicel:zins
      sulphide nanoparticles (Ni:ZnS NPs) loaded on activated carbon (AC) (Ni:ZnS-AC)
      as well as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid (IL)
      using sol gel technique and was used for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) of
      losartan (LOS) and valsartan (VAL) as the model compounds. The extracted analytes
      were then quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped
      with an ultra violet detector. The best extraction performance for LOS and VAL
      was obtained through the optimization of the parameters affecting SBSE including
      pH of sample solution, ionic strength, extraction time, volume of desorption
      solvent, desorption time, and stirring speed. The fractional factorial design
      (FFD) was used to find the most important parameters, which were then optimized
      by the central composite design (CCD) and the desirability function (DF). Under
      the optimal experimental conditions, wide linear ranges of 0.4-50MUgL(-1) and 0.5
      50MUgL(-1) and good RSDs (at level of 5MUgL(-1) and n=6) of 4.4 and 4.9% were
      obtained for LOS and VAL, respectively. With the enrichment factors (EFs) of
      188.6 and 184.8-fold, the limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) of the developed
      method were found to be 0.12 and 0.15MUgL(-1) for LOS and VAL, respectively. The
      developed method was successfully applied to the determination of LOS and VAL in
      urine and plasma matrices. 

PMID- 26877175
TI  - On-line coupling of immobilized cytochrome P450 microreactor and capillary
      electrophoresis: A promising tool for drug development.
AB  - In this work, the combination of an immobilized enzyme microreactor (IMER) based
      on the clinically important isoform cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) with capillary
      electrophoresis (CE) is presented. The CYP2C9 was attached to magnetic SiMAG
      carboxyl microparticles using the carbodiimide method. The formation of an IMER
      in the inlet part of the separation capillary was ensured by two permanent
      magnets fixed in a cassette from the CE apparatus in the repulsive arrangement.
      The resulting on-line system provides an integration of enzyme reaction mixing
      and incubation, reaction products separation, detection and quantification into a
      single fully automated procedure with the possibility of repetitive use of the
      enzyme and minuscule amounts of reactant consumption. The on-line kinetic and
      inhibition studies of CYP2C9's reaction with diclofenac as a model substrate and
      sulfaphenazole as a model inhibitor were conducted in order to demonstrate its
      practical applicability. Values of the apparent Michalis-Menten constant,
      apparent maximum reaction velocity, Hill coefficient, apparent inhibition
      constant and half-maximal inhibition concentration were determined on the basis
      of the calculation of the effective substrate and inhibitor concentrations inside
      the capillary IMER using a model described by the Hagen-Poisseulle law and a
      novel enhanced model that reflects the influence of the reactants' diffusion
      during the injection process. 

PMID- 26877176
TI  - Analysis of free hydroxytyrosol in human plasma following the administration of
      olive oil.
AB  - Hydroxytyrosol (HT) from olive oil, a potent bioactive molecule with health
      benefits, has a poor bioavailability, its free form (free HT) being undetectable
      so far. This fact leads to the controversy whether attained HT concentrations
      after olive oil polyphenol ingestion are too low to explain the observed
      biological activities. Due to this, an analytical methodology to determine free
      HT in plasma is crucial for understanding HT biological activity. Plasma HT
      instability and low concentrations have been major limitations for its
      quantification in clinical studies. Here, we describe a method to detect and
      quantify free HT in human plasma by using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem
      mass spectrometry. The method encompasses different steps of sample preparation
      including plasma stabilization, protein precipitation, selective derivatization
      with benzylamine, and purification by solid-phase extraction. A high sensitivity
      (LOD, 0.3ng/mL), specificity and stability of HT is achieved following these
      procedures. The method was validated and its applicability was demonstrated by
      analyzing human plasma samples after olive oil intake. A pharmacokinetic
      comparison was performed measuring free HT plasma concentrations following the
      intake of 25mL of ordinary olive oil (nearly undetectable concentrations) versus
      an extra-virgin olive oil (Cmax=4.40ng/mL). To our knowledge, this is the first
      time that an analytical procedure for quantifying free HT in plasma after olive
      oil dietary doses has been reported. The present methodology opens the door to a
      better understanding of the relationship between HT plasma concentrations and its
      beneficial health effects. 

PMID- 26877177
TI  - Size exclusion chromatography of synthetic polymers and biopolymers on common
      reversed phase and hydrophilic interaction chromatography columns.
AB  - This work describes the applicability of common reversed phase and HILIC columns
      for size exclusion chromatography of synthetic and natural polymers. Depending on
      the nature of the solute and column stationary phase, a "non-retention" condition
      must be created with the aid of the mobile phase to achieve a unique size-based
      separation in isocratic mode. The various bonded phases show remarkable
      differences in size separations that are controlled by mobile phase conditions.
      Polymer-mobile phase and column-mobile phase solvation interactions determine
      polymer hydrodynamic volume (or solute bulkiness) and polymer-column steric
      interaction. Solvation interactions in turn depend on polymer, mobile phase and
      stationary phase polarities. Column-mobile phase solvation interactions determine
      the structural order of the bonded ligands that can vary from ordered (extended,
      aligned away from the silica substrate) to disordered (folded, pointing toward
      the silica substrate). Chain order increases with increased solvent penetration
      into the bonded phase. Increased chain order reduces pore volume, and therefore
      decreases the size-separation efficiency of a column. Conversely, decreased chain
      order increases pore volume and therefore increases the size-separation
      efficiency. The thermodynamic quality of the mobile phase also plays a
      significant role in the separation of polymers. "Poor" solvents can significantly
      reduce the hydrodynamic diameter of a solute and thus change their retention
      behavior. Medium polarity stationary phases, such as fluoro-phenyl and cyano,
      exhibit a unique retention behavior. With an appropriate polarity mobile phase,
      polar and non-polar synthetic polymers of the same molecular masses can be eluted
      at the same retention volumes. 

PMID- 26877178
TI  - The application of capillary electrophoresis for assisting whole-cell aptamers
      selection by characterizing complete ssDNA distribution.
AB  - Whole-cell SELEX faces more difficulties than SELEX against purified molecules
      target. In this work, we demonstrate the application of capillary electrophoresis
      for assisting whole-cell aptamers selection by characterizing complete ssDNA
      distribution. We chose three cancer cell lines U251, Hela and PC3 as target, FAM
      labeled Sgc8c (a 41mer aptamer) and FAM labeled 41mer random ssDNA library as
      ssDNA model. CE conditions of running buffer and capillary length and inner
      diameter as well as UV and LIF detection were optimized. The distribution
      percentage of Sgc8c and ssDNA library against U251, Hela and PC3 was
      demonstrated, the relative peak area of their complex is 8.94%, 1.05% and 0.44%
      for Sgc8c and 9.03%, 1.04% and 0.12% for ssDNA library respectively. Under the
      chosen experimental conditions, binding ability comparison of three cell lines
      was U251>Hela>PC3, which was validated by laser confocol microscope. For each
      cell, distribution percentage of ssDNA library was compared with that of Sgc8c.
      Finally, whole-cell complex of U251-Sgc8c was confirmed by increase incubation
      time and fraction CE analysis. 

PMID- 26877179
TI  - Determination of cellular glutathione:glutathione disulfide ratio in prostate
      cancer cells by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical
      detection.
AB  - A validated method has been developed for the simultaneous measurement of reduced
      and oxidized glutathione in de-proteinised cellular extracts. This has been used
      to compare models of malignant and non-malignant human prostate cell lines.
      Analysis of LNCaP and DU145 cells showed a glutathione to glutathione disulfide
      ratio of 8:1 and 32:1 respectively, whilst the control cell line, PZ-HPV7
      displayed a ratio of 93:1. Results indicate that the more aggressive phenotype
      displays adaptation to increased oxidative stress via up regulation of
      glutathione turnover. It was also noted that in the LNCaP and DU145 cell line,
      glutathione was only responsible for ca. 60% and 79% respectively, of the total
      cellular reduced thiol; indicating the presence of other biological thiols. 

PMID- 26877180
TI  - Mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-coated
      nano-magnets for selective adsorption and enrichment of illegal cationic dyes in
      food matrices prior to high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array
      detection detection.
AB  - In this study, mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction (MHSPE) based on sodium
      dodecyl sulfate (SDS) coated nano-magnets Fe3O4 was investigated as a novel
      method for the extraction and separation of four banned cationic dyes, Auramine
      O, Rhodamine B, Basic orange 21 and Basic orange 22, in condiments prior to HPLC
      detection. The main factors affecting the extraction of analysts, such as pH,
      surfactant and adsorbent concentrations and zeta potential were studied and
      optimized. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method was successful applied
      for the analysis of banned cationic dyes in food samples such as chili sauce,
      soybean paste and tomato sauce. Validation data showed the good recoveries in the
      range of 70.1-104.5%, with relative standard deviations less than 15%. The method
      limits of determination/quantification were in the range of 0.2-0.9 and 0.7
      3MUgkg(-1), respectively. The selective adsorption and enrichment of cationic
      dyes were achieved by the synergistic effects of hydrophobic interactions and
      electrostatic attraction between mixed hemimicelles and the cationic dyes, which
      also resulted in the removal of natural pigments interferences from sample
      extracts. When applied to real samples, RB was detected in several positive
      samples (chili powders) within the range from 0.042 to 0.177mgkg(-1). These
      results indicate that magnetic MHSPE is an efficient and selective sample
      preparation technique for the extraction of banned cationic dyes in a complex
      matrix. 

PMID- 26877181
TI  - Optimization of large-scale pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is now a main stream technique
      for large-scale metabolic phenotyping to obtain a better understanding of genomic
      functions. However, repeatability is still an essential issue for the LC-MS based
      methods, and convincing strategies for long time analysis are urgently required.
      Our former reported pseudotargeted method which combines nontargeted and targeted
      analyses, is proved to be a practical approach with high-quality and information
      rich data. In this study, we developed a comprehensive strategy based on the
      pseudotargeted analysis by integrating blank-wash, pooled quality control (QC)
      sample, and post-calibration for the large-scale metabolomics study. The
      performance of strategy was optimized from both pre- and post-acquisition
      sections including the selection of QC samples, insertion frequency of QC
      samples, and post-calibration methods. These results imply that the
      pseudotargeted method is rather stable and suitable for large-scale study of
      metabolic profiling. As a proof of concept, the proposed strategy was applied to
      the combination of 3 independent batches within a time span of 5 weeks, and
      generated about 54% of the features with coefficient of variations (CV) below
      15%. Moreover, the stability and maximal capability of a single analytical batch
      could be extended to at least 282 injections (about 110h) while still providing
      excellent stability, the CV of 63% metabolic features was less than 15%. Taken
      together, the improved repeatability of our strategy provides a reliable protocol
      for large-scale metabolomics studies. 

PMID- 26877182
TI  - Women with Turner syndrome are at high risk of lifestyle-related disease -From
      questionnaire surveys by the Foundation for Growth Science in Japan.
AB  - In this study, the prevalence of obesity and complications of lifestyle-related
      diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and liver
      dysfunction, as well as the relationship with karyotypes, were investigated in
      492 patients with Turner syndrome (TS) aged 17 years or older. Data were obtained
      through questionnaire surveys administered by attending physicians throughout
      Japan. Collected data were compared with data from the National Health and
      Nutrition Survey. Patient ages ranged from 17.1 to 42.5 years (mean +/- standard
      error, 26.6+/-0.2). The prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases at age 20 or
      over was 6.3% for diabetes, 8.7% for hypertension, 20.2% for dyslipidemia and
      12.4% for liver dysfunction. These four diseases were clearly associated with
      severity of obesity. Obesity (BMI >=25 kg/m(2)) was observed in 106 out of 426
      patients with TS aged 15 to 39 years (24.7%) and the prevalence was significantly
      higher than that of the general female population (9.4%). The mean BMI in age
      subgroups without any complications ranged from 21.2 to 22.7, which although was
      within normal ranges was significantly higher than that in the general female
      population (20.3-21.3). In this study population, patients with TS had more
      complications related to lifestyle-related diseases that were highly related to
      obesity. Few associations between complications and karyotypes were found. In the
      follow-up of patients with TS, the presence of lifestyle-related disease should
      be considered in the evaluation and treatment of the disease. 

PMID- 26877183
TI  - Correction: Graphene-catalyzed photoreduction of dye molecules revealed by
      graphene enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
AB  - Correction for 'Graphene-catalyzed photoreduction of dye molecules revealed by
      graphene enhanced Raman spectroscopy' by Bora Lee et al., Phys. Chem. Chem.
      Phys., 2016, 18, 3413-3415. 

PMID- 26877184
TI  - Toxicovenomics and antivenom profiling of the Eastern green mamba snake
      (Dendroaspis angusticeps).
AB  - A toxicovenomic study was performed on the venom of the green mamba, Dendroaspis
      angusticeps. Forty-two different proteins were identified in the venom of D.
      angusticeps, in addition to the nucleoside adenosine. The most abundant proteins
      belong to the three-finger toxin (3FTx) (69.2%) and the Kunitz-type proteinase
      inhibitor (16.3%) families. Several sub-subfamilies of the 3FTxs were identified,
      such as Orphan Group XI (Toxin F-VIII), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
      (fasciculins), and aminergic toxins (muscarinic toxins, synergistic-like toxins,
      and adrenergic toxins). Remarkably, no alpha-neurotoxins were identified.
      Proteins of the Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor family include dendrotoxins.
      Toxicological screening revealed a lack of lethal activity in all RP-HPLC
      fractions, except one, at the doses tested. Thus, the overall toxicity depends on
      the synergistic action of various types of proteins, such as dendrotoxins,
      fasciculins, and probably other synergistically-acting toxins. Polyspecific
      antivenoms manufactured in South Africa and India were effective in the
      neutralization of venom-induced lethality. These antivenoms also showed a pattern
      of broad immunorecognition of the different HPLC fractions by ELISA and
      immunoprecipitated the crude venom by gel immunodiffusion. The synergistic
      mechanism of toxicity constitutes a challenge for the development of effective
      recombinant antibodies, as it requires the identification of the most relevant
      synergistic toxins. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Envenomings by elapid snakes of the
      genus Dendroaspis, collectively known as mambas, represent a serious medical
      problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The development of novel antivenoms and of
      recombinant neutralizing antibodies demands the identification of the most
      relevant toxins in these venoms. In this study, a bottom-up approach was followed
      for the study of the proteome of the venom of the Eastern green mamba, D.
      angusticeps. Forty-two different proteins were identified, among which the three
      finger toxin (3FTx) family, characteristic of elapid venoms, was the most
      abundant, followed by the Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor family. In addition,
      several other protein families were present in the venom, together with the
      nucleoside adenosine. No alpha-neurotoxins were identified within the family of
      3FTxs in the venom of D. angusticeps, in contrast to the venom of Dendroaspis
      polylepis, in which alpha-neurotoxins are largely responsible for the toxicity.
      With one exception, HPLC fractions from D. angusticeps venom did not kill mice at
      the doses tested. This underscores that the toxicity of the whole venom is due to
      the synergistic action of various components, such as fasciculins and
      dendrotoxins, and probably other synergistically-acting toxins. Thus, the venoms
      of these closely related species (D. angusticeps and D. polylepis) seem to have
      different mechanisms to subdue their prey, which may be related to different prey
      preferences, as D. angusticeps is predominantly arboreal, whereas D. polylepis
      lives mostly in open bush country and feeds mainly on mammals. It is therefore
      likely that the predominant clinical manifestations of human envenomings by these
      species also differ, although in both cases neurotoxic manifestations
      predominate. Polyspecific antivenoms manufactured in South Africa and India were
      effective in the neutralization of venom-induced lethality in mice and showed a
      pattern of broad immunorecognition of the various venom fractions. It is
      necessary to identify the toxins responsible for the synergistic mode of toxicity
      in this venom, since they are the targets for the development of recombinant
      antibodies for the treatment of envenomings.

PMID- 26877185
TI  - Changes over lactation in breast milk serum proteins involved in the maturation
      of immune and digestive system of the infant.
AB  - To objective of this study was to better understand the biological functions of
      breast milk proteins in relation to the growth and development of infants over
      the first six months of life. Breast milk samples from four individual women
      collected at seven time points in the first six months after delivery were
      analyzed by filter aided sample preparation and dimethyl labeling combined with
      liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 247 and 200 milk serum
      proteins were identified and quantified, respectively. The milk serum proteome
      showed a high similarity (80% overlap) on the qualitative level between women and
      over lactation. The quantitative changes in milk serum proteins were mainly
      caused by three groups of proteins, enzymes, and transport and immunity proteins.
      Of these 21 significantly changed proteins, 30% were transport proteins, such as
      serum albumin and fatty acid binding protein, which are both involved in
      transporting nutrients to the infant. The decrease of the enzyme bile salt
      activated lipase as well as the immunity proteins immunoglobulins and lactoferrin
      coincide with the gradual maturation of the digestive and immune system of
      infants. The human milk serum proteome didn't differ qualitatively but it did
      quantitatively, both between mothers and as lactation advanced. The changes of
      the breast milk serum proteome over lactation corresponded with the development
      of the digestive and immune system of infants. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Breast
      milk proteins provide nutrition, but also contribute to healthy development of
      infants. Despite the previously reported large number of identified breast milk
      proteins and their changes over lactation, less is known on the changes of these
      proteins in individual mothers. This study is the first to determine the
      qualitative and quantitative changes of milk proteome over lactation between
      individual mothers. The results indicate that the differences in the milk
      proteome between individual mothers are more related to the quantitative level
      than qualitative level. The correlation between the changes of milk proteins and
      the gradual maturation of the gastrointestinal tract and immune system in
      infants, contributes to a better understanding of the biological functions of
      human milk proteins for the growth and development of infants.

PMID- 26877186
TI  - EC4U: results from a pilot project integrating the copper IUC into emergency
      contraceptive care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The copper intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is the most effective
      method of emergency contraception (EC), yet it is underutilized. The objective
      was to evaluate a pilot project integrating the copper IUC into EC care. STUDY
      DESIGN: Single-group evaluation study. Nine geographically diverse reproductive
      health centers implemented 6-month pilot interventions. All interventions
      included staff education and inclusion of the IUC in EC patient counseling; some
      sites developed patient education materials. Health center staff completed manual
      monthly tracking forms of the number of EC patients receiving oral
      levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate or the copper IUC. Sites also tracked and
      reported the number of patients returning for removal during the 6-month pilot
      period and for 5 subsequent months. Main study outcomes included the number of
      IUC for EC insertions, the proportion that were same-day insertions and the
      proportion of patients receiving each EC type during the pilot period. A
      secondary outcome was the number of patients who had returned for removal at 5
      months postpilot. RESULTS: There were 101 IUC insertions for EC during the pilot
      period. Seventy-seven percent were same-day insertions; the remainder returned
      for insertion within 5 days of unprotected intercourse. The percentage of EC
      patients choosing the IUC varied by site from 1 to 16% (overall=7%). At 5 months
      postpilot, 20 patients (20%) had returned for removal. CONCLUSIONS: Some women
      will be interested in the copper IUC for EC, and therefore, all women should be
      offered this option. Results suggest that the large majority continued to use the
      IUC for ongoing contraception. IMPLICATIONS: Copper IUCs are a viable option for
      women in need of EC. All women should be offered the most effective EC option.

PMID- 26877187
TI  - Tissue factor as a link between inflammation and coagulation.
AB  - Due to its receptor activity for factor VII, tissue factor (TF) is primary
      initiator of the blood coagulation cascade and ensures rapid hemostasis in case
      of organ damage. Inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha or
      interleukins, strongly induce expression of both full-length TF as well as the
      alternatively spliced TF in endothelial and blood cells. Beyond its role in
      hemostasis, TF also has signaling activity and promotes pleiotropic inflammatory
      responses via protease-activated receptors in concert with other coagulation
      factors. Alteration of TF expression and TF alternative splicing provides an
      effective means to change the endothelial phenotype and modulate inflammatory
      responses of the vessel. 

PMID- 26877189
TI  - What language is the language-ready brain ready for?: Comment on "Towards a
      Computational Comparative Neuroprimatology: Framing the language-ready brain" by
      Michael A. Arbib.

PMID- 26877188
TI  - Lipids implicated in the journey of a secretory granule: from biogenesis to
      fusion.
AB  - The regulated secretory pathway begins with the formation of secretory granules
      by budding from the Golgi apparatus and ends by their fusion with the plasma
      membrane leading to the release of their content into the extracellular space,
      generally following a rise in cytosolic calcium. Generation of these membrane
      bound transport carriers can be classified into three steps: (i) cargo sorting
      that segregates the cargo from resident proteins of the Golgi apparatus, (ii)
      membrane budding that encloses the cargo and depends on the creation of
      appropriate membrane curvature, and (iii) membrane fission events allowing the
      nascent carrier to separate from the donor membrane. These secretory vesicles
      then mature as they are actively transported along microtubules toward the
      cortical actin network at the cell periphery. The final stage known as regulated
      exocytosis involves the docking and the priming of the mature granules, necessary
      for merging of vesicular and plasma membranes, and the subsequent partial or
      total release of the secretory vesicle content. Here, we review the latest
      evidence detailing the functional roles played by lipids during secretory granule
      biogenesis, recruitment, and exocytosis steps. In this review, we highlight
      evidence supporting the notion that lipids play important functions in secretory
      vesicle biogenesis, maturation, recruitment, and membrane fusion steps. These
      effects include regulating various protein distribution and activity, but also
      directly modulating membrane topology. The challenges ahead to understand the
      pleiotropic functions of lipids in a secretory granule's journey are also
      discussed. This article is part of a mini review series on Chromaffin cells
      (ISCCB Meeting, 2015).

PMID- 26877190
TI  - Thyroid dysfunction and hepatic steatosis in overweight children and adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Overt or subclinical hypothyroidism is a common finding in adult
      populations affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Currently,
      there are only sparse data available on the association of thyroid dysfunction
      and NAFLD in obese children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to
      investigate the association of thyroid function test values with NAFLD and
      metabolic risk factors in a population of obese children and adolescents.
      METHODS: A total of 332 overweight and obese children and adolescents (170 girls)
      aged between 10 and 19 years were analysed. Subjects underwent ultrasound
      examination of the liver. Thyroid function was evaluated by laboratory
      determination of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3)
      and total thyroxine levels. All included subjects were either euthyroid or had
      subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 4 MUU mL-1 , normal thyroxine). Further
      metabolic profiling included the determination of lipid status, insulin and liver
      function tests. Anthropometric parameters body mass index, waist and hip
      circumference were documented. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis was
      29.8%. Subjects with NAFLD had significantly higher TSH levels than those without
      (p = 0.0007). After dividing TSH values into quartiles, both univariate and
      multivariate analyses (adjusted for age, body mass index-standard deviation
      scores and stage of puberty) showed a significant association with hepatic
      steatosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Taking possible variables into consideration,
      our results show that there is a significant association between hepatic
      steatosis and the TSH levels in obese children and adolescents. Mild thyroid
      dysfunction may therefore have a role in determining an unfavourable metabolic
      profile in obese children and adolescents.

PMID- 26877191
TI  - Clinically Significant Drug Interaction Between Clotrimazole and Tacrolimus in
      Pancreas Transplant Recipients and Associated Risk of Allograft Rejection.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical significance of clotrimazole troche
      discontinuation on tacrolimus trough levels and risk of allograft rejection after
      pancreas transplantation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic
      medical center. PATIENTS: Sixty-five pancreas transplant recipients (simultaneous
      pancreas-kidney transplants [39 patients], pancreas after kidney transplants [4
      patients], and pancreas transplant alone [22 patients]) who were discharged after
      transplantation receiving a maintenance immunosuppressive regimen of tacrolimus,
      mycophenolate, and prednisone, and a clotrimazole troche to prevent oral mucosal
      candidiasis; per protocol, the clotrimazole troche was discontinued at 3 months
      after transplantation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were followed for
      1 year after transplantation. The primary outcome measure was the difference in
      tacrolimus trough level before and after discontinuation of the clotrimazole
      troche. The secondary outcome measure was the difference in tacrolimus trough
      level when patients were stratified by the cohort that had a documented rejection
      episode 3-12 months after transplantation (rejection group) and the cohort that
      did not experience a rejection episode (no-rejection group). The incidence of
      rejection was evaluated in relation to mean tacrolimus trough concentrations
      above or below a protocol-defined level of significance (6 ng/ml). For the
      primary outcome, the mean tacrolimus trough level before discontinuation of the
      clotrimazole troche was significantly higher than the mean trough level after
      discontinuation (mean +/- SD 9.6 +/- 3.0 ng/ml vs 7.1 +/- 2.6 ng/ml, p =
      0.000003). For the secondary outcome, the mean tacrolimus trough level difference
      before and after clotrimazole troche discontinuation remained significant in both
      the no-rejection group (9.5 +/- 3.0 ng/ml vs 7.4 +/- 2.4 ng/ml, p = 0.00007) and
      rejection group (10.9 +/- 3.3 ng/ml vs 4.1 +/- 2.5 ng/ml, p = 0.0008). Between
      groups, the mean tacrolimus serum trough level after clotrimazole troche
      discontinuation was lower in the rejection group (4.1 +/- 2.5 ng/ml) than that in
      the no-rejection group (7.4 +/- 2.4 ng/ml; p = 0.005). The mean tacrolimus trough
      level difference between before and after discontinuation was greater in the
      rejection group (6.8 +/- 1.5 ng/ml) versus the no-rejection group (2.1 +/- 3.8
      ng/ml, p = 0.009). Tacrolimus trough levels below 6 ng/ml (19 patients) after
      clotrimazole troche discontinuation were associated with an increased incidence
      of rejection episodes within 3-12 months after transplantation (odds ratio 12,
      95% confidence interval 1.24-115.91, p = 0.032) versus trough levels of 6 ng/ml
      or higher (46 patients). CONCLUSION: Clotrimazole troche discontinuation at 3
      months after transplantation may cause significant tacrolimus trough level
      reductions. In addition, when trough levels are below 6 ng/ml, these fluctuations
      may contribute to the occurrence of allograft rejection.

PMID- 26877195
TI  - Chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep disorders: clinical associations and
      diagnostic difficulties.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by the presence of
      intractable fatigue and non-restorative sleep, symptoms which are also very
      prevalent in multiple diseases and appear as side effects of different drugs.
      Numerous studies have shown a high prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with
      CFS. However, non-restorative sleep and fatigue are frequently symptoms of the
      sleep disorders themselves, so primary sleep disorders have to be ruled out in
      many cases of CFS. DEVELOPMENT: This review was performed using a structured
      search of the MeSH terms ([Sleep]+[Chronic fatigue syndrome]) in the PubMed
      database. CONCLUSION: Identifying primary sleep disorders in patients meeting
      diagnostic criteria for CFS will allow for a more comprehensive treatment
      approach involving new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that may improve
      quality of life for these patients.

PMID- 26877192
TI  - Principles and procedures for implementation of ICH M7 recommended (Q)SAR
      analyses.
AB  - The ICH M7 guideline describes a consistent approach to identify, categorize, and
      control DNA reactive, mutagenic, impurities in pharmaceutical products to limit
      the potential carcinogenic risk related to such impurities. This paper outlines a
      series of principles and procedures to consider when generating (Q)SAR
      assessments aligned with the ICH M7 guideline to be included in a regulatory
      submission. In the absence of adequate experimental data, the results from two
      complementary (Q)SAR methodologies may be combined to support an initial hazard
      classification. This may be followed by an assessment of additional information
      that serves as the basis for an expert review to support or refute the
      predictions. This paper elucidates scenarios where additional expert knowledge
      may be beneficial, what such an expert review may contain, and how the results
      and accompanying considerations may be documented. Furthermore, the use of these
      principles and procedures to yield a consistent and robust (Q)SAR-based argument
      to support impurity qualification for regulatory purposes is described in this
      manuscript. 

PMID- 26877193
TI  - FLEXITau: Quantifying Post-translational Modifications of Tau Protein in Vitro
      and in Human Disease.
AB  - Tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are associated with the
      aggregation of modified microtubule associated protein tau. This pathological
      state of tau is often referred to as "hyperphosphorylated". Due to limitations in
      technology, an accurate quantitative description of this state is lacking. Here,
      a mass spectrometry-based assay, FLEXITau, is presented to measure
      phosphorylation stoichiometry and provide an unbiased quantitative view of the
      tau post-translational modification (PTM) landscape. The power of this assay is
      demonstrated by measuring the state of hyperphosphorylation from tau in a
      cellular model for AD pathology, mapping, and calculating site occupancies for
      over 20 phosphorylations. We further employ FLEXITau to define the tau PTM
      landscape present in AD post-mortem brain. As shown in this study, the
      application of this assay provides mechanistic understanding of tau pathology
      that could lead to novel therapeutics, and we envision its further use in
      prognostic and diagnostic approaches for tauopathies. 

PMID- 26877194
TI  - Reproductive intentions and family planning practices of pregnant HIV-infected
      Malawian women on antiretroviral therapy.
AB  - The objective of this study was to describe the pregnancy intentions of pregnant
      HIV-infected Malawian women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months
      prior to the current pregnancy, and to assess whether time on ART was associated
      with pregnancy intention. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of HIV-infected
      Malawian women receiving antenatal care at a government hospital with a survey
      assessing ART history, reproductive history, and family planning use at
      conception. We used Pearson's chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests to
      compare these parameters between women on ART greater than 24 months with those
      on ART less than 24 months. Modified Poisson regression was performed to assess
      the association between time on ART and pregnancy intention. Most women (75%)
      reported that their current pregnancy was unintended, defined as either Mistimed
      (21%) or Unwanted (79%). Women on ART for longer than 2 years were more likely to
      report an unintended pregnancy (79% versus 65%, p = .03), though there was no
      significant association between time on ART and pregnancy intention in
      multivariate analysis. Most women (79%) were using contraception at the time of
      conception, with condoms being most popular (91%), followed by injectables (9%)
      and the implant (9%). HIV-infected women on ART continue to experience high rates
      of unintended pregnancy in the Option B+ era. As Option B+ continues to be
      implemented in Malawi and increasing numbers of HIV-infected women initiate
      lifelong ART, ensuring that the most effective forms of contraception are
      accessible is necessary to decrease unintended pregnancy.

PMID- 26877196
TI  - Adaptation and validation of a Spanish-language version of the Frontotemporal
      Dementia Rating Scale (FTD-FRS).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Frontotemporal Dementia Rating Scale (FTD-FRS) is a tool
      designed to aid with clinical staging and assessment of the progression of
      frontotemporal dementia (FTD-FRS). OBJECTIVE: Present a multicentre adaptation
      and validation study of a Spanish version of the FRS. METHODOLOGY: The adapted
      version was created using 2 translation-back translation processes (English to
      Spanish, Spanish to English) and verified by the scale's original authors. We
      validated the adapted version in a sample of consecutive patients diagnosed with
      FTD. The procedure included evaluating internal consistency, testing
      unidimensionality with the Rasch model, analysing construct validity and
      discriminant validity, and calculating the degree of agreement between the
      Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) and FTD-FRS for FTD cases. RESULTS: The
      study included 60 patients with DFT. The mean score on the FRS was 12.1 points
      (SD=6.5; range, 2-25) with inter-group differences (F=120.3; df=3; P<.001).
      Cronbach's alpha was 0.897 and principal component analysis of residuals
      delivered an acceptable eigenvalue for 5 contrasts (1.6-2.7) and 36.1% raw
      variance. FRS was correlated with the Mini-mental State Examination (r=0.572;
      P<.001) and functional capacity (DAD; r=0.790; P<.001). FTD-FRS also showed a
      significant correlation with CDR (r=-0.641; P<.001), but we did observe
      variability in the severity levels; cases appeared to be less severe according to
      the CDR than when measured with the FTD-FRS (kappa=0.055). CONCLUSIONS: This
      process of validating the Spanish translation of the FTD-FRS yielded satisfactory
      results for validity and unidimensionality (severity) in the assessment of
      patients with FTD.

PMID- 26877197
TI  - Fusarium ramigenum, a novel human opportunist in a patient with common variable
      immunodeficiency and cellular immune defects: case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fusarium species are ubiquitous environmental fungi that occasionally
      provoke serious invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts. Among Fusarium
      species, Fusarium ramigenum, belonging to the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex,
      has thus far never been found to cause human infections. Here we describe the
      first case of invasive fusariosis caused by Fusarium ramigenum in a human and
      also identify immunological deficiencies that most likely contributed to
      invasiveness. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old Caucasian male with a seemingly
      insignificant medical history of mild respiratory illness during the preceding
      two years, developed invasive pulmonary fusariosis. Detailed immunological
      assessment revealed the presence of common variable immunodeficiency, complicated
      by a severe impairment of the capacity of T-cells to produce both gamma
      interferon and interleukin-17. In-depth microbiological assessment identified the
      novel human opportunistic pathogen Fusarium ramigenum as cause of the infection.
      CONCLUSION: This report demonstrated that an opportunistic invasive fungal
      infection may indicate an underlying cellular immune impairment of the host. The
      unexpected invasive infection with Fusarium ramigenum in this case unmasked a
      complex combined humoral and cellular immunological deficiency.

PMID- 26877198
TI  - Damage to pancreatic acinar cells and preservation of islets of Langerhans in a
      rat model of acute pancreatitis induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (buckthorn).
AB  - Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) is a poisonous plant that grows in some regions of
      the American continent. Consuming large amounts of Kh fruit results in acute
      intoxication leading to respiratory failure, culminating in death within days.
      There is evidence of histological damage to the lungs, liver, and kidneys
      following accidental and experimental Kh intoxication. To date, the microscopic
      effect of Kh consumption on the pancreas has not been described. We examined the
      early effects of Kh fruit on pancreatic tissue at different stages of acute
      intoxication in the Wistar rat. We found progressive damage confined to the
      exocrine pancreas, starting with a reduction in the number of zymogen granules,
      loss of acinar architecture, the presence of autophagy-like vesicles, apoptosis
      and inflammatory infiltrate. The pancreatic pathology culminated in damaged acini
      characterized by necrosis and edema, with a complete loss of lobular
      architecture. Interestingly, the morphology of the islets of Langerhans was
      conserved throughout our evaluations. Taken together, our results indicate the
      damage induced by a high dose of Kh fruit in the Wistar rat is consistent with an
      early acute necrotizing pancreatitis that exclusively affects the exocrine
      pancreas. Therefore, this system might be useful as an animal model to study the
      treatment of pancreatic diseases. More importantly, as the islets of Langerhans
      were preserved, the active compounds of Kh fruit could be utilized for the
      treatment of acinar pancreatic cancer. Further studies might provide insight into
      the severity of acute Kh intoxication in humans and influence the design of
      treatments for pancreatic diseases and acinar pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26877199
TI  - Early life stress increases stress vulnerability through BDNF gene epigenetic
      changes in the rat hippocampus.
AB  - Early life stress (ELS) exerts long-lasting epigenetic influences on the brain
      and makes an individual susceptible to later depression. It is poorly understood
      whether ELS and subsequent adult chronic stress modulate epigenetic mechanisms.
      We examined the epigenetic mechanisms of the BDNF gene in the hippocampus, which
      may underlie stress vulnerability to postnatal maternal separation (MS) and adult
      restraint stress (RS). Rat pups were separated from their dams (3 h/day from P1
      P21). When the pups reached adulthood (8 weeks old), we introduced RS (2 h/day
      for 3 weeks) followed by escitalopram treatment. We showed that both the MS and
      RS groups expressed reduced levels of total and exon IV BDNF mRNA. Furthermore,
      RS potentiated MS-induced decreases in these expression levels. Similarly, both
      the MS and RS groups showed decreased levels of acetylated histone H3 and H4 at
      BDNF promoter IV, and RS exacerbated MS-induced decreases of H3 and H4
      acetylation. Both the MS and RS groups had increased MeCP2 levels at BDNF
      promoter IV, as well as increased HDAC5 mRNA, and the combination of MS and RS
      exerted a greater effect on these parameters than did RS alone. In the forced
      swimming test, the immobility time of the MS + RS group was significantly higher
      than that of the RS group. Additionally, chronic escitalopram treatment recovered
      these alterations. Our results suggest that postnatal MS and subsequent adult RS
      modulate epigenetic changes in the BDNF gene, and that these changes may be
      related to behavioral phenotype. These epigenetic mechanisms are involved in
      escitalopram action.

PMID- 26877200
TI  - Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: Updated meta-analysis on maternal
      outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent during pregnancy. It has
      been suggested that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the
      risk of adverse gestational outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To update a previous meta
      analysis on the effects of oral vitamin D supplementation (alone or in
      combination with other vitamins and minerals) during pregnancy on maternal
      25(OH)D levels and risk of developing pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes,
      preterm birth, impaired glucose tolerance, caesarean section, gestational
      hypertension and other adverse conditions. METHODS: We searched for randomized
      and quasi-randomized trials through the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's
      Trials Register, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the
      Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and direct communications
      with relevant organizations. Assessments of inclusion criteria, extraction of
      data from included studies, and risk of bias' assessments of the included studies
      were done independently by two review authors. RESULTS: We included 15 trials,
      excluded 27 trials and 23 trials are still ongoing/unpublished. Data from seven
      trials with 868 women suggest that pregnant women supplemented with vitamin D had
      significantly higher 25(OH)D levels compared to controls (mean difference:
      54.7nmol/L; 95% CI 36.6, 72.9). Two trials found a lower risk of preeclampsia
      (8.9% versus 15.5%; average risk ratio 0.52; 95% CI 0.25, 1.05) and two other
      trials found no difference in the risk of gestational diabetes with vitamin D
      supplementation. Also, three trials found that supplementation with vitamin D
      plus calcium reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia (5% versus 9%; average risk ratio
      0.51; 95% CI 0.32, 0.80). CONCLUSION: Supplementing pregnant women with vitamin D
      led to significantly higher levels of 25(OH)D at term compared to placebo/control
      but results were inconsistent. Vitamin D supplementation, with or without
      calcium, may be related to lower risk of preeclampsia but more studies are needed
      to confirm this.

PMID- 26877201
TI  - Effect of a transcriptional inactive or absent vitamin D receptor on beta-cell
      function and glucose homeostasis in mice.
AB  - Vitamin D deficiency is associated with beta-cell dysfunction and a higher risk
      of diabetes, but mice and humans with an absence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR)
      display normal glucose tolerance. Here, we investigated the direct effects of
      absence of VDR or absence of ligand activation of VDR on beta-cell function. For
      this purpose, we generated mice, with a mutation in the AF2 domain of Vdr
      (VDRDeltaAF2), preventing ligand-driven transcriptional activation of vitamin D
      responsive genes. VDRDeltaAF2 mice were compared to Vdr full knockout (VDR-/-)
      and wild type (WT) mice. In order to avoid hypocalcemia, which has a direct
      effect on beta-cell function, mice were fed a high calcium, high lactose diet
      yielding comparable serum calcium in all mice. While VDR-/- mice developed
      extensive alopecia by the age of 24 weeks, the fur of VDRDeltaAF2 remained
      normal. All VDRDeltaAF2 mice weighed significantly less than WT, while male but
      not female VDR-/- mice had a lower body weight than WT mice. Dual-energy X-ray
      absorptiometry showed that both VDRDeltaAF2 (17.2% (females) and 16.6% (males))
      and VDR-/- (15.7% and 14.8%) mice have a lower percentage of body fat (vs 19.3%
      and 22.2% in WT). Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were lower for both VDRDeltaAF2 (
      4.55 fold, P<0.001) and VDR-/- (-3.7 fold, P<0.001) as compared to 12 week old WT
      mice, while serum 1,25(OH)2D3 was increased for both strains 94.5 fold (P<0.01)
      and 92.8 fold (P<0.001) for VDRDeltaAF2 and VDR-/- vs WT, respectively). In vivo
      glucose tolerance tests performed at 12 and 24 weeks of age, as well as ex vivo
      glucose stimulated insulin secretion on freshly isolated islets, revealed no
      major differences between the three strains. Microarray analysis on freshly
      isolated islets showed only 1 differentially expressed gene, phosphodiesterase
      10a (Pde10a), which was 2.16 and 1.75 fold up-regulated in VDRDeltaAF2 and VDR-/-
      islets as compared to WT islets, respectively (P<=0.001). We conclude that in the
      presence of normocalcemia, absence of VDR or its ligand-activated transcription
      of genes has no direct regulatory effect on murine glucose homeostasis or gene
      expression in islets of Langerhans.

PMID- 26877202
TI  - Prevalence and treatment of hypovitaminosis D in the haemodialysis population of
      Coventry.
AB  - Low serum 25(OH)D and associated bone and non-bone related problems are not well
      appreciated in end stage renal disease (ESRD). Vitamin D treatment strategies in
      the UK currently focus almost exclusively on calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D],
      alfacalcidol or paricalcitol. In ESRD hypovitaminosis D is associated with bone
      loss, muscle weakness, falls, fractures and increased inflammation. National
      guidelines changed in 2014 and now recommend the diagnosis and treatment of low
      serum 25(OH)D in all patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than
      30ml/min/1.73m2. However as yet there are no standardized guidelines for dosage,
      frequency and monitoring in ESRD patients. Following a systematic review of the
      literature we developed a clinical guideline for cholecalciferol supplementation
      at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK. The guideline
      recommends 40,000IU cholecalciferol weekly for patients with 25(OH)D <50nmol/L
      and 20,000IU weekly for patients with 25(OH)D 50-75nmol/L; to be continued long
      term unless levels increase to >=150nmol/L. To date we have measured 25(OH)D
      levels in 385 in-center haemodialysis patients. Virtually all patients (95%) had
      serum 25(OH)D levels <75nmol/L (65% deficient, <30nmol/L; 30% insufficient, 30
      74nmol/L). Only 5% of patients had optimal levels (>=75nmol/L). Our data
      indicates that hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in the haemodialysis population in
      Coventry and Warwickshire and this is likely to reflect UK haemodialysis
      patients, highlighting the need for a national supplementation guideline.

PMID- 26877203
TI  - Vitamin D deficiency: A single centre analysis of patients from 136 countries.
AB  - Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem, thought to be related to lack of
      sunlight exposure, and usually accompanied by reduced dietary intake. This study
      was designed to determine vitamin D status of 60,979 patients admitted to the
      Burjeel Hospital of VPS healthcare in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from
      October 2012 to September 2014. The total concentrations of vitamin D [25(OH)D]
      of all the studied patients were measured in a single laboratory. Of the studied
      patients, 57.5% were female and 42.5% were male. Serum 25(OH)D (total)
      measurements showed 82.5% of the studied patients have vitamin D deficiency to
      insufficiency. 26.4% of females and 18.4% of males have extreme deficiency of
      25(OH)D. There was higher variability of vitamin D in group of females then males
      according to coefficient of variation. In our studied cohort teenagers (13-19
      years) have shown the lowest levels of serum vitamin D (data not shown and will
      be communicated as a separate publication). The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D
      is significantly high among population of UAE, Saudi Arabia and many Middle
      Eastern countries, especially among women, despite abundant sunshine. 86.1% UAE
      nationals and 78.9% visitors of other nationalities were found <75nmol/L of
      25(OH)D. 28.4% of UAE nationals and 17.5% of visitors of other nationalities have
      extreme deficiency of 25(OH)D. Our results are significant, as all of our
      patients are residing permanently in the UAE or visitors that has yearlong
      sunlight. In addition, measuring 25(OH)D concentrations in a single laboratory
      minimized test level variations. Our current study formed the basis of further
      studies to determine if vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency can aggravate
      systemic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes or obesity that are also wide
      spread in the Middle Eastern region.

PMID- 26877205
TI  - Holding RIPK1 on the Ubiquitin Leash in TNFR1 Signaling.
AB  - The kinase RIPK1 is an essential signaling node in various innate immune
      signaling pathways being most extensively studied in the TNFR1 signaling pathway.
      TNF signaling can result in different biological outcomes including gene
      activation and cell death induction in the form of apoptosis or necroptosis.
      RIPK1 is believed to be crucial for regulating the balance between these opposing
      outcomes. It is therefore not surprising that RIPK1 is highly regulated, most
      notably by phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and their respective reversals. In
      this review, we discuss the biological functions of RIPK1 within the context of
      TNFR1 signaling. Finally, we discuss recent advances in the knowledge on three
      ubiquitin E3 ligases that exert regulatory functions on RIPK1 signaling: cIAP1,
      cIAP2, and LUBAC.

PMID- 26877206
TI  - Effectiveness of hand hygiene depends on the patient's health condition and care
      environment.
AB  - AIM: The present authors examined how patient hand contamination was associated
      with underlying disease and treatment environment in order to determine effective
      hand hygiene methods. METHODS: Samples were collected from inpatients (45 with
      hematological malignancies, 48 postoperative), outpatients (48 undergoing
      hemodialysis, 55 on chemotherapy), and 44 individuals living in nursing homes.
      All participants provided informed consent for study participation. All subjects
      performed hand hygiene. Before and after hand hygiene, samples of bacteria were
      collected from the palm of the hand onto agar media. Bacteria were counted and
      bacterial strains were identified. The authors then collected smear samples from
      the contralateral palm and measured adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. RESULTS:
      Patient hand contamination was the highest in hemodialysis patients, followed by
      residents of nursing homes, postoperative patients, patients with cancer
      receiving chemotherapy, and patients of hematological malignancies. Regardless of
      the underlying disease and treatment environment, patients were able to reduce
      the number of bacterial colonies and ATP by proper hand hygiene. Compared with
      wet wipes, hand washing seemed to remove bacteria more effectively. Methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in 30 subjects, none of whom
      were patients of hematological malignancies. Of these, 19 tested negative for
      MRSA after performing proper hand hygiene. CONCLUSION: Patient hand contamination
      is affected by underlying disease and care environment, but can be reduced by
      encouraging proper hand washing. Proper patient hand hygiene can reduce MRSA on
      patients' hands, and thus may serve as an effective tool for prevention of
      healthcare-associated infections.

PMID- 26877207
TI  - Variational bayesian method of estimating variance components.
AB  - We developed a Bayesian analysis approach by using a variational inference
      method, a so-called variational Bayesian method, to determine the posterior
      distributions of variance components. This variational Bayesian method and an
      alternative Bayesian method using Gibbs sampling were compared in estimating
      genetic and residual variance components from both simulated data and publically
      available real pig data. In the simulated data set, we observed strong bias
      toward overestimation of genetic variance for the variational Bayesian method in
      the case of low heritability and low population size, and less bias was detected
      with larger population sizes in both methods examined. The differences in the
      estimates of variance components between the variational Bayesian and the Gibbs
      sampling were not found in the real pig data. However, the posterior
      distributions of the variance components obtained with the variational Bayesian
      method had shorter tails than those obtained with the Gibbs sampling.
      Consequently, the posterior standard deviations of the genetic and residual
      variances of the variational Bayesian method were lower than those of the method
      using Gibbs sampling. The computing time required was much shorter with the
      variational Bayesian method than with the method using Gibbs sampling. 

PMID- 26877204
TI  - Evolutionary Turnover of Kinetochore Proteins: A Ship of Theseus?
AB  - The kinetochore is a multiprotein complex that mediates the attachment of a
      eukaryotic chromosome to the mitotic spindle. The protein composition of
      kinetochores is similar across species as divergent as yeast and human. However,
      recent findings have revealed an unexpected degree of compositional diversity in
      kinetochores. For example, kinetochore proteins that are essential in some
      species have been lost in others, whereas new kinetochore proteins have emerged
      in other lineages. Even in lineages with similar kinetochore composition,
      individual kinetochore proteins have functionally diverged to acquire either
      essential or redundant roles. Thus, despite functional conservation, the
      repertoire of kinetochore proteins has undergone recurrent evolutionary turnover.

PMID- 26877208
TI  - Feasible logic Bell-state analysis with linear optics.
AB  - We describe a feasible logic Bell-state analysis protocol by employing the logic
      entanglement to be the robust concatenated Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (C-GHZ)
      state. This protocol only uses polarization beam splitters and half-wave plates,
      which are available in current experimental technology. We can conveniently
      identify two of the logic Bell states. This protocol can be easily generalized to
      the arbitrary C-GHZ state analysis. We can also distinguish two N-logic-qubit C
      GHZ states. As the previous theory and experiment both showed that the C-GHZ
      state has the robustness feature, this logic Bell-state analysis and C-GHZ state
      analysis may be essential for linear-optical quantum computation protocols whose
      building blocks are logic-qubit entangled state. 

PMID- 26877210
TI  - Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy: how low does the mesh go?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is becoming an increasingly popular
      surgical approach for repair of apical vaginal prolapse. The aim of this study
      was to document the postoperative anterior mesh position after laparoscopic
      sacrocolpopexy and to investigate the relationship between mesh location and
      anterior compartment support. METHODS: This was an external audit of patients who
      underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for apical prolapse >= Stage 2 or advanced
      prolapse >= Stage 3, between January 2005 and June 2012. All patients were
      assessed with a standardized interview, clinical assessment using the
      International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse quantification and four
      dimensional transperineal ultrasound to evaluate pelvic organ support and mesh
      location. Mesh position was assessed with respect to the symphysis pubis whilst
      distal mesh mobility was assessed using the formula ?[(XValsalva - Xrest )2 +
      (YValsalva - Yrest )2 ], where X is the horizontal distance and Y is the vertical
      distance between the mesh and the inferior symphyseal margin, measured at rest
      and on Valsalva. RESULTS: Ninety-seven women were assessed at a mean follow-up of
      3.01 (range, 0.13-6.87) years after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, 88% (85/97) of
      whom considered themselves to be cured or improved, and none had required
      reoperation. On clinical examination, prolapse recurrence in the apical
      compartment was not diagnosed in any patient; however, 60 (62%) had recurrence in
      the anterior compartment and 43 (44%) in the posterior compartment. On ultrasound
      examination, mesh was visualized in the anterior compartment in 60 patients. Both
      mesh position and mobility on Valsalva were significantly associated with
      recurrent cystocele on clinical and on ultrasound assessment (all P < 0.01). For
      every mm that the mesh was located further from the bladder neck on Valsalva, the
      likelihood of cystocele recurrence increased by 6-7%. CONCLUSION: At an average
      follow-up of 3 years, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy was highly effective for apical
      support; however, cystocele recurrence was common despite an emphasis on anterior
      mesh extension. Prolapse recurrence seemed to be related to mesh position and
      mobility, suggesting that the lower the mesh is from the bladder neck, the lower
      the likelihood of anterior compartment prolapse recurrence. Copyright (c) 2016
      ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26877211
TI  - Apolipoprotein E genotype is not associated with cognitive impairment in older
      adults with bipolar disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cognitive decline is part of the long-term outcome for many
      individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). The epsilon4 allele (APOE*4) of
      apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a well-established risk factor for dementia in
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its contribution to the risk of cognitive
      deterioration in BD has not yet been determined. Our aim was to analyze the APOE
      genotype association with cognitive status in a sample of older adults with BD
      and compare this to the association in individuals with AD, individuals with mild
      cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls. METHODS: Participants (n = 475)
      were allocated to four groups: individuals with BD (n = 77), those with AD (n =
      211), those with MCI (n = 43), and healthy controls (n = 144) according to
      clinical and neuropsychological assessment. APOE was genotyped by real-time
      polymerase chain reaction. Tukey's honest significant difference test and
      Pearson's chi-squared test were used to compare diagnostic groups. RESULTS:
      Subjects with BD were similar to controls with respect to the distribution of the
      APOE genotype (p = 0.636) and allele frequencies (p = 0.481). Significant
      differences were found when comparing the AD group to the BD group or to controls
      (APOE genotype: p < 0.0002; allele frequencies: p < 0.001). APOE*4 was
      significantly increased in the AD group when compared to the BD group (p = 0.031)
      and controls (p < 0.0001). The cognitively impaired BD subgroup (Mini-Mental
      State Examination below the cutoff score and/or neuropsychological assessment
      compatible with MCI) had a statistically significant higher frequency of APOE*2
      compared to the AD group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: APOE*4 is not associated with
      the diagnosis of BD and does not impact the occurrence of dementia in BD. Given
      the distinct clinical and biological features of cognitive impairment in BD, we
      hypothesized that dementia in BD is unrelated to AD pathological mechanisms.

PMID- 26877212
TI  - In defense of the History and Humanities in Ophthalmology.

PMID- 26877209
TI  - Hydrogen Sulfide--Mechanisms of Toxicity and Development of an Antidote.
AB  - Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas-second only to carbon monoxide as a cause
      of inhalational deaths. Its mechanism of toxicity is only partially known, and no
      specific therapy exists for sulfide poisoning. We show in several cell types,
      including human inducible pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons, that
      sulfide inhibited complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and induced
      apoptosis. Sulfide increased hydroxyl radical production in isolated mouse heart
      mitochondria and F2-isoprostanes in brains and hearts of mice. The vitamin B12
      analog cobinamide reversed the cellular toxicity of sulfide, and rescued
      Drosophila melanogaster and mice from lethal exposures of hydrogen sulfide gas.
      Cobinamide worked through two distinct mechanisms: direct reversal of complex IV
      inhibition and neutralization of sulfide-generated reactive oxygen species. We
      conclude that sulfide produces a high degree of oxidative stress in cells and
      tissues, and that cobinamide has promise as a first specific treatment for
      sulfide poisoning. 

PMID- 26877213
TI  - Energy metabolism in neuronal/glial induction and in iPSC models of brain
      disorders.
AB  - The metabolic switch associated with the reprogramming of somatic cells to
      pluripotency has received increasing attention in recent years. However, the
      impact of mitochondrial and metabolic modulation on stem cell differentiation
      into neuronal/glial cells and related brain disease modeling still remains to be
      fully addressed. Here, we seek to focus on this aspect by first addressing brain
      energy metabolism and its inter-cellular metabolic compartmentalization. We then
      review the findings related to the mitochondrial and metabolic reconfiguration
      occurring upon neuronal/glial specification from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs).
      Finally, we provide an update of the PSC-based models of mitochondria-related
      brain disorders and discuss the challenges and opportunities that may exist on
      the road to develop a new era of brain disease modeling and therapy. 

PMID- 26877214
TI  - The influence of negative urgency, attentional bias, and emotional dimensions on
      palatable food consumption.
AB  - We tested a theoretical model concerning the role of attentional bias and
      negative affect in food consumption that offers important advances. We
      hypothesized that the effects of negative affect manipulations on food
      consumption vary as a function of trait levels of negative urgency (NU; tendency
      to act impulsively when distressed), and attentional bias and that the roles of
      emotional arousal and negative emotional valence differ and should be studied
      separately. 190 undergraduate women were randomly assigned to either an anger or
      neutral mood condition. Women in both conditions completed the Food Stroop, in
      which the presentation of food and neutral words were counterbalanced. After the
      task, participants were given the opportunity to eat mandarin oranges and/or
      chocolate candy while the experimenter was out of the room. The type and quantity
      of food consumed was counted after the participant departed. As hypothesized, the
      roles of emotional arousal and valence differed and the effect of the induced
      emotion was moderated by NU. Women high in NU who experienced emotional arousal
      were more likely to eat candy and consumed more candy than other women. Emotional
      valence had no effect on candy consumption. Neither increases in emotional
      arousal or emotional valence influenced attentional bias to food cues.
      Attentional bias was also unrelated to food consumption. The impact of negative
      mood inductions on palatable food consumption appears to operate through
      emotional arousal and not negative emotional valence, and it may operate
      primarily for women high in NU. 

PMID- 26877215
TI  - Obesity, food restriction, and implicit attitudes to healthy and unhealthy foods:
      Lessons learned from the implicit relational assessment procedure.
AB  - It has been argued that obese individuals evaluate high caloric, palatable foods
      more positively than their normal weight peers, and that this positivity bias
      causes them to consume such foods, even when healthy alternatives are available.
      Yet when self-reported and automatic food preferences are assessed no such
      evaluative biases tend to emerge. We argue that situational (food deprivation)
      and methodological factors may explain why implicit measures often fail to
      discriminate between the food-evaluations of these two groups. Across three
      studies we manipulated the food deprivation state of clinically obese and normal
      weight participants and then exposed them to an indirect procedure (IRAP) and
      self-report questionnaires. We found that automatic food-related cognition was
      moderated by a person's weight status and food deprivation state. Our findings
      suggest that the diagnostic and predictive value of implicit measures may be
      increased when (a) situational moderators are taken into consideration and (b) we
      pay greater attention to the different ways in which people automatically relate
      rather than simply categorize food stimuli. 

PMID- 26877216
TI  - Weight discrimination and unhealthy eating-related behaviors.
AB  - Individuals with obesity often experience unfair treatment because of their body
      weight. Such experiences are associated with binge eating, but less is known
      about its association with other eating-related behaviors and whether these
      relations are specific to discrimination based on weight or extend to other
      attributions for discrimination. The present research uses a large national
      sample (N = 5129) to examine whether weight discrimination is associated with
      diet and meal rhythmicity, in addition to overeating, and whether these
      associations generalize to nine other attributions for discrimination. We found
      that in addition to overeating, weight discrimination was associated with more
      frequent consumption of convenience foods and less regular meal timing. These
      associations were generally similar across sex, age, and race. Discrimination
      based on ancestry, gender, age, religion, and physical disability were also
      associated with overeating, which suggests that overeating may be a general
      coping response to discrimination. Unfair treatment because of body weight is
      associated with unhealthy eating-related behaviors, which may be one pathway
      through which weight discrimination increases risk for weight gain and obesity.

PMID- 26877217
TI  - Functional Imagery Training to reduce snacking: Testing a novel motivational
      intervention based on Elaborated Intrusion theory.
AB  - Functional Imagery Training (FIT) is a new theory-based, manualized intervention
      that trains positive goal imagery. Multisensory episodic imagery of proximal
      personal goals is elicited and practised, to sustain motivation and compete with
      less functional cravings. This study tested the impact of a single session of FIT
      plus a booster phone call on snacking. In a stepped-wedge design, 45 participants
      who wanted to lose weight or reduce snacking were randomly assigned to receive a
      session of FIT immediately or after a 2-week delay. High-sugar and high-fat
      snacks were recorded using timeline follow back for the previous 3 days, at
      baseline, 2 and 4 weeks. At 2 weeks, snacking was lower in the immediate group
      than in the delayed group, and the reduction after FIT was replicated in the
      delayed group between 2 and 4 weeks. Frequencies of motivational thoughts about
      snack reduction rose following FIT for both groups, and this change correlated
      with reductions in snacking and weight loss. By showing that FIT can support
      change in eating behaviours, these findings show its potential as a motivational
      intervention for weight management. 

PMID- 26877218
TI  - Weight-related teasing and non-normative eating behaviors as predictors of weight
      loss maintenance. A longitudinal mediation analysis.
AB  - Weight loss maintenance is essential for the reduction of obesity-related health
      impairments. However, only a minority of individuals successfully maintain
      reduced weight in the long term. Research has provided initial evidence for
      associations between weight-related teasing (WRT) and greater non-normative
      eating behaviors. Further, first evidence was found for associations between non
      normative eating behaviors and weight loss maintenance. Hence, the present study
      aimed to examine the predictive value of WRT for weight loss maintenance and the
      role of non-normative eating behaviors as possible mediators of this
      relationship. The study was part of the German Weight Control Registry that
      prospectively followed individuals who had intentionally lost at least 10% of
      their maximum weight and had maintained this reduced weight for at least one
      year. In N = 381 participants, retrospective WRT during childhood and
      adolescence, current non-normative eating behaviors (i.e., restrained, external,
      emotional eating), and change in body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) over two years
      were examined using self-report assessments. Structural equation modeling was
      used to analyze the assumed mediational relationship. As a result, a greater
      effect of retrospective WRT during childhood and adolescence predicted less
      successful adult weight loss maintenance over two years. Current emotional eating
      fully mediated this relationship while current restrained and external eating
      yielded no mediational effects. Hence, a greater effect of WRT predicted greater
      current emotional eating, which in turn predicted a smaller decrease or a greater
      increase in BMI. Our findings suggest that suffering from WRT during childhood
      and adolescence might lead to emotional eating which in turn impairs long-term
      weight loss maintenance. Thus, our results highlight the need for interventions
      aiming at reducing weight stigmatization and targeting emotional eating for
      successful long-term weight loss maintenance.

PMID- 26877219
TI  - Morphine sulfate concomitantly decreases neuronal differentiation and opioid
      receptor expression in mouse embryonic stem cells.
AB  - Opioids have been shown to affect prenatal and postnatal neural development in
      mammals. The present study investigates the impact of morphine sulfate (MS)
      treatment on neuronal differentiation as well as MU-opioid receptor (MOR)
      expression in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Stem cells were manipulated in
      culture to differentiate in 3 sequential stages: Stage 1, cell transformation to
      embryoid bodies (EB); Stage 2, EB cell differentiation to neural progenitor (NP)
      cells; and, Stage 3, NP cell differentiation to neurons/astrocytes co-cultured
      cells. Using RT-PCR and flow cytometry analyses, cell types were confirmed by
      monitoring expression of Oct4, nestin, microtubule-associated protein 2 (mtap-2),
      and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as cell-specific markers for stem
      cells, NP cells, neurons, and astrocytes, respectively. Similarly, gene
      expression for MOR, kappa-opioid receptor (KOR), and delta-opioid receptor (DOR)
      was confirmed in each cell type. In order to investigate the effects of MS on
      differentiation, cells were treated with MS (1, 10, 100 MUM) at either early
      (Stage 1) or late (Stage 3) stage of cellular differentiation. At Stage 1
      exposure, MOR gene expression and neuroectoderm specific marker expression of
      nestin were down-regulated in both EB and NP cells. In addition, the opioid down
      regulated GFAP in differentiated neurons/astrocytes co-cultured cells. Late stage
      treatment with MS resulted in a down-regulation of mtap-2 and GFAP in
      differentiated neurons/astrocytes co-cultured cells. Moreover, late stage
      treatment with MS and naltrexone inhibited the effect of MS on neuronal
      differentiation, suggesting that MS treatment interferes with differentiation via
      MOR activation. Together, the results show that MS exposure at early and late
      stage of cellular differentiation significantly decreases genotype and phenotype
      in differentiated neuronal cells. The results of this study have implications
      regarding the potential effect of opiates on fetal brain development.

PMID- 26877220
TI  - Low-level lead exposure and autistic behaviors in school-age children.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The association between lead exposure and autism spectrum disorder
      is inconclusive. We hypothesized an association between higher blood lead
      concentrations and more autistic behaviors, including impaired social
      interactions and communication, stereotypical behaviors, and restricted
      interests, among school-age children. METHODS: Data from 2473 Korean children
      aged 7-8years who had no prior history of developmental disorders were analyzed.
      Two follow-up surveys were conducted biennially until the children reached 11
      12years of age. Blood lead concentrations were measured at every survey, and
      autistic behaviors were evaluated at 11-12years of age using the Autism Spectrum
      Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The
      associations of blood lead concentration with ASSQ and SRS scores were analyzed
      using negative binomial, logistic, and linear regression models. RESULTS: Blood
      lead concentrations at 7-8years of age (geometric mean: 1.64MUg/dL), but not at 9
      10 and 11-12years of age, were associated with more autistic behaviors at 11
      12years of age, according to the ASSQ (beta=0.151; 95% confidence interval [CI]:
      0.061, 0.242) and SRS (beta=2.489; 95% CI: 1.378, 3.600). SRS subscale analysis
      also revealed associations between blood lead concentrations and social
      awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and mannerisms. CONCLUSION: Even
      low blood lead concentrations at 7-8years of age are associated with more
      autistic behaviors at 11-12years of age, underscoring the need for continued
      efforts to reduce lead exposure.

PMID- 26877221
TI  - Time and dose dependent effects of oxidative stress induced by cumene
      hydroperoxide in neuronal excitability of rat motor cortex neurons.
AB  - It has been claimed that oxidative stress and the production of reactive oxygen
      radicals can contribute to neuron degeneration and might be one factor in the
      development of different neurological diseases. In our study, we have attempted
      to clarify how oxidative damage induces dose dependent changes in functional
      membrane properties of neurons by means of whole cell patch clamp techniques in
      brain slices from young adult rats. Our research demonstrates physiological
      changes in membrane properties of pyramidal motor cortex neurons exposed to 3
      concentrations of cumene hydroperoxide (CH; 1, 10 and 100MUM) during 30min.
      Results show that oxidative stress induced by CH evokes important changes, in a
      concentration and time dependent manner, in the neuronal excitability of motor
      cortex neurons of the rat: (i) Low concentration of the drug (1MUM) already
      blocks inward rectifications (sag) and decreases action potential amplitude and
      gain, a drug concentration which has no effects on other neuronal populations,
      (ii) 10MUM of CH depresses the excitability of pyramidal motor cortex neurons by
      decreasing input resistance, amplitude of the action potential, and gain and
      maximum frequency of the repetitive firing discharge, and (iii) 100MUM completely
      blocks the capability to produce repetitive discharge of action potentials in all
      cells. Both larger drug concentrations and/or longer times of exposure to CH
      narrow the current working range. This happens because of the increase in the
      rheobase, and the reduction of the cancelation current. The effects caused by
      oxidative stress, including those produced by the level of lipid peroxidation,
      are practically irreversible and, this, therefore, indicates that neuroprotective
      agents should be administered at the first symptoms of alterations to membrane
      properties. In fact, the pre-treatment with melatonin, acting as an antioxidant,
      prevented the lipid peroxidation and the physiological changes induced by CH.
      Larger cells (as estimated by their cell capacitance) were also more susceptible
      to oxidative stress. Our results provide previously unavailable observations that
      large size and high sensitivity to oxidative stress (even at low concentrations)
      make pyramidal neurons of the motor cortex, in particular corticofugal neurons,
      more susceptible to cell death when compared with other neuronal populations.
      These results could also shed some light on explaining the causes behind diseases
      such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 

PMID- 26877222
TI  - The importance of fetal sex determination.

PMID- 26877223
TI  - Lineage Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Proliferative Induced Cardiac
      Progenitor Cells by Defined Factors.
AB  - Several studies have reported reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced
      cardiomyocytes; however, reprogramming into proliferative induced cardiac
      progenitor cells (iCPCs) remains to be accomplished. Here we report that a
      combination of 11 or 5 cardiac factors along with canonical Wnt and JAK/STAT
      signaling reprogrammed adult mouse cardiac, lung, and tail tip fibroblasts into
      iCPCs. The iCPCs were cardiac mesoderm-restricted progenitors that could be
      expanded extensively while maintaining multipotency to differentiate into
      cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover,
      iCPCs injected into the cardiac crescent of mouse embryos differentiated into
      cardiomyocytes. iCPCs transplanted into the post-myocardial infarction mouse
      heart improved survival and differentiated into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle
      cells, and endothelial cells. Lineage reprogramming of adult somatic cells into
      iCPCs provides a scalable cell source for drug discovery, disease modeling, and
      cardiac regenerative therapy.

PMID- 26877225
TI  - Visualising the molecular alteration of the calcite (104) - water interface by
      sodium nitrate.
AB  - The reactivity of calcite, one of the most abundant minerals in the earth's
      crust, is determined by the molecular details of its interface with the
      contacting solution. Recently, it has been found that trace concentrations of
      NaNO3 severely affect calcite's (104) surface and its reactivity. Here we combine
      molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, X-ray reflectivity (XR) and in situ atomic
      force microscopy (AFM) to probe the calcite (104) - water interface in the
      presence of NaNO3. Simulations reveal density profiles of different ions near
      calcite's surface, with NO3(-) able to reach closer to the surface than CO3(2-)
      and in higher concentrations. Reflectivity measurements show a structural
      destabilisation of the (104) surfaces' topmost atomic layers in NaNO3 bearing
      solution, with distorted rotation angles of the carbonate groups and substantial
      displacement of the lattice ions. Nanoscale AFM results confirm the alteration of
      crystallographic characteristics, and the ability of dissolved NaNO3 to modify
      the structure of interfacial water was observed by AFM force spectroscopy. Our
      experiments and simulations consistently evidence a dramatic deterioration of the
      crystals' surface, with potentially important implications for geological and
      industrial processes. 

PMID- 26877224
TI  - A Single CRISPR-Cas9 Deletion Strategy that Targets the Majority of DMD Patients
      Restores Dystrophin Function in hiPSC-Derived Muscle Cells.
AB  - Mutations in DMD disrupt the reading frame, prevent dystrophin translation, and
      cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here we describe a CRISPR/Cas9 platform
      applicable to 60% of DMD patient mutations. We applied the platform to DMD
      derived hiPSCs where successful deletion and non-homologous end joining of up to
      725 kb reframed the DMD gene. This is the largest CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion
      shown to date in DMD. Use of hiPSCs allowed evaluation of dystrophin in disease
      relevant cell types. Cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle myotubes derived from
      reframed hiPSC clonal lines had restored dystrophin protein. The internally
      deleted dystrophin was functional as demonstrated by improved membrane integrity
      and restoration of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex in vitro and in vivo.
      Furthermore, miR31 was reduced upon reframing, similar to observations in Becker
      muscular dystrophy. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using a single
      CRISPR pair to correct the reading frame for the majority of DMD patients.

PMID- 26877226
TI  - Prevalence and genetic analysis of alpha- and beta-thalassemia in Baise region, a
      multi-ethnic region in southern China.
AB  - Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary blood disorders. Epidemiological
      data regarding the occurrence and distribution of thalassemia is important for
      designing appropriate prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to
      update and reveal the prevalence of thalassemia and mutation spectrum in the
      Baise region of southern China. We screened 47,500 individuals from Baise region
      by hematological and genetic analysis. Totally, 11,432 (24.07%) subjects were
      diagnosed as being carriers and patients of thalassemia, including 7290 (15.35%)
      subjects with alpha-thalassemia, 3152 (6.64%) subjects with beta-thalassemia and
      990 (2.08%) subjects with both alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia. Ten alpha
      thalassemia mutations and 31 genotypes were identified in the alpha-thalassemia
      carriers and patients. Meanwhile, 13 beta-thalassemia mutations and 26 genotypes
      were characterized in the beta-thalassemia carriers and patients. Furthermore,
      the true prevalence of nondeletional mutations and Thailand type (-THAI) deletion
      mutation were first reported in this study. In addition, three cases of
      alphaalpha/alphaalphaalpha3.7, five cases of HKalphaalpha/alphaalpha and two rare
      beta-globin mutations, -86 (G>C) and CD 121 (G>T) were first identified in the
      Chinese Zhuang ethnic populations. Our data indicated that there was great
      heterogeneity and extensive spectrum of thalassemias in the Baise populations.
      The findings will be useful for genetic counseling and prevention of severe
      thalassemia in this region.

PMID- 26877227
TI  - Application of Euclidean distance measurement and principal component analysis
      for gene identification.
AB  - Gene systems are extremely complex, heterogeneous, and noisy in nature. Many
      statistical tools which are used to extract relevant feature from genes provide
      fuzzy and ambiguous information. High-dimensional gene expression database
      available in public domain usually contains thousands of genes. Efficient
      prediction method is demanding nowadays for accurate identification of such
      database. Euclidean distance measurement and principal component analysis methods
      are applied on such databases to identify the genes. In both methods, prediction
      algorithm is based on homology search approach. Digital Signal Processing
      technique along with statistical method is used for analysis of genes in both
      cases. A two-level decision logic is used for gene classification as healthy or
      cancerous. This binary logic minimizes the prediction error and improves
      prediction accuracy. Superiority of the method is judged by receiver operating
      characteristic curve. 

PMID- 26877228
TI  - The association between discrepant weight perceptions and objectively measured
      physical activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some individuals perceive themselves as being normal weight, despite
      having an excess body fat percentage (e.g., underestimate weight). Conversely,
      other individuals perceive themselves as being overweight, despite having a
      normal body fat percentage (e.g., overestimate weight). When perceived and actual
      weight statuses are incongruent, individuals possess a discrepant weight
      perception. The association between discrepant weight perceptions and engagement
      in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has not been thoroughly
      investigated, which was this study's purpose. METHODS: For this cross-sectional
      study, data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
      were utilized (N=5462 adults). MVPA was assessed via accelerometry. Based on
      measured body mass index and whether participants considered themselves as
      overweight, underweight, or about the right weight, we classified individuals as
      accurate perception, overestimate weight (discrepant), or underestimate weight
      (discrepant). A negative binomial logistical regression was used to assess the
      association between discrepant weight perception (independent variable) and
      engagement in MVPA (outcome variable). RESULTS: Females who said that they are
      normal weight, but were in fact overweight based on body mass index, engaged in
      13% less MVPA (rate ratio=.87, 95% confidence interval: .769-.999, P=.05). Also,
      older adults (>60yrs) who said that they are normal weight, but were overweight
      based on body mass index, engaged in 23% less MVPA (rate ratio=.77, 95%
      confidence interval: .616-.965, P=.025). CONCLUSION: Discrepant weight
      perceptions were associated with less objectively measured MVPA. Interventions
      should take weight perceptions into consideration when designing and evaluating
      intervention impact.

PMID- 26877230
TI  - Surface-induced phase transitions of wormlike chains in slit confinement.
AB  - On the basis of a self-consistent field theory treatment of semi-flexible polymer
      chains, we analyze the effects of the flexibility on the structure of polymers
      sterically confined between two parallel, structureless walls separated by a
      distance. The model is built from a wormlike chain formalism which crosses over
      from the rod limit to the flexible limit, and the Onsager-type interaction which
      describes the orientation-dependent excluded-volume interaction. Three surface
      states were obtained from the numerical solution to the theory: uniaxial,
      biaxial, and condensed. As the overall density increases in such a lyotropic
      system, first order phase transitions between uniaxial and biaxial states,
      biaxial and condensed states can occur. 

PMID- 26877229
TI  - Disentangling visual and olfactory signals in mushroom-mimicking Dracula orchids
      using realistic three-dimensional printed flowers.
AB  - Flowers use olfactory and visual signals to communicate with pollinators.
      Disentangling the relative contributions and potential synergies between signals
      remains a challenge. Understanding the perceptual biases exploited by floral
      mimicry illuminates the evolution of these signals. Here, we disentangle the
      olfactory and visual components of Dracula lafleurii, which mimics mushrooms in
      size, shape, color and scent, and is pollinated by mushroom-associated flies. To
      decouple signals, we used three-dimensional printing to produce realistic
      artificial flower molds that were color matched and cast using scent-free
      surgical silicone, to which we could add scent. We used GC-MS to measure scents
      in co-occurring mushrooms, and related orchids, and used these scents in field
      experiments. By combining silicone flower parts with real floral organs, we
      created chimeras that identified the mushroom-like labellum as a source of
      volatile attraction. In addition, we showed remarkable overlap in the volatile
      chemistry between D. lafleurii and co-occurring mushrooms. The characters
      defining the genus Dracula - a mushroom-like, 'gilled' labellum and a showy,
      patterned calyx - enhance pollinator attraction by exploiting the visual and
      chemosensory perceptual biases of drosophilid flies. Our techniques for the
      manipulation of complex traits in a nonmodel system not conducive to gene
      silencing or selective breeding are useful for other systems.

PMID- 26877231
TI  - New quantum spin Hall insulator in two-dimensional MoS2 with periodically
      distributed pores.
AB  - MoS2, one of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), has gained a lot of
      attention due to its excellent semiconductor characteristics and potential
      applications. Here, based on density functional theory methods, we predict a
      novel 2D QSH insulator in the porous allotrope of monolayer MoS2 (g-MoS2),
      consisting of MoS2 squares and hexagons. g-MoS2 has a nontrivial gap as large as
      109 meV, comparable with previously reported 1T'-MoS2 (80 meV) and so-MoS2 (25
      meV). We demonstrate that the origin of the 2D QSH effect in g-MoS2 originates
      from the pure d-d band inversion, different from the conventional band inversion
      between s-p, p-p or d-p orbitals. The new polymorph greatly enriches the TMD
      family and its stabilities are confirmed using phonon spectrum analysis. In
      particular, its porous structure endows it with the potential for efficient gas
      separation and energy storage applications. 

PMID- 26877232
TI  - Extensive tumoral melanosis associated with ipilimumab-treated melanoma.
AB  - Tumoral melanosis describes a pigmented lesion clinically similar to melanoma but
      on histology reveals dense aggregates of melanin-laden, benign macrophages
      without malignant cells. In the few reported cases so far, tumoral melanosis has
      arisen in the skin or lymph node of a patient with a regressed melanoma or an
      epithelioid tumour. As a marker of regressed primary melanoma, its discovery may
      prompt investigation and surveillance for undiagnosed local or metastatic
      disease. Here, we present a unique case of extensive tumoral melanosis arising
      during ipilimumab treatment of in-transit metastases from a previously excised
      melanoma. 

PMID- 26877233
TI  - [Greenlight((r)) photoselective vaporization of the prostate: Contemporary
      practices in France].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Photovaporization of the prostate by the Greenlight((r)) laser (GL)
      has been strongly developed this past few years in France, representing nearly
      30% of surgery for BPH, making France the second GL user worldwide after USA. The
      objective of this study was to assess the French surgeons practices with the
      Greenlight((r)) laser. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the 4th meeting of French
      Greenlight((r)) users group (GUGL), was proposed a questionnaire on the
      management of patients and the GL technique. The questionnaire covered the
      operator's characteristics (age, experience with the GL, etc.), the treatment
      strategy, preoperative management (anticoagulants...) and postoperative
      management (ambulatory, removal catheter...) as well as the surgical technique
      (fiber type, energy used, etc.). RESULTS: Among the 117 participants, 64 answered
      to the questionnaire (55%). Fifty-six percent chose GL, whatever was the prostate
      volume, simple prostatectomy was the most commonly alternative used for high
      prostate size (39%). The aspirin was pursued by 89% of practitioners
      perioperatively. Conversely, clopidogrel was continued by only 19% and
      anticoagulant by only 14%. Seventy-three percent of participants commonly used
      classic vaporization and only 3% used new techniques (GreenLEP). During
      procedure, 72% used energy between 120W and 160W. Sixty percent used transrectal
      ultrasound during surgery (32% throughout the procedure). Only 16% of surgeons
      made ambulatory procedure and almost 33% never. Surgeons with over 3years of
      experience (vs.<3years) used the technique regardless of the volume in 67% vs.
      23.5% (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: In France Greenlight use is still heterogeneous for
      the patient's management. New techniques which are currently developing
      (GreenLEP, vapo-enucleation) are still marginal. Ambulatory is still
      insufficiently used and need to be developed. The experienced surgeon led to
      wider indication for the technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26877234
TI  - [How to approach the proofreading of an article submitted to Progres en urologie?
      Opinion of the best reviewer in 2015].

PMID- 26877235
TI  - Water-Soluble Compounds from Lentinula edodes Influencing the HMG-CoA Reductase
      Activity and the Expression of Genes Involved in the Cholesterol Metabolism.
AB  - A water extract from Lentinula edodes (LWE) showed HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory
      activity but contained no statins. NMR indicated the presence of water-soluble
      alpha- and beta-glucans and fucomannogalactans. Fractions containing derivatives
      of these polysaccharides with molecular weight down to approximately 1 kDa still
      retained their inhibitory activity. Once digested LWE was applied to Caco2 in
      transport experiments, no significant effect was noticed on the modulation of
      cholesterol-related gene expression. But, when the lower compartment of the Caco2
      monolayer was applied to HepG2, some genes were modulated (after 24 h). LWE was
      also administrated to normo- and hypercholesterolemic mice, and no significant
      lowering of serum cholesterol levels was observed; but reduction of triglycerides
      in liver was observed. However, LWE supplementation modulated the transcriptional
      profile of some genes involved in the cholesterol metabolism similarly to
      simvastatin, suggesting that it could hold potential as a
      hypolipidemic/hypocholesterolemic extract, although further dose-dependent
      studies should be carried out. 

PMID- 26877236
TI  - The Oct1 transcription factor and epithelial malignancies: Old protein learns new
      tricks.
AB  - The metazoan-specific POU domain transcription factor family comprises activities
      underpinning developmental processes such as embryonic pluripotency and neuronal
      specification. Some POU family proteins efficiently bind an 8-bp DNA element
      known as the octamer motif. These proteins are known as Oct transcription
      factors. Oct1/POU2F1 is the only widely expressed POU factor. Unlike other POU
      factors it controls no specific developmental or organ system. Oct1 was
      originally described to operate at target genes associated with proliferation and
      immune modulation, but more recent results additionally identify targets
      associated with oxidative and cytotoxic stress resistance, metabolic regulation,
      stem cell function and other unexpected processes. Oct1 is pro-oncogenic in
      multiple contexts, and several recent reports provide broad evidence that Oct1
      has prognostic and therapeutic value in multiple epithelial tumor settings. This
      review focuses on established and emerging roles of Oct1 in epithelial tumors,
      with an emphasis on mechanisms of transcription regulation by Oct1 that may
      underpin these findings. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The
      Oct Transcription Factor Family, edited by Dr. Dean Tantin. 

PMID- 26877239
TI  - Stimulated echo diffusion weighted imaging of the liver at 3 Tesla.
AB  - PURPOSE: Diffusion time (Delta) effect in diffusion measurements has been
      validated as a sensitive biomarker in liver fibrosis by rat models. To extend
      this finding to clinical study, a reliable imaging technique is highly desirable.
      This study aimed to develop an optimal stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM)
      diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) method dedicated to human liver imaging on 3
      Tesla (T) and preliminarily investigate the dependence effect in healthy
      volunteers. METHODS: STEAM DWI with single-shot echo planar imaging readout was
      used as it provided better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than spin echo DWI methods
      when a long Delta was needed for liver imaging. Additionally, a slice-selection
      gradient reversal method was used for fat suppression. Motion compensation and
      SNR improvement strategies were used to further improve the image quality. Five b
      values with three Deltas were tested in 10 volunteers. RESULTS: Effective fat
      suppression and motion compensation were reproducibly achieved in the optimized
      sequence. The signal decay generally became slower when the Deltas increased.
      Obvious reduction of diffusion coefficients was observed with increasing Deltas
      in the liver. CONCLUSION: The results verified the Delta dependence in diffusion
      measurements, indicating restricted diffusion in healthy human livers for the
      first time at 3T. This prepared STEAM DWI a potential technique for liver
      fibrotic studies in clinical practice. Magn Reson Med 77:300-309, 2017. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26877238
TI  - Heme oxygenase-1 attenuates IL-1beta induced alteration of anabolic and catabolic
      activities in intervertebral disc degeneration.
AB  - Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is characterized by disordered
      extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism, implicating subdued anabolism and enhanced
      catabolic activities in the nucleus pulposus (NP) of discs. Pro-inflammatory
      cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) are considered to be potent
      mediators of ECM breakdown. Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been reported to
      participate in cellular anti-inflammatory processes. The purpose of this study
      was to investigate HO-1 modulation of ECM metabolism in human NP cells under IL
      1beta stimulation. Our results revealed that expression of HO-1 decreased
      considerably during IDD progression. Induction of HO-1 by cobalt protoporphyrin
      IX attenuated the inhibition of sulfate glycosaminoglycan and collagen type II
      (COL-II) synthesis and ameliorated the reduced expressions of aggrecan, COL-II,
      SOX-6 and SOX-9 mediated by IL-1beta. Induction of HO-1 also reversed the effect
      of IL-1beta on expression of the catabolic markers matrix metalloproteinases-1,
      3, 9 and 13. This was combined with inhibition of the activation of mitogen
      activated protein kinase signaling. These findings suggest that HO-1 might play a
      pivotal role in IDD, and that manipulating HO-1 expression might mitigate the
      impairment of ECM metabolism in NP, thus potentially offering a novel therapeutic
      approach to the treatment of IDD. 

PMID- 26877237
TI  - Mechanisms of xenobiotic receptor activation: Direct vs. indirect.
AB  - The so-called xenobiotic receptors (XRs) have functionally evolved into cellular
      sensors for both endogenous and exogenous stimuli by regulating the transcription
      of genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters, as well as those
      involving energy homeostasis, cell proliferation, and/or immune responses. Unlike
      prototypical steroid hormone receptors, XRs are activated through both direct
      ligand-binding and ligand-independent (indirect) mechanisms by a plethora of
      structurally unrelated chemicals. This review covers research literature that
      discusses direct vs. indirect activation of XRs. A particular focus is centered
      on the signaling control of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), the
      pregnane X receptor (PXR), and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We expect
      that this review will shed light on both the common and distinct mechanisms
      associated with activation of these three XRs. This article is part of a Special
      Issue entitled: Xenobiotic nuclear receptors: New Tricks for An Old Dog, edited
      by Dr. Wen Xie.

PMID- 26877240
TI  - A CAPS-based binding assay provides semi-quantitative validation of protein-DNA
      interactions.
AB  - Investigation of protein-DNA interactions provides crucial information for
      understanding the mechanisms of gene regulation. Current methods for studying
      protein-DNA interactions, such as DNaseI footprinting or gel shift assays,
      involve labeling DNA with radioactive or fluorescent tags, making these methods
      costly, laborious, and potentially damaging to the environment. Here, we describe
      a novel cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS)-based binding assay (CBA),
      which is a label-free method that can simplify the semi-quantitative validation
      of protein-DNA interactions. The CBA tests the interaction between a protein and
      its target DNA, based on the CAPS pattern produced due to differences in the
      accessibility of a restriction endonuclease site (intrinsic or artificial) in
      amplified DNA in the presence and absence of the protein of interest. Thus, the
      CBA can produce a semi-quantitative readout of the interaction strength based on
      the dose of the binding protein. We demonstrate the principle and feasibility of
      CBA using B3, MADS3 proteins and the corresponding RY or CArG-box containing
      DNAs. 

PMID- 26877241
TI  - Adrenocortical function in cane toads from different environments.
AB  - The adrenocortical function of cane toads (Rhinella marina) exposed to different
      experimental procedures, as well as captured from different environments, was
      assessed by challenging the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It was
      found that restriction stress as well as cannulation increased plasma
      corticosterone (B) levels for up to 12h. A single dose of dexamethasone (DEX
      2mg/kg) significantly reduced B levels demonstrating its potential for use in the
      evaluation of the HPA axis in amphibia. We also demonstrate that 0.05 IU/g BW
      (im) of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) significantly increased
      plasma B levels in cane toads. Changes in size area of the cortical cells were
      positively associated with total levels of B after ACTH administration. We also
      found differences in adrenal activity between populations. This was assessed by a
      DEX-ACTH test. The animals captured from the field and maintained in captivity
      for one year at the animal house (AH) present the highest levels of total and
      free B after ACTH administration. We also found that animals from the front line
      of dispersion in Western Australia (WA) present the weakest adrenal response to a
      DEX-ACTH test. The animals categorized as long established in Queensland
      Australia (QL), and native in Mexico (MX), do not shown a marked difference in
      the HPA activity. Finally we found that in response to ACTH administration,
      females reach significantly higher levels of plasma B than males. For the first
      time the adrenocortical response in cane toads exposed to different experimental
      procedures, as well as from different populations was assessed systematically.

PMID- 26877242
TI  - Potential roles of suppressor of cytokine signaling in wound healing.
AB  - Wound healing is a dynamic process comprising three overlapping, highly
      orchestrated stages known as inflammation, proliferation and re
      epithelialization, and tissue remodeling. This complex process is regulated by
      numerous cytokines, with dysregulation of cytokine-induced signaling leading to
      impaired wound healing. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are a
      family of eight intracellular proteins which may hold the potential to maintain
      homeostasis during wound healing through their negative feedback inhibition of
      cytokine signaling. To date, the roles of SOCS proteins in inflammation,
      autoimmunity and cancer have been comprehensively illustrated; however, only a
      limited number of studies focused on their role in wound healing. This review
      demonstrates the possible links between SOCS proteins and wound healing, and also
      highlights the potential importance of this family in a variety of other aspects
      of regenerative medicine. 

PMID- 26877243
TI  - Type I/II Interferon Balance in the Regulation of Brain Physiology and Pathology.
AB  - Recent findings have revealed distinct roles for type I and II interferons (IFN-I
      and IFN-gamma) in the recruitment of immune cells to the central nervous system
      (CNS) and highlighted the importance of this process for brain maintenance and
      protection/repair. Furthermore, manipulation of IFN-I and IFN-gamma pathways in
      pathological contexts has yielded conflicting results. We discuss these findings,
      focusing on two distinct conditions; relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
      (RRMS) and brain aging. Using these examples, we propose that regulation of
      immune cell entry to the CNS is a mechanism through which interaction between IFN
      I and -II can affect brain function from its anatomical borders. Deviation from
      homeostatic IFN-I/-II balance may contribute to distinct brain pathologies,
      resulting from either insufficient immune surveillance of the CNS and loss of
      immune-dependent protection, or overwhelming leukocyte entry and immune-mediated
      destruction. 

PMID- 26877244
TI  - Drug testing and flow cytometry analysis on a large number of uniform sized tumor
      spheroids using a microfluidic device.
AB  - Three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid possesses great potential as an in vitro
      model to improve predictive capacity for pre-clinical drug testing. In this
      paper, we combine advantages of flow cytometry and microfluidics to perform drug
      testing and analysis on a large number (5000) of uniform sized tumor spheroids.
      The spheroids are formed, cultured, and treated with drugs inside a microfluidic
      device. The spheroids can then be harvested from the device without tedious
      operation. Due to the ample cell numbers, the spheroids can be dissociated into
      single cells for flow cytometry analysis. Flow cytometry provides statistical
      information in single cell resolution that makes it feasible to better
      investigate drug functions on the cells in more in vivo-like 3D formation. In the
      experiments, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) are exploited to form
      tumor spheroids within the microfluidic device, and three anti-cancer drugs:
      Cisplatin, Resveratrol, and Tirapazamine (TPZ), and their combinations are tested
      on the tumor spheroids with two different sizes. The experimental results suggest
      the cell culture format (2D monolayer vs. 3D spheroid) and spheroid size play
      critical roles in drug responses, and also demonstrate the advantages of bridging
      the two techniques in pharmaceutical drug screening applications. 

PMID- 26877245
TI  - Prevalence, risk factors and genetic parameters of cresty neck in Pura Raza
      Espanol horses.
AB  - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Cresty neck is a relatively common morphological
      defect in Pura Raza Espanol horses and other Baroque type horse breeds, which
      adversely affects the breeding industry. OBJECTIVES: To establish the within
      breed prevalence, possible associated factors and heritability of cresty neck in
      Pura Raza Espanol horses. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a large
      worldwide database of Pura Raza Espanol horses. METHODS: The database included
      evaluations of 10,929 Pura Raza Espanol horses from 24 countries. Cresty neck
      score, on a 9 point scale, girth-to-height ratio, height at the withers, length
      of neck, head-neck junction and neck-body junction were recorded. A Bayesian
      genetic animal model included the following systematic effects: girth-to-height
      ratio, age, sex, coat colour and geographical area of the stud. Animal and
      residual effects were included as random effects. RESULTS: Within this Pura Raza
      Espanol population, 8.91% had a cresty neck score >=5, which is the threshold for
      penalty or disqualification in the studbook of the breed. The age, sex, coat
      colour and stud geographical area were significantly associated with cresty neck
      score. The estimated heritability coefficient for cresty neck score was 0.37
      (s.d. = 0.034) and genetic correlation between cresty neck score and other
      conformational traits ranged from -0.06 (height-at-withers) to -0.21 (neck-body
      junction). CONCLUSIONS: Cresty neck is a prevalent defect in Pura Raza Espanol
      horses, associated with age, sex, coat colour and other conformational traits,
      with a moderate level of heritability. Breeding to select against this condition
      may therefore be beneficial in this breed.

PMID- 26877246
TI  - Persistent Organic Nanopores Amenable to Structural and Functional Tuning.
AB  - Rigid macrocycles 2, which share a hybrid backbone and the same set of side
      chains while having inner cavities with different inward-pointing functional
      groups, undergo similar nanotubular assembly as indicated by multiple techniques
      including (1)H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The
      formation of tubular assemblies containing subnanometer pores is also attested by
      the different transmembrane ion-transport behavior observed for these
      macrocycles. Vesicle-based stopped-flow kinetic assay and single-channel
      electrophysiology with planar lipid bilayers show that the presence of an inward
      pointing functional (X) group in the inner cavity of a macrocyclic building block
      exerts a major influence on the transmembrane ion-transporting preference of the
      corresponding self-assembling pore. Self-assembling pores with inward-pointing
      amino and methyl groups possess the surprising and remarkable capability of
      rejecting protons but are conducive to transporting larger ions. The inward
      pointing groups also resulted in transmembrane pores with a different extent of
      positive electrostatic potentials, leading to channels having different
      preferences for transporting chloride ion. Results from this work demonstrate
      that synthetic modification at the molecular level can profoundly impact the
      property of otherwise structurally persistent supramolecular assemblies, with
      both expected tunability and suprisingly unusual behavior. 

PMID- 26877247
TI  - Kinetic target-guided synthesis in drug discovery and chemical biology: a
      comprehensive facts and figures survey.
AB  - For the last 15 years, kinetic target-guided syntheses, including in situ click
      chemistry, have been used as alternative methods to find ligands to
      therapeutically relevant proteins. In this review, a comprehensive survey of
      biological targets used in kinetic target-guided synthesis covers historical and
      recent examples. The chemical reactions employed and practical aspects, including
      controls, library sizes and product detection, are presented. A particular focus
      is on the reagents and warhead selection and design with a critical overview of
      the challenges encountered. As protein supply remains a key success factor, it
      appears that increased efforts should be taken toward miniaturization in order to
      expand the scope of this strategy and qualify it as a fully fledged drug
      discovery tool. 

PMID- 26877249
TI  - Erratum: Comprehensive analysis of antibody recognition in convalescent humans
      from highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 infection.

PMID- 26877248
TI  - Risk Factors for Steatorrhea in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Cohort of 2,153 Patients.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of and determine the risk factors
      for steatorrhea in chronic pancreatitis (CP). It was based on analysis of both
      retrospectively and prospectively acquired database for CP patients admitted to
      our center from January 2000 to December 2013. Demographic data, course of
      disease, medical history, and follow-up evaluations of patients were documented
      in detail. Cumulative rate of steatorrhea was calculated by using the Kaplan
      Meier method. For risk factor analysis, multivariate analysis by Cox proportional
      hazards regression model was performed. A total of 2,153 CP patients were
      included with a mean follow-up duration of 9.3 years. Approximately 14%
      (291/2,153) of CP patients presented with steatorrhea at diagnosis of CP.
      Cumulative rates of steatorrhea at 1, 5, 10, and 20 years after diagnosis of CP
      were 4.27% (95% CI: 3.42%-5.34%), 12.53% (95% CI: 10.74%-14.59%), 20.44% (95% CI:
      17.37%-23.98%) and 30.82% (95% CI: 20.20%-45.21%), respectively. Male gender (HR
      = 1.771, p = 0.004), diabetes (HR = 1.923, p < .001), alcohol abuse (HR = 1.503,
      p = 0.025) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (HR = 2.901, p < 0.001) were independent
      risk factors for steatorrhea while CP in adolescents (HR = 0.433, p = 0.009) was
      a protective factor. In conclusion, male gender, adult, diabetes, alcohol abuse
      and pancreaticoduodenectomy lead to increased risk of steatorrhea in CP patients.

PMID- 26877250
TI  - Accelerated progression of Hodgkin's-like lymphomas in golli deficient SJL mice.
AB  - Spontaneously occurring lymphomas in SJL mice have many pathological features
      similar to Hodgkin's lymphoma in humans. The malignant growth of the tumor cells
      is dependent on the support of host FoxP3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). In
      this study, we report that the ablation of golli protein, a negative regulator of
      CRAC (calcium release activated calcium) channel, in SJL mice results in an
      accelerated progression of Hodgkin's-like lymphoma which is accompanied by a
      facilitated conversion of FoxP3(+) Treg cells. Our results suggest that golli
      protein might affect the progression of Hodgkin's-like lymphomas through
      regulating the induction of Treg cells. 

PMID- 26877252
TI  - Stimulated photon emission and two-photon Raman scattering in a coupled-cavity
      QED system.
AB  - We study the scattering problem of photon and polariton in a one-dimensional
      coupled-cavity system. Analytical approximate analysis and numerical simulation
      show that a photon can stimulate the photon emission from a polariton through
      polariton-photon collisions. This observation opens the possibility of photon
      stimulated transition from insulating to radiative phase in a coupled-cavity QED
      system. Inversely, we also find that a polariton can be generated by a two-photon
      Raman scattering process. This paves the way towards single photon storage by the
      aid of atom-cavity interaction. 

PMID- 26877253
TI  - Evaluation of the Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Telehealth Clinic on Diabetes
      Related Goals of Therapy in a Veteran Population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Telemedicine has been offered as a way to ensure that all patients,
      including those who live in rural areas, have access to the same health care.
      This study was performed to evaluate the benefit of a real-time, clinic-based
      video telehealth (Clinical Video Telehealth [CVT]) program and the impact of a
      pharmacist-led CVT clinic for chronic disease state management. The primary
      objective was to evaluate changes from baseline values, in veterans referred by
      primary care providers to this clinic. METHODS: This was a single-center,
      prospective, pre-post pilot study that also included a post-patient satisfaction
      survey. The study was conducted at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, which
      is composed of two medical centers and 12 community-based outpatient clinics
      (CBOCs) located away from the two main facilities. Fifteen clinical pharmacy
      specialists (CPSs)-seven at the two main facilities and eight at the CBOCs
      provide disease state management clinical pharmacy services. One of the seven
      CPSs at the main facilities works via telemedicine and provides services to the
      CBOCs where on-site clinical pharmacy services did not exist. The primary
      outcomes were changes from baseline in A1C, LDL level, systolic blood pressure,
      and diastolic blood pressure after 6 months of CVT services by the CPS. Secondary
      outcomes were the percentages of patients meeting American Diabetes Association
      treatment goals for hemoglobin A1c (A1C), low-density lipoprotein level, and
      blood pressure, both individually and in combination after attending a pharmacist
      led CVT program; the level of patient satisfaction with pharmacists' care and
      with CVT as a method of receiving chronic disease management, specifically for
      diabetes; and medication additions or changes made by the pharmacist. RESULTS:
      Twenty-six patients completed the 6-month evaluation. A significant decrease in
      A1C of 2% from baseline was observed (p=0.0002), and the percentage of patients
      meeting goal A1C significantly increased from 0% at baseline to 38% at 6 months
      (p=0.0007). Overall patient satisfaction scores were also high, with a median
      score 39.5 (interquartile range 36-40) of a maximum score of 40. CONCLUSION: Six
      months of CVT clinic attendance significantly improved A1C values and the overall
      percentage of patients meeting their goal A1C values in this veteran population.
      In addition, patient satisfaction scores also indicated a high level of
      satisfaction with the pharmacist-led CVT service.

PMID- 26877251
TI  - Strategies to target long-lived plasma cells for treating hemophilia A
      inhibitors.
AB  - Long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) can persistently produce anti-factor VIII (FVIII)
      antibodies which disrupt therapeutic effect of FVIII in hemophilia A patients
      with inhibitors. The migration of plasma cells to BM where they become LLPCs is
      largely controlled by an interaction between the chemokine ligand CXCL12 and its
      receptor CXCR4. AMD3100 combined with G-CSF inhibit their interactions, thus
      facilitating the mobilization of CD34(+) cells and blocking the homing of LLPCs.
      These reagents were combined with anti-CD20 to reduce B-cells and the specific IL
      2/IL-2mAb (JES6-1) complexes to induce Treg expansion for targeting anti-FVIII
      immune responses. Groups of mice primed with FVIII plasmid and protein
      respectively were treated with the combined regimen for six weeks, and a
      significant reduction of anti-FVIII inhibitor titers was observed, associated
      with the dramatic decrease of circulating and bone marrow CXCR4(+) plasma cells.
      The combination regimens are highly promising in modulating pre-existing anti
      FVIII antibodies in FVIII primed subjects. 

PMID- 26877254
TI  - Mass spectrometric detection of 27-hydroxycholesterol in breast cancer exosomes.
AB  - Exosomes from cancer cells are rich sources of biomarkers and may contain
      elevated levels of lipids of diagnostic value. 27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is
      associated with proliferation and metastasis in estrogen receptor positive (ER+)
      breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the levels of 27-OHC, and other
      sidechain-hydroxylated oxysterols in exosomes. To study both cytoplasmic and
      exosomal oxysterol samples of limited size, we have developed a capillary liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry platform that outperforms our previously
      published systems regarding chromatographic resolution, analysis time and
      sensitivity. In the analyzed samples, the quantified level of cytoplasmic 27-OHC
      using this platform fitted with mRNA levels of 27-OHC's corresponding enzyme,
      CYP27A1. We find clearly increased levels of 27-OHC in exosomes (i.e.,
      enrichment) from an ER+ breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) compared to exosomes
      derived from an estrogen receptor (ER-) breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and
      other control exosomes (non-cancerous cell line (HEK293) and human pooled serum).
      The exosomal oxysterol profile did not reflect cytoplasmic oxysterol profiles in
      the cells of origin; cytoplasmic 27-OHC was low in ER+ MCF-7 cells while high in
      MDA-MB-231 cells. Other control cancer cells showed varied cytoplasmic oxysterol
      levels. Hence, exosome profiling in cancer cells might provide complementary
      information with the possibility of diagnostic value.

PMID- 26877255
TI  - Steroidogenic pathways involved in androgen biosynthesis in eumenorrheic women
      and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - The conventional Delta5 and Delta4 steroidogenic pathways mediate androgen
      production in females. While multiple non-conventional pathways to
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have recently been postulated in humans, the functional
      significance of these pathways remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study
      was to clarify the origin of androgens in healthy women and in patients with
      polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a multifactorial disorder characterized by
      androgen overproduction. We measured 13 steroids in blood samples of 31
      eumenorrheic females and 28 PCOS patients using liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. We found that 17-hydroxy
      (17-OH) progesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (Delta4A), testosterone,
      androstanedione, androsterone, and androstanediol levels were higher in the
      patient group than in the eumenorrheic group, while levels of other steroids were
      comparable between the two groups. In the eumenorrheic group, DHT levels were
      correlated with testosterone, androstanedione, and androstanediol. Quantitative
      correlations were also observed among 17-OH allopregnanolone, androsterone,
      androstanediol, and DHT, and among Delta4A, androstanedione, androsterone, and
      androstanediol. In the patient group, DHT levels were correlated with
      testosterone levels, but not with androstanedione or androstanediol levels.
      Delta4A and testosterone paralleled 17-OHP. Androstanedione, androsterone,
      androstanediol, and 17-OH allopregnanolone were quantitatively correlated. In
      both groups, multivariable linear regression analyses suggested relationships
      between androsterone and androstanedione, as well as between androsterone and 17
      OH allopregnanolone. These results indicate that multiple androgen biosynthesis
      pathways are operating in eumenorrheic females and PCOS patients. In PCOS
      patients, excessive androgens are produced primarily via the conventional
      pathways, while two alternative pathways; i.e., an androstanedione-mediated
      pathway and a so-called backdoor pathway, likely serve as sources of a weak
      androgen and potential precursors of DHT. 

PMID- 26877257
TI  - Theoretical study of phase stability and elastic properties of T 0.75Y0.75B14 (T
      = Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Si).
AB  - In this study the phase stability, elastic properties, and plastic behaviour of
      icosahedral transition metal borides T 0.75Y0.75B14 (T = Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb,
      Si) have been investigated using density functional theory. Phase stability
      critically depends on the charge transferred by T and Y to the B icosahedra. For
      the metal sublattice occupancy investigated here, the minimum energy of formation
      is identified at an effective B icosahedra charge of - 1.8 +/- 0.1. This charge
      corridor encompasses the highest phase stability among all the reported
      icosahedral transition metal boride systems so far. This data provides guidance
      for future experimental efforts: from a wear-resistance point of view,
      Sc0.75Y0.75B14, Ti0.75Y0.75B14, and Zr0.75Y0.75B14 exhibit a rather unique and
      attractive combination of large Young's modulus values ranging from 488 to 514
      GPa with the highest phase stability for icosahedral transition metals borides
      reported so far.

PMID- 26877258
TI  - Serum carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen levels are associated with
      carotid atherosclerosis in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
AB  - Carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) is generated through
      matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-dependent type I collagen digestion, and has been
      widely utilized as a biomarker for bone turnover. The fact that atherosclerotic
      lesions are rich in both type I collagen and MMP-producing macrophages led to the
      hypothesis that serum ICTP concentrations may serve as a non-invasive clinical
      biomarker for atherosclerosis. Therefore, the association of serum ICTP
      concentrations with the maximum intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries,
      a surrogate index of systemic atherosclerosis, or brachial-ankle pulse wave
      velocity (baPWV) in patients with atherosclerotic risk factors was evaluated. A
      total of 52 male and 65 female (mean age: 62.8 yrs) patients without renal
      failure, malignancies or bone diseases known to affect serum ICTP concentrations
      were recruited. Patients with max IMTs >=1.1 mm showed significantly higher serum
      ICTP concentrations compared with patients with max IMTs <1.1 mm (3.33 +/- 0.97
      vs 2.82 +/- 0.65 ng/mL, p<0.05). Serum ICTP concentration was also positively
      correlated with max IMT (p<0.001) or baPWV values (p<0.05). Multivariate analyses
      also revealed that serum ICTP concentrations were correlated with max IMT
      (p<0.001; 95% CI 0.200 to 0.454). These results suggest that serum ICTP
      concentrations can be used as a non-invasive biomarker for systemic
      atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26877259
TI  - Identification and Analysis of Electrochemical Instrumentation Limitations
      through the Study of Platinum Surface Oxide Formation and Reduction.
AB  - Anodic polarization of Pt electrodes in aqueous H2SO4 leads to the formation of a
      surface oxide (PtO). Herein, the surface oxide growth is accomplished using three
      different approaches: (i) chronoamperometry (CA); (ii) chronocoulometry (CC); and
      (iii) a combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and CA. The PtO reduction is
      accomplished potentiodynamically using voltammetry. The oxide growth takes place
      at defined polarization potentials (E(p)), polarization times (t(p)), and
      temperatures (T). The oxide charge density (q(ox)) is determined for both the
      formation (q(ox,form)) and reduction (q(ox,red)) processes. The oxide reduction
      CV profiles are integrated to determine the charge density values for oxide
      reduction (q(ox,red,CV)) which are compared with the q(ox,form,CA) and
      q(ox,form,CC) values. The values of q(ox,form,CC) are greater than those of
      q(ox,form,CA), but both potentiotatic methods (CA and CC) produce q(ox,form)
      values that are consistently lower than those of q(ox,red,CV). In the case of
      oxide formation with combined CV and CA, the values of q(ox,form,CV+CA) are found
      to be lower than the values of q(ox,red,CV), although the difference is small.
      Electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN) is used to monitor the mass
      variation at the electrode surface during the oxide formation and reduction
      process at E(p) = 1.20 V with various t(p) values. Equal mass changes during
      oxide formation and reduction are detected by the EQCN. The nature of the
      differences in q(ox,form) and q(ox,red) encountered with the different
      experimental methods are discussed in terms of instrumental limitations.

PMID- 26877256
TI  - Prenatal inflammation-induced NF-kappaB dyshomeostasis contributes to renin
      angiotensin system over-activity resulting in prenatally programmed hypertension
      in offspring.
AB  - Studies involving the use of prenatally programmed hypertension have been shown
      to potentially contribute to prevention of essential hypertension (EH). Our
      previous research has demonstrated that prenatal inflammatory stimulation leads
      to offspring's aortic dysfunction and hypertension in pregnant Sprague-Dawley
      rats challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The present study found that
      prenatal LPS exposure led to NF-kappaB dyshomeostasis from fetus to adult, which
      was characterized by PI3K-Akt activation mediated degradation of IkappaBalpha
      protein and impaired NF-kappaB self-negative feedback loop mediated less newly
      synthesis of IkappaBalpha mRNA in thoracic aortas (gestational day 20, postnatal
      week 7 and 16). Prenatal or postnatal exposure of the IkappaBalpha degradation
      inhibitor, pyrollidine dithiocarbamate, effectively blocked NF-kappaB activation,
      endothelium dysfunction, and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) over-activity in
      thoracic aortas, resulting in reduced blood pressure in offspring that received
      prenatal exposure to LPS. Surprisingly, NF-kappaB dyshomeostasis and RAS over
      activity were only found in thoracic aortas but not in superior mesenteric
      arteries. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the early life NF-kappaB
      dyshomeostasis induced by prenatal inflammatory exposure plays an essential role
      in the development of EH through triggering RAS over-activity. We conclude that
      early life NF-kappaB dyshomeostasis is a key predictor of EH, and thus, NF-kappaB
      inhibition represents an effective interventional strategy for EH prevention. 

PMID- 26877260
TI  - Dairy Product, Calcium Intake and Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review with Meta
      Analysis.
AB  - The effects of dairy products on human health have been studied for years.
      However, the relationship between dairy products as well as calcium intake and
      the risk of lung cancer is still inconclusive. A total of 32 studies regarding
      this association were identified from the PubMed and Web of Science databases
      through April 1, 2015, including 12 cohort studies and 20 case-control studies.
      After pooling the results of individual studies, the summary RRs (relative risks)
      of lung cancer for the highest versus lowest intake were 1.05 (95%CI: 0.84-1.31)
      and 1.08 (95%CI: 0.80-1.46) for total dairy products and milk, respectively. The
      results on the consumption of cheese, yogurt and low-fat milk were also negative,
      and the RRs for total and dietary calcium intakes were 0.99 (95%CI: 0.70-1.38)
      and 0.85 (95%CI: 0.63-1.13), respectively. After stratifying by potential
      confounders, the results remained consistent in most subgroup analyses. Our study
      indicates that intake of dairy products or calcium was not statistically
      associated with the risk of lung cancer. This negative finding provides a
      conclusive answer to the disease association issue based on current evidence, and
      suggests that further efforts should be made to find other nutritional risk
      factors for lung cancer. 

PMID- 26877261
TI  - Roles for miR-375 in Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Tumor Suppression via
      Notch Pathway Suppression in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - Dysfunction of key miRNA pathways regulating basic cellular processes is a common
      driver of many cancers. However, the biological roles and/or clinical
      applications of such pathways in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but lethal
      cutaneous neuroendocrine (NE) malignancy, have yet to be determined. Previous
      work has established that miR-375 is highly expressed in MCC tumors, but its
      biological role in MCC remains unknown. Herein, we show that elevated miR-375
      expression is a specific feature of well-differentiated MCC cell lines that
      express NE markers. In contrast, miR-375 is strikingly down-regulated in highly
      aggressive, undifferentiated MCC cell lines. Enforced miR-375 expression in these
      cells induced NE differentiation, and opposed cancer cell viability, migration,
      invasion, and survival, pointing to tumor-suppressive roles for miR-375.
      Mechanistically, miR-375-driven phenotypes were caused by the direct post
      transcriptional repression of multiple Notch pathway proteins (Notch2 and RBPJ)
      linked to cancer and regulation of cell fate. Thus, we detail a novel molecular
      axis linking tumor-suppressive miR-375 and Notch with NE differentiation and
      cancer cell behavior in MCC. Our findings identify miR-375 as a putative
      regulator of NE differentiation, provide insight into the cell of origin of MCC,
      and suggest that miR-375 silencing may promote aggressive cancer cell behavior
      through Notch disinhibition. 

PMID- 26877264
TI  - A morphology, porosity and surface conductive layer optimized MnCo2O4 microsphere
      for compatible superior Li(+) ion/air rechargeable battery electrode materials.
AB  - Uniform surface conductive layers with porous morphology-conserved MnCo2O4
      microspheres are successfully synthesized, and their electrochemical performances
      are thoroughly investigated. It is found that the microwave-assisted
      hydrothermally grown MnCo2O4 using citric acid as the carbon source shows a
      maximum Li(+) ion lithiation/delithiation capacity of 501 mA h g(-1) at 500 mA g(
      1) with stable capacity retention. Besides, the given microsphere compounds are
      effectively activated as air cathode catalysts in Li-O2 batteries with reduced
      charge overpotentials and improved cycling performance. We believe that such an
      affordable enhanced performance results from the appropriate quasi-hollow nature
      of MnCo2O4 microspheres, which can effectively mitigate the large volume change
      of electrodes during Li(+) migration and/or enhance the surface transport of the
      LiOx species in Li-air batteries. Thus, the rationally designed porous media for
      the improved Li(+) electrochemical reaction highlight the importance of the 3D
      macropores, the high specific area and uniformly overcoated conductive layer for
      the promising Li(+) redox reaction platforms. 

PMID- 26877262
TI  - Neuropilin 1 Receptor Is Up-Regulated in Dysplastic Epithelium and Oral Squamous
      Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - Neuropilins are receptors for disparate ligands, including proangiogenic factors
      such as vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibitory class 3 semaphorin
      (SEMA3) family members. Differentiated cells in skin epithelium and cutaneous
      squamous cell carcinoma highly express the neuropilin-1 (NRP1) receptor. We
      examined the expression of NRP1 in human and mouse oral mucosa. NRP1 was
      significantly up-regulated in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell
      carcinoma (OSCC). NRP1 receptor localized to the outer suprabasal epithelial
      layers in normal tongue, an expression pattern similar to the normal skin
      epidermis. However, dysplastic tongue epithelium and OSCC up-regulated NRP1 in
      basal and proliferating epithelial layers, a profile unseen in cutaneous squamous
      cell carcinoma. NRP1 up-regulation is observed in a mouse carcinogen-induced OSCC
      model and in human tongue OSCC biopsies. Human OSCC cell lines express NRP1
      protein in vitro and in mouse tongue xenografts. Sites of capillary infiltration
      into orthotopic OSCC tumors correlate with high NRP1 expression. HSC3 xenografts,
      which express the highest NRP1 levels of the cell lines examined, showed massive
      intratumoral lymphangiogenesis. SEMA3A inhibited OSCC cell migration, suggesting
      that the NRP1 receptor was bioactive in OSCC. In conclusion, NRP1 is regulated in
      the oral epithelium and is selectively up-regulated during epithelial dysplasia.
      NRP1 may function as a reservoir to sequester proangiogenic ligands within the
      neoplastic compartment, thereby recruiting neovessels toward tumor cells.

PMID- 26877265
TI  - Foam drainage in the presence of solid particles.
AB  - We conducted forced drainage experiments to study the liquid flow within the
      foams stabilized by a cationic surfactant (CTAB) in the presence of partially
      hydrophobic silica particles. The results show that the presence of solid
      particles, even when present in small amounts (0.0932 g L(-1) foam), can
      significantly decrease the foam permeability. The scaling behaviour (power law)
      between the drainage velocity and the imposed flow rate indicates that the
      presence of solid particles in the foams triggers a transition of the foam
      drainage regime from a node-dominated regime to a Plateau border-dominated
      regime. We applied two foam drainage equations for aqueous foams to simulate the
      experimental data and interpret the transition. The simulation results show that
      the presence of solid particles in the foams increases the rigidity of the
      interfaces and the viscous losses in the channels (the Plateau borders) of the
      foams, and decreases the foam permeability. We also generalize the theory for the
      effects of unattached hydrophilic particles on foam drainage by considering the
      effects of hydrophobicity and concentration of solid particles on the confinement
      of foam networks. This study explores liquid drainage in three-phase foams and is
      relevant to the field of hydrophobic particle separation by froth flotation, in
      which the wash water is commonly applied to the froth layer to improve the
      product grade. 

PMID- 26877263
TI  - Activity induces traveling waves, vortices and spatiotemporal chaos in a model
      actomyosin layer.
AB  - Inspired by the actomyosin cortex in biological cells, we investigate the
      spatiotemporal dynamics of a model describing a contractile active polar fluid
      sandwiched between two external media. The external media impose frictional
      forces at the interface with the active fluid. The fluid is driven by a spatially
      homogeneous activity measuring the strength of the active stress that is
      generated by processes consuming a chemical fuel. We observe that as the activity
      is increased over two orders of magnitude the active polar fluid first shows
      spontaneous flow transition followed by transition to oscillatory dynamics with
      traveling waves and traveling vortices in the flow field. In the flow-tumbling
      regime, the active polar fluid also shows transition to spatiotemporal chaos at
      sufficiently large activities. These results demonstrate that level of activity
      alone can be used to tune the operating point of actomyosin layers with
      qualitatively different spatiotemporal dynamics. 

PMID- 26877266
TI  - Correction: Miscibility studies of two twist-bend nematic liquid crystal dimers
      with different average molecular curvatures. A comparison between experimental
      data and predictions of a Landau mean-field theory for the NTB-N phase
      transition.
AB  - Correction for 'Miscibility studies of two twist-bend nematic liquid crystal
      dimers with different average molecular curvatures. A comparison between
      experimental data and predictions of a Landau mean-field theory for the NTB-N
      phase transition' by D. O. Lopez et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, 18, 4394
      4404. 

PMID- 26877267
TI  - Mechanistic Analysis of Cocrystal Dissolution as a Function of pH and Micellar
      Solubilization.
AB  - The purpose of this work is to provide a mechanistic understanding of the
      dissolution behavior of cocrystals under the influence of ionization and micellar
      solubilization. Mass transport models were developed by applying Fick's law of
      diffusion to dissolution with simultaneous chemical reactions in the hydrodynamic
      boundary layer adjacent to the dissolving cocrystal surface to predict the pH at
      the dissolving solid-liquid interface (i.e., interfacial pH) and the flux of
      cocrystals. To evaluate the predictive power of these models, dissolution studies
      of carbamazepine-saccharin (CBZ-SAC) and carbamazepine-salicylic acid (CBZ-SLC)
      cocrystals were performed at varied pH and surfactant concentrations above the
      critical stabilization concentration (CSC), where the cocrystals were
      thermodynamically stable. The findings in this work demonstrate that the pH
      dependent dissolution behavior of cocrystals with ionizable components is
      dependent on interfacial pH. This mass transport analysis demonstrates the
      importance of pH, cocrystal solubility, diffusivity, and micellar solubilization
      on the dissolution rates of cocrystals.

PMID- 26877537
TI  - Involvement of Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis in Japanese cedar
      pollinosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: From mid February to the end of March, each year ~30%
      of Japanese have Japanese cedar pollinosis. Moreover, 10-50% of patients with
      this pollinosis exhibit nasal manifestations in the preseason. These patients
      have a predominance of neutrophils but not eosinophils in nasal swabs and high
      carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. We hypothesized that S. aureus or other
      bacteria and associated neutrophilia were involved in preseasonal symptoms.
      METHODS: Cytology and bacterial colony growth were assessed in nasal swabs in the
      groups of asymptomatic patients in the preseason (PreAsP) (n = 53) and
      symptomatic patients in the preseason (PreSyP) (n = 60), and in group of
      symptomatic patients in season (InSyP) (n = 72). RESULTS: In the preseason, high
      neutrophilia was present in only 20% of the PreAsP group but in 47% of the PreSyP
      group (p < 0.01). Nasal carriage of S. aureus in the PreAsP and PreSyP groups
      were 79%, 75%, respectively, whereas, for Moraxella catarrhalis, these were 9%
      versus 25% (PreAsP versus PreSyP group; p < 0.05). In patients with positive
      results for S. aureus and M. catarrhalis, the degrees of neutrophilia (-, +/-, +,
      2+, 3+) in the PreSyP group were larger than in the PreAsP groups (p < 0.01). In
      the PreSyP group, the magnitude of neutrophilia was greater (p < 0.05) in
      subgroups with more colonies of S. aureus than in subgroups with fewer colonies.
      CONCLUSION: Nasal symptoms in the preseason are associated with neutrophilia and
      nasal colonization with S. aureus and M. catarrhalis. Patients with symptoms in
      the preseason had improved symptom scores when given prophylactic treatment early
      in season but had more-severe symptom scores late in season than asymptomatic
      patients in the preseason. Neutrophil-associated tissue damage related to
      bacterial colonization may underlie these associations.

PMID- 26877538
TI  - High pressure effects on U L3 x-ray absorption in partial fluorescence yield mode
      and single crystal x-ray diffraction in the heavy fermion compound UCd11.
AB  - We report a study of high pressure x-ray absorption (XAS) performed in the
      partial fluorescence yield mode (PFY) at the U L3 edge (0-28.2 GPa) and single
      crystal x-ray diffraction (SXD) (0-20 GPa) on the UCd11 heavy fermion compound at
      room temperature. Under compression, the PFY-XAS results show that the white line
      is shifted by +4.1(3) eV at the highest applied pressure of 28.2 GPa indicating
      delocalization of the 5f electrons. The increase in full width at half maxima and
      decrease in relative amplitude of the white line with respect to the edge jump
      point towards 6d band broadening under high pressure. A bulk modulus of K0 =
      62(1) GPa and its pressure derivative, K0 = 4.9(2) was determined from high
      pressure SXD results. Both the PFY-XAS and diffraction results do not show any
      sign of a structural phase transition in the applied pressure range.

PMID- 26877539
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma antigen as a diagnostic marker of nasal inverted
      papilloma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) levels are elevated in
      sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP). However, the relationship between tumor volume
      and SCCA level, and the influence of skin or pulmonary diseases in which the SCCA
      level is high, have not been established. OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether the level
      of serum SCCA can be used as a diagnostic marker of IP. METHODS: Serum SCCA level
      was measured in 30 patients with IP (IP group) and 57 with inflammatory disease
      (inflammatory group). RESULTS: Overall, 83.3% in the IP group showed elevated
      serum SCCA levels regardless of whether they were new patients or patients with
      recurrent IP, and SCCA levels rapidly decreased after surgery. Only 5.3% had
      elevated SCCA levels in the inflammatory group. Before surgery, the IP group had
      a median preoperative SCCA level of 2.4 ng/mL, whereas the median preoperative
      SCCA level was 0.9 ng/mL in the inflammatory group. Pre- and postoperative SCCA
      levels were significantly different in the IP group. With regard to the IP
      diagnosis in the IP and inflammatory groups based on the SCCA level (<=1.5
      ng/mL), sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 94.7%, respectively. There was
      no significant correlation between SCCA elevation and respiratory function, and
      skin disease in the two groups, except for smoking in the IP group. Preoperative
      SCCA levels were significantly higher in smokers than in never-smokers in the IP
      group. Tumor volume was significantly correlated with SCCA level in IP.
      Multivariable logistic analysis showed that tumor volume was a predictor of
      preoperative SCCA elevation (p = 0.036; 95% confidence interval, 1.027-2.176).
      CONCLUSION: Serum SCCA level is a reliable diagnostic marker to distinguish new
      and recurrent IP from inflammatory disease. Because smokers tended to have higher
      SCCA levels in IP, a different cutoff level might be needed. Although respiratory
      dysfunction and skin disease were not related to SCCA level, they should be taken
      into consideration when evaluating SCCA level.

PMID- 26877540
TI  - Managing arrhythmias: diagnosis and modern treatment.

PMID- 26877541
TI  - CardioPulse: Gerhard Hindricks MD.

PMID- 26877542
TI  - Male bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, perform equally well as workers in a serial
      colour-learning task.
AB  - The learning capacities of males and females may differ with sex-specific
      behavioural requirements. Bumblebees provide a useful model system to explore how
      different lifestyles are reflected in learning abilities, because their (female
      but sterile) workers and males engage in fundamentally different behaviour
      routines. Bumblebee males, like workers, embark on active flower foraging but in
      contrast to workers they have to trade off their feeding with mate search,
      potentially affecting their abilities to learn and utilize floral cues
      efficiently during foraging. We used a serial colour-learning task with freely
      flying males and workers to compare their ability to flexibly learn visual floral
      cues with reward in a foraging scenario that changed over time. Male bumblebees
      did not differ from workers in both their learning speed and their ability to
      overcome previously acquired associations, when these ceased to predict reward.
      In all foraging tasks we found a significant improvement in choice accuracy in
      both sexes over the course of the training. In both sexes, the characteristics of
      the foraging performance depended largely on the colour difference of the two
      presented feeder types. Large colour distances entailed fast and reliable
      learning of the rewarding feeders whereas choice accuracy on highly similar
      colours improved significantly more slowly. Conversely, switching from a learned
      feeder type to a novel one was fastest for similar feeder colours and slow for
      highly different ones. Overall, we show that behavioural sex dimorphism in
      bumblebees did not affect their learning abilities beyond the mating context. We
      discuss the possible drivers and limitations shaping the foraging abilities of
      males and workers and implications for pollination ecology. We also suggest
      stingless male bumblebees as an advantageous alternative model system for the
      study of pollinator cognition.

PMID- 26877543
TI  - Future flavour physics experiments.
AB  - The current status of flavour physics and the prospects for present and future
      experiments will be reviewed. Measurements in B-physics, in which sensitive
      probes of new physics are the CKM angle gamma, the Bs mixing phase phis, and the
      branching ratios of the rare decays B(s)0->MU+MU- , will be highlighted. Topics
      in charm and kaon physics, in which the measurements of ACP and the branching
      ratios of the rare decays K->pinunu- are key measurements, will be discussed.
      Finally the complementarity of the future heavy flavour experiments, the LHCb
      upgrade and Belle-II, will be summarised.

PMID- 26877544
TI  - Maximizing dietary information retrievable from carcasses of Great Cormorants
      Phalacrocorax carbo using a combined morphological and molecular analytical
      approach.
AB  - Avian carcasses can provide important information on the trophic ecology of
      birds. Usually, the number of carcasses available for examination is limited and
      therefore it is important to gain as much dietary information per specimen as
      possible. In piscivorous birds and raptors, the stomach has been the primary
      source of dietary information, whereas the gut (intestine) has so far been
      neglected as it usually contains only a few morphologically identifiable hard
      parts of prey. Molecular approaches have the potential to retrieve dietary
      information from the gut, although this has not yet been verified. As well as
      identifying the prey, it is important to estimate any secondary predation to
      avoid food web errors in dietary analyses. The assignment of accidentally
      consumed prey is notoriously difficult regardless of the prey identification
      approach used. In the present study, morphological and molecular analyses were,
      for the first time, combined to maximize the dietary information retrievable from
      the complete digestive tract of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis.
      Moreover, a novel approach based on predator-prey size ratios was applied to
      these piscivorous birds to minimize the number of samples that might contain
      secondarily predated prey. The stomach contents of the examined birds were found
      to provide the most dietary information when morphological and molecular analyses
      were used in combination. However, compared with the morphological approach, the
      molecular analysis increased the number of fish species detected by 39%. The
      molecular approach also permitted the identification of fish DNA in the Cormorant
      guts. Predator-prey size ratios derived from morphological analysis of fish hard
      parts can reduce the incidence of potential confounding influence of secondarily
      predated prey by 80%. Our findings demonstrate that a combination of
      morphological and molecular approaches maximizes the trophic information
      retrievable from bird carcasses.

PMID- 26877545
TI  - Integrating spatially explicit indices of abundance and habitat quality: an
      applied example for greater sage-grouse management.
AB  - Predictive species distributional models are a cornerstone of wildlife
      conservation planning. Constructing such models requires robust underpinning
      science that integrates formerly disparate data types to achieve effective
      species management.Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter 'sage
      grouse' populations are declining throughout sagebrush-steppe ecosystems in North
      America, particularly within the Great Basin, which heightens the need for novel
      management tools that maximize the use of available information.Herein, we
      improve upon existing species distribution models by combining information about
      sage-grouse habitat quality, distribution and abundance from multiple data
      sources. To measure habitat, we created spatially explicit maps depicting habitat
      selection indices (HSI) informed by >35 500 independent telemetry locations from
      >1600 sage-grouse collected over 15 years across much of the Great Basin. These
      indices were derived from models that accounted for selection at different
      spatial scales and seasons. A region-wide HSI was calculated using the HSI
      surfaces modelled for 12 independent subregions and then demarcated into distinct
      habitat quality classes.We also employed a novel index to describe landscape
      patterns of sage-grouse abundance and space use (AUI). The AUI is a probabilistic
      composite of the following: (i) breeding density patterns based on the spatial
      configuration of breeding leks and associated trends in male attendance; and (ii)
      year-round patterns of space use indexed by the decreasing probability of use
      with increasing distance to leks. The continuous AUI surface was then
      reclassified into two classes representing high and low/no use and abundance.
      Synthesis and applications. Using the example of sage-grouse, we demonstrate how
      the joint application of indices of habitat selection, abundance and space use
      derived from multiple data sources yields a composite map that can guide
      effective allocation of management intensity across multiple spatial scales. As
      applied to sage-grouse, the composite map identifies spatially explicit
      management categories within sagebrush steppe that are most critical to
      sustaining sage-grouse populations as well as those areas where changes in land
      use would likely have minimal impact. Importantly, collaborative efforts among
      stakeholders guide which intersections of habitat selection indices and abundance
      and space use classes are used to define management categories. Because sage
      grouse are an umbrella species, our joint-index modelling approach can help
      target effective conservation for other sagebrush obligate species and can be
      readily applied to species in other ecosystems with similar life histories, such
      as central-placed breeding.

PMID- 26877546
TI  - FORUM: Indirect leakage leads to a failure of avoided loss biodiversity
      offsetting.
AB  - Biodiversity offsetting has quickly gained political support all around the
      world. Avoided loss (averted risk) offsetting means compensation for ecological
      damage via averted loss of anticipated impacts through the removal of threatening
      processes in compensation areas.Leakage means the phenomenon of environmentally
      damaging activity relocating elsewhere after being stopped locally by avoided
      loss offsetting. Indirect leakage means that locally avoided losses displace to
      other administrative areas or spread around diffusely via market effects.
      Synthesis and applications. Indirect leakage can lead to high net biodiversity
      loss. It is difficult to measure or prevent, raising doubts about the value of
      avoided loss offsetting. Market demand for commodities is on the rise, following
      increasing human population size and per capita consumption, implying that
      indirect leakage will be a rule rather than an exception. Leakage should be
      accounted for when determining offset multipliers (ratios) even if multipliers
      become extremely high.

PMID- 26877547
TI  - A psychological predictor of elders' driving performance: social-comparisons on
      the road.
AB  - Older individuals often believe they can drive better than their contemporaries.
      This belief is an example of downward social-comparisons; they can be self
      enhancing tools that lead to beneficial outcomes. As predicted, we found that
      drivers who engaged in downward social-comparisons were significantly less likely
      to have adverse driving events over time, after controlling for relevant factors
      (p = .02). This effect was particularly strong among women, who tend to
      experience more negative driving stereotypes (p = .01). The study was based on
      897 interviews of 117 elder drivers, aged 70-89 years, over 2 years. Our findings
      suggest that interventions to reduce adverse driving events among elders could
      benefit from including a psychological component.

PMID- 26877548
TI  - Cannabis Withdrawal, Posttreatment Abstinence, and Days to First Cannabis Use
      Among Emerging Adults in Substance Use Treatment: A Prospective Study.
AB  - Very little prospective research investigates how cannabis withdrawal is
      associated with treatment outcomes, and this work has not used the Diagnostic and
      Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) thresholds for cannabis
      withdrawal. The sample included 110 emerging adults entering outpatient substance
      use treatment who were heavy cannabis users with no other drug use and limited
      alcohol use. We used survival analyses to predict days to first use of cannabis
      and logistic regression to predict whether participants were abstinent and living
      in the community at 3 months. Those meeting criteria for cannabis withdrawal were
      more likely to return to use sooner than those not meeting criteria for cannabis
      withdrawal. However, the presence of cannabis withdrawal was not a significant
      predictor of 3-month abstinence. Emerging adults with DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal
      may have difficulty initiating abstinence in the days following their intake
      assessment, implying the need for strategies to mitigate their more rapid return
      to cannabis use.

PMID- 26877549
TI  - Determinants of flammability in savanna grass species.
AB  - Tropical grasses fuel the majority of fires on Earth. In fire-prone landscapes,
      enhanced flammability may be adaptive for grasses via the maintenance of an open
      canopy and an increase in spatiotemporal opportunities for recruitment and
      regeneration. In addition, by burning intensely but briefly, high flammability
      may protect resprouting buds from lethal temperatures. Despite these potential
      benefits of high flammability to fire-prone grasses, variation in flammability
      among grass species, and how trait differences underpin this variation, remains
      unknown.By burning leaves and plant parts, we experimentally determined how five
      plant traits (biomass quantity, biomass density, biomass moisture content, leaf
      surface-area-to-volume ratio and leaf effective heat of combustion) combined to
      determine the three components of flammability (ignitability, sustainability and
      combustibility) at the leaf and plant scales in 25 grass species of fire-prone
      South African grasslands at a time of peak fire occurrence. The influence of
      evolutionary history on flammability was assessed based on a phylogeny built here
      for the study species.Grass species differed significantly in all components of
      flammability. Accounting for evolutionary history helped to explain patterns in
      leaf-scale combustibility and sustainability. The five measured plant traits
      predicted components of flammability, particularly leaf ignitability and plant
      combustibility in which 70% and 58% of variation, respectively, could be
      explained by a combination of the traits. Total above-ground biomass was a key
      driver of combustibility and sustainability with high biomass species burning
      more intensely and for longer, and producing the highest predicted fire spread
      rates. Moisture content was the main influence on ignitability, where species
      with higher moisture contents took longer to ignite and once alight burnt at a
      slower rate. Biomass density, leaf surface-area-to-volume ratio and leaf
      effective heat of combustion were weaker predictors of flammability components.
      Synthesis. We demonstrate that grass flammability is predicted from easily
      measurable plant functional traits and is influenced by evolutionary history with
      some components showing phylogenetic signal. Grasses are not homogenous fuels to
      fire. Rather, species differ in functional traits that in turn demonstrably
      influence flammability. This diversity is consistent with the idea that
      flammability may be an adaptive trait for grasses of fire-prone ecosystems.

PMID- 26877550
TI  - Synthesis and Photophysical and Electroluminescent Properties of Poly(1,4
      phenylene-ethynylene)-alt-poly(1,4-phenylene-vinylene)s with Various Dissymmetric
      Substitution of Alkoxy Side Chains.
AB  - The synthesis and characterization of a set of conjugated polymers, poly(1,4
      phenylene-ethynylene)-alt-poly(1,4-phenylene-vinylene)s (PPE-PPVs), with a
      dissymmetrical configuration (partial or total) of alkoxy side chains is
      reported. Five new polymers bearing octyloxy and/or octadecyloxy side chains at
      the phenylene-ethynylene and phenylene-vinylene segments, respectively, were
      obtained. Two symmetrical substituted polymers were used for comparison. Polymers
      with weight-average molecular weight, Mw, up to 430 000 g/mol and degree of
      polymerization between 17 and 322 were obtained by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons
      olefination polycondensation reaction of the respective luminophoric dialdehydes
      and bisphosphonates. As expected, identical conjugated backbones in all polymers
      results in very similar photophysical response in dilute solution, with high
      fluorescence quantum yields between 50% and 80%. In contrast, the thin film
      properties are dependent on the combinatorial effects of side chain
      configuration, molecular weight, and film thickness parameters, which are the
      basis of the resulting comparison and discussion.

PMID- 26877551
TI  - Metrological challenges for measurements of key climatological observables, Part
      4: Atmospheric relative humidity.
AB  - Water in its three ambient phases plays the central thermodynamic role in the
      terrestrial climate system. Clouds control Earth's radiation balance, atmospheric
      water vapour is the strongest "greenhouse" gas, and non-equilibrium relative
      humidity at the air-sea interface drives evaporation and latent heat export from
      the ocean. In this paper, we examine the climatologically relevant atmospheric
      relative humidity, noting fundamental deficiencies in the definition of this key
      observable. The metrological history of this quantity is reviewed, problems with
      its current definition and measurement practice are analysed, and options for
      future improvements are discussed in conjunction with the recent seawater
      standard TEOS-10. It is concluded that the International Bureau of Weights and
      Measures, (BIPM), in cooperation with the International Association for the
      Properties of Water and Steam, IAPWS, along with other international
      organisations and institutions, can make significant contributions by developing
      and recommending state-of-the-art solutions for this long standing metrological
      problem, such as are suggested here.

PMID- 26877552
TI  - Determination of the fire hazards of mine materials using a radiant panel.
AB  - The objective of this study was to develop a laboratory-scale method to rank the
      ignition and fire hazards of commonly used underground mine materials and to
      eliminate the need for the expensive large-scale tests that are currently being
      used. A radiant-panel apparatus was used to determine the materials' relevant
      thermal characteristics: time to ignition, critical heat flux for ignition, heat
      of gasification, and mass-loss rate. Three thermal parameters, TRP, TP1 and TP4,
      were derived from the data, then developed and subsequently used to rank the
      combined ignition and fire hazards of the combustible materials from low hazard
      to high hazard. The results compared favorably with the thermal and ignition
      hazards of similar materials reported in the literature and support this approach
      as a simpler one for quantifying these combustible hazards.

PMID- 26877553
TI  - A Bayesian approach to estimate changes in condom use from limited human
      immunodeficiency virus prevalence data.
AB  - Evaluation of large-scale intervention programmes against human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) is becoming increasingly important, but impact estimates frequently
      hinge on knowledge of changes in behaviour such as the frequency of condom use
      over time, or other self-reported behaviour changes, for which we generally have
      limited or potentially biased data. We employ a Bayesian inference methodology
      that incorporates an HIV transmission dynamics model to estimate condom use time
      trends from HIV prevalence data. Estimation is implemented via particle Markov
      chain Monte Carlo methods, applied for the first time in this context. The
      preliminary choice of the formulation for the time varying parameter reflecting
      the proportion of condom use is critical in the context studied, because of the
      very limited amount of condom use and HIV data available. We consider various
      novel formulations to explore the trajectory of condom use over time, based on
      diffusion-driven trajectories and smooth sigmoid curves. Numerical simulations
      indicate that informative results can be obtained regarding the amplitude of the
      increase in condom use during an intervention, with good levels of sensitivity
      and specificity performance in effectively detecting changes. The application of
      this method to a real life problem demonstrates how it can help in evaluating HIV
      interventions based on a small number of prevalence estimates, and it opens the
      way to similar applications in different contexts.

PMID- 26877554
TI  - A dose-schedule finding design for phase I-II clinical trials.
AB  - Dose-finding methods aiming at identifying an optimal dose of a treatment with a
      given schedule may be at a risk of misidentifying the best treatment for
      patients. In this article we propose a phase I/II clinical trial design to find
      the optimal dose-schedule combination. We define schedule as the method and
      timing of administration of a given total dose in a treatment cycle. We propose a
      Bayesian dynamic model for the joint effects of dose and schedule. The proposed
      model allows us to borrow strength across dose-schedule combinations without
      making overly restrictive assumptions on the ordering pattern of the schedule
      effects. We develop a dose-schedule-finding algorithm to sequentially allocate
      patients to a desirable dose-schedule combination, and select an optimal
      combination at the end of the trial. We apply the proposed design to a phase I/II
      clinical trial of a gamma-secretase inhibitor in patients with refractory
      metastatic or locally advanced solid tumours, and examine the operating
      characteristics of the design through simulations.

PMID- 26877555
TI  - STABILITY OF A CYLINDRICAL SOLUTE-SOLVENT INTERFACE: EFFECT OF GEOMETRY,
      ELECTROSTATICS, AND HYDRODYNAMICS.
AB  - The solute-solvent interface that separates biological molecules from their
      surrounding aqueous solvent characterizes the conformation and dynamics of such
      molecules. In this work, we construct a solvent fluid dielectric boundary model
      for the solvation of charged molecules and apply it to study the stability of a
      model cylindrical solute-solvent interface. The motion of the solute-solvent
      interface is defined to be the same as that of solvent fluid at the interface.
      The solvent fluid is assumed to be incompressible and is described by the Stokes
      equation. The solute is modeled simply by the ideal-gas law. All the viscous
      force, hydrostatic pressure, solute-solvent van der Waals interaction, surface
      tension, and electrostatic force are balanced at the solute-solvent interface. We
      model the electrostatics by Poisson's equation in which the solute-solvent
      interface is treated as a dielectric boundary that separates the low-dielectric
      solute from the high-dielectric solvent. For a cylindrical geometry, we find
      multiple cylindrically shaped equilibrium interfaces that describe polymodal
      (e.g., dry and wet) states of hydration of an underlying molecular system. These
      steady-state solutions exhibit bifurcation behavior with respect to the charge
      density. For their linearized systems, we use the projection method to solve the
      fluid equation and find the dispersion relation. Our asymptotic analysis shows
      that, for large wavenumbers, the decay rate is proportional to wavenumber with
      the proportionality half of the ratio of surface tension to solvent viscosity,
      indicating that the solvent viscosity does affect the stability of a solute
      solvent interface. Consequences of our analysis in the context of biomolecular
      interactions are discussed.

PMID- 26877556
TI  - DIFFUSED SOLUTE-SOLVENT INTERFACE WITH POISSON-BOLTZMANN ELECTROSTATICS: FREE
      ENERGY VARIATION AND SHARP-INTERFACE LIMIT.
AB  - A phase-field free-energy functional for the solvation of charged molecules
      (e.g., proteins) in aqueous solvent (i.e., water or salted water) is constructed.
      The functional consists of the solute volumetric and solute-solvent interfacial
      energies, the solute-solvent van der Waals interaction energy, and the continuum
      electrostatic free energy described by the Poisson-Boltzmann theory. All these
      are expressed in terms of phase fields that, for low free-energy conformations,
      are close to one value in the solute phase and another in the solvent phase. A
      key property of the model is that the phase-field interpolation of dielectric
      coefficient has the vanishing derivative at both solute and solvent phases. The
      first variation of such an effective free-energy functional is derived. Matched
      asymptotic analysis is carried out for the resulting relaxation dynamics of the
      diffused solute-solvent interface. It is shown that the sharp-interface limit is
      exactly the variational implicit-solvent model that has successfully captured
      capillary evaporation in hydrophobic confinement and corresponding multiple
      equilibrium states of underlying biomolecular systems as found in experiment and
      molecular dynamics simulations. Our phase-field approach and analysis can be used
      to possibly couple the description of interfacial fluctuations for efficient
      numerical computations of biomolecular interactions.

PMID- 26877557
TI  - 'Other' Posts in 'Other' Places: Poland through a Postcolonial Lens?
AB  - Postcolonial theory has tended to focus on those spaces where European
      colonialism has had a territorial and political history. This is unsurprising, as
      much of the world is in this sense 'postcolonial'. But not all of it. This
      article focuses on Poland, often theorised as peripheral to 'old Europe', and
      explores the application of postcolonial analyses to this 'other' place. The
      article draws upon reflections arising from a study of responses to ethnic
      diversity in Warsaw, Poland. In doing so we conclude that postcolonialism does
      indeed offer some important insights into understanding Polish attitudes to other
      nationalities, and yet more work also needs to be done to make the theoretical
      bridge. In the case of Poland we propose the 'triple relation' be the starting
      point for such work.

PMID- 26877558
TI  - Governing through Prevent? Regulation and Contested Practice in State-Muslim
      Engagement.
AB  - In this article, we consider the implications of the 'Prevent' strand of the
      government's counter-terrorism strategy for the UK state's engagement with
      Muslims. We argue that the logics of Prevent have been highly problematic for
      state-Muslim engagement. Nevertheless, we suggest that the characterisation of
      state approaches to engaging Muslims as a form of discipline is incomplete
      without an analysis of: first, differences in practices, habits and perspectives
      across governance domains; second, variations in approach and implementation
      between levels of governance; and third, the agency of Muslims who engage with
      the state. Through this approach we show how attention to the situated practices
      of governance reveals the contested nature of governing through Prevent.

PMID- 26877559
TI  - Detection and attribution of urbanization effect on flood extremes using
      nonstationary flood-frequency models.
AB  - Urbanization is found to have an impact on high flows in a urbanized catchmentThe
      use of point processes is advocated for trend detection and attributionThe use of
      process-related covariates gives a better representation of change.

PMID- 26877560
TI  - Designing a sampling scheme to reveal correlations between weeds and soil
      properties at multiple spatial scales.
AB  - Weeds tend to aggregate in patches within fields, and there is evidence that this
      is partly owing to variation in soil properties. Because the processes driving
      soil heterogeneity operate at various scales, the strength of the relations
      between soil properties and weed density would also be expected to be scale
      dependent. Quantifying these effects of scale on weed patch dynamics is essential
      to guide the design of discrete sampling protocols for mapping weed distribution.
      We developed a general method that uses novel within-field nested sampling and
      residual maximum-likelihood (reml) estimation to explore scale-dependent
      relations between weeds and soil properties. We validated the method using a case
      study of Alopecurus myosuroides in winter wheat. Using reml, we partitioned the
      variance and covariance into scale-specific components and estimated the
      correlations between the weed counts and soil properties at each scale. We used
      variograms to quantify the spatial structure in the data and to map variables by
      kriging. Our methodology successfully captured the effect of scale on a number of
      edaphic drivers of weed patchiness. The overall Pearson correlations between A.
      myosuroides and soil organic matter and clay content were weak and masked the
      stronger correlations at >50 m. Knowing how the variance was partitioned across
      the spatial scales, we optimised the sampling design to focus sampling effort at
      those scales that contributed most to the total variance. The methods have the
      potential to guide patch spraying of weeds by identifying areas of the field that
      are vulnerable to weed establishment.

PMID- 26877561
TI  - Selective and Potent Proteomimetic Inhibitors of Intracellular Protein-Protein
      Interactions.
AB  - Inhibition of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) represents a major challenge in
      chemical biology and drug discovery. alpha-Helix mediated PPIs may be amenable to
      modulation using generic chemotypes, termed "proteomimetics", which can be
      assembled in a modular manner to reproduce the vectoral presentation of key side
      chains found on a helical motif from one partner within the PPI. In this work, it
      is demonstrated that by using a library of N-alkylated aromatic oligoamide helix
      mimetics, potent helix mimetics which reproduce their biophysical binding
      selectivity in a cellular context can be identified.

PMID- 26877562
TI  - Propensity Score-Based Methods versus MTE-Based Methods in Causal Inference:
      Identification, Estimation, and Application.
AB  - Since the seminal introduction of the propensity score by Rosenbaum and Rubin,
      propensity-score-based (PS-based) methods have been widely used for drawing
      causal inferences in the behavioral and social sciences. However, the propensity
      score approach depends on the ignorability assumption: there are no unobserved
      confounders once observed covariates are taken into account. For situations where
      this assumption may be violated, Heckman and his associates have recently
      developed a novel approach based on marginal treatment effects (MTE). In this
      paper, we (1) explicate consequences for PS-based methods when aspects of the
      ignorability assumption are violated; (2) compare PS-based methods and MTE-based
      methods by making a close examination of their identification assumptions and
      estimation performances; (3) apply these two approaches in estimating the
      economic return to college using data from NLSY 1979 and discuss their
      discrepancies in results. When there is a sorting gain but no systematic baseline
      difference between treated and untreated units given observed covariates, PS
      based methods can identify the treatment effect of the treated (TT). The MTE
      approach performs best when there is a valid and strong instrumental variable
      (IV). In addition, this paper introduces the "smoothing-difference PS-based
      method," which enables us to uncover heterogeneity across people of different
      propensity scores in both counterfactual outcomes and treatment effects.

PMID- 26877564
TI  - Terricolous Lichens in the Glacier Forefield of the Morteratsch Glacier (Eastern
      Alps, Graubunden, Switzerland).
AB  - Three sampling sites were established at increasing distance from the Morteratsch
      glacier to investigate lichen communities on soil in the glacier forefield. The
      survey yielded 13 lichen species and one lichenicolous fungus. Peltigera
      extenuata (Nyl. ex Vain.) Lojka (Peltigerales) is new to the canton of
      Graubunden.

PMID- 26877565
TI  - Terricolous Lichens in the Glacier Forefield of the Pasterze (Eastern Alps,
      Carinthia, Austria).
AB  - The investigation of lichens on soil, plant debris and terricolous mosses in the
      glacier forefield of the Pasterze yielded 35 lichen species. Placidiopsis oreades
      Breuss (Verrucariales) is new to Austria. Three sampling sites were established
      at increasing distance from the glacier, in order to compare species diversity,
      abundance and composition within the forefield and with four other glacier
      forefields of the Eastern Alps.

PMID- 26877563
TI  - Ophthalmic Manifestations of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (An American
      Ophthalmological Society Thesis).
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine if clinical and histopathologic findings were present in
      the eyes of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and explore
      correlations to an animal model of ALS. METHODS: Two patients with ALS were
      studied histopathologically as well as the retinas of ALS/dementia transgenic
      mice with dysfunctional ubiquilin2, UBQLN2(P497H). Clinical study 1, an
      observational, cross-sectional study, was performed using optical coherence
      tomography (OCT) to obtain and compare mean total macular thickness and average
      and quadrant specific peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) scans from
      16 patients with ALS to controls. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate
      the association with disease duration. Clinical study 2 consisted of measuring
      visual acuity, color vision, contrast sensitivity, and quality of life in 12
      patients. RESULTS: Histopathologic studies demonstrated intraretinal inclusions
      in one patient and loss of ganglion cell axons in another. Mouse eyes had
      intraretinal inclusions in the inner plexiform layers. Total macular volume was
      thinner in patients compared to controls (P<.05), and 37.5% of patients with ALS
      had an average pRNFL below the 1st percentile. Total macular and pRNFL thickness
      correlated inversely with disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathologic analysis
      of ALS eyes and mice with the UBQLN2(P497H) mutation, as well as OCT
      measurements, supports involvement of the anterior visual pathway. We identified
      pathologies, including intraretinal deposits and axonal loss. pRNFL and total
      macular thinning found on OCT correlated with disease duration. A pattern of
      vision loss specific for ALS was not identified. This study confirms ocular
      involvement in patients and transgenic animals with ALS/dementia.

PMID- 26877567
TI  - Popular Moralities and Institutional Rationalities in Malawi's Struggle Against
      AIDS.

PMID- 26877566
TI  - A Communicative Analysis of a Sexual Health Screening Intervention Conducted in a
      Low-income Housing Complex.
AB  - Providing free HIV screening within public housing sites offers the potential for
      increased participation of at-risk populations. Residential-based screening,
      however, raises concerns about privacy because of the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS
      and even to the testing for HIV. This study examined the effectiveness of
      offering HIV screening within a public housing high-rise in upstate New York.
      Through interviews with both women who obtained testing and those who did not,
      this study explored the tension between convenience and privacy concerns. The
      findings suggest that offering HIV screening where people live could encourage
      participation in the screenings, as well as lead to a destigmatization of HIV
      testing over time. Some women chose to eschew the convenience of on-site testing
      in favor of a more private venue for screening, whereas some women responded
      positively to the accessibility of on-site testing, using communicative
      strategies to manage privacy concerns.

PMID- 26877568
TI  - Slum Definitions in Urban India: Implications for the Measurement of Health
      Inequalities.
AB  - Half the population of low- and middle-income countries will live in urban areas
      by 2030, and poverty and inequality in these contexts is rising. Slum dwelling is
      one way in which to conceptualize and characterize urban deprivation but there
      are many definitions of what constitutes a slum. This paper presents four
      different slum definitions used in India alone, demonstrating that assessments of
      both the distribution and extent of urban deprivation depends on the way in which
      it is characterized, as does slum dwelling's association with common child health
      indicators. Using data from India's National Family and Health Survey from 2005
      2006, two indictors of slum dwelling embedded in the survey and two constructed
      from the household questionnaire are compared using descriptive statistics and
      linear regression models of height- and weight-for-age z-scores. The results
      highlight a tension between international and local slum definitions, and
      underscore the importance of improving empirical representations of the dynamism
      of slum and city residents.

PMID- 26877569
TI  - CONDITIONAL DISTANCE CORRELATION.
AB  - Statistical inference on conditional dependence is essential in many fields
      including genetic association studies and graphical models. The classic measures
      focus on linear conditional correlations, and are incapable of characterizing non
      linear conditional relationship including non-monotonic relationship. To overcome
      this limitation, we introduces a nonparametric measure of conditional dependence
      for multivariate random variables with arbitrary dimensions. Our measure
      possesses the necessary and intuitive properties as a correlation index. Briefly,
      it is zero almost surely if and only if two multivariate random variables are
      conditionally independent given a third random variable. More importantly, the
      sample version of this measure can be expressed elegantly as the root of a V or U
      process with random kernels and has desirable theoretical properties. Based on
      the sample version, we propose a test for conditional independence, which is
      proven to be more powerful than some recently developed tests through our
      numerical simulations. The advantage of our test is even greater when the
      relationship between the multivariate random variables given the third random
      variable cannot be expressed in a linear or monotonic function of one random
      variable versus the other. We also show that the sample measure is consistent and
      weakly convergent, and the test statistic is asymptotically normal. By applying
      our test in a real data analysis, we are able to identify two conditionally
      associated gene expressions, which otherwise cannot be revealed. Thus, our
      measure of conditional dependence is not only an ideal concept, but also has
      important practical utility.

PMID- 26877570
TI  - The continuum disordered pinning model.
AB  - Any renewal processes on [Formula: see text] with a polynomial tail, with
      exponent [Formula: see text], has a non-trivial scaling limit, known as the
      [Formula: see text]-stable regenerative set. In this paper we consider Gibbs
      transformations of such renewal processes in an i.i.d. random environment, called
      disordered pinning models. We show that for [Formula: see text] these models have
      a universal scaling limit, which we call the continuum disordered pinning model
      (CDPM). This is a random closed subset of [Formula: see text] in a white noise
      random environment, with subtle features:Any fixed a.s. property of the [Formula:
      see text]-stable regenerative set (e.g., its Hausdorff dimension) is also an a.s.
      property of the CDPM, for almost every realization of the
      environment.Nonetheless, the law of the CDPM is singular with respect to the law
      of the [Formula: see text]-stable regenerative set, for almost every realization
      of the environment. The existence of a disordered continuum model, such as the
      CDPM, is a manifestation of disorder relevance for pinning models with [Formula:
      see text].

PMID- 26877571
TI  - Trajectories of Perceived Social Support Among Low-Income Female Survivors of
      Hurricane Katrina.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to explore trajectories of perceived social support
      among low-income women who survived Hurricane Katrina, and were surveyed prior to
      the hurricane and approximately one and four years thereafter (N = 562). Latent
      class growth analysis provided evidence of four trajectories of perceived
      support: High Increasing (35.9%), High Decreasing (20.3%), Low Stable (41.1 %),
      and Low Decreasing (2.7%). Bereavement was significantly predictive of membership
      in the Low Stable trajectory, relative to the High Increasing and High Decreasing
      trajectories. Higher psychological distress and indicators of greater social
      network size, density and closeness were significantly predictive of membership
      in the Low Decreasing trajectory, relative to the High Increasing and High
      Decreasing trajectories.

PMID- 26877572
TI  - Suicidality, Economic Shocks, and Egalitarian Gender Norms.
AB  - Durkheim conceived of suicide as a product of social integration and regulation.
      Although the sociology of suicide has focused on the role of disintegration, to
      our knowledge, the interaction between integration and regulation has yet to be
      empirically evaluated. In this article we test whether more egalitarian gender
      norms, an important form of macro-regulation, protects men and women against
      suicidality during economic shocks. Using cross-national data covering 20
      European Union countries from the years 1991 to 2011, including the recent
      economic crises in Europe, we first assessed the relation between unemployment
      and suicide. Then we evaluated potential effect modification using three measures
      of gender equality, the gender ratio in labour force participation, the gender
      pay gap, and women's representation in parliament using multiple measures. We
      found no evidence of a significant, direct link between greater gender equality
      and suicide rates in either men or women. However, a greater degree of gender
      equality helped protect against suicidality associated with economic shocks. At
      relatively high levels of gender equality in Europe, such as those seen in Sweden
      and Austria, the relationship between rising unemployment rates and suicide in
      men disappeared altogether. Our findings suggest that more egalitarian forms of
      gender regulation may help buffer the suicidal consequences of economic shocks,
      especially in men.

PMID- 26877573
TI  - Investigating Predictors of Listening Comprehension in Third-, Seventh-, and
      Tenth-Grade Students: A Dominance Analysis Approach.
AB  - This study rank ordered the contributive importance of several predictors of
      listening comprehension for third, seventh, and tenth graders. Principal
      components analyses revealed that a three-factor solution with fluency,
      reasoning, and working memory components provided the best fit across grade
      levels. Dominance analyses indicated that fluency and reasoning were the
      strongest predictors of third grade listening comprehension. Reasoning emerged as
      the strongest predictor of seventh and tenth grade listening comprehension. These
      findings suggest a shift in the contributive importance of predictors to
      listening comprehension across development (i.e., grade levels). The implications
      of our findings for educators and researchers are discussed.

PMID- 26877574
TI  - Selective Aromatic C-H Hydroxylation Enabled by eta6-Coordination to
      Iridium(III).
AB  - We report an aromatic C-H hydroxylation protocol in which the arene is activated
      through eta6-coordination to an iridium(III) complex. eta6-Coordination of the
      arene increases its electrophilicity and allows for high positional selectivity
      of hydroxylation at the site of least electron density. Through investigation of
      intermediate eta5-cyclohexadienyl adducts and arene exchange reactions, we
      evaluate incorporation of arene pi-activation into a catalytic cycle for C-H
      functionalization.

PMID- 26877575
TI  - Amide-Directed Formation of Five-Coordinate Osmium Alkylidenes from Alkynes.
AB  - The amide-directed synthesis of five-coordinate osmium alkylidene derivatives
      from alkynes is reported. These types of complexes, which have been elusive until
      now because of the tendency of osmium to give hydride alkylidyne species, are
      prepared by reaction of the dihydride OsH2Cl2(PiPr3)2 (1) with terminal alkynes
      containing a distal amide group. Complex 1 reacts with N-phenylhex-5-ynamide and
      N-phenylhepta-6-ynamide to give OsCl2{=C(CH3)(CH2) n NH(CO)Ph}(PiPr3)2 (n = 3
      (2), 4 (3)). The relative position of carbonyl and NH groups in the organic
      substrates has no influence on the reaction. Thus, treatment of 1 with N-(pent-4
      yn-1-yl)benzamide leads to OsCl2{=C(CH3)(CH2)3NHC(O)Ph}(PiPr3)2 (4). The new
      compounds are intermediate species in the cleavage of the C-C triple bond of the
      alkynes. Under mild conditions, they undergo the rupture of the Calpha-CH3 bond
      of the alkylidene, which comes from the alkyne triple bond, to afford six
      coordinate hydride-alkylidyne derivatives. In dichloromethane, complex 2 gives a
      10:7 mixture of OsHCl2{=C(CH2)3C(O)NHPh}(PiPr3)2 (5) and
      OsHCl2{=CCH(CH3)(CH2)2C(O)NHPh}(PiPr3)2 (6). The first complex contains a linear
      separation between the alkylidyne Calpha atom and the amide group, whereas the
      spacer is branched in the second complex. In contrast to the case for 2, complex
      4 selectively affords OsHCl2{=C(CH2)3NHC(O)Ph}(PiPr3)2 (7). In spite of their
      instability, these compounds give the alkylidene-allene metathesis, being a
      useful entry to five-coordinate vinylidene complexes, including the dicarbon
      disubstituted OsCl2(=C=CMe2)(PiPr3)2 (8) and the monosubstituted
      OsCl2(=C=CHCy)(PiPr3)2 (9).

PMID- 26877576
TI  - Non-mydriatic confocal retinal imaging using a digital light projector.
AB  - A digital light projector is implemented as an integrated illumination source and
      scanning element in a confocal non-mydriatic retinal camera, the Digital Light
      Ophthalmoscope (DLO). To simulate scanning, a series of illumination lines are
      rapidly projected on the retina. The backscattered light is imaged onto a 2
      dimensional rolling shutter CMOS sensor. By temporally and spatially overlapping
      the illumination lines with the rolling shutter, confocal imaging is achieved.
      This approach enables a low cost, flexible, and robust design with a small
      footprint. The 3rd generation DLO technical design is presented, using a DLP
      LightCrafter 4500 and USB3.0 CMOS sensor. Specific improvements over previous
      work include the use of yellow illumination, filtered from the broad green LED
      spectrum, to obtain strong blood absorption and high contrast images while
      reducing pupil constriction and patient discomfort.

PMID- 26877577
TI  - Region-of-interest cone beam computed tomography (ROI CBCT) with a high
      resolution CMOS detector.
AB  - Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) systems with rotational gantries that have
      standard flat panel detectors (FPD) are widely used for the 3D rendering of
      vascular structures using Feldkamp cone beam reconstruction algorithms. One of
      the inherent limitations of these systems is limited resolution (<3 lp/mm). There
      are systems available with higher resolution but their small FOV limits them to
      small animal imaging only. In this work, we report on region-of-interest (ROI)
      CBCT with a high resolution CMOS detector (75 MUm pixels, 600 MUm HR-CsI) mounted
      with motorized detector changer on a commercial FPD-based C-arm angiography
      gantry (194 MUm pixels, 600 MUm HL-CsI). A cylindrical CT phantom and neuro
      stents were imaged with both detectors. For each detector a total of 209 images
      were acquired in a rotational protocol. The technique parameters chosen for the
      FPD by the imaging system were used for the CMOS detector. The anti-scatter grid
      was removed and the incident scatter was kept the same for both detectors with
      identical collimator settings. The FPD images were reconstructed for the 10 cm
      x10 cm FOV and the CMOS images were reconstructed for a 3.84 cm * 3.84 cm FOV.
      Although the reconstructed images from the CMOS detector demonstrated comparable
      contrast to the FPD images, the reconstructed 3D images of the neuro stent
      clearly showed that the CMOS detector improved delineation of smaller objects
      such as the stent struts (~70 MUm) compared to the FPD. Further development and
      the potential for substantial clinical impact are suggested.

PMID- 26877578
TI  - Anti-scatter grid artifact elimination for high resolution x-ray imaging CMOS
      detectors.
AB  - Higher resolution in dynamic radiological imaging such as angiography is
      increasingly being demanded by clinicians; however, when standard anti-scatter
      grids are used with such new high resolution detectors, grid-line artifacts
      become more apparent resulting in increased structured noise that may overcome
      the contrast signal improvement benefits of the scatter-reducing grid. Although
      grid-lines may in theory be eliminated by dividing the image of a patient taken
      with the grid by a flat-field image taken with the grid obtained prior to the
      clinical image, unless the remaining additive scatter contribution is subtracted
      in real-time from the dynamic clinical image sequence before the division by the
      reference image, severe grid-line artifacts may remain. To investigate grid-line
      elimination, a stationary Smit Rontgen X-ray grid (line density: 70 lines/cm,
      grid ratio 13:1) was used with both a 75 micron-pixel CMOS detector and a
      standard 194 micron-pixel flat panel detector (FPD) to image an artery block
      insert placed in a modified uniform frontal head phantom for a 20 * 20cm FOV
      (approximately). Contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured with
      and without scatter subtraction prior to grid-line correction. The fixed pattern
      noise caused by the grid was substantially higher for the CMOS detector compared
      to the FPD and caused a severe reduction of CNR. However, when the scatter
      subtraction corrective method was used, the removal of the fixed pattern noise
      (grid artifacts) became evident resulting in images with improved CNR.

PMID- 26877579
TI  - Optimal-mass-transfer-based estimation of glymphatic transport in living brain.
AB  - It was recently shown that the brain-wide cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and
      interstitial fluid exchange system designated the 'glymphatic pathway' plays a
      key role in removing waste products from the brain, similarly to the lymphatic
      system in other body organs1,2. It is therefore important to study the flow
      patterns of glymphatic transport through the live brain in order to better
      understand its functionality in normal and pathological states. Unlike blood, the
      CSF does not flow rapidly through a network of dedicated vessels, but rather
      through para-vascular channels and brain parenchyma in a slower time-domain, and
      thus conventional fMRI or other blood-flow sensitive MRI sequences do not provide
      much useful information about the desired flow patterns. We have accordingly
      analyzed a series of MRI images, taken at different times, of the brain of a live
      rat, which was injected with a paramagnetic tracer into the CSF via the lumbar
      intrathecal space of the spine. Our goal is twofold: (a) find glymphatic (tracer)
      flow directions in the live rodent brain; and (b) provide a model of a (healthy)
      brain that will allow the prediction of tracer concentrations given initial
      conditions. We model the liquid flow through the brain by the diffusion equation.
      We then use the Optimal Mass Transfer (OMT) approach3 to derive the glymphatic
      flow vector field, and estimate the diffusion tensors by analyzing the (changes
      in the) flow. Simulations show that the resulting model successfully reproduces
      the dominant features of the experimental data.

PMID- 26877580
TI  - Spatial distribution patterns of plague hosts: point pattern analysis of the
      burrows of great gerbils in Kazakhstan.
AB  - AIM: The spatial structure of a population can strongly influence the dynamics of
      infectious diseases, yet rarely is the underlying structure quantified. A case in
      point is plague, an infectious zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia
      pestis. Plague dynamics within the Central Asian desert plague focus have been
      extensively modelled in recent years, but always with strong uniformity
      assumptions about the distribution of its primary reservoir host, the great
      gerbil (Rhombomys opimus). Yet, while clustering of this species' burrows due to
      social or ecological processes could have potentially significant effects on
      model outcomes, there is currently nothing known about the spatial distribution
      of inhabited burrows. Here, we address this knowledge gap by describing key
      aspects of the spatial patterns of great gerbil burrows in Kazakhstan. LOCATION:
      Kazakhstan. METHODS: Burrows were classified as either occupied or empty in 98
      squares of four different sizes: 200 m (side length), 250 m, 500 m and 590-1020
      m. We used Ripley's K statistic to determine whether and at what scale there was
      clustering of occupied burrows, and semi-variograms to quantify spatial patterns
      in occupied burrows at scales of 250 m to 9 km. RESULTS: Significant spatial
      clustering of occupied burrows occurred in 25% and 75% of squares of 500 m and
      590-1020 m, respectively, but not in smaller squares. In clustered squares, the
      clustering criterion peaked around 250 m. Semi-variograms showed that burrow
      density was auto-correlated up to a distance of 7 km and occupied density up to
      2.5 km. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that there is statistically
      significant spatial clustering of occupied burrows and that the uniformity
      assumptions of previous plague models should be reconsidered to assess its
      significance for plague transmission. This field evidence will allow for more
      realistic approaches to disease ecology models for both this system and for other
      structured host populations.

PMID- 26877581
TI  - How much flower-rich habitat is enough for wild pollinators? Answering a key
      policy question with incomplete knowledge.
AB  - In 2013, an opportunity arose in England to develop an agri-environment package
      for wild pollinators, as part of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme launched
      in 2015. It can be understood as a 'policy window', a rare and time-limited
      opportunity to change policy, supported by a narrative about pollinator decline
      and widely supported mitigating actions. An agri-environment package is a bundle
      of management options that together supply sufficient resources to support a
      target group of species. This paper documents information that was available at
      the time to develop such a package for wild pollinators. Four questions needed
      answering: (1) Which pollinator species should be targeted? (2) Which resources
      limit these species in farmland? (3) Which management options provide these
      resources? (4) What area of each option is needed to support populations of the
      target species? Focussing on wild bees, we provide tentative answers that were
      used to inform development of the package. There is strong evidence that floral
      resources can limit wild bee populations, and several sources of evidence
      identify a set of agri-environment options that provide flowers and other
      resources for pollinators. The final question could only be answered for floral
      resources, with a wide range of uncertainty. We show that the areas of some
      floral resource options in the basic Wild Pollinator and Farmland Wildlife
      Package (2% flower-rich habitat and 1 km flowering hedgerow), are sufficient to
      supply a set of six common pollinator species with enough pollen to feed their
      larvae at lowest estimates, using minimum values for estimated parameters where a
      range was available. We identify key sources of uncertainty, and stress the
      importance of keeping the Package flexible, so it can be revised as new evidence
      emerges about how to achieve the policy aim of supporting pollinators on
      farmland.

PMID- 26877582
TI  - Variable Selection and Inference Procedures for Marginal Analysis of Longitudinal
      Data with Missing Observations and Covariate Measurement Error.
AB  - In contrast to extensive attention on model selection for univariate data,
      research on model selection for longitudinal data remains largely unexplored.
      This is particularly the case when data are subject to missingness and
      measurement error. To address this important problem, we propose marginal methods
      that simultaneously carry out model selection and estimation for longitudinal
      data with missing responses and error-prone covariates. Our method have several
      appealing features: the applicability is broad because the methods are developed
      for a unified framework with marginal generalized linear models; model
      assumptions are minimal in that no full distribution is required for the response
      process and the distribution of the mismeasured covariates is left unspecified;
      and the implementation is straightforward. To justify the proposed methods, we
      provide both theoretical properties and numerical assessments.

PMID- 26877583
TI  - Getting Grandma Online: Are Tablets the Answer for Increasing Digital Inclusion
      for Older Adults in the U.S.?
AB  - Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) can improve older adults'
      quality of life. ICT use is associated with decreased feelings of loneliness and
      depression, along with increased feelings of independence and personal growth.
      However, limited access and low technological self-efficacy are key reasons why
      some groups, especially older adults, are excluded from being fully engaged in
      the digital world. In this study, we focus on older adults' technological self
      efficacy, which is related to their actual use of technology and the second level
      digital divide. Specifically, we examine: 1) how older adults decide to use a new
      technology, tablet computers; 2) how they conquer the barrier of technological
      self-efficacy through using tablets; and 3) the impacts of using this new
      technology in their lives. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with
      older adults residing in independent living communities in a medium-sized city in
      the Deep South region of the United States. Observational and enactive learning
      played important roles for older adults in using tablets. Seeing others use
      tablets, getting recommendations from family members, or having tablets given to
      them were the primary reasons they started to use tablet computers. The ease of
      use feature of tablets helped solve the problem of lacking technological self
      efficacy. Using tablets helped increase a sense of connectedness. Tablet
      computers may be one way to increase digital inclusion among older adults.

PMID- 26877584
TI  - The emotional responses of browsing Facebook: Happiness, envy, and the role of
      tie strength.
AB  - On Facebook, users are exposed to posts from both strong and weak ties. Even
      though several studies have examined the emotional consequences of using
      Facebook, less attention has been paid to the role of tie strength. This paper
      aims to explore the emotional outcomes of reading a post on Facebook and examine
      the role of tie strength in predicting happiness and envy. Two studies - one
      correlational, based on a sample of 207 American participants and the other
      experimental, based on a sample of 194 German participants - were conducted in
      2014. In Study 2, envy was further distinguished into benign and malicious envy.
      Based on a multi-method approach, the results showed that positive emotions are
      more prevalent than negative emotions while browsing Facebook. Moreover, tie
      strength is positively associated with the feeling of happiness and benign envy,
      whereas malicious envy is independent of tie strength after reading a (positive)
      post on Facebook.

PMID- 26877585
TI  - Variation of Select Flavonols and Chlorogenic Acid Content of Elderberry
      Collected Throughout the Eastern United States.
AB  - American elderberries are commonly collected from wild plants for use as food and
      medicinal products. The degree of phytochemical variation amongst wild
      populations has not been established and might affect the overall quality of
      elderberry dietary supplements. The three major flavonols identified in
      elderberries are rutin, quercetin and isoquercetin. Variation in the flavonols
      and chlorogenic acid was determined for 107 collections of elderberries from
      throughout the eastern United States using an optimized high performance liquid
      chromatography with ultraviolet detection method. The mean content was 71.9 mg
      per 100g fresh weight with variation ranging from 7.0 to 209.7 mg per 100 g fresh
      weight within the collected population. Elderberries collected from southeastern
      regions had significantly higher contents in comparison with those in more
      northern regions. The variability of the individual flavonol and chlorogenic acid
      profiles of the berries was complex and likely influenced by multiple factors.
      Several outliers were identified based on unique phytochemical profiles in
      comparison with average populations. This is the first study to determine the
      inherent variability of American elderberries from wild collections and can be
      used to identify potential new cultivars that may produce fruits of unique or
      high-quality phytochemical content for the food and dietary supplement
      industries.

PMID- 26877586
TI  - Rats time long intervals: Evidence from several cases.
AB  - Long-interval timing fills the gap between the traditional range of short
      interval timing (i.e., seconds to minutes) and the limited range of circadian
      entrainment (i.e., approximately a day). A number of reports suggest that rats
      time long intervals. However, a recent report proposed that anticipation of long,
      but noncircadian, intervals is highly constrained. We tested the hypothesis that
      long-interval timing is highly constrained by examining a number of cases: 7, 8,
      9, 11, 12, and 13 hour intermeal intervals. We found evidence for long-interval
      timing in each case. Long-interval timing appears to be robust.

PMID- 26877587
TI  - Fit Assessment of N95 Filtering-Facepiece Respirators in the U.S. Centers for
      Disease Control and Prevention Strategic National Stockpile.
AB  - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N95
      filtering-facepiece respirators (FFR) are currently stockpiled by the U.S.
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for emergency deployment to
      healthcare facilities in the event of a widespread emergency such as an influenza
      pandemic. This study assessed the fit of N95 FFRs purchased for the CDC Strategic
      National Stockpile. The study addresses the question of whether the fit achieved
      by specific respirator sizes relates to facial size categories as defined by two
      NIOSH fit test panels. Fit test data were analyzed from 229 test subjects who
      performed a nine-donning fit test on seven N95 FFR models using a quantitative
      fit test protocol. An initial respirator model selection process was used to
      determine if the subject could achieve an adequate fit on a particular model;
      subjects then tested the adequately fitting model for the nine-donning fit test.
      Only data for models which provided an adequate initial fit (through the model
      selection process) for a subject were analyzed for this study. For the nine
      donning fit test, six of the seven respirator models accommodated the fit of
      subjects (as indicated by geometric mean fit factor > 100) for not only the
      intended NIOSH bivariate and PCA panel sizes corresponding to the respirator
      size, but also for other panel sizes which were tested for each model. The model
      which showed poor performance may not be accurately represented because only two
      subjects passed the initial selection criteria to use this model. Findings are
      supportive of the current selection of facial dimensions for the new NIOSH
      panels. The various FFR models selected for the CDC Strategic National Stockpile
      provide a range of sizing options to fit a variety of facial sizes.

PMID- 26877589
TI  - The Year of the Wise Monkeys.

PMID- 26877588
TI  - Where do College Drinkers Draw the Line? A Qualitative Study.
AB  - Alcohol use among college students has received nationwide recognition as a
      public health concern. The primary aim of this study was to explore students'
      opinions of when drinking "crosses the line" from acceptable to unacceptable.
      This study used qualitative methods to: (a) examine unappealing aspects of
      drinking by relationship type (potential dating partner, friend, self), and (b)
      determine whether this differs by gender. Seventy-eight interviews were conducted
      with college students who violated campus-alcohol policy. The semi-structured
      interview included open-ended questions related to reactions to other's excessive
      drinking. Qualitative analyses revealed that college males and females find lack
      of control as unappealing, including lack of physical, verbal, and sexual
      control. More females than males indicated negative perceptions of same-sex
      friends and self who displayed poor sexual control. Future research might also
      consider integration of themes in measures of negative expectancies and
      consequences to more accurately capture unappealing aspects of college drinking
      behavior.

PMID- 26877590
TI  - The efficacy of laser-assisted in-office bleaching and home bleaching on sound
      and demineralized enamel.
AB  - AIMS: This study investigated the effectiveness of laser-assisted in-office
      bleaching and home-bleaching in sound and demineralized enamel. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The sample consisted of 120 freshly-extracted bovine incisors. Half of
      the specimens were stored in a demineralizing solution to induce white spot
      lesions. Following exposure to a tea solution for 7.5 days, the specimens were
      randomly assigned to 4 groups of 30 according to the type of enamel and the
      bleaching procedure employed. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of demineralized teeth
      subjected to in-office bleaching and home bleaching, whereas in groups 3 and 4,
      sound teeth were subjected to in-office and home bleaching, respectively. A diode
      laser (810 nm, 2 W, continuous wave, four times for 15 seconds each) was employed
      for assisting the in-office process. The color of the specimens was measured
      before (T1) and after (T2) staining and during (T3) and after (T4) the bleaching
      procedures using a spectrophotometer. The color change (DeltaE) between different
      treatments stages was compared among the groups. RESULTS: There were significant
      differences in the color change between T2 and T3 (DeltaE T2-T3) and T2 and T4
      (DeltaE T2-T4) stages among the study groups (p<0.05). Pairwise comparison by
      Duncan test revealed that both DeltaET2-T3 and DeltaET2-T4 were significantly
      greater in demineralized teeth submitted to laser-assisted in-office bleaching
      (group 1) as compared to the other groups (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Laser-assisted
      in-office bleaching could provide faster and greater whitening effect than home
      bleaching on stained demineralized enamel, but both procedures produced
      comparable results on sound teeth.

PMID- 26877591
TI  - 405 nm diode laser, halogen lamp and LED device comparison in dental composites
      cure: an "in vitro" experimental trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A 405 nm diode laser is indicated for composite materials
      polymerizing, thanks to the recent evolution in their compositions, absorbing in
      blue part of the spectrum. The purpose of this research was to evaluate its
      performance on two different kinds of composite resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Two different composites were polymerized with a traditional halogen lamp, a LED
      device and a 405 nm diode laser. The depth of the cure, the volumetric shrinkage,
      and the degree of the conversion (DC%) of the double bond during the curing
      process were measured. One-way ANOVA test, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Dunn
      comparison tests were used for statistic analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the depth
      of polymerization, the laser had the worst performance on one composite while on
      the other, no significant difference with the other devices was observed. The
      volumetric shrinkage showed that laser produced the lowest change in both of the
      composites. The DC% measure confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      results of this preliminary study, it is not possible to recommend the 405 nm
      diode laser for the polymerization of dental composites.

PMID- 26877592
TI  - Adjunctive 830 nm light-emitting diode therapy can improve the results following
      aesthetic procedures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aggressive, or even minimally aggressive, aesthetic interventions are
      almost inevitably followed by such events as discomfort, erythema, edema and
      hematoma formation which could lengthen patient downtime and represent a major
      problem to the surgeon. Recently, low level light therapy with light-emitting
      diodes (LED-LLLT) at 830 nm has attracted attention in wound healing indications
      for its anti-inflammatory effects and control of erythema, edema and bruising.
      RATIONALE: The wavelength of 830 nm offers deep penetration into living
      biological tissue, including bone. A new-generation of 830 nm LEDs, based on
      those developed in the NASA Space Medicine Laboratory, has enabled the
      construction of planar array-based LED-LLLT systems with clinically useful
      irradiances. Irradiation with 830 nm energy has been shown in vitro and in vivo
      to increase the action potential of epidermal and dermal cells significantly. The
      response of the inflammatory stage cells is enhanced both in terms of function
      and trophic factor release, and fibroblasts demonstrate superior collagenesis and
      elastinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: A growing body of clinical evidence is showing that
      applying 830 nm LED-LLLT as soon as possible post-procedure, both invasive and
      noninvasive, successfully hastens the resolution of sequelae associated with
      patient downtime in addition to significantly speeding up frank wound healing.
      This article reviews that evidence, and attempts to show that 830 nm LED-LLLT
      delivers swift resolution of postoperative sequelae, minimizes downtime and
      enhances patient satisfaction.

PMID- 26877594
TI  - Influence of diffuse reflectance measurement accuracy on the scattering
      coefficient in determination of optical properties with integrating sphere optics
      (a secondary publication).
AB  - An estimation error of the scattering coefficient of hemoglobin in the high
      absorption wavelength range has been observed in optical property calculations of
      blood-rich tissues. In this study, the relationship between the accuracy of
      diffuse reflectance measurement in the integrating sphere and calculated
      scattering coefficient was evaluated with a system to calculate optical
      properties combined with an integrating sphere setup and the inverse Monte Carlo
      simulation. Diffuse reflectance was measured with the integrating sphere using a
      small incident port diameter and optical properties were calculated. As a result,
      the estimation error of the scattering coefficient was improved by accurate
      measurement of diffuse reflectance. In the high absorption wavelength range, the
      accuracy of diffuse reflectance measurement has an effect on the calculated
      scattering coefficient. 

PMID- 26877593
TI  - Evolution of the role of phototherapy during endodontic decontamination.
AB  - A microbe free root canal space before obturation leads to higher success rate
      and conventional chemo-mechanical debridement might not achieve this goal
      completely. First trials of laser in dentistry started from surgical intervention
      on caries and bones of oral cavity and extended to prepare cavities and even
      shaping root canals. Afterward lasers were implicated soon into direct
      debridement of root canal space. Anyhow failure of laser to remove debris totally
      from root canal space is demonstrated recently, additionally it might lead to
      damages to surrounding tissues or inorganic material of root canal if be used
      without precaution. Nowadays the theory of light assisted protocols became
      another start point for laser in endodontics. Laser has been introduced as an
      adjuvant to conventional debridement of root canals. We used Medline search
      engine to collect scientific publications to edit this review article in purpose
      of revealing the evolution of laser position from an ultimate cleaning
      methodology to an adjuvant to conventional root canal disinfection protocols. 

PMID- 26877595
TI  - Dialect variation, dialect-shifting, and reading comprehension in second grade.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine second graders' (n=680) changing spoken
      nonmainstream American English (NMAE) use in relation to their oral language and
      reading comprehension achievement. Fall NMAE production was negatively associated
      with fall achievement scores. NMAE production generally decreased from fall to
      spring. Students who qualified for the US Free and Reduced Lunch program (FARL)
      and who had stronger language skills were more likely to decrease their NMAE use
      (i.e., dialect shifting) than their peers who did not qualify for FARL or their
      peers with weaker language skills. Dialect shifting for a sub-sample of 102
      students who used substantial amounts of NMAE at the beginning of the school year
      was predicted by school context, controlling for reading and language skills - in
      general, students who attended more affluent schools dialect shifted to a greater
      extent than did their peers who attended higher poverty schools. Greater dialect
      shifting in this group predicted gains in reading comprehension from fall to
      spring.

PMID- 26877596
TI  - ALD grown bilayer junction of ZnO:Al and tunnel oxide barrier for SIS solar cell.
AB  - Various metal oxides are probed as extrinsic thin tunnel barriers in
      Semiconductor Insulator Semiconductor solar cells. Namely Al2O3, ZrO2, Y2O3, and
      La2O3 thin films are in between n-type ZnO:Al (AZO) and p-type Si substrates by
      means of Atomic Layer Deposition. Low reverse dark current-density as low as 3*10
      7 A/cm2, a fill factor up to 71.3%, and open-circuit voltage as high as 527 mV
      are obtained, achieving conversion efficiency of 8% for the rare earth oxide
      La2O3. ZrO2 and notably Al2O3 show drawbacks in performance suggesting an adverse
      reactivity with AZO as also indicated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

PMID- 26877597
TI  - Maternal Religiosity, Family Resources and Stressors, and Parent-Child Attachment
      Security in Northern Ireland.
AB  - This study explores the associations between mothers' religiosity, and families'
      and children's functioning in a stratified random sample of 695 Catholic and
      Protestant mother-child dyads in socially deprived areas in Belfast, Northern
      Ireland, a region which has experienced centuries of sectarian conflict between
      Protestant Unionists and Catholics Nationalists. Findings based on mother and
      child surveys indicated that even in this context of historical political
      violence associated with religious affiliation, mothers' religiosity played a
      consistently positive role, including associations with multiple indicators of
      better family functioning (i.e., more cohesion and behavioral control and less
      conflict, psychological distress, and adjustment problems) and greater parent
      child attachment security. Mothers' religiosity also moderated the association
      between parent-child attachment security and family resources and family
      stressors, enhancing positive effects of cohesion and mother behavioral control
      on mother-child attachment security, and providing protection against risks
      associated with mothers' psychological distress. Findings are discussed in terms
      of implications for understanding the role of religiosity in serving as a
      protective or risk factor for children and families.

PMID- 26877598
TI  - Spatially Modelling the Association Between Access to Recreational Facilities and
      Exercise: The 'Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis'.
AB  - Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between the built environment
      and physical activity. However these studies assume that these relationships are
      invariant over space. In this study, we introduce a novel method to analyze the
      association between access to recreational facilities and exercise allowing for
      spatial heterogeneity. In addition, this association is studied before and after
      controlling for crime, a variable that could explain spatial heterogeneity of
      associations. We use data from the Chicago site of the Multi-Ethnic Study of
      Atherosclerosis of 781 adults aged 46 years and over. A spatially varying
      coefficient Tobit regression model is implemented in the Bayesian setting to
      allow for the association of interest to vary over space. The relationship is
      shown to vary over Chicago, being positive in the south but negative or null in
      the north. Controlling for crime weakens the association in the south with little
      change observed in northern Chicago. The results of this study indicate that
      spatial heterogeneity in associations of environmental factors with health may
      vary over space and deserve further exploration.

PMID- 26877600
TI  - Surveillance of colonic polyps: Are we getting it right?
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide.
      The identification of colonic polyps can reduce CRC mortality through earlier
      diagnosis of cancers and the removal of polyps: the precursor lesion of CRC.
      Following the finding and removal of colonic polyps at an initial colonoscopy,
      some patients are at an increased risk of developing CRC in the future. This is
      the rationale for post-polypectomy surveillance colonoscopy. However, not all
      individuals found to have colonic adenomas have a risk of CRC higher than that of
      the general population. This review examines the literature on post-polypectomy
      surveillance including current international clinical guidelines. The potential
      benefits of surveillance procedures must be weighed against the burden of
      colonoscopy: resource use, the potential for patient discomfort, and the risk of
      complications. Therefore surveillance colonoscopy is best utilised in a selected
      group of individuals at a high risk of developing cancer. Further study is needed
      into the specific factors conferring higher risk as well as the efficacy of
      surveillance in mitigating this risk. Such evidence will better inform clinicians
      and patients of the relative benefits of colonoscopic surveillance for the
      individual. In addition, the decision to continue with surveillance must be
      informed by the changing profile of risks and benefits of further procedures with
      the patient's advancing age. 

PMID- 26877601
TI  - Combined locoregional treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: State
      of the art.
AB  - In recent years, a combination of intervention therapies has been widely applied
      in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One such combined strategy is
      based on the combination of the percutaneous approach, such as radiofrequency
      ablation (RFA), and the intra-arterial locoregional approach, such as trans
      arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Several types of evidence have supported the
      feasibility and benefit of combined therapy, despite some studies reporting
      conflicting results and outcomes. The aim of this review was to explain the
      technical aspects of different combined treatments and to comprehensively analyze
      and compare the clinical efficacy and safety of this combined treatment option
      and monotherapy, either as TACE or RFA alone, in order to provide clinicians with
      an unbiased opinion and valuable information. Based on a literature review and
      our experience, combined treatment seems to be a safe and effective option in the
      treatment of patients with early/intermediate HCC when surgical resection is not
      feasible; furthermore, this approach provides better results than RFA and TACE
      alone for the treatment of large HCC, defined as those exceeding 3 cm in size. It
      can also expand the indication for RFA to previously contraindicated "complex
      cases", with increased risk of thermal ablation related complications due to
      tumor location, or to "complex patients" with high bleeding risk. 

PMID- 26877599
TI  - Mechanism and Function of Angiogenin in Hematopoietic Malignancy.
AB  - Angiogenic factors have been widely implicated in the formation and progression
      of solid tumors. A number of angiogenic mediators have been recently appreciated
      as having equivalent function in non-solid tumors, such as leukemia. One such
      factor, angiogenin (ANG), promotes tumor cell growth and angiogenesis in solid
      cancers; however its precise function(s) in hematological disorders are not fully
      understood. This review summarizes current knowledge of the function and
      therapeutic potential of angiogenic factors, with particular emphasis on the role
      and hypothesized mechanism of ANG in a non-solid tumor setting.

PMID- 26877602
TI  - Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B surface protein.
AB  - The tumorigenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC) has been widely studied. HBV envelope proteins are important for the
      structure and life cycle of HBV, and these proteins are useful for judging the
      natural disease course and guiding treatment. Truncated and mutated preS/S are
      produced by integrated viral sequences that are defective for replication. The
      preS/S mutants are considered "precursor lesions" of HCC. Different preS/S
      mutants induce various mechanisms of tumorigenesis, such as transactivation of
      transcription factors and an immune inflammatory response, thereby contributing
      to HCC. The preS2 mutants and type II "Ground Glass" hepatocytes represent novel
      biomarkers of HBV-associated HCC. The preS mutants may induce the unfolded
      protein response and endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent and stress
      independent pathways. Treatments to inhibit hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
      and damage secondary to HBsAg or the preS/S mutants include antivirals and
      antioxidants, such as silymarin, resveratrol, and glycyrrhizin acid. Methods for
      the prevention and treatment of HCC should be comprehensive. 

PMID- 26877604
TI  - Anti-rods/rings autoantibody generation in hepatitis C patients during interferon
      alpha/ribavirin therapy.
AB  - Chronic inflammation associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead
      to disabling liver diseases with progression to liver cirrhosis and
      hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the recent availability of more effective and
      less toxic therapeutic options, in most parts of the world the standard treatment
      consists of a weekly injection of pegylated interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) together
      with a daily dose of ribavirin. HCV patients frequently present circulating non
      organ-specific autoantibodies demonstrating a variety of staining patterns in the
      indirect immunofluorescence assay for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Between 20%
      to 40% of HCV patients treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin develop
      autoantibodies showing a peculiar ANA pattern characterized as rods and rings
      (RR) structures. The aim of this article is to review the recent reports
      regarding RR structures and anti-rods/rings (anti-RR) autoantibody production by
      HCV patients after IFN-alpha/ribavirin treatment. Anti-RR autoantibodies first
      appear around the sixth month of treatment and reach a plateau around the twelfth
      month. After treatment completion, anti-RR titers decrease/disappear in half the
      patients and remain steady in the other half. Some studies have observed a higher
      frequency of anti-RR antibodies in relapsers, i.e., patients in which circulating
      virus reappears after initially successful therapy. The main target of anti-RR
      autoantibodies in HCV patients is inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2
      (IMPDH2), the rate-limiting enzyme involved in the guanosine triphosphate
      biosynthesis pathway. Ribavirin is a direct IMPDH2 inhibitor and is able to
      induce the formation of RR structures in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, these
      observations led to the hypothesis that anti-RR autoantibody production is a
      human model of immunologic tolerance breakdown that allows us to explore the
      humoral autoimmune response from the beginning of the putative triggering event:
      exposure to ribavirin and interferon. 

PMID- 26877603
TI  - Hepatitis C virus relies on lipoproteins for its life cycle.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects over 150 million people worldwide. In most cases,
      HCV infection becomes chronic causing liver disease ranging from fibrosis to
      cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Viral persistence and pathogenesis are
      due to the ability of HCV to deregulate specific host processes, mainly lipid
      metabolism and innate immunity. In particular, HCV exploits the lipoprotein
      machineries for almost all steps of its life cycle. The aim of this review is to
      summarize current knowledge concerning the interplay between HCV and lipoprotein
      metabolism. We discuss the role played by members of lipoproteins in HCV entry,
      replication and virion production. 

PMID- 26877607
TI  - Portopulmonary hypertension in liver transplant candidates.
AB  - Pulmonary vascular disorders including portopulmonary hypertension (PoPHT) are
      among the common complications of liver disease and are prognostically
      significant. Survival is very low without medical treatment and liver
      transplantation. With advances in medical therapy for elevated pulmonary artery
      pressure (PAP) and liver transplant surgery, survival of patients with PoPHT and
      advanced liver disease is significantly improved. Because of the prognostic
      significance of PoPHT and the limited donor pool, a comprehensive preoperative
      cardio-pulmonary assessment is of great importance in cirrhotic patients prior to
      transplant surgery. Therefore, a detailed transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic
      examination must be an essential component of this evaluation. Patients with mild
      PoPHT can safely undergo liver transplant surgery. In cases of moderate to severe
      PoPHT, right heart catheterization (RHC) should be performed. In patients with
      moderate to severe PoPHT on RHC (mean PAP 35-45 mmHg), vasodilator therapy should
      be attempted. Liver transplantation should be encouraged in cases that
      demonstrate a positive response. Bridging therapy with specific pulmonary
      arterial hypertension treatment agents should be considered until the transplant
      surgery and should be continued during the peri- and post-operative periods as
      needed. 

PMID- 26877606
TI  - Coagulopathy and transfusion therapy in pediatric liver transplantation.
AB  - Bleeding and coagulopathy are critical issues complicating pediatric liver
      transplantation and contributing to morbidity and mortality in the cirrhotic
      child. The complexity of coagulopathy in the pediatric patient is illustrated by
      the interaction between three basic models. The first model, "developmental
      hemostasis", demonstrates how a different balance between pro- and
      anticoagulation factors leads to a normal hemostatic capacity in the pediatric
      patient at various ages. The second, the "cell based model of coagulation", takes
      into account the interaction between plasma proteins and cells. In the last, the
      concept of "rebalanced coagulation" highlights how the reduction of both pro- and
      anticoagulation factors leads to a normal, although unstable, coagulation
      profile. This new concept has led to the development of novel techniques used to
      analyze the coagulation capacity of whole blood for all patients. For example,
      viscoelastic methodologies are increasingly used on adult patients to test
      hemostatic capacity and to guide transfusion protocols. However, results are
      often confounding or have limited impact on morbidity and mortality. Moreover,
      data from pediatric patients remain inadequate. In addition, several
      interventions have been proposed to limit blood loss during transplantation,
      including the use of antifibrinolytic drugs and surgical techniques, such as the
      piggyback and lowering the central venous pressure during the hepatic dissection
      phase. The rationale for the use of these interventions is quite solid and has
      led to their incorporation into clinical practice; yet few of them have been
      rigorously tested in adults, let alone in children. Finally, the postoperative
      period in pediatric cohorts of patients has been characterized by an enhanced
      risk of hepatic vessel thrombosis. Thrombosis in fact remains the primary cause
      of early graft failure and re-transplantation within the first 30 d following
      surgery, and it occurs despite prolongation of standard coagulation assays. Data,
      however, are currently lacking regarding the use of anti
      aggregation/anticoagulation therapies and how to best monitor for thrombosis in
      the early postoperative period in pediatric patients. Therefore, further studies
      are necessary to elucidate the interaction between the development of the
      coagulation system and cirrhosis in children. Moreover, strategies to optimize
      blood transfusion and anticoagulation must be tested specifically in pediatric
      patients. In conclusion, data from the adult world can be translated with
      difficulty into the pediatric field as indication for transplantation, baseline
      pathologies and levels of pro- and anticoagulation factors are not comparable
      between the two populations. 

PMID- 26877605
TI  - Laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic digestive surgery: Present and
      future directions.
AB  - Laparoscopic surgery is applied today worldwide to most digestive procedures. In
      some of them, such as cholecystectomy, Nissen's fundoplication or obesity
      surgery, laparoscopy has become the standard in practice. In others, such as
      colon or gastric resection, the laparoscopic approach is frequently used and its
      usefulness is unquestionable. More complex procedures, such as esophageal, liver
      or pancreatic resections are, however, more infrequently performed, due to the
      high grade of skill necessary. As a result, there is less clinical evidence to
      support its implementation. In the recent years, robot-assisted laparoscopic
      surgery has been increasingly applied, again with little evidence for comparison
      with the conventional laparoscopic approach. This review will focus on the
      complex digestive procedures as well as those whose use in standard practice
      could be more controversial. Also novel robot-assisted procedures will be
      updated. 

PMID- 26877608
TI  - Cytomegalovirus and ulcerative colitis: Place of antiviral therapy.
AB  - The link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and inflammatory bowel diseases
      remains an important subject of debate. CMV infection is frequent in ulcerative
      colitis (UC) and has been shown to be potentially harmful. CMV reactivation needs
      to be diagnosed using methods that include in situ detection of viral markers by
      immunohistochemistry or by nucleic acid amplification techniques. Determination
      of the density of infection using quantitative tools (numbers of infected cells
      or copies of the genome) is particularly important. Although CMV reactivation can
      be considered as an innocent bystander in active flare-ups of refractory UC, an
      increasing number of studies suggest a deleterious role of CMV in this situation.
      The presence of colonic CMV infection is possibly linked to a decreased response
      to steroids and other immunosuppressive agents. Some treatments, notably steroids
      and cyclosporine A, have been shown to favor CMV reactivation, which seems not to
      be the case for therapies using anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs. According to
      these findings, in flare-ups of refractory UC, it is now recommended to look for
      the presence of CMV reactivation by using quantitative tools in colonic biopsies
      and to treat them with ganciclovir in cases of high viral load or severe disease.

PMID- 26877609
TI  - Glucose metabolism in gastric cancer: The cutting-edge.
AB  - Glucose metabolism in gastric cancer cells differs from that of normal epithelial
      cells. Upregulated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) in gastric cancer meeting
      the demands of cell proliferation is associated with genetic mutations,
      epigenetic modification and proteomic alteration. Understanding the mechanisms of
      aerobic glycolysis may contribute to our knowledge of gastric carcinogenesis.
      Metabolomic studies offer novel, convenient and practical tools in the search for
      new biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and chemosensitivity
      prediction of gastric cancer. Interfering with the process of glycolysis in
      cancer cells may provide a new and promising therapeutic strategy for gastric
      cancer. In this article, we present a brief review of recent studies of glucose
      metabolism in gastric cancer, with primary focus on the clinical applications of
      new biomarkers and their potential therapeutic role in gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26877610
TI  - hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b differential expression as potential biomarker of
      gastric carcinogenesis.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the expression profiles of hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b in
      gastric mucosal samples and their values as gastric carcinogenesis biomarkers.
      METHODS: The expression levels of hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b in normal gastric
      mucosa, non-atrophic chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and intestinal-type
      gastric adenocarcinoma were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR. The
      difference between hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b expression profiles in the
      grouped samples was evaluated by ANOVA and Student's t-test tests. The results
      were adjusted for multiple testing by using Bonferroni's correction. P values <=
      0.05 were considered statistically significant. To evaluate hsa-miR-29c and hsa
      miR-135b expressions as potential biomarkers of gastric carcinogenesis, we
      performed a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the derived area
      under the curve, and a Categorical Principal Components Analysis. In silico
      identification of the genetic targets of hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b was
      performed using different prediction tools, in order to identify possible genes
      involved in gastric carcinogenesis. RESULTS: The expression levels of hsa-miR-29c
      were higher in normal gastric mucosal samples, and decreased progressively in non
      atrophic chronic gastritis samples, intestinal metaplasia samples and intestinal
      type gastric adenocarcinoma samples. The expression of hsa-miR-29c in the gastric
      lesions showed that non-atrophic gastritis have an intermediate profile to
      gastric normal mucosa and intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma, and that
      intestinal metaplasia samples presented an expression pattern similar to that in
      intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. This microRNA (miRNA) has a good
      discriminatory accuracy between normal gastric samples and (1) intestinal-type
      gastric adenocarcinoma; and (2) intestinal metaplasia, and regulates the DMNT3A
      oncogene. hsa-miR-135b is up-regulated in non-atrophic chronic gastritis and
      intestinal metaplasia samples and down-regulated in normal gastric mucosa and
      intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma samples. Non-atrophic chronic gastritis
      and intestinal metaplasia are significantly different from normal gastric mucosa
      samples. hsa-miR-135b expression presented a greater discriminatory accuracy
      between normal samples and gastric lesions. This miRNA was associated with
      Helicobacter pylori presence in non-atrophic chronic gastritis samples and
      regulates the APC and KLF4 tumour suppressor genes. CONCLUSION: Our results
      provide evidence of epigenetic alterations in non-atrophic chronic gastritis and
      intestinal metaplasia and suggest that hsa-miR-29c and hsa-miR-135b are promising
      biomarkers of gastric carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26877611
TI  - Oncogenic potential of IDH1R132C mutant in cholangiocarcinoma development in
      mice.
AB  - AIM: To investigate whether IDH1R132C mutant in combination with loss of p53 and
      activated Notch signaling promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)
      development. METHODS: We applied hydrodynamic injection and sleeping beauty
      mediated somatic integration to induce loss of p53 (via shP53), activation of
      Notch [via intracellular domain of Notch1 (NICD)] and/or overexpression of
      IDH1R132C mutant together with the sleeping beauty transposase into the mouse
      liver. Specifically, we co-expressed shP53 and NICD (shP53/NICD, n = 4), shP53
      and IDH1R132C (shP53/IDH1R132C, n = 3), NICD and IDH1R132C (NICD/IDH1R132C, n =
      4), as well as NICD, shP53 and IDH1R132C (NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C, n = 9) in mice.
      Mice were monitored for liver tumor development and euthanized at various time
      points. Liver histology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Molecular
      features of NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C ICC tumor cells were characterized by Myc tag,
      Flag tag, Ki-67, p-Erk and p-AKT immunohistochemical staining. Desmoplastic
      reaction in tumor tissues was studied by Picro-Sirius red staining. RESULTS: We
      found that co-expression of shP53/NICD, shP53/IDH1R132C or NICD/IDH1R132C did not
      lead to liver tumor formation. In striking contrast, co-expression of
      NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C resulted in ICC development in mice (P < 0.01). The tumors
      could be identified as early as 12 wk post hydrodynamic injection. Tumors rapidly
      progressed, and by 18 wk post hydrodynamic injection, multiple cystic lesions
      could be identified on the liver surface. NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C liver tumors
      shared multiple histological features of human ICCs, including hyperplasia of
      irregular glands. Importantly, all tumor cells were positive for the biliary
      epithelial cell marker cytokeratin 19. Extensive collagen fibers could be
      visualized in tumor tissues using Sirus red staining, duplicating the
      desmoplastic reaction observed in human ICC. Tumors were highly proliferative and
      expressed ectopically injected genes. Together these studies supported that
      NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C liver tumors were indeed ICCs. Finally, no p-AKT or p-ERK
      positive staining was observed, suggesting that NICD/shP53/IDH1R132C driven ICC
      development was independent of AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK signaling cascades.
      CONCLUSION: We have generated a simple, non-germline murine ICC model with
      activated Notch, loss of p53 and IDH1R132C mutant. The study supported the
      oncogenic potential of IDH1R132C.

PMID- 26877612
TI  - Interleukin-22 contributes to liver regeneration in mice with concanavalin A
      induced hepatitis after hepatectomy.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of interleukin (IL)-22
      in liver regeneration in mice with concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury
      following 70% hepatectomy. METHODS: Mice were injected intravenously with ConA at
      10 MUg/g body weight 4 d before 70% hepatectomy to create a hepatitis model, and
      recombinant IL-22 was injected at 0.125 MUg/g body weight 30 min prior to 70%
      hepatectomy to create a therapy model. Control animals received an intravenous
      injection of an identical volume of normal saline. RESULTS: IL-22 treatment prior
      to 70% hepatectomy performed under general anesthesia resulted in reductions in
      the biochemical and histological evidence of liver injury, earlier proliferating
      cell nuclear antigen expression and accelerated recovery of liver mass. IL-22
      pretreatment also significantly induced signal transducer and activator of
      transcription factor 3 (STAT3) activation and increased the expression of a
      variety of mitogenic proteins, such as Cyclin D1. Furthermore, alpha fetal
      protein mRNA expression was significantly elevated after IL-22 treatment.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, we demonstrated that IL-22 is a survival factor for
      hepatocytes and prevents and repairs liver injury by enhancing pro-growth
      pathways via STAT3 activation. Treatment with IL-22 protein may represent a novel
      therapeutic strategy for preventing liver injury in patients with liver disease
      who have undergone hepatectomy.

PMID- 26877613
TI  - Human urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene-modified bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells attenuate liver fibrosis in rats by down-regulating the
      Wnt signaling pathway.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem
      cells (BMSCs) with human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on liver
      fibrosis, and to investigate the mechanism of gene therapy. METHODS: BMSCs
      transfected with adenovirus-mediated human urokinase plasminogen activator (Ad
      uPA) were transplanted into rats with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. All rats were
      sacrificed after 8 wk, and their serum and liver tissue were collected for
      biochemical, histopathologic, and molecular analyzes. The degree of liver
      fibrosis was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin or Masson's staining. Western blot
      and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to
      determine protein and mRNA expression levels. RESULTS: Serum levels of alanine
      aminotransferase, aminotransferase, total bilirubin, hyaluronic acid, laminin,
      and procollagen type III were markedly decreased, whereas the levels of serum
      albumin were increased by uPA gene modified BMSCs treatment. Histopathology
      revealed that chronic CCl4-treatment resulted in significant fibrosis while uPA
      gene modified BMSCs treatment significantly reversed fibrosis. By quantitatively
      analysing the fibrosis area of liver tissue using Masson staining in different
      groups of animals, we found that model animals with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis
      had the largest fibrotic area (16.69% +/- 1.30%), while fibrotic area was
      significantly decreased by BMSCs treatment (12.38% +/- 2.27%) and was further
      reduced by uPA-BMSCs treatment (8.31% +/- 1.21%). Both protein and mRNA
      expression of beta-catenin, Wnt4 and Wnt5a was down-regulated in liver tissues
      following uPA gene modified BMSCs treatment when compared with the model animals.
      CONCLUSION: Transplantation of uPA gene modified BMSCs suppressed liver fibrosis
      and ameliorated liver function and may be a new approach to treating liver
      fibrosis. Furthermore, treatment with uPA gene modified BMSCs also resulted in a
      decrease in expression of molecules of the Wnt signaling pathway.

PMID- 26877614
TI  - Prospective evaluation of the cause of acute pancreatitis, with special attention
      to medicines.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) by conducting a thorough
      investigation of drugs and their possible etiological role. METHODS: We
      investigated the cause of AP in a large retrospective cohort of 613 adult
      patients admitted with AP at the Akershus University Hospital, Norway, from 2000
      until 2009, who were evaluated with standard ward investigations. This group was
      compared with a prospectively evaluated group (n = 57) admitted from January 2010
      until September 2010 who investigated more extensively using medical history and
      radiological assessment. RESULTS: The groups were comparable with regards to
      gender, age, comorbidity and severity. The most common etiology was bile stones
      and alcohol, occurring in 60% in both groups. The prospective group was examined
      more thoroughly with regards to the use of alcohol and medicines. An increased
      number of radiological investigations during hospital stay and at follow-up were
      also performed. A more extensive use of radiological evaluation did not increase
      the detection frequency of bile stones. In the prospective group, more than half
      of the patients had two or more possible causes of pancreatitis, being mostly a
      combination of bile stones and drugs. No possible cause was found in only 3.5% of
      these patients, compared with 29.7% in the retrospective group. CONCLUSION: A
      detailed medical history and extensive radiological evaluation may determine a
      possible etiology in almost all cases of AP. Many patients have several possible
      risk factors, and uncertainty remains in establishing the definitive etiology.

PMID- 26877615
TI  - Response to strict and liberalized specific carbohydrate diet in pediatric
      Crohn's disease.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) as nutritional therapy
      for maintenance of remission in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS:
      Retrospective chart review was conducted in 11 pediatric patients with CD who
      initiated the SCD as therapy at time of diagnosis or flare. Two groups defined as
      SCD simple (diet alone, antibiotics or 5-ASA) or SCD with immunomodulators
      (corticosteroids and/or stable thiopurine dosing) were followed for one year and
      compared on disease characteristics, laboratory values and anthropometrics.
      RESULTS: The mean age at start of the SCD was 11.8 +/- 3.0 years (range 6.6-17.6
      years) with five patients starting the SCD within 5 wk of diagnosis. Three
      patients maintained a strict SCD diet for the study period and the mean time for
      liberalization was 7.7 +/- 4.0 mo (range 1-12) for the remaining patients. In
      both groups, hematocrit, albumin and ESR values improved while on strict SCD and
      appeared stable after liberalization (P-value 0.006, 0.002, 0.002 respectively).
      The majority of children gained in weight and height percentile while on strict
      SCD, with small loss in weight percentile documented with liberalization.
      CONCLUSION: Disease control may be attainable with the SCD in pediatric CD.
      Further studies are needed to assess adherence, impact on mucosal healing and
      growth.

PMID- 26877616
TI  - Healthcare and economic impact of diarrhea in patients with carcinoid syndrome.
AB  - AIM: To examine healthcare resource utilization patterns and costs accrued by
      carcinoid syndrome (CS) patients with and without diarrhea. METHODS: We conducted
      a retrospective cohort study using MarketScan(r) data from 1/1/2002-12/31/2012.
      Newly diagnosed CS patients had 1 medical claim for CS (ICD-9-CM code 259.2) plus
      either >= 1 additional claim for CS or for carcinoid tumors (ICD-9-CM 209.x), and
      had no evidence of CS for 1 year prior to index CS diagnosis, in commercially
      insured patients < 65 years old. Patients were required to have continuous
      enrollment one year prior and after index date (first claim with CS diagnosis in
      the ID period). We identified patients with evidence of non-infectious diarrhea
      (ICD-9-CM codes 564.5 and 787.91) within one year from the index date. Overall
      and CS-related healthcare resource utilization and costs were compared between
      patients with and without non-infectious diarrhea during the one year period
      after the index date. RESULTS: There were 2822 newly diagnosed CS patients; 534
      (18.9%) had evidence of non-infectious diarrhea. Compared to patients without non
      infectious diarrhea, non-infectious diarrhea patients more commonly had at >= 1
      CS-related hospitalization (13.7% vs 7.2%), >= 1 CS-related ED visit (11.0% vs
      4.4%), and CS-related office visits in one year (6.9 vs 4.1; all P < 0.001).
      After adjusting for demographics, region, number of chronic conditions and the
      Charlson Comorbidity Index, the proportions of patients with any and with CS
      related hospitalizations were 9.7% and 6.8% higher, respectively, among non
      infectious diarrhea patients compared to those with without non-infectious
      diarrhea (P < 0.001). Unadjusted costs were significantly higher among non
      infectious diarrhea patients vs those without non-infectious diarrhea. The non
      infectious diarrhea group was also more costly, with adjusted mean annual costs
      of $81610, compared to $51719 in the group without non-infectious diarrhea (P <
      0.001). CONCLUSION: Diarrhea is burdensome and costly in CS patients. Reduction
      of CS-related healthcare expenditures may be achievable through preventive
      treatment and appropriate management of diarrhea in CS.

PMID- 26877617
TI  - Role of a liver-first approach for synchronous colorectal liver metastases.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and survival outcomes of a liver-first approach.
      METHODS: Between January 2009 and April 2013, 18 synchronous colorectal liver
      metastases (sCRLMs) patients with a planned liver-first approach in the
      Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Department I of the Beijing Cancer Hospital were
      enrolled in this study. Clinical data, surgical outcomes, morbidity and mortality
      rates were collected. The feasibility and long-term outcomes of the approach were
      retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (88.9%) completed the
      treatment protocol for primary and liver tumors. The main reason for treatment
      failure was liver disease recurrence. The 1 and 3 year overall survival rates
      were 94.4% and 44.8%, respectively. The median survival time was 30 mo. The
      postoperative morbidity and mortality were 22.2% and 0%, respectively, following
      a hepatic resection, and were 18.8% and 0%, respectively, after a colorectal
      surgery. CONCLUSION: The liver-first approach appeared to be feasible and safe.
      It can be performed with a comparable mortality and morbidity to the traditional
      treatment paradigm. This approach might offer a curative opportunity for sCRLM
      patients with a high liver disease burden.

PMID- 26877618
TI  - Minimizing tacrolimus decreases the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus after
      liver transplantation.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the impact of minimum tacrolimus (TAC) on new-onset diabetes
      mellitus (NODM) after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: We retrospectively
      analyzed the data of 973 liver transplant recipients between March 1999 and
      September 2014 in West China Hospital Liver Transplantation Center. Following the
      exclusion of ineligible recipients, 528 recipients with a TAC-dominant regimen
      were included in our study. We calculated and determined the mean trough
      concentration of TAC (cTAC) in the year of diabetes diagnosis in NODM recipients
      or in the last year of the follow-up in non-NODM recipients. A cutoff of mean
      cTAC value for predicting NODM 6 mo after LT was identified using a receptor
      operating characteristic curve. TAC-related complications after LT was evaluated
      by chi(2) test, and the overall and allograft survival was evaluated using the
      Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors for NODM after LT were examined by univariate
      and multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS: Of the 528 transplant recipients, 131
      (24.8%) developed NODM after 6 mo after LT, and the cumulative incidence of NODM
      progressively increased. The mean cTAC of NODM group recipients was significantly
      higher than that of recipients in the non-NODM group (7.66 +/- 3.41 ng/mL vs 4.47
      +/- 2.22 ng/mL, P < 0.05). Furthermore, NODM group recipients had lower 1-, 5-,
      10-year overall survival rates (86.7%, 71.3%, and 61.1% vs 94.7%, 86.1%, and
      83.7%, P < 0.05) and allograft survival rates (92.8%, 84.6%, and 75.7% vs 96.1%,
      91%, and 86.1%, P < 0.05) than the others. The best cutoff of mean cTAC for
      predicting NODM was 5.89 ng/mL after 6 mo after LT. Multivariate analysis showed
      that old age at the time of LT (> 50 years), hypertension pre-LT, and high mean
      cTAC (>= 5.89 ng/mL) after 6 mo after LT were independent risk factors for
      developing NODM. Concurrently, recipients with a low cTAC (< 5.89 ng/mL) were
      less likely to become obese (21.3% vs 30.2%, P < 0.05) or to develop dyslipidemia
      (27.5% vs 44.8%, P <0.05), chronic kidney dysfunction (14.6% vs 22.7%, P < 0.05),
      and moderate to severe infection (24.7% vs 33.1%, P < 0.05) after LT than
      recipients in the high mean cTAC group. However, the two groups showed no
      significant difference in the incidence of acute and chronic rejection,
      hypertension, cardiovascular events and new-onset malignancy. CONCLUSION: A
      minimal TAC regimen can decrease the risk of long-term NODM after LT. Maintaining
      a cTAC value below 5.89 ng/mL after LT is safe and beneficial.

PMID- 26877620
TI  - Pancreatitis in hand-foot-and-mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71.
AB  - Some viruses, including certain members of the enterovirus genus, have been
      reported to cause pancreatitis, especially Coxsackie virus. However, no case of
      human enterovirus 71 (EV71) associated with pancreatitis has been reported so
      far. We here report a case of EV71-induced hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD)
      presenting with pancreatitis in a 2-year-old girl. This is the first report of a
      patient with acute pancreatitis in HFMD caused by EV71. We treated the patient
      conservatively with nasogastric suction, intravenous fluid and antivirals. The
      patient's symptoms improved after 8 d, and recovered without complications. We
      conclude that EV71 can cause acute pancreatitis in HFMD, which should be
      considered in differential diagnosis, especially in cases of idiopathic
      pancreatitis. 

PMID- 26877619
TI  - Inferoposterior duodenal approach for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the advantages of inferoposterior duodenal approach (IPDA)
      for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). METHODS: A total of 36 patients
      subjected to LPD were admitted to the Affiliated Yijishan Hospital of Wannan
      Medical College from December 2009 to February 2015. These patients were
      diagnosed with an ampullary tumour or a pancreatic head tumour through computed
      tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography preoperatively. The cases were selected on the basis of
      the following criteria: tumour diameter < 4 cm; no signs of peripheral vascular
      invasion; evident lymph node swelling; and distant metastasis. Of the 36 cases,
      20 were subjected to anterior approach (AA; AA group) and 16 were subjected to
      IPDA (IPDA group). Specimen removal time, intraoperative blood loss and
      postoperative complications in the two groups were observed, and their
      differences were compared. RESULTS: During the operation, 2 cases in the AA group
      and 2 cases in the IPDA group were converted to laparotomy; these cases were
      excluded from statistical analysis. The remaining 32 cases successfully completed
      the surgery. The AA group and IPDA group exhibited the specimen removal time of
      205 +/- 52 and 160 +/- 35 min, respectively, and the difference was significant
      (P < 0.01). The AA group and IPDA group revealed the intraoperative blood loss of
      360 +/- 210 mL and 310 +/- 180 mL, respectively, but these values were not
      significantly different. Postoperative pathological results revealed 4 cases of
      inferior common bile duct cancer, 8 cases of duodenal papillary cancer, 6 cases
      of ampullary cancer, 13 cases of pancreatic cancer, 3 cases of chronic
      pancreatitis accompanied with cyst formation or duct expansion, and 2 cases of
      mucinous cystic tumour in the pancreatic head. The postoperative complications
      were pulmonary Staphylococcus aureus infection, incision faulty union, ascites
      induced poor drainage accompanied with infection, bile leakage, pancreatic
      leakage and delayed abdominal bleeding. CONCLUSION: In IPDA, probing for
      important steps can be performed in early stages, surgical procedures can be
      optimised and operation time can be shortened.

PMID- 26877621
TI  - Acquired double pylorus: Clinical and endoscopic characteristics and four-year
      follow-up observations.
AB  - Double pylorus (DP), or duplication of the pylorus, is an uncommon condition that
      can be either congenital or acquired. Acquired DP (ADP) occurs when a peptic
      ulcer erodes and creates a fistula between the duodenal bulb and the distal
      stomach. The clinical features and endoscopic characteristics of four patients
      with ADP were reviewed and compared with previously reported cases. An accessory
      channel connects the lesser curvature of the prepyloric antrum with the duodenal
      bulb, and in all cases, a peptic ulcer was located in or immediately adjacent to
      the accessory channel. In one of the patients, the bridge between the double
      channel pylorus disappeared, resulting in a single large opening and duodenal
      kissing ulcer after two years and three months. Finally, nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs, Helicobacter pylori and other risk factors associated with
      ADP are assessed. 

PMID- 26877622
TI  - Normative Feedback and Adolescent Readiness to Change: A Small Randomized Trial.
AB  - For adolescents with substance use problems, it is unknown whether the provision
      of normative feedback is a necessary active ingredient in motivational
      interviewing (MI). This study investigated the impact of normative feedback on
      adolescents' readiness to change and perceptions of MI quality. Adolescents
      referred for substance use disorder (SUD) assessments were randomized to MI with
      normative feedback (NF; MI + NF, n = 26) or MI only (MI, n = 22). There were no
      significant differences between the MI + NF or MI conditions with reference to
      changes in readiness, and although not significant, there was a decline in
      readiness for the overall sample. Treatment satisfaction and ratings of MI
      quality were generally high with no between-group differences. Post hoc analyses
      revealed a nonsignificant trend where race interacted with treatment condition.
      Larger replication studies are needed to further study the effects of NF and
      potential NF by participant characteristic interactions.

PMID- 26877623
TI  - Stakeholder Opinions And Ethical Perspectives Support Complete Disclosure Of
      Incidental Findings In MRI Research.
AB  - How far does a researcher's responsibility extend when an incidental finding is
      identified? Balancing pertinent ethical principles such as beneficence, respect
      for persons, and duty to rescue is not always straightforward, particularly in
      neuroimaging research where empirical data that might help guide decision-making
      is lacking. We conducted a systematic survey of perceptions and preferences of
      396 investigators, research participants and IRB members at our institution.
      Using the partial entrustment model as described by Richardson, we argue that our
      data supports universal reading by a neuroradiologist of all research MRI scans
      for incidental findings and providing full disclosure to all participants.

PMID- 26877624
TI  - Are Approaches to Learning in Kindergarten Associated with Academic and Social
      Competence Similarly?

PMID- 26877625
TI  - Using Interactive Data Visualizations for Exploratory Analysis in Undergraduate
      Genomics Coursework: Field Study Findings and Guidelines.
AB  - Life scientists increasingly use visual analytics to explore large data sets and
      generate hypotheses. Undergraduate biology majors should be learning these same
      methods. Yet visual analytics is one of the most underdeveloped areas of
      undergraduate biology education. This study sought to determine the feasibility
      of undergraduate biology majors conducting exploratory analysis using the same
      interactive data visualizations as practicing scientists. We examined 22 upper
      level undergraduates in a genomics course as they engaged in a case-based inquiry
      with an interactive heat map. We qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed
      students' visual analytic behaviors, reasoning and outcomes to identify student
      performance patterns, commonly shared efficiencies and task completion. We
      analyzed students' successes and difficulties in applying knowledge and skills
      relevant to the visual analytics case and related gaps in knowledge and skill to
      associated tool designs. Findings show that undergraduate engagement in visual
      analytics is feasible and could be further strengthened through tool usability
      improvements. We identify these improvements. We speculate, as well, on
      instructional considerations that our findings suggested may also enhance visual
      analytics in case-based modules.

PMID- 26877626
TI  - Minimally Invasive Surgery in Pediatric Trauma: One Institution's 20-Year
      Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for trauma in pediatric cases
      remains controversial. Recent studies have shown the validity of using minimally
      invasive techniques to decrease the rate of negative and nontherapeutic
      laparotomy and thoracotomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
      diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic options of MIS in pediatric trauma at a level
      I pediatric trauma center. METHODS: We reviewed cases of patients aged 15 years
      and younger who had undergone laparoscopy or thoracoscopy for trauma in our
      institution over the past 20 years. Each case was evaluated for mechanism of
      injury, computed tomographic (CT) scan findings, operative management, and
      patient outcomes. RESULTS: There were 23 patients in the study (16 boys and 7
      girls). Twenty-one had undergone diagnostic laparoscopy and 2 had had diagnostic
      thoracoscopy. In 16, there were positive findings in diagnostic laparoscopy.
      Laparoscopic therapeutic interventions were performed in 6 patients; the
      remaining 10 required conversion to laparotomy. Both patients who underwent
      diagnostic thoracoscopy had positive findings. One had a thoracoscopic repair,
      and the other underwent conversion to thoracotomy. There were 5 negative
      diagnostic laparoscopies. There was no mortality among the 23 patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: The use of laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in pediatric trauma helps to
      reduce unnecessary laparotomy and thoracotomy. Some injuries can be repaired by a
      minimally invasive approach. When conversion is necessary, the use of these
      techniques can guide the placement and size of surgical incisions. The goal is to
      shift the paradigm in favor of using MIS in the treatment of pediatric trauma as
      the first-choice modality in stable patients.

PMID- 26877627
TI  - Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Tumors in the Left Lateral Liver Section.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic approach is increasingly adopted for liver
      resections today especially for lesions located in the left lateral liver
      section. This study was conducted to determine the impact of the introduction of
      laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) as a surgical option for suspected small- to
      medium-sized (<8 cm) tumors located in the left lateral section (LLS). METHODS:
      This is a retrospective review of 156 consecutive patients who underwent LLR or
      open liver resection (OLR) of tumors located in the LLS. The study was divided
      into 2 consecutive periods (period 1, January 2003 through September 2006, and
      period 2, October 2006 through April 2014); LLR was available as a surgical
      option only in the latter period. Comparisons made were LLR versus OLR, LLR
      versus OLR (in period 2 only), and resections performed in period 1 versus period
      2. RESULTS: Forty-two patients underwent LLR with 4 conversions. LLR was
      significantly associated with a longer median operative time [167.5 minutes
      (range, 60-525) vs 105 minutes (range, 40-235); P < .001], decreased need for the
      Pringle maneuver [n = 1 (2%) vs 22 (19%); P = .008], and shorter postoperative
      stay [n = 4 (range, 1-10) days vs 5 days (range, 2-47); P < .001] compared with
      open resection. Comparison of the 42 patients who underwent LLR with the 64
      contemporaneous patients who underwent OLR demonstrated similar outcomes. Again,
      LLR was associated with a significantly longer operation, decreased need for the
      Pringle maneuver, and shorter hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: LLR can be safely
      adopted to treat lesions in the LLS. The procedure is associated with a shorter
      postoperative stay and a decreased need for the Pringle maneuver, but longer
      operative time compared with that required for OLR.

PMID- 26877628
TI  - Intrinsic spin torque without spin-orbit coupling.
AB  - We derive an intrinsic contribution to the non-adiabatic spin torque for non
      uniform magnetic textures. It differs from previously considered contributions in
      several ways and can be the dominant contribution in some models. It does not
      depend on the change in occupation of the electron states due to the current flow
      but rather is due to the perturbation of the electronic states when an electric
      field is applied. Therefore it should be viewed as electric-field-induced rather
      than current-induced. Unlike previously reported non-adiabatic spin torques, it
      does not originate from extrinsic relaxation mechanisms nor spin-orbit coupling.
      This intrinsic non-adiabatic spin torque is related by a chiral connection to the
      intrinsic spin-orbit torque that has been calculated from the Berry phase for
      Rashba systems.

PMID- 26877629
TI  - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Utility of Corticosteroids in the
      Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids (CCS) are effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced
      nausea and vomiting, but it is unknown whether CCS are effective in treating
      hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). METHODS: We searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov
      from inception to May 15, 2015, for randomized controlled trials examining the
      effects of CCS in HG. RESULTS: We identified five trials (n = 310) examining the
      effects of CCS in women with HG. Meta-analysis was possible for one outcome (n =
      214) and showed no significant effect of CCS on readmission rates (odds ratio,
      0.37; 95% confidence internal: 0.1-1.35). Two small studies (n = 104) reported a
      reduction of vomiting episodes, and one (n = 24) found improvement of well-being,
      but no effect on other outcomes. None of the studies that investigated perinatal
      outcome (n = 173) found an effect of CCS and were underpowered to investigate
      teratogenic effects. We found evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSION: Meta
      analysis yielded no effect of CCS therapy on readmission rates. Single small
      studies indicated possible beneficial effects on other outcomes. Future high
      quality trials are necessary and would benefit from consensus on HG definition
      and core outcomes of HG therapy.

PMID- 26877630
TI  - Effects of Beak Trimming, Stocking Density and Sex on Carcass Yield, Carcass
      Components, Plasma Glucose and Triglyceride Levels in Large White Turkeys.
AB  - This study was conducted to determine the effects of beak trimming, stocking
      density (D) and sex (S) on live weight (LW), carcass yield and its component, and
      plasma glucose (PG) and triglyceride levels in Large White turkeys. To accomplish
      this aims, totally 288 d old large white turkey chicks (144 in each sex) were
      used. Beaks of 77 male and female poults were trimmed when 8 d old with an
      electrical beak trimmer. The birds were fed by commercial turkey rasion.
      Experiment was designed as 2 * 2 * 2 factorial arrangement with 3 replications in
      each group. Beak trimming and stocking density did not affect live weight,
      carcass composition and its components. The higher LW and carcass weight observed
      in trimmed groups. As expected, male birds are heavier than female, and carcass
      percentage (CP) would be adverse. However, in this study, CP of male was higher
      in trimmed, in 0.25 m(2)/bird. (D) * sex (S) interaction had an effect on both CP
      and thigh weights (p<0.05). Significantly D * S was observed in LW, CP and PG.
      The weight of carcass and its some components were higher in male. S * D
      interaction had an effect on plasma glucose level (p<0.05). Triglyceride level
      was affected (p<0.05) by sex. Significant relationships were found between
      percentage of thighs (r=0.447, p<0.01) and percentage of breast (r=0.400,
      p<0.01). According to this study, it can be said that trimming is useful with
      density of 0.25 m(2)/bird in turkey fattening. 

PMID- 26877631
TI  - Effect of Ginger Extract and Citric Acid on the Tenderness of Duck Breast
      Muscles.
AB  - The objective of this study was to examine the effect of ginger extract (GE)
      combined with citric acid on the tenderness of duck breast muscles. Total six
      marinades were prepared with the combination of citric acid (0 and 0.3 M citric
      acid) and GE (0, 15, and 30%). Each marinade was sprayed on the surface of duck
      breasts (15 mL/100 g), and the samples were marinated for 72 h at 4C. The pH and
      proteolytic activity of marinades were determined. After 72 h of marination,
      Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), pH,
      cooking loss, moisture content, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and protein solubility were evaluated. There was no
      significant (p>0.05) difference in moisture content or cooking loss among all
      samples. However, GE marination resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in
      WBSF but a significant (p<0.05) increase in pH and MFI. In addition, total
      protein and myofibrillar protein solubility of GE-marinated duck breast muscles
      in both WOC (without citric acid) and WC (with citric acid) conditions were
      significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to non-GE-marinated duck breast
      muscles. SDS-PAGE showed an increase of protein degradation (MHC and actin) in WC
      condition compared to WOC condition. There was a marked actin reduction in GE
      treated samples in WC. The tenderization effect of GE combined with citric acid
      may be attributed to various mechanisms such as increased MFI and myofibrillar
      protein solubility. 

PMID- 26877632
TI  - Meat Quality of Loin and Top Round Muscles from the Hanwoo and Holstein Veal
      Calves.
AB  - This study was conducted to compare the meat qualities of loin (m. longissimus
      dorsi) and top round (m. semimembranosus) from Hanwoo and Holstein veal. Ten
      Hanwoo and Holstein calves were randomly selected from a local cattle farm and
      raised. They were slaughtered when they were 8 mon old and weighed. Weight and
      percentage in primal cuts and slaughter performance of Hanwoo and Holstein veal
      calves are obtained. Immediately after weighting, slices of loin and top round
      muscles were sampled. After vacuum packaging, the samples were subjected to
      proximate composition, physicochemical and microbiological analyses. Dressing
      weight and percentage were heavier and greater (p<0.05) in the Holstein than in
      the Hanwoo. Water contents of the top round muscle was higher in the Holstein
      than in the Hanwoo (p<0.05). Water-holding capacity, protein content and CIE L*
      (lightness) of both muscles were higher in the Holstein than in the Hanwoo veal,
      whereas fat content, pH, cooking loss, a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) were
      higher in the Hanwoo than in the Holstein veal (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid and
      volatile basic nitrogen values of both the muscles were lower in the Hanwoo than
      in the Holstein veal during the first 10 d of storage (p<0.05). 

PMID- 26877633
TI  - Identification of Antihypertensive Peptides Derived from Low Molecular Weight
      Casein Hydrolysates Generated during Fermentation by Bifidobacterium longum KACC
      91563.
AB  - Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was evaluated for the low
      molecular-weight fraction (<3 kDa) obtained from milk fermentation by
      Bifidobacterium longum KACC91563. The ACE inhibitory activity in this fraction
      was 62.3%. The peptides generated from the <3 kDa fraction were identified by
      liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quantitative time-of-flight mass
      spectrometry analysis. Of the 28 peptides identified, 11 and 16 were identified
      as beta-casein (CN) and alphas1-CN, respectively. One peptide was identified as
      kappa-CN. Three peptides, YQEPVLGPVRGPFPIIV, QEPVLGPVRGPFPIIV, and GPVRGPFPIIV,
      from beta-CN corresponded to known antihypertensive peptides. We also found 15
      peptides that were identified as potential antihypertensive peptides because they
      included a known antihypertensive peptide fragment. These peptides were as
      follows: RELEELNVPGEIVE (f1-14), YQEPVLGPVRGPFP (f193-206), EPVLGPVRGPFPIIV (f195
      206), PVLGPVRGPFPIIV (f196-206), VLGPVRGPFPIIV (f197-206), and LGPVRGPFPIIV (f198
      206) for beta-CN; and APSFSDIPNPIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f176-199), SFSDIPNPIGSENSEKT-
      TMPLW (f178-199), FSDIPNPIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f179-199), SDIPNPIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f180
      199), DIPNPIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f181-199), IPNPIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f182-199),
      PIGSENSEKTTMPLW (f185-199), IGSENSEKTTMPLW (f186-199), and SENSEKTTMPLW (f188
      199) for alphas1-CN. From these results, B. longum could be used as a starter
      culture in combination with other lactic acid bacteria in the dairy industry,
      and/or these peptides could be used in functional food manufacturing as additives
      for the development of a product with beneficial effects for human health. 

PMID- 26877634
TI  - Effects of Edible Seaweed on Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of
      Reduced-salt Frankfurters.
AB  - The effects of sea tangle, sea mustard, hijiki, and glasswort were investigated
      based on the proximate composition, salinity, cooking loss, emulsion stability,
      pH, color, texture profile analysis, apparent viscosity, and sensory
      characteristics of reduced-salt (NaCl) meat batter and frankfurters. The moisture
      content, salinity, lightness of the meat batter and frankfurter, hardness,
      gumminess, and chewiness of the reduced-salt frankfurters with sea weeds were
      lower than the control without seaweed (p<0.05). The protein content,
      springiness, and cohesiveness of the reduced-salt frankfurters were not
      significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). The moisture content,
      salinity, cooking loss, lightness, redness, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of
      treatments with sea tangle and with sea mustard were lower than the control
      (p<0.05). Among the sensory traits, color was highest in the control (p<0.05).
      The flavor was also highest in the control. The treatments with sea tangle and
      with sea mustard samples had high tenderness, juiciness, and overall
      acceptability scores similar to the control (p<0.05). The results of this study
      show that the combination of low-salt and seaweed in the formulation successfully
      improved reduced-salt frankfurters, improving sensory characteristics to levels
      similar to the regular salt control (1.5%). 

PMID- 26877635
TI  - Changes in Meat Quality Characteristics of the Sous-vide Cooked Chicken Breast
      during Refrigerated Storage.
AB  - This study was performed to investigate the changes in meat quality
      characteristics of the sous vide cooked chicken breast during refrigerated
      storage at 4C for 14 d between before and after sous-vide cooking. Cooking loss
      and shear force were significantly increased, whereas expressible drip was
      significantly decreased along with reduction in the water holding capacity in
      both of two groups. Redness of meat juice was significantly (p<0.05) increased
      during storage, and considerably increased in the refrigerated samples after sous
      vide cooked at the 7 to 10 d. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
      was significantly increased and was higher in the refrigerator stored chicken
      breast samples after sous-vide cooking. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) value
      was significantly increased in both groups, but the VBN value of the stored raw
      meat sample before sous-vide cooking was increased at an early storage, while the
      VBN value of the stored sample after sous-vide cooking was increased gradually in
      this study. Total viable counts and coliform counts were significantly decreased
      during storage, and coliforms were not detected after 7 d of storage in both
      groups. Salmonella spp. was not detected during the whole studied period. The
      outcome of this research can provide preliminary data that could be used to apply
      for further study of chicken breast using sous-vide cooking method that could be
      attractive to consumers. 

PMID- 26877636
TI  - Analytical Determination of Vitamin B12 Content in Infant and Toddler Milk
      Formulas by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
AB  - The development of a sample preparation method and optimization of the analytical
      instrumentation conditions were performed for the determination of the vitamin
      B12 content in emulsified baby foods sold on the Korea market. After removal of
      the milk protein and fats by chloroform extraction and centrifugation, the
      vitamin B12 was water extracted from the sample. Following filtration of the
      solution through a nylon filter, the water-soluble extract was purified by solid
      phase extraction using a Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC
      MS/MS). The solution eluted from the cartridge was dried under a stream of
      nitrogen gas and reconstituted with 1 mL of water. The sample solution was
      injected into an LC-MS/MS system after optimizing the mobile phase for vitamin
      B12 detection. The calibration curve showed good linearity with the coefficient
      of correlation (r (2)) value of 0.9999. The limit of detection was 0.03 ug/L and
      the limit of quantitation was 0.1 ug/L. The method of detection limit was 0.02
      ug/kg. The vitamin B12 recovery from a spiking test was 99.62% for infant formula
      and 99.46% for cereal-based baby food. The sample preparation method developed in
      this study would be appropriate for the rapid determination of the vitamin B12
      content in infant formula and baby foods with emulsified milk characteristics.
      The ability to obtain stable results more quickly and efficiently would also
      allow governments to exercise a more extensive quality control inspection and
      monitoring of products expected to contain vitamin B12. This method could be
      implemented in laboratories that require time and labor saving. 

PMID- 26877637
TI  - Evaluation of Physicochemical Deterioration and Lipid Oxidation of Beef Muscle
      Affected by Freeze-thaw Cycles.
AB  - This study was performed to explore the deterioration of physicochemical quality
      of beef hind limb during frozen storage at -20C, affected by repeated freeze-thaw
      cycles. The effects of three successive freeze-thaw cycles on beef hind limb were
      investigated comparing with unfrozen beef muscle for 80 d by keeping at -20+/-1C.
      The freeze-thaw cycles were subjected to three thawing methods and carried out to
      select the best one on the basis of deterioration of physicochemical properties
      of beef. As the number of repeated freeze-thaw cycles increased, drip loss
      decreased and water holding capacity (WHC) increased (p<0.05) till two cycles and
      then decreased. Cooking loss increased in cycle one and three but decreased in
      cycle two. Moreover, drip loss, WHC and cooking loss affected (p<0.05) by thawing
      methods within the cycles. However, pH value decreased (p<0.05), but peroxide
      value (p<0.05), free fatty acids value (p<0.05) and TBARS value increased
      (p<0.05) significantly as the number of repeated freeze-thaw cycles increased.
      Moreover, significant (p<0.05) interactive effects were found among the thawing
      methods and repeated cycles. As a result, freeze-thaw cycles affected the
      physicochemical quality of beef muscle, causing the degradation of its quality. 

PMID- 26877638
TI  - Effects of Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) Hydrates on Quality Characteristics
      of Reduced-salt, Reduced-fat Frankfurters.
AB  - This study evaluated the effects of adding glasswort hydrate containing non-meat
      ingredient (GM, carboxy methyl cellulose; GC, carrageenan; GI, isolated soy
      protein; GS, sodium caseinate) on the quality characteristics of reduced-salt,
      reduced-fat frankfurters. The pH and color evaluation showed significant
      differences, depending on the type of glasswort hydrate added (p<0.05). In the
      raw batters and cooked frankfurters, the addition of glasswort hydrate decreased
      the redness and increased the yellowness in comparison with frankfurters without
      glasswort hydrate. The reduction in salt and fat content significantly increased
      cooking loss and decreased hardness, tenderness and juiciness (p<0.05). Glasswort
      hydrate containing non-meat ingredient improved cooking loss, water holding
      capacity, emulsion stability, hardness, and viscosity of reduced-salt, reduced
      fat frankfurters. The GM treatment had the highest myofibiliar protein solubility
      among all treatments, which was associated with emulsion stability and viscosity.
      The GC treatment had higher values for all texture parameters than the control.
      In the sensory evaluation, the addition of glasswort hydrate with non-meat
      ingredient improved tenderness and juiciness of reduced-salt, reduced-fat
      frankfurters. GM, GC, and GI treatments improved not only the physicochemical
      properties but also the sensory characteristics of reduced-salt, reduced-fat
      frankfurters. The results indicated that the use of glasswort hydrate containing
      non-meat ingredient was improved the quality characteristics of reduced-salt,
      reduced-fat frankfurters. 

PMID- 26877639
TI  - Effect of Frozen Storage Temperature on the Quality of Premium Ice Cream.
AB  - The market sales of premium ice cream have paralleled the growth in consumer
      desire for rich flavor and taste. Storage temperature is a major consideration in
      preserving the quality attributes of premium ice cream products for both the
      manufacturer and retailers during prolonged storage. We investigated the effect
      of storage temperature (-18C, -30C, -50C, and -70C) and storage times, up to 52
      wk, on the quality attributes of premium ice cream. Quality attributes tested
      included ice crystal size, air cell size, melting resistance, and color. Ice
      crystal size increased from 40.3 MUm to 100.1 MUm after 52 wk of storage at -18C.
      When ice cream samples were stored at -50C or -70C, ice crystal size slightly
      increased from 40.3 MUm to 57-58 MUm. Initial air cell size increased from 37.1
      MUm to 87.7 MUm after storage at -18C for 52 wk. However, for storage
      temperatures of -50C and -70C, air cell size increased only slightly from 37.1
      MUm to 46-47 MUm. Low storage temperature (-50C and -70C) resulted in better melt
      resistance and minimized color changes in comparison to high temperature storage
      (-18C and -30C). In our study, quality changes in premium ice cream were
      gradually minimized according to decrease in storage temperature up to-50C. No
      significant beneficial effect of -70C storage was found in quality attributes. In
      the scope of our experiment, we recommend a storage temperature of -50C to
      preserve the quality attributes of premium ice cream. 

PMID- 26877640
TI  - Inactivation of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus
      brevis in Low-fat Milk by Pulsed Electric Field Treatment: A Pilot-scale Study.
AB  - We investigated the effects of a pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on
      microbial inactivation and the physical properties of low-fat milk. Milk
      inoculated with Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or Lactobacillus
      brevis was supplied to a pilot-scale PEF treatment system at a flow rate of 30
      L/h. Pulses with an electric field strength of 10 kV/cm and a pulse width of 30
      MUs were applied to the milk with total pulse energies of 50-250 kJ/L achieved by
      varying the pulse frequency. The inactivation curves of the test microorganisms
      were biphasic with an initial lag phase (or shoulder) followed by a phase of
      rapid inactivation. PEF treatments with a total pulse energy of 200 kJ/L resulted
      in a 4.5-log reduction in E. coli, a 4.4-log reduction in L. brevis, and a 6.0
      log reduction in S. cerevisiae. Total pulse energies of 200 and 250 kJ/L resulted
      in greater than 5-log reductions in microbial counts in stored PEF-treated milk,
      and the growth of surviving microorganisms was slow during storage for 15 d at
      4C. PEF treatment did not change milk physical properties such as pH, color, or
      particle-size distribution (p<0.05). These results indicate that a relatively low
      electric-field strength of 10 kV/cm can be used to pasteurize low-fat milk. 

PMID- 26877641
TI  - Effects of Freeze-dried Mulberry on Antioxidant Activities and Fermented
      Characteristics of Yogurt during Refrigerated Storage.
AB  - This study investigated the effect of added freeze-dried mulberry fruit juice
      (FDMJ) (1, 3 and 5%) on the antioxidant activity and fermented characteristic of
      yogurt during refrigerated storage. A decrease in pH of yogurt and increase in
      acidity was observed during fermentation. The yogurts with FDMJ exhibited faster
      rate of pH reduction than control. Initial lactic acid bacteria count of yogurt
      was 6.49-6.94 Log CFU/g and increased above 9 Log CFU/g in control and 1% in FDMJ
      yogurt for 24 h. The total polyphenol and anthocyanin content of FDMJ yogurt was
      higher than that of control due to the presence of phytochemical contents in
      mulberry. Moreover, antioxidant activity such as DPPH and reducing power was
      highest 5% FDMJ yogurt. During cold storage, pH decreased or remained constant in
      all yogurts with values ranging from 4.08 to 4.78 units. In sensory evaluation,
      the score of 1% FDMJ yogurt was ranked higher when compared with other yogurts.
      It is proposed that mulberry fruit juice powder can be used to improve sensory
      evaluation and enhance functionality of yogurt. 

PMID- 26877642
TI  - Probabilistic Models to Predict Listeria monocytogenes Growth at Low
      Concentrations of NaNO2 and NaCl in Frankfurters.
AB  - This study developed probabilistic models to describe Listeria monocytogenes
      growth responses in meat products with low concentrations of NaNO2 and NaCl. A
      five-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes was inoculated in NBYE (nutrient broth
      plus 0.6% yeast extract) supplemented with NaNO2 (0-141 ppm) and NaCl (0-1.75%).
      The inoculated samples were then stored under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at
      4, 7, 10, 12, and 15C for up to 60 d. Growth response data [growth (1) or no
      growth (0)] for each combination were determined by turbidity. The growth
      response data were analyzed using logistic regression to predict the growth
      probability of L. monocytogenes as a function of NaNO2 and NaCl. The model
      performance was validated with the observed growth responses. The effect of an
      obvious NaNO2 and NaCl combination was not observed under aerobic storage
      condition, but the antimicrobial effect of NaNO2 on the inhibition of L.
      monocytogenes growth generally increased as NaCl concentration increased under
      anaerobic condition, especially at 7-10C. A single application of NaNO2 or NaCl
      significantly (p<0.05) inhibited L. monocytogenes growth at 4-15C, but the
      combination of NaNO2 or NaCl more effectively (p<0.05) inhibited L. monocytogenes
      growth than single application of either compound under anaerobic condition.
      Validation results showed 92% agreement between predicted and observed growth
      response data. These results indicate that the developed model is useful in
      predicting L. monocytogenes growth response at low concentrations of NaNO2 and
      NaCl, and the antilisterial effect of NaNO2 increased by NaCl under anaerobic
      condition. 

PMID- 26877643
TI  - Effect of Dietary Processed Sulfur Supplementation on Water-holding Capacity,
      Color, and Lipid Profiles of Pork.
AB  - This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary processed sulfur
      supplementation on water-holding capacity, color, and lipid profiles of pork
      according to the level of dietary processed sulfur (0%, CON; 0.3%, S). The pigs
      were slaughtered at an average final weight of 120 kg, and the longissimus dorsi
      muscles were collected from the carcasses. As results, pork processed with sulfur
      had significantly higher moisture and ash contents compared to those of CON but
      lower crude fat, pH, expressible drip, lower redness and yellowness, and greater
      lightness. Pork processed with sulfur showed significantly lower total lipid
      content, triglycerides, and atherosclerosis index but significantly higher high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol. Feeding processed sulfur significantly lowered
      myristic acid, heptadecanoic acid, and stearic acid contents, whereas
      monounsaturated fatty acids and oleic acids were significantly higher compared to
      those in the CON. Higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 fatty
      acids were observed in the pork processed with sulfur than that of the CON.
      Therefore, supplementing pigs with dietary sulfur improved nutrient and meat
      quality. 

PMID- 26877644
TI  - Bioactive Peptides in Milk and Dairy Products: A Review.
AB  - Functionally and physiologically active peptides are produced from several food
      proteins during gastrointestinal digestion and fermentation of food materials
      with lactic acid bacteria. Once bioactive peptides (BPs) are liberated, they
      exhibit a wide variety of physiological functions in the human body such as
      gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. These
      functionalities of the peptides in human health and physiology include
      antihypertensive, antimicrobial, antioxidative, antithrombotic, opioid, anti
      appetizing, immunomodulatory and mineral-binding activities. Most of the
      bioactivities of milk proteins are latent, being absent or incomplete in the
      original native protein, but full activities are manifested upon proteolytic
      digestion to release and activate encrypted bioactive peptides from the original
      protein. Bioactive peptides have been identified within the amino acid sequences
      of native milk proteins. Due to their physiological and physico-chemical
      versatility, milk peptides are regarded as greatly important components for
      health promoting foods or pharmaceutical applications. Milk and colostrum of
      bovine and other dairy species are considered as the most important source of
      natural bioactive components. Over the past a few decades, major advances and
      developments have been achieved on the science, technology and commercial
      applications of bioactive components which are present naturally in the milk.
      Although the majority of published works are associated with the search of
      bioactive peptides in bovine milk samples, some of them are involved in the
      investigation of ovine or caprine milk. The advent of functional foods has been
      facilitated by increasing scientific knowledge about the metabolic and genomic
      effects of diet and specific dietary components on human health. 

PMID- 26877645
TI  - Evaluation of Porcine Myofibrillar Protein Gel Functionality as Affected by
      Microbial Transglutaminase and Red Bean [Vignia angularis] Protein Isolate at
      Various pH Values.
AB  - This study was investigated to determine the effect of microbial transglutaminase
      (MTG) with or without red bean protein isolate (RBPI) on the porcine myofibrillar
      protein (MP) gel functionality at different pH values (pH 5.75-6.5). Cooking
      yield (CY, %), gel strength (GS, gf), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),
      and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined to measure gel
      characteristics. Since no differences were observed the interaction between 1%
      RBPI and pH, data were pooled. CY increased with the addition of 1% RBPI, while
      it was not affected by pH values. GS increased with increased pH and increased
      when 1% RBPI was added, regardless of pH. There were distinctive endothermic
      protein peaks, at 56.55 and 75.02C at pH 5.75, and 56.47 and 72.43C at pH 6.5 in
      DSC results, which revealed decreased temperature of the first peak with the
      addition of 1% RBPI and increased pH. In SEM, a more compact structure with fewer
      voids was shown with the addition of 1% RBPI and increased pH from 5.75 to 6.5.
      In addition, the three-dimensional structure was highly dense and hard at pH 6.5
      when RBPI was added. These results indicated that the addition of 1% RBPI at pH
      6.5 in MTG-mediated MP represent the optimum condition to attain maximum gel
      formation and protein gel functionality. 

PMID- 26877646
TI  - Antidiabetic Potential of Kefir Combination from Goat Milk and Soy Milk in Rats
      Induced with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide.
AB  - The study aimed to evaluate the effect of kefir combination from goat milk and
      soy milk on lipid profile, plasma glucose, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity
      and the improvement of pancreatic beta-cell in diabetic rats. Male rats were
      divided into five treatments: normal control, diabetic control, goat milk kefir,
      combination of goat milk-soy milk kefir and soy milk kefir. All rats were induced
      by streptooztocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA), except for normal control. After 35 d
      experiment, the rats were sampled for blood, sacrificed and sampled for
      pancreatic tissues. Results showed that diabetic rats fed kefir combination had
      higher (p<0.05) triglyceride than the rats fed goat milk or soy milk kefir.
      Decreasing of plasma glucose in diabetic rats fed kefir combination was higher
      (p<0.05) than rats fed goat millk kefir. The activity of GPx in diabetic rats fed
      three kinds of kefir were higher (p<0.01) than untreated diabetic rats. The
      average number of Langerhans and beta-cells in diabetic rats fed kefir
      combination was the same as the normal control, but it was higher than diabetic
      control. It was concluded that kefir combination can be used as antidiabetic
      through maintaining in serum triglyceride, decreasing in plasma glucose,
      increasing in GPx activity and improving in pancreatic beta-cells. 

PMID- 26877647
TI  - Chemical Components and Meat Quality Traits Related to Palatability of Ten Primal
      Cuts from Hanwoo Carcasses.
AB  - To determine chemical components and meat quality traits related to palatability
      of 10 primal cuts, 25 Hanwoo carcasses were selected from 5 carcasses * 5 quality
      grades and used to obtain proximate data and meat quality characteristics.
      Significant differences (p<0.05) in chemical component and meat quality were
      found among the 10 primal cuts. The highest fat content was found in the kalbi,
      followed by dungsim, yangjee, chaekeut, ansim, abdari, suldo, moksim, udun, and
      satae. Protein and moisture contents in the 10 primal cuts were in reverse order
      of fat content. Moksim had the highest drip loss % and cooking loss % than all
      other primal cuts while kalbi showed the lowest (p<0.05) percentage of drip and
      cooking loss. Ansim had the longest sarcomere length but the lowest shear force
      values than all other cuts (p<0.05). The highest (p<0.05) score for overall
      acceptability was observed in ansim. Moksim, udun, abdari, and satae were rated
      the lowest (p<0.05) in overall acceptability among the 10 primal cuts from Hanwoo
      carcasses. In conclusion, ansim, dungsim, chaekeut, and kalbi had the highest
      overall acceptability due to their higher fat contents and lower shear force
      values. 

PMID- 26877648
TI  - Construction of a Recombinant Leuconostoc mesenteroides CJNU 0147 Producing 1,4
      Dihydroxy-2-Naphthoic Acid, a Bifidogenic Growth Factor.
AB  - 1,4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA), a precursor of menaquinone (vitamin K2),
      has an effect on growth stimulation of bifidobacteria and prevention of
      osteoporosis, making it a promising functional food material. Therefore, we tried
      to clone the menB gene encoding DHNA synthase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides CJNU
      0147. Based on the genome sequence of Leu. mesenteroides ATCC 8293 (GenBank
      accession no., CP000414), a primer set (Leu_menBfull_F and Leu_menBfull_R) was
      designed for the PCR amplification of menB gene of CJNU 0147. A DNA fragment
      (1,190 bp), including the menB gene, was amplified, cloned into pGEM-T Easy
      vector, and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of MenB (DHNA synthase)
      protein of CJNU 0147 had a 98% similarity to the corresponding protein of ATCC
      8293. The menB gene was subcloned into pCW4, a lactic acid bacteria - E. coli
      shuttle vector, and transferred to CJNU 0147. The transcription of menB gene of
      CJNU 0147 (pCW4::menB) was increased, when compared with those of CJNU 0147
      (pCW4) and CJNU 0147 (-). The DHNA was produced from it at a detectable level,
      indicating that the cloned menB gene of CJNU 0147 encoded a DHNA synthase which
      is responsible for the production of DHNA, resulting in an increase of
      bifidogenic growth stimulation activity. 

PMID- 26877649
TI  - Anchoring Biodiversity Information: From Sherborn to the 21(st) century and
      beyond.

PMID- 26877650
TI  - Charles Davies Sherborn and the "Indexer's Club".
AB  - The first few words of the title of this symposium are "Anchoring Biodiversity
      Information". In order to properly anchor anything for a long-lasting future, a
      solid foundation needs to have been laid. For the zoological portion of
      biodiversity information, that firm foundation is best exemplified in the works
      of Charles Davies Sherborn. This man, like others of his ilk, was intimately
      focused on indexing names. This incredible focus was a life-long passion for him
      and culminated in his 9500-page Index Animalium of over 400,000 names of animals.
      This Index represents not only one of the most prodigious efforts in publication
      by a single man and the single most important reference to names in zoology, but
      a permanent legacy to the efforts of an indexer that proved to be an inspiration
      to many. 

PMID- 26877651
TI  - A magpie with a card-index mind - Charles Davies Sherborn 1861-1942.
AB  - Charles Davies Sherborn was geologist, indexer and bibliographer extraordinaire.
      He was fascinated by science from an early age and like so many Victorians, the
      young Sherborn was a passionate natural history collector and was obsessed with
      expanding his collection of land and freshwater shells. He later described
      himself as being a 'thorough magpie' and having 'a card-index mind', and these
      two traits coalesced in his monumental Index Animalium, the compilation of which
      occupied 43 years of his life. One of the first visitors through the doors of the
      Natural History Museum in South Kensington when it opened in 1881, Sherborn began
      work there seven years later as one of the small band of unofficial scientific
      workers, paid by the number of fossils he prepared. By the time of his death in
      1942, Sherborn's corner in the Museum was the first port of call for generations
      of scientists seeking advice, information - or an invitation to one of his famous
      'smoke and chat' parties. In addition to his work on the Index, Sherborn is also
      responsible for rescuing from damp and probable destruction the huge archive of
      Sir Richard Owen, the great comparative anatomist and the prime mover behind the
      creation of the Natural History Museum, London. Without Sherborn, this invaluable
      resource of correspondence, manuscripts and books may well have been
      irretrievably ruined. 

PMID- 26877652
TI  - Naming and Necessity: Sherborn's Context in the 19(th) Century.
AB  - By the late 19(th) Century, storms plaguing early Victorian systematics and
      nomenclature seemed to have abated. Vociferous disputes over radical renaming,
      the world-shaking clash of all-encompassing procrustean systems, struggles over
      centres of authority, and the issues of language and meaning had now been settled
      by the institution of a stable imperial museum and its catalogues, a set of rules
      for the naming of zoological objects, and a new professional class of zoologists.
      Yet, for all that tranquillity, the disputes simmered below the surface, re
      emerging as bitter struggles over synonyms, trinomials, the subspecies category,
      the looming issues of the philosophy of scientific language, and the aggressive
      new American style of field biology - all pressed in upon the received practice
      of naming and classifying organisms and the threat of anarchy. In the midst rose
      an index. This paper will explore the context of CD Sherborn's Index Animalium
      and those looming problems and issues which a laborious and comprehensive "index
      of nature" was meant to solve. 

PMID- 26877653
TI  - Sherborn's foraminiferal studies and their influence on the collections at the
      Natural History Museum, London.
AB  - Sherborn's work on the Foraminifera clearly provided the initial spark to compile
      the major indexes for which he is famous. Contact and help from famous early
      micropalaeontologists such as T. Rupert Jones and Fortescue William Millett led
      Sherborn to produce his Bibliography of Foraminifera and subsequently a two-part
      Index of Foraminiferal Genera and Species. Edward Heron-Allen, whose mentor was
      Millett, was subsequently inspired by the bibliography to attempt to acquire
      every publication listed. This remarkable collection of literature was donated to
      the British Museum (Natural History) in 1926 along with the foraminiferal
      collections Heron-Allen had mainly purchased from early micropalaeontologists.
      This donation forms the backbone of the current NHM micropalaeontological
      collections. The NHM collections contain a relatively small amount of
      foraminiferal material published by Sherborn from the London Clay, Kimmeridge
      Clay and Speeton Clay. Another smaller collection reflects his longer-term
      interest in the British Chalk following regular fieldwork with A. W. Rowe. Other
      collections relating to Sherborn's early published work, particularly with T. R.
      Jones, are not present in the collections but these collections may have been
      sold or deposited elsewhere by his co-workers. 

PMID- 26877654
TI  - 'Where is the damned collection?' Charles Davies Sherborn's listing of named
      natural science collections and its successors.
AB  - C. D. Sherborn published in 1940, under the imprint of Cambridge University Press
      but at his own expense, Where is the - Collection? This idiosyncratic listing of
      named natural science collections, and their fates, was useful, but incomplete,
      and uneven in its accuracy. It is argued that those defects were inevitable,
      given Sherborn's age and wartime conditions, and that what might seem one of
      Sherborn's less impressive works was in fact a pioneering work highly influential
      in stimulating the production of successor works now much used in curation, and
      in systematic and descriptive biology and palaeontology. The book also
      contributed to the development of collections research in the natural sciences,
      and the history of collections and of museums. 

PMID- 26877655
TI  - Reinforcing the foundations of ornithological nomenclature: Filling the gaps in
      Sherborn's and Richmond's historical legacy of bibliographic exploration.
AB  - Due to its public popularity, ornithology has a huge corpus of scientific
      publication for a relatively small number of species. Although there are global
      checklists of currently recognised taxa, there has been only limited, mainly
      individual, effort to build a nomenclatural database that the science of
      ornithology deserves. This is especially true in relation to concise synonymies.
      With the arrival of ZooBank and the Biodiversity Heritage Library, the time has
      come to develop synonymies and to add fuller bibliographic detail to databases.
      The preparation for both began at the start of the 20(th) century with extensive
      work by Sherborn and Richmond. I discuss their legacy, offer notes on significant
      work since then, and provide suggestions for what remains to be done. To make
      solid the foundations for ornithological nomenclature and taxonomy, especially
      for synonymies, ornithologists will need to collaborate much more and contribute
      to the digital infrastructure. 

PMID- 26877656
TI  - Sherborn's influence on Systema Dipterorum.
AB  - Flies make up more than 10% of the planetary biota and our well-being depends on
      how we manage our coexistence with flies. Storing and accessing relevant
      knowledge about flies is intimately connected with using correct names, and
      Systema Dipterorum provides a single authoritative classification for flies
      developed by consensus among contributors. The 160,000 species of flies currently
      known are distributed among 160 recent families and some 12,000 genera, which
      with their synonyms encompass a total of more than a quarter of a million names.
      These names and their associated classification are shared with relevant global
      solutions. Sherborn appears to have done remarkably well indexing Diptera names
      with an overall error rate estimated to be close to 1%. 

PMID- 26877657
TI  - Unlocking Index Animalium: From paper slips to bytes and bits.
AB  - In 1996 Smithsonian Libraries (SIL) embarked on the digitization of its
      collections. By 1999, a full-scale digitization center was in place and rare
      volumes from the natural history collections, often of high illustrative value,
      were the focus for the first years of the program. The resulting beautiful books
      made available for online display were successful to a certain extent, but it
      soon became clear that the data locked within the texts needed to be converted to
      more usable and re-purposable form via digitization methods that went beyond
      simple page imaging and included text conversion elements. Library staff met with
      researchers from the taxonomic community to understand their path to the
      literature and identified tools (indexes and bibliographies) used to connect to
      the library holdings. The traditional library metadata describing the titles,
      which made them easily retrievable from the shelves of libraries, was not meeting
      the needs of the researcher looking for more detailed and granular data within
      the texts. The result was to identify proper print tools that could potential
      assist researchers in digital form. This paper outlines the project undertaken to
      convert Charles Davies Sherborn's Index Animalium into a tool to connect
      researchers to the library holdings: from a print index to a database to
      eventually a dataset. Sherborn's microcitation of a species name and his
      bibliographies help bridge the gap between taxonomist and literature holdings of
      libraries. In 2004, SIL received funding from the Smithsonian's Atherton Seidell
      Endowment to create an online version of Sherborn's Index Animalium. The initial
      project was to digitize the page images and re-key the data into a simple data
      structure. As the project evolved, a more complex database was developed which
      enabled quality field searching to retrieve species names and to search the
      bibliography. Problems with inconsistent abbreviations and styling of his
      bibliographies made the parsing of the data difficult. Coinciding with the
      development of the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) in 2005, it became obvious
      there was a need to integrate the database converted Index Animalium, BHL's
      scanned taxonomic literature, and taxonomic intelligence (the algorithmic
      identification of binomial, Latinate name-strings). The challenges of working
      with legacy taxonomic citation, computer matching algorithms, and making
      connections have brought us to today's goal of making Sherborn available and
      linked to other datasets. Partnering with others to allow machine-to-machine
      communications the data is being examined for possible transformation into RDF
      markup and meeting the standards of Linked Open Data. SIL staff have partnered
      with Thomson Reuters and the Global Names Initiative to further enhance the Index
      Animalium data set. Thomson Reuters' staff is now working on integrating the
      species microcitation and species name in the ION: Index to Organism Names
      project; Richard Pyle (The Bishop Museum) is also working on further parsing of
      the text. The Index Animalium collaborative project's ultimate goal is to
      successful have researchers go seamlessly from the species name in either ION or
      the scanned pages of Index Animalium to the digitized original description in BHL
      - connecting taxonomic researchers to original authored species descriptions with
      just a click. 

PMID- 26877658
TI  - Sherborn's Index Animalium: New names, systematic errors and availability of
      names in the light of modern nomenclature.
AB  - This study is aimed to shed light on the reliability of Sherborn's Index
      Animalium in terms of modern usage. The AnimalBase project spent several years'
      worth of teamwork dedicated to extracting new names from original sources in the
      period ranging from 1757 to the mid-1790s. This allowed us to closely analyse
      Sherborn's work and verify the completeness and correctness of his record. We
      found the reliability of Sherborn's resource generally very high, but in some
      special situations the reliability was reduced due to systematic errors or
      incompleteness in source material. Index Animalium is commonly used by
      taxonomists today who rely strongly on Sherborn's record; our study is directed
      most pointedly at those users. We recommend paying special attention to the
      situations where we found that Sherborn's data should be read with caution. In
      addition to some categories of systematic errors and mistakes that were
      Sherborn's own responsibility, readers should also take into account that
      nomenclatural rules have been changed or refined in the past 100 years, and that
      Sherborn's resource could eventually present outdated information. One of our
      main conclusions is that error rates in nomenclatoral compilations tend to be
      lower if one single and highly experienced person such as Sherborn carries out
      the work, than if a team is trying to do the task. Based on our experience with
      extracting names from original sources we came to the conclusion that error rates
      in such a manual work on names in a list are difficult to reduce below 2-4%. We
      suggest this is a natural limit and a point of diminishing returns for projects
      of this nature. 

PMID- 26877659
TI  - Digitising legacy zoological taxonomic literature: Processes, products and using
      the output.
AB  - By digitising legacy taxonomic literature using XML mark-up the contents become
      accessible to other taxonomic and nomenclatural information systems. Appropriate
      schemas need to be interoperable with other sectorial schemas, atomise to
      appropriate content elements and carry appropriate metadata to, for example,
      enable algorithmic assessment of availability of a name under the Code. Legacy
      (and new) literature delivered in this fashion will become part of a global
      taxonomic resource from which users can extract tailored content to meet their
      particular needs, be they nomenclatural, taxonomic, faunistic or other. To date,
      most digitisation of taxonomic literature has led to a more or less simple
      digital copy of a paper original - the output of the many efforts has effectively
      been an electronic copy of a traditional library. While this has increased
      accessibility of publications through internet access, the means by which many
      scientific papers are indexed and located is much the same as with traditional
      libraries. OCR and born-digital papers allow use of web search engines to locate
      instances of taxon names and other terms, but OCR efficiency in recognising
      taxonomic names is still relatively poor, people's ability to use search engines
      effectively is mixed, and many papers cannot be searched directly. Instead of
      building digital analogues of traditional publications, we should consider what
      properties we require of future taxonomic information access. Ideally the content
      of each new digital publication should be accessible in the context of all
      previous published data, and the user able to retrieve nomenclatural, taxonomic
      and other data / information in the form required without having to scan all of
      the original papers and extract target content manually. This opens the door to
      dynamic linking of new content with extant systems: automatic population and
      updating of taxonomic catalogues, ZooBank and faunal lists, all descriptions of a
      taxon and its children instantly accessible with a single search, comparison of
      classifications used in different publications, and so on. A means to do this is
      through marking up content into XML, and the more atomised the mark-up the
      greater the possibilities for data retrieval and integration. Mark-up requires
      XML that accommodates the required content elements and is interoperable with
      other XML schemas, and there are now several written to do this, particularly
      TaxPub, taxonX and taXMLit, the last of these being the most atomised. We now
      need to automate this process as far as possible. Manual and automatic data and
      information retrieval is demonstrated by projects such as INOTAXA and Plazi. As
      we move to creating and using taxonomic products through the power of the
      internet, we need to ensure the output, while satisfying in its production the
      requirements of the Code, is fit for purpose in the future. 

PMID- 26877660
TI  - The use and limits of scientific names in biological informatics.
AB  - Scientific names serve to label biodiversity information: information related to
      species. Names, and their underlying taxonomic definitions, however, are unstable
      and ambiguous. This negatively impacts the utility of names as identifiers and as
      effective indexing tools in biological informatics where names are commonly
      utilized for searching, retrieving and integrating information about species.
      Semiotics provides a general model for describing the relationship between taxon
      names and taxon concepts. It distinguishes syntactics, which governs
      relationships among names, from semantics, which represents the relations between
      those labels and the taxa to which they refer. In the semiotic context, changes
      in semantics (i.e., taxonomic circumscription) do not consistently result in a
      corresponding and reflective change in syntax. Further, when syntactic changes do
      occur, they may be in response to semantic changes or in response to syntactic
      rules. This lack of consistency in the cardinal relationship between names and
      taxa places limits on how scientific names may be used in biological informatics
      in initially anchoring, and in the subsequent retrieval and integration, of
      relevant biodiversity information. Precision and recall are two measures of
      relevance. In biological taxonomy, recall is negatively impacted by changes or
      ambiguity in syntax while precision is negatively impacted when there are changes
      or ambiguity in semantics. Because changes in syntax are not correlated with
      changes in semantics, scientific names may be used, singly or conflated into
      synonymous sets, to improve recall in pattern recognition or search and
      retrieval. Names cannot be used, however, to improve precision. This is because
      changes in syntax do not uniquely identify changes in circumscription. These
      observations place limits on the utility of scientific names within biological
      informatics applications that rely on names as identifiers for taxa. Taxonomic
      systems and services used to organize and integrate information about taxa must
      accommodate the inherent semantic ambiguity of scientific names. The capture and
      articulation of circumscription differences (i.e., multiple taxon concepts)
      within such systems must be accompanied with distinct concept identifiers that
      can be employed in association with, or in replacement of, traditional scientific
      names. 

PMID- 26877661
TI  - The List of Available Names (LAN): A new generation for stable taxonomic names in
      zoology?
AB  - The List of Available Names in Zoology (LAN) is an inventory of names with
      specific scope in time and content, presented and approved in parts, and
      constituted as a cumulative index of names available for use in zoological
      nomenclature. It was defined in Article 79 in the fourth edition of the
      International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The LAN is likely to gain
      importance with the development of the online Official Registry for Zoological
      Nomenclature (ZooBank) as it is potentially a source of many nomenclaturally
      certified names. Article 79 describes the deliberative process for adding large
      numbers of names to the LAN simultaneously, detailing steps and chronology for
      submission of a candidate Part to the LAN and consideration of a candidate Part
      by the public and Commission, but it is largely mute about the contents of a
      candidate Part. It does make clear that a name within the scope of a Part but not
      on the LAN has no nomenclatural standing, even if it had previously been
      considered available, thereby preventing long-forgotten names from displacing
      accepted ones and the accumulation of nomina dubia. Thus, for taxa on the LAN,
      nomenclatural archaeology - the resurrecting of old unused names to replace by
      priority names in current usage - will not be worthwhile. Beyond that, it has
      been unclear if Article 79 is intended to document every available name known
      within the scope of the Part, or if its intention is to pare the inventory of
      available names within the scope of the Part. Consideration by the Commission and
      two committees to deal with the LAN have defined steps to implement Article 79
      with the latter intent. Procedures for consideration of a candidate Part are
      defined in a manual, published as an appendix in this volume. 

PMID- 26877662
TI  - A common registration-to-publication automated pipeline for nomenclatural acts
      for higher plants (International Plant Names Index, IPNI), fungi (Index Fungorum,
      MycoBank) and animals (ZooBank).
AB  - Collaborative effort among four lead indexes of taxon names and nomenclatural
      acts (International Plant Name Index (IPNI), Index Fungorum, MycoBank and
      ZooBank) and the journals PhytoKeys, MycoKeys and ZooKeys to create an automated,
      pre-publication, registration workflow, based on a server-to-server, XML
      request/response model. The registration model for ZooBank uses the TaxPub
      schema, which is an extension to the Journal Tag Publishing Suite (JATS) of the
      National Library of Medicine (NLM). The indexing or registration model of IPNI
      and Index Fungorum will use the Taxonomic Concept Transfer Schema (TCS) as a
      basic standard for the workflow. Other journals and publishers who intend to
      implement automated, pre-publication, registration of taxon names and
      nomenclatural acts can also use the open sample XML formats and links to schemas
      and relevant information published in the paper. 

PMID- 26877663
TI  - Surfacing the deep data of taxonomy.
AB  - Taxonomic databases are perpetuating approaches to citing literature that may
      have been appropriate before the Internet, often being little more than digitised
      5 * 3 index cards. Typically the original taxonomic literature is either not
      cited, or is represented in the form of a (typically abbreviated) text string.
      Hence much of the "deep data" of taxonomy, such as the original descriptions,
      revisions, and nomenclatural actions are largely hidden from all but the most
      resourceful users. At the same time there are burgeoning efforts to digitise the
      scientific literature, and much of this newly available content has been assigned
      globally unique identifiers such as Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), which are
      also the identifier of choice for most modern publications. This represents an
      opportunity for taxonomic databases to engage with digitisation efforts. Mapping
      the taxonomic literature on to globally unique identifiers can be time consuming,
      but need be done only once. Furthermore, if we reuse existing identifiers, rather
      than mint our own, we can start to build the links between the diverse data that
      are needed to support the kinds of inference which biodiversity informatics
      aspires to support. Until this practice becomes widespread, the taxonomic
      literature will remain balkanized, and much of the knowledge that it contains
      will linger in obscurity. 

PMID- 26877664
TI  - Towards a Global Names Architecture: The future of indexing scientific names.
AB  - For more than 250 years, the taxonomic enterprise has remained almost unchanged.
      Certainly, the tools of the trade have improved: months-long journeys aboard
      sailing ships have been reduced to hours aboard jet airplanes; advanced
      technology allows humans to access environments that were once utterly
      inaccessible; GPS has replaced crude maps; digital hi-resolution imagery provides
      far more accurate renderings of organisms that even the best commissioned artists
      of a century ago; and primitive candle-lit microscopes have been replaced by an
      array of technologies ranging from scanning electron microscopy to DNA
      sequencing. But the basic paradigm remains the same. Perhaps the most
      revolutionary change of all - which we are still in the midst of, and which has
      not yet been fully realized - is the means by which taxonomists manage and
      communicate the information of their trade. The rapid evolution in recent decades
      of computer database management software, and of information dissemination via
      the Internet, have both dramatically improved the potential for streamlining the
      entire taxonomic process. Unfortunately, the potential still largely exceeds the
      reality. The vast majority of taxonomic information is either not yet digitized,
      or digitized in a form that does not allow direct and easy access. Moreover, the
      information that is easily accessed in digital form is not yet seamlessly
      interconnected. In an effort to bring reality closer to potential, a loose
      affiliation of major taxonomic resources, including GBIF, the Encyclopedia of
      Life, NBII, Catalog of Life, ITIS, IPNI, ICZN, Index Fungorum, and many others
      have been crafting a "Global Names Architecture" (GNA). The intention of the GNA
      is not to replace any of the existing taxonomic data initiatives, but rather to
      serve as a dynamic index to interconnect them in a way that streamlines the
      entire taxonomic enterprise: from gathering specimens in the field, to
      publication of new taxa and related data. 

PMID- 26877665
TI  - An updated checklist of the ants of India with their specific distributions in
      Indian states (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).
AB  - As one of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world and with four biodiversity
      hotspots represented in its borders, India is home to an impressive diversity of
      life forms. However, much work remains to document and catalogue the species of
      India and their geographic distributions, especially for diverse invertebrate
      groups. In the present study, a comprehensive and critical list of Indian ant
      species is provided with up-to-date state-wise distribution. A total of 828 valid
      species and subspecies names belonging to 100 genera are listed from India.
      Potential erroneous data, misidentifications and dubious distributional records
      that may exist in the literature are also identified. The present exhaustive
      listing of Indian ants will provide a holistic view about diversity and
      distribution and will also help to identify major undersampled areas where future
      sampling and taxonomic efforts should be directed. 

PMID- 26877666
TI  - Seven species new to science and one newly recorded species of the ant genus
      Myrmica Latreille, 1804 from China, with proposal of a new synonym (Hymenoptera,
      Formicidae).
AB  - Seven new species of the genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 are described from China:
      Myrmica dongi sp. n., Myrmica huaii sp. n., Myrmica liui sp. n., Myrmica mifui
      sp. n., Myrmica oui sp. n., Myrmica wangi sp. n. and Myrmica yani sp. n. Myrmica
      forcipata Karawaiew, 1931 is recorded from China for the first time, while
      Myrmica zhengi Ma & Xu, 2011 is synonymized with Myrmica luteola Kupyanskaya,
      1990. Identification keys based on worker caste are provided to the Myrmica
      species of China and the pachei-group species of the Old World, respectively. 

PMID- 26877667
TI  - Leptanilla hypodracos sp. n., a new species of the cryptic ant genus Leptanilla
      (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Singapore, with new distribution data and an
      updated key to Oriental Leptanilla species.
AB  - A new species of the cryptic and rarely collected ant genus Leptanilla is
      described. Leptanilla hypodracos sp. n. is the first Leptanilla recorded from
      Singapore in over a century since Leptanilla havilandi Forel, 1901 and represents
      the fourth species of Leptanilla known from the Malay Peninsula. An updated key
      to the Leptanilla of the Oriental region is presented. Taxonomic comparisons
      between Leptanilla hypodracos sp. n. and four morphologically similar species are
      provided with particular attention given to Leptanilla clypeata Yamane & Ito,
      2001, for which new measurements and indices are presented. The first report is
      presented for the Leptanillinae subfamily from the southeastern part of China
      with a worker of the genus Leptanilla collected in Hong Kong. Finally, the
      potential of subterranean bait to collect Leptanilla species is discussed. 

PMID- 26877668
TI  - New species of the genus Mahinda Krombein, 1983 (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae,
      Amiseginae).
AB  - Three new species of Mahinda are described, bo from Vietnam, borneensis from
      Malaysian Borneo and sulawesiensis from northern Sulawesi. A key to the three
      known species is provided including the previously described species, saltator
      Krombein, 1983. 

PMID- 26877669
TI  - A new species of Agelas from the Zanzibar Archipelago, western Indian Ocean
      (Porifera, Demospongiae).
AB  - A new sponge species (Demospongiae: Agelasida: Agelasidae) is described from the
      eastern coast of Unguja Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago. Agelas sansibarica
      sp. n. is compared to all other Agelas species described so far. The new species
      differs from its congeners mainly in its three categories of verticillate
      spicules (acanthostyles, acanthostrongyles, and acanthoxeas) and their sizes.
      Acanthostrongyles, well represented in the spicular complement, are an exclusive
      trait of the new species widening the morphological range of the genus.
      Summarizing on spicular complement and spicular morphotraits of 36 species
      belonging to the genus Agelas: i) 32 species show only acanthostyles from Indo
      Pacific (n = 14), Atlantic (n = 17), and Mediterranean (n = 1); ii) three Indo
      Pacific species show acanthostyles and acanthoxeas; iii) one species Agelas
      sansibarica sp. n. from the western Indian Ocean is characterised by the unique
      trait of three categories of verticillate spicules (acanthostyles,
      acanthostrongyles and acanthoxeas). A key for the Indo-Pacific species is
      supplied together with short descriptions, illustrations, and geographic range;
      literature on chemical bioprospecting of the genus Agelas is also provided. 

PMID- 26877670
TI  - A new quadrannulate species of Orobdella (Hirudinida, Arhynchobdellida,
      Orobdellidae) from western Honshu, Japan.
AB  - A new quadrannulate species of Orobdella Oka, 1895, Orobdella naraharaetmagarum
      sp. n., from the mountainous region of western Honshu, Japan is described.
      Orobdella naraharaetmagarum is a small species with a body length of less than 5
      cm. Phylogenetic analyses using nuclear 18S rRNA and histone H3, as well as
      mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, tRNA(Cys), tRNA(Met), 12S rRNA,
      tRNA(Val), 16S rRNA, tRNA(Leu) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 markers indicated
      that the present new species is the sister species of the quadrannulate Orobdella
      esulcata Nakano, 2010. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA genealogy within Orobdella
      naraharaetmagarum demonstrated that this new species is divided into eastern and
      western lineages. 

PMID- 26877671
TI  - Endonura Cassagnau in Iran, with a key to species of the genus (Collembola,
      Neanuridae, Neanurinae).
AB  - Three new species of Endonura are described from Iran. Endonura dichaeta sp. n.
      can be recognized by an ogival labrum, head without chaetae O and E, chaeta D
      connected with tubercle Cl, tubercle Dl with five chaetae on head, absence of
      tubercles Di on thorax I and tubercle (Di+Di) of thorax V with 2+2 chaetae.
      Endonura ceratolabralis sp. n. is characterized by large body size, reduction of
      labral chaetotaxy, ogival labrum, head without chaeta O and fusion of tubercles
      Di and De on first thoracic segment. Endonura persica sp. n. is distinguished
      from its congeners by a nonogival labrum, absence of chaeta O, tubercles Dl and
      (L+So) with five and eight chaetae respectively and claw with inner tooth. The
      key to all species of the genus is given. 

PMID- 26877672
TI  - A new Chinese Pseudoogeton species and key to the species of the genus
      (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Amarygmini).
AB  - Pseudoogeton maoxianum sp. n. is described from Sichuan, China. A key to the
      males of the species of Pseudoogeton Masumoto, 1989 is presented. 

PMID- 26877673
TI  - Revision of the wingless Sikkimia Duvivier (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae,
      Galerucinae) from Taiwan, including a new generic synonymy and four new species
      descriptions.
AB  - The genus Taiwanolepta Kimoto, 1989 (type species Taiwanolepta babai Kimoto,
      1989) is proposed as a junior synonym of Sikkimia Duvivier, 1891. Sikkimia
      species from Taiwan form a group characterized by the reduction of their hind
      wings. Most of them cannot be distinguished using external morphology, except by
      the structure of last two antennomeres in males. Diagnoses are made by using
      distribution, aedeagal, and gonocoxal morphology. The group includes one
      previously described species, Sikkimia babai (Kimoto, 1989), comb. n., and four
      new species, Sikkimia meihuai sp. n., Sikkimia sufangae sp. n., Sikkimia tsoui
      sp. n., and Sikkimia yuae sp. n. Speciation models, supporting the high diversity
      of Sikkimia species in Taiwan, are discussed. Sikkimia metallica Jacoby, 1903 and
      Sikkimia tamra Maulik, 1936, both from southern India, are transferred to the
      genus Cerophysa Chevrolat, 1836. 

PMID- 26877674
TI  - Denopelopia amicitia, a new Tanypodinae from Brazil (Diptera, Chironomidae).
AB  - A new species of Denopelopia from Brazil is described based on adult male and
      pupa. The male of the new species can be distinguished from all other species of
      the genus by the genitalia and fore-tibial spur morphology. The pupa is very
      similar to those of Denopelopia atria, but it can be distinguished by the absence
      of distinct constrictions in the respiratory atrium of the thoracic horn. Generic
      diagnosis to male and pupa of Denopelopia is emended and keys to male and pupae
      of known species are provided. 

PMID- 26877675
TI  - A review of Cyclidiinae from China (Lepidoptera, Drepanidae).
AB  - The subfamily Cyclidiinae from China is reviewed: two genera and seven species
      are reported from China. One new subspecies, Cyclidia fractifasciata indistincta
      subsp. n., is described. Two new synonyms are established: Cyclidia substigmaria
      (Hubner, 1831) (= Cyclidia substigmaria brunna Chu & Wang, 1987, syn. n. =
      Cyclidia tetraspota Chu & Wang, 1987, syn. n.). One misidentification in Chu &
      Wang (1987) is corrected. Identification keys and diagnoses for all discussed
      Chinese species are provided. External features and genitalia are depicted. In
      addition, results of DNA barcoding for five taxa of Cyclidia are briefly
      discussed. 

PMID- 26877676
TI  - Corrigenda: Breedy O, Guzman HM (2015) A revision of the genus Muricea Lamouroux,
      1821 (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) in the eastern Pacific. Part I: Eumuricea Verrill,
      1869 revisited. ZooKeys 537: 1-32. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.537.6025.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.537.6025.]. 

PMID- 26877677
TI  - JellyWeb: an interactive information system on Scyphozoa, Cubozoa and Staurozoa.
AB  - Identification of organisms is traditionally based on the use of "classic"
      identification keys, normally printed on paper. These keys have several
      drawbacks: they are mainly based on the systematics, requiring identification of
      orders, families and genera at first; they are written by experts for other
      experts, in a specific scientific jargon; they have a "frozen" structure
      (sequence of theses/antitheses); once published, they cannot be changed or
      updated without printing a new edition. Due to the use of computers, it is now
      possible to build new digital identification tools, which: 1) can be produced
      automatically, if the characters are stored in a database; 2) can be freed from
      the traditional systematics, giving priority to easy-to-observe characters, incl.
      those usually uncommon to the classical keys, such as ecology and distribution;
      3) can be updated in real time once published on-line; 4) can be available on
      different media, and on mobile devices. An important feature of these new digital
      tools is their "collaborative" nature. They can be enriched by the contribution
      of several researchers, which can cooperate while maintaining rights and property
      of the resources and data they contribute to the system. JellyWeb, the
      information system on Scyphozoa, Cubozoa and Staurozoa has been developed in
      Trieste since 2010. The system was created with the aim of - potentially -
      becoming a starting point for a wide collaborative effort in developing a user
      friendly worldwide digital identification system for jellyfishes. 

PMID- 26877678
TI  - A new species of open-air processional column termite, Hospitalitermes
      nigriantennalis sp. n. (Termitidae), from Borneo.
AB  - A new species of open-air processional column termite is here described based on
      the soldier and worker castes from eight colonies in north Barito, central
      Kalimantan. Hospitalitermes nigriantennalis sp. n. is readily distinguished in
      the field from related Hospitalitermes spp. by the light brown to orangish
      coloration of the soldier head capsule that, further, is with vertex yellowish
      and nasus brownish. The soldier antenna and the maxillary and labial palps are
      blackish. By contrast, soldiers from other species of Hospitalitermes from this
      region have a uniformly black head capsule and antennae. Finally, Hospitalitermes
      nigriantennalis sp. n. has a minute indentation in the middle of the posterior
      part of head capsule, which further helps to differentiate this new species from
      other Hospitalitermes from the Indo-Malayan and Austro-Malayan regions. 

PMID- 26877679
TI  - Two new Megalothorax species of the minimus group (Collembola, Neelidae).
AB  - Two new Megalothorax species, Megalothorax potapovi sp. n. from the Russian Far
      East and Megalothorax sanguineus sp. n. from the French Pyrenees are described.
      The two new species have a set of morphological characters (including a smooth
      mucro) that places them among the minimus group sensu Schneider and D'Haese
      (2013). Megalothorax potapovi characteristics include dorsal protuberance on
      forehead, peculiar chaetotaxy of antenna III and strong lanceolate chaetae on
      body. Megalothorax sanguineus characteristics include strong red pigmentation,
      large network of integumentary channels on head and elongated apex of the two
      postero-distal spines of dens. The DNA barcodes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I
      COI) of the two species are also provided and analyzed among a broader sampling
      of the genus in order to support further their specific status. A special focus
      is given to the labral morphological characteristics. Pseudopores-like elements
      are reported for the first time in the genus. Positions of the tau-chaetae near
      the dorsal sensory field of thorax II are compared for several species of the
      genus. 

PMID- 26877680
TI  - A new, widely distributed species of the Exocelina ekari-group from West Papua
      (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae).
AB  - Exocelina manokwariensis sp. n. from West Papua is placed into the Exocelina
      ekari-group based on the structure of its male genitalia. The new species is
      described, including its three subspecies, from the mainland of West Papua,
      Waigeo Island, Batanta and Salawati Islands, and Bomberai peninsula. An
      identification key to the subspecies as well as data on species distribution are
      provided. 

PMID- 26877681
TI  - A new genus and nine new species of Eugnomini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from
      New Caledonia.
AB  - The genus Rasilinus gen. n. is described (type species Rasilinus tchambicus sp.
      n.). Nine new species: Rasilinus bicolor sp. n., Rasilinus bifurcatus sp. n.,
      Rasilinus bimaculatus sp. n., Rasilinus grandidens sp. n., Rasilinus longulus sp.
      n., Rasilinus subgemellus sp. n., Rasilinus subnodulus sp. n., Rasilinus
      tchambicus sp. n., Rasilinus virgatus sp. n. are described from New Caledonia.
      Illustrations of the external morphology, male and female terminalia, dorsal
      habitus colour photographs of the adults, key to species and distribution map of
      the new genus Rasilinus are provided. 

PMID- 26877682
TI  - Taxonomic review of the genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China, with descriptions
      of four new species (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae).
AB  - The genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China is reviewed. Nine species are treated,
      including descriptions of four new species: Teliphasa spinosa Li, sp. n.,
      Teliphasa similalbifusa Li, sp. n., Teliphasa erythrina Li, sp. n., and Teliphasa
      hamata Li, sp. n. Photographs of adults, wing venation, and both male and female
      genitalia are provided, along with a key for the identification of all the
      Chinese species. 

PMID- 26877683
TI  - Annotated checklist of marine fishes from the Sanctuary of Bahia Chamela, Mexico
      with occurrence and biogeographic data.
AB  - An annotated checklist of marine fishes of the Sanctuary of Islands and Islets of
      Bahia Chamela in the central Mexican Pacific is presented. Records of fish
      species were obtained by different methods including visual census, sampling with
      anesthetics, fisherman-nets, and trawling with a biological dredge. Additional
      records were obtained from natural history collections and publications. The list
      comprises 196 species in 64 families and 141 genera. The Carangidae is the most
      speciose family with 11 species, followed by the Labridae with 10 and the
      Pomacentridae with nine. Fourteen species are endemic in Mexican Pacific waters,
      but none is restricted to Bahia Chamela. The most dominant species recorded
      during underwater surveys were Epinephelus labriformis, Stegastes flavilatus, and
      Halichoeres dispilus. Most species are of tropical affinities distributed
      throughout the tropical eastern Pacific (123), eastern Pacific (23), and Mexican
      Pacific (14). Other species are known from the eastern and Indo-Pacific regions
      (18), eastern Pacific and western Atlantic oceans (2), and some are
      circumtropical (9). A new record of the Gulf Brotula Ogilbia ventralis is
      provided for the Bahia Chamela and its geographical distribution is extended to
      Mexican central Pacific. 

PMID- 26877684
TI  - The Vermetidae of the Gulf of Kachchh, western coast of India (Mollusca,
      Gastropoda).
AB  - Coral reefs are often termed underwater wonderlands due to the presence of an
      incredible biodiversity including numerous invertebrates and vertebrates. Among
      the dense population of benthic and bottom-dwelling inhabitants of the reef, many
      significant species remain hidden or neglected by researchers. One such example
      is the vermetids, a unique group of marine gastropods. The present study attempts
      for the first time to assess the density and identify preferred reef substrates
      in the Gulf of Kachchh, state of Gujarat, on the western coast of India. A total
      of three species of the family Vermetidae were recorded during the study and
      their substrate preferences identified. 

PMID- 26877686
TI  - Tsukiyamaia, a new genus of the tribe Baorini (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae,
      Hesperiinae).
AB  - Skippers of the tribe Baorini are evidently a monophyletic group in the subfamily
      Hesperiinae. In this study, a new Baorini member Tsukiyamaia albimacula gen. n.
      et sp. n. is described from north Myanmar, southwest China and north Vietnam.
      Despite its peculiar and striking wing-pattern, this new genus has some important
      characters of Baorini, such as a broad and bifid uncus and a well-developed
      gnathos. Based on an analysis of male genitalia and the molecular phylogenies
      inferred from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes (28 taxa, total aligned
      length: 2968 bp), it is proposed that the genus Tsukiyamaia is closely related to
      the genus Polytremis, which has high species diversity in China. This study not
      only describes a new skipper but also highlights that Tsukiyamaia is important in
      clarifying phylogenetic relationship of Polytremis and its allies. 

PMID- 26877685
TI  - A new monster from southwest Oregon forests: Cryptomaster behemoth sp. n.
      (Opiliones, Laniatores, Travunioidea).
AB  - The monotypic genus Cryptomaster Briggs, 1969 was described based on individuals
      from a single locality in southwestern Oregon. The described species Cryptomaster
      leviathan Briggs, 1969 was named for its large body size compared to most
      travunioid Laniatores. However, as the generic name suggests, Cryptomaster are
      notoriously difficult to find, and few subsequent collections have been recorded
      for this genus. Here, we increase sampling of Cryptomaster to 15 localities,
      extending their known range from the Coast Range northeast to the western Cascade
      Mountains of southern Oregon. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear
      DNA sequence data reveal deep phylogenetic breaks consistent with independently
      evolving lineages. We use discovery and validation species delimitation
      approaches to generate and test species hypotheses, including a coalescent
      species delimitation method to test multi-species hypotheses. For delimited
      species, we use light microscopy and SEM to discover diagnostic morphological
      characters. Although Cryptomaster has a small geographic distribution, this taxon
      is consistent with other short-range endemics in having deep phylogenetic breaks
      indicative of species level divergences. Herein we describe Cryptomaster behemoth
      sp. n., and provide morphological diagnostic characters for identifying
      Cryptomaster leviathan and Cryptomaster behemoth. 

PMID- 26877687
TI  - A new genus and species of arboreal toad with phytotelmonous larvae, from the
      Andaman Islands, India (Lissamphibia, Anura, Bufonidae).
AB  - A new bufonid amphibian, belonging to a new monotypic genus, is described from
      the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, Republic of India, based on unique
      external morphological and skeletal characters which are compared with those of
      known Oriental and other relevant bufonid genera. Blythophryne gen. n. is
      distinguished from other bufonid genera by its small adult size (mean SVL 24.02
      mm), the presence of six presacral vertebrae, an absence of coccygeal expansions,
      presence of an elongated pair of parotoid glands, expanded discs at digit tips
      and phytotelmonous tadpoles that lack oral denticles. The taxonomic and
      phylogenetic position of the new taxon (that we named as Blythophryne beryet gen.
      et sp. n.) was ascertained by comparing its 12S and 16S partial genes with those
      of Oriental and other relevant bufonid lineages. Resulting molecular phylogeny
      supports the erection of a novel monotypic genus for this lineage from the
      Andaman Islands of India. 

PMID- 26877688
TI  - A new species of Liolaemus related to L. nigroviridis from the Andean highlands
      of Central Chile (Iguania, Liolaemidae).
AB  - The Liolaemus nigroviridis group is a clade of highland lizards endemic to Chile.
      These species are distributed from northern to central Chile, and currently there
      are no cases of sympatric distribution. This study describes a new species,
      Liolaemus uniformis sp. n., from this group, and provides a detailed
      morphological characterization and mitochondrial phylogeny using cytochrome-b.
      Liolaemus uniformis was found in sympatry with Liolaemus nigroviridis but
      noticeably differed in size, scalation, and markedly in the color pattern,
      without sexual dichromatism. This new species has probably been confused with
      Liolaemus monticola and Liolaemus bellii, both of which do not belong to the
      nigroviridis group. The taxonomic issues of this group that remain uncertain are
      also discussed. 

PMID- 26877689
TI  - GPS tracking data of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls breeding at the
      southern North Sea coast.
AB  - In this data paper, Bird tracking - GPS tracking of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and
      Herring Gulls breeding at the southern North Sea coast is described, a species
      occurrence dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest
      (INBO). The dataset (version 5.5) contains close to 2.5 million occurrences,
      recorded by 101 GPS trackers mounted on 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 26
      Herring Gulls breeding at the Belgian and Dutch coast. The trackers were
      developed by the University of Amsterdam Bird Tracking System (UvA-BiTS,
      http://www.uva-bits.nl). These automatically record and transmit bird movements,
      which allows us and others to study their habitat use and migration behaviour in
      great detail. Our bird tracking network is operational since 2013. It is funded
      for LifeWatch by the Hercules Foundation and maintained in collaboration with UvA
      BiTS and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The recorded data are periodically
      released in bulk as open data (http://dataset.inbo.be/bird-tracking-gull
      occurrences), and are also accessible through CartoDB and the Global Biodiversity
      Information Facility (GBIF). 

PMID- 26877690
TI  - Multi-locus analysis supports the taxonomic validity of Arborophila gingica
      guangxiensis Fang Zhou & Aiwu Jiang, 2008.
AB  - The taxonomic status of subspecies has long been debated, especially in
      conservation biology. Some proposed subspecies must be evolutionarily distinct to
      be considered conservation units. White-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila gingica)
      comprises two subspecies, Arborophila gingica gingica and Arborophila gingica
      guangxiensis. Arborophila gingica guangxiensis, restricted to three isolated
      small areas in Guangxi, China, with limited population sizes, is a newly
      discovered subspecies based on recently identified geographic and phenotypic
      differences between Arborophila gingica gingica; however, evidence is lacking
      that can effectively identify whether the subspecies is evolutionarily distinct.
      Here, three mitochondrial DNA segments and four nuclear introns were used to test
      whether the two subspecies are reciprocally monophyletic, which has been proposed
      as an objective method to evaluate evolutionary distinctiveness. The results
      indicate that the two subspecies are genetically divergent and form reciprocal
      monophyletic groups. Therefore, this study further supports the taxonomic
      validity and distinctiveness of Arborophila gingica guangxiensis and suggests
      that this subspecies be considered as a conservation unit. 

PMID- 26877691
TI  - Depreissia decipiens, an enigmatic canopy spider from Borneo revisited (Araneae,
      Salticidae), with remarks on the distribution and diversity of canopy spiders in
      Sabah, Borneo.
AB  - Depreissia is a little known genus comprising two hymenopteran-mimicking species,
      one found in Central Africa and one in the north of Borneo. The male of
      Depreissia decipiens is redescribed, the female is described for the first time.
      The carapace is elongated, dorsally flattened and rhombus-shaped, the rear of the
      thorax laterally depressed and transformed, with a pair of deep pits; the pedicel
      is almost as long as the abdomen. The male palp is unusual, characterized by the
      transverse deeply split membranous tegulum separating a ventral part which bears
      a sclerotized tegular apophysis and a large dagger-like retrodirected median
      apophysis. The female epigyne consists of one pair of large adjacent spermathecae
      and very long copulatory ducts arising posteriorly and rising laterally alongside
      the spermathecae continuing in several vertical and horizontal coils over the
      anterior surface. Relationships within the Salticidae are discussed and an
      affinity with the Cocalodinae is suggested. Arguments are provided for a
      hypothesis that Depreissia decipiens is not ant-mimicking as was previously
      believed, but is a mimic of polistinine wasps. The species was found in the
      canopy in the Kinabalu area only, in primary and old secondary rainforest at 200
      700 m.a.s.l. Overlap of canopy-dwelling spider species with those in the
      understorey are discussed and examples of species richness and endemism in the
      canopy are highlighted. Canopy fogging is a very efficient method of collecting
      for most arthropods. The canopy fauna adds an extra dimension to the known
      biodiversity of the tropical rainforest. In southeast Asia, canopy research has
      been neglected, inhibiting evaluation of comparative results of this canopy
      project with that from other regions. More use of fogging as a collecting method
      would greatly improve insight into the actual species richness and species
      distribution in general. 

PMID- 26877692
TI  - Revision of the family Carabodidae (Acari, Oribatida) V. Fourth part. Two new
      species of the genus Congocepheus from the Republic of Rwanda: Congocepheus
      rwandensis sp. n., and Congocepheus kayoveae sp. n.
AB  - Two new species from Rwanda are described utilizing optical and scanning electron
      microscope observations: Congocepheus rwandensis sp. n. and Congocepheus kayoveae
      sp. n. are compared to Congocepheus taurus Balogh 1961. 

PMID- 26877693
TI  - Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies of streams and marshes of Indiana Dunes
      National Lakeshore, USA.
AB  - United States National Parks have protected natural communities for one hundred
      years. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) is a park unit along the southern
      boundary of Lake Michigan in Indiana, USA. An inventory of 19 sites, consisting
      of a seep, 12 streams, four marshes, a bog, and a fen were examined for mayflies
      (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera) (EPT
      taxa). Volunteers and authors collect 35 ultraviolet light traps during summer
      2013 and supplementary benthic and adult sampling added species not attracted by
      lights or that were only present in colder months. Seventy-eight EPT species were
      recovered: 12 mayflies, two stoneflies, and 64 caddisflies. The EPT richness
      found at INDU was a low proportion of the number of species known from Indiana:
      caddisflies contributed only 32.7% of known state fauna, mayflies and stoneflies
      contributed 8.4% and 2.3%, respectively. Site EPT richness ranged from one for a
      seep to 34 for an 8 m-wide stream. Richness in streams generally increased with
      stream size. Seven new state records and rare species are reported. The number of
      EPT species at INDU is slightly larger than that found at Isle Royale National
      Park in 2013, and the community composition and evenness between orders were
      different. 

PMID- 26877694
TI  - A new genus and species (Cornucollis gen. n. masoalensis sp. n.) of praying
      mantis from northern Madagascar (Mantodea, Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae).
AB  - An examination of Malagasy specimens accessed within the Museum national
      d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France, produced a praying mantis (Insecta:
      Mantodea) of an undescribed genus and species. An investigation of the internal
      and external morphology, in addition to its collection locality, revealed that
      this specimen belongs to the Iridopterygidae subfamily Tropidomantinae.
      Furthermore, the specimen's unique combination of characters justified the
      creation of a new genus. Geographic distributional records and external
      morphological character evidence are presented for Cornucollis gen. n.
      masoalensis sp. n. We provide a dichotomous key of the Tropidomantinae and
      Nilomantinae genera distributed within Madagascar. High-resolution images,
      illustrations of morphological characters, natural history information, and
      measurement data are presented. 

PMID- 26877695
TI  - Records of Hedotettix and Teredorus in Thailand with the description of three new
      species (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae).
AB  - We are studying the fungi associated with insects in northern Thailand and as a
      result several rarely collected insect species have been uncovered. The genera
      Hedotettix with one new species and Teredorus with two new species are reported
      from Thailand. Hedotettix triangularis Zha & Hyde, sp. n., Teredorus
      chiangraiensis Zha & Hyde, sp. n. and Teredorus combfemorus Zha & Hyde, sp. n.
      are introduced, described and photographed and compared with other species. Keys
      to species of Hedotettix and Teredorus from Thailand are provided. 

PMID- 26877696
TI  - Revision of the Australian species of the weevil genus Trigonopterus Fauvel.
AB  - The Australian species of the genus Trigonopterus Fauvel are revised. Eight
      previously recognized species are redescribed and 24 additional new species are
      described: Trigonopterus allaetus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus athertonensis
      Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus australinasutus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus
      australis Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus bisignatus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus
      bisinuatus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus boolbunensis Riedel, sp. n.,
      Trigonopterus cooktownensis Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus daintreensis Riedel,
      sp. n., Trigonopterus deplanatus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus finniganensis
      Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus fraterculus Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus
      garradungensis Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus hasenpuschi Riedel, sp. n.,
      Trigonopterus hartleyensis Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus kurandensis Riedel, sp.
      n., Trigonopterus lewisensis Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus montanus Riedel, sp.
      n., Trigonopterus monteithi Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus mossmanensis Riedel,
      sp. n., Trigonopterus oberprieleri Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus robertsi Riedel,
      sp. n., Trigonopterus terraereginae Riedel, sp. n., Trigonopterus yorkensis
      Riedel, sp. n.. All new species are authored by the taxonomist-in-charge,
      Alexander Riedel. Lectotypes are designated for the following names: Idotasia
      aequalis Pascoe, Idotasia albidosparsa Lea, Idotasia evanida Pascoe, Idotasia
      laeta Lea, Idotasia rostralis Lea, Idotasia sculptirostris Lea, Idotasia squamosa
      Lea. A new combination of the name Idotasia striatipennis Lea is proposed:
      Trigonopterus striatipennis (Lea), comb. n.. A key to the species is provided.
      Australian Trigonopterus occur in coastal Queensland, narrowly crossing into New
      South Wales. The southern parts of the range are inhabited by species found on
      foliage. A rich fauna of 19 edaphic species inhabiting the leaf litter of
      tropical forests is reported for the first time from the Australian Wet Tropics. 

PMID- 26877697
TI  - Overview of the genus Briareum (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae) in the Indo
      Pacific, with the description of a new species.
AB  - The status of Indo-Pacific Briareum species (Cnidaria, Octocorallia, Briareidae)
      is reviewed by presenting their sclerite features and habitus descriptions.
      Following the re-examination of type material, museum specimens and newly
      collected specimens, a species identification key is provided. The species
      distributions are discussed and updated distribution ranges are depicted.
      Moreover, a new taxon, Briareum cylindrum sp. n. is described and depicted,
      whereas Briareum excavatum (Nutting, 1911) is synonymised with Briareum stechei
      (Kukenthal, 1908). Briareum hamrum (Gohar, 1948) is recorded from the Persian
      Gulf and Oman Sea for the first time. Consequently, in total four Briareum
      species are recognized in the Indo-Pacific; Briareum hamrum from the western
      Indian Ocean, and Briareum cylindrum sp. n., Briareum stechei, and Briareum
      violaceum from the central and eastern Indo-Pacific region. 

PMID- 26877698
TI  - A new species of the genus Timalinyssus Mironov, 2001 (Acarina, Psoroptidia) with
      a key to known species.
AB  - The article describes a new species of the feather mite family Pteronyssidae
      (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from the Gray Sibia Heterophasia gracilis (McClelland)
      (Passeriformes, Leiothrichidae) in India (Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim
      village). Males of Timalinyssus wahlangi sp. n. differ from those of all
      Timalinyssus species by having the horseshoe-shaped epiandrum with a short
      anterior extension. Females of the new species differ from those of all
      previously known species of the genus in having the hysteronotal shield with deep
      lateral incisions between e2 and f2 setae. A key to all species of the genus
      Timalinyssus is presented. 

PMID- 26877699
TI  - A revision of Megalocraerus Lewis, 1902 (Coleoptera, Histeridae: Exosternini).
AB  - The formely monotypic Neotropical genus Megalocraerus Lewis is revised to include
      five species, known from southeastern Brazil to Costa Rica: Megalocraerus
      rubricatus Lewis, Megalocraerus mandibularis sp. n., Megalocraerus chico sp. n.,
      Megalocraerus madrededios sp. n., and Megalocraerus tiputini sp. n. We describe
      the species, map their distributions, and provide a key for their identification.
      Their subcylindrical body form and emarginate mesosternum have previously
      hindered placement to tribe, although their curent assignment to Exosternini now
      appears well supported by morphological evidence. Nothing is known of the natural
      history of the species. 

PMID- 26877700
TI  - A new species of Eutettix (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) from
      Wisconsin.
AB  - Eutettix latoides sp. n., is described from central Wisconsin. It most closely
      resembles the Californian species Eutettix latus Hepner, and was collected from
      Quercus ellipsoidalis. 

PMID- 26877701
TI  - First Immature of the New World Treehopper tribe Thuridini (Hemiptera,
      Membracidae, Smiliinae) with a new synonym, a new combination, and a new country
      record.
AB  - The species Thuris depressus Sakakibara (1975) is proposed as a syn. n. of Thuris
      binodosus (Goding 1926), comb. n. The distribution of the genus is expanded from
      Brazil and Peru to include Ecuador and Venezuela, and the immature is described
      based on 75 characters. 

PMID- 26877702
TI  - Descriptions of new species of the genera Sarima Melichar and Sarimodes Matsumura
      from southern China (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Issidae).
AB  - Two Issini genera, Sarima Melichar, 1903 and Sarimodes Matsumura, 1916, are
      examined. One new Sarima species: Sarima bifurcus sp. n. and two new Sarimodes
      species Sarimodes clavatus sp. n. and Sarimodes parallelus sp. n. are added from
      South China. A checklist of species in the genus Sarima with data on distribution
      is provided. The distribution and morphological peculiarities of the genera
      Sarima and Sarimodes are briefly discussed. 

PMID- 26877703
TI  - Systematic revision of the Taiwanese genus Kurixalus members with a description
      of two new endemic species (Anura, Rhacophoridae).
AB  - Two new species of rhacophorid tree frog were identified in Taiwan. In both new
      taxa, derived reproductive characteristics of laying eggs in tree holes and
      oophagous tadpoles are shared with Kurixalus eiffingeri, but they are divergent
      from each other in molecular genetics, mating calls, and tadpole and adult
      morphology. The morphological characteristics and the molecular phylogenetic
      evidence support the hypothesis that the two new species, Kurixalus berylliniris
      sp. n. and Kurixalus wangi sp. n., are both monophyletic lineages. 

PMID- 26877704
TI  - Characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions in California.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine the situational and individual
      officer characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions that result in
      fatality, injury, and non-injury outcomes. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Data on
      35,840 vehicle collisions involving law enforcement officers in California
      occurring between January 2000 and December 2009 are examined. A descriptive
      analysis of collision characteristics is presented. FINDINGS: There were 39
      officers killed by collisions over this study period and 7,684 officers who
      received some type injury. Incidents involving officers on motorcycles
      represented 39 percent of officer fatalities and 39 percent of severe injuries.
      In the case of fatalities, 33 percent of officers were reported as wearing
      seatbelts, 38 percent were not wearing a seatbelt, and seatbelt use was not
      stated in 29 percent of car fatalities. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The
      findings only represent one state and the analysis is based on an estimated 86
      percent of collisions that occurred during the study period due to missing data.
      Nonetheless, the results are based on a robust sample and address key limitations
      in the existing literature. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: During the study period in
      California the estimated financial impact of collisions reached into the hundreds
      of millions of dollars when considering related fatality, injury, and vehicle
      damage costs combined. These impacts highlight the need for the law enforcement
      community to give greater attention to this issue. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: At the time
      of this writing there was no published independent research that compares the
      situational and officer characteristics across fatality, injury, and non-injury
      outcomes in these events. The findings reported here will help inform emerging
      interest in this issue within the law enforcement, academic, and policy-making
      communities.

PMID- 26877705
TI  - Flexibility in task switching by monolinguals and bilinguals.
AB  - Many bilinguals routinely switch between their languages, yet mixed evidence
      exists about the transfer of language switching skills to broader domains that
      require attentional control such as task switching. Monolingual and bilingual
      young adults performed a nonverbal task-switching paradigm in which they viewed
      colored pictures of animals and indicated either the animal or its color in
      response to a cue. Monolinguals and bilinguals performed similarly when switching
      between tasks (local switch cost) in a mixed-task block, but bilinguals
      demonstrated a smaller mixing effect (global switch cost) than monolinguals,
      indicating better ability to reconfigure stimulus-response associations. These
      results suggest that regular practice using multiple languages confers a broader
      executive function advantage shown as improved flexibility in task switching.

PMID- 26877707
TI  - Intake and sources of dietary fatty acids in Europe: Are current population
      intakes of fats aligned with dietary recommendations?
AB  - 1The development of food-based dietary guidelines for prevention of
      cardiovascular diseases requires knowledge of the contribution of common foods to
      SFA and PUFA intake. We systematically reviewed available data from European
      countries on population intakes and dietary sources of total fat, SFA, and PUFA.
      Data from national dietary surveys or population studies published >1995 were
      searched through Medline, Web of Science, and websites of national public health
      institutes. Mean population intakes were compared with FAO/WHO dietary
      recommendations, and contributions of major food groups to overall intakes of fat
      and fatty acids were calculated. Fatty acid intake data from 24 European
      countries were included. Reported mean intakes ranged from 28.5 to 46.2% of total
      energy (%E) for total fat, from 8.9 to 15.5%E for SFA, from 3.9 to 11.3%E for
      PUFA. The mean intakes met the recommendation for total fat (20-35%E) in 15
      countries, and for SFA (<10%E) in two countries, and for PUFA (6-11%E) in 15 of
      the 24 countries. The main three dietary sources of total fat and SFA were dairy,
      added fats and oils, and meat and meat products. The majority of PUFA in the diet
      was provided by added fats and oils, followed by cereals and cereal products, and
      meat and meat products. Practical applications: While many European countries
      meet the recommended intake levels for total fat and PUFA, a large majority of
      European population exceeds the widely recommended maximum 10%E for SFA. In
      particular animal based products, such as dairy, animal fats, and fatty meat
      contribute to SFA intake. Adhering to food-based dietary guidelines for
      prevention of CHD and other chronic diseases in Europe, including eating less
      fatty meats, low-fat instead of full-fat dairy, and more vegetable fats and oils
      will help to reduce SFA intake and at the same time increase PUFA intake. In
      European countries, SFA intakes are generally higher than the recommended <10%E
      and PUFA intakes lower than the recommended 6-11%E. Adhering to food-based
      dietary guidelines for prevention of CHD and other chronic diseases including
      eating leaner variants of meat and dairy, and more vegetable fats and oils will
      help to decrease SFA intake and increase PUFA intake.

PMID- 26877706
TI  - Palladium-Catalyzed Directed C(sp3)-H Arylation of Saturated Heterocycles at C-3
      Using a Concise Optimization Approach.
AB  - Saturated heterocycles, such as THFs, pyrrolidines, piperidines and THPs, are
      essential components of many biologically active compounds. Examples of C-H
      functionalization on these important ring systems remain scarce, especially at
      unactivated positions. Here we report the development of conditions for the
      palladium-catalyzed stereoselective C(sp3)-H arylation at unactivated 3-positions
      of 5- and 6-membered N- and O-heterocycles with aminoquinoline directing groups.
      Subtle differences in substrate structures altered their reactivity
      significantly; and different conditions were required to achieve high yields in
      each case. Successful conditions were developed using a short empirical
      optimization approach to cover reaction space with a limited set of variables.
      Excellent cis-selectivity was achieved in all cases, except for the THP substrate
      where minor trans-products were formed through a different palladacyclic
      intermediate. Here, differences in reactivity and selectivity with other
      directing groups were examined.

PMID- 26877708
TI  - Predictors of dietary change among those who successfully lost weight in phase I
      of the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial.
AB  - AIM: Dietary changes occurring during weight loss interventions can vary. The
      present study tested if pretreatment psychosocial, dietary and demographic
      factors were associated with changes in fat intake and fruit and vegetable intake
      during a weight loss intervention. METHODS: This analysis includes participants
      who lost at least four kilograms during the initial six month weight loss phase
      (phase I) of the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial, a group format behavioural
      intervention emphasising a low-fat diet and increased physical activity. Multiple
      linear regression was used to determine associations between pretreatment
      psychosocial, dietary, physical activity, and demographic variables and changes
      from pretreatment to six months in fat intake and fruit and vegetable intake.
      RESULTS: Participants (n = 1032) were 63.4% female, 62.4% non-African American,
      and had a mean age of 55.6 and BMI of 34.1 kg/m2. Being African American (P <
      0.0001) and higher baseline kilojoule intake (P < 0.01) were associated with
      smaller reductions in fat intake. Being African American (p < 0.001) and older
      age (P = 0.02) were associated with smaller increases in fruit and vegetable
      intake, whereas a history of 10 or more past weight loss episodes of at least 10
      lb (4.5 kg; P < 0.01) was associated with greater increases. CONCLUSIONS: Few
      psychosocial factors examined contributed to variability in dietary change. Even
      when achieving meaningful weight losses during a behavioural weight loss
      intervention, African Americans may make fewer beneficial changes in fat and
      fruit and vegetable intake than non-African Americans.

PMID- 26877709
TI  - Heat shock protein 27 downstream of P38-PI3K/Akt signaling antagonizes melatonin
      induced apoptosis of SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that melatonin treatment shows some promise in
      gastric cancer, the molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer cells in response to
      melatonin remains to be determined. METHODS: The SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells
      were treated with different concentrations of melatonin for 24 and 48 h. Cell
      viability was determined by MTT assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and FACS analysis
      were used to detect apoptotic cells. The contents and activation of apoptosis
      related proteins HSP27, Akt and P38 were evaluated by immunoblotting analysis.
      Then we treated SGC-7901 cells with HSP27-specific siRNA, PI3K inhibitor LY294002
      or P38 inhibitor SB203580 to investigate the role of HSP27, Akt and P38 in the
      anti-apoptotic response of SGC-7901 cells to melatonin. RESULTS: Melatonin
      suppressed cell viability and stimulated apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901
      cells dose-dependently. Mechanistically, the observed apoptosis was accompanied
      by the melatonin-induced phosphorylation of HSP27. HSP27-specific siRNA
      transfection effectively reduced HSP27 phosphorylation and augmented melatonin
      induced apoptosis, indicating that HSP27 is resistant to melatonin-induced
      apoptosis. Moreover, melatonin increased PI3K/Akt activation, LY294002 abrogated
      HSP27 activation and promoted cell apoptosis induced by melatonin. Furthermore,
      melatonin increased P38 activity, and P38 inhibitor SB203580 inhibited melatonin
      induced PI3K/Akt, HSP27 activation and accelerated cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: In
      contrast to the well-established anti-cancer properties of melatonin, our study
      revealed clearly a distinguishable anti-apoptotic pathway induced by melatonin,
      that is, HSP27 plays a crucial role in apoptotic resistance in melatonin-treated
      gastric cancer cells, and its activation is most likely via the activation of
      P38/PI3K/Akt signaling.

PMID- 26877710
TI  - Antibiotics inhibit sphere-forming ability in suspension culture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This last decade, a lot of emphasis has been placed on developing new
      cancer cell culture models, closer to in vivo condition, in order to test new
      drugs and therapies. In the case of colorectal cancer, the use of patient
      biopsies to seed 3D primary cultures and mimic tumor initiation necessitates the
      use of antibiotics to prevent microbial intestinal contamination. However, not
      only long term use of antibiotics may mask the presence of low levels of
      microbial contamination, it may also impact cancer cell phenotype. METHODS: In
      this study we tested the impact of penicillin-streptomycin cocktail addition in
      both monolayer and suspension culture. To ensure the reliability of our
      observations we used six different cell lines and each experiment was performed
      in triplicate. Results were analyzed with Student's t test. RESULTS: We show that
      penicillin-streptomycin cocktail inhibits the sphere-forming ability of six
      cancer cell lines in suspension culture though it has no impact in monolayer
      culture. We correlate this effect with a significant decrease of cancer stem
      cells pool which holds self-renewal potential. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study
      warns against systematic addition of antibiotics in growth medium and raises the
      interesting possibility of using antibiotics to target cancer stem cells.

PMID- 26877712
TI  - A BioBrickTM-Compatible Vector for Allelic Replacement Using the XylE Gene as
      Selection Marker.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Circular plasmid-mediated homologous recombination is commonly used
      for marker-less allelic replacement, exploiting the endogenous recombination
      machinery of the host. Common limitations of existing methods include high false
      positive rates due to mutations in counter-selection genes, and limited
      applicability to specific strains or growth media. Finally, solutions compatible
      with physical standards, such as the BioBrickTM, are not currently available,
      although they proved to be successful in the design of other replicative or
      integrative plasmids. FINDINGS: We illustrate pBBknock, a novel BioBrickTM
      compatible vector for allelic replacement in Escherichia coli. It includes a
      temperature-sensitive replication origin and enables marker-less genome
      engineering via two homologous recombination events. Chloramphenicol resistance
      allows positive selection of clones after the first event, whereas a colorimetric
      assay based on the xylE gene provides a simple way to screen clones in which the
      second recombination event occurs. Here we successfully use pBBknock to delete
      the lactate dehydrogenase gene in E. coli W, a popular host used in metabolic
      engineering. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other plasmid-based solutions, pBBknock
      has a broader application range, not being limited to specific strains or media.
      We expect that pBBknock will represent a versatile solution both for
      practitioners, also among the iGEM competition teams, and for research
      laboratories that use BioBrickTM-based assembly procedures.

PMID- 26877713
TI  - Work environment facilitators to the availability of complementary and
      alternative therapies in perinatal hospices.
AB  - Increasingly, patients and clinicians are considering palliative care
      interventions during pregnancy for the maternal-fetal dyad, when a life-limiting
      diagnosis is confirmed. Nurses are at the forefront of providing hospice and
      palliative care that includes planning interventions for infants nearing the end
      of life. However, little is known about the work environment facilitators to the
      availability of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Using a
      national database of perinatal hospice and palliative care providers, we
      described the types of CAM therapies available and explored the influence of the
      nurse work environment on the availability of CAM therapies with multivariate
      regression analysis. This study showed that having an education environment where
      clinicians are trained, along with a highly educated RN support staff, and a BSN
      educated staff were critical to the availability of CAM therapies. The clinical
      implications for hospice and palliative nurses caring for infants and their
      families were discussed.

PMID- 26877711
TI  - Effects of the lifestyle habits in breast cancer transcriptional regulation.
AB  - Through research carried out in the last 25 years about the breast cancer
      etiology, it has been possible to estimate that less than 10 % of patients who
      are diagnosed with the condition are carriers of some germline or somatic
      mutation. The clinical reports of breast cancer patients with healthy twins and
      the development of disease in women without high penetrance mutations detected,
      warn the participation more factors in the transformation process. The high
      incidence of mammary adenocarcinoma in the modern woman and the urgent need for
      new methods of prevention and early detection have demanded more information
      about the role that environment and lifestyle have on the transformation of
      mammary gland epithelial cells. Obesity, alcoholism and smoking are factors that
      have shown a close correlation with the risk of developing breast cancer. And
      although these conditions affect different cell regulation levels, the study of
      its effects in the mechanisms of transcriptional and epigenetic regulation is
      considered critical for a better understanding of the loss of identity of
      epithelial cells during carcinogenesis of this tissue. The main objective of this
      review was to establish the importance of changes occurring to transcriptional
      level in the mammary gland as a consequence of acute or chronic exposure to
      harmful products such as obesity-causing foods, ethanol and cigarette smoke
      components. At analyze the main studies related to topic, it has concluded that
      the understanding of effects caused by the lifestyle factors in performance of
      the transcriptional mechanisms that determine gene expression of the mammary
      gland epithelial cells, may help explain the development of this disease in women
      without genetic propensity and different phenotypic manifestations of this cancer
      type. 

PMID- 26877714
TI  - CDC MessageWorks: Designing and Validating a Social Marketing Tool to Craft and
      Defend Effective Messages.
AB  - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Cancer Prevention
      and Control, in partnership with Oak Ridge Associated Universities, designed an
      online social marketing strategy tool, MessageWorks, to help health communicators
      effectively formulate messages aimed at changing health behaviors and evaluate
      message tactics and audience characteristics. MessageWorks is based on the
      advisor for risk communication model that identifies 10 variables that can be
      used to predict target audience intentions to comply with health recommendations.
      This article discusses the value of the MessageWorks tool to health communicators
      and to the field of social marketing by (1) describing the scientific evidence
      supporting use of MessageWorks to improve health communication practice and (2)
      summarizing how to use MessageWorks and interpret the results it produces.

PMID- 26877715
TI  - Nursing Perceptions of Clinical Research in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine perceptions of clinical research in the NICU. DESIGN:
      Survey study. SAMPLE: Nurses (n=68) employed in a level III NICU in the
      midwestern United States. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Cross-sectional analysis of
      responses to a survey exploring perceptions of clinical research. RESULTS: Ninety
      seven percent of nurses (n=66) agree that clinical research is important for
      improving care, while 57% (n=39) report that it affects their day positively.
      Thirty-seven percent reported excellent communication between clinical and
      research teams. In addition, 27% (n=18) of nurses reported research presents
      complications for families, and 79% (n=54) reported that it is acceptable to
      cease a research protocol for infant benefit. Years of practice and whether
      nurses read research affected various responses. CONCLUSION: Clinical research is
      imperative to inform best practice, and nurses are an integral part of care.
      Therefore, it is essential to better define strategies to bridge the gap between
      clinical and research teams.

PMID- 26877716
TI  - Parenting Practices and Child Misbehavior: A Mixed Method Study of Italian
      Mothers and Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study uses a mixed qualitative and quantitative method to
      examine three main research questions: What are the practices that mothers report
      they use when trying to correct their children's misbehaviors? Are there common
      patterns of these practices? Are the patterns that emerge related to children's
      well-being? DESIGN: Italian mother-child dyads (N=103) participated in the study
      (when children were 8 years of age). At Time 1 (T1), mothers answered open-ended
      questions about discipline; in addition, measures of maternal physical discipline
      and rejection and child aggression were assessed in mothers and children at T1,
      one year later (T2), and two years later (T3). RESULTS: Mothers' answers to open
      ended questions about what they would do in three disciplinary situations were
      classified in six categories: physical or psychological punishment, control, mix
      of force and reasoning, reasoning, listening, and permissiveness. Cluster
      analysis yielded 3 clusters: Group 1, Induction (predominant use of reasoning and
      listening; 74%); Group 2, Punishment (punitive practices and no reasoning; 16%);
      Group 3, Mixed practices (combination of reasoning and punishment, as well as
      high control and no listening; 10%). Multiple-group latent growth curves of
      maternal physical discipline, maternal rejection, and child aggression were
      implemented to evaluate possible differences in the developmental trends from T1
      to T3, as a function of cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative data deepen
      understanding of parenting because they shed light on what parents think about
      themselves; their self-descriptions, in turn, help to identify ways of parenting
      that may have long-lasting consequences for children's adjustment.

PMID- 26877717
TI  - Ebb and Flow in Parent-Child Interactions: Shifts from Early through Middle
      Childhood.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study documents the strength of relations between key parent and
      child behaviors as they occur during typical encounters for both mothers and
      fathers and determines whether there were shifts in the strength of relations
      between parent and child behaviors during early and middle childhood. DESIGN:
      Multivariate multi-level modeling was used to examine associations between three
      parent behaviors (respect for autonomy, stimulation of development, hostility)
      and two child behaviors (agency, negativity) as they occurred in typical parent
      child activities at four time points from 54 months through 5th grade for 817
      families. RESULTS: For mothers and fathers, respect for autonomy and stimulation
      were associated with child agency. Paternal hostility was negatively associated
      with child agency, but for mothers the relation became more positive with age.
      Parental respect for autonomy and hostility were associated with child negativity
      for both mothers and fathers; however, for mothers, relations between autonomy
      support and child negativity became more positive, and relations between
      hostility and child negativity became less positive. CONCLUSIONS: There are clear
      shifts in the strength of relations between some parenting behaviors and child
      behaviors from early to middle childhood, indicative of a changing dialectic as
      children become more independent and different dialectics for mothers and
      fathers. Parenting behavior links to child competence and adaptive behavior, and
      the findings may help resolve some uncertainties about relations between parental
      behavior and children's developmental trajectories.

PMID- 26877718
TI  - MEAN-FIELD THEORY AND COMPUTATION OF ELECTROSTATICS WITH IONIC CONCENTRATION
      DEPENDENT DIELECTRICS.
AB  - We construct a mean-field variational model to study how the dependence of
      dielectric coefficient (i.e., relative permittivity) on local ionic
      concentrations affects the electrostatic interaction in an ionic solution near a
      charged surface. The electrostatic free-energy functional of ionic
      concentrations, which is the key object in our model, consists mainly of the
      electrostatic potential energy and the ionic ideal-gas entropy. The electrostatic
      potential is determined by Poisson's equation in which the dielectric coefficient
      depends on the sum of concentrations of individual ionic species. This dependence
      is assumed to be qualitatively the same as that on the salt concentration for
      which experimental data are available and analytical forms can be obtained by the
      data fitting. We derive the first and second variations of the free-energy
      functional, obtain the generalized Boltzmann distributions, and show that the
      free-energy functional is in general nonconvex. To validate our mathematical
      analysis, we numerically minimize our electrostatic free-energy functional for a
      radially symmetric charged system. Our extensive computations reveal several
      features that are significantly different from a system modeled with a dielectric
      coefficient independent of ionic concentration. These include the non
      monotonicity of ionic concentrations, the ionic depletion near a charged surface
      that has been previously predicted by a one-dimensional model, and the
      enhancement of such depletion due to the increase of surface charges or bulk
      ionic concentrations.

PMID- 26877719
TI  - Teams Do It Better!
AB  - I propose that interdisciplinarity and respectful team science become the norm
      for studying human development. This is not as simple a wish as it may seem
      because we tend to be trained in a single discipline. We tend to know much less
      about the theory, methods and findings of other disciplines. We often respect
      them less and minimize their contributions. It is now abundantly clear, however,
      that humans develop on multiple levels. Human development occurs from neurons to
      neighborhoods, cells to societies, and genes to geography. It is fundamentally
      evident that every level influences the others and all combine to constitute
      human development. While we may specialize, certainly a reasonable personal
      choice, it is critical to recognize and respect the contributions of other
      disciplines to the study of human development. This may best be achieved by
      recognizing the contributions of other disciplines and working in
      multidisciplinary teams.

PMID- 26877720
TI  - Extremotolerant fungi from alpine rock lichens and their phylogenetic
      relationships.
AB  - Fungi other than the lichen mycobiont frequently co-occur within lichen thalli
      and on the same rock in harsh environments. In these situations dark-pigmented
      mycelial structures are commonly observed on lichen thalli, where they persist
      under the same stressful conditions as their hosts. Here we used a comprehensive
      sampling of lichen-associated fungi from an alpine habitat to assess their
      phylogenetic relationships with fungi previously known from other niches. The
      multilocus phylogenetic analyses suggest that most of the 248 isolates belong to
      the Chaetothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes, while a minor fraction represents
      Sordariomycetes and Leotiomycetes. As many lichens also were infected by
      phenotypically distinct lichenicolous fungi of diverse lineages, it remains
      difficult to assess whether the culture isolates represent these fungi or are
      from additional cryptic, extremotolerant fungi within the thalli. Some of these
      strains represent yet undescribed lineages within Chaethothyriomycetes and
      Dothideomycetes, whereas other strains belong to genera of fungi, that are known
      as lichen colonizers, plant and human pathogens, rock-inhabiting fungi, parasites
      and saprotrophs. The symbiotic structures of the lichen thalli appear to be a
      shared habitat of phylogenetically diverse stress-tolerant fungi, which
      potentially benefit from the lichen niche in otherwise hostile habitats.

PMID- 26877721
TI  - Topology and temperature dependence of the diffuse X-ray scattering in
      Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 ferroelectric single crystals.
AB  - The results of high-resolution measurements of the diffuse X-ray scattering
      produced by a perovskite-based Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 ferroelectric single crystal
      between 40 and 620 K are reported. The study was designed as an attempt to
      resolve numerous controversies regarding the average structure of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3,
      such as the mechanism of the phase transitions between the tetragonal, P4bm, and
      rhombohedral | monoclinic, R3c | Cc, space groups and the correlation between
      structural changes and macroscopic physical properties. The starting point was to
      search for any transformations of structural disorder in the temperature range of
      thermal depoling (420-480 K), where the average structure is known to remain
      unchanged. The intensity distribution around the {032} pseudocubic reflection was
      collected using a PILATUS 100K detector at the I16 beamline of the Diamond Light
      Source (UK). The data revealed previously unknown features of the diffuse
      scattering, including a system of dual asymmetric L-shaped diffuse scattering
      streaks. The topology, temperature dependence, and relationship between Bragg and
      diffuse intensities suggest the presence of complex microstructure in the low
      temperature R3c | Cc phase. This microstructure may be formed by the persistence
      of the higher-temperature P4bm phase, built into a lower-temperature R3c | Cc
      matrix, accompanied by the related long-range strain fields. Finally, it is shown
      that a correlation between the temperature dependence of the X-ray scattering
      features and the temperature regime of thermal depoling is present.

PMID- 26877722
TI  - The creation of a superstitious belief regarding putters in a laboratory-based
      golfing task.
AB  - The objective was to determine the extent to which it was possible to induce
      superstitious behaviour and beliefs in a golf putting task in a laboratory.
      Participants (N = 28) took part in a putting task using three identical clubs in
      which visual feedback regarding performance was restricted. Participants were
      provided with verbal feedback of their performance, which was honest when they
      used one putter, negative with a second putter (they did better than they were
      told) and positive with a third (they did worse than they were told). After this
      initial acquisition phase, a competition was announced and participants were
      asked to select a putter they would like to use. The participants were then asked
      to rate various qualities of the putters. Significantly more participants
      selected the "positive" putter for the competition (N = 22) compared to the
      "negative" putter (N = 1), p < .001. In addition, participants claimed that the
      positive putter had a better weight, was more comfortable and easier to use than
      the negative putter (all p < .001). Overall, this evidence can be taken to show
      that a superstitious belief can be formed in a short amount of time within a
      laboratory setting and that it can affect both the perceptions and choices of an
      individual.

PMID- 26877724
TI  - Relationship between digital information and thermodynamic stability in bacterial
      genomes.
AB  - Ever since the introduction of the Watson-Crick model, numerous efforts have been
      made to fully characterize the digital information content of the DNA. However,
      it became increasingly evident that variations of DNA configuration also provide
      an "analog" type of information related to the physicochemical properties of the
      DNA, such as thermodynamic stability and supercoiling. Hence, the parallel
      investigation of the digital information contained in the base sequence with
      associated analog parameters is very important for understanding the coding
      capacity of the DNA. In this paper, we represented analog information by its
      thermodynamic stability and compare it with digital information using Shannon and
      Gibbs entropy measures on the complete genome sequences of several bacteria,
      including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis),
      Streptomyces coelicolor (S. coelicolor), and Salmonella typhimurium (S.
      typhimurium). Furthermore, the link to the broader classes of functional gene
      groups (anabolic and catabolic) is examined. Obtained results demonstrate the
      couplings between thermodynamic stability and digital sequence organization in
      the bacterial genomes. In addition, our data suggest a determinative role of the
      genome-wide distribution of DNA thermodynamic stability in the spatial
      organization of functional gene groups.

PMID- 26877723
TI  - Prospects and Pits on the Path of Biomimetics: The case of tooth enamel.
AB  - This review presents a discourse on challenges in understanding and imitating the
      process of amelogenesis in vitro on the molecular scale. In light of the analysis
      of imitation of the growth of dental enamel, it also impends on the prospects and
      potential drawbacks of the biomimetic approach in general. As the formation of
      enamel proceeds with the protein matrix guiding the crystal growth, while at the
      same time conducting its own degradation and removal, it is argued that three
      aspects of amelogenesis need to be induced in parallel: a) crystal growth; b)
      protein assembly; c) proteolytic degradation. A particular emphasis is therefore
      placed on ensuring conditions for proteolysis-coupled protein-guided
      crystallization to occur. Discussed are structural and functional properties of
      the protein species involved in amelogenesis, mainly amelogenin and enamelysin,
      the main protein and the protease of the developing enamel matrix, respectively.
      A model of enamel growth based on controlled delivery of constituent ions or
      crystalline or amorphous building blocks by means of amelogenin is proposed. The
      importance of high viscosity of the enamel matrix and a more intricate role that
      water may play in such a gelatinous medium are also touched upon. The tendency of
      amelogenin to self-assemble into fibrous and rod-shaped morphologies is
      considered as potentially important in explaining the formation of elongated
      apatite crystals. The idea that a preassembling protein matrix serves as a
      template for the uniaxial growth of apatite crystals in enamel is finally
      challenged with the one based on co-assembly of the protein and the mineral
      phases.

PMID- 26877725
TI  - Post-vaccination myositis and myocarditis in a previously healthy male.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The immunological literature has been redefining clinical phenomena
      as hypotheses emerge regarding causal links between triggers, immunologic
      manifestations, and their specific inflammatory cascades. Of late, autoimmune
      manifestations that appear to be caused by an external adjuvant have been grouped
      into a complex syndrome referred to as autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced
      by adjuvants (ASIA). This syndrome may present with diverse clinical problems,
      which may include neurocognitive impairment, inflammatory musculoskeletal
      changes, and constitutional symptoms. There is evidence in the literature linking
      vaccines to different auto-immune manifestations. Vaccines have not traditionally
      been reported to trigger ASIA, although reports are emerging linking the human
      papilloma virus and hepatitis B vaccines to it. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the
      first suspected case of ASIA in a previously healthy patient who received the
      Fluad seasonal influenza vaccine, which contains the MF59 adjuvant. He presented
      to hospital with profound weakness and was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis.
      He also had elevated troponin-I and extensive cardiac investigations enabled the
      diagnosis of myocarditis. His infectious and rheumatologic work-ups were
      negative. He responded well to conservative management and did not require immune
      suppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: Given the benefits of the influenza vaccine, and
      the low incidence of clinically significant complications, we encourage ongoing
      seasonal influenza immunization. However, ongoing surveillance is required to
      evaluate the occurrence of rare adverse events, including ASIA.

PMID- 26877726
TI  - Flexural Strength of Cold and Heat Cure Acrylic Resins Reinforced with Different
      Materials.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Heat-polymerized acrylic resin has been the most commonly used
      denture base material for over 60 years. However, the mechanical strength of
      acrylic resin is not adequate for long-term clinical performance of dentures.
      Consequently, fracture is a common clinical occurrence, which often develops in
      the midline of the denture base. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of
      cold-cure and heat-cure acrylic resins, reinforced with glass fibers,
      polyethylene fibers, and metal wire for denture base repair. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Ninety specimens were prepared and allocated to nine groups. Ten
      specimens were considered as controls, and 80 were divided into 8 experimental
      groups. In the experimental groups, the specimens were sectioned into two halves
      from the middle, and were then divided into two main groups: one group was
      repaired with heat cure acrylic resin, and the other with cold cure acrylic
      resin. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups: unreinforced, reinforced with
      glass fibers, polyethylene fibers, and metal wire. All specimens were subjected
      to a 3-point bending test, and the flexural strength was calculated. RESULTS: The
      group repaired with heat cure acrylic resin and reinforced with glass fiber
      showed the highest flexural strength; however, the group repaired with cold cure
      acrylic resin and reinforced with polyethylene fibers had the lowest flexural
      strength. There was no significant difference between the groups repaired with
      heat cure and cold cure acrylic resins without reinforcement. CONCLUSION:
      Repairing denture base with heat cure acrylic resin, reinforced with glass fibers
      increases the flexural strength of denture base.

PMID- 26877727
TI  - Comparison of Radiography, Laser Fluorescence and Visual Examination for
      Diagnosing Incipient Occlusal Caries of Permanent First Molars.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Early diagnosis of incipient and non-cavitated carious lesions is
      crucial for performing preventive treatments. The aim of this study was to
      compare the efficacy of three diagnostic methods of bitewing radiography,
      DIAGNOdent, and visual examination in diagnosing incipient occlusal caries of
      permanent first molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this diagnostic cross-sectional
      study, 109 permanent first molar teeth of 31 patients aged 7-13 years were
      examined visually, on bitewing radiographs, and using DIAGNOdent. Scoring of
      visual and radiographic examinations was based on Ekstrand's classification.
      Visual examination after pit and fissure opening served as the gold standard.
      Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to define the best cutoff
      point for DIAGNOdent compared with the gold standard. Inter-examiner
      reproducibility of visual and radiographic examinations was assessed using Kappa
      test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for DIAGNOdent
      values. RESULTS: The sensitivity of detecting caries that had extended into the
      enamel was 81.4%, 86.3%, and 81.4% for visual examination, DIAGNOdent and
      radiography, respectively. Moreover, the specificity was 100%, 71.4%, and 100%
      for visual observation, DIAGNOdent and radiography, respectively in the enamel.
      The Kappa index for inter-examiner reliability was 0.7 and 0.8 for visual
      examination and radiography, respectively. The ICC was 0.98 for the values read
      by DIAGNOdent. CONCLUSION: Visual examination is the first choice for diagnosis
      of incipient caries. In suspicious cases, radiography and laser DIAGNOdent can be
      used as adjunct procedures.

PMID- 26877728
TI  - Does Smoking Hamper Oral Self-Care Among Dental Professionals?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Smoking may impact oral self-care (OSC). This study aimed to analyze
      the role of smoking in OSC among Iranian dental health professionals. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The cross-sectional data were collected at two annual dental
      meetings and seven randomly selected dental schools in Iran. A total of 1,459
      respondents composed of 967 general dental practitioners (GDPs), 229 dental
      educators (DE), and 263 senior dental students (DS) anonymously completed a self
      administered questionnaire inquiring about smoking status and OSC. RESULTS:
      Thirty percent of the male and 12% of the female dental health professionals
      reported smoking tobacco. There was no difference between their professional
      status. Women reported better OSC than did men, but only 26% of the women and 17%
      of the men followed the three most important recommendations for OSC. Smoking was
      associated with infrequent tooth brushing and flossing, irregular use of fluoride
      containing toothpaste, consumption of sugary snacks and weak adherence to the
      recommended OSC guidelines. CONCLUSION: Dental health education should place more
      emphasis on smoking counseling and cessation among dental health professionals.

PMID- 26877729
TI  - Level of Oxidative Stress Markers in Peri-Implant Crevicular Fluid and Their
      Correlation with Clinical Parameters.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Increased levels of oxidative stress markers in periodontitis have
      been reported by recent studies. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) are both increased during oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to
      detect and measure the level of oxidative stress markers in peri-implant
      crevicular fluid (PICF). Their correlation with peri-implant clinical parameters
      was investigated as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PICF samples of 50 dental
      implants were collected in 31 patients. Peri-implant clinical parameters
      including probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival index (GI) and bleeding on probing
      (BOP) were recorded. Levels of oxidative stress markers including MDA, SOD and
      total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in PICF were determined. RESULTS: Twenty four
      implants showed signs of inflammation and 26 implants had healthy peri-implant
      tissues. MDA and TAC were detected in all samples, but SOD was not detected
      around 31 implants. The differences between the two groups with respect to the
      levels of MDA, TAC and SOD in PICF were not statistically significant (P> 0.05).
      In addition, significant correlations were observed between PPD and TAC and MDA
      level (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Significant correlations exist between PPD and level
      of MDA and TAC. Moreover, level of oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD and TAC) in
      PICF does not significantly change in peri-implantitis compared to healthy
      implants. Measuring these markers in PICF does not seem to be helpful for
      discrimination of peri-implant health and disease status.

PMID- 26877730
TI  - Cementogenesis in Patients with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the cementum thickness in the
      first molars of patients with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) compared
      to healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study compared
      eight first molar teeth affected by LAP with eight third molar teeth of healthy
      individuals. The teeth were disinfected by immersion in 10% buffered formalin
      solution for three days and were then sectioned. External mesial root surfaces
      (middle one-third) were evaluated under a stereomicroscope by a blinded
      pathologist to determine the mean thickness of cementum. SPSS software (version
      16.0) and t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Histological
      examination revealed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of
      the amount of cementogenesis (P<0.001) .The thickness of cementum was higher in
      the control group (105.16+/-11.5 MUm) than in LAP patients (86.44+/-7.3 MUm).
      CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the presence of cementum hypoplasia in mesial
      root surfaces of first molars affected by LAP.

PMID- 26877731
TI  - Cytotoxic Effects and Osteogenic Activity of Calcium Sulfate with and without
      Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 and Nano-Hydroxyapatite Adjacent
      to MG-63 Cell Line.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effects and
      osteogenic activity of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP2) and
      nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) adjacent to MG-63 cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To
      assess cytotoxicity, the 4,5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide
      (MTT) assay was used. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteogenic activity
      were evaluated using Alizarin red and the von Kossa staining and analyzed by one
      way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: The n-HA/calcium sulfate
      (CS) mixture significantly promoted cell growth in comparison to pure CS.
      Moreover, addition of rhBMP2 to CS (P=0.02) and also mixing CS with n-HA led to
      further increase in extracellular calcium production and ALP activity (P=0.03).
      CONCLUSION: This in vitro study indicates that a scaffold material in combination
      with an osteoinductive material is effective for bone matrix formation.

PMID- 26877733
TI  - Childhood Oral Lichen Planus: Report of Two Cases.
AB  - Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease widely recognized in
      adults, but uncommon in children. The purpose of this paper is to report two
      cases of LP in children. The diagnosis was made based on clinical and
      histopathological findings. The treatment consisted of antifungal and
      multivitamin therapy. Regression of lesions was observed. The patients are still
      under follow-up. Although LP is uncommon in children, it is necessary to have
      adequate knowledge about this condition for proper diagnosis and treatment. 

PMID- 26877732
TI  - A Nanocomposite Shield Constructed for Protection Against the Harmful Effects of
      Dental X-Rays.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare a number of new nano-composites capable
      of protecting the jaw from ionizing radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four
      different types of nano-powders [Ti, Zr (IV) oxide, Ag and Co] were mixed in a
      polymer matrix to create nano-composites with doping values of 8% in weight.
      Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis was performed using a HECUSSAXS
      system with 50 kV- 50 mA. Co nano-composites (Co-pnm) yielded the most promising
      values of the four nanocomposites tested in terms of X-ray absorption. Thus, 4*2
      cm Co-pnm samples of different thicknesses (0.20, 0.50, 0.57 and 0.60 cm) were
      prepared, and SAXS analysis was performed in order to assess the effects of
      material thickness on xray absorption. An experimental multi part shield was
      constructed from Co-pnm around tooth #36 to test the effect of nanomaterial on
      the image quality under X-ray beam. RESULTS: Logarithmic distributions of the
      transmitted intensity values (I) showed that 0.20 cm Co-pnm had the highest
      transmission value (16.05) followed by 0.50 cm Co-pnm (15.44), 0.57 cm Co-pnm
      (15.07) and 0.60 cm Co-pnm (15.06). The 0.2 cm Co-pnm had an effective radius of
      the nano-aggregation value (77.44 A) lower than that of the other thicknesses
      (0.50, 0.57 and 0.60 cm) of Co-pnm, which had similar values ranging from 66.22
      to 66.34 A. The 0.50 cm Co-pnm had the lowest Dmax value of the different
      thicknesses of Co-pnm tested. CONCLUSION: Co nanocomposite can be used as a
      protection shield for the harmful effects of dental X-ray.

PMID- 26877734
TI  - Multiple Developmental Dental Anomalies in a Non-Syndromic Patient: Report of a
      Rare Simultaneous Occurrence.
AB  - A case of multiple pulp stones, a supernumerary tooth and a congenitally missing
      tooth accompanied by several developmental dental anomalies concurrently
      affecting the upper and lower anterior teeth in an Iranian healthy girl is
      reported. Developmental tooth abnormalities are usually found in conjunction with
      certain diseases or conditions. In the present case, although the patient had
      consanguineous parents and the role of genetics should be considered particularly
      for autosomal recessive traits, based on the child's family and medical history,
      no correlation could be established between dental findings and systemic or
      metabolic diseases. 

PMID- 26877735
TI  - Clinical Course and Treatment of a Triplication Defect: A Case Report.
AB  - Fusion is an anomaly manifested in both deciduous and permanent dentitions.
      Fusion of dental tissues in the primary dentition is of clinical significance
      owing to the challenges in treatment of the affected teeth and aberrations
      encountered in development and eruption of their successors. Triple tooth refers
      to the union of three separate tooth entities. It can occur by fusion,
      germination, concrescence or a combination of both fusion and germination.
      Triplication is rarely encountered in the deciduous dentition. The case presented
      herein describes triplication of deciduous incisors and a supernumerary tooth.
      The diagnosis was confirmed with the help of radiographs, computed tomography
      (CT) imaging and histological examination. Retention of the triple tooth had led
      to crossbite. Extraction was performed for the triple tooth and crossbite was
      corrected using a composite inclined plane. 

PMID- 26877736
TI  - Ex Vivo Comparison of Mtwo and RaCe Rotary File Systems in Root Canal Deviation:
      One File Only versus the Conventional Method.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cleaning and shaping of the root canal system is an important step in
      endodontic therapy. New instruments incorporate new preparation techniques that
      can improve the efficacy of cleaning and shaping. The aim of this study was to
      compare the efficacy of Mtwo and RaCe rotary file systems in straightening the
      canal curvature using only one file or the conventional method. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Sixty mesial roots of extracted human mandibular molars were prepared by
      RaCe and Mtwo nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary files using the conventional and only
      one rotary file methods. The working length was 18 mm and the curvatures of the
      root canals were between 15-45 degrees . By superimposing x-ray images before and
      after the instrumentation, deviation of the canals was assessed using Adobe
      Photoshop CS3 software. Preparation time was recorded. Data were analyzed using
      three-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: There were no significant
      differences between RaCe and Mtwo or between the two root canal preparation
      methods in root canal deviation in buccolingual and mesiodistal radiographs
      (P>0.05). Changes of root canal curvature in >35 degrees  subgroups were
      significantly more than in other subgroups with smaller canal curvatures.
      Preparation time was shorter in one file only technique. CONCLUSION: According to
      the results, the two rotary systems and the two root canal preparation methods
      had equal efficacy in straightening the canals; but the preparation time was
      shorter in one file only group.

PMID- 26877737
TI  - Water Sorption and Flexural Strength of Thermoplastic and Conventional Heat
      Polymerized Acrylic Resins.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the water sorption
      and flexural strength of thermoplastic and conventional acrylic resins. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Water sorption and flexural strength were compared between a
      thermoplastic modified polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin (group
      A) and a heat-polymerized PMMA acrylic resin (group B) as the control group
      (n=10). A three-point bending test was carried out for flexural strength testing.
      For water sorption test, 10 disc-shaped samples were prepared. After desiccating,
      the samples were weighed and immersed in distilled water for seven days. Then,
      they were weighed again, and desiccated for the second and third times.
      Differences between the mean values in the two groups were analyzed using
      Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean value of water sorption was 14.74+/-1.36
      MUg/mm(3) in group A, and 19.11+/-0.90 MUg/mm(3) in group B; this difference was
      statistically significant (P< 0.001). The mean value of flexural strength was
      88.21+/-8.63 MPa in group A and 77.77+/-9.49 MPa in group B. A significant
      difference was observed between the two groups (P= 0.019). CONCLUSION: Flexural
      strength of group A was significantly higher than that of group B, and its water
      sorption was significantly lower. Thus, thermoplastic resins can be a suitable
      alternative to conventional PMMA acrylic resins as denture base materials.

PMID- 26877738
TI  - A Digital Stereomicroscopic Study of the Radicular Wall Thickness of Two-Canal
      Mandibular Incisors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the radicular wall thickness in mandibular
      incisors with two canals and find the maximum and minimum thickness to prevent
      root canal treatment (RCT) procedural errors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of
      160 extracted mandibular incisors were selected and radiographed; out of which,
      55 had two canals. Three parallel transverse sections were made in each tooth at
      1mm below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), mid-root and 1 millimeter to the
      apex. Specimens were evaluated under a stereomicroscope and the thickness of
      radicular walls in each section was determined for the buccal, lingual and
      proximal surfaces. Data were statistically analyzed using Pearson's correlation
      coefficient test. RESULTS: The thickness of radicular wall decreased from the
      cervical towards the apex. In all three sections (cervical, mid-root and apical),
      the thickness of lingual wall was significantly greater than the buccal wall.
      Also, the thickness of buccal and lingual walls was significantly higher than
      that of the proximal walls. CONCLUSION: The lingual radicular wall had the
      highest thickness in two-canal mandibular incisors. Therefore, in these teeth,
      the lingual canal is a better choice for post placement.

PMID- 26877739
TI  - Which Factors Affect Dental Esthetics and Smile Attractiveness in Orthodontically
      Treated Patients?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find the factors that affect dental esthetics and
      smile attractiveness in orthodontically treated patients according to laypeople's
      judgment, and to determine whether there is any relationship between dental and
      smile esthetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Q-sort technique, 60 laypersons
      (30 males, 30 females) rated dental and smile photographs of 48 orthodontically
      treated patients based on their degree of attractiveness. Dental and smile
      parameters of each rated image were measured by Smile Analyzer software. The
      Student's t-test and chi-square test were used to compare dental and smile
      parameters between attractive and unattractive images. The logistic regression
      was used to assess which variables predicted dental and smile esthetics in
      treated individuals. RESULTS: The philtral to commissural height ratio and
      gingival display were significantly different in attractive and unattractive
      smiles (P=0.003 and P=0.02, respectively). None of the dental variables were
      found to be a determinant of dental esthetics at the end of the orthodontic
      treatment (P>0.05). According to the judgment of all raters (female and male) and
      the male raters' judgment, smile attractiveness could be predicted by philtral to
      commissural height ratio and buccal corridor ratio (P<0.05). There was no
      statistically significant relationship between dental esthetics and smile
      attractiveness in orthodontically treated patients (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The
      philtral to commissural height ratio and buccal corridor ratio can be considered
      as predictors of smile attractiveness in orthodontically treated patients.
      Achieving dental esthetics at the end of orthodontic treatment does not guarantee
      smile attractiveness.

PMID- 26877740
TI  - Effects of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors and Platelet-Rich Fibrin on
      Proliferation and Viability of Human Gingival Fibroblasts.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Platelet preparations are commonly used to enhance bone and soft
      tissue regeneration. Considering the existing controversies on the efficacy of
      platelet products for tissue regeneration, more in vitro studies are required.
      The aim of the present study was to compare the in vitro effects of plasma rich
      in growth factors (PRGF) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on proliferation and
      viability of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anitua's
      PRGF and Choukran's PRF were prepared according to the standard protocols. After
      culture periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours, proliferation of HGFs was evaluated by
      the methyl thiazol tetrazolium assay. Statistical analysis was performed using
      one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer's multiple comparisons and P-values<0.05
      were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: PRGF treatment induced
      statistically significant (P<0.001) proliferation of HGF cells compared to the
      negative control (100% viability) at 24, 48 and 72 hours in values of 123%+/
      2.25%, 102%+/-2.8% and 101%+/-3.92%, respectively. The PRF membrane treatment of
      HGF cells had a statistically significant effect on cell proliferation (21%+/
      1.73%, P<0.001) at 24 hours compared to the negative control. However, at 48 and
      72 hours after treatment, PRF had a negative effect on HGF cell proliferation and
      caused 38% and 60% decrease in viability and proliferation compared to the
      negative control, respectively. The HGF cell proliferation was significantly
      higher in PRGF than in PRF group (P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated
      that PRGF had a strong stimulatory effect on HGF cell viability and proliferation
      compared to PRF.

PMID- 26877741
TI  - Accuracy of Cone Beam Computed Tomography for Detection of Bone Loss.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Bone assessment is essential for diagnosis, treatment planning and
      prediction of prognosis of periodontal diseases. However, two-dimensional
      radiographic techniques have multiple limitations, mainly addressed by the
      introduction of three-dimensional imaging techniques such as cone beam computed
      tomography (CBCT). This study aimed to assess the accuracy of CBCT for detection
      of marginal bone loss in patients receiving dental implants. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A study of diagnostic test accuracy was designed and 38 teeth from
      candidates for dental implant treatment were selected. On CBCT scans, the amount
      of bone resorption in the buccal, lingual/palatal, mesial and distal surfaces was
      determined by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the
      alveolar crest (normal group: 0-1.5mm, mild bone loss: 1.6-3mm, moderate bone
      loss: 3.1-4.5mm and severe bone loss: >4.5mm). During the surgical phase, bone
      loss was measured at the same sites using a periodontal probe. The values were
      then compared by McNemar's test. RESULTS: In the buccal, lingual/palatal, mesial
      and distal surfaces, no significant difference was observed between the values
      obtained using CBCT and the surgical method. The correlation between CBCT and
      surgical method was mainly based on the estimation of the degree of bone
      resorption. CBCT was capable of showing various levels of resorption in all
      surfaces with high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and
      negative predictive value compared to the surgical method. CONCLUSION: CBCT
      enables accurate measurement of bone loss comparable to surgical exploration and
      can be used for diagnosis of bone defects in periodontal diseases in clinical
      settings.

PMID- 26877742
TI  - Evaluation of Periodontal Ligament Cell Viability in Three Different Storage
      Media: An in Vitro Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the viability of periodontal
      ligament (PDL) cells of avulsed teeth in three different storage media. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Forty-five premolars extracted for orthodontic therapeutic purposes
      were randomly and equally divided into three groups based on storage media used
      [Group I: milk (control); Group II: aloe vera (experimental); Group III: egg
      white (experimental)]. Following extractions, the teeth were placed in one of the
      three different storage media for 30 minutes, following which the scrapings of
      the PDL from these teeth were collected in Falcon tubes containing collagenase
      enzyme in 2.5 mL of phosphate buffered saline. The tubes were subsequently
      incubated for 30 minutes and centrifuged for five minutes at 800 rpm. The
      obtained PDL cells were stained with Trypan Blue and were observed under optical
      microscope. The percentage of viable cells was calculated. RESULTS: Aloe vera
      showed the highest percentage of viable cells (114.3+/-8.0), followed by egg
      white (100.9+/-6.3) and milk (101.1+/-7.3). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of
      this study, it appears that aloe vera maintains PDL cell viability better than
      egg white or milk.

PMID- 26877743
TI  - Ultrasonic Technique to Retrieve a Rotary Nickel-Titanium File Broken Beyond the
      Apex and a Stainless Steel File from the Root Canal of a Mandibular Molar: A Case
      Report.
AB  - During endodontic treatment, clinicians may face endodontic procedural mishaps
      such as broken instruments, which is a complex situation especially when the file
      breaks beyond the apex. This condition is associated with potential risk of
      contamination, which compromises the healing process. Management of a broken
      instrument beyond the apex is difficult and time consuming and requires
      creativity as well as clinical knowledge and skills. Several devices and
      techniques have been developed to retrieve the fractured instruments, but none
      are consistently successful. This case report describes a technique using modern
      ultrasonic tips for retrieval of broken instruments separated beyond the apex. 

PMID- 26877744
TI  - Palisaded Encapsulated Neuroma of the Tongue Clinically Mimicking a Pyogenic
      Granuloma: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - Palisaded encapsulated (solitary circumscribed) neuromas (PENs) are relatively
      common intraoral neurogenic tumors, which occur most frequently on the hard
      palate. Herein, we describe the clinicopathological characteristics of a
      palisaded encapsulated neuroma of the tongue. This tumor was an exophytic sessile
      mass measuring 0.3* 0.4 cm with rubbery consistency on the anterior one-third of
      the dorsum of the tongue. The tumor was excised under the impression of a
      pyogenic granuloma (PG). No recurrence was reported at 12 months postoperatively.
      Histopathological examination showed a well-circumscribed mass that composed of
      interlacing fascicles of spindle cells. The cells were S-100 positive. The
      nuclei, showing parallel orientation within the fascicles, were wavy and pointed
      and showed no sign of mitotic activity. Giemsa staining revealed no mast cells
      within the stroma. 

PMID- 26877745
TI  - Rehabilitation of Avulsed Teeth in Fractured Jaws via Bone Grafting and Implant
      Placement: Report of Two Cases.
AB  - The maxillofacial region is one of the most injury-prone areas during road
      traffic accidents, personal violence, falls and sports. Maxillofacial trauma can
      lead to breakage or avulsion of upper anterior teeth, which may cause significant
      aesthetic and functional problems. There are many treatment options available for
      rehabilitation including removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures,
      crown and bridges and implant-supported prostheses. Herein, two cases are
      presented where implant placement was done for upper anterior teeth, which were
      traumatized or avulsed following maxillofacial trauma. Both patients demonstrated
      a history of maxillofacial trauma and had undergone open reduction and internal
      fixation. The first patient had a severe maxillary alveolar defect treated via
      autogenous bone grafting and a six-month period was given for proper integration
      of the bone graft. The second patient was a smoker with very poor oral hygiene
      and a deep bite. Thus, implant placement was not initially justified. 

PMID- 26877746
TI  - Cigarette Smoking and its Relationship with Perceived Familial Support and
      Religiosity of University Students in Tabriz.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to assess the prevalence of
      cigarette smoking and its relationship to other risk taking behaviors, perceived
      familial support and religiosity among college students in Tabriz, Iran. METHOD:
      In this study, 1837 randomly selected students participated and completed a self
      administered questionnaire inquiring demographic characteristics, risk taking
      behaviors, Aneshensel and Sucoff's 13-items one-dimensional perceived Parental
      support scale and 28 - items Kendler's general religiosity scale. RESULTS: In
      general, 15.8 % of the students were cigarette smokers. The results indicated
      that being male (OR = 3.21), living alone or with friends (OR = 2.00), having a
      part-time job (OR = 1.98), alcohol consumption during the past 30 days (OR =
      3.67), hookah use (OR = 5.23), substance abuse (OR = 1.69), familial support (OR
      = 0.97) and religiosity (OR = 0.98) have statistically significant relationships
      with cigarette smoking. CONCLUSION: Our study represents the co-occurrence of
      risky behaviors. Cultural context in the traditional communities seems to show
      the crucial role of familial support and religiosity traits with the female
      gender as predictive factors to not smoke cigarette and perform other risky
      behaviors.

PMID- 26877747
TI  - The Validity and Reliability of Autism Behavior Checklist in Iran.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric features of
      the Persian version of the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). METHOD: The
      International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) approach was used to translate
      the English ABC into Persian. A total sample of 184 parents of children including
      114 children with autism disorder (mean age =7.21, SD =1.65) and 70 typically
      developing children (mean age = 6.82, SD =1.75) completed the ABC. Internal
      consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and
      cut-off score were assessed. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that the
      Persian version of the ABC has an acceptable degree of internal consistency
      (.73). Test-retest comparisons using interclass correlation confirmed the
      instrument's time stability (.83). The instrument's concurrent validity with
      Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) was verified; the correlation between total
      scores was .94. In the discriminant validity, the autism group had significantly
      higher scores compared to the normal group. Receiver Operating Characteristic
      (ROC) analysis revealed that individuals with total scores below 25 are less
      likely to be in the autism group. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the ABC can
      be used as an initial screening tool in clinical contexts.

PMID- 26877748
TI  - Anxiety Assessment in Methamphetamine - Sensitized and Withdrawn Rats: Immediate
      and Delayed Effects.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The anxiety profile in the stimulant-sensitized animals is not clear.
      Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the effects of acute and chronic
      administration of methamphetamine (METH) on the anxiety profile. The aim of this
      study was to examine whether METH-sensitized rats would show an increase in the
      expression of anxiogenic-like behaviors and to determine whether a low dose of
      METH elicits behavioral sensitization. METHODS: Rats were repeatedly given METH
      (2 mg/kg, s.c., once a day for 14 days), and the immediate and delayed effects of
      METH on the anxiety profile was compared considering 30 minutes (min) and 120 min
      after injections in METH-sensitized, withdrawn and intact rats using the elevated
      plus-maze (EPM), also, to re-challenge with a low dose of METH (0.5 mg/kg) in
      withdrawn groups. RESULTS: RESULTS have shown that METH-sensitized rats exhibited
      an increase in the open arm time and entries 120 min after injection compared to
      the control group. We found a reduction in the time spent in open arms for the
      immediate effects of METH (30 min after injection) in METH-sensitized rats as
      compared to the control group. In withdrawn rats, METH/METH groups exhibited an
      increase in the open arm time and entries than METH/Sal and Sal/METH groups.
      CONCLUSION: It was found that unlike delayed effects, an immediate effect of METH
      exhibited anxiogenic-like behaviors in METH-sensitized rats using the EPM. Also,
      results indicated that a low dose of METH is a potent stimulus for reinstatement
      of methamphetamine behavioral sensitization in a long withdrawn period.

PMID- 26877749
TI  - Environmental Psychology Effects on Mental Health Job Satisfaction and Personal
      Well Being of Nurses.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Environmental psychology as a science could be useful in understanding
      the dissociation between the man and the environment. The aim of this study was
      to compare mental health, job satisfaction and well-being of nurses who work in
      hospital environments with different designs. MATERIAL: This was a quasi
      experimental study, in which 250 nurses filled out the mental health, well-being
      and job satisfaction questionnaires. They were categorized into 3 groups
      randomly. Group1 included 63 nurses who worked in an environment without any
      natural elements; group 2 included 100 nurses who worked in an environment with
      natural elements and group 3 included 87 nurses who worked in an environment
      without any psychological and ergonomic design. The last group was only
      stimulated by demonstrating visual stimulus. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA
      and Tukey's pursuit statistical method. RESULTS: The nurses who were working in
      an environment without any natural elements reported significantly lower scores
      on mental health, well-being and job satisfaction compared to those who were
      working in other groups, with the exception of social functioning. Moreover,
      depression and anxiety were more common in nurses who were working in
      environments without any natural elements compared to those in the other groups
      (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We can increase job satisfaction, and mental health and
      well-being of the nurses through the use of natural design and environmental
      psychology indexes in hospital buildings.

PMID- 26877750
TI  - Comparison of Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) and Beta Training on Selective Attention
      and Symptoms in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A
      Trend Report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effect of two
      neurofeedback protocols (SMR/theta and beta/theta) on ADHD symptoms, selective
      attention and EEG (electroencephalogram) parameters in children with ADHD.
      METHOD: The sample consisted of 16 children (9-15 year old: 13 boys; 3 girls)
      with ADHD-combined type (ADHD-C). All of children used methylphenidate (MPH)
      during the study. The neurofeedback training consisted of two phases of 15
      sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. In the first phase, participants were trained
      to enhance sensorimotor rhythm (12-15 Hz) and reduce theta activity (4-8 Hz) at
      C4 and in the second phase; they had to increase beta (15-18 Hz) and reduce theta
      activity at C3. Assessments consisted of d2 attention endurance test, ADHD rating
      scale (parent form) at three time periods: before, middle and the end of the
      training. EEG signals were recorded just before and after the training. RESULT:
      Based on parents' reports, inattention after beta/theta training, and
      hyperactivity/impulsivity were improved after the end of the training. All
      subscales of d2 test were improved except for the difference between maximum and
      minimum responses. However, EEG analysis showed no significant differences.
      CONCLUSION: Neurofeedback in conjunction with Methylphenidate may cause further
      improvement in ADHD symptoms reported by parents and selective attention without
      long-term impact on EEG patterns. However, determining the exact relationship
      between EEG parameters, neurofeedback protocols and ADHD symptoms remain unclear.

PMID- 26877751
TI  - Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy Compared to the Usual Opioid
      Dependence Treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based group
      therapy (MBGT) compared to the usual opioid dependence treatment (TAU).Thirty
      outpatients meeting the DSM-IV-TR criteria for opioid dependence from Iranian
      National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) were randomly assigned into
      experimental (Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy) and control groups (the Usual
      Treatment).The experimental group undertook eight weeks of intervention, but the
      control group received the usual treatment according to the INCAS program.
      METHODS: The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Addiction
      Sevier Index (ASI) were administered at pre-treatment and post-treatment
      assessment periods. Thirteen patients from the experimental group and 15 from the
      control group completed post-test assessments. RESULTS: The results of MANCOVA
      revealed an increase in mean scores in observing, describing, acting with
      awareness, non-judging, non-reacting, and decrease in mean scores of alcohol and
      opium in MBGT patient group. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of MBGT, compared to
      the usual treatment, was discussed in this paper as a selective protocol in the
      health care setting for substance use disorders.

PMID- 26877752
TI  - Associated Factors of Suicidal Thoughts in HIV-Positive Individuals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: As a first study, suicidal ideation and its correlates have been
      evaluated in Iranian HIV positive population. METHODS: One hundred and fifty HIV
      positive individuals were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Hospital
      Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation
      (PANSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) and Somatization subscale of
      Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL 90) as self- reported questionnaires were used to
      assess the patients' anxiety and depression status, suicidal thoughts, sleep
      quality and physiological factors, respectively. RESULTS: Antiretroviral therapy
      and efavirenz intake did not show any significant effects on the patients'
      suicidal ideation. Anxiety (p<0.001), depression (p<0.001), poor physical
      activity (P<0.001) and sleep quality (p<0.001) were significantly associated with
      the patients' negative suicidal ideation. From the patients' demographic data,
      unemployment (p = 0.04), living alone (p = 0.01), and lack of family support (p =
      0.01) were correlated with the patients' negative suicidal thoughts. CONCLUSION:
      Although hospitals are the main referral centers for providing care for HIV
      positive individuals in Tehran, Iran, conducting a multi-center study with
      sufficient sample size from different areas of our country that include
      individuals with different behaviors and cultures is essential to confirm the
      results of this study.

PMID- 26877755
TI  - Bipolar Disorder in a Young Girl with Dandy-Walker Syndrome.

PMID- 26877754
TI  - Transdiagnostic Treatment of Co-occurrence of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
      based on Repetitive Negative Thinking: A Case Series.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral treatments for treating the
      coexistence of anxiety and mood disorders received useful empirical supports in
      the recent years. However, these treatments still have moderate efficacy.
      Following the improvements and developments in transdiagnostic protocols and
      considering the importance of repetitive negative thinking as a core
      transdiagnostic factor in emotional disorders, this study examined a new form of
      transdiagnostic treatment based on Repetitive Negative Thinking (TTRNT) of co
      occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorders. METHODS: Treatment efficacy was
      assessed using single case series with multiple baselines. Three patients meeting
      the criteria for co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorders were selected
      using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV. The patients were
      treated individually for 12 weekly sessions. Participants completed the
      standardized outcome measures during the baseline, treatment and one-month follow
      up. RESULTS: At post-treatment, all participants showed significant clinical
      changes on a range of standardized outcome measures, and these gains were largely
      maintained through the one-month follow-up both in the principle and co-principal
      diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results of this preliminary investigation
      indicated that TTRNT could be a time effective and efficient treatment for
      individuals with co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorders, further
      controlled clinical trials are necessary to examine this new treatment approach.

PMID- 26877753
TI  - Effects of Estrogen Receptor Modulators on Morphine Induced Sensitization in Mice
      Memory.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effects of estradiol valerate and raloxifenea
      selective estrogen receptor modulator; (SERM) on morphine induced sensitization
      were examined in mice memory, according to the step-down passive avoidance task.
      METHOD: The mice received morphine or estradiol and raloxifene for three days
      alone or in combination with morphine. After a drug free period of 5 days, the
      subjects received saline or morphine as pre- training treatments followed by a
      pre-test saline administration. The memory retrieval was evaluated using step
      down passive avoidance test both on the training and test day. RESULTS: The
      results illustrated that the three- day administration of morphine induced
      sensitization through the enhancement of memory retrieval (morphine induced
      sensitization in mice memory). Both the three- day administration of estradiol
      valerate alone and with morphine (5 mg/kg) restored memory. On the other hand,
      the three- day administration of raloxifene had no effect on memory retrieval
      alone, but declined morphine induced sensitization in mice memory. CONCLUSION:
      The results of the study indicated that there is an interaction between estrogen
      receptor modulators and morphine induced sensitization in mice memory.

PMID- 26877756
TI  - The effect of motion on IMRT - looking at interplay with 3D measurements.
AB  - Six base of skull IMRT treatment plans were delivered to 3D dosimeters within the
      RPC Head and Neck Phantom for QA verification. Isotropic 2mm 3D data was obtained
      using the DLOS-PRESAGE system and compared to an Eclipse (Varian) treatment plan.
      Normalized Dose Distribution pass rates were obtained for a number of criteria.
      High quality 3D dosimetry data was observed from the DLOS system, illustrated
      here through colormaps, isodose lines, profiles, and NDD 3D maps. Excellent
      agreement with the planned dose distributions was also observed with NDD analysis
      revealing > 90% NDD pass rates [3%, 2mm], noise < 0.5%. This paper focuses on a
      detailed exploration of the quality and use of 3D dosimetry data obtained with
      the DLOS-PRESAGE system.

PMID- 26877757
TI  - Alterations in protein and amino acid metabolism in rats fed a branched-chain
      amino acid- or leucine-enriched diet during postprandial and postabsorptive
      states.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many people believe in favourable effects of branched-chain amino
      acids (BCAAs; valine, leucine, and isoleucine), especially leucine, on muscle
      protein balance and consume BCAAs for many years. We determined the effects of
      the chronic intake of a BCAA- or leucine-enriched diet on protein and amino acid
      metabolism in fed and postabsorptive states. METHODS: Rats were fed a standard
      diet, a diet with a high content of valine, leucine, and isoleucine (HVLID), or a
      high content of leucine (HLD) for 2 months. Half of the animals in each group
      were sacrificed in the fed state on the last day, and the other half were
      sacrificed after overnight fast. Protein synthesis was assessed using the
      flooding dose method (L-[3,4,5-(3)H]phenylalanine), proteolysis on the basis of
      chymotrypsin-like activity (CHTLA) of proteasome and cathepsin B and L
      activities. RESULTS: Chronic intake of HVLID or HLD enhanced plasma levels of
      urea, alanine and glutamine. HVLID also increased levels of all three BCAA and
      branched-chain keto acids (BCKA), HLD increased leucine, ketoisocaproate and
      alanine aminotransferase and decreased valine, ketovaline, isoleucine,
      ketoisoleucine, and LDL cholesterol. Tissue weight and protein content were lower
      in extensor digitorum longus muscles in the HLD group and higher in kidneys in
      the HVLID and HLD groups. Muscle protein synthesis in postprandial state was
      higher in the HVLID group, and CHTLA was lower in muscles of the HVLID and HLD
      groups compared to controls. Overnight starvation enhanced alanine
      aminotransferase activity in muscles, and decreased protein synthesis in
      gastrocnemius (in HVLID group) and extensor digitorum longus (in HLD group)
      muscles more than in controls. Effect of HVLID and HLD on CHTLA in muscles in
      postabsorptive state was insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The results failed to
      demonstrate positive effects of the chronic consumption of a BCAA-enriched diet
      on protein balance in skeletal muscle and indicate rather negative effects from a
      leucine-enriched diet. The primary effects of both diets are an activated
      catabolism of BCAAs, which leads to an enhanced production of BCKA, alanine and
      glutamine and their utilization in visceral tissues and an impaired protein
      synthesis in postabsorptive state, particularly in fast-twitch (white) muscles.

PMID- 26877758
TI  - Recent advances in management of the HIV/HCV coinfected patient.
AB  - Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global epidemic, affecting approximately 150
      million individuals throughout the world. The implications of HCV infection have
      been magnified in those who are infected with both HCV and the HIV as liver
      disease progression, liver failure and liver-related death are increased,
      particularly in those without well-controlled HIV disease. The development of
      direct-acting antiviral agents for HCV that allow shorter treatment periods with
      increased efficacy and decreased adverse events have greatly changed the outlook
      for HCV-infected individuals. With these advancements, growing treatment options
      for the coinfected population have also come. This review will address
      pharmacotherapy issues in the HIV/HCV coinfected population.

PMID- 26877759
TI  - Diagnostic methods for mastitis in cows are not appropriate for use in humans:
      commentary.
AB  - Healthcare workers are now being targeted for marketing of diagnostic tools for
      mastitis that were developed for the dairy industry and which aim to provide
      information regarding choice of antibiotic treatment. Meanwhile, scientists are
      striving to understand how the human microbiome affects health and wellbeing and
      the importance of maintenance of bacterial balance in the human body. Breast milk
      supplies a multitude of bacteria to populate the baby's intestinal tract and kick
      start the immune system. Researchers propose a paradigm shift in the
      understanding of bacterial content in breast milk and an alternative paradigm for
      the understanding of lactational mastitis: there is the beginning of evidence
      that many cases of lactational mastitis will resolve spontaneously. An
      international group of researchers is attempting to answer how dietary habits,
      birth mode, genetics and environmental factors may impact the bacterial content
      of breast milk. Until we have more comprehensive knowledge about the human milk
      microbiome, diagnostic aids for identification of women in need of antibiotic
      therapy for mastitis remain unreliable. Diagnostic aids could lead to the
      injudicious use of antibiotic therapy, which in turn may rob the infant of
      bacteria valuable for development of its immune system. The marketing of
      diagnostic aids for use in human medicine, that were originally developed for use
      in cows, is neither evidence-based nor good ethical practice. 

PMID- 26877760
TI  - Aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes: markers of cancer stem cells in human melanoma.

PMID- 26877761
TI  - Computational high-resolution optical imaging of the living human retina.
AB  - High-resolution in vivo imaging is of great importance for the fields of biology
      and medicine. The introduction of hardware-based adaptive optics (HAO) has pushed
      the limits of optical imaging, enabling high-resolution near diffraction-limited
      imaging of previously unresolvable structures1,2. In ophthalmology, when combined
      with optical coherence tomography, HAO has enabled a detailed three-dimensional
      visualization of photoreceptor distributions3,4 and individual nerve fibre
      bundles5 in the living human retina. However, the introduction of HAO hardware
      and supporting software adds considerable complexity and cost to an imaging
      system, limiting the number of researchers and medical professionals who could
      benefit from the technology. Here we demonstrate a fully automated computational
      approach that enables high-resolution in vivo ophthalmic imaging without the need
      for HAO. The results demonstrate that computational methods in coherent
      microscopy are applicable in highly dynamic living systems.

PMID- 26877762
TI  - Identification of Chinese medicine syndromes in persistent insomnia associated
      with major depressive disorder: a latent tree analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome (zheng) differentiation is based on
      the co-occurrence of CM manifestation profiles, such as signs and symptoms, and
      pulse and tongue features. Insomnia is a symptom that frequently occurs in major
      depressive disorder despite adequate antidepressant treatment. This study aims to
      identify co-occurrence patterns in participants with persistent insomnia and
      major depressive disorder from clinical feature data using latent tree analysis,
      and to compare the latent variables with relevant CM syndromes. METHODS: One
      hundred and forty-two participants with persistent insomnia and a history of
      major depressive disorder completed a standardized checklist (the Chinese
      Medicine Insomnia Symptom Checklist) specially developed for CM syndrome
      classification of insomnia. The checklist covers symptoms and signs, including
      tongue and pulse features. The clinical features assessed by the checklist were
      analyzed using Lantern software. CM practitioners with relevant experience
      compared the clinical feature variables under each latent variable with reference
      to relevant CM syndromes, based on a previous review of CM syndromes. RESULTS:
      The symptom data were analyzed to build the latent tree model and the model with
      the highest Bayes information criterion score was regarded as the best model.
      This model contained 18 latent variables, each of which divided participants into
      two clusters. Six clusters represented more than 50 % of the sample. The clinical
      feature co-occurrence patterns of these six clusters were interpreted as the CM
      syndromes Liver qi stagnation transforming into fire, Liver fire flaming upward,
      Stomach disharmony, Hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency, Heart-kidney
      noninteraction, and Qi deficiency of the heart and gallbladder. The clinical
      feature variables that contributed significant cumulative information coverage
      (at least 95 %) were identified. CONCLUSION: Latent tree model analysis on a
      sample of depressed participants with insomnia revealed 13 clinical feature co
      occurrence patterns, four mutual-exclusion patterns, and one pattern with a
      single clinical feature variable.

PMID- 26877763
TI  - A novel coumarin, (+)-3'-angeloxyloxy-4'-keto-3',4'-dihydroseselin, isolated from
      Bupleurum malconense (Chaihu) inhibited NF-kappaB activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify the major anti-inflammatory components in
      the petroleum ether extract of Bupleurum malconense (Chaihu), by bioassay-guided
      fractionation, and to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of active
      components in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW-Blue
      cells. METHODS: A QUANTI-Blue assay was used to guide fractionation of B.
      malconense root extract. The petroleum ether extract which exerted significant
      secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) inhibition effect was purified by
      silica gel column chromatography and assisted with reverse phase HPLC. The major
      bioactive compound which significantly inhibited SEAP activity was obtained and
      its anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced RAW-Blue cells were measured by the
      overproduction of NO (Griess method), gene expression of Il-1beta, Tnf-alpha and
      iNos (real-time PCR). In parallel, protein expressions of COX-2, iNOS and IkappaB
      alpha were determined by western blot. RESULTS: In bioassay-guided fractionation
      using LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW-Blue cells, (+)-3'-angeloxyloxy-4'-keto
      3',4'-dihydroseselin (Pd-Ib) was identified by MS and NMR spectral analyses. Pd
      Ib (5, 10, 20 MUg/mL) suppressed the gene expression of Il-1beta (P < 0.0001, P <
      0.0001, P < 0.0001 for three respective concentrations), Tnf-alpha (P = 0.006, P
      = 0.001, P < 0.0001 for three respective concentrations) and iNos (P = 0.009, P <
      0.0001, P < 0.0001 for three respective concentrations) in LPS-stimulated
      macrophages. The production of cyclooxygenase-2 (P = 0.019, P = 0.002, P <
      0.0001), iNOS (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 for three respective
      concentrations) and NO (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 for three respective
      concentrations) significantly decreased when macrophages were treated with Pd-Ib
      (5, 10, 20 MUg/mL) in the presence of LPS. Pd-Ib (5, 10, 20 MUg/mL) suppressed
      the nuclear activation of NF-kappaB while it up-regulated the IkappaB-alpha level
      (P = 0.028, P = 0.013, P = 0.005 for three respective concentrations) in LPS
      stimulated macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Pd-Ib isolated from B. malconense suppressed
      LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages by inhibiting NF-kappaB
      activity and reducing the expression of iNOS, COX-2 as well as pro-inflammatory
      cytokines.

PMID- 26877764
TI  - Assessment of central venous catheterization in a simulated model using a motion
      tracking device: an experimental validation study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Central venous catheterization (CVC) is a basic requirement for many
      medical specialties. Simulated training in CVC may allow the acquisition of this
      competency but few reports have established a valid methodology for learning and
      acquiring procedural skills for CVC. This study aims to validate the use of a
      tracking motion device, the imperial college surgical assessment device (ICSAD),
      by comparing it with validated global rating scales (GRS) to measure CVC
      performance in a simulated torso. METHODS: Senior year medical students, first
      and last year residents (PGY1, LYR), and expert anesthesiologists performed a
      jugular CVC assessment in a simulated model (Laerdal IV Torso). A validated GRS
      for objective assessment of technical skills and motion analysis by ICSAD was
      used. Statistical analysis was performed through Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis
      tests for construct validity and Spearman correlation coefficients between the
      ICSAD and GRS scores for concurrent validity between both. RESULTS: 32 subjects
      were recruited (10 medical students, 8 PGY1, 8 LYR and 8 experts). Total path
      length measured with ICSAD and GRS scores were significantly different between
      all groups, except for LYR compared to experts (p = 0.664 for GRS and p = 0.72
      for ICSAD). Regarding jugular CVC procedural time, LYR and experts were faster
      than PGY1 and MS (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation coefficient was -0.684 (p <
      0.001) between ICSAD and GRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: ICSAD is a valid tool for
      assessment of jugular CVC since it differentiates between expert and novice
      subjects, and correlates with a validated GRS for jugular CVC in a simulated
      torso.

PMID- 26877765
TI  - A Social-Ecological, Process-Oriented Perspective on Political Violence and Child
      Development.
AB  - Youths' risk for adjustment problems in contexts of political violence is well
      documented. However, outcomes vary widely, with many children functioning well.
      Accordingly, moving beyond further documenting the risk for many negative
      outcomes associated with living in contexts of political violence, a second
      generation of research is moving towards identifying the mechanisms and
      conditions that contribute to children's adjustment. Increasing support is
      emerging for understanding effects on children in terms of changes in the social
      contexts in which children live, and in the psychological processes engaged by
      these social ecologies. Selected themes are considered, including (a) the need to
      study multiple levels of the social ecology, (b) differentiating between the
      effects of exposure to contexts of political versus non-political violence, and
      (c) theories about explanatory processes. Selected research pertinent to these
      directions is reviewed, including findings from a six-wave longitudinal study on
      political violence and children in Northern Ireland.

PMID- 26877766
TI  - A novel efficient beta-glucanase from a paddy soil microbial metagenome with
      versatile activities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cellulose, an abundant and renewable polysaccharides, constitutes the
      largest resource for bioconversion of biofuels. Plant polysaccharides hydrolysis
      is catalyzed by cellulases, which include endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and beta
      glucosidases. Converting cellulose and hemicellulose to short chains of
      oligosaccharides by endo-/exoglucanases is the key step for biofuel
      transformation. Intriguingly, beta-glucanases with transglycosylation activity
      not only can relieve product inhibition of glucan hydrolysis but also has
      potential application as biocatalysts for functional materials. RESULTS: Here, a
      metagenomic fosmid library was constructed from a paddy soil for cellulase
      screening. One purified clone showing carboxymethylcellulase activity was
      isolated, and the complete beta-glucanase gene (umcel9y-1) was cloned and
      overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that beta
      glucanase Umcel9y-1 belonged to the theme C of glycoside hydrolase family 9.
      Amino acids sequence showed 58.4 % similarity between Umcel9y-1 and its closest
      characterized reference, cellulase Cel01. Biological characterization showed that
      Umcel9y-1 was an efficient endoglucanase and also exhibited high activities of
      exoglucanase and transglycosylation. The transglycosylation products of Umcel9y-1
      including sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiose, and transglycosylation was
      detected under all activated conditions. The order of catalytic efficiency for
      polysaccharides, cellooligosaccharides, and aryl-beta-glycosides was p
      nitrophenol-D-cellobioside, barley glucan, cellopentaose, cellotetraose,
      cellotriose, hydroxyethylcellulose, cellohexose, laminarin, and
      carboxymethylcellulose, respectively. The barley glucan was the optimal
      polysaccharides for Umcel9y-1 with K m and K cat/K m values of 13.700 mM and
      239.152 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: Biological characterizations of
      recombinant Umcel9y-1 showed that the versatile beta-glucanase had efficient
      endoglucanase activity to barley glucan and also exhibited high activities of
      exoglucanase and transglycosylation. The optimum conditions of recombinant
      Umcel9y-1 was pH 6.5-7.0 at 37  degrees C with predominant halotolerance and high
      thermal stability. These results indicate that the novel metagenomic-derived beta
      glucanase may be a potent candidate for industrial applications.

PMID- 26877769
TI  - Persisting variation in testing and reporting Clostridium difficile cases.
AB  - Previous evidence suggested a significant variation in the testing algorithms
      used across the United Kingdom for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile
      infection (CDI) and new national guidelines were issued in 2012. The main aim of
      this paper was to explore if such variation in testing and reporting is still
      present, to compare the management of CDI cases, and to investigate if there is
      any significant variation in the antibiotic policies among different hospitals.
      Using London hospitals as a sample, results show that there is still a wide
      variation of testing methods and reporting used, making comparisons difficult. It
      is likely that the overall variability in practices would be greater at a
      national and, even more, at international level. The relationship between broad
      spectrum antibiotics and C. difficile incidence and alternative approaches in
      antibiotic guidelines may require further studies.

PMID- 26877768
TI  - Why it is crucial to analyze non clonal chromosome aberrations or NCCAs?
AB  - Current cytogenetics has largely focused its efforts on the identification of
      recurrent karyotypic alterations, also known as clonal chromosomal aberrations
      (CCAs). The rationale of doing so seems simple: recurrent genetic changes are
      relevant for diseases or specific physiological conditions, while non clonal
      chromosome aberrations (NCCAs) are insignificant genetic background or noise.
      However, in reality, the vast majority of chromosomal alterations are NCCAs, and
      it is challenging to identify commonly shared CCAs in most solid tumors.
      Furthermore, the karyotype, rather than genes, represents the system inheritance,
      or blueprint, and each NCCA represents an altered genome system. These
      realizations underscore the importance of the re-evaluation of NCCAs in
      cytogenetic analyses. In this concept article, we briefly review the definition
      of NCCAs, some historical misconceptions about them, and why NCCAs are not
      insignificant "noise," but rather a highly significant feature of the cellular
      population for providing genome heterogeneity and complexity, representing one
      important form of fuzzy inheritance. The frequencies of NCCAs also represent an
      index to measure both internally- and environmentally-induced genome instability.
      Additionally, the NCCA/CCA cycle is associated with macro- and micro-cellular
      evolution. Lastly, elevated NCCAs are observed in many disease/illness
      conditions. Considering all of these factors, we call for the immediate action of
      studying and reporting NCCAs. Specifically, effort is needed to characterize and
      compare different types of NCCAs, to define their baseline in various tissues, to
      develop methods to access mitotic cells, to re-examine/interpret the NCCAs data,
      and to develop an NCCA database. 

PMID- 26877770
TI  - Whole genome sequencing of "Faecalibaculum rodentium" ALO17, isolated from
      C57BL/6J laboratory mouse feces.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intestinal microorganisms affect host physiology, including ageing.
      Given the difficulty in controlling for human studies of the gut microbiome,
      mouse models provide an alternative avenue to study such relationships. In this
      study, we report on the complete genome of "Faecalibaculum rodentium" ALO17, a
      bacterium that was isolated from the faeces of a 9-month-old female C57BL/6J
      mouse. This strain will be utilized in future in vivo studies detailing the
      relationships between the gut microbiome and ageing. RESULTS: The whole genome
      sequence of "F. rodentium" ALO17 was obtained using single-molecule, real-time
      (SMRT) technique on a PacBio instrument. The assembled genome consisted of
      2,542,486 base pairs of double-stranded DNA with a GC content of 54.0 % and no
      plasmids. The genome was predicted to contain 2794 open reading frames, 55 tRNA
      genes, and 38 rRNA genes. The 16S rRNA gene of ALO17 was 86.9 % similar to that
      of Allobaculum stercoricanis DSM 13633(T), and the average overall nucleotide
      identity between strains ALO17 and DSM 13633(T) was 66.8 %. After confirming the
      phylogenetic relationship between "F. rodentium" ALO17 and A. stercoricanis DSM
      13633(T), their whole genome sequences were compared, revealing that "F.
      rodentium" ALO17 contains more fermentation-related genes than A. stercoricanis
      DSM 13633(T). Furthermore, "F. rodentium" ALO17 produces higher levels of lactic
      acid than A. stercoricanis DSM 13633(T) as determined by high-performance liquid
      chromatography. CONCLUSION: The availability of the "F. rodentium" ALO17 whole
      genome sequence will enhance studies concerning the gut microbiota and host
      physiology, especially when investigating the molecular relationships between gut
      microbiota and ageing.

PMID- 26877767
TI  - Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and kidney fibrosis in diabetes.
AB  - Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease
      worldwide and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients
      with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence revealed that dipeptidyl
      peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may exhibit a protective effect against DN. In
      fact, the kidney is the organ where the DPP-4 activity is the highest level per
      organ weight. A preclinical analysis revealed that DPP-4 inhibitors also
      ameliorated kidney fibrosis. In this review, we analyzed recent reports in this
      field and explore the renoprotective effects and possible mechanism of the DPP-4
      inhibitors. 

PMID- 26877771
TI  - Attribution of extreme weather and climate-related events.
AB  - Extreme weather and climate-related events occur in a particular place, by
      definition, infrequently. It is therefore challenging to detect systematic
      changes in their occurrence given the relative shortness of observational
      records. However, there is a clear interest from outside the climate science
      community in the extent to which recent damaging extreme events can be linked to
      human-induced climate change or natural climate variability. Event attribution
      studies seek to determine to what extent anthropogenic climate change has altered
      the probability or magnitude of particular events. They have shown clear evidence
      for human influence having increased the probability of many extremely warm
      seasonal temperatures and reduced the probability of extremely cold seasonal
      temperatures in many parts of the world. The evidence for human influence on the
      probability of extreme precipitation events, droughts, and storms is more mixed.
      Although the science of event attribution has developed rapidly in recent years,
      geographical coverage of events remains patchy and based on the interests and
      capabilities of individual research groups. The development of operational event
      attribution would allow a more timely and methodical production of attribution
      assessments than currently obtained on an ad hoc basis. For event attribution
      assessments to be most useful, remaining scientific uncertainties need to be
      robustly assessed and the results clearly communicated. This requires the
      continuing development of methodologies to assess the reliability of event
      attribution results and further work to understand the potential utility of event
      attribution for stakeholder groups and decision makers. WIREs Clim Change 2016,
      7:23-41. doi: 10.1002/wcc.380 For further resources related to this article,
      please visit the WIREs website.

PMID- 26877772
TI  - Relationship between deep subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and metabolic
      syndrome: a case control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The deep subcutaneous adipose tissue (dSAT) is closely related to the
      obesity-associated complications similarly to the characteristics of visceral
      adipose tissue (VAT). However, the association between dSAT and metabolic
      syndrome (MS) is unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the
      association of distinct abdominal adipose tissue with the cardiometabolic risk
      factors and MS. METHODS: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) images were obtained
      in 365 asymptomatic subjects (187 subjects with MS and 178 without MS). The axial
      images segmented into superficial and deep SAT by manually tracing the fascia
      superficialis at L4-5 levels. The concentrations of serum inflammatory cytokines
      and adipokines were also measured. RESULTS: The MS group had significantly lower
      adiponectin levels but significantly higher levels of resistin, leptin, tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion
      molecule (ICAM), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and oxLDL than the
      control group (p < 0.05). All inflammatory cytokines and adipokines were
      associated with the sum of VAT and dSAT areas (VDAT) (P for trend < 0.05), but no
      significant correlation was found between inflammatory cytokines and sSAT. dSAT
      was significantly associated with MS in both men and women (OR 2.371; p < 0.001)
      whereas the ORs between sSAT and MS were not significant (p = 0.597). The age
      adjusted ORs between VDAT and MS (OR of 8.359 in men and 3.183 in women, p <
      0.001) were higher than those of VAT (OR of 7.941 in men and 2.570 in women, p <
      0.05) and dSAT (OR of 2.954 in men and 1.856 in women, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We
      demonstrated that dSAT was associated with increased inflammation and oxidative
      stress, suggesting that dSAT is an important determinant of MS. Therefore,
      abdominal subcutaneous fat should be considered as two functionally distinct
      compartments rather than a single entity.

PMID- 26877773
TI  - Effect of Cichorium intybus L. on the expression of hepatic NF-kappaB and IKKbeta
      and serum TNF-alpha in STZ- and STZ+ niacinamide-induced diabetes in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammation is an early event in the development of diabetes type 2
      (T2D). Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) possesses anti-inflammatory action. We
      compared the anti-inflammatory aspect of aqueous chicory seed extract (CSE) in
      early and late stage T2D in rats. METHODS: Wistar albino rats were divided into
      nine final groups (n = 6). Three main groups consisted of non-diabetic (Control),
      early stage diabetes (ET2D; niacinamide/streptozotocin, i.e., NIA/STZ), and late
      stage diabetes (LT2D; STZ). Within each main group, a subgroup was treated with
      CSE (125 mg/kg; i.p.); within each diabetic group (STZ and NIA/STZ) a subgroup
      received metformin (100 mg/kg; i.p.); another subgroup in STZ group received
      aspirin (120 mg/kg; oral). After 21 days, fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin,
      and TNF-alpha level were measured in serum; IKKbeta and NF-kappaB (p65) mRNA and
      protein expression were evaluated by real time PCR and Western blotting; p65 DNA
      binding activity was determined by ELISA, in liver tissue. RESULTS: The mRNA and
      protein expression levels of IKKbeta, and P65 genes increased in both stages of
      T2D (p < 0.01); CSE decreased their expression (p < 0.001, mRNAs; p < 0.05,
      proteins). The increased DNA-binding capacity of NF-kappaB (p < 0.0001) in
      diabetes was lowered by CSE (p < 0.001). The effect of CSE was limited to ET2D
      requiring insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory action of CSE is due to a
      direct modulation of cytokine expression. The dependency of chicory action on the
      presence of insulin indicates its usefulness in the early stages of diabetes and
      for the purpose of preventing and delaying diabetes onset.

PMID- 26877774
TI  - Evolution Controversy: A Phenomenon Prompted by the Incompatibility between
      Science and Religious Beliefs.
AB  - The incompatibility between science and the belief in supernatural causation
      helps us understand why people do not accept evolution. Belief disrupts,
      distorts, delays, or stops (3Ds + S) the acceptance of scientific evidence. Here
      we examine the evolution controversy under three predictions of the
      incompatibility hypothesis. First, chronological-conflict-and-accommodation,
      which explains the historical re-emergence of antagonism between evolution and
      religion when advances in science continue to threaten the belief in supernatural
      causation; in such situations, creationists' rejection of and subsequent partial
      acceptance of the new scientific discoveries are expected. Second, change in
      evolution's acceptance as function of educational attainment, which explains the
      positive association between acceptance of evolution and level of education. And
      third, change in evolution's acceptance as function of religiosity, which
      explains the negative association between acceptance of evolution and level of
      religious beliefs. We rely on an ample assessment of the attitudes toward
      evolution by highly-educated audiences (i.e. research faculty, educators of
      prospective teachers, and college students in the United States) to characterize
      the associations among the understanding of science and evolution, personal
      religious convictions, and conservative ideology. We emphasize that harmonious
      coexistence between science and religion is illusory. If co-persisting in
      society, their relationship will fluctuate from moderate to intense antagonism.

PMID- 26877775
TI  - A Fluorescence-Guided Laser Ablation System for Removal of Residual Cancer in a
      Mouse Model of Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
AB  - The treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) generally involves tumor excision with
      a wide margin. Although advances in fluorescence imaging make real-time detection
      of cancer possible, removal is limited by the precision of the human eye and
      hand. Here, we describe a novel pulsed Nd:YAG laser ablation system that, when
      used in conjunction with a previously described molecular imaging system, can
      identify and ablate cancer in vivo. Mice with primary STS were injected with the
      protease-activatable probe LUM015 to label tumors. Resected tissues from the mice
      were then imaged and treated with the laser using the paired fluorescence
      imaging/ laser ablation device, generating ablation clefts with sub-millimeter
      precision and minimal underlying tissue damage. Laser ablation was guided by
      fluorescence to target tumor tissues, avoiding normal structures. The selective
      ablation of tumor implants in vivo improved recurrence-free survival after tumor
      resection in a cohort of 14 mice compared to 12 mice that received no ablative
      therapy. This prototype system has the potential to be modified so that it can be
      used during surgery to improve recurrence-free survival in patients with cancer. 

PMID- 26877776
TI  - Indocyanine Green Liposomes for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Cerebral
      Malaria.
AB  - Cerebral malaria (CM) is a major cause of death of Plasmodium falciparum
      infection. Misdiagnosis of CM often leads to treatment delay and mortality.
      Conventional brain imaging technologies are rarely applicable in endemic areas.
      Here we address the unmet need for a simple, non-invasive imaging methodology for
      early diagnosis of CM. This study presents the diagnostic and therapeutic
      monitoring using liposomes containing the FDA-approved fluorescent dye
      indocyanine green (ICG) in a CM murine model. Increased emission intensity of
      liposomal ICG was demonstrated in comparison with free ICG. The Liposomal ICG's
      emission was greater in the brains of the infected mice compared to naive mice
      and drug treated mice (where CM was prevented). Histological analyses suggest
      that the accumulation of liposomal ICG in the cerebral vasculature is due to
      extensive uptake mediated by activated phagocytes. Overall, liposomal ICG offers
      a valuable diagnostic tool and a biomarker for effectiveness of CM treatment, as
      well as other diseases that involve inflammation and blood vessel occlusion. 

PMID- 26877777
TI  - Dual Receptor Recognizing Cell Penetrating Peptide for Selective Targeting,
      Efficient Intratumoral Diffusion and Synthesized Anti-Glioma Therapy.
AB  - Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) were widely used for drug delivery to tumor.
      However, the nonselective in vivo penetration greatly limited the application of
      CPPs-mediated drug delivery systems. And the treatment of malignant tumors is
      usually followed by poor prognosis and relapse due to the existence of
      extravascular core regions of tumor. Thus it is important to endue selective
      targeting and stronger intratumoral diffusion abilities to CPPs. In this study,
      an RGD reverse sequence dGR was conjugated to a CPP octa-arginine to form a CendR
      (R/KXXR/K) motif contained tandem peptide R8-dGR (RRRRRRRRdGR) which could bind
      to both integrin alphavbeta3 and neuropilin-1 receptors. The dual receptor
      recognizing peptide R8-dGR displayed increased cellular uptake and efficient
      penetration ability into glioma spheroids in vitro. The following in vivo studies
      indicated the active targeting and intratumoral diffusion capabilities of R8-dGR
      modified liposomes. When paclitaxel was loaded in the liposomes, PTX-R8-dGR-Lip
      induced the strongest anti-proliferation effect on both tumor cells and cancer
      stem cells, and inhibited the formation of vasculogenic mimicry channels in
      vitro. Finally, the R8-dGR liposomal drug delivery system prolonged the medium
      survival time of intracranial C6 bearing mice by 2.1-fold compared to the
      untreated group, and achieved an exhaustive anti-glioma therapy including anti
      tumor cells, anti-vasculogenic mimicry and anti-brain cancer stem cells. To sum
      up, all the results demonstrated that R8-dGR was an ideal dual receptor
      recognizing CPP with selective glioma targeting and efficient intratumoral
      diffusion, which could be further used to equip drug delivery system for
      effective glioma therapy. 

PMID- 26877778
TI  - Mono-arginine Cholesterol-based Small Lipid Nanoparticles as a Systemic siRNA
      Delivery Platform for Effective Cancer Therapy.
AB  - Although efforts have been made to develop a platform carrier for the delivery of
      RNAi therapeutics, systemic delivery of siRNA has shown only limited success in
      cancer therapy. Cationic lipid-based nanoparticles have been widely used for this
      purpose, but their toxicity and undesired liver uptake after systemic injection
      owing to their cationic surfaces have hampered further clinical translation. This
      study describes the development of neutral, small lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs)
      made of a nontoxic cationic cholesterol derivative, as a suitable carrier of
      systemic siRNA to treat cancers. The cationic cholesterol derivative, mono
      arginine-cholesterol (MA-Chol), was synthesized by directly attaching an arginine
      moiety to cholesterol via a cleavable ester bond. siRNA-loaded SLNPs
      (siRNA@SLNPs) were prepared using MA-Chol and a neutral helper lipid, dioleoyl
      phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), as major components and a small amount of
      PEGylated phospholipid mixed with siRNA. The resulting nanoparticles were less
      than ~50 nm in diameter with neutral zeta potential and much lower toxicity than
      typical cationic cholesterol (DC-Chol)-based lipid nanoparticles. SLNPs loaded
      with siRNA against kinesin spindle protein (siKSP@SLNPs) exhibited a high level
      of target gene knockdown in various cancer cell lines, as shown by measurement of
      KSP mRNA and cell death assays. Furthermore, systemic injection of siKSP@SLNPs
      into prostate tumor-bearing mice resulted in preferential accumulation of the
      delivered siRNA at the tumor site and significant inhibition of tumor growth,
      with little apparent toxicity, as shown by body weight measurements. These
      results suggest that these SLNPs may provide a systemic delivery platform for
      RNAi-based cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26877779
TI  - P-glycoprotein Mediates Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesion Formation by Enhancing
      Phosphorylation of the Chloride Channel-3.
AB  - P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is encoded by the multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene and is
      well studied as a multi-drug resistance transporter. Peritoneal adhesion
      formation following abdominal surgery remains an important clinical problem.
      Here, we found that P-gp was highly expressed in human adhesion fibroblasts and
      promoted peritoneal adhesion formation in a rodent model. Knockdown of P-gp
      expression by intraperitoneal injection of MDR1-targeted siRNA significantly
      reduced both the peritoneal adhesion development rate and adhesion grades.
      Additionally, we found that operative injury up-regulated P-gp expression in
      peritoneal fibroblasts through the TGF-beta1/Smad signaling pathway and histone
      H3 acetylation. The overexpression of P-gp accelerated migration and
      proliferation of fibroblasts via volume-activated Cl(-) current and cell volume
      regulation by enhancing phosphorylation of the chloride channel-3. Therefore, P
      gp plays a critical role in postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation and may
      be a valuable therapeutic target for preventing the formation of peritoneal
      adhesions. 

PMID- 26877780
TI  - BET Bromodomain Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy in Ovarian Cancer by
      Downregulating FoxM1.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is responsible for the highest mortality among all gynecologic
      malignancies, and novel therapies are urgently needed to improve patient outcome.
      Here we performed an integrative genomic analysis and identified the bromodomain
      and extraterminal domain (BET) protein BRD4 as a potential therapeutic target in
      ovarian cancer. Suppression of BRD4 using small-molecule BET inhibitors JQ1 and I
      BET151, or dual kinase-bromodomain inhibitor volasertib, led to robust and broad
      antitumor effects across all subclasses of ovarian cancer. In contrast to many
      other cancers which are susceptible to BET inhibition due to downregulation of
      super-enhancer-dependent MYC transcript, we discovered that JQ1-sensitive ovarian
      cancer cells exhibited marked disruption of Forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1)
      pathway, a key driver of ovarian carcinoma. These in vitro findings were further
      supported by in vivo efficacies of JQ1 targeting both cell line-based and patient
      derived xenograft models. Our data establish a new treatment strategy against
      ovarian cancer by employing epigenetic vulnerabilities, and provide a mechanistic
      rationale for the clinical investigation of BET bromodomain inhibitors in this
      deadly disease. 

PMID- 26877781
TI  - Smartphone-Based Fluorescent Diagnostic System for Highly Pathogenic H5N1
      Viruses.
AB  - Field diagnostic tools for avian influenza (AI) are indispensable for the
      prevention and controlled management of highly pathogenic AI-related diseases.
      More accurate, faster and networked on-site monitoring is demanded to detect such
      AI viruses with high sensitivity as well as to maintain up-to-date information
      about their geographical transmission. In this work, we assessed the clinical and
      field-level performance of a smartphone-based fluorescent diagnostic device with
      an efficient reflective light collection module using a coumarin-derived
      dendrimer-based fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay. By application of an
      optimized bioconjugate, a smartphone-based diagnostic device had a two-fold
      higher detectability as compared to that of the table-top fluorescence strip
      reader for three different AI subtypes (H5N3, H7N1, and H9N2). Additionally, in a
      clinical study of H5N1-confirmed patients, the smartphone-based diagnostic device
      showed a sensitivity of 96.55% (28/29) [95% confidence interval (CI): 82.24 to
      99.91] and a specificity of 98.55% (68/69) (95% CI: 92.19 to 99.96). The
      measurement results from the distributed individual smartphones were wirelessly
      transmitted via short messaging service and collected by a centralized database
      system for further information processing and data mining. Smartphone-based
      diagnosis provided highly sensitive measurement results for H5N1 detection within
      15 minutes. Because of its high sensitivity, portability and automatic reporting
      feature, the proposed device will enable agile identification of patients and
      efficient control of AI dissemination. 

PMID- 26877783
TI  - 11C-Methionine-PET in Multiple Myeloma: Correlation with Clinical Parameters and
      Bone Marrow Involvement.
AB  - Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an essentially incurable hematologic malignancy
      originating from clonal plasma cells. This study evaluated the usefulness of the
      radiotracers (11)C-methionine (MET) and (18)F-2'-deoxy-2'-fluorodeoxyglucose
      (FDG) for staging and re-staging in MM. 43 patients with MM underwent both MET-
      and FDG-PET/CT for staging or re-staging within 3+/-2 days. Scans were compared
      on a patient and on a lesion basis. Tracer uptake was correlated with the degree
      of bone marrow (BM) involvement and standard clinical parameters of disease
      activity. Additionally, BM samples were stained for L-type amino acid transporter
      1 (LAT1) expression in 15 patients. MET-PET detected focal lesions (FL) in 39/43
      subjects (90.7%), whereas 10 patients were missed in FDG-PET/CT (detection rate,
      33/43; 76.7%; p<0.05). MET depicted more FL in 28/43 patients (65.1%; p<0.001),
      whereas in the remainder (34.9%, n=15) both tracers yielded comparable results.
      LAT1 was highly expressed on the cell surface of myeloma cells. Both FDG and MET
      uptake correlated significantly with biopsy-proven BM involvement (p<0.001), with
      MET demonstrating a stronger correlation (SUVmean, r=0.9 vs r=0.6; SUVmax, r=0.88
      vs r=0.58). Abnormal beta-2-microglobulin and free light chain levels correlated
      with the presence of focal intramedullary lesions detected in MET- or FDG-PET/CT
      (MET, p=0.006 and p=0.01, respectively; FDG, p=0.02 and p=0.01). MET appears to
      be superior to FDG for staging and re-staging of both intra- and extramedullary
      MM lesions. Tracer uptake correlates with BM involvement, beta2m and FLC levels
      and appears to be a more accurate marker of tumor burden and disease activity. 

PMID- 26877782
TI  - Chemical Conjugation of Evans Blue Derivative: A Strategy to Develop Long-Acting
      Therapeutics through Albumin Binding.
AB  - The efficacy of therapeutic drugs is highly dependent on their optimal in vivo
      pharmacokinetics. Albumin conjugation is considered to be one of the most
      effective means of protracting the short lifespan of peptides and proteins. In
      this study, we proposed a novel platform for developing long lasting therapeutics
      by conjugating a small molecular albumin binding moiety, truncated Evans blue, to
      either peptides or proteins. Using the anti-diabetic peptide drug Exendin-4 as a
      model peptide, we synthesized a new long-acting Exendin-4 derivative (denoted as
      Abextide). Through complexation with albumin in situ, the biological half-life of
      Abextide was significantly extended. The hypoglycemic effect of Abextide was also
      improved remarkably over Exendin-4. Thus, Abextide has considerable potential to
      treat type 2 diabetes. This strategy as a general technology platform can be
      applied to other small molecules and biologics for the development of long-acting
      therapeutic drugs. 

PMID- 26877784
TI  - Measuring HER2-Receptor Expression In Metastatic Breast Cancer Using [68Ga]ABY
      025 Affibody PET/CT.
AB  - PURPOSE: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of HER2 expression could
      potentially be used to select patients for HER2-targed therapy, predict response
      based on uptake and be used for monitoring. In this phase I/II study the HER2
      binding Affibody molecule ABY-025 was labeled with (68)Ga-gallium ([(68)Ga]ABY
      025) for PET to study effect of peptide mass, test-retest variability and
      correlation of quantified uptake in tumors to histopathology. EXPERIMENTAL
      DESIGN: Sixteen women with known metastatic breast cancer and on-going treatment
      were included and underwent FDG PET/CT to identify viable metastases. After iv
      injection of 212+/-46 MBq [(68)Ga]ABY-025 whole-body PET was performed at 1, 2
      and 4 h. In the first 10 patients (6 with HER2-positive and 4 with HER2-negative
      primary tumors), [(68)Ga]ABY-025 PET/CT with two different doses of injected
      peptide was performed one week apart. In the last six patients (5 HER2-positive
      and 1 HER2-negative primary tumors), repeated [(68)Ga]ABY-025 PET were performed
      one week apart as a test-retest of uptake in individual lesions. Biopsies from 16
      metastases in 12 patients were collected for verification of HER2 expression by
      immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization. RESULTS: Imaging 4h after
      injection with high peptide content discriminated HER2-positive metastases best
      (p<0.01). PET SUV correlated with biopsy HER2-scores (r=0.91, p<0.001). Uptake
      was five times higher in HER2-positive than in HER2-negative lesions with no
      overlap (p=0.005). The test-retest intra-class correlation was r=0.996.
      [(68)Ga]ABY-025 PET correctly identified conversion and mixed expression of HER2
      and targeted treatment was changed in 3 of the 16 patients. CONCLUSION:
      [(68)Ga]ABY-025 PET accurately quantifies whole-body HER2-receptor status in
      metastatic breast cancer.

PMID- 26877785
TI  - In vivo MR and Fluorescence Dual-modality Imaging of Atherosclerosis
      Characteristics in Mice Using Profilin-1 Targeted Magnetic Nanoparticles.
AB  - AIMS: This study aims to explore non-invasive imaging of atherosclerotic plaque
      through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) by
      using profilin-1 targeted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PF1-Cy5.5-DMSA-Fe3O4
      NPs, denoted as PC-NPs) as multimodality molecular imaging probe in murine model
      of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: PC-NPs were constructed by conjugating
      polyclonal profilin-1 antibody and NHS-Cy5.5 fluorescent dye to the surface of
      DMSA-Fe3O4-nanoparticles via condensation reaction. Murine atherosclerosis model
      was induced in apoE(-/-) mice by high fat and cholesterol diet (HFD) for 16
      weeks. The plaque areas in aortic artery were detected with Oil Red O staining.
      Immunofluorescent staining and Western blot analysis were applied respectively to
      investigate profilin-1 expression. CCK-8 assay and transwell migration experiment
      were performed to detect vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation. In
      vivo MRI and NIRF imaging of atherosclerotic plaque were carried out before and
      36 h after intravenous injection of PC-NPs. Oil Red O staining showed that the
      plaque area was significantly increased in HFD group (p<0.05). Immunofluorescence
      staining revealed that profilin-1 protein was highly abundant within plaque in
      HFD group and co-localized with alpha-smooth muscle actin. Profilin-1 siRNA
      intervention could inhibit VSMCs proliferation and migration elicited by ox-LDL
      (p<0.05). In vivo MRI and NIRF imaging revealed that PC-NPs accumulated in
      atherosclerotic plaque of carotid artery. There was a good correlation between
      the signals of MRI and ex vivo fluorescence intensities of NIRF imaging in
      animals with PC-NPs injection. CONCLUSION: PC-NPs is a promising dual modality
      imaging probe, which may improve molecular diagnosis of plaque characteristics
      and evaluation of pharmaceutical interventions for atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26877787
TI  - Response to Intervention.
AB  - The purpose of this interdisciplinary paper is to describe Response to
      Intervention (RTI), or multi-tier systems of support, for early literacy to
      improve reading outcomes for students with or at risk for reading disability.
      First we review the current US policy on RTI for the purpose of early literacy
      intervention and for identification of reading disabilities. We situate this
      within recent efforts in developing countries supported by the World Bank and the
      Early Grade Reading Assessments. Then, we highlight a large experimental study we
      conducted with first graders and provide findings from a third grade follow up.
      We conclude with implications for research, practice, and policy.

PMID- 26877788
TI  - Selectively fluorinated cyclohexane building blocks: Derivatives of carbonylated
      all-cis-3-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorocyclohexane.
AB  - Palladium catalysed carbonylation reactions using the meta- and para-iodo
      derivatives of all-cis-3-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorocyclohexane (4) are
      illustrated as the start point for a variety of functional group
      interconversions. The resultant benzaldehyde and benzoic acids offer novel
      building blocks for further derivatisation and facilitate the incorporation of
      the facially polarised all-cis-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorocyclohexane motif into more
      advanced molecular scaffolds. 

PMID- 26877786
TI  - New Perspectives Offered by Nuclear Medicine for the Imaging and Therapy of
      Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - The management of multiple myeloma has fundamentally changed over the years and
      imaging techniques able to match the therapeutic advances are now much needed.
      Although many patients now achieve complete response after first-line treatment,
      relapse is common. Therefore, it would be important to improve the initial
      prognostic stratification and to detect minimal residual disease after treatment.
      (18)F-FDG-PET/CT is a useful imaging tool which has a high prognostic value at
      baseline evaluation and can effectively differentiate active from inactive
      lesions during induction treatment or after autologous stem-cell transplantation.
      In combination with biological data, it improves the prediction of relapse. Other
      PET tracers may soon enter clinical practice and overcome some of the limitations
      of (18)F-FDG, such as the low sensitivity in detecting early bone marrow
      infiltration. Excellent results with (11)C-Methionine are reported by Lapa and
      colleagues in this issue of the Journal. (11)C-Methionine uptake reflects the
      increased protein synthesis of malignant plasmocytes and correlates well with
      bone marrow infiltration. Other promising PET ligands include lipid tracers, such
      as (11)C-Choline or (11)C-acetate, and some peptide tracers, such as (68)Ga
      Pentixafor, that targets CXCR4 (chemokine receptor-4), which is often expressed
      with high density by myeloma cells. Malignant plasma cells are radiosensitive and
      thus potentially amenable to systemic radionuclide therapy. Indeed, excellent
      preclinical results were obtained with radioimmunotherapy targeting CD38. Also,
      preliminary clinical results with peptides targeting CXCR4 (e.g. (177)Lu- or
      (90)Y-Pentixather) are encouraging. Multiple myeloma may represent a renewal of
      the already strong partnership between hematologists and nuclear medicine
      physicians.

PMID- 26877789
TI  - Synthesis and photophysical characteristics of polyfluorene polyrotaxanes.
AB  - Two alternating polyfluorene polyrotaxanes (3.TM-betaCD and 3.TM-gammaCD) have
      been synthesized by the coupling of 2,7-dibromofluorene encapsulated into 2,3,6
      tri-O-methyl-beta- or gamma-cyclodextrin (TM-betaCD, TM-gammaCD) cavities with
      9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diboronic acid bis(1,3-propanediol) ester. Their optical,
      electrochemical and morphological properties have been evaluated and compared to
      those of the non-rotaxane counterpart 3. The influence of TM-betaCD or TM-gammaCD
      encapsulation on the thermal stability, solubility in common organic solvents,
      film forming ability was also investigated. Polyrotaxane 3.TM-betaCD exhibits a
      hypsochromic shift, while 3.TM-gammaCD displays a bathochromic with respect to
      the non-rotaxane 3 counterpart. For the diluted CHCl3 solutions the fluorescence
      lifetimes of all compounds follow a mono-exponential decay with a time constant
      of ~0.6 ns. At higher concentration the fluorescence decay remains mono
      exponential for 3.TM-betaCD and polymers 3, with a lifetime tau = 0.7 ns and 0.8
      ns, whereas the 3.TM-gammaCD polyrotaxane shows a bi-exponential decay consisting
      of a main component (with a weight of 98% of the total luminescence) with a
      relatively short decay constant of tau1 = 0.7 ns and a minor component with a
      longer lifetime of tau2 = 5.4 ns (2%). The electrochemical band gap (DeltaE g )
      of 3.TM-betaCD polyrotaxane is smaller than that of 3.TM-gammaCD and 3,
      respectively. The lower DeltaE g value for 3.TM-betaCD suggests that the
      encapsulation has a greater effect on the reduction process, which affects the
      LUMO energy level value. Based on AFM analysis, 3.TM-betaCD and 3.TM-gammaCD
      polyrotaxane compounds exhibit a granular morphology with lower dispersity and
      smaller roughness exponent of the film surfaces in comparison with those of the
      neat copolymer 3. 

PMID- 26877790
TI  - Synthesis of cyclic N (1)-pentylinosine phosphate, a new structurally reduced
      cADPR analogue with calcium-mobilizing activity on PC12 cells.
AB  - Cyclic N (1)-pentylinosine monophosphate (cpIMP), a novel simplified inosine
      derivative of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) in which the N (1)-pentyl chain and the
      monophosphate group replace the northern ribose and the pyrophosphate moieties,
      respectively, was synthesized. The role played by the position of the phosphate
      group in the key cyclization step, which consists in the formation of a
      phosphodiester bond, was thoroughly investigated. We have also examined the
      influence of the phosphate bridge on the ability of cpIMP to mobilize Ca(2+) in
      PC12 neuronal cells in comparison with the pyrophosphate bridge present in the
      cyclic N (1)-pentylinosine diphosphate analogue (cpIDP) previously synthesized in
      our laboratories. The preliminary biological tests indicated that cpIMP and cpIDP
      induce a rapid increase of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in PC12 neuronal
      cells. 

PMID- 26877791
TI  - Enantioselective additions of copper acetylides to cyclic iminium and
      oxocarbenium ions.
AB  - The development of enantioselective, copper-catalyzed alkynylations of cyclic
      iminium and oxocarbenium ions is reviewed. The use of chiral copper-based
      catalysts has enabled high yields and enantioselectivites in the formation of
      nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles with alpha-stereogenic centers. This
      review highlights both the accomplishments and the future work needed in this
      important area. 

PMID- 26877792
TI  - Genicunolide A, B and C: three new triterpenoids from Euphorbia geniculata.
AB  - Three new triterpenoids, designated as genicunolide A (1), B (2) and C (3), along
      with friedelin (4) and friedelinol (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of
      Euphorbia geniculata. They were characterized as 1beta-acetoxy-3beta-hydroxy
      11alpha,12alpha-oxidotaraxer-14-ene, 1beta,3beta-diacetoxy-21alpha-hydroxy
      11alpha,12alpha-oxidotaraxer-14-ene and 3beta,9alpha,20alpha-trihydroxy-Psi
      taraxast-5-ene, respectively, by spectral and chemical methods. 

PMID- 26877793
TI  - Learning from the unexpected in life and DNA self-assembly.
AB  - The greatest lessons in life and science often arise from the unexpected. Thus,
      rather than viewing these experiences as hindering our progress, they should be
      embraced and appreciated for their ability to lead to new discoveries. In this
      perspective, I will discuss the unexpected events that have shaped my career path
      and the early stages of my independent research program. 

PMID- 26877794
TI  - Copper-catalyzed aminooxygenation of styrenes with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide and
      N-hydroxyphthalimide derivatives.
AB  - A copper-catalyzed aminooxygenation reaction of styrenes with N
      fluorobenzenesulfonimide and N-hydroxyphthalimide derivatives has been developed.
      The aminooxygenation product could be converted into the corresponding alcohol or
      free amine through the cleavage of the N-O or C-N bond of the N
      hydroxyphthalimide moiety. 

PMID- 26877795
TI  - Direct estimate of the internal pi-donation to the carbene centre within N
      heterocyclic carbenes and related molecules.
AB  - Fifteen cyclic and acylic carbenes have been calculated with density functional
      theory at the BP86/def2-TZVPP level. The strength of the internal X->p(pi) pi
      donation of heteroatoms and carbon which are bonded to the C(II) atom is
      estimated with the help of NBO calculations and with an energy decomposition
      analysis. The investigated molecules include N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), the
      cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (cAAC), mesoionic carbenes and ylide-stabilized
      carbenes. The bonding analysis suggests that the carbene centre in cAAC and in
      diamidocarbene have the weakest X->p(pi) pi-donation while mesoionic carbenes
      possess the strongest pi-donation. 

PMID- 26877797
TI  - Recent advances in metathesis-derived polymers containing transition metals in
      the side chain.
AB  - This account critically surveys the field of side-chain transition metal
      containing polymers as prepared by controlled living ring-opening metathesis
      polymerization (ROMP) of the respective metal-incorporating monomers. Ferrocene-
      and other metallocene-modified polymers, macromolecules including metal-carbonyl
      complexes, polymers tethering early or late transition metal complexes, etc. are
      herein discussed. Recent advances in the design and syntheses reported mainly
      during the last three years are highlighted, with special emphasis on new trends
      for superior applications of these hybrid materials. 

PMID- 26877796
TI  - Pyridylidene ligand facilitates gold-catalyzed oxidative C-H arylation of
      heterocycles.
AB  - Triaryl-2-pyridylidene effectively facilitates the gold-catalyzed oxidative C-H
      arylation of heteroarenes with arylsilanes as a unique electron-donating ligand
      on gold. The employment of the 2-pyridylidene ligand, which is one of the
      strongest electron-donating N-heterocyclic carbenes, resulted in the rate
      acceleration of the C-H arylation reaction of heterocycles over conventional
      ligands such as triphenylphosphine and a classical N-heterocyclic carbene. In
      situ observation and isolation of the 2-pyridylidene-gold(III) species, as well
      as a DFT study, indicated unusual stability of gold(III) species stabilized by
      strong electron donation from the 2-pyridylidene ligand. Thus, the gold(I)-to
      gold(III) oxidation process is thought to be facilitated by the highly electron
      donating 2-pyridylidene ligand. 

PMID- 26877798
TI  - Physical properties and biological activities of hesperetin and naringenin in
      complex with methylated beta-cyclodextrin.
AB  - The aim of this work is to improve physical properties and biological activities
      of the two flavanones hesperetin and naringenin by complexation with beta
      cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and its methylated derivatives (2,6-di-O-methyl-beta
      cyclodextrin, DM-beta-CD and randomly methylated-beta-CD, RAMEB). The free
      energies of inclusion complexes between hesperetin with cyclodextrins (beta-CD
      and DM-beta-CD) were theoretically investigated by molecular dynamics simulation.
      The free energy values obtained suggested a more stable inclusion complex with DM
      beta-CD. The vdW force is the main guest-host interaction when hesperetin binds
      with CDs. The phase solubility diagram showed the formation of a soluble complex
      of AL type, with higher increase in solubility and stability when hesperetin and
      naringenin were complexed with RAMEB. Solid complexes were prepared by freeze
      drying, and the data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the
      formation of inclusion complexes. The data obtained by the dissolution method
      showed that complexation with RAMEB resulted in a better release of both
      flavanones to aqueous solution. The flavanones-beta-CD/DM-beta-CD complexes
      demonstrated a similar or a slight increase in anti-inflammatory activity and
      cytotoxicity towards three different cancer cell lines. The overall results
      suggested that solubilities and bioactivities of both flavanones were increased
      by complexation with methylated beta-CDs. 

PMID- 26877799
TI  - Bright molecules for sensing, computing and imaging: a tale of two once-troubled
      cities.
AB  - The circumstances in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which
      led to a) the generalization of luminescent PET (photoinduced electron transfer)
      sensing/switching as a design tool, b) the construction of a market-leading blood
      electrolyte analyzer and c) the invention of molecular logic-based computation as
      an experimental field, are delineated. Efforts to extend the philosophy of these
      approaches into issues of small object identification, nanometric mapping, animal
      visual perception and visual art are also outlined. 

PMID- 26877800
TI  - Polydisperse methyl beta-cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin polymers: variable contact
      time (13)C CP-MAS solid-state NMR characterization.
AB  - The polymerization of partially methylated beta-cyclodextrin (CRYSMEB) with
      epichlorohydrin was carried out in the presence of a known amount of toluene as
      imprinting agent. Three different preparations (D1, D2 and D3) of imprinted
      polymers were obtained and characterized by solid-state (13)C NMR spectroscopy
      under cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) conditions. The polymers
      were prepared by using the same synthetic conditions but with different molar
      ratios of imprinting agent/monomer, leading to morphologically equivalent
      materials but with different absorption properties. The main purpose of the work
      was to find a suitable spectroscopic descriptor accounting for the different
      imprinting process in three homogeneous polymeric networks. The polymers were
      characterized by studying the kinetics of the cross-polarization process. This
      approach is based on variable contact time CP-MAS spectra, referred to as VCP
      MAS. The analysis of the VCP-MAS spectra provided two relaxation parameters: T CH
      (the CP time constant) and T 1rho (the proton spin-lattice relaxation time in the
      rotating frame). The results and the analysis presented in the paper pointed out
      that T CH is sensitive to the imprinting process, showing variations related to
      the toluene/cyclodextrin molar ratio used for the preparation of the materials.
      Conversely, the observed values of T 1rho did not show dramatic variations with
      the imprinting protocol, but rather confirmed that the three polymers are
      morphologically similar. Thus the combined use of T CH and T 1rho can be helpful
      for the characterization and fine tuning of imprinted polymeric matrices. 

PMID- 26877801
TI  - New metathesis catalyst bearing chromanyl moieties at the N-heterocyclic carbene
      ligand.
AB  - The synthesis of a new type of Hoveyda-Grubbs 2(nd) generation catalyst bearing a
      modified N-heterocyclic carbene ligands is reported. The new catalyst contains an
      NHC ligand symmetrically substituted with chromanyl moieties. The complex was
      tested in model CM and RCM reactions. It showed very high activity in CM
      reactions with electron-deficient alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds even at 0 
      degrees C. It was also examined in more demanding systems such as conjugated
      dienes and polyenes. The catalyst is stable, storable and easy to purify. 

PMID- 26877802
TI  - A convergent, umpoled synthesis of 2-(1-amidoalkyl)pyridines.
AB  - A convenient, one-pot, two-component synthesis of 2-(1-amidoalkyl)pyridines is
      reported, based upon the substitution of suitably-activated pyridine N-oxides by
      azlactone nucleophiles, followed by decarboxylative azlactone ring-opening. The
      synthesis obviates the need for precious metal catalysts to achieve a formal
      enolate arylation reaction, and constitutes a formally 'umpoled' approach to this
      valuable class of bioactive structures. 

PMID- 26877803
TI  - Effective immobilisation of a metathesis catalyst bearing an ammonium-tagged NHC
      ligand on various solid supports.
AB  - An ammonium-tagged ruthenium complex, 8, was deposited on several widely
      available commercial solid materials such as silica gel, alumina, cotton, filter
      paper, iron powder or palladium on carbon. The resulting catalysts were tested in
      toluene or ethyl acetate, and found to afford metathesis products in high yield
      and with extremely low ruthenium contamination. Depending on the support used,
      immobilised catalyst 8 shows also additional traits, such as the possibility of
      being magnetically separated or the use for metathesis and subsequent reduction
      of the obtained double bond in one pot. 

PMID- 26877804
TI  - Facile synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives via base-mediated annulation of ortho
      hydroxychalcones and 2-bromoallyl sulfones.
AB  - The cesium carbonate-mediated reaction of 2-bromoallyl sulfones and ortho
      hydroxychalcones furnished 3-arylsulfonyl-4H-chromene derivatives in 58-67% yield
      (18 examples). 2-Bromoallyl sulfones functioned as synthetic surrogates for
      allenyl sulfones in the reaction. 

PMID- 26877805
TI  - Copper-catalyzed intermolecular oxyamination of olefins using carboxylic acids
      and O-benzoylhydroxylamines.
AB  - This paper reports a novel approach for the direct and facile synthesis of 1,2
      oxyamino moieties via an intermolecular copper-catalyzed oxyamination of olefins.
      This strategy utilizes O-benzoylhydroxylamines as an electrophilic amine source
      and carboxylic acids as a nucleophilic oxygen source to achieve a modular
      difunctionalization of olefins. The reaction proceeded in a regioselective manner
      with moderate to good yields, exhibiting a broad scope of carboxylic acid, amine,
      and olefin substrates. 

PMID- 26877806
TI  - Determination of formation constants and structural characterization of
      cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with two phenolic isomers: carvacrol and thymol.
AB  - Carvacrol and thymol have been widely studied for their ability to control food
      spoilage and to extend shelf-life of food products due to their antimicrobial and
      antioxidant activities. However, they suffer from poor aqueous solubility and
      pronounced flavoring ability that limit their application in food systems. These
      drawbacks could be surpassed by encapsulation in cyclodextrins (CDs).
      Applications of their inclusion complexes with CDs were reported without
      investigating the inclusion phenomenon in deep. In this study, inclusion
      complexes were characterized in terms of formation constants (K f), complexation
      efficiency (CE), CD:guest molar ratio and increase in bulk formulation by using
      an UV-visible competitive method, phase solubility studies as well as (1)H and
      DOSY (1)H NMR titration experiments. For the first time, a new algorithmic
      treatment that combines the chemical shifts and diffusion coefficients variations
      for all guest protons was applied to calculate K f. The position of the hydroxy
      group in carvacrol and thymol did not affect the stoichiometry of the inclusion
      complexes but led to a different binding stability with CDs. 2D ROESY NMR
      experiments were also performed to prove the encapsulation and illustrate the
      stable 3D conformation of the inclusion complexes. The structural investigation
      was accomplished with molecular modeling studies. Finally, the radical scavenging
      activity of carvacrol and thymol was evaluated by the ABTS radical scavenging
      assay. An improvement of this activity was observed upon encapsulation. Taken
      together, these results evidence that the encapsulation in CDs could be valuable
      for applications of carvacrol and thymol in food. 

PMID- 26877807
TI  - Solving the puzzling competition of the thermal C(2)-C(6) vs Myers-Saito
      cyclization of enyne-carbodiimides.
AB  - The mechanism of the thermal cyclization of enyne-carbodiimides 7a-c has been
      studied computationally by applying the DFT method. The results indicate that
      enyne-carbodiimides preferentially follow the C(2)-C(6) (Schmittel) cyclization
      pathway in a concerted fashion although the Myers-Saito diradical formation is
      kinetically preferred. The experimentally verified preference of the C(2)-C(6)
      over the Myers-Saito pathway is guided by the inability of the Myers-Saito
      diradical to kinetically compete in the rate-determining trapping reactions,
      either inter- or intramolecular, with the concerted C(2)-C(6) cyclization. As
      demonstrated with enyne-carbodiimide 11, the Myers-Saito channel can be made the
      preferred pathway if the trapping reaction by hydrogen transfer is no more rate
      determining. 

PMID- 26877808
TI  - Supramolecular polymer assembly in aqueous solution arising from cyclodextrin
      host-guest complexation.
AB  - The employment of cyclodextrin host-guest complexation to construct
      supramolecular assemblies with an emphasis on polymer networks is reviewed. The
      main driving force for this supramolecular assembly is host-guest complexation
      between cyclodextrin hosts and guest groups either of which may be discrete
      molecular species or substituents on a polymer backbone. The effects of such
      complexation on properties at the molecular and macroscopic levels are discussed.
      It is shown that cyclodextrin complexation may be used to design functional
      polymer materials with tailorable properties, especially for photo-, pH-, thermo-
      and redox-responsiveness and self-healing. 

PMID- 26877809
TI  - Aggregation behavior of amphiphilic cyclodextrins in a nonpolar solvent: evidence
      of large-scale structures by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and
      solution studies.
AB  - Chemically modified cyclodextrins carrying both hydrophobic and hydrophilic
      substituents may form supramolecular aggregates or nanostructures of great
      interest. These systems have been usually investigated and characterized in water
      for their potential use as nanocarriers for drug delivery, but they can also
      aggregate in apolar solvents, as shown in the present paper through atomistic
      molecular dynamics simulations and dynamic light scattering measurements. The
      simulations, carried out with a large number of molecules in vacuo adopting an
      unbiased bottom-up approach, suggest the formation of bidimensional structures
      with characteristic length scales of the order of 10 nm, although some of these
      sizes are possibly affected by the assumed periodicity of the simulation cell, in
      particular at longer lengths. In any case, these nanostructures are stable at
      least from the kinetic viewpoint for relatively long times thanks to the large
      number of intermolecular interactions of dipolar and dispersive nature. The
      dynamic light scattering experiments indicate the presence of aggregates with a
      hydrodynamic radius of the order of 80 nm and a relatively modest polydispersity,
      even though smaller nanometer-sized aggregates cannot be fully ruled out. Taken
      together, these simulation and experimental results indicate that amphiphilically
      modified cyclodextrins do also form large-scale nanoaggregates even in apolar
      solvents. 

PMID- 26877810
TI  - N-Methylphthalimide-substituted benzimidazolium salts and PEPPSI Pd-NHC
      complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity in carbon-carbon
      bond-forming reactions.
AB  - A series of novel benzimidazolium salts (1-4) and their pyridine enhanced
      precatalyst preparation stabilization and initiation (PEPPSI) themed palladium N
      heterocyclic carbene complexes [PdCl2(NHC)(Py)] (5-8), where NHC = 1-(N
      methylphthalimide)-3-alkylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene and Py = 3-chloropyridine,
      were synthesized and characterized by means of (1)H and (13)C{(1)H} NMR, UV-vis
      (for 5-8), ESI-FTICR-MS (for 2, 4, 6-8) and FTIR spectroscopic methods and
      elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were tested in Suzuki-Miyaura cross
      coupling (for 1-8) and arylation (for 5-8) reactions. As catalysts, they
      demonstrated a highly efficient route for the formation of asymmetric biaryl
      compounds even though they were used in very low loading. For example, all
      compounds displayed good catalytic activity for the C-C bond formation of 4-tert
      butylphenylboronic acid with 4-chlorotoluene. 

PMID- 26877811
TI  - Hydroquinone-pyrrole dyads with varied linkers.
AB  - A series of pyrroles functionalized in the 3-position with p-dimethoxybenzene via
      various linkers (CH2, CH2CH2, CH=CH, C=C) has been synthesized. Their electronic
      properties have been deduced from (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and UV-vis spectra to
      detect possible interactions between the two aromatic subunits. The extent of
      conjugation between the subunits is largely controlled by the nature of the
      linker, with the largest conjugation found with the trans-ethene linker and the
      weakest with the aliphatic linkers. DFT calculations revealed substantial changes
      in the HOMO-LUMO gap that correlated with the extent of conjugation found
      experimentally. The results of this work are expected to open up for use of the
      investigated compounds as components of redox-active materials in sustainable,
      organic electrical energy storage devices. 

PMID- 26877812
TI  - Supramolecular structures based on regioisomers of cinnamyl-alpha-cyclodextrins -
      new media for capillary separation techniques.
AB  - This work focuses on the preparation and application of supramolecular structures
      based on mono-cinnamyl-alpha-cyclodextrins (Cin-alpha-CD). Pure regioisomers of
      Cin-alpha-CD having the cinnamyl moiety at the 2-O- or at the 3-O-position,
      respectively, were prepared, characterized and applied in capillary
      electrophoresis as additives to the background electrolyte. These new monomer
      units with a potential to self-organize into supramolecular structures were
      synthesized via a straightforward one-step synthetic procedure and purified using
      preparative reversed-phase chromatography allowing a large scale separation of
      the regioisomers. The ability of the monomers to self-assemble was proved by
      various methods including NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS).
      The light scattering experiments showed that the monomer units have
      distinguishable ability to form supramolecular structures in different solvents
      and the size distribution of the aggregates in water can be easily modulated
      using different external stimuli, such as temperature or competitive guest
      molecules. The obtained results indicated that the two regioisomers of Cin-alpha
      CD formed different supramolecular assemblies highlighting the fact that the
      position of the cinnamyl group plays an important role in the intermolecular
      complex formation. 

PMID- 26877813
TI  - Synthesis and reactivity of aliphatic sulfur pentafluorides from substituted
      (pentafluorosulfanyl)benzenes.
AB  - Oxidation of 3- and 4-pentafluorosulfanyl-substituted anisoles and phenols with
      hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid provided a mixture of SF5-substituted
      muconolactone, maleic, and succinic acids. A plausible mechanism for the
      formation of the aliphatic SF5 compounds was presented and their chemical
      reactivity was investigated. SF5-substituted para-benzoquinone was synthesized;
      its oxidation led to an improved yield of 2-(pentafluorosulfanyl)maleic acid. The
      reaction of SF5-substituted maleic anhydride and para-benzoquinone with
      cyclopentadiene afforded the Diels-Alder adducts. Decomposition of 3
      (pentafluorosulfanyl)muconolactone in acidic, neutral and basic aqueous media was
      investigated and the decarboxylation of 2-(pentafluorosulfanyl)maleic acid
      provided 3-(pentafluorosulfanyl)acrylic acid. 

PMID- 26877814
TI  - Versatile deprotonated NHC: C,N-bridged dinuclear iridium and rhodium complexes.
AB  - Bearing the versatility of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, here density
      functional theory (DFT) calculations unravel the capacity of coordination of a
      deprotonated NHC ligand (pNHC) to generate a doubly C2,N3-bridged dinuclear
      complex. Here, in particular the discussion is based on the combination of the
      deprotonated 1-arylimidazol (aryl = mesityl (Mes)) with [M(cod)(MU-Cl)] (M = Ir,
      Rh) generated two geometrical isomers of complex [M(cod){u-C3H2N2(Mes)
      kappaC2,kappaN3}]2). The latter two isomers display conformations head-to-head (H
      H) and head-to-tail (H-T) of C S and C 2 symmetry, respectively. The
      isomerization from the H-H to the H-T conformation is feasible, whereas next
      substitutions of the cod ligand by CO first, and PMe3 later confirm the H-T
      coordination as the thermodynamically preferred. It is envisaged the exchange of
      the metal, from iridium to rhodium, confirming here the innocence of the nature
      of the metal for such arrangements of the bridging ligands. 

PMID- 26877816
TI  - Diastereoselective Ugi reaction of chiral 1,3-aminoalcohols derived from an
      organocatalytic Mannich reaction.
AB  - Enantiomerically pure beta-aminoalcohols, produced through an organocatalytic
      Mannich reaction, were subjected to an Ugi multicomponent reaction under
      classical or Lewis acid-promoted conditions with diastereoselectivities ranging
      from moderate to good. This approach represents a step-economical path to
      enantiomerically pure, polyfunctionalized peptidomimetics endowed with three
      stereogenic centers, allowing the introduction of five diversity inputs. 

PMID- 26877815
TI  - A journey in bioinspired supramolecular chemistry: from molecular tweezers to
      small molecules that target myotonic dystrophy.
AB  - This review summarizes part of the author's research in the area of
      supramolecular chemistry, beginning with his early life influences and early
      career efforts in molecular recognition, especially molecular tweezers. Although
      designed to complex DNA, these hosts proved more applicable to the field of host
      guest chemistry. This early experience and interest in intercalation ultimately
      led to the current efforts to develop small molecule therapeutic agents for
      myotonic dystrophy using a rational design approach that heavily relies on
      principles of supramolecular chemistry. How this work was influenced by that of
      others in the field and the evolution of each area of research is highlighted
      with selected examples. 

PMID- 26877817
TI  - Base metal-catalyzed benzylic oxidation of (aryl)(heteroaryl)methanes with
      molecular oxygen.
AB  - The methylene group of various substituted 2- and 4-benzylpyridines,
      benzyldiazines and benzyl(iso)quinolines was successfully oxidized to the
      corresponding benzylic ketones using a copper or iron catalyst and molecular
      oxygen as the stoichiometric oxidant. Application of the protocol in API
      synthesis is exemplified by the alternative synthesis of a precursor to the
      antimalarial drug Mefloquine. The oxidation method can also be used to prepare
      metabolites of APIs which is illustrated for the natural product papaverine. ICP
      MS analysis of the purified reaction products revealed that the base metal
      impurity was well below the regulatory limit. 

PMID- 26877819
TI  - Spiro-fused carbohydrate oxazoline ligands: Synthesis and application as enantio
      discrimination agents in asymmetric allylic alkylation.
AB  - In the present work, we describe a convenient synthesis of spiro-fused D-fructo-
      and D-psico-configurated oxazoline ligands and their application in asymmetric
      catalysis. The ligands were synthesized from readily available 3,4,5-tri-O-benzyl
      1,2-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-fructopyranose and 3,4,5-tri-O-benzyl-1,2-O
      isopropylidene-beta-D-psicopyranose, respectively. The latter compounds were
      partially deprotected under acidic conditions followed by condensation with
      thiocyanic acid to give an anomeric mixture of the corresponding 1,3-oxazolidine
      2-thiones. The anomeric 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones were separated after successive
      benzylation, fully characterized and subjected to palladium catalyzed Suzuki
      Miyaura coupling with 2-pyridineboronic acid N-phenyldiethanolamine ester to give
      the corresponding 2-pyridyl spiro-oxazoline (PyOx) ligands. The spiro-oxazoline
      ligands showed high asymmetric induction (up to 93% ee) when applied as chiral
      ligands in palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylallyl acetate
      with dimethyl malonate. The D-fructo-PyOx ligand provided mainly the (R)
      enantiomer while the D-psico-configurated ligand gave the (S)-enantiomer with a
      lower enantiomeric excess. 

PMID- 26877818
TI  - Simple activation by acid of latent Ru-NHC-based metathesis initiators bearing 8
      quinolinolate co-ligands.
AB  - A straightforward synthesis utilizing the ring-opening metathesis polymerization
      (ROMP) reaction is described for acid-triggered N,O-chelating ruthenium-based pre
      catalysts bearing one or two 8-quinolinolate ligands. The innovative pre
      catalysts were tested regarding their behavior in ROMP and especially for their
      use in the synthesis of poly(dicyclopentadiene) (pDCPD). Bearing either the
      common phosphine leaving ligand in the first and second Grubbs olefin metathesis
      catalysts, or the Ru-O bond cleavage for the next Hoveyda-type catalysts, this
      work is a step forward towards the control of polymer functionalization and
      living or switchable polymerizations. 

PMID- 26877820
TI  - Genomic sequencing of a dyslexia susceptibility haplotype encompassing ROBO1.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The DYX5 locus for developmental dyslexia was mapped to chromosome 3
      by linkage study of a large Finnish family, and later, roundabout guidance
      receptor 1 (ROBO1) was implicated as a candidate gene at DYX5 with suppressed
      expression from the segregating rare haplotype. A functional
      magnetoencephalographic study of several family members revealed abnormal
      auditory processing of interaural interaction, supporting a defect in midline
      crossing of auditory pathways. In the current study, we have characterized
      genetic variation in the broad ROBO1 gene region in the DYX5-linked family,
      aiming to identify variants that would increase our understanding of the altered
      expression of ROBO1. METHODS: We have used a whole genome sequencing strategy on
      a pooled sample of 19 individuals in combination with two individually sequenced
      genomes. The discovered genetic variants were annotated and filtered.
      Subsequently, the most interesting variants were functionally tested using
      relevant methods, including electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA),
      luciferase assay, and gene knockdown by lentiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) in
      lymphoblasts. RESULTS: We found one novel intronic single nucleotide variant
      (SNV) and three novel intergenic SNVs in the broad region of ROBO1 that were
      specific to the dyslexia susceptibility haplotype. Functional testing by EMSA did
      not support the binding of transcription factors to three of the SNVs, but one of
      the SNVs was bound by the LIM homeobox 2 (LHX2) protein, with increased binding
      affinity for the non-reference allele. Knockdown of LHX2 in lymphoblast cell
      lines extracted from subjects from the DYX5-linked family showed decreasing
      expression of ROBO1, supporting the idea that LHX2 regulates ROBO1 also in human.
      CONCLUSIONS: The discovered variants may explain the segregation of dyslexia in
      this family, but the effect appears subtle in the experimental settings. Their
      impact on the developing human brain remains suggestive based on the association
      and subtle experimental support.

PMID- 26877823
TI  - TRANSPOSABLE REGULARIZED COVARIANCE MODELS WITH AN APPLICATION TO MISSING DATA
      IMPUTATION.
AB  - Missing data estimation is an important challenge with high-dimensional data
      arranged in the form of a matrix. Typically this data matrix is transposable,
      meaning that either the rows, columns or both can be treated as features. To
      model transposable data, we present a modification of the matrix-variate normal,
      the mean-restricted matrix-variate normal, in which the rows and columns each
      have a separate mean vector and covariance matrix. By placing additive penalties
      on the inverse covariance matrices of the rows and columns, these so called
      transposable regularized covariance models allow for maximum likelihood
      estimation of the mean and non-singular covariance matrices. Using these models,
      we formulate EM-type algorithms for missing data imputation in both the
      multivariate and transposable frameworks. We present theoretical results
      exploiting the structure of our transposable models that allow these models and
      imputation methods to be applied to high-dimensional data. Simulations and
      results on microarray data and the Netflix data show that these imputation
      techniques often outperform existing methods and offer a greater degree of
      flexibility.

PMID- 26877821
TI  - Identification of the epigenetic reader CBX2 as a potential drug target in
      advanced prostate cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While localized prostate cancer (PCa) can be effectively cured,
      metastatic disease inevitably progresses to a lethal state called castration
      resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant
      epigenetic repression by the polycomb group (PcG) complexes fuels PCa
      progression, providing novel therapeutic opportunities. RESULTS: In the search
      for potential epigenetic drivers of CRPC, we analyzed the molecular profile of
      PcG members in patient-derived xenografts and clinical samples. Overall, our
      results identify the PcG protein and methyl-lysine reader CBX2 as a potential
      therapeutic target in advanced PCa. We report that CBX2 was recurrently up
      regulated in metastatic CRPC and that elevated CBX2 expression was correlated
      with poor clinical outcome in PCa cohorts. Furthermore, CBX2 depletion abrogated
      cell viability and induced caspase 3-mediated apoptosis in metastatic PCa cell
      lines. Mechanistically explaining this phenotype, microarray analysis in CBX2
      depleted cells revealed that CBX2 controls the expression of many key regulators
      of cell proliferation and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, this study
      provides the first evidence that CBX2 inhibition induces cancer cell death,
      positioning CBX2 as an attractive drug target in lethal CRPC.

PMID- 26877822
TI  - Patterns of Alcohol Policy Enforcement Activities among Local Law Enforcement
      Agencies: A Latent Class Analysis.
AB  - AIMS: We assessed levels and patterns of alcohol policy enforcement activities
      among U.S. local law enforcement agencies. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: We
      conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 1,631 local law
      enforcement agencies across the 50 states. MEASURES/METHODS: We assessed 29
      alcohol policy enforcement activities within each of five enforcement domains
      underage alcohol possession/consumption, underage alcohol provision, underage
      alcohol sales, impaired driving, and overservice of alcohol-and conducted a
      series of latent class analyses to identify unique classes or patterns of
      enforcement activity for each domain. FINDINGS: We identified three to four
      unique enforcement activity classes for each of the enforcement domains. In four
      of the domains, we identified a Uniformly Low class (i.e., little or no
      enforcement) and a Uniformly High enforcement activity class (i.e., relatively
      high levels of enforcement), with one or two middle classes where some but not
      all activities were conducted. The underage provision domain had a Uniformly Low
      class but not a Uniformly High class. The Uniformly Low class was the most
      prevalent class in three domains: underage provision (58%), underage sales (61%),
      and overservice (79%). In contrast, less than a quarter of agencies were in
      Uniformly High classes. CONCLUSIONS: We identified qualitatively distinct
      patterns of enforcement activity, with a large proportion of agencies in classes
      characterized by little or no enforcement and fewer agencies in high enforcement
      classes. An important next step is to determine if these patterns are associated
      with rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related injury and mortality.

PMID- 26877824
TI  - A MARKOV RANDOM FIELD-BASED APPROACH TO CHARACTERIZING HUMAN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
      USING SPATIAL-TEMPORAL TRANSCRIPTOME DATA.
AB  - Human neurodevelopment is a highly regulated biological process. In this article,
      we study the dynamic changes of neurodevelopment through the analysis of human
      brain microarray data, sampled from 16 brain regions in 15 time periods of
      neurodevelopment. We develop a two-step inferential procedure to identify
      expressed and unexpressed genes and to detect differentially expressed genes
      between adjacent time periods. Markov Random Field (MRF) models are used to
      efficiently utilize the information embedded in brain region similarity and
      temporal dependency in our approach. We develop and implement a Monte Carlo
      expectation-maximization (MCEM) algorithm to estimate the model parameters.
      Simulation studies suggest that our approach achieves lower misclassification
      error and potential gain in power compared with models not incorporating spatial
      similarity and temporal dependency.

PMID- 26877825
TI  - Geometry of alpha-Cr2O3(0001) as a Function of H2O Partial Pressure.
AB  - Surface X-ray diffraction has been employed to elucidate the surface structure of
      alpha-Cr2O3(0001) as a function of water partial pressure at room temperature. In
      ultra high vacuum, following exposure to ~2000 Langmuir of H2O, the surface is
      found to be terminated by a partially occupied double layer of chromium atoms. No
      evidence of adsorbed OH/H2O is found, which is likely due to either adsorption at
      minority sites, or X-ray induced desorption. At a water partial pressure of ~30
      mbar, a single OH/H2O species is found to be bound atop each surface Cr atom.
      This adsorption geometry does not agree with that predicted by ab initio
      calculations, which may be a result of some differences between the experimental
      conditions and those modeled.

PMID- 26877826
TI  - Chemical Interaction, Space-charge Layer and Molecule Charging Energy for a
      TiO2/TCNQ Interface.
AB  - Three driving forces control the energy level alignment between transition-metal
      oxides and organic materials: the chemical interaction between the two materials,
      the organic electronegativity and the possible space charge layer formed in the
      oxide. This is illustrated in this study by analyzing experimentally and
      theoretically a paradigmatic case, the TiO2(110) / TCNQ interface: due to the
      chemical interaction between the two materials, the organic electron affinity
      level is located below the Fermi energy of the n-doped TiO2. Then, one electron
      is transferred from the oxide to this level and a space charge layer is developed
      in the oxide inducing an important increase in the interface dipole and in the
      oxide work-function.

PMID- 26877827
TI  - Ambient Pressure XPS Study of Mixed Conducting Perovskite-Type SOFC Cathode and
      Anode Materials under Well-Defined Electrochemical Polarization.
AB  - The oxygen exchange activity of mixed conducting oxide surfaces has been widely
      investigated, but a detailed understanding of the corresponding reaction
      mechanisms and the rate-limiting steps is largely still missing. Combined in situ
      investigation of electrochemically polarized model electrode surfaces under
      realistic temperature and pressure conditions by near-ambient pressure (NAP) XPS
      and impedance spectroscopy enables very surface-sensitive chemical analysis and
      may detect species that are involved in the rate-limiting step. In the present
      study, acceptor-doped perovskite-type La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta (LSC), La0.6Sr0.4FeO3
      delta (LSF), and SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3-delta (STF) thin film model electrodes were
      investigated under well-defined electrochemical polarization as cathodes in
      oxidizing (O2) and as anodes in reducing (H2/H2O) atmospheres. In oxidizing
      atmosphere all materials exhibit additional surface species of strontium and
      oxygen. The polaron-type electronic conduction mechanism of LSF and STF and the
      metal-like mechanism of LSC are reflected by distinct differences in the valence
      band spectra. Switching between oxidizing and reducing atmosphere as well as
      electrochemical polarization cause reversible shifts in the measured binding
      energy. This can be correlated to a Fermi level shift due to variations in the
      chemical potential of oxygen. Changes of oxidation states were detected on Fe,
      which appears as FeIII in oxidizing atmosphere and as mixed FeII/III in H2/H2O.
      Cathodic polarization in reducing atmosphere leads to the reversible formation of
      a catalytically active Fe0 phase.

PMID- 26877828
TI  - High-Temperature Carbon Deposition on Oxide Surfaces by CO Disproportionation.
AB  - Carbon deposition due to the inverse Boudouard reaction (2CO -> CO2 + C) has been
      studied on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), Y2O3, and ZrO2 in comparison to CH4
      by a variety of different chemical, structural, and spectroscopic
      characterization techniques, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
      (EIS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and imaging, Raman
      spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. Consentaneously, all experimental methods
      prove the formation of a more or less conducting carbon layer (depending on the
      used oxide) of disordered nanocrystalline graphite covering the individual grains
      of the respective pure oxides after treatment in flowing CO at temperatures above
      ~1023 K. All measurements show that during carbon deposition, a more or less
      substantial surface reduction of the oxides takes place. These results,
      therefore, reveal that the studied pure oxides can act as efficient nonmetallic
      substrates for CO-induced growth of highly distorted graphitic carbon with
      possible important technological implications especially with respect to
      treatment in pure CO or CO-rich syngas mixtures. Compared to CH4, more carbon is
      generally deposited in CO under otherwise similar experimental conditions.
      Although Raman and electron microscopy measurements do not show substantial
      differences in the structure of the deposited carbon layers, in particular,
      electrochemical impedance measurements reveal major differences in the dynamic
      growth process of the carbon layer, eventually leading to less percolated islands
      and suppressed metallic conductivity in comparison to CH4-induced graphite.

PMID- 26877829
TI  - Enthalpy Effect of Adding Cobalt to Liquid Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu Lead-Free Solder Alloy:
      Difference between Bulk and Nanosized Cobalt.
AB  - Heat effects for the addition of Co in bulk and nanosized forms into the liquid
      Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu alloy were studied using drop calorimetry at four temperatures
      between 673 and 1173 K. Significant differences in the heat effects between nano
      and bulk Co additions were observed. The considerably more exothermic values of
      the measured enthalpy for nano Co additions are connected with the loss of the
      surface enthalpy of the nanoparticles due to the elimination of the surface of
      the nanoparticles upon their dissolution in the liquid alloy. This effect is
      shown to be independent of the calorimeter temperature (it depends only on the
      dropping temperature through the temperature dependence of the surface energy of
      the nanoparticles). Integral and partial enthalpies of mixing for Co in the
      liquid SAC-alloy were evaluated from the experimental data.

PMID- 26877830
TI  - Phosphodiesterase 6beta Expression In Developing Mouse Retina.
AB  - The rd1 mouse is a well-studied model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited
      retinal degenerative disease affecting approximately 1 in 4000 people. It is
      characterized by a mutation in the Pde6b gene that codes for Phosphodiesterase
      6beta (PDE6beta), a downstream effector of phototransduction. Pde6b gene
      expression occurs embryonically in mouse retina, whereas other proteins involved
      in phototransduction are expressed around postnatal day 5 (P5). The primary aim
      of this study is to investigate the temporal and spatial expression pattern of
      PDE6beta protein during photoreceptor development. Using Western blots with wild
      type and rd1 mouse retinas from P2 - P21 we demonstrated that PDE6beta protein is
      expressed in wild type retinas by P2 and is not detected in rd1 retinas. The
      earliest detection of PDE6beta in wild type retinas by immunohistochemistry was
      at P6, where it was confined to the apical region of the photoreceptor layer. The
      expression of PDE6beta protein prior to differentiation of photoreceptor cells
      and prior to expression of other phototransduction proteins is consistent with
      the hypothesis that PDE6beta may play a role during photoreceptor development
      distinct from its role in phototransduction. Our lab previously showed that
      Prenylated Rab Acceptor 1 (PRA1), a vesicular trafficking protein, is
      downregulated in the developing rd1 retina, although its function in the retina
      is unknown. The second aim of this study was to explore the relationship between
      PRA1 and PDE6beta. We used immunohistochemistry to determine whether the two
      proteins are co-localized during the postnatal differentiation period. However,
      no co-localization between PDE6beta and PRA1 was detected. The function of PRA1
      in developing retina remains to be elucidated.

PMID- 26877832
TI  - Transforming the Medical Subject Headings into Linked Data: Creating the
      Authorized Version of MeSH in RDF.
AB  - In February 2014 the National Library of Medicine formed the Linked Data
      Infrastructure Working Group to investigate the potential for publishing linked
      data, determine best practices for publishing linked data, and prioritize linked
      data projects, beginning with transforming the Medical Subject Headings as a
      linked data pilot. This article will review the pilot project to convert the
      Medical Subject Headings from XML to RDF. It will discuss the collaborative
      process, the technical and organizational issues tackled, and the future of
      linked data at the library.

PMID- 26877831
TI  - Depression and HIV Risk Taking among Men Who Have Sex with Other Men (MSM) and
      Who Use the Internet to Find Partners for Unprotected Sex.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study examines the prevalence of depression in a sample of MSM who
      are at high risk for HIV. It examines the relationship between depressive
      symptomatology and involvement in HIV risk behaviors, and the factors associated
      with greater depressive symptomatology. METHODS: The data come from a national
      random sample of 332 MSM who used any of 16 websites to identify men with whom
      they could engage in unprotected sex. Data were collected via telephone
      interviews. RESULTS: Depression was more prevalent in this population (26.7%)
      than among men in the general population. Depression was not related directly to
      any of the HIV risk behaviors examined, but it was related to men's attitudes
      toward condom use, which was the strongest predictor of their involvement in
      risky behaviors. Five factors were identified as being associated with greater
      depression: lower educational attainment, greater discrimination based on sexual
      orientation, greater eroticizing of ejaculatory fluids, experiencing more
      substance abuse problems, and greater childhood maltreatment. CONCLUSIONS:
      Depression is a consequential problem in this population. Although depression
      does not appear to be related directly to HIV risk practices in this population,
      its influence cannot be discounted because of its effects on other key predictors
      of risk involvement.

PMID- 26877833
TI  - LANDMARK MATCHING ON THE SPHERE USING DISTANCE FUNCTIONS.
AB  - Nonlinear registration of 3D surfaces is important in many medical imaging
      applications, including the mapping of longitudinal changes in anatomy, or of
      multi-subject functional MRI data to a canonical surface for comparison and
      integration. To register 3D surfaces, such as the cortical surface of the brain,
      one approach is to transform them first to planar or spherical objects. Internal
      landmarks can then be matched on these simpler parameter domains. Here we study
      the diffeomorphic matching of landmarks on the sphere. Our method builds on the
      level set technique of Leow et al. [1] for the plane. Both forward and backward
      matching terms are included, thus ensuring the invertibility of the
      representation. We demonstrate our technique on a pair of lines on the sphere.
      The overall approach improves on earlier work in cortical matching by allowing
      the matching energy to be relaxed along sulcal landmarks, minimizing distortion,
      and also enables point and curve landmarks to be aligned in the same general
      framework as densely-defined scalar fields, such as curvature or cortical
      thickness maps.

PMID- 26877835
TI  - Treatment of BG-1 Ovarian Cancer Cells Expressing Estrogen Receptors with Lambda
      cyhalothrin and Cypermethrin Caused a Partial Estrogenicity Via an Estrogen
      Receptor-dependent Pathway.
AB  - Synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) are the most common pesticides which are recently
      used for indoor pest control. The widespread use of SPs has resulted in the
      increased exposure to wild animals and humans. Recently, some SPs are suspected
      as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been assessed for their
      potential estrogenicity by adopting various analyzing assays. In this study, we
      examined the estrogenic effects of lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) and cypermethrin (CP),
      the most commonly used pesticides in Korea, using BG-1 ovarian cancer cells
      expressing estrogen receptors (ERs). To evaluate the estrogenic activities of two
      SPs, LC and CP, we employed MTT assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-PCR) in LC or CP treated BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. In MTT assay, LC
      (10(-6) M) and CP (10(-5) M) significantly induced the growth of BG-1 cancer
      cells. LC or CP-induced cell growth was antagonized by addition of ICI 182,720
      (10(-8) M), an ER antagonist, suggesting that this effect appears to be mediated
      by an ER-dependent manner. Moreover, RT-PCR results showed that transcriptional
      level of cyclin D1, a cell cycle-regulating gene, was significantly up-regulated
      by LC and CP, while these effects were reversed by co-treatment of ICI 182,780.
      However, p21, a cyclin D-ckd-4 inhibitor gene, was not altered by LC or CP.
      Moreover, ERalpha expression was not significantly changed by LC and CP, while
      downregulated by E2. Finally, in xenografted mouse model transplanted with human
      BG-1 ovarian cancer cells, E2 significantly increased the tumor volume compare to
      a negative control, but LC did not. Taken together, these results suggest that LC
      and CP may possess estrogenic potentials by stimulating the growth of BG-1
      ovarian cancer cells via partially ER signaling pathway associated with cell
      cycle as did E2, but this estrogenic effect was not found in in vivo mouse model.

PMID- 26877834
TI  - Mitochondria in Cancer Energy Metabolism: Culprits or Bystanders?
AB  - Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled growth. Metabolic demands to
      sustain rapid proliferation must be compelling since aerobic glycolysis is the
      first as well as the most commonly shared characteristic of cancer. During the
      last decade, the significance of metabolic reprogramming of cancer has been at
      the center of attention. Nonetheless, despite all the knowledge gained on cancer
      biology, the field is not able to reach agreement on the issue of mitochondria:
      Are damaged mitochondria the cause for aerobic glycolysis in cancer? Warburg
      proposed the damaged mitochondria theory over 80 years ago; the field has been
      testing the theory equally long. In this review, we will discuss alterations in
      metabolic fluxes of cancer cells, and provide an opinion on the damaged
      mitochondria theory. 

PMID- 26877837
TI  - Effect of Hfe Deficiency on Memory Capacity and Motor Coordination after
      Manganese Exposure by Drinking Water in Mice.
AB  - Excess manganese (Mn) is neurotoxic. Increased manganese stores in the brain are
      associated with a number of behavioral problems, including motor dysfunction,
      memory loss and psychiatric disorders. We previously showed that the transport
      and neurotoxicity of manganese after intranasal instillation of the metal are
      altered in Hfe-deficient mice, a mouse model of the iron overload disorder
      hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). However, it is not fully understood whether loss
      of Hfe function modifies Mn neurotoxicity after ingestion. To investigate the
      role of Hfe in oral Mn toxicity, we exposed Hfe-knockout (Hfe (-/-)) and their
      control wild-type (Hfe (+/+)) mice to MnCl2 in drinking water (5 mg/mL) for 5
      weeks. Motor coordination and spatial memory capacity were determined by the
      rotarod test and the Barnes maze test, respectively. Brain and liver metal levels
      were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Compared with the
      water-drinking group, mice drinking Mn significantly increased Mn concentrations
      in the liver and brain of both genotypes. Mn exposure decreased iron levels in
      the liver, but not in the brain. Neither Mn nor Hfe deficiency altered tissue
      concentrations of copper or zinc. The rotarod test showed that Mn exposure
      decreased motor skills in Hfe (+/+) mice, but not in Hfe (-/-) mice (p = 0.023).
      In the Barns maze test, latency to find the target hole was not altered in Mn
      exposed Hfe (+/+) compared with water-drinking Hfe (+/+) mice. However, Mn
      exposed Hfe (-/-) mice spent more time to find the target hole than Mn-drinking
      Hfe (+/+) mice (p = 0.028). These data indicate that loss of Hfe function impairs
      spatial memory upon Mn exposure in drinking water. Our results suggest that
      individuals with hemochromatosis could be more vulnerable to memory deficits
      induced by Mn ingestion from our environment. The pathophysiological role of HFE
      in manganese neurotoxicity should be carefully examined in patients with HFE
      associated hemochromatosis and other iron overload disorders. 

PMID- 26877836
TI  - Endosulfan Induces CYP1A1 Expression Mediated through Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor
      Signal Transduction by Protein Kinase C.
AB  - CYP1A1 is a phase I xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme whose expression is mainly
      driven by AhR. Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide used agriculturally for
      a wide range of crops. In this study, we investigated the effect of endosulfan on
      CYP1A1 expression and regulation. Endosulfan significantly increased CYP1A1
      enzyme activity as well as mRNA and protein levels. In addition, endosulfan
      markedly induced XRE transcriptional activity. CH-223191, an AhR antagonist,
      blocked the endosulfan-induced increase in CYP1A1 mRNA and protein expression.
      Moreover, endosulfan did not induce CYP1A1 gene expression in AhR-deficient
      mutant cells. Furthermore, endosulfan enhanced the phosphorylation of calcium
      calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) and protein kinase C (PKC). In
      conclusion, endosulfan-induced up-regulation of CYP1A1 is associated with AhR
      activation, which may be mediated by PKC-dependent pathways. 

PMID- 26877838
TI  - Effects of Styrene-metabolizing Enzyme Polymorphisms and Lifestyle Behaviors on
      Blood Styrene and Urinary Metabolite Levels in Workers Chronically Exposed to
      Styrene.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1,
      GSTM1, and GSTT1 and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise) modulate
      the levels of urinary styrene metabolites such as mandelic acid (MA) and
      phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) after occupational exposure to styrene. We recruited
      79 male workers who had received chronic exposure in styrene fiberglass
      reinforced plastic manufacturing factories. We found that serum albumin was
      significantly correlated with blood styrene/ambient styrene (BS/AS), urinary
      styrene (US)/AS, and US/BS ratios as well as urinary metabolites, that total
      protein correlated with US/MA and US/PGA ratios, and that low density lipoprotein
      (LDL)-cholesterol significantly correlated with US/BS, US/MA, and US/PGA ratios.
      Multiple logistic regression analyses using styrene-metabolizing enzyme genotypes
      and lifestyle habits as dependent variables and blood and urine styrene
      concentrations and urine styrene metabolite levels as independent variables
      revealed that CYP2E1*5 was associated with the MA/US ratio and GSTM1 with US/BS,
      that a smoking habit was associated with US/AS and MA/US ratios and MA and PGA
      levels, and that regular exercise was correlated with PGA/US. In conclusion, the
      results suggested that genetic polymorphisms of styrene-metabolizing enzymes,
      lifestyle behaviors, and albumin and LDL-cholesterol serving as homeostasis
      factors together are involved in styrene metabolism. 

PMID- 26877840
TI  - Four-Week Repeated Intravenous Dose Toxicity and Toxicokinetic Study of TS-DP2, a
      Novel Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor in Rats.
AB  - TS-DP2 is a recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF)
      manufactured by TS Corporation. We conducted a four-week study of TS-DP2 (test
      article) in repeated intravenous doses in male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD)
      rats. Lenograstim was used as a reference article and was administered
      intravenously at a dose of 1000 MUg/kg/day. Rats received TS-DP2 intravenously at
      doses of 250, 500, and 1000 MUg/kg/day once daily for 4 weeks, and evaluated
      following a 2-week recovery period. Edema in the hind limbs and loss of mean body
      weight and body weight gain were observed in both the highest dose group of TS
      DP2 and the lenograstim group in male rats. Fibro-osseous lesions were observed
      in the lenograstim group in both sexes, and at all groups of TS-DP2 in males, and
      at doses of TS-DP2 500 MUg/kg/day and higher in females. The lesion was
      considered a toxicological change. Therefore, bone is the primary toxicological
      target of TS-DP2. The lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) in males was
      250 MUg/kg/day, and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in females was 250
      MUg/kg/day in this study. In the toxicokinetic study, the serum concentrations of
      G-CSF were maintained until 8 hr after administration. The systemic exposures
      (AUC0-24h and C0) were not markedly different between male and female rats,
      between the administration periods, or between TS-DP2 and lenograstim. In
      conclusion, TS-DP2 shows toxicological similarity to lenograstim over 4-weeks of
      repeated doses in rats. 

PMID- 26877839
TI  - Antioxidant Activity and Anti-wrinkle Effects of Aceriphyllum rossii Leaf Ethanol
      Extract.
AB  - We evaluated the antioxidant activity and anti-wrinkle effects of Aceriphyllum
      rossii leaf ethanol extract (ARLEE) in vitro using human dermal fibroblasts. The
      total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of ARLEE were 578.6 and 206.3 mg/g,
      respectively. At a concentration of 250 MUg/mL, the electron-donating ability of
      ARLEE was 87.1%. In comparison with the vehicle, ARLEE treatment at 100 MUg/mL
      significantly increased type I procollagen synthesis (p < 0.01) by 50.7%. In
      vitro ARLEE treatment (10 mg/mL) inhibited collagenase and elastase activity by
      97.1% and 99.2%, respectively. Compared with the control, ascorbic acid treatment
      at 100 MUg/mL significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 protein
      expression (p < 0.01) by 37.0%. ARLEE treatment at 50 MUg/mL significantly
      decreased MMP-1 protein expression (p < 0.01) by 46.1%. Ascorbic acid and ARLEE
      treatments at 100 MUg/mL significantly decreased MMP-1 mRNA expression (p < 0.01)
      by 26.1% and 36.1%, respectively. From these results, we conclude that ARLEE has
      excellent antioxidant activity and even better anti-wrinkle effects than ascorbic
      acid in human dermal fibroblasts. These results suggest that ARLEE could be used
      in functional cosmetics for the prevention or alleviation of skin wrinkles
      induced by ultraviolet rays. 

PMID- 26877841
TI  - A Study on Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity of 1-Chloropropane.
AB  - This study was conducted to measure toxicity of 1-chloropropane (CAS No. : 540-54
      5). According to the OECD Test Guideline 413 (Subchronic inhalation toxicity: 90
      day study), SD rats were exposed to 0, 310, 1,250, and 5,000 ppm of 1
      chloropropane for 6 h/day, 5 day/week for 13 weeks via whole-body inhalation.
      Mortality, clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, motor activity,
      ophthalmoscopy, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, gross and
      histopathological findings were compared between control and all tested groups.
      No mortality or remarkable clinical signs were examined during the study. No
      gross lesions or adverse effects on body weight, food consumption, motor
      activity, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, organ weights were observed in
      any of male or female rats in all tested groups. In serum biochemistry, glucose
      was significantly decreased in males of 1,250 and 5,000 ppm groups compared to
      control group in dose-dependent relationship. In histopathological examination,
      vacuolation of acinar cells was observed in pancreas of all male and female
      groups exposed to 1-chloropropane. In conclusion, no observable adverse effect
      level (NOAEL) was considered to be below 310 ppm/6 h/day, 5 day/week for rats. 

PMID- 26877842
TI  - Acute and 28-Day Subacute Toxicity Studies of Hexane Extracts of the Roots of
      Lithospermum erythrorhizon in Sprague-Dawley Rats.
AB  - Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used as a traditional oriental medicine.
      In this study, the acute and 28-day subacute oral dose toxicity studies of hexane
      extracts of the roots of L. erythrorhizon (LEH) were performed in Sprague-Dawley
      rats. In the acute toxicity study, LEH was administered once orally to 5 male and
      5 female rats at dose levels of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg. Mortality, clinical
      signs, and body weight changes were monitored for 14 days. Salivation, soft
      stool, soiled perineal region, compound-colored stool, chromaturia and a decrease
      in body weight were observed in the extract-treated groups, and no deaths
      occurred during the study. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of LEH in
      male and female rats was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study,
      LEH was administered orally to male and female rats for 28 days at dose levels of
      25, 100, and 400 mg/kg/day. There was no LEH-related toxic effect in the body
      weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, hematology, clinical chemistry and organ
      weights. Compound-colored (black) stool, chromaturia and increased protein,
      ketone bodies, bilirubin and occult blood in urine were observed in the male and
      female rats treated with the test substance. In addition, the necropsy revealed
      dark red discoloration of the kidneys, and the histopathological examination
      showed presence of red brown pigment or increased hyaline droplets in the renal
      tubules of the renal cortex. However, there were no test substance-related toxic
      effects in the hematology and clinical chemistry, and no morphological changes
      were observed in the histopathological examination of the kidneys. Therefore, it
      was determined that there was no significant toxicity because the changes
      observed were caused by the intrinsic color of the test substance. These results
      suggest that the no-observed-adverse-effect Level (NOAEL) of LEH is greater than
      400 mg/kg/day in both sexes. 

PMID- 26877843
TI  - Job Stress and Neuropeptide Response Contributing to Food Intake Regulation.
AB  - The purpose of the present study is to investigate the correlations between food
      intake behavior and job stress level and neuropeptide hormone concentrations. Job
      strain and food intake behavior were first identified using a self-reported
      questionnaire, concentrations of neuropeptide hormones (adiponectin, brain
      derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], leptin, and ghrelin) were determined, and the
      correlations were analyzed. In the results, job strain showed significant
      correlations with adiponectin (odds ratio [OR], 1.220; 95% confidence interval
      [CI], 1.001~1.498; p < 0.05) and BDNF (OR, 0.793; 95% CI, 0.646~0.974; p < 0.05),
      and ghrelin exhibited a significant correlation with food intake score (OR,
      0.911; 95% CI, 0.842~0.985, p < 0.05). These results suggest that job stress
      affects food intake regulation by altering the physiological concentrations of
      neuropeptide hormones as well as emotional status. 

PMID- 26877845
TI  - In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel testosterone transdermal delivery
      system (TTDS) using palm oil base.
AB  - OBJECTIVE S: Transdermal preparations for testosterone are becoming popular
      because of their unique advantages such as avoidance of first-pass effect,
      convenience, improved bioavailability, and reduction of systemic side effects. A
      novel testosterone transdermal delivery system (TDDS) was developed using a palm
      oil base called HAMINTM (a commercial product) and tested using in vitro and in
      vivo skin permeability test methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The physical
      characteristics of the formulation such as particle size and viscosity were
      determined by using Franz diffusion cell and Brookfield viscometer, respectively.
      In vivo skin permeability test was performed on healthy rabbits through the skin.
      Testosterone in serum was analyzed using the validated Liquid Chromatography
      Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. RESULTS: In vitro study showed
      that the cumulative amount of testosterone diffused was between 40 to 1400 ngcm(
      )2 over a period of five hr after application of TDDS through the artificial
      Strat-MTM membrane. In the in vivo rabbit skin permeability test, the results
      indicated that testosterone was well absorbed with a mean Cmax and Tmax of 60.94
      ngml(-1) and 2.29 hr after application of TDDS while no increase was observed in
      placebo treatment. Particle size analysis ranged from 79.4 nm to 630.0 nm for
      placebo and 97 to 774.0 nm for TDDS. CONCLUSION: The formulation was successfully
      prepared using HAMINTM, which has demonstrated great potential for topical
      delivery of testosterone.

PMID- 26877844
TI  - Razi's Al-Hawi and saffron (Crocus sativus): a review.
AB  - Traditional knowledge can be used as a source for development of new medicines.
      In the present study, we compare the data on saffron in Razi's Al-Hawi book with
      modern scientific studies. A computerized search of published articles was
      performed using MEDLINE, Scopus as well as native references. The search terms
      used were saffron, Crocus sativus, crocetin, crocin, safranal, Razi, and Al-Hawi.
      A variety of properties of saffron including diuretic, analgesic, anti
      inflammatory, hepatoprotective, appetite suppressant, hypnotic, antidepressant,
      and bronchodilator effects were mentioned in Al-Hawi. Modern studies also
      confirmed most of these characteristics. This review indicates that the
      pharmacological data on saffron and its constituents are similar to those found
      in Razi's Al-Hawi monograph and it can be concluded that ethnobotanical
      information and ancient sources have precious data about medicinal plants that
      lead to finding new compounds for treatment of several diseases. 

PMID- 26877846
TI  - The effects of long-term leptin administration on morphometrical changes of mice
      testicular tissue.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Leptin is a novel and interesting hormone for anyone trying to lose
      weight, but its effects on male gonad structure in longitudinal study is unknown.
      The present study was designed to explore morphometrical changes of mouse
      testicular tissue after long-term administration of leptin. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Thirty healthy mature male mice were randomly assigned to either control
      (n=15) or treatment (n=15) groups. Leptin was intraperitoneally injected to the
      treatment group (0.1 ug/100 ul of physiological saline) once a day for 30
      consecutive days, and control animals received normal saline with the same volume
      and route. Five mice from each experimental group were sacrificed at 15, 30 and
      60 days after the beginning of treatments. Left testes were removed, weighted and
      then fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosine for
      morphometrical assays. RESULTS: Except for sertoli cell nucleus diameter, which
      was affected from 30(th) day, evaluation of other morphometrical parameters such
      as Johnsen's score, meiotic index, spermatogenesis, epithelial height,
      seminiferous tubules diameter and spermatogonial nucleus diameter revealed
      significant decrease from 15(th) day after leptin administration compare to those
      of the control group (P<0.05). Thus, meiotic index and spermatogonial cell
      nucleus diameter were two parameters that were further disturbed on 30(th) day
      compare to the day 15 (3.09+/-0.03 vs. 3.23+/-0.03, P=0.006 and 5.50+/-0.09 vs.
      6.08+/-0.14, P=0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that long
      term administration of leptin could disturb testicular tissue structure and delay
      spermatogenesis process.

PMID- 26877847
TI  - Repeated injections of orexin-A developed behavioral tolerance to its analgesic
      effects in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Reduction of pharmacological effectiveness or tolerance appears
      following repeated administration of many analgesic drugs. We investigated
      tolerance to anti-nociceptive effects of orexin-A, an endogenous potent analgesic
      peptide using the hot-plate test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Orexin-A was
      microinjected ICV (intracerebroventricular) with an interval of 12 hr for 7
      continuous days and its anti-nociceptive responses were measured on days 1, 4 and
      7 using the hot-plate test following the first day of administration. Orexin-A
      was used at a dose of 100 pmol to induce analgesic effects. RESULTS: ICV
      administration of orexin-A produced an effective anti-nociception on the first
      day of experiment as measured by hot-plate 5, 15, and 30 min after the injection,
      in comparison with both baselines (hot-plate test one day before the beginning of
      orexin-A administration and control, saline-administrated group). However,
      repeated administration of orexin-A on the following days revealed a significant
      reduction in this analgesic effect during day 4 to day 7. However, to rule out
      any associative tolerance resulting from learning related to experimental
      procedures and/or environmental cues, a single injection of orexin-A was
      administrated to animals of control group (which were receiving saline during 7
      days of experiments) and the analgesic effect was observed. CONCLUSION: These
      results, for the first time, indicated the appearance of tolerance to anti
      nociceptive effects of orexin-A, following repeated administrations of this
      agent.

PMID- 26877848
TI  - Evaluation of the circulating levels of IL-12 and IL-33 in patients with breast
      cancer: influences of the tumor stages and cytokine gene polymorphisms.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: IL-12 as an anti-tumor cytokine and IL-33 a novel identified cytokine
      with both pro- or anti-tumor activities, play important roles in response against
      tumor cells. Our aim was to evaluate the IL-12 and IL-33 levels and single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in their genes in patients with breast cancer.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 100 patients with breast
      cancer, and 100 healthy women were controls. The serum IL-12 and IL-33 levels
      were measured by ELISA. The SNP rs3212227 (in IL-12 gene) and rs1929992 (in IL-33
      gene) were determined using PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The IL-12 levels similarly
      expressed in patients and controls. IL-12 levels in patients at stage I were
      significantly lower than in the healthy group (P<0.05). IL-33 levels and the IL
      33/IL-12 ratio were significantly higher in patients than the control group
      (P<0.001). The IL-33 levels and IL-33/IL-12 ratio in stage IV patients were
      significantly higher than other stages and controls (P<0.0001 and P<0.001,
      respectively). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of
      genotypes in rs3212227 and rs1929992 between patients and the control group. No
      significant differences were observed between subjects with various genotypes at
      rs3212227 and rs1929992 with respect to related cytokine levels. CONCLUSION:
      These results indicate that the diminished IL-12 production may contribute to the
      tumor establishment. The higher IL-33 levels and IL-33/IL-12 ratio in patients
      also indicate an imbalance in Th1/Th2 responses that may contribute to tumor
      development. Thus, correcting the imbalance of Th1/Th2 could be an important
      strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

PMID- 26877849
TI  - Fluorescence spectra of cardiac myosin and in vivo experiment: studies on
      daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of
      daunorubicin (DNR) and cardiac myosin (CM) and the changes in mice hearts to
      exhibit DNR-induced cardiotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The interaction
      between DNR and CM was expressed using fluorescence quenching at pH 4.0-9.0 and
      15-37  degrees C. DNR-induced cardiotoxicity was studied using in vivo
      experiment. Forty groups mice were used control group in which mice were treated
      with DNR orally, and three DNR-treated groups in which mice were injected
      intraperitoneally with DNR at seven bolus doses of 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 mg/kg body
      weight, respectively. Heart indices and myocardial enzyme levels were obtained by
      histopathological and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: The fluorescence quenching
      mechanism of DNR-CM complex was observed to be a static procedure at 20  degrees
      C (pH 7.4), and weakly acidic environment (pH 4.0-6.0) or higher temperature (30
      37  degrees C) promoted the interaction between DNR and CM, causing variations in
      conformation and normal physiological functions of CM. Thermodynamic studies
      demonstrated that the binding of DNR to CM was a spontaneous process driven by
      entropy. It also indicated that hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds may
      play essential roles in the combination of DNR with CM. In addition, 4.0-6.0
      mg/kg DNR-treated mice exhibited obvious histopathological lesion, increase in
      myocardial enzyme level, and reductions in blood cell count. CONCLUSION: Our
      results are valuable for better understanding the particular mode of DNR-CM
      interaction, and are important to have a deeper insight into the DNR-induced
      cardiotoxicity.

PMID- 26877850
TI  - Deregulation of miR-21 and miR-155 and their putative targets after silibinin
      treatment in T47D breast cancer cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short RNAs that control the
      biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis and development.
      Aberrant expression of miRNAs was determined in the different stages of tumor
      development and metastasis. To study the effect of silibinin on miRNAs
      expression, we evaluated quantitative expression of miR-21 and miR-155 as two
      oncomiRs and several potential targets in silibinin-treated T47D cells. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The rate of proliferation and apoptosis was measured in silibinin
      treated and untreated cells. The expression levels of miR-21 and miR-155 were
      evaluated in T47D cells treated with silibinin (100 ug/ml). Also, their putative
      targets were predicted in apoptotic pathways using multiple algorithms; as a
      confirmation, the transcription level of APAF-1, CASP-9 and BID was evaluated.
      RESULTS: In silibinin-treated cells, death was occurred in a dose and time
      dependent manner. miR-21 and miR-155 was downregulated in cells treated with
      silibinin (100 ug/ml). It is noticeable that the expression of their potential
      targets including CASP-9 and APAF-1 was increased in silibinin-treated cells
      after 48 hr. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed a correlation between the expression
      of miR-21 and miR-155 and apoptosis in silibinin treated T47D cells. It seems
      that miRNAs such as miR-21 and miR-155 were regulated by silibinin. Also,
      increase in the transcript level of APAF-1 and CASP-9 after downregulation of miR
      21 and miR-155 might indicate that these genes were targeted by aforementioned
      miRNAs in T47D cells.

PMID- 26877851
TI  - SCN1A and SCN1B gene polymorphisms and their association with plasma
      concentrations of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10, 11 epoxide in Iranian
      epileptic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE S: From a genetic point of view, epilepsy is a polygenic multifactorial
      syndrome. The SCN1A and B genes belong to a family of genes that provide
      instructions for making sodium channels. Understanding the relevance of SCN1A and
      SCN1B gene polymorphisms to plasma concentration of carbamazepine (CBZ) and 'its
      active metabolite carbamazepine 10, 11 epoxide (CBZE), may shed more light on
      inter-individual variations in response to CBZ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this
      cross-sectional study, genotype distribution and allele frequency of six non
      synonymous exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the SCN1A and B genes
      were selected and determined using PCR-RFLP in 70 epileptic patients treated with
      CBZ for at least 6 months. The patients had no hepatic or renal diseases and
      received no medications known to have a major interaction with CBZ. Serum
      concentrations of CBZ and CBZE were measured using High-Performance Liquid
      Chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: The AA, AG and GG alleles of SCN1A were found in
      23, 37 and 10 patients, respectively. There were no statistically significant
      differences in the mean (+/- standard deviation) of plasma concentrations of CBZ
      (P=0.8) and CBZE (P=0.1) among these 3 groups. Likewise, there was no
      statistically significant relationship between SCN1A polymorphisms and CBZ
      concentration/dose ratio (P=0.7). A significant association was found between CBZ
      plasma level and CBZ concentration/dose with CBZ daily dose. All patients had the
      same genotype of SCN1B gene(CC). and no statistical analysis was performed.
      CONCLUSION: No significant association between SCN1A gene polymorphisms and
      plasma levels of CBZ and CBZE were found[u1].

PMID- 26877852
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cells can survive on the extracellular matrix-derived
      decellularized bovine articular cartilage scaffold.
AB  - OBJECTIVE S: The scarcity of articular cartilage defect to repair due to absence
      of blood vessels and tissue engineering is one of the promising approaches for
      cartilage regeneration. The objective of this study was to prepare an
      extracellular matrix derived decellularized bovine articular cartilage scaffold
      and investigate its interactions with seeded rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem
      cells (BM-MSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bovine articular cartilage that was cut
      into pieces with 2 mm thickness, were decellularized by combination of physical
      and chemical methods including snap freeze-thaw and treatment with sodium dodecyl
      sulfate (SDS). The scaffolds were then seeded with 1, 1'-dioctadecyl-3, 3, 3', 3'
      tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) labeled BM-MSCs and cultured for up
      to two weeks. RESULTS: Histological studies of decellularized bovine articular
      cartilage showed that using 5 cycles of snap freeze-thaw in liquid nitrogen and
      treatment with 2.5% SDS for 4 hr led to the best decellularization, while
      preserving the articular cartilage structure. Adherence and penetration of seeded
      BM-MSCs on to the scaffold were displayed by histological and florescence
      examinations and also confirmed by electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: ECM-derived
      decellularized articular cartilage scaffold provides a suitable environment to
      support adhesion and maintenance of cultured BM-MSCs and could be applied to
      investigate cellular behaviors in this system and may also be useful for studies
      of cartilage tissue engineering.

PMID- 26877853
TI  - Case-control study on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
      polymorphism and interaction with HDL on essential hypertension in Chinese Han.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms
      (SNPs) in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARG) with
      essential hypertension (EH) and additional role of gene- high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL) interaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1640 patients
      with EH (806 males, 834 females), with a mean age of 52.5+/-12.6 years, were
      selected, including 816 EH patients and 824 controls, who were enrolled from the
      community. Three SNPs were selected for genotyping in the case-control study:
      rs10865710, rs709158, rs1805192. Logistic regression model was used to examine
      the interaction between SNP and HDL on EH, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence
      interval (95% CI) were also calculated. RESULTS: All genotypes were distributed
      according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls. Logistic regression analysis
      showed an association between genotypes of variants in rs1805192 and decreased EH
      risk, EH risk was significantly lower in carriers of Ala allele of the rs1805192
      polymorphism than those with Pro/Pro (Pro/Ala+ Ala/Ala versus Pro/Pro, adjusted
      OR (95% CI) =0.65 (0.53-0.83), after covariate adjustment. In addition, the Ala
      allele of the rs1805192 polymorphism was also associated with diastolic blood
      pressure (DBP), but not systolic blood pressure (SBP), we also found, by
      interaction analysis, combined effect of rs1805192 and HDL on EH risk after
      covariate adjustment. CONCLUSION: Our results support an important association
      between rs1805192 minor allele (Ala allele) of PPARG and lower EH risk, the
      interaction analysis showed a combined effect of Ala- HDL on lower EH risk.

PMID- 26877854
TI  - Effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on lung nuclear factor-kappa B activity,
      cytokine release, and pulmonary function in dogs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on nuclear factor
      kappa B (NF-kappaB) and cytokine expression and pulmonary function in dogs.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve male mongrel dogs were divided into a
      methylprednisolone group (group M) and a control group (group C). All animals
      underwent aortic and right atrial catheterization under general anesthesia.
      Changes in pulmonary function and hemodynamics were monitored and the injured
      site was histologically evaluated. RESULTS: The activity of NF-kappaB and
      myeloperoxidase (MPO), levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin
      (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8, and the wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio were significantly
      higher after CPB than before CPB in both groups (P<0.01), with the lower values
      in group M than in group C, at different time points (P<0.01). Histological
      evaluation revealed neutrophilic infiltration and thickening of the alveolar
      interstitium in both groups; however, the degree of pathological changes was
      significantly lower in group M than in group C. The alveolar-arterial O2 tension
      difference (PA-aDO2) was significantly higher after CPB than before CBP (P<0.01),
      and lower in group M than in group C (P<0.01). The pulmonary compliance after
      removal of the aortic clamp obviously decreased in group C (P<0.05), with no
      significant change in group M. CONCLUSION: CPB can significantly enhance the
      activation of NF-kappaB in lung tissues and increase the expression of
      inflammatory cytokines, thus inducing lung injury. Methylprednisolone can inhibit
      the NF-kappaB activation, thus inhibiting the release of cytokines and protecting
      the lung function.

PMID- 26877855
TI  - Screening and identification of SUMP-proteins in sub-acute treatment with
      diazinon.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) are a family of ubiquitin
      related, proteins that are involved in a wide variety of signaling pathways.
      SUMOylation, as a vital post translational modification, regulate protein
      function in manycellular processes. Diazinon (DZN), an organophosphate
      insecticide, causses oxidative stress and subsequently programmed cell death in
      different tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and pattern of
      SUMO modificationas a defense mechanism against stress oxidative, in the heart
      tissuesof the DZN treated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diazinon (15 mg/kg/day),
      corn oil (control) were administered via gavageto male Wistar rats for four
      weeks. SUMO1 antibody was covalently crosslinked to protein A/G agarose. heart
      tissue lysate were added to agarosebeads, After isolation of target
      proteins(SUMO1- protein)SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis was performed. Protein bands
      were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF and MASCOT). Fold change of (DZN/Ctrl)
      separated proteins was evaluated using UVband software (UVITEC, UK). RESULTS: Our
      result showed that subacute exposure to DZN increased SUMOylationoffour key
      proteins involved in the metabolic process including; Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase,
      creatine kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ATP synthase, in
      the heart tissue of animals. A probability value of less than 0.05 was considered
      significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It seems that protein SUMOylation provides a
      safeguard mechanism against DZN Toxicity.

PMID- 26877856
TI  - Improvement effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on sub-health mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sub-health has been described as a chronic condition of unexplained
      deteriorated physiological function, which falls between health and illness. In
      the present study, we evaluated the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide
      (LBP), a polysaccharide fraction purified from Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum) on
      the sub-health mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sub-health model mice were built
      through compound factors. The mice were given intragastric administration of LBP
      at low dose (50 mg*kg-1) and high dose (100 mg*kg-1), respectively. After LBP
      treatment for 4 weeks, the antioxidant ability, enhancing immune function and
      anti-fatigue activity were detected. RESULTS: The results showed that LBP could
      enhance antioxidant ability in sub-health mice. LBP could effectively improve
      immunity of sub-health mice and protect the immune organs, such as thymus. In
      addition, LBP showed anti-fatigue ability in sub-health mice. CONCLUSION: LBP
      could improve sub-health state caused from composite factor through three
      aspects, such as increasing antioxidant ability, promoting T lymphocyte
      proliferation, inhibiting thymus lymphocyte apoptosis, and alleviating fatigue.

PMID- 26877857
TI  - Cholesterol suppresses antimicrobial effect of statins.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Isoprenoid biosynthesis is a key metabolic pathway to produce a wide
      variety of biomolecules such as cholesterol and carotenoids, which target cell
      membranes. On the other hand, it has been reported that statins known as
      inhibitors of isoprenoid biosynthesis and cholesterol lowering agents, may have a
      direct antimicrobial effect on the some bacteria. The exact action of statins in
      microbial metabolism is not clearly understood. It is possible that statins
      inhibit synthesis or utilization of some sterol precursor necessary for bacterial
      membrane integrity. Accordingly, this study was designed in order to examine if
      statins inhibit the production of a compound, which can be used in the membrane,
      and whether cholesterol would replace it and rescue bacteria from toxic effects
      of statins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To examine the possibility we assessed
      antibacterial effect of statins with different classes; lovastatin, simvastatin,
      and atorvastatin, alone and in combination with cholesterol on two Gram-positive
      (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and two Gram-negative
      (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacteria using gel diffusion assay.
      RESULTS: Our results showed that all of the statins except for lovastatin had
      significant antibacterial property in S. aureus, E. coli, and Enter. faecalis.
      Surprisingly, cholesterol nullified the antimicrobial action of effective statins
      in statin-sensitive bacteria. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that statins may
      deprive bacteria from a metabolite responsible for membrane stability, which is
      effectively substituted by cholesterol.

PMID- 26877858
TI  - Effects of gamma oryzanol on factors of oxidative stress and sepsis-induced lung
      injury in experimental animal model.
AB  - OBJECTIVE S: There is corroborating evidence to substantiate redox imbalance and
      oxidative stress in sepsis that finally leads to organ damage or even death.
      Gamma oryzanol (GO) is one of the major bioactive components in rice bran has
      been considered to function as an antioxidant. The present study was carried out
      to evaluate the antioxidant activity of gamma oryzanol in vitro and its efficacy
      in sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To induce sepsis, cecal ligation and puncture
      (CLP) method was performed on the rats. A study group of forty male Wistar rats
      were divided into the following groups: sham group; CLP group; 50 mg/kg GO-
      treated CLP group and 100 mg/kg GO- treated CLP group. GO was administered with
      an oral gavage 2 hr prior to inducing sepsis. Tissue and blood samples were
      collected 12 hr after CLP to prepare tissue sections for histopathological study
      and assay the oxidative stress biomarkers including: SOD (Superoxide Dismutase),
      TAC (total antioxidant capacity), MDA (Malondialdehyde), MPO (Myeloperoxidase)
      and PAI-1 (Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1). Data are given as mean +/- SD. The
      ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test was used to determine the differences between
      groups and P <0.05 was considered as statistical significance. RESULTS: TAC level
      increased in GO- treated CLP groups (P<0.05). Inflammation score of lung tissue
      and MPO activity were significantly lower in GO treated CLP group (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: It seems that GO has a protective effect on lung inflammation and
      improves the body redox capacity during sepsis.

PMID- 26877859
TI  - Bias in Methicillin Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus.

PMID- 26877860
TI  - Corrigendum to: Comparison of Serum Hepatitis B Virus DNA and HBsAg Levels
      Between HBeAg-Negative and HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients [Published
      in Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology. 2015 March; 8(3): e21444].

PMID- 26877863
TI  - Structure Elucidation of Nigricanoside A Through Enantioselective Total
      Synthesis.
AB  - Nigricanoside A was isolated from green alga, and its dimethyl ester was found to
      display potent cytotoxicity. Its scarcity prevented a full structure elucidation,
      leaving total synthesis as the only means to determine its relative and absolute
      stereochemistry and to explore its biological activity. Here we assign the
      stereochemistry of the natural product through enantioselective total synthesis
      and provide initial studies of its cytotoxicity.

PMID- 26877862
TI  - Potentiation of Francisella Resistance to Conventional Antibiotics through Small
      Molecule Adjuvants.
AB  - A screen of 20 compounds identified small molecule adjuvants capable of
      potentiating anitbiotic activty against Francisella philomiragia. Analogue
      synthesis of an initial hit compound led to the discovery of a potentially new
      class of small molecule adjuvants containg an indole core. The lead compound was
      able to lower the MIC of colistin by 32-fold against intrinsically resistant F.
      philomiragia.

PMID- 26877864
TI  - First pi-linker featuring mercapto and isocyano anchoring groups within the same
      molecule: Synthesis, heterobimetallic complexation and self-assembly on Au(111).
AB  - Mercapto (-SH) and isocyano (-N=C) terminated conducting pi-linkers are often
      employed in the ever-growing quest for organoelectronic materials. While such
      systems typically involve symmetric dimercapto or diisocyano anchoring of the
      organic bridge, this article introduces the chemistry of a linear azulenic pi
      linker equipped with one mercapto and one isocyano terminus. The 2-isocyano-6
      mercaptoazulene platform was efficiently accessed from 2-amino-6-bromo-1,3
      diethoxycarbonylazulene in four steps. The 2-N=C end of this 2,6-azulenic motif
      was anchrored to the [Cr(CO)5] fragment prior to formation of its 6-SH terminus.
      Metalation of the 6-SH end of [(OC)5Cr(eta1-2-isocyano-1,3-diethoxycarbonyl-6
      mercaptoazulene)] (7) with Ph3PAuCl, under basic conditions, afforded X-ray
      structurally characterized heterobimetallic Cr0/AuI ensemble [(OC)5Cr(MU
      eta1:eta1-2-isocyano-1,3-diethoxycarbonyl-6-azulenylthiolate)AuPPh3] (8).
      Analysis of the 13C NMR chemical shifts for the [(NC)Cr(CO)5] core in a series of
      the related complexes [(OC)5Cr(2-isocyano-6-X-1,3-diethoxy-carbonylazulene)] (X =
      -N=C, Br,H, SH, SCH2CH2CO2CH2CH3, SAuPPh3) unveiled remarkably consistent inverse
      linear correlations delta( 13COtrans) vs. delta( 13CN) and delta( 13COcis) vs.
      delta( 13CN) that appear to hold well beyond the above 2-isocyanoazulenic series
      to include complexes [(OC)5Cr(CNR)] containing strongly electron-withdrawing
      substituents R, such as CF3, CFClCF2Cl, C2F3, and C6F5. In addition to
      functioning as asensitive 13C NMR handle, the essentially C4v-symmetric [(
      NC)Cr(CO)5] moiety proved to be an informative, remote, nuN=C/nuC=O infrared
      reporter in probing chemisorption of 7 on the Au(111) surface.

PMID- 26877865
TI  - MiR-690, a Runx2-targeted miRNA, regulates osteogenic differentiation of C2C12
      myogenic progenitor cells by targeting NF-kappaB p65.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is a cell-fate
      determining factor that controls osteoblast differentiation and bone formation.
      It has been previously demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles
      in osteogenesis. However, the Runx2-regulated miRNAs that have been reported thus
      far are limited. In this study, we pursued to identify these miRNAs in Tet-on
      stable C2C12 cell line (C2C12/Runx2(Dox) subline). RESULTS: Microarray analysis
      revealed that alterations in miRNA expression occur with 54 miRNAs. Among these
      miRNAs, miR-690 was identified as a positive regulator of Runx2-induced
      osteogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells through gain- and loss-of-function
      assays. Expression of miR-690 is induced by Runx2, which binds directly to the
      putative promoter of mir-690 (Mirn690). The miR-690 proceeds to inhibit
      translation of the messenger RNA encoding the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)
      subunit p65 whose overexpression inhibits Runx2-induced osteogenic
      differentiation of C2C12 cells. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a downstream target of NF
      kappaB pathway, is upregulated by p65 overexpression but significantly
      downregulated during this differentiation process. Furthermore, overexpression of
      IL-6 impedes the expression of osteocalcin, a defined marker of late osteoblast
      differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our results suggest that the miR-690
      transactivated by Runx2 acts as a positive regulator of Runx2-induced osteogenic
      differentiation by inactivating the NF-kappaB pathway via the downregulation of
      the subunit p65.

PMID- 26877861
TI  - Mechanisms of Resistance to Aminoglycoside Antibiotics: Overview and
      Perspectives.
AB  - Aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics are used to treat many Gram-negative and some
      Gram-positive infections and, importantly, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
      Among various bacterial species, resistance to AGs arises through a variety of
      intrinsic and acquired mechanisms. The bacterial cell wall serves as a natural
      barrier for small molecules such as AGs and may be further fortified via acquired
      mutations. Efflux pumps work to expel AGs from bacterial cells, and modifications
      here too may cause further resistance to AGs. Mutations in the ribosomal target
      of AGs, while rare, also contribute to resistance. Of growing clinical prominence
      is resistance caused by ribosome methyltransferases. By far the most widespread
      mechanism of resistance to AGs is the inactivation of these antibiotics by AG
      modifying enzymes. We provide here an overview of these mechanisms by which
      bacteria become resistant to AGs and discuss their prevalence and potential for
      clinical relevance.

PMID- 26877866
TI  - Characterization of a migrative subpopulation of adult human nasoseptal
      chondrocytes with progenitor cell features and their potential for in vivo
      cartilage regeneration strategies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Progenitor cells display interesting features for tissue repair and
      reconstruction. In the last years, such cells have been identified in different
      cartilage types. In this study, we isolated a migrative subpopulation of adult
      human nasoseptal chondrocytes with progenitor cell features by outgrowth from
      human nasal septum cartilage. These putative progenitor cells were comparatively
      characterized with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and human nasal septum
      chondrocytes with respect to their cellular characteristics as well as surface
      marker profile using flow cytometric analyses. Differentiation capacity was
      evaluated on protein and gene expression levels. RESULTS: The migrative
      subpopulation differentiated into osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages with
      distinct differences to chondrocytes and MSC. Cells of the migrative
      subpopulation showed an intermediate surface marker profile positioned between
      MSC and chondrocytes. Significant differences were found for CD9, CD29, CD44,
      CD90, CD105 and CD106. The cells possessed a high migratory ability in a Boyden
      chamber assay and responded to chemotactic stimulation. To evaluate their
      potential use in tissue engineering applications, a decellularized septal
      cartilage matrix was either seeded with cells from the migrative subpopulation or
      chondrocytes. Matrix production was demonstrated immunohistochemically and
      verified on gene expression level. Along with secretion of matrix
      metalloproteinases, cells of the migrative subpopulation migrated faster into the
      collagen matrix than chondrocytes, while synthesis of cartilage specific matrix
      was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Cells of the migrative subpopulation, due to their
      migratory characteristics, are a potential cell source for in vivo regeneration
      of nasal cartilage. The in vivo mobilization of nasal cartilage progenitor cells
      is envisioned to be the basis for in situ tissue engineering procedures, aiming
      at the use of unseeded biomaterials which are able to recruit local progenitor
      cells for cartilage regeneration.

PMID- 26877867
TI  - Misregulation of the proline rich homeodomain (PRH/HHEX) protein in cancer cells
      and its consequences for tumour growth and invasion.
AB  - The proline rich homeodomain protein (PRH), also known as haematopoietically
      expressed homeobox (HHEX), is an essential transcription factor in embryonic
      development and in the adult. The PRH protein forms oligomeric complexes that
      bind to tandemly repeated PRH recognition sequences within or at a distance from
      PRH-target genes and recruit a variety of PRH-interacting proteins. PRH can also
      bind to other transcription factors and co-regulate specific target genes either
      directly through DNA binding, or indirectly through effects on the activity of
      its partner proteins. In addition, like some other homeodomain proteins, PRH can
      regulate the translation of specific mRNAs. Altered PRH expression and altered
      PRH intracellular localisation, are associated with breast cancer, liver cancer
      and thyroid cancer and some subtypes of leukaemia. This is consistent with the
      involvement of multiple PRH-interacting proteins, including the oncoprotein c
      Myc, translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), and the promyelocytic leukaemia
      protein (PML), in the control of cell proliferation and cell survival. Similarly,
      multiple PRH target genes, including the genes encoding vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors, Endoglin, and Goosecoid, are known to be
      important in the control of cell proliferation and cell survival and/or the
      regulation of cell migration and invasion. In this review, we summarise the
      evidence that implicates PRH in tumourigenesis and we review the data that
      suggests PRH levels could be useful in cancer prognosis and in the choice of
      treatment options. 

PMID- 26870320
TI  - A three-dimensional model of the human blood-brain barrier to analyse the
      transport of nanoparticles and astrocyte/endothelial interactions.
AB  - The aim of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human
      blood-brain barrier in vitro, which mimics the cellular architecture of the CNS
      and could be used to analyse the delivery of nanoparticles to cells of the CNS.
      The model includes human astrocytes set in a collagen gel, which is overlaid by a
      monolayer of human brain endothelium (hCMEC/D3 cell line). The model was
      characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence
      microscopy and flow cytometry. A collagenase digestion method could recover the
      two cell types separately at 92-96% purity.  Astrocytes grown in the gel matrix
      do not divide and they have reduced expression of aquaporin-4 and the endothelin
      receptor, type B compared to two-dimensional cultures, but maintain their
      expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein. The effects of conditioned media
      from these astrocytes on the barrier phenotype of the endothelium was compared
      with media from astrocytes grown conventionally on a two-dimensional (2D)
      substratum. Both induce the expression of tight junction proteins zonula
      occludens-1 and claudin-5 in hCMEC/D3 cells, but there was no difference between
      the induced expression levels by the two media. The model has been used to assess
      the transport of glucose-coated 4nm gold nanoparticles and for leukocyte
      migration. TEM was used to trace and quantitate the movement of the nanoparticles
      across the endothelium and into the astrocytes. This blood-brain barrier model is
      very suitable for assessing delivery of nanoparticles and larger biomolecules to
      cells of the CNS, following transport across the endothelium. 

PMID- 26870317
TI  - YeATS - a tool suite for analyzing RNA-seq derived transcriptome identifies a
      highly transcribed putative extensin in heartwood/sapwood transition zone in
      black walnut.
AB  - The transcriptome provides a functional footprint of the genome by enumerating
      the molecular components of cells and tissues. The field of transcript discovery
      has been revolutionized through high-throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Here,
      we present a methodology that replicates and improves existing methodologies, and
      implements a workflow for error estimation and correction followed by genome
      annotation and transcript abundance estimation for RNA-seq derived transcriptome
      sequences (YeATS - Yet Another Tool Suite for analyzing RNA-seq derived
      transcriptome). A unique feature of YeATS is the upfront determination of the
      errors in the sequencing or transcript assembly process by analyzing open reading
      frames of transcripts. YeATS identifies transcripts that have not been merged,
      result in broken open reading frames or contain long repeats as erroneous
      transcripts. We present the YeATS workflow using a representative sample of the
      transcriptome from the tissue at the heartwood/sapwood transition zone in black
      walnut. A novel feature of the transcriptome that emerged from our analysis was
      the identification of a highly abundant transcript that had no known homologous
      genes (GenBank accession: KT023102). The amino acid composition of the longest
      open reading frame of this gene classifies this as a putative extensin. Also, we
      corroborated the transcriptional abundance of proline-rich proteins, dehydrins,
      senescence-associated proteins, and the DNAJ family of chaperone proteins. Thus,
      YeATS presents a workflow for analyzing RNA-seq data with several innovative
      features that differentiate it from existing software. 

PMID- 26877870
TI  - Influence of carbon nanomaterial defects on the formation of protein corona.
AB  - In any physiological media, carbon nanomaterials (CNM) strongly interact with
      biomolecules leading to the formation of biocorona, which subsequently dictate
      the physiological response and the fate of CNMs. Defects in CNMs play an
      important role not only in material properties but also in the determination of
      how materials interact at the nano-bio interface. In this article, we probed the
      influence of defect-induced hydrophilicity on the biocorona formation using micro
      Raman, photoluminescence, infrared spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and molecular
      dynamics simulations. Our results show that the interaction of proteins (albumin
      and fibrinogen) with CNMs is strongly influenced by charge-transfer between them,
      inducing protein unfolding which enhances conformational entropy and higher
      protein adsorption.

PMID- 26877871
TI  - Targeting bacterial biofilms via surface engineering of gold nanoparticles.
AB  - Bacterial biofilms are associated with persistent infections that are resistant
      to conventional antibiotics and substantially complicate patient care. Surface
      engineered nanoparticles represent a novel, unconventional approach for
      disruption of biofilms and targeting of bacterial pathogens. Herein, we describe
      the role of surface charge of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on biofilm disruption
      and bactericidal activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa which are important ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) pathogens.
      In addition, we study the toxicity of charged AuNPs on human bronchial epithelial
      cells. While 100% positively charged AuNP surface was uniformly toxic to both
      bacteria and epithelial cells, reducing the extent of positive charge on the AuNP
      surface at moderate concentrations prevented epithelial cell toxicity. Reducing
      surface charge was however also less effective in killing bacteria. Conversely,
      increasing AuNP concentration while maintaining a low level of positivity
      continued to be bactericidal and disrupt the bacterial biofilm and was less
      cytotoxic to epithelial cells. These initial in vitro studies suggest that
      modulation of AuNP surface charge could be used to balance effects on bacteria
      vs. airway cells in the context of VAP, but the therapeutic window in terms of
      concentration vs. surface positive charge may be limited. Additional factors such
      as hydrophobicity may need to be considered in order to design AuNPs with
      specific, beneficial effects on bacterial pathogens and their biofilms.

PMID- 26877873
TI  - Incisionless transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound in essential tremor:
      cerebellothalamic tractotomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Already in the late 1960s and early 1970s, targeting of the
      "posterior subthalamic area (PSA)" was explored by different functional
      neurosurgical groups applying the radiofrequency (RF) technique to treat patients
      suffering from essential tremor (ET). Recent advances in magnetic resonance (MR)
      guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology offer the possibility to perform
      thermocoagulation of the cerebellothalamic fiber tract in the PSA without brain
      penetration, allowing a strong reduction of the procedure-related risks and
      increased accuracy. We describe here the first results of the MRgFUS
      cerebellothalamic tractotomy (CTT). METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients
      suffering from chronic (mean disease duration 29.9 years), therapy-resistant ET
      were treated with MRgFUS CTT. Three patients received bilateral treatment with a
      1-year interval. Primary relief assessment indicators were the Essential Tremor
      Rating Scale (Fahn, Tolosa, and Marin) (ETRS) taken at follow-up (3 months to 2
      years) with accent on the hand function subscores (HF16 for treated hand and HF32
      for both hands) and handwriting. The evolution of seven patients with HF32 above
      28 points over 32 (group 1) differentiated itself from the others' (group 2) and
      was analyzed separately. Global tremor relief estimations were provided by the
      patients. Lesion reconstruction and measurement of targeting accuracy were done
      on 2-day post-treatment MR pictures for each CTT lesion. RESULTS: The mean ETRS
      score for all patients was 57.6 +/- 13.2 at baseline and 25.8 +/- 17.6 at 1 year
      (n = 10). The HF16 score reduction was 92 % in group 2 at 3 months and stayed
      stable at 1 year (90 %). Group 1 showed only an improvement of 41 % at 3 months
      and 40 % at 1 year. Nevertheless, two patients of group 1 treated bilaterally had
      an HF16 score reduction of 75 and 88 % for the dominant hand at 1 year after the
      second side. The mean patient estimation of global tremor relief after CTT was 92
      % at 2 days and 77 % at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CTT with MRgFUS was shown
      to be an effective and safe approach for patients with therapy-refractory
      essential tremor, combining neurological function sparing with precise targeting
      and the possibility to treat patients bilaterally.

PMID- 26877875
TI  - Prognostic utility of plasma lactate measured between 24 and 48 h after
      initiation of early goal-directed therapy in the management of sepsis, severe
      sepsis, and septic shock.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Based on the proven efficacy of lactate in predicting mortality and
      morbidity in sepsis when measured early in the resuscitative protocol, our group
      hypothesized that this utility extends later in the course of care. This study
      sought to investigate the prognostic potential of plasma lactate clearance
      measured 24-48 h after the initiation of treatment for nonsurgical patients with
      sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. METHODS: Plasma lactate values, measured
      24-48 h after the initiation of treatment, were collected in nonsurgical septic,
      severe septic, and septic shock patients. The primary outcome was 30-day
      mortality, while secondary outcomes included requirements for vasopressors and
      boluses of intravenous fluids. Analysis of these three outcomes was performed
      while controlling for clinical severity as measured by Sequential Organ Failure
      Assessment (SOFA), renal dysfunction, and hepatic dysfunction. Lactate clearance
      was defined as the percent change in plasma lactate levels measured after 24-48 h
      of treatment from the plasma lactate level at initial presentation. RESULTS: Two
      hundred twenty-nine nonsurgical patients were divided into two groups, clearers
      (above median lactate clearance [31.6 %]) and nonclearers (below median lactate
      clearance [31.6 %]). The adjusted odds ratio of mortality in clearers compared to
      nonclearers was 0.39 (CI 0.20-0.76) (p = 0.006). For vasopressor requirement, the
      adjusted odds ratio was 0.41 (CI 0.21-0.79) in clearers compared to nonclearers
      (p = 0.008). For intravenous fluid bolus requirement, the adjusted odds ratio was
      0.81 (CI 0.48-1.39) in clearers compared to nonclearers (p = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS:
      Lower plasma lactate clearance 24-48 h after the initiation of treatment is
      associated with higher 30-day mortality and requirements for vasopressors in
      nonsurgical septic patients and may be a useful noninvasive measurement for
      guiding late-sepsis treatment. Further investigation looking at mechanisms and
      therapeutic targets to improve lactate clearance in late sepsis may improve
      patient mortality and outcomes.

PMID- 26877874
TI  - RECQ helicases are deregulated in hematological malignancies in association with
      a prognostic value.
AB  - BACKGROUND: RECQ helicase family members act as guardians of the genome to assure
      proper DNA metabolism in response to genotoxic stress. Hematological malignancies
      are characterized by genomic instability that is possibly related to underlying
      defects in DNA repair of genomic stability maintenance. METHODS: We have
      investigated the expression of RECQ helicases in different hematological
      malignancies and in their normal counterparts using publicly available gene
      expression data. Furthermore, we explored whether RECQ helicases expression could
      be associated with tumor progression and prognosis. RESULTS: Expression of at
      least one RECQ helicase family member was found significantly deregulated in all
      hematological malignancies investigated when compared to their normal
      counterparts. In addition, RECQ helicase expression was associated with a
      prognostic value in acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia,
      lymphoma and multiple myeloma. CONCLUSION: RECQ helicase expression is
      deregulated in hematological malignancies compared to their normal counterparts
      in association with a prognostic value. Deregulation of RECQ helicases appears to
      play a role in tumorigenesis and represent potent therapeutic targets for
      synthetic lethal approaches in hematological malignancies.

PMID- 26877876
TI  - The expression of embryonic globin mRNA in a severely anemic mouse model induced
      by treatment with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mammalian erythropoiesis can be divided into two distinct types,
      primitive and definitive, in which new cells are derived from the yolk sac and
      hematopoietic stem cells, respectively. Primitive erythropoiesis occurs within a
      restricted period during embryogenesis. Primitive erythrocytes remain nucleated,
      and their hemoglobins are different from those in definitive erythrocytes.
      Embryonic type hemoglobin is expressed in adult animals under genetically
      abnormal condition, but its later expression has not been reported in genetically
      normal adult animals, even under anemic conditions. We previously reported that
      injecting animals with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (NBP) decreased
      erythropoiesis in bone marrow (BM). Here, we induced severe anemia in a mouse
      model by injecting NBP injection in combination with phenylhydrazine (PHZ), and
      then we analyzed erythropoiesis and the levels of different types of hemoglobin.
      METHODS: Splenectomized mice were treated with NBP to inhibit erythropoiesis in
      BM, and with PHZ to induce hemolytic anemia. We analyzed hematopoietic sites and
      peripheral blood using morphological and molecular biological methods. RESULTS:
      Combined treatment of splenectomized mice with NBP and PHZ induced critical
      anemia compared to treatment with PHZ alone, and numerous nucleated erythrocytes
      appeared in the peripheral blood. In the BM, immature CD71-positive erythroblasts
      were increased, and extramedullary erythropoiesis occurred in the liver.
      Furthermore, embryonic type globin mRNA was detected in both the BM and the
      liver. In peripheral blood, spots that did not correspond to control hemoglobin
      were observed in 2D electrophoresis. ChIP analyses showed that KLF1 and KLF2 bind
      to the promoter regions of beta-like globin. Wine-colored capsuled structures
      were unexpectedly observed in the abdominal cavity, and active erythropoiesis was
      also observed in these structures. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that
      primitive erythropoiesis occurs in adult mice to rescue critical anemia because
      primitive erythropoiesis does not require macrophages as stroma whereas
      macrophages play a pivotal role in definitive erythropoiesis even outside the
      medulla. The cells expressing embryonic hemoglobin in this study were similar to
      primitive erythrocytes, indicating the possibility that yolk sac-derived
      primitive erythroid cells may persist into adulthood in mice.

PMID- 26877877
TI  - Attitude, barriers and facilitators to practice-based research: cross-sectional
      survey of hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the perceived attitude, barriers and
      facilitators of Saudi Pharmacists about practice based research. We aimed to
      measure the attitude, barriers, and facilitators of Saudi hospital pharmacists
      towards pharmacy practice research. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of hospital
      pharmacists (n = 216) working in King Abdulaziz Medical Cities in Central,
      Eastern and Western region hospitals was conducted during first week of
      September, 2013. The survey instrument comprised of six different sections that
      explored pharmacists previous participation in research, items regarding
      attitude, perception and willingness to participate, motivators, barriers,
      different areas of interest for doing research and patient demographics.
      Quantitative data collected was initially explored using frequency distribution,
      and descriptive analysis was carried out. Mann-Whitney U and independent samples
      t-test were used to explore the differences between the study variables. RESULTS:
      One hundred and eighty two pharmacists completed the survey yielding a response
      rate of 84 %. Fifty-nine percent of pharmacists have prior research experience.
      Pharmacists with research experience were more confident in reading and
      evaluating research papers (p = 0.01), and designing a research study (p =
      0.001). Pharmacists with previous research experience were also more likely to
      participate in future research opportunities (p = 0.004) and were confident in
      their research skills (p = 0.003). No differences were observed about the
      perceived value of research, facilitators and barriers to participate in
      research, between pharmacists with prior research experience and pharmacists who
      have no prior experience to do research. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists in this study
      were unanimous about the importance of research but showed considerable
      differences in their confidence to carry out research. There is a need to provide
      additional support to enable Saudi pharmacists in conducting practice based
      research.

PMID- 26877879
TI  - Rising HbA1c in the presence of optimal glycaemic control as assessed by self
      monitoring - iron deficiency anaemia.
AB  - HbA1c can be affected by determinants other than glucose and an awareness of this
      is important to avoid unnecessary hypoglycaemia. 

PMID- 26877880
TI  - A case series review of suicides associated with social media use in South
      Tyneside, England.

PMID- 26877878
TI  - The PI3K signaling pathway as a pharmacological target in Autism related
      disorders and Schizophrenia.
AB  - This review is focused in PI3K's involvement in two widespread mental disorders:
      Autism and Schizophrenia. A large body of evidence points to synaptic dysfunction
      as a cause of these diseases, either during the initial phases of brain synaptic
      circuit's development or later modulating synaptic function and plasticity.
      Autism related disorders and Schizophrenia are complex genetic conditions in
      which the identification of gene markers has proved difficult, although the
      existence of single-gene mutations with a high prevalence in both diseases offers
      insight into the role of the PI3K signaling pathway. In the brain, components of
      the PI3K pathway regulate synaptic formation and plasticity; thus, disruption of
      this pathway leads to synapse dysfunction and pathological behaviors. Here, we
      recapitulate recent evidences that demonstrate the imbalance of several PI3K
      elements as leading causes of Autism and Schizophrenia, together with the
      plausible new pharmacological paths targeting this signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26877882
TI  - Clinical signs in functional (psychogenic) gait disorders: a brief survey.
AB  - Clinical signs are critical in ascertaining the functional nature of a gait
      disorder. Four signs of gait impairment have been documented in the course of
      examining patients with clinically definite functional (psychogenic) movement
      disorders: "huffing and puffing" during standing and walking, manipulation
      resistance dorsiflexion of the first toe, fixed plantar flexion and inversion,
      and marked discrepancy between ambulation with and without swivel chair
      assistance. While large studies are needed to ascertain their prevalence,
      sensitivity, and specificity, the identification of these signs may help elevate
      the diagnostic certainty of functional gait disorders. 

PMID- 26877881
TI  - Delays and interruptions in the acute medical unit clerking process: an
      observational study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: It is recommended that patients are seen within 4 h of arrival in
      Acute Medical Units in English hospitals. This study explored the frequency and
      nature of interruptions and delays potentially affecting the duration of the
      Acute Medical Unit admission process and the quality of care provided. DESIGN:
      The admission process was directly observed for patients admitted to the Acute
      Medical Unit over four one-week periods, November 2009 to April 2011. SETTING: UK
      teaching hospital Acute Medical Unit. PARTICIPANTS: Hospital staff n = 36. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient waiting times, duration of clerking, number of
      interruptions and/or delays. RESULTS: Thirty-five doctors and one nurse
      practitioner were observed admitting 71 medical patients, 48/71 (68%) patients
      were clerked within 4 h of arrival. A delay and/or interruption affected 49/71
      (69%) patients. Sixty-six interruptions were observed in 36/71 (51%) of
      admissions, of these 19/36 (53%) were interrupted more than once. The grade of
      doctor had no bearing on the frequency of interruption; however, clerking took
      significantly longer when interrupted; overall doctors grade ST1 and above were
      quicker at clerking than foundation doctors. Delays affected 31/71 (44%) of
      admissions, 14/31 (45%) involved X-rays or ECGs; other causes of delays included
      problems with equipment and computers. CONCLUSION: Interruptions and delays
      regularly occurred during the admission process in the study hospital which
      impacts adversely on patient experience and compliance with the recommended 4-h
      timeframe, further work is required to assess the impact on patient safety. Data
      obtained from this observational study were used to guide operational changes to
      improve the process.

PMID- 26877883
TI  - Agnosia for head tremor in essential tremor: prevalence and clinical correlates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lack of awareness of involuntary movements is a curious phenomenon in
      patients with certain movement disorders. An interesting anecdotal observation is
      that patients with essential tremor (ET) often seem unaware of their own head
      tremor. In the current study, we asked ET patients whether they were aware of
      head tremor while it was occurring on examination, thereby allowing us to gauge
      real-time awareness of their involuntary movement. METHODS: ET cases enrolled in
      an ongoing clinical research study at the Columbia University Medical Center
      (2009-2014). During a videotaped tremor examination, they were questioned about
      the presence of head tremor. True positives were cases who exhibited head tremor
      on examination and were aware of it; false negatives were cases who exhibited
      head tremor but were unaware of it. RESULTS: The 126 ET cases had a mean age of
      72.6 +/- 12.4 years. Nineteen (48.7 %) of 39 cases with head tremor on
      examination did not report having head tremor at that moment. Even among cases
      with moderate or severe head tremor on examination, unawareness of head tremor
      was 45.5 %. We assessed the clinical correlates of unawareness of head tremor,
      comparing true positives to false negatives, and unawareness was correlated with
      older age, lower mental status test scores and several other clinical variables.
      CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-half of ET cases with head tremor on examination were
      acutely unaware of their tremor. Whether such agnosia for tremor may be leveraged
      as a diagnostic feature of ET is a question for future clinical studies.

PMID- 26877885
TI  - Predicted global distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and burden of
      melioidosis.
AB  - Burkholderia pseudomallei, a highly pathogenic bacterium that causes melioidosis,
      is commonly found in soil in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia1,2.
      Melioidosis can be difficult to diagnose due to its diverse clinical
      manifestations and the inadequacy of conventional bacterial identification
      methods3. The bacterium is intrinsically resistant to a wide range of
      antimicrobials, and treatment with ineffective antimicrobials may result in case
      fatality rates (CFRs) exceeding 70%4,5. The importation of infected animals has,
      in the past, spread melioidosis to non-endemic areas6,7. The global distribution
      of B. pseudomallei and burden of melioidosis, however, remain poorly understood.
      Here, we map documented human and animal cases, and the presence of environmental
      B. pseudomallei, and combine this in a formal modelling framework8-10 to estimate
      the global burden of melioidosis. We estimate there to be 165,000 (95% credible
      interval 68,000-412,000) human melioidosis cases per year worldwide, of which
      89,000 (36,000-227,000) die. Our estimates suggest that melioidosis is severely
      underreported in the 45 countries in which it is known to be endemic and that
      melioidosis is likely endemic in a further 34 countries which have never reported
      the disease. The large numbers of estimated cases and fatalities emphasise that
      the disease warrants renewed attention from public health officials and policy
      makers.

PMID- 26877886
TI  - Pharmacokinetic/Toxicity Properties of the New Anti-Staphylococcal Lead Compound
      SK-03-92.
AB  - Because of the potential of a new anti-staphylococcal lead compound SK-03-92 as a
      topical antibiotic, a patch, or an orally active drug, we sought to determine its
      safety profile and oral bioavailability. SK-03-92 had a high IC50 (125 MUg/ml) in
      vitro against several mammalian cell lines, and mice injected intraperiteonally
      at the highest dose did not exhibit gross toxicity (e.g. altered gait, ungroomed,
      significant weight loss). Single dose (100 MUg/g) pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis
      with formulated SK-03-92 showed that peak plasma concentration (1.64 MUg/ml) was
      achieved at 20-30 min. Oral relative bioavailability was 8%, and the drug half
      life was 20-30 min, demonstrating that SK-03-92 is likely not a candidate for
      oral delivery. Five-day and two-week PK analyses demonstrated that SK-03-92
      plasma levels were low. Multi-dose analysis showed no gross adverse effects to
      the mice and a SK-03-92 peak plasma concentration of 2.12 MUg/ml with the
      presence of significant concentrations of breakdown products 15 min after dosing.
      SK-03-92 appeared to be very safe based on tissue culture and mouse gross
      toxicity determinations, but the peak plasma concentration suggests that a pro
      drug of SK-03-92 or preparation of analogs of SK-03-92 with greater
      bioavailability and longer half-lives are warranted.

PMID- 26877884
TI  - Bacterial vaginosis: a synthesis of the literature on etiology, prevalence, risk
      factors, and relationship with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.
AB  - Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disorder in women of reproductive
      age. Since the initial work of Leopoldo in 1953 and Gardner and Dukes in 1955,
      researchers have not been able to identify the causative etiologic agent of BV.
      There is increasing evidence, however, that BV occurs when Lactobacillus spp.,
      the predominant species in healthy vaginal flora, are replaced by anaerobic
      bacteria, such as Gardenella vaginalis, Mobiluncus curtisii, M. mulieris, other
      anaerobic bacteria and/or Mycoplasma hominis. Worldwide, it estimated that 20-30
      % of women of reproductive age attending sexually transmitted infection (STI)
      clinics suffer from BV, and that its prevalence can be as high as 50-60 % in high
      risk populations (e.g., those who practice commercial sex work (CSW).
      Epidemiological data show that women are more likely to report BV if they: 1)
      have had a higher number of lifetime sexual partners; 2) are unmarried; 3) have
      engaged in their first intercourse at a younger age; 4) have engaged in CSW, and
      5) practice regular douching. In the past decade, several studies have provided
      evidence on the contribution of sexual activity to BV. However, it is difficult
      to state that BV is a STI without being able to identify the etiologic agent. BV
      has also emerged as a public health problem due to its association with other
      STIs, including: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus type 2
      (HSV-2), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). The most
      recent evidence on the association between BV and CT/NG infection comes from two
      secondary analyses of cohort data conducted among women attending STI clinics.
      Based on these studies, women with BV had a 1.8 and 1.9-fold increased risk for
      NG and CT infection, respectively. Taken together, BV is likely a risk factor or
      at least an important contributor to subsequent NG or CT infection in high-risk
      women. Additional research is required to determine whether this association is
      also present in other low-risk sexually active populations, such as among women
      in the US military. It is essential to conduct large scale cross-sectional or
      population-based case-control studies to investigate the role of BV as a risk
      factor for CT/NG infections. These studies could lead to the development of
      interventions aimed at reducing the burden associated with bacterial STIs
      worldwide. 

PMID- 26877887
TI  - Empathy, justice, and moral behavior.
AB  - Empathy shapes the landscape of our social lives. It motivates prosocial and
      caregiving behaviors, plays a role in inhibiting aggression, and facilitates
      cooperation between members of a similar social group. Thus, empathy is often
      conceived as a driving motivation of moral behavior and justice, and as such,
      everyone would think that it should be cultivated. However, the relationships
      between empathy, morality, and justice are complex. We begin by explaining what
      the notion of empathy encompasses and then argue how sensitivity to others' needs
      has evolved in the context of parental care and group living. Next, we examine
      the multiple physiological, hormonal, and neural systems supporting empathy and
      its functions. One troubling but important corollary of this neuro-evolutionary
      model is that empathy produces social preferences that can conflict with fairness
      and justice. An understanding of the factors that mold our emotional response and
      caring motivation for others helps provide organizational principles and
      ultimately guides decision-making in medical ethics.

PMID- 26877889
TI  - "Heard It through the Grapevine": The Black Barbershop as a Source of Health
      Information.

PMID- 26877888
TI  - Targeting of Androgen Receptor Expression by Andro-miRs as Novel Adjunctive
      Therapeutics in Prostate Cancer.
AB  - Prostate cancer begins as an androgen-responsive disease. However, subsequent
      accumulation of multiple sequential genetic and epigenetic alterations transforms
      the disease into an aggressive, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The
      monoallelic Androgen Receptor (AR) is associated with the onset, growth and
      development of Prostate cancer. The AR is a ligand-dependent transcription
      factor, and the targeting of androgen- and AR-signaling axis remains the primary
      therapeutic option for Prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. A durable and functional
      disruption of AR signaling pathways combining both traditional and novel
      therapeutics is likely to provide better treatment options for CRPC. Recent work
      has indicated that expression of AR is modulated at the posttranscriptional level
      by regulatory miRNAs. Due to a relatively long 3' untranslated region (UTR) of AR
      mRNA, the posttranscription expression is likely to be regulated by hundreds of
      miRNAs in normal as well as in disease state. The main objective of the article
      is to offer a thought-provoking concept of "andro-miRs" and their potential
      application in AR gene expression targeting. This new paradigm for targeting
      constitutively active AR and its tumor specific splicing isoforms using andro
      miRs may pave the way for a novel adjunctive therapy and improved treatment of
      CRPC.

PMID- 26877890
TI  - Immune-based Therapy Clinical Trials in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related
      mortality and continues to increase. Current standard of care for patients with
      HCC only provides limited therapeutic benefit. Development of innovative
      strategies is urgently needed. Experience with immunotherapy in HCC is quite
      early, but rapidly rise in the recent 15 years. Multifaceted immune-based
      approaches have shown efficacy in achieving disease regression, representing the
      most promising new treatment approach. Here, we classify the ongoing or completed
      clinical trials in HCC in terms of the immune strategies to be used and assess
      their clinical outcomes. The generated information may be helpful in the design
      of future immune-based therapies for achieving ideal tumor control and maximizing
      anti-tumor immunity.

PMID- 26877891
TI  - Dystonia Associated with Idiopathic Slow Orthostatic Tremor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to characterize the clinical and electrophysiological
      features of patients with slow orthostatic tremor. CASE REPORT: The clinical and
      neurophysiological data of patients referred for lower limb tremor on standing
      were reviewed. Patients with symptomatic or primary orthostatic tremor were
      excluded. Eight patients were identified with idiopathic slow 4-8 Hz orthostatic
      tremor, which was associated with tremor and dystonia in cervical and upper limb
      musculature. Coherence analysis in two patients showed findings different to
      those seen in primary orthostatic tremor. DISCUSSION: Slow orthostatic tremor may
      be associated with dystonia and dystonic tremor.

PMID- 26877892
TI  - PEDOT Radical Polymer with Synergetic Redox and Electrical Properties.
AB  - The development of new redox polymers is being boosted by the increasing interest
      in the area of energy and health. The development of new polymers is needed to
      further advance new applications or improve the performance of actual devices
      such as batteries, supercapacitors, or drug delivery systems. Here we show the
      synthesis and characterization of a new polymer which combines the present most
      successful conjugated polymer backbone and the most successful redox active side
      group, i.e., poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and a nitroxide stable
      radical. First, a derivative of the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) molecule
      with side nitroxide stable radical group (TEMPO) was synthesized. The
      electrochemical polymerization of the PEDOT-TEMPO monomer was investigated in
      detail using cyclic voltammetry, potential step, and constant current methods.
      Monomer and polymer were characterized by NMR, FTIR, matrix-assisted laser
      desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), electron
      spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and
      four-point probe conductivity. The new PEDOT-TEMPO radical polymer combines the
      electronic conductivity of the conjugated polythiophene backbone and redox
      properties of the nitroxide group. As an example of application, this redox
      active polymer was used as a conductive binder in lithium ion batteries. Good
      cycling stability with high Coulombic efficiency and increased cyclability at
      different rates were obtained using this polymer as a replacement of two
      ingredients: conductive carbon additive and polymeric binders.

PMID- 26877894
TI  - THE STATE OF CANCER REHABILITATION.

PMID- 26877893
TI  - Obesity Education Strategies for Cancer Prevention in Women's Health.
AB  - Obesity is the cause of up to one-third of all cancers affecting women today,
      most notably endometrial, colon and breast cancer. Women's health providers are
      poised to advise women on obesity's link to cancer development, but often lack
      resources or training to provide appropriate counseling. Here, we review
      obesity's role in increasing the risk of several common reproductive system
      conditions faced by women, including polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility,
      gynecologic surgical complications, and pregnancy complications. These events can
      be used as teachable moments to help frame the discussion of weight management
      and promote cancer prevention. We also review national guidelines and existing
      tangible weight-loss strategies that can be employed within the outpatient
      women's health setting to help women achieve weight loss goals and affect cancer
      prevention.

PMID- 26877896
TI  - Natural radioactivity levels in soils, rocks and water at a mining concession of
      Perseus gold mine and surrounding towns in Central Region of Ghana.
AB  - Levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials prior to processing of gold
      ore within and around the new eastern concession area of Perseus Mining (Ghana)
      Limited were carried out to ascertain the baseline radioactivity levels. The
      study was based on situ measurements of external gamma dose rate at 1 m above
      ground level as well as laboratory analysis by direct gamma spectrometry to
      quantify the radionuclides of interest namely; (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K in soil,
      rock, ore samples and gross alpha/beta analysis in water samples. The average
      absorbed dose rate in air at 1 m above sampling point using a radiation survey
      metre was determined to be 0.08 +/- 0.02 MUGyh(-1) with a corresponding average
      annual effective dose calculated to be 0.093 +/- 0.028 mSv. The average activity
      concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th, and (40)K in the soil, rock, and ore samples
      were 65.1 +/- 2.2, 71.8 +/- 2.2 and 1168.3 Bqkg(-1) respectively resulting in an
      average annual effective dose of 0.91 +/- 0.32 mSv. The average Radium equivalent
      activity value was 257.8 +/- 62.4 Bqkg(-1) in the range of 136.6-340.2 Bqkg(-1).
      The average values of external and internal indices were 0.7 +/- 0.2 and 0.9 +/-
      0.2 respectively. The average gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations
      in the water samples were determined to be 0.0032 +/- 0.0024 and 0.0338 +/-
      0.0083 Bql(-1) respectively. The total annual effective dose from the pathways
      considered for this study (gamma ray from the soil, rock and ore samples as well
      as doses determined from the gross alpha/beta activity concentration in water
      samples) was calculated to be 0.918 mSv. The results obtained in this study shows
      that the radiation levels are within the natural background radiation levels
      found in literature and compare well with similar studies for other countries and
      the total annual effective dose is below the ICRP recommended level of 1 mSv for
      public exposure control. 

PMID- 26877895
TI  - Relation between self-recalled childhood physical activity and adult physical
      activity: The women's health initiative.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that childhood physical activity may play a role in
      the etiology and prevention of adult chronic diseases. Because researchers must
      often depend on self-recalled physical activity data many years after the
      exposure, it is important to understand factors which may influence adult recall
      of childhood physical activity. This study evaluated the influence of adult
      characteristics on reported childhood physical activity and the association
      between adult physical activity and self-recalled childhood physical activity.
      METHODS: 48,066 post-menopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative
      Observational Study reported their physical activity level during ages 5 - 9, 10 
      14, and 15 - 19. RESULTS: In this cohort, over 65% of the population reported
      the same category of physical activity over the three childhood age groups. While
      higher levels of childhood physical activity were significantly associated with
      higher adult physical activity, this association varied by race/ethnicity,
      education, smoking, body mass index, history of diabetes or cardiovascular
      disease, social support and physical functional status. Women who were
      consistently highly active reported adult physical activity levels that were 2.82
      MET-hr/week (95% C.I. = 2.43, 3.20) higher compared to women who were always
      physically inactive during childhood. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for
      researchers to understand the influence of adult characteristics on reported
      childhood physical activity.

PMID- 26877897
TI  - Ewald expansions of a class of zeta-functions.
AB  - The incomplete gamma function expansion for the perturbed Epstein zeta function
      is known as Ewald expansion. In this paper we state a special case of the main
      formula in Kanemitsu and Tsukada (Contributions to the theory of zeta-functions:
      the modular relation supremacy. World Scientific, Singapore, 2014) whose
      specifications will give Ewald expansions in the H-function hierarchy. An Ewald
      expansion for us are given by [Formula: see text] or its variants. We shall treat
      the case of zeta functions which satisfy functional equation with a single gamma
      factor which includes both the Riemann as well as the Hecke type of functional
      equations and unify them in Theorem 2. This result reveals the H-function
      hierarchy: the confluent hypergeometric function series entailing the Ewald
      expansions. Further we show that some special cases of this theorem entails
      various well known results, e.g., Bochner-Chandrasekharan theorem, Atkinson
      Berndt theorem etc. 

PMID- 26877898
TI  - Note on fractional Mellin transform and applications.
AB  - In this article, we define the fractional Mellin transform by using Riemann
      Liouville fractional integral operator and Caputo fractional derivative of order
      [Formula: see text] and study some of their properties. Further, some properties
      are extended to fractional way for Mellin transform. 

PMID- 26877899
TI  - Evaluating a learning management system for blended learning in Greek higher
      education.
AB  - This paper focuses on the usage of a learning management system in an educational
      institution for higher education in Greece. More specifically, the paper examines
      the literature on the use of different learning management systems for blended
      learning in higher education in Greek Universities and Technological Educational
      Institutions and reviews the advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, the paper
      describes the usage of the Open eClass platform in a Technological Educational
      Institution, TEI of Ionian Islands, and the effort to improve the educational
      material by organizing it and adding video-lectures. The platform has been
      evaluated by the students of the TEI of Ionian Islands based on six dimensions:
      namely student, teacher, course, technology, system design, and environmental
      dimension. The results of this evaluation revealed that Open eClass has been
      successfully used for blended learning in the TEI of Ionian Islands. Despite the
      instructors' initial worries about students' lack of participation in their
      courses if their educational material was made available online and especially in
      video lectures; blended learning did not reduce physical presence of the students
      in the classroom. Instead it was only used as a supplementary tool that helps
      students to study further, watch missed lectures, etc. 

PMID- 26877900
TI  - Robustness of the Quadratic Discriminant Function to correlated and uncorrelated
      normal training samples.
AB  - This study investigates the asymptotic performance of the Quadratic Discriminant
      Function (QDF) under correlated and uncorrelated normal training samples. This
      paper specifically examines the effect of correlation, uncorrelation considering
      different sample size ratios, number of variables and varying group centroid
      separators ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) on classification accuracy
      of the QDF using simulated data from three populations ([Formula: see text]). The
      three populations differs with respect to their mean vector and covariance
      matrices. The results show the correlated normal distribution exhibits high
      coefficient of variation as [Formula: see text] increased. The QDF performed
      better when the training samples were correlated than when they were under
      uncorrelated normal distribution. The QDF performed better resulting in the
      reduction in misclassification error rates as group centroid separator increases
      with non increasing sample size under correlated training samples. 

PMID- 26877901
TI  - On synchronal algorithm for fixed point and variational inequality problems in
      hilbert spaces.
AB  - The aim of this article is to expand and generalize some approximation methods
      proposed by Tian and Di (J Fixed Point Appl, 2011. doi:10.1186/1687-1812-21) to
      the class of [Formula: see text]-total asymptotically strict pseudocontraction to
      solve the fixed point problem as well as variational inequality problem in the
      frame work of Hilbert space. Further, the results presented in this paper extend,
      improve and also generalize several known results in the literature . 

PMID- 26877902
TI  - Impact of data layouts on the efficiency of GPU-accelerated IDW interpolation.
AB  - This paper focuses on evaluating the impact of different data layouts on the
      computational efficiency of GPU-accelerated Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW)
      interpolation algorithm. First we redesign and improve our previous GPU
      implementation that was performed by exploiting the feature of CUDA dynamic
      parallelism (CDP). Then we implement three versions of GPU implementations, i.e.,
      the naive version, the tiled version, and the improved CDP version, based upon
      five data layouts, including the Structure of Arrays (SoA), the Array of
      Structures (AoS), the Array of aligned Structures (AoaS), the Structure of Arrays
      of aligned Structures (SoAoS), and the Hybrid layout. We also carry out several
      groups of experimental tests to evaluate the impact. Experimental results show
      that: the layouts AoS and AoaS achieve better performance than the layout SoA for
      both the naive version and tiled version, while the layout SoA is the best choice
      for the improved CDP version. We also observe that: for the two combined data
      layouts (the SoAoS and the Hybrid), there are no notable performance gains when
      compared to other three basic layouts. We recommend that: in practical
      applications, the layout AoaS is the best choice since the tiled version is the
      fastest one among three versions. The source code of all implementations are
      publicly available. 

PMID- 26877903
TI  - Management of peri-implantitis: a systematic review, 2010-2015.
AB  - Peri-implantitis or Periimplantitis is characterized as an inflammatory reaction
      that affects the hard and soft tissue, which results in loss of supporting bone
      and pocket formation surrounding the functioning osseointegrated implant. This
      review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical treatment
      of peri-implantitis. The data sources used was PubMed. Searches of this database
      were restricted to English language publications from January 2010 to June 2015.
      All Randomized Controlled Trials describing the treatments of peri-implantitis of
      human studies with a follow up of at least 6 months were included. Eligibility
      and quality were assessed and two reviewers extracted the data. Data extraction
      comprised of type, intensity provider, and location of the intervention. A total
      of 20 publications were included (10 involving surgical and 10 involving non
      surgical mechanical procedure). The non-surgical approach involves the mechanical
      surface debridement using carbon or titanium currettes, laser light, and
      antibiotics whereas, surgical approach involves implantoplasty, elevation of
      mucoperiosteal flap and removal of peri-inflammatory granulation tissue followed
      by surface decontamination and bone grafting. This study reveals that non
      surgical therapy tends to remove only the local irritant from the peri
      implantitis surface with or without some additional adjunctive therapies agents
      or device. Hence, non-surgical therapy is not helpful in osseous defect. Surgical
      therapy in combination with osseous resective or regenerative approach removes
      the residual sub-gingival deposits additionally reducing the peri-implantitis
      pocket. Although there is no specific recommendation for the treatment of peri
      implantitis, surgical therapy in combination with osseous resective or
      regenerative approach showed the positive outcome. 

PMID- 26877904
TI  - Codimension-one bifurcation and stability analysis in an immunosuppressive
      infection model.
AB  - One of the important medical problems is infectious diseases such as HIV and
      hepatitis which annually causes the death of many people. So it is important to
      study infectious diseases parametric models. In this paper, we investigate
      differential equations system of HIV and hepatitis (with delay and without delay)
      from the stability and codimension-one bifurcation point of view. We show that
      their dynamical behaviour will change when the parameters vary. We prove that
      this model has a saddle-node bifurcation and transcritical bifurcation when the
      delay parameter is absent. Also by using the center manifold theory, we show that
      the delay model has a saddle-node bifurcation. 

PMID- 26877905
TI  - Daily microhabitat shifting of solitarious-phase Desert locust adults:
      implications for meaningful population monitoring.
AB  - The Desert locust Schistocerca gregaria is a major world pest that causes
      substantial agricultural and economic damage. Effective pest control relies on
      effective monitoring, which requires knowledge of locust microhabitat selection.
      Yet little is known about microhabitat selection of solitarious adult locusts in
      the field. We conducted field surveys to investigate fine-scale diel temporal and
      spatial distributions of solitarious adults in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania, a
      major breeding and recession area. We found that solitarious adults moved among
      different, specific microhabitats throughout the 24-h period in a cyclical
      manner. At night, they roosted in trees, moved to the ground to feed shortly
      after dawn, sheltered in low vegetation during the hot midday, and returned to
      the ground in the late afternoon. Hence, they switched microhabitats and plant
      species throughout each day. These cyclical daily movements among diverse
      microhabitats and specific plant species were correlated with time of day, light
      intensity, temperature, humidity, and specific plant species, and may relate to
      anti-predator defence, thermoregulation, and feeding. The present study suggests
      that locust monitoring should be adjusted, based on time of day, locust age,
      phase state and relative abundance of specific plant species. For example, we
      recommend surveying ground after morning and trees at night, for solitarious
      adults, when at low density. 

PMID- 26877906
TI  - Vertical profile of atmospheric conductivity that matches Schumann resonance
      observations.
AB  - We introduce the vertical profile of atmospheric conductivity in the range from 2
      to 98 km. The propagation constant of extremely low frequency (ELF) radio waves
      was computed for this profile by using the full wave solution. A high
      correspondence is demonstrated of the data thus obtained to the conventional
      standard heuristic model of ELF propagation constant derived from the Schumann
      resonance records performed all over the world. We also suggest the conductivity
      profiles for the ambient day and ambient night conditions. The full wave solution
      technique was applied for obtaining the corresponding frequency dependence of
      propagation constant relevant to these profiles. By using these propagation
      constants, we computed the power spectra of Schumann resonance in the vertical
      electric field component for the uniform global distribution of thunderstorms and
      demonstrate their close similarity in all the models. We also demonstrate a
      strong correspondence between the wave attenuation rate obtained for these
      conductivity profiles and the measured ones by using the ELF radio transmissions.

PMID- 26877908
TI  - Reaction of hydroxylated naphtoquinones/antraquinones with pentafluoropyridine.
AB  - In this study, the reaction of pentafluoropyridine with hydroxylated
      naphtoquinones and hydroxylated antraquinones was investigated under basic
      conditions in DMF. One or two hydroxyl group in naphtoquinones and antraquinones
      react with pentafluoropyridine to give mono and di-tetrafluoropyridyl
      naphtoquinones/antraquinones. All the compounds were characterized using (1)H,
      (13)C and (19)F-NMR spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26877909
TI  - A Boosting Algorithm for Estimating Generalized Propensity Scores with Continuous
      Treatments.
AB  - In this article, we study the causal inference problem with a continuous
      treatment variable using propensity score-based methods. For a continuous
      treatment, the generalized propensity score is defined as the conditional density
      of the treatment-level given covariates (confounders). The dose-response function
      is then estimated by inverse probability weighting, where the weights are
      calculated from the estimated propensity scores. When the dimension of the
      covariates is large, the traditional nonparametric density estimation suffers
      from the curse of dimensionality. Some researchers have suggested a two-step
      estimation procedure by first modeling the mean function. In this study, we
      suggest a boosting algorithm to estimate the mean function of the treatment given
      covariates. In boosting, an important tuning parameter is the number of trees to
      be generated, which essentially determines the trade-off between bias and
      variance of the causal estimator. We propose a criterion called average absolute
      correlation coefficient (AACC) to determine the optimal number of trees.
      Simulation results show that the proposed approach performs better than a simple
      linear approximation or L2 boosting. The proposed methodology is also illustrated
      through the Early Dieting in Girls study, which examines the influence of
      mothers' overall weight concern on daughters' dieting behavior.

PMID- 26877907
TI  - Patterns in target-directed breast cancer research.
AB  - We undertake an analysis of ongoing BC targeted therapy trials registered to
      CT.gov to describe patterns of ongoing clinical research, highlight gaps in
      current research programs and identify ways of optimizing ongoing initiatives. A
      search of clinicaltrials.gov was conducted on September 4, 2013 to identify
      ongoing randomized phase II and III trials of targeted therapies in BC. A total
      of 280 trials were analyzed, the majority conducted in either human epidermal
      growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive (n = 79, 28.2 %) or hormone receptor
      (HR)-positive (n = 104, 37.1 %) populations. Less than half of all trials were
      conducted in populations selected to match the agent under investigation (n =
      126, 45 %). HER2-directed therapy is the single most investigated class of
      targeted agents (n = 73, 26.1 %), but trials investigating anti-angiogenic agents
      are also common (n = 49, 17.5 %). The most common new classes of agents under
      investigation in HR-positive and triple negative (TN)/BRCA-positive disease, are
      non-receptor protein kinase-inhibitors (n = 12; 11.5 %) and poly (ADP-ribose)
      polymerase inhibitors (n = 6; 30 %), respectively. The majority of regimens
      combine new targeted agents with either chemotherapy (n = 164, 58.6 %) or
      endocrine therapy (n = 113, 40.4 %); a total of 8 trials (2.8 %) investigated
      peptide-drug conjugates. The most frequently utilized end-points were
      pathological complete response in the neo-adjuvant setting (n = 36, 52.9 %) and
      time-to-event end-points in the adjuvant and advanced settings (77.3 and 72.6 %,
      respectively). Our findings suggest a need for more target-matched agent
      development, maintenance of a value-based focus in research and a need for the
      clinical development of agents to treat TN/BRCA-positive and HR-positive BC. 

PMID- 26877910
TI  - Planar Photonic Crystal Biosensor for Quantitative Label-Free Cell Attachment
      Microscopy.
AB  - In this study, a planar-surface photonic crystal (PC) biosensor for quantitative,
      kinetic, label-free imaging of cell-surface interactions is demonstrated. The
      planar biosensor surface eliminates external stimuli to the cells caused by
      substrate topography to more accurately reflect smooth surface environment
      encountered by many cell types in vitro. Here, a fabrication approach that
      combines nanoreplica molding and a horizontal dipping process is used to
      planarize the surface of the PC biosensor. The planar PC biosensor maintains a
      high detection sensitivity that enables the monitoring of live cell-substrate
      interactions with spatial resolution sufficient for observing intracellular
      attachment strength gradients and the extensions of filopodia from the cell body.
      The evolution of cell morphology during the attachment and spreading process of
      3T3 fibroblast cells is compared between planar and grating-structured PC
      biosensors. The planar surface effectively eliminates the directionally biased
      cellular attachment behaviors that are observed on the grating-structured
      surface. This work represents an important step forward in the development of
      label-free techniques for observing cellular processes without unintended
      external environmental modulation.

PMID- 26877911
TI  - The Challenge of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection.
AB  - The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is increasing.
      Current treatment strategies are largely based on expert opinion. The lack of
      randomized clinical trials to inform treatment leave clinicians with many
      questions regarding the most effective and safe regimens. The risk-benefit ratio
      of therapy is often thought to favor observation given the chronic nature of the
      disease, multiple long-term antibiotics recommended for therapy, side effects
      associated with treatment, and perceived lack of efficacious therapies.

PMID- 26877912
TI  - Is VEGF a new therapeutic target for hypertension in chronic kidney disease?

PMID- 26877913
TI  - Immunologic monitoring in kidney transplant recipients.
AB  - Transplant biopsy has always been the gold standard for assessing the immune
      response to a kidney allograft (Chandraker A: Diagnostic techniques in the work
      up of renal allograft dysfunction-an update. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 8:723
      728, 1999). A biopsy is not without risk and is unable to predict rejection and
      is only diagnostic once rejection has already occurred. However, in the past two
      decades, we have seen an expansion in assays that can potentially put an end to
      the "drug level" era, which until now has been one of the few tools available to
      clinicians for monitoring the immune response. A better understanding of the
      mechanisms of rejection and tolerance, and technological advances has led to the
      development of new noninvasive methods to monitor the immune response. In this
      article, we discuss these new methods and their potential uses in renal
      transplant recipients. 

PMID- 26877914
TI  - Postdialysis serum sodium changes and systolic blood pressure in patients
      undergoing online hemodiafiltration and high-flux hemodialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because hemodiafiltration (HDF) involves large amounts of ultra
      filtration and substitution fluid infusion, its effects on serum electrolytes may
      be different from those of hemodialysis (HD). Serum sodium and blood pressures
      were compared between patients undergoing online HDF and high-flux HD (HFHD).
      METHODS: Thirty-two of 101 patients on HFHD switched voluntarily to online HDF.
      Their pre- and postdialysis serum measurements were compared with those of the
      remaining 69 HFHD patients. RESULTS: Online HDF patients had lower pre- and
      postdialysis systolic blood pressures (SBPs) than HFHD patients (predialysis,
      136+/-21 vs. 145+/-19 mmHg, P<0.05; postdialysis, 129+/-22 vs. 142+/-25 mmHg,
      P<0.05). Pre- and postdialysis serum sodium concentrations were not significantly
      different between online HDF and HFHD (predialysis, 138+/-2 vs. 137+/-3 mEq/L;
      postdialysis, 134+/-2 vs. 134+/-2 mEq/L). However, the change in serum sodium
      concentration after dialysis was greater in online HDF than HFHD patients (-3.7+/
      2.2 vs. -2.5+/-2.8 mEq/L, P<0.05). The change in serum sodium concentration was
      correlated with postdialysis SBP (r=0.304, P<0.005) and pulse pressure (r=0.299,
      P<0.005). Predialysis SBP (r = 0.317, P<0.005) and pulse pressure (r=0.324,
      P=0.001) were also correlated with the postdialysis serum sodium change.
      CONCLUSION: Compared with HFHD, online HDF has a greater serum sodium lowering
      effect. This might contribute to the ability of online HDF to stabilize both pre-
      and postdialysis SBP.

PMID- 26877915
TI  - Decreased serum level and increased urinary excretion of vascular endothelial
      growth factor-C in patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interstitial tonicity increases vascular endothelial growth factor-C
      (VEGF-C), a lymphangiogenic factor in salt-induced hypertension. Therefore, it
      can be assumed that changes of serum VEGF-C level may be associated with
      increasing blood pressure. However, there is no report about the changes of serum
      VEGF-C levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aims of this
      study were to investigate the changes of serum and urine VEGF-C levels in
      patients with CKD stage 3-4 and to evaluate the relationship between blood
      pressure and serum VEGF-C levels in the patients with CKD stage 5 and
      hemodialysis. METHODS: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was assessed by the
      Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Blood pressure and VEGF-C levels
      (serum and urine) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in
      nine patients with stage 3-4 CKD, 41 hemodialysis patients, and eight healthy
      individuals. RESULTS: The median serum level of VEGF-C in patients with stage 3-4
      CKD and stage 5 hemodialysis significantly decreased in comparison with healthy
      individuals. Urinary VEGF-C excretion increased in patients with stage 3-4 CKD
      compared with healthy control patients. For 41 hemodialysis patients, the serum
      level of VEGF-C in patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension with
      hemodialysis did not significantly increase when compared with prehypertension
      hemodialysis patients. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that circulating levels of
      VEGF-C were decreased in patients with CKD, and the decrease of VEGF-C in
      patients with stage 3-4 CKD coincided with an increase in the urinary excretion
      of VEGF-C.

PMID- 26877916
TI  - Obstructive uropathy after inguinal herniorrhaphy with a mesh in a renal
      transplant patient.
AB  - A 67-year-old male renal transplant patient presented with a right inguinal
      bulging mass, and was diagnosed with a right indirect inguinal hernia. The day
      following inguinal herniorrhaphy, serum creatinine became elevated. The patient
      was oliguric and had abdominal pain on the first day after inguinal herniorrhaphy
      with a mesh. We diagnosed him with acute renal failure and subsequently performed
      acute hemodialysis. The kidney computed tomography showed hydronephroureter, with
      distal ureter obstruction. With urgent percutaneous nephrostomy, we were able to
      relieve the obstructive uropathy with distal ureteral stenosis. Subsequently,
      hernia repair was performed with removal of the mesh, followed by the antegrade
      ureteral stent insertion. Renal function was recovered after ureteral stent
      insertion. This case shows that acute renal failure can occur due to ureteral
      obstruction, complicated by an inguinal hernia repair, and this can be
      successfully treated with percutaneous nephrostomy and inguinal hernia repair
      with mesh removal. 

PMID- 26877917
TI  - Colchicine-induced myoneuropathy in a cyclosporine-treated renal transplant
      recipient.
AB  - Colchicine is a relatively safe medication that is widely used for both
      prevention and treatment of gout attack. However, serious adverse events,
      including myoneuropathy and multiorgan failure, have been reported. We report a
      case of colchicine-induced myoneuropathy in a female kidney transplant recipient
      who had been taking cyclosporine. She developed gastrointestinal discomfort and
      paresthesia 5 days after the initiation of colchicine. She showed signs of
      myoneuropathy, and hepatic and renal injury. Colchicine toxicity was suspected,
      and colchicine was discontinued. Her symptoms and laboratory findings improved
      gradually. Literature was reviewed for previous reports of colchicine-induced
      myoneuropathy in solid organ transplant recipients. 

PMID- 26877919
TI  - Successful antibiotic treatment of Pseudomonas stutzeri-induced peritonitis
      without peritoneal dialysis catheter removal in continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis.
AB  - Pseudomonas stutzeri is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, single polar
      flagellated, soil bacterium that was first isolated from human spinal fluid and
      is widely distributed in the environment. It was isolated as an uncommon
      opportunistic pathogen from humans, and a few cases of P. stutzeri-induced
      peritonitis have been reported in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory
      peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Catheter removal with antibiotic treatment is
      generally recommended because peritonitis by Pseudomonas species is commonly
      associated with catheter-related infection. Here, we describe the first case of
      P. stutzeri-induced peritonitis in an 82-year-old woman in Korea. She had
      received two antipseudomonal antibiotics, an aminoglycoside (isepamicin, Yuhan
      corporation, Seoul, Korea) and a fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin), and was
      successfully treated without removal of the CAPD catheter. 

PMID- 26877918
TI  - A case of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by Sphingomonas
      paucimobilis.
AB  - Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an aerobic Gram-negative bacillus found in soil and
      water. Knowledge regarding the role of this infectious agent is limited because
      it is rarely isolated from human material. Furthermore, it is an unusual pathogen
      in cases of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis. The clinical courses
      and outcomes of peritonitis caused by S. paucimobilis are variable. Whereas some
      patients were cured with appropriate antibiotic therapy, others required catheter
      removal. Cases of PD-associated peritonitis caused by S. paucimobilis have been
      reported worldwide, and there was a case report of coinfection with S.
      paucimobilis and Chryseobacterium indologenes in Korea. However, there has been
      no case caused by S. paucimobilis as a single pathogen. We report a case of PD
      associated peritonitis due to S. paucimobilis in which the patient recovered
      after catheter removal. 

PMID- 26877920
TI  - Hemorrhagic cystitis with massive bleeding from nontyphoidal Salmonella
      infection: A case report.
AB  - Hemorrhagic cystitis is defined by lower urinary tract symptoms that include
      dysuria, hematuria, and hemorrhage and is caused by viral or bacterial infection
      or chemotherapeutic agents. Reports of hemorrhagic cystitis caused by non
      typhoidal salmonella (NTS) are extremely rare. We report a case of a 41-year-old
      man with hemorrhagic cystitis from NTS that caused massive bleeding and shock.
      The patient was hospitalized for uncontrolled diabetes and obstructive uropathy
      related to severe cystitis. A urine culture was positive for group D NTS. This
      case demonstrated that hemorrhagic cystitis in a patient with a risk factor such
      as diabetes can be a manifestation of local extra-intestinal NTS infection. 

PMID- 26877921
TI  - Asymptomatic renal pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous renal biopsy.
AB  - A 37-year-old man was referred to Division of Nephrology for a new renal cystic
      lesion that was found on ultrasonography. Four years prior to presentation, a
      percutaneous renal biopsy had been performed. Computed tomography scan showed a
      4.4-cm-sized renal artery pseudoaneurysm in the left kidney. Selective renal
      angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the left lower pole of the kidney. The
      renal pseudoaneurysm was successfully embolized with coil. Follow-up Doppler
      ultrasonography showed no internal blood flow into the aneurysmal sac. His renal
      function remained stable after coil embolization. 

PMID- 26877922
TI  - Urine output before the initiation of CRRT and mortality.

PMID- 26877923
TI  - Regulation of aquaporin-2 in the kidney: A molecular mechanism of body-water
      homeostasis.
AB  - The kidneys play a key role in the homeostasis of body water and electrolyte
      balance. Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is the vasopressin-regulated water-channel protein
      expressed at the connecting tubule and collecting duct, and plays a key role in
      urine concentration and body-water homeostasis through short-term and long-term
      regulation of collecting duct water permeability. The signaling transduction
      pathways resulting in the AQP2 trafficking to the apical plasma membrane of the
      collecting duct principal cells, including AQP2 phosphorylation, RhoA
      phosphorylation, actin depolymerization, and calcium mobilization, and the
      changes of AQP2 abundance in water-balance disorders have been extensively
      studied. Dysregulation of AQP2 has been shown to be importantly associated with a
      number of clinical conditions characterized by body-water balance disturbances,
      including hereditary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), lithium-induced NDI,
      electrolytes disturbance, acute and chronic renal failure, ureteral obstruction,
      nephrotic syndrome, congestive heart failure, and hepatic cirrhosis. Recent
      studies exploiting omics technology further demonstrated the comprehensive
      vasopressin signaling pathways in the collecting ducts. Taken together, these
      studies elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of body-water homeostasis
      and provide the basis for the treatment of body-water balance disorders. 

PMID- 26877924
TI  - Primary glomerulonephritis: A review of important recent discoveries.
AB  - The publication of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)
      guidelines on the treatment of glomerular diseases in 2012 marked a milestone in
      this field, as it is the first time that comprehensive guidelines are provided
      for such disease entities. The current review focuses on major findings, both
      pathogenesis related and clinical, in the primary glomerulonephritis that have
      been made after the guidelines came into effect. 

PMID- 26877925
TI  - Clinical manifestations of IgA nephropathy combined with thin glomerular basement
      membrane nephropathy in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and thin glomerular basement
      membrane nephropathy (TBMN) are the most common causes of persistent hematuria
      during childhood. The objective of this study is to determine the difference in
      clinical features and laboratory findings between pediatric patients with IgA
      deposited TBMN and IgAN alone. METHODS: Between January 2000 and March 2009, 95
      children were diagnosed with IgAN by renal biopsy. Clinical features and
      laboratory findings of patients with isolated IgAN and with IgAN plus TBMN were
      compared; the children diagnosed with IgAN were compared to 127 children who had
      been diagnosed with TBMN alone during the same period. RESULTS: There were 71
      (74.7%) of a total 95 patients that were diagnosed with isolated IgAN (Group1);
      in 24 (25.3%) of the 95 patients IgAN was combined with TBMN (Group 2). There was
      marked difference in the gender distribution between Group 2 and isolated TBMN
      patients. The degree of proteinuria and pathologic severity was higher in Group 1
      compared with Group 2. Gross hematuria was present in both groups. There were no
      distinguishing features in the other laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION: Patients
      with both IgAN and TBMN seem to have similar clinical features to patients with
      isolated IgAN; however, the latter tend to have better pathologic and laboratory
      findings, compared to the patients with IgAN alone.

PMID- 26877926
TI  - Nondiabetic kidney diseases in type 2 diabetic patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of
      nondiabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to find a
      clinical significance of renal biopsy and immunosuppressive treatment in such a
      patient. METHODS: Renal biopsy results, clinical parameters, and renal outcomes
      were analyzed in 75 diabetic patients who underwent kidney biopsy at Chungnam
      National University Hospital from January 1994 to December 2010. RESULTS: The
      three most common reasons for renal biopsy were nephrotic range proteinuria
      (44%), proteinuria without diabetic retinopathy (20%), and unexplained decline in
      renal function (20.0%). Ten patients (13.3%) had only diabetic nephropathy (Group
      I); 11 patients (14.7%) had diabetic nephropathy with superimposed nondiabetic
      nephropathy (Group II); and 54 patients (72%) had only nondiabetic nephropathy
      (Group III). Membranous nephropathy (23.1%), IgA nephropathy (21.5%), and acute
      tubulointerstitial nephritis (15.4%) were the three most common nondiabetic
      nephropathies. Group III had shorter duration of diabetes and lesser diabetic
      retinopathy than Groups I and II (P=0.008). Group II had the lowest baseline
      estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.002), with the greatest proportion of
      renal deterioration during follow-up (median 38.0 months, P<0.0001). The patients
      who were treated with intensive method showed better renal outcomes (odds ratio
      4.931; P=0.01). Absence of diabetic retinopathy was associated with favorable
      renal outcome in intensive treatment group (odds ratio 0.114; P=0.032).
      CONCLUSION: Renal biopsy should be recommended for type 2 diabetic patients with
      atypical nephropathy because a considerable number of these patients may have
      nondiabetic nephropathies. And intensive treatment including corticosteroid or
      immunosuppressants could be recommended for type 2 diabetic patients with
      nondiabetic nephropathy, especially if the patients do not have diabetic
      retinopathy.

PMID- 26877927
TI  - De novo glomerulitis associated with graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A single-center experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) and proteinuria are uncommon, often
      unrecognized manifestations of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Only a few isolated case reports
      and case series involving smaller number of patients who developed NS after HSCT
      have been published. METHODS: We reviewed the renal histopathological examination
      findings and clinical records of 15 patients who developed proteinuria after HSCT
      at Seoul and Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Korea). We also measured the
      anti-PLA2R antibodies (M-type phospholipase A2 receptor) in the serum samples
      from the seven patients at the time of renal biopsy. RESULTS: All patients had
      GVHD. The most common indication for biopsy was proteinuria (>1 g/day), with nine
      patients having nephrotic range proteinuria. The most common histopathological
      finding was membranous nephropathy (MN; n = 12). Other findings were
      membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, C1q nephropathy, and diabetic
      nephropathy. Eleven patients were treated with immunosuppressive agents, and
      three patients were treated only with angiotensin II receptor blocker. The
      overall response rate, including complete remission (urinary protein level <0.3
      g/day) and partial remission (urinary protein level = 0.31-3.4 g/day), was 73%.
      The mean follow-up period was 26 months, and none of the patients developed end
      stage renal disease. All of the seven patients with MN had negative findings for
      anti-PLA2R antibodies, measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
      CONCLUSION: In this study the findings of 15 renal biopsies were analyzed and to
      our knowledge this is the largest clinicopathological study of GVHD-related
      biopsy-proven nephropathy. Approximately 80% of the patients were MN and 73%
      responded either partially or completely to immunosuppressive treatment.
      Currently, there is an increase in the incidence of GVHD-mediated renal disease,
      and therefore, renal biopsy is essential for diagnosing the nephropathy and
      preventing the progression of renal disease.

PMID- 26877929
TI  - Membranous glomerulonephritis in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome
      refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia.
AB  - A 74-year-old woman presented with edema in the lower extremities. Laboratory
      tests revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia,
      and nephrotic-range proteinuria. Myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory cytopenia
      with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-RCMD) was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy. Renal
      biopsy demonstrated membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), stage I. Based on these
      clinicopathologic results, she was diagnosed as having MGN with MDS-RCMD. This is
      a rare case report of MGN in a parient with MDS-RCMD featuring nephrotic
      syndrome. 

PMID- 26877928
TI  - The effect of on-line hemodiafiltration on heart rate variability in end-stage
      renal disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in the maintenance
      of hemodynamic stability. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction may result in serious
      complications, such as sudden cardiac death. Heart rate variability (HRV) is
      significantly reduced in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). The aim
      of this study was to evaluate the effect of on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) on
      the autonomic nervous system in chronic HD patients. METHODS: Forty chronic HD
      patients were prospectively studied. The participants were divided into
      conventional HD and OL-HDF groups. They received regular high-flux HD or OL-HDF
      for 4-hour sessions, three times a week. Time-and frequency-domain measures of
      the 24-hour HRV were analyzed during the interdialytic period prior to
      postdilution OL-HDF and every 6 months for 24 months. The 7-year survival was
      also evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 40 participants, 15 patients in the HD group
      and 11 patients in the OL-HDF group completed the study. There was no difference
      in the baseline characteristics. After 24 months of treatment, beta2
      microglobulin concentration decreased (from 33.4+/-15.2 mg/dL to 28.4+/-6.2
      mg/dL, P =0.02) in the OL-HDF group, while there was no change in the HD group.
      In the HRV analysis, the frequency-domain HRV parameters increased significantly
      compared with baseline in the OL-HDF group [natural logarithmic high frequency
      (lnHF), 3.15+/-3.36 ms(2) vs. 4.42+/-3.81 ms(2); ln low frequency (LF), 3.56+/
      3.17 ms(2) vs. 4.78+/-3.99 ms(2); ln very low frequency (VLF), 4.90+/-4.62 ms(2)
      vs. 6.38+/-5.54 ms(2); LF/HF ratio, 1.4+/-0.4 vs. 2.5+/-0.1]. The survival rate
      was similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that OL-HDF improved
      autonomic nervous system dysfunction in chronic HD patients.

PMID- 26877931
TI  - Determining when to measure vascular access flow ...that may not be enough.

PMID- 26877930
TI  - Two cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy treated with rituximab.
AB  - Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome, and
      has been reported as a cause of idiopathic primary glomerulonephropathy in up to
      90% of patients. However, the treatment options remain controversial. We report
      two cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy that were treated with rituximab.
      A 54-year-old man and a 64-year old man were admitted for rituximab therapy. They
      had previously been treated with combinations of immunosuppressive agents
      including cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, and steroids. However,
      the patients' heavy proteinuria was not resolved. Both patients received
      rituximab therapy, 2 weeks apart. After several months of follow-up and a second
      round of rituximab treatment for each patient, their proteinuria decreased and
      partial remission of disease was achieved in both patients. 

PMID- 26877932
TI  - Hidden pathology of kidney disease after liver transplantation.

PMID- 26877933
TI  - Proinflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes are associated with vascular stiffness
      in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is frequently noted in patients with chronic
      kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to the development and progression of
      cardiovascular diseases. Monocytes are heterogeneous populations of cells, and
      they can be divided into subtypes with different phenotypes and functions based
      on CD14 and CD16 positivity. This study examined whether the proinflammatory
      CD14(+)CD16(+) monocyte subset expands in predialysis CKD patients, and also
      whether the expansion of these cells is closely associated with systemic
      inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The percentages of
      proinflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes were analyzed in 111 predialysis CKD
      patients using a flow cytometer, and they were compared with brachial-ankle pulse
      wave velocity as well as the cytokine plasma levels and other clinical
      parameters. RESULTS: The proportion of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes was significantly
      higher in patients with advanced stages of CKD than in patients with the early
      stages. Interleukin-6 levels were also high in patients with advanced stages of
      CKD. The expansion of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes showed significant positive
      correlations with the high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels, and negative
      correlations with the levels of serum albumin, hemoglobin, and 25(OH)-vitamin D.
      In addition, the expansion of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes was an independent factor
      correlated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in diabetic CKD patients.
      CONCLUSION: Expansion of the proinflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+) monocyte subset
      partially accounts for chronic inflammation, malnutrition, and atherosclerosis in
      CKD.

PMID- 26877934
TI  - Clinical usefulness of kidney biopsy in liver transplant recipients with renal
      impairment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is a common complication after liver
      transplantation. In this study, we analyzed the results of kidney biopsy in liver
      transplantation recipients with renal impairment. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2012,
      544 liver transplants were performed at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed
      the clinical and histological data of 10 liver transplantation recipients
      referred for kidney biopsy. RESULTS: The biopsies were performed at a median of
      24.5 months (range, 3-73 months) after liver transplantation. The serum
      creatinine level was 1.81+/-0.5 mg/dL at the time of kidney biopsy. There were no
      immediate complications. The most common diagnosis was glomerulonephritis (GN),
      such as immunoglobulin A nephropathy (n=4), mesangial proliferative GN (n=1),
      focal proliferative GN (n=1), and membranous GN (n=1). Typical calcineurin
      inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity was detected in three cases (30%). Chronic
      tissue changes such as glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular
      atrophy were present in 90%, 80%, and 80% of cases, respectively, and mesangial
      proliferation was detected in 40% of cases. We began treatment for renal
      impairment based on the result of kidney biopsy; for example, angiotensin
      receptor blockers or steroids were prescribed for GN, and the CNI dose was
      reduced for CNI nephrotoxicity. As a result, eight of 10 patients showed
      improvement in glomerular filtration rate, but two progressed to end-stage renal
      disease. CONCLUSION: Kidney biopsy is a safe and effective method for determining
      the cause of renal impairment after liver transplantation. Management of patients
      based on the result of kidney biopsy may improve renal outcomes.

PMID- 26877935
TI  - Resistive index as a predictor of acute kidney injury caused by an angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker in chronic kidney
      disease patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin
      receptor blocker (ARB) may induce acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the role of the resistive index (RI), which reflects renal
      artery resistance on renal duplex ultrasonography, as a predictor of AKI in
      chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB.
      METHODS: We screened 105 CKD patients evaluated with renal duplex ultrasonography
      from 2008 to 2012. We excluded patients not treated with ACE inhibitor or ARB and
      diagnosed with renal artery stenosis. Finally, we retrospectively analyzed the
      medical records of 54 patients. AKI was defined as increased serum creatinine by
      >30% compared with baseline after starting ACE inhibitor or ARB treatment.
      RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 60.5+/-13.0 years, serum creatinine
      level was 1.85+/-0.85 mg/dL and 22.2% of the patients had AKI after the use of an
      ACE inhibitor or ARB. The RI (P=0.006) and the percentages of patients with
      diabetes (P=0.008) and using diuretics (P=0.046) were higher in the AKI group.
      The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for the prediction of
      AKI was 0.736 (95% confidence interval=0.587-0.885, P=0.013), and RI>=0.80
      predicted AKI with 83.3% sensitivity and 61.9% specificity. In the multivariate
      analysis, RI>=0.80 was an independent prognostic factor [Exp (B)=8.03, 95%
      confidence interval=1.14-56.74, P=0.037] for AKI. CONCLUSION: RI>=0.80 on the
      renal duplex ultrasonography may be a helpful predictor for AKI in CKD patients
      who are prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB.

PMID- 26877936
TI  - Correlation between periodontitis and chronic kidney disease in Korean adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periodontitis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are important health
      issues; however, the association between periodontitis and CKD markers,
      especially in Korean adults, remains elusive. METHODS: Data on 15,729 Korean
      adults were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination
      Surveys IV and V. The CKD markers included a decreased estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (eGFR;<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), proteinuria, and hematuria. Odds
      ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were measured using stepwise
      multivariate logistic regression analyses for CKD markers based on the presence
      of periodontitis. RESULTS: Patients with periodontitis had greater unadjusted ORs
      for CKD markers compared to those without periodontitis, as follows: decreased
      eGFR, 4.07 (3.11-5.33); proteinuria, 2.12 (1.48-3.05); and hematuria, 1.25 (1.13
      1.39, all P<0.001). Periodontitis was a significant predictor of decreased eGFR
      independent of all covariates [1.39 (1.03-1.89), P=0.034]. However, the effect of
      periodontitis on decreased eGFR seemed to be affected by hypertension and
      diabetes mellitus. Periodontitis was not an independent predictor of proteinuria;
      the significance disappeared after adjusting for hypertension and diabetes
      mellitus. Periodontitis was significantly correlated with hematuria, leading to
      similar ORs regardless of the adjustment for covariates [1.29 (1.15-1.46),
      P<0.001]. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the correlation between periodontitis
      and CKD markers, including decreased eGFR, proteinuria, and hematuria in Korean
      adults.

PMID- 26877937
TI  - High serum C-reactive protein level predicts mortality in patients with stage 3
      chronic kidney disease or higher and diabetic foot infections.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are predisposed to foot infections because of
      vascular insufficiency and peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic foot infection is a
      common cause of mortality and lower extremity amputations (LEAs) in patients with
      chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated the risk factors for mortality and
      LEAs in patients with stage 3 CKD or higher with diabetic foot infections.
      METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 105 CKD patients with diabetic
      foot infections between July 1998 and December 2011. We reviewed their
      demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters to evaluate the risk
      factors for mortality and amputations at 24 weeks after diagnosis of a diabetic
      foot infection. RESULTS: The mortality of the 105 enrolled CKD patients was 21%
      at 24 weeks after the diagnosis of a diabetic foot infection. Cox proportional
      regression analyses revealed that age 60 years or older [odds ratio (OR) 3.03,
      95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-9.02, P = 0.047] and initial serum C-reactive
      protein (CRP) level >= 3 mg/dL (OR 3.97, 95% CI = 1.17-13.43, P = 0.027) were
      independent risk factors for mortality at 24 weeks. Twenty-four patients (23%)
      underwent LEAs. On Cox proportional regression analyses, peripheral vascular
      disease (OR=4.49, 95% CI=1.98-10.17, P=0.01) and cerebrovascular accident (OR
      2.42, 95% CI=1.09-5.39, P=0.03) were independently associated with LEAs.
      CONCLUSION: This study showed that age and serum CRP level, were independent risk
      factors for mortality at 24 weeks in patients with stage 3-5 CKD with diabetic
      foot infections. Peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular accident were
      significantly associated with LEAs.

PMID- 26877939
TI  - Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a
      patient with a single functioning kidney.
AB  - Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of
      fibroinflammatory tissue around the abdominal aorta and ureteral entrapment in
      most cases. Idiopathic RPF is frequently reported in association with autoimmune
      diseases; however, there have been few reports of idiopathic RPF associated with
      Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Here, we report a case of idiopathic RPF with
      Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a patient with a single functioning kidney, which was
      successfully treated by corticosteroid therapy and transient intraureteral stent
      insertion with a double-J catheter. 

PMID- 26877938
TI  - Features of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in dialysis
      patients. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is used as a surrogate marker of
      early atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can cause vascular access failure. The
      purpose of this study was to define the clinical features of atherosclerosis in
      hemodialysis patients based on CIMT and to define the relationship between CIMT
      and access failure. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the CIMT of 60
      patients on hemodialysis was examined using B-mode Doppler ultrasonography
      between May 2012 and November 2012. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as a
      CIMT>=0.9 mm or the incidence of atherosclerotic plaques. RESULTS: The patients'
      mean age was 54.5+/-10.6 years, and 60% of the patients were male. The CIMT was
      0.81+/-0.47 mm (range, 0.35-2.50 mm). The group with atherosclerosis was
      characterized by older age compared with those without atherosclerosis. Patients
      with atherosclerosis showed much shorter durations of access patency than their
      counterparts in the nonatherosclerosis group (hazard ratio, 2.822; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.113-7.156; P=0.029). Moreover, being overweight was associated with a
      2.47-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.101-5.548) increased primary access
      failure. CONCLUSION: This study shows that atherosclerosis is associated with
      older age. Patients who are overweight and have atherosclerosis may have
      shortened access patency.

PMID- 26877940
TI  - Blue toe syndrome treated with sympathectomy in a patient with acute renal
      failure caused by cholesterol embolization.
AB  - Blue toe syndrome is the most frequent manifestation of tissue ischemia caused by
      cholesterol embolization (CE), which can lead to amputation of affected lower
      extremities, if severe. However, any effective treatment is lacking. We
      experienced a case of spontaneously presenting blue toe syndrome and concomitant
      acute renal failure in a patient with multiple atherosclerotic risk factors. CE
      was confirmed by renal biopsy. Despite medical treatment including prostaglandin
      therapy and narcotics, the toe lesion progressed to gangrene with worsening
      ischemic pain. Therefore, we performed lumbar sympathectomy, which provided
      dramatic pain relief as well as an adequate blood flow to the ischemic lower
      extremities, resulting in healing of the gangrenous lesion and avoiding toe
      amputation. This is the first reported case of a patient with intractable
      ischemic toe syndrome caused by CE that was treated successfully by
      sympathectomy. Our observations suggest that sympathectomy may be beneficial in
      some patients with CE-associated blue toe syndrome. 

PMID- 26877942
TI  - IgA nephropathy combined with thin basement membrane nephropathy in children.

PMID- 26877943
TI  - Oxidative stress, the capo of endothelial dysfunction in chronic renovascular
      hypertension.

PMID- 26877941
TI  - A case of scrub typhus requiring maintenance hemodialysis.
AB  - Renal failure caused by scrub typhus is known to be reversible. In most cases,
      renal function is almost fully restored after appropriate antibiotic treatment. A
      71-year-old man was diagnosed with scrub typhus complicated by renal failure. A
      renal biopsy revealed histopathologic findings consistent with acute
      tubulointerstitial nephritis. Renal function did not improve 18 months after
      discharge and the patient required continuous hemodialysis. Although severe renal
      failure requiring dialysis is a rare complication of scrub typhus, we describe a
      case of scrub typhus requiring maintenance hemodialysis. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first such report. 

PMID- 26877945
TI  - Renal replacement therapy in Korea, 2012.
AB  - The Korean Society of Nephrology (KSN) launched the official end-stage renal
      disease (ESRD) patient registry in 1985, and an Internet online registry program
      was opened in 2001 and revised in 2013. The ESRD Registry Committee of KSN has
      collected data on dialysis therapy in Korea through the online registry program
      in the KSN Internet website. The status of renal replacement therapy in Korea at
      the end of 2012 is described in the following. The total number of ESRD patients
      was 70,211 at the end of 2012, which included 48,531 hemodialysis (HD) patients,
      7,552 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and 14,128 functioning kidney transplant
      (KT) patients. The prevalence of ESRD was 1,353.3 patients per million population
      (PMP), and the distribution of renal replacement therapy among ESRD patients was
      as follows: HD, 69.1%; PD, 10.8%; and KT, 20.2%. The number of new ESRD patients
      in 2012 was 11,742 (HD, 8,811; PD, 923; and KT, 1,738; the incidence rate was
      221.1 PMP). The primary causes of ESRD were diabetic nephropathy (50.6%),
      hypertensive nephrosclerosis (18.5%), and chronic glomerulonephritis (18.1%). The
      mean urea reduction ratio was 67.9% in male and 74.1% in female HD patients. The
      mean Kt/V was 1.382 in male and 1.652 in female HD patients. The 5-year survival
      rates of male and female dialysis patients were 70.6% and 73.5%, respectively. 

PMID- 26877944
TI  - Treatment of phosphate retention: The earlier the better?
AB  - Over the last 15 years, our knowledge and understanding of the underlying
      mechanisms involved in the regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis in
      chronic kidney disease have advanced dramatically. Contrary to general opinion in
      the 20(th) century that moderate hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia were
      acceptable in treating secondary hyperparathyroidism, the calcium and phosphate
      load is increasingly perceived to be a major trigger of vascular and soft tissue
      calcification. The current treatment options are discussed in view of historical
      developments and the expectations of the foreseeable future, focusing on the
      early treatment of hyperphosphatemia. At present, we lack indisputable evidence
      that active intervention using currently available drugs is of benefit to
      patients in chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4. 

PMID- 26877946
TI  - Effects of oxidative stress on endothelial modulation of contractions in aorta
      from renal hypertensive rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is linked to exaggerated production of
      superoxide anions. This study was conducted to examine the effects of oxidative
      stress on endothelial modulation of contractions in chronic two-kidney, one-clip
      (2K1C) renal hypertensive rats. METHODS: The 2K1C hypertension was induced by
      clipping the left renal artery; age-matched rats receiving sham treatment served
      as controls. Thoracic aortae were isolated and mounted in tissue baths for
      measurement of isometric tension. RESULTS: Norepinephrine-induced contraction was
      augmented by the removal of the endothelium, which was more pronounced in sham
      rats than in 2K1C rats. Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of
      nitric oxide production, had a similar augmenting effect. Vitamin C inhibited the
      contraction in aortic rings with intact endothelium from 2K1C rats but not from
      sham rats. The contraction was also suppressed by treatment with
      diphenyleneiodonium or apocynin, inhibitors of nicotinamide adenine
      dinucleotide/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH/NADPH) oxidase, in
      the aortae with intact endothelium from 2K1C rats but not in those from sham
      rats. Superoxide anions generated by xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine enhanced the
      contraction in the aortae with intact endothelium from sham rats, but had no
      effect in 2K1C rats. Enhanced contractile responses to norepinephrine by xanthine
      oxidase/hypoxanthine in sham rats were reversed by vitamin C. CONCLUSION: These
      results suggest that the effect on endothelial modulation of endothelium-derived
      nitric oxide is impaired in 2K1C hypertension. The impairment is, at least in
      part, related to increased production of superoxide anions by NADH/NADPH oxidase.

PMID- 26877947
TI  - Diabetic conditions modulate the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
      of podocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinases (AMPKs), as a
      sensor of cellular energy status, have been known to play an important role in
      the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications. Because AMPKs are known to
      be expressed in podocytes, it is possible that podocyte AMPKs could be an
      important contributing factor in the development of diabetic proteinuria. We
      investigated the roles of AMPKs in the pathological changes in podocytes induced
      by high-glucose (HG) and advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in diabetic
      proteinuria. METHODS: We prepared streptozotocin-induced diabetic renal tissues
      and cultured rat and mouse podocytes under diabetic conditions with AMPK
      modulating agents. The changes in AMPKalpha were analyzed with confocal imaging
      and Western blotting under the following conditions: (1) normal glucose (5mM,
      =control); (2) HG (30mM); (3) AGE-added; or (4) HG plus AGE-added. RESULTS: The
      density of glomerularphospho-AMPKalpha in experimental diabetic nephropathy
      decreased as a function of the diabetic duration. Diabetic conditions including
      HG and AGE changed the localization of phospho-AMPKalpha from peripheral
      cytoplasm to internal cytoplasm and peri- and intranuclear areas in podocytes. HG
      reduced the AMPKalpha (Thr172) phosphorylation of rat podocytes, and similarly,
      AGEs reduced the AMPKalpha (Thr172) phosphorylation of mouse podocytes. The
      distributional and quantitative changes in phospho-AMPKalpha caused by diabetic
      conditions were preventable using AMPK activators, metformin, and 5
      aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1beta-riboside. CONCLUSION: We suggest that diabetic
      conditions induce the relocation and suppression of podocyte AMPKalpha, which
      would be a suggestive mechanism in diabetic podocyte injury.

PMID- 26877948
TI  - Effects of Toll-like receptor antagonist 4,5-dihydro-3-phenyl-5-isoxasole acetic
      acid on the progression of kidney disease in mice on a high-fat diet.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity-related metabolic disorders are closely associated with
      inflammation induced by innate immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a
      pivotal role in the innate immune system by activating proinflammatory signaling
      pathways. GIT27 (4,5-dihydro-3-phenyl-5-isoxasole acetic acid) is an active
      immunomodulatory agent that primarily targets macrophages and inhibits secretion
      of tumor necrosis factor alpha [as well as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-10, and
      interferon gamma]. However, the effect of TLR antagonist on kidney diseases has
      rarely been reported. We investigated whether the TLR antagonist GIT27 has
      beneficial effects on the progression of kidney disease in obese mice on a high
      fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three
      groups: mice fed with normal chow diet (N=4); mice fed with a HFD (60% of total
      calories from fat, 5.5% from soybean oil, and 54.5% from lard, N=4); and GIT27
      treated mice fed with a HFD (N=7). RESULTS: Glucose intolerance, oxidative
      stress, and lipid abnormalities in HFD mice were improved by GIT27 treatment. In
      addition, GIT27 treatment decreased the urinary excretion of albumin and protein
      in obesity-related kidney disease, urinary oxidative stress markers, and
      inflammatory cytokine levels. This treatment inhibited the expression of
      proinflammatory cytokines in the kidneys and adipose tissue, and improved
      extracellular matrix expansion and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in obesity-related
      kidney disease. CONCLUSION: TLR inhibition by administering GIT27 improved
      metabolic parameters. GIT27 ameliorates abnormalities of lipid metabolism and may
      have renoprotective effects on obesity-related kidney disease through its anti
      inflammatory properties.

PMID- 26877949
TI  - Comparison of glomerular filtration rates calculated by different serum cystatin
      C-based equations in patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the performance of serum cystatin C-based
      equations in calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with
      varying stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Serum cystatin C and
      creatinine levels were measured in 615 CKD patients. The CKD stage was determined
      by the creatinine-based estimated GFR (eGFR) equation using the four-variable
      abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation suggested by the
      Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative with the addition of a coefficient
      applicable to Korean populations (K-aMDRD). In each CKD stage, the ratio of serum
      cystatin C to creatinine was calculated and six different cystatin C-based
      equations were used to estimate GFR. Cystatin C-based eGFR and aMDRD eGFR values
      were compared using the paired t test, Pearson correlation test, and the Bland
      Altman plot. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.21+/-14.45 years; of the
      615 patients, 346 were male. The serum cystatin C-to-creatinine ratio was
      inversely correlated with the CKD stage. Compared with the K-aMDRD values, the
      results of the Hoek, Filler, and Le Bricon's cystatin C-based eGFR equations were
      lower in CKD Stages 1-3 and higher in Stages 4 and 5. However, the results of the
      Orebro-cystatin (Gentian) equation [GFR=100/ScytC (mL/minute/1.73 m(2)) - 14]
      were similar to those of the K-aMDRD equation in CKD Stages 4 and 5 (15.44+/-9.45
      vs. 15.17+/-9.05 mL/minute/1.73 m(2), respectively; P=0.722; bias=0.27+/-8.87).
      CONCLUSION: The eGFRs obtained from the six cystatin C-based equations differed
      widely. Therefore, further studies are required to determine the most accurate
      equation to estimate GFR in Koreans with CKD.

PMID- 26877950
TI  - Serum calcium and phosphorus levels in patients undergoing maintenance
      hemodialysis: A multicentre study in Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In many countries, nephrologists follow clinical practice guidelines
      for mineral bone disorders to control secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT)
      associated with abnormal serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels in patients
      undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality
      Initiative (KDOQI) Guidelines have long been used in Korea, and this study was
      undertaken to investigate the current status of serum Ca and P control in MHD
      patients. METHODS: Data were collected from a total of 1,018 patients undergoing
      MHD without intercurrent illness, in 17 hemodialysis centers throughout the
      country. Serum levels of Ca, P, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were
      measured over 1 year, and the average values were retrospectively analyzed.
      RESULTS: Serum levels of Ca, P, and the Ca*P product were 9.1+/-0.7 mg/dL, 5.3+/
      1.4 mg/dL, and 48.0+/-13.6 mg(2)/dL(2), respectively. However, the percentages of
      patients with Ca, P, and Ca * P product levels within the KDOQI guideline ranges
      were 58.7%, 51.0%, and 70.7%, respectively. Of the 1,018 patients, 270 (26.5%)
      had iPTH >300 pg/mL (uncontrolled SHPT), whereas 435 patients (42.7%) showed iPTH
      <150 pg/mL. Patients with uncontrolled SHPT had significantly higher values of
      serum Ca, P, and Ca*P product than those with iPTH <=300 pg/mL. CONCLUSION:
      Despite the current clinical practice guidelines, SHPT seems to be inadequately
      controlled in many MHD patients. Uncontrolled SHPT was associated with higher
      levels of serum Ca, P, and Ca * P product, suggestive of the importance of SHPT
      management.

PMID- 26877952
TI  - Non-diabetic nephropathy in diabetics.

PMID- 26877951
TI  - Cat-induced Pasteurella multocida peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis.
AB  - Pasteurella multocida is a zoonotic pathogen found in the oral cavities of both
      domestic and wild animals. Although P. multocida has been involved in a wide
      range of human diseases, only a limited number of studies on P. multocida
      peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) had been carried out.
      We herein present the case of P. multocida peritonitis in a patient undergoing
      continuous ambulatory PD, which is believed to have resulted from contact with
      cats. We suggest that patients undergoing PD and having domestic animals at home
      should be educated about the possible transmission of the infection from the
      animals; in addition, these patients should also maintain a high level of
      personal hygiene. 

PMID- 26877953
TI  - Experimental evidence that preexisting chronic kidney disease is a risk factor
      for acute kidney injury.

PMID- 26877954
TI  - Cyst growth, polycystins, and primary cilia in autosomal dominant polycystic
      kidney disease.
AB  - The primary cilium of renal epithelia acts as a transducer of extracellular
      stimuli. Polycystin (PC)1 is the protein encoded by the PKD1 gene that is
      responsible for the most common and severe form of autosomal dominant polycystic
      kidney disease (ADPKD). PC1 forms a complex with PC2 via their respective carboxy
      terminal tails. Both proteins are expressed in the primary cilia. Mutations in
      either gene affect the normal architecture of renal tubules, giving rise to
      ADPKD. PC1 has been proposed as a receptor that modulates calcium signals via the
      PC2 channel protein. The effect of PC1 dosage has been described as the rate
      limiting modulator of cystic disease. Reduced levels of PC1 or disruption of the
      balance in PC1/PC2 level can lead to the clinical features of ADPKD, without
      complete inactivation. Recent data show that ADPKD resulting from inactivation of
      polycystins can be markedly slowed if structurally intact cilia are also
      disrupted at the same time. Despite the fact that no single model or mechanism
      from these has been able to describe exclusively the pathogenesis of cystic
      kidney disease, these findings suggest the existence of a novel cilia-dependent,
      cyst-promoting pathway that is normally repressed by polycystin function. The
      results enable us to rethink our current understanding of genetics and cilia
      signaling pathways of ADPKD. 

PMID- 26877955
TI  - Development of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in
      rats with or without chronic kidney disease: Cytokine/chemokine response and
      effect of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The primary aim of the study was to investigate the
      cytokine/chemokine response in the kidney, lung, and liver following acute kidney
      injury (AKI). The secondary aim was to test whether alpha-melanocyte-stimulating
      hormone (alpha-MSH) could prevent a reduction in organ function, and attenuate
      the inflammatory cytokine/chemokine response within the kidney, lung, and liver
      following AKI in rats with or without preexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD).
      METHODS: A two-stage animal model, in which AKI was induced in rats with
      preexisting CKD, induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), was used. Six weeks later, AKI
      was induced by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR). Sham procedures [S(Nx)
      and S(IIR)] were also performed. RESULTS: Increasing levels of serum creatinine
      (sCr) demonstrated progressive development of CKD in response to Nx, and
      following IIR sCr levels increased further significantly, except in the S(Nx)
      group treated with alpha-MSH. However, no significant differences in the
      fractional increase in sCr were observed between any of the groups exposed to
      IIR. In kidney, lung, and liver tissue the levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta were
      significantly higher in rats undergoing IIR when compared to the S(IIR) and
      control rats. The same pattern was observed for the chemokine monocyte
      chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in lung and liver tissue. Furthermore, kidney IL
      1beta and RANTES levels were significantly increased after IIR in the Nx rats
      compared to the S(Nx) rats. CONCLUSION: Both the functional parameters and the
      cytokine/chemokine response are as dramatic when AKI is superimposed onto CKD as
      onto non-CKD. No convincing protective effect of alpha-MSH was detected.

PMID- 26877956
TI  - Excess mortality among patients on dialysis: Comparison with the general
      population in Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) experience
      excess mortality compared with the general population, the standardized mortality
      ratio (SMR) for Korean patients on dialysis has not yet been investigated. In
      this study, we evaluated the SMR among all Korean ESRD patients on maintenance
      dialysis in 2009 and 2010, and compared it according to age categories, sex, and
      dialysis modality. METHODS: We used data from all patients on maintenance
      dialysis between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 in Korea using the
      database of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and the
      SMR was determined by calculating of the ratio between the number of actual
      deaths and expected deaths. RESULTS: A total of 45,568 patients in 2009 and
      48,170 patients in 2010 were included in the analysis. The overall age- and sex
      adjusted SMR was 10.3 [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.0-10.6] in 2009 and 10.9
      (95% CI, 10.7-11.2) in 2010. The SMR for females was much higher than for males.
      The SMR gradually decreased with increasing age groups. The overall SMR for
      maintenance hemodialysis patients was lower than that of peritoneal dialysis
      patients. CONCLUSION: The SMR among Korean ESRD patients is likely to be higher
      than in other countries. Further evaluation is needed to attempt to improve the
      outcomes.

PMID- 26877957
TI  - The association between mortality and abdominal aortic calcification and relation
      between its progression and serum calcium concentration in chronic hemodialysis
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The composite summary score (range, 0-24) of abdominal aortic
      calcification (AAC) devised by Kauppila et al is a simple method of assessing AAC
      severity. However, few studies have been conducted to determine an optimal AAC
      cutoff score for the prediction of mortality or to investigate the relation
      between mineral metabolism and AAC progression using the scoring system. METHODS:
      The medical records of 112 patients on hemodialysis who had undergone simple
      lateral lumbar radiography every 6 months from August 2009 were reviewed.
      Patients were followed until November 2012, and the relationship between the
      degree of AAC at baseline and mortality was evaluated. In addition, the
      relationship between the progression of AAC and serum concentrations of calcium
      and phosphate was evaluated in the 75 patients who were successfully followed
      until November 2012. RESULTS: The mean AAC score at baseline was 5.5+/-4.8, and
      the cutoff calcification score for the prediction of mortality was 7.75
      (sensitivity=61%, specificity=81%). Patients were allocated to Group A (baseline
      total calcification score <=8.0, n=85) or Group B (baseline total calcification
      score>8.0, n=27), and multivariate analysis showed that Group B was an
      independent risk factor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Of the
      75 patients successfully followed, 51 showed AAC progression (Group 1) and 24
      showed no change or improvement (Group 2). Group 1 was found to have
      significantly higher mean serum corrected calcium levels during the 2(nd) year
      and 3(rd) year of follow-up than Group 2. Furthermore, repeated-measures analysis
      of variance showed higher monthly corrected calcium concentrations (P=0.099) and
      mean corrected calcium levels during the 1(st) year, 2(nd) year, and 3(rd) year
      of follow-up (P=0.062) in Group 1, but without statistical significance. The
      cutoff values of mean corrected calcium of the 2(nd) year and 3(rd) year for the
      prediction of AAC progression during follow-up years were 8.96 mg/dL and 9.45
      mg/dL, respectively. Serum phosphate levels and corrected calcium*phosphate
      values were similar in Groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: Patients with an AAC score
      of>8 at baseline seem to be at higher risk of mortality during follow-up. Of the
      serum variables examined, such as corrected calcium, phosphate, and corrected
      calcium*phosphate, corrected calcium was found to be marginally associated with
      AAC progression. However, a larger-scale prospective study is required to confirm
      our findings.

PMID- 26877958
TI  - Thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from neglected blood pressure control.
AB  - Hypertensive nephrosclerosis is usually associated with chronic hypertension,
      which increases the risk of progressive renal disease. Among the causes of
      malignant hypertension, thrombotic microangiopathy is complicated and is
      associated with renal dysfunction at the time of diagnosis. In this case, a young
      man with hypertension presented with renal failure and thrombocytopenia in the
      emergency department. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition of
      renal failure and thrombocytopenia among patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

PMID- 26877959
TI  - A case of reninoma with variant angina.
AB  - Reninoma is a tumor of the renal juxtaglomerular cell apparatus that causes
      hypertension and hypokalemia because of hypersecretion of renin. We present a
      case of a 29-year-old female patient with reninoma and concomitant variant
      angina. The patient had uncontrolled hypertension and elevated plasma renin
      activity and aldosterone levels. Imaging studies revealed a mass in the left
      kidney, which was further confirmed as a renin-producing lesion via selective
      venous catheterization. During the evaluation, the patient had acute-onset chest
      pain that was diagnosed as variant angina after a provocation test. After partial
      nephrectomy, the plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels decreased
      and blood pressure normalized. We report a case of reninoma with variant angina. 

PMID- 26877960
TI  - Peanut-induced acute oxalate nephropathy with acute kidney injury.
AB  - Oxalate nephropathy is commonly caused by ethylene glycol, vitamin C, and foods
      like star fruit that contain a lot of oxalate. Peanuts also have high oxalate
      contents. However, case reports of peanut-induced oxalate nephropathy are not
      common. Here, we describe a case of peanut-induced acute oxalate nephropathy with
      acute kidney injury and intend to demonstrate the conditions under which peanut
      induced oxalate nephropathy is likely to occur. 

PMID- 26877962
TI  - Prime determinants of serum phosphorus level in hemodialysis patients.

PMID- 26877961
TI  - A case of Fanconi syndrome accompanied by crystal depositions in tubular cells in
      a patient with multiple myeloma.
AB  - Fanconi syndrome (FS) is a rare condition that is characterized by defects in the
      proximal tubular function. A 48-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of
      proteinuria. The patient showed normal anion gap acidosis, normoglycemic
      glycosuria, hypophosphatemia, and hypouricemia. Thus, her condition was
      compatible with FS. The M peak was found behind the beta globulin region in urine
      protein electrophoresis. Upon bone marrow examination, we found that 24% of cells
      were CD138+ plasma cells with kappa restriction. From a kidney biopsy, we found
      crystalline inclusions within proximal tubular epithelial cells. Thereafter, she
      was diagnosed with FS accompanied by multiple myeloma. The patient received
      chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, and obtained very good
      partial hematologic response. However, proximal tubular dysfunction was
      persistent until 1 year after autologous stem cell transplantation. In short, we
      report a case of FS accompanied by multiple myeloma, demonstrating crystalline
      inclusion in proximal tubular cells on kidney biopsy. 

PMID- 26877963
TI  - Chronic exit-site care using povidone-iodine versus normal saline in peritoneal
      dialysis patients.

PMID- 26877964
TI  - Chronic renal failure induces cell death in rat hippocampal CA1 via upregulation
      of alphaCaMKII/NR2A synaptic complex and phosphorylated GluR1-containing AMPA
      receptor cascades.
AB  - BACKGROUND: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5
      methylisoxazole-4-propinoic acid (AMPA) receptors bound to postsynaptic density
      95 (PSD-95) and alpha isoform of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
      (alphaCaMKII) is fundamentally involved in the regulation of working memory. The
      aim of present study was to investigate the alterations of NMDA and AMPA
      receptors responsible for hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and selective neuronal
      cell death after chronic renal failure (CRF) which may be associated with
      impairment of working memory. METHODS: Altered interactions between NMDA and AMPA
      receptors and PSD-95 and alphaCaMKII were analyzed in the cornu ammonis (CA) 1
      and CA3/dentate gyrus (DG) subfields of the uremic rat hippocampi using the
      immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation methods. RESULTS: Uremia induced by CRF
      produced necrotic cell death and decreased neuronal nucleoli protein levels in
      the hippocampal CA1 subfield, but not in the CA3/DG subfields. The CA1 subfields
      of CRF rats exhibited significant decreases and increases, respectively, in the
      expressions of PSD-95/NR2B and alphaCaMKII/NR2A synaptic complex. Moreover,
      increased phosphorylation of glutamate receptor type 1 (GluR1) AMPA receptor at
      ser831 was observed in the CA1 subfield after CRF. CONCLUSION: These hippocampal
      CA1 neuronal vulnerability may be responsible for memory dysfunction after CRF as
      mediated by an increase in NR2A-containing NMDA receptors bound to alphaCaMKII
      and subsequent activation of GluR1-containing AMPA receptors caused by the
      phosphorylation of GluR1 at ser831.

PMID- 26877965
TI  - Emphysematous pyelonephritis initially presenting as a spontaneous subcapsular
      hematoma in a diabetic patient.
AB  - Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening infection characterized
      by the formation of gas. Complications of EPN include septic shock, acute renal
      failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Spontaneous subcapsular
      hematoma (SCH) has also been reported as a rare complication of EPN, although
      there have been no reports to date of this occurring prior to the presentation of
      EPN. We report a case of EPN that initially presented as spontaneous SCH. The
      patient was admitted for left flank pain, and initial computed tomography
      revealed SCH without any air shadows. Laboratory findings and clinical symptoms
      suggested the presence of urinary tract infection and the patient was started on
      antibiotics. Fever developed 24 hours after admission. On follow-up computed
      tomography 7 days later, EPN was newly observed, and a percutaneous drain was
      inserted. Blood, urine, and drainage fluid cultures all revealed growth of
      extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-negative Escherichia coli. 

PMID- 26877966
TI  - A new connecting technique in partial replantation of a ruptured peritoneal
      dialysis catheter.
AB  - Peritoneal dialysis catheter ruptures have been managed by immediate removal and
      subsequent reinsertion of the catheter which inevitably entails interruption in
      peritoneal dialysis and a need for vascular access. A 36-year-old man on
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis complaining of dialysate leakage was
      found to have a small rupture near the outer cuff of the peritoneal dialysis
      catheter. Rather than employing the traditional method of exchanging the whole
      catheter, a partial replantation procedure to salvage the still-functioning
      conduit was performed. Two peritoneal dialysis adaptors were used to connect the
      end of the remaining old catheter to a new extraperitoneal segment of a new
      catheter and a piece of a transfer set to connect the adaptors. A novel, yet
      simple and safe, means of partial peritoneal dialysis catheter replantation when
      managing catheter injuries is suggested. 

PMID- 26877967
TI  - Remission of secondary membranous nephropathy in a patient with Kimura disease
      after surgical resection.
AB  - Kimura disease (KD) is an eosinophilic, granulomatous, benign, chronic
      inflammatory disease with an unknown etiology. A 33-year-old woman visited our
      hospital because of a palpable, left subclavian mass, a left scapulo-anterior
      pseudoaneurysm, and nephrotic syndrome. Her subclavian lymph node biopsy
      examination result was consistent with KD, and results of a renal biopsy
      indicated secondary membranous nephropathy. After renal histological examination
      confirmed nephropathy, treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine was
      initiated, which was maintained for over 1 year. However, this therapy only
      provided a transient improvement in proteinuria. One year after commencing the
      treatment, both proteinuria and azotemia aggravated as the left axillary mass
      doubled in size. Finally, the mass was surgically excised, following which the
      azotemia rapidly normalized and proteinuria resolved within 1 month. This case
      shows that tumor resection in a patient with KD with secondary nephropathy may
      resolve secondary renal manifestations. Furthermore, reversible renal dysfunction
      may be caused by unknown secreted molecules. 

PMID- 26877968
TI  - Nephrotic syndrome complicated with portal, splenic, and superior mesenteric vein
      thrombosis.
AB  - Thromboembolism is a major complication of nephrotic syndrome. Renal vein
      thrombosis and deep vein thrombosis are relatively common, especially in
      membranous nephropathy. However, the incidence of portal vein and superior
      mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome is very
      rare. To date, several cases of portal vein thrombosis treated by anticoagulation
      therapy, not by thrombolytic therapy, have been reported as a complication of
      nephrotic syndrome. Here, we report a case of portal, splenic, and SMV thrombosis
      in a patient with a relapsed steroid dependent minimal change disease who was
      treated successfully with anticoagulation and thrombolytic therapy using
      urokinase. Radiologic findings and his clinical conditions gradually improved.
      Six months later, a complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome was observed and
      the follow-up computed tomography scan showed the disappearance of all portal
      vein, splenic vein, and SMV thrombi. 

PMID- 26877970
TI  - Performance comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rate equations.

PMID- 26877969
TI  - Improvement of Erdheim-Chester disease-related renal failure after treatment with
      anakinra.
AB  - Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis
      characterized by infiltrates of lipid-laden CD68(+)/CD1a(-) histiocytes,
      affecting heart, lungs, central nervous system, and bones. Kidney and adjacent
      structures can also be affected, leading to renal failure in about 30% of cases.
      The diagnosis is challenging, and treatment is generally based on administration
      of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha), but preliminary results also showed the
      therapeutic efficacy of anakinra, an antagonist of the receptor of interleukin-1
      (IL-1). We report the case of an elderly patient with ECD and severe involvement
      of the heart and kidneys who was successfully treated with anakinra. 

PMID- 26877971
TI  - Job demands, burnout, and engagement among nurses: A multi-level analysis of
      ORCAB data investigating the moderating effect of teamwork.
AB  - According to the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, burnout and engagement are
      psychological reactions that develop when individual characteristics interact
      with work characteristics. This study tests the JD-R model using multilevel
      analysis to test the main and moderating effects of teamwork effectiveness among
      1156 nurses in 93 departments from seven European countries. Workload, emotional
      and organizational demands were positively associated with emotional exhaustion,
      depersonalization, and negatively with vigor. Emotional and organizational
      demands were negatively associated with dedication. Teamwork effectiveness was
      positively associated with engagement. We found no evidence for the moderating
      effect of teamwork effectiveness in reducing individual perceptions of demands.

PMID- 26877972
TI  - The Role of History in Debates Regarding the Boundaries of Medical
      Confidentiality and Privacy.
AB  - Medical confidentiality and privacy are often given a long pedigree as core
      issues in medical ethics that can be traced back to the Hippocratic Oath.
      However, it is only recently that focused historical work has begun to examine
      and analyse in greater detail how the boundaries of medical confidentiality and
      privacy have evolved within a variety of cultural contexts during the modern
      period. Such research illustrates the ways in which this process has been shaped
      by a range of issues, individuals, interest groups and events; and been
      influenced as much by pragmatic concerns as by theoretical arguments. This paper
      presents a case for the merits of promoting further historical work on these
      topics. It suggests that greater support for, and recognition of, historical
      research has a number of potential benefits. These include providing meaningful
      context to current interdisciplinary discussions of the collection and use of
      patient information; improving knowledge and understanding of the foundations on
      which current policy and practice are built; and promoting public engagement and
      understanding of the evolution of medical confidentiality and privacy as complex
      public interest issues.

PMID- 26877973
TI  - Quantitation of 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate human serum albumin adducts.
AB  - 4,4'-Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (herein 4,4'-MDI) is used in the production
      of polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, adhesives and the like for a wide
      range of commercial products. Occupational exposure to MDI levels above current
      airborne exposure limits can elicit immune mediated hypersensitivity reactions
      such as occupational asthma in sensitive individuals. To accurately determine
      exposure, there has been increasing interest in developing analytical methods to
      measure internal biomarkers of exposure to MDI. Previous investigators have
      reported methodologies for measuring MDI diamine metabolites and MDI-Lysine (4,4'
      MDI-Lys) adducts. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an ultra
      performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC
      ID/MS/MS) quantitation method via a signature peptide approach to enable
      biomonitoring of 4,4'-MDI adducted to human serum albumin (HSA) in plasma. A
      murine, anti-4,4'-MDI monoclonal IgM antibody was bound to magnetic beads and
      utilized for enrichment of the MDI adducted HSA. Following enrichment, trypsin
      digestion was performed to generate the expected 414 site (primary site of
      adduction) 4,4'-MDI-adducted HSA signature peptide that was quantified by UPLC
      ID/MS/MS. An Agilent 6530 UPLC/quadrupole time of flight MS (QTOF) system was
      utilized for intact adducted protein analysis and an Agilent 6490 UPLC/MS/MS
      system operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was utilized for
      quantification of the adducted signature peptide biomarker both for in chemico
      and worker serum samples. Worker serum samples were initially screened utilizing
      the previously developed 4,4'-MDI-Lys amino acid method and results showed that
      12 samples were identified as quantifiable for 4,4'-MDI-Lys adducts. The
      signature peptide adduct approach was applied to the 12 worker samples identified
      as quantifiable for 4,4'-MDI-Lys adducts. Results indicated no positive results
      were obtained above the quantification limit by the signature peptide approach.
      If the 414 site of lysine adduction accounted for 100% of the 4,4'-MDI adductions
      in the signature peptide adduct approach, the three highest quantifiable samples
      by the 4,4'-MDI-Lys method should have at least been detectable by the signature
      peptide method. Results show that although the 4,4'-MDI signature peptide
      approach is more selective, it is 18 times less sensitive than the 4,4'-MDI-Lys
      method, thus limiting the ability to detect adduct levels relative to the 4,4'
      MDI-Lys amino acid method.

PMID- 26877974
TI  - Physician perceptions of HIV cure in China: A mixed methods review and
      implications for HIV cure research.
AB  - There are over 100 clinical trials worldwide focused on developing an HIV cure.
      Research participants will assume substantial individual risks while receiving
      little or no individual benefit. Physicians will have important dual roles of
      leading HIV cure research studies and guiding patient expectations. Many low and
      middle-income nations have started HIV cure trials, including China. The goal of
      this study was to better understand physician attitudes, behaviors, and
      perceptions of HIV cure research within the context of China. We conducted a
      quantitative and qualitative evidence review of published literature on physician
      perceptions of HIV cure in China. Quantitative survey data revealed that
      physicians rarely believed HIV was curable, but this perception may be more
      common compared to other countries. Qualitative data showed that inconsistent
      terminology used among physicians may contribute to the perception of HIV as
      curable. The belief that HIV is curable among some physicians in China may be
      related to the influence of traditional Chinese medicine beliefs. Rather than
      seeking elimination of pathogens, traditional Chinese medicine aims to achieve
      harmony between organs and a vital life force. In this context, HIV infection can
      be seen as a temporary state of imbalance rather than an irreversible change.
      There is a wide range of physician perceptions about HIV cure in China.
      Conflicting information about HIV cure from physicians and other sources could
      thwart the progress of HIV cure research. Enhancing patient-physician
      communication about ongoing HIV cure research trials will be important for
      developing an HIV cure.

PMID- 26877976
TI  - Reader's Forum.

PMID- 26877975
TI  - Nurse leaders' Attitudes, Self-Efficacy and training Needs for Implementing
      Evidence-Based Practice: Is It Time for a Change toward Safe Care?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been recognized as the gold
      standard for safe and high quality care. Nurse leaders have a strategic position
      in terms of initiating changes in clinical settings for successfully implementing
      EBP. Therefore, the factors that influence implementing EBP must be measured.
      AIMS: To examine nurse leaders' attitudes, self-efficacy, and training needs for
      implementing evidence-based practice. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Four teaching
      hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in the southeast of
      Iran from January to April 2014. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted
      on 70 nurse leaders from four teaching hospitals. After using a modified
      forward/backward translation procedure to create a Persian version of
      "perceptions of nurses of evidence-based practice questionnaire", data were
      collected from the participants and analyzed using SPSS (version 20), descriptive
      statistics, Student's t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson's
      correlation. RESULTS: Most (82.86%) of the participants had not attended any
      specific training course on the implementation of EBP and 80% had not been
      involved in any research activities. Nurse leaders' attitudes toward EBP were
      unfavorable (mean=2.55+/-0.88), their levels of self-efficacy in EBP skills were
      weak (mean=2.64+/-1.31), and their demand for training in all of the EBP areas
      was moderate (3.89+/-.97). CONCLUSION: Current practice of nurse leaders is not
      evidence-based, which is worrisome and can result in serious deficiencies in the
      quality and safety of nursing care. Nurse leaders must attempt to equip
      themselves with the attitudes and skills required to change in practice using
      EBP.

PMID- 26877977
TI  - A comparison of the precision of three-dimensional images acquired by 2 digital
      intraoral scanners: effects of tooth irregularity and scanning direction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the precision of three
      dimensional (3D) images acquired using iTero(r) (Align Technology Inc., San Jose,
      CA, USA) and Trios(r) (3Shape Dental Systems, Copenhagen, Denmark) digital
      intraoral scanners, and to evaluate the effects of the severity of tooth
      irregularities and scanning sequence on precision. METHODS: Dental arch models
      were fabricated with differing degrees of tooth irregularity and divided into 2
      groups based on scanning sequence. To assess their precision, images were
      superimposed and an optimized superimposition algorithm was employed to measure
      any 3D deviation. The t-test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA were performed (p
      < 0.05) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The iTero(r) and Trios(r) systems
      showed no statistically significant difference in precision among models with
      differing degrees of tooth irregularity. However, there were statistically
      significant differences in the precision of the 2 scanners when the starting
      points of scanning were different. The iTero(r) scanner (mean deviation, 29.84 +/
      12.08 um) proved to be less precise than the Trios(r) scanner (22.17 +/- 4.47
      um). CONCLUSIONS: The precision of 3D images differed according to the degree of
      tooth irregularity, scanning sequence, and scanner type. However, from a clinical
      standpoint, both scanners were highly accurate regardless of the degree of tooth
      irregularity.

PMID- 26877978
TI  - Accuracy of Bolton analysis measured in laser scanned digital models compared
      with plaster models (gold standard) and cone-beam computer tomography images.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of Bolton analysis
      obtained from digital models scanned with the Ortho Insight three-dimensional
      (3D) laser scanner system to those obtained from cone-beam computed tomography
      (CBCT) images and traditional plaster models. METHODS: CBCT scans and plaster
      models were obtained from 50 patients. Plaster models were scanned using the
      Ortho Insight 3D laser scanner; Bolton ratios were calculated with its software.
      CBCT scans were imported and analyzed using AVIZO software. Plaster models were
      measured with a digital caliper. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics
      and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Anterior and overall
      Bolton ratios obtained by the three different modalities exhibited excellent
      agreement (> 0.970). The mean differences between the scanned digital models and
      physical models and between the CBCT images and scanned digital models for
      overall Bolton ratios were 0.41 +/- 0.305% and 0.45 +/- 0.456%, respectively; for
      anterior Bolton ratios, 0.59 +/- 0.520% and 1.01 +/- 0.780%, respectively. ICC
      results showed that intraexaminer error reliability was generally excellent (>
      0.858 for all three diagnostic modalities), with < 1.45% discrepancy in the
      Bolton analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Laser scanned digital models are highly accurate
      compared to physical models and CBCT scans for assessing the spatial
      relationships of dental arches for orthodontic diagnosis.

PMID- 26877979
TI  - Patients' and parents' concerns and decisions about orthodontic treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients' and parents' expectations are important in orthodontic
      treatment decision making. The literature generally demonstrates the perceived
      benefits of orthodontic treatment, but patients' and their parents' concerns
      about orthodontic treatment have not been investigated comprehensively. The aim
      of this study was to identify patients' and parents' concerns about orthodontic
      treatment and compare them according to sex, age, and treatment demand level.
      METHODS: One hundred and eighty-nine children and their parents were interviewed
      about concerns related to orthodontic treatment. Patients and parents were asked
      about orthodontic treatment decisions. Answers were recorded as "yes," "no," or
      "don't know." Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare concerns
      between age groups, sexes, and treatment demand levels. Kappa statistics were
      used to assess agreement between patients and their parents. RESULTS: Concerns
      about orthodontic treatment were gathered under 10 items as follows: "feeling
      pain," "the appearance of braces," "being teased," "avoiding smiling," "speech
      problems," "dietary changes," "problems with transportation," "economic
      problems," "long treatment duration," and "missing school." There was no
      statistically significant difference in concerns between the sexes or age groups.
      Some concern items and treatment demand were inversely related in patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate patients' and parents'
      concerns about orthodontic treatment. Differences between the concerns of
      patients with different treatment demands imply that children might reject
      orthodontic treatment because of their concerns. Appropriate consultation of
      patients addressing their concerns may help reduce anxiety and improve the
      acceptance of treatment.

PMID- 26877980
TI  - Computerized occlusal analysis: correlation with occlusal indexes to assess the
      outcome of orthodontic treatment or the severity of malocculusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aims of our study were to verify the validity of the T-Scan III
      system (Tekscan) as an objective occlusal evaluation tool, and to assess the
      differences between two occlusal indexes-the peer assessment rating (PAR) index
      and the American Board of Orthodontics objective grading system (OGS)-by
      comparing the scores derived from the T-Scan III system with the two occlusal
      indexes and analyzing the correlations between them. METHODS: The final study
      sample included 48 adult volunteers (39 men and 9 women, mean age 24.14 +/- 3.16
      years), after excluding 29 volunteers whose occlusion could not be evaluated by
      the T-Scan III system due to severe skeletal or occlusal problems. PAR index and
      OGS scores were assessed using dental study models, and measurements of centric
      occlusion, protrusive movement, and lateral excursion movement were obtained via
      the T-Scan III system. The results were analyzed to determine correlations.
      RESULTS: Occlusal analysis by the T-Scan III system was clinically reliable (p <
      0.05), and the PAR index and OGS scores were significantly correlated with
      several measurements obtained with the T-Scan III system (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      The T-Scan III system is a quantitative and reliable method for occlusal
      evaluation, and represents a potential substitute for occlusal indexes. Compared
      to the PAR index, the OGS scores of more variables were significantly correlated
      with the T-Scan measurements.

PMID- 26877981
TI  - A survey on retention practice among orthodontists in Malaysia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate retention practices commonly
      employed by orthodontists. The objectives were to identify the types of retainer
      frequently used and to investigate the variations in retention practice. METHODS:
      A total of 97 orthodontists were randomly selected, and a questionnaire
      consisting of 25 multiple-choice questions sent to them by mail. Upon receiving
      of the completed questionnaires, the data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A
      total of 32 responses were received; among these, 59.4% of orthodontists'
      practiced is in a government setting and 40.6% were in private practice. A vacuum
      formed retainer was the most commonly used removable retainer for both maxillary
      (46.9%) and mandibular (46.9%) arches, followed by a Hawley retainer (maxilla,
      43.8%; mandible, 37.5%), and a fixed retainer (maxilla, 3.1%; mandible, 9.4%). Of
      the responding orthodontists, 78.1% prescribed full-time wear (more than 20 h per
      day) for a duration of 3-9 months for a maxillary arch, compared to 71.9% for the
      mandibular arch. Only 18.8% of the orthodontists prescribed part-time wear of the
      retainer for the maxillary arch, compared to 21.9% for the mandibular arch. The
      majority of orthodontists did not instruct their patients to stop wearing
      removable retainers (71.9%) or fixed retainers (66.8%) at any specific time and
      they preferred their patients to continue wearing retainers. CONCLUSIONS: Vacuum
      formed retainers are the most commonly used retainers among orthodontists. The
      majority of orthodontists prescribed full-time wear for more than 20 h per day
      with a duration of 3-9 months and preferred indefinite use of the retainer.

PMID- 26877982
TI  - Facial and occlusal esthetic improvements of an adult skeletal Class III
      malocclusion using surgical, orthodontic, and implant treatment.
AB  - The aim of this clinical report is to describe the complex treatment of an adult
      Class III malocclusion patient who was disappointed with the outcome of a
      previous oral rehabilitation. Interdisciplinary treatment planning was performed
      with a primary indication for implant removal because of marginal bone loss and
      gingival recession, followed by orthodontic and surgical procedures to correct
      the esthetics and skeletal malocclusion. The comprehensive treatment approach
      included: (1) implant removal in the area of the central incisors; (2) combined
      orthodontic decompensation with mesial displacement and forced extrusion of the
      lateral incisors; (3) extraction of the lateral incisors and placement of new
      implants corresponding to the central incisors, which received provisional
      crowns; (4) orthognathic surgery for maxillary advancement to improve occlusal
      and facial relationships; and finally, (5) orthodontic refinement followed by
      definitive prosthetic rehabilitation of the maxillary central incisors and
      reshaping of the adjacent teeth. At the three-year follow-up, clinical and
      radiographic examinations showed successful replacement of the central incisors
      and improved skeletal and esthetic appearances. Moreover, a Class II molar
      relationship was obtained with an ideal overbite, overjet, and intercuspation. In
      conclusion, we report the successful esthetic anterior rehabilitation of a
      complex case in which interdisciplinary treatment planning improved facial
      harmony, provided gingival architecture with sufficient width and thickness, and
      improved smile esthetics, resulting in enhanced patient comfort and satisfaction.
      This clinical case report might be useful to improve facial esthetics and
      occlusion in patients with dentoalveolar and skeletal defects. 

PMID- 26877983
TI  - Analysis of midpalatal miniscrew-assisted maxillary molar distalization patterns
      with simultaneous use of fixed appliances: A preliminary study.
AB  - Skeletal anchorage-assisted upper molar distalization has become one of the
      standard treatment modalities for the correction of Class II malocclusion. The
      purpose of this study was to analyze maxillary molar movement patterns according
      to appliance design, with the simultaneous use of buccal fixed orthodontic
      appliances. The authors devised two distinct types of midpalatal miniscrew
      assisted maxillary molar distalizers, a lingual arch type and a pendulum type.
      Fourteen patients treated with one of the two types of distalizers were enrolled
      in the study, and the patterns of tooth movement associated with each type were
      compared. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms were analyzed. The lingual
      arch type was associated with relatively bodily upper molar distalization, while
      the pendulum type was associated with distal tipping with intrusion of the upper
      molar. Clinicians should be aware of the expected tooth movement associated with
      each appliance design. Further well designed studies with larger sample sizes are
      required. 

PMID- 26877984
TI  - Comparison of canal transportation in simulated curved canals prepared with
      ProTaper Universal and ProTaper Gold systems.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of ProTaper Gold
      (PTG, Dentsply Maillefer) in maintaining the original profile of root canal
      anatomy. For that, ProTaper Universal (PTU, Dentsply Maillefer) was used as
      reference techniques for comparison. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty simulated
      curved canals manufactured in clear resin blocks were randomly assigned to 2
      groups (n = 10) according to the system used for canal instrumentation: PTU and
      PTG groups, upto F2 files (25/0.08). Color stereomicroscopic images from each
      block were taken exactly at the same position before and after instrumentation.
      All image processing and data analysis were performed with an open source program
      (FIJI). Evaluation of canal transportation was obtained for two independent canal
      regions: straight and curved levels. Student's t test was used with a cut-off for
      significance set at alpha = 5%. RESULTS: Instrumentation systems significantly
      influenced canal transportation (p < 0.0001). A significant interaction between
      instrumentation system and root canal level (p < 0.0001) was found. PTU and PTG
      systems produced similar canal transportation at the straight part, while PTG
      system resulted in lower canal transportation than PTU system at the curved part.
      Canal transportation was higher at the curved canal portion (p < 0.0001).
      CONCLUSIONS: PTG system produced overall less canal transportation in the curved
      portion when compared to PTU system.

PMID- 26877985
TI  - An in vitro evaluation of the accuracy of four electronic apex locators using
      stainless-steel and nickel-titanium hand files.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy of
      working length (WL) determination of four electronic apex locators (EALs),
      namely, Root ZX (RZX), Elements diagnostic unit and apex locator (ELE),
      SybronEndo Mini Apex locator (MINI) and Propex pixi (PIXI) using Stainless steel
      (SS) and nickel-titanium (NiTi) hand files. The null hypothesis was that there
      was no difference between canal length determination by SS and NiTi files of 4
      EALs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty extracted, single rooted human teeth were
      decoronated and the canal orifice flared. The actual length (AL) was assessed
      visually, and the teeth were embedded in an alginate model. The electronic length
      (EL) measurements were recorded with all four EALs using SS and NiTi files at
      '0.5' reading on display. The differences between the AL and EL were compared.
      RESULTS: The results obtained with each EAL with SS and NiTi files were compared
      with AL. A paired sample t test showed that there was a statistical significant
      difference between EAL readings with SS and NiTi files for RZX and MINI (p <
      0.05). The accuracy of RZX, ELE, MINI and PIXI within +/- 0.5 mm of AL with
      SS/NiTi files were 93.3%/70%, 90%/91.7%, 95%/68.3%, and 83.3%/83.3%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that Root ZX was
      statistically more accurate with NiTi files compared to SS files, while MINI was
      statistically more accurate with SS files compared to NiTi files. ELE and PIXI
      were not affected by the alloy type of the file used to determine WL.

PMID- 26877986
TI  - Effect of acidic solutions on the microhardness of dentin and set OrthoMTA and
      their cytotoxicity on murine macrophage.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of three acids on the microhardness of set
      mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and root dentin, and cytotoxicity on murine
      macrophage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OrthoMTA (BioMTA) was mixed and packed into
      the human root dentin blocks of 1.5 mm diameter and 5 mm height. Four groups,
      each of ten roots, were exposed to 10% citric acid (CA), 5% glycolic acid (GA),
      17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and saline for five minutes after
      setting of the OrthoMTA. Vickers surface microhardness of set MTA and dentin was
      measured before and after exposure to solutions, and compared between groups
      using one-way ANOVA with Tukey test. The microhardness value of each group was
      analyzed using student t test. Acid-treated OrthoMTA and dentin was examined by
      scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cell viability of tested solutions was
      assessed using WST-8 assay and murine macrophage. RESULTS: Three test solutions
      reduced microhardness of dentin. 17% EDTA demonstrated severe dentinal erosion,
      significantly reduced the dentinal microhardness compared to 10% CA (p = 0.034)
      or 5% GA (p = 0.006). 10% CA or 5% GA significantly reduced the surface
      microhardness of set MTA compared to 17% EDTA and saline (p < 0.001). Acid
      treated OrthoMTA demonstrated microporous structure with destruction of globular
      crystal. EDTA exhibited significantly more cellular toxicity than the other
      acidic solutions at diluted concentrations (0.2, 0.5, 1.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Tested
      acidic solutions reduced microhardness of root dentin. Five minute's application
      of 10% CA and 5% GA significantly reduced the microhardness of set OrthoMTA with
      lower cellular cytotoxicity compared to 17% EDTA.

PMID- 26877987
TI  - Quality of root canal fillings using three gutta-percha obturation techniques.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the density of gutta-percha
      root fillings obturated with the following techniques: cold lateral (CL)
      compaction, ultrasonic lateral (UL) compaction, and warm vertical (WV)
      compaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three extracted mandibular first
      molars, with two separate mesial canals in each, were selected. After
      instrumentation, the canals were stratified into three groups based on canal
      length and curvature, and underwent obturation with one of the techniques. No
      sealer was used in order to avoid masking any voids. The teeth were imaged pre-
      and post-obturation using micro-computed tomography. The reconstructed three
      dimensional images were analyzed volumetrically to determine the amount of gutta
      percha present in every 2 mm segment of the canal. P values < 0.05 were
      considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The overall mean volume
      fraction of gutta-percha was 68.51 +/- 6.75% for CL, 86.56 +/- 5.00% for UL, and
      88.91 +/- 5.16% for WV. Significant differences were found between CL and UL and
      between CL and WV (p < 0.05), but not between UL and WV (p = 0.526). The gutta
      percha density of the roots treated with WV and UL increased towards the coronal
      aspect, but this trend was not noted in the CL group. CONCLUSIONS: WV compaction
      and UL compaction produced a significantly denser gutta-percha root filling than
      CL compaction. The density of gutta-percha was observed to increase towards the
      coronal aspect when the former two techniques were used.

PMID- 26877988
TI  - Evaluation of reparative dentin formation of ProRoot MTA, Biodentine and
      BioAggregate using micro-CT and immunohistochemistry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of two new
      calcium silicate-based pulp-capping materials (Biodentine and BioAggregate) to
      induce healing in a rat pulp injury model and to compare them with mineral
      trioxide aggregate (MTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen rats were anesthetized,
      cavities were prepared and the pulp was capped with either of ProRoot MTA,
      Biodentine, or BioAggregate. The specimens were scanned using a high-resolution
      micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system and were prepared and evaluated
      histologically and immunohistochemically using dentin sialoprotein (DSP).
      RESULTS: On micro-CT analysis, the ProRoot MTA and Biodentine groups showed
      significantly thicker hard tissue formation (p < 0.05). On H&E staining, ProRoot
      MTA showed complete dentin bridge formation with normal pulpal histology. In the
      Biodentine and BioAggregate groups, a thick, homogeneous hard tissue barrier was
      observed. The ProRoot MTA specimens showed strong immunopositive reaction for
      DSP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that calcium silicate-based pulp-capping
      materials induce favorable effects on reparative processes during vital pulp
      therapy and that both Biodentine and BioAggregate could be considered as
      alternatives to ProRoot MTA.

PMID- 26877989
TI  - Marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal
      fit of nano-composite CAD-CAM restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A full veneer
      crown and an mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) inlay cavity, which were prepared on
      extracted human molars, were used as templates of epoxy resin replicas. The
      prepared teeth were scanned and CAD-CAM restorations were milled using Lava
      Ultimate (LU) and experimental nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks (EB) under the same
      milling parameters. To assess the marginal and internal fit, the restorations
      were cemented to replicas and were embedded in an acrylic mold for sectioning at
      0.5 mm intervals. The measured gap data were pooled according to the block types
      and measuring points for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Both the block type and
      measuring point significantly affected gap values, and their interaction was
      significant (p = 0.000). In crowns and inlays made from the two blocks, gap
      values were significantly larger in the occlusal area than in the axial area,
      while gap values in the marginal area were smallest (p < 0.001). Among the
      blocks, the restorations milled from EB had a significantly larger gap at all
      measuring points than those milled from LU (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The marginal
      and internal gaps of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks differed according to
      the measuring points. Among the internal area of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM
      restorations, occlusal gap data were significantly larger than axial gap data.
      The EB crowns and inlays had significantly larger gaps than LU restorations.

PMID- 26877990
TI  - Antioxidant therapy enhances pulpal healing in bleached teeth.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histopathological
      effects of an antioxidant therapy on the pulp tissue of rat teeth exposed to a
      bleaching gel with 35% hydrogen peroxide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats were
      subjected to oral ingestion by gavage of distilled water (DW) or ascorbic acid
      (AA) 90 min before the bleaching therapy. For the bleaching treatment, the agent
      was applied twice for 5 min each to buccal surfaces of the first right mandibular
      molars. Then, the animals were sacrificed at 6 hr, 24 hr, 3 day, or 7 day post
      bleaching, and the teeth were processed for microscopic evaluation of the pulp
      tissue. RESULTS: At 6 hr, the pulp tissue showed moderate inflammatory reactions
      in all teeth of both groups. In the DW and AA groups, 100% and 80% of teeth
      exhibited pulp tissue with significant necrosis and intense tissue
      disorganization, respectively. At 24 hr, the AA-treated group demonstrated a
      greater regenerative capability than the DW group, with less intense inflammatory
      reaction and new odontoblast layer formation in 60% of the teeth. For up to the 7
      day period, the areas of pulpal necrosis were replaced by viable connective
      tissue, and the dentin was underlined by differentiated odontoblast-like cells in
      most teeth of both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A slight reduction in initial pulpal
      damage during post-bleaching was promoted by AA therapy. However, the pulp tissue
      of AA-treated animals featured faster regenerative potential over time.

PMID- 26877991
TI  - Analysis of C-shaped root canal configuration in maxillary molars in a Korean
      population using cone-beam computed tomography.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of root
      fusion and C-shaped root canals in maxillary molars, and to classify the types of
      C-shaped canal by analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a Korean
      population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digitized CBCT images from 911 subjects were
      obtained in Chosun University Dental Hospital between February 2010 and July 2012
      for orthodontic treatment. Among them, a total of selected 3,553 data of
      maxillary molars were analyzed retrospectively. Tomography sections in the axial,
      coronal, and sagittal planes were displayed by PiViewstar and Rapidia MPR
      software (Infinitt Co.). The incidence and types of root fusion and C-shaped root
      canals were evaluated and the incidence between the first and the second molar
      was compared using Chi-square test. RESULTS: Root fusion was present in 3.2% of
      the first molars and 19.5% of the second molars, and fusion of mesiobuccal and
      palatal root was dominant. C-shaped root canals were present in 0.8% of the first
      molars and 2.7% of the second molars. The frequency of root fusion and C-shaped
      canal was significantly higher in the second molar than the first molar (p <
      0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a Korean population, maxillary molars showed total 11.3%
      of root fusion and 1.8% of C-shaped root canals. Furthermore, root fusion and C
      shaped root canals were seen more frequently in the maxillary second molars.

PMID- 26877992
TI  - Accidental injury of the inferior alveolar nerve due to the extrusion of calcium
      hydroxide in endodontic treatment: a case report.
AB  - During clinical endodontic treatment, we often find radiopaque filling material
      beyond the root apex. Accidental extrusion of calcium hydroxide could cause the
      injury of inferior alveolar nerve, such as paresthesia or continuous inflammatory
      response. This case report presents the extrusion of calcium hydroxide and
      treatment procedures including surgical intervention. A 48 yr old female patient
      experienced Calcipex II extrusion in to the inferior alveolar canal on left
      mandibular area during endodontic treatment. After completion of endodontic
      treatment on left mandibular first molar, surgical intervention was planned under
      general anesthesia. After cortical bone osteotomy and debridement, neuroma
      resection and neurorrhaphy was performed, and prognosis was observed. But no
      improvement in sensory nerve was seen following surgical intervention after 20
      mon. A clinician should be aware of extrusion of intracanal medicaments and the
      possibility of damage on inferior alveolar canal. Injectable type of calcium
      hydroxide should be applied with care for preventing nerve injury. The
      alternative delivery method such as lentulo spiral was suggested on the posterior
      mandibular molar. 

PMID- 26877993
TI  - Endodontic treatment of a C-shaped mandibular second premolar with four root
      canals and three apical foramina: a case report.
AB  - This case report describes a unique C-shaped mandibular second premolar with four
      canals and three apical foramina and its endodontic management with the aid of
      cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT). C-shaped root canal morphology with four
      canals was identified under a dental operating microscope. A CBCT scan was taken
      to evaluate the aberrant root canal anatomy and devise a better instrumentation
      strategy based on the anatomy. All canals were instrumented to have a 0.05 taper
      using 1.0 mm step-back filing with appropriate apical sizes determined from the
      CBCT scan images and filled using a warm vertical compaction technique. A C
      shaped mandibular second premolar with multiple canals is an anatomically rare
      case for clinicians, yet its endodontic treatment may require a careful
      instrumentation strategy due to the difficulty in disinfecting the canals in the
      thin root area without compromising the root structure. 

PMID- 26877994
TI  - Statistical notes for clinical researchers: Sample size calculation 1. comparison
      of two independent sample means.

PMID- 26877995
TI  - Predictable management of the cracked tooth.

PMID- 26877996
TI  - Questioning the spot light on Hi-tech endodontics.

PMID- 26877997
TI  - Trends in publication on evidence-based antioxidative herbal medicines in
      management of diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, popularity and use of herbal medicine in treatment of
      diabetes have been increased. Since, oxidative stress is known as the main
      underlying pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications, the purpose of this
      bibliometric study is to assess the global scientific production analysis and
      developing its trend in field of antioxidative hypoglycemic herbal medicines and
      diabetic nephropathy focusing on the scientific publication numbers, citations,
      geographical distribution in the world and determining the main journal (source)
      in the field. METHODS: Our search terms were "diabetes", "renal", "nephropathy",
      "herb", "Chinese medicine", "traditional medicine", and "antioxidant" from Scopus
      database until January 2015 and analysis of the distribution of words in the
      publication year, main journal (source) in the field, geographical distribution,
      documents' type and language, subject area, and h-index of citations were crried
      out. The Scopus analysis tools and VOSviewer software version 1.6.3 have been
      used for analysis. RESULTS: Within 1166 papers were published until year 2015, 78
      studies were related to this topic in human. Increasing trend in number of
      related researches was shown. Fifty eight percent of the published papers were
      original articles, and the highest number was produced in 2013 with 21 documents.
      Top subject areas were medicine with global publication share of 71.8 %, and
      pharmacology was ranked the second (39.7 %). Iran was the first country with
      global publication. The total citation of the documents were 2518 times and h
      index was 24. The highest cited paper was a review article with 336 citation
      number, and top source was "Journal of Medicinal Plants". Both of top authors and
      affiliation were from Iran; "Tehran University of Medical Sciences". Also, top
      author in the co-authorship mapping and clustering assessment was from Iran.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although, we found an ascending trend of scientific publications in
      field of antioxidative herbal medicine and diabetic nephropathy with a good
      position for Iran, the number of publications is insufficient and more researches
      in this topic is necessary.

PMID- 26877998
TI  - Does Malleolus non-Lifting Tympanoplasty have any Advantage Over Malleus Lifting
      Techniques?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In order to achieve a higher success rate for tympanoplasty,
      different techniques have been developed, and a wide variety of grafting
      materials have been developed. One of the techniques currently receiving
      considerable attention involves not lifting the remaining of eardrum from the
      malleus and embedding the graft underneath in order to repair the eardrum
      correctly in its original position, as well as minimizing graft lateralization
      leading to progression of hearing rehabilitation. We compared the effects of
      tympanoplasty with and without malleus lifting on hearing loss in patients with
      chronic otitis media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 30 consecutive
      patients diagnosed as having chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma were
      randomly assigned to two tympanoplasty groups; with or without malleus lifting.
      Air and bone conduction thresholds were recorded before and 45 days after the
      intervention. RESULTS: In groups, except for 8000 Hz, the air conduction was
      significantly improved following surgery. According to air conduction there was
      no difference between the groups before surgery at different frequencies,
      although it was improved to a greater degree in the group without lifting at 250
      Hz postoperatively. The average post-operative air-bone gap (ABG) gain was
      significantly higher in all study frequencies in the target group. One of the
      effects of this technique is inner-ear protection from physical trauma to the
      ossicular chain, and prevention of damage to bone conduction. CONCLUSION: A
      higher hearing threshold and also higher ABG gain can be achieved by not lifting
      the remaining eardrum from the malleus and embedding the graft undereath it,
      especially at lower frequencies.

PMID- 26877999
TI  - Effect of Early Intervention on Language Development in Hearing-Impaired
      Children.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss from birth up to the age of 3 years has a negative
      effect on speech/language development and results in sensory, cognitive,
      emotional, and academic defects in adulthood by causing delayed development of
      communicative-linguistic abilities. The present study was performed in order to
      assess the effect of early intervention on language development in Persian
      children aged 6-7 years with severe sensorineural hearing loss. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Thirty boys and girls aged 6-7 years participated in this study, all of
      them had severe congenital sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. All children
      were using bilateral behind-the-ear hearing aid, and had similar economic/socio
      cultural backgrounds. Subjects were categorized into two groups based on the age
      of identification/intervention of hearing loss (3-6 and 12-15 months of age). The
      Persian TOLD-P3 test was used to evaluate language development in all subjects.
      Data collection was accomplished by observation, completion of questionnaires,
      and speech recording. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in language
      development in 11 sub-tests and five lingual gains on the Persian TOLD-P3 test
      between early (3-6 months of age) and late identified/intervened (12-15 months of
      age) hearing-impaired children (P[Formula: see text]0.05). Early
      identified/intervened hearing-impaired children had a notable preference in all
      assessed sub-tests and lingual gains. CONCLUSION: Early
      identification/intervention of hearing loss before the age of 6 months has a
      significant positive effect on a child's language development in terms of
      picture/relational/oral vocabulary, grammatical comprehension, sentence
      combining, grammatical completion, phonologic analysis, word differentiation,
      word production, semantics, and syntax. Moreover, early identification/
      intervention of hearing loss develops the hearing-impaired child's lingual gains
      in visual vocabulary, grammatical completion, word differentiation, phonologic
      analysis, and word production.

PMID- 26878000
TI  - Effects of Hyperbilirubinemia on Auditory Brainstem Response of Neonates Treated
      with Phototherapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: One of the most common pathologies in neonates is
      hyperbilirubinemia, which is a good marker for damage to the central nervous
      system. The sensitivity of the auditory system to bilirubin has been previously
      documented, with much discrepancy in its effects on Auditory Brainstem Response
      results. Thus the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of
      hyperbilirubinemia on Auditory Brainstem Response of neonates treated with
      phototherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two term neonates with
      hyperbilirubinemia, who underwent phototherapy participated in this cross
      sectional study. The recording of Auditory Brainstem Response was made shortly
      after confirming that the total serum bilirubin level was greater than 15 ug/dl.
      Latency of waves I, III, V and inter-peak latencies of the waves were measured.
      To test the hypothesis about the difference of means between the two groups,
      continuous variables were compared using either the t-test (normal distribution)
      or the Mann-Whitney test (non-normal distribution). RESULTS: There was a
      significant increase in the absolute latencies of waves III and V, and I-III and
      I-V inter-peak latencies of the sample group compared to the control group in
      both ears (P<0.05). However, wave I absolute latency and III-V inter-peak
      interval did not show a significant difference between the two study groups
      (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study underline the importance of the
      Auditory Brainstem Response Test as an efficient tool for monitoring the auditory
      brainstem pathway in neonates who are at risk of neurotoxicity and for diagnosing
      the earliest stages of auditory damage caused by high levels of bilirubin.

PMID- 26878002
TI  - Endoscopic Repair of CSF Rhinorrhea: An Institutional Experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic repair is considered the treatment of choice in
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. The aim of our study was to analyze the
      etiopathogenesis of CSF rhinorrhea, the outcome of treatment and the causes of
      failure in a developing-country setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective
      review of patients treated with endoscopic repair for CSF rhinorrhea at a
      tertiary care hospital in southern India from January 2002 to December 2009
      identified 36 patients, the majority of them being women. The defects were closed
      in three layers using fat, fascia lata and nasal mucosa along with a fibrin
      sealant in the majority of the patients. Per-operatively, a subarachnoid drain
      was placed in all patients. Patients were followed up for 1 year. RESULTS:
      Spontaneous onset of CSF rhinorrhea was noted in 61% of patients. The most common
      site of leak was found to be the left cribriform plate area. Hence the most
      common cause of CSF rhinorrhea in our study was spontaneous and the second most
      common was post-traumatic. Our success rate on the first attempt at endoscopic
      repair was 100%, with a recurrence rate of 6%. A large defect, failure of
      localization of the defect, or other co-morbid conditions such as chronic cough
      may be the most likely causes of recurrence of leak. CONCLUSION: Accurate
      localization of the site of lesion using a high-resolution computed tomography
      (CT) scan with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmation of the site of
      leak by intraoperative Valsalva maneuver along with multilayered closure of the
      dural defect and post-operative lumbar drain appear to be essential for the
      successful endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea.

PMID- 26878001
TI  - Audiological Outcome of Classical Adenoidectomy versus Endoscopically-Assisted
      Adenoidectomy using a Microdebrider.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate audiological outcomes
      following adenoidectomy by the classical method and by endoscopically-assisted
      adenoidectomy using a powered instrument (microdebrider). MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      This study was conducted in a tertiary care center. It included 40 patients
      divided into two equal groups of 20 each. Group-A patients underwent classical
      adenoidectomy, while Group-B patients were subjected to endoscopically-assisted
      adenoidectomy using a microdebrider. Hearing outcome was measured by post
      operative pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry. RESULTS: The post-operative
      average air-bone gap (ABG) was reduced from 19.6 dB to 11.8 dB in Group A and
      from 17.6 dB to 8.7 dB in Group B (P=0.010). There was reversal of tympanometric
      curves from type-B and type-C to type-A in 55% of the patients in Group A, while
      type-A curve was seen in 90% cases in Group B in the post-operative period.
      CONCLUSION: Audiological outcomes of endoscopically-assisted adenoidectomy using
      a microdebrider were superior compared with classical adenoidectomy.

PMID- 26878003
TI  - Effect of Topical Estrogen in the Mangement of Traumatic Facial Wounds.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Acute skin wound healing is a complicated process comprising
      various phases. Recent animal studies have shown that steroid sex hormones such
      as estrogen maybe helpful in the regulation of several pathophysiologic stages
      that are involved in wound healing. In this study we examined the effects of
      topical estrogen in the treatment of traumatic facial wounds. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Patients referred to Luqman Hospital, Tehran with traumatic wounds were
      enrolled in this case-control study into two groups of equal size. From the
      second week of the study, topical estrogen (0.625 mg conjugated topical estrogen
      ointment) was administered in the case group, while the control group received a
      Eucerin dressing only. The two groups were then compared in terms of wound
      healing rate on Day 7,14, and 30. RESULTS: Thirty patients with mean age of
      16.02+36.23 years were compared in the control and estrogen-treated groups. After
      treatment, no scars or keloids were observed in either group. The wound area in
      the estrogen group was lower than that in the control group on Day 14 and 30, but
      the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Healing rates in the control group
      on Day 14 (7.1+42.3 vs.50.3+4.9 mm2) and Day 30 (1.9+93.5 vs. + 97.3+0.6 mm2)
      (were lower than those in the estrogen group, but the differences were not
      significant (P>0.05). Findings show that the required time for wound healing in
      the estrogen-treated group was lower than that in the control group, but the
      difference was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, topical
      estrogen has no effect on the rate of wound healing or the rate of wound area.

PMID- 26878004
TI  - MTA1 Expression in Benign and Malignant Salivary gland Tumors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are important parts of human
      neoplasms. The most common SGT is pleomorphic adenoma and the most common
      malignant SGTs are mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).
      Metastasis-associated genes 1 (MTA1), a member of the nucleosome remodeling and
      histone deacetylation complex, is one newly discovered gene which recruits
      histone deacetylation, causing ATP-dependent chromosome remodeling, and
      regulating transcription. MTA1 had been shown to be overexpressed in malignant
      tumors with the enhancement of invasion and metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Fifty-six samples of salivary gland tumors from the Khalili Hospital archive,
      including 20 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 17 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma,
      19 cases of ACC, and 23 cases of normal salivary gland tissues were chosen for
      immunohistochemical analysis of MTA1. RESULTS: MTA1 expression in the malignant
      tumors was significantly higher than that in pleomorphic adenoma (P<0.001), and
      higher in pleomorphic adenoma than the normal salivary glands(P< 0.001). In
      total, 69.6% of normal salivary gland tissues showed MTA1, but all cases of
      salivary gland tumors were positive for MTA1. High nuclear expression of MTA1 was
      detected in 83.3% (30/36) of the malignant salivary gland tumors and 45% (9/20)
      of pleomorphic adenoma, while low MTA1 expression was seen in all of the normal
      salivary gland tissues. No statistically significant correlation was found
      between MTA1 protein expression and any clinicopathological features (P>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that MTA1 was significantly overexpressed in
      malignant salivary gland neoplasm in comparison to a lower level in benign
      pleomorphic adenoma, suggesting that MTA1 protein might be involved in
      carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26878005
TI  - Effects of Tonsil size on Pulmonary Function test Results after Tonsillectomy in
      Children.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a typical cause of surgery in
      children. Evaluation and identification of patients as potential candidates
      tonsillectomy is a primary concern for otolaryngologists. This study focuses on
      the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after tonsillectomy in children.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined 50 patients suffering
      from tonsillar hypertrophy in 2013. Full details and results of otolaryngology
      examinations were recorded. Moreover, patients were examined with respect to
      forced inspiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (FIF50%), forced expiratory flow
      at 50% of vital capacity (FEF50%), forced expiratory volume in 1 second
      (FEV1)/peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and FEV1/forced expired volume in 0.5
      seconds (FEV0.5) before and after surgery using spirometry. All data were
      analyzed using SPSS Software (version 19), and central descriptive measures, and
      data were compared by performing T-test and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: According
      to tonsil size, patients were distributed as follows: 18 patients (36%) with +1
      tonsil size, 18 patients (36%) with +2 tonsil size, and seven patients (14%) with
      +3 tonsil size, and seven patients (14%) with +4 tonsil size. Thirty-three (66%)
      and 17 patients (34%) were female and male, respectively, with a mean of age of
      9.7[Formula: see text]2.97 years (range, 7-18 years). Seventy-eight percent of
      patients were aged 10 years or less. Moreover, 25 patients (50%), 17 patients
      (34%), and eight patients (16%), respectively, reported obstructive symptoms,
      recurrent tonsillitis, and both symptoms. In patients with +3 and +4 tonsil size,
      spirometric parameters indicated relief of symptoms of obstruction. Only in
      patients with +4 tonsil size were the changes statistically significant.
      CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy can relieve obstructive symptoms in patients with
      tonsils larger than +3 to a great extent. Additionally, spirometry can identify
      patients with +3 and +4 tonsils who do not have clinical signs of an obstructive
      upper airway.

PMID- 26878006
TI  - An Unusual Case of Cauda Equina Secondary to Spinal Metastasis of Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cauda equina secondary to metastatic follicular thyroid cancer of
      the lumbosacral area is a rare entity. CASE REPORT: We report an unusual case of
      a 52-year-old male who presented with backache, lower limb weakness, and perianal
      numbness. A CT-scan of the lumbosacral area showed an enhancing mass at the L4,
      L5 and S1 vertebrae. Histopathology after excision revealed a metastatic thyroid
      cancer. Hence, a CT scan of the neck and chest was performed which showed a
      nodule in the left lobe of the thyroid and a mass in the left chest wall. A total
      thyroidectomy and excision of the chest wall lesion was undergone, which was
      diagnosed as a follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. CONCLUSION: Metastatic workup
      of spinal metastasis should include evaluation of the thyroid gland.

PMID- 26878007
TI  - Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Larynx: A Case Report.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pleomorphic adenomas are tumors mostly originating from salivary
      glands. These lesions in the larynx are very rare. CASE REPORT: We report a rare
      case of pleomorphic adenoma that originated from the mucosal lining, just above
      the glottic area at the level of the laryngeal ventricle in a 55-year-old female
      patient. The tumor could not be palpated easily but was observed in the CT scan.
      We resected the large and firm tumor using trans hyoid pharyngotomy as the
      surgical approach. CONCLUSION: Pleomorphic adenoma in the ventricle of the larynx
      is an extremely rare lesion. Trans-hyoid pharyngotomy can have good results as
      the surgical approach in removing such lesions.

PMID- 26878008
TI  - Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Larynx:A Case Report.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumors are initially described
      in the lung and various extrapulmonary sites such as the orbits, palatine
      tonsils, ears, gingiva, pterygomaxillary space, and periodontal tissues. These
      tumors rarely involve the larynx and predilection to the glottis occurs in an
      indolent manner. CASE REPORT: This case describes a laryngeal myofibroblastic
      tumor in a 46-year-old woman who presented with an aggressive tumor that extended
      to the floor of the mouth and the base of the tongue. Extended supraglottic
      laryngectomy was undertaken for the patient. The diagnosis was spindle cell
      proliferation with dense lymphoplasma cell infiltration compatible with
      inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (Inflammatory pseudotumor or plasma cell
      granuloma). Definitive diagnosis was achieved with immunohistochemical (IHC)
      staining. CONCLUSION: We believe that further IHC studies are required to define
      the true nature of these tumors especially for those that behave in an aggressive
      pattern.

PMID- 26878009
TI  - Chronic Invasive Fungal Granuloma-A Diagnostic Dilemma in an Immunocompetent
      Host.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Invasive fungal sinusitis, though considered to be rare entity, is
      nowadays frequently encountered, not only in immunocompromised patients but also
      in immunocompetent patients. The changing prevalence towards immunocompetent
      hosts is due to the indiscriminate usage of broad spectrum antibiotics, steroids,
      and immunosuppressive drugs. Diagnosing invasive fungal sinusitis should not pose
      any difficulty to both the clinician [a whitish colour secretion in elderly
      Diabetics, and CT Scan PNS showing concretion in the sinus along with destruction
      of the surrounding bone] and to the pathologist; however, when the invasive
      fungal sinus infection presents in a form of a granuloma then its diagnosis
      imposes a challenge to medical professionals. CASE REPORT: We are presenting a
      case study,which consists of 3 cases of chronic invasive fungal sinus
      infection.Two patients were treated for tuberculoma and had completed a course of
      Anti Koch's Treatment and one patient was given a trial of broad spectrum
      antibiotics and steroids.Eventually all cases were diagnosed as a chronic
      invasive form of fungal granuloma (CIFG). CONCLUSION: CIFG of the paranasal
      sinuses is seen in immunocompetent hosts, especially those that are in the 2nd
      and 3rd decades of their lives. Gradually progressive proptosis is the primary
      presenting symptom. MRI scanning is a better imaging modality compared to CT
      scanning. Routine H&E staining may prove inadequate and special stains such as
      the GMS stain should be employed in the slightest doubt of a fungal aetiology. A
      team approach towards patients is paramount for early diagnosis and timely
      medical and surgical intervention.

PMID- 26878010
TI  - Polymorphisms in NOS3, MTHFR, APOB and TNF-alpha Genes and Risk of Coronary
      Atherosclerotic Lesions in Iranian Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a complex multifocal arterial disease involving
      interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors. OBJECTIVES: In
      the present study, we investigated the possible association between NOS3
      (rs1799983), MTHFR (rs1801133), APOB (rs5742904) and TNF-alpha (rs361525)
      polymorphisms and the risk of coronary atherosclerotic lesions in Iranian
      patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the case-control study, 108 patients with
      coronary atherosclerosis disease and 95 control subjects with no family history
      of cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Genotypes for NOS3, MTHFR, APOB and TNF
      alpha polymorphisms were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: We specifically
      detected the NOS3 TT genotype in 12 patients (11.11%) and did not find the same
      genotype in any of the controls. The frequencies of T allele in patients and the
      controls were 24% and 17.8%, respectively. The prevalence of the MTHFR TT
      genotype was 16.7% in patients and 2.2% in control groups. The prevalence of the
      APOB-100 (R3500Q) mutation in this patient population was 0%. The frequency of
      the A allele in the TNF-alpha gene was 11.1% and 11% in patients and controls,
      respectively, and the AA genotype was undetected. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a
      significant association of NOS3 and MTHFR gene polymorphisms with coronary
      atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, these variants might influence the risk of
      coronary artery disease, specifically in the Iranian population.

PMID- 26878011
TI  - Higher Cognitive Performance Is Prospectively Associated with Healthy Dietary
      Choices: The Maine Syracuse Longitudinal Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Few studies have examined whether cognitive function predicts dietary
      intake. The majority of research has focused on how diet can influence cognitive
      performance or risk for cognitive impairment in later life. The aim of this study
      was to examine prospective relationships between cognitive performance and
      dietary intake in participants of the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study. DESIGN:
      A prospective study with neuropsychological testing at baseline and nutritional
      assessments measured a mean of 18 years later. SETTING: Community-dwelling
      individuals residing in central New York state. PARTICIPANTS: 333 participants
      free of dementia and stroke. MEASUREMENTS: The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
      (WAIS) was assessed at baseline and dietary intake was measured using the
      Nutrition and Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Higher WAIS Scores at baseline were
      prospectively associated with higher intakes of vegetables, meats, nuts and
      legumes, and fish, but inversely associated with consumption of total grains and
      carbonated soft drinks. After adjustment for sample selection, socioeconomic
      indicators, lifestyle factors (smoking and physical activity), and cardiovascular
      risk factors, the relations between higher cognitive performance and greater
      consumption of vegetables, meat, and fish, and lower consumption of grains
      remained significant. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that cognition early in life
      may influence dietary choices later in life.

PMID- 26878012
TI  - Clinical significance of serum CA15-3 as a prognostic parameter during follow-up
      periods in patients with breast cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between the kinetics of the serum CA15-3
      level and the five-year disease-free survival rate of breast cancer patients.
      METHODS: The subjects of this study, 297 women who were diagnosed with breast
      cancer, were the subset of patients operated on at Kosin University Gospel
      Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010. We evaluated the change of serum
      CA15-3 levels during outpatient follow-up period. The changing patterns of serum
      CA15-3 level were divided into 5 categories; surge without decline, surge with
      incidental decline, decline without surge, decline with incidental surge, and no
      change. Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated for each group. RESULTS: The
      number of patients in surge without decline, surge with incidental decline,
      decline without surge, decline with incidental surge, and no changes groups were
      30 (10.1%), 85 (28.6%), 80 (26.9%), 73 (24.6%), and 29 (9.7%), respectively. The
      clinicopathologic characteristics were not significantly different among these
      groups. The log rank test found that 5-year disease-free survival rate according
      to the kinetics of serum CA15-3 levels were significant (P = 0.004) particularly
      for the surge without decline group. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of
      this study, the surge without incidental decline pattern of serum CA15-3 levels
      during the follow-up period is associated with poor prognosis. Significant
      association was found among changing patterns of serum CA15-3 levels and breast
      cancer recurrence rate.

PMID- 26878013
TI  - A simple pancreaticojejunostomy technique for hard pancreases using only two
      transpancreatic sutures with buttresses: a comparison with the previous
      pancreaticogastrostomy and dunking methods.
AB  - PURPOSE: In this study, we introduced a novel technique, the
      pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ), which uses only two transpancreatic sutures with
      buttresses (PJt), and compared the surgical outcomes with previously used
      methods, especially for hard pancreases. METHODS: A total of 101 patients who
      underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with hard pancreases were enrolled and divided
      into 3 groups according to the method of pancreaticoenteric anastomosis: 30
      patients (29.7%) underwent the conventional dunking method (Du), 31 patients
      (30.7%) underwent pancreaticogastrostomy using transpancreatic sutures (PGt) and
      40 patients (39.6%) underwent PJ using transpancreatic sutures (PJt). The
      surgical outcomes were compared according to the type of anastomosis to analyze
      the feasibility and ease of each technique. RESULTS: The overall operative time
      was shorter in the PJt group (325.1 +/- 63.8 minutes) than in the PGt group
      (367.3 +/- 70.5 minutes) or the Du group (412.0 +/- 38.2 minutes, P < 0.001). In
      terms of pancreaticoenteric anastomosis time, it was also shorter in the PJt
      group (10.3 +/- 3.5 minutes) than in the Du group (20.7 +/- 0.7 minutes) or the
      PGt group (16.8 +/- 5.4 minutes, P = 0.005). Significant postoperative pancreatic
      fistula (POPF) developed in 2 cases (6.7%) in the Du group, whereas there were no
      POPF cases in the PGt or PJt groups (P = 0.086). Overall postoperative
      morbidities occurred in 31 cases (30.7%), and there were no significant
      differences among the 3 groups (P = 0.692). CONCLUSION: The novel PJ technique,
      which uses only two transpancreatic sutures with buttresses, is a very simple,
      easy and secure method for hard pancreases and can be performed in a shorter
      amount of time compared with conventional methods.

PMID- 26878014
TI  - One-year experience with single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a single
      center: without the use of inverse triangulation.
AB  - PURPOSE: Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is generally
      performed with the use of inverse triangulation. In this study, we performed 3
      channel or 4-channel SILC without the use of inverse triangulation. We evaluated
      the adequacy and feasibility of SILC using our surgical method. METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed our series of 309 SILCs performed between March 2014 and
      February 2015. RESULTS: Among 309 SILCs, male were 148 and female were 161
      patients, mean age was 48.7 +/- 15.3 years old and mean body mass index was 24.8
      +/- 3.8 kg/m(2). Forty patients had previously undergone abdominal surgery
      including 6 cases of upper abdominal surgery. SILC after percutaneous
      transhepatic gallbladder (GB) drainage was completed in 8.7% of cases. There were
      10 cases of emergency SILC. SILC was performed for noncomplicated GB including
      symptomatic GB stone and polyp in 66.7% of cases, acute cholecystitis in 33.3%.
      Overall, 96.8% of procedures were successfully completed without additional port.
      The reason for addition of an extra port or open conversion included technical
      difficulties due to severe adhesion and bleeding. The mean operating time was
      60.7 +/- 22.3 minutes. The overall complication rate was 4.8%: 9 patients of
      wound seroma, 1 case of bile leakage from GB bed, 4 cases of intra-abdominal
      abscess or fluid collection, and 1 case of incisional hernia were developed.
      There was no case of common bile duct injury. CONCLUSION: Our surgical method of
      SILC without the use of inverse triangulation is safe, feasible and effective
      technique.

PMID- 26878015
TI  - Effects of intensive nutrition education on nutritional status and quality of
      life among postgastrectomy patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: We examined the effects of 3 months of intensive education (IE) after
      hospital discharge compared to conventional education (CE) on nutritional status
      and quality of diet and life among South Korean gastrectomy patients. METHODS:
      The study was conducted among 53 hospitalized gastrectomy in-patients (IE group,
      n = 28; CE group, n = 25) at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong. Baseline
      data were collected from electronic medical records and additional information
      was gathered via anthropometric measurements, assessment of nutritional status
      through a patient-generated, subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), diet
      assessment, and measures of self-efficacy and satisfaction with meals for 3
      months following hospital discharge. RESULTS: Total PG-SGA scores were
      significantly higher in the CE group than in the IE group at 3-week post
      discharge (5.2 in the IE group vs. 10.4 in the CE group, P < 0.001), with higher
      scores indicating a greater severity of malnutrition. Energy intake over the 3
      months increased in both the IE group (from 1,390 to 1,726 kcal/day) and the CE
      group (from 1,227 to 1,540 kcal/day). At 3-week post-discharge, the IE group had
      significantly higher daily protein and fat intake (P < 0.05). Self-efficacy
      improved in each category (P < 0.001), except for 'difficulty eating adequate
      food'. When assessing satisfaction with meals, there was a difference in the
      'satisfaction with the current meal size' (P < 0.001) and 'satisfaction with the
      menu content' (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Nutritional status among gastrectomy
      patients in the IE group improved. Relative to the CE control, the IE group
      demonstrated improved self-efficacy and meal satisfaction 3-week post-discharge.

PMID- 26878016
TI  - Clinical utility of balloon expulsion test for functional defecation disorders.
AB  - PURPOSE: I investigated the diagnostic accuracy of balloon expulsion test (BET)
      with various techniques to find out the most appropriate method, and tried to
      confirm its clinical utility in diagnosing functional defecation disorders (FDD)
      in constipated patients. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients constituted the study
      population. FDD was defined when patients had at least two positive findings in
      defecography, manometry, and electromyography. BET was done 4 times in each
      patient with 2 different positions and 2 different volumes. The positions were
      seated position (SP) and left lateral decubitus position (LDP). The volumes were
      fixed volume (FV) of 60 mL and individualized volume with which patient felt a
      constant desire to defecate (CDV). The results of BETs with 4 different settings
      (LDP-FV, LDP-CDV, SP-FV, and SP-CDV) were statistically compared and analyzed.
      RESULTS: Of 87 patients, 23 patients (26.4%) had at least two positive findings
      in 3 tests and thus were diagnosed to have FDD. On receiver operating
      characteristic curve analysis, area under curve was highest in BET with SP-FV.
      With a cutoff value of 30 seconds, the specificity of BET with SP-FV was 86.0%,
      sensitivity was 73.9%, negative predictive value was 89.8%, positive predictive
      value was 65.4%, and accuracy rate was 82.8% for diagnosing FDD. CONCLUSION: SP
      FV is the most appropriate method for BET. In this setting, BET has a diagnostic
      accuracy sufficient to identify constipated patients who do not have FDD.
      Patients with negative results in BET with SP-FV may not need other onerous tests
      to exclude FDD.

PMID- 26878017
TI  - A new risk-scoring model for predicting 30-day mortality after repair of
      abdominal aortic aneurysms in the era of endovascular procedures.
AB  - PURPOSE: To propose a new, multivariable risk-scoring model for predicting 30-day
      mortality in individuals underwent repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
      METHODS: Four hundred eighty-five consecutive patients who underwent AAA repair
      from January 2000 to December 2010 were included in the study. Univariate and
      multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors, and a risk
      scoring model was developed. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified three
      independent preoperative risk factors associated with mortality, and a risk
      scoring model was created by assigning an equal value to each factor. The
      independent predictors were location of the AAA, rupture of AAA, and preoperative
      pulmonary dysfunction. The multivariable regression model demonstrated moderate
      discrimination (c statistic, 0.811) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P =
      0.793). The observed mortality rate did not differ significantly from that
      predicted by our risk-scoring model. CONCLUSION: Our risk-scoring model has
      excellent ability to predict 30-day mortality after AAA repair, and awaits
      validation in further studies.

PMID- 26878018
TI  - Minimally invasive surgery for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations -
      early experience.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present our experience with minimally
      invasive surgery (MIS) for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAMs).
      METHODS: The medical records of infants under 2 years of age who underwent
      operation for a CCAM from 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS:
      MIS (9 of thoracoscopy and 1 of laparoscopy) was performed for 10 infants
      (male:female = 7:3) with CCAM. CCAM were discovered prenatally around gestational
      age of 24.7 weeks. The median gestational age was 38.6 weeks, and the median body
      weight was 2,817.5 g. None had respiratory distress after birth. The median age
      at the time of operation was 0.94 years (range: 8 days-1.66 years). Two underwent
      the operation during the neonatal period; one because of a coexisting large
      esophageal duplication cyst and the other due to diagnostic uncertainty. While
      awaiting operation, 5 of CCAM had grown without respiratory symptoms, and 2
      infants had experienced pneumonia. The mean operative time was 98 minutes (range:
      70-227 minutes), and there were no conversions or perioperative complications.
      The infants resumed enteral feeding within 2 days and were discharged within 7
      days, except for 1 infant who underwent esophageal duplication cyst excision.
      During the follow-up period, there were no cases of either remnant lesions or
      respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: MIS for CCAMs is safe and feasible, with
      excellent cosmesis and short hospital stays. Increasing experience with various
      MIS procedures will widen the indications for MIS in lung pathology.

PMID- 26878019
TI  - Laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer following
      pancreaticoduodenectomy for bile duct cancer: a case report.
AB  - Laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)
      has not been reported. A 73-year-old male who underwent PD 25 years ago for
      distal common bile duct cancer visited a surgical department for remnant gastric
      cancer. A previous reconstruction was performed with pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ),
      gastrojejunostomy and Braun anastomosis, i.e., jejunojejunostomy (JJ), between
      the afferent and efferent jejunal limb to prevent bile reflux into the remnant
      stomach. Adhesiolysis was initially performed to secure the surgical view. Lymph
      node dissections around the splenic artery, splenic hilum, celiac axis, left
      gastric artery, and common hepatic artery were performed. The PJ site was well
      visualized and safely preserved. Esophagojejunostomy was performed with an OrVil
      system. Specimen retrieval, Roux-limb preparation and JJ were performed through
      an extended umbilicus trocar site. A final pathologic examination revealed a 5.5
      cm serosa-exposed tumor (T4a) without lymph node metastasis. The patient was
      discharged on postoperative day 7 without any complications. 

PMID- 26878020
TI  - Novel method of laparoendoscopic single-site and natural orifice specimen
      extraction for live donor nephrectomy: single-port laparoscopic donor nephrectomy
      and transvaginal graft extraction.
AB  - Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (DN) has been established as a useful
      alternative to the traditional open methods of procuring kidneys. To maximize the
      advantages of the laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) method, we applied natural
      orifice specimen extraction to LESS-DN. A 46-year-old woman with no previous
      abdominal surgery history volunteered to donate her left kidney to her husband
      and underwent single-port laparoscopic DN with transvaginal extraction. The
      procedure was completed without intraoperative complications. The kidney
      functioned well immediately after transplantation, and the donor and recipient
      were respectively discharged 2 days and 2 weeks postoperatively. Single-port
      laparoscopic DN and transvaginal graft extraction is feasible and safe. 

PMID- 26878021
TI  - CAD/CAM splint based on soft tissue 3D simulation for treatment of facial
      asymmetry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most cases of facial asymmetry involve yaw deformity, and
      determination of the yaw correction level is very difficult. METHODS: We use
      three-dimensional soft tissue simulation to determine the yaw correction level.
      This three-dimensional simulation is based on the addition of cephalometric
      prediction to gradual yaw correction. Optimal yaw correction is determined
      visually, and an intermediate splint is fabricated with computer-aided design and
      computer-aided manufacturing. Application of positioning devices and the
      performance of horseshoe osteotomy are advisable. RESULTS: With this procedure,
      accurate repositioning of jaws was confirmed and patients obtained fairly good
      facial contour. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure is a promising method for a
      widespread, predictable treatment of facial asymmetry.

PMID- 26878022
TI  - Altered Hemodynamics in the Embryonic Heart Affects Outflow Valve Development.
AB  - Cardiac valve structure and function are primarily determined during early
      development. Consequently, abnormally-formed heart valves are the most common
      type of congenital heart defects. Several adult valve diseases can be backtracked
      to abnormal valve development, making it imperative to completely understand the
      process and regulation of heart valve development. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) plays an important role in the development of heart valves.
      Though hemodynamics is vital to valve development, its role in regulating EMT is
      still unknown. In this study, intracardiac hemodynamics were altered by
      constricting the outflow tract (OFT)/ventricle junction (OVJ) of HH16-17
      (Hamilton and Hamburger (HH) Stage 16-17) chicken embryos, ex ovo for 24 h. The
      constriction created an increase in peak and time-averaged centerline velocity
      along the OFT without changes to volumetric flow or heart rate. Computational
      fluid dynamics was used to estimate the level of increased spatially-averaged
      wall shear stresses on the OFT cushion from AMIRA reconstructions. OFT
      constriction led to a significant decrease in OFT cushion volume and the number
      of invaded mesenchyme in the OFT cushion. qPCR analysis revealed altered mRNA
      expression of a representative panel of genes, vital to valve development, in the
      OFT cushions from banded hearts. This study indicates the importance of
      hemodynamics in valve development.

PMID- 26878023
TI  - Proteomic Analysis of Pathogenic Fungi Reveals Highly Expressed Conserved Cell
      Wall Proteins.
AB  - We are presenting a quantitative proteomics tally of the most commonly expressed
      conserved fungal proteins of the cytosol, the cell wall, and the secretome. It
      was our goal to identify fungi-typical proteins that do not share significant
      homology with human proteins. Such fungal proteins are of interest to the
      development of vaccines or drug targets. Protein samples were derived from 13
      fungal species, cultured in rich or in minimal media; these included clinical
      isolates of Aspergillus, Candida, Mucor, Cryptococcus, and Coccidioides species.
      Proteomes were analyzed by quantitative MSE (Mass Spectrometry-Elevated Collision
      Energy). Several thousand proteins were identified and quantified in total across
      all fractions and culture conditions. The 42 most abundant proteins identified in
      fungal cell walls or supernatants shared no to very little homology with human
      proteins. In contrast, all but five of the 50 most abundant cytosolic proteins
      had human homologs with sequence identity averaging 59%. Proteomic comparisons of
      the secreted or surface localized fungal proteins highlighted conserved homologs
      of the Aspergillus fumigatus proteins 1,3-beta-glucanosyltransferases (Bgt1, Gel1
      4), Crf1, Ecm33, EglC, and others. The fact that Crf1 and Gel1 were previously
      shown to be promising vaccine candidates, underlines the value of the proteomics
      data presented here.

PMID- 26878024
TI  - [Barriers to adherence and retention in public and private healthcare according
      to patients and health workers].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The National Program of AIDS guarantees universal access to
      antiretroviral medication, yet people receiving treatment through the public
      healthcare system do not achieve an undetectable viral load in the same rate than
      patients in the private system. This qualitative study aims to identify factors
      associated with adherence and retention in the HIV-cascade of care at public and
      private setting from Buenos Aires, based on patients and healthcare workers'
      perceptions. METHODS: Qualitative data from 12 semi-structured interviews with
      key informants and 4 focus groups of patients and healthcare workers from the
      public and private systems were recorded. Transcripts were coded and analyzed,
      using the QRS Nvivo9(r) software for qualitative data analysis, into set themes
      on adherence. RESULTS: Patients and healthcare workers of both systems agree on
      the importance of HIV-related stigma, professional-patient relationship and
      communication, and the division of treatment-related responsibilities as
      fundamental aspects for adherence and retention in the HIV-cascade of care.
      Differences in the manner these factors interact were observed between healthcare
      systems. Structural barriers are presented as the main adherence barrier in the
      public system. DISCUSSION: The need for interventions focused on the doctor
      patient dyad considering the features of each healthcare is highlighted in order
      to facilitate patient engagement in adherence.

PMID- 26878026
TI  - Prediction in the Processing of Repair Disfluencies.
AB  - Imagine a speaker who says "Turn left, uh I mean..." Before hearing the repair,
      the listener is likely to anticipate the word "right" based on the context,
      including the reparandum "left." Thus, even though the reparandum is not intended
      as part of the utterance, the listener uses it as information to predict the
      repair. The issue we explore in this article is how prediction operates in
      disfluency contexts. We begin by describing the Overlay model of disfluency
      comprehension, which assumes that the listener identifies a reparandum as such
      only after a repair is encountered which creates a local ungrammaticality. The
      Overlay model also allows the reparandum to influence subsequent processing,
      because the reparandum is not deleted from the final representation of the
      sentence. A somewhat different model can be developed which assumes a more
      active, anticipatory process for resolving repair disfluencies. On this model,
      the listener might predict the likely repair when the speaker becomes disfluent,
      or even identify a reparandum if the word or word string seems inconsistent with
      the speaker's intention. Our proposal is that the prediction can be made using
      the same mechanism involved in the processing of contrast, in which a listener
      uses contrastive prominence to generate likely alternates (the contrast set). We
      suggest that these two approaches to disfluency processing are not inconsistent:
      Successful repair processing requires listeners to use statistical and linguistic
      evidence to identify a reparandum and to integrate the repair, and the lingering
      of the reparandum is due to the coexistence in working memory of the reparandum,
      the repair, and unselected members of the contrast set.

PMID- 26878027
TI  - Efficient Multiterminal Spectrum Splitting via a Nanowire Array Solar Cell.
AB  - Nanowire-based solar cells opened a new avenue for increasing conversion
      efficiency and rationalizing material use by growing different III-V materials on
      silicon substrates. Here, we propose a multiterminal nanowire solar cell design
      with a theoretical conversion efficiency of 48.3% utilizing an efficient lateral
      spectrum splitting between three different III-V material nanowire arrays grown
      on a flat silicon substrate. This allows choosing an ideal material combination
      to achieve the proper spectrum splitting as well as fabrication feasibility. The
      high efficiency is possible due to an enhanced absorption cross-section of
      standing nanowires and optimization of the geometric parameters. Furthermore, we
      propose a multiterminal contacting scheme that can be fabricated with a
      technology close to standard CMOS. As an alternative we also consider a single
      power source with a module level voltage matching. These new concepts open
      avenues for next-generation solar cells for terrestrial and space applications.

PMID- 26878028
TI  - On-Demand Coupling of Electrically Generated Excitons with Surface Plasmons via
      Voltage-Controlled Emission Zone Position.
AB  - The ability to confine and manipulate light below the diffraction limit is a
      major goal of future multifunctional optoelectronic/plasmonic systems. Here, we
      demonstrate the design and realization of a tunable and localized electrical
      source of excitons coupled to surface plasmons based on a polymer light-emitting
      field-effect transistor (LEFET). Gold nanorods that are integrated into the
      channel support localized surface plasmons and serve as nanoantennas for enhanced
      electroluminescence. By precise spatial control of the near-infrared emission
      zone in the LEFET via the applied voltages the near-field coupling between
      electrically generated excitons and the nanorods can be turned on or off as
      visualized by a change of electroluminescence intensity. Numerical calculations
      and spectroscopic measurements corroborate significant local electroluminescence
      enhancement due to the high local density of photonic states in the vicinity of
      the gold nanorods. Importantly, the integration of plasmonic nanostructures
      hardly influences the electrical performance of the LEFETs, thus, highlighting
      their mutual compatibility in novel active plasmonic devices.

PMID- 26878029
TI  - Measurement of Resting Energy Metabolism in Mice Using Oxymax Open Circuit
      Indirect Calorimeter.
AB  - Indirect calorimeter is a powerful tool to monitor resting energy metabolism
      through the measurement of oxygen (O2) consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2)
      production. From the measurement of VO2 and VCO2, the respiratory exchange ratio
      (RER) can be calculated to assess energy fuel utilization and energy expenditure
      (Evan et al., 2012). Previously, indirect calorimeter has been widely used in
      metabolic disease research in mice to reveal the potential roles of specific
      genes or treatments in regulating energy metabolism (for example: Bi et al.,
      2014; Feng et al., 2014). Here, we described a protocol to evaluate the resting
      energy metabolism of C57BL/6 mice during dark and light cycles using the Oxymax
      Open Circuit indirect calorimeter.

PMID- 26878030
TI  - Parents' Experiences With Ultrasound During Pregnancy With a Lethal Fetal
      Diagnosis.
AB  - This longitudinal naturalistic study sought to describe parent experiences of
      ultrasounds during pregnancies with lethal fetal diagnoses (LFDs). We interviewed
      16 mothers and 14 partners twice during pregnancy and twice after birth and death
      of their infant. Parents reported that ultrasound providers had a profound impact
      on their experiences with LFDs. Within three stages of pregnancy (pre-diagnosis,
      learning the diagnosis, and living with the diagnosis), themes of optimistic
      expectation, hearing bad news, need to know, and time with baby emerged. The
      dynamics of interactions with ultrasound providers included differing goals and
      expectations, and compatibility of interactions. These interactions were either
      satisfying or added to parents' burden. Ultrasound providers have the opportunity
      to share valuable knowledge and facilitate understanding and precious time with
      the baby. Providers of obstetrical care can improve communication with parents
      with LFDs at critical time periods by matching their interaction to parents'
      needs.

PMID- 26878031
TI  - Alternating dual updates algorithm for X-ray CT reconstruction on the GPU.
AB  - Model-based image reconstruction (MBIR) for X-ray computed tomography (CT) offers
      improved image quality and potential low-dose operation, but has yet to reach
      ubiquity in the clinic. MBIR methods form an image by solving a large
      statistically motivated optimization problem, and the long time it takes to
      numerically solve this problem has hampered MBIR's adoption. We present a new
      optimization algorithm for X-ray CT MBIR based on duality and group coordinate
      ascent that may converge even with approximate updates and can handle a wide
      range of regularizers, including total variation (TV). The algorithm iteratively
      updates groups of dual variables corresponding to terms in the cost function;
      these updates are highly parallel and map well onto the GPU. Although the
      algorithm stores a large number of variables, the "working size" for each of the
      algorithm's steps is small and can be efficiently streamed to the GPU while other
      calculations are being performed. The proposed algorithm converges rapidly on
      both real and simulated data and shows promising parallelization over multiple
      devices.

PMID- 26878025
TI  - Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptors (RORs): Regulatory Functions in Immunity,
      Development, Circadian Rhythm, and Metabolism.
AB  - In this overview, we provide an update on recent progress made in understanding
      the mechanisms of action, physiological functions, and roles in disease of
      retinoic acid related orphan receptors (RORs). We are particularly focusing on
      their roles in the regulation of adaptive and innate immunity, brain function,
      retinal development, cancer, glucose and lipid metabolism, circadian rhythm,
      metabolic and inflammatory diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. We also
      summarize the current status of ROR agonists and inverse agonists, including
      their regulation of ROR activity and their therapeutic potential for management
      of various diseases in which RORs have been implicated.

PMID- 26878032
TI  - Contribution of substantia nigra glutamate to prediction error signals in
      schizophrenia: a combined magnetic resonance spectroscopy/functional imaging
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because dopamine neurons signal a mismatch between expected and
      actual reward called prediction error (PE), aberrant PE signals in schizophrenia
      have been attributed to known dopaminergic abnormalities. However, dysfunction of
      N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons, as
      hypothesized in schizophrenia, could lead to excess glutamate release in the
      substantia nigra (SN) and affect reward processing. AIMS: The aim of this study
      was to investigate the contribution of SN glutamate to PE signals in healthy
      controls (HC) and patients with schizophrenia (SZ). METHODS: We recruited 22
      medicated SZ and 19 HC. We obtained (1) functional magnetic resonance imaging
      during a probabilistic monetary reward task to assess PE-related blood oxygen
      level-dependent (BOLD) signal and (2) magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure
      Glx (glutamate+glutamine) in the SN. To identify group differences in regions
      where the BOLD signal varies as a function of PE, we analyzed PEs generated
      during the task as parametric modulators of reward delivery. Finally, we examined
      the correlation of PE-related BOLD signal and SN Glx in each group. RESULTS:
      Relative to HC, PE-related BOLD signals in SZ were significantly different in the
      midbrain/SN and ventral striatum. In SZ, SN Glx was significantly elevated. In
      HC, but not in SZ, PE-related BOLD signal in SN was positively correlated with SN
      Glx. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a role of glutamate in the neural coding
      of PE in controls. They indicate that glutamatergic dysfunction might contribute
      to abnormal PE coding in schizophrenia, suggesting the use of glutamate-targeted
      approaches to improve these deficits.

PMID- 26878033
TI  - ELMO1 has an essential role in the internalization of Salmonella Typhimurium into
      enteric macrophages that impacts disease outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: 4-6 million people die of enteric infections each year.
      After invading intestinal epithelial cells, enteric bacteria encounter
      phagocytes. However, little is known about how phagocytes internalize the
      bacteria to generate host responses. Previously, we have shown that BAI1 (Brain
      Angiogenesis Inhibitor 1) binds and internalizes Gram-negative bacteria through
      an ELMO1 (Engulfment and cell Motility protein 1)/Rac1-dependent mechanism. Here
      we delineate the role of ELMO1 in host inflammatory responses following enteric
      infection. METHODS: ELMO1-depleted murine macrophage cell lines, intestinal
      macrophages and ELMO1 deficient mice (total or myeloid-cell specific) was
      infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The bacterial load,
      inflammatory cytokines and histopathology was evaluated in the ileum, cecum and
      spleen. The ELMO1 dependent host cytokines were detected by a cytokine array.
      ELMO1 mediated Rac1 activity was measured by pulldown assay. RESULTS: The
      cytokine array showed reduced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including
      TNF-alpha and MCP-1, by ELMO1-depleted macrophages. Inhibition of ELMO1
      expression in macrophages decreased Rac1 activation (~6 fold) and reduced
      internalization of Salmonella. ELMO1-dependent internalization was indispensable
      for TNF-alpha and MCP-1. Simultaneous inhibition of ELMO1 and Rac function
      virtually abrogated TNF-alpha responses to infection. Further, activation of NF
      kappaB, ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinases were impaired in ELMO1-depleted cells.
      Strikingly, bacterial internalization by intestinal macrophages was completely
      dependent on ELMO1. Salmonella infection of ELMO1-deficient mice resulted in a
      90% reduction in bacterial burden and attenuated inflammatory responses in the
      ileum, spleen and cecum. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a novel role for
      ELMO1 in facilitating intracellular bacterial sensing and the induction of
      inflammatory responses following infection with Salmonella.

PMID- 26878034
TI  - Development of a subjective cognitive decline questionnaire using item response
      theory: a pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may indicate unhealthy cognitive
      changes, but no standardized SCD measurement exists. This pilot study aims to
      identify reliable SCD questions. METHODS: 112 cognitively normal (NC, 76+/-8
      years, 63% female), 43 mild cognitive impairment (MCI; 77+/-7 years, 51% female),
      and 33 diagnostically ambiguous participants (79+/-9 years, 58% female) were
      recruited from a research registry and completed 57 self-report SCD questions.
      Psychometric methods were used for item-reduction. RESULTS: Factor analytic
      models assessed unidimensionality of the latent trait (SCD); 19 items were
      removed with extreme response distribution or trait-fit. Item response theory
      (IRT) provided information about question utility; 17 items with low information
      were dropped. Post-hoc simulation using computerized adaptive test (CAT) modeling
      selected the most commonly used items (n=9 of 21 items) that represented the
      latent trait well (r=0.94) and differentiated NC from MCI participants
      (F(1,146)=8.9, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Item response theory and computerized
      adaptive test modeling identified nine reliable SCD items. This pilot study is a
      first step toward refining SCD assessment in older adults. Replication of these
      findings and validation with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers will be an important
      next step for the creation of a SCD screener.

PMID- 26878035
TI  - Computer mouse movement patterns: A potential marker of mild cognitive
      impairment.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Subtle changes in cognitively demanding activities occur in MCI but
      are difficult to assess with conventional methods. In an exploratory study, we
      examined whether patterns of computer mouse movements obtained from routine home
      computer use discriminated between older adults with and without MCI. METHODS:
      Participants were 42 cognitively intact and 20 older adults with MCI enrolled in
      a longitudinal study of in-home monitoring technologies. Mouse pointer movement
      variables were computed during one week of routine home computer use using
      algorithms that identified and characterized mouse movements within each computer
      use session. RESULTS: MCI was associated with making significantly fewer total
      mouse moves (p<.01), and making mouse movements that were more variable, less
      efficient, and with longer pauses between movements (p<.05). Mouse movement
      measures were significantly associated with several cognitive domains (p's<.01
      .05). DISCUSSION: Remotely monitored computer mouse movement patterns are a
      potential early marker of real-world cognitive changes in MCI.

PMID- 26878036
TI  - Adenomas involving the extrahepatic biliary tree are rare but have an aggressive
      clinical course.
AB  - Biliary adenomas that are usually found in surgically removed gallbladders are
      rare, but can also occur in the extrahepatic biliary tree. We present a case
      series of extrahepatic bile duct adenomas at our institution, along with a review
      of the literature. All three patients with extrahepatic biliary adenomas (two in
      the common bile ducts, one in the hepatic duct) were female with a mean age of 74
      years. On initial presentation, none of the patients had obstructive jaundice but
      two of the three patients had symptoms of biliary origin. Case 1 is an 85-year
      old woman with an incidental biliary dilation seen on chest imaging; endoscopic
      ultrasound revealed a sessile adenomatous polyp in the distal bile duct. The
      patient refused surgery and presented with occlusive biliary stricture and
      jaundice 5 months after initial presentation, with cytology confirming malignant
      progression. Case 2 is a 78-year-old woman with a history of primary sclerosing
      cholangitis and who presented with cholangitis, and Gram-negative sepsis. A
      polypoid lesion was seen on imaging in the common hepatic duct and direct
      cholangioscopy with biopsies confirmed the presence of adenoma with high grade
      dysplasia. The patient underwent successful total bile duct resection and
      hepaticojejunostomy but represented 1 year later with diffuse metastatic disease
      to the bone, liver, and peritoneum. Case 3 is a 61-year-old woman who presented
      with symptoms suggestive of gallbladder pathology and was found to have a
      polypoid bile duct lesion on intraoperative cholangiogram. Endoscopic retrograde
      cholangioscopy showed an adenomatous polyp with high grade dysplasia involving
      the distal common bile duct. The patient underwent distal bile duct resection
      with choledochojejunostomy but presented with jaundice 4 years after surgery. She
      was found to have adenocarcinoma involving the small bowel in the Roux limb of
      jejunum and transverse colon. All three patients in our series presented with
      interval gastrointestinal malignancy and we therefore recommend aggressive
      surgical intervention and close postoperative surveillance when diagnosis of
      extrahepatic bile duct adenoma is made. 

PMID- 26878038
TI  - Implementing quality improvement programs for colonoscopy: the emerging need for
      an international, standardized, multidisciplinary approach.

PMID- 26878037
TI  - Barriers and facilitators to implementing continuous quality improvement programs
      in colonoscopy services: a mixed methods systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs may result in
      quality of care and outcome improvement. However, the implementation of such
      programs has proven to be very challenging. This mixed methods systematic review
      identifies barriers and facilitators pertaining to the implementation of CQI
      programs in colonoscopy services and how they relate to endoscopists, nurses,
      managers, and patients. METHODS: We developed a search strategy adapted to 15
      databases. Studies had to report on the implementation of a CQI intervention and
      identified barriers or facilitators relating to any of the four groups of actors
      directly concerned by the provision of colonoscopies. The quality of the selected
      studies was assessed and findings were extracted, categorized, and synthesized
      using a generic extraction grid customized through an iterative process. RESULTS:
      We extracted 99 findings from the 15 selected publications. Although involving
      all actors is the most cited factor, the literature mainly focuses on the
      facilitators and barriers associated with the endoscopists' perspective. The most
      reported facilitators to CQI implementation are perception of feasibility,
      adoption of a formative approach, training and education, confidentiality, and
      assessing a limited number of quality indicators. Receptive attitudes, a sense of
      ownership and perceptions of positive impacts also facilitate the implementation.
      Finally, an organizational environment conducive to quality improvement has to be
      inclusive of all user groups, explicitly supportive, and provide appropriate
      resources. CONCLUSION: Our findings corroborate the current models of adoption of
      innovations. However, a significant knowledge gap remains with respect to
      barriers and facilitators pertaining to nurses, patients, and managers.

PMID- 26878039
TI  - Emerging techniques and efficacy of endoscopic esophageal reconstruction and
      lumen restoration for complete esophageal obstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Complete esophageal obstruction (CEO) is a rare
      occurrence characterized by progressive esophageal stricture, which eventually
      causes lumen obliteration. With recent advances in flexible endoscopy, various
      innovative techniques exist for restoring luminal continuity. The primary aim of
      this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of patients undergoing combined
      antegrade-retrograde endoscopic dilation for CEO at our institution. The
      secondary aim was to review and highlight emerging techniques, outcomes, and
      adverse events after endoscopic treatment of CEO. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our
      electronic endoscopy database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients
      who underwent combined antegrade and retrograde endoscopy for CEO. Patient and
      procedural data collected included gender, age, technical success, pre- and post
      dysphagia scores, and adverse events. RESULTS: Six patients (67 % male, mean age
      71.6 years [range 63 - 80]) underwent technically successful esophageal
      reconstruction with combined antegrade-retrograde endoscopy. All patients noted
      improvement in dysphagia with mean pre-procedure dysphagia score of 4 reduced to
      1.33 (range 0 - 3) post-procedure. There were no adverse events and mean follow
      up time was 17.3 months (range 3 - 48). CONCLUSIONS: Combined antegrade and
      retrograde endoscopic therapy for CEO is feasible and safe. We present our
      experience with endoscopic management of complete esophageal obstruction, and
      highlight emerging techniques, outcomes and adverse events related to this
      minimally invasive modality.

PMID- 26878041
TI  - How to measure endoscopy unit performance: some metrics for dummies.

PMID- 26878040
TI  - Evaluation of interventional endoscopy unit efficiency metrics at a tertiary
      academic medical center.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: There is an increasing demand for interventional
      endoscopic services and the need to develop efficient endoscopic units. The aim
      of this study was to analyze performance data and define metrics to improve
      efficiency in a single academic interventional endoscopy center. ] PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The prospective operations performance data (6-month period) of our
      interventional endoscopy unit (EU) was analyzed. First-case start time (FIRST)
      delay was defined as any time the first patient of the day entered the endoscopy
      room after the scheduled time. Non-endoscopy time (NET) and total time (TT) were
      defined as non-procedural and total time elapsed in the EU, respectively. Time
      interval between successive patients (TISP) was defined as the time from one
      patient departure from the room until the time of arrival of the next patient in
      the room. RESULTS: A total of 1421 patients underwent 1635 endoscopic procedures.
      FIRST was delayed (54.2 % cases) by 13.6 min (range 1 - 53), but started within
      15 min of the scheduled time in 85 % of the cases. NET accounted for 9.1 hours
      (67.2 %) of 13.5 hours TT/day. TISP (37.1 min, range 5 - 125) comprised 54.2 % of
      the NET, and was delayed (> 30 min) in 49.8 % of cases. "Patient flow" processes
      (registration, admission, transportation, scheduling) accounted for 50.1 % of
      TISP delays. CONCLUSIONS: Delays in NET, specifically TISP, rather than FIRST,
      were identified as a cause for decreased efficiency. "Patient flow" processes
      were the main reasons for delays in TISP. This study identifies potential process
      measures that can be used as benchmarks to improve efficiency in the EU.

PMID- 26878042
TI  - Overtube-assisted enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis of small
      bowel polyps and tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several studies have evaluated the utility of double
      balloon enteroscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) for patients with small
      bowel disease showing inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to
      determine the sensitivity and specificity of overtube-assisted enteroscopy (OAE)
      as well as the diagnostic concordance between OAE and CE for small-bowel polyps
      and tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta
      analysis of studies in which the results of OAE were compared with the results of
      CE for the evaluation of small-bowel polyps and tumors. When data for surgically
      resected lesions were available, the histopathological results of OAE and
      surgical specimens were compared. The sensitivity, specificity, positive
      likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of small-bowel
      polyps and tumors were analyzed. Secondarily, the rates of diagnostic concordance
      and discordance between OAE and CE were calculated. RESULTS: There were 15 full
      length studies with a total of 821 patients that met the inclusion criteria. The
      pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative
      likelihood ratio were as follows: 0.89 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.84 -
      0.93), with heterogeneity chi(2) = 41.23 (P = 0.0002) and inconsistency (I (2)) =
      66.0 %; 0.97 (95 %CI 0.95 - 0.98), with heterogeneity chi(2) = 45.27 (P = 0.07)
      and inconsistency (I (2)) = 69.1 %; 16.61 (95 %CI 3.74 - 73.82), with
      heterogeneity Cochrane's Q = 225.19 (P < 0.01) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 93.8
      %; and 0.14 (95 %CI 0.05 - 0.35), with heterogeneity Cochrane's Q = 81.01 (P <
      .01) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 82.7 %, respectively. A summary receiver
      operating characteristic curve (SROC) curve was constructed, and the area under
      the curve (AUC) was 0.97. CONCLUSION: OAE is an accurate test for the detection
      of small-bowel polyps and tumors. OAE and CE have a high diagnostic concordance
      rate for small-bowel polyps and tumors. This study was registered in the PROSPERO
      international database (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) with the study number
      CRD42015016000.

PMID- 26878044
TI  - The loop-forming method as a useful technique to rotate the endoscopic insertion
      tube shaft.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Gastroenterological endoscopists are instructed to
      bring the target to the 6-o'clock position when they take a biopsy specimen, use
      a snare, or cut a target organ. This action is performed primarily by rotating
      the shaft of the endoscopic insertion tube, which can be difficult in some
      situations when existing endoscopic methods are used. We previously described a
      method for optimal rotation of the endoscopic insertion tube shaft, called the
      loop-forming method (LFM). The present study aimed to validate this procedure and
      confirm the usefulness of the LFM for leftward rotation of the shaft.
      PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The LFM was specifically taught to 28
      gastroenterological endoscopists, and the angle of rotation was measured before
      and after they received instruction in this method. RESULTS: The LFM
      significantly increased the average angle of leftward rotation from 266 degrees 
      to 327 degrees . Moreover, whereas the instrument channel inlet tended to move
      away from the right hand of an operator using a conventional endoscopy method, it
      remained closely accessible to the right hand of an examiner using the LFM.
      CONCLUSIONS: The LFM has the potential to make endoscopic procedures easier and
      safer.

PMID- 26878043
TI  - Colonoscopy detects significantly more flat adenomas than 3-tesla magnetic
      resonance colonography: a pilot trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common
      cancers worldwide, and several efforts have been made to reduce its occurrence or
      severity. Although colonoscopy is considered the gold standard in CRC prevention,
      it has its disadvantages: missed lesions, bleeding, and perforation. Furthermore,
      a high number of patients undergo this procedure even though no polyps are
      detected. Therefore, an initial screening examination may be warranted. Our aim
      was to compare the adenoma detection rate of magnetic resonance colonography
      (MRC) with that of optical colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 25
      patients with an intermediate risk for CRC (17 men, 8 women; mean age 57.6,
      standard deviation 11) underwent MRC with a 3.0-tesla magnet, followed by
      colonoscopy. The endoscopist was initially blinded to the results of MRC and
      unblinded immediately after examining the distal rectum. Following endoscopic
      excision, the size, anatomical localization, and appearance of all polyps were
      described according to the Paris classification. RESULTS: A total of 93 lesions
      were detected during colonoscopy. These included a malignant infiltration of the
      transverse colon due to gastric cancer in 1 patient, 28 adenomas in 10 patients,
      19 hyperplastic polyps in 9 patients, and 45 non-neoplastic lesions. In 5
      patients, no lesion was detected. MRC detected significantly fewer lesions: 1
      adenoma (P = 0.001) and 1 hyperplastic polyp (P = 0.004). The malignant
      infiltration was seen with both modalities. Of the 28 adenomas, 23 (82 %) were 5
      mm or smaller; only 4 adenomas 10 mm or larger (14 %) were detected. CONCLUSION:
      MRC does not detect adenomas sufficiently independently of the location of the
      lesion. Even advanced lesions were missed. Therefore, colonoscopy should still be
      considered the current gold standard, even for diagnostic purposes.

PMID- 26878045
TI  - International multicenter comparative trial of transluminal EUS-guided biliary
      drainage via hepatogastrostomy vs. choledochoduodenostomy approaches.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD)
      can be performed entirely transgastrically (hepatogastrostomy/EUS-HG) or
      transduodenally (choledochoduodenostomy/EUS-CDS). It is unknown how both
      techniques compare. The aims of this study were to compare efficacy and safety of
      both techniques and identify predictors of adverse events. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Consecutive jaundiced patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction who
      underwent EUS-BD at multiple international centers were included.
      Technical/clinical success, adverse events, stent complications, and survival
      were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients underwent EUS-BD (CDS 60, HG 61).
      Technical success was achieved in 112 (92.56 %) patients (EUS-CDS 93.3 %, EUS-HG
      91.8 %, P = 0.75). Clinical success was attained in 85.5 % of patients who
      underwent EUS-CDS group as compared to 82.1 % of patients who underwent EUS-HG (P
      = 0.64). Adverse events occurred more commonly in the EUS-HG group (19.67 % vs.
      13.3 %, P = 0.37). Both plastic stenting (OR 4.95, 95 %CI 1.41 - 17.38, P = 0.01)
      and use of non-coaxial electrocautery (OR 3.95, 95 %CI 1.16 - 13.40, P = 0.03)
      were independently associated with adverse events. Length of hospital stay was
      significantly shorter in the CDS group (5.6 days vs. 12.7 days, P < 0.001). Mean
      follow-up duration was 151 +/- 159 days. The 1-year stent patency probability was
      greater in the EUS-CDS group [0.98 (95 %CI 0.76 - 0.96) vs 0.60 (95 %CI 0.35 -
      0.78)] but overall patency was not significantly different. There was no
      difference in median survival times between the groups (P = 0.36) CONCLUSIONS:
      Both EUS-CDS and EUS-HG are effective and safe techniques for the treatment of
      distal biliary obstruction after failed ERCP. However, CDS is associated with
      shorter hospital stay, improved stent patency, and fewer procedure- and stent
      related complications. Metallic stents should be placed whenever feasible and non
      coaxial electrocautery should be avoided when possible as plastic stenting and
      non-coaxial electrocautery were independently associated with occurrence of
      adverse events.

PMID- 26878046
TI  - Polypectomy skills of gastroenterology fellows: can we improve them?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Currently, most training programs for gastroenterology (GI)
      fellows lack systematic training in polypectomy. Systematic education and direct
      feedback with the direct observational polypectomy skills (DOPyS) method is a
      simple and inexpensive way to train GI fellows in practical endoscopy. Our
      primary aim was to evaluate whether a lecture-based training course could improve
      the polypectomy skills of GI fellows. As a secondary aim, the interobserver
      agreement among the three assessors was evaluated. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We
      invited GI fellows to record five polypectomies, after which they attended a
      training course consisting of three lectures on polyps and polypectomy methods
      given by expert endoscopists. After training, the fellows recorded five
      polypectomies again. All videos were blindly assessed by three expert
      endoscopists, who used the DOPyS method. RESULTS: Eight GI fellows participated
      in this study. There was no significant difference in the median overall
      competency scores before and after training; before training, 25 % (10/40) of the
      polypectomies were scored as "pass," compared with 37.5 % (15/40) after training
      (P = 0.56). The interobserver agreement among the experts was fair (intraclass
      correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.34, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.14 - 0.52).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our lecture-based training course did not result in an improvement
      in overall competency scores for the polypectomy skills of GI fellows. Besides,
      the overall quality of the polypectomy techniques of the fellows was considered
      low. To optimize polypectomy training and competency, we believe that direct
      feedback in the endoscopy suite and hands-on training by dedicated teachers are
      essential.

PMID- 26878047
TI  - A novel wide viewing endoscope for upper gastrointestinal screening: a pilot
      study.
AB  - The feasibility of full-spectrum endoscopy (FUSE) esophagogastroduodenoscopy
      (EGD), providing a 245-degree field of view with double imagers on the front and
      left side of the endoscope was evaluated. Twenty-one healthy individuals (15
      male, median age, 35 years) underwent upper gastrointestinal screening using FUSE
      EGD. The primary end point was the rate of successful visualization of Vater's
      papilla. Secondary end points were visualization of the squamo-columnar junction
      (SCJ) and the anal side of the pyloric ring, and the endoscopists' subjective
      evaluation of usability based on maneuverability and imaging of FUSE-EGD. The
      mean procedure time was 6.5 min, with a median of 91 images captured. The rate of
      successful visualization of Vater's papilla was 90 % (19/21). The whole
      circumference of the SCJ was observed with two video monitors in all cases. The
      anterior anal side of the pyloric ring was observed in 29 % (6/21) of cases.
      However, the general impression of the usability of FUSE-EGD was that it was
      rather inferior to that of a standard front viewing endoscope. Although the
      usability requires further modification, FUSE-EGD provided excellent results for
      imaging Vater's papilla and the SCJ. 

PMID- 26878048
TI  - Performing forward-viewing endoscopy at time of pancreaticobiliary EUS and ERCP
      may detect additional upper gastrointestinal lesions.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: It is unknown whether significant incidental upper
      gastrointestinal lesions are missed when using non-forward-viewing endoscopes
      without completing a forward-viewing exam in linear endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
      or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) exams. We evaluated
      whether significant upper GI lesions are missed during EUS and ERCP when upper
      endoscopy is not performed routinely with a gastroscope. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A
      retrospective analysis was performed in which an EGD with a forward-viewing
      gastroscope was performed after using a non-forward-viewing endoscope (linear
      echoendoscope, duodenoscope, or both) during a single procedure. Upper
      gastrointestinal tract findings were recorded separately for each procedure.
      Significant lesions found with a forward-viewing gastroscope were defined as
      findings that led to a change in the patient's medication regimen, additional
      endoscopic surveillance/interventions, or the need for other imaging studies.
      RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were evaluated. In 83 patients, a linear
      echoendoscope was used, in 52 patients a duodenoscope was used, and in 33
      patients both devices were used. Clinically significant additional lesions
      diagnosed with a gastroscope but missed by a non-forward-viewing endoscope were
      found in 30 /168 patients (18 %). EGD after linear EUS resulted in additional
      lesion findings in 17 /83 patients (20.5 %, chi(2) = 13.385, P = 0.00025). EGD
      after use of a duodenoscope resulted in additional lesions findings in 10 /52
      patients (19.2 %, chi(2) = 9.987, P = 0.00157). EGD after the use of both a
      linear echoendoscope and a duodenoscope resulted in additional lesions findings
      in 3/33 patients (9 %, chi(2) = 3.219, P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Non forward-viewing
      endoscopes miss a significant amount of incidental upper gastrointestinal lesions
      during pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. Performing an EGD with a gastroscope at the
      time of linear EUS or ERCP can lead to increased yield of upper gastrointestinal
      lesions.

PMID- 26878049
TI  - Endoscopic investigation in non-iron deficiency anemia: a cost to the health
      system without patient benefit.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The indication for endoscopy to investigate anemia of causes
      other than iron deficiency is not clear. Increasing numbers of endoscopic
      procedures for anemia raises concerns about costs to the health system, waiting
      times, and patient safety. The primary aim of this study was to determine the
      diagnostic yield of endoscopy in patients referred to undergo investigation for
      anemia. Secondary aims were to identify additional factors enabling the risk
      stratification of those likely to benefit from endoscopic investigation, and to
      undertake a cost analysis of performing endoscopy in this group of patients.
      METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of endoscopy referrals for the
      investigation of anemia over a 12-month period at a single center. The patients
      were divided into three groups: those who had true iron deficiency anemia (IDA),
      tissue iron deficiency without anemia (TIDWA), or anemia of other cause (AOC).
      Outcome measures included finding a lesion responsible for the anemia and a
      significant change of management as a result of endoscopy. A costing analysis was
      performed with an activity-based costing method. RESULTS: We identified 283
      patients who underwent endoscopy to investigate anemia. A likely cause of anemia
      was found in 31 of 150 patients with IDA (21 %) and 0 patients in the other
      categories (P < 0.001). A change of management was observed in 35 patients with
      IDA (23 %), 1 of 14 patients with TIDWA (7.14 %), and 8 of 119 patients with AOC
      (6.7 %) (P < 0.001). The cost of a single colonoscopy or gastroscopy was
      approximated to be $ 2209. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic investigation for non-IDA
      comes at a significant cost to our institution, equating to a minimum of $ 293
      797 per annum in extra costs, and does not result in a change of management in
      the majority of patients. No additional factors could be established to identify
      patients who might be more likely to benefit from endoscopic investigation. The
      endoscopic investigation of non-IDA should be minimized.

PMID- 26878050
TI  - Cap-assisted retrograde single-balloon enteroscopy results in high terminal ileal
      intubation rate.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Retrograde single-balloon enteroscopy (RSBE)
      facilitates evaluation of the distal small bowel and provision of appropriate
      therapy when necessary. Intubation of the terminal ileum (TI) is a major rate
      limiting step, with failure rates as high as 30 %. Cap-assisted endoscopy has
      proven beneficial in other aspects of endoscopy. We have noticed that it
      similarly aids in TI intubation during RSBE by facilitating opening of the
      ileocecal valve (ICV). The primary aim of this study was to measure the TI
      intubation rate using cap-assisted RSBE. Other procedural details and outcomes
      were also measured. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 36 consecutive RSBEs
      performed between July 2011 and May 2014 at the Medical University of South
      Carolina were retrospectively reviewed. All procedures were performed or
      supervised by our center's small bowel endoscopist (ASB). Outcomes measured
      included TI intubation rate, procedure time, depth of maximal insertion (DMI),
      diagnostic yield (DY), therapeutic yield (TY), and complications. RESULTS: The TI
      intubation rate was 97 % (35 /36). The one failure was due to stool completely
      obscuring the cecum. Median procedure time was 54 minutes, with a mean DMI of 68
      cm beyond the ICV. The technical success rate was 86 %, whereas DY and TY were 61
      % and 25 %, respectively. There were no complications. The study was limited in
      that it involved a single endoscopist at a single center. CONCLUSIONS: Cap
      assisted RSBE results in a high TI intubation rate, without compromise to safety
      or procedural yield.

PMID- 26878052
TI  - What can we learn from publishing endoscopy trial protocols?

PMID- 26878051
TI  - The ADENOMA Study. Accuracy of Detection using Endocuff VisionTM Optimization of
      Mucosal Abnormalities: study protocol for randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is the gold standard investigation for the diagnosis of
      bowel pathology and colorectal cancer screening. Adenoma detection rate is a
      marker of high quality colonoscopy and a high adenoma detection rate is
      associated with a lower incidence of interval cancers. Several technological
      advancements have been explored to improve adenoma detection rate. A new device
      called Endocuff VisionTM has been shown to improve adenoma detection rate in
      pilot studies. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized
      controlled trial comparing the adenoma detection rate in patients undergoing
      Endocuff VisionTM-assisted colonoscopy with standard colonoscopy. All patients
      above 18 years of age referred for screening, surveillance, or diagnostic
      colonoscopy who are able to consent are invited to the study. Patients with
      absolute contraindications to colonoscopy, large bowel obstruction or pseudo
      obstruction, colon cancer or polyposis syndromes, colonic strictures, severe
      diverticular segments, active colitis, anticoagulant therapy, or pregnancy are
      excluded. Patients are randomized according to site, age, sex, and bowel cancer
      screening status to receive Endocuff VisionTM-assisted colonoscopy or standard
      colonoscopy on the day of procedure. Baseline data, colonoscopy, and polyp data
      including histology are collected. Nurse assessment of patient comfort and
      patient comfort questionnaires are completed post procedure. Patients are
      followed up at 21 days and complete a patient experience questionnaire. This
      study will take place across seven NHS Hospital Trusts: one in London and six
      within the Northern Region Endoscopy Group. A maximum of 10 colonoscopists per
      site will recruit a total of 1772 patients, with a maximum of four bowel
      screening colonoscopists permitted per site. DISCUSSION: This is the first trial
      to evaluate the adenoma detection rate of Endocuff VisionTM in all screening,
      surveillance, and diagnostic patient groups. This timely study will guide
      clinicians as to the role of Endocuff VisionTM in routine colonoscopy. STUDY
      REGISTRATION: ISRCTN11821044.

PMID- 26878054
TI  - Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty with 1-year follow-up: factors predictive of
      success.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Bariatric endoscopy has emerged as an aid in the
      nonsurgical treatment of obesity. The objective of this study is to critically
      provide the results and follow-up of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty 1 year after
      the procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective single-center follow-up study of
      25 patients (5 men, 20 women) who underwent flexible endoscopic suturing for
      endoluminal gastric volume reduction. A multidisciplinary team provided post
      procedure care. Patient outcomes were recorded at 1 year after the procedure.
      Linear regression analysis was done to evaluate the variables associated with
      best results at 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 38.5
      +/- 4.6 kg/m(2) (range 30 - 47) and mean age 44.5 +/- 8.2 years (range 29 - 60).
      At 1 year, 22 patients continued with the follow-up (2 dropped out at 6 months
      and 1 at 3 months). There were no major intra-procedural, early, or delayed
      adverse events. Mean BMI loss was 7.3 +/- 4.2 kg/m(2), and mean percentage of
      total body weight loss was 18.7 +/- 10.7 at 1 year. In the linear regression
      analysis, adjusted by initial BMI, variables associated with %TBWL involved the
      frequency of nutritional (beta = 0.563, P = 0.014) and psychological contacts
      (beta = 0.727, P = 0.025). The number of nutritional and psychological contacts
      were predictive of good weight loss results. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sleeve
      gastroplasty is a feasible, reproducible, and effective procedure to treat
      obesity. Nutritional and psychological interaction are predictive of success.

PMID- 26878053
TI  - Does magnetically assisted capsule endoscopy improve small bowel capsule
      endoscopy completion rate? A randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Delayed gastric emptying is a significant factor in
      incomplete small bowel capsule examinations. Gastric transit could be hastened by
      external magnetic control of the capsule. We studied the feasibility of this
      approach to improve capsule endoscopy completion rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial involving 122 patients
      attending for small bowel capsule endoscopy using MiroCam Navi. Patients were
      randomized to either the control group (mobilisation for 30 minutes after capsule
      ingestion, followed by intramuscular metoclopramide 10 mg if the capsule failed
      to enter the small bowel) or the intervention group (1000 mL of water prior to
      capsule ingestion, followed by positional change and magnetic steering). Outcome
      measures were capsule endoscopy completion rate, gastric clarity and distention,
      relationship of body habitus to capsule endoscopy completion rate (CECR), and
      patient comfort scores. RESULTS: 122 patients were recruited (61 each to the
      control and intervention groups: mean age 49 years [range 21 - 85], 61 females).
      There was no significant difference in CECR between the two groups (P = 0.39).
      Time to first pyloric image was significantly shorter in the intervention group
      (P = 0.03) but there was no difference in gastric transit times (P = 0.12),
      suggesting that magnetic control hastens capsular transit to the gastric antrum
      but does not influence duodenal passage. Gastric clarity and distention were
      significantly better in the intervention group (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic steering of a small bowel capsule is unable
      to overcome pyloric contractions to enhance gastric emptying and improve capsule
      endoscope completion rate. Excellent mucosal visualisation within the gastric
      cavity suggests this technique could be harnessed for capsule examination of the
      stomach.

PMID- 26878055
TI  - Video capsule endoscopy completion and total transit times are similar with oral
      or endoscopic delivery.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is limited by incomplete
      procedures. There are also contraindications to the standard ingestion of the
      capsule that require endoscopic placement. Our aim was to compare the study
      completion rate of VCE after oral ingestion and endoscopic deployment. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: We performed a review of all VCE from April 2010 through March 2013.
      Inpatient and outpatient cohorts grouped by the method of capsule delivery were
      formed and compared. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was utilized
      adjusting for variables with a P value <= 0.1 in group comparisons. Log-rank
      analysis was used to compare transit times. RESULTS: A total of 687 VCE were
      performed, including 316 inpatient (36 endoscopic deployment, 280 oral ingestion)
      and 371 outpatient (20 endoscopic deployment, 351 oral ingestion). For VCE on
      hospitalized patients, the completion rates were similar after endoscopic
      deployment and oral ingestion (72 % vs 73 %, P = 0.94). The completion rates were
      also similar for ambulatory patients (90 % vs 87 %, P = 0.69). There remained no
      difference after multivariable modeling for inpatients (P = 0.71) and outpatients
      (P = 0.46). Total transit times were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS:
      VCE completion rates and total transit times are similar after oral or endoscopic
      deployment for both hospitalized and ambulatory patients. Endoscopic placement is
      effective in patients with contraindications to standard oral ingestion, but
      should otherwise be avoided to limit unnecessary procedural risks and costs.

PMID- 26878056
TI  - Endoscopic band ligation for colonic diverticular bleeding: possibility of
      standardization.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) has been used to achieve
      hemostasis in patients with colonic diverticular bleeding. The safety and
      effectiveness of EBL when performed by non-expert endoscopists have not been
      sufficiently verified. This study aimed to elucidate the feasibility of the EBL
      technique when performed by non-expert endoscopists and of considering EBL as a
      standard treatment for colonic diverticular bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A
      retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in Tokyo,
      Japan, between June 2009 and October 2014. A total of 95 patients treated with
      EBL were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to
      whether they had been treated by expert or non-expert endoscopists.
      Comorbidities, medications, shock index, hemoglobin level on admission, location
      of the bleeding diverticula, rate of bowel preparation, procedure time, and EBL
      associated adverse events were evaluated in each group. Multivariate linear
      regression analyses were used to investigate factors related to EBL procedure
      time, which is the time elapsed between marking the site of bleeding with
      hemoclips and completion of the band release. RESULTS: A total of 47 (49.5 %)
      procedures were performed by expert endoscopists. In a bivariate analysis, the
      median EBL procedure times in the expert and non-expert groups were 15 minutes
      (range 4 - 45) and 11 minutes (range 4 - 36), respectively (P = 0.03). When a
      multivariate linear regression model was used, EBL for right-sided diverticula
      was the factor most significantly affecting EBL procedure time. No adverse events
      were encountered. CONCLUSION: EBL can be safely and effectively performed by non
      expert endoscopists. A right-sided location of diverticula was the factor most
      significantly affecting EBL procedure time.

PMID- 26878057
TI  - Testosterone Modulates Altered Prefrontal Control of Emotional Actions in
      Psychopathic Offenders(1,2,3).
AB  - Psychopathic individuals are notorious for their controlled goal-directed
      aggressive behavior. Yet, during social challenges, they often show uncontrolled
      emotional behavior. Healthy individuals can control their social emotional
      behavior through anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) downregulation of neural
      activity in the amygdala, with testosterone modulating aPFC-amygdala coupling.
      This study tests whether individual differences in this neuroendocrine system
      relate to the paradoxical lack of emotional control observed in human
      psychopathic offenders. Emotional control was operationalized with an fMRI
      adapted approach-avoidance task requiring rule-driven control over rapid
      emotional responses. Fifteen psychopathic offenders and 19 matched healthy
      control subjects made approaching and avoiding movements in response to emotional
      faces. Control of social emotional behavior was required during affect
      incongruent trials, when participants had to override affect-congruent, automatic
      action tendencies and select the opposite response. Psychopathic offenders showed
      less control-related aPFC activity and aPFC-amygdala coupling during trials
      requiring control of emotional actions, when compared with healthy control
      subjects. This pattern was particularly pronounced in psychopathic individuals
      with high endogenous testosterone levels. These findings suggest that reduced
      prefrontal coordination underlies reduced behavioral control in psychopathic
      offenders during emotionally provoking situations. Even though the modest sample
      size warrants replication, the modulatory role of endogenous testosterone on the
      aPFC-amygdala circuit suggests a neurobiological substrate of individual
      differences that is relevant for the advancement of treatment and the reduction
      of recidivism. 

PMID- 26878058
TI  - Chemical Genomics-Based Antifungal Drug Discovery: Targeting
      Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) Precursor Biosynthesis.
AB  - Steadily increasing antifungal drug resistance and persistent high rates of
      fungal-associated mortality highlight the dire need for the development of novel
      antifungals. Characterization of inhibitors of one enzyme in the GPI anchor
      pathway, Gwt1, has generated interest in the exploration of targets in this
      pathway for further study. Utilizing a chemical genomics-based screening platform
      referred to as the Candida albicans fitness test (CaFT), we have identified novel
      inhibitors of Gwt1 and a second enzyme in the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)
      cell wall anchor pathway, Mcd4. We further validate these targets using the model
      fungal organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and demonstrate the utility of using the
      facile toolbox that has been compiled in this species to further explore target
      specific biology. Using these compounds as probes, we demonstrate that inhibition
      of Mcd4 as well as Gwt1 blocks the growth of a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens
      and exposes key elicitors of pathogen recognition. Interestingly, a strong
      chemical synergy is also observed by combining Gwt1 and Mcd4 inhibitors,
      mirroring the demonstrated synthetic lethality of combining conditional mutants
      of GWT1 and MCD4. We further demonstrate that the Mcd4 inhibitor M720 is
      efficacious in a murine infection model of systemic candidiasis. Our results
      establish Mcd4 as a promising antifungal target and confirm the GPI cell wall
      anchor synthesis pathway as a promising antifungal target area by demonstrating
      that effects of inhibiting it are more general than previously recognized. 

PMID- 26878059
TI  - Biomimetic molecules lower catabolic expression and prevent chondroitin sulfate
      degradation in an osteoarthritic ex vivo model.
AB  - Aggrecan, the major proteoglycan in cartilage, serves to protect cartilage tissue
      from damage and degradation during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In
      cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) aggrecan exists in an aggregate composed of
      several aggrecan molecules that bind to a single filament of hyaluronan. Each
      molecule of aggrecan is composed of a protein core and glycosaminoglycan sides
      chains, the latter of which provides cartilage with the ability to retain water
      and resist compressive loads. During the progression of OA, loss of aggrecan is
      considered to occur first, after which other cartilage matrix components become
      extremely susceptible to degradation. Proteolytic cleavage of the protein core of
      aggrecan by enzymes such as aggrecanases, prevent its binding to HA and lower
      cartilage mechanical strength. Here we present the use of HA-binding or collagen
      type II-binding molecules that functionally mimic aggrecan but lack known
      cleavage sites, protecting the molecule from proteolytic degradation. These
      molecules synthesized with chondroitin sulfate backbones conjugated to hyaluronan
      or collagen type II- binding peptides, are capable of diffusing through a
      cartilage explant and adhering to the ECM of this tissue. The objective of this
      study was to test the functional efficacy of these molecules in an ex vivo
      osteoarthritic model to discern the optimal molecule for further studies.
      Different variations of chondroitin sulfate conjugated to the binding peptides
      were diffused through aggrecan depleted explants and assessed for their ability
      to enhance compressive stiffness, prevent CS degradation, and modulate catabolic
      (MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5) and anabolic (aggrecan and collagen type II) gene
      expression. A pilot in vivo study assessed the ability to retain the molecule
      within the joint space of an osteoarthritic guinea pig model. The results
      indicate chondroitin sulfate conjugated to hyaluronan-binding peptides is able to
      significantly restore equilibrium modulus and prevent CS degradation. All
      molecules demonstrated the ability to lower catabolic gene expression in aggrecan
      depleted explants. In order to enhance biosynthesis and regeneration, the
      molecules need to be coupled with an external stimulant such as a growth factor.
      The chondroitin sulfate molecule synthesized with HA-binding peptides
      demonstrated adherence to cartilage tissue and retention up to 6 hours in an
      ambulatory joint. Further studies will monitor the in vivo residence time and
      ability of the molecules to act as a disease-modifying agent.

PMID- 26878060
TI  - A Turnstile Mechanism for the Controlled Growth of Biosynthetic Intermediates on
      Assembly Line Polyketide Synthases.
AB  - Vectorial polyketide biosynthesis on an assembly line polyketide synthase is the
      most distinctive property of this family of biological machines, while providing
      the key conceptual tool for the bioinformatic decoding of new antibiotic
      pathways. We now show that the action of the entire assembly line is synchronized
      by a previously unrecognized turnstile mechanism that prevents the ketosynthase
      domain of each module from being acylated by a new polyketide chain until the
      product of the prior catalytic cycle has been passed to the downstream module
      from the corresponding acyl carrier protein domain. The turnstile is closed by
      virtue of tight coupling to the signature decarboxylative condensation reaction
      catalyzed by the ketosynthase domain of each polyketide synthase module.
      Reopening of the turnstile is coupled to the eventual chain translocation step
      that vacates the module. At the maximal rate of substrate turnover, one would
      expect the chain release step to initiate a cascade of chain translocation events
      that sequentially migrate back upstream, thereby repriming each module and
      setting up the assembly line for the next round of polyketide chain elongation.

PMID- 26878061
TI  - Sea Spray Aerosol Structure and Composition Using Cryogenic Transmission Electron
      Microscopy.
AB  - The composition and surface properties of atmospheric aerosol particles largely
      control their impact on climate by affecting their ability to uptake water, react
      heterogeneously, and nucleate ice in clouds. However, in the vacuum of a
      conventional electron microscope, the native surface and internal structure often
      undergo physicochemical rearrangement resulting in surfaces that are quite
      different from their atmospheric configurations. Herein, we report the
      development of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy where laboratory
      generated sea spray aerosol particles are flash frozen in their native state with
      iterative and controlled thermal and/or pressure exposures and then probed by
      electron microscopy. This unique approach allows for the detection of not only
      mixed salts, but also soft materials including whole hydrated bacteria, diatoms,
      virus particles, marine vesicles, as well as gel networks within hydrated salt
      droplets-all of which will have distinct biological, chemical, and physical
      processes. We anticipate this method will open up a new avenue of analysis for
      aerosol particles, not only for ocean-derived aerosols, but for those produced
      from other sources where there is interest in the transfer of organic or
      biological species from the biosphere to the atmosphere.

PMID- 26878062
TI  - Identification of high-efficiency 3'GG gRNA motifs in indexed FASTA files with
      ngg2.
AB  - CRISPR/Cas9 is emerging as one of the most-used methods of genome modification in
      organisms ranging from bacteria to human cells. However, the efficiency of
      editing varies tremendously site-to-site. A recent report identified a novel
      motif, called the 3'GG motif, which substantially increases the efficiency of
      editing at all sites tested in C. elegans. Furthermore, they highlighted that
      previously published gRNAs with high editing efficiency also had this motif. I
      designed a python command-line tool, ngg2, to identify 3'GG gRNA sites from
      indexed FASTA files. As a proof-of-concept, I screened for these motifs in six
      model genomes: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila
      melanogaster, Danio rerio, Mus musculus, and Homo sapiens. I also scanned the
      genomes of pig (Sus scrofa) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) to
      demonstrate the utility in non-model organisms. I identified more than 60 million
      single match 3'GG motifs in these genomes. Greater than 61% of all protein coding
      genes in the reference genomes had at least one unique 3'GG gRNA site overlapping
      an exon. In particular, more than 96% of mouse and 93% of human protein coding
      genes have at least one unique, overlapping 3'GG gRNA. These identified sites can
      be used as a starting point in gRNA selection, and the ngg2 tool provides an
      important ability to identify 3'GG editing sites in any species with an available
      genome sequence.

PMID- 26878064
TI  - Zinc Ionophore (Clioquinol) Inhibition of Human ZIP1-Deficient Prostate Tumor
      Growth in the Mouse Ectopic Xenograft Model: A Zinc Approach for the Efficacious
      Treatment of Prostate Cancer.
AB  - Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in males. This
      is mainly due to the absence of an available efficacious chemotherapy despite
      decades of research in pursuit of effective treatment approaches. A plausible
      target for the treatment is the established clinical relationship that the zinc
      levels in the malignant cells are markedly decreased compared to the normal
      epithelium in virtually all cases of prostate cancer, and at all stages
      malignancy. The decrease in zinc results from the downregulation of the
      functional zinc uptake transporter, ZIP1; which occurs during early development
      of prostate malignancy. This is an essential requirement for the development of
      malignancy to prevent the cytotoxic/tumor-suppressor effects of increased zinc on
      the premalignant and malignant cells. Thus prostate cancer is a ZIP1-deficient
      malignancy. This relationship provides the basis for a treatment regimen that
      will facilitate the uptake and accumulation of zinc into the premalignant and
      malignant cells. In this report we employed a zinc ionophore (clioquinol)
      approach in the treatment of mice with human ZIP1-deficient prostate tumors
      (ectopic xenograft model). Clioquinol treatment resulted in 85%inhibition of
      tumor growth due to the cytotoxic effects of zinc. Coupled with additional
      results from earlier studies, the compelling evidence provides a plausible
      approach for the effective treatment of human prostate cancer; including primary
      site malignancy, hormone-resistant cancer, and metastasis. Additionally, this
      approach might be effective in preventing the development of malignancy in
      individuals suspected of presenting with early development of malignancy.
      Clinical trials are now required in leading to the potential for an efficacious
      zinc-treatment approach, which is urgently needed for the treatment of prostate
      cancer.

PMID- 26878063
TI  - Advances in Theory of Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
AB  - Recent advances in theory of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) such as
      Floquet-Magnus expansion and Fer expansion, address alternative methods for
      solving a time-dependent linear differential equation which is a central problem
      in quantum physics in general and solid-state NMR in particular. The power and
      the salient features of these theoretical approaches that are helpful to describe
      the time evolution of the spin system at all times are presented. This review
      article presents a broad view of manipulations of spin systems in solid-state
      NMR, based on milestones theories including the average Hamiltonian theory and
      the Floquet theory, and the approaches currently developing such as the Floquet
      Magnus expansion and the Fer expansion. All these approaches provide procedures
      to control and describe the spin dynamics in solid-state NMR. Applications of
      these theoretical methods to stroboscopic and synchronized manipulations, non
      synchronized experiments, multiple incommensurated frequencies, magic-angle
      spinning samples, are illustrated. We also reviewed the propagators of these
      theories and discussed their convergences. Note that the FME is an extension of
      the popular Magnus Expansion and Average Hamiltonian Theory. It aims is to bridge
      the AHT to the Floquet Theorem but in a more concise and efficient formalism.
      Calculations can then be performed in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space instead
      of an infinite dimensional space within the so-called Floquet theory. We expected
      that the FME will provide means for more accurate and efficient spin dynamics
      simulation and for devising new RF pulse sequence.

PMID- 26878065
TI  - Reaction-Based Probes for Imaging Mobile Zinc in Live Cells and Tissues.
AB  - Chelatable, or mobile, forms of zinc play critical signaling roles in numerous
      biological processes. Elucidating the action of mobile Zn(II) in complex
      biological environments requires sensitive tools for visualizing, tracking, and
      manipulating Zn(II) ions. A large toolbox of synthetic photoinduced electron
      transfer (PET)-based fluorescent Zn(II) sensors are available, but the
      applicability of many of these probes is limited by poor zinc sensitivity and low
      dynamic ranges owing to proton interference. We present here a general approach
      for acetylating PET-based probes containing a variety of fluorophores and zinc
      binding units. The new sensors provide substantially improved zinc sensitivity
      and allow for incubation of live cells and tissue slices with nM probe
      concentrations, a significant improvement compared to the MUM concentrations that
      are typically required for a measurable fluorescence signal. Acetylation
      effectively reduces or completely quenches background fluorescence in the metal
      free sensor. Binding of Zn(II) selectively and quickly mediates hydrolytic
      cleavage of the acetyl groups, providing a large fluorescence response. An
      acetylated blue coumarin-based sensor was used to carry out detailed analyses of
      metal binding and metal-promoted acetyl hydrolysis. Acetylated benzoresorufin
      based red-emitting probes with different zinc-binding sites are effective for
      sensing Zn(II) ions in live cells when applied at low concentrations (~50-100
      nM). We used green diacetylated Zinpyr1 (DA-ZP1) to image endogenous mobile
      Zn(II) in the molecular layer of mouse dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), confirming
      that acetylation is a suitable approach for preparing sensors that are highly
      specific and sensitive to mobile zinc in biological systems.

PMID- 26878066
TI  - Steroidogenesis and early response gene expression in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells
      following heterologous receptor down-regulation and cellular desensitization.
AB  - The Leydig tumor cell line, MA-10, expresses the luteinizing hormone receptor, a
      G protein-coupled receptor that, when activated with luteinizing hormone or
      chorionic gonadotropin (CG), stimulates cAMP production and subsequent
      steroidogenesis, notably progesterone. These cells also respond to epidermal
      growth factor (EGF) and phorbol esters with increased steroid biosynthesis. In
      order to probe the intracellular pathways along with heterologous receptor down
      regulation and cellular desensitization, cells were preincubated with EGF or
      phorbol esters and then challenged with CG, EGF, dibutryl-cyclic AMP, and a
      phorbol ester. Relative receptor numbers, steroid biosynthesis, and expression of
      the early response genes, JUNB and c-FOS, were measured. It was found that in all
      cases but one receptor down-regulation and decreased progesterone production were
      closely coupled under the conditions used; the exception involved preincubation
      of the cells with EGF followed by addition of CG where the CG-mediated
      stimulation of steroidogenesis was considerably lower than the level of receptor
      down-regulation. In a number of instances JUNB and c-FOS expression paralleled
      the decreases in receptor number and progesterone production, while in some cases
      these early response genes were affected little if at all by the changes in
      receptor number. This finding may indicate that even low levels of activated
      signaling kinases, e.g. protein kinase A, protein kinase C, or receptor tyrosine
      kinase, may suffice to yield good expression of JUNB and c-FOS, or it may suggest
      alternative pathways for regulating expression of these two early response genes.

PMID- 26878068
TI  - Real-Time Enrollment Dashboard For Multisite Clinical Trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Achieving patient recruitment goals are critical for the successful
      completion of a clinical trial. We designed and developed a web-based dashboard
      for assisting in the management of clinical trial screening and enrollment.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We use the dashboard to assist in the management of two
      observational studies of community-acquired pneumonia. Clinical research
      associates and managers using the dashboard were surveyed to determine its
      effectiveness as compared with traditional direct communication. RESULTS: The
      dashboard has been in use since it was first introduced in May of 2014. Of the 23
      staff responding to the survey, 77% felt that it was easier or much easier to use
      the dashboard for communication than to use direct communication. CONCLUSION: We
      have designed and implemented a visualization dashboard for managing multi-site
      clinical trial enrollment in two community acquired pneumonia studies.
      Information dashboards are a useful tool for clinical trial management. They can
      be used as a standalone trial information tool or included into a larger
      management system.

PMID- 26878069
TI  - Generalization of Wei's urn design to unequal allocations in sequential clinical
      trials.
AB  - Wei's urn design was proposed in 1987 for subject randomization in trials
      comparing m >= 2 treatments with equal allocation. In this manuscript, two
      modified versions of Wei's urn design are presented to accommodate unequal
      allocations. First one uses a provisional allocation of [Formula: see text] to
      achieve the target allocation r1 : r2, and the second one uses equal allocation
      for r1 + r2 arms to achieve an unequal allocation r1 : r2 based on the concept
      Kaiser presented in his recent paper. The properties of these two designs are
      evaluated based on treatment imbalance and allocation predictability under
      different sample sizes and unequal allocation ratios. Simulations are performed
      to compare the two designs to other designs used for unequal allocations, include
      the complete randomization, permuted block randomization, block urn design,
      maximal procedure, and the mass weighted urn design.

PMID- 26878067
TI  - Imbalance in Resting State Functional Connectivity is Associated with Eating
      Behaviors and Adiposity in Children.

PMID- 26878070
TI  - Modulation of intrinsic brain activity by electroconvulsive therapy in major
      depression.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: One of the most effective interventions for intractable major
      depressive episodes is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Because ECT is also
      relatively fast-acting, longitudinal study of its neurobiological effects offers
      critical insight into the mechanisms underlying depression and antidepressant
      response. Here we assessed modulation of intrinsic brain activity in
      corticolimbic networks associated with ECT and clinical response. METHODS: We
      measured resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in patients with treatment
      resistant depression (n=30), using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
      acquired before and after completing a treatment series with right-unilateral
      ECT. Using independent component analysis, we assessed changes in RSFC with 1)
      symptom improvement and 2) ECT regardless of treatment outcome in patients, with
      reference to healthy controls (n=33, also scanned twice). RESULTS: After ECT,
      consistent changes in RSFC within targeted depression-relevant functional
      networks were observed in the dorsal anterior cingulate (ACC), mediodorsal
      thalamus (mdTh), hippocampus, and right anterior temporal, medial parietal, and
      posterior cingulate cortex in all patients. In a separate analysis, changes in
      depressive symptoms were associated with RSFC changes in the dorsal ACC, mdTh,
      putamen, medial prefrontal, and lateral parietal cortex. RSFC of these regions
      did not change in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroplasticity underlying
      clinical change was in part separable from changes associated with the effects of
      ECT observed in all patients. However, both ECT and clinical change were
      associated with RSFC modulation in dorsal ACC, mdTh and hippocampus, which may
      indicate that these regions underlie the mechanisms of clinical outcome in ECT
      and may be effective targets for future neurostimulation therapies.

PMID- 26878071
TI  - PHARMACOKINETIC EXPOSURE AND VIROLOGIC RESPONSE IN HIV-1 INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN
      TREATED WITH LOPINAVIR/RITONAVIR: AIDS CLINICAL TRIALS GROUP PROTOCOL A5153S: A
      SUBSTUDY TO A5150.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We studied the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of boosted soft
      gel lopinavir/ritonavir to assess if the area under the plasma concentration
      versus time curve (AUC) is altered in pregnancy and whether changes in AUC
      impacted HIV-1 control. METHODS: We enrolled pregnant women >=13 years of age
      between 22 to 30 weeks gestation who expected to be on stable lopinavir/ritonavir
      for >=8 weeks pre-delivery and >=24 weeks post-delivery. Pharmacokinetic
      evaluations for lopinavir and ritonavir occurred at 36 weeks gestation and 6 and
      24 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: Ten women underwent intensive pharmacokinetic
      evaluations for lopinavir and ritonavir at 36 weeks gestation and at 6 and 24
      weeks postpartum. Estimated geometric mean (GM) AUC 0-6h (95% CI) for lopinavir
      were not significantly different at 26.5 (17.0, 41.4) and 41.9 (26.1, 67.5)
      mcg*hr/mL at 36 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum, respectively (within
      subject GM ratio 0.60 (0.25, 1.43); p=0.19). At 36 weeks gestation, 5 of 10 women
      had viral load <50 copies/mL and at 6 weeks postpartum 5 of 9 had viral load <50
      copies/mL. Nine of ten infants for whom data were available were HIV negative.
      CONCLUSION: Despite below target lopinavir levels (< 52 mcg*hr/mL except at 2
      postpartum measurements), women maintained virologic control postpartum. Higher
      doses of lopinavir/ritonavir during pregnancy may not be necessary in all women.

PMID- 26878072
TI  - Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is Preventive Therapy Possible?

PMID- 26878074
TI  - Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Breast Cancer.
AB  - Recent evidences demonstrated the importance of bone marrow derived Endothelial
      Progenitor Cells (EPC), in the contribution to postnatal physiological and
      pathological neovascularization, and in tumor growth and angiogenesis. These
      cells are recruited undifferentiated, in response to systemic or chemoatractive
      signals, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), they lodge in the
      growing or lesioned tissue and differentiate into endothelial cells in response
      to local stimuli and cell-cell interactions. The extent and the significance of
      the EPCs contribution for the growing of most tumors, including those of the
      breast, are still not fully defined. We analyzed the peripheral blood of breast
      cancer patients and found that they have circulating EPCs. We also found an
      association between expression of AC133+Kdr+ and VEGF plasma levels in these
      patients. Strategies to impair the mobilization and incorporation of EPCs into
      breast tumors may contribute to halt the growth of these tumors.

PMID- 26878075
TI  - Afterword: relevance and realities of anthropological critique of epidemiology.

PMID- 26878073
TI  - The HIV Cure Research Agenda: The Role of Mathematical Modelling and Cost
      Effectiveness Analysis.
AB  - The research agenda towards an HIV cure is building rapidly. In this article, we
      discuss the reasons for and methodological approach to using mathematical
      modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis in this agenda. We provide a brief
      description of the proof of concept for cure and the current directions of cure
      research. We then review the types of clinical economic evaluations, including
      cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis. We
      describe the use of mathematical modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis early
      in the HIV epidemic as well as in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy.
      We then highlight the novel methodology of Value of Information analysis and its
      potential role in the planning of clinical trials. We close with recommendations
      for modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis in the HIV cure agenda.

PMID- 26878076
TI  - An unsupervised MVA method to compare specific regions in human breast tumor
      tissue samples using ToF-SIMS.
AB  - Imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and principal
      component analysis (PCA) were used to investigate two sets of pre- and post
      chemotherapy human breast tumor tissue sections to characterize lipids associated
      with tumor metabolic flexibility and response to treatment. The micron spatial
      resolution imaging capability of ToF-SIMS provides a powerful approach to attain
      spatially-resolved molecular and cellular data from cancerous tissues not
      available with conventional imaging techniques. Three ca. 1 mm(2) areas per
      tissue section were analyzed by stitching together 200 MUm * 200 MUm raster area
      scans. A method to isolate and analyze specific tissue regions of interest by
      utilizing PCA of ToF-SIMS images is presented, which allowed separation of
      cellularized areas from stromal areas. These PCA-generated regions of interest
      were then used as masks to reconstruct representative spectra from specifically
      stromal or cellular regions. The advantage of this unsupervised selection method
      is a reduction in scatter in the spectral PCA results when compared to analyzing
      all tissue areas or analyzing areas highlighted by a pathologist. Utilizing this
      method, stromal and cellular regions of breast tissue biopsies taken pre- versus
      post-chemotherapy demonstrate chemical separation using negatively-charged ion
      species. In this sample set, the cellular regions were predominantly all cancer
      cells. Fatty acids (i.e. palmitic, oleic, and stearic), monoacylglycerols,
      diacylglycerols and vitamin E profiles were distinctively different between the
      pre- and post-therapy tissues. These results validate a new unsupervised method
      to isolate and interpret biochemically distinct regions in cancer tissues using
      imaging ToF-SIMS data. In addition, the method developed here can provide a
      framework to compare a variety of tissue samples using imaging ToF-SIMS,
      especially where there is section-to-section variability that makes it difficult
      to use a serial hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section to direct the SIMS
      analysis. 

PMID- 26878079
TI  - Aerobic oxidative cyclization of benzamides via meta-selective C-H tert
      alkylation: rapid entry to 7-alkylated isoquinolinediones.
AB  - A novel copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cyclization of benzamides via meta
      selective C-H tert-alkylation using AIBN and analogues as radical precursors was
      described. This strategy provides an elusive and rapid means to 7-tert-alkylated
      isoquinolinediones, as well as the construction of tertiary alkyl-aryl C(sp(3))
      C(sp(2)) bonds with positional selectivity. 

PMID- 26878080
TI  - Relationship between Glycation and Polyphenol Content and the Bioactivity of
      Selected Commercial Soy Milks.
AB  - Soy milk is a health-promoting beverage of which consumption is steadily
      expanding. Different bioactivities have been associated with soy products such as
      antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory properties, or decrease of cancer
      development risk. These activities have been related to the presence of several
      compounds, including polyphenols and serine protease inhibitors, although factors
      influencing such activities have been scarcely studied. In this study, we have
      determined the antioxidant capacity (ABTS and FRAP methods measured with the
      global antioxidant response, GAR protocol), total phenolic content, serine
      protease inhibitory activity, and presence of heat damage indicators in
      commercial soy milks. Polyphenols were primarily responsible for the antioxidant
      capacity of soy milks, increasing their concentration after digestion. Glycation
      under heat treatment might be responsible for decreasing protease inhibitory
      activities in soy milks. The results obtained support a role for furosine, a
      known marker of Maillard reaction and glycation, as a potential indicator to
      monitor both thermal treatment and effects on protease inhibitory activities in
      soy milk. The contribution of soy milk consumption to the daily intake of
      antioxidants and serine protease inhibitory activities is discussed. 

PMID- 26878078
TI  - Self-assembling peptides for stem cell and tissue engineering.
AB  - Regenerative medicine holds great potential to address many shortcomings in
      current medical therapies. An emerging avenue of regenerative medicine is the use
      of self-assembling peptides (SAP) in conjunction with stem cells to improve the
      repair of damaged tissues. The specific peptide sequence, mechanical properties,
      and nanotopographical cues vary widely between different SAPs, many of which have
      been used for the regeneration of similar tissues. To evaluate the potential of
      SAPs to guide stem cell fate, we extensively reviewed the literature for reports
      of SAPs and stem cell differentiation. To portray the most accurate summary of
      these studies, we deliberately discuss both the successes and pitfalls, allowing
      us to make conclusions that span the breadth of this exciting field. We also
      expand on these conclusions by relating these findings to the fields of
      nanotopography, mechanotransduction, and the native composition of the
      extracellular matrix in specific tissues to identify potential directions for
      future research. 

PMID- 26878077
TI  - Biomaterials-based strategies for salivary gland tissue regeneration.
AB  - The salivary gland is a complex, secretory tissue that produces saliva and
      maintains oral homeostasis. Radiation induced salivary gland atrophy, manifested
      as "dry mouth" or xerostomia, poses a significant clinical challenge. Tissue
      engineering recently has emerged as an alternative, long-term treatment strategy
      for xerostomia. In this review, we summarize recent efforts towards the
      development of functional and implantable salivary glands utilizing designed
      polymeric substrates or synthetic matrices/scaffolds. Although the in vitro
      engineering of a complex implantable salivary gland is technically challenging,
      opportunities exist for multidisciplinary teams to assemble implantable and
      secretory tissue modules by combining stem/progenitor cells found in the adult
      glands with biomimetic and cell-instructive materials. 

PMID- 26878081
TI  - Consequences of Decontamination Procedures in Forensic Hair Analysis Using Metal
      Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Analysis.
AB  - Today, hair testing is considered to be the standard method for the detection of
      chronic drug abuse. Nevertheless, the differentiation between systemic exposure
      and external contamination remains a major challenge in the forensic
      interpretation of hair analysis. Nowadays, it is still impossible to directly
      show the difference between external contamination and use-related incorporation.
      Although the effects of washing procedures on the distribution of (incorporated)
      drugs in hair remain unknown, these decontamination procedures prior to hair
      analysis are considered to be indispensable in order to exclude external
      contamination. However, insights into the effect of decontamination protocols on
      levels and distribution of drugs incorporated in hair are essential to draw the
      correct forensic conclusions from hair analysis; we studied the consequences of
      these procedures on the spatial distribution of cocaine in hair using imaging
      mass spectrometry. Additionally, using metal-assisted secondary ion mass
      spectrometry, we are the first to directly show the difference between cocaine
      contaminated and user hair without any prior washing procedure. 

PMID- 26878082
TI  - An Overview of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 3CL
      Protease Inhibitors: Peptidomimetics and Small Molecule Chemotherapy.
AB  - Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a newly emerged coronavirus
      that infected more than 8000 individuals and resulted in more than 800 (10-15%)
      fatalities in 2003. The causative agent of SARS has been identified as a novel
      human coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and its viral protease, SARS-CoV 3CL(pro), has been
      shown to be essential for replication and has hence been recognized as a potent
      drug target for SARS infection. Currently, there is no effective treatment for
      this epidemic despite the intensive research that has been undertaken since 2003
      (over 3500 publications). This perspective focuses on the status of various
      efficacious anti-SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) chemotherapies discovered during the last 12
      years (2003-2015) from all sources, including laboratory synthetic methods,
      natural products, and virtual screening. We describe here mainly peptidomimetic
      and small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV 3CL(pro). Attempts have been made to
      provide a complete description of the structural features and binding modes of
      these inhibitors under many conditions.

PMID- 26878083
TI  - Determinants of physician antibiotic prescribing behavior: a 3 year cohort study
      in Portugal.
AB  - Objectives Antibiotic misprescription is a major driver of resistance, which is a
      worldwide public health problem. Therefore, our aim is to assess the influence of
      the determinants of physician prescribing on the quality of antibiotic use.
      Methods A 3 year cohort study including all primary-care physicians working in
      Portugal's Central Regional Health Administration (n = 1094) was conducted. We
      assessed the determinants of prescribing using a pre-validated, personally
      addressed, reply-paid, self-administered questionnaire (sent four times to non
      responders, between September 2011 and February 2012) designed to collect
      information on physicians' attitudes to and knowledge of antibiotic prescribing
      as well as their socio-demographic and professional data. To evaluate antibiotic
      prescribing, we've calculated ESAC 12 quality indicators per physician per year,
      allowing us to stratify them as good or poor prescribers according to their
      performance on those indicators. Associations between determinants and outcomes
      were fitted with generalized linear mixed models. Results The overall response
      rate was 46.1%. Emergency activity (OR [95% CI] = 0.29 [0.16-0.54]; p < 0.05) and
      workload (number of patients seen per day: OR [95% CI] = 0.97 [0.94-1.00]; p <
      0.05; number of patients seen per week in emergencies: OR [95% CI] = 0.98 [0.97
      0.99]; p < 0.05) were both related to poor quality of antibiotic prescribing.
      Statistically significant odds ratios were also obtained for ignorance (IqOR [95%
      CI] = 2.14 [1.31-3.52]), complacency (1/IqOR [95% CI] = 1.19 [1.01-1.41]) and
      responsibility of others (1/IqOR [95% CI] = 1.78 [1.10-3.06]). Conclusions The
      above results serve to emphasize workload, working at emergency departments and
      physicians' attitudes identified as critical factors affecting antibiotic
      prescribing. This provides new insights for clinicians, researchers and policy
      makers when it comes to developing and improving the clinical and economic
      outcomes of antibiotic use. Key limitations of the study included the difficulty
      of results extrapolation and the limitations of the stratification method based
      on the antibiotic prescribing quality indicators.

PMID- 26878084
TI  - Glucosamine-anchored doxorubicin-loaded targeted nano-niosomes: pharmacokinetic,
      toxicity and pharmacodynamic evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Efficacy of anticancer drug is limited due to non-selectivity and
      toxicities allied with the drug; therefore the heart of the present work is to
      formulate drug delivery systems targeted selectively towards cancer cells with
      minimal toxicity to normal cells. PURPOSE: Targeted drug delivery system of
      doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded niosomes using synthesized N-lauryl glucosamine (NLG) as
      a targeting ligand. METHODS: NLG-anchored DOX niosomes were developed using
      ethanol injection method. RESULTS: Developed niosomes had particle size <150 nm
      and high entrapment efficiency ~90%. In vivo pharmacokinetics exhibited long
      circulating nature of targeted niosomes with improved bioavailability, which
      significantly reduced CL and Vd than DOX solution and non-targeted niosomes (35
      fold and 2.5 fold, respectively). Tissue-distribution study and enzymatic assays
      revealed higher concentration of DOX solution in heart while no toxicity to major
      organs with developed targeted niosomes was observed. Solid skin melanoma tumor
      model in mice manifested the commendable targeting potential of targeted niosomes
      with significant reduction in tumor volume and high % survival rate without drop
      in body weight in comparison with DOX solution and non-targeted niosomes of DOX.
      CONCLUSION: The glucosamine-anchored DOX-loaded targeted niosomes showed its
      potential in cancer targeted drug therapy with reduced toxicity. Abbreviations
      ALT alanine transaminase CL clearance CPK creatinine phosphokinase DOX
      doxorubicin EDC.HCL ethyl carbidimide hydrochloride GLUT glucose transporter GSH
      glutathione S-transferase LDH lactate dehydrogenase LHRH luteinizing hormone
      releasing hormone MDA malonaldehyde NHS N-hydroxy succinimide NLG N-lauryl
      glucosamine NTAR DoxNio non-targeted doxorubicin niosomes PBS phosphate buffer
      saline RGD argynyl glycyl aspartic acid SGOT serum glutamate oxaloacetate
      transaminase SGPT serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase SOD superoxide dismutase
      TAR DoxNio targeted doxorubicin niosomes Vd volume of distribution.

PMID- 26878085
TI  - Metal-Organic Frameworks as Platforms for Functional Materials.
AB  - Discoveries of novel functional materials have played very important roles to the
      development of science and technologies and thus to benefit our daily life. Among
      the diverse materials, metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are rapidly
      emerging as a unique type of porous and organic/inorganic hybrid materials which
      can be simply self-assembled from their corresponding inorganic metal
      ions/clusters with organic linkers, and can be straightforwardly characterized by
      various analytical methods. In terms of porosity, they are superior to other well
      known porous materials such as zeolites and carbon materials; exhibiting
      extremely high porosity with surface area up to 7000 m(2)/g, tunable pore sizes,
      and metrics through the interplay of both organic and inorganic components with
      the pore sizes ranging from 3 to 100 A, and lowest framework density down to 0.13
      g/cm(3). Such unique features have enabled metal-organic frameworks to exhibit
      great potentials for a broad range of applications in gas storage, gas
      separations, enantioselective separations, heterogeneous catalysis, chemical
      sensing and drug delivery. On the other hand, metal-organic frameworks can be
      also considered as organic/inorganic self-assembled hybrid materials, we can take
      advantages of the physical and chemical properties of both organic and inorganic
      components to develop their functional optical, photonic, and magnetic materials.
      Furthermore, the pores within MOFs can also be utilized to encapsulate a large
      number of different species of diverse functions, so a variety of functional
      MOF/composite materials can be readily synthesized. In this Account, we describe
      our recent research progress on pore and function engineering to develop
      functional MOF materials. We have been able to tune and optimize pore spaces,
      immobilize specific functional groups, and introduce chiral pore environments to
      target MOF materials for methane storage, light hydrocarbon separations,
      enantioselective recognitions, carbon dioxide capture, and separations. The
      intrinsic optical and photonic properties of metal ions and organic ligands, and
      guest molecules and/or ions can be collaboratively assembled and/or encapsulated
      into their frameworks, so we have realized a series of novel MOF materials as
      ratiometric luminescent thermometers, O2 sensors, white-light-emitting materials,
      nonlinear optical materials, two-photon pumped lasing materials, and two-photon
      responsive materials for 3D patterning and data storage. Thanks to the interplay
      of the dual functionalities of metal-organic frameworks (the inherent porosity,
      and the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of inorganic and organic
      building blocks and encapsulated guest species), our research efforts have led to
      the development of functional MOF materials beyond our initial imaginations. 

PMID- 26878086
TI  - Cellular environment-responsive nanomaterials for use in gene and siRNA delivery:
      molecular design for biomembrane destabilization and intracellular collapse.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The development of gene and nucleic acid-based medication is one of
      the ultimate strategies in the research field of personalized medicine. For the
      desired function of a gene or siRNA, these molecules need to be delivered to the
      appropriate organelle (i.e. nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively). AREAS COVERED:
      The topics covered herein are rational design in order to control the
      pharmacokinetics, intracellular trafficking and release (decondensation or
      decapsulation) of the intended material. Since the endosome and cytoplasm are
      acidic (endosome) and reducing (cytoplasm) environments, respectively, a large
      variety of the materials have been developed that induce destabilization of
      endosome via its protonation, or are spontaneously collapsed in the cytoplasm.
      Finally, we propose materials (SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like
      materials: ssPalm) that mount these sensing motifs, i.e., a positive charging
      unit in response to the acid environment (tertiary amines) and a cleavage unit
      (disulfide bonding) that is responsive to an reducing environment, respectively.
      EXPERT OPINION: Currently, the main target of the nanocarrier-mediated siRNA
      delivery systems is liver. The targeting of non-hepatic tissue is the next
      challenge. In this case, the design of neutral particle with well-organized
      intracellular trafficking, as well as an identification of the promising ligand
      is needed.

PMID- 26878087
TI  - Evaluation of alpha-Globin Gene Mutations Among Different Ethnic Groups in
      Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran.
AB  - alpha-Thalassemia (alpha-thal) is one of the most common inherited hemoglobin
      (Hb) disorders in the world. In addition to large deletions, over 50 different
      alpha-thal point mutations were detected around the world, thus, patients showed
      different phenotypes with regard to genotype. This study evaluated the genetic
      frequency of alpha-thal in Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran, to help implement
      premarital and prenatal screening programs. The study was conducted on couples
      proposing to get married and parents who were referred to the genetic center of
      Shafa Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, for prenatal diagnosis (PND) in 2012. Genomic DNA
      was purified by the salting-out method and tested using multiplex gap-polymerase
      chain reaction (gap-PCR), amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS
      PCR), reverse hybridization test strips and DNA sequencing. Overall, 11 mutations
      were found on the alpha-globin genes. Based on gene frequency, the most common
      mutant allele was -alpha(3.7) (rightward) (71.3%) followed by the two gene
      deletion - -(MED) (9.7%). Other common mutations were alpha(codon 19)alpha
      (GCG>GC-, alpha2) (8.4%), the polyadenylation (polyA1) site alpha(polyA1)alpha
      (AATAAA>AATAAG) (2.8%), and alpha(-5 nt)alpha (-TGAGG) (2.0%). In addition, an
      extremely rare mutation at alpha(codon 21)alpha [Hb Fontainebleau, HBA2: c.64G >
      C (or HBA1)] was also found. The results of this study are critical for correct
      diagnosis of alpha-thal carriers, premarriage counseling and PND. This study
      suggests that the distribution of mutations on the alpha-globin genes differs
      among the ethnic groups in Khuzestan Province as well as in other provinces. 

PMID- 26878089
TI  - Synthesis of a Model Tetracyclic Core Structure of Calyciphylline B-Type
      Alkaloids.
AB  - Herein, we report the enantioselective synthesis of a functionalized aza
      octahydropentalene and its elaboration to a model tetracyclic core structure of
      calyciphylline B-type alkaloids. 

PMID- 26878088
TI  - Drug interaction considerations in the therapeutic use of carbonic anhydrase
      inhibitors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) of the sulfonamide and
      sulfamate type are clinically used drugs as diuretics, antiglaucoma,
      antiepileptic, antiobesity and anti-high altitude disease agents. Anticancer
      agents based on CAIs are also in clinical development for the management of
      hypoxic, metastatic tumors. Acetazolamide, methazolamide, dichlorophenamide,
      dorzolamide and brinzolamide are mainly used as antiglaucoma drugs, sulthiame,
      topiramate and zonisamide as antiepileptic/antiobesity agents, celecoxib and
      polmacoxib are dual carbonic anhydrase/cycloxygenase inhibitors. Girentuximab, a
      monoclonal antibody and SLC-0111, a sulfonamide inhibitor, are in clinical trials
      as anticancer agents. AREAS COVERED: The drug interactions with many classes of
      pharmacological agents are reviewed. Some of these drugs, such as acetazolamide,
      topiramate and celecoxib show a large number of interactions with non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics, antiepileptics, immunosupressants,
      anticholinesterase drugs, beta-blockers, anesthetics, oral contraceptives,
      anticancer agents, antifungals, anti-mycobacterials, lithium, metformin and
      clopidogrel. EXPERT OPINION: The multiple drug interactions in which CAIs are
      involved should be carefully considered when such drugs are used in combination
      with the drug classes mentioned above, as the risks of developing toxicity and
      serious side effects if the dosages are not adjusted are high. There are also
      synergistic effects between CAIs and some NSAIDs, anticancer agents and
      benzodiazepines for the management of cystoid macular edema, some tumor types and
      neuropathic pain, respectively.

PMID- 26878090
TI  - Eliminating dual-task costs by minimizing crosstalk between tasks: The role of
      modality and feature pairings.
AB  - We tested the independent influences of two content-based factors on dual-task
      costs, and on the parallel processing ability: The pairing of S-R modalities and
      the pairing of relevant features between stimuli and responses of two tasks. The
      two pairing factors were realized across four dual-task groups. Within each group
      the two tasks comprised two different stimulus modalities (visual and auditory),
      two different relevant stimulus features (spatial and verbal) and two response
      modalities (manual and vocal). Pairings of S-R modalities (standard: visual
      manual and auditory-vocal, non-standard: visual-vocal and auditory-manual) and
      feature pairings (standard: spatial-manual and verbal-vocal, non-standard:
      spatial-vocal and verbal-manual) varied across groups. All participants practiced
      their respective dual-task combination in a paradigm with simultaneous stimulus
      onset before being transferred to a psychological refractory period paradigm
      varying stimulus-onset asynchrony. A comparison at the end of practice revealed
      similar dual-task costs and similar pairing effects in both paradigms. Dual-task
      costs depended on modality and feature pairings. Groups training with non
      standard feature pairings (i.e., verbal stimulus features mapped to spatially
      separated response keys, or spatial stimulus features mapped to verbal responses)
      and non-standard modality pairings (i.e., auditory stimulus mapped to manual
      response, or visual stimulus mapped to vocal responses) had higher dual-task
      costs than respective standard pairings. In contrast, irrespective of modality
      pairing dual-task costs virtually disappeared with standard feature pairings
      after practice in both paradigms. The results can be explained by crosstalk
      between feature-binding processes for the two tasks. Crosstalk was present for
      non-standard but absent for standard feature pairings. Therefore, standard
      feature pairings enabled parallel processing at the end of practice. 

PMID- 26878091
TI  - Longitudinal biobanks-based study on the joint effects of infections, nutrition
      and hormones on risk of prostate cancer.
AB  - Background To evaluate the individual and combined effects of enterolactone,
      vitamin D, free testosterone, Chlamydia trachomatis and HPV-18 on the risk of
      prostate cancer in a large population-based biochemical material that combined
      three Nordic serum sample banks. Material and methods A joint cohort of 209 000
      healthy men was followed using cancer registry linkages. From this cohort
      altogether 699 incident cases of prostate cancer were identified. Four controls
      were selected by incidence density sampling and matching for country, age and
      date of the blood sampling. Complete data for all investigated exposures was
      available for 483 eligible cases and 1055 eligible controls. Multivariate
      regression analyses were performed to investigate the solitary and combined
      effects. Results The solitary effects were small. Significantly increased risk
      [rate ratio 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.5)] was found in those seronegative for C.
      trachomatis infection. The joint effect in risk levels of enterolactone and
      vitamin D was antagonistic [observed rate ratio (RR) 1.4 (1.0-2.1), expected RR
      2.0 (1.0-4.1)] as well as that of HPV-18 and C. trachomatis [observed RR 1.9 (0.8
      4.5), expected RR 9.9 (1.1-87.0)]. Conclusion A large follow-up study combining
      data from several previously investigated exposures to investigate joint effects
      found no evidence that exposure to two risk factors would increase the risk of
      prostate cancer from that expected on basis of exposure to one risk factor. If
      anything, the results were consistent with antagonistic interactions. 

PMID- 26878092
TI  - Does polycystic ovary syndrome affect cognition? A functional magnetic resonance
      imaging study exploring working memory.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study effects of overexposure to androgens and subsequent
      antiandrogenic treatment on brain activity during working memory processes in
      women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: In this longitudinal study,
      working memory function was evaluated with the use of functional magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) in women with PCOS before and after antiandrogenic
      treatment. SETTING: Department of reproductive medicine, university medical
      center. PATIENT(S): Fourteen women with PCOS and with hyperandrogenism and 20
      healthy control women without any features of PCOS or other hormonal disorders.
      INTERVENTION(S): Antiandrogenic hormone treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):
      Functional MRI response during a working memory task. RESULT(S): At baseline
      women with PCOS showed more activation than the control group within the right
      superior parietal lobe and the inferior parietal lobe during task (all memory
      conditions). Task performance (speed and accuracy) did not differ between the
      groups. After antiandrogenic treatment the difference in overall brain activity
      between the groups disappeared and accuracy in the high memory load condition of
      the working memory task increased in women with PCOS. CONCLUSION(S): Women with
      PCOS may need additional neural resources during a working memory task compared
      with women without PCOS, suggesting less efficient executive functioning. This
      inefficiency may have effects on daily life functioning of women with PCOS.
      Antiandrogenic treatment appears to have a beneficial effect on this area of
      cognitive functioning. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR2493.

PMID- 26878093
TI  - Proposal for a national registry to monitor women with Turner syndrome seeking
      assisted reproductive technology.

PMID- 26878094
TI  - An Esterase from Anaerobic Clostridium hathewayi Can Hydrolyze Aliphatic-Aromatic
      Polyesters.
AB  - Recently, a variety of biodegradable polymers have been developed as alternatives
      to recalcitrant materials. Although many studies on polyester biodegradability
      have focused on aerobic environments, there is much less known on biodegradation
      of polyesters in natural and artificial anaerobic habitats. Consequently, the
      potential of anaerobic biogas sludge to hydrolyze the synthetic compostable
      polyester PBAT (poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) was evaluated in
      this study. On the basis of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography
      (RP-HPLC) analysis, accumulation of terephthalic acid (Ta) was observed in all
      anaerobic batches within the first 14 days. Thereafter, a decline of Ta was
      observed, which occurred presumably due to consumption by the microbial
      population. The esterase Chath_Est1 from the anaerobic risk 1 strain Clostridium
      hathewayi DSM-13479 was found to hydrolyze PBAT. Detailed characterization of
      this esterase including elucidation of the crystal structure was performed. The
      crystal structure indicates that Chath_Est1 belongs to the alpha/beta-hydrolases
      family. This study gives a clear hint that also micro-organisms in anaerobic
      habitats can degrade manmade PBAT. 

PMID- 26878096
TI  - Comment on Castillo et al. (2015).

PMID- 26878095
TI  - Cross-cultural differences and similarities underlying other-race effects for
      facial identity and expression.
AB  - Perceptual advantages for own-race compared to other-race faces have been
      demonstrated for the recognition of facial identity and expression. However,
      these effects have not been investigated in the same study with measures that can
      determine the extent of cross-cultural agreement as well as differences. To
      address this issue, we used a photo sorting task in which Chinese and Caucasian
      participants were asked to sort photographs of Chinese or Caucasian faces by
      identity or by expression. This paradigm matched the task demands of identity and
      expression recognition and avoided constrained forced-choice or verbal labelling
      requirements. Other-race effects of comparable magnitude were found across the
      identity and expression tasks. Caucasian participants made more confusion errors
      for the identities and expressions of Chinese than Caucasian faces, while Chinese
      participants made more confusion errors for the identities and expressions of
      Caucasian than Chinese faces. However, analyses of the patterns of responses
      across groups of participants revealed a considerable amount of underlying cross
      cultural agreement. These findings suggest that widely repeated claims that
      members of other cultures "all look the same" overstate the cultural differences.

PMID- 26878097
TI  - Muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming: Comparison between elite
      swimmers and beginners.
AB  - The present study aimed to compare muscle coordination strategies of the upper
      and lower limb muscles between beginners and elite breaststroke swimmers. Surface
      electromyography (EMG) of eight muscles was recorded in 16 swimmers (8 elite, 8
      beginners) during a 25 m swimming breaststroke at 100% of maximal effort. A
      decomposition algorithm was used to identify the muscle synergies that represent
      the temporal and spatial organisation of muscle coordination. Between-groups
      indices of similarity and lag times were calculated. Individual muscle patterns
      were moderately to highly similar between groups (between-group indices range:
      0.61 to 0.84). Significant differences were found in terms of lag time for
      pectoralis major (P < 0.05), biceps brachii, rectus femoris and tibialis anterior
      (P < 0.01), indicating an earlier activation for these muscles in beginners
      compared to elites (range: -13.2 to -3.8% of the swimming cycle). Three muscle
      synergies were identified for both beginners and elites. Although their
      composition was similar between populations, the third synergy exhibited a high
      within-group variability. Moderate to high indices of similarity were found for
      the shape of synergy activation coefficients (range: 0.63 to 0.88) but there was
      a significant backward shift (-8.4% of the swimming cycle) in synergy #2 for
      beginners compared to elites. This time shift suggested differences in the global
      arm-to-leg coordination. These results indicate that the synergistic organisation
      of muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming is not profoundly affected by
      expertise. However, specific timing adjustments were observed between lower and
      upper limbs. 

PMID- 26878098
TI  - Flicking technique for microencapsulation of cells in calcium alginate leading to
      the microtissue formation.
AB  - Microbeads have wide applications in biomedical engineering field that include
      drug delivery, encapsulation of biomolecules, tissue padding and tissue
      regeneration. In this paper, we report a simple, yet efficient, flicking
      technique to produce microcapsules of calcium alginate at a narrow distribution
      of size. The system consists of an infusion pump and a customised flicker that
      taps the syringe needle for dispersing microcapsules of sodium alginate that
      polymerised in the calcium chloride solution. The flow rate of the syringe pump
      and the velocity of the flicker were studied to achieve a well controlled and
      tunable size distribution of microbeads ranging from 200 to 400 MUm. At a flow
      rate of 4 MUl/min and flicking rate of 80 rpm, a narrow size distribution of
      microbeads were produced. Via this technique, HaCaT cells were encapsulated in
      calcium alginate microbeads that grown into microtissues with a size ranging from
      100 to 300 MUm after two weeks of culture. These microtissues could be
      potentially useful for pharmacological application.

PMID- 26878100
TI  - A critical evaluation of second-generation AF ablation technologies: cryoballoons
      and contact forces.

PMID- 26878099
TI  - Is there a place for cardiovascular magnetic resonance conditional devices in
      systemic inflammatory diseases?
AB  - Rhythm disturbances and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are important manifestations
      of cardiac involvement in systemic inflammatory diseases (SID). The commonest
      events demanding the implantation of a device include ventricular tachycardia and
      atrioventricular block, mainly diagnosed in sarcoidosis, systemic lupus
      erythematosus and scleroderma. In SCD, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)
      identified areas of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 71% and provided an
      arrhythmic substrate in 76%, while during the follow-up, the extent of LGE
      identified a subgroup at increased risk for future adverse events. CMR has been
      successfully used for detection of cardiac disease in SID, including myocarditis,
      coronary, microvascular and valvular disease. Additionally, SIDs have a higher
      probability to need MRI scanning of other organs, due to their systemic disease.
      These reasons support the necessity of an MRI conditional device in SIDs. A broad
      selection of devices, approved for the MRI environment under defined conditions
      allows the safe and accurate scanning of SID patients. 

PMID- 26878101
TI  - Comparison of the effects of voluntary termination of pregnancy and uterine
      evacuation for medical reasons on female sexual function.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A wide spectrum of emotions are experienced during abortion, including
      anxiety, sadness and grief, guilt, pessimism about future pregnancies, disturbed
      self-perception and loss of confidence in intimate relationships. This study
      aimed to compare the short-term effects of legal voluntary termination of
      pregnancy with uterine evacuation for medical reasons on female sexual function.
      STUDY DESIGN: The study group was comprised of 50 patients admitted to the Family
      Planning Clinic for legal voluntary termination of pregnancy <10 weeks of
      gestation, and the control group was comprised of 50 patients who underwent
      manual vacuum aspiration of the products of conception for medical reasons (e.g.
      inevitable abortion, incomplete abortion, fetal abnormality and teratogenic drug
      use). Female sexual function in the two groups was evaluated using the Golombok
      Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). GRISS scores immediately before
      and 3 months after termination of pregnancy were compared within each group and
      between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean total GRISS scores before and after
      termination of pregnancy were 5.33 and 8.12 in the study group, and 6.02 and 6.4
      in the control group, respectively (p<0.05). The increase in GRISS scores for
      both groups indicated deterioration in sexual function (p=0.000 and p=0.016,
      respectively). Three months after termination of pregnancy, the total GRISS score
      was significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group (8.12
      vs 6.4, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Female sexual dysfunction is a complicated concept
      that is affected by multiple factors over a woman's lifetime. It is important to
      consider female sexual function as a part of reproductive health, with a close
      relationship with contraception. As such, patients should receive counselling
      about sexual function and contraception as part of comprehensive abortion care.

PMID- 26878102
TI  - Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validity of the Brazilian version of
      the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire.
AB  - PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Foot and Ankle Ability
      Measure (FAAM) questionnaire and verify the psychometric properties of the
      Brazilian-Portuguese version of this instrument. METHODS: Analysis of validity
      was carried out by applying the Rasch model and evaluating correlations with the
      Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Function (PF) subscale. Test-retest reliability
      and internal consistency were analyzed with the intraclass correlation
      coefficient (ICC2,1) and Cronbach's alpha tests, respectively. RESULTS: Ninety
      subjects with various foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders (age 37.05 SD
      10.49 years) were included. The ICC2,1 was 0.88 and 0.82 with Cronbach's alphas
      of 0.93 and 0.90 for the "Activities of Daily Living" (ADL) and "Sports"
      subscales, respectively. Correlations with the SF-36 PF were 0.78 (p < 0.01,
      CI95: 0.62-0.87) and 0.65 (p < 0.01, CI95: 0.45-0.79) for the ADL and Sports
      subscales, respectively. Item reliability indices in Rasch analysis were 0.91
      (ADL) and 0.84 (Sports). Three items from the ADL subscale (14.2%) did not match
      the expectations of the model. All items from the Sports subscale fit the model.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of validity and reliability of the FAAM-Brazil.
      Rasch analysis indicated that three items of the ADL subscale did not fit the
      model in the sample studied. Implications for Rehabilitation Self-report
      questionnaires are commonly used in both clinical practice and research because
      of their ability to efficiently collect information. If the instrument is created
      properly, the information collected can be used to interpret the effect of
      clinical conditions on physical function. The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure
      (FAAM) is an evaluative instrument that assesses functional limitations for those
      with foot- and ankle-related disorders. It was translated into four languages and
      has evidence of validity, reliability, and responsiveness. Evidence of validity
      and reliability is provided for the FAAM-Brazil when applied to subjects with a
      wide range of foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders.

PMID- 26878103
TI  - Multiple giant coronary artery aneurysms: a case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Coronary artery aneurysm is defined as a localized area of dilatation
      exceeding the diameter of the adjacent normal arterial segment by 50%. Giant
      aneurysms are those aneurysms that measure greater than 2cm in diameter. There
      have been many pathologic diseases, including atherosclerosis, that have been
      implicated in the development of coronary artery aneurysms. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We report a case of a 61-year-old African American male with multiple
      comorbidities including hypertension, congestive heart failure, abdominal aortic
      aneurysm, and bilateral iliac aneurysms, who was admitted to our hospital with
      exacerbation of congestive heart failure. Less than 2weeks after admission, the
      patient suffered cardiac arrest while receiving dialysis and was unresponsive to
      resuscitative measures. FINDINGS: Autopsy was performed and revealed significant
      cardiomyopathy and giant coronary artery aneurysms involving the left anterior
      descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries. Both ventricles showed
      hypertrophy and dilation with multifocal areas of chronic myocardial scarring.
      CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery aneurysms and giant coronary artery aneurysms are an
      uncommon. As there are few reported cases in the literature, the cause,
      detection, and treatment of this disease are still largely unknown.

PMID- 26878104
TI  - Multiscale modeling of virus replication and spread.
AB  - Replication and spread of human viruses is based on the simultaneous exploitation
      of many different host functions, bridging multiple scales in space and time.
      Mathematical modeling is essential to obtain a systems-level understanding of how
      human viruses manage to proceed through their life cycles. Here, we review
      corresponding advances for viral systems of large medical relevance, such as
      human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We will
      outline how the combination of mathematical models and experimental data has
      advanced our quantitative knowledge about various processes of these pathogens,
      and how novel quantitative approaches promise to fill remaining gaps.

PMID- 26878106
TI  - Asymmetric sequential Au(i)/chiral tertiary amine catalysis: an enone
      formation/cyanosilylation sequence to synthesize optically active 3
      alkenyloxindoles from diazooxindoles.
AB  - An unprecedented sequential gold-catalyzed enone-formation and bifunctional
      tertiary amine mediated asymmetric cyanosilylation reaction is developed,
      allowing the highly enantioselective synthesis of 3-alkenyloxindoles from
      diazooxindoles, furans and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN). 

PMID- 26878105
TI  - Higher PUFA and n-3 PUFA, conjugated linoleic acid, alpha-tocopherol and iron,
      but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic milk: a systematic
      literature review and meta- and redundancy analyses.
AB  - Demand for organic milk is partially driven by consumer perceptions that it is
      more nutritious. However, there is still considerable uncertainty over whether
      the use of organic production standards affects milk quality. Here we report
      results of meta-analyses based on 170 published studies comparing the nutrient
      content of organic and conventional bovine milk. There were no significant
      differences in total SFA and MUFA concentrations between organic and conventional
      milk. However, concentrations of total PUFA and n-3 PUFA were significantly
      higher in organic milk, by an estimated 7 (95 % CI -1, 15) % and 56 (95 % CI 38,
      74) %, respectively. Concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), very long
      chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA+DPA+DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid were also
      significantly higher in organic milk, by an 69 (95 % CI 53, 84) %, 57 (95 % CI
      27, 87) % and 41 (95 % CI 14, 68) %, respectively. As there were no significant
      differences in total n-6 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) concentrations, the n-6:n-3
      and LA:ALA ratios were lower in organic milk, by an estimated 71 (95 % CI -122, 
      20) % and 93 (95 % CI -116, -70) %. It is concluded that organic bovine milk has
      a more desirable fatty acid composition than conventional milk. Meta-analyses
      also showed that organic milk has significantly higher alpha-tocopherol and Fe,
      but lower I and Se concentrations. Redundancy analysis of data from a large cross
      European milk quality survey indicates that the higher grazing/conserved forage
      intakes in organic systems were the main reason for milk composition differences.

PMID- 26878108
TI  - Tuning the hydrogen evolution activity of MS2 (M = Mo or Nb) monolayers by strain
      engineering.
AB  - Strain engineering is an effective strategy to tune the electronic, magnetic and
      optical properties of atomically thin materials like graphene and monolayer
      transition-metal dichalcogenides (m-TMDs). Using first-principles calculations,
      we show that strain is also effective for tuning the catalytic activity of m-MS2
      (M = Mo or Nb) towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is essential
      for electrochemical hydrogen generation from water splitting. A wide strain range
      covering both compressive (0-6%) and tensile (0-10%) regions is considered. It is
      found that biaxial tensile strain can enhance the HER activity more effectively
      than uniaxial tensile strain, while compressive strain deteriorates the HER
      activity. Compared with monolayer 1T-NbS2, monolayers 1T-MoS2 and 1H-NbS2 exhibit
      better strain tunability towards their HER activities since more active sites can
      be induced with increasing strain. In contrast, monolayer 1H-MoS2 is
      catalytically inert in the considered strain range because H adsorption is too
      weak. We demonstrate that tensile strain can lead to decrease of the adiabatic
      proton affinity but simultaneously a larger magnitude of increase of the
      adiabatic electron affinity, thus enhancing the catalytic activity. Electronic
      structure calculations show that tensile strain can activate the relatively inert
      inner valence electrons and enlarge the d-band exchange splitting, both of which
      induce destabilization of the system and enhancement of catalytic activity. 

PMID- 26878107
TI  - Performance of in-pixel circuits for photon counting arrays (PCAs) based on
      polycrystalline silicon TFTs.
AB  - Photon counting arrays (PCAs), defined as pixelated imagers which measure the
      absorbed energy of x-ray photons individually and record this information
      digitally, are of increasing clinical interest. A number of PCA prototypes with a
      1 mm pixel-to-pixel pitch have recently been fabricated with polycrystalline
      silicon (poly-Si)-a thin-film technology capable of creating monolithic imagers
      of a size commensurate with human anatomy. In this study, analog and digital
      simulation frameworks were developed to provide insight into the influence of
      individual poly-Si transistors on pixel circuit performance-information that is
      not readily available through empirical means. The simulation frameworks were
      used to characterize the circuit designs employed in the prototypes. The analog
      framework, which determines the noise produced by individual transistors, was
      used to estimate energy resolution, as well as to identify which transistors
      contribute the most noise. The digital framework, which analyzes how well
      circuits function in the presence of significant variations in transistor
      properties, was used to estimate how fast a circuit can produce an output
      (referred to as output count rate). In addition, an algorithm was developed and
      used to estimate the minimum pixel pitch that could be achieved for the pixel
      circuits of the current prototypes. The simulation frameworks predict that the
      analog component of the PCA prototypes could have energy resolution as low as
      8.9% full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 70 keV; and the digital components
      should work well even in the presence of significant thin-film transistor (TFT)
      variations, with the fastest component having output count rates as high as 3
      MHz. Finally, based on conceivable improvements in the underlying fabrication
      process, the algorithm predicts that the 1 mm pitch of the current PCA prototypes
      could be reduced significantly, potentially to between ~240 and 290 MUm.

PMID- 26878109
TI  - A facile chemical-mechanical polishing lift-off transfer process toward large
      scale Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells on arbitrary substrates.
AB  - The fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells on flexible substrates is a
      non-trivial task due to thermal and ion diffusion related issues. In order to
      circumvent these issues, we have developed a chemical-mechanical polishing lift
      off (CMPL) transfer process, enabling the direct transfer of CIGS solar cells
      from conventional soda-lime glass (SLG) onto arbitrary flexible substrates up to
      4 cm(2) in size. The structural and compositional nature of the pre- and post
      transferred films is examined using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction
      analysis, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. We demonstrate the
      fabrication of solar cells on a range of flexible substrates while being able to
      maintain 75% cell efficiency (eta) when compared to pre-transferred solar cells.
      The results obtained in this work suggest that our transfer process offers a
      highly promising approach toward large scale fabrication of CIGS-based solar
      cells on a wide variety of flexible substrates, suitable for use in the large
      scale CIGS photovoltaic industry. 

PMID- 26878110
TI  - The effect of chlorpyrifos on thermogenic capacity of bank voles selected for
      increased aerobic exercise metabolism.
AB  - Agro-chemicals potentially cause adverse effects in non-target organisms. The
      rate of animal energy metabolism can influence their susceptibility to pesticides
      by influencing food consumption, biotransformation and elimination rates of
      toxicants. We used experimental evolution to study the effects of inherent
      differences in energy metabolism rate and exposure to the organophosphate
      insecticide, chlorpyrifos (CPF) on thermogenic capacity in a wild rodent, the
      bank vole (Myodes = Clethrionomys glareolus). The voles were sampled from four
      replicate lines selected for high swim-induced aerobic metabolism (A) and four
      unselected control (C) lines. Thermogenic capacity, measured as the maximum cold
      induced rate of oxygen consumption (VO2cold), was higher in the A - than C lines,
      and it decreased after continuous exposure to CPF via food or after a single dose
      administered via oral gavage, but only when measured shortly after exposure.
      VO2cold measured 24 h after repeated exposure was not affected. In addition,
      gavage with a single dose led to decreased food consumption and loss in body
      mass. Importantly, the adverse effects of CPF did not differ between the selected
      and control lines. Therefore, exposure to CPF has adverse effects on
      thermoregulatory performance and energy balance in this species. The effects are
      short-lived and their magnitude is not associated with the inherent level of
      energy metabolism. Even without severe symptoms of poisoning, fitness can be
      compromised under harsh environmental conditions, such as cold and wet weather.

PMID- 26878111
TI  - A Trichoderma atroviride stress-activated MAPK pathway integrates stress and
      light signals.
AB  - Cells possess stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) signalling pathways, which
      are activated practically in response to any cellular insult, regulating
      responses for survival and adaptation to harmful environmental changes. To
      understand the function of SAPK pathways in T. atroviride, mutants lacking the
      MAPKK Pbs2 and the MAPK Tmk3 were analysed under several cellular stresses, and
      in their response to light. All mutants were highly sensitive to cellular insults
      such as osmotic and oxidative stress, cell wall damage, high temperature,
      cadmium, and UV irradiation. Under oxidative stress, the Tmk3 pathway showed
      specific roles during development, which in conidia are essential for tolerance
      to oxidant agents and appear to play a minor role in mycelia. The function of
      this pathway was more evident in Deltapbs2 and Deltatmk3 mutant strains when
      combining oxidative stress or cell wall damage with light. Light stimulates
      tolerance to osmotic stress through Tmk3 independently of the photoreceptor Blr1.
      Strikingly, photoconidiation and expression of blue light regulated genes was
      severally affected in Deltatmk3 and Deltapbs2 strains, indicating that this
      pathway regulates light responses. Furthermore, Tmk3 was rapidly phosphorylated
      upon light exposure. Thus, our data indicate that Tmk3 signalling cooperates with
      the Blr photoreceptor complex in the activation of gene expression.

PMID- 26878112
TI  - A hematopoietic cell-driven mechanism involving SLAMF6 receptor, SAP adaptors and
      SHP-1 phosphatase regulates NK cell education.
AB  - Activation of natural killer (NK) cells by hematopoietic target cells is
      controlled by the SLAM family of receptors and by the associated SAP family of
      adaptors. Here we found that SLAM receptors also enhanced NK cell activation by
      nonhematopoietic target cells, which lack ligands for SLAM receptors. This
      function was mediated by SLAMF6, a homotypic SLAM receptor found on NK cells and
      other hematopoietic cells, and was regulated by SAP adaptors, which uncoupled
      SLAM receptors from phosphatase SHP-1 and diminished the effect of SLAMF6 on NK
      cell responsiveness toward nonhematopoietic cells. Thus, in addition to their
      role in NK cell activation by hematopoietic cells, the SLAM-SAP pathways
      influence responsiveness toward nonhematopoietic targets by a process akin to NK
      cell 'education'. 

PMID- 26878113
TI  - The heterogeneity of human CD127(+) innate lymphoid cells revealed by single-cell
      RNA sequencing.
AB  - Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are increasingly appreciated as important
      participants in homeostasis and inflammation. Substantial plasticity and
      heterogeneity among ILC populations have been reported. Here we have delineated
      the heterogeneity of human ILCs through single-cell RNA sequencing of several
      hundreds of individual tonsil CD127(+) ILCs and natural killer (NK) cells.
      Unbiased transcriptional clustering revealed four distinct populations,
      corresponding to ILC1 cells, ILC2 cells, ILC3 cells and NK cells, with their
      respective transcriptomes recapitulating known as well as unknown transcriptional
      profiles. The single-cell resolution additionally divulged three
      transcriptionally and functionally diverse subpopulations of ILC3 cells. Our
      systematic comparison of single-cell transcriptional variation within and between
      ILC populations provides new insight into ILC biology during homeostasis, with
      additional implications for dysregulation of the immune system. 

PMID- 26878115
TI  - Photophysical properties of octupolar triazatruxene-based chromophores.
AB  - The photophysical properties of three octupolar chromophores containing planar
      triazatruxene (TAT) as the central electron donor with different electron
      withdrawing groups in the tribranched arrangement have been systematically
      investigated by means of steady state and transient spectroscopy. The
      multidimensional intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) properties of these
      tribranched chromophores related to the observed two-photon absorption (TPA)
      properties are explored by estimating the TPA essential factors (Mge and
      DeltaMUge). Besides the large Stokes shift between steady state absorption and
      fluorescence spectra in different polar solvents, photoinduced ICT was further
      demonstrated by quantum-chemical calculations and transient absorption
      measurements. Both quantum calculations and spectral experiments show that a
      multidimensional ICT occurs from the electron-rich core to the electron-deficient
      periphery of these TAT derivatives. The results of solvation effects and the
      dynamics of the excited states show that the excited states of these three
      chromophores tend to exhibit an excitation localization on one of the dipolar
      branches, which is beneficial to achieve large Mge and DeltaMUge, thus leading to
      enhanced TPA properties. 

PMID- 26878114
TI  - The cellular composition of the human immune system is shaped by age and
      cohabitation.
AB  - Detailed population-level description of the human immune system has recently
      become achievable. We used a 'systems-level' approach to establish a resource of
      cellular immune profiles of 670 healthy individuals. We report a high level of
      interindividual variation, with low longitudinal variation, at the level of
      cellular subset composition of the immune system. Despite the profound effects of
      antigen exposure on individual antigen-specific clones, the cellular subset
      structure proved highly elastic, with transient vaccination-induced changes
      followed by a return to the individual's unique baseline. Notably, the largest
      influence on immunological variation identified was cohabitation, with 50% less
      immunological variation between individuals who share an environment (as parents)
      than between people in the wider population. These results identify local
      environmental conditions as a key factor in shaping the human immune system. 

PMID- 26878117
TI  - [Ocular Herpesviridae Infections - Laboratory Diagnostics and Therapeutics].

PMID- 26878118
TI  - [Non-Infectious Conjunctiva Diseases].

PMID- 26878116
TI  - Heterogeneity of Matrin 3 in the developing and aging murine central nervous
      system.
AB  - Mutations in the MATR3 gene encoding the nucleotide binding protein Matrin 3 have
      recently been identified as causing a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis (fALS) and more rarely causing distal myopathy. Translating the
      identification of MATR3 mutations into an understanding of disease pathogenesis
      and the creation of mouse models requires a complete understanding of normal
      Matrin 3 levels and distribution in vivo. Consequently, we examined the levels of
      murine Matrin 3 in body tissues and regions of the central nervous system (CNS).
      We observed a significant degree of variability in Matrin 3 protein levels among
      different tissues of adult animals, with the highest levels found in reproductive
      organs and the lowest in muscle. Within the adult CNS, Matrin 3 levels were
      lowest in spinal cord. Further, we found that Matrin 3 declines significantly in
      CNS through early development and young adulthood before stabilizing. As
      previously reported, antibodies to Matrin 3 primarily stain nuclei, but the
      intensity of staining was not uniform in all nuclei. The low levels of Matrin 3
      in spinal cord and muscle could mean that that these tissues are particularly
      vulnerable to alterations in Matrin 3 function. Our study is the first to
      characterize endogenous Matrin 3 in rodents across the lifespan, providing the
      groundwork for deciphering disease mechanisms and developing mouse models of
      MATR3-linked ALS. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2740-2752, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878119
TI  - [Topical Anti-Inflammatory Therapy Options].

PMID- 26878120
TI  - Refractory status epilepticus and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in
      adults: presentation, treatment and outcomes.
AB  - Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD-Abs) have been implicated in
      refractory epilepsy. The association with refractory status epilepticus in adults
      has been rarely described. We discuss our experience in managing three adult
      patients who presented with refractory status epilepticus associated with GAD
      Abs. Case series with retrospective chart and literature review. Three patients
      without pre-existing epilepsy who presented to our institution with generalized
      seizures between 2013 and 2014 were identified. Seizures proved refractory to
      first and second-line therapies and persisted beyond 24 hours. Patient 1 was a 22
      year-old female who had elevated serum GAD-Ab titres at 0.49 mmol/l (normal:
      <0.02) and was treated with multiple immuno- and chemotherapies, with eventual
      partial seizure control. Patient 2 was a 61-year-old black female whose serum GAD
      Ab titre was 0.08 mmol/l. EEG showed persistent generalized periodic discharges
      despite maximized therapy with anticonvulsants but no immunotherapy, resulting in
      withdrawal of care and discharge to nursing home. Patient 3 was a 50-year-old
      black female whose serum GAD-Ab titre was 0.08 mmol/l, and was discovered to have
      pulmonary sarcoidosis. Treatment with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin
      resulted in seizure resolution. Due to the responsiveness to immunotherapy, there
      may be an association between GAD-Abs and refractory seizures, including
      refractory status epilepticus. Causation cannot be established since GAD-Abs may
      be elevated secondary to concurrent autoimmune diseases or formed de novo in
      response to GAD antigen exposure by neuronal injury. Based on this report and
      available literature, there may be a role for immuno- and chemotherapy in the
      management of refractory status epilepticus associated with GAD-Abs. 

PMID- 26878121
TI  - Bilateral posterior semi-circular canal obliteration surgery for refractory
      benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in three patients.

PMID- 26878122
TI  - The protective effect of epicatechin on experimental ulcerative colitis in mice
      is mediated by increasing antioxidation and by the inhibition of NF-kappaB
      pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory intestinal disease.
      It is necessary to find out new effective drugs for UC. In our study epicatechin
      extracted from grape seed by our institute for the first time could treat UC
      effectively. Then anti-UC mechanisms of epicatechin were elucidated in vivo and
      in vitro. METHODS: Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute UC mice model was
      used to evaluate the activity of epicatechin and its properties against UC. Then
      its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects were evaluated as follows: the
      concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the colon supernatants were determined by
      ELISA. NO and MPO were assayed by Griess method and commercial kit respectively.
      NF-kappaB were determined by NF-kappaB-Dependent Reporter Gene Expression Assay
      and Western Blotting respectively. Antioxidant factors such as SOD, MDA, GSH-Px
      and CAT were also measured in colon tissues and cell supernatant stimulated by
      LPS respectively. RESULTS: In C57BL/6J mice model with DSS-induced UC,
      epicatechin was able to decrease the disease activity index and colon macroscopic
      damage index scores, reduce body weight loss, and significantly relieve colon
      contracture and crypt damage. TNF-alpha, IL-6, NO, MPO and MDA were reduced in
      the mice administered epicatechin, whereas antioxidant enzymes showed increased
      activity in epicatechin-treated mice and cell line respectively. Furthermore,
      inhibition effect on NF-kappaB activation by epicatechin were demonstrated in
      vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Epicatechin has inhibitory effect on DSS-induced
      acute UC. This effect is mainly due to its antioxidant effect and the inhibition
      of inflammatory molecules related to NF-kappaB pathway.

PMID- 26878123
TI  - Oral biomarkers in exercise-induced neuroplasticity in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - In this article, we review candidate biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) in
      oral cavity, potential of oral biomarkers as markers of neuroplasticity, and
      literature on the effects of exercise on oral cavity biomarkers in PD. We first
      describe how pathophysiological pathways of PD may be transduced from brain stem
      and ganglia to oral cavity through the autonomic nervous system or transduced by
      a reverse path. Next we describe the effects of exercise in PD and potential
      impact on oral cavity. We propose that biomarkers in oral cavity may be useful
      targets for describing exercise-induced brain neuroplasticity in PD.
      Nevertheless, much research remains to be carried out before applying these
      biomarkers for the determination of disease state and therapeutic response to
      develop strategies to mitigate motor or non-motor symptoms in PD.

PMID- 26878124
TI  - A multilevel ant colony optimization algorithm for classical and isothermic DNA
      sequencing by hybridization with multiplicity information available.
AB  - The classical sequencing by hybridization takes into account a binary information
      about sequence composition. A given element from an oligonucleotide library is or
      is not a part of the target sequence. However, the DNA chip technology has been
      developed and it enables to receive a partial information about multiplicity of
      each oligonucleotide the analyzed sequence consist of. Currently, it is not
      possible to assess the exact data of such type but even partial information
      should be very useful. Two realistic multiplicity information models are taken
      into consideration in this paper. The first one, called "one and many" assumes
      that it is possible to obtain information if a given oligonucleotide occurs in a
      reconstructed sequence once or more than once. According to the second model,
      called "one, two and many", one is able to receive from biochemical experiment
      information if a given oligonucleotide is present in an analyzed sequence once,
      twice or at least three times. An ant colony optimization algorithm has been
      implemented to verify the above models and to compare with existing algorithms
      for sequencing by hybridization which utilize the additional information. The
      proposed algorithm solves the problem with any kind of hybridization errors.
      Computational experiment results confirm that using even the partial information
      about multiplicity leads to increased quality of reconstructed sequences.
      Moreover, they also show that the more precise model enables to obtain better
      solutions and the ant colony optimization algorithm outperforms the existing
      ones. Test data sets and the proposed ant colony optimization algorithm are
      available on: http://bioserver.cs.put.poznan.pl/download/ACO4mSBH.zip. 

PMID- 26878125
TI  - On origin and evolution of carbonic anhydrase isozymes: A phylogenetic analysis
      from whole-enzyme to active site.
AB  - Genetic evolution of carbonic anhydrase enzyme provides an interesting instance
      of functional similarity in spite of structural diversity of the members of a
      given family of enzymes. Phylogenetic analysis of alpha-, beta- and gamma
      carbonic anhydrase was carried out to determine the evolutionary relationships
      among various members of the family with the enzyme marking its presence in a
      wide range of cellular and chromosomal locations. The presence of more than one
      class of enzymes in a particular organism was revealed by phylogenetic time tree.
      The evolutionary relationships among the members of animal, plant and microbial
      kingdom were developed. The study revises a long-established notion of kingdom
      specificity of the different classes of carbonic anhydrases and provides a new
      version of the presence of multiple classes of carbonic anhydrases in a single
      organism and the presence of a given class of carbonic anhydrase across different
      kingdoms. 

PMID- 26878126
TI  - Model-guided metabolic gene knockout of gnd for enhanced succinate production in
      Escherichia coli from glucose and glycerol substrates.
AB  - The metabolic role of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (gnd) under anaerobic
      conditions with respect to succinate production in Escherichia coli remained
      largely unspecified. Herein we report what are to our knowledge the first
      metabolic gene knockout of gnd to have increased succinic acid production using
      both glucose and glycerol substrates in E. coli. Guided by a genome scale
      metabolic model, we engineered the E. coli host metabolism to enhance anaerobic
      production of succinic acid by deleting the gnd gene, considering its location in
      the boundary of oxidative and non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. This
      strategy induced either the activation of malic enzyme, causing up-regulation of
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc) and down regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate
      carboxykinase (ppck) and/or prevents the decarboxylation of 6 phosphogluconate to
      increase the pool of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP) that is required for the
      formation of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). This approach produced a mutant strain
      BMS2 with succinic acid production titers of 0.35 g l(-1) and 1.40 g l(-1) from
      glucose and glycerol substrates respectively. This work further clearly
      elucidates and informs other studies that the gnd gene, is a novel deletion
      target for increasing succinate production in E. coli under anaerobic condition
      using glucose and glycerol carbon sources. The knowledge gained in this study
      would help in E. coli and other microbial strains development for increasing
      succinate production and/or other industrial chemicals.

PMID- 26878127
TI  - Design, synthesis and molecular modeling studies of few chalcone analogues of
      benzimidazole for epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor in search of useful
      anticancer agent.
AB  - In the present investigation, few 3-(substitutedphenyl)-1-[2-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)]
      1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones are EGFR antagonist are designed, by
      molecular docking analysis. The synthesized compounds were tested for their in
      vitro anticancer activity by propidium iodide fluorescent assay and Trypan blue
      viability assay against colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116) and non-small cell
      lung cancer cell lines (H460). Human Epithelial Kidney cell lines (HEK) are used
      as normal cell lines for studying effect of drug on non-cancerous cells within
      human body. Evaluation of cytotoxic studies of synthesized compounds CHL(1-8)
      reveal that compound CHL1 [IC50=7.31 and 10.16 MUM against HCT116 and H460 cell
      lines respectively, by PI assay] and CHL8 [IC50=12.52 and 6.83 against HCT116 and
      H460MUM cell lines respectively] possess promising cytotoxic activity.

PMID- 26878128
TI  - Carcinogenicity prediction of noncongeneric chemicals by augmented top priority
      fragment classification.
AB  - Carcinogenicity prediction is an important process that can be performed to cut
      down experimental costs and save animal lives. The current reliability of the
      results is however disputed. Here, a blind exercise in carcinogenicity category
      assessment is performed using augmented top priority fragment classification. The
      procedure analyses the applicability domain of the dataset, allocates in clusters
      the compounds using a leading molecular fragment, and a similarity measure. The
      exercise is applied to three compound datasets derived from the Lois Gold
      Carcinogenic Database. The results, showing good agreement with experimental
      data, are compared with published ones. A final discussion on our viewpoint on
      the possibilities that the carcinogenicity modelling of chemical compounds offers
      is presented. 

PMID- 26878129
TI  - In silico characterization of the interaction between LSKL peptide, a LAP-TGF
      beta derived peptide, and ADAMTS1.
AB  - Metalloproteases involved in extracellular matrix remodeling play a pivotal role
      in cell response by regulating the bioavailability of cytokines and growth
      factors. Recently, the disintegrin and metalloprotease, ADAMTS1 has been
      demonstrated to be able to activate the transforming growth factor TGF-beta, a
      major factor in fibrosis and cancer. The KTFR sequence from ADAMTS1 is
      responsible for the interaction with the LSKL peptide from the latent form of TGF
      beta, leading to its activation. While the atomic details of the interaction site
      can be the basis of the rational design of efficient inhibitory molecules, the
      binding mode of interaction is totally unknown. In this study, we show that
      recombinant fragments of human ADAMTS1 containing KTFR sequence keep the ability
      to bind the latent form of TGF-beta. The recombinant fragment with the best
      affinity is modeled to investigate the binding mode of LSKL peptide with ADAMTS1
      at the atomic level. Using a combined approach with molecular docking and
      multiple independent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we provide the binding
      mode of LSKL peptide with ADAMTS1. The MD simulations starting with the two
      lowest energy model predicted by molecular docking shows stable interactions
      characterized by 3 salt bridges (K3-NH3(+) with E626-COO(-); L4-COO(-) with K619
      NH3(+); L1-NH3(+) with E624-COO(-)) and 2 hydrogen bonds (S2-OH with E623-COO(-);
      L4-NH with E623-COO(-)). The knowledge of this interaction mechanism paves the
      way to the design of more potent and more specific inhibitors against the
      inappropriate activation of TGF-beta by ADAMTS1 in liver diseases. 

PMID- 26878130
TI  - Guided macro-mutation in a graded energy based genetic algorithm for protein
      structure prediction.
AB  - Protein structure prediction is considered as one of the most challenging and
      computationally intractable combinatorial problem. Thus, the efficient modeling
      of convoluted search space, the clever use of energy functions, and more
      importantly, the use of effective sampling algorithms become crucial to address
      this problem. For protein structure modeling, an off-lattice model provides
      limited scopes to exercise and evaluate the algorithmic developments due to its
      astronomically large set of data-points. In contrast, an on-lattice model widens
      the scopes and permits studying the relatively larger proteins because of its
      finite set of data-points. In this work, we took the full advantage of an on
      lattice model by using a face-centered-cube lattice that has the highest packing
      density with the maximum degree of freedom. We proposed a graded energy
      strategically mixes the Miyazawa-Jernigan (MJ) energy with the hydrophobic-polar
      (HP) energy-based genetic algorithm (GA) for conformational search. In our
      application, we introduced a 2 * 2 HP energy guided macro-mutation operator
      within the GA to explore the best possible local changes exhaustively.
      Conversely, the 20 * 20 MJ energy model-the ultimate objective function of our GA
      that needs to be minimized-considers the impacts amongst the 20 different amino
      acids and allow searching the globally acceptable conformations. On a set of
      benchmark proteins, our proposed approach outperformed state-of-the-art
      approaches in terms of the free energy levels and the root-mean-square
      deviations.

PMID- 26878132
TI  - Distinctive properties of plaque-type dura mater graft-associated Creutzfeldt
      Jakob disease in cell-protein misfolding cyclic amplification.
AB  - There are two distinct subtypes of dura mater graft-associated Creutzfeldt-Jakob
      disease (dCJD) with methionine homozygosity at codon 129 of the PRNP gene. The
      majority of cases is represented by a non-plaque-type (np-dCJD) resembling
      sporadic CJD (sCJD)-MM1 or -MV1, while the minority by a plaque-type (p-dCJD). p
      dCJD shows distinctive phenotypic features, namely numerous kuru plaques and an
      abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrP(Sc)) intermediate in size between types 1
      and 2. Transmission studies have shown that the unusual phenotypic features of p
      dCJD are linked to the V2 prion strain that is associated with sCJD subtypes VV2
      or -MV2. In this study, we applied protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA)
      using recombinant human prion protein as a substrate and demonstrated that p-dCJD
      prions show amplification features that are distinct from those of np-dCJD.
      Although no amplification of np-dCJD prions was observed with either 129 M or 129
      V substrate, p-dCJD prions were drastically amplified with the 129 V substrates,
      despite the PRNP codon 129 incompatibility between seed and substrate. Moreover,
      by using a type 2 PrP(Sc)-specific antibody not recognizing PrP(Sc) in p-dCJD, we
      found that type 2 products are generated de novo from p-dCJD prions during PMCA
      with the 129 V substrates. These findings suggest that our cell-PMCA is a useful
      tool for easily and rapidly identifying acquired CJD associated with the
      transmission of the V2 CJD strain to codon 129 methionine homozygotes, based on
      the preference for the 129 V substrate and the type of the amplified products.

PMID- 26878131
TI  - ResolvinD1 reduces apoptosis and inflammation in primary human alveolar
      epithelial type 2 cells.
AB  - Lung epithelial apoptosis and inflammatory responses are important pathological
      processes in many pulmonary disorders. ResolvinD1 (RvD1), generated in
      inflammatory resolution processes, reduces inflammatory responses in animal
      models of lung diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether RvD1
      attenuates apoptosis and proinflammatory responses in primary human alveolar
      epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2 cells) that are exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      in vitro. We examined the percentage of apoptotic AEC2 cells by flow cytometry.
      The expression levels of cytokines and chemokines were determined by ELISA and
      microarray. The expression levels of molecular signaling modulators were
      evaluated by western blot. LPS-stimulated AEC2 cells pretreated with RvD1
      exhibited a statistically significant reduction in apoptosis. The pretreatment of
      LPS-stimulated cells with RvD1 stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT and
      prevented the cleavage of caspase-3, the upregulation of Bax, and the
      downregulation of Bcl-2. The antiapoptotic effects of RvD1 were abrogated upon
      pretreatment with a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, RvD1 reduced the release of
      cytokines and chemokines, and inhibited the degradation and phosphorylation of
      IkappaB-alpha in LPS-stimulated AEC2 cells. RvD1 reduces apoptosis of LPS-exposed
      AEC2 cells by inducing the phosphorylation of AKT and attenuates the inflammatory
      response by suppressing the degradation and phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha.

PMID- 26878133
TI  - A selective screening platform reveals unique global expression patterns of
      microRNAs in a cohort of human soft-tissue sarcomas.
AB  - Sarcomas are malignant heterogenous tumors of mesenchymal derivation. Emerging
      data suggest that miRNA might have a causal role in sarcomagenesis. Herein, we
      used a selective miRNA screening platform to study the comparative global miRNA
      expression signatures in a cohort of human sarcomas with the caveat that
      comparisons between tumor and non-tumor cells were performed from the same
      patients using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Five histologic types
      were examined that included: myxoid liposarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma,
      dedifferentiated liposarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma.
      In addition, soft-tissue lipomas and normal fat were included as a separate set
      of controls for the lipogenic tumors. Clustering analysis showed a distinct
      global difference in expression patterns between the normal and sarcoma tissues.
      Expression signatures in an unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis
      revealed tight clustering in synovial and myxoid liposarcomas, and the least
      clustering was observed in the pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma subtype. MiR-145
      showed underexpression in pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, well-differentiated
      liposarcoma, and synovial sarcoma. Unexpectedly, we found that a set of muscle
      specific microRNAs (miRNAs; myomiRs): miR-133, miR-1, and miR-206 was
      significantly underexpressed in well-differentiated liposarcoma and synovial
      sarcoma, suggesting that they may function as tumor suppressors as described in
      muscle-relevant rhabdomyosarcomas. In addition, a tight linear progression of
      miRNA expression was identified from normal fat to dedifferentiated liposarcoma.
      These results suggest that miRNA expression profiles could elucidate classes of
      miRNAs that may elicit tumor-relevant activities in specific sarcoma subtypes. 

PMID- 26878134
TI  - Requirement of CXCL12-CXCR7 signaling for CD20(-) CD138(-) double-negative
      population in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
AB  - Cancer cells with tumorigenic potential are limited to a small subpopulation
      known as cancer-initiating cells (CICs). Recently we investigated a candidate of
      CICs of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), which is positive for both B-cell
      marker CD20 and plasma-cell marker CD138. We reported that the subpopulation of
      CD20(-) CD138(-) phenotype, in which both markers were negative was a candidate
      of CICs in LPL using LPL cell line, MWCL-1. CICs are known to be plastic under
      stressed condition, in which non-CICs are changed to CICs. In the present study,
      we investigated the plasticity of CICs of LPL, and found that hypoxia induced the
      conversion of CD20(+) CD138(-) to CD20(-) CD138(-) phenotype. We then searched
      for markers preferentially expressed in CD20(-) CD138(-) subpopulation, and the
      chemokine receptor CXCR7 was isolated. When cultured with CXCL12, a ligand of
      CXCR7, the number of CD20(-) CD138(-) cells increased in a time- and dose
      dependent manner. In addition, hypoxia enhanced the expression level of CXCL12 in
      MWCL-1. In clinical samples of LPL, a few tumor cells expressed CXCR7, in which
      CD20 expression was not detected. These results indicated that hypoxia and CXCL12
      CXCR7 axis appeared to be advantageous microenvironments to CD20(-) CD138(-)
      cells.

PMID- 26878135
TI  - DA-1229, a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor, protects against renal injury by
      preventing podocyte damage in an animal model of progressive renal injury.
AB  - Although dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) inhibitors are known to have
      renoprotective effects, the mechanism underlying these effects has remained
      elusive. Here we investigated the effects of DA-1229, a novel DPPIV inhibitor, in
      two animal models of renal injury including db/db mice and the adriamycin
      nephropathy rodent model of chronic renal disease characterized by podocyte
      injury. For both models, DA-1229 was administered at 300 mg/kg/day. DPPIV
      activity in the kidney was significantly higher in diabetic mice compared with
      their nondiabetic controls. Although DA-1229 did not affect glycemic control or
      insulin resistance, DA-1229 did improve lipid profiles, albuminuria and renal
      fibrosis. Moreover, DA-1229 treatment resulted in decreased urinary excretion of
      nephrin, decreased circulating and kidney DPPIV activity, and decreased
      macrophage infiltration in the kidney. In adriamycin-treated mice, DPPIV activity
      in the kidney and urinary nephrin loss were both increased, whereas glucagon-like
      peptide-1 concentrations were unchanged. Moreover, DA-1229 treatment
      significantly improved proteinuria, renal fibrosis and inflammation associated
      with decreased urinary nephrin loss, and kidney DPP4 activity. In cultured
      podocytes, DA-1229 restored the high glucose/angiotensin II-induced increase of
      DPPIV activity and preserved the nephrin levels in podocytes. These findings
      suggest that activation of DPPIV in the kidney has a role in the progression of
      renal disease, and that DA-1229 may exert its renoprotective effects by
      preventing podocyte injury.

PMID- 26878137
TI  - NSCLC tumor shrinkage prediction using quantitative image features.
AB  - The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative image feature model to
      predict non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) volume shrinkage from pre-treatment CT
      images. 64 stage II-IIIB NSCLC patients with similar treatments were all imaged
      using the same CT scanner and protocol. For each patient, the planning gross
      tumor volume (GTV) was deformed onto the week 6 treatment image, and tumor
      shrinkage was quantified as the deformed GTV volume divided by the planning GTV
      volume. Geometric, intensity histogram, absolute gradient image, co-occurrence
      matrix, and run-length matrix image features were extracted from each planning
      GTV. Prediction models were generated using principal component regression with
      simulated annealing subset selection. Performance was quantified using the mean
      squared error (MSE) between the predicted and observed tumor shrinkages.
      Permutation tests were used to validate the results. The optimal prediction model
      gave a strong correlation between the observed and predicted tumor shrinkages
      with r=0.81 and MSE=8.60*10(-3). Compared to predictions based on the mean
      population shrinkage this resulted in a 2.92 fold reduction in MSE. In
      conclusion, this study indicated that quantitative image features extracted from
      existing pre-treatment CT images can successfully predict tumor shrinkage and
      provide additional information for clinical decisions regarding patient risk
      stratification, treatment, and prognosis.

PMID- 26878139
TI  - Lateral heat flow distribution and defect-dependent thermal resistance in an
      individual silicon nanowire.
AB  - Studies aiming to significantly improve thermal properties, such as figure-of
      merit, of silicon nanowires (SiNW) have focused on diameter reduction and surface
      or interface roughness control. However, the mechanism underlying thermal
      conductivity enhancement of roughness controlled NWs remains unclear. Here, we
      report a significant influence of stacking faults (SFs) on the lateral thermal
      conductivity of a single SiNW, using a combination of newly developed in situ
      spatially-resolved thermal resistance experiments and high-resolution
      transmission electron microscopy measurements. We used as-grown SiNWs tapered
      along the growth direction with progressively lower roughness and SFs density.
      The results clearly confirmed that both surface roughness and twins or SFs
      densities suppress the thermal conductivity of an individual SiNW. The results
      and measurement techniques presented here hold great potential for inspecting
      minute changes in thermal resistance along an individual SiNW, caused by induced
      SFs on the nanostructure, and for improving one-dimensional nanowire-based
      thermoelectric device performance. 

PMID- 26878138
TI  - A multi-center milestone study of clinical vertebral CT segmentation.
AB  - A multiple center milestone study of clinical vertebra segmentation is presented
      in this paper. Vertebra segmentation is a fundamental step for spinal image
      analysis and intervention. The first half of the study was conducted in the spine
      segmentation challenge in 2014 International Conference on Medical Image
      Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) Workshop on Computational
      Spine Imaging (CSI 2014). The objective was to evaluate the performance of
      several state-of-the-art vertebra segmentation algorithms on computed tomography
      (CT) scans using ten training and five testing dataset, all healthy cases; the
      second half of the study was conducted after the challenge, where additional 5
      abnormal cases are used for testing to evaluate the performance under abnormal
      cases. Dice coefficients and absolute surface distances were used as evaluation
      metrics. Segmentation of each vertebra as a single geometric unit, as well as
      separate segmentation of vertebra substructures, was evaluated. Five teams
      participated in the comparative study. The top performers in the study achieved
      Dice coefficient of 0.93 in the upper thoracic, 0.95 in the lower thoracic and
      0.96 in the lumbar spine for healthy cases, and 0.88 in the upper thoracic, 0.89
      in the lower thoracic and 0.92 in the lumbar spine for osteoporotic and fractured
      cases. The strengths and weaknesses of each method as well as future suggestion
      for improvement are discussed. This is the first multi-center comparative study
      for vertebra segmentation methods, which will provide an up-to-date performance
      milestone for the fast growing spinal image analysis and intervention. 

PMID- 26878140
TI  - Strength of recommendation for single-visit root canal treatment: grading the
      body of the evidence using a patient-centred approach.
AB  - AIM: To identify, search for and critically interpret the results from clinical
      studies on single- versus multiple-visit root canal treatment in the light of an
      evidence-based paradigm. For that purpose, the quality of the available body of
      evidence was assessed using the SORT 'grade' - Strength of Recommendation
      Taxonomy. METHODOLOGY: A protocol was followed including all aspects of the
      review methods: (i) search strategy, (ii) inclusion criteria for studies, (iii)
      screening methods, (iv) quality assessment, (v) data synthesis of the selected
      studies, and (vi) the assessment of quality of the body of evidence available by
      the means of the SORT 'grade'. An extensive search of recent biomedical
      literature was performed in PubMed (up to May, 2014), EMBASE (dating from 1980 to
      May 2014) and Cochrane databases with appropriate headings and keywords related
      to single- and multiple-visit root canal treatment. Selected studies were
      stratified according to their level of evidence using the SORT criteria: (i)
      quality - Level A high-quality evidence, Level B medium/low-quality evidence and
      Level C no evidence; (ii) degree of consistency - consistent, when most studies
      found a similar conclusion, or inconsistent, when there was considerable
      variation amongst study findings. RESULTS: After the digital and manual searches,
      246 studies were indentified. Two hundred and seven studies were eliminated by
      exclusion criteria, resulting in a yield of 39 articles that were selected for
      retrieval. Of the 39 articles, only 11 could be classified as Level 2 (B); the
      other 28 articles did not obey the criteria to be considered as real patient
      oriented evidence; thus, they were classified as Level 3 (C). No studies were
      ranked as Level 1 because they did not obey the minimum standard to be considered
      as both good-quality research and patient-oriented evidence. Despite this, all of
      the selected Level B studies reported no significant differences between single-
      and multiple-visit treatments. CONCLUSION: There is B-level (mid-level) evidence
      to confirm there is no difference between the two different treatments, based on
      research addressing clinical outcomes and using some consistent but limited
      quality methods of scientific investigation. More studies focused on evaluating
      patient-centred outcomes are urgently required.

PMID- 26878141
TI  - Protein adsorption is required for stealth effect of poly(ethylene glycol)- and
      poly(phosphoester)-coated nanocarriers.
AB  - The current gold standard to reduce non-specific cellular uptake of drug delivery
      vehicles is by covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). It is thought
      that PEG can reduce protein adsorption and thereby confer a stealth effect. Here,
      we show that polystyrene nanocarriers that have been modified with PEG or
      poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PEEP) and exposed to plasma proteins exhibit a
      low cellular uptake, whereas those not exposed to plasma proteins show high non
      specific uptake. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that exposed nanocarriers
      formed a protein corona that contains an abundance of clusterin proteins (also
      known as apolipoprotein J). When the polymer-modified nanocarriers were incubated
      with clusterin, non-specific cellular uptake could be reduced. Our results show
      that in addition to reducing protein adsorption, PEG, and now PEEPs, can affect
      the composition of the protein corona that forms around nanocarriers, and the
      presence of distinct proteins is necessary to prevent non-specific cellular
      uptake. 

PMID- 26878142
TI  - Intraoperative diagnostics and elimination of residual microtumours with
      plasmonic nanobubbles.
AB  - Failure of cancer surgery to intraoperatively detect and eliminate microscopic
      residual disease (MRD) causes lethal recurrence and metastases, and the removal
      of important normal tissues causes excessive morbidity. Here, we show that a
      plasmonic nanobubble (PNB), a non-stationary laser pulse-activated nanoevent,
      intraoperatively detects and eliminates MRD in the surgical bed. PNBs were
      generated in vivo in head and neck cancer cells by systemically targeting tumours
      with gold colloids and locally applying near-infrared, low-energy short laser
      pulses, and were simultaneously detected with an acoustic probe. In mouse models,
      between 3 and 30 residual cancer cells and MRD (undetectable with current
      methods) were non-invasively detected up to 4 mm deep in the surgical bed within
      1 ms. In resectable MRD, PNB-guided surgery prevented local recurrence and
      delivered 100% tumour-free survival. In unresectable MRD, PNB nanosurgery
      improved survival twofold compared with standard surgery. Our results show that
      PNB-guided surgery and nanosurgery can rapidly and precisely detect and remove
      MRD in simple intraoperative procedures.

PMID- 26878144
TI  - Drug delivery: Redefining tumour vascular barriers.

PMID- 26878143
TI  - Vascular bursts enhance permeability of tumour blood vessels and improve
      nanoparticle delivery.
AB  - Enhanced permeability in tumours is thought to result from malformed vascular
      walls with leaky cell-to-cell junctions. This assertion is backed by studies
      using electron microscopy and polymer casts that show incomplete pericyte
      coverage of tumour vessels and the presence of intercellular gaps. However, this
      gives the impression that tumour permeability is static amid a chaotic tumour
      environment. Using intravital confocal laser scanning microscopy we show that the
      permeability of tumour blood vessels includes a dynamic phenomenon characterized
      by vascular bursts followed by brief vigorous outward flow of fluid (named
      'eruptions') into the tumour interstitial space. We propose that 'dynamic vents'
      form transient openings and closings at these leaky blood vessels. These
      stochastic eruptions may explain the enhanced extravasation of nanoparticles from
      the tumour blood vessels, and offer insights into the underlying distribution
      patterns of an administered drug.

PMID- 26878145
TI  - Drug delivery: Unravelling the stealth effect.

PMID- 26878146
TI  - An electronic aromaticity index for large rings.
AB  - We introduce a new electronic aromaticity index, AV1245, consisting of an average
      of the 4-center multicenter indices (MCI) along the ring that keeps a positional
      relationship of 1, 2, 4, 5. AV1245 measures the extent of transferability of the
      delocalized electrons between bonds 1-2 and 4-5, which is expected to be large in
      conjugated circuits and, therefore, in aromatic molecules. A new algorithm for
      the calculation of MCI for large rings is also introduced and used to produce the
      data for the calibration of the new aromaticity index. AV1245 does not rely on
      reference values, does not suffer from large numerical precision errors, and it
      does not present any limitation on the nature of atoms, the molecular geometry or
      the level of calculation. It is a size-extensive measure with low computational
      cost that grows linearly with the number of ring members. Therefore, it is
      especially suitable to study the aromaticity of large molecular rings such as
      those occurring in belt-shaped Mobius structures or porphyrins. The analysis of
      AV1245 in free-base and bis-metalated Pd [32]octaphyrins(1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0)
      completes this study.

PMID- 26878148
TI  - FeCl3-Mediated One-Pot Domino Reactions for the Synthesis of 9-Aryl/9-Arylethynyl
      2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-xanthen-1-ones from Propargylic Amines/Diaryl Amines and
      1,3-Cyclohexanediones.
AB  - An efficient, environmentally friendly and one-pot route to new 9-aryl/9
      arylethynyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-xanthen-1-one derivatives from inexpensive
      starting materials has been developed. This method proceeded by a domino
      nucleophilic-substitution/intramolecular cyclization/dehydration sequence of
      propargylic amines/diaryl amines and 1,3-cyclohexanediones under the promotion of
      FeCl3, which involved the formation of two new sigma (C-C and C-O) bonds in a
      single operation for the construction of novel tetrahydroxanthene skeletons in 68
      95% yields. 

PMID- 26878149
TI  - Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of Aryl Sulfenate Anions with Aryl Bromides under
      Mild Conditions: Synthesis of Diaryl Sulfoxides.
AB  - A palladium-catalyzed arylation of aryl sulfenate anions generated from aryl 2
      (trimethylsilyl)ethyl sulfoxides and CsF has been developed. This protocol is
      effective for the synthesis of diaryl sulfoxides and heteroaryl aryl sulfoxides
      under mild conditions employing aryl bromides. Various functional groups,
      including those with acidic protons, are well tolerated. 

PMID- 26878147
TI  - Mechanism of Glycosylation of Anomeric Sulfonium Ions.
AB  - Anomeric sulfonium ions are attractive glycosyl donors for the stereoselective
      installation of 1,2-cis glycosides. Although these donors are receiving
      increasing attention, their mechanism of glycosylation remains controversial. We
      have investigated the reaction mechanism of glycosylation of a donor modified at
      C-2 with a (1S)-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)ethyl chiral auxiliary. Preactivation of
      this donor results in the formation of a bicyclic beta-sulfonium ion that after
      addition of an alcohol undergoes 1,2-cis-glycosylation. To probe the importance
      of the thiophenyl moiety, analogs were prepared in which this moiety was replaced
      by an anisoyl or benzyl moiety. Furthermore, the auxiliaries were installed as S-
      and R-stereoisomers. It was found that the nature of the heteroatom and chirality
      of the auxiliary greatly influenced the anomeric outcome and only the one
      containing a thiophenyl moiety and having S-configuration gave consistently alpha
      anomeric products. The sulfonium ions are sufficiently stable at a temperature at
      which glycosylations proceed indicating that they are viable glycosylation
      agents. Time-course NMR experiments with the latter donor showed that the initial
      rates of glycosylations increase with increases in acceptor concentration and the
      rate curves could be fitted to a second order rate equation. Collectively, these
      observations support a mechanism by which a sulfonium ion intermediate is formed
      as a trans-decalin ring system that can undergo glycosylation through a
      bimolecular mechanism. DFT calculations have provided further insight into the
      reaction path of glycosylation and indicate that initially a hydrogen-bonded
      complex is formed between sulfonium ion and acceptor that undergoes SN2-like
      glycosylation to give an alpha-anomeric product. 

PMID- 26878151
TI  - Tuning of Stepwise Neutral-Ionic Transitions by Acceptor Site Doping in
      Alternating Donor/Acceptor Chains.
AB  - The stepwise neutral-ionic (N-I) phase transition found in the alternating
      donor/acceptor (DA) chain [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMDCNQI)].2(p-xylene) (0;
      2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2(-) = 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoate; DMDCNQI = 2,5-dimethyl-N,N'
      dicyanoquinonediimine) was tuned by partly substituting the acceptor DMDCNQI with
      2,5-dimethoxy-N,N'-dicyanoquinonediimine (DMeODCNQI), which displays a poorer
      electron affinity in an isostructural series. The site-doped series comprised
      [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMDCNQI)1-x(DMeODCNQI)x].2(p-xylene) for doping rates (x)
      = 0.05 (0.05-MeO), 0.10 (0.10-MeO), 0.15 (0.15-MeO), and 0.20 (0.20-MeO). The
      neutral chain [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMeODCNQI)].4(p-xylene) (1), which only
      contained DMeODCNQI, was also characterized. All site-doped compounds were
      isostructural to 0 except 1 despite their identical DA chain motif. Except at an
      x value of 0.20, they displayed a two-step N-I transition involving an
      intermediate phase. This transition occurred at high temperatures in 0 but
      shifted to lower temperatures in a parallel manner with increasing doping rate.
      Simultaneously, each transition broadened with increasing doping rate, leading to
      a convergence of two transitions at an x value approximating 0.2. Donor/acceptor
      site-doping techniques present somewhat different impacts in terms of interchain
      Coulomb effects. 

PMID- 26878150
TI  - A Parallel Synthesis Approach to the Identification of Novel Diheteroarylamide
      Based Compounds Blocking HIV Replication: Potential Inhibitors of HIV-1 Pre-mRNA
      Alternative Splicing.
AB  - A 256-compound library was evaluated in an anti-HIV screen to identify structural
      "mimics" of the fused tetracyclic indole compound 1 (IDC16) that conserve its
      anti-HIV activity without associated cytotoxicity. Four diheteroarylamide-type
      compounds, containing a common 5-nitroisobenzothiazole motif, were identified as
      active. In subsequent screens, the most potent compound 9 (1C8) was active
      against wild-type HIV-1IIIB (subtype B, X4-tropic) and HIV-1 97USSN54 (subtype A,
      R5-tropic) with EC50's of 0.6 and 0.9 MUM, respectively. Compound 9 also
      inhibited HIV strains resistant to drugs targeting HIV reverse transcriptase,
      protease, integrase, and coreceptor CCR5 with EC50's ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 MUM.
      The CC50 value obtained in a cytotoxicity assay for compound 9 was >100 MUM,
      corresponding to a therapeutic index (CC50/EC50) of approximately 100. Further
      comparison studies revealed that, whereas the anti-HIV activity for compound 9
      and the parent molecule 1 are similar, the cytotoxic effect for compound 9 was,
      as planned, markedly suppressed. 

PMID- 26878153
TI  - Co-Cu Nanoparticles: Synthesis by Galvanic Replacement and Phase Rearrangement
      during Catalytic Activation.
AB  - The control of the phase distribution in multicomponent nanomaterials is critical
      to optimize their catalytic performance. In this direction, while impressive
      advances have been achieved in the past decade in the synthesis of multicomponent
      nanoparticles and nanocomposites, element rearrangement during catalyst
      activation has been frequently overseen. Here, we present a facile galvanic
      replacement-based procedure to synthesize Co@Cu nanoparticles with narrow size
      and composition distributions. We further characterize their phase arrangement
      before and after catalytic activation. When oxidized at 350  degrees C in air to
      remove organics, Co@Cu core-shell nanostructures oxidize to polycrystalline CuO
      Co3O4 nanoparticles with randomly distributed CuO and Co3O4 crystallites. During
      a posterior reduction treatment in H2 atmosphere, Cu precipitates in a metallic
      core and Co migrates to the nanoparticle surface to form Cu@Co core-shell
      nanostructures. The catalytic behavior of such Cu@Co nanoparticles supported on
      mesoporous silica was further analyzed toward CO2 hydrogenation in real working
      conditions. 

PMID- 26878152
TI  - Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites on the Move.
AB  - Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) are crystals with the structural
      formula ABX3, where A, B, and X are organic and inorganic ions, respectively.
      While known for several decades, HOIPs have only in recent years emerged as
      extremely promising semiconducting materials for solar energy applications. In
      particular, power-conversion efficiencies of HOIP-based solar cells have improved
      at a record speed and, after only little more than 6 years of photovoltaics
      research, surpassed the 20% threshold, which is an outstanding result for a
      solution-processable material. It is thus of fundamental importance to reveal
      physical and chemical phenomena that contribute to, or limit, these impressive
      photovoltaic efficiencies. To understand charge-transport and light-absorption
      properties of semiconducting materials, one often invokes a lattice of ions
      displaced from their static positions only by harmonic vibrations. However, a
      preponderance of recent studies suggests that this picture is not sufficient for
      HOIPs, where a variety of structurally dynamic effects, beyond small harmonic
      vibrations, arises already at room temperature. In this Account, we focus on
      these effects. First, we review structure and bonding in HOIPs and relate them to
      the promising charge-transport and absorption properties of these materials, in
      terms of favorable electronic properties. We point out that HOIPs are much
      "softer" mechanically, compared to other efficient solar-cell materials, and that
      this can result in large ionic displacements at room temperature. We therefore
      focus next on dynamic structural effects in HOIPs, going beyond a static band
      structure picture. Specifically, we discuss pertinent experimental and
      theoretical findings as to phase-transition behavior and molecular/octahedral
      rearrangements. We then discuss atomic diffusion phenomena in HOIPs, with an
      emphasis on the migration of intrinsic and extrinsic ionic species. From this
      combined perspective, HOIPs appear as highly dynamic materials, in which
      structural fluctuations and long-range ionic motion have an unusually strong
      impact on charge-transport and optical properties. We highlight the potential
      implications of these effects for several intriguing phenomenological
      observations, ranging from scattering mechanisms and lifetimes of charge carriers
      to light-induced structural effects and ionic conduction. 

PMID- 26878154
TI  - A Method for Designing Instrument-Free Quantitative Immunoassays.
AB  - Colorimetric readouts are widely used in point-of-care diagnostic immunoassays to
      indicate either the presence or the absence of an analyte. For a variety of
      reasons, it is more difficult to quantify rather than simply detect an analyte
      using a colorimetric test. We report a method for designing, with minimal
      iteration, a quantitative immunoassay that can be interpreted objectively by a
      simple count of number of spots visible to the unaided eye. We combined a method
      called polymerization-based amplification (PBA) with a series of microscale
      features containing a decreasing surface density of capture molecules, and the
      central focus of the study is understanding how the choice of surface densities
      impacts performance. Using a model pair of antibodies, we have shown that our
      design approach does not depend on measurement of equilibrium and kinetic binding
      parameters and can provide a dynamic working range of 3 orders of magnitude (70
      pM to 70 nM) for visual quantification. 

PMID- 26878155
TI  - Survival improvements associated with access to biological agents: Results from
      the South Australian (SA) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) registry.
AB  - Background Randomized controlled trials evaluating biological therapy have shown
      improvements in survival from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Subjects in
      the trials represent a selected proportion of mCRC patients. We have the
      potential to assess the impact of biological therapy on mCRC outcomes,
      particularly the effect of bevacizumab, from a population-based clinical registry
      by comparing two time cohorts with differences in therapy accessibility. Material
      and methods A retrospective cohort study was performed by analyzing the South
      Australian (SA) mCRC registry data based on diagnosis in two time periods: 1
      February 2006-31 May 2009 (Cohort A) versus 1 June 2009-30 June 2014 (Cohort B).
      The demarcation for these cohorts was chosen to reflect the change in
      accessibility of bevacizumab from July 2009. Results Between February 2006 and
      June 2014, 3308 patients were identified through the SA mCRC registry: 1464 (44%)
      in Cohort A and 1844 (56%) in Cohort B. 61 and 59% patients in Cohort A and B,
      respectively received systemic therapy (p = 0.26). Major differences in clinical
      characteristics were: biological therapy use 18 versus 33% (p < 0.001) and
      clinical trial enrolment 12 versus 7% (p < 0.001). Uptake of bevacizumab was:
      first-line 9 versus 42% and second-line 6 versus 16%. Median overall survival
      (mOS) for the entire group was: 13.1 versus 17.1 months (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.74
      0.87). Evaluation restricted to patients receiving systemic therapy was 20.5
      versus 25.2 months (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.72-0.89). Multivariate analysis indicated
      that biological therapy and Cohort B were associated with improved mOS.
      Conclusion The expected rise in bevacizumab administration was observed in Cohort
      B. Its use in first-line therapy remained relatively low even after the
      reimbursement, potentially reflecting real world practice where comorbidities,
      primary in-situ and age may contraindicate its use. mOS improvement over time was
      attributed to increased access to biological therapy, especially bevacizumab and
      possibly advance in peri-operative and supportive care. 

PMID- 26878156
TI  - Prognostic significance of modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in patients with non
      metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the modified
      Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) as a prognostic factor in patients with non
      metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and methods Between
      June 1994 and July 2012, 469 patients with RCC underwent radical or partial
      nephrectomy at two hospitals. Among these patients, 65 with non-clear cell type
      histology and 16 with lymph-node or distant metastasis were excluded. The medical
      records of the remaining 388 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The mGPS was
      calculated using a selective combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin
      as previously described. The prognostic significance of various
      clinicopathological variables including mGPS was analyzed using univariate and
      multivariate analyses. Results Of the total 388 patients, 40 patients (10.3%)
      developed local recurrence or distant metastasis and 18 patients (4.6%) died of
      disease during the follow-up period. The univariate analysis identified CRP,
      mGPS, thrombocytosis, T stage, Fuhrman's nuclear grade and lymphovascular
      invasion as significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and
      cancer-specific survival (CSS). The multivariate analysis indicated that mGPS (p
      < 0.001), T stage (p = 0.024) and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.046) were
      independent prognostic factors for RFS, whereas mGPS (p = 0.001) was the only
      independent prognostic factor for CSS. Conclusions The mGPS is an independent
      prognostic factor for RFS and CSS in patients with non-metastatic clear cell RCC
      treated with radical or partial nephrectomy. These findings suggest that mGPS
      should be used for predicting recurrence or survival in patients undergoing
      nephrectomy for non-metastatic clear cell RCC. 

PMID- 26878157
TI  - Strategies in early clinical development for the treatment of basic defects of
      cystic fibrosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Twenty-six years after the identification of the gene responsible
      for cystic fibrosis (CF), controversies still surround the pathogenesis of the
      disease that continues to burden and shorten lives. Therefore, finding effective
      therapeutic strategies that target the basic defect of CF is crucially needed.
      AREAS COVERED: This review offers a comprehensive survey of fundamental therapies
      in early stages of development for the treatment of CF. The first part describes
      recent strategies targeting the basic defect either at the gene or at the
      transcript level. The second part summarizes a panel of novel strategies
      targeting protein repair. The third part reports strategies targeting non-CFTR
      channels. EXPERT OPINION: Recent major breakthroughs in CF therapy have been
      made, raising hope to find a cure for CF. Apart from Vertex corrector and
      potentiator molecules (lumacaftor, ivacaftor, VX-661) and from ataluren, used to
      correct nonsense mutations, most compounds being currently tested are in very
      early (I-II) phases of development and definitive clinical results are keenly
      expected. Among the broad list of molecules and strategies being tested, the QR
      010 compound and inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (sildenafil, vardenafil)
      could reveal a strong potentiality as therapeutic candidates to cure CF.

PMID- 26878158
TI  - The modulation of disjunctive assertions.
AB  - The theory of mental models postulates that disjunctions of the sort, A or B,
      where A and B are sensible everyday clauses, have a core meaning that allows an
      inclusive interpretation, referring to three possibilities: A and not-B, not-A
      and B, and A and B. The meaning of the clauses and knowledge can modulate this
      meaning by blocking the construction of at least one model of a possibility-for
      example, "Rui is playing tennis or he is surfing" blocks the model of Rui doing
      both activities. This theory is implemented in a computer program. Three
      experiments investigated the core interpretation and interpretations in which the
      contents of the clauses should block the model of A and B (as in the preceding
      example), the model of A and not-B, or the model of not-A and B. In Experiment 1,
      the participants listed the possibilities for each of the four sorts of
      disjunction. The results corroborated the predicted modulations. In Experiment 2,
      these predicted interpretations governed the conclusions that participants
      accepted from disjunctions and categorical premises. In Experiment 3, the
      predicted interpretations yielded reliable effects on the conclusions that the
      participants drew for themselves. We relate these results to theories of
      reasoning.

PMID- 26878159
TI  - Prodrugs for transdermal drug delivery - trends and challenges.
AB  - Prodrugs continue to attract significant interest in the transdermal drug
      delivery field. These moieties can confer favorable physicochemical properties on
      transdermal drug delivery candidates. Alkyl chain lengthening, pegylation are
      some of the strategies used for prodrug synthesis. It is usually important to
      optimize partition coefficient, water and oil solubilities of drugs. In this
      review, progress made in the field of prodrugs for percutaneous penetration is
      highlighted and the challenges discussed.

PMID- 26878160
TI  - Simultanagnosia: when all you can see are trees, the forest still rules.
AB  - We investigated the nature of covertly processed visual elements in a patient
      with simultanagnosia, a disorder characterized by the inability to perceive
      multiple aspects of a visual scene all at once. Using the first letter of the
      color words red, green, or blue, we created a novel testing paradigm that
      combined Navon global-local stimuli with a single-letter Stroop task. The letters
      R, G, or B were arranged in the overall configuration of a large R, G, or B. The
      patient never could report seeing the larger letter, and always could name the
      smaller letters. But, when asked to name ink color only, and ignore letter
      identity, the large letter covertly affected responding. That is, when the large
      letter was the same as the first letter of the ink color, the patient named ink
      color more quickly and accurately than when the large letter was incongruent with
      the correct response. Moreover, when the covert global and overt local visual
      processing conflicted, the global letter always dominated over the local letters,
      despite the patient's inability to perceive it consciously. These data show that
      the covert processing of global visual information in simultanagnosia can
      dominate overt local information, even across different streams of information
      processing.

PMID- 26878161
TI  - Assessing ventricular function in preterm infants using tissue Doppler imaging.
AB  - Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a new echocardiographic technique that directly
      measures velocities in the myocardium. In adult cardiology, it has been well
      established that echocardiographic assessment using TDI in patients with heart
      failure should be essential. Recently, TDI assessment has also been applied in
      children, infants, fetuses, and preterm infants. In very preterm infants, we
      serially performed echocardiographic assessment including TDI prospectively, and
      found that TDI velocities at both the mitral and tricuspid valve annulus changed
      significantly within the first 24 hours of life. It was suggested that the E/Ea
      ratio for both ventricles in very preterm infants might be almost stable in the
      early neonatal period. It is suggested that assessment of ventricular function
      using TDI in preterm infants might be of great value because it allows assessment
      of both diastolic ventricular function and right ventricular function. 

PMID- 26878162
TI  - Synthesis and biological evaluation of n-butylphthalide derivatives as anti
      platelet aggregation agents.
AB  - New analogues of n-butylphthalide (NBP) bearing various lengths of alkyl and
      different substitution at the two-position of phthalide were designed and
      synthesised. Preliminary evaluation and prediction of ACD LogP software indicate
      that the derivatives display significant improvement in water solubility than NBP
      does. Further biological analysis showed that NBP analogues specifically inhibit
      platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid but have no effect on that
      induced by adenosine 5-diphosphate. Especially compounds 1 and 3 were stronger
      than classical anti-platelet drug, aspirin, and equal potent with NBP,
      respectively. These findings provide an alternative approach to the development
      of NBP analogues with anti-platelet aggregation activity with good water
      solubility for the intervention of ischemic stroke.

PMID- 26878163
TI  - Predicting three-month and 12-month post-fitting real-world hearing-aid outcome
      using pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Determine the extent to which pre-fitting acceptable noise level
      (ANL), with or without other predictors such as hearing-aid experience, can
      predict real-world hearing-aid outcomes at three and 12 months post-fitting.
      DESIGN: ANLs were measured before hearing-aid fitting. Post-fitting outcome was
      assessed using the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and
      a hearing-aid use questionnaire. Models that predicted outcomes (successful vs.
      unsuccessful) were built using logistic regression and several machine learning
      algorithms, and were evaluated using the cross-validation technique. STUDY
      SAMPLE: A total of 132 adults with hearing impairment. RESULTS: The prediction
      accuracy of the models ranged from 61% to 68% (IOI-HA) and from 55% to 61%
      (hearing-aid use questionnaire). The models performed more poorly in predicting
      12-month than three-month outcomes. The ANL cutoff between successful and
      unsuccessful users was higher for experienced (~18 dB) than first-time hearing
      aid users (~10 dB), indicating that most experienced users will be predicted as
      successful users regardless of their ANLs. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-fitting ANL is more
      useful in predicting short-term (three months) hearing-aid outcomes for first
      time users, as measured by the IOI-HA. The prediction accuracy was lower than the
      accuracy reported by some previous research that used a cross-sectional design.

PMID- 26878164
TI  - Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and cardiovascular diseases: an update.
AB  - As we know, inflammatory and oxidative stresses have a role in the pathogenesis
      of cardiovascular disease. This knowledge has triggered many investigations
      targeted to inflammatory markers. One such example, the neutrophil to lymphocyte
      ratio (NLR), is an inexpensive and easily accessible inflammatory marker whose
      role in cardiovascular disease has been studied extensively in the past few
      years. The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio has been shown to predict cardiac
      arrhythmias as well as short- and long-term mortality in patients with acute
      coronary syndromes (ACS). It has correlated well with ACS risk prediction models
      such as the GRACE and SYNTAX scores. A higher NLR has also been associated with
      frequent congestive heart failure decompensation and long-term mortality. The
      neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio also appears to have a prognostic role in patients
      undergoing transaortic valve replacement and the progression of valvular heart
      diseases. Despite the science of inflammatory biomarkers having been described
      decades ago, NLR appears to be enjoying a renaissance as a cost-effective
      biomarker with immediate clinical predictability and prognostication. 

PMID- 26878166
TI  - Improving visual search in instruction manuals using pictograms.
AB  - Instruction manuals provide important messages about the proper use of a product.
      They should communicate in such a way that they facilitate users' searches for
      specific information. Despite the increasing research interest in visual search,
      there is a lack of empirical knowledge concerning the role of pictograms in
      search performance during the browsing of a manual's pages. This study
      investigates how the inclusion of pictograms improves the search for the target
      information. Furthermore, it examines whether this search process is influenced
      by the visual similarity between the pictograms and the searched for information.
      On the basis of eye-tracking measurements, as objective indicators of the
      participants' visual attention, it was found that pictograms can be a useful
      element of search strategy. Another interesting finding was that boldface
      highlighting is a more effective method for improving user experience in
      information seeking, rather than the similarity between the pictorial and
      adjacent textual information. Implications for designing effective user manuals
      are discussed. Practitioner Summary: Users often view instruction manuals with
      the aim of finding specific information. We used eye-tracking technology to
      examine different manual pages in order to improve the user's visual search for
      target information. The results indicate that the use of pictograms and bold
      highlighting of relevant information facilitate the search process.

PMID- 26878165
TI  - Functionalised alginate flow seeding microparticles for use in Particle Image
      Velocimetry (PIV).
AB  - Alginate microparticles as flow seeding fulfil all the requirements that are
      recommended for the velocity measurements in Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).
      These spherical microparticles offer the advantage of being environmentally
      friendly, having excellent seeding properties and they can be produced via a very
      simple process. In the present study, the performances of alginate microparticles
      functionalised with a fluorescent dye, Rhodamine B (RhB), for PIV have been
      studied. The efficacy of fluorescence is appreciated in a number of PIV
      applications since it can boost the signal-to-noise ratio. Alginate
      microparticles functionalised with RhB have high emission efficiency, desirable
      match with fluid density and controlled size. The study of the particles
      behaviour in strong acid and basic solutions and ammonia is also included. This
      type of particles can be used for measurements with PIV and Planar Laser Induced
      Fluorescence (PLIF) simultaneously, including acid-base reactions. 

PMID- 26878167
TI  - Discourses in stroke rehabilitation as they present themselves in current
      physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
AB  - Aim This study aims to discuss current perceptions of rehabilitation and how
      present rehabilitation practice is affected by dominating discourses in Danish
      society by exploring discourses expressed in official publications and the
      constructed journal notes of occupational and physiotherapists' practice of
      stroke rehabilitation. Method The frame of reference is Fairclough's critical
      discourse analysis. The analysis comprises seven official documents relevant to
      stroke rehabilitation provided in Danish health services in 2012-2013. Also,
      notes written by occupational therapists and physiotherapists in medical records
      of 10 patients with a stroke diagnosis admitted to hospital in 2012. The
      documents included were read thoroughly. The texts were analyzed deductively,
      focusing on discursive practice on articulated understandings of rehabilitation,
      health practice approaches, and social practice. Results The dominating
      discourses seem to be Western neoliberalism organizational, medical and ethical
      discourses. The macro level of discourses consisted of political documents
      addressing rehabilitation nationally. The meso level mainly concerned medical
      discourses within stroke rehabilitation whereas the micro level represented local
      medical and ethical discourses. Conclusion The neoliberal discourse supports the
      medical discourse with strong emphasis on evidence-based interventions. In
      contrast to ethical discourses, documentation of rehabilitation practice marked
      more attention being paid to facilitating the patient's independence than to
      enabling the regaining of meaningful activities and participation. Implications
      for Rehabilitation Individualized rehabilitation must be organized with
      flexibility as it is a complex process Critical reflectiveness among health
      professionals is needed to provide individualized rehabilitation of high quality
      A broader range of stake holders, including patient organizations, are in demand
      within health policy making The discourses that construct rehabilitation policy
      and practices are sometimes in conflict, which may impact on, and impede, the
      rehabilitation for the individual patient.

PMID- 26878168
TI  - Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A
      Secondary Analysis of the DISABKIDS Questionnaire in the Field-Study Cerebral
      Palsy Subgroup.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments are increasingly
      being used to evaluate interventions and therapy outcomes in children and
      adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). A variety of psychometrically sound and
      validated generic and disease-specific instruments are available. A third type of
      instrument, the chronic-generic instrument, pertains to features of HRQOL that
      are shared by various chronic conditions.The DISABKIDS family of questionnaires
      consists of a chronic-generic core measure (DCGM-37) and several condition
      specific modules, among these, a CP module (CPM). The objective of this article
      was to describe the performance and, specifically, the validity of the DCGM-37
      and CPM in children and adolescents with CP. METHODS: Psychometric properties of
      the DCGM-37 and the CPM are presented. The discriminant validity was assessed
      compared with generic measures of HRQOL regarding different levels of impairment
      (physical independence; developmental delay). RESULTS: A total of 86 patients
      with CP (mean age 13 years, range 7-19 years) and 78 main caretakers participated
      in this study. The DCGM-37 and CPM showed much better discriminative ability as
      compared with generic questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: The DCGM-37 and CPM were able
      to differentiate between patients with different levels of impairment and can be
      recommended for treatment evaluation and group comparison in clinical studies of
      children and adolescents with CP.

PMID- 26878169
TI  - [The 6th International Conference on snakebites and scorpion stings envenoming in
      Africa: a crucial step for the management of envenoming].

PMID- 26878170
TI  - Measles virus nucleocapsid protein increases osteoblast differentiation in
      Paget's disease.
AB  - Paget's disease (PD) is characterized by focal and dramatic bone resorption and
      formation. Treatments that target osteoclasts (OCLs) block both pagetic bone
      resorption and formation; therefore, PD offers key insights into mechanisms that
      couple bone resorption and formation. Here, we evaluated OCLs from 3 patients
      with PD and determined that measles virus nucleocapsid protein (MVNP) was
      expressed in 70% of these OCLs. Moreover, transgenic mice with OCL-specific
      expression of MVNP (MVNP mice) developed PD-like bone lesions that required MVNP
      dependent induction of high IL-6 expression levels in OCLs. In contrast, mice
      harboring a knockin of p62P394L (p62-KI mice), which is the most frequent PD
      associated mutation, exhibited increased bone resorption, but not formation.
      Evaluation of OCLs from MVNP, p62-KI, and WT mice revealed increased IGF1
      expression in MVNP-expressing OCLs that resulted from the high IL-6 expression
      levels in these cells. IL-6, in turn, increased the expression of coupling
      factors, specifically ephrinB2 on OCLs and EphB4 on osteoblasts (OBs). IGF1
      enhanced ephrinB2 expression on OCLs and OB differentiation. Importantly,
      ephrinB2 and IGF1 levels were increased in MVNP-expressing OCLs from patients
      with PD and MVNP-transduced human OCLs compared with levels detected in controls.
      Further, anti-IGF1 or anti-IGF1R blocked Runx2 and osteocalcin upregulation in
      OBs cocultured with MVNP-expressing OCLs. These results suggest that in PD, MVNP
      upregulates IL-6 and IGF1 in OCLs to increase ephrinB2-EphB4 coupling and bone
      formation. 

PMID- 26878171
TI  - FGF23 signaling impairs neutrophil recruitment and host defense during CKD.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with impaired host response and
      increased susceptibility to infections. Leukocyte recruitment during inflammation
      must be tightly regulated to protect the host against pathogens. FGF23 levels are
      increased in blood during CKD, and levels of this hormone have been associated
      with a variety of adverse effects in CKD patients. Here, we have shown that CKD
      impairs leukocyte recruitment into inflamed tissue and host defense in mice and
      humans. FGF23 neutralization during CKD in murine models restored leukocyte
      recruitment and host defense. Intravital microscopy of animals with chronic
      kidney failure showed that FGF23 inhibits chemokine-activated leukocyte arrest on
      the endothelium, and downregulation of FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) on PMNs rescued
      host defense in these mice. In vitro, FGF23 inhibited PMN adhesion, arrest under
      flow, and transendothelial migration. Mechanistically, FGF23 binding to FGFR2
      counteracted selectin- and chemokine-triggered beta2 integrin activation on PMNs
      by activating protein kinase A (PKA) and inhibiting activation of the small
      GTPase Rap1. Moreover, knockdown of PKA abolished the inhibitory effect of FGF23
      on integrin activation. Together, our data reveal that FGF23 acts directly on
      PMNs and dampens host defense by direct interference with chemokine signaling and
      integrin activation. 

PMID- 26878172
TI  - Blocking mitochondrial calcium release in Schwann cells prevents demyelinating
      neuropathies.
AB  - Schwann cells produce myelin sheath around peripheral nerve axons. Myelination is
      critical for rapid propagation of action potentials, as illustrated by the large
      number of acquired and hereditary peripheral neuropathies, such as diabetic
      neuropathy or Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases, that are commonly associated with a
      process of demyelination. However, the early molecular events that trigger the
      demyelination program in these diseases remain unknown. Here, we used virally
      delivered fluorescent probes and in vivo time-lapse imaging in a mouse model of
      demyelination to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the demyelination
      process. We demonstrated that mitochondrial calcium released by voltage-dependent
      anion channel 1 (VDAC1) after sciatic nerve injury triggers Schwann cell
      demyelination via ERK1/2, p38, JNK, and c-JUN activation. In diabetic mice, VDAC1
      activity was altered, resulting in a mitochondrial calcium leak in Schwann cell
      cytoplasm, thereby priming the cell for demyelination. Moreover, reduction of
      mitochondrial calcium release, either by shRNA-mediated VDAC1 silencing or
      pharmacological inhibition, prevented demyelination, leading to nerve conduction
      and neuromuscular performance recovery in rodent models of diabetic neuropathy
      and Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases. Therefore, this study identifies mitochondria
      as the early key factor in the molecular mechanism of peripheral demyelination
      and opens a potential opportunity for the treatment of demyelinating peripheral
      neuropathies. 

PMID- 26878174
TI  - Heterogeneity of leukemia-initiating capacity of chronic myelogenous leukemia
      stem cells.
AB  - Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) results from transformation of a long-term
      hematopoietic stem cell (LTHSC) by expression of the BCR-ABL fusion gene.
      However, BCR-ABL-expressing LTHSCs are heterogeneous in their capacity as
      leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Although discrepancies in proliferative, self
      renewal, and differentiation properties of normal LTHSCs are being increasingly
      recognized, the mechanisms underlying heterogeneity of leukemic LTHSCs are poorly
      understood. Using a CML mouse model, we identified gene expression differences
      between leukemic and nonleukemic LTHSCs. Expression of the thrombopoietin (THPO)
      receptor MPL was elevated in leukemic LTHSC populations. Compared with LTHSCs
      with low MPL expression, LTHSCs with high MPL expression showed enhanced JAK/STAT
      signaling and proliferation in response to THPO in vitro and increased
      leukemogenic capacity in vivo. Although both G0 and S phase subpopulations were
      increased in LTHSCs with high MPL expression, LSC capacity was restricted to
      quiescent cells. Inhibition of MPL expression in CML LTHSCs reduced THPO-induced
      JAK/STAT signaling and leukemogenic potential. These same phenotypes were also
      present in LTHSCs from patients with CML, and patient LTHSCs with high MPL
      expression had reduced sensitivity to BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment
      but increased sensitivity to JAK inhibitors. Together, our studies identify MPL
      expression levels as a key determinant of heterogeneous leukemia-initiating
      capacity and drug sensitivity of CML LTHSCs and suggest that high MPL-expressing
      CML stem cells are potential targets for therapy. 

PMID- 26878177
TI  - Obesity, PANDAS, Smoking, and Gun Violence.

PMID- 26878176
TI  - Production of high optical purity l-lactic acid from waste activated sludge by
      supplementing carbohydrate: effect of temperature and pretreatment time.
AB  - It has been widely accepted that the most environmentally beneficial way to treat
      waste activated sludge (WAS), the byproduct of municipal wastewater treatment
      plant, is to recover the valuable organic acid. However, the bio-conversion of
      lactic acid, one of the high added-value chemical, is seldom reported from WAS
      fermentation. In this paper, l-lactic acid was observed dominant in the WAS
      fermentation liquid with carbohydrate addition at ambient temperature.
      Furthermore, the effect of temperature on l-lactic acid and d-lactic acid
      production was fully discussed: two isomers were rapidly produced and consumed up
      in one day at mesophilic condition; and almost optically pure l-lactic acid was
      generated at thermophilic condition, yet time-consuming with yield of l-lactic
      acid enhancing by 52.9% compared to that at ambient temperature. The study
      mechanism showed that mesophilic condition was optimal for both production and
      consumption of l-lactic acid and d-lactic acid, while consumption of l-lactic
      acid and production of d-lactic acid were severely inhibited at thermophilic
      condition. Therefore, by maintaining thermophilic for 4 h in advance and
      subsequently fermenting mesophilic for 34 h, the concentration of l-lactic acid
      with optical activity of 98.3% was improved to 16.6 +/- 0.5 g COD/L at a high
      specific efficiency of 0.6097/d. 

PMID- 26878178
TI  - A Nanny Versus Daycare: Is There a Right Choice?
AB  - As spring is on the horizon, my children begin to anticipate the end of the
      school year with thoughts of sleeping in, free days at the pool, and long
      evenings outside with friends. I, too, look forward to this time of the year, and
      a much needed hiatus from coaxing kids out of bed, making school lunches, and
      homework help in the evenings. However, I do not look forward to finding a new
      "kid sitter" for my preteens and teenager. Choice of childcare is perceived as
      perhaps one of the most stressful decisions parents must make for their children.
      Pediatic caregivers should discuss childcare as early as the prenatal visit and
      at all well visits thereafter.

PMID- 26878175
TI  - MLL-AF9- and HOXA9-mediated acute myeloid leukemia stem cell self-renewal
      requires JMJD1C.
AB  - Self-renewal is a hallmark of both hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and leukemia
      stem cells (LSCs); therefore, the identification of mechanisms that are required
      for LSC, but not HSC, function could provide therapeutic opportunities that are
      more effective and less toxic than current treatments. Here, we employed an in
      vivo shRNA screen and identified jumonji domain-containing protein JMJD1C as an
      important driver of MLL-AF9 leukemia. Using a conditional mouse model, we showed
      that loss of JMJD1C substantially decreased LSC frequency and caused
      differentiation of MLL-AF9- and homeobox A9-driven (HOXA9-driven) leukemias. We
      determined that JMJD1C directly interacts with HOXA9 and modulates a HOXA9
      controlled gene-expression program. In contrast, loss of JMJD1C led to only minor
      defects in blood homeostasis and modest effects on HSC self-renewal. Together,
      these data establish JMJD1C as an important mediator of MLL-AF9- and HOXA9-driven
      LSC function that is largely dispensable for HSC function. 

PMID- 26878173
TI  - Genomic and transcriptomic hallmarks of poorly differentiated and anaplastic
      thyroid cancers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid
      cancer (ATC) are rare and frequently lethal tumors that so far have not been
      subjected to comprehensive genetic characterization. METHODS: We performed next
      generation sequencing of 341 cancer genes from 117 patient-derived PDTCs and ATCs
      and analyzed the transcriptome of a representative subset of 37 tumors. Results
      were analyzed in the context of The Cancer Genome Atlas study (TCGA study) of
      papillary thyroid cancers (PTC). RESULTS: Compared to PDTCs, ATCs had a greater
      mutation burden, including a higher frequency of mutations in TP53, TERT
      promoter, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway effectors, SWI/SNF subunits, and histone
      methyltransferases. BRAF and RAS were the predominant drivers and dictated
      distinct tropism for nodal versus distant metastases in PDTC. RAS and BRAF
      sharply distinguished between PDTCs defined by the Turin (PDTC-Turin) versus
      MSKCC (PDTC-MSK) criteria, respectively. Mutations of EIF1AX, a component of the
      translational preinitiation complex, were markedly enriched in PDTCs and ATCs and
      had a striking pattern of co-occurrence with RAS mutations. While TERT promoter
      mutations were rare and subclonal in PTCs, they were clonal and highly prevalent
      in advanced cancers. Application of the TCGA-derived BRAF-RAS score (a measure of
      MAPK transcriptional output) revealed a preserved relationship with BRAF/RAS
      mutation in PDTCs, whereas ATCs were BRAF-like irrespective of driver mutation.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data support a model of tumorigenesis whereby PDTCs and ATCs
      arise from well-differentiated tumors through the accumulation of key additional
      genetic abnormalities, many of which have prognostic and possible therapeutic
      relevance. The widespread genomic disruptions in ATC compared with PDTC
      underscore their greater virulence and higher mortality. FUNDING: This work was
      supported in part by NIH grants CA50706, CA72597, P50-CA72012, P30-CA008748, and
      5T32-CA160001; the Lefkovsky Family Foundation; the Society of Memorial Sloan
      Kettering; the Byrne fund; and Cycle for Survival.

PMID- 26878179
TI  - A 17-Year-Old Boy with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Unexpected Endoscopy
      Findings.

PMID- 26878180
TI  - An 8-Month-Old Infant with Persistent Stridor.

PMID- 26878181
TI  - Pediatric Gastroenterology.

PMID- 26878182
TI  - Clinical Review of Failure to Thrive in Pediatric Patients.
AB  - Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common problem that occurs when caloric intake is
      insufficient to maintain growth. For the majority of children it can be reversed
      with behavioral modifications and increased caloric provisions. In a minority of
      cases, FTT is the symptom of underlying organic disease. Routine evaluation with
      laboratory tests, imagining studies, and endoscopy results in an etiology of FTT
      in <1.4% of cases, and when investigations are positive the organic etiology is
      most often suspected based on history and/or physical examination. Therefore,
      these evaluations should be limited to those children with clear symptoms of
      organic disease and those who fail to grow with behavioral and nutritional
      interventions.

PMID- 26878183
TI  - Hereditary Pancreatitis.
AB  - A 13-year-old boy with a strong family history of hereditary pancreatitis was
      found to have a PRSS1 mutation after being tested at age 5 years during his first
      documented incident of pancreatitis. Since then, a multidisciplinary team has
      been treating him for the diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis. His pain episodes
      increased in severity over the past several months such that the pain began to
      severely interfere with his daily life. After extensive discussion, a total
      pancreatectomy with auto islet cell transplant was performed. He is now pain free
      and does not require any insulin. This leads us to the questions of what is
      hereditary pancreatitis and how is it diagnosed? What are the management and
      follow-up strategies needed for these patients? This article addresses these
      questions and informs the reader about this diagnosis and the importance of
      having a high index of clinical suspicion.

PMID- 26878184
TI  - Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Pediatrics.
AB  - A 16-year-old Hispanic girl with an elevated body mass index in an otherwise
      normal state of health presented for her well-child examination. She had signs of
      metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance including increased waist circumference
      and acanthosis nigricans. Laboratory results revealed elevated transaminases with
      otherwise normal hepatic function. Based on the physical examination and
      laboratory results, she was diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD). After further evaluation, she eventually underwent a liver biopsy. The
      biopsy revealed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with stage 2 fibrosis. This
      article reviews the definition of NAFLD and NASH, an increasingly prevalent cause
      of pediatric chronic liver disease associated with obesity and metabolic
      syndrome. The article also outlines the epidemiology, risk factors, and natural
      history of NAFLD, which may help identify and prevent high-risk pediatric
      patients from progressing to irreversible liver disease. Understanding the
      diagnostic and treatment options offers the best chance at preventing and
      reversing the early stages of this disease.

PMID- 26878185
TI  - Recurrent Pediatric Perianal Swelling.
AB  - Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disease
      consisting of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both disease
      processes can share similar clinical symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea,
      hematochezia, and weight loss; CD can also be complicated by penetrating and
      fistulizing disease. Perianal skin tags, perianal abscesses, recto-cutaneous
      fistulae, and rectal stenosis are among the phenotypic characteristics of
      perianal CD. Current treatment strategies are focused on the surgical drainage of
      abscesses and the closure of fistulous tracts as well as controlling intestinal
      inflammation with the use of immunomodulators (6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate)
      and biologics (infliximab and adalimumab). Current guidelines by the American
      Gastroenterology Association and the North American Society for Pediatric
      Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommend a combination of surgical
      intervention and medical management for the treatment of perianal CD.

PMID- 26878186
TI  - Eosinophilic Esophagitis: The "Not-So-Rare" Disease.
AB  - Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a relatively newly described disorder with
      increasing incidence. Patients with EoE may present at all ages from childhood
      through adulthood. Presenting symptoms may vary from feeding refusal, gagging,
      and/or vomiting in the younger population, dysphagia, chest pain, and abdominal
      pain in adolescents, as well as emergent food impactions. However, there are
      strict diagnostic criteria that must be met to make the diagnosis. Specifically,
      the diagnosis of EoE requires at least 15 eosinophils per high-powered field in
      the esophageal biopsies and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction after other
      causes, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and proton pump inhibitor
      responsive esophageal eosinophilia, have been ruled out. Common treatments
      include diet modifications and/or topical corticosteroids.

PMID- 26878187
TI  - Charles Dickens and Barnaby Rudge: The First Description of Williams Syndrome?
AB  - Williams syndrome, a disorder caused by a genetic deletion and characterized by
      moderate intellectual disability with relatively strong language skills and a
      hypersocial personality, was first described in the medical literature in 1961.
      However, 120 years earlier, Charles Dickens wrote the novel Barnaby Rudge, which
      follows an "idiot" through London's Gordon Riots of 1780. We propose that Dickens
      based this character on a person he knew with Williams syndrome. Common features
      include an "elfin" face, decreased cognitive ability and dependence on a
      caretaker, strong language skills with emphatic and perseverative speech,
      anxiety, and an empathetic, overly trusting personality. In the novel, these
      traits lead the character Barnaby to be duped into actively participating in the
      riots, which nearly results in his hanging. This example of fiction providing a
      description of a disorder more detailed than that of medical journals more than a
      century later should encourage physicians to look to sources beyond traditional
      scientific articles for valuable clinical information.

PMID- 26878188
TI  - Interfacial properties of a carbyne-rich nanostructured carbon thin film in ionic
      liquid.
AB  - Nanostructured carbon sp(2) (ns-C) thin films with up to 30% of sp-coordinated
      atoms (carbynes) were produced in a high vacuum by the low kinetic energy
      deposition of carbon clusters produced in the gas phase and accelerated by a
      supersonic expansion. Immediately after deposition the ns-C films were immersed
      in situ in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The interfacial properties of ns-C films
      in the ionic liquid electrolyte were characterized by electrochemical impedance
      spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The so-prepared carbyne-rich electrodes
      showed superior electric double layer (EDL) capacitance and electric conductivity
      compared to ns-C electrodes containing only sp(2) carbon, showing the substantial
      influence of carbynes on the electrochemical properties of nanostructured carbon
      electrodes. 

PMID- 26878189
TI  - Product Rearrangement from Altering a Single Residue in the Rice syn-Copalyl
      Diphosphate Synthase.
AB  - Through site-directed mutagenesis targeted at identification of the catalytic
      base in the rice (Oryza sativa) syn-copalyl diphosphate synthase OsCPS4, changes
      to a single residue (H501) were found to induce rearrangement rather than
      immediate deprotonation of the initially formed bicycle, leading to production of
      the novel compound syn-halimadienyl diphosphate. These mutational results are
      combined with quantum chemical calculations to provide insight into the
      underlying reaction mechanism. 

PMID- 26878190
TI  - Variable laterality of corticospinal tract axons that regenerate after spinal
      cord injury as a result of PTEN deletion or knock-down.
AB  - Corticospinal tract (CST) axons from one hemisphere normally extend and terminate
      predominantly in the contralateral spinal cord. We previously showed that
      deleting the gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in the sensorimotor
      cortex enables CST axons to regenerate after spinal cord injury and that some
      regenerating axons extend along the "wrong" side. Here, we characterize the
      degree of specificity of regrowth in terms of laterality. PTEN was selectively
      deleted via cortical adeno-associated virus (AAV)-Cre injections in neonatal PTEN
      floxed mice. As adults, mice received dorsal hemisection injuries at T12 or
      complete crush injuries at T9. CST axons from one hemisphere were traced by
      unilateral biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) injections in PTEN-deleted mice with
      spinal cord injury and in noninjured PTEN-floxed mice that had not received AAV
      Cre. In noninjured mice, 97.9 +/- 0.7% of BDA-labeled axons in white matter and
      88.5 +/- 1.0% of BDA-labeled axons in gray matter were contralateral to the
      cortex of origin. In contrast, laterality of CST axons that extended past a
      lesion due to PTEN deletion varied across animals. In some cases, regenerated
      axons extended predominantly on the ipsilateral side; in other cases, axons
      extended predominantly contralaterally, and in others, axons were similar in
      numbers on both sides. Similar results were seen in analyses of cases from
      previous studies using short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated PTEN knock-down. These
      results indicate that CST axons that extend past a lesion due to PTEN deletion or
      knock-down do not maintain the contralateral rule of the noninjured CST,
      highlighting one aspect of how the resultant circuitry from regenerating axons
      may differ from that of the uninjured CST. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2654-2676, 2016.
      (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878191
TI  - Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) 23 gene transcription depends on actin
      cytoskeleton reorganization.
AB  - FGF23 regulates renal phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. Loss of FGF23 results
      in massive calcification and rapid aging. FGF23 production is stimulated by
      1,25(OH)2D3 and NFkappaB signaling. Here, we report that treatment of UMR106
      osteoblast-like cells with 1,25(OH)2D3, inducing Fgf23 transcription, resulted in
      actin polymerization which was blocked by NFkappaB inhibitor wogonin.
      Interestingly, 1,25(OH)2D3-induced Fgf23 gene transcription was abolished by the
      actin microfilament-disrupting agent cytochalasin B, as well as by the inhibition
      of actin-regulating Rac1/PAK1 signaling. Our results provide strong evidence that
      actin redistribution regulated by the Rac1/PAK1 pathway participates in
      1,25(OH)2D3-induced Fgf23 gene transcription.

PMID- 26878193
TI  - Pneumocystis pneumonia in non-HIV children: a 10-year retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pneumocytis pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening disease in non-HIV
      infected children. However, there have been few studies that have examined the
      clinical characteristics associated with PCP and outcomes for these pediatric
      patients. OBJECTIVES: A retrospective review was performed over a 10-year period
      to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of non-HIV children
      diagnosed with PCP at Beijing Children's Hospital in China. RESULTS: A total of
      60 non-HIV children diagnosed with PCP were included in the study. The overall
      mortality was 41.7% (25/60). Underlying diseases included connective tissue
      disease (n = 23; 38.3%), hematological disease (n = 14; 23.3%), nephrotic disease
      (n = 8; 13.3%) and immunodeficiency disease (n = 10; 16.7%). In all, 26/40
      (65.0%) children developed PCP after receiving a follow-up large dose of
      glucocorticoid because of recurrent disease. Median time from beginning
      glucocorticoid medication to PCP diagnosis was 245.9 days (range: 14-2100 days).
      The area under the ROC curve of CD4/CD8 T cell levels for the diagnosis of PCP
      was 0.902 (95% confidence interval, 0.849-0.955). The analysis rendered an
      optimum cut-off value of 0.715 corresponding to 89.2% sensitivity and 80.4%
      specificity. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, three parameters
      were identified as significantly associated with mortality: LDH level, mechanical
      ventilation and co-infection. CONCLUSION: The outcome of PCP in non-HIV children
      remains poor. A critical stage for PCP development is administration of follow-up
      glucocorticoid without prophylaxis. CD4/CD8 ratio is a suitable biomarker for
      predicting PCP and diagnostic of PCP in non-HIV children. Poor prognostic factors
      include LDH level, need for mechanical ventilation and co-infection.

PMID- 26878194
TI  - Linker Modification Strategies To Control the Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen
      (PSMA)-Targeting and Pharmacokinetic Properties of DOTA-Conjugated PSMA
      Inhibitors.
AB  - Since prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is up-regulated in nearly all
      stages of prostate cancer (PCa), PSMA can be considered as a viable diagnostic
      biomarker and treatment target in PCa. This project is focused on the development
      and evaluation of a series of compounds directed against PSMA. The modifications
      to the linker are designed to improve the binding potential and pharmacokinetics
      for theranostic application. In addition, the results help to further elucidate
      the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the resulting PSMA inhibitors. Both
      in vitro and in vivo experiments of 18 synthesized PSMA inhibitor variants showed
      that systematic chemical modification of the linker has a significant impact on
      the tumor-targeting and pharmacokinetic properties. This approach can lead to an
      improved management of patients suffering from recurrent prostate cancer by the
      use of one radiolabeling precursor, which can be radiolabeled either with (68)Ga
      for diagnosis or with (177)Lu or (225)Ac for therapy. 

PMID- 26878192
TI  - Ribosome-Templated Azide-Alkyne Cycloadditions: Synthesis of Potent Macrolide
      Antibiotics by In Situ Click Chemistry.
AB  - Over half of all antibiotics target the bacterial ribosome-nature's complex, 2.5
      MDa nanomachine responsible for decoding mRNA and synthesizing proteins.
      Macrolide antibiotics, exemplified by erythromycin, bind the 50S subunit with nM
      affinity and inhibit protein synthesis by blocking the passage of nascent
      oligopeptides. Solithromycin (1), a third-generation semisynthetic macrolide
      discovered by combinatorial copper-catalyzed click chemistry, was synthesized in
      situ by incubating either E. coli 70S ribosomes or 50S subunits with macrolide
      functionalized azide 2 and 3-ethynylaniline (3) precursors. The ribosome
      templated in situ click method was expanded from a binary reaction (i.e., one
      azide and one alkyne) to a six-component reaction (i.e., azide 2 and five
      alkynes) and ultimately to a 16-component reaction (i.e., azide 2 and 15
      alkynes). The extent of triazole formation correlated with ribosome affinity for
      the anti (1,4)-regioisomers as revealed by measured Kd values. Computational
      analysis using the site-identification by ligand competitive saturation (SILCS)
      approach indicated that the relative affinity of the ligands was associated with
      the alteration of macrolactone+desosamine-ribosome interactions caused by the
      different alkynes. Protein synthesis inhibition experiments confirmed the
      mechanism of action. Evaluation of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC)
      quantified the potency of the in situ click products and demonstrated the
      efficacy of this method in the triaging and prioritization of potent antibiotics
      that target the bacterial ribosome. Cell viability assays in human fibroblasts
      confirmed 2 and four analogues with therapeutic indices for bactericidal activity
      over in vitro mammalian cytotoxicity as essentially identical to solithromycin
      (1). 

PMID- 26878196
TI  - Effects of Multivitamin Supplements on Cognitive Function, Serum Homocysteine
      Level, and Depression of Korean Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment in
      Care Facilities.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine effects of multivitamin supplements on cognitive function,
      serum homocysteine level, and depression of Korean older adults with mild
      cognitive impairment (MCI) in care facilities. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental
      pretest-posttest control group design was employed. METHODS: Forty-eight adults
      65 years of age and older with MCI (experimental, n = 24; control, n = 24) who
      were living in care facilities in Gyeong-gi-do, Korea, were recruited.
      Multivitamin supplements as experimental treatment consisted of vitamin B6, B12,
      and folic acid. Multivitamin supplements were taken at a dosage of one pill every
      day for 12 weeks through the oral route. Measures were Mini Mental State
      Examination-Korean, serum homocysteine level, and Geriatric Depression Scale
      Short Form Korea Version. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0
      statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). FINDINGS: There were
      significant effects of multivitamin supplements on cognitive function (F = 3.624,
      p = .021), serum homocysteine level (F = 6.974, p = .001), and depression (F =
      10.849, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Multivitamin supplements increased cognitive
      function, and decreased serum homocysteine level and depression of Korean older
      adults with MCI in care facilities. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multivitamin supplements
      can be utilized for improving cognitive ability and for decreasing depression of
      Korean older adults with MCI in care facilities.

PMID- 26878195
TI  - Imprints of multiple glacial refugia in the Pyrenees revealed by phylogeography
      and palaeodistribution modelling of an endemic spider.
AB  - Mediterranean mountain ranges harbour highly endemic biota in islandlike
      habitats. Their topographic diversity offered the opportunity for mountain
      species to persist in refugial areas during episodes of major climatic change. We
      investigate the role of Quaternary climatic oscillations in shaping the
      demographic history and distribution ranges in the spider Harpactocrates
      ravastellus, endemic to the Pyrenees. Gene trees and multispecies coalescent
      analyses on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences unveiled two distinct
      lineages with a hybrid zone around the northwestern area of the Catalan Pyrenees.
      The lineages were further supported by morphological differences. Climatic niche
      based species distribution models (SDMs) identified two lowland refugia at the
      western and eastern extremes of the mountain range, which would suggest secondary
      contact following postglacial expansion of populations from both refugia.
      Neutrality test and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) analyses indicated
      that several local populations underwent severe bottlenecks followed by
      population expansions, which in combination with the deep population
      differentiation provided evidence for population survival during glacial periods
      in microrefugia across the mountain range, in addition to the main Atlantic and
      Mediterranean (western and eastern) refugia. This study sheds light on the
      complexities of Quaternary climatic oscillations in building up genetic diversity
      and local endemicity in the southern Europe mountain ranges.

PMID- 26878197
TI  - Do Solvated Electrons (e(aq)-) Reduce DNA Bases? A Gaussian 4 and Density
      Functional Theory-Molecular Dynamics Study.
AB  - The solvated electron (e(aq)-) is a primary intermediate after an ionization
      event that produces reductive DNA damage. Accurate standard redox potentials
      (E(o)) of nucleobases and of e(aq)- determine the extent of reaction of e(aq)-
      with nucleobases. In this work, E(o) values of e(aq)- and of nucleobases have
      been calculated employing the accurate ab initio Gaussian 4 theory including the
      polarizable continuum model (PCM). The Gaussian 4-calculated E(o) of e(aq)- (
      2.86 V) is in excellent agreement with the experimental one (-2.87 V). The
      Gaussian 4-calculated E(o) of nucleobases in dimethylformamide (DMF) lie in the
      range (-2.36 V to -2.86 V); they are in reasonable agreement with the
      experimental E(o) in DMF and have a mean unsigned error (MUE) = 0.22 V. However,
      inclusion of specific water molecules reduces this error significantly (MUE =
      0.07). With the use of a model of e(aq)- nucleobase complex with six water
      molecules, the reaction of e(aq)- with the adjacent nucleobase is investigated
      using approximate ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations including PCM.
      Our MD simulations show that e(aq)- transfers to uracil, thymine, cytosine, and
      adenine, within 10 to 120 fs and e(aq)- reacts with guanine only when a water
      molecule forms a hydrogen bond to O6 of guanine which stabilizes the anion
      radical.

PMID- 26878200
TI  - Computational design of donor-bridge-acceptor systems exhibiting pronounced
      quantum interference effects.
AB  - Quantum interference is a well-known phenomenon that dictates charge transport
      properties of single molecule junctions. However, reports on quantum interference
      in donor-bridge-acceptor molecules are scarce. This might be due to the
      difficulties in meeting the conditions for the presence of quantum interference
      in a donor-bridge-acceptor system. The electronic coupling between the donor,
      bridge, and acceptor moieties must be weak in order to ensure localised initial
      and final states for charge transfer. Yet, it must be strong enough to allow all
      bridge orbitals to mediate charge transfer. We present the computational route to
      the design of a donor-bridge-acceptor molecule that features the right balance
      between these contradicting requirements and exhibits pronounced interference
      effects. 

PMID- 26878198
TI  - Using MD Simulations To Calculate How Solvents Modulate Solubility.
AB  - Here, our interest is in predicting solubility in general, and we focus
      particularly on predicting how the solubility of particular solutes is modulated
      by the solvent environment. Solubility in general is extremely important, both
      for theoretical reasons - it provides an important probe of the balance between
      solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions - and for more practical reasons,
      such as how to control the solubility of a given solute via modulation of its
      environment, as in process chemistry and separations. Here, we study how the
      change of solvent affects the solubility of a given compound. That is, we
      calculate relative solubilities. We use MD simulations to calculate relative
      solubility and compare our calculated values with experiment as well as with
      results from several other methods, SMD and UNIFAC, the latter of which is
      commonly used in chemical engineering design. We find that straightforward
      solubility calculations based on molecular simulations using a general small
      molecule force field outperform SMD and UNIFAC both in terms of accuracy and
      coverage of the relevant chemical space. 

PMID- 26878199
TI  - 'To Measure is to Know.' Advancing the Use of Outcome Measures in the
      Physiotherapy Profession.

PMID- 26878201
TI  - Sc20C60: a volleyballene.
AB  - An exceptionally stable hollow cage containing 20 scandium atoms and 60 carbon
      atoms has been identified. This Sc20C60 molecular cluster has a Th point group
      symmetry and a volleyball-like shape that we refer to below as "Volleyballene".
      Electronic structure analysis shows that the formation of delocalized pi bonds
      between Sc atoms and the neighboring pentagonal rings made of carbon atoms is
      crucial for stabilizing the cage structure. A relatively large HOMO-LUMO gap
      (~1.4 eV) was found. The results of vibrational frequency analysis and molecular
      dynamics simulations both demonstrate that this Volleyballene molecule is
      exceptionally stable. 

PMID- 26878202
TI  - High Thermal Stability of La2O3- and CeO2-Stabilized Tetragonal ZrO2.
AB  - Catalyst support materials of tetragonal ZrO2, stabilized by either La2O3 (La2O3
      ZrO2) or CeO2 (CeO2-ZrO2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 200 
      degrees C with NH4OH or tetramethylammonium hydroxide as the mineralizer. From in
      situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering
      measurements, the calcined La2O3-ZrO2 and CeO2-ZrO2 supports were nonporous
      nanocrystallites that exhibited rectangular shapes with a thermal stability of up
      to 1000  degrees C in air. These supports had an average size of ~ 10 nm and a
      surface area of 59-97 m(2)/g. The catalysts Pt/La2O3-ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2-ZrO2 were
      prepared by using atomic layer deposition with varying Pt loadings from 6.3 to
      12.4 wt %. Monodispersed Pt nanoparticles of ~ 3 nm were obtained for these
      catalysts. The incorporation of La2O3 and CeO2 into the t-ZrO2 structure did not
      affect the nature of the active sites for the Pt/ZrO2 catalysts for the water-gas
      shift reaction.

PMID- 26878203
TI  - Intracellular singlet oxygen photosensitizers: on the road to solving the
      problems of sensitizer degradation, bleaching and relocalization.
AB  - Selected singlet oxygen photosensitizers have been examined from the perspective
      of obtaining a molecule that is sufficiently stable under conditions currently
      employed to study singlet oxygen behavior in single mammalian cells. Reasonable
      predictions about intracellular sensitizer stability can be made based on
      solution phase experiments that approximate the intracellular environment (e.g.,
      solutions containing proteins). Nevertheless, attempts to construct a stable
      sensitizer based solely on the expected reactivity of a given functional group
      with singlet oxygen are generally not sufficient for experiments in cells; it is
      difficult to construct a suitable chromophore that is impervious to all of the
      secondary and/or competing degradative processes that are present in the
      intracellular environment. On the other hand, prospects are reasonably positive
      when one considers the use of a sensitizer encapsulated in a specific protein;
      the local environment of the chromophore is controlled, degradation as a
      consequence of bimolecular reactions can be mitigated, and genetic engineering
      can be used to localize the encapsulated sensitizer in a given cellular domain.
      Also, the option of directly exciting oxygen in sensitizer-free experiments
      provides a useful complementary tool. These latter systems bode well with respect
      to obtaining more accurate control of the "dose" of singlet oxygen used to
      perturb a cell; a parameter that currently limits mechanistic studies of singlet
      oxygen-mediated cell signaling. 

PMID- 26878205
TI  - Polarization effects on the interfacial conductivity in LaAlO3/SrTiO3
      heterostructures: a first-principles study.
AB  - We studied the influence of uniaxial [100] strain (-1% to +1%) on the electron
      transport properties of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the n-type
      interface of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3(LAO/STO) heterostructure (HS)-based slab system
      from the perspective of polarization effects via first-principles density
      functional theory calculations. We first analyzed the unstrained system, and
      found that the induced polarization toward the vacuum in the LAO film leads to a
      small charge carrier density on the order of 10(13) cm(-2) (less than the
      theoretical value of 3.3 * 10(14) cm(-2) from the superlattice-model-based polar
      catastrophe mechanism), which is in excellent agreement with the experimental
      values of oxygen-annealed LAO/STO HS samples. Upon applying [100] tensile strain
      on the STO substrate, we found a significant reduction of the induced
      polarization in the LAO film. This reduction weakens the driving force against
      charge transfer from LAO to STO, causing an increase in the interfacial charge
      carrier density. The uniaxial strain also leads to a decrease of the effective
      mass of interfacial mobile electrons, resulting in a higher electron mobility.
      These findings suggest that applying uniaxial [100] tensile strain on the STO
      substrate can significantly enhance the interfacial conductivity of the LAO/STO
      HS system, which gives a comprehensive explanation for experimental observations.
      In contrast, compressively strained LAO/STO systems show stronger LAO film
      polarization than the unstrained system, which reduces the interfacial charge
      carrier density and increases the electron effective mass, thus suppressing the
      interfacial conductivity. 

PMID- 26878206
TI  - The interplay between cognitive risk and resilience factors in remitted
      depression: A network analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individuals in remission from depression are at increased risk for
      developing future depressive episodes. Several cognitive risk- and resilience
      factors have been suggested to account for this vulnerability. In the current
      study we explored how risk- and protective factors such as cognitive control,
      adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation, residual symptomatology, and
      resilience relate to one another in a remitted depressed (RMD) sample. METHODS:
      We examined the relationships between these constructs in a cross-sectional
      dataset of 69 RMD patients using network analyses in order to obtain a
      comprehensive, data-driven view on the interplay between these constructs. We
      subsequently present an association network, a concentration network, and a
      relative importance network. RESULTS: In all three networks resilience formed the
      central hub, connecting perceived cognitive control (i.e., working memory
      complaints), emotion regulation, and residual symptomatology. The contribution of
      the behavioral measure for cognitive control in the network was negligible.
      Moreover, the directed relative importance network indicates bidirectional
      influences between these constructs, with all indicators of centrality suggesting
      a key role of resilience in remission from depression. LIMITATIONS: The presented
      findings are cross-sectional and networks are limited to a fixed set of key
      constructs in the literature pertaining cognitive vulnerability for depression.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the importance of resilience to successfully
      cope with stressors following remission from depression. Further in-depth studies
      will be essential to identify the specific underlying resilience mechanisms that
      may be key to successful remission from depression.

PMID- 26878207
TI  - Synthesis of the rare disaccharide nigerose by structure-based design of a
      phosphorylase mutant with altered regioselectivity.
AB  - In the absence of the natural acceptor inorganic phosphate wild-type sucrose
      phosphorylase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis (BaSP) produces maltose (4-O
      alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-d-glucose) and kojibiose (2-O-alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-d
      glucose) as sole transfer products. A Q345F exchange switches the enzyme's
      regioselectivity from 2 to 3 exclusively, yielding the rare sugar nigerose (3-O
      alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-d-glucose, sakebiose). 

PMID- 26878208
TI  - Plasmalemma Vesicle-Associated Protein Has a Key Role in Blood-Retinal Barrier
      Loss.
AB  - Loss of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) properties induced by vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF) and other factors is an important cause of diabetic macular
      edema. Previously, we found that the presence of plasmalemma vesicle-associated
      protein (PLVAP) in retinal capillaries associates with loss of BRB properties and
      correlates with increased vascular permeability in diabetic macular edema. In
      this study, we investigated whether absence of PLVAP protects the BRB from VEGF
      induced permeability. We used lentiviral-delivered shRNA or siRNA to inhibit
      PLVAP expression. The barrier properties of in vitro BRB models were assessed by
      measuring transendothelial electrical resistance, permeability of differently
      sized tracers, and the presence of endothelial junction complexes. The effect of
      VEGF on caveolae formation was studied in human retinal explants. BRB loss in
      vivo was studied in the mouse oxygen-induced retinopathy model. The inhibition of
      PLVAP expression resulted in decreased VEGF-induced BRB permeability of
      fluorescent tracers, both in vivo and in vitro. PLVAP inhibition attenuated
      transendothelial electrical resistance reduction induced by VEGF in BRB models in
      vitro and significantly increased transendothelial electrical resistance of the
      nonbarrier human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Furthermore, PLVAP knockdown
      prevented VEGF-induced caveolae formation in retinal explants but did not rescue
      VEGF-induced alterations in endothelial junction complexes. In conclusion, PLVAP
      is an essential cofactor in VEGF-induced BRB permeability and may become an
      interesting novel target for diabetic macular edema therapy.

PMID- 26878209
TI  - The Protectin PCTR1 Is Produced by Human M2 Macrophages and Enhances Resolution
      of Infectious Inflammation.
AB  - Inflammation and its natural resolution are host-protective responses triggered
      by infection or injury. The resolution phase of inflammation is regulated by
      enzymatically produced specialized pro-resolving mediators. We recently
      identified a new class of peptide-conjugated specialized pro-resolving mediators
      that carry potent tissue regenerative actions that belong to the protectin family
      and are coined protectin conjugates in tissue regeneration (PCTR). Herein, with
      the use of microbial-induced peritonitis in mice and liquid chromatography-tandem
      mass spectrometry-based lipid mediator metabololipidomics, we found that PCTR1 is
      temporally regulated during self-resolving infection. When administered at peak
      of inflammation, PCTR1 enhanced macrophage recruitment and phagocytosis of
      Escherichia coli, decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, and counter
      regulated inflammation-initiating lipid mediators, including prostaglandins. In
      addition, biologically produced PCTR1 promoted human monocyte and macrophage
      migration in a dose-dependent manner (0.001 to 10.0 nmol/L). We prepared PCTR1
      via organic synthesis and confirmed that synthetic PCTR1 increased macrophage and
      monocyte migration, enhanced macrophage efferocytosis, and accelerated tissue
      regeneration in planaria. With human macrophage subsets, PCTR1 levels were
      significantly higher in M2 macrophages than in M1 phenotype, along with members
      of the resolvin conjugates in tissue regeneration and maresin conjugate families.
      In contrast, M1 macrophages gave higher levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes.
      Together, these results demonstrate that PCTR1 is a potent monocyte/macrophage
      agonist, regulating key anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving processes during
      bacterial infection. 

PMID- 26878210
TI  - alphaB-Crystallin Regulates Subretinal Fibrosis by Modulation of Epithelial
      Mesenchymal Transition.
AB  - Subretinal fibrosis is an end stage of neovascular age-related macular
      degeneration, characterized by fibrous membrane formation after choroidal
      neovascularization. An initial step of the pathogenesis is an epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium cells. alphaB
      crystallin plays multiple roles in age-related macular degeneration, including
      cytoprotection and angiogenesis. However, the role of alphaB-crystallin in
      subretinal EMT and fibrosis is unknown. Herein, we showed attenuation of
      subretinal fibrosis after regression of laser-induced choroidal
      neovascularization and a decrease in mesenchymal retinal pigment epithelium cells
      in alphaB-crystallin knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. alphaB
      crystallin was prominently expressed in subretinal fibrotic lesions in mice. In
      vitro, overexpression of alphaB-crystallin induced EMT, whereas suppression of
      alphaB-crystallin induced a mesenchymal-epithelial transition. Transforming
      growth factor-beta2-induced EMT was further enhanced by overexpression of alphaB
      crystallin but was inhibited by suppression of alphaB-crystallin. Silencing of
      alphaB-crystallin inhibited multiple fibrotic processes, including cell
      proliferation, migration, and fibronectin production. Bone morphogenetic protein
      4 up-regulated alphaB-crystallin, and its EMT induction was inhibited by
      knockdown of alphaB-crystallin. Furthermore, inhibition of alphaB-crystallin
      enhanced monotetraubiquitination of SMAD4, which can impair its nuclear
      localization. Overexpression of alphaB-crystallin enhanced nuclear translocation
      and accumulation of SMAD4 and SMAD5. Thus, alphaB-crystallin is an important
      regulator of EMT, acting as a molecular chaperone for SMAD4 and as its potential
      therapeutic target for preventing subretinal fibrosis development in neovascular
      age-related macular degeneration.

PMID- 26878212
TI  - Circulating Extracellular Histones Are Clinically Relevant Mediators of Multiple
      Organ Injury.
AB  - Extracellular histones are a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) involved
      in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The mechanisms of histone-mediated
      injury in certain organs have been extensively studied, but an understanding of
      the pathophysiological role of histone-mediated injury in multiple organ injury
      remains elusive. To elucidate this role, we systemically subjected C57BL/6 mice
      to various doses of histones and performed a chronological evaluation of the
      morphological and functional changes in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Notably,
      histone administration ultimately led to death after a dose-dependent aggravation
      of multiple organ injury. In chronological studies, pulmonary and hepatic
      injuries occurred within 15 minutes, whereas renal injuries presented at a later
      phase, suggesting that susceptibility to extracellular histones varies among
      organs. Histones bound to pulmonary and hepatic endothelial cells immediately
      after administration, leading to endothelial damage, which could be ameliorated
      by pretreatment with heparin. Furthermore, release of another DAMP, high-mobility
      group protein box 1, followed the histone-induced tissue damage, and an antibody
      against the molecule ameliorated hepatic and renal failure in a late phase. These
      findings indicate that extracellular histones induce multiple organ injury in two
      progressive stages-direct injury to endothelial cells and the subsequent release
      of other DAMPs-and that combination therapies against extracellular histones and
      high-mobility group protein box 1 may be a promising strategy for treating
      multiple organ injury. 

PMID- 26878211
TI  - Dynamic Change of Polarity in Primary Cultured Spheroids of Human Colorectal
      Adenocarcinoma and Its Role in Metastasis.
AB  - Intestinal epithelial cells possess apical-basal polarity, which governs the
      exchange of nutrients and waste. Perturbation of cell polarity appears to be a
      general feature of cancers, although most colorectal cancers are differentiated
      adenocarcinomas, in which polarity is maintained to some extent. Little is known
      about the role of dysregulated polarity in cancer. The cancer tissue-originated
      spheroid method was applied to the preparation and culture of spheroids.
      Spheroids were cultured in suspension or in type I collagen gel. Polarity was
      assessed by IHC of apical markers and electron microscopy. Two types of polarity
      status in spheroids were observed: apical-in, with apical membrane located at
      cavities inside the spheroids in type I collagen gel; and apical-out, with apical
      membrane located at the outermost layer of spheroids in suspension. These
      polarities were highly interchangeable. Inhibitors of Src and dynamin attenuated
      the polarity switch. In patients, clusters of cancer cells that invaded vessels
      had both apical-in and apical-out morphologic features, whereas primary and
      metastatic tumors had apical-in features. In a mouse liver metastasis model,
      apical-out spheroids injected into the portal vein became apical-in spheroids in
      the liver within a few days. Inhibitors of Src and dynamin significantly
      decreased liver metastasis. Polarity switching was observed in spheroids and
      human cancer. The polarity switch was critical in an experimental liver
      metastasis model. 

PMID- 26878213
TI  - Actin-Depolymerizing Factor and Cofilin-1 Have Unique and Overlapping Functions
      in Regulating Intestinal Epithelial Junctions and Mucosal Inflammation.
AB  - The actin cytoskeleton is a crucial regulator of the intestinal mucosal barrier,
      controlling the assembly and function of epithelial adherens and tight junctions
      (AJs and TJs). Junction-associated actin filaments are dynamic structures that
      undergo constant turnover. Members of the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and
      cofilin protein family play key roles in actin dynamics by mediating filament
      severing and polymerization. We examined the roles of ADF and cofilin-1 in
      regulating the structure and functions of AJs and TJs in the intestinal
      epithelium. Knockdown of either ADF or cofilin-1 by RNA interference increased
      the paracellular permeability of human colonic epithelial cell monolayers to
      small ions. Additionally, cofilin-1, but not ADF, depletion increased epithelial
      permeability to large molecules. Loss of either ADF or cofilin-1 did not affect
      the steady-state morphology of AJs and TJs but attenuated de novo junctional
      assembly. The observed defects in AJ and TJ formation were accompanied by delayed
      assembly of the perijunctional filamentous actin belt. A total loss of ADF
      expression in mice did not result in a defective mucosal barrier or in
      spontaneous gut inflammation. However, ADF-null mice demonstrated increased
      intestinal permeability and exaggerated inflammation during dextran sodium
      sulfate-induced colitis. Our findings demonstrate novel roles for ADF and cofilin
      1 in regulating the remodeling and permeability of epithelial junctions, as well
      as the role of ADF in limiting the severity of intestinal inflammation. 

PMID- 26878216
TI  - Near-infrared-spectroscopic study on processing of sounds in the brain; a
      comparison between native and non-native speakers of Japanese.
AB  - Conclusions The result suggested that mother tongue Japanese and non- mother
      tongue Japanese differ in their pattern of brain dominance when listening to
      sounds from the natural world-in particular, insect sounds. These results reveal
      significant support for previous findings from Tsunoda (in 1970). Objectives This
      study concentrates on listeners who show clear evidence of a 'speech' brain vs a
      'music' brain and determines which side is most active in the processing of
      insect sounds, using with near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods The present study
      uses 2-channel Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to provide a more direct measure
      of left- and right-brain activity while participants listen to each of three
      types of sounds: Japanese speech, Western violin music, or insect sounds. Data
      were obtained from 33 participants who showed laterality on opposite sides for
      Japanese speech and Western music. Results Results showed that a majority (80%)
      of the MJ participants exhibited dominance for insect sounds on the side that was
      dominant for language, while a majority (62%) of the non-MJ participants
      exhibited dominance for insect sounds on the side that was dominant for music. 

PMID- 26878214
TI  - Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters Are Less Toxic Than Their Parent Fatty Acids Generated
      during Acute Pancreatitis.
AB  - Although ethanol causes acute pancreatitis (AP) and lipolytic fatty acid (FA)
      generation worsens AP, the contribution of ethanol metabolites of FAs, ie, FA
      ethyl esters (FAEEs), to AP outcomes is unclear. Previously, pancreata of dying
      alcoholics and pancreatic necrosis in severe AP, respectively, showed high FAEEs
      and FAs, with oleic acid (OA) and its ethyl esters being the most abundant. We
      thus compared the toxicities of FAEEs and their parent FAs in severe AP.
      Pancreatic acini and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were exposed to FAs or
      FAEEs in vitro. The triglyceride of OA (i.e., glyceryl tri-oleate) or OAEE was
      injected into the pancreatic ducts of rats, and local and systemic severities
      were studied. Unsaturated FAs at equimolar concentrations to FAEEs induced a
      larger increase in cytosolic calcium, mitochondrial depolarization, and necro
      apoptotic cell death. Glyceryl tri-oleate but not OAEE resulted in 70% mortality
      with increased serum OA, a severe inflammatory response, worse pancreatic
      necrosis, and multisystem organ failure. Our data show that FAs are more likely
      to worsen AP than FAEEs. Our observations correlate well with the high pancreatic
      FAEE concentrations in alcoholics without pancreatitis and high FA concentrations
      in pancreatic necrosis. Thus, conversion of FAs to FAEE may ameliorate AP in
      alcoholics.

PMID- 26878217
TI  - Carbon quantum dots directly generated from electrochemical oxidation of graphite
      electrodes in alkaline alcohols and the applications for specific ferric ion
      detection and cell imaging.
AB  - Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are attracting tremendous interest owing to their low
      toxicity, water dispersibility, biocompatibility, optical properties and wide
      applicability. Herein, CQDs with an average diameter of (4.0 +/- 0.2) nm and high
      crystallinity were produced simply from the electrochemical oxidation of a
      graphite electrode in alkaline alcohols. The as-formed CQDs dispersion was
      colourless but the dispersion gradually changed to bright yellow when stored in
      ambient conditions. Based on UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
      and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), this colour change
      appeared to be due to oxygenation of surface species over time. Furthermore, the
      CQDs were used in specific and sensitive detection of ferric ion (Fe(3+)) with
      broad linear ranges of 10-200 MUM with a low limit of detection of 1.8 MUM (S/N =
      3). The application of the CQDs for Fe(3+) detection in tap water was
      demonstrated and the possible mechanism was also discussed. Finally, based on
      their good characteristics of low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility,
      the CQDs were successfully applied to cell imaging.

PMID- 26878215
TI  - Initial Suppression of Transforming Growth Factor-beta Signaling and Loss of
      TGFBI Causes Early Alveolar Structural Defects Resulting in Bronchopulmonary
      Dysplasia.
AB  - Septation of the gas-exchange saccules of the morphologically immature mouse lung
      requires regulated timing, spatial direction, and dosage of transforming growth
      factor (TGF)-beta signaling. We found that neonatal hyperoxia acutely initially
      diminished saccular TGF-beta signaling coincident with alveolar simplification.
      However, sustained hyperoxia resulted in a biphasic response and subsequent up
      regulation of TGF-beta signaling, ultimately resulting in bronchopulmonary
      dysplasia. Significantly, we found that the TGF-beta-induced matricellular
      protein (TGFBI) was similarly biphasically altered in response to hyperoxia.
      Moreover, genetic ablation revealed that TGFBI was required for normal alveolar
      structure and function. Although the phenotype was not neonatal lethal, Tgfbi
      deficient lungs were morphologically abnormal. Mutant septal tips were stunted,
      lacked elastin-positive tips, exhibited reduced proliferation, and contained
      abnormally persistent alveolar alpha-smooth muscle actin myofibroblasts. In
      addition, Tgfbi-deficient lungs misexpressed TGF-beta-responsive follistatin and
      serpine 1, and transiently suppressed myofibroblast platelet-derived growth
      factor alpha differentiation marker. Finally, despite normal lung volume, Tgfbi
      null lungs displayed diminished elastic recoil and gas exchange efficiency.
      Combined, these data demonstrate that initial suppression of the TGF-beta
      signaling apparatus, as well as loss of key TGF-beta effectors (like TGFBI),
      underlies early alveolar structural defects, as well as long-lasting functional
      deficits routinely observed in chronic lung disease of infancy patients. These
      studies underline the complex (and often contradictory) role of TGF-beta and
      indicate a need to design studies to associate alterations with initial
      appearance of phenotypical changes suggestive of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. 

PMID- 26878219
TI  - Prompt chlorophyll a fluorescence as a rapid tool for diagnostic changes in PSII
      structure inhibited by salt stress in Perennial ryegrass.
AB  - Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most popular grass species
      in Europe. It is commonly used for establishing the lawns in urban areas, where
      the salt stress is one of the major environmental conditions limiting its growth.
      The basic aim of this study was the detailed in vivo analysis of the changes in
      photosynthetic efficiency, induced by salt stress, of two lawn varieties of
      Perennial ryegrass and to find out the variety of better properties to create
      lawn on the soils contaminated with salt. Two lawn varieties of L. perenne L.
      were used: Nira and Roadrunner. The salinization was applied 8 weeks after sowing
      by adding NaCl in water solution (0, 0.15, and 0.30 M). The measurements were
      carried out 8 times: 0, 24, 48, 96, 144, 192, 240 and 288 h after salinization.
      Our results revealed that the disturbance of PSII function could easily be
      estimated by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence and analyzing that signal by
      JIP-test. Our work allowed to identify various limiting parameters of
      photosynthetic efficiency of perennial ryegrass lawn varieties grown under salt
      stress conditions. This knowledge can allow for selection of plants with a higher
      potential photosynthetic efficiency (vitality) during salt stress conditions,
      that can be used successfully neighboring roads, where salt is applied.

PMID- 26878218
TI  - Dual calibrated dosimeter for simultaneous measurements of erythemal and vitamin
      D effective solar ultraviolet radiation.
AB  - A miniaturized ultraviolet radiation (UV) dosimeter based on polyphenylene oxide
      (PPO) has been dual calibrated for both erythemal and vitamin D effective
      exposures (UVB 280 - 320 nm) over extended periods up to five days. Optimal human
      health requires a balanced amount of UVB exposure as both too much and too little
      have different but serious potential health consequences. Dosimetry is an
      established method of measuring specific UV exposures to an object or subject.
      PPO dosimeters have previously been used to measure the erythemally effective UV
      exposure. An extension of this use is to dual calibrate the miniaturized
      dosimeter which will also enable measurement of vitamin D effective exposures. By
      calibration to the erythemal and vitamin D effective action spectra, PPO
      dosimeters were able to record both types of biologically effective exposure as
      both are active within the UVB waveband. Dose response tests were conducted in
      each season by exposure to solar UV with the corresponding dual calibrations made
      for each season. The calibration provided an R(2) of 0.95-0.99 for erythemal UV
      and an R(2) of 0.99 for vitamin D effective UV. The successful outcome of this
      testing has established that PPO is suitable for use as a long term, dual
      calibrated dosimeter provided the film is seasonally calibrated. This enables one
      dosimeter to provide two sets of exposure results. The combination of dual
      calibration and the long term exposure potential of PPO makes the PPO dosimeter
      more versatile and increases the scope of UV field research on erythemal UV and
      vitamin D effective UV in the future.

PMID- 26878220
TI  - A pilot study investigating whether focusing on body functionality can protect
      women from the potential negative effects of viewing thin-ideal media images.
AB  - This pilot study explored whether focusing on body functionality (i.e.,
      everything the body can do) can protect women from potential harmful effects of
      exposure to thin-ideal images. Seventy women (Mage=20.61) completed an assignment
      wherein they either described the functionality of their body or the routes that
      they often travel (control). Afterward, participants were exposed to a series of
      thin-ideal images. Appearance and functionality satisfaction were measured before
      the assignment; appearance and functionality satisfaction, self-objectification,
      and body appreciation were measured after exposure. Results showed that
      participants who focused on body functionality experienced greater functionality
      satisfaction and body appreciation compared to control participants. Therefore,
      focusing on body functionality could be a beneficial individual-level technique
      that women can use to protect and promote a positive body image in the face of
      thin-ideal images. Research including a condition wherein participants are
      exposed to (product-only) control images is necessary to draw firmer conclusions.

PMID- 26878221
TI  - Modeling flood reduction effects of low impact development at a watershed scale.
AB  - Low impact development (LID) is a land development approach that seeks to mimic a
      site's pre-development hydrology. This study is a case study that assessed flood
      reduction capabilities of large-scale adoption of LID practices in an urban
      watershed in central Illinois using the Personal Computer Storm Water Management
      Model (PCSWMM). Two flood metrics based on runoff discharge were developed to
      determine action flood (43 m(3)/s) and major flood (95 m(3)/s). Four land use
      scenarios for urban growth were evaluated to determine the impacts of
      urbanization on runoff and flooding. Flood attenuation effects of porous
      pavement, rain barrel, and rain garden at various application levels were also
      evaluated as retrofitting technologies in the study watershed over a period of 30
      years. Simulation results indicated that increase in urban land use from 50 to
      94% between 1992 and 2030 increased average annual runoff and flood events by
      more than 30%, suggesting that urbanization without sound management would
      increase flood risks. The various implementation levels of the three LID
      practices resulted in 3-47% runoff reduction in the study watershed. Flood flow
      events that include action floods and major floods were also reduced by 0-40%,
      indicating that LID practices can be used to mitigate flood risk in urban
      watersheds. The study provides an insight into flood management with LID
      practices in existing urban areas.

PMID- 26878222
TI  - Polygenic phenotypic plasticity moderates the effects of severe childhood abuse
      on depressive symptom severity in adulthood: A 5-year prospective cohort study.
AB  - Objective To test the phenotypic plasticity framework using a polygenic approach
      in a prospective depression cohort of primary care attendees with and without
      histories of severe childhood abuse. Methods Depressive symptoms were assessed at
      baseline and annually for 5 years post-baseline using the Primary Care Evaluation
      of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) among 288 adult
      primary care attendees. Twelve polymorphisms in nine genes were genotyped and
      polygenic phenotypic plasticity allelic load (PAL) calculated. Linear mixed
      models assessed differences in depressive symptom severity over the 5-year follow
      up period by PAL and history of severe childhood abuse. Results A higher PAL
      conferred greater depressive symptom severity among those with a history of
      severe childhood abuse but conferred significantly lower symptom severity among
      those without this history. Importantly, this interaction withstood adjustments
      for important covariates (e.g., antidepressant use, comorbid anxiety) and was
      stable over the 5 years of observation. Conclusions Aligned with the phenotypic
      plasticity framework, depressive symptom severity was dependent on the
      interaction between PAL and history of severe childhood abuse in a "for better
      and for worse" manner. Measures of polygenic phenotypic plasticity, such as ours,
      may serve as a trait marker of sensitivity to negative and potentially positive
      environmental influences.

PMID- 26878223
TI  - The aetiology of post-traumatic stress following childbirth: a meta-analysis and
      theoretical framework.
AB  - There is evidence that 3.17% of women report post-traumatic stress disorder
      (PTSD) after childbirth. This meta-analysis synthesizes research on vulnerability
      and risk factors for birth-related PTSD and refines a diathesis-stress model of
      its aetiology. Systematic searches were carried out on PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus
      and Web of Science using PTSD terms crossed with childbirth terms. Studies were
      included if they reported primary research that examined factors associated with
      birth-related PTSD measured at least 1 month after birth. In all, 50 studies (n =
      21 429) from 15 countries fulfilled inclusion criteria. Pre-birth vulnerability
      factors most strongly associated with PTSD were depression in pregnancy (r =
      0.51), fear of childbirth (r = 0.41), poor health or complications in pregnancy
      (r = 0.38), and a history of PTSD (r = 0.39) and counselling for pregnancy or
      birth (r = 0.32). Risk factors in birth most strongly associated with PTSD were
      negative subjective birth experiences (r = 0.59), having an operative birth
      (assisted vaginal or caesarean, r = 0.48), lack of support (r = -0.38) and
      dissociation (r = 0.32). After birth, PTSD was associated with poor coping and
      stress (r = 0.30), and was highly co-morbid with depression (r = 0.60). Moderator
      analyses showed that the effect of poor health or complications in pregnancy was
      more apparent in high-risk samples. The results of this meta-analysis are used to
      update a diathesis-stress model of the aetiology of postpartum PTSD and can be
      used to inform screening, prevention and intervention in maternity care. 

PMID- 26878224
TI  - Advances in Antiviral Therapies Targeting Toll-like Receptors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Organisms have evolved a rapid and non-specific way to defend
      themselves via Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize specific signatures
      present on invading microbes and viruses. Once detected, these receptors flood
      the cell with cytokines and IFNs that not only help to eradicate the invading
      viruses but also activate the adaptive immune response. Owing to difficulties in
      viral detection, a whole class of TLRs is dedicated to sensing viral nucleic
      acids, while other TLRs detect viral coat proteins and aid in establishing
      antiviral immunity. To protect humans better, TLRs and their downstream mediators
      can be used as potential drug targets, which can be either activated or
      inhibited, to counter viral infections. AREAS COVERED: The current review focuses
      on TLR-targeting investigational drugs developed to treat viral diseases and
      virus-induced complications. EXPERT OPINION: TLRs are a good choice for
      eradicating viral infections because they can fine-tune the immune response.
      However, TLRs should be exploited carefully, as there have been instances where
      their activation has led to unwanted responses in terms of both immune and viral
      activation. Therefore, more focus should be placed on novel drugs that can induce
      significant and long-term immunity, while concomitantly alleviating side effects.

PMID- 26878225
TI  - Risk of Breast Cancer in Women with False-Positive Results according to
      Mammographic Features.
AB  - Purpose To assess the risk of breast cancer in women with false-positive
      screening results according to radiologic classification of mammographic
      features. Materials and Methods Review board approval was obtained, with waiver
      of informed consent. This retrospective cohort study included 521 200 women aged
      50-69 years who underwent screening as part of the Spanish Breast Cancer
      Screening Program between 1994 and 2010 and who were observed until December
      2012. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the age
      adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of breast cancer and the 95% confidence interval (CI)
      in women with false-positive mammograms as compared with women with negative
      mammograms. Separate models were adjusted for screen-detected and interval
      cancers and for screen-film and digital mammography. Time without a breast cancer
      diagnosis was plotted by using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results When compared with
      women with negative mammograms, the age-adjusted HR of cancer in women with false
      positive results was 1.84 (95% CI: 1.73, 1.95; P < .001). The risk was higher in
      women who had calcifications, whether they were (HR, 2.73; 95% CI: 2.28, 3.28; P
      < .001) or were not (HR, 2.24; 95% CI: 2.02, 2.48; P < .001) associated with
      masses. Women in whom mammographic features showed changes in subsequent false
      positive results were those who had the highest risk (HR, 9.13; 95% CI: 8.28,
      10.07; P < .001). Conclusion Women with false-positive results had an increased
      risk of breast cancer, particularly women who had calcifications at mammography.
      Women who had more than one examination with false-positive findings and in whom
      the mammographic features changed over time had a highly increased risk of breast
      cancer. Previous mammographic features might yield useful information for further
      risk-prediction models and personalized follow-up screening protocols. ((c))
      RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

PMID- 26878226
TI  - Use of Clinical Data to Predict Appendicitis in Patients with Equivocal US
      Findings.
AB  - Purpose To determine the incremental value of clinical data in patients with
      ultrasonographic (US) examinations that were interpreted as being equivocal for
      acute appendicitis. Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval,
      with a waiver of informed consent, was obtained for this analysis of clinical and
      imaging data in patients younger than 18 years old who were evaluated for acute
      appendicitis. Findings from US examinations were reported in a structured
      fashion, including two possible equivocal impressions. Clinical data were
      captured as Pediatric Appendicitis (PAS) or Alvarado scores and considered as
      categoric (high, intermediate, or low likelihood) and continuous variables to
      simulate stratification of equivocal US examinations to predict appendicitis.
      Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to define score cutoffs, and
      logistic regression was used to assess individual clinical variables as
      predictors of appendicitis. Results The study population was made up of 776
      patients (mean age, 11.7 years +/- 3.7), with 429 (55.2%) girls. A total of 203
      (26%) patients had appendicitis. US had a negative predictive value of 96.2% and
      a positive predictive value of 93.3% for depicting appendicitis, with 89 of 782
      (11.4%) equivocal examinations. Categoric PAS and Alvarado scores were equivocal
      for 59.5% (53 of 89) and 50.6% (45 of 89) of equivocal US examinations,
      respectively. Categoric low- and high-likelihood PAS and Alvarado scores
      correctly predicted the presence of appendicitis in 61.1% (22 of 36) and 77.3%
      (34 of 44) of equivocal US examinations, respectively. As continuous variables, a
      PAS or Alvarado score of 5 or lower could be used to exclude appendicitis, with a
      80.8% (21 of 26) and 90% (18 of 20) negative predictive value, respectively.
      Conclusion The study confirms the excellent performance of US for depicting
      pediatric appendicitis. In the subset of equivocal US examinations, a low
      clinical score (<=5) may be used to identify patients with a low likelihood of
      having appendicitis. ((c)) RSNA, 2016.

PMID- 26878227
TI  - Serrated Polyps at CT Colonography: Prevalence and Characteristics of the
      Serrated Polyp Spectrum.
AB  - Purpose To report the prevalence and characteristics of serrated polyps
      identified in a large, average-risk population undergoing screening computed
      tomographic (CT) colonography. Materials and Methods This HIPAA-compliant
      retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of the
      University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The need for
      informed consent was waived. Nine thousand six hundred examinations from 8289
      patients were enrolled in a single-institution CT colonography-based screening
      program (from 2004 to 2011) and were evaluated for the presence of nondiminutive
      serrated lesions and advanced adenomas. The prevalence and characteristics of
      these lesions were tabulated. Generalized estimating equation regressions of
      polyp characteristics that may contribute to visualization of serrated lesions
      were investigated, including polyp size, location, and morphologic appearance;
      histologic findings; and presence or absence of contrast material tagging.
      Results Nondiminutive serrated lesions (>=6 mm) were seen at CT colonography
      based screening with a prevalence of 3.1% (254 of 8289 patients). Sessile
      serrated adenomas (SSAs) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) constituted
      36.8% (137 of 372) and 4.3% (16 of 372) of serrated lesions, respectively;
      hyperplastic polyps (HPs) accounted for 58.9% (219 of 372 lesions). SSA and TSA
      tended to be large (mean size, 10.6 mm and 14.1 mm, respectively), with size
      categories and polyp subgroups significantly associated (P < .0001). SSA tended
      to be proximal in location (91.2%, 125 of 137 lesions) and flat in morphologic
      appearance (39.4%, 54 of 137 lesions) compared with TSA and HP. The presence of
      high-grade dysplasia in serrated lesions was uncommon when compared with advanced
      adenomas (one of 372 lesions vs 22 of 395 lesions, respectively; P < .0001).
      Multivariate analysis showed that contrast material tagging markedly improved
      serrated polyp detection with an odds ratio of 40.4 (95% confidence interval:
      10.1, 161.4). Conclusion Serrated lesions are seen at CT colonography-based
      screening with a nondiminutive prevalence of 3.1%. These lesions tend to be
      large, flat, and proximal in location. Adherent contrast material coating on
      these polyps aids in their detection, despite an often flat morphologic
      appearance. ((c)) RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this
      article.

PMID- 26878228
TI  - A review of the ligands and related targeting strategies for active targeting of
      paclitaxel to tumours.
AB  - It has been 30 years since the discovery of the anti-tumour property of
      paclitaxel (PTX), which has been successfully applied in clinic for the treatment
      of carcinomas of the lungs, breast and ovarian. However, PTX is poorly soluble in
      water and has no targeting and selectivity to tumour tissue. Recent advances in
      active tumour targeting of PTX delivery vehicles have addressed some of the
      issues related to lack of solubility in water and non-specific toxicities
      associated with PTX. These PTX delivery vehicles are designed for active
      targeting to specific cancer cells by the addition of ligands for recognition by
      specific receptors/antigens on cancer cells. This article will focus on various
      ligands and related targeting strategies serving as potential tools for active
      targeting of PTX to tumour tissues, illustrating their use in different tumour
      models. This review also highlights the need of further studies on the discovery
      of receptors in different cells of specific organ and ligands with binding
      efficiency to these specific receptors.

PMID- 26878229
TI  - The American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, National Academy of
      Neuropsychology, and Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (APA Division 40) 2015
      TCN Professional Practice and 'Salary Survey': Professional Practices, Beliefs,
      and Incomes of U.S. Neuropsychologists.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The current survey updated professional practice and income
      information pertaining to clinical neuropsychology. METHODS: Doctoral-level
      members of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Division 40
      (Clinical Neuropsychology) of the American Psychological Association, and the
      National Academy of Neuropsychology and other neuropsychologists, as well as
      postdoctoral trainees in the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical
      Neuropsychology and at other training sites were invited to participate in a web
      based survey in early 2015. The sample of 1777 respondents, of whom 1579 were
      doctoral-level practitioners and 198 were postdoctoral trainees, was larger than
      the prior 2010 income and practice survey. RESULTS: The substantial proportional
      change in gender has continued, with women now a clear majority in the
      postdoctoral trainee sample as well as in the practitioner sample. Dissimilar
      from the median age trajectory of American Psychological Association members, the
      median age of clinical neuropsychologists remains essentially unchanged since
      1989, indicating a substantial annual influx of young neuropsychologists. The
      question of whether the Houston Conference training model has become an important
      influence in the specialty can now be considered settled in the affirmative among
      postdoctoral trainees and practitioners. Testing assistant usage remains
      commonplace, and continues to be more common in institutions. The vast majority
      of clinical neuropsychologists work full-time and very few are unemployed and
      seeking employment. The numbers of neuropsychologists planning to retire in the
      coming 5-10 years do not suggest a "baby boomer" effect or an unexpected bolus of
      planned retirements in the next 10 years that would be large enough to be
      worrisome. Average length of time reported for evaluations appears to be
      increasing across time. The most common factors affecting evaluation length were
      identified, with the top three being: (1) goal of evaluation, (2) stamina/health
      of examinee, and (3) age of examinee. Pediatric specialists remain more likely
      than others to work part-time, more likely to work in institutions, report lower
      incomes than respondents with a lifespan professional identity, and are far more
      likely to be women. Incomes continue to vary considerably by years of clinical
      practice, work setting, amount of forensic practice, state, and region of
      country. Neurologists are the number one referral source in institutions and in
      private practice, as well as for pediatric, adult, and lifespan practitioners.
      Learning disability is no longer among the top five conditions seen by pediatric
      neuropsychologists; traumatic brain injury and seizure disorder are common
      reasons for clinical evaluations at all age ranges. There is a continued increase
      in forensic practice and a clear consensus on the use of validity testing. There
      is a substantial interest in subspecialization board certification, with the
      greatest interest evident among postdoctoral trainees. Income satisfaction, job
      satisfaction, and work-life balance satisfaction are higher for men. Job
      satisfaction varies across general work setting and across age range of practice.
      Work-life balance satisfaction is moderately correlated with income satisfaction
      and job satisfaction. Again in this five-year interval survey, a substantial
      majority of respondents reported increased incomes, despite experiencing
      substantial negative practice effects related to changes in the US health care
      system. Numerous breakdowns related to income and professional activities are
      provided. CONCLUSIONS: Professional practice survey information continues to
      provide valuable perspectives regarding consistency and change in the activities,
      beliefs, and incomes of US clinical neuropsychologists.

PMID- 26878234
TI  - Evaluating the evidence for and against the use of IOLs in infants and young
      children.
AB  - Congenital cataracts account for 5-20% of childhood blindness worldwide. In the
      US, the prevalence of visually significant infantile cataracts is anywhere from 3
      4 per 10,000 live births. Infantile cataracts need to be removed early in life in
      order to prevent the onset of deprivation amblyopia. As a result, cataract
      surgery is usually performed between age 4-8 weeks depending on the laterality
      and severity of the cataract. Given advances in the field, pediatric cataract
      surgery is now a safe and effective intervention for infants, but good visual
      outcomes require occlusion therapy and optical correction. This review will
      address current perspectives on the use of intraocular lenses to optically
      correct infants and young children after cataract surgery, as well as novel
      designs for intraocular lenses and directions for future research. 

PMID- 26878235
TI  - Controlling spin relaxation with a cavity.
AB  - Spontaneous emission of radiation is one of the fundamental mechanisms by which
      an excited quantum system returns to equilibrium. For spins, however, spontaneous
      emission is generally negligible compared to other non-radiative relaxation
      processes because of the weak coupling between the magnetic dipole and the
      electromagnetic field. In 1946, Purcell realized that the rate of spontaneous
      emission can be greatly enhanced by placing the quantum system in a resonant
      cavity. This effect has since been used extensively to control the lifetime of
      atoms and semiconducting heterostructures coupled to microwave or optical
      cavities, and is essential for the realization of high-efficiency single-photon
      sources. Here we report the application of this idea to spins in solids. By
      coupling donor spins in silicon to a superconducting microwave cavity with a high
      quality factor and a small mode volume, we reach the regime in which spontaneous
      emission constitutes the dominant mechanism of spin relaxation. The relaxation
      rate is increased by three orders of magnitude as the spins are tuned to the
      cavity resonance, demonstrating that energy relaxation can be controlled on
      demand. Our results provide a general way to initialize spin systems into their
      ground state and therefore have applications in magnetic resonance and quantum
      information processing. They also demonstrate that the coupling between the
      magnetic dipole of a spin and the electromagnetic field can be enhanced up to the
      point at which quantum fluctuations have a marked effect on the spin dynamics; as
      such, they represent an important step towards the coherent magnetic coupling of
      individual spins to microwave photons. 

PMID- 26878233
TI  - Transient inhibition of ROR-gammat therapeutically limits intestinal inflammation
      by reducing TH17 cells and preserving group 3 innate lymphoid cells.
AB  - RAR-related orphan receptor-gammat (ROR-gammat) directs differentiation of
      proinflammatory T helper 17 (TH17) cells and is a potential therapeutic target in
      chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, ROR-gammat-dependent group
      3 innate lymphoid cells ILC3s provide essential immunity and tissue protection in
      the intestine, suggesting that targeting ROR-gammat could also result in impaired
      host defense after infection or enhanced tissue damage. Here, we demonstrate that
      transient chemical inhibition of ROR-gammat in mice selectively reduces cytokine
      production from TH17 but not ILCs in the context of intestinal infection with
      Citrobacter rodentium, resulting in preserved innate immunity. Temporal deletion
      of Rorc (encoding ROR-gammat) in mature ILCs also did not impair cytokine
      response in the steady state or during infection. Finally, pharmacologic
      inhibition of ROR-gammat provided therapeutic benefit in mouse models of
      intestinal inflammation and reduced the frequency of TH17 cells but not ILCs
      isolated from primary intestinal samples of individuals with inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD). Collectively, these results reveal differential requirements for
      ROR-gammat in the maintenance of TH17 cell and ILC3 responses and suggest that
      transient inhibition of ROR-gammat is a safe and effective therapeutic approach
      during intestinal inflammation. 

PMID- 26878232
TI  - Rps14 haploinsufficiency causes a block in erythroid differentiation mediated by
      S100A8 and S100A9.
AB  - Impaired erythropoiesis in the deletion 5q (del(5q)) subtype of myelodysplastic
      syndrome (MDS) has been linked to heterozygous deletion of RPS14, which encodes
      the ribosomal protein small subunit 14. We generated mice with conditional
      inactivation of Rps14 and demonstrated an erythroid differentiation defect that
      is dependent on the tumor suppressor protein p53 (encoded by Trp53 in mice) and
      is characterized by apoptosis at the transition from polychromatic to
      orthochromatic erythroblasts. This defect resulted in age-dependent progressive
      anemia, megakaryocyte dysplasia and loss of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)
      quiescence. As assessed by quantitative proteomics, mutant erythroblasts
      expressed higher levels of proteins involved in innate immune signaling, notably
      the heterodimeric S100 calcium-binding proteins S100a8 and S100a9. S100a8--whose
      expression was increased in mutant erythroblasts, monocytes and macrophages--is
      functionally involved in the erythroid defect caused by the Rps14 deletion, as
      addition of recombinant S100a8 was sufficient to induce a differentiation defect
      in wild-type erythroid cells, and genetic inactivation of S100a8 expression
      rescued the erythroid differentiation defect of Rps14-haploinsufficient HSCs. Our
      data link Rps14 haploinsufficiency in del(5q) MDS to activation of the innate
      immune system and induction of S100A8-S100A9 expression, leading to a p53
      dependent erythroid differentiation defect.

PMID- 26878236
TI  - Evidence from cyclostomes for complex regionalization of the ancestral vertebrate
      brain.
AB  - The vertebrate brain is highly complex, but its evolutionary origin remains
      elusive. Because of the absence of certain developmental domains generally marked
      by the expression of regulatory genes, the embryonic brain of the lamprey, a
      jawless vertebrate, had been regarded as representing a less complex, ancestral
      state of the vertebrate brain. Specifically, the absence of a Hedgehog- and
      Nkx2.1-positive domain in the lamprey subpallium was thought to be similar to
      mouse mutants in which the suppression of Nkx2-1 leads to a loss of the medial
      ganglionic eminence. Here we show that the brain of the inshore hagfish
      (Eptatretus burgeri), another cyclostome group, develops domains equivalent to
      the medial ganglionic eminence and rhombic lip, resembling the gnathostome brain.
      Moreover, further investigation of lamprey larvae revealed that these domains are
      also present, ruling out the possibility of convergent evolution between hagfish
      and gnathostomes. Thus, brain regionalization as seen in crown gnathostomes is
      not an evolutionary innovation of this group, but dates back to the latest
      vertebrate ancestor before the divergence of cyclostomes and gnathostomes more
      than 500 million years ago. 

PMID- 26878237
TI  - Stable amorphous georgeite as a precursor to a high-activity catalyst.
AB  - Copper and zinc form an important group of hydroxycarbonate minerals that include
      zincian malachite, aurichalcite, rosasite and the exceptionally rare and unstable
      -and hence little known and largely ignored--georgeite. The first three of these
      minerals are widely used as catalyst precursors for the industrially important
      methanol-synthesis and low-temperature water-gas shift (LTS) reactions, with the
      choice of precursor phase strongly influencing the activity of the final
      catalyst. The preferred phase is usually zincian malachite. This is prepared by a
      co-precipitation method that involves the transient formation of georgeite; with
      few exceptions it uses sodium carbonate as the carbonate source, but this also
      introduces sodium ions--a potential catalyst poison. Here we show that
      supercritical antisolvent (SAS) precipitation using carbon dioxide (refs 13, 14),
      a process that exploits the high diffusion rates and solvation power of
      supercritical carbon dioxide to rapidly expand and supersaturate solutions, can
      be used to prepare copper/zinc hydroxycarbonate precursors with low sodium
      content. These include stable georgeite, which we find to be a precursor to
      highly active methanol-synthesis and superior LTS catalysts. Our findings
      highlight the value of advanced synthesis methods in accessing unusual mineral
      phases, and show that there is room for exploring improvements to established
      industrial catalysts.

PMID- 26878238
TI  - Tumour-specific proline vulnerability uncovered by differential ribosome codon
      reading.
AB  - Tumour growth and metabolic adaptation may restrict the availability of certain
      amino acids for protein synthesis. It has recently been shown that certain types
      of cancer cells depend on glycine, glutamine, leucine and serine metabolism to
      proliferate and survive. In addition, successful therapies using L-asparaginase
      induced asparagine deprivation have been developed for acute lymphoblastic
      leukaemia. However, a tailored detection system for measuring restrictive amino
      acids in each tumour is currently not available. Here we harness ribosome
      profiling for sensing restrictive amino acids, and develop diricore, a procedure
      for differential ribosome measurements of codon reading. We first demonstrate the
      functionality and constraints of diricore using metabolic inhibitors and nutrient
      deprivation assays. Notably, treatment with L-asparaginase elicited both specific
      diricore signals at asparagine codons and high levels of asparagine synthetase
      (ASNS). We then applied diricore to kidney cancer and discover signals indicating
      restrictive proline. As for asparagine, this observation was linked to high
      levels of PYCR1, a key enzyme in proline production, suggesting a compensatory
      mechanism allowing tumour expansion. Indeed, PYCR1 is induced by shortage of
      proline precursors, and its suppression attenuated kidney cancer cell
      proliferation when proline was limiting. High PYCR1 is frequently observed in
      invasive breast carcinoma. In an in vivo model system of this tumour, we also
      uncover signals indicating restrictive proline. We further show that CRISPR
      mediated knockout of PYCR1 impedes tumorigenic growth in this system. Thus,
      diricore has the potential to reveal unknown amino acid deficiencies,
      vulnerabilities that can be used to target key metabolic pathways for cancer
      treatment. 

PMID- 26878239
TI  - CENP-C directs a structural transition of CENP-A nucleosomes mainly through
      sliding of DNA gyres.
AB  - The histone H3 variant CENP-A is incorporated into nucleosomes that mark
      centromere location. We have recently reported that CENP-A nucleosomes, compared
      with their H3 counterparts, confer an altered nucleosome shape. Here, using a
      single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach with
      recombinant human histones and centromere DNA, we found that the nucleosome shape
      change directed by CENP-A is dominated by lateral passing of two DNA gyres (gyre
      sliding). A nonhistone centromere protein, CENP-C, binds and reshapes the
      nucleosome, sliding the DNA gyres back to positions similar to those in canonical
      nucleosomes containing conventional histone H3. The model that we generated to
      explain the CENP-A-nucleosome transition provides an example of a shape change
      imposed by external binding proteins and has notable implications for
      understanding of the epigenetic basis of the faithful inheritance of centromere
      location on chromosomes. 

PMID- 26878242
TI  - Brasiliensic and isobrasiliensic acids: isolation from Calophyllum brasiliense
      Cambess. and anti-Helicobacter pylori activity.
AB  - The occurrence of chromanone derivatives has been noticed as a distinctive
      feature of the genus Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae). Previous studies have
      demonstrated that the extract of the stem bark of Calophyllum brasiliense and its
      chromanone-rich fractions show anti-ulcer activity in murine gastric ulcer
      models. In this work, brasiliensic and isobrasiliensic acids, the two main
      compounds of the n-hexane extract of the stem bark extract of C. brasiliense,
      were isolated by flash chromatography using silica gel impregnated with silver
      nitrate and their structures were elucidated by NMR techniques and mass
      spectrometry. 13C NMR data is available for the first time for both compounds.
      Brasiliensic and isobrasiliensic acids showed good in vitro bacteriostatic
      activity against Helicobacter pylori, and are responsible, at least in part, for
      the bacteriostatic anti-H. pylori activity of the n-hexane extract of the stem
      bark of C. brasiliense.

PMID- 26878240
TI  - 7SK-BAF axis controls pervasive transcription at enhancers.
AB  - RNA functions at enhancers remain mysterious. Here we show that the 7SK small
      nuclear RNA (snRNA) inhibits enhancer transcription by modulating nucleosome
      position. 7SK occupies enhancers and super enhancers genome wide in mouse and
      human cells, and it is required to limit enhancer-RNA initiation and synthesis in
      a manner distinct from promoter pausing. Clustered elements at super enhancers
      uniquely require 7SK to prevent convergent transcription and DNA-damage
      signaling. 7SK physically interacts with the BAF chromatin-remodeling complex,
      recruits BAF to enhancers and inhibits enhancer transcription by modulating
      chromatin structure. In turn, 7SK occupancy at enhancers coincides with that of
      Brd4 and is exquisitely sensitive to the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1. Thus, 7SK
      uses distinct mechanisms to counteract the diverse consequences of pervasive
      transcription that distinguish super enhancers, enhancers and promoters. 

PMID- 26878243
TI  - Factors influencing pursuit of hearing evaluation: Enhancing the health belief
      model with perceived burden from hearing loss on communication partners.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There is limited application of health behavior-based theoretical
      models in hearing healthcare, yet other fields utilizing these models have shown
      their value in affecting behavior change. The health belief model (HBM) has
      demonstrated appropriateness for hearing research. This study assessed factors
      that influence an individual with suspected hearing loss to pursue clinical
      evaluation, with a focus on perceived burden of hearing loss on communication
      partners, using the HBM as a framework. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design collecting
      demographics along with three validated hearing-loss related questionnaires.
      STUDY SAMPLE: Patients from Duke University Medical Center Otolaryngology Clinic
      aged 55-75 years who indicated a communication partner had expressed concern
      about their hearing. A final sample of 413 completed questionnaire sets was
      achieved. RESULTS: The HBM model construct 'cues to action' was a significant (p
      <0.001) predictor of pursuing hearing evaluation. Perceived burden of hearing
      loss on communication partners was a significant (p <0.001) predictor of pursuing
      hearing evaluation and improves the model fit when added to the HBM: 72.0%
      correct prediction when burden is added versus 66.6% when not (p <0.0001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Hearing healthcare initiatives that incorporate these factors may
      improve hearing help-seeking behavior. More research using sound theoretical
      models in hearing healthcare is warranted.

PMID- 26878241
TI  - Super-resolution 3D tomography of interactions and competition in the nuclear
      pore complex.
AB  - A selective barrier formed by intrinsically disordered Phe-Gly (FG) nucleoporins
      (Nups) allows transport receptor (TR)-facilitated translocation of signal
      dependent cargos through the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) of eukaryotic cells.
      However, the configuration of the FG-Nup barrier and its interactions with
      multiple TRs in native NPCs remain obscure. Here, we mapped the interaction sites
      of various TRs or FG segments within the FG-Nup barrier by using high-speed super
      resolution microscopy and used these sites to reconstruct the three-dimensional
      tomography of the native barrier in the NPC. We found that each TR possesses a
      unique interaction zone within the FG-Nup barrier and that two major TRs,
      importin beta1 and Crm1, outcompete other TRs in binding FG Nups. Moreover, TRs
      may alter the tomography of the FG-Nup barrier and affect one another's pathways
      under circumstances of heavy competition. 

PMID- 26878244
TI  - Clinical outcome in patients treated with simultaneous integrated boost -
      intensity modulated radiation therapy (SIB-IMRT) with and without concurrent
      chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.
AB  - Background and purpose To retrospectively evaluate locoregional control (LRC),
      survival and toxicity in anal cancer patients treated with simultaneous
      integrated boost - intensity modulated radiation therapy (SIB-IMRT) +/-
      concurrent chemotherapy. Methods and materials Patients with squamous cell anal
      carcinoma stage T1(>=1 cm)-4, N0-3, M0-1 were included. All patients were treated
      with SIB-IMRT to a total dose of 59.4 Gy delivered to the primary tumor and
      macroscopically involved lymph nodes and 49.5 Gy to elective lymph node areas. If
      macroscopic residual tumor was still present in the fifth week of irradiation, a
      sequential boost of 5.4 Gy was given. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered in
      locally advanced cases. Acute and late toxicity were scored. Results One hundred
      and six patients treated consecutively between April 2006 and December 2012 were
      included. Eighty-seven (82.1%) patients received concurrent chemotherapy. The
      median follow-up was 47 months (range 2-104 months). Ninety-eight patients
      reached a clinical complete response (92.5%). Four-year actuarial LRC rate,
      overall survival and colostomy-free survival were 79%, 77% and 77%, respectively.
      Acute grade >=3 toxicity occurred in 67.9% of the patients. Late grade 3 toxicity
      was seen in 16 patients (15.1%). Conclusions SIB-IMRT +/- concurrent chemotherapy
      for anal cancer was effective with acceptable toxicity. 

PMID- 26878245
TI  - Bouncing back again, and again: a qualitative study of resilience in people with
      multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of resilience,
      factors facilitating resilience and barriers to resilience, from the perspective
      of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), their care partners and community
      stakeholders. Method We conducted four focus groups: two with middle-aged (36-62
      years) individuals with MS [one with men (n = 6) and one with women (n = 6)], one
      for partners of individuals with MS (n = 11) and one with community stakeholders
      serving people with MS (n = 9). We asked participants to describe what resilience
      means to them, what factors facilitate resilience and what barriers to resilience
      they perceive. We analyzed the focus group transcripts for emerging themes and
      sub-themes. Results Participants found it difficult to generate a concise
      definition of resilience, but they generated evocative descriptions of the
      concept. Psychological adaptation, social connection, life meaning, planning and
      physical wellness emerged as facilitators of resilience. Resilience depletion,
      negative thoughts and feelings, social limitations, social stigma and physical
      fatigue emerged as barriers to resilience. Conclusion The unpredictable nature of
      MS can present unique challenges to resilient adjustment, especially during
      middle age. However, several factors can contribute to resilience and quality of
      life, and these factors are amenable to intervention. Implications for
      Rehabilitation Resilience is the capacity to bounce back and thrive when faced
      with challenges. People with MS develop resilience through psychological
      adaptation, social connection, life meaning, planning ahead and physical
      wellness. Barriers to resilience with MS include burnout, negative thoughts and
      feelings, social difficulties, stigma and fatigue. Interventions should address
      both individual and social factors that support resilience, such as promoting
      positive thinking, planning and engagement in meaningful activities.

PMID- 26878246
TI  - A novel multimodality endoscopic device for colonic submucosal dissection using a
      combination of bipolar radiofrequency and microwave modalities.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Current submucosal dissection devices are technically
      challenging to use, resulting in long and sometimes incomplete colonic polyp
      resections. The aim of this feasibility preclinical study was to evaluate a new,
      multimodality instrument with novel electrocautery properties. METHODS: Six
      female adult pigs underwent colonic submucosal resections. The novel device was
      used to cut mucosa and submucosa using bipolar radiofrequency (BRF; at 400 KHz),
      provide hemostasis with microwave coagulation (MWC; at 5.8 GHz), and inject fluid
      via a retractable needle. The main outcomes measured were safety (histological
      analysis post-recovery), performance, and time needed to achieve complete
      resection. RESULTS: A total of 12 consecutive colonic pseudopolyps were
      completely excised (two per subject) using BRF cutting. The median time to
      complete resection was 44.3 minutes (SD 8.9). The median defect size was 32.8 mm
      (SD 4.3). MWC was applied on 37 occasions for pre-coagulation or treatment of
      bleeding vessels. One microperforation was treated successfully with endoscopic
      clips. All animals recovered uneventfully during the 28-day survival period.
      Histology confirmed adequate healing in all postmortem defects. CONCLUSIONS: In
      this preclinical evaluation, the novel multimodality endoscopic device
      facilitated rapid and safe en bloc resection of colonic pseudopolyps.

PMID- 26878248
TI  - Dissecting the Few-Femtosecond Dephasing Time of Dipole and Quadrupole Modes in
      Gold Nanoparticles Using Polarized Photoemission Electron Microscopy.
AB  - Dipole and quadrupole modes are the two lowest orders of localized surface
      plasmon resonance (LSPR) eigenmodes in metallic nanoparticles. Of these two
      modes, the quadrupole mode is forbidden for symmetric metallic nanoparticles
      excited by linearly polarized light at normal incidence. Here, we demonstrate
      excitation of the quadrupole mode in symmetrical gold (Au) nanoblocks shined with
      s-polarized light at oblique incidence. In particular, we probe the near-field
      LSPR in Au nanoblocks using photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) and find
      that at oblique incidence, the dipole and quadrupole modes can be selectively
      excited, in terms of near-field enhancement, by manipulating the light
      polarization state. More importantly, by time-resolved PEEM measurements, we
      experimentally demonstrate that the quadrupole mode in symmetrical Au nanoblocks
      has longer dephasing time than that of the dipole mode. 

PMID- 26878247
TI  - Dual-focus versus conventional magnification endoscopy for the diagnosis of
      superficial squamous neoplasms in the pharynx and esophagus: a randomized trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Conventional magnification narrow-band imaging (CM
      NBI) endoscopy has demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for superficial squamous
      neoplasms in the pharynx and esophagus. This study aimed to evaluate the
      diagnostic utility of the newly developed dual-focus NBI (DF-NBI) compared with
      that of CM-NBI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited patients with squamous cell
      carcinoma (SCC) in the head and neck, or esophagus, or with a history of SCC. The
      primary endpoint of this prospective controlled non-inferiority trial was the
      sensitivity of DF-NBI and CM-NBI for detecting superficial carcinoma in the
      pharynx and esophagus. Secondary endpoints included other diagnostic values and
      the resolving power of each endoscope. Superficial carcinoma was defined as high
      grade dysplasia and SCC invading up to the submucosal layer. RESULTS: The study
      included 93 patients. A total of 28 superficial carcinomas were detected in the
      pharynx and esophagus. The sensitivities of DF-NBI and CM-NBI for superficial
      carcinoma were 82 % and 71 %, respectively. The lower limit of the 90 %
      confidence interval for the difference between the sensitivities exceeded the non
      inferiority threshold. The specificity and overall accuracy of DF-NBI vs. CM-NBI
      were 93 % vs. 90 % and 91 % vs. 86 %, respectively (both non-significant
      differences). The maximum resolving power of a conventional magnification
      endoscope was significantly higher than a dual-focus endoscope (7.2 um vs. 11.6
      um: P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate the non-inferiority of DF-NBI
      versus CM-NBI in detecting superficial carcinoma in the pharynx and esophagus. DF
      NBI appears to have a resolving power that, although significantly lower, is
      sufficient to achieve high diagnostic accuracy, comparable to that of CM
      NBI.University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN, No. 000007585).

PMID- 26878249
TI  - Childhood CT scans and cancer risk: impact of predisposing factors for cancer on
      the risk estimates.
AB  - To investigate the role of cancer predisposing factors (PFs) on the associations
      between paediatric computed tomography (CT) scan exposures and subsequent risk of
      central nervous system (CNS) tumours and leukaemia. A cohort of children who
      underwent a CT scan in 2000-2010 in 23 French radiology departments was linked
      with the national childhood cancers registry and national vital status registry;
      information on PFs was retrieved through hospital discharge databases. In
      children without PF, hazard ratios of 1.07 (95% CI 0.99-1.10) for CNS tumours (15
      cases) and 1.16 (95% CI 0.77-1.27) for leukaemia (12 cases) were estimated for
      each 10 mGy increment in CT x-rays organ doses. These estimates were similar to
      those obtained in the whole cohort. In children with PFs, no positive dose-risk
      association was observed, possibly related to earlier non-cancer mortality in
      this group. Our results suggest a modifying effect of PFs on CT-related cancer
      risks, but need to be confirmed by longer follow-up and other studies. 

PMID- 26878250
TI  - Knee Dislocations and PCL-Based Multiligament Knee Injuries in Patients Aged 18
      Years and Younger: Surgical Technique and Outcomes.
AB  - Knee dislocations and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiple ligament
      knee injuries are complex injuries that can result in significant functional
      instability for the affected individual. The purpose of this article is to
      present a review of the literature, and the authors' experience treating knee
      dislocations and PCL-based multiple ligament knee injuries in patients 18 years
      of age and younger. This article will discuss patient age at the time of surgery,
      mechanisms of injury, surgical techniques, considerations in patients with open
      growth plates, a review of the literature, and the authors' surgical outcomes in
      these complex knee ligament instabilities. 

PMID- 26878251
TI  - Abdominal obesity and gestational diabetes: the interactive role of magnesium.
AB  - AIMS: Magnesium is a cofactor for numerous metabolic enzymatic reactions. It is
      required for glucose utilization and insulin signaling. We compared plasma
      magnesium concentrations in pregnant women with and without abdominal obesity,
      and investigated the interactive roles of magnesium and obesity in the
      development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Pregnant women with
      and without abdominal obesity (n = 40 in each group) were followed during
      gestation. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed at 24-28 weeks of
      pregnancy to diagnose GDM. Plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-sensitive
      C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The obesity
      GDM relationship was investigated prospectively, and the magnesium-GDM
      relationship was analyzed on a cross-sectional basis. RESULTS: Sixteen patients
      in the obese group and one in the control developed GDM. There were no
      differences in plasma magnesium levels between obese and control groups (p-value
      = 0.14), but significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic patients
      (p-value = 0.05). Fourteen out of 17 diabetic patients had magnesium
      concentrations below the median. Increases in insulin, homeostatic model for
      insulin resistance, triglycerides, hs-CRP, MDA and second-hour blood glucose were
      more pronounced in those with both abdominal obesity and low-normal magnesium
      concentrations. In the Poisson regression model, obesity (relative risk = 20.6, p
      value = 0.002), low-normal magnesium level (relative risk = 4.2, p-value =
      0.009), and their interaction (p-value<0.001) were significant. CONCLUSION:
      Abdominally obese patients with lower plasma magnesium are more likely to show
      abnormal OGTT results. Insulin resistance, inflammatory response and oxidative
      stress are exaggerated in these patients.

PMID- 26878252
TI  - Hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and increased serum potassium concentration as
      distinctive features of early hypomagnesemia in magnesium-deprived mice.
AB  - Magnesium-deficient patients show dysfunctional calcium (Ca(2+)) metabolism due
      to defective parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. In mice and rats, long-term
      magnesium (Mg(2+)) deprivation causes hyperphosphaturia and increases fibroblast
      growth factor 23 (FGF23) secretion, despite normal serum phosphate (Pi) and
      Ca(2+). Electrolyte disturbances during early hypomagnesemia may explain the
      response of mice to long-term Mg(2+) deprivation, but our knowledge of
      electrolyte homeostasis during this stage is limited. This study compares the
      effect of both short- and long-term Mg(2+) restriction on the electrolyte balance
      in mice. Mice were fed control or Mg(2+)-deficient diets for one to three days,
      one week, or three weeks. Prior to killing the mice, urine was collected over 24
      h using metabolic cages. Within 24 h of Mg(2+) deprivation, hypomagnesemia,
      hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia developed, and after three days of Mg(2+)
      deprivation, serum potassium (K(+)) was increased. These changes were accompanied
      by a reduction in urinary volume, hyperphosphaturia, hypocalciuria and decreased
      Mg(2+), sodium (Na(+)) and K(+) excretion. Surprisingly, after one week of Mg(2+)
      deprivation, serum K(+), Pi and Ca(2+) had normalized, showing that mineral
      homeostasis is most affected during early hypomagnesemia. Serum Pi and K(+) are
      known to stimulate secretion of FGF23 and aldosterone, which are usually elevated
      during Mg(2+) deficiency. Thus, the hyperphosphatemia and increased serum K(+)
      concentration observed during short-term Mg(2+) deprivation may help our
      understanding of adaptation to chronic Mg(2+) deficiency.

PMID- 26878253
TI  - An approach to the diagnosis and management of a case presenting with recurrent
      hypomagnesemia secondary to the chronic use of a proton pump inhibitor.
AB  - PURPOSE: Magnesium is an important electrolyte for very many cell functions and
      its deficiency may lead to a wide spectrum of diseases. We report a clinical case
      of hypomagnesemia resulting from the chronic use of a proton pump inhibitor
      (PPI). PPIs are drugs widely used in medical practice, and a growing number of
      cases of PPIs causing hypomagnesemia have been described. Our aim was to monitor
      the clinical and electrolyte findings during recovery from hypomagnesemia caused
      by long-term PPI use. RESULTS: A 65-year old female who had been using omeprazole
      for 10 years, presented with arrhythmia and paresthesia of the lower and upper
      limbs that had been attributed to severe hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and
      hypoparathyroidism. Her laboratory tests revealed the following results:
      magnesium 0.6 mg/dL (NR: 1.5 to 2.5 mg/dL), calcium 7.3 mg/dL (NR: 8.5 to 10.2
      mg/dL), parathyroid hormone (PTH) 13.3 pg/mL (NR: 15 to 65 pg/mL), and low
      urinary calcium and magnesium excretion. Her electrocardiogram disclosed typical,
      prolonged QT interval, ST depression, and U waves. We discuss the differential
      diagnoses, pathophysiology, and reversibility of symptoms after effective
      treatment of the hypomagnesemia. CONCLUSION: this report emphasizes that even if
      long-term PPI users appear largely asymptomatic, life-threatening arrhythmias can
      present very suddenly. Long-term PPI users should be monitored for otherwise
      unexplained hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, functional hypoparathyroidism and
      associated symptoms.

PMID- 26878254
TI  - Analytical studies on degradation mechanism of herbicide 4-chlorophenoxyacetic
      acid in water by gamma/H2O2 and gamma/ozone processes.
AB  - Radiolytic degradation of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid was followed in the presence
      of hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The synergic effect of ozone is found to be
      relatively high since the amounts of detected aromatic intermediates are lower as
      well as the amounts of small aliphatic acids are higher. Chloride ions are one of
      the most important mineralization products and splitted with a yield of more than
      80%. The amounts of small aliphatic acids formed in the last step before
      mineralization (oxalic, acetic and formic acid) were followed and their formation
      from 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid was confirmed. Dissolved oxygen was consumed to
      form reactive radicals during irradiation. Product analysis and confirmation are
      followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. The
      degradation path of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid was suggested with determined
      intermediates. 

PMID- 26878255
TI  - Single-crystal nanopyramidal BGaN by nanoselective area growth on AlN/Si(111) and
      GaN templates.
AB  - We report nano-selective area growth (NSAG) of BGaN by MOCVD on AlN/Si(111) and
      GaN templates resulting in 150 nm single crystalline nanopyramids. This is in
      contrast to unmasked or micro-selective area growth, which results in a multi
      crystalline structure on both substrates. Various characterization techniques
      were used to evaluate NSAG as a viable technique to improve BGaN material quality
      on AlN/Si(111) using results of GaN NSAG and unmasked BGaN growth for comparison.
      Evaluation of BGaN nanopyramid quality, shape and size uniformity revealed that
      the growth mechanism is the same on both the templates. Further STEM analysis of
      BGaN nanopyramids on AlN/Si (111) templates confirmed that these are single
      crystalline structures without any dislocations, likely due to single nucleation
      occurring in the 80 nm mask opening. CL results correspond to boron content
      between 1.7% and 2.0% in the nanopyramids. We conclude that NSAG is promising for
      growth of high-quality BGaN nanostructures and complex nano-heterostructures,
      especially for low-cost silicon substrates. 

PMID- 26878256
TI  - Electronic Flux Density beyond the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation.
AB  - In the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, the electronic wave function is typically
      real-valued and hence the electronic flux density (current density) seems to
      vanish. This is unfortunate for chemistry, because it precludes the possibility
      to monitor the electronic motion associated with the nuclear motion during
      chemical rearrangements from a Born-Oppenheimer simulation of the process. We
      study an electronic flux density obtained from a correction to the electronic
      wave function. This correction is derived via nuclear velocity perturbation
      theory applied in the framework of the exact factorization of electrons and
      nuclei. To compute the correction, only the ground state potential energy surface
      and the electronic wave function are needed. For a model system, we demonstrate
      that this electronic flux density approximates the true one very well, for
      coherent tunneling dynamics as well as for over-the-barrier scattering, and
      already for mass ratios between electrons and nuclei that are much larger than
      the true mass ratios. 

PMID- 26878257
TI  - Comparative Effects of Different Balance-Training-Progression Styles on Postural
      Control and Ankle Force Production: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - CONTEXT: Despite the effectiveness of balance training, the exact parameters
      needed to maximize the benefits of such programs remain unknown. One such factor
      is how individuals should progress to higher levels of task difficulty within a
      balance-training program. Yet no investigators have directly compared different
      balance-training-progression styles. OBJECTIVE: To compare an error-based
      progression (ie, advance when proficient at a task) with a repetition-based
      progression (ie, advance after a set amount of repetitions) style during a
      balance-training program in healthy individuals. DESIGN: Randomized controlled
      trial. SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of
      28 (16 women, 12 men) physically healthy young adults (age = 21.57 +/- 3.95
      years, height = 171.60 +/- 11.03 cm, weight = 72.96 +/- 16.18 kg, body mass index
      = 24.53 +/- 3.7). INTERVENTION(S): All participants completed 12 supervised
      balance-training sessions over 4 weeks. Each session consisted of a combination
      of dynamic unstable-surface tasks that incorporated a BOSU ball and lasted about
      30 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Static balance from an instrumented force
      plate, dynamic balance as measured via the Star Excursion Balance Test, and ankle
      force production in all 4 cardinal planes of motion as measured with a handheld
      dynamometer before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Selected static postural
      control outcomes, dynamic postural control, and ankle force production in all
      planes of motion improved (P < .05). However, no differences between the
      progression styles were observed (P > .05) for any of the outcome measures.
      CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week balance-training program consisting of dynamic unstable
      surface exercises on a BOSU ball improved dynamic postural control and ankle
      force production in healthy young adults. These results suggest that an error
      based balance-training program is comparable with but not superior to a
      repetition-based balance-training program in improving postural control and ankle
      force production in healthy young adults.

PMID- 26878258
TI  - Postembryonic lineages of the Drosophila ventral nervous system: Neuroglian
      expression reveals the adult hemilineage associated fiber tracts in the adult
      thoracic neuromeres.
AB  - During larval life most of the thoracic neuroblasts (NBs) in Drosophila undergo a
      second phase of neurogenesis to generate adult-specific neurons that remain in an
      immature, developmentally stalled state until pupation. Using a combination of
      MARCM and immunostaining with a neurotactin antibody, Truman et al. (2004;
      Development 131:5167-5184) identified 24 adult-specific NB lineages within each
      thoracic hemineuromere of the larval ventral nervous system (VNS), but because of
      the neurotactin labeling of lineage tracts disappearing early in metamorphosis,
      they were unable extend the identification of these lineages into the adult. Here
      we show that immunostaining with an antibody against the cell adhesion molecule
      neuroglian reveals the same larval secondary lineage projections through
      metamorphosis and bfy identifying each neuroglian-positive tract at selected
      stages we have traced the larval hemilineage tracts for all three thoracic
      neuromeres through metamorphosis into the adult. To validate tract
      identifications we used the genetic toolkit developed by Harris et al. (2015;
      Elife 4) to preserve hemilineage-specific GAL4 expression patterns from larval
      into the adult stage. The immortalized expression proved a powerful confirmation
      of the analysis of the neuroglian scaffold. This work has enabled us to directly
      link the secondary, larval NB lineages to their adult counterparts. The data
      provide an anatomical framework that 1) makes it possible to assign most neurons
      to their parent lineage and 2) allows more precise definitions of the neuronal
      organization of the adult VNS based in developmental units/rules. J. Comp.
      Neurol. 524:2677-2695, 2016. (c) 2016 The Authors The Journal of Comparative
      Neurology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878259
TI  - Cytosolic localization of NADH cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase (Ncb5or).
AB  - Acyl-CoA desaturation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane depends on
      cytosolic NADH or NADPH, whereas NADPH in the ER lumen is utilized by prereceptor
      glucocorticoid production. It was assumed that NADH cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase
      (Ncb5or) might connect Acyl-CoA desaturation to ER luminal redox. We aimed to
      clarify the ambiguous compartmentalization of Ncb5or and test the possible effect
      of stearoyl-CoA on microsomal NADPH level. Amino acid sequence analysis,
      fluorescence microscopy of GFP-tagged protein, immunocytochemistry, and western
      blot analysis of subcellular fractions unequivocally demonstrated that Ncb5or,
      either endogenous or exogenous, is localized in the cytoplasm and not in the ER
      lumen in cultured cells and liver tissue. Moreover, the involvement of ER-luminal
      reducing equivalents in stearoyl-CoA desaturation was excluded. 

PMID- 26878260
TI  - Accidental aspiration of denture cleanser tablets caused severe mucosal edema in
      upper airway.
AB  - A 78-year-old man accidentally swallowed denture cleanser tablets (Polident(r) ).
      Although he immediately spat them out, he felt difficulty in breathing.
      Observation using a fiber optic bronchoscope revealed a constricted glottis with
      edema and redness. The instillation of 1% xylocaine with epinephrine to the
      epiglottis and larynx reduced the edema and enabled the bronchoscope to pass the
      glottis. Red and edematous mucosa of the trachea and major bronchus were also
      observed. We should be aware that accidental aspiration of denture cleansers may
      cause laryngeal edema.

PMID- 26878261
TI  - "Cross" Supermicelles via the Hierarchical Assembly of Amphiphilic Cylindrical
      Triblock Comicelles.
AB  - Self-assembled "cross" architectures are well-known in biological systems (as
      illustrated by chromosomes, for example); however, comparable synthetic
      structures are extremely rare. Herein we report an in depth study of the
      hierarchical assembly of the amphiphilic cylindrical P-H-P triblock comicelles
      with polar (P) coronal ends and a hydrophobic (H) central periphery in a
      selective solvent for the terminal segments which allows access to "cross"
      supermicelles under certain conditions. Well-defined P-H-P triblock comicelles
      M(PFS-b-PtBA)-b-M(PFS-b-PDMS)-b-M(PFS-b-PtBA) (M = micelle segment, PFS =
      polyferrocenyldimethylsilane, PtBA = poly(tert-butyl acrylate), and PDMS =
      polydimethylsiloxane) were created by the living crystallization-driven self
      assembly (CDSA) method. By manipulating two factors in the supermicelles, namely
      the H segment-solvent interfacial energy (through the central H segment length,
      L1) and coronal steric effects (via the PtBA corona chain length in the P
      segment, L2 related to the degree of polymerization DP2) the aggregation of the
      triblock comicelles could be finely tuned. This allowed a phase-diagram to be
      constructed that can be extended to other triblock comicelles with different
      coronas on the central or end segment where "cross" supermicelles were
      exclusively formed under predicted conditions. Laser scanning confocal microscopy
      (LSCM) analysis of dye-labeled "cross" supermicelles, and block "cross"
      supermicelles formed by addition of a different unimer to the arm termini,
      provided complementary characterization to transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
      and dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confirmed the existence of these "cross"
      supermicelles as kinetically stable, micron-size colloidally stable structures in
      solution.

PMID- 26878262
TI  - Recent Progress on Bile Acid Receptor Modulators for Treatment of Metabolic
      Diseases.
AB  - Bile acids are steroid-derived molecules synthesized in the liver, secreted from
      hepatocytes into the bile canaliculi, and subsequently stored in the gall
      bladder. During the feeding, bile flows into the duodenum, where it contributes
      to the solubilization and digestion of lipid-soluble nutrients. After a meal,
      bile-acid levels increase in the intestine, liver, and also in the systemic
      circulation. Therefore, serum bile-acid levels serve as an important sensing
      mechanism for nutrient and energy. Recent studies have described bile acids as
      versatile signaling molecules endowed with systemic endocrine functions. Bile
      acids are ligands for G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as TGR5 (also
      known as GPBAR1, M-BAR, and BG37) and nuclear hormone receptors including
      farnesoid X receptor (FXR; also known as NR1H4). Acting through these diverse
      signaling pathways, bile acids regulate triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose
      homeostasis, and energy expenditure. These bile-acid-controlled signaling
      pathways have become the source of promising novel drug targets to treat common
      metabolic and hepatic diseases.

PMID- 26878263
TI  - Diffusion-weighted multiparametric MRI for monitoring longitudinal changes of
      parameters in rabbit VX2 liver tumors.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the value of different quantitative models of diffusion
      weighted multiparametric imaging (DW-MPI) including traditional as well as
      several advanced models for monitoring the longitudinal parameter changes in
      rabbit liver VX2 carcinoma and for correlating the perfusion-related imaging
      parameters to vascularity of tumor tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbit liver
      VX2 carcinoma was imaged by DW-MPI at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks after tumor
      implantation at 1.5T using two sets of b values ranging from 0 to 2000 s/mm(2) .
      Serial parameter changes of each model at three timepoints were compared.
      Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were carried out to analyze the
      ability of perfusion-related parameters, including apparent diffusion coefficient
      (ADC), perfusion fraction (f), and pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), to predict
      mean microvessel density (MVD) as determined by quantitative histopathology.
      RESULTS: For the period from Week 2 to Week 4, the measurements of ADC, f, and
      KDKI illustrated a statistical difference (P = 0.000, P = 0.000, and P = 0.002,
      respectively), whereas the comparison of D, D*, DDKI , DSEM , and alphaSEM
      demonstrated no statistical significance. ADC and f showed highest correlation
      with MVD at Week 4 (r(2)  = 0.307, P = 0.017, and r(2)  = 0.402, P < 0.01,
      respectively). Multivariate analyses confirmed highest correlation of f and ADC
      with MVD at Week 4 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: ADC, f, and KDKI were
      identified as the most promising parameters for monitoring changes in rabbit
      liver VX2 carcinoma and f and ADC showed highest correlation with MVD. J. Magn.
      Reson. Imaging 2016;44:707-714.

PMID- 26878265
TI  - Structural Flexibility and Conformation Features of Cyclic Dinucleotides in
      Aqueous Solutions.
AB  - Cyclic dinucleotides are able to trigger the innate immune system by activating
      STING. It was found that the binding affinity of asymmetric 2'3'-cGAMP to
      symmetric dimer of STING is 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the
      symmetric 3'3'-cyclic dinucleotides. Such a phenomenon has not been understood
      yet. Here we show that the subtle changes in phosphodiester linkage of CDNs lead
      to their distinct structural properties which correspond to the varied binding
      affinities. 2'-5' and/or 3'-5' linked CDNs adopt specific while different types
      of ribose puckers and backbone conformations. That ribose conformations and base
      types have different propensities for anti or syn glycosidic conformations
      further affects the overall flexibility of CDNs. The counterbalance between
      backbone ring tension and electrostatic repulsion, both affected by the ring
      size, also contributes to the different flexibility of CDNs. Our calculations
      reveal that the free energy cost for 2'3'-cGAMP to adopt the STING-bound
      structure is smaller than that for 3'3'-cGAMP and cyclic-di-GMP. These findings
      may serve as a reference for design of CDN-analogues as vaccine adjuvants.
      Moreover, the cyclization pattern of CDNs closely related to their physiological
      roles suggests the importance of understanding structural properties in the study
      of protein-ligand interactions. 

PMID- 26878264
TI  - Stabilizing interactions between D666-S1787 and T657-Y1792 at the A2-A3 interface
      support factor VIIIa stability in the blood clotting pathway.
AB  - Essentials Factor VIIIa (FVIIIa) is unstable due to loss of A2; D666 and Y1792
      contribute to its stability. We conducted a study to identify the interactions
      made at these residues at the A2-A3 interface. We present evidence for
      stabilizing interactions between D666-S1787 and T657-Y1792 in FVIIIa. A
      D666C/S1788C variant with a disulfide A2-A3 linkage has a FVIIIa decay rate that
      is 1% of wild-type. SUMMARY: Background Factor (F)VIIIa activity and stability
      depends on the non-covalent association of the A2 subunit with the A1/A3C1C2
      dimer, but the interactions that contribute to A2 association are not well
      defined. Previous work had shown that D666A and Y1792F mutations at the A2-A3
      interface resulted in increased FVIIIa decay, suggesting that the residues were
      involved in bonding interactions important for FVIIIa stability. Objectives
      Several potential hydrogen bonding partners of D666 and Y1792 across the A2-A3
      interface were selected from the low-resolution FVIII crystal structure, and we
      used mutagenesis and biochemical analysis to examine the bonding interactions
      occurring at D666 and Y1792. Methods Using a series of stability and functional
      analyses, we analyzed FVIII variants in which D666 and Y1792 were each swapped
      with the residues of potential bonding partners. Results and conclusions We
      present evidence for hydrogen bonds between D666 and S1787 and between Y1792 and
      T657 that are important for FVIIIa stability. D666S/S1787D and T657Y/Y1792T
      variants each displayed wild-type (WT)-like FVIIIa stability and performed like
      WT FVIII in a series of functional analyses, whereas D666S, S1787D, and Y1792T
      single variants showed increased FVIIIa decay and a T657Y variant had little
      FVIIIa activity. These results suggest that WT hydrogen bonds are disrupted with
      the single mutations but maintained in the swap variants. Furthermore, mutation
      of D666 and S1788 to cysteine resulted in disulfide bond formation across the A2
      A3 interface, confirming the close proximity of D666 and S1787, and this covalent
      attachment of the A2 subunit significantly increased FVIIIa stability.

PMID- 26878266
TI  - Cross-sectional association between physical strength, obesity, periodontitis and
      number of teeth in a general population.
AB  - AIM: Muscle strength declines and gums recede with increasing age across the life
      course. Possible associations exist between handgrip strength as an indicator of
      physical fitness and periodontitis and number of teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Handgrip strength (GS), anthropometric measures, clinical attachment loss, number
      of teeth, C-reactive protein and glycated haemoglobin were assessed in 2089
      participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-2). Linear regression
      including interaction with age was used to estimate the association between
      clinical attachment level, number of teeth and GS. RESULTS: In multiple
      regression adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)
      each mm of diminished periodontal attachment was associated with reduction in GS
      by 1.47 kg (95% CI -2.29 to -0.65) and 0.38 kg (-0.89 to 0.14) in men and women
      respectively. Correspondingly, each additional remaining tooth was significantly
      associated with higher GS. Using handgrip strength relative to BMI as outcome,
      these relationships become even more apparent. Indicators of obesity such as BMI
      and WHR associated with both GS and periodontitis modulate the relationship
      between GS and periodontitis with a different impact between the sexes.
      CONCLUSION: Periodontitis is associated with GS modified mainly by anthropometric
      measures related to adiposity and inflammation. Putative mechanisms encompass
      interactions of factors declining with increasing age.

PMID- 26878268
TI  - Development of rare resistance-associated variants that are extremely tolerant
      against NS5A inhibitors during daclatasvir/asunaprevir therapy by a two-hit
      mechanism.
AB  - AIM: The virologic characteristics of resistance-associated variants (RAVs)
      developing in patients receiving dual oral therapy with daclatasvir/asunaprevir,
      including those with previous triple therapy with simeprevir, were evaluated.
      METHODS: A total of 206 patients with genotype-1b HCV infection, including 5
      patients with previous simeprevir therapy, were treated with
      daclatasvir/asunaprevir for 24 weeks. Resistance-associated variants in the NS5A
      regions at baseline and during/after therapy were evaluated using cycling-probe
      real-time polymerase chain reaction combined with direct sequencing. The dynamics
      of rare RAVs were also assessed using ultra-deep sequencing. RESULTS: A sustained
      virologic response (SVR12) was achieved in 180 patients (87%); the rates were 95%
      in patients without baseline NS5A-RAVs and 83%, 59%, and 77% in those with
      hepatitis C virus (HCV) strains carrying NS5A-L31M, NS5A-Y93H/C, and NS5A
      R30Q/H/L mutations, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed baseline NS5A
      R30Q/H/L mutation and NS5A-Y93H mutations as significant factors associated with
      SVR12. Virologic failure developed in all 5 patients with previous simeprevir
      treatment, and rare RAVs (HCV strains with NS5A-R30H, NS5A-A92K, NS5A-P29del, and
      NS5A-P32del) developed at virologic failure. Ultra-deep sequencing revealed that
      HCV strains with NS5A-P29del or NS5A-P32del were absent at baseline and emerged
      within 4 weeks of dual oral therapy among the strains appearing after simeprevir
      administration. CONCLUSION: NS5A-R30Q/H/L and NS5A-Y93H mutations at baseline
      determined the therapeutic efficacy of dual oral therapy with
      daclatasvir/asunaprevir, but rare NS5A-RAVs developed frequently in patients with
      previous simeprevir treatment. Such RAVs may develop in a two-hit manner, with
      simeprevir altering the quasispecies of HCV strains in the NS5A regions, leading
      to the emergence of HCV strains with NS5A-P29del and NS5A-P32del during exposure
      to daclatasvir/asunaprevir.

PMID- 26878269
TI  - Progesterone binding nano-carriers based on hydrophobically modified
      hyperbranched polyglycerols.
AB  - Progesterone (Pro) is a potent neurosteroid and promotes recovery from moderate
      Traumatic Brain Injury but its clinical application is severely impeded by its
      poor water solubility. Here we demonstrate that reversibly binding Pro within
      hydrophobically modified hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG-Cn-MPEG) enhances its
      solubility, stability and bioavailability. Synthesis, characterization and Pro
      loading into HPG-Cn-MPEG is described. The release kinetics are correlated with
      structural properties and the results of Differential Scanning Calorimetry
      studies of a family of HPG-Cn-MPEGs of varying molecular weight and alkylation.
      While the maximum amount of Pro bound correlates well with the amount of alkyl
      carbon per molecule contributing to its hydrophobicity, the dominant first order
      rate constant for Pro release correlates strongly with the amount of structured
      or bound water in the dendritic domain of the polymer. The results provide
      evidence to justify more detailed studies of interactions with biological
      systems, both single cells and in animal models. 

PMID- 26878267
TI  - Community prevalence of long-term urinary catheters use in England.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To calculate the prevalence of long term catheter use in the
      community in two areas in the south and west of England. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS (OR
      MATERIALS) AND METHODS: People in England register with general practices to
      access health care through a National Health Service. Catheters are provided by
      prescription free of charge. In 2008, patients using urinary catheters for over 3
      months were identified, and demographic information collected, from databases of
      general practices, using catheter prescribing records. The age and sex
      distributions of people in each practice were obtained from capitation claims.
      Overall, and age and sex-specific prevalence were calculated separately for each
      area, and compared. RESULTS: A total of 583 long term catheter users (329 south,
      254 west) were identified from 404,328 people registered with practices. The
      overall population prevalence is similar in both locations (0.146% southern,
      0.141% western). Extrapolating for the United Kingdom, this is over 90,000 long
      term catheter users. Prevalence increases with age (0.732% in over 70 years,
      1.224% over 80), especially amongst men. Overall, higher proportions have
      neurological (vs. non-neurological) reasons (62.9% vs. 37.1%) and use urethral
      (vs. suprapubic) catheters (59.7% vs. 40.3%). Compared to men, more women tend to
      use suprapubic (56.4% vs. 29.3%) and have a catheter for neurological reasons
      (71.8% vs. 56.2%, P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Previous evidence on prevalence of
      long term catheter use is sparse, and of variable quality. The strength of this
      study is utilisation of a reliable source of data (catheter prescriptions) from a
      large population of patients. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:293-296, 2017. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878271
TI  - Complexation of Ln(3+) Ions with Cyclam Dipicolinates: A Small Bridge that Makes
      Huge Differences in Structure, Equilibrium, and Kinetic Properties.
AB  - The coordination properties toward the lanthanide ions of two macrocyclic ligands
      based on a cyclam platform containing picolinate pendant arms have been
      investigated. The synthesis of the ligands was achieved by using the well-known
      bis-aminal chemistry. One of the cyclam derivatives (cb-tedpa(2-)) is reinforced
      with a cross-bridge unit, which results in exceptionally inert [Ln(cb-tedpa)](+)
      complexes. The X-ray structures of the [La(cb-tedpa)Cl], [Gd(cb-tedpa)](+), and
      [Lu(Me2tedpa)](+) complexes indicate octadentate binding of the ligands to the
      metal ions. The analysis of the Yb(3+)-induced shifts in [Yb(Me2tedpa)](+)
      indicates that this complex presents a solution structure very similar to that
      observed in the solid state for the Lu(3+) analogue. The X-ray structures of
      [La(H2Me2tedpa)2](3+) and [Yb(H2Me2tedpa)2](3+) complexes confirm the exocyclic
      coordination of the metal ions, which gives rise to coordination polymers with
      the metal coordination environment being fulfilled by oxygen atoms of the
      picolinate groups and water molecules. The X-ray structure of [Gd(Hcb-tedpa)2](+)
      also indicates exocyclic coordination that in this case results in a discrete
      structure with an eight-coordinated metal ion. The nonreinforced complexes
      [Ln(Me2tedpa)](+) were prepared and isolated as chloride salts in nonaqueous
      media. However, these complexes were found to undergo dissociation in aqueous
      solution, except in the case of the complexes with the smallest Ln(3+) ions
      (Ln(3+) = Yb(3+) and Lu(3+)). A DFT investigation shows that the increased
      stability of the [Ln(Me2tedpa)](+) complexes in solution across the lanthanide
      series is the result of an increased binding energy of the ligand due to the
      increased charge density of the Ln(3+) ion. 

PMID- 26878270
TI  - Isosteric and fluorescent DNA base pair formed by 4-amino-phthalimide and 2,4
      diaminopyrimidine: melting, structure, and THz polar solvation dynamics.
AB  - An artificial base pair in the center of a duplex DNA oligomer, formed by 2,4
      diaminopyrimidine and fluorescent 4-aminophthalimide C-nucleosides, is
      characterized spectroscopically, with a view towards its use in femtosecond
      solvation dynamics. Quantum-chemical calculations predict H-bonding energy
      equivalent to A:T. UV-vis absorption spectra provide insight into local melting
      at the 4-aminophthalimide modification site. Increase of temperature to nearly
      the melting temperature of the duplex leads to better hybridisation of the
      fluorescent nucleoside, contrary to native base pairs. This unusual observation
      is explained by the NMR solution structure of the duplex. Two conformations are
      adopted by the artificial pair due to backbone constraints, having either two or
      one interbase hydrogen bonds. In the latter, hydrogen bonding sites remain
      accessible for water solvation. The time-resolved dynamic Stokes' shift of 4
      aminophthalimide fluorescence is consistent with that of a mixture of a slow and
      fast species. From the observations, the optimal linkage between 4
      aminophthalimide and 2-deoxyribose for fitting into the duplex B-DNA structure is
      deduced. 

PMID- 26878273
TI  - Carbon dioxide reduction on Ir(111): stable hydrocarbon surface species at near
      ambient pressure.
AB  - Stable hydrocarbon surface species in the carbon dioxide hydrogenation reaction
      on Ir(111) were identified by means of infrared-visible sum-frequency generation
      vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy under near-ambient
      pressure conditions (0.1 mbar). By introducing gas phase binary and ternary
      mixtures of CO2, CO, and H2 into the reaction chamber, stable ethylidyne and
      ethynyl species were found at the metal surface above 425 K, in remarkable
      analogy with that observed during the ethylene decomposition process yielding
      graphene. In addition, upon increasing temperature (up to 600 K depending on the
      reaction conditions), vibrational and electronic spectroscopic fingerprints
      appeared that could be attributed to the nucleation of aromatic hydrocarbons at
      the edge of metastable graphenic clusters interacting with the metal surface. 

PMID- 26878274
TI  - The effect of the nanosize on surface properties of NiO nanoparticles for the
      adsorption of Quinolin-65.
AB  - Using Quinolin-65 (Q-65) as a model-adsorbing compound for polar heavy
      hydrocarbons, the nanosize effect of NiO nanoparticles on the adsorption of Q-65
      was investigated. Different-sized NiO nanoparticles with sizes between 5 and 80
      nm were prepared by the controlled thermal dehydroxylation of Ni(OH)2. The
      properties of the nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, BET, FTIR, HRTEM
      and TGA. The effects of the nanosize on the textural properties, the shape and
      the morphology were studied. The adsorption of Q-65 molecules onto different
      sized nanoparticles was tested in toluene-based solutions. On a normalized
      surface area basis, the number of Q-65 molecules adsorbed per nm(2) of the NiO
      surface was the highest for NiO nanoparticles of size 80 nm, while that for 5 nm
      sized NiO nanoparticles was the lowest. Excitingly, the adsorption capacity of
      other NiO sizes varied from loading suggesting different adsorption behavior,
      which exhibits the significance of textural properties during the adsorption of Q
      65. Computational modeling of the interaction between the Q-65 molecule and the
      NiO nanoparticle surface was carried out to get more understanding of its
      adsorption behavior. A number of factors contributing to the enhanced adsorption
      capacity of nanoscale NiO were determined. These include surface reactivity,
      topology, morphology and textural properties. 

PMID- 26878277
TI  - Substrate and pH-Dependent Kinetic Profile of 3-Mercaptopropionate Dioxygenase
      from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - Thiol dioxygenases catalyze the synthesis of sulfinic acids in a range of
      organisms from bacteria to mammals. A thiol dioxygenase from the bacterium
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxidizes both 3-mercaptopropionic acid and cysteine, with
      a ~70 fold preference for 3-mercaptopropionic acid over all pHs. This substrate
      reactivity is widened compared to other thiol dioxygenases and was exploited in
      this investigation of the residues important for activity. A simple model
      incorporating two protonation events was used to fit profiles of the Michaelis
      Menten parameters determined at different pH values for both substrates. The pKs
      determined using plots of k(cat)/Km differ at low pH, but not in a way easily
      attributable to protonation of the substrate alone and share a common value at
      higher pH. Plots of k(cat) versus pH are also quite different at low pH showing
      the monoprotonated ES complexes with 3-mercaptopropionic acid and cysteine have
      different pKs. At higher pH, k(cat) decreases sigmoidally with a similar pK
      regardless of substrate. Loss of reactivity at high pH is attributed to
      deprotonation of tyrosine 159 and its influence on dioxygen binding. A mechanism
      is proposed by which deprotonation of tyrosine 159 both blocks oxygen binding and
      concomitantly promotes cystine formation. Finally, the role of tyrosine 159 was
      further probed by production of a G95C variant that is able to form a cysteine
      tyrosine crosslink homologous to that found in mammalian cysteine dioxygenases.
      Activity of this variant is severely impaired. Crystallography shows that when un
      crosslinked, the cysteine thiol excludes tyrosine 159 from its native position,
      while kinetic analysis shows that the thioether bond impairs reactivity of the
      crosslinked form.

PMID- 26878278
TI  - Spontaneous defects between the mastoid and posterior cranial fossa.
AB  - Conclusions Spontaneous defects between the mastoid and the posterior cranial
      fossa are exceedingly rare. Patients with these lesions may have a lower BMI
      compared to those with middle cranial fossa encephaloceles, but are otherwise
      demographically similar. This study recommends repair via a transtemporal
      approach to allow for examination of the entire posterior face of the temporal
      bone. Objective To describe cases of spontaneous posterior cranial fossa defects.
      Methods This study reviewed all cases of spontaneous posterior fossa defects
      presenting to a tertiary referral center over the last decade and described
      clinical presentation, imaging, operative findings, and outcomes. We also
      compared these lesions to those previously reported in the literature as well as
      the more common spontaneous encephaloceles of the middle cranial fossa. Results
      This study identified five cases with a mean age of 61.4 years, female-to-male
      ratio of 4:1, and a mean BMI of 31. Three cases presented with spontaneous
      pneumocephalus, one with CSF otorrhea, and one as an incidental imaging finding.
      Four defects were found medial to the sigmoid sinus and one was in the lateral
      retrosigmoid air cells. 

PMID- 26878279
TI  - Concentration of Sindbis virus with optimized gradient insulator-based
      dielectrophoresis.
AB  - Biotechnology, separation science, and clinical research are impacted by
      microfluidic devices. Separation and manipulation of bioparticles such as DNA,
      protein and viruses are performed on these platforms. Microfluidic systems
      provide many attractive features, including small sample size, rapid detection,
      high sensitivity and short processing time. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and
      electrophoresis are especially well suited to microscale bioparticle control and
      have been demonstrated in many formats. In this work, an optimized gradient
      insulator-based DEP device was utilized for concentration of Sindbis virus, an
      animal virus with a diameter of 68 nm. Within only a few seconds, the
      concentration of Sindbis virus can be increased by two to six times in the
      channel under easily accessible voltages as low as about 70 V. Compared with
      traditional diagnostic methods used in virology, DEP-based microfluidics can
      enable faster isolation, detection and concentration of viruses in a single step
      within a short time. 

PMID- 26878275
TI  - Contrasting cardiovascular mortality trends in Eastern Mediterranean populations:
      Contributions from risk factor changes and treatments.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Middle income countries are facing an epidemic of non-communicable
      diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). We used a validated CHD
      mortality model (IMPACT) to explain recent trends in Tunisia, Syria, the occupied
      Palestinian territory (oPt) and Turkey. METHODS: Data on populations, mortality,
      patient numbers, treatments and risk factor trends from national and local
      surveys in each country were collated over two time points (1995-97; 2006-09);
      integrated and analysed using the IMPACT model. RESULTS: Risk factor trends:
      Smoking prevalence was high in men, persisting in Syria but decreasing in
      Tunisia, oPt and Turkey. BMI rose by 1-2 kg/m(2) and diabetes prevalence
      increased by 40%-50%. Mean systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels
      increased in Tunisia and Syria. Mortality trends: Age-standardised CHD mortality
      rates rose by 20% in Tunisia and 62% in Syria. Much of this increase (79% and 72%
      respectively) was attributed to adverse trends in major risk factors, occurring
      despite some improvements in treatment uptake. CHD mortality rates fell by 17% in
      oPt and by 25% in Turkey, with risk factor changes accounting for around 46% and
      30% of this reduction respectively. Increased uptake of community treatments
      (drug treatments for chronic angina, heart failure, hypertension and secondary
      prevention after a cardiac event) accounted for most of the remainder.
      DISCUSSION: CHD death rates are rising in Tunisia and Syria, whilst oPt and
      Turkey demonstrate clear falls, reflecting improvements in major risk factors
      with contributions from medical treatments. However, smoking prevalence remains
      very high in men; obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically.

PMID- 26878280
TI  - Aluminum trichloride inhibits osteoblastic differentiation through inactivation
      of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in rat osteoblasts.
AB  - Exposure to aluminum (Al) suppresses bone formation. Osteoblastic differentiation
      plays a key role in the process of bone formation. However, the effect of Al on
      osteoblastic differentiation is still controversial, and the mechanism remains
      unclear. To investigate the effect of Al on osteoblastic differentiation and
      whether Wnt signaling pathway was involved in it, the primary rat osteoblasts
      were exposed to 1/40 IC50, 1/20 IC50 and 1/10 IC50 of aluminum trichloride
      (AlCl3) for 24h, respectively. The activity analysis of alkaline phosphate, qRT
      PCR analysis of type I collagen, alkaline phosphate, Wnt3a and Dkk-1, Western
      blot analysis of p-GSK3beta, GSK3beta and beta-catenin protein and
      Immunofluorescence staining for beta-catenin suggested that AlCl3 inhibited
      osteoblastic differentiation and Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Moreover, we found
      exogenous Wnt3a application reversed the inhibitory effect of AlCl3 on
      osteoblastic differentiation, accompanied by activating the Wnt/beta-catenin
      pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that AlCl3 inhibites osteoblastic
      differentiation through inactivation of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in osteoblasts. 

PMID- 26878281
TI  - Paraquat inhibited differentiation in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and
      down regulated miR-200a expression by targeting CTNNB1.
AB  - Paraquat (PQ) exposure influences central nervous system and results in serious
      neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. However, the role of PQ exposure in the
      development of CNS remains unclear. In present study, we investigated microRNAs
      (miRNAs) expression profiling and cell differential status following PQ treatment
      in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) as well as involved mechanism.
      Microarray profiling of miRNAs expression of PQ treated cell line and their
      corresponding control was determined. Differentially expression miRNAs were
      confirmed by quantitative real time PCR. Neural cell differentiation was
      performed with immunocytochemical analysis. Predicated target of miRNA was
      identified with luciferase reports and quantitatively analyzed using western
      blotting. Our results found PQ dramatically suppressed neural cell
      differentiation ability. 43 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in PQ
      treated cells. The expression levels were over expressed in 25 miRNAs, whereas 18
      miRNAs were suppressed. More importantly, we observed that miR-200a expression
      level to be lower in PQ treated cells. Luciferase assay and protein expression
      results confirmed the direct binding effect between CTNNB1 and miR-200a following
      PQ exposure. Collectively, our data suggested that down regulation of miR-200a in
      the PQ treated neural stem cell significantly participated in the differentiation
      processes and subsequently resulting in decreased cell viability, increased
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and the inhibited differential through
      CTNNB1 pathway. 

PMID- 26878282
TI  - The association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers and
      cardiovascular disease in the US population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potent atmospheric
      pollutants produced by incomplete combustion of organic materials. Pre-clinical
      and occupational studies have reported a positive association of PAHs with
      oxidative stress, inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis, a
      major underlying risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the
      current study is to estimate the association between levels of PAH biomarkers and
      CVD in a national representative sample of United States (US) adults. METHODS: We
      examined adult participants (>=20years of age) from the merged US National Health
      and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2010. Logistic regression models were used
      to estimate the associations of each urinary PAH biomarker and CVD. Post
      exploratory structural equation modeling was then used to address the
      interdependent response variables (angina, heart attack, stroke and coronary
      heart disease) as well as the interdependencies of PAH biomarkers. RESULTS: PAH
      biomarkers were positively associated with cardiovascular disease in multiple
      logistic regression models, although some associations were not statistically
      robust. Using structural equation modeling, latent PAH exposure variable was
      positively associated with latent CVD level variable in the multivariable
      adjusted model (beta=0.12; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.20). CONCLUSION: A modest association
      between levels of PAH biomarkers and CVD was detected in US adults. Further
      prospective studies with adequate sample size are needed to replicate or refute
      our findings.

PMID- 26878283
TI  - Association between background exposure to organochlorine pesticides and the risk
      of cognitive impairment: A prospective study that accounts for weight change.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Background exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides was recently
      linked to cognitive impairment and dementia in cross-sectional and case-control
      studies. This prospective study was performed to evaluate if OC pesticides at
      baseline are associated with the future risk of cognitive impairment in elderly,
      with particular focus on weight change. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of 3 OC
      pesticides (p,p'-DDE, trans-nonachlor, and hexachlorobenzene) were measured among
      989 men and women aged 70years in the Prospective Investigation of the
      Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS). Cognitive impairment was validated by
      reviewing medical records. During the ten year follow-up, cognitive impairment
      was developed in 75 subjects. When weight change from age 70 to 75 was considered
      in analyses, elderly with incident cases before age 75 were excluded to keep the
      prospective perspective, leaving 795 study subjects and 44 incident cases.
      RESULTS: The summary measure of 3 OC pesticides predicted the development of
      cognitive impairment after adjusting for covariates, including weight change.
      Compared to subjects with OC pesticides <25th percentile, adjusted hazard ratios
      (HRs) in those with 25th-<75th and >=75th percentiles were 3.5 (95% confidence
      interval: 1.5-8.5) and 3.2 (1.1-7.6), respectively (Ptrend=0.04). Among 506
      subjects who maintained or gained body weight, adjusted HRs were 6.9 and 11.6
      (1.4-92.6) among the elderly in the 25th-<75th and >=75th percentiles compared to
      <25th percentile (Ptrend<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study demonstrates
      that background exposure to OC pesticides are linked to the risk of developing
      cognitive impairment in elderly. The role of the chronic exposure to low dose OC
      pesticides in the development of dementia should be further evaluated in other
      populations.

PMID- 26878285
TI  - Impact of heatwave on mortality under different heatwave definitions: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Heatwave effects on human health and wellbeing is a great public health concern,
      especially in the context of climate change. However, no universally consistent
      heatwave definition is available. A systematic review and meta-analysis was
      conducted to assess the heatwave definitions used in the literature published up
      to 1st April 2015 by searching five databases (PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect,
      Scopus, and Web of Science). Random-effects models were used to pool the effects
      of heatwave on total and cardiorespiratory mortality by different heatwave
      definitions. Existing evidence suggests a significant impact of heatwave on
      mortality, but the magnitude of the effect estimates varies under different
      heatwave definitions. Heatwave-related mortality risks increased by 4% (using
      "mean temperatures >=95th percentile for >=2days" as a heatwave definition), 3%
      (mean temperatures >=98th percentile for >=2days), 7% (mean temperatures >=99th
      percentile for >=2days) and 16% (mean temperatures >=97th percentile for
      >=5days). Heatwave intensity plays a relatively more important role than duration
      in determining heatwave-related deaths. Heatwaves significantly increase
      mortality across the globe, but the effect estimates vary with the definition of
      heatwaves. City- or region-specific heat health early warning systems based on
      identified local heatwave definitions may be optimal for protecting and
      preventing people from the adverse impacts of future heatwaves. 

PMID- 26878286
TI  - Morphological and nanostructural surface changes in Escherichia coli over time,
      monitored by atomic force microscopy.
AB  - The present study aims at evaluating intrinsic changes in Escherichia coli (E.
      coli) surface over time, by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). For that purpose,
      bacteria were immobilized on mica or on mica previously functionalized by the
      deposition of a polyelectrolyte multilayer cushion. AFM images reveal that E.
      coli population goes through different stages. Firstly, after a week, the number
      of healthy bacteria decreases resulting in a release of cellular components which
      likely become, in turn, a nutrition source for increasing the healthy population
      after around two weeks. Finally, after one month, most of the bacteria is dead.
      Our study shows a transition of a healthy rod-shaped bacterium to a dead
      collapsed one. Most importantly, along with the morphological evolution of
      bacteria, are the structure changes and the mechanical properties of their outer
      membrane, emphasized by AFM phase images with very high resolution. Indeed, the
      surface of healthy bacteria is characterized by a phase separation pattern,
      thereafter mentioned as "ripples". Bacterial ageing goes along with the loss of
      this organized structure, turning into circular areas with irregular boundaries.
      These changes are likely caused by a re-organization, due to external stress, of
      mainly lipopolysaccharides (LPS) present in the outer membrane of E. coli. 

PMID- 26878284
TI  - Exposure to multiple sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and breast
      cancer incidence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite studies having consistently linked exposure to single-source
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to breast cancer, it is unclear whether
      single sources or specific groups of PAH sources should be targeted for breast
      cancer risk reduction. OBJECTIVES: This study considers the impact on breast
      cancer incidence from multiple PAH exposure sources in a single model, which
      better reflects exposure to these complex mixtures. METHODS: In a population
      based case-control study conducted on Long Island, New York (N=1508 breast cancer
      cases/1556 controls), a Bayesian hierarchical regression approach was used to
      estimate adjusted posterior means and credible intervals (CrI) for the adjusted
      odds ratios (ORs) for PAH exposure sources, considered singly and as groups:
      active smoking; residential environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); indoor and outdoor
      air pollution; and grilled/smoked meat intake. RESULTS: Most women were exposed
      to PAHs from multiple sources, and the most common included active/passive
      smoking and grilled/smoked food intake. In multiple-PAH source models, breast
      cancer incidence was associated with residential ETS from a spouse (OR=1.20,
      95%CrI=1.03, 1.40) and synthetic firelog burning (OR=1.29, 95%CrI=1.06, 1.57);
      these estimates are similar, but slightly attenuated, to those from single-source
      models. Additionally when we considered PAH exposure groups, the most pronounced
      significant associations included total indoor sources (active smoking, ETS from
      spouse, grilled/smoked meat intake, stove/fireplace use, OR=1.45, 95%CrI=1.02,
      2.04). CONCLUSIONS: Groups of PAH sources, particularly indoor sources, were
      associated with a 30-50% increase in breast cancer incidence. PAH exposure is
      ubiquitous and a potentially modifiable breast cancer risk factor.

PMID- 26878288
TI  - Contribution of carboxyl modified chiral mesoporous silica nanoparticles in
      delivering doxorubicin hydrochloride in vitro: pH-response controlled release,
      enhanced drug cellular uptake and cytotoxicity.
AB  - In this study, dual functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (Dual-MSN) with
      functions of carboxyl modification and chirality was successfully developed and
      its special contribution in delivering doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) in vitro
      was mainly studied. Characteristics of Dual-MSN and its application as DOX
      carrier were intensively explored by comparing with naked non-functionalized MSN
      (Naked MSN). The results indicated that both Naked MSN and Dual-MSN significantly
      controlled DOX release due to the release hindrance caused by mesopores. As
      expected, Dual-MSN exhibited obvious enhanced pH-response because of its negative
      charges of carboxyl groups. DOX loaded Naked MSN and DOX loaded Dual-MSN
      presented better cytotoxicity than DOX due to carrier-mediated endocytosis and
      the favorable intercalation of DOX into DNA in the nuclei. The cytotoxicity of
      DOX loaded Dual-MSN was better than DOX loaded Naked MSN owing to its enhanced
      cellular uptake induced by chirality of Dual-MSN, demonstrating that double
      functions of Dual-MSN had unique advantages in improving antitumor effect of DOX
      towards MCF-7 cells and thus confirming its special contribution in DOX delivery.

PMID- 26878287
TI  - The effects of plasma electrolytically oxidized NiTi on in vitro
      endothelialization.
AB  - The role of biomaterials surface in controlling the interfacial biological events
      leading to implant integration is of key importance. In this study, the effects
      of NiTi surfaces treated by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) have been investigated. The changes in
      NiTi surface morphology and chemistry were assessed by SEM, XPS and cross-section
      TEM/EDX analyzes whereas the effects of the resultant surfaces on in vitro
      endothelialization and cell junction proteins have been evaluated by life/dead
      staining, SEM, cells counting, qPCR and immunofluorescence. The findings
      indicated that the PEO-treated NiTi, with a microporous morphology and oxide
      dominated surface chemistry, supports viability and proliferation of HUVECs.
      Numerous thin filopodia probing the microporous surface assisted cells
      attachment. In addition, claudin-5 and occludin have been upregulated and
      expression of vascular endothelial-cadherin was not suppressed on PEO-treated
      NiTi relative to the reference electropolished surfaces. The results of this
      study suggest that novel NiTi surfaces may be developed using the PEO process,
      which can be of benefit to atherosclerosis treatment. 

PMID- 26878289
TI  - Magnetoconductive maghemite core/polyaniline shell nanoparticles: Physico
      chemical and biological assessment.
AB  - Nanoparticles of various compositions are increasingly being used in many areas
      of medicine. The aim of this study was to develop nanoparticles, which would
      possess both magnetic and conductive properties and, thus improve their
      suitability for a wider range of biomedical applications. Namely, it would enable
      both the particle manipulation and imaging using their magnetic properties and
      simultaneous stimulation of electro-sensitive cell types using their magnetic
      properties, which can be used in tissue therapy, engineering and as biosensors.
      Maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) particles were prepared by the co-precipitation of Fe(2+)
      and Fe(3+) salts with ammonium hydroxide, followed by the controlled oxidation
      with NaOCl. The polyaniline (PANI) shell on the gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was
      obtained by the polymerization of aniline hydrochloride with ammonium
      peroxydisulfate in an aqueous solution of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) at two
      reaction temperatures (0 and 25  degrees C). The resulting gamma-Fe2O3&PANI
      particles were characterized by both the light and transmission electron
      microscopies, dynamic light scattering, magnetic measurements, UV-vis and energy
      dispersive X-ray (EDAX) spectroscopy. The size of the starting gamma-Fe2O3
      particles was 11 nm, that increased to 25 nm after the modification with PANI.
      The incubation of both the gamma-Fe2O3 and gamma-Fe2O3&PANI nanoparticles with
      the human neuroblastoma derived SH-SY5Y cells for 8 days showed neither
      significant decrease in the cell viability, nor detectable changes in the cell
      morphology. This indicates, that the particles have no detectable cytotoxicity in
      cell culture and represent a promising tool for further use in biomedical
      applications.

PMID- 26878290
TI  - Dielectric spectroscopy study of water dynamics in frozen bovine milk.
AB  - Bovine milk is a complex colloidal liquid exhibiting a multi-scaled structure. It
      is of particular importance, both commercially and scientifically, to investigate
      both its dynamic and structural properties. In the current study we have employed
      the broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) technique in the frequency range of
      10(-1)-10(6)Hz and the temperature range of 176-230 K in order to examine the
      molecular structure and dynamics of quenched bovine milk. Four dielectric
      relaxation processes were identified. Three of them are associated with water in
      its different forms: water-lactose complexes, bulk hexagonal and cubic ices. The
      fourth process is attributed to domain wall relaxations linked to the presence of
      micro-cracks in the ice structures. In addition, the first process, attributed to
      water-lactose complexes, obeys the Meyer-Neldel compensation law and can be taken
      as evidence of differing interfaces of these complexes with the bulk water of the
      milk, mediated by the lactose concentration. Furthermore, an intriguing
      structural-dynamic transition around 200K was observed. Considering the mentioned
      above, we conclude that our results emphasize the structural and dynamical
      significance of water in bovine milk.

PMID- 26878291
TI  - Significance of multimodal intraoperative monitoring for the posterior cervical
      spine surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multimodal
      neurophysiologic intra-operative monitoring (IOM) in a cohort of patients who
      underwent posterior cervical surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total 182 patients
      were included in this study. Multi-modal intraoperative monitoring (MIOM,
      somatosensory-evoked potentials: SSEP/transcranial motor-evoked potentials: TCe
      MEP/spontaneous-electromyography: S-EMG) was performed in a consecutive series of
      129 patients and the other 53 patients (control group) did not. We classified all
      patients into a high-cervical (H-C) operation group or a low-cervical (L-C)
      operation group, based on the level of the surgery and analyzed respectively.
      RESULTS: One hundred-eleven cases (86%) showed true negative results. Fourteen
      patients (9 cases- H-C operation, 5 cases- L-C operation) met the criteria of
      neurophysiologic changes during operation. Of these, 10 cases were restored to
      normal during operation spontaneously (7 cases) or with surgical manipulation
      (all 3 cases were related to H-C operation). All unrestored neurophysiologic
      cases (n=4) showed new post-operative neurological deficits. Four patients showed
      neurological deficits without any changes in MIOM (false negative, 3 cases-
      delayed onset C5 palsy, 1 case--C8 palsy). CONCLUSIONS: Proper application of
      MIOM may be useful to detect intraoperative neurological injury during the
      posterior cervical operations and improve surgical outcomes especially in
      subgroup of H-C operation. However, the efficacy of MIOM may be restricted to
      detect and prevent the delayed onset C5 palsy.

PMID- 26878292
TI  - Adjacent segment degeneration after posterior lumbar fusion: An analysis of
      possible risk factors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many surveys have been distributed about the risk factors for adjacent
      segment degeneration (ASD) after lumbar fusion. Despite myriad of risk factors
      recognized for ASD evolution, study results have been inconsistent and there is
      not an agreement regarding which are the most important. Our study was done to
      identify factors which may be important in the development of symptomatic ASD
      after lumbar fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated
      1250 consecutive patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion and pedicular
      fixation between February 2006 and February 2009. A total of 13 patients with
      symptomatic ASD (clinical ASD) who underwent secondary surgery were identified.
      Another group of 22 patients without symptomatic ASD (subclinical ASD) after
      spinal fusion were marked as the control group. These two groups were compared
      for demographic data and clinical and radiographic features to investigate the
      possible predictive factors of symptomatic ASD. RESULTS: The overall incidence
      rate of symptomatic ASD was 1.04%. Radiographic risk factors for the development
      of a symptomatic ASD were increased sagittal balance, loss of lordosis, and
      adjacent disc space collapse. In the clinical ASD group, by multivariate logistic
      regression analysis, demonstrated that BMI, preoperative ADD on MRI and disc
      bulge maintained their significance in predicting likelihood of clinical ASD.
      CONCLUSION: Patients with increased BMI, preoperative ADD and disc bulge on MRI
      have a statistically significant increased risk of developing symptomatic ASD.

PMID- 26878293
TI  - The influence of cell morphology on the compressive fatigue behavior of Ti-6Al-4V
      meshes fabricated by electron beam melting.
AB  - Additive manufacturing technique is a promising approach for fabricating cellular
      bone substitutes such as trabecular and cortical bones because of the ability to
      adjust process parameters to fabricate different shapes and inner structures.
      Considering the long term safe application in human body, the metallic cellular
      implants are expected to exhibit superior fatigue property. The objective of the
      study was to study the influence of cell shape on the compressive fatigue
      behavior of Ti-6Al-4V mesh arrays fabricated by electron beam melting. The
      results indicated that the underlying fatigue mechanism for the three kinds of
      meshes (cubic, G7 and rhombic dodecahedron) is the interaction of cyclic
      ratcheting and fatigue crack growth on the struts, which is closely related to
      cumulative effect of buckling and bending deformation of the strut. By increasing
      the buckling deformation on the struts through cell shape design, the cyclic
      ratcheting rate of the meshes during cyclic deformation was decreased and
      accordingly, the compressive fatigue strength was increased. With increasing
      bending deformation of struts, fatigue crack growth in struts contributed more to
      the fatigue damage of meshes. Rough surface and pores contained in the struts
      significantly deteriorated the compressive fatigue strength of the struts. By
      optimizing the buckling and bending deformation through cell shape design, Ti-6Al
      4V alloy cellular solids with high fatigue strength and low modulus can be
      fabricated by the EBM technique.

PMID- 26878294
TI  - Protective role of Th17 cells in pulmonary infection.
AB  - Th17 cells are characterized as preferential producer of interleukins including
      IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. Corresponding receptors of these cytokines are
      expressed on number of cell types found in the mucosa, including epithelial cells
      and fibroblasts which constitute the prime targets of the Th17-associated
      cytokines. Binding of IL-17 family members to their corresponding receptors lead
      to modulation of antimicrobial functions of target cells including alveolar
      epithelial cells. Stimulated alveolar epithelial cells produce antimicrobial
      peptides and are involved in granulepoesis, neutrophil recruitment and tissue
      repair. Mucosal immunity mediated by Th17 cells is protective against numerous
      pulmonary pathogens including extracellular bacterial and fungal pathogens. This
      review focuses on the protective role of Th17 cells during pulmonary infection,
      highlighting subset differentiation, effector cytokines production, followed by
      study of the binding of these cytokines to their corresponding receptors, the
      subsequent signaling pathway they engender and their effector role in host
      defense. 

PMID- 26878296
TI  - 'The Carter efficiency programme is a world first'.

PMID- 26878295
TI  - Development of a cost-effective vaccine candidate with outer membrane vesicles of
      a tolA-disrupted Shigella boydii strain.
AB  - Our previous studies on outer membrane vesicles based vaccine development against
      shigellosis, revealed the inability of Shigella to release significant amount of
      vesicles naturally, during growth. Disruption of tolA, one of the genes of the
      Tol-Pal system of Gram negative bacterial membrane, has increased the vesicle
      release rate of a Shigella boydii type 4 strain to approximately 60% higher. We
      also noticed the vesicles, released from tolA-disrupted strain captured more OmpA
      protein and lipopolysaccharide, compared to the vesicles released from its wild
      type prototype. Six to seven weeks old BALB/c mice, immunized with 25 MUg of
      three oral doses of the vesicles, released by tolA mutant, conferred 100%
      protection against lethal homologous challenge through nasal route, compared to
      only 60% protection after the same dose of wild type immunogen. Mice, immunized
      with the vesicles from tolA-mutant, manifested significant secretion of mucosal
      IgG and IgA. A sharp and significant response of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF
      alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma) were also observed in the lung lavage of these groups of
      mice, within 6h post challenge; but at 24h, these inflammatory cytokines showed
      the sign of subsidence and the system was taken over by the release of anti
      inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Studies with naive peritoneal
      macrophages, proved further, the potency of these vesicles to stimulate nitric
      oxide and TNF-alpha, IL-12p70, IL-6 and IL-10 productions in-vitro. The ability
      of these vesicles to trigger polarization of CD4(+) T cells toward Th1 adaptive
      immune response, had also been observed along with the presence of anti
      inflammatory cytokines in the system. Our study demonstrated, the vesicles from
      tolA-disrupted Shigella were able to suppress Shigella-mediated inflammation in
      the host and could balance between inflammation and anti-inflammation, promoting
      better survival and health of the infected mice. Outer membrane vesicles from
      tolA-mutant, could be a potential cost-effective vaccine candidate against
      shigellosis.

PMID- 26878298
TI  - Wound healing and hyper-hydration: a counterintuitive model.
AB  - Winter's seminal work in the 1960s relating to providing an optimal level of
      moisture to aid wound healing (granulation and re-epithelialisation) has been the
      single most effective advance in wound care over many decades. As such the
      development of advanced wound dressings that manage the fluidic wound environment
      have provided significant benefits in terms of healing to both patient and
      clinician. Although moist wound healing provides the guiding management
      principle, confusion may arise between what is deemed to be an adequate level of
      tissue hydration and the risk of developing maceration. In addition, the counter
      intuitive model 'hyper-hydration' of tissue appears to frustrate the moist wound
      healing approach and advocate a course of intervention whereby tissue is hydrated
      beyond what is a normally acceptable therapeutic level. This paper discusses
      tissue hydration, the cause and effect of maceration and distinguishes these from
      hyper-hydration of tissue. The rationale is to provide the clinician with a
      knowledge base that allows optimisation of treatment and outcomes and explains
      the reasoning behind wound healing using hyper-hydration. Declaration of
      interest: K. Cutting is a Clinical Research Consultant to the medical device and
      biotechnology industry. M. Rippon is Visiting Clinical Research Fellow,
      University of Huddersfield and K. Ousey provides consultancy for a range of
      companies through the University of Huddersfield including consultancy services
      for Paul Hartmann Ltd on HydroTherapy products.

PMID- 26878297
TI  - A novel approach to antibiofilm susceptibility testing using a thermo-reversible
      matrix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Biofilm microorganisms are known to have a much higher tolerance to
      antimicrobials compared to their planktonic equivalents. Therefore, traditional
      antimicrobial susceptibility testing may not extrapolate to clinical treatment of
      infections of biofilm origin, and as a result, there is a need to not only
      develop antimicrobials with antibiofilm activity, but also suitable in vitro
      testing methods for their evaluation. In this study, we report on a novel method
      of antibiofilm testing using a thermo-reversible matrix (poloxamer 407), coupled
      with live/dead staining of bacteria cultured from the matrix. METHOD: Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa (NCIMB 8626) was cultured in medium containing poloxamer 407 at 37
      degrees C for 24 hours to generate biofilms. The preparation was cooled to
      liquefy the poloxamer and allow recovery of the biofilm cells, which were then
      stained with SYTO9 to determine viability following exposure to four
      antimicrobials: polyhexanide, octenadine dihydrochloride, povidone-iodine and
      silver carbonate. Over an 8-minute time period, fluorescence levels were
      spectrophotometrically measured and compared with bacterial controls, cultured in
      the absence of poloxamer and without antimicrobial. RESULTS: Untreated cells
      showed no reduction in viability over this period. Importantly, planktonic cells
      were more susceptible to test agents compared with those of a 'biofilm' phenotype
      cultured in poloxamer. Antibiofilm activity was evident for all of the test
      agents, with highest relative activity seen with octenadine dihydrochloride.
      CONCLUSION: In summary, a novel and relatively rapid approach to screen compounds
      for antibiofilm activity has been described. The method uses standard laboratory
      equipment and can be readily adapted to test a wide range of microorganisms and
      other antibiofilm compounds. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: This research was, in part,
      supported by Advanced Medical Solutions in the form of a Knowledge Transfer
      Project. Mr J. Nosworthy was employed by Advanced Medical Solutions. There are no
      other conflicts of interests to declare.

PMID- 26878299
TI  - Binding of two bacterial biofilms to dialkyl carbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated
      dressings in vitro.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To date only planktonic bacteria have been shown to bind irreversibly
      to dialkyl carbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated Cutimed Sorbact dressings. Therefore,
      this study was designed to determine whether bacterial biofilm bound to the DACC
      coated dressing in vitro. METHOD: Samples of DACC-coated dressings and uncoated
      control dressings (supplied by BSN medical Ltd, Hull) were placed in contact with
      plastic coverslips on which biofilms of either Pseudomonas aeruginosa or
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had been cultivated for 24
      hours. Dressing samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy to detect
      the presence of biofilm. RESULTS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm bound avidly to
      both DACC-coated and uncoated dressing samples. MRSA bound more extensively to
      DACC-coated dressings than to uncoated samples. CONCLUSION: Biofilms of two
      different test bacteria bound to dressings in vitro with the DACC-coating on the
      dressings enhancing the binding of MRSA biofilm. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: This
      study was supported by BSN medical Ltd (Hull). The company had no influence on
      the experimental design or the interpretation of the results.

PMID- 26878300
TI  - Letters--Response to call to action: the proposed National Formulary for Wound
      Care.

PMID- 26878301
TI  - Photoacoustic imaging of real-time oxygen changes in chronic leg ulcers after
      topical application of a haemoglobin spray: a pilot study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To use a non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation in chronic leg
      ulcers after the application of a topical haemoglobin spray to investigate if
      photoacoustic tomography is able to measure the oxygen saturation and if the
      stimulated oxygen increase can be demonstrated. METHOD: We measured the oxygen
      saturation of the ulcer tissue in five patients with chronic leg ulcers before
      application and 5 and 20 minutes after application of the haemoglobin spray,
      using photoacoustic tomography as a new method to assess oxygenation in real
      time. RESULTS: The average oxygen saturation showed a significant increase from
      56.4% before to 69% (p=0.042) after 5 minutes and 78.8% (p=0.043) 20 minutes
      after the topical haemoglobin application. CONCLUSION: The oxygenation status of
      chronic, hard-to-heal wounds is gaining increasing interest in modern wound
      therapy. Topical haemoglobin spray is a new and effective method to increase the
      oxygenation in the ulcer tissue, but until now the link between clinical results
      and the mode of action was unclear. We were able to show for the first time that
      the use of a topical haemoglobin spray leads to an increase in oxygen saturation
      in vivo using photoacoustic tomography. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: Joachim
      Dissemond received financial support from the company SastoMed for several
      scientific projects as well as for lectures and as an advisor. The haemoglobin
      spray was provided by SastoMed GmbH (Georgsmarienhutte, Germany).

PMID- 26878302
TI  - In vitro activity of an engineered honey, medical-grade honeys, and antimicrobial
      wound dressings against biofilm-producing clinical bacterial isolates.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Honey is recognised to be a good topical wound care agent owing to a
      broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity combined with healing properties.
      Surgihoney RO (SH1) is a product based on honey that is engineered to produce
      enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and has been reported to be highly
      antimicrobial. The objective was to investigate the ability of the engineered
      honey and its comparators to prevent biofilm formation in vitro. METHOD: We
      tested the ability of three medical-grade honeys SH1, Activon manuka honey (MH)
      and Medihoney manuka honey (Med), alongside five antimicrobial dressings (AMDs)
      to prevent the formation of biofilms by 16 isolates. Honeys were serially double
      diluted from 1:3 down to 1:6144 and the lowest dilution achieving a statistically
      significant reduction in biomass of at least 50%, compared with untreated
      controls, was recorded. RESULTS: Although all the honeys were antibacterial and
      were able to prevent the formation of biofilms, SH1 was the most potent, with
      efficacy at lower dilutions than the medical honeys for five isolates, and
      equivalent dilutions for a further six. Additionally, SH1 was superior in
      antibacterial potency to three commercially available AMDs that contain honey.
      CONCLUSION: SH1 is effective at preventing bioflms from forming and is superior
      to medical honeys and AMDs in in vitro tests. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: Surgihoney
      RO was provided free of charge for testing by Matoke Holdings, UK and the
      hospital pharmacy provided the other honeys and dressings. This paper presents
      independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
      The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the
      NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

PMID- 26878303
TI  - Late costal osteomyelitis with a cutaneous fistula after flame burns: a case
      report.
AB  - Chest wall defects are an unusual complication of burn injury, generally seen
      after high-voltage electrical burns. Here we report the case of a 57-year-old man
      who developed costal chondritis and osteomyelitis 23 months after flame injury,
      which covered 50% of the total body surface area. Management included the
      resection of two ribs and coverage with an omental flap, overlaid by a split
      thickness skin graft during the same surgical procedure. Declaration of interest:
      The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

PMID- 26878304
TI  - Motives for marijuana use among heavy-using high school students: An analysis of
      structure and utility of the Comprehensive Marijuana Motives Questionnaire.
AB  - Motives for marijuana use are important predictors of problematic outcomes
      associated with marijuana use. Most measures, to date, were developed by adapting
      alcohol motives measures. However, the Comprehensive Marijuana Motives
      Questionnaire (CMMQ) was created using a bottom-up approach to evaluate twelve
      distinct motives for use. The CMMQ was developed and validated in a normative
      college population. As such, no known study has evaluated the factor structure
      and utility of the CMMQ in a heavy-using, high school student population. The
      current study utilized a sample of 252 heavy marijuana-using high school students
      recruited for a combination motivational enhancement/cognitive behavioral
      intervention. Results from baseline measures indicated that the factor structure
      of the CMMQ was maintained in this population. Results from multiple regression
      analyses revealed distinct relationships with measures of negative consequences
      of use, including indices of marijuana use, marijuana-related problems, self
      efficacy, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In particular, the Coping
      motive was associated with several negative outcomes, which is consistent with
      previous marijuana and alcohol motives literature. Results suggest that the CMMQ
      may be useful in assessing marijuana motives among heavy marijuana-using
      adolescents. 

PMID- 26878305
TI  - Charge Type, Charge Spacing, and Hydrophobicity of Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating
      Peptides Dictate Gene Transfection.
AB  - Noncovalent complexation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) with cell-penetrating peptides
      (CPPs) forms relatively large complexes with poor gene expression. Yet,
      condensing these CPP-pDNA complexes via addition of calcium chloride produces
      small and stable nanoparticles with high levels of gene expression. This simple
      formulation offered high transfection efficiency and negligible cytotoxicity in
      HEK-293 (a virus-immortalized kidney cell) and A549 (a human lung cancer cell
      line). Small changes in CPP charge type, charge spacing, and hydrophobicity were
      studied by using five arginine-rich CPPs: the well-known hydrophilic polyarginine
      R9 peptide, a hydrophilic RH9 peptide, and three amphiphilic peptides (RA9, RL9,
      and RW9) with charge distributions that favor membrane penetration. R9 and RW9
      nanoparticles were significantly more effective than the other CPPs under most
      formulation conditions. However, these CPPs exhibit large differences in membrane
      penetration potential. Maximum transfection resulted from an appropriate balance
      of complexing with pDNA, releasing DNA, and membrane penetration potential.

PMID- 26878306
TI  - A New Beginning.

PMID- 26878307
TI  - Comments on "Evaluation Indexes of Military Hospitals From the Experts'
      Perspective: A Qualitative Study"-ERRATUM.

PMID- 26878309
TI  - Utilization of Health Care Coalitions and Resiliency Forums in the United States
      and United Kingdom: Different Approaches to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness.
AB  - The process for developing national emergency management strategies for both the
      United States and the United Kingdom has led to the formulation of differing
      approaches to meet similar desired outcomes. Historically, the pathways for each
      are the result of the enactment of legislation in response to a significant event
      or a series of events. The resulting laws attempt to revise practices and
      policies leading to more effective and efficient management in preparing,
      responding, and mitigating all types of natural, manmade, and technological
      hazards. Following the turn of the 21st century, each country has experienced
      significant advancements in emergency management including the formation and
      utilization of 2 distinct models: health care coalitions in the United States and
      resiliency forums in the United Kingdom. Both models have evolved from
      circumstances and governance unique to each country. Further in-depth study of
      both approaches will identify strengths, weaknesses, and existing gaps to meet
      continued and future challenges of our respective disaster health care systems.

PMID- 26878308
TI  - Value-Based Emergency Management.
AB  - This article touches on the complex and decentralized network that is the US
      health care system and how important it is to include emergency management in
      this network. By aligning the overarching incentives of opposing health care
      organizations, emergency management can become resilient to up-and-coming changes
      in reimbursement, staffing, and network ownership. Coalitions must grasp the
      opportunity created by changes in value-based purchasing and impending Centers
      for Medicare and Medicaid Services emergency management rules to engage payers,
      physicians, and executives. Hope and faith in doing good is no longer enough for
      preparedness and health care coalitions; understanding how physicians are
      employed and health care is delivered and paid for is now necessary.
      Incentivizing preparedness through value-based compensation systems will become
      the new standard for emergency management.

PMID- 26878310
TI  - Abatacept for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Due to improvements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), several target drugs have been and are being
      developed. One of the possible targets in SLE is co-stimulation between antigen
      presenting cells and T cells. Abatacept is a co-stimulation moderator approved
      for the treatment of several autoimmune diseases. There is an unmet need for
      drugs with a better efficacy and safety profile when treating patients with SLE.
      AREAS COVERED: In this review, the authors discuss the mechanism of action of
      abatacept including its role in the immune system and glomeruli, and relevant
      information about its clinical efficacy and safety. Possible explanations for the
      failure of previous randomized clinical trials are also discussed. EXPERT
      OPINION: Abatacept has demonstrated efficacy in other autoimmune diseases, but in
      SLE, randomized clinical trials have failed to achieve their primary outcome.
      Despite these disappointing results and based on its mechanism of action,
      abatacept seems to have a role in lupus nephritis and arthritis. This should be
      corroborated with new trials which hopefully will overcome the design pitfalls of
      the ones conducted to date.

PMID- 26878313
TI  - Orbital symmetry of charge-density-wave order in La1.875Ba0.125CuO4 and
      YBa2Cu3O6.67.
AB  - Recent theories of charge-density-wave (CDW) order in high-temperature
      superconductors have predicted a primarily d CDW orbital symmetry. Here, we
      report on the orbital symmetry of CDW order in the canonical cuprate
      superconductors La1.875Ba0.125CuO4 (LBCO) and YBa2Cu3O6.67 (YBCO), using resonant
      soft X-ray scattering and a model mapped to the CDW orbital symmetry. From
      measurements sensitive to the O sublattice, we conclude that LBCO has
      predominantly s' CDW orbital symmetry, in contrast to the d orbital symmetry
      recently reported in other cuprates. Furthermore, we show for YBCO that the CDW
      orbital symmetry differs along the a and b crystal axes and that these both
      differ from LBCO. This work highlights CDW orbital symmetry as an additional key
      property that distinguishes the different cuprate families. We discuss how the
      CDW symmetry may be related to the '1/8-anomaly' and to static spin ordering.

PMID- 26878311
TI  - The doxastic shear pin: delusions as errors of learning and memory.
AB  - We reconsider delusions in terms of a "doxastic shear pin", a mechanism that errs
      so as to prevent the destruction of the machine (brain) and permit continued
      function (in an attenuated capacity). Delusions may disable flexible (but
      energetically expensive) inference. With each recall, delusions may be reinforced
      further and rendered resistant to contradiction. We aim to respond to deficit
      accounts of delusions - that delusions are only a problem without any benefit -
      by considering delusion formation and maintenance in terms of predictive coding.
      We posit that brains conform to a simple computational principle: to minimize
      prediction error (the mismatch between prior top-down expectation and current
      bottom-up input) across hierarchies of brain regions and psychological
      representation. Recent data suggest that delusions may form in the absence of
      constraining top-down expectations. Then, once formed, they become new priors
      that motivate other beliefs, perceptions, and actions by providing strong
      (sometimes overriding) top-down expectation. We argue that delusions form when
      the shear-pin breaks, permitting continued engagement with an overwhelming world,
      and ongoing function in the face of paralyzing difficulty. This crucial role
      should not be ignored when we treat delusions: we need to consider how a person
      will function in the world without them.. 

PMID- 26878312
TI  - Highly mobile ferroelastic domain walls in compositionally graded ferroelectric
      thin films.
AB  - Domains and domain walls are critical in determining the response of
      ferroelectrics, and the ability to controllably create, annihilate, or move
      domains is essential to enable a range of next-generation devices. Whereas
      electric-field control has been demonstrated for ferroelectric 180 degrees 
      domain walls, similar control of ferroelastic domains has not been achieved.
      Here, using controlled composition and strain gradients, we demonstrate
      deterministic control of ferroelastic domains that are rendered highly mobile in
      a controlled and reversible manner. Through a combination of thin-film growth,
      transmission-electron-microscopy-based nanobeam diffraction and nanoscale band
      excitation switching spectroscopy, we show that strain gradients in
      compositionally graded PbZr1-xTixO3 heterostructures stabilize needle-like
      ferroelastic domains that terminate inside the film. These needle-like domains
      are highly labile in the out-of-plane direction under applied electric fields,
      producing a locally enhanced piezoresponse. This work demonstrates the efficacy
      of novel modes of epitaxy in providing new modalities of domain engineering and
      potential for as-yet-unrealized nanoscale functional devices.

PMID- 26878314
TI  - Magnetization switching by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet-ferromagnet
      bilayer system.
AB  - Spin-orbit torque (SOT)-induced magnetization switching shows promise for
      realizing ultrafast and reliable spintronics devices. Bipolar switching of the
      perpendicular magnetization by the SOT is achieved under an in-plane magnetic
      field collinear with an applied current. Typical structures studied so far
      comprise a nonmagnet/ferromagnet (NM/FM) bilayer, where the spin Hall effect in
      the NM is responsible for the switching. Here we show that an
      antiferromagnet/ferromagnet (AFM/FM) bilayer system also exhibits a SOT large
      enough to switch the magnetization of the FM. In this material system, thanks to
      the exchange bias of the AFM, we observe the switching in the absence of an
      applied field by using an antiferromagnetic PtMn and ferromagnetic Co/Ni
      multilayer with a perpendicular easy axis. Furthermore, tailoring the stack
      achieves a memristor-like behaviour where a portion of the reversed magnetization
      can be controlled in an analogue manner. The AFM/FM system is thus a promising
      building block for SOT devices as well as providing an attractive pathway towards
      neuromorphic computing.

PMID- 26878315
TI  - Structured light enables biomimetic swimming and versatile locomotion of
      photoresponsive soft microrobots.
AB  - Microorganisms move in challenging environments by periodic changes in body
      shape. In contrast, current artificial microrobots cannot actively deform,
      exhibiting at best passive bending under external fields. Here, by taking
      advantage of the wireless, scalable and spatiotemporally selective capabilities
      that light allows, we show that soft microrobots consisting of photoactive liquid
      crystal elastomers can be driven by structured monochromatic light to perform
      sophisticated biomimetic motions. We realize continuum yet selectively
      addressable artificial microswimmers that generate travelling-wave motions to
      self-propel without external forces or torques, as well as microrobots capable of
      versatile locomotion behaviours on demand. Both theoretical predictions and
      experimental results confirm that multiple gaits, mimicking either symplectic or
      antiplectic metachrony of ciliate protozoa, can be achieved with single
      microswimmers. The principle of using structured light can be extended to other
      applications that require microscale actuation with sophisticated spatiotemporal
      coordination for advanced microrobotic technologies.

PMID- 26878316
TI  - Cardiac electrophysiology procedures guided by novel non-fluoroscopic catheter
      tracking systems.

PMID- 26878317
TI  - A low-carbohydrate high-fat diet increases weight gain and does not improve
      glucose tolerance, insulin secretion or beta-cell mass in NZO mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary guidelines for the past 20 years have recommended
      that dietary fat should be minimized. In contrast, recent studies have suggested
      that there could be some potential benefits for reducing carbohydrate intake in
      favor of increased fat. It has also been suggested that low-carbohydrate diets be
      recommended for people with type 2 diabetes. However, whether such diets can
      improve glycemic control will likely depend on their ability to improve beta-cell
      function, which has not been studied. The objective of the study was to assess
      whether a low-carbohydrate and therefore high-fat diet (LCHFD) is beneficial for
      improving the endogenous insulin secretory response to glucose in prediabetic New
      Zealand Obese (NZO) mice. METHODS: NZO mice were maintained on either standard
      rodent chow or an LCHFD from 6 to 15 weeks of age. Body weight, food intake and
      blood glucose were assessed weekly. Blood glucose and insulin levels were also
      assessed after fasting and re-feeding and during an oral glucose tolerance test.
      The capacity of pancreatic beta-cells to secrete insulin was assessed in vivo
      with an intravenous glucose tolerance test. beta-Cell mass was assessed in
      histological sections of pancreata collected at the end of the study. RESULTS: In
      NZO mice, an LCHFD reduced plasma triglycerides (P=0.001) but increased weight
      gain (P<0.0001), adipose tissue mass (P=0.0015), high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (P=0.044) and exacerbated glucose intolerance (P=0.013). Although
      fasting insulin levels tended to be higher (P=0.08), insulin secretory function
      in LCHFD-fed mice was not improved (P=0.93) nor was beta-cell mass (P=0.75).
      CONCLUSIONS: An LCHFD is unlikely to be of benefit for preventing the decline in
      beta-cell function associated with the progression of hyperglycemia in type 2
      diabetes.

PMID- 26878318
TI  - The effects of potatoes and other carbohydrate side dishes consumed with meat on
      food intake, glycemia and satiety response in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effect of carbohydrate (CHO) foods on blood glucose (BG) is
      ranked by their glycemic index (GI). Boiled and mashed potatoes (BMPs) are ranked
      as high GI foods, whereas pasta and rice have moderate GI rankings. The objective
      of this study was to compare ad libitum consumption of common CHO dishes consumed
      with meat on meal-time food intake and post-meal satiety, BG, insulin and gut
      hormones in 11- to 13-year-old normal weight children. METHODS: Two randomized
      crossover studies were conducted. At weekly intervals, children (experiment 1: 12
      males (M), 8 females (F); experiment 2: 6M, 6 F) received in random order 1 of 5
      CHO side dishes of rice, pasta, BMP, fried French fries (FFF) or baked French
      fries (BFF) eaten freely together with a fixed amount of lean beef (100 g). In
      experiment-1, food intake over 30 min and subjective appetite were measured for
      120 min. In experiment-2, the same outcomes were measured along with BG, plasma
      insulin and gut hormones. RESULTS: The results for boys and girls were pooled as
      sex was not a factor. In both experiments, children consumed 30-40% less calories
      at meals with BMP (P<0.0001) compared with all other treatments, which were
      similar. BMP increased satiety, expressed as a change in appetite per
      kilocalorie, more than all other treatments (P<0.0001). FFF resulted in the
      lowest (P<0.0001) glucose and insulin at meal end and post-meal and peptide YY
      (PYY) post-meal. Blood measures were similar among all other treatments.
      CONCLUSIONS: The physiological functions of CHO foods consumed ad libitum at meal
      time on food intake, appetite, BG, insulin and gut hormone responses in children
      is not predicted by the GI.

PMID- 26878323
TI  - Facile fabrication of aloe vera containing PCL nanofibers for barrier membrane
      application.
AB  - Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a widely used method in dental surgical
      procedures that utilizes a barrier membrane to exclude migration of epithelium
      and ensure repopulation of periodontal ligament cells at the sites having
      insufficient gingiva. Commercial GTR membranes are typically composed of
      synthetic polymers that have had mild clinical success mostly because of their
      lack of proper bioactivity and appropriate degradation profile. In this study, a
      natural polymer, aloe vera was blended with polycaprolactone (PCL) to create
      nanofibrous GTR membranes by electrospinning. Aloe vera has proven anti
      inflammatory properties and enhances the regeneration of periodontium tissues.
      PCL, a synthetic polymer, is well known to produce miscible polyblends nanofibers
      with natural polymers. Nanofibrous membranes with varying composition of PCL to
      aloe vera were fabricated, and several physicochemical and biological properties,
      such as fiber morphology, wettability, chemical structure, mechanical strength,
      and cellular compatibility of the membranes were analyzed. PCL/aloe vera
      membranes with ratios from 100/00 to 70/30 showed good uniformity in fiber
      morphology and suitable mechanical properties, and retained the integrity of
      their fibrous structure in aqueous solutions. Experimental results, using cell
      viability assay and cell attachment observation, showed that the nanofibrous
      membranes support 3T3 cell viability and could be a potential candidate for GTR
      therapy. 

PMID- 26878320
TI  - Raised Ca125 and ascites: Is this ovarian cancer till proven otherwise?

PMID- 26878319
TI  - A 3D bioprinting system to produce human-scale tissue constructs with structural
      integrity.
AB  - A challenge for tissue engineering is producing three-dimensional (3D),
      vascularized cellular constructs of clinically relevant size, shape and
      structural integrity. We present an integrated tissue-organ printer (ITOP) that
      can fabricate stable, human-scale tissue constructs of any shape. Mechanical
      stability is achieved by printing cell-laden hydrogels together with
      biodegradable polymers in integrated patterns and anchored on sacrificial
      hydrogels. The correct shape of the tissue construct is achieved by representing
      clinical imaging data as a computer model of the anatomical defect and
      translating the model into a program that controls the motions of the printer
      nozzles, which dispense cells to discrete locations. The incorporation of
      microchannels into the tissue constructs facilitates diffusion of nutrients to
      printed cells, thereby overcoming the diffusion limit of 100-200 MUm for cell
      survival in engineered tissues. We demonstrate capabilities of the ITOP by
      fabricating mandible and calvarial bone, cartilage and skeletal muscle. Future
      development of the ITOP is being directed to the production of tissues for human
      applications and to the building of more complex tissues and solid organs.

PMID- 26878324
TI  - An analysis of planned versus delivered airway doses during stereotactic lung
      radiotherapy for central tumors.

PMID- 26878325
TI  - Folic acid functionalized long-circulating co-encapsulated docetaxel and curcumin
      solid lipid nanoparticles: In vitro evaluation, pharmacokinetic and
      biodistribution in rats.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop folic acid functionalized long
      circulating co-encapsulated docetaxel (DTX) and curcumin (CRM) solid lipid
      nanoparticles (F-DC-SLN) to improve the pharmacokinetic and efficacy of DTX
      therapy. F-DC-SLN was prepared by hot melt-emulsification method and optimized by
      face centered-central composite design (FC-CCD). The SLN was characterized in
      terms of size and size distribution, drug entrapment efficiency and release
      profile. The cytotoxicity and cell uptake of the SLN formulations were evaluated
      in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The in vivo pharmacokinetic and
      biodistribution were studied in Wistar rats. F-DC-SLN exhibited 247.5 +/- 3.40 nm
      particle size with 73.88 +/- 1.08% entrapment efficiency and zeta potential of
      14.53 +/- 3.6 mV. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed spherical
      morphology of the SLN. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the targeting efficacy
      of F-DC-SLN in MCF-7 cells. F-DC-SLN exhibited a significant increase in area
      under the curve (594.21 +/- 64.34 versus 39.05 +/- 7.41 MUg/mL h) and mean
      residence time (31.14 +/- 19.94 versus 7.24 +/- 4.51 h) in comparison to
      Taxotere(r). In addition, decreased DTX accumulation from F-DC-SLN in the heart
      and kidney in comparison to Taxotere may avoid to toxicity these vital organs. In
      conclusion, the F-DC-SLN improved the efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile of DTX
      exhibiting enhanced potential in optimizing breast cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26878326
TI  - Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication for Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux
      Disease: Where Do We Stand?
AB  - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, progressive, and costly
      medical condition affecting a substantial proportion of the world population,
      predominantly the Western population. The available treatment options for
      patients with refractory GERD symptoms are limited to either laparoscopic surgery
      with significant sequelae or potentially lifelong, high-dose proton pump
      inhibitor therapy. The restoration of the antireflux competence of the
      gastroesophageal junction at the anatomic and physiologic levels is critical for
      the effective long-term treatment of GERD. Transoral incisionless fundoplication
      (TIF) surgery is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment that has yielded
      significant symptomatic improvement in patients with medically refractory GERD
      symptoms. In this review article, we have summarized case series and reports
      describing the role of TIF for patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
      The reported indications, techniques, complications, and success rates are also
      discussed. 

PMID- 26878328
TI  - Low-Lying pi* Resonances of Standard and Rare DNA and RNA Bases Studied by the
      Projected CAP/SAC-CI Method.
AB  - Low-lying pi* resonance states of DNA and RNA bases have been investigated by the
      recently developed projected complex absorbing potential (CAP)/symmetry-adapted
      cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method using a smooth Voronoi
      potential as CAP. In spite of the challenging CAP applications to higher
      resonance states of molecules of this size, the present calculations reproduce
      resonance positions observed by electron transmission spectra (ETS) provided the
      anticipated deviations due to vibronic effects and limited basis sets are taken
      into account. Moreover, for the standard nucleobases, the calculated positions
      and widths qualitatively agree with those obtained in previous electron
      scattering calculations. For guanine, both keto and enol forms were examined, and
      the calculated values of the keto form agree clearly better with the experimental
      findings. In addition to these standard bases, three modified forms of cytosine,
      which serve as epigenetic or biomarkers, were investigated: formylcytosine,
      methylcytosine, and chlorocytosine. Last, a strong correlation between the
      computed positions and the observed ETS values is demonstrated, clearly
      suggesting that the present computational protocol should be useful for
      predicting the pi* resonances of congeners of DNA and RNA bases. 

PMID- 26878327
TI  - Hypothermia for neuroprotection in adults after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Good neurological outcome after cardiac arrest is difficult to
      achieve. Interventions during the resuscitation phase and treatment within the
      first hours after the event are critical. Experimental evidence suggests that
      therapeutic hypothermia is beneficial, and several clinical studies on this topic
      have been published. This review was originally published in 2009; updated
      versions were published in 2012 and 2016. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to perform a
      systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the influence of therapeutic
      hypothermia after cardiac arrest on neurological outcome, survival and adverse
      events. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases: the Cochrane Central
      Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2014, Issue 10); MEDLINE (1971 to May
      2015); EMBASE (1987 to May 2015); the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied
      Health Literature (CINAHL) (1988 to May 2015); and BIOSIS (1989 to May 2015). We
      contacted experts in the field to ask for information on ongoing, unpublished or
      published trials on this topic.The original search was performed in January 2007.
      SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted
      to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia in participants after
      cardiac arrest, without language restrictions. We restricted studies to adult
      populations cooled by any cooling method, applied within six hours of cardiac
      arrest. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We entered validity measures,
      interventions, outcomes and additional baseline variables into a database. Meta
      analysis was performed only for a subset of comparable studies with negligible
      heterogeneity. We assessed the quality of the evidence by using standard
      methodological procedures as expected by Cochrane and incorporated the GRADE
      (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. MAIN
      RESULTS: We found six RCTs (1412 participants overall) conducted to evaluate the
      effects of therapeutic hypothermia - five on neurological outcome and survival,
      one on only neurological outcome. The quality of the included studies was
      generally moderate, and risk of bias was low in three out of six studies. When we
      compared conventional cooling methods versus no cooling (four trials; 437
      participants), we found that participants in the conventional cooling group were
      more likely to reach a favourable neurological outcome (risk ratio (RR) 1.94, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.18 to 3.21). The quality of the evidence was
      moderate.Across all studies that used conventional cooling methods rather than no
      cooling (three studies; 383 participants), we found a 30% survival benefit (RR
      1.32, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.65). The quality of the evidence was moderate.Across all
      studies, the incidence of pneumonia (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.30; two trials;
      1205 participants) and hypokalaemia (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.84; two trials;
      975 participants) was slightly increased among participants receiving therapeutic
      hypothermia, and we observed no significant differences in reported adverse
      events between hypothermia and control groups. Overall the quality of the
      evidence was moderate (pneumonia) to low (hypokalaemia). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
      Evidence of moderate quality suggests that conventional cooling methods provided
      to induce mild therapeutic hypothermia improve neurological outcome after cardiac
      arrest, specifically with better outcomes than occur with no temperature
      management. We obtained available evidence from studies in which the target
      temperature was 34 degrees C or lower. This is consistent with current best
      medical practice as recommended by international resuscitation guidelines for
      hypothermia/targeted temperature management among survivors of cardiac arrest. We
      found insufficient evidence to show the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on
      participants with in-hospital cardiac arrest, asystole or non-cardiac causes of
      arrest.

PMID- 26878329
TI  - Participant evaluation of simulation training using crew resource management in a
      hospital setting in Hong Kong.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A simulation team-based crew resource management training programme
      was developed to provide a unique multidisciplinary learning experience for
      health care professionals in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. In this study, we
      evaluated how health care professionals perceive the programme. METHODS: A cross
      sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in the Multidisciplinary Simulation
      and Skills Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. A total of 55
      individuals in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesiology and
      Operating Theatre Services, Intensive Care Unit, and Accident and Emergency
      participated in the study between June 2013 and December 2013. The course content
      was specially designed according to the needs of the clinical departments and
      comprised a lecture followed by scenarios and debriefing sessions. Principles of
      crew resource management were introduced and taught throughout the course by
      trained instructors. Upon completion of each course, the participants were
      surveyed using a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions. RESULTS: The
      participant's responses to the survey were related to course organisation and
      satisfaction, realism, debriefing, and relevance to practice. The overall rating
      of the training programme was high, with mean Likert scale scores of 4.1 to 4.3.
      The key learning points were identified as closed-loop communication skills,
      assertiveness, decision making, and situational awareness. CONCLUSIONS: The use
      of a crew resource management simulation-based training programme is a valuable
      teaching tool for frontline health care staff. Concepts of crew resource
      management were relevant to clinical practice. It is a highly rated training
      programme and our results support its broader application in Hong Kong.

PMID- 26878330
TI  - Suspected levamisole intoxication in calves.
AB  - CASE HISTORY: A group of 32 Friesian and four Hereford calves, 3-4 months old
      with body weights between 100-120 kg, were purchased from a weaner sale. On
      arrival at the property the Hereford calves were treated with a combination
      anthelmintic containing 2 g/L abamectin and 80 g/L levamisole hydrochloride.
      Shortly afterwards they developed tremors and frothing from the mouth, and two
      died overnight. The Friesian calves were treated with the same anthelmintic on
      the following day, when some showed hypersalivation and frothing from the mouth.
      CLINICAL FINDINGS: Examination of the three most severely affected Friesian
      calves revealed severe nicotinic-type symptoms including hypersalivation,
      frothing from the mouth, muscle tremors, recumbency, rapid respiration,
      hyperaesthesia, and central nervous system depression. Other calves showed mild
      to moderate signs of intoxication including restlessness, tail switching,
      salivation, tremors, frequent defaecation, mild colic and jaw chomping. Two
      calves died shortly afterwards. An adverse drug event investigation revealed that
      the formulation and quality of the anthelmintic was within the correct
      specification, and that the drench gun was functioning correctly. DIAGNOSIS:
      Suspected levamisole intoxication due to a combination of possible overdosing,
      dehydration, and stress caused by transportation and prolonged yarding. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Susceptibility to levamisole toxicity in New Zealand calves can be
      increased if factors like dehydration or stress are present. Levamisole has a
      narrow margin of safety, and overdosing in calves can easily occur if the dose
      rate is not based on their actual weight or health status.

PMID- 26878331
TI  - Combination of photothermal and photodynamic inactivation of cancer cells through
      surface plasmon resonance of a gold nanoring.
AB  - We demonstrate effective inactivation of oral cancer cells SAS through a
      combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) effects
      based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) around 1064 nm in wavelength
      of a Au nanoring (NRI) under femtosecond (fs) laser illumination. The PTT effect
      is caused by the LSPR-enhanced absorption of the Au NRI. The PDT effect is
      generated by linking the Au NRI with the photosensitizer of sulfonated aluminum
      phthalocyanines (AlPcS) for producing singlet oxygen through the LSPR-enhanced
      two-photon absorption (TPA) excitation of AlPcS. The laser threshold intensity
      for cancer cell inactivation with the applied Au NRI linked with AlPcS is
      significantly lower when compared to that with the Au NRI not linked with AlPcS.
      The comparison of inactivation threshold intensity between the cases of fs and
      continuous laser illuminations at the same wavelength and with the same average
      power confirms the crucial factor of TPA under fs laser illumination for
      producing the PDT effect. 

PMID- 26878332
TI  - Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Japanese version of
      the Cumberland ankle instability tool.
AB  - Purpose To study validity and reliability of a Japanese version of the Cumberland
      Ankle Instability Tool and to determine the optimal cutoff score. Methods In this
      study, the questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted into Japanese. The
      psychometric properties tested in the Japanese version of the CAIT were measured
      for criteria validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability in 111
      collegiate soccer athletes. We also established the questionnaire cutoff score
      for discriminating between individuals with and without CAI. Results There was a
      significant correlation between the Japanese version of the CAIT and the Karlsson
      score (r = 0.604, p < 0.001). The questionnaire had a high internal consistency
      (Cronbach's alpha = 0.833) and reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient
      (ICC) = 0.826, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.732-0.888]. The optimal cutoff
      score was <=25, which was consistent with previous reports. Conclusions The
      Japanese version of the CAIT has been shown to be a valid and reliable
      questionnaire for determining the presence of CAI. We expect that researchers and
      clinicians will use the Japanese version of the CAIT in Japan. Implications for
      Rehabilitation Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI), which not only increases
      recurrence rate of ankle sprain but also decreases athletic performance, is a
      residual symptom after ankle sprain. Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, which has
      the reliability and validity to assess CAI, will be critically useful in
      assessment procedure for CAI. It is preferable for clinicians and researchers to
      use the native language version of the CAIT.

PMID- 26878333
TI  - Locally measuring the adhesion of InP directly bonded on sub-100 nm patterned Si.
AB  - A nano-scale analogue to the double cantilever experiment that combines
      instrumented nano-indentation and atomic force microscopy is used to precisely
      and locally measure the adhesion of InP bonded on sub-100 nm patterned Si using
      oxide-free or oxide-mediated bonding. Surface-bonding energies of 0.548 and 0.628
      J m(-2), respectively, are reported. These energies correspond in turn to 51% and
      57% of the surface bonding energy measured in unpatterned regions on the same
      samples, i.e. the proportion of unetched Si surface in the patterned areas. The
      results show that bonding on patterned surfaces can be as robust as on
      unpatterned surfaces, provided care is taken with the post-patterning surface
      preparation process and, therefore, open the path towards innovative designs that
      include patterns embedded in the Si guiding layer of hybrid III-V/Si photonic
      integrated circuits. 

PMID- 26878334
TI  - Detection of an embolized central venous catheter fragment with endobronchial
      ultrasound.
AB  - An 84-year-old woman underwent Convex-probe Endobronchial Ultrasound (CP-EBUS)
      for 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose avid subcarinal lymphadenopathy on Positron Emission
      Tomogram (PET) scan. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle
      aspiration of the subcarinal lymph node revealed squamous cell lung carcinoma. A
      small hyperechoic rounded density was noted inside the lumen of the azygous vein.
      Based on chest computed tomography findings and her clinical history, this was
      felt to be a broken fragment of a peripherally inserted central catheter, which
      was placed for intravenous antibiotics, a few months prior to this presentation.
      To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever CP-EBUS description of a
      broken fragment of central venous catheter.

PMID- 26878336
TI  - Amnioserosa development and function in Drosophila embryogenesis: Critical
      mechanical roles for an extraembryonic tissue.
AB  - Despite being a short-lived, extraembryonic tissue, the amnioserosa plays
      critical roles in the major morphogenetic events of Drosophila embryogenesis.
      These roles involve both cellular mechanics and biochemical signaling. Its best
      known role is in dorsal closure-well studied by both developmental biologists and
      biophysicists-but the amnioserosa is also important during earlier developmental
      stages. Here, we provide an overview of amnioserosa specification and its role in
      several key developmental stages: germ band extension, germ band retraction, and
      dorsal closure. We also compare embryonic development in Drosophila and its
      relative Megaselia to highlight how the amnioserosa and its roles have evolved.
      Placed in context, the amnioserosa provides a fascinating example of how
      signaling, mechanics, and morphogen patterns govern cell-type specification and
      subsequent morphogenetic changes in cell shape, orientation, and movement.
      Developmental Dynamics 245:558-568, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878335
TI  - Controlling Listeria monocytogenes and Leuconostoc mesenteroides in Uncured Deli
      style Turkey Breast Using a Clean Label Antimicrobial.
AB  - Interest in natural/organic meat products has resulted in the need to validate
      the effectiveness of clean label antimicrobials to increase safety and shelf life
      of these products. A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to investigate
      the effects of varying levels of moisture, pH, and a commercial "clean-label"
      antimicrobial (cultured sugar-vinegar blend; CSVB) on the growth rate of Listeria
      monocytogenes and Leuconostoc mesenteroides in uncured turkey stored at 4 
      degrees C for 16 wk. Twenty treatment combinations of moisture (60% to 80%), pH
      (5.8 to 6.4), and CSVB (2.5% to 5.0%) were evaluated during phase I to develop
      growth curves for both microbe types, whereas the interactive effects of pH (5.8
      to 6.4) and CSVB (0.0 to 4.75) were tested in 16 treatment combinations during
      Phase II at a single moisture level using L. monocytogenes only. CSVB inhibited
      L. monocytogenes growth in 14 of the 20 treatments tested in Phase I and in 12 of
      the 16 treatments in Phase II through 16 and 8 wk, respectively. In contrast,
      CSVB had little effect on L. mesenteroides, with growth inhibited in only 4 of 20
      treatments in Phase I and was therefore not tested further in Phase II.
      Significant interactions of the RSM design coefficients yielded a predictive
      model for L. mesenteroides growth rate, but due to lack of growth, no growth rate
      model was developed for L. monocytogenes. CSVB was found to be an effective
      antilisteral antimicrobial, while having little effect on a spoilage
      microorganism. 

PMID- 26878337
TI  - Thioether-Based Fluorescent Covalent Organic Framework for Selective Detection
      and Facile Removal of Mercury(II).
AB  - Heavy metal ions are highly toxic and widely spread as environmental pollutants.
      New strategies are being developed to simultaneously detect and remove these
      toxic ions. Herein, we take the intrinsic advantage of covalent organic
      frameworks (COFs) and develop fluorescent COFs for sensing applications. As a
      proof-of-concept, a thioether-functionalized COF material, COF-LZU8, was "bottom
      up" integrated with multifunctionality for the selective detection and facile
      removal of mercury(II): the pi-conjugated framework as the signal transducer, the
      evenly and densely distributed thioether groups as the Hg(2+) receptor, the
      regular pores facilitating the real-time detection and mass transfer, together
      with the robust COF structure for recycle use. The excellent sensing performance
      of COF-LZU8 was achieved in terms of high sensitivity, excellent selectivity,
      easy visibility, and real-time response. Meanwhile, the efficient removal of
      Hg(2+) from water and the recycling of COF-LZU8 offers the possibility for
      practical applications. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solid
      state NMR investigations verified the strong and selective interaction between
      Hg(2+) and the thioether groups of COF-LZU8. This research not only demonstrates
      the utilization of fluorescent COFs for both sensing and removal of metal ions
      but also highlights the facile construction of functionalized COFs for
      environmental applications. 

PMID- 26878339
TI  - Laparoscopic Ureterolithotomy in Children: With and Without Stent - Initial
      Tertiary Care Center Experience with More Than 1-Year Follow-Up.
AB  - Background The purpose of our study was to assess the safety and feasibility of
      transperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (LU) in children with ureteric
      stones with and without a stent. Method Impacted ureteric stone of size >= 1.5 cm
      or ureteric stones that were refractory to shock wave lithotripsy
      (SWL)/ureteroscopy (URS) were considered for LU. From December 2009 to April
      2012, 50 cases of LU were performed with a stent being placed. From May 2012
      onward we now perform stentless LU and till now we have done approximately 64
      such type of cases. Out of these, 48 have completed more than 1 year of follow-up
      and we took these as our study group and the previous 50 (LU with stent) as our
      control group. Baseline characteristics along with certain per- and postoperative
      findings of the two groups were noted and analyzed. Ultrasonography and X-ray
      kidney, ureter, and bladder region were done at 3, 9 months, 1 year, and yearly
      thereafter. Intravenous urography was done at 6 months statistical analysis was
      performed by using SPSS ver. 21 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States).
      The data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney test and a p value of < 0.05 was
      considered significant. Results The baseline characteristics were similar in both
      the groups with 100% stone clearance in all. LU with stent differed from the
      stentless group in terms of more requirement of analgesics and the need for a
      second procedure for stent removal, but with no cases of urine leak in the
      postoperative period. Conclusion LU in children is a safe and viable option,
      especially for impacted stones or as a salvage procedure for ureteric stones when
      SWL or transureteral lithotripsy has failed.

PMID- 26878338
TI  - Innate immunity in vertebrates: an overview.
AB  - Innate immunity is a semi-specific and widely distributed form of immunity, which
      represents the first line of defence against pathogens. This type of immunity is
      critical to maintain homeostasis and prevent microbe invasion, eliminating a
      great variety of pathogens and contributing with the activation of the adaptive
      immune response. The components of innate immunity include physical and chemical
      barriers, humoral and cell-mediated components, which are present in all jawed
      vertebrates. The understanding of innate defence mechanisms in non-mammalian
      vertebrates is the key to comprehend the general picture of vertebrate innate
      immunity and its evolutionary history. This is also essential for the
      identification of new molecules with applications in immunopharmacology and
      immunotherapy. In this review, we describe and discuss the main elements of
      vertebrate innate immunity, presenting core findings in this field and
      identifying areas that need further investigation.

PMID- 26878341
TI  - Simulations of Ice Nucleation by Model AgI Disks and Plates.
AB  - Silver iodide is one of the most effective ice nuclei known. We use molecular
      dynamics simulations to investigate ice nucleation by AgI disks and plates with
      radii ranging from 1.15 to 2.99 nm. It is shown that disks and plates in this
      size range are effective ice nuclei, nucleating bulk ice at temperatures as warm
      as 14 K below the equilibrium freezing temperature, on simulation time scales (up
      to a few hundred nanoseconds). Ice nucleated on the Ag exposed surface of AgI
      disks and plates. Shortly after supercooling an ice cluster forms on the AgI
      surface. The AgI-stabilized ice cluster fluctuates in size as time progresses,
      but, once formed, it is constantly present. Eventually, depending on the disk or
      plate size and the degree of supercooling, a cluster fluctuation achieves
      critical size, and ice nucleates and rapidly grows to fill the simulation cell.
      Larger AgI disks and plates support larger ice clusters and hence can nucleate
      ice at warmer temperatures. This work may be useful for understanding the
      mechanism of ice nucleation on nanoparticles and active sites of larger
      atmospheric particles. 

PMID- 26878340
TI  - Inhibition of protease-activated receptor 4 impairs platelet procoagulant
      activity during thrombus formation in human blood.
AB  - Essentials The platelet thrombin receptor, PAR4, is an emerging anti-thrombotic
      drug target. We examined the anti-platelet & anti-thrombotic effects of PAR4
      inhibition in human blood. PAR4 inhibition impaired platelet procoagulant
      activity in isolated cells and during thrombosis. Our study shows PAR4 is
      required for platelet procoagulant function & thrombosis in human blood. SUMMARY:
      Background Thrombin-induced platelet activation is important for arterial
      thrombosis. Thrombin activates human platelets predominantly via protease
      activated receptor (PAR)1 and PAR4. PAR1 has higher affinity for thrombin, and
      the first PAR1 antagonist, vorapaxar, was recently approved for use as an
      antiplatelet agent. However, vorapaxar is contraindicated in a significant number
      of patients, owing to adverse bleeding events. Consequently, there is renewed
      interest in the role of platelet PAR4 in the setting of thrombus formation.
      Objectives To determine the specific antiplatelet effects of inhibiting PAR4
      function during thrombus formation in human whole blood. Methods and Results We
      developed a rabbit polyclonal antibody against the thrombin cleavage site of
      PAR4, and showed it to be a highly specific inhibitor of PAR4-mediated platelet
      function. This function-blocking anti-PAR4 antibody was used to probe for PAR4
      dependent platelet functions in human isolated platelets in the absence and
      presence of concomitant PAR1 inhibition. The anti-PAR4 antibody alone was
      sufficient to abolish the sustained elevation of cytosolic calcium level and
      consequent phosphatidylserine exposure induced by thrombin, but did not
      significantly inhibit integrin alphaII b beta3 activation, alpha-granule
      secretion, or aggregation. In accord with these in vitro experiments on isolated
      platelets, selective inhibition of PAR4, but not of PAR1, impaired thrombin
      activity (fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based thrombin sensor) and
      fibrin formation (anti-fibrin antibody) in an ex vivo whole blood flow thrombosis
      assay. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that PAR4 is required for platelet
      procoagulant function during thrombus formation in human blood, and suggest PAR4
      inhibition as a potential target for the prevention of arterial thrombosis.

PMID- 26878342
TI  - The role of sand, marble chips and Typha latifolia in domestic wastewater
      treatment - a column study on constructed wetlands.
AB  - The relative importance of sand, marble chips and wetland plant Typha latifolia
      is evaluated in constructed wetlands (CWs) for the treatment of domestic
      wastewater intended for reuse in agriculture. The prototype CWs for the
      experiments are realized in polyvinyl chloride columns, which are grouped into
      four treatments, viz. sand (<2 mm) + Typha latifolia (cattail), sand, marble
      chips (5-20 mm) + cattail and marble chips. The removal percentage of organic and
      nutritional pollutants from the wastewater is measured at varying hydraulic
      retention time in the columns. The statistical analysis suggests that the main
      effects of sand and cattail are found to be significant (p < .05) for the removal
      of biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand from the wastewater. The
      presence of cattail significantly (p < .01) contributes to the conversion of
      total nitrogen in wastewater into [Formula: see text] by fostering the growth of
      favorable microbes for the nitrification. The removal of [Formula: see text] and
      turbidity from the wastewater is significantly (p < .01) influenced by sand than
      the presence of cattail. The maximum [Formula: see text] adsorption capacity of
      the sand is estimated to be 2.5 mg/g. Marble chips have significantly (p < .01)
      influenced the removal of [Formula: see text]and its maximum removal capacity is
      estimated to be 9.3 mg/g. The negative correlation between the filter media
      biofilm and column hydraulic conductivity is also reported for all the
      treatments. Thus, the findings of this study elucidate the role of low-cost and
      easily available filter media and it will guide the environmental practitioners
      in designing cost-effective CWs for wastewater treatment. 

PMID- 26878344
TI  - Our periodontal tissue: a masterpiece of evolution.

PMID- 26878345
TI  - Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 as a positive electrode
      material for Li-ion batteries using first principles.
AB  - Ni-rich Li-based layered Ni, Co, and Mn (NCM) materials have shown tremendous
      promise in recent years as positive electrode materials for Li-ion batteries.
      This is evident as companies developing batteries for electrical vehicles are
      currently commercializing these materials. Despite the considerable research
      performed on LiNialphaCobetaMngammaO2 systems, we do not yet have a complete
      atomic level understanding of these materials. In this work we study the cationic
      ordering, thermodynamics, and diffusion kinetics of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM
      523). Initially, we show that cationic ordering can be predicted employing cheap
      atomistic simulations, instead of using expensive first-principles methods.
      Subsequently, we investigate the electrochemical, thermodynamic and kinetic
      properties of NCM-523 using density functional theory (DFT). Our results
      demonstrate the importance of including dispersion corrections to standard first
      principles functionals in order to correctly predict the lattice parameters of
      layered cathode materials. We also demonstrate that a careful choice of
      computational protocol is essential to reproduce the experimental intercalation
      potential trends observed in the LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 electrodes. Analysis of the
      electronic structure confirms an active role of Ni in the electrochemical redox
      process. Moreover, we confirm the experimental finding that on complete
      delithiation, this material remains in an O3 phase, unlike LiCoO2 and NCM-333.
      Finally, we study various pathways for the Li-ion diffusion in NCM-523, and
      pinpoint the preferred diffusion channel based on first principles simulations.
      Interestingly, we observe that the Li diffusion barrier in NCM-523 is lower than
      that in LiCoO2. 

PMID- 26878343
TI  - Discovery of 2-Indole-acylsulfonamide Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) Inhibitors
      Using Fragment-Based Methods.
AB  - Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) is a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins
      responsible for the regulation of programmed cell death. Amplification of Mcl-1
      is a common genetic aberration in human cancer whose overexpression contributes
      to the evasion of apoptosis and is one of the major resistance mechanisms for
      many chemotherapies. Mcl-1 mediates its effects primarily through interactions
      with pro-apoptotic BH3 containing proteins that achieve high affinity for the
      target by utilizing four hydrophobic pockets in its binding groove. Here we
      describe the discovery of Mcl-1 inhibitors using fragment-based methods and
      structure-based design. These novel inhibitors exhibit low nanomolar binding
      affinities to Mcl-1 and >500-fold selectivity over Bcl-xL. X-ray structures of
      lead Mcl-1 inhibitors when complexed to Mcl-1 provided detailed information on
      how these small-molecules bind to the target and were used extensively to guide
      compound optimization. 

PMID- 26878346
TI  - Early cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell response and estimated glomerular
      filtration rate identify patients at high risk of infection after renal
      transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Assessing the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in kidney
      transplant recipients (KTR) may be helpful to indicate in which patient it is
      worth starting antiviral treatment during preemptive strategy. METHODS: In 40 CMV
      seropositive KTR preemptively treated with ganciclovir, we used interferon (IFN)
      gamma ELISpot test to evaluate whether monitoring T cells directed against
      phosphoprotein (pp) 65 and immediate early (IE)-1 antigens could predict the
      onset of viremia. RESULTS: CMV viremia occurred in 24 patients (60%) within 120
      days after transplantation. Non-viremic patients had higher anti-pp65, anti-IE-1
      T cells, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the first 90 days
      after transplantation. At logistic regression, anti-pp65, anti-IE-1 T cells, and
      eGFR measured at day 30 were significantly associated with CMV infection. Cutoff
      values of 15 spot-forming cells (SFCs)/200,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      (PBMCs) for anti-IE, 40 SFCs/200,000 PBMCs for anti-pp65, and 46.6 mL/min/1.73
      m(2) for eGFR, respectively, predicted the risk of CMV infection with high
      sensitivity and specificity (area under the receiver operating characteristic
      curve >0.75). Using a classification tree model, we identified as high-risk
      patients those showing anti-pp65 <42 SFCs/200,000 PBMCs and eGFR <62 mL/min/1.73
      m(2) , as well as anti-pp65 >=42 and anti-IE-1 <6.5 SFCs/200,000 PBMCs.
      CONCLUSION: Monitoring CMV-specific T-cell responses and eGFR in the first month
      post transplant can identify patients at high risk of CMV infection, for whom
      preemptive antiviral therapy is recommended.

PMID- 26878347
TI  - Impact of offshore gas platforms on the structural and functional biodiversity of
      nematodes.
AB  - The Mediterranean Sea hosts hundreds of offshore gas platforms, whose activity
      represents a potential threat to marine ecosystems. Evidence from several studies
      indicates that nematodes can be highly sensitive to changes in the environmental
      quality. Here, we investigated the response of nematode assemblages to the
      presence of offshore gas platforms (located in the central Mediterranean Sea) in
      terms of spatial heterogeneity, structural and functional diversity. Since the
      effect of the investigated offshore platforms on macrofaunal assemblages were
      previously assessed by Terlizzi et al. (2008), the study provided also the
      opportunity to compare the response of different benthic compartments to the same
      impact related to fossil fuel extraction on marine environments. The platforms
      had a significant impact on nematode assemblages up to 1000 m distance from the
      structure. The effects were evident in term of: a) more homogeneous spatial
      distribution of nematode assemblages, b) increased trophic diversity of deposit
      feeders and c) changes in life strategies with an increase of opportunistic
      species in sediments closer to the platforms. Such effects seemed to be related
      to the dimension of the platform structures, rather than to chemical pollution or
      changes in food availability. These findings suggest that the platforms exert a
      physical alteration of the surrounding environment that is reflected by altered
      structural and functional traits of nematode biodiversity. The use of nematodes
      for monitoring the effects of the platforms only partially matched with the
      results obtained using macrofauna, providing further insights on potential
      outcomes on the functional response of marine assemblages to fossil fuel
      extraction. 

PMID- 26878348
TI  - Pathogenic C9ORF72 Antisense Repeat RNA Forms a Double Helix with Tandem C:C
      Mismatches.
AB  - Expansion of a GGGGCC/CCCCGG repeat sequence in the first intron of the C9ORF72
      gene is a leading cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis (ALS). In this combined disorder, called c9FTD/ALS, the expansion is
      bidirectionally transcribed into sense and antisense repeat RNA associated with
      disease. To better understand the role of C9ORF72 repeat RNA in molecular disease
      pathology, we determined crystal structures of a [(CCCCGG)3(CCCC)] model
      antisense repeat RNA to 1.47 A resolution. The RNA structure was an A-form-like
      double helix composed of repeating and regularly spaced tandem C:C mismatch pairs
      that perturbed helical geometry and surface charge. Solution studies revealed a
      preference for A-form-like helical conformations as the repeat number increased.
      Results provide a structural starting point for rationalizing the contribution of
      repeat RNA to c9FTD/ALS molecular disease mechanisms and for developing molecules
      to target C9ORF72 repeat RNA as potential therapeutics. 

PMID- 26878351
TI  - Ultrasound-responsive ultrathin multiblock copolyamide vesicles.
AB  - This study reports the self-assembly of novel polymer vesicles from an
      amphiphilic multiblock copolyamide, and the vesicles show a special structure
      with an ultrathin wall thickness of about 4.5 nm and a combined bilayer and
      monolayer packing model. Most interestingly, the vesicles are ultrasound
      responsive and can release the encapsulated model drugs in response to ultrasonic
      irradiation. 

PMID- 26878349
TI  - Brain PET measurement of PDE10A occupancy by TAK-063, a new PDE10A inhibitor,
      using [11 C]T-773 in nonhuman primates.
AB  - Because phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) degrades both cyclic adenosine
      monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate and is distributed mainly in the
      striatum, PDE10A inhibitors have been considered to potentially be useful
      therapeutic agents for psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases such as
      schizophrenia and Huntington's disease. We measured striatal PDE10A occupancy by
      TAK-063, a newly developed compound with high affinity and selectivity for
      PDE10A, using PET with [(11)C]T-773 in nonhuman primates. Two 123-min dynamic PET
      measurements were performed on three female rhesus monkeys, once at baseline and
      again after intravenous administration of different doses of TAK-063 (0.2-1.6
      mg/kg). Total distribution volume (V(T)) was calculated with a two-tissue
      compartment model using metabolite-corrected plasma input. Although the in vitro
      autoradiography did not show high specific binding to [(11)C]T-773 in the
      cerebellum, V(T) in the cerebellum decreased after TAK-063 treatment. The
      specific binding to PDE10A (V(S)) was calculated as the difference of the V(T)
      between the target regions and the cerebellum. PDE10A occupancy was calculated as
      the percent change of V(S). The average PDE10A occupancy of the caudate nucleus
      and putamen was 35.2% at 0.2 mg/kg and 83.2% at 1.6 mg/kg. In conclusion, this
      nonhuman primate PET study demonstrated that [(11)C]T-773 is useful to estimate
      the PDE10A occupancy by TAK-063 in the striatum although there is in vivo
      interaction of the uptake between [(11)C]T-773 and TAK-063 in the cerebellum.
      These results warrant further clinical occupancy study for TAK-063.

PMID- 26878352
TI  - Factors affecting the polarity and magnitude of photoresponse of transient
      photodetectors.
AB  - The addition of an insulating layer (I) between one of the metal electrodes (M)
      and the photoactive semiconducting layer (S) in a standard organic MSM solar cell
      architecture changes the DC photocurrent response into a strong transient signal.
      Such a device can, in simple terms, be thought of as a charging voltage source
      (S) in contact with a charging capacitor (I). The magnitude of the photocurrent
      signal can be strongly enhanced through the intimate contact of the active layer
      with the insulating layer, if the various pre-polarizations within the device act
      synergically. In this study, the effect of the built-in potentials within the
      device on the polarity and magnitude of the photocurrent response is studied
      using the well-characterized bulk heterojunction blend system of poly(3
      hexylthiophenone):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) as the
      semiconductor layer, and an ionic liquid as the insulating layer. This study
      shows that the polarity of the response is not simply determined by the energy
      level difference of the outer electrodes, but through a delicate interplay of all
      the energy levels in the device. Furthermore, these observations could be
      reproduced for devices with a solid-state insulator layer, where possible side
      effects of the ionic liquid, such as swelling and doping, could be considered
      absent. 

PMID- 26878353
TI  - Self-assembly of Pd2L2 Metallacycles Owning Diversely Functionalized Racemic
      Ligands.
AB  - We present herein the efficient palladium(II)-directed self-assembly in water of
      a series of nine new diversely functionalized metallacycles, owning
      hydroxy/alkoxycarbonyl/azidoalkyl exo pendant groups attached to ditopic N
      monoalkyl/aryl-4,4'-bipyridinium/2,7-diazapyrenium ligands. The highly convergent
      and versatile synthetic route for the ligands uses the Zincke reaction between
      (dinitrophenyl)bipyridinium/diazapyrenium salts and racemic amines as the key
      step. The stereochemical outcome of the self-assembly of the Pd2L2 species is
      discussed on the basis of density functional theory quantum-chemical
      calculations. 

PMID- 26878355
TI  - Nanomolar colorimetric quantitative detection of Fe3+ and PPi with high
      selectivity.
AB  - A novel rhodamine and 8-hydroxyquinoline-based derivative was synthesized, which
      is shown to act as a colorimetric chemosensor for Fe(3+) in aqueous solution with
      high selectivity over various environmentally and biologically relevant metal
      ions and anions with a distinct color change from colorless to pink in very fast
      response time (<1 min). Fe(3+) can be detected quantitatively in the
      concentration range from 6.7 to 16 MUM and the detection limit (LOD) on UV-vis
      response of the sensor can be as low as 15 nM. The 'in situ' prepared Fe(3+)
      complex (1?Fe) showed high selectivity toward PPi against many common anions, and
      sensitivity (the LOD can be as low as 71 nM). In addition, both the chemosensor
      and the 'in situ' prepared Fe(3+) complex are reusable for the detection of
      Fe(3+) and PPi respectively.

PMID- 26878356
TI  - Application of longan shell as non-conventional low-cost adsorbent for the
      removal of cationic dye from aqueous solution.
AB  - With simple physical treatment, adsorption potential of longan shell for the
      methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution was studied as a low-cost material
      under the conditions of adsorbent dosage (1-6 g/L), initial solution pH (2-12),
      contact time (5-180 min), temperature (293, 313, 313 K) and initial dye
      concentration (100-500 mg/L). The SEM images and FTIR spectra of longan shell
      before and after dye adsorption were analyzed to understand the adsorption
      process of MB onto longan shell. The kinetic data and the equilibrium data were
      simulated by different kinetic and isotherm models, respectively. The results
      showed that the adsorption process was well described by the pseudo-second-order
      kinetic model, and the experimental equilibrium data were better fit to Langmuir
      equation than Freundlich equation with the maximum adsorption capacity of 141.04
      mg/g. In addition, main activation parameters (E(a), DeltaH(#), DeltaS(#) and
      DeltaG(#)) and thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees  and
      DeltaS degrees ) of the absorption process were also determined.

PMID- 26878357
TI  - Osmotic diuresis with SGLT2 inhibition: analysis of events related to volume
      reduction in dapagliflozin clinical trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Dapagliflozin reduces hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
      and lowers blood pressure, at least in part, secondary to mild diuresis
      consequent to dapagliflozin-induced glucosuria. While blood-pressure lowering may
      contribute to cardiovascular risk reduction, dapagliflozin-induced diuresis may
      potentially contribute to adverse events (AEs) of volume reduction. The present
      analysis compared the frequency of AEs of volume reduction between dapagliflozin
      and placebo. METHODS: Pooled data were assessed from 13 placebo-controlled
      dapagliflozin clinical trials <=24 weeks in patients with T2DM, overall, and in
      those at risk (aged >=65y, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60
      mL/min/1.73 m(2), or on antihypertensive therapy). Longer-term (<=104 weeks) data
      were available for 9 of these trials. RESULTS: The frequency of patients
      experiencing >=1 AE of volume reduction over 24 weeks was low overall; 27/2360
      (1.1%) with dapagliflozin 10 mg and 17/2295 (0.7%) with placebo; and slightly
      more frequent in patients >=65 years (11/665 [1.7%] and 6/711 [0.8%],
      respectively) and in patients receiving loop diuretics (6/236 [2.5%] and 4/267
      [1.5%], respectively). Over 104 weeks, AEs of volume reduction occurred in
      38/2026 (1.9%) with dapagliflozin 10 mg and in 27/1956 (1.4%) with placebo;
      serious AEs of volume reduction in 4/2026 (0.2%) and 6/1956 (0.3%), respectively;
      and 2 patients in each group discontinued therapy due to these AEs. Dapagliflozin
      versus placebo incidence rate ratios did not suggest any meaningful increase in
      frequency of these AEs with dapagliflozin 10 mg, either overall or in those at
      risk. Although mean eGFR declined by 4.2 ml/min/1.73 m(2) within the first week
      of dapagliflozin therapy, thereafter eGFR gradually recovered to baseline levels
      by 104 weeks (mean change from baseline +0.02 mL/min/1.73 m(2); 95%CI: -0.9,
      1.0). CONCLUSION: No meaningful increase in frequency of AEs of volume reduction
      occurred with dapagliflozin 10 mg in patients with T2DM, either overall, or in
      those at increased risk of these events. However, caution should nevertheless be
      exercised when prescribing dapagliflozin to elderly patients, those with reduced
      eGFR, and those receiving antihypertensive medication.

PMID- 26878358
TI  - Dieulafoy lesion of the gallbladder presenting with bleeding and a pseudo-mirizzi
      syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal bleeding can have significant morbidity and
      mortality. Pathological processes that cause it are diverse, and timely
      investigation and management are vital. Dieulafoy lesions are a rare cause of
      gastrointestinal bleeding and here we describe a case of a gallbladder dieulafoy
      lesion causing gastrointestinal bleeding. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Recently
      discharged from hospital following an open anterior resection and loop ileostomy
      for diverticular disease, an 84-year-old female re-presented with lower abdominal
      pain associated with jaundice and lymphocytosis. Imaging demonstrated two
      possible rectal stump collections (treated with antibiotics), and heterogeneous
      material in the gallbladder. The patient deteriorated, developing melena, coffee
      ground vomitus and right upper quadrant pain. Investigation sourced the bleeding
      to the gallbladder that resolved following cholecystectomy, and histopathology
      was consistent with a dieulafoy lesion. The patient made a full recovery.
      DISCUSSION: Dieulafoy lesions have rarely been reported in the gallbladder, and
      as such can be an occult source of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. It should
      be considered where gastrointestinal bleeding accompanies jaundice and abdominal
      pain. CONCLUSION: This case highlights that dieulafoy lesions can occur in the
      gallbladder. Massive gastrointestinal bleeding can occur within the gallbladder,
      and a gallbladder dieulafoy lesion should be considered as a potential cause of
      such, especially when a source has not been identified on endoscopy. It also
      demonstrates the effectiveness of cholecystectomy as a definitive management
      strategy.

PMID- 26878359
TI  - Nutrient removal by up-scaling a hybrid floating treatment bed (HFTB) using plant
      and periphyton: From laboratory tank to polluted river.
AB  - Planted floating treatment bed (FTB) is an innovative technique of removing
      nutrients from polluted water but limited in deep water and cold seasons.
      Periphyton was integrated into FTB for a hybrid floating treatment bed (HFTB) to
      improve its nutrient removal capacity. To assess its potential for treating
      nutrient-polluted rivers, HFTB was up-scaled from 5L laboratory tanks to 350L
      outdoor tanks and then to a commercial-scale 900m section of polluted river.
      Plants and periphyton interacted in HFTB with periphyton limiting plant root
      growth and plants having shading effects on periphyton. Non-overlapping
      distribution of plants and periphyton can minimize the negative interactions in
      HFTB. HFTB successfully kept TN and TP of the river at less than 2.0 and 0.02mgL(
      1), respectively. This study indicates that HFTB can be easily up-scaled for
      nutrients removal from polluted rivers in different seasons providing a long
      term, environmentally-friendly method to remediate polluted ecosystems. 

PMID- 26878360
TI  - Optimization of phenol degradation by the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa using
      Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology.
AB  - Statistical optimization designs were used to optimize the phenol degradation
      using Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The important factor influencing phenol degradation
      was identified by two-level Plackett-Burman Design (PBD) with five factors. PBD
      determined the following three factors as significant for phenol degradation viz.
      algal concentration, phenol concentration and reaction time. CCD and RSM were
      applied to optimize the significant factors identified from PBD. The results
      obtained from CCD indicated that the interaction between the concentration of
      algae and phenol, phenol concentration and reaction time and algal concentration
      and reaction time affect the phenol degradation (response) significantly. The
      predicted results showed that maximum phenol degradation of 97% could be achieved
      with algal concentration of 4g/L, phenol concentration of 0.8g/L and reaction
      time of 4days. The predicted values were in agreement with experimental values
      with coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 0.9973. The model was validated by
      subsequent experimentations at the optimized conditions. 

PMID- 26878361
TI  - Complementary surface charge for enhanced capacitive deionization.
AB  - Commercially available activated carbon cloth electrodes are treated using nitric
      acid and ethylenediamine solutions, resulting in chemical surface charge enhanced
      carbon electrodes for capacitive deionization (CDI) applications. Surface charge
      enhanced electrodes are then configured in a CDI cell to examine their salt
      removal at a fixed charging voltage and both reduced and opposite polarity
      discharge voltages, and subsequently compared to the salt removal of untreated
      electrodes. Substantially improved salt removal due to chemical surface charge
      and the use of a discharge voltage of opposite sign to the charging voltage is
      clearly demonstrated in these CDI cycling tests, an observation which for the
      first time validates both enhanced CDI and extended-voltage CDI effects predicted
      by the Donnan model [Biesheuvel et al., Colloids Interf. Sci. Comm.,
      10.1016/j.colcom.2015.12.001 (2016)]. Our experimental and theoretical results
      demonstrate that the use of carbon electrodes with optimized chemical surface
      charge can extend the CDI working voltage window through discharge voltages of
      opposite sign to the charging voltage, which can significantly enhance the salt
      adsorption capacity of CDI electrodes. Thus, in addition to carbon pore size
      distribution, chemical surface charge in carbon micropores is considered
      foundational for salt removal in CDI cells. 

PMID- 26878362
TI  - Role of Collagen Conduit With Duloxetine and/or Pregabalin in the Management of
      Partial Peripheral Nerve Injury.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of a
      collagen conduit (Neuragen, Integra LifeSciences Corp, Plainsboro, NJ) using
      duloxetine (Cymbalta, Lilly, Indianapolis, IN) with or without pregabalin
      (Lyrica, Pfizer, NY) on pain induced by partial sciatic nerve transection in a
      rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into
      5 groups (n = 10 per group): group 1, nerve damage with no treatment; group 2,
      nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and saline; group
      3, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and
      duloxetine; group 4, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen
      conduit and pregabalin; and group 5, nerve damage treated with the application of
      a collagen conduit and pregabalin plus duloxetine. Pain levels were evaluated by
      responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli at baseline before and 3 and 7 days
      after surgery. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels
      were evaluated in blood, sciatic nerve, and dorsal root ganglion samples
      collected 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: The group treated with the collagen
      conduit and pregabalin exhibited markedly less pain 7 days postoperatively in
      response to mechanical and thermal stimuli compared with the other groups. IL-10
      levels were considerably increased in the group treated with pregabalin. The
      groups treated with a collagen conduit and duloxetine and a combination of
      pregabalin and duloxetine also exhibited markedly less pain in response to
      mechanical and thermal stimuli 7 days after surgery compared with the group that
      had only nerve injury. The decrease in pain using duloxetine was not as robust
      but was associated with a decrease of TNF-alpha. The combination of pregabalin
      and duloxetine resulted in a substantial decrease in IL-6. CONCLUSION: Using a
      collagen conduit and duloxetine, pregabalin, and their combination helped
      alleviate neuropathic pain. The mechanism of action might be associated, at least
      in part, to cytokines.

PMID- 26878363
TI  - Lifelong Learning and Professional Development.

PMID- 26878364
TI  - Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Can Be Successfully Treated With TMJ Concepts
      Patient-Fitted Total Joint Prosthesis and Autogenous Fat Grafts.
AB  - PURPOSE: To measure and identify factors associated with treatment outcomes for
      patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis treated with TMJ Concepts
      patient-fitted total joint prostheses and autogenous fat grafts. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated records of patients with TMJ
      ankylosis from a single private practice, treated from 1992 to 2011, who met the
      following inclusion criteria: 1) radiographic evidence of bony ankylosis, 2)
      limited incisal opening, 3) minimum of 12 months' follow-up, and 4) treatment
      with TMJ Concepts (Ventura, CA)/Techmedica (Camarillo, CA) total joint prostheses
      and fat grafts. For each patient, the number of previous TMJ surgical procedures,
      as well as the estimated age of ankylosis onset, age at surgery, and length of
      postoperative follow-up, was recorded. Subjective evaluations were made with
      Likert-like scales (from 0 to 10) for 1) TMJ pain, 2) headache and facial pain,
      3) jaw function, 4) diet, and 5) disability. Objective evaluations included
      maximal incisal opening and excursion movements. Nonparametric statistics were
      used for analysis. RESULTS: There were 32 patients (22 female and 10 male
      patients) with 48 ankylosed TMJs (16 bilateral and 16 unilateral) in this study,
      with a mean age of 39 years (range, 11 to 68 years), 2 or more previous TMJ
      surgical procedures in 69%, and a mean follow-up period of 68 months (range, 12
      to 168 months). Trauma was the major etiology of TMJ ankylosis, occurring in 17
      of 32 patients (53%). The following improvements occurred: The median value for
      TMJ pain changed from 8.0 preoperatively to 1.5 at longest follow-up; headache,
      from 8 to 3.5; facial pain, from 8 to 4; jaw function, from 8 to 2.5; diet, from
      7 to 3; and disability, from 7 to 1.5. The median incisal opening was 14.5 mm
      (interquartile range, 6.3 to 20 mm) preoperatively and 35 mm (interquartile
      range, 30 to 40 mm) at longest follow-up. The median left lateral excursion
      improved from 0.5 to 2 mm, and the median right lateral excursion improved from 1
      to 1.3 mm. All of these improvements were highly significant (P < .001, Wilcoxon
      tests). Equally favorable outcomes were found in patients with 12 to 48 months of
      maximal follow-up and patients with more than 48 months of maximal follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of TMJ ankylosis with the TMJ Concepts patient-fitted
      total joint prosthesis in combination with fat grafting around the articulation
      area of the prosthesis is a viable and predictable method for improving pain
      levels, function, and quality of life, as well as prevention of reankylosis of
      the TMJ.

PMID- 26878365
TI  - Two-Step Reconstruction of Non-Marginal Auricular Defects.
AB  - PURPOSE: Auricular reconstruction is an extensively discussed topic in facial
      reconstructive surgery and poses an immense challenge to the reconstructive
      surgeon. This report describes a 2-stage technique to repair non-marginal full
      thickness defects of the auricle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients
      underwent surgery after partial to complete loss of the auricular concha using an
      improved and refined method. Tissue from the pre- and retroauricular regions was
      used to replace nonhelical auricular tissue loss in 2 surgical steps. All
      procedures were performed in an ambulatory setting using local anesthesia.
      RESULTS: All 13 patients (age range, 37 to 82 yr; mean age, 68 yr; 4 women and 9
      men) had excellent esthetic outcomes with low surgical morbidity and were
      satisfied with the achieved results. No flap necrosis was observed. Auricular
      vertical and horizontal dimensions changed minimally (0 to 4 mm). A tension-free
      closure of the donor-site defects could be achieved primarily. CONCLUSION: The
      present method uses 2 separate donor sites to reconstruct centrally located full
      thickness defects of the auricle. It is straightforward to perform, minimizes the
      surgical steps required, shows excellent outcomes, and allows easier closure of
      the donor site because of the distribution of the harvested tissue.

PMID- 26878366
TI  - Supported liquid extraction (SLE) for the analysis of methylamphetamine,
      methylenedioxymethylamphetamine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in oral fluid
      and blood of drivers.
AB  - Since 2006, the South Australian Government has been conducting roadside oral
      fluid testing of drivers for the illicit drugs methylamphetamine (MA),
      methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) and Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
      using the Securetec Drugwipe II Twin and Alere DDS 805 AP saliva collection kit.
      Forensic Science South Australia carries out the confirmatory analysis by LC/MS
      for the positive test results of oral fluid roadside testing along with the pre
      screened ELISA positive road traffic accident blood samples. The number of blood
      and oral fluid samples received in the laboratory has been steadily increasing
      during this time, and over 10,000 samples were received in 2014. The proportion
      of positive results from these samples has also been increasing over the decade
      of driver drug testing, and this data is presented. A simple and efficient method
      has been developed for the analysis of the three drugs using Biotage Isolute((r))
      SLE+ 96-well plates. Sample preparation included 1:1 dilution with a dilute
      ammonia solution for buffered oral fluids (1:3 dilution for blood samples), and
      addition of deuterated internal standards. Samples were loaded onto the phase,
      left to absorb for 5min then eluted with methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). The samples
      were evaporated and reconstituted in methanol. LC/MS analysis was performed on an
      AB Sciex 5500 Q-Trap in positive ion mode, monitoring 3 transitions for each
      analyte. Separation was achieved on a Restek Ultrabiphenyl 50*2.1mm column with a
      gradient system of acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid over 5min. Method validation and
      recoveries were carried out on drug free ante mortem blood and DDS buffer
      solution provided by Alere, Australia. Recoveries above 80% were achieved for MA
      and MDMA at a concentration of 25ng/mL, whilst recoveries of greater than 65%
      were achieved for THC at 4.5ng/mL. Accuracy and precision were acceptable down to
      the LLOQ for all three analytes (5, 5 and 1ng/mL for MA, MDMA and THC,
      respectively). Mean matrix effects were 1.0, 0.97 and 0.78 in DDS buffer and
      0.96, 0.96 and 0.62 in blood for MA, MDMA and THC, respectively. Linearity was
      achieved up to 1250ng/mL for MA and MDMA, and 112ng/mL for THC (r(2)>0.999 for
      all analytes). The method is designed for easy transfer to an automated liquid
      handling platform. 

PMID- 26878367
TI  - Activation of NADPH-recycling systems in leaves and roots of Arabidopsis thaliana
      under arsenic-induced stress conditions is accelerated by knock-out of Nudix
      hydrolase 19 (AtNUDX19) gene.
AB  - NADPH is an important cofactor in cell growth, proliferation and detoxification.
      Arabidopsis thaliana Nudix hydrolase 19 (AtNUDX19) belongs to a family of
      proteins defined by the conserved amino-acid sequence GX5-EX7REUXEEXGU which has
      the capacity to hydrolyze NADPH as a physiological substrate in vivo. Given the
      importance of NADPH in the cellular redox homeostasis of plants, the present
      study compares the responses of the main NADPH-recycling systems including NADP
      isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6
      phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and NADP-malic enzyme (ME) in the leaves
      and roots of Arabidopsis wild-type (Wt) and knock-out (KO) AtNUDX19 mutant
      (Atnudx19) plants under physiological and arsenic-induced stress conditions. Two
      major features were observed in the behavior of the main NADPH-recycling systems:
      (i) under optimal conditions in both organs, the levels of these activities were
      higher in nudx19 mutants than in Wt plants; and, (ii) under 500MUM AsV
      conditions, these activities increase, especially in nudx19 mutant plants.
      Moreover, G6PDH activity in roots was the most affected enzyme in both Wt and
      nudx19 mutant plants, with a 4.6-fold and 5.0-fold increase, respectively. In
      summary, the data reveals a connection between the absence of chloroplastic
      AtNUDX19 and the rise in all NADP-dehydrogenase activities under physiological
      and arsenic-induced stress conditions, particularly in roots. This suggests that
      AtNUDX19 could be a key factor in modulating the NADPH pool in plants and
      consequently in redox homeostasis. 

PMID- 26878368
TI  - The beneficial pleiotropic effects of tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis
      inducing ligand (TRAIL) within the vasculature: A review of the evidence.
AB  - Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a type II
      transmembrane protein that belongs to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine
      superfamily. TRAIL is expressed by numerous cell types including vascular cells,
      immune cells and adipocytes. Although originally thought to induce apoptosis in
      malignant or transformed cells only, it is now known that TRAIL can bind up to 5
      distinct receptors to activate complex signalling pathways, and is capable of
      exerting pleiotropic effects in non-transformed cells. In this respect, a number
      of clinical and animal studies point to the potential vasoprotective influence of
      TRAIL, with TRAIL deficiency being linked to accelerated atherosclerosis and
      vascular calcification. Moreover, exogenous TRAIL administration has been shown
      to exhibit anti-atherosclerotic activity in-vivo. In-vitro studies on TRAIL in
      this context have yielded conflicting results however, with evidence of both pro
      atherogenic and vasoprotective effects ascribed to TRAIL. Notwithstanding these
      various studies, mechanistic information on the precise nature of TRAIL-mediated
      injury/protection within the vasculature, as well as the identity of the
      downstream molecular/cellular targets of TRAIL, is still quite limited. In this
      review, we will summarize our current knowledge of TRAIL regulation, signalling
      mechanisms, and its apparent involvement in CVD pathogenesis as a prelude to
      examining the existing evidence for TRAIL-mediated vasoprotection. To this end,
      extensive in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies will be reviewed and critical
      findings highlighted.

PMID- 26878369
TI  - Porcine xenograft treatment of superficial partial-thickness burns in paediatric
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Porcine xenograft (PX) has become a valuable part of the armamentarium
      of treatment options in a US paediatric burn centre. The use in adult patients
      has been well described in the burn literature, but there is minimal literature
      describing its use in children. The objective of this article is to describe a
      three-years' experience with PX use in paediatric burns. METHOD: A retrospective
      medical record review of patients with superficial partial-thickness burns
      treated with PX admitted to a paediatric burn centre between February 2009 and
      November 2012. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients met the inclusion criteria. Burn
      total body surface area (TBSA) ranged from 0.5% to 28%. After the placement of
      PX, significant decreases were seen in the need for narcotic analgesics and burn
      dressing changes. Only four of 164 patients (2.4%) developed infections, although
      only one of these infections was at the site of the xenograft. CONCLUSION: PX
      appears to reduce pain and eliminate the need for procedural intravenous sedation
      in many patients. This can make burn wound care more child-friendly and shorten
      hospital length of stay. The complication rate is low and manageable. The authors
      believe that PX is an effective and safe treatment for superficial partial
      thickness burns in children. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: P. M.Glat, is a paid
      consultant and speaker for Molnlycke Health Care, the manufacturer of EZ Derm.

PMID- 26878370
TI  - The presence of biofilm structures in atherosclerotic plaques of arteries from
      legs amputated as a complication of diabetic foot ulcers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis, rather than microcirculatory impairment caused by
      endothelial cell dysfunction, is the main driver of circulatory compromise in
      patients with diabetic limbs. The presence of atherosclerotic plaque at the
      trifurcation is a significant contributor to amputation of diabetic legs. The
      presence of bacteria and other microorganisms in atherosclerotic plaque has long
      been known, however, the cause of chronic inflammation and the role of
      bacteria/viruses in atherosclerosis have not been studied in detail. The
      objective of this study was to clarify the cause of the chronic inflammation
      within atherosclerotic plaques, and determine if any bacteria and/or viruses are
      involved in the inflammatory pathway. METHOD: This study uses fluorescence
      microscopy and fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) to identify components
      of biofilm in atherosclerotic arteries. These tools are also used to identify
      individual bacteria, and determine the architectural spatial location within the
      atherosclerotic plaque where the bacteria can be found. RESULTS: The results
      indicate that the presence of biofilms in grossly involved arteries may be an
      important factor in chronic inflammatory pathways of atherosclerotic progression,
      in the amputated limbs of patients with diabetic foot ulcers and vascular
      disease. CONCLUSION: While the presence of bacterial biofilm structures in
      atherosclerotic plaque does not prove that biofilm is the proximate cause of
      atherosclerosis, it could contribute to the persistent inflammation associated
      with it. Second, the synergistic relationship between the atherosclerotic
      infection and the diabetic foot ulcer may ultimately contribute to higher
      amputation rates in diabetics. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: RAW and RDW have equity
      interest in PathoGenius, a clinical laboratory using DNA to identify microbes.

PMID- 26878371
TI  - Healing of chronic sickle cell disease-associated foot and ankle wounds using
      transdermal continuous oxygen therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex cause of capillary stasis that
      can lead to lower extremity venous ulcers. Since SCD is characterised by impaired
      oxygen delivery that can be exacerbated by lower extremity venous stasis, we
      sought to determine if direct delivery of oxygen to a lower extremity ulcer
      associated with SCD could augment healing. METHOD: We performed a pilot study of
      a portable device that delivers oxygen directly to the wound site to assess this
      possibility. The device was assessed in a single patient with three longstanding
      wounds of the lower extremities associated with SCD: the lateral right ankle, the
      medial aspect of the distal left leg, and the dorsal left foot. The left leg and
      left foot wounds received 15 weeks of treatment each. RESULTS: Both left lower
      extremity wounds healed, and neither wound has relapsed in the 42 months since
      the treatment was completed. At 36 months from the completion of treatment, the
      patient presented to the hospital with renal failure, and with the 27 days of
      complete bed rest and wound elevation, the right ankle wound shrunk to 55% of the
      original wound surface area. Transdermal oxygen appears to have assisted in
      healing and to have provided a sustained benefit that has delayed relapse of the
      two SCD-associated leg ulcers that received an extended course of treatment.
      Similarly, complete bed rest appears to aid in the healing of SCD-associated leg
      ulcers. Further study is needed to determine the mechanism of action and the
      optimal method of use of the transdermal continuous oxygen delivery device for
      SCD-associated lower extremity ulcers. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: No competing
      financial interests exist for any author. The content of this article was
      expressly written by the authors listed. No ghostwriters were used to write this
      article.

PMID- 26878373
TI  - Challenging present concepts in compression therapy: static stiffness index is
      not consistent and not clinically relevant.
AB  - Once a circumferential force is delivered to a limb by a compression device,
      assuming the tension within the device remains constant, any change in the total
      force is dependent upon a change in circumference of the limb, with the rate of
      change (excluding fabric creep) being dependent on the stress strain curve of the
      device. This article addresses the pre-conceived and well-accepted principle that
      interface compression delivered by a compression device substantially increases
      with the position of the limb, based on the positions of sitting (non-weight
      bearing) to standing and/or during muscle activity (ankle dorsiflexion). Using
      engineering parameters and clinical measurements, the authors demonstrate that
      changes in interface pressure are minimal if any, and that the current concept
      should be modified accordingly. Declaration of interest: This study was sponsored
      by Carolon. L. Reid, and S. Kravitz are employees of Carolon. M. Hegarty-Craver
      has received monetary compensation as a researcher for Carolon.

PMID- 26878374
TI  - Medications for Meniere's disease?

PMID- 26878375
TI  - Pooled analysis of the evidence for open cavity, combined approach and
      reconstruction of the mastoid cavity in primary cholesteatoma surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cholesteatoma is keratinising epithelium within the middle-ear cleft
      or mastoid. This disease destroys the peripheral organs of balance and hearing,
      with possible intracranial sequelae. The management of cholesteatoma is surgical
      and the primary aim is to remove the disease and prevent recurrence. Secondary
      aims are to obtain a non-discharging, hearing ear. Cholesteatoma surgery falls
      into two broad categories: open cavity surgery and combined approach surgery. A
      third surgical category is reconstruction of an open mastoid cavity after open
      surgery. This study performed a pooled analysis of the worldwide literature to
      compare the rates of cholesteatoma not being cured (i.e. recidivism), ear
      discharge and hearing change among open cavity, combined approach and
      reconstruction mastoid surgery for primary cholesteatoma. METHODS: A literature
      search for all types of cholesteatoma surgery in the PubMed, Google Scholar and
      Medline databases and in published conference proceedings was undertaken.
      RESULTS: There was no level 1 evidence for the best method of primary
      cholesteatoma surgery. The highest evidence level found (level 2; 5366 patients)
      shows no difference in hearing change or discharge rate between open and combined
      approach surgery; however, these methods fail to cure the cholesteatomas in 16.0
      per cent and 29.4 per cent of cases, respectively. In a total of 640 patients,
      reconstruction and/or repair mastoid surgery using a variety of non-comparable
      techniques had a failure rate of between 5.3 per cent and 20 per cent.
      CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests that reconstruction of the posterior
      canal wall and/or obliteration of the mastoid may be the best surgical treatment
      alternative. This technique appears to provide the lowest recidivism rate
      combined with a low post-operative ear discharge rate.

PMID- 26878376
TI  - You can't pay me to quit: the failure of financial incentives for smoking
      cessation in head and neck cancer patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A prospective randomised study was conducted at a tertiary care
      hospital to evaluate the effects of financial incentives for smoking cessation
      targeted at a high-risk population. METHODS: Patients with a past history of head
      and neck cancer were voluntarily enrolled over a two-year period. They were
      randomised to a cash incentives or no incentive group. Subjects were offered
      enrolment in smoking cessation courses. Smoking by-product levels were assessed
      at 30 days, 3 months and 6 months. Subjects in the incentive group received $150
      if smoking cessation was confirmed. RESULTS: Over 2 years, 114 patients with an
      established diagnosis of head and neck cancer were offered enrolment. Twenty-four
      enrolled and 14 attended the smoking cessation classes. Only two successfully
      quit smoking at six months. Both these patients were in the financially
      incentivised group and received $150 at each test visit. CONCLUSION: Providing a
      financial incentive for smoking cessation to a population already carrying a
      diagnosis of head and neck cancer in order to promote a positive behaviour change
      was unsuccessful.

PMID- 26878377
TI  - Outcome evaluation of clarithromycin, metronidazole and lansoprazole regimens in
      Helicobacter pylori positive or negative children with resistant otitis media
      with effusion.

PMID- 26878378
TI  - Double seal technique to obliterate the eustachian tube orifice: a novel method
      for the treatment of recalcitrant cerebrospinal fluid leak.

PMID- 26878379
TI  - Choosing the safest acute therapy during chronic migraine prophylactic treatment:
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Drugs used in the treatment of migraine have been reported to be
      highly associated with the occurrence of clinically significant drug-drug
      interactions (DDIs). Multiple drug therapy regimens are used for migraine
      treatment, particularly for chronic migraine. In fact, additional pharmacological
      agents are usually administered during an acute migraine attack in patients
      chronically treated with the prophylactic therapy. The variety of drugs available
      for migraine prophylactic and acute treatment, and consequently their
      pharmacological interactions, might complicate the choice of a safe combination
      therapy. AREAS COVERED: This study discusses the prophylactic-acute DDIs from a
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic perspective, particularly interactions
      between antiepileptic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, calcium
      channel blockers, triptans, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ergot
      derivatives. The available online tools have been used to evaluate the clinically
      significant DDIs. EXPERT OPINION: The interactions between different drugs might
      be accurately predicted by the huge and detailed knowledge about the molecular
      pathways involved in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Pharmacogenomic
      research has shed further light onto the mechanisms involved in the inter
      individual variation in drug response and DDIs. Based on this knowledge, this
      paper will provide suggestions to improve the appropriateness of the drug choice
      in the prescription of preventative and acute migraine medications.

PMID- 26878380
TI  - Switching on After Nine: Black gay-identified men's perceptions of sexual
      identities and partnerships in South African towns.
AB  - There is considerable diversity, fluidity and complexity in the expressions of
      sexuality and gender among men who have sex with men (MSM). Some non-gay
      identified MSM are known colloquially by gay-identified men in Mpumalanga,
      Province, South Africa, as 'After-Nines' because they do not identify as gay and
      present as straight during the day but also have sex with other men at night.
      Based on, key informant interviews and focus group discussions in two districts
      in Mpumalanga, we explored Black gay-identified men's perceptions of and
      relationships with After-Nine men, focusing on sexual and gender identities and
      their social consequences. Gay-identified men expressed ambivalence about their
      After-Nine partners, desiring them for their masculinity, yet often feeling
      dissatisfied and exploited in their relationships with them. The exchange of sex
      for commodities, especially alcohol, was common. Gay men's characterisation of
      After-Nines as men who ignore them during the day but have sex with them at night
      highlights the diversity of how same-sex practicing men perceive themselves and
      their sexual partners. Sexual health promotion programmes targeting 'MSM' must
      understand this diversity to effectively support the community in developing
      strategies for reaching and engaging different groups of gay and non-gay
      identified men.

PMID- 26878381
TI  - Simultaneous fast measurement of circuit dynamics at multiple sites across the
      mammalian brain.
AB  - Real-time activity measurements from multiple specific cell populations and
      projections are likely to be important for understanding the brain as a dynamical
      system. Here we developed frame-projected independent-fiber photometry (FIP),
      which we used to record fluorescence activity signals from many brain regions
      simultaneously in freely behaving mice. We explored the versatility of the FIP
      microscope by quantifying real-time activity relationships among many brain
      regions during social behavior, simultaneously recording activity along multiple
      axonal pathways during sensory experience, performing simultaneous two-color
      activity recording, and applying optical perturbation tuned to elicit dynamics
      that match naturally occurring patterns observed during behavior. 

PMID- 26878384
TI  - How self-reflection and self-certainty are related to neurocognitive functioning:
      an examination of cognitive insight in bipolar disorder.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The pattern of associations between clinical insight, cognitive
      insight, and neurocognitive functioning was assessed in bipolar disorder
      patients. METHODS: Data from 42 bipolar disorder patients were examined.
      Cognitive insight was measured using the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS). The
      BCIS is a 15-item self-report instrument consisting of two subscales, self
      reflectiveness and self-certainty. Clinical insight was measured by the use of
      the item G12 of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Neurocognitive
      functioning was assessed using the International Society for Bipolar Disorders
      Battery for Assessment of Neurocognition. RESULTS: Correlation analyses revealed
      significant positive associations between self-reflectiveness and speed of
      processing, attention, working memory, visual learning, and reasoning and problem
      solving. The subscale self-certainty was negatively correlated to working memory,
      however, this correlation disappeared when we controlled for confounding
      variables. No correlations between clinical insight and neurocognition were
      found. In addition, there was no association between cognitive insight and
      clinical insight. CONCLUSION: Better neurocognitive functioning was more related
      to higher levels of self-reflectiveness than to diminished self-certainty.

PMID- 26878383
TI  - Apollo-NADP(+): a spectrally tunable family of genetically encoded sensors for
      NADP(+).
AB  - NADPH-dependent antioxidant pathways have a critical role in scavenging hydrogen
      peroxide (H2O2) produced by oxidative phosphorylation. Inadequate scavenging
      results in H2O2 accumulation and can cause disease. To measure NADPH/NADP(+)
      redox states, we explored genetically encoded sensors based on steady-state
      fluorescence anisotropy due to FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)
      between homologous fluorescent proteins (homoFRET); we refer to these sensors as
      Apollo sensors. We created an Apollo sensor for NADP(+) (Apollo-NADP(+)) that
      exploits NADP(+)-dependent homodimerization of enzymatically inactive glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). This sensor is reversible, responsive to glucose
      stimulated metabolism and spectrally tunable for compatibility with many other
      sensors. We used Apollo-NADP(+) to study beta cells responding to oxidative
      stress and demonstrated that NADPH is significantly depleted before H2O2
      accumulation by imaging a Cerulean-tagged version of Apollo-NADP(+) with the H2O2
      sensor HyPer. 

PMID- 26878382
TI  - Single-molecule imaging of non-equilibrium molecular ensembles on the millisecond
      timescale.
AB  - Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy is uniquely suited for detecting
      transient molecular recognition events, yet achieving the time resolution and
      statistics needed to realize this potential has proven challenging. Here we
      present a single-molecule imaging and analysis platform using scientific
      complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) detectors that enables imaging of
      15,000 individual molecules simultaneously at millisecond rates. This system
      enabled the detection of previously obscured processes relevant to the fidelity
      mechanism in protein synthesis. 

PMID- 26878385
TI  - mTOR inhibition decreases SOX2-SOX9 mediated glioma stem cell activity and
      temozolomide resistance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: SOX2 and SOX9 are commonly overexpressed in glioblastoma, and
      regulate the activity of glioma stem cells (GSCs). Their specific and overlapping
      roles in GSCs and glioma treatment remain unclear. METHODS: SOX2 and SOX9 levels
      were examined in human biopsies. Gain and loss of function determined the impact
      of altering SOX2 and SOX9 on cell proliferation, senescence, stem cell activity,
      tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. RESULTS: SOX2 and SOX9 expression correlates
      positively in glioma cells and glioblastoma biopsies. High levels of SOX2 bypass
      cellular senescence and promote resistance to temozolomide. Mechanistic
      investigations revealed that SOX2 acts upstream of SOX9. mTOR genetic and
      pharmacologic (rapamycin) inhibition decreased SOX2 and SOX9 expression, and
      reversed chemoresistance. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal SOX2-SOX9 as an
      oncogenic axis that regulates stem cell properties and chemoresistance. We
      identify that rapamycin abrogate SOX protein expression and provide evidence that
      a combination of rapamycin and temozolomide inhibits tumor growth in cells with
      high SOX2/SOX9.

PMID- 26878386
TI  - A serum-circulating long noncoding RNA signature can discriminate between
      patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma and healthy controls.
AB  - Serum biomarkers have not been fully incorporated into clinical use for the
      diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The recent discovery of long noncoding
      RNAs (lncRNAs), which have been reported in a variety of cancer types, suggested
      a promising new class of biomarkers for tumour diagnosis. The aim of our study
      was to evaluate whether the levels of circulating lncRNAs could be used as a
      tumour marker to discriminate between clear cell RCC (ccRCC) patients and healthy
      controls. Serum samples were collected from 71 ccRCC patients including 62 age-
      and sex-matched healthy controls and 8 patients with benign renal tumours. Eighty
      two cancer-associated lncRNAs were assessed by reverse transcription and
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction in paired tissues and serum. A 5-lncRNA
      signature, including lncRNA-LET, PVT1, PANDAR, PTENP1 and linc00963, were
      identified and validated in the training set and testing set, respectively. The
      receiver operating characteristic curves for this serum 5-lncRNA signature were
      0.900 and 0.823 for the two sets of serum samples. Moreover, five-minus-one
      lncRNA signatures demonstrated that none of the lncRNAs had a higher area under
      the curve than the others in either set. A risk model for the serum 5-lncRNA
      signature also determined that benign renal tumours can be distinguished from
      ccRCC samples. This work may facilitate the detection of ccRCC and serve as the
      basis for further studies of the clinical value of serum lncRNAs in maintaining
      surveillance and forecasting prognosis. 

PMID- 26878388
TI  - Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in individual breast cancer
      patient and application in personalized medicine.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have key roles in breast cancer progression, and their
      expression levels are heterogeneous across individual breast cancer patients.
      Traditional methods aim to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in
      populations rather than in individuals and are affected by the expression
      intensities of miRNAs in different experimental batches or platforms. Thus it is
      urgent to conduct miRNA differential expression analysis at an individual level
      for further personalized medicine research. We proposed a straightforward method
      to determine the differential expression of each miRNA in an individual patient
      by utilizing the reversal expression order of miRNA pairs between two conditions
      (cancer and normal tissue). We applied our method to breast cancer miRNA
      expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas and two other independent data
      sets. In total, 292 miRNAs were differentially expressed in individual breast
      cancer patients. Using the differential expression profile of miRNAs in
      individual patients, we found that the deregulations of miRNA tend to occur in
      specific breast cancer subtypes. We investigated the coordination effect between
      the miRNA and its target, based on the hypothesis that one gene function can be
      changed by copy number alterations of the corresponding gene or deregulation of
      the miRNA. We revealed that patients exhibiting an upregulation of hsa-miR-92b
      and patients with deletions of PTEN did not tend to overlap, and hsa-miR-92b and
      PTEN coordinately regulated the pathway of 'cell cycle' and so on. Moreover, we
      discovered a new prognostic signature, hsa-miR-29c, whose downregulation was
      associated with poor survival of breast cancer patients. 

PMID- 26878387
TI  - Dietary and pharmacological modification of the insulin/IGF-1 system: exploiting
      the full repertoire against cancer.
AB  - As more and more links between cancer and metabolism are discovered, new
      approaches to treat cancer using these mechanisms are considered. Dietary
      restriction of either calories or macronutrients has shown great potential in
      animal studies to both reduce the incidence and growth of cancer, and to act
      synergistically with other treatment strategies. These studies have also shown
      that dietary restriction simultaneously targets many of the molecular pathways
      that are targeted individually by anticancer drugs. The insulin/insulin-like
      growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system has thereby emerged as a key regulator of cancer
      growth pathways. Although lowering of insulin levels with diet or drugs such as
      metformin and diazoxide seems generally beneficial, some practitioners also
      utilize strategic elevations of insulin levels in combination with
      chemotherapeutic drugs. This indicates a broad spectrum of possibilities for
      modulating the insulin/IGF-1 system in cancer treatment. With a specific focus on
      dietary restriction, insulin administration and the insulin-lowering drug
      diazoxide, such modifications of the insulin/IGF-1 system are the topic of this
      review. Although preclinical data are promising, we point out that insulin
      regulation and the metabolic response to a certain diet often differ between mice
      and humans. Thus, the need for collecting more human data has to be emphasized. 

PMID- 26878392
TI  - The role of mental health and self-efficacy in the pain experience of patients
      with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - Complex interactions between pain, depression, and anxiety impact quality of life
      in patients with ALS. Psychological approaches to pain control may be useful.
      This study explored the role of self-efficacy in mitigating pain. Individuals
      registered with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry National ALS
      Registry and who experienced pain were invited to participate in an online
      survey. Subjects completed the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, Hospital Anxiety
      and Depression Scale, and Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale. Correlations between
      variables were determined. Multiple linear regression models assessed
      relationships between depression, anxiety and self-efficacy predictions, and pain
      severity, interference, and relief. Results recorded that there were 197
      participants (58% males, mean age 59 +/- 10 years). Cases or borderline cases of
      depression or anxiety were common. Mean levels of pain were moderate. Higher pain
      self-efficacy scores predicted lower pain severity, lower pain interference, and
      higher pain relief with treatment. As depression scores increased, pain
      interference with daily life was higher. In conclusion, anxiety and depression
      are common in patients with ALS and pain. Self-efficacy appears to mitigate pain.
      A multifactorial approach to pain management should be considered in these
      patients, addressing mental health and self-efficacy to augment pharmacologic
      pain treatments. 

PMID- 26878390
TI  - Gain of function of mutant p53: R282W on the peak?
AB  - Mutant p53 proteins commonly lose their tumor suppression function and gain novel
      oncogenic functions (gain of function (GOF)). Different p53 mutations are often
      considered in one class in biological and clinical studies. However, recent
      studies have revealed that p53 mutations are biologically and clinically
      distinct. The R282W mutant associates with earlier onset of familial cancers and
      poorer outcome of cancer patients, suggesting a more prominent GOF effect of this
      specific mutant. Here we discuss our current understanding on the multifaceted
      effects of R282W mutation, including its structural features, signaling pathways
      and clinical implications. The destabilizing nature, aggregation proneness,
      altered transcriptome and interactome may collaboratively contribute to the
      unique phenotype of R282W mutation. The quest for mechanistic insights into the
      unique GOF effects of R282W mutation would further our understanding of the
      biology of mutant proteins in cancers, and enforce the development of more
      effective targeted therapies. 

PMID- 26878391
TI  - MiR-125a promotes paclitaxel sensitivity in cervical cancer through altering
      STAT3 expression.
AB  - Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common malignancies in women. Paclitaxel
      is the front-line chemotherapeutic agent for treating CC. However, its
      therapeutic efficacy is limited because of chemoresistance, the mechanism of
      which remains poorly understood. Here, we used microRNA (miRNA) arrays to compare
      miRNA expression levels in the CC cell lines, HeLa and CaSki, with their
      paclitaxel resistance counterparts, HeLa/PR and CaSki/PR. We demonstrate that miR
      125a was one of most significantly downregulated miRNAs in paclitaxel-resistant
      cells, which also acquired cisplatin resistance. And that the upregulation of miR
      125a sensitized HeLa/PR and CaSki/PR cells to paclitaxel both in vitro and in
      vivo and to cisplatin in vitro. Moreover, we determined that miR-125a increased
      paclitaxel and cisplatin sensitivity by downregulating STAT3. MiR-125a enhanced
      paclitaxel and cisplatin sensitivity by promoting chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
      Clinically, miR-125a expression was associated with an increased responsiveness
      to paclitaxel combined with cisplatin and a more favorable outcome. These data
      indicate that miR-125a may be a useful method to enable treatment of
      chemoresistant CC and may also provide a biomarker for predicting paclitaxel and
      cisplatin responsiveness in CC. 

PMID- 26878389
TI  - Diet-induced alteration of fatty acid synthase in prostate cancer progression.
AB  - Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a cytosolic metabolic enzyme that catalyzes de novo
      fatty acid synthesis. A high-fat diet (HFD) is attributed to prostate cancer
      (PCa) progression, but the role FASN on HFD-mediated PCa progression remains
      unclear. We investigated the role of FASN on PCa progression in LNCaP xenograft
      mice fed with HFD or low-fat diet (LFD), in PCa cells, and in clinical PCa. The
      HFD promoted tumour growth and FASN expression in the LNCaP xenograft mice. HFD
      resulted in AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and 5'
      adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inactivation. Serum FASN
      levels were significantly lower in the HFD group (P=0.026) and correlated
      inversely with tumour volume (P=0.022). Extracellular FASN release was enhanced
      in the PCa cells with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/mitogen-activated
      protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition and AMPK signalling activation. FASN inhibition
      resulted in decrease of PCa cell proliferation through PI3K/MAPK downregulation
      and AMPK activation. Furthermore, AMPK activation was associated with FASN
      downregulation and PI3K/MAPK inactivation. Clinically, high FASN expression was
      significantly associated with high Gleason scores and advanced pathological T
      stage. Moreover, FASN expression was markedly decreased in the PCa response to
      androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapy. HFD modulates FASN expression,
      which may be an important mechanism in HFD-associated PCa progression.
      Furthermore, a critical stimulatory loop exists between FASN and the PI3K/MAPK
      system, whereas AMPK signalling was associated with suppression. These may offer
      appropriate targets for chemoprevention and cancer therapy in HFD-induced PCa. 

PMID- 26878393
TI  - Why you need to include human factors in clinical and empirical studies of in
      vitro point of care devices? Review and future perspectives.
AB  - Use of in-vitro point of care devices - intended as tests performed out of
      laboratories and near patient - is increasing in clinical environments.
      International standards indicate that interaction assessment should not end after
      the product release, yet human factors methods are frequently not included in
      clinical and empirical studies of these devices. Whilst the literature confirms
      some advantages of bed-side tests compared to those in laboratories there is a
      lack of knowledge of the risks associated with their use. This article provides a
      review of approaches applied by clinical researchers to model the use of in-vitro
      testing. Results suggest that only a few studies have explored human factor
      approaches. Furthermore, when researchers investigated people-device interaction
      these were predominantly limited to qualitative and not standardised approaches.
      The methodological failings and limitations of these studies, identified by us,
      demonstrate the growing need to integrate human factors methods in the medical
      field. 

PMID- 26878395
TI  - Uterine torsion, a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in the third trimester of
      pregnancy: A case report.

PMID- 26878396
TI  - Extracellular matrix scaffolding guides lumen elongation by inducing anisotropic
      intercellular mechanical tension.
AB  - The de novo formation of secretory lumens plays an important role during
      organogenesis. It involves the establishment of a cellular apical pole and the
      elongation of luminal cavities. The molecular parameters controlling cell
      polarization have been heavily scrutinized. In particular, signalling from the
      extracellular matrix (ECM) proved essential to the proper localization of the
      apical pole by directed protein transport. However, little is known about the
      regulation of the shape and the directional development of lumen into tubes. We
      demonstrate that the spatial scaffolding of cells by ECM can control tube shapes
      and can direct their elongation. We developed a minimal organ approach comprising
      of hepatocyte doublets cultured in artificial microniches to precisely control
      the spatial organization of cellular adhesions in three dimensions. This approach
      revealed a mechanism by which the spatial repartition of integrin-based adhesion
      can elicit an anisotropic intercellular mechanical stress guiding the osmotically
      driven elongation of lumens in the direction of minimal tension. This mechanical
      guidance accounts for the different morphologies of lumen in various
      microenvironmental conditions.

PMID- 26878398
TI  - Cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles: optimization and evaluation for ocular
      delivery of tropicamide.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of cubic liquid
      crystalline nanoparticles for ocular delivery of tropicamide. Ultrasound-assisted
      fragmentation of cubic liquid crystalline bulk phases resulted in cubic liquid
      crystalline nanoparticles employing Pluronic F127 as dispersant. The effects of
      process variables such as sonication time, sonication amplitude, sonication
      depth, and pre-mixing time on particle size and polydispersity index was
      investigated using central composite design. The morphology of tropicamide-loaded
      nanoparticles was found to be nearly cubical in shape by transmission electron
      microscopy observation. Further, small angle X-ray scattering experiment
      confirmed the presence of D and P phase cubic structures in coexistence. The
      optimized tropicamide-loaded cubic nanoparticles showed in vitro corneal
      permeation of tropicamide across isolated porcine cornea comparable to its
      commercial preparation, Tropicacyl(r). Ocular tolerance was evaluated by Hen's
      egg-chorioallantoic membrane test and histological studies. The results of in
      vivo mydriatic response study demonstrated a remarkably higher area under
      mydriatic response curve (AUC0->1440 min) values of cubic nanoparticles over
      Tropicacyl(r) indicating better therapeutic value of cubic nanoparticles.
      Furthermore, tropicamide-loaded cubic nanoparticles exhibited prolonged mydriatic
      effect on rabbits as compared to commercial conventional aqueous ophthalmic
      solution.

PMID- 26878397
TI  - Time trends in axilla management among early breast cancer patients: Persisting
      major variation in clinical practice across European centers.
AB  - Background We examined time trends in axilla management among patients with early
      breast cancer in European clinical settings. Material and methods EUROCANPlatform
      partners, including population-based and cancer center-specific registries,
      provided routinely available clinical cancer registry data for a comparative
      study of axillary management trends among patients with first non-metastatic
      breast cancer who were not selected for neoadjuvant therapy during the last
      decade. We used an additional short questionnaire to compare clinical care
      patterns in 2014. Results Patients treated in cancer centers were younger than
      population-based registry populations. Tumor size and lymph node status
      distributions varied little between settings or over time. In 2003, sentinel
      lymph node biopsy (SLNB) use varied between 26% and 81% for pT1 tumors, and
      between 2% and 68% for pT2 tumors. By 2010, SLNB use increased to 79-96% and 49
      92% for pT1 and pT2 tumors, respectively. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)
      use for pT1 tumors decreased from between 75% and 27% in 2003 to 47% and 12% in
      2010, and from between 90% and 55% to 79% and 19% for pT2 tumors, respectively.
      In 2014, important differences in axillary management existed for patients with
      micrometastases only, and for patients fulfilling the ACOSOG Z0011 criteria for
      omitting ALND. Conclusion This study demonstrates persisting differences in
      important aspects of axillary management throughout the recent decade. The
      results highlight the need for international comparative patterns of care studies
      in oncology, which may help to identify areas where further studies and consensus
      building may be necessary. 

PMID- 26878399
TI  - The Effect of Nasal Septal Perforation and its Treatment on Objective Sleep and
      Breathing Parameters.
AB  - BACKGROUND Nasal septal perforation (NSP) may alter nasal airflow patterns and
      physiology. To the best of our knowledge, no studies in the English literature
      have investigated the effect of NSP and its treatment on polysomnographic
      parameters. In this study, we aimed to investigate polysomnographic parameters in
      patients with NSP as well as changes in those parameters after treatment of NSP.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS Nineteen patients diagnosed with NSP were included in the
      study. All patients had baseline and post-procedure polysomnographies (PSG) after
      insertion of silicone septal button for closure of NSP. RESULTS Both median AHI
      [5.30 (14.40) vs. 2.40 (14.50)] and median supine AHI [10.00 (42.10) vs. 6.60
      (37.00)] decreased after correction of the perforation. There was a large
      reduction in median supine AHI in patients with a perforation size >66 mm2 [10.10
      (34.15) vs. 1.60 (28.30)]. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that NSP did not cause any
      deterioration in objective sleep parameters as determined by PSG, other than a
      decrease in REM sleep duration and an increase in supine AHI. Correction of NSP
      did not affect REM duration and supine AHI decreased after treatment. 

PMID- 26878400
TI  - Open retropubic colposuspension for urinary incontinence in women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a common and potentially debilitating
      problem. Open retropubic colposuspension is a surgical treatment which involves
      lifting the tissues near the bladder neck and proximal urethra in the area behind
      the anterior pubic bones to correct deficient urethral closure to correct stress
      urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVES: The review aimed to determine the effects of
      open retropubic colposuspension for the treatment of urinary incontinence in
      women. A secondary aim was to assess the safety of open retropubic
      colposuspension in terms of adverse events caused by the procedure. SEARCH
      METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register, which
      contains trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE in process, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and
      handsearching of journals and conference proceedings (searched 5 May 2015), and
      the reference lists of relevant articles. We contacted investigators to locate
      extra studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled
      trials in women with symptoms or urodynamic diagnoses of stress or mixed urinary
      incontinence that included open retropubic colposuspension surgery in at least
      one trial group. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Studies were evaluated for
      methodological quality or susceptibility to bias and appropriateness for
      inclusion and data extracted by two of the review authors. Trial data were
      analysed by intervention. Where appropriate, a summary statistic was calculated.
      MAIN RESULTS: This review included 55 trials involving a total of 5417
      women.Overall cure rates were 68.9% to 88.0% for open retropubic colposuspension.
      Two small studies suggested lower incontinence rates after open retropubic
      colposuspension compared with conservative treatment. Similarly, one trial
      suggested lower incontinence rates after open retropubic colposuspension compared
      to anticholinergic treatment. Evidence from six trials showed a lower
      incontinence rate after open retropubic colposuspension than after anterior
      colporrhaphy. Such benefit was maintained over time (risk ratio (RR) for
      incontinence 0.46; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.72 before the first year, RR 0.37; 95% CI
      0.27 to 0.51 at one to five years, RR 0.49; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.75 in periods beyond
      five years).Evidence from 22 trials in comparison with suburethral slings
      (traditional slings or trans-vaginal tape or transobturator tape) found no
      overall significant difference in incontinence rates in all time periods
      evaluated (as assessed subjectively RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.18, within one year
      of treatment, RR 1.18; 95%CI 1.01 to 1.39 between one and five years, RR 1.11;
      95% CI 0.97 to 1.27 at five years and more, and as assessed objectively RR 1.24;
      95% CI 0.93 to 1.67 within one year of treatment, RR 1.12; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.54
      for one to five years follow up, RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.30 to 1.64 at more than five
      years). However, subgroup analysis of studies comparing traditional slings and
      open colposuspension showed better effectiveness with traditional slings in the
      medium and long term (RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.64 from one to five years follow
      up, RR 1.19; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.37).In comparison with needle suspension, there was
      a lower incontinence rate after colposuspension in the first year after surgery
      (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.03), after the first year (RR 0.56; 95% CI 0.39 to
      0.81), and beyond five years (RR 0.32; 95% CI 15 to 0.71).Patient-reported
      incontinence rates at short, medium and long-term follow-up showed no significant
      differences between open and laparoscopic retropubic colposuspension, but with
      wide confidence intervals. In two trials incontinence was less common after the
      Burch (RR 0.38; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.76) than after the Marshall Marchetti Krantz
      procedure at one to five year follow-up. There were few data at any other follow
      up times.In general, the evidence available does not show a higher morbidity or
      complication rate with open retropubic colposuspension compared to the other open
      surgical techniques, although pelvic organ prolapse is more common than after
      anterior colporrhaphy and sling procedures. Voiding problems are also more common
      after sling procedures compared to open colposuspension. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
      Open retropubic colposuspension is an effective treatment modality for stress
      urinary incontinence especially in the long term. Within the first year of
      treatment, the overall continence rate is approximately 85% to 90%. After five
      years, approximately 70% of women can expect to be dry. Newer minimal access
      sling procedures look promising in comparison with open colposuspension but their
      long-term performance is limited and closer monitoring of their adverse event
      profile must be carried out. Open colposuspension is associated with a higher
      risk of pelvic organ prolapse compared to sling operations and anterior
      colporrhaphy, but with a lower risk of voiding dysfunction compared to
      traditional sling surgery. Laparoscopic colposuspension should allow speedier
      recovery but its relative safety and long-term effectiveness is not yet known.

PMID- 26878401
TI  - Vasopressors for hypotensive shock.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Initial goal-directed resuscitation for hypotensive shock usually
      includes administration of intravenous fluids, followed by initiation of
      vasopressors. Despite obvious immediate effects of vasopressors on haemodynamics,
      their effect on patient-relevant outcomes remains controversial. This review was
      published originally in 2004 and was updated in 2011 and again in 2016.
      OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to compare the effect of one vasopressor regimen
      (vasopressor alone, or in combination) versus another vasopressor regimen on
      mortality in critically ill participants with shock. We further aimed to
      investigate effects on other patient-relevant outcomes and to assess the
      influence of bias on the robustness of our effect estimates. SEARCH METHODS: We
      searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2015 Issue
      6), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PASCAL BioMed, CINAHL, BIOSIS and PsycINFO (from inception
      to June 2015). We performed the original search in November 2003. We also asked
      experts in the field and searched meta-registries to identify ongoing trials.
      SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing various
      vasopressor regimens for hypotensive shock. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two
      review authors abstracted data independently. They discussed disagreements
      between them and resolved differences by consulting with a third review author.
      We used a random-effects model to combine quantitative data. MAIN RESULTS: We
      identified 28 RCTs (3497 participants) with 1773 mortality outcomes. Six
      different vasopressors, given alone or in combination, were studied in 12
      different comparisons.All 28 studies reported mortality outcomes; 12 studies
      reported length of stay. Investigators reported other morbidity outcomes in a
      variable and heterogeneous way. No data were available on quality of life nor on
      anxiety and depression outcomes. We classified 11 studies as having low risk of
      bias for the primary outcome of mortality; only four studies fulfilled all trial
      quality criteria.In summary, researchers reported no differences in total
      mortality in any comparisons of different vasopressors or combinations in any of
      the pre-defined analyses (evidence quality ranging from high to very low). More
      arrhythmias were observed in participants treated with dopamine than in those
      treated with norepinephrine (high-quality evidence). These findings were
      consistent among the few large studies and among studies with different levels of
      within-study bias risk. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of substantial
      differences in total mortality between several vasopressors. Dopamine increases
      the risk of arrhythmia compared with norepinephrine and might increase mortality.
      Otherwise, evidence of any other differences between any of the six vasopressors
      examined is insufficient. We identified low risk of bias and high-quality
      evidence for the comparison of norepinephrine versus dopamine and moderate to
      very low-quality evidence for all other comparisons, mainly because single
      comparisons occasionally were based on only a few participants. Increasing
      evidence indicates that the treatment goals most often employed are of limited
      clinical value. Our findings suggest that major changes in clinical practice are
      not needed, but that selection of vasopressors could be better individualised and
      could be based on clinical variables reflecting hypoperfusion.

PMID- 26878402
TI  - Effect of Alkyl Group on MxOy(-) + ROH (M = Mo, W; R = Me, Et) Reaction Rates.
AB  - A systematic comparison of MxOy(-) + ROH (M = Mo vs W; R = Me vs Et) reaction
      rate coefficients and product distributions combined with results of calculations
      on weakly bound MxOy(-).ROH complexes suggest that the overall reaction mechanism
      has three distinct steps, consistent with recently reported results on analogous
      MxOy(-) + H2O reactivity studies. MxOy(-) + ROH -> MxOy+1(-) + RH oxidation
      reactions are observed for the least oxidized clusters, and MxOy(-) + ROH ->
      MxOyROH(-) addition reactions are observed for clusters in intermediate oxidation
      states, as observed previously in MxOy(-) + H2O reactions. The first step is
      weakly bound complex formation, the rate of which is governed by the relative
      stability of the MxOy(-).ROH charge-dipole complexes and the Lewis acid-base
      complexes. Calculations predict that MoxOy(-) clusters form more stable Lewis
      acid-base complexes than WxOy(-), and the stability of EtOH complexes is enhanced
      relative to MeOH. Consistent with this result, MoxOy(-) + ROH rate coefficients
      are higher than analogous WxOy(-) clusters. Rate coefficients range from 2.7 *
      10(-13) cm(3) s(-1) for W3O8(-) + MeOH to 3.4 * 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) for Mo2O4(-)
      + EtOH. Second, a covalently bound complex is formed, and anion photoelectron
      spectra of the several MxOyROH(-) addition products observed are consistent with
      hydroxyl-alkoxy structures that are formed readily from the Lewis acid-base
      complexes. Calculations indicate that addition products are trapped intermediates
      in the MxOy(-) + ROH -> MxOy+1(-) + RH reaction, and the third step is
      rearrangement of the hydroxyl group to a metal hydride group to facilitate RH
      release. Trapped intermediates are more prevalent in MoxOy(-) reaction product
      distributions, indicating that the rate of this step is higher for WxOy+1RH(-)
      than for MoxOy+1RH(-). This result is consistent with previous computational
      studies on analogous MxOy(-) + H2O reactions predicting that barriers along the
      pathway in the rearrangement step are higher for MoxOy(-) reactions than for
      WxOy(-). 

PMID- 26878403
TI  - A perfect storm for the NHS?

PMID- 26878404
TI  - Evaluating the role of the MS specialist nurse.

PMID- 26878405
TI  - Blood transfusion: patient identification and empowerment.
AB  - Positive patient identification is pivotal to several steps of the transfusion
      process; it is integral to ensuring that the correct blood is given to the
      correct patient. If patient misidentification occurs, this has potentially fatal
      consequences for patients. Historically patient involvement in healthcare has
      focused on clinical decision making, where the patient, having been provided with
      medical information, is encouraged to become involved in the decisions related to
      their individualised treatment. This article explores the aspects of patient
      contribution to patient safety relating to positive patient identification in
      transfusion. When involving patients in their care, however, clinicians must
      recognise the diversity of patients and the capacity of the patient to be
      involved. It must not be assumed that all patients will be willing or indeed able
      to participate. Additionally, clinicians' attitudes to patient involvement in
      patient safety can determine whether cultural change is successful. 

PMID- 26878406
TI  - Palliative care for advanced dementia in Japan: knowledge and attitudes.
AB  - This study examined factors contributing to the knowledge and attitudes of
      nursing home staff regarding palliative care for advanced dementia in Japan. A
      cross-sectional survey of 275 nurses and other care workers from 74 long-term
      care facilities was conducted across three prefectures in August 2014. The
      Japanese versions of the Questionnaire on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia
      (qPAD) and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying scale, Form B (FATCOD-B-J)
      were used. Greater knowledge was exhibited among nursing home staff in facilities
      that established a manual for end-of-life care. Higher levels of positive
      attitudes were observed among nursing home staff in facilities that had
      established a manual and those in facilities with a physician's written opinions
      on end-of-life care. An organisational effort should be explored to establish end
      of-life care policies among nursing home staff for advanced dementia. 

PMID- 26878407
TI  - Efficacy of the nurse ethicist in reducing moral distress: what can the NHS learn
      from the USA? Part 2.
AB  - In the second of two interrelated articles exploring the concept of moral
      distress, this article will discuss the efficacy of the nurse ethicist in
      reducing moral distress. The author will draw on the current literature and on
      her experiences while in the USA to discuss the ways in which moral distress is
      being addressed at the team/unit and institutional/organisational levels. It is
      argued that the nature of moral distress in the UK should be explored further,
      and that many of the tools used to mitigate moral distress in the USA, such as
      clinical ethics committees and healthcare ethics consultants, could be adopted
      more widely in the UK, both to reduce moral distress and to foster more ethical
      healthcare institutions. The role of the nurse ethicist could be pivotal in
      bridging the gap between organisational ethics and the individual moral values of
      bedside nurses. Ultimately, this article argues, the role of the nurse ethicist
      is worthy of replication in a UK context. 

PMID- 26878408
TI  - A non-comparative evaluation of a chitosan gelling fibre.
AB  - An evaluation of chitosan gelling fibre dressing (KytoCel, Aspen Medical) was
      undertaken by tissue viability nurses in a large acute trust from December 2014-
      May 2015. The aim of this evaluation was to examine whether the gelling-fibre
      dressing can improve healing outcomes--reduction of bioburden and promotion of
      wound healing in both acute and chronic wounds that are infected or critically
      colonised. A total of 20 patients were recruited with acute and other complex
      wounds where wound infection was already established, or an excessive wound
      bioburden was delaying healing. Wound swabs were taken before and after dressing
      application between days 1, 3, 5 and 11 when clinically indicated, or at the
      surgical and medical teams' request. No more than two sets of swabs were taken in
      all patients. The evaluation incorporated three main criteria: patient baseline
      data, dressing performance, and patient perspective. Key findings were a
      significant reduction in wound size; rapid improvement of the quality of
      granulation tissue in 11 patients (55%), the reduction of the wound bioburden,
      and malodour combined with effective exudate management. The investigators also
      wanted to establish if there was a significant reduction in the identified
      bacteria from the initial wound swab results. Some patients were on systemic
      antibiotic therapy, their reduction in bacteria species may also be related to
      secondary dressings used. More robust investigation may be required to establish
      if the bacterial reduction was a result of the primary dressing.

PMID- 26878409
TI  - Vascular access in neonatal care settings: selecting the appropriate device.
AB  - The aim of this article is to increase knowledge and understanding of issues
      relating to choosing and using vascular access devices in the neonatal patient
      population. The article reviews the range of options for acquiring peripheral and
      central circulatory access in the newborn and considers issues around the choice,
      insertion, use and aftercare of these medical devices. The issues explored
      highlight the importance of appropriate device and insertion-site selection, skin
      preparation and aftercare. Paying due attention to these aspects is an essential
      component of the neonatal nurses role and ensures that the risks of adverse
      events are minimised. 

PMID- 26878410
TI  - From staff nurse to nurse consultant. Part 9: writing for publication using
      client case studies.
AB  - John Fowler, independent education consultant, continues his series for clinical
      nurses hoping to share their experiences with a wider audience, with advice on
      developing a potential article for a professional journal. 

PMID- 26878411
TI  - Can a nursing associate role fill the void left by enrolled nurse training?
AB  - Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, University of Southampton, discusses a recent
      government commitment to formally introduce a nursing associate to the healthcare
      workforce. 

PMID- 26878412
TI  - Court holds that patient in intensive care unit was not deprived of her liberty.
AB  - Richard Griffith, Senior Lecturer in Health Law at Swansea University, discusses
      the difficult issue of deprivation of liberty when somebody lacks the capacity to
      make decisions about their own treatment. 

PMID- 26878413
TI  - Safety standards for invasive procedures and use of anaesthesia.
AB  - John Tingle discusses two reports that look at safety where invasive procedures
      are performed in operating theatres and other procedural areas elsewhere. 

PMID- 26878414
TI  - The inconvenient truth: too few nurses.
AB  - Sam Foster, Chief Nurse at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, considers the
      bewildering lack of joined-up thinking over nurse recruitment-and its
      implications for frontline care in the NHS. 

PMID- 26878415
TI  - Color tunable electroluminescence and resistance switching from a ZnO-nanorod
      TaOx-p-GaN heterojunction.
AB  - Well-aligned ZnO nanorods have been prepared on p-GaN-sapphire using a vapor
      phase transport (VPT) technique. A thin sputtered layer of TaOx is employed as
      the intermediate layer and an n-ZnO-TaOx-p-GaN heterojunction device has been
      achieved. The current transport of the heterojunction exhibited a typical
      resistance switching behavior, which originated from the filament forming and
      breaking in the TaOx layer. Color controllable electroluminescence (EL) was
      observed from the biased heterojunction at room temperature. Bluish-white wide
      band emission is achieved from the forward biased device in both the high
      resistance and low resistance states, while red emission can only be observed for
      the reverse biased device in the low resistance state. The correlation between
      the EL and resistance switching has been analyzed in-depth based on the interface
      band diagram of the heterojunction.

PMID- 26878416
TI  - Determinants of participation in family and recreational activities of young
      children with cerebral palsy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To test a model of child, family and service determinants of
      participation in family and recreational activities for young children with
      cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Participants were a convenience sample of 429
      children (242 males) with CP, aged 18 to 60 months, representing all levels of
      the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Children were divided
      into two groups by GMFCS levels, levels I to II and levels III to V. Data on
      impairments and gross motor function were collected by therapists; parents
      provided information about children's health conditions and adaptive behaviour.
      Seven months later, parents reported on family life and services received. One
      year after the beginning of the study, parents reported their children's
      participation. Data from the two groups of children were analysed separately
      using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: The model explained 35% and 40% of
      the variance of frequency of participation in family and recreation and 28% and
      38% of enjoyment in participation, for the two groups of children, respectively.
      Children's adaptive behaviour, family ecology, and number of community
      recreational programs were associated with the frequency of participation for
      both groups. Gross motor function was only associated with the frequency of
      participation for children in levels III-V. Adaptive behaviour was associated
      with enjoyment for both groups. The extent services met children's needs was
      associated with enjoyment for children in levels I to II and family ecology was a
      determinant of enjoyment for children in levels III to V. CONCLUSION: Supporting
      children's adaptive behaviour, family ecology, and access to community
      recreational programmes may foster participation in family and recreational
      activities for young children with CP. Implications for Rehabilitation
      Participation in family and recreational activities for young children with CP is
      complex and influenced by child, family and environmental factors. Practitioners
      are encouraged to support children's adaptive behaviour and access to community
      programs and family relationships, involvement in community activities and
      expectations of their children. Optimizing gross motor function for children who
      have limitations in self-mobility may enhance their participation in family and
      recreational activities. For children with a good prognosis for walking,
      providing services perceived by parents to meet their children's needs may
      enhance children's enjoyment of participation.

PMID- 26878417
TI  - Evaluation of inter-observer agreement when using a clinical respiratory scoring
      system in pre-weaned dairy calves.
AB  - AIM: To determine inter-observer agreement for a clinical scoring system for the
      detection of bovine respiratory disease complex in calves, and the impact of
      classification of calves as sick or healthy based on different cut-off values.
      METHODS: Two third-year veterinary students (Observer 1 and 2) and one post
      graduate student (Observer 3) received 4 hours of training on scoring dairy
      calves for signs of respiratory disease, including rectal temperature, cough, eye
      and nasal discharge, and ear position. Observers 1 and 2 scored 40 pre-weaning
      dairy calves 24 hours apart (80 observations) over three visits to a calf-rearing
      facility, and Observers 1, 2 and 3 scored 20 calves on one visit. Inter-observer
      agreement was assessed using percentage of agreement (PA) and Kappa statistics
      for individual clinical signs, comparing Observers 1 and 2. Agreement between the
      three observers for total clinical score was assessed using cut-off values of
      >=4, >=5 and >=6 to indicate unhealthy calves. RESULTS: Inter-observer PA for
      rectal temperature was 0.68, for cough 0.78, for nasal discharge 0.62, for eye
      discharge 0.63, and for ear position 0.85. Kappa values for all clinical signs
      indicated slight to fair agreement (<0.4), except temperature that had moderate
      agreement (0.6). The Fleiss' Kappa for total score, using cut-offs of >=4, >=5
      and >=6 to indicate unhealthy calves, was 0.35, 0.06 and 0.13, respectively,
      indicating slight to fair agreement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There
      was important inter-observer discrepancies in scoring clinical signs of
      respiratory disease, using relatively inexperienced observers. These
      disagreements may ultimately mean increased false negative or false positive
      diagnoses and incorrect treatment of cases. Visual assessment of clinical signs
      associated with bovine respiratory disease needs to be thoroughly validated when
      disease monitoring is based on the use of a clinical scoring system.

PMID- 26878418
TI  - Self-Partitioned Droplet Array on Laser-Patterned Superhydrophilic Glass Surface
      for Wall-less Cell Arrays.
AB  - In this work, we report a novel method for the creation of superhydrophilic
      patterns on the surface of hydrophobically coated glass through CO2 laser
      cleaning. This mask-free approach requires no photolithography for the print of
      the features, and only a single-step surface pretreatment is needed. The laser
      cleaned glass surface enables self-partitioning of liquid into droplet arrays
      with controllable, quantitative volumes. We further designed wall-less cell
      arrays for the mapping of culturing conditions and demonstrated the potential of
      this droplet-arraying method. 

PMID- 26878420
TI  - Recovering the triple coincidence of non-pure positron emitters in preclinical
      PET.
AB  - Non-pure positron emitters, with their long half-lives, allow for the tracing of
      slow biochemical processes which cannot be adequately examined by the commonly
      used short-lived positron emitters. Most of these isotopes emit high-energy
      cascade gamma rays in addition to positron decay that can be detected and create
      a triple coincidence with annihilation photons. Triple coincidence is discarded
      in most scanners, however, the majority of the triple coincidence contains true
      photon pairs that can be recovered. In this study, we propose a strategy for
      recovering triple coincidence events to raise the sensitivity of PET imaging for
      non-pure positron emitters. To identify the true line of response (LOR) from a
      triple coincidence, a framework utilizing geometrical, energy and temporal
      information is proposed. The geometrical criterion is based on the assumption
      that the LOR with the largest radial offset among the three sub pairs of triple
      coincidences is least likely to be a true LOR. Then, a confidence time window is
      used to test the valid LOR among those within triple coincidence. Finally, a
      likelihood ratio discriminant rule based on the energy probability density
      distribution of cascade and annihilation gammas is established to identify the
      true LOR. An Inveon preclinical PET scanner was modeled with GATE (GEANT4
      application for tomographic emission) Monte Carlo software. We evaluated the
      performance of the proposed method in terms of identification fraction, noise
      equivalent count rates (NECR), and image quality on various phantoms. With the
      inclusion of triple coincidence events using the proposed method, the NECR was
      found to increase from 11% to 26% and 19% to 29% for I-124 and Br-76,
      respectively, when 7.4-185 MBq of activity was used. Compared to the
      reconstructed images using double coincidence, this technique increased the SNR
      by 5.1-7.3% for I-124 and 9.3-10.3% for Br-76 within the activity range of 9.25
      74 MBq, without compromising the spatial resolution or contrast. We conclude that
      the proposed method can improve the counting statistics of PET imaging for non
      pure positron emitters and is ready to be implemented on current PET systems. 

PMID- 26878419
TI  - Suppression of mTOR Signaling Pathways in Skeletal Muscle of Finishing Pigs by
      Increasing the Ratios of Ether Extract and Neutral Detergent Fiber at the Expense
      of Starch in Iso-energetic Diets.
AB  - Three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets were fed to finishing pigs for 28
      days to investigate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ubiquitin
      proteasome signaling pathways of skeletal muscle by altering compositions of
      dietary energy sources. Diet A, diet B, and diet C contained 44.1%, 37.6%, and
      30.9% starch; 5.9%, 9.5%, and 14.3% ether extract (EE); and 12.6%, 15.4%, and
      17.8% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), respectively. An increase of mRNA expression
      of MuRF1 (1.09 +/- 0.10 vs 1.00 +/- 0.08) and MAFbx (1.10 +/- 0.06 vs 1.00 +/-
      0.11) and a decrease of concentrations of plasma insulin (8.2 +/- 0.8 vs 10.8 +/-
      1.2) and glucose (5.76 +/- 0.12 vs 6.43 +/- 0.33) together with mRNA expression
      of IRS (0.78 +/- 0.19 vs 1.01 +/- 0.05) and Akt (0.92 +/- 0.01 vs 1.00 +/- 0.05)
      were observed in pigs fed diet C compared with diet A. Protein levels of total
      and phosphorylated mTOR (0.31 +/- 0.04 vs 0.48 +/- 0.03 and 0.39 +/- 0.01 vs 0.56
      +/- 0.02), 4EBP1 (0.66 +/- 0.06 vs 0.90 +/- 0.09 and 0.60 +/- 0.12 vs 0.84 +/-
      0.09), and S6K1 (0.66 +/- 0.01 vs 0.89 +/- 0.01 and 0.48 +/- 0.03 vs 0.79 +/-
      0.02) were decreased; however, total and phosphorylated AMPK (0.96 +/- 0.06 vs
      0.64 +/- 0.04 and 0.97 +/- 0.09 vs 0.61 +/- 0.09) were increased in pigs fed diet
      C compared with diet A. In conclusion, diet C suppressed the mTOR pathway and
      accelerated the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in skeletal muscle of finishing
      pigs. 

PMID- 26878421
TI  - Inactivation of Salmonella in Shell Eggs by Hot Water Immersion and Its Effect on
      Quality.
AB  - Thermal inactivation kinetics of heat resistant strains of Salmonella Enteritidis
      in shell eggs processed by hot water immersion were determined and the effects of
      the processing on egg quality were evaluated. Shell eggs were inoculated with a
      composite of heat resistant Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) strains PT8 C405, 2 (FSIS
      #OB030832), and 6 (FSIS #OB040159). Eggs were immersed in a circulating hot water
      bath for various times and temperatures. Come-up time of the coldest location
      within the egg was 21 min. SE was reduced by 4.5 log at both hot water immersion
      treatments of 56.7 C for 60 min and 55.6  degrees C for 100 min. Decimal
      reduction times (D-values) at 54.4, 55.6, and 56.7  degrees C were 51.8, 14.6,
      and 9.33 min, respectively. The z-value was 3.07  degrees C. Following treatments
      that resulted in a 4.5 log reduction (56.7  degrees C/60 min and 55.6  degrees
      C/100 min), the surviving population of SE remained static during 4 wk of
      refrigerated storage. After processing under conditions resulting in 4.5 log
      reductions, the Haugh unit and albumen height significantly increased (P < 0.01)
      and yolk index significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The shell dynamic stiffness
      significantly increased (P < 0.05), while static compression shell strength
      showed no significant difference (P < 0.05). Vitelline membrane strength
      significantly increased (P < 0.05); although, no significant difference (P <
      0.05) was observed in vitelline membrane elasticity. In summary, the hot water
      immersion process inactivated heat resistant SE in shell eggs by 4.5 log, but
      also significantly affected several egg quality characteristics. 

PMID- 26878423
TI  - Toward the Synthesis of Sub-15 nm Ag Nanocubes with Sharp Corners and Edges: The
      Roles of Heterogeneous Nucleation and Surface Capping.
AB  - We report a polyol method for the facile synthesis of Ag nanocubes having sharp
      corners and edges, together with edge lengths below 15 nm. The rapid nucleation
      of Ag atoms was facilitated through the addition of a trace amount of SH(-) to
      generate Ag2S clusters while the corners and edges of the nanocubes were
      sharpened through the introduction of Br(-) as a regulator of the growth kinetics
      and a capping agent for the Ag(100) surface. Because of their much smaller size
      relative to the more commonly used capping agent based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone),
      Br(-) ions are more effective in passivating the {100} facets on very small Ag
      nanocubes. The mechanistic roles of these additives, along with the effects of
      their interactions with other species present in the reaction solution, were all
      systematically investigated. The concentration of SH(-) was found to be a
      particularly effective parameter for tuning the edge length of the nanocubes. As
      a result of the understanding gained during the course of this study, Ag
      nanocubes with uniform edge lengths controllable in the range of 13-23 nm could
      be reliably produced. The nanocubes of 13.4 +/- 0.4 nm in edge length constitute
      the smallest nanocrystals of this kind reported to date; they also possess
      sharper corners and edges relative to the limited examples of sub-20 nm Ag
      nanocubes reported in the literature. The availability of such small and sharp Ag
      nanocubes will open the door to an array of applications in plasmonics,
      catalysis, and biomedicine. 

PMID- 26878425
TI  - [A New Nomenclature for Functional Disorders is on Demand].

PMID- 26878426
TI  - [First Aid with Stroke].

PMID- 26878422
TI  - PREPULSE INHIBITION DEFICITS ONLY IN FEMALES WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Deficits in sensorimotor gating have been hypothesized to underlie
      the inability to inhibit repetitive thoughts and behaviors. To test this
      hypothesis, this study assessed prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of
      sensorimotor gating, across three psychiatric disorders (obsessive-compulsive
      disorder [OCD], social anxiety disorder [SAD], and anorexia nervosa [AN]) whose
      clinical presentations include repetitive thoughts and behaviors METHODS: We
      tested acoustic PPI in unmedicated individuals with OCD (n = 45), SAD (n = 37),
      and AN (n = 26), and compared their results to matched healthy volunteers (n =
      62). All participants completed a structured clinical interview and a clinical
      assessment of psychiatric symptom severity. RESULTS: Percent PPI was
      significantly diminished in females with OCD compared to healthy female
      volunteers (P = .039). No other differences between healthy volunteers and
      participants with disorders (male or female) were observed. Percent PPI was not
      correlated with severity of obsessions and compulsions, as measured by the Yale
      Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess
      PPI in participants with SAD or AN, and the largest study to assess PPI in
      participants with OCD. We found PPI deficits only in females with OCD, which
      suggests that the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic and pontine circuitry
      (believed to underlie PPI) differs between males and females with OCD. Given that
      PPI deficits were only present in females with OCD and not related to repetitive
      thoughts and behaviors, our results do not support the hypothesis that
      sensorimotor gating deficits, as measured by PPI, underlie the inability to
      inhibit repetitive thoughts and behaviors in individuals with OCD, SAD, and AN.

PMID- 26878424
TI  - Murine Sertoli cells promote the development of tolerogenic dendritic cells: a
      pivotal role of galectin-1.
AB  - Sertoli cells (SCs) possess inherent immunosuppressive properties and are major
      contributors to the immunoprivileged status of mammalian testis. SCs have been
      reported to inhibit the activation of B cells, T cells and natural killer cells
      but not dendritic cells (DCs). Herein, we present evidence that co-culture with
      SCs results in a persistent state of DC immaturity characterized by down
      regulation of the surface molecules I-A/E, CD80, CD83, CD86, CCR7 and CD11c, as
      well as reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. SC-conditioned DCs (SC
      DCs) displayed low immunogenicity and enhanced immunoregulatory functions,
      including the inhibition of T-cell proliferation and the promotion of Foxp3(+)
      regulatory T-cell development. Mechanistically, the activation of p38,
      extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and signal transducer and activator of
      transcription 3 was suppressed in SC-DCs. More importantly, we demonstrate that
      galectin-1 secreted by SCs plays a pivotal role in the differentiation of
      functionally tolerogenic SC-DCs. These findings further support the role of SCs
      in maintaining the immunoprivileged environment of the testis and provide a novel
      approach to derive tolerogenic DCs, which may lead to alternative therapeutic
      strategies for the treatment of immunopathogenic diseases.

PMID- 26878427
TI  - [Management of acute ischemic stroke].

PMID- 26878428
TI  - [Man at the Frontier of his Being: Scope of the Concept of "Limit Situation" in
      Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Following Jaspers' Existential Ontology].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The existential concept of "limit situation" was proposed by Jaspers
      as the inevitable threshold of human beings at their ordinary mode of being,
      namely Dasein, which has to be crossed to reach Existence as the proper mode of
      being after having transcended an existential challenge. A failure at facing
      limit situations indicates that they are ineluctable and have to be assumed.
      METHOD: The starting point is the analysis of Jaspers' concept of limit
      situations, both within the antinomic structure of the human condition as well as
      the duality of being-in-the-world. An attempt is made here to interpret the
      ontological determination of the limit situation as an ontic one, which could be
      relevant to psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practice. RESULTS: The distinction
      between Dasein and Existence as modes of being is at the basis of Jaspers'
      existential philosophy. Limit situations cannot be veiled; therefore, they
      require a transcendence movement of the self in order to overcome enclosures and
      to reach the mode of being of Existence as authentic selfhood. Jaspers creates an
      ontological typology of limit situations in which suffering plays a key role. An
      ontic correspondence for psychiatry and psychotherapy refers to the importance of
      critical life events, of suicidality, of rigid thought styles and behavior
      patterns as enclosures; illness is both a limit situation in itself and also its
      consequence. In anthropological terms, the concepts of existential vulnerability
      and competence in dealing with limit situations have proved to be rewarding.
      DISCUSSION: The ontic correspondence to Jaspers' ontological concept of limit
      situations suggested by the author makes a fruitful contribution to psychiatry
      and psychotherapy, because it draws attention to the person-environment fit as a
      possible predetermined breaking point that could lead to psychopathologically
      relevant failure. Critical life events understood as relational, as well as
      existential vulnerability and defense mechanisms biographically illuminated could
      contribute to an improvement of competence in dealing with limit situations
      within the psychotherapeutic practice.

PMID- 26878429
TI  - [Physician Counseling about Physical and Sports Activity in Neurological
      Practices in Germany: Results of a Survey Among Members of the German
      Neurological Society].
AB  - Physical inactivity is a major but modifiable risk factor for morbidity and
      mortality. Regular physical activity has preventive and therapeutic effects on
      numerous diseases including neurological disorders. Therefore, it is desirable
      that physicians motivate their patients to increase their physical and sports
      activities and that they help them to overcome barriers to exercising. The
      present study is a survey of neurologists who are members of the German
      Neurological Society with their own practices; they were asked whether they
      advised their patients on the benefits of physical activity. Details on physician
      counseling on physical activity were obtained, such as the frequency of
      counseling, the neurological disorders considered by the practitioners to be
      worth the effort of counseling, and the barriers to exercise on the part of
      patients. More than 80 % of the participants who responded to the survey stated
      that they frequently provide their patients with advice on the preventive and
      therapeutic aspects of physical activity. Almost all of them recommended
      endurance sports; this was followed by Far Eastern types of sport such as tai chi
      or yoga (70 % of all physicians who advice sports activities). The frequency of
      counseling about physical activity significantly correlated to the physician's
      own sports activity. Frequency of counseling was reduced if the physician
      assessed the patients to be incapable of adopting and maintaining a lifestyle of
      habitual physical activity. Lack of time as well as an insufficient reimbursement
      of the counseling, however, did not significantly influence the frequency of
      counseling. The physician's own sports activity matched that of individuals with
      similar social status. Thus, a selection bias does not seem to be of importance
      regarding the results of the survey. However, since only 169 of the 784 invited
      neurologists (21.6 %) responded to the questionnaire, the representativeness of
      the survey may be limited. Counseling about physical activity seems to be an
      essential part of consultations in neurological practices. 

PMID- 26878432
TI  - [Home Treatment].
AB  - Home Treatment (HT) means acute psychiatric treatment in the patient's usual
      environment. Conceptually, HT is to be differentiated from other home-based
      services: It is limited with regard to duration and multiprofessional (e. g.
      psychiatrist plus psychiatric nursing staff plus social worker); the "24/7"
      accessibility is frequently provided by the corresponding background hospital
      infrastructure. Target group are acutely mentally ill persons with an indication
      to inpatient treatment, who are willing to cooperate, and absence of endangerment
      to self and others. In contrast to the Scandinavian and many Anglophone countries
      where nationwide HT services are delivered, there are not many HT sites in
      Germany so far. Consequently, empirical data concerning HT in Germany is scarce.
      In summary, international studies show equivalent effects on psychopathological
      measures compared to inpatient treatment, reductions with regard to inpatient
      days, higher patient satisfaction and a trend towards cost-effectivity.

PMID- 26878433
TI  - Maintenance Treatment With Low-Dose Mercaptopurine in Combination With
      Allopurinol in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Mercaptopurine
      Induced Pancreatitis.
AB  - Mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine, 6MP) is a mainstay of curative therapy in
      childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and contributes to its 90% overall
      survival rate. We present two patients with ALL who suffered with severe
      pancreatitis secondary to 6MP. Through the use of allopurinol in conjunction with
      reduced dose 6MP, we were able to continue 6MP without further pancreatitis. This
      report contributes to the small body of literature on 6MP associated pancreatitis
      in childhood ALL and describes a novel approach to continued use of 6MP during
      therapy. 

PMID- 26878434
TI  - A simulation study of the energy-efficient options for upgrading and retrofitting
      a medium-size municipal wastewater treatment plant.
AB  - Many municipal wastewater treatment plants are retrofitted with membrane
      filtration that replaces secondary clarification. Such a solution saves space and
      improves overall treatment efficiency but at the cost of increased energy
      consumption and reduced potential for energy recovery from sewage sludge. Thus,
      the plant takes a step back from reaching energy self-sufficiency. In the
      presented case study, two alternative upgrade options were simulated for a medium
      size municipal wastewater treatment plant in Poland: the first one assumed
      optimization of the existing bioreactor, and the other - installation of
      microfiltration membrane units inside the bioreactor. In both cases, anaerobic
      digestion of waste sludge with biogas utilization is planned. The results have
      shown that while under both upgrade options, the plant's capacity can be
      effectively increased by approximately 50%, their effects on the plant's energy
      balance will be very different. Although the installation of membrane modules
      accompanied by the construction of anaerobic digestion tanks improves the plant's
      energy balance, it will remain negative. The option of optimizing the existing
      biological treatment system produces a positive energy balance with more energy
      produced from biogas than consumed. Thus, the plant is able to approach energy
      self-sufficiency. It has been concluded that retrofitting the plants with
      membrane filtration is not always the best option from the energy balance point
      of view and it should be preceded with a detailed analysis on a case-by-case
      basis. 

PMID- 26878435
TI  - HSO3Cl: a prototype molecule for studying OH-stretching overtone induced
      photodissociation.
AB  - Vibrationally induced photodissociation in sulfurochloridic acid (HSO3Cl) is
      found to be a viable process to form SO3 and HCl from excitations of the OH
      stretching overtone starting at nuOH = 4. Reactive molecular dynamics simulations
      on a fully-dimensional potential energy surface fitted to MP2 calculations show
      that hydrogen transfer and HCl elimination compete with one another on the
      nanosecond time scale. Excitation with 5 and 6 quanta in the OH-stretch direct
      elimination of HCl is a dominant process on the several hundred picosecond time
      scale. At longer times, HCl formation is preceded by intramolecular hydrogen
      transfer and concomitant excitation of torsional degrees of freedom. As HSO3Cl is
      a suitable proxy for H2SO4, which is relevant for weather and climate in the
      upper atmosphere, it is concluded that vibrationally induced photodissociation is
      a possible mechanism for H2SO4 decomposition. Final state energy distributions
      for different internal degrees of freedom are predicted which should be
      observable in laboratory measurements. 

PMID- 26878437
TI  - Strong and Biostable Hyaluronic Acid-Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposite Hydrogel via
      in Situ Precipitation Process.
AB  - Hyaluronic acid (HAc) hydrogel exhibits excellent biocompatibility, but it has
      limited biomedical application due to its poor biomechanical properties as well
      as too-fast enzymatic degradation. In this study, we have developed an in situ
      precipitation process for the fabrication of a HAc-calcium phosphate
      nanocomposite hydrogel, after the formation of the glycidyl methacrylate
      conjugated HAc (GMHA) hydrogels via photo-cross-linking, to improve the
      mechanical and biological properties under physiological conditions. In
      particular, our process facilitates the rapid incorporation of calcium phosphate
      (CaP) nanoparticles of uniform size and with minimal agglomeration into a polymer
      matrix, homogeneously. Compared with pure HAc, the nanocomposite hydrogels
      exhibit improved mechanical behavior. Specifically, the shear modulus is improved
      by a factor of 4. The biostability of the nanocomposite hydrogel was also
      significantly improved compared with that of pure HAc hydrogels under both in
      vitro and in vivo conditions. 

PMID- 26878438
TI  - Disease progression in aggressive periodontitis patients. A Retrospective Study.
AB  - AIM: The primary aim of this study was to retrospectively ascertain disease
      progression in a cohort of aggressive periodontitis patients (AgP). MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Patients treated at a specialist setting and referred back to general
      practice for periodontal maintenance were recalled and examined in a single
      visit. Disease progression during follow-up was assessed and historical data
      collected from the patient's records. Factors that could potentially influence
      tooth loss rates at the patient level were explored by linear regression
      analysis. At the tooth level, chi-square test and OR for tooth loss were
      calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-six subjects completed the study. The mean follow-up
      was 6.97 years (95% CI 6.25-7.69). The mean annual tooth loss rate was 0.27 teeth
      per patient/year (95% CI 0.17-0.36). At the patient level, having received
      surgical treatment and the performance of interproximal cleaning were found to
      significantly reduce the annual tooth loss rates. At the tooth level, deep
      probing depths after treatment were significantly associated with increased tooth
      loss rates (OR 4.39 for PPD 5-6 mm and OR 11.68 for PPD >6 mm, respectively,
      compared with PPD <5 mm). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of patients, the annual
      tooth loss rates were found to be higher than previously described.

PMID- 26878436
TI  - Nociceptin Opioid Receptor (NOP) as a Therapeutic Target: Progress in Translation
      from Preclinical Research to Clinical Utility.
AB  - In the two decades since the discovery of the nociceptin opioid receptor (NOP)
      and its ligand, nociceptin/orphaninFQ (N/OFQ), steady progress has been achieved
      in understanding the pharmacology of this fourth opioid receptor/peptide system,
      aided by genetic and pharmacologic approaches. This research spawned an explosion
      of small-molecule NOP receptor ligands from discovery programs in major
      pharmaceutical companies. NOP agonists have been investigated for their efficacy
      in preclinical models of anxiety, cough, substance abuse, pain (spinal and
      peripheral), and urinary incontinence, whereas NOP antagonists have been
      investigated for treatment of pain, depression, and motor symptoms in Parkinson's
      disease. Translation of preclinical findings into the clinic is guided by PET and
      receptor occupancy studies, particularly for NOP antagonists. Recent progress in
      preclinical NOP research suggests that NOP agonists may have clinical utility for
      pain treatment and substance abuse pharmacotherapy. This review discusses the
      progress toward validating the NOP-N/OFQ system as a therapeutic target.

PMID- 26878439
TI  - Impact of crystalline quality on neuronal affinity of pristine graphene.
AB  - Due to its outstanding mechanical and electrical properties as well as chemical
      inertness, graphene has attracted a growing interest in the field of bioelectric
      interfacing. Herein, we investigate the suitability of pristine, i.e. without a
      cell adhesive coating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown monolayer graphene
      to act as a platform for neuronal growth. We study the development of primary
      hippocampal neurons grown on bare graphene (transferred on glass coverslip) for
      up to 5 days and show that pristine graphene significantly improves the neurons
      adhesion and outgrowth at the early stage of culture (1-2 days in vitro). At the
      later development stage, neurons grown on coating free graphene (untreated with
      poly-L-lysine) show remarkably well developed neuritic architecture similar to
      those cultured on conventional poly-L-lysine coated glass coverslips. This
      exceptional possibility to bypass the adhesive coating allows a direct electrical
      contact of graphene to the cells and reveals its great potential for chronic
      medical implants and tissue engineering. Moreover, regarding the controversial
      results obtained on the neuronal affinity of pristine graphene and its ability to
      support neuronal growth without the need of polymer or protein coating, we found
      that the crystallinity of CVD grown graphene plays an important role in neuronal
      attachment, outgrowth and axonal specification. In particular, we show that the
      decreasing crystalline quality of graphene tunes the neuronal affinity from
      highly adhesive to fully repellent.

PMID- 26878441
TI  - Management of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in HIV and Non-HIV Patients.
AB  - As CMVR continues to affect HIV-positive and non-HIV immunosuppressed patients,
      ophthalmologists must continue to tailor diagnostics and therapeutics to
      individual cases. In HIV-related disease, ocular fluid sampling and intravitreal
      drug delivery are considerations, but systemic antiviral therapy is paramount in
      the initial management from both ophthalmic and systemic morbidity standpoints.
      Non-HIV-related disease should be approached with a multidisciplinary team,
      including an ophthalmologist/vitreoretinal/uveitis specialist for consideration
      of intravitreal antiviral therapy with qualitative and quantitative aqueous PCR
      monitoring, and consideration of PCR genome sequencing for CMV strains that may
      become resistant to antiviral therapies from long-term antiviral prophylactic
      exposure. Hematologists or oncologists may help with patients who remain bone
      marrow-suppressed following transplantation or systemic chemotherapy. Because of
      related toxicities of the anti-CMV medications and immunosuppressive medications
      (eg, bone marrow suppression and cytopenias), infectious disease consultation can
      help in the treatment and monitoring of side effects.

PMID- 26878440
TI  - Inhibition of oncogenic BRAF activity by indole-3-carbinol disrupts
      microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression and arrests melanoma
      cell proliferation.
AB  - Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), an anti-cancer phytochemical derived from cruciferous
      vegetables, strongly inhibited proliferation and down-regulated protein levels of
      the melanocyte master regulator micropthalmia-associated transcription factor
      (MITF-M) in oncogenic BRAF-V600E expressing melanoma cells in culture as well as
      in vivo in tumor xenografted athymic nude mice. In contrast, wild type BRAF
      expressing melanoma cells remained relatively insensitive to I3C anti
      proliferative signaling. In BRAF-V600E-expressing melanoma cells, I3C treatment
      inhibited phosphorylation of MEK and ERK/MAPK, the down stream effectors of BRAF.
      The I3C anti-proliferative arrest was concomitant with the down-regulation of
      MITF-M transcripts and promoter activity, loss of endogenous BRN-2 binding to the
      MITF-M promoter, and was strongly attenuated by expression of exogenous MITF-M.
      Importantly, in vitro kinase assays using immunoprecipitated BRAF-V600E and wild
      type BRAF demonstrated that I3C selectively inhibited the enzymatic activity of
      the oncogenic BRAF-V600E but not of the wild type protein. In silico modeling
      predicted an I3C interaction site in the BRAF-V600E protomer distinct from where
      the clinically used BRAF-V600E inhibitor Vemurafenib binds to BRAF-V600E.
      Consistent with this prediction, combinations of I3C and Vemurafenib more
      potently inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and reduced MITF-M levels in BRAF
      V600E expressing melanoma cells compared to the effects of each compound alone.
      Thus, our results demonstrate that oncogenic BRAF-V600E is a new cellular target
      of I3C that implicate this indolecarbinol compound as a potential candidate for
      novel single or combination therapies for melanoma. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26878442
TI  - Distinguishing Diabetic Macular Edema From Capillary Nonperfusion Using Optical
      Coherence Tomography Angiography.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the appearance of diabetic macular edema
      (DME) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and distinguish it
      from capillary nonperfusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with DME were
      recruited for OCTA imaging. Eyes with confounding retinal diseases were excluded.
      Using 3 mm * 3 mm OCT angiograms segmented into the superficial and deep inner
      retinal vascular plexuses, two graders described the appearance of DME and
      confirmed the diagnosis with structural OCT and fluorescein angiography. RESULTS:
      DME was evaluated in 17 eyes of 12 patients. The cystoid spaces in DME appeared
      completely devoid of flow on the OCT angiograms and were oblong in shape with
      smooth borders that did not follow the distribution of surrounding capillaries,
      whereas areas of capillary nonperfusion were a greyer hue and had irregular
      borders. CONCLUSIONS: The cystoid spaces in DME can be differentiated from
      capillary nonperfusion using OCTA. OCTA may help to guide treatment decisions in
      the future.

PMID- 26878443
TI  - Evaluation of Preretinal Neovascularization in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
      Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe a method for visualizing preretinal
      neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) using optical
      coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and report the findings in the
      surrounding vasculature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with PDR diagnosed on
      clinical examination who received OCTA scans using the RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue,
      Fremont, CA) were evaluated. To visualize preretinal neovascularization, OCT
      angiograms were segmented to project vasculature above the internal limiting
      membrane (ILM). OCT angiograms were segmented between the ILM and Bruch's
      membrane to show adjacent retinal vasculature. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes were
      determined to have preretinal neovascularization in the posterior pole based on
      OCTA. One OCT angiogram was not of sufficient quality and thus was eliminated
      from further study. Eleven eyes (92%) had neovascularization adjacent to retinal
      capillary nonperfusion and six (50%) were adjacent to intraretinal microvascular
      abnormalities (IRMAs). CONCLUSION: OCTA provided high-resolution, depth-resolved
      blood flow information, allowing for visualization of preretinal
      neovascularization, IRMA, and adjacent capillary nonperfusion.

PMID- 26878444
TI  - Analysis of Choroidal and Retinal Vasculature in Inherited Retinal Degenerations
      Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the retinal vasculature and
      choriocapillaris, as well as the transition zone between the diseased and healthy
      tissue, in eyes with inherited retinal degenerations using optical coherence
      tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with inherited
      retinal degenerations were recruited for OCTA imaging. Retinal vasculature was
      assessed for increased intercapillary space and foveal avascular zone
      abnormalities. Choriocapillaris, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and
      photoreceptor disruption were noted, and the borders were evaluated to speculate
      which layers become affected first. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes of seven subjects with
      inherited retinal degenerations were included. All eyes (100%) demonstrated
      retinal thinning and increased intercapillary spaces overlying focal outer
      retinal changes. In all eyes, the region of choriocapillaris changes was smaller
      than the region of overlying RPE and photoreceptor alteration, suggesting the
      vascular loss was secondary. CONCLUSION: OCTA is able to provide highly detailed
      vascular information in eyes with inherited retinal degenerations and may be
      useful to better understand the pathogenesis of these diseases.

PMID- 26878445
TI  - Vascularization of Irregular Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachments in Chronic
      Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Evaluated With OCT Angiography.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess eyes with flat, irregular retinal pigment
      epithelial detachments (RPEDs) associated with central serous chorioretinopathy
      (CSCR) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using optical coherence tomography
      angiography (OCTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of OCTA images of
      chronic CSCR eyes with irregular RPED (group 1) and regular RPED (controls, group
      2) for presence of CNV, subretinal fluid, and intraretinal fluid. Fluorescein
      angiography was also evaluated for CNV. RESULTS: CNV was detected using OCTA in
      13 of 31 eyes (41.9%) in group 1 and in one of 18 eyes (5.6%) in group 2 (P =
      .007). Irregular RPED was a risk factor for CNV (odds ratio [OR] = 12.28; 95% CI,
      1.45-104.3). There was no significant difference between detection by OCTA and FA
      (P = 1.0). Sensitivity and specificity of detection by OCTA were 85.7% and 95.7%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Irregular RPEDs in chronic CSCR eyes may harbor
      neovascularization more often than previously thought, which has implications on
      therapy.

PMID- 26878446
TI  - Imaging of Melanin Disruption in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using
      Multispectral Imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether multispectral imaging (MSI) is
      able to obtain a noninvasive view of melanin disruption associated with age
      related macular degeneration (AMD), which could support early diagnosis and
      potential treatment strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single retinal center,
      retrospective, observational, image analysis study of MSI images of 43 patients
      was done to determine the extent of melanin pigment exhibited in association with
      AMD, based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Study classification and grading scale.
      Corresponding fundus photos were also graded for 12 of the eyes. RESULTS: Fifty
      one of 61 eyes (84%) of 43 patients with AMD were determined to have melanin
      disruption in their MSI images in at least the central and/or one of four inner
      ETDRS areas. There was a relationship between severity of disease and the degree
      of melanin disruption. The sensitivity of fundus photography for melanin pigment
      as compared to MSI was only 62.5%, with three false-negatives. CONCLUSION: A
      direct, noninvasive, unobstructed view of melanin disruption associated with AMD
      can be observed using MSI.

PMID- 26878447
TI  - The Influence of Age and Central Foveal Thickness on Foveal Zone Size in Healthy
      People.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of age and central foveal
      thickness (CFT) on the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size in healthy people using
      optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross
      section study. One hundred thirty-two healthy subjects (224 eyes) were included.
      All participants underwent examination with OCTA. CFT and FAZ size, including
      vertical radius (VR), horizontal radius (HR), and area, were measured. RESULTS:
      Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between age and FAZ
      size. The HR, VR, and area had an increase of 0.001 mm (P = .002), 0.001 mm (P =
      .001), and 0.001 mm(2) (P = .000) each year, respectively. There was a negative
      correlation between CFT and FAZ size. When the CFT increased per 1 um, the HR,
      VR, and area decreased by 0.002 mm (P = .000), 0.001 mm (P = .000), and 0.003
      mm(2) (P = .000), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FAZ size increases with age and
      decreases with CFT. OCTA is a novel method to study the FAZ in healthy people.

PMID- 26878448
TI  - Intravitreal Diclofenac in the Treatment of Macular Edema Due to Branch Retinal
      Vein Occlusion.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a single dose of intravitreal
      diclofenac on macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, interventional case series, 15 eyes
      with BRVO and ME with central macular thickness (CMT) greater than 250 um on
      spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were enrolled. All patients
      were given 0.05 mg/0.1 mL of intravitreal diclofenac under aseptic conditions and
      followed up for 3 months with respect to best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA),
      intraocular pressure (IOP), fundus fluorescein angiography, and CMT measured on
      OCT. RESULTS: The mean visual acuity improved from 0.115 +/- 0.03 preoperatively
      to 0.356 +/- 0.29 at 3 months (P = .002). Mean line improvement was 2.2 +/- 1.6.
      Mean preoperative CMT decreased from 453.2 um +/- 55.3 um to 340.47 um +/- 101 um
      at 3 months postoperatively (P = .001). The mean preoperative IOP was 16.4 mm Hg
      +/- 1.59 mm Hg, whereas the mean postoperative IOP was 16.6 mm Hg +/- 1.58 mm Hg
      (P = .08). None of the 12 phakic eyes showed evidence of cataract progression.
      CONCLUSION: Intravitreal diclofenac is safe and effective in improving BCVA and
      decreasing CMT in patients with BRVO and ME.

PMID- 26878449
TI  - Post-Marketing Survey of Adverse Events Following Ocriplasmin.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To study the post-marketing safety profile of
      ocriplasmin (Jetrea; ThromboGenics, Iselin, NJ) as experienced by retinal
      physicians in the United States. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two thousand
      four hundred sixty-five retinal physicians were surveyed regarding their
      frequency of use of ocriplasmin and reports of ocular adverse events. RESULTS:
      There were 270 respondents (11%) who reported treating 1,056 eyes with
      ocriplasmin. The reports of adverse events (AE) were as follows: acute decline in
      visual acuity (16.95%), development of submacular fluid or serous retinal
      detachment (10.23%), dyschromatopsia (9.09%), progression of vitreomacular
      traction to macular hole (8.71%), development of retinal detachment (2.65%),
      development of retinal tear (1.99%), development of afferent pupillary defect
      (1.80%), electroretinography abnormalities (0.57%), crystalline lens instability
      (0.38%), and vasculitis (0.28%). CONCLUSION: Although the frequency of some
      ocular AEs reported in this study are comparable to those reported in the phase 3
      registration trials, additional phase 4 safety studies are warranted to better
      understand the pathophysiology and clinical relevance of ocular AEs of
      ocriplasmin.

PMID- 26878450
TI  - A Biological Tissue Adhesive and Dissolvent System for Intraocular Tumor Plaque
      Brachytherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine a novel technique for simplified placement and removal of
      plaque brachytherapy by fibrin glue and urokinase (medac Gmbh, Hamburg, Germany).
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: In six enucleated porcine eyes, plaques were placed on the
      episclera and fibrin glue was applied to cover it. Urokinase was used to dissolve
      the glue in three eyes and saline was used in three eyes. Adhesion strength was
      measured further on 15 plaques affixed to porcine eyes (glued in five with intact
      conjunctiva, glued in five with removed conjunctiva, and sutured in five).
      RESULTS: Saline had no effect on the glue-plaque-eye complex, whereas the
      urokinase (0.38 mL +/- 0.08 mL) easily dissolved the adhesion between the glue
      layer and surrounding tissues. The weight required to detach the plaques was
      0.349 kg +/- 0.173 kg for glued eyes with intact conjunctiva, 0.405 kg +/- 0.083
      kg for sutured eyes (P = .59), and 0.032 kg +/- 0.004 kg for glued eyes without
      intact conjunctiva (P <= .015). CONCLUSIONS: The usage of the biological adhesive
      and dissolvent system was applicable for plaque surgery in an ex vivo animal
      model.

PMID- 26878451
TI  - Implantation of Modular Photovoltaic Subretinal Prosthesis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Establish the surgical procedure for subretinal
      implantation of multiple photovoltaic arrays for the restoration of sight.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiple silicon photovoltaic arrays of 1 mm in diameter
      and 30 um in thickness were implanted subretinally via single retinotomy in
      rabbits. Ophthalmoscopic imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used
      to validate the implants' placement. RESULTS: Vitrectomy, followed by subretinal
      fluid injection for retinal detachment and retinotomy, allowed accurate placement
      of seven modules in the bleb, covering approximately a 3.5-mm diameter area on
      the retina via a single 1.5-mm retinotomy. OCT confirmed complete reattachment of
      the retina over the implants. CONCLUSION: Subretinal implantation of multiple
      photovoltaic arrays via a single retinotomy, followed by their tiling, minimizes
      the scleral and retinal incisions and provides better fit to the spherical shape
      of the eye ball, compared to a single, larger module. Such minimally traumatic
      procedure can be performed with 20-gauge intraocular instruments.

PMID- 26878453
TI  - Early Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in
      Unilateral Acute Idiopathic Maculopathy.
AB  - Unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy (UAIM) is a rare disorder presenting in
      young people with an acute onset of unilateral central visual loss often
      associated with a prodromal flu-like illness. The authors present the early
      anatomical findings of a 35-year-old man clinically diagnosed with UAIM using
      swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and SS-OCT angiography.

PMID- 26878452
TI  - En Face Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
      Imaging of Taxane-Associated Cystoid Macular Edema.
AB  - The taxanes are chemotherapeutic agents that may, in rare cases, cause cystoid
      macular edema without leakage on fluorescein angiography. Two patients with
      evidence of taxane-related macular edema presented and were evaluated using novel
      en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging
      modalities. Although OCTA revealed no flow abnormalities in either patient, en
      face OCT revealed a striking bilateral symmetric cystic tessellation pattern.

PMID- 26878454
TI  - Sector Retinitis Pigmentosa Associated With Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations
      of CDH23.
AB  - Usher syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by retinitis
      pigmentosa (RP) and congenital hearing loss, with or without vestibular
      dysfunction. Allelic variants of CDH23 cause both Usher syndrome type 1D (USH1D)
      and a form of nonsyndromic hearing loss (DFNB12). The authors describe here a 34
      year-old patient with congenital hearing loss and a new diagnosis of sector RP
      who was found to have two novel compound heterozygous mutations in CDH23,
      including one missense (c.8530C > A; p.Pro2844Thr) and one splice-site (c.5820 +
      5G > A) mutation. This is the first report of sector RP associated with these
      types of mutations in CDH23.

PMID- 26878455
TI  - Spontaneous Resolution of Large Macular Retinoschisis in Enhanced S-Cone
      Syndrome.
AB  - The authors previously reported details on enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS) in a
      23-year-old male patient with a homozygous NR2E3 mutation (p.Q350X) who developed
      large bilateral macular retinoschisis. Subsequent optical coherence tomography
      follow-up showed that although the large bilateral macular retinoschisis remained
      at the age of 28, there was dramatic improvement in the retinoschisis by the age
      32, with bilateral resolution of the macular retinoschisis without any treatment
      by the age of 34. Although there is no established treatment for macular
      retinoschisis complicated by ESCS, this case demonstrated that intervention may
      not be required in some patients with ESCS.

PMID- 26878456
TI  - Traumatic Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion With Retinal Neovascularization Following
      Inadvertent Retrobulbar Needle Perforation.
AB  - Retrobulbar injection of anesthesia is one of the most common procedures
      performed for ophthalmic surgery. Complications are rare but can be potentially
      serious, including retrobulbar hemorrhage, brainstem anesthesia, and inadvertent
      globe perforation. This is the preliminary report describing branch retinal vein
      occlusion (BRVO) secondary to accidental retrobulbar needle laceration with
      subsequent preretinal neovascularization.

PMID- 26878457
TI  - 8 Questions with Dr. Puliafito.

PMID- 26878458
TI  - A search for blues brothers: X-ray crystallographic/spectroscopic
      characterization of the tetraarylbenzidine cation radical as a product of aging
      of solid magic blue.
AB  - Magic blue (MB+ SbCl6- salt), i.e. tris-4-bromophenylamminium cation radical, is
      a routinely employed one-electron oxidant that slowly decomposes in the solid
      state upon storage to form so called 'blues brothers', which often complicate the
      quantitative analyses of the oxidation processes. Herein, we disclose the
      identity of the main 'blues brother' as the cation radical and dication of
      tetrakis-(4-bromophenyl)benzidine (TAB) by a combined DFT and experimental
      approach, including isolation of TAB+ SbCl6- and its X-ray crystallography
      characterization. The formation of TAB in aged magic blue samples occurs by a
      Scholl-type coupling of a pair of MB followed by a loss of molecular bromine. The
      recognition of this fact led us to the rational design and synthesis of tris(2
      bromo-4-tert-butylphenyl)amine, referred to as 'blues cousin' (BC: Eox1 = 0.78 V
      vs. Fc/Fc+, lambdamax(BC+) = 805 nm, epsilonmax = 9930 cm-1 M-1), whose oxidative
      dimerization is significantly hampered by positioning the sterically demanding
      tert-butyl groups at the para-positions of the aryl rings. A ready two-step
      synthesis of BC from triphenylamine and the high stability of its cation radical
      (BC+) promise that BC will serve as a ready replacement for MB and an oxidant of
      choice for mechanistic investigations of one-electron transfer processes in
      organic, inorganic, and organometallic transformations.

PMID- 26878460
TI  - Theoretical study of interactions of a Li(+)(CF3SO2)2N(-) ion pair with
      CR3(OCR2CR2)nOCR3 (R = H or F).
AB  - Interactions of a lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (Li(+)Tf2N(-)) ion
      pair with oligoethers are investigated via density functional theory (DFT). As a
      model for polymer electrolytes polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and perfluoropolyether
      (PFPE), CR3(OCR2CR2)n=1-5OCR3 (R = H or F) is considered. Topographical analysis
      of the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) is performed to determine
      preferential binding sites of Li(+). Our study shows that the MESP value near the
      oxygen sites of the polymer backbone is more negative for PEO than for PFPE. This
      result indicates that substitution of hydrogen by fluorine in polyethers leads to
      reduction in Li(+)-polymer interactions, in concert with the experimental ionic
      conductivity results. S-O stretching vibrations of Tf2N(-) are calculated for the
      lithium salt in the presence and absence of electrolytes. The blue and red shifts
      predicted for S-O stretching are further explained by natural bond orbital
      analysis and molecular electron density topography. The S-O stretching vibrations
      can be used as a useful tool to understand the ion pair interactions and thus ion
      transport phenomena in polymer electrolytes. 

PMID- 26878459
TI  - Bridging a clinical gap in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Mental health
      provider preferences of biopsychosocial assessment approaches.
AB  - Management of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is complex, requiring
      multidisciplinary care. A standardized assessment and formulation approach to
      PNES is lacking, yet use of a comprehensive model may alleviate problems such as
      mental health aftercare noncompliance. Although a biopsychosocial (BPS) approach
      to PNES balancing predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating (PPP) variables
      has been described and has been recently tested in pilot form, it is unclear how
      this assessment style is perceived among community mental health practitioners
      such as psychotherapists (including psychologists, counselors, and social
      workers). We predicted preference of a comprehensive "BPS/PPP" assessment style
      by those most involved in PNES care (i.e., community psychotherapists). One
      hundred and forty-three community-based social workers and counselors completed a
      survey featuring a fictional PNES case followed by assessment style options
      ("Multiaxial," "Narrative," and "BPS/PPP"). Respondents clearly preferred the
      robust BPS/PPP approach over less-comprehensive multiaxial and narrative
      assessments (p<0.0001). Reasons for choosing the BPS/PPP by respondents include
      ease of organization, clear therapeutic goals, and comprehensive nature. This
      assessment of acceptability of a BPS/PPP approach to PNES assessment among
      community mental health practitioners may provide a patient-centered mechanism to
      enhance referrals from the neurological to mental health setting. Implications
      and future directions are explored. 

PMID- 26878461
TI  - Order/Disorder and in Situ Oxide Defect Control in the Bixbyite Phase YPrO3+delta
      (0 <= delta < 0.5).
AB  - The YPrO3+delta system is a nearly ideal model system for the investigation of
      oxide defect creation and annihilation in oxide ion conductor related phases with
      potential applications as solid state electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells. The
      formation, structure, high temperature reactivity, and magnetic susceptibility of
      phase pure YPrO3+delta (0 <= delta <= 0.46) are reported. The topotactic
      reduction and oxidation of the YPrO3+delta system was investigated by powder X
      ray in situ diffraction experiments and revealed bixbyite structures (space
      group: Ia3) throughout the series. Combined neutron and X-ray data clearly show
      oxygen uptake and removal. The research provides a detailed picture of the
      Y(3+)/Pr(3+)/Pr(4+) sublattice evolution in response to the redox chemistry. Upon
      oxidation, cation site splitting is observed where the cation in the ((1)/4,
      (1)/4, (1)/4) position migrates along the body diagonal to the (x, x, x)
      position. Any oxygen in excess of YPrO3.0 is located in the additional 16c site
      without depopulating the original 48e site. The in situ X-ray diffraction data
      and thermal gravimetric analysis have revealed the reversible topotactic redox
      reactivity at low temperatures (below 425  degrees C) for all compositions from
      YPrO3 to YPrO3.46. Magnetic susceptibility studies were utilized in order to
      further confirm praseodymium oxidation states. The linear relation between the
      cubic unit cell parameter and oxygen content allows for the straightforward
      determination of oxygen stoichiometry from X-ray diffraction data. The different
      synthesis strategies reported here are rationalized with the structural details
      and the reactivity of YPrO3+delta phases and provide guidelines for the targeted
      synthesis of these functional materials. 

PMID- 26878463
TI  - Quantification of effects of cancer on elastic properties of breast tissue by
      Atomic Force Microscopy.
AB  - Different behaviors of cells such as growth, differentiation and apoptosis widely
      differ in case of diseases. The mechanical properties of cells and tissues can be
      used as a clue for diagnosis of pathological conditions. Here, we implemented
      Atomic Force Microscopy to evaluate the extent of alteration in mechanical
      stiffness of tissue layers from patients affected by breast cancer and
      investigated how data can be categorized based on pathological observations. To
      avoid predefined categories, Fuzzy-logic algorithm as a novel method was used to
      divide and categorize the derived Young's modulus coefficients (E). Such
      algorithm divides data among groups in such way that data of each group are
      mostly similar while dissimilar with other groups. The algorithm was run for
      different number of categories. Results showed that three (followed by two with
      small difference) groups categorized data best. Three categories were defined as
      (E<3000Pa, 3000<E<7000Pa and E>7000Pa) among which data were allocated. The first
      cluster was assumed as the cellular region while the last cluster was referred to
      the fibrous parts of the tissue. The intermediate region was due to other non
      cellular parts. Results indicated 50% decline of average Young's modulus of
      cellular region of cancerous tissues compared to healthy tissues. The average
      Young's modulus of non-cellular area of normal tissues was slightly lower than
      that of cancerous tissues, although the difference was not statistically
      different. Through clustering, the measured Young's moduli of different locations
      of cancerous tissues, a quantified approach was developed to analyze changes in
      elastic modulus of a spectrum of components of breast tissue which can be applied
      in diagnostic mechanisms of cancer development, since in cancer progression the
      softening cell body facilitates the migration of cancerous cells through the
      original tumor and endothelial junctions.

PMID- 26878464
TI  - Attenuation of DMBA/croton oil induced mouse skin papilloma by Apodytes dimidiata
      mediated by its antioxidant and antimutagenic potential.
AB  - Context Considering the role of cellular oxidative stress in mutations and
      subsequent transformation, phytochemicals with antioxidant potential has become a
      primary choice as chemopreventives. Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. Ex. Arn
      (Icacinaceae), a widely used plant in Zulu traditional medicine, is reported to
      possess antioxidant activity. Objective To investigate the chemopreventive
      efficacy of methanol extract of A. dimidiata leaf (AMF). Materials and methods
      Antimutagenic potential of AMF (25, 50 and 75 MUg/plate) was evaluated by the
      Ames test. The ability of AMF (100 and 250 mg/kg orally) on restoration of
      depleted antioxidant status by sodium fluoride (NaF) was analysed on BALB/c mice.
      7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/croton oil induced mouse skin papilloma model was
      studied up to 20 weeks to analyse the anticarcinogenic effect of AMF (1%, 3% and
      5% topically, twice weekly for 6 weeks). Phytochemicals of AMF were characterized
      by GC-MS. Results AMF (75 MUg/plate) reverted 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPDA)
      induced mutations in Salmonella typhimurium strains, TA 98, 100 and 102 by 74.8%,
      72.5% and 69.3%, respectively. Against sodium azide, the percentage reversion was
      80.4, 71.3 and 71.3. In mice, AMF (250 mg/kg for 4 days) increased the serum
      superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities by 48.71% and 30.3% against
      the NaF-induced drop. GSH level was improved by 48.59% with a concomitant
      decrease in TBARS (57.67%). The skin papilloma reduction was 79.32% for 5% AMF.
      Squalene, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic and hexadecanoic acids are the known
      antioxidant and chemopreventive molecules identified by GC-MS. Discussion and
      conclusion Antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of AMF might have contributed
      to its anticarcinogenic potential. 

PMID- 26878466
TI  - A new look at left ventricular remodeling definition by cardiac imaging.

PMID- 26878465
TI  - Abnormal glycemic homeostasis at the onset of serious mental illnesses: A common
      pathway.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients with serious mental illnesses exhibit a reduced lifespan
      compared with the general population, a finding that can not solely rely on high
      suicide risk, low access to medical care and unhealthy lifestyle. The main causes
      of death are medical related pathologies such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and
      cardiovascular disease; however pharmacological treatment might play a role.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared a two hour glucose load in naive patients at
      the onset of a serious mental illness (N=102) (84 patients with a first episode
      of schizophrenia and related disorders, 6 with a first episode of bipolar I
      disorder and 12 with a first episode of major depression disorder) with another
      psychiatric diagnose, adjustment disorder (N=17) and matched controls (N=98).
      RESULTS: Young patients with serious mental illness showed an increased two hour
      glucose load compared with adjustment disorder and the control group. Mean two
      hour glucose values [+/-standard deviation] were: for schizophrenia and related
      disorders 106.51mg/dL [+/-32.0], for bipolar disorder 118.33mg/dL [+/-34.3], for
      major depressive disorder 107.42mg/dL [+/-34.5], for adjustment disorder
      79.06mg/dL[+/-24.4] and for the control group 82.11mg/dL [+/-23.3] (p<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results reflect an abnormal metabolic pathway at the onset of
      the disease before any pharmacological treatment or other confounding factors
      might have taken place. Our results suggest a similar glycemic pathway in serious
      mental illnesses and the subsequent need of primary and secondary prevention
      strategies.

PMID- 26878467
TI  - Two-year follow-up after bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation in STEMI
      patients - Results from PRAGUE-19 study.

PMID- 26878468
TI  - Wellenoid T-wave is an important indicator for severe coronary artery stenosis.

PMID- 26878469
TI  - Contained coronary rupture following bioresorbable scaffold implantation in a
      small vessel.

PMID- 26878471
TI  - Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on right ventricular function.

PMID- 26878470
TI  - Diagnostic and prognostic implications using age- and gender-specific cut-offs
      for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T - Sub-analysis from the TRAPID-AMI study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of age- and gender-specific cut-offs for high
      sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) compared to the general 99th percentile
      hs-cTnT cut-off on diagnosis and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
      METHODS: 1282 unselected patients presenting to the emergency department with
      suspected AMI were enrolled as part of the TRAPID-AMI study. In the present sub
      analysis, reclassification of AMI diagnosis was performed by comparing the
      general hs-cTnT cut-off of 14ng/L to previously proposed age- and gender
      dependent hs-cTnT 99th percentile cut-offs (28ng/L for >=65years, 9ng/L for
      female and 15.5ng/L for male patients). Patients were further clinically
      adjudicated into acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and non-ACS. RESULTS: For patients
      >=65years, application of age-specified cut-offs resulted in a decrease of AMI
      from 29.8% to 18.3% in the entire cohort (n=557) and 54.7% to 40.9% in the ACS
      subcohort (n=225). Using gender-specific cut-offs, AMI-rate increased from 16.6%
      to 22.6% (entire cohort, n=477) and 62.6% to 71.7% (ACS subcohort, n=99) in
      women, whereas in men, rates decreased from 23.1% to 21.1% (entire cohort, n=805)
      and 48.8% to 45.9% (ACS, n=281), respectively. Age-specified cut-offs
      significantly reclassified patients for outcomes of 1-month and 3-month mortality
      in the entire and ACS cohort (14.2% net reclassification improvement, p<0.001,
      respectively). Contrary, no significant differences in outcomes could be found
      using gender-specific cut-offs. CONCLUSIONS: While influence of gender-specific
      hs-cTnT cut-offs on diagnostic and prognostic reclassification was only modest in
      patients with suspected AMI, age-specific cut-offs showed a significant impact
      and may be considered for further validation.

PMID- 26878472
TI  - Cholecystokinin in plasma predicts cardiovascular mortality in elderly females.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin are related gastrointestinal
      hormones with documented cardiovascular effects of exogenous administration. It
      is unknown whether measurement of endogenous CCK or gastrin in plasma contains
      information regarding cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: Mortality risk was
      evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses.
      Elderly patients in a primary care setting with symptoms of cardiac disease, i.e.
      shortness of breath, peripheral edema, and/or fatigue, were evaluated (n=470).
      Primary care patients were followed for 13years (from 1999); the 5-year all-cause
      and cardiovascular mortality was used as end point. RESULTS: In univariate
      analysis, patients in the 4th CCK quartile had an increased risk of 5-year
      cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.1-7.0,
      p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis including established factors associated with
      cardiovascular mortality, CCK concentrations in the 4th quartile were still
      associated with increased 5-year cardiovascular mortality risk (HR 3.1, 95% C.I.:
      1.7-5.7, p=0.0004), even when including 4th quartile NT-proBNP concentrations in
      the same model. We observed a marked difference between the genders, where CCK
      concentrations in the 4th quartile were associated with a higher 5-year
      cardiovascular mortality in female patients (HR 8.99, 95% C.I.: 3.49-102.82,
      p=0.0007) compared to men (1.47, 95% C.I.: 0.7-3.3, p=0.35). In contrast, no
      significant information was obtained from 4th quartile gastrin concentrations on
      5-year cardiovascular mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: CCK in plasma is an
      independent marker of cardiovascular mortality in elderly female patients. The
      study thus introduces measurement of plasma CCK in gender-specific cardiovascular
      risk assessment.

PMID- 26878473
TI  - Percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defect with membraneous pouch and
      changing the device due to severe aortic regurgitation.

PMID- 26878474
TI  - The more proximal implantation of percutaneous mitral annuloplasty device due to
      the circumflex artery compression may be less beneficial.

PMID- 26878475
TI  - Revascularization treatment for spontaneous coronary artery dissection: A
      reconsideration of drug-coated balloons and bioresorbable vascular scaffold.

PMID- 26878476
TI  - Prevalence and characterization of bystander coronary artery disease in Tako
      tsubo cardiomyopathy using a multi-imaging approach.

PMID- 26878477
TI  - The traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto alleviates oral ulcer-induced
      pain in a rat model.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have demonstrated that mouthwash made with the
      traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto exhibits anti-inflammatory action
      and alleviates oral mucositis scores, including pain complaints, in patients
      undergoing chemoradiotherapy. However, no study has demonstrated the mechanism
      underlying how hangeshashinto provides pain relief in oral ulcers. DESIGN: The
      analgesic effects on pain-related behaviors following the topical application of
      hangeshashinto were evaluated in an oral ulcer rat model treated with acetic acid
      using recently developed methods. Indomethacin, the representative anti
      inflammatory agent, was intraperitoneally administered. The tissue permeability
      of the oral mucosa was histologically evaluated after applying the fluorescent
      substance FluoroGold. RESULTS: The topical application of hangeshashinto in
      ulcerative oral mucosa suppressed mechanical pain hypersensitivity over 60 min,
      without any effects on healthy mucosa. The same drug application also inhibited
      oral ulcer-induced spontaneous pain. Indomethacin administration failed to block
      the mechanical pain hypersensitivity, though it did largely block spontaneous
      pain. Topical anesthesia with lidocaine showed hyposensitivity to mechanical
      stimulation in healthy mucosa. In the ulcer regions in which the oral epithelial
      barrier was destroyed, deep parenchyma was stained with FluoroGold, in contrast
      to healthy oral mucosa, in which staining was limiting to the superficial site.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hangeshashinto leads to long-lasting analgesic effects, specifically
      in the ulcer region by destroying the epithelial barrier. Hangeshashinto
      alleviates oral ulcer-induced pain in inflammation-dependent and/or independent
      manner.

PMID- 26878478
TI  - Progesterone exerts neuroprotective effects against Abeta-induced
      neuroinflammation by attenuating ER stress in astrocytes.
AB  - The deposition of amyloid-beta (Abeta) and neuroinflammation are critical
      pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Astrocytes are considered the
      principal immunoregulatory cells in the brain. Neurosteroid progesterone (PG)
      exerts neuromodulatory properties, particularly its potential therapeutic
      function in ameliorating AD. However, the role of PG and the neuroprotective
      mechanism involving in the regulation of neuroinflammation in astrocytes warrant
      further investigation. In this study, we found that Abeta significantly increased
      the processing of neuroinflammatory responses in astrocytes. The processing is
      induced by an increase activity of PERK/elF2alpha-dependent endoplasmic reticulum
      (ER) stress. Additionally, the inhibition of ER stress activation by Salubrinal
      significantly suppressed the Abeta-induced neuroinflammatory responses in
      astrocytes. While the treatment of astrocytes with Abeta caused an increase of
      neuroinflammatory responses, PG significantly inhibited Abeta-induced
      neuroinflammatory cytokine production by suppressing ER stress activation
      together with attenuating PERK/elF2alpha signalling. Taken together, these
      results indicate that PG exerts a neuroprotective effect against Abeta-induced
      neuroinflammatory responses, and significantly suppresses ER stress activation,
      which is an important mediator of the neurotoxic events occurring in Abeta
      induced neuroinflammatory responses in astrocytes. These neuroprotective
      mechanisms may facilitate the development of therapies to ameliorate AD. 

PMID- 26878479
TI  - Correlating the chemical and spectroscopic characteristics of natural organic
      matter with the photodegradation of sulfamerazine.
AB  - The role of aquatic natural organic matter (NOM) in the removal of contaminants
      of emerging concern has been widely studied. Sulfamerazine (SMR), a sulfonamide
      antibiotic detected in aquatic environments, is implicated in environmental
      toxicity and may contribute to the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. In
      aquatic systems sulfonamides may undergo direct photodegradation, and, indirect
      photodegradation through the generation of reactive species. Because some forms
      of NOM inhibit the photodegradation there is an increasing interest in
      correlating the spectroscopic parameters of NOM as potential indicators of its
      degradation in natural waters. Under the conditions used in this study, SMR
      hydrolysis was shown to be negligible; however, direct photolysis is a
      significant in most of the solutions studied. Photodegradation was investigated
      using standard solutions of NOM: Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM),
      Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA), Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA), and Aldrich
      humic acid (AHA). The steady-state concentrations and formation rates of the
      reactive species and the SMR degradation rate constants (k1) were correlated with
      NOM spectroscopic parameters determined using UV-vis absorption, excitation
      emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic
      resonance ((1)H NMR). SMR degradation rate constants (k1) were correlated with
      steady-state concentrations of NOM triplet-excited state ([(3)NOM(*)]ss) and the
      corresponding formation rates ((3)NOM*) for SRNOM, SRHA, and AHA. The efficiency
      of SMR degradation was highest in AHA solution and was inhibited in solutions of
      SRFA. The steady-state concentrations of singlet oxygen ([(1)O2]ss) and the SMR
      degradation rate constants with singlet oxygen (k1O2) were linearly correlated
      with the total fluorescence and inversely correlated with the
      carbohydrate/protein content ((1)H NMR) for all forms of NOM. The total
      fluorescence and EEMs Peak A were confirmed as indicators of (1)O2 formation.
      Specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) and aromaticity showed
      potential correlations with the steady-state concentrations of hydroxyl radical
      ([HO]ss) and the corresponding formation rates (HO). 

PMID- 26878480
TI  - Surface-treated carbon electrodes with modified potential of zero charge for
      capacitive deionization.
AB  - The potential of zero charge (Epzc) of electrodes can greatly influence the salt
      removal capacity, charge efficiency and cyclic stability of capacitive
      deionization (CDI). Thus optimizing the Epzc of CDI electrodes is of great
      importance. A simple strategy to negatively shift the Epzc of CDI electrodes by
      modifying commercial activated carbon with quaternized poly (4-vinylpyridine) (AC
      QPVP) is reported in this work. The Epzc of the prepared AC-QPVP composite
      electrode is as negative as -0.745 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Benefiting from the optimized
      Epzc of electrodes, the asymmetric CDI cell which consists of the AC-QPVP
      electrode and a nitric acid treated activated carbon (AC-HNO3) electrode exhibits
      excellent CDI performance. For inverted CDI, the working potential window of the
      asymmetric CDI cell can reach 1.4 V, and its salt removal capacity can be as high
      as 9.6 mg/g. For extended voltage CDI, the salt removal capacity of the
      asymmetric CDI cell at 1.2/-1.2 V is 20.6 mg/g, which is comparable to that of
      membrane CDI using pristine activated carbon as the electrodes (19.5 mg/g). The
      present work provides a simple method to prepare highly positively charged CDI
      electrodes and may pave the way for the development of high-performance CDI
      cells.

PMID- 26878481
TI  - Limited accumulation of copper in heavy metal adapted mosses.
AB  - Copper is an essential micronutrient but has toxic effects at high
      concentrations. Bryophytes are remarkably tolerant to elevated levels of copper
      but we wondered if this tolerance might be species dependent. Therefore, in three
      moss species, Physcomitrella patens, Mielichhoferia elongata and Pohlia
      drummondii, the accumulation of copper was compared with semiquantitative SEM-EDX
      analyses after six weeks of cultivation on copper containing media. We
      investigated the role of the copper-linked anion and applied copper as CuCl2,
      CuSO4 and CuEDTA, respectively. Line scans along the growth axis of moss
      gametophores allowed for a detailed analysis of copper detection from the base
      towards the tip. Mosses originating from metal-containing habitats (i.e. M.
      elongata and P. drummondii) revealed a lower accumulation of copper when compared
      to the non-adapted P. patens. CuEDTA had a shielding effect in all three species
      and copper levels differed greatly from CuCl2 or CuSO4. The detection of reactive
      oxygen species (ROS), H2O2 and O2(-), was further used to indicate stress levels
      in the gametophore stems. ROS staining was increased along the whole stem and the
      tip in the non-adapted species P. patens whereas the tolerant species M. elongata
      and P. drummondii generally showed less staining located mainly at the base of
      the stem. We discuss the relation between metal accumulation and ROS production
      using indicator dyes in the three moss species. As moss gametophores are very
      delicate structures, ROS staining provide an excellent alternative to
      spectrophotometric analyses to estimate stress levels. 

PMID- 26878482
TI  - Surface-patterned SU-8 cantilever arrays for preliminary screening of cardiac
      toxicity.
AB  - Arrays of a MUgrooved SU-8 cantilever were utilized to analyze changes in the
      contraction force and beating frequency of cardiomyocytes in vitro. The
      longitudinally patterned MUgrooves facilitates alignment of cardiomyocytes on top
      of the SU-8 cantilever, which increases the contraction force of cardiomyocytes
      by a factor of about 2.5. The bending displacement of the SU-8 cantilever was
      precisely measured in nanoscale using a laser-based measurement system combined
      with a motorized xyz stage. The cantilever displacement due to contraction of the
      cardiomyocytes showed the maximum on day 8 after their cultivation. Following
      preliminary experiments, Isoproterenol, Verapamil, and Astemizole were used to
      investigate the effect of drug toxicity on the physiology of cardiomyocytes. The
      experimental results indicated that 1 uM of Isoproterenol treatment increased
      contraction force and beating frequencies of cardiomyocytes by 30% and 200%,
      respectively, whereas 500 nM of Verapamil treatment decreased contraction force
      and beating frequencies of cardiomyocytes by 56% and 42%, respectively. A
      concentration of less than 5 nM of the hERG channel suppression drug Astemizole
      did not change the contraction forces in the displacement but slightly decreased
      the beating frequencies. However, irregular or abnormal heartbeats were observed
      at Astemizole concentrations of 5 nM and higher. We experimentally conformed that
      the proposed SU-8 cantilever arrays combined with the laser-based measurement
      systems has the great potential for a high-throughput drug toxicity screening
      system in future.

PMID- 26878483
TI  - Label-free cascade amplification strategy for sensitive visual detection of
      thrombin based on target-triggered hybridization chain reaction-mediated in situ
      generation of DNAzymes and Pt nanochains.
AB  - A new magnetic bead-based cascade amplification strategy for highly sensitive
      visual detection of proteins (thrombin as a model analyte) was developed by
      coupling target-triggered hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with the synergistic
      catalysis of DNA concatemer-mediated hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzymes and Pt
      nanozymes. Initially, the biotinylated primer DNA (P-DNA) was complementary with
      aptamer to form dsDNA which was further linked to streptavidin-coated magnetic
      bead (MB), thereby fabricating the expected MB-based aptasensor. In the presence
      of target TB, the aptamer was taken away from the aptasensor, and the free P-DNA
      immediately triggered HCR to spontaneously form DNA concatemer-directed
      nanochains with numerous DNAzymes and Pt nanoclusters (PtNCs) to achieve cascades
      signal amplification. The dual peroxidase mimetics catalyzed the H2O2-mediated
      oxidation of colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into the colored TMB
      oxides (oxTMB), causing intensified color change of the chromogenic solution for
      the highly sensitive naked-eye detection of as low as 100.0 pM TB. In this
      strategy, the employment of magnetic separation and exonuclease III (Exo III)
      assisted digestion of residual dsDNA minimized the background noise and avoided
      the false positive results, greatly improving the detection accuracy and
      sensitivity with a low limit of detection (LOD=15.0 pM). The proposed visual
      platform has promise for detecting various types of proteins with careful DNA
      sequence designs.

PMID- 26878484
TI  - Signal-on electrochemical detection of antibiotics at zeptomole level based on
      target-aptamer binding triggered multiple recycling amplification.
AB  - In the work, a signal-on electrochemical DNA sensor based on multiple
      amplification for ultrasensitive detection of antibiotics has been reported. In
      the presence of target, the ingeniously designed hairpin probe (HP1) is opened
      and the polymerase-assisted target recycling amplification is triggered,
      resulting in autonomous generation of secondary target. It is worth noting that
      the produced secondary target could not only hybridize with other HP1, but also
      displace the Helper from the electrode. Consequently, methylene blue labeled HP2
      forms a "close" probe structure, and the increase of signal is monitored. The
      increasing current provides an ultrasensitive electrochemical detection for
      antibiotics down to 1.3 fM. To our best knowledge, such work is the first report
      about multiple recycling amplification combing with signal-on sensing strategy,
      which has been utilized for quantitative determination of antibiotics. It would
      be further used as a general strategy associated with more analytical techniques
      toward the detection of a wide spectrum of analytes. Thus, it holds great
      potential for the development of ultrasensitive biosensing platform for the
      applications in bioanalysis, disease diagnostics, and clinical biomedicine.

PMID- 26878485
TI  - Quantum dot monolayer for surface plasmon resonance signal enhancement and DNA
      hybridization detection.
AB  - We report results of studies relating to the fabrication of a surface plasmon
      resonance (SPR)-based nucleic acid sensor for quantification of DNA sequence
      specific to chronic myelogeneous leukemia (CML). The SPR disk surface has been
      modified with octadecanethiol self-assembled monolayer followed by deposition of
      the tri-n-octylphosphine oxide capped cadmium selenide quantum dots (QD) Langmuir
      monolayer. The deposition is performed via Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. For
      the sensor chip preparation, covalent immobilization of the thiol-terminated DNA
      probe sequence (pDNA) using displacement reaction is accomplished. This
      integrated SPR chip has been used to detect target complementary DNA
      concentration by monitoring the change in coupling angle via hybridization. It is
      revealed that this biosensor exhibits high sensitivity (0.7859 m(0)pM(-1))
      towards complementary DNA and can be used to detect it in the concentration
      range, 180 pM to 5 pM with detection limit as 4.21 pM. The results of kinetic
      studies yield the values of hybridization and dissociation rate constants as 9.6
      * 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and 2.3 * 10(-2) s(-1), respectively, with the equilibrium
      constant for hybridization as 4.2 * 10(6) M(-1).

PMID- 26878487
TI  - Ring inversion properties of 1->2, 1->3 and 1->6-linked hexopyranoses and their
      correlation with the conformation of glycosidic linkages.
AB  - Enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics simulations performed within the GROMOS
      56a6CARBO_R force field were applied in order to elucidate ring-inversion
      properties of hexopyranose residues in a chain for the case of alpha(1->n) and
      beta(1->n) glycosidic linkages (n = 2, 3 or 6). The results indicate that ring
      inversion free energies calculated for residues in a chain are weakly correlated
      with those of corresponding monomers, except of the case of 1->6 linkages. This,
      in combination with the results for O1-methyl-hexopyranosides (Plazinski et al,
      2016), suggests that both the type of functionalization (glycolysation vs.
      methylation) and the topology of glycosidic linkage play an important role in
      possible alterations of the hexopyranose ring flexibility. Additionally, the
      correlation of the ring shape with the preferred geometry of glycosidic linkages
      was investigated. The linkages of the 1->2, 1->3 and 1->6 types do not follow the
      trend found in the case of the 1->4 linkages, i.e. there is no correlation
      between the range of changes in the glycosidic linkage conformation and the
      topological orientation of the glycosidic oxygen atoms. Overall, the ring shape
      affects the glycosidic linkages of the 1->6 type to the least extent in
      comparison to the remaining ones. 

PMID- 26878486
TI  - Marine cytotoxic jaspine B and its stereoisomers: biological activity and
      syntheses.
AB  - Conformationally constrained sphingolipids such as anhydrophytosphingosines
      represented by jaspine B (also known as pachastrissamine) and its stereoisomers
      have become an attractive and timely target for total synthesis due to their
      significant biological activity as well as the unique structures. This review
      article describes the biological activity and chemistry of the natural jaspine B
      and its seven stereoisomers. 

PMID- 26878488
TI  - Influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds on regioselectivity of glycosylation.
      Synthesis of lupane-type saponins bearing the OSW-1 saponin disaccharide unit and
      its isomers.
AB  - A series of lupane-type saponins bearing OSW-1 disaccharide unit as well as its
      regio- and stereoisomers were prepared and used for the structure-activity
      relationships (SAR) study. Unexpected preference for 1->4-linked regioisomers and
      an unusual inversion of the conformation of the sugar rings were noted. Cytotoxic
      activity of new lupane compounds was evaluated in vitro and revealed that some
      saponins exhibited an interesting bioactivity profile against human cancer cell
      lines. Influence of the protecting groups on the cytotoxicity was investigated.
      These results open the way to the synthesis of various lupane-type triterpene and
      saponin derivatives as potential anticancer compounds. 

PMID- 26878489
TI  - Layered Perovskite Oxychloride Bi4NbO8Cl: A Stable Visible Light Responsive
      Photocatalyst for Water Splitting.
AB  - Mixed anion compounds are expected to be a photocatalyst for visible light
      induced water splitting, but the available materials have been almost limited to
      oxynitrides. Here, we show that an oxychrolide Bi4NbO8Cl, a single layer Sillen
      Aurivillius perovskite, is a stable and efficient O2-evolving photocatalyst under
      visible light, enabling a Z-scheme overall water splitting by coupling with a H2
      evolving photocatalyst (Rh-doped SrTiO3). It is found that the valence band
      maximum of Bi4NbO8Cl is unusually high owing to highly dispersive O-2p orbitals
      (not Cl-3p orbitals), affording the narrow band gap and possibly the stability
      against water oxidation. This study suggests that a family of Sillen-Aurivillius
      perovskite oxyhalides is a promising system to allow a versatile band level
      tuning for establishing efficient and stable water-splitting under visible light.

PMID- 26878490
TI  - Advancing health equity to improve health: the time is now.
AB  - Health inequities, or avoidable inequalities in health between groups of people,
      are increasingly recognized and tackled to improve public health. Canada's
      interest in health inequities goes back over 40 years, with the landmark 1974
      Lalonde report, and continues with the 2011 Rio Political Declaration on Social
      Determinants of Health, which affirmed a global political commitment to
      implementing a social determinants of health approach to reducing health
      inequities. Research in this area includes documenting and tracking health
      inequalities, exploring their multidimensional causes, and developing and
      evaluating ways to address them. Inequalities can be observed in who is
      vulnerable to infectious and chronic diseases, the impact of health promotion and
      disease prevention efforts, how disease progresses, and the outcomes of
      treatment. Many programs, policies and projects with potential impacts on health
      equity and determinants of health have been implemented across Canada. Recent
      theoretical and methodological advances in the areas of implementation science
      and population health intervention research have strengthened our capacity to
      develop effective interventions. With the launch of a new health equity series
      this month, the journals Canada Communicable Disease Report and Health Promotion
      and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada will continue to reflect and foster
      analysis of social determinants of health and focus on intervention studies that
      advance health equity.

PMID- 26878491
TI  - Socioeconomic gradients in cardiovascular risk in Canadian children and
      adolescents.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors show clear
      socioeconomic gradients in Canadian adults. Whether socioeconomic gradients in
      cardiovascular risk emerge in childhood remains unclear. The objective of this
      study was to determine whether there are socioeconomic gradients in physiological
      markers of CVD risk in Canadian children and adolescents. METHODS: Using combined
      cross-sectional data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2011, we
      examined the following cardiovascular risk markers: overweight (including
      obesity), aerobic fitness score (AFS), blood pressure (BP), blood lipids (total
      as well as HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides), glucose metabolism and C
      reactive protein (CRP) by sex in 2149 children (ages 6-11 years) and 2073
      adolescents (ages 12-17 years). Multivariate linear and logistic regression
      analyses were used to identify patterns in cardiovascular risk across strata of
      household income adequacy and parental educational attainment, adjusting for age
      and ethnicity, and stratified by age group and sex. RESULTS: Young boys showed
      markedly higher prevalence of obesity than young girls (prevalence of 18.5%, 95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 15.6-21.5 vs. 7.7%, 95% CI: 5.2-10.3). However,
      negative SES gradients in adiposity risk were seen in young and adolescent girls
      rather than boys. Young and adolescent boys were more physically fit than girls
      (mean AFS of 541, 95% CI: 534-546 vs. 501, 95% CI: 498-505 in children; 522, 95%
      CI: 514-529 vs. 460, 95% CI: 454-466 in adolescents; p < 001). Although a
      positive income gradient in AFS was observed in both boys and girls, statistical
      significance was reached only in girls (p =.006). A negative gradient of parental
      education in BP was observed in young children. While we observed substantial sex
      differences in systolic BP, total and HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose and CRP in
      adolescents, sex-specific socioeconomic gradients were only observed for systolic
      BP, HDL and LDL cholesterol. Further studies with large samples are needed to
      confirm these findings. CONCLUSION: This study identified important sex
      difference and socioeconomic gradients in adiposity, aerobic fitness and
      physiological markers of CVD risk in Canadian school-aged children. Population
      health interventions to reduce socioeconomic gradients in CVD risk should start
      in childhood, with a particular focus on preventing obesity in young boys of all
      SES and girls of low SES, promoting physical fitness especially in girls and in
      all ages of youth in low-SES groups, and increasing parental awareness,
      especially those with low educational attainment, of early CVD risks in their
      children.

PMID- 26878493
TI  - Strengthening the evidence base on social determinants of health: measuring
      everyday discrimination through a CCHS rapid response module.

PMID- 26878492
TI  - Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in Canadian children and
      adolescents: Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 1 (2007-2009) and Cycle 2
      (2009-2011).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its
      risk factors, and the influence of socioeconomic status, in Canadian children and
      adolescents. METHODS: Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 1 (2007-2009) and
      cycle 2 (2009-2011) respondents aged 10 to 18 years who provided fasting blood
      samples were included (n = 1228). The International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
      consensus definition for children and adolescents (10-15 years) and worldwide
      adult definition (>= 16 years) were used to diagnose MetS. Prevalence of MetS and
      its risk factors were calculated and differences by socioeconomic status were
      examined using chi2 tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 2.1%. One-third
      (37.7%) of participants had at least one risk factor, with the most prevalent
      being abdominal obesity (21.6%), low HDL-C (19.1%) and elevated triglyceride
      levels (7.9%). This combination of abdominal obesity, low HDL-C and elevated
      triglyceride levels accounted for 61.5% of MetS cases. Participants from
      households with the highest income adequacy and educational attainment levels had
      the lowest prevalence of one or more MetS risk factors, abdominal obesity and low
      HDL-C. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MetS (2.1%) was lower than previously
      reported in Canada (3.5%) and the USA (4.2%!-9.2%), potentially due to the strict
      application of the IDF criteria for studying MetS. One-third of Canadian children
      and adolescents have at least one risk factor for MetS. Given that the risk for
      MetS increases with age, these prevalence estimates, coupled with a national
      obesity prevalence of almost 10% among youth, point to a growing risk of MetS and
      other chronic diseases for Canadian youth.

PMID- 26878495
TI  - Assessing drug-drug interactions through therapeutic drug monitoring when
      administering oral second-generation antipsychotics.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are frequently co
      prescribed with drug metabolic inducers and inhibitors. SGA pharmacokinetic drug
      drug interactions (DDIs) with inducers and inhibitors have not received enough
      attention in the literature but can be studied in by using therapeutic drug
      monitoring (TDM). AREAS COVERED: The limited information available on oral SGA
      pharmacokinetic DDIs is reviewed. A systematic literature search on the available
      oral SGA TDM studies is completed. By integrating TDM studies with the
      information on in vitro metabolism studies, case report/series and prospective
      studies, a table is provided to manage average SGA patients taking inducers or
      inhibitors by using TDM and/or dose SGA changes. Adding an inhibitor or
      discontinuing an inducer may increase plasma concentrations and cause adverse
      drug reactions (ADRs) on clozapine or risperidone. Quetiapine and lurasidone,
      which are very sensitive to decreases of plasma concentrations by induction,
      should not be administered with potent inducers. Prescribing sertindole with TDM
      may make its use safer. EXPERT OPINION: Reading our article may encourage: 1)
      clinicians using these combinations to publish TDM case reports/series to
      demonstrate whether our dose indications are correct or not, in their patients
      with DDIs; and 2) pharmacokinetic researchers to study these DDIs in prospective
      and retrospective ways using large TDM databases.

PMID- 26878494
TI  - Risk behaviours for HIV infection among travelling Mexican migrants: The Mexico
      US border as a contextual risk factor.
AB  - The Mexico-US border region is a transit point in the trajectory of Mexican
      migrants travelling to and from the USA and a final destination for domestic
      migrants from other regions in Mexico. This region also represents a high-risk
      environment that may increase risk for HIV among migrants and the communities
      they connect. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based survey, in
      Tijuana, Mexico, and compared Mexican migrants with a recent stay on the Mexico
      US border region (Border, n = 553) with migrants arriving at the border from
      Mexican sending communities (Northbound, n = 1077). After controlling for
      demographics and migration history, border migrants were more likely to perceive
      their risk for HIV infection as high in this region and regard this area as a
      liberal place for sexual behaviours compared to Northbound migrants reporting on
      their perceptions of the sending communities (p < .05). Male border migrants were
      more likely to engage in sex, and have unprotected sex, with female sex workers
      during their recent stay on the border compared to other contexts (rate ratio =
      3.0 and 6.6, respectively, p < .05). Binational and intensified interventions
      targeting Mexican migrants should be deployed in the Mexican border region to
      address migration related HIV transmission in Mexico and the USA.

PMID- 26878496
TI  - Observation of phenotypic variation among Indian women with polycystic ovary
      syndrome (PCOS) from Delhi and Srinagar.
AB  - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder that demonstrates
      ethnic and regional differences. To assess the phenotypic variability among
      Indian PCOS women, we evaluated clinical, biochemical and hormonal parameters of
      these women being followed in two tertiary care institutions located in Delhi and
      Srinagar. A total of 299 (210 PCOS diagnosed by Rotterdam 2003 criteria and 89
      healthy) women underwent estimation of T4, TSH, LH, FSH, total testosterone,
      prolactin, cortisol, 17OHP, and lipid profile, in addition to post OGTT, C
      peptide, insulin, and glucose measurements. Among women with PCOS, mean age, age
      of menarche, height, systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and serum LH were
      comparable. PCOS women from Delhi had significantly higher BMI (26.99 +/- 5.38
      versus 24.77 +/- 4.32 kg/m(2); P = 0.01), glucose intolerance (36 versus 10%),
      insulin resistance as measured by HOMA-IR (4.20 +/- 3.39 versus 3.01 +/- 2.6; P =
      0.006) and QUICKI (0.140 +/- 0.013 versus 0.147 +/- 0.015; P = 0.03) while PCOS
      from Srinagar had higher FG score (12.12 +/- 3.91 versus 10.32 +/- 2.22; P =
      0.01) and serum total testosterone levels (0.65 +/- 0.69 versus 0.86 +/- 0.41
      ng/ml; P = 0.01. Two clear phenotypes, i.e. obese hyperinsulinaemic dysglycemic
      women from Delhi and lean hyperandrogenic women from Srinagar are emerging. This
      is the first report on North Indian women with PCOS showing phenotypic
      differences in clinical, biochemical and hormonal parameters despite being in the
      same region. 

PMID- 26878497
TI  - Effectiveness of platelets rich plasma versus corticosteroids in lateral
      epicondylitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment modalities of lateral epicondylitis in terms
      of pain relief. METHODS: The randomised controlled study was conducted at
      Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from April 2013 to March 2014, and
      comprised cases of lateral epicondylitis. The patients were selected through
      consecutive sampling from the outpatient department and were randomly allocated
      to two equal groups; group A receiving corticosteroid injections, and group B
      receiving injection of platelet-rich plasma. The patients were followed up for
      three weeks to determine the effectiveness of intervention. RESULTS: The 102
      patients in the study were divided into two groups of 51(50%) each. The over mean
      age was 33.9+/-10.3 years. Mean age of patients in the corticosteroid group was
      34.2+/-10.2 years and in the other group it was 33.6+/-10.5 years. Mean baseline
      visual analogue score in group A were 6.5+/-1.2 and in group B it was 6.7+/-1.4.
      In group A, 74.5% of patients presented in moderate pain category and 25.5%
      presented in severe pain category. In group B, 70.6% presented in moderate with
      29.4% presented in severe pain category. On follow-up, the mean pain score in
      group A was 4.0+/-2.6 and in group B it was 3.5+/-2.61. Group A showed
      effectiveness in 52.9% patients and group B showed effectiveness in 82.3%
      (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PRP is an effective alternate to corticosteroid in the
      treatment of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

PMID- 26878498
TI  - Local recurrence of giant cell tumour of bone after intralesional treatment with
      and without adjuvant therapy, a single institution case series.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone is generally a benign tumour composed
      of mononuclear stromal cells and characteristic multinucleated giant cells that
      exhibit osteoclastic activity. It usually develops in long bones but can occur in
      unusual locations. The typical appearance is a lytic lesion with a well-defined
      but non-sclerotic margin that is eccentric in location, extends near the
      articular surface, and occurs in patients with closed physes. OBJECTIVE: The
      current study was planned to summarise our experiences with GCTB, and to evaluate
      individual effect of bone cement, high-speed burring and hydrogen per oxide
      (H2O2) on local recurrence. GCT can mimic or be mimicked by other benign or
      malignant lesions at both radiological evaluation and histological analysis. In
      the past, the mainstay of treatment was surgical, primarily consisting of
      curettage with cement placement, with recurrence rates of 15%-25%. Recurrence is
      suggested by development of progressive lucency at the cement-bone interface.
      RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who started the study, 4(19%) were lost to follow-up,
      and 17(81%) represented the final study sample. Of them, 16(94.11%) patients
      underwent the curettage procedure with adjuvant therapy and reconstruction with
      bone grafts taken from iliac crest. In 3(26.3%) patients, no adjuvant was used.
      Total of 6 (42.1%) patients had local recurrence and 3(50%) of them were those
      who were treated without any adjuvant; 2(33.3%) with phenol and 1(16.6%) with
      PMMA. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that an "aggressive
      curettage" with the use of adjuvant reduces the recurrence rate in a disease
      whose aggressiveness is not easy to predict.

PMID- 26878499
TI  - Focal dome osteotomy for correction of varus deformity at elbow in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cubitus varus is the most common complication of un-treated or mal
      treated supracondylar fracture of humerus at elbow. Various osteotomies have been
      described to correct this deformity but each is associated with its own
      complications. In this study, focal dome osteotomy for correction of cubitus
      varus was performed to determine its functional and radiological outcome.
      MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this study, 35 children with cubitus varus deformity
      were admitted from Jan 2009- Jan 2013. Clinical assessment was done before the
      procedure by measuring the carrying angle at elbow joint. Radiographic assessment
      of deformity was done by anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the elbow by
      measuring the humeral-ulnar angle (HUA) and metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (MDA).
      Through anterolateral approach, supracondylar region of humerus was exposed and
      focal dome osteotomy was done at the center of rotation of angulation (CORA).
      Final assessment was done clinically for carrying angle and radiologically for
      HUA and MDA at 8 weeks to evaluate the functional and radiological outcome as
      good or poor. RESULTS: The mean age of 35 children at the time of surgery was
      (mean +/- SD 8.03 +/- 2.35) with range from 5 - 12 years, Male to female ratio
      was 1.50:1. The mean duration of injury was (170.26 +/- 41.78) days. The
      functional outcome for carrying angle improved from 1.49 +/- 5.95 to 14.46 +/
      1.44 with p value <0.05. Radiological outcome for humeral-ulnar and metaphyseal
      diaphyseal angle improved from 27.71 +/- 4.31 to 17.77 +/- 1.23 and 103.66 +/-
      4.76 to 90.49 +/- 1.96 with p value <0.05 respectively. The final Functional and
      Radiological outcome was good in 32 patients (91%) and poor in 3 patients (9%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Focal dome osteotomy is safe and stable method of correction of
      cubitus varus which avoids prominence of lateral condyle and is cosmetically
      acceptable.

PMID- 26878500
TI  - A comparison of functional outcome of intercondylar fracture of distal humerus
      managed by olecranon osteotomy approach versus triceps sparing approach in
      adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of satisfactory functional outcome of
      intercondylar fractures of distal humerus managed by the triceps-sparing approach
      and olecranon osteotomy approach. METHODS: The randomised controlled study was
      conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from September 1, 2012 to August31 2014,and
      comprised patients> 14 years of age who were admitted through the Accident and
      Emergency Department and were prepared for surgery to repair intercondylar
      fractures of distal humerus. The patients were randomly divided into two equal
      groups. Implants were arranged preoperatively. Patients in group A were managed
      by open reduction internal fixationvia olecranon osteotomy approach, and those in
      group B were managed by open reduction internal fixationvia triceps-sparing
      approach by the same team of surgeons. Mayo Elbow Performance Score was used to
      assess the functional outcome. Demographic, preoperative and postoperative
      clinical information of all patients were entered into a predesigned proforma and
      variables were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The 150 patients in the study
      were randomly divided into two groups of 75(50%) patients each. The overall mean
      age was 49.01+/-14.63 years. Mean age of group A patients was 53.84+/-11.86 years
      and that of group B was 44.19+/-15.59 years. In group A, there were 67(89.3%)
      patients who had satisfactory functional outcome and 8(10.7%) had unsatisfactory
      outcome. In groupB,53(70.7%) patients had satisfactory and 22(29.3%) patients had
      unsatisfactory functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Olecranonosteotomy approach was
      found to be more effective and preferable compared to the triceps-sparing
      approach.

PMID- 26878501
TI  - Awareness of osteoporosis in men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the awareness in office workers about osteoporosis in men.
      METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in different offices in the 5
      districts of Karachi from June to December 2014, and comprised office workers not
      related to the medical profession and belonging to middle and upper socioeconomic
      groups with education level of Masters and above. A questionnaire was used as the
      data collection tool and the collected data was analysed using SPSS 16. RESULTS:
      A total of 420 questionnaires were distributed of which 360(86%) were analysed.
      The mean age of the respondents was 44+/-9.11 years; mean height was 5.6+/-0.26
      feet; mean weight was 70.8+/-1.20 kg; and 55% (198) participants were smokers.
      Only 14.7%(53) had heard of osteoporosis,13.3%(48) had heard of osteoporotic
      fracture, 17.5%(63) knew that osteoporosis can occur in males also,14.2%(51) knew
      that osteoporosis occurs secondary to smoking and alcohol consumption, 15%(54)
      knew worldwide 1 in every 8 males after 60 years suffers from osteoporosis,
      22.5%(81) knew that it can be prevented with adequate calcium and vitamin D, and
      30%(108) used internet to seek information regarding medical issues. In total,
      54.4%(196) reported regular milk intake, 22.5%(81) took calcium
      supplements,23.6%(85) took vitamin D, 33.1%(85)performed regular exercise,
      18.1%(65) had got their serum calcium and vitamin D levels checked. There was no
      association between smoking and the level of awareness (p=0.219). There was
      significant association between those who took calcium and the level of awareness
      (p=0.00), and between those who performed regular physical exercise and their
      level of awareness (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to educate people as
      well as healthcare providers about the need to keep an eye on male osteoporosis.
      National awareness strategies should be implemented to cope with the issue.

PMID- 26878502
TI  - Effect of the silicone heel pad on plantar fasciitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of silicone heel pad in the management of pain
      in plantar fasciitis patients. METHODS: The descriptive case series study was
      conducted at Hope Rehabilitation Centre, Lahore, from March 1 to September 30,
      2013, and comprised patients aged > 18 years with symptomatic plantar fasciitis
      who were treated with silicone heel pad. All patients were assessed at one month
      and six months for pain relief measured on % Maximum Total Pain Relief and Pain
      Intensity Difference percentage scales. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS:
      Out of 100 patients, 37(37%) were male and 63(63%) were female. The mean age of
      the patients was 44.25+/-12.75 years. Five (5%) patients were lost to follow-up
      during the study, while 7(7%) patients changed their initial treatment because
      they did not experience relief. Silicone heel pad reported a better outcome
      measure associated with the patient?'s heel pain as 74(84.09%) patients resolved
      their condition or reached a tolerance level and showed preferable reduction in
      heel pain .There were statistically significant difference between pain relieved
      and treatment duration (p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Conservative intervention with
      silicone heel pad showed relief from heel pain and it allowed the patient to
      manage the condition more effectively with no complications but for shortterm. It
      was less effective in the long term.

PMID- 26878503
TI  - Role of addition of Dexamethasone and Ketorolac to lignocaine intravenous
      regional anesthesia (Bier's Block) to improve tourniquet tolerance and post
      operative analgesia in hand and forearm surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare tourniquet tolerance and postoperative analgesia using
      lignocaine intravenous regional analgesia alone or with addition of dexamethasone
      and ketorolac. METHODS: The randomised, prospective study was conducted at Mayo
      Hospital, Lahore, from June 2013 to June 2014. Patients were divided into three
      groups: group I received lignocaine; group II received lignocaine and 30mg
      ketorolac; and group III received lignocaine, 30mg ketorolac and 08mg
      dexamethasone for intravenous regional anaesthesia. A total of 40ml solution was
      made by diluting it with normal saline. Motor and sensory block and recovery
      times were noted. Visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of
      surgical and tourniquet pain, and total number of analgesic tablets taken in the
      first 24 hours after surgery were also recorded. RESULTS: The 180 patients in the
      study were divided into three equal groups of 60(33.3%) each, with each group
      having 30(50%) male and 30(50%) female subjects. In all the three groups, the
      sensory and motor onset and recovery time was the same (P> 0.05). Lower pain
      scores were reported in groups II and III compared to group I (p<0.001). Patients
      of group II and III also required fewer analgesic tablets postoperatively and had
      longer postop time during which no analgesia was given compared to group I
      (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bier block using lignocaine, dexamethasone and ketorolac
      provides better tourniquet tolerance in patients undergoing hand and forearm
      surgeries when compared to use of lignocaine alone and lignocaine and ketorolac.

PMID- 26878504
TI  - Bomb blast injuries: Tertiary care hospital in-patient experience over the last
      20 years.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the distribution and nature of limb injuries in young bomb
      blast victimsand their management in a tertiary healthcare setting. METHODS: The
      retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
      and data was searched using the University Medical Record Database with
      International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification
      codes for injuries and terrorism between 1990 and 2012. Data regarding injuries,
      including admission time, hospital stay duration, interventions and mortality,
      was collected and classified as per the New Injury Severity Score. RESULTS: There
      were 22 patients in the study; 19(86.3%) males and 3(13.7%) females. The mean age
      of the sample was 13.1+/-4.1 years. Median length of hospital stay was 9 days
      (range: 2-42 days). Sixteen (72.7%) patients required operative intervention.
      Patients rarely had accompanying injuries with limb injuries. Four (18%) patients
      needed open reduction and internal fixation. Two (9%) patients needed open
      reduction and external fixation. One (4.5%) patient required a limb amputation.
      One (4.5%) patient required ileal resection with ileoileal anastomosis due to
      shrapnel perforations. There was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The young age group
      was not severely affected by limb trauma. Injuries sustained were infrequently
      accompanied by severe/critical injury severity scores.

PMID- 26878505
TI  - Antibiotic prophylaxis in hip surgery: A comparision of two vs. three doses of
      cefuroxime.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of two-dose regime with a three-dose regime of
      cefuroxime in the prevention of post-operative wound infection in hip surgery
      patients and to determine the most effective regime of antibiotic prophylaxis for
      such patients. METHODS: The prospective, comparative, multi-centre cohort study
      was conducted from January 1998 to June 1998 at Dundee Royal Infirmary and
      attached district hospitals (Stirling Royal Infirmary and Falkirk Royal
      Infirmary). It comprised patients who had hip surgery i.e. fracture fixation,
      hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement. Patients were assigned to two groups.
      Group A patients received cefuroxime 750mg at induction of anaesthesia and 750mg
      at the end of the procedure, while Group B patients received 1.5gm of cefuroxime
      at the induction of anaesthesia, followed by 750mg 8 and 16 hours after the
      operation. Patients were assessed post-operatively daily according to the ASEPSIS
      wound scoring system during the hospital stay. RESULTS: There were 280 patients
      in the study, with 140(50%) in each of the two groups. In Group A 60(43%)
      patients required fracture fixation, the rate of wound infection was 2(3.3%),
      40(28.5%) required hemiarthroplasty and the rate of wound infection was 1(2.5%)
      and 40(28.5%) required total hip replacement and the rate of wound infection was
      zero. In Group B, the corresponding numbers were 1/60 (1.6%), 1/40 (2.5%) and
      zero. No evidence of minor, moderate or severe wound infection was observed in
      272(97%) patients regardless of the group. The most frequent pathogens were
      Staphylococcus aureus in 3(1%) patients and Staphylococcus epidermidis in
      2(0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of
      wound infection between the patients who had received two or three doses of
      cefuroxime.

PMID- 26878506
TI  - Outcome of hemivertebra resection in congenital thoracolumbar kyphosis and
      scoliosis by posterior approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To find out the long term outcome of deformity correction by
      hemivertebra resection in congenital thoracolumbar spinal deformities by a single
      posterior approach. METHODS: This is a retrospective study carried out at the
      Department of Spine Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
      from April 2006 to April 2013. All operated patients having single level
      hemivertebrae of thoracolumbar spine with at least two years follow up were
      included. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 17. RESULTS: There were 24 patients
      with mean age of 17 years (SD=8.41). Male to female ratio was 9(37.5%):
      15(62.5%). Mean operation time was 4.23 hours (SD=1.2). Mean blood loss was 787
      ml (SD=479). Mean follow up was for 5 years and 7 months (SD=30 months). Mean pre
      op scoliosis was 51 degrees (SD=22), which improved to 20 degrees (SD=15) on last
      follow up (61% improvement). Mean pre-op kyphosis was 42 degrees (SD=35), which
      improved to 13 degrees (SD=15) on last follow up (69% improvement). Mean pre-op
      sagittal shift was 22mm (SD=24.9), which improved to 6mm (SD=9.37) on last follow
      up (73% improvement). Mean pre-op coronal shift was 34mm (SD=27.1), which
      improved to 8mm (SD=8.58) on last follow up (76% improvement). Five patients had
      complications. One proximal junctional kyphosis, one implant failure, one
      transient deficit and two wound infections. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior resection of
      hemivertebrae for congenital thoracolumbar deformities gives excellent correction
      of deformity in experienced hands and has acceptable complication rate.

PMID- 26878507
TI  - Outcome of ilizarov fixator in complex non-union of long bones.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Ilizarov fixator in the management of
      complex non-union of long bones. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted
      at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar,
      Pakistan, and comprised data of patients aged 14- 60 years of either gender with
      complex non-union of long bones between January 2006 and December 2013. Data,
      including age, gender, mechanism of injury, type of long bone involved,
      complications of surgery and final outcome, was documented on a pre-designed
      proforma. Outcome was graded using Association for the Study and Application of
      Methods of Ilizarov scoring system. SPSS 20 was used for analysis. RESULTS: There
      were 45 patients of whom 30(66.7%) were males and 15(33.4%) were females. The
      overall mean age was 32.20+/-12.48 years (range: 14-60 years).Of the 45 non
      unions, 39(86%) healed successfully, and the mean time to union was 30.69+/-8.6
      weeks (range: 16-52weeks).In terms of outcome, 29(64.44%) patients had excellent
      bone results, 9(20%) had good results, 2(4.44%) had fair results and 5(11.1%) had
      poor bone results. There were 32(71.11%) patients with excellent functional
      result, 8(17.77%) good, 2(4.44%) fair and 3(6.66%) patients had poor results.
      CONCLUSIONS: Ilizarov fixator gave good and excellent results in complex non
      union of long bones by eradicating the infection, filling the defect with bone
      transport, and correcting the deformity and limb length discrepancy.

PMID- 26878508
TI  - Multi level lumbosacral spinal fusion including lumbo-Sacral (L5-S1) junction
      fixation in adult deformity surgery; is postero- lateral fusion at (L5-S1) alone
      adequate?
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the revision rate at L5-S1 when only posterior
      fixation with pedicle screws is done with multi-level spinal fixation. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: The Retrospective quasi experimental study was conducted at the
      Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpinidi and comprised data from 2009 to 2014 of
      patients in whom multi-level posterior decompression including lumbosacral
      junction (L5-S1) with laminectomy and posterior fixation with pedicle screws was
      done till L3 and higher. Those with known cause of implant failure like
      osteoporosis, osteomalacia and infection were excluded. Patients were followed up
      and need for revision at L5-S1 level was assessed. RESULTS: Of the 22 cases,
      5(23%) were males and 17(77%) were females with an overall mean age of 64+/-10.38
      years (range 48-84 years). Mean number of levels fixed was 5.22+/-1.15 the
      highest level of fixation being T11. Mean follow-up was 08+/-3.22 months and
      focused only at the failure of fixation at L5-S1. Two (9%) cases showed implant
      loosening and required revision at L5-S1 because of screw cut out. CONCLUSIONS:
      Properly placed pedicle screws were adequate with fusion for multilevel spinal
      fixations.

PMID- 26878509
TI  - A comparison of treating Unicameral bone cyst using steroids and percutaneous
      autologous bone marrow aspiration injection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of percutaneous autologous bone aspiration
      injection and steroids injections in the treatment of unicameral bone cyst.
      METHODS: The prospective study was conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from
      January 2008 to March 2014, and comprised patients diagnosed radiologically as a
      case of unicameral bone cyst. The patients were divided into two groups, with
      group 1 being treated with bone marrow aspiration injection, while group 2 was
      given steroids injection. Aspiration of bone marrow was done from tibial
      tuberosity. RESULTS: The 30 patients in the study were divided into two groups of
      15(50%) each. In group 1, 8(53.34%) patients and in group 2, 3 (20%) patients
      achieved healing after the first injection (p<0.05), while overall success rates
      were 13(86.67%) in group 1, and 11(73.33%) in group 2 (p> 0.05). The mean number
      of procedures required in group 1 was 1.57+/- 0.495 (range: 01-3) and for 2.19 +/
      1.076 (range: 1-5) in group 2 (p<0.05), and mean interval-to-healing was 14.3
      months +/- 8.705 (range: 7-36) for group 1 and 12.5 months +/- 7.88 (range: 4-32)
      for group 2 (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow aspiration injection was better
      than steroids in treating unicameral bone cyst.

PMID- 26878510
TI  - Comparison of titanium elastic nails versus Thomas splint traction for treatment
      of pediatric femur shaft fracture.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare titanium elastic nails with Thomas splint traction
      treatment for femur shaft fracture in children. METHODS: The descriptive
      randomised study was conducted at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, from January
      2013 to December 2014, and comprised children aged 6-12 years with simple femur
      shaft fractures. The patients were randomised into two equal groups. Group A
      patients were treated with titanium elastic nail and group B patients with Thomas
      splint traction. Patients were mobilised without weight-bearing on the 5th to 7th
      postoperative day. In group B, traction was maintained for about 8 to 10 weeks.
      After splint removal, patients were referred to physical therapy. Patients were
      available for one-year follow-up. RESULTS: There were 30 patients; 15(50%) in
      each of the two groups. Those group A had full weight-bearing at 4-6 weeks and
      early return to routine activities compared to group B patients who took 8-12
      weeks. The results were Excellent in 12(80%) patients in group A and 6(40%)
      patients in group B Postoperative superficial infection occurred in 3(10%)
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Titanium elastic nailing is an effective treatment of
      femur shaft fractures in children.

PMID- 26878511
TI  - Trends in management of neck of femur fracture.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify trends related to surgical procedure for the management of
      neck of femur fracture to see how the choice is changing over time in relation to
      different age groups. METHODS: The retrospective audit was conducted at Aga Khan
      University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of all patients who presented
      with neck of femur fracture from 1995 to 2014. Patients with open fractures and
      those having external fixators were excluded. Data was retrieved from the
      hospital database, and analysed using SPSS 17. RESULTS: Records of 1039 patients
      were reviewed. The proportion of patients in the 70+ years age group
      significantly increased from 45% to 52% over the two decades (p=0.033).
      Proportion of patients undergoing total hip replacement increased by more than 3
      times from 2.6% to 8% (p<0.001).Internal fixation was the most common procedure
      in patients aged <50 (p<0.001), and hemiarthroplasty for those aged > 50 years
      (p<0.001). Total hip replacement was seen in its highest proportion (15%) in
      patients aged 40-49 years (p=0.006). Hemiarthroplasty showed a dramatic decrease
      in the age group 50-59 years (from 57% to 40%). Total hip replacement showed a
      steady increasing trend over the last 20 years, most prominently in people in
      their 50s and 60s (from 1% to 18%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is apparently a
      rising trend in number of patients presenting with neck of femur fracture. Total
      hip replacement has a rising trend and partial hip arthroplasties have a
      decreasing trend when it comes to treatment of neck of femur fractures.

PMID- 26878512
TI  - Assessment with Oswestry disability index in surgically treated patients with
      lumbar spondylolisthesis: experience in 96 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of surgical treatment in spondylolisthesis of
      lumbosacral region using Oswestry disability Index. METHODS: The quasi
      experimental study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi
      from 2006 to 2013 and comprised surgically treated patients with
      spondylolisthesis. The patients with degenerative and isthmic types with follow
      up of at least two years were included. A performa was designed for each patient
      and records were kept in a custom-built database. Oswestry disability index was
      used as the assessment tool and assessment was done pre-operatively, at 1, 3 and
      6 months and then at 1 year and 2 years. RESULTS: There were 96 patients with
      mean pre-op Oswestry disability index score of 81.06% (range 42.22-100, SD +/
      11.99). L5-S1 was affected in 44 (45.83%) patients, L4-L5 in 30 (31.25%), L4-5-S1
      in 7 (7.29%) and multi or high level was found in the rest of the cases. One
      level was involved in 77 (80.2%), 2 in 11 (11.45%), 3 in 7 (7.29%) and 4 in 1
      (1.04%). The slip grade as per Meyerding grades was 1 in 31 (32.29%), II in 39
      (40.62%), III in 19 (19.79%), IV in 5 (5.2%) and 2 (2.08%) had spondyloptosis.
      Mean follow-up was 42 months (range 24-63). Mean Oswestry disability score at 1
      month was 38.51% (range 11- 62.22%, SD +/-11.75); at 6 months 10.02% (range 0
      40%, SD +/-6.99); at 1 year 4.62% (range 0-24%, SD +/-5.36) and at 2 years 4.21%
      (range 0-15%, SD +/-4.2). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis
      gives excellent long-term result in most patients.

PMID- 26878513
TI  - Does tranexamic acid reduce blood transfusion following surgery for inter
      trochanteric fracture? A randomized control trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of blood transfusion after surgery for
      fixation of inter-trochanteric fractures in patients given tranexamic acid versus
      placebo. METHODS: The randomised control trial was conducted at the Aga khan
      university hospital from May 1 to October 31, 2014, and comprised patients
      diagnosed with Inter-trochanteric fracture based on X-ray imaging. The patients
      were randomised into two equal groups based on a computer-generated random number
      table. The Intervention group received two doses of 10mg/kg body weight of
      tranexamic acid just before surgery and three hours later intravenously. The
      Control group received two doses of 10mg/kg body weight of normal saline at
      similar intervals. Numbers of blood transfusions required postoperatively were
      noted based on the postoperative haemoglobin readings. RESULTS: There were 100
      patients who were divided into groups of 50(50%) each. Mean post-op haemoglobin
      for the intervention group was 10.2+/-2.4 g/dl and for the control group it was
      8.9+/-2.4 g/dl (p=0.007). Nine (18%) patients in intervention group required
      blood transfusion compared to 21(42%) in control group (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS:
      Administering tranexamic acid was a useful and safe option for reducing
      requirement of blood transfusion postoperatively after inter-trochanteric hip
      fractures.

PMID- 26878515
TI  - Clinical outcome of patients with isolated tibial shaft fractures treated with
      S.I.G.N interlock nails in terms of surgical site infection and radiological bone
      healing on follow up.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcome of patients with isolated tibial
      shaft fractures treated with Surgical Implant Generation Network interlock nails.
      METHODS: The observational study was conducted from January 2010 to October 2014
      at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and comprised in-patient charts. The
      Surgical Implant Generation Network Fracture Care Online Database was also
      screened for patients' data to be included in the study. The dependent variables
      were surgical-site infection and radiographic callus formation (bone healing).
      Data was analysed using SPSS 17. RESULTS: Out of the 80 patients in the study,
      56(70%) were male and 24(30%) were female; the male-to-female ratio being 2.3:1.
      Overall, 64(80%) patients showed radiographic union and 3(3.75%) patients had
      surgical-site infection on follow-up after 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment
      of isolated tibial shaft fractures with Surgical Implant Generation Network
      interlock nails showed good results in terms of infection and radiographic bone
      healing.

PMID- 26878514
TI  - Calcaneal fractures: An audit of radiological outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess radiological outcome of management of calcaneal fractures.
      METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital,
      Karachi, and comprised data of calcaneal fractures managed between February ,
      2008 and February, 2014 Cases were identified through medical records, and X-rays
      were reviewed through digital radiology archive. Bohler?'s angle, Gissane?'s
      angle, calcaneal height and width were assessed digitally on pre-operative and
      post-operative X-ray images. RESULTS: Of the27 patients, only 1(3.7%) was female.
      The cause of fracture was fall from height 15(56%), road traffic accidents 7(26%)
      and bomb blasts5(19%). Tongue type fractures were 16(59%) and 11(41%) were joint
      depression type. There was a significant mean increase in Bohler?'s angle
      (p<0.001) and mean decrease in calcaneal width (p=0.023). Gissane?'s angle and
      calcaneal height increased marginally (p> 0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Measurable
      improvement in anatomical parameters is possible with surgery, which is a
      prerequisite for good functional results.

PMID- 26878516
TI  - Effectiveness of ilizarov frame fixation on functional outcome in aseptic tibial
      gap non-union.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of Ilizarov frame
      fixation on functional outcome in aseptic tibial gap non-union cases. METHODS: In
      this clinical study, 15 cases of post-traumatic aseptic tibial gap non-union were
      selected in department of orthopedics, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Punjab
      Pakistan, during years 2013-2014. After blood analysis and clinical assessment,
      the aseptic gap nonunion cases underwent ilizarov frame fixation for their
      problem. They were taught about care of ilizarov fixator and pin tract. They were
      called on regular basis and pre and post-surgery functional outcome was measured
      by modified functional evaluation system by Karlstrom-Olerud. RESULTS: Out of the
      15 patients, 12 (80%) with road traffic accident, 2 (13.3 %) with gunshot injury
      and 1(6.66%) with fall from height; 9(60%) were treated by compression technique
      (fig.1,2,7,8,11), 4(2.66%) with compression-distraction (fig.3,10) and 2 (13.3 %)
      were treated using distraction-compression technique (bone transport)
      (fig.4,5,6). Mean gap was 6.33cm (range 2-12cm). Duration of tibial gap union was
      average 10.60 months (minimum 8 months, maximum 15 months) and union was achieved
      in all the cases in mean time of 25.20 weeks (minimum 13 weeks, maximum 57
      weeks). Patients remained in ilizarov fixator frame for average 6.80 months
      (range minimum 4, maximum 13 months). Pin tract infection and pain were common
      Complications. The functional outcome was measured by modified functional
      evaluation system by Karlstrom-Olerud 5 showed good, 4 satisfactory, 4 moderate
      and 2 poor results. CONCLUSIONS: The Ilizarov technique is an effective method in
      treating the aseptic tibial gap non-union. Patient?'s motivation and co-operation
      played an important role in good to excellent outcomes.

PMID- 26878517
TI  - Outcome of open reduction internal fixation with cross K-wires for supracondylar
      fracture of humerus in terms of Flynn's criteria in children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation of
      supracondylar fracture of humerus in children using Flynn?'s criteria. METHODS:
      The quasi-experimentalstudy was conducted at Punjab Medical College/Allied
      Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan from July 2012 to June 2014and comprised children
      aged between 5 and 12 years with supracondylar fracture of humerus presenting
      within one week of the fracture. Post-surgery follow-up included clinical
      assessment and measurement of carrying angle on radiographs. Outcome was assessed
      using Flynn?'s criteria. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis.. RESULTS: Out
      of 79 cases, 50(63.3 %) were boys and 29(36.7%) girls. Overall mean age was
      7.36+/-1.68 years. Excellent results were obtained in 58(73.4%), good in
      14(17.7%), fair in 5(6.4%) and poor in 2(2.5%) patients in terms of functional
      and cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction and internal fixation of
      supracondylar fracture was found to be a better choice of treatment with good
      functional results.

PMID- 26878518
TI  - Short term evaluation of total hip arthroplasty; our experience at tertiary care
      center.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty is a common and successful treatment for
      osteoarthritis of the hip. Demographic trends in Pakistan suggest a significant
      increase in the demand for total hip replacement surgery. OBJECTIVES: The current
      study was planned to assess the outcome of THA at our centre in terms of pain
      relief and functional improvement by using pre and postoperative HHS. It was
      observed in this study that the functional outcomes were highly encouraging.
      Patients were handicapped because of pain, loss of movements and inability to
      carry out day-to-day activities due to arthritis of the hip joint. The same
      functional improvements were noted from examination of the patients according to
      Harris Hip Score. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The descriptive case series was conducted
      at Punjab Medical College and affiliated hospitals from July 2013 to July 2014,
      and comprised patients of either gender 25 years or more of age with primary or
      secondary OA of hip. Severe complications in total hip replacement comprise
      dislocation, aseptic loosening, infection, peri-prosthetic fracture and limping.
      Time period of this study was short so a longer period of follow-up is suggested
      for better evaluation. RESULTS: Mean pre-operative HHS was 31.88+7.43 and post
      operatively it was 81.23+9.56 which meant good results with marked improvement.
      CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that total hip arthroplasty is a secure
      procedure with tremendous benefits.

PMID- 26878520
TI  - EDITORIAL.

PMID- 26878519
TI  - Floating knee injuries: postoperative complications and outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluatepost-operative complications and functional outcome of
      floating knee injuries using Karlstrom?'s criteria. METHODS: The prospective
      randomised study was conducted at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, from
      November 2013 to October2014, and comprised patients of either gender. The
      injuries were classified using Fraser classification. Femur fractures were
      treated with intramedullary nails, dynamic hip screws, dynamic condylar screws,
      dynamic compression plates, buttress plates or external fixators. Tibia fractures
      were treated with buttress plates, dynamic compression plates, intramedullary
      nails, inter-fragmentary screws or external fixators.Patients were monitored at
      1, 2, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Final outcome was measured by Karlstrom?'s
      criteria. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients, 50(77%) were males and 15(23%) were
      females. According to Fraser classification, there were 46(70.8%)type I, 3(4.6%)
      type IIa, 7(10.8%) type IIb, and 9(13.8%) type IIc injuries. Most injuries were
      sustained during motor bike accidents 59(90.8%) involving right limb 38(58.5%)
      more than the left 27(41.5%), and 22(33.8%) had associated bony injuries and
      4(6.2%) had visceral injuries. Non-union occurred in 16(12.3%) fractures,
      amputation in 5(7.7%), stiffness in 21(32.3%), soft tissue complications
      requiring reconstruction in 5(7.7%), infection in femur 11(16.9%), and infection
      in tibia 13(20%). Outcome was Excellent in 16(24.6%), Good 26(40%), Satisfactory
      16(24.6%) and Poor 7(10.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A better functional outcome without
      sequelae/complications depends on the choice of implants according to Fraser
      classification, comminution at fracture site, intra- or extra-articular nature
      and whether the fracture is open or closed.

PMID- 26878521
TI  - K Wire fixation of supra-condylar humerus fractures in children. Is ulnar nerve
      at risk?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury in lateral entry pin fixation
      versus medial and lateral entry pin fixation in the treatment of supracondylar
      fractures of the humerus in children. Measurement of clinical parameters in terms
      of elbow range of motion and postop radiographic alignment was also targeted.
      METHODS: The retrospective cohort study was conducted at Aga Khan University
      Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of paediatric patients who underwent closed
      reduction and percutaneous pin fixation for the treatment of displaced extension
      type supracondylar fractures of the humerus between July 2007 and June 2012. Data
      regarding socio-demographic status, disease and procedure variables was collected
      from patient files and was analysed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: There were
      71patients; 37(52%) in the lateral entry group and 34(48%) in the medial and
      lateral entry group. The two groups were similar in terms of mean age, gender
      distribution, and preoperative displacement, comminution, and associated vascular
      and nerve status (p> 0.05 each). There were no cases of iatrogenic ulnar nerve
      injury in either group and no significant differences between groups with respect
      to the elbow range of motion and radiological parameters (p> 0.05 each).
      CONCLUSIONS: With the use of the specific techniques employed, both lateral entry
      pin fixation and medial and lateral entry pin fixation were effective in the
      treatment of displaced extension type supracondylar humerus fractures in
      children.

PMID- 26878522
TI  - Clinic-based biopsy with a small curette: is it a reliable and safe option in
      extremity tumours?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic accuracy and safety of clinic-based biopsy
      done with a small curette. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga
      Khan University Hospital Karachi and comprised data of patients who underwent
      biopsy procedure of extremity tumours in clinic under local anaesthesia from July
      2009 to June 2012. Patients who underwent the procedure in operating room under
      general anaesthesia were excluded and so were those with insufficient or missing
      information, or those who had the final procedure done elsewhere. Clinical
      parameters were evaluated and histo-pathology was compared with the final
      resected specimen. RESULTS: The mean age of the 51 patients in the study was 32+/
      19.6 years. Lower extremity was involved in 37(73%) cases, and the most common
      tumour was osteosarcoma in 9(17%).Biopsy was inconclusive in 2(4%) patients,
      leaving the clinical accuracy to be 94%. The cost of clinic-based biopsy was at
      least seven times less than those done in the operating room under general
      anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy done in a clinic with a small curette is
      accurate, safe and cost-effective method.

PMID- 26878523
TI  - Clinic based biopsy vs. theatre biopsy of bone and soft tissue extremity tumours:
      comparable diagnostic modalities.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of clinic-based biopsy versus
      theatre biopsy against final histopathology in patients presenting with extremity
      tumours. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University
      Hospital, Karachi, and comprised record of patients who underwent biopsy
      procedure of extremity tumours from January 2008 to December 2011. Data regarding
      socio-demographic status, disease-related and procedure-related variables were
      collected from the files. Histopathology report of biopsy was compared with the
      final histopathology after definite procedure of the tumour for concordance.
      RESULTS: Of the 87 patients whose records were reviewed, 42(48%) had undergone
      biopsy in theatre and 45(52%) in clinic. The overall median age was 29 years
      (Inter-quartile range: 18-58 years). As compared to final histopathology after
      the definite procedure, diagnostic accuracy of theatre and clinic-based biopsy
      was 97.7% vs. 95.5% respectively. Surgical site infection was observed in 2(5%)
      in theatre and in 1(2.2%) in clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Clinic-based biopsy was
      accurate and safe with diagnostic accuracy comparable to theatre-based biopsy.
      Clinic-based biopsy, being cost-efficient along with low morbidity, should be
      preferred in patients with extremity tumours.

PMID- 26878524
TI  - Do delays in surgery affect outcomes in patients with inter-trochanteric
      fractures?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the differences in outcomes of early versus delayed surgery
      in patients with intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: The retrospective chart
      review was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data
      of patients who underwent surgery for intertrochanteric hip fractures from 2005
      to 2010. A gap of >48hours between the event and the surgery was considered a
      delayed procedure and its impact on outcome was assessed. RESULTS: Of the 190
      patients, 138(72.6%) were in the early group and 52(27.3%) in the delayed group.
      The most common cause for delay of surgery was electrolyte imbalance in 14(27%)
      patients. Patients with delayed surgery had more comorbidites and higher ASA
      grades compared to those that underwent early surgery (p<0.05). Inpatient
      mortality was significantly higher in the delayed group (p=0.006). Multivariate
      analysis showed that higher mortality was associated with delay in surgery.
      CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multiple comorbid conditions, expedited
      optimisation for surgery may be warranted to reduce mortality.

PMID- 26878525
TI  - Efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee replacements.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in
      total knee replacement. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Quaid-e
      Azam International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised data of patients
      who underwent total knee replacement between January 2012 and December 2014. The
      effect of tranexamic acid on postoperative haemoglobin, hematocrit and number of
      blood units transfused was noted and compared between cases who had received
      standard dose of tranexamic acid with those who had not received it. SPSS 19 was
      used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 416 knee replacement surgeries were
      conducted during the study period and involved 254 patients; 76(30%) men and
      178(70%) women. The overall mean age was 62.2+/-9.6 years (range: 36-87 years).
      Tranexamic acid was used in 162(74%) patients and was not used in 92(36%). When
      it was used, only 26(16%) patients required blood transfusion, but when it was
      not used, 35(39.1%) required transfusion (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tranexamic acid
      was able to reduce total blood loss and transfusion requirements.

PMID- 26878526
TI  - Postoperative range of motion and stability after anterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring autograft.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is increasing,
      especially in young active adults. Various surgical options like bone-patellar
      tendon-bone graft and hamstring autograft have been the focus of evaluation and
      comparison in various aspects, each having specific advantages and demerits. We
      are increasingly using and analysing quadrupled hamstring autograft for ACL
      reconstruction. Previously it was advocated as a sports injury, but now we note
      that road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the most common cause of ACL tear.
      OBJECTIVE: Objective of this study was to evaluate clinical results of ACL
      reconstruction in terms of stability and range of motion using hamstring
      autograft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 50 patients from June 2011 to May
      2014with isolated ACL rupture, used autologous quadrupled hamstring graft and
      compared the clinical improvement of knee stability and range of motion
      preoperatively versus postoperatively using pivot shift test and lachman test.
      Every patient underwent a standardised 6-month rehab follow-up plan and then
      findings were documented and analysed using SPSS 17. RESULTS: Marked improvement
      was seen at 6-month follow-up. Preoperatively 44(88%) patients showed grade 2
      positive pivot shift test while postoperatively only 1(2%) showed grade2 positive
      pivot shift,and 47(94%) patients improved to grade0 pivot shift.
      Similarly,44(84%) patients were having grade 2 positive lachman test
      preoperatively which improved to43(86%), showing grade0 lachman test and only
      5(10%) showed grade2 positive lachman test.

PMID- 26878527
TI  - Factors affecting functional outcome after lower extremity amputation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: More than 100,000 major lower extremity amputations -- amputations at
      the metatarsal, below-knee or above-knee level -- are performed yearly in the
      United States. Despite improvements in long-term outcome, operative mortality
      following such amputations has remained stable at 9% to 10% over the last 20
      years. Several predictors for functional outcome of amputee patients are
      mentioned in the literature. OBJECTIVES: The current study was planned to assess
      the impact of comorbidities on functional status after lower extremity
      amputations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a prospective comparative study held
      at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Punjab Medical College,
      Faisalabad, and affiliated hospitals. The study included 104 patients regardless
      of age and gender. Patients were allocated into trans-metatarsal (TM) group,
      below-knee (BK) amputation group and above-knee (AK) amputation group.
      Comorbidities before amputation included diabetes mellitus (70.7%), coronary
      heart disease (57.1%), chronic kidney disease (53.6%), and/or congestive heart
      failure (52.1%). RESULTS: Mortality within 30 days of hospital discharge was 9%,
      and hospital readmission was 27.7%. Stroke, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and
      poor baseline cognitive function were associated with the poorest functional
      outcome after amputation. Patients undergoing BK or AK amputation failed to
      return to their functional baseline within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Higher
      amputation level, history of stroke, ESRD, poor baseline cognitive scores, and
      female gender are factors associated with inferior functional status after
      amputation.

PMID- 26878528
TI  - Functional outcome following olecranon osteotomy approach for fixation of T/Y
      fractures of distal humerus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional outcome of fixation of T/Y fracture distal
      humerus through olecranon osteotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental study.
      PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Orthopedics, Jinnah Postgraduate
      Medical Centre, Karachi from June 2011 to December 2011. METHODOLOGY: Patients of
      either sex presenting with T/Y(configuration) fracture Humerus of Risenborough
      Radin type II-IV and less than three weeks duration were included. Diagnosis was
      made by X-rays and underwent fixation by posterior approach through olecranon
      osteotomy. Functional outcome was measured by using Risenborough-Radin criteria
      of range of motion as good, fair and poor. The data was analyzed using SPSS
      version 13. RESULTS: 71 patients aged between 20-50 years were enrolled. Mean
      duration of trauma was 12.2+/-4.4 days. Majority 55 (77.5%) had type III
      fracture. Patients less than 40 years had good outcome in 52.8% cases and fair
      outcome in 41.7% cases better than patients more than 40 years age. In females,
      outcome was 68.8% which was better than males. Trauma of less than 12 days of
      duration had good outcome in 60.5% of cases. Type II fracture had better outcome
      than other types. Overall, 39 patients (54.9%) had good outcome, fair outcome in
      (33.80%) 24 patients and poor outcome in (11.27%) 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Posterior approach using Transolecranon osteotomy is a satisfactory procedure for
      fixation of T/Y fracture of distal humerus, because it achieves good functional
      outcome post operatively in terms of range of motion of elbow compared to other
      procedures.

PMID- 26878529
TI  - A comparative review of three techniques of syndactyly release.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of three techniques of congenital syndactyly
      release; to identify factors leading to difference in outcome, and to identify
      the incidence of neurovascular abnormalities in various types of syndactyly.
      METHODS: The chart review was conducted at The Indus Hospital, Karachi, and
      comprised data of all patients who had undergone syndactyly release between
      August 2008 and December 2014. Three techniques of release were included as
      described in literature by Bauer, Skoog and Niranjan. The data was collected
      through Health Management Information System. A detailed questionnaire was
      designed to address variables of interest. RESULTS: The age of the 29 patients
      with 50 webs in the study ranged from 2.2 to 17.1 years. The male to female ratio
      was 21:8. The complications encountered were web creep, skin flap necrosis,
      flexion deformity and contracture of joint. Single neurovascular bundle was found
      in 04(8%)webs and 45(90%) required skin graft for resurfacing of the digits.
      CONCLUSIONS: Bauer technique was found to be to be superior for web formation and
      there was low incidence of web creep compared to Skoog technique. Inclusion of
      syndromic cases may lead to increased complication and dissatisfaction rate.
      Tight closure of flaps should be avoided and generous use of skin grafts is
      advocated for success.

PMID- 26878530
TI  - Glomus tumours: Outcome based on tumour location in hand.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcome of patients with glomus tumour in
      nail matrix and nail bed that were excised with transungual approach. METHODS:
      The case series was conducted at the Allied and District Headquarter Hospital,
      Faisalabad, Pakistan,from January 2012 to June 2014, and comprised patients with
      glomus tumour at finger tipswhose diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy results.
      Variables noted were the location of the tumour in the nail i.e. either nail
      matrix or the nail bed. RESULTS: Of the 8 patients in the study, 5(62.5%) had
      tumours located in the nail matrix and 3(37.5%) in the nail bed. Three (60%)
      patients with nail matrix tumour had prolonged pain sensation, whereas none (with
      nail bed lesion had prolonged pain sensation. CONCLUSIONS: There was no
      recurrence but anatomic location of the subungual glomus tumour at initial
      presentation can predict postoperative prolonged pain.

PMID- 26878531
TI  - Effect of continuous passive motion on knee flexion range of motion after total
      knee arthroplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare mean knee flexion in patients on continuous passive motion
      and those without it after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: The randomised
      controlled study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, from July 2013 to
      June 2014, and comprised patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Patients
      were randomly assigned to either group, with Group A receiving standardised
      physiotherapy from 1st postoperative day, and Group B receiving physiotherapy and
      one hour of continuous passive motion twice a day from 1st postoperative day
      until discharge. Outcome assessment was done on the day of discharge. RESULTS: Of
      the 76 patients, there were 38(50%) in each group. There were 61(80%) women and
      15(20%) men, with a mean age of 65.5+/-7.9 years in Group A and 61.6+/-9.1 years
      in Group B. The mean preoperative knee flexion in Group A was 90.3+/-13.2 degrees
      and in Group B it was 96.9+/-11.5 degrees . Mean maximum flexion at the time of
      discharge was 96.3+/-5.7 degrees  in Group A and 94.3+/-8.4 degrees  in Group B
      (p=0.22). The mean length of stay in Group A was 6.1+/-1.4 days and in Group B it
      was 8.6+/-2.4 days (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous passive motion had no
      influence on knee range of motion after total knee arthroplasty at the time of
      discharge.

PMID- 26878532
TI  - The pulley suture: A reliable option for closure of selected soft tissue defects
      under tension- three years experience of a tertiary care hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of closure of soft tissue defects through pulley
      suture in different clinical situations. METHODS: The descriptive chart review
      was conducted at The Indus Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data from May 2008 to
      November 2011. A detailed questionnaire was developed to address variables of
      interest. All patients with less than three months of follow-up or inadequate
      information were excluded. The data was collected through Health Management
      Information System. Data was entered and analysed by SPSS 16. RESULTS: There were
      259 patients with 289 wounds in the study. The mean age was 29.2+/-11.9 years. At
      follow-up of two weeks, there was wound dehiscence in 2.07%, infection in 0.69%
      and partial flap necrosis in 1.03% patients. At 12 weeks, hypertrophic scar was
      reported in 2.07% and stretched scar in 0.3% patients. Acute pain was not
      reported in the first week of surgery. Type of wound was found to have
      significant association with complications (p value<0.005). Age and gender were
      not found have any significant association with complications (p value 0.372 and
      0.238 respectively). None of the patients reported scar tenderness at 12-week
      follow-up. Cosmetic outcome was acceptable to all patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Judicious use of pulley suture can lead to primary closure of selected soft
      tissue defects under moderate tension. The technique, however, needs to be
      utilised by surgeons experienced in soft tissue reconstruction.

PMID- 26878533
TI  - Protection of heel flaps with Ilizarov fixator as an elevation frame: A case
      series and review of literature.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare outcome of Ilizarov fixator for protection of heel and foot
      flaps with that of plaster of Paris boot technique. METHODS: The retrospective
      chart review was conducted at The Indus Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of
      patients who underwent flap reconstruction of the heel from January 2011 to
      December 2014. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 3 months. The patients
      using Ilizarov fixator were placed in group A and those with modified plaster of
      Paris boot as the elevation device were placed in group B. A detailed
      questionnaire was developed to note down the relevant variables. RESULTS: Of the
      31 patients, 21(70%) were in group A and 10(30%) in group B. The modified boot
      was considered heavy (70%) compared to none in the Ilizarov group. The mean time
      of removal was 5.9 wks in group A and 4.8 weeks in group B. The mean time for use
      of Foley?'s catheter was 16.8 hours in group A and 14.8 hours in group B. There
      was significant number of associated bony injuries (33%) in group A and none in
      group B. Both groups were satisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: While Ilizarov
      technique is recommended for patients with extensive wounds along the heel and
      foot, obese patients and those non-compliant to the positioning protocol, careful
      use of modified plaster of Paris boot technique in relatively simpler situations
      of heel reconstruction with flaps is also very rewarding.

PMID- 26878535
TI  - Clinical outcome of cemented bipolar hemiarthoplasty versus Austin Moore
      hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular fractures of hip in terms of
      anterior thigh pain in elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore a less pain-inciting implant in terms of anterior thigh
      pain after hip hemi-arthroplasty in displaced intra-capsular fractures of the
      neck of femur. METHODS: The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at
      the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from November 2013 to June 2014, and
      comprised patients of either genders with age above 55 years and having displaced
      intra-capsular fractures of the neck of femur. The patients were divided into two
      equal groups, with Group A patients undergoing Austin Moore hemi-arthoplasty and
      Group B having cemented bipolar hemi-arthoplasty. Follow-up was done at 4, 8 and
      12 weeks postoperatively for anterior thigh pain on the basis of visual analogue
      scale. Mean pain scores for both groups were calculated and compared. RESULTS:
      There were 60 patients; 30(50%) in each group. The mean age in Group A was
      78.40+/-6.95 years, while in Group B it was 77.16+/-6.32. The overall male-to
      female ratio was 1.8:1. All patients had uneventful postoperative recovery. Mean
      anterior thigh pain in Group A was statistically higher than Group B (p<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared to Austin Moore hemi-arthoplasty, cemented bipolar hemi
      arthoplasty caused significantly lower incidence of anterior thigh pain.

PMID- 26878534
TI  - Early experience of dynamic hip screw with spiral blade and locking side plate
      for the stabilization of trochanteric fractures.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early experience with helical hip system in osteoporotic
      elderly patients with per-trochanteric fractures. METHODS: The retrospective
      study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised
      records of patients having low-velocity pertrochanteric fractures who were fixed
      with spiral blade Dynamic Helical Hip Systemfrom July to December 2014 and were
      followed up for a minimum of 3 months. Demographic variables and clinical
      outcomes were noted from the medical records whereas operative details were
      recorded from the operative note. Radiological variables and outcomes were
      assessed by viewing appropriate pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up
      radiographs. RESULTS: Of the 32 patients in the study, 14(44%) were men and
      18(56%) were women, with an overall mean age of 77.81+/-7.04 years and mean body
      mass index of 25.99+/-4.13 kg/m2. Of the total, 1(3.13%) patient had implant cut
      out, 1(3.13%) had myocardial infarctionand 2(6.2) expired. CONCLUSIONS: The
      introduction of spiral blade dynamic hip screw manifested favourable results and
      good clinical and radiological outcomes with low cut-out rates.

PMID- 26878536
TI  - OSATS for total knee replacement: Assessment of surgical competence in the
      operating room.
AB  - Traditionally the surgical and technical competence of Residents has been
      assessed inadequately and has received little attention among the core
      competencies defined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada?'s
      CanMEDS programme and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
      (ACGME). With the development of novel and advanced surgical techniques with
      different learning curves, time pressure in busy operating rooms, and increasing
      complexity of cases at university hospitals, acquiring technical skills for
      Residents has become more challenging. Over the last two decades, methods have
      been developed to assess technical competence objectively. In this paper we
      describe use of an Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS)
      for total knee replacement (TKR). 

PMID- 26878537
TI  - Hip fragility fractures: Anaemia, calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden of anaemia and osteoporosis in hip fracture
      patients, to determine the rate of blood transfusion per-operatively, to assess
      the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements and the use of anti-osteoporotic
      medications postoperatively. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at Aga
      Khan University and Hospital (AKUH) between June 2009 and May 2011, and comprised
      record of patients treated for intertrochanteric and femur neck fractures.
      Patients with associated pathological, open or long bone fractures were excluded.
      The main study outcome measures were the use of pre-operative and post-operative
      calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates and management of anaemia pre- and post
      operatively. Demographic data was also collected including age, gender, and co
      morbids. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: Of the 129
      patients, 65(50.4%) were women. The overall mean age was 67.2+/-15.5 years. Mean
      pre-operative haemoglobin level was 12.3+/-1.5 gm/dl and 39(30%) patients were
      anaemic, while post-operative haemoglobin was 10.2+/-1.71 with 90(70%) anaemic
      patients, but only 14(10.9%) patients received per-operative blood transfusion.
      Pre-operative and post-operative vitamin D supplementation was advised in 3(2.3%)
      and 18(14%) patients respectively, whereas pre-operative and post-operative
      bisphosphonate supplementation was advised in 3(2.3%) and 1(0.8%) patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong need to pay attention to the management of peri
      operative anaemia and calcium, vitamin D and bisphosphonate supplementation in
      the discharge medications of patients with hip fragility fractures.

PMID- 26878538
TI  - Intertrochanteric hip fractures in octogenarian patients: Do we need to rethink
      fixation strategy?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes in octogenarians with younger patients up to 1
      year after undergoing dynamic hip screw fixation for intertrochanteric fractures
      to see the effectiveness of the implant. METHODS: The retrospective case-control
      study was conducted at The Aga Khan University and comprised records of patients
      who underwent dynamic hip screw surgery between January 1, 2010, and December 31,
      2012. They were divided into two groups based on their age:. Group A <80 years;
      and Group B > 80 years. All patients had a one-year follow-up> Data including
      mortality, morbidity, radiological healing time, postoperative ambulatory status
      and Harris hip score were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients, 114(76%) were
      in Group A and 36(24%) were in Group B. Up to 25(70%) of octagenarians dropped
      their ambulatory ability by one or two levels, whereas 107(94%) of Group A
      patients were able to either maintain their pre-injury ambulatory ability or
      dropped their ambulation by one level only (p=0.02). Postoperative complications
      were higher in Group B 9(25%) compared to Group A 4(4%). One-year mortality was
      also significantly higher in Group B 8(22%) compared to Group A 9(8%) (p=0.03).
      CONCLUSIONS: Octagenarians undergoing internal fixation with dynamic hip screw
      had higher frequency of complications and death compared to younger patients.

PMID- 26878539
TI  - Improvement in Harris Hip Score after cementless total hip arthroplasty in young
      active adults with secondary hip arthritis- A short-term follow-up result.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the improvement in Harris Hip Score after non-cemented
      total hip replacement in younger patients with secondary hip joint arthritis.
      METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at Unit I, Department of
      Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, and comprised
      patients diagnosed clinically and radiologically as secondary hip joint arthritis
      from September 2009 to December 2014. Harris Hip Score was calculated pre
      operatively. All patients were operated by the same surgical team. One dose of
      second-generation intravenous cephalosporin after test dose was given at
      induction of anaesthesia followed by 3 times daily postoperatively along with
      aminoglycosides twice daily for three days followed by oral quinolones for 2
      weeks. Patients were followed up for 6 months. The improvement in hip score was
      classified as poor, fair, good and excellent. Data entry and analysis was done
      using SPSS 11.5. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients in the study, 43(66%) were male and
      22(34%) were females. Right hip was involved in 40(62%) patients and 25(38%) had
      pathology in the left hip. Overall mean age of male and female patients was
      35.69+/-5.55 years and 35.72+/-5.95 years respectively. Harris Hip score improved
      over 6 months from poor to fair. CONCLUSIONS: The use of non-cemented total hip
      arthroplasty conferred a significant improvement in function in young patients
      with arthritis of the hip joint.

PMID- 26878540
TI  - Giant cell tumour of foot bones - 25 years experience in a tertiary care
      hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of giant cell tumour in foot, its clinical
      features, stage of tumour, treatment and outcome of surgery. METHODS: This
      retrospective case series study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical
      Centre, Karachi, and comprised cases of giant cell tumour of foot bones diagnosed
      between January 1990 and March 2015. Tumour Incidence, type of procedure and
      results were recorded on a proforma and analysed for function outcome and
      recurrence. Clinical and radiological follow-up was done for a maximum 6 years.
      RESULTS: There were 240 cases of giant cell tumour but only 13(5.4%) related to
      foot bones. Of them, 8 (3.3%) were females and 5(2.0%) males. The mean age was 25
      years (SD 10.59) (range: 17-38 years). In 7 (2.9%) cases lesion was in
      metatarsals, 2(0.8%) cases in phalanges, 3(1.2%) cases in calcaneus and 1(0.4%)
      case in talus. Duration of symptoms ranged from 4 to 12 months. All presented
      with radiologically stage 2 or 3 lesions. Resection of tumour and reconstruction
      with fibular graft was performed in 5(2.0%) cases, excision/curettage and filling
      cavity with cancellous bone graft in 5(2.0%) cases, resection in 2(0.8%) cases
      and toe amputation in 1(0.4%) case. There was recurrence in 2(0.4%) cases. No
      other complication was noted on last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Giant cell tumour in
      foot bones is a rare tumour and shows specific clinical and radiographic features
      with early involvement of entire bones, more aggressive behaviour with recurrence
      potential. The preferred treatment options are resection with reconstruction,
      curettage and filling cavity with bone graft/cement and amputation.

PMID- 26878541
TI  - Outcome of surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: Experience in
      120 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To document the outcome of spinal surgery in patients of cervical
      spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at
      the Department of Spine Surgery at Combined Military in a tertiary care hospital
      in Rawalpindi from 2006 to 2013. A pre-designed proforma was used for each
      patient and records were kept a custom-built computer database. Neurik grading
      was used to assess neurological status preoperatively, at 6 months, 1 year and 2
      years. RESULTS: There were 120 patients with a mean age of 60.08 years (range 26
      82, standard deviation 13.13). Of them 108 (90%) were males and 12 (10%) females.
      The preoperative neurologic status was Nurick?'s grade 0 in 6 (5%) patients There
      were 120, I in 9 (7.5%), II in 23 (19.16%), III in 28 (23.33%) and IV in 19
      (15.83%) and V in 35 (28.16%). The spine was approached anteriorly in 48 (40%)
      patients and posteriorly in 72 (60%). Single level was involved in 23 (19.16),
      two in 30 (25%), three in 22 (18.33%) and four in 45 (37.5%) cases. Anterior
      cervical disc excision and fusion was done in 26 (21.67%), anterior corpectomy
      and fusion with bone graft or a cage in 21(17.5%) cases, laminoplasty in 9
      (7.5%), laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation with reconstruction titanium
      plate in 37 (30.83%) or with rod 24 (20%). In 3 (2.5%) cases only decompressive
      laminectomy was done. At 6 months Nurick 0 was in 26 %21.67%), I in 14 (11.67),
      II in 17 (14.16), III in 21 (17.5), IV in 29 (24.16%) and V in 13 (10.83). At one
      year Nurick grade was 0 in 38 (32.67%, I in 16 (13.33%), II in 14 (11.67), III in
      15 (12.5%), IV in 23 (19.16) and V in 14 (11.67%). At the end of 2 years Neurik
      grade was 0 in 40 (33.33%), I in 15 (12.5%), II in 13 (10.83%), III in 16
      (13.33%), IV in 22 (18.33% and V in 14 (11.67%). CONCLUSIONS: Single, double and
      triple levels with predominantly anterior cervical spondylotic myelopathy
      pathology can be operated anteriorly while multi-level disease with lordotic
      spine should be approached posteriorly.

PMID- 26878542
TI  - Early release of tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty: Is it worthwhile?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of duration and timing of tourniquet release on
      perioperative blood loss, transfusion requirement, duration of surgery, length of
      hospital stay and early complications in total knee arthroplastywith and without
      additional anti-fibrinolytic therapy. METHODS: The prospective quasi-experimental
      study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from March to
      August 2014. The patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were divided into
      two groups: in Group A tourniquet was released after closure of surgical wound
      and applying compressive dressing; and in Group-B tourniquet was deflated after
      cementation of implants following which closure was done. Each group was further
      divided into those who received tranexamic acid (A-T, B-T) and those who did not
      (A-C, B-C). Study variables were noted on a proforma and analysed. RESULTS: Of
      the 75 patients in the study, 27(36%) were male and 48(64%) were females.
      Calculated blood loss was 408mL and 422mL in group A-T and B-T respectively
      (p=0.73), and 615mL and 610mL in group A-C and B-C respectively (p=0.95).
      Tourniquet time was significantly shorter (p<0.0005) in group B whereas duration
      of surgery was significantly shorter (p<0.0001) in group A (68+/-9min vs 77+/
      11min). Transfusion frequency was higher in group B. Complication rate in the two
      main groups was not significantly different (p=0.314). Mean length of hospital
      stay was not significantly different (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Earlier intra
      operative release of tourniquet in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty
      was associated with increased surgery time and higher frequency of blood
      transfusion without conferring any significant benefit.

PMID- 26878543
TI  - New technique: tendon interposition arthroplasty in Distal Interphalangeal Joint
      arthritis in Chinese population - New horizon for treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of managing distal inter-phalangeal
      joint arthritis by using excisional arthroplasties with soft-tissue interposition
      to provide pain-free joint with adequate range of motion and preserving the bone
      stock. METHODS: The case series was conducted at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
      from 2013 to 2015 and comprised patients with distal inter-phalangeal joint
      arthritis. Excisional arthroplasty was performed for all patients. Interposition
      was performed using extensor retinaculum/ palmaris longus. An axial K wire for 3
      4 weeks was applied to maintain the reconstructed part in satisfactory alignment.
      Mallet splint was applied for another 3 weeks. Free active mobilisation was
      allowed afterward. Clinical assessment was done at least at 3, 6 and 12 months.
      RESULTS: There were three patients in the series, and all the 5 fingers,
      including one thumb, achieved good range of motion with no complication except in
      1(33.3%) patient who needed re-exploration of index finger for retained suture
      with no documentary infection. All patients (100%) had significant pain relieved
      with mean visual analogue scale score of 3/10+/-SD at 3 months and 0/10 at 1-year
      follow-up. All achieved good range of motion. All (100%) were satisfied with
      postoperative surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Interposition arthroplasty gave the
      patients adequate range of motion with preservation of bone stock.

PMID- 26878544
TI  - Less invasive versus standard total knee replacement: Comparison of early
      outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare less invasive quads conserving (limited parapatellar)
      approach with standard medial parapatellar approach with respect to early
      functional outcome in cases of total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: The
      retrospective case-control cohort study comprised cases operated upon between
      June 2009 and March 2012 in Combined Military Hospitals in Pakistan by a single
      surgeon. Data related to osteoarthritis patients who underwent unilateral primary
      total knee replacement were included. They were divided into two equal groups of
      control who had standard total knee arthroplasty, and the test group where less
      invasive surgery method was employed. Patients were followed up for 3 months
      postoperatively. The outcomes recorded included mean hospital stay, time to
      assisted ambulation, time to independent ambulation, mean range of motion and
      Knee Society Scores [KSS] 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 120
      subjects with 60(50%) in each of the two groups. Mean hospital stay was 3.2+/-0.6
      days for the test group compared to 5.8+/-1.6 days for the control group. Most
      test group patients were walking with assistance on 2nd postoperative day (mean:
      1.7+/-0.6 days), whereas control group on the 4th day (mean: 4.1+/-1.1 days).
      Independent ambulation was seen at 2.1+/-0.3 weeks and 4.0+/-0.7weeks
      respectively in the two groups. Postoperative range of motion at 1 month was
      118+/-13 for patients in the test group, and 99+/-13 for control group, with Knee
      Society Scores of 87+/-6 and 72+/-9 respectively. The difference in all results
      was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Less invasive surgery for
      total knee arthroplasty was associated with faster recovery, earlier assisted and
      independent ambulation, shorter lengths of hospitalisation and better Knee
      Society Scores at 1and 3months postoperatively.

PMID- 26878545
TI  - Prophylaxis against heterotopic ossification after elbow and acetabular fractures
      - Do we really need it.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of prophylactic modalities for
      heterotopic ossification prevention after elbow and acetabular surgeries.
      METHODS: The retrospective chart review was conducted at the Aga Khan University
      Hospital and comprised record of patients who underwent open reduction and
      internal fixation for elbow and acetabular fractures between 2010 and 2013. Data
      was classified into three groups: Group A patients had received single dose of
      radiotherapy; Group B patients had received indomethacin, and Group C patients
      had not received any prophylaxis. Outcome variables included time-to-fracture
      healing, heterotopic ossification, non-union and wound infection. RESULTS: Of the
      104patients 70(67.3%) had elbow fractures and 34(32.7%) had acetabular fractures.
      Out of the 70patients with elbow fractures, 28(27%) were in Group A, 24(23%) in
      Group B, and 18(17%) in Group C. In Group A, 4(22%) patients had wound infection
      compared to 1(5.5%) patient in Group C (p=0.131). One (4%) patient in Group B and
      1(5.5%) in Group C developed heterotopic ossification (p=0.486). Non-union
      occurred in 1(4%) patient in Group B and 1(5.5%) in Group C. Out of the 34
      patients with acetabular fractures, 11(32.3%) were in Group A, 10(29.4%) in Group
      B, and 13(38.2%) in Group C. In Group A, 2(18.2%) patients developed wound
      infection. Only 1(7.6%) patient in Group C developed heterotopic ossification.
      CONCLUSIONS: No role of radiotherapy or indomethacin was detected in the
      prevention of heterotopic ossification.

PMID- 26878546
TI  - Single stage bilateral total hip replacement: Is it an option or a risk?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and feasibility of two-stage total hip arthroplasty
      and to compare it with single-stage procedure. METHODS: The retrospective study
      was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital and comprised all cases of
      total hip replacements between January 2001 and December 2014 that were retrieved
      from the database using International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision)
      coding. A standardised questionnaire was completed, including patient
      demographics, primary diagnosis, peri and postoperative morbidity and mortality.
      Differences among patients?' data were analysed using chi square test for
      dichotomous variables and student t-test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of
      the 48 cases, 34(71%) had single-stage bilateral total hip replacement and
      14(29%) had two-stage procedure. The mean hospital stay in the single-stage group
      was 8.1+/-3.2 days compared to 19.6+/-5 days in the other group. The two-stage
      group required a significantly greater need for transfusion compared to the
      single-stage group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant increase in
      peri or postoperative complication (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral
      total hip arthroplasty was found to be a safe and viable option with a decreased
      transfusion requirement and shorter hospital stay along with no significant
      increase in morbidity or mortality.

PMID- 26878547
TI  - Outcome of ilizarov fixator in tibial non-union.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of non-union of tibia treated with Ilizarov
      fixator. METHODS: The case series was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex,
      Peshawar, from January 2012 to April 2015, and comprised consecutive patients
      with non-union of the tibia. Patients of either gender, with complex non-union of
      the tibia from the age of 18 to 65 years were included, while patients with intra
      articular fractures, vascular injury, smokers and steroid users were excluded.
      Outcome of the treatment was graded by using the scoring system of Association
      for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov. RESULTS: There were 21
      patients with a mean age of 40+/-13.89 years (range: 18-65 years). There were
      7(33.3%) female and 14(66.6%) male patients. There were 14(66.6%) patients who
      had one previous surgery, 5(23.8%) had 2 surgeries and 2(9.5%) had 3. Bone
      results were excellent in 12(57.1%) patients, good in 6(28.6%) and fair in
      3(14.3%). Functional results were excellent in 7(33.3%) patients, good in
      9(42.9%), fair in 4(19%) and poor in 1(4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Ilizarov fixator gave
      good to excellent results in tibialnon-union, by eradicating the infection,
      filling the defect with bone transport, correcting the deformity and the limb
      length discrepancy.

PMID- 26878548
TI  - Evaluation of the Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Valve For Aortic Stenosis.
AB  - Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a viable alternative to surgical aortic
      valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis. The SAPIEN 3 is the
      latest generation of balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve, designed to
      address some of the shortcomings of earlier versions of transcatheter heart
      valves. It has a lower device profile to reduce access-related vascular injury,
      an improved delivery catheter to facilitate accurate implantation, and
      incorporates an additional outer sealing cuff to minimize paravalvular leakage.
      The latest European and North American trials using SAPIEN 3 have documented very
      low rates of vascular complications and paravalvular regurgitation with rates of
      stroke and mortality rates lower than anticipated with SAVR in both intermediate
      and high surgical risk patients. 

PMID- 26878550
TI  - YihQ is a sulfoquinovosidase that cleaves sulfoquinovosyl diacylglyceride
      sulfolipids.
AB  - Sulfoquinovose is produced by photosynthetic organisms at a rate of 10(10) tons
      per annum and is degraded by bacteria as a source of carbon and sulfur. We have
      identified Escherichia coli YihQ as the first dedicated sulfoquinovosidase and
      the gateway enzyme to sulfoglycolytic pathways. Structural and mutagenesis
      studies unveiled the sequence signatures for binding the distinguishing sulfonate
      residue and revealed that sulfoquinovoside degradation is widespread across the
      tree of life. 

PMID- 26878551
TI  - Allostery: A lipid two-step.

PMID- 26878553
TI  - Exercise intervention for the treatment of trismus in head and neck cancer - a
      prospective two-year follow-up study.
AB  - Background This study aims to investigate the long-term effects of structured
      trismus intervention in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and trismus in
      terms of mouth opening, trismus-related symptoms and health-related quality of
      life (HRQL). Material and methods Fifty patients with HNC to receive radiotherapy
      +/- chemotherapy were included in this prospective study along with a matched
      control group. The intervention group received a 10-week structured exercise with
      a jaw mobilizing device (TheraBite(r) jaw device or Engstrom device). Patients
      were assessed before and after trismus exercise intervention and at a two-year
      follow-up. Primary endpoint was maximum interincisal opening (MIO) and secondary
      endpoints included trismus-related symptoms and HRQL assessed with patient
      reported outcome (PRO)-instruments [Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ),
      European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire
      (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the related HNC-specific module the EORTC Head & Neck
      Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N35)]. Results The intervention group had a higher MIO
      at the two-year follow-up compared to the control group (40.5 mm and 34.3 mm,
      respectively), which was statistically significant. The intervention group also
      reported less jaw-related problems according to the GTQ and higher functioning as
      measured by EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 compared to the control group. Conclusion
      A positive persistent effect of exercise intervention for trismus in HNC patients
      was found with regard to MIO, trismus-related symptoms and HRQL. Exercise
      intervention is important in long-term treatment of radiation-induced trismus in
      HNC patients. The trismus-specific questionnaire, GTQ, is a valuable tool for
      observing and evaluating trismus over time. 

PMID- 26878552
TI  - Allosteric substrate switching in a voltage-sensing lipid phosphatase.
AB  - Allostery provides a critical control over enzyme activity, biasing the catalytic
      site between inactive and active states. We found that the Ciona intestinalis
      voltage-sensing phosphatase (Ci-VSP), which modifies phosphoinositide signaling
      lipids (PIPs), has not one but two sequential active states with distinct
      substrate specificities, whose occupancy is allosterically controlled by
      sequential conformations of the voltage-sensing domain (VSD). Using fast
      fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) reporters of PIPs to monitor enzyme
      activity and voltage-clamp fluorometry to monitor conformational changes in the
      VSD, we found that Ci-VSP switches from inactive to a PIP3-preferring active
      state when the VSD undergoes an initial voltage-sensing motion and then into a
      second PIP2-preferring active state when the VSD activates fully. This two-step
      allosteric control over a dual-specificity enzyme enables voltage to shape PIP
      concentrations in time, and provides a mechanism for the complex modulation of
      PIP-regulated ion channels, transporters, cell motility, endocytosis and
      exocytosis. 

PMID- 26878554
TI  - Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on lower extremity
      spasticity and motor function in stroke patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial
      magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on lower extremity (LE) spasticity, motor function
      and motor neurone excitability in chronic stroke patients. METHOD: This study was
      a randomised sham-controlled cross-over trial with 1-week follow-up. A total of
      20 post-stroke patients were randomised to receive active (n = 10) or sham (n =
      10) rTMS. Fourteen of them (7 in each group) crossed over to the sham or active
      rTMS after a washout period of 1 month. Interventions consist of five consecutive
      daily sessions of active or sham rTMS to the unaffected lower extremity motor
      area (1000 pulses; 1 Hz; 90% of the tibialis anterior motor threshold). Outcome
      measures were modified modified ashworth scale (MMAS), the H-reflex, lower
      extremity section of Fugl-Mayer assessment (LE-FMA) and timed UP and GO (TUG)
      test. All outcomes were measured at three levels in each intervention period: pre
      and post-intervention and 1-week follow-up. RESULTS: Friedman's test revealed
      significant improvement in MMAS score only after active rTMS. This improvement
      lasted for one week after the active rTMS. Repeated measure analysis of variance
      (ANOVA) showed significant time*intervention interaction for LE-FMA. There are no
      differences between groups for the MMAS and LE-FMA. No significant change in
      Hmax/Mmax ratio and TUG test was noted. CONCLUSION: Low-frequency rTMS over the
      LE motor area can improve clinical measures of muscle spasticity and motor
      function. More studies are needed to clarify the changes underlying this
      improvement in spasticity. Implications for Rehabilitation Spasticity is a common
      disorder and one of the causes of long-term disability after stroke. Physical
      therapy modalities, oral medications, focal intervention and surgical procedures
      have been used for spasticity reduction. Beneficial effect of the repetitive
      transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for post-stroke upper extremity
      spasticity reduction and motor function improvement was demonstrated in previous
      studies. This study shows amelioration of lower extremity spasticity and motor
      function improvement after five daily sessions of inhibitory rTMS to the
      unaffected brain hemisphere which lasted for at least 1 week following the
      intervention.

PMID- 26878556
TI  - MACRA paves way for changes in reimbursements: Physicians hopeful law will lead
      to more value-based care.

PMID- 26878555
TI  - The use of human neurons for novel drug discovery in dementia research.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Although many disease models exist for neurodegenerative disease,
      the translation of basic research findings to clinic is very limited. Studies
      using freshly resected human brain tissue, commonly discarded from neurosurgical
      procedures, should complement on-going work using stem cell-derived human neurons
      and glia thus increasing the likelihood of success in clinical trials. AREAS
      COVERED: Herein, the authors discuss key issues in the lack of translation from
      basic research to clinic. They also review the evidence that human neurons, both
      freshly resected brain tissue and stem cell-derived neurons, such as induced
      pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can be used for analysis of physiological and
      molecular mechanisms in health and disease. Furthermore, the authors compare and
      contrast studies using live human brain tissue and studies using induced human
      stem cell-derived neuron models. Using an example from the area of
      neurodegeneration, the authors suggest that replicating elements of research
      findings from animals and stem cell models in resected human brain tissue would
      strengthen our understanding of disease mechanisms and the therapeutic strategies
      and aid translation. EXPERT OPINION: The use of human brain tissue alongside iPSC
      derived neural models can validate molecular mechanisms identified in rodent
      disease models and strengthen their relevance to humans. If drug target
      engagement and mechanism of cellular action can be validated in human brain
      tissue, this will increase the success rate in clinical research. The combined
      use of resected human brain tissue, alongside iPSC-derived neural models, could
      be considered a standard step in pre-clinical research and help to bridge the gap
      to clinical trials.

PMID- 26878557
TI  - Physicians say HPV testing alone can screen for cervical cancer.

PMID- 26878558
TI  - High vitamin D levels increase survival rates in patients with metastatic
      colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26878559
TI  - Erratum: Improving our understanding of the use of traditional
      complementary/alternative medicine in children with cancer.

PMID- 26878560
TI  - Effectiveness and safety of liraglutide after three years of treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term effectiveness and
      safety of liraglutide in real world. METHODS: A diabetes clinic in Italy
      systematically collected data of all patients treated with liraglutide.
      Generalized hierarchical linear regression models for repeated measures were
      applied to assess trends over time of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body
      weight, blood pressure and lipid profile. RESULTS: Overall, 255 patients (mean
      age: 63.5+/-9.7 years, men: 56.9%, mean diabetes duration: 12.0+/-8.1 years) were
      treated with liraglutide during 36 months. Mean HbA1c levels decreased by -1.0+/
      0.1% (P<0.0001), FPG by -46+/-6 mg/dL (P<0.0001), and body weight by -3.9+/-0.8
      Kg (P<0.0001). HbA1c reduction was inversely related to diabetes duration, while
      body weight reduction was directly related to baseline BMI. Significant
      improvements in HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels were also documented.
      Trends of improvement in systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels were also found,
      with significant reduction in patients with baseline SBP>=140 mmHg. Treatment was
      well-tolerated by the vast majority of the patients. Neither severe hypoglycemia
      nor pancreatitis occurred. Drop-out rate was of 28.2%. Main causes of drop-out
      were gastrointestinal side effects and lack of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Our analysis
      documents a prolonged effectiveness and safety of liraglutide, even after three
      years of treatment. In addition to significant improvement in glycemic control
      and body weight, liraglutide also provides additional benefits on cardiovascular
      risk profile, while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. However, magnitude of
      benefits reflects specific patient characteristics that deserve further
      investigation.

PMID- 26878561
TI  - The current management of Turner Syndrome.
AB  - Turner Syndrome (TS) is a rare disease, with the incidence of 1 of 2500 life born
      females. Characteristic features are: growth retardation, gonadal dysgenesis and
      impairment, congenital and acquired cardiovascular disorders. New management
      possibilities in Turner Syndrome are coming along with the new scientific
      evidence on the pathogenesis of TS developmental, metabolic, cardiovascular and
      reproductive issues. Attitude to the growth retardation treatment and hormone
      replacement therapy is changing. The effectiveness of additional androgen doses
      for growth improvement and low estrogen doses in the early childhood for better
      puberty induction and metabolic outcomes has been demonstrated recently. There
      are some new concerns about pregnancy induced progression of cardiovascular
      pathology in TS. Inadequate follow-up despite strict and clear guidelines of TS
      patients is still an issue in the health care system in many countries. This rare
      disorder requires multidiscipline approach of experienced professionals. The aim
      of this review is to overview recent studies evaluating TS, to focus on the
      possibilities to avoid crucial outcomes of this disorder and to improve
      management and follow-up. 

PMID- 26878562
TI  - Pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy.
AB  - The incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes amongst women of reproductive age is
      increasing worldwide. Despite recent advances in treatment options for diabetes
      outside of pregnancy, women still have a significantly increased risk of adverse
      obstetric outcomes including perinatal death and congenital malformation,
      compared to the non-diabetic population. An understanding of the physiological
      changes during pregnancy, management, early detection and prevention of
      complications and pre-pregnancy care, specific to women with pre-existing
      diabetes, is important in improving health outcomes in this growing group of
      women. This review particularly focuses on areas where there have been recent
      developments or controversy. 

PMID- 26878563
TI  - Are basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide values predictors of response to GLP
      1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetic patients?

PMID- 26878564
TI  - Expression patterns of cytokeratin 5/6 and p63 in thyroid sporadic nodular
      goiter.

PMID- 26878565
TI  - Phytotherapy for diabetes mellitus: back to nature.

PMID- 26878566
TI  - Calculating Free Energy Changes in Continuum Solvation Models.
AB  - We recently showed for a large data set of pKas and reduction potentials that
      free energies calculated directly within the SMD continuum model compares very
      well with corresponding thermodynamic cycle calculations in both aqueous and
      organic solvents [ Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015 , 17 , 2859 ]. In this paper, we
      significantly expand the scope of our study to examine the suitability of this
      approach for calculating general solution phase kinetics and thermodynamics, in
      conjunction with several commonly used solvation models (SMD-M062X, SMD-HF, CPCM
      UAKS, and CPCM-UAHF) for a broad range of systems. This includes cluster
      continuum schemes for pKa calculations as well as various neutral, radical, and
      ionic reactions such as enolization, cycloaddition, hydrogen and chlorine atom
      transfer, and SN2 and E2 reactions. On the basis of this benchmarking study, we
      conclude that the accuracies of both approaches are generally very similar-the
      mean errors for Gibbs free energy changes of neutral and ionic reactions are
      approximately 5 and 25 kJ mol(-1), respectively. In systems where there are
      significant structural changes due to solvation, as is the case for certain ionic
      transition states and amino acids, the direct approach generally afford free
      energy changes that are in better agreement with experiment. 

PMID- 26878567
TI  - Differences in medical students' academic interest and performance across career
      choice motivations.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate medical students' career choice motivation and its
      relationship with their academic interest and performance. METHODS: We conducted
      a cross-sectional study in a sample (n=207) of medical students at a private
      medical school in Korea, stratified by year of medical course. Data about
      participant demographics, career choice motivation and academic interest were
      collected using a self-report questionnaire. The item on career choice motivation
      enquired about the respondents' main reason for applying for medical school among
      8 possible response options, which comprised two components of career choice
      motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. The participants' levels of academic
      interest were measured in a Likert-type question. Participants' academic interest
      and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) were compared across the groups of different
      career motivations along with analyses of their admission scores for baseline
      comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 195 students completed the questionnaire
      (94%response rate). Seventy-four percent, (n=145; the intrinsic group) of the
      participants chose reasons related to intrinsic motivation, 22% (n=42; the
      extrinsic group) chose reasons pertaining to extrinsic motivation, and 4% (n = 8)
      chose other reasons for applying to medical school. The intrinsic group
      outperformed the extrinsic group in their GPAs, although their prior academic
      achievements did not differ significantly. The intrinsic group showed
      significantly higher levels of academic interest and also performed better in the
      admission interviews. CONCLUSIONS: Our study illustrates differences in medical
      students' academic interest and performance across career choice motivations.
      Further research is warranted to establish the predictive power of medical
      students' career choice motivation and academic interest on their academic
      performance.

PMID- 26878568
TI  - Gas-assisted electron-beam-induced nanopatterning of high-quality titanium oxide.
AB  - Electron-beam-induced deposition of titanium oxide nanopatterns is described. The
      precursor is titanium tetra-isopropoxide, delivered to the deposition point
      through a needle and mixed with oxygen at the same point via a flow through a
      separate needle. The depositions are free of residual carbon and have an EDX
      determined stoichiometry of TiO2.2. High resolution transmission electron
      microscopy and Raman spectroscopy studies reveal an amorphous structure of the
      fabricated titanium oxide. Ellipsometric characterization of the deposited
      material reveals a refractive index of 2.2-2.4 RIU in the spectral range of 500
      1700 nm and a very low extinction coefficient (lower than 10(-6) in the range of
      400-1700 nm), which is consistent with high quality titanium oxide. The
      electrical resistivity of the titanium oxide patterned with this new process is
      in the range of 10-40 GOmega cm and the measured breakdown field is in the range
      of 10-70 V MUm(-1). The fabricated nanopatterns are important for a variety of
      applications, including field-effect transistors, memory devices, MEMS, waveguide
      structures, bio- and chemical sensors. 

PMID- 26878570
TI  - Role of Small Noncoding RNAs in Bacterial Metabolism.
AB  - The study of prokaryotic small RNAs is one of the most important directions in
      modern molecular biology. In the last decade, multiple short regulatory
      transcripts have been found in prokaryotes, and for some of them functional roles
      have been elucidated. Bacterial small RNAs are implicated in the regulation of
      transcription and translation, and they affect mRNA stability and gene expression
      via different mechanisms, including changes in mRNA conformation and interaction
      with proteins. Most small RNAs are expressed in response to external factors, and
      they help bacteria to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Bacterial
      infections of various origins remain a serious medical problem, despite
      significant progress in fighting them. Discovery of mechanisms that bacteria
      employ to survive in infected organisms and ways to block these mechanisms is
      promising for finding new treatments for bacterial infections. Regulation of
      pathogenesis with small RNAs is an attractive example of such mechanisms. This
      review considers the role of bacterial small RNAs in adaptation to stress
      conditions. We pay special attention to the role of small RNAs in Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis infection, in particular during establishment and maintenance of
      latent infection. 

PMID- 26878571
TI  - Bacterial Small Regulatory RNAs and Hfq Protein.
AB  - Small regulatory RNA (sRNA) is a unique noncoding RNA involved in regulation of
      gene expression in both eukaryotic and bacterial cells. This short review
      discusses examples of positive and negative translation regulation by sRNAs in
      bacteria and participation of Hfq in these processes. The importance of structure
      investigation of nucleotide-protein and RNA-protein complexes for designing a
      model of Hfq interaction with both mRNA and sRNA simultaneously is demonstrated. 

PMID- 26878569
TI  - Permeation of sumatriptan succinate across human skin using multiple types of
      self-dissolving microneedle arrays fabricated from sodium hyaluronate.
AB  - Available formulations of sumatriptan succinate (SS) have low bioavailability or
      are associated with site reactions. We developed various types of self-dissolving
      microneedle arrays (MNs) fabricated from sodium hyaluronate as a new delivery
      system for SS and evaluated their skin permeation and irritation in terms of
      clinical application. In vitro permeation studies with human skin,
      physicochemical properties (needle length, thickness and density), and
      penetration enhancers (glycerin, sodium dodecyl sulfate and lauric acid
      diethanolamide) were investigated. SS-loaded high-density MNs of 800 um in length
      were the optimal formulation and met clinical therapeutic requirements.
      Penetration enhancers did not significantly affect permeation of SS from MNs.
      Optical coherence tomography images demonstrated that SS-loaded high-density MNs
      (800 um) uniformly created drug permeation pathways for the delivery of SS into
      the skin. SS-loaded high-density MNs induced moderate primary skin irritations in
      rats, but the skin recovered within 72 h of removal of the MNs. These findings
      suggest that high-density MNs of 800 um in length are an effective and promising
      formulation for transdermal delivery of SS. To our knowledge, this is the first
      report of SS permeation across human skin using self-dissolving MNs.

PMID- 26878572
TI  - Carbonyl Stress in Bacteria: Causes and Consequences.
AB  - Pathways of synthesis of the alpha-reactive carbonyl compound methylglyoxal (MG)
      in prokaryotes are described in this review. Accumulation of MG leads to
      development of carbonyl stress. Some pathways of MG formation are similar for
      both pro- and eukaryotes, but there are reactions specific for prokaryotes, e.g.
      the methylglyoxal synthase reaction. This reaction and the glyoxalase system
      constitute an alternative pathway of glucose catabolism - the MG shunt not
      associated with the synthesis of ATP. In violation of the regulation of
      metabolism, the cell uses MG shunt as well as other glycolysis shunting pathways
      and futile cycles enabling stabilization of its energetic status. MG was first
      examined as a biologically active metabolic factor participating in the formation
      of phenotypic polymorphism and hyperpersistent potential of bacterial
      populations. The study of carbonyl stress is interesting for evolutionary biology
      and can be useful for constructing highly effective producer strains. 

PMID- 26878573
TI  - Sperm-Specific Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase - An Evolutionary
      Acquisition of Mammals.
AB  - This review is focused on the mammalian sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase (GAPDS). GAPDS plays the major role in the production of energy
      required for sperm cell movement and does not perform non-glycolytic functions
      that are characteristic of the somatic isoenzyme of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase. The GAPDS sequence is composed of 408 amino acid residues and
      includes an additional N-terminal region of 72 a.a. that binds the protein to the
      sperm tail cytoskeleton. GAPDS is present only in the sperm cells of mammals and
      lizards, possibly providing them with certain evolutionary advantages in
      reproduction. In this review, studies concerning the problems of GAPDS isolation,
      its catalytic properties, and its structural features are described in detail.
      GAPDS is much more stable compared to the somatic isoenzyme, perhaps due to the
      necessity of maintaining the enzyme function in the absence of protein
      expression. The site-directed mutagenesis approach revealed the two GAPDS
      specific proline residues, as well as three salt bridges, which seem to be the
      basis of the increased stability of this protein. As distinct from the somatic
      isoenzyme, GAPDS exhibits positive cooperativity in binding of the coenzyme NAD+.
      The key role in transduction of structural changes induced by NAD+ is played by
      the salt bridge D311-H124. Disruption of this salt bridge cancels GAPDS
      cooperativity and twofold increases its enzymatic activity instead. The
      expression of GAPDS was detected in some melanoma cells as well. Its role in the
      development of certain pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegenerative
      diseases, is discussed. 

PMID- 26878575
TI  - Plant Proteases Involved in Regulated Cell Death.
AB  - Each plant genome encodes hundreds of proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes can be
      divided into five distinct classes: cysteine-, serine-, aspartic-, threonine-,
      and metalloproteinases. Despite the differences in their structural properties
      and activities, members of all of these classes in plants are involved in the
      processes of regulated cell death - a basic feature of eukaryotic organisms.
      Regulated cell death in plants is an indispensable mechanism supporting plant
      development, survival, stress responses, and defense against pathogens. This
      review summarizes recent advances in studies of plant proteolytic enzymes
      functioning in the initiation and execution of distinct types of regulated cell
      death. 

PMID- 26878574
TI  - Role of a Structurally Equivalent Phenylalanine Residue in Catalysis and Thermal
      Stability of Formate Dehydrogenases from Different Sources.
AB  - Comparison of amino acid sequences of NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenases (FDH,
      EC 1.2.1.2) from different sources and analysis of structures of holo-forms of
      FDH from bacterium Pseudomonas sp. 101 (PseFDH) and soya Glycine max (SoyFDH) as
      well as of structure of apo-form of FDH from yeast Candida boidinii (CboFDH)
      revealed the presence on the surface of protein globule of hydrophobic Phe
      residue in structurally equivalent position (SEP). The residue is placed in the
      coenzyme-binding domain and protects bound NAD+ from solvent. The effects of
      amino acid changes of the SEP on catalytic properties and thermal stability of
      PseFDH, SoyFDH, and CboFDH were compared. The strongest effect was observed for
      SoyFDH. All eight amino acid replacements resulted in increase in thermal
      stability, and in seven cases, increase in catalytic constant was achieved.
      Thermal stability of SoyFDH after mutations Phe290Asp and Phe290Glu increased 66-
      and 55-fold, respectively. KM values of the enzyme for substrate and coenzyme in
      different cases slightly increased or decreased. In case of one CboFDH, the
      mutein catalytic constant increased and thermal stability did not changed. In
      case of the second CboFDH mutant, results were the opposite. In one PseFDH
      mutant, amino acid change did not influence the catalytic constant, but in three
      others, the parameter was reduced. Two PseFDH mutants had higher and two mutants
      lower thermal stability in comparison with initial enzyme. Analysis of results of
      SEP mutagenesis in FDHs from bacterium, yeast, and plant shows that protein
      structure plays a key role for effect of the same amino acid changes in
      equivalent position in protein globule of formate dehydrogenases from different
      sources. 

PMID- 26878576
TI  - Spectral Dependence of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Pathways in Plant Leaves.
AB  - This review covers studies on the dependence of chlorophyll photobiosynthesis
      reactions from protochlorophyllide on the spectral composition of actinic light.
      A general scheme of the reaction sequence for the photochemical stage in
      chlorophyll biosynthesis for etiolated plant leaves is presented. Comparative
      analysis of the data shows that the use of light with varied wavelengths for
      etiolated plant illumination reveals parallel transformation pathways of
      different protochlorophyllide forms into chlorophyllide, including a pathway for
      early photosystem II reaction center P-680 pigment formation. 

PMID- 26878577
TI  - Regulation of Zygotic Genome and Cellular Pluripotency.
AB  - Events, manifesting transition from maternal to zygotic period of development are
      studied for more than 100 years, but underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. We
      provide a brief historical overview of development of concepts and explain the
      specific terminology used in the field. We further discuss differences and
      similarities between the zygotic genome activation and in vitro reprogramming
      process. Finally, we envision the future research directions within the field,
      where biochemical methods will play increasingly important role. 

PMID- 26878578
TI  - Small Heat Shock Proteins and Distal Hereditary Neuropathies.
AB  - Classification of small heat shock proteins (sHsp) is presented and processes
      regulated by sHsp are described. Symptoms of hereditary distal neuropathy are
      described and the genes whose mutations are associated with development of this
      congenital disease are listed. The literature data and our own results concerning
      physicochemical properties of HspB1 mutants associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth
      disease are analyzed. Mutations of HspB1, associated with hereditary motor neuron
      disease, can be accompanied by change of the size of HspB1 oligomers, by
      decreased stability under unfavorable conditions, by changes in the interaction
      with protein partners, and as a rule by decrease of chaperone-like activity. The
      largest part of these mutations is accompanied by change of oligomer stability
      (that can be either increased or decreased) or by change of intermonomer
      interaction inside an oligomer. Data on point mutation of HspB3 associated with
      axonal neuropathy are presented. Data concerning point mutations of Lys141 of
      HspB8 and those associated with hereditary neuropathy and different forms of
      Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are analyzed. It is supposed that point mutations of
      sHsp associated with distal neuropathies lead either to loss of function (for
      instance, decrease of chaperone-like activity) or to gain of harmful functions
      (for instance, increase of interaction with certain protein partners). 

PMID- 26878579
TI  - Investigations of Molecular Mechanisms of Actin-Myosin Interactions in Cardiac
      Muscle.
AB  - The functional characteristics of cardiac muscle depend on the composition of
      protein isoforms in the cardiomyocyte contractile machinery. In the ventricular
      myocardium of mammals, several isoforms of contractile and regulatory proteins
      are expressed - two isoforms of myosin (V1 and V3) and three isoforms of
      tropomyosin chains (alpha, beta, and kappa). Expression of protein isoforms
      depends on the animal species, its age and hormonal status, and this can change
      with pathologies of the myocardium. Mutations in these proteins can lead to
      cardiomyopathies. The functional significance of the protein isoform composition
      has been studied mainly on intact hearts or on isolated preparations of
      myocardium, which could not provide a clear comprehension of the role of each
      particular isoform. Present-day experimental techniques such as an optical trap
      and in vitro motility assay make it possible to investigate the phenomena of
      interactions of contractile and regulatory proteins on the molecular level, thus
      avoiding effects associated with properties of a whole muscle or muscle tissue.
      These methods enable free combining of the isoforms to test the molecular
      mechanisms of their participation in the actin-myosin interaction. Using the
      optical trap and the in vitro motility assay, we have studied functional
      characteristics of the cardiac myosin isoforms, molecular mechanisms of the
      calcium-dependent regulation of actin-myosin interaction, and the role of myosin
      and tropomyosin isoforms in the cooperativity mechanisms in myocardium. The
      knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial contractility and its
      regulation is necessary for comprehension of cardiac muscle functioning, its
      disorders in pathologies, and for development of approaches for their correction.

PMID- 26878580
TI  - Diversity of Potassium Channel Ligands: Focus on Scorpion Toxins.
AB  - Potassium (K+) channels are a widespread superfamily of integral membrane
      proteins that mediate selective transport of K+ ions through the cell membrane.
      They have been found in all living organisms from bacteria to higher
      multicellular animals, including humans. Not surprisingly, K+ channels bind
      ligands of different nature, such as metal ions, low molecular mass compounds,
      venom-derived peptides, and antibodies. Functionally these substances can be K+
      channel pore blockers or modulators. Representatives of the first group occlude
      the channel pore, like a cork in a bottle, while the second group of ligands
      alters the operation of channels without physically blocking the ion current. A
      rich source of K+ channel ligands is venom of different animals: snakes, sea
      anemones, cone snails, bees, spiders, and scorpions. More than a half of the
      known K+ channel ligands of polypeptide nature are scorpion toxins (KTx), all of
      which are pore blockers. These compounds have become an indispensable molecular
      tool for the study of K+ channel structure and function. A recent special
      interest is the possibility of toxin application as drugs to treat diseases
      involving K+ channels or related to their dysfunction (channelopathies). 

PMID- 26878581
TI  - Beta-Amyloid and Tau-Protein: Structure, Interaction, and Prion-Like Properties.
AB  - During the last twenty years, molecular genetic investigations of Alzheimer's
      disease (AD) have significantly broadened our knowledge of basic mechanisms of
      this disorder. However, still no unambiguous concept on the molecular bases of AD
      pathogenesis has been elaborated, which significantly impedes the development of
      AD therapy. In this review, we analyze issues concerning processes of generation
      of two proteins (beta-amyloid peptide and Tau-protein) in the cell, which are
      believed to play the key role in AD genesis. Until recently, these agents were
      considered independently of each other, but in light of the latest studies, it
      becomes clear that it is necessary to study their interaction and combined
      effects. Studies of mechanisms of toxic action of these endogenous compounds,
      beginning from their interaction with known receptors of main neurotransmitters
      to specific peculiarities of functioning of signal intracellular pathways upon
      development of this pathology, open the way to development of new pharmaceutical
      substances directed concurrently on key mechanisms of interaction of toxic
      proteins inside the cell and on the pathways of their propagation in the
      extracellular space. 

PMID- 26878582
TI  - Detection of Intermolecular Interactions Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance
      Registration.
AB  - Methods for registration of intermolecular interactions based on the phenomenon
      of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have become one of the most efficient tools to
      solve fundamental and applied problems of analytical biochemistry. Nevertheless,
      capabilities of these methods are often insufficient to detect low concentrations
      of analytes or to screen large numbers of objects. That is why considerable
      efforts are directed at enhancing the sensitivity and efficiency of SPR-based
      measurements. This review describes the basic principles of the detection of
      intermolecular interactions using this method, provides a comparison of various
      types of SPR detectors, and classifies modern approaches to enhance sensitivity
      and efficiency of measurements. 

PMID- 26878583
TI  - Broadband acoustic properties of a murine skull.
AB  - It has been well recognized that the presence of a skull imposes harsh
      restrictions on the use of ultrasound and optoacoustic techniques in the study,
      treatment and modulation of the brain function. We propose a rigorous modeling
      and experimental methodology for estimating the insertion loss and the elastic
      constants of the skull over a wide range of frequencies and incidence angles. A
      point-source-like excitation of ultrawideband acoustic radiation was induced via
      the absorption of nanosecond duration laser pulses by a 20 MUm diameter
      microsphere. The acoustic waves transmitted through the skull are recorded by a
      broadband, spherically focused ultrasound transducer. A coregistered pulse-echo
      ultrasound scan is subsequently performed to provide accurate skull geometry to
      be fed into an acoustic transmission model represented in an angular spectrum
      domain. The modeling predictions were validated by measurements taken from a
      glass cover-slip and ex vivo adult mouse skulls. The flexible semi-analytical
      formulation of the model allows for seamless extension to other transducer
      geometries and diverse experimental scenarios involving broadband acoustic
      transmission through locally flat solid structures. It is anticipated that
      accurate quantification and modeling of the skull transmission effects would
      ultimately allow for skull aberration correction in a broad variety of
      applications employing transcranial detection or transmission of high frequency
      ultrasound. 

PMID- 26878584
TI  - Characterization of Antibodies for Grain-Specific Gluten Detection.
AB  - Gluten ingestion causes immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy or celiac disease
      in sensitive individuals, and a strict gluten-free diet greatly limits food
      choices. Immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are used
      to quantify gluten to ensure labeling compliance of gluten-free foods. Anti
      gluten antibodies may not exhibit equal affinity to gluten from wheat, rye, and
      barley. Moreover, because wheat gluten is commonly used as a calibrator in ELISA,
      accurate gluten quantitation from rye and barley contaminated foods may be
      compromised. Immunoassays utilizing grain-specific antibodies and calibrators may
      help improve gluten quantitation. In this study, polyclonal antibodies raised
      against gluten-containing grain-specific peptides were characterized for their
      immunoreactivity to gluten from different grain sources. Strong immunoreactivity
      to multiple gluten polypeptides from wheat, rye, and barley was observed in the
      range 34 to 43 kDa with anti-gliadin, 11 to 15 and 72 to 95 kDa with anti
      secalin, and 30 to 43 kDa with anti-hordein peptide antibodies, respectively.
      Minimal or no cross-reactivity with gluten from other grains was observed among
      these antibodies. The anti-consensus peptide antibody raised against a repetitive
      amino acid sequence of proline and glutamine exhibited immunoreactivity to gluten
      from wheat, rye, barley, and oat. The antibodies exhibited similar
      immunoreactivity with most of the corresponding grain cultivars by ELISA. The
      high specificity and minimal cross-reactivity of grain-specific antibodies
      suggest their potential use in immunoassays for accurate gluten quantitation. 

PMID- 26878585
TI  - HIGH AND LOW THRESHOLD FOR STARTLE REACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH PTSD SYMPTOMS BUT
      NOT PTSD RISK: EVIDENCE FROM A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ACTIVE DUTY MARINES.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heightened startle response is a symptom of PTSD, but evidence for
      exaggerated startle in PTSD is inconsistent. This prospective study aimed to
      clarify whether altered startle reactivity represents a trait risk-factor for
      developing PTSD or a marker of current PTSD symptoms. METHODS: Marines and Navy
      Corpsmen were assessed before (n = 2,571) and after (n = 1,632) deployments to
      Iraq or Afghanistan with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). A
      predeployment startle-threshold task was completed with startle probes presented
      over 80-114 dB[A] levels. Latent class mixture modeling identified three growth
      classes of startle performance: "high," "low," and "moderate" threshold classes.
      Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to assess relationships
      between predeployment startle threshold and pre- and postdeployment psychiatric
      symptoms. RESULTS: At predeployment, the low-threshold class had higher PTSD
      symptom scores. Relative to the moderate-threshold class, low-threshold class
      membership was associated with decreased likelihood of being symptom-free at
      predeployment, based on CAPS, with particular associations with numbing and
      hyperarousal subscales, whereas high-threshold class membership was associated
      with more severe predeployment PTSD symptoms, in particular avoidance.
      Associations between low-threshold membership and CAPS symptoms were independent
      from measures of trauma burden, whereas associations between high-threshold
      membership and CAPS were not. Predeployment startle threshold did not predict
      postdeployment symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that both low startle
      threshold (heightened reactivity) and high startle threshold (blunted reactivity)
      were associated with greater current PTSD symptomatology, suggesting that startle
      reactivity is associated with current PTSD rather than a risk marker for
      developing PTSD.

PMID- 26878586
TI  - Structure and Energetic Contributions of a Designed Modular Peptide-Binding
      Protein with Picomolar Affinity.
AB  - Natural armadillo repeat proteins (nArmRP) like importin-alpha or beta-catenin
      bind their target peptides such that each repeat interacts with a dipeptide unit
      within the stretched target peptide. However, this modularity is imperfect and
      also restricted to short peptide stretches of usually four to six consecutive
      amino acids. Here we report the development and characterization of a regularized
      and truly modular peptide-specific binding protein, based on designed armadillo
      repeat proteins (dArmRP), binding to peptides of alternating lysine and arginine
      residues (KR)n. dArmRP were obtained from nArmRP through cycles of extensive
      protein engineering, which rendered them more uniform. This regularity is
      reflected in the consistent binding of dArmRP to (KR)-peptides, where affinities
      depend on the lengths of target peptides and the number of internal repeats in a
      very systematic manner, thus confirming the modularity of the interaction. This
      exponential dependency between affinity and recognition length suggests that each
      module adds a constant increment of binding energy to sequence-specific
      recognition. This relationship was confirmed by comprehensive mutagenesis studies
      that also reveal the importance of individual peptide side chains. The 1.83 A
      resolution crystal structure of a dArmRP with five identical internal repeats in
      complex with the cognate (KR)5 peptide proves a modular binding mode, where each
      dipeptide is recognized by one internal repeat. The confirmation of this true
      modularity over longer peptide stretches lays the ground for the design of
      binders with different specificities and tailored affinities by the assembly of
      dipeptide-specific modules based on armadillo repeats. 

PMID- 26878588
TI  - [Identification of the party responsible for restoring the water quality
      according to the German Potable Water Act in buildings belonging to a
      semiautonomous condominium community].
AB  - When drinking water contaminations occur in installations belonging to a
      semiautonomous condominium community (Wohnungseigentumsgemeinschaft) and the
      water installation's final paths being owned by the various condominium owners,
      the German legal definition of the party responsible has a broad reach.
      Therefore, authorities should address the condominium community, the condominium
      owners and the community administrator (WEG-Verwalter).

PMID- 26878587
TI  - Somatosensory brainstem, thalamus, and cortex of the California sea lion
      (Zalophus californianus).
AB  - Pinnipeds (sea lions, seals, and walruses) are notable for many reasons,
      including their ape-sized brains, their adaptation to a coastal niche that
      combines mastery of the sea with strong ties to land, and the remarkable
      abilities of their trigeminal whisker system. However, little is known about the
      central nervous system of pinnipeds. Here we report on the somatosensory areas of
      the nervous system of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Using
      stains for Nissl, cytochrome oxidase, and vesicular glutamate transporters, we
      investigated the primary somatosensory areas in the brainstem, thalamus, and
      cortex in one sea lion pup and the external anatomy of the brain in a second pup.
      We find that the sea lion's impressive array of whiskers is matched by a large
      trigeminal representation in the brainstem with well-defined parcellation that
      resembles the barrelettes found in rodents but scaled upward in size. The dorsal
      column nuclei are large and distinct. The ventral posterior nucleus of the
      thalamus has divisions, with a large area for the presumptive head
      representation. Primary somatosensory cortex is located in the neocortex just
      anterior to the main vertical fissure, and precisely locating it as we do here is
      useful for comparing the highly gyrified pinniped cortex with that of other
      carnivores. To our knowledge this work is the first comprehensive report on the
      central nervous system areas for any sensory system in a pinniped. The results
      may be useful both in the veterinary setting and for comparative studies related
      to brain evolution.

PMID- 26878589
TI  - [Cooperation in Public Health: Formative Evaluation of the Model Project
      "Regional Health Conferences" in Bavaria].
AB  - Aim of the study: Health conferences offer opportunities for better cooperation
      and coordination in local health management. The aim of the explorative
      evaluation study was to assess structures, processes and results of "Regional
      Health Conferences (RGK)" in 3 model regions, to inform about potential for
      development and to test their transferability to other regions. Method: After the
      model project had been up and running for 18 months (08/2013 to 12/2014), a
      survey of 80 participants of the RGK in 3 regions was conducted, based on a semi
      standardized questionnaire. The response rate was 90%. The results were
      complemented by document analysis and an additional survey of the managers of the
      RGK. Results: The 3 RGK were established with their agencies and 13 working
      groups on health care. Almost all participants felt that the number of members
      was appropriate and that the main stakeholders were represented. According to a
      large part of the respondents, the majority actively took part in the RGK and
      usually everyone had the equal opportunity to propose a topic. Although almost
      half of the respondents reported conflicts, the atmosphere was constructive for 3
      quarters of them. Nearly all the interviewees confirmed the importance of a
      chairman and a manager of the agency, as well as the positive influence of the
      moderator. Almost everyone agreed that RGK are suited to improve health care and
      cooperation. From the participants' point of view, the main problems were
      identified; 94% of the respondents agreed that the previous work could be
      regarded as successful and 91% were satisfied or rather satisfied with the
      processes of the RGK. The level of satisfaction was similar among the three model
      regions, but it varied among the member groups; 98% of the interviewees would
      also take part in the future. Conclusion: According to this survey, RGK are an
      appropriate platform for coordination, exchange und cooperation of stakeholders
      and a good instrument for cooperation. In Bavaria, the approach will be further
      improved as well as extended to other regions based on a new concept called
      "Health Regionsplus".

PMID- 26878590
TI  - ["What you will": Results of an Empirical Analysis of the Need to Improve Work
      life Balance for Physicians].
AB  - STUDY AIMS: This study assessed the perceived need for clinics to improve work
      life balance of physicians. Hospitals are increasingly facing demands to offer
      physicians working conditions that allow greater balance between family life and
      pursuit of career. Simultaneously, hospitals could consider this an opportunity
      to stand out as attractive employers. METHODS: N=120 doctors of the medical
      faculty and N=679 medical students in their premedical and clinical training
      participated online. RESULTS: The results of the Work-Family/Family-Work Conflict
      Scale (WFC/FWC) showed physicians to have a decreased work/life balance when
      starting to work professionally, especially with a child. Ninety percent of the
      respondents considered the following arrangements to be especially helpful:
      temporary work interruptions in an emergency, part-time positions or emergency
      childcare. The doctors also expressed their wish to be actively supported by
      their supervisors on the topic of work/life balance. CONCLUSION: This analysis on
      work-family balance shows the need for change in the studied samples. Based on
      the measures that were determined to be helpful, hospitals can make conclusions
      about what concrete steps of action can be taken. Additionally, WFC/FWC could be
      used as a standardized analysis measure to assess the load imposed on physicians
      by family on work place and vice versa.

PMID- 26878591
TI  - [The Psychometric Properties of the Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale].
AB  - Background: Assessment of quality of life immediately after abdominal surgery is
      critical; however, potent tools that provide timely information about patient
      health are required in order to assess and improve postoperative quality of care.
      Interestingly, such assessment scales for early postoperative quality of life do
      not exist in German. The aim of this pilot study was to translate the English
      version of the "Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale" (ASIS) into German and to
      empirically test the German version. Methods: After the standardized translation,
      30 German-speaking patients who had undergone visceral surgery (laparotomy) were
      recruited at the ward of the Bern University Hospital Visceral Surgery and
      Medicine. The internal consistency of the translated instrument (ASIS-D) was
      assessed on the third postoperative day; reliability, retest-reliability and
      construct validity were also assessed on the fifth postoperative day. Results:
      ASIS-D faithfully represented the content of the original version. Cronbach's
      alpha overall was 0.85 and for the 6 subscales 0.45-0.88. The overall score of
      retest-reliability was 0.57** and the construct validity was confirmed.
      Conclusion: The ASIS-D was shown to be reliable and valid even if other
      investigations are necessary. It provides specific insights into special
      postoperative symptoms such as wound pain and postoperative quality of sleep.
      After further tests, it might be suitable not only for capturing the short-term
      postal-surgical quality of life, but possibly also for evaluating nursing
      interventions.

PMID- 26878592
TI  - The Spectrum of Recovery From Fracture-Induced Vertebral Deformity in Pediatric
      Leukemia.
AB  - Vertebral fractures (VF) are a frequent complication of acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia. Some children with VF undergo vertebral body reshaping to the point of
      complete restoration of normal vertebral dimensions. Others are left with
      permanent vertebral deformity if the degree of reshaping has been incomplete by
      the time of final adult height attainment. In this report, we describe three
      children with painful VF at leukemia diagnosis or during chemotherapy. Each
      patient highlights different clinical trajectories in their recovery from VF and
      underscores the need for osteoporosis intervention trials with the goal to
      prevent permanent vertebral deformity in selected patients.

PMID- 26878593
TI  - C-ON Bond Homolysis of Alkoxyamines, Part 11: Activation of the Nitroxyl
      Fragment.
AB  - A few years ago, Bagryanskaya and colleagues (J. Org. Chem. 2011) showed that
      protonation of the nitroxyl fragment deactivated the alkoxyamine C-ON bond.
      Conversely, our group showed that protonation (Chem. Commun. 2011), as well as
      other chemical reactions such as oxidation or amine quaternization (Org. Lett.
      2012), of the pyridyl moiety carried by the alkyl fragment was suitable to
      activate the homolysis of the C-ON bond. To pursue our goal of applying
      alkoxyamines as theranostic agents (Org. Biomol. Chem. 2014 and Mol.
      Pharmaceutics 2014) by activation of the C-ON bond homolysis, we turned our
      interest to the chemical activation of the nitroxyl fragment by
      oxidation/reduction of selected functions. Conversion of a hydroxyl group located
      close to the nitroxyl moiety successively into aldehyde, then acid, and
      eventually into ester, led to a successive decrease in kd. 

PMID- 26878594
TI  - Integration of traditional systems and advanced oxidation process technologies
      for the industrial treatment of olive mill wastewaters.
AB  - A complete industrial treatment system (involving the integration of
      coagulation/flocculation and Fenton processes) to depurate real wastewaters
      coming from two-phase olive oil production mills has been studied. The
      experimental results indicated that at the end of this combined strategy,
      involving a primary physical separation stage followed by Fenton's chemical
      oxidation, chemical oxygen demand (COD) is reduced up to 90% and total
      polyphenols' concentration is decreased up to 92%. The treated stream
      biodegradability (BOD5/COD) reached 0.52 and the Total Suspended Solids (TSSs)
      and Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs) decreased up to 95% and 69%, respectively.
      Fenton's procedure was optimized bearing in mind the pH adjustment step,
      different procedures for hydrogen peroxide addition and the use of coagulants
      instead of the chemical precipitation (by raising pH) to promote iron sludge
      settling. Our results demonstrated that pH (3.0 +/- 0.1) control during the
      oxidation reaction improves the oxidation efficiency. Moreover, the final NaOH
      addition is essential to a better sludge formation and consequent precipitation
      of the residual iron removing also some organic matter. 

PMID- 26878595
TI  - Chemically Conjugated Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene for Carrier Modulation.
AB  - Nanocarbons such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in late 20th century
      have blossomed nanoscience and nanotechnology in 21st century, which have been
      further proliferated by the new finding of graphene and have indeed opened a new
      carbon era. Several new branches of research, for example, zero-dimensional
      nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanowires, and two-dimensional insulating
      hexagonal boron nitride, and semiconducting and metallic transition metal
      dichalcogenides including the recently emerging black phosphorus, have been
      explored and numerous unprecedented quantum mechanical features have been
      revealed, that have been hardly accessible otherwise. Extensive research has been
      done on devices and applications related to such materials. Many experimental
      instruments have been developed with high sensitivity and improved spatial and
      temporal resolution to detect such tiny objects. The need for multidisciplinary
      research has been growing stronger than ever, which will be the tradition in the
      next few decades. In this Account, we will demonstrate an example of
      multidisciplinary effort of utilizing CNTs and graphene for electronics by
      modulating electronic structures. While there are several methods of modifying
      electronic structures of nanocarbons such as gate bias, contact metal, and
      conventional substitutional doping, we focus on chemical doping approaches here.
      We first introduce the concept of chemical doping on CNTs and graphene in terms
      of electronegativity of molecules and electrochemical potential of CNTs and
      graphene. To understand the relationship of electrochemical potential of CNTs and
      graphene to electronegativity of molecules, we propose a simple water bucket
      model: how to fill or drain water (electrons in CNTs or graphene) in the bucket
      (density of states) by the chemical dopants. The doping concept is then
      demonstrated experimentally by tracking the absorption spectroscopy, X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman
      spectroscopy, transmittance, and transport measurements and by relating them to
      the reduction potential of molecules relative to that of CNTs or graphene. Two
      effects of chemical doping in electronics, transparent conducting films, and
      field effect transistors are extensively discussed. One critical issue, the
      stability of chemical dopants under ambient conditions, is further discussed. We
      believe that the presented doping concept will be useful tools for other low
      dimensional materials such as recently emerging transition metal dichalcogenides
      and black phosphorus. 

PMID- 26878596
TI  - A Real-World Perspective on Molecular Design.
AB  - We present a series of small molecule drug discovery case studies where
      computational methods were prospectively employed to impact Roche research
      projects, with the aim of highlighting those methods that provide real added
      value. Our brief accounts encompass a broad range of methods and techniques
      applied to a variety of enzymes and receptors. Most of these are based on
      judicious application of knowledge about molecular conformations and
      interactions: filling of lipophilic pockets to gain affinity or selectivity,
      addition of polar substituents, scaffold hopping, transfer of SAR, conformation
      analysis, and molecular overlays. A case study of sequence-driven focused
      screening is presented to illustrate how appropriate preprocessing of information
      enables effective exploitation of prior knowledge. We conclude that qualitative
      statements enabling chemists to focus on promising regions of chemical space are
      often more impactful than quantitative prediction.

PMID- 26878597
TI  - Factors Associated with Suicidality Among a National Sample of Transgender
      Veterans.
AB  - Correlates of past-year suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide risk among a
      national sample of transgender veterans were examined. An online, convenience
      sample of 212 U.S. transgender veterans participated in a cross-sectional survey
      in February-May 2014. We evaluated associations between sociodemographic
      characteristics, stigma, mental health, and psychosocial resources with past-year
      suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide plans and attempts. Participants reported
      high rates of past-year suicidal ideation (57%) as well as history of suicide
      plan or attempt (66%). Transgender-related felt stigma during military service
      and current posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms were associated
      with suicide outcomes as were economic and demographic factors.

PMID- 26878598
TI  - Contribution of reactive oxygen species to ovarian cancer cell growth arrest and
      killing by the anti-malarial drug artesunate.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women and the most
      lethal gynecological malignancy in the developed world. The morbidity and
      mortality of ovarian cancer underscore the need for novel treatment options.
      Artesunate (ART) is a well-tolerated anti-malarial drug that also has anti-cancer
      activity. In this study, we show that ART inhibited the in vitro growth of a
      panel of ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as the growth of ovarian cancer cells
      isolated from patients. Moreover, ART decreased tumor growth in vivo in a mouse
      model of ovarian cancer. ART-treated ovarian cancer cells showed a strong
      induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced proliferation. ROS
      dependent cell cycle arrest occurred in the G2/M phase whereas ROS-independent
      cell cycle arrest occurred in the G1 phase, depending on the concentration of ART
      to which ovarian cancer cells were exposed. The anti-proliferative effect of ART
      was associated with altered expression of several key cell cycle regulatory
      proteins, including cyclin D3, E2F-1, and p21, as well as inhibition of
      mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Exposure of ovarian cancer cells to
      higher concentrations of ART resulted in ROS-dependent DNA damage and cell death.
      Pretreatment of ovarian cancer cells with a pan-caspase inhibitor or ferroptosis
      inhibitor decreased but did not completely eliminate ART-mediated cytotoxicity,
      suggesting the involvement of both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent
      pathways of killing. These data show that ART has potent anti-proliferative and
      cytotoxic effects on ovarian cancer cells, and may therefore be useful in the
      treatment of ovarian cancer. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878599
TI  - Qualitative Comparison of Women's Perspectives on the Functions and Benefits of
      Group and Individual Prenatal Care.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Women's definitions and experiences of the functions and benefits
      of their routine prenatal care are largely absent from research and public
      discourse on prenatal care outcomes. This qualitative study aimed to develop a
      framework of women's prenatal care experiences by comparing the experiences of
      women in individual and group prenatal care. METHODS: We conducted serial
      qualitative interviews with racially diverse low-income women receiving
      individual prenatal care (n = 14) or group prenatal care (n = 15) through
      pregnancy and the early postpartum period. We completed 42 second-trimester, 48
      third-trimester, and 44 postpartum interviews. Using grounded theory, the
      semistructured interviews were coded for themes, and the themes were integrated
      into an explanatory framework of prenatal care functions and benefits. RESULTS:
      Individual and group participants described similar benefits in 3 prenatal care
      functions: confirming health, preventing and monitoring medical complications,
      and building supportive provider relationships. For the fourth function,
      educating and preparing, group care participants experienced more benefits and
      different benefits. The benefits for group participants were enhanced by the
      supportive group environment. Group participants described greater positive
      influences on stress, confidence, knowledge, motivation, informed decision
      making, and health care engagement. DISCUSSION: Whereas pregnant women want to
      maximize their probability of having a healthy newborn, other prenatal care
      outcomes are also important: reducing pregnancy-related stress; developing
      confidence and knowledge for improving health; preparing for labor, birth, and
      newborn care; and having supportive relationships. Group prenatal care may be
      more effective in attaining these outcomes. Achieving these outcomes is
      increasingly relevant in health care systems prioritizing woman-centered care and
      improved birth outcomes. How to achieve them should be part of policy development
      and research.

PMID- 26878600
TI  - Regioselective Ir(III)-catalyzed C-H alkynylation directed by 7-azaindoles.
AB  - Herein we report a novel iridium(iii)-catalyzed ortho-mono-alkynylation of 7
      azaindoles under mild conditions. This approach provides a general and
      straightforward access to form novel 7-azaindole derivatives with ample substrate
      scope and broad group tolerance. 

PMID- 26878601
TI  - 4-Component relativistic calculations of L3 ionization and excitations for the
      isoelectronic species UO2(2+), OUN(+) and UN2.
AB  - We present a 4-component relativistic study of uranium 2p3/2 ionization and
      excitation in the isoelectronic series UO2(2+), OUN(+) and UN2. We calculate
      ionization energies by DeltaSCF at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and Kohn-Sham (KS) level
      of theory. At the DeltaHF level we observe a perfectly linear chemical shift of
      ionization energies with respect to uranium atomic charges obtained from
      projection analysis. We have also developed a non-canonical 2nd-order Moller
      Plesset code for wave function based correlation studies. We observe the well
      known failure of Koopmans' theorem for core ionization due to the dominance of
      orbital relaxation over electron correlation effects. More unexpectedly, we find
      that the correlation contribution has the same sign as the relaxation
      contribution and show that this is due to a strong coupling of relaxation and
      correlation. We simulate uranium L3 XANES spectra, dominated by 2p3/2 -> U6d
      transitions, by restricted excitation window time-dependent density functional
      theory (REW-TDDFT) and the complex polarization propagator (CPP) approach and
      demonstrate that they give identical spectra when the same Lorentz broadening is
      chosen. We also simulate XANES spectra by the Hartree-Fock based static exchange
      (STEX) method and show how STEX excitation energies can be reproduced by time
      dependent Hartree-Fock calculations within the Tamm-Dancoff approximation. We
      furthermore show that Koopmans' theorem provide a correct approximation of
      ionization energies in the linear response regime and use this observation to
      align REW-TDDFT and CPP spectra with STEX ones. We point out that the STEX method
      affords the most detailed assignment of spectra since it employs virtual orbitals
      optimized for the selected core ionization. The calculated XANES spectra reflect
      the loss of bound virtual orbitals as the molecular charge is reduced along the
      isoelectronic series. 

PMID- 26878602
TI  - Sublethal effect of agronomical surfactants on the spider Pardosa agrestis.
AB  - In addition to their active ingredients, pesticides contain also additives -
      surfactants. Use of surfactants has been increasing over the past decade, but
      their effects on non-target organisms, especially natural enemies of pests, have
      been studied only very rarely. The effect of three common agrochemical
      surfactants on the foraging behavior of the wolf spider Pardosa agrestis was
      studied in the laboratory. Differences in short-term, long-term, and overall
      cumulative predatory activities were investigated. We found that surfactant
      treatment significantly affected short-term predatory activity but had no effect
      on long-term predatory activity. The surfactants also significantly influenced
      the cumulative number of killed prey. We also found the sex-specific increase in
      cumulative kills after surfactants treatment. This is the first study showing
      that pesticide additives have a sublethal effect that can weaken the predatory
      activity of a potential biological control agent. More studies on the effects of
      surfactants are needed to understand how they affect beneficial organisms in
      agroecosystems. 

PMID- 26878603
TI  - Adsorption and desorption of dissolved organic matter by carbon nanotubes:
      Effects of solution chemistry.
AB  - Increasing use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has led to their introduction into the
      environment where they can interact with dissolved organic matter (DOM). This
      study focuses on solution chemistry effects on DOM adsorption/desorption
      processes by single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs). Our data show that DOM adsorption is
      controlled by the attachment of DOM molecules to the SWCNTs, and that the initial
      adsorption rate is dependent on solution parameters. Adsorbed amount of DOM at
      high ionic strength was limited, possibly due to alterations in SWCNT bundling.
      Desorption of DOM performed at low pH resulted in additional DOM adsorption,
      whereas at high pH, adsorbed DOM amount decreased. The extent of desorption
      conducted at increased ionic strength was dependent on pre-adsorbed DOM
      concentration: low DOM loading stimulated additional adsorption of DOM, whereas
      high DOM loading facilitated release of adsorbed DOM. Elevated ionic strength and
      increased adsorbed amount of DOM reduced the oxidation temperature of the SWCNTs,
      suggesting that changes in the assembly of the SWCNTs had occurred. Moreover, DOM
      coated SWCNTs at increased ionic strength provided fewer sites for atrazine
      adsorption. This study enhances our understanding of DOM-SWCNT interactions in
      aqueous systems influenced by rapid changes in salinity, and facilitates
      potential use of SWCNTs in water-purification technologies. 

PMID- 26878604
TI  - Predictability of physicochemical properties of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
      (PCDDs) based on single-molecular descriptor models.
AB  - Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are of global concern due to their
      persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Although the fate of PCDDs in the
      environment is determined by their physical-chemical properties, such as aqueous
      solubility, vapor pressure, octanol/water-, air/water-, and octanol/water
      partition coefficients, experimental property data on the entire set of 75 PCDD
      congeners are limited. The quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR)
      approach is applied to predict the properties of all PCDD congeners. Experimental
      property data available from the literature are correlated against 16 molecular
      descriptors of five types. Reported and newly developed QSPR models for PCDDs are
      presented and reviewed. The values calculated by the best QSPRs are further
      adjusted to satisfy fundamental thermodynamic relationships. Although the single
      descriptor models with chlorine number, molar volume, solvent accessible surface
      area and polarizability are based on good statistical results, these models
      cannot distinguish among PCDDs having the same chlorine number. The QSPR model
      based on the hyper-Wiener index of quantum-chemical descriptor gives useful
      statistical results and is able to distinguish among congeners with the same
      chlorine number, as well as satisfying thermodynamic relationships. The resulting
      consistent properties of the 75 PCDD congeners can be used for environmental
      modeling. 

PMID- 26878605
TI  - Luminescent Triphosphine Cyanide d(10) Metal Complexes.
AB  - Coinage metal cyanides efficiently react with a triphosphine. PPh2C6H4-PPh
      C6H4PPh2 (P(3)). to give the complexes M(P(3))CN, where M = Cu (1), Ag (2), and
      Au (3), which can further interact with coordinatively unsaturated metal centers
      [M(P(3))](+) to give the homobimetallic [(P(3))M-CN-M(P(3))](+)X(-) [M = Cu (4a
      with X(-) = CF3SO3(-) and 4b with X(-) = BF4(-)), Ag (5)] or heterometallic
      [(P(3))Au-CN-Ag(P(3))](+) (6) species. Extension of this approach also provided
      the trinuclear complex [(P(3))Cu-NC-Au-CN-Cu(P(3))](+) (7). Compounds 1-5 were
      characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The NMR spectroscopic
      studies revealed that all of the complexes except 6 retain their structures in
      solution. The title compounds are luminescent in the solid state, with quantum
      yields ranging from 8 to 87%. The observed photoemission originates mainly from
      the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states according to time-dependent density
      functional theory computational studies. The crystalline bimetallic Cu complexes
      4a/4b demonstrate extremely high sensitivity of the emission intensity to
      molecular O2 (KSV1 = 639 atm(-1) and LOD = 0.010% for 3 times the signal-to-noise
      ratio). 

PMID- 26878606
TI  - The prevalence of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in fatalities of road-traffic
      accidents in Jordan during 2008-2014.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Several studies confirmed alcohol and psychotropic drug consumption as
      important risk factors underlying fatal accidents. This paper presents updated
      toxicological findings in the fatalities of road traffic accidents of Amman
      district, in order to have an overall picture of the occurrence of these
      substances in these victims in Jordan. METHOD: Over a seven-year period (2008
      2014), 2743, autopsies were conducted at Jordan University Hospital in which the
      sum of n = 311 (11.38%) were victims of road traffic accidents. Blood samples
      from these victims were collected. Toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs
      and alcohol was conducted on these samples, and the results were analyzed
      according to age, sex and victim's status. RESULTS: This study revealed that
      Alcohol and psychotropic drugs were positive in 36.5%, (n = 58) of the cases, and
      for alcohol alone (n = 13, 37.1%). The majority of the victims were pedestrians
      (n = 155, 49.8%). Additionally, 29.6% (n = 92) of the cases were of ages 19-29.
      Detected psychotropic drugs were benzodiazepines, barbiturates. None of the
      collected specimens were positive for illicit cocaine, amphetamines or cannabis.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study proved the existence of alcohol and
      psychotropic drugs in the victims of road traffic accidents; Indicating an
      association between the uses of these substances in accident involvement. Though
      having some limitations, other conclusions require further data collection,
      cooperation with related parties in Jordan, and utilizing simple extended
      toxicological screens.

PMID- 26878607
TI  - Response to Edwards GA. Mimics of child abuse: Can choking explain abusive head
      trauma?

PMID- 26878609
TI  - Freezing, thawing and aging effects on beef tenderness from Bos indicus and Bos
      taurus cattle.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of freezing prior to
      aging on the meat tenderness of young Nellore and Aberdeen Angus bulls. Samples
      of the longissimus thoracis muscle were submitted to two treatments: conventional
      aging and freezing (-20 degrees C for 40 days) followed by thawing and aging
      periods. The meats were evaluated after 0, 7, 14 and 21 aging days (1 degrees C).
      Freezing increased (P<0.05) purge, cooking loss and total exudate loss throughout
      aging. Nellore meats had greater total exudate loss and shorter sarcomere lengths
      (P<0.05). Freezing increased proteolysis during aging in the meats of both
      breeds, but reduced shear force was found (P<0.05) only in Aberdeen Angus meats
      and only at time zero. These results suggest that the meat tenderizing process by
      freezing prior to aging may contribute to meat tenderness in the first weeks of
      aging, but it is dependent on the animal breed.

PMID- 26878610
TI  - Effect of pomegranate peel extract on lipid and protein oxidation in beef
      meatballs during refrigerated storage.
AB  - Antioxidant effect of pomegranate peel extract (PE) to retard lipid and protein
      oxidation was investigated in meatballs during refrigerated storage at 4+/-1
      degrees C. Concentrated lyophilised water extract of pomegranate peel was
      incorporated into freshly minced beef meat at 0.5% and 1% concentrations and
      compared with 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a reference and control
      (without any antioxidant). PE showed high phenolic content and antioxidant
      activity. In PE added samples, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
      value, peroxide formation, loss of sulfhydryl groups and formation of protein
      carbonyls were lower than control (P<0.01) after 8 days of storage. Sensory
      evaluation with respect to colour and rancid odour revealed that PE incorporation
      in meatballs prolonged the refrigerated storage up to 8 days. Addition of both
      0.5 and 1% PE in meatballs reduced lipid and protein oxidation and improved
      sensory scores. These results indicated that PE was effective on retarding lipid
      and protein oxidation.

PMID- 26878611
TI  - Molecular simulations of imidazolium-based tricyanomethanide ionic liquids using
      an optimized classical force field.
AB  - Imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) incorporating the tricyanomethanide ([TCM(
      )]) anion are studied using an optimized classical force field. These ILs are
      very promising candidates for use in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies
      and, to our knowledge, it is the first time that this IL family is subject to a
      molecular simulation study with the use of a classical atomistic force field. The
      [C4mim(+)][TCM(-)] ionic liquid at 298.15 K and at atmospheric pressure was used
      as the basis for force field optimization which primarily involved the
      determination of the Lennard-Jones parameters of [TCM(-)] and the implementation
      of three quantum mechanical schemes for the calculation of the partial charge
      distribution and the identification of the appropriate scaling factor for the
      reduction of the total ionic charge. The optimized force field was validated by
      performing simulations of the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide
      ([Cnmim(+)][TCM(-)], n = 2, 4, 6, and 8) IL family at various temperatures. The
      results for density, self-diffusivity and viscosity are in very good agreement
      with the available experimental data for all ILs verifying that the force field
      reliably reproduces the behaviour of the imidazolium-based [TCM(-)] IL family in
      a wide temperature range. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the microscopic
      structure and the complex dynamic behaviour of the ILs under study was performed.

PMID- 26878612
TI  - Senna leaf extracts induced Ca(+2) homeostasis in a zoonotic tapeworm Hymenolepis
      diminuta.
AB  - Context Plants and plant products have been used in traditional medicine as
      anthelmintic agents in human and veterinary medicine. Three species of Senna
      plant, S. alata (L), S. alexandrina (M) and S. occidentalis (L.) Link (Fabaceae)
      have been shown to have a vermicidal/vermifugal effect on a zoonotic tapeworm
      Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi) (Cyclophyllidean). Objective The present study
      validates the mode of action of these Senna plants on the parasite. The alcoholic
      leaf extract was determined to obtain information on the intracellular free
      calcium concentration level. Materials and methods Hymenolepis diminuta was
      maintained in Sprague-Dawley rat model for 2 months. Live parasites collected
      from infected rat intestine were exposed to 40 mg/mL concentration of each plant
      extracts prepared in phosphate buffer saline at 37  degrees C, till parasite gets
      paralyzed. The rate of efflux of calcium from the parasite tissue to the medium
      and the level of intracellular Ca(2+ )concentration were determined by an atomic
      absorption spectroscopy. Results This study revealed that exposure of the worms
      to the plant extract leads to disruption in intracellular calcium homeostasis. A
      significant increase (44.6% and 25%) of efflux in Ca(2+ )from the tissue to the
      incubated medium was observed. Senna alata showed high rate of efflux (5.32 mg/g)
      followed by S. alexandria and S. occidentalis (both 4.6 mg/g) compared with
      control (3.68 mg/g). Discussion and conclusion These results suggest that leaf
      extracts caused membrane permeability to Ca(2+ )after vacuolization of the
      tegument under stress and the extracts may contain compound that can be used as a
      chemotherapeutic agent. 

PMID- 26878614
TI  - [A wrong move in an amateur football player reveals a light chain myeloma].
AB  - Light chain multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy characterized by an
      excess of tumor plasma cells in the bone marrow and a monoclonal light chain in
      blood. It is generally diagnosed in patients aged 60-75 years old. Hypercalcemia,
      anemia, kidney failure, and bone pains are the main clinical and biological
      signs. Here is an atypical case report about a 30 year-old man who was diagnosed
      a light chain multiple myeloma. This patient had been suffering from back pain
      for 5 months. Osteolytic lesions were discovered on X-rays prescribed by the
      family practitioner. Admitted to the Emergency department, all blood tests showed
      results within the normal range. The serum protein electrophoresis was also
      normal. Only the urine analysis showed proteinuria. The urine immunofixation
      electrophoresis showed a massive kappa light chain. The bone marrow aspiration
      cell count confirmed the myeloma diagnosis with an infiltration of dystrophic
      plasma cells. The patient was transferred to the hematology ward of Necker
      Hospital for treatment of light chain myeloma. 

PMID- 26878613
TI  - [Hypercalcemia related to PTH-rP revealing malignant hepatic epithelioid
      hemangioendothelioma].
AB  - Hypercalcemia caused by tumor production of PTH-rp occurs most often in cases of
      squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, aerodigestive tract cancer, gynecological
      cancer and lymphoma. We report an exceptional case of PTH-rp related to a hepatic
      hemangioendothelioma. A 70 years-old male admitted for deterioration of the
      general state. The laboratory investigations revealed hypercalcemia, related to
      tumor production of PTH-rp. Imaging revealed tumoral hepatic lesions.
      Histopathological study and immunohistochemistry showed diffuse response for CD31
      marker, CK20 (+) with CK7 (-) and hepatocyt antigen (-). The diagnosis of PTH-rp
      related to hepatic hemangioendothelioma was make. The patient died with
      recurrence of fatal hypercalcemia. Management of patients presenting with humoral
      hypercalcemia includes a vigorous search for tumor lesions. Elevated PTH-rp can
      be a bad prognostic factor. In front of tumoral liver lesions, a hepatic
      epithelioid hemangioendothelioma must be considered. Immunohistochemistry is
      necessary to make diagnosis. 

PMID- 26878615
TI  - [Acquired Pelger-Huet anomaly/abnormal chromatin clumping of granulocytes after
      allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia:
      medication or relapse? ].
AB  - An acute myeloid leukemia was diagnosed in a 53-year-old female patient. She
      received an allogeneic stem cell transplant. After this transplant, some
      neutrophils with hyposegmented nucleus and abnormal chromatin clumping appeared
      in the peripheral blood, and their number gradually increased. The hypothesis of
      early relapse after transplant was ruled out and drug-related anomaly was
      suspected. The authors discuss about morphological features of constitutional and
      acquired Pelger-Huet anomaly. In the patient reported here, ciclosporine seemed
      to be involved in the phenomenon, as the morphological anomaly of the neutrophils
      gradually decreased after the drug was discontinued. 

PMID- 26878616
TI  - [Corynebacterium ulcerans pulmonary infection].
AB  - Corynebacterium ulcerans is a bacterium able to infect humans by inducing a
      disease close to diphtheria. We describe the case of a 83-year-old patient
      hospitalized as a matter of urgency in intensive care for which C. ulcerans was
      isolated in pure culture in its bronchial samples. Even if the isolate was not
      secreting toxin in vitro, it possesses the tox gene which motivated the use of
      specific antitoxin serum. After two months of intensive care the patient went out
      of the service. It is about a remarkable case of clinicobiologic collaboration. 

PMID- 26878617
TI  - Parasites and fungi as risk factors for human and animal health.
AB  - Recent literature data suggests that parasitic and fungal diseases, which pose a
      threat to both human and animal health, remain a clinical, diagnostic and
      therapeutic problem. Attention is increasingly paid to the role played by natural
      microbiota in maintaining homeostasis in humans. A particular emphasis is placed
      on the possibility of manipulating the human microbiota (permanent, transient,
      pathogenic) and macrobiota (e.g., Trichuris suis) to support the treatment of
      selected diseases such as Crohn's disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Emphasis
      is placed on important medical species whose infections not only impair health
      but can also be life threatening, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Echinococcus
      multilocularis and Baylisascaris procyonis, which expand into areas which have so
      far been uninhabited. This article also presents the epidemiology, diagnosis and
      treatment of opportunistic parasitoses imported from the tropics, which spread
      across large groups of people through human-to-human transmission (Enterobius
      vermicularis, Sarcoptes scabiei). It also discusses the problem of
      environmentally-conditioned parasitoses, particularly their etiological factors
      associated with food contaminated with invasive forms (Trichinella sp.,
      Toxoplasma gondii). The analysis also concerns the presence of developmental
      forms of geohelminths (Toxocara sp.) and ectoparasites (ticks), which are vectors
      of serious human diseases (Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis), in the
      environment. Mycological topics contains rare cases of mycoses environmentally
      conditioned (CNS aspergillosis) and transmissions of these pathogens in a
      population of hospitalized individuals, as well as seeking new methods used to
      treat mycoses.

PMID- 26878618
TI  - The role of particular tick developmental stages in the circulation of tick-borne
      pathogens affecting humans in Central Europe. 1. The general pattern.
AB  - Tick-borne pathogens are common in the natural environment, but their occurrence
      has a focal character. They occur in the natural environment in the form of the
      enzootic sources of infection. The general components include the animal
      reservoir, amplifiers and the efficient vector. However, the particular role of
      components can differ depending on the pathogen, the host range and possible
      transmission routes. Animal reservoir of pathogen are vertebrate animals, being
      the hosts of pathogens. In Europe these are small or medium-sized mammals and
      sometimes birds that feed on the ground. The competence of an animal reservoir is
      determined by the ability to communicate the infection; long-term persistence of
      the pathogen in the host; long-duration of infectivity of the animal for ticks; a
      sufficient number of animals in the endemic region. Amplifiers for ticks are
      artiodactyls. They are hosts for nymphs and adult ticks, thereby making it
      possible for ticks to propagate and maintain the proper size of their population.
      Efficient vector for pathogen are ticks. The first characteristic feature of
      efficient vectors is feeding duration exceeding 24 hours; the high density of the
      tick population. The conditions necessary to consider ticks as efficient vectors
      are met in Central Europe by the Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and D.
      marginatus ticks. There are the general differences in biology between Ixodes
      persulcatus complex ticks and Dermacentor ticks, affecting their different role
      and ability in pathogens spreading - the range of hosts; the ability to
      inhabiting of various environments and resistance to unfavourable conditions; the
      duration of larvae and nymphs activity. The combination of tick's biology,
      pathogen ability to transmission, and mammal hosts' competence, determines the
      particular role of larvae, nymphs and adults in pathogen circulation in the
      natural environment, as well as transmission to new hosts.

PMID- 26878619
TI  - Microparasites of worldwide mullets.
AB  - The present review is focus on parasitic organisms, previously considered as
      protozoans. Viral, prokaryotic and fungal parasites caused diseases and disorders
      of worldwide mullets were also observed. Most of the known viruses associated
      with a high mortality of mullets were detected in Mugil cephalus. Prokaryotic
      microparasites were registered in M. cephalus, Moolgarda cunnesiu, Liza ramada
      and Mugil liza. Fungal pathogens were associated with representatives of the
      genera Aphanomyces, Achlya, Phialemonium, Ichthyophonus. Ichthyophonus sp. can be
      considered as a potential threat for marine fish aquaculture, especially in
      culture conditions. A new hyperparasitic microsporidium like organism was
      recorded in myxozoan Myxobolus parvus infecting grey mullet Liza haematocheilus
      in the Russian coastal zone of the Sea of Japan. The protozoan representatives of
      the phyla Dinoflagellata, Euglenozoa, Ciliophora and Apicomplexa were reviewed
      and analyzed. The review of myxosporean parasites from grey mullets includes 64
      species belonging to 13 genera and 9 families infecting 16 fish species

PMID- 26878620
TI  - Molecular characterization of the first internal transcribed spacer of rDNA of
      Parabronema skrjabini for the first time in sheep.
AB  - Parabronema skrjabini is a spirurid nematode of the family Habronematidae that
      lives in the abomasum of ruminants such as sheep and goats. The purpose of this
      study was to investigate the molecular aspects of Parabronema skrjabini in sheep.
      The worms were collected from sheep in Sanandaj (west of Iran). The first
      internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) nucleotide fragments of
      Parabronema skrjabini were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two
      pairs of specific primers (Para-Ir-R and Para-Ir-F). ITS1 homology in the
      sequence of this study was 69% compared with the sequence data in GenBank. To our
      knowledge, this is the first study in the world exploring the genetic diversity
      of P. skrjabini in sheep based on ITS1.

PMID- 26878621
TI  - Buxtonella spp. like infection in cattle in Sanandaj province, Iran.
AB  - Buxtonellosis is a disease caused by the ciliated protozoan Buxtonella sulcata
      (Jameson, 1926). B. sulcata is a common protozoan of ruminants and may result in
      subclinical infection or clinical disease including diarrhea. This study examined
      the prevalence of B. sulcata in cattle from Sanadaj province, Iran. Faecal
      samples were collected from cattle in the province from May 2013 to June 2014. A
      total of 217 cattle were selected randomly according to the age, sex, health,
      management system and season. In total, 99 cattle (45.63%) were found to be
      infected with B. sulcata. In adults, prevalence of B. sulcata infection (51.64%)
      was higher than calves (28.58%) and young cattle (40.55%). The prevalence of B.
      sulcata infection was also found to be higher in female (47.32%) than male
      (38.46) cattle. B. sulcata infection was significantly (p<0.05) higher in poor
      health cattle (body condition and weight) (79.54%) than healthy cattle (24.47%).
      This study demonstrates that cattle are highly susceptible to B. sulcata
      infection under a variety of housing and environmental conditions in this region
      of Iran. The study also demonstrates a significant effect of infection on cattle
      health.

PMID- 26878622
TI  - Zatorska goose - a subject of parasitological research.
AB  - The aim of the study was to determine the level of gastrointestinal parasites in
      a native breed of geese - Zatorska goose - based on coproscopic testing. Faecal
      samples were collected from 90 young geese in three age groups (5, 7 and 9 weeks
      old) in 2014. The geese were kept indoors on deep litter and pastured from spring
      to autumn. The area of the pastures around the buildings where the geese grazed
      was about 1 hectare, divided into quarters for different age groups. Before
      grazing, the birds were dewormed with fenbendazole (Fenbenat powder 4%, Naturan).
      As additional treatment for coccidiosis, coccidiostats were added to the feed.
      The study was conducted using the McMaster quantitative method with
      centrifugation (flotation liquid: NaCl and glucose). The birds were shown to be
      infected with coccidia and nematodes. The prevalence of Eimeria sp. infection
      (mean 40%) and the number of oocysts per gram of faeces (reaching 5,300 OPG) were
      highest in the youngest age group of geese. The level of Amidostomum anseris
      infection was similar in the three age groups, with prevalence from 40% to 50%
      (nematode egg output ranged from 50 to 350 eggs per gram of faeces, EPG).
      Capillaria anatis was observed only in 5- and 7-week-old geese.

PMID- 26878623
TI  - The Alice - "Follow the White Rabbit" - parasites of farm rabbits based on
      coproscopy.
AB  - The aim of the study, conducted in the years 2011-2013, was to determine the
      level of gastrointestinal parasites infection in New Zealand White rabbits, kept
      at the Experimental Station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow. The study
      showed rabbits protozoan infection with the genus Eimeria, belonging - based on
      the sporulation method - to the following species: E. magna, E. media, E.
      perforans, E. stiedae and E. irresidua. The highest prevalence of infection, as
      well as the intensity of oocysts output (OPG - oocysts per gram of faeces), was
      noted for E. magna and E. media - respectively 31.4 % (19477.3 OPG), and 40.0 %
      (14256.07 OPG). The infection of rabbits with Eimeria spp. differed significantly
      between years. With regard to oocysts output, the level of infection was strongly
      connected with the age of rabbits, being higher in young animals. However, the
      range of infection was highest among adults. Among nematodes, Passalurus ambiguus
      pinworm was regularly found (prevalence reached 21.9%), other species - Trichuris
      leporis, and Graphidium strigosum were rarely noted. The overall infection with
      nematodes did not differ between years. Similarly, as in the case of Eimeria
      older individuals were more often infected by nematodes. We observed some trends
      in parasite oocysts/eggs output; the protozoan oocysts were recorded more often
      in faecal samples collected in the evenings, whereas the nematodes eggs occurred
      frequently in the mornings. This situation may be related to the phenomenon of
      coprophagy occurring in the mammals of Lagomorpha order. The results of the study
      indicate that especially coccidiosis constitute permanently throughout the years
      an important problem in the rabbitry examined.

PMID- 26878624
TI  - Low seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and chronic chagasic
      cardiomyopathy in a region with abundance of triatomine vectors in Yucatan
      Peninsula of Mexico.
AB  - The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is endemic with Chagas disease. The main vector
      responsible for Trypanosoma cruzi transmission is Triatoma dimidiata which is
      abundant in domestic, peridomestic and sylvan cycles. The abundance of vectors
      favours T. cruzi transmission and is a high risk for developing chronic chagasic
      cardiomyopathy (CCC). In the past 10 years, little information was available on
      parasite seroprevalence and the prevalence of CCC in the Yucatan Peninsula. In
      the present work, we studied two Mayan communities with a high abundance of T.
      dimidiata and a random serial sample of 233 patients with an altered
      electrocardiogram or cardiac failure admitted to the Regional Hospital. A
      homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence
      standardized techniques were used to detect anti-T. cruzi IgG. In addition, Mayan
      volunteers were monitored by electrocardiography. In the Mayan communities, 4.8%
      (3/63) subjects were positive for T. cruzi antibodies none of them presented
      electrocardiographic alterations, however in seronegative subjects were detected
      right or left ventricle hypertrophy in 25% (16/63). A remarkable finding was that
      90% of the Mayan population recognized the vector and 65% of them had experienced
      contact with triatomines bites. At the Regional Hospital 0.42% (1/233) were
      positive for T. cruzi antibodies showing compatible diagnosis with CCC; the most
      frequent pathology in this population was hypertension in 65% (151/233) and the
      less frequent was dilated myocardiopathy 6% (14/233). In conclusion, the
      prevalence of T. cruzi infection and CCC can be considered low in Yucatan,
      Mexico.

PMID- 26878625
TI  - Molecular characterization and seroprevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in wild
      boars (Sus scrofa) in south-western Iran.
AB  - This study presents the first molecular and serological evaluation of
      Echinococcus granulosus infections in wild boars in Iran. Twenty five wild boars
      were collected in south-western Iran, during authorized hunting program, from
      March to October 2013, necropsied and examined for E. granulosus infection.
      Furthermore, seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis in hunted boars was
      evaluated by an ELISA system. A fertile hydatid cyst due to E. granulosus was
      detected in the lung of one of the animals. Genotype analysis of the isolate was
      determined by analyzing a mitochondrial gene, cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1
      (co1). DNA was extracted from the cyst sample and polymerase chain reaction
      amplification and DNA sequencing of the specific region of the co1 gene was
      performed. Molecular evaluation confirmed the presence of a sheep strain, the G1
      genotype, in the wild boar in south-western Iran. This is the first report of the
      presence of G1 genotype of E. granulosus in wild boar in Iran. Serological
      evaluation of hydatid cyst by antigen-B ELISA revealed E. granulosus antibodies
      in 5 (20%) of 25 wild boars. A statistically significant difference was observed
      between the prevalence of E. granulosus antibodies and gender while the
      difference between the seroprevalence of E. granulosus and age was insignificant.
      Findings of this study might have important implications for the prevention and
      control of cystic echinococcosis.

PMID- 26878626
TI  - Intestinal parasitic infections among mentally handicapped individuals in
      Alexandria, Egypt.
AB  - This cross-sectional study was carried to determine the prevalence of intestinal
      parasitic infections among mentally handicapped individuals in Alexandria, Egypt,
      in the period from December 2012 till November 2013. The study was conducted on
      200 institutionalized and non-institutionalized mentally handicapped individuals.
      Fresh stool samples were subjected to different stains including; trichrome for
      detecting intestinal protozoa, modified acid fast stain for intestinal coccidia
      and quick hot gram chromotrope stain for Microsporidia. Also they were processed
      by Kato-Katz and formol ethyl acetate techniques for intestinal helminths.
      Additionally, blood samples were collected for measuring hemoglobin levels. Out
      of 200 mentally handicapped individuals, 87 (43.5%) were infected. The infection
      rates were 44.6% and 42.6% for non-institutionalized and institutionalized
      people, respectively. Regarding gender, 46.7% and 38.5% were reported for the
      males and females respectively. The most common parasites detected were:
      Cryptosporidium sp. (23.5%), microsporidia (15%), Giardia lamblia (8.5%),
      Dientamoeba fragilis (8%), Cyclospora cyatanensis (7.5%), Blastocystis hominis
      (6.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.5%) and Entamoeba coli (2.5%). Rates for
      Isospora belli and Enterobius vermicularis were estimated to be 1.5% for each,
      while lower rate was reported for Iodamoeba butschlii (1.0%). Prevalence of
      infections among mentally handicapped individuals are indications for several
      risk factors, including improper sanitary hygiene and illiteracy about personal
      hygiene. Therefore, frequent investigations, health care and medical intervention
      are needed.

PMID- 26878627
TI  - Evidence of Fasciola spp. resistance to albendazole, triclabendazole and
      bromofenofos in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).
AB  - Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola spp. is considered the most important helminth
      infection of ruminants in tropical countries. Anthelmintic resistance has become
      a global concern. This study compared the efficacy of the commonly used
      anthelmintics, determined the toxicity level and any indication of resistance.
      Thirty two water buffaloes naturally-infected with Fasciola spp. were used to
      determine the efficacy of triclabendazole (TBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and
      bromofenofos (BRO) using Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). To test the
      toxicity of the drugs given, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) was
      evaluated before and within one week after treatment. One dose administration of
      ABZ registered an efficacy of 79.17%, 73.33% for TBZ and 70.83% for BRO. Efficacy
      in two dose- treatment group was 83.33% for both BRO and ABZ, and 90.00% for TBZ.
      Two dose-treatment was effective for TBZ (90%), ineffective for BRO and ABZ. SGPT
      levels were not significantly different between pre-treatment and post- treatment
      across all treatments. Giving one or two doses of anthelmintics, at one month
      interval, does not increase the efficacy of the three drugs tested. The study
      also implies that anthelmintic resistance may have developed in the animals.

PMID- 26878628
TI  - New host records for parasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae from
      accipitriform birds (Aves: Accipitriformes).
AB  - Four accipitriform bird species of the family Accipitridae are reported as new
      hosts for quill mites (Acari: Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae): Megasyringophilus
      aquilus Skoracki, Lontkowski and Stawarczyk, 2010 was collected from Hieraaetus
      pennatus Gmelin, 1788 in France and Spain, and Buteo jamaicensis Gmelin, 1788 in
      Canada; Peristerophila accipitridicus Skoracki, Lontkowski and Stawarczyk, 2010
      was collected from Circaetus gallicus Gmelin, 1788 in France, and Buteo lagopus
      Pontoppidan, 1763 in Germany.

PMID- 26878629
TI  - Ocular cysticercosis with intermittent blindness.
AB  - We report this peculiar case of ocular cysticercosis with intermittent blindness
      which is never reported to our knowledge. This case highlights use of Ultrasound
      for examination of the posterior segment of eye globe. In limited facilities
      Ultrasound is the main modality to reach the diagnosis. We also wish to enforce
      the point that in endemic regions and in young population primary cysticercosis
      and its complications must be kept in differentials of cystic mass or calcified
      mass, as in this case, we have seen both the stages of cysticercosis progression.

PMID- 26878630
TI  - The Nobel Prize 2015 in physiology or medicine for highly effective antiparasitic
      drugs.

PMID- 26878631
TI  - Nobel Price 2015 for Dr William C. Campbell.

PMID- 26878632
TI  - Method for screening prevention and control measures and technologies based on
      groundwater pollution intensity assessment.
AB  - This paper presents a system for determining the evaluation and gradation indices
      of groundwater pollution intensity (GPI). Considering the characteristics of the
      vadose zone and pollution sources, the system decides which anti-seepage measures
      should be implemented at the contaminated site. The pollution sources hazards
      (PSH) and groundwater intrinsic vulnerability (GIV) are graded by the revised
      Nemerow Pollution Index and an improved DRTAS model, respectively. GPI is
      evaluated and graded by a double-sided multi-factor coupling model, which is
      constructed by the matrix method. The contaminated sites are categorized as
      prior, ordinary, or common sites. From the GPI results, we develop guiding
      principles for preventing and removing pollution sources, procedural interruption
      and remediation, and end treatment and monitoring. Thus, we can select
      appropriate prevention and control technologies (PCT). To screen the
      technological schemes and optimize the traditional analytical hierarchy process
      (AHP), we adopt the technique for order preference by the similarity to ideal
      solution (TOPSIS) method. Our GPI approach and PCT screening are applied to three
      types of pollution sites: the refuse dump of a rare earth mine development
      project (a potential pollution source), a chromium slag dump, and a landfill
      (existing pollution sources). These three sites are identified as ordinary,
      prior, and ordinary sites, respectively. The anti-seepage materials at the refuse
      dump should perform as effectively as a 1.5-m-thick clay bed. The chromium slag
      dump should be preferentially treated by soil flushing and in situ chemical
      remediation. The landfill should be treated by natural attenuation technology.
      The proposed PCT screening approach was compared with conventional screening
      methods results at the three sites and proved feasible and effective. The
      proposed method can provide technical support for the monitoring and management
      of groundwater pollution in China. 

PMID- 26878633
TI  - Influences of the land use pattern on water quality in low-order streams of the
      Dongjiang River basin, China: A multi-scale analysis.
AB  - Understanding the relationships between land use patterns and water quality in
      low-order streams is useful for effective landscape planning to protect
      downstream water quality. A clear understanding of these relationships remains
      elusive due to the heterogeneity of land use patterns and scale effects. To
      better assess land use influences, we developed empirical models relating land
      use patterns to the water quality of low-order streams at different geomorphic
      regions across multi-scales in the Dongjiang River basin using multivariate
      statistical analyses. The land use pattern was quantified in terms of the
      composition, configuration and hydrological distance of land use types at the
      reach buffer, riparian corridor and catchment scales. Water was sampled under
      summer base flow at 56 low-order catchments, which were classified into two
      homogenous geomorphic groups. The results indicated that the water quality of low
      order streams was most strongly affected by the configuration metrics of land
      use. Poorer water quality was associated with higher patch densities of cropland,
      orchards and grassland in the mountain catchments, whereas it was associated with
      a higher value for the largest patch index of urban land use in the plain
      catchments. The overall water quality variation was explained better by catchment
      scale than by riparian- or reach-scale land use, whereas the spatial scale over
      which land use influenced water quality also varied across specific water
      parameters and the geomorphic basis. Our study suggests that watershed management
      should adopt better landscape planning and multi-scale measures to improve water
      quality. 

PMID- 26878634
TI  - Sediment amino acids as indicators of anthropogenic activities and potential
      environmental risk in Erhai Lake, Southwest China.
AB  - Total hydrolysable amino acids (THAAs) constitute the most important fraction of
      labile nitrogen. Anthropogenic activities directly influence various
      biogeochemical cycles and then accelerate lake ecosystem deterioration. This is
      the first study that has established the relationship between sediment THAAs and
      anthropogenic activities using dated sediment cores, and evaluated the
      possibility of THAAs release at the sediment interface based on changes in
      environmental conditions in Erhai Lake. The results showed that historical
      distribution and fractions of THAAs could be divided into three stages: a stable
      period before the 1970s, a clear increasing period from the 1970s to 1990s, and a
      gradually steady period that started after the 1990s. The chemical fraction,
      aromatic and sulfur amino acids (AAs) accounted for only <=3% of THAAs. Basic AAs
      accounted for 5-17% of THAAs, and remained at a relatively stable level. However,
      acidic and neutral AAs, which accounted for 19-44% and 35-69% of THAAs,
      respectively, were the predominant factors causing THAAs to increase due to rapid
      agricultural intensification and intensification of contemporary sedimentation of
      phytoplankton or macrophytes since the 1970s. These trends were closely related
      to both anthropogenic activities and natural processes, which implied that
      sediment THAAs could act as an effective indicator that reflects anthropogenic
      activities and aquatic environmental characteristics. The current contributions
      of sediment THAAs on TN and TOC were <5% and 1.5%, respectively. However, the
      dramatic increase in THAAs in the sediment cores indicated that there was a huge
      potential source of labile nitrogen for the overlying water under certain
      environmental conditions. Correlation analysis suggested that the release of
      THAAs was negatively correlated with pH, whereas positively correlated with
      bacterial number and degree of OM mineralization, which particularly depend on
      the stability of HFOM. Therefore, the risk of sediment THAAs release might
      increase when the sediment environment continuously changes. 

PMID- 26878635
TI  - Genotoxic and histopathological biomarkers for assessing the effects of magnetic
      exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite in Danio rerio.
AB  - Magnetic exfoliated vermiculite is a synthetic nanocomposite that quickly and
      efficiently absorbs organic compounds such as oil from water bodies. It was
      developed primarily to mitigate pollution, but the possible adverse impacts of
      its application have not yet been evaluated. In this context, the acute toxicity
      of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite was herein assessed
      by genotoxic and histopathological biomarkers in zebrafish (Danio rerio). DNA
      fragmentation was statistically significant for all groups exposed to the
      magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and for fish exposed to the highest concentration
      (200mg/L) of exfoliated vermiculite, whereas the micronucleus frequency, nuclear
      abnormalities and histopathological alterations were not statistically
      significant for the fish exposed to these materials. In the intestinal lumen,
      epithelial cells and goblet cells, we found the presence of magnetic exfoliated
      vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite, but no alterations or presence of the
      materials-test in the gills or liver were observed. Our findings suggest that the
      use of magnetic exfoliated vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite during standard
      ecotoxicological assays caused DNA damage in D. rerio, whose alterations may be
      likely to be repaired, indicating that the magnetic nanoparticles have the
      ability to promote genotoxic damage, such as DNA fragmentation, but not mutagenic
      effects. 

PMID- 26878636
TI  - Arsenic release from Floridan Aquifer rock during incubations simulating aquifer
      storage and recovery operations.
AB  - While aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is becoming widely accepted as a way to
      address water supply shortages, there are concerns that it may lead to release of
      harmful trace elements such as arsenic (As). Thus, mechanisms of As release from
      limestone during ASR operations were investigated using 110-day laboratory
      incubations of core material collected from the Floridan Aquifer, with treatment
      additions of labile or refractory dissolved organic matter (DOM) or microbes.
      During the first experimental phase, core materials were equilibrated with native
      groundwater lacking in DO to simulate initial non-perturbed anaerobic aquifer
      conditions. Then, ASR was simulated by replacing the native groundwater in the
      incubations vessels with DO-rich ASR source water, with DOM or microbes added to
      some treatments. Finally, the vessels were opened to the atmosphere to mimic
      oxidizing conditions during later stages of ASR. Arsenic was released from
      aquifer materials, mainly during transitional periods at the beginning of each
      incubation stage. Most As released was during the initial anaerobic experimental
      phase via reductive dissolution of Fe oxides in the core materials, some or all
      of which may have formed during the core storage or sample preparation period.
      Oxidation of As-bearing Fe sulfides released smaller amounts of As during the
      start of later aerobic experimental phases. Additions of labile DOM fueled
      microbially-mediated reactions that mobilized As, while the addition of
      refractory DOM did not, probably due to mineral sorption of DOM that made it
      unavailable for microbial utilization or metal chelation. The results suggest
      that oscillations of groundwater redox conditions, such as might be expected to
      occur during an ASR operation, are the underlying cause of enhanced As release in
      these systems. Further, ASR operations using DOM-rich surface waters may not
      necessarily lead to additional As releases. 

PMID- 26878637
TI  - Sn(II) oxy-hydroxides as potential adsorbents for Cr(VI)-uptake from drinking
      water: An X-ray absorption study.
AB  - The feasibility of implementing a Sn(II) oxy-hydroxide (Sn6O4(OH)4) for the
      reduction and adsorption of Cr(VI) in drinking water treatment was investigated
      using XAFS spectroscopies at the Cr-K-edge. The analysis of the Cr-K-edge XANES
      and EXAFS spectra verified the effective use of Sn6O4(OH)4 for successful Cr(VI)
      removal. Adsorption isotherms, as well as dynamic Rapid Small Scale Test (RSSCT)
      in NSF water matrix showed that Sn6O4(OH)4 can decrease Cr(VI) concentration
      below the upcoming regulation limit of 10MUg/L for drinking water. Moreover, an
      uptake capacity of 7.2MUg/mg at breakthrough concentration of 10MUg/L was
      estimated from the RSSCT, while the residual Cr(VI) concentration ranged at sub
      ppb level for a significant period of the experiment. Furthermore, no evidence
      for the formation of Cr(OH)3 precipitates was found. On the contrary, Cr(III)
      oxyanions were chemisorbed onto SnO2, which was formed after Sn(II)-oxidation
      during Cr(VI)-reduction. Nevertheless, changes in the type of Cr(III)-inner
      sphere complexes were observed after increasing surface coverage: Cr(III)
      oxyanions preferentially sorb in a geometry which combines both bidentate
      binuclear ((2)C) and monodentate ((1)V) geometries, at the expense of the present
      bidentate mononuclear ((2)E) contributions. On the other hand, the pH during
      sorption does not affect the adsorption mechanism of Cr(III)-species. The
      implementation of Sn6O4(OH)4 in water treatment technology combines the advantage
      of rapidly reducing a large amount of Cr(VI) due to donation of two electrons by
      Sn(II) and also the strong chemisorption of Cr(III) in a combination of the (2)C
      and (1)V configurations, which enhances the safe disposal of spent adsorbents. 

PMID- 26878638
TI  - Greenhouse gases from wastewater treatment - A review of modelling tools.
AB  - Nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from
      wastewater treatment that contribute to its carbon footprint. As a result of the
      increasing awareness of GHG emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs),
      new modelling, design, and operational tools have been developed to address and
      reduce GHG emissions at the plant-wide scale and beyond. This paper reviews the
      state-of-the-art and the recently developed tools used to understand and manage
      GHG emissions from WWTPs, and discusses open problems and research gaps. The
      literature review reveals that knowledge on the processes related to N2O
      formation, especially due to autotrophic biomass, is still incomplete. The
      literature review shows also that a plant-wide modelling approach that includes
      GHG is the best option for the understanding how to reduce the carbon footprint
      of WWTPs. Indeed, several studies have confirmed that a wide vision of the WWPTs
      has to be considered in order to make them more sustainable as possible.
      Mechanistic dynamic models were demonstrated as the most comprehensive and
      reliable tools for GHG assessment. Very few plant-wide GHG modelling studies have
      been applied to real WWTPs due to the huge difficulties related to data
      availability and the model complexity. For further improvement in GHG plant-wide
      modelling and to favour its use at large real scale, knowledge of the mechanisms
      involved in GHG formation and release, and data acquisition must be enhanced. 

PMID- 26878639
TI  - Risk assessment of urban soils contamination: The particular case of polycyclic
      aromatic hydrocarbons.
AB  - The assessment of soil quality and characterization of potential risks to the
      environment and human health can be a very difficult task due to the
      heterogeneity and complexity of the matrix, the poor understanding about the fate
      of contaminants in the soil matrix, scarcity of toxicological/ecotoxicological
      data and variability of guidelines. In urban soils these difficulties are
      enhanced by the patchy nature of urban areas and the presence of complex mixtures
      of organic and inorganic contaminants resulting from diffuse pollution caused by
      urban activities (e.g. traffic, industrial activity, and burning of carbon
      sources for heating). Yet, several tools are available which may help to assess
      the risks of soil contamination in a simpler, cost effective and reliable way.
      Within these tools, a tiered risk assessment (RA) approach, first based on a
      chemical screening in combination with geostatistical tools, may be very useful
      in urban areas. However, there is still much to improve and a long way to go in
      order to obtain a reliable RA, especially in the case of hydrophobic organic
      compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This paper aims at
      proposing a RA framework to assess the environmental and human health risks of
      PAHs present in urban soils, based on existing models. In addition, a review on
      ecotoxicological, toxicological, and exposure assessment data was made, as well
      as of the existing soil quality guidelines for PAHs that can be used in the RA
      process. 

PMID- 26878640
TI  - Persistent organic pollutants and pregnancy complications.
AB  - We sought to investigate the relationship between maternal preconception
      exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and pregnancy complications,
      gestational diabetes (GDM) and gestational hypertension. Data from 258 (51%)
      women with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) confirmed pregnancies reaching
      >=24weeks gestation, from a prospective cohort of 501 couples who discontinued
      contraception to attempt pregnancy, were analyzed. Preconception concentrations
      of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 10 polybrominated diphenyl ethers
      (PBDEs) were quantified in serum. In separate multiple logistic regression models
      of self-reported physician diagnosed outcomes: GDM (11%) and gestational
      hypertension (10%), chemicals were natural log-transformed and rescaled by their
      standard deviation (SD). Models were adjusted for serum lipids, and then adjusted
      for age, body mass index, race, and smoking. Models were additionally adjusted
      for the sum of the remaining POPs in each chemical class. Women's serum
      concentration of PBDE congener 153 (PBDE-153) was positively associated with an
      increased odds of GDM per SD increase in log-transformed concentration, for
      unadjusted (OR=1.36, 95%CI: 1.02-1.81), a priori adjusted (OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.03
      1.86) and with the sum of remaining PBDEs (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.74) models.
      Our findings suggest that at environmentally relevant concentrations, maternal
      exposure to POPs prior to conception may contribute to increased chance of
      developing GDM. 

PMID- 26878641
TI  - Climatology and trends of aerosol optical depth over the Mediterranean basin
      during the last 12years (2002-2014) based on Collection 006 MODIS-Aqua data.
AB  - The Mediterranean basin is a region of particular interest for studying
      atmospheric aerosols due to the large variety of air masses it receives, and its
      sensitivity to climate change. In this study we use the newest collection (C006)
      of aerosol optical depth from MODIS-Aqua, from which we also derived the fine
      mode fraction and Angstrom exponent over the last 12years (i.e., from 2002 to
      2014), providing the longest analyzed dataset for this region. The long-term
      regional optical depth average is 0.20+/-0.05, with the indicated uncertainty
      reflecting the inter-annual variability. Overall, the aerosol optical depth
      exhibits a south-to-north decreasing gradient and an average decreasing trend of
      0.0030 per year (19% total decrease over the study period). The correlation
      between the reported AOD observations with measurements from the ground AERONET
      stations is high (R=0.76-0.80 depending on the wavelength), with the MODIS-Aqua
      data being slightly overestimated. Both fine-fraction and Angstrom exponent data
      highlight the dominance of anthropogenic aerosols over the northern, and of
      desert aerosols over the southern part of the region. Clear intrusions of desert
      dust over the Eastern Mediterranean are observed principally in spring, and in
      some cases in winter. Dust intrusions dominate the Western Mediterranean in the
      summer (and sometimes in autumn), whereas anthropogenic aerosols dominate the sub
      region of the Black Sea in all seasons but especially during summer. Fine-mode
      optical depth is found to decrease over almost all areas of the study region
      during the 12-year period, marking the decreasing contribution of anthropogenic
      particulate matter emissions over the study area. Coarse-mode aerosol load also
      exhibits an overall decreasing trend. However, its decrease is smaller than that
      of fine aerosols and not as uniformly distributed, underlining that the overall
      decrease in the region arises mainly from reduced anthropogenic emissions. 

PMID- 26878642
TI  - The metabolite 3,4,3',4'-tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB) exerts a higher ecotoxicity
      than the parent compounds 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) and propanil.
AB  - 3,4,3',4'-tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB) is not commercially manufactured but
      formed as an unwanted by-product in the manufacturing of 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4
      DCA) or metabolized from the degradation of chloranilide herbicides, like
      propanil. While a considerable amount of research has been done concerning the
      toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of propanil and 3,4-DCA, limited
      information is available on TCAB. Our study examined the toxicity of TCAB in
      comparison to its parent compounds propanil and 3,4-DCA, using a battery of
      bioassays including in vitro with aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediated
      activity by the 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay and micro-EROD,
      endocrine-disrupting activity with chemically activated luciferase gene
      expression (CALUX) as well as in vivo with fish embryo toxicity (FET) assays with
      Danio rerio. Moreover, the quantitative structure activity response (QSAR)
      concepts were applied to simulate the binding affinity of TCAB to certain human
      receptors. It was shown that TCAB has a strong binding affinity to the AhR in
      EROD and micro-EROD induction assay, with the toxic equivalency factor (TEF) of
      8.7*10(-4) and 1.2*10(-5), respectively. TCAB presented to be a weak endocrine
      disrupting compound with a value of estradiol equivalence factor (EEF) of 6.4*10(
      9) and dihydrotestosterone equivalency factor (DEF) of 1.1*10(-10). No acute
      lethal effects of TCAB were discovered in FET test after 96h of exposure. Major
      sub-lethal effects detected were heart oedema, yolk malformation, as well as
      absence of blood flow and tail deformation. QSAR modelling suggested an elevated
      risk to environment, particularly with respect to binding to the AhR. An adverse
      effect potentially triggering ERbeta, mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid and
      progesterone receptor activities might be expected. Altogether, the results
      obtained suggest that TCAB exerts a higher toxicity than both propanil and 3,4
      DCA. This should be considered when assessing the impact of these compounds for
      the environment and also for regulatory decisions. 

PMID- 26878644
TI  - Methyl chloride and methyl bromide emissions from baking: an unrecognized
      anthropogenic source.
AB  - Methyl chloride and methyl bromide (CH3Cl and CH3Br) are the largest natural
      sources of chlorine and bromine, respectively, to the stratosphere, where they
      contribute to ozone depletion. We report the anthropogenic production of CH3Cl
      and CH3Br during breadbaking, and suggest this production is an abiotic process
      involving the methyl ester functional groups in pectin and lignin structural
      polymers of plant cells. Wide variations in baking styles allow only rough
      estimates of this flux of methyl halides on a global basis. A simple model
      suggests that CH3Br emissions from breadbaking likely peaked circa 1990 at
      approximately 200tonnes per year (about 0.3% of industrial production), prior to
      restrictions on the dough conditioner potassium bromate. In contrast, CH3Cl
      emissions from breadbaking may be of similar magnitude as acknowledged present
      day CH3Cl industrial emissions. Because the mechanisms involve functional groups
      and compounds widely found in plant materials, this type of methyl halide
      production may occur in other cooking techniques as well. 

PMID- 26878643
TI  - The impact of built-up surfaces on land surface temperatures in Italian urban
      areas.
AB  - Urban areas are characterized by the very high degree of soil sealing and
      continuous built-up areas: Italy is one of the European countries with the
      highest artificial land cover rate, which causes a substantial spatial variation
      in the land surface temperature (LST), modifying the urban microclimate and
      contributing to the urban heat island effect. Nevertheless, quantitative data
      regarding the contribution of different densities of built-up surfaces in
      determining urban spatial LST changes is currently lacking in Italy. This study,
      which aimed to provide clear and quantitative city-specific information on annual
      and seasonal spatial LST modifications resulting from increased urban built-up
      coverage, was conducted generally throughout the whole year, and specifically in
      two different periods (cool/cold and warm/hot periods). Four cities (Milan, Rome,
      Bologna and Florence) were included in the study. The LST layer and the built-up
      surface indicator were obtained via use of MODIS remote sensing data products
      (1km) and a very high-resolution map (5m) of built-up surfaces recently developed
      by the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research. The
      relationships between the dependent (mean daily, daytime and nighttime LST
      values) and independent (built-up surfaces) variables were investigated through
      linear regression analyses, and comprehensive built-up-surface-related LST maps
      were also developed. Statistically significant linear relationships (p<0.001)
      between built-up surfaces and spatial LST variations were observed in all the
      cities studied, with a higher impact during the warm/hot period than in the
      cool/cold ones. Daytime and nighttime LST slope patterns depend on the city size
      and relative urban morphology. If implemented in the existing city plan, the
      urban maps of built-up-surface-related LST developed in this study might be able
      to support more sustainable urban land management practices by identifying the
      critical areas (Hot-Spots) that would benefit most from mitigation actions by
      local authorities, land-use decision makers, and urban planners. 

PMID- 26878645
TI  - Tissue distribution of zinc and subtle oxidative stress effects after dietary
      administration of ZnO nanoparticles to rainbow trout.
AB  - The increasing use of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in different fields has raised
      concerns about the possible environmental risks associated with these NPs
      entering aquatic systems. In this study, using a dietary exposure route, we have
      analysed the tissue distribution and depuration pattern of Zn as well as any
      associated redox balance disturbances in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
      following exposure to ZnO NPs (20-30nm). Fish were fed a diet spiked with ZnO NPs
      prepared from a dispersion in sunflower oil at doses of 300 or 1000mg ZnO NPs/kg
      feed for 10days. This uptake phase was followed by a 28days depuration phase in
      which fish from all groups received untreated feed. While no overt signs of
      toxicity were observed and no important effects in fish growth (weight and
      length) or in the hepatosomatic index among groups were recorded, we observed
      high levels of Zn bioaccumulation in the gills and intestine of exposed fish
      following exposure to both dose levels. Zn levels were not eliminated during the
      depuration phase and we have evidenced oxidative stress responses in gills
      associated with such long term ZnO NPs bioaccumulation and lack of elimination.
      Furthermore, exposures to higher doses of ZnO NPs (1000mg/kg feed) resulted in Zn
      distribution to the liver of fish following 10days of exposure. Fish from this
      exposure group experienced biochemical disturbances associated with oxidative
      stress in the liver and ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity which may
      point to the ability of ZnO NPs or its ions to interfere with cytochrome P450
      metabolic processes. 

PMID- 26878646
TI  - Maternal and early life exposure to phthalates: The Plastics and Personal-care
      Products use in Pregnancy (P4) study.
AB  - Phthalates are a group of chemicals found in a number of consumer products; some
      of these phthalates have been shown to possess estrogenic activity and display
      anti-androgenic effects. While a number of biomonitoring studies of phthalates in
      pregnant women and infants have been published, there is a paucity of data based
      on both multiple sampling periods and in different matrices. Phthalate
      metabolites were measured in 80 pregnant women and their infants in Ottawa Canada
      (2009-2010) in urine, meconium and breast milk collected at various time periods
      pre- and post-parturition. At least 50% of the women had at least one urine
      sample greater than the limit of detection (LOD) for the various phthalate
      metabolites, with the exception of mono-n-octyl phthalate (MnOP), mono-isononyl
      phthalate (MiNP) and mono(carboxy-isooctyl) phthalate (MCiOP). Four major
      clusters of maternal urinary metabolites were identified. Among infants (n=61),
      the following metabolites were rarely (< 10%) detected: mono-cyclohexyl phthalate
      (MCHP), mono-isononyl phthalate (MiNP), mono-methyl phthalate (MMP), and mono-n
      octyl phthalate (MnOP). While mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-3-carboxypropyl
      phthalate (MCPP), MEHHP, and MEOHP were frequently detected in maternal urines at
      any time point, these metabolites were rarely detected in breast milk. Maternal
      urinary concentrations of MEP and the DEHP metabolites were higher in samples
      collected during pregnancy than postnatally. No statistically significant
      differences were observed in infant's urinary phthalate concentrations between
      breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Significant correlations were observed between
      maternal urinary MEHHP (r=0.35), MEOHP (r=0.35) and MEP (r=0.37) collected at
      <20weeks gestation with levels in meconium and between MBzP (r=0.78) and MEP
      (r=0.56) in maternal and infant urine collected 2-3months after birth. These
      results suggest at least some maternal-fetal-infant transfer of phthalates and
      that meconium may be a useful matrix for measuring in utero exposure to
      phthalates. 

PMID- 26878647
TI  - Effect of CCL2 on BV2 microglial cell migration: Involvement of probable
      signaling pathways.
AB  - Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, play a vital
      role in the regulation of innate immune function and neuronal homeostasis of the
      brain. Currently, much interest is being generated regarding the investigation of
      the microglial migration that results in their accumulation at focal sites of
      injury. Chemokines including CCL2 are known to cause the potential induction of
      migration of microglial cells, although the underlying mechanisms are not well
      understood. In the present study, using murine neonatal BV2 microglial cells as a
      model, we investigate the impact of CCL2 on the migration of microglial cells and
      address the probable molecular events within the cellular signaling cascades
      mediating CCL2-induced cell migration. Our results demonstrate concentration- and
      time-dependent induction of BV2 cell migration by CCL2 and reveal complex
      mechanisms involving the activation of MEK, ERK1/2, and Akt, and their cross
      talk. In addition, we demonstrate that the MEK/ERK pathway activated by CCL2
      treatment mediate p90RSK activation in BV2 cells. Moreover, our findings indicate
      that Akt, ERK1/2, and p90RSK are the downstream effectors of PI3K in the CCL2
      induced signaling. Finally, phosphorylation of the transcription factors c-jun
      and ATF-1 is found to be a further downstream signaling cascade in the CCL2
      mediated action. Our results suggest that CCL2-induced activation of c-jun and
      ATF-1 is likely to be linked to the MEK/ERK and PI3K signaling pathways,
      respectively. Taken together, these findings contribute to a better understanding
      of CCL2-induced microglial migration and the probable signaling pathways
      involved. 

PMID- 26878649
TI  - High IL-6 and low IL-15 levels mark the presence of TB infection: A preliminary
      study.
AB  - The host immune response, apart from mycobacterial factors, is a significant
      determinant in the development of tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of the study was
      to examine whether the differential serum profiles of cytokines IL-1beta, IL-2,
      IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta, and TNF-alpha could discriminate
      between TB patients and healthy controls and provide insights into pathogenesis.
      Serum samples from TB patients, TB patient contacts and healthy controls were
      collected and analyzed by ELISA. The cytokine concentrations obtained were
      stratified into three groups: below detection limit (BDL), low values, and high
      values. The differences in cytokine concentrations were analyzed by Fisher's
      exact test. The statistically significant results were interpreted based on post
      hoc analysis of the chi square contingency table using the adjusted residual
      method. Among the assayed cytokines, there was a statistically significant
      difference in the detection levels of IL-6, IL-15 and IFN-gamma. Levels of IL
      1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-beta and TNF-alpha did not vary. Post-hoc analysis
      of the significant results revealed that dynamic changes in the BDL and high
      values of cytokines influenced the post-infection cytokine milieu in the study
      subjects. The study concludes that altered balance in the levels of serum
      cytokines can be indicative of TB pathogenesis. Hence, profiling of dynamic
      changes in cytokines would facilitate effective TB diagnostic and treatment
      strategies. 

PMID- 26878648
TI  - Host biomarkers detected in saliva show promise as markers for the diagnosis of
      pulmonary tuberculosis disease and monitoring of the response to tuberculosis
      treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for new tools for the rapid diagnosis of
      tuberculosis (TB) disease in resource-constrained settings. Tests based on host
      immunological biomarkers maybe useful, especially if based on easily available
      samples. We investigated host biomarkers detected in saliva samples from
      individuals with suspected pulmonary TB disease, as tools for the diagnosis of TB
      disease and monitoring of the response to treatment. METHODS: We collected saliva
      samples from 104 individuals that presented with symptoms requiring investigation
      for TB disease at a primary health care clinic in the outskirts of Cape Town,
      South Africa, prior to assessment for TB disease. We evaluated the concentrations
      of 33 host markers in stored saliva samples using a multiplex cytokine platform.
      Using a combination of clinical, radiological and laboratory results and a pre
      established diagnostic algorithm, participants were later classified as having TB
      disease or other respiratory diseases (ORD). The diagnostic potentials of
      individual analytes were analysed by the receiver operator characteristics curve
      approach while the predictive abilities of combinations of analytes for TB
      disease were analysed by general discriminant analysis, with leave-one-out cross
      validation. RESULTS: Of the 104 individuals enrolled, 32 were pulmonary TB cases.
      There were significant differences in the levels of 10 of the markers
      investigated between the patients with TB disease and those with ORDs. However,
      the optimal diagnostic biosignature was a seven-marker combination of salivary
      CRP, ferritin, serum amyloid P, MCP-1, alpha-2-macroglobulin, fibrinogen and
      tissue plasminogen activator. This biosignature diagnosed TB disease with a
      sensitivity of 78.1% (95% CI, 59.6-90.1%) and specificity of 83.3% (95% CI, 72.3
      90.7%) after leave-one-out cross validation. When compared to baseline levels,
      the concentrations of 9 markers including granzyme A, MCP-1, IL-1beta, IL-9, IL
      10, IL-15, MIP-1beta, ferritin and serum amyloid A changed significantly by
      months 2 or 6 after initiation of TB treatment, thereby indicating that they
      might be useful in monitoring the response to TB treatment. CONCLUSION: We have
      identified candidate biomarkers in saliva, which may be useful in the diagnosis
      of TB disease and monitoring of the response to TB treatment. These results
      require further validation in larger studies.

PMID- 26878650
TI  - Application of first order kinetics to characterize MTBE natural attenuation in
      groundwater.
AB  - Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was a gasoline oxygenate that became widely
      used in reformulated gasoline as a means to reduce air pollution in the 1990s.
      Unfortunately, many of the underground storage tanks containing reformulated
      gasoline experienced subsurface releases which soon became a health concern given
      the increase in public and private water supplies containing MTBE. Many states
      responded to this by banning the use of MTBE as an additive, including
      Connecticut. Although MTBE dissipates by natural attenuation, it continues to be
      prevalent in groundwater long after the Connecticut ban in 2004. This study
      estimated the rate of the natural attenuation in groundwater following the
      Connecticut ban by evaluating the MTBE concentration two years prior to and two
      years after the MTBE ban at eighty-three monitoring wells from twenty-two retail
      gasoline stations where MTBE contamination was observed. Sites chosen for this
      study had not undergone active remediation ensuring no artificial influence to
      the natural attenuation processes that controls the migration and dissipation of
      MTBE. Results indicate that MTBE has dissipated in the natural environment, at
      more than 80% of the sites and at approximately 82% of the individual monitoring
      wells. In general, dissipation approximated first order kinetics. Dissipation
      half-lives, calculated using concentration data from the two year period after
      the ban, ranged from approximately three weeks to just over seven years with an
      average half-life of 7.3 months with little variability in estimates for
      different site characteristics. The accuracy of first order estimates to predict
      further MTBE dissipation were tested by comparing predicted concentrations with
      those observed after the two year post-ban period; the predicted concentrations
      closely match the observed concentrations which supports the use of first order
      kinetics for predictions of this nature.

PMID- 26878651
TI  - Analysis of the temperature sensitivity of Japanese rubella vaccine strain TO
      336.vac and its effect on immunogenicity in the guinea pig.
AB  - The marker of Japanese domestic rubella vaccines is their lack of immunogenicity
      in guinea pigs. This has long been thought to be related to the temperature
      sensitivity of the viruses, but supporting evidence has not been described. In
      this study, we generated infectious clones of TO-336.vac, a Japanese domestic
      vaccine, TO-336.GMK5, the parental virus of TO-336.vac, and their mutants, and
      determined the molecular bases of their temperature sensitivity and
      immunogenicity in guinea pigs. The results revealed that Ser(1159) in the non
      structural protein-coding region was responsible for the temperature sensitivity
      of TO-336.vac dominantly, while the structural protein-coding region affected the
      temperature sensitivity subordinately. The findings further suggested that the
      temperature sensitivity of TO-336.vac affected the antibody induction in guinea
      pigs after subcutaneous inoculation. 

PMID- 26878652
TI  - vwF A3-GPI modification of EPCs accelerates reendothelialization of injured
      vessels via collagen targeting in mice.
AB  - Despite the potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to incorporate into
      sites of vessel injury and differentiate into endothelial cells, thereby
      contributing to the improvement of endothelial function, reendothelialization in
      some patients is insufficient for the prevention of abnormal endothelial growth
      because there is a lack of specific guided signals and low levels of congregation
      of the EPCs to the injured areas. If some type of molecular tool was able to
      guide EPCs specifically to the injured vessels, however, then the efficacy of
      cell implantation would improve. Here, we designed a strategy to modify these
      cells and improve their ability to directly target the injured vessels. As a
      homing molecule, we selected extracellular matrix components, such as collagen,
      which is exposed on catheter-injured arteries. To promote the adhesion of the
      EPCs to collagen, we painted the primary EPCs with a recombinant,
      glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked high-affinity ligand for collagen that
      is termed von Willebrand factor A3-GPI. These painted EPCs specifically bound to
      collagen in vitro and traveled to the damaged vessel in vivo. This novel strategy
      may allow for significant advancements in EPCs transplantation treatment.

PMID- 26878653
TI  - Real-time prediction and gating of respiratory motion in 3D space using extended
      Kalman filters and Gaussian process regression network.
AB  - The prediction as well as the gating of respiratory motion have received much
      attention over the last two decades for reducing the targeting error of the
      radiation treatment beam due to respiratory motion. In this article, we present a
      real-time algorithm for predicting respiratory motion in 3D space and realizing a
      gating function without pre-specifying a particular phase of the patient's
      breathing cycle. The algorithm, named EKF-GPRN(+) , first employs an extended
      Kalman filter (EKF) independently along each coordinate to predict the
      respiratory motion and then uses a Gaussian process regression network (GPRN) to
      correct the prediction error of the EKF in 3D space. The GPRN is a nonparametric
      Bayesian algorithm for modeling input-dependent correlations between the output
      variables in multi-output regression. Inference in GPRN is intractable and we
      employ variational inference with mean field approximation to compute an
      approximate predictive mean and predictive covariance matrix. The approximate
      predictive mean is used to correct the prediction error of the EKF. The trace of
      the approximate predictive covariance matrix is utilized to capture the
      uncertainty in EKF-GPRN(+) prediction error and systematically identify breathing
      points with a higher probability of large prediction error in advance. This
      identification enables us to pause the treatment beam over such instances. EKF
      GPRN(+) implements a gating function by using simple calculations based on the
      trace of the predictive covariance matrix. Extensive numerical experiments are
      performed based on a large database of 304 respiratory motion traces to evaluate
      EKF-GPRN(+) . The experimental results show that the EKF-GPRN(+) algorithm
      reduces the patient-wise prediction error to 38%, 40% and 40% in root-mean
      square, compared to no prediction, at lookahead lengths of 192 ms, 384 ms and 576
      ms, respectively. The EKF-GPRN(+) algorithm can further reduce the prediction
      error by employing the gating function, albeit at the cost of reduced duty cycle.
      The error reduction allows the clinical target volume to planning target volume
      (CTV-PTV) margin to be reduced, leading to decreased normal-tissue toxicity and
      possible dose escalation. The CTV-PTV margin is also evaluated to quantify
      clinical benefits of EKF-GPRN(+) prediction. 

PMID- 26878654
TI  - Atmospheric Mercury Depositional Chronology Reconstructed from Lake Sediments and
      Ice Core in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.
AB  - Alpine lake sediments and glacier ice cores retrieved from high mountain regions
      can provide long-term records of atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic
      contaminants such as mercury (Hg). In this study, eight lake sediment cores and
      one glacier ice core were collected from high elevations across the Himalaya
      Tibet region to investigate the chronology of atmospheric Hg deposition.
      Consistent with modeling results, the sediment core records showed higher Hg
      accumulation rates in the southern slopes of the Himalayas than those in the
      northern slopes in the recent decades (post-World War II). Despite much lower Hg
      accumulation rates obtained from the glacier ice core, the temporal trend in the
      Hg accumulation rates matched very well with that observed from the sediment
      cores. The combination of the lake sediments and glacier ice core allowed us to
      reconstruct the longest, high-resolution atmospheric Hg deposition chronology in
      High Asia. The chronology showed that the Hg deposition rate was low between the
      1500s and early 1800, rising at the onset of the Industrial Revolution, followed
      by a dramatic increase after World War II. The increasing trend continues to the
      present-day in most of the records, reflecting the continuous increase in
      anthropogenic Hg emissions from South Asia. 

PMID- 26878655
TI  - From marginal to marginalised: The inclusion of men who have sex with men in
      global and national AIDS programmes and policy.
AB  - In the last decade, gay men and other men who have sex with men (msm) have come
      to the fore of global policy debates about AIDS prevention. In stark contrast to
      programmes and policy during the first two decades of the epidemic, which largely
      excluded msm outside of the Western countries, the Joint United Nations Programme
      on HIV/AIDS now identifies gay men and other msm as 'marginalized but not
      marginal' to the global response. Drawing on archival data and five waves of
      United Nations Country Progress Reports on HIV/AIDS (2001-2012), this paper
      examines the productive power of international organisations in the development
      and diffusion of the msm category, and considers how international organisations
      have shaped the interpretation of msm in national policies and programmes. These
      data show that the increasing separation of sexual identity and sexual behaviour
      at the global level helped to construct notions of risk and disease that were
      sufficiently broad to accommodate the diverse interests of global policy-makers,
      activists, and governments. However, as various international and national actors
      have attempted to develop prevention programmes for msm, the failure of the msm
      category to map onto lived experience is increasingly apparent.

PMID- 26878657
TI  - Chimerism interpretation with a highly sensitive quantitative PCR method: 6
      months median latency before chimerism drop below 0.1.

PMID- 26878656
TI  - Efficacy of cisplatin-based immunochemotherapy plus alloSCT in high-risk chronic
      lymphocytic leukemia: final results of a prospective multicenter phase 2 HOVON
      study.
AB  - Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) remains the only curative option
      for CLL patients. Whereas active disease at the time of alloSCT predicts poor
      outcome, no standard remission-induction regimen exists. We prospectively
      assessed outcome after cisplatin-containing immune-chemotherapy (R-DHAP) followed
      by alloSCT in 46 patients (median age 58 years) fulfilling modified European
      Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) CLL Transplant Consensus
      criteria being refractory to or relapsed (R/R) <1 year after fludarabine or <2
      years after fludarabine-based immunochemotherapy or R/R with del(17p). Twenty
      nine patients received ?3 cycles of R-DHAP and sixteen <3 cycles (4 because of
      disease progression, 8 for toxicity and 4 toxic deaths). Overall rate of response
      to R-DHAP was 58%, 31 (67%) proceeded to alloSCT after conditioning with
      fludarabine and 2 Gy TBI. Twenty (65%) remained free from progression at 2 years
      after alloSCT, including 17 without minimal residual disease. Intention-to-treat
      2-year PFS and overall survival of the 46 patients were 42 and 51% (35.5 months
      median follow-up); del(17p) or fludarabine refractoriness had no impact. R-DHAP
      followed by alloSCT is a reasonable treatment to be considered for high-risk CLL
      patients without access or resistance to targeted therapies. 

PMID- 26878658
TI  - Invariant natural killer T cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation:
      killer choice for natural suppression.
AB  - Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKTs) are innate-like lipid-reactive T
      lymphocytes that express an invariant T-cell receptor (TCR). Following engagement
      of the iTCR, iNKTs rapidly secrete copious amounts of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and
      promote the functions of several immune cells including NK, T, B and dendritic
      cells. Accordingly, iNKTs bridge the innate and adaptive immune responses and
      modulate susceptibility to autoimmunity, infection, allergy and cancer.
      Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the most
      effective treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies. However, the
      beneficial graft versus leukemia (GvL) effect mediated by the conventional T
      cells contained within the allograft is often hampered by the concurrent
      occurrence of graft versus host disease (GvHD). Thus, developing strategies that
      can dissociate GvHD from GvL remain clinically challenging. Several preclinical
      and clinical studies demonstrate that iNKTs significantly attenuate GvHD without
      abrogating the GvL effect. Besides preserving the GvL activity of the donor
      graft, iNKTs themselves exert antitumor immune responses via direct and indirect
      mechanisms. Herein, we review the various mechanisms by which iNKTs provide
      antitumor immunity and discuss their roles in GvHD suppression. We also highlight
      the opportunities and obstacles in manipulating iNKTs for use in the cellular
      therapy of hematologic malignancies. 

PMID- 26878660
TI  - Sexual function 1-year after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
AB  - Treatment with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is
      associated with short and long-term toxicities that can result in alterations in
      sexual functioning. The aims of this prospective evaluation were to determine:
      (1) associations between HSCT and increased sexual dysfunction 1 year after
      treatment; and (2) associations between sexual dysfunction, body image, anxiety
      and depression. This controlled prospective cohort study was conducted from
      October 2010 to November 2013. Patients completed assessments 2-3 weeks before
      HSCT (N=124) and 1 year after treatment (N=63). Assessment included descriptive
      data, Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Body Image Scale and Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale. The results showed a significant decline in overall sexual
      function in both men and women (P=<0.001, P=0.010, respectively), although men
      generally scored higher than women. Forty-seven percent of men and 60% of women
      reported at least one physical sexual problem 1 year after HSCT. Patients with
      chronic GVHD trended toward reporting lower levels of sexual function. Finally,
      women with chronic GVHD scored lower than those without chronic GVHD on the
      sexual function problem subscale (P=0.008). Sexual dysfunction remains a major
      problem for men and women 1 year after HSCT and requires routine evaluation and
      treatment after HSCT. 

PMID- 26878659
TI  - Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for homozygous beta-thalassemia and beta
      thalassemia/hemoglobin E patients from haploidentical donors.
AB  - Thalassemia-free survival after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is
      about 80-90% with either matched-related or -unrelated donors. We explored the
      use of a mismatched-related ('haplo- ') donor. All patients received two courses
      of pretransplant immunosuppressive therapy (PTIS) with fludarabine (Flu) and
      dexamethasone (Dxm). After two courses of PTIS, a conditioning regimen of rabbit
      antithymocyte globulin, Flu and IV busulfan (Bu) was given followed by T-cell
      replete peripheral blood progenitor cells. GvHD prophylaxis consisted of
      cyclophosphamide (Cy) on days SCT +3 and +4 (post-Cy), and on day SCT +5
      tacrolimus or sirolimus was started together with a short course of mycophenolate
      mofetil. Thirty-one patients underwent haplo-SCT. Their median age was 10 years
      (range, 2-20 years). Twenty-nine patients engrafted with 100% donor chimerism.
      Two patients suffered primary graft failure. Median time to neutrophil
      engraftment was 14 days (range, 11-18 days). Five patients developed mild to
      moderate, reversible veno-occlusive disease, while nine patients developed acute
      GvHD grade II. Only five patients developed limited-chronic GvHD. Projected
      overall and event-free survival rates at 2 years are 95% and 94%, respectively.
      The median follow up time is 12 months (range, 7-33 months). 

PMID- 26878661
TI  - Long-term outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with
      intensified myeloablative conditioning for refractory myeloid malignancy.

PMID- 26878664
TI  - Authors' correction for Euro Surveill. 2016;21(2).

PMID- 26878662
TI  - Feasibility of salvage cord blood transplantation following fludarabine,
      melphalan and low-dose TBI for graft rejection after hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation.

PMID- 26878663
TI  - Digital-PCR assay for screening and quantitative monitoring of calreticulin
      (CALR) type-2 positive patients with myelofibrosis following allogeneic stem cell
      transplantation.

PMID- 26878665
TI  - Synthesis and Characterization of a Walnut Peptides-Zinc Complex and Its
      Antiproliferative Activity against Human Breast Carcinoma Cells through the
      Induction of Apoptosis.
AB  - The walnut peptides and zinc ions were combined to generate a walnut peptides
      zinc complex (WP1-Zn) with enhanced antiproliferative ability as well as reduced
      toxicity. The result indicated that Zn ions were successfully combined with WP1
      through Zn-N and Zn-O covalent bonds. WP1-Zn compounds exhibited strong
      antiproliferative ability against the selected human cell lines, especially MCF-7
      cells, whose survival rate reduced to 20.02% after exposure to 300 MUg/mL of WP1
      Zn for 48 h. WP1-Zn inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation through inducing cell
      apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The results indicated that WP1-Zn induced MCF-7
      cell apoptosis via the ROS triggered mitochondrial-mediated pathway and cell
      surface receptor-mediated pathway. Our work is the first attempt to elucidate the
      synergic effect of novel walnut peptides and Zn and with the hope of better
      understanding the antiproliferative action of bioactive peptides and a zinc
      complex and support the potential application of WP1-Zn as a functional food
      ingredient or complementary medicine. 

PMID- 26878666
TI  - Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and clinical evaluation of saxagliptin in type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dipeptide peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors such as saxagliptin are
      established and efficacious oral therapies in the management of type 2 diabetes.
      These agents have the potential to confer significant benefits in glycemic
      control without the risk of weight gain and hypoglycemia, which may be associated
      with other medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. AREAS COVERED: This review
      examines the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and tolerability of saxagliptin for the
      management of type 2 diabetes. EXPERT OPINION: Saxagliptin is routinely used in
      the management of type 2 diabetes as monotherapy, and in combination with other
      oral agents and insulin. Robust clinical trials have shown consistent
      improvements in glycated hemoglobin, fasting and postprandial glucose levels,
      with few adverse effects. The agent is well tolerated with low rates of
      hypoglycemia in the absence of insulin or sulphonylurea therapy.

PMID- 26878667
TI  - 3D scintigraphic imaging and navigation in radioguided surgery: freehand SPECT
      technology and its clinical applications.
AB  - Freehand SPECT (fhSPECT) is a technology platform for providing 3-dimensional
      (3D) navigation for radioguided surgical procedures, such as sentinel lymph node
      (SLN) biopsy (SLNB). In addition to the information provided by conventional
      handheld gamma detection probes, fhSPECT allows for direct visualization of the
      distribution of radioactivity in any given region of interest, allowing for
      improved navigation to radioactive target lesions and providing accurate lesion
      depth measurements. Herein, we will review the currently available clinical data
      on the use of fhSPECT: (i) for SLNB of various malignancies, including difficult
      to-detect SLNs, and (ii) for radioguided localization of solid tumors. Moreover,
      the combination of fhSPECT with other technologies (e.g., small field-of-view
      gamma cameras, and diagnostic ultrasound) is discussed. These technical advances
      have the potential to greatly expand the clinical application of radioguided
      surgery in the future. 

PMID- 26878668
TI  - High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Revealing Contamination in DNA Purification
      Systems.
AB  - Motivated by reports of low-level DNA contamination in popular commercial DNA
      purification kits, we employed a novel high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS
      AFM) method to detect and characterize particulate and polymeric contaminants in
      four such systems: Qiagen MinElute PCR Purification, Zymo Research DNA Clean and
      Concentrator-5, Invitrogen ChargeSwitch-Pro PCR Purification, and Beckman Coulter
      AMPure XP. HS-AFM avoids amplification artifacts present in PCR or in the
      sequencing of amplified products, and it requires no chemical labels and easily
      achieves near-single-molecule sensitivity. Using this technique, we found trace
      levels of filamentous contamination, similar in appearance to dsDNA, in eluates
      from the Zymo, Qiagen, and ChargeSwitch kits. Conversely, we detected no
      contaminants in magnetic bead-based AMPure XP solutions. Eluates from the Zymo
      kits also tested positive for DNA in fluorescent intercalator dye and whole
      genome amplification (WGA) assays. Qiagen kits tested positive in the
      fluorescence assay but negative in the WGA assay. Both ChargeSwitch and AMPure XP
      tested negative in the fluorescence assay while the WGA results for these two
      kits were ambiguous. Taken together, our findings suggest AMPure XP would be the
      best choice for analyses requiring very high analytical stringency. While HS-AFM
      alone does not provide chemical specificity, it is a potentially valuable tool
      for characterizing and quantifying trace contaminants in molecular biology
      reagents and instruments in cases where conventional techniques fail. 

PMID- 26878669
TI  - Metabolic liver function after stereotactic body radiation therapy for
      hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Purpose The time course of changes of the liver function after stereotactic body
      radiotherapy (SBRT) was analyzed in patients treated for non-resectable
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients and methods Twenty-six patients with non
      resectable HCC treated with SBRT were included in this study. Clinical,
      biochemical and treatment-related parameters were retrospectively collected. S
      albumin, s-bilirubin, s-alkaline phosphatase (AP) and s-alanine transaminase
      (ALAT) at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after radiotherapy were analyzed. Results
      Seventeen and nine patients were Child-Pugh class A and B, respectively. The
      liver was exposed to relatively high radiation doses with mean doses of 1.9-26
      Gy. None of the patients developed classic radiotherapy-induced liver disease
      (RILD), but two patients developed non-classic RILD. Two patients developed grade
      3 ascites and no grade 4-5 toxicities were observed. Six patients declined in
      Child-Pugh class. The s-albumin decreased significantly from a pretreatment
      median of 37.4-34.36 g/l at three months after SBRT and stabilized thereafter. S
      bilirubin, s-AP and s-ALAT did not change significantly over the study period.
      Conclusion Despite the fact that patients received high radiation dose to the
      liver, there was only moderate morbidity related to the treatment. The s-albumin
      decreases over three months after SBRT reflecting minor to moderate hepatic
      toxicity. S-albumin should be observed in the follow-up of HCC patients treated
      with SBRT. 

PMID- 26878670
TI  - Versatile Tandem Ring-Opening/Ring-Closing Metathesis Polymerization: Strategies
      for Successful Polymerization of Challenging Monomers and Their Mechanistic
      Studies.
AB  - Tandem ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis (RO/RCM) results in extremely fast
      living polymerization; however, according to previous reports, only monomers
      containing certain combinations of cycloalkenes, terminal alkynes, and nitrogen
      linkers successfully underwent tandem polymerization. After examining the
      polymerization pathways, we proposed that the relatively slow intramolecular
      cyclization might lead to competing side reactions such as intermolecular cross
      metathesis reactions to form inactive propagating species. Thus, we developed two
      strategies to enhance tandem polymerization efficiency. First, we modified
      monomer structures to accelerate tandem RO/RCM cyclization by enhancing the
      Thorpe-Ingold effect. This strategy increased the polymerization rate and
      suppressed the chain transfer reaction to achieve controlled polymerization, even
      for challenging syntheses of dendronized polymers. Alternatively, reducing the
      reaction concentration facilitated tandem polymerization, suggesting that the
      slow tandem RO/RCM cyclization step was the main reason for the previous failure.
      To broaden the monomer scope, we used monomers containing internal alkynes and
      observed that two different polymer units with different ring sizes were produced
      as a result of nonselective alpha-addition and beta-addition on the internal
      alkynes. Thorough experiments with various monomers with internal alkynes
      suggested that steric and electronic effects of the alkyne substituents
      influenced alkyne addition selectivity and the polymerization reactivity. Further
      polymerization kinetics studies revealed that the rate-determining step of
      monomers containing certain internal alkynes was the six-membered cyclization
      step via beta-addition, whereas that for other monomers was the conventional
      intermolecular propagation step, as observed in other chain-growth
      polymerizations. This conclusion agrees well with all those polymerization
      results and thus validates our strategies. 

PMID- 26878671
TI  - An excitatory basis for divisive normalization in visual cortex.
AB  - Neurons in visual cortex are connected not only locally, but also through
      networks of distal connectivity. These distal networks recruit both excitatory
      and inhibitory synapses and result in divisive normalization. Normalization is
      traditionally thought to result from increases in synaptic inhibition. By
      combining optogenetic stimulation and intracellular recordings in mouse visual
      cortex, we found that, on the contrary, normalization is a result of a decrease
      in synaptic excitation. 

PMID- 26878672
TI  - Resilience to chronic stress is mediated by noradrenergic regulation of dopamine
      neurons.
AB  - Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) help mediate stress
      susceptibility and resilience. However, upstream mechanisms controlling these
      neurons remain unknown. Noradrenergic (NE) neurons in the locus coeruleus,
      implicated in the pathophysiology of depression, have direct connections within
      the VTA. Here we demonstrate that NE neurons regulate vulnerability to social
      defeat through inhibitory control of VTA DA neurons. 

PMID- 26878673
TI  - Hippogate: a break-in from entorhinal cortex.

PMID- 26878674
TI  - 4-Hz oscillations synchronize prefrontal-amygdala circuits during fear behavior.
AB  - Fear expression relies on the coordinated activity of prefrontal and amygdala
      circuits, yet the mechanisms allowing long-range network synchronization during
      fear remain unknown. Using a combination of extracellular recordings,
      pharmacological and optogenetic manipulations, we found that freezing, a
      behavioral expression of fear, temporally coincided with the development of
      sustained, internally generated 4-Hz oscillations in prefrontal-amygdala
      circuits. 4-Hz oscillations predict freezing onset and offset and synchronize
      prefrontal-amygdala circuits. Optogenetic induction of prefrontal 4-Hz
      oscillations coordinates prefrontal-amygdala activity and elicits fear behavior.
      These results unravel a sustained oscillatory mechanism mediating prefrontal
      amygdala coupling during fear behavior. 

PMID- 26878677
TI  - Effect of Laughter Yoga on Psychological Well-being and Physiological Measures.
AB  - CONTEXT: In 2014, laughter yoga (LY) achieved the intermediate level, tier 2,
      under the Title III-D Evidence-based Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
      Program through the Administration on Aging (AOA). Further research is needed to
      qualify LY under the criteria for the highest tier, tier 3, to assure continued
      funding for LY classes at senior centers. OBJECTIVES: The study intended to
      demonstrate further the benefits of LY and to qualify LY as tier 3 under Title
      III-D. DESIGN: Using a quasi-experimental design, the research team conducted a
      preintervention/postintervention study in 3 phases. SETTING: The study was done
      in a variety of community centers. Phase 1, a pilot phase, was limited to North
      Carolina, and phase 2 was conducted in multiple states. Phase 3 was held at the
      North Carolina Area Agency on Aging's annual Volunteer Appreciation meeting.
      PARTICIPANTS: Participants in phases 1 (n = 109) and 2 (n = 247) enrolled in LY
      classes. Classes were advertised by fliers posted in community and in retirement
      centers. The ability of participants to participate in a class was based solely
      on their desire to participate, regardless of age, ability, health status, or
      physical impairment. Phase 3 (n = 23) was a convenience sample only. All phases
      were voluntary. OUTCOME MEASURE: The pre- and posttests for all 3 phases were
      Likert-scale surveys, 10 questions on the Psychological Outcomes of Well-being
      (POWB) survey. Pulse and other physiological measurements were also assessed pre-
      and postintervention. Analysis included a t test on each of the 10 POWB and
      physiological measures for all phases. RESULTS: All 10 POWB measures for phases 1
      and 2 showed significant improvements between the pre- and postintervention
      testing (P < .001). Phase 3, the control, showed no significant improvement.
      CONCLUSIONS: The initial study demonstrated that LY meets the criteria to qualify
      for tier 3 under the Title III-D Evidence-based Disease Prevention and Health
      Promotion Program and that a large number of Americans, regardless of age and
      physical ability, could benefit from LY.

PMID- 26878675
TI  - Composition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic
      literature review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Demand for organic meat is partially driven by consumer perceptions that organic
      foods are more nutritious than non-organic foods. However, there have been no
      systematic reviews comparing specifically the nutrient content of organic and
      conventionally produced meat. In this study, we report results of a meta-analysis
      based on sixty-seven published studies comparing the composition of organic and
      non-organic meat products. For many nutritionally relevant compounds (e.g.
      minerals, antioxidants and most individual fatty acids (FA)), the evidence base
      was too weak for meaningful meta-analyses. However, significant differences in FA
      profiles were detected when data from all livestock species were pooled.
      Concentrations of SFA and MUFA were similar or slightly lower, respectively, in
      organic compared with conventional meat. Larger differences were detected for
      total PUFA and n-3 PUFA, which were an estimated 23 (95 % CI 11, 35) % and 47 (95
      % CI 10, 84) % higher in organic meat, respectively. However, for these and many
      other composition parameters, for which meta-analyses found significant
      differences, heterogeneity was high, and this could be explained by differences
      between animal species/meat types. Evidence from controlled experimental studies
      indicates that the high grazing/forage-based diets prescribed under organic
      farming standards may be the main reason for differences in FA profiles. Further
      studies are required to enable meta-analyses for a wider range of parameters
      (e.g. antioxidant, vitamin and mineral concentrations) and to improve both
      precision and consistency of results for FA profiles for all species. Potential
      impacts of composition differences on human health are discussed. 

PMID- 26878676
TI  - Effects of a Supplement Containing Apoaequorin on Verbal Learning in Older Adults
      in the Community.
AB  - CONTEXT: The changes in verbal learning and working memory that often occur with
      aging may result in reduced social and intellectual interactions. These changes
      significantly affect an individual's quality of life. As humans age, the body's
      ability to regulate and maintain calcium levels is diminished. Pharmacological
      manipulation of the entry of free calcium (Ca2+) has been shown to be effective
      in increasing some aspects of cognitive function in the aged brain. Apoaequorin
      has been shown in laboratory studies to regulate levels of intracellular calcium
      in neuronal cells and to provide protection against ischemic cell death.
      OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to assess the effects of a supplement of
      apoaequorin on verbal learning and working memory. DESIGN: The current study, the
      Madison Memory Study, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
      SETTING: The study occurred in Madison, WI, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were
      218 community-dwelling adults, aged 40-91 y, with self-reported memory concerns.
      INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to receive either apoaequorin
      (apoaequorin group) or a matched placebo (control group) for 90 d. OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The study used quantitative, computerized tools for cognitive
      assessment the CogState International Shopping List (ISL) and the CogState ISL
      Delayed Recall (ISL-DR). Scores from computerized cognitive tasks were measured
      at baseline and at several points during the 90-d study. RESULTS: No significant
      differences existed between the intervention and control groups in any parameter
      at baseline. The intervention group (apoaequorin group) showed a statistically
      significant improvement in verbal learning and recall on the ISL and the ISL-DR,
      respectively, during the 90-d study. Apoaequorin was tolerated very well in the
      study. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated a strong relationship between
      apoaequorin and improvements on a quantitative measure of cognitive function,
      specifically verbal learning. The study found that apoaequorin is a well
      tolerated supplement that improved cognitive function in aging adults. The
      results suggest potential utility for apoaequorin in addressing the declines in
      cognitive function associated with aging.

PMID- 26878678
TI  - Commentary on "Effect of Laughter Yoga on Psychological Well-being and
      Physiological Measures".

PMID- 26878679
TI  - Can Joan of Arc Serve as an Enduring Model of Empowerment for Women With a Cancer
      Diagnosis?
AB  - CONTEXT: Many research studies have shown that arts-based medicine is a viable
      and effective medical strategy to help people with cancer improve the quality of
      their lives. The use of arts-based strategies that employ a figure from history
      as a source of support to help improve the quality of life has not been
      documented. OBJECTIVE: The current limited study allowed the author the ability
      to use the materials in her book, If Joan of Arc Had Cancer: Finding Courage,
      Faith, and Healing From History's Most Inspirational Woman Warrior, to provide
      support to women who were cancer survivors and to see if the use of Joan of Arc
      as a healing guide would be relevant. The primary intention was to find out how
      the book would be received by women with cancer and also to have the opportunity
      to determine what was helpful and what was not useful for them. DESIGN: The study
      was a pilot study. SETTING: The study took place at the Gilda's Club, a national
      support community for people with cancer and their families, in Fort Lauderdale,
      FL, USA, one of the satellite programs sponsored by the Wellness Community.
      PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 10 female survivors of cancer who were members of
      the Gilda's Club. INTERVENTION: Participants took part in a 6-wk workshop. The
      workshop included arts-based medicine and meditations, based on a book written by
      the current author. OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed surveys both pre-
      and postintervention. RESULTS: The program had 10 participants, but only 3 women
      finished the 6-wk program and completed the postintervention survey. After the
      workshop, the 3 participants indicated in a survey that they were feeling less
      anxiety and fear and noted that they felt that they had an improved quality of
      life and felt more empowered with respect to their psychological frames of mind.
      In addition, when asked on the survey about the effectiveness of their
      communications with their physicians (ie, their ability to express and discuss
      their psychosocial and physical needs combined), they also indicated that they
      felt that their communications had improved. CONCLUSIONS: The current study,
      conducted with a small group of women who were cancer survivors, has shown that
      the use of arts-based medicine can be effective and, most particularly, that the
      use of Joan of Arc as a model for empowerment can be particularly effective.

PMID- 26878681
TI  - Should Psychiatrists Resurrect the Body?
AB  - The current article interrogates the mind-body dualism that characterizes modern
      psychiatry and contends that the dualism is manifested by the relative neglect by
      psychiatrists of the body, or soma. The article argues that the state of affairs
      has several consequences, including psychiatrists' underappreciation of the
      somatic manifestations of mental disorders and of the therapeutic potential of
      somatic or body-based therapies. Empirical data attest to the association of a
      range of mental illnesses with somatic pathologies, as does the fact that a range
      of somatic therapies, including yoga and t'ai chi, are increasingly being shown
      to be efficacious in the treatment of a range of mental illnesses. The current
      article contextualizes contemporary Western psychiatry's relative neglect of the
      body by drawing on some historical as well as cross-cultural perspectives.
      Although their overall effect has been minimal, various theoretical perspectives
      in Western psychiatry, including Jungian thought, psychoanalytical
      psychosomatics, Reichian and related schools, and the phenomenological tradition,
      have sought to overcome psychiatry's mind-body dualism. Neither has psychiatry
      incorporated the values of various non-Western schools of medicine that maintain
      a far more integrated conceptualization of the relationship between mind and body
      than is seen in modern Western psychiatry. The field of psychosomatics could
      potentially influence general psychiatry to reverse its bifurcated mind-body
      relationship, but that field's increasingly narrow mandate and organizational
      separation from general psychiatry conspire to militate against the latter's
      incorporation of psychosomatic medicine's conceptual advances or pragmatic
      insights in any convincing or enduring manner. 

PMID- 26878680
TI  - Evolution of the Perception of the Relationship Between Doctor and Breast Cancer
      Patient.
AB  - The current article discusses the author's study of the evolution of the
      subjective perception of the relationship between physicians and breast cancer
      patients during recent decades. The article is based on 18 testimonials, mainly
      autobiographies dating from 1975-2008, which provide relevant information about
      the psychological experience of breast cancer care. The pathographies show that
      many patients nowadays still have an intensely negative perception of their
      therapeutic interactions with health care professionals, which may have a
      detrimental effect on their affective states, immunity, and outcomes. 

PMID- 26878682
TI  - Volatile Retention and Morphological Properties of Microencapsulated Tributyrin
      Varied by Wall Material and Drying Method.
AB  - Butyric acid is an important short-chain fatty acid for intestinal health and has
      been shown to improve certain intestinal disease states. A triglyceride
      containing 3 butyric acid esters, tributyrin (TB) can serve as a source of
      butyric acid; however, the need to target intestinal delivery and mitigate
      unpleasant sensory qualities has limited its use in food. Microencapsulation, the
      entrapment of one or more cores within a matrix, may provide a solution to the
      aforementioned challenge. This research primarily focused on the influence of (1)
      wall material: whey and soy protein isolate (WPI and SPI, respectively) and gamma
      cyclodextrin (GCD), (2) wall additives: inulin of varying chain length, and (3)
      processing method: spray or oven drying (SD or OD, respectively) on the
      morphological properties and volatile retention of TB within microcapsules. SPI
      based microcapsules retained significantly less (P < 0.001) TB compared to WPI
      based microcapsules as measured by gas chromatography. The inclusion of inulin in
      the SD WPI-based microcapsules increased (P < 0.001) TB retention over WPI-based
      microcapsules without inulin. Inulin inclusion into WPI-based microcapsules
      resulted in a smoother, minimally-dented, circular morphology as compared to
      noninulin containing WPI-based microcapsules as shown by scanning electron
      microscopy. GCD and TB OD microcapsules retained more (P < 0.001) TB (94.5% +/-
      1.10%) than all other WPI, WPI-inulin, and GCD TB SD microcapsules. When spray
      dried, the GCD-based microcapsules exhibited (P < 0.001) TB retention than all
      other microcapsules, indicating the GCD may be unsuitable for spray drying. These
      findings demonstrate that microencapsulated TB in GCD can lead to minimal TB
      losses during processing that could be utilized in functional food applications
      for intestinal health. 

PMID- 26878683
TI  - 17beta-Estradiol inhibits TNF-alpha-induced proliferation and migration of
      vascular smooth muscle cells via suppression of TRAIL.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and involves migration of vascular
      smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Estrogen inhibits VSMCs migration, while the
      underlying mechanism remains to be revealed. Recent years, there is emerging
      evidence showing that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) increases
      proliferation and migration of VSMCs. In this study, we investigated the
      regulatory effect of estrogen on TRAIL expression in VSMCs. TNF-alpha greatly
      enhanced TRAIL protein expression and stimulated VSMCs proliferation and
      migration. This effect was partially inhibited by the addition of TRAIL
      neutralizing antibody, suggesting that TRAIL is important in TNF-alpha-induced
      migration. 17beta-estradiol (E2) inhibited TRAIL expression under TNF-alpha
      stimulation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This effect was was
      mimicked by ERalpha agonist 4',4",4'''-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)
      trisphenol (PPT), but not ERbeta agonist 2,3-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile
      (DPN), indicating that ERalpha is involved in this action. TNF-alpha led to
      nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) p65 phosphorylation and the inhibitor
      pyrrolidine dithiocarbama (PDTC) inhibited TRAIL expression, suggesting that NF
      kappaB signaling is crucial for TARIL production. E2 suppressed p65
      phosphorylation in VSMCs and the overexpression of p65 subunit reversed the
      inhibitory effect of E2 on TRAIL expression and cell proliferation and migration.
      Taken together, our results indicate that E2 inhibits VSMCs proliferation and
      migration by downregulation of TRAIL expression via suppression of NF-kappaB
      pathway. 

PMID- 26878684
TI  - Combinational enhancing effects of formulation and encapsulation on digestive
      stability and intestinal transport of green tea catechins.
AB  - The hypothesis was that green tea catechins (GTCs) formulated with vitamin C and
      xylitol followed by enteric coating with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate
      (HPMCP) or encapsulated into gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) could enhance
      intestinal absorption of GTCs. Surface morphology and size obtained by SEM were
      different. Digestive stability of GTCs encapsulated into gamma-CD or coated with
      HPMCP was enhanced up to 65.56% or 57.63%, respectively. When GTCs were
      formulated, the digestive stability was greater than the one not formulated.
      Formulated GTCs followed by encapsulation into gamma-CD significantly increased
      intestinal transport. Absorption of GTCs was 2.8%, 9.64%, 11.97%, 8.41% and
      14.36% for only GTCs, GTCs encapsulated into gamma-CD, formulated GTCs
      encapsulated into gamma-CD, GTCs coated with HPMCP and formulated GTCs coated
      with HPMCP, respectively. This study suggests that GTCs, formulated with vitamin
      C and xylitol followed by gamma-CD encapsulation or HPMCP enteric coating,
      provide combinational effect to increase bioavailability of GTCs. 

PMID- 26878686
TI  - Susceptibility to monocular deprivation following immersion in darkness either
      late into or beyond the critical period.
AB  - An extended duration of darkness starting near the time of birth preserves
      immature neuronal characteristics and prolongs the accentuated plasticity
      observed in young animals. Brief periods of complete darkness have emerged as an
      effective means of restoring a high capacity for neural plasticity and of
      promoting recovery from the effects of monocular deprivation (MD). We examined
      whether 10 days of darkness imposed in adulthood or beyond the peak of the
      critical period could rejuvenate the ability of MD to reduce the size of neuron
      somata within deprived layers of the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
      (dLGN). For adult cats subjected to 10 days of darkness before 7 days of MD, we
      observed no alteration in neuron size or neurofilament labeling within the dLGN.
      At 12 weeks of age, MD that followed immediately after 10 days of darkness
      produced an enhanced reduction of neuron soma size within deprived dLGN layers.
      For this age we observed that 10 days of darkness also enhanced the loss of
      neurofilament protein within deprived dLGN layers. These results indicate that,
      although 10 days of darkness in adulthood does not enhance the susceptibility to
      7 days of MD, darkness imposed near the trailing edge of the critical period can
      restore a heightened susceptibility to MD more typical of an earlier
      developmental stage. The loss of neurofilament in juveniles exposed to darkness
      prior to MD suggests that the enhanced capacity for structural plasticity is
      partially rooted in the ability of darkness to modulate molecules that inhibit
      plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2643-2653, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26878685
TI  - Light-Activated Sealing of Acellular Nerve Allografts following Nerve Gap Injury.
AB  - Introduction Photochemical tissue bonding (PTB) uses visible light to create
      sutureless, watertight bonds between two apposed tissue surfaces stained with
      photoactive dye. In phase 1 of this two-phase study, nerve gaps repaired with
      bonded isografts were superior to sutured isografts. When autograft demand
      exceeds supply, acellular nerve allograft (ANA) is an alternative although
      outcomes are typically inferior. This study assesses the efficacy of PTB when
      used with ANA. Methods Overall 20 male Lewis rats had 15-mm left sciatic nerve
      gaps repaired using ANA. ANAs were secured using epineurial suture (group 1) or
      PTB (group 2). Outcomes were assessed using sciatic function index (SFI),
      gastrocnemius muscle mass retention, and nerve histomorphometry. Historical
      controls from phase 1 were used to compare the performance of ANA with isograft.
      Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Bonferroni all
      pairs comparison. Results All ANAs had signs of successful regeneration. Mean
      values for SFI, muscle mass retention, nerve fiber diameter, axon diameter, and
      myelin thickness were not significantly different between ANA + suture and ANA +
      PTB. On comparative analysis, ANA + suture performed significantly worse than
      isograft + suture from phase 1. However, ANA + PTB was statistically comparable
      to isograft + suture, the current standard of care. Conclusion Previously
      reported advantages of PTB versus suture appear to be reduced when applied to
      ANA. The lack of Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors may be responsible. PTB
      may improve ANA performance to an extent, where they are equivalent to autograft.
      This may have important clinical implications when injuries preclude the use of
      autograft. 

PMID- 26878687
TI  - Adsorption-regeneration by heterogeneous Fenton process using modified carbon and
      clay materials for removal of indigo blue.
AB  - Indigo blue dye is mainly used in dyeing of denim clothes and its presence in
      water bodies could have adverse effects on the aquatic system; for this reason,
      the objective of this study was to promote the removal of indigo blue dye from
      aqueous solutions by iron and copper electrochemically modified clay and
      activated carbon and the saturated materials were regenerated by a Fenton-like
      process. Montmorillonite clay was modified at pH 2 and 7; activated carbon at pH
      2 and pH of the system. The elemental X-ray dispersive spectroscopy analysis
      showed that the optimum pH for modification of montmorillonite with iron and
      copper was 7 and for activated carbon was 2. The dye used in this work was
      characterized by infrared. Unmodified and modified clay samples showed the
      highest removal efficiencies of the dye (90-100%) in the pH interval from 2 to 10
      whereas the removal efficiencies decrease as pH increases for samples modified at
      pH 2. Unmodified clay and copper-modified activated carbon at pH 2 were the most
      efficient activated materials for the removal of the dye. The adsorption kinetics
      data of all materials were best adjusted to the pseudo-second-order model,
      indicating a chemisorption mechanism and the adsorption isotherms data showed
      that the materials have a heterogeneous surface. The iron-modified clay could be
      regenerated by a photo-Fenton-like process through four adsorption-regeneration
      cycles, with 90% removal efficiency. 

PMID- 26878688
TI  - Patients' perspective on surgical intervention for Dupuytren's disease -
      experiences, expectations and appraisal of results.
AB  - PURPOSE: To explore patients' perspectives on surgical intervention for
      Dupuytren's disease (DD), focusing on patients' appraisal of results, involving
      previous experiences, expectations and patient characters. METHOD: The
      participants were 21 men, mean age 66 years, scheduled for DD surgery.
      Qualitative interviews were conducted 2-4 weeks before surgery and 6-8 months
      after surgery. The model of the Patient Evaluation Process was used as
      theoretical framework. Data were analyzed using problem-driven content analysis.
      RESULTS: Five categories are described: previous experiences, expectations before
      surgery, appraisal of results, expectations of the future and patient character.
      Previous experiences influenced participants' expectations, and these were used
      along with other aspects as references for appraisal of results. Participants'
      appraisal of results concerned perceived changes in hand function, care process,
      competency and organization, and could vary in relation to patient character. The
      appraisal of results influenced participants' expectations of future hand
      function, health and care. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' appraisal of results involved
      multidimensional reasoning reflecting on hand function, interaction with staff
      and organizational matters. Thus, it is not enough to evaluate results after DD
      surgery only by health outcomes as this provides only a limited perspective.
      Rather, evaluation of results should also cover process and structure aspects of
      care. Implications for Rehabilitation To improve health care services, it is
      important to be aware of the role played by patient's previous experiences,
      expectations as well as staff and organizational aspects of care. Knowledge about
      patients' experience and view of the results from surgery and rehabilitation
      should be established by assessment of care effects on health as well as
      structure and process aspects of care. Evaluation of structure and process
      aspects of care can be done by using questions about if the patient felt listened
      to, received clear information and explanations, was included in decision-making,
      and their view of waiting time or continuity of care. Improving health care
      services means not only providing the best treatment method available but also
      developing individualized care by ensuring good interaction with the patient,
      providing accurate information, and working to improve the structure of the care
      process. Before treatment, health care providers should have a dialogue with the
      patient and consider previous experiences and expectations in order to ensure the
      patient has balanced expectations of the outcome.

PMID- 26878689
TI  - Direct observation of a 91 bp LacI-mediated, negatively supercoiled DNA loop by
      atomic force microscope.
AB  - Escherichia coli lactose repressor (LacI), a tetrameric protein, is a
      paradigmatic transcriptional factor that controls the expression of lacZYA in the
      lac operon. It specifically binds to the O1, O2, and O3 operators of the lac
      promoter, forms DNA loops, and regulates transcription of the lac operon. In this
      article, utilizing combined techniques of DNA-nicking assay and AFM imaging, we
      directly observed a 91 bp LacI-mediated, negatively supercoiled DNA loop
      mimicking the DNA loop between the O1 and O3 operators in the lac promoter. 

PMID- 26878691
TI  - Tunable nanoporous silicon oxide templates by swift heavy ion tracks technology.
AB  - Nanoporous silicon oxide templates formed by swift heavy ion tracks technology
      have been investigated. The influence of the heavy ion characteristics, such as
      type of ion, energy, stopping power and irradiation fluence on the pore
      properties of the silicon oxide templates, has been studied. Furthermore, the
      process of pore formation by chemical etching with hydrofluoric acid has been
      thoroughly investigated by assessing the effect of etchant concentration and
      etching time. The outcome of this investigation enables us to have precise
      control over the resulting geometry of nanopores arrays. As a result, guidelines
      for the creation of a-SiO2/Si templates with tunable parameters and general
      recommendations for their further application are presented. 

PMID- 26878690
TI  - Biointerfacial phenomena of amlodipine buccomucosal tablets of HPMC matrix system
      containing polyacrylate polymer/beta-cyclodextrin: Correlation of swelling and
      drug delivery performance.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the development of amlodipine bilayer buccal
      tablets of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrix system containing
      polyacrylate polymer (Carbopol((r)))/beta-cyclodextrin as the drug layer and
      ethylcellulose as the non-swellable backing layer, and their biointerfacial
      phenomena. METHODS: Tablets were evaluated for swelling, erosion and mucoadhesion
      using buccal mucosal tissue ex vivo. In vitro drug release and ex vivo drug
      transport across mucosal tissue were also performed in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8).
      The relationship of swelling with buccoadhesion and buccal permeation of various
      bilayer tablet formulations containing HPMC alone and in combination with
      Carbopol or drug-beta-cyclodextrin complex has been prepared. RESULTS: Overall
      buccoadhesion of the tablet with combination of HPMC and Carbopol was increased
      significantly compared with that of HPMC alone. Presence of cyclodextrin did not
      change bioadhesion force and swelling behavior significantly. Ex vivo permeation
      was increased with the increase of HPMC proportion in other formulations as
      observed in in vitro dissolution. CONCLUSION: Drug-cyclodextrin complexes in the
      tablet improved permeation due to its improved dissolution at the site of
      biointerface of tablet and buccomucosa. Correlations of ex vivo and in vitro data
      have been established to predict the buccomucosal permeation from the swelling
      index or drug release alone.

PMID- 26878693
TI  - The artful management of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
AB  - Acute myeloid leukemia in older patients has historically had a dismal 10-15%
      long-term survival rate. Although patient frailty plays a role in this
      disappointing outcome, the primary driver of poor results remains the resistance
      of disease to current therapies. The optimal management of this difficult-to
      treat disease should include a careful consideration of disease, patient and
      treatment factors. Disease factors include cytogenetic and molecular features and
      the history of an antecedent hematological disorder. Patient factors include age,
      performance status, comorbid conditions and individual patient preference. We
      favor intensive induction in most fit older patients but alternatives such as
      hypomethylating agents and low-dose cytarabine may be considered in patients with
      other comorbidities. Enrollment of patients into well designed clinical trials
      addressing important questions remains of utmost importance in order to advance
      the understanding and treatment of this disease although the best means of drug
      development remains a challenging dilemma. 

PMID- 26878692
TI  - Optimal drugs for second-line treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Despite the high response rate to chemotherapy, there have been few
      advances in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the last decades.
      The state-of-the-art second-line therapy and future research developments in
      relapsed SCLC are reviewed. AREAS COVERED: There are no optimal drugs for second
      line treatment of recurrent SCLC but only agents registered for this use.
      Topotecan remains the standard-of-care for the treatment of second-line platinum
      sensitive SCLC patients worldwide, while amrubicin is another option, but
      registered only in Japan. To date, no targeted agents reporting interesting
      results in second-line SCLC treatment are available. The next-generation DNA
      sequencing should discover somatic gene alterations and their roles in SCLC to
      help in selecting patients who could benefit from a targeted agent. Two
      immunotherapeutics, ipilimumab and nivolumab, have shown promising preliminary
      results and are being investigated in ongoing trials. EXPERT OPINION: Second-line
      treatment is not an option for most SCLC patients. Given the evidence up to now,
      the potentials for immuno-oncology in SCLC are high. The hope is that these
      expectations are met, and that all drugs being developed will offer new and
      improved treatment options for SCLC patients.

PMID- 26878694
TI  - Is charm a primary care physician communication skill?

PMID- 26878695
TI  - Mitogen activated protein kinases SakA(HOG1) and MpkC collaborate for Aspergillus
      fumigatus virulence.
AB  - Here, we investigated which stress responses were influenced by the MpkC and SakA
      mitogen-activated protein kinases of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway
      in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The DeltasakA and the double
      DeltampkC DeltasakA mutants were more sensitive to osmotic and oxidative
      stresses, and to cell wall damaging agents. Both MpkC::GFP and SakA::GFP
      translocated to the nucleus upon osmotic stress and cell wall damage, with
      SakA::GFP showing a quicker response. The phosphorylation state of MpkA was
      determined post exposure to high concentrations of congo red and Sorbitol. In the
      wild-type strain, MpkA phosphorylation levels progressively increased in both
      treatments. In contrast, the DeltasakA mutant had reduced MpkA phosphorylation,
      and surprisingly, the double DeltampkC DeltasakA had no detectable MpkA
      phosphorylation. A. fumigatus DeltasakA and DeltampkC were virulent in mouse
      survival experiments, but they had a 40% reduction in fungal burden. In contrast,
      the DeltampkC DeltasakA double mutant showed highly attenuated virulence, with
      approximately 50% mice surviving and a 75% reduction in fungal burden. We propose
      that both cell wall integrity (CWI) and HOG pathways collaborate, and that MpkC
      could act by modulating SakA activity upon exposure to several types of stresses
      and during CW biosynthesis.

PMID- 26878696
TI  - Crowding and visual acuity measured in adults using paediatric test letters,
      pictures and symbols.
AB  - Crowding refers to the degradation of visual acuity for target optotypes with,
      versus without, surrounding features. Crowding is important clinically, however
      the effect of target-flanker spacing on acuity for symbols and pictures, compared
      to letters, has not been investigated. Five adults with corrected-to-normal
      vision had visual acuity measured for modified single target versions of Kay
      Pictures, Lea Symbols, HOTV and Cambridge Crowding Cards, tests. Single optotypes
      were presented in isolation and with surrounding features placed 0-5 stroke
      widths away. Visual acuity measured with Kay Picture optotypes is 0.13-0.19logMAR
      better than for other test optotypes and varies significantly across picture. The
      magnitude of crowding is strongest when the surrounding features abut, or are
      placed 1 stroke-width away from the target optotype. The slope of the
      psychometric function is steeper in the region just beyond maximum crowding.
      Crowding is strongest and the psychometric function steepest, with the Cambridge
      Crowding Cards arrangement, than when any single optotype is surrounded by a box.
      Estimates of crowding extent are less variable across test when expressed in
      units of stroke-width, than optotype-width. Crowding for single target
      presentations of letters, symbols and pictures used in paediatric visual acuity
      tests can be maximised and made more sensitive to change in visual acuity, by
      careful selection of optotype, by surrounding the target with similar flankers,
      and by using a closer target-flanker separation than half an optotype-width. 

PMID- 26878697
TI  - Cortical processing of global form, motion and biological motion under low light
      levels.
AB  - Advances in potential treatments for rod and cone dystrophies have increased the
      need to understand the contributions of rods and cones to higher-level cortical
      vision. We measured form, motion and biological motion coherence thresholds and
      EEG steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) responses under light
      conditions ranging from photopic to scotopic. Low light increased thresholds for
      all three kinds of stimuli; however, global form thresholds were relatively more
      impaired than those for global motion or biological motion. SSVEP responses to
      coherent global form and motion were reduced in low light, and motion responses
      showed a shift in topography from the midline to more lateral locations. Contrast
      sensitivity measures confirmed that basic visual processing was also affected by
      low light. However, comparison with contrast sensitivity function (CSF)
      reductions achieved by optical blur indicated that these were insufficient to
      explain the pattern of results, although the temporal properties of the rod
      system may also play a role. Overall, mid-level processing in extra-striate areas
      is differentially affected by light level, in ways that cannot be explained in
      terms of low-level spatiotemporal sensitivity. A topographical shift in scotopic
      motion SSVEP responses may reflect either changes to inhibitory feedback
      mechanisms between V1 and extra-striate regions or a reduction of input to the
      visual cortex. These results provide insight into how higher-level cortical
      vision is normally organised in absence of cone input, and provide a basis for
      comparison with patients with cone dystrophies, before and after treatments
      aiming to restore cone function. 

PMID- 26878698
TI  - A New Kind of Spatial Inattention Associated With Chronic Limb Pain?
AB  - Pathological limb pain patients show decreased attention to some stimuli on the
      painful limb and increased attention to others, a paradox that has dogged the
      field for over a decade. We hypothesized that pathological pain involves a
      spatial inattention confined to bodily representations. Patients showed
      inattention to the painful side for visual processing of body parts but not
      letters, tactile processing but not auditory, and body-part bisection tasks but
      not line bisection tasks. We propose the new term "somatospatial inattention" to
      describe bodily-specific spatial inattention associated with pathological limb
      pain.

PMID- 26878699
TI  - Preventing Osteoporosis.

PMID- 26878701
TI  - Citric acid encapsulation by a double helical foldamer in competitive solvents.
AB  - A new double helical aromatic oligoamide capsule able to bind to citric acid in
      polar and protic solvents was prepared. Aromatic amino acids in the sequence
      encode both structural (strand curvature and double helix formation) and
      functional features (recognition pattern) of the assembled capsule. 

PMID- 26878700
TI  - The stereoselectivities of tributyltin hydride-mediated reductions of 5-bromo-D
      glucuronides to L-iduronides are dependent on the anomeric substituent: syntheses
      and DFT calculations.
AB  - One of the shortest synthetic routes to L-iduronic acid derivatives is via free
      radical reduction of the C-5 bromide of the corresponding protected D-glucuronic
      acid derivative. The epimerization of such C-5 bromides to the L-ido derivatives
      via reaction with tributyltin hydride was investigated. It was found that the
      stereoselectivity of the reaction was dependent on the anomeric substituent. If
      the substituent was fluoride the L-ido product was obtained exclusively in 65-72%
      yield whereas the O-methyl or O-acetyl derivatives led to isomeric mixtures of
      both the L-ido and D-gluco products in different ratios depending on the reaction
      conditions. DFT calculations were performed to determine the stereoelectronic
      factors that favour formation of the L-ido isomer from the fluoride and suggest
      the selectivity is due to a transition state gauche effect and an Sn-F
      interaction.

PMID- 26878702
TI  - Bifunctional ultraviolet/ultrasound responsive composite TiO2/polyelectrolyte
      microcapsules.
AB  - Designing and fabricating multifunctional microcapsules are of considerable
      interest in both academic and industrial research aspects. This work reports an
      innovative approach to fabricate composite capsules with high UV and ultrasound
      responsive functionalities that can be used as external triggers for controlled
      release, yet with enhanced mechanical strength that can make them survive in a
      harsh environment. Needle-like TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were produced in situ
      into layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte (PE) shells through the hydrolysis of
      titanium butoxide (TIBO). These rigid TiO2 NPs yielded the formed capsules with
      excellent mechanical strength, showing a free standing structure. A possible
      mechanism is proposed for the special morphology formation of the TiO2 NPs and
      their reinforcing effects. Synergistically, their response to UV and ultrasound
      was visualized via SEM, with the results showing an irreversible shell rapture
      upon exposure to either UV or ultrasound irradiation. As expected, the release
      studies revealed that the dextran release from the TiO2/PE capsules was both UV
      dependent and ultrasound-dependent. Besides, the biocompatibility of the capsules
      with the incorporation of amorphous TiO2 NPs was confirmed by an MTT assay
      experiment. All these pieces of evidence suggested a considerable potential
      medicinal application of TiO2/PE capsules for controlled drug delivery. 

PMID- 26878703
TI  - No need for external orthogonality in subsystem density-functional theory.
AB  - Recent reports on the necessity of using externally orthogonal orbitals in
      subsystem density-functional theory (SDFT) [Annu. Rep. Comput. Chem., 8, 2012,
      53; J. Phys. Chem. A, 118, 2014, 9182] are re-investigated. We show that in the
      basis-set limit, supermolecular Kohn-Sham-DFT (KS-DFT) densities can exactly be
      represented as a sum of subsystem densities, even if the subsystem orbitals are
      not externally orthogonal. This is illustrated using both an analytical example
      and in basis-set free numerical calculations for an atomic test case. We further
      show that even with finite basis sets, SDFT calculations using accurate
      reconstructed potentials can closely approach the supermolecular KS-DFT density,
      and that the deviations between SDFT and KS-DFT decrease as the basis-set limit
      is approached. Our results demonstrate that formally, there is no need to enforce
      external orthogonality in SDFT, even though this might be a useful strategy when
      developing projection-based DFT embedding schemes. 

PMID- 26878704
TI  - Multiple-Armed Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructures for Tumor-Targeting, Dual-Modality
      in Vivo Imaging.
AB  - In this work, we have developed multiple-armed DNA tetrahedral nanostructures
      (TDNs) for dual-modality in vivo imaging using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence
      and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We found that the
      presence of arm strands in TDNs remarkably enhanced their in vitro stability,
      allowing them to stay intact for at least 12 h in serum. By using NIR
      fluorescence imaging, we evaluated in mice the pharmacokinetics of TDNs, which
      exhibited distinctly different in vivo biodistribution patterns compared with
      those of double-stranded (ds)DNA. We also noticed that TDNs had twofold longer
      circulation time in the blood system than that of dsDNA. With the use of multiple
      armed TDNs, we could precisely anchor an exact number of functional groups
      including tumor-targeting folic acid (FA), NIR emitter Dylight 755, and
      radioactive isotope (99m)Tc on prescribed positions of TDNs, which showed the
      capability of targeted imaging ability in cancer cells. Furthermore, we realized
      noninvasive tumor-targeting imaging in tumor-bearing mice by using both NIR and
      SPECT modalities. 

PMID- 26878705
TI  - Synthesis, characterization and Cu(2+) triggered selective fluorescence quenching
      of Bis-calix[4]arene tetra-triazole macrocycle.
AB  - A novel fluorescent bis-calix[4]arene macrocycle 9 incorporating metal-binding
      pockets was successfully prepared. The structure of macrocycle 9 and its
      precursors were characterized via EI-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, ESI-MS, (1)H NMR,
      (13)CNMR, 2D NMR, and X-ray crystallography. The macrocycle 9 displayed selective
      fluorescence quenching after interacting with Cu(2+) in the presence competing
      metal cations including Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+), Ag(+), Zn(2+), Ti(4+),Cd(2+),
      Hg(2+), Pb(2+), In(3+), La(3+), Cr(3+), Ni(2+), Sb(3+), V(5+), Fe(3+), Co(2+),
      Sn(2+), Sn(2+), and Tl(+). The Cu(2+) limit of detection was found to be 40 nM
      much lower than its threshold level (~ 20 MUM) in drinking water permitted by the
      U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Furthermore, drinking water samples
      from Karachi University (Pakistan) spiked with Cu(2+) were analysed with the
      sensing system and the results showed an excellent agreement with the
      fluorescence quenching phenomenon of macrocycle 9 examined in deionized water.
      Importantly, the chemosensor 9 could be used to detect Cu(2+) in living cells.

PMID- 26878706
TI  - Preparation of graphene oxide-manganese dioxide for highly efficient adsorption
      and separation of Th(IV)/U(VI).
AB  - Manganese dioxide decorated graphene oxide (GOM) was prepared via fixation of
      crystallographic MnO2 (alpha, gamma) on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) and
      was explored as an adsorbent material for simultaneous removal of thorium/uranium
      ions from aqueous solutions. In single component systems (Th(IV) or U(VI)), the
      alpha-GOM2 (the weight ratio of GO/alpha-MnO2 of 2) exhibited higher maximum
      adsorption capacities toward both Th(IV) (497.5mg/g) and U(VI) (185.2 mg/g) than
      those of GO. In the binary component system (Th(IV)/U(VI)), the saturated
      adsorption capacity of Th(IV) (408.8 mg/g)/U(VI) (66.8 mg/g) on alpha-GOM2 was
      also higher than those on GO. Based on the analysis of various data, it was
      proposed that the adsorption process may involve four types of molecular
      interactions including coordination, electrostatic interaction, cation-pi
      interaction, and Lewis acid-base interaction between Th(IV)/U(VI) and alpha-GOM2.
      Finally, the Th(IV)/U(VI) ions on alpha-GOM2 can be separated by a two-stage
      desorption process with Na2CO3/EDTA. Those results displayed that the alpha-GOM2
      may be utilized as an potential adsorbent for removing and separating
      Th(IV)/U(VI) ions from aqueous solutions.

PMID- 26878707
TI  - Sequestration of chelated copper by structural Fe(II): Reductive decomplexation
      and transformation of Cu(II)-EDTA.
AB  - Chelated coppers, such as Cu(II)-EDTA, are characteristically refractory and
      difficult to break down because of their high stability and solubility. Cu(II)
      EDTA sequestration by structural Fe(II) (Fe(II)) was investigated intensively in
      this study. Up to 101.21mgCu(II)/gFe(II) was obtained by Fe(II) in chelated
      copper sequestration under near neutral pH condition (pH 7.70). The mechanism of
      Cu(II)-EDTA sequestration by Fe(II) was concluded as follows: 3Cu(II)
      EDTA+7Fe(II)+9H2O -> Cu(0)?+ Cu2O?(the major product)+2Fe2O3.H2O?+3Fe(II)-EDTA
      +14H(+) Novel results strongly indicate that Cu(II) reductive transformation
      induced by surface Fe(II) was mainly responsible for chelated copper
      sequestration. Cu(0) generation was initially facilitated, and subsequent
      reduction of Cu(II) into Cu(I) was closely combined with the gradual increase of
      ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential). Cu-containing products were inherently
      stable, but Cu2O would be reoxidized to Cu(II) with extra-aeration, resulting in
      the release of copper, which was beneficial to Cu reclamation. Concentration
      diminution of Cu(II)-EDTA within the electric double layer and competitive
      adsorption were responsible for the negative effects of Ca(2+), Mg(2+). By
      generating vivianite, PO4(3-) was found to decrease surface Fe(II) content. This
      study is among the first ones to identify the indispensible role of reductive
      decomplexation in chelated copper sequestration. Given the high feasibility and
      reactivity, Fe(II) may provide a potential alternative in chelated metals
      pollution controlling. 

PMID- 26878708
TI  - Differentiation of five body fluids from forensic samples by expression analysis
      of four microRNAs using quantitative PCR.
AB  - Applying molecular genetic approaches for the identification of forensically
      relevant body fluids, which often yield crucial information for the
      reconstruction of a potential crime, is a current topic of forensic research. Due
      to their body fluid specific expression patterns and stability against
      degradation, microRNAs (miRNA) emerged as a promising molecular species, with a
      range of candidate markers published. The analysis of miRNA via quantitative Real
      Time PCR, however, should be based on a relevant strategy of normalization of non
      biological variances to deliver reliable and biologically meaningful results. The
      herein presented work is the as yet most comprehensive study of forensic body
      fluid identification via miRNA expression analysis based on a thoroughly
      validated qPCR procedure and unbiased statistical decision making to identify
      single source samples. 

PMID- 26878709
TI  - Magnetic resonance energy and topological resonance energy.
AB  - Ring-current diamagnetism of a polycyclic pi-system is closely associated with
      thermodynamic stability due to the individual circuits. Magnetic resonance energy
      (MRE), derived from the ring-current diamagnetic susceptibility, was explored in
      conjunction with graph-theoretically defined topological resonance energy (TRE).
      For many aromatic molecules, MRE is highly correlative with TRE with a
      correlation coefficient of 0.996. For all pi-systems studied, MRE has the same
      sign as TRE. The only trouble with MRE may be that some antiaromatic and non
      alternant species exhibit unusually large MRE-to-TRE ratios. This kind of
      difficulty can in principle be overcome by prior geometry-optimisation or by
      changing spin multiplicity. Apart from the semi-empirical resonance-theory
      resonance energy, MRE is considered as the first aromatic stabilisation energy
      (ASE) defined without referring to any hypothetical polyene reference.

PMID- 26878710
TI  - Bioavailability, rheology and sensory evaluation of fat-free yogurt enriched with
      VD3 encapsulated in re-assembled casein micelles.
AB  - Vitamin D3 (VD3) deficiency is a global problem. Better ways are needed to enrich
      foods with this important nutraceutical. VD3 is fat-soluble, hence requiring a
      suitable vehicle for enriching nonfat foods. Our objectives were to assess the
      bioavailability of VD3, from fat-free yogurt, in re-assembled casein micelles
      (rCMs) compared to that in polysorbate-80 (PS80/Tween-80) a commonly used
      synthetic emulsifier, and to assess and compare their rheology and palatability.
      We enriched fat-free yogurt with VD3 loaded into either rCM (VD3-rCMs) or PS80
      (VD3-PS80). In vivo VD3 bioavailability was evaluated by a large randomized,
      double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, measuring serum 25(OH)D increase
      in subjects who consumed fat-free yogurt with 50,000 IU of either VD3-rCM, VD3
      PS80, or VD3-free placebo yogurt. Both VD3-rCM and VD3-PS80 increased the serum
      25(OH)D levels by ~8 ng ml(-1) and no significant differences in mean 25(OH)D
      levels were observed, evidencing the fact that VD3 bioavailability in rCM was as
      high as that in the synthetic emulsifier. VD3-rCM yogurt had a higher viscosity
      than VD3-PS80 yogurt. In sensory evaluations, panelists were able to discern
      between VD3-rCM and VD3-PS80 yogurt, and showed a dislike for PS80 yogurt,
      compared to rCM or the unenriched control. These results complement our past
      results showing higher protection against thermal treatment, UV irradiation, and
      deterioration during shelf life, conferred to hydrophobic nutraceuticals by rCM
      compared to that by the synthetic surfactant or to the unprotected bioactive, in
      showing the advantageous use of rCM over the synthetic emulsifier as a delivery
      system for the enrichment of food with VD3 and other hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

PMID- 26878711
TI  - Electrophoretic deposition of tannic acid-polypyrrolidone films and composites.
AB  - Thin films of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-tannic acid (TA) complexes were prepared
      by a conceptually new strategy, based on electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Proof
      of concept investigations involved the analysis of the deposition yield, FTIR and
      UV-vis spectroscopy of the deposited material, and electron microscopy studies.
      The analysis of the deposition mechanism indicated that the limitations of the
      EPD in the deposition of small phenolic molecules, such as TA, and electrically
      neutral polymers, similar to PVP, containing hydrogen-accepting carbonyl groups,
      can be avoided. The remarkable adsorption properties of TA and film forming
      properties of the PVP-TA complexes allowed for the EPD of materials of different
      types, such as huntite mineral platelets and hydrotalcite clay particles, TiO2
      and MnO2 oxide nanoparticles, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, TiN and Pd
      nanoparticles. Moreover, PVP-TA complexes were used for the co-deposition of
      different materials and formation of composite films. In another approach, TA was
      used as a capping agent for the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods, which
      were then deposited by EPD using PVP-TA complexes. The fundamental adsorption and
      interaction mechanisms of TA involved chelation of metal atoms on particle
      surfaces with galloyl groups, pi-pi interactions and hydrogen bonding. The films
      prepared by EPD can be used for various applications, utilizing functional
      properties of TA, PVP, inorganic and organic materials of different types and
      their composites. 

PMID- 26878713
TI  - [Autism-friendly dental care].
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in approximately 1% of the Dutch
      population. Among the group of patients with this disorder, there is a
      substantial diversity regarding skills, intelligence and treatability. However,
      there are also common characteristics; people with ASD often have difficulty with
      social interaction, communication, and exhibit typical patterns of behaviour.
      Therefore, problems may arise in the various areas of development, such as
      language development and responding to sensory stimuli. Dental practitioners will
      also be confronted with individuals with ASD. Care can be significantly improved,
      considering that negative experiences and dental anxiety are widespread at this
      time.

PMID- 26878712
TI  - Development of monoclonal gammopathy under biotherapy in psoriasis: a French
      multicenter retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biotherapies or targeted therapies are fairly new treatments
      indicated for moderate to severe psoriasis. The side effects appear to be mainly
      infectious or cancerous. The role of biotherapies in the development of a pre
      cancerous condition, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS),
      has recently been debated in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the
      incidence of MGUS in psoriasis patients treated with biotherapy. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: This study was a French multicenter retrospective study carried out
      through the French multicenter study group RESOPSO. Data on the results of serum
      protein electrophoreses performed before and within at least six months after the
      start of the biotherapy were collected. Demographic data, medical history, and
      psoriasis treatment history were specified. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty three
      patients were eligible for inclusion. Of these, three presented with monoclonal
      gammopathy for which the assessment was in favor of MGUS. The average treatment
      period was 19.7 months. Six patients presented with MGUS prior to the treatment.
      These patients' immunoglobulin levels remained stable, with an average remission
      of 24 months. Only psoriatic rheumatism appeared to be statistically linked to
      MGUS. CONCLUSION: The incidence and frequency of MGUS in psoriasis patients
      treated with biotherapy do not appear to increase relative to the general
      population.

PMID- 26878714
TI  - [Implant positioned buccally of the alveolar process; a complication].
AB  - Because of a blue discolouration of her mucosa a 58-year-old patient visited her
      new dentist. Her medical history revealed that several months before an implant
      in the region of dental element 22 had been installed. When palpating the
      alveolar region, a painless hard swelling was felt. As a malposition of the
      implant was suspected, it was decided to have a cone beam computed tomography
      scan made. The sagittal scan revealed that apically the implant in the region of
      dental element 22 was not embedded in the jawbone. Following the placement of an
      implant, it is always necessary to verify that the implant procedure has been
      carried out successfully; palpating the implant bed is always required.

PMID- 26878715
TI  - [Endodontic re-treatment or apical surgery, is an evidence-based choice
      possible?].
AB  - Treatment of a recurrence after an initial endodontic treatment can consist of
      endodontic re-treatment or apical surgery. The literature reports comparable
      success rates for these two options. However, randomised controlled trials that
      are truly comparable to each other are unavailable as a result of which
      comparison and an informed choice are not really possible. In addition to the
      treatment outcome, consideration also has to be given to cost-effectiveness and
      other patient-related factors, such as pain, swelling and medication. Regarding
      these considerations, too, little reliable information can be found in the
      literature. Moreover, factors relating to insurance play an important role in the
      Netherlands, where only apical surgery is covered by the basic healthcare
      insurance. In conclusion, all of these factors should be carefully considered
      before proceeding to an individual treatment strategy.

PMID- 26878716
TI  - [Dissertations 25 years after date 44. Behaviour at high temperatures of
      palladium based dental alloys].
AB  - In the Netherlands in the 1980s palladium based dental alloys were often used in
      substructures of metal-ceramic restorations. However, after their introduction to
      the market some unexplained problems came to light: porosity on the metal-ceramic
      interface, frequent failure of solder joints, margin lift and distortion of
      bigger constructions. Later, palladium allergies could be added to the list. A
      1989 dissertation investigated these problems and underlying causes and came up
      with answers and solutions. Recent problems like the breakage and chipping of
      porcelain on zirconia cores shows again that industry is sometimes unaware of
      adjustment problems at the moment that a new product is introduced to the market.

PMID- 26878717
TI  - [Left- or right-handed: the effect of a preferential use of one hand or the other
      on dental hygiene].
AB  - A research project investigated the extent to which a preferential use of one
      hand or the other has an effect on dental hygiene on the left or right side of
      the mouth. The study made use of epidemiological dental-care data from the
      Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and of data from a
      dental practice specifically collected for this project. The results revealed
      that among a population which is 85-90% right-handed, statistically significantly
      more dental plaque was found on the right side of the mouth than on the left. A
      separate study revealed the prevalence of statistically significantly more dental
      plaque on the right side than on the left among right-handed people and, among
      left-handed people, a non-statistically significant trend of more dental plaque
      on the left than the right. It is concluded that dental hygiene on the left side
      and the right side of the mouth is very likely to be dependent on the
      preferential use of one hand or the other. The differences between the left side
      of the mouth and right among left- and right-handed people are, however, so small
      that it is questionable whether these should be taken into consideration in
      giving instructions about dental hygiene.

PMID- 26878718
TI  - Alpha and gamma band oscillations index differential processing of acoustically
      reduced and full forms.
AB  - Reduced forms like yeshay for yesterday often occur in conversations. Previous
      behavioral research reported a processing advantage for full over reduced forms.
      The present study investigated whether this processing advantage is reflected in
      a modulation of alpha (8-12Hz) and gamma (30+Hz) band activity. In three
      electrophysiological experiments, participants listened to full and reduced forms
      in isolation (Experiment 1), sentence-final position (Experiment 2), or mid
      sentence position (Experiment 3). Alpha power was larger in response to reduced
      forms than to full forms, but only in Experiments 1 and 2. We interpret these
      increases in alpha power as reflections of higher auditory cognitive load. In all
      experiments, gamma power only increased in response to full forms, which we
      interpret as showing that lexical activation spreads more quickly through the
      semantic network for full than for reduced forms. These results confirm a
      processing advantage for full forms, especially in non-medial sentence position.

PMID- 26878719
TI  - Spatio-temporal gait disorder and gait fatigue index in a six-minute walk test in
      women with fibromyalgia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gait disorders in fibromyalgia patients affect several gait
      parameters and different muscle recruitment patterns. The aim of this study was
      to assess the gait differences observed during a six-minute walk test between
      fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-eight women with
      fibromyalgia and 15 healthy women were evaluated. Fibromyalgia patients met the
      American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia selected of an
      ambulatory care. Both patients and controls had a negative history of
      musculoskeletal disease, neurological disorders, and gait abnormalities. The 15
      controls were healthy women matched to the patients in age, height and body
      weight. Spatio-temporal gait variables and the rate of perceived exertion during
      the six-minute walk test (all subjects) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
      (fibromyalgia subjects) were evaluated. All walking sets on the GaitRITE were
      collected and the gait variables were selected at three stages during the six
      minute walk test: two sets at the beginning, two sets at 3 min and two sets at
      the end of the test. In addition, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was used
      for the fibromyalgia patients. FINDINGS: Fibromyalgia patients showed a
      significant decrease in all spatio-temporal gait variables at each of the three
      stages and had a lower walk distance covered in the six-minute walk test and
      higher rate of perceived exertion. No correlations were found between the
      Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and gait variables. The fibromyalgia and
      control subjects showed lower gait fatigue indices between the middle and last
      stages. INTERPRETATION: Gait analysis during a six-minute walk test is a good
      tool to assess the fatigue and physical symptoms of patients with fibromyalgia.

PMID- 26878720
TI  - In vivo tracing of organophosphorus pesticides in cabbage (Brassica
      parachinensis) and aloe (Barbadensis).
AB  - In vivo solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling method coupled with gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was employed to trace the
      uptake and elimination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in two kinds of
      edible plants, cabbage (Brassica parachinensis) and aloe (Barbadensis). The
      metabolism of fenthion in aloe was also investigated by the liquid chromatography
      tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS) to understand the fate of OPPs in
      living plants better. Transpiration stream concentration factor (TSCF) and
      depuration rate constants of the OPPs in living plants were obtained therein. The
      health risk of the OPPs treated aloe was estimated by the maximum residue limit
      (MRL) approach, and it revealed that the OPPs were rather safe for their fast
      degradable property. However, peak concentration of fenthion-sulfoxide was found
      to exceed the MRL and was higher than that of the parent fenthion, which
      indicated the potential risk of pesticide metabolites. This study highlighted the
      application of in vivo SPME for contaminant tracing in different living edible
      plants. The in vivo tracing method is very convenient and can provide more data
      to evaluate the risk of different pesticides, which are very important for the
      safety of agriculture production. 

PMID- 26878721
TI  - Finite-time robust stabilization of uncertain delayed neural networks with
      discontinuous activations via delayed feedback control.
AB  - This paper is concerned with the finite-time robust stabilization of delayed
      neural networks (DNNs) in the presence of discontinuous activations and parameter
      uncertainties. By using the nonsmooth analysis and control theory, a delayed
      controller is designed to realize the finite-time robust stabilization of DNNs
      with discontinuous activations and parameter uncertainties, and the upper bound
      of the settling time functional for stabilization is estimated. Finally, two
      examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical
      results. 

PMID- 26878722
TI  - Quantum perceptron over a field and neural network architecture selection in a
      quantum computer.
AB  - In this work, we propose a quantum neural network named quantum perceptron over a
      field (QPF). Quantum computers are not yet a reality and the models and
      algorithms proposed in this work cannot be simulated in actual (or classical)
      computers. QPF is a direct generalization of a classical perceptron and solves
      some drawbacks found in previous models of quantum perceptrons. We also present a
      learning algorithm named Superposition based Architecture Learning algorithm
      (SAL) that optimizes the neural network weights and architectures. SAL searches
      for the best architecture in a finite set of neural network architectures with
      linear time over the number of patterns in the training set. SAL is the first
      learning algorithm to determine neural network architectures in polynomial time.
      This speedup is obtained by the use of quantum parallelism and a non-linear
      quantum operator. 

PMID- 26878723
TI  - An expanded sequence context model broadly explains variability in polymorphism
      levels across the human genome.
AB  - The rate of single-nucleotide polymorphism varies substantially across the human
      genome and fundamentally influences evolution and incidence of genetic disease.
      Previous studies have only considered the immediately flanking nucleotides around
      a polymorphic site--the site's trinucleotide sequence context--to study
      polymorphism levels across the genome. Moreover, the impact of larger sequence
      contexts has not been fully clarified, even though context substantially
      influences rates of polymorphism. Using a new statistical framework and data from
      the 1000 Genomes Project, we demonstrate that a heptanucleotide context explains
      >81% of variability in substitution probabilities, highlighting new mutation
      promoting motifs at ApT dinucleotide, CAAT and TACG sequences. Our approach also
      identifies previously undocumented variability in C-to-T substitutions at CpG
      sites, which is not immediately explained by differential methylation intensity.
      Using our model, we present informative substitution intolerance scores for genes
      and a new intolerance score for amino acids, and we demonstrate clinical use of
      the model in neuropsychiatric diseases.

PMID- 26878726
TI  - [Management of Glaucoma Patients].

PMID- 26878727
TI  - [Communication Strategies in Dealing with Patients with Glaucoma].
AB  - When patients with glaucoma meet doctors and their assistants in a doctor's
      office or a hospital all hope that this contact will be trouble-free, helpful,
      perhaps even happy and conducted in a constructive spirit. But this is not always
      the case. Words and gestures may accidently hurt or reject the patient. Often the
      communication results in harm instead of help and healing. For this reason, it is
      worthwhile to have a glimpse behind the curtain of the difficult interactions
      between people. The rules of communication in the medical context will help to
      facilitate the contact between doctors and patients. Verbal and non-verbal
      communication play an important role, for example in how to address the
      individual patient, as well as the timing and wording. Expertise in communication
      is a key qualification for medical professionals! 

PMID- 26878724
TI  - NUDT15 polymorphisms alter thiopurine metabolism and hematopoietic toxicity.
AB  - Widely used as anticancer and immunosuppressive agents, thiopurines have narrow
      therapeutic indices owing to frequent toxicities, partly explained by TPMT
      genetic polymorphisms. Recent studies identified germline NUDT15 variation as
      another critical determinant of thiopurine intolerance, but the underlying
      molecular mechanisms and the clinical implications of this pharmacogenetic
      association remain unknown. In 270 children enrolled in clinical trials for acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia in Guatemala, Singapore and Japan, we identified four
      NUDT15 coding variants (p.Arg139Cys, p.Arg139His, p.Val18Ile and
      p.Val18_Val19insGlyVal) that resulted in 74.4-100% loss of nucleotide
      diphosphatase activity. Loss-of-function NUDT15 diplotypes were consistently
      associated with thiopurine intolerance across the three cohorts (P = 0.021, 2.1 *
      10(-5) and 0.0054, respectively; meta-analysis P = 4.45 * 10(-8), allelic effect
      size = -11.5). Mechanistically, NUDT15 inactivated thiopurine metabolites and
      decreased thiopurine cytotoxicity in vitro, and patients with defective NUDT15
      alleles showed excessive levels of thiopurine active metabolites and toxicity.
      Taken together, these results indicate that a comprehensive pharmacogenetic model
      integrating NUDT15 variants may inform personalized thiopurine therapy. 

PMID- 26878728
TI  - [Complexities of Medical Glaucoma Therapy--the Elderly Patient in Focus].
AB  - In order to treat glaucoma with medication successfully, the patient needs to
      participate actively in the process. "Adherence", formerly "compliance",
      describes the willingness and capacity to follow the prescribed regimen every
      day. It is not trivial to measure adherence and persistence, as this quite often
      relies on self reports by the patient or speculations by the physician. Hence,
      the overall reported adherence may vary from 5 to 95 %. In general, the following
      categories have been defined for reduced adherence: medication-related factors,
      patient-related factors, environmental factors and social factors. Age has been
      found to intensify or modify many of these factors. Older adults often face
      various challenges, due to motor disabilities, reduced visual acuity or impaired
      cognitive capabilities. In patients with movement disorders or tactile
      limitations, the target area can be reached more successfully with standard eye
      drop bottles than with single-use dose units. This should be considered if
      antiglaucoma eye drops are prescribed in the elderly. Frequency of application is
      a main factor influencing adherence. Monotherapy--as provided with prostaglandins
      -or drops with a fixed combination have proven to support adherence
      significantly. A significant boost for self-monitoring activities is initiated by
      the growing market of electronic devices, like smartphones. For instance, they
      can provide acoustic alarms as reminders to apply the eye drops. It is evident
      that any external support or disease-related information by family members, the
      medical practitioners, support groups or even electronic devices may improve
      adherence and persistence, even in patients with severe impairments.

PMID- 26878725
TI  - Mutations in nuclear pore genes NUP93, NUP205 and XPO5 cause steroid-resistant
      nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - Nucleoporins are essential components of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Only a
      few diseases have been attributed to NPC dysfunction. Steroid-resistant nephrotic
      syndrome (SRNS), a frequent cause of chronic kidney disease, is caused by
      dysfunction of glomerular podocytes. Here we identify in eight families with SRNS
      mutations in NUP93, its interaction partner NUP205 or XPO5 (encoding exportin 5)
      as hitherto unrecognized monogenic causes of SRNS. NUP93 mutations caused
      disrupted NPC assembly. NUP93 knockdown reduced the presence of NUP205 in the
      NPC, and, reciprocally, a NUP205 alteration abrogated NUP93 interaction. We
      demonstrate that NUP93 and exportin 5 interact with the signaling protein SMAD4
      and that NUP93 mutations abrogated interaction with SMAD4. Notably, NUP93
      mutations interfered with BMP7-induced SMAD transcriptional reporter activity. We
      hereby demonstrate that mutations of NUP genes cause a distinct renal disease and
      identify aberrant SMAD signaling as a new disease mechanism of SRNS, opening a
      potential new avenue for treatment. 

PMID- 26878729
TI  - [Aids for Patients with Glaucoma and Visual Impairment].
AB  - This article provides a broad overview of the existing medical aids and
      appliances for patients suffering from glaucoma and/or visual impairment.
      Furthermore, instructions for proper handling of eye drop therapy are given.
      There are many different public services to support patients with visual
      impairment and that aim to restore their mobility and autonomy in daily life.
      About 20,000 medical aids and tools are currently listed as refundable by
      insurances. The available supply ranges from magnifying reading aids to
      electronic aids and appliances to train patients' orientation, mobility and
      skills of every day life. Qualified professionals may be employed by
      organisations such as the DBSV e. V. and can accompany, support and counsel
      patients and their families with their specialised knowledge. 

PMID- 26878730
TI  - [Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The goal of glaucoma treatment is to maintain the patient's visual
      function and related quality of life, at a sustainable cost. In this review,
      methods of measuring quality of life are presented, together with their impact in
      clinical practice. METHODS: Searches were from the inception of the database to
      date. Electronic databases searched included Medline (Ovid), Medline In-Process
      (Ovid), and Embase (Ovid). In a semistructured approach, the articles were
      checked for their eligibility to provide information about the measurement and
      application of quality of life in glaucoma patients. RESULTS: Well established
      questionnaires are available to measure quality of life in glaucoma patients, as
      well as instruments to measure benefits. Performance-based measures are more time
      consuming. The Glaucoma Activity Limitation-9 Questionnaire (GAL-9) is a glaucoma
      specific questionnaire in German, with a Rasch analysis. In eye diseases with
      central visual field defects, it is the better eye that determines the patient's
      quality of life, whereas in glaucoma patients with peripheral defects, it is the
      worse eye that has a stronger influence. Structural changes in glaucoma are less
      well correlated with quality of life than are functional impairments. There have
      been a few initial reports of patterns of visual field defects that correlate
      with subjective impairments. CONCLUSIONS: The data can help to improve our
      understanding of individual patient impairment and support our efforts to improve
      the medical advice and therapy that these patients receive.

PMID- 26878731
TI  - [Traffic Aspects in Glaucoma Patients].
AB  - Glaucomatous damage may lead to morphological and functional deficits. If these
      deficits affect both eyes, binocular visual field defects may result. If these
      field defects are in the areas which are most important for the car driver
      (centre and horizontal meridian) then the driver may no longer be able to
      participate actively in road traffic. Mesopic vision and sensitivity to glare may
      also be affected by glaucomatous damage. The most important point is that the
      patient is alert to problems in this area and he must be directed to possible
      ways of compensation, especially for mesopic vision and sensitivity to glare.
      Binocular visual field defects in the relevant areas, however, cannot be
      compensated for. 

PMID- 26878732
TI  - [Social Law Entitlements and Compensations for Visually Impaired Patients in
      Germany, Focussed on Glaucoma].
AB  - Although prevention of progression is the most important issue in the treatment
      of glaucoma patients, information on visual aids and social law entitlements is
      also helpful. In this article, the main aspects of compensation for visual
      impairment are outlined so that you can competently support your patients,
      without much effort, with helpful tips and appropriate instructions. 

PMID- 26878733
TI  - [Intraocular Lens as a Drug Delivery Device: State of the Art and Future
      Perspective].
AB  - Development of an intraocular lens (IOL) as a drug delivery device has been
      pursued for many years and is a promising concept in modern cataract surgery.
      Common postoperative conditions such as posterior capsule opacification (PCO),
      intraocular inflammation or the rare but severe complications of cataract surgery
      like endophthalmitis are potential therapeutic targets for a drug-eluting IOL.
      There are three techniques of pharmacological IOL modification: Firstly, surface
      modification of the IOL ("coating"); secondly, IOL optic modification ("soaking")
      and lastly, loading the IOL haptics with a slow release system. The last option
      does not interfere with the IOL optics at all. Therefore, a broad spectrum of
      pharmacological agents needs to be assessed in preclinical and clinical studies
      to determine which agent/IOL combination is safe and efficient. For
      pharmacological PCO prophylaxis, erufosine-loaded IOLs are of great clinical
      interest. Heparin-coated IOLs might become clinically relevant for attenuation of
      intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery and cefuroxime-loaded IOLs for
      endophthalmitis prophylaxis. 

PMID- 26878734
TI  - [On the Interaction between Loss of Earnings, Disability and Inability to Work].
AB  - Loss of earnings, disability and inability to work may be used to assess the same
      health damage, but these legal terms are defined differently, as they have
      different objectives. Important practical distinctions between these terms are
      explained and their inter-relationships are discussed. 

PMID- 26878735
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26878736
TI  - [Adverse Drug Reactions in Ophthalmology--Update 2015/2016].

PMID- 26878737
TI  - Pharmacogenetics and oral antithrombotic drugs.
AB  - Warfarin and other oral vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the primary
      pharmacologic options with well-established efficacy data in high-risk patient
      populations. Warfarin dose requirements to achieve therapeutic anticoagulation
      are highly variable. This variability in response results in increased risk for
      adverse events, including thromboembolism and bleeding. Genetic variants in
      CYP2C9 and VKORC1 have been identified and shown to explain some of the
      variability in warfarin response. Prospective trials suggest that incorporation
      of genotype results in faster time to therapeutic range than without; however,
      whether these improvements result in improved clinical outcomes is unclear. The
      target-specific anticoagulants are alternatives to warfarin and do not require
      laboratory monitoring. Some pharmacogenetic variation in their clinical response
      may exist as well. Ongoing trials will provide a clearer picture of whether
      genotype-based warfarin dosing improves outcomes and may, therefore, subsequently
      be compared with the target-specific agents. 

PMID- 26878738
TI  - Removal of Review and Reclassification Procedures for Biological   Products
      Licensed Prior to July 1, 1972. Final rule.
AB  - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is removing two
      regulations that prescribe procedures for FDA's review and classification of
      biological products licensed before July 1, 1972. FDA is taking this action
      because the two regulations are obsolete and no longer necessary in light of
      other statutory and regulatory authorities established since 1972, which allow
      FDA to evaluate and monitor the safety and effectiveness of all biological
      products. In addition, other statutory and regulatory authorities authorize FDA
      to revoke a license for biological products because they are not safe and
      effective, or are misbranded. FDA is taking this action as part of its
      retrospective review of its regulations to promote improvement and innovation.

PMID- 26878739
TI  - Anesthesiology Devices; Reclassification of Membrane Lung for   Long-Term
      Pulmonary Support; Redesignation as Extracorporeal Circuit   and Accessories for
      Long-Term Respiratory/Cardiopulmonary Failure. Final order.
AB  - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final order to redesignate
      membrane lung devices for long-term pulmonary support, a preamendments class III
      device, as extracorporeal circuit and accessories for long-term
      respiratory/cardiopulmonary failure, and to reclassify the device to class II
      (special controls) in patients with acute respiratory failure or acute
      cardiopulmonary failure where other available treatment options have failed, and
      continued clinical deterioration is expected or the risk of death is imminent. A
      membrane lung device for long-term pulmonary support (>6 hours) refers to the
      oxygenator in an extracorporeal circuit used during long-term procedures,
      commonly referred to as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Because a
      number of other devices and accessories are used with the oxygenator in the
      circuit, the title and identification of the regulation are revised to include
      extracorporeal circuit and accessories for long-term respiratory/cardiopulmonary
      failure. Although an individual device or accessory used in an ECMO circuit may
      already have its own classification regulation when the device or accessory is
      intended for short-term use (<=6 hours), such device or accessory will be subject
      to the same regulatory controls applied to the oxygenator (i.e., class II,
      special controls) when evaluated as part of the ECMO circuit for long-term use
      (>6 hours). On its own initiative, based on new information, FDA is revising the
      classification of the membrane lung device for long-term pulmonary support.

PMID- 26878740
TI  - Medical Devices; General and Plastic Surgery Devices;   Classification of the
      Scalp Cooling System To Reduce the Likelihood of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia.
      Final order.
AB  - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the scalp cooling system to
      reduce the likelihood of chemotherapy-induced alopecia into class II (special
      controls). The special controls that will apply to the device are identified in
      this order and will be part of the codified language for the scalp cooling system
      to reduce the likelihood of chemotherapy-induced alopecia's classification. The
      Agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to
      provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.

PMID- 26878741
TI  - Medicare Program; Reporting and Returning of Overpayments. Final rule.
AB  - This final rule requires providers and suppliers receiving funds under the
      Medicare program to report and return overpayments by the later of the date that
      is 60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified; or the date
      any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable. The requirements in this
      rule are meant to ensure compliance with applicable statutes, promote the
      furnishing of high quality care, and to protect the Medicare Trust Funds against
      fraud and improper payments. This rule provides needed clarity and consistency in
      the reporting and returning of self-identified overpayments.

PMID- 26878742
TI  - I CAN'T SLEEP. Americans everywhere are desperate for shut-eye, turning to drugs,
      supplements, and high-tech gadgets. Here's what works, what doesn't, and what's
      dangerous.

PMID- 26878743
TI  - Peeling Back the 'Natural' Label. Companies can slap that magic word on processed
      food packages even if what's inside contains artificial ingredients. If you find
      that outrageous, now's the time to join us in letting the FDA know how you feel.

PMID- 26878744
TI  - Should I try homeopathic cold and flu remedies?

PMID- 26878745
TI  - STEP RIGHT UP. Body-fat scales come with a ton of high-tech claims. We put them
      through their paces.

PMID- 26878746
TI  - Stress associated changes in Pavlovian-instrumental transfer in humans.
AB  - Predictive learning is known to influence instrumental responding for reward.
      Cues associated with an instrumental outcome can influence performance in two
      ways: (a) by selectively promoting actions associated with the outcome predicted
      by the cue (specific transfer), and (b) by increasing motivation and the vigour
      of instrumental responding (general transfer). To examine these two distinct
      processes in humans we developed a novel behavioural task in which participants
      were able to liberate junk-food snacks from a virtual vending machine.
      Additionally, the relationship between stress and cue-driven reward seeking was
      examined using participant scores on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale
      (DASS). Reward-paired cues were found to separately bias action selection and
      influence the rate of responding for rewards. Furthermore, the effects of reward
      paired cues on the rate of responding for reward was influenced by increased
      stress and anxiety. Increased levels of stress and anxiety were associated
      particularly with changes in cue-driven response vigour; whereas high levels of
      stress and anxiety were associated with elevated responding above baseline in the
      presence of a cue associated with a non-rewarding outcome, participants with low
      levels of anxiety and stress showed appropriate suppression of responding during
      this cue. These differences in performance between high and low anxiety and
      stress participants provides initial evidence that, as has been demonstrated in
      rodents, stress affects the influence of cue-driven response vigour in humans.

PMID- 26878747
TI  - Differentiation of human endometrial stem cells into endothelial-like cells on
      gelatin/chitosan/bioglass nanofibrous scaffolds.
AB  - The capacity of gelatin/chitosan/bioactive glass nanopowders (GEL/CS/BGNPs)
      scaffolds was investigated for increasing human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs)
      differentiation into the endothelial cells in the presence of angiogenic factors.
      GEL/CS nanofibrous scaffold with different contents of BGNPs were fabricated and
      assessed. Expression of endothelial markers (CD31, vascular endothelial cadherin
      (VE-cadherin), and KDR) in differentiated cells was evaluated. Results showed the
      diameter of nanofiber increases with decreasing the BG content in GEL/CS
      scaffolds. Moreover, in vitro study indicated that the GEL/CS/BGNPs scaffold with
      1.5% BGNPs content provided a suitable three-dimensional structure for
      endothelial cells differentiation. Thus, the GEL/CS/BGNPs scaffold can be
      recommended for blood vessels repair.

PMID- 26878748
TI  - 1.2% Rosuvastatin Versus 1.2% Atorvastatin Gel Local Drug Delivery and Redelivery
      in Treatment of Intrabony Defects in Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Placebo
      Controlled Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors)
      are an important group of hypolipidemic drugs that are able to modulate
      inflammation and alveolar bone loss. Rosuvastatin (RSV) and atorvastatin (ATV)
      are known to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption and have been proposed to have
      osteostimulative properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the
      efficacy of 1.2% RSV and 1.2% ATV gel local drug delivery (LDD) and redelivery
      systems, in addition to scaling and root planing (SRP), for the treatment of
      intrabony defects (IBDs) in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). METHODS: A
      total of 90 individuals with 90 IBDs was randomly allocated to treatment with SRP
      followed by LDD of 1.2% RSV, 1.2% ATV, or placebo gel. Clinical and radiographic
      parameters, including plaque index (PI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI),
      probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and IBD depth, were recorded
      at baseline and 6 and 9 months. RESULTS: All three groups showed significant
      reduction in PI and mSBI at all intervals. Mean mSBI and PD reductions, CAL gain,
      and IBD depth reduction with statin drugs were significantly greater than with
      placebo gel LDD. Improvements in these parameters were significantly greater with
      RSV LDD than ATV or placebo gels at 6 and 9 months. CONCLUSION: LDD of 1.2% RSV
      results in significantly greater clinico-radiographic improvement than 1.2% ATV
      or placebo gels as adjunct to mechanical periodontal therapy.

PMID- 26878749
TI  - Long-Term Outcomes of Untreated Buccal Gingival Recessions: A Systematic Review
      and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This review aims to: 1) assess the long-term outcomes of untreated
      buccal gingival recession (GR) defects and the associated reported esthetic and
      functional alterations; and 2) evaluate which factors influence the
      progression/worsening of dental and periodontal tissue conditions of untreated GR
      defects. METHODS: Interventional and observational studies with duration of >=24
      months reporting outcomes from adult patients with localized or multiple GR
      defects not treated by root coverage or gingival augmentation procedures were
      considered eligible for inclusion. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for
      articles published through July 2015. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed
      comparing baseline versus most recent follow-up outcomes (i.e., number of
      patients with >=1 GR and number of sites with GR). RESULTS: Of 378 potentially
      eligible articles, eight (reporting six studies) met inclusion criteria. Of 1,647
      GR defects with baseline and follow-up information, 78.1% experienced GR depth
      increase during the follow-up period, whereas the remaining experienced decrease
      or no change. Moreover, there was a 79.3% increase in the number of GR defects
      among the patients followed (i.e., new GR defects). Pooled estimates (data from
      four studies) showed significantly increased odds of recession development long
      term, regarding either number of patients (odds ratio 2.43; P = 0.03) or number
      of sites with GR (odds ratio 2.16; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Untreated recession
      defects in individuals with good oral hygiene have a high probability of
      progressing during long-term follow-up.

PMID- 26878750
TI  - Neural Mechanisms Underlying Anxiety-Chronic Pain Interactions.
AB  - Chronic pain is a major medical problem that is resistant to conventional medical
      intervention. It also causes emotional changes such as anxiety and fear.
      Furthermore, anxiety or fear often enhances the suffering of pain. Based on
      recent studies, I propose chronic anxiety triggered by injury or chronic pain is
      mediated through presynaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) in the anterior
      cingulate cortex (ACC), a key cortical region for pain perception. Conversely,
      NMDA receptor-dependent postsynaptic LTP plays a more important role in
      behavioral sensitization in chronic pain. Thus, postsynaptic and presynaptic LTP
      in ACC neurons are likely the key cellular mechanisms for causing chronic pain
      and its associated anxiety, respectively. This suggests potential targets for
      treating chronic pain and related anxiety. 

PMID- 26878752
TI  - Elevation of CpG frequencies in influenza A genome attenuates pathogenicity but
      enhances host response to infection.
AB  - Previously, we demonstrated that frequencies of CpG and UpA dinucleotides
      profoundly influence the replication ability of echovirus 7 (Tulloch et al.,
      2014). Here, we show that that influenza A virus (IAV) with maximised frequencies
      of these dinucleotides in segment 5 showed comparable attenuation in cell culture
      compared to unmodified virus and a permuted control (CDLR). Attenuation was also
      manifested in vivo, with 10-100 fold reduced viral loads in lungs of mice
      infected with 200PFU of CpG-high and UpA-high mutants. However, both induced
      powerful inflammatory cytokine and adaptive (T cell and neutralising antibody)
      responses disproportionate to their replication. CpG-high infected mice also
      showed markedly reduced clinical severity, minimal weight loss and reduced
      immmunopathology in lung, yet sterilising immunity to lethal dose WT challenge
      was achieved after low dose (20PFU) pre-immunisation with this mutant. Increasing
      CpG dinucleotide frequencies represents a generic and potentially highly
      effective method for generating safe, highly immunoreactive vaccines. 

PMID- 26878755
TI  - Non-heat-treated frozen raspberries the most likely vehicle of a norovirus
      outbreak in Oslo, Norway, November 2013.
AB  - In November 2013, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health was notified of a
      gastroenteritis outbreak following two meetings held at a conference centre.
      Identical food and beverages were served during the meetings. We investigated in
      order to identify the vehicle of infection and implement control measures.
      Meeting participants completed an online questionnaire on consumption of foods
      and beverages. We asked symptomatic participants to provide a stool sample. We
      defined a case as diarrhoea and/or vomiting in a participant who became ill
      within 3 days after the meeting. We calculated attack rates (AR) and adjusted
      risk ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using binomial regression.
      We conducted environmental investigations. Overall, 147/168 (88%) participants
      responded, of which 74 (50%) met the case definition. All five stool samples
      provided were norovirus positive. No kitchen staff reported being sick. Risk of
      illness was higher in those who consumed raspberry mousse (aRR 3.4, 95% CI 1.4
      8.2) and sliced fresh fruit (aRR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8). Seventy cases (95%) ate
      raspberry mousse. Frozen raspberries used for the mousse were imported and not
      heat-treated before consumption. Non-heat-treated frozen raspberries were the
      most likely outbreak vehicle. Contamination by a food handler could not be
      excluded. We recommend heat-treatment of imported frozen berries before
      consumption.

PMID- 26878753
TI  - Aurora-A mediated histone H3 phosphorylation of threonine 118 controls condensin
      I and cohesin occupancy in mitosis.
AB  - Phosphorylation of histone H3 threonine 118 (H3 T118ph) weakens histone DNA
      contacts, disrupting the nucleosome structure. We show that Aurora-A mediated H3
      T118ph occurs at pericentromeres and chromosome arms during prophase and is lost
      upon chromosome alignment. Expression of H3 T118E or H3 T118I (a SIN mutation
      that bypasses the need for the ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeler SWI/SNF) leads
      to mitotic problems including defects in spindle attachment, delayed cytokinesis,
      reduced chromatin packaging, cohesion loss, cohesin and condensin I loss in human
      cells. In agreement, overexpression of Aurora-A leads to increased H3 T118ph
      levels, causing cohesion loss, and reduced levels of cohesin and condensin I on
      chromatin. Normal levels of H3 T118ph are important because it is required for
      development in fruit flies. We propose that H3 T118ph alters the chromatin
      structure during specific phases of mitosis to promote timely condensin I and
      cohesin disassociation, which is essential for effective chromosome segregation. 

PMID- 26878754
TI  - Sex difference in pathology of the ageing gut mediates the greater response of
      female lifespan to dietary restriction.
AB  - Women live on average longer than men but have greater levels of late-life
      morbidity. We have uncovered a substantial sex difference in the pathology of the
      aging gut in Drosophila. The intestinal epithelium of the aging female undergoes
      major deterioration, driven by intestinal stem cell (ISC) division, while lower
      ISC activity in males associates with delay or absence of pathology, and better
      barrier function, even at old ages. Males succumb to intestinal challenges to
      which females are resistant, associated with fewer proliferating ISCs, suggesting
      a trade-off between highly active repair mechanisms and late-life pathology in
      females. Dietary restriction reduces gut pathology in aging females, and extends
      female lifespan more than male. By genetic sex reversal of a specific gut region,
      we induced female-like aging pathologies in males, associated with decreased
      lifespan, but also with a greater increase in longevity in response to dietary
      restriction. 

PMID- 26878756
TI  - Economic impact of electronic prescribing in the hospital setting: A systematic
      review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine evidence on the economic impact of electronic prescribing
      (EP) systems in the hospital setting. METHOD: We conducted a systematic search of
      MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the NHS
      Economic Evaluation Database, the European Network of Health Economic Evaluation
      Database and Web of Science from inception to October 2013. Full and partial
      economic evaluations of EP or computerized provider order entry were included. We
      excluded studies assessing prescribing packages for specific drugs, and monetary
      outcomes that were not related to medicines. A checklist was used to evaluate
      risk of bias and evidence quality. RESULTS: The search yielded 1160 articles of
      which three met the inclusion criteria. Two were full economic evaluations and
      one a partial economic evaluation. A meta-analysis was not appropriate as studies
      were heterogeneous in design, economic evaluation method, interventions and
      outcome measures. Two studies investigated the financial impact of reducing
      preventable adverse drug events. The third measured savings related to various
      aspects of the system including those related to medication. Two studies reported
      positive financial effects. However the overall quality of the economic evidence
      was low and key details often not reported. DISCUSSION: There seems to be some
      evidence of financial benefits of EP in the hospital setting. However, it is not
      clear if evidence is transferable to other settings. Research is scarce and
      limited in quality, and reported methods are not always transparent. Further
      robust, high quality research is required to establish if hospital EP is cost
      effective and thus inform policy makers' decisions.

PMID- 26878757
TI  - Examining individuals' adoption of healthcare wearable devices: An empirical
      study from privacy calculus perspective.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Wearable technology has shown the potential of improving healthcare
      efficiency and reducing healthcare cost. Different from pioneering studies on
      healthcare wearable devices from technical perspective, this paper explores the
      predictors of individuals' adoption of healthcare wearable devices. Considering
      the importance of individuals' privacy perceptions in healthcare wearable devices
      adoption, this study proposes a model based on the privacy calculus theory to
      investigate how individuals adopt healthcare wearable devices. METHOD: The
      proposed conceptual model was empirically tested by using data collected from a
      survey. The sample covers 333 actual users of healthcare wearable devices.
      Structural equation modeling (SEM) method was employed to estimate the
      significance of the path coefficients. RESULTS: This study reveals several main
      findings: (1) individuals' decisions to adopt healthcare wearable devices are
      determined by their risk-benefit analyses (refer to privacy calculus). In short,
      if an individual's perceived benefit is higher than perceived privacy risk, s/he
      is more likely to adopt the device. Otherwise, the device would not be adopted;
      (2) individuals' perceived privacy risk is formed by health information
      sensitivity, personal innovativeness, legislative protection, and perceived
      prestige; and (3) individuals' perceived benefit is determined by perceived
      informativeness and functional congruence. The theoretical and practical
      implications, limitations, and future research directions are then discussed.

PMID- 26878758
TI  - Exploring the effects of patients taking a vigilant role in collaborating on
      their e-medication administration record.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Errors in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) occur
      in 25.6% of cases, mainly due to communication errors. The aim of this study is
      to investigate whether the quality of the eMAR improves when patients play a
      vigilant role by checking their medication using a patient communication tool
      linked to their eMAR (eMAR-PCT) to communicate asynchronously with the pharmacist
      about errors. Effects on health outcomes and self-care are also explored.
      METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, polypharmacy patients using five or
      more medications were randomly selected and invited to use their eMAR-PCTs.
      Participants also received two digital questionnaires assessing health and self
      care (week 0 and 26). Statistical analyses were performed on two subgroups: eMAR
      PCT users and non-users. RESULTS: An inclusion rate of 43.5% (n=152) was
      achieved. Women were more prevalent than men among the users group (56.4% vs.
      43.6%). Among the eMAR-PCT users, 75% logged in more than once, and 17.9%
      communicated asynchronously with the pharmacist. The content of the e-mails shows
      that eMAR-PCT was used as intended. No improvement in the quality of the eMAR was
      found. The self-care variables self-efficacy (p=.006) and collaboration with the
      pharmacist (p=.021) showed significant improvement in the users group. CONCLUSION
      AND DISCUSSION: The results showed no effect on eMAR quality and a modest
      improvement in self-care. Active digital patient participation to improve the
      quality of eMAR merits further investigation as, in line with other research,
      tentatively positive results are shown on self-care. Possibilities for
      implementation are promising as half of the patients who pledged to use eMAR-PCT
      actually did, and used it as intended.

PMID- 26878759
TI  - Residents' numeric inputting error in computerized physician order entry
      prescription.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system with embedded
      clinical decision support (CDS) can significantly reduce certain types of
      prescription error. However, prescription errors still occur. Various factors
      such as the numeric inputting methods in human computer interaction (HCI) produce
      different error rates and types, but has received relatively little attention.
      OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of numeric inputting methods
      and urgency levels on numeric inputting errors of prescription, as well as
      categorize the types of errors. METHODS: Thirty residents participated in four
      prescribing tasks in which two factors were manipulated: numeric inputting
      methods (numeric row in the main keyboard vs. numeric keypad) and urgency levels
      (urgent situation vs. non-urgent situation). Multiple aspects of participants'
      prescribing behavior were measured in sober prescribing situations. RESULTS: The
      results revealed that in urgent situations, participants were prone to make
      mistakes when using the numeric row in the main keyboard. With control of
      performance in the sober prescribing situation, the effects of the input methods
      disappeared, and urgency was found to play a significant role in the generalized
      linear model. Most errors were either omission or substitution types, but the
      proportion of transposition and intrusion error types were significantly higher
      than that of the previous research. Among numbers 3, 8, and 9, which were the
      less common digits used in prescription, the error rate was higher, which was a
      great risk to patient safety. CONCLUSIONS: Urgency played a more important role
      in CPOE numeric typing error-making than typing skills and typing habits. It was
      recommended that inputting with the numeric keypad had lower error rates in
      urgent situation. An alternative design could consider increasing the sensitivity
      of the keys with lower frequency of occurrence and decimals. To improve the
      usability of CPOE, numeric keyboard design and error detection could benefit from
      spatial incidence of errors found in this study.

PMID- 26878760
TI  - Assessment of hospital processes using a process mining technique: Outpatient
      process analysis at a tertiary hospital.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Many hospitals are increasing their efforts to improve processes
      because processes play an important role in enhancing work efficiency and
      reducing costs. However, to date, a quantitative tool has not been available to
      examine the before and after effects of processes and environmental changes,
      other than the use of indirect indicators, such as mortality rate and readmission
      rate. METHODS: This study used process mining technology to analyze process
      changes based on changes in the hospital environment, such as the construction of
      a new building, and to measure the effects of environmental changes in terms of
      consultation wait time, time spent per task, and outpatient care processes. Using
      process mining technology, electronic health record (EHR) log data of outpatient
      care before and after constructing a new building were analyzed, and the
      effectiveness of the technology in terms of the process was evaluated. RESULTS:
      Using the process mining technique, we found that the total time spent in
      outpatient care did not increase significantly compared to that before the
      construction of a new building, considering that the number of outpatients
      increased, and the consultation wait time decreased. These results suggest that
      the operation of the outpatient clinic was effective after changes were
      implemented in the hospital environment. We further identified improvements in
      processes using the process mining technique, thereby demonstrating the
      usefulness of this technique for analyzing complex hospital processes at a low
      cost. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the effectiveness of process mining
      technology at an actual hospital site. In future studies, the use of process
      mining technology will be expanded by applying this approach to a larger variety
      of process change situations.

PMID- 26878761
TI  - Barriers and facilitators to exchanging health information: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing facilitators
      and barriers to use of health information exchange (HIE). METHODS: We searched
      MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases between January
      1990 and February 2015 using terms related to HIE. English-language studies that
      identified barriers and facilitators of actual HIE were included. Data on study
      design, risk of bias, setting, geographic location, characteristics of the HIE,
      perceived barriers and facilitators to use were extracted and confirmed. RESULTS:
      Ten cross-sectional, seven multiple-site case studies, and two before-after
      studies that included data from several sources (surveys, interviews, focus
      groups, and observations of users) evaluated perceived barriers and facilitators
      to HIE use. The most commonly cited barriers to HIE use were incomplete
      information, inefficient workflow, and reports that the exchanged information
      that did not meet the needs of users. The review identified several facilitators
      to use. DISCUSSION: Incomplete patient information was consistently mentioned in
      the studies conducted in the US but not mentioned in the few studies conducted
      outside of the US that take a collective approach toward healthcare. Individual
      patients and practices in the US may exercise the right to participate (or not)
      in HIE which effects the completeness of patient information available to be
      exchanged. Workflow structure and user roles are key but understudied.
      CONCLUSIONS: We identified several facilitators in the studies that showed
      promise in promoting electronic health data exchange: obtaining more complete
      patient information; thoughtful workflow that folds in HIE; and inclusion of
      users early in implementation.

PMID- 26878763
TI  - Design and implementation of a national public health surveillance system in
      Jordan.
AB  - Understanding and improving the health status of communities depend on effective
      public health surveillance. Adoption of new technologies, standardised case
      definitions and clinical guidelines for accurate diagnosis, and access to timely
      and reliable data, remains a challenge for public health surveillance systems
      however and existing public health surveillance systems are often fragmented,
      disease specific, inconsistent and of poor quality. We describe the application
      of an enterprise architecture approach to the design, planning and implementation
      of a national public health surveillance system in Jordan. This enabled a well
      planned and collaboratively supported system to be built and implemented using
      consistent standards for data collection, management, reporting and use. The
      system is case-based and integrated and employs mobile information technology to
      aid collection of real-time, standardised data to inform and improve decision
      making at different levels of the health system. 

PMID- 26878762
TI  - Patient knowledge and information-seeking about personalized cancer therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding patients' knowledge and prior information-seeking
      regarding personalized cancer therapy (PCT) may inform future patient information
      systems, consent for molecular testing and PCT protocols. We evaluated breast
      cancer patients' knowledge and information-seeking behaviors regarding PCT.
      METHODS: Newly registered female breast cancer patients (n=100) at a
      comprehensive cancer center completed a self-administered questionnaire prior to
      their first clinic visit. RESULTS: Knowledge regarding cancer genetics and PCT
      was moderate (mean 8.7+/-3.8 questions correct out of 16). A minority of patients
      (27%) indicated that they had sought information regarding PCT. Higher education
      (p=0.009) and income levels (p=0.04) were associated with higher knowledge scores
      and with seeking PCT information (p=0.04). Knowledge was not associated with
      willingness to participate in PCT research. CONCLUSION: Educational background
      and financial status impact patient knowledge as well as information-seeking
      behavior. For most patients, clinicians are likely to be patients' initial source
      of information about PCT. Understanding patients' knowledge deficits at
      presentation may help inform patient education efforts.

PMID- 26878764
TI  - Impacts of mobile tablet computing on provider productivity, communications, and
      the process of care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Health information technology investments continue to increase while
      the value derived from their implementation and use is mixed. Mobile device
      adoption into practice is a recent trend that has increased dramatically and
      formal studies are needed to investigate consequent benefits and challenges. The
      objective of this study is to evaluate practitioner perceptions of improvements
      in productivity, provider-patient communications, care provision, technology
      usability and other outcomes following the adoption and use of a tablet computer
      connected to electronic health information resources. METHODS: A pilot program
      was initiated in June 2013 to evaluate the effect of mobile tablet computers at
      one health provider organization in the southeast United States. Providers were
      asked to volunteer for the evaluation and were each given a mobile tablet
      computer. A total of 42 inpatient and outpatient providers were interviewed in
      2015 using a survey style questionnaire that utilized yes/no, Likert-style, and
      open ended questions. Each had previously used an electronic health record (EHR)
      system a minimum of one year outside of residency, and were regular users of
      personal mobile devices. Each used a mobile tablet computer in the context of
      their practice connected to the health system EHR. RESULTS: The survey results
      indicate that more than half of providers perceive the use of the tablet device
      as having a positive effect on patient communications, patient education,
      patient's perception of the provider, time spent interacting with patients,
      provider productivity, process of care, satisfaction with EHR when used together
      with the device, and care provision. Providers also reported feeling comfortable
      using the device (82.9%), would recommend the device to colleagues (69.2%), did
      not experience increased information security and privacy concerns (95%), and
      noted significant reductions in EHR login times (64.1%). Less than 25% of
      participants reported negative impacts on any of these areas as well as on time
      spent on order submission, note completion time, overall workload, patient
      satisfaction with care experience and patient outcomes. Gender, number of years
      in practice, practice type (general practitioner vs. specialist), and service
      type (inpatient/outpatient) were found to have a significant effect on
      perceptions of patient satisfaction, care process, and provider productivity.
      CONCLUSIONS: Providers found positive gains from utilizing mobile devices in
      overall productivity, improved communications with their patients, the process of
      care, and technology efficiencies when used in combination with EHR and other
      health information resources. Demographic and health care work environment play a
      role in how mobile technologies are integrated into practice by providers.

PMID- 26878765
TI  - The role of tablets in accessing information throughout undergraduate medical
      education in Botswana.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mobile learning (mLearning) uses wireless networks and mobile devices
      to expand physician trainees' and healthcare providers' access to and exchange of
      medical information. Opportunities to increase implementation and expand use of
      mobile devices to support health care information access and delivery in Africa
      are vast, but the rapid growth of mLearning has caused project implementation to
      outpace objective measurement of impact. This study makes a contribution to the
      existing body of literature regarding mLearning implementation in Africa through
      its focus on the use of smart devices (tablets) in undergraduate medical
      education and medical students' perceptions of the effects on their learning
      environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population of this prospective mixed
      methods study consisted of 82 undergraduate medical students (45 third year and
      37 fourth year) at the University of Botswana Faculty of Medicine. They received
      tablets in the earliest phase of the mLearning project implementation (between
      November 2012 and January 2013), when they were in the third and fourth year of
      their medical training. Usage of the tablets was assessed both quantitatively and
      qualitatively, through both application usage tracking and focus groups. RESULTS:
      Based on application usage data and coding and analysis of focus group
      discussions, undergraduate medical students indicated that tablets were useful in
      their medical education, allowing them continual access to information and
      opportunities for communication. Participants noted that the primary barrier to
      use of tablets was the lack of mobile cellular Internet beyond the Wi-Fi zones at
      the training sites. Moreover, participants offered suggestions for improvements
      to the implementation process. CONCLUSIONS: Even in resource-limited settings
      where Internet access can be unreliable and intermittent, the adoption of tablets
      can have benefits to medical education by providing consistent access to
      extensive and current medical information resources. This study highlights the
      value of clinical resources with offline functionality, with or without
      consistent access to the Internet. There is also the potential for optimizing the
      use of tablets through improved training and technical support.

PMID- 26878766
TI  - Comparing usability testing outcomes and functions of six electronic nursing
      record systems.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study examined the usability of six differing electronic nursing
      record (ENR) systems on the efficiency, proficiency and available functions for
      documenting nursing care and subsequently compared the results to nurses'
      perceived satisfaction from a previous study. METHODS: The six hospitals had
      different ENR systems, all with narrative nursing notes in use for more than
      three years. Stratified by type of nursing unit, 54 staff nurses were digitally
      recorded during on-site usability testing by employing validated patient care
      scenarios and think-aloud protocols. The time to complete specific tasks was also
      measured. Qualitative performance data were converted into scores on efficiency
      (relevancy), proficiency (accuracy), and a competency index using scoring schemes
      described by McGuire and Babbott. Six nurse managers and the researchers
      completed assessments of available ENR functions and examined computerized
      nursing process components including the linkages among them. RESULTS: For the
      usability test, participants' mean efficiency score was 94.2% (95% CI, 91.4
      96.9%). The mean proficiency was 60.6% (95% CI, 54.3-66.8%), and the mean
      competency index was 59.5% (95% CI, 52.9-66.0). Efficiency scores were
      significantly different across ENRs as was the time to complete tasks, ranging
      from 226.3 to 457.2s (chi(2)=12.3, P=0.031; chi(2)=11.2, P=0.048). No significant
      differences were seen for proficiency scores. The coverage of the various ENRs'
      nursing process ranged from 67% to 100%, but only two systems had complete
      integration of nursing components. Two systems with high efficiency and
      proficiency scores had much lower usability test scores and perceived user
      satisfaction along with more complex navigation patterns. CONCLUSIONS: In terms
      of system usability and functions, different levels of sophistication of and
      interaction performance with ENR systems exist in practice. This suggests that
      ENRs may have variable impacts on clinical outcomes and care quality. Future
      studies are needed to explore ENR impact on nursing care quality, efficiency, and
      safety.

PMID- 26878767
TI  - User perception and experience of the introduction of a novel critical care
      patient viewer in the ICU setting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Failure to rapidly identify high-value information due to
      inappropriate output may alter user acceptance and satisfaction. The information
      needs for different intensive care unit (ICU) providers are not the same. This
      can obstruct successful implementation of electronic medical record (EMR)
      systems. We evaluated the implementation experience and satisfaction of providers
      using a novel EMR interface-based on the information needs of ICU providers-in
      the context of an existing EMR system. METHODS: This before-after study was
      performed in the ICU setting at two tertiary care hospitals from October 2013
      through November 2014. Surveys were delivered to ICU providers before and after
      implementation of the novel EMR interface. Overall satisfaction and acceptance
      was reported for both interfaces. RESULTS: A total of 246 before (existing EMR)
      and 115 after (existing EMR+novel EMR interface) surveys were analyzed. 14% of
      respondents were prescribers and 86% were non-prescribers. Non-prescribers were
      more satisfied with the existing EMR, whereas prescribers were more satisfied
      with the novel EMR interface. Both groups reported easier data gathering, routine
      tasks & rounding, and fostering of team work with the novel EMR interface. This
      interface was the primary tool for 18% of respondents after implementation and
      73% of respondents intended to use it further. Non-prescribers reported an
      intention to use this novel interface as their primary tool for information
      gathering. CONCLUSION: Compliance and acceptance of new system is not related to
      previous duration of work in ICU, but ameliorates with the length of EMR
      interface usage. Task-specific and role-specific considerations are necessary for
      design and successful implementation of a EMR interface. The difference in user
      workflows causes disparity of the way of EMR data usage.

PMID- 26878769
TI  - The degenerative cervical spine.
AB  - Imaging techniques provide excellent anatomical images of the cervical spine. The
      choice to use one technique or another will depend on the clinical scenario and
      on the treatment options. Plain-film X-rays continue to be fundamental, because
      they make it possible to evaluate the alignment and bone changes; they are also
      useful for follow-up after treatment. The better contrast resolution provided by
      magnetic resonance imaging makes it possible to evaluate the soft tissues,
      including the intervertebral discs, ligaments, bone marrow, and spinal cord. The
      role of computed tomography in the study of degenerative disease has changed in
      recent years owing to its great spatial resolution and its capacity to depict
      osseous components. In this article, we will review the anatomy and biomechanical
      characteristics of the cervical spine, and then we provide a more detailed
      discussion of the degenerative diseases that can affect the cervical spine and
      their clinical management. 

PMID- 26878768
TI  - Differences of immune responses between Tongcheng (Chinese local breed) and Large
      White pigs after artificial infection with highly pathogenic porcine reproductive
      and respiratory syndrome virus.
AB  - Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the severest
      infectious diseases of pigs throughout the world. Pigs of different breeds
      infected with PRRS virus (PRRSV) have been reported to vary in their immune
      responses. Here, the differences of immune responses to highly pathogenic porcine
      reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) were investigated by
      artificially infecting Tongcheng (TC) pigs (a Chinese indigenous breed) and Large
      White (LW) pigs with PRRSV WUH3. Compared to LW pigs, TC pigs showed less severe
      symptoms and lower level of viral load. The routine blood test results indicated
      that TC pigs were relatively steady in terms of erythrocyte, leukocyte and
      platelet. Additionally, PRRSV infection induced higher IFN-gamma activity in TC
      pigs, but stimulated an excessive level of IL-10 and IL-12p40 in LW pigs. Our
      study provides direct evidence that TC pigs have stronger resistance to early
      PRRSV infection than LW pigs, suggesting that the resistance of pigs to PRRSV is
      likely associated with breed differences. 

PMID- 26878771
TI  - Characterisation of the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of individual
      material fractions in Danish source-separated organic household waste.
AB  - This study is dedicated to characterising the chemical composition and
      biochemical methane potential (BMP) of individual material fractions in untreated
      Danish source-separated organic household waste (SSOHW). First, data on SSOHW in
      different countries, available in the literature, were evaluated and then,
      secondly, laboratory analyses for eight organic material fractions comprising
      Danish SSOHW were conducted. No data were found in the literature that fully
      covered the objectives of the present study. Based on laboratory analyses, all
      fractions were assigned according to their specific properties in relation to
      BMP, protein content, lipids, lignocellulose biofibres and easily degradable
      carbohydrates (carbohydrates other than lignocellulose biofibres). The three
      components in lignocellulose biofibres, i.e. lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose,
      were differentiated, and theoretical BMP (TBMP) and material degradability (BMP
      from laboratory incubation tests divided by TBMP) were expressed. Moreover, the
      degradability of lignocellulose biofibres (the share of volatile lignocellulose
      biofibre solids degraded in laboratory incubation tests) was calculated. Finally,
      BMP for average SSOHW composition in Denmark (untreated) was calculated, and the
      BMP contribution of the individual material fractions was then evaluated.
      Material fractions of the two general waste types, defined as "food waste" and
      "fibre-rich waste," were found to be anaerobically degradable with considerable
      BMP. Material degradability of material fractions such as vegetation waste,
      moulded fibres, animal straw, dirty paper and dirty cardboard, however, was
      constrained by lignin content. BMP for overall SSOHW (untreated) was 404 mL CH4
      per g VS, which might increase if the relative content of material fractions,
      such as animal and vegetable food waste, kitchen tissue and dirty paper in the
      waste, becomes larger.

PMID- 26878770
TI  - Chelating capture and magnetic removal of non-magnetic heavy metal substances
      from soil.
AB  - A soil remediation method based on magnetic beneficiation is reported. A new
      magnetic solid chelator powder, FS@IDA (core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles
      coated with iminodiacetic acid chelators), was used as a reactive magnetic
      carrier to selectively capture non-magnetic heavy metals in soil by chelation and
      removal by magnetic separation. FS@IDA was prepared via inorganic-organic and
      organic synthesis reactions that generated chelating groups on the surface of
      magnetic, multi-core, core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 (FS) nanoparticles. These reactions
      used a silane coupling agent and sodium chloroacetate. The results show that
      FS@IDA could chelate the heavy metal component of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Ni
      carbonates, lead sulfate and lead chloride in water-insoluble salt systems. The
      resulting FS@IDA-Cd and FS@IDA-Pb chelates could be magnetically separated,
      resulting in removal rates of approximately 84.9% and 72.2% for Cd and Pb,
      respectively. FS@IDA could not remove the residual heavy metals and those bound
      to organic matter in the soil. FS@IDA did not significantly alter the chemical
      composition of the soil, and it allowed for fast chelating capture, simple
      magnetic separation and facilitated heavy metal elution. FS@IDA could also be
      easily prepared and reprocessed. 

PMID- 26878772
TI  - Has a mixture of amino acids and micronutrients influence on glucose metabolism
      and dietary fatty acid pattern in chronic psychosocially stressed persons? A
      pilot study.
AB  - Brain food, e.g. L-tryptophan, antioxidative substances, B vitamins and magnesium
      are thought to be beneficial for obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance. In
      the present pilot study we hypothesised that a specific amino acid mixture with
      micronutrients improves the cardiometabolic situation of chronically stressed
      persons. Cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were analysed as per protocol in
      32 patients. Chronic stress disorders in the same patients were assessed by a
      psychological neurological questionnaire (PNF). After dietary intervention a
      reduction of the fasting serum insulin concentrations occurred in the treatment
      group. An association was found between PNF values, insulin concentrations at
      baseline and an insulin reduction after 12 weeks. The results support the use of
      our specific dietary supplement for improved stress management and a decrease in
      metabolic dysfunction.

PMID- 26878773
TI  - Antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone ameliorates arsenic-induced intracellular
      damages and apoptosis through induction of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant responses
      as well as stabilization of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 in human keratinocytes.
AB  - Human skin is a known target site of inorganic arsenic with effects ranging from
      hyperkeratosis to dermal malignancies. Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), approved
      food-grade phenolic antioxidant, is demonstrated to induce remarkable antioxidant
      activity in a variety of cells and tissues. The present study aimed at the
      protective effects of tBHQ on arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human
      keratinocytes. Our results demonstrated that tBHQ antagonized arsenic-induced
      decrease of cell viability, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid
      peroxidation, as well as reduction of antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. We also found that tBHQ relieved the G2/M
      phase arrest by arsenic exposure, which was associated with altering the
      expression of cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 and CDK4. tBHQ treatment further
      reduced the numbers of arsenic-induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cells,
      which occurred concomitantly with the effective recovery of mitochondrial
      membrane potential (DeltaPsim) depolarization, the release of cytochrome c
      releasing from the mitochondrial as well as the survival signal related factor
      caspase 3 activation. Our experiments then confirmed that tBHQ activated nuclear
      factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway by increasing NRF2 protein in both
      nucleus and cytoplasm and upregulating NRF2 downstream targets NAD(P)H: quinine
      oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). More interestingly, arsenic
      induced decrease of anti-apoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and increase
      of pro-apoptotic factor Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) could all be reversed by
      tBHQ pretreatment. These results suggested together that tBHQ could ameliorate
      arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis, which might be linked with the
      induction of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant responses as well as stabilization of
      anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 in human keratinocytes.

PMID- 26878774
TI  - Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products protects against
      ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis via regulating the ubiquitin
      proteasome system.
AB  - AIM: Apoptosis participated in the pathological process of myocardial
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Previous studies have reported that endogenous
      substance sRAGE protect against I/R injury through inhibiting myocardial
      apoptosis. But the mechanisms are currently unknown. Prior work has demonstrated
      that ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) dysfunction is closely related to
      apoptosis. We explored the potential role of UPS in the effect of sRAGE
      inhibition on I/R-induced myocardial apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adult male
      C57BL mice treated with sRAGE (100MUg/day, i.p.) or saline were performed to
      ligate left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) as an in vivo model. As an
      in vitro model, primary murine cardiomyocytes pretreated with sRAGE or sRAGE
      containing adenovirus were simulated I/R by "ischemia buffer". The TUNEL and
      caspase-3 activity were assessed. Also the activity and expression of proteasome
      were detected. sRAGE decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes and
      caspase-3 activity, however, the inhibition of sRAGE on I/R-induced apoptosis was
      abolished by proteasome inhibitor Bortezimb (BTZ). sRAGE inhibited the decreased
      proteasome activity, also the reduction in protein and gene levels of beta1i and
      beta5i following I/R. Suppression of STAT3 blocked the inhibition of sRAGE on
      apoptosis induced by I/R. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) results
      confirmed that sRAGE promoted activating STAT3 binding to beta1i and beta5i
      promoter. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the inhibition of sRAGE on I/R
      induced apoptosis is associated with activation and expression of proteasome,
      including improved proteasome activity and elevated beta1i and beta5i expression
      mediated by STAT3 activation. We predict that sRAGE is a novel intervention to
      target UPS activation for preventing and treating myocardial apoptosis.

PMID- 26878775
TI  - Directly interact with Keap1 and LPS is involved in the anti-inflammatory
      mechanisms of (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate in LPS-induced macrophages and
      endotoxemia.
AB  - Disruption of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-Nuclear factor
      erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) interaction has emerged as a
      promising strategy to reduce oxidative stress-induced inflammation. However, its
      roles in regulating downstream events, including the cross talk between Nrf2 and
      nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), are not well defined. The objective of this
      study was to elucidate the mechanistic connection between Keap1-Nrf2 signaling
      and the transcription factor NF-kappaB and to investigate the function of (-)
      epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) in the repression of multiple inflammatory mediators.
      ECG attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mediator expression
      and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through the induction
      of Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven glutathione (GSH) and
      hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels, interference with NF-kappaB and Nfr2/ARE
      transcriptional activities, and suppression of the MAPKs (JNK1/2 and p38) and
      PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Importantly, anti-inflammatory effects of ECG partly
      require activation of ERK1/2 signaling to mediate HO-1 expression and Nrf2/ARE
      signaling activation. Furthermore, ECG may directly interact intracellularly with
      the Kelch repeat domains of Keap1 and bind to extracellular LPS, thereby
      promoting the nuclear accumulation of the Nrf2 protein and blockading the
      activation of LPS-induced downstream target signaling pathways. Consistent with
      in vitro studies, ECG attenuates pathological syndromes of LPS-induced sepsis and
      systemic inflammation. Our results identified ECG as a novel Keap1-Nrf2
      interaction disruptor and LPS-induced TLR4 activation inhibitor, thereby
      providing an innovative strategy to prevent or treat immune, oxidative stress and
      inflammatory-related diseases.

PMID- 26878776
TI  - Interpolation method for accurate affinity ranking of arrayed ligand-analyte
      interactions.
AB  - The values of the affinity constants (kd, ka, and KD) that are determined by
      label-free interaction analysis methods are affected by the ligand density. This
      article outlines a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging method that yields
      high-throughput globally fitted affinity ranking values using a 96-plex array. A
      kinetic titration experiment without a regeneration step has been applied for
      various coupled antibodies binding to a single antigen. Globally fitted rate (kd
      and ka) and dissociation equilibrium (KD) constants for various ligand densities
      and analyte concentrations are exponentially interpolated to the KD at Rmax = 100
      RU response level (KD(R100)). 

PMID- 26878777
TI  - Prevention of arterial thrombosis by nobiletin: in vitro and in vivo studies.
AB  - Nobiletin, a bioactive polymethoxylated flavone isolated from citrus fruits, has
      been proven to prevent cancer and inflammation. Dietary flavonoids have been
      shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and platelet
      activation plays a crucial role in CVDs. This study investigated the effect of
      nobiletin on platelet activation in vitro and in vivo. Nobiletin (10-30MUM)
      inhibited collagen- and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation in washed
      human platelets, but it did not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by other
      agonists such as thrombin and 9,11-dideoxy-11alpha,9alpha
      epoxymethanoprostaglandin. Nobiletin inhibited the phosphorylation of
      phospholipase PLCgamma2, protein kinase PKC, Akt and mitogen-activated protein
      kinase MAPKs in collagen-activated human platelets and markedly reduced
      intracellular calcium mobilization and hydroxyl radical (OH(.)) formation.
      Nobiletin did not affect either phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate-stimulated PKC
      activation or platelet aggregation. In addition, neither SQ22536, an adenylate
      cyclase inhibitor nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, a guanylate
      cyclase inhibitor, significantly reversed the nobiletin-mediated inhibition of
      platelet aggregation. Moreover, nobiletin substantially prolonged the closure
      time in whole blood according to platelet function analysis and increased the
      occlusion time of thrombotic platelet plug formation in mice. In conclusion, this
      study demonstrates for the first time that, in addition to being a potential
      agent for preventing tumor growth and inflammation, nobiletin exhibits potent
      antiplatelet activity, which initially inhibits the PLCgamma2/PKC cascade and
      hydroxyl radical formation, subsequently suppresses the activation of Akt and
      MAPKs and ultimately inhibits platelet activation. Our study suggests that
      nobiletin represents a potential therapeutic agent for preventing or treating
      thromboembolic disorders. 

PMID- 26878778
TI  - Astaxanthin reduces hepatic lipid accumulations in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice via
      activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and
      inhibition of PPAR gamma and Akt.
AB  - We have previously reported that astaxanthin (AX), a dietary carotenoid, directly
      interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPARalpha and
      PPARgamma, activating PPARalpha while inhibiting PPARgamma, and thus reduces
      lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in vitro. To investigate the effects of AX in
      vivo, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice were orally administered AX (6 or
      30mg/kg body weight) or vehicle for 8weeks. AX significantly reduced the levels
      of triglyceride both in plasma and in liver compared with the control HFD mice.
      AX significantly improved liver histology and thus reduced both steatosis and
      inflammation scores of livers with hematoxylin and eosin staining. The number of
      inflammatory macrophages and Kupffer cells were reduced in livers by AX
      administration assessed with F4/80 staining. Hepatic PPARalpha-responsive genes
      involved in fatty acid uptake and beta-oxidation were upregulated, whereas
      inflammatory genes were downregulated by AX administration. In vitro radiolabeled
      assays revealed that hepatic fatty acid oxidation was induced by AX
      administration, whereas fatty acid synthesis was not changed in hepatocytes. In
      mechanism studies, AX inhibited Akt activity and thus decreased SREBP1
      phosphorylation and induced Insig-2a expression, both of which delayed nuclear
      translocation of SREBP1 and subsequent hepatic lipogenesis. Additionally,
      inhibition of the Akt-mTORC1 signaling axis by AX stimulated hepatic autophagy
      that could promote degradation of lipid droplets. These suggest that AX lowers
      hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice via multiple mechanisms. In addition
      to the previously reported differential regulation of PPARalpha and PPARgamma,
      inhibition of Akt activity and activation of hepatic autophagy reduced hepatic
      steatosis in mouse livers. 

PMID- 26878779
TI  - Extra virgin olive oil rich in polyphenols modulates VEGF-induced angiogenic
      responses by preventing NADPH oxidase activity and expression.
AB  - Previous studies have shown the antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiangiogenic
      properties by pure olive oil polyphenols; however, the effects of olive oil
      phenolic fraction on the inflammatory angiogenesis are unknown. In this study, we
      investigated the effects of the phenolic fraction (olive oil polyphenolic
      extract, OOPE) from extra virgin olive oil and related circulating metabolites on
      the VEGF-induced angiogenic responses and NADPH oxidase activity and expression
      in human cultured endothelial cells. We found that OOPE (1-10 MUg/ml), at
      concentrations achievable nutritionally, significantly reduced, in a
      concentration-dependent manner, the VEGF-induced cell migration, invasiveness and
      tube-like structure formation through the inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9. OOPE
      significantly (P<0.05) reduced VEGF-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species
      by modulating NADPH oxidase activity, p47phox membrane translocation and the
      expression of Nox2 and Nox4. Moreover, the treatment of endothelial cells with
      serum obtained 4 h after acute intake of extra virgin olive oil, with high
      polyphenol content, decreased VEGF-induced NADPH oxidase activity and Nox4
      expression, as well as, MMP-9 expression, as compared with fasting control serum.
      Overall, native polyphenols and serum metabolites of extra virgin olive oil rich
      in polyphenols are able to lower the VEGF-induced angiogenic responses by
      preventing endothelial NADPH oxidase activity and decreasing the expression of
      selective NADPH oxidase subunits. Our results provide an alternative mechanism by
      which the consumption of olive oil rich in polyphenols may account for a
      reduction of oxidative stress inflammatory-related sequelae associated with
      chronic degenerative diseases. 

PMID- 26878780
TI  - Short-term consumption of n-3 PUFAs increases murine IL-5 levels, but IL-5 is not
      the mechanistic link between n-3 fatty acids and changes in B-cell populations.
AB  - N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exert immunomodulatory effects on B
      cells. We previously demonstrated that n-3 PUFAs enhanced the relative percentage
      and/or frequency of select B2 cell subsets. The objectives here were to determine
      if n-3 PUFAs (a) could boost cytokines that target B-cell frequency, (b) enhance
      the frequency of the B1 population and (c) to identify the mechanism by which n-3
      PUFAs modify the proportion of B cells. Administration of n-3 PUFAs as fish oil
      to C57BL/6 mice enhanced secretion of the Th2 cytokine IL-5 but not IL-9 or IL
      13. N-3 PUFAs had no influence on the percentage or frequency of peritoneal B1 or
      B2 cells. Subsequent experiments with IL-5(-/-) knockout mice showed n-3 PUFAs
      decreased the percentage of bone marrow B220(lo)IgM(hi) cells and increased the
      proportion and number of splenic IgM(+)IgD(lo)CD21(lo) cells compared to the
      control. These results, when compared with our previous findings with wild-type
      mice, suggested IL-5 had no role in mediating the effect of n-3 PUFAs on B-cell
      populations. To confirm this conclusion, we assayed IL-5 secretion in a diet
      induced obesity model in which n-3 PUFAs enhanced the frequency of select B-cell
      subsets. N-3 PUFA supplementation as ethyl esters to obesogenic diets did not
      alter circulating IL-5 levels. Altogether, the data establish that n-3 PUFAs as
      fish oil can increase circulating IL-5 in lean mice, which has implications for
      several disease end points, but this increase in IL-5 is not the mechanistic link
      between n-3 PUFAs and changes in B-cell populations. 

PMID- 26878782
TI  - A nutritional nonalcoholic steatohepatitis minipig model.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The objective of this study was to elucidate whether a
      Western diet was associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and the
      relationship between NASH, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
      METHODS: Four-month-old Lee-Sung minipigs were randomly assigned to two groups:
      control diet (C) and Western diet (W), for a 5-month experimental period.
      RESULTS: Feeding a Western diet produced a body composition with more fat, less
      lean and a greater liver weight. Compared with C pigs, W pigs also exhibited an
      elevated level of plasma insulin and free fatty acid. The W pigs displayed
      glucose intolerance, lower circulation antioxidant capacity and greater hepatic
      oxidative stress. Furthermore, pig fed the W diets had increased collagen
      accumulation in the liver and elevated systemic inflammation [tumor necrosis
      factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-6]. Compared with C pigs, W pigs had higher
      hepatic ER stress-related protein expression of GRP94, CHOP and caspase-12. The W
      pigs also had greater hepatic autophagy-related protein expression of p62 and
      LC3II. In an obesity antibody array analysis, W pigs had higher type 2 diabetes
      mellitus- (insulin-like growth factor 1, osteoprotegerin and resistin),
      atherosclerosis- (vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth
      factor-AA and plasminogen activator inhibitor-I) and inflammation- [IL-1,
      macrophage-stimulating protein alpha, X-linked ectodermal dysplasia receptor and
      serum amyloid A (SAA)] related protein expressions. In addition, W pigs had
      greater plasma SAA concentration than C pigs and plasma SAA level was highly
      associated with IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully established a NASH pig model,
      and our findings suggested an association of NASH with ER stress and autophagy.
      The SAA has potential as a novel plasma biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver
      disease pigs.

PMID- 26878781
TI  - Olive oil prevents benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced colon carcinogenesis through
      altered B(a)P metabolism and decreased oxidative damage in Apc(Min) mouse model.
AB  - Colon cancer ranks third in cancer-related mortalities in the United States. Many
      studies have investigated factors that contribute to colon cancer in which
      dietary and environmental factors have been shown to play an integral role in the
      etiology of this disease. Specifically, human dietary intake of environmental
      carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has generated interest in
      looking at how it exerts its effects in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis.
      Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the preventative
      effects of olive oil on benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced colon carcinogenesis in
      adult Apc(Min) mice. Mice were assigned to a control (n=8) or treatment group
      (n=8) consisting of 25, 50 and 100-MUg B(a)P/kg body weight (bw) dissolved in
      tricaprylin [B(a)P-only group] or olive oil daily via oral gavage for 60 days.
      Our studies showed that Apc(Min) mice exposed to B(a)P developed a significantly
      higher number (P<0.05) of larger dysplastic adenomas compared to those exposed to
      B(a)P + olive oil. Treatment of mice with B(a)P and olive oil significantly
      altered (P<0.05) the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes in both the colon
      and liver tissues. However, only GST activity was significantly higher (P<0.05)
      in the liver of mice treated with 50- and 100-MUg B(a)P/kg bw + olive oil.
      Lastly, olive oil promoted rapid detoxification of B(a)P by decreasing its
      organic metabolite concentrations and also decreasing the extent of DNA damage to
      colon and liver tissues (P<0.05). These results suggest that olive oil has a
      protective effect against B(a)P-induced colon tumors. 

PMID- 26878783
TI  - Dietary flaxseed modulates the colonic microenvironment in healthy C57Bl/6 male
      mice which may alter susceptibility to gut-associated diseases.
AB  - Understanding how dietary components alter the healthy baseline colonic
      microenvironment is important in determining their roles in influencing gut
      health and gut-associated diseases. Dietary flaxseed (FS) has demonstrated anti
      colon cancer effects in numerous rodent models, however, exacerbated acute
      colonic mucosal injury and inflammation in a colitis model. This study
      investigates whether FS alters critical aspects of gut health in healthy
      unchallenged mice, which may help explain some of the divergent effects observed
      following different gut-associated disease challenges. Four-week-old C57Bl/6 male
      mice were fed an AIN-93G basal diet (BD) or an isocaloric BD+10% ground FS diet
      for 3 weeks. FS enhanced colon goblet cell density, mucus production, MUC2 mRNA
      expression, and cecal short chain fatty acid levels, indicative of beneficial
      intestinal barrier integrity responses. Additionally, FS enhanced colonic
      regenerating islet-derived protein 3 gamma (RegIIIgamma) and reduced MUC1 and
      resistin-like molecule beta (RELMbeta) mRNA expression which may indicate altered
      responses in regulating microbial defense and injury repair responses. FS diet
      altered the fecal microbial community structure (16S rRNA gene profiling),
      including a 20-fold increase in Prevotella spp. and a 30-fold reduction in
      Akkermansia muciniphila abundance. A 10-fold reduction in A. muciniphila
      abundance by FS was also demonstrated in the colon tissue-associated microbiota
      (quantitative PCR). Furthermore, fecal branched chain fatty acids were increased
      by FS, indicative of increased microbial-derived putrefactive compounds. In
      conclusion, consumption of a FS-supplemented diet alters the baseline colonic
      microenvironment of healthy mice which may modify subsequent mucosal microbial
      defense and injury-repair responses leading to altered susceptibility to
      different gut-associated diseases. 

PMID- 26878784
TI  - Treatment with kaempferol suppresses breast cancer cell growth caused by estrogen
      and triclosan in cellular and xenograft breast cancer models.
AB  - As a phytoestrogen, kaempferol (Kaem) is one of bioflavonoids, which are found in
      a variety of vegetables including broccoli, tea and tomato. In this study, the
      antiproliferative effects of Kaem in triclosn (TCS)-induced cell growth were
      examined in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. TCS promoted the cell viability of MCF-7
      cells via estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) as did 17beta-estradiol (E2), a
      positive control. On the other hand, Kaem significantly suppressed E2 or TCS
      induced cell growth. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of TCS and Kaem,
      alterations in the expressions of cell cycle, apoptosis and metastasis-related
      genes were identified using western blot assay. The treatment of the cells with
      TCS up-regulated the protein expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E and cathepsin D,
      while down-regulated p21 and bax expressions. Kaem reversed TCS-induced gene
      expressions in an opposite manner. The phosphorylation of IRS-1, AKT, MEK1/2 and
      ERK was increased by TCS, indicating that TCS induced MCF-7 cell proliferation
      via nongenomic ER signaling pathway associated with IGF-1R. Kaem presented an
      antagonistic activity on this signaling by down-regulating the protein expression
      of pIRS-1, pAkt and pMEK1/2 promoted by E2 or TCS. In an in vivo xenografted
      mouse model, tumor growth was induced by treatment with E2 or TCS, which was
      identified in the measurement of tumor volume, hematoxylin and eosin staining,
      bromodeoxyuridine and immunohistochemistry assay. On the contrary, E2 or TCS
      induced breast tumor growth was inhibited by co-treatment with Kaem, which is
      consistent with in vitro results. Taken together, these results revealed that
      Kaem has an anticancer effect against procancer activity of E2 or TCS, a
      xenoestrogen, in breast cancer and may be suggested as a prominent agent to
      neutralize breast cancer risk caused by TCS. 

PMID- 26878785
TI  - MicroRNA changes, activation of progenitor cells and severity of liver injury in
      mice induced by choline and folate deficiency.
AB  - Dietary deficiency in methyl-group donors and cofactors induces liver injury that
      resembles many pathophysiological and histopathological features of human
      nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including an altered expression of
      microRNAs (miRNAs). We evaluated the consequences of a choline- and folate
      deficient (CFD) diet on the expression of miRNAs in the livers of male A/J and
      WSB/EiJ mice. The results demonstrate that NAFLD-like liver injury induced by the
      CFD diet in A/J and WSB/EiJ mice was associated with marked alterations in
      hepatic miRNAome profiles, with the magnitude of miRNA expression changes being
      greater in WSB/EiJ mice, the strain characterized by the greatest severity of
      liver injury. Specifically, WSB/EiJ mice exhibited more prominent changes in the
      expression of common miRNAs as compared to A/J mice and distinct miRNA
      alterations, including the overexpression of miR-134, miR-409-3p, miR-410 and miR
      495 miRNAs that were accompanied by an activation of hepatic progenitor cells and
      fibrogenesis. This in vivo finding was further confirmed by in vitro experiments
      showing an overexpression of these miRNAs in undifferentiated progenitor hepatic
      HepaRG cells compared to in fully differentiated HepaRG cells. Additionally, a
      marked elevation of miR-134, miR-409-3p, miR-410 and miR-495 was found in plasma
      of WSB/EiJ mice fed the CFD diet, while none of the miRNAs was changed in plasma
      of A/J mice. These findings suggest that miRNAs may be crucial regulators
      responsible for the progression of NAFLD and may be useful as noninvasive
      diagnostic indicators of the severity and progression of NAFLD. 

PMID- 26878786
TI  - Medium-chain triglycerides and monounsaturated fatty acids potentiate the
      beneficial effects of fish oil on selected cardiovascular risk factors in rats.
AB  - Fish oil (FO) rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
      is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Little information
      is known regarding the influence of lipid composition in the background diet on
      the modulatory effect of FO supplementation on CVDs. The present study was
      designed to investigate the influence of various background dietary lipids and FO
      on selected cardiovascular risk factors in rats. Adult Wistar rats were fed
      semisynthetic diet with FO at 1.0% or 2.0% along with other lipids, namely,
      medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), n-6
      polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and n-3 PUFAs, for 5 weeks. Some of the
      potent CVD risk factors were estimated in the rats. FO at 1.0% and 2.0% has
      significantly reduced serum lipid peroxides, total cholesterol, triglycerides
      (TAGs), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein; liver
      and adipose TAG and cholesterol levels in MCT, MUFA and n-6 PUFA diet groups.
      Notably, these alterations were comparatively higher in 1.0% FO-substituted MCT
      and MUFA diet groups. Interestingly, feeding of FO along with n-3 PUFAs did not
      show additive effect in attenuation of these factors. Serum liver EPA and DHA
      levels were remarkably elevated in rats fed FO-enriched MCT or MUFA diets. Our
      results suggest that MCTs or MUFAs in the background diet might promote the
      beneficial effects of FO on CVDs. 

PMID- 26878787
TI  - Preventive and therapeutic effects of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) extract
      against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by regulation of antioxidant and
      inflammatory mediators.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder caused by
      hyperactivation of effector immune cells that produce high levels of
      proinflammatory cytokines. The aims of our study were to determine whether orally
      administered blueberry extract (BE) could attenuate or prevent the development of
      experimental colitis in mice and to elucidate the mechanism of action. Female
      Balb/C mice (n=7) were randomized into groups differing in treatment conditions
      (prevention and treatment) and dose of BE (50 mg/kg body weight). Acute
      ulcerative colitis was induced by oral administration of 3% dextran sodium
      sulfate for 7 days in drinking water. Colonic mucosal injury was assessed by
      clinical, macroscopic, biochemical and histopathological examinations. BE
      significantly decreased disease activity index and improved the macroscopic and
      histological score of colons when compared to the colitis group (P<.05). BE
      markedly attenuated myeloperoxidase accumulation (colitis group 54.97+/-2.78
      nmol/mg, treatment group 30.78+/-1.33 nmol/mg) and malondialdehyde in colon and
      prostaglandin E2 level in serum while increasing the levels of superoxide
      dismutase and catalase (colitis group 11.94+/-1.16 U/ml, BE treatment group
      16.49+/-0.39 U/ml) compared with the colitis group (P<.05). mRNA levels of the
      cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta and inducible
      nitric oxide synthase cytokines were determined by reverse transcriptase
      polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that BE attenuates
      the expression of COX-2 and IL-1beta in colonic tissue. Moreover, BE reduced the
      nuclear translocation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) by
      immunofluorescence analysis. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effect of BE at
      colorectal sites is a result of a number of mechanisms: antioxidation, down
      regulation of the expression of inflammatory mediators and inhibition of the
      nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. 

PMID- 26878788
TI  - Clinical phenotype clustering in cardiovascular risk patients for the
      identification of responsive metabotypes after red wine polyphenol intake.
AB  - This study aims to evaluate the robustness of clinical and metabolic phenotyping
      through, for the first time, the identification of differential responsiveness to
      dietary strategies in the improvement of cardiometabolic risk conditions.
      Clinical phenotyping of 57 volunteers with cardiovascular risk factors was
      achieved using k-means cluster analysis based on 69 biochemical and
      anthropometric parameters. Cluster validation based on Dunn and Figure of Merit
      analysis for internal coherence and external homogeneity were employed. k-Means
      produced four clusters with particular clinical profiles. Differences on urine
      metabolomic profiles among clinical phenotypes were explored and validated by
      multivariate orthogonal signal correction partial least-squares discriminant
      analysis (OSC-PLS-DA) models. OSC-PLS-DA of (1)H-NMR data revealed that model
      comparing "obese and diabetic cluster" (OD-c) against "healthier cluster" (H-c)
      showed the best predictability and robustness in terms of explaining the pairwise
      differences between clusters. Considering these two clusters, distinct groups of
      metabolites were observed following an intervention with wine polyphenol intake
      (WPI; 733 equivalents of gallic acid/day) per 28days. Glucose was significantly
      linked to OD-c metabotype (P<.01), and lactate, betaine and dimethylamine showed
      a significant trend. Tartrate (P<.001) was associated with wine polyphenol
      intervention (OD-c_WPI and H-c_WPI), whereas mannitol, threonine methanol, fucose
      and 3-hydroxyphenylacetate showed a significant trend. Interestingly, 4
      hydroxyphenylacetate significantly increased in H-c_WPI compared to OD-c_WPI and
      to basal groups (P<.05)-gut microbial-derived metabolite after polyphenol intake
      , thereby exhibiting a clear metabotypic intervention effect. Results revealed
      gut microbiota responsive phenotypes to wine polyphenols intervention. Overall,
      this study illustrates a novel metabolomic strategy for characterizing
      interindividual responsiveness to dietary intervention and identification of
      health benefits. 

PMID- 26878789
TI  - High-salt diets during pregnancy increases renal vascular reactivity due to
      altered soluble guanylyl cyclase-related pathways in rat offspring.
AB  - Adverse prenatal factors such as overtake of salt or fat food are potential risks
      for cardiovascular diseases in offspring. This study tested the hypothesis that
      prenatal high-salt (HS) diets may influence renal vascular tone and attenuates
      signaling pathways related to soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) or/and large
      conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa) channels in the offspring. Pregnant rats
      were fed either normal salt (NS) (1% NaCl) or HS (8% NaCl) diet for the whole
      gestation. Offspring were maintained on NS diets. Renal interlobar arteries in
      offspring were tested for vascular responses to phenylephrine (Phe), K(+)
      channels and signal pathways related to sGC. Phe induced higher vessel tension in
      interlobar arteries of the HS offspring. Following pretreatment with BKCa channel
      inhibitor iberiotoxin, Phe-mediated vasoconstrictions were decreased in HS
      offspring compared to NS. Phe-mediated constrictions following pretreatment with
      NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester or sGC inhibitor 1H
      1,2,4-oxadiazolo-4,3-quinoxalin-1-one in the HS offspring were less sensitive
      than NS. The whole-cell K(+) currents and the component of BKCa channels were not
      changed in smooth muscle cells from interlobar arteries, whereas the K(+)
      currents stimulated by sGC activator BAY41-2272 were reduced in the HS offspring.
      The protein expressions of sGC beta1 and beta2 in the interlobar arteries of HS
      offspring were reduced. The results showed that chronic overintake of salt during
      pregnancy could increase renal vascular tone in the offspring. The affected
      signal pathways included down-regulation of sGC function and expression. 

PMID- 26878791
TI  - Naringin treatment induces neuroprotective effects in a mouse model of
      Parkinson's disease in vivo, but not enough to restore the lesioned dopaminergic
      system.
AB  - We recently reported that treatment with naringin, a major flavonoid found in
      grapefruit and citrus fruits, attenuated neurodegeneration in a rat model of
      Parkinson's disease (PD) in vivo. In order to investigate whether its effects are
      universally applied to a different model of PD and whether its treatment induces
      restorative effects on the lesioned nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) projection,
      we observed the effects of pre-treatment or post-treatment with naringin in a
      mouse model of PD. For neuroprotective effects, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was
      unilaterally injected into the striatum of mouse brains for a neurotoxin model of
      PD in the presence or absence of naringin by daily intraperitoneal injection. Our
      results showed that naringin protected the nigrostriatal DA projection from 6
      OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, similar to the effects in rat brains, this
      treatment induced the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1
      (mTORC1), which is well known as an important survival factor for DA neurons, and
      inhibited microglial activation in the substantia nigra (SN) of mouse brains
      treated with 6-OHDA. However, there was no significant change of DA phenotypes in
      the SN and striatum post-treated with naringin compared with 6-OHDA-lesioned
      mice, despite the treatment being continued for 12 weeks. These results suggest
      that post-treatment with naringin alone may not be enough to restore the
      nigrostriatal DA projection in a mouse model of PD. However, our results
      apparently suggest that naringin is a beneficial natural product to prevent DA
      degeneration, which is involved in PD. 

PMID- 26878790
TI  - Diets enriched with cranberry beans alter the microbiota and mitigate colitis
      severity and associated inflammation.
AB  - Common beans are rich in phenolic compounds and nondigestible fermentable
      components, which may help alleviate intestinal diseases. We assessed the gut
      health priming effect of a 20% cranberry bean flour diet from two bean varieties
      with differing profiles of phenolic compounds [darkening (DC) and nondarkening
      (NDC) cranberry beans vs. basal diet control (BD)] on critical aspects of gut
      health in unchallenged mice, and during dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced
      colitis (2% DSS wt/vol, 7 days). In unchallenged mice, NDC and DC increased (i)
      cecal short-chain fatty acids, (ii) colon crypt height, (iii) crypt goblet cell
      number and mucus content and (iv) Muc1, Klf4, Relmbeta and Reg3gamma gene
      expression vs. BD, indicative of enhanced microbial activity and gut barrier
      function. Fecal 16S rRNA sequencing determined that beans reduced abundance of
      the Lactobacillaceae (Ruminococcus gnavus), Clostridiaceae (Clostridium
      perfringens), Peptococcaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Rikenellaceae and
      Pophyromonadaceae families, and increased abundance of S24-7 and Prevotellaceae.
      During colitis, beans reduced (i) disease severity and colonic histological
      damage, (ii) increased gene expression of barrier function promoting genes (Muc1
      3, Relmbeta, and Reg3gamma) and (iii) reduced colonic and circulating
      inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IFNgamma and TNFalpha). Therefore, prior
      to disease induction, bean supplementation enhanced multiple concurrent gut
      health promoting parameters that translated into reduced colitis severity.
      Moreover, both bean diets exerted similar effects, indicating that differing
      phenolic content did not influence the endpoints assessed. These data demonstrate
      a proof-of-concept regarding the gut-priming potential of beans in colitis, which
      could be extended to mitigate the severity of other gut barrier-associated
      pathologies. 

PMID- 26878792
TI  - The combination of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and extra virgin olive oil
      increases mitochondrial and body metabolism and prevents CLA-associated insulin
      resistance and liver hypertrophy in C57Bl/6 mice.
AB  - Clinical conditions associated with obesity can be improved by daily intake of
      conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Here we
      investigated whether dietary supplementation with CLA and EVOO, either alone or
      in combination, changes body metabolism associated with mitochondrial energetics.
      Male C57Bl/6 mice were divided into one of four groups: CLA (1:1 cis-9, trans
      11:trans-10, cis-12; 18:2 isomers), EVOO, CLA plus EVOO or control (linoleic
      acid). Each mouse received 3 g/kg body weight of the stated oil by gavage on
      alternating days for 60 days. Dietary supplementation with CLA, alone or in
      combination with EVOO: (a) reduced the white adipose tissue gain; (b) increased
      body VO2 consumption, VCO2 production and energy expenditure; (c) elevated
      uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 expression and UCP activity in isolated liver
      mitochondria. This organelle, when energized with NAD(+)-linked substrates,
      produced high amounts of H2O2 without inducing oxidative damage. Dietary
      supplementation with EVOO alone did not change any metabolic parameter, but
      supplementation with CLA itself promoted insulin resistance and elevated weight,
      lipid content and acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 expression in liver. Interestingly,
      the in vivo antioxidant therapy with N-acetylcysteine abolished the CLA-induced
      rise of body metabolism and liver UCP expression and activity, while the in vitro
      antioxidant treatment with catalase mitigated the CLA-dependent UCP-2 expression
      in hepatocytes; these findings suggest the participation of an oxidative
      dependent pathway. Therefore, this study clarifies the mechanisms by which CLA
      induces liver UCP expression and activity, and demonstrates for the first time
      the beneficial effects of combined CLA and EVOO supplementation. 

PMID- 26878793
TI  - Resveratrol is equipotent to perindopril in attenuating post-infarct cardiac
      remodeling and contractile dysfunction in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve prognosis in
      patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) related cardiac dysfunction.
      Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has been reported to be beneficial in
      hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cardiotoxicity in preclinical studies.
      Accordingly, we investigated the comparative and combinatorial efficacy of
      resveratrol and perindopril (ACE inhibitor) treatment on MI-related cardiac
      remodeling and contractile dysfunction. METHODS: Left anterior descending artery
      ligated and sham-operated male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with vehicle,
      resveratrol, perindopril, and combination of resveratrol+perindopril (2.5 mg/kg
      bodyweight/day) for 8 weeks (starting immediately after acute MI).
      Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure and function at
      baseline and 8 weeks. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, vehicle-MI rats had a significantly
      lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and increased LV dilatation
      compared to vehicle-sham rats. MI rats treated with resveratrol, perindopril and
      a combination of both had significantly improved LVEF and reduced LV dilatation.
      Vehicle-treated MI rats also had increased level of lipid peroxidation product-
      malondialdehyde (MDA), proinflammatory protein- tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha) and cardiac fibrosis marker- collagen and decreased enzymatic activity of
      superoxide dismutase and catalase compared to vehicle-sham rats. Resveratrol,
      perindopril and combination of both significantly prevented the /ed to determine
      systolic functional parameter increase in MDA, TNF-alpha and collagen and
      improved the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in MI rats compared to
      vehicle-MI rats. CONCLUSION: Treatment with resveratrol or perindopril was
      equivalent in significantly improving remodeling and attenuation of contractile
      dysfunction in MI rats. Combination treatment also attenuated the cardiac
      abnormalities. The improvement in cardiac abnormalities may partly be through
      reducing oxidative stress by preventing the decrease in the activity of
      superoxide dismutase and catalase, and decreasing cardiac inflammation and
      fibrosis.

PMID- 26878795
TI  - Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid, ameliorates experimental colitis in mice: Relevance
      of NF-kappaB signaling.
AB  - Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid, is commonly found in many fruits and vegetables.
      Although studies indicate that fisetin has an anti-inflammatory property, little
      is known about its effects on intestinal inflammation. The present study
      investigated the effects of the fisetin on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced
      murine colitis, an animal model that resembles human inflammatory bowel disease.
      Fisetin treatment to DSS-exposed mice significantly reduced the severity of
      colitis and alleviated the macroscopic and microscopic signs of the disease.
      Moreover, fisetin reduced the levels of myeloperoxidase activity, the production
      of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
      interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the expressions of COX
      2 and iNOS in the colon tissues. Further studies revealed that fisetin suppressed
      the activation of NF-kappaB (p65) by inhibiting IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and
      NF-kappaB (p65)-DNA binding activity and attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt
      and the p38, but not ERK and JNK MAPKs in the colon tissues of DSS-exposed mice.
      In addition, DSS-induced decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) and the increase in
      malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly restored by oral fisetin.
      Furthermore, the results from in vitro studies showed that fisetin significantly
      reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine and mediator release and suppressed the
      degradation and phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha with subsequent nuclear
      translocation of NF-kappaB (p65) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse
      primary peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that fisetin exerts anti
      inflammatory activity via inhibition of Akt, p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling in
      the colon tissues of DSS-exposed mice. Thus, fisetin may be a promising candidate
      as pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals in the treatment of inflammatory bowel
      disease. 

PMID- 26878794
TI  - EGCG prevents PCB-126-induced endothelial cell inflammation via epigenetic
      modifications of NF-kappaB target genes in human endothelial cells.
AB  - Anti-inflammatory polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have
      been shown to protect against the toxicity of environmental pollutants. It is
      well known that bioactive food compounds such as polyphenols may exert their
      protection by modulating inflammatory pathways regulated through nuclear factor
      kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling. EGCG has been reported to inhibit NF-kappaB
      activation. We hypothesize that EGCG can protect against polychlorinated biphenyl
      (PCB)-induced endothelial inflammation in part through epigenetic regulation of
      NF-kappaB-regulated inflammatory genes. In order to test this hypothesis, human
      endothelial cells (EA.hy926) were exposed to physiologically relevant levels of
      coplanar PCB 126 and/or 15 or 30 MUM of EGCG, followed by quantification of NF
      kappaB subunit p65, histone acetyltransferase p300 and histone deacetylases
      (HDACs) accumulation through chromatin immunoprecipitation assay in the promoter
      region of inflammatory genes. In addition, the enrichment of the acetylated H3
      was also quantified. PCB 126 exposure increased the expression of vascular
      inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein,
      intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and IL
      1alpha/beta, which were prevented by pretreatment with EGCG. This inhibitory
      effect by EGCG correlated with abolished nuclear import of p65, decreased
      chromatin binding of p65 and p300, as well as increased chromatin binding of HDAC
      1/2. Furthermore, EGCG induced hypoacetylation of H3, which accounts for
      deactivation of downstream genes. These data suggest that EGCG-induced epigenetic
      modifications can decrease PCB-induced vascular toxicity. 

PMID- 26878796
TI  - Cinnamon intake alleviates the combined effects of dietary-induced insulin
      resistance and acute stress on brain mitochondria.
AB  - Insulin resistance (IR), which is a leading cause of the metabolic syndrome,
      results in early brain function alterations which may alter brain mitochondrial
      functioning. Previously, we demonstrated that rats fed a control diet and
      submitted to an acute restraint stress exhibited a delayed mitochondrial
      permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. In this study, we evaluated the
      combined effects of dietary and emotional stressors as found in western way of
      life. We studied, in rats submitted or not to an acute stress, the effects of
      diet-induced IR on brain mitochondria, using a high fat/high fructose diet
      (HF(2)), as an IR inducer, with addition or not of cinnamon as an insulin
      sensitizer. We measured Ca(2+) retention capacity, respiration, ROS production,
      enzymatic activities and cell signaling activation. Under stress, HF(2) diet
      dramatically decreased the amount of Ca(2+) required to open the mPTP (13%)
      suggesting an adverse effect on mitochondrial survival. Cinnamon added to the
      diet corrected this negative effect and resulted in a partial recovery (30%). The
      effects related to cinnamon addition to the diet could be due to its antioxidant
      properties or to the observed modulation of PI3K-AKT-GSK3beta and MAPK-P38
      pathways or to a combination of both. These data suggest a protective effect of
      cinnamon on brain mitochondria against the negative impact of an HF(2) diet.
      Cinnamon could be beneficial to counteract deleterious dietary effects in
      stressed conditions. 

PMID- 26878797
TI  - NKG2D ligands mediate immunosurveillance of senescent cells.
AB  - Cellular senescence is a stress response mechanism that limits tumorigenesis and
      tissue damage. Induction of cellular senescence commonly coincides with an
      immunogenic phenotype that promotes self-elimination by components of the immune
      system, thereby facilitating tumor suppression and limiting excess fibrosis
      during wound repair. The mechanisms by which senescent cells regulate their
      immune surveillance are not completely understood. Here we show that ligands of
      an activating Natural Killer (NK) cell receptor (NKG2D), MICA and ULBP2 are
      consistently up-regulated following induction of replicative senescence, oncogene
      induced senescence and DNA damage - induced senescence. MICA and ULBP2 proteins
      are necessary for efficient NK-mediated cytotoxicity towards senescent
      fibroblasts. The mechanisms regulating the initial expression of NKG2D ligands in
      senescent cells are dependent on a DNA damage response, whilst continuous
      expression of these ligands is regulated by the ERK signaling pathway. In liver
      fibrosis, the accumulation of senescent activated stellate cells is increased in
      mice lacking NKG2D receptor leading to increased fibrosis. Overall, our results
      provide new insights into the mechanisms regulating the expression of immune
      ligands in senescent cells and reveal the importance of NKG2D receptor-ligand
      interaction in protecting against liver fibrosis. 

PMID- 26878798
TI  - LGI1 acts presynaptically to regulate excitatory synaptic transmission during
      early postnatal development.
AB  - The secreted leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) protein is an important
      actor for human seizures of both genetic and autoimmune etiology: mutations in
      LGI1 cause inherited temporal lobe epilepsy, while LGI1 is involved in antibody
      mediated encephalitis. Remarkably, Lgi1-deficient (Lgi1(-/-)) mice recapitulate
      the epileptic disorder and display early-onset spontaneous seizures. To
      understand how Lgi1-deficiency leads to seizures during postnatal development, we
      here investigated the early functional and structural defects occurring before
      seizure onset in Lgi1(-/-) mice. We found an increased excitatory synaptic
      transmission in hippocampal slices from Lgi1(-/-) mice. No structural alteration
      in the morphology of pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses was observed at this
      stage, indicating that Lgi1-deficiency is unlikely to trigger early developmental
      abnormalities. Consistent with the presynaptic subcellular localization of the
      protein, Lgi1-deficiency caused presynaptic defects, with no alteration in
      postsynaptic AMPA receptor activity in Lgi1-/- pyramidal cells before seizure
      onset. Presynaptic dysfunction led to increased synaptic glutamate levels, which
      were associated with hyperexcitable neuronal networks. Altogether, these data
      show that Lgi1 acts presynaptically as a negative modulator of excitatory
      synaptic transmission during early postnatal development. We therefore here
      reveal that increased presynaptic glutamate release is a key early event
      resulting from Lgi1-deficiency, which likely contributes to epileptogenesis. 

PMID- 26878799
TI  - Iron mitigates DMT1-mediated manganese cytotoxicity via the ASK1-JNK signaling
      axis: Implications of iron supplementation for manganese toxicity.
AB  - Manganese (Mn(2+)) neurotoxicity from occupational exposure is well documented to
      result in a Parkinson-like syndrome. Although the understanding of Mn(2+)
      cytotoxicity is still incomplete, both Mn(2+) and Fe(2+) can be transported via
      the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), suggesting that competitive uptake might
      disrupt Fe(2+) homeostasis. Here, we found that DMT1 overexpression significantly
      enhanced Mn(2+) cytoplasmic accumulation and JNK phosphorylation, leading to a
      reduction in cell viability. Although a robust activation of autophagy was
      observed alongside these changes, it did not trigger autophagic cell death, but
      was instead shown to be essential for the degradation of ferritin, which normally
      sequesters labile Fe(2+). Inhibition of ferritin degradation through the
      neutralization of lysosomal pH resulted in increased ferritin and enhanced
      cytoplasmic Fe(2+) depletion. Similarly, direct Fe(2+) chelation also resulted in
      aggravated Mn(2+)-mediated JNK phosphorylation, while Fe(2+) repletion protected
      cells, and this occurs via the ASK1-thioredoxin pathway. Taken together, our
      study presents the novel findings that Mn(2+) cytotoxicity involves the depletion
      of the cytoplasmic Fe(2+) pool, and the increase in autophagy-lysosome activity
      is important to maintain Fe(2+) homeostasis. Thus, Fe(2+) supplementation could
      have potential applications in the prevention and treatment of Mn(2+)-mediated
      toxicity. 

PMID- 26878800
TI  - Production, Characterization, and Epitope Mapping of Monoclonal Antibodies
      Against Different Subtypes of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV).
AB  - In 2010, a new rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) variant, designated RHDV2,
      was identified for the first time in Italy. Studies have shown that RHDV2 differs
      from RHDV1 (traditional RHDV) in terms of its antigenic profile and genetic
      characteristics. The VP60 protein of RHDV is a structural protein that plays
      important roles in viral replication, assembly, and immunogenicity. In this
      study, we immunized BALB/c mice with recombinant VP60 proteins from different
      RHDV subtypes. After three rounds of subcloning, type-specific positive hybridoma
      clones of RHDV1 and RHDV2 were further identified by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and an indirect immunofluorescence assay.
      Finally, three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (1D6, 1H2, and 3F2) that only
      recognize RHDV1, and four MAbs (1G2, 2C1, 3B7, and 5D6) that only recognize RHDV2
      were identified. The epitopes recognized by these MAbs were mapped by Western
      blotting. Sequence analysis showed that the epitope sequences recognized by 1D6,
      1H2, and 3F2 are highly conserved (98%) among RHDV1 strains, whereas the epitope
      sequences recognized by 1G2, 2C1, 3B7, and 5D6 are 100% conserved among RHDV2
      strains. The high conservation of the epitope sequence showed that the screened
      MAbs were type-specific, and that they could distinguish different RHDV subtypes.

PMID- 26878801
TI  - Are we failing to protect threatened mangroves in the Sundarbans world heritage
      ecosystem?
AB  - The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world, is under threat from
      historical and future human exploitation and sea level rise. Limited scientific
      knowledge on the spatial ecology of the mangroves in this world heritage
      ecosystem has been a major impediment to conservation efforts. Here, for the
      first time, we report on habitat suitability analyses and spatial density maps
      for the four most prominent mangrove species--Heritiera fomes, Excoecaria
      agallocha, Ceriops decandra and Xylocarpus mekongensis. Globally endangered H.
      fomes abundances declined as salinity increased. Responses to nutrients,
      elevation, and stem density varied between species. H. fomes and X. mekongensis
      preferred upstream habitats. E. agallocha and C. decandra preferred down-stream
      and mid-stream habitats. Historical harvesting had negative influences on H.
      fomes, C. decandra and X. mekongensis abundances. The established protected area
      network does not support the most suitable habitats of these threatened species.
      We therefore recommend a reconfiguration of the network to include these suitable
      habitats and ensure their immediate protection. These novel habitat insights and
      spatial predictions can form the basis for future forest studies and spatial
      conservation planning, and have implications for more effective conservation of
      the Sundarbans mangroves and the many other species that rely on them.

PMID- 26878802
TI  - Prostate cancer: The applicability of textural analysis of MRI for grading.

PMID- 26878804
TI  - Bladder cancer: Active surveillance for low-grade Ta bladder tumours.

PMID- 26878805
TI  - Bladder cancer: Urinary microRNA profiling for predicting UCB recurrence.

PMID- 26878803
TI  - Molecular mechanisms associated with diabetic endothelial-erectile dysfunction.
AB  - Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes, affecting up to
      75% of all diabetic men. Although the aetiology of diabetic ED is multifactorial,
      endothelial dysfunction is recognized as a mainstay in the pathophysiology of the
      disease. Endothelial dysfunction is induced by the detrimental actions of high
      glucose levels and increased oxidative stress on endothelial cells that make up
      the vascular lining. Besides directly injuring the endothelium, diabetes might
      also hamper vascular repair mechanisms of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. These
      states exacerbate and maintain endothelial dysfunction, impairing vasorelaxation
      events and cavernosal blood perfusion, which are crucial for normal erectile
      function. 

PMID- 26878806
TI  - Correlation Between Visual Inspection and Ultrasonography to Identify the Distal
      Branches of the Superficial Peroneal Nerve: A Cadaveric Study.
AB  - The anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) and, more precisely, of the
      distal branches of the SPN at the ankle has attracted interest owing to the
      possibility of injury when performing ankle arthroscopy. The anterolateral portal
      is one of the most commonly used portals in ankle arthroscopy, and the
      intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve can easily be injured during portal
      placement. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether visual
      inspection and palpation of the cutaneous nerves at the ankle differed from
      examination with ultrasonography and whether the 2 examination techniques
      correlated with the anatomic location of the SPN, which was verified by cadaver
      dissection. First, visual examination and palpation was performed to identify the
      SPN, after which 12 cadaver legs from separate specimens were examined with
      ultrasonography to mark the course of the SPN. We then measured the distance
      between the nerve as identified with gross visualization/palpation and ultrasound
      examination, and compared these with the precise location determined by anatomic
      dissection. The use of ultrasonography to determine the course of the SPN was
      good or excellent in 11 of the 12 legs (91.7%) studied. In contrast, gross
      visualization/palpation was good or excellent in 4 legs (33.3%). Excellent
      agreement was observed between the ultrasound markings and the anatomic
      dissection results. However, the visual examination poorly identified the course
      and the anatomic variations of the nerve branches evidenced in the anatomic
      dissection. From these findings in cadaver specimens, ultrasound identification
      of the SPN and its branches is likely preferable to gross visualization/palpation
      before placement of the anterolateral arthroscopic portal to the ankle. 

PMID- 26878807
TI  - A Commentary on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Superficial Peroneal (Fibular)
      Nerve Injury and Entrapment.

PMID- 26878808
TI  - Two-Pin Fixation of Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Fusion for Hammertoe
      Correction.
AB  - Single-pin external Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation has traditionally been a
      mainstay in proximal interphalangeal joint fusion for central hammertoe repair.
      Concerns over cosmesis, inconvenience, pin tract infection, hardware failure,
      nonunion, and early hardware removal have led to the development of implantable
      internal fixation devices. Although numerous implantable devices are now
      available and represent viable options for hammertoe repair, they are costly and
      often pose a challenge in the event removal becomes necessary. An alternative
      fixation option not typically used is a 2-pin K-wire fixation technique. The
      perceived advantage of obtaining 2 points of fixation compared with 1 across the
      fusion site is improved stability against the rotational and bending forces, thus
      decreasing the potential for pin-related complications. A retrospective
      assessment of 91 consecutive hammertoe repairs consisting of proximal
      interphalangeal joint fusion with 2-pin fixation in 60 patients was performed.
      The K-wires were removed at 6 weeks postoperatively, and the overall
      postoperative follow-up duration was 28.56 (range 1.40 to 86.83) months. Of the
      91 digits, 89 (98%) did not encounter a complication postoperatively and 2
      (2.20%) had sustained loosened or broken hardware. No postoperative infection was
      encountered. The low incidence of complications observed supports the 2-pin K
      wire fixation technique as a low-cost and viable construct for proximal
      interphalangeal joint fusion hammertoe repair. 

PMID- 26878810
TI  - Structural evolution and mechanical behaviour of Pt nanoparticle superlattices at
      high pressure.
AB  - High pressure is an effective means for tuning the interparticle distances of
      nanoparticle (NP) superlattices and thus for modifying their physical properties
      and functionalities. In this work, we determined the evolution of inter-NP
      distances of a Pt NP superlattice with increasing pressure using an in situ
      synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique in a diamond-anvil cell
      (DAC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the
      microstructures of pre- and post-compression samples. Our results demonstrate
      that the evolution of Pt NP assemblies with increasing pressure consists of four
      stages: (1) ligand elastic response, (2) uniform compression, (3) ligand
      detachment from NP surfaces, and (4) deviatoric compression of ligands between
      neighboring NPs. By controlling the magnitudes of applied pressure and deviatoric
      stress, one can sinter NPs into novel architectures such as nanowires and
      nanoceramics. 

PMID- 26878809
TI  - Acute Primary Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in the Epiphysis of the Distal Tibia: A
      Case Report With Review of the Literature.
AB  - Osteomyelitis originating in the epiphysis of the long bones is quite rare and is
      usually found at either the distal femur or the proximal tibia. We report the
      case of a 12-year-old male with epiphyseal osteomyelitis that had developed in
      the distal tibia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case
      report. The patient's history of a trauma that resembled an ankle sprain had
      delayed the diagnosis and subsequently led him to develop septic arthritis. The
      ankle is a common site of simple trauma; however, epiphyseal osteomyelitis is
      rare at this site. Therefore, if the symptoms continue or worsen after trauma,
      the clinician should check the affected site and take a more aggressive approach
      to make an early diagnosis. 

PMID- 26878811
TI  - Intramolecular charge transfer in aminobenzonitriles and tetrafluoro
      counterparts: fluorescence explained by competition between low lying excited
      states and radiationless deactivation. Part II: influence of substitution on
      luminescence patterns.
AB  - In this paper, we study the mechanisms of charge transfer, luminescence and
      radiationless decay of three derivatives of 4-aminobenzonitrile (ABN): dimethyl
      ABN (DMABN) and the tetrafluorinated derivatives, ABN-4F and DMABN-4F. Our
      CASSCF/CASPT2 computations explain the different luminescence patterns observed
      in these three compounds and in comparison with the parent system, ABN, in spite
      of their similar architecture. We have found that the modifications made by the
      different substitutions in ABN tune the relative energies of the locally excited
      (LE) and charge transfer (CT) excited states due to electronic and structural
      factors. In all cases, the only potentially emitting species of CT character is
      the twisted-ICT. The increasing stabilization of this later species in the series
      formed by ABN-4F, DMABN and DMABN-4F explains the increasing intensity of the
      anomalous emission band in these compounds. Nevertheless, other factors like
      probability of emission vs. nonradiative decay must have also been taken into
      account. In fact fluoro-substitution increases the accessibility to conical
      intersections of the excited states with the ground state, opening an internal
      conversion channel that decreases the fluorescence quantum yield in the
      fluorinated derivatives. Our results also show that the involvement of the pi
      sigma* state in the CT process is only possible in ABN-4F, but even in this case
      it is not probable. 

PMID- 26878812
TI  - Erythrocytes and their role as health indicator: Using structure in a patient
      orientated precision medicine approach.
AB  - The relevance of erythrocyte light microscopy analysis (a well-known
      haematological method) is under the spotlight, however there is a place for
      innovative electron microscopy, (together with biochemical markers) in a
      pathology laboratory. Inflammation is a key indicator of the health status and
      erythrocytes are extremely sensitive to oxidative stress or cytokine
      upregulation, which typically accompany systemic inflammation in most diseases.
      They are probably the most adaptable cells, and due to their short lifespan, may
      form a vital indicator of health, and could play a central part in tracking
      disease and treatment. As the NIH is proposing a precision medicine approach and
      because individualised medicine should form an essential part in diagnosis and
      treatment, biophysical combined with biochemical analysis of erythrocytes may be
      a novel method to track the inflammatory status before and after treatment. This
      will allow a fully individualised patient orientated precision medicine approach,
      where one-medication-regime-fits-all is no longer appropriate.

PMID- 26878814
TI  - The Evans Aldol-Prins cyclization: a general and stereoselective method for the
      synthesis of 2,3,4,5,6-pentasubstituted tetrahydropyrans.
AB  - A general and stereoselective method to synthesize 2,3,4,5,6-pentasubstituted
      tetrahydropyrans in three steps starting from three different aldehydes is
      described. Key substrates beta,gamma-unsaturated N-acyloxazolidin-2-ones were
      subjected to an "Evans Aldol-Prins" protocol to generate five sigma-bonds and
      five stereocenters in only a one-pot process with yields up to 60% and excellent
      stereoselectivities. 

PMID- 26878813
TI  - Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: The 2014 Practice Analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Practice research serves as the certification framework for
      validating advanced practice roles and updating national qualifying examinations.
      This national study describes the current practice of the acute care pediatric
      nurse practitioner (AC PNP) to inform an update of the Certified Pediatric Nurse
      Practitioner-Acute Care (CPNP-AC) examination content outline. METHOD: A
      descriptive analysis was performed of the responses of 319 pediatric nurse
      practitioners, practicing in an acute care role, who completed a practice survey
      in 2014. RESULTS: Respondents were primarily White women with a mean age of 40
      years; 75% had been formally educated as AC PNPs, compared with 48% in 2009.
      Regional practice was most heavily concentrated in the Southeast (28%) and
      Midwest (27%). Most respondents (81%) practiced in urban areas. Respondents
      reported spending 75% of practice time in inpatient settings. The most frequently
      cited areas of practice were critical care (36%), followed by emergency
      department (9%) and subspecialty practices. DISCUSSION: This third analysis of AC
      PNP practice 10 years after initiation of the CPNP-AC certification examination
      demonstrates changes in clinical practice and educational preparation.

PMID- 26878817
TI  - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and computerized tomography perfusion imaging of a
      liver fibrosis-early cirrhosis in dogs.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: To assess liver fibrosis stages in a liver fibrosis-early
      cirrhosis model in dogs, the clinical efficiency of contrast-enhanced ultrasound
      (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging were compared. METHODS:
      Hepatic vein arriving time (HVAT), hepatic artery arriving time, and hepatic
      artery to vein transit time (HA-VTT) were measured on CEUS. Total liver perfusion
      (TLP), portal vein perfusion (PVP), hepatic artery perfusion, and hepatic
      perfusion index (HPI) were measured on CT perfusion imaging. Histologic
      examination of liver specimens of the animals was performed to assess the
      fibrosis stage. RESULTS: For assessment of liver fibrosis, the area under the
      receiver operating characteristic curve of CEUS indexes HVAT and HA-VTT were
      0.865 and 0.930, respectively; the perfusion CT indexes TLP, PVP, and HPI were
      0.797, 0.800, and 0.220, respectively; the serological index hyaluronic acid was
      0.793. While for assessment of early cirrhosis, the area under the receiver
      operating characteristic curve of CEUS indexes HVAT and HA-VTT were 0.915 and
      0.948, respectively; the perfusion CT indexes TLP, PVP, and HPI were 0.737,
      0.765, and 0.218, respectively; the serological index hyaluronic acid was 0.627.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that both CEUS and CT perfusion imaging have the
      potential to be complementary imaging tools in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.
      While CEUS is the better choice and the index HA-VTT can be considered as non
      invasive semi-quantitative indexes for diagnosing liver fibrosis and early
      cirrhosis.

PMID- 26878818
TI  - The 'Leaky Pipeline'.
AB  - Gender bias is widespread and needs to be acknowledged and addressed by the
      scientific community. In this Guest Editorial, M. Resmini, Professor of Materials
      Chemistry at the Queen Mary University of London, describes how supervisors can
      play an important role in addressing the 'leaky pipeline', namely, the
      progressive loss of capable women from STEM disciplines.

PMID- 26878816
TI  - Initial varus displacement of proximal humerus fractures results in similar
      function but higher complication rates.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of initial varus or valgus surgical neck
      alignment on outcomes of patients who sustained proximal humerus fractures
      treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). METHODS: An
      institutional review board approved database of proximal humerus fractures
      treated with locked plates was reviewed. Of 185 fractures in the database, 101
      fractures were identified and met inclusion criteria. Initial varus displacement
      was seen in 47 fractures (OTA types 11.A2.2, A3.1, A3.3, B1.2, B2.2, C1.2, C2.2,
      or C2.3) and initial valgus displacement was observed in 54 fractures (OTA types
      11.A2.3, B1.1, C1.1, or C2.1). All patients were treated in a similar manner and
      examined by the treating physician at standard intervals. Functional outcomes
      were quantified via the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH)
      questionnaire and physical examination data at 12 months. Radiographs were
      reviewed for complications of healing. Additionally, complication rate and
      reoperation rate were investigated. RESULTS: Patients who presented with initial
      varus displacement had an average age of 59.3 years, while patients in the valgus
      group had an average age of 62.4 years. Overall, there was no statistically
      significant difference in age, sex distribution, BMI, fracture parts, screws
      used, or implant plate type between the two groups. At a minimum 12 months follow
      up, there was no significant difference in DASH scores between those presenting
      with varus versus valgus fracture patterns. In addition, no significant
      differences were seen in final shoulder range of motion in any plane. Overall, 30
      patients included in this study developed a complication. A significantly greater
      number of patients in the initial varus cohort developed complications (40.4%),
      as compared to 20.3% of patients in the initial valgus cohort (P=0.03). Fourteen
      patients in this study underwent reoperation. Nine of these patients were in the
      varus cohort, while 5 were in the valgus cohort (P=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: In this
      study, initial surgical neck displacement in varus or valgus was found to not
      significantly affect functional outcome. Based upon our findings, patients with
      varus displaced proximal humerus fractures are at a greater risk of developing
      postoperative complications than those who present with initial valgus displaced
      fracture patterns.

PMID- 26878815
TI  - Longitudinal Measurements of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Parkinson's
      Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cerebrospinal
      fluid (CSF) levels of tau, phosphorylated tau, beta-amyloid42 , alpha-synuclein,
      neurofilament light, and YKL-40 change over time and if changes correlate with
      motor progression and/or cognitive decline in patients with PD and controls.
      METHODS: We included 63 patients with PD (nondemented) and 21 neurologically
      healthy controls from the prospective and longitudinal Swedish BioFINDER study,
      all of whom had clinical assessments and lumbar punctures at baseline and after 2
      years. RESULTS: CSF tau levels correlated strongly with alpha-synuclein. The
      levels of CSF alpha-synuclein, tau, phosphorylated tau, neurofilament light, and
      YKL-40, but not beta-amyloid42 , increased in CSF over 2 years in PD. No changes
      were seen in the control group. Studying patients with a short disease duration (
      <= 5 years) and patients with a long disease duration ( > 5 years) separately,
      alpha-synuclein and tau only increased in the PD group with long disease
      duration. In the PD group, an increase in phosphorylated tau over 2 years
      correlated with faster motor progression and faster cognitive decline. An
      increase in YKL-40 over 2 years correlated with faster cognitive decline.
      CONCLUSION: CSF biomarkers reflecting Lewy body pathology and neurodegeneration
      (alpha-synuclein), neuronal degeneration (tau, phosphorylated tau, and
      neurofilament light), and inflammation (YKL-40) increase significantly over 2
      years in PD. CSF levels of alpha-synuclein and tau correlate and remain stable in
      the early symptomatic phase of PD but increase in the later phase. We hypothesize
      that CSF alpha-synuclein levels might increase as a result of more intense
      neurodegeneration in PD with long disease duration. (c) 2016 The Authors.
      Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of
      International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26878819
TI  - International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis
      Executive Summary.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The body of knowledge regarding rhinosinusitis (RS) continues to
      expand, with rapid growth in number of publications yet substantial variability
      in the quality of those presentations. In an effort to both consolidate and
      critically appraise this information, rhinologic experts from around the world
      have produced the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology:
      Rhinosinusitis (ICAR:RS). This executive summary consolidates the findings of the
      ICAR:RS document. METHODS: ICAR:RS presents over 140 topics in the forms of
      evidence-based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs) and evidence-based reviews
      (EBR). The structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this
      executive summary. RESULTS: This summary compiles the EBRRs regarding medical and
      surgical management of acute RS (ARS) and chronic RS with and without nasal
      polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP). CONCLUSION: This ICAR:RS Executive Summary provides a
      compilation of the evidence-based recommendations for medical and surgical
      treatment of the most common forms of RS.

PMID- 26878820
TI  - Hierarchically structured activated carbon for ultracapacitors.
AB  - To resolve the pore-associated bottleneck problem observed in the electrode
      materials used for ultracapacitors, which inhibits the transport of the
      electrolyte ions, we designed hierarchically structured activated carbon (HAC) by
      synthesizing a mesoporous silica template/carbon composite and chemically
      activating it to simultaneously remove the silica template and increase the pore
      volume. The resulting HAC had a well-designed, unique porous structure, which
      allowed for large interfaces for efficient electric double-layer formation. Given
      the unique characteristics of the HAC, we believe that the developed synthesis
      strategy provides important insights into the design and fabrication of
      hierarchical carbon nanostructures. The HAC, which had a specific surface area of
      1,957 m(2) g(-1), exhibited an extremely high specific capacitance of 157 F g(-1)
      (95 F cc(-1)), as well as a high rate capability. This indicated that it had
      superior energy storage capability and was thus suitable for use in advanced
      ultracapacitors. 

PMID- 26878822
TI  - Palladium-Catalyzed, tert-Butyllithium-Mediated Dimerization of Aryl Halides and
      Its Application in the Atropselective Total Synthesis of Mastigophorene A.
AB  - A palladium-catalyzed direct synthesis of symmetric biaryl compounds from aryl
      halides in the presence of tBuLi is described. In situ lithium-halogen exchange
      generates the corresponding aryl lithium reagent, which undergoes a homocoupling
      reaction with a second molecule of the aryl halide in the presence of the
      palladium catalyst (1 mol %). The reaction takes place at room temperature, is
      fast (1 h), and affords the corresponding biaryl compounds in good to excellent
      yields. The application of the method is demonstrated in an efficient asymmetric
      total synthesis of mastigophorene A. The chiral biaryl axis is constructed with
      an atropselectivity of 9:1 owing to catalyst-induced remote point-to-axial
      chirality transfer.

PMID- 26878823
TI  - Hydride Reduction by a Sodium Hydride-Iodide Composite.
AB  - Sodium hydride (NaH) is widely used as a Bronsted base in chemical synthesis and
      reacts with various Bronsted acids, whereas it rarely behaves as a reducing
      reagent through delivery of the hydride to polar pi electrophiles. This study
      presents a series of reduction reactions of nitriles, amides, and imines as
      enabled by NaH in the presence of LiI or NaI. This remarkably simple protocol
      endows NaH with unprecedented and unique hydride-donor chemical reactivity. 

PMID- 26878824
TI  - A pilot study of traditional indoor biomass cooking and heating in rural Bhutan:
      gas and particle concentrations and emission rates.
AB  - Although many studies have reported the health effects of biomass fuels in
      developing countries, relatively few have quantitatively characterized emissions
      from biomass stoves during cooking and heating. The aim of this pilot study was
      to characterize the emission characteristics of different biomass stoves in four
      rural houses in Bhutan during heating (metal chimney stove), rice cooking
      (traditional mud stove), fodder preparation (stone tripod stove), and liquor
      distillation (traditional mud stove). Three stage measurements (before, during,
      and after the activity had ceased) were conducted for PM2.5 , particle number
      (PN), CO, and CO2 . When stoves were operated, the pollutant concentrations were
      significantly elevated above background levels, by an average of 40 and 18 times
      for PM2.5 and CO, respectively. Emission rates (mg/min) ranged from 1.07 * 102
      (PM2.5 ) and 3.50 * 102 (CO) for the stone tripod stove during fodder preparation
      to 6.20 * 102 (PM2.5 ) and 2.22 * 103 (CO) for the traditional mud stove during
      liquor distillation. Usable PN data were only available for one house, during
      heating using a metal chimney stove, which presented an emission rate of 3.24 *
      1013 particles/min. Interventions to control household air pollution in Bhutan,
      in order to reduce the health risks associated with cooking and heating, are
      recommended.

PMID- 26878825
TI  - New Perspectives for Old Clusters: Anderson-Evans Anions as Building Blocks of
      Large Polyoxometalate Frameworks in a Series of Heterometallic 3 d-4 f Species.
AB  - A series of nine [Sb7W36O133Ln3M2(OAc)(H2O)8](17-) heterometallic anions (Ln3M2;
      Ln=La-Gd, M=Co; Ln=Ce, M=Ni and Zn) have been obtained by reacting 3 d metal
      disubstituted Krebs-type tungstoantimonates(III) with early lanthanides. Their
      unique tetrameric structure contains a novel {MW9O33} capping unit formed by a
      planar {MW6O24} fragment to which three {WO2} groups are condensed to form a
      tungstate skeleton identical to that of a hypothetical trilacunary derivative of
      the E-Keggin cluster. It is shown, for the first time, that classical Anderson
      Evans {MW6O24} anions can act as building blocks to construct purely inorganic
      large frameworks. Unprecedented reactivity in the outer ring of these disk-shaped
      species is also revealed. The Ln3M2 anions possess chirality owing to a {Sb4O4}
      cluster being encapsulated in left- or right-handed orientations. Their ability
      to self-associate in blackberry-type vesicles in solution has been assessed for
      the Ce3Co2 derivative.

PMID- 26878826
TI  - Efficacy of an ethanol/guar/triclosan/glycerine gel on bacteria and yeast loads
      in canine pododermatitis: a pilot study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess efficacy of a gel compound containing guar, glycerine,
      triclosan and ethanol (Pawcare(r), JOKER Technologies, Kerzers, Switzerland) in
      decreasing bacterial and yeast loads on the paws of dogs with erythematous,
      greasy and/or malodorous pododermatitis. METHODS: In 20 dogs, each with at least
      two affected paws, semiquantitative Malassezia species counts were performed on
      10 oil-immersion fields (range: 0 to 30) from acetate tapes pressed on the
      palmar/plantar surface of one paw. Half of the area was sampled before and the
      other half immediately after the application of Pawcare((r)) . With a similar
      procedure, swab samples were collected from the other paw for bacterial culture,
      identification and evaluation of colony-forming units before and immediately
      after treatment. Statistical evaluation of pre- and posttreatment counts was
      performed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Nine dogs were positive
      for Malassezia species Mean acetate tape preparation counts decreased
      significantly from 8.78 (+/-8.03) to 5.668 (+/-6.65) (P=0.0039) after treatment.
      Twenty-five bacterial isolates of 11 different species were cultured in 19 dogs.
      Posttreatment cultures were sterile in 8 dogs that had an initial zero or low
      number (1 to 2 log counts) of colony-forming units. In cases with a higher pre
      treatment number of colony forming units (2 to 6 log counts), there was a
      significant decrease - by a mean of 1.16 log counts (pre 3.12 +/-1.69, post 1.96
      +/-1.57) (P=0.0002). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of the present study
      support the use of PawCare(r) gel to decrease bacterial and yeast loads in dogs
      affected by chronic diseases involving the inter-digital spaces.

PMID- 26878828
TI  - Safety, tolerability, and outcomes of regular automated red cell exchange
      transfusion in the management of sickle cell disease.
AB  - We report here our experience with regular automated red cell exchange
      transfusion for the management of chronic complications of sickle cell disease in
      50 patients in our institution from June 2011 to December 2014. The mean sickle
      hemoglobin level was 44% and 8.5% pre- and post-transfusion, respectively.
      Platelets were reduced by a mean 70% during the procedure with a count of less
      than 50 * 109 /l in 6% of cases. The alloimmunization rate was 0.065/100 units of
      red cells with no hemolytic reactions. Patients with no iron overload at baseline
      showed no evidence of iron accumulation with a mean liver iron concentration of
      1.6 mg/g dry tissue and 1.9 mg/g dry tissue at baseline and 36 months,
      respectively. All six patients with pre-existing iron overload and on chelation
      therapy, showed a gradual reduction of their liver iron concentration and two
      patients could discontinue chelation during the follow-up period. Seventy
      percentage of patients who were on the programme for recurrent painful crises
      showed a sustained reduction in the number of emergency hospital attendances; the
      mean number of days in hospital for emergency treatment was 103 in the year prior
      to commencing ARCET and reduced to 62 (40%) after the first 12 months, 51 (50%)
      after 24 months, and 35 days (66%) after 36 months. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:545
      550, 2016. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878827
TI  - Nalbuphine and butorphanol reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression but
      increase arousal in etorphine-immobilized goats (Capra hircus).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of two opioid agonist
      antagonists, nalbuphine and butorphanol, in reversing etorphine-induced
      respiratory depression in immobilized goats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective,
      crossover, experimental trial conducted at 1753 m.a.s.l. ANIMALS: Eight adult
      female Boer goats (Capra hircus). METHODS: Eight minutes following immobilization
      with an intramuscular injection of 0.1 mg kg(-1) etorphine, goats were given one
      of nalbuphine (0.8 mg kg(-1) ), butorphanol (0.1 mg kg(-1) ) or sterile water
      intravenously, in random order in three trials. Respiratory rate (fR ),
      ventilation, tidal volume, oxygen consumption (VO2 ) and carbon dioxide
      production (VCO2 ) were measured continuously. Arterial blood samples to
      determine PaO2 and PaCO2 were taken 2 minutes before and at 5 minute intervals
      after etorphine administration for 25 minutes. RESULTS: Both nalbuphine and
      butorphanol increased mean PaO2 from 44 mmHg (5.9 kPa) to 63 mmHg (8.4 kPa) after
      etorphine administration. Butorphanol, but not nalbuphine, also corrected
      hypopnea and hypoventilation such that fR increased from 13 +/- 4 to 21 +/- 7
      breaths minute(-1) (compared with 16 +/- 6 breaths minute(-1) following
      nalbuphine) and ventilation increased from 4.69 +/- 3.04 to 6.91 +/- 4.42 L
      minute(-1) following butorphanol administration. Despite decreases in PaCO2
      following nalbuphine and butorphanol, PaCO2 remained elevated compared with pre
      immobilization values [nalbuphine: 34 +/- 3 mmHg (4.5 +/- 0.3 kPa); butorphanol:
      34 +/- 2 mmHg (4.5 +/- 0.3 kPa)] throughout the immobilization. Both agents also
      decreased the level of immobilization, and increased VO2 and VCO2 . CONCLUSIONS:
      Nalbuphine and butorphanol significantly improved respiratory function in
      immobilized goats, with butorphanol eliciting a greater positive response than
      nalbuphine. However, both opioid agonist-antagonists partly reversed etorphine
      induced immobilization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Butorphanol and nalbuphine can be
      used to improve respiratory parameters in etorphine-immobilized wildlife, with
      butorphanol being more effective, but unwanted arousal can occur.

PMID- 26878829
TI  - Imperfection works: Survival, transmission and persistence in the system of
      Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h), Microplitis similis and Spodoptera
      exigua.
AB  - Ascoviruses are insect-specific large DNA viruses that mainly infect noctuid
      larvae, and are transmitted by parasitoids in the fields. Heliothis virescens
      ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) has been recently isolated from Spodoptera exigua, without
      parasitoid vector identified previously. Here we report that Microplitis similis,
      a solitary endoparasitoid wasp, could transmit HvAV-3h between S. exigua larvae
      in the laboratory. When the female parasitoid wasp acquired the virus and served
      as a vector, the period of virion viability on the ovipositor was 4.1 +/- 1.4
      days. Infected host larvae were still acceptable for egg laying by parasitoids,
      and the parasitoids thereafter transmitted virus to healthy hosts. Virus
      acquisition occurred only from donor hosts between 3 and 9 days post infection.
      The peak of virus acquisition (80.9 +/- 6.3%) was found when M. similis wasps
      oviposited in larvae that had been inoculated with the virus 7 days previously.
      When virus infection of the host took place during the life cycle of the
      parasitoid wasp, it caused 1- to 4-day-old immature parasitoids death in the
      host, whilst a small proportion of 5- to 6-day-old and the majority of 7-day-old
      parasitoids larvae survived from the virus-infected hosts. Viral contamination
      did not reduce the life span or fecundity of female M. similis.

PMID- 26878830
TI  - Modulatory effects of the basolateral amygdala alpha2-adrenoceptors on nicotine
      induced anxiogenic-like behaviours of rats in the elevated plus maze.
AB  - The present study was designed to clarify whether alpha2-adrenoceptors of the
      basolateral amygdala (BLA) are involved in nicotine-induced anxiogenic-like
      behaviours. Adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally cannulated in the BLA and
      anxiety-like behaviours were assessed in an elevated plus maze (EPM) task.
      Systemic intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nicotine (0.3, 0.5 and 0.7
      mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased open arm time (%OAT) and open arm entry (%OAE),
      indicating the anxiogenic-like effect of nicotine. The activation of the BLA
      alpha2-adrenoceptors by the injection of alpha2-receptor agonist, clonidine (0.1,
      0.3 and 0.5 MUg/rat) into the BLA (intra-BLA) reversed nicotine-induced
      anxiogenic-like behaviours. It is important to note that intra-BLA injection of a
      higher dose of clonidine (0.5 MUg/rat) by itself increased %OAT, but not %OAE
      which showed an anxiolytic effect of the agonist. On the other hand, intra-BLA
      injection of different doses of alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine (1, 3
      and 5 MUg/rat) in combination with an ineffective dose of nicotine (0.3 mg/kg)
      decreased %OAT and %OAE, suggesting a potentiative effect of the antagonist on
      nicotine response. In addition, intra-BLA injection of the same doses of
      yohimbine did not alter %OAT and %OAE. Interestingly, intra-BLA injection of
      yohimbine (0.5 and 1 MUg/rat) significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of
      clonidine on nicotine-induced anxiogenic-like behaviours. It should be considered
      that the drug treatments had no effect on locomotor activity in all experiments.
      Taken together, it can be concluded that nicotine produces anxiogenic-like
      behaviours which may be mediated through the BLA alpha2-adrenoceptor mechanism.

PMID- 26878831
TI  - Strong pollinator-mediated selection for increased flower brightness and contrast
      in a deceptive orchid.
AB  - Contrasting flower color patterns that putatively attract or direct pollinators
      toward a reward are common among angiosperms. In the deceptive orchid Anacamptis
      morio, the lower petal, which makes up most of the floral display, has a light
      central patch with dark markings. Within populations, there is pronounced
      variation in petal brightness, patch size, amount of dark markings, and contrast
      between patch and petal margin. We tested whether pollinators mediate selection
      on these color traits and on morphology (plant height, number of flowers, corolla
      size, spur length), and whether selection is consistent with facilitated or
      negative frequency-dependent pollination. Pollinators mediated strong selection
      for increased petal brightness (Deltabetapoll = 0.42) and contrast (Deltabetapoll
      = 0.51). Pollinators also tended to mediate stabilizing selection on brightness
      (Deltagammapoll = -0.27, n.s.) favoring the most common phenotype in the
      population. Selection for reduced petal brightness among hand-pollinated plants
      indicated a fitness cost associated with brightness. The results demonstrate that
      flower color traits influence pollination success and seed production in A.
      morio, indicating that they affect attractiveness to pollinators, efficiency of
      pollen transfer, or both. The documented selection is consistent with facilitated
      pollination and selection for color convergence toward cooccurring rewarding
      species. 

PMID- 26878832
TI  - Glandular epithelial abnormalities on thinprep(r) pap tests: Clinical and
      cytohistologic correlation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of glandular epithelial abnormalities on
      cervical cytology is low, the clinical and histologic findings are often
      significant. The laboratory's 12-year experience is reported. METHODS: from
      January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2014, the Cytopathology Laboratory of the
      University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics processed 191,087 ThinPrep((r)) Pap
      Tests of which 184 (0.1%) were reported as glandular epithelial abnormalities.
      One hundred forty-three (78%) of these cases had histologic follow-up and form
      the basis of this study. Of the 143 women (mean age, 52; median, 50), 45%
      presented with vaginal bleeding and 55% were asymptomatic. The cytologic groups
      included atypical glandular cells, atypical glandular cells; favor a neoplastic
      process, atypical endocervical cells, atypical endocervical cells; favor a
      neoplastic process, endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ, atypical endometrial
      cells and adenocarcinoma, NOS. RESULTS: Overall, the histologic follow-up showed
      epithelial abnormalities including endometrial and endocervical carcinoma,
      endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ, CIN 3 involving endocervical glands and
      metastatic carcinoma in 78% of the cases. The diagnoses were age-dependent and
      influenced by clinical symptomatology. CONCLUSION: Glandular epithelial
      abnormalities on Pap tests warrant further clinical investigation.

PMID- 26878833
TI  - Spectroscopic Characterization and Reactivity of Triplet and Quintet Iron(IV) Oxo
      Complexes in the Gas Phase.
AB  - Closely structurally related triplet and quintet iron(IV) oxo complexes with a
      tetradentate aminopyridine ligand were generated in the gas phase,
      spectroscopically characterized, and their reactivities in hydrogen-transfer and
      oxygen-transfer reactions were compared. The spin states were unambiguously
      assigned based on helium tagging infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of the
      mass-selected iron complexes. It is shown that the stretching vibrations of the
      nitrate counterion can be used as a spectral marker of the central iron spin
      state. 

PMID- 26878834
TI  - The psychometric testing of the Nursing Teamwork Survey in Iceland.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Nursing
      Teamwork Survey-Icelandic (NTS-Icelandic), which was translated from US English
      to Icelandic. The Nursing Teamwork Survey, with 33 items, measures overall
      teamwork and five factors of teamwork: trust, team orientation, backup, shared
      mental models, and team leadership. The psychometric testing of the NTS-Icelandic
      was carried out on data from a pilot study and a national study. The sample for a
      pilot study included 123 nursing staff from five units, and the sample for a
      national study included 925 nursing staff from 27 inpatient units. The overall
      test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient in the pilot study was 0.693
      (lower bound = 0.498, upper bound = 0.821) (p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha
      reliability for the total scale and subscales ranged from 0.737 to 0.911. A
      confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit of the data from the national
      study with the five-factor model for nursing teamwork. The NTS-Icelandic tested
      valid and reliable in this study. Study findings support further use of the
      Nursing Teamwork Survey internationally. 

PMID- 26878835
TI  - The effects of cannabis intoxication on motor vehicle collision revisited and
      revised.
AB  - AIMS: To determine whether and to what extent acute cannabis intoxication
      increases motor vehicle crash risk. DESIGN: Study 1 replicates two published meta
      analyses, correcting for methodological shortcomings. Study 2 is an updated meta
      analysis using 28 estimates from 21 observational studies. These included studies
      from three earlier reviews, supplemented by results from a structured search in
      Web of Science and Google Scholar, and by the personal libraries of the research
      team. Risk estimates were combined using random-effects models and meta
      regression techniques. SETTING: Study 1 replicates the analysis of Asbridge et
      al., based on nine studies from five countries, published 1982-2007; and Li et
      al., based on nine studies from six countries, published 2001-10. Study 2
      involves studies from 13 countries published in the period 1982-2015.
      PARTICIPANTS: In study 1, total counts extracted totalled 50 877 (27 967 cases,
      22 910 controls) for Asbridge et al. and 93 229 (4236 cases and 88 993 controls)
      for Li et al. Study 2 used confounder-adjusted estimates where available
      (combined sample size of 222 511) and crude counts from the remainder (17 228
      total counts), giving a combined sample count of 239 739. MEASUREMENTS: Odds
      ratios (OR) were used from case-control studies and adjusted OR analogues from
      culpability studies. The impact of the substantial variation in confounder
      adjustment was explored in subsample analyses. FINDINGS: Study 1 substantially
      revises previous risk estimates downwards, with both the originally reported
      point estimates lying outside the revised confidence interval. Revised estimates
      were similar to those of study 2, which found cannabis-impaired driving
      associated with a statistically significant risk increase of low-to-moderate
      magnitude [random-effects model OR 1.36 (1.15-1.61), meta-regression OR 1.22 (1.1
      1.36)]. Subsample analyses found higher OR estimates for case-control studies,
      low study quality, limited control of confounders, medium-quality use data and
      not controlling for alcohol intoxication. CONCLUSIONS: Acute cannabis
      intoxication is associated with a statistically significant increase in motor
      vehicle crash risk. The increase is of low to medium magnitude. Remaining
      selection effects in the studies used may limit causal interpretation of the
      pooled estimates.

PMID- 26878836
TI  - Reducing the Cost and Preserving the Reactivity in Noble-Metal-Based Catalysts:
      Oxidation of CO by Pt and Al-Pt Alloy Clusters Supported on Graphene.
AB  - The oxidation mechanisms of CO to CO2 on graphene-supported Pt and Pt-Al alloy
      clusters are elucidated by reactive dynamical simulations. The general mechanism
      evidenced is a Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) pathway in which O2 is adsorbed on the
      cluster prior to the CO oxidation. The adsorbed O2 dissociates into two atomic
      oxygen atoms thus promoting the CO oxidation. Auxiliary simulations on alloy
      clusters in which other metals (Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni) replace a Pt atom have
      pointed to the aluminum doped cluster as a special case. In the nanoalloy, the
      reaction mechanism for CO oxidation is still a LH pathway with an activation
      barrier sufficiently low to be overcome at room temperature, thus preserving the
      catalyst efficiency. This provides a generalizable strategy for the design of
      efficient, yet sustainable, Pt-based catalysts at reduced cost. 

PMID- 26878837
TI  - Molecular Orbital Controlling Donor Moiety for High-Efficiency Thermally
      Activated Delayed Fluorescent Emitters.
AB  - A new donor moiety, 7,7,13,13-tetramethyl-7,13-dihydro-5H-indeno[1,2-b]acridine
      (IAc), was developed to control the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)
      dispersion of thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters. The IAc
      unit expanded the HOMO dispersion of the emitters and increased the quantum
      efficiency of the TADF devices up to 20.9 %. 

PMID- 26878838
TI  - A three-year follow-up of a nurse-led multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation
      programme in primary health care: a quasi-experimental study.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a nurse-led multidisciplinary
      pulmonary rehabilitation programme conducted in primary health care on functional
      capacity, quality of life and exacerbation frequency over three years among
      patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. BACKGROUND: Although Chronic
      Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a chronic respiratory disease, it has been
      established that pulmonary rehabilitation has positive effects on patients'
      everyday functioning. However, the duration of these functional improvements,
      especially when the rehabilitation programmes are provided in primary health care
      settings, remains to be established. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design. METHOD:
      Primary health care patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD
      stages II and III) were included; 49 in the intervention group and 54 in the
      control group. The intervention comprised a six-week pulmonary rehabilitation
      programme. Functional capacity was assessed using a six-minute walking test and
      quality of life by the Clinical COPD Questionnaire at baseline, after one year
      and three years. Exacerbation frequency was calculated from one year before to
      three years after the programme. RESULTS: No significant differences between the
      groups were observed in the six-minute walking-test or the Clinical COPD
      Questionnaire after one year and three years. On average, there were significant
      improvements in the six-minute walking-test and the Clinical COPD Questionnaire
      from baseline to the one-year follow-up. Exacerbation frequency tended to
      decrease in the intervention group and increase in the control group (interaction
      test was p = 0.091) but increased again in both groups after three years.
      CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of the benefit of the nurse-led
      multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation programme, although the exacerbation
      frequency tended to decrease in the intervention group after one year. There is a
      need for support and coaching at regular follow-ups in primary health care.
      RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: There is a need to support and coach patients
      with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in primary health care by means of
      regular follow-ups.

PMID- 26878839
TI  - Response to Association Between Preinfarction Angina and Angiographic Findings in
      Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

PMID- 26878840
TI  - Diagnostic and therapeutic features associated with modification of quality-of
      life's outcomes between one and six months after major surgery for head and neck
      cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Treatments used in head and neck cancer greatly impact the
      physical, psychological and functional state of patients. Evaluation of quality
      of life has become an integral part of the treatment. OBJECTIVE: This
      retrospective study evaluates features involved in changes in quality of life
      after major surgery for head and neck cancer within six months, according to self
      reported outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients completed the
      University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire one and six months after
      major surgery for head and neck cancer. A multivariate model was used to evaluate
      which diagnostic and therapeutic features were related to improvement of quality
      of life within a six-month period. RESULTS: Significant improvement in most
      features related to quality of life was already recognizable at six months.
      Patients submitted to more invasive treatment had the biggest improvement in
      quality of life between time-points, as well as those patients with bigger
      tumors. CONCLUSION: After major surgery, patients may undergo fast recovery, with
      overall quality of life likely to improve in the short-term. Clinicians must be
      aware of the importance of dealing with treatment-related issues immediately
      after surgery, with hopeful possibility of on-the-upgrade results.

PMID- 26878841
TI  - A newly discovered flavivirus in the yellow fever virus group displays restricted
      replication in vertebrates.
AB  - A novel flavivirus, provisionally named Bamaga virus (BgV), was isolated from
      Culex annulirostris mosquitoes collected from northern Australia. Phylogenetic
      analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of the BgV genome revealed it
      clustered with the yellow fever virus (YFV) group, and was most closely related
      to Edge Hill virus (EHV), another Australian flavivirus, with 61.9% nucleotide
      and 63.7% amino acid sequence identity. Antigenic analysis of the envelope and
      pre-membrane proteins of BgV further revealed epitopes common to EHV, dengue and
      other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. However, in contrast to these viruses, BgV
      displayed restricted growth in a range of vertebrate cell lines with no or
      relatively slow replication in inoculated cultures. There was also restricted BgV
      replication in virus-challenged mice. Our results indicate that BgV is an
      evolutionary divergent member of the YFV group of flaviviruses, and represents a
      novel system to study mechanisms of virus host-restriction and transmission.

PMID- 26878842
TI  - Why did the authors perform a meta-analysis of studies with primary endpoints
      they consider clinically unimportant?

PMID- 26878843
TI  - Role of a common variant of Fat Mass and Obesity associated (FTO) gene in obesity
      and coronary artery disease in subjects from Punjab, Pakistan: a case control
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The FTO gene has recently become one of the most extensively
      investigated genes associated with body mass and has been shown to play a role in
      cardiovascular diseases as well. The aim of the current study was to investigate
      the effect of a common variant of FTO gene, rs9939609 in obese and coronary heart
      disease (CHD) patients of Pakistan and investigate whether it has any influence
      on the serum biochemical parameters. METHODS: A total of 970 samples (295 obese,
      425 CHD and 250 controls) were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination
      assay. Serum total cholesterol, HDL-C and triglycerides were measured using
      spectrophotometric methods. LDL-C was calculated by Friedwalds equation.
      Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 22. RESULTS: Results showed
      moderately high minor allele frequency (MAF) in obese and CHD cases as compared
      to controls (obese = 0.381 CAD = 0.361 and controls = 0.286). The variant was
      significantly associated with obesity and CAD (obesity odds ratio (OR) = 1.54,
      confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-2.21, p = 0.0009; CHD OR = 1.43, CI = 1.02-2.01,
      p = 0.004) in Pakistan. The risk allele did not show a significant association
      with any of the lipid trait tested (p > 0.05) but a strong association was
      observed with plasma glucose levels (obese p = 0.001, CAD p = 0.014, controls p =
      0.019). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the variant was associated with obesity and
      CAD in the studied subjects and its possible effect may involve the blood sugar
      metabolism but not serum lipid chemistry.

PMID- 26878845
TI  - The efficacy of topical tranexamic acid in total hip arthroplasty: a meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Topical tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to be effective in
      reducing blood loss and the need for transfusion after total knee arthroplasty.
      However, the effectiveness of topical TXA use in total hip arthroplasty (THA)
      still remains unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the safety
      and efficacy of topical use of TXA following THA. HYPOTHESIS: Topical TXA reduces
      blood loss and transfusion rates without increasing risk of deep vein thrombosis
      in patients with THA. METHODS: An electronic literature search of PubMed, Embase,
      the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Chinese Biomedical Database was
      performed, to identify studies published before February 2015. All randomized
      controlled trials and cohort studies evaluating the efficacy of topical TXA
      during THA were included. Two independent authors identified the eligible
      studies, assessed their methodological quality, and extracted data. The data were
      using fixed-effects or random-effects models with (standard) mean differences and
      risk ratios for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Data were
      analysed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: Fourteen studies encompassing 2594
      patients met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis
      indicated that when compared with the placebo group, topical use of TXA
      significantly reduced total blood loss (MD = -297.65 ml, 95 % CI -371.68 ml,
      116.08 ml; P < 0.01), drainage loss (MD = -164.68 ml, 95 % CI -236.63 ml, -92.73
      ml; P < 0.01), transfusion rate (RR = 0.26, 95 % CI 0.17, 0.40; P < 0.01) and
      with less of a drop in haemoglobin level (SMD = -0.66, 95 % CI -0.91, -0.41; P <
      0.01) after primary THA. No significant difference in length of hospital stay (MD
      = -0.40, 95 % CI -0.91, 0.11; P = 0.14), deep vein thrombosis (RR = 1.19, 95 % CI
      0.40, 3.57; P = 0.16) and pulmonary embolism (RR = 1.11, 95 % CI 0.11, 10.81; P =
      0.21) among the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Topical TXA could significantly reduce
      total blood loss, drainage loss, transfusion rates and decrease haemoglobin level
      following THA, without increasing risk of venous thromboembolisms.

PMID- 26878846
TI  - The mechanism of high contents of oil and oleic acid revealed by transcriptomic
      and lipidomic analysis during embryogenesis in Carya cathayensis Sarg.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) accumulates more than 70% oil and
      90% unsaturated fatty acids with considerably high oleic acid in its mature
      embryo. The concurrent global trancriptomic and lipidomic analyses provided a
      framework for better understanding of glycerolipid biosynthesis and metabolism in
      the hickory nut. RESULTS: The synthetical regulation of numerous leading lipid
      related genes harmonized with the oil accumulation and fatty acid conversion in
      embryo development. The high level of ACCase correlated positively with fatty
      acids de novo synthesis, and the synergy of DGAT2 and PDAT promoted the TAG
      assembly, and oleosins, caleosins and steroleosins were transcribed considerably
      high for timely energy reserve in oil body. Glycolysis possibly provided
      sufficient precursors and energy for lipid synthesis. The perfect harmonization
      of the high level of SAD with low level of FAD2 facilitated the oleic acid
      accumulation. And the ratio of FATA/FATB or SAD/FATB was proposed for determining
      the saturated degree of oil. The gene multi-copy event was generated probably for
      accommodating various survival environments. A thermotolerant defense system
      including TAG hydrolysis determinants, heat shock proteins, and high ratio of
      MUFA to PUFA constrained the lipid degradation and provided a guarantee for high
      lipid content. A batch of potential genes recruited from the co-expression
      network helps us to understand the lipid synthesis and the response to high
      temperature better. CONCLUSIONS: The high transcriptional levels of key genes in
      lipid synthesis promoted the oil accumulation, and the harmonious expression of
      key ones for unsaturated fatty acids led oleic acid to high levels.

PMID- 26878847
TI  - Detection of pup odors by non-canonical adult vomeronasal neurons expressing an
      odorant receptor gene is influenced by sex and parenting status.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Olfaction is a fundamental sense through which most animals perceive
      the external world. The olfactory system detects odors via specialized sensory
      organs such as the main olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal organ. Sensory
      neurons in these organs use G-protein coupled receptors to detect chemosensory
      stimuli. The odorant receptor (OR) family is expressed in sensory neurons of the
      main olfactory epithelium, while the adult vomeronasal organ is thought to
      express other types of receptors. RESULTS: Here, we describe Olfr692, a member of
      the OR gene family identified by next-generation RNA sequencing, which is highly
      upregulated and non-canonically expressed in the vomeronasal organ. We show that
      neurons expressing this gene are activated by odors emanating from pups.
      Surprisingly, activity in Olfr692-positive cells is sexually dimorphic, being
      very low in females. Our results also show that juvenile odors activate a large
      number of Olfr692 vomeronasal neurons in virgin males, which is correlated with
      the display of infanticide behavior. . In contrast, activity substantially
      decreases in parenting males (fathers), where infanticidal aggressive behavior is
      not frequently observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results describe, for the first time, a
      sensory neural population with a specific molecular identity involved in the
      detection of pup odors. Moreover, it is one of the first reports of a group of
      sensory neurons the activity of which is sexually dimorphic and depends on social
      status. Our data suggest that the Olfr692 population is involved in mediating pup
      oriented behaviors in mice.

PMID- 26878848
TI  - Region-specific role of growth differentiation factor-5 in the establishment of
      sympathetic innervation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the prototypical target-derived
      neurotrophic factor required for sympathetic neuron survival and for the growth
      and ramification of sympathetic axons within most but not all sympathetic
      targets. This implies the operation of additional target-derived factors for
      regulating terminal sympathetic axon growth and branching. RESULTS: Here report
      that growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5), a widely expressed member of the
      transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily required for limb
      development, promoted axon growth from mouse superior cervical ganglion (SCG)
      neurons independently of NGF and enhanced axon growth in combination with NGF.
      GDF5 had no effect on neuronal survival and influenced axon growth during a
      narrow window of postnatal development when sympathetic axons are ramifying
      extensively in their targets in vivo. SCG neurons expressed all receptors capable
      of participating in GDF5 signaling at this stage of development. Using
      compartment cultures, we demonstrated that GDF5 exerted its growth promoting
      effect by acting directly on axons and by initiating retrograde canonical Smad
      signalling to the nucleus. GDF5 is synthesized in sympathetic targets, and
      examination of several anatomically circumscribed tissues in Gdf5 null mice
      revealed regional deficits in sympathetic innervation. There was a marked, highly
      significant reduction in the sympathetic innervation density of the iris, a
      smaller though significant reduction in the trachea, but no reduction in the
      submandibular salivary gland. There was no reduction in the number of neurons in
      the SCG. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that GDF5 is a novel target-derived
      factor that promotes sympathetic axon growth and branching and makes a
      distinctive regional contribution to the establishment of sympathetic
      innervation, but unlike NGF, plays no role in regulating sympathetic neuron
      survival.

PMID- 26878850
TI  - Correlation of alpha angle between various radiographic projections and radial
      magnetic resonance imaging for cam deformity in femoral head-neck junction.
AB  - PURPOSE: Radial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) along the axis of the femoral
      head neck is the gold standard for detection of cam deformity of the proximal
      femur. This study was performed to identify which plain radiographic projection
      was best correlated with radial MRI. METHODS: Five different plain radiographic
      projections and 18 slices of radial MRI were applied to 35 consecutive hips with
      groin pain and positive impingement sign. Alpha angles were measured to detect
      the asphericity of the femoral head-neck junction in all images. Radiographs were
      taken in anteroposterior pelvis, cross-table lateral, 90 degrees  Dunn, 45
      degrees  Dunn and modified 45 degrees  Dunn views. Pearson's correlation
      coefficients were determined to assess the association between the alpha angle
      obtained from radial MRI and each radiographic technique. The sensitivity,
      specificity, positive and positive predictive values and accuracy of plain
      radiographic alpha angle measurements were assessed using a threshold alpha angle
      value of 50.5 degrees  for cam deformity. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation
      coefficients in the alpha angle values between MRI and plain radiographic
      projections were 0.45, 0.70, 0.62, 0.81 and 0.69 for the anteroposterior pelvis,
      cross-table lateral, 90 degrees  Dunn, 45 degrees  Dunn and modified 45 degrees 
      Dunn views, respectively. In terms of sensitivity and accuracy, the 45 degrees 
      Dunn view had the greatest values. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha angle of the 45 degrees 
      Dunn view was best correlated with that of radial MRI. The 45 degrees  Dunn view
      had better sensitivity and accuracy than other radiographic projections. The 45
      degrees  Dunn view may be preferable for screening of cam deformity. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: II.

PMID- 26878849
TI  - Resveratrol Protects against Titanium Particle-Induced Aseptic Loosening Through
      Reduction of Oxidative Stress and Inactivation of NF-kappaB.
AB  - Aseptic implant loosening is closely associated with chronic inflammation induced
      by implant wear debris, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role
      in this process. Resveratrol, a plant compound, has been reported to act as an
      antioxidant in many inflammatory conditions; however, its protective effect and
      mechanism against wear particle-induced oxidative stress remain unknown. In this
      study, we evaluated resveratrol's protective effects against wear particle
      induced oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 macrophages. At non-toxic concentrations,
      resveratrol showed dose-dependent inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, ROS
      generation, and lipid peroxidation. It also downregulated the gene expression of
      oxidative enzymes, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and
      nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX)-1 and NOX-2,
      and promoted the gene expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes, including
      catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and
      glutathione peroxidase (GPx). This protective effect against wear particle
      induced oxidative stress was accompanied by a reduction of gene expression and
      release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and decreased gene expression
      and phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B
      cells (NF-kappaB). These findings demonstrate that resveratrol can inhibit wear
      particle-induced oxidative stress in macrophages, and may exert its antioxidant
      effect and protect against aseptic implant loosening. 

PMID- 26878851
TI  - Biomechanical stability of tape augmentation for anterior talofibular ligament
      (ATFL) repair compared to the native ATFL.
AB  - PURPOSE: Current methods of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) reconstruction
      fail to restore the stability of the native ATFL. Therefore, augmented anatomic
      ATFL reconstruction gained popularity in patients with attenuated tissue and
      additional stress on the lateral ankle ligament complex. The aim of the present
      study was to evaluate the biomechanical stability of the InternalBrace (Arthrex
      Inc., Naples, FL, USA), a tape augmentation designed to augment the traditional
      Brostrom procedure. METHODS: Twelve (12) fresh-frozen human anatomic lower leg
      specimens were randomized into two groups: a native ATFL (ATFL) and a tape
      augmentation group (IB). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were
      carried out to determine bone mineral density (BMD) of the specimens. The
      ligaments were stressed by internally rotating the tibia against the inverted
      fixated hindfoot. Torque at failure (Nm) and angle at failure ( degrees ) were
      recorded. RESULTS: The ATFL group failed at an angle of 33 +/- 10 degrees . In
      the IB group, construct failure occurred at an angle of 46 +/- 16 degrees .
      Failure torque reached 8.3 +/- 4.5 Nm in the ATFL group, whereas the IB group
      achieved 11.2 +/- 7.1 Nm. There was no correlation between angle at ATFL or IB
      construct failure or torque at failure, respectively, and BMD for both groups.
      CONCLUSION: This study reveals that tape augmentation for ATFL reconstruction
      shows similar biomechanical stability compared to an intact native ATFL in terms
      of torque at failure and angle at failure. BMD did not influence the construct
      stability. Tape augmentation proved an enhanced initial stability in ATFL
      reconstruction which may allow for an accelerated rehabilitation process. LEVEL
      OF EVIDENCE: II.

PMID- 26878852
TI  - Complete 1H, 15N and 13C assignment of trappin-2 and 1H assignment of its two
      domains, elafin and cementoin.
AB  - Trappin-2 is a serine protease inhibitor with a very narrow inhibitory spectrum
      and has significant anti-microbial activities. It is a 10 kDa cationic protein
      composed of two distinct domains. The N-terminal domain (38 residues) named
      cementoin is known to be intrinsically disordered when it is not linked to the
      elafin. The C-terminal domain (57 residues), corresponding to elafin, is a
      cysteine-rich domain stabilized by four disulfide bridges and is characterized by
      a flat core and a flexible N-terminal part. To our knowledge, there is no
      structural data available on trappin-2. We report here the complete (1)H, (15)N
      and (13)C resonance assignment of the recombinant trappin-2 and the (1)H
      assignments of cementoin and elafin, under the same experimental conditions. This
      is the first step towards the 3D structure determination of the trappin-2.

PMID- 26878853
TI  - Backbone resonance assignments for the PHD-Bromo dual-domain of the human
      chromatin reader TRIM24.
AB  - Plant homeodomains (PHD) and Bromo domains are both chromatin reader domains that
      recognise histone methylation degree and acetylation state, respectively. The
      tripartite motif protein TRIM24 is a multidomain protein carrying a PHD-Bromo
      motif at its C-terminus, through which it is able to bind to histone 3 (H3) N
      terminal tails with a specific modification pattern, namely unmethylated at K4
      and acetylated at K23 (H3-K4me0K23ac). Here we report the 1H, 13C and 15N
      backbone resonance assignment of this 23 kDa motif, which we have obtained by
      heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore we show that the
      secondary Calpha and Cbeta chemical shifts are in good agreement with a
      previously published crystal structure.

PMID- 26878855
TI  - In silico analysis of Mn transporters (NRAMP1) in various plant species.
AB  - Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient in plant life cycle. It may be
      involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate and lipid biosynthesis, and oxidative
      stress protection. Mn deficiency inhibits the plant growth and development, and
      causes the various plant symptoms such as interveinal chlorosis and tissue
      necrosis. Despite its importance in plant life cycle, we still have limited
      knowledge about Mn transporters in many plant species. Therefore, this study
      aimed to identify and characterize high affinity Arabidopsis Mn root transporter
      NRAMP1 orthologs in 17 different plant species. Various in silico methods and
      digital gene expression data were used in identification and characterization of
      NRAMP1 homologs; physico-chemical properties of sequences were calculated,
      putative transmembrane domains (TMDs) and conserved motif signatures were
      determined, phylogenetic tree was constructed, 3D models and interactome map were
      generated, and gene expression data was analyzed. 49 NRAMP1 homologs were
      identified from proteome datasets of 17 plant species using AtNRAMP1 as query.
      Identified sequences were characterized with a NRAMP domain structure, 10-12
      putative TMDs with cytosolic N- and C-terminuses, and 10-14 exons encoding a
      protein of 500-588 amino acids and 53.8-64.3 kDa molecular weight with basic
      characteristics. Consensus transport residues,
      GQSSTITGTYAGQY(/F)V(/I)MQGFLD(/E/N) between TMD-8 and 9 were identified in all
      sequences but putative N-linked glycosylation sites were not highly conserved. In
      phylogeny, NRAMP1 sequences demonstrated divergence in lower and higher plants as
      well as in monocots and dicots. Despite divergence of lower plant Physcomitrella
      patens in phylogeny, it showed similarity in superposed 3D models. Phylogenetic
      distribution of AtNRAMP1 and 6 homologs inferred a functional relationship to
      NRAMP6 sequences in Mn transport, while distribution of OsNRAMP1 and 5 homologs
      implicated an involvement of NRAMP1 sequences in Mn transport or a cross-talk
      between in Fe-Mn homeostasis. Interactome analysis further confirmed this cross
      talk between Mn and Fe pathways. Gene expression profile of AtNRAMP1 under Fe-, K
      , P- and S-deficiencies, and cold, drought, heat and salt stresses revealed
      various proteins involving in transcription regulation, cofactor biosynthesis,
      diverse developmental roles, carbohydrate metabolism, oxidation-reduction
      reactions, cellular signaling and protein degradation pathways. Mn deficiency or
      toxicity could cause serious adverse effects in plants as well as in humans. To
      reduce these adversities mainly rely on understanding the molecular mechanisms
      underlying Mn uptake from the soil. However, we still have limited knowledge
      regarding the structural and functional roles of Mn transporters in many plant
      species. Therefore, identification and characterization of Mn root uptake
      transporter, NRAMP1 orthologs in various plant species will provide valuable
      theoretical knowledge to better understand Mn transporters as well as it may
      become an insight for future studies aiming to develop genetically engineered and
      biofortified plants.

PMID- 26878856
TI  - Possible involvement of miRNAs in tropism of Parvovirus B19.
AB  - Human Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is one of the most important pathogens that targets
      erythroid lineage. Many factors were mentioned for restriction to erythroid
      progenitor cells (EPCs). Previous studies showed that in non-permissive cells VP1
      and VP2 (structural proteins) mRNAs were detected but could not translate to
      proteins. A bioinformatics study showed that this inhibition might be due to
      specific microRNAs (miRNAs) present in non-permissive cells but not in permissive
      EPCs. To confirm the hypothesis, we evaluated the effect of miRNAs on VP
      expression. CD34(+) HSCs were separated from cord blood. Then, CD34(+) cells were
      treated with differentiation medium to obtain CD36(+) EPCs. To evaluate the
      effect of miRNAs on VP expression in MCF7 and HEK-293 cell lines (non-permissive
      cells) and CD36(+) EPCs, dual luciferase assay was performed in presence of
      shRNAs against Dicer and Drosha to disrupt miRNA biogenesis. QRT-PCR was
      performed to check down-regulation of Dicer and Drosha after transfection. All
      measurements were done in triplicate. Data means were compared using one-way
      ANOVAs. MicroRNA prediction was done by the online microRNA prediction tools. No
      significant difference was shown in luciferase activity of CD36(+) EPCs after co
      transfection with shRNAs, while it was significant in non-permissive cells. Our
      study revealed that miRNAs may be involved in inhibition of VP expression in non
      permissive cells, although further studies are required to demonstrate which
      miRNAs exactly are involved in regulation of PVB19 replication. 

PMID- 26878858
TI  - Internal bone transport using a cannulated screw as a mounting device in the
      treatment of a post-infective ulnar defect.
AB  - Bone transport techniques can be used to address the segmental bone loss
      occurring after debridement for infection. Secure fixation of the bone transport
      construct to the bone transport segment can be challenging, particularly if the
      bone is small and osteopenic. We report a case of a segmental ulnar bone defect
      in a young child treated with internal bone transport using a cannulated screw as
      the mounting device. We found this technique particularly useful in the treatment
      of bone loss secondary to infection, where previous treatment and prolonged
      immobilisation had led to osteopenia. This technique has not been previously
      reported. 

PMID- 26878857
TI  - Genomics and relative expression analysis identifies key genes associated with
      high female to male flower ratio in Jatropha curcas L.
AB  - Jatropha curcas, has been projected as a major source of biodiesel due to high
      seed oil content (42 %). A major roadblock for commercialization of Jatropha
      based biodiesel is low seed yield per inflorescence, which is affected by low
      female to male flower ratio (1:25-30). Molecular dissection of female flower
      development by analyzing genes involved in phase transitions and floral organ
      development is, therefore, crucial for increasing seed yield. Expression analysis
      of 42 genes implicated in floral organ development and sex determination was done
      at six floral developmental stages of a J. curcas genotype (IC561235) with
      inherently higher female to male flower ratio (1:8-10). Relative expression
      analysis of these genes was done on low ratio genotype. Genes TFL1, SUP, AP1,
      CRY2, CUC2, CKX1, TAA1 and PIN1 were associated with reproductive phase
      transition. Further, genes CUC2, TAA1, CKX1 and PIN1 were associated with female
      flowering while SUP and CRY2 in female flower transition. Relative expression of
      these genes with respect to low female flower ratio genotype showed up to ~7
      folds increase in transcript abundance of SUP, TAA1, CRY2 and CKX1 genes in
      intermediate buds but not a significant increase (~1.25 folds) in female flowers,
      thereby suggesting that these genes possibly play a significant role in increased
      transition towards female flowering by promoting abortion of male flower
      primordia. The outcome of study has implications in feedstock improvement of J.
      curcas through functional validation and eventual utilization of key genes
      associated with female flowering. 

PMID- 26878860
TI  - Role of phospholipases in adrenal steroidogenesis.
AB  - Phospholipases are lipid-metabolizing enzymes that hydrolyze phospholipids. In
      some cases, their activity results in remodeling of lipids and/or allows the
      synthesis of other lipids. In other cases, however, and of interest to the topic
      of adrenal steroidogenesis, phospholipases produce second messengers that modify
      the function of a cell. In this review, the enzymatic reactions, products, and
      effectors of three phospholipases, phospholipase C, phospholipase D, and
      phospholipase A2, are discussed. Although much data have been obtained concerning
      the role of phospholipases C and D in regulating adrenal steroid hormone
      production, there are still many gaps in our knowledge. Furthermore, little is
      known about the involvement of phospholipase A2, perhaps, in part, because this
      enzyme comprises a large family of related enzymes that are differentially
      regulated and with different functions. This review presents the evidence
      supporting the role of each of these phospholipases in steroidogenesis in the
      adrenal cortex.

PMID- 26878859
TI  - Disruption of clathrin-dependent trafficking results in the failure of grass carp
      reovirus cellular entry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is responsible for viral hemorrhagic
      disease in cultured grass carp (Ctenopharyngon idellus). GCRV is a non-enveloped,
      double-stranded RNA virus in the genus Aquareovirus, of the family Reoviridae,
      which encodes seven structural proteins (VP1-VP7) and five nonstructural proteins
      (NS80, NS38, NS31, NS26, and NS16). To date, the mechanism of GCRV entry into CIK
      Ctenopharyngon idellus kidney (CIK) cells remains poorly understood. RESULTS:
      Here, we present a study of the GCRV internalization mechanism in CIK cells. Our
      results indicated that GCRV infection was inhibited by chlorpromazine, the
      specific inhibitor for clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Colocalization of GCRV
      virions with endogenous clathrin was observed during early infection by confocal
      microscopy. Moreover, GCRV infection of CIK cells depended on acidification of
      the endosome. This was indicated by significant inhibition of viral infection
      following prophylactic treatment with the lysosomotropic drugs chloroquine or
      ammonium chloride. In addition, the disturbance of dynamin activity blocked GCRV
      entry, which confirmed the dynamin-dependent nature of clathrin-mediated
      endocytosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that GCRV might enter CIK cells via
      clathrin-mediated endocytosis in a pH-dependent manner. Additionally, dynamin is
      critical for efficient viral entry.

PMID- 26878854
TI  - The Histochemistry and Cell Biology omnium-gatherum: the year 2015 in review.
AB  - We provide here our annual review/synopsis of all of the articles published in
      Histochemistry and Cell Biology (HCB) for the preceding year. In 2015, HCB
      published 102 articles, representing a wide variety of topics and methodologies.
      For ease of access to these differing topics, we have created categories, as
      determined by the types of articles presented to provide a quick index
      representing the general areas covered. This year, these categories include: (1)
      advances in methodologies; (2) molecules in health and disease; (3) organelles,
      subcellular structures, and compartments; (4) the nucleus; (5) stem cells and
      tissue engineering; (6) cell cultures: properties and capabilities; (7)
      connective tissues and extracellular matrix; (8) developmental biology; (9)
      nervous system; (10) musculoskeletal system; (11) respiratory and cardiovascular
      system; (12) liver and gastrointestinal tract; and (13) male and female
      reproductive systems. Of note, the categories proceed from methods development,
      to molecules, intracellular compartments, stem cells and cell culture,
      extracellular matrix, developmental biology, and finishing with various organ
      systems, hopefully presenting a logical journey from methods to organismal
      molecules, cells, and whole tissue systems. 

PMID- 26878861
TI  - Hodgkin lymphoma: an Australian experience of ABVD chemotherapy in the modern
      era.
AB  - Approximately 560 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are diagnosed annually in
      Australia. Standard first-line therapy is ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin,
      vinblastine, dacarbazine). It is unknown how survival outcomes in patients
      receiving ABVD in current clinical practice, with routine positron emission
      tomography (PET) imaging and modern supportive measures, compare with results
      from published trials. This is a retrospective multi-centre study of patients
      with previously untreated HL between November 1999 and December 2014 receiving
      ABVD induction. Baseline characteristics, treatment details, toxicity and outcome
      data were collected from hospital records. The primary endpoint was overall
      survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR),
      progression-free survival (PFS), response to treatment and toxicity. One hundred
      and eighty-nine eligible patients were identified. Median age was 32 years (range
      17-79). Nodular-sclerosing HL was the most common subtype (78 %), 44 % had B
      symptoms and 11 % had marrow involvement. Median number of cycles of ABVD
      administered was 6 (range 3-8). Eighteen patients (11 %) had dose delay, 21 (13
      %) had dose reductions and 11 (8 %) had both. The ORR, defined predominantly by
      PET scan, was 96 % (CR 89 %). Five-year OS and PFS were 93 and 84 %, respectively
      in early disease (stage I-IIA) and 89 and 63 % in advanced disease (stage IIB,
      III and IV). No poor prognostic factors were identified on multivariate testing.
      The most common grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (53 %). Our study confirms the
      excellent prognosis and manageable toxicity in HL patients receiving ABVD in
      phase III studies are reflected in patients treated in routine clinical practice
      in the modern era.

PMID- 26878862
TI  - Non-bronchial collateral arising from the right vertebral artery: a rare cause of
      recurrent massive haemoptysis.

PMID- 26878864
TI  - Nailfold videocapillaroscopy and serum VEGF levels in scleroderma are associated
      with internal organ involvement.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) identifies the microvascular
      hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) and may play a pivotal role in the associated vasculopathy. The aim of the
      present study was to compare NVC alterations with clinical subsets, internal
      organ involvement, and serum VEGF levels in a cohort of selected SSc cases.
      METHODS: We studied 44 patients with SSc who were evaluated within 3 months from
      enrollment by NVC, skin score, severity index, pulmonary function tests, carbon
      monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), echocardiography, pulmonary high-resolution
      computed tomography (HRCT), gastroesophageal (GE) endoscopy or manometry or X
      ray, and serum autoantibodies. Serum VEGF-A levels were determined by ELISA in 72
      SSc patients and 31 healthy controls. RESULTS: Giant capillaries were inversely
      correlated with age (p = 0.034, r = -0.34) and to the extent of reticular pattern
      at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = -0.5). Avascular areas were directly correlated with
      capillaroscopy skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) (p = 0.006, r = +0.4) and severity
      index (p = 0.004, r = +0.5). The mean capillary density was directly correlated
      to the ulcer number (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and to DLCO/alveolar volume (p = 0.02, r
      = +0.4) and inversely correlated with severity index (p = 0.01, r = -0.4) and
      skin score (p = 0.02, r = -0.4). Serum VEGF levels were higher in the SSc
      population vs controls (p = 0.03) and inversely correlated with DLCO (p = 0.01, r
      =-0.4) and directly with ground-glass and reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r
      = +0.4 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest the importance of NVC not only
      for the diagnosis, but also for the global evaluation of SSc patients. Of note,
      serum VEGF levels may act as a biomarker of interstitial lung involvement.

PMID- 26878865
TI  - Barriers to Managing Fertility: Findings From the Understanding Fertility
      Management in Contemporary Australia Facebook Discussion Group.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As part of research investigating the complexities of managing
      fertility in Australia, public opinions about how Australians manage their
      fertility were sought from women and men. OBJECTIVE: To identify public opinion
      about sexual and reproductive health in Australia. METHODS: To ensure access to a
      diverse group of people throughout Australia, an online group was advertised and
      convened on Facebook from October through December 2013. In a closed-group
      moderated discussion, participants responded to questions about how people in
      Australia attempt to manage three aspects of fertility: avoiding pregnancy,
      achieving pregnancy, and difficulties conceiving. Nonidentifiable demographic
      information was sought; no personal accounts of fertility management were
      requested. The discussion transcript was analyzed thematically. RESULTS: There
      were 61 female and 2 male Facebook users aged 18 to 50 years living in Australia
      participating in the study. Four main themes about fertility management were
      identified: access, geographical location, knowledge, and cost. Participants
      reported that young people and people from rural areas face barriers accessing
      contraception and fertility services. Limited knowledge about sex and
      reproduction and the cost of fertility services and contraception were also said
      to impede effective fertility management. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for inequalities
      in effective fertility management that are amenable to change were identified.
      Facebook is an effective method for gaining insights into public opinion about
      sexual and reproductive health.

PMID- 26878863
TI  - Growing older with health and vitality: a nexus of physical activity, exercise
      and nutrition.
AB  - The preservation of skeletal muscle mass and strength with advancing age are, we
      propose, critical aspects of ageing with health and vitality. Physical inactivity
      and poor nutrition are known to accelerate the gradual age-related decline in
      muscle mass and strength-sarcopenia-however, both are subject to modification.
      The main purpose of this review is to present the latest, evidence-based
      recommendations for physical activity and exercise, as well as diet for older
      adults that would help in preserving muscle mass and strength. We take the
      position that future physical activity/exercise guidelines need to make specific
      reference to resistance exercise and highlight the benefits of higher-intensity
      aerobic exercise training, alongside advocating older adults perform aerobic
      based physical activity and household tasks (e.g., carrying groceries). In terms
      of dietary recommendations, greater emphasis should be placed on optimal rather
      than minimum protein intakes for older adults. Indeed, guidelines that endorse a
      daily protein intake of 1.2-1.5 g/kg BM/day, which are levels 50-90 % greater
      than the current protein Recommendation Dietary Allowance (0.8 g/kg BM/day), are
      likely to help preserve muscle mass and strength and are safe for healthy older
      adults. Being cognisant of factors (e.g., reduced appetite) that may preclude
      older adults from increasing their total daily protein intake, we echo the
      viewpoint of other active researchers in advocating that protein recommendations
      for older adults be based on a per meal approach in order to maximize muscle
      protein synthesis (MPS). On this basis, assuming three meals are consumed daily,
      a protein dose of 0.4-0.5 g/kg BM should be contained in each meal. We are
      beginning to understand ways in which to increase the utilization of ingested
      protein for the stimulation of MPS, namely by increasing the proportion of
      leucine contained in a given dose of protein, co-ingesting other nutrients (e.g.,
      carbohydrate and fat or supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) or
      being physically active prior to protein intake. Clearly, developing simple
      lifestyle interventions targeted at preserving muscle mass and strength with
      advancing age is crucial for facilitating longer, healthier lives into older age.

PMID- 26878868
TI  - The Desires of Their Hearts: The Multidisciplinary Perspectives of African
      Americans on End-of-Life Care in the African American Community.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies have identified racial differences in advance care planning
      and use of hospice for care at the end of life. Multiple reasons for underuse
      among African American patients and their families have been proposed and deserve
      further exploration. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine perceptions
      of advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice among a diverse sample of
      African Americans with varying degrees of personal and professional experience
      with end-of-life care and use these responses to inform a culturally sensitive
      intervention to promote awareness of these options. METHODS: Semistructured
      interviews and focus groups were conducted with African Americans who had varying
      degrees of experience and exposure to end-of-life care both personally and
      professionally. We conducted in-depth qualitative analyses of these interviews
      and focus group transcripts and determined that thematic saturation had been
      achieved. RESULTS: Several themes emerged. Participants felt that advance care
      planning, palliative care, and hospice can be beneficial to African American
      patients and their families but identified specific barriers to completion of
      advance directives and hospice enrollment, including lack of knowledge, fear that
      these measures may hasten death or cause providers to deliver inadequate care,
      and perceived conflict with patients' faith and religious beliefs. Providers
      described approaches they use to address these barriers in their practices.
      CONCLUSION: Findings, which are consistent with and further elucidate those
      identified from previous research, will inform design of a culturally sensitive
      intervention to increase awareness and understanding of advance care planning,
      palliative care, and hospice among members of the African American community.

PMID- 26878866
TI  - Carbamylated LL-37 as a modulator of the immune response.
AB  - Carbamylation of lysine residues and protein N-termini is an ubiquitous, non
      enzymatic post-translational modification. Carbamylation at sites of inflammation
      is due to cyanate formation during the neutrophil oxidative burst and may target
      lysine residues within the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. The bactericidal and
      immunomodulatory properties of LL-37 depend on its secondary structure and
      cationic nature, which are conferred by arginine and lysine residues. Therefore,
      carbamylation may affect the biological functions of LL-37. The present study
      examined the kinetics and pattern of LL-37 carbamylation to investigate how this
      modification affects the bactericidal, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory function of
      the peptide. The results indicated that LL-37 undergoes rapid modification in the
      presence of physiological concentrations of cyanate, yielding a spectrum of
      diverse carbamylated peptides. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed that theN
      terminal amino group of Leu-1 was highly reactive and was modified almost
      instantly by cyanate to generate the predominant form of the modified peptide,
      named LL-37(C1) This was followed by the sequential carbamylation of Lys-8, Lys
      12, and Lys-15 to yield LL-37(C8), and Lys-15 to yield LL-37(C12,15)
      Carbamylation had profound and diverse effects on the structure and biological
      properties of LL-37. In some cases, anti-inflammatory LL-37 was rapidly converted
      to pro-inflammatory LL-37.

PMID- 26878867
TI  - Resolvin D1, resolvin D2 and maresin 1 activate the GSK3beta anti-inflammatory
      axis in TLR4-engaged human monocytes.
AB  - Pro-resolving, docosahexaenoic acid-derived mediators have recently emerged as
      important potential therapeutic agents for the amelioration of complications
      arising from inflammation, such as vascular disease, asthma, acute lung injury
      and colitis. While resolvin D1 (RVD1), resolvin D2 (RVD2) and maresin 1 (MaR1)
      are established pro-resolvins, their mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here we
      show that, in LPS-stimulated primary human monocytes, RVD1, RVD2 and MaR1 each
      suppress the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1beta, IL-8) and the
      innate/adaptive bridging cytokine, IL-12 p40, while simultaneously augmenting the
      production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Such resolving activity is
      accompanied by the increased phosphorylation (enhanced anti-inflammatory state)
      of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) along with increased phosphorylation
      (activation) of Akt, SGK1 and CREB but not MAPK-related molecules. Gain and loss
      of function experiments confirm a key role for GSK3beta and CREB in the anti
      inflammatory actions of resolvins. These results suggest that induction of the
      GSK3beta anti-inflammatory axis is a common mechanism of action for RVD1, RVD2
      and MaR1. 

PMID- 26878869
TI  - Exploring Health Care Providers' Views About Initiating End-of-Life Care
      Communication.
AB  - Numerous factors impede effective and timely end-of-life (EOL) care
      communication. These factors include delays in communication until patients are
      seriously ill and/or close to death. Gaps in patient-provider communication
      negatively affect advance care planning and limit referrals to palliative and
      hospice care. Confusion about the roles of various health care providers also
      limits communication, especially when providers do not coordinate care with other
      health care providers in various disciplines. Although providers receive
      education regarding EOL communication and care coordination, little is known
      about the roles of all health care providers, including nonphysician support
      staff working with physicians to discuss the possibility of dying and help
      patients prepare for death. This study explores the perspectives of physicians,
      nurses, social workers, and chaplains on engaging seriously ill patients and
      families in EOL care communication. Qualitative data were from 79 (medical and
      nonmedical) providers practicing at 2 medical centers in Central Los Angeles.
      Three themes that describe providers' perceptions of their roles and
      responsibility in talking with seriously ill patients emerged: (1) providers'
      roles for engaging in EOL discussions, (2) responsibility of physicians for
      initiating and leading discussions, and (3) need for team co-management patient
      care. Providers highlighted the importance of beginning discussions early by
      having physicians lead them, specifically due to their medical training and need
      to clarify medical information regarding patients' prognosis. Although physicians
      are a vital part of leading EOL communication, and are at the center of
      communication of medical information, an interdisciplinary approach that involves
      nurses, social workers, and chaplains could significantly improve patient care.

PMID- 26878870
TI  - Evolutionary Relationships among Extinct and Extant Sloths: The Evidence of
      Mitogenomes and Retroviruses.
AB  - Macroevolutionary trends exhibited by retroviruses are complex and not entirely
      understood. The sloth endogenized foamy-like retrovirus (SloEFV), which
      demonstrates incongruence in virus-host evolution among extant sloths (Order
      Folivora), has not been investigated heretofore in any extinct sloth lineages and
      its premodern history within folivorans is therefore unknown. Determining
      retroviral coevolutionary trends requires a robust phylogeny of the viral host,
      but the highly reduced modern sloth fauna (6 species in 2 genera) does not
      adequately represent what was once a highly diversified clade (~100 genera) of
      placental mammals. At present, the amount of molecular data available for extinct
      sloth taxa is limited, and analytical results based on these data tend to
      conflict with phylogenetic inferences made on the basis of morphological studies.
      To augment the molecular data set, we applied hybridization capture and next
      generation Illumina sequencing to two extinct and three extant sloth species to
      retrieve full mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from the hosts and the
      polymerase gene of SloEFV. The results produced a fully resolved and well
      supported phylogeny that supports dividing crown families into two major clades:
      1) The three-toed sloth, Bradypus, and Nothrotheriidae and 2) Megalonychidae,
      including the two-toed sloth, Choloepus, and Mylodontidae. Our calibrated time
      tree indicates that the Miocene epoch (23.5 Ma), particularly its earlier part,
      was an important interval for folivoran diversification. Both extant and extinct
      sloths demonstrate multiple complex invasions of SloEFV into the ancestral sloth
      germline followed by subsequent introgressions across different sloth lineages.
      Thus, sloth mitogenome and SloEFV evolution occurred separately and in parallel
      among sloths. 

PMID- 26878871
TI  - Gene Family Expansions in Aphids Maintained by Endosymbiotic and Nonsymbiotic
      Traits.
AB  - Facilitating the evolution of new gene functions, gene duplication is a major
      mechanism driving evolutionary innovation. Gene family expansions relevant to
      host/symbiont interactions are increasingly being discovered in eukaryotes that
      host endosymbiotic microbes. Such discoveries entice speculation that gene
      duplication facilitates the evolution of novel, endosymbiotic relationships.
      Here, using a comparative transcriptomic approach combined with differential gene
      expression analysis, we investigate the importance of endosymbiosis in retention
      of amino acid transporter paralogs in aphid genomes. To pinpoint the timing of
      amino acid transporter duplications we inferred gene phylogenies for five aphid
      species and three outgroups. We found that while some duplications arose in the
      aphid common ancestor concurrent with endosymbiont acquisition, others predate
      aphid divergence from related insects without intracellular symbionts, and still
      others appeared during aphid diversification. Interestingly, several aphid
      specific paralogs have conserved enriched expression in bacteriocytes, the insect
      cells that host primary symbionts. Conserved bacteriocyte enrichment suggests
      that the transporters were recruited to the aphid/endosymbiont interface in the
      aphid common ancestor, consistent with a role for gene duplication in
      facilitating the evolution of endosymbiosis in aphids. In contrast, the temporal
      variability of amino acid transporter duplication indicates that endosymbiosis is
      not the only trait driving selection for retention of amino acid transporter
      paralogs in sap-feeding insects. This study cautions against simplistic
      interpretations of the role of gene family expansion in the evolution of novel
      host/symbiont interactions by further highlighting that multiple complex factors
      maintain gene family paralogs in the genomes of eukaryotes that host
      endosymbiotic microbes. 

PMID- 26878873
TI  - MiR-193b promotes autophagy and non-apoptotic cell death in oesophageal cancer
      cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Successful treatment of oesophageal cancer is hampered by recurrent
      drug resistant disease. We have previously demonstrated the importance of
      apoptosis and autophagy for the recovery of oesophageal cancer cells following
      drug treatment. When apoptosis (with autophagy) is induced, these cells are
      chemosensitive and will not recover following chemotherapy treatment. In
      contrast, when cancer cells exhibit only autophagy and limited Type II cell
      death, they are chemoresistant and recover following drug withdrawal. METHODS:
      MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling of an oesophageal cancer cell line panel
      was used to identify miRNAs that were important in the regulation of apoptosis
      and autophagy. The effects of miRNA overexpression on cell death mechanisms and
      recovery were assessed in the chemoresistant (autophagy inducing) KYSE450
      oesophageal cancer cells. RESULTS: MiR-193b was the most differentially expressed
      miRNA between the chemosensitive and chemoresistant cell lines with higher
      expression in chemosensitive apoptosis inducing cell lines. Colony formation
      assays showed that overexpression of miR-193b significantly impedes the ability
      of KYSE450 cells to recover following 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. The
      critical mRNA targets of miR-193b are unknown but target prediction and siRNA
      data analysis suggest that it may mediate some of its effects through stathmin 1
      regulation. Apoptosis was not involved in the enhanced cytotoxicity.
      Overexpression of miR-193b in these cells induced autophagic flux and non
      apoptotic cell death. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of miR
      193b in determining oesophageal cancer cell viability and demonstrate an
      enhancement of chemotoxicity that is independent of apoptosis induction.

PMID- 26878874
TI  - Comparison of clinical grade human platelet lysates for cultivation of
      mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The utility of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in therapeutic
      applications for regenerative medicine has gained much attention. Clinical
      translation of MSC-based approaches requires in vitro culture-expansion to
      achieve a sufficient number of cells. The ideal cell culture medium should be
      devoid of any animal derived components. We have evaluated whether human Platelet
      Lysate (hPL) could be an attractive alternative to animal supplements. METHODS:
      MSCs from bone marrow (BMSCs) and adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs)
      obtained from three donors were culture expanded in three different commercially
      available hPL fulfilling good manufacturing practice criteria for clinical use.
      BMSCs and ASCs cultured in Minimum Essential Medium Eagle-alpha supplemented with
      5% PLT-Max (Mill Creek), StemulateTM PL-S and StemulateTM PL-SP (COOK General
      Biotechnology) were compared to standard culture conditions with 10% fetal bovine
      serum (FBS). Cell morphology, proliferation, phenotype, genomic stability, and
      differentiation potential were analyzed. RESULTS: Regardless of manufacturer,
      BMSCs and ASCs cultured in hPL media showed a significant increase in
      proliferation capacity compared to FBS medium. In general, the immunophenotype of
      both BMSCs and ASCs fulfilled International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
      criteria after hPL media expansion. Comparative genomic hybridization
      measurements demonstrated no unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements for BMSCs or
      ASCs cultured in hPL media or FBS medium. The BMSCs and ASCs could differentiate
      into osteogenic, adipogenic, or chondrogenic lineages in all four culture
      conditions. CONCLUSION: All three clinically approved commercial human platelet
      lysates accelerated proliferation of BMSCs and ASCs and the cells meet the ISCT
      mesenchymal phenotypic requirements without exhibiting chromosomal aberrations.

PMID- 26878875
TI  - Specific allergen immunotherapy: effect on IgE, IgG4 and chemokines in patients
      with allergic rhinitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is considered as the most
      effective treatment for Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies. However, how
      specific immunotherapy attenuates allergic responses is still not clear, but
      could potentially involve cytokines as well as IgG4-mediated responses. Based on
      the role of chemokines in IgE-mediated inflammation, we examined the SIT-induced
      chemokine response in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: We included 35
      patients with allergic rhinitis; 20 patients received SIT and 15 patients were
      not treated with specific immunotherapy. The patients were followed for 3 years.
      Blood samples were collected before SIT and 3, 5, 7 and 21 weeks and 1, 2 and 3
      years after the start of therapy. Total IgE, specific IgE, IgG4 and chemokine
      levels were assessed. RESULTS: Our main findings were: (i) SIT was associated
      with an early increase in total and specific IgE during the first 7 weeks, with a
      subsequent decline, accompanied by a marked increase in specific IgG4 when IgE
      started to decline; (ii) these SIT-induced responses were accompanied by and in
      some degree correlated with increased plasma concentrations of the chemokines,
      monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and eotaxin; and (iii) within the SIT
      group, these correlations with chemokines were restricted to IgE and IgG4 against
      birch tree pollen. CONCLUSION: Our findings further support a role for IgG4
      mediated mechanisms in the beneficial effects of SIT in patients with allergic
      rhinitis (AR) and that increased levels of certain chemokines also could be of
      importance for the effect of such therapy.

PMID- 26878876
TI  - Decrease by 50% of plasma IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody concentrations
      within 2 months after start of gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease
      used as a confirming diagnostic test.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Histological examination of small bowel biopsies is normally the gold
      standard for the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). The objective of this study
      was to investigate whether the rate of decreases in elevated plasma IgA tissue
      transglutaminase antibody (IgA-tTG) and/or IgG deamidated gliadin peptides
      antibody (IgG - DGP) concentrations could be used as a confirming test for CD in
      children on a gluten-free diet (GFD) when biopsy was omitted in the diagnostic
      process. METHODS: In this retrospective study we compared children (<=18 years
      old) with a CD-confirming biopsy (n = 16) to children without a biopsy (n = 18).
      After initiation of GFD the antibody half-life (the time (T1/2) when the antibody
      concentration is 50% decreased) was determined in all children. RESULTS: Children
      with a biopsy (IgA-tTG, T1/2 = 1.9 months; IgG - DGP, T1/2 = 2.2 months) and
      children without a biopsy (IgA-tTG, T1/2 = 1.6 months; IgG - DGP, T1/2 = 2.7
      months) had comparable T1/2 (mean) results (p < 0.05) supporting that all
      children had the CD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: When biopsy was omitted a rapid rate
      of decrease in CD antibody concentrations confirmed the CD diagnosis in children
      on GFD. The half-lives (T1/2) of IgA-tTG were less than 2 months in CD children.

PMID- 26878877
TI  - Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index - a reliable predictor of
      therapeutic efficacy and improvement of Ishak score in chronic hepatitis B
      patients treated with nucleoside analogues.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No studies have investigated the predictive and monitoring efficacy
      of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in chronic hepatitis B
      patients undergoing antiviral therapy based on paired Ishak biopsies pre- and
      post-treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of aspartate aminotransferase to
      platelet ratio index in monitoring fibrosis improvement in chronic hepatitis B
      patients treated with nucleoside analogue or interferon. METHODS: Pre- and post
      treatment Ishak fibrosis scores of 86 nucleoside-analogue- and 42 interferon
      treated patients were retrospectively analyzed. The area under the receiver
      operating characteristic curve was calculated. RESULTS: In nucleoside-analogue
      treated patients, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was
      0.80 and 0.91 when aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was used to
      diagnose fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. When the decreased magnitude of
      aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was >= 0.35, the sensitivity
      and specificity of predicting fibrosis improvement were 75.8% and 75.0%,
      respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.53
      when aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was used to diagnose
      fibrosis in 20 interferon-treated patients, while an insufficient patient number
      in the cirrhosis group prevented the calculation of the area under the receiver
      operating characteristic curve. The same is true for the remaining 22 interferon
      treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to demonstrate the
      aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index as a reliable marker in
      diagnosing and monitoring fibrosis improvement in nucleoside-analogue-treated
      patients based on paired Ishak biopsies pre- and post-treatment, but the test is
      not applicable in interferon therapy.

PMID- 26878872
TI  - p63 expression confers significantly better survival outcomes in high-risk
      diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and demonstrates p53-like and p53-independent tumor
      suppressor function.
AB  - The role of p53 family member p63 in oncogenesis is the subject of controversy.
      Limited research has been done on the clinical implications of p63 expression in
      diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this study, we assessed p63 expression
      in de novo DLBCL samples (n=795) by immunohistochemistry with a pan-p63
      monoclonal antibody and correlated it with other clinicopathologic factors and
      clinical outcomes. p63 expression was observed in 42.5% of DLBCL, did not
      correlate with p53 levels, but correlated with p21, MDM2, p16INK4A, Ki-67, Bcl-6,
      IRF4/MUM-1 and CD30 expression, REL gains, and BCL6 translocation. p63 was an
      independent favorable prognostic factor in DLBCL, which was most significant in
      patients with International Prognostic Index (IPI) >2, and in activated-B-cell
      like DLBCL patients with wide- type TP53. The prognostic impact in germinal
      center-B-cell-like DLBCL was not apparent, which was likely due to the
      association of p63 expression with high-risk IPI, and potential presence of ?Np63
      isoform in TP63 rearranged patients (a mere speculation). Gene expression
      profiling suggested that p63 has both overlapping and distinct functions compared
      with p53, and that p63 and mutated p53 antagonize each other. In summary, p63 has
      p53-like and p53-independent functions and favorable prognostic impact, however
      this protective effect can be abolished by TP53 mutations. 

PMID- 26878879
TI  - Hesperidin ameliorates cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress and apoptosis
      against aluminium chloride induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Deregulation of metal ion homeostasis has been assumed as one of
      the key factors in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Aluminium (Al)
      has been believed as a major risk factor for the cause and progression of
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). In our lab, we have previously reported that
      hesperidin, a citrus bioflavonoid reversed memory loss caused by aluminium
      intoxication through attenuating acetylcholine esterase activity and the
      expression of Amyloid beta biosynthesis related markers. Al has been reported to
      cause oxidative stress associated apoptotic neuronal loss in the brain. So in the
      present study, protective effect of hesperidin against aluminium chloride (AlCl3)
      induced cognitive impairment, oxidative stress and apoptosis was studied.
      METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into control, AlCl3 treated (100 mg/kg.,
      b.w.), AlCl3 and hesperidin (100 mg/kg., b.w.) co-treated and hesperidin alone
      treated groups. In control and experimental rats, learning and memory impairment
      were measured by radial arm maze, elevated plus maze and passive avoidance tests.
      In addition, oxidative stress and expression of pro and anti-apoptotic markers
      were also evaluated. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 (100 mg/kg.,
      b.w.) for 60 days significantly enhanced the learning and memory deficits, levels
      of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the expression of Bax and
      diminished the levels of reduced glutathione, activities of enzymatic
      antioxidants and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) as compared to
      control group in the hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum. Coadministration of
      hesperidin (100 mg/kg., b.w. oral) for 60 days prevented the cognitive deficits,
      biochemical anomalies and apoptosis induced by AlCl3 treatment. CONCLUSION:
      Results of the present study demonstrated that hesperidin could be a potential
      therapeutic agent in the treatment of oxidative stress and apoptosis associated
      neurodegenerative diseases including AD.

PMID- 26878880
TI  - Smart Magnetic Nanosensors Synthesized through Layer-by-Layer Deposition of
      Molecular Beacons for Noninvasive and Longitudinal Monitoring of Cellular mRNA.
AB  - Noninvasive and longitudinal monitoring of gene expression in living cells is
      essential for understanding and monitoring cellular activities. Herein, a smart
      magnetic nanosensor is constructed for the real-time, noninvasive, and
      longitudinal monitoring of cellular mRNA expression through the layer-by-layer
      deposition of molecular beacons (MBs) and polyethylenimine on the iron oxide
      nanoparticles. The loading of MBs, responsible for the signal intensity and the
      tracking time, was easily tuned with the number of layers incorporated. The idea
      was first demonstrated with the magnetic nanosensors for glyceraldehyde-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA, which was efficiently internalized into the
      cells under the influence of magnetic field. This nanosensor allowed the
      continuous monitoring of the cellular GAPDH mRNA expression for 1 month. Then
      this platform was further utilized to incorporate two kinds of MBs for alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP) and GAPDH mRNAs, respectively. The multifunctional nanosensors
      permitted the simultaneous monitoring of the reference gene (GAPDH mRNA) and the
      early osteogenic differentiation marker (ALP mRNA) expression. When the
      fluorescence signal ratio between ALP mRNA MBs and GAPDH mRNA MBs was taken, the
      dynamic osteogenic differentiation process of MSCs was accurately monitored. 

PMID- 26878881
TI  - Water and beverage consumption among children aged 4-13 years in France: analyses
      of INCA 2 (Etude Individuelle Nationale des Consommations Alimentaires 2006-2007)
      data.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the consumption of plain water among children in France and
      compare total water intakes with guidelines issued by the European Food Safety
      Authority (EFSA). DESIGN: Nationally representative data were used to assess
      food, beverage and water consumption by sex, age group (4-8 years, 9-13 years),
      income-to-poverty ratio, eating occasion and location. Beverages were classified
      into nine groups: water (tap or bottled), milk, 100 % fruit juice, sodas, fruit
      drinks, hot beverages, sports drinks and flavoured waters. Total water volume in
      relation to energy intake (litres/kcal) was also examined. SETTING: INCA 2 study
      (Etude Individuelle Nationale des Consommations Alimentaires 2006-2007).
      SUBJECTS: French children (n 835) aged 4-13 years. RESULTS: Total water intakes
      were accounted for by plain water (34 %), beverages (26 %) and food moisture (40
      %). Plain water could be tap (18 %) or bottled (16 %). Older children drank more
      plain water than did younger children and boys drank more plain water than did
      girls. No socio-economic gradient for plain water consumption was observed. About
      90 % of children did not meet the EFSA water intake recommendations. The daily
      water shortfall ranged from 367 to 594 ml/d. Water-to-energy ratio was 0.75-0.77
      litres/1000 kcal (4184 kJ). Children drank milk at breakfast and plain water
      during lunch and dinner. Caloric beverages provided 10 % of dietary energy;
      consumption patterns varied by eating location. CONCLUSIONS: Total water intakes
      among young children in France were below EFSA-recommended levels. Analyses of
      beverage consumption patterns by eating occasion and location can help identify
      ways to increase water consumption among children.

PMID- 26878882
TI  - Isoflavone metabolism by a collection of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria
      with biotechnological interest.
AB  - Almost all soy isoflavones exist as glycosides, daidzin, genistin, and glycitin.
      We analyzed the capacity of 92 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and
      bifidobacteria with biotechnological interest to process the glycosylated
      isoflavones daidzin, genistin, and glycitin in their more bioavailable aglycones
      and their metabolites as dihydrodaidzein (DHD), O-desmethylangolensin, and equol.
      Representative strains of the four genera studied Lactobacillus, Enterococcus,
      Lactococcus, and Bifidobacterium were able to produce daidzein, genistein, and
      glycitein, with the exception of the lactobacilli, which did not produced
      glycitein in soy extracts. The production of the aglycone isoflavones could be
      correlated with the beta-glucosidase activity of the strains. The isoflavone
      metabolism is limited to the glycoside hydrolysis in the most of these strains.
      Moreover, Enterococcus faecalis INIA P333 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus INIA P540
      were able to transform daidzein in DHD. LAB and bifidobacteria studied in the
      present work have a great potential in the metabolism of isoflavones and could be
      selected for the development of functional fermented soy foods. 

PMID- 26878883
TI  - Native Chemical Ligation Strategy to Overcome Side Reactions during Fmoc-Based
      Synthesis of C-Terminal Cysteine-Containing Peptides.
AB  - The Fmoc-based solid phase synthesis of C-terminal cysteine-containing peptides
      is problematic, due to side reactions provoked by the pronounced acidity of the
      Calpha proton of cysteine esters. We herein describe a general strategy
      consisting of the postsynthetic introduction of the C-terminal Cys through a key
      chemoselective native chemical ligation reaction with N-Hnb-Cys peptide crypto
      thioesters. This method was successfully applied to the demanding peptide
      sequences of two natural products of biological interest, giving remarkably high
      overall yields compared to that of a state of the art strategy. 

PMID- 26878884
TI  - A first-principles study on the phonon transport in layered BiCuOSe.
AB  - First-principles calculations are employed to investigate the phonon transport of
      BiCuOSe. Our calculations reproduce the lattice thermal conductivity of BiCuOSe.
      The calculated gruneisen parameter is 2.4 ~ 2.6 at room temperature, a fairly
      large value indicating a strong anharmonicity in BiCuOSe, which leads to its
      ultralow lattice thermal conductivity. The contribution to total thermal
      conductivity from high-frequency optical phonons, which are mostly contributed by
      the vibrations of O atoms, is larger than 1/3, remarkably different from the
      usual picture with very little contribution from high-frequency optical phonons.
      Our calculations show that both the high group velocities and low scattering
      processes involved make the high-frequency optical modes contribute considerably
      to the total lattice thermal conductivity. In addition, we show that the sound
      velocity and bulk modulus along a and c axes exhibit strong anisotropy, which
      results in the anisotropic thermal conductivity in BiCuOSe. 

PMID- 26878885
TI  - Post mTBI fatigue is associated with abnormal brain functional connectivity.
AB  - This study set out to investigate the behavioral correlates of changes in resting
      state functional connectivity before and after performing a 20 minute continuous
      psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) for patients with chronic post-concussion
      syndrome. Ten patients in chronic phase after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
      with persisting symptoms of fatigue and ten matched healthy controls participated
      in the study. We assessed the participants' fatigue levels and conducted resting
      state fMRI before and after a sustained PVT. We evaluated the changes in brain
      functional connectivity indices in relation to the subject's fatigue behavior
      using a quantitative data-driven analysis approach. We found that the PVT invoked
      significant mental fatigue and specific functional connectivity changes in mTBI
      patients. Furthermore, we found a significant linear correlation between self
      reported fatigue and functional connectivity in the thalamus and middle frontal
      cortex. Our findings indicate that resting-state fMRI measurements may be a
      useful indicator of performance potential and a marker of fatigue level in the
      neural attentional system. 

PMID- 26878886
TI  - Morpholino-mediated SOD1 reduction ameliorates an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      disease phenotype.
AB  - Neurotoxicity due to the accumulation of mutant proteins is thought to drive
      pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1
      (SOD1) are linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS); these
      mutations result in progressive motor neuron death through one or more acquired
      toxicities. Interestingly, SOD1 is not only responsible for fALS but may also
      play a significant role in sporadic ALS; therefore, SOD1 represents a promising
      therapeutic target. Here, we report slowed disease progression, improved
      neuromuscular function, and increased survival in an in vivo ALS model following
      therapeutic delivery of morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) designed to reduce the
      synthesis of human SOD1. Neuropathological analysis demonstrated increased motor
      neuron and axon numbers and a remarkable reduction in astrogliosis and
      microgliosis. To test this strategy in a human model, we treated human fALS
      induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons with MOs; these cells
      exhibited increased survival and reduced expression of apoptotic markers. Our
      data demonstrated the efficacy of MO-mediated therapy in mouse and human ALS
      models, setting the stage for human clinical trials. 

PMID- 26878887
TI  - Competition in the presence of aging: dominance, coexistence, and alternation
      between states.
AB  - We study the stochastic dynamics of coupled states with transition probabilities
      depending on local persistence, this is, the time since a state has changed. When
      the system has a preference to adopt older states the system orders quickly due
      to the dominance of old states. When preference for new states prevails, the
      system can show coexistence of states or synchronized collective behavior
      resulting in long ordering times. In this case, the magnetization of the system
      oscillates around zero. Finally we discuss a potential application in social
      systems. 

PMID- 26878888
TI  - Quantitative molecular phenotyping with topically applied SERS nanoparticles for
      intraoperative guidance of breast cancer lumpectomy.
AB  - There is a need to image excised tissues during tumor-resection procedures in
      order to identify residual tumors at the margins and to guide their complete
      removal. The imaging of dysregulated cell-surface receptors is a potential means
      of identifying the presence of diseases with high sensitivity and specificity.
      However, due to heterogeneities in the expression of protein biomarkers in
      tumors, molecular-imaging technologies should ideally be capable of visualizing a
      multiplexed panel of cancer biomarkers. Here, we demonstrate that the topical
      application and quantification of a multiplexed cocktail of receptor-targeted
      surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles (NPs) enables rapid
      quantitative molecular phenotyping (QMP) of the surface of freshly excised
      tissues to determine the presence of disease. In order to mitigate the ambiguity
      due to nonspecific sources of contrast such as off-target binding or uneven
      delivery, a ratiometric method is employed to quantify the specific vs.
      nonspecific binding of the multiplexed NPs. Validation experiments with human
      tumor cell lines, fresh human tumor xenografts in mice, and fresh human breast
      specimens demonstrate that QMP imaging of excised tissues agrees with flow
      cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and that this technique may be achieved in
      less than 15 minutes for potential intraoperative use in guiding breast
      conserving surgeries. 

PMID- 26878889
TI  - Appearance of beta-lactam Resistance Genes in Agricultural Soils and Clinical
      Isolates over the 20th Century.
AB  - Debate exists about whether agricultural versus medical antibiotic use drives
      increasing antibiotic resistance (AR) across nature. Both sectors have been
      inconsistent at antibiotic stewardship, but it is unclear which sector has most
      influenced acquired AR on broad scales. Using qPCR and soils archived since 1923
      at Askov Experimental Station in Denmark, we quantified four broad-spectrum beta
      lactam AR genes (ARG; bla(TEM), bla(SHV), bla(OXA) and bla(CTX-M)) and class-1
      integron genes (int1) in soils from manured (M) versus inorganic fertilised (IF)
      fields. "Total" beta-lactam ARG levels were significantly higher in M versus IF
      in soils post-1940 (paired-t test; p < 0.001). However, dominant individual ARGs
      varied over time; bla(TEM) and bla(SHV) between 1963 and 1974, bla(OXA) slightly
      later, and bla(CTX-M) since 1988. These dates roughly parallel first reporting of
      these genes in clinical isolates, suggesting ARGs in animal manure and humans are
      historically interconnected. Archive data further show when non-therapeutic
      antibiotic use was banned in Denmark, bla(CTX-M) levels declined in M soils,
      suggesting accumulated soil ARGs can be reduced by prudent antibiotic
      stewardship. Conversely, int1 levels have continued to increase in M soils since
      1990, implying direct manure application to soils should be scrutinized as part
      of future stewardship programs.

PMID- 26878890
TI  - A new ether-based electrolyte for dendrite-free lithium-metal based rechargeable
      batteries.
AB  - A new ether-based electrolyte to match lithium metal electrode is prepared by
      introducing 1, 4-dioxane as co-solvent into lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide/1,2
      dimethoxyethane solution. Under the synergetic effect of solvents and salt, this
      simple liquid electrolyte presents stable Li cycling with dendrite-free Li
      deposition even at relatively high current rate, high coulombic efficiency of ca.
      98%, and good anodic stability up to ~4.87 V vs Li RE. Its excellent performance
      will open up a new possibility for high energy-density rechargeable Li metal
      battery system. 

PMID- 26878892
TI  - Adult neurogenesis in the human striatum: possible implications for psychiatric
      disorders.

PMID- 26878893
TI  - Diagnostic Accuracy of Transcranial Sonography of the Substantia Nigra in
      Parkinson's disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - A large number of articles have reported substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in
      Parkinson's disease (PD) and have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of
      transcranial sonography (TCS); however, the conclusions are discrepant.
      Consequently, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to consolidate the
      available observational studies and provide a comprehensive evaluation of the
      clinical utility of TCS in PD. Totally, 31 studies containing 4,386 participants
      from 13 countries were included. A random effects model was utilized to pool the
      effect sizes. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were performed to explore
      potential heterogeneity. Overall diagnostic accuracy of TCS in differentiating PD
      from normal controls was quite high, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.83 (95% CI:
      0.81-0.85) and a pooled specificity of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85-0.88). The positive
      likelihood ratio, the negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio were
      calculated 6.94 (95% CI: 5.09-9.48), 0.19 (95% CI: 0.16-0.23), and 42.89 (95% CI:
      30.03-61.25) respectively. Our systematic review of the literature and meta
      analysis suggest that TCS has high diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of PD
      when compared to healthy control.

PMID- 26878895
TI  - Erratum: PBK/TOPK enhances aggressive phenotype in prostate cancer via beta
      catenin-TCF/LEF-mediated matrix metalloproteinases production and invasion.

PMID- 26878894
TI  - The Efficacy of Three Modalities of Internet-Based Psychotherapy for Non
      Treatment-Seeking Online Problem Gamblers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Internet-based interventions targeted at the most at-risk gamblers
      could reduce the treatment gap for addictive disorders. Currently, no clinical
      trial has included non-treatment-seeking patients who have been recruited
      directly in their gambling environment. This study was the first exclusively
      Internet-based randomized controlled trial among non-help-seeking problem
      gamblers with naturalistic recruitment in their gambling environment. OBJECTIVE:
      The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of three modalities of Internet
      based psychotherapies with or without guidance, compared to a control condition,
      among problem gamblers who play online poker. METHODS: All active poker gamblers
      on the Winamax website were systematically offered screening. All problem poker
      gamblers identified with a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of >= 5
      were eligible to be included in the trial. Problem gamblers were randomized into
      four groups: (1) waiting list (control group), (2) personalized normalized
      feedback on their gambling status by email, (3) an email containing a self-help
      book to be downloaded with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program without
      guidance, and (4) the same CBT program emailed weekly by a trained psychologist
      with personalized guidance. Efficacy was assessed based on the change in PGSI
      between baseline and 6 weeks (end of treatment) or 12 weeks (maintenance) and
      supported by player account-based gambling data automatically collected at the
      three time points. RESULTS: All groups met high attrition rates (83%), but the
      group with guidance had a significantly higher dropout rate than the other three
      groups, including the control group. Although all groups showed some improvement,
      with a mean decrease of 1.35 on the PGSI, no significant difference in efficacy
      between the groups was observed. One-third of the problem gamblers fell below the
      problem gambling threshold at 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Guidance could have
      aversively affected problem gamblers who had not sought help. Despite the lack of
      significant difference in efficacy between groups, this naturalistic trial
      provides a basis for the development of future Internet-based trials in
      individuals with gambling disorders. Comorbidities, natural course of illness,
      and intrinsic motivation seem to be critical issues to consider in future
      designs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANSM 2013-A00794-41.

PMID- 26878891
TI  - Overshadowed by the amygdala: the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis emerges as
      key to psychiatric disorders.
AB  - The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a center of integration for
      limbic information and valence monitoring. The BNST, sometimes referred to as the
      extended amygdala, is located in the basal forebrain and is a sexually dimorphic
      structure made up of between 12 and 18 sub-nuclei. These sub-nuclei are rich with
      distinct neuronal subpopulations of receptors, neurotransmitters, transporters
      and proteins. The BNST is important in a range of behaviors such as: the stress
      response, extended duration fear states and social behavior, all crucial
      determinants of dysfunction in human psychiatric diseases. Most research on
      stress and psychiatric diseases has focused on the amygdala, which regulates
      immediate responses to fear. However, the BNST, and not the amygdala, is the
      center of the psychogenic circuit from the hippocampus to the paraventricular
      nucleus. This circuit is important in the stimulation of the hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal axis. Thus, the BNST has been largely overlooked with respect
      to its possible dysregulation in mood and anxiety disorders, social dysfunction
      and psychological trauma, all of which have clear gender disparities. In this
      review, we will look in-depth at the anatomy and projections of the BNST, and
      provide an overview of the current literature on the relevance of BNST
      dysregulation in psychiatric diseases. 

PMID- 26878897
TI  - Mapping the interplay among cognitive biases, emotion regulation, and depressive
      symptoms.
AB  - Cognitive biases and emotion regulation (ER) difficulties have been instrumental
      in understanding hallmark features of depression. However, little is known about
      the interplay among these important risk factors to depression. This cross
      sectional study investigated how multiple cognitive biases modulate the habitual
      use of ER processes and how ER habits subsequently regulate depressive symptoms.
      All participants first executed a computerised version of the scrambled sentences
      test (interpretation bias measure) while their eye movements were registered
      (attention bias measure) and then completed questionnaires assessing positive
      reappraisal, brooding, and depressive symptoms. Path and bootstrapping analyses
      supported both direct effects of cognitive biases on depressive symptoms and
      indirect effects via the use of brooding and via the use of reappraisal that was
      in turn related to the use of brooding. These findings help to formulate a better
      understanding of how cognitive biases and ER habits interact to maintain
      depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26878896
TI  - Ocular surface findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis under methotrexate
      or biological agent therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA) treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as
      methotrexate (MTX) or MTX with biological agents. METHODS: One hundred and twelve
      eyes of 56 patients with RA and treated with MTX or MTX with biological agents
      were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups using DMARDs
      only (group 1) and patients using DMARDs and biologic agents together (group 2).
      In both groups; Schirmer's II test, tear film break-up time (tBUT), central
      corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), intraocular pressure (IOP)
      measurement, and anterior segment and fundus examinations of the eye with slit
      lamp were carried out. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score questionnaire
      were performed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with a mean age of 53.00 +/- 8.19
      years were in group 1 and 18 patients with a mean age of 51.00 +/- 9.54 years
      were in group 2. The mean duration of RA was 6.89 +/- 7.96 years in group 1 and
      5.70 +/- 9.00 years in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference
      between two groups with tBUT, CCT, CV, IOP (p < 0.05) and there was no
      significant difference with age, sex, disease duration, disease activity, and
      Schirmer's II test (p > 0.05). The disease duration showed a significant moderate
      negative correlation with CCT and CV in group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although
      tBUT values were significantly higher in the combination treatment group, CCT and
      CV values were significantly lower. Due to the decrease in corneal thickness, IOP
      was determined to be significantly lower.

PMID- 26878899
TI  - Analysis of Iterative Screening with Stepwise Compound Selection Based on
      Novartis In-house HTS Data.
AB  - With increased automation and larger compound collections, the development of
      high-throughput screening (HTS) started replacing previous approaches in drug
      discovery from around the 1980s onward. However, even today it is not always
      appropriate, or even feasible, to screen large collections of compounds in a
      particular assay. Here, we present an efficient method for iterative screening of
      small subsets of compound libraries. With this method, the retrieval of active
      compounds is optimized using their structural information and biological activity
      fingerprints. We validated this approach retrospectively on 34 Novartis in-house
      HTS assays covering a wide range of assay biology, including cell proliferation,
      antibacterial activity, gene expression, and phosphorylation. This method was
      employed to retrieve subsets of compounds for screening, where selected hits from
      any given round of screening were used as starting points to select chemically
      and biologically similar compounds for the next iteration. By only screening ~1%
      of the full screening collection (~15 000 compounds), the method consistently
      retrieves diverse compounds belonging to the top 0.5% of the most active
      compounds for the HTS campaign. For most of the assays, over half of the
      compounds selected by the method were found to be among the 5% most active
      compounds of the corresponding full-deck HTS. In addition, the stringency of the
      iterative method can be modified depending on the number of compounds one can
      afford to screen, making it a flexible tool to discover active compounds
      efficiently.

PMID- 26878900
TI  - Novel porphyrin-preparation, characterization, and applications in solar energy
      conversion.
AB  - Porphyrins have been demonstrated as one of the most efficient sensitizers in dye
      sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Herein, we investigated a series of porphyrin
      sensitizers functionalized with various pi-spacers, such as phenyl for LD14,
      thiophene for LW4, thiophene-phenyl for LW5, and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD)
      phenyl for LW24. Photo-physical investigation by means of time-resolved
      fluorescence and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed an
      accelerated inner charge transfer in porphyrins containing the BTD-phenyl pi
      spacer. Implementation of an auxiliary electron-deficient BTD unit to the
      porphyrin spacer also results in a broad light-harvesting ability extending up to
      840 nm, contributing to an enhanced charge transfer character from the porphyrin
      ring to the anchoring group. When utilized as a sensitizer in DSSCs, the LW24
      device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 9.2%, higher than those based on
      LD14 or LW5 porphyrins (PCE 9.0% or 8.2%, respectively) but lower than that of
      the LW4 device (PCE 9.5%). Measurements of transient photovoltage decays
      demonstrate that the LW24 device features the up-shifted potential band edge of
      the conduction band of TiO2, but involves serious charge recombination in the
      dye/TiO2 interface. The findings provide insights into the molecular structure
      and the charge-transfer characteristics for designing efficient porphyrin
      sensitizers for DSSC applications. 

PMID- 26878898
TI  - Potent and Selective Inhibitors of MTH1 Probe Its Role in Cancer Cell Survival.
AB  - Recent literature has claimed that inhibition of the enzyme MTH1 can eradicate
      cancer. MTH1 is one of the "housekeeping" enzymes that are responsible for
      hydrolyzing damaged nucleotides in cells and thus prevent them from being
      incorporated into DNA. We have developed orthogonal and chemically distinct tool
      compounds to those published in the literature to allow us to test the hypothesis
      that inhibition of MTH1 has wide applicability in the treatment of cancer. Here
      we present the work that led to the discovery of three structurally different
      series of MTH1 inhibitors with excellent potency, selectivity, and proven target
      engagement in cells. None of these compounds elicited the reported cellular
      phenotype, and additional siRNA and CRISPR experiments further support these
      observations. Critically, the difference between the responses of our highly
      selective inhibitors and published tool compounds suggests that the effect
      reported for the latter may be due to off-target cytotoxic effects. As a result,
      we conclude that the role of MTH1 in carcinogenesis and utility of its inhibition
      is yet to be established. 

PMID- 26878901
TI  - In situ plasmonic Ag nanoparticle anchored TiO2 nanotube arrays as visible-light
      driven photocatalysts for enhanced water splitting.
AB  - An ultrasonication-assisted in situ deposition strategy was utilised to uniformly
      decorate plasmonic Ag nanoparticles on vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays
      (NTAs) to construct a Ag@TiO2 NTA composite. The Ag nanoparticles act as
      efficient surface plasmon resonance (SPR) photosensitizers to drive
      photocatalytic water splitting under visible light irradiation. The Ag
      nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on the surface and inside the highly
      oriented TiO2 nanotubes. The visible-light-driven hydrogen production activities
      of silver nanoparticle anchored TiO2 nanotube array photocatalysts were evaluated
      using methanol as a sacrificial reagent in water under a 500 W Xe lamp with a UV
      light cutoff filter (lambda >= 420 nm). It was found that the hydrogen production
      rate of the Ag@TiO2 NTAs prepared with ultrasonication-assisted deposition for 5
      min was approximately 15 times higher than that of its pristine TiO2 NTAs
      counterpart. The highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is attributed
      to the SPR effect of Ag for enhanced visible light absorption and boosting the
      photogenerated electron-hole separation/transfer. This strategy is promising for
      the design and construction of high efficiency TiO2 based photocatalysts for
      solar energy conversion. 

PMID- 26878903
TI  - Total Synthesis of (+/-)-Gracilioether F.
AB  - Total synthesis of (+/-)-gracilioether F was achieved via a pivotal reductive
      cleavage of 1,2-dioxane from allenic ester in 11 steps. The key 1,2-dioxane
      species, derived from singlet oxygen and a diene, could be used as a common
      precursor for a stereocontrolled formation of the crucial 1,4-diol through a
      reductive cleavage. 

PMID- 26878904
TI  - Accessibility of summer meals and the food insecurity of low-income households
      with children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Almost no previous research has examined the impact of the US
      Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Summer Food Service Program and related
      Seamless Summer Option, which provide meals and snacks to low-income children
      over the summer. The present study investigated whether geographic accessibility
      of summer meals programme sites (a proxy for programme participation) was
      associated with food insecurity for low-income households. DESIGN: The study used
      data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and administrative data
      on summer meals sites in California. Geocoding was used to calculate driving time
      between CHIS households and nearby summer meals sites. Geographic accessibility
      was measured using a gravity model, which accounted for the spatially distributed
      supply of and demand for summer meals. Food insecurity and very low food security
      were measured using a standard six-item measure from the USDA. SUBJECTS: Low
      income families with children (n 5394). SETTING: A representative surveillance
      study of non-institutionalized households in California. RESULTS: Geographic
      accessibility was not associated with food insecurity. However, geographic
      accessibility was associated with a significantly lower probability of very low
      food security in the full sample and among households with younger children and
      those living in less urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: The USDA's summer meals programme
      may be effective at reducing the most severe form of food insecurity for low
      income households with children. Expanding the number of summer meals sites, the
      number of meals served at sites and sites' hours of operation may be effective
      strategies to promote nutritional health over the summer months.

PMID- 26878906
TI  - A superhydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-90) with high steam
      stability for efficient recovery of bioalcohols.
AB  - A superhydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-90) with high steam
      stability is prepared through post-functionalization via an amine condensation
      reaction. The developed superhydrophobic ZIF-90 is highly promising as an
      effective and reusable adsorbent for bio-alcohol recovery. 

PMID- 26878905
TI  - Rational design of reversible and irreversible cysteine sulfenic acid-targeted
      linear C-nucleophiles.
AB  - Concerns about off-target effects has motivated the development of reversible
      covalent inhibition strategies for targeting cysteine. However, such strategies
      have not been reported for the unique cysteine oxoform, sulfenic acid. Herein, we
      have designed and identified linear C-nucleophiles that react selectively with
      cysteine sulfenic acid. The resulting thioether adducts exhibit reversibility
      ranging from minutes to days under reducing conditions, showing the feasibility
      of tuning C-nucleophile reactivity across a wide range of time scales. 

PMID- 26878907
TI  - Quantitative secondary electron imaging for work function extraction at atomic
      level and layer identification of graphene.
AB  - Two-dimensional (2D) materials usually have a layer-dependent work function,
      which require fast and accurate detection for the evaluation of their device
      performance. A detection technique with high throughput and high spatial
      resolution has not yet been explored. Using a scanning electron microscope, we
      have developed and implemented a quantitative analytical technique which allows
      effective extraction of the work function of graphene. This technique uses the
      secondary electron contrast and has nanometre-resolved layer information. The
      measurement of few-layer graphene flakes shows the variation of work function
      between graphene layers with a precision of less than 10 meV. It is expected that
      this technique will prove extremely useful for researchers in a broad range of
      fields due to its revolutionary throughput and accuracy. 

PMID- 26878908
TI  - Regulatory role of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway on hepatic cancer stem cell
      marker CD133 under low glucose conditions.
AB  - Cancer was hypothesized to be driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs), but the
      metabolic determinants of CSC-like phenotype still remain elusive. Here, we
      present that hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) at least in part rescues
      cancer cell fate with inactivation of glycolysis. Firstly, metabolomic analysis
      profiled cellular metabolome in CSCs of hepatocellular carcinoma using CD133 cell
      surface marker. The metabolic signatures of CD133-positive subpopulation compared
      to CD133-negative cells highlighted HBP as one of the distinct metabolic
      pathways, prompting us to uncover the role of HBP in maintenance of CSC-like
      phenotype. To address this, CSC-like phenotypes and cell survival were
      investigated in cancer cells under low glucose conditions. As a result, HBP
      inhibitor azaserine reduced CD133-positive subpopulation and CD133 expression
      under high glucose condition. Furthermore, treatment of N-Acetylglucosamine in
      part restores CD133-positive subpopulation when either 2.5 mM glucose in culture
      media or glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose in HCC cell lines was applied,
      enhancing CD133 expression as well as promoting cancer cell survival. Together,
      HBP might be a key metabolic determinant in the functions of hepatic CSC marker
      CD133. 

PMID- 26878909
TI  - Discovery of Radioiodinated Monomeric Anthraquinones as a Novel Class of Necrosis
      Avid Agents for Early Imaging of Necrotic Myocardium.
AB  - Assessment of myocardial viability is deemed necessary to aid in clinical
      decision making whether to recommend revascularization therapy for patients with
      myocardial infarction (MI). Dianthraquinones such as hypericin (Hyp) selectively
      accumulate in necrotic myocardium, but were unsuitable for early imaging after
      administration to assess myocardial viability. Since dianthraquinones can be
      composed by coupling two molecules of monomeric anthraquinone and the active
      center can be found by splitting chemical structure, we propose that monomeric
      anthraquinones may be effective functional groups for necrosis targetability. In
      this study, eight radioiodinated monomeric anthraquinones were evaluated as novel
      necrosis avid agents (NAAs) for imaging of necrotic myocardium. All (131)I
      anthraquinones showed high affinity to necrotic tissues and (131)I-rhein emerged
      as the most promising compound. Infarcts were visualized on SPECT/CT images at 6
      h after injection of (131)I-rhein, which was earlier than that with (131)I-Hyp.
      Moreover, (131)I-rhein showed satisfactory heart-to-blood, heart-to-liver and
      heart-to-lung ratios for obtaining images of good diagnostic quality. (131)I
      rhein was a more promising "hot spot imaging" tracer for earlier visualization of
      necrotic myocardium than (131)I-Hyp, which supported further development of
      radiopharmaceuticals based on rhein for SPECT/CT ((123)I and (99m)Tc) or PET/CT
      imaging ((18)F and (124)I) of myocardial necrosis.

PMID- 26878910
TI  - "Optical communication with brain cells by means of an implanted duplex micro
      device with optogenetics and Ca(2+) fluoroimaging".
AB  - To better understand the brain function based on neural activity, a minimally
      invasive analysis technology in a freely moving animal is necessary. Such
      technology would provide new knowledge in neuroscience and contribute to
      regenerative medical techniques and prosthetics care. An application that
      combines optogenetics for voluntarily stimulating nerves, imaging to visualize
      neural activity, and a wearable micro-instrument for implantation into the brain
      could meet the abovementioned demand. To this end, a micro-device that can be
      applied to the brain less invasively and a system for controlling the device has
      been newly developed in this study. Since the novel implantable device has dual
      LEDs and a CMOS image sensor, photostimulation and fluorescence imaging can be
      performed simultaneously. The device enables bidirectional communication with the
      brain by means of light. In the present study, the device was evaluated in an in
      vitro experiment using a new on-chip 3D neuroculture with an extracellular matrix
      gel and an in vivo experiment involving regenerative medical transplantation and
      gene delivery to the brain by using both photosensitive channel and fluorescent
      Ca(2+) indicator. The device succeeded in activating cells locally by selective
      photostimulation, and the physiological Ca(2+) dynamics of neural cells were
      visualized simultaneously by fluorescence imaging. 

PMID- 26878911
TI  - Transcriptional activation of follistatin by Nrf2 protects pulmonary epithelial
      cells against silica nanoparticle-induced oxidative stress.
AB  - Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) cause oxidative stress in respiratory system.
      Meanwhile, human cells launch adaptive responses to overcome SiO2 NP toxicity.
      However, besides a few examples, the regulation of SiO2 NP-responsive proteins
      and their functions in SiO2 NP response remain largely unknown. In this study, we
      demonstrated that SiO2 NP induced the expression of follistatin (FST), a stress
      responsive gene, in mouse lung tissue as well as in human lung epithelial cells
      (A549). The levels of Ac-H3(K9/18) and H3K4me2, two active gene markers, at FST
      promoter region were significantly increased during SiO2 NP treatment. The
      induction of FST transcription was mediated by the nuclear factor erythroid 2
      related factor 2 (Nrf2), as evidenced by the decreased FST expression in Nrf2
      deficient cells and the direct binding of Nrf2 to FST promoter region. Down
      regulation of FST promoted SiO2 NP-induced apoptosis both in cultured cells and
      in mouse lung tissue. Furthermore, knockdown of FST increased while
      overexpression of FST decreased the expression level of NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1)
      and NOX5 as well as the production of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).
      Taken together, these findings demonstrated a protective role of FST in SiO2 NP
      induced oxidative stress and shed light on the interaction between SiO2 NPs and
      biological systems. 

PMID- 26878915
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26878912
TI  - Knockout of BRD7 results in impaired spermatogenesis and male infertility.
AB  - BRD7 was originally identified as a novel bromodomain gene and a potential
      transcriptional factor. BRD7 was found to be extensively expressed in multiple
      mouse tissues but was highly expressed in the testis. Furthermore, BRD7 was
      located in germ cells during multiple stages of spermatogenesis, ranging from the
      pachytene to the round spermatid stage. Homozygous knockout of BRD7 (BRD7(-/-))
      resulted in complete male infertility and spermatogenesis defects, including
      deformed acrosomal formation, degenerative elongating spermatids and irregular
      head morphology in postmeiotic germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium, which
      led to the complete arrest of spermatogenesis at step 13. Moreover, a high ratio
      of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL analysis, which was supported by high levels
      of the apoptosis markers annexin V and p53 in knockout testes. Increased
      expression of the DNA damage maker lambdaH2AX was also found in BRD7(-/-) mice,
      whereas DNA damage repair genes were down-regulated. Furthermore, no or lower
      expression of BRD7 was detected in the testes of azoospermia patients exhibiting
      spermatogenesis arrest than that in control group. These data demonstrate that
      BRD7 is involved in male infertility and spermatogenesis in mice, and BRD7 defect
      might be associated with the occurrence and development of human azoospermia. 

PMID- 26878913
TI  - Albuminuria, Cerebrovascular Disease and Cortical Atrophy: among Cognitively
      Normal Elderly Individuals.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that decreased glomerular filtration rate and
      albuminuria have different roles in brain structure alterations. We enrolled
      1,215 cognitively normal individuals, all of whom underwent high-resolution T1
      weighted volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans. The cerebral small vessel
      disease burdens were assessed with white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes,
      and microbleeds. Subjects were considered to have an abnormally elevated urine
      albumin creatinine ratio if the value was >=17 mg/g for men and >=25 mg/g for
      women. Albuminuria, but not estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), was
      associated with increased WMH burdens (p = 0.002). The data was analyzed after
      adjusting for age, sex, education, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus,
      hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, stroke, total cholesterol level, body
      mass index, status of smoking and alcohol drinking, and intracranial volume.
      Albuminuria was also associated with cortical thinning, predominantly in the
      frontal and occipital regions (both p < 0.01) in multiple linear regression
      analysis. However, eGFR was not associated with cortical thickness. Furthermore,
      path analysis for cortical thickness showed that albuminuria was associated with
      frontal thinning partially mediated by WMH burdens. The assessment of albuminuria
      is needed to improve our ability to identify individuals with high risk for
      cognitive impairments, and further institute appropriate preventive measures. 

PMID- 26878914
TI  - Identification of a Vibrio cholerae chemoreceptor that senses taurine and amino
      acids as attractants.
AB  - Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of cholera, was found to be attracted by
      taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a major constituent of human bile. Mlp37,
      the closest homolog of the previously identified amino acid chemoreceptor Mlp24,
      was found to mediate taxis to taurine as well as L-serine, L-alanine, L-arginine,
      and other amino acids. Methylation of Mlp37 was enhanced upon the addition of
      taurine and amino acids. Isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated that a
      purified periplasmic fragment of Mlp37 binds directly to taurine, L-serine, L
      alanine and L-arginine. Crystal structures of the periplamic domain of Mlp37
      revealed that L-serine and taurine bind to the membrane-distal PAS domain in
      essentially in the same way. The structural information was supported by
      characterising the in vivo properties of alanine-substituted mutant forms of
      Mlp37. The fact that the ligand-binding domain of the L-serine complex had a
      small opening, which would accommodate a larger R group, accounts for the broad
      ligand specificity of Mlp37 and allowed us to visualise ligand binding to Mlp37
      with fluorescently labelled L-serine. Taken together, we conclude that Mlp37
      serves as the major chemoreceptor for taurine and various amino acids. 

PMID- 26878916
TI  - Effectiveness of the interventions in preventing the progression of pre-frailty
      and frailty in older adults: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878917
TI  - Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in pancreatic
      exocrine insufficiency: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878918
TI  - Risk factors for and characteristics of dysphagia development in thermal burn
      injury and/or inhalation injury patients: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878919
TI  - Caregiver experiences of providing care to adult individuals living with a left
      ventricular assist device: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878921
TI  - Effectiveness of decision tools used to identify adult patients suitable for
      early discharge from emergency departments: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878920
TI  - The effect of yoga on depression and pain in adult patients with chronic low back
      pain: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878922
TI  - The experiences of stroke survivors, their families and unpaid carers regarding
      goal setting within stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878923
TI  - Parents' and carers' experiences of transitions and aftercare following a child's
      discharge from a pediatric intensive care unit to an inpatient ward setting: a
      qualitative systematic review protocol.

PMID- 26878924
TI  - The experiences of mental health professionals and patients in the use of pro re
      nata medication in acute adult mental health care settings: a systematic review
      protocol of qualitative evidence.

PMID- 26878925
TI  - The effectiveness of structured interdisciplinary collaboration for adult home
      hospice patients on patient satisfaction and hospital admissions and re
      admissions: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction and hospital re-admission rates are the two
      major outcomes for measuring quality of healthcare delivery. Interdisciplinary
      collaboration, a concept that describes coordination of care between multiple
      healthcare professionals and patients and families to deliver the highest quality
      of care across settings, is fundamental to improving patient outcomes. Home
      hospice care is palliative in nature and is a critical segment of patient care.
      To date, no systematic review has been undertaken to determine the effectiveness
      of structured interdisciplinary collaboration in the home hospice setting in
      relation to patient satisfaction and hospital readmission. OBJECTIVE: The aim of
      the review was to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of
      structured interdisciplinary collaboration on patient satisfaction and hospital
      admission and re-admission rates for adults receiving home hospice services.
      INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults, male and female (18 years old or older), receiving
      home hospice services or transitioning from hospital to home hospice servicesThe
      studies that evaluate interdisciplinary collaboration among the hospice team
      providing home hospice services in the home care settingsIn this review,
      randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were considered for
      inclusion.Patient satisfaction and all cause hospital admissions and re-admission
      rates. SEARCH STRATEGY: Published and unpublished literature in the English
      language was sought from the inception of the databases through August 15, 2014.
      The databases searched included: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied
      Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials (CENTRAL), Nursing & Allied Health Source, Health Source: Nursing/Academic
      Edition and ProQuest Health Management. A search of grey literature and any
      relevant homecare/hospice websites was also performed. RESULTS: There were no
      studies located that met the inclusion requirements of this review. There were no
      text or opinion pieces that were specific to structured interdisciplinary
      collaboration among the hospice team in home care settings on patient
      satisfaction and hospital readmission. CONCLUSION: There is currently no evidence
      available to determine the effectiveness of structured interdisciplinary
      collaboration among hospice teams in home care settings in regard to patient
      satisfaction and hospital readmission. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: No conclusive
      recommendations can be made regarding the effectiveness of structured
      interdisciplinary collaboration among home hospice teams in home care settings in
      regard to patient satisfaction and hospital readmission. IMPLICATIONS FOR
      RESEARCH: Quantitative and qualitative research studies are urgently required to
      determine the effectiveness of structured interdisciplinary collaboration among
      home hospice teams in home care settings in regard to patient satisfaction and
      hospital readmission.

PMID- 26878926
TI  - The effectiveness of systematic perioperative oral hygiene in reduction of
      postoperative respiratory tract infections after elective thoracic surgery in
      adults: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections are a significant contributor to patient
      morbidity and mortality. Nosocomial infections significantly increase hospital
      length of stay and total hospital costs. Thoracic surgery, mechanical ventilation
      and/or admission to an intensive care unit are known to increase patients' risk
      for nosocomial respiratory tract infection. OBJECTIVES: To identify, appraise and
      synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of systematic
      perioperative oral hygiene in the reduction of postoperative respiratory airway
      infections in adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. INCLUSION
      CRITERIA: Patients over the age of 18 years who had been admitted for elective
      thoracic surgery, regardless of gender, ethnicity, diagnosis severity, co
      morbidity or previous treatment.Perioperative systematic oral hygiene (such as
      mechanical removal of dental biofilm or plaques and/or systematic use of mouth
      rinse) performed by patients themselves or by healthcare staff (such as
      nurses).Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies.Nosocomial
      infections, specifically respiratory tracts infections, and surgical site
      infections SEARCH STRATEGY: Multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus,
      Swemed+, Health Technology Assessment Database and Turning Research Into Practice
      [TRIP] database) were searched from 1980 to December 2014. Studies published in
      English, German, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian were considered for inclusion in
      this review. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Two independent reviewers used the standard
      critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute to assess the
      methodological quality of studies. DATA EXTRACTION: The process of data
      extraction was undertaken independently by two reviewers using tools from the
      Joanna Briggs Institute. DATA SYNTHESIS: Quantitative results were synthesized in
      meta-analysis. RESULTS: This review includes six studies: three randomized
      controlled trials and three quasi-experimental studies.The absolute magnitude of
      the summary effect sizes were: for nosocomial infections relative risk (RR) 0.65
      (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.78) for respiratory tract infections RR 0.48
      (95%CI: 0.36-0.65) and for deep surgical site infections RR 0.48 (95%CI 0.27
      0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic perioperative oral hygiene reduces postoperative
      nosocomial, lower respiratory tract infections and surgical site infections but
      not urinary tract infections. The effect is statistically, clinically and
      practically significant.Perioperative decontamination of the nasopharynx and/or
      oropharynx is a strategy worth pursuing. The intervention is cheap and can easily
      be carried out by the patients themselves. (Grade A)Studies testing
      decontamination of the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx have until now only included
      patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures. As the interventions are cheap,
      easy to carry out and have a great impact on the patients' outcome, it is
      recommendable to carry out more studies involving other type of patients
      undergoing major surgery with a high prevalence of nosocomial infections,
      respiratory tract infections and surgical site infections.

PMID- 26878927
TI  - The effectiveness of inpatient physical therapy compared to outpatient physical
      therapy in older adults after total hip replacement in the post-discharge period:
      a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total hip replacement is the most effective and safest method for
      treating severe degenerative, traumatic and other diseases of the hip joint.
      Total hip replacement can reliably relieve pain and improve function in the
      majority of patients for a period of 15 to 20 years or more postoperatively.
      Physical therapy follows each total hip replacement surgery. Physical therapy
      protocols after total hip replacement in the post-discharge period vary widely in
      terms of setting (inpatient, outpatient), content (the particular set of
      exercises used), and frequency (e.g. daily versus twice a week). In current
      literature, there is no systematic review which has compared the effectiveness of
      inpatient and outpatient physical therapy in patients after total hip replacement
      in the post-discharge period. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review
      was to compare the effectiveness of inpatient physical therapy with outpatient
      physical therapy on the quality of life and gait measures in older adults after
      total hip replacement in the post-discharge period. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This
      review considered studies that include older adults (over 65 years) who have had
      total hip replacement and are in the post-discharge period. Adults with bilateral
      or multiple simultaneous surgeries and also patients who have had
      hemiarthroplasty of the hip joint were excluded.This review considered studies
      that included any type of physical therapy delivered in inpatient settings
      provided by professionals with education in physical therapy. Inpatient physical
      therapy delivered at any frequency and over any duration was included.This review
      considered studies that included as a comparator any type of physical therapy
      delivered in outpatient settings provided by professionals with education in
      physical therapy or no physical therapy.This review considered studies that
      included the following primary and secondary outcomes. The primary outcome was
      quality of life, assessed by any validated assessment tool. The secondary outcome
      was measures of gait assessed by any valid methods.This review considered both
      experimental and observational study designs including randomized controlled
      trials, non-randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, before and after
      studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case control studies and
      analytical cross sectional studies for inclusion. SEARCH STRATEGY: The search
      strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished studies. A three-step
      search strategy was utilized in 12 databases. Studies published in all languages
      and any date were considered for inclusion in this review. METHODOLOGICAL
      QUALITY: Assessment of methodological quality was not conducted as no studies
      were identified that met the inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS:
      Data extraction and synthesis was not performed because no studies were included
      in this systematic review. RESULTS: During to the three-step search strategy 4330
      papers were identified. The primary and secondary reviewer independently
      retrieved 42 potentially relevant papers according to the inclusion criteria by
      title and abstract screening. Following assessment of full text all of the
      retrieved papers were excluded based on the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS:
      There is no scientific evidence comparing the effectiveness of inpatient physical
      therapy with outpatient physical therapy in older patients after total hip
      replacement in the post-discharge period. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: This
      systematic review has identified gaps in the literature for comparing the
      effectiveness of inpatient physical therapy with and outpatient physical therapy
      on the quality of life and gait measures in older adults after total hip
      replacement in the post-discharge period. Prospective randomized double blind
      multicenter controlled trials are needed to answer this important clinical
      question.

PMID- 26878928
TI  - The effectiveness of the teach-back method on adherence and self-management in
      health education for people with chronic disease: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases are increasing worldwide and have become a
      significant burden to those affected by those diseases. Disease-specific
      education programs have demonstrated improved outcomes, although people do forget
      information quickly or memorize it incorrectly. The teach-back method was
      introduced in an attempt to reinforce education to patients. To date, the
      evidence regarding the effectiveness of health education employing the teach-back
      method in improved care has not yet been reviewed systematically. OBJECTIVES:
      This systematic review examined the evidence on using the teach-back method in
      health education programs for improving adherence and self-management of people
      with chronic disease. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults aged 18 years and over with one
      or more than one chronic disease.All types of interventions which included the
      teach-back method in an education program for people with chronic diseases. The
      comparator was chronic disease education programs that did not involve the teach
      back method.Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, cohort studies,
      before-after studies and case-control studies.The outcomes of interest were
      adherence, self-management, disease-specific knowledge, readmission, knowledge
      retention, self-efficacy and quality of life. SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches were
      conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, ProQuest
      Nursing and Allied Health Source, and Google Scholar databases. Search terms were
      combined by AND or OR in search strings. Reference lists of included articles
      were also searched for further potential references. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Two
      reviewers conducted quality appraisal of papers using the Joanna Briggs Institute
      Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument. DATA EXTRACTION:
      Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics
      Assessment and Review Instrument data extraction instruments. DATA SYNTHESIS:
      There was significant heterogeneity in selected studies, hence a meta-analysis
      was not possible and the results were presented in narrative form. RESULTS: Of
      the 21 articles retrieved in full, 12 on the use of the teach-back method met the
      inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. Four studies confirmed
      improved disease-specific knowledge in intervention participants. One study
      showed a statistically significant improvement in adherence to medication and
      diet among type 2 diabetics patients in the intervention group compared to the
      control group (p < 0.001). Two studies found statistically significant
      improvements in self-efficacy (p = 0.0026 and p < 0.001) in the intervention
      groups. One study examined quality of life in heart failure patients but the
      results did not improve from the intervention (p = 0.59). Five studies found a
      reduction in readmission rates and hospitalization but these were not always
      statistically significant. Two studies showed improvement in daily weighing among
      heart failure participants, and in adherence to diet, exercise and foot care
      among those with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the teach-back method
      showed positive effects in a wide range of health care outcomes although these
      were not always statistically significant. Studies in this systematic review
      revealed improved outcomes in disease-specific knowledge, adherence, self
      efficacy and the inhaler technique. There was a positive but inconsistent trend
      also seen in improved self-care and reduction of hospital readmission rates.
      There was limited evidence on improvement in quality of life or disease related
      knowledge retention.Evidence from the systematic review supports the use of the
      teach-back method in educating people with chronic disease to maximize their
      disease understanding and promote knowledge, adherence, self-efficacy and self
      care skills.Future studies are required to strengthen the evidence on effects of
      the teach-back method. Larger randomized controlled trials will be needed to
      determine the effectiveness of the teach-back method in quality of life,
      reduction of readmission, and hospitalizations.

PMID- 26878929
TI  - Purposeful and timely nursing rounds: a best practice implementation project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Purposeful and timely rounding is a best practice intervention to
      routinely meet patient care needs, ensure patient safety, decrease the occurrence
      of patient preventable events, and proactively address problems before they
      occur. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) endorsed hourly rounding as
      the best way to reduce call lights and fall injuries, and increase both quality
      of care and patient satisfaction. Nurse knowledge regarding purposeful rounding
      and infrastructure supporting timeliness are essential components for consistency
      with this patient centred practice. OBJECTIVES: The project aimed to improve
      patient satisfaction and safety through implementation of purposeful and timely
      nursing rounds. Goals for patient satisfaction scores and fall volume were set.
      Specific objectives were to determine current compliance with evidence-based
      criteria related to rounding times and protocols, improve best practice knowledge
      among staff nurses, and increase compliance with these criteria. METHODS: For the
      objectives of this project the Joanna Briggs Institute's Practical Application of
      Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit tool were used.
      Direct observation of staff nurses on a medical surgical unit in the United
      States was employed to assess timeliness and utilization of a protocol when
      rounding. Interventions were developed in response to baseline audit results. A
      follow-up audit was conducted to determine compliance with the same criteria. For
      the project aims, pre- and post-intervention unit-level data related to nursing
      sensitive elements of patient satisfaction and safety were compared. RESULTS:
      Rounding frequency at specified intervals during awake and sleeping hours nearly
      doubled. Use of a rounding protocol increased substantially to 64% compliance
      from zero. Three elements of patient satisfaction had substantive rate increases
      but the hospital's goals were not reached. Nurse communication and pain
      management scores increased modestly (5% and 11%, respectively). Responsiveness
      of hospital staff increased moderately (15%) with a significant sub-element
      increase in toileting (41%). Patient falls decreased by 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses
      have the ability to improve patient satisfaction and patient safety outcomes by
      utilizing nursing round interventions which serve to improve patient
      communication and staff responsiveness. Having a supportive infrastructure and an
      organized approach, encompassing all levels of staff, to meet patient needs
      during their hospital stay was a key factor for success. Hard-wiring of new
      practices related to workflow takes time as staff embrace change and understand
      how best practice interventions significantly improve patient outcomes.

PMID- 26878930
TI  - Evaluation of the acute changes in objective accommodation, pupil size and ocular
      wavefront aberrations after cigarette smoking.
AB  - CONTEXT: The acute effects of cigarette smoking on pupil size and ocular
      wavefront aberrations (OWA) have been previously documented. The accommodation
      status of the eye is well known to be related to ocular aberrations. No previous
      study has evaluated the impact of cigarette smoking on the accommodation status
      of the eye. This study presents intriguing findings regarding the changes in
      objective accommodation of the eye after cigarette smoking. OBJECTIVE: To
      evaluate the acute changes in objective accommodation and OWA after cigarette
      smoking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 34 otherwise healthy cigarette smoker
      participants were included in this prospective study. All subjects smoked a
      single cigarette containing 1 mg nicotine. Measurements of pupil size, OWA and
      objective accommodation were done before and after smoking. A Wavefront
      Aberrometer device (Irx3, Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) was used for the
      measurements. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 36.6 +/- 10.3 years
      (range 21-51 years). Pupil size did not significantly differ before (mean 5.72 +/
      1.21 mm) and after smoking (mean 5.68 +/- 1.14 mm) (p = 0.62). However, a
      significant decrease was observed in total spherical aberration (TSA) of the eye
      after smoking (p = 0.01). There was an increase in objective accommodation after
      smoking at each accommodative stimulus (range 0-5). This increment was
      significant at 2 D (p = 0.02) and 3 D (p = 0.03) of stimulus. DISCUSSION AND
      CONCLUSIONS: The TSA of the eye significantly decreases after smoking. Cigarette
      smoking also causes a significant increase in objective accommodation at 2 D and
      3 D of stimulus.

PMID- 26878931
TI  - The potential of peer social norms to shape food intake in adolescents and young
      adults: a systematic review of effects and moderators.
AB  - This systematic review aims to assess the role that peer social norms play in
      shaping young people's food intake, focusing on the important questions of for
      whom and when peer social norms are related to how much young people eat. Thirty
      three eligible studies were reviewed (17 correlational, 16 experimental). All but
      one correlational studies found significant associations between norms and food
      intake. All experimental studies found effects of norm manipulations on food
      intake, and some evidence was found of behavioural spillover effects of norms.
      Four moderators were distilled from our literature synthesis that stipulate for
      whom and when peer social norms are related to food intake: identification with
      the norm referent group and eating-related habit strength were found to moderate
      the effects of social norms on food intake; forceful injunctive norms were found
      not to be related to food intake; and the influence of norms seemed restricted to
      types of foods typically consumed in the presence of peers. The findings from
      this literature synthesis have important implications for research, and
      moderators are discussed in light of psychological theory. Where applicable,
      potential implications for the development of social norm-based interventions to
      improve young people's food intake are also highlighted. 

PMID- 26878932
TI  - Industry and Occupation in the Electronic Health Record: An Investigation of the
      National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Industry and Occupation
      Computerized Coding System.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inclusion of information about a patient's work, industry, and
      occupation, in the electronic health record (EHR) could facilitate occupational
      health surveillance, better health outcomes, prevention activities, and
      identification of workers' compensation cases. The US National Institute for
      Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed an autocoding system for
      "industry" and "occupation" based on 1990 Bureau of Census codes; its
      effectiveness requires evaluation in conjunction with promoting the mandatory
      addition of these variables to the EHR. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was
      to evaluate the intercoder reliability of NIOSH's Industry and Occupation
      Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) when applied to data collected in a community
      survey conducted under the Affordable Care Act; to determine the proportion of
      records that are autocoded using NIOCCS. METHODS: Standard Occupational
      Classification (SOC) codes are used by several federal agencies in databases that
      capture demographic, employment, and health information to harmonize variables
      related to work activities among these data sources. There are 359 industry and
      occupation responses that were hand coded by 2 investigators, who came to a
      consensus on every code. The same variables were autocoded using NIOCCS at the
      high and moderate criteria level. RESULTS: Kappa was .84 for agreement between
      hand coders and between the hand coder consensus code versus NIOCCS high
      confidence level codes for the first 2 digits of the SOC code. For 4 digits,
      NIOCCS coding versus investigator coding ranged from kappa=.56 to .70. In this
      study, NIOCCS was able to achieve production rates (ie, to autocode) 31%-36% of
      entered variables at the "high confidence" level and 49%-58% at the "medium
      confidence" level. Autocoding (production) rates are somewhat lower than those
      reported by NIOSH. Agreement between manually coded and autocoded data are
      "substantial" at the 2-digit level, but only "fair" to "good" at the 4-digit
      level. CONCLUSIONS: This work serves as a baseline for performance of NIOCCS by
      investigators in the field. Further field testing will clarify NIOCCS
      effectiveness in terms of ability to assign codes and coding accuracy and will
      clarify its value as inclusion of these occupational variables in the EHR is
      promoted.

PMID- 26878933
TI  - The immortal amoeba: a useful model to study cellular differentiation processes?

PMID- 26878934
TI  - Bacterial genomic epidemiology, from local outbreak characterization to species
      history reconstruction.
AB  - Bacteriology has embraced the next-generation sequencing revolution, swiftly
      moving from the time of single genome sequencing to the age of genomic
      epidemiology. Hundreds and now even thousands of genomes are being sequenced for
      single bacterial species, allowing unprecedented levels of resolution and insight
      in the evolution and epidemic diffusion of the main bacterial pathogens. Here, we
      present a review of some of the most recent and groundbreaking studies in this
      field. 

PMID- 26878936
TI  - Lupeol Isolated from Sorbus commixta Suppresses 1alpha,25-(OH)2D3-Mediated
      Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss in Vitro and in Vivo.
AB  - Lupeol is a lupane-type triterpene isolated from Sorbus commixta, an oriental
      medicine used to treat arthritis and inflammatory diseases. However, the
      antiosteoporotic effects of S. commixta or any of its constituents have not been
      studied yet. In the present study, we have examined the effect of lupeol (a major
      active triterpenoid isolated from S. commixta) on osteoclastogenesis and sought
      to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. We evaluated whether lupeol
      antagonized osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Lupeol markedly
      inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity through its
      effects on MAP kinases and transcription factors (NF-kappaB, NFATc1, and c-Fos)
      downstream of the osteoclast differentiation factor receptor RANK. Furthermore,
      in vivo efficacy of lupeol was confirmed by using an animal model of
      hypercalcemic mediated bone loss. Taken together, lupeol showed strong inhibitory
      effects on osteoclastogenesis. Supplementation with S. commixta and lupeol could
      be beneficial for bone health or osteoclast-related diseases such as
      osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteolysis associated with periodontal disease,
      and multiple myeloma. 

PMID- 26878937
TI  - Visible Light-Controlled Nitric Oxide Release from Hindered Nitrobenzene
      Derivatives for Specific Modulation of Mitochondrial Dynamics.
AB  - Nitric oxide (NO) is a physiological signaling molecule, whose biological
      production is precisely regulated at the subcellular level. Here, we describe the
      design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel mitochondria-targeted NO releasers,
      Rol-DNB-mor and Rol-DNB-pyr, that are photocontrollable not only in the UV
      wavelength range but also in the biologically favorable visible wavelength range
      (530-590 nm). These caged NO compounds consist of a hindered nitrobenzene as the
      NO-releasing moiety and a rhodamine chromophore. Their NO-release properties were
      characterized by an electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method and
      fluorometric analysis using NO probes, and their mitochondrial localization in
      live cells was confirmed by costaining. Furthermore, we demonstrated visible
      light control of mitochondrial fragmentation via activation of dynamin-related
      protein 1 (Drp1) by means of precisely controlled NO delivery into mitochondria
      of cultured HEK293 cells, utilizing Rol-DNB-pyr.

PMID- 26878938
TI  - Rhodium-Catalyzed/Copper-Mediated Tandem C(sp(2))-H Alkynylation and Annulation:
      Synthesis of 11-Acylated Imidazo[1,2-a:3,4-a']dipyridin-5-ium-4-olates from 2H
      [1,2'-Bipyridin]-2-ones and Propargyl Alcohols.
AB  - A rhodium-catalyzed/copper-mediated tandem C(sp(2))-H alkynylation and
      intramolecular annulation of 2H-[1,2'-bipyridin]-2-ones with propargyl alcohols
      for the synthesis of 11-acylated imidazo[1,2-a:3,4-a']dipyridin-5-ium-4-olates is
      described. 

PMID- 26878935
TI  - Presence of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia despite 7 years of annual
      ivermectin monotherapy mass drug administration for onchocerciasis control: a
      study in north-west Ethiopia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is considerable interest in determining whether mass drug
      administration (MDA) with ivermectin for onchocerciasis control will eliminate
      coendemic lymphatic filariasis (LF). The objective of this study was to determine
      the prevalence of LF microfilaremia in onchocerciasis endemic districts that had
      received 7 years of MDA with ivermectin. METHOD: Three villages with a 2010 LF
      circulating antigenaemia prevalence (determined in a mapping exercise using
      immunochromatography tests) ranging from 23 to 56% were surveyed for the presence
      of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria (mf) in 2012. These villages had been
      treated with ivermectin MDA for onchocerciasis with reported total population
      coverage of >=65%. A total of 774 residents aged 2 years and above, of both
      genders, provided 60 MUl nocturnal blood samples between 10 pm and 2 am. Standard
      thick smears were prepared and examined microscopically after Giemsa staining for
      the presence of W. bancrofti mf. RESULTS: The mean mf prevalence was 4.7%
      (village range 1.1-11.0%). The mean mf density was 9.8 mf/60 MUl (village range 9
      13.1) among the positive individuals. Children in the 2-4-year-old and 5-9-year
      old age groups were infected suggesting transmission occurred during the MDA
      period. A village level review of MDA treatment coverage records showed an
      average total population coverage of 66.4% over a 7-year period, but with a
      considerable range of annual coverage (43.0-89.9%). In addition, village level
      treatment coverage data were missing from the village with the highest mf
      prevalence (11%) for 2 of the 7 years. CONCLUSION: 7 years of annual mass
      treatment with ivermectin monotherapy for onchocerciasis did not interrupt LF
      transmission. In expanding the onchocerciasis ivermectin MDA programme to include
      LF, albendazole should be added and treatment coverage improved.

PMID- 26878939
TI  - Early intervention in psychosis: Perspectives on Asian studies.

PMID- 26878940
TI  - Brain stimulation therapies for psychiatric disorders: The first decade of the
      new millennium--A review.
AB  - Three new brain stimulation therapies have emerged in the last decade for
      clinical use in psychiatric disorders. Combined with electroconvulsive therapy
      (ECT), these therapies offer much hope to patients with medication refractory
      depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and auditory hallucinations of
      schizophrenia. In this article we briefly review the history, development and
      evidence for each of the four stimulation therapies and describe the current
      state-of-the-art. Neuromodulation is considered as a possible common mechanism
      mediating the effects of these therapies. Finally, empirical guidelines are
      suggested for the practicing psychiatrist for the optimal utilization of
      stimulation therapies. It is concluded that with increasing technological
      sophistication, research on optimal protocols and emergence of newer modalities
      of stimulation, the future holds much promise for neuromodulatory therapies in
      psychiatric disorders. 

PMID- 26878941
TI  - Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in bipolar disorder: A narrative review of
      literature.
AB  - In many countries including India electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is frequently
      used to treat different phases of bipolar disorder. The response to ECT is
      impressive in mania, depression and in mixed affective states. Preliminary
      evidence also suggests benefit from maintenance ECT in bipolar disorder. However,
      most of the literature on efficacy and adverse effects comes from case series,
      retrospective reports and open trials - controlled trials have been few and far
      between. Official guidelines recommend the use of ECT only when there is a dire
      emergency or when all other options have been exhausted. Concurrent use of
      lithium and antiepileptic drugs along with ECT is common in clinical practice.
      While such practice appears to be largely safe, one should be mindful about dose
      of lithium and possible interference of antiepileptic drugs with efficacy of ECT.
      The use of suprathreshold bilateral ECT and bifrontal placement of electrodes may
      confer some advantage over other methods. 

PMID- 26878942
TI  - Ethnopsychopharmacology considerations for Asians and Asian Americans.
AB  - Asians comprise more than 60% of the world's population and are the fastest
      growing minority group in the United States. Today's psychiatrist must learn to
      recognize and appreciate the unique factors that influence mental health outcomes
      in this group. Asian Americans are affected by psychiatric disorders at similar
      rates as non-Asians, but are significantly underrepresented in psychiatric
      clinics. When Asians and Asian Americans do present for psychiatric treatment,
      they often do so with higher severity of illness, and variable levels of
      compliance. Studies over the past three decades have suggested that
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of various psychotropic medications
      may be different in Asians, leading to differences in dosage requirements and
      side-effect profiles. These variations appear to be largely determined by genetic
      predisposition, but are also influenced by other factors such as environment,
      social support, cultural perceptions, and physicians' prescribing habits. In this
      paper, we provide an overview of biological and socio-cultural issues as they
      relate to psychopharmacology in Asians and Asian Americans, with the hope that a
      better understanding of these issues will lead to improved mental health care
      delivery to this population both in the United States, as well as in Asian
      countries. 

PMID- 26878944
TI  - Barriers to discharge of patients from a government-run day-care psychiatric
      rehabilitation center in India.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many psychiatric patients undergoing vocational training do not
      achieve successful transition to regular work. In this study, we evaluated the
      barriers for discharge from day care center to actual work place. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: In a cross-sectional study at a government-run day-care center at
      National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, we
      studied 76 patients who were undergoing vocational training for more than 1 year.
      We did a semi-structured interview with patients, their family members, and
      instructors of various occupational sections. We used a questionnaire of 17
      different barriers to assess the obstacles in their discharge from day-care
      center to actual work place. RESULTS: The majority of them had a diagnosis of
      mental retardation (n=47) followed by schizophrenia (n=29), and bipolar disorder
      (n=9). The mean (SD) age and duration of illness was 33.6 (9.7) years and 12.5
      (9.3) years, respectively. Patients had more than one diagnosis. The median
      duration of stay in day-care center was 5.9 years. Doubts regarding performance
      at a new work place (n=60), fear of performance at new work place (n=65), and the
      fear of transition to regular work (n=64) were the most common barriers reported
      by patients, their family members and instructors of various occupational
      sections, respectively. DISCUSSION: Educating patients and their family members,
      gradual exposure to new working environment, and increased community level
      vocational opportunities may potentially overcome above barriers. Getting them to
      the actual job early in their course of treatment will improve their adjustment
      to a new work place and overall outcome.

PMID- 26878943
TI  - Family violence influences mental health of school girls in Iran: Results of a
      preliminary study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The family plays the first and may be the most important role in
      the development of individuals' personality, health and function. The current
      study aimed to evaluate different aspects of violence against a sample of school
      girls of Iranian population and its effect on their mental health. METHODS: A
      cluster, randomized sample consisting of 399 school girls was selected from all
      of the high schools in Tabriz city, northwest of Iran. Students were asked to
      participate in this study anonymously. Signs and symptoms of depression and
      anxiety were assessed by the General health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) measuring
      their social function and physical situation as well. Another inquiry form
      involving questions about different kinds of violence and neglect gathered
      information about their situation during the recent year. RESULTS: The mean (SD)
      age of the students was 14.9 (0.8) and all were under 18. The mean (SD) total
      score of GHQ-28 was 24.18(13.61). The sub-threshold score in GHQ-28 (under 23)
      was observed in 44.1% of students which indicates considerable problems in mental
      health status. The type of reported violence was not significantly associated
      with an abnormal score of GHQ-28. A higher score of somatic symptoms was related
      to verbal violence at home by parents and the educational level of mother. High
      score on social dysfunction was predicted by lower educational level of mother.
      The depression scale was related to humility, neglect and discrimination at home.
      The factors were not predicting the score of anxiety or insomnia subscales.
      DISCUSSION: The current study observed a noticeable amount of problems in the
      mental health of teenage girls in a sample of the Iranian population. The
      educational level of the mother plays an important role in the mental health of
      school girls.

PMID- 26878945
TI  - Validation of Malaysian translated distress thermometer with problem checklist
      among the breast cancer survivors in Malaysia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Distress thermometer (DT) is a single-item measure generated to
      assess the psychological distress among cancer patients. The aim of this study
      was to validate the translated DT as a tool to determine the psychological
      distress level and assess the factors associated with distress among the working
      breast cancer survivors and also to compare with the Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale (HADS). METHODS: 150 working breast cancer survivors were
      interviewed using the Malay and Chinese language translated version of DT and
      HADS. RESULTS: Based on HADS, 23.3% were anxious, 19.3% were depressed whereas
      15.3% experienced both anxiety and depression. About 14.7% of the respondents
      reported distress (cutoff>=5) on DT. A significant association was found between
      the DT and HADS which indicated that both were measuring the same construct,
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-T (F=71.34, p<0.001), Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale-A (F=65.81, p<0.001), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-D
      (F=74.28, p<0.001). This study also showed that a cut-off of >=5 on DT yielded an
      area under Receiver analysis characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.95 with a
      sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 89.8% for HADS-T score defined as cases.
      On the problem checklist, respondents scoring above the cut-off of 5 on DT had a
      greater number of problems with family (70.0%), emotional (65.0%), physical
      (60.0%), practical (50.0%) and spiritual/religious (15.0%) issues. DISCUSSION:
      Overall, DT was a useful and simple screening tool to indicate psychological
      distress. The translated DT has a good sensitivity and specificity for screening
      psychological distress among the Malaysian breast cancer survivors.

PMID- 26878946
TI  - An examination of relationship between neurological soft signs and
      neurocognition.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Neurological soft signs (NSS) and cognitive function had been examined
      in schizophrenia, but their relationship has remained elusive for several years.
      We examined the relationship between NSS and cognitive functions in the present
      study. METHOD: A cross sectional study was carried out. Subjects were drawn from
      first degree relatives of schizophrenia patients, admitted as inpatient or
      attending as an outpatient. Controls were recruited by word of mouth from
      hospital staff and visitors of hospitalized patients. Those subjects who
      satisfied the screening process were subjected to Cambridge Neurological
      Inventory for soft sign assessment and digit span test, paired associate learning
      test (PALT) and visuo-spatial working memory matrix (VSWMM) for cognitive
      function assessment. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM)
      was used for analysis. RESULT: Significant negative correlation of primitive
      reflexes with PALT; of motor coordination with VSWMM, working memory (WM) and
      cognitive index; of total NSS with WM and cognitive index among first degree
      relatives. SEM showed that motor soft signs have important negative influence
      over WM. CONCLUSION: The current findings indicate that NSS have significant
      negative effect on cognitive functioning.

PMID- 26878947
TI  - Risky sexual behaviors, mental health, and history of childhood abuse among
      adolescents.
AB  - Although it seems evident that attention should be paid to risky sexual behaviors
      and their association with mental health among young people, this topic has not
      been thoroughly investigated. The present study aims to explore the relationship
      between sexual risk behaviors and mental health among adolescents. The
      participants were 251 adolescents in a juvenile detention facility (221 males and
      31 females) as the "delinquent" group and 367 high school students (167 males and
      200 females) as the "non-delinquent" group. A questionnaire including the Kessler
      10, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Adolescent Dissociative Experience
      Scale was employed to measure mental health status as well as sexual risk
      behaviors, suicidal ideation/attempts, and abuse history. Having a history of
      sexual abuse or of physical abuse was associated with age when one first had sex
      among males with delinquent behaviors, while same tendency was observed among
      males without delinquent behaviors. Among the female with delinquent behaviors
      group, past abuse history was significantly associated with higher number of sex
      partners. In the non-delinquent group, better mental health among males and,
      contrarily, worse mental health among females were associated with having more
      sex partners. The results highlight the importance of addressing abuse history
      among females and males. Given that poor mental health status in the adolescents
      was associated with risky sexual behaviors, adolescents are a vulnerable group
      that requires attention in terms of sexual and reproductive health that
      integrates mental health and psychosocial components. 

PMID- 26878948
TI  - Commentary-Asian Pearls.

PMID- 26878949
TI  - The study of acoustic startle reflex in male patients with chronic schizophrenia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the deficits of acoustic startle reflex (ASR) that might
      exist in Chinese patients with schizophrenia and the effects of antipsychotics on
      ASR. METHODS: Participants included 25 male patients with chronic schizophrenia
      treated with typical antipsychotics (typical group), 25 who were treated with
      atypical antipsychotic clozapine (clozapine group) and 25 healthy male subjects
      (control group) matched for age and years of education. Startle reflex to
      acoustic stimuli were examined in all subjects from the three groups. At the same
      day of startle testing, psychopathological symptoms of the patients were assessed
      with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: (1) Startle
      response (SR) was significantly reduced in typical group as compared to control
      group [(553.6+/-516.9)mV vs. (942.0+/-447.3)mV, P=0.009]. SR of clozapine group
      [(755.9+/-439.4)mV] was greater than that of typical group and less than that of
      control group, but there was no significant difference between the clozapine
      group and the other two. (2) Habituation (HAB) of startle reflex in typical group
      was significantly lower than in control group [(17.8+/-35.8)% vs. (44.9+/-28.9)%,
      P=0.027]. HAB of clozapine group [(22.9+/-34.1)%] was higher than that of typical
      group and less than that of control group, but there was no significant
      difference between clozapine group and the other groups. (3) Compared with
      healthy controls, patients of typical group exhibited the significant reduction
      in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle reflex (P=0.024) when prepulse interval
      (LI) was 120ms. PPI of clozapine group was higher than typical group and less
      than control group, but no significant differences in PPI were found between
      clozapine group and the other groups. While LI was 30- or 120-ms, PPI among the
      three groups showed not significantly different (P>0.05). (4) No significant
      relationship was found between PPI of different LIs and symptom scores assessed
      with PANSS in patients with schizophrenia (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings
      suggest impaired PPI in Chinese patients with schizophrenia; Atypical
      antipsychotic clozapine might partly improve disinhibition of startle reflex in
      schizophrenic patients.

PMID- 26878950
TI  - Intervention for first episode psychosis in India - The SCARF experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There have been very few studies or programs in India on early
      intervention for first episode psychoses. This paper reports the findings of a
      pilot program, part of a collaboration with the Prevention and Early Intervention
      Program for Psychoses, Montreal. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 47 patients with first
      episode psychosis were followed up for 2 years. Complete data was available on 39
      subjects at 2 years. This data was analyzed for socio-demographic and clinical
      variables and its relationship with outcomes and DUP. Those who had a PANSS score
      <60 and GAF >80 were categorized to be in remission (N=28) and others as
      continually ill (N=10). RESULTS: There was significant improvement from baseline
      to 1st year with maximal improvement seen at 3 months after intake. However,
      improvement between 1 and 2 years was not significant. More women relapsed and
      more men dropped out. 25 out of 28 subjects with shorter DUP (<2 years) were in
      remission at 2 years as against 3 out of 10 with >2 years DUP. Three different
      patterns of course of the disorder were found. Single episode followed by total
      remission for 2 years (N=20; 52.6%) was the commonest. The others were relapses
      followed by remissions (N=8; 21.1%), and continuous illness (N=10; 26.3%).
      CONCLUSION: Early intervention is effective and more so if DUP is shorter. PANSS
      scores and GAF at baseline are not predictive of later outcomes. Medication
      adherence in therapeutic engagement and psychosocial needs should be considered
      in the implementation of early intervention programs in our cultural context.

PMID- 26878951
TI  - The Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP): A programme
      evaluation.
AB  - The alarmingly long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in Singapore and
      probable severe consequences were the impetus for establishing the Early
      Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in 2001. In 2007, EPIP became a part of
      the National Mental Health Blueprint. Here, we report some of the programme's
      outcomes. METHOD: Consecutive patients accepted into EPIP from April 2007 to
      March 2011 were included. Programme inclusion criteria were: (1) age between 15
      and 41 years, (2) first-episode psychotic disorder with no prior or minimal
      treatment, (3) no current history of substance abuse, and (4) no history of major
      medical or neurological illness. EPIP has incorporated an evaluation component to
      the clinical programme by administering regular structured assessments and
      generating operational statistics from our hospital's data systems. RESULTS:
      Between April 2007 to March 2011, 815 patients had been accepted and 795 had
      baseline data. 50.8% (404/795) were males, with mean age of 27 years (+/-6.5
      years). Mean DUP (SD) was 14.6 (+/-25.2) months and median was 6 months. At the
      end of two years, 71.1% (202/284) achieved symptomatic remission as defined by
      the Schizophrenia Working Group, 84.9% (241/284) scored 61 or more on Global
      Assessment of Functioning (GAF) disability and 76.5% (274/358) had returned back
      to school or were gainfully employed. CONCLUSION: Being a national programme,
      EPIP had articulated process and outcome indicators to our stakeholders, and a
      periodic report card on these outcomes makes us accountable to our funders, our
      patients and their families.

PMID- 26878952
TI  - Early intervention for psychotic disorders: Real-life implementation in Hong
      Kong.
AB  - Hong Kong is among the first few cities in Asia to have implemented early
      intervention for psychosis in 2001. Substantial changes in psychosis service have
      since taken place. We reviewed available outcome data in Hong Kong, with
      reference to the philosophy of early intervention in psychosis, discussing
      experience and lessons learned from the implementation process, and future
      opportunities and challenges. Data accumulated in the past decade provided
      evidence for the benefits and significance of early intervention programmes:
      patients under the care of early intervention service showed improved
      functioning, milder symptoms, and fewer hospitalizations and suicides. Early
      intervention is more cost-effective compared with standard care. Stigma and
      misconception remains an issue, and public awareness campaigns are underway. In
      recent years, a critical mass is being formed, and Hong Kong has witnessed the
      unfolding of public service extension, new projects and organizations, and
      increasing interest from the community. Several major platforms are in place for
      coherent efforts, including the public Early Assessment Service for Young people
      with psychosis (EASY) programme, the Psychosis Studies and Intervention (PSI)
      research unit, the independent Hong Kong Early Psychosis Intervention Society
      (EPISO), the Jockey Club Early Psychosis (JCEP) project, and the postgraduate
      Psychological Medicine (Psychosis Studies) programme. The first decade of early
      intervention work has been promising; consolidation and further development is
      needed on many fronts of research, service and education. 

PMID- 26878953
TI  - Early psychosis in Asia: Insights from Japan.
AB  - The largest task for psychiatry in Japan today is the deinstitutionalization of
      patients with psychiatric disorders. In Japan, all citizens are covered by a
      national health plan, and about 70% of the total cost is covered by the national
      health insurance scheme. At present, however, there is still no category for
      early intervention in the national health reimbursement schedule. Recent research
      has shown that the mean duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) at seven university
      hospitals in Japan was 17.6 months. We present data using case vignettes
      suggesting that pharmacotherapy might be overused in prodromal cases. The concept
      of an At-Risk Mental State (ARMS)/prodromal state might not yet be widely
      recognized among Japanese psychiatrists. We outline early intervention
      initiatives in Japan; The Japanese Society for Prevention and Early Intervention
      in Psychiatry (JSEIP), and a representative early intervention facility for young
      people is the "Il Bosco" in Tokyo. There are several leading centers for early
      intervention research and practice in Japan. Most of them are driven by
      university departments of psychiatry with respect to both research and clinical
      activities. The development of services for early intervention is expected to
      reduce stigmatization, prevent suicide among young persons, and promote general
      knowledge about mental health. There are several common or similar issues among
      Asian countries, including service systems, community attitudes to psychiatric
      illness including stigma, and dependence on pharmacotherapy. 

PMID- 26878955
TI  - Early intervention in the Asian Century.

PMID- 26878956
TI  - How to come up with a research idea.

PMID- 26878954
TI  - Early intervention in psychosis: Insights from Korea.
AB  - Subjects at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis have been the focus of
      clinical attention in psychiatry for the last 15 years, leading to the
      development of valid and reliable diagnostic instruments to detect these
      individuals early in the course of their illness. These efforts have resulted in
      research into optimal preventive measures. Our experiences at and data from the
      Seoul Youth Clinic support the validity of the CHR concept and its underlying
      neurobiological basis and provide valuable information related to the
      determination of appropriate clinical interventions. The limitations of the
      current criteria for CHR, such as the relatively low transition rates to
      psychosis and the "false-positive" problem, are also common critical issues in
      Korea. Additionally, concerns about social stigmatization and the potential side
      effects of pharmacotherapy render individuals at CHR reluctant to visit clinical
      settings. Therefore, further investigations using a combination of predictive
      markers based on clinical and neurobiological studies of those at CHR are needed
      to refine the diagnostic criteria, overcome their current limitations including
      ethical issues, and develop phase-specific and individualized therapeutic
      interventions.

PMID- 26878957
TI  - 3rd Annual International Scientific Conference of the Indian Global Psychiatric
      Initiative (IGPI).

PMID- 26878958
TI  - Conference proceedings - ANCIPS 2012.

PMID- 26878959
TI  - Combination of CBT with fluoxetine works better for obsessive-compulsive
      disorder.

PMID- 26878960
TI  - Providing drug abuse treatment in prison: A call for action.

PMID- 26878961
TI  - Risk factors for suicidal ideations in bipolar depression.

PMID- 26878962
TI  - Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM): A culture bound
      syndrome?

PMID- 26878963
TI  - The Gap Between Theory and Practice of Psychiatry in Developing countries of
      Asia.

PMID- 26878964
TI  - The second training and educational fellowship program of AFECP.

PMID- 26878965
TI  - Adolescents' non-core food intake: a description of what, where and with whom
      adolescents consume non-core foods.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Little is known about adolescents' non-core food intake in the UK and
      the eating context in which they consume non-core foods. The present study aimed
      to describe types of non-core foods consumed by British adolescents in total and
      across different eating contexts. DESIGN: A descriptive analysis, using cross
      sectional data from food diaries. Non-core foods were classified based on cut-off
      points of fat and sugar from the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Eating
      context was defined as 'where' and 'with whom' adolescents consumed each food.
      Percentages of non-core energy were calculated for each food group in total and
      across eating contexts. A combined ranking was then created to account for each
      food's contribution to non-core energy intake and its popularity of consumption
      (percentage of consumers). SETTING: The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey
      2008-2011. SUBJECTS: Adolescents across the UK aged 11-18 years (n 666). RESULTS:
      Non-core food comprised 39.5 % of total energy intake and was mostly 'Regular
      soft drinks', 'Crisps & savoury snacks', 'Chips & potato products', 'Chocolate'
      and 'Biscuits'. Adolescents ate 57.0 % and 51.3 % of non-core food at 'Eateries'
      or with 'Friends', compared with 33.2 % and 32.1 % at 'Home' or with 'Parents'.
      Persistent foods consumed across eating contexts were 'Regular soft drinks' and
      'Chips & potato products'. CONCLUSIONS: Regular soft drinks contribute the most
      energy and are the most popular non-core food consumed by adolescents regardless
      of context, and represent a good target for interventions to reduce non-core food
      consumption.

PMID- 26878966
TI  - Dissolved chloride markedly changes the nanostructure of the protic ionic liquids
      propylammonium and ethanolammonium nitrate.
AB  - The bulk nanostructure of 15 mol% propylammonium chloride (PACl) dissolved in
      propylammonium nitrate (PAN) and 15 mol% ethanolammonium chloride (EtACl) in
      ethanolammonium nitrate (EtAN) has been determined using neutron diffraction with
      empirical potential structure refinement fits. For both the PAN:PACl and
      EtAN:EtACl mixtures, data for three different scattering contrasts were
      simultaneously fit, and the structures determined and compared to that of the
      pure ionic liquids. Strong electrostatic interactions between chloride and cation
      charged groups, as well as the alcohol moiety of EtAN, lead to marked changes in
      local ion packing that alter the liquid structure. In PAN, the addition of
      chloride modifies but does not significantly disrupt the bicontinuous amphiphilic
      nanostructure of the IL. Tight packing of ammonium groups around chloride favours
      a gauche conformer for the cation which shrinks the apolar domains and brings the
      terminal methyls nearer the polar domains. The weakly-clustered nanostructure of
      EtAN, a consequence of the terminal hydroxyl, is overwhelmed by strong chloride
      cation interactions. Ethanolammonium binds tightly to chloride in a monodentate
      fashion via either its alcohol or ammonium charge centre, or through both in a
      bidentate arrangement by adopting a gauche or eclipsed conformer. 

PMID- 26878967
TI  - Carbon coating may expedite the fracture of carbon-coated silicon core-shell
      nanoparticles during lithiation.
AB  - Previous studies on silicon (Si) indicate that lithiation-induced fracture of
      crystalline Si nanoparticles can be greatly inhibited if their diameter is
      reduced to below a critical scale of around 150 nm. In this paper, in situ
      lithiation of individual carbon-coated Si nanoparticles (Si@C NPs) is conducted
      which shows that Si@C NPs will fracture during lithiation even though their
      diameter is much smaller than 150 nm, implying a deleterious effect of the carbon
      coating on the integrity of the Si@C NPs during lithiation. To shed light on this
      effect, finite element analysis is carried out which reveals that the carbon
      coating, if fractured during lithiation, will induce cracks terminating at the
      C/Si interface. Such cracks, upon further lithiation, can immediately propagate
      into the Si core due to the elevated driving force caused by material
      inhomogeneity between the coating and core. To prevent the fracture of the carbon
      coating so as to protect the Si core, a design guideline is proposed by
      controlling the ratio between the diameter of Si core and the thickness of carbon
      coating. The results in this paper should be of practical value to the design and
      application of Si-based core-shell structured anode materials for lithium ion
      batteries. 

PMID- 26878968
TI  - HSV-2 encephalitis complicated by cerebral hemorrhage in an immunocompetent
      person.

PMID- 26878970
TI  - In the centre of an epidemic: Fifteen years of LA-MRSA CC398 at the University
      Hospital Munster.
AB  - Ten years after initial publications on livestock-associated methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in 2005, we report on the course of the
      LA-MRSA CC398 epidemic among patients of the University Hospital Munster. This
      tertiary care facility is located in the Dutch-German border region (EUREGIO),
      which is characterized by a high density of livestock production and is hence a
      hotspot for the occurrence of LA-MRSA CC398. Taking advantage of the unique
      opportunity to track the emergence and spread of MRSA CC398 among humans from the
      very beginning of the epidemic until today, a total of 6555 non-duplicate MRSA
      isolates from all screenings and clinical specimens cultivated within the period
      from 2000 to 2014 were included in the analysis. Retrospectively, the first MRSA
      CC398 isolate (spa type t034) was obtained from a screening specimen of a patient
      in 2000, which represents one of the first human-associated LA-MRSA CC398
      isolates reported in Europe. After sporadic detections between 2000 and 2004,
      this clonal lineage accounted for 9.6% of all local MRSA in 2005; a proportion
      which increased to 35% in 2013 and became stable since then. Considering the
      period from 2000 to 2014, the group of MRSA CC398 isolates comprised a total of
      45 different spa types among which t011 (48.3%), t034 (39.3%) and t108 (3.5%)
      were predominant and so far unreported types were found. Overall, LA-MRSA CC398
      emerged rapidly during the past decade, developed enormous sublineage diversity
      and contributed substantially to the total burden of MRSA colonization and
      infection at the hospital.

PMID- 26878969
TI  - Neural underpinnings of the evidence accumulator.
AB  - Gradual accumulation of evidence favoring one or another choice is considered a
      core component of many different types of decisions, and has been the subject of
      many neurophysiological studies in non-human primates. But its neural circuit
      mechanisms remain mysterious. Investigating it in rodents has recently become
      possible, facilitating perturbation experiments to delineate the relevant causal
      circuit, as well as the application of other tools more readily available in
      rodents. In addition, advances in stimulus design and analysis have aided
      studying the relevant neural encoding. In complement to ongoing non-human primate
      studies, these newly available model systems and tools place the field at an
      exciting time that suggests that the dynamical circuit mechanisms underlying
      accumulation of evidence could soon be revealed.

PMID- 26878971
TI  - Murine immunization with CS21 pili or LngA major subunit of enterotoxigenic
      Escherichia coli (ETEC) elicits systemic and mucosal immune responses and
      inhibits ETEC gut colonization.
AB  - CS21 pili of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is one of the most prevalent
      ETEC colonization factors. CS21 major subunit, LngA, mediates ETEC adherence to
      intestinal cells, and contributes to ETEC pathogenesis in a neonatal mouse
      infection model. The objectives of this work were to evaluate LngA major subunit
      purified protein and CS21 purified pili on immunogenicity and protection against
      ETEC colonization of mice intestine. Recombinant LngA purified protein or
      purified CS21 pili from E9034A ETEC strain were evaluated for immunogenicity
      after immunization of C57BL/6 mice. Specific anti-LngA antibodies were detected
      from mice serum, feces, and intestine fluid samples by ELISA assays. Protection
      against gut colonization was evaluated on immunized mice orally challenged with
      wild type E9034A ETEC strain and by subsequent quantification of bacterial colony
      forming units (CFU) recovered from feces. Recombinant LngA protein and CS21 pili
      induced specific humoral and mucosal anti-LngA antibodies in the mouse model.
      CS21 combined with CT delivered intranasally as well as LngA combined with
      incomplete Freund adjuvant delivered intraperitoneally inhibited ETEC gut
      colonization in a mouse model. In conclusion, both LngA purified protein and CS21
      pili from ETEC are highly immunogenic and may inhibit ETEC intestinal shedding.
      Our data on immunogenicity and immunoprotection indicates that CS21 is a suitable
      vaccine candidate for a future multivalent vaccine against ETEC diarrhea.

PMID- 26878972
TI  - Antibodies derived from a toxoid MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen) show
      neutralizing activities against heat-labile toxin (LT), heat-stable toxins (STa,
      STb), and Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
      (ETEC).
AB  - Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are the main cause of diarrhea in
      pigs. Pig diarrhea especially post-weaning diarrhea remains one of the most
      important swine diseases. ETEC bacterial fimbriae including K88, F18, 987P, K99
      and F41 promote bacterial attachment to intestinal epithelial cells and
      facilitate ETEC colonization in pig small intestine. ETEC enterotoxins including
      heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxins type Ia (porcine-type STa) and type
      II (STb) stimulate fluid hyper-secretion, leading to watery diarrhea. Blocking
      bacteria colonization and/or neutralizing enterotoxicity of ETEC toxins are
      considered effective prevention against ETEC diarrhea. In this study, we applied
      the MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen) strategy to create toxoid MEFAs that
      carried antigenic elements of ETEC toxins, and examined for broad antitoxin
      immunogenicity in a murine model. By embedding STa toxoid STaP12F
      (NTFYCCELCCNFACAGCY), a STb epitope (KKDLCEHY), and an epitope of Stx2e A subunit
      (QSYVSSLN) into the A1 peptide of a monomeric LT toxoid (LTR192G), two toxoid
      MEFAs, 'LTR192G-STb-Stx2e-STaP12F' and 'LTR192G-STb-Stx2e-3xSTaP12F' which
      carried three copies of STaP12F, were constructed. Mice intraperitoneally
      immunized with each toxoid MEFA developed IgG antibodies to all four toxins.
      Induced antibodies showed in vitro neutralizing activities against LT, STa, STb
      and Stx2e toxins. Moreover, suckling piglets born by a gilt immunized with
      'LTR192G-STb-Stx2e-3xSTaP12F' were protected when challenged with ETEC strains,
      whereas piglets born by a control gilt developed diarrhea. Results from this
      study showed that the toxoid MEFA induced broadly antitoxin antibodies, and
      suggested potential application of the toxoid MEFA for developing a broad
      spectrum vaccine against ETEC diarrhea in pigs.

PMID- 26878974
TI  - Controlling levonorgestrel binding and release in a multi-purpose prevention
      technology vaginal ring device.
AB  - Despite a long history of incorporating steroids into silicone elastomers for
      drug delivery applications, little is presently known about the propensity for
      irreversible drug binding in these systems. In this study, the ability of the
      contraceptive progestin levonorgestrel to bind chemically with hydrosilane groups
      in addition-cure silicone elastomers has been thoroughly investigated. Cure time,
      cure temperature, levonorgestrel particle size, initial levonorgestrel loading
      and silicone elastomer type were demonstrated to be key parameters impacting the
      extent of levonorgestrel binding, each through their influence on the solubility
      of levonorgestrel in the silicone elastomer. Understanding and overcoming this
      levonorgestrel binding phenomenon is critical for the ongoing development of a
      number of drug delivery products, including a multi-purpose technology vaginal
      ring device offering simultaneous release of levonorgestrel and dapivirine - a
      lead candidate antiretroviral microbicide - for combination HIV prevention and
      hormonal contraception. 

PMID- 26878977
TI  - Preface to the IUFRO RG7.01 special section "Global Challenges of Air Pollution
      and Climate Change to Forests".

PMID- 26878975
TI  - Involvement of transfusion unit staff in the informed consent process.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obtaining informed consent (IC) for a blood
      transfusion is an absolute requirement. In this study, we compared the depth of
      understanding of blood transfusion among patients with or without an explanation
      by the transfusion unit staff and evaluated the usefulness of this intervention
      in obtaining IC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expert staff from the transfusion unit
      started to provide patients with a basic explanation of blood transfusion
      (intervention group, n = 129). The efficacy of this strategy was assessed by
      comparison with explanation given by the primary doctors only (conventional
      group, n = 31). We performed a questionnaire survey to analyze the length of time
      spent providing information of blood transfusion and the depth of understanding
      of blood transfusion in the two groups. RESULTS: The median time in providing
      information in the conventional and intervention groups was 6 and 20 minutes,
      respectively (P < 0.0001). Patients in the intervention group had a better
      understanding of several key points on blood transfusion than those in the
      conventional group. CONCLUSION: Our results show that expert staff from the
      transfusion unit should be involved in obtaining IC for a blood transfusion.
      Patients who were provided information by transfusion unit staff were more likely
      to have a better understanding of the risks and benefits of transfusion.

PMID- 26878973
TI  - Sonoporation enhances liposome accumulation and penetration in tumors with low
      EPR.
AB  - The Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect is a highly variable
      phenomenon. To enhance EPR-mediated passive drug targeting to tumors, several
      different pharmacological and physical strategies have been evaluated over the
      years, including e.g. TNFalpha-treatment, vascular normalization, hyperthermia
      and radiotherapy. Here, we systematically investigated the impact of
      sonoporation, i.e. the combination of ultrasound (US) and microbubbles (MB), on
      the tumor accumulation and penetration of liposomes. Two different MB
      formulations were employed, and their ability to enhance liposome accumulation
      and penetration was evaluated in two different tumor models, which are both
      characterized by relatively low levels of EPR (i.e. highly cellular A431
      epidermoid xenografts and highly stromal BxPC-3 pancreatic carcinoma xenografts).
      The liposomes were labeled with two different fluorophores, enabling in vivo
      computed tomography/fluorescence molecular tomography (CT-FMT) and ex vivo two
      photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). In both models, in spite of relatively
      high inter- and intra-individual variability, a trend towards improved liposome
      accumulation and penetration was observed. In treated tumors, liposome
      concentrations were up to twice as high as in untreated tumors, and sonoporation
      enhanced the ability of liposomes to extravasate out of the blood vessels into
      the tumor interstitium. These findings indicate that sonoporation may be a useful
      strategy for improving drug targeting to tumors with low EPR.

PMID- 26878978
TI  - Patients with cancer at the margins of reproductive age had reduced levels of
      anti-Mullerian hormone compared with patients experiencing infertility.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the ovarian reserves between female patients with cancer
      and patients experiencing infertility. METHODS: A retrospective age-matched
      observational study was performed at Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. The study group
      included data from all female oncology patients attending for oocyte or embryo
      cryopreservation between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013. Anti-Mullerian
      hormone (AMH) levels were recorded at patients' initial visits before beginning
      chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The control group included patients without cancer
      who had their AMH levels recorded to investigate fertility or as a baseline level
      prior to beginning assisted reproductive treatment. RESULTS: The records of 118
      oncology and 5231 control patients from the study period were identified. There
      was no difference in AMH levels between patients in the oncology and control
      groups aged 30-38years; however, significantly lower AMH levels were observed in
      patients in the oncology group aged 29years and younger (17.89pmol/L vs
      23.35pmol/L; P=0.015), or at least 39years (2.65pmol/L vs 5.87pmol/L; P=0.028).
      CONCLUSION: Before commencing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, patients in the
      oncology group at the margins of reproductive age had a diminished ovarian
      reserve compared with the control group. This should be considered when planning
      optimal doses of follicular stimulating hormone as part of controlled ovarian
      stimulation regimes performed for embryo or oocyte cryopreservation prior to
      chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

PMID- 26878979
TI  - Too bad: Bias for angry faces in social anxiety interferes with identity
      processing.
AB  - The recognition of faces across incidences is a complex function of the human
      brain and a crucial ability for communication and daily interactions. This first
      study on ERP correlates of emotional face learning in social anxiety disorder
      (SAD) investigates whether the known attentional bias for threatening faces leads
      to a corresponding memory bias. Therefore, 21 patients with SAD and 21 healthy
      controls (HCs) learned faces with emotional facial expressions (neutral, happy,
      and angry) and were later asked to recognize these out of novel identities all
      presented with a neutral facial expression. EEG was recorded throughout.
      Behaviorally, the faces' emotional expression modulated later recognition in
      terms of accuracy, response times, signal detection parameters and ratings of
      valence, but with better performance for happy than angry faces in HC as well as
      in SAD. In the learning phase, attention- and memory-associated event-related
      potentials (ERPs) P100, N170, P200, N250/EPN, and LPP indicated enhanced
      processing of angry faces, which was restricted to patients with SAD in N250/EPN
      and LPP. In the test phase, familiarity effects emerged in N250, FN400 and LPP.
      While N250 was affected by learned-angry faces, FN400 and LPP reflected image
      learning of neutral faces, which was restricted to SAD in LPP. We replicated the
      attentional bias to threatening faces, which was not restricted to early ERP
      components, but was prolonged to later stages of conscious processing, especially
      in SAD. In contrast to what had been expected, sustained hypervigilance to the
      emotional content seems to have impaired the processing of the facial identity,
      resulting in a happy face advantage at the behavioral level. This could be
      explained by prominent models assuming separate processing of facial emotion and
      identity. Hypervigilance in SAD might be a disadvantage in those studies focusing
      on other aspects of face processing than emotion. 

PMID- 26878982
TI  - Selective membrane disruption by the cyclotide kalata B7: complex ions and
      essential functional groups in the phosphatidylethanolamine binding pocket.
AB  - The cyclic cystine knot plant peptides called cyclotides are active against a
      wide variety of organisms. This is primarily achieved through membrane binding
      and disruption, in part deriving from a high affinity for
      phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids. Some cyclotides, such as kalata B7 (kB7),
      form complexes with divalent cations in a pocket associated with the tyrosine
      residue at position 15 (Tyr15). In the current work we explore the effect of
      cations on membrane leakage caused by cyclotides kB1, kB2 and kB7, and we
      identify a functional group that is essential for PE selectivity. The presence of
      PE-lipids in liposomes increased the membrane permeabilizing potency of the
      cyclotides, with the potency of kB7 increasing by as much as 740-fold. The
      divalent cations Mn(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) had no apparent effect on PE
      selectivity. However, amino acid substitutions in kB7 proved that Tyr15 is
      crucial for PE-selective membrane permeabilization on various liposome systems.
      Although the tertiary structure of kB7 was maintained, as reflected by the NMR
      solution structure, mutating Tyr into Ser at position 15 resulted in
      substantially reduced PE selectivity. Ala substitution at the same position
      produced a similar reduction in PE selectivity, while substitution with Phe
      maintained high selectivity. We conclude that the phenyl ring in Tyr15 is
      critical for the high PE selectivity of kB7. Our results suggest that PE-binding
      and divalent cation coordination occur in the same pocket without adverse effects
      of competitive binding for the phospholipid. 

PMID- 26878981
TI  - Effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on attentional
      processing of the stimulus: Evidence from an event-related potentials study.
AB  - Attentional processing consists of a set of processes that manage the flow of
      information through the nervous system and appropriately allocate attentional
      resources to relevant stimuli. Specific networks in the frontal and parietal
      regions appear to be involved in attention. The cerebellum has been identified as
      a subcortical structure that interacts with cortical brain areas, thereby
      controlling attentional processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the
      role of the cerebellum in attentional processing of the stimulus using a P300
      Novelty task. We studied the effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
      (tDCS) delivered over the left cerebellar hemisphere in cathodal, anodal and sham
      sessions on the P300 components in healthy subjects. Only cathodal cerebellar
      tDCS significantly reduced the amplitude of the N1, N2 and P3 components for both
      the target and novel stimuli. Moreover, N1 latency for all the stimuli was
      shorter after the cathodal tDCS session than after the sham or anodal sessions.
      These results point to a role of the cerebellum in attentional processing of the
      stimulus. The cerebellum may act indirectly by regulating and managing the
      activation and inhibition levels of the cortical areas involved in attentional
      networks. 

PMID- 26878983
TI  - Normalization of doxorubicin release from graphene oxide: New approach for
      optimization of effective parameters on drug loading.
AB  - Graphene oxide (GO) has been recently introduced as a suitable anticancer drug
      carrier, which could be loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) as a general chemotherapy
      agent. Herein, the attempts were made to optimize the effective parameters on
      both loading and release of DOX on GO. GO and GO-DOX were characterized using
      transition electron microscopy , zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible
      spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, loading
      and releasing behaviors of DOX on GO were studied in terms of different
      temperature and pH values. The primary optimized values of pH and temperature for
      best-loaded amount of DOX were 8.9 and 309 K, respectively. Moreover, we found
      that the smallest amount of released DOX, in pH of cancer microenvironment (5.4),
      occurs when DOX had been previously loaded in pH 7.8 and 310 K. Although the
      highest amount of loaded DOX was in basic pH, the results of efficient release of
      DOX from the GO-DOX complex and also cellular toxicity assay revealed that the
      best pH for loading of DOX on GO was 7.8. Therefore, in addition to optimization
      of parameters for efficient loading of DOX on GO, this study suggested that
      normalization of a released drug compared with the amount of a loaded drug could
      be a new approach for optimization of drug loading on nanocarriers.

PMID- 26878980
TI  - Hemispheric asymmetry in event knowledge activation during incremental language
      comprehension: A visual half-field ERP study.
AB  - During incremental language comprehension, the brain activates knowledge of
      described events, including knowledge elements that constitute semantic anomalies
      in their linguistic context. The present study investigates hemispheric
      asymmetries in this process, with the aim of advancing our understanding of the
      neural basis and functional properties of event knowledge activation during
      incremental comprehension. In a visual half-field event-related brain potential
      (ERP) experiment, participants read brief discourses in which the third sentence
      contained a word that was either highly expected, semantically anomalous but
      related to the described event (Event-Related), or semantically anomalous but
      unrelated to the described event (Event-Unrelated). For both visual fields of
      target word presentation, semantically anomalous words elicited N400 ERP
      components of greater amplitude than did expected words. Crucially, Event-Related
      anomalous words elicited a reduced N400 relative to Event-Unrelated anomalous
      words only with left visual field/right hemisphere presentation. This result
      suggests that right hemisphere processes are critical to the activation of event
      knowledge elements that violate the linguistic context, and in doing so informs
      existing theories of hemispheric asymmetries in semantic processing during
      language comprehension. Additionally, this finding coincides with past research
      suggesting a crucial role for the right hemisphere in elaborative inference
      generation, raises interesting questions regarding hemispheric coordination in
      generating event-specific linguistic expectancies, and more generally highlights
      the possibility of functional dissociation of event knowledge activation for the
      generation of elaborative inferences and for linguistic expectancies. 

PMID- 26878985
TI  - Mutational analysis of H3F3B gene in acute leukaemias and solid tumours.

PMID- 26878984
TI  - Multiple sevoflurane exposures in infant monkeys do not impact the mother-infant
      bond.
AB  - Exposure to general anesthesia during the postnatal period is associated with
      death of brain cells as well as long-term impairments in cognitive and emotional
      behavior in animal models. These models are critical for investigating mechanisms
      of pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity as well as for testing potential strategies
      for preventing or mitigating this toxicity. Control conditions for anesthesia
      exposure involve separation of conscious infants from their mothers for variable
      periods of time, which could have its own effect on subsequent behavior because
      of stress to the mother and/or infant as a consequence of separation.We are
      conducting a long-term study of infant rhesus monkeys exposed three times for 4h
      each to sevoflurane anesthesia during the first six postnatal weeks, with a
      comparison condition of control infant monkeys that undergo brief maternal
      separations on the same schedule, to equate the period of time each infant is
      conscious and separated from its mother. Because mothers are separated from their
      infants longer for infants in the anesthesia condition, this could modify
      maternal behavior toward the infant, which may influence subsequent
      socioemotional behavior in the infants. In this study, we analyzed maternal
      behavior immediately after the first post-anesthesia (or control) reunion, as
      well as during reintroduction of the mother-infant pair to the larger social
      group 24 hpost-anesthesia or control separation, and found no differences between
      the conditions with mothers spending most of their time in contact with infants
      in all conditions analyzed. This indicates that the different durations of
      maternal separation in this study design do not impact the mother-infant bond,
      strengthening conclusions that subsequent differences in behavior between monkeys
      exposed to anesthesia compared to controls are a consequence of anesthesia
      exposure and not differential maternal behavior in the two conditions.

PMID- 26878987
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Oxidative Amination of Unactivated Internal
      Alkenes.
AB  - A copper-catalyzed oxidative amination of unactivated internal alkenes has been
      developed. The Wacker-type oxidative alkene amination reaction is traditionally
      catalyzed by a palladium through a mechanism involving aminopalladation and beta
      hydride elimination. Replacing the precious and scarce palladium with a cheap and
      abundant copper for this transformation has been challenging because of the
      difficulty associated with the aminocupration of internal alkenes. The
      combination of a simple copper salt, without additional ligand, as the catalyst
      and Dess-Martin periodinane as the oxidant, promotes efficiently the oxidative
      amination of allylic carbamates and ureas bearing di- and trisubstituted alkenes
      leading to oxazolidinones and imidazolidinones. Preliminary mechanistic studies
      suggested a hybrid radical-organometallic mechanism involving an amidyl radical
      cyclization to form the key C-N bond. 

PMID- 26878986
TI  - MicroRNA-132 and microRNA-223 control positive feedback circuit by regulating
      FOXO3a in inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although many progresses have been achieved for inflammatory
      bowel disease (IBD), it is still remained as idiopathic disease to be completely
      controlled. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as key players in many human
      diseases through degradation or translational inhibition of target genes. Because
      role of miRNAs in IBD is not completely understood yet, we need to identify
      miRNAs as novel targets for treatment of IBD. METHODS: Microarray analysis for
      miRNAs was performed using dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis samples and
      selected differentially regulated miRNAs. Candidate genes were validated using in
      vitro system and IBD patient samples. Molecular mechanism for regulation of
      inflammatory signaling was identified using gene modulation system of miRNAs.
      RESULTS: We selected 14 upregulated and 15 downregulated miRNAs through
      microarray analysis. Among candidate miRNAs, significant upregulation of miR-132
      and miR-223 was confirmed in inflamed mouse tissues as well as human IBD patient
      tissues. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified FOXO3a as direct target
      of miRNAs and confirmed regulatory mechanism using luciferase assay. Expression
      of miRNAs clearly suppressed the level of IkappaBalpha through downregulation of
      FOXO3a, leading to enhanced NF-kappaB signaling to promote the production of pro
      inflammatory cytokines. The downregulation of FOXO3a concurrent with upregulation
      of cytokines was significantly reversed by sequestration of miRNAs with miRNA
      sponges. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provided the evidences that miR-132 and 223
      are critical mediators in positive circuit for pathogenesis of IBD by negatively
      regulating FOXO3a to enhance the expression of inflammatory cytokines and can be
      a good therapeutic target for IBD treatment.

PMID- 26878988
TI  - A prospective study assessing the etiology of Diabetes mellitus among Jordanian
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus has considerable public health implications for
      communities, individuals, and health services. Increasing prevalence of diabetes
      all over the world intensifies the demand for health care services, and
      particularly for inpatient care. AIM: The present study aims to assess the
      current prevalence of diabetes and its etiology among hospitalized Jordanian
      adults. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted at Specialist
      Hospital (SH) in the Jordanian capital of Amman, with data collection taking
      place between June and August 2015, and data was extracted manually from medical
      records. Patients were divided into three groups: (a) those with a medical
      history of diabetes, (b) those with unrecognized diabetes or new hyperglycemia,
      and (c) those with no diabetes. Data management and analysis were conducted using
      the SPSS program. Means +/-SD were used to present all continuous variables, as
      well as the numbers and percentages for categorical variables, and we used
      analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare between means. For differences between
      categorical variables, we used (x(2)). A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered
      significant. RESULTS: A total of 392 patients (266 female, 126 male) were
      admitted during the 10-week study period. Of these, 204 fell into category (a),
      45 into category (b), and 143 into category (c). Diabetes was the principal
      diagnosis in 52% of the hospitalizations. Patients who had diabetes or new
      hyperglycemia were considerably older than non-diabetic patients. The five most
      common reasons for hospitalization were congestive heart failure (25.0%),
      pneumonia (22.5%), DKA (22.0%), coronary atherosclerosis (16.20%), and septicemia
      (14.20%). CONCLUSION: The common etiologies for hospitalization were congestive
      heart failure, pneumonia, DKA, coronary atherosclerosis, and septicemia. Keeping
      in view the results of this study it is recommend that regular screening should
      be performed for diabetic patients, as this will increase the chances that many
      diabetes complications will be prevented, particularly for elderly subjects.

PMID- 26878989
TI  - Integrin alphaE (CD103) is induced but plays no pathogenic role in psoriasiform
      skin lesions of TGFbeta1 transgenic mice.
AB  - T-cells expressing alphaE (CD103), an integrin induced by TGFbeta on T-cells in
      vitro, accumulate within epithelia in inflammatory disorders, including
      psoriasis. However, it is unclear, if and how alphaE (CD103) contributes to skin
      inflammation. Using two complementary approaches, we have investigated alphaE
      (CD103) in psoriasis-like skin inflammation of mice with transgenic epidermal
      expression of human TGFbeta1: alphaE (CD103) was inhibited by function-blocking
      antibodies in vivo, and double-mutants with additional alphaE (CD103)-depletion
      were generated in two different genetic backgrounds. Epidermal hTGFbeta1
      expression was associated with prominent expression of alphaE (CD103) on
      infiltrating cells. However, neither treatment with alphaE (CD103)-blocking
      antibodies nor deficiency of alphaE (CD103) in double-mutant mice altered the
      psoriasis-like phenotype. In addition, histopathological and flow cytometric
      analyses revealed similar pathological skin alterations and lymphocyte subgroups
      in the different mouse strains. Thus, while alphaE (CD103) expression is indeed
      associated with hTGFbeta1 in vivo, it has little, if any, influence on the course
      of the psoriasis-like phenotype in K5.hTGFbeta1 transgenic mice.

PMID- 26878990
TI  - Characterization of immunoglobulin E plasma cells that are elevated in the upper
      airway mucosa of nonatopic patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal
      polyps.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The immunologic mechanisms driving inflammation in the upper airways
      of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are poorly understood. Previous
      studies have shown that B cells and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are elevated in
      the nasal tissue of patients with atopic chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal
      polyps (CRSsNP). However, less is known regarding B cell subsets and IgE
      producing plasmablasts in nonatopic CRSsNP patients. METHODS: Human blood and
      ethmoid sinus mucosa samples were analyzed from control (n = 6) and nonatopic
      CRSsNP (n = 11) patients. Tissue samples were evaluated using high-dimensional
      flow cytometry. RESULTS: A population of IgE antibody secreting cells is
      significantly increased in situ within inflamed nasal tissue of nonatopic CRSsNP
      subjects when compared to control nasal tissue and the circulating peripheral
      blood (p < 0.05). This IgE plasma cell population displays ~90% cell surface Ig
      lambda light chain, is mitotically active (Ki-67(+)), and displays intracellular
      IgE expression. The predominant B cell population expressing IgE are plasmablasts
      (CD38(high), CD138(-)) not typically found in the blood or peripheral tissue of
      these patients. CONCLUSION: The nasal mucosa from nonatopic CRSsNP patients
      demonstrate a significant regional spike in resident in situ IgE plasmablast
      cells not seen in control nasal tissue or peripheral blood from the same patient.
      The restricted expression of Ig lambda light chain in this mitotically active IgE
      plasmablast population supports the hypothesis of aberrant B cell proliferation
      in the context of CRS. These findings suggest the presence of a unique regional
      immune microenvironment for B cell priming and/or selection within chronically
      inflamed airway tissues.

PMID- 26878991
TI  - Size Fractionation of Two-Dimensional Sub-Nanometer Thin Manganese Dioxide
      Crystals towards Superior Urea Electrocatalytic Conversion.
AB  - A universal technique has been proposed to sort two-dimensional (2D) sub
      nanometer thin crystals (manganese dioxide MnO2 and molybdenum disulfide MoS2 )
      according to their lateral dimensions. This technique is based on tuning the zeta
      potential of their aqueous dispersions which induces the selective sedimentation
      of large-sized 2D crystals and leaves the small-sized counterparts in suspension.
      The electrocatalytic properties of as-obtained 2D ultrathin crystals are strongly
      dependent on their lateral size. As a proof-of-concept study, the small-sized
      MnO2 nanocrystals were tested as the electrocatalysts for the urea-oxidation
      reaction (UOR), which showed outstanding performance in both half reaction and
      full electrolytic cell. A mechanism study reveals the enhanced performance is
      associated with the remarkable structural properties of MnO2 including ultrathin
      (ca. 0.95 nm), laterally small-sized (50-200 nm), and highly exposed active
      centers. 

PMID- 26878992
TI  - How Interfaces Affect the Acidity of the Anilinium Ion.
AB  - The acidity of a compound is a fundamental property that dictates molecular
      speciation and reactivity in solution. Measurements of acidity of simple
      molecules in interfacial environments are rarely carried out but assumptions
      often are made that the difference is sufficiently small that the change can be
      ignored. The effect of oil-surfactant-water interfaces in reverse micellar
      systems on the pKa value of the anilinium ion was measured using titrations by
      NMR spectroscopy as the size of the bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate
      (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles decreased. The pKa was observed to drop from
      4.85+/-0.02 to 4.62+/-0.02 in water as the reverse micelle decreased from w(0) 10
      to 4 (that is down to a reverse micellar radius of about 2 nm). NOSEY experiments
      demonstrated that the aniline moiety resides within the surfactant interface with
      the amine/ammonium moiety protruding into the waterpool bridging the interface.
      The presence of the aniline was found to have modest and variable effect on the
      size of the reverse micelles as observed using dynamic light scattering. Our
      experimental results provide information important to theoretical studies, which
      explore interface phenomena and provide a framework for information on such
      simple molecules. These studies quantitate the small but significant effect on
      the pKa values upon placement of an aromatic amine molecule at a hydrophilic
      hydrophobic interface.

PMID- 26878993
TI  - PROP taster status, food preferences and consumption of high-calorie snacks and
      sweet beverages among 6-year-old ethnically diverse children.
AB  - A healthy diet is important for optimal growth and development in children. Food
      preferences are a main determinant of children's intake. The aim of this study
      was to examine the associations of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taster status
      (taste sensitivity to PROP) with children's food preferences and consumption of
      high-calorie snacks and sweet beverages among ethnically diverse children. We
      analysed data from 5585 6-year-old children enrolled in the Generation R Study, a
      birth cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PROP taster status was
      evaluated using a suprathreshold screening solution. Food preferences of the
      children were assessed by a two-stage protocol using photographs of eight food
      items (candy, chocolate, mayonnaise, whipped cream, soup, potato chips, carrot
      and bread), yielding both hedonic ratings (1-3) and rank order scores (1-8).
      Univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were
      performed, using tasters as the reference group. Non-tasters had a slightly
      higher preference for carrots (beta: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.02 and beta: -0.15;
      95% CI: -0.27, -0.02 for hedonic ratings and rank order scores, respectively) and
      bread (hedonic ratings; beta: -0.06; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.01) compared with tasters.
      No differences were found in children's preference for sweet, fat or salty food
      items. Furthermore, there were no associations of PROP taster status with the
      consumption of high-calorie snacks >= 2 times/day (aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.91,1.24)
      or sweet beverages >= 3 glasses/day (aOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.92,1.23). Other factors
      relating to the family food environment may be more important for young
      children's food preferences and consumption of high-calorie snacks and sweet
      beverages than their innate taste sensitivity.

PMID- 26878994
TI  - Course of iron parameters in HFE-hemochromatosis patients during initial
      treatment with erythrocytapheresis compared to phlebotomy.
AB  - Current treatment for newly diagnosed patients with hereditary hemochromatosis
      (HH) and iron overload consist of weekly phlebotomy or less frequent and more
      personalized erythrocytapheresis. Previous observations during phlebotomy suggest
      an increase in intestinal iron uptake caused by lowering of hepcidin as a result
      of intensive bloodletting. It is not known whether such an effect is present or
      even more pronounced using erythrocytapheresis since a larger amount of iron is
      extracted per procedure. In this study we aimed to assess the effect of
      erythrocytapheresis on the course of iron parameters, with special focus on serum
      hepcidin. We performed a retrospective proof-of-principle observational study,
      comparing serum iron parameters in 12 males during the depletion phase using
      either phlebotomy (n = 6) or erythrocytapheresis (n = 6). Decreases in serum
      ferritin over time were similar for both treatments but more pronounced using
      erythrocytapheresis when expressed per treatment procedure. Hemoglobin did not
      change during erythrocytapheresis, whereas during phlebotomy decreased with 10%.
      Increase of erythropoietin and soluble transferrin receptor and decrease in
      transferrin saturation were similar for both treatments. Reduction in serum
      hepcidin was higher (50% versus 25% of initial value) and occurred more early
      using phlebotomy (10 versus 20 weeks after start). In aggregate, compared to
      phlebotomy, the less frequent and more personalized erythrocytapheresis leads to
      a more pronounced decrease in serum ferritin per treatment procedure, without a
      larger decrease in serum hepcidin. This may be clinically relevant and may
      prevent an increase in intestinal iron uptake and an ensuing vicious circle of
      more frequent treatment procedures. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:564-570, 2016. (c) 2015
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26878996
TI  - Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 4-Aminoquinolines.
AB  - A diverse set of highly substituted 4-aminoquinolines was synthesized from
      ynamides, triflic anhydride, 2-chloropyridine, and readily accessible amides in a
      mild one-step procedure. 

PMID- 26878997
TI  - Polymer/Graphene Hybrids for Advanced Energy-Conversion and -Storage Materials.
AB  - Polymer/graphene-based materials with interesting physical and chemical
      properties have been attracting considerable attention and have been shown to
      have great potential as active materials in the field of energy conversion and
      storage. In this review, we focus on recent significant advances in the
      fabrication and application of polymer/graphene hybrids as electrocatalysts and
      electrode materials. Synthetic strategies and application of these materials in
      energy conversion and storage are presented, particularly in devices such as fuel
      cells, actuators, and supercapacitors, accompanied with a discussion of the
      challenges and research directions necessary for the future development of
      polymer/graphene hybrids.

PMID- 26878998
TI  - The Relationships Between Parasympathetic Function and Pain Perception: The Role
      of Anxiety.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified relationships between autonomic
      function and pain perception. Anxiety was found to influence both autonomic and
      pain responses. We examined the effect of anxiety level on parasympathetic
      function and pain perception as well as on the relationships between these 2
      systems. METHODS: Thirty healthy females were divided into high- and low-anxiety
      groups according to their trait anxiety levels. Parasympathetic function was
      obtained using heart rate variability, deep breathing, and Valsalva ratios. Pain
      perception parameters of heat pain thresholds, pain rating of supra-thresholds
      stimulus, mechanical temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation response
      were examined. RESULTS: The low-anxiety and high-anxiety groups exhibited no
      significant differences in the parasympathetic function and pain perception
      parameters. Assessment of the associations revealed that in the high-anxiety
      group, higher mean ratings of the tonic heat pain stimulus were significantly
      correlated with higher rMSSD (r2 = 0.358, P = 0.019), but this was not found for
      the low-anxiety group (P = 0.282). In addition, in the high-anxiety group,
      efficient conditioned pain modulation response was correlated with higher deep
      breathing ratio (r2 = 0.363, P = 0.023); however, in the low-anxiety group, the
      correlation did not reach significance (P = 0.109). CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrates the role of anxiety level on the relationships between
      parasympathetic function and pain perception. We suggest that a situation of high
      anxiety leads to higher norepinephrine levels that can influence both
      parasympathetic function and pain perception, thus explaining the significant
      relationships found between these 2 systems only in subjects with high anxiety.

PMID- 26878999
TI  - Study of SEM preparation artefacts with correlative microscopy: Cell shrinkage of
      adherent cells by HMDS-drying.
AB  - One of the often reported artefacts during cell preparation to scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM) is the shrinkage of cellular objects, that mostly occurs at a
      certain time-dependent stage of cell drying. Various methods of drying for SEM,
      such as critical point drying, freeze-drying, as well as hexamethyldisilazane
      (HMDS)-drying, were usually used. The latter becomes popular since it is a low
      cost and fast method. However, the correlation of drying duration and real
      shrinkage of objects was not investigated yet. In this paper, cell shrinkage at
      each stage of preparation for SEM was studied. We introduce a shrinkage
      coefficient using correlative light microscopy (LM) and SEM of the same human
      mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The influence of HMDS-drying duration on the cell
      shrinkage is shown: the longer drying duration, the more shrinkage is observed.
      Furthermore, it was demonstrated that cell shrinkage is inversely proportional to
      cultivation time: the longer cultivation time, the more cell spreading area and
      the less cell shrinkage. Our results can be applicable for an exact SEM
      quantification of cell size and determination of cell spreading area in
      engineering of artificial cellular environments using biomaterials. SCANNING
      38:625-633, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879000
TI  - Red Phosphorescent Bis-Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes with Fluorine-, Phenyl-,
      and Fluorophenyl-Substituted 2-Arylquinoline Ligands.
AB  - Red phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes based on fluorine-, phenyl-, and
      fluorophenyl-substituted 2-arylquinoline ligands were designed and synthesized.
      To investigate their electrophosphorescent properties, devices were fabricated
      with the following structure: indium tin oxide (ITO)/4,4',4''-tris[2
      naphthyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine (2-TNATA)/4,4'-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N
      phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB)/4,4'-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl (CBP): 8% iridium
      (III) complexes/bathocuproine (BCP)/tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq3)/8
      hydroxyquinoline lithium (Liq)/Al. All devices, which use these materials showed
      efficient red emissions. In particular, a device exhibited a saturated red
      emission with a maximum luminance, external quantum efficiency, and luminous
      efficiency of 14200 cd m(-2), 8.44%, and 6.58 cd A(-1) at 20 mA cm(-2),
      respectively. The CIE (x, y) coordinates of this device are (0.67, 0.33) at 12.0
      V.

PMID- 26879001
TI  - Intranasal Insulin Prevents Anesthesia-Induced Spatial Learning and Memory
      Deficit in Mice.
AB  - Elderly individuals are at increased risk of cognitive decline after anesthesia.
      General anesthesia is believed to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
      At present, there is no treatment that can prevent anesthesia-induced
      postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Here, we treated mice with daily intranasal
      administration of insulin (1.75 U/day) for one week before anesthesia induced by
      intraperitoneal injection of propofol and maintained by inhalation of sevoflurane
      for 1 hr. We found that the insulin treatment prevented anesthesia-induced
      deficit in spatial learning and memory, as measured by Morris water maze task
      during 1-5 days after exposure to anesthesia. The insulin treatment also
      attenuated anesthesia-induced hyperphosphorylation of tau and promoted the
      expression of synaptic proteins and insulin signaling in the brain. These
      findings show a therapeutic potential of intranasal administration of insulin
      before surgery to reduce the risk of anesthesia-induced cognitive decline and AD.

PMID- 26879002
TI  - Impact of Mean Platelet Volume on Long-Term Mortality in Chinese Patients with ST
      Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - We investigated the association between mean platelet volume (MPV) and risk of
      all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
      (STEMI). We enrolled 1836 patients with STEMI in Xuanwu Hospital from January
      2008 to December 2013. Based on MPV, patients were categorized into the following
      groups: < 9.5 fL (n = 85), 9.5-11.0 fL (n = 776), 11.1-12.5 fL (n = 811) and
      >12.5 fL (n = 164), respectively. Mean duration of follow-up was 56.9 months, and
      197 patients (10.7%) died during follow-up. All-cause mortality rates were
      compared between groups. The lowest mortality occurred in patients with MPV
      between 9.5-11.0 fL, with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of
      1.15(95%CI 0.62-1.50), 1.38(95%CI 1.20-1.68), and 1.72(95%CI 1.41-1.96) in
      patients with MPV of <.5, 11.1-12.5 and >12.5 fL, respectively. Therefore,
      increased MPV was associated with all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with
      STEMI. MPV might be useful as a marker for risk stratification in Chinese
      patients with STEMI.

PMID- 26879003
TI  - Engineering of a modular and synthetic phosphoketolase pathway for photosynthetic
      production of acetone from CO2 in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 under light
      and aerobic condition.
AB  - Capture and conversion of CO2 to valuable chemicals is intended to answer global
      challenges on environmental issues, climate change and energy security.
      Engineered cyanobacteria have been enabled to produce industry-relevant chemicals
      from CO2 . However, the final products from cyanobacteria have often been mixed
      with fermented metabolites during dark fermentation. In this study, our
      engineering of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 enabled continuous conversion of
      CO2 to volatile acetone as sole product. This process occurred during lighted,
      aerobic culture via both ATP-driven malonyl-CoA synthesis pathway and
      heterologous phosphoketolase (PHK)-phosphotransacetylase (Pta) pathway. Because
      of strong correlations between the metabolic pathways of acetate and acetone,
      supplying the acetyl-CoA directly from CO2 in the engineered strain, led to sole
      production of acetone (22.48 mg/L +/- 1.00) without changing nutritional
      constraints, and without an anaerobic shift. Our engineered S. elongatus strains,
      designed for acetone production, could be modified to create biosolar cell
      factories for sustainable photosynthetic production of acetyl-CoA-derived
      biochemicals.

PMID- 26879004
TI  - Is yolk sac tumor related to the pathophysiology of low birthweight?
AB  - An 8-year-old Japanese girl was admitted with an ovarian yolk sac tumor.
      Regarding birth history, the patient had been delivered by cesarean section at 25
      weeks of gestation with a birthweight of 711g. She had required neonatal
      intensive care including oxygenation, various medications, and tests. After
      surgery and chemotherapy, there was no recurrence for 2 years, at the time of
      writing. Yolk sac tumor, which is a malignant germ cell tumor, is rare in
      children. Although the cause and risk factors are unclear, it has been reported
      that malignant germ cell tumors in childhood have been associated with
      pathophysiology at birth. Given that premature infants are more likely to survive
      due to advances in perinatal care, it is expected that such cases will increase
      in the near future. We suggest that children born prematurely require careful
      follow up.

PMID- 26879005
TI  - Proteome quantification of cotton xylem sap suggests the mechanisms of potassium
      deficiency-induced changes in plant resistance to environmental stresses.
AB  - Proteomics was employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of apoplastic
      response to potassium(K)-deficiency in cotton. Low K (LK) treatment significantly
      decreased the K and protein contents of xylem sap. Totally, 258 peptides were
      qualitatively identified in the xylem sap of cotton seedlings, of which, 90.31%
      were secreted proteins. Compared to the normal K (NK), LK significantly decreased
      the expression of most environmental-stress-related proteins and resulted in a
      lack of protein isoforms in the characterized proteins. For example, the contents
      of 21 Class SH peroxidase isoforms under the LK were 6 to 44% of those under the
      NK and 11 its isoforms were lacking under the LK treatment; the contents of 3
      chitinase isoforms under LK were 11-27% of those under the NK and 2 its isoforms
      were absent under LK. In addition, stress signaling and recognizing proteins were
      significantly down-regulated or disappeared under the LK. In contrast, the LK
      resulted in at least 2-fold increases of only one peroxidase, one protease
      inhibitor, one non-specific lipid-transfer protein and histone H4 and in the
      appearance of H2A. Therefore, K deficiency decreased plant tolerance to
      environmental stresses, probably due to the significant and pronounced decrease
      or disappearance of a myriad of stress-related proteins.

PMID- 26879006
TI  - Post-illumination activity of SnO2 nanoparticle-decorated Cu2O nanocubes by H2O2
      production in dark from photocatalytic "memory".
AB  - Most photocatalysts only function under illumination, while many potential
      applications require continuous activities in dark. Thus, novel photocatalysts
      should be developed, which could store part of their photoactivity in "memory"
      under illumination and then be active from this "memory" after the illumination
      is turned off for an extended period of time. Here a novel composite
      photocatalyst of SnO2 nanoparticle-decorated Cu2O nanocubes is developed. Their
      large conduction band potential difference and the inner electrostatic field
      formed in the p-n heterojunction provide a strong driving force for
      photogenerated electrons to move from Cu2O to SnO2 under visible light
      illumination, which could then be released to react with O2 in dark to produce
      H2O2 for its post-illumination activity. This work demonstrates that the
      selection of decoration components for photocatalysts with the post-illumination
      photocatalytic "memory" could be largely expanded to semiconductors with
      conduction band potentials less positive than the two-electron reduction
      potential of O2. 

PMID- 26879007
TI  - The effect of hydroxyethyl starch 6% 130/0.4 compared with gelatin on
      microvascular reactivity.
AB  - We compared the effects on microvascular reactivity of hydroxyethylstarch
      (Volulyte((r)) ) and gelatin (Geloplasma((r)) ) during acute haemodilution. The
      hypothesis was that Volulyte would provide better microvascular reactivity than
      Geloplasma. Forty patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were randomly
      assigned to receive either Volulyte or Geloplasma as the exclusive priming
      solution of the cardiopulmonary bypass. To evaluate microvascular reactivity,
      postocclusive reactive hyperaemia was examined before and after cardiopulmonary
      bypass. Microvascular reactivity assessments included the rate of the occlusion
      and reperfusion slopes and reperfusion times. After cardiopulmonary bypass,
      increases in reperfusion time were significantly smaller in the Volulyte group (3
      (-27 to 9 [-35 to 33]%) vs 29 (-17 to 76 [-34 to 137]%) in the Geloplasma group,
      p = 0.02 between groups). Rate of reperfusion increased in the Volulyte group (26
      (-17 to 43 [-59 to 357])%), whereas it decreased in the Geloplasma group (-22 (
      47 to 16 [-84 to 113])%), p = 0.02 between groups. The shorter reperfusion times
      and increased reperfusion rate suggest that Volulyte maintains better
      microvascular reactivity than Geloplasma.

PMID- 26879008
TI  - Five-year changes in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in coastal wetlands
      affected by flow-sediment regulation in a Chinese delta.
AB  - Changes in the sources and sinks of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen
      (TN) in wetland soils as indicators of soil quality and climate change have
      received attention worldwide. Soil samples were collected in 2007 and 2012 in the
      coastal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta and the SOC and TN were determined to
      investigate a five-year change in their content and stock in these wetlands as
      affected by flow-sediment regulation. Our results revealed that the soils in 2007
      exhibited greater electrical conductivities, SOC content and density, and
      ammonium nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) levels in the top 10 cm soils (p < 0.05) compared
      with the soils in 2012. In general, the SOC and TN contents decreased with
      increasing soil depth. However, the highest ratios of soil organic carbon and
      total nitrogen (molar C/N ratios) were observed in the 30-40 cm soil layer. A
      significant SOC loss occurred (p < 0.05) in top 10 cm soils, but only a small
      change in SOC in the top 50 cm soils. Comparatively, TN levels did not show
      significant differences in the study period. 

PMID- 26879009
TI  - Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Symptoms Correlate with Domains of
      Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) may be a risk
      factor for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
      However, little is known regarding the relation between the severity of RBD and
      the different domains of cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was: (1) to
      investigate the domains of cognitive impairment in patients with PD and RBD, and
      (2) to explore risk factors for PD-mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and the
      relationship between RBD severity and impairment in different cognitive domains
      in PD. METHODS: The participants were grouped as follows: PD without RBD (PD-RBD;
      n = 42), PD with RBD (PD + RBD; n = 32), idiopathic RBD (iRBD; n = 15), and
      healthy controls (HCs; n = 36). All participants completed a battery of
      neuropsychological assessment of attention and working memory, executive
      function, language, memory, and visuospatial function. The information of basic
      demographics, diseases and medication history, and motor and nonmotor
      manifestations was obtained and compared between PD-RBD and PD + RBD groups.
      Particular attention was paid to the severity of RBD assessed by the RBD
      Questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK) and the RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ),
      then we further examined associations between the severity of RBD symptoms and
      cognitive levels via correlation analysis. RESULTS: Compared to PD-RBD subjects,
      PD + RBD patients were more likely to have olfactory dysfunction and their
      Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were higher (P < 0.05). During neuropsychological
      testing, PD + RBD patients performed worse than PD-RBD patients, including
      delayed memory function, especially. The MCI rates were 33%, 63%, 33%, and 8% for
      PD-RBD, PD + RBD, iRBD, and HC groups, respectively. RBD was an important factor
      for the PD-MCI variance (odds ratio = 5.204, P = 0.018). During correlation
      analysis, higher RBDSQ and RBDQ-HK scores were significantly associated with
      poorer performance on the Trail Making Test-B (errors) and Auditory Verbal
      Learning Test (delayed recall) and higher RBD-HK scores were also associated with
      Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (copy) results. CONCLUSIONS: When PD-RBD and PD +
      RBD patients have equivalent motor symptoms, PD + RBD patients still have more
      olfactory dysfunction and worse daytime somnolence. RBD is an important risk
      factor for MCI, including delayed memory. Deficits in executive function, verbal
      delayed memory, and visuospatial function were consistently associated with more
      severe RBD symptoms.

PMID- 26879010
TI  - Establishing a Customized Guide Plate for Osteotomy in Total Knee Arthroplasty
      Using Lower-extremity X-ray and Knee Computed Tomography Images.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The conventional method cannot guarantee the precise osteotomies
      required for a perfect realignment and a better prognosis after total knee
      arthroplasty (TKA). This study investigated a customized guide plate for
      osteotomy placement in TKAs with the aid of the statistical shape model technique
      using weight-bearing lower-extremity X-rays and computed tomography (CT) images
      of the knee. METHODS: From October 2014 to June 2015, 42 patients who underwent a
      TKA in Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital were divided into a guide plate group
      (GPG, 21 cases) and a traditional surgery group (TSG, 21 cases) using a random
      number table method. In the GPG group, a guide plate was designed and printed
      using preoperative three-dimensional measurements to plan and digitally simulate
      the operation. TSG cases were treated with the conventional method. Outcomes were
      obtained from the postoperative image examination and short-term follow-up.
      RESULTS: Operative time was 49.0 +/- 10.5 min for GPG, and 62.0 +/- 9.7 min in
      TSG. The coronal femoral angle, coronal tibial angle, posterior tibial slope, and
      the angle between the posterior condylar osteotomy surface and the surgical
      transepicondylar axis were 89.2 +/- 1.7 degrees , 89.0 +/- 1.1 degrees , 6.6 +/-
      1.4 degrees , and 0.9 +/- 0.3 degrees  in GPG, and 86.7 +/- 2.9 degrees , 87.6 +/
      2.1 degrees , 8.9 +/- 2.8 degrees , and 1.7 +/- 0.8 degrees  in TSG,
      respectively. The Hospital for Special Surgery scores 3 months after surgery were
      83.7 +/- 18.4 in GPG and 71.5 +/- 15.2 in TSG. Statistically significant
      differences were found between GPG and TSG in all measurements. CONCLUSIONS: A
      customized guide plate to create an accurate osteotomy in TKAs may be created
      using lower-extremity X-ray and knee CT images. This allows for shorter operative
      times and better postoperative alignment than the traditional surgery.
      Application of the digital guide plate may also result in better short-term
      outcomes.

PMID- 26879011
TI  - Embryonic Stem Cells-loaded Gelatin Microcryogels Slow Progression of Chronic
      Kidney Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health problem. New
      interventions to slow or prevent disease progression are urgently needed. In this
      setting, cell therapies associated with regenerative effects are attracting
      increasing interest. We evaluated the effect of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) on
      the progression of CKD. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to
      5/6 nephrectomy. We used pedicled greater omentum flaps packing ESC-loaded
      gelatin microcryogels (GMs) on the 5/6 nephrectomized kidney. The viability of
      ESCs within the GMs was detected using in vitro two-photon fluorescence confocal
      imaging. Rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Renal injury was evaluated using
      serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, 24 h protein, renal pathology, and tubular
      injury score results. Structural damage was evaluated by periodic acid-Schiff and
      Masson trichrome staining. RESULTS: In vitro, ESCs could be automatically loaded
      into the GMs. Uniform cell distribution, good cell attachment, and viability were
      achieved from day 1 to 7 in vitro. After 12 weeks, in the pedicled greater
      omentum flaps packing ESC-loaded GMs on 5/6 nephrectomized rats group, the plasma
      urea nitrogen levels were 26% lower than in the right nephrectomy group,
      glomerulosclerosis index was 62% lower and tubular injury index was 40% lower
      than in the 5/6 nephrectomized rats group without GMs. CONCLUSIONS: In a rat
      model of established CKD, we demonstrated that the pedicled greater omentum flaps
      packing ESC-loaded GMs on the 5/6 nephrectomized kidney have a long-lasting
      therapeutic rescue function, as shown by the decreased progression of CKD and
      reduced glomerular injury.

PMID- 26879012
TI  - Is Laparoscopic Hepatectomy a Safe, Feasible Procedure in Patients with a
      Previous Upper Abdominal Surgery?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection has become an accepted treatment for
      liver tumors or intrahepatic bile duct stones, but its application in patients
      with previous upper abdominal surgery is controversial. The aim of this study was
      to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic hepatectomy in these
      patients. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-six patients who underwent
      laparoscopic hepatectomy at our hospital from March 2012 to June 2015 were
      enrolled in the retrospective study. They were divided into two groups: Those
      with previous upper abdominal surgery (PS group, n = 42) and a control group with
      no previous upper abdominal surgery (NS group, n = 294). Short-term outcomes
      including operating time, blood loss, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality
      were compared among the groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in
      median operative duration between the PS group and the NS group (180 min vs. 160
      min, P = 0.869). Median intraoperative blood loss was same between the PS group
      and the control group (200 ml vs. 200 ml, P = 0.907). The overall complication
      rate was significantly lower in the NS group than in the PS group (17.0% vs.
      31.0%, P = 0.030). Mortality and other short-term outcomes did not differ
      significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed no significant
      difference between the PS group and NS group in term of short-term outcomes.
      Laparoscopic hepatectomy is a feasible and safe procedure for patients with
      previous upper abdominal surgery.

PMID- 26879013
TI  - Chromosomal and Genetic Analysis of a Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line OM.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung cancer has become the leading cause of death in many regions.
      Carcinogenesis is caused by the stepwise accumulation of genetic and chromosomal
      changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the chromosome and gene
      alterations in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM. METHODS: We used
      Giemsa banding and multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization focusing on the
      human lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM to analyze its chromosome alterations. In
      addition, the gains and losses in the specific chromosome regions were identified
      by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and the amplifications of cancer
      related genes were also detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: We
      identified a large number of chromosomal numerical alterations on all chromosomes
      except chromosome X and 19. Chromosome 10 is the most frequently involved in
      translocations with six different interchromosomal translocations. CGH revealed
      the gains on chromosome regions of 3q25.3-28, 5p13, 12q22-23.24, and the losses
      on 3p25-26, 6p25, 6q26-27, 7q34-36, 8p22-23, 9p21-24, 10q25-26.3, 12p13.31-13.33
      and 17p13.1-13.3. And PCR showed the amplification of genes: Membrane
      metalloendopeptidase (MME), sucrase-isomaltase (SI), butyrylcholinesterase
      (BCHE), and kininogen (KNG). CONCLUSIONS: The lung adenocarcinoma cell line OM
      exhibited multiple complex karyotypes, and chromosome 10 was frequently involved
      in chromosomal translocation, which may play key roles in tumorigenesis. We
      speculated that the oncogenes may be located at 3q25.3-28, 5p13, 12q22-23.24,
      while tumor suppressor genes may exist in 3p25-26, 6p25, 6q26-27, 7q34-36, 8p22
      23, 9p21-24, 10q25-26.3, 12p13.31-13.33, and 17p13.1-13.3. Moreover, at least
      four genes (MME, SI, BCHE, and KNG) may be involved in the human lung
      adenocarcinoma cell line OM.

PMID- 26879015
TI  - Comparative Study of Plasma Endotoxin with Procalcitonin Levels in Diagnosis of
      Bacteremia in Intensive Care Unit Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both procalcitonin (PCT) and plasma endotoxin levels cannot be solely
      used for a definite diagnosis of bacteremia or sepsis, and there has been few
      study comparing the values of the two biomarkers for the diagnosis of bacteremia.
      The aim of this study was to identify bacteria causing bacteremia and evaluate
      the role of the two biomarkers in the diagnosis of bacteremia in Intensive Care
      Unit (ICU). METHODS: The medical records of 420 patients in ICU were
      retrospectively reviewed. Patients (n = 241) who met the inclusion criteria were
      subjected to blood culture (BC) for the analysis of the endotoxin or PCT levels.
      The exclusion criteria included the presence of infection with human
      immunodeficiency virus and/or AIDS, neutropenia without sepsis, pregnancy,
      treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, or blood diseases such as
      hematological tumors. Patients' BC episodes were divided into BC negative, Gram
      negative (GN) bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi groups. The PCT and
      plasma endotoxin levels were compared in the different groups. RESULTS: A total
      of 241 patients with 505 episodes of BC were analyzed. The GN bacteria group
      showed higher levels of PCT and endotoxin than the BC negative, Gram-positive
      bacteria, and fungi groups. GN bacteremia was more prevalent than Gram-positive
      bacteremia. The GN bacteremia caused by non-Enterobacteriaceae infection
      presented higher endotoxin level than that by Enterobacteriaceae, but no
      significant difference in PCT levels was observed between the two groups. The
      plasma endotoxin significantly differed among different groups and was bacterial
      species dependent. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma endotoxin was more related to GN than to
      Gram-positive bacteremia, and that endotoxin level was species dependent, but PCT
      level remained relatively more stable within the GN bacteria caused bacteremia.
      Both GN and positive bacteria caused bacteremia in the ICU patients in different
      regions of China. And PCT is a more valuable biomarker than endotoxin in the
      diagnosis of bacteremia.

PMID- 26879014
TI  - Changes in the Bispectral Index in Response to Loss of Consciousness and No
      Somatic Movement to Nociceptive Stimuli in Elderly Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bispectral index (BIS) is considered very useful to guide anesthesia
      care in elderly patients, but its use is controversial for the evaluation of the
      adequacy of analgesia. This study compared the BIS changes in response to loss of
      consciousness (LOC) and loss of somatic response (LOS) to nociceptive stimuli
      between elderly and young patients receiving intravenous target-controlled
      infusion (TCI) of propofol and remifentanil. METHODS: This study was performed on
      52 elderly patients (aged 65-78 years) and 52 young patients (aged 25-58 years),
      American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II. Anesthesia was
      induced with propofol administered by TCI. A standardized noxious electrical
      stimulus (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, [TENS]) was applied (50
      Hz, 80 mA, 0.25 ms pulses for 4 s) to the ulnar nerve at increasing remifentanil
      predicted effective-site concentration (Ce) until patients lost somatic response
      to TENS. Changes in awake, prestimulus, poststimulus BIS, heart rate, mean
      arterial pressure, pulse oxygen saturation, predicted plasma concentration, Ce of
      propofol, and remifentanil at both LOC and LOS clinical points were investigated.
      RESULTS: BISLOCin elderly group was higher than that in young patient group (65.4
      +/- 9.7 vs. 57.6 +/- 12.3) (t = 21.58, P < 0.0001) after TCI propofol, and the
      propofol Ce at LOC was 1.6 +/- 0.3 MUg/ml in elderly patients, which was
      significantly lower than that in young patients (2.3 +/- 0.5 MUg/ml) (t = 7.474,
      P < 0.0001). As nociceptive stimulation induced BIS to increase, the mean of BIS
      maximum values after TENS was significantly higher than that before TENS in both
      age groups (t = 8.902 and t = 8.019, P < 0.0001). With increasing Ce of
      remifentanil until patients lost somatic response to TENS, BISLOSwas the same as
      the BISLOCin elderly patients (65.6 +/- 10.7 vs. 65.4 +/- 9.7), and there were no
      marked differences between elderly and young patient groups in BISawake, BISLOS,
      and Ce of remifentanil required for LOS. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, BIS can
      be used as an indicator for hypnotic-analgesic balance and be helpful to guide
      the optimal administration of propofol and remifentanil individually. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: CTRI Reg. No: ChiCTR-OOC-14005629;
      http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9875.

PMID- 26879016
TI  - Mechanism of Regulatory Effect of MicroRNA-206 on Connexin 43 in Distant
      Metastasis of Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MicroRNA-206 (miR-206) and connexin 43 (Cx43) are related with the
      distant metastasis of breast cancer. It remains unclear whether the regulatory
      effect of miR-206 on Cx43 is involved in metastasis of breast cancer. METHODS:
      Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, the
      expressions of miR-206 and Cx43 were determined in breast cancer tissues, hepatic
      and pulmonary metastasis (PM), and cell lines (MCF-10A, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231).
      MCF-7/MDA-M-231 cells were transfected with lentivirus-shRNA vectors to
      enhance/inhibit miR-206, and then Cx43 expression was observed. Cell counting kit
      8 assay and Transwell method were used to detect their changes in proliferation,
      migration, and invasion activity. The mutant plasmids of Cx43-3' untranslated
      region (3'UTR) at position 478-484 and position 1609-1615 were constructed.
      Luciferase reporter assay was performed to observe the effects of miR-206 on
      luciferase expression of different mutant plasmids and to confirm the potential
      binding sites of Cx43. RESULTS: Cx43 protein expression in hepatic and PM was
      significantly higher than that in the primary tumor, while no significant
      difference was showed in messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. MiR-206 mRNA expression
      in hepatic and PM was significantly lower than that in the primary tumor. Cx43
      mRNA and protein levels, as well as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion
      capabilities, were all significantly improved in MDA-MB-231 cells after reducing
      miR-206 expression but decreased in MCF-7 cells after elevating miR-206
      expression, which demonstrated a significantly negative correlation between miR
      206 and Cx43 expression (P = 0.03). MiR-206 can drastically decrease Cx43
      expression of MCF-7 cells but exerts no effects on Cx43 expression in 293 cells
      transfected with the Cx43 coding region but the lack of Cx43-3'UTR, suggesting
      that Cx43-3'UTR may be the key in Cx43 regulated by miR-206. Luciferase
      expression showed that the inhibition efficiency was reduced by 46.80% in
      position 478-484 mutant, 16.72% in position 1609-1615 mutant; the inhibition was
      totally disappeared in double mutant (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-206 can
      regulate the expression of Cx43, the cytobiological activity, and the metastasis
      of breast cancer through binding to the two binding sites in Cx43-3'UTR: position
      478-484 and position 1609-1615.

PMID- 26879017
TI  - Preoperative Corticosteroid Usage and Hypoalbuminemia Increase Occurrence of
      Short-term Postoperative Complications in Chinese Patients with Ulcerative
      Colitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clarifying the risk factors for postoperative complications and
      taking measures to minimize these complications will improve the outcomes in
      patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to systemically explore
      the risk factors for short-term postoperative complications in Chinese UC
      patients undergoing ileocolorectal surgery. METHODS: Forty-nine UC patients
      undergoing proctocolectomy or ileostomy were retrospectively enrolled. Univariate
      and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to reveal the risk
      factors among the clinical, laboratory, and surgical variables as well as
      preoperative medications. RESULTS: Twenty-two (44.9%) patients who suffered from
      at least one short-term postoperative event had more severe hypoalbuminemia (P =
      0.007) and an increased prevalence of preoperative corticosteroid usage
      (prednisone more than 20 mg daily or equivalent) for more than 6 weeks (59.1% vs.
      25.9%, P = 0.023) compared with patients without short-term postoperative
      complications. Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds
      ratio (95% confidence interval) values of these two risk factors were 1.756
      (0.889-3.470, P = 0.105) and 3.233 (0.916-11.406, P = 0.068), respectively. In 32
      severe UC patients, prolonged preoperative hospital stay worsened the short-term
      postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative corticosteroids usage and
      hypoalbuminemia worsened the short-term outcomes following ileocolorectal surgery
      in Chinese UC patients.

PMID- 26879018
TI  - Tongxinluo Reverses the Hypoxia-suppressed Claudin-9 in Cardiac Microvascular
      Endothelial Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Claudin-5, claudin-9, and claudin-11 are expressed in endothelial
      cells to constitute tight junctions, and their deficiency may lead to
      hyperpermeability, which is the initiating process and pathological basis of
      cardiovascular disease. Although tongxinluo (TXL) has satisfactory antianginal
      effects, whether and how it modulates claudin-5, claudin-9, and claudin-11 in
      hypoxia-stimulated human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) have
      not been reported. METHODS: In this study, HCMECs were stimulated with CoCl2to
      mimic hypoxia and treated with TXL. First, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of
      claudin-5, claudin-9, and claudin-11 was confirmed. Then, the protein content and
      distribution of claudin-9, as well as cell morphological changes were evaluated
      after TXL treatment. Furthermore, the distribution and content histone H3K9
      acetylation (H3K9ac) in the claudin-9 gene promoter, which guarantees
      transcriptional activation, were examined to explore the underlying mechanism, by
      which TXL up-regulates claudin-9 in hypoxia-stimulated HCMECs. RESULTS: We found
      that hypoxia-suppressed claudin-9 gene expression in HCMECs (F = 7.244; P =
      0.011) and the hypoxia-suppressed claudin-9 could be reversed by TXL (F = 61.911;
      P = 0.000), which was verified by its protein content changes (F = 29.142; P =
      0.000). Moreover, high-dose TXL promoted the cytomembrane localization of claudin
      9 in hypoxia-stimulated HCMECs, with attenuation of cell injury. Furthermore,
      high-dose TXL elevated the hypoxia-inhibited H3K9ac in the claudin-9 gene
      promoter (F = 37.766; P = 0.000), activating claudin-9 transcription.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results manifested that TXL reversed the hypoxia-suppressed
      claudin-9 by elevating H3K9ac in its gene promoter, playing protective roles in
      HCMECs.

PMID- 26879019
TI  - The Implication and Significance of Beta 2 Microglobulin: A Conservative
      Multifunctional Regulator.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on the current knowledge on the implication and
      significance of beta 2 microglobulin (beta2M), a conservative immune molecule in
      vertebrate. DATA SOURCES: The data used in this review were obtained from PubMed
      up to October 2015. Terms of beta2M, immune response, and infection were used in
      the search. STUDY SELECTIONS: Articles related to beta2M were retrieved and
      reviewed. Articles focusing on the characteristic and function of beta2M were
      selected. The exclusion criteria of articles were that the studies on beta2M
      related molecules. RESULTS: beta2M is critical for the immune surveillance and
      modulation in vertebrate animals. The dysregulation of beta2M is associated with
      multiple diseases, including endogenous and infectious diseases. beta2M could
      directly participate in the development of cancer cells, and the level of beta2M
      is deemed as a prognostic marker for several malignancies. It also involves in
      forming major histocompatibility complex (MHC class I or MHC I) or like
      heterodimers, covering from antigen presentation to immune homeostasis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Based on the characteristic of beta2M, it or its signaling pathway
      has been targeted as biomedical or therapeutic tools. Moreover, beta2M is highly
      conserved among different species, and overall structures are virtually
      identical, implying the versatility of beta2M on applications.

PMID- 26879020
TI  - Autophagy in 5-Fluorouracil Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Trends and
      Challenges.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based combination therapies are standard
      treatments for gastrointestinal cancer, where the modulation of autophagy is
      becoming increasingly important in offering effective treatment for patients in
      clinical practice. This review focuses on the role of autophagy in 5-FU-induced
      tumor suppression and cancer therapy in the digestive system. DATA SOURCES: All
      articles published in English from 1996 to date those assess the synergistic
      effect of autophagy and 5-FU in gastrointestinal cancer therapy were identified
      through a systematic online search by use of PubMed. The search terms were
      "autophagy" and "5-FU" and ("colorectal cancer" or "hepatocellular carcinoma" or
      "pancreatic adenocarcinoma" or "esophageal cancer" or "gallbladder carcinoma" or
      "gastric cancer"). STUDY SELECTION: Critical reviews on relevant aspects and
      original articles reporting in vitro and/or in vivo results regarding the
      efficiency of autophagy and 5-FU in gastrointestinal cancer therapy were
      reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. The exclusion criteria for the articles were
      as follows: (1) new materials (e.g., nanomaterial)-induced autophagy; (2)
      clinical and experimental studies on diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers in
      digestive system cancers; and (3) immunogenic cell death for anticancer
      chemotherapy. RESULTS: Most cell and animal experiments showed inhibition of
      autophagy by either pharmacological approaches or via genetic silencing of
      autophagy regulatory gene, resulting in a promotion of 5-FU-induced cancer cells
      death. Meanwhile, autophagy also plays a pro-death role and may mediate cell
      death in certain cancer cells where apoptosis is defective or difficult to
      induce. The dual role of autophagy complicates the use of autophagy inhibitor or
      inducer in cancer chemotherapy and generates inconsistency to an extent in clinic
      trials. CONCLUSION: Autophagy might be a therapeutic target that sensitizes the 5
      FU treatment in gastrointestinal cancer.

PMID- 26879022
TI  - How to Initiate and Perform Simulation-based Airway Management Training More
      Effectively and Efficiently in China?

PMID- 26879023
TI  - Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification Presented with Progressive Supranuclear
      Palsy-like Features.

PMID- 26879021
TI  - Evolving Molecular Genetics of Glioblastoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summary the recent advances in molecular research of glioblastoma
      (GBM) and current trends in personalized therapy of this disease. DATA SOURCES:
      Data cited in this review were obtained mainly from PubMed in English up to 2015,
      with keywords "molecular", "genetics", "GBM", "isocitrate dehydrogenase",
      "telomerase reverse transcriptase", "epidermal growth factor receptor", "PTPRZ1
      MET", and "clinical treatment". STUDY SELECTION: Articles regarding the
      morphological pathology of GBM, the epidemiology of GBM, genetic alteration of
      GBM, and the development of treatment for GBM patients were identified,
      retrieved, and reviewed. RESULTS: There is a large amount of data supporting the
      view that these recurrent genetic aberrations occur in a specific context of
      cellular origin, co-oncogenic hits and are present in distinct patient
      populations. Primary and secondary GBMs are distinct disease entities that affect
      different age groups of patients and develop through distinct genetic
      aberrations. These differences are important, especially because they may affect
      sensitivity to radio- and chemo-therapy and should thus be considered in the
      identification of targets for novel therapeutic approaches. CONCLUSION: This
      review highlights the molecular and genetic alterations of GBM, indicating that
      they are of potential value in the diagnosis and treatment for patients with GBM.

PMID- 26879024
TI  - Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome Sometimes Could be
      Irreversible: A Case Following Tumor Lysis Syndrome in Childhood Burkitt's
      Lymphoma.

PMID- 26879025
TI  - Uterine Artery Rupture After Induced Abortion and Extraction of an Intrauterine
      Device.

PMID- 26879026
TI  - Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 with Syringomyelia in a Young Patient.

PMID- 26879027
TI  - Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Obturator Hernia Preoperatively Diagnosed by
      Ultrasound.

PMID- 26879028
TI  - New "P" in Medical Model.

PMID- 26879029
TI  - Unilateral Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion After Letrozole Treatment in a
      Postmenopausal Woman with Breast Cancer.

PMID- 26879030
TI  - A Rare Case of Carotid Body Tumor Presenting with Internal Carotid Artery Blood
      Supply and Carotid Sinus Syndrome.

PMID- 26879031
TI  - Thunderclap Headache Caused by an Inadvertent Epidural Puncture During Oxygen
      ozone Therapy for Patient with Cervical Disc Herniation.

PMID- 26879032
TI  - After Administration of Intravenous Epinephrine for bee Sting-induced
      Anaphylaxis: Kounis Syndrome or Epinephrine Effect?

PMID- 26879033
TI  - Comparing Sedation Regimens for Awake Fiberoptic Intubation.

PMID- 26879034
TI  - Authors' Reply to Letter to the Editor "Comparing Sedation Regimens for Awake
      Fiberoptic Intubation".

PMID- 26879035
TI  - Targeted delivery of etoposide to cancer cells by folate-modified nanostructured
      lipid drug delivery system.
AB  - CONTEXT: Cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression of etoposide (ETP) limited its
      clinical application. Targeted drug delivery system could deliver anticancer
      agents to the target cancerous cells, thus reducing their toxicity. OBJECTIVE: In
      this study, folate (FA) was applied for the construction of nanostructured lipid
      carriers (NLCs), and used for targeted delivery of ETP to tumors overexpresses
      the FA receptors. METHODS: FA-poly (ethylene glycol)
      distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine was synthesized. FA decorated and ETP-loaded
      NLCs (FA-ETP-NLCs) were prepared and the formulation was optimized by Box-Behnken
      design. Their particle size (PS), zeta potential and drug encapsulation
      efficiency (EE) was evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of FA-ETP-NLCs were
      tested in CT26, SGC7901, NCI-H209 cell lines. In vivo antitumor efficacies of the
      carriers were evaluated on mice bearing CT26 cells xenografts. RESULTS: The
      optimum FA-ETP-NLCs formulations had a PS of 120.86 nm. The growth of CT26,
      SGC790 or NCI-H209 cells in vitro was obviously inhibited. FA-ETP-NLCs also
      displayed the best antitumor activity than other formulations in vivo.
      CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that FA-ETP-NLCs were efficient in selective
      delivery to CT26, SGC790 or NCI-H209 cells overexpressing the FA receptors. Also,
      FA-ETP-NLCs can sufficiently transfer ETP to the cancer cells, enhance the
      antitumor capacity. Thus, FA-ETP-NLCs could prove to be a superior nanomedicine
      to achieve tumor therapeutic efficacy.

PMID- 26879036
TI  - A randomized trial of a pain management intervention for adults receiving
      substance use disorder treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic pain is difficult to treat in individuals with
      substance use disorders and, when not resolved, can have a negative impact on
      substance use disorder treatment outcomes. This study tested the efficacy of a
      psychosocial pain management intervention, ImPAT (improving pain during addiction
      treatment), that combines pain management with content related to managing pain
      without substance use. DESIGN: Single-site, parallel-groups randomized controlled
      trial comparing ImPAT to a supportive psychoeducational control (SPC) condition;
      follow-up assessments occurred at 3, 6 and 12 months. SETTING: The Ann Arbor VA
      Substance Use Disorder treatment program, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans Health
      Administration patients {n = 129; mean [standard deviation (SD)], age = 51.7
      (9.5); 115 of 129 (89%) male; ImPAT (n = 65); SPC (n = 64)}. INTERVENTION: ImPAT
      combines principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance-based
      approaches to pain management with content related to avoiding the use of
      substances as a coping mechanism for pain. The SPC used a psychoeducational
      attention control treatment for alcoholism modified to cover other substances in
      addition to alcohol. MEASUREMENTS: Primary: Pain intensity over 12 months;
      secondary: pain-related functioning, frequency of alcohol and drug use over 12
      months. FINDINGS: Primary: randomization to the ImPAT intervention versus SPC
      predicted significantly lower pain intensity {beta [standard error (SE)] = -0.71
      (0.29); 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.29, -0.12}; secondary: relative to the
      SPC condition, those who received ImPAT also reported improved pain-related
      functioning [beta (SE) = 0.27 (0.11); 95% CI = 0.05, 0.49] and lower frequency of
      alcohol consumption [beta (SE) = -0.77; 95% CI = -1.34, -0.20]. No differences
      were found between conditions on frequency of drug use over follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: For adults with pain who are enrolled in addictions treatment,
      receipt of a psychological pain management intervention (improving pain during
      addiction treatment) reduced pain and alcohol use and improves pain-related
      functioning over 12 months relative to a matched-attention control condition.

PMID- 26879037
TI  - Limits to preference and the sensitivity of choice to rate and amount of food.
AB  - Studies of choice holding food-amount ratio constant while varying food-rate
      ratio within sessions showed that local changes in preference depend on relative
      amount of food. The present study investigated whether sensitivity of choice to
      food-rate ratio and sensitivity to food-amount ratio are independent of one
      another when food-rate ratios are varied across sessions and food-amount ratios
      are varied within sessions. Food deliveries for rats' presses on the left and
      right levers were scheduled according to three different food-rate ratios of 1:1,
      9:1, and 1:9; each food-rate ratio lasted for 106 sessions and was arranged
      independently of seven food-amount ratios (7:1, 6:2, 5:3, 4:4, 3:5, 2:6, and 1:7
      food pellets) occurring within sessions in random sequence. Each amount ratio
      lasted for 10 food deliveries and was separated from another by a 60-s blackout.
      Sensitivity to rate ratio was high (1.0) across food deliveries. Sensitivity to
      amount ratio was low when food rates were equal across alternatives, but was high
      when rate ratio and amount ratio opposed one another. When rate ratio and amount
      ratio went in the same direction, choice ratio reached an elevenfold limit which
      reduced sensitivity to approximately zero. We conclude that three factors affect
      sensitivity to amount: (1) the limit to preference, (2) the equal effect on
      preference of amounts greater than four pellets, and (3) the absence of
      differential effects of switches in amount in the equal-rates (1:1) condition.
      Taken together, these findings indicate that rate and amount only sometimes
      combine independently as additive variables to determine preference when amount
      ratios vary frequently within sessions. 

PMID- 26879039
TI  - Quantitative assessment of the serve speed in tennis.
AB  - A method is presented for assessing the serve speeds of tennis players based on
      their body height. The research involved a sample of top world players (221 males
      and 215 females) who participated in the Grand Slam tournaments in 2008 and 2012.
      The method is based on the linear regression analysis of the association between
      the player's body height and the serve speed (fastest serve, average first-serve,
      and second-serve speed). The coefficient of serve speed (CSS) was calculated as
      the quotient of the measured and the theoretical value of the serve speed on a
      regression line relative to the player's body height. The CSS of >1, 1 and <1
      indicate above-average, average, and below-average serve speeds, respectively,
      relative to the top world tennis players with the same body height. The CSS adds
      a new element to the already existing statistics about a tennis match, and
      provides additional information about the performance of tennis players. The CSS
      can be utilised e.g. for setting the target serve speed of a given player to
      achieve based on his/her body height, choosing the most appropriate match
      strategy against a particular player, and a long-term monitoring of the
      effectiveness of training focused on the serve speed. 

PMID- 26879038
TI  - C3'-Deoxygenation of Paromamine Catalyzed by a Radical S-Adenosylmethionine
      Enzyme: Characterization of the Enzyme AprD4 and Its Reductase Partner AprD3.
AB  - C3'-deoxygenation of aminoglycosides results in their decreased susceptibility to
      phosphorylation thereby increasing their efficacy as antibiotics. However, the
      biosynthetic mechanism of C3'-deoxygenation is unknown. To address this issue,
      aprD4 and aprD3 genes from the apramycin gene cluster in Streptomyces tenebrarius
      were expressed in E. coli and the resulting gene products were characterized in
      vitro. AprD4 is shown to be a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme,
      catalyzing homolysis of SAM to 5'-deoxyadenosine (5'-dAdo) in the presence of
      paromamine. [4'-(2) H]-Paromamine was prepared and used to show that its C4'-H is
      transferred to 5'-dAdo by AprD4, during which the substrate is dehydrated to a
      product consistent with 4'-oxolividamine. In contrast, paromamine is reduced to a
      deoxy product when incubated with AprD4/AprD3/NADPH. These results show that
      AprD4 is the first radical SAM diol-dehydratase and, along with AprD3, is
      responsible for 3'-deoxygenation in aminoglycoside biosynthesis. 

PMID- 26879040
TI  - Negative shadows conveying a positive note.

PMID- 26879041
TI  - The PAediatric Risk Assessment (PARA) Mobile App to Reduce Postdischarge Child
      Mortality: Design, Usability, and Feasibility for Health Care Workers in Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postdischarge death in children is increasingly being recognized as a
      major contributor to overall child mortality. The PAediatric Risk Assessment
      (PARA) app is an mHealth tool developed to aid health care workers in resource
      limited settings such as Sub-Saharan Africa to identify pediatric patients at
      high risk of both in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. The intended users of
      the PARA app are health care workers (ie, nurses, doctors, and clinical officers)
      with varying levels of education and technological exposure, making testing of
      this clinical tool critical to successful implementation. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was
      to summarize the usability evaluation of the PARA app among target users, which
      consists of assessing the ease of use, functionality, and navigation of the
      interfaces and then iteratively improving the design of this clinical tool.
      METHODS: Health care workers (N=30) were recruited to participate at Mbarara
      Regional Referral Hospital and Holy Innocents Children's Hospital in Mbarara,
      Southwestern Uganda. This usability study was conducted in two phases to allow
      for iterative improvement and testing of the interfaces. The PARA app was
      evaluated using quantitative and qualitative measures, which were compared
      between Phases 1 and 2 of the study. Participants were given two patient
      scenarios that listed hypothetical information (ie, demographic, social, and
      clinical data) to be entered into the app and to determine the patient's risk of
      in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. Time-to-completion and user errors were
      recorded for each participant while using the app. A modified computer system
      usability questionnaire was utilized at the end of each session to elicit user
      satisfaction with the PARA app and obtain suggestions for future improvements.
      RESULTS: The average time to complete the PARA app decreased by 30% from Phase 1
      to Phase 2, following user feedback and modifications. Participants spent the
      longest amount of time on the oxygen saturation interface, but modifications
      following Phase 1 cut this time by half. The average time-to-completion (during
      Phase 2) for doctors/medical students was 3 minutes 56 seconds. All participants
      agreed they would use the PARA app if available at their health facility. Given a
      high PARA risk score, participants suggested several interventions that would be
      appropriate for the sociocultural context in southwestern Uganda, which involved
      strengthening discharge and referral procedures within the current health care
      system. CONCLUSIONS: Through feedback and modifications made during this
      usability study, the PARA app was developed into a user-friendly app,
      encompassing user expectations and culturally intuitive interfaces for users with
      a range of technological exposure. Doctors and medical students had shorter task
      completion times, though all participants reported the usefulness of this tool to
      improve postdischarge outcomes.

PMID- 26879042
TI  - Small protein domains fold inside the ribosome exit tunnel.
AB  - Cotranslational folding of small protein domains within the ribosome exit tunnel
      may be an important cellular strategy to avoid protein misfolding. However, the
      pathway of cotranslational folding has so far been described only for a few
      proteins, and therefore, it is unclear whether folding in the ribosome exit
      tunnel is a common feature for small protein domains. Here, we have analyzed nine
      small protein domains and determined at which point during translation their
      folding generates sufficient force on the nascent chain to release translational
      arrest by the SecM arrest peptide, both in vitro and in live E. coli cells. We
      find that all nine protein domains initiate folding while still located well
      within the ribosome exit tunnel. 

PMID- 26879044
TI  - Artificial tongue based on metal-biomolecule coordination polymer nanoparticles.
AB  - We construct an array-based recognition system (the so-called artificial tongue)
      through the self-assembly of nucleotides, dyes and lanthanide ions. Metal ions
      are selected as model analytes for verifying its discrimination ability. The work
      provides valuable insights into the application and development of biomolecule
      based materials. 

PMID- 26879043
TI  - Allosteric coupling between proximal C-terminus and selectivity filter is
      facilitated by the movement of transmembrane segment 4 in TREK-2 channel.
AB  - TREK-2, a member of two-pore-domain potassium channel family, regulates cellular
      excitability in response to diverse stimuli. However, how such stimuli control
      channel function remains unclear. Here, by characterizing the responses of
      cytosolic proximal C-terminus deletant (DeltapCt) and transmembrane segment 4
      (M4)-glycine hinge mutant (G312A) to 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an
      activator of TREK-2, we show that the transduction initiated from pCt domain is
      allosterically coupled with the conformation of selectivity filter (SF) via the
      movements of M4, without depending on the original status of SF. Moreover,
      DeltapCt and G312A also exhibited blunted responses to extracellular
      alkalization, a model to induce SF conformational transition. These results
      suggest that the coupling between pCt domain and SF is bidirectional, and M4
      movements are involved in both processes. Further mechanistic exploration reveals
      that the function of Phe316, a residue close to the C-terminus of M4, is
      associated with such communications. However, unlike TREK-2, M4-hinge of TREK-1
      only controls the transmission from pCt to SF, rather than SF conformational
      changes triggered by pHo changes. Together, our findings uncover the unique
      gating properties of TREK-2, and elucidate the mechanisms for how the
      extracellular and intracellular stimuli harness the pore gating allosterically. 

PMID- 26879045
TI  - An exploration of the correlates of nurse practitioners' clinical decision-making
      abilities.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated nurse practitioners' clinical
      decision-making abilities and the factors that affect these abilities.
      BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners play an important role in clinical care decision
      making; however, studies exploring the factors that affect their decision-making
      abilities are lacking. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was employed.
      METHODS: A purposive sample of 197 nurse practitioners was recruited from a
      medical centre in central Taiwan. Structured questionnaires consisting of the
      Knowledge Readiness Scale, the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory and the
      Clinical Decision-Making Model Inventory were used to collect data. RESULTS: The
      intuitive-analytical type was the most commonly used decision-making model, and
      the intuitive type was the least frequently used model. The decision-making model
      used was significantly related to the nurse practitioners' work unit. Significant
      differences were noted between the nurse practitioners' clinical decision-making
      models and their critical thinking dispositions (openness and empathy). The nurse
      practitioners' years of work experience, work unit, professional knowledge and
      critical thinking disposition (openness and empathy as well as holistic and
      reflective dispositions) predicted the nurse practitioners' analytical decision
      making scores. Age, years of nurse practitioner work experience, work unit and
      critical thinking disposition (holistic and reflective) predicted the nurse
      practitioners' intuitive decision-making scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      contributes to the topic of clinical decision-making by describing various types
      of nurse practitioner decision-making. The factors associated with analytic and
      intuitive decision-making scores were identified. These findings might be
      beneficial when planning continuing education programmes to enhance the clinical
      decision-making abilities of nurse practitioners. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:
      The study results showed that nurse practitioners demonstrated various clinical
      decision-making types across different work units. Consideration of nurse
      practitioners' knowledge readiness and their specific needs while planning on
      duty education programmes is necessary.

PMID- 26879046
TI  - Isolated tumor cells in stage I & II colon cancer patients are associated with
      significantly worse disease-free and overall survival.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lymph node (LN) involvement represents the strongest prognostic
      factor in colon cancer patients. The objective of this prospective study was to
      assess the prognostic impact of isolated tumor cells (ITC, defined as cell
      deposits <= 0.2 mm) in loco-regional LN of stage I & II colon cancer patients.
      METHODS: Seventy-four stage I & II colon cancer patients were prospectively
      enrolled in the present study. LN at high risk of harboring ITC were identified
      via an in vivo sentinel lymph node procedure and analyzed with multilevel
      sectioning, conventional H&E and immunohistochemical CK-19 staining. The impact
      of ITC on survival was assessed using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Median
      follow-up was 4.6 years. ITC were detected in locoregional lymph nodes of 23
      patients (31.1%). The presence of ITC was associated with a significantly worse
      disease-free survival (hazard ratio = 4.73, p = 0.005). Similarly, ITC were
      associated with significantly worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 3.50, p =
      0.043). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides compelling evidence that ITC in stage I
      & II colon cancer patients are associated with significantly worse disease-free
      and overall survival. Based on these data, the presence of ITC should be
      classified as a high risk factor in stage I & II colon cancer patients who might
      benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

PMID- 26879047
TI  - Resting-state functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate
      cortex and thalamus is associated with risky decision-making in nicotine addicts.
AB  - Nicotine addiction is associated with risky behaviors and abnormalities in local
      brain areas related to risky decision-making such as the dorsal anterior
      cingulate cortex (dACC), anterior insula (AI), and thalamus. Although these brain
      abnormalities are anatomically separated, they may in fact belong to one neural
      network. However, it is unclear whether circuit-level abnormalities lead to risky
      decision-making in smokers. In the current study, we used task-based functional
      magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and examined resting-state functional
      connectivity (RSFC) to study how connectivity between the dACC, insula, and
      thalamus influence risky decision-making in nicotine addicts. We found that an
      increase in risky decision-making was associated with stronger nicotine
      dependence and stronger RSFC of the dACC-rAI (right AI), the dACC-thalamus, the
      dACC-lAI (left AI), and the rAI-lAI, but that risky decision-making was not
      associated with risk level-related activation. Furthermore, the severity of
      nicotine dependence positively correlated with RSFC of the dACC-thalamus but was
      not associated with risk level-related activation. Importantly, the dACC-thalamus
      coupling fully mediated the effect of nicotine-dependent severity on risky
      decision-making. These results suggest that circuit-level connectivity may be a
      critical neural link between risky decision-making and severity of nicotine
      dependence in smokers. 

PMID- 26879049
TI  - Long-term outcomes of a phase II randomized controlled trial comparing intensity
      modulated radiotherapy with or without weekly cisplatin for the treatment of
      locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Salvage treatment for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma
      (NPC) is complicated and relatively limited. Radiotherapy, combined with
      effective concomitant chemotherapy, may improve clinical treatment outcomes. We
      conducted a phase II randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of
      intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concomitant weekly cisplatin on locally
      recurrent NPC. METHODS: Between April 2002 and January 2008, 69 patients
      diagnosed with non-metastatic locally recurrent NPC were randomly assigned to
      either concomitant chemoradiotherapy group (n = 34) or radiotherapy alone group
      (n = 35). All patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The
      radiotherapy dose for both groups was 60 Gy in 27 fractions for 37 days (range 23
      53 days). The concomitant chemotherapy schedule was cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) by
      intravenous infusion weekly during radiotherapy. RESULTS: The median follow-up
      period of all patients was 35 months (range 2-112 months). Between concomitant
      chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy groups, there was only significant difference
      in the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates (68.7% vs. 42.2%, P = 0.016
      and 41.8% vs. 27.5%, P = 0.049, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that
      concomitant chemoradiotherapy significantly improved the 5-year OS rate
      especially for patients in stage rT3-4 (33.0% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.009), stages III
      IV (34.3% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.006), recurrence interval >30 months (49.0% vs. 20.6%,
      P = 0.017), and tumor volume >26 cm(3) (37.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.006). CONCLUSION:
      Compared with radiotherapy alone, concomitant chemoradiotherapy can improve OS of
      the patients with locally recurrent NPC, especially those with advanced T
      category (rT3-4) and stage (III-IV) diseases, recurrence intervals >30 months,
      and tumor volume >26 cm(3).

PMID- 26879048
TI  - Uncovering the pathways underlying whole body regeneration in a chordate model,
      Botrylloides leachi using de novo transcriptome analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Regenerative capacity differs greatly between animals. In vertebrates
      regenerative abilities are highly limited and tissue or organ specific. However
      the closest related chordate to the vertebrate clade, Botrylloides leachi, can
      undergo whole body regeneration (WBR). Therefore, research on WBR in B. leachi
      has focused on pathways known to be important for regeneration in vertebrates. To
      obtain a comprehensive vision of this unique process we have carried out the
      first de novo transcriptome sequencing for multiple stages of WBR occurring in B.
      leachi. The identified changes in gene expression during B. leachi WBR offer
      novel insights into this remarkable ability to regenerate. RESULTS: The
      transcriptome of B. leachi tissue undergoing WBR were analysed using differential
      gene expression, gene ontology and pathway analyses. We observed up-regulation in
      the expression of genes involved in wound healing and known developmental
      pathways including WNT, TGF-beta and Notch, during the earliest stages of WBR.
      Later in WBR, the expression patterns in several pathways required for protein
      synthesis, biogenesis and the organisation of cellular components were up
      regulated. CONCLUSIONS: While the genes expressed early on are characteristic of
      a necessary wound healing response to an otherwise lethal injury, the subsequent
      vast increase in protein synthesis conceivably sustains the reestablishment of
      the tissue complexity and body axis polarity within the regenerating zooid. We
      have, for the first time, provided a global overview of the genes and their
      corresponding pathways that are modulated during WBR in B. leachi.

PMID- 26879050
TI  - Comparison of different polar compounds-induced cytotoxicity in human
      hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.
AB  - Total polar compounds (TPC) formed during successive frying have the negative
      healthy effects. However, little researches focused on the cytotoxicity of
      different parts of TPC. The present study was carried out to elucidate the
      different polar compounds-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC) HepG2 cells. The polar compounds of frying oil named oxidized triglycerides
      oligo (TGO), oxidized triglycerides dimer (TGD), and oxidize triglycerides (ox
      TG) were isolated and collected via HPLC. MTT assay was selected to determine the
      cell viability, and apoptosis rate of the cells was analyzed with the help of
      flow cytometry. The results indicated that TGO, TGD, or ox-TG could suppress the
      proliferation of HepG2 cells and improve the cell apoptosis in the concentration-
      and time- dependent manner. Different polar compounds have the different activity
      of cytotoxicity and apoptosis (p < 0.05), and ox-TG was the most serious
      deleterious on HepG2 cell viability and apoptotic, followed by TGO and TGD. At
      the concentration of 2.00 mg/ml and incubated for 48 h, the cell inhibition rate
      and apoptotic rate of HepG2 induced by ox-TG could reach 23.0 % and 16.05 %,
      respectively. Cell cycle analysis showed that the inhibition of TGO, TGD, and ox
      TG on HepG2 cells mainly occurred in S phase.

PMID- 26879051
TI  - Cooperative pain education and self-management (COPES): study design and protocol
      of a randomized non-inferiority trial of an interactive voice response-based self
      management intervention for chronic low back pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine report "Relieving Pain in America"
      recommends the promotion of patient self-management of pain for all people with
      pain. Given the high prevalence of chronic pain in the US, new strategies are
      needed to enhance access to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence
      based treatments designed to facilitate self-management of chronic pain
      conditions. Although CBT is efficacious, many patients have limited or no access
      to CBT. Technology-assisted delivery of CBT may improve access while maintaining
      efficacy. METHODS/DESIGN: We describe a randomized non-inferiority trial of
      interactive voice response (IVR)-based CBT for patients with chronic low back
      pain. This intervention uses daily IVR monitoring and weekly pre-recorded
      therapist feedback, based on patient-reported information, to provide treatment
      for patients at home. A total of 230 patients with chronic low back pain are
      being identified from a single statewide health system serving US military
      veterans. Participants are randomized to receive either ten weeks of in-person
      CBT or IVR-based CBT. The primary outcome is pain intensity as measured by the
      Numeric Rating Scale immediately post-treatment. Secondary outcomes include pain
      related interference, emotional functioning, and quality of life measured
      immediately post treatment, and 6 and 9 months post recruitment. Exploratory
      objectives of the study are to examine: (1) potential mediators of impact on
      clinical outcomes (treatment retention, self-reported skill practice ratings, IVR
      call adherence, and treatment satisfaction); and (2) moderators of treatment
      engagement, adherence to therapist recommendations for pain coping skill
      practice, and effects on clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION: This non-inferiority
      trial may identify an alternative to resource intensive in-person CBT that allows
      many more patients to receive care while also increasing retention of those
      enrolled in the program. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01025752 .
      Registered 3 December 2009.

PMID- 26879052
TI  - Screening and managing obstructive sleep apnoea in nocturnal heart block
      patients: an observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nocturnal heart block often occurs in patients with obstructive sleep
      apnoea (OSA). It is more likely to be undiagnosed in heart block patients who are
      ignorant of the symptoms of sleep disorder. Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) is a highly
      reliable way to discover the risk factors of OSA, whereas the validity in sleep
      related heart block patients is uncertain. We performed an observational study to
      address these issues and confirmed the potential protective effect of continuous
      positive airway pressure (CPAP). METHODS: Patients who were previously diagnosed
      with nocturnal heart block with R-R pauses exceeding 2 seconds were retrospective
      screened from the ECG centre of Zhongshan hospital. These recruited participants
      completed Berlin Questionnaire and underwent polysomnography synchronously with
      24-hour Holter monitoring. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to confirm
      the association between nocturnal arrhythmia and OSA, as well as to assess the
      diagnostic accuracy of the BQ. Subsequently, subjects diagnosed with OSA (apnoea
      hypopnoea index > 5) underwent 3 consecutive days of CPAP therapy. On the third
      day, patients repeated 24-hour Holter monitoring within the institution of CPAP.
      RESULTS: The symptoms of disruptive snoring and hypersomnolence in 72 enrolled
      patients were more related to the occurrence of nocturnal heart block (r = 0.306,
      0.226, respectively, p = 0.015, 0.019) than syncope (r = 0.134, p = 0.282) and
      palpitations (r = 0.106, p = 0.119), which were prominent trait of our study
      population. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value
      of the BQ at a cut-off point of 5 of AHI for detecting OSA in heart block
      patients was 81.0 %, 44.4 %, 91.07 % and 25 %. Nocturnal heart block does not
      appear to occur exclusively in severe sleep apnoea. The frequent occurrence of
      arrhythmias in prominent oxygen desaturation supports the correlation between
      them. CPAP therapy resulted in significant decrease in the average number of
      episodes of heart block, from 148.58 +/- 379.44 to 16.07 +/- 58.52 (p < 0.05),
      same to the change of the longest RR pausing time (from 4.38 +/- 2.95 s to 0.57
      +/- 1.05 s, p = 0.169) in 51 patients. The optimal therapy pressure to make the
      observed arrhythmia disappeared is 12 cm H2O. CONCLUSION: Concerning high
      prevalence of OSA in heart block patients, BQ provided an economical and
      efficient screening method for OSA. For better management, CPAP therapy is
      feasible to prevent heart blocks avoiding unnecessary concomitant pacemaker
      implantation.

PMID- 26879053
TI  - Diagnosis of a malayan filariasis case using a shotgun diagnostic metagenomics
      assay.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malayan filariasis is a lymphatic filariasis caused by Brugia malayi.
      It is easily misdiagnosed in non-endemic areas for atypical symptoms and rare
      diagnostic experience. A 34-year-old Chinese woman in New York presented with
      diffuse erythema on her body, swelling of her body, and watery, itchy, red, sore,
      swollen and stinging of the eyes, and severe night-time itching. No hospital that
      the patient visited could make a definite diagnosis by conventional diagnostic
      methods. It is therefore necessary to explore a new effective method to detect
      the pathogen that infected the patient. FINDINGS: An unbiased metagenomic
      approach was used in this study. After DNA was extracted from the patient's eye
      discharge sample and subcutaneous tissue sample, extended parallel sequencing was
      performed. The obtained raw reads were aligned to human genome to filter out the
      reads of the host, and the remaining reads were aligned to a candidate pathogenic
      protein database and four filarial genomes. The result showed that the reads of
      B. malayi accounted for an overwhelming ratio in the two samples, which indicated
      that the patient suffered from malayan filariasis. The subsequent therapeutic
      efficacy of anti-filariasis treatment validated the result of metagenomics assay.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present study proved that metagenomic assay can be an effective
      approach in the diagnosis of parasitic infection. We report a rare case of
      malayan filariasis from the United States.

PMID- 26879054
TI  - Statistical correlation of nonconservative substitutions of HIV gp41 variable
      amino acid residues with the R5X4 HIV-1 phenotype.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The interaction of the envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (gp120/gp41)
      with coreceptor molecules has important implications for specific cellular
      targeting and pathogenesis. Experimental and theoretical evidences have shown a
      role for gp41 in coreceptor tropism, although there is no consensus about the
      positions involved. Here we analyze the association of physicochemical properties
      of gp41 amino acid residues with viral tropism (X4, R5, and R5X4) using a large
      set of HIV-1 sequences. Under the assumption that conserved regions define the
      complex structural features essential for protein function, we focused our search
      only on amino acids in the gp41 variable regions. METHODS: Gp41 amino acid
      sequences of 2823 HIV-1 strains from all clades with known coreceptor tropism
      were retrieved from Los Alamos HIV Database. Consensus sequences were constructed
      for homologous sequences (those obtained from the same patient and having the
      same tropism) in order to avoid bias due to sequence overrepresentation, and the
      variability (entropy) per site was determined. Comparisons of hydropathy index
      (HI) and charge (Q) of amino acid residues at highly variable positions between
      coreceptor groups were performed using two non-parametrical tests and Benjamini
      Hochberg correction. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to determine
      covariance of HI and Q values. RESULTS: Calculation of variability per site
      rendered 58 highly variable amino acid positions. Of these, statistical analysis
      rendered significantly different HI or Q only for the R5 vs. R5X4 comparison at
      twelve positions: 535, 602, 619, 636, 640, 641, 658, 662, 667, 723, 756 and 841.
      The largest differences in particular amino acid frequencies between coreceptor
      groups were found at 619, 636, 640, 641, 662, 723 and 756. A hydrophobic tendency
      of residues 619, 640, 641, 723 and 756, along with a hydrophilic/charged tendency
      at residues 636 and 662 was observed in R5X4 with respect to R5 sequences. HI of
      position 640 covariated with that of 602, 619, 636, 662, and 756. CONCLUSIONS:
      Variability and significant correlations of physicochemical properties with viral
      phenotype suggest that substitutions at residues in the loop (602 and 619), the
      HR2 (636, 640, 641, 662), and the C-terminal tail (723, 756) of gp41 may
      contribute to phenotype of R5X4 strains.

PMID- 26879055
TI  - X-ray Irradiated Vaccine Confers protection against Pneumonia caused by
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacterium and one of the leading causes
      of nosocomial infection worldwide, however, no effective vaccine is currently
      available in the market. Here, we demonstrate that inactivation of the bacteria
      by X-ray irradiation inhibits its replication capability but retained antigenic
      expression functionally thus allowing its use as a potential vaccine. Mice
      immunized by this vaccine were challenged by the parental strain, the O-antigen
      homologous strain PAO-1 (O2/O5) and heterologous strain PAO-6 (O6) in an acute
      pneumonia model. We further measured the protective effect of the vaccine, as
      well as host innate and cellular immunity responses. We found immunized mice
      could protect against both strains. Notably, the antiserum only had significant
      protective role against similar bacteria, while adoptive transfer of lymphocytes
      significantly controlled the spread of the virulent heterologous serogroup PAO-6
      infection, and the protective role could be reversed by CD4 rather than CD8
      antibody. We further revealed that vaccinated mice could rapidly recruit
      neutrophils to the airways early after intranasal challenge by PAO-6, and the
      irradiated vaccine was proved to be protective by the generated CD4(+) IL-17(+)
      Th17 cells. In conclusion, the generation of inactivated but metabolically active
      microbes is a promising strategy for safely vaccinating against Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa. 

PMID- 26879056
TI  - Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Irciniastatin Analogues: Simplification of
      the Tetrahydropyran Core and the C(11) Substituents.
AB  - The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of irciniastatin A (1)
      analogues, achieved by removal of three synthetically challenging structural
      units, as well as by functional group manipulation of the C(11) substituent of
      both irciniastatins A and B (1 and 2), has been achieved. To this end, we first
      designed a convergent synthetic route toward the diminutive analogue (+)-C(8)
      desmethoxy-C(11)-deoxy-C(12)-didesmethylirciniastatin (6). Key transformations
      include an acid-catalyzed 6-exo-tet pyran cyclization, a chiral Lewis acid
      mediated aldol reaction, and a facile amide union. The absolute configuration of
      6 was confirmed via spectroscopic analysis (CD spectrum, HSQC, COSY, and ROESY
      NMR experiments). Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 6 demonstrate
      that the absence of the three native structural units permits access to analogues
      possessing cytotoxic activity in the nanomolar range. Second, manipulation of the
      C(11) position, employing late-stage synthetic intermediates from our
      irciniastatin syntheses, provides an additional five analogues (7-11). Biological
      evaluation of these analogues indicates a high functional group tolerance at
      position C(11). 

PMID- 26879057
TI  - Effect of calf purchase and other herd-level risk factors on mortality, unwanted
      early slaughter, and use of antimicrobial group treatments in Swiss veal calf
      operations.
AB  - The objective of this survey was to determine herd level risk factors for
      mortality, unwanted early slaughter, and metaphylactic application of
      antimicrobial group therapy in Swiss veal calves in 2013. A questionnaire
      regarding farm structure, farm management, mortality and antimicrobial use was
      sent to all farmers registered in a Swiss label program setting requirements for
      improved animal welfare and sustainability. Risk factors were determined by
      multivariable logistic regression. A total of 619 veal producers returned a
      useable questionnaire (response rate=28.5%), of which 40.9% only fattened their
      own calves (group O), 56.9% their own calves and additional purchased calves
      (group O&P), and 2.3% only purchased calves for fattening (group P). A total
      number of 19,077 calves entered the fattening units in 2013, of which 21.7%,
      66.7%, and 11.6% belonged to groups O, O&P, and P, respectively. Mortality was 0%
      in 322 herds (52.0%), between 0% and 3% in 47 herds (7.6%), and >=3% in 250 herds
      (40.4%). Significant risk factors for mortality were purchasing calves, herd
      size, higher incidence of BRD, and access to an outside pen. Metaphylaxis was
      used on 13.4% of the farms (7.9% only upon arrival, 4.4% only later in the
      fattening period, 1.1% upon arrival and later), in 3.2% of the herds of group O,
      17.9% of those in group O&P, and 92.9% of those of group P. Application of
      metaphylaxis upon arrival was positively associated with purchase (OR=8.9) and
      herd size (OR=1.2 per 10 calves). Metaphylaxis later in the production cycle was
      positively associated with group size (OR=2.9) and risk of respiratory disease
      (OR=1.2 per 10% higher risk) and negatively with the use of individual
      antimicrobial treatment (OR=0.3). In many countries, purchase and a large herd
      size are inherently connected to veal production. The Swiss situation with large
      commercial but also smaller herds with little or no purchase of calves made it
      possible to investigate the effect of these factors on mortality and
      antimicrobial drug use. The results of this study show that a system where small
      farms raise the calves from their own herds has a substantial potential to
      improve animal health and reduce antimicrobial drug use. 

PMID- 26879058
TI  - Bayesian evaluation of clinical diagnostic test characteristics of visual
      observations and remote monitoring to diagnose bovine respiratory disease in beef
      calves.
AB  - Accurate diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle is a
      critical facet of therapeutic programs through promotion of prompt treatment of
      diseased calves in concert with judicious use of antimicrobials. Despite the
      known inaccuracies, visual observation (VO) of clinical signs is the conventional
      diagnostic modality for BRD diagnosis. Objective methods of remotely monitoring
      cattle wellness could improve diagnostic accuracy; however, little information
      exists describing the accuracy of this method compared to traditional techniques.
      The objective of this research is to employ Bayesian methodology to elicit
      diagnostic characteristics of conventional VO compared to remote early disease
      identification (REDI) to diagnose BRD. Data from previous literature on the
      accuracy of VO were combined with trial data consisting of direct comparison
      between VO and REDI for BRD in two populations. No true gold standard diagnostic
      test exists for BRD; therefore, estimates of diagnostic characteristics of each
      test were generated using Bayesian latent class analysis. Results indicate a
      90.0% probability that the sensitivity of REDI (median 81.3%; 95% probability
      interval [PI]: 55.5, 95.8) was higher than VO sensitivity (64.5%; PI: 57.9,
      70.8). The specificity of REDI (median 92.9%; PI: 88.2, 96.9) was also higher
      compared to VO (median 69.1%; PI: 66.3, 71.8). The differences in sensitivity and
      specificity resulted in REDI exhibiting higher positive and negative predictive
      values in both high (41.3%) and low (2.6%) prevalence situations. This research
      illustrates the potential of remote cattle monitoring to augment conventional
      methods of BRD diagnosis resulting in more accurate identification of diseased
      cattle. 

PMID- 26879059
TI  - [Genomic Tests as Predictors of Breast Cancer Patients Prognosis].
AB  - Hormonal dependent breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease from a molecular and
      clinical perspective. The relapse risk of early breast cancer patients treated
      with adjuvant hormonal therapy varies. Validated predictive markers concerning
      adjuvant cytotoxic treatment are still lacking in ER+/ HER2-  breast cancer,
      which has a good prognosis in general. This can lead to the inefficient
      chemotherapy indication. Molecular classification of breast cancer reports
      evidence about the heterogeneity of hormonal dependent breast cancer and its
      stratification to different groups with different characteristics. Multigene
      assays work on the molecular level, and their aim is to provide patients risk
      stratification and therapy efficacy prediction. The position of multigene assays
      in clinical practice is not stabile yet. Non uniform level of evidence connected
      to patients prognosis interpretations and difficult comparison of tests are the
      key problems, which prevent their wide clinical use. The article is a summary of
      some of the most important multigene assays in breast cancer and their current
      position in oncology practice.

PMID- 26879060
TI  - [Potential of Long Non- coding RNA Molecules in Diagnosis of Tumors].
AB  - Long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNA) are defined as molecules over 200
      nucleotides long that are localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells.
      Although function of most lnRNA is not known, it is obvious that they are
      involved in various biological processes. LncRNA play a key role in
      transcriptional as well as posttranscriptional regulatory pathways and are
      involved in important cell processes, such as proliferation, differentiation,
      apoptosis but also pathogenesis of various diseases. Their dysregulation is
      important in steps of tumor transformation. In this review, we will describe the
      nature, function and molecular basis of these molecules as well as their
      diagnostic potential. The main focus of this review is the usage of these
      molecules in the most often diagnosed tumors in the Czech population--colorectal
      carcinoma, breast and prostate carcinomas.

PMID- 26879061
TI  - The Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Leukemia.
AB  - Heat shock proteins (HSPs) HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90 are molecular chaperones; their
      expression is increased after exposure of cells to conditions of environmental
      stress, including heat shock, heavy metals, oxidative stress, or pathologic
      conditions, such as ischemia, infection, and inflammation. Their protective
      function is to help the cell cope with lethal conditions. The HSPs are a class of
      proteins which, in normal cells, are responsible for maintaining homeostasis,
      interacting with diverse protein substrates to assist in their folding, and
      preventing the appearance of folding intermediates that lead to misfolded or
      damaged molecules. They have been shown to interact with different key apoptotic
      proteins and play a crucial role in regulating apoptosis. Several HSPs have been
      demonstrated to directly interact with various components of tightly regulated
      caspase-dependent programmed cell death. These proteins also affect caspase
      independent apoptosis by interacting with apoptogenic factors. Heat shock
      proteins are aberrantly expressed in hematological malignancies. Because of their
      prognostic implications and functional role in leukemias, HSPs represent an
      interesting target for antileukemic therapy. This review will describe different
      molecules interacting with anti-apoptotic proteins HSP70 and HSP90, which can be
      used in cancer therapy based on their inhibition.

PMID- 26879062
TI  - [Survival Analysis Three-year Follow-up of Pacients with Head and Neck Cancer].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck cancer are predominantnly at the risk for
      malnutrition. Monitoring of nutritional status and pre-treatment variables can
      favorably observe many prognostic indicators for overall survival in head and
      neck cancer before and during oncological treatment up to three years in head and
      neck cancer pacients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 726 patients diagnosed head and
      neck cancer patients with curative intent, were collected data according to the
      monitoring scheme of observation. As a clinical important of uninteded weight
      loss was defined weight loss 10% in input (T0). Differences in groups were
      analysed by Coxs regression with adjustments for important demografic and tumor
      related data. RESULTS: The acceptance of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
      was a key factor for less complications and to improve tolerance of anticancer
      treatment. Men-smokers have the highest risk of cardiovascular mortality. Men
      stop-smokers have the most significant life extension of 11 to 22 months; p <
      0.007. Men-non-smokers have a life extension of 15 to 23 months (p < 0.005) and
      having its lowest cardiovascular mortality (11%). Women tolerate cancer better,
      have minor subjective complaints and a lower number of complications but
      significantly higher consumption of antidepressants (p < 0.003). While men have
      higher analgesic consumption (p < 0.001). Weight loss > 10% significantly
      correlates with the clinical manifestations of malnutrition and is associated
      with an increase in complications and mortality dependent cancer (p < 0.008).
      CONCLUSION: Consistent assessment of nutritional status with early intervention
      is considered as an essential part of comprehensive anticancer treatment. An
      independent risk factor for cancer-dependent mortality is considered weight loss
      of > 5% with a BMI < 21 at time T0 or weight loss > 10% weight T0 in BMI 21- 29
      and continuing weight loss to T12 and also BMI 30. The highest-risk profile has a
      male sex-smoker, age > 63, hypopharyngeal carcinoma, stage III- IV, weight loss
      of > 10% and non-acceptance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Another long
      term observation of monitored nutritional status with intervention, clinical
      status and quality of life are needed.

PMID- 26879063
TI  - Predicting Vitality Change in Older Breast Cancer Survivors after Primary
      Treatment--an Approach Based on Using Time-related Difference of Pro-inflammatory
      Marker C-reactive Protein.
AB  - BACKROUND: We aimed to determine prognosis of vitality change and functional
      status of breast cancer survivors after primary oncological treatment using time
      related differences of elevated levels of highly sensitive proinflammatory C
      reactive protein (CRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The test group consisted of 46
      elderly breast cancer survivors (median age was 65 years) who completed Vitality
      Scale of Short Form 36 (SF-36) after completing treatment and another
      retrospectively at diagnosis. Data on tumor-related factors, treatment, and
      outcomes were obtained retrospectively from medical records, and linear
      regression analysis was performed. CRP was followed at diagnosis and one year
      after primary treatment. Within the scope of this study, clinically important
      difference in the Vitality Scale was set at five points of change. RESULTS:
      Results showed a statistically significant relationship between CRP change and
      vitality component of SF-36 change (rs = - 0.350, p = 0.023) in which a decrease
      in CRP inversely correlated with the quality of life component. The overall
      change was 1.078 of the vitality scale score (approximately 1 point) for each 1
      unit decrease of CRP (1 mg/ L). Association of CRP levels (before and after
      treatment, its difference between these time points) with age, number of
      comorbidities and stage of the disease was analyzed and no statistically
      significant relationship was found in our study. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results
      suggested time-related differences in elevated CRP levels as a potentially
      suitable predictor for change in vitality status for long term, chronic condition
      for older breast cancer survivors. We suggest the interpretation schema including
      an understanding that CRP change of 5 mg/ L and more should be considered a
      potential risk factor for subsequent negative clinical outcomes.

PMID- 26879064
TI  - Successful Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation after
      Unsuccessful Double TACE Procedure Complicated with Sepsis and Pancreatitis.
AB  - The associating liver partition and portal vein ligation (ALPPS) is a novel
      procedure with increasing number of scientific and clinical studies, and by now,
      it showed to be efficient and safe procedure in selected group of patients. Here
      we present the first case of ALPPS done after double TACE procedure in a 64-years
      old female patient with extensive hepatocellular carcinoma of the right liver
      lobe. The procedure was successful and liver remnant showed significant 90%
      hypertrophy which proves that ALPPS sometimes can be performed after palliative
      procedures in liver malignancies.

PMID- 26879065
TI  - [Successful Therapy of Czech Patients with ROS1 Translocation by Crizotinib].
AB  - Targeted therapy of lung cancer has brought significant improvement in prognosis
      for a lot of patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations and ALK translocations. Other
      clinical studies have shown ROS1 translocation as another potential target. Our
      case report brings probably the first successful use of crizotininib in a patient
      with ROS1 translocation in the Czech Republic. Treatment was well-tolerated and
      persists continually. During the control PET/ CT scans, partial regression of the
      disease was observed. ROS1 translocation becomes another promising target for our
      patients. Therefore, in our opinion, serious discussion about its inclusion among
      the basic genetic testing in lung adenocarcinomas should occur.

PMID- 26879066
TI  - B-IGEV (bortezomib plus IGEV) versus IGEV before high-dose chemotherapy followed
      by autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin
      lymphoma: a randomized, phase II trial of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL).
AB  - This randomized, multicenter study evaluates the addition of bortezomib (13
      mg/m(2)) to IGEV (B-IGEV) in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma
      (HL). Patients received either four courses of IGEV alone (n = 40) or B-IGEV (n =
      40). The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) proportion, evaluated by
      FDG-PET, after induction chemotherapy. CR proportion was 39% with B-IGEV and 53%
      with IGEV. PFS and OS were similar between the two groups (two-year PFS: 58% vs
      56%; two-year OS: 93% vs 81%). The PET-negative status after treatment was the
      only variable favorably influencing both PFS (two-year PFS: 77% vs 40%; p =
      0.002) and OS (two-year OS: 100% vs 76%; p < 0.001). Toxicity was overall similar
      with the two regimens. The addition of bortezomib to IGEV does not improve
      response in relapsed/refractory HL patients. However, its favorable therapeutic
      and safety profile, and the prognostic role of pre-transplant PET negativity in
      patients receiving IGEV-based regimens are confirmed.

PMID- 26879068
TI  - Meta-Analysis of the Relation of Baseline Right Ventricular Function to Response
      to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.
AB  - Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been associated with adverse clinical
      outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy
      (CRT) improves left ventricular (LV) size and function in patients with markedly
      abnormal electrocardiogram QRS duration. However, relation of baseline RV
      function with response to CRT has not been well described. In this study, we aim
      to investigate the relation of baseline RV function with response to CRT as
      assessed by change in LV ejection fraction (EF). A systematic search of studies
      published from 1966 to May 31, 2015 was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane
      CENTRAL, and the Web of Science databases. Studies were included if they have
      reported (1) parameters of baseline RV function (tricuspid annular plane systolic
      excursion [TAPSE] or RVEF or RV basal strain or RV fractional area change [FAC])
      and (2) LVEF before and after CRT. Random-effects metaregression was used to
      evaluate the effect of baseline RV function parameters and change in LVEF.
      Sixteen studies (n = 1,764) were selected for final analysis. Random-effects
      metaregression analysis showed no significant association between the magnitude
      of the difference in EF before and after CRT with baseline TAPSE (beta = 0.005, p
      = 0.989); baseline RVEF (beta = 0.270, p = 0.493); baseline RVFAC (beta = -0.367,
      p = 0.06); baseline basal strain (beta = -0.342, p = 0.462) after a mean follow
      up period of 10.5 months. In conclusion, baseline RV function as assessed by
      TAPSE, FAC, basal strain, or RVEF does not determine response to CRT as assessed
      by change in LVEF. 

PMID- 26879067
TI  - Validation of self-reported figural drawing scales against anthropometric
      measurements in adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to validate figural drawing scales
      depicting extremely lean to extremely obese subjects to obtain proxies for BMI
      and waist circumference in postal surveys. DESIGN: Reported figural scales and
      anthropometric data from a large population-based postal survey were validated
      with measured anthropometric data from the same individuals by means of receiver
      operating characteristic curves and a BMI prediction model. SETTING: Adult
      participants in a Scandinavian cohort study first recruited in 1990 and followed
      up twice since. SUBJECTS: Individuals aged 38-66 years with complete data for BMI
      (n 1580) and waist circumference (n 1017). RESULTS: Median BMI and waist
      circumference increased exponentially with increasing figural scales. Receiver
      operating characteristic curve analyses showed a high predictive ability to
      identify individuals with BMI > 25.0 kg/m2 in both sexes. The optimal figural
      scales for identifying overweight or obese individuals with a correct detection
      rate were 4 and 5 in women, and 5 and 6 in men, respectively. The prediction
      model explained 74 % of the variance among women and 62 % among men. Predicted
      BMI differed only marginally from objectively measured BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Figural
      drawing scales explained a large part of the anthropometric variance in this
      population and showed a high predictive ability for identifying overweight/obese
      subjects. These figural scales can be used with confidence as proxies of BMI and
      waist circumference in settings where objective measures are not feasible.

PMID- 26879069
TI  - Comparison of the Effect of Rosuvastatin 2.5 mg vs 20 mg on Coronary Plaque
      Determined by Angioscopy and Intravascular Ultrasound in Japanese With Stable
      Angina Pectoris (from the Aggressive Lipid-Lowering Treatment Approach Using
      Intensive Rosuvastatin for Vulnerable Coronary Artery Plaque [ALTAIR] Randomized
      Trial).
AB  - Diminishing yellow color, evaluated by coronary angioscopy, is associated with
      plaque stabilization and regression. Our aim was to assess the effect of
      aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin on plaque regression and
      instability. Thirty-seven patients with stable angina or silent myocardial
      ischemia who planned to undergo elective percutaneous coronary intervention and
      had angioscopic yellow plaques of grade 2 or more were randomized to high-dose
      (group H, 20 mg/day, n = 18) or low-dose (group L, 2.5 mg/day, n = 19)
      rosuvastatin therapy for 48 weeks. Yellow plaque was graded on a 4-point scale of
      0 (white) to 3 (bright yellow) by angioscopy, and plaque volume was determined by
      intravascular ultrasound for plaques with a length of 5 to 15 mm. Color and
      volume were assessed at baseline and after 48 weeks by the investigators blinded
      to the rosuvastatin dosage, and were compared between the 2 dosing groups. The
      level of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased from 130.3 +/- 25.5 mg/dl
      to 61.7 +/- 16.5 mg/dl (-50 +/- 19%: high intensity) in group H (p <0.001) and
      from 130.9 +/- 28.5 mg/dl to 89.7 +/- 29.0 mg/dl (-30 +/- 22%: moderate
      intensity) in group L (mean +/- SD, p <0.001). The average color grade of yellow
      plaques decreased from 2.0 to 1.5 in group H (p <0.001) and from 2.0 to 1.6 in
      group L (p <0.001) after 48 weeks. Plaque volume decreased significantly in group
      H but not in group L. The percent change in plaque volume was significantly
      larger in group H than in group L (p = 0.005). In conclusion, both high-dose and
      low-dose rosuvastatin increased plaque stability. However, high-dose rosuvastatin
      was more effective than low-dose rosuvastatin in inducing plaque volume
      regression. Clinical Trial Registration No: UMIN-CTR, UMIN000003276.

PMID- 26879070
TI  - Appropriate Use of Antithrombotic Medication in Canadian Patients With
      Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.
AB  - This national chart audit of 7,019 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
      (AF) from 735 primary care physician practices sought to examine the management
      of Canadian patients with AF through an evidence-based, guideline-recommended
      approach. The appropriate use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) in this patient
      population and the potential factors guiding OAC choice were examined. Suboptimal
      dosing was seen. In patients on warfarin, 30.9% had not achieved a time in
      therapeutic range (TTR) in excess of 65% and, despite current Canadian guideline
      recommendations, were continued on warfarin rather than one of the novel OACs. In
      patients who received no antithrombotic therapy, 65.5% met criteria for treatment
      with an OAC. In addition, 62.8% of patients who were treated with acetylsalicylic
      acid monotherapy met guideline criteria for the use of an OAC. In those patients
      treated with an OAC, 24.8% were not on the recommended dose based on the product
      monograph or, if on warfarin, had a TTR <65%. Of the patients on novel OACs
      (NOACs), 7.4% of patients were underdosed, whereas overdosing was seen in 4.3%.
      Factors that may have contributed to dosing outside recommendations included
      underestimation of stroke risk, overestimation of bleed risk, compliance
      concerns, and lack of provincial reimbursement. In conclusion, significant
      correctable gaps remain in optimal treatment for stroke prevention in AF. 

PMID- 26879071
TI  - Dual-doping to suppress cracking in spinel LiMn2O4: a joint theoretical and
      experimental study.
AB  - Electrochemical cycling stabilities were compared for undoped and Al/Co dual
      doped spinel LiMn2O4 synthesized by solid state reactions. We observed the
      suppression of particle fracture in Al/Co dual-doped LiMn2O4 during
      charge/discharge cycling and its distinguishable particle morphology with respect
      to the undoped material. Systematic first-principles calculations were performed
      on undoped, Al or Co single-doped, and Al/Co dual-doped LiMn2O4 to investigate
      their structural differences at the atomistic level. We reveal that while Jahn
      Teller distortion associated with the Mn(3+)O6 octahedron is the origin of the
      lattice strain, the networking -i.e. the distribution of mixed valence Mn ions -
      is much more important to release the lattice strain, and thus to alleviating
      particle cracking. The calculations showed that the lattice mismatching between
      Li(+) intercalation and deintercalation of LiMn2O4 can be significantly reduced
      by dual-doping, and therefore also the volumetric shrinkage during delithiation.
      This may account for the near disappearance of cracks on the surface of Al/Co
      LiMn2O4 after 350 cycles, while some obvious cracks have developed in undoped
      LiMn2O4 at similar particle size even after 50 cycles. Correspondingly, Al/Co
      dual-doped LiMn2O4 showed a good cycling stability with a capacity retention of
      84.1% after 350 cycles at a rate of 1C, 8% higher than the undoped phase. 

PMID- 26879072
TI  - Characteristics of gastric stump cancer: A single hospital retrospective analysis
      of 262 patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Owing to its relative rarity, the characteristics of gastric stump
      cancer (GSC) have not been fully understood. In this study, we clarified the
      detailed characteristics from a large cohort of GSC patients. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study from 1 hospital in Japan, we
      recruited 262 GSC patients who underwent surgery for GSC between 1984 and 2012.
      GSC was defined in accordance with Japanese Gastric Cancer Association. Stage was
      categorized in accordance with the 7th TNM classification for primary gastric
      cancer. RESULTS: Although the time interval between the primary and second
      operations differed significantly depending on the primary disease (34.3 years
      for benign vs 9.9 years for malignant on average), it did not influence survival.
      The 5-year overall survival rates of patients with N0, N1, N2, and N3 were 70.4%,
      27.7%, 21.8%, and 6.4%, respectively, whereas the rates for those with stage I,
      II, III, and IV were 77.8%, 37.4%, 18.6%, and 10.5%, respectively. Recurrence in
      the peritoneum was the most common pattern, followed by recurrence in the local
      region or lymph nodes. The Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that age >
      65, T stage, N stage, and tumor histology were significant independent prognostic
      factors for survival, whereas neither primary disease nor primary anastomosis
      type significantly impacted survival. CONCLUSION: Neither primary disease nor
      anastomosis type affected survival significantly, despite significant differences
      in their characteristics. In addition, the time interval between the primary and
      second surgery did not impact survival.

PMID- 26879073
TI  - Establishment of a rat model: Associating liver partition with portal vein
      ligation for staged hepatectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We adapted the anatomically oriented parenchyma-preserving resection
      technique for associating liver partition with portal vein ligation (PVL) for
      staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in rats and examined the role of revascularization in
      intrahepatic size regulation. METHODS: We performed the procedures based on
      anatomic study. The ALPPS procedure consisted of a 70% PVL (occluding the left
      median, left lateral, and right lobes), parenchymal transection (median lobe) and
      partial (10%) hepatectomy (PHx; caudate lobe). The transection effect was
      evaluated by measuring the extent of hepatic atrophy or regeneration of
      individual liver lobes in the ALPPS and control groups (70% PVL and 10% PHx
      without transection). The survival rates after stage II resection and collateral
      formation within the portal vein system was examined. RESULTS: Anatomic study
      revealed a close spatial relationship between the demarcation line and the middle
      median hepatic vein. This enabled placing the transection plane without injuring
      the hepatic vein. Transection was achieved via stepwise clamping, followed by 2-3
      parenchyma-preserving piercing sutures on both sides of the clamp. Ligated liver
      lobes atrophy was significantly enhanced after ALPPS compared with the control
      group. In contrast, both a significantly greater relative weight of the
      regenerated lobe and proliferation index on the first postoperative day were
      observed. All animals tolerated stage II-resection without complications.
      Portoportal collaterals were only observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: We
      developed an anatomically precise technique for parenchymal transection. The lack
      of a dense vascular network between the portalized and deportalized lobes may
      play an important role in accelerating regeneration and atrophy augmentation.

PMID- 26879074
TI  - Relationship of the Cricothyroid Space with Vocal Range in Female Singers.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the anterior
      cricothyroid (CT) space at rest with vocal range in female singers. Potential
      associations with and between voice categories, age, ethnicity, anthropometric
      indices, neck dimensions, laryngeal dimensions, vocal data along with habitual
      speaking fundamental frequency were also explored. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cohort
      study. METHODS: Laryngeal dimensions anterior CT space and heights of the thyroid
      and cricoid cartilages were measured using ultrasound in 43 healthy, classically
      trained, female singers during quiet respiration. Voice categories (soprano and
      mezzo-soprano), age, ethnicity, weight, height, body mass index, neck
      circumference and length, anterior thyroid and cricoid cartilage heights,
      practice and performance vocal range, lowest and highest practice and performance
      notes along with habitual speaking fundamental frequency were collected. RESULTS:
      The main finding was that mezzo-sopranos have a significantly wider resting CT
      space than sopranos (11.6 mm versus 10.4 mm; P = 0.007). Mezzo-sopranos also had
      significantly lower "lowest and highest" performance notes than sopranos. There
      was no significant correlation between the magnitudes of the anterior CT space
      with vocal range. The participants with the narrowest and widest anterior CT
      space had similar vocal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the CT
      space is not the major determinant of performance vocal range.

PMID- 26879075
TI  - Phasegram Analysis of Vocal Fold Vibration Documented With Laryngeal High-speed
      Video Endoscopy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In a recent publication, the phasegram, a bifurcation diagram over
      time, has been introduced as an intuitive visualization tool for assessing the
      vibratory states of oscillating systems. Here, this nonlinear dynamics approach
      is augmented with quantitative analysis parameters, and it is applied to clinical
      laryngeal high-speed video (HSV) endoscopic recordings of healthy and
      pathological phonations. METHODS: HSV data from a total of 73 females diagnosed
      as healthy (n = 42), or with functional dysphonia (n = 15) or with unilateral
      vocal fold paralysis (n = 16), were quantitatively analyzed. Glottal area
      waveforms (GAW) and left and right hemi-GAWs (hGAW) were extracted from the HSV
      recordings. Based on Poincare sections through phase space-embedded signals, two
      novel quantitative parameters were computed: the phasegram entropy (PE) and the
      phasegram complexity estimate (PCE), inspired by signal entropy and correlation
      dimension computation, respectively. RESULTS: Both PE and PCE assumed higher
      average values (suggesting more irregular vibrations) for the pathological as
      compared with the healthy participants, thus significantly discriminating healthy
      group from the paralysis group (P = 0.02 for both PE and PCE). Comparisons of
      individual PE or PCE data for the left and the right hGAW within each subject
      resulted in asymmetry measures for the regularity of vocal fold vibration. The
      PCE-based asymmetry measure revealed significant differences between the healthy
      group and the paralysis group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative phasegram
      analysis of GAW and hGAW data is a promising tool for the automated processing of
      HSV data in research and in clinical practice.

PMID- 26879076
TI  - Psychiatric risk factors predicting post-liver transplant physical and
      psychiatric complications: a literature review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The psychiatric assessment of potential liver transplant recipients
      is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice. In such assessments, the
      psychiatrist is invited by the transplant team to assess the patient prior to the
      patient receiving a transplant liver to identify factors that could predict an
      unsuccessful post-transplant course, whether this is from a psychiatric or
      physical perspective. This review examined published research from 2000 to 2014
      on psychological risk factors predicting post-transplant physical and psychiatric
      complications. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the strength of the evidence available, our
      review identified four risk factors: mood disorders; social supports; substance
      misuse; and alcohol dependence. These factors could potentially provide a
      framework to guide the evaluation and prediction of psychological and physical
      complications post-liver transplantation.

PMID- 26879077
TI  - Adipocytokine and ghrelin levels in relation to bone mineral density in
      prepubertal rhythmic gymnasts entering puberty: a 3-year follow-up study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in rhythmic
      gymnasts (RG) entering puberty and their age-matched untrained controls (UC) over
      the 36-month period, and associations with leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin over
      this period. METHODS: Whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN)
      BMD, WB bone mineral content (BMC), and leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin were
      measured in 35 RG and 33 UC girls at baseline and at 12-month intervals over the
      next 3 years. The change over the 36 months was calculated (? score). RESULTS:
      The pubertal development over the next 36 months was slower in RG compard to UC,
      while there was no difference in bone age development between the groups. BMD at
      all sites was higher in RG in comparison with UC at every measurement point. ?LS
      BMD and ?FN BMD, but not ?WB BMD and ?WB BMC, were higher in RG compared with UC.
      None of the measured hormones at baseline or their ? scores correlated with ?BMD
      and ?BMC in RG. Baseline fat free mass correlated with ?WB BMD and ?WB BMC in RG,
      while baseline leptin was related to ?WB BMC, ?WB BMD and ?LS BMD in UC.
      CONCLUSIONS: Measured baseline hormones and their ? scores did not correlate with
      increases in bone mineral values in RG entering puberty. Although the pubertal
      development in RG was slower than in UC, high-intensity training appeared to
      increase BMD growth and counterbalance negative effects of slow pubertal
      develpment, lower fat mass and leptin in RG.

PMID- 26879078
TI  - Troponin in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Updates and Future Direction.
AB  - Cardiac troponin has been well described as the preferred biomarker for diagnosis
      of myocardial infarction due to the high sensitivity and specificity for
      myocardial injury. Numerous other conditions apart from acute coronary syndrome
      can also lead to small elevations in troponin levels. However, the use of cTn as
      prognostic biomarker for the primary assessment of cardiovascular risk in
      asymptomatic patient has only recently been described. And with the development
      of newer generations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays that can detect
      10-fold lower concentrations of troponin, the potential value cTn in the
      prevention and management of asymptomatic cardiovascular disease has come to the
      fore. This review provides an overview of the transition of cardiac troponin as a
      marker of acute myocardial injury to one that detects sub-clinical injury.
      Evidence continues to show that high-sensitivity troponin is emerging as one of
      the most powerful prognostic biomarkers for the assessment of cardiovascular risk
      in the general population.

PMID- 26879080
TI  - An American physician's foray into Scandinavian healthcare.
AB  - The article describes the experience of the author, an American Physician,
      seeking care for an uncommon orthopedic condition. Unable to find adequate
      treatment in the United States, the author traveled to Finland for surgical
      treatment. 

PMID- 26879079
TI  - An Update on the Utility of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring for Coronary Heart
      Disease and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction.
AB  - Estimating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is necessary for determining the
      potential net benefit of primary prevention pharmacotherapy. Risk estimation
      relying exclusively on traditional CVD risk factors may misclassify risk,
      resulting in both undertreatment and overtreatment. Coronary artery calcium (CAC)
      scoring personalizes risk prediction through direct visualization of calcified
      coronary atherosclerotic plaques and provides improved accuracy for coronary
      heart disease (CHD) or CVD risk estimation. In this review, we discuss the most
      recent studies on CAC, which unlike historical studies, focus sharply on clinical
      application. We describe the MESA CHD risk calculator, a recently developed CAC
      based 10-year CHD risk estimator, which can help guide preventive therapy
      allocation by better identifying both high- and low-risk individuals. In closing,
      we discuss calcium density, regional distribution of CAC, and extra-coronary
      calcification, which represent the future of CAC and CVD risk assessment research
      and may lead to further improvements in risk prediction.

PMID- 26879081
TI  - Surgical outcome of mesh and suture repair in primary umbilical hernia:
      postoperative complications and recurrence.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare recurrence and surgical complications following two
      dominating techniques: the use of suture and mesh in umbilical hernia repair.
      METHODS: 379 consecutive umbilical hernia repair procedures performed between 1
      January 2005 and 14 March 2014 in a university setting were included. Gathering
      was made using International Classification of Diseases codes for both procedure
      and diagnosis. Each patient record was scrutinized with respect to 45 variables,
      and the results entered in a database. RESULTS: Exclusion <18 years-of-age (32),
      non-primary umbilical hernia (25), wrong diagnosis (7), concomitant major
      abdominal surgery (5), double registration (3) and pregnancy (1) left 306
      patients eligible for analysis. Gender distribution was 97 women and 209 men.
      There was no difference between mesh and suture with regard to the primary
      outcome variable, cumulative recurrence rate, 8.4 %. Recurrence was both self
      reported and found on clinical revisit and defined as recurrence when verified by
      a clinician and/or radiologist. Results presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95 %
      confidence interval (CI) show a significantly higher risk for recurrence in
      patients with a coexisting hernia OR 2.84, 95 % CI 1.24-6.48. Secondary outcome,
      postoperative surgical complication (n = 51 occurrences), included an array of
      postoperative surgical events commencing within 30 days after surgery.
      Complication rate was significantly higher in patients receiving mesh repair OR
      6.63, 95 % CI 2.29-20.38. CONCLUSIONS: Suture repair decreases the risk for
      surgical complications, especially infection without an increase in recurrence
      rate. The risk for recurrence is increased in patients with a history of another
      hernia.

PMID- 26879082
TI  - Improving cellulase production by Aspergillus niger using adaptive evolution.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential of adaptive evolution as a tool in
      generating strains with an improved production of plant biomass degrading
      enzymes. RESULTS: An Aspergillus niger cellulase mutant was obtained by adaptive
      evolution. Physiological properties of this mutant revealed a five times higher
      cellulose production than the parental strain. Transcriptomic analysis revealed
      that the expression of noxR, encoding the regulatory subunit of the NADPH oxidase
      complex, was reduced in the mutant compared to the parental strain. Subsequent
      analysis of a noxR knockout strain showed the same phenotypic effect as observed
      for the evolution mutant, confirming the role of NoxR in cellulose degradation.
      CONCLUSIONS: Adaptive evolution is an efficient approach to modify a strain and
      activate genes involved in polysaccharide degradation.

PMID- 26879083
TI  - Surgical management of the biconcave (B2) glenoid.
AB  - Glenohumeral osteoarthritis produces a wide spectrum of glenoid pathology. The B2
      glenoid is defined by asymmetric posterior bone loss with the development of a
      biconcavity and posterior translation of the humeral head. Progressive bone loss
      results in increasing glenoid retroversion, which must be corrected during
      anatomic shoulder arthroplasty. The goals of arthroplasty should also include
      centering the humeral head and restoring the normal glenoid joint line. When
      there is minimal bone loss, this may be accomplished with a standard glenoid
      component and asymmetric reaming. More significant bone loss requires bone
      grafting or the use of an augmented glenoid component. Reverse shoulder
      arthroplasty is also an option for older patients or patients with severe bone
      loss. 

PMID- 26879085
TI  - Urogynecology digest : Presented by Momoe Hyakutake.

PMID- 26879084
TI  - Small increases in enhancement on MRI may predict survival post radiotherapy in
      patients with glioblastoma.
AB  - To assess impact of volumetric changes in tumour volume post chemoradiotherapy in
      glioblastoma. Patients managed with chemoradiotherapy between 2008 and 2011 were
      included. Patients with incomplete MRI sets were excluded. Analyses were
      performed on post-operative MRI, and MRIs at 1 month (M+1), 3 months (M+3), 5
      months (M+5), 7 months (M+7), and 12 months (M+12) post completion of RT. RANO
      definitions of response were used for all techniques. Modified RANO criteria and
      two volumetric analysis techniques were used. The two volumetric analysis
      techniques involved utility of the Eclipse treatment planning software to
      calculate the volume of delineated tissue: surgical cavity plus all surrounding
      enhancement (Volumetric) versus surrounding enhancement only (Rim). Retrospective
      analysis of 49 patients with median survival of 18.4 months. Using Volumetric
      analysis the difference in MS for patients who had a <5 % increase versus >=5 %
      at M+3 was 23.1 versus 15.1 months (p = 0.006), and M+5 was 26.3 versus 15.1
      months (p = 0.006). For patients who were classified as progressive disease using
      modified RANO criteria at M+1 and M+3 there was a difference in MS compared with
      those who were not (M+1: 13.1 vs. 19.4 months, p = 0.017, M+3: 13.2 vs. 20.1
      months, p = 0.096). An increase in the volume of cavity and enhancement of >=5 %
      at M+3 and M+5 post RT was associated with reduced survival, suggesting that
      increases in radiological abnormality of <25 % may predict survival.

PMID- 26879086
TI  - Urogynecology digest : Presented by Gregory Kanter.

PMID- 26879088
TI  - A simple method for panretinal imaging with the slit lamp.
AB  - Slit lamp biomicroscopy of the retina with a convex lens is a key procedure in
      clinical practice. The methods presented enable ophthalmologists to adequately
      image large and peripheral parts of the fundus using a video-slit lamp and freely
      available stitching software. A routine examination of the fundus with a slit
      lamp and a +90 D lens is recorded on a video film. Later, sufficiently sharp
      still images are identified on the video sequence. These still images are
      imported into a freely available image-processing program (Hugin, for stitching
      mosaics together digitally) and corresponding points are marked on adjacent still
      images with some overlap. Using the digital stitching program Hugin panoramic
      overviews of the retina can be built which can extend to the equator. This allows
      to image diseases involving the whole retina or its periphery by performing a
      structured fundus examination with a video-slit lamp. Similar images with a video
      slit lamp based on a fundus examination through a hand-held non-contact lens have
      not been demonstrated before. The methods presented enable those ophthalmologists
      without high-end imaging equipment to monitor pathological fundus findings. The
      suggested procedure might even be interesting for retinological departments if
      peripheral findings are to be documented which might be difficult with fundus
      cameras.

PMID- 26879089
TI  - Counterion-Controlled Self-Sorting in an Amphiphilic Calixarene Micellar System.
AB  - Molecular recognition of small molecules and ions by artificial receptors in
      microheterogeneous media such as micelles and vesicles can, in principle, provide
      better models of biological systems in comparison with bulk solutions. In this
      work we have investigated the complexation of an organic fluorescent probe with
      amphiphilic calixarene receptor below and above the critical micelle
      concentration (CMC). For concentrations below the CMC, the probe forms a host
      guest complex with the calixarene behaving like a traditional host-guest system
      operating in bulk solution. Above the CMC, multiple equilibrium processes are
      established and the probe can exchange between the recognition site of the
      calixarene in the monomeric state, micellized state and/or the micellar
      hydrophobic core. Careful analysis of the results obtained from NMR spectroscopy
      and fluorescence experiments allowed us to propose a quantitative model to
      describe the system. The increment of the local concentration of Na(+)
      counterions at the Stern layer displace the dye to the micelle core through
      competitive binding of Na(+) in the cavity of the receptor and is decisive for
      the observed self-sorting behavior. 

PMID- 26879087
TI  - Experts' recommendations for the management of cardiogenic shock in children.
AB  - Cardiogenic shock which corresponds to an acute state of circulatory failure due
      to impairment of myocardial contractility is a very rare disease in children,
      even more than in adults. To date, no international recommendations regarding its
      management in critically ill children are available. An experts' recommendations
      in adult population have recently been made (Levy et al. Ann Intensive Care
      5(1):52, 2015; Levy et al. Ann Intensive Care 5(1):26, 2015). We present herein
      recommendations for the management of cardiogenic shock in children, developed
      with the grading of recommendations' assessment, development, and evaluation
      system by an expert group of the Groupe Francophone de Reanimation et Urgences
      Pediatriques (French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies). The
      recommendations cover four major fields of application such as: recognition of
      early signs of shock and the patient pathway, management principles and
      therapeutic goals, monitoring hemodynamic and biological variables, and
      circulatory support (indications, techniques, organization, and transfer
      criteria). Major principle care for children with cardiogenic shock is primarily
      based on clinical and echocardiographic assessment. There are few drugs reported
      as effective in childhood in the medical literature. The use of circulatory
      support should be facilitated in terms of organization and reflected in the
      centers that support these children. Children with cardiogenic shock are
      vulnerable and should be followed regularly by intensivist cardiologists and
      pediatricians. The experts emphasize the multidisciplinary nature of management
      of children with cardiogenic shock and the importance of effective communication
      between emergency medical assistance teams (SAMU), mobile pediatric emergency
      units (SMUR), pediatric emergency departments, pediatric cardiology and cardiac
      surgery departments, and pediatric intensive care units. 

PMID- 26879090
TI  - The individual level cost of pregnancy termination in Zambia: a comparison of
      safe and unsafe abortion.
AB  - Zambia has one of the most liberal abortion laws in sub-Saharan Africa. However,
      rates of unsafe abortion remain high with negative health and economic
      consequences. Little is known about the economic burden on women of abortion care
      seeking in low income countries. The majority of studies focus on direct costs
      (e.g. hospital fees). This article estimates the individual-level economic burden
      of safe and unsafe abortion care-seeking in Zambia, incorporating all indirect
      and direct costs. It uses data collected in 2013 from a tertiary hospital in
      Lusaka, (n = 112) with women who had an abortion. Three treatment routes are
      identified: (1) safe abortion at the hospital, (2) unsafe clandestine medical
      abortion initiated elsewhere with post-abortion care at the hospital and (3)
      unsafe abortion initiated elsewhere with post-abortion care at the hospital.
      Based on these three typologies, we use descriptive analysis and linear
      regression to estimate the costs for women of seeking safe and unsafe abortion
      and to establish whether the burden of abortion care-seeking costs is equally
      distributed across the sample. Around 39% of women had an unsafe abortion,
      incurring substantial economic costs before seeking post-abortion care.
      Adolescents and poorer women are more likely to use unsafe abortion. Unsafe
      abortion requiring post-abortion care costs women 27% more than a safe abortion.
      When accounting for uncertainty this figure increases dramatically. For safe and
      unsafe abortions, unofficial provider payments represent a major cost to
      women.This study demonstrates that despite a liberal legislation, Zambia still
      needs better dissemination of the law to women and providers and resources to
      ensure abortion service access. The policy implications of this study include:
      the role of pharmacists and mid-level providers in the provision of medical
      abortion services; increased access to contraception, especially for adolescents;
      and elimination of demands for unofficial provider payments. 

PMID- 26879091
TI  - Levels and variations in the quality of facility-based antenatal care in Kenya:
      evidence from the 2010 service provision assessment.
AB  - Quality of care is emerging as an important concern for low- and middle-income
      countries working to expand and improve coverage. However, there is limited
      systematic, large-scale empirical guidance to inform policy design. Our study
      operationalized indicators for six dimensions of quality of care that are
      captured in currently available, standardized Service Provision Assessments. We
      implemented these measures to assess the levels and heterogeneity of antenatal
      care in Kenya. Using our indicator mix, we find that performance is low overall
      and that there is substantial variation across provinces, management authority
      and facility type. Overall, facilities performed highest in the dimensions of
      efficiency and acceptability/patient-centeredness, and lowest on effectiveness
      and accessibility. Public facilities generally performed worse or similarly to
      private or faith-based facilities. We illustrate how these data and methods can
      provide readily-available, low-cost decision support for policy. 

PMID- 26879092
TI  - Parallel Atrophy of Cortex and Basal Forebrain Cholinergic System in Mild
      Cognitive Impairment.
AB  - The basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) is the major source of
      acetylcholine for the cerebral cortex in humans. The aim was to analyze the
      pattern of BFCS and cortical atrophy in MCI patients to find evidence for a
      parallel atrophy along corticotopic organization of BFCS projections. BFCS volume
      and cortical thickness were analyzed using high-definition 3D structural magnetic
      resonance imaging data from 1.5-T and 3.0-T scanners of 64 MCI individuals and 62
      cognitively healthy elderly controls from the European DTI study in dementia.
      BFCS volume reduction was correlated with thinning of cortical areas with known
      BFCS projections, such as Ch2 and parahippocampal gyrus in the MCI group, but not
      in the control group. Additionally, we found correlations between BFCS and cortex
      atrophy beyond the known corticotopic projections, such as between Ch4p and the
      cingulate gyrus. BFCS volume reduction was associated with regional thinning of
      cortical areas that included, but was not restricted to, the pattern of
      corticotopic projections of the BFCS as derived from animal studies. Our in vivo
      results may indicate the existence of more extended projections from the BFCS to
      the cerebral cortex in humans than that known from prior studies with animals.

PMID- 26879094
TI  - Idarubicin is a broad-spectrum enterovirus replication inhibitor that selectively
      targets the virus internal ribosomal entry site.
AB  - Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes life-threatening diseases with neurological
      manifestations in young children. However, the treatment of EV71 infections
      remains an unmet medical need. Idarubicin (IDR) is an anthracycline compound that
      is used therapeutically for certain types of tumour. In this study, we identified
      IDR as an EV71 inhibitor, which displayed antiviral potency in the submicromolar
      range and substantially protected cells from the cytopathic effects and cell
      death caused by EV71 infections. The antiviral effects extended to several other
      enterovirus (EV) species, and these effects were independent of cytotoxicity or
      topoisomerase inhibition. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated the
      importance of the anthracycline scaffold for anti-EV potency. IDR effectively
      blocked the synthesis of viral protein and RNA, but not the viral proteolysis
      processes. Moreover, anthracyclines were demonstrated to suppress EV internal
      ribosomal entry site (IRES)-mediated translation; conversely, the cellular p53
      IRES activity was not sensitive to IDR action. Inhibition of IRES-mediated
      translation by IDR correlated with the affinity of binding between IDR and the
      particular IRES. Moreover, IDR impaired binding between the EV71 IRES RNA and
      hnRNP A1, a known host IRES trans-acting factor. In sum, we have identified a USA
      FDA-approved anticancer drug with the new indication as a selective EV IRES
      binder and inhibitor. The finding may also provide leads for the development of
      novel antiviral therapies directed at the EV IRES RNA.

PMID- 26879093
TI  - Bidirectional Modulation of Numerical Magnitude.
AB  - Numerical cognition is critical for modern life; however, the precise neural
      mechanisms underpinning numerical magnitude allocation in humans remain obscure.
      Based upon previous reports demonstrating the close behavioral and neuro
      anatomical relationship between number allocation and spatial attention, we
      hypothesized that these systems would be subject to similar control mechanisms,
      namely dynamic interhemispheric competition. We employed a physiological
      paradigm, combining visual and vestibular stimulation, to induce interhemispheric
      conflict and subsequent unihemispheric inhibition, as confirmed by transcranial
      direct current stimulation (tDCS). This allowed us to demonstrate the first
      systematic bidirectional modulation of numerical magnitude toward either higher
      or lower numbers, independently of either eye movements or spatial attention
      mediated biases. We incorporated both our findings and those from the most widely
      accepted theoretical framework for numerical cognition to present a novel
      unifying computational model that describes how numerical magnitude allocation is
      subject to dynamic interhemispheric competition. That is, numerical allocation is
      continually updated in a contextual manner based upon relative magnitude, with
      the right hemisphere responsible for smaller magnitudes and the left hemisphere
      for larger magnitudes. 

PMID- 26879095
TI  - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children and Adolescents With
      Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Pilot Study.
AB  - Studies investigating the possible benefits of transcranial direct current
      stimulation on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in children and adolescents
      with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not been performed.
      This study assesses the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation in
      children and adolescents with ADHD on neuropsychological tests of visual
      attention, visual and verbal working memory, and inhibitory control. An auto
      matched clinical trial was performed involving transcranial direct current
      stimulation in children and adolescents with ADHD, using SNAP-IV and subtests
      Vocabulary and Cubes of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III (WISC
      III). Subjects were assessed before and after transcranial direct current
      stimulation sessions with the Digit Span subtest of the WISC-III, inhibitory
      control subtest of the NEPSY-II, Corsi cubes, and the Visual Attention Test
      (TAVIS-3). There were 9 individuals with ADHD according to Diagnostic and
      Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) criteria. There was
      statistically significant difference in some aspects of TAVIS-3 tests and the
      inhibitory control subtest of NEPSY-II. Transcranial direct current stimulation
      can be related to a more efficient processing speed, improved detection of
      stimuli, and improved ability to switch between an ongoing activity and a new
      one.

PMID- 26879096
TI  - Factors impacting the success of post-mortem sperm rescue in the rhinoceros.
AB  - The goal of this study was to identify factors that influenced the ability to
      successfully rescue sperm post-mortem from rhinoceroses maintained in North
      American zoos. Factors considered included procedural technicalities, individual
      rhinoceros characteristics and timing. Gross testicular pathology was noted in
      17.4% of males (4/23) but did not impact sperm recovery except in one case of
      azoospermia (4.3%). Of the males in which sperm recovery was attempted (n=21),
      62% yielded quality samples considered adequate for cryopreservation (>= 30%
      motility with >= 2.0 forward progressive status). A high percentage of males
      (70.6%; 12/17) from which reproductive tissue was removed an d cooled <= 4 h
      after death yielded quality sperm samples, whereas only 25% (1/4) of males from
      which tissue was removed>4h after death yielded quality samples. Quality samples
      were recovered 1-51 h post-mortem from rhinoceroses 8 to 36 years old. Neither
      type of illness (prolonged or acute), or method of death (euthanasia or natural)
      affected the ability to harvest quality samples (P > 0.05). The Indian rhinoceros
      yielded significantly more sperm on average (40 * 10(9)) than the African black
      rhinoceros (3.6 * 10(9); P < 0.01) and the African white rhinoceros (3.2 * 10(9);
      P < 0.05). Across all species and samples assessed (n = 11), mean post-thaw sperm
      motility (41%), was only 15% less than pre-freeze motility (56%) and only
      decreased to 22% during the 6h post-thaw assessment period. Rhinoceros sperm
      rescue post-mortem is relatively successful across a wide range of variables,
      especially when tissues are removed and cooled promptly after death, and should
      be considered standard practice among zoos.

PMID- 26879097
TI  - Directional freezing of sperm and associated derived technologies.
AB  - Directional freezing has now completed 30 years of development since it was first
      introduced to cryobiology. In the field of sperm cryopreservation, directional
      freezing has been shown to be advantageous over slow freezing for numerous
      domestic and wildlife species. In particular, it was shown that freezing of large
      volume is possible. Furthermore, double freezing of sperm and freezing of sex
      sorted sperm are possible and became the routine in the sex sorted sperm
      industry. In wild animals, our labs and others showed that sperm from a wide
      range of terrestrial and aquatic species can be successfully cryopreserved using
      directional freezing. Finally, we will describe for the first time the successful
      freeze-drying of human sperm in an aseptic method. Using a device that produces
      clean liquid air, we froze human sperm in small droplets and then dried them in a
      bench top lyophilizer that was sterilized prior to use. More than 80% of DNA
      integrity was found after rehydration. 

PMID- 26879098
TI  - Amplatzer Plug to Occlude the Internal Iliac Artery During Endovascular Aortic
      Aneurysm Repair: A Large Multicenter Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: During endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR), in
      the absence of a distal iliac landing zone, the Amplatzer plug is increasingly
      being used to replace other internal iliac artery (IIA) embolization techniques.
      This study aimed at assessing the technical success, complication occurrence, and
      durability of the Amplatzer plug for IIA embolization. METHOD: From January 1,
      2007 to December 31, 2013, all consecutive patients who underwent internal iliac
      embolization with an Amplatzer plug during EVAR were included in the study. There
      were 169 patients, (160 men, 9 women, mean 75 +/- 9 years), treated by unilateral
      (158 cases, 93%) or bilateral (11 cases, 7%) embolization of the IIA, performed
      either separately prior to (65 cases, 38.5%) or during EVAR (104 cases, 61.5%).
      Follow up CT scan and/or US scan were performed 1 month after treatment and
      yearly thereafter. The inclusions were done retrospectively but the series was
      continuous and consecutive. Data were collected and analyzed using acquisition
      REDCap software. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 97.6%. Failures were
      device migration (n = 1), navigation failure (n = 2), and release outside the
      target zone (n = 1). On average, 1.43 plugs were required to achieve the
      embolization. The average amount of contrast agent for the embolization procedure
      was 111 +/- 51 mL and the radiation dose was 127,777 +/- 89,528 mGy/cm(2). The
      total fluoroscopy time was 854 +/- 538 seconds. No re-canalization of the IIA
      trunk was observed during follow up. Complications were buttock claudication (n =
      41, 24.3%), which resolved in 24 cases (58.5%, 24/41) at the first follow up, and
      intestinal ischemia requiring limited bowel resection in two cases. CONCLUSION:
      This multicenter study is the largest published to date. It demonstrates the
      efficacy and reliability of the Amplatzer plug to embolize the IIA during EVAR,
      with few side effects.

PMID- 26879099
TI  - Dosing Penalty of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents After Switching From
      Originator to Biosimilar Preparations in Stable Hemodialysis Patients.

PMID- 26879100
TI  - A Study of the Amputee Experience of Viewing Self in the Mirror.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the trajectory of viewing self in a mirror after an ampu
      tation and participants' perceptions of what health care professionals should
      know about mirrors. DESIGN: Hermeneutic phenomenologyMETHODS: Focus groups were
      conducted to collect the research data. FINDINGS: The mirror experience had three
      key moments: decision, seeing, and consent. The trajectory of viewing self in a
      mirror had four key themes: mirror shock, mirror anguish, recognizing self, and
      acceptance: a new normal. Participants' recommendations for introducing the
      mirror after an amputation and using a mirror to avoid skin breakdown and
      infection, and correct gait and balance are described. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      provides a unique viewpoint into the world of those who have suffered amputation
      of a limb. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rehabilitation nurses and other health care
      professionals are encouraged through these participants to consider the effect
      and value of mirrors when caring for those who have had an amputation.

PMID- 26879101
TI  - Amygdala responses to quetiapine XR and citalopram treatment in major depression:
      the role of 5-HTTLPR-S/Lg polymorphisms.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Genotype and drug pharmacology may contribute to variations in brain
      response to antidepressants. We examined the impact of two antidepressants with
      differential actions on serotonin transporter and the 5-HHTLPR-S/Lg polymorphisms
      on amygdala responses in major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Caucasians
      with MDD were given either citalopram or quetiapine extended release for 8 weeks.
      Patients were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Clinical efficacy was assessed using the
      Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. fMRI responses to negative emotional faces were
      acquired at baseline, week 1 and week 8. The outcome measure was change in
      amygdala responses at week 8. RESULTS: Citalopram had no effect on amygdala
      responses in MDD patients with S/Lg alleles at weeks 1 and 8 compared with
      baseline, whereas it induced changes in amygdala responses in LL homozygotes. By
      contrast, quetiapine decreased amygdala responses at both time points in S/Lg
      carriers, and changes in amygdala responses at week 8 correlated with a reduction
      in depression scores. The small number of LL homozygotes in quetiapine group was
      a limitation. Efficacy of both treatments was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: These
      preliminary data suggest that pharmacological mechanisms and genetics need to be
      considered in the development of neuroimaging markers for the evaluation of
      antidepressant treatments.

PMID- 26879102
TI  - Trends in seasonal influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy in Western
      Australia: Implications for midwives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antenatal influenza vaccination is an important public health
      intervention for preventing serious illness in mothers and newborns, yet uptake
      remains low. AIM: To evaluate trends in seasonal influenza vaccine coverage and
      identify determinants for vaccination among pregnant women in Western Australia.
      METHODS: We conducted an annual telephone survey in a random sample of post
      partum women who delivered a baby in Western Australia between 2012 and 2014.
      Women were asked whether influenza vaccination was recommended and/or received
      during their most recent pregnancy; women were also asked why or why they were
      not immunised. FINDINGS: Between 2012 and 2014, influenza vaccine coverage
      increased from 22.9% to 41.4%. Women who reported receiving the majority of their
      antenatal care from a private obstetrician were significantly more likely to have
      influenza vaccination recommended to them than those receiving the majority of
      their care from a public antenatal hospital or general practitioner (p<0.001). In
      2014, the most common reason women reported for accepting influenza vaccination
      was to protect the baby (92.8%) and the most common reason for being unimmunised
      was lack of a healthcare provider recommendation (48.5%). DISCUSSION: Antenatal
      influenza vaccination uptake is increasing, but coverage remains below 50%. A
      recommendation from the principal care provider is an important predictor of
      maternal influenza vaccination. CONCLUSION: Antenatal care providers, including
      midwives, have a key role in providing appropriate information and evidence-based
      recommendations to pregnant women to ensure they are making informed decisions.
      Consistent recommendations from antenatal care providers are critical to
      improving influenza vaccine coverage in pregnant women.

PMID- 26879104
TI  - Distance Regulated Vesicle Fusion and Docking Mediated by beta-Peptide Nucleic
      Acid SNARE Protein Analogues.
AB  - Artificial SNARE analogues derived from SNARE proteins, which mediate synaptic
      membrane fusion, are of interest. They mimic the tetrameric alpha-helix bundle of
      the SNARE motif with various bio-oligomer recognition units. Interaction between
      complementary oligomers linked to the respective membrane by lipid or peptide
      anchors leads to proximity of vesicles and to fusion of lipid bilayers. beta
      Peptide nucleic acids were introduced as hybrid oligomers with the native SNARE
      protein transmembrane/linker sequence, in order to evaluate a fusion system that
      allows distance tuning of approaching membranes. Formation of a four-base pair
      beta-PNA double strand with 20 A length is sufficient for vesicle membrane
      fusion. Elongation of the recognition beta-PNA duplex in the linker region
      yielded a 40 A beta-peptide duplex and provided a vesicle-vesicle distance that
      only supported hemifusion of vesicle membranes. 

PMID- 26879103
TI  - Labour induction for late-term or post-term pregnancy.
AB  - PROBLEM AND BACKGROUND: Approximately one in four women in Australia have their
      labour induced, and prolonged pregnancy is likely the most common reason for
      induction. Clinical guidelines recommend offering induction at 41 weeks, because
      it is thought that induction lowers the risk of stillbirth without increasing the
      Caesarean rate. However, the evidence behind this recommendation warrants closer
      investigation. QUESTIONS: What is the risk of stillbirth as women go past their
      due dates, and what are the benefits and risks of elective labour induction?
      FINDINGS: A large body of evidence shows that the relative risk of stillbirth
      increases starting after 37-38 weeks, but more recent data show the absolute risk
      does not rise substantially until 42 weeks, when it reaches 1 in 1000. As women
      get closer to 41 weeks, it is appropriate for midwives to discuss the benefits
      and risks of elective induction and expectant management. Meta-analyses that have
      studied the effects of elective induction were driven by the Hannah Post Term
      trial, which was limited by high rates of cross-over between groups. CONCLUSION:
      Ultimately, after receiving accurate, evidence-based information and guidance
      from health care providers, women have the right to decide whether they prefer to
      induce labour, or wait for spontaneous labour with appropriate foetal monitoring,
      as both are reasonable options.

PMID- 26879106
TI  - Human local and total heat losses in different temperature.
AB  - This study investigates the effects of operative temperature on the local and
      total heat losses, and the relationship between the heat loss and thermal
      sensation. 10 local parts of head, neck, chest, abdomen, upper arm, forearm,
      hand, thigh, leg and foot are selected. In all these parts, convection,
      radiation, evaporation, respiration, conduction and diffusion heat losses are
      analyzed when operative temperature is 23, 28, 33 and 37  degrees C. The local
      heat losses show that the radiation and convection heat losses are mainly
      affected by the area of local body, and the heat loss of the thigh is the most in
      the ten parts. The evaporation heat loss is mainly affected by the distribution
      of sweat gland, and the heat loss of the chest is the most. The total heat loss
      of the local body shows that in low temperature, the thigh, leg and chest have
      much heat loss, while in high temperature, the chest, abdomen, thigh and head
      have great heat loss, which are useful for clothing design. The heat losses of
      the whole body show that as the operative temperature increases, the radiation
      and convection heat losses decrease, the heat losses of conduction, respiration,
      and diffusion are almost constant, and the evaporation heat loss increases. By
      comparison, the heat loss ratios of the radiation, convection and sweat
      evaporation, are in agreement with the previous researches. At last, the formula
      about the heat loss ratio of convection and radiation is derived. It's useful for
      thermal comfort evaluation and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning)
      design.

PMID- 26879105
TI  - Double trouble: Portion size and energy density combine to increase preschool
      children's lunch intake.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both portion size and energy density (ED) have substantial effects on
      intake; however, their combined effects on preschool children's intake have not
      been examined when multiple foods are varied at a meal. OBJECTIVE: We tested the
      effects on intake of varying the portion size and ED of lunches served to
      children in their usual eating environment. DESIGN: In a crossover design, lunch
      was served in 3 childcare centers once a week for 6weeks to 120 children aged 3
      5y. Across the 6 meals, all items were served at 3 levels of portion size (100%,
      150%, or 200%) and 2 levels of ED (100% or 142%). The lunch menu had either lower
      ED or higher-ED versions of chicken, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, applesauce,
      ketchup, and milk. Children's ratings of the foods indicated that the lower-ED
      and higher-ED meals were similarly well liked. RESULTS: The total weight of food
      and milk consumed at meals was increased by serving larger portions (P<0.0001)
      but was unaffected by varying the ED (P=0.22). Meal energy intake, however, was
      independently affected by portion size and ED (both P<0.0001). Doubling the
      portions increased energy intake by 24% and increasing meal ED by 42% increased
      energy intake by 40%. These effects combined to increase intake by 175+/-12kcal
      or 79% at the higher-ED meal with the largest portions compared to the lower-ED
      meal with the smallest portions. The foods contributing the most to this increase
      were chicken, macaroni and cheese, and applesauce. The effects of meal portion
      size and ED on intake were not influenced by child age or body size, but were
      significantly affected by parental ratings of child eating behavior. CONCLUSION:
      Strategically moderating the portion size and ED of foods typically consumed by
      children could substantially reduce their energy intake without affecting
      acceptability.

PMID- 26879108
TI  - Individual and contextual correlates of obesity-related behaviours and obesity:
      the SPOTLIGHT project.

PMID- 26879107
TI  - Rescue of defective ATP8B1 trafficking by CFTR correctors as a therapeutic
      strategy for familial intrahepatic cholestasis.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: ATP8B1 deficiency is an autosomal recessive liver disease
      characterized by intrahepatic cholestasis. ATP8B1 mutation p.I661T, the most
      frequent mutation in European patients, results in protein misfolding and
      impaired targeting to the plasma membrane. Similarly, mutations in cystic
      fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), associated with cystic
      fibrosis, impair protein folding and trafficking. The aim of this study was to
      investigate whether compounds that rescue CFTR F508del trafficking are capable of
      improving p.I661T-ATP8B1 plasma membrane expression. METHODS: The effect of CFTR
      corrector compounds on plasma membrane expression of p.I661T-ATP8B1 was evaluated
      by cell surface biotinylation and immunofluorescence. ATPase activity was
      evaluated of a purified analogue protein carrying a mutation at the matching
      position (p.L622T-ATP8A2). RESULTS: The clinically used compounds, 4
      phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and N
      butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) improved p.I661T-ATP8B1 plasma membrane targeting.
      Compounds C4, C5, C13 and C17 also significantly increased plasma membrane
      expression of p.I661T-ATP8B1. SAHA and compound C17 upregulated ATP8B1
      transcription. p.I661T-ATP8B1 was partly targeted to the canalicular membrane in
      polarized cells, which became more evident upon treatment with SAHA and/or C4.
      p.L622T-ATP8A2 showed phospholipid-induced ATPase activity, suggesting that
      mutations at a matching position in ATP8B1 do not block functionality.
      Combination therapy of SAHA and compound C4 resulted in an additional improvement
      of ATP8B1 cell surface abundance. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that several CFTR
      correctors can improve trafficking of p.I661T-ATP8B1 to the plasma membrane in
      vitro. Hence, these compounds may be suitable to be part of a future therapy for
      ATP8B1 deficiency and other genetic disorders associated with protein misfolding.
      LAY SUMMARY: Compounds that improve the cellular machinery dealing with protein
      homeostasis (proteostasis) and allow for proper folding of proteins with (mild)
      missense mutations are called proteostasis regulators (Balch, Science 2008). Such
      compounds are potentially of high therapeutic value for many (liver) diseases. In
      this manuscript, we investigated whether compounds identified in screens as CFTR
      folding correctors are actually proteostasis regulators and thus have a broader
      application in other protein folding diseases. Using these compounds, we could
      indeed show improved trafficking to the (apical) plasma membrane of a mutated
      ATP8B1 protein, carrying the p.I661T missense mutation. This is the most
      frequently identified mutation in this rare cholestatic disorder. Importantly,
      ATP8B1 shows no similarity to CFTR. These data are important in providing support
      for the concept that rare, genetic liver diseases can potentially be treated
      using a generalized strategy.

PMID- 26879109
TI  - Self-defined residential neighbourhoods: size variations and correlates across
      five European urban regions.
AB  - The neighbourhood is recognized as an important unit of analysis in research on
      the relation between obesogenic environments and development of obesity. One
      important challenge is to define the limits of the residential neighbourhood, as
      perceived by study participants themselves, in order to improve our understanding
      of the interaction between contextual features and patterns of obesity. An
      innovative tool was developed in the framework of the SPOTLIGHT project to
      identify the boundaries of neighbourhoods as defined by participants in five
      European urban regions. The aims of this study were (i) to describe self-defined
      neighbourhood (size and overlap with predefined residential area) according to
      the characteristics of the sampling administrative neighbourhoods (residential
      density and socioeconomic status) within the five study regions and (ii) to
      determine which individual or/and environmental factors are associated with
      variations in size of self-defined neighbourhoods. Self-defined neighbourhood
      size varies according to both individual factors (age, educational level, length
      of residence and attachment to neighbourhood) and contextual factors. These
      findings have consequences for how residential neighbourhoods are defined and
      operationalized and can inform how self-defined neighbourhoods may be used in
      research on associations between contextual characteristics and health outcomes
      such as obesity. 

PMID- 26879110
TI  - Neighbourhood typology based on virtual audit of environmental obesogenic
      characteristics.
AB  - Virtual audit (using tools such as Google Street View) can help assess multiple
      characteristics of the physical environment. This exposure assessment can then be
      associated with health outcomes such as obesity. Strengths of virtual audit
      include collection of large amount of data, from various geographical contexts,
      following standard protocols. Using data from a virtual audit of obesity-related
      features carried out in five urban European regions, the current study aimed to
      (i) describe this international virtual audit dataset and (ii) identify
      neighbourhood patterns that can synthesize the complexity of such data and
      compare patterns across regions. Data were obtained from 4,486 street segments
      across urban regions in Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands and the UK. We
      used multiple factor analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components
      to build a typology of neighbourhoods and to identify similar/dissimilar
      neighbourhoods, regardless of region. Four neighbourhood clusters emerged, which
      differed in terms of food environment, recreational facilities and active
      mobility features, i.e. the three indicators derived from factor analysis.
      Clusters were unequally distributed across urban regions. Neighbourhoods mostly
      characterized by a high level of outdoor recreational facilities were
      predominantly located in Greater London, whereas neighbourhoods characterized by
      high urban density and large amounts of food outlets were mostly located in
      Paris. Neighbourhoods in the Randstad conurbation, Ghent and Budapest appeared to
      be very similar, characterized by relatively lower residential densities, greener
      areas and a very low percentage of streets offering food and recreational
      facility items. These results provide multidimensional constructs of obesogenic
      characteristics that may help target at-risk neighbourhoods more effectively than
      isolated features. 

PMID- 26879111
TI  - Mismatch between perceived and objectively measured environmental obesogenic
      features in European neighbourhoods.
AB  - Findings from research on the association between the built environment and
      obesity remain equivocal but may be partly explained by differences in approaches
      used to characterize the built environment. Findings obtained using subjective
      measures may differ substantially from those measured objectively. We
      investigated the agreement between perceived and objectively measured obesogenic
      environmental features to assess (1) the extent of agreement between individual
      perceptions and observable characteristics of the environment and (2) the
      agreement between aggregated perceptions and observable characteristics, and
      whether this varied by type of characteristic, region or neighbourhood. Cross
      sectional data from the SPOTLIGHT project (n = 6037 participants from 60
      neighbourhoods in five European urban regions) were used. Residents' perceptions
      were self-reported, and objectively measured environmental features were obtained
      by a virtual audit using Google Street View. Percent agreement and Kappa
      statistics were calculated. The mismatch was quantified at neighbourhood level by
      a distance metric derived from a factor map. The extent to which the mismatch
      metric varied by region and neighbourhood was examined using linear regression
      models. Overall, agreement was moderate (agreement < 82%, kappa < 0.3) and varied
      by obesogenic environmental feature, region and neighbourhood. Highest agreement
      was found for food outlets and outdoor recreational facilities, and lowest
      agreement was obtained for aesthetics. In general, a better match was observed in
      high-residential density neighbourhoods characterized by a high density of food
      outlets and recreational facilities. Future studies should combine perceived and
      objectively measured built environment qualities to better understand the
      potential impact of the built environment on health, particularly in low
      residential density neighbourhoods. 

PMID- 26879112
TI  - Exploring why residents of socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods have less
      favourable perceptions of their neighbourhood environment than residents of
      wealthy neighbourhoods.
AB  - Residents of socioeconomically deprived areas perceive their neighbourhood as
      less conducive to healthy behaviours than residents of more affluent areas.
      Whether these unfavourable perceptions are based on objective neighbourhood
      features or other factors is poorly understood. We examined individual and
      contextual correlates of socioeconomic inequalities in neighbourhood perceptions
      across five urban regions in Europe. Data were analysed from 5205 participants of
      the SPOTLIGHT survey. Participants reported perceptions of their neighbourhood
      environment with regard to aesthetics, safety, the presence of destinations and
      functionality of the neighbourhood, which were summed into an overall
      neighbourhood perceptions score. Multivariable multilevel regression analyses
      were conducted to investigate whether the following factors were associated with
      socioeconomic inequalities in neighbourhood perceptions: objectively observed
      neighbourhood features, neighbourhood social capital, exposure to the
      neighbourhood, self-rated health and lifestyle behaviours. Objectively observed
      traffic safety, aesthetics and the presence of destinations in the neighbourhood
      explained around 15% of differences in neighbourhood perceptions between
      residents of high and low neighbourhoods; levels of neighbourhood social cohesion
      explained around 52%. Exposure to the neighbourhood, self-rated health and
      lifestyle behaviours were significant correlates of neighbourhood perceptions but
      did not contribute to socioeconomic differences. This cross-European study
      provided evidence that socioeconomic differences in neighbourhood perceptions are
      not only associated with objective neighbourhood features but also with social
      cohesion. Levels of physical activity, sleep duration, self-rated health,
      happiness and neighbourhood preference were also associated with neighbourhood
      perceptions. 

PMID- 26879113
TI  - Perceived environmental correlates of cycling for transport among adults in five
      regions of Europe.
AB  - Regular cycling for transport is an important potential contributor to daily
      physical activity among adults. Characteristics of the physical environment are
      likely to influence cycling for transport. The current study investigated
      associations between perceived physical environmental neighbourhood factors and
      adults' cycling for transport across five urban regions across Europe, and
      whether such associations were moderated by age, gender, education and urban
      region. A total of 4,612 adults from five European regions provided information
      about their transport-related cycling and their neighbourhood physical
      environmental perceptions in an online survey. Hurdle models adjusted for the
      clustering within neighbourhoods were performed to estimate associations between
      perceived physical environmental neighbourhood factors and odds of engaging in
      cycling for transport and minutes of cycling for transport per week. Inhabitants
      of neighbourhoods that were perceived to be polluted, having better street
      connectivity, having lower traffic speed levels and being less pleasant to walk
      or cycle in had higher levels of cycling for transport. Moderation analyses
      revealed only one interaction effect by gender. This study indicates that cycling
      for transport is associated with a number of perceived physical environmental
      neighbourhood factors across five urban regions across Europe. Our results
      indicated that the majority of the outcomes identified were valid for all
      subgroups of age, gender, education and across regions in the countries included
      in the study. 

PMID- 26879114
TI  - The relation between sleep duration and sedentary behaviours in European adults.
AB  - Too much sitting, and both short and long sleep duration are associated with
      obesity, but little is known on the nature of the relations between these
      behaviours. We therefore examined the associations between sleep duration and
      time spent sitting in adults across five urban regions in Europe. We used cross
      sectional survey data from 6,037 adults (mean age 51.9 years (SD 16.4), 44.0%
      men) to assess the association between self-reported short (<6 h per night),
      normal (6-8 h per night) and long (>8 h per night) sleep duration with self
      report total time spent sitting, time spent sitting at work, during transport,
      during leisure and while watching screens. The multivariable multilevel linear
      regression models were tested for moderation by urban region, age, gender,
      education and weight status. Because short sleepers have more awake time to be
      sedentary, we also used the percentage of awake time spent sedentary as an
      outcome. Short sleepers had 26.5 min day(-1) more sedentary screen time, compared
      with normal sleepers (CI 5.2; 47.8). No statistically significant associations
      were found with total or other domains of sedentary behaviour, and there was no
      evidence for effect modification. Long sleepers spent 3.2% higher proportion of
      their awake time sedentary compared with normal sleepers. Shorter sleep was
      associated with increased screen time in a sample of European adults,
      irrespective of urban region, gender, age, educational level and weight status.
      Experimental studies are needed to assess the prospective relation between
      sedentary (screen) time and sleep duration. 

PMID- 26879115
TI  - Interactions of individual perceived barriers and neighbourhood destinations with
      obesity-related behaviours in Europe.
AB  - Perceived barriers towards physical activity and healthy eating as well as local
      availability of opportunities (destinations in the neighbourhood) are important
      determinants of obesity-related behaviours in adults. Little is known, however,
      about how these factors interact with the behaviours. Data were analysed from
      5,205 participants of the SPOTLIGHT survey, conducted in 60 neighbourhoods in
      urban regions of five different countries across Europe. A virtual audit was
      conducted to collect data on the presence of destinations in each neighbourhood.
      Direct associations of, and interactions between, the number of individual
      perceived barriers and presence of destinations with obesity-related behaviours
      (physical activity and dietary behaviours) were analysed using multilevel
      regression analyses, adjusted for key covariates. Perceiving more individual
      barriers towards physical activity and healthy eating was associated with lower
      odds of physical activity and healthy eating. The presence of destinations such
      as bicycle lanes, parks and supermarkets was associated with higher levels of
      physical activity and healthier dietary behaviours. Analyses of additive
      interaction terms suggested that the interaction of destinations and barriers was
      competitive, such that the presence of destinations influenced obesity-related
      behaviours most among those perceiving more barriers. These explorative findings
      emphasize the interest and importance of combining objective (e.g. virtual
      neighbourhood audit) methods and subjective (e.g. individual perceived barriers
      collected in a survey) to better understand how the characteristics of the
      residential built environment can shape obesity-related behaviours depending on
      individual characteristics.

PMID- 26879116
TI  - Psychosocial environment: definitions, measures and associations with weight
      status--a systematic review.
AB  - Socio-ecological models suggest that many elements of the social environment act
      as upstream determinants of obesity. This systematic review examined definitions,
      measures and strength of associations between the psychosocial environment and
      adult weight status. Studies were included if they were conducted on adults, the
      outcome was weight status, carried out in any developed country and investigated
      at least one psychosocial environmental construct. Six databases for primary
      studies were searched: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and the
      Cochrane Library. We restricted our search to studies published in English
      between January 1995 and February 2015. An adapted 'Quality Assessment Tool for
      Quantitative Studies' was used to evaluate risk of bias of included studies. Out
      of 14,784 screened records, 42 articles were assessed using full text. A total of
      19 studies were included. The strongest associations with weight status were
      found for social capital and collective efficacy, although few studies found
      significant associations. There was heterogeneity in the definitions and metrics
      of psychosocial environmental constructs. There is limited evidence that greater
      social capital and collective efficacy are associated with healthier weight
      status. The research conducted to date has not robustly identified relations. We
      highlight challenges to undertaking research and establishing causality in this
      field and provide recommendations for further research. 

PMID- 26879117
TI  - Neighbourhood social capital: measurement issues and associations with health
      outcomes.
AB  - We compared ecometric neighbourhood scores of social capital (contextual
      variation) to mean neighbourhood scores (individual and contextual variation),
      using several health-related outcomes (i.e. self-rated health, weight status and
      obesity-related behaviours). Data were analysed from 5,900 participants in the
      European SPOTLIGHT survey. Factor analysis of the 13-item social capital scale
      revealed two social capital constructs: social networks and social cohesion. The
      associations of ecometric and mean neighbourhood-level scores of these constructs
      with self-rated health, weight status and obesity-related behaviours were
      analysed using multilevel regression analyses, adjusted for key covariates.
      Analyses using ecometric and mean neighbourhood scores, but not mean
      neighbourhood scores adjusted for individual scores, yielded similar regression
      coefficients. Higher levels of social network and social cohesion were not only
      associated with better self-rated health, lower odds of obesity and higher fruit
      consumption, but also with prolonged sitting and less transport-related physical
      activity. Only associations with transport-related physical activity and
      sedentary behaviours were associated with mean neighbourhood scores adjusted for
      individual scores. As analyses using ecometric scores generated the same results
      as using mean neighbourhood scores, but different results when using mean
      neighbourhood scores adjusted for individual scores, this suggests that the
      theoretical advantage of the ecometric approach (i.e. teasing out individual and
      contextual variation) may not be achieved in practice. The different
      operationalisations of social network and social cohesion were associated with
      several health outcomes, but the constructs that appeared to represent the
      contextual variation best were only associated with two of the outcomes. 

PMID- 26879118
TI  - The way ahead: where next for research into obesogenic environments?

PMID- 26879119
TI  - Micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method for the dabrafenib determination
      in biological samples.
AB  - Two different micellar electrokinetic chromatographic methods to determine
      dabrafenib in urine and serum, both using borate buffer (pH 9.2, 20 mM) and SDS
      as separation electrolyte, are developed and validated. The analyses were carried
      out in a fused-silica capillary of 75 MUm of internal diameter and total length
      of 47 and 37 cm for urine and serum determination, respectively. The detection of
      the target compound was performed at 227 nm in urine samples and at 251 nm in
      serum samples. The linearity range was from 1 to 21 mg/L of dabrafenib in urine
      and from 2 to 40 mg/L in serum. In all cases, inter- and intraday RSDs were <4%.
      Sample preparation of serum samples consists of an only step of 1:1 dilution with
      water before its injection in the electrophoretic system. These simple,
      sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective methods can be used in routine clinical
      practice to monitor dabrafenib concentrations in urine and serum of metastatic
      melanoma skin cancer patients.

PMID- 26879120
TI  - Opioid tolerance in methadone maintenance treatment: comparison of methadone and
      levomethadone in long-term treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the development of opioid tolerance
      in patients receiving long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). METHODS: A
      region-wide cross-sectional study was performed focusing on dosage and duration
      of treatment. Differences between racemic methadone and levomethadone were
      examined. All 20 psychiatric hospitals and all 110 outpatient clinics in Berlin
      licensed to offer MMT were approached in order to reach patients under MMT
      fulfilling the DSM IV criteria of opiate dependence. In the study, 720 patients
      treated with racemic methadone or levomethadone gave information on the dosage of
      treatment. Out of these, 679 patients indicated the duration of MMT. RESULTS:
      Treatment with racemic methadone was reported for 370 patients (54.5%), with
      levomethadone for 309 patients (45.5%). Mean duration of MMT was 7.5 years. We
      found a significant correlation between dosage and duration of treatment, both in
      a conjoint analysis for the two substances racemic methadone and levomethadone
      and for each substance separately. These effects remained significant when only
      patients receiving MMT for 1 year or longer were considered, indicating
      proceeding tolerance development in long-term treatment. When correlations were
      compared between racemic methadone and levomethadone, no significant difference
      was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a tolerance development under long-term
      treatment with both racemic methadone and levomethadone. Tolerance development
      did not differ significantly between the two substances.

PMID- 26879121
TI  - Outcomes of revision endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP) is used to treat
      patients who fail conventional sinus surgery. The failure rate of a primary EMLP
      is reported to be between 5% and 32%. The failure rate of revision EMLP has not
      been reported. We present our institutions data regarding the outcome of patients
      requiring revision EMLP. METHODS: Data was collected prospectively. Patients
      undergoing primary EMLP between January 2001 and December 2013 with a minimum
      follow-up of 6 months were included. Information related to demographics, asthma
      status, aspirin sensitivity, 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score,
      Lund-Mackay scores, intraoperative findings, and endoscopic ostium assessment
      were collected. RESULTS: There were 213 primary EMLPs completed with average
      follow-up of 36 months. The failure rate of primary EMLP was 8.9% (19/213),
      whereas the failure rate of revision EMLP was 21% (4/19). Risk factors for
      failure of primary EMLP included the presence of intraoperative pus, more than 5
      previous sinus operations and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
      Revision of EMLP was undertaken primarily due to recurrence of nasal polyps or
      ostium stenosis. Those patients who underwent revision EMLP experienced
      symptomatic improvement and no major complications following the procedure.
      CONCLUSION: The failure rate of revision EMLP is 21% in our series. The majority
      of revisions were for nasal polyp recurrence. Revision EMLP is a safe and well
      tolerated procedure in the small group of patients that require further surgery.
      Patients with intraoperative pus present at their initial EMLP, more than 5
      previous sinus operations, or AERD are at increased risk of failure.

PMID- 26879122
TI  - Bladder telemetry: A new approach to evaluate micturition behavior under
      physiological and inflammatory conditions.
AB  - AIMS: To establish a new approach to cystometry using telemetry in conscious rats
      and to use this technique to determine the role of conscious decision making
      processes with respect to the initiation of voiding in physiological,
      inflammatory, and painful conditions. METHODS: The pressure transducer of a
      telemetric transmitter was implanted in the dome of the urinary bladder. After a
      recovery period of at least 1 month, several investigations of urodynamic
      parameters were performed after diuresis activation by a pulse of furosemide. The
      model was characterized by tolterodine and mirabegron under physiological
      conditions and same animals were reused to evaluate the modification of the
      voiding pattern under bladder inflammation induced by cyclophosphamide. RESULTS:
      The quality of traces and measurement of parameters recorded telemetrically were
      comparable to those with conventional cystometry. Furosemide induced a
      reproducible transient increase of urine production and a series of voids that
      persisted for 60 min. Tolterodine reduced the amplitude of micturition
      contractions although mirabegron was devoid of any effect. Seven hours after
      injection of CYP, voiding frequency increased significantly and the micturition
      amplitude contraction was not altered. However, the mean volume voided during
      individual micturitions and the total voided volume decreased. During a second
      exposure to furosemide 24H after CYP injection, the micturition pattern returned
      to control, however, the micturition volume was still lower than in control.
      CONCLUSION: This telemetric model appears to be as accurate as previously
      described in conscious conventional cystometry, and allows the repeated
      evaluation of compounds which may modulate the voiding patterns. Neurourol.
      Urodynam. 36:308-315, 2017. (c) 2016 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics
      published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879124
TI  - One-Pot Synthesis of Pomegranate-Structured Fe3 O4 /Carbon Nanospheres-Doped
      Graphene Aerogel for High-Rate Lithium Ion Batteries.
AB  - A unique hierarchically nanostructured composite of iron oxide/carbon (Fe3O4/C)
      nanospheres-doped three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel has been fabricated by
      a one-pot hydrothermal strategy. In this novel nanostructured composite aerogel,
      uniform Fe3O4 nanocrystals (5-10 nm) are individually embedded in carbon
      nanospheres (ca. 50 nm) forming a pomegranate-like structure. The carbon matrix
      suppresses the aggregation of Fe3O4 nanocrystals, avoids direct exposure of the
      encapsulated Fe3O4 to the electrolyte, and buffers the volume expansion.
      Meanwhile, the interconnected 3D graphene aerogel further serves to reinforce the
      structure of the Fe3O4/C nanospheres and enhances the electrical conductivity of
      the overall electrode. Therefore, the carbon matrix and the interconnected
      graphene network entrap the Fe3O4 nanocrystals such that their electrochemical
      function is retained even after fracture. This novel hierarchical aerogel
      structure delivers a long-term stability of 634 mA h g(-1) over 1000 cycles at a
      high current density of 6 A g(-1) (7 C), and an excellent rate capability of 413
      mA h g(-1) at 10 A g(-1) (11 C), thus exhibiting great potential as an anode
      composite structure for durable high-rate lithium-ion batteries.

PMID- 26879123
TI  - Isolation and genome sequencing of four Arctic marine Psychrobacter strains
      exhibiting multicopper oxidase activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Marine cold-temperature environments are an invaluable source of
      psychrophilic microbial life for new biodiscoveries. An Arctic marine bacterial
      strain collection was established consisting of 1448 individual isolates
      originating from biota, water and sediment samples taken at a various depth in
      the Barents Sea, North of mainland Norway, with an all year round seawater
      temperature of 4  degrees C. The entire collection was subjected to high
      throughput screening for detection of extracellular laccase activity with
      guaiacol as a substrate. RESULTS: In total, 13 laccase-positive isolates were
      identified, all belonging to the Psychrobacter genus. From the most diverse four
      strains, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, all originating from the same
      Botryllus sp. colonial ascidian tunicate sample, genomic DNA was isolated and
      genome sequenced using a combined approach of whole genome shotgun and 8 kb mate
      pair library sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq platform. The genomes were assembled
      and revealed genome sizes between 3.29 and 3.52 Mbp with an average G + C content
      of around 42%, with one to seven plasmids present in the four strains.
      Bioinformatics based genome mining was performed to describe the metabolic
      potential of these four strains and to identify gene candidates potentially
      responsible for the observed laccase-positive phenotype. Up to two different
      laccase-like multicopper oxidase (LMCO) encoding gene candidates were identified
      in each of the four strains. Heterologous expression of P11F6-LMCO and P11G5
      LMCO2 in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) resulted in recombinant proteins exhibiting
      2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and guaiacol
      oxidizing activity. CONCLUSIONS: Thirteen Psychrobacter species with laccase
      positive phenotype were isolated from a collection of Arctic marine bacteria.
      Four of the isolates were genome sequenced. The overall genome features were
      similar to other publicly available Psychrobacter genome sequences except for
      P11G5 harboring seven plasmids. However, there were differences at the pathway
      level as genes associated with degradation of phenolic compounds, nicotine,
      phenylalanine, styrene, ethylbenzene, and ethanolamine were detected only in the
      Psychrobacter strains reported in this study while they were absent among the
      other publicly available Psychrobacter genomes. In addition, six gene candidates
      were identified by genome mining and shown to possess T1, T2 and T3 copper
      binding sites as the main signature of the three-domain laccases. P11F6-LMCO and
      P11G5-LMCO2 were recombinantly expressed and shown to be active when ABTS and
      guaiacol were used as substrates.

PMID- 26879125
TI  - FeOOH/Co/FeOOH Hybrid Nanotube Arrays as High-Performance Electrocatalysts for
      the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.
AB  - Herein, we developed FeOOH/Co/FeOOH hybrid nanotube arrays (HNTAs) supported on
      Ni foams for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The inner Co metal cores serve as
      highly conductive layers to provide reliable electronic transmission, and can
      overcome the poor electrical conductivity of FeOOH efficiently. DFT calculations
      demonstrate the strong electronic interactions between Co and FeOOH in the
      FeOOH/Co/FeOOH HNTAs, and the hybrid structure can lower the energy barriers of
      intermediates and thus promote the catalytic reactions. The FeOOH/Co/FeOOH HNTAs
      exhibit high electrocatalytic performance for OER, such as low onset potential,
      small Tafel slope, and excellent long-term durability, and they are promising
      electrocatalysts for OER in alkaline solution. 

PMID- 26879126
TI  - Future options of anti-angiogenic cancer therapy.
AB  - In human patients, drugs that block tumor vessel growth are widely used to treat
      a variety of cancer types. Many rigorous phase 3 clinical trials have
      demonstrated significant survival benefits; however, the addition of an anti
      angiogenic component to conventional therapeutic modalities has generally
      produced modest survival benefits for cancer patients. Currently, it is unclear
      why these clinically available drugs targeting the same angiogenic pathways
      produce dissimilar effects in preclinical models and human patients. In this
      article, we discuss possible mechanisms of various anti-angiogenic drugs and the
      future development of optimized treatment regimens. 

PMID- 26879127
TI  - Parent perspectives and reasons for lower urgency paediatric presentations to
      emergency departments.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The age band with, by far, the greatest number of ED presentations is
      children 0-4 years, with other paediatric age bands also among the highest. As
      the majority of these presentations are for lower urgency conditions, we sought
      to determine why parents seek ED care for their child for lower urgency
      conditions. METHODS: A survey study of 1150 parents or guardians of children with
      lower urgency conditions (triage category 4 or 5) presenting to the EDs of three
      public general and one paediatric specialty hospital in metropolitan Melbourne.
      RESULTS: Fewer than half of parents (43%) attempted to make an appointment with a
      general practitioner (GP) for their child prior to presenting to the ED. Two
      thirds of those who did contact a GP were instructed by their GP to go to the ED
      for their lower urgency condition. Few attempted to contact a nurse telephone
      triage service or after-hours GP service. CONCLUSIONS: The current magnitude and
      the growth of lower urgency paediatric ED presentations is a strain on the health
      care system. Efforts to educate parents regarding the suitability and
      availability of GP appointments can be the cornerstone of an initial strategy to
      address this issue. However, efforts to address the high rates of GP referral to
      EDs for low urgency presentations will be more vexing to develop, yet no less
      important. They will require addressing fundamental issues in both current GP
      care for children and the training of GP registrars.

PMID- 26879128
TI  - Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of kernel anthocyanins from southwestern
      United States blue corn.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anthocyanin-rich blue corn is an emerging specialty crop in the USA.
      The antioxidant properties of blue corn offer health benefits in the human diet.
      The objectives of this study were to identify, characterize and quantify the
      anthocyanins from blue corn. Hypotheses tested were that total anthocyanin
      content was similar among southwestern US accessions and that it would vary
      across locations. It was also examined whether different anthocyanin components
      were unique to certain genotypes. RESULTS: Across all locations and accessions,
      an average of 0.43 g kg(-1) total anthocyanin content (TAC) was observed.
      Accessions Santa Clara Blue and Ohio Blue displayed the highest TAC. The TAC of
      accession Flor del Rio was lower by nearly a factor of six. A total of five
      anthocyanin components were identified. Cyanidin 3-glucoside was the most
      abundant, followed by pelargonidin and peonidin 3-glucoside. Succinyl and
      disuccinyl glycosidic forms of cyanidin were also identified. Cyanidin 3
      disuccinylglucoside was newly identified as a novel form of anthocyanin.
      CONCLUSION: Quantitative and qualitative anthocyanin expression was determined to
      be relatively stable across multiple southwestern environments. Increased
      expression of red and purple pigmentation in accession Flor del Rio appeared to
      be associated more with reduced TAC and cyanidin 3-glucoside than with elevated
      pelargonidin per se. A previously unreported anthocyanin component in blue corn,
      cyanidin 3-disuccinylglucoside, is present in southwestern landraces. (c) 2016
      Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26879129
TI  - Interleukin 1alpha-induced disruption of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton affects
      gap junctional communication.
AB  - Gap junctions (GJ) are transmembrane channels that connect the cytoplasms of
      adjacent cells, thereby facilitating the rapid exchange of ions, second
      messengers, and metabolites smaller than 1kDa. Connexin 43, the best-studied GJ
      protein, is a component of the Sertoli cell barrier/blood-testis barrier (BTB).
      To gain insight into the biology of the BTB, we investigated the effects of
      interleukin 1alpha (IL1A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that disrupts BTB
      function, on gap junctional communication (GJC) in Sertoli cells. Compared with
      controls, the levels of connexin 43 and connexin 43 (Ser 368) increased ~30- and
      20-fold, respectively, at 24 h after IL1A treatment. To assess GJ function, we
      investigated fluorescence recovery in photobleached Sertoli cells after vehicle
      or IL1A treatment. Compared with the control, IL1A affected the ability of
      calcein to return to photobleached cells, indicating that GJC was compromised. To
      explain the effects of IL1A on GJ function, the involvement of the Sertoli cell
      cytoskeleton was investigated. Stress fibers aggregated at the periphery of
      Sertoli cells treated with IL1A. These results were substantiated by a
      biochemical assay that showed IL1A to disrupt the bundling of exogenous F-actin
      by Sertoli cells. In summary, IL1A regulates GJC in Sertoli cells, which is
      critical for BTB restructuring.

PMID- 26879130
TI  - Flow-induced translocation of star polymers through a nanopore.
AB  - We study the flow-induced translocation of the star polymers through a nanopore
      using a hybrid simulation method that incorporates a lattice-Boltzmann approach
      for the fluid into a molecular dynamics model for the polymer. Our simulation
      demonstrates the existence of an optimal forward arm number of the star polymers
      captured by the nanopore, and illustrates its significance in determining the
      critical velocity flux of the star polymer translocation through the nanopore.
      Importantly, we find that the critical velocity flux of the star polymers is
      independent of the arm polymerization degree, but exhibits a linear dependence on
      the arm number. Based on previous scaling arguments and our simulation results,
      we conclude a linear dependence of the critical velocity flux on the arm number
      of the star polymers, which can successfully describe the dynamics of the star
      polymer translocation. Our simulation results rationalize the experimental
      results for the dependence of the critical velocity flux on the arm
      polymerization degree and the arm number of the star polymers, which provide new
      insights for the characterization and the purification of the star polymers. 

PMID- 26879131
TI  - Profiling microRNA expression during fracture healing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) has revealed a novel type of
      regulatory control for gene expression. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNA
      regulates chondrocyte, osteoblast, and osteoclast differentiation and function,
      indicating miRNA as key regulators of bone formation, resorption, remodeling, and
      repair. We hypothesized that the functions of certain miRNAs and changes to their
      expression pattern may play crucial roles during the process of fracture healing.
      METHODS: Standard healing fractures and unhealing fractures produced by
      periosteal cauterization at the fracture site were created in femurs of seventy
      rats, with half assigned to the standard healing fracture group and half assigned
      to the nonunion group. At post-fracture days 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28, total RNA
      including miRNA was extracted from the newly generated tissue at the fracture
      site. Microarray analysis was performed with miRNA samples from each group on
      post-fracture day 14. For further analysis, we selected highly up-regulated five
      miRNAs in the standard healing fracture group from the microarray data. Real-time
      PCR was performed with miRNA samples at each time point above mentioned to
      compare the expression levels of the selected miRNAs between standard healing
      fractures and unhealing fractures and investigate their time-course changes.
      RESULTS: Microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses on day
      14 revealed that five miRNAs, miR-140-3p, miR-140-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-181d-5p,
      and miR-451a, were significantly highly expressed in standard healing fractures
      compared with unhealing fractures. Real-time PCR analysis further revealed that
      in standard healing fractures, the expression of all five of these miRNAs peaked
      on day 14 and declined thereafter. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the five
      miRNAs identified using microarray and real-time PCR analyses may play important
      roles during fracture healing. These findings provide valuable information to
      further understand the molecular mechanism of fracture healing and may lead to
      the development of miRNA-based tissue engineering strategies to promote fracture
      healing.

PMID- 26879132
TI  - Expression and promotor hypermethylation of miR-34a in the various histological
      subtypes of ovarian cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An increasing body of evidence shows that miR-34 family has tumor
      suppressive properties mediating apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and senescence. In
      ovarian cancer, miR34 family members were found to be under expressed.
      Particularly miR-34a has been revealed to be a direct transcriptional target of
      p53 which is frequently mutated in epithelial ovarian carcinomas especially in
      high grade serous cancer. Moreover, methylation of miR-34a CpG Islands was found
      to down-regulate miR-34a expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the
      clinical relevance of mir34a as well as its promoter methylation in a subset of
      133 ovarian cancers with a special focus on the p53 mutation status, the
      dualistic type I and type II ovarian cancer model and the different histotypes.
      METHODS: One hundred thirty-three epithelial ovarian cancers and 8 samples of
      healthy ovarian surface epithelium were retrospectively analysed for miR-34a
      expression with quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene
      specific DNA methylation was evaluated with MethyLight technique. RESULTS:
      Significantly lower miR-34a expression was found in ovarian cancers than in
      healthy ovarian epithelium (p = 0.002). The expression of miR-34a was found lower
      in type II than in type I cancers (p = 0.037), in p53 mutated as compared to p53
      wild type cancers (p = 0.003) and in high grade compared to in low grade cancers
      (p = 0.028). In multivariate COX regression model low expressing miR-34a cancers
      exhibited a reduced PFS (p = 0.039) and OS (p = 0.018). In serous cancers low miR
      34a levels showed a worse OS confirmed also in multivariate analysis (p = 0.022).
      miR-34a promoter methylation was found higher in type II cancers than in type I
      (p = 0.006). mir34a expression and promoter methylation showed an inverse
      correlation in cancer samples (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a clinical
      independent role of miR-34a in epithelial ovarian cancers. Moreover, we
      corroborated the correlation between miR-34a expression and its promoter
      methylation in a large set of ovarian cancers. The inverse association between
      miR-34a expression and grading, p53 mutation status and dualistic tumor type
      classification, together with its prognostic relevance may underline the tumor
      suppressive character of miR-34a in ovarian cancer.

PMID- 26879134
TI  - Iodoindazoles with Selective Magnesiation at Position 3: A Route to Highly
      Functionalized Indazoles.
AB  - A unique route to highly functionalized indazoles is described. A regioselective
      magnesiation at position 3 of 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-iodo-2-THP-indazoles
      (THP=tetrahydropyranyl) has been developed using TMPMgCl?LiCl (TMP=2,2,6,6
      tetramethylpiperidyl). The obtained magnesiate can be trapped by different
      electrophiles to introduce a wide range of functional groups including halogens,
      thioalkyls, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, amides, or esters at position 3. Once
      this position is functionalized, the iodine atoms can be further reacted through
      metal-halogen exchange or cross-coupling strategies. Finally, N-substitution
      reactions allow the synthesis of a variety of highly functionalized indazoles
      giving access to these valuable scaffolds through a simple and unique route. 

PMID- 26879135
TI  - The ultra-rapid synthesis of 2D graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets via direct
      microwave heating for field emission.
AB  - The 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets were ultra-rapidly prepared via a direct microwave
      heating approach. The as-synthesized g-C3N4 possessed a large surface area, few
      stacking layers, a large aspect ratio and an enlarged bandgap. As a consequence,
      the excellent field emission properties of 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets were exhibited
      with extremely low turn-on fields. 

PMID- 26879133
TI  - Parkinson's disease-related fatigue: A case definition and recommendations for
      clinical research.
AB  - Fatigue is one of the most common and disabling symptoms in Parkinson's disease
      (PD). Since fatigue was first described as a common feature of PD 20 years ago,
      little progress has been made in understanding its causes or treatment.
      Importantly, PD patients attending the 2013 World Parkinson Congress voted
      fatigue as the leading symptom in need of further research. In response, the
      Parkinson Disease Foundation and ProjectSpark assembled an international team of
      experts to create recommendations for clinical research to advance this field.
      The working group identified several areas in which shared standards would
      improve research quality and foster progress including terminology, diagnostic
      criteria, and measurement. Terminology needs to (1) clearly distinguish fatigue
      from related phenomena (eg, sleepiness, apathy, depression); (2) differentiate
      subjective fatigue complaints from objective performance fatigability; and (3)
      specify domains affected by fatigue and causal factors. We propose diagnostic
      criteria for PD-related fatigue to guide participant selection for clinical
      trials and add rigor to mechanistic studies. Recommendations are made for
      measurement of subjective fatigue complaints, performance fatigability, and
      neurophysiologic changes. We also suggest areas in which future research is
      needed to address methodological issues and validate or optimize current
      practices. Many limitations in current PD-related fatigue research may be
      addressed by improving methodological standards, many of which are already being
      successfully applied in clinical fatigue research in other medical conditions
      (eg, cancer, multiple sclerosis). (c) 2016 International Parkinson and Movement
      Disorder Society.

PMID- 26879136
TI  - Cubic Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Based Functional Materials: Synthesis,
      Assembly, and Applications.
AB  - Organically modified cubic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have
      attracted increasing attention in the design of novel functional hybrid materials
      for applications such as porous materials, liquid crystals, semiconductors, high
      temperature lubricants, fuel cells, and lithium batteries. The nanosized POSS
      moiety can be conveniently modified on the periphery with a variety of functional
      groups to lead to hybrid materials with desired functions. In addition, suitable
      mono-functionalized POSS derivatives can be incorporated into polymers as side
      chains via various synthetic strategies to offer a wide class of functional
      polymeric materials with tunable physical properties for targeted applications.
      In this Focus Review, we aim to summarize the recent developments on the
      chemistry and applications of POSS-based molecules and polymers. Moreover, the
      properties as well as assembly behavior of the POSS-based functional hybrid
      materials will be reviewed, and the relationship of the performance of the hybrid
      materials with the intrinsic nature of the POSS unit will be addressed.

PMID- 26879137
TI  - Interviewing people with dementia in hospital: recommendations for researchers.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This article aims to: Discuss the inclusion of the
      perspectives of people with dementia in research. Consider the major challenges
      involved in the process of interviewing people with dementia. Provide
      recommendations for those involved in interviewing people with dementia in
      hospital. BACKGROUND: People with dementia are frequent consumers of health care
      and often have a poor experience in hospital but have been largely excluded from
      direct participation in research until recently. Limited understanding of the
      specific communication needs of people with dementia restricts access to the
      person's viewpoint. Recommendations for interviewers which consider the specific
      requirements of people with dementia are presented. DESIGN/METHOD: This is a
      discursive article drawing on the experience of interviewing people with dementia
      in three separate studies. The conclusions that will be discussed are
      recommendations for researchers which were formulated following examination of
      the reflective journals written during the data collection phases of the studies
      and analysis of the data from the perspective of interviewer performance.
      RESULTS: Six main issues have been identified and discussed with reference to
      Habermas's theory of communicative action. CONCLUSIONS: Interviewing people with
      dementia requires specific skills including an ability to be emotionally
      sensitive and respectful of the person. This engagement can be challenging and
      complex for the interviewer. It is vital that genuine engagement and mutual
      recognition are established before the interview is attempted. A more meaningful
      research outcome is likely to be the result. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The
      suggestions outlined here are relevant to a variety of people who are in contact
      with people with dementia in clinical settings. Developing the skills of
      researchers in this area needs a commitment by organisations to promote the
      inclusion of the perceptions of people with dementia in research and in
      discussions about their own care.

PMID- 26879138
TI  - Low toxic and high soluble camptothecin derivative 2-47 effectively induces
      apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro.
AB  - The cytotoxic activity of camptothecin derivatives is so high that these
      compounds need to be further modified before their successful application as anti
      cancer agents clinically. In this study, we reported the synthesis and biological
      evaluation of a novel camptothecin derivative called compound 2-47. The changes
      in structure did not reduce its activity to inhibit DNA topoisomerase I. Compound
      2-47 induced apoptosis of many tumor cells including leukemia cells K562, Jurkat,
      HL-60, breast cancer cell BT-549, colon cancer cell HT-29 and liver cancer cell
      HepG2 with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2- to 3-fold lower
      than HCPT as a control. In particular, 2-47 inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat
      cells with an IC50 of as low as 40 nM. By making use of Jurkat cell as a model,
      following treatment of Jurkat cells, compound 2-47 activated caspase-3 and PARP,
      resulting in a decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. These data showed that compound 2-47
      induces Jurkat cell death through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In
      addition, compound 2-47 showed a decreased cytotoxic activity against normal
      cells and an improved solubility in low-polar solvent. For example, compound 2-47
      solutes in CHCl3 130-fold higher than HCPT. Taken together, our data demonstrated
      that camptothecin derivative 2-47 notably inhibits the tumor cell proliferation
      through mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in vitro. 

PMID- 26879139
TI  - Amphipathic polyproline peptides stimulate cholesterol efflux by the ABCA1
      transporter.
AB  - ApoA-I mimetics are short synthetic peptides that contain an amphipathic alpha
      helix and stimulate cholesterol efflux by the ABCA1 transporter in a detergent
      like extraction mechanism. We investigated the use of amphipathic peptides with a
      polypro helix for stimulating cholesterol efflux by ABCA1. Polypro peptides were
      synthesized with modified prolines, containing either a hydrophobic phenyl group
      (Prop) or a polar N-acetylgalactosamine (Prog) attached to the pyrrolidine ring
      and were designated as either PP-2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on the number of 3
      amino acid repeat units (Prop-Prog-Prop). Based on molecular modeling, these
      peptides were predicted to be relatively rigid and to bind to a phospholipid
      bilayer. By CD spectroscopy, PP peptides formed a Type-II polypro helix in an
      aqueous solution. PP-2 was inactive in promoting cholesterol efflux, but peptides
      with more than 2 repeat units were active. PP-4 showed a similar Vmax as a much
      longer amphipathic alpha-helical peptide, containing 37 amino acids, but had a Km
      that was approximately 20-fold lower. PP peptides were specific in that they did
      not stimulate cholesterol efflux from cells not expressing ABCA1 and were also
      non-cytotoxic. Addition of PP-3, 4 and 5 to serum promoted the formation of
      smaller size HDL species (7 nM) and increased its capacity for ABCA1-dependent
      cholesterol efflux by approximately 20-35% (p < 0.05). Because of their
      relatively small size and increased potency, amphipathic peptides with a polypro
      helix may represent an alternative structural motif for the development of apoA-I
      mimetic peptides. 

PMID- 26879140
TI  - A novel sgRNA selection system for CRISPR-Cas9 in mammalian cells.
AB  - CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing system has been developed as a powerful tool
      for elucidating the function of genes through genetic engineering in multiple
      cells and organisms. This system takes advantage of a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to
      direct the Cas9 endonuclease to a specific DNA site to generate mutant alleles.
      Since the targeting efficiency of sgRNAs to distinct DNA loci can vary widely,
      there remains a need for a rapid, simple and efficient sgRNA selection method to
      overcome this limitation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Here we report a novel system
      to select sgRNA with high efficacy for DNA sequence modification by a luciferase
      assay. Using this sgRNAs selection system, we further demonstrated successful
      examples of one sgRNA for generating one gene knockout cell lines where the
      targeted genes are shown to be functionally defective. This system provides a
      potential application to optimize the sgRNAs in different species and to generate
      a powerful CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide screening system with minimum amounts of
      sgRNAs. 

PMID- 26879141
TI  - Effect of the linkers between the zinc fingers in zinc finger protein 809 on gene
      silencing and nuclear localization.
AB  - Zinc finger protein 809 (ZFP809) belongs to the Kruppel-associated box-containing
      zinc finger protein (KRAB-ZFP) family and functions in repressing the expression
      of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV). ZFP809 binds to the primer-binding site
      (PBS)located downstream of the MoMLV-long terminal repeat (LTR) and induces
      epigenetic modifications at integration sites, such as repressive histone
      modifications and de novo DNA methylation. KRAB-ZFPs contain consensus TGEKP
      linkers between C2H2 zinc fingers. The phosphorylation of threonine residues
      within linkers leads to the inactivation of zinc finger binding to target
      sequences. ZFP809 also contains consensus linkers between zinc fingers. However,
      the function of ZFP809 linkers remains unknown. In the present study, we
      constructed ZFP809 proteins containing mutated linkers and examined their ability
      to silence transgene expression driven by MLV, binding ability to MLV PBS, and
      cellular localization. The results of the present study revealed that the linkers
      affected the ability of ZFP809 to silence transgene expression. Furthermore, this
      effect could be partly attributed to changes in the localization of ZFP809
      proteins containing mutated linkers. Further characterization of ZFP809 linkers
      is required for understanding the functions and features of KRAB-ZFP-containing
      linkers. 

PMID- 26879142
TI  - Linoleic acid and stearic acid elicit opposite effects on AgRP expression and
      secretion via TLR4-dependent signaling pathways in immortalized hypothalamic N38
      cells.
AB  - The regulation of food intake is a promising way to combat obesity. It has been
      implicated that various fatty acids exert different effects on food intake and
      body weight. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The aim
      of the present study was to investigate the effects of linoleic acid (LA) and
      stearic acid (SA) on agouti-related protein (AgRP) expression and secretion in
      immortalized mouse hypothalamic N38 cells and to explore the likely underlying
      mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that LA inhibited, while SA stimulated AgRP
      expression and secretion of N38 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, LA
      suppressed the protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylation
      levels of JNK and IKKalpha/beta, suggesting the inhibition of TLR4-dependent
      inflammation pathway. However, the above mentioned inhibitory effects of LA were
      eliminated by TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In contrast, SA promoted
      TLR4 protein expression and activated TLR4-dependent inflammation pathway, with
      elevated ratio of p-JNK/JNK. While TLR4 siRNA reversed the stimulatory effects of
      SA on AgRP expression and TLR4-dependent inflammation. Moreover, we found that
      TLR4 was also involved in LA-enhanced and SA-impaired leptin/insulin signal
      pathways in N38 cells. In conclusion, our findings indicated that LA elicited
      inhibitory while SA exerted stimulatory effects on AgRP expression and secretion
      via TLR4-dependent inflammation and leptin/insulin pathways in N38 cells. These
      data provided a better understanding of the mechanism underlying fatty acids
      regulated food intake and suggested the potential role of long-chain unsaturated
      fatty acids such as LA in reducing food intake and treating obesity. 

PMID- 26879143
TI  - The importin protein karyopherin-beta1 regulates the mice fibroblast-like
      synoviocytes inflammation via facilitating nucleus transportation of STAT3
      transcription factor.
AB  - Karyopherin-beta1 (KPNB1) which is an adaptor protein which transports several
      proteins to the nucleus. We study the functions and possible mechanisms of KPNB1
      in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry
      shows the protein expression of KPNB1 is increased in synovial tissue of CIA mice
      compared with the controls. Double immunofluorescent staining suggests that KPNB1
      is expressed in CIA mice fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Moreover, the
      expression of KPNB1 in FLS is upregulated in time-dependent manner by IL-1beta
      stimulation. Both immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescent staining assay
      reveals the interaction between KPNB1 and STAT3 and their translocation from
      cytoplasm to nucleus in IL-1beta-treated FLS. Furthermore, suppression of KPNB1
      inhibits IL-1beta-induced the nucleus expression of STAT3 in FLS and decreases
      the expression of IL-6 and MMP-1, leading to attenuation of FLS invasion.
      Finally, the transport function of KPNB1 is depended on KPNA2. Therefore, we
      infer that KPNB1 may play a key role in the inflammation process of RA via STAT3
      signal transduction pathway. 

PMID- 26879144
TI  - Improving brightness and photostability of green and red fluorescent proteins for
      live cell imaging and FRET reporting.
AB  - Many genetically encoded biosensors use Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)
      to dynamically report biomolecular activities. While pairs of cyan and yellow
      fluorescent proteins (FPs) are most commonly used as FRET partner fluorophores,
      respectively, green and red FPs offer distinct advantages for FRET, such as
      greater spectral separation, less phototoxicity, and lower autofluorescence. We
      previously developed the green-red FRET pair Clover and mRuby2, which improves
      responsiveness in intramolecular FRET reporters with different designs. Here we
      report the engineering of brighter and more photostable variants, mClover3 and
      mRuby3. mClover3 improves photostability by 60% and mRuby3 by 200% over the
      previous generation of fluorophores. Notably, mRuby3 is also 35% brighter than
      mRuby2, making it both the brightest and most photostable monomeric red FP yet
      characterized. Furthermore, we developed a standardized methodology for assessing
      FP performance in mammalian cells as stand-alone markers and as FRET partners. We
      found that mClover3 or mRuby3 expression in mammalian cells provides the highest
      fluorescence signals of all jellyfish GFP or coral RFP derivatives, respectively.
      Finally, using mClover3 and mRuby3, we engineered an improved version of the
      CaMKIIalpha reporter Camuialpha with a larger response amplitude. 

PMID- 26879145
TI  - Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-9 potently induces osteogenic
      differentiation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.
AB  - To accomplish effective periodontal regeneration for periodontal defects, several
      regenerative methods using growth and differentiation factors, including bone
      morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have been developed. Bone morphogenetic protein-9
      exhibits the most potent osteogenic activity of this growth factor family.
      However, it is unclear whether exogenous BMP-9 can induce osteogenic
      differentiation in human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts. Here, we
      examined the effects of recombinant human (rh) BMP-9 on osteoblastic
      differentiation in human PDL fibroblasts in vitro, compared with rhBMP-2.
      Recombinant human BMP-9 potently induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,
      mineralization, and increased expression of runt-related transcription factor
      2/core binding factor alpha 1 (RUNX2/CBFA1), osterix, inhibitor of DNA
      binding/differentiation-1 (ID1), osteopontin, and bone sialoprotein genes,
      compared with rhBMP-2. The levels of rhBMP-9-induced osterix and ALP mRNA were
      significantly reduced in activin receptor-like kinase-1 and -2 small interfering
      RNA (siRNA)-transfected human PDL fibroblasts. Recombinant human BMP-9-induced
      ALP activity was not inhibited by noggin, in contrast to rhBMP-2 induced ALP
      activity, which was. Phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 in human PDL fibroblasts was
      induced by addition of rhBMP-9. Recombinant human BMP-9-induced ALP activity was
      suppressed by SB203580, SP600125, and U0126, which are inhibitors of p38, c-Jun N
      terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2),
      respectively. Our data suggest that rhBMP-9 is a potent inducer of the
      differentiation of human PDL fibroblasts into osteoblast-like cells and that this
      may be mediated by the SMAD and mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38, ERK1/2,
      and JNK) pathways. 

PMID- 26879147
TI  - [Succession and continuity].

PMID- 26879146
TI  - Intrinsic mechanical behavior of femoral cortical bone in young, osteoporotic and
      bisphosphonate-treated individuals in low- and high energy fracture conditions.
AB  - Bisphosphonates are a common treatment to reduce osteoporotic fractures. This
      treatment induces osseous structural and compositional changes accompanied by
      positive effects on osteoblasts and osteocytes. Here, we test the hypothesis that
      restored osseous cell behavior, which resembles characteristics of younger,
      healthy cortical bone, leads to improved bone quality. Microarchitecture and
      mechanical properties of young, treatment-naive osteoporosis, and bisphosphonate
      treated cases were investigated in femoral cortices. Tissue strength was measured
      using three-point bending. Collagen fibril-level deformation was assessed in non
      traumatic and traumatic fracture states using synchrotron small-angle x-ray
      scattering (SAXS) at low and high strain rates. The lower modulus, strength and
      fibril deformation measured at low strain rates reflects susceptibility for
      osteoporotic low-energy fragility fractures. Independent of age, disease and
      treatment status, SAXS revealed reduced fibril plasticity at high strain rates,
      characteristic of traumatic fracture. The significantly reduced mechanical
      integrity in osteoporosis may originate from porosity and alterations to the
      intra/extrafibrillar structure, while the fibril deformation under treatment
      indicates improved nano-scale characteristics. In conclusion, losses in strength
      and fibril deformation at low strain rates correlate with the occurrence of
      fragility fractures in osteoporosis, while improvements in structural and
      mechanical properties following bisphosphonate treatment may foster resistance to
      fracture during physiological strain rates. 

PMID- 26879148
TI  - The impact of orientation filtering on face-selective neurons in monkey inferior
      temporal cortex.
AB  - Faces convey complex social signals to primates. These signals are tolerant of
      some image transformations (e.g. changes in size) but not others (e.g. picture
      plane rotation). By filtering face stimuli for orientation content, studies of
      human behavior and brain responses have shown that face processing is tuned to
      selective orientation ranges. In the present study, for the first time, we
      recorded the responses of face-selective neurons in monkey inferior temporal (IT)
      cortex to intact and scrambled faces that were filtered to selectively preserve
      horizontal or vertical information. Guided by functional maps, we recorded
      neurons in the lateral middle patch (ML), the lateral anterior patch (AL), and an
      additional region located outside of the functionally defined face-patches
      (CONTROL). We found that neurons in ML preferred horizontal-passed faces over
      their vertical-passed counterparts. Neurons in AL, however, had a preference for
      vertical-passed faces, while neurons in CONTROL had no systematic preference.
      Importantly, orientation filtering did not modulate the firing rate of neurons to
      phase-scrambled face stimuli in any recording region. Together these results
      suggest that face-selective neurons found in the face-selective patches are
      differentially tuned to orientation content, with horizontal tuning in area ML
      and vertical tuning in area AL. 

PMID- 26879150
TI  - Recognition of silver cations by a cucurbit[8]uril-induced supramolecular crown
      ether.
AB  - The host-guest interaction of cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) with a synthesized guest
      molecule, consisting of naphthalene and viologen moieties bridged by a carbon
      oxygen chain, was investigated by (1)H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results
      indicated the formation of an inclusion complex in a ratio of 1 : 1 with a
      moderate association constant of Ka = (1.1 +/- 0.2) * 10(6) L mol(-1). The
      formation of this special complex is driven by the markedly enhanced charge
      transfer interaction between the electron-rich and electron-deficient guest
      molecule inside the hydrophobic cavity of Q[8], while the carbon oxygen chain
      stays outside of Q[8] to form a supramolecular crown ether. Screening of the
      metal cation substrate suggested that the inclusion complex recognizes Ag(+) ions
      with high selectivity, as shown by UV-Vis spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26879149
TI  - Myeloid Engraftment in Humanized Mice: Impact of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating
      Factor Treatment and Transgenic Mouse Strain.
AB  - Poor myeloid engraftment remains a barrier to experimental use of humanized mice.
      Focusing primarily on peripheral blood cells, we compared the engraftment profile
      of NOD-scid-IL2Rgammac(-/-) (NSG) mice with that of NSG mice transgenic for human
      membrane stem cell factor (hu-mSCF mice), NSG mice transgenic for human
      interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF),
      and stem cell factor (SGM3 mice). hu-mSCF and SGM3 mice showed enhanced
      engraftment of human leukocytes compared to NSG mice, and this was reflected in
      the number of human neutrophils and monocytes present in these strains.
      Importantly, discrete classical, intermediate, and nonclassical monocyte
      populations were identifiable in the blood of NSG and hu-mSCF mice, while the
      nonclassical population was absent in the blood of SGM3 mice. Granulocyte-colony
      stimulating factor (GCSF) treatment increased the number of blood monocytes in
      NSG and hu-mSCF mice, and neutrophils in NSG and SGM3 mice; however, this effect
      appeared to be at least partially dependent on the stem cell donor used to
      engraft the mice. Furthermore, GCSF treatment resulted in a preferential
      expansion of nonclassical monocytes in both NSG and hu-mSCF mice. Human
      tubulointerstitial CD11c(+) cells were present in the kidneys of hu-mSCF mice,
      while monocytes and neutrophils were identified in the liver of all strains. Bone
      marrow-derived macrophages prepared from NSG mice were most effective at
      phagocytosing polystyrene beads. In conclusion, hu-mSCF mice provide the best
      environment for the generation of human myeloid cells, with GCSF treatment
      further enhancing peripheral blood human monocyte cell numbers in this strain. 

PMID- 26879151
TI  - Mild Cobalt-Catalyzed Negishi Cross-Couplings of (Hetero)arylzinc Reagents with
      (Hetero)aryl Halides.
AB  - A catalytic system consisting of CoCl2 ?2 LiCl (5 mol %) and HCO2 Na (50 mol %)
      enables the cross-coupling of various N-heterocyclic chlorides and bromides as
      well as aromatic halogenated ketones with various electron-rich and -poor
      arylzinc reagents. The reactions reached full conversion within a few hours at 25
      degrees C. 

PMID- 26879152
TI  - Nocturnally migrating songbirds drift when they can and compensate when they
      must.
AB  - The shortest possible migratory route for birds is not always the best route to
      travel. Substantial research effort has established that birds in captivity are
      capable of orienting toward the direction of an intended goal, but efforts to
      examine how free-living birds use navigational information under conditions that
      potentially make direct flight toward that goal inefficient have been limited in
      spatiotemporal scales and in the number of individuals observed because of
      logistical and technological limitations. Using novel and recently developed
      techniques for analysis of Doppler polarimetric weather surveillance radar data,
      we examined two impediments for nocturnally migrating songbirds in eastern North
      America following shortest-distance routes: crosswinds and oceans. We found that
      migrants in flight often drifted sideways on crosswinds, but most strongly
      compensated for drift when near the Atlantic coast. Coastal migrants' tendency to
      compensate for wind drift also increased through the night, while no strong
      temporal differences were observed at inland sites. Such behaviors suggest that
      birds migrate in an adaptive way to conserve energy by assessing while airborne
      the degree to which they must compensate for wind drift. 

PMID- 26879153
TI  - Automaticity of Conceptual Magnitude.
AB  - What is bigger, an elephant or a mouse? This question can be answered without
      seeing the two animals, since these objects elicit conceptual magnitude. How is
      an object's conceptual magnitude processed? It was suggested that conceptual
      magnitude is automatically processed; namely, irrelevant conceptual magnitude can
      affect performance when comparing physical magnitudes. The current study further
      examined this question and aimed to expand the understanding of automaticity of
      conceptual magnitude. Two different objects were presented and participants were
      asked to decide which object was larger on the screen (physical magnitude) or in
      the real world (conceptual magnitude), in separate blocks. By creating congruent
      (the conceptually larger object was physically larger) and incongruent (the
      conceptually larger object was physically smaller) pairs of stimuli it was
      possible to examine the automatic processing of each magnitude. A significant
      congruity effect was found for both magnitudes. Furthermore, quartile analysis
      revealed that the congruity was affected similarly by processing time for both
      magnitudes. These results suggest that the processing of conceptual and physical
      magnitudes is automatic to the same extent. The results support recent theories
      suggested that different types of magnitude processing and representation share
      the same core system. 

PMID- 26879154
TI  - Dynamic Mechanical Allodynia--One Clinical Sign, Several Mechanisms: Five
      Illustrative Cases.
AB  - Pain evoked by tangential movement across the skin is usually defined as dynamic
      mechanical allodynia (DMA). Some patients complain of DMA as troublesome as
      spontaneous pain and refer a marked interfering with activities of daily living
      and sleep. Pathophysiology of DMA is complex and can be related to several
      mechanisms, both nociceptive and neuropathic. Five exemplificative clinical cases
      of DMA are presented, each associated to a possible specific mechanism: injured
      skin DMA, peri-injured skin DMA, far injury DMA, nerve-confined DMA and fear DMA
      (pseudo allodynia). The identification of these subcategories of DMA can
      stimulate further studies aimed at evaluating the usefulness of a mechanism-based
      therapy for the different clinical forms of DMA.

PMID- 26879156
TI  - The Genetic History of Peruvian Quechua-Lamistas and Chankas: Uniparental DNA
      Patterns among Autochthonous Amazonian and Andean Populations.
AB  - This study focuses on the genetic history of the Quechua-Lamistas, inhabitants of
      the Lamas Province in the San Martin Department, Peru, who speak their own
      distinct variety of the Quechua family of languages. It has been suggested that
      different pre-Columbian ethnic groups from the Peruvian Amazonia, like the
      Motilones or "shaven heads", assimilated the Quechua language and then formed the
      current native population of Lamas. However, many Quechua-Lamistas claim to be
      direct descendants of the Chankas, a famous pre-Columbian indigenous group that
      escaped from Inca rule in the Andes. To investigate the Quechua-Lamistas and
      Chankas' ancestries, we compared uniparental genetic profiles (17 STRs of Q-M3 Y
      chromosome and mtDNA complete control region haplotypes) among autochthonous
      Amazonian and Andean populations from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. The
      phylogeographic and population genetic analyses indicate a fairly heterogeneous
      ancestry for the Quechua-Lamistas, while they are closely related to their
      neighbours who speak Amazonian languages, presenting no direct relationships with
      populations from the region where the ancient Chankas lived. On the other hand,
      the genetic profiles of self-identified Chanka descendants living in Andahuaylas
      (located in the Apurimac Department, Peru, in the Central Andes) were closely
      related to those living in Huancavelica and the assumed Chanka Confederation area
      before the Inca expansion. 

PMID- 26879157
TI  - A common 'aggregation-prone' interface possibly participates in the self-assembly
      of human zona pellucida proteins.
AB  - Human zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of four glycoproteins, namely ZP1, ZP2, ZP3
      and ZP4. ZP proteins form heterodimers, which are incorporated into filaments
      through a common bipartite polymerizing component, designated as the ZP domain.
      The latter is composed of two individually folded subdomains, named ZP-N and ZP
      C. Here, we have synthesized six 'aggregation-prone' peptides, corresponding to a
      common interface of human ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. Experimental results utilizing
      electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and polarizing
      microscopy indicate that these peptides self-assemble forming fibrils with
      distinct amyloid-like features. Finally, by performing detailed modeling and
      docking, we attempt to shed some light in the self-assembly mechanism of human ZP
      proteins. 

PMID- 26879158
TI  - Pro- and anticoagulant factors facilitate thrombin generation and balance the
      haemostatic response to FEIBA((r)) in prophylactic therapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: FEIBA((r)) consists of zymogens and traces of activated forms of
      procoagulant factors II, VII, IX, X, anticoagulants protein C and TFPI, and small
      amounts of cofactors FV, FVIII and protein S, in a balanced ratio. As shown
      previously, FII-FXa complex plays a key role in FEIBA's mode of action (MoA).
      METHODS: Thrombin generation (TG) was measured by spiking coagulation factors,
      cofactors and inhibitors to high titer FVIII inhibitor plasma, and in plasma
      samples from patients in a phase 3 clinical study evaluating the safety and
      efficacy of FEIBA prophylaxis in haemophilia A patients with inhibitors. RESULTS:
      Increasing the FXa/FII ratio improved TG, while adding coagulation enzyme
      components had a negligible effect. Adding FX, FIX, and FVII increased the peak
      thrombin and decreased the lag time. The presence of FV and phospholipids led to
      faster TG, while protein C and protein S reduced the amount of peak thrombin.
      TFPI appeared to have no effect. Patients on prophylaxis with FEIBA((r)) showed
      higher peak thrombin and AUC with elevated FII, FX, FIX, FVIIa, and protein C
      levels, and experienced significantly less bleeding episodes than those receiving
      on-demand treatment. CONCLUSION: These experiments showed that although the FII
      FXa complex induced immediate thrombin formation on the activated platelet
      surface, other procoagulant components of FEIBA were necessary to achieve an
      optimal thrombin burst. The presence of the pro- and anti-coagulants in FEIBA
      provides a haemostatic balance, and is thus expected to prevent thrombotic
      events. Recent clinical data verified the postulated MoA of FEIBA in prophylaxis
      treatment.

PMID- 26879159
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasound pin-points the precision medicine for pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26879160
TI  - Credentialing for endoscopic ultrasound: A proposal for Canadian guidelines.

PMID- 26879162
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: The wet suction technique.
AB  - Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become a
      fundamental tool in obtaining cytopathological diagnosis of pancreatic tumors.
      When sampling solid lesions of the pancreas, the endosonographer can use two
      suction techniques to enhance tissue acquisition; the dry and the wet suction
      techniques. The standard dry suction technique relies on applying negative
      pressure suction on the proximal end of the needle after the stylet is removed
      with a pre-vacuum syringe. The wet suction technique relies on pre-flushing the
      needle with saline to replace the column of air with fluid followed by aspiration
      the proximal end by using a prefilled syringe with saline. A new modified wet
      suction technique (hybrid suction technique) relies on preloading the needle with
      saline, but having continuous negative pressure with a pre-vacuum syringe to
      avoid manual intermittent suction. Tissue acquisition can be enhanced by applying
      fluid dynamic principles to the current aspiration techniques, such as the column
      of water used in the needle of the wet technique. In this review, we will focus
      on EUS-FNA using the wet suction technique for sampling of pancreatic solid
      lesions. 

PMID- 26879161
TI  - The role of endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatic cancer screening.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal cancer. Despite a significant
      advancement in cancer treatment, the mortality rate of PC is nearly identical to
      the incidence rates. Early detection of tumor or its precursor lesions with
      dysplasia may be the most effective approach to improve survival. Screening
      strategies should include identification of the population at high risk of
      developing PC, and an intense application of screening tools with adequate
      sensitivity to detect PC at an early curable stage. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
      and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) seem to be the most promising modalities for
      PC screening based on the data so far. EUS had an additional advantage over MRI
      by being able to obtain tissue sample during the same examination. Several
      questions remain unanswered at this time regarding the age to begin screening,
      frequency of screening, management of asymptomatic pancreatic lesions detected on
      screening, timing of resection, and extent of surgery and impact of screening on
      survival. Novel techniques such as needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy
      (nCLE), along with biomarkers, may be helpful to identify pancreatic lesions with
      more aggressive malignant potential. Further studies will hopefully lead to the
      development of strategies combining EUS with other technological/biological
      advancements that will be cost-effective and have an impact on survival. 

PMID- 26879163
TI  - Imaging of pancreas divisum by linear-array endoscopic ultrasonography.
AB  - Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common developmental anatomic variant of
      pancreatic duct. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often performed to evaluate
      idiopathic pancreatitis and has been shown to have high accuracy in diagnosis of
      PD. The different techniques to identify PD by linear EUS have been described
      differently by different authors. If EUS is done with a proper technique it can
      be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of PD. The anatomical and technical
      background of different signs has not been described so far. This article
      summarizes the different techniques of imaging of pancreatic duct in a suspected
      case of PD and gives a technical explanation of various signs. The common signs
      seen during evaluation of pancreatic duct in PD are stack sign of linear EUS,
      crossed duct sign on linear EUS, the dominant duct and ventral dorsal duct (VD)
      transition. Few other signs are described which include duct above duct, short
      ventral duct /absent ventral duct, separate opening of ducts with no
      communication, separate opening of ducts with filamentous communication, stacking
      of duct of Santorini and indirect signs like santorinecele. The principles of the
      sign have been explained on an anatomical basis and the techniques and the
      principles described in the review will be helpful in technical evaluation of PD
      during EUS. 

PMID- 26879164
TI  - Diagnostic potency of EUS-guided FNA for the evaluation of pancreatic mass
      lesions.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of pancreatic lesions remains a clinical
      challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic
      ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in pancreatic mass lesions.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data, laboratory tests, and cytopathological and
      imaging reports were collected from 185 pancreatic EUS cases performed from March
      2010 to January 2014. The final diagnosis was based on surgical findings, EUS-FNA
      or computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 100 pancreatic
      FNAs were obtained by EUS. Most positive diagnoses of malignancy were pancreatic
      adenocarcinomas (n = 61). The site of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was the head in
      50 (82.0%), body in seven (11.5%), and tail in four (6.5%). The sensitivity,
      specifi city, and positive and negative predictive values of EUS-FNA for
      diagnosing adenocarcinoma were 80.3%, 92.3%, 94.2%, and 75.0%, respectively.
      DISCUSSION: We concluded that EUS-FNA of pancreatic lesion accurately diagnoses
      pancreatic adenocarcinoma and should be considered for the standard management of
      pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26879165
TI  - A novel fusion imaging system for endoscopic ultrasound.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Navigation of a flexible endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
      probe inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is problematic due to the small
      window size and complex anatomy. The goal of the present study was to test the
      feasibility of a novel fusion imaging (FI) system which uses electromagnetic (EM)
      sensors to co-register the live EUS images with the pre-procedure computed
      tomography (CT) data with a novel navigation algorithm and catheter. METHODS: An
      experienced gastroenterologist and a novice EUS operator tested the FI system on
      a GI tract bench top model. Also, the experienced gastroenterologist performed a
      case series of 20 patients during routine EUS examinations. RESULTS: On the bench
      top model, the experienced and novice doctors reached the targets in 67 +/- 18 s
      and 150 +/- 24 s with a registration error of 6 +/- 3 mm and 11 +/- 4 mm,
      respectively. In the case series, the total procedure time was 24.6 +/- 6.6 min,
      while the time to reach the clinical target was 8.7 +/- 4.2 min. CONCLUSIONS: The
      FI system is feasible for clinical use, and can reduce the learning curve for EUS
      procedures and improve navigation and targeting in difficult anatomic locations.

PMID- 26879166
TI  - The utility of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration in
      lymphoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle
      aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure that has a well
      established role in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. This technology is
      also widely used for the diagnosis of mediastinal masses and cysts as well as
      other inflammatory disorders such as sarcoidosis. However, the utility of this
      procedure in the diagnosis and subclassification of lymphoproliferative disorders
      (LPDs) is not clear. We performed a systematic review to evaluate EBUS-TBNA use
      in LPDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library Plus,
      and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched for studies of clinical trials in English
      reporting diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA in lymphoma until September 2014.
      The overall sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy
      were evaluated. RESULTS: Six trials involving 346 patients with suspected
      lymphoma were included. The overall sensitivity, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy
      ranged 38%-91%, 83%-96.4%, and 91%-97%, respectively. Further invasive surgery
      was needed only in 13-43% of the patients. None of the studies included in the
      present review reported important complications. CONCLUSION: Current evidence
      suggests that EBUS-TBNA can be used as an initial evaluation for patients with
      suspected lymphoma. Additional surgical procedures may be necessary if a sample
      is inadequate or negative with high suspicion of lymphoma. Further multicenter
      trials are needed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA in lymphoma
      patients.

PMID- 26879167
TI  - Risk factors for aggressive nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and
      the role of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) are
      increasingly being diagnosed but management, especially of small tumors, remains
      a clinical dilemma. Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)
      is now routinely used for diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs)
      but has not been well studied as a tool for identifying aggressive disease.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of the cytology database identified
      all patients at our center who underwent EUS-FNA from 1999 through 2011 and were
      diagnosed with NF-pNET. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were identified. Though
      patients with metastatic disease had a mean tumor size of 40 mm compared to 25 mm
      in patients without metastatic disease (P = 0.04), we also identified several
      patients with tumors <20 mm who presented with metastatic disease. Furthermore,
      we found no statistically significant difference in metastatic disease between
      tumors <20 mm and >20 mm (P = 0.13). Using receiver operating characteristic
      (ROC) analysis, we found that using a cutoff point of 20 mm only led to a
      sensitivity of 85% in screening for metastases, while lowering the cutoff point
      to 18 mm allowed for a sensitivity of 95%. CONCLUSION: Currently, guidelines
      suggest that only patients with tumors greater than 20 mm undergo surgical
      resection, as tumors less than this size are thought to have low risk of
      metastases. Our analysis suggests that these recommendations could lead to
      undertreating patients with small tumors. Tumor size alone may be inadequate as a
      marker for aggressive NF-pNETs. Given this, other risk factors for aggressive
      pNETs should be studied to help identify the patients most likely to benefit from
      surgery.

PMID- 26879168
TI  - Sudden appearance of free fluid during endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle
      aspiration.
AB  - During endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of a
      pancreatic malignancy, a small quantity of free fluid, not seen before, suddenly
      appeared in the view, and time was spent ruling out ongoing hemorrhage. However,
      during follow-up, the patient gradually developed peritoneal signs and was
      referred for surgery. The images presented elucidate the diagnosis and raise the
      question of a theoretical change in diagnostic and therapeutic approach. 

PMID- 26879169
TI  - Pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle
      aspiration.
AB  - Pulmonary aspergillosis generally occurs in patients with prolonged neutropenia
      or immunosupression. Definitive diagnosis depends on the demonstration of the
      organism in tissue, as positive culture result from sputum, needle biopsy, or
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Even though endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) fine needle
      aspiration (FNA) of paraesophageal/mediastinal lesions has been used numerous
      times, this is the first case that reports an aspergilloma diagnosed by EUS-FNA,
      allowing us to reach a definitive diagnosis. We present a patient with a nodular
      lesion located in the right upper lobe lung, with ground-glass opacity. Upper EUS
      revealed an ill-defined hypoechoic paraesophageal lesion with a central annular
      image. Culture results from EUS-FNA were positive for Aspergillus fumigatus.
      There are no previous reports of EUS imaging features of pulmonary aspergillosis.
      We believe that this central annular image in an ill-defined hypoechoic
      paraesophageal lesion may be a characteristic feature. 

PMID- 26879170
TI  - Primary esophageal tuberculosis mimicking esophageal cancer with vascular
      involvement.

PMID- 26879171
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of incidental malignant
      mesothelioma.

PMID- 26879173
TI  - Corrigendum to "Linezolid for Treating Tuberculosis: A Delicate Balancing Act"
      [EBioMedicine 2 (11) (November 2015) 1568-1569].

PMID- 26879172
TI  - Upregulation of inducible NO synthase by exogenous adenosine in vascular smooth
      muscle cells activated by inflammatory stimuli in experimental diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adenosine has been shown to induce nitric oxide (NO) production via
      inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
      Although this is interpreted as a beneficial vasodilating pathway in vaso
      occlusive disorders, iNOS is also involved in diabetic vascular dysfunction.
      Because the turnover of and the potential to modulate iNOS by adenosine in
      experimental diabetes have not been explored, we hypothesized that both the
      adenosine system and control of iNOS function are impaired in VSMCs from
      streptozotocin-diabetic rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected
      with streptozotocin once to induce diabetes. Aortic VSMCs from diabetic and
      nondiabetic rats were isolated, cultured and exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      plus a cytokine mix for 24 h in the presence or absence of (1) exogenous
      adenosine and related compounds, and/or (2) pharmacological agents affecting
      adenosine turnover. iNOS functional expression was determined by immunoblotting
      and NO metabolite assays. Concentrations of adenosine, related compounds and
      metabolites thereof were assayed by HPLC. Vasomotor responses to adenosine were
      determined in endothelium-deprived aortic rings. RESULTS: Treatment with
      adenosine-degrading enzymes or receptor antagonists increased iNOS formation in
      activated VSMCs from nondiabetic and diabetic rats. Following treatment with the
      adenosine transport inhibitor NBTI, iNOS levels increased in nondiabetic but
      decreased in diabetic VSMCs. The amount of secreted NO metabolites was uncoupled
      from iNOS levels in diabetic VSMCs. Addition of high concentrations of adenosine
      and its precursors or analogues enhanced iNOS formation solely in diabetic VSMCs.
      Exogenous adenosine and AMP were completely removed from the culture medium and
      converted into metabolites. A tendency towards elevated inosine generation was
      observed in diabetic VSMCs, which were also less sensitive to CD73 inhibition,
      but inosine supplementation did not affect iNOS levels. Pharmacological
      inhibition of NOS abolished adenosine-induced vasorelaxation in aortic tissues
      from diabetic but not nondiabetic animals. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous adenosine
      prevented cytokine- and LPS-induced iNOS activation in VSMCs. By contrast,
      supplementation with adenosine and its precursors or analogues enhanced iNOS
      levels in diabetic VSMCs. This effect was associated with alterations in
      exogenous adenosine turnover. Thus, overactivation of the adenosine system may
      foster iNOS-mediated diabetic vascular dysfunction.

PMID- 26879174
TI  - An ERp57-mediated disulphide exchange promotes the interaction between
      Burkholderia cenocepacia and epithelial respiratory cells.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that extracellular glutathione reduces the
      ability of the Cystic Fibrosis pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia to infect
      primary or immortalized epithelial respiratory cells. We report here that the
      adhesion and invasion ability of B. cenocepacia is limited also by thiol
      oxidizing and disulphide-reducing agents and by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)
      inhibitors. PDI inhibitors also reduce the proinflammatory response elicited by
      cells in response to Burkholderia. These findings indicate that a membrane
      associated PDI catalyzes thiol/disulphide exchange reactions which favor
      bacterial infection. The combined use of selective PDI inhibitors, RNA silencing
      and specific antibodies identified ERp57 as a major PDI involved in the
      interaction between B. cenocepacia and epithelial cells. This study contributes
      to the elucidation of the Burkholderia pathogenic mechanisms by showing that this
      microorganism exploits a membrane-associated host protein to infect epithelial
      cells and identifies ERp57 as a putative pharmacological target for the treatment
      of Burkholderia lung infections. 

PMID- 26879175
TI  - Reproducibility of the items on the Stroke Specific Quality of Life questionnaire
      that evaluate the participation component of the International Classification of
      Functioning, Disability and Health.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the reproducibility of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life
      (SS-QOL) items that address the participation component of the International
      Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and analyse the
      correlation between the subscore of these 26 items and the total SS-QOL score.
      METHODS: Seventy-five stroke survivors participated in this study.
      Reproducibility was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient
      (ICC2,1), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change (MDC)
      and the Bland-Altman plot. The correlation between the subscore of the 26 items
      and the total SS-QOL score was analysed using Spearman's correlation coefficients
      (rho) and simple linear regression. An alpha risk <= 0.05 was considered for all
      analyses. RESULTS: The SS-QOL items that address the participation component of
      the ICF demonstrated excellent reliability (intra-rater ICC2,1 = 0.96; inter
      rater ICC2,1 = 0.95). The SEM and MDC were adequate. The Bland-Altman plot
      demonstrated satisfactory agreement. A significant and strong correlation (rho =
      0.83) was found between the 26 SS-QOL items that address participation and the
      total SS-QOL score. Moreover, the evaluation of participation was found to
      explain 73% of the evaluation of health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: The
      26 SS-QOL items that address the participation component of the ICF demonstrated
      adequate reproducibility. Thus, participation, which represents the social
      aspects of functionality, can be adequately evaluated with these items.
      Implications for Rehabilitation The 26 Stroke Specific Quality of Life items that
      address participation proved to be reproducible for the analysis of social
      participation following a stroke. The findings can lead to a better understanding
      of the social participation of individuals with chronic hemiparesis and assist in
      the establishment of adequate treatment for such individuals. The rehabilitation
      process can be directed towards more specific goals focused on the patient
      expectations, thereby contributing to greater humanization and effectiveness of
      treatment to improve social participation following a stroke.

PMID- 26879176
TI  - Global burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a cross-sectional analysis from the
      Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High-quality epidemiological studies evaluating the burden of
      cutaneous leishmaniasis worldwide are lacking. We compared the burden of
      cutaneous leishmaniasis in each country to the overall global burden and assessed
      the equality of cutaneous leishmaniasis burden across different countries and
      regions. METHODS: Data were extracted from scientific literature, hospital
      sources, country reports, and WHO sources on the prevalence of sequalae of both
      acute and chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Prevalence data were combined with a
      disability weight to yield years lived with disability. Disability-adjusted life
      years (DALYs) are a sum of the years lived with disability and years of life lost
      (or mortality, assumed to be zero). We compared DALYs due to cutaneous
      leishmaniasis for 152 countries using standard Z score analysis with Bonferroni
      correction (p<0.003) and generation of Lorenz curves with a Gini coefficient.
      FINDINGS: In 2013, the global mean age-standardised DALYs for cutaneous
      leishmaniasis was 0.58 per 100 000 people. Nine countries had significantly
      greater DALYs from cutaneous leishmaniasis than the mean: Afghanistan (87.0),
      Sudan (20.2), Syria (9.2), Yemen (6.2), Iraq (6.0), Burkina Faso (4.8), Bolivia
      (4.6), Haiti (4.1), and Peru (4.0). The Gini coefficient was 0.89. Andean Latin
      America, North Africa and Middle East, western sub-Saharan Africa, and south Asia
      had the highest DALYs from cutaneous leishmaniasis. Among males, Palestine had
      the highest incidence rates (616.2 cases per 100 000 people) followed by
      Afghanistan (566.4), Syria (357.1), and Nicaragua (354.8). Among females,
      Afghanistan had the highest incidence rates (623.9) followed by Syria (406.3),
      Palestine (222.1), and Nicaragua (180.8). Similar proportions of males and
      females had cutaneous leishmaniasis in most countries with a high incidence.
      INTERPRETATION: The burden from cutaneous leishmaniasis mainly falls on countries
      in Africa and the Middle East. Global and national data on the burden of
      cutaneous leishmaniasis disease are pivotal to promote field studies and initiate
      behavioural change. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

PMID- 26879177
TI  - Estimations of cutaneous leishmaniasis burden: a constant challenge.

PMID- 26879178
TI  - No outgrowth of chondrocytes from non-digested particulated articular cartilage
      embedded in commercially available fibrin matrix: an in vitro study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Commercially available fibrin is routinely being used as both a
      matrix in certain cartilage repair techniques and a method for scaffold fixation.
      Chondrocytes from non-digested particulated cartilage fragments are proposed as a
      possible source for new cartilage tissue formation in some operative techniques.
      The goal of this study was to test that chondrocytes from particulated articular
      cartilage embedded in fibrin have an active role in the process of cartilage
      repair, as well as if commercially available fibrin should be used as a suitable
      matrix. METHODS: Articular cartilage was obtained from patients undergoing total
      knee replacement surgery. The biopsies were particulated in small, 1-2-mm(3)
      pieces and embedded in fibrin. Two groups were compared in our study,
      particulated articular cartilage with and without collagenase treatment. The
      specimens were analyzed by optical microscopy after 2-5 weeks of cultivation in a
      special construct embedded in a cell culture medium containing particulated
      cartilage embedded in fibrin in the upper phase and cancellous bone in the lower
      phase under the perforated nylon membrane. RESULTS: None of the biopsies taken
      from four different patients showed the outgrowth of chondrocytes or bone marrow
      originated cells into the fibrin matrix in our experimental model. CONCLUSIONS:
      It has been shown in our experimental model in vitro little to support the theory
      that articular chondrocytes from particulated articular cartilage embedded in
      fibrin have an active role in cartilage repair in its early stage.

PMID- 26879180
TI  - Associations of Plasma FGF2 Levels and Polymorphisms in the FGF2 Gene with
      Obesity Phenotypes in Han Chinese Population.
AB  - Obesity is highly heritable, but the specific genes influencing obesity related
      traits are largely unknown. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) could influence
      adipocyte differentiation. However, the association of FGF2 polymorphisms and
      obesity remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations of both
      the plasma FGF2 levels and SNPs in FGF2 gene with obesity phenotypes in Han
      Chinese populations. Plasma FGF2 levels were measured and subjected to
      association analyses in 62 subjects. Eleven SNPs in FGF2 were genotyped and
      tested for associations in a discovery sample of 1,300 subjects. SNPs
      significantly associated with obesity were subjected to replication in another
      independent sample of 1,035 subjects. We found that plasma FGF2 levels were
      positively correlated with fat mass (P = 0.010). Association analyses in the
      discovery sample identified three SNPs (rs1449683, rs167428, rs308442)
      significantly associated with fat mass after multiple testing adjustments (P <
      0.0045). Subsequent replication study successfully validated one SNP (rs167428)
      associated with fat mass (P(combine) = 3.46 * 10(-5)). eQTL analyses revealed
      that SNPs associated with obesity also affected FGF2 expression. Our findings
      suggested that high plasma FGF2 level correlated with increased risk of obesity,
      and FGF2 gene polymorphisms could affect individual variances of obesity in Han
      Chinese population.

PMID- 26879179
TI  - Spatial patterns of arrests, police assault and addiction treatment center
      locations in Tijuana, Mexico.
AB  - AIMS: In the context of a public health-oriented drug policy reform in Mexico, we
      assessed the spatial distribution of police encounters among people who inject
      drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, determined the association between these encounters and
      the location of addiction treatment centers and explored the association between
      police encounters and treatment access. DESIGN: Geographically weighted
      regression (GWR) and logistic regression analysis using prospective spatial data
      from a community-recruited cohort of PWID in Tijuana and official geographical
      arrest data from the Tijuana Municipal Police Department. SETTING: Tijuana,
      Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 608 participants (median age 37; 28.4% female)
      in the prospective Proyecto El Cuete cohort study recruited between January and
      December 2011. MEASUREMENTS: We compared the mean distance of police encounters
      and a randomly distributed set of events to treatment centers. GWR was undertaken
      to model the spatial relationship between police interactions and treatment
      centers. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated
      with reporting police interactions. FINDINGS: During the study period, 27.5% of
      police encounters occurred within 500 m of treatment centers. The GWR model
      suggested spatial correlation between encounters and treatment centers (global
      R(2)  = 0.53). Reporting a need for addiction treatment was associated with
      reporting arrest and police assault [adjusted odds ratio = 2.74, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) = 1.25-6.02, P = 0.012]. CONCLUSIONS: A geospatial analysis
      suggests that, in Mexico, people who inject drugs are at greater risk of being a
      victim of police violence if they consider themselves in need of addiction
      treatment, and their interactions with police appear to be more frequent around
      treatment centers.

PMID- 26879181
TI  - Acupuncture for fibromyalgia in primary care: a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of an individualised acupuncture protocol
      for patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Randomised controlled multicentre trial,
      blinded to participants and to data analysts. Conducted in three primary care
      centres in southern Spain. A total of 164 participants aged over 17 years and
      diagnosed with fibromyalgia were enrolled in this trial; 153 participants
      completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the real
      intervention (individualised acupuncture, IA) or the sham intervention (sham
      acupuncture, SA). In both the IA and SA groups, one session per week (lasting 20
      min) was provided, in addition to usual pharmacological treatment. The primary
      outcome was change in pain intensity at 10 weeks. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat
      analysis revealed that the decrease in pain intensity at 10 weeks was greater
      (p=0.001) in the IA group (-41.0%, 95% CI -47.2% to -34.8%) than in the SA group
      (-27.1%, 95% CI -33.2% to -20.9%). During the follow-up period, significant
      differences (p<0.01) in favour of the IA group persisted at 12 months (IA: 
      19.9%, 95% CI -24.6% to -15.1%; vs SA: -6.2%, 95% CI -11.2% to -1.2%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Individualised acupuncture treatment in primary care in patients
      with fibromyalgia proved efficacious in terms of pain relief, compared with
      placebo treatment. The effect persisted at 1 year, and its side effects were mild
      and infrequent. Therefore, the use of individualised acupuncture in patients with
      fibromyalgia is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN60217348.

PMID- 26879182
TI  - 15 Hz electroacupuncture at ST36 improves insulin sensitivity and reduces free
      fatty acid levels in rats with chronic dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in a rat model of
      chronic steroid-induced insulin resistance (SIIR). METHODS: An SIIR rat model was
      created using daily intraperitoneal injections of clinically relevant doses of
      dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) for 5 days to induce chronic insulin resistance. Thirty
      six SIIR rats were randomly divided into the SIIR+EA group (n=18), which received
      15 Hz EA at ST36 for 60 min, and the SIIR group (n=18), which remained untreated.
      Plasma glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were measured in serial blood
      samples taken without further manipulation (n=6 per group) and during insulin
      challenge test (ICT, n=6 per group) and intravenous glucose tolerance test
      (ivGTT, n=6 per group). Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and glucose
      transporter (GLUT)-4 were measured using Western blotting and expressed relative
      to beta-actin. RESULTS: Following EA, area-under-the-curve (AUC) for glucose was
      reduced (7340+/-291 vs 10 705+/-1474 mg/dL/min, p=0.049) and FFA levels
      significantly lower at 30/60 min in the SIIR+EA versus SIIR groups. Similar
      effects on glucose AUC were seen during the ICT (5568+/-275 vs 7136+/-594
      mg/dL/min, p<0.05) and igVTT (11 498+/-1398 vs 16 652+/-1217 mg/dL/min, p<0.01).
      FFA levels were lower at 30 and/or 60 min in SIIR+EA versus SIIR groups (p<0.01).
      Relative expression of IRS-1 and GLUT4 were significantly increased by EA
      (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA decreased the FFA level and increased insulin
      sensitivity in SIIR rats. Further clinical studies are needed to determine
      whether EA is an effective alternative treatment for the reduction of insulin
      resistance in patients requiring chronic use of dexamethasone.

PMID- 26879183
TI  - Training and transfer effects of N-back training for brain-injured and healthy
      subjects.
AB  - Working memory impairments are prevalent among patients with acquired brain
      injury (ABI). Computerised training targeting working memory has been researched
      extensively using samples from healthy populations but this field remains
      isolated from similar research in ABI patients. We report the results of an
      actively controlled randomised controlled trial in which 17 patients and 18
      healthy subjects completed training on an N-back task. The healthy group had
      superior improvements on both training tasks (SMD = 6.1 and 3.3) whereas the ABI
      group improved much less (SMD = 0.5 and 1.1). Neither group demonstrated transfer
      to untrained tasks. We conclude that computerised training facilitates
      improvement of specific skills rather than high-level cognition in healthy and
      ABI subjects alike. The acquisition of these specific skills seems to be impaired
      by brain injury. The most effective use of computer-based cognitive training may
      be to make the task resemble the targeted behaviour(s) closely in order to
      exploit the stimulus-specificity of learning. 

PMID- 26879186
TI  - Specific Antivirulence Activity, A New Concept for Reliable Screening of
      Virulence Inhibitors.
AB  - Antivirulence therapy, disarming pathogens rather than killing them, is emerging
      as a novel strategy for disease control. Reporter strains expressing an easily
      measurable and quantifiable phenotype enable easy screening of virulence
      inhibitors. In this paper I propose a novel concept to exclude false positives in
      this type of screening.

PMID- 26879184
TI  - The Impact of Sex Work Interruption on Blood-Derived T Cells in Sex Workers from
      Nairobi, Kenya.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Unprotected sexual intercourse exposes the female genital tract (FGT)
      to semen-derived antigens, which leads to a proinflammatory response. Studies
      have shown that this postcoital inflammatory response can lead to recruitment of
      activated T cells to the FGT, thereby increasing risk of HIV infection.
      OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of sex work on
      activation and memory phenotypes of peripheral T cells among female sex workers
      (FSW) from Nairobi, Kenya. SUBJECTS: Thirty FSW were recruited from the Pumwani
      Sex Workers Cohort, 10 in each of the following groups: HIV-exposed seronegative
      (at least 7 years in active sex work), HIV positive, and New Negative (HIV
      negative, less than 3 years in active sex work). Blood was obtained at three
      different phases (active sex work, abstinence from sex work-sex break, and
      following resumption of sex work). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were
      isolated and stained for phenotypic markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD161), memory
      phenotype markers (CD45RA and CCR7), activation markers (CD69, HLA-DR, and CD95),
      and the HIV coreceptor (CCR5). T-cell populations were compared between groups.
      RESULTS: In HIV-positive women, CD8+CCR5+ T cells declined at the sex break
      period, while CD4+CD161+ T cells increased when returning to sex work. All groups
      showed no significant changes in systemic T-cell activation markers following the
      interruption of sex work, however, significant reductions in naive CD8+ T cells
      were noted. For each of the study points, HIV positives had higher effector
      memory and CD8+CD95+ T cells and lower naive CD8+ T cells than the HIV-uninfected
      groups. CONCLUSIONS: Interruption of sex work had subtle effects on systemic T
      cell memory phenotypes.

PMID- 26879185
TI  - Identifying small groups of foods that can predict achievement of key dietary
      recommendations: data mining of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 2008
      12.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many dietary assessment methods attempt to estimate total food and
      nutrient intake. If the intention is simply to determine whether participants
      achieve dietary recommendations, this leads to much redundant data. We used data
      mining techniques to explore the number of foods that intake information was
      required on to accurately predict achievement, or not, of key dietary
      recommendations. DESIGN: We built decision trees for achievement of
      recommendations for fruit and vegetables, sodium, fat, saturated fat and free
      sugars using data from a national dietary surveillance data set. Decision trees
      describe complex relationships between potential predictor variables (age, sex
      and all foods listed in the database) and outcome variables (achievement of each
      of the recommendations). SETTING: UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS,
      2008-12). SUBJECTS: The analysis included 4156 individuals. RESULTS: Information
      on consumption of 113 out of 3911 (3 %) foods, plus age and sex was required to
      accurately categorize individuals according to all five recommendations. The best
      trade-off between decision tree accuracy and number of foods included occurred at
      between eleven (for fruit and vegetables) and thirty-two (for fat, plus age)
      foods, achieving an accuracy of 72 % (for fat) to 83 % (for fruit and
      vegetables), with similar values for sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS:
      Using information on intake of 113 foods, it is possible to predict with 72-83 %
      accuracy whether individuals achieve key dietary recommendations. Substantial
      further research is required to make use of these findings for dietary
      assessment.

PMID- 26879187
TI  - Graphene in Regenerative Medicine: Focus on Stem Cells and Neuronal
      Differentiation.
AB  - Emerging graphene-based materials offer numerous opportunities to design novel
      scaffolds for neural tissue engineering. Graphene is a promising candidate due to
      its superior topographical, chemical, and electrical cues compared with
      conventional biomaterials. Here we examine the state of the art in graphene-based
      materials science for the neurodifferentiation of stem cells.

PMID- 26879188
TI  - Quality by Design (QbD)-Based Process Development for Purification of a
      Biotherapeutic.
AB  - Quality by Design (QbD) is currently receiving increased attention from the
      pharmaceutical community. As a result, most major biotech manufacturers are in
      varying stages of implementing QbD. Here, I present a case study that illustrates
      the step-by-step development using QbD of a purification process for the
      production of a biosimilar product: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF).
      I also highlight and discuss the advantages that QbD-based process development
      offers over traditional approaches. The case study is intended to help those who
      wish to implement QbD towards the development and commercialization of biotech
      products.

PMID- 26879189
TI  - Ultraviolet/visible photodetectors with ultrafast, high photosensitivity based on
      1D ZnS/CdS heterostructures.
AB  - One-dimensional (1D) semiconducting heterostructures have been widely studied for
      optoelectronics applications because of their unique geometry and attractive
      physical properties. In this study, we successfully synthesized 1D ZnS/CdS
      heterostructures, which can be used to fabricate high performance
      ultraviolet/visible photodetectors. Due to the separation of photo-generated
      electron-hole pairs, the resultant photodetector showed excellent photoresponse
      properties, including ultrahigh Ion/Ioff ratios (up to 10(5)) and specific
      detectivity (2.23 * 10(14) Jones), relatively fast response speed (5 ms), good
      stability and reproducibility. Moreover, the as-fabricated flexible
      photodetectors showed great mechanical stability under different bending
      conditions. Our results revealed the possibility of 1D ZnS/CdS heterostructures
      for application in the detection of UV and visible light. The main advantages of
      the heterostructures have great potential application for future optoelectronic
      devices. 

PMID- 26879190
TI  - Right Ventricular Deformation Analyses Using a Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking
      Echocardiographic System Specialized for the Right Ventricle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Given the complex morphologic nature of the right ventricle, three
      dimensional (3D) approaches would be more appropriate for assessing right
      ventricular (RV) function than two-dimensional approaches. Thus, the
      investigators have developed a novel 3D speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE)
      system specialized for the right ventricle. The aim of this study was to assess
      the characteristics of RV global and regional deformation as well as changes on
      stress tests using the 3D STE system in experimental studies. METHODS: In 10
      sheep, sonomicrometry crystals were implanted to validate 3D STE data in the RV
      endocardium of seven RV segments, including the basal and mid anterior, lateral
      and inferior wall, and outflow free wall. Full-volume 3D STE data sets and
      sonomicrometric data were acquired at baseline, during pulmonary artery banding
      (PAB)-induced moderate (peak RV pressure > 40 mm Hg) and severe (peak RV pressure
      > 60 mm Hg) RV pressure increases, and during propranolol infusion. The 3D STE
      area change ratio (ACR), longitudinal strain (LS), and circumferential strain
      (CS) were measured, and RV global and all segmental deformation data were
      compared between baseline and stress tests. To assess clinical feasibility, 30
      control subjects and 11 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension were
      enrolled. RESULTS: All combined 3D STE data were significantly correlated with
      the sonomicrometric data (ACR, R(2) = 0.88; LS, R(2) = 0.84; CS, R(2) = 0.82; P <
      .001). In all seven segments, the 3D STE data correlated with the sonomicrometric
      data (R(2) = 0.72-0.90, P < .001). Global ACR and LS data showed significant
      differences among baseline, moderate PAB, and severe PAB; however, CS differed
      only between baseline and severe PAB. The magnitudes of segmental deformation in
      the free wall were larger than those in the septum and apex under all conditions
      (P < .05) except LS during severe PAB. Segmental analyses also showed similar
      responses during stress tests; the ACR in each segment differed significantly
      between conditions. In all but the apical segments, LS showed significant
      reductions from moderate PAB; in contrast, CS was significantly reduced with
      severe PAB in all segments. In this clinical study, the acquisition rate of
      adequate images for analysis of the RV outflow tract was lower (75.6%) compared
      with the rate in other segments (from 85.4% to 100%). However, the pulmonary
      arterial hypertension group had lower RV global deformation values than the
      control group (ACR and LS, P < .001; CS, P = .003), the ACR and LS in basal and
      middle segments differed significantly between groups, and the outflow and apex
      did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: A novel 3D STE system specialized for the right
      ventricle is reliable for RV deformation analyses and may provide additional
      information about RV global and segmental function. The clinical feasibility of
      this system is acceptable.

PMID- 26879191
TI  - Assessment of changes in potential nutrient limitation in an impounded river
      after application of lanthanum-modified bentonite.
AB  - With the advent of phosphorus (P)-adsorbent materials and techniques to address
      eutrophication in aquatic systems, there is a need to develop interpretive
      techniques to rapidly assess changes in potential nutrient limitation. In a trial
      application of the P-adsorbent, lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB) to an
      impounded section of the Canning River, Western Australia, a combination of
      potential P, nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) nutrient limitation diagrams based on
      dissolved molar nutrient ratios and actual dissolved nutrient concentrations have
      been used to interpret trial outcomes. Application of LMB resulted in rapid and
      effective removal of filterable reactive P (FRP) from the water column and also
      effectively intercepted FRP released from bottom sediments until the advent of a
      major unseasonal flood event. A shift from potential N-limitation to potential P
      limitation also occurred in surface waters. In the absence of other factors, the
      reduction in FRP was likely to be sufficient to induce actual nutrient limitation
      of phytoplankton growth. The outcomes of this experiment underpins the concept
      that, where possible in the short-term, in managing eutrophication the focus
      should not be on the limiting nutrient under eutrophic conditions (here N), but
      the one that can be made limiting most rapidly and cost-effectively (P).

PMID- 26879192
TI  - Lymph node hypoplasia is associated with adverse outcomes in node-negative colon
      cancer using advanced lymph node dissection methods.
AB  - PURPOSE: Lymph node size as a prognostic parameter has not been investigated well
      in the past. Recent data, however, have indicated that this parameter could be
      even more important than the lymph node count. METHODS: Based on the results of
      earlier studies, we analyzed the lymph node size and number of node-negative
      colon cancer patients with regard to survival. Data from 115 node-negative cases
      of colon cancer were analyzed. Lymph nodes with diameters <=5 mm were defined as
      small, and all other lymph nodes were classified as intermediate/large in size
      and labeled LN5. All of the cases were categorized according to the number of
      LN5s. The LN5 very low (LN5vl) group included cases with less than two LN5s. All
      of the other cases were assigned to the LN5 low/high (LN5l/h) group. RESULTS: The
      overall survival analysis revealed significantly worse outcomes for the LN5vl
      group, with a mean survival of 34 months compared to the LN5l/h group, with a
      mean survival of 40 months (P = 0.022). After adjusting for the pT1/2 and pT3/4
      stages, we still found a significant outcome difference (P = 0.012). Multivariate
      analysis identified LN5vl and T-stage as being independently correlated with the
      outcome. The vast majority of LN5vl cases (91 %) were located in the left colon.
      The location itself, however, was not prognostic (P = 0.478). CONCLUSION: LN5
      count, as a marker of immune response, could be shown as being prognostic in node
      negative colon cancer. Patients with low LN5 counts showed poor outcomes. These
      patients could perhaps profit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

PMID- 26879193
TI  - Non-Covalent Fluorescent Labeling of Hairpin DNA Probe Coupled with Hybridization
      Chain Reaction for Sensitive DNA Detection.
AB  - An enzyme-free signal amplification-based assay for DNA detection was developed
      using fluorescent hairpin DNA probes coupled with hybridization chain reaction
      (HCR). The hairpin DNAs were designed to contain abasic sites in the stem moiety.
      Non-covalent labeling of the hairpin DNAs was achieved when a fluorescent ligand
      was bound to the abasic sites through hydrogen bonding with the orphan cytosine
      present on the complementary strand, accompanied by quench of ligand
      fluorescence. As a result, the resultant probes, the complex formed between the
      hairpin DNA and ligand, showed almost no fluorescence. Upon hybridization with
      target DNA, the probe underwent a dehybridization of the stem moiety containing
      an abasic site. The release of ligand from the abasic site to the solution
      resulted in an effective fluorescent enhancement, which can be used as a signal.
      Compared with a sensing system without HCR, a 20-fold increase in the sensitivity
      was achieved using the sensing system with HCR. The fluorescent intensity of the
      sensing system increased with the increase in target DNA concentration from 0.5
      nM to 100 nM. A single mismatched target ss-DNA could be effectively
      discriminated from complementary target DNA. Genotyping of a G/C single
      nucleotide polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products was
      successfully demonstrated with the sensing system. Therefore, integrating HCR
      strategy with non-covalent labeling of fluorescent hairpin DNA probes provides a
      sensitive and cost-effective DNA assay. 

PMID- 26879195
TI  - Recessive mutations of TMC1 associated with moderate to severe hearing loss.
AB  - TMC1 encodes a protein required for the normal function of mechanically activated
      channels that enable sensory transduction in auditory and vestibular hair cells.
      TMC1 protein is localized at the tips of the hair cell stereocilia, the site of
      conventional mechanotransduction. In many populations, loss-of-function recessive
      mutations of TMC1 are associated with profound deafness across all frequencies
      tested. In six families reported here, variable moderate-to-severe or moderate-to
      profound hearing loss co-segregated with STR (short tandem repeats) markers at
      the TMC1 locus DFNB7/11. Massively parallel and Sanger sequencing of genomic DNA
      revealed each family co-segregating hearing loss with a homozygous TMC1 mutation:
      two reported mutations (p.R34X and p.R389Q) and three novel mutations (p.S596R,
      p.N199I, and c.1404 + 1G > T). TMC1 cDNA sequence from affected subjects
      homozygous for the donor splice site transversion c.1404 + 1G > T revealed
      skipping of exon 16, deleting 60 amino acids from the TMC1 protein. Since the
      mutations in our study cause less than profound hearing loss, we speculate that
      there is hypo-functional TMC1 mechanotransduction channel activity and that other
      even less damaging variants of TMC1 may be associated with more common mild-to
      severe sensorineural hearing loss.

PMID- 26879194
TI  - Regulation of the fungal secretome.
AB  - The ability of countless representatives of the Kingdom Fungi to adapt to and
      proliferate in diverse environments is facilitated by regulation of their
      secretomes to respond to changes in environmental conditions and to mediate
      interactions with other organisms. Secretome changes often fulfill common
      functions of nutrient acquisition, facilitation of host/symbiont interactions,
      cell wall modification, and optimization of the enzyme suite to adapt to new
      environmental resources. In this review, we expand on our recent work on
      signaling and the secretome in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to
      consider a range of selected examples of regulation of fungal secretomes. These
      examples include the impact of carbon source and aspects of the response to plant
      and animal hosts. Additionally, the influence of key protein kinases (e.g., Pka1,
      Snf1) and transcription factors (e.g., Rim101/PacC) is highlighted to illustrate
      some underlying regulatory factors influencing the secretome. Although there is a
      wealth of information about fungal secretomes from both experimentation and
      genome sequence mining, there are also major gaps in our knowledge about the
      complete composition of fungal secretomes and mechanisms of dynamic change. For
      example, a more comprehensive understanding of the composition and regulation of
      the secretome will require consideration of the emerging roles of unconventional
      secretion and extracellular vesicles in delivering proteins outside the cell.
      Overall, changes in the secretome are well documented in diverse fungi and the
      underlying mechanisms are currently under investigation; however, there remain
      unknown steps in the regulation of secretory pathways and gaps in understanding
      the regulation of unconventional secretion, which warrant further research. 

PMID- 26879197
TI  - The association of severity of retinal vascular changes and cardiac remodelling
      in systemic hypertension.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore the association between
      hypertensive retinopathy, grades of retinopathy and cardiac remodelling. METHODS:
      This was a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 500 consecutive
      hypertensive adults from the in-patient population were studied for the presence
      of hypertensive retinopathy by dilated fundoscopy. The presence of cardiac
      remodelling due to hypertension was studied both by electrocardiography (ECG) and
      echocardiography. Hypertensive target organ damage in other organs was also
      screened. In addition, the association of grades of hypertensive retinopathy with
      target organ damage was also analyzed. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (BP) at
      presentation and duration of hypertension showed no relationship with markers of
      hypertensive heart disease. However, diastolic BP was significantly higher in
      patients with retinopathy. Hypertensive retinopathy was diagnosed in 324 subjects
      of whom 90 had grades 3 and 4 retinopathy. Patients with grades 3 and 4
      retinopathy had significant associations with ECG evidence of left ventricular
      (LV) strain pattern and left atrial enlargement, and a weaker association with
      left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) using QRS voltage criteria (Sokolov-Lyon). On
      echocardiography, grades 3 and 4 retinopathy were significantly associated with
      LVH, left atrial enlargement and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction
      (LVEF), as well as with higher creatinine values. A large number of these
      patients presented with heart failure. Cardiac remodelling was not seen in
      patients without retinopathy and was uncommon in patients with grades 1 and 2
      retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Grades 3 and 4 retinopathy demonstrated a significant
      association with LV strain pattern and left atrial enlargement on ECG, LVH and
      reduced LVEF on echocardiography as well as with heart failure. There was no
      relationship with systolic BP and duration of hypertension, while diastolic BP
      showed a significant positive correlation. Signs of hypertensive heart disease
      were practically absent in patients without hypertensive retinopathy and uncommon
      in those with grade 1-2 alterations.

PMID- 26879196
TI  - Intracoronary Imaging in the Detection of Vulnerable Plaques.
AB  - Coronary artery disease is the result of atherosclerotic changes to the coronary
      arterial wall, comprising endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation and
      deposition of lipid-rich macrophage foam cells. Certain high-risk atherosclerotic
      plaques are vulnerable to disruption, leading to rupture, thrombosis and the
      clinical sequelae of acute coronary syndrome. Though recognised as the gold
      standard for evaluating the presence, distribution and severity of
      atherosclerotic lesions, invasive coronary angiography is incapable of
      identifying non-stenotic, vulnerable plaques that are responsible for adverse
      cardiovascular events. The recognition of such limitations has impelled the
      development of intracoronary imaging technologies, including intravascular
      ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy, which
      enable the detailed evaluation of the coronary wall and atherosclerotic plaques
      in clinical practice. This review discusses the present status of invasive
      imaging technologies; summarises up-to-date, evidence-based clinical guidelines;
      and addresses questions that remain unanswered with regard to the future of
      intracoronary plaque imaging. 

PMID- 26879198
TI  - Fatal Cyberlindnera fabianii fungemia in a patient with mixed phenotype acute
      leukemia after umbilical cord blood transplantation.
AB  - We report a case of Cyberlindnera fabianii fungemia after umbilical cord blood
      transplantation (CBT). A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed as having mixed
      phenotype acute leukemia. The patient received CBT for primary refractory
      disease. After preconditioning chemotherapy, the patient's condition
      deteriorated, leading to acute respiratory failure from capillary leak syndrome
      and consequent admittance to the intensive care unit. The patient recovered
      temporarily following the administration of noninvasive positive pressure
      ventilation and continuous hemodiafiltration, but died of fungemia with the
      presence of yeast-like cells 15 days post-CBT. The yeast-like cells were analyzed
      by sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit and the internal
      transcribed spacer domain, and were identified as C. fabianii. This case shows
      that molecular genetic-based methods may be effective for detecting undetermined
      invasive fungal infections in stem cell transplantation settings.

PMID- 26879199
TI  - Chronic (3-Weeks) Treatment of Estrogen (17beta-Estradiol) Enhances Working and
      Reference Memory in Ovariectomized Rats: Role of Acetylcholine.
AB  - Recently there has been a growing interest in the effects of estrogen on
      cognitive functions. In this study, we aimed to examine 17beta-estradiol
      treatment on working and reference memory in ovariectomized rats. We also
      examined the changes in the acetylcholine (ACh) levels in the brain areas
      associated with learning and memory. The study was performed on Sprague-Dawley
      type 3-month-old female rats. The rats were divided into four groups as control,
      ovariectomy (OVX), and OVX and estrogen treatment (10 ug/day i.p. 17beta
      estradiol) groups for 3 (OVX + E3) and 21 days OVX + E21). The rats were trained
      on eight arm radial maze task with eight arms baited to assess spatial memory, in
      addition four arms baited to assess both working and reference memory
      performances. The electron microscope images of the ACh vesicles in the frontal
      cortex, temporal cortex and hippocampus areas of the brain which are important
      regions for learning and memory were screened. Results showed that long term
      17beta-estradiol treatment has positive effects on both reference memory and
      working memory and that ACh vesicles increased in the examined brain areas,
      especially in hippocampus. Our results suggest that 3 weeks 17beta-estradiol
      treatment may have an ameliorative effect on the memory through the central
      cholinergic system. 

PMID- 26879200
TI  - Continuous treatment with odanacatib for up to 8 years in postmenopausal women
      with low bone mineral density: a phase 2 study.
AB  - The efficacy and safety of weekly oral odanacatib (ODN) 50 mg for up to 8 years
      were assessed in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD).
      Treatment with ODN for up to 8 years resulted in continued or maintained
      increases in BMD at multiple sites and was well tolerated. INTRODUCTION: ODN is a
      selective inhibitor of cathepsin K. In a 2-year phase 2b study (3/10/25/50 mg ODN
      once weekly [QW] or placebo) and extensions (50 mg ODN QW or placebo), ODN
      treatment for 5 years progressively increased BMD and decreased bone resorption
      markers in postmenopausal women with low BMD ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00112437).
      METHODS: In this prespecified interim analysis at year 8 of an additional 5-year
      extension (years 6 to 10), patients (n = 117) received open-label ODN 50 mg QW
      plus weekly vitamin D3 (5600 IU) and calcium supplementation as needed. Primary
      end points were lumbar spine BMD and safety. Patients were grouped by ODN
      exposure duration. RESULTS: Mean (95 % confidence interval [CI]) lumbar spine BMD
      changes from baseline were 4.6 % (2.4, 6.7; 3-year continuous ODN exposure), 12.9
      % (8.1, 17.7; 5 years), 12.8 % (10.0, 15.7; 6 years), and 14.8 % (11.0, 18.6; 8
      years). Similar patterns of results were observed for BMD of trochanter, femoral
      neck, and total hip versus baseline. Geometric mean changes from baseline to year
      8 for bone resorption markers were approximately -50 % (uNTx/Cr) and -45 %
      (sCTx), respectively (all groups); bone formation markers remained near baseline
      levels. No osteonecrosis of the jaw, delayed fracture union, or morphea-like skin
      reactions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ODN for up to 8 years
      resulted in gains in BMD at multiple sites. Bone resorption markers remained
      reduced, with no significant change observed in bone formation markers. Treatment
      with ODN for up to 8 years was well tolerated.

PMID- 26879202
TI  - Biodegradation of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) in completely autotrophic
      nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process.
AB  - This study conducted a completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite
      (CANON) process in a continuous anoxic upflow bioreactor to treat synthetic
      wastewater with TMAH (tetramethylammonium hydroxide) ranging from 200 to
      1000mg/L. The intermediates were analyzed for understanding the metabolic pathway
      of TMAH biodegradation in CANON process. In addition, (15)N-labeled TMAH was used
      as the substrate in a batch anoxic bioreactor to confirm that TMAH was converted
      to nitrogen gas in CANON process. The results indicated that TMAH was almost
      completely biodegraded in CANON system at different influent TMAH concentrations
      of 200, 500, and 1000mg/L. The average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen
      were higher than 90% during the experiments. Trimethylamine (TMA) and methylamine
      (MA) were found to be the main biodegradation intermediates of TMAH in CANON
      process. The production of nitrogen gas with (15)N-labeled during the batch
      anaerobic bioreactor indicated that CANON process successfully converted TMAH
      into nitrogen gas. 

PMID- 26879201
TI  - Lower leg muscle density is independently associated with fall status in
      community-dwelling older adults.
AB  - Muscle density is a risk factor for fractures in older adults; however, its
      association with falls is not well described. After adjusting for biologically
      relevant confounding factors, a unit decrease in muscle density was associated
      with a 17 % increase in odds of reporting a fall, independent of functional
      mobility. INTRODUCTION: Falls are the leading cause of injury, disability, and
      fractures in older adults. Low muscle density (i.e., caused by muscle adiposity)
      and functional mobility have been identified as risk factors for incident
      disability and fractures in older adults; however, it is not known if these are
      also independently associated with falls. The purpose of this study was to
      explore the associations of muscle density and functional mobility with fall
      status. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 183 men and women aged 60
      98 years. Descriptive data, including a 12-month fall recall, Timed Up and Go
      (TUG) test performance, lower leg muscle area, and density. Odds ratio (OR) of
      being a faller were calculated, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, general
      health status, diabetes, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Every mg/cm(3) increase in
      muscle density (mean 70.2, SD 2.6 mg/cm(3)) independently reduced the odds of
      being a faller by 19 % (OR 0.81 [95 % CI 0.67 to 0.97]), and every 1 s longer TUG
      test time (mean 9.8, SD 2.6 s) independently increased the odds by 17 % (OR 1.17
      [95 % CI 1.01 to 1.37]). When both muscle density and TUG test time were included
      in the same model, only age (OR 0.93 [95 % CI 0.87 to 0.99]) and muscle density
      (OR 0.83 [95 % CI 0.69 to 0.99]) were independently associated with fall status.
      CONCLUSIONS: Muscle density was associated with fall status, independent of
      functional mobility. Muscle density may compliment functional mobility tests as a
      biometric outcome for assessing fall risk in well-functioning older adults.

PMID- 26879203
TI  - Phosphorus extraction and sludge dissolution by acid and alkali treatments of
      polyaluminum chloride (PAC) treated wastewater sludge.
AB  - Phosphorus (P) leaching characteristics of polyaluminium chlorides (PAC) treated
      wastewater sludge was investigated by wet chemicals (acid and alkali). Sludge
      fractionation showed non-apatite inorganic P was the dominant P (90.9% of TP)
      while apatite P only accounted for 3.7%. After 2h extraction with 1N NaOH or 2N
      HCl, 80.5% and 77.9% of total P was leached, while sludge dissolution reached
      72.7% and 75.6%, respectively. Kinetic study with HCl and NaOH showed that P
      release and sludge dissolution follow first order reaction with rate constants of
      0.50 and 0.35min(-1) (P release) and 0.47*10(-2) and 0.15*10(-2)min(-1) (sludge
      dissolution), respectively. Sequential extraction by NaOH/HCl leached 91.7% of
      the total P. This study will help in understanding the P release behavior of the
      PAC treated wastewater sludge. 

PMID- 26879204
TI  - Effects of processing conditions on biocrude yields from fast hydrothermal
      liquefaction of microalgae.
AB  - This study investigated the effects of algae species, reaction time, and reactor
      loading on the biocrude yield from fast hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of
      microalgae. Fast HTL reaction times were always less than 2 min and employed
      rapid heating and nonisothermal conditions. The highest biocrude yield obtained
      was 67+/-5 wt.% (dry basis). With all other process variables fixed, increasing
      the reaction time in a 600  degrees C sand bath by 15 s increments led to a rapid
      increase in biocrude yield between 15 and 45 s. At longer times, the biocrude
      yield decreased. Low reactor loadings generally gave higher biocrude yields than
      did higher loadings. The low reactor loadings may facilitate biocrude production
      by facilitating cell rupture and/or increasing the effective concentration of
      algal cells in the hot, compressed water in the reactor.

PMID- 26879205
TI  - Effect of powdered activated carbon on integrated submerged membrane bioreactor
      nanofiltration process for wastewater reclamation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the effect of powdered activated carbon
      (PAC) on the overall performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) system
      integrated with nanofiltration (NF) for wastewater reclamation. It was found that
      the trans-membrane pressure of SMBR increased continuously while that of the SMBR
      with PAC was more stable, mainly because water could still pass through the PACs
      and membrane even though foulants adhered on the PAC surface. The presence of PAC
      was able to mitigate fouling in SMBR as well as in NF. SMBR-NF with PAC obtained
      a higher flux of 8.1 LMH compared to that without PAC (6.6 LMH). In addition,
      better permeate quality was obtained with SMBR-NF integrated process added with
      PAC. The present results suggest that the addition of PAC in integrated SMBR-NF
      process could possibly lead to satisfying water quality and can be operated for a
      long-term duration. 

PMID- 26879206
TI  - An Ultra-High Fluorescence Enhancement and High Throughput Assay for Revealing
      Expression and Internalization of Chemokine Receptor CXCR4.
AB  - Revealing chemokine receptor CXCR4 expression, distribution, and internalization
      levels in different cancers helps to evaluate cancer progression or prognosis and
      to set personalized treatment strategy. We here describe a sensitive and high
      throughput immunoassay for determining CXCR4 expression and distribution in
      cancer cells. The assay is accessible to a wide range of users in an ordinary lab
      only by dip-coating poly(styrene-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) spheres on the glass
      substrate. The self- assembled spheres form three-dimensional photonic colloidal
      crystals which enhance the fluorescence of CF647 and Alexa Fluor 647 by a factor
      of up to 1000. CXCR4 in cells is detected by using the sandwich immunoassay,
      where the primary antibody recognizes CXCR4 and the secondary antibody is labeled
      with CF647. With the newly established assay, we quantified the total expression
      of CXCR4, its distribution on the cell membrane and cytoplasm, and revealed their
      internalization level upon SDF-1alpha activation in various cancer cells, even
      for those with extremely low expression level. 

PMID- 26879208
TI  - Multi-responsive coordination polymers utilising metal-stabilised, dynamic
      covalent imine bonds.
AB  - We report how the combination of dynamic covalent imine bonds and coordination
      bonds in a single polymer material not only imparts enhanced stability to the
      final polymer, but also allows the material to be sensitive to a range of
      stimuli, offering more fine-grained control over its properties. 

PMID- 26879207
TI  - Ovarian kisspeptin expression is related to age and to monocyte chemoattractant
      protein-1.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that ovarian
      kisspeptin (kiss1) and its receptor (kiss1r) expression are affected by age,
      obesity, and the age- and obesity-related chemokine monocyte chemoattractant
      protein-1 (MCP-1). METHODS: Ovaries from reproductive-aged and older C57BL/6J
      mice fed normal chow (NC) or high-fat (HF) diet, ovaries from age-matched young
      MCP-1 knockout and young control mice on NC, and finally, cumulus and mural
      granulosa cells (GCs) from women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) were
      collected. Kiss1, kiss1r, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and AMH receptor (AMHR
      II) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were quantified using real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In mouse ovaries, kiss1 and kiss1r
      mRNA levels were significantly higher in old compared to reproductive-aged mice,
      and diet-induced obesity did not alter kiss1 or kiss1r mRNA levels. Compared to
      young control mice, young MCP-1 knockout mice had significantly lower ovarian
      kiss1 mRNA but significantly higher AMH and AMHR-II mRNA levels. In human cumulus
      GCs, kiss1r mRNA levels were positively correlated with age but not with BMI.
      There was no expression of kiss1 mRNA in either cumulus or mural GCs. CONCLUSION:
      These data suggest a possible age-related physiologic role for the
      kisspeptinergic system in ovarian physiology. Additionally, the inflammatory MCP
      1 may be associated with kiss1 and AMH genes, which are important in ovulation
      and folliculogenesis, respectively.

PMID- 26879209
TI  - Trachelogenin, a novel inhibitor of hepatitis C virus entry through CD81.
AB  - Although much progress has been made in antiviral agents against hepatitis C
      virus (HCV) in recent years, novel HCV inhibitors with improved efficacy,
      optimized treatment duration and more affordable prices are still urgently
      needed. Here, we report the identification of a natural plant-derived lignan,
      trachelogenin (TGN), as a potent entry inhibitor of HCV without genotype
      specificity, and with low cytotoxicity. TGN was extracted and purified from
      Caulis trachelospermi, a traditional Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory and
      analgesic effects. A crucial function of TGN was the inhibition of HCV entry
      during a post-binding step without affecting virus replication, translation,
      assembly and release. TGN blocked virus infection by interfering with the normal
      interactions between HCV glycoprotein E2 and the host entry factor CD81, which
      are key processes for valid virus entry. In addition, TGN diminished HCV cell-to
      cell spread and exhibited additional synergistic effects when combined with IFN
      or telaprevir. In conclusion, this study highlights the effect of a novel HCV
      entry inhibitor, TGN, which has a target that differs from those of the current
      antiviral agents. Therefore, TGN is a potential candidate for future cocktail
      therapies to treat HCV-infected patients.

PMID- 26879211
TI  - Behavioral disorders after traumatic brain injury: Why a special issue in the
      Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine?

PMID- 26879212
TI  - Cross-cultural equivalence in translation of the oral health impact profile: how
      to interpret the final score?
AB  - The oral health impact profile (OHIP) is one of the most widely known oral health
      related quality of life instruments. In Community Dentistry and Oral
      Epidemiology, MacEntee and Brondani report the results of a systematic review to
      identify acceptable methods for translating psychometric instruments for cross
      cultural equivalence of the OHIP scale. But in no study has unidimensionality,
      one aspect of the validity of the internal structure of the scale, been verified,
      whereas it is a major psychometric step. In the absence of the study of
      unidimensionality, it is difficult to interpret the final score. The methodology
      of transcultural validation of the OHIP could be improved, and the study of the
      unidimensionality is a psychometrically necessary step for the interpretation of
      the finale score. 

PMID- 26879216
TI  - Decreased Cystatin C-Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Correlated with
      Prolonged Hospital Stay in Transient Tachypnea of Newborn Infants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a benign disorder with a
      variable clinical course that often leads to hospitalization. The aim of this
      study was to assess and validate the relationship between the serum cystatin C
      level and symptom duration in infants with TTN. METHODS: Forty newborns
      presenting with TTN and who had undergone serum cystatin C (Cys C) tests on the
      first day of admission to the Kyung Hee University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from
      2009 to 2013 were included. The serum Cys C level, creatinine (Cr) level,
      estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and tachypnea duration were
      correlated retrospectively. RESULTS: The median gestation period was 37.8 +/- 3.8
      weeks and the mean birth weight was 3.2 +/- 0.4 kg. Tachypnea duration was 3.3 +/
      2.0 days. Serum Cys C and Cr levels were 1.7 +/- 0.2 mg/L and 0.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dL,
      respectively. Tachypnea duration was significantly positively correlated with the
      serum levels of Cys C and significantly negatively correlated with Cys C-based
      eGFR (p = 0.016), but was not significantly correlated with the serum Cr level or
      Cr-based eGFR. When tachypnea duration was compared between infants with Cys C
      level <1.6 mg/L (n = 15; Group A) and infants with Cys C level >= 1.6 mg/L (n =
      25; Group B), the symptom duration was significantly shorter in Group A infants
      (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Tachypnea duration was shorter with higher Cys C-based
      eGFR in infants with TTN.

PMID- 26879217
TI  - Acetate tape impression test for diagnosis of notoedric mange in cats.
AB  - Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of acetate tape
      impression with skin squeezing and superficial skin scraping methods for the
      diagnosis of burrowing mites ( Notoedres cati) in cats. Methods Samples were
      collected from 50 cats showing signs of notoedric mange. The most affected region
      was selected for sampling using acetate tape impression with skin squeezing, and
      superficial skin scraping. Results No significant difference was observed in the
      number of mites found by both methods, regardless of the stage of development of
      the mite. The tests showed a high correlation to the total number of mites (r =
      0.928). However, in two animals it was possible to confirm the presence of N cati
      only by the acetate tape impression test. Conclusions and relevance We conclude
      that the acetate tape impression test is a good method for confirming the
      presence of N cati in cats. In our experience, this technique is as sensitive as
      superficial skin scraping, even in animals presenting with a low infestation.
      Moreover, the technique is less traumatic and allows the collection of clinical
      specimens in more sensitive locations, such as the eyelids, lips and paws.

PMID- 26879218
TI  - Inhibitory Effect of 8-Halogenated 7-Deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine Triphosphates on
      Human 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine Triphosphatase, hMTH1, Activities.
AB  - hMTH1 (8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanine triphosphatase) hydrolyzes oxidized nucleoside
      triphosphates; its presence is non-essential for survival of normal cells but is
      required for survival of cancer cells. In this study, 8-halogenated-7-deaza-2'
      deoxyguanosine triphosphate (8-halogenated-7-deazadGTP) derivatives were
      synthesized. Interestingly, these triphosphates were poor substrates for hMTH1,
      but exhibited strong competitive inhibition against hMTH1 at nanomolar levels.
      This inhibitory effect is attributed to slower rate of hydrolysis, possibly
      arising from enzyme structural changes, specifically different stacking
      interactions with 8-halogenated-7-deazadGTP. This is the first example of using
      nucleotide derivatives to inhibit hMTH1, thus demonstrating their potential as
      antitumor agents. 

PMID- 26879210
TI  - Shared and unique mechanisms underlying binge eating disorder and addictive
      disorders.
AB  - Scientific interest in "food addiction" is growing, but the topic remains
      controversial. One critique of "food addiction" is its high degree of phenotypic
      overlap with binge eating disorder (BED). In order to examine associations
      between problematic eating behaviors, such as binge eating and "food addiction,"
      we propose the need to move past examining similarities and differences in
      symptomology. Instead, focusing on relevant mechanisms may more effectively
      determine whether "food addiction" contributes to disordered eating behavior for
      some individuals. This paper reviews the evidence for mechanisms that are shared
      (i.e., reward dysfunction, impulsivity) and unique for addiction (i.e.,
      withdrawal, tolerance) and eating disorder (i.e., dietary restraint, shape/weight
      concern) frameworks. This review will provide a guiding framework to outline
      future areas of research needed to evaluate the validity of the "food addiction"
      model and to understand its potential contribution to disordered eating. 

PMID- 26879219
TI  - 10-Oxo-trans-11-octadecenoic acid generated from linoleic acid by a gut lactic
      acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum is cytoprotective against oxidative
      stress.
AB  - Oxidative stress is a well-known cause of multiple diseases. The nuclear factor
      erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway
      plays a central role in cellular antioxidative responses. In this study, we
      investigated the effects of novel fatty acid metabolite derivatives of linoleic
      acid generated by the gut lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum on the
      Nrf2-ARE pathway. 10-Oxo-trans-11-octadecenoic acid (KetoC) protected HepG2 cells
      from cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide. KetoC also significantly
      increased cellular Nrf2 protein levels, ARE-dependent transcription, and the gene
      expression of antioxidative enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate
      cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1
      (NQO1) in HepG2 cells. Additionally, a single oral dose administration of KetoC
      also increased antioxidative gene expression and protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1
      in mouse organs. Since other fatty acid metabolites and linoleic acid did not
      affect cellular antioxidative responses, the cytoprotective effect of KetoC may
      be because of its alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl moiety. Collectively, our data
      suggested that KetoC activated the Nrf2-ARE pathway to enhance cellular
      antioxidative responses in vitro and in vivo, which further suggests that KetoC
      may prevent multiple diseases induced by oxidative stress.

PMID- 26879220
TI  - Investigation of the therapeutic potential of N-acetyl cysteine and the tools
      used to define nigrostriatal degeneration in vivo.
AB  - The glutathione precursor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is currently being tested on
      Parkinson's patients for its neuroprotective properties. Our studies have shown
      that NAC can elicit protection in glutathione-independent manners in vitro. Thus,
      the goal of the present study was to establish an animal model of NAC-mediated
      protection in which to dissect the underlying mechanism. Mice were infused
      intrastriatally with the oxidative neurotoxicant 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 4
      MUg) and administered NAC intraperitoneally (100mg/kg). NAC-treated animals
      exhibited higher levels of the dopaminergic terminal marker tyrosine hydroxylase
      (TH) in the striatum 10d after 6-OHDA. As TH expression is subject to stress
      induced modulation, we infused the tracer FluoroGold into the striatum to
      retrogradely label nigrostriatal projection neurons. As expected, nigral
      FluoroGold staining and cell counts of FluoroGold(+) profiles were both more
      sensitive measures of nigrostriatal degeneration than measurements relying on TH
      alone. However, NAC failed to protect dopaminergic neurons 3 weeks following 6
      OHDA, an effect verified by four measures: striatal TH levels, nigral TH levels,
      nigral TH(+) cell counts, and nigral FluoroGold levels. Some degree of mild
      toxicity of FluoroGold and NAC was evident, suggesting that caution must be
      exercised when relying on FluoroGold as a neuron-counting tool and when designing
      experiments with long-term delivery of NAC--such as clinical trials on patients
      with chronic disorders. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the tools used
      to define nigrostriatal degeneration are discussed.

PMID- 26879221
TI  - Picky eating in preschool children: Associations with dietary fibre intakes and
      stool hardness.
AB  - It has been suggested that constipation may be associated with picky eating.
      Constipation is a common condition in childhood and a low intake of dietary fibre
      may be a risk factor. Differences in fibre intake between picky and non-picky
      children and its relation to stool consistency is currently not well-understood.
      Children enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
      identified as picky eaters (PE) were compared with non-picky eaters (NPE): (1) to
      determine dietary fibre intake at 38 months; (2) to investigate whether any
      difference in dietary fibre intake was predictive of usual stool hardness at 42
      months. PE was identified from questionnaires at 24 and 38 months. Usual stool
      hardness was identified from a questionnaire at 42 months. Dietary intake was
      assessed at 38 months with a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary fibre intake
      was lower in PE than NPE (mean difference -1.4 (95% CI -1.6, -1.2) g/day, p <
      0.001). PE was strongly associated with dietary fibre intake (adjusted regression
      model; unstandardised B -1.44 (95% CI -1.62, -1.24) g/day, p < 0.001). PE had a
      lower percentage of fibre from vegetables compared with NPE (8.9% vs 15.7%,
      respectively, p < 0.001). There was an association between PE and usually having
      hard stools (adjusted multinomial model; OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.07, 1.61; p = 0.010).
      This was attenuated when dietary fibre was included in the model, suggesting that
      fibre intake mediated the association (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.94, 1.43, p = 0.180).
      Picky eating in 3-year-old children was associated with an increased prevalence
      of usually having hard stools. This association was mediated by low dietary fibre
      intake, particularly from vegetables, in PE. For children with PE, dietary advice
      aimed at increasing fibre intake may help avoid hard stools. 

PMID- 26879222
TI  - Examination of the reliability and validity of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire
      in pregnant women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness is theorized to affect the eating behavior and weight of
      pregnant women, yet no measure has been validated during pregnancy. METHODS: This
      study qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated the reliability and validity of
      the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) in overweight and obese pregnant women.
      Participants completed focus groups and cognitive interviews. The MEQ was
      administered twice to measure test-retest reliability. The Eating Inventory (EI)
      and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were administered to assess
      convergent validity, and the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS)
      assessed discriminant validity. RESULTS: Participants were 20 +/- 8 weeks
      gestation (mean +/- SD), 30 +/- 2 years old, and 55% were obese. The MEQ total
      score had good test-retest reliability (r = .85). The total score internal
      consistency reliability was poor (Cronbach's alpha = .56). The external cues
      subscale (ECS) was not internally consistent (alpha = .31). Other subscales
      ranged from alpha = .59-.68. When the ECS was excluded, the MEQ total score
      internal consistency was acceptable (alpha = .62). Convergent validity was
      supported by the MEQ total score (with and without ECS) correlating significantly
      with the MAAS and the EI disinhibition and hunger subscales. Discriminant
      validity of the MEQ was supported by the MEQ and NEWS total scores and subscales
      not being significantly correlated. The quantitative results were supported by
      the qualitative context and content analysis. CONCLUSION: With the exception of
      the ECS, the MEQ's reliability and validity was supported in pregnant women, and
      most of the subscales were more robust in pregnant women than in the original
      sample of healthy adults. The MEQ's use with overweight and obese pregnant women
      is supported.

PMID- 26879223
TI  - A qualitative evaluation of the challenges faced by dieticians when interviewing
      children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Investigative interviewing is a critical and challenging skill
      involved in the assessment and design of appropriate interventions for children's
      dietary problems. The current study provided an evaluation of the challenges
      faced by professional dieticians when conducting child investigative interviews,
      in the hope that this would provide a framework for the development of further
      guidance and resources in this important area. METHODS: Fourteen professional
      dieticians were interviewed; they were asked about the information that they
      needed to elicit from children in particular situations and the questions that
      they would ask to do so. They were also asked to describe the strengths and
      limitations of the techniques that they used. RESULTS: The results revealed that
      professionals faced three main challenges. The first challenge was eliciting
      information from children who did not want to answer questions. The second
      challenge was determining the level of accuracy in children's (and caregivers')
      responses. The third challenge was eliciting very specific information in
      particular situations, such as determining the cause of an allergic reaction.
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall, professionals had difficulty articulating the questions
      that they would use to elicit the information that they required; indeed, their
      responses focused more on the content that they wanted to elicit (such as
      specific details) rather than the overall process that they would use to do so.
      Professionals may benefit from the development of guidelines to assist them in
      their interviews with children, based on what is currently known about
      interviewing children generally.

PMID- 26879224
TI  - Effects of financial incentives for the purchase of healthy groceries on dietary
      intake and weight outcomes among older adults: A randomized pilot study.
AB  - Providing financial incentives can be a useful behavioral economics strategy for
      increasing fruit and vegetable intake among consumers. It remains to be
      determined whether financial incentives can promote intake of other low energy
      dense foods and if consumers who are already using promotional tools for their
      grocery purchases may be especially responsive to receiving incentives. This
      randomized controlled trial tested the effects of offering financial incentives
      for the purchase of healthy groceries on 3-month changes in dietary intake,
      weight outcomes, and the home food environment among older adults. A secondary
      aim was to compare frequent coupon users (FCU) and non-coupon users (NCU) on
      weight status, home food environment, and grocery shopping behavior. FCU (n = 28)
      and NCU (n = 26) were randomly assigned to either an incentive or a control
      group. Participants in the incentive group received $1 for every healthy food or
      beverage they purchased. All participants completed 3-day food records and a home
      food inventory and had their height, weight, and waist circumference measured at
      baseline and after 3 months. Participants who were responsive to the intervention
      and received financial incentives significantly increased their daily vegetable
      intake (P = 0.04). Participants in both groups showed significant improvements in
      their home food environment (P = 0.0003). No significant changes were observed in
      daily energy intake or weight-related outcomes across groups (P < 0.12). FCU and
      NCU did not differ significantly in any anthropometric variables or the level at
      which their home food environment may be considered 'obesogenic' (P > 0.73).
      Increased consumption of vegetables did not replace intake of more energy-dense
      foods. Incentivizing consumers to make healthy food choices while simultaneously
      reducing less healthy food choices may be important.

PMID- 26879225
TI  - Microwave fields have little effect on alpha-synuclein aggregation in a
      Caenorhabditis elegans model of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Potential health effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation from mobile phones
      arouse widespread public concern. RF fields from handheld devices near the brain
      might trigger or aggravate brain tumors or neurodegenerative diseases such as
      Parkinson's disease (PD). Aggregation of neural alpha-synuclein (S) is central to
      PD pathophysiology, and invertebrate models expressing human S have helped
      elucidate factors affecting the aggregation process. We have recently developed a
      transgenic strain of Caenorhabditis elegans carrying two S constructs: SC tagged
      with cyan (C) blue fluorescent protein (CFP), and SV with the Venus (V) variant
      of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). During S aggregation in these SC+SV worms,
      CFP, and YFP tags are brought close enough to allow Foerster Resonance Energy
      Transfer (FRET). As a positive control, S aggregation was promoted at low Hg(2+)
      concentrations, whereas higher concentrations activated stress-response genes.
      Using two different exposure systems described previously, we tested whether RF
      fields (1.0 GHz CW, 0.002-0.02 W kg(-1); 1.8 GHz CW or GSM, 1.8 W kg(-1)) could
      influence S aggregation in SC+SV worms. YFP fluorescence in similar SV-only worms
      provided internal controls, which should show opposite changes due to FRET
      quenching during S aggregation. No statistically significant changes were
      observed over several independent runs at 2.5, 24, or 96 h. Although our worm
      model is sensitive to chemical promoters of aggregation, no similar effects were
      attributable to RF exposures.

PMID- 26879227
TI  - The location of pain and urgency sensations during cystometry.
AB  - AIMS: The relationship between bladder pain and urinary urgency sensations is
      poorly understood. We analyzed the relationship between locations and intensities
      of urgency and pain sensations felt during filling cystometry. METHODS:
      Participants completed the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) to indicate presence
      of bladder pain or urgency. During cystometry, participants scored the intensity
      of urgency and pain, both in the suprapubic and the urethral region, on a VAS
      scale of 0-10 at a baseline, at first desire, normal desire, strong desire to
      void, and at maximum cystometric capacity during filling. We allocated the
      participants to six groups; those reporting urgency or not, pain or not, both
      symptoms and neither. Friedman's Test was used to ascertain if all scores
      increased significantly, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to demonstrate
      the difference between scores, and agreement for findings during cystometry was
      tested with Mann-Whitney U. RESULTS: A total of 68 women participated; 38
      participants reported pain, 57 reported urgency, and 33 reported both symptoms.
      Pain and urgency scores significantly increased during cystometry (P < 0.0001).
      For participants reporting pain, suprapubic pain was rated significantly higher
      than urethral pain. Participants reporting both symptoms, felt more urgency than
      pain, and again pain more suprapubically than urethrally. Participants reporting
      only urgency scored suprapubic and urethral urgency similarly at all desires.
      CONCLUSIONS: Pain and urgency are well differentiated sensations and are felt at
      different locations although pain is seemingly easier localized. Neurourol.
      Urodynam. 36:620-625, 2017. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879228
TI  - The endoscopic transseptal approach for choanal atresia repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are many standard repair options for choanal atresia including
      puncture, dilatation and drilling of the atretic plate. Most of these techniques
      involve postoperative stenting, which may promote granulation and scarring, with
      possible progression to restenosis. This article describes a novel approach for
      choanal atresia repair without postoperative stenting. METHODS: This article
      describes our experience with this choanal atresia repair technique utilized in
      16 pediatric patients and 1 adult patient across multiple tertiary pediatric and
      rhinology centers during 2008 through 2015. Seven cases were bilateral and 10
      were unilateral. Surgery was performed using an endoscopic transseptal approach
      with preservation of the mucosa and creation of flaps. No stents or packing was
      used. The main outcome measures were: response to treatment based on endoscopic
      examination, need for further revision and incidence of complications. RESULTS:
      All patients underwent routine postoperative endoscopic inspection of their nasal
      cavity, postnasal space, and assessment of neochoanal patency. The neochoanae of
      all patients remained patent to a minimum follow-up duration of 9 months with
      most patients follow up for 2 years or more. Two neonatal patients required
      transfusion postoperation from intraoperative bleeding. Two pediatric patients
      developed postoperative respiratory complications. One patient required revision
      surgery for nasal vestibule scarring from incision made on the nasal alar to
      facilitate the initial endoscopic approach. CONCLUSION: This novel endoscopic
      transseptal repair technique is effective in the management of choanal atresia.
      Careful fashioning of mucosal flaps and the omission of stenting has resulted in
      lasting patency of the neochoanae.

PMID- 26879231
TI  - Ion-Pair SN 2 Substitution: Activation Strain Analyses of Counter-Ion and Solvent
      Effects.
AB  - The ion-pair SN 2 reactions of model systems MnF(n-1) +CH3Cl(M(+) =Li(+), Na(+),
      K(+), and MgCl(+); n=0, 1) have been quantum chemically explored by using DFT at
      the OLYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. The purpose of this study is threefold: 1) to
      elucidate how the counterion M(+) modifies ion-pair SN 2 reactivity relative to
      the parent reaction F(-) +CH3Cl; 2) to determine how this influences
      stereochemical competition between the backside and frontside attacks; and 3) to
      examine the effect of solvation on these ion-pair SN2 pathways. Trends in
      reactivity are analyzed and explained by using the activation strain model (ASM)
      of chemical reactivity. The ASM has been extended to treat reactivity in
      solution. These findings contribute to a more rational design of tailor-made
      substitution reactions.

PMID- 26879229
TI  - Endothelial Mineralocorticoid Receptor Mediates Diet-Induced Aortic Stiffness in
      Females.
AB  - RATIONALE: Enhanced activation of the mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) in
      cardiovascular tissues increases oxidative stress, maladaptive immune responses,
      and inflammation with associated functional vascular abnormalities. We previously
      demonstrated that consumption of a Western diet (WD) for 16 weeks results in
      aortic stiffening, and that these abnormalities were prevented by systemic MR
      blockade in female mice. However, the cell-specific role of endothelial cell MR
      (ECMR) in these maladaptive vascular effects has not been explored. OBJECTIVE: We
      hypothesized that specific deletion of the ECMR would prevent WD-induced
      increases in endothelial sodium channel activation, reductions in bioavailable
      nitric oxide, increased vascular remodeling, and associated increases in vascular
      stiffness in females. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four-week-old female ECMR knockout and
      wild-type mice were fed either mouse chow or WD for 16 weeks. WD feeding resulted
      in aortic stiffness and endothelial dysfunction as determined in vivo by pulse
      wave velocity and ex vivo by atomic force microscopy, and wire and pressure
      myography. The WD-induced aortic stiffness was associated with enhanced
      endothelial sodium channel activation, attenuated endothelial nitric oxide
      synthase activation, increased oxidative stress, a proinflammatory immune
      response and fibrosis. Conversely, cell-specific ECMR deficiency prevented WD
      induced aortic fibrosis and stiffness in conjunction with reductions in
      endothelial sodium channel activation, oxidative stress and macrophage
      proinflammatory polarization, restoration of endothelial nitric oxide synthase
      activation. CONCLUSIONS: Increased ECMR signaling associated with consumption of
      a WD plays a key role in endothelial sodium channel activation, reduced nitric
      oxide production, oxidative stress, and inflammation that lead to aortic
      remodeling and stiffness in female mice.

PMID- 26879234
TI  - The industrial archaeology of deep time.
AB  - For geologists and antiquaries of the late 1850s debates over ancient stone tools
      were frustrated by a lack of accepted criteria. The artefacts were hard to
      interpret. It was not self-evident how to judge whether they were ancient or
      modern, natural or man-made; or indeed whether stone tools could pre-date the use
      of metal tools at all. Antiquary and papermaker John Evans provided a system that
      offered to resolve these issues. His criteria and his use of re-enactment, making
      his own stone implements, gained acceptance among flint experts across fluid
      disciplinary boundaries and enabled authoritative interpretations of the
      underdetermined objects. This paper explores how Evans drew on the concerns of
      his industrial culture to make sense of prehistoric artefacts and support his
      claim to access the past through his own actions. Situated industrial concerns
      provided the resources for his flint work: from a patent dispute with astronomer
      and fellow industrialist Warren de la Rue, through his role in the Victorian arms
      trade, to the struggle to displace skilled manual labour in his factories. Evans
      is remembered for pioneering the techniques and classificatory system of modern
      Palaeolithic archaeology and as one of the founders of the re-enactment science
      of experimental flint knapping. His work played a significant role in helping
      reconceive the antiquity of man, yet the system of proof for this grand claim was
      deeply situated in his industrial culture. This paper explores how the industrial
      resources of a Victorian papermaker made human history. 

PMID- 26879233
TI  - One-Electron Oxidation of [M(P(t) Bu3 )2 ] (M=Pd, Pt): Isolation of Monomeric
      [Pd(P(t) Bu3 )2 ](+) and Redox-Promoted C-H Bond Cyclometalation.
AB  - Oxidation of zero-valent phosphine complexes [M(P(t) Bu3 )2 ] (M=Pd, Pt) has been
      investigated in 1,2-difluorobenzene solution using cyclic voltammetry and
      subsequently using the ferrocenium cation as a chemical redox agent. In the case
      of palladium, a mononuclear paramagnetic Pd(I) derivative was readily isolated
      from solution and fully characterized (EPR, X-ray crystallography). While in situ
      electrochemical measurements are consistent with initial one-electron oxidation,
      the heavier congener undergoes C-H bond cyclometalation and ultimately affords
      the 14 valence-electron Pt(II) complex [Pt(kappa(2) PC -P(t) Bu2 CMe2 CH2 )(P(t)
      Bu3 )](+) with concomitant formation of [Pt(P(t) Bu3 )2 H](+) . 

PMID- 26879232
TI  - Alcohol abuse increases the risk of HIV infection and diminishes health status of
      clients attending HIV testing services in Vietnam.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vietnam is among those countries with the highest drinking
      prevalence. In this study, we examined the prevalence of alcohol use disorders
      (AUDs) and its associations with HIV risky behaviors, health care utilization,
      and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among clients using voluntary HIV
      testing and counseling services (VCT). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 365
      VCT clients (71% male; mean age 34) was conducted in Hanoi and Nam Dinh province.
      AUD and HRQOL were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
      Consumption (AUDIT-C), and EuroQol-five dimensions-five levels (EQ-5D-5L). Risky
      sexual behaviors, concurrent opioid use, and inpatient and outpatient service use
      were self-reported. RESULTS: 67.2% clients were lifetime ever drinkers of those
      62.9% were hazardous drinkers and 82.0% were binge drinkers. There were 48.8%
      respondents who had >=2 sex partners over the past year and 55.4, 38.3, and 46.1%
      did not use condom in the last sex with primary/casual/commercial sex partners,
      respectively. Multivariate models show that AUD was significantly associated with
      risky sexual behaviors, using inpatient care and lower HRQOL among VCT clients.
      CONCLUSIONS: AUD was prevalent, was associated with increased risks of HIV
      infection, and diminished health status among VCT clients. It may be efficient to
      screen for AUD and refer at-risk clients to appropriate AUD counseling and
      treatment along with HIV-related services.

PMID- 26879230
TI  - Selective Targeting of a Novel Epsin-VEGFR2 Interaction Promotes VEGF-Mediated
      Angiogenesis.
AB  - RATIONALE: We previously reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
      induced binding of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) to epsins 1 and 2 triggers VEGFR2
      degradation and attenuates VEGF signaling. The epsin ubiquitin interacting motif
      (UIM) was shown to be required for the interaction with VEGFR2. However, the
      molecular determinants that govern how epsin specifically interacts with and
      regulates VEGFR2 were unknown. OBJECTIVE: The goals for the present study were as
      follows: (1) to identify critical molecular determinants that drive the
      specificity of the epsin and VEGFR2 interaction and (2) to ascertain whether such
      determinants were critical for physiological angiogenesis in vivo. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Structural modeling uncovered 2 novel binding surfaces within VEGFR2
      that mediate specific interactions with epsin UIM. Three glutamic acid residues
      in epsin UIM were found to interact with residues in VEGFR2. Furthermore, we
      found that the VEGF-induced VEGFR2-epsin interaction promoted casitas B-lineage
      lymphoma-mediated ubiquitination of epsin, and uncovered a previously
      unappreciated ubiquitin-binding surface within VEGFR2. Mutational analysis
      revealed that the VEGFR2-epsin interaction is supported by VEGFR2 interacting
      specifically with the UIM and with ubiquitinated epsin. An epsin UIM peptide, but
      not a mutant UIM peptide, potentiated endothelial cell proliferation, migration
      and angiogenic properties in vitro, increased postnatal retinal angiogenesis, and
      enhanced VEGF-induced physiological angiogenesis and wound healing. CONCLUSIONS:
      Distinct residues in the epsin UIM and VEGFR2 mediate specific interactions
      between epsin and VEGFR2, in addition to UIM recognition of ubiquitin moieties on
      VEGFR2. These novel interactions are critical for pathophysiological
      angiogenesis, suggesting that these sites could be selectively targeted by
      therapeutics to modulate angiogenesis.

PMID- 26879235
TI  - Investigation of Toxic Effects of Mushroom Poisoning on the Cardiovascular
      System.
AB  - Mushroom poisoning (MP) is a public health problem in many countries. It is well
      known that consumption of wild mushrooms may cause serious toxicity on renal,
      hepatic and brain functions. In the literature, however, studies investigating
      cardiotoxic effects of MP are rare. In this study, we evaluated laboratory and
      ECG findings of patients and sought for possible toxic effects of MP on the
      cardiovascular system. During a 2-year period, 175 patients with MP were included
      in the study. The majority of the poisonings occurred in early summertime. The
      most common complaint was found to be nausea and vomiting followed by mental
      status alterations. Methods of treatment were mainly based on gastric lavage,
      activated charcoal and supportive therapy. The most common ECG abnormalities in
      the patients with MP were sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, ST/T inversion,
      1st degree AV block and QT prolongation, respectively. Cardiac markers of the
      patients were found to be normal. Then, patients were divided into two subgroups
      according to symptom onset after consumption (less than 6 hr and more than 6 hr).
      When the two groups were compared, prevalence of tachycardia was significantly
      higher in Group II. Additionally, the interval between mushroom consumption and
      onset of symptoms was strongly correlated with blood pressure (BP). As this
      interval prolonged, BP of the patients tended to increase. In conclusion,
      according to our results, although mechanisms need to be clarified, MP causes
      hypertension and ECG alterations, particularly tachycardia in patients with late
      onset symptoms. 

PMID- 26879237
TI  - Continuous manufacturing of tablets with PROMIS-line - Introduction and case
      studies from continuous feeding, blending and tableting.
AB  - Drug manufacturing technology is in the midst of modernization and continuous
      manufacturing of drug products is especially the focus of great interest. The
      adoption of new manufacturing approaches requires extensive cooperation between
      industry, regulatory bodies, academics and equipment manufacturers. In this paper
      we introduce PROMIS-line which is a continuous tableting line built at the
      University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, PROMIS-centre. PROMIS-line is
      modular and tablets can be produced via dry granulation or direct compression. In
      three case studies, continuous feeding, blending and tablet performance is
      studied to illustrate some basic features of PROMIS-line. In conclusion, the
      PROMIS-line is an excellent tool for studying the fundamentals of continuous
      manufacturing of tablets. 

PMID- 26879236
TI  - Dissecting genetics of cutaneous miRNA in a mouse model of an autoimmune
      blistering disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that control
      genes at post-transcriptional level. They are essential for development and
      tissue differentiation, and such altered miRNA expression patterns are linked to
      the pathogenesis of inflammation and cancer. There is evidence that miRNA
      expression is genetically controlled similar to the transcription of protein
      coding genes and previous studies identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for
      miRNA expression in the liver. So far, little attention has been paid to miRNA
      expression in the skin. Moreover, epistatic control of miRNA expression remains
      unknown. In this study, we characterize genetic regulation of cutaneous miRNA and
      their correlation with skin inflammation using a previously established murine
      autoimmune-prone advanced intercross line. RESULTS: We identified in silico 42
      eQTL controlling the expression of 38 cutaneous miRNAs and furthermore found two
      chromosomal hot-spots on chromosomes 2 and 8 that control the expression of
      multiple miRNAs. Moreover, for 8 miRNAs an interacting effect from pairs of SNPs
      was observed. Combining the constraints on genes from the statistical interaction
      of their loci and further using curated protein interaction networks, the number
      of candidate genes for association of miRNAs was reduced to a set of several
      genes. A cluster analysis identified miR-379 and miR-223 to be associated with
      EBA severity/onset, where miR-379 was observed to be associated to loci on
      chromosome 6. CONCLUSION: The murine advanced intercross line allowed us to
      identify the genetic loci regulating multiple miRNA in skin. The recurrence of
      trans-eQTL and epistasis suggest that cutaneous miRNAs are regulated by yet an
      unexplored complex gene networks. Further, using co-expression analysis of miRNA
      expression levels we showed that multiple miRNA contribute to multiple pathways
      that might be involved in pathogenesis of autoimmune skin blistering disease.
      Specifically, we provide evidence that miRNA such as miR-223 and miR-379 may play
      critical role in disease progression and severity.

PMID- 26879239
TI  - An orthostatic hypotension mimic: The inebriation-like syndrome in Parkinson
      disease.

PMID- 26879238
TI  - Recurrent laryngeal nerve recovery patterns assessed by serial electromyography.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Following acute injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve
      (RLN), laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is increasingly being used to determine
      prognosis for recovery. The LEMG findings change during the recovery process, but
      the timing of these changes is not well described. In this canine study, LEMGs
      were obtained serially following model RLN injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Animal Study.
      METHODS: Thirty-six canine RLNs underwent crush (n = 6), complete transection
      with reanastomosis (n = 6), half-transection half-crush (n = 5), cautery (n = 5),
      stretch (n = 5), inferior crush (n = 4), or inferior transection with
      reanastomosis (n = 5) injuries. Injuries were performed 5 cm from cricoid or were
      5 cm further inferior. Under light sedation, LEMG of thyroarytenoid muscles was
      performed monthly for 6 months following injury. At 6 months, spontaneous and
      induced vocal fold motion was assessed. RESULTS: Except for the stretch injury,
      the remaining groups showed very similar recovery patterns. Fibrillation
      potentials (FPs) and/or positive sharp waves (PSWs; signs of bad prognosis) were
      seen in all cases at 1 month and lasted on average for 2.26 months (range = 1-4
      months). Motor unit potentials of at least 2+ (scale = 0-4+; signs of good
      prognosis) were seen beginning at 3.61 months (range = 2-6 months). The stretch
      injury was less severe, with 3 of 5 showing no FPs/PSWs at 1 month; all recovered
      full mobility. Ten of the 36 thyroarytenoid muscles (27.8%) had 1 electromyograph
      showing both bad prognosis and good prognosis signs simultaneously at 2 to 4
      months postinjury. CONCLUSIONS: LEMG can be used to predict RNL recovery, but
      timing is important and LEMG results earlier than 3 months may overestimate a
      negative prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:651-656, 2016.

PMID- 26879240
TI  - Early beta-blocker use and in-hospital mortality in patients with Takotsubo
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A catecholamine-mediated mechanism has been implicated in the
      pathogenesis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). However, the impact of beta
      blockers in acute-phase management of TC remains uncertain. This study aimed to
      examine whether early beta-blocker use in TC was associated with lower in
      hospital mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the
      Diagnosis Procedure Combination nationwide inpatient database in Japan. Patients
      with TC aged >=20 years who were admitted to acute-care hospitals between 2010
      and 2014 were identified. Thirty-day in-hospital mortality was compared between
      patients who started beta-blocker therapy on hospitalisation day 1 or 2 (early
      beta-blocker group) and those who did not receive a beta-blocker during
      hospitalisation (control group) using propensity score-matching and instrumental
      variable analyses. RESULTS: Of 2672 eligible patients (female, 81.5%; 423 early
      beta-blocker therapy, 2249 controls) from 615 hospitals, 1:4 propensity score
      matching created a cohort of 2110 patients (422 early beta-blocker therapy, 1688
      controls). There was no significant difference in 30-day in-hospital mortality
      between the early beta-blocker group and control group (2.4% vs 2.0%, p=0.703;
      risk difference, 0.4%; 95% CI, -1.2% to 2.0%). Logistic regression analysis did
      not show a significant association between early beta-blocker use and 30-day in
      hospital mortality (OR, 1.17; 95% CI 0.58 to 2.37). Instrumental variable
      analysis also found that early beta-blocker use was not associated with lower 30
      day in-hospital mortality (risk difference, 1.2%; 95% CI -3.1% to 5.5%).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study found no significant association between early beta
      blocker use and in-hospital mortality in patients with TC.

PMID- 26879241
TI  - Prolonged PR interval, first-degree heart block and adverse cardiovascular
      outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: First-degree atrioventricular block is frequently encountered in
      clinical practice and is generally considered a benign process. However, there is
      emerging evidence that prolonged PR interval may be associated with adverse
      outcomes. This study aims to determine if prolonged PR interval is associated
      with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE
      and EMBASE for studies that evaluated clinical outcomes associated with prolonged
      and normal PR intervals. Relevant studies were pooled using random effects meta
      analysis for risk of mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, coronary
      heart disease, atrial fibrillation and stroke or transient ischaemic attack
      (TIA). Sensitivity analyses were performed considering the population type and
      the use of adjustments. RESULTS: Our search yielded 14 studies that were
      undertaken between 1972 and 2011 with 400,750 participants. Among the studies
      that adjusted for potential confounders, the pooled results suggest an increased
      risk of mortality with prolonged PR interval risk ratio (RR) 1.24 95% CI 1.02 to
      1.51, five studies. Prolonged PR interval was associated with significant risk of
      heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction (RR 1.39 95% CI 1.18 to 1.65, three
      studies) and atrial fibrillation (RR 1.45 95% CI 1.23 to 1.71, eight studies) but
      not cardiovascular mortality, coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction or
      stroke or TIA. Similar observations were recorded when limited to studies of
      first-degree heart block. CONCLUSIONS: Data from observational studies suggests a
      possible association between prolonged PR interval and significant increases in
      atrial fibrillation, heart failure and mortality. Future prospective studies are
      needed to confirm the relationships reported, consider possible mechanisms and
      define the optimal monitoring strategy for such patients.

PMID- 26879243
TI  - Heteroleptic Tetrapyrrole-Fused Dimeric and Trimeric Skeletons with Unusual Non
      Frustrated Fluorescence.
AB  - Phthalocyanine (Pc) and porphyrin (Por) chromophores have been fused through the
      benzo[alpha]pyrazine moiety, resulting in unprecedented heteroleptic tetrapyrrole
      fused dimers and trimers. The heteroleptic tetrapyrrole nature has been clearly
      revealed based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the zinc dimer.
      Electrochemical analysis, theoretical calculations, and time-resolved
      spectroscopic results disclose that the two/three-tetrapyrrole-fused skeletons
      behave as one totally pi-conjugated system as a result of the strong conjugative
      interaction between/among the tetrapyrrole chromophores. In particular, the
      effectively extended pi-electron system through the fused-bridge induced strong
      electronic communication between the Pc and Por moieties and large transition
      dipole moments in the Pc-Por-fused systems, providing high fluorescence quantum
      yields (>0.13) and relatively long excited state lifetimes (>1.3 ns) in
      comparison with their homo-tetrapyrrole-fused analogues.

PMID- 26879242
TI  - Monitoring the biological activity of abdominal aortic aneurysms Beyond
      Ultrasound.
AB  - Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are an important cause of morbidity and, when
      ruptured, are associated with >80% mortality. Current management decisions are
      based on assessment of aneurysm diameter by abdominal ultrasound. However, AAA
      growth is non-linear and rupture can occur at small diameters or may never occur
      in those with large AAAs. There is a need to develop better imaging biomarkers
      that can identify the potential risk of rupture independent of the aneurysm
      diameter. Key pathobiological processes of AAA progression and rupture include
      neovascularisation, necrotic inflammation, microcalcification and proteolytic
      degradation of the extracellular matrix. These processes represent key targets
      for emerging imaging techniques and may confer an increased risk of expansion or
      rupture over and above the known patient-related risk factors. Magnetic resonance
      imaging, using ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide, can identify
      and track hotspots of macrophage activity. Positron emission tomography, using a
      variety of targeted tracers, can detect areas of inflammation, angiogenesis,
      hypoxia and microcalcification. By going beyond the simple monitoring of diameter
      expansion using ultrasound, these cellular and molecular imaging techniques may
      have the potential to allow improved prediction of expansion or rupture and to
      better guide elective surgical intervention.

PMID- 26879244
TI  - Interfacial Engineering for Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells.
AB  - Quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) are promising solar-energy-conversion
      devices, as low-cost alternatives to the prevailing photovoltaic technologies.
      Compared with molecular dyes, nanocrystalline quantum dot (QD) light absorbers
      exhibit higher molar extinction coefficients and a tunable photoresponse.
      However, the power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of QDSCs are generally below
      9.5 %, far behind their molecular sensitizer counterparts (up to 13 %). These low
      PCEs have been attributed to a large free-energy loss during sensitizer
      regeneration, energy loss during the charge-carrier transport and transfer
      processes, and inefficient charge separation at the QD/electrolyte interfaces,
      and various interfacial engineering strategies for enhancing the PCE and cell
      stability have been reported. Herein, we review recent progress in the
      interfacial engineering of QDSCs and discuss future prospects for the development
      of highly efficient and stable QDSCs.

PMID- 26879246
TI  - The effects of different types of hair shaving on the body image and surgical
      site infection in elective cranial surgery.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of different types of shaving on
      body image and surgical site infection in elective cranial surgery. BACKGROUND:
      Hair shaving before cranial surgery is commonly performed in many countries.
      However, the impact of shaving on the patients' body image and surgical site
      infection is not, as yet, well investigated. DESIGN: A randomised-controlled
      design was used in this study. METHODS: The sample comprised 200 patients who
      underwent elective cranial surgery between March 2013-August 2014. The Center for
      Disease Control and Prevention criteria were applied for the preoperative
      preparation of patients and for the follow-up of surgical site infection. Wound
      swab cultures were obtained four times from all patients. The Social Appearance
      Anxiety Scale was used to assess changes in the body image of patients. FINDINGS:
      The rate of surgical site infection was 1% for each group and for all patients.
      There was no difference between the groups of surgical site infection. Coagulase
      negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus epidermidis were mostly isolated in the
      swab cultures. The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale score decreased in patients
      who underwent strip shaving and increased in patients with regional shaving.
      CONCLUSION: There is no difference between strip shaving and regional shaving in
      the development of surgical site infection after cranial surgery. In addition,
      regional hair shaving negatively affects the patients' body image. RELEVANCE TO
      CLINICAL PRACTICE: Findings of this study provide useful evidence-based
      information for healthcare professionals. The development and implementation of
      effective interventions result in the prevention of surgical site infection and
      improvement of the patients' body image in elective cranial surgery.

PMID- 26879245
TI  - Anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody ABT-700 breaks oncogene addiction in tumors with
      MET amplification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: c-Met is the receptor tyrosine kinase for hepatocyte growth factor
      (HGF) encoded by the MET proto-oncogene. Aberrant activation of c-Met resulting
      from MET amplification and c-Met overexpression is associated with poor clinical
      outcome in multiple malignancies underscoring the importance of c-Met signaling
      in cancer progression. Several c-Met inhibitors have advanced to the clinic;
      however, the development of inhibitory c-Met-directed therapeutic antibodies has
      been hampered by inherent agonistic activity. METHOD: We generated and tested a
      bivalent anti-c-Met monoclonal antibody ABT-700 in vitro for binding potency and
      antagonistic activity and in vivo for antitumor efficacy in human tumor
      xenografts. Human cancer cell lines and gastric cancer tissue microarrays were
      examined for MET amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
      RESULTS: ABT-700 exhibits a distinctive ability to block both HGF-independent
      constitutive c-Met signaling and HGF-dependent activation of c-Met. Cancer cells
      addicted to the constitutively activated c-Met signaling driven by MET
      amplification undergo apoptosis upon exposure to ABT-700. ABT-700 induces tumor
      regression and tumor growth delay in preclinical tumor models of gastric and lung
      cancers harboring amplified MET. ABT-700 in combination with chemotherapeutics
      also shows additive antitumor effect. Amplification of MET in human cancer
      tissues can be identified by FISH. CONCLUSIONS: The preclinical attributes of ABT
      700 in blocking c-Met signaling, inducing apoptosis and suppressing tumor growth
      in cancers with amplified MET provide rationale for examining its potential
      clinical utility for the treatment of cancers harboring MET amplification.

PMID- 26879248
TI  - Evolution of rapid nerve conduction.
AB  - Rapid conduction of nerve impulses is a priority for organisms needing to react
      quickly to events in their environment. While myelin may be viewed as the
      crowning innovation bringing about rapid conduction, the evolution of rapid
      communication mechanisms, including those refined and enhanced in the evolution
      of myelin, has much deeper roots. In this review, a sequence is traced starting
      with diffusional communication, followed by transport-facilitated communication,
      the rise of electrical signaling modalities, the invention of voltage-gated
      channels and "all-or-none" impulses, the emergence of elongate nerve axons
      specialized for communication and their fine-tuning to enhance impulse conduction
      speeds. Finally within the evolution of myelin itself, several innovations have
      arisen and have been interactively refined for speed enhancement, including the
      addition and sealing of layers, their limitation by space availability, and the
      optimization of key parameters: channel density, lengths of exposed nodes and
      lengths of internodes. We finish by suggesting several design principles that
      appear to govern the evolution of rapid conduction. This article is part of a
      Special Issue entitled SI: Myelin Evolution.

PMID- 26879247
TI  - Hidden musculoskeletal involvement in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter
      ultrasound study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with a variety of extra
      intestinal manifestations. The most frequent of these is joint involvement, which
      affects 16-33 % of IBD patients. Our aim was to evaluate the ultrasound
      prevalence of sub-clinical joint and entheseal involvement in patients with IBD
      without musculoskeletal symptoms, and to correlate the US findings with clinical
      and laboratory variables. METHODS: We recorded the clinical and laboratory data
      of 76 patients with IBD, 20 patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and 45 healthy
      controls at three rheumatology centers. All of the IBD patients and healthy
      controls were clinically examined by a rheumatologist in order to confirm the
      absence of musculoskeletal symptoms, and all of the subjects underwent grey-scale
      (GS) and power Doppler (PD) US examinations of the second and third
      metacarpophalangeal joints, knees and lower limbs in order to detect joint or
      entheseal abnormalities. RESULTS: A total of 1410 entheseal sites and 1410 joints
      were evaluated by US. Of the 76 patients with IBD, 64 (84.1 %) had at least one
      GS entheseal abnormality, and 11 (13.9 %) had more than one PD-positive entheseal
      site; 32 (42.1 %) showed sub-clinical joint involvement. There was a significant
      difference between the IBD patients and healthy controls in terms of global
      entheseal, PD-positive entheseal, and joint involvement (p < 0.0001), but no
      difference between the IBD and SpA patients. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic
      antibodies predicted entheseal involvement in patients with IBD (OR 6.031; p =
      0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sub-clinical joint and entheseal
      involvement was higher in IBD patients than healthy controls, but there was no
      difference between the IBD and SpA patients.

PMID- 26879249
TI  - Local electron-electron interaction strength in ferromagnetic nickel determined
      by spin-polarized positron annihilation.
AB  - We employ a positron annihilation technique, the spin-polarized two-dimensional
      angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR), to measure the spin
      difference spectra of ferromagnetic nickel. The experimental data are compared
      with the theoretical results obtained within a combination of the local spin
      density approximation (LSDA) and the many-body dynamical mean-field theory
      (DMFT). We find that the self-energy defining the electronic correlations in Ni
      leads to anisotropic contributions to the momentum distribution. By direct
      comparison of the theoretical and experimental results we determine the strength
      of the local electronic interaction U in ferromagnetic Ni as 2.0 +/- 0.1 eV.

PMID- 26879250
TI  - Selective Pyroelectric Detection of Millimetre Waves Using Ultra-Thin Metasurface
      Absorbers.
AB  - Sensing infrared radiation is done inexpensively with pyroelectric detectors that
      generate a temporary voltage when they are heated by the incident infrared
      radiation. Unfortunately the performance of these detectors deteriorates for
      longer wavelengths, leaving the detection of, for instance, millimetre-wave
      radiation to expensive approaches. We propose here a simple and effective method
      to enhance pyroelectric detection of the millimetre-wave radiation by combining a
      compact commercial infrared pyro-sensor with a metasurface-enabled ultra-thin
      absorber, which provides spectrally- and polarization-discriminated response and
      is 136 times thinner than the operating wavelength. It is demonstrated that, due
      to the small thickness and therefore the thermal capacity of the absorber, the
      detector keeps the high response speed and sensitivity to millimetre waves as the
      original infrared pyro-sensor does against the regime of infrared detection. An
      in-depth electromagnetic analysis of the ultra-thin resonant absorbers along with
      their complex characterization by a BWO-spectroscopy technique is presented.
      Built upon this initial study, integrated metasurface absorber pyroelectric
      sensors are implemented and tested experimentally, showing high sensitivity and
      very fast response to millimetre-wave radiation. The proposed approach paves the
      way for creating highly-efficient inexpensive compact sensors for spectro
      polarimetric applications in the millimetre-wave and terahertz bands. 

PMID- 26879251
TI  - [Editorial].

PMID- 26879252
TI  - [Pharmacological properties of vortioxetine and its pre-clinical consequences].
AB  - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are extensively used for the
      treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). SSRIs are defined as indirect
      receptor agonists since the activation of postsynaptic receptors is a consequence
      of an increase in extracellular concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) mediated by
      the blockade of serotonin transporter. The activation of some serotoninergic
      receptors (5-HT1A, post-synaptic, 5-HT1B post-synaptic, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT4), but
      not all (5-HT1A, pre-synaptic, 5-HT1B pre-synaptic, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, and
      probably 5-HT6), induces anxiolytic/antidepressive - like effects. Targetting
      specifically some of them could potentially improve the onset of action and/or
      efficacy and/or prevent MD relapse. Vortioxetine (Brintellix, 1- [2-(2,4
      dimethylphenyl-sulfanyl)-phenyl]-piperazine) is a novel multi-target
      antidepressant drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by
      European Medicines Agency. Its properties are markedly different from the
      extensively prescribed SSRIs. Compared to the SSRIs, vortioxetine is defined as a
      multimodal antidepressant drug since it is not only a serotonin reuptake
      inhibitor, but also a 5-HT1D, 5-HT3, 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, 5-HT1B receptor
      partial agonist and 5-HT1A receptor agonist. This specific pharmacological
      profile enables vortioxetine to affect not only the serotoninergic and
      noradrenergic systems, but also the histaminergic, cholinergic, gamma-butyric
      acid (GABA) ergic and glutamatergic ones. Thus, vortioxetine not only induces
      antidepressant-like or anxiolytic-like activity but also improves cognitive
      parameters in several animal models. Indeed, vortioxetine was shown to improve
      working memory, episodic memory, cognitive flexibility and spatial memory in
      young adult rodents and also in old animal models. These specific effects of the
      vortioxetine are of interest considering that cognitive dysfunction is a common
      comorbidity to MDD. Altogether, even though this molecule still needs to be
      investigated further, especially in the insufficient-response to antidepressant
      drugs, vortioxetine is already an innovative therapeutic option for the treatment
      of major depression.

PMID- 26879253
TI  - [Placebo effect: clinical, biological and therapeutical involvements in
      depression].
AB  - The placebo effect is an excellent model for understanding the mechanisms
      underlying the interaction between a subjective and complex mental activity
      (beliefs, expectations, hopes, learning, patient-physician relationship, socio
      cultural context .) with different neural and biological systems. Initially,
      research on the placebo effect has focused on the mechanisms of pain and
      analgesia. The cognitive processes of conditioning and reward anticipation (hope
      of a relief) were highlighted. The involvement of different neurobiological
      pathways has been clearly shown: endogenous opioids, CCK, dopaminergic pathways,
      endocannabinoids, immunological factors... More recently, the field has open
      towards new perspectives: depression and anxiety, motor disorders, immune system,
      endocrine system. Intensive research in the field emerges because of its
      fundamental implications in neuroscience research but also because of the
      ethical, clinical and therapeutical issues. Moreover, the placebo effect is
      considered as a main methodological mean issue in clinical trials that allows the
      demonstration of the efficacy and tolerance of new drugs. In the field of
      psychiatry, depression is a placebo highly-sensitive disorder: placebo response
      rates in clinical trials are of the order of 30 % to 40 %. The identification of
      biological markers of placebo response, such as neuroimaging and quantitative
      electroencephalography may lead to develop more efficient models in clinical
      research.

PMID- 26879254
TI  - [Cognition - the core of major depressive disorder].
AB  - Cognitive deficits have been only recently recognized as a major phenotype
      determinant of major depressive disorder, although they are an integral part of
      the definition of the depressive state. Congruent evidence suggest that these
      cognitive deficits persist beyond the acute phase and may be identified at all
      ages. The aim of the current study was to review the main meta-analyses on
      cognition and depression, which encompasses a large range of cognitive domains.
      Therefore, we discuss the "cold" (attention, memory, executive functions) and
      "hot" (emotional bias) cognitive impairments in MDD, as well as those of social
      cognition domains (empathy, theory of mind). Several factors interfere with
      cognition in MDD such as clinical (melancholic, psychotic...) features, age, age
      of onset, illness severity, medication and comorbid condition. As still debated
      in the literature, the type of relationship between the severity of cognitive
      symptoms and functioning in depression is detailed, thus highlighting their
      predictive value of functional outcome, independently of the affective symptoms.
      A better identification of the cognitive deficits in MDD and a monitoring of the
      effects of different treatments require appropriate instruments, which may be
      developed by taking advantage of the increasing success of computing tools.
      Overall, current data suggest a core role for different cognitive deficits in
      MDD, therefore opening new perspectives for optimizing the treatment of
      depression.

PMID- 26879255
TI  - [Unsatisfactory response: definition and involvement].
AB  - In the treatment of unipolar depression, treatment response is a key issue in
      terms of evolution and prognosis. Within this concept, the inadequate response
      includes the worsening, the lack of response, partial response and poor
      tolerance. This lack of response may be related to intrinsic factors to the
      individual, but also to more extrinsic environmental factors. In this review, we
      explore this concept through its links with adherence and treatment duration. In
      this field, the concept of early response can be a powerful indicator of
      therapeutic response, which conditions the prescription of antidepressants beyond
      the strict framework of the sufficient period of 4 to 6 weeks. In addition to its
      impact on prognosis, the literature data show that the insufficient response is a
      significant burden in terms of medical and economic cost, and somatic
      comorbidity; and justifies a systematic identification of this dimension.
      Therefore self-reports (QIDS; BDI) will be preferred to the clinician-rated
      depression symptom rating scales (MADRS, HAMD) that require a specific training.
      Identifying predictors of non-response would be an attractive target for
      prescribers but the results to date are not operative. 

PMID- 26879256
TI  - [How to treat and manage unsatisfactory response?].
AB  - Only one third of patients suffering from depression will achieve a satisfactory
      response with first line treatments and more than half of patients will fail to
      obtain at least 50 % reduction in their symptoms after 3 months of treatment.
      This article presents a review of the scientific arguments supporting the various
      therapeutic strategies when confronted to a first treatment failure after an
      adequate drug trial. Several pharmacological approaches are possible. A first and
      classical approach is adjusting the drug dosage (optimization). This strategy is
      coherent with the pharmacological profile of some antidepressant drugs (tricyclic
      antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, venlafaxine). There is no
      scientific basis to a dose-effect relationship with the selective serotonin
      reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as minimal doses of these drugs correspond to a high
      ratio of serotonin transporter occupation; however increasing doses of SSRIs
      constitutes a usual practice, endorsed by several experts. A second classic
      strategy is changing an inefficient antidepressant drug to another antidepressant
      drug (switch). Theoretically, a different pharmacological class should have more
      chances to be successful; however, in the case of a failure with an SSRI, an
      inter-class switch has not consistently proven to be superior to an intra-class
      switch. In some cases, association of antidepressant drugs can also be an
      advantageous strategy (combination), particularly in the case of partial response
      with the first prescribed drug. Due to its particular mechanism of action,
      mirtazapine is often a drug of choice in the case of such an association.
      Finally, another approach to recommend in case of partial response is associating
      an antidepressant drug to another class of drugs, such as lithium, atypical
      antipsychotics or thyroid hormones (potentiation). Lithium has unfailingly proven
      its efficacy in case of resistance, but the utilization of atypical
      antipsychotics, at low-doses, has become increasingly common, certainly, because
      they are easier to handle. Aside from the pharmacological options, we can
      consider a number of other strategies, first among them is psychotherapy. Most
      studies assessing the efficacy of psychotherapy were conducted with this therapy
      as a first-line treatment. More studies of psychotherapy in depression after
      unsatisfactory response are distinctly needed. Available data seem to indicate
      that psychotherapy constitutes an efficient alternative, regardless of the type
      of psychotherapy (results are more robust in cognitive and behavioural therapies
      and brief interpersonal psychotherapy, in relation with the greater number of
      studies using these therapies), with effect sizes comparable to the ones obtained
      with pharmacological options. Among other strategies, physical exercise has been
      getting more attention lately, even though evidence in this indication remains
      deceiving for the moment. Lastly, neuromodulation techniques have an
      unquestionable place. The rTMS has been largely tested with interesting results.
      Given the time and staff necessary to conduct this therapy, the question has now
      switched to how precisely select the patients who will most benefit from rTMs,
      and how long and at what pace should the sessions take place. ECT is undoubtedly
      the most efficient treatment, but, apart from life-threatening melancholia and
      other restricted exceptions, it is usually indicated in multi-resistant
      depression. Some authors suggest using this therapy earlier, as chronicity of the
      disease is itself a factor of poor response. Finally, this article reviews also
      the most recent French and International guidelines in managing patients having
      showed an unsatisfactory response to a first-line treatment. 

PMID- 26879257
TI  - Thermal and quantum depletion of superconductivity in narrow junctions created by
      controlled electromigration.
AB  - Superconducting nanowires currently attract great interest due to their
      application in single-photon detectors and quantum-computing circuits. In this
      context, it is of fundamental importance to understand the detrimental
      fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter as the wire width shrinks. In
      this paper, we use controlled electromigration to narrow down aluminium
      nanoconstrictions. We demonstrate that a transition from thermally assisted phase
      slips to quantum phase slips takes place when the cross section becomes less than
      ~150 nm(2). In the regime dominated by quantum phase slips the nanowire loses its
      capacity to carry current without dissipation, even at the lowest possible
      temperature. We also show that the constrictions exhibit a negative
      magnetoresistance at low-magnetic fields, which can be attributed to the
      suppression of superconductivity in the contact leads. These findings reveal
      perspectives of the proposed fabrication method for exploring various fascinating
      superconducting phenomena in atomic-size contacts. 

PMID- 26879259
TI  - Metastable Nitric Acid Trihydrate in Ice Clouds.
AB  - The composition of high-altitude ice clouds is still a matter of intense
      discussion. The constituents in question are ice and nitric acid hydrates, but
      the exact phase composition of clouds and its formation mechanisms are still
      unknown. In this work, conclusive evidence for a long-predicted phase, alpha
      nitric acid trihydrate (alpha-NAT), is presented. This phase was characterized by
      a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments, allowing a convincing
      structure solution. Furthermore, vibrational spectra (infrared and inelastic
      neutron scattering) were recorded and compared with theoretical calculations. A
      strong interaction between water ice and alpha-NAT was found, which explains the
      experimental spectra and the phase-transition kinetics. On the basis of these
      results, we propose a new three-step mechanism for NAT formation in high-altitude
      ice clouds. 

PMID- 26879258
TI  - A single residue substitution accounts for the significant difference in
      thermostability between two isoforms of human cytosolic creatine kinase.
AB  - Creatine kinase (CK) helps maintain homeostasis of intracellular ATP level by
      catalyzing the reversible phosphotransfer between ATP and phosphocreatine. In
      humans, there are two cytosolic CK isoforms, the muscle-type (M) and the brain
      type (B), which frequently function as homodimers (hMMCK and hBBCK).
      Interestingly, these isoenzymes exhibit significantly different
      thermostabilities, despite high similarity in amino acid sequences and tertiary
      structures. In order to investigate the mechanism of this phenomenon, in this
      work, we first used domain swapping and site-directed mutagenesis to search for
      the key residues responsible for the isoenzyme-specific thermostability.
      Strikingly, the difference in thermostability was found to principally arise from
      one single residue substitution at position 36 (Pro in hBBCK vs. Leu in hMMCK).
      We then engaged the molecular dynamics simulations to study the molecular
      mechanism. The calculations imply that the P36L substitution introduces
      additional local interactions around residue 36 and thus further stabilizes the
      dimer interface through a complex interaction network, which rationalizes the
      observation that hMMCK is more resistant to thermal inactivation than hBBCK. We
      finally confirmed this molecular explanation through thermal inactivation assays
      on Asp36 mutants that were proposed to devastate the local interactions and thus
      the dimer associations in both isoenzymes. 

PMID- 26879260
TI  - Enhancing performance and uniformity of CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x) perovskite solar
      cells by air-heated-oven assisted annealing under various humidities.
AB  - To fabricate high-performance metal-halide perovskite solar cells, a thermal
      annealing process is indispensable in preparing high quality perovskite film. And
      usually such annealing is performed on hot plate. However hot-plate annealing
      could cause problems such as inhomogeneous heating (induced by non-tight contact
      between the sample and the plate), it is also not fit for large scale
      manufactory. In this paper, we conduct the annealing process in air-heated oven
      under various humidity environments, and compared the resulted films (CH3NH3PbI(3
      x)Cl(x)) and devices (Al/PC61BM/CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x)/ PEDOT: PSS/ITO/glass) with
      that obtained via hot-plate annealing. It is found that the air-heated-oven
      annealing is superior to the hot-plate annealing: the annealing time is shorter,
      the films are more uniform, and the devices exhibit higher power conversion
      efficiency and better uniformity. The highest efficiencies achieved for the oven
      and hot-plate annealing processes are 14.9% and 13.5%, and the corresponding
      standard deviations are 0.5% and 0.8%, respectively. Our work here indicates that
      air-heated-oven annealing could be a more reliable and more efficient way for
      both lab research and large-scale production.

PMID- 26879261
TI  - Is leukocyte tissue factor the key to venous thrombosis in antiphospholipid
      syndrome?

PMID- 26879264
TI  - Genetic analysis of NCSTN for potential association with hidradenitis suppurativa
      in familial and nonfamilial patients.

PMID- 26879262
TI  - Chemical control of xylem differentiation by thermospermine, xylemin, and auxin.
AB  - The xylem conducts water and minerals from the root to the shoot and provides
      mechanical strength to the plant body. The vascular precursor cells of the
      procambium differentiate to form continuous vascular strands, from which xylem
      and phloem cells are generated in the proper spatiotemporal pattern. Procambium
      formation and xylem differentiation are directed by auxin. In angiosperms,
      thermospermine, a structural isomer of spermine, suppresses xylem differentiation
      by limiting auxin signalling. However, the process of auxin-inducible xylem
      differentiation has not been fully elucidated and remains difficult to
      manipulate. Here, we found that an antagonist of spermidine can act as an
      inhibitor of thermospermine biosynthesis and results in excessive xylem
      differentiation, which is a phenocopy of a thermospermine-deficient mutant
      acaulis5 in Arabidopsis thaliana. We named this compound xylemin owing to its
      xylem-inducing effect. Application of a combination of xylemin and thermospermine
      to wild-type seedlings negates the effect of xylemin, whereas co-treatment with
      xylemin and a synthetic proauxin, which undergoes hydrolysis to release active
      auxin, has a synergistic inductive effect on xylem differentiation. Thus, xylemin
      may serve as a useful transformative chemical tool not only for the study of
      thermospermine function in various plant species but also for the control of
      xylem induction and woody biomass production. 

PMID- 26879265
TI  - Molecular mechanism of constitutively active Rab11A was revealed by crystal
      structure of Rab11A S20V.
AB  - Rab11A is a small GTP-binding protein involved in the regulation of vesicle
      trafficking during recycling of endosomes. Substitution of S20 to V (S20V) at
      Rab11A inhibits the GTP hydrolysis activity of Rab11A. This mutation is known to
      be constitutively in an active form. Here, we report the crystal structure of the
      human Rab11A S20V mutant form complexed with GTP at a resolution of 2.4 A.
      Without adding any substrate, Rab11A contained non-hydrolyzed natural substrate
      GTP in the nucleotide binding pocket with Mg(2+). In our observations,
      substituted V20 of Rab11A was found to interfere with proper localization of the
      water molecule, which mediated GTP hydrolysis, resulting in GTP being locked in
      an active form of Rab11A S20V.

PMID- 26879266
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of a high-purity plasma-derived factor X concentrate in subjects
      with moderate or severe hereditary factor X deficiency.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hereditary factor X (FX) deficiency affects 1:500 000 to 1:1 000
      000 of individuals. There are few published data on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of
      FX for existing treatments for FX deficiency, and no specific replacement factor
      concentrate exists. A high-purity plasma-derived FX concentrate (pdFX) has been
      developed for use as replacement therapy in subjects with hereditary FX
      deficiency. AIM: This analysis assessed pdFX PK after a single 25 IU kg(-1) bolus
      dose in subjects with hereditary moderate or severe FX deficiency (plasma FX
      activity [FX:C] <5 IU dL(-1) ). METHODS: For a baseline PK assessment, blood
      samples were taken predose and at intervals up to 144 h (7 days) post dose. After
      >=6 months of on-demand pdFX treatment and treatment of >=1 bleed with pdFX,
      subjects underwent repeat PK assessment. Samples were assayed for plasma FX:C
      (measured using the clotting and chromogenic assays) and FX antigen. RESULTS:
      FX:C peaked at 0.4-0.5 h and subsequently declined over the course of 144 h with
      a biphasic decay curve. PK parameters observed at the baseline (n = 16) and
      repeat (n = 15) assessments were equivalent, therefore summary PK values were
      obtained by combining data from both visits (n = 31). The mean terminal half-life
      and incremental recovery of pdFX was 29.4 h and 2.00 IU dL(-1) per IU kg(-1)
      respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the most comprehensive PK study to date in
      subjects with hereditary FX deficiency. These results are consistent with the
      observed haemostatic efficacy of pdFX and provide the PK data required for the
      treatment of hereditary FX deficiency using pdFX replacement therapy.

PMID- 26879267
TI  - Multifactorial etiology of Torus mandibularis: study of twins.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the multifactorial etiology of
      mandibular tori analyzing the influence of genetics, occlusal overload, various
      clinical variables and their interactions. METHODS: Overall, plaster casts of 162
      twins (81 twin pairs) were analyzed for the presence or absence of mandibular
      tori. Atypical wear facets on canine tips or incisors were recorded to diagnose
      bruxism. Angle Class, any kind of anterior open bite and positive, negative or
      flat curve of Wilson were recorded. Zygosity determination was carried out using
      a DNA test. RESULTS: Mandibular tori were found in 56.8% of the cases. In 93.6%
      of all monozygotic twin pairs both individuals had or did not have mandibular
      tori (kappa=0.96+/-0.04; p<0.001), compared to 79.4% concordance of mandibular
      tori in dizygotic co-twins (kappa=0.7+/-0.12; p<0.001). Prevalence of mandibular
      tori was significantly higher in the group of bruxers (67.5%) compared to non
      bruxers (31.3%) (p<0.001). Significant association between mandibular tori and
      negative or flat curve of Wilson in the maxillary second premolars and first
      molars was found (OR=2.55, 95% CI (1.19-5.46), p=0.016). In all monozygotic
      bruxers, 97.1% showed concordance of mandibular tori presence in both co-twins
      compared to 78.9% dizygotic bruxers, and this difference is statistically
      significant (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the mandibular tori
      are of a multifactorial origin. Mandibular tori seem to have genetic
      predisposition, and may be associated with teeth grinding as well as with
      negative or flat CW in region of maxillary second premolar and first molar.

PMID- 26879268
TI  - The relationship between mandibular rotation and osseous structure of the TMJ in
      pre-surgery orthognathic patients: A cone beam CT study.
AB  - The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between vertical skeletal
      pattern in terms of mandibular rotation and osseous structural changes of the TMJ
      in pre- surgical orthognatic patients. TMJ skeletal morphology was evaluated in
      cone beam computer tomography images of 117 consecutive patients with Class II
      and Class III dentofacial deformities according to the research diagnostic
      criteria of the osseous components of the TMJ related to the maxillary-mandibular
      plane (MM) angle. The distribution of the number and percentage of joints with
      structural changes in Class II was markedly different in groups divided according
      to the MM angle. Statistically significant increase was found in the percentage
      of TMJ's with osseous changes separately for each side, i.e., right (p=0.001),
      left (p=0.04) and both together (p=0.0001), in the Class II patient group, an
      increased MM angle indicated backward rotation of the mandible. In Class III
      patients, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of
      joints with TMJ structural changes. The presence of mentioned changes was
      asymmetrical between the left and right joints in both the Class II and Class III
      patient groups. In conclusion, structural changes in the osseous parts of the TMJ
      are more common in patients with Class II skeletal dentofacial deformities with
      backward rotation of the mandible than in Class III pre-surgery orthognathic
      patients.

PMID- 26879269
TI  - Oral health related to quality of life in patients with stomatological diseases.
AB  - AIM: To describe the oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) in patients
      with stomatological diseases. METHODS: All new patients seen in the Stomatology
      Clinic, from August 2008 to July 2009 were selected. OHR-QoL was measured using
      OHIP-14, in face-to-face interviews. The stomatological diseases were classified
      into groups according to their origin. OHIP-14 data were used to calculate two
      variables: prevalence and severity. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by
      113 subjects, with a mean of 53.77 years; 63.7% women; 38% of the subjects
      reported one or more OHR-QoL impacts "fairly often" or "very often" in the last 6
      months. The overall result of OHIP-14 index showed a mean of 14.35 (+/-12.01).
      There was no statistical significance between the stomatological disease groups
      and the prevalence scores (p=0.25) and mean severity scores (p=0.57).
      CONCLUSIONS: It seems that bad oral conditions affected quality of life of these
      patients, especially physical pain and psychological discomfort.

PMID- 26879270
TI  - Candida albicans importance to denture wearers. A literature review.
AB  - Opportunistic oral fungal infections have spred, especially in denture wearers.
      Denture stomatitis is a common inflammatory reaction, multifactorial etiology,
      which is usually associated with Candida species, particularly Candida albicans,
      due to its high virulence, ability to adhere and form biofilms on oral cavity
      tissues and denture surfaces. This article highlights the pathogenesis, clinical
      presentation, and management strategies of Candida-associated denture stomatitis
      commonly encountered in dental practice.

PMID- 26879271
TI  - Aspiration and Brushing Cytology in tumors and tumor-like conditions of the
      tongue: A Study of 27 Cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lesions of the tongue have a broad differential diagnosis ranging
      from benign idiopathic processes to infections, cancers, and infiltrative
      disorders. An important thing to remember is that most tongue lesions will
      resolve spontaneously or with simple therapy within a week, if not, they should
      be biopsied or evaluated further for a definitive diagnosis of a potentially
      serious disorder. Some tongue lesions may be clues to other underlying illnesses
      which require further evaluation Tongue lesions are traditionally evaluated by
      surgical biopsy. Most of them, however, are easily accessible by fine-needle
      aspiration (FNA) or brushing. STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen males and twelve females aged
      from 15 to 72 were examined in our institution over a period of 15 years and 27
      lesions, were evaluated by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or brushing
      cytology. RESULTS: The lesions were located at the mobile aspect of the tongue.10
      malignant tumors were diagnosed: 9 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 1
      non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In addition, 13 benign tumors (7 cases of papillomas
      / fibromas, 3 cases of hemangiomas, 2 cases lymphangiomas, and 1 case of lipoma),
      and 4 nonneoplastic benign conditions (3 traumatic ulcers and 1 hematoma) were
      found. There were no false-positive diagnoses. There were no clinical
      complications resulting from FNA or brushing. CONCLUSION: Cytologic examination
      is rapid, safe, accurate, inexpensive, and patient-friendly for establishing
      preoperative diagnosis in tumors and tumor-like conditions of the tongue, and we
      recommend this method as the first diagnostic step in the evaluation of these
      lesions.

PMID- 26879272
TI  - Low c-Met expression levels are prognostic for and predict the benefits of
      temozolomide chemotherapy in malignant gliomas.
AB  - Aberrant c-Met has been implicated in the development of many cancers. The
      objective of this study was to identify an unfavorable prognostic marker that
      might guide decisions regarding clinical treatment strategies for high-grade
      gliomas. C-Met expression was measured using immunohistochemistry in 783 gliomas,
      and we further analyzed c-Met mRNA levels using the Agilent Whole Genome mRNA
      Microarray in 286 frozen samples. In vitro, we performed cell migration and
      invasion assays. Cell sensitivity to temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy was
      determined using MTT assays. Both mRNA and protein levels of c-Met were
      significantly associated with tumor grade progression and inversely correlated
      with overall and progression-free survival in high-grade gliomas (all P <
      0.0001). These findings were nearly consistent at the mRNA level across 3
      independent cohorts. Multivariable analysis indicated that c-Met was an
      independent prognostic marker after adjusting for age, preoperative Karnofsky
      Performance Status (KPS) score, the extent of resection, radiotherapy, TMZ
      chemotherapy, and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter
      methylation status. Further analysis in vitro revealed that downregulating the
      expression of c-Met dramatically inhibited cell migration and invasion
      capacities, enhanced sensitivity to TMZ chemotherapy in H4 and U87 glioma cells.
      Our results suggest that c-Met may serve as a potential predictive maker for
      clinical decision making. 

PMID- 26879275
TI  - The experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities exposed to chronic
      political violence.
AB  - Purpose The main objective of this study was to understand, describe and map the
      experiences, challenges and needs of individuals with lifelong disabilities, who
      have been exposed to chronic politically violent events (terror, war or
      continuous missile attacks) in Israel. Method The study was conducted within the
      qualitative-constructivist paradigm. Three focus groups consisting of 18
      individuals with lifelong disabilities were conducted; each focus group included
      a specific disability type (physical, visual and hearing impairment). Results The
      participants reported encountering environmental barriers, such as inaccessibly
      of the physical environment and information as well as dependency on others.
      These barriers limited the participants' functioning during emergency period and
      thus increased their level of distress. The participants also emphasized their
      physical, social and psychological needs. Conclusions The needs of individuals
      with disabilities in emergency situations can be met if they have a safe place to
      stay in, are with someone else, and plan every daily action in advance. It is
      also imperative to provide accessible services and information. Furthermore, it
      is recommended to develop training sessions for individuals with disabilities and
      for service providers regarding how to locate, communicate with and assist
      individuals with disabilities during security threat situations. Implications for
      Rehabilitation Successful coping of individuals with lifelong disabilities with
      chronic politically violent events depends on personal and organizational
      accommodations. Besides an accessible physical environment, the information
      provided should be available and accessible through mass media and assistive
      technologies. A comprehensive emergency service for various disabilities is
      needed. Service providers should be trained on how to locate, communicate with,
      and assist individuals with disabilities during security threat situations.

PMID- 26879274
TI  - Salivary profile in diabetic patients: biochemical and immunological evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical and
      immunological characteristics of saliva from diabetic patients compared to non
      diabetic adults. METHODS: Eighty-eight diabetic adults and 39 non-diabetic adults
      (control) were included in the study. Glucose, urea, calcium, total protein and
      amylase were determined by a colorimetric method. The levels of secretory IgA and
      the IgA anti-Streptococcus mutans and anti-insulin IgA antibodies were measured
      by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Caries status was evaluated using
      the DMFT index. RESULTS: Glucose, urea, calcium, anti-S. mutans IgA, total IgA,
      and anti-insulin IgA were significantly higher in diabetic patients, whereas
      total protein and amylase levels were lower in these patients. There was no
      positive correlation between blood and salivary glucose levels in either group.
      Diabetic patients had a higher DMFT index. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed
      for the first time that IgA levels in diabetic patients'saliva, shows correlation
      with systemic biochemical parameters. Thus the saliva is an useful tool to follow
      the systemic health status in these patients.

PMID- 26879273
TI  - Early changes in cardiovascular structure and function in adolescents with type 1
      diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at higher risk of early adult
      onset cardiovascular disease. We assessed cardiovascular structure and function
      in adolescents with T1D compared with healthy controls and the relationships
      between peripheral vascular function and myocardial parameters. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: 199 T1D [14.4 +/- 1.6 years, diabetes duration 6.2 (2.0-12.8) years] and
      178 controls (14.4 +/- 2.1 years) completed endothelial function by flow mediated
      vasodilatation (FMD), arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV) along
      with M-mode, pulse wave and tissue Doppler, and myocardial deformation
      echocardiographic imaging. Systolic (113 +/- 10 vs. 110 +/- 9 mmHg; p = 0.0005)
      and diastolic (62 +/- 7 vs. 58 +/- 7 mmHg; p < 0.0001) blood pressures, carotid
      femoral PWV and endothelial dysfunction measurements were increased in T1D
      compared with controls. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular dimensions and
      function by M-mode and pulse wave Doppler assessment were not significantly
      different. Mitral valve lateral e' (17.6 +/- 2.6 vs. 18.6 +/- 2.6 cm/s; p <
      0.001) and a' (5.4 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.1 cm/s; p < 0.001) myocardial velocities
      were decreased and E/e' (7.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.3; p = 0.0003) increased in
      T1D. Left ventricular mid circumferential strain (-20.4 +/- 2.3 vs. -19.5 +/- 1.7
      %; p < 0.001) was higher, whereas global longitudinal strain was lower (-19.0 +/-
      1.9 vs. -19.8 +/- 1.5 % p < 0.001) in T1D. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with T1D
      exhibit early changes in blood pressure, peripheral vascular function and left
      ventricular myocardial deformation indices with a shift from longitudinal to
      circumferential shortening. Longitudinal follow-up of these changes in ongoing
      prospective trials may allow detection of those most at risk for cardiovascular
      abnormalities including hypertension that could preferentially benefit from early
      therapeutic interventions.

PMID- 26879277
TI  - Ozanimod: a better or just another S1P receptor modulator?

PMID- 26879278
TI  - AMG 334 CGRP antibody for migraine: time to celebrate?

PMID- 26879276
TI  - Safety and efficacy of the selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator
      ozanimod in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RADIANCE): a randomised, placebo
      controlled, phase 2 trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Modulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors in a non
      selective manner decreases disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis
      but has potential safety concerns. We assessed the safety and efficacy of the
      oral selective S1P receptor modulator ozanimod in patients with relapsing
      multiple sclerosis. METHODS: RADIANCE is a combined phase 2/3 trial. Patients
      with relapsing multiple sclerosis were recruited from 55 academic and private
      multiple sclerosis clinics in 13 countries across Europe and the USA. Eligible
      participants were aged 18-55 years, had an Expanded Disability Status Scale
      (EDSS) score of 0-5.0, and had either one or more relapses in the previous 12
      months, or one or more relapses in the past 24 months and one or more gadolinium
      enhancing lesions on MRI in the previous 12 months before screening. Participants
      were assigned by a computer-generated randomisation sequence in a 1:1:1 ratio to
      ozanimod (0.5 mg or 1 mg) or matching placebo once daily for 24 weeks by an
      independent, unmasked, statistical team. Trial participants, study site
      personnel, MRI assessors, steering committee members, and the study statistician
      were masked to treatment assignment. To attenuate first-dose cardiac effects,
      ozanimod was up-titrated from 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg or 1 mg over 8 days. The primary
      endpoint was the cumulative number of total gadolinium-enhancing MRI lesions
      measured by an independent MRI analysis centre at weeks 12-24 after treatment
      initiation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Here, we report results from the
      24-week phase 2 trial. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number
      NCT01628393. The 2-year phase 3 trial is ongoing. FINDINGS: The first patient was
      randomised on Oct 18, 2012, and the final visit of the last randomised patient
      was on May 11, 2014. The intention-to-treat and safety population consisted of
      258 participants, 88 were assigned placebo, 87 ozanimod 0.5 mg, and 83 ozanimod 1
      mg; 252 (98%) patients completed the assigned treatment. The mean cumulative
      number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions at weeks 12-24 was 11.1 (SD 29.9) with
      placebo compared with 1.5 (3.7) with ozanimod 0.5 mg (odds ratio 0.16, 95% CI
      0.08-0.30; p<0.0001) and 1.5 (3.4) with ozanimod 1 mg (odds ratio 0.11, 95% CI
      0.06-0.21; p<0.0001). Three serious adverse events unrelated to treatment were
      reported in patients assigned ozanimod 0.5 mg: optic neuritis, somatoform
      autonomic dysfunction, and cervical squamous metaplasia (HPV-related). No serious
      infectious or cardiac adverse events were reported, and no cases of macular
      oedema arose. The most common adverse events in the ozanimod 0.5 mg and 1 mg
      groups compared with placebo were nasopharyngitis (11 and five vs 12), headache
      (five and three vs eight), and urinary-tract infections (six and two vs two). The
      maximum reduction in mean heart rate by Holter monitoring during the first 6 h in
      ozanimod-treated participants was less than 2 beats per min (bpm) compared with
      baseline, with no patient having a minimum hourly heart rate less than 45 bpm.
      Electrocardiograms and 24-h Holter monitoring showed no increased incidence of
      atrioventricular block or sinus pause with ozanimod. INTERPRETATION: Ozanimod
      significantly reduced MRI lesion activity in participants with relapsing multiple
      sclerosis, with a favourable safety profile over a period of 24 weeks. These
      findings warrant phase 3 trials, which are ongoing. FUNDING: Receptos, Inc.

PMID- 26879279
TI  - Safety and efficacy of AMG 334 for prevention of episodic migraine: a randomised,
      double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway is a promising
      target for preventive therapies in patients with migraine. We assessed the safety
      and efficacy of AMG 334, a fully human monoclonal antibody against the CGRP
      receptor, for migraine prevention. METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised,
      double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, patients aged 18-60 years with 4
      to 14 migraine days per month were enrolled at 59 headache and clinical research
      centres in North America and Europe, and randomly assigned in a 3:2:2:2 ratio to
      monthly subcutaneous placebo, AMG 334 7 mg, AMG 334 21 mg, or AMG 334 70 mg using
      a sponsor-generated randomisation sequence centrally executed by an interactive
      voice response or interactive web response system. Study site personnel,
      patients, and the sponsor study personnel were masked to the treatment
      assignment. The primary endpoint was the change in monthly migraine days from
      baseline to the last 4 weeks of the 12-week double-blind treatment phase. The
      primary endpoint was calculated using the least squares mean at each timepoint
      from a generalised linear mixed-effect model for repeated measures. Safety
      endpoints were adverse events, clinical laboratory values, vital signs, and anti
      AMG 334 antibodies. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number
      NCT01952574. An open-label extension phase of up to 256 weeks is ongoing and will
      assess the long-term safety of AMG 334. FINDINGS: From Aug 6, 2013, to June 30,
      2014, 483 patients were randomly assigned to placebo (n=160), AMG 334 7 mg
      (n=108), AMG 334 21 mg (n=108), or AMG 334 70 mg (n=107). The mean change in
      monthly migraine days at week 12 was -3.4 (SE 0.4) days with AMG 334 70 mg versus
      -2.3 (0.3) days with placebo (difference -1.1 days [95% CI -2.1 to -0.2],
      p=0.021). The mean reductions in monthly migraine days with the 7 mg (-2.2 [SE
      0.4]) and the 21 mg (-2.4 [0.4]) doses were not significantly different from that
      with placebo. Adverse events were recorded in 82 (54%) patients who received
      placebo, 54 (50%) patients in the AMG 334 7 mg group, 54 (51%) patients in the
      AMG 334 21 mg group, and 57 (54%) patients in the AMG 334 70 mg group. The most
      frequently reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, fatigue, and headache.
      Serious adverse events were reported for one patient in the AMG 334 7 mg group
      (ruptured ovarian cyst) and one patient in the AMG 334 70 mg group (migraine and
      vertigo); these events were judged to be unrelated to AMG 334 treatment. Nine
      (3%) of 317 patients had neutralising antibodies. No apparent association was
      recorded between patients with positive anti-AMG 334 antibodies and adverse
      events. No clinically significant vital signs, laboratory, or electrocardiogram
      findings were recorded. INTERPRETATION: These results suggest that AMG 334 70 mg
      might be a potential therapy for migraine prevention in patients with episodic
      migraine and support further investigation of AMG 334 in larger phase 3 trials.
      FUNDING: Amgen.

PMID- 26879280
TI  - Recording and analysis of head movements, interaural level and time differences
      in rooms and real-world listening scenarios.
AB  - The science of how we use interaural differences to localise sounds has been
      studied for over a century and in many ways is well understood. But in many of
      these psychophysical experiments listeners are required to keep their head still,
      as head movements cause changes in interaural level and time differences (ILD and
      ITD respectively). But a fixed head is unrealistic. Here we report an analysis of
      the actual ILDs and ITDs that occur as people naturally move and relate them to
      gyroscope measurements of the actual motion. We used recordings of binaural
      signals in a number of rooms and listening scenarios (home, office, busy street
      etc). The listener's head movements were also recorded in synchrony with the
      audio, using a micro-electromechanical gyroscope. We calculated the instantaneous
      ILD and ITDs and analysed them over time and frequency, comparing them with
      measurements of head movements. The results showed that instantaneous ITDs were
      widely distributed across time and frequency in some multi-source environments
      while ILDs were less widely distributed. The type of listening environment
      affected head motion. These findings suggest a complex interaction between
      interaural cues, egocentric head movement and the identification of sound sources
      in real-world listening situations.

PMID- 26879281
TI  - Neurologic Outcomes in HIV-Exposed/Uninfected Infants Exposed to Antiretroviral
      Drugs During Pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
AB  - To evaluate antiretroviral (ARV) drug exposure and other factors during pregnancy
      that may increase the risk of neurologic conditions (NCs) in HIV
      exposed/uninfected (HEU) infants. A prospective cohort study was conducted at 24
      clinical sites in Latin America and the Caribbean. Data on maternal demographics,
      health, HIV disease status, and ARV use during pregnancy were collected. Infant
      data included measurement of head circumference after birth and reported medical
      diagnoses at birth, 6-12 weeks, and 6 months. Only infants with maternal exposure
      to combination ARV therapy (cART) (>=3 drugs from >=2 drug classes) during
      pregnancy were included. Microcephaly, defined as head circumference for age z
      score less than -2, and NC were evaluated for their association with covariates,
      including individual ARVs, using bivariable and logistic regression analyses.
      From 2002 to 2009, 1,400 HEU infants met study inclusion criteria. At least one
      NC was reported in 134 (9.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1-11.2),
      microcephaly in 105 (7.5%; 95% CI: 6.2-9.0), and specific neurologic diagnoses in
      33 (2.4%; 95% CI: 1.6-3.3) HEU infants. Microcephaly and NC were not
      significantly associated with any specific ARV analyzed (p > 0.05). Covariates
      associated with increased odds of NC included male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9;
      95% CI: 1.3-2.8), birth weight <2.5 kg (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1-4.8), 1-min Apgar
      score <7 (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4-4.4), and infant infections (OR = 2.5; 95% CI:
      1.5-4.1). No ARV investigated was associated with adverse neurologic outcomes.
      Continued investigation of such associations may be warranted as new ARVs are
      used during pregnancy and cART exposure during the first trimester becomes
      increasingly common.

PMID- 26879282
TI  - Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Failure of conventional therapy but hope of
      targeted therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anaplastic thyroid cancer has a median survival between 1.2 and 10
      months. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with
      anaplastic thyroid cancer in Ireland. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective
      analysis of the Irish National Cancer Database for patients with anaplastic
      thyroid cancer between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: Of a total of 64 patients (40
      women, 24 men), the median age was 69 years, and 29.7% of the patients had
      distant metastases. The overall median survival was 2.3 months and the 1, 2, and
      5-year survival was 12.5%, 6.25%, and 4.69%, respectively. On univariate analysis
      age, sex, metastases at diagnosis, and multimodality treatment were statistically
      significant indicators of prognosis, and metastases at diagnosis remained
      statistically significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: These results
      correlate with the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines, in which, when
      possible, multimodality therapy offers a survival advantage to a select group of
      patients. Novel therapies may offer the greatest hope for these patients. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1122-E1129, 2016.

PMID- 26879283
TI  - Surgical treatment of popliteal cyst: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of
      different surgical methods in the therapy of popliteal cysts may provide evidence
      about effective surgical treatments. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and OVID were
      searched with the following terms: (popliteal cyst* OR baker's cyst*) AND
      (arthroscopic OR excision OR operative OR treat* OR surgery). Inclusion criteria
      included the following: studies reported the efficacy of different surgical
      methods in popliteal cyst patients; patients were >= 16 years; and studies must
      have involved a minimum of 10 patients. Studies were grouped according to the
      surgical methods, and a meta-analysis was employed to identify the success rate
      based on the pooled data. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included: The
      communication between the cyst and the articular cavity was enlarged in 7
      studies; this communication was closed in 3 studies; and only intra-articular
      lesions were managed in 1 study. After the data were pooled, the success rates
      were 96.7 and 84.6 % in the communication-enlargement group and communication
      closure group, respectively. Studies with communication enlargement were
      subgrouped into the cyst wall resection group and the non-cyst wall resection
      group, for which the success rates were 98.2 and 94.7 %, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Based on the current available evidence, at present, any how
      arthroscopic excision of the cyst wall, arthroscopic management of intra
      articular lesions, and enlarging the communication between the cyst and the
      articular cavity is an ideal strategy for the popliteal cyst. The current
      literature on the treatment of popliteal cysts is limited to retrospective case
      series. Future prospective studies with high-quality methodology and uniform
      scoring system are required to directly compare communication-enlargement surgery
      and communication-closure surgery and determine the optimal treatment of
      popliteal cysts. Cyst wall resection may improve the therapeutic efficacy, to
      draw definitive conclusions, and high-level clinical researches with a large
      number of patients and long-term follow-up should be initiated.

PMID- 26879284
TI  - Deciphering the biological effects of acupuncture treatment modulating multiple
      metabolism pathways.
AB  - Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that is widely used to treat various
      diseases. However, detailed biological interpretation of the acupuncture
      stimulations is limited. We here used metabolomics and proteomics technology,
      thereby identifying the serum small molecular metabolites into the effect and
      mechanism pathways of standardized acupuncture treatments at 'Zusanli' acupoint
      which was the most often used acupoint in previous reports. Comprehensive
      overview of serum metabolic profiles during acupuncture stimulation was
      investigated. Thirty-four differential metabolites were identified in serum
      metabolome and associated with ten metabolism pathways. Importantly, we have
      found that high impact glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism,
      ether lipid metabolism were acutely perturbed by acupuncture stimulation. As
      such, these alterations may be useful to clarify the biological mechanism of
      acupuncture stimulation. A series of differentially expressed proteins were
      identified and such effects of acupuncture stimulation were found to play a role
      in transport, enzymatic activity, signaling pathway or receptor interaction.
      Pathway analysis further revealed that most of these proteins were found to play
      a pivotal role in the regulation of multiple metabolism pathways. It demonstrated
      that the metabolomics coupled with proteomics as a powerful approach for
      potential applications in understanding the biological effects of acupuncture
      stimulation. 

PMID- 26879285
TI  - Verbal social primes alter motor contagion during action observation.
AB  - We investigated whether prosocial and nonsocial word primes prior to action
      observation modify subsequent initiation and execution of the observer's own
      reach-to-grasp actions. Participants observed a model performing exaggeratedly
      curved (vertical deviation) or natural straight reaches to a vertical dowel and
      always performed a straight reach to a dowel themselves. Observing curved
      movements slowed initiation times and increased the vertical deviation of the
      participants' movements. Observing curved movements enhanced vertical deviation
      only in the prosocial word primes condition. We suggest that social context
      priming can modulate initiation of movement as well as the extent of motor
      contagion (in this case, the extent of vertical deviation) between model and
      observer. 

PMID- 26879286
TI  - Evaluation of a breast cancer nomogram to predict ipsilateral breast relapse
      after breast-conserving therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A nomogram to predict for the 10-year ipsilateral breast
      relapse (IBR) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for breast cancer (BC) was
      developed based on the 'boost-no-boost'-trial with a concordance probability
      estimate (CPE) of 0.68. The aim of our study was to validate that algorithm.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 1787 BC cases, treated with
      BCT and radiotherapy at the University Hospitals Leuven from 2000 to 2007,
      without missing data of the nomogram variables. Clinicopathologic factors were
      assessed. Validity of the prediction model was tested in terms of discrimination
      and calibration. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 10.75years. The validation
      cohort differed with respect to the administration of a radiation boost, chemo-
      or hormonal therapy, age, tumour diameter or grade, ductal carcinoma in situ and
      hormone receptor positivity. On multivariable analysis, the omission of the boost
      was a significant prognosticator of IBR (p<0.01). The 10-year IBR-rate was 1.4%.
      The nomogram demonstrated suboptimal discrimination (CPE 0.54) and calibration,
      with an overestimation of the IBR-risk in general. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive
      model for IBR in BC is imperfect in this more recent study population.

PMID- 26879288
TI  - Use of the Distance Transform for Integration of Local Measurements: Principle
      and Application in Chemical Engineering.
AB  - We propose an original methodology to integrate local measurement for nontrivial
      object shape. The method employs the distance transform of the object and least
      square fitting of numerically computed weighting functions extracted from it. The
      method is exemplified in the field of chemical engineering by calculating the
      global metal concentration in catalyst grains from uneven metal distribution
      profiles. Applying the methodology on synthetic profiles with the help of a very
      simple deposition model allows us to evaluate the accuracy of the method. For
      high symmetry objects such as an infinite cylinder, relative errors on global
      concentration are lower than 1% for well-resolved profiles. For a less
      symmetrical object, a tetralobe, the best estimator gives a relative error below
      5% at the cost of increased measurement time. Applicability on a real case is
      demonstrated on an aged hydrodemetallation catalyst. Sampling of catalyst grains
      at the inlet and outlet of the reactor allowed conclusions concerning different
      reactivity for the trapped metals. 

PMID- 26879287
TI  - Urinary bladder dose-response relationships for patient-reported genitourinary
      morbidity domains following prostate cancer radiotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy (RT) induced genitourinary (GU) morbidity is
      typically assessed by physicians as single symptoms or aggregated scores
      including symptoms from various domains. Here we apply a method to group patient
      reported GU symptoms after RT for localized prostate cancer based on their
      interplay, and study how these relate to urinary bladder dose. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Data were taken from two Scandinavian studies (N=207/276) including men
      treated with external-beam RT (EBRT) to 78/70Gy (2Gy/fraction; median time-to
      follow-up: 3.6-6.4y). Within and across cohorts, bladder dose-volume parameters
      were tested as predictors for GU symptom domains identified from two study
      specific questionnaires (35 questions on frequency, incontinence, obstruction,
      pain, urgency, and sensory symptoms) using univariate and multivariate logistic
      regression analysis (MVA) with 10-fold cross-validation. Performance was
      evaluated using Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (Az).
      RESULTS: For the identified Incontinence (2-5 symptoms), Obstruction (3-5
      symptoms), and Urgency (2-7 symptoms) domains, MVA demonstrated that bladder
      doses close to the prescription doses were the strongest predictors for
      Obstruction (Az: 0.53-0.57) and Urgency (Az: 0.60). For Obstruction, performance
      increased for the across cohort analysis (Az: 0.61-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Our
      identified patient-reported GU symptom domains suggest that high urinary bladder
      doses, and increased focus on both obstruction and urgency is likely to further
      add to the understanding of GU tract RT responses.

PMID- 26879289
TI  - Long-term molecular remission in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia elderly patient after dasatinib discontinuation.

PMID- 26879290
TI  - The use of azide-alkyne click chemistry in recent syntheses and applications of
      polytriazole-based nanostructured polymers.
AB  - The rapid development of efficient organic click coupling reactions has
      significantly facilitated the construction of synthetic polymers with
      sophisticated branched nanostructures. This Feature Article summarizes the recent
      progress in the application of efficient copper-catalyzed and copper-free azide
      alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC and CuFAAC) reactions in the syntheses of dendrimers,
      hyperbranched polymers, star polymers, graft polymers, molecular brushes, and
      cyclic graft polymers. Literature reports on the interesting properties and
      functions of these polytriazole-based nanostructured polymers are also discussed
      to illustrate their potential applications as self-healing polymers, adhesives,
      polymer catalysts, opto-electronic polymer materials and polymer carriers for
      drug and imaging molecules. 

PMID- 26879291
TI  - Effect of potential barrier height on the carrier transport in InGaAs/GaAsP multi
      quantum wells and photoelectric properties of laser diode.
AB  - The growth and strain-compensation behaviour of InGaAs/GaAsP multi-quantum wells,
      which were fabricated by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, have been
      studied towards the application of these quantum wells in high-power laser
      diodes. The effect of the height of the potential barrier on the confined level
      of carrier transport was studied by incorporating different levels of phosphorus
      content into the GaAsP barrier. The crystal quality and interface roughness of
      the InGaAs/GaAsP multi-quantum wells with different phosphorus contents were
      evaluated by high resolution X-ray diffraction and in situ optical surface
      reflectivity measurements during the growth. The surface morphology and roughness
      were characterized by atomic force microscopy, which indicates the variation law
      of surface roughness, terrace width and uniformity with increasing phosphorus
      content, owing to strain accumulation. Moreover, the defect generation and
      structural disorder of the multi-quantum wells were investigated by Raman
      spectroscopy. The optical properties of the multi-quantum wells were
      characterized by photoluminescence, which shows that the spectral intensity
      increases as the phosphorus content increases. The results suggest that more
      electrons are well bound in InGaAs because of the high potential barrier.
      Finally, the mechanism of the effect of the height of the potential barrier on
      laser performance was proposed on the basis of simulation calculations and
      experimental results. 

PMID- 26879292
TI  - Adsorption of silver nanoparticles from aqueous solution on copper-based metal
      organic frameworks (HKUST-1).
AB  - Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are emerging pollutants. The use of novel materials
      such as Cu-(benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylate, BTC) Metal-Organic Framework (MOFs),
      for AgNP adsorption and their removal from aqueous solutions has been studied.
      The effect of different parameters was followed and isotherm model was suggested.
      MOFs adsorbed fast and efficiently AgNP in the range C0 < 10 mg L(-1), being
      Freundlich isotherm (R = 0.993) these data fitted to. Among studied parameters a
      remarkable effect of chloride on sorption was found, thus their possible
      interactions were considered. The high adsorption efficiency of AgNP was achieved
      and it was found to be very fast. The feasibility of adsorption on Cu-(BTC) was
      proved in spiked waters. The results showed the potential interest of new
      material as adsorbent for removing AgNP from environment.

PMID- 26879293
TI  - Expression of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 inwardly rectifying potassium channels in
      oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS.
AB  - The inwardly rectifying K+ channel subtype Kir5.1 is only functional as a
      heteromeric channel with Kir4.1. In the CNS, Kir4.1 is localised to astrocytes
      and is the molecular basis of their strongly negative membrane potential.
      Oligodendrocytes are the specialised myelinating glia of the CNS and their
      resting membrane potential provides the driving force for ion and water transport
      that is essential for myelination. However, little is known about the ion channel
      profile of mature myelinating oligodendrocytes. Here, we identify for the first
      time colocalization of Kir5.1 with Kir4.1 in oligodendrocytes in white matter.
      Immunolocalization with membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase and western blot of the
      plasma membrane fraction of the optic nerve, a typical CNS white matter tract
      containing axons and the oligodendrocytes that myelinate them, demonstrates that
      Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 are colocalized on oligodendrocyte cell membranes. Co
      immunoprecipitation provides evidence that oligodendrocytes and astrocytes
      express a combination of homomeric Kir4.1 and heteromeric Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels.
      Genetic knock-out and shRNA to ablate Kir4.1 indicates plasmalemmal expression of
      Kir5.1 in glia is largely dependent on Kir4.1 and the plasmalemmal anchoring
      protein PSD-95. The results demonstrate that, in addition to astrocytes,
      oligodendrocytes express both homomeric Kir4.1 and heteromeric Kir4.1/Kir5.1
      channels. In astrocytes, these channels are essential to their key functions of
      K+ uptake and CO2/H+ chemosensation. We propose Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels have
      equivalent functions in oligodendrocytes, maintaining myelin integrity in the
      face of large ionic shifts associated with action potential propagation along
      myelinated axons.

PMID- 26879295
TI  - Commentary on: Expanded Stem Cells, Stromal-Vascular Fraction, and Platelet-Rich
      Plasma Enriched Fat: Comparing Results of Different Facial Rejuvenation
      Approaches in a Clinical Trial.

PMID- 26879294
TI  - Expanded Stem Cells, Stromal-Vascular Fraction, and Platelet-Rich Plasma Enriched
      Fat: Comparing Results of Different Facial Rejuvenation Approaches in a Clinical
      Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a previous study, the authors demonstrated that treatment with
      expanded adipose-derived stem cells or stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-enriched
      fat modify the pattern of the dermis in human beings, representing a skin
      rejuvenation effect. Considering that expanded stem cells require a cell factor,
      the authors wanted to assess similar results by replacing them with platelet-rich
      plasma (PRP), which is easier to obtain and for which an empirical regenerative
      effect has been already described. OBJECTIVES: To determine if PRP injection
      could replace the cutaneous regenerative effect of adipose-derived stem cells.
      METHODS: This study was performed in 13 patients who were candidates for
      facelift. The patients underwent sampling of fat by liposuction from the abdomen
      and submitted to one of three protocols: injection of SVF-enriched fat or
      expanded adipose-derived stem cells or fat plus PRP in the preauricular areas.
      Fragments of skin were removed before and 3 months after treatment and analyzed
      by optical and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The use of fat plus PRP led to the
      presence of more pronounced inflammatory infiltrates and a greater vascular
      reactivity, increasing in vascular permeability and a certain reactivity of the
      nervous component. The addition of PRP did not improve the regenerative effect.
      CONCLUSION: The use of PRP did not have significant advantages in skin
      rejuvenation over the use of expanded adipose-derived stem cells or SVF-enriched
      fat. The effect of increased vascular reactivity may be useful in pathological
      situations in which an intense angiogenesis is desirable, such as tissular
      ischemia.

PMID- 26879296
TI  - Preventing Elevated Radix Deformity in Asian Rhinoplasty with a Chimeric Dorsal
      Glabellar Construct.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Asian facial aesthetic surgery should enhance, but not change,
      natural features. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a hallmark of Asian cosmetic
      surgery. In the authors' experience, I-shaped implants can elevate and efface the
      radix, leading to an unnatural appearance (elevated radix deformity). OBJECTIVES:
      The Chimeric technique was developed to control final radix position and preserve
      the nasal profile. We aim to demonstrate that the Chimeric technique promotes
      forward projection, not elevation, of the radix. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2015,
      49 patients underwent rhinoplasty with I-shaped implants. Nineteen patients had
      Chimeric dorsal-glabellar implants, 30 did not. Standardized photographs were
      obtained at every visit. Novel and established photogrammetric parameters were
      used to describe radix position and position change. A retrospective chart review
      provided additional procedural details and outcomes data. RESULTS: Patients were
      followed for 10.8 months (range, 2-36 months). Nasal height increase (113% vs
      107%) and bridge length increase (118% vs 105%) were significantly greater when
      the Chimeric technique was not performed (P < .0001). The nasofrontal angle
      increased 6 degrees  in both groups; there was no difference between groups. The
      vector of radix position change was 26.1 degrees  in the Chimeric group and 63.4
      degrees  in the traditional group (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The Chimeric
      technique preserves the nasal profile with a favorable (horizontal) radix
      transposition vector. There was not a significant difference in final radix
      position when Chimeric rhinoplasty was performed because that is controlled by
      implant thickness and position. The technique did not blunt the radix
      significantly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4: Therapeutic.

PMID- 26879297
TI  - Commentary on: The Relationship of Bacterial Biofilms and Capsular Contracture in
      Breast Implants.

PMID- 26879298
TI  - Commentary on: Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms and Body Weight
      Concerns in Patients Seeking Abdominoplasty.

PMID- 26879299
TI  - A Multicenter Study for Cellulite Treatment Using a 1440-nm Nd:YAG Wavelength
      Laser with Side-Firing Fiber.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Treatment of cellulite using a 1440-nm YAG wavelength laser with side
      firing fiber has proven safe and effective, lasting at least 6 months.
      OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single, subdermal
      procedure to treat the underlying structure of cellulite for at least 1 year.
      METHODS: Fifty-seven patients underwent a 3-step cellulite treatment with a 1440
      nm Nd:YAG laser with a side-firing fiber and temperature-sensing cannula.
      Efficacy was measured by the blinded evaluators to distinguish baseline photos
      from those taken at 12 months posttreatment, with results on a 5-point, 2
      category ordinal photonumeric scale when comparing baseline photos to 12 months
      posttreatment. Subject and physician satisfaction was assessed based on
      completion of a satisfaction survey. Adverse events (AE) were recorded throughout
      the study. Twelve month data were analyzed and compared to 6 month data. RESULTS:
      Evaluators chose baseline photographs 97% on average from 6 (-1, +2) months and
      91% from the 12 (-3, +2) months posttreatment photographs. At 6 (-1, +2) months,
      the average improvement score was 1.7 for dimples and 1.1 for contour
      irregularities. At 12 (-3, +2) months, the average improvement score was 1.4 for
      dimples and 1.0 for contour irregularities. The average satisfaction score for
      the physician was 5.6 and the patient was 5.3 on a 6-point scale. CONCLUSIONS: A
      single, 3-step, minimally invasive laser treatment using a 1440-nm Nd:YAG laser,
      side-firing fiber, and temperature-sensing cannula to treat the underlying
      structure of cellulite proved to be safe and maintained effectiveness at least 1
      year post treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2: Therapeutic.

PMID- 26879300
TI  - Commentary on: Treatment of Prominent Ears with an Implantable Clip System: A
      Pilot Study.

PMID- 26879301
TI  - Suture With Resorbable Cones: Histology and Physico-Mechanical Features.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Silhouette Sutures (Kolster Methods, Inc., Corona, CA) exhibit
      different biological characteristics at various time points after their
      placement. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to understand the biological
      reactions of Silhouette Sutures in human tissues at different time intervals and
      to determine the index of resistance of the sutures in subcutaneous tissue.
      METHODS: Histologic examination was performed on section soft tissue containing
      the sutures at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after suture placement.
      The study comprised 8 patients, each of whom received 4 sutures in the lower
      abdomen under local anesthesia. The sutures were placed exactly 1 month, 3
      months, 6 months, and 1 year before planned post-bariatric abdominal surgery.
      Dynamometric evaluation was performed on a never-used suture and on sutures
      removed from 1 year after placement. The scar process around the threads was also
      examined. RESULTS: A progressive increase in scar tissue around the sutures was
      observed. One year after placement, there was a reduction of 16.7% in yield and
      tensile strength and a reduction of 14.29% in elongation at break, relative to
      the never-used suture. By 1 year, the cones in polylactic and glycolic acids had
      been replaced by scar tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrous tissue around the sutures
      increased progressively over time, and was most prominent at the level of the
      nodes. Cones were completely resorbed within 6 months. A reduction in the index
      of resistance of the suspension sutures occurred over 1 year.

PMID- 26879302
TI  - Facelift for an Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patient: A Case Report.

PMID- 26879303
TI  - Diabetes and Menopause.
AB  - During menopause, women's body composition, sex hormone profile, and metabolic
      profile may change dramatically. In this review, we summarize studies examining
      whether the menopausal transition and physiologic factors characterizing the
      transition are associated with increased risk of diabetes. We review the evidence
      for estrogen therapy and diabetes risk and studies examining the relationship
      between diabetes and menarche, which represents an extension of the reproductive
      life span at the opposite end of the age spectrum. Although studied less
      extensively, the presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of
      ovarian failure, and we review this literature. In conclusion, we note that the
      evidence linking menopausal sex hormone changes with increased diabetes risk is
      weak, although rapid changes as observed with oophorectomy may increase risk.
      Further studies should investigate the contradictory effects of estrogen therapy
      upon hepatic and glucose metabolism in mid-life women. 

PMID- 26879305
TI  - Role of Medical Nutrition Therapy in the Management of Gestational Diabetes
      Mellitus.
AB  - Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) plays an important role in the management of
      gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and accordingly, it has a significant impact
      on women and newborns. The primary objective of MNT is to ensure adequate
      pregnancy weight gain and fetus growth while maintaining euglycemia and avoiding
      ketones. However, the optimal diet (energy content, macronutrient distribution,
      its quality and amount, among others) remains an outstanding question. Overall,
      the nutritional requirements of GDM are similar for all pregnancies, but special
      attention is paid to carbohydrates. Despite the classical intervention of
      restricting carbohydrates, the latest evidence, although limited, seems to favor
      a low-glycemic index diet. There is general agreement in the literature about
      caloric restrictions in the case of being overweight or obese. Randomized
      controlled trials are necessary to investigate the optimal MNT for GDM; this
      knowledge could yield health benefits and cost savings. 

PMID- 26879304
TI  - Bariatric Surgery and the Pregnancy Complicated by Gestational Diabetes.
AB  - Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasingly common obstetrical
      problem. Due to the global escalation in the prevalence of obesity, as many as 15
      % of pregnant women may soon be classified as having GDM. While often not
      diagnosed until late gestation, GDM is now recognized as a disorder of glucose
      and lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance that begins
      early in pregnancy. Recent large randomized trials have clarified the risk of
      maternal and neonatal complications caused by GDM, as well as the potential to
      ameliorate these risks. There is significant interest in the potential to reduce
      the risk for developing GDM in obese women through the performance of bariatric
      surgery (BS) before pregnancy. BS significantly reduces the risk for GDM,
      preeclampsia, and large neonates. However, it seems that the risk for small
      neonates and preterm delivery is increased. No significant differences are
      observed in regard to cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, or perinatal
      mortality. In this article, we address the effects of GDM on the mother and
      child, and explore the risks and benefits of BS in the obstetrical population. 

PMID- 26879306
TI  - Perioperative Glycemic Management of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.
AB  - Bariatric surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes has been shown to improve
      glycemic control and reduce need for glucose-lowering medications. Some of these
      improvements occur in the early postoperative period prior to any weight loss.
      These early reductions in circulating glucose can be attributed to primarily
      perioperative caloric restriction and prolonged fasting. Inpatient glycemic
      targets for patients undergoing bariatric surgery are similar to those
      recommended for other surgical procedures as a way of minimizing risk for
      complications. There is evidence that achieving perioperative and postoperative
      glycemic targets can improve the ability to achieve remission of type 2 diabetes
      following gastric bypass surgery. This review provides recommendations regarding
      glycemic goals, strategies for achieving these goals with minimal risk for
      hypoglycemia, and an examination of the data suggesting an association between
      perioperative glycemic management and diabetes remission following bariatric
      surgery. 

PMID- 26879307
TI  - Has RAAS Blockade Reached Its Limits in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy?
AB  - Medications that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are a
      cornerstone of diabetic nephropathy treatment. These agents play an important
      role in slowing the nephropathy progression in patients with diabetes. Clinical
      outcome trials that investigated use of these drug classes in patients with
      diabetic nephropathy have demonstrated clinical significant benefit in slowing
      nephropathy progression only in people with >300 mg/day of proteinuria. Thus,
      guidelines mandate their use in such patients. Conversely, combinations of RAAS
      blocking agents in these patients can worsen renal outcomes. Moreover, use of
      RAAS blockers in patients with a glomerular filtration rate below 45 mL/min/1.73
      m(2) is limited by hyperkalemia. New agents that predictably bind excess
      potassium in the colon offer the possibility of extending RAAS inhibitor use in
      advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) to allow evaluation of RAAS blockade for
      nephropathy and cardiovascular outcomes. These new potassium-binding agents may
      provide an opportunity to continue full-dose RAAS inhibition and assess if the
      benefits of RAAS blockade seen in stage 3 CKD can be extrapolated to persons with
      stages 4 and 5 CKD, not previously tested due to hyperkalemia.

PMID- 26879308
TI  - Intensive Glycemic Control in Cardiac Surgery.
AB  - Hyperglycemia has been found to be associated with increased morbidity and
      mortality in surgical patients, yet, the optimal glucose management strategy
      during the perioperative setting remains undetermined. While much has been
      published about hyperglycemia and cardiac surgery, most studies have used widely
      varying definitions of hyperglycemia, methods of insulin administration, and the
      timing of therapy. This has only allowed investigators to make general
      conclusions in this challenging clinical scenario. This review will introduce the
      basic pathophysiology of hyperglycemia in the cardiac surgery setting, describe
      the main clinical consequences of operative hyperglycemia, and take the reader
      through the published material of intensive and conservative glucose management.
      Overall, it seems that intensive control has modest benefits with adverse effects
      often outweighing these advantages. However, some studies have indicated
      differing results for certain patient subgroups, such as non-diabetics with acute
      operative hyperglycemia. Future studies should focus on distinguishing which
      patient populations, if any, would optimally benefit from intensive insulin
      therapy. 

PMID- 26879310
TI  - High perfluorooctanoic acid exposure induces autophagy blockage and disturbs
      intracellular vesicle fusion in the liver.
AB  - Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been shown to cause hepatotoxicity and other
      toxicological effects. Though PPARalpha activation by PFOA in the liver has been
      well accepted as an important mechanism of PFOA-induced hepatotoxicity, several
      pieces of evidence have shown that the hepatotoxic effects of PFOA may not be
      fully explained by PPARalpha activation. In this study, we observed autophagosome
      accumulation in mouse livers as well as HepG2 cells after PFOA exposure. Further
      in vitro study revealed that the accumulation of autophagosomes was not caused by
      autophagic flux stimulation. In addition, we observed that PFOA exposure affected
      the proteolytic activity of HepG2 cells while significant dysfunction of
      lysosomes was not detected. Quantitative proteomic analysis of crude lysosomal
      fractions from HepG2 cells treated with PFOA revealed that 54 differentially
      expressed proteins were related to autophagy or vesicular trafficking and fusion.
      The proteomic results were further validated in the cells in vitro and livers in
      vivo after PFOA exposure, which implied potential dysfunction at the late stage
      of autophagy. However, in HepG2 cells, it seemed that further inhibition of
      autophagy did not significantly alter the effects of PFOA on cell viability.
      Although these findings demonstrate that PFOA blocked autophagy and disturbed
      intracellular vesicle fusion in the liver, the changes in autophagy were observed
      only at high cytotoxic concentrations of PFOA, suggesting that autophagy may not
      be a primary target or mode of toxicity. Furthermore, since altered liver
      autophagy was not observed at concentrations of PFOA associated with human
      exposures, the relevance of these findings must be questioned.

PMID- 26879309
TI  - Impact of Systemic Inflammation on the Progression of Gestational Diabetes
      Mellitus.
AB  - With increasing rates of obesity and new diagnostic criteria for gestational
      diabetes mellitus (GDM), the overall prevalence of GDM is increasing worldwide.
      Women with GDM have an increased risk of maternal and fetal complications during
      pregnancy as well as long-term risks including higher prevalence of type 2
      diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. In recent years, the role of immune
      activation and inflammation in the pathogenesis of GDM has gained increasing
      attention. This monograph explores the current state of the literature as regards
      the expression of markers of inflammation in the maternal circulation, placenta,
      and adipose tissue of women with GDM. 

PMID- 26879311
TI  - Fatigue, sleep-wake pattern, depressive and anxiety symptoms and body-mass index:
      analysis in a sample of episodic and chronic migraine patients.
AB  - Migraine clinical presentation and life-time course can be highly heterogeneous,
      with a subgroup of patients developing chronic migraine; moreover, migraine
      clinical spectrum is expanded by the association with different coexisting
      conditions and interictal dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to
      systematically evaluate migraine clinical features, daily functioning parameters,
      sleep pattern, presence of depressive-anxiety symptoms and body mass index (BMI)
      in a sample of 75 episodic and 75 chronic migraine without aura patients.
      Migraine-related disability, fatigue, daily sleepiness, subjective sleep quality,
      anxiety and depressive symptoms were, respectively, evaluated using the following
      questionnaires: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale,
      Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale
      (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item Scale (PHQ-9). Mean FSS score (p <
      0.001), PSQI score (p = 0.015), GAD-7 score (p = 0.019), PHQ-9 score (p < 0.001)
      and BMI score (p = 0.012) were significantly higher in chronic compared to
      episodic migraineurs. Additionally, a correlation analysis carried out in the
      total sample of 150 migraine patients documented a statistically significant,
      positive correlation between monthly frequency of migraine attacks and FSS score
      (p < 0.001), PSQI score (p = 0.006), GAD-7 score (p = 0.019), PHQ-9 score (p <
      0.001) and BMI score (p = 0.049). Data from the present report seem to expand the
      concept of migraine as a continuum or spectrum, with greater occurrence of
      fatigue, poor sleep quality, anxiety-depressive symptoms and higher BMI score in
      chronic compared to episodic migraine patients; further investigation is
      certainly necessary to better define the biological basis and mechanisms
      associated with migraine transformation from episodic to chronic pattern. 

PMID- 26879313
TI  - Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) as presenting symptom of CIDP.

PMID- 26879312
TI  - Indoor and outdoor falls in persons with Parkinson's disease after 1 year follow
      up study: differences and consequences.
AB  - Falls among persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) often result in activity
      limitations, participation restrictions, social isolation or premature mortality.
      The purpose of this 1-year follow-up study was to compare potential differences
      in features of PD attributing to falls in relation to fall location (outdoor vs.
      indoor). We recruited 120 consecutive persons with PD who denied having fallen in
      the past 6 months. Disease stage and severity was assessed using the Hoehn and
      Yahr scale and the newer version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.
      Occurrence of falling and characteristics of falls was followed for 1 year.
      Results were assessed statistically. Outdoor falls were more commonly preceded by
      the extrinsic factors (tripping and slipping). Slipping was more common outdoors
      (p = 0.001). Indoor falls were mostly preceded by the intrinsic factors (postural
      instability, lower extremity weakness, vertigo). Vertigo was more common indoors
      (p = 0.006). Occurrence of injuries was more common after outdoor falls (p =
      0.001). Indoor falls resulted in contusions only, while outdoor falls resulted in
      lacerations and fractures as well. In the regression model adjusted for age,
      disease duration, on/off phase during fall, Hoehn and Yahr stage of disease and
      levodopa dosage, slipping was associated with outdoor falling (odds ratio =
      17.25, 95 % confidence interval 3.33-89.20, p = 0.001). These findings could be
      used to tailor fall prevention program with emphasis on balance recovery and
      negotiation of objects in environment. 

PMID- 26879314
TI  - Novel morpholin-3-one fused quinazoline derivatives as EGFR tyrosine kinase
      inhibitors.
AB  - A series of novel morpholin-3-one-fused quinazoline derivatives were designed,
      synthesized and evaluated as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Nineteen compounds
      showed significant inhibitory activities against EGFR(wt) kinase (IC50<1 MUM).
      Compound a8 demonstrated the most potent inhibitory activity toward EGFR(wt)
      (IC50=53.1 nM). Compound a7 and a8 showed excellent inhibitory activities against
      mutant EGFR(T790M/L858R) and strong antiproliferative activity against H358 and
      A549 cell lines. Finally, molecular docking studies were performed to predict the
      possible binding mode of the target compounds. It is believed that this work
      would be very useful for designing a new series of tyrosine kinase inhibitors
      targeting EGFR.

PMID- 26879315
TI  - Relationship of toe pinch force to other muscle strength parameters in men with
      type 2 diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the relations between toe pinch
      force and other muscle strength parameters in male patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus. METHODS: A total of 40 men with type 2 diabetes (age: 53.4 +/- 13.1
      years, duration of diabetes: 8.5 +/- 8.1 years) who needed exercise training were
      enrolled in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated the clinical parameters and
      4 muscle strength parameters, which were toe pinch force, handgrip strength,
      isometric knee extension force, and isometric ankle dorsiflexion force. RESULTS:
      The HbA1c, toe pinch force, handgrip strength, isometric knee extension force,
      and isometric ankle dorsiflexion force were 10.1 +/- 2.4 %, 3.2 +/- 1.2 kg, 37.3
      +/- 7.0 kg, 39.6 +/- 11.4 kgf, and 17.0 +/- 6.3 kgf, respectively. Toe pinch
      force was significantly correlated with handgrip strength (r = 0.365, p =
      0.0206), isometric knee extension force (r = 0.668, p < 0.0001), and isometric
      ankle dorsiflexion force (r = 0.514, p = 0.0007). All muscle strength parameters
      were significantly lower in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy than in those
      without polyneuropathy. CONCLUSION: Although toe pinch force was significantly
      correlated with the other muscle strength parameters, the correlation was not so
      strong. However, evaluation of toe pinch force might be recommended for
      assessment of distal limb muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26879316
TI  - Targeted disruption of EBNA1 in EBV-infected cells attenuated cell growth.
AB  - Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-encoded nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1) plays a pivotal in an
      EBV episome replication and persistence. Despite considerable attempts, there are
      no EBV drugs or vaccines. We attempted to eradicate EBV episomes by targeting
      EBNA1 using the transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) (E1TN).
      E1TN-mediated transient knockout (KO) of EBNA1 reduced EBNA1 expression, and
      caused significant loss of EBV genomes and progressive death of EBV-infected
      cells. Furthermore, when a mixture of EBV-infected Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells
      and EBV-negative BL cells was targeted by E1TN, EBV-negative cells were counter
      selected while most EBV-infected cells died, further substantiating that EBNA1 KO
      caused selective death of EBV-infected cells. TALEN-mediated transient targeting
      of EBNA1 attenuated the growth of EBV-infected cells, implicating a possible
      therapeutic application of E1TN for EBV-associated disorders. [BMB Reports 2016;
      49(4): 226-231]. 

PMID- 26879317
TI  - Anti-inflammatory action of ethanolic extract of Ramulus mori on the BLT2-linked
      cascade.
AB  - Mulberry tree twigs (Ramulus mori) contain large amounts of oxyresveratrols and
      have traditionally been used as herbal medicines because of their anti
      inflammatory properties. However, the signaling mechanism by which R. mori exerts
      its anti-inflammatory action remains to be elucidated. In this study, we observed
      that R. mori ethanol extracts (RME) exerted an inhibitory effect on the
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Raw264.7 macrophage cells. Additionally, RME inhibited IL
      6 production by blocking the leukotriene B4 receptor- 2 (BLT2)-dependent-NADPH
      oxidase 1 (NOX1)-reactive oxygen species (ROS) cascade, leading to anti
      inflammatory activity. Finally, RME suppressed the production of the BLT2 ligands
      LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE by inhibiting the p38 kinase- cytosolic phospholipase A2-5
      /12-lipoxygenase cascade in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Overall, our results
      suggest that RME inhibits the 'BLT2 ligand-BLT2'-linked autocrine inflammatory
      axis, and that this BLT2-linked cascade is one of the targets of the anti
      inflammatory action of R. mori. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(4): 232-237]. 

PMID- 26879318
TI  - Biphasic activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in
      epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated SW480 colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - Cancer cells have different characteristics due to the genetic differences where
      these unique features may strongly influence the effectiveness of therapeutic
      interventions. Here, we show that the spontaneous reactivation of extracellular
      signalregulated kinase (ERK), distinct from conventional ERK activation,
      represents a potent mechanism for cancer cell survival. We studied ERK1/2
      activation in vitro in SW480 colorectal cancer cells. Although ERK signaling
      tends to be transiently activated, we observed the delayed reactivation of ERK1/2
      in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated SW480 cells. This effect was observed
      even after EGF withdrawal. While phosphorylated ERK1/2 translocated into the
      nucleus following its primary activation, it remained in the cytoplasm during
      late-phase activation. The inhibition of primary ERK1/2 activation or protein
      trafficking, blocked reactivation and concurrently increased caspase 3 activity.
      Our results suggest that the biphasic activation of ERK1/2 plays a role in cancer
      cell survival; thus, regulation of ERK1/2 activation may improve the efficacy of
      cancer therapies that target ERK signaling. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(4): 220-225]. 

PMID- 26879319
TI  - Adapting a Cancer Literacy Measure for Use Among Navajo Women.
AB  - PURPOSE: The authors designed a community-based participatory research study to
      develop and test a family-based behavioral intervention to improve cancer
      literacy and promote mammography among Navajo women. METHOD: Using data from
      focus groups and discussions with a community advisory committee, they adapted an
      existing questionnaire to assess cancer knowledge, barriers to mammography, and
      cancer beliefs for use among Navajo women. Questions measuring health literacy,
      numeracy, self-efficacy, cancer communication, and family support were also
      adapted. RESULTS: The resulting questionnaire was found to have good content
      validity, and to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for use among
      Navajo women. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider culture and not just
      language when adapting existing measures for use with AI/AN (American
      Indian/Alaskan Native) populations. English-language versions of existing
      literacy measures may not be culturally appropriate for AI/AN populations, which
      could lead to a lack of semantic, technical, idiomatic, and conceptual
      equivalence, resulting in misinterpretation of study outcomes.

PMID- 26879320
TI  - Anti-DNase I antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnostic value and
      share in the enzyme inhibition.
AB  - Diagnostic accuracy of anti-DNase I antibodies measurement in a differentiation
      between SLE and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases was evaluated. The share of
      anti-DNase I and actin in the DNase I activity decrease in SLE was established.
      Serum samples were obtained from 54 patients with verified SLE, 52 control
      patients with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and 44 healthy persons. Anti
      DNase I concentrations were measured by ELISA. Free and actin inhibited DNase I
      activities were evaluated in the fresh serum samples. The appraisal of antibodies
      and actin effects on DNase I activity was made using multiple regression. Anti
      DNase I antibodies were positive in 35 SLE and 8 control patients, without
      significant difference between the mean antibody concentrations. Sensitivity of
      this test was 64.81 %, and specificity-84.62 %. Mean free DNase I activity in SLE
      was somewhat lower than in the control group as a result of augmented frequency
      of extremely low enzyme activities. On the contrary, after the exclusion of the
      latter cases we have revealed elevated mean free DNase I activity in the other
      SLE patients comparing to the similar control subgroup. Unlike the controls, low
      serum DNase I activity in SLE arose not only from actin and antibody action, but
      also, in half of the cases, from unidentified factor, related to active SLE. The
      accuracy of the anti-DNase I antibodies measurement is approximate to the present
      reference standard of SLE diagnostics. We first demonstrated that neither
      antibodies nor actin caused DNase I activity decrease in SLE. 

PMID- 26879321
TI  - Psychological factors associated with failure of detoxification treatment in
      chronic headache associated with medication overuse.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological factors associated
      with a negative outcome following detoxification in a 2-month follow-up in
      medication-overuse headache. METHODS: All consecutive patients entering the
      detoxification program were analysed in a prospective, non-randomised fashion.
      Psychiatric conditions and personality characteristics were assessed using the
      Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I) and the Minnesota
      Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2. chi2 tests, one-way analyses of
      variance, and odds ratios (ORs) were used. RESULTS: A total of 248 patients
      completed the follow-up: 156 stopped overuse and their headaches reverted to an
      episodic pattern (Group A); 23 kept overusing without any benefit on headache
      frequency (Group B); and 51 stopped overuse without any benefit on headache
      frequency (Group C). The prognostic factors for the outcome of Group B were
      higher scores on the correction (OR 1.128; p = 0.036), depression (OR 1.071; p =
      0.05), hysteria (OR 1.106; p = 0.023), and overcontrolled hostility (OR 1.182; p
      = 0.04) MMPI-2 scales, whereas those for Group C were psychiatric comorbidities
      (OR 1.502; p = 0.021) and higher scores on the hysteria scale (OR 1.125; p =
      0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of detoxification is influenced by psychological
      factors that should be considered when considering treatment strategies.

PMID- 26879324
TI  - Erratum to: Enzalutamide: A Step Towards Pharmacokinetic-Based Dosing in Men with
      Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26879322
TI  - Chordoid glioma of the third ventricle: a patient presenting with SIADH and a
      review of this rare tumor.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chordoid glioma of the third ventricle is a rare and recently
      described tumor characterized by a unique histomorphology and exclusive
      association with the suprasellar/third ventricular compartment. Its clinical,
      radiological and histological features may vary. Despite the fact that chordoid
      glioma is a low-grade tumor, its prognosis has been relatively poor because of
      its insidious presentation and the difficulty in obtaining complete surgical
      resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we report on a new case of chordoid
      glioma occurring in a 48-year-old woman, presented with hyponatremia, and on the
      initial work-up with a diagnosis of hyponatremia due at least in part to SIADH.
      We review the current literature on this rare pathology, discuss the radiological
      and histopathologic findings, and discuss the optimal management of chordoid
      glioma in general. CONCLUSION: Based on this new case and the previous literature
      reports, we suggest that chordoid glioma should be included in the differential
      diagnosis of uncommon masses of the third ventricle, especially in middle-aged
      women, and we emphasize current management guidelines.

PMID- 26879323
TI  - Incorporating specificity into optimization: evaluation of SPA using CSAR 2014
      and CASF 2013 benchmarks.
AB  - Scoring functions of protein-ligand interactions are widely used in
      computationally docking software and structure-based drug discovery. Accurate
      prediction of the binding energy between the protein and the ligand is the main
      task of the scoring function. The accuracy of a scoring function is normally
      evaluated by testing it on the benchmarks of protein-ligand complexes. In this
      work, we report the evaluation analysis of an improved version of scoring
      function SPecificity and Affinity (SPA). By testing on two independent benchmarks
      Community Structure-Activity Resource (CSAR) 2014 and Comparative Assessment of
      Scoring Functions (CASF) 2013, the assessment shows that SPA is relatively more
      accurate than other compared scoring functions in predicting the interactions
      between the protein and the ligand. We conclude that the inclusion of the
      specificity in the optimization can effectively suppress the competitive state on
      the funnel-like binding energy landscape, and make SPA more accurate in
      identifying the "native" conformation and scoring the binding decoys. The
      evaluation of SPA highlights the importance of binding specificity in improving
      the accuracy of the scoring functions. 

PMID- 26879325
TI  - Photochemical Hydrogen Generation Initiated by Oxidative Quenching of the Excited
      Ru(bpy)3 (2+) * by a Bio-Inspired [2Fe2S] Complex.
AB  - A diiron dithiolate complex 1 containing 1,8-naphthalic anhydride bridge was
      prepared, which possessed the lowest reduction potential for the synthetic diiron
      complexes modeled on the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenase reported so far. For
      the first time, oxidative quenching of the excited Ru(bpy)3 (2+) * through
      electron transfer to a bio-inspired [2Fe2S] complex was corroborated. Hydrogen
      evolution, driven by visible light, was successfully observed for a three
      component system, consisting of Ru(bpy)3 (2+) , complex 1, and EDTA as electron
      donor in aqueous/organic media. These results provide a basis and also
      opportunity to develop a photo water splitting system employing Fe-based
      catalysts without sacrificial electron donors. 

PMID- 26879326
TI  - Determining prevalence of maltreatment among children in the kingdom of Saudi
      Arabia.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to find out the overall prevalence rates for
      the major forms of abuse among adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
      differences in prevalence by age, gender and living arrangement. METHODS: The
      cross-sectional study was conducted in secondary high schools in five of the 13
      main regions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 2012. Through a multistage
      stratified sampling technique, a sample (n = 16 939) of adolescents (15-19 years)
      were identified and invited to participate. The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool
      - Child was used for data collection. The previous year's occurrence of violence
      exposure, psychological, physical and sexual abuse, and neglect were assessed.
      RESULTS: Nearly 90% of the adolescents were between 16 and 18 years of age, and
      over 80% were cared for by both of their biological parents. Annual prevalence of
      various forms of abuse in the year before the 2012 assessment ranged between 0.10
      and 0.65, with the lowest rate for sexual abuse and the highest for psychological
      abuse. Significantly, greater rates of all forms of abuse/exposure were found
      when participants lived with their mother or father only (versus with both), and
      even greater rates for all when they lived with their biological parent and a
      step-parent. Rates for violence exposure, psychological abuse and neglect were
      significantly greater for girls, and rate of sexual abuse was greater for boys.
      CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be given to the effect of adolescent
      maltreatment particularly among girls. In addition, sexual abuse prevention
      programme should be targeted among boys.

PMID- 26879327
TI  - The effects of a rotator cuff tear on activities of daily living in older adults:
      A kinematic analysis.
AB  - Rotator cuff tears (RCT) in older individuals may compound age-associated
      physiological changes and impact their ability to perform daily functional tasks.
      Our objective was to quantify thoracohumeral kinematics for functional tasks in
      18 older adults (mean age=63.3+/-2.2), and compare findings from nine with a RCT
      to nine matched controls. Motion capture was used to record kinematics for 7
      tasks (axilla wash, forward reach, functional pull, hair comb, perineal care,
      upward reach to 90 degrees , upward reach to 105 degrees ) spanning the upper
      limb workspace. Maximum and minimum joint angles and motion excursion for the
      three thoracohumeral degrees of freedom (elevation plane, elevation, axial
      rotation) were identified for each task and compared between groups. The RCT
      group used greater minimum elevation angles for axilla wash and functional pull
      (p<=0.0124) and a smaller motion excursion for functional pull (p=0.0032)
      compared to the control group. The RCT group also used a more internally rotated
      maximum axial rotation angle than controls for functional reach, functional pull,
      hair comb, and upward reach to 105 degrees  (p<=0.0494). The most differences
      between groups were observed for axial rotation, with the RCT group using greater
      internal rotation to complete functional tasks, and significant differences
      between groups were identified for all three thoracohumeral degrees of freedom
      for functional pull. We conclude that older adults with RCT used more internal
      rotation to perform functional tasks than controls. The kinematic differences
      identified in this study may have consequences for progression of shoulder damage
      and further functional impairment in older adults with RCT. 

PMID- 26879328
TI  - Azilsartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, attenuates tert-butyl
      hydroperoxide-induced endothelial cell injury through inhibition of mitochondrial
      dysfunction and anti-inflammatory activity.
AB  - Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) blockers protect against brain ischemia by
      mechanisms dependent on and independent of arterial blood pressure. However, the
      effects of AT1-R blockers on brain endothelial cell injury and detailed
      mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of this study is to investigate whether
      azilsartan, an AT1-R blocker, could attenuate oxidative injury in endothelial
      cells via regulating mitochondrial function and inflammatory responses. We found
      that treatment with azilsartan suppressed tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)
      induced oxidative damage in murine brain endothelial cells (mBECs) by increasing
      cell viability, decreasing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and inhibiting
      cell apoptosis. Azilsartan significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      generation and lipid peroxidation, but had no effect on antioxidant system. We
      also detected preserved mitochondrial function after azilsartan treatment, as
      evidenced by increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reduced cytochrome
      c release, preserved ATP synthesis and inhibited mitochondrial swelling. In
      addition, azilsartan differently regulated expression of inflammatory cytokines
      and increased the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).
      Pretreatment with eNOS inhibitor L-NIO partially prevented the azilsartan-induced
      regulation of cytokines and protection. Furthermore, azilsartan-induced
      protection in our in vitro model was shown to be associated with protein
      stability of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma).
      Overall, our data suggest that the AT1-R blocker azilsartan may have therapeutic
      values in treating endothelial dysfunction associated neurological disorders
      through anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

PMID- 26879329
TI  - Development of a web-based epidemiological surveillance system with health system
      response for improving maternal and newborn health: Field-testing in Thailand.
AB  - Surveillance systems are yet to be integrated with health information systems for
      improving the health of pregnant mothers and their newborns, particularly in
      developing countries. This study aimed to develop a web-based epidemiological
      surveillance system for maternal and newborn health with integration of action
      oriented responses and automatic data analysis with results presentations and to
      assess the system acceptance by nurses and doctors involved in various hospitals
      in southern Thailand. Freeware software and scripting languages were used. The
      system can be run on different platforms, and it is accessible via various
      electronic devices. Automatic data analysis with results presentations in the
      forms of graphs, tables and maps was part of the system. A multi-level security
      system was incorporated into the program. Most doctors and nurses involved in the
      study felt the system was easy to use and useful. This system can be integrated
      into country routine reporting system for monitoring maternal and newborn health
      and survival.

PMID- 26879330
TI  - Laboratory diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 26879331
TI  - Divergent genes in potential inoculant Sinorhizobium strains are related to DNA
      replication, recombination, and repair.
AB  - To serve as inoculants of legumes, nitrogen-fixing rhizobium strains should be
      competitive and tolerant of diverse environments. We hybridized the genomes of
      symbiotically efficient and salt tolerant Sinorhizobium inoculant strains onto
      the Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 microarray. The number of variable genes, that
      is, divergent or putatively multiplied genes, ranged from 503 to 1556 for S.
      meliloti AK23, S. meliloti STM 1064 and S. arboris HAMBI 1552. The numbers of
      divergent genes affiliated with the symbiosis plasmid pSymA and related to DNA
      replication, recombination and repair were significantly higher than expected.
      The variation was mainly in the accessory genome, implying that it was important
      in shaping the adaptability of the strains. 

PMID- 26879332
TI  - Detection of aristolochic acids I and II in "Chiniy-tref", a traditional
      medicinal preparation containing caterpillars feeding on Aristolochia trilobata
      L. in Martinique, French West Indies.
AB  - "Chiniy-tref" is a traditional medicinal preparation used in Martinique, French
      West Indies, for the prevention of all kinds of attempted poisoning and hex. It
      is produced by the maceration in alcohol (mostly rum) of larvae (caterpillars) of
      the butterfly Battus polydamas ssp. cebriones, feeding on the leaves of
      Aristolochia trilobata. Aristolochic acids I and II that are well-known
      nephrotoxic and carcinogenic substances were identified on two samples of "chiniy
      trefl" by chromatographic methods. 

PMID- 26879333
TI  - Response to the letter by Nicholas G. Kounis, George D. Soufras.

PMID- 26879334
TI  - Complications and revision of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
AB  - The most common causes of revision surgery after reverse total shoulder
      arthroplasty (RTSA) are, in decreasing order: prosthetic instability (38%),
      infection (22%), humeral problems (21%) including loosening, unscrewing and
      fracture, and, lastly, problems of glenoid loosening (13%). Complications leading
      to reoperation are often multiple and their association is underestimated. It is
      not uncommon for patients to be reoperated several times due to the persistence
      of the same complication, failure to diagnose associated complications, or onset
      of an additional complication. Although it may require a number of procedures in
      the same patient, it is very often possible (in 90% of cases, in our experience)
      to conserve or replace the RTSA, allowing patients to recover a functional
      shoulder. However, the functional results of revised RTSA are inferior than for
      primary prostheses, and depend on the surgeon's experience and the number of
      RTSAs performed, suggesting that patients should be referred to a tertiary
      center.

PMID- 26879335
TI  - Safety analysis of long-term budesonide nasal irrigations in patients with
      chronic rhinosinusitis post endoscopic sinus surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the safety of topical nasal steroids is well established for
      nasal spray forms, data regarding the safety of steroid irrigations is limited.
      We studied the effect of long-term budesonide nasal irrigations (>6 months) on
      hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) function and intraocular pressure
      (IOP) in patients post-endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS: This was retrospective
      case series. Adrenal function was assessed by using the high-dose cosyntropin
      stimulation test. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were assessed, with a mean
      duration of budesonide irrigations of 22 months. Stimulated cortisol levels were
      abnormally low in 11 patients (23%). None reported to have symptoms of adrenal
      suppression. Three of 4 patients who repeated the study being off budesonide for
      at least 1 month returned to near normal levels. Logistic regression analysis
      revealed that concomitant use of both nasal steroid sprays and pulmonary steroid
      inhalers was significantly associated with HPAA suppression (p = 0.024). Patients
      with low stimulated cortisol levels were able to continue budesonide irrigations
      under the supervision of an endocrinologist without frank clinical manifestations
      of adrenal insufficiency. IOP was within normal limits in all patients.
      CONCLUSION: Long-term use of budesonide nasal irrigations is generally safe, but
      asymptomatic HPAA suppression may occur in selected patients. Concomitant use of
      both nasal steroid sprays and pulmonary steroid inhalers while using daily
      budesonide nasal irrigations is associated with an increased risk. Rhinologists
      should be alerted to the potential risks of long-term use of budesonide nasal
      irrigations, and monitoring for HPAA suppression may be warranted in patients
      receiving long-term budesonide irrigation therapy.

PMID- 26879336
TI  - Long-Lived Excited-State Dynamics of i-Motif Structures Probed by Time-Resolved
      Infrared Spectroscopy.
AB  - UV-generated excited states of cytosine (C) nucleobases are precursors to
      mutagenic photoproduct formation. The i-motif formed from C-rich sequences is
      known to exhibit high yields of long-lived excited states following UV
      absorption. Here the excited states of several i-motif structures have been
      characterized following 267 nm laser excitation using time-resolved infrared
      spectroscopy (TRIR). All structures possess a long-lived excited state of ~300 ps
      and notably in some cases decays greater than 1 ns are observed. These unusually
      long-lived lifetimes are attributed to the interdigitated DNA structure which
      prevents direct base stacking overlap.

PMID- 26879337
TI  - Characterization of the AXH domain of Ataxin-1 using enhanced sampling and
      functional mode analysis.
AB  - Ataxin-1 is the protein responsible for the Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, an
      incurable neurodegenerative disease caused by polyglutamine expansion. The AXH
      domain plays a pivotal role in physiological functions of Ataxin-1. In
      Spinocerebellar ataxia 1, the AXH domain is involved in the misfolding and
      aggregation pathway. Here molecular modeling is applied to investigate the
      protein-protein interactions contributing to the AXH dimer stability. Particular
      attention is focused on: (i) the characterization of AXH monomer-monomer
      interface; (ii) the molecular description of the AXH monomer-monomer interaction
      dynamics. Technically, an approach based on functional mode analysis, here
      applied to replica exchange molecular dynamics trajectories, was employed. The
      findings of this study are consistent with previous experimental results and
      elucidate the pivotal role of the I580 residue in mediating the AXH monomer
      monomer interaction dynamics.

PMID- 26879339
TI  - Abnormal Cathodic Photocurrent Generated on an n-Type FeOOH Nanorod-Array
      Photoelectrode.
AB  - A simple, wet-chemical method for the synthesis of an FeOOH nanorod-array
      photoelectrode on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass is reported. Nanorods of
      diameter about 35 nm and length about 300 nm have been vertically grown on an FTO
      substrate. Upon calcination, the FeOOH phase could be easily converted to a
      hematite structure while maintaining the shape of the nanorod array. An
      interesting abnormal cathodic photocurrent is generated on the FeOOH nanorod
      array photoelectrode under illumination, which is totally different from that
      obtained on a calcined hematite photoelectrode under the same experimental
      conditions. The cathodic photocurrent density generated on the FeOOH
      photoelectrode can also be tuned by applying an electrochemical anodic or
      cathodic treatment. Detailed analysis has revealed that higher valence state
      Fe(IV) species in the FeOOH photoelectrode play an important role in sacrificing
      the photoexcited electrons for generation of the cathodic photocurrent.
      Comparison between the FeOOH and hematite photoelectrodes allows for a better
      understanding of the interplay between crystal structure, surface reactions, and
      photocurrent. The findings on this new abnormal phenomenon could also provide
      guidance for the design of new types of semiconducting photoelectrochemical
      devices. 

PMID- 26879338
TI  - The effect of combined treatment with a beta3 AR agonist and a ROCK inhibitor on
      detrusor overactivity.
AB  - AIMS: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the
      combined treatment with the beta3 AR agonist and ROCK inhibitor in the rat model
      of detrusor overactivity induced by retinyl acetate instillation. METHODS: The
      ROCK inhibitor (GSK 269962) and/or the beta3 AR agonist (BRL 37344) were
      administered in single doses and a cystometry was carried out, along with a 24 hr
      measurement of cardiovascular parameters and diuresis. RESULTS: The combined use
      of GSK 269962 and BRL 37344 in doses ineffective in monotherapies, ameliorated
      DO. An increase was found in voided volume, voiding efficiency, volume threshold,
      intercontraction interval, bladder compliance, and volume threshold to elicit
      nonvoiding contractions, accompanied by a decrease in basal pressure, threshold
      pressure, detrusor overactivity index, nonvoiding contractions amplitude, and
      frequency. The combination therapy in question proved to have no effect on
      micturition voiding pressure, post-void residual, bladder contraction duration,
      or relaxation time. A 24 hr observation of female rats who received GSK 269962
      and/or BRL 37344 did not show any significant changes in urine production. BRL
      37344 increased heart rate and blood pressure proportionately to the applied
      dose. The assessment of the combined treatment with GSK 269962 and BRL 37344
      revealed a significant drop of cardiovascular parameters when compared to the
      rats which only received BRL 37344. DISCUSSION: The combined use of beta3 AR
      agonists and ROCK inhibitors may improve overactive bladder treatment efficacy
      and minimize side effects. CONCLUSION: This polytherapy appears to improve urine
      storage with no impairment of voiding function. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:580-588,
      2017. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879340
TI  - TiO2 Nanotubes: Nitrogen-Ion Implantation at Low Dose Provides Noble-Metal-Free
      Photocatalytic H2 -Evolution Activity.
AB  - Low-dose nitrogen implantation induces an ion and damage profile in TiO2
      nanotubes that leads to "co-catalytic" activity for photocatalytic H2 -evolution
      (without the use of any noble metal). Ion implantation with adequate parameters
      creates this active zone limited to the top part of the tubes. The coupling of
      this top layer and the underlying non-implanted part of the nanotubes
      additionally contributes to an efficient carrier separation and thus to a
      significantly enhanced H2 generation. 

PMID- 26879342
TI  - Improved interpretation of studies comparing methods of dietary assessment:
      combining equivalence testing with the limits of agreement.
AB  - The aim of this study was to demonstrate the use of testing for equivalence in
      combination with the Bland and Altman method when assessing agreement between two
      dietary methods. A sample data set, with eighty subjects simulated from
      previously published studies, was used to compare a FFQ with three 24 h recalls
      (24HR) for assessing dietary I intake. The mean I intake using the FFQ was 126.51
      (sd 54.06) ug and using the three 24HR was 124.23 (sd 48.62) ug. The bias was 
      2.28 (sd 43.93) ug with a 90% CI 10.46, 5.89 ug. The limits of agreement (LOA)
      were -88.38, 83.82 ug. Four equivalence regions were compared. Using the
      conventional 10 % equivalence range, the methods are shown to be equivalent both
      by using the CI (-12.4, 12.4 ug) and the two one-sided tests approach (lower t=
      2.99 (79 df), P=0.002; upper t=2.06 (79 df), P=0.021). However, we make a case
      that clinical decision making should be used to set the equivalence limits, and
      for nutrients where there are potential issues with deficiency or toxicity
      stricter criteria may be needed. If the equivalence region is lowered to +/-5 ug,
      or +/- 10 ug, these methods are no longer equivalent, and if a wider limit of +/
      15 ug is accepted they are again equivalent. Using equivalence testing,
      acceptable agreement must be assessed a priori and justified; this makes the
      process of defining agreement more transparent and results easier to interpret
      than relying on the LOA alone.

PMID- 26879341
TI  - Mapping the neck disability index to SF-6D in patients with chronic neck pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study sought to statistically map the neck disability index
      (NDI) to the six-dimension health state short form (SF-6D) to estimate algorithms
      for use in economic analyses in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). METHODS:
      The relationships between NDI and SF-6D scores were estimated by using data from
      a cohort of patients with chronic neck pain (n = 272). By using ordinary least
      squares (OLS), generalized linear modeling (GLM), censored least absolute
      deviations (CLAD) and Tobit regression, scores from all 10 items of the NDI
      instruments were univariately tested against SF-6D values and retained in a
      multivariate regression model, if statistically significant. The predictive
      ability of the model was assessed by mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square
      error (RMSE) and normalized RMSE. RESULTS: The mean age of the 272 CNP patients
      was 39.9 +/- 12.3 years; 57.8 % of the CNP patients were female. An OLS
      regression equation that included recreation item of NDI was optimal, with a MAE
      of 0.04and 0.04 and an RMSE of 0.06and 0.05in the derivation set and validation
      set, respectively. Predicted utilities accurately represented the observed ones.
      CONCLUSIONS: We have provided algorithms for the estimation of health state
      utility values from the response of NDI. Future economic evaluations of the
      interventions for chronic neck pain could be informed by these algorithms.

PMID- 26879343
TI  - 9-Hydroxyrisperidone-Induced Hyperprolactinaemia in Thai Children and Adolescents
      with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
AB  - Although our previous study revealed an association between prolactin level and
      risperidone dosage, data regarding the plasma concentration of risperidone are
      lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between
      plasma drug concentrations of risperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone and serum
      prolactin level in Thai children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
      (ASD). The individuals for this study were 103 children and adolescents with ASD
      (90 males and 13 females). In the 12th hour after the last risperidone dose,
      blood samples were collected for analysis. Serum prolactin, plasma risperidone
      and 9-hydroxyrisperidone levels were measured. Patients' clinical data were
      collected from medical records - age, weight, height, body mass index, dose of
      risperidone and duration of treatment. Serum prolactin level was significantly
      positively correlated with plasma 9-hydroxyrisperidone level (rs = 0.355, p <
      0.001). The median concentration of 9-hydroxyrisperidone in individuals with
      hyperprolactinaemia (7.59 ng/ml; IQR 4.86-15.55) was significantly higher than
      non-hyperprolactinaemic individuals (5.18 ng/ml; IQR 2.10-8.99) after risperidone
      treatment (p = 0.006). By multivariate analysis, high prolactin level was
      correlated to high 9-hydroxyrisperidone level (p = 0.010). The results of this
      study showed that serum prolactin levels, especially in autistic individuals with
      hyperprolactinaemia during risperidone treatment, were significantly correlated
      with the level of 9-hydroxyrisperidone. These results suggest that
      hyperprolactinaemia may develop during risperidone treatment. 

PMID- 26879344
TI  - Anatomy of the true interatrial septum for transseptal access to the left atrium.
AB  - Clinical anatomy of the interatrial septum is treacherous, difficult and its
      unfamiliarity can cause many serious complications. This work aims to create an
      anatomical map of the true interatrial septum. An appreciation of the anatomical
      situation is essential for safe and efficacious transseptal access from the right
      atrium to the left heart chambers. Examination of 135 autopsied human hearts
      (Caucasian) of both sexes (28% females) aged from 19 to 94 years old (47.0+/
      18.2) with BMI=27.1+/-6.0kg/m(2) was conducted. Focus was specifically targeted
      on the assessment of the fossa ovalis, patent foramen ovale (PFO), and right
      sided septal pouch (RSP) morphology. Mean values of cranio-caudal and antero
      posterior fossa ovalis diameters were 12.1+/-3.6 and 14.1+/-3.6mm, respectively.
      The fossa ovalis was situated an average of 10.1+/-4.4mm above the inferior vena
      cava ostium, 20.7+/-5.2mm from the right atrioventricular ring, and 12.6+/-5.2mm
      under the right atrium roof. Four types of fossa ovalis anatomy have been
      observed (smooth-56.3%, PFO-24.4%, RSP-11.9%, net-like formation-7.4%). The PFO
      mean channel length was 10.5+/-5.2mm. The tunnel-like PFO (channel length >=12mm)
      was observed in 8.9% of specimens. The RSP was observed in 11.9% of specimens
      (with mean depth=6.3+/-3.8mm) and was directed apex upward in all observed
      specimens (may imitate the PFO channel). The fossa ovalis/interatrial septum
      surface area ratio was 18.3+/-9.0%. IN CONCLUSION: (1) An anatomical map of the
      interatrial septum from the right atrial side was presented. (2) The RSP may
      imitate the PFO channel. (3) The "true" interatrial septum represents only about
      20% of the whole interatrial septum area. (4) There is wide variation in the
      location and geometry of the fossa ovalis. (5) We could distinguish four
      different types of the fossa ovalis area.

PMID- 26879345
TI  - Molecular and systems approaches towards drought-tolerant canola crops.
AB  - 1169 I. 1170 II. 1170 III. 1172 IV. 1176 V. 1181 VI. 1182 1183 References 1183
      SUMMARY: Modern agriculture is facing multiple challenges including the necessity
      for a substantial increase in production to meet the needs of a burgeoning human
      population. Water shortage is a deleterious consequence of both population growth
      and climate change and is one of the most severe factors limiting global crop
      productivity. Brassica species, particularly canola varieties, are cultivated
      worldwide for edible oil, animal feed, and biodiesel, and suffer dramatic yield
      loss upon drought stress. The recent release of the Brassica napus genome
      supplies essential genetic information to facilitate identification of drought
      related genes and provides new information for agricultural improvement in this
      species. Here we summarize current knowledge regarding drought responses of
      canola, including physiological and -omics effects of drought. We further discuss
      knowledge gained through translational biology based on discoveries in the
      closely related reference species Arabidopsis thaliana and through genetic
      strategies such as genome-wide association studies and analysis of natural
      variation. Knowledge of drought tolerance/resistance responses in canola together
      with research outcomes arising from new technologies and methodologies will
      inform novel strategies for improvement of drought tolerance and yield in this
      and other important crop species.

PMID- 26879346
TI  - Validation of "laboratory-supported" criteria for functional (psychogenic)
      tremor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a small group of patients, we have previously shown that a
      combination of electrophysiological tests was able to distinguish functional
      (psychogenic) tremor and organic tremor with excellent sensitivity and
      specificity. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to validate an electrophysiological test
      battery as a tool to diagnose patients with functional tremor with a "laboratory
      supported" level of certainty. METHODS: For this prospective data collection
      study, we recruited 38 new patients with functional tremor (mean age 37.9 +/-
      24.5 years; mean disease duration 5.9 +/- 9.0 years) and 73 new patients with
      organic tremor (mean age 55.4 +/- 25.4 years; mean disease duration 15.8 +/- 17.7
      years). Tremor was recorded at rest, posture (with and without loading), action,
      while performing tapping tasks (1, 3, and 5 Hz), and while performing ballistic
      movements with the less-affected hand. Electrophysiological tests were performed
      by raters blinded to the clinical diagnosis. We calculated a sum score for all
      performed tests (maximum of 10 points) and used a previously suggested cut-off
      score of 3 points for a diagnosis of laboratory-supported functional tremor.
      RESULTS: We demonstrated good interrater reliability and test-retest reliability.
      Patients with functional tremor had a higher average score on the test battery
      when compared with patients with organic tremor (3.6 +/- 1.4 points vs 1.0 +/-
      0.8 points; P < .001), and the predefined cut-off score for laboratory-supported
      functional tremor yielded a test sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 95.9%.
      CONCLUSION: We now propose this test battery as the basis of laboratory-supported
      criteria for the diagnosis of functional tremor, and we encourage its use in
      clinical and research practice.

PMID- 26879348
TI  - Etanercept Increases Bone Mineral Density in Ankylosing Spondylitis, but Does Not
      Prevent Vertebral Fractures: Results of a Prospective Observational Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by chronic inflammation
      leading to ankylosis, but also to low bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral
      fractures (VFx). Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers decreases
      inflammation and has shown to be effective in increasing BMD. We studied the
      effects of etanercept (ETN) on BMD and VFx in patients with AS after 2 years of
      treatment. Further, we studied changes in bone turnover markers and radiological
      damage. METHODS: Patients with active AS, treated with ETN for 2 years, were
      included. BMD lumbar spine and hip were measured at baseline and after 2 years,
      as well as radiological damage (modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal
      Score with the addition of the thoracic spine), VFx (Genant method), and change
      in bone turnover markers. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients with AS were included.
      After 2 years of ETN, hip BMD increased by 2.2% (p = 0.014) and lumbar spine BMD
      by 7.0% (p < 0.001). The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index
      decreased significantly (p < 0.001), as well as C-reactive protein and
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.001). Despite ETN therapy, the number of
      patients with VFx more than doubled (from 6 to 15 patients, p = 0.003). Also, the
      radiological damage increased significantly over time (from 12.1 to 18.5, p <
      0.001); however, no significant change in bone turnover markers was found.
      CONCLUSION: This prospective longitudinal observational cohort study showed that
      after 2 years of ETN, BMD of the hip and spine increased significantly, but the
      number of patients with VFx and the severity of VFx increased as well. Besides
      that, radiological progression, including the thoracic spine, increased
      significantly. Thus, the favorable bone-preserving effect is accompanied by
      unfavorable outcomes on VFx and radiological damage.

PMID- 26879347
TI  - Fecal prevalence, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of
      Salmonellae in dairy cattle in central Ethiopia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Salmonellae are major worldwide zoonotic pathogens infecting a wide
      range of vertebrate species including humans. Consumption of contaminated dairy
      products and contact with dairy cattle represent a common source of non-typhoidal
      Salmonella infection in humans. Despite a large number of small-scale dairy farms
      in Addis Ababa and its surrounding districts, little is known about the status of
      Salmonella in these farms. RESULTS: Salmonella was recovered from the feces of at
      least one animal in 7.6% (10/132) of the dairy farms. Out of 1203 fecal samples
      examined, 30 were positive for Salmonella resulting in a weighted animal level
      prevalence of 2.3%. Detection of diarrhea in an animal and in a farm was
      significantly associated with animal level (p = 0.012) and herd level (p < 0.001)
      prevalence of Salmonella. Animal level prevalence of Salmonella was significantly
      associated with age (p = 0.023) and study location; it was highest among those
      under 6 months of age and in farms from Adaa district and Addis Ababa (p <
      0.001). Nine different serotypes were identified using standard serological
      agglutination tests. The most frequently recovered serotypes were Salmonella
      Typhimurium (23.3%), S. Saintpaul (20%), S. Kentucky (16.7%) and S. Virchow
      (16.7%). All isolates were resistant or intermediately resistant to at least one
      of the 18 drugs tested. Twenty-six (86.7%), 19 (63.3 %), 18 (60%), 16 (53.3%) of
      the isolates were resistant to streptomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulfisoxazole and
      tetracycline , respectively. Resistance to 2 drugs was detected in 27 (90%) of
      the isolates. Resistance to 3 or more drugs was detected in 21 (70%) of the
      isolates, while resistance to 7 or more drugs was detected in 11 (36.7%) of the
      isolates. The rate of occurrence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Salmonella
      strains isolated from dairy farms in Addis Ababa was significantly higher than
      those isolated from farms outside of Addis Ababa (p = 0.009). MDR was more common
      in S. Kentucky, S. Virchow and S. Saintpaul. CONCLUSION: Isolation of Salmonella
      serotypes commonly known for causing human salmonellosis that are associated with
      an MDR phenotype in dairy farms in close proximity with human population is a
      major public health concern. These findings imply the need for a strict pathogen
      reduction strategy.

PMID- 26879349
TI  - Immunochip Analyses of Epistasis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Confirm Multiple
      Interactions within MHC and Suggest Novel Non-MHC Epistatic Signals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Studying statistical gene-gene interactions (epistasis) has been
      limited by the difficulties in performance, both statistically and
      computationally, in large enough sample numbers to gain sufficient power. Three
      large Immunochip datasets from cohort samples recruited in the United Kingdom,
      United States, and Sweden with European ancestry were used to examine epistasis
      in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A full pairwise search was conducted in
      the UK cohort using a high-throughput tool and the resultant significant
      epistatic signals were tested for replication in the United States and Swedish
      cohorts. A forward selection approach was applied to remove redundant signals,
      while conditioning on the preidentified additive effects. RESULTS: We detected
      abundant genome-wide significant (p < 1.0e-13) epistatic signals, all within the
      MHC region. These signals were reduced substantially, but a proportion remained
      significant (p < 1.0e-03) in conditional tests. We identified 11 independent
      epistatic interactions across the entire MHC, each explaining on average 0.12% of
      the phenotypic variance, nearly all replicated in both replication cohorts. We
      also identified non-MHC epistatic interactions between RA susceptible loci
      LOC100506023 and IRF5 with Immunochip-wide significance (p < 1.1e-08) and between
      2 neighboring single-nucleotide polymorphism near PTPN22 that were in low linkage
      disequilibrium with independent interaction (p < 1.0e-05). Both non-MHC epistatic
      interactions were statistically replicated with a similar interaction pattern in
      the US cohort only. CONCLUSION: There are multiple but relatively weak
      interactions independent of the additive effects in RA and a larger sample number
      is required to confidently assign additional non-MHC epistasis.

PMID- 26879350
TI  - Assessment of Fatigue in Spondyloarthritis and Its Association with Disease
      Activity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fatigue in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to
      define its association with disease-related factors and patients' features.
      METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study which includes 2251 patients with
      SpA selected from the national Spondyloarthropathies Registry (the Spanish
      Society of Rheumatology; REGISPONSER) Spanish cohort. The primary outcome was the
      assessment of fatigue performed with the first item of the Bath Ankylosing
      Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index followed by the study of its relation
      with different factors organized into 4 groups: sociodemographics, emotional,
      disease-related, and disease activity. Univariate logistic regressions,
      multivariate logistic regression, and multiple linear regressions were performed
      to relate fatigue with the studied covariates. RESULTS: Mean fatigue score in all
      patients with SpA was 4.3 +/- 2.9, with statistically significant differences
      between different SpA types. In univariate logistic regressions, significant
      differences were seen for many variables included in the 4 groups. Multivariate
      logistic regression showed that high fatigue score was related with sex (female),
      emotional component, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life score, stiffness,
      and high levels of 2 visual analog scale items (vertebral pain in the last week
      and patient's global assessment of disease activity). The multivariate linear
      regression showed that fatigue was mainly explained by disease-related factors
      and disease activity (54.1%), but sex and emotional status may also be involved
      in 13.5% of the variance. CONCLUSION: Fatigue is associated with disease-related
      factors and mostly with SpA activity. However, the emotional component and sex
      may contribute to the onset of fatigue.

PMID- 26879351
TI  - Ghost Busting, Taking the Sheet Off the Ghost.

PMID- 26879352
TI  - Modified Framingham Risk Factor Score for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The traditional Framingham Risk Factor Score (FRS) underestimates the
      risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to determine whether an adjustment to the FRS would
      more accurately reflect the higher prevalence of CAD among patients with SLE.
      METHODS: Patients with SLE without a previous history of CAD or diabetes followed
      regularly at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic were included. A modified FRS
      (mFRS) was calculated by multiplying the items by 1.5, 2, 3, or 4. In the first
      part of the study, using one-third of all eligible patients, we evaluated the
      sensitivity and specificity of the FRS and the different multipliers for the
      mFRS. In the second part of the study, using the remaining 2/3 of the eligible
      patients, we compared the predictive ability of the FRS to the mFRS. In the third
      part of the study, we assessed the prediction for CAD in a time-dependent
      analysis of the FRS and mFRS. RESULTS: There were 905 women (89.3%) with a total
      of 95 CAD events included. In part 1, we determined that a multiplier of 2
      provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity. In part 2, 2.4% of
      the patients were classified as moderate/high risk based on the classic FRS and
      17.3% using the 2FRS (the FRS with a multiplier of 2). In part 3, a time
      dependent covariate analysis for the prediction of the first CAD event revealed
      an HR of 3.22 (p = 0.07) for the classic FRS and 4.37 (p < 0.0001) for the 2FRS.
      CONCLUSION: An mFRS in which each item is multiplied by 2 more accurately
      predicts CAD in patients with SLE.

PMID- 26879353
TI  - The Longterm Effect of Early Intensive Treatment of Seniors with Rheumatoid
      Arthritis: A Comparison of 2 Population-based Cohort Studies on Time to Joint
      Replacement Surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) have the greatest effect
      when initiated early. We evaluated the influence of early exposure to DMARD on
      time to joint replacement surgery among patients with incident rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). METHOD: Using a common protocol, we undertook 2 independent
      population-based cohort studies of patients with incident RA aged 66 years or
      older in Ontario (ON) and Quebec (QC) covering the period 2000-2013. We used Cox
      proportional hazards regression with time-dependent variables measuring duration
      of drug use in the first year, separately for methotrexate (MTX) and other DMARD,
      adjusting for baseline demographics, clinical factors, and other potentially
      confounding drug exposures. Our outcome measure was any joint replacement derived
      from standardized procedure codes. Adjusted HR and 95% CI were estimated.
      RESULTS: Among 20,918 ON and 6754 QC patients with RA followed for a median of
      4.5 years, 2201 and 494 patients underwent joint replacement surgery for crude
      event rates of 2.0 and 1.4 per 100 person-years, respectively. Greater cumulative
      exposure to MTX (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.98) and other DMARD (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97
      0.99) in the first year after diagnosis was associated with longer times to joint
      replacement in ON, corresponding to a 2-3% decrease in the hazard of surgery with
      each additional month of early use. Similar results were observed in QC.
      CONCLUSION: Greater duration of exposure to DMARD soon after RA diagnosis was
      associated with delays to joint replacement surgery in both provinces. Early
      intensive treatment of RA may ultimately reduce demand for joint replacement
      surgery.

PMID- 26879354
TI  - The Rate of Adherence to Antiarthritis Medications and Associated Factors among
      Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and
      Metaanalysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Reported adherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies widely (10.5
      98.5%). Variability may result in part from different methods used to measure
      adherence. Our aims were to quantify adherence to antiarthritis medications for
      each method and to identify variability and associated factors. METHODS: The
      systematic literature review examined PubMed, the Cochrane central database, and
      article reference lists from 1970 to November 2014. Papers with medication
      adherence data (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, steroids, and nonsteroidal
      antiinflammatory drugs) in adult patients with RA or data on associated factors
      were included. Adherence rate was recorded for each method. Random-effect
      metaanalysis estimated adherence for different evaluation methods. RESULTS:
      Adherence rate was 66% (95% CI 0.58-0.75). There were no differences in adherence
      among different measurement methods (interview, questionnaires, etc.). Regression
      analysis showed that adherence decreases during followup. Among 100 possible
      factors potentially effecting adherence, 7 adherence-associated factors were
      found in at least 2 different studies. These were the use of infliximab compared
      with etanercept or methotrexate (MTX), use of MTX compared to sulfasalazine or to
      etanercept, belief in the necessity of the medications, older age, and white
      race. CONCLUSION: Overall adherence rate was 66%. We suggest that readers
      appraise adherence studies according to the medications evaluated, the validity
      of the method, and the scales and cutpoints.

PMID- 26879355
TI  - Early Remission Is a Realistic Target in a Majority of Patients with DMARD-naive
      Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We analyzed remission rates at 3 and 12 months in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were naive for disease-modifying antirheumatic
      drugs (DMARD) and who were treated in a Finnish rheumatology clinic from 2008 to
      2011. We compared remission rates and drug treatments between patients with RA
      and patients with undifferentiated arthritis (UA). METHODS: Data from all DMARD
      naive RA and UA patients from the healthcare district were collected using
      software that includes demographic and clinical characteristics, disease
      activity, medications, and patient-reported outcomes. Our rheumatology clinic
      applies the treat-to-target principle, electronic monitoring of patients, and
      multidisciplinary care. RESULTS: Out of 409 patients, 406 had data for
      classification by the 2010 RA criteria of the American College of
      Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism. A total of 68% were female, and
      mean age (SD) was 58 (16) years. Respectively, 56%, 60%, and 68% were positive
      for anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor
      (RF), and RF/anti-CCP, and 19% had erosive disease. The median (interquartile
      range) duration of symptoms was 6 (4-12) months. A total of 310 were classified
      as RA and 96 as UA. The patients with UA were younger, had better functional
      status and lower disease activity, and were more often seronegative than the
      patients with RA. The 28-joint Disease Activity Score (3 variables) remission
      rates of RA and UA patients at 3 months were 67% and 58% (p = 0.13), and at 12
      months, 71% and 79%, respectively (p = 0.16). Sustained remission was observed in
      57%/56% of RA/UA patients. Patients with RA used more conventional synthetic
      DMARD combinations than did patients with UA. None used biological DMARD at 3
      months, and only 2.7%/1.1% of the patients (RA/UA) used them at 12 months (p =
      0.36). CONCLUSION: Remarkably high remission rates are achievable in real-world
      DMARD-naive patients with RA or UA.

PMID- 26879357
TI  - Development of a Rheumatology-specific Patient Concerns Inventory and Its Use in
      the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic Setting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Successful management of rheumatic conditions involves increasing
      complexity of care. Delivering this in a holistic way is a growing challenge. The
      aim of our study was to develop a Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) and assess it
      in the rheumatology clinic setting. METHODS: This observational exploratory study
      occurred with 2 phases. In phase I, the PCI was developed after a systematic
      literature search, expert opinion, and 3 patient focus group discussions. In
      phase II, the PCI was piloted in a general rheumatology clinic. RESULTS: Fifty
      four patients were assessed in the pre-PCI group and 51 in the post-PCI group.
      Median (IQR) duration of consultation was 8 min (5-14) without PCI and 15 min (10
      20) with PCI. The pre-PCI group raised 335 concerns from 50 patients, median
      (IQR) of 5 (3-10) per patient, rising post-PCI to 521 concerns, median (IQR) of 9
      (5-16) from 51 patients, p = 0.002. Additional concerns predominantly arose from
      "physical and functional well-being" and "social care and well-being" domains.
      Most patients rated their experience with their doctor in the consultation as
      excellent or outstanding across all 11 questions in the questionnaire, both
      before and after the introduction of the PCI to the clinic setting. CONCLUSION:
      The PCI is a useful holistic needs assessment tool for rheumatology clinics.
      Although its use may initially prolong the consultation slightly, patients can
      raise a significantly higher number of concerns, which does not occur at the
      expense of patient satisfaction. This may help in identifying areas of unmet
      needs that previously went unnoticed.

PMID- 26879358
TI  - Achievement of Remission and Low Disease Activity Definitions in Patients with
      Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Practice: Results from the NOR-DMARD Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of 6 definitions for remission and 4
      definitions for low disease activity (LDA) after starting a disease-modifying
      antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical
      practice, and to study whether predictors for achieving remission after 6 months
      are similar for these definitions. METHODS: Remission and LDA were calculated
      according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), the Clinical Disease
      Activity Index (CDAI), the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Routine
      Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3), and both the American College of
      Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Boolean remission
      definitions 3 and 6 months after 4992 DMARD prescriptions for patients enrolled
      in the NOR-DMARD, a 5-center Norwegian register. Prediction of remission after 6
      months was also studied. RESULTS: After 3 months, remission rates varied between
      definitions from 8.7% to 22.5% and for LDA from 35.5% to 42.7%, and increased
      slightly until 6 months of followup. DAS28 and RAPID3 gave the highest and
      ACR/EULAR, SDAI, and CDAI the lowest proportions for remission. Positive
      predictors for remission after 6 months were similar across the definitions and
      included lower age, male sex, short disease duration, high level of education,
      current nonsmoking, nonerosive disease, treatment with a biological DMARD, being
      DMARD-naive, good physical function, little fatigue, and LDA. CONCLUSION: In
      daily clinical practice, the DAS28 and RAPID3 definitions identified remission
      about twice as often as the ACR/EULAR Boolean, SDAI, and CDAI. Predictors of
      remission were similar across remission definitions. These findings provide
      additional evidence to follow treatment recommendations and treat RA early with a
      DMARD.

PMID- 26879356
TI  - Phenotypic Characterization of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in African American
      Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) affects children of all races.
      Prior studies suggest that phenotypic features of JIA in African American (AA)
      children differ from those of non-Hispanic white (NHW) children. We evaluated the
      phenotypic differences at presentation between AA and NHW children enrolled in
      the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry, and
      replicated the findings in a JIA cohort from a large center in the southeastern
      United States. METHODS: Children with JIA enrolled in the multicenter CARRA
      Registry and from Emory University formed the study and replication cohorts.
      Phenotypic data on non-Hispanic AA children were compared with NHW children with
      JIA using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank
      test. RESULTS: In all, 4177 NHW and 292 AA JIA cases from the CARRA Registry and
      212 NHW and 71 AA cases from Emory were analyzed. AA subjects more often had
      rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive polyarthritis in both the CARRA (13.4% vs 4.7%, p
      = 5.3 * 10(-7)) and the Emory (26.8% vs 6.1%, p = 1.1 * 10(-5)) cohorts. AA
      children had positive tests for RF and cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
      (CCP) more frequently, but oligoarticular or early onset antinuclear antibody
      (ANA)-positive JIA less frequently in both cohorts. AA children were older at
      onset in both cohorts and this difference persisted after excluding RF-positive
      polyarthritis in the CARRA Registry (median age 8.5 vs 5.0 yrs, p = 1.4 * 10(
      8)). CONCLUSION: Compared with NHW children, AA children with JIA are more likely
      to have RF/CCP-positive polyarthritis, are older at disease onset, and less
      likely to have oligoarticular or ANA-positive, early-onset JIA, suggesting that
      the JIA phenotype is different in AA children.

PMID- 26879359
TI  - Low Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in HBsAg-negative/Anti-HBc-positive
      Carriers Receiving Rituximab for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective
      Multicenter Italian Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, i.e.,
      hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative/antihepatitis B core antigen (anti
      HBc)-positive, undergoing rituximab (RTX)-based chemotherapy for hematological
      malignancies without anti-HBV prophylaxis are at risk of HBV reactivation, but
      the risk in such patients receiving RTX for rheumatological disorders is not
      clear. We evaluated this risk in HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing RTX without prophylaxis. METHODS: Thirty
      three HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive outpatients with RA with undetectable HBV
      DNA by sensitive PCR assay [73% women, median age 60 years, 85% with HBsAg
      antibodies (anti-HBs), 37% with antihepatitis B envelope antigen] received a
      median of 3 cycles of RTX (range 1-8) over 34 months (range 0-80) combined with
      disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) without prophylaxis. All underwent
      clinical and laboratory monitoring during and after RTX administration, including
      serum HBsAg and HBV DNA measurements every 6 months or whenever clinically
      indicated. RESULTS: None of the patients seroreverted to HBsAg during RTX
      treatment, but 6/28 (21%) showed a > 50% decrease in protective anti-HBs levels,
      including 2 who became anti-HBs-negative. One patient (3%) who became HBV DNA
      positive (44 IU/ml) after 6 months of RTX treatment was effectively rescued with
      lamivudine before any hepatitis flare occurred. Among the 14 patients monitored
      for 18 months (range 0-70) after RTX discontinuation, no HBV reactivation was
      observed. CONCLUSION: The administration of RTX + DMARD in patients with RA with
      resolved HBV infection leads to a negligible risk of HBV reactivation, thus
      suggesting that serum HBsAg and/or HBV DNA monitoring but not universal anti-HBV
      prophylaxis is justified.

PMID- 26879360
TI  - How to Motivate Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Quit Smoking.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is strongly linked to cigarette
      smoking, and smoking cessation is an essential step in RA management. Our
      objectives were to develop RA and smoking awareness materials and to evaluate the
      influence of the materials on awareness about the links between RA and smoking
      and on motivation to quit smoking. METHODS: A group of patients with seropositive
      RA in Fife, Scotland, were telephoned before the campaign, and the results of the
      precampaign questionnaire were used to develop the image for the campaign. After
      the campaign a second group of patients were questioned to ascertain the effect
      of the campaign. RESULTS: The 320 patient responses to the precampaign
      questionnaire revealed that many ex-smokers with RA had quit when they developed
      a known smoking-related disease such as emphysema. This concept was used to
      develop an image illustrating that RA is a smoking-related disease. The campaign
      was launched in Fife in 2011. The postcampaign questionnaire involving 380
      patients revealed that there was 21% higher awareness of a link between RA and
      smoking and 45% higher awareness that smoking could interfere with treatment of
      RA. In total, 13/75 smokers who had cut down since the campaign had been
      influenced by the new information. CONCLUSION: The new materials have
      successfully increased patients' knowledge of the link between RA and smoking and
      the effect of smoking on RA therapy. RA smokers' attitudes to smoking may have
      been affected by the campaign.

PMID- 26879361
TI  - Why Do Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Discontinue Their
      Biologics? An Assessment of Patients' Adherence Using a Self-report
      Questionnaire.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Concerns have been raised about nonadherence behavior among patients
      with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) receiving biologics. This
      nonadherence may be caused by various factors. The main objective was to explain
      why patients discontinue their biologics of their own accord. METHODS: A
      quantitative and descriptive study was performed using a self-report
      questionnaire that was sent through the Internet to members of different patient
      associations. Sociodemographic data, medical and therapeutic history, management
      of biologic administration, previous experiences, and patients' beliefs and
      perceptions about treatment efficacy and side effects were studied to explain
      self-discontinuation (SD). RESULTS: A total of 581 patients answered the
      questionnaire between June 16, 2012, and July 4, 2012, including patients with
      ankylosing spondylitis (351/581, 60.4%), rheumatoid arthritis (196/581, 33.7%),
      psoriatic arthritis (30/581, 5.2%), and other CIRD (4/581, 0.7%). More than 1000
      different biologics were described by the 581 patients, with a median of 2 lines
      per patient. Eighty-six patients discontinued their biologics of their own accord
      (14.8%). In a multivariate analysis, factors that were significantly related to
      SD were low level of pain, more than 1 line of biologics tried, self
      administration of biologics, negative beliefs about the treatment, and a lack of
      medical and social support. CONCLUSION: Five predictive factors of this SD were
      identified, which should be assessed in routine with patients with CIRD receiving
      biologic treatment: pain, treatment history, self-administration of injections,
      negative beliefs about treatment, and a lack of perceived medical and social
      support.

PMID- 26879362
TI  - Effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Longterm Sickness Absence in 1994-2011: A
      Danish Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: By linkage of national registries, we investigated the risk of
      longterm sickness absence (LTSA) >= 3 weeks in a large cohort of Danish patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and non-patients. The study aimed to (1) estimate
      the risk of LTSA for patients with RA compared with the general population, (2)
      examine whether the risk of LTSA has changed in recent years, and (3) evaluate
      the effect of other risk factors for LTSA (e.g., physical work demands, age, sex,
      education, and psychiatric and somatic comorbidities). METHODS: A total of 6677
      patients with RA aged 18-59 years in the years 1994-2011 were identified in
      registries and compared with 56,955 controls from the general population matched
      by age, sex, and city size. The risk of LTSA was analyzed using Cox proportional
      hazards models with late entry, controlling for other risk factors and assuming
      separate risks in the first year after diagnosis and the following years.
      RESULTS: Compared with the general population, patients with RA had increased
      risk of LTSA in the first year after diagnosis (HR 5.4 during 1994-1999, 95% CI
      4.2-6.8) and in following years (HR 2.4, 95% CI 2.1-2.8). For established RA (> 1
      yr after diagnosis), the excess was 20% lower in 2006-2011 (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.7
      2.2) compared with 1994-1999 (p < 0.001). For patients with RA and controls,
      older age, shorter education, a physically demanding job, and somatic and/or
      psychiatric comorbidities increased the risk of LTSA. CONCLUSION: While
      improvements were observed from 1994-1999 to 2006-2011, patients with RA have
      significant increased risk of LTSA, in particular in the first year after
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26879363
TI  - Carotid Atherosclerosis in Adult Patients with Persistently Active Juvenile
      Idiopathic Arthritis Compared with Healthy Controls.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common inflammatory
      rheumatic disease in childhood. It is regarded as a systemic inflammatory disease
      with possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this
      study was to assess carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid stenosis as
      surrogate measures for CVD in adults with longterm active JIA and healthy age-
      and sex-matched controls. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with JIA (age 28-45 yrs)
      with persistently active disease at least 15 years after disease onset were
      reexamined after a median of 29 years and compared with 75 matched controls.
      Patients and controls were examined by color duplex ultrasound of the carotid
      arteries to compare carotid IMT and carotid stenosis in the 2 groups. RESULTS:
      Patients with JIA did not have increased carotid IMT values compared with the
      controls (mean +/- SD: 0.56 mm +/- 0.09 vs 0.58 mm +/- 0.07, p = 0.289). Patients
      with a higher disease activity indicated by the Juvenile Arthritis Disease
      Activity Score value above the median value had increased carotid IMT compared
      with the patients with a lower value, but not statistically different compared
      with controls. No carotid stenoses were detected in patients or controls.
      CONCLUSION: We found similar carotid IMT values in adult patients with JIA and
      controls.

PMID- 26879364
TI  - Electrochemical Visualization of Intracellular Hydrogen Peroxide at Single Cells.
AB  - In this Letter, the electrochemical visualization of hydrogen peroxide inside one
      cell was achieved first using a comprehensive Au-luminol-microelectrode and
      electrochemiluminescence. The capillary with a tip opening of 1-2 MUm was filled
      with the mixture of chitosan and luminol, which was coated with the thin layers
      of polyvinyl chloride/nitrophenyloctyl ether (PVC/NPOE) and gold as the
      microelectrode. Upon contact with the aqueous hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen
      peroxide and luminol in contact with the gold layer were oxidized under the
      positive potential resulting in luminescence for the imaging. Due to the small
      diameter of the electrode, the microelectrode tip was inserted into one cell and
      the bright luminescence observed at the tip confirmed the visualization of
      intracellular hydrogen peroxide. The further coupling of oxidase on the electrode
      surface could open the field in the electrochemical imaging of intracellular
      biomolecules at single cells, which benefited the single cell electrochemical
      detection. 

PMID- 26879365
TI  - Ultrasensitive Detection of Shigella Species in Blood and Stool.
AB  - A modified immunosensing system with voltage-controlled signal amplification was
      used to detect Shigella in stool and blood matrixes at the single-digit CFU
      level. Inactivated Shigella was spiked in these matrixes and detected directly.
      The detection was completed in 78 min. Detection limits of 21 CFU/mL and 18
      CFU/mL were achieved in stool and blood, respectively, corresponding to 2-7 CFUs
      immobilized on the detecting electrode. The outcome of the detection of extremely
      low bacterium concentration, i.e., below 100 CFU/mL, blood samples show a random
      nature. An analysis of the detection probabilities indicates the correlation
      between the sample volume and the success of detection and suggests that sample
      volume is critical for ultrasensitive detection of bacteria. The calculated
      detection limit is qualitatively in agreement with the empirically determined
      detection limit. The demonstrated ultrasensitive detection of Shigella on the
      single-digit CFU level suggests the feasibility of the direct detection of the
      bacterium in the samples without performing a culture. 

PMID- 26879366
TI  - Frequency-Domain Approach To Determine Magnetic Address-Sensor Separation
      Distance Using the Harmonic Ratio Method.
AB  - In this work, we describe an approach to determine the distance separating a
      magnetic address from a scanning magnetoresistive sensor, a critical adjustable
      parameter for certain bioassay analyses where magnetic nanoparticles are used as
      labels. Our approach is leveraged from the harmonic ratio method (HRM), a method
      used in the hard drive industry to control the distance separating a
      magnetoresistive read head from its data platter with nanometer resolution. At
      the heart of the HRM is an amplitude comparison of a signal's fundamental
      frequency to that of its harmonics. When the signal is derived from the magnetic
      field pattern of a periodic array of magnetic addresses, the harmonic ratio
      contains the information necessary to determine the separation between the
      address array and the read head. The elegance of the HRM is that there is no need
      of additional components to the detection platform to determine a separation
      distance; the streaming "bit signal" contains all the information needed. In this
      work, we demonstrate that the tenets governing HRM used in the hard drive
      industry can be applied to the bioanalytical arena where submicrometer to 100 MUm
      separations are required. 

PMID- 26879367
TI  - [Cs6 Cl][Fe24 Se26 ]: A Host-Guest Compound with Unique Fe-Se Topology.
AB  - The novel host-guest compound [Cs6Cl][Fe24Se26] (I4/mmm; a=11.0991(9),
      c=22.143(2) A) was obtained by reacting Cs2Se,CsCl, Fe, and Se in closed
      ampoules. This is the first member of a family of compounds with unique Fe-Se
      topology, which consists of edge-sharing, extended fused cubane [Fe8Se6Se8/3]
      blocks that host a guest complex ion, [Cs6Cl](5+). Thus Fe is tetrahedrally
      coordinated and divalent with strong exchange couplings, which results in an
      ordered antiferromagnetic state below TN =221 K. At low temperatures, a
      distribution of hyperfine fields in the Mossbauer spectra suggests a structural
      distortion or a complex spin structure. With its strong Fe-Se covalency, the
      compound is close to electronic itinerancy and is, therefore, prone to exhibit
      tunable properties.

PMID- 26879369
TI  - Erratum to: Differences in TGF-beta1 signaling and clinicopathologic
      characteristics of histologic subtypes of gastric cancer.

PMID- 26879371
TI  - The development and psychometric analysis of the Chinese HIV-Related Fatigue
      Scale.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To develop a Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency
      virus-related Fatigue Scale and examine its reliability and validity. BACKGROUND:
      Fatigue is found in more than 70% of people infected with human immunodeficiency
      virus. However, a scale to assess fatigue in human immunodeficiency virus
      positive people has not yet been developed for use in Chinese-speaking countries.
      DESIGN: A methodologic study involving instrument development and psychometric
      evaluation was used. METHODS: The human immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue
      Scale was examined through a two-step procedure: (1) translation and back
      translation and (2) psychometric analysis. A sample of 142 human immunodeficiency
      virus-positive patients was recruited from the Infectious Disease Outpatient
      Clinic in central Taiwan. Their fatigue data were analysed with Cronbach's alpha
      for internal consistency. Two weeks later, the data of a random sample of 28
      patients from the original 142 were analysed for test-retest reliability. The
      correlation between the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment
      Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the Chinese version of the human
      immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale was analysed for concurrent
      validity. The Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue
      Scale scores of human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with highly active
      antiretroviral therapy and those without were compared to demonstrate construct
      validity. RESULTS: The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the
      Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale were
      0.97 and 0.686, respectively. In regard to concurrent validity, a negative
      correlation was found between the scores of the Chinese version of the human
      immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale and the World Health Organization
      Quality of Life Assessment-Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Additionally, the
      Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale could
      be used to effectively distinguish fatigue differences between the human
      immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with highly active antiretroviral
      therapy and those without. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the human
      immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale presents good reliability and
      validity through a robust psychometric analysis. This scale can be appropriately
      applied to human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients by clinical staff and
      case managers in Chinese-speaking countries. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The
      Chinese version of the human immunodeficiency virus-related Fatigue Scale is an
      effective and comprehensive tool that can help clinical professionals measure the
      frequency, strength and impact on the quality of life of fatigue in Chinese human
      immunodeficiency virus-positive patients.

PMID- 26879368
TI  - Synthesis and Applications of (ONO Pincer)Ruthenium-Complex-Bound Norvalines.
AB  - Two (ONO pincer)ruthenium-complex-bound norvalines, Boc-[Ru(pydc)(terpy)]Nva-OMe
      (1; Boc=tert-butyloxycarbonyl, terpy=terpyridyl, Nva=norvaline) and Boc
      [Ru(pydc)(tBu-terpy)]Nva-OMe (5), were successfully synthesized and their
      molecular structures and absolute configurations were unequivocally determined by
      single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The robustness of the pincer Ru complexes and
      norvaline scaffolds against acidic/basic, oxidizing, and high-temperature
      conditions enabled us to perform selective transformations of the N-Boc and C-OMe
      termini into various functional groups, such as alkyl amide, alkyl urea, and
      polyether groups, without the loss of the Ru center or enantiomeric purity. The
      resulting dialkylated Ru-bound norvaline, n-C11 H23 CO-l-[Ru(pydc)(terpy)]Nva-NH
      n-C11 H23 (l-4) was found to have excellent self-assembly properties in organic
      solvents, thereby affording the corresponding supramolecular gels. Ru-bound
      norvaline l-1 exhibited a higher catalytic activity for the oxidation of alcohols
      by H2 O2 than parent complex [Ru(pydc)(terpy)] (11 a). 

PMID- 26879372
TI  - Wash-free magnetic immunoassay of the PSA cancer marker using SERS and droplet
      microfluidics.
AB  - We report a novel wash-free magnetic immunoassay technique for prostate-specific
      antigen (PSA) that uses a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based
      microdroplet sensor. The magnetic bar embedded in a droplet-based microfluidic
      system segregates the free and bound SERS tags by splitting the droplets into two
      smaller parts. The presence of PSA targets leads more SERS tags to immunocomplex
      in one droplet so that fewer SERS tags remain in another supernatant solution
      droplet. Thus, SERS signal measurement enables the quantitative evaluation of PSA
      markers. This approach can provide a rapid and sensitive assay that is applicable
      for PSA cancer markers in serum without any washing. Specifically, SERS signals
      were measured at 174 droplets per minute and averaged for quantitative evaluation
      of PSA. The limit of detection (LOD) determined by our SERS-based microdroplet
      sensor was estimated to be below 0.1 ng mL(-1), which is significantly below the
      clinical cut-off value for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In addition, because
      the entire assay can be carried out automatically, only a minimal amount of
      sample is needed. Accordingly, the approach is expected to be useful as a
      potential clinical tool for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26879370
TI  - Systematic data-querying of large pediatric biorepository identifies novel Ehlers
      Danlos Syndrome variant.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a rare form of inherited connective tissue
      disorder, which primarily affects skin, joints, muscle, and blood cells. The
      current study aimed at finding the mutation that causing EDS type VII C also
      known as "Dermatosparaxis" in this family. METHODS: Through systematic data
      querying of the electronic medical records (EMRs) of over 80,000 individuals, we
      recently identified an EDS family that indicate an autosomal dominant
      inheritance. The family was consented for genomic analysis of their de-identified
      data. After a negative screen for known mutations, we performed whole genome
      sequencing on the male proband, his affected father, and unaffected mother. We
      filtered the list of non-synonymous variants that are common between the affected
      individuals. RESULTS: The analysis of non-synonymous variants lead to identifying
      a novel mutation in the ADAMTSL2 (p. Gly421Ser) gene in the affected individuals.
      Sanger sequencing confirmed the mutation. CONCLUSION: Our work is significant not
      only because it sheds new light on the pathophysiology of EDS for the affected
      family and the field at large, but also because it demonstrates the utility of
      unbiased large-scale clinical recruitment in deciphering the genetic etiology of
      rare mendelian diseases. With unbiased large-scale clinical recruitment we strive
      to sequence as many rare mendelian diseases as possible, and this work in EDS
      serves as a successful proof of concept to that effect.

PMID- 26879373
TI  - The optimal sex pheromone release rate for trapping the codling moth Cydia
      pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the field.
AB  - For successful pest management, codlemone (E, E-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol) is widely
      used to monitor codling moth. The pheromone release rate is essential for the
      lure's attractiveness. The optimal sex pheromone release rate (V0) for trapping
      codling moth was evaluated during 2013-2014. The overwinter generation V0 was 6.7
      33.4 MUg wk(-1), and moth catches (MCs) were 0.82 +/- 0.11 adults/trap/week; MCs
      for lower (V1) and higher (V2) release rates were 52.4% and 46.3%, respectively,
      of that for V0. The first generation V0 was 18.4-29.6 MUg wk(-1), with MCs of
      1.45 +/- 0.29 adults/week/trap. V1 and V2 MCs were 34.5% and 31.7%, respectively,
      of those for V0. Combining across generations, the final V0 was 18.4-29.6 MUg wk(
      1), with MCs of 1.07 +/- 0.06 adults/week/trap. V1 and V2 MCs were 51.4% and
      41.1%, respectively, of that for V0. Overwinter generation emergence was
      relatively concentrated, requiring a wider V0. Maintaining the release rate at
      18.4-29.6 MUg wk(-1) could optimize the lure's efficacy; this resulted in the
      capture of nearly 1.9 and 2.4 times more moths than V1 and V2, respectively. The
      results also indicate that a dispenser pheromone release rate of 200-300 times
      that of the female moth can perfectly outcompetes females in the field.

PMID- 26879374
TI  - Abiraterone acetate for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after
      docetaxel failure: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3
      bridging study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate-prednisone
      versus placebo-prednisone in Asian metastatic castration-resistant prostate
      cancer patients who have failed docetaxel-based chemotherapy. METHODS: In this
      double-blind, phase 3 study from China, 214 patients were randomized (2:1) to
      abiraterone acetate 1000 mg once daily plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily and
      placebo plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily in 28-day treatment cycles. RESULTS:
      Abiraterone acetate-prednisone treatment significantly decreased prostate
      specific antigen progression risk by 49%, with longer median time to prostate
      specific antigen progression of 5.55 months versus 2.76 months in the placebo
      prednisone group (hazard ratio 0.506, P = 0.0001, primary end-point). There was a
      strong trend for improved overall survival in the abiraterone acetate-prednisone
      group, with a 40% decrease in the risk of death (hazard ratio 0.604, P = 0.0597);
      however, median survival was not reached in either group because of the short
      follow-up period (12.9 months) and limited number of observed death events. The
      prostate-specific antigen response rate was higher in the abiraterone-prednisone
      group (49.7%) than in the placebo-prednisone group (14.1%). A total of 37.1%
      patients in this group had pain progression events compared with 50.7% in the
      placebo-prednisone group. Abiraterone-prednisone significantly decreased the risk
      of pain progression by 50% (hazard ratio 0.496, P = 0.0014). The incidence of
      adverse events was similar between the two groups; the most common adverse events
      being anemia (25.9% for abiraterone-prednisone vs 22.5% for placebo-prednisone),
      hypokalemia (25.9% and 11.3%), bone pain (23.8% and 21.1%), hypertension (16.1%
      and 12.7%) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (14.7% and 15.5%),
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Abiraterone-prednisone significantly delays disease
      and pain progression, and prostate-specific antigen, with a favorable benefit
      risk ratio in Asian metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients in
      the post-docetaxel setting.

PMID- 26879376
TI  - Biodegradable Inorganic Nanovector: Passive versus Active Tumor Targeting in
      siRNA Transportation.
AB  - The biodegradable inorganic nanovector based on a layered double hydroxide (LDH)
      holds great promise for gene and drug delivery systems. However, in vivo targeted
      delivery of genes through LDH still remains a key challenge in the development of
      RNA interference therapeutics. Here, we describe in vivo and in vitro delivery
      system for Survivin siRNA (siSurvivin) assembled with passive LDH with a particle
      size of 100 nm or active LDH conjugated with a cancer overexpressing receptor
      targeting ligand, folic acid (LDHFA), conferring them an ability to target the
      tumor by either EPR-based clathrin-mediated or folate receptor-mediated
      endocytosis. When not only transfected into KB cells but also injected into
      xenograft mice, LDHFA/siSurvivin induced potent gene silencing at mRNA and
      protein levels in vitro, and consequently achieved a 3.0-fold higher suppression
      of tumor volume than LDH/siSurvivin in vivo. This anti-tumor effect was
      attributed to a selectively 1.2-fold higher accumulation of siSurvivin in tumor
      tissue compared with other organs. Targeting to the tumor with inorganic
      nanovector can guide and accelerate an evolution of next-generation theranosis
      system. 

PMID- 26879375
TI  - Hydrogen sulfide promotes angiogenesis by downregulating miR-640 via the
      VEGFR2/mTOR pathway.
AB  - We previously found hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to be a new proangiogenic factor.
      However, the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular effect of this small gas
      molecule remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify the
      essential microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the transduction of H2S signals in
      vascular endothelial cells (ECs). The expression of miR-640 and its signaling
      elements, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), hypoxia
      inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1A), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), was
      measured using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Overexpression and
      inhibition of miR-640 were performed to clarify their roles in mediating the
      effect of H2S. In addition, knockdown of VEGFR2, HIF1A, and mTOR was performed
      using siRNAs, dominant negative mutants, or inhibitors to examine their roles in
      the transduction of the H2S signals. miR-640 levels decreased in vascular ECs
      that were treated with H2S, whereas overexpression of miR-640 blunted the
      proangiogenic effect of H2S. Knockdown of either VEGFR2 or mTOR blunted the
      downregulation of miR-640 and the proangiogenic effect induced by H2S. In
      addition, miR-640 bound to the 3'-UTR of HIF1A mRNA and then inhibited the
      expression of HIF1A. The inhibition could be recovered by treating cells with
      H2S. Thus we concluded that miR-640 plays a pivotal role in mediating the
      proangiogenic effect of H2S; H2S acts through downregulation of the expression of
      miR-640 and increasing the levels of HIF1A through the VEGFR2-mTOR pathway. 

PMID- 26879377
TI  - FADS1-FADS2 gene cluster confers risk to polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - Dyslipidemia is common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was aimed
      to investigate whether fatty acid desaturase genes (FADS), a dyslipidemia-related
      gene cluster, are associated with PCOS. We scanned variations of FADS genes using
      our previous data of genome-wide association study (GWAS) for PCOS and selected
      rs174570 for further study. The case-control study was conducted in an
      independent cohort of 1918 PCOS cases and 1889 age-matched controls and family
      based study was conducted in a set of 243 core family trios with PCOS probands.
      Minor allele frequency (allele T) of rs174570 was significantly lower in PCOS
      cases than that in age-matched controls (P = 2.17E-03, OR = 0.85), even after
      adjustment of BMI and age. PCOS subjects carrying CC genotype had higher
      testosterone level and similar lipid/glucose level compared with those carrying
      TT or TC genotype. In trios, transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis
      revealed risk allele C of rs174570 was significantly over-transmitted (P = 2.00E
      04). Decreased expression of FADS2 was detected in PCOS cases and expression
      quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis revealed the risk allele C dosage was
      correlated with the decline of FADS2 expression (P = 0.002). Our results
      demonstrate that FADS1-FADS2 are susceptibility genes for PCOS. 

PMID- 26879379
TI  - Prevalence of chlamydia among HIV positive and HIV negative patients in the
      Vhembe District as detected by real time PCR from urine samples.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that has long plagued humanity as
      the most commonly contracted STD and is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. With the
      emergence of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases have also re-emerged as a
      grave public health problem, particularly in developing countries. Updated
      Information about the relative frequencies in developing countries is sparse.
      This study aims at establishing the relative occurrence of chlamydia using real
      time PCR technique in the Vhembe District of South Africa where reports on the
      prevalence of chlamydia are not available. METHODS: A total of 243 Urine samples
      were collected from patients attending different ARV clinics in the Vhembe
      District and genomic DNA was purified using blood genomic DNA kit from Sigma
      Aldrich. Real-Time PCR protocol targeting the 16S rRNA gene of C. trachomatis was
      used to confirm the presence of chlamydia among these patients. Demographic
      information as well as clinical data was collected as well. RESULTS: Of all the
      participants, 70.4% were females. The age varied from 19 to 72 years. The overall
      prevalence of chlamydia was 32.1%. The prevalence was significantly higher among
      females (39.2%) compared to males (15.5%) patients (P = 0.001) and was highest
      among pregnant women followed by patients who had reported any allergic reaction.
      Among the HIV positive patients, the prevalence was higher among those who were
      not taking ARV (38.1%) compared to those who were taking them (28.5%). The age
      group within which the highest prevalence was found was between 26-45 years.
      CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows a high prevalence of chlamydia among HIV and
      AIDS patients in the Vhembe District emphasizing the need to enhance STI control
      and particularly chlamydia among all young people. The particularly high
      prevalence of chlamydia among pregnant women is of great concern as this
      predisposes them to complications, while allergy migh predispose people to
      chlamydia infections. Further studies are needed in the general population both
      HIV positive and HIV negative persons to further determine the impact of these
      infections in the community.

PMID- 26879378
TI  - Increased availability of NADH in metabolically engineered baker's yeast improves
      transaminase-oxidoreductase coupled asymmetric whole-cell bioconversion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be engineered to perform a multitude of
      different chemical reactions that are not programmed in its original genetic
      code. It has a large potential to function as whole-cell biocatalyst for one-pot
      multistep synthesis of various organic molecules, and it may thus serve as a
      powerful alternative or complement to traditional organic synthetic routes for
      new chemical entities (NCEs). However, although the selectivity in many cases is
      high, the catalytic activity is often low which results in low space-time-yields.
      In the case for NADH-dependent heterologous reductive reactions, a possible
      constraint is the availability of cytosolic NADH, which may be limited due to
      competition with native oxidative enzymes that act to maintain redox homeostasis.
      In this study, the effect of increasing the availability of cytosolic NADH on the
      catalytic activity of engineered yeast for transamination-reduction coupled
      asymmetric one-pot conversion was investigated. RESULTS: A series of active whole
      cell biocatalysts were constructed by over-expressing the (S)-selective omega
      transaminase (VAMT) from Capsicum chinense together with the NADH-dependent (S)
      selective alcohol dehydrogenase (SADH) originating from Rhodococcus erythropolis
      in strains with or without deletion of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases 1 and
      2 (GPD1 and GPD2). The yeast strains were evaluated as catalysts for
      simultaneous: (a) kinetic resolution of the racemic mixture to (R)-1
      phenylethylamine, and (b) reduction of the produced acetophenone to (S)-1
      phenylethanol. For the gpd1Deltagpd2Delta strain, cell metabolism was effectively
      used for the supply of both amine acceptors and the co-factor pyridoxal-5'
      phosphate (PLP) for the omega-transaminase, as well as for regenerating NADH for
      the reduction. In contrast, there was nearly no formation of (S)-1-phenylethanol
      when using the control strain with intact GPDs and over-expressing the VAMT-SADH
      coupling. It was found that a gpd1Deltagpd2Delta strain over-expressing SADH had
      a 3-fold higher reduction rate and a 3-fold lower glucose requirement than the
      strain with intact GPDs over-expressing SADH. CONCLUSIONS: Overall the results
      demonstrate that the deletion of the GPD1 and GPD2 genes significantly increases
      activity of the whole-cell biocatalyst, and at the same time reduces the co
      substrate demand in a process configuration where only yeast and sugar is added
      to drive the reactions, i.e. without addition of external co-factors or
      prosthetic groups.

PMID- 26879380
TI  - Molecular rheology of neuronal membranes explored using a molecular rotor:
      Implications for receptor function.
AB  - The role of membrane cholesterol as a crucial regulator in the structure and
      function of membrane proteins and receptors is well documented. However, there is
      a lack of consensus on the mechanism for such regulation. We have previously
      shown that the function of an important neuronal receptor, the serotonin1A
      receptor, is modulated by cholesterol in hippocampal membranes. With an overall
      objective of addressing the role of membrane physical properties in receptor
      function, we measured the viscosity of hippocampal membranes of varying
      cholesterol content using a meso-substituted fluorophore (BODIPY-C12) based on
      the BODIPY probe. BODIPY-C12 acts as a fluorescent molecular rotor and allows
      measurement of hippocampal membrane viscosity through its characteristic
      viscosity-sensitive fluorescence depolarization. A striking feature of our
      results is that specific agonist binding by the serotonin1A receptor exhibits
      close correlation with hippocampal membrane viscosity, implying the importance of
      global membrane properties in receptor function. We envision that our results are
      important in understanding GPCR regulation by the membrane environment, and is
      relevant in the context of diseases in which GPCR signaling plays a major role
      and are characterized by altered membrane fluidity. 

PMID- 26879381
TI  - Nitropyrrole natural products: isolation, biosynthesis and total synthesis.
AB  - Nitropyrrole-containing natural products are relatively rare in nature. Known
      examples are limited to the beta-nitropyrrole-containing pyrrolomycins and alpha
      nitropyrrole-containing nitropyrrolins and heronapyrroles. Their unique
      structures and interesting bioactivity are of ongoing interest to the chemistry
      community. This review describes the isolation, biological activity, biosynthesis
      and chemical synthesis of nitropyrrole-containing natural products reported to
      date. 

PMID- 26879382
TI  - JAZF1/SUZ12 gene fusion in endometrial stromal sarcomas.
AB  - Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) belong to the rarest uterine malignancies
      (prevalence category <1-9/1,000,000). According to the new 2014 World Health
      Organisation (WHO) classification, they are separated into four categories;
      benign endometrial stromal nodules (ESNs), low grade endometrial stromal sarcomas
      (LG-ESSs), high-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas (HG-ESSs) and undifferentiated
      uterine sarcomas (UUSs). Due to heterogeneous histopathologic appearance these
      tumors still represent diagnostic challenge, even for experienced pathologists.
      ESSs are genetically very heterogeneous and several chromosomal translocations
      and gene fusions have so far been identified in these malignancies. To date the
      JAZF1/SUZ12 gene fusion is by far the most frequent and seems to be the
      cytogenetic hallmark of ESN and LG-ESS. Based on present literature data this
      gene fusion is present in approximately 75% of ESN, 50% of LG-ESS and 15% of HG
      ESS cases. The frequency of JAZF1/SUZ12 appearance varies between classic ESS and
      different morphologic variants. This gene fusion is suggested to become a
      specific diagnostic tool, especially in difficult borderline cases. In
      combination with the recently described YWHAE/FAM22 gene fusion the JAZF1/SUZ12
      fusion could be used to differentiate between LG-ESS and HG-ESS. The purpose of
      this review is to summarize literature data published in last two and a half
      decades about this gene fusion, as a contribution to our understanding of ESS
      genetics and pathogenesis.

PMID- 26879383
TI  - Conformational Flexibility of a Short Loop near the Active Site of the SARS
      3CLpro is Essential to Maintain Catalytic Activity.
AB  - The SARS 3C-like proteinase (SARS-3CLpro), which is the main proteinase of the
      SARS coronavirus, is essential to the virus life cycle. This enzyme has been
      shown to be active as a dimer in which only one protomer is active. However, it
      remains unknown how the dimer structure maintains an active monomer conformation.
      It has been observed that the Ser139-Leu141 loop forms a short 3(10)-helix that
      disrupts the catalytic machinery in the inactive monomer structure. We have tried
      to disrupt this helical conformation by mutating L141 to T in the stable inactive
      monomer G11A/R298A/Q299A. The resulting tetra-mutant G11A/L141T/R298A/Q299A is
      indeed enzymatically active as a monomer. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed
      that the L141T mutation disrupts the 3(10)-helix and helps to stabilize the
      active conformation. The coil-3(10)-helix conformational transition of the Ser139
      Leu141 loop serves as an enzyme activity switch. Our study therefore indicates
      that the dimer structure can stabilize the active conformation but is not a
      required structure in the evolution of the active enzyme, which can also arise
      through simple mutations.

PMID- 26879384
TI  - Prevalence and trend of neural tube defects in five counties in Shanxi province
      of Northern China, 2000 to 2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in northern China is
      among the highest in the world. A massive folic acid supplementation program as a
      specific countermeasure was introduced in 2009. Examining trends in NTD
      prevalence may provide evidence for future intervention. METHODS: Data for 2000
      to 2014 in five counties in northern China were obtained through a population
      based birth defects surveillance system. All live births, stillbirths of over 20
      gestational weeks, and pregnancy terminations because of NTDs at any gestational
      age were recorded. The prevalence of NTDs by gestational weeks (< 28 vs. >= 28),
      by calendar year, and by subtype was presented. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2014, a
      total of 234,225 births and 2027 cases of NTDs were recorded. The prevalence of
      total NTDs was extremely high during 2000 to 2004, but it began to decrease
      continuously thereafter, from a peak of 120.0/10,000 in 2004 to a low of
      31.5/10,000 in 2014. A significant decrease (60%) was observed from 78.8/10,000
      in 2009 to 31.5/10,000 in 2014, 5 years after the folic acid supplementation
      program was introduced. All three major subtypes, namely anencephaly, spina
      bifida, and encephalocele, showed a decline over this period. Although the
      perinatal (>= 28 gestational weeks) prevalence of NTDs decreased progressively,
      the pre-perinatal (< 28 gestational weeks) prevalence of NTDs remained high until
      2011 and then decreased. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NTDs remains high despite
      a substantial and continuous decrease over the past 15 years. To further reduce
      NTD risk in the population, fortification staples with folic acid should be
      considered.

PMID- 26879386
TI  - Visualizing the orientational dependence of an intermolecular potential.
AB  - Scanning probe microscopy can now be used to map the properties of single
      molecules with intramolecular precision by functionalization of the apex of the
      scanning probe tip with a single atom or molecule. Here we report on the mapping
      of the three-dimensional potential between fullerene (C60) molecules in different
      relative orientations, with sub-Angstrom resolution, using dynamic force
      microscopy (DFM). We introduce a visualization method which is capable of
      directly imaging the variation in equilibrium binding energy of different
      molecular orientations. We model the interaction using both a simple approach
      based around analytical Lennard-Jones potentials, and with dispersion-force
      corrected density functional theory (DFT), and show that the positional variation
      in the binding energy between the molecules is dominated by the onset of
      repulsive interactions. Our modelling suggests that variations in the dispersion
      interaction are masked by repulsive interactions even at displacements
      significantly larger than the equilibrium intermolecular separation. 

PMID- 26879387
TI  - Digoxin reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Numerous in vitro studies have suggested that digoxin
      suppresses inflammation and alters lipid metabolism. However, the effect of
      dioxin on atherosclerosis is poorly understood. The present study was conducted
      to determine whether digoxin affects the development of atherosclerosis in a
      murine model of atherosclerotic disease. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Apolipoprotein E
      deficient mice maintained on a Western-type diet were administered PBS (control),
      low-dose digoxin (1 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1)) or high-dose digoxin (2 mg . kg(-1) .
      day(-1)) via i.p. injection for 12 weeks. KEY RESULTS: Digoxin dose-dependently
      reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation and plasma lipid levels (reductions of
      41% in total cholesterol, 54% in triglycerides and 20% in low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol in the high-dose digoxin-treated group). Moreover, treatment with
      digoxin markedly attenuated IL-17A expression and IL-17A-related inflammatory
      responses and increased the abundance of regulatory T cells (Tregs). CONCLUSIONS
      AND IMPLICATIONS: Our data demonstrate that digoxin acts as a specific antagonist
      of retinoid-related orphan receptor-gamma to decrease atherosclerosis by
      suppressing lipid levels and IL-17A-related inflammatory responses.

PMID- 26879388
TI  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory administration and patent ductus arteriosus
      ligation, a survey of practice preferences at US children's hospitals.
AB  - We surveyed neonatal leadership at 46 US children's hospitals via web-based
      survey to identify local preferences and concerns regarding indomethacin
      prophylaxis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment, and patent
      ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation. We received a 100 % survey response (N = 46).
      Practice guidelines for prophylactic indomethacin were reported at 28 % of NICUs,
      for NSAID treatment of PDA at 39 % and for surgical ligation at 27 %. Respondents
      noted intra-institutional practice variation for indomethacin prophylaxis (33 %),
      NSAID treatment (70 %), and PDA ligation (73 %). The majority of institutions did
      not prescribe indomethacin prophylaxis (72 %). For PDA treatment, indomethacin
      was preferred over ibuprofen (80 %). We validated our survey results via
      comparison with billing data as documented in the Pediatric Health Information
      System (PHIS) database, finding that survey responses directly correlated with
      local billing data (p < 0.0001). At institutions that did not typically
      administer NSAIDs for PDA closure or surgical PDA ligation, a lack of evidence
      for their effectiveness in improving long-term outcomes and the risk of treatment
      associated adverse effects were the most often cited reasons. CONCLUSION: No
      consensus exists among providers at US children's hospitals regarding
      prophylactic indomethacin, NSAID treatment, or PDA ligation. Lack of evidence and
      safety concerns play a prominent role. WHAT IS KNOWN: * NSAIDs and surgical PDA
      ligation are efficacious in preventing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and
      closing PDA in preterm infants, but have not been shown to improve long-term
      respiratory, neurodevelopmental, or mortality outcomes. What is New: * Practice
      preferences for indomethacin prophylaxis, NSAID, and surgical PDA treatment vary
      both among and within institutions. Lack of treatment effectiveness and the risk
      of adverse effects are major concerns.

PMID- 26879389
TI  - Baroreflex Activation Therapy in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction:
      Available Data and Future Perspective.
AB  - Progression of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is promoted
      by sympathovagal imbalance. Baroreflex activation therapy, i.e., electrical
      stimulation of baroreceptors at the carotid sinus, can restore sympathovagal
      balance. Large animal studies of baroreflex activation therapy revealed
      improvements in cardiac function, susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias, and
      a survival benefit as compared to untreated controls. Recently, the first
      randomized and controlled trial of optimal medical and device therapy alone or
      plus baroreflex activation therapy in patients suffering from HFrEF was
      published. It demonstrated a reasonable safety profile in this severely ill
      patient population. Moreover, the study found significant improvements in New
      York Heart Association class, quality of life, 6-min walk distance, and NT-proBNP
      levels. This review provides an overview on baroreflex activation therapy for the
      treatment of HFrEF-from the concept and preclinical findings to most recent
      clinical data and upcoming trials. 

PMID- 26879390
TI  - How to Approach the Assessment of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in the Modern
      Era: Review of Invasive Imaging Modalities.
AB  - Heart transplantation is one of the most definitive therapies for end-stage heart
      failure. The therapy is unfortunately marred by the devastating complications of
      cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Non-invasive screening and assessment for
      CAV has been greatly limited by both low sensitivity and poor correlation with
      adverse outcomes. As such, invasive imaging with coronary angiography has emerged
      as the gold standard for detection of CAV. Although conventional coronary
      angiography serves well for larger lesions, the modality has been significantly
      enhanced with adjunct imaging to visualize the intimal hyperplasia that is a
      hallmark of the disease process. These modalities include intravascular
      ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In the following
      review, we summarize both the invasive and non-invasive assessments of CAV. We
      further conclude that the current evidence poorly supports the use of non
      invasive testing for early CAV and that a transition should be considered to
      routine early angiography with adjunctive intravascular imaging. 

PMID- 26879391
TI  - Nonadherence in the Advanced Heart Failure Population.
AB  - The number of patients living with heart failure (HF) in the USA now exceeds 5
      million. Although HF is a disease readily treated by medications and lifestyle
      interventions, nonadherence is common, leading to worse clinical outcomes and
      increased healthcare costs. While adherence to medical therapy and clinician
      recommendations is key in the management of HF, it is perhaps more critical in
      patients with the most advanced disease, including those receiving home inotropic
      infusion, heart transplantation, or a left ventricular assist device. Yet, there
      is a paucity of data on the effects of nonadherence on the advanced heart failure
      population and little information on the most effective management strategies in
      these patients. Future studies of nonadherence in HF should utilize uniform
      definitions of adherence and, ideally, more objective measurements of adherence
      such as the novel "digital pill" technology. 

PMID- 26879393
TI  - Holey graphene frameworks for highly selective post-combustion carbon capture.
AB  - Atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to rise rapidly in response to increased
      combustion of fossil fuels, contributing to global climate change. In order to
      mitigate the effects of global warming, development of new materials for cost
      effective and energy-efficient CO2 capture is critically important. Graphene
      based porous materials are an emerging class of solid adsorbents for selectively
      removing CO2 from flue gases. Herein, we report a simple and scalable approach to
      produce three-dimensional holey graphene frameworks with tunable porosity and
      pore geometry, and demonstrate their application as high-performance CO2
      adsorbents. These holey graphene macrostructures exhibit a significantly improved
      specific surface area and pore volume compared to their pristine counterparts,
      and can be effectively used in post-combustion CO2 adsorption systems because of
      their intrinsic hydrophobicity together with good gravimetric storage capacities,
      rapid removal capabilities, superior cycling stabilities, and moderate initial
      isosteric heats. In addition, an exceptionally high CO2 over N2 selectivity can
      be achieved under conditions relevant to capture from the dry exhaust gas stream
      of a coal burning power plant, suggesting the possibility of recovering highly
      pure CO2 for long-term sequestration and/or utilization for downstream
      applications. 

PMID- 26879392
TI  - Efficacy and safety of switching to abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) plus
      rilpivirine (RPV) in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients on HAART.
AB  - We analysed the efficacy and safety of switching from a regimen based on
      nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) or integrase inhibitors
      (INI) to ABC/3TC + RPV in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients. This
      multicentre, retrospective study comprised asymptomatic HIV-infected patients who
      switched from 2 NRTI + NNRTI or 2 NRTI + INI to ABC/3TC + RPV between February
      2013 and December 2013; all had undetectable HIV viral load prior to switching.
      Efficacy and safety, and changes in lipids and cardiovascular risk (CVR) were
      analysed at 48 weeks. Of 85 patients (74.1 % men, mean age 49.5 years), 83 (97.6
      %) switched from a regimen based on NNRTI (EFV 74, RPV 5, ETV 2, NVP 2), and 45
      (53 %) switched from TDF/FTC to ABC/3TC. The main reasons for switching were
      toxicity (58.8 %) and convenience (29.4 %). At 48 weeks, 78 (91.8 %) patients
      continued taking the same regimen; efficacy was 88 % by intention to treat, and
      96 % by per protocol. Two patients were lost to follow-up and five ceased the new
      regimen (4 due to adverse effects and 1 virologic failure). Mean CD4 cell counts
      increased (744 vs. 885 cells/MUL; p = 0.0001), and there were mean decreases in
      fasting total cholesterol (-15.9 mg/dL; p < 0.0001) and LDL-cholesterol (-11.0
      mg/dL; p < 0.004), with no changes in HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total
      cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, and CVR. ABC/3TC + RPV is effective and safe
      in virologically-suppressed patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Forty-eight
      weeks after switching the lipid profile improved with decreases in total and LDL
      cholesterol.

PMID- 26879394
TI  - Congenital macrothrombocytopenia-linked mutations in the actin-binding domain of
      alpha-actinin-1 enhance F-actin association.
AB  - Mutations in the actin cross-linking protein actinin-1 were recently linked to
      dominantly inherited congenital macrothrombocytopenia. Here, we report that
      several disease-associated mutations that are located within the actinin-1 actin
      binding domain cause increased binding of actinin-1 to actin filaments and
      enhance filament bundling in vitro. These actinin-1 mutants are also more stably
      associated with the cytoskeleton in cultured cells, as assessed by biochemical
      fractionation and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. For two
      mutations the disruption of contacts between the calponin homology domains within
      the actinin actin-binding domain may explain increased filament binding-
      providing mechanistic and structural insights into the basis of actinin-1
      dysfunction in congenital macrothrombocytopenia.

PMID- 26879395
TI  - Salvage total laryngectomy after external-beam radiotherapy: A 20-year
      experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of the
      clinical and functional outcomes after salvage total laryngectomy (STL). METHODS:
      We conducted a retrospective review of 218 patients who underwent STL between
      1994 and 2014. RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients originally had T1 or T2, N0
      tumors and 73% had definitive external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone. A majority
      utilized tracheoesophageal prosthesis (77%) and were gastrostomy free (80%) at
      last follow-up. The 5-year disease control and overall survival (OS) rates were
      65% and 57%, respectively. Patients with a disease-free interval after initial
      treatment <2 years were more likely to develop a recurrence (p = .001) and die of
      disease (p = .032) after STL. The disease-free interval after EBRT impacted
      disease control (p < .001), with 5-year disease control of 92% for >5-year
      disease-free interval and 60% for <2-year disease-free interval. CONCLUSION: Most
      patients remain disease-free after STL, achieve intelligible tracheoesophageal
      speech, and maintain an oral diet. Delayed recurrence after initial treatment
      portends better survival and may indicate a distinct biological profile. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1962-E1968, 2016.

PMID- 26879396
TI  - Design and application of a 23-gene panel by next-generation sequencing for
      inherited coagulation bleeding disorders.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Molecular testing of Inherited bleeding coagulation disorders
      (IBCDs) not only offers confirmation of diagnosis but also aids in genetic
      counselling, prenatal diagnosis and in certain cases genotype-phenotype
      correlations are important for predicting the clinical course of the disease and
      to allow tailor-made follow-up of individuals. Until recently, genotyping has
      been mainly performed by Sanger sequencing, a technique known to be time
      consuming and expensive. Currently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers a new
      potential approach that enables the simultaneous investigation of multiple genes
      at manageable cost. AIM: The aim of this study was to design and to analyse the
      applicability of a 23-gene NGS panel in the molecular diagnosis of patients with
      IBCDs. METHODS: A custom target enrichment library was designed to capture 31
      genes known to be associated with IBCDs. Probes were generated for 296 targets to
      cover 86.3 kb regions (all exons and flanking regions) of these genes. Twenty
      patients with an IBCDs phenotype were studied using NGS technology. RESULTS: In
      all patients, our NGS approach detected causative mutations. Twenty-one
      pathogenic variants were found; while most of them were missense (18), three
      deletions were also identified. Six novel mutations affecting F8, FGA, F11, F10
      and VWF genes, and 15 previously reported variants were detected. NGS and Sanger
      sequencing were 100% concordant. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that this
      approach could be an accurate, reproducible and reliable tool in the rapid
      genetic diagnosis of IBCDs.

PMID- 26879399
TI  - Cleft-related nose deformation evaluation and measurement methods. Literature
      review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Rhinoplasty for the cleft lip and palate patient is very
      challenging and surgical outcome of the nose is difficult to evaluate.
      Discussions of aesthetic evaluation of the nose in cleft lip and palate patients
      remain problematical. Many different nose aesthetic evaluation methods have been
      described in the literature; they differ even among articles published in a
      single year. AIM: To analyse the literature concerning aesthetic evaluation of
      the nose in cleft lip and palate patients and to identify the most objective
      method for such evaluation postoperatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature
      was reviewed using MedLine and PubMed sources dated between January 1996 and
      December 2014. In total, 118 full text articles in English language were
      selected. Exclusion criteria were: case reports, surgical reviews, literature
      review, and single evaluations of nasal function. RESULTS: Measurements were
      obtained from two-dimensional images in 73 articles. Noses were evaluated from 3D
      images in 22 and by clinical examination in 15. Other methods were evaluation
      from dental/facial casts, cephalometric evaluation, computer tomography and video
      recording. In 26 articles some combination of methods was used. CONCLUSIONS: The
      most popular evaluation method is still two-dimensional photography and
      measurements using anthropometric facial landmarks. Measurements from three
      dimensional images seem to be the most objective method and automated facial
      anthropometric landmark protraction seems to hold promise for the future.

PMID- 26879397
TI  - Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus and Human Papillomavirus in Esophageal
      Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Non-Cancerous Esophageal Samples in Northern Iran.
AB  - Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the hypothesized causes of
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the etiological association
      remains uncertain. It was postulated that other infectious agents together with
      HPV may increase the risk of ESCC. The current investigation aimed to explore the
      presence of a new human tumor virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), together
      with HPV in ESCC tumors and non-cancerous esophageal samples in northern Iran. In
      total, 96 esophageal samples (51 with ESCC, and 45 without esophageal malignancy)
      were examined. HPV DNA was detected in esophageal specimens of 16 out of the 51
      ESCC cases (31.4 %) and 20 out of the 45 non-cancerous samples (44.4 %).
      Untypable HPV genotypes were recognized in high rates in cancerous (75.0 %) and
      non-cancerous (55.0 %) esophageal specimens. MCPyV DNA was detected in esophageal
      specimens of 23 out of the 51 ESCC cases (45.1 %) and 16 out of the 45 non
      cancerous samples (35.6 %). The mean MCPyV DNA copy number was 1.0 * 10(-5) +/-
      2.4 * 10(-5) and 6.0 * 10(-6) +/- 1.3 * 10(-5) per cell in ESCC cases and non
      cancerous samples, respectively. There was no statistically significant
      difference between cancerous and non-cancerous samples regarding mean MCPyV DNA
      load (P = 0.353). A bayesian logistic regression model adjusted to the location
      of esophageal specimen and MCPyV infection, revealed a significant association
      between HPV and odds of ESCC (OR, 2.45; 95 % CI: 1.01-6.16). This study provides
      the evidence of the detection of the MCPyV DNA at a low viral copy number in
      cancerous and non- cancerous esophageal samples. 

PMID- 26879398
TI  - Application of a novel phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (RePAT) gene in
      developing glufosinate-resistant rice.
AB  - Currently, only few glufosinate-resistant genes are available for commercial
      application. Thus, developing novel glufosinate-resistant genes with commercial
      feasibility is extremely important and urgent for agricultural production. In
      this study, we transferred a newly isolated RePAT gene into a japonica rice
      variety Zhonghua11, resulting in a large number of independent T0 transgenic
      plants, most of which grew normally under high-concentration glufosinate
      treatment. Four transgenic plants with one intact RePAT expression cassette
      integrated into the intergenic region were selected. Agronomic performances of
      their T2 progenies were investigated, and the results suggested that the
      expression of RePAT had no adverse effect on the agronomic performance. Definite
      glufosinate resistance of the selected transgenic plants was further confirmed to
      be related to the expression of RePAT by assay on the medium and qRT-PCR. The
      inheritance and expression of RePAT in two transgenic plants were confirmed to be
      stable. Finally, the two-year field assay of glufosinate resistance suggested
      that the agronomic performance of the transgenic plant (PAT11) was not affected
      by high dosage of glufosinate (5000 g/ha). Collectively, our study proves the
      high resistance of a novel gene RePAT to glufosinate and provides a glufosiante
      resistant rice variety with agricultural application potential. 

PMID- 26879400
TI  - Neuromuscular evaluation in young patients with unilateral posterior crossbite
      before and after rapid maxillary expansion.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the electromyographic and
      electrognatographic exams of 55 patients before and after rapid palatal
      expansion, and to find out a relationship between the results. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The sample consisted of 55 children (28 females and 27 males; age
      ranging between 6 and10 years) with unilateral posterior crossbite, and subjected
      to an electromyographic and electrognatographic examination before and after a
      rapid palatal expansion. RESULTS: By analyzing the results, it is possible to
      observe an increased electrical activity of the masticatory muscles (right and
      left masseters and anterior temporalis) both in rest position and during
      activities after rapid palatal expansion. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid palatal expansion
      produces important changes in the muscular tone and it increases the muscular
      activity of the masticatory muscles.

PMID- 26879401
TI  - Medication--related osteonecrosis of the jaws. The first reported cases in the
      Baltic States and a literature review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a severe
      side effect of antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapy that manifests as an
      exposed bone, accompanied by clinical signs of infection, persisting for more
      than 8 weeks, without history of radiation therapy or metastases to the jaws. The
      aim of the study was to present first MRONJ cases in Lithuania and review trends
      in the modern research literature on the subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed patient charts with a diagnosis of "Inflammatory
      conditions of the jaws" treated in Vilnius University Hospital Zalgiris Clinic,
      Department of maxillofacial surgery in 2007-2014. Patients diagnosed with MRONJ
      were selected for the study. Demographic data, characteristics of the disease and
      treatment modalities were analysed. RESULTS: Nine cases (five male and four
      female) of MRONJ were analysed. The mean patient age was 69+/-7,9 years.
      Predominant primary malignancy was prostate cancer. Osteonecrotic lesions were
      located both in maxilla and mandible. In all cases we started with a conservative
      treatment first. After the antibiotic therapy with or without sequestrectomy, the
      condition of all patients stabilized and improved to stage I MRONJ. CONCLUSION:
      MRONJ is a disturbing condition resulting in a severely worsened quality of life
      in the affected patients. This is the first case series of successfully treated
      patients suffering from stage II or III MRONJ in the Baltic States. A more
      comprehensive understanding of MRONJ will hopefully allow clinicians to enhance
      accuracy in risk assessment and forecast positive and negative outcomes of
      antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapy.

PMID- 26879402
TI  - Synovial chondromatosis in the temporomandibular joint: case report with review
      of the literature.
AB  - Synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare
      benign condition characterized by the formation of metaplastic cartilage in the
      synovium resulting in numerous attached and unattached osteocartilagenous
      (calcified) loose bodies within the joint. The purpose of this article is to
      present a case of SC of the TMJ and to discuss current diagnostic approaches,
      treatment options and relevant follow-up data. We present a case of SC in the TMJ
      that was confirmed by histopathological analysis and treated via arthrotomy, and
      present the typical imaging findings, including Computed Tomography (CT) and
      orthopantomography (OPTG) findings.

PMID- 26879403
TI  - Trichoadenoma of the upper lip.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trichoadenoma of Nikolowski, who describe the first cases in 1958, is
      a rare and benign tumor of the hair follicle. It is well-differentiated and
      slowly-growing. The clinical appearance of Trichoadenoma (TA) can be similar to
      basal cell carcinoma or epidermal cyst. RESULTS: We describe a 44-year-old male
      who was referred for nodular lesion on the upper lip and a TA was diagnosed. Oral
      examination showed exophytic yellow mass located between mucous membrane of the
      upper lip and vestibular gingiva, 1.2 per 0.8 cm. Anamnestic data was non
      contributory. An excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed. Microscopically,
      the lesion consisted of multiple keratinous cysts lined with stratified squamous
      epithelium and intermingled with solid islands of basaloid cells lying within
      sclerotic stroma. The pathological diagnosis was TA. The surgical wound healed
      uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Because the lesion is unique, it is uncertain how
      aggressive or indolent the tumor might be. Therefore, the microscopical analysis
      is mandatory. At the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of
      trichoadenoma of the lip.

PMID- 26879405
TI  - DDB2 (damaged-DNA binding 2) protein: a new modulator of nanomechanical
      properties and cell adhesion of breast cancer cells.
AB  - DDB2, known for its role in DNA repair, was recently shown to reduce mammary
      tumor invasiveness by inducing the transcription of IkappaBalpha, an inhibitor of
      NF-kappaB activity. Since cellular adhesion is a key event during the epithelial
      to mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to the invasive capacities of breast
      tumor cells, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of DDB2 in this
      process. Thus, using low and high DDB2-expressing MDA-MB231 and MCF7 cells,
      respectively, in which DDB2 expression was modulated experimentally, we showed
      that DDB2 overexpression was associated with a decrease of adhesion abilities on
      glass and plastic areas of breast cancer cells. Then, we investigated cell
      nanomechanical properties by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results revealed
      significant changes in the Young's Modulus value and the adhesion force in MDA
      MB231 and MCF7 cells, whether DDB2 was expressed or not. The cell stiffness
      decrease observed in MDA-MB231 and MCF7 expressing DDB2 was correlated with a
      loss of the cortical actin-cytoskeleton staining. To understand how DDB2
      regulates these processes, an adhesion-related gene PCR-Array was performed.
      Several adhesion-related genes were differentially expressed according to DDB2
      expression, indicating that important changes are occurring at the molecular
      level. Thus, this work demonstrates that AFM technology is an important tool to
      follow cellular changes during tumorigenesis. Moreover, our data revealed that
      DDB2 is involved in early events occurring during metastatic progression of
      breast cancer cells and will contribute to define this protein as a new marker of
      metastatic progression in this type of cancer. 

PMID- 26879404
TI  - BATMAN-TCM: a Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional
      Chinese Medicine.
AB  - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a history of thousands of years of
      clinical practice, is gaining more and more attention and application worldwide.
      And TCM-based new drug development, especially for the treatment of complex
      diseases is promising. However, owing to the TCM's diverse ingredients and their
      complex interaction with human body, it is still quite difficult to uncover its
      molecular mechanism, which greatly hinders the TCM modernization and
      internationalization. Here we developed the first online Bioinformatics Analysis
      Tool for Molecular mechANism of TCM (BATMAN-TCM). Its main functions include 1)
      TCM ingredients' target prediction; 2) functional analyses of targets including
      biological pathway, Gene Ontology functional term and disease enrichment
      analyses; 3) the visualization of ingredient-target-pathway/disease association
      network and KEGG biological pathway with highlighted targets; 4) comparison
      analysis of multiple TCMs. Finally, we applied BATMAN-TCM to Qishen Yiqi dripping
      Pill (QSYQ) and combined with subsequent experimental validation to reveal the
      functions of renin-angiotensin system responsible for QSYQ's cardioprotective
      effects for the first time. BATMAN-TCM will contribute to the understanding of
      the "multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway" combinational therapeutic
      mechanism of TCM, and provide valuable clues for subsequent experimental
      validation, accelerating the elucidation of TCM's molecular mechanism. BATMAN-TCM
      is available at http://bionet.ncpsb.org/batman-tcm. 

PMID- 26879406
TI  - Parallel worlds? French and anglophone perspectives on health geography.
AB  - In this short commentary, we address the following question: setting aside the
      issue of translation, do health geographers in France speak the same language as
      their English-speaking counterparts in various parts of the world? Specifically,
      do they have comparable empirical, theoretical and political concerns? We briefly
      survey the 'states of knowledge' in both fields for points of difference and
      similarity. We devote particular attention to the diverse contexts in which
      health geography is practiced. Our overarching goal is not to oppose two
      'blocks'; nor is it to produce syntheses of two bodies of work. Rather, we seek
      to identify the diverse contexts in which geographic knowledge of health issues
      is produced, and to encourage reflection on what these mean for current and
      future collaboration across linguistic boundaries. We contend that meaningful
      Anglo-French comparative work will need to be particularly attentive to takes on
      theory that is 'the same, but different', to alternative spatial lenses
      (territory vs. place), and to sometimes sharply distinct perspectives on social
      difference.

PMID- 26879407
TI  - Cultural carrying capacity: Organ donation advocacy, discursive framing, and
      social media engagement.
AB  - Social media sites such as Facebook have become a powerful tool for public health
      outreach because they enable advocacy organizations to influence the rapidly
      increasing number of people who frequent these forums. Yet the very open-ness of
      social media sites creates fierce competition for public attention. The vast
      majority of social media messages provoke little or no reaction because of the
      sheer volume of information that confronts the typical social media user each
      day. In this article, I present a theory of the "cultural carrying capacity" of
      social media messaging campaigns. I argue that advocacy organizations inspire
      more endorsements, comments, and shares by social media users if they diversify
      the discursive content of their messages. Yet too much diversification creates
      large, disconnected audiences that lack the sense of shared purpose necessary to
      sustain an online movement. To evaluate this theory, I created a Facebook
      application that collects social media posts produced by forty-two organ donation
      advocacy organizations over 1.5 years, as well as supplemental information about
      the organization, its audience, and the broader social context in which they
      interact. Time series models provide strong evidence for my theory net of
      demographic characteristics of social media users, the resources and tactics of
      each organization, and broader external factors. I conclude by discussing the
      implications of these findings for public health, cultural sociology, and the
      nascent field of computational social science.

PMID- 26879409
TI  - Understanding the anion-pi interactions with tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine.
AB  - Anion-pi interaction is a new type of non-covalent interaction. It has attracted
      growing interest in recent years both theoretically and experimentally. However,
      the nature of bonding between an anion and an electron-deficient aromatic system
      has remained elusive. To understand the bonding nature in depth, we have carried
      out a systematic computational study, using model systems that involve
      tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine 1, an electron-deficient macrocyclic host, and
      four anions, X(-) (X(-) = SCN(-), NO3(-), BF4(-), and PF6(-)), of varied sizes
      and shapes. The geometries for the 1.X(-) complexes were optimized using the
      extended ONIOM (XO) method. The good agreements with the X-ray experimental
      results provide a validation of our theoretical schemes. The nature of the non
      covalent interactions was analyzed with the help of the AIM (atoms in molecules),
      RDG (reduced density gradient) and LMO-EDA (local molecular orbital-energy
      decomposition analysis) methods. The results clearly reveal the involvement of
      anion-pi bonding, as well as a weak, yet significant, hydrogen bonding
      interaction between the benzene C-H on 1 and the anion of NO3(-) or PF6(-). The
      bonding energies of 1.X(-) were calculated with the XYG3 functional, and the
      results were compared with those from MP2, M06-2X and some other functionals with
      non-covalent interaction corrections (e.g., B3LYP-D3, and omegaB97X-D). We
      conclude that the binding strengths follow the order of 1.NO3(-) > 1.SCN(-) >
      1.BF4(-) > 1.PF6(-), where the difference between 1.SCN(-) and 1.BF4(-) is less
      significant. The strongest interaction in 1.NO3(-) comes from: (1) the effective
      electronic interaction between NO3(-) and the triazine rings on 1; and (2) the
      weak hydrogen bonding interaction between the benzene C-H on 1 and nitrate, which
      cooperates with the anion-pi interactions. 

PMID- 26879408
TI  - Does bendamustine impact the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells? A
      multicenter retrospective study of 23 cases.
AB  - Bendamustine is used in the treatment of different relapsing or refractory
      subtypes of lymphoma. Its impact on the yield of peripheral blood stem cells is
      not well known. Twenty three patients who received bendamustine followed
      immediately or after another chemotherapy by stem cell mobilization (SCM) were
      included. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=17), in whom SCM
      was performed immediately after bendamustine chemotherapy, and group 2 (n=6), in
      whom SCM was performed after another cycle of chemotherapy. The success rate of
      mobilization after Bendamustine+/-plerixafor was 36% (eight cytapheresis
      succeeded for a total number of 22 cytapheresis); and 75% after other approaches
      (chemotherapy based or steady state) used for patients who received bendamustine
      previously. Although bendamustine used alone was not an effective drug to
      mobilize stem cells, this agent does not seem to have detrimental effects on
      subsequent SCM. 

PMID- 26879410
TI  - Mannitol has a protective effect on testicular torsion: An experimental rat
      model.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Testicular torsion is an emergency condition that causes testicular
      injury. Any treatment opportunity reducing the destructive effect of testicular
      torsion is important for the future life of patients. In this experimental study
      we investigated the protective effect of mannitol on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)
      injury in a rat testes torsion model. METHOD: In total, 32 male Sprague Dawley
      rats were included. Four experimental groups included eight rats each. Group A
      was a sham group in which the right testis was brought out through a scrotal
      incision and then replaced in the scrotum without torsion. In Group B, the right
      testis was torsioned, by rotating 720 degrees  clockwise and fixed to the scrotum
      with no treatment. In Group C, the same testicular torsion process was performed
      with saline infusion just after testicular torsion. In group D, mannitol infusion
      was used just after testicular torsion. Testicles were detorsioned after 3 h and
      left inside for more than 2 h before orchiectomy. Histopathological,
      immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Testicular
      architecture was disturbed significantly in the torsion groups without mannitol
      infusion. However, testicular tissue structure was significantly better in the
      mannitol-treated group, demonstrating a protective effect. Similar findings were
      also shown for the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index and
      antioxidant activity; both were higher in the mannitol group than in the no
      treatment and saline groups (p < 0.01). The apoptotic index was also
      significantly lower in the mannitol-treated group compared with the no treatment
      and saline groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The seminiferous tubule structure in
      testicular torsion without mannitol treatment was significantly disturbed,
      whereas the structural disruption was considerably less in the mannitol group.
      Mannitol treatment also decreased reactive oxygen radical levels significantly
      and was able to decrease apoptosis. These results were consistent with other
      organ model studies that evaluated the protective effects of mannitol treatment
      in I/R injury. Mannitol infusion had a protective effect against I/R injury in
      testicular torsion in rats. This experimental study may guide clinicians to
      evaluate the effectiveness of mannitol in human testicular torsion.

PMID- 26879411
TI  - Temporary re-catheterization as a treatment for early fistulas after hypospadias
      repair.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the results of temporary urethral re-catheterization in
      order to aid spontaneous closure of early fistulas after hypospadias repair.
      METHODS AND TECHNIQUE: Children presenting with early fistulas (within 2 weeks of
      initial catheter removal) after hypospadias repair underwent urethral calibration
      and re-insertion of a urethral catheter under intravenous anesthesia. The
      catheter was removed after 2 weeks. RESULTS: Nine children (age 1-9 years) with
      early fistulas had re-catheterization: six (66%) had spontaneous healing of the
      fistula by 2 weeks, which remained closed at subsequent follow-up. CONCLUSION:
      The simple technique of urethral re-catheterization may allow spontaneous healing
      of some early fistulas after hypospadias repair.

PMID- 26879414
TI  - The Feasibility and Effectiveness of Online Guided Imagery Training for Health
      Professionals.
AB  - This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of brief online guided imagery
      training (up to 3 hours) for health professionals. Paired t tests were used to
      measure pre-to-post-training changes in stress (Perceived Stress Scale,), anxiety
      (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Anxiety Scale), empathy
      (Empathic Concern Scale, and Perspective-taking Scale), and self-efficacy (Self
      Efficacy in providing Non-Drug Therapies Scale). Online guided imagery training
      attracted diverse health professionals and trainees (n = 273; 14% trainees; 34%
      registered nurses, 20% physicians, 14% social workers, 5% registered dititians,
      and 27% others). Participants reported small but significant pre-to-post-module
      improvements in stress (17.8 to 13.5), anxiety (T-scores 56.4 to 54.3), empathy
      (both empathic concern, 29.8 to 30.7, and perspective taking, 28.0 to 29.4), and
      self-efficacy in providing nondrug therapies for common symptoms (58.5 to 77.0)
      (P < .001 for all). Future studies will need to examine the clinical impact of
      online guided imagery training for health professionals.

PMID- 26879415
TI  - Field measurements and analyses of environmental vibrations induced by high-speed
      Maglev.
AB  - Maglev, offers competitive journey-times compared to the railway and subway
      systems in markets for which distance between the stations is 100-1600km owing to
      its high acceleration and speed; however, such systems may have excessive
      vibration. Field measurements of Maglev train-induced vibrations were therefore
      performed on the world's first commercial Maglev line in Shanghai, China. Seven
      test sections along the line were selected according to the operating conditions,
      covering speeds from 150 to 430km/h. Acceleration responses of bridge pier and
      nearby ground were measured in three directions and analyzed in both the time and
      frequency domain. The effects of Maglev train speed on vibrations of the bridge
      pier and ground were studied in terms of their peak accelerations. Attenuation of
      ground vibration was investigated up to 30m from the track centerline. Effects of
      guideway configuration were also analyzed based on the measurements through two
      different test sections with same train speed of 300km/h. The results showed that
      peak accelerations exhibited a strong correlation with both train speed and
      distance off the track. Guideway configuration had a significant effect on
      transverse vibration, but a weak impact on vertical and longitudinal vibrations
      of both bridge pier and ground. Statistics indicated that, contrary to the
      commonly accepted theory and experience, vertical vibration is not always
      dominant: transverse and longitudinal vibrations should also be considered,
      particularly near turns in the track. Moreover, measurements of ground vibration
      induced by traditional high-speed railway train were carried out with the same
      testing devices in Bengbu in the Anhui Province. Results showed that the Maglev
      train generates significantly different vibration signatures as compared to the
      traditional high-speed train. The results obtained from this paper can provide
      good insights on the impact of Maglev system on the urban environment and the
      quality of human life nearby. 

PMID- 26879412
TI  - Phytohormone pathways as targets of pathogens to facilitate infection.
AB  - Plants are constantly threatened by potential pathogens. In order to optimize the
      output of defense against pathogens with distinct lifestyles, plants depend on
      hormonal networks to fine-tune specific responses and regulate growth-defense
      tradeoffs. To counteract, pathogens have evolved various strategies to disturb
      hormonal homeostasis and facilitate infection. Many pathogens synthesize plant
      hormones; more importantly, toxins and effectors are produced to manipulate
      hormonal crosstalk. Accumulating evidence has shown that pathogens exert
      extensive effects on plant hormone pathways not only to defeat immunity, but also
      modify habitat structure, optimize nutrient acquisition, and facilitate pathogen
      dissemination. In this review, we summarize mechanisms by which a wide array of
      pathogens gain benefits from manipulating plant hormone pathways. 

PMID- 26879413
TI  - Rice OsVAMP714, a membrane-trafficking protein localized to the chloroplast and
      vacuolar membrane, is involved in resistance to rice blast disease.
AB  - Membrane trafficking plays pivotal roles in many cellular processes including
      plant immunity. Here, we report the characterization of OsVAMP714, an
      intracellular SNARE protein, focusing on its role in resistance to rice blast
      disease caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. Disease resistance
      tests using OsVAMP714 knockdown and overexpressing rice plants demonstrated the
      involvement of OsVAMP714 in blast resistance. The overexpression of OsVAMP7111,
      whose product is highly homologous to OsVAMP714, did not enhance blast resistance
      to rice, implying a potential specificity of OsVAMP714 to blast resistance.
      OsVAMP714 was localized to the chloroplast in mesophyll cells and to the cellular
      periphery in epidermal cells of transgenic rice plant leaves. We showed that
      chloroplast localization is critical for the normal OsVAMP714 functioning in
      blast resistance by analyzing the rice plants overexpressing OsVAMP714 mutants
      whose products did not localize in the chloroplast. We also found that OsVAMP714
      was located in the vacuolar membrane surrounding the invasive hyphae of M.
      oryzae. Furthermore, we showed that OsVAMP714 overexpression promotes leaf sheath
      elongation and that the first 19 amino acids, which are highly conserved between
      animal and plant VAMP7 proteins, are crucial for normal rice plant growths. Our
      studies imply that the OsVAMP714-mediated trafficking pathway plays an important
      role in rice blast resistance as well as in the vegetative growth of rice.

PMID- 26879416
TI  - Impact of smoking status on survival after cytoreductive nephrectomy for
      metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of smoking status with standard
      clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) in a large multi
      institutional cohort of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)
      treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy (CNT). METHODS: A total of 613 patients
      with mRCC treated with CNT in US and Europe institutions between 1990 and 2013
      were included. Smoking history comprised smoking status, smoking duration in
      years, number of cigarettes per day and years since smoking cessation. Cumulative
      smoking exposure was categorized as light short term, heavy long term and
      moderate. Association between smoking history and OS was assessed by Cox
      regression logistic analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-one patients (27.9
      %) never smoked, 193 (31.5 %) were former smokers and 249 (40.6 %) were current
      smokers. Smoking status was associated with a higher number of metastases (p <
      0.001) and an abnormal preoperative corrected calcium level (p = 0.01). Median
      follow-up was 16 (IQR 7-24) months. Current smokers had a shorter OS than never
      and former smokers (log rank, p = 0.004). Smoking status was significantly
      associated with OS in univariable analysis (HR 1.45; 95 % CI 1.16-1.82; p <
      0.001), and in multivariable analysis that adjusted for established prognostic
      factors (HR 1.46; 95 % CI 1.16-1.84; p = 0.002). Daily consumption of more than
      20 cigarettes, more than 20 years of smoking exposure and heavy long exposure
      were all independent prognosticators of worse OS. CONCLUSIONS: Current smoking
      and a higher cumulative smoking exposure are associated with a higher risk of
      death in patients with mRCC treated with CNT. Even at this stage, smoking
      negatively affects kidney cancer outcomes.

PMID- 26879417
TI  - A model for assuring clamping success during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy
      with segmental renal artery clamping.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A model for assuring clamping success was established for
      laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with segmental renal artery clamping
      (SRAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 107; December 2009-September 2011)
      who underwent LPN with SRAC dependent on the experience of the surgeon and CTA
      were retrospectively reviewed to determine the optimal characteristics of target
      arteries. After multiple logistic regression analysis, variables used to build a
      nomogram were selected using a backward elimination scheme. A model for a
      clamping program customized to the patient was designed. The surgical outcomes of
      patients (n = 141; October 2011-June 2014) who subsequently underwent LPN-SRAC
      with the applied model were compared with those of the first group of patients.
      RESULTS: Five potential predictors were initially assessed: segmental renal
      artery angle, target artery diameter, and distance (d) to the abdominal aorta,
      renal hilum (d RH), and kidney midline (d KML). The regression equation was set
      up as: [Formula: see text]Comparing the patient groups, those for whom the new
      SRAC model was applied had a significantly better success rate of clamping (P <
      0.001), less total operative time (P < 0.001), and less operative blood loss (P =
      0.042). No obvious differences were observed in time of warm ischemia,
      postoperative hospitalization, RENAL nephrometry score, or number of final
      clamped branches. CONCLUSIONS: The model for assuring clamping success was
      helpful in designing an SRAC program and thus benefiting the LPN procedure.

PMID- 26879419
TI  - Piloting Virtual Surgical Patient Cases with 3rd-year medical students during the
      surgery rotation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical education programs are increasingly challenged to make
      medical students' learning experiences in their surgery rotation meaningful while
      making the most of limited faculty resources and maximizing patient safety.
      Simulations and virtual environments are potential resources for providing
      meaningful clinical learning experiences. METHODS: Ninety-eight 3rd-year medical
      students used the Virtual Surgical Patient Cases software as a part of their
      surgery clerkship. We used a mixed-methods approach to data collection and
      analyses to investigate how students and faculty engaged with cases as teaching
      and learning tools. RESULTS: Students improved their clinical reasoning skills
      significantly at each case attempt, but made some errors consistently across
      attempts. Faculty used the information provided about students' decisions during
      the cases to guide their teaching during case discussions. CONCLUSIONS: Including
      more cases in the surgical clerkship could allow students additional practice
      with making diagnoses and facilitate an interactive role in discussing cases with
      faculty.

PMID- 26879418
TI  - Identifying the broken heart: predictors of mortality and morbidity in suspected
      blunt cardiac injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is an infrequent but potentially fatal
      finding in thoracic trauma. Its clinical presentation is highly variable and
      patient characteristics and injury pattern have never been described in trauma
      patients. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of mortality in BCI
      patients. METHODS: We performed an 8-year retrospective analysis of all trauma
      patients diagnosed with BCI at our Level 1 trauma center. Patients older than 18
      years, blunt chest trauma, and a suspected diagnosis of BCI were included. BCI
      was diagnosed based on the presence of electrocardiography (EKG),
      echocardiography, biochemical cardiac markers, and/or radionuclide imaging
      studies. Elevated troponin I was defined as more than 2 recordings of greater
      than or equal to .2. Abnormal EKG findings were defined as the presence of bundle
      branch block, ST segment, and t-wave abnormalities. Univariate and multivariate
      regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients with BCI
      were identified. The mean age was 51 +/- 22 years, 65% were male, mean systolic
      blood pressure was 93 +/- 65, and overall mortality rate was 44%. Patients who
      died were more likely to have a lactate greater than 2.5 (68% vs 31%, P = .02),
      hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90) (86% vs 14%, P = .001), and elevated
      troponin I (86% vs 11%, P = .01). There was no difference in the rib fracture
      (58% vs 56%, P = .8), sternal fracture (11% vs 21%, P = .2), and abnormal EKG
      (89% vs 90%, P = .6) findings. Hypotension and lactate greater than 2.5 were the
      strongest predictors of mortality in BCI. CONCLUSIONS: BCI remains an important
      diagnostic and management challenge. However, once diagnosed resuscitative
      therapy focused on correction of hypotension and lactate may prove beneficial.
      Although the role of troponin in diagnosing BCI remains controversial, elevated
      troponin may have prognostic significance.

PMID- 26879420
TI  - Design and synthesis of pyridazinone-substituted benzenesulphonylurea derivatives
      as anti-hyperglycaemic agents and inhibitors of aldose reductase - an enzyme
      embroiled in diabetic complications.
AB  - Thirty new aryl-pyridazinone-substituted benzenesulphonylurea derivatives (I-XXX)
      were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-hyperglycaemic activity in glucose
      fed hyperglycaemic normal rats. Twenty-three compounds (III-XI, XIV-XVII, XIX
      XXIV, XXVI and XXVIII-XXX) showed more or comparable area under the curve (AUC)
      reduction percentage (ranging from 21.9% to 35.5%) as compared to the standard
      drug gliclazide (22.0%). On the basis of docking results, 18 compounds were
      screened for their in vitro ability to inhibit rat lens aldose reductase. Ten
      compounds (III-VI, XII, XVI-XVIII, XXI and XXVII) showed ARI activity with IC50
      ranging from 34 to 242 MUM. Out of these, two compounds IV and V showed best ARI
      activity which is comparable with that of quercetin. As a result, two compounds
      (IV and V) possessing significant dual action (anti-hyperglycaemic and aldose
      reductase inhibition) were identified and may be used as lead compounds for
      developing new drugs. 

PMID- 26879421
TI  - Schizophrenia-Associated hERG channel Kv11.1-3.1 Exhibits a Unique Trafficking
      Deficit that is Rescued Through Proteasome Inhibition for High Throughput
      Screening.
AB  - The primate-specific brain voltage-gated potassium channel isoform Kv11.1-3.1 has
      been identified as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia.
      While this ether-a-go-go related K(+)channel has shown clinical relevance, drug
      discovery efforts have been hampered due to low and inconsistent activity in cell
      based assays. This poor activity is hypothesized to result from poor trafficking
      via the lack of an intact channel-stabilizing Per-Ant-Sim (PAS) domain. Here we
      characterize Kv11.1-3.1 cellular localization and show decreased channel
      expression and cell surface trafficking relative to the PAS-domain containing
      major isoform, Kv11.1-1A. Using small molecule inhibition of proteasome
      degradation, cellular expression and plasma membrane trafficking are rescued.
      These findings implicate the importance of the unfolded-protein response and
      endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation pathways in the expression and
      regulation of this schizophrenia risk factor. Utilizing this identified
      phenomenon, an electrophysiological and high throughput in-vitro fluorescent
      assay platform has been developed for drug discovery in order to explore a
      potentially new class of cognitive therapeutics.

PMID- 26879422
TI  - Clinical and pathologic considerations of the qualitative and quantitative
      aspects of lupus nephritogenic autoantibodies: A comprehensive review.
AB  - Autoantibodies are key mediators in determining the clinical manifestations of
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The mechanisms by which antibodies may be
      harmful to self tissues encompass complement mediated inflammation, cell
      apoptosis and immune-complexes mediated damage, however the precise cooperation
      of antibodies in SLE have not been unravelled so far. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a
      protean feature of SLE resulting in wide variety of symptoms including
      asymptomatic proteinuria, mild renal disease until end-stage renal failure which
      are triggered by complex autoantibody interactions. Novel clues concerning
      development and self-maintenance of LN have come to light in recent times,
      pointing straight to a multistep inflammatory process which is incited by anti
      chromatin antibodies, the best known being anti-DNA and anti-nucleosome
      antibodies, culminating in a self-maintaining inflammatory loop with spreading of
      glomerular inflammation. In the maintenance of the inflammatory process pro
      inflammatory antibodies are involved, among which anti-C1q are thought to play a
      major role, whereas hindrance of the nephritic process could be actively mediated
      by protective autoantibodies. Despite being so relevant in occurrence of LN, nor
      anti-chromatin neither anti-C1q antibodies have been precisely characterized in
      terms of origin, antigen specificity and mechanisms of action. Moreover, novel
      autoantibodies are emerging in LN which can modify disease course, whereas the
      pathogenic value of a myriad of cross-reactive antibodies has been progressively
      challenged. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive view of known and
      emerging autoantibody reactivities involved in renal inflammation and damage
      going over their origin, mechanisms of action and interactions in determining LN
      course. 

PMID- 26879423
TI  - Exploration of the serum metabolite signature in patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with complicated
      pathogeny. There could be obvious alterations of metabolism in the patients with
      RA and the discovery of metabolic signature may be helpful for the accurate
      diagnosis of RA. In order to explore the distinctive metabolic patterns in RA
      patients, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was employed.
      Serum samples from 33 RA patients and 32 healthy controls were collected and
      analyzed. Acquired metabolic data were assessed by the principal component
      analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and the
      data analysis results showed RA patients and healthy controls have very different
      metabolic profiles. Variable importance for project values (VIP) and Student's t
      test were combined to screen the significant metabolic changes caused by RA.
      Serums from RA patients were featured by decreased levels of amino acids and
      glucose, increased levels of fatty acids and cholesterol, which were primarily
      associated with glycolytic pathway, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, and
      other related pathways including TCA cycle and the urea cycle. These preliminary
      results suggest that GC-MS based metabolic profiling study appears to be a useful
      tool in the exploration of the metabolic signature of RA, and the revealed
      disease-associated metabolic perturbations could help to elucidate the
      pathogenesis of RA and provide a probable aid for the accurate diagnosis of RA. 

PMID- 26879424
TI  - Increasing conclusiveness of clinical breath analysis by improved baseline
      correction of multi capillary column - ion mobility spectrometry (MCC-IMS) data.
AB  - Current challenges of clinical breath analysis include large data size and non
      clinically relevant variations observed in exhaled breath measurements, which
      should be urgently addressed with competent scientific data tools. In this study,
      three different baseline correction methods are evaluated within a previously
      developed data size reduction strategy for multi capillary column - ion mobility
      spectrometry (MCC-IMS) datasets. Introduced for the first time in breath data
      analysis, the Top-hat method is presented as the optimum baseline correction
      method. A refined data size reduction strategy is employed in the analysis of a
      large breathomic dataset on a healthy and respiratory disease population. New
      insights into MCC-IMS spectra differences associated with respiratory diseases
      are provided, demonstrating the additional value of the refined data analysis
      strategy in clinical breath analysis. 

PMID- 26879425
TI  - [Consensus of Chinese experts on detection of related drive genes in target
      therapy of non-small cell lung cancer].

PMID- 26879426
TI  - [Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with aberrant expression of CD56: a
      clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features and significance of aberrant
      CD56 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The clinical
      and pathologic profiles of 10 cases of DLBCL with aberrant expression of CD56
      were investigated. Immunohistochemical staining, in-situ hybridization for
      Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA and gene rearrangement for IgH and Igkappa were
      carried out. RESULTS: There were 6 male and 4 female patients. The medium age of
      patients was 46 years. All of them presented with extranodal lymphoma
      involvement, with gastrointestinal tract being the commonest site (5/10).
      Histologic examination showed that most of the atypical lymphoid cells were
      centroblast-like and demonstrated a diffuse growth pattern. Apoptosis and
      necrosis were identified in some cases. Immunohistochemical study showed that the
      tumor cells were positive for CD20 or CD79alpha and aberrantly expressed CD56.
      Five cases had the GCB phenotype while the remaining cases had the non-GCB
      phenotype, according to Hans classification. Bcl-6 was positive in most cases
      (9/10). All cases showed a high proliferation index by Ki-67. The tumor cells
      were negative for CD3epsilon, CD138 and granzyme B. In-situ hybridization for
      Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA was performed in 7 cases and none of them showed
      positive signals. IgH gene rearranged bands were detected in 4 cases (4/6) and
      Igkappa was detected in 3 cases (3/6). Follow-up data were available in 8
      patients. Two patients died of disease progression within 5 to 13 months after
      diagnosis and the other 6 patients were alive 8 to 60 months after therapy.
      CONCLUSIONS: DLBCL with aberrant expression of CD56 is rare. Most of them present
      with extranodal involvement, show high frequency of bcl-6 expression and high
      proliferation index. The patients often have good response to chemotherapy.

PMID- 26879427
TI  - [Expression and significance of HGAL and LMO2 in follicular lymphoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of HGAL and LMO2 expression and
      compare with CD10 and bcl-6 in follicular lymphoma (FL). METHODS: 63 cases of FL
      were collected from Guangdong General Hospital. The expression of HGAL, LMO2,
      CD10 and bcl-6 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression
      rates of HGAL, LMO2, CD10 and bcl-6 were 98.4% (62/63), 82.5% (52/63), 82.5%
      (52/63) and 87.3% (55/63), respectively. The expression rate of HGAL was higher
      than those of LMO2, CD10 and bcl-6, but the differences were not significant
      (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in HGAL, LMO2 and bcl-6 expression
      among FL1, FL2 and FL3 cases. The CD10 expression rate of FL1-3A cases was
      significantly higher than that of FL3B cases(P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HGAL and LMO2,
      especially HGAL, can be used in FL particularly high grade FL as useful germinal
      center marker.

PMID- 26879428
TI  - [Clinicopathologic characteristics and immunophenotypes of histiocytic
      necrotizing lymphadenitis: an analysis of 84 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical manifestation, pathologic features and
      immunophenotype of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). METHODS: The
      clinicopathologic data of 84 patients with HNL from 2005 to 2014 were
      retrospectively studied. Immunohistochemical staining using EliVision method for
      CD20, PAX5, CD3, CD45RO, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD68, CD123, granzyme-B, TIA1 and MPO
      was carried out. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus RNA was performed
      on archival lymph node biopsy tissue. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical study showed
      that the lesional cells were predominantly histiocytes (CD68+), plasmacytoid
      dendritic cells (CD123+) and T lymphocytes (CD3+ and CD45RO+). Clusters of CD68
      positive cells with strong and diffuse MPO expression were identified. T
      lymphocytes with CD4 and CD8 positivity were noted. CD56+ natural killer cells
      and CD20+/PAX5 B cells were rare. Apoptosis-related markers, including TIA1 and
      granzyme B were expressed by T lymphocytes and histiocytes in lymph nodes of HNL.
      In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus RNA was positive in only 10.0% of
      the cases. CONCLUSIONS: HNL shows no specific clinical and laboratory findings.
      Recognition of the characteristic histopathologic changes in lymph node biopsy of
      HNL is the key to correct diagnosis. Immunohistochemical study using a panel of
      markers, including CD3, CD4, CD8, MPO, CD123, granzyme-B and TIA1, is helpful in
      the differential diagnosis of HNL.

PMID- 26879429
TI  - [Post-transplant kidney from C-III donation after cardiac death of children: a
      clinicopathologic study of 20 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and histopathologic features of post-transplant
      kidney biopsy tissues from pediatric C-III donors. METHODS: The clinical and
      pathologic features of 20 cases (22 case-times) of renal transplant biopsies from
      pediatric cadaveric donors were analyzed by light microscopy and
      immunohistochemistry according to the Banff system of working classification of
      renal allograft pathology. Biopsies were compared to those from adult C-III
      donors and adult cadaveric donors. RESULTS: Sixteen cases (72.7%) showed renal
      allograft drug toxicity damage by Tacrolimus, seven cases (31.8%) showed
      degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, four cases (18.2%)
      showed T cell-mediated acute rejection and six cases (27.3%) showed renal
      interstitial inflammation. There were two cases (9.1%) of renal dysplasia and one
      case (4.5%) of renal infarction. There was insufficient evidence for diagnosis of
      renal allograft nephropathy. Compared to post-transplant kidney from adult C-III
      donors, the proportion of drug toxicity damage was higher (P<0.05). Compared to
      post-transplant kidney from adult cadavers, the proportions of drug toxicity
      damage, degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells were higher
      (P<0.05) while the proportion of acute rejection was lower (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      The pathologic changes in the post-transplant kidneys from pediatric donors are
      different from those from adult donors. Optimal long-term outcome can be
      accomplished by effective treatment based on timely or procedural biopsy.

PMID- 26879430
TI  - [Diagnostic value of STAT6 immunohistochemistry in solitary fibrous
      tumor/meningeal hemangiopericytoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic role of STAT6 immunohistochemistry in
      solitary fibrous tumors (SFT)/meningeal hemangiopericytomas (HPC). METHOD:
      Evaluated the expression of STAT6, vimentin, CD34, EMA, PR, S-100, CD56, GFAP and
      Ki-67 in a cohort of 37 SFT/meningeal HPC, 30 meningiomas and 30 schwannomas by
      immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: All SFT/meningeal HPC demonstrated
      nuclear positivity for STAT6, and the proportion of positive tumor cells ranged
      from 60% to 95%, with no significant difference cases.Vimentin was strongly
      positive in all cases. CD34, EMA and PR positivity was found in 32 cases, 1 case
      and 4 cases, respectively.S-100 protein, CD56 and GFAP were negative; Ki-67
      labeling index was 1%-8%. However, the meningiomas and schwannomas were negative
      for STAT6. CONCLUSIONS: STAT6 is a relatively specific biomarker for
      SFT/meningeal HPC, and may be used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of
      SFT/meningeal HPC, especially for the atypical cases, and allows the precise
      pathologic diagnosis of SFT/meningeal HPC.

PMID- 26879431
TI  - [Tuberous sclerosis complex with refractory epilepsy: a clinicopathologic study
      of 14 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features of tuberous sclerosis complex
      (TSC). METHODS: The clinicopathologic data of the patients diagnosed as TSC with
      refractory epilepsy and resection of epileptic focus were retrospectively
      analyzed. RESULTS: Fourteen cases were included, the mean age was (15.8+/-12.9)
      years, with a male predominance (male to female ratio=10:4). Frontal lobe was the
      most common (13/14) site of involvement. MRI showed multiple patchy long T1 and
      long T2 signals. CT images showed multiple subependymal high density calcified
      nodules in nine cases. Histology showed mild to severe disruption of the cortical
      lamination, cortical and subcortical tubers with giant cells and/or dysmorphic
      neurons. The giant cells showed strong immunoreactivity for vimentin and nestin,
      while the dysmorphic neurons partially expressed MAP2 and NF. Vimentin also
      stained strongly the "reactive" astrocytes. Thirteen cases had follow-up
      information: Engel class I in six cases, Engel class II in six cases, and Engel
      class III in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of TSC relies on combined
      pathologic, clinical and neuroradiological features. Immunohistochemical staining
      can be helpful. Resection of epileptic focus is an effective method to treat
      refractory epilepsy in TSC.

PMID- 26879432
TI  - [Complete atrioventricular septal defect: a clinicopathologic study of 35 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the autopsy characteristics, pathologic type,
      malfomation and genetic characteristics of complete atrioventricular septal
      defect (CAVSD). METHODS: Thirty five cases of CAVSD were collected from Maternal
      and Child Hospital of Haidian District during Jan.2003 to Jan.2015. Autoptic
      material, clinical history and chromosome examination were reviewed. RESULTS:
      Among 35 cases of CAVSD between 18-38 gestational weeks, there were 26 cases with
      CAVSD A (74.3%, 26/35), 1 case with CAVSD B (2.8%, 1/35) and 8 cases with CAVSD C
      (22.8%, 8/35). Only CAVSD malformation was seen in 4 cases (11.4%, 4/35).
      Multiple malformations were seen in 31 cases (88.6%, 31/35). Combined
      malformations most frequently occurred in cardiovascular, respiratory and
      locomotor system. Among 15 cases with chromosome examination, chromosome
      aberrations was found in 13 cases (13/15) and trisomy-21 was found in 11 cases
      (11/15). CONCLUSIONS: CAVSD is a rare disease and CAVSD A is the most common
      type. CAVSD is usually combined with other malformations and chromosome
      aberrations.

PMID- 26879433
TI  - [AML1 gene signal patterns and clinical significance in 337 patients with B-cell
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

PMID- 26879434
TI  - [Clinicopathologic analysis of cerebellar hemangioblastoma].

PMID- 26879435
TI  - [Ultrastructural characteristics of medulloblastoma].

PMID- 26879436
TI  - [Comparison of droplet digital PCR and IHC combined FISH in detection of breast
      carcinoma HER2 amplification].

PMID- 26879437
TI  - [Swelling of bilateral tonsils].

PMID- 26879438
TI  - [Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm presenting as myeloid leukemia:
      report of a case].

PMID- 26879439
TI  - [Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder: report of a case].

PMID- 26879440
TI  - [Primary perivascular epithelioid cell tumour of femoral: report of a case].

PMID- 26879441
TI  - [Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma demonstrating skin adnexal differentiation: report
      of a case].

PMID- 26879442
TI  - [Gastric cacinosarcoma: report of a case].

PMID- 26879443
TI  - [Rosette-forming epithelioid osteosarcoma in childhood: report of a case].

PMID- 26879444
TI  - [Advances in molecular dignostics and target therapy of lymphoma].

PMID- 26879445
TI  - [Research progress and prospect of CRISPR/Cas9 system].

PMID- 26879447
TI  - Determination of Electron Optical Properties for Aperture Zoom Lenses Using an
      Artificial Neural Network Method.
AB  - Multi-element electrostatic aperture lens systems are widely used to control
      electron or charged particle beams in many scientific instruments. By means of
      applied voltages, these lens systems can be operated for different purposes. In
      this context, numerous methods have been performed to calculate focal properties
      of these lenses. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) classification
      method is utilized to determine the focused/unfocused charged particle beam in
      the image point as a function of lens voltages for multi-element electrostatic
      aperture lenses. A data set for training and testing of ANN is taken from the
      SIMION 8.1 simulation program, which is a well known and proven accuracy program
      in charged particle optics. Mean squared error results of this study indicate
      that the ANN classification method provides notable performance characteristics
      for electrostatic aperture zoom lenses. 

PMID- 26879446
TI  - High melphalan exposure is associated with improved overall survival in myeloma
      patients receiving high dose melphalan and autologous transplantation.
AB  - AIM: High dose melphalan (HDM) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)
      retains a central role in the treatment of myeloma. The aim of this study was to
      determine whether HDM exposure (area under the concentration vs. time curve,
      AUC), is significantly associated with transplant outcomes. METHODS: Melphalan
      concentrations were measured in six to 11 plasma samples collected after HDM
      (median 192 mg m(-) (2) ) to determine melphalan AUC for a total of 114 patients.
      Binary logistic regression was used to assess whether melphalan AUC was
      associated with severe (>= grade 3) oral mucositis. Multivariate Cox regression
      was used to assess whether melphalan AUC was significantly associated with time
      to progression, progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). RESULTS:
      Melphalan AUC ranged from 4.9 to 24.6 mg l(-1)  h, median 12.84 mg l(-1) h.
      Melphalan AUC above the median was a risk factor for severe mucositis (HR 1.21,
      95% CI 1.06, 1.38, P = 0.004) but was also associated with significantly improved
      overall survival (OS) (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20, 0.81, P = 0.001), with an estimated
      median survival of 8.50 years vs. 5.38 years for high vs. low AUC groups.
      Multivariate analysis did not identify melphalan AUC as being significantly
      associated with time to progression or progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS:
      This large scale pharmacodynamic analysis of HDM demonstrates that high melphalan
      exposure is associated with improved survival, with an acceptable increase in
      transplant toxicity. These results suggest studies targeting a higher AUC are
      warranted in patients undergoing HDM and ASCT for myeloma.

PMID- 26879448
TI  - Congenital disorder of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis-
      The phenotype of two patients with novel mutations in the PIGN and PGAP2 genes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor deficiencies are a new
      subclass of congenital disorders of glycosylation. About 26 genes are involved in
      the GPI-anchor biosynthesis and remodeling pathway, of which mutations in
      thirteen have been reported to date as causative of a diverse spectrum of
      intellectual disabilities. Since the clinical phenotype of these disorders varies
      and the number of described individuals is limited, we present new patients with
      inherited GPI-anchor deficiency (IGD) caused by mutations in the PGAP2 and PIGN
      genes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The first girl presented with profound psychomotor
      retardation, low birth parameters, and chest deformities already existing in
      neonatal period. The disease course was slowly progressive with severe hypotonia,
      chronic fever, and respiration insufficiency at the age of 6. The second girl
      showed profound psychomotor retardation, marked hypotonia, and high birth weight
      (97 centile). Dysmorphy was mild or absent in both girls. Whole exome sequencing
      revealed novel variants in the genes PGAP2 (c.2T>G and c.221G>A) and PIGN
      (c.790G>A and c.932T>G). Impaired GPI binding were was subsequently uncovered,
      although the hyperactivity of alkaline phosphatase (a GPI-anchored protein)
      occurred only in first case. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results we can conclude
      that: 1. GPI-anchor biosynthesis disorders may represent a relatively frequent
      and overlooked metabolic defect; 2. The utility of GPI binding assessment as a
      screening test for this group of rare diseases requires further studies.

PMID- 26879449
TI  - The roles of the hybrid cluster protein, Hcp and its reductase, Hcr, in high
      affinity nitric oxide reduction that protects anaerobic cultures of Escherichia
      coli against nitrosative stress.
AB  - The hybrid cluster protein, Hcp, contains a 4Fe-2S-2O iron-sulfur-oxygen cluster
      that is currently considered to be unique in biology. It protects various
      bacteria from nitrosative stress, but the mechanism is unknown. We demonstrate
      that the Escherichia coli Hcp is a high affinity nitric oxide (NO) reductase that
      is the major enzyme for reducing NO stoichiometrically to N2 O under
      physiologically relevant conditions. Deletion of hcp results in extreme
      sensitivity to NO during anaerobic growth and inactivation of the iron-sulfur
      proteins, aconitase and fumarase, by accumulated cytoplasmic NO. Site directed
      mutagenesis revealed an essential role in NO reduction for the conserved
      glutamate 492 that coordinates the hybrid cluster. The second gene of the hcp-hcr
      operon encodes an NADH-dependent reductase, Hcr. Tight interaction between Hcp
      and Hcr was demonstrated. Although Hcp and Hcr purified individually were
      inactive or when recombined, a co-purified preparation reduced NO in vitro with a
      Km for NO of 500 nM. In an hcr mutant, Hcp is reversibly inactivated by NO
      concentrations above 200 nM, indicating that Hcr protects Hcp from nitrosylation
      by its substrate, NO.

PMID- 26879451
TI  - Analysis of endogenous aldehydes in human urine by static headspace gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Endogenous aldehydes (EAs) generated during oxidative stress and cell processes
      are associated with many pathogenic and toxicogenic processes. The aim of this
      research was to develop a solvent-free and automated analytical method for the
      determination of EAs in human urine using a static headspace generator sampler
      coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). Twelve significant
      EAs used as markers of different biochemical and physiological processes, namely
      short- and medium-chain alkanals, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and dicarbonyl
      aldehydes have been selected as target analytes. Human urine samples (no dilution
      is required) were derivatized with O-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzylhydroxylamine in
      alkaline medium (hydrogen carbonate-carbonate buffer, pH 10.3). The HS-GC-MS
      method developed renders an efficient tool for the sensitive and precise
      determination of EAs in human urine with limits of detection from 1 to 15ng/L and
      relative standard deviations, (RSDs) from 6.0 to 7.9%. Average recoveries by
      enriching urine samples ranged between 92 and 95%. Aldehydes were readily
      determined at 0.005-50MUg/L levels in human urine from healthy subjects, smokers
      and diabetic adults. 

PMID- 26879450
TI  - Social Network and Mental Health Among Older Adults in Rural Uttar Pradesh,
      India: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - The rapid growth of the older population in India draws attention to the factors
      that contribute to their changing health realities. However, there has hardly
      been any study in India that has looked at the effects of specific social
      networks with children, relatives, friends and confidant on depression among
      older adults. The objective of the study is to investigate the association
      between social network and depression among the rural elderly. The study
      population comprised over 630 older adults (aged 60 and above) from the rural
      areas of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. We adopted Berkman's theoretical model of the
      impact of social relations on depression among the elderly in the Indian context.
      Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrated that the four
      specific social network types: children, relatives, friends and confidant were
      tenable. The results showed that a better social network with
      'friends/neighbours' was protective against depression among the rural elderly.
      This clearly points to the need for more social network centres for older adults,
      so that they can interact with friends within the community or between
      communities and participate in group activities. 

PMID- 26879452
TI  - Stable isotope dilution ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry quantitative profiling of tryptophan-related neuroactive substances
      in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid.
AB  - Many compounds related to L-tryptophan (L-TRP) have interesting biological or
      pharmacological activity, and their abnormal neurotransmission seems to be linked
      to a wide range of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. A high-throughput
      method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography connected to
      electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed for the
      quantitative analysis of L-TRP and 16 of its metabolites in human serum and
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), representing both major and minor routes of L-TRP
      catabolism. The combination of a fast LC gradient with selective tandem mass
      spectrometry enabled accurate analysis of almost 100 samples in 24h. The standard
      isotope dilution method was used for quantitative determination. The method's
      lower limits of quantification for serum and cerebrospinal fluid ranged from 0.05
      to 15nmol/L and 0.3 to 45nmol/L, respectively. Analytical recoveries ranged from
      10.4 to 218.1% for serum and 22.1 to 370.0% for CSF. The method's accuracy ranged
      from 82.4 to 128.5% for serum matrix and 90.7 to 127.7% for CSF matrix. All intra
      and inter-day coefficients of variation were below 15%. These results
      demonstrate that the new method is capable of quantifying endogenous serum and
      CSF levels of a heterogeneous group of compounds spanning a wide range of
      concentrations. The method was used to determine the physiological levels of
      target analytes in serum and CSF samples from 18 individuals, demonstrating its
      reliability and potential usefulness in large-scale epidemiological studies. 

PMID- 26879453
TI  - Application of a quantitative structure retention relationship approach for the
      prediction of the two-dimensional gas chromatography retention times of
      polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycle compounds.
AB  - Information on the sulfur classes present in petroleum is a key factor in
      determining the value of refined products and processing behavior in the
      refinery. A large part of the sulfur present is included in polycyclic aromatic
      sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), which in turn are difficult to desulfurize.
      Furthermore, some PASHs are potentially more mutagenic and carcinogenic than
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs. All of this calls for improved methods
      for the identification and quantification of individual sulfur species. Recent
      advances in analytical techniques such as comprehensive two-dimensional gas
      chromatography (GC*GC) have enabled the identification of many individual sulfur
      species. However, full identification of individual components, particularly in
      virgin oil fractions, is still out of reach as standards for numerous compounds
      are unavailable. In this work, a method for accurately predicting retention times
      in GC*GC using a QSRR (quantitative structure retention relationship) method was
      very helpful for the identification of individual sulfur compounds. Retention
      times for 89 saturated, aromatic, and polyaromatic sulfur-containing heterocyclic
      compounds were determined using two-dimensional gas chromatography. These
      retention data were correlated with molecular descriptors generated with CODESSA
      software. Two independent QSRR relationships were derived for the primary as well
      as the secondary retention characteristics. The predictive ability of the
      relationships was tested by using both independent sets of compounds and a cross
      validation technique. When the corresponding chemical standards are unavailable,
      the equations developed for predicting retention times can be used to identify
      unknown chromatographic peaks by matching their retention times with those of
      sulfur compounds of known molecular structure. 

PMID- 26879454
TI  - Retentivity, selectivity and thermodynamic behavior of polycyclic aromatic
      hydrocarbons on charge-transfer and hypercrosslinked stationary phases under
      conditions of normal phase high performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - Charge-transfer and hypercrosslinked polystyrene phases offer retention and
      separation for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and thus have potential
      for petroleum analysis. The size, shape and planarity selectivity for PAH
      standards on charge-transfer (DNAP column) and hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HC
      Tol and 5HGN columns) phases are different under normal phase liquid
      chromatography (NPLC). The HC-Tol column behaves like a conventional NPLC column
      with low retention of PAHs. Retention of PAHs on the DNAP and 5HGN are strong and
      increases with the number of aromatic rings. The main retention mechanism is
      through pi-pi interactions and dipole-induced dipole interaction. Thermodynamics
      indicates that the retention mechanism of PAHs remains unchanged over the
      temperature range 20-60 degrees C. In addition, on either DNAP or 5HGN column,
      both linear and bent PAHs are retained through the same mechanism. But DNAP
      possesses smaller pi-pi interaction and higher planarity selectivity than 5HGN
      for PAHs. This is suggestive that DNAP interacts with PAHs through a disordered
      phase arrangement, while 5HGN behaves as an ordered adsorption phase. 

PMID- 26879455
TI  - Development of a modified acetonitrile-based extraction procedure followed by
      ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the
      analysis of psychiatric drugs in sediments.
AB  - An analytical method based on a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged
      and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure followed by ultra-high performance
      liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed for
      the analysis of psychiatric drugs in sediments. An optimized approach was applied
      in sample preparation by using basic acetonitrile as extraction solvent.
      Extraction was followed by a clean-up using dispersive solid phase extraction
      (dSPE) to remove matrix interfering compounds. The analytical method was
      validated in terms of sensitivity, linearity, recovery, intra- and inter-day
      precisions and method detection and quantification limits. Under optimized
      conditions, limits of detection ranged from 0.01ngg(-1) to 2.08ngg(-1); and
      recoveries between 47 and 110% with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 5%.
      The developed methodology was applied to sediments of two Portuguese rivers
      (Douro and Lima rivers) and nine out of eleven psychiatric drugs were detected in
      sediments at concentrations up to 26.4ngg(-1) (dry weight). To the best of our
      knowledge, it was the first time that the human metabolites norfluoxetine and
      norsertraline were detected in river sediments at levels of few nanograms per
      gram. 

PMID- 26879456
TI  - Microfluidic chip for stacking, separation and extraction of multiple DNA
      fragments.
AB  - A disposable integrated microfluidic device was developed for rapid sample
      stacking, separation and extraction of multiple DNA fragments from a relatively
      large amount of sample. Isotachophoresis hyphenated gel electrophoresis (ITP-GE)
      was used to pre-concentrate and separate DNA fragments, followed by extraction of
      pure DNA fragments with electroelution on-chip. DNA fragments of 200bp, 500bp and
      1kbp were successfully separated and collected in the extraction chamber within
      25min. The extraction efficiency obtained from the chip was 49.9%, 52.1% and
      53.7% for 200bp, 500bp and 1kbp DNA fragments, respectively. The extracted DNA
      fragments exhibited compatibility with downstream enzymatic reactions, for
      example PCR. The chip was also used to extract DNA fragments with specific size
      range from sheared genomic DNA and demonstrated similar performance to that using
      traditional gel cutting method. The whole assay can finish in 32min, 6 times
      faster than traditional method. 

PMID- 26879457
TI  - Application of spectral deconvolution and inverse mechanistic modelling as a tool
      for root cause investigation in protein chromatography.
AB  - In chromatographic protein purification, process variations, aging of columns, or
      processing errors can lead to deviations of the expected elution behavior of
      product and contaminants and can result in a decreased pool purity or yield. A
      different elution behavior of all or several involved species leads to a
      deviating chromatogram. The causes for deviations are however hard to identify by
      visual inspection and complicate the correction of a problem in the next cycle or
      batch. To overcome this issue, a tool for root cause investigation in protein
      chromatography was developed. The tool combines a spectral deconvolution with
      inverse mechanistic modelling. Mid-UV spectral data and Partial Least Squares
      Regression were first applied to deconvolute peaks to obtain the individual
      elution profiles of co-eluting proteins. The individual elution profiles were
      subsequently used to identify errors in process parameters by curve fitting to a
      mechanistic chromatography model. The functionality of the tool for root cause
      investigation was successfully demonstrated in a model protein study with
      lysozyme, cytochrome c, and ribonuclease A. Deviating chromatograms were
      generated by deliberately caused errors in the process parameters flow rate and
      sodium-ion concentration in loading and elution buffer according to a design of
      experiments. The actual values of the three process parameters and, thus, the
      causes of the deviations were estimated with errors of less than 4.4%.
      Consequently, the established tool for root cause investigation is a valuable
      approach to rapidly identify process variations, aging of columns, or processing
      errors. This might help to minimize batch rejections or contribute to an
      increased productivity. 

PMID- 26879458
TI  - The Cost Effectiveness of Nalmefene for Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in
      Alcohol-Dependent Patients with High or Very High Drinking-Risk Levels from a UK
      Societal Perspective.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate costs and health outcomes of nalmefene plus psychosocial
      support, compared with psychosocial intervention alone, for reducing alcohol
      consumption in alcohol-dependent patients, specifically focusing on societal
      costs related to productivity losses and crime. METHODS: A Markov model was
      constructed to model costs and health outcomes of the treatments over 5 years.
      Analyses were conducted for nalmefene's licensed population: adults with both
      alcohol dependence and high or very high drinking-risk levels (DRLs) who do not
      require immediate detoxification and who have high or very high DRLs after
      initial assessment. The main outcome measure was cost per quality-adjusted life
      year (QALY) gained as assessed from a UK societal perspective. Alcohol
      attributable productivity loss, crime and health events occurring at different
      levels of alcohol consumption were taken from published risk-relation studies.
      Health-related and societal costs were drawn from public data and the literature.
      Data on the treatment effect, as well as baseline characteristics of the modelled
      population and utilities, came from three pivotal phase 3 trials of nalmefene.
      RESULTS: Nalmefene plus psychosocial support was dominant compared with
      psychosocial intervention alone, resulting in QALYs gained and reduced societal
      costs. Sensitivity analyses showed that this conclusion was robust. Nalmefene
      plus psychosocial support led to per-patient reduced costs of L3324 and L2483,
      due to reduced productivity losses and crime events, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Nalmefene is cost effective from a UK societal perspective, resulting in greater
      QALY gains and lower costs compared with psychosocial support alone. Nalmefene
      demonstrates considerable public benefits by reducing alcohol-attributable
      productivity losses and crime events in adults with both alcohol dependence and
      high or very high DRLs who do not require immediate detoxification and who have
      high or very high DRLs after initial assessment.

PMID- 26879460
TI  - Meaning of Illness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2
      Diabetes.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between
      meaning of illness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with type
      2 diabetes. METHODS: The sample population was recruited from primary care
      clinics in the southeastern United States. The meaning of illness was assessed by
      a validated questionnaire with 5 subscales. The primary outcomes were
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, assessed by A1C, systolic and
      diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C). Multivariate linear regression models investigated
      associations between the clinical outcomes and the 5 MIQ factors, controlling for
      possible confounders. RESULTS: The sample comprised 302 black and white
      participants of whom more than half were elderly (65+ years) and the vast
      majority were male (98%). Systolic blood pressure was positively associated with
      non-anticipated vulnerability. Diastolic blood pressure was negatively associated
      with degree of stress/change in commitments and positively associated with
      challenge/motivation/hope and non-anticipated vulnerability. Low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly and negatively associated with degree
      of stress/change in commitments. CONCLUSIONS: Meaning of illness had a
      significant effect on measured outcomes of CVD risk. The specific factor included
      in the overarching concept of meaning of illness differed in its influence, with
      more positive views of stress/commitments associated with lower blood pressure
      and LDL but more positive views of the challenge/hope/motivation and negative
      views of non-anticipated vulnerability associated with diabetes associated with
      higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

PMID- 26879459
TI  - Effectiveness of Program Modification Strategies of the Diabetes Prevention
      Program: A Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to review the effectiveness of commonly
      used program modifications classified under cultural adaptation and program
      translational strategies for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in terms of
      risk reduction for type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Authors extracted data about weight,
      body mass index (BMI), and 5 areas of program modification strategies from 28
      interventions and analyzed them in SPSS software. Bivariate analyses examined the
      odds of achieving a significant reduction in outcomes by each modification of the
      DPP and by presence of a maintenance component, as well as the mean reduction of
      weight and BMI by more versus fewer modifications and by the presence of a
      maintenance component. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant
      differences in achieving a significant reduction in weight or BMI by any type of
      modification or by the presence of a maintenance component. Programs with fewer
      modifications reported significantly greater reduction in mean weight at 12
      months postintervention and the furthest time point extracted. Programs with a
      maintenance component achieved significantly greater reduction in mean weight
      measured at the furthest time point extracted. CONCLUSIONS: The DPP appears to be
      programmatically robust to a variety of cultural adaptation and translational
      strategies. Potentially cost-saving modifications do not seem to reduce
      effectiveness, which should encourage implementation on a broader scale. Program
      planners should, however, make efforts to include maintenance components because
      they appear to significantly reduce risk for acquiring type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26879461
TI  - Patterned growth of luminescent metal-organic framework films: a versatile
      electrochemically-assisted microwave deposition method.
AB  - Electrochemically-assisted microwave deposition technology, a facile method for
      the fabrication of luminescent metal-organic framework (LMOF) films, is presented
      herein. This method was further developed into a versatile method for preparing
      patterned LMOF films. The strategy based on this method can spatially locate
      microcrystals of MOFs on a surface, which provides great promise in anti
      counterfeiting barcode applications. 

PMID- 26879462
TI  - How well can in vitro data predict in vivo effects of chemicals? Rodent
      carcinogenicity as a case study.
AB  - A recent research article by the National Center for Computational Toxicology
      (NCCT) (Kleinstreuer et al., 2013), indicated that high throughput screening
      (HTS) data from assays linked to hallmarks and presumed pathways of
      carcinogenesis could be used to predict classification of pesticides as either
      (a) possible, probable or likely rodent carcinogens; or (b) not likely
      carcinogens or evidence of non-carcinogenicity. Using independently developed
      software to validate the computational results, we replicated the majority of the
      results reported. We also found that the prediction model correlating cancer
      pathway bioactivity scores with in vivo carcinogenic effects in rodents was not
      robust. A change of classification of a single chemical in the test set was
      capable of changing the overall study conclusion about the statistical
      significance of the correlation. Furthermore, in the subset of pesticide
      compounds used in model validation, the accuracy of prediction was no better than
      chance for about three quarters of the chemicals (those with fewer than 7
      positive outcomes in HTS assays representing the 11 histopathological endpoints
      used in model development), suggesting that the prediction model was not adequate
      to predict cancer hazard for most of these chemicals. Although the utility of the
      model for humans is also unclear because a number of the rodent responses modeled
      (e.g., mouse liver tumors, rat thyroid tumors, rat testicular tumors, etc.) are
      not considered biologically relevant to human responses, the data examined imply
      the need for further research with HTS assays and improved models, which might
      help to predict classifications of in vivo carcinogenic responses in rodents for
      the pesticide considered, and thus reduce the need for testing in laboratory
      animals. 

PMID- 26879464
TI  - Thermal biology of the sub-polar-temperate estuarine crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus
      (Crustacea: Decapoda: Varunidae).
AB  - Optimum temperatures can be measured through aerobic scope, preferred
      temperatures or growth. A complete thermal window, including optimum, transition
      (Pejus) and critical temperatures (CT), can be described if preferred
      temperatures and CT are defined. The crustacean Hemigrapsus crenulatus was used
      as a model species to evaluate the effect of acclimation temperature on: (i)
      thermal preference and width of thermal window, (ii) respiratory metabolism, and
      (iii) haemolymph proteins. Dependant on acclimation temperature, preferred
      temperature was between 11.8 degrees C and 25.2 degrees C while CT was found
      between a minimum of 2.7 degrees C (CTmin) and a maximum of 35.9 degrees C
      (CTmax). These data and data from tropical and temperate crustaceans were
      compared to examine the association between environmental temperature and thermal
      tolerance. Temperate species have a CTmax limit around 35 degrees C that
      corresponded with the low CTmax limit of tropical species (34-36 degrees C).
      Tropical species showed a CTmin limit around 9 degrees C similar to the maximum
      CTmin of temperate species (5-6 degrees C). The maximum CTmin of deep sea species
      that occur in cold environments (2.5 degrees C) matched the low CTmin values (3.2
      degrees C) of temperate species. Results also indicate that the energy required
      to activate the enzyme complex (Ei) involved in respiratory metabolism of
      ectotherms changes along the latitudinal gradient of temperature. 

PMID- 26879463
TI  - Extending (Q)SARs to incorporate proprietary knowledge for regulatory purposes: A
      case study using aromatic amine mutagenicity.
AB  - Statistical-based and expert rule-based models built using public domain
      mutagenicity knowledge and data are routinely used for computational (Q)SAR
      assessments of pharmaceutical impurities in line with the approach recommended in
      the ICH M7 guideline. Knowledge from proprietary corporate mutagenicity databases
      could be used to increase the predictive performance for selected chemical
      classes as well as expand the applicability domain of these (Q)SAR models. This
      paper outlines a mechanism for sharing knowledge without the release of
      proprietary data. Primary aromatic amine mutagenicity was selected as a case
      study because this chemical class is often encountered in pharmaceutical impurity
      analysis and mutagenicity of aromatic amines is currently difficult to predict.
      As part of this analysis, a series of aromatic amine substructures were defined
      and the number of mutagenic and non-mutagenic examples for each chemical
      substructure calculated across a series of public and proprietary mutagenicity
      databases. This information was pooled across all sources to identify structural
      classes that activate or deactivate aromatic amine mutagenicity. This structure
      activity knowledge, in combination with newly released primary aromatic amine
      data, was incorporated into Leadscope's expert rule-based and statistical-based
      (Q)SAR models where increased predictive performance was demonstrated. 

PMID- 26879465
TI  - Cdk4 functions in multiple cell types to control Drosophila intestinal stem cell
      proliferation and differentiation.
AB  - The proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and differentiation of
      enteroblasts to form mature enteroendocrine cells and enterocytes in the
      Drosophila intestinal epithelium must be tightly regulated to maintain
      homeostasis. We show that genetic modulation of CyclinD/Cdk4 activity or mTOR
      dependent signalling cell-autonomously regulates enterocyte growth, which
      influences ISC proliferation and enteroblast differentiation. Increased
      enterocyte growth results in higher numbers of ISCs and defective enterocyte
      growth reduces ISC abundance and proliferation in the midgut. Adult midguts
      deficient for Cdk4 show severe disruption of intestinal homeostasis characterised
      by decreased ISC self-renewal, enteroblast differentiation defects and low
      enteroendocrine cell and enterocyte numbers. The ISC/enteroblast phenotypes
      result from a combination of cell autonomous and non-autonomous requirements for
      Cdk4 function. One non-autonomous consequence of Cdk4-dependent deficient
      enterocyte growth is high expression of Delta in ISCs and Delta retention in
      enteroblasts. We postulate that aberrant activation of the Delta-Notch pathway is
      a possible partial cause of lost ISC stemness. These results support the idea
      that enterocytes contribute to a putative stem cell niche that maintains
      intestinal homeostasis in the Drosophila anterior midgut. 

PMID- 26879466
TI  - Engrailed 1 shapes the dopaminergic and serotonergic landscape through proper
      isthmic organizer maintenance and function.
AB  - The isthmic organizer (IsO) is a signaling center that specifies the correct and
      distinct embryonic development of the dopaminergic midbrain and serotonergic
      hindbrain. The IsO is a linear boundary between the two brain regions, emerging
      at around embryonic day 7-8 of murine embryonic development, that shapes its
      surroundings through the expression of instructive signals such as Wnt and growth
      factors. Homeobox transcription factor engrailed 1 (En1) is present in midbrain
      and rostral hindbrain (i.e. rhombomere 1, R1). Its expression spans the IsO, and
      it is known to be an important survival factor for both dopaminergic and
      serotonergic neurons. Erroneous composition of dopaminergic neurons in the
      midbrain or serotonergic neurons in the hindbrain is associated with severe
      pathologies such as Parkinson's disease, depression or autism. Here we
      investigated the role of En1 in early mid-hindbrain development, using multiple
      En1-ablated mouse models as well as lineage-tracing techniques, and observed the
      appearance of ectopic dopaminergic neurons, indistinguishable from midbrain
      dopaminergic neurons based on molecular profile and intrinsic
      electrophysiological properties. We propose that this change is the direct result
      of a caudal relocation of the IsO as represented by ectopic presence of Fgf8,
      Otx2, Wnt1 and canonical Wnt-signalling. Our work suggests a newly-discovered
      role for En1: the repression of Otx2, Wnt1 and canonical Wnt-signaling in R1.
      Overall, our results suggest that En1 is essential for proper IsO maintenance and
      function. 

PMID- 26879468
TI  - Low temperature adaptation and the effects of cryoprotectants on mesorhizobia
      strains.
AB  - In this study, the tolerance of Mesorhizobium sp. ACMP18, Mesorhizobium sp.
      USDA3350, and Mesorhizobium temperatum LMG23931 strains, to cold and freezing
      were investigated. The ability to withstand freezing at -20  degrees C and -70 
      degrees C for 24 months was different among the studied strains and depended on
      the cryoprotectant used. The survivability of mesorhizobial strains at -20 
      degrees C and -70  degrees C was significantly improved by some cryoprotectans
      (glycerol and sucrose/peptone). It is worth noting that the greatest resistance
      to freezing was detected when stress treatments were performed in glycerol as a
      cryoprotectant. Using PCR analysis, cspA genes were identified in the studied
      strains. Their nucleotide sequences were most similar to the sequences of the
      corresponding genes of the Mesorhizobium species. The expression of the cspA gene
      in the studied bacteria was analyzed using the RT-PCR technique. The fatty acid
      composition of the mesorhizobia was determined at 5, 10, 15, and 28  degrees C.
      It was noticed that growth temperature significantly affected the fatty acid
      composition and the amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, especially that of cis
      vaccenic acid (18:1omega(11)), increased markedly in bacterial cells cultivated
      at 5, 10, and 15  degrees C.

PMID- 26879469
TI  - Computational Study of Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by Al(III)
      Bis(imino)pyridine.
AB  - The mechanism of formic acid dehydrogenation catalyzed by the bis(imino)pyridine
      ligated aluminum hydride complex (PDI(2-))Al(THF)H (PDI=bis(imino)pyridine) was
      studied by density functional theory calculations. The overall transformation is
      composed of two stages: catalyst activation and the catalytic cycle. The catalyst
      activation begins with O-H bond cleavage of HCOOH promoted by aluminum-ligand
      cooperation, followed by HCOOH-assisted Al-H bond cleavage, and protonation of
      the imine carbon atom of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand. The resultant doubly
      protonated complex ((H,H) PDI)Al(OOCH)3 is the active catalyst for formic acid
      dehydrogenation. Given this, the catalytic cycle includes beta-hydride
      elimination of ((H,H) PDI)Al(OOCH)3 to produce CO2, and the formed ((H,H)
      PDI)Al(OOCH)2 H mediates HCOOH to release H2.

PMID- 26879467
TI  - Outcomes of chronic frontal sinusitis treated with ethmoidectomy: a prospective
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In medically refractory chronic frontal sinusitis, ethmoidectomy
      without instrumentation of the frontal ostium may resolve frontal disease. Our
      aim was to determine the efficacy of ethmoidectomy alone for the treatment of
      chronic frontal sinusitis. METHODS: Adults with chronic rhinosinusitis
      prospectively enrolled in a multicenter study who demonstrated frontal sinusitis
      on computed tomography were divided into 2 groups: (1) endoscopic sinus surgery
      (ESS) incorporating ethmoidectomy, but excluding frontal sinusotomy; and (2) ESS
      incorporating frontal sinusotomy. The primary outcome was improvement in 22-item
      Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores. Secondary outcomes included endoscopic
      scores and use of corticosteroids and antibiotics. RESULTS: A total of 196 cases
      undergoing frontal sinusotomy and 30 cases treated with ethmoidectomy without
      frontal sinusotomy were analyzed and were comparable demographically. The
      prevalence of nasal polyps, previous ESS, asthma, and aspirin intolerance was
      more common in the frontal sinusotomy group (p < 0.050). Preoperative endoscopy
      and computed tomography scores were higher in the frontal sinusotomy group (p <=
      0.001). Postoperatively, both groups showed comparable SNOT-22 scores with worse
      endoscopy scores in the frontal sinusotomy group (p = 0.038). Postoperative
      improvement in SNOT-22 total and subdomain scores was comparable between groups.
      Nasal endoscopy scores improved to a greater degree in the frontal sinusotomy
      group (p = 0.023). Duration of postoperative topical steroid use was higher in
      the frontal sinusotomy group (p = 0.007). Revision surgery was needed in 2.6% of
      frontal sinusotomy patients and 0% of patients without frontal sinusotomy.
      CONCLUSION: The treatment of chronic frontal sinusitis through ethmoidectomy is a
      potential alternative to frontal sinusotomy achieving similar quality of life
      (QOL) improvements in patients manifesting less severe sinus disease.

PMID- 26879470
TI  - Mechanism and rate constants of the Cdc42 GTPase binding with intrinsically
      disordered effectors.
AB  - Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are often involved in signaling and
      regulatory functions, through binding to cellular targets. Many IDPs undergo
      disorder-to-order transitions upon binding. Both the binding mechanisms and the
      magnitudes of the binding rate constants can have functional importance.
      Previously we have found that the coupled binding and folding of any IDP
      generally follows a sequential mechanism that we term dock-and-coalesce, whereby
      one segment of the IDP first docks to its subsite on the target surface and the
      remaining segments subsequently coalesce around their respective subsites. Here
      we applied our TransComp method within the framework of the dock-and-coalesce
      mechanism to dissect the binding kinetics of two Rho-family GTPases, Cdc42 and
      TC10, with two intrinsically disordered effectors, WASP and Pak1. TransComp
      calculations identified the basic regions preceding the GTPase binding domains
      (GBDs) of the effectors as the docking segment. For Cdc42 binding with both WASP
      and Pak1, the calculated docking rate constants are close to the observed overall
      binding rate constants, suggesting that basic-region docking is the rate-limiting
      step and subsequent conformational coalescence of the GBDs on the Cdc42 surface
      is fast. The possibility that conformational coalescence of the WASP GBD on the
      TC10 surface is slow warrants further experimental investigation. The account for
      the differences in binding rate constants among the three GTPase-effector systems
      and mutational effects therein yields deep physical and mechanistic insight into
      the binding processes. Our approach may guide the selection of mutations that
      lead to redesigned binding pathways.

PMID- 26879472
TI  - When can we be sure an intervention is cost-effective?

PMID- 26879471
TI  - Tuning Charge Transfer in Ion-Surface Collisions at Hyperthermal Energies.
AB  - Charge exchange in ion-surface collisions may be influenced by surface adsorbates
      to alter the charge state of the scattered projectiles. We show here that the
      positive-ion yield, observed during ion scattering on metal surfaces at low
      incident energies, is greatly enhanced by adsorbing electronegative species onto
      the surface. Specifically, when beams of N(+) and O(+) ions are scattered off of
      clean Au surfaces at hyperthermal energies, no positive ions are observed
      exiting. Partial adsorption of F atoms on the Au surface, however, leads to the
      appearance of positively charged primary ions scattering off of Au, a direct
      result of the increase in the Au work function. The inelastic energy losses for
      positive-ion exits are slightly larger than the corresponding ionization energies
      of the respective N and O atoms, which suggest that the detected positive ions
      are formed by surface reionization during the hard collision event.

PMID- 26879473
TI  - Highly Unsaturated Platinum and Palladium Carbenes PtC3 and PdC3 Isolated and
      Characterized in the Gas Phase.
AB  - Carbenes of platinum and palladium, PtC3 and PdC3 , were generated in the gas
      phase through laser vaporization of a metal target in the presence of a low
      concentration of a hydrocarbon precursor undergoing supersonic expansion.
      Rotational spectroscopy and ab initio calculations confirm that both molecules
      are linear. The geometry of PtC3 was accurately determined by fitting to the
      experimental moments of inertia of twenty-six isotopologues. The results are
      consistent with the proposal of an autogenic isolobal relationship between O,
      Au(+) , and Pt atoms. 

PMID- 26879474
TI  - Prospective evaluation of Peristeen(r) transanal irrigation system with the
      validated neurogenic bowel dysfunction score sheet in the pediatric population.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the ability of Peristeen(r) transanal irrigation system to
      reduce symptoms of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) in patients using the
      validated neurogenic bowel dysfunction scoring system for the pediatric
      population. METHODS: Patients 3-21 years with NBD whose current bowel program was
      unsuccessful were given the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBoDS) score sheet
      before initiating Peristeen(r), and at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months after. All
      patients were started on Peristeen(r) with tap water (20 ml/kg) per daily
      irrigation. Mean and paired t-tests were completed. RESULTS: 24 patients were
      enrolled and had follow-up. Mean age was 10.5 years (range 3-21 years), 25%, 50%,
      25% had thoracic, lumbar and sacral level lesions respectively. Mean NBoDS score
      at initiation of Peristeen(r) was 20.21 (+/-5.56), n = 24. The mean score after
      two weeks of use was 12.75 (+/-4.40), n = 24. There was a statistically
      significant decrease of 7.46 (95%CI, 5.07-9.84) points, t(23) = 6.47, P < 0.0005
      after two weeks. There was a statistically significant decrease in their scores
      from initiation to the 2 month time period of 7.00 (95%CI, 2.18-11.82) points,
      t(9) = 3.29, P = 0.009. By the sixth month of daily use the mean NBoDS score was
      9.67 (n = 12). This was an average decrease of 8.83 (95%CI, 5.39-12.28) points
      from initiation score, t(11) = 5.641, P < 0.005. CONCLUSION: The Peristeen(r)
      transanal irrigation system provides a significant reduction in NBoDS scores in
      pediatric patients with NBD. Peristeen(r) should be considered when other
      conservative bowel management options have been unsuccessful. Neurourol.
      Urodynam. 36:632-635, 2017. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879475
TI  - Update and recent advances on the management of invasive and chronic pulmonary
      aspergillosis.

PMID- 26879476
TI  - Invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis in organ transplants--Focus on lung transplants.
AB  - Infections with filamentous fungi are common in transplant recipients. The risk
      for aspergillosis and other invasive pulmonary mycosis (IPM) is high in patients
      undergoing stem cell and lung transplantations. The mortality rates range from
      20% to 60% and depend on a number of risk factors. The typical manifestations of
      IPM are lung infiltrates, consolidations, and fungal tracheobronchitis. The most
      common infectious agent is Aspergillus fumigatus. Infections caused by non
      Aspergillus molds are more frequent for various reasons. The species distribution
      of non-Aspergillus molds varies in different locations. Furthermore, infections
      caused by Mucor and Penicillium are increasing, as are infections caused by
      species resistant to azoles and amphotericin B. Most centers use antifungal
      prophylaxis with inhaled amphotericin B or oral azoles. Early diagnosis and
      therapy is crucial. Reliable information on the local microbiological spectrum is
      a prerequisite for the effective treatment of molds with primary or secondary
      resistance to antimycotic drugs. 

PMID- 26879477
TI  - Recent advances in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
AB  - Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a slowly progressing pulmonary syndrome
      caused by Aspergillus spp. Specific knowledge regarding the disease entity,
      diagnosis method, and management is needed. This review focuses on the recent
      advances in our understanding of CPA. A new clinical disease entity of chronic
      progressive pulmonary aspergillosis consisting of chronic necrotizing pulmonary
      aspergillosis and chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis is proposed. Although
      newer antifungals are not available, evidence describing the treatment of CPA is
      accumulating. Longer administration of azoles is required for a better prognosis,
      but there is a risk of inducing azole resistance. Therapeutic drug monitoring and
      patient education are required. Establishing a drug-susceptibility test that can
      be performed in the general laboratory and the referral center are also
      important. Although the number of publications regarding CPA is growing, there
      are still many unanswered questions. Additional evidence and translational
      research regarding diagnosis, management, and drug resistance are urgently needed
      to improve the outcome of CPA. 

PMID- 26879478
TI  - Clinical characteristics of patients with Aspergillus species isolation from
      respiratory samples: Comparison of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and
      colonization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With advancements in anti-fungal drugs, it has become more important
      to correctly diagnose chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA); however, it is not
      easy to distinguish CPA from colonization when Aspergillus species are isolated
      from respiratory samples. The aim of the study was to clarify the particular
      clinical characteristics of patients with CPA vs. those with colonization.
      METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 110 patients with
      Aspergillus species isolation from respiratory samples, to analyze and compare
      the differences between CPA and colonization of the Aspergillus species. RESULTS:
      The median age of all analyzed was 71 years (range: 31-92 years); 64 were female
      (58%). The most frequently cultured Aspergillus species was Aspergillus fumigatus
      (48.3%), followed by A. niger (29.2%). Thirty patients (27.4%) were diagnosed
      with CPA, vs. 75 (68.2%) with colonization and 5 (4.5%) with allergic
      bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Compared with the colonization group, the CPA
      group included more males (CPA vs. colonization: 49.3% vs. 13.3%) and subjects
      with a low body mass index (18.45 kg/m2 vs. 21.09 kg/m2). As for the underlying
      pulmonary diseases, the patients with CPA showed a significantly higher
      prevalence of sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis (40% vs. 8%) and a history of
      thoracic surgery (43% vs. 13%) than those with colonization. Asthma was less
      frequent in the CPA group than in the colonization group (0% vs. 20%). We found
      no significantly important underlying extrapulmonary diseases. CONCLUSIONS:
      Patients with CPA display clinical characteristics distinct from those seen in
      subjects with colonization.

PMID- 26879479
TI  - Receptor for advanced glycation end products expressed on alveolar epithelial
      cells is the main target for hyperoxia-induced lung injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is abundantly
      expressed on alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and participates in innate immune
      responses such as apoptosis and inflammation. However, it is unclear whether RAGE
      mediated apoptosis of AECs is associated with hyperoxia-induced lung injury.
      METHODS: We used wild-type and RAGE-knockout C57BL6/J mice in this study. In
      addition, we developed bone marrow chimeric mouse models expressing RAGE on
      hematopoietic or non-hematopoietic cells, including lung parenchymal cells, and
      compared survival ratios and changes in the permeability of the alveolar
      capillary barrier after hyperoxia exposure. Further, we prepared single cell
      suspensions of lung cells and evaluated the apoptosis of AECs or microvascular
      endothelial cells (MVECs) by using a combination of antibodies and JC-1 dye. We
      also examined whether RAGE inhibition decreased hyperoxia-induced apoptosis of
      human lung epithelial cells in vitro. RESULTS: After hyperoxia exposure, mice
      expressing RAGE on lung cells showed lower survival rate and increased alveolar
      capillary permeability than mice expressing RAGE on hematopoietic cells. RAGE
      expressing AECs showed significantly higher apoptosis than RAGE-knockout AECs
      after in vivo hyperoxia exposure. The level of hyperoxia-induced apoptosis was
      not different in MVECs. However, RAGE-null lung epithelial cells showed lower
      apoptosis than RAGE-expressing cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: These results
      indicated that RAGE on AECs mainly contributed to hyperoxia-induced lung injury
      and alveolar-capillary barrier disruption.

PMID- 26879480
TI  - Cholesteryl palmitate crystals in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smears as a
      possible prognostic biomarker for chronic interstitial pneumonia: A preliminary
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We observed cholesterol-like crystals (Crystal X) in the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) smears of patients with diffuse pulmonary
      disease. We analyzed the clinical data of patients with and without crystals, and
      elucidated the structure of Crystal X and its concentration in the BALF. METHODS:
      Two hundred eighty-nine patients with diffuse pulmonary disease who underwent
      bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were analyzed. The relationships between the
      presence and number of Crystal X in BALF smears and clinical parameters were
      investigated. Furthermore, structure determination and quantitative analyses of
      the crystals were performed. RESULTS: Seventy-five (26.0%) patients had Crystal X
      in their BALF. The crystals were frequently observed in patients with chronic
      interstitial pneumonia (CIP, 60/160=35.3%). Patients with Crystal X exhibited
      significantly higher serum Kerbs von Lungren 6 antigen and surfactant protein-D
      levels (P<0.01) and lower percentage vital capacity (P<0.05) than patients
      without Crystal X. The number of crystals was significantly correlated with these
      parameters. The presence of crystals was also associated with a lower survival
      rate at 1 year after the BAL. The interfacial angles of the crystals were 126+/-2
      degrees  and 144+/-2 degrees , different from those of cholesterol monohydrate
      crystals. Infrared absorption spectrometry showed Crystal X was cholesteryl
      palmitate. Its concentration was significantly higher in BALF with crystals than
      in BALF without crystals (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Crystal X in the BALF of patients
      with diffuse pulmonary disease was identified as cholesteryl palmitate, which may
      be a useful prognostic biomarker for CIP.

PMID- 26879482
TI  - Bronchial occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots for massive hemoptysis in
      a patient with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection.
AB  - The safety of occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots (EWS) for the
      management of hemoptysis associated with chronic respiratory tract infection has
      not yet been established. A 57-year-old woman diagnosed as having pulmonary
      Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection presented to our hospital with
      hemoptysis. She underwent bronchoscopy for bronchial occlusion with EWS, which
      resulted in the resolution of hemoptysis. Subsequently, she underwent bronchial
      artery embolization and then EWS were removed. During placement of EWS, no
      worsening of infection was observed. After removal of EWS, there was no
      recurrence of hemoptysis. Bronchial occlusion with EWS for hemoptysis associated
      with pulmonary MAC infection can be performed safely. 

PMID- 26879481
TI  - Bronchoscopic palliation to treat endobronchial metastasis of the
      tracheobronchial tree.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endobronchial metastases (EBM) are rarely observed, but they are
      caused by a number of different tumors. Bronchoscopy is the main approach for
      both differential diagnosis and to maintain endoluminal palliation. In this
      study, consecutive EBM cases that had been diagnosed and treated were evaluated
      in a retrospective cohort. METHODS: In total, 18 pathologically verified patients
      with EBM originating from extrathoracic tumors who were referred to our
      interventional pulmonology unit with respiratory symptoms were retrospectively
      evaluated. Tumor type, metastasis location, treatment method and frequency, and
      complications were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, there were 18 patients (13
      women) with EBM enrolled in this study. All were diagnosed by a bronchial biopsy.
      The mean age of the patients was 48+/-15.24 years (range: 24-76 years). The most
      frequent sites of origin of the metastases were the bone (5) and kidney.
      Obstructions were observed in the tracheas of 12 patients, in the right main
      bronchi of 10, and in the left main bronchi of 11. Twelve airway stents were
      placed in nine patients. The removal of the obstruction was effective in the
      remaining patients. The mean number of treatment applications was 1.47 (range: 1
      3). Hemorrhage, mucostasis, and granulation were observed. The median follow-up
      duration was 528 days (range: 62-1177 days). The median survival time for the
      patients who died was 122 days (range: 2-885 days). CONCLUSIONS: EBM is rare, and
      bronchoscopy is the primary method of diagnosis, followed by palliation, if
      necessary.

PMID- 26879483
TI  - High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for acute exacerbation of interstitial
      pneumonia: A case series.
AB  - We report 3 cases (all men, age: 69-81 years) of acute exacerbation of
      interstitial pneumonia (AEIP) that were successfully treated with a high-flow
      nasal cannula (HFNC), which delivers heated, humidified gas at a fraction of
      inspired oxygen (FIO2) up to 1.0 (100%). Oxygenation was insufficient under non
      rebreathing face masks; however, the introduction of HFNC with an FIO2 of 0.7-1.0
      (flow rate: 40 L/min) improved oxygenation and was well-tolerated until the
      partial pressure of oxygen in blood/FIO2 ratio increased (between 21 and 26
      days). Thus, HFNC might be an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic addition
      to the management of AEIP.

PMID- 26879484
TI  - Proposed diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related respiratory disease.

PMID- 26879485
TI  - Multiple nodular pulmonary metastases of lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal
      growth factor receptor mutation.

PMID- 26879486
TI  - Neodymium uranyl peroxide synthesis by ion exchange on ammonium uranyl peroxide
      nanoclusters.
AB  - This study demonstrates the ability of ammonium uranyl peroxide nanoclusters U32R
      NH4 to undergo exchange in between NH4(+) and trivalent (Nd(3+)) or tetravalent
      (Th(4+)) cations in the solid state. It paves the way for new promising routes
      for the synthesis of mixed uranyl peroxides. The exchange ability may also be
      considered for solution decontamination and synthesis of new mixed actinide-oxide
      precursors. Both of these applications could be used in the nuclear industry. 

PMID- 26879487
TI  - Gastrointestinal modifications and bioavailability of brown seaweed phlorotannins
      and effects on inflammatory markers.
AB  - Brown seaweeds such as Ascophyllum nodosum are a rich source of phlorotannins
      (oligomers and polymers of phloroglucinol units), a class of polyphenols that are
      unique to Phaeophyceae. At present, there is no information on the
      bioavailability of seaweed polyphenols and limited evidence on their bioactivity
      in vivo. Consequently, we investigated the gastrointestinal modifications in
      vitro of seaweed phlorotannins from A. nodosum and their bioavailability and
      effect on inflammatory markers in healthy participants. In vitro, some
      phlorotannin oligomers were identified after digestion and colonic fermentation.
      In addition, seven metabolites corresponding to in vitro-absorbed metabolites
      were identified. Urine and plasma samples contained a variety of metabolites
      attributed to both unconjugated and conjugated metabolites (glucuronides and/or
      sulphates). In both urine and plasma, the majority of the metabolites were found
      in samples collected at late time points (6-24 h), suggesting colonic metabolism
      of high-molecular-weight phlorotannins, with three phlorotannin oligomers
      (hydroxytrifuhalol A, 7-hydroxyeckol, C-O-C dimer of phloroglucinol) identified
      in urine samples. A significant increase of the cytokine IL-8 was also observed.
      Our study shows for the first time that seaweed phlorotannins are metabolised and
      absorbed, predominantly in the large intestine, and there is a large inter
      individual variation in their metabolic profile. Three phlorotannin oligomers
      present in the capsule are excreted in urine. Our study is the first
      investigation of the metabolism and bioavailability of seaweed phlorotannins and
      the role of colonic biotransformation. In addition, IL-8 is a possible target for
      phlorotannin bioactivity. 

PMID- 26879488
TI  - An intermediate term benefits and complications of gamma knife surgery in
      management of glomus jugulare tumor.
AB  - Glomus tumors are rare skull base slow-growing, hypervascular neoplasms that
      frequently involve critical neurovascular structures, and delay in diagnosis is
      frequent. Surgical removal is rarely radical and is usually associated with
      morbidity or mortality. Gamma knife surgery (GKS) has gained an increasing
      dependable role in the management of glomus jugulare tumors, with high rate of
      tumor growth control, preserving or improving clinical status and with limited
      complications. This study aims to evaluate intermediate term benefits and
      complications of gamma knife surgery in management of twenty-two patients bearing
      growing glomus jugulare tumors at the International Medical Center (IMC), Cairo,
      Egypt, between 2005 and 2011. The mean follow-up period was 56 months (range 36
      108 months); there were 3 males, 19 females; mean age was 43.6 years; 15 patients
      had GKS as the primary treatment; 2 patients had surgical residuals; 2 had
      previous radiation therapy; and 3 previously underwent endovascular embolization.
      The average tumor volume was 7.26 cm3, and the mean marginal dose was 14.7 Gy.
      Post gamma knife surgery through the follow-up period neurological status was
      improved in 12 patients, 7 showed stable clinical condition and 3 patients
      developed new moderate deficits. Tumor volume post GKS was unchanged in 13
      patients, decreased in 8, and showed tumor regrowth in 1 patient. Tumor
      progression-free survival in our studied patients was 95.5% at 5 and 7 years of
      the follow-up period post GKS. Gamma knife surgery could be used safely and
      effectively with limited complications as a primary management tool in the
      treatment of glomus jugulare tumors controlling tumor growth with preserving or
      improving clinical status especially those who do not have significant cranial or
      cervical extension, elderly, and surgically unfit patients; moreover, it is safe
      and highly effective as adjuvant therapy as well.

PMID- 26879489
TI  - Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis: 20(th) Year of Publication.

PMID- 26879490
TI  - Evaluation of Parathyroidectomy for Secondary and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism by
      the Parathyroid Surgeons' Society of Japan.
AB  - Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) remains a serious complication in patients
      with chronic kidney disease, and some patients require parathyroidectomy. The
      Parathyroid Surgeons' Society of Japan (PSSJ) evaluated parathyroidectomy for
      SHPT and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT) in Japan. The annual numbers of
      parathyroidectomies between 2004 and 2013 were evaluated using questionnaires.
      Since 2010, the PSSJ has registered the patients. In total, 826 patients from 42
      institutions were registered. The annual number of parathyroidectomies for SHPT
      and THPT in Japan increased from 2004 to 2007 and then decreased markedly after
      2007, with 296 operations performed in 2013. The number of women and men was
      almost equal (397/427). Median (interquartile range) age of these patients was
      59.0 (24-87) years, the duration of hemodialysis before parathyroidectomy was
      10.83 (0.0-38.7) years, and diabetic nephropathy was 87/826 (10.5%). Of these
      patients 59.6% were treated with cinacalcet at undergoing parathyroidectomy. In
      75.3% of patients, a total parathyroidectomy with forearm autograft was
      performed. In 77.7% of patients, four or more parathyroid glands were removed
      during the initial operation. The incidences of husky voice and wound hemorrhage
      were 2.9% and 1.1%, respectively. The number of parathyroidectomies for SHPT in
      Japan decreased markedly after the introduction of cinacalcet. Based on the
      evaluation of registered patients, parathyroidectomies have been successfully
      performed at the institutions participating in the PSSJ. 

PMID- 26879491
TI  - New Method for the Approximation of Corrected Calcium Concentrations in Chronic
      Kidney Disease Patients.
AB  - The following conventional calcium correction formula (Payne) is broadly applied
      for serum calcium estimation: corrected total calcium (TCa) (mg/dL) = TCa (mg/dL)
      + (4 - albumin (g/dL)); however, it is inapplicable to chronic kidney disease
      (CKD) patients. A total of 2503 venous samples were collected from 942 all-stage
      CKD patients, and levels of TCa (mg/dL), ionized calcium ([iCa(2+) ] mmol/L),
      phosphate (mg/dL), albumin (g/dL), and pH, and other clinical parameters were
      measured. We assumed corrected TCa (the gold standard) to be equal to eight times
      the iCa(2+) value (measured corrected TCa). Then, we performed stepwise multiple
      linear regression analysis by using the clinical parameters and derived a simple
      formula for corrected TCa approximation. The following formula was devised from
      multiple linear regression analysis: Approximated  corrected TCa (mg/dL) = TCa +
      0.25 * (4 - albumin) + 4 * (7.4 - p H) + 0.1 * (6 - phosphate) + 0.3. Receiver
      operating characteristic curves analysis illustrated that area under the curve of
      approximated corrected TCa for detection of measured corrected TCa >= 8.4 mg/dL
      and <= 10.4 mg/dL were 0.994 and 0.919, respectively. The intraclass correlation
      coefficient demonstrated superior agreement using this new formula compared to
      other formulas (new formula: 0.826, Payne: 0.537, Jain: 0.312, Portale: 0.582,
      Ferrari: 0.362). In CKD patients, TCa correction should include not only albumin
      but also pH and phosphate. The approximated corrected TCa from this formula
      demonstrates superior agreement with the measured corrected TCa in comparison to
      other formulas. 

PMID- 26879492
TI  - Lactobacillus casei Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Rare Case and
      Literature Review.

PMID- 26879495
TI  - Effects of Shewanella putrefaciens on innate immunity and cytokine expression
      profile upon high stocking density of gilthead seabream specimens.
AB  - High stocking density increases the number of emerging diseases triggering
      economic losses worldwide. Probiotics provide an effective and natural solution
      for preventing some diseases through an improvement of innate immune system among
      others. In the present work dietary administration of the probiotic Shewanella
      putrefaciens (known as Pdp11) was evaluated under stress by high stocking density
      after 2 and 4 weeks of administration to gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)
      specimens. Results showed an increase in cellular peroxidase and respiratory
      burst activity as well as a modulation of cytokine profile when Pdp11 was
      administered to fish reared at high stocking density. Overall, our results showed
      how Pdp11 is not only able to improve to some extent the cellular and humoral
      immunity but also to increase the gene expression profile of pro-inflammatory
      cytokines such as il1b or il6 in response to high stocking density in gilthead
      seabream. These findings may support the potential use of this probiotic as
      functional feed against stress in fish farms. 

PMID- 26879497
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26879496
TI  - The ubiquitin ligase SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) ubiquitinates a defense-related NAC
      transcription factor and is involved in defense signaling.
AB  - We recently identified a defense-related tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) NAC (NAM,
      ATAF1,2, CUC2) transcription factor, NAC1, that is subjected to ubiquitin
      proteasome system-dependent degradation in plant cells. In this study, we
      identified a tomato ubiquitin ligase (termed SEVEN IN ABSENTIA3; SINA3) that
      ubiquitinates NAC1, promoting its degradation. We conducted coimmunoprecipitation
      and bimolecular fluorescence complementation to determine that SINA3 specifically
      interacts with the NAC1 transcription factor in the nucleus. Moreover, we found
      that SINA3 ubiquitinates NAC1 in vitro and promotes NAC1 degradation via
      polyubiquitination in vivo, indicating that SINA3 is a ubiquitin ligase that
      ubiquitinates NAC1, promoting its degradation. Our real-time PCR analysis
      indicated that, in contrast to our previous finding that NAC1 mRNA abundance
      increases upon Pseudomonas infection, the SINA3 mRNA abundance decreases in
      response to Pseudomonas infection. Moreover, using Agrobacterium-mediated
      transient expression, we found that overexpression of SINA3 interferes with the
      hypersensitive response cell death triggered by multiple plant resistance
      proteins. These results suggest that SINA3 ubiquitinates a defense-related NAC
      transcription factor for degradation and plays a negative role in defense
      signaling.

PMID- 26879498
TI  - [Not available].

PMID- 26879499
TI  - [Not available].

PMID- 26879500
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26879501
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26879502
TI  - Influence of parental perception of school safety and gender on children's
      physical activity in Mexico: A cross sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This cross sectional study aims to determine the effects of gender and
      parental perception of safety at school on children's physical activity (PA)
      levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of school aged Mexican children residing
      in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta, completed surveys about their
      children's PA measures. The physical activity indicators were evaluated using
      linear and logistical regression models. RESULTS: Analysis did not indicate that
      gender moderated the relationship between parental perception of safety and PA
      measures, but significant gender issues exist with girls participating less than
      boys in the three measures of PA in this study (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Results
      suggest the need for additional interventions promoting physical activity in
      girls in Mexico.

PMID- 26879503
TI  - [Satisfaction with life, victimization, and perception of insecurity in Morelos].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examines the influence of victimization, perceived insecurity and
      restrictions on daily routines in life satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Participants were 7535 (50.2% men) aged between 12 and 60, selected from a
      proportional stratified sampling. MANOVA and polytomous logistic regression model
      were calculated. RESULTS: We found significant differences in victimization,
      perceived insecurity and restrictions on daily routines in relation with life
      satisfaction levels. Also, physical protective measures, control of personal
      information, perception of insecurity in public areas and restrictions on daily
      routines were related to lower levels of satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS:
      Lowest levels of satisfaction with life were associated with victimization,
      perception of insecurity in public areas, and restrictions on daily routines.

PMID- 26879504
TI  - [Decrease of HCV seroprevalence in Mexico: Results from the National Health and
      Nutrition Survey 2012].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among 15-49
      years old Mexicans living in households and to describe the profile of
      seroreactive individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study
      implemented in 2012 using a national probabilistic sample with behavioral data
      from face-to-face interviews at households and HCV antibodies screening using
      capillary blood from same individuals. RESULTS: HCV seroprevalence in Mexico was
      estimated at 0.27% (IC95% 0.12-0.60), representing 161 000 persons.
      Seroprevalence was significantly higher among males (0.45% CI95% 0.01-0.89) than
      females (0.10% CI95% 0.00-0.22). Multivariate analysis suggests a higher
      possibility of HCV reactivity among men, increasing with age and higher among
      those sexually active, and lower for higher socioeconomic level. CONCLUSION: HCV
      seroprevalence in Mexico by 2012 seems significantly lower than the estimation
      from 2000 of 1.2% for the same age-group. Evidence of infection among individuals
      15-19 years old suggests the need to strength preventive actions, particularly in
      subjects with risky behaviors.

PMID- 26879505
TI  - The financial and health burden of diabetic ambulatory care sensitive
      hospitalisations in Mexico.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the financial and health burden of diabetic ambulatory
      care sensitive hospitalisations (ACSH) in Mexico during 2001-2011. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We identified ACSH due to diabetic complications in general hospitals
      run by local health ministries and estimated their financial cost using
      diagnostic related groups. The health burden estimation assumes that patients
      would not have experienced complications if they had received appropriate primary
      care and computes the associated Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). RESULTS:
      The financial cost of diabetic ACSH increased by 125% in real terms and their
      health burden in 2010 accounted for 4.2% of total DALYs associated with diabetes
      in Mexico. CONCLUSION: Avoiding preventable hospitalisations could free resources
      within the health system for other health purposes. In addition, patients with
      ACSH suffer preventable losses of health that should be considered when assessing
      the performance of any primary care intervention.

PMID- 26879506
TI  - [Economic recession (2006-2012) and changes in the health status of the Spanish
      population].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of mental health problems in Spanish
      population with the economic recession (2006-2012), and find out how it affects
      the self-perception of health status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional
      study using the National Health Survey of Spain, 2006/2007 and 2011/2012. Using
      logistic regression models, three indicators linked to mental health and
      perceived health were analyzed. RESULTS: In 2011/2012 the consumption of anti
      anxiety medications and sleeping pills increased in men and women. Mental
      dysfunction increased during the economic crisis in the male population. The
      perception of optimal health did not suffer significantly in either men or women.
      CONCLUSIONS: The economic recession showed a changing relation to the mental and
      general health of the population, coinciding with an increase in mental health
      disorders, such as anxiety.

PMID- 26879507
TI  - [Crohn's disease: The experience of living with a chronic illness].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of people with Crohn disease (CD), their
      life-changing events, the impact on their lives and the strategies used to cope
      with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Qualitative study. In-depth interviews were
      carried out on 10 people affected by the disease in the province of Alicante
      (Spain). The collection, processing and analysis of data was performed using some
      phenomenological elements. RESULTS: The experiences of those affected can be
      classified into four main areas: recognition of the illness; perceived
      consequences of the disease itself by CD affected patients; disease management,
      and the search for support. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the life experience of
      people affected by CD appears to be essential for the effective management of
      chronic illnesses when planning specific health treatment programs.

PMID- 26879508
TI  - [Pregnancy under fifteen: The motives and redefinition of life's course].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To interpret the motives of pregnancy in girls and the re
      signification of their life's course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the cities of
      Bogota, Cali, Cartagena and Medellin, 18 life stories of adolescents under 15
      years old with experience of pregnancy were made during 2012 and 2013. A
      phenomenological analytical framework was used to reveal the motives and
      meanings. RESULTS: The "because motives" and "in order to motives" of adolescents
      life course, are redefined by the moral control of families, couples, education
      and health professionals based on common sense and professional habitus.
      CONCLUSION: In the real "because motives" it is found that common sense assigns
      blame and responsibility to teens for their pregnancy. In the educational context
      there is a device that excludes them and promotes dropouts. In the field of
      health, human rights abuses are used as a control and punishment mechanism.

PMID- 26879509
TI  - Costa Rica's implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control:
      Overcoming decades of industry dominance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the passage of Costa Rica's 2012 tobacco control law.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of legislation, newspaper articles, and key
      informant interviews. RESULTS: Tobacco control advocates, in close collaboration
      with international health groups, recruited national, regional and international
      experts to testify in the Legislative Assembly, implemented grassroots advocacy
      campaigns, and generated media coverage to enact strong legislation in March 2012
      consistent with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco
      Control, despite tobacco industry lobbying efforts that for decades blocked
      effective tobacco control legislation. CONCLUSION: Costa Rica's experience
      illustrates how with resources, good strategic planning, aggressive tactics and
      perseverance tobacco control advocates can overcome tobacco industry opposition
      in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Branch. This determined approach has
      positioned Costa Rica to become a regional leader in tobacco control.

PMID- 26879511
TI  - Healthcare or sickcare: reestablishing the balance.
AB  - In this essay we discuss the need to reestablish the balance between health
      enhancing activities and care for the sick in order to meet the challenges of the
      21st century. We first briefly review the historical evolution of personal and
      public hygiene. We then discuss the increasing emphasis on curative care that has
      characterized the modern world. We conclude that, in order to meet the emerging
      challenges, contemporary health systems need to adopt a comprehensive scope which
      include upstream interventions to address the determinants of health; public
      health interventions to deal with major risk factors; personal health services to
      manage common infections, reproductive problems, non-communicable diseases,
      injuries, and mental health problems; and palliative care to deal with old age
      and the final phases of the human life cycle. 

PMID- 26879510
TI  - [Analysis of the evidence on the efficacy and safety of CYD-TDV dengue vaccine
      and its potential licensing and implementation through Mexico's Universal
      Vaccination Program].
AB  - Dengue is a major global public health problem affecting Latin America and Mexico
      Prevention and control measures, focusing on epidemiological surveillance and
      vector control, have been partially effective and costly, thus, the development
      of a vaccine against dengue has created great expectations among health
      authorities and scientific communities worldwide. The CYD-TDV dengue vaccine
      produced by Sanofi-Pasteur is the only dengue vaccine evaluated in phase 3
      controlled clinical trials. Notwithstanding the significant contribution to the
      development of a vaccine against dengue, the three phase 3 clinical studies of
      CYD-TDV and the meta-analysis of the long-term follow up of those studies, have
      provided evidence that this vaccine exhibited partial vaccine efficacy to protect
      against virologically confirmed dengue and lead to four considerations: a)
      adequate vaccine efficacy against dengue virus (DENV) infections 3 and 4, less
      vaccine efficacy against DENV 1 and no protection against infection by DENV 2; b)
      decreased vaccine efficacy in dengue seronegative individuals at the beginning of
      the vaccination; c) 83% and 90% protection against hospitalizations and severe
      forms of dengue, respectively, at 25 months follow-up; and d) increased
      hospitalization for dengue in the vaccinated group, in children under nine years
      of age at the time of vaccination, detected since the third year of follow-up.
      The benefit of the CYD-TDV vaccine can be summarized in the protection against
      infection by DENV 3 and 4, as well as protection for hospitalizations and severe
      cases in people over nine years, who have had previous dengue infection, working
      mainly as a booster. In this review we identified elements on efficacy and safety
      of this vaccine that must be taken into account in the licensing process and
      potential inclusion in the national vaccination program of Mexico. The available
      scientific evidence on the CYD-TDV vaccine shows merits, but also leads to
      relevant questions that should be answered to properly assess the safety profile
      of the product and the target populations of potential benefit. In this regard we
      consider it would be informative to complete the 6-year follow-up after starting
      vaccination, according to the company's own study protocol recommended by the
      World Health Organization. As with any new vaccine, the potential licensing and
      implementation of the CYD-TDV as part of Mexico's vaccination program, requires a
      clear definition of the balance between the expected benefits and risks.
      Particularly with a vaccine with variable efficacy and some signs of risk, in the
      probable case of licensing, the post-licensed period must involve the development
      of detailed protocols to immediately identify risks or any health event
      associated with vaccination. 

PMID- 26879512
TI  - [Medical elegibility criteria for contraceptive use].

PMID- 26879513
TI  - Assessing medication role on neuropathological findings in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26879515
TI  - Structural Collapse of the Hydroquinone-Formic Acid Clathrate: A Pressure-Medium
      Dependent Phase Transition.
AB  - The energy landscape governing a new pressure-induced phase transition in the
      hydroquinone-formic acid clathrate is reported in which the host structure
      collapses, opening up the cavity channels within which the guest molecules
      migrate and order. The reversible isosymmetric phase transition causes
      significant changes in the morphology and the birefringence of the crystal. The
      subtle intermolecular interaction energies in the clathrate are quantified at
      varying pressures using novel model energies and energy frameworks. These
      calculations show that the high-pressure phase forms a more stable host network
      at the expense of less-stable host-guest interactions. The phase transition can
      be kinetically hindered using a nonhydrostatic pressure-transmitting medium,
      enabling the comparison of intermolecular energies in two polymorphic structures
      in the same pressure range. Overall this study illustrates a need for accurate
      intermolecular energies when analyzing self-assembly structures and
      supramolecular aggregates. 

PMID- 26879514
TI  - Nickel-catalysed cyclopropanation of electron-deficient alkenes with
      diiodomethane and diethylzinc.
AB  - In the presence of a nickel catalyst, the cyclopropanation of electron-deficient
      alkenes with diiodomethane and diethylzinc is drastically accelerated. A wide
      range of cyclopropyl ketones, esters and amides can be accessed under these
      conditions. 

PMID- 26879517
TI  - Facile Synthesis of Porous Dendritic Bimetallic Platinum-Nickel Nanocrystals as
      Efficient Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.
AB  - Certain bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) possess promising catalytic properties for
      electrochemical energy conversion. Herein, we report a facile method for the one
      step synthesis of porous dendritic PtNi NCs in aqueous solution at room
      temperature that contrasts with the traditional multistep thermal decomposition
      approach. The dendritic PtNi NCs assembled by interconnected arms are efficient
      catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. This direct and efficient method is
      favorable for the up-scaled synthesis of active catalysts used in electrochemical
      applications.

PMID- 26879520
TI  - Coherently Tunable Triangular Trefoil Phaseonium Metamaterial.
AB  - Phaseonium is a three-level Lambda quantum system, in which a coherent microwave
      and an optical control (pump) beams can be used to actively modulate the
      dielectric response. Here we propose a new metamaterial structure comprising of a
      periodic array of triangular phaseonium metamolecules arranged as a trefoil. We
      present a computational study of the spatial distribution of magnetic and
      electric fields of the probe light and the corresponding transmission and
      reflection, for various parameters of the optical and microwave beams. For
      specific values of the probing frequencies and control fields, the phaseonium can
      display either metallic or dielectric optical response. We find that, in the
      metallic regime, the phaseonium metamaterial structure supports extremely large
      transmission, with optical amplification at large enough intensity of the
      microwave thanks to strong surface plasmon coupling; while, in the dielectric
      regime without microwave excitation, the transmission bandwidth can be tuned by
      varying the control beam intensity. Implementation of such phaseonium
      metamaterial structure in solid-state systems, such as patterned crystals doped
      with rare-earth elements or dielectric matrices embedded with quantum dots, could
      enable a new class of actively tunable quantum metamaterials. 

PMID- 26879518
TI  - Leisure time physical activity and the risk of hip or knee replacement due to
      primary osteoarthritis: a population based cohort study (The HUNT Study).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relationship between leisure time physical activity (LPA) and hip
      and knee OA and subsequent joint replacement has not yet been clearly defined.
      Some studies have found the risk of knee replacement (TKR) to increase with high
      levels of LPA, while others have found no overall relationship to either TKR or
      hip replacement (THR). The aim was to investigate the association between LPA and
      the risk of severe end-stage OA, defined as THR or TKR due to primary OA, in a
      large population-based cohort. METHODS: Participants in the Nord-Trondelag Health
      Study (HUNT) were followed prospectively to identify THR and TKR using the
      Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. Self-reported LPA was classified as inactive,
      low, moderate or high. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate
      hazard ratios (HRs) according to levels of LPA with adjustments for confounding
      variables. Analyses were performed by age (<45, 45-59 and >=60 years) and sex.
      RESULTS: A total of 66 964 participants (mean age 46.8 years (SD 16.3) were
      included in the analyses. We identified 1636 THRs and 1016 TKRs due to primary OA
      during 17.0 years (median) of follow-up. High LPA was significantly associated
      with THR for women <45 years (HR 1.78, 95 % CI 1.08-2.94) and men between 45-59
      years (HR 1.53, 95 % CI 1.10-2.13) at baseline. A significant trend was found
      only among women < 45 years at baseline (p = 0.02). We found that LPA was
      significantly associated with TKR for women only (HR 1.45, 95 % CI 1.03-2.04). No
      measures of LPA were associated with TKR for men. CONCLUSION: In this population
      based study, high level of LPA was associated with increased risk of THR where a
      significant trend of LPA was seen among women <45 years at baseline. For TKR,
      high LPA was associated with increased risk only in women. In contrast to
      previous studies, this study shows a possible association between high LPA and
      the risk of THR.

PMID- 26879522
TI  - Health professionals' perspectives on children's and young people's participation
      in health care: a qualitative multihospital study.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate healthcare professionals' perspectives on
      child participation in paediatric hospital care and their opinions on improving
      participation practices. BACKGROUND: Some scholars argue that the decision-making
      capacities of children largely depend on the attitudes of healthcare
      professionals rather than on the children's own competences. Healthcare
      professionals' perspectives on children's participation in hospital care remain
      largely unexplored. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive design. METHODS: Healthcare
      professionals (n = 32) from 10 paediatric wards in the Netherlands participated
      in semi-structured interviews. Shier's Pathways to Participation model (2001) was
      used to guide the interviews. RESULTS: Participation is not a term that is
      frequently used by professionals; however, they feel familiar with the ideas
      underlying the term, and it is perceived as being at the core of their work.
      Professionals believe that high levels of participation are possible in basic
      care for children. Participation in medical decision-making is considered to be
      more complex and subject to a number of reservations and restrictions. The
      participants expressed a strong need to enhance child participation in service
      evaluation and to increase the respect for and understanding of the rights of
      children to participate outside of the paediatric unit, including in the surgery
      and emergency departments. CONCLUSION: Children do not currently participate in
      the assessment of hospital services. Creative methods that support the role of
      children in evaluating and improving the quality of paediatric hospital care and
      services should be developed. Hospital-wide policies could help to promote
      understanding of child participation among all professionals caring for children
      in hospitals. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Based on international agreements
      that the Netherlands has ratified, professionals have the duty to facilitate
      child participation in hospital care. Concrete opportunities and ideas on how to
      accomplish this goal in practice are provided, and areas for improvement are
      identified.

PMID- 26879519
TI  - An on-chip microfluidic pressure regulator that facilitates reproducible loading
      of cells and hydrogels into microphysiological system platforms.
AB  - Coculturing multiple cell types together in 3-dimensional (3D) cultures better
      mimics the in vivo microphysiological environment, and has become widely adopted
      in recent years with the development of organ-on-chip systems. However, a
      bottleneck in set-up of these devices arises as a result of the delivery of the
      gel into the microfluidic chip being sensitive to pressure fluctuations, making
      gel confinement at a specific region challenging, especially when manual
      operation is performed. In this paper, we present a novel design of an on-chip
      regulator module with pressure-releasing safety microvalves that can facilitate
      stable gel delivery into designated microchannel regions while maintaining well
      controlled, non-bursting gel interfaces. This pressure regulator design can be
      integrated into different microfluidic chip designs and is compatible with a wide
      variety of gel injection apparatuses operated automatically or manually at
      different flow rates. The sensitivity and working range of this pressure
      regulator can be adjusted by changing the width of its pressure releasing safety
      microvalve design. The effectiveness of the design is validated by its
      incorporation into a microfluidic platform we have developed for generating 3D
      vascularized micro-organs (VMOs). Reproducible gel loading is demonstrated for
      both an automatic syringe pump and a manually-operated micropipettor. This design
      allows for rapid and reproducible loading of hydrogels into microfluidic devices
      without the risk of bursting gel-air interfaces. 

PMID- 26879523
TI  - The efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a
      systemic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare and locally
      aggressive tumour, with a high recurrence rate, even after complete surgical
      excision. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) has been suggested to reduce the risk of
      local recurrence after inadequate surgical resection in patients with narrow or
      positive surgical margins. However, the overall efficacy of adjuvant RT has not
      been well studied because of the rarity of DFSP and lack of an appropriate
      comparison group. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant RT
      for DFSP by conducting a systemic review and meta-analysis to provide a more
      evidence-based measure of its effectiveness. METHODS: We conducted a systemic
      review of articles published before 31 June 2015. Due to the rarity of the
      disease, we included all studies that reported DFSP patients who received
      adjuvant RT (postoperatively). The pooled recurrence rates were analysed from
      these extracted data. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The
      pooled estimate of the recurrence rate for all adjuvant radiotherapy was 11.74%
      (95% CI 7.4-17.38; n = 167). Patients with positive/close had a pooled recurrence
      rate of 14.23% (95% CI 8.13-22.49; n = 92), whereas there was no recurrence in
      patients with negative margins. The pooled estimate of the recurrence rate
      between surgery alone and surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy showed no
      significant difference (odds ratio 0.31, P = 0.07), although there was a trend
      that adjuvant RT had a lower recurrence rate than surgery alone. CONCLUSION:
      Adjuvant RT might be considered for all patients undergoing surgical excision,
      even if a negative surgical margin has been achieved. Furthermore, for patients
      with large or recurrent tumours, especially when wide excision with negative
      margin would result in a significant functional or cosmetic deficit,
      postoperative radiotherapy is highly recommended in order to achieve a lower
      recurrence rate.

PMID- 26879525
TI  - Freddy on the floor.

PMID- 26879526
TI  - The anonymity paradox in patient engagement: reputation, risk and web-based
      public feedback.
AB  - The UK National Health Service (NHS) has long espoused patient and public
      engagement. Recent years have seen increasing use of internet-based methods of
      collecting feedback about patient experience and public and staff views about NHS
      services and priorities. Often hailed as a means of facilitating participative
      democratic patient engagement, these processes raise a number of complex issues.
      A key aspect of it is the opportunity for comment to be made anonymously. Our
      research reveals an anonymity paradox whereby patients clearly demonstrate a
      perception that anonymity is a prerequisite for effective use of these feedback
      processes, whereas professionals demonstrate a perception that patient anonymity
      is a barrier to effective use. The risks of anonymity are constructed very
      differently by patients and professionals. Patient concerns around anonymity were
      not motivated by a general concern about a loss of privacy, but more that a
      positive identification might compromise future care. For professionals, concerns
      were voiced more around risks of reputational damage for specific practitioners
      or practices (in that anyone could say anything) and also that this anonymous
      feedback was available publicly and that it might go against the medical opinion
      of the professional. These concerns pointed to important differences in
      perceptions of patient and professional vulnerability. In the qualitative
      analysis that follows the key finding was that while anonymity makes service
      users feel less vulnerable, it can have the opposite effect on managers and
      clinical staff. This raises important implications for the use and utility of
      internet-based methods of collecting patient feedback. 

PMID- 26879524
TI  - Re-engineering the Immune Response to Metastatic Cancer: Antibody-Recruiting
      Small Molecules Targeting the Urokinase Receptor.
AB  - Developing selective strategies to treat metastatic cancers remains a significant
      challenge. Herein, we report the first antibody-recruiting small molecule (ARM)
      that is capable of recognizing the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor
      (uPAR), a uniquely overexpressed cancer cell-surface marker, and facilitating the
      immune-mediated destruction of cancer cells. A co-crystal structure of the ARM
      U2/uPAR complex was obtained, representing the first crystal structure of uPAR
      complexed with a non-peptide ligand. Finally, we demonstrated that ARM-U2
      substantially suppresses tumor growth in vivo with no evidence of weight loss,
      unlike the standard-of-care agent doxorubicin. This work underscores the promise
      of antibody-recruiting molecules as immunotherapeutics for treating cancer. 

PMID- 26879527
TI  - Detecting signatures of positive selection associated with musical aptitude in
      the human genome.
AB  - Abilities related to musical aptitude appear to have a long history in human
      evolution. To elucidate the molecular and evolutionary background of musical
      aptitude, we compared genome-wide genotyping data (641 K SNPs) of 148 Finnish
      individuals characterized for musical aptitude. We assigned signatures of
      positive selection in a case-control setting using three selection methods:
      haploPS, XP-EHH and FST. Gene ontology classification revealed that the positive
      selection regions contained genes affecting inner-ear development. Additionally,
      literature survey has shown that several of the identified genes were known to be
      involved in auditory perception (e.g. GPR98, USH2A), cognition and memory (e.g.
      GRIN2B, IL1A, IL1B, RAPGEF5), reward mechanisms (RGS9), and song perception and
      production of songbirds (e.g. FOXP1, RGS9, GPR98, GRIN2B). Interestingly, genes
      related to inner-ear development and cognition were also detected in a previous
      genome-wide association study of musical aptitude. However, the candidate genes
      detected in this study were not reported earlier in studies of musical abilities.
      Identification of genes related to language development (FOXP1 and VLDLR) support
      the popular hypothesis that music and language share a common genetic and
      evolutionary background. The findings are consistent with the evolutionary
      conservation of genes related to auditory processes in other species and provide
      first empirical evidence for signatures of positive selection for abilities that
      contribute to musical aptitude. 

PMID- 26879528
TI  - Is measurement of TT3 by immunoassay reliable at low concentrations? A comparison
      of the Roche Cobas 6000 vs. LC-MSMS.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Thyroid dysfunction is a common medical condition affecting an
      estimated 30 million people in the US alone. Employing gold standard Liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS) methods we have examined the
      extent of inaccuracy of immunoassay (IA) measurement for total T3 (TT3) at low,
      normal and high concentrations. DESIGN AND METHODS: 268 TT3 Roche Cobas 6000
      immunoassay TT3 values (covering the low, normal, and high ranges) were compared
      with LC-MSMS results. RESULTS: At TT3 concentrations between 50 and 113ng/dL
      (conversion factor for TT3 to SI Units is ng/dL*0.0154=nmol/L), n=122, LC-MSMS
      values were lower than immunoassay with 72% found to be below the 2.5th
      percentile by LC-MSMS compared to 27% for immunoassay. Strikingly 45% of the
      patients classified as normal TT3 by immunoassay were defined as lower than the
      2.5th percentile by LC-MSMS. Only 38 of the 122 patients with low T3's were not
      receiving T4. In this latter group all of whom had TSH's>3.7mIU/L, 74% of results
      by LC-MSMS were below the 2.5th percentile while only 21% were below the 2.5th
      percentile by IA. The clinical consequences of these inaccuracies may affect
      whether dosing with T4 or combination of T4 with T3 is selected for treatment.
      Finally the correlation of TT3 with TSH was far superior when TT3 was measured by
      LC-MSMS. A typical case which demonstrates our message is included. CONCLUSION:
      T3 being the active hormone needs to be reliably measured and if the patient has
      low TT3 and hypothyroid symptoms persist; treatment with T3 should be considered.
      A typical case report is included to illustrate the problems of inaccurate
      immunoassay results for TT3. Measurement of TT3 by immunoassay at low
      concentrations is less than optimal and often provides the clinician with a
      normal result when the LC-MSMS method and the patient's clinical condition
      suggests that supplementation with T3 (as in combination therapy) may be required
      to optimize patient care.

PMID- 26879529
TI  - Integrated intracellular metabolic profiling and pathway analysis approaches
      reveal complex metabolic regulation by Clostridium acetobutylicum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clostridium acetobutylicum is one of the most important butanol
      producing strains. However, environmental stress in the fermentation process
      usually leads to a lower yield, seriously hampering its industrialization. In
      order to systematically investigate the key intracellular metabolites that
      influence the strain growth and butanol production, and find out the critical
      regulation nodes, an integrated analysis approach has been carried out in this
      study. RESULTS: Based on the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technology, the
      partial least square discriminant analysis and the pathway analysis, 40 metabolic
      pathways linked with 43 key metabolic nodes were identified. In-depth analysis
      showed that lots of amino acids metabolism promoted cell growth but exerted
      slight influence on butanol production, while sugar metabolism was favorable for
      cell growth but unfavorable for butanol synthesis. Besides, both lysine and
      succinic acid metabolism generated a complex effect on the whole metabolic
      network. Dicarboxylate metabolism exerted an indispensable role on cell growth
      and butanol production. Subsequently, rational feeding strategies were proposed
      to verify these conclusions and facilitate the butanol biosynthesis. Feeding
      amino acids, especially glycine and serine, could obviously improve cell growth
      while yeast extract, citric acid and ethylene glycol could significantly enhance
      both growth and butanol production. CONCLUSIONS: The feeding experiment confirmed
      that metabolic profiling combined with pathway analysis provided an accurate,
      reasonable and practical approach to explore the cellular metabolic activity and
      supplied a basis for improving butanol production. These strategies can also be
      extended for the production of other important bio-chemical compounds.

PMID- 26879533
TI  - Milestones in Investigative Dermatology: The Desmosome.

PMID- 26879530
TI  - Modelling severe Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in conscious pigs: are implications
      for animal welfare justified?
AB  - BACKGROUND: A porcine model of haematogenous Staphylococcus aureus sepsis has
      previously been established in our research group. In these studies, pigs
      developed severe sepsis including liver dysfunction during a 48 h study period.
      As pigs were awake during the study, animal welfare was challenged by the
      severity of induced disease, which in some cases necessitated humane euthanasia.
      A pilot study was therefore performed in order to establish the sufficient
      inoculum concentration and application protocol needed to produce signs of liver
      dysfunction within limits of our pre-defined humane endpoints. METHODS: Four pigs
      received 1 * 10(8) cfu/kg BW of S. aureus, and two controls were sham inoculated
      with saline. A fixed infusion rate of 3 mL/min was used, while the inoculum
      concentration, i.e., the dose volume, was changed between the pigs. The following
      dose volumes were used: 10 mL (n = 1), 20 mL (n = 2), and 30 mL (n = 1),
      corresponding to infusion durations of 3.33, 6.66, and 10 min at dose rates of 3
      * 10(7), 1.5 * 10(7), and 1 * 10(7) cfu/min/kg BW, respectively. Blood samples
      were drawn for complete blood count, clinical chemistry, and inflammatory markers
      before and every 6 h after inoculation. Prior to euthanasia, a galactose
      elimination capacity test was performed to assess liver function. Pigs were
      euthanised 48 h post inoculation for necropsy and histopathological evaluation.
      RESULTS: While infusion times of 6.66 min, and higher, did not induce liver
      dysfunction (n = 3), the infusion time of 3.33 min (n = 1) caused alterations in
      parameters similar to what had been seen in our previous studies, i.e.,
      increasing bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as histopathological
      occurrence of intravascular fibrin split products in the liver. This pig was
      however euthanised after 30 h, according to humane endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: A
      usable balance between scientific purpose and animal welfare could not be
      achieved, and we therefore find it hard to justify further use of this conscious
      porcine sepsis model. In order to make a model of translational relevance for
      human sepsis, we suggest that future model versions should use long-term
      anaesthesia.

PMID- 26879531
TI  - Interaction between MTHFR 677C>T and periconceptional folic acid supplementation
      in the risk of Hypospadias.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is a congenital malformation with both environmental
      factors and genetic predisposition involved in the pathogenesis. The role of
      maternal periconceptional folic acid supplement use in the development of
      hypospadias is unclear. As folate levels may also be influenced by the C677T
      polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, we
      hypothesize that a gene-environment interaction between this polymorphism and
      folic acid use is involved in the etiology of hypospadias. METHODS: We conducted
      a case-control study among 855 hypospadias cases and 713 population-based
      controls from the AGORA data- and biobank. Folic acid supplement use was derived
      from maternal questionnaires and infant and maternal DNA was used to determine
      the MTHFR C677T polymorphism using Taqman assays. We performed separate analyses
      for different hypospadias phenotypes (anterior/middle/posterior). RESULTS:
      Hypospadias was neither associated with folic acid use or the MTHFR C677T
      polymorphism, nor with their interaction. However, we did find an association
      with middle hypospadias when no supplements were used (odds ratio = 1.6; 95%
      confidence interval, 1.1-2.4), especially in infants carrying the CT/TT genotype
      (odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.7). In addition, more infants
      with these genotypes seemed to have posterior hypospadias, regardless of folic
      acid use. CONCLUSION: Our study does not suggest a major role for folic acid
      supplements or the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in the etiology of hypospadias in
      general, but not using folic acid and/or carrying the MTHFR C677T polymorphism
      may be associated with middle and posterior hypospadias. Therefore, we stress the
      importance of studying gene-environment interactions preferably in stratified
      analyses for different hypospadias phenotypes.

PMID- 26879534
TI  - Desmogleins and Desmocollins as Adhesive Molecules.

PMID- 26879532
TI  - Whole genome resequencing of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni reveals
      population history and effects of selection.
AB  - Schistosoma mansoni is a parasitic fluke that infects millions of people in the
      developing world. This study presents the first application of population
      genomics to S. mansoni based on high-coverage resequencing data from 10 global
      isolates and an isolate of the closely-related Schistosoma rodhaini, which
      infects rodents. Using population genetic tests, we document genes under
      directional and balancing selection in S. mansoni that may facilitate adaptation
      to the human host. Coalescence modeling reveals the speciation of S. mansoni and
      S. rodhaini as 107.5-147.6KYA, a period which overlaps with the earliest
      archaeological evidence for fishing in Africa. Our results indicate that S.
      mansoni originated in East Africa and experienced a decline in effective
      population size 20-90KYA, before dispersing across the continent during the
      Holocene. In addition, we find strong evidence that S. mansoni migrated to the
      New World with the 16-19th Century Atlantic Slave Trade.

PMID- 26879535
TI  - Skin Needs Plakophilin-1.

PMID- 26879536
TI  - Desmoplakin Is Essential for Epidermal Sheet Formation.

PMID- 26879537
TI  - High-Resolution Mapping of the Desmosomal Plaque and Adhesive Interface.

PMID- 26879538
TI  - Identification of Desmogleins as Disease Targets.

PMID- 26879539
TI  - Spotting Desmosomes: The First 100 Years.

PMID- 26879540
TI  - Biochemical Characterization of the Desmosome.

PMID- 26879541
TI  - Identification of Desmoglein as a Cadherin and Analysis of Desmoglein Domain
      Structure.

PMID- 26879542
TI  - Making Connections: Desmoplakin as an Intermediate Filament-Binding Protein.

PMID- 26879543
TI  - Neuronal differentiation is associated with a redox-regulated increase of copper
      flow to the secretory pathway.
AB  - Brain development requires a fine-tuned copper homoeostasis. Copper deficiency or
      excess results in severe neuro-pathologies. We demonstrate that upon neuronal
      differentiation, cellular demand for copper increases, especially within the
      secretory pathway. Copper flow to this compartment is facilitated through
      transcriptional and metabolic regulation. Quantitative real-time imaging revealed
      a gradual change in the oxidation state of cytosolic glutathione upon neuronal
      differentiation. Transition from a broad range of redox states to a uniformly
      reducing cytosol facilitates reduction of the copper chaperone Atox1, liberating
      its metal-binding site. Concomitantly, expression of Atox1 and its partner, a
      copper transporter ATP7A, is upregulated. These events produce a higher flux of
      copper through the secretory pathway that balances copper in the cytosol and
      increases supply of the cofactor to copper-dependent enzymes, expression of which
      is elevated in differentiated neurons. Direct link between glutathione oxidation
      and copper compartmentalization allows for rapid metabolic adjustments essential
      for normal neuronal function. 

PMID- 26879544
TI  - Strong resilience of soil respiration components to drought-induced die-off
      resulting in forest secondary succession.
AB  - How forests cope with drought-induced perturbations and how the dependence of
      soil respiration on environmental and biological drivers is affected in a warming
      and drying context are becoming key questions. The aims of this study were to
      determine whether drought-induced die-off and forest succession were reflected in
      soil respiration and its components and to determine the influence of climate on
      the soil respiration components. We used the mesh exclusion method to study
      seasonal variations in soil respiration (R S) and its components: heterotrophic
      (R H) and autotrophic (R A) [further split into fine root (R R) and mycorrhizal
      respiration (R M)] in a mixed Mediterranean forest where Scots pine (Pinus
      sylvestris L.) is undergoing a drought-induced die-off and is being replaced by
      holm oak (Quercus ilex L.). Drought-induced pine die-off was not reflected in R S
      nor in its components, which denotes a high functional resilience of the plant
      and soil system to pine die-off. However, the succession from Scots pine to holm
      oak resulted in a reduction of R H and thus in an important decrease of total
      respiration (R S was 36 % lower in holm oaks than in non-defoliated pines).
      Furthermore, R S and all its components were strongly regulated by soil water
      content-and-temperature interaction. Since Scots pine die-off and Quercus species
      colonization seems to be widely occurring at the driest limit of the Scots pine
      distribution, the functional resilience of the soil system over die-off and the
      decrease of R S from Scots pine to holm oak could have direct consequences for
      the C balance of these ecosystems.

PMID- 26879545
TI  - Feasibility of weekly intraperitoneal versus intravenous paclitaxel therapy
      delivered from the day of radical surgery for gastric cancer: a preliminary
      safety analysis of the INPACT study, a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is common after curative resection of
      gastric cancer. Intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel (PTX) is known to
      control ovarian peritoneal metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with either
      linitis plastica or T4 cancer with high risk of peritoneal metastasis or
      recurrence but whose cancer was considered resectable were preregistered. After
      their cancer had been confirmed intraoperatively as resectable, the patients were
      randomized into either group A (PTX at 60 mg/m2 intraperitoneally on the day of
      surgery and on days 14, 21, 28, 42, 49, and 56) or group B (PTX at 80 mg/m2
      administered intravenously by the identical schedule) before being treated by
      evidence-based chemotherapy. The primary end point was the 2-year survival rate.
      Safety, the secondary end point, was also analyzed. The study has been registered
      as UMIN000002957. RESULTS: Of 177 preregistered patients, 83 underwent treatment
      (39 by intraperitoneal administration and 44 by intravenous administration).
      There was no difference in patient demographics between the two groups. The
      incidences of surgical complications were similar between the groups, except for
      transient bowel obstruction observed exclusively in group A. The relative dose
      intensity of PTX was 81.4 % for group A and 76.3 % for group B. There was one
      death due to pulmonary thrombosis and a case of anaphylaxis that led to
      termination of the protocol treatment (group B). Other adverse events were mild
      and manageable. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal administration of PTX from the day
      of gastrectomy did not result in a higher incidence of surgical complications and
      adverse reactions when compared with intravenous administration of PTX.

PMID- 26879546
TI  - Quality of Life and Long-Term Therapy in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - Since the development of imatinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs),
      the prognosis for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has markedly
      improved, such that most patients diagnosed with CML can now expect to live with
      their disease rather than die from it. However, most patients will require long
      term treatment, which has deleterious effects on health-related quality of life.
      We review recent literature on drug-related adverse effects, long-term medication
      adherence, limitations to fertility and pregnancy, effects on cognitive function,
      ability to work, financial toxicity, pediatric populations, and treatment
      discontinuation. While patients with CML are fortunate to have excellent
      therapies available to control their disease, many are unable to lead normal
      lives, which challenges the notion that research is no longer needed in CML.
      Curing CML, i.e., no detectable disease and no need for daily medications, should
      remain the ultimate goal. 

PMID- 26879547
TI  - Fluorescent copper nanoparticles: recent advances in synthesis and applications
      for sensing metal ions.
AB  - Fluorescent copper nanoparticles (F-CuNPs) have received great attention due to
      their attractive features, such as water solubility, wide availability, ease of
      functionalization and good biocompatibility, and considerable efforts have been
      devoted to the preparation and applications of F-CuNPs. This review article
      comprises three main parts. In the first part, we briefly present the
      fluorescence properties of F-CuNPs. Then we cover the fabrication strategies of
      various F-CuNPs functionalized by different ligands. In the third part, we focus
      on the applications of F-CuNPs for sensing metal ions, including Hg(2+), Pb(2+),
      Cu(2+), Fe(3+) and other metal ions. Lastly, we further discuss the opportunities
      and challenges of F-CuNPs in the synthetic strategies and applications for
      sensing metal ions. 

PMID- 26879548
TI  - In Response to: Heparin Binding-Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Growth Factor for
      the Regeneration of Chronic Tympanic Membrane Perforations in Mice.

PMID- 26879549
TI  - Aromatase inhibitors with or without luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
      agonist for metastatic male breast cancer: report of four cases and review of the
      literature.
AB  - The roles of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
      (LH-RH) agonists in the management of male breast cancer remain uncertain, with
      no reports in Japanese men. We report four Japanese male patients with metastatic
      breast cancer treated with AIs with or without an LH-RH agonist, and consider the
      relationship between treatment effect and estradiol (E2) concentration. Three
      patients were initially treated with AI alone after selective estrogen receptor
      modulators (SERMs), and one received AIs plus an LH-RH agonist after a SERM. Two
      patients treated with an AI alone responded, one patient with E2 levels below the
      lower assay limit and the other with levels above the limit. The other treated
      with an AI alone experienced progression regardless of the E2 levels below the
      lower assay limit, however, responded after the addition of an LH-RH agonist. E2
      concentrations were related to the efficacy of treatment in one patient. The
      patient initially treated with an AI plus an LH-RH agonist also responded. No
      grade 3 or 4 adverse events were observed in any of the patients treated with AIs
      with or without an LH-RH agonist. AIs with or without an LH-RH agonist offer an
      effective treatment option for hormone receptor-positive metastatic male breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26879550
TI  - Oral epithelial cells and their interactions with HIV-1.
AB  - As the AIDS pandemic has continued, our understanding of the events that occur
      during the entry and infection of conventional, susceptible cells has increased
      dramatically, leading to the development of control therapies for HIV-infected
      individuals. However, an ongoing hole in our understanding is how HIV crosses the
      mucosal barriers to gain access to permissive cells, despite how important this
      information would be in developing successful vaccines and other preventative
      measures such as topical anti-HIV microbicides. In particular, our knowledge of
      the role that epithelial cells of the mucosal surfaces play in infection - both
      during early phases and throughout the life of an infected individual, is
      currently hazy at best. However, several studies in recent years suggest that HIV
      can bind to and traverse these mucosal epithelial cells, providing a reservoir of
      infection that can subsequently infect underlying permissive cells. Despite this
      interaction with epithelial cells, evidence suggests HIV-1 does not productively
      infect these cells, although they are capable of transferring surface-bound and
      transcytosed virus to other, permissive cells. Further, there appear to be key
      differences between adult and infant epithelial cells in the degree to which HIV
      can transcytose and infect the epithelium. Thus, it is clear that, whilst not
      primary targets for infection and virus replication, epithelial cells play an
      important role in the infection cycle and improving our understanding of their
      interactions with HIV could potentially provide key insights necessary to develop
      effective preventative therapies. 

PMID- 26879551
TI  - Diagnosis of Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
AB  - Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is defined as gastrointestinal bleeding
      from a source that cannot be identified on upper or lower gastrointestinal
      endoscopy. OGIB is considered an important indication for capsule endoscopy (CE).
      CE is particularly useful for the detection of vascular and small ulcerative
      lesions, conditions frequently associated with OGIB, particularly in Western
      countries. On the other hand, balloon enteroscopy (BE) can facilitate the
      diagnosis of lesions presenting with minimal changes of the mucosal surface, such
      as submucosal tumors, and can be used not only for diagnosis, but also for
      treatment, including endoscopic hemostasis. In other words, the complementary use
      of both CE and BE enables OGIB to be more efficiently diagnosed and treated.
      However, rebleeding can occur even in patients with negative results of CE, and
      such patients require repeat CE or BE. It is essential to effectively use both CE
      and BE based on a thorough understanding of the strong points and weak points of
      these procedures. Further advances and developments in virtual endoscopy
      incorporating computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are expected in
      the future.

PMID- 26879552
TI  - Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Neoplasia Occurring in the
      Remnant Stomach after Distal Gastrectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for tumors occurring in
      the remnant stomach is technically difficult to perform because of limited
      working space and severe fibrosis and staples present around the suture line. We
      aimed to elucidate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of performing ESD for
      tumors in the remnant stomach. METHODS: Between December 2007 and January 2013,
      18 patients underwent ESD for tumors (six adenomas and 12 differentiated-type
      early gastric cancers [EGCs]) occurring in the remnant stomach after distal
      gastrectomy. Clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes after ESD were
      retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Two-thirds of the lesions were located on the
      body, and half were located on the suture line. En bloc resection, R0 resection,
      and en bloc with R0 resection rates were 88.9%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively.
      Curative resection rate for EGC was 91.7%. Perforation occurred in one patient
      (5.6%) and was successfully managed by endoscopic closure with metallic clips and
      conservative management. There was no significant bleeding after ESD. During a
      median follow-up of 47.5 months, no local, metachronous, or extragastric
      recurrence was seen for either EGC or adenoma lesions. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is a
      feasible and effective treatment modality and can be considered a primary
      intervention for early gastric neoplasia occurring in the remnant stomach.

PMID- 26879553
TI  - Tracheal Involvement in Crohn Disease: the First Case in Korea.
AB  - Respiratory involvement in Crohn disease (CD) is rare condition with only about a
      dozen reported cases. We report the first case of CD with tracheal involvement in
      Korea. An 18-year-old woman with CD was hospitalized because of coughing,
      dyspnea, and fever sustained for 3 weeks. Because she had stridor in her neck, we
      performed computed tomography of the neck, which showed circumferential wall
      thickening of the larynx and hypopharynx. Bronchoscopy revealed mucosal
      irregularity, ulceration, and exudates debris in the proximal trachea, and
      bronchial biopsy revealed chronic inflammation with granulation tissue. Based on
      these findings, we suspected CD with tracheal involvement and began administering
      intravenous methylprednisolone at 1 mg/kg per day, after which her symptoms and
      bronchoscopic findings improved. 

PMID- 26879554
TI  - Reaction Mechanism for Direct Proton Transfer from Carbonic Acid to a Strong Base
      in Aqueous Solution I: Acid and Base Coordinate and Charge Dynamics.
AB  - Protonation by carbonic acid H2CO3 of the strong base methylamine CH3NH2 in a
      neutral contact pair in aqueous solution is followed via Car-Parrinello molecular
      dynamics simulations. Proton transfer (PT) occurs to form an aqueous solvent
      stabilized contact ion pair within 100 fs, a fast time scale associated with the
      compression of the acid-base hydrogen-bond (H-bond), a key reaction coordinate.
      This rapid barrierless PT is consistent with the carbonic acid-protonated base
      pKa difference that considerably favors the PT, and supports the view of intact
      carbonic acid as potentially important proton donor in assorted biological and
      environmental contexts. The charge redistribution within the H-bonded complex
      during PT supports a Mulliken picture of charge transfer from the nitrogen base
      to carbonic acid without altering the transferring hydrogen's charge from
      approximately midway between that of a hydrogen atom and that of a proton. 

PMID- 26879555
TI  - [Intravitreal dexamethasone implant for treatment of persistent postoperative
      macular edema after vitrectomy].
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date, there is no consensus about the management of persistent
      cystoid macular edema (CME) following vitrectomy. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implants for the
      treatment of postoperative CME following vitrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In
      this multicenter study we retrospectively reviewed the data of 24 patients (25
      eyes) who had been treated with intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex(r)) for the
      management of persistent postoperative CME following pars plana vitrectomy. The
      main outcome measure was central retinal thickness (CRT in um) as assessed by
      spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Secondary outcome measures
      included change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the presence of
      metamorphopsia. RESULTS: All 19 eyes which were postoperatively examined within 4
      8 weeks after implantation showed a significant decrease in CRT (mean 564 um to
      315 um) and a reduction of metamorphopsias. Within the same period of time the
      BCVA improved in 15 out of 19 eyes (79%) which corresponds to an average visual
      improvement from 0.69 logMAR to 0.46 logMAR (P <0.0001). In eyes examined after
      10-16 weeks a slight increase in the average CRT of 351 um was observed, whereas
      the BCVA improved to 0.28 logMAR. After 4 months a decrease in average BCVA was
      noted. Out of 25 eyes 12 required further dexamethasone implantations between 1
      and 4 times within the investigation period. The first repeat injections were
      performed an average of 7.3 months after the initial treatment. CONCLUSION: Our
      results suggest that intravitreal dexamethasone is a safe and effective treatment
      option for persistent CME following vitrectomy.

PMID- 26879556
TI  - [Pediatric conjunctival tumor with cilia].

PMID- 26879557
TI  - [Sympathetic ophthalmia : Therapy with steroid-free immunosuppressant
      azathioprine].
AB  - This article describes the case of a 48-year-old male patient who presented with
      persistent inflammation and deterioration of vision to a best corrected visual
      acuity (BCVA) of 0.6 in the only functioning left eye. The right eye had suffered
      a severe penetrating ocular trauma 6 months prior to presentation. After
      diagnosis of a sympathetic ophthalmia a high dosage corticosteroid therapy was
      initiated. Due to intolerance with decompensating diabetes an immunosuppressive
      therapy with azathioprine was initiated. This therapy resulted in stable clinical
      findings with an increase in BCVA to 0.9.

PMID- 26879558
TI  - Cultural Studies Methodologies and Narrative Family Therapy: Therapeutic
      Conversations About Pop Culture.
AB  - Therapists recognize that popular media culture is an influential force that
      shapes identities and relationships in contemporary society. Indeed, people have
      serious relationships with the commodities and practices that emerge from pop
      culture. However, they often lack the conceptual and conversational resources to
      engage meaningfully with clients about pop culture's influence in their lives.
      Cultural studies is introduced as an interdisciplinary approach that provides
      frameworks for both theory and practice that position therapists and clients to
      critically examine the role of pop culture in their lives. Cultural studies and
      narrative therapy are discussed as praxis allies that share a populist political
      intention and counter-hegemonic discursive practices. The integration of cultural
      studies methodologies into narrative therapy practice with a parent and her
      teenage daughter is illustrated through a case vignette.

PMID- 26879559
TI  - Interleukin-6-stimulated progranulin expression contributes to the malignancy of
      hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating mTOR signaling.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the expression of progranulin (PGRN) in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in response to interleukin 6 (IL-6), a non
      cellular component of the tumor microenvironment, and the molecular mechanism of
      PGRN oncogenic activity in hepatocarcinogenesis. Levels of IL-6 and PGRN were
      increased and positively correlated in HCC tissues. IL-6 dose- and time
      dependently increased PGRN level in HCC cells. IL-6-driven PGRN expression was at
      least in part mediated by Erk/C/EBPbeta signaling, and reduced expression of PGRN
      impaired IL-6-stimulated proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 cells.
      PGRN activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, as evidenced by
      increased phosphorylation of p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and Akt-Ser473/FoxO1. Inhibition of
      mTOR signaling with rapamycin, an mTOR signaling inhibitor, disturbed PGRN- or IL
      6-mediated proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells in vitro.
      Persistent activation of mTOR signaling by knockdown of TSC2 restored PGRN
      knockdown-attenuated pro-proliferation effects of IL-6 in HepG2 cells. In
      addition, rapamycin treatment in vivo in mice slowed tumor growth stimulated by
      recombinant human PGRN. Our findings provide a better understanding of the
      biological activities of the IL-6/PGRN/mTOR cascade in the carcinogenesis of HCC,
      which may suggest a novel target in the treatment of HCC. 

PMID- 26879560
TI  - Evidence of Misclassification of Drug-Event Associations Classified as Gold
      Standard 'Negative Controls' by the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership
      (OMOP).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pharmacovigilance includes analysis of large databases of
      information on drugs and events using algorithms that detect disproportional
      frequencies of associations. In order to test such algorithms, attempts have been
      made to provide canonical reference lists of so-called 'positive controls' and
      'negative controls'. Reference sets with even modest levels of misclassification
      may result in under- or overstatement of the performance of algorithms. AIM: We
      sought to determine the extent to which 'negative control' drug-event pairs in
      the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) database are misclassified
      METHODS: We searched the medical literature for evidence of associations between
      drugs and events listed by OMOP as negative controls. RESULTS: The criteria used
      in OMOP to classify positive and negative controls are asymmetric; drug-event
      associations published only as case series or case reports are classified as
      positive controls if they are cited in Drug-Induced Diseases by Tisdale and
      Miller, but as negative controls if case series or case reports exist but are not
      cited in Tisdale and Miller. Of 233 drug-event pairs classified in the 2013
      version of OMOP as negative controls, 21 failed to meet pre-specified OMOP
      adjudication criteria; in another 19 cases we found case reports, case series, or
      observational evidence that the drug and event are associated. Overall, OMOP
      misclassified, or may have misclassified, 40 (17 %) of all 'negative controls.'
      CONCLUSIONS: Results from studies of the performance of signal-detection
      algorithms based on the OMOP gold standard should be viewed with circumspection,
      because imperfect gold standards may lead to under/overstatement of absolute and
      relative signal detection algorithm performance. Improvements to OMOP would
      include omitting misclassified drug-event pairs, assigning more specific event
      labels, and using more extensive sources of information.

PMID- 26879561
TI  - Modulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation by combined
      biochemical and mechanical cues.
AB  - Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play a key role during oligodendrogenesis.
      While fibronectin (FN) is involved in the maintenance and proliferation of
      oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), merosin (MN) promotes differentiation
      into oligodendrocytes (OLs). Mechanical properties of the ECM also seem to affect
      OL differentiation, hence this study aimed to clarify the impact of combined
      biophysical and biochemical elements during oligodendrocyte differentiation and
      maturation using synthetic elastic polymeric ECM-like substrates. CG-4 cells
      presented OPC- or OL-like morphology in response to brain-compliant substrates
      functionalised with FN or MN, respectively. The expression of the differentiation
      and maturation markers myelin basic protein--MBP--and proteolipid protein--PLP-
      (respectively) by primary rat oligodendrocytes was enhanced in presence of MN,
      but only on brain-compliant conditions, considering the distribution (MBP) or
      amount (PLP) of the protein. It was also observed that maturation of OLs was
      attained earlier (by assessing PLP expression) by cells differentiated on MN
      functionalised brain-compliant substrates than on standard culture conditions.
      Moreover, the combination of MN and substrate compliance enhanced the maturation
      and morphological complexity of OLs. Considering the distinct degrees of
      stiffness tested ranging within those of the central nervous system, our results
      indicate that 6.5 kPa is the most suitable rigidity for oligodendrocyte
      differentiation.

PMID- 26879562
TI  - Open Versus Closed Hearing-Aid Fittings: A Literature Review of Both Fitting
      Approaches.
AB  - One of the main issues in hearing-aid fittings is the abnormal perception of the
      user's own voice as too loud, "boomy," or "hollow." This phenomenon known as the
      occlusion effect be reduced by large vents in the earmolds or by open-fit hearing
      aids. This review provides an overview of publications related to open and closed
      hearing-aid fittings. First, the occlusion effect and its consequences for
      perception while using hearing aids are described. Then, the advantages and
      disadvantages of open compared with closed fittings and their impact on the
      fitting process are addressed. The advantages include less occlusion, improved
      own-voice perception and sound quality, and increased localization performance.
      The disadvantages associated with open-fit hearing aids include reduced benefits
      of directional microphones and noise reduction, as well as less compression and
      less available gain before feedback. The final part of this review addresses the
      need for new approaches to combine the advantages of open and closed hearing-aid
      fittings. 

PMID- 26879563
TI  - Exponentially growing osteosarcoma of mandible with acromegaly.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma of the head and neck is aggressive malignancy that might
      be affected by growth hormone. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate an
      unusual case of osteosarcoma with acromegaly. METHODS AND RESULTS: This case is
      about a 39-year-old woman with an osteosarcoma of the mandible, who had a history
      of exponential tumor growth in spite of chemotherapy at another hospital. She
      transferred to Samsung Medical Center and underwent a wide resection of tumor and
      free flap reconstruction. During postoperative care, a brain MRI and hormonal
      test revealed a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma, and then a
      transsphenoidal approach pituitary tumor removal was performed.
      Immunohistochemistry of the osteosarcoma indicated positive for insulin-like
      growth factor (IGF)-2 and somatostatin receptor. CONCLUSION: This study proved
      the IGF-2 and somatostatin receptor from the osteosarcoma of the patient with
      acromegaly, and this could explain that the growth hormone secreting from the
      pituitary adenoma might be a risk factor of therapeutic intractability and growth
      acceleration of osteosarcoma. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:
      E2432-E2436, 2016.

PMID- 26879565
TI  - Zika and microcephaly in Latin America: An emerging threat for pregnant
      travelers?

PMID- 26879564
TI  - Positive and negative staircase effect during single twitch and train-of-four
      stimulation: a laboratory study in dogs.
AB  - A positive staircase effect is well documented during neuromuscular monitoring.
      However, the increase in twitch amplitude may not remain stable over time. We
      compared the staircase phenomenon and twitch stability during single twitch (ST)
      or train-of-four (TOF) stimulation in anesthetized dogs. Force of contraction was
      measured in ten dogs. Each thoracic limb was stimulated with ST 0.1 Hz or TOF q
      12 s for 25 min (random order). No neuromuscular blockers were administered.
      Every 5 min, ST and T1 amplitudes were compared within and between groups.
      Stability of twitch amplitude (<5 % change in 5 min) was also evaluated. ST and
      T1 amplitude increased over time without significant differences between groups.
      After 10 min of ST stimulation, the average ST amplitude had increased
      significantly to 107 %, and remained unchanged thereafter. T1 amplitude was
      significantly greater than baseline only at 5 (111 %) and 10 min (109 %); a
      decline towards baseline occurred thereafter. Stability was reached after 15 min
      for all dogs in the ST group, however, three dogs continued to have changes >5 %
      with TOF. An initial increase in ST amplitude remained stable over the
      observation period, but the increase in T1 amplitude during TOF was frequently
      followed by a decay. A stable twitch amplitude (variation <5 % in 5 min) was
      observed in all dogs with ST after 15 min of stimulation, which was not the case
      during TOF stimulation. Therefore, it appears at least in dogs, that ST might
      offer some advantages over T1 for measuring twitch amplitude.

PMID- 26879566
TI  - Aedes and the triple threat of DENV, CHIKV, ZIKV--Arboviral risks and prevention
      at the 2016 Rio Olympic games.

PMID- 26879567
TI  - The relationship between resting heart rate and peak VO2: A comparison of atrial
      fibrillation and sinus rhythm.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Resting heart rate is a surrogate marker associated with achieved
      exercise capacity, which has been observed in patients with sinus rhythm. The aim
      of this study was to examine and compare the relationships between resting heart
      rate and peak oxygen consumption in atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: A total of 2160 consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary
      exercise testing in our single-hospital cohort were divided into two groups
      according to rhythm status: an atrial fibrillation group (N = 320) and a sinus
      rhythm group (N = 1840). In the total cohort and sinus rhythm group, resting
      heart rate was negatively correlated with percentage of predicted peak oxygen
      consumption (Ptrend < 0.0001); in atrial fibrillation patients, this correlation
      was apparently positive (Ptrend = 0.032). Multivariate analysis of the total
      cohort showed a significant interaction between resting heart rate and rhythm
      status for peak oxygen consumption after adjustments for age, sex, ejection
      fraction, structural heart diseases and heart rate-lowering drugs. In the sinus
      rhythm group, resting heart rate was an independent, negative contributing factor
      for peak oxygen consumption, even after the adjustments for patient background.
      However, in the atrial fibrillation group, resting heart rate was a weak positive
      or non-independent contributing factor for peak oxygen consumption after the same
      adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of resting heart rate on exercise capacity
      differed completely between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm, suggesting that
      heart rate control may need to be managed differently for atrial fibrillation and
      sinus rhythm, in light of exercise capacity that is related to quality of life
      and prognosis.

PMID- 26879568
TI  - High-grade carotid artery stenosis: A forgotten area in cardiovascular risk
      management.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with high-grade (>=70%) carotid artery stenosis (CAS) rank
      in the highest risk category for future cardiovascular (CV) events, but the
      quality of cardiovascular risk management in this patient group is unknown.
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective study. METHODS: Data were collected for all
      patients diagnosed with high-grade CAS in Ostergotland county, Sweden between 1
      January 2009 and 31 July 2012 regarding the quality of cardiovascular risk
      management, co-morbidity and outcomes during the 2-year follow-up period after a
      diagnosis of CAS with a carotid ultrasound scan. Patients were included
      regardless of whether they underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). RESULTS: A
      total of 393 patients with CAS were included in the study; 133 (33.8%) underwent
      CEA and 260 (66.2%) were assigned to a conservative management (CM) group. In
      both groups of patients the prescription of platelet inhibitors, statins and
      antihypertensive drugs increased significantly (p < 0.001) after diagnosis.
      However treatment targets were not met in the majority of patients and the low
      density lipoprotein level was on target in only 13.5% of patients. During follow
      up, low-density lipoprotein levels were not measured in 19.8% of patients who
      underwent CEA and 44.2% of patients in the CM group (p < 0.001); HbA1c was not
      measured in 24.4% of patients with diabetes in the CEA group and in 18.8% of
      patients in the CM group (p = 0.560). There was no documentation of counselling
      on diet, exercise, smoking cessation or adherence to medication. The combined
      clinical event rate (all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and non-fatal
      cardiovascular events) was high in both groups (CEA 36.8% and CM 36.9%; p = 1.00)
      with no difference in the occurrence of ipsilateral ischaemic stroke.
      CONCLUSIONS: The clinical event rate was high in patients with high-grade CAS and
      the management of cardiovascular risk was deficient in all aspects.

PMID- 26879571
TI  - A novel role for Crp in controlling magnetosome biosynthesis in Magnetospirillum
      gryphiswaldense MSR-1.
AB  - Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are specialized microorganisms that synthesize
      intracellular magnetite particles called magnetosomes. Although many studies have
      focused on the mechanism of magnetosome synthesis, it remains unclear how these
      structures are formed. Recent reports have suggested that magnetosome formation
      is energy dependent. To investigate the relationship between magnetosome
      formation and energy metabolism, a global regulator, named Crp, which mainly
      controls energy and carbon metabolism in most microorganisms, was genetically
      disrupted in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1. Compared with the wild-type
      or complemented strains, the growth, ferromagnetism and intracellular iron
      content of crp-deficient mutant cells were dramatically decreased. Transmission
      electron microscopy (TEM) showed that magnetosome synthesis was strongly impaired
      by the disruption of crp. Further gene expression profile analysis showed that
      the disruption of crp not only influenced genes related to energy and carbon
      metabolism, but a series of crucial magnetosome island (MAI) genes were also down
      regulated. These results indicate that Crp is essential for magnetosome formation
      in MSR-1. This is the first time to demonstrate that Crp plays an important role
      in controlling magnetosome biomineralization and provides reliable expression
      profile data that elucidate the mechanism of Crp regulation of magnetosome
      formation in MSR-1. 

PMID- 26879572
TI  - Decompressive craniectomy in neurocritical care.
AB  - Recently, several randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the
      effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy in the context of neurocritical
      illnesses have been completed. Thus, a meta-analysis to update the current
      evidence regarding the effects of decompressive craniectomy is necessary. We
      searched PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.
      Other sources, including internet-based clinical trial registries and grey
      literature, were also searched. After searching the literature, two investigators
      independently performed literature screening, assessing the quality of the
      included trials and extracting the data. The outcome measures included the
      composite outcome of death or dependence and the risk of death. Ten RCT were
      included: seven RCT were on malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MCAI)
      and three were on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Decompressive craniectomy
      significantly reduced the risk of death for patients suffering malignant MCAI
      (risk ratio [RR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-0.59, P<0.00001) in
      comparison with no reduction in the risk of death for patients with severe TBI
      (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.48-1.42, P=0.49). However, there was no significant
      difference in the composite risk of death or dependence at the final follow-up
      between the decompressive craniectomy group and the conservative treatment group
      for either malignant MCAI or severe TBI. The present meta-analysis indicates that
      decompressive craniectomy can significantly reduce the risk of death for patients
      with malignant MCAI, although no evidence demonstrates that decompressive
      craniectomy is associated with a reduced risk of death or dependence for TBI
      patients.

PMID- 26879574
TI  - Herbal Medicine Offered as an Initiative Therapeutic Option for the Management of
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant cancer and is the third
      leading cause of death worldwide. Effective treatment of this disease is limited
      by the complicated molecular mechanism underlying HCC pathogenesis. Thus,
      therapeutic options for HCC management are urgently needed. Targeting the
      Wnt/beta-catenin, Hedgehog, Notch, and Hippo-YAP signaling pathways in cancer
      stem cell development has been extensively investigated as an alternative
      treatment. Herbal medicine has emerged as an initiative therapeutic option for
      HCC management because of its multi-level, multi-target, and coordinated
      intervention effects. In this article, we summarized the recent progress and
      clinical benefits of targeting the above mentioned signaling pathways and using
      natural products such as herbal medicine formulas to treat HCC. Proving the
      clinical success of herbal medicine is expected to deepen the knowledge on herbal
      medicine efficiency and hasten the adoption of new therapies. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26879573
TI  - Hepatic circadian clock oscillators and nuclear receptors integrate microbiome
      derived signals.
AB  - The liver is a key organ of metabolic homeostasis with functions that oscillate
      in response to food intake. Although liver and gut microbiome crosstalk has been
      reported, microbiome-mediated effects on peripheral circadian clocks and their
      output genes are less well known. Here, we report that germ-free (GF) mice
      display altered daily oscillation of clock gene expression with a concomitant
      change in the expression of clock output regulators. Mice exposed to microbes
      typically exhibit characterized activities of nuclear receptors, some of which
      (PPARalpha, LXRbeta) regulate specific liver gene expression networks, but these
      activities are profoundly changed in GF mice. These alterations in microbiome
      sensitive gene expression patterns are associated with daily alterations in
      lipid, glucose, and xenobiotic metabolism, protein turnover, and redox balance,
      as revealed by hepatic metabolome analyses. Moreover, at the systemic level,
      daily changes in the abundance of biomarkers such as HDL cholesterol, free fatty
      acids, FGF21, bilirubin, and lactate depend on the microbiome. Altogether, our
      results indicate that the microbiome is required for integration of liver clock
      oscillations that tune output activators and their effectors, thereby regulating
      metabolic gene expression for optimal liver function. 

PMID- 26879575
TI  - The importance of the lepidic component as a prognostic factor in stage I
      pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma (PA) can offer an unfavorable
      prognosis. The aim of this study was to classify the prognosis of stage I PA on
      the basis of the lepidic component and to confirm whether the lepidic component
      can be used as a criterion for predicting the prognosis of stage I PA. METHODS:
      We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent curative surgery for
      stage I and IIA PA. Stage I disease was divided into three groups on the basis of
      the lepidic component: group 1, <=10%; group 2, >10 to 50%; and group 3, >50%. We
      compared recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates among groups 1, 2, and 3, and stage
      IIA disease. We also evaluated risk factors for disease recurrence with
      multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 224 patients were included in our
      study; most patients (n=201) had stage I disease. Three-year RFS rates in group 1
      (n=73), group 2 (n=75), and group 3 (n=53) were 74.1, 90.4, and 90.0%,
      respectively. There was a significant difference in RFS between group 1 and group
      2 (p=0.009). The 3-year RFS rate in stage IIA disease was 61.4%. There were no
      significant differences in RFS between group 1 and stage IIA disease (p=0.163).
      In multivariate analysis, group 1 had the highest risk of recurrence (HR 5.806,
      p=0.006) in stage I PA. CONCLUSIONS: Stage I PA with a lepidic component<=10% was
      associated with an unfavorable prognosis that was similar to the prognosis of
      stage IIA disease. The prognosis for stage I PA should not be based on general
      criteria, but instead, the lepidic component should be evaluated and considered
      when determining disease prognosis.

PMID- 26879576
TI  - Left ventricular deformation associated with cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) transients
      delay in early stage of low-dose of STZ and high-fat diet induced type 2 diabetic
      rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the early stage of diabetes, the cardiac ejection fraction is
      preserved, despite the existence of the subclinical cardiac dysfunction to some
      extent. However, the detailed phenotype of this dysfunction and the underlying
      mechanism remain unclear. To improve our understanding of this issue, we used low
      dose STZ and high-fat diet to induce type 2 diabetic models in rats. The effects
      and the mechanism associated with the early stages of the disease were analyzed.
      METHODS: The type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) in SD rats were induced through 30
      mg/kg STZ and high-fat diet. Two-dimensional spackle-tracking echocardiography
      (STE) and the dobutamine test were performed to examine the cardiac function.
      Calcium transients of left ventricular myocytes were detected and the related
      intracellular signalling factors were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS:
      After 6-weeks, T2DM rats in left ventricular (LV) diastole showed decreased
      global and segment strain(S) levels (P < 0.05), both in the radial and
      circumferential directions. Strain rate (Sr) abatement occurred in three segments
      in the radial and circumferential directions (P < 0.05), and the radial global Sr
      also decreased (P < 0.05). In the systolic LV, radial Sr was reduced, except the
      segment of the anterior septum, and the Sr of the lateral wall and post septum
      decreased in the circumferential direction (P < 0.05). Conventional M-mode
      echocardiography failed to detect significant alterations of cardiac performance
      between the two groups even after 12 weeks, and the decreased ejection fraction
      (EF%), fractional shortening (FS%) and end-systolic diameters (ESD) could be
      detected only under stress conditions induced by dobutamine (P < 0.05). In terms
      of calcium transients in cardiac myocytes, the Tpeak in model rats at 6 weeks was
      not affected, while the Tdecay1/2 was higher than that of the controls (P <
      0.05), and both showed a dose-dependent delay after isoproterenol treatment (P <
      0.05). Western blot analysis showed that in 6-week T2DM rats, myocardial p-PLB
      expression was elevated, whereas p-CaMKII, p-AMPK and Sirt1 were significantly
      down-regulated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A rat model of T2DM was established by low
      dose STZ and a high-fat diet. LV deformation was observed in the early stages of
      T2DM in association with the delay of Ca(2+) transients in cardiomyocytes due to
      the decreased phosphorylation of CaMKII. Myocardial metabolism remodeling might
      contribute to the early LV function and calcium transportation abnormalities.

PMID- 26879578
TI  - Bilateral facial palsy in a child.

PMID- 26879579
TI  - Validation of the French-language version of the OTOSPEECH automated scoring
      software package for speech audiometry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To validate a novel speech audiometry method using customized self
      voice recorded word lists with automated scoring. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The self
      voice effect was investigated by comparing results with prerecorded or self
      recorded CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) word lists. Then customized lists of 3
      phoneme words were drawn up using the OTOSPEECH software package, and their
      scores were compared to those for reference lists. Finally, the customized list
      scores were compared on automated (Dynamic Time Warping [DTW]) versus manual
      scoring. RESULTS: Self-voice did not change scores for perception of CVC words at
      10, 20 and 30 dB (ANOVA>0.05). Scores obtained with pre-recorded and self
      recorded lists correlated (n=10, R(2)=0.76, P<0.01). Customized list scores
      correlated strongly with the reference cochlear lists of Lafon in normal-hearing
      (n=77, R(2)=0.83, P<0.001) and hearing-impaired populations (n=13, R(2)=0.89,
      P<0.001). Results on the automated and manual scoring methods correlated in both
      populations (n=77, R(2)=0.71, P<0.01; and n=13, R(2)=0.76, P<0.01, respectively),
      with DTW scores ranging from 24.17 to 53.24. CONCLUSIONS: Automated scoring of
      customized self-voice recorded lists for speech audiometry displayed results
      similar to conventional audiometric techniques.

PMID- 26879580
TI  - Sternocleidomastoid pyomyositis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pyogenic myositis (pyomyositis) represents a bacterial infection of
      striated muscle. Predominantly associated with tropical regions and commonly
      caused by Staphylococcus aureus, the incidence of cervical pyomyositis is rare.
      To our knowledge, we report the first case of group A streptococcal cervical
      pyomyositis in an immunocompetent British Caucasian patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A
      previously well 48-year-old Caucasian male presented with sore throat, left sided
      neck pain and swelling. He was a lifelong non-smoker with no recent travel or
      animal exposure. On admission, he was febrile with unilateral neck swelling.
      Random blood glucose was normal and an HIV test negative. CT imaging confirmed a
      large heterogeneous mass extending throughout the entirety of the left
      sternocleidomastoid muscle. The patient underwent exploration and drainage of a
      large intra-sternocleidomastoid neck abscess. Microbiology identified group A -
      streptococcus. Histology confirmed abscess formation in muscle with no acid-fast
      bacilli. The patient recovered well postoperatively and continues to do well.
      DISCUSSION: Cervical pyomyositis is a rare condition that if not treated
      appropriately may cause internal jugular vein thrombosis, sepsis and death.
      Pyomyositis requires a high index of suspicion and should be considered a
      differential diagnosis in any painful swelling in the head and neck region.

PMID- 26879577
TI  - Evidence of TAF1 dysfunction in peripheral models of X-linked dystonia
      parkinsonism.
AB  - The molecular dysfunction in X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism is not completely
      understood. Thus far, only noncoding alterations have been found in genetic
      analyses, located in or nearby the TATA-box binding protein-associated factor 1
      (TAF1) gene. Given that this gene is ubiquitously expressed and is a critical
      component of the cellular transcription machinery, we sought to study
      differential gene expression in peripheral models by performing microarray-based
      expression profiling in blood and fibroblasts, and comparing gene expression in
      affected individuals vs. ethnically matched controls. Validation was performed
      via quantitative polymerase chain reaction in discovery and independent
      replication sets. We observed consistent downregulation of common TAF1
      transcripts in samples from affected individuals in gene-level and high
      throughput experiments. This signal was accompanied by a downstream effect in the
      microarray, reflected by the dysregulation of 307 genes in the disease group.
      Gene Ontology and network analyses revealed enrichment of genes involved in RNA
      polymerase II-dependent transcription, a pathway relevant to TAF1 function. Thus,
      the results converge on TAF1 dysfunction in peripheral models of X-linked
      dystonia-parkinsonism, and provide evidence of altered expression of a canonical
      gene in this disease. Furthermore, our study illustrates a link between the
      previously described genetic alterations and TAF1 dysfunction at the
      transcriptome level.

PMID- 26879581
TI  - Analysis of case reports submitted to the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology
      Head & Neck Diseases.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess flaws, rejection rate and reasons for rejection of case
      reports submitted for publication in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology
      Head & Neck Diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of flaws
      noted in reviewing 118 case reports from 29 countries consecutively submitted to
      the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases during the period
      Sept. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015. RESULTS: The most frequent flaws, noted in 74.5%
      of cases, were: lack of originality (more than 15 such cases previously reported
      in the medical literature) and lack of new data contributing to the medical
      literature. Overall, 5% of the cases were accepted for publication, 7% were not
      resubmitted by the authors, and 88% were rejected. On univariate analysis, none
      of the variables under analysis correlated with acceptance or rejection of the
      submitted case. Editorial decision time varied from 1 to 7months (median, 1
      month). In 16.3% of the 104 cases of rejection (17/104), the editors suggested
      resubmission in the section "Letter to the Editor" or "What is your diagnosis?";
      15 of the 17 reports were resubmitted, and 10 (66.6%) were ultimately accepted
      for publication. CONCLUSION: The editorial committee of the European Annals of
      Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases hope that the present data and review of
      the literature will provide authors with a framework to avoid major errors
      leading to rejection and will speed publication of the case reports they submit
      to our columns in the near future.

PMID- 26879582
TI  - SpxB-mediated H2 O2 induces programmed cell death in Streptococcus sanguinis.
AB  - Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) is a commensal oral streptococci that
      produces hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), and this production is dependent on pyruvate
      oxidase (SpxB) activity. In addition to its well-known role in intraspecies or
      interspecies competitions, recent studies have shown that H2 O2 produced by S.
      sanguinis under aerobic conditions not only upregulates biofilm formation and
      eDNA release but also regulates cell death without obvious cell lysis. Here, we
      report that S. sanguinis exhibits characteristic hallmarks of eukaryotic
      apoptosis when it encounters endogenous and exogenous H2 O2 . As the most common
      mode of programmed cell death (PCD), apoptosis is accompanied by a series of
      biochemical and morphological events, including DNA fragmentation, chromosome
      condensation, membrane potential depolarization, phosphatidylserine (PS)
      exposure, and caspase substrate binding protein activity changes. In addition, we
      also provide genetic evidence that there is decreased expression of the related
      DNA repair genes comEA, recA, dnaC, dinG, and pcrA in the wild-type compared to
      the isogenic spxB mutant in S. sanguinis. Our data suggest that endogenous H2 O2
      is the most important agent in this development process in S. sanguinis. 

PMID- 26879583
TI  - Inducing femoral vein thrombosis under unrestricted flow: Comments on an
      alternative electrolytic mouse model.

PMID- 26879584
TI  - Influence of harvest season on chemical composition and bioactivity of wild rue
      plant hydroalcoholic extracts.
AB  - The rue (Ruta graveolens) copiousness in rural areas of the Campania Region based
      a thorough chemical and biological investigation aimed at exploring the seasonal
      variability of phenol constituents in rue leaves and its influence on their
      antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory capabilities. To this purpose,
      hydroalcoholic extracts were prepared from plant samples seasonally collected. LC
      ESI-MS/MS techniques were employed to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively
      the seasonal rue phenol content, whereas different chemical antioxidant assays
      (by DPPH, ABTS, Fe(3+) RP, ORAC, and FCR methods) and XTT redox metabolic
      activity assay were performed to screen the seasonal phenol complex-related
      antioxidant and cytotoxic power. The ability of the rue leaf extracts to
      counteract cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was also evaluated. Data obtained
      highlighted that the adopted extraction procedure markedly pauperized the
      furanocoumarin content in all the prepared rue extracts. Flavonol glycosides,
      along with the flavone acacetin and two sinapic acid derivatives were the main
      constituents of the spring harvest-derived extract, which exerted the highest
      antioxidant capability in cell-free systems and was capable to inhibit COX-2
      synthesis by 44% comparably to dexamethasone, used as positive control. Data
      provide new insights for developing a proper management of rue plants for new
      safe industrial purposes in herbal medicine field. 

PMID- 26879585
TI  - The influence of Mg2+ coordination on 13C and 15N chemical shifts in CKI1RD
      protein domain from experiment and molecular dynamics/density functional theory
      calculations.
AB  - Sequence dependence of (13) C and (15) N chemical shifts in the receiver domain
      of CKI1 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana, CKI1RD , and its complexed form,
      CKI1RD *Mg(2+), was studied by means of MD/DFT calculations. MD simulations of a
      20-ns production run length were performed. Nine explicitly hydrated structures
      of increasing complexity were explored, up to a 40-amino-acid structure. The size
      of the model necessary depended on the type of nucleus, the type of amino acid
      and its sequence neighbors, other spatially close amino acids, and the
      orientation of amino acid NH groups and their surface/interior position. Using
      models covering a 10 and a 15 A environment of Mg(2+), a semi-quantitative
      agreement has been obtained between experiment and theory for the V67-I73
      sequence. The influence of Mg(2+) binding was described better by the 15 A as
      compared to the 10 A model. Thirteen chemical shifts were analyzed in terms of
      the effect of Mg(2+) insertion and geometry preparation. The effect of geometry
      was significant and opposite in sign to the effect of Mg(2+) binding. The
      strongest individual effects were found for (15) N of D70, S74, and V68, where
      the electrostatics dominated; for (13) Cbeta of D69 and (15) N of K76, where the
      influences were equal, and for (13) Calpha of F72 and (13) Cbeta of K76, where
      the geometry adjustment dominated. A partial correlation between dominant
      geometry influence and torsion angle shifts upon the coordination has been
      observed.

PMID- 26879586
TI  - Childhood adversity and conduct disorder: A developmental pathway to violence in
      schizophrenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both childhood adversity and conduct disorder are over-represented
      among adult patients with schizophrenia and have been proposed as significant
      factors that may increase the risk of violence. It is not known how childhood
      adversity and conduct disorder might interact to contribute towards an increased
      risk of violence in schizophrenia. This study aimed to explore the relationships
      between childhood adversity, conduct disorder and violence among men with
      schizophrenia. METHODS: 54 male patients with schizophrenia from a range of
      inpatient and outpatient mental health services were assessed for exposure to a
      variety of childhood adversities, conduct disorder before the age of 15 and later
      violent behaviour in adulthood. RESULTS: Exposure to domestic violence during
      childhood was associated with an increased propensity to violence in adulthood.
      Symptoms of conduct disorder were associated both with cumulative exposure to
      childhood adversities and with later propensity to violence. The cumulative
      number of childhood adversities was associated with adult propensity to violence.
      This association was significantly attenuated by inclusion of conduct disorder in
      the model. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate an association
      between childhood exposure to domestic violence and later violent behaviour in
      schizophrenia. Conduct disorder may mediate the association between cumulative
      childhood adversities and adult propensity to violence, indicating an indirect
      pathway. These results indicate a complex interplay between childhood adversity,
      conduct disorder and later violent behaviour in schizophrenia, and suggest that
      there may be shared aetiological risk factors on a common developmental pathway
      to violence.

PMID- 26879588
TI  - The relationship between paranoia and aggression in psychosis: A systematic
      review.
AB  - Aggression in the context of schizophrenia has significant detrimental personal,
      clinical and societal implications. Whilst understanding the precise pathways to
      aggression in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is critical for risk
      management and treatment, these pathways remain unclear. A paranoid belief that
      others intend harm is one psychotic symptom that might contribute to aggressive
      behaviours. This is the first review to investigate the relationship between
      paranoia and aggression in psychosis. A systematic review of published literature
      pertinent to the relationship between paranoia and aggression was conducted. A
      search of online databases from inception to November 2014 was performed with
      keywords related to 'schizophrenia', 'paranoia' and 'aggression'. Fifteen
      studies, primarily cross-sectional in design (n=9), met eligibility criteria.
      Studies reviewed showed mixed support for an association between paranoia and
      aggression in both inpatients and community settings. However, when study quality
      was taken into account, more methodologically rigorous studies tended to show a
      positive association between factors. Mixed findings are most likely due to
      important methodological shortcomings, including heterogeneous samples and
      studies using a diverse range of aggression/violence measures. In light of
      methodological limitations of individual studies reviewed, further investigation
      of the relationship between paranoia and aggression in psychosis using robust
      methodology is needed before definitive clinical recommendations regarding the
      hypothesised relationship between paranoia and aggression can be made. This paper
      sets out key recommendations for future studies, including operationalizing the
      specific components of aggression and paranoia under investigation and methods to
      delineate important mediators in the paranoia and aggression relationship. 

PMID- 26879587
TI  - Relationship of plasma oxytocin levels to baseline symptoms and symptom changes
      during three weeks of daily oxytocin administration in people with schizophrenia.
AB  - Several clinical studies have found an inverse relationship between clinical
      symptoms and peripheral oxytocin (OT) levels in people with schizophrenia. As
      oxytocin is a putative treatment for schizophrenia, the effect of repeated dosing
      of OT on OT levels, clinical symptoms and the relationship between the two is of
      interest. In a, randomized, double blind, parallel group 3 week study (N=28) with
      daily administration of intranasal OT (20 IU twice daily) or placebo (PBO), we
      examined the effect of OT administration on the correlation between the change in
      peripheral OT levels and change in clinical symptoms in patients with
      schizophrenia. At baseline, there were no significant treatment group differences
      in OT levels. There were no significant associations between baseline OT levels
      and any symptom measures. After 3 weeks of OT/PBO dosing, there was no
      significant difference in the magnitude of change in OT levels between the two
      treatment groups. Correlations between changes in peripheral OT levels and
      changes in the BPRS total and negative symptom scores were not different between
      treatment groups. Larger studies are needed to examine the effect of exogenous OT
      on peripheral OT levels and the relationship between the latter and clinical
      symptoms. Clinical Trials.gov=NCT00884897.

PMID- 26879589
TI  - Early relapse of severe chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection with
      posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after reduced intensity stem cell
      transplantation with umbilical cord blood.

PMID- 26879591
TI  - A gold nanoparticle-based semi-quantitative and quantitative ultrasensitive paper
      sensor for the detection of twenty mycotoxins.
AB  - A semi-quantitative and quantitative multi-immunochromatographic (ICA) strip
      detection assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of twenty types of
      mycotoxins from five classes, including zearalenones (ZEAs), deoxynivalenols
      (DONs), T-2 toxins (T-2s), aflatoxins (AFs), and fumonisins (FBs), in cereal food
      samples. Sensitive and specific monoclonal antibodies were selected for this
      assay. The semi-quantitative results were obtained within 20 min by the naked
      eye, with visual limits of detection for ZEAs, DONs, T-2s, AFs and FBs of 0.1
      0.5, 2.5-250, 0.5-1, 0.25-1 and 2.5-10 MUg kg(-1), and cut-off values of 0.25-1,
      5-500, 1-10, 0.5-2.5 and 5-25 MUg kg(-1), respectively. The quantitative results
      were obtained using a hand-held strip scan reader, with the calculated limits of
      detection for ZEAs, DONs, T-2s, AFs and FBs of 0.04-0.17, 0.06-49, 0.15-0.22,
      0.056-0.49 and 0.53-1.05 MUg kg(-1), respectively. The analytical results of
      spiked samples were in accordance with the accurate content in the simultaneous
      detection analysis. This newly developed ICA strip assay is suitable for the on
      site detection and rapid initial screening of mycotoxins in cereal samples,
      facilitating both semi-quantitative and quantitative determination. 

PMID- 26879592
TI  - Pharmacologic treatment for postviral olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) is the most common cause of
      olfactory dysfunction. Several treatments have been presented in the literature.
      The objective of this study is to systematically review the existing literature
      on the effectiveness of pharmacologic treatments for PVOD. METHODS: We performed
      a literature search of PubMed, Ovid, and ScienceDirect from 1966 to 2014.
      Inclusion criteria included English-language articles containing original data on
      pharmacologic treatment of PVOD with >=5 subjects, measurable outcomes, and
      readily available treatments. Data was collected regarding study design, subject
      demographic information, clinical outcomes, and level of evidence. Two
      investigators reviewed all articles independently. RESULTS: Of 445 abstracts
      identified, 8 articles were included, yielding 563 patients. Treatments
      investigated included oral corticosteroids, local injections of corticosteroids,
      zinc sulfate, alpha lipoic acid, caroverine, vitamin A, Ginkgo biloba, and
      minocycline. Outcome measures were determined by symptom scores and objective
      olfactory test methods-the most common being Sniffin' Sticks. Improvement was
      noted in subjects receiving oral corticosteroid therapy, local injections of
      corticosteroid, alpha lipoic acid, and caroverine, whereas vitamin A, zinc
      sulfate, Ginkgo biloba, and minocycline groups did not show significant
      improvement. CONCLUSION: The majority of therapies investigated that show benefit
      in treating PVOD are of poor quality. Although caroverine therapy showed benefit
      and is a level 1b study, etiologies of olfactory dysfunction other than PVOD were
      included as well, which clouds the results. Overall, there is no strong evidence
      for any pharmacologic treatment of PVOD in the literature.

PMID- 26879590
TI  - Combatting Synthetic Designer Opioids: A Conjugate Vaccine Ablates Lethal Doses
      of Fentanyl Class Drugs.
AB  - Fentanyl is an addictive prescription opioid that is over 80 times more potent
      than morphine. The synthetic nature of fentanyl has enabled the creation of
      dangerous "designer drug" analogues that escape toxicology screening, yet display
      comparable potency to the parent drug. Alarmingly, a large number of fatalities
      have been linked to overdose of fentanyl derivatives. Herein, we report an
      effective immunotherapy for reducing the psychoactive effects of fentanyl class
      drugs. A single conjugate vaccine was created that elicited high levels of
      antibodies with cross-reactivity for a wide panel of fentanyl analogues.
      Moreover, vaccinated mice gained significant protection from lethal fentanyl
      doses. Lastly, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based technique was established
      enabling drug-specificity profiling of antibodies derived directly from serum.
      Our newly developed fentanyl vaccine and analytical methods may assist in the
      battle against synthetic opioid abuse. 

PMID- 26879593
TI  - Quantitative Imaging of FRET-Based Biosensors for Cell- and Organelle-Specific
      Analyses in Plants.
AB  - Genetically encoded Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors
      have been used to report relative concentrations of ions and small molecules, as
      well as changes in protein conformation, posttranslational modifications, and
      protein-protein interactions. Changes in FRET are typically quantified through
      ratiometric analysis of fluorescence intensities. Here we describe methods to
      evaluate ratiometric imaging data acquired through confocal microscopy of a FRET
      based inorganic phosphate biosensor in different cells and subcellular
      compartments of Arabidopsis thaliana. Linear regression was applied to donor,
      acceptor, and FRET-derived acceptor fluorescence intensities obtained from images
      of multiple plants to estimate FRET ratios and associated location-specific
      spectral correction factors with high precision. FRET/donor ratios provided a
      combination of high dynamic range and precision for this biosensor when applied
      to the cytosol of both root and leaf cells, but lower precision when this
      ratiometric method was applied to chloroplasts. We attribute this effect to
      quenching of donor fluorescence because high precision was achieved with
      FRET/acceptor ratios and thus is the preferred ratiometric method for this
      organelle. A ligand-insensitive biosensor was also used to distinguish
      nonspecific changes in FRET ratios. These studies provide a useful guide for
      conducting quantitative ratiometric studies in live plants that is applicable to
      any FRET-based biosensor. 

PMID- 26879594
TI  - Population pharmacokinetic analysis of lenvatinib in healthy subjects and
      patients with cancer.
AB  - AIMS: Lenvatinib was recently approved for the treatment of radioiodine
      refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). Here, we characterized the
      pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of lenvatinib and identified intrinsic and extrinsic
      factors that explain interindividual PK variability in humans. METHODS: This
      population PK analysis used pooled data from 15 clinical studies, including eight
      phase 1 studies in healthy subjects, four phase 1 studies in patients with solid
      tumours, two phase 2 studies in patients with thyroid cancer and one phase 3
      study in patients with RR-DTC. RESULTS: The final pooled dataset included data
      from 779 subjects receiving 3.2-32 mg oral lenvatinib, mainly once daily as
      tablets or capsules. Lenvatinib PK was best described by a three-compartment
      model with linear elimination. Lenvatinib absorption was best described by
      simultaneous first- and zero-order absorption. The population mean value for
      lenvatinib apparent clearance (CL/F) was 6.56 l h(-1) [percent coefficient of
      variation (%CV) 25.5], and was independent of dose and time. The relative
      bioavailability of lenvatinib in capsule form was 90% vs. tablets (%CV 30.2). The
      final PK model included significant but marginal effects of body weight (2.8% of
      CL/F variation), liver-function markers [alkaline phosphatase (-11.7%) and
      albumin (-6.3%)] and concomitant cytochrome P450 3A4 inducers (+30%) and
      inhibitors (-7.8%) on lenvatinib CL/F. Lenvatinib PK was unaffected by pH
      elevating agents, dose, age, sex, race, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate
      aminotransferase or bilirubin levels, or renal function. CONCLUSIONS: The
      significant effects of several covariates on lenvatinib PK variability were small
      in magnitude, and therefore were not considered clinically relevant, or to
      warrant any dose adjustment.

PMID- 26879595
TI  - Multisite musculoskeletal pain among young technical school students entering
      working life.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a need to investigate the occurrence of multisite pain in
      young adults and to determine potential factors contributing to the early course
      of multisite musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this prospective study was to
      assess the occurrence and change of prevalence in the number of pain sites. We
      also wanted to identify work-related and individual risk factors associated with
      the number of musculoskeletal pain sites. METHODS: We monitored musculoskeletal
      pain from 4 body regions, individual and work-related factors on 21 occasions
      over a 6.5 year period. The cohort consisted of 420 technical school students
      entering working life. Data were analyzed by generalized estimating equations
      (GEE). RESULTS: Pain from more than one body site was prevalent in this cohort of
      young adults (69 % at baseline), and the number of body sites in pain was found
      quite stable over the 6.5 year follow-up period. Women had higher number of pain
      sites compared with men and gender specific risk factors were identified.
      Increased mechanical workload and quantitative demands and low socioeconomic
      status were associated with increased number of musculoskeletal pain sites among
      women, while tobacco use was found as a risk factor among young men. Increased
      perceived muscle tension was the only factor significantly associated with
      increased number of pain sites in both genders. CONCLUSION: The current study
      supports earlier findings and show that pain from multiple body sites are
      frequent also among young workers. The identification of gender specific risk
      factors in our study is important and may facilitate practical prevention and
      future research.

PMID- 26879596
TI  - Formation of a highly-ordered rigid multichromophoric 3D supramolecular network
      by combining ionic and coordination-driven self-assembly.
AB  - We present here the self-assembly of a green-emitting metallosupramolecular
      rhomboid into a rigid, highly-ordered 3D multichromophoric network through the
      mediation of a tetra-anionic violet-blue molecular emitter. Control was obtained
      on the spatial topology, the electronic energy landscape and the fluorescence
      polarization of the interacting dipoles. 

PMID- 26879597
TI  - A prehospital screening tool utilizing end-tidal carbon dioxide predicts sepsis
      and severe sepsis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of a prehospital sepsis screening protocol
      utilizing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and end-tidal
      carbon dioxide (ETCO2). METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study among
      sepsis alerts activated by emergency medical services during a 12 month period
      after the initiation of a new sepsis screening protocol utilizing >=2 SIRS
      criteria and ETCO2 levels of <=25 mmHg in patients with suspected infection. The
      outcomes of those that met all criteria of the protocol were compared to those
      that did not. The main outcome was the diagnosis of sepsis and severe sepsis.
      Secondary outcomes included mortality and in-hospital lactate levels. RESULTS: Of
      330 sepsis alerts activated, 183 met all protocol criteria and 147 did not.
      Sepsis alerts that followed the protocol were more frequently diagnosed with
      sepsis (78% vs 43%, P < .001) and severe sepsis (47% vs 7%, P < .001), and had a
      higher mortality (11% vs 5%, P = .036). Low ETCO2 levels were the strongest
      predictor of sepsis (area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00; P
      < .001), severe sepsis (AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.86; P < .001), and mortality (AUC
      0.70, 95% CI 0.57-0.83; P = .005) among all prehospital variables. Sepsis alerts
      that followed the protocol had a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 81-95%), a
      specificity of 58% (95% CI 52-65%), and a negative predictive value of 93% (95%
      CI 87-97%) for severe sepsis. There were significant associations between
      prehospital ETCO2 and serum bicarbonate levels (r = 0.415, P < .001), anion gap
      (r = -0.322, P < .001), and lactate (r = -0.394, P < .001). CONCLUSION: A
      prehospital screening protocol utilizing SIRS criteria and ETCO2 predicts sepsis
      and severe sepsis, which could potentially decrease time to therapeutic
      intervention.

PMID- 26879598
TI  - [Assessment method for mobile health applications in Spanish: The iSYScore
      index].
AB  - The widespread of mobile smartphones among the population has resulted in a
      growing range of mobile applications in health using iOS and Android devices. The
      level of confidence that such applications deserve and the health information
      available online to the general population is a widely debated issue. The main
      objective of this work was to develop a tool -a scale-, for evaluating the
      reliability of health apps. The scale was developed using a systematic evidence
      based approach, and with an expert consensus, built with a Delphi process. This
      was followed by a health app catalogue, which was used to test and validate our
      method that helps to recommend the best apps for non-medical experts across 3
      different user interest axes: 1) popularity and interest; 2) trust and quality;
      and 3) usefulness.

PMID- 26879599
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26879602
TI  - Molecular Design and Syntheses of Tetracyano-5,10-porphyrinquinodimethane Showing
      Stabilized LUMO.
AB  - An isomer of tetracyanoporphyrinquinodimethane (TCPQ), 5,10-TCPQ, was designed,
      synthesized, and structurally characterized, and its basic properties were
      discussed with emphasis on comparison with those of reported 5,15-TCPQ. The title
      compound was synthesized by a convenient cascade reaction involving a catalyst
      free aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction and the Uno-Takahashi reaction.
      The obtained pi-expanded redox molecule acted as a Wurster-type redox molecule
      that underwent not only reduction but also oxidation processes. Furthermore, its
      absorption spectrum showed a large bathochromic shift that extended to the near
      IR region, approximately 1150 nm. 

PMID- 26879601
TI  - BCORL1 is an independent prognostic marker and contributes to cell migration and
      invasion in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The deregulation of E-cadherin has been considered as a leading cause
      of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. BCL6 corepressor-like 1 (BCORL1) is
      a transcriptional corepressor and contributes to the repression of E-cadherin.
      However, the clinical significance of BCORL1 and its role in the metastasis of
      HCC remain unknown. METHODS: Differentially expressed BCORL1 between HCC and
      matched tumor-adjacent tissues, HCC cell lines and normal hepatic cell line were
      detected by Western blot. The expression of BCORL1 was altered by siRNAs or
      lentivirus-mediated vectors. Transwell assays were performed to determine HCC
      cell invasion and migration. RESULTS: Increased expression of BCORL1 protein was
      detected in HCC specimens and cell lines. Clinical association analysis showed
      that BCORL1 protein was expressed at significant higher levels in HCC patients
      with multiple tumor nodes, venous infiltration and advanced TNM tumor stage.
      Survival analysis indicated that high expression of BCORL1 protein conferred
      shorter overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of HCC patients.
      Multivariate Cox regression analysis disclosed that BCORL1 expression was an
      independent prognostic marker for predicting survival of HCC patients. Our in
      vitro studies demonstrated that BCORL1 prominently promoted HCC cell migration
      and invasion. Otherwise, an inverse correlation between BCORL1 and E-cadherin
      expression was observed in HCC tissues. BCORL1 inversely regulated E-cadherin
      abundance and subsequently facilitated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in
      HCC cells. Notably, the effect of BCORL1 knockdown on HCC cells was abrogated by
      E-cadherin silencing. CONCLUSIONS: BCORL1 may be a novel prognostic factor and
      promotes cell migration and invasion through E-cadherin repression-induced EMT in
      HCC.

PMID- 26879604
TI  - Halide-Free Synthesis of Hydrochalcogenide Ionic Liquids of the Type [Cation][HE]
      (E=S, Se, Te).
AB  - We present the synthesis and thorough characterization of ionic liquids and
      organic salts based on hydrochalcogenide HE(-) (E=S, Se, Te) anions. Our approach
      is based on halide-, metal-, and water-free decarboxylation of methylcarbonate
      precursors under acidic conditions, resulting from the easily dissociating
      reagents H2 E. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis,
      multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, thermal and single-crystal XRD analyses. The
      hydrosulfide salts were investigated with respect to their ability to dissolve
      elemental sulfur in varying stoichiometry. Thus-prepared polysulfide ILs were
      also analyzed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. 

PMID- 26879603
TI  - Serum microRNA microarray analysis identifies miR-4429 and miR-4689 are potential
      diagnostic biomarkers for biliary atresia.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate pathogenesis and novel diagnostic biomarkers of
      biliary atresia (BA). Serum samples from infants with BA and non-BA neonatal
      cholestasis (NC) were collected for miRNA microarray analysis, and then
      differentially expressed miRNAs were screened. Differentially expressed miRNAs
      were validated by qRT-PCR using an independent serum samples from infants with BA
      and NC. Diagnostic utility of validated miRNAs was further analyzed using serum
      samples by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Totally, 13
      differentially expressed miRNAs were identified including 11 down-regulated and 2
      up-regulated ones. Target genes of hsa-miR-4429 and hsa-miR-4689 were
      significantly involved in FoxO signaling pathway. Eight differentially expressed
      miRNAs were chosen for validation by qRT-PCR analysis, and four miRNAs (hsa-miR
      150-3p, hsa-miR-4429, hsa-miR-4689 and hsa-miR-92a-3p) were differentially
      expressed. The area under the curve of hsa-miR-4429 and hsa-miR-4689 was 0.789
      (sensitivity = 83.33%, specificity = 80.00%) and 0.722 (sensitivity = 66.67%,
      specificity = 80.00%), respectively. Differentially expressed miRNAs including
      hsa-miR-4429 and hsa-miR-4689 might play critical roles in BA by regulating their
      target genes, and these two miRNAs may have the potential to become diagnostic
      biomarkers. 

PMID- 26879600
TI  - Could gestational diabetes mellitus be managed through dietary bioactive
      compounds? Current knowledge and future perspectives.
AB  - Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious problem growing worldwide that
      needs to be addressed with urgency in consideration of the resulting severe
      complications for both mother and fetus. Growing evidence indicates that a
      healthy diet rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, extra-virgin olive oil and fish has
      beneficial effects in both the prevention and management of several human
      diseases and metabolic disorders. In this review, we discuss the latest data
      concerning the effects of dietary bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and
      PUFA on the molecular mechanisms regulating glucose homoeostasis. Several
      studies, mostly based on in vitro and animal models, indicate that dietary
      polyphenols, mainly flavonoids, positively modulate the insulin signalling
      pathway by attenuating hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance, reducing
      inflammatory adipokines, and modifying microRNA (miRNA) profiles. Very few data
      about the influence of dietary exposure on GDM outcomes are available, although
      this approach deserves careful consideration. Further investigation, which
      includes exploring the 'omics' world, is needed to better understand the complex
      interaction between dietary compounds and GDM. 

PMID- 26879606
TI  - Boron(III)-Containing Donor-Acceptor Compound with Goldlike Reflective Behavior
      for Organic Resistive Memory Devices.
AB  - A small-molecule-based boron(III)-containing donor-acceptor compound has been
      designed and synthesized. Interesting goldlike reflective behavior was observed
      in the neat thin-film sample from simple spin-coating preparation, which can
      serve as a potential organic thin-film optical reflector. The small thickness in
      nanometer range and the relatively smooth surface morphology, together with
      simple preparation and easy solution processability, are attractive features for
      opening up new avenues for the fabrication of reflective coatings. Moreover, this
      donor-acceptor compound has been employed in the fabrication of organic resistive
      memory device, which exhibited good performance with low turn-on voltage, small
      operating bias, large ON/OFF ratio, and long retention time. 

PMID- 26879605
TI  - Size-Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Free Gold Nanoparticles for the
      Glucose Oxidation Reaction.
AB  - Understanding the fundamental relationship between the size and the structure of
      electrode materials is essential to design catalysts and enhance their activity.
      Therefore, spherical gold nanoparticles (GNSs) with a mean diameter from 4 to 15
      nm were synthesized. UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and
      under-potential deposition of lead (UPDPb ) were used to determine the
      morphology, size, and surface crystallographic structure of the GNSs. The UPDPb
      revealed that their crystallographic facets are affected by their size and the
      growth process. The catalytic properties of these GNSs toward glucose
      electrooxidation were studied by cyclic voltammetry, taking into account the scan
      rate and temperature effects. The results clearly show the size-dependent
      electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation reactions that are controlled by
      diffusion. Small GNSs with an average size of 4.2 nm exhibited high catalytic
      activity. This drastic increase in activity results from the high specific area
      and reactivity of the surface electrons induced by their small size. The reaction
      mechanism was investigated by in situ Fourier transform infrared reflectance
      spectroscopy. Gluconolactone and gluconate were identified as the intermediate
      and the final reaction product, respectively, of the glucose electrooxidation.

PMID- 26879607
TI  - Conformational switch-mediated accelerated release of drug from cytosine-rich
      nucleic acid-capped magnetic nanovehicles.
AB  - A novel concept that the conformational switch of cytosine-rich DNA can
      accelerate the release of drug from DNA-capped nanovehicles is rationally
      devised. Our present strategy can greatly extend the potential usages of DNA
      molecules with specific sequences as conformational switch-controlled devices. 

PMID- 26879608
TI  - Patterned Thermoresponsive Microgel Coatings for Noninvasive Processing of
      Adherent Cells.
AB  - Cultivation of adherently growing cells in artificial environments is of utmost
      importance in medicine and biotechnology to accomplish in vitro drug screening or
      to investigate disease mechanisms. Precise cell manipulation, like localized
      control over adhesion, is required to expand cells, to establish cell models for
      novel therapies and to perform noninvasive cell experiments. To this end, we
      developed a method of gentle, local lift-off of mammalian cells using polymer
      surfaces, which are reversibly and repeatedly switchable between a cell
      attractive and a cell-repellent state. This property was introduced through
      micropatterned thermoresponsive polymer coatings formed from colloidal microgels.
      Patterning was obtained through automated nanodispensing or microcontact
      printing, making use of unspecific electrostatic interactions between microgels
      and substrates. This process is much more robust against ambient conditions than
      covalent coupling, thus lending itself to up-scaling. As an example, wound
      healing assays were accomplished at 37  degrees C with highly increased precision
      in microfluidic environments. 

PMID- 26879609
TI  - [Repeated partially reversible pulmonary arterial hypertension related to
      dasatinib: a case report and literature review].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and prognosis of pulmonary arterial
      hypertension related to dasatinib. METHODS: A case of pulmonary arterial
      hypertension(PAH) during dasatinib therapy was retrospectively analyzed and the
      related literature was reviewed. RESULTS: A 55-year-old male with chronic
      myelogenous leukemia was treated with dasatinib at a dosage of 100 mg/d.After 36
      months of initiating the therapy, he presented with chest distress, fatigue and
      general edema. His heart function was graded as NHYA IV. Transthoracic Doppler
      echocardiography documented right ventricle enlargement, right ventricular wall
      thickening, reduction of right ventricular systolic function, widening of the
      main pulmonary artery and branches , and an estimated systolic pulmonary arterial
      pressure(SPAP) of 115 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), with pericardial effusion and
      normal systolic left ventricular function.Chest ultrasound documented bilateral
      pleural effusion.The patient had taken and withdrew dasatinib 5 times by
      himself.The symptom had improved after stopping the drug, with SPAP decreasing to
      37-82 mmHg measured by echocardiography at the first 3 times, and the pleural
      effusion and the pericardial effusion had disappeared. But 1 year after the 4(th)
      withdrawal of the drug, his pulmonary arterial pressure had failed to decrease,
      and he had taken the drug again by himself. Other causes of pulmonary arterial
      hypertension such as lung parenchymal diseases, pulmonary thromboembolism,
      connective tissue diseases, other drug induced PAH, were excluded by extensive
      examinations. The patient refused to receive right-sided heart catheterization.
      The patient was followed until now. CONCLUSIONS: Dasatinib can cause partially
      reversible PAH. But after repeated use of the drug, PAH may become irreversible.
      Monitoring SPAP by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is necessary during
      dasatinib therapy.

PMID- 26879610
TI  - [The clinical features of primary or metastatic malignancies presenting with
      multiple lung cavities].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical, radiological and pathological features of
      primary or metastatic malignancies presenting with multiple lung cavities.
      METHODS: A total of 38 cases met the inclusion criteria and had adequate imaging
      data for retrospective review between June 2006 and August 2013. There were 30
      cases of primary lung cancer, and 8 cases of pulmonary metastasis including 6
      gastrointestinal tract malignancies, 1 vulva malignancy and 1 scalp malignancy.
      There were 21 females and 17 males, with a median age of 63 years. RESULTS: Cough
      and expectoration were the most common clinical manifestations of primary lung
      cancer(22/30). There were 4 main types of lung cavities, including thick-walled
      cavities(n=12), circular cavities (n=24), thin-walled cavities or cystic cavities
      (n=11), cavities or multi-cystic changes within airspace consolidation or ground
      glass opacity(n=11). The cavitary lesions were often accompanied by pulmonary
      nodules, mass and ground glass opacity(32/38, 84%). The presence of internal soft
      tissue septa in the cavity was commonly seen(17/38, 45%). The 4(th) type of
      cavity and presence of air-fluid levels were only found in lung adenocarcinoma,
      including 5 cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma. In both primary lung cancers and
      metastatic tumors, adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type (29/30
      and 6/8, respectively). The other histological types included 1 case of lung
      squamous cell carcinoma, 1 vulva adenosquamous carcinoma and 1 scalp
      angiosarcoma. The possible mechanisms of cavity formation included necrosis,
      mucin-secretion air-containing cystic spaces in papillary tumors and the check
      valve mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological
      type in multiple cavitary primary lung cancers and metastatic tumors. These
      cavities showed varied radiological features and were easy to be misdiagnosed as
      benign cavitary lung diseases.

PMID- 26879611
TI  - [The expression and clinical role of KL-6 in serum and BALF of patients with
      different diffuse interstitial lung diseases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To detect the levels of KL-6 in the serum and the bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with different type of diffuse interstitial lung
      diseases(DILD), and to analyze its correlation with pulmonary function, pulmonary
      HRCT scores and other parameters. METHOD: Seventy-three patients with DILD were
      enrolled, including 34 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 10
      patients with stage I sarcoidosis(SAR I), 15 patients with hypersensitivity
      pneumonia (HP), 14 patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). Enzyme-linked
      immune sorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of KL-6 in the serum
      and the BALF of these patients. RESULTS: In the IPF group, FVC predicted
      percentage and DLCO predicted percentage were significantly lower than those of
      the SAR I group[(70+/-14)% vs (82+/-6)%, (49+/-13)% vs(81+/-6)%, P<0.05], but
      were no different compared to the CTD-ILD group(P>0.05). In the IPF group, the
      percentage of neutrophils in BALF was higher than that of the SAR I group[(9+/
      7)% vs (6+/-4)%, P<0.05]], and the percentage of lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio in
      BALF were lower than those of the SAR I group[(12+/-7)% vs (23+/-13)%, (1.5+/
      0.8) vs(4.0+/-5.1), P<0.05]. In the IPF group, the level of KL-6 in serum was
      higher than that of the SAR I and the HP group[(858+/-516)U/ml vs (339+/
      168)U/ml, (553+/-287)U/ml, P<0.05], but was no different compared to the CTD-ILD
      group (P>0.05). In the CTD-ILD group, the level of KL-6 in serum was higher than
      that of the SAR I [(687+/-350) U/ml vs (339+/-168)U/ml, P<0.05]]. In the IPF
      group, the level of KL-6 in BALF was (437+/-252)U/ml, and was higher than that of
      other 3 groups(P<0.05). In the IPF group, the level of serum KL-6 was negatively
      correlated with FVC and DLCO(r=-0.46, -0.58, P<0.01), the level of serum KL-6 was
      positively correlated with pulmonary HRCT reticular pattern and honeycombing
      scores(r=0.62, 0.41, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IPF, the levels of KL
      6 in serum and BALF were increased and the level of KL-6 in serum was correlated
      with FVC, DLCO and pulmonary HRCT reticular pattern and honeycombing scores.KL-6
      may be a marker for the diagnosis of IPF.

PMID- 26879612
TI  - [Airway metal stents removal by rigid bronchoscopy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the techniques and related complication management of
      airway metal stents removal with rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia.
      METHODS: We reviewed 20 patients who had received rigid bronchoscopic stents
      removal under general anesthesia from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2015. The clinical data
      were analyzed retrospectively. The indications for stents removal and potential
      difficulties encountered, the relationship between techniques and related
      complications of stents removal were discussed and analyzed, and our experiences
      were summarized. RESULTS: The indications for airway metal stents removal
      included stent migration, fracture, and granulation related in-stent restenosis.
      Nineteen airway metal stents were removed from 20 patients, which included 9
      covered metal stents, 6 without fragmentation and 3 with fragmentation. The
      average duration of stenting before removal was (7.4+/-6.9)months (5 days-24
      months). Of the 11 uncovered metal stents, which had stayed in the airway for
      (10.2+/-7.0) months (20 days-24 months), 10 were removed successfully and 1
      failed. Three of them were removed intact and 7 fragmented. Complications were as
      follows: airway bleeding requiring management (n=11), airway collapse (n=6), re
      obstruction requiring temporary stent placement (n=5), postoperative tracheal
      intubation (n=1), mucosal tear with tracheoesophageal fistula (n=1), airway
      firing (n=1), airway obstruction, and death as a result of attempted stent
      removal (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Airway metal stent removal is a high-risk operation.
      Indications for stents removal should be evaluated thoroughly and all the
      advantages and disadvantages should be evaluated. Once stent removal is decided,
      the type of the metal stent, the position of the stent implanted, the duration of
      stenting, and the extent of the stent embedded in granulation tissue should be
      carefully considered to assess the difficulty of the procedure. Dissection of the
      stent from the airway wall before extracting it can reduce complications such as
      airway bleeding, mucosal tear and airway obstruction. At the same time, a standby
      stent is needed to deal with possible airway collapse after stent removal.
      Removal of metal airway stents should only be performed by a proficient and
      experienced interventional pulmonology team to ensure successful operation and to
      improve patient safety.

PMID- 26879613
TI  - [The effect of renal clearance on serum trough concentration of vancomycin in
      elderly patients with severe pneumonia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of renal clearance on serum trough
      concentration of vancomycin in elderly patients with severe pneumonia. METHODS:
      This was a prospective non-interventional study. Forty-two elderly patients with
      severe pneumonia and normal level of serum creatinine were enrolled from November
      2013 to October 2014. The patients included 25 males and 17 females, aged 60-83
      years (median 74 years). The renal clearance was measured, and the vancomycin
      regimen and rate of serum trough concentration achieving guideline-recommended
      target of 15-20 mg/L were investigated. The factors influencing trough
      concentration of vancomycin were analyzed using the general linear model.
      RESULTS: The vancomycin regimens were 1 g/ 12 h (17 cases), 0.5 g/8 h (14 cases)
      and 0.5 g/12 h (11 cases), and their median and range of serum concentrations
      were 14.9(2.4-28.5)mg/L, 16.2(2.8-27.8)mg/L and 11.6 (5.9-19.9) mg/L,
      respectively. The guideline-recommended target trough concentration of 15-20 mg/L
      was reached in only 10 patients, while trough concentration lower than 15 mg/L
      was found in 22 patients and higher than 20 mg/L in 10 patients. General linear
      model analysis showed that creatinine clearance rate(CCR) and dose of vancomycin
      per kilogram of body weight per day were independent influencing factors for
      trough concentration (both P<0.05). There were 8 patients with CCR>=130 ml.min(
      1).(1.73 m(2))(-1) (augmented renal clearance), 22 patients with 70<=CCR<130
      ml.min(-1).(1.73 m(2))(-1) and 12 patients with CCR<70 ml.min(-1).(1.73 m(2))(
      1,) and vancomycin trough concentration below 15 mg/L was found in 7, 11 and 4
      patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: CCR was an independent influencing factor for
      trough concentration of vancomycin, and augmented renal clearance increased the
      risk of subtherapeutic trough concentration of vancomycin.

PMID- 26879614
TI  - [Exercise-related risk at anaerobic threshold in patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the exercise-related risk at anaerobic threshold(AT) in
      patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). METHODS: Sixty two
      patients [men 56, women 6, aged (66+/-8) yr] with stable COPD in Beijing
      Friendship Hospital during 2013-2014, participated in this study. Incremental
      symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed on cycle ergometer.
      The AT was determined using the V-Slope technique and ventilatory equivalents for
      carbon dioxide and oxygen. Symptoms, 10-lead electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation
      by pulse oximetry(SpO(2)) were monitored during exercise. RESULTS: The AT,
      detectable in 53 patients, occurred at (68+/-10)% of peak oxygen uptake(peak
      VO(2)). The SpO(2) was in the safe range (94+/-2) % and the respiratory reserve
      was relatively high at AT (i.e. 48%). CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity exercise
      training can be performed in patients with moderate-to- severe COPD without
      resting oxygen desaturation.

PMID- 26879615
TI  - [Frequency and clinical relevance of rapidly growing mycobacterium isolated from
      respiratory samples].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and clinical relevance of rapidly growing
      mycobacterium (RGM) isolates in a tuberculosis referral center in Beijing, China.
      METHODS: All isolates were identified by using targeted gene sequencing. RESULTS
      of species identification for 228 nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) isolates
      from respiratory samples were analyzed, and available medical files of patients
      from whom NTM were isolated were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnostic criteria
      for RGM pulmonary disease issued by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) were used
      to determine clinical relevance. RESULTS: Isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus
      (M.abscessus) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (M.fortuitum) accounted for 28.9% (66
      isolates) and 8.8% (20 isolates)of NTM isolates, respectively. Sixty-six M.
      abscessus isolates from 32 patients had evaluable medical files, including 28
      cases diagnosed as definite M. abscessus lung disease, and 4 as probable M.
      abscessus lung disease. Eight M. fortuitum isolates from 8 cases had evaluable
      medical files, and all of them were diagnosed as unlikely lung disease.
      Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) was more effective to diagnose M.
      abscessus lung disease, as compared with Lowestein-Jensen medium (23/24 vs
      18/28). CONCLUSIONS: RGM is a common NTM in our institute. M. abscessus is mostly
      associated with RGM lung disease, but M. fortuitum is not.

PMID- 26879616
TI  - [Effect of radiation dose and dose rate on pulmonary fibrosis in mice].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of radiation dose and dose rate on radiation
      induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were
      randomly divided into a control group (n=6) and an irradiation group(n=18). The
      irradiation group was further assigned to 3 subgroups according to the whole lung
      radiation with 15 Gy at 400 cGy/min, 20 Gy at 400 cGy/min and 20 Gy at 100
      cGy/min, while the control group received sham-irradiation. All mice were scanned
      with computed tomograph (CT) 20 weeks post-irradiation, and then they were
      sacrificed and lung tissues were collected. H&E staining, sirius red staining,
      lung fibrosis scored and hydroxyproline content analysis were used to assess lung
      fibrosis and collagen deposition. Real time PCR was used to measure the mRNA
      expression of type I collagen. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect
      the activatin and distribution of a-SMA(+) -myofibroblasts. RESULTS: Compared to
      the control group, mice from irradiation groups exhibited significant pulmonary
      consolidation and collagen deposition.At the same dose rate, the higher
      irradiated dose used, the more severe pulmonary fibrosis was.On the other hand,
      with the same dose, the dose rate had less effect on pulmonary fibrosis.
      CONCLUSION: The effect of radiation dose on the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in
      mice is more than effect of the dose rate.

PMID- 26879617
TI  - [Progress of studies on clinical pharmacokinetics of inhaled antibacterials].

PMID- 26879618
TI  - [Dieulafoy's disease of the bronchus].

PMID- 26879619
TI  - [Research progress of venous thromboembolism in patients with acute exacerbations
      of COPD].

PMID- 26879620
TI  - [Characteristics of neuromuscular disease related sleep disordered breathing].

PMID- 26879621
TI  - [Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and gastro-esophageal reflux].

PMID- 26879622
TI  - [Acute exacerbation of chronic obstractive pulmonary disease related to human
      rhinovirus].

PMID- 26879623
TI  - Age-related changes in overcoming proactive interference in associative memory:
      The role of PFC-mediated executive control processes at retrieval.
AB  - Behavioral evidence has shown age-related impairments in overcoming proactive
      interference in memory, but it is unclear what underlies this deficit. Imaging
      studies in the young suggest overcoming interference may require several
      executive control processes supported by the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
      (VLPFC) and dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). The present functional magnetic resonance
      imaging (fMRI) study investigated whether age-related changes in dissociable
      executive control processes underlie deficits in overcoming proactive
      interference in associative memory during retrieval. Participants were tasked
      with remembering which associate (face or scene) objects were paired with most
      recently during study, under conditions of high or low proactive interference.
      Behavioral results demonstrated that, as interference increased, memory
      performance decreased similarly across groups, with slight associative memory
      deficits in older adults. Imaging results demonstrated that, across groups, left
      mid-VLPFC showed increasing activity with increasing interference, though
      activity did not distinguish correct from incorrect associative memory responses,
      suggesting this region may not directly serve in successful resolution of
      proactive interference, per se. Under conditions of high interference, older
      adults showed reduced associative memory accuracy effects in the DLPFC and
      anterior PFC. These results suggest that age-related PFC dysfunction may not be
      ubiquitous. Executive processes supported by ventral regions that detect mnemonic
      interference may be less affected than processes supported by dorsal and anterior
      regions that directly resolve interference.

PMID- 26879625
TI  - Comparing Ullmann Coupling on Noble Metal Surfaces: On-Surface Polymerization of
      1,3,6,8-Tetrabromopyrene on Cu(111) and Au(111).
AB  - The on-surface polymerization of 1,3,6,8-tetrabromopyrene (Br4 Py) on Cu(111) and
      Au(111) surfaces under ultrahigh vacuum conditions was investigated by a
      combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Deposition
      of Br4 Py on Cu(111) held at 300 K resulted in a spontaneous debromination
      reaction, generating the formation of a branched coordination polymer network
      stabilized by C-Cu-C bonds. After annealing at 473 K, the C-Cu-C bonds were
      converted to covalent C-C bonds, leading to the formation of a covalently linked
      molecular network of short oligomers. In contrast, highly ordered self-assembled
      two-dimensional (2D) patterns stabilized by both Br-Br halogen and Br-H hydrogen
      bonds were observed upon deposition of Br4 Py on Au(111) held at 300 K.
      Subsequent annealing of the sample at 473 K led to a dissociation of the C-Br
      bonds and the formation of disordered metal-coordinated molecular networks.
      Further annealing at 573 K resulted in the formation of covalently linked
      disordered networks. Importantly, we found that the chosen substrate not only
      plays an important role as catalyst for the Ullmann reaction, but also influences
      the formation of different types of intermolecular bonds and thus, determines the
      final polymer network morphology. DFT calculations further support our
      experimental findings obtained by STM and XPS and add complementary information
      on the reaction pathway of Br4 Py on the different substrates. 

PMID- 26879624
TI  - Interaction between COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism and childhood adversity affects
      reward processing in adulthood.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that altered dopamine transmission may
      increase the risk of mental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia or depression,
      possibly mediated by reward system dysfunction. This study aimed to clarify the
      impact of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism in interaction with environmental
      variation (G*E) on neuronal activity during reward processing. METHODS: 168
      healthy young adults from a prospective study conducted over 25years participated
      in a monetary incentive delay task measured with simultaneous EEG-fMRI. DNA was
      genotyped for COMT, and childhood family adversity (CFA) up to age 11 was
      assessed by a standardized parent interview. RESULTS: At reward delivery, a G*E
      revealed that fMRI activation for win vs. no-win trials in reward-related regions
      increased with the level of CFA in Met homozygotes as compared to Val/Met
      heterozygotes and Val homozygotes, who showed no significant effect. During the
      anticipation of monetary vs. verbal rewards, activation decreased with the level
      of CFA, which was also observed for EEG, in which the CNV declined with the level
      of CFA. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify convergent genetic and environmental
      effects on reward processing in a prospective study. Moreover, G*E effects during
      reward delivery suggest that stress during childhood is associated with higher
      reward sensitivity and reduced efficiency in processing rewarding stimuli in
      genetically at-risk individuals. Together with previous evidence, these results
      begin to define a specific system mediating interacting effects of early
      environmental and genetic risk factors, which may be targeted by early
      intervention and prevention.

PMID- 26879626
TI  - Evaluation of oxygen saturation values in different body positions in healthy
      individuals.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The research was conducted to evaluate oxygen saturation
      values measured in healthy individuals in different body positions. BACKGROUND:
      Changes in position affect ventilation-perfusion rates, oxygen transport and lung
      volume in normal lungs. There have been few studies and not enough information
      about which positioning of a healthy individual can increase oxygenation. DESIGN:
      A descriptive study. METHODS: A sample of 103 healthy individuals with no chronic
      disease, anaemia or pain was included in the research. Individuals were
      positioned in five different positions: sitting upright, supine position, prone
      position, lying on the left side and lying on the right side. Oxygen saturation
      and pulse rates were then measured and recorded after the individuals held each
      position for ten minutes. RESULTS: It was found that the average oxygen
      saturation value when measured while sitting in an upright position in a chair
      was significantly higher than that measured when the individual was lying on the
      right or left side of the body. Oxygen saturation values measured in the five
      different body positions were significantly higher in women, in individuals below
      the age of 35, in those with Body Mass Indexes of below 25 kg/m(2), and in
      nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: All of the oxygen saturation values measured in the five
      different body positions were in the normal range. Although oxygen saturation
      values were within the normal range in the five different body positions, post
      hoc analysis showed that the best oxygenation was in the 'sitting upright'
      position while the lowest oxygenation was in the supine position. RELEVANCE TO
      CLINICAL PRACTICE: Based on the results of this research, it can be concluded
      that the differences among oxygen saturation values according to the different
      body positions were statistically significant.

PMID- 26879627
TI  - "I don't know enough to feel comfortable using them:" Women's knowledge of and
      perceived barriers to long-acting reversible contraceptives on a college campus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess multiple dimensions of long-acting reversible contraception
      (LARC) knowledge and perceived multi-level barriers to LARC use among a sample of
      college women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an Internet-based study of 1982 female
      undergraduates at a large mid-western university. Our 55-item survey used a multi
      level framework to measure young women's understanding of, experiences with
      intrauterine devices (IUD) and implants and their perceived barriers to LARC at
      individual, health systems and community levels. The survey included a 20-item
      knowledge scale. We estimated and compared LARC knowledge scores and barriers
      using descriptive, bivariate and linear regression statistics. RESULTS: Few
      college women had used (5%) or heard of (22%) LARC, and most self-reported
      "little" or "no" knowledge of IUDs (79%) and implants (88%). Women answered 50%
      of LARC knowledge items correctly (mean 10.4, range 0-20), and scores differed
      across sociodemographic groups (p values<.04). Factors associated with scores in
      multivariable models included race/ethnicity, program year, sorority
      participation, religious affiliation and service attendance, employment status,
      sexual orientation and contraceptive history. Perceived barriers to IUDs included
      the following: not wanting a foreign object in body (44%), not knowing enough
      about the method (42%), preferring a "controllable" method (42%), cost (27%), and
      not being in a long-term relationship (23%). Implant results were similar. "Not
      knowing enough" was women's primary reason for IUD (18%) and implant (22%)
      nonuse. CONCLUSION: Lack of knowledge (both perceived and actual) was the most
      common barrier among many perceived individual-, systems- and community-level
      factors precluding these college women's LARC use. Findings can inform
      innovative, multi-level interventions to improve understanding, acceptability and
      uptake of LARC on campuses. IMPLICATIONS: Lack of knowledge of IUDs and implants
      served as a primary barrier to highly effective contraceptive use among these
      college women. Comprehensive, patient-centered and multi-level educational public
      health strategies are needed to promote positive campus climates around LARC and
      improve family planning outcomes among this substantial reproductive-aged
      population.

PMID- 26879629
TI  - Influence of calorie reduction on DNA repair capacity of human peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells.
AB  - Caloric restrictive feeding prolongs the lifespan of a variety of model organisms
      like rodents and invertebrates. It has been shown that caloric restriction
      reduces age-related as well as overall-mortality, reduces oxidative stress and
      influences DNA repair ability positively. There are numerous studies underlining
      this, but fewer studies involving humans exist. To contribute to a better
      understanding of the correlation of calorie reduction and DNA repair in humans,
      we adapted the host cell reactivation assay to an application with human
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, we used this reliable and
      reproducible assay to research the influence of a special kind of calorie
      reduction, namely F. X. Mayr therapy, on DNA repair capacity. We found a positive
      effect in all persons with low pre-existing DNA repair capacity. In individuals
      with normal pre-existing DNA repair capacity, no effect on DNA repair capacity
      was detectable. Decline of DNA repair, accumulation of oxidative DNA damages,
      mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening as well as caloric intake are
      widely thought to contribute to aging. With regard to that, our results can be
      considered as a strong indication that calorie reduction may support DNA repair
      processes and thus contribute to a healthier aging. 

PMID- 26879628
TI  - The role of top-down spatial attention in contingent attentional capture.
AB  - It is well known that attentional capture by an irrelevant salient item is
      contingent on top-down feature selection, but whether attentional capture may be
      modulated by top-down spatial attention remains unclear. Here, we combined
      behavioral and ERP measurements to investigate the contribution of top-down
      spatial attention to attentional capture under modified spatial cueing paradigms.
      Each target stimulus was preceded by a peripheral circular cue array containing a
      spatially uninformative color singleton cue. We varied target sets but kept the
      cue array unchanged among different experimental conditions. When participants'
      task was to search for a colored letter in the target array that shared the same
      peripheral locations with the cue array, attentional capture by the peripheral
      color cue was reflected by both a behavioral spatial cueing effect and a cue
      elicited N2pc component. When target arrays were presented more centrally, both
      the behavioral and N2pc effects were attenuated but still significant. The
      attenuated cue-elicited N2pc was found even when participants focused their
      attention on the fixed central location to identify a colored letter among an
      RSVP letter stream. By contrast, when participants were asked to identify an
      outlined or larger target, neither the behavioral spatial cueing effect nor the
      cue-elicited N2pc was observed, regardless of whether the target and cue arrays
      shared same locations or not. These results add to the evidence that attentional
      capture by salient stimuli is contingent upon feature-based task sets, and
      further indicate that top-down spatial attention is important but may not be
      necessary for contingent attentional capture. 

PMID- 26879630
TI  - Mediterranean nutraceutical foods: Strategy to improve vascular ageing.
AB  - Ageing is characterized by a decline in all systemic functions. A greater
      susceptibility to apoptosis and senescence may contribute to proliferative and
      functional impairment of endothelial progenitor cells. They play an important
      role in neo-angiogenesis and endothelial repair. Vascular ageing is associated
      with changes in the structure and functions of vessels' wall. There are many
      possible causes of this damage. For sure, inflammation and oxidative stress play
      a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, commonly
      attributed to a reduced availability of nitric oxide. Inflammageing, the chronic
      low-grade inflammation that characterizes elderly people, aggravates vascular
      pathology and provokes atherosclerosis, the major cardiovascular disease.
      Nutraceutical and molecular biology represent new insights in this field. In
      fact, the first could represent a possible treatment in the prevention or delay
      of vascular ageing; the second could offer new possible targets for potential
      therapeutic interventions. In this review, we pay attention on the causes of
      vascular ageing and on the effects of nutraceuticals on it.

PMID- 26879631
TI  - Novel COL4A1 mutation in an infant with severe dysmorphic syndrome with
      schizencephaly, periventricular calcifications, and cataract resembling
      congenital infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A clinical case is described of growth retardation, severe
      developmental delay, facial dysmorphic features with microcephaly, as well as
      congenital cataract, schizencephaly, periventricular calcifications, and
      epilepsy. METHODS: TORCH infection was suspected, but all tests for
      toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus were negative
      for the child and her mother; however, an increased level of antibodies against
      parvovirus B19 was detected in the proband. RESULTS: Chromosomal analysis and
      array-CGH showed no aberration. Target capture sequencing for COL4A1 and COL4A2
      revealed a de novo COL4A1 mutation (c.2123G>T [p.Gly708Val]). The mutation
      occurred at a highly conserved Gly residue in the Gly-X-Y repeat of the collagen
      triple helical domain, suggesting that these mutations may alter the collagen IV
      alpha1alpha1alpha2 heterotrimers. The mutation was predicted to be damaging.
      CONCLUSION: We suggest that COL4A1 testing should be considered in patients with
      schizencephaly as well as with phenotype suggesting TORCH infection without any
      proven etiological factors.

PMID- 26879632
TI  - Theta synchronization between medial prefrontal cortex and cerebellum is
      associated with adaptive performance of associative learning behavior.
AB  - Associative learning is thought to require coordinated activities among
      distributed brain regions. For example, to direct behavior appropriately, the
      medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) must encode and maintain sensory information and
      then interact with the cerebellum during trace eyeblink conditioning (TEBC), a
      commonly-used associative learning model. However, the mechanisms by which these
      two distant areas interact remain elusive. By simultaneously recording local
      field potential (LFP) signals from the mPFC and the cerebellum in guinea pigs
      undergoing TEBC, we found that theta-frequency (5.0-12.0 Hz) oscillations in the
      mPFC and the cerebellum became strongly synchronized following presentation of
      auditory conditioned stimulus. Intriguingly, the conditioned eyeblink response
      (CR) with adaptive timing occurred preferentially in the trials where mPFC
      cerebellum theta coherence was stronger. Moreover, both the mPFC-cerebellum theta
      coherence and the adaptive CR performance were impaired after the disruption of
      endogenous orexins in the cerebellum. Finally, association of the mPFC 
      cerebellum theta coherence with adaptive CR performance was time-limited
      occurring in the early stage of associative learning. These findings suggest that
      the mPFC and the cerebellum may act together to contribute to the adaptive
      performance of associative learning behavior by means of theta synchronization. 

PMID- 26879633
TI  - Can a Home-based Cardiac Physical Activity Program Improve the Physical Function
      Quality of Life in Children with Fontan Circulation?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients after Fontan operation for complex congenital heart disease
      (CHD) have decreased exercise capacity and report reduced health-related quality
      of life (HRQOL). Studies suggest hospital-based cardiac physical activity
      programs can improve HRQOL and exercise capacity in patients with CHD; however,
      these programs have variable adherence rates. The impact of a home-based cardiac
      physical activity program in Fontan survivors is unclear. This pilot study
      evaluated the safety, feasibility, and benefits of an innovative home-based
      physical activity program on HRQOL in Fontan patients. METHODS: A total of 14
      children, 8-12 years, with Fontan circulation enrolled in a 12-week moderate/high
      intensity home-based cardiac physical activity program, which included a home
      exercise routine and 3 formalized in-person exercise sessions at 0, 6, and 12
      weeks. Subjects and parents completed validated questionnaires to assess HRQOL.
      The Shuttle Test Run was used to measure exercise capacity. A Fitbit Flex
      Activity Monitor was used to assess adherence to the home activity program.
      RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, 57% were male and 36% had a dominant left ventricle.
      Overall, 93% completed the program. There were no adverse events. Parents
      reported significant improvement in their child's overall HRQOL (P < .01),
      physical function (P < .01), school function (P = .01), and psychosocial function
      (P < .01). Patients reported no improvement in HRQOL. Exercise capacity, measured
      by total shuttles and exercise time in the Shuttle Test Run and calculated VO2
      max, improved progressively from baseline to the 6 and 12 week follow up
      sessions. Monthly Fitbit data suggested adherence to the program. CONCLUSION:
      This 12-week home-based cardiac physical activity program is safe and feasible in
      preteen Fontan patients. Parent proxy-reported HRQOL and objective measures of
      exercise capacity significantly improved. A 6-month follow up session is
      scheduled to assess sustainability. A larger study is needed to determine the
      applicability and reproducibility of these findings in other age groups and forms
      of complex CHD.

PMID- 26879634
TI  - Effects of bariatric surgery on male lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual
      function.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on male lower urinary tract
      symptoms (LUTS) and sexual function. METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive obese men
      who underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were prospectively enrolled. Two
      validated questionnaires, the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) and
      the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were used to assess LUTS and
      sexual function, before and 3 months after surgery. Fifty-three men (mean age 39
      +/- 12.5 years) completed all pre and postoperative questionnaires. Mean body
      mass index (BMI) before and 3 months after surgery was 42.8 +/- 5.3 and 31.3 +/-
      5.4 kg/m2 ; respectively. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 41 (77%) men (mean age 40 +/-
      12.9, mean BMI 42.2 +/- 5 kg/m2 ) had some degree of LUTS and 39 (74%) men (mean
      age 40.7 +/- 12.4, mean BMI 42.8 +/- 5.6 kg/m2 ) were sexually active.
      Postoperatively, the total IPSS score decreased significantly (5.5 +/- 4.4 vs.
      2.7 +/- 2.6; P < 0.001), however this change was due to improvement in storage
      phase LUTS, measured by questions 2, 4, and 7 of the IPSS questionnaire. No
      statistically significant changes of voiding phase LUTS, measured by questions 1,
      3, 5, 6 of the IPSS, were observed. Of the various aspects of sexual dysfunction,
      only erectile function, measured by questions 1-5 and 15 of the IIEF
      questionnaire was significantly improved (22.7 +/- 7.2 vs. 26.1 +/- 6.5, P =
      0.02). Postoperative overall intercourse satisfaction (9.5 +/- 4.2 vs. 11.5 +/-
      3, P = 0.01) and overall satisfaction (7.9 +/- 2.5 vs. 8.9 +/- 1.3, P = 0.02)
      were significantly improved as well. CONCLUSION: Male storage phase LUTS and
      erectile function were significantly and rapidly improved following bariatric
      surgery. Larger and long-term studies are required to investigate these
      apparently beneficial effects. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:636-639, 2017. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879635
TI  - Imaging synucleinopathies.
AB  - In this review the structural and functional imaging changes associated with the
      synucleinopathies PD, MSA, and dementias associated with Lewy bodies are
      reviewed. The role of imaging for supporting differential diagnosis, detecting
      subclinical disease, and following disease progression is discussed and its
      potential use for monitoring disease progression is debated. (c) 2016
      International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26879636
TI  - Prevalence and correlates of proteinuria in Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional
      pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in
      sub-Saharan Africa, few community-based screenings have been conducted in Uganda.
      Opportunities to improve the management of CKD in sub-Saharan Africa are limited
      by low awareness, inadequate access, poor recognition, and delayed presentation
      for clinical care. Therefore, the Uganda Kidney Foundation engaged key
      stakeholders in performing a screening event on World Kidney Day. METHODS: We
      conducted a cross-sectional pilot study in March 2013 from a convenience sample
      of adult, urban residents in Kampala, Uganda. We advertised the event using radio
      and television announcements, newspapers, billboards, and notice boards at public
      places, such as places of worship. Subsequently, we screened for proteinuria,
      hypertension, fasting glucose impairment, and obesity in a central and easily
      accessible location. RESULTS: We enrolled 141 adults most of whom were female (57
      %), young (64 %; 18-39 years), and had a professional occupation (52 %). The
      prevalence of proteinuria (13 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 7-19 %),
      hypertension (38 %; 95 % CI 31-47 %), and impaired fasting glucose (13 %; 95 % CI
      9-20 %) were high in this study population. Proteinuria was most prevalent among
      young (18-39 years) adults (n = 14; 16 %) and among those who reported a history
      of alcohol intake (n = 10; 32 %). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of proteinuria was
      high among a convenience sample of urban residents in a sub-Saharan African
      setting. These results represent an important effort by the Ugandan Kidney
      Foundation to increase awareness and recognition of CKD, and they will help
      formulate additional epidemiological studies on NCDs in Uganda which are urgently
      needed and now feasible.

PMID- 26879637
TI  - High-Contrast Gratings based Spoof Surface Plasmons.
AB  - In this work, we explore the existence of spoof surface plasmons (SSPs) supported
      by deep-subwavelength high-contrast gratings (HCGs) on a perfect electric
      conductor plane. The dispersion relation of the HCGs-based SSPs is derived analyt
      ically by combining multimode network theory with rigorous mode matching method,
      which has nearly the same form with and can be degenerated into that of the SSPs
      arising from deep-subwavelength metallic gratings (MGs). Numerical simula- tions
      validate the analytical dispersion relation and an effective medium approximation
      is also presented to obtain the same analytical dispersion formula. This work
      sets up a unified theoretical framework for SSPs and opens up new vistas in
      surface plasmon optics.

PMID- 26879638
TI  - Positive deviance as a novel tool in malaria control and elimination:
      methodology, qualitative assessment and future potential.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Positive deviance (PD) is an asset-based, community-driven approach
      to behaviour change that has successfully been applied to address many health and
      social problems. It is yet to have been assessed for malaria control but may
      represent a promising tool for malaria elimination given its suitability in
      targeting small and remote population groups, apparent sustainability and ability
      to instil a high amount of community mobilisation. Here, the PD methodology as
      applied to malaria is explained, with focus upon and qualitative assessment of a
      proof of concept study in Cambodia. METHODS: Three villages in Battambang,
      northwestern Cambodia were selected for the intervention, with an estimated
      population of 5036 including both residents and migrant workers. In August 2010,
      field teams conducted a 1 week PD process to sensitise and mobilise the
      community, establish normative behaviours in relation to malaria control and
      prevention, identify positive deviant behaviours from within the community, and
      identify PD volunteers. Until March 2011, PD volunteers were supported by field
      teams via monthly meetings to conduct activities in their respective communities
      to increase practice of PD behaviours. In February 2012, 1 year following the end
      of external support, evaluative interviews were conducted with community members
      to qualitatively assess community acceptance and interpretation of the PD
      intervention, perceived behaviour changes, and perceived positive outcomes.
      RESULTS: Qualitative data from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews
      showed that the PD approach was well-accepted into the communities and created a
      strong sense of community empowerment. Positive behaviour change was linked to
      the PD intervention, including greater usage of nets by forest goers, and use of
      public health facilities for malaria diagnosis and treatment. One year following
      the end of external assistance, PD volunteers were still conducting activities in
      their respective communities. CONCLUSIONS: PD offers a promising tool in malaria
      control and elimination settings. Work is ongoing to quantitatively measure
      impact of PD on behaviours and malaria transmission and once gathered, national
      malaria control programmes should be encouraged to look at including PD as part
      of their national strategies. Feasibility of scale-up, cost-effectiveness, and
      applicability to other settings and diseases is also currently being explored.

PMID- 26879640
TI  - Integrating geological archives and climate models for the mid-Pliocene warm
      period.
AB  - The mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP) offers an opportunity to understand a warmer
      than-present world and assess the predictive ability of numerical climate models.
      Environmental reconstruction and climate modelling are crucial for understanding
      the mPWP, and the synergy of these two, often disparate, fields has proven
      essential in confirming features of the past and in turn building confidence in
      projections of the future. The continual development of methodologies to better
      facilitate environmental synthesis and data/model comparison is essential, with
      recent work demonstrating that time-specific (time-slice) syntheses represent the
      next logical step in exploring climate change during the mPWP and realizing its
      potential as a test bed for understanding future climate change. 

PMID- 26879639
TI  - RAB18, a protein associated with Warburg Micro syndrome, controls neuronal
      migration in the developing cerebral cortex.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Loss of function mutations in RAB18, has been identified in patients
      with the human neurological and developmental disorder Warburg Micro syndrome.
      However, the function of RAB18 in brain remains unknown. RESULTS: In this study,
      we report that RAB18 is a critical regulator of neuronal migration and
      morphogenesis. Using in utero electroporation suppression of RAB18 in the mouse
      brain impairs radial migration. Overexpression of dominant negative RAB18 or
      disruption of RAB3GAP (RAB18GEF) also results in delayed neuronal migration in
      the developing mouse cortex and inhibition of neurite growth in vitro. Moreover,
      loss of RAB18 induces an acceleration of N-cadherin degradation by lysosomal
      pathway resulting in the decrease of surface level of N-cadherin on neurons.
      CONCLUSIONS: RAB18 regulates neuronal migration and morphogenesis during
      development. Our findings highlight the critical role of RAB3GAP-RAB18 pathway in
      the developing cerebral cortex and might explain some of clinical features
      observed in patients with Warburg Micro syndrome.

PMID- 26879641
TI  - The reactivation of tabun-inhibited mutant AChE with Ortho-7: steered molecular
      dynamics and quantum chemical studies.
AB  - A highly toxic nerve agent, tabun, can inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at
      cholinergic sites, which leads to serious cardiovascular complications,
      respiratory compromise and death. We have examined the structural features of the
      tabun-conjugated AChE complex with an oxime reactivator, Ortho-7, to provide a
      strategy for designing new and efficient reactivators. Mutation of mAChE within
      the choline binding site by Y337A and F338A and its interaction with Ortho-7 has
      been investigated using steered molecular dynamics (SMD) and quantum chemical
      methods. The overall study shows that after mutagenesis (Y337A), the reactivator
      can approach more freely towards the phosphorylated active site of serine without
      any significant steric hindrance in the presence of tabun compared to the wild
      type and double mutant. Furthermore, the poor binding of Ortho-7 with the
      peripheral residues of mAChE in the case of the single mutant compared to that of
      the wild-type and double mutant (Y337A/F338A) can contribute to better efficacy
      in the former case. Ortho-7 has formed a greater number of hydrogen bonds with
      the active site surrounding residues His447 and Phe295 in the case of the single
      mutant (Y337A), and that stabilizes the drug molecule for an effective
      reactivation process. The DFT M05-2X/6-31+G(d) level of theory shows that the
      binding energy of Ortho-7 with the single mutant (Y337A) is energetically more
      preferred (-19.8 kcal mol(-1)) than the wild-type (-8.1 kcal mol(-1)) and double
      mutant (Y337A/F338A) (-16.0 kcal mol(-1)). The study reveals that both the
      orientation of the oxime reactivator for nucleophilic attack and the
      stabilization of the reactivator at the active site would be crucial for the
      design of an efficient reactivator. 

PMID- 26879642
TI  - A facile and efficient method of enzyme immobilization on silica particles via
      Michael acceptor film coatings: immobilized catalase in a plug flow reactor.
AB  - A novel method was developed for facile immobilization of enzymes on silica
      surfaces. Herein, we describe a single-step strategy for generating of reactive
      double bonds capable of Michael addition on the surfaces of silica particles.
      This method was based on reactive thin film generation on the surfaces by heating
      of impregnated self-curable polymer, alpha-morpholine substituted poly(vinyl
      methyl ketone) p(VMK). The generated double bonds were demonstrated to be an
      efficient way for rapid incorporation of enzymes via Michael addition. Catalase
      was used as model enzyme in order to test the effect of immobilization
      methodology by the reactive film surface through Michael addition reaction.
      Finally, a plug flow type immobilized enzyme reactor was employed to estimate
      decomposition rate of hydrogen peroxide. The highly stable enzyme reactor could
      operate continuously for 120 h at 30  degrees C with only a loss of about 36 % of
      its initial activity. 

PMID- 26879644
TI  - Monitoring of an antigen manufacturing process.
AB  - Fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with multivariate statistical methods
      was employed as a tool for monitoring the manufacturing process of pertactin
      (PRN), one of the virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis utilized in whopping
      cough vaccines. Fluorophores such as amino acids and co-enzymes were detected
      throughout the process. The fluorescence data collected at different stages of
      the fermentation and purification process were treated employing principal
      component analysis (PCA). Through PCA, it was feasible to identify sources of
      variability in PRN production. Then, partial least square (PLS) was employed to
      correlate the fluorescence spectra obtained from pure PRN samples and the final
      protein content measured by a Kjeldahl test from these samples. In view that a
      statistically significant correlation was found between fluorescence and PRN
      levels, this approach could be further used as a method to predict the final
      protein content. 

PMID- 26879643
TI  - Hybrid modeling as a QbD/PAT tool in process development: an industrial E. coli
      case study.
AB  - Process understanding is emphasized in the process analytical technology
      initiative and the quality by design paradigm to be essential for manufacturing
      of biopharmaceutical products with consistent high quality. A typical approach to
      developing a process understanding is applying a combination of design of
      experiments with statistical data analysis. Hybrid semi-parametric modeling is
      investigated as an alternative method to pure statistical data analysis. The
      hybrid model framework provides flexibility to select model complexity based on
      available data and knowledge. Here, a parametric dynamic bioreactor model is
      integrated with a nonparametric artificial neural network that describes biomass
      and product formation rates as function of varied fed-batch fermentation
      conditions for high cell density heterologous protein production with E. coli.
      Our model can accurately describe biomass growth and product formation across
      variations in induction temperature, pH and feed rates. The model indicates that
      while product expression rate is a function of early induction phase conditions,
      it is negatively impacted as productivity increases. This could correspond with
      physiological changes due to cytoplasmic product accumulation. Due to the dynamic
      nature of the model, rational process timing decisions can be made and the impact
      of temporal variations in process parameters on product formation and process
      performance can be assessed, which is central for process understanding. 

PMID- 26879645
TI  - Fluorinated graphenes as advanced biosensors - effect of fluorine coverage on
      electron transfer properties and adsorption of biomolecules.
AB  - Graphene derivatives are promising materials for the electrochemical sensing of
      diverse biomolecules and development of new biosensors owing to their improved
      electron transfer kinetics compared to pristine graphene. Here, we report complex
      electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic performance of variously
      fluorinated graphene derivatives prepared by reaction of graphene with a nitrogen
      fluorine mixture at 2 bars pressure. The fluorine content was simply controlled
      by varying the reaction time and temperature. The studies revealed that electron
      transfer kinetics and electrocatalytic activity of CFx strongly depend on the
      degree of fluorination. The versatility of fluorinated graphene as a biosensor
      platform was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry for different biomolecules
      essential in physiological processes, i.e. NADH, ascorbic acid and dopamine.
      Importantly, the highest electrochemical performance, even higher than pristine
      graphene, was obtained for fluorinated graphene with the lowest fluorine content
      (CF0.084) due to its high conductivity and enhanced adsorption properties
      combining pi-pi stacking interaction with graphene regions with hydrogen-bonding
      interaction with fluorine atoms. 

PMID- 26879646
TI  - Characterization of rhamnolipids by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after
      solid-phase extraction.
AB  - Rhamnolipids are surface-active agents with a broad application potential that
      are produced in complex mixtures by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. Analysis
      from fermentation broth is often characterized by laborious sample preparation
      and requires hyphenated analytical techniques like liquid chromatography coupled
      to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to obtain detailed information about sample
      composition. In this study, an analytical procedure based on chromatographic
      method development and characterization of rhamnolipid sample material by LC-MS
      as well as a comparison of two sample preparation methods, i.e., liquid-liquid
      extraction and solid-phase extraction, is presented. Efficient separation was
      achieved under reversed-phase conditions using a mixed propylphenyl and
      octadecylsilyl-modified silica gel stationary phase. LC-MS/MS analysis of a
      supernatant from Pseudomonas putida strain KT2440 pVLT33_rhlABC grown on glucose
      as sole carbon source and purified by solid-phase extraction revealed a total of
      20 congeners of di-rhamnolipids, mono-rhamnolipids, and their biosynthetic
      precursors 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acids (HAAs) with different carbon
      chain lengths from C8 to C14, including three rhamnolipids with uncommon C9 and
      C11 fatty acid residues. LC-MS and the orcinol assay were used to evaluate the
      developed solid-phase extraction method in comparison with the established liquid
      liquid extraction. Solid-phase extraction exhibited higher yields and
      reproducibility as well as lower experimental effort.

PMID- 26879647
TI  - Quantification of a peptide standard using the intrinsic fluorescence of
      tyrosine.
AB  - Absolute quantification of peptides is typically achieved using amino acid
      analysis, elemental analysis or derivatisation chemistry. Impurities, if present,
      may be accounted for using analytical high-performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC) with detection of the peptide bond ultraviolet (UV) absorbance. To do
      this, peak areas from a UV chromatogram are used to estimate percentage purity on
      a mass basis, and this purity value is used as a correction. However, because the
      approach assumes that UV absorbance is uniformly proportional to mass, the result
      may be only semi-quantitative. Here, an alternative approach involving HPLC with
      detection of intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence is described. The fluorescence
      properties of a 21-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to an S
      carbamidomethylated tryptic fragment of human serum albumin were characterised,
      and a method involving quantification relative to a non-peptidic calibrant, N
      acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester, was established. The method was used to quantify
      the thiol form of the peptide, and the results were compared with a parallel
      analysis involving derivatisation of the same material with Ellman's reagent.
      When differences in fluorescence response (analyte versus calibrant) were
      accounted for, the measurements obtained via the two methods were in good
      agreement. Contributions from peptidic impurities were also considered, and their
      influence on the validity of the conclusions was evaluated. Despite some
      ambiguities introduced by the impurities, and the identification of some other
      potential sources of error, the results demonstrate that use of Tyr fluorescence
      is a promising solution to the challenging problem of absolute peptide
      quantification.

PMID- 26879648
TI  - Label-free and sensitive aptasensor based on dendritic gold nanostructures on
      functionalized SBA-15 for determination of chloramphenicol.
AB  - A highly sensitive and low-cost electrochemical aptasensor was developed for the
      determination of chloramphenicol (CAP). The system was based on a CAP-binding
      aptamer, a molecular recognition element, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane
      (DABCO)-supported mesoporous silica SBA-15 on the surface of a screen-printed
      graphite electrode for formation of dendritic gold nanostructures and improving
      the performance and conductivity of the biosensor. Hemin has been applied as an
      electrochemical indicator which interacted with the guanine bases of the aptamer.
      In the absence of CAP, hemin binds to the aptamer and produces a weak
      differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) signal. The presence of CAP led to
      stabilization of the folded aptamer, which generated an amplified DPV signal. The
      peak current of hemin increased linearly with the concentration of CAP. Under
      optimal conditions, two linear ranges were obtained from 0.03 to 0.15 MUM and
      0.15 to 7.0 MUM, respectively, and the detection limit was 4.0 nM. The prepared
      biosensor has good selectivity against other non-target drugs. Thus, the sensor
      could provide a promising platform for the fabrication of aptasensors. The
      feasibility of using this aptasensor was demonstrated by determination of CAP in
      a human blood serum sample. 

PMID- 26879649
TI  - Qualitative identification of growth hormone-releasing hormones in human plasma
      by means of immunoaffinity purification and LC-HRMS/MS.
AB  - The use of growth hormone-releasing hormones (GHRHs) is prohibited in sports
      according to the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of
      the present study was to develop a method for the simultaneous detection of four
      different GHRHs and respective metabolites from human plasma by means of
      immunoaffinity purification and subsequent nano-ultrahigh performance liquid
      chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy (tandem) mass spectrometry. The
      target analytes included Geref (Sermorelin), CJC-1293, CJC-1295, and Egrifta
      (Tesamorelin) as well as two metabolites of Geref and CJC-1293, which were
      captured from plasma samples using a polyclonal GHRH antibody in concert with
      protein A/G monolithic MSIATM D.A.R.T.'S(r) (Disposable Automation Research Tips)
      prior to separation and detection. The method was fully validated and found to be
      fit for purpose considering the parameters specificity, linearity, recovery (19
      37%), lower limit of detection (<50 pg/mL), imprecision (<20%), and ion
      suppression/enhancement effects. The analytes' stability and metabolism were
      elucidated using in vitro and in vivo approaches. EDTA blood samples were
      collected from rats 2, 4, and 8 h after intravenous administration of GHRH (one
      compound per test animal). All intact substances were detected for at least 4 h
      but no anticipated metabolite was confirmed in laboratory rodents' samples;
      conversely, a Geref metabolite (GHRH3-29) was found in a human plasma sample
      collected after subcutaneous injection of the drug to a healthy male volunteer.
      The obtained results demonstrate that GHRHs are successfully detected in plasma
      using an immunoaffinity-mass spectrometry-based method, which can be applied to
      sports drug testing samples. Further studies are however required and warranted
      to account for potential species-related differences in metabolism and
      elimination of the target analytes.

PMID- 26879650
TI  - Mid-infrared spectroscopy for protein analysis: potential and challenges.
AB  - Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy investigates the interaction of MIR photons with
      both organic and inorganic molecules via the excitation of vibrational and
      rotational modes, providing inherent molecular selectivity. In general, infrared
      (IR) spectroscopy is particularly sensitive to protein structure and structural
      changes via vibrational resonances originating from the polypeptide backbone or
      side chains; hence information on the secondary structure of proteins can be
      obtained in a label-free fashion. In this review, the challenges for IR
      spectroscopy for protein analysis are discussed as are the potential and
      limitations of different IR spectroscopic techniques enabling protein analysis.
      In particular, the amide I spectral range has been widely used to study protein
      secondary structure, conformational changes, protein aggregation, protein
      adsorption, and the formation of amyloid fibrils. In addition to representative
      examples of the potential of IR spectroscopy in various fields related to protein
      analysis, the potential of protein analysis taking advantage of miniaturized MIR
      systems, including waveguide-enhanced MIR sensors, is detailed.

PMID- 26879651
TI  - Identification of adverse events that have a negative impact on quality of life
      in a clinical trial comparing docetaxel versus S-1 with cisplatin in lung cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: In the CATS (Cisplatin And TS-1) randomized trial comparing cisplatin
      plus either docetaxel (DP arm) or TS-1 (SP arm) in lung cancer, efficacy was
      found to be equivalent but the global quality of life (QOL) score was higher in
      the SP arm. The purpose of the current study was to identify which of the adverse
      events (AEs) contributed to the deterioration of QOL. METHODS: QOL and AE data
      from the CATS trial were used to quantitatively analyze the relationship between
      deterioration of QOL score and occurrence of AEs. Subtracted values of the QOL
      score from post-chemotherapy to pre-chemotherapy were fully compared between
      patients with or without each AE (Student's t test, significance level = 0.001).
      Multivariate linear regression analysis was also performed. Analysis of variance
      was performed to identify whether grade of AE(s) might be significantly
      correlated with the deterioration of the QOL score (significance level of 0.05).
      RESULTS: As expected, gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were associated with
      worsening of a variety of QOL items in both trial arms, detected by both
      univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively).
      Multivariate analysis unpredictably indicated that an increase in serum bilirubin
      level was the only AE that was uniquely associated with worsening of physical
      functioning (p = 0.0002), cognitive functioning (p < 0.0001), and financial
      problems (p = 0.0005) in the DP arm, although not in the SP arm. GI toxicities
      tended to be prolonged in the SP arm. CONCLUSION: An increase in serum bilirubin
      level may contribute to the worse global QOL of subjects in the DP arm in the
      CATS trial. The method we used here may be a unique approach to identify
      unpredictable AE(s) that worsen the QOL of patients treated by chemotherapy.

PMID- 26879652
TI  - Tumor angiogenesis--characteristics of tumor endothelial cells.
AB  - Tumor blood vessels provide nutrition and oxygen to the tumor, resulting in tumor
      progression. They also act as gatekeepers, inducing tumor metastasis. Thus,
      targeting tumor blood vessels is an important strategy in cancer therapy. Tumor
      endothelial cells (TECs), which line the inner layer of blood vessels of the
      tumor stromal tissue, are the main targets of anti-angiogenic therapy. Because
      new tumor blood vessels generally sprout from pre-existing vasculature, they have
      been considered to be the same as normal blood vessels. However, tumor blood
      vessels demonstrate a markedly abnormal phenotype that includes several important
      morphological changes. The degree of angiogenesis is determined by the balance
      between the angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors released by the tumor and host
      cells. Recent studies have revealed that TECs also exhibit altered
      characteristics which depend on the tumor microenvironment. Here, we review
      recent studies on TEC abnormalities and heterogeneity with respect to tumor
      progression and consider their therapeutic implications. 

PMID- 26879653
TI  - HIV Self-Testing: a Review of Current Implementation and Fidelity.
AB  - Oral HIV self-testing is an innovative and potentially high-impact means to
      increase HIV-case identification globally. As a screening test, oral HIV self
      testing offers the potential for increased adoption through greater convenience
      and privacy, and the potential to increase the proportion of the population who
      test regularly. Research on how best to translate the innovation of oral self
      testing to high-risk populations is underway. Currently only one oral HIV self
      test kit is FDA-approved (OraQuick In-Home HIV Test) and available for retail
      sale. In the present report we review recent studies on the dissemination,
      adoption, and implementation of oral HIV testing. Prior work has focused
      primarily on adoption, but recent studies have begun to identify methods for
      improving dissemination and problems associated with self-implementation. At
      present a major barrier to wider adoption is the relatively high retail cost of
      the oral HIV test kit. Significant but minor barriers are represented by overly
      complex instructional materials for some population segments, and dissemination
      programs of unknown efficacy. Theoretical and practical suggestions for
      conducting research on dissemination, adoption, and implementation of oral HIV
      testing are discussed. 

PMID- 26879655
TI  - The child and adolescent with HIV in resource poor countries.
AB  - Although sub-Saharan Africa caries the burden of paediatric and adult HIV/AIDS
      infections, the epidemic is spreading most rapidly in the Middle East and North
      Africa Region where between 2005 and 2013, AIDS-related deaths increased by 66%
      in comparison with a worldwide fall of 35%. For the first time, in 2011, more
      than half of people in need of antiretroviral drugs were receiving them, with
      coverage reaching 54%; yet only 28% of children have access to HIV treatment.
      This review sought to provide an update of paediatric and adolescent oral
      HIV/AIDS issues in resource poor countries. OBJECTIVES: To review the literature
      on paediatric & adolescent HIV with a focus on oral lesions as predictors of HIV
      infection; as markers of the efficacy of HAART and quality of life; caries risk;
      management of oral lesions; and epidemiological tests for clinical significance
      of oral lesions. METHODS: A search strategy was developed for PubMed to identify
      papers on paediatric oral HIV. Publications in English were selected on the basis
      that their titles and abstracts were relevant to the review objectives. The
      reference lists of included papers were screened for additional articles. The
      time-search for publications was limited from 2009 to 15 October 2014. RESULTS:
      Papers on the prevalence of oral lesions lacked standardization in diagnostic
      criteria and the introduction of HAART had significantly reduced prevalence; oral
      lesions remain useful predictors for HIV infection and as markers for the
      efficacy of HAART. Evidence suggest that caries risk is increased with HIV
      infection; management of oral lesions is inconsistent with available resources
      and surprisingly little recent information has been published in the past 5
      years. Revised case definitions are proposed for large-scale epidemiologic
      studies with the development of an oral lesion index showing promise. Oral health
      quality of life indicators for children and adolescents are becoming important as
      more of these indicators are being developed and their negative oral impacts in
      individuals with oral lesions are now well established. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric
      and adolescent oral HIV research needs to be prioritized as current studies are
      few and are characterized by poor quality study designs, small study samples and
      a lack of multicentre collaborations. There is a lack of high quality evidence
      for a number of interventions available for management of oral lesions.

PMID- 26879656
TI  - Rectal arterio-venous malformation (AVM) with bleeding of an internal hemorrhoid.
AB  - A 38-year-old male with no past history of illnesses visited the out-patient
      clinic of Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital complaining of dizziness and persistent
      anal bleeding. There was a significant anemia on a blood test and colonoscopy
      showed a thrombus in a markedly swollen internal hemorrhoid. Contrast-enhanced
      computed tomography (CT) showed a poorly demarcated area with early face
      enhancement on the right side of the rectum and anal canal. Based on these
      findings, an arterio-venous malformation (AVM) of the rectum was suspected.
      Abdominal angiography showed abnormal vessels receiving a blood supply from the
      bilateral superior rectal arteries. We suspected that the AVM in the rectum was
      the cause of the hemorrhage from the internal hemorrhoid, and therefore performed
      embolization of the AVM. Thereafter, the hemorrhage from the internal hemorrhoid
      stopped completely and the anemia improved to the normal level, without the need
      for treatment for the internal hemorrhoid. Colonoscopy performed 6 months after
      embolization showed shrinkage of the internal hemorrhoid. To the best of our
      knowledge, there are no reports stating a relationship between rectal AVM and
      internal hemorrhoids. However, we consider that contrast-enhanced CT can be used
      to detect vessel abnormalities related to severe bleeding of the internal
      hermorrhoids in patients with internal hemorrhoids and severe anemia. 

PMID- 26879657
TI  - Commentaries on Viewpoint: A role for the prefrontal cortex in exercise tolerance
      and termination.

PMID- 26879654
TI  - Friend or Foe: Innate Sensing of HIV in the Female Reproductive Tract.
AB  - The female reproductive tract (FRT) is a major site for human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection. There currently exists a poor understanding of how the
      innate immune system is activated upon HIV transmission and how this activation
      may affect systemic spread of HIV from the FRT. However, multiple mechanisms for
      how HIV is sensed have been deciphered using model systems with cell lines and
      peripheral blood-derived cells. The aim of this review is to summarize recent
      progress in the field of HIV innate immune sensing and place this in the context
      of the FRT. Because HIV is somewhat unique as an STD that thrives under
      inflammatory conditions, the response of cells upon sensing HIV gene products can
      either promote or limit HIV infection depending on the context. Future studies
      should include investigations into how FRT-derived primary cells sense and
      respond to HIV to confirm conclusions drawn from non-mucosal cells. Understanding
      how cells of the FRT participate in and effect innate immune sensing of HIV will
      provide a clearer picture of what parameters during the early stages of HIV
      exposure determine transmission success. Such knowledge could pave the way for
      novel approaches for preventing HIV acquisition in women. 

PMID- 26879658
TI  - Last Word on Viewpoint: A role for the prefrontal cortex in exercise tolerance
      and termination.

PMID- 26879659
TI  - Commentaries on Viewpoint: A call for research to assess and promote functional
      resilience in astronaut crews.

PMID- 26879660
TI  - Last Word on Viewpoint: A call for research to assess and promote functional
      resilience in astronaut crews.

PMID- 26879661
TI  - No functional reserve at exhaustion in endurance-trained men?

PMID- 26879663
TI  - Patient and Clinician Assessments of Symptomatology Changes on Older Adults
      Following a Psycho-educational Program for Depression and Anxiety.
AB  - Important attention has been given to the assessment of patients' perspectives on
      treatment, especially as outcomes have been typically evaluated by clinicians.
      This study examined the association between patient and clinician ratings on
      perceived improvement and symptomatology changes for an older adult population
      participating in an ongoing psycho-educational program. Pre-post measures
      including depression (GDS), anxiety (BAI) and general well-being (GWBS) were
      collected in a sample of 34 older adults (age = 71.32 +/- 6.46 years). Post
      testing data included perceived improvement rated by patients, and clinician
      assessment of depressive symptoms (CS-GDS). Results indicate significant
      correlations between pre-post changes of the GDS and patients' PIQ (r = -0.37, n
      = 31, p < 0.05), but not on symptomatic changes of the BAI (r = 0.012, n = 32, p
      > 0.05) or the GWBS (r = 0.12, n = 31, p > 0.05). Relationships between patients'
      PIQ and post-ratings on GDS (r = -0.74, n = 33, p < 0.05) and CS-GDS (r = -0.48,
      n = 32, p < 0.05) are also significant. Results imply that pre-post improvement
      in depressive symptoms is associated with a patient's perceived improvement and
      that clinician and patient ratings on depression symptoms post-treatment were
      both inversely correlated to patients' perceived improvement. Findings suggest
      that the PIQ is a good indicator to assess symptomatic change by patients and
      clinicians although they are possibly placing attention on different aspects of
      treatment outcome, as indicated by differences on sub-scales of the PIQ.
      Clinicians possibly place a strong focus on assessments of depression
      symptomatology. Future studies may integrate simultaneous assessments of
      instruments exploring aspects other than depression, especially those examining
      representations of illness in older adults.

PMID- 26879664
TI  - Erratum to: Recombinant viral protein VP1 suppresses HER-2 expression and
      migration/metastasis of breast cancer.

PMID- 26879662
TI  - Impact of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor polymorphism on tolerability and
      efficacy of bisoprolol therapy in Korean heart failure patients: association
      between beta adrenergic receptor polymorphism and bisoprolol therapy in heart
      failure (ABBA) study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the association between coding region variants of
      adrenergic receptor genes and therapeutic effect in patients with congestive
      heart failure (CHF). METHODS: One hundred patients with stable CHF (left
      ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 45%) were enrolled. Enrolled patients
      started 1.25 mg bisoprolol treatment once daily, then up-titrated to the
      maximally tolerable dose, at which they were treated for 1 year. RESULTS:
      Genotypic analysis was carried out, but the results were blinded to the
      investigators throughout the study period. At position 389 of the beta-1
      adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB1), the observed minor Gly allele frequency
      (Gly389Arg + Gly389Gly) was 0.21, and no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg
      equilibrium was observed in the genotypic distribution of Arg389Gly (p = 0.75).
      Heart rate was reduced from 80.8 +/- 14.3 to 70.0 +/- 15.0 beats per minute (p <
      0.0001). There was no significant difference in final heart rate across
      genotypes. However, the Arg389Arg genotype group required significantly more
      bisoprolol compared to the Gly389X (Gly389Arg + Gly389Gly) group (5.26 +/- 2.62
      mg vs. 3.96 +/- 2.05 mg, p = 0.022). There were no significant differences in
      LVEF changes or remodeling between two groups. Also, changes in exercise capacity
      and brain natriuretic peptide level were not significant. However, interestingly,
      there was a two-fold higher rate of readmission (21.2% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.162) and
      one CHF-related death in the Arg389Arg group. CONCLUSIONS: The ADRB1 Gly389X
      genotype showed greater response to bisoprolol than the Arg389Arg genotype,
      suggesting the potential of individually tailoring beta-blocker therapy according
      to genotype.

PMID- 26879665
TI  - Sequential learning of relative size by the Neotropical ant Gigantiops
      destructor.
AB  - The question of whether insects can perform concept learning or can use the
      geometry of space as in mammals has been recently addressed in Hymenoptera in an
      extensive way. We investigate here the ability of the tropical ant Gigantiops
      destructor to perform sequential learning and to use size relationships during
      navigation. Ants were trained to solve a dichotomic six-stage linear maze relying
      on the apparent width of two vertical landmarks. Each individual ant first learnt
      to associate a given landmark width to the motor decision of turning right or
      left to avoid dead-ends independently of a motor routine. When confronted for the
      first time with a new intermediate-sized pattern, for which no supposed snapshot
      could have been stored, ants made directional choices indicating that bar width
      judgments were not absolute but rather relative to the familiar visual patterns
      seen in the previous chambers. This result demonstrates that ants can generalize
      relationship rules by interpolating the relative width of a novel stimulus
      according to visual information kept in spatial working memory. In conclusion,
      ants can perform conditional discriminations reliably not only when stimuli are
      simultaneous but also when they are sequential. 

PMID- 26879666
TI  - El grillo e buon cantore: for Franz Huber on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

PMID- 26879667
TI  - NETIMIS: Dynamic Simulation of Health Economics Outcomes Using Big Data.
AB  - Many healthcare organizations are now making good use of electronic health record
      (EHR) systems to record clinical information about their patients and the details
      of their healthcare. Electronic data in EHRs is generated by people engaged in
      complex processes within complex environments, and their human input, albeit
      shaped by computer systems, is compromised by many human factors. These data are
      potentially valuable to health economists and outcomes researchers but are
      sufficiently large and complex enough to be considered part of the new frontier
      of 'big data'. This paper describes emerging methods that draw together data
      mining, process modelling, activity-based costing and dynamic simulation models.
      Our research infrastructure includes safe links to Leeds hospital's EHRs with 3
      million secondary and tertiary care patients. We created a multidisciplinary team
      of health economists, clinical specialists, and data and computer scientists, and
      developed a dynamic simulation tool called NETIMIS (Network Tools for
      Intervention Modelling with Intelligent Simulation; http://www.netimis.com )
      suitable for visualization of both human-designed and data-mined processes which
      can then be used for 'what-if' analysis by stakeholders interested in costing,
      designing and evaluating healthcare interventions. We present two examples of
      model development to illustrate how dynamic simulation can be informed by big
      data from an EHR. We found the tool provided a focal point for multidisciplinary
      team work to help them iteratively and collaboratively 'deep dive' into big data.

PMID- 26879668
TI  - Nasal basal cell carcinomas. Can we reduce surgical margins to 3mm with complete
      excision?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incomplete excision
      rate of nasal basal cell carcinomas (BCC) resected with different margins to
      demonstrate that 3-mm surgical margins could be used as safety margins to reduce
      esthetic consequences with a low risk of incomplete excision. METHODS: All
      patients with BCC of the nose excised from January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2011
      were included. Data were analyzed and reviewed retrospectively. Tumors were
      treated with different surgical margins of excision: 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm. The
      primary outcome variable was the rate of incomplete excision. Other study
      variables were the histologic subtype, size, and recurrent lesions. RESULTS: Of
      the 132 patients, 115 were included corresponding on with 127 BCC. Median age was
      75.5 (64-83) and sex ratio M:F=1.05. Of the 127 BCC, 80 were aggressive
      histologic subtype (63%), and 11 were recurrent (8.7%). The overall rate of
      incomplete excision was 17.3% (n=22). Of these 22, 17 (77.3%) were of an
      aggressive subtype. The incomplete excision rates within the groups were 12.5%
      (n=4), 22.2% (n=10), and 16% (n=8), respectively within the group with 3-, 4- and
      5-mm surgical margins. No significant difference was observed between the groups
      (P=.519). The incomplete excision rate was not independently associated with the
      surgical margins, histologic subtype and recurrent type (P>.05). CONCLUSION:
      Three-millimeters margins could possibly be used to treat nasal BCC in chosen
      cases. Regarding the high rate of incomplete excision, reconstruction should be
      performed after receiving the pathologic report.

PMID- 26879670
TI  - Emerging Network-Based Tools in Movement Ecology.
AB  - New technologies have vastly increased the available data on animal movement and
      behaviour. Consequently, new methods deciphering the spatial and temporal
      interactions between individuals and their environments are vital. Network
      analyses offer a powerful suite of tools to disentangle the complexity within
      these dynamic systems, and we review these tools, their application, and how they
      have generated new ecological and behavioural insights. We suggest that network
      theory can be used to model and predict the influence of ecological and
      environmental parameters on animal movement, focusing on spatial and social
      connectivity, with fundamental implications for conservation. Refining how we
      construct and randomise spatial networks at different temporal scales will help
      to establish network theory as a prominent, hypothesis-generating tool in
      movement ecology. 

PMID- 26879669
TI  - Identification of a prostaglandin D2 metabolite as a neuritogenesis enhancer
      targeting the TRPV1 ion channel.
AB  - Mast cells play important roles in allergic inflammation by secreting various
      mediators. In the present study, based on the finding that the medium conditioned
      by activated RBL-2H3 mast cells enhanced the nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced
      neuritogenesis of PC12 cells, we attempted to isolate an active compound from the
      mast cell conditioned culture medium. Our experiment identified 15-deoxy
      Delta(12,14)-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the PGD2 metabolites, as a potential
      enhancer of neuritogenesis. 15d-PGJ2 strongly enhanced the neuritogenesis
      elicited by a low-concentration of NGF that alone was insufficient to induce the
      neuronal differentiation. This 15d-PGJ2 effect was exerted in a Ca(2+)-dependent
      manner, but independently of the NGF receptor TrkA. Importantly, 15d-PGJ2
      activated the transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 1 (TRPV1), a non
      selective cation channel, leading to the Ca(2+) influx. In addition, we observed
      that (i) NGF promoted the insertion of TRPV1 into the cell surface membrane and
      (ii) 15d-PGJ2 covalently bound to TRPV1. These findings suggest that the NGF/15d
      PGJ2-induced neuritogenesis may be regulated by two sets of mechanisms, one for
      the translocation of TRPV1 into the cell surface by NGF and one for the
      activation of TRPV1 by 15d-PGJ2. Thus, there is most likely a link between
      allergic inflammation and activation of the neuronal differentiation. 

PMID- 26879671
TI  - Family-Based HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Reduction for Drug
      Involved Young Offenders: 42-Month Outcomes.
AB  - This study tested a family-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually
      transmitted infection (STI) prevention approach integrated within an empirically
      supported treatment for drug-involved young offenders, Multidimensional Family
      Therapy (MDFT). A randomized, controlled, two-site community-based trial was
      conducted with 154 youth and their parents. Drug-involved adolescents were
      recruited in detention, randomly assigned to either MDFT or Enhanced Services as
      Usual (ESAU), and assessed at intake, 3, 6, 9, 18, 24, 36, and 42-month follow
      ups. Youth in both conditions received structured HIV/STI prevention in detention
      and those in MDFT also received family-based HIV/STI prevention as part of
      ongoing treatment following detention release. Youth in both conditions and sites
      significantly reduced rates of unprotected sex acts and STI incidence from intake
      to 9 months. They remained below baseline levels of STI incidence (10%) over the
      42-month follow-up period. At Site A, adolescents who were sexually active at
      intake and received MDFT showed greater reduction in overall frequency of sexual
      acts and number of unprotected sexual acts than youth in ESAU between intake and
      9-month follow-ups. These intervention differences were evident through the 42
      month follow-up. Intervention effects were not found for STI incidence or
      unprotected sex acts at Site B. Intensive group-based and family intervention in
      detention and following release may reduce sexual risk among substance-involved
      young offenders, and a family-based approach may enhance effects among those at
      highest risk. Site differences in intervention effects, study limitations,
      clinical implications, and future research directions are discussed.

PMID- 26879673
TI  - Natural zeolites in diet or litter of broilers.
AB  - This study aims to analyse the influence of adding natural zeolites
      (clinoptilolite) to the diet or litter of broilers and their effects on growth
      performance, carcass yield and litter quality. Three consecutive flocks of
      broilers were raised on the same sawdust litter, from d 1 to d 42 of age, and
      distributed in three treatments (control with no added zeolites, addition of 5
      g/kg zeolite to diet and addition of 100 g/kg zeolites to litter). The addition
      of zeolites to the diet or litter did not affect growth performance or carcass
      yield. The addition of zeolites to the diet did not influence moisture content of
      the litter, ammonia volatilisation was reduced only in the first flock and pH of
      litter was reduced in the second and third flock. However, the addition of
      zeolites to the litter reduced moisture content, litter pH and ammonia
      volatilisation in all flocks analysed. The addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to the diet
      in three consecutive flocks was not effective in maintaining litter quality,
      whereas the addition of 100 g/kg natural zeolites to sawdust litter reduced
      litter moisture and ammonia volatilisation in three consecutive flocks raised on
      the same litter. 

PMID- 26879672
TI  - (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Enhances Hepatitis C Virus Double-Stranded RNA
      Intermediates-Triggered Innate Immune Responses in Hepatocytes.
AB  - (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol component of green tea,
      has recently been identified as an inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry.
      Here, we examined whether EGCG can enhance hepatocyte-mediated intracellular
      innate immunity against HCV. HCV dsRNAs (Core, E1-P7, NS-3'NTR and NS5A) induced
      interferon-lambda1 (IFN-lambda1) expression in human hepatocytes. These HCV
      dsRNAs also induced the expression of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), retinoic acid
      inducible gene I (RIG-I) and several antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs)
      expression. Although EGCG treatment of hepatocytes alone had little effect on
      TLR3 and RIG-I signaling pathways, EGCG significantly enhanced HCV dsRNAs-induced
      the expression of IFN-lambda1, TLR3, RIG-I and antiviral ISGs in hepatocytes.
      Furthermore, treatment of HCV-infected hepatocytes with EGCG and HCV dsRNAs
      inhibited viral replication. Given that EGCG has the ability to enhance HCV
      dsRNAs-induced intracellular antiviral innate immunity against HCV, suggesting
      the potential application of EGCG as a new anti-HCV agent for HCV therapy. 

PMID- 26879674
TI  - Morcellation complications: From direct trauma to inoculation.
AB  - Morcellation is the fragmentation of tissue to facilitate removal of the specimen
      through small incision in minimally invasive surgery. This technique is not
      unique to gynecology and is used in general surgery with the goal of improved
      surgical outcomes including decreased pain, cost, hospital length of stay, and
      rapid return to normal activities and work. Gynecologic laparoscopic power
      morcellation (LPM) has come under increased scrutiny over the last 2 years due to
      widespread attention to a known but rare complication, an unanticipated
      dissemination of malignancy, namely occult uterine leiomyosarcoma. This chapter
      focuses on complications associated with gynecologic tissue morcellation from
      inoculation of benign or malignant tissue fragments within the peritoneal cavity
      and direct trauma from morcellation techniques. We also include a review of the
      various morcellation techniques from knife to electrical and the use of
      intraperitoneal specimen containment systems. 

PMID- 26879677
TI  - The Mighty Mitochondria.

PMID- 26879675
TI  - Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and survival in patients with head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because immune responses within the tumor microenvironment are
      important predictors of tumor biology, correlations of types of tumor
      infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with clinical outcomes were determined in 278
      patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS:
      Infiltrating levels of CD4 (helper T cells), CD8 (cytotoxic/suppressor T cells),
      FoxP3 (regulatory T cells), CD68 (myeloid-derived suppressor cells,) and CD1a
      (Langerhans) cells were measured in tissue microarrays (TMAs). Cox models tested
      associations with patient outcomes after adjusting for all known prognostic
      factors. Median follow-up was 36.6 months. RESULTS: Higher CD4 and CD8 TIL levels
      were associated with improved overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77; 95%
      confidence interval [CI]  = 0.65-0.93; p = .005 and HR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.64
      0.94; p = .008, respectively), and relapse-free survival (RFS; p = .03 and .05,
      respectively). After controlling for prognostic factors, higher CD4 levels
      predicted improved OS and disease-specific survival (DSS; p = .003 and p = .004,
      respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that TILs are a significant
      independent prognostic factor for HNSCC that differ by treatment. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1074-1084, 2016.

PMID- 26879676
TI  - Identification of different mechanisms leading to PAX6 down-regulation as
      potential events contributing to the onset of Hirschsprung disease.
AB  - Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is attributed to a failure of neural crest derived
      cells to migrate, proliferate, differentiate or survive in the bowel wall during
      embryonic Enteric Nervous System (ENS) development. This process requires a wide
      and complex variety of molecules and signaling pathways which are activated by
      transcription factors. In an effort to better understand the etiology of HSCR, we
      have designed a study to identify new transcription factors participating in
      different stages of the colonization process. A differential expression study has
      been performed on a set of transcription factors using Neurosphere-like bodies
      from both HSCR and control patients. Differential expression levels were found
      for CDYL, MEIS1, STAT3 and PAX6. A significantly lower expression level for PAX6
      in HSCR patients, would suit with the finding of an over-representation of the
      larger tandem (AC)m(AG)n repeats within the PAX6 promoter in HSCR patients, with
      the subsequent loss of protein P300 binding. Alternatively, PAX6 is a target for
      DNMT3B-dependant methylation, a process already proposed as a mechanism with a
      role in HSCR. Such decrease in PAX6 expression may influence in the proper
      function of signaling pathways involved in ENS with the confluence of additional
      genetic factors to the manifestation of HSCR phenotype. 

PMID- 26879678
TI  - Making a Division Apparatus on Mitochondria.
AB  - Mitochondrial division apparatuses are generally thought to form by
      oligomerization of Drp1 at pre-determined sites on mitochondria. A recent study
      by Ji et al. now shows that the Drp1 oligomers on mitochondria move, merge, and
      mature into a functional division apparatus. 

PMID- 26879679
TI  - Phenotypic and functional alterations of pDCs in lupus-prone mice.
AB  - Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were considered to be the major IFNalpha
      source in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but their phenotype and function in
      different disease status have not been well studied. To study the function and
      phenotype of pDCs in lupus-prone mice we used 7 strains of lupus-prone mice
      including NZB/W F1, NZB, NZW, NZM2410, B6.NZM(Sle1/2/3), MRL/lpr and BXSB/Mp mice
      and C57BL/6 as control mice. Increased spleen pDC numbers were found in most
      lupus mice compared to C57BL/6 mice. The IFNalpha-producing ability of BM pDCs
      was similar between lupus and C57BL/6 mice, whereas pDCs from the spleens of
      NZB/W F1 and NZB mice produced more IFNalpha than pDCs from the spleens of
      C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, spleen pDCs from MRL-lpr and NZM2410 mice showed
      increased responses to Tlr7 and Tlr9, respectively. As the disease progressed,
      IFN signature were evaluated in both BM and spleen pDC from lupus prone mice and
      the number of BM pDCs and their ability to produce IFNalpha gradually decreased
      in lupus-prone mice. In conclusion, pDC are activated alone with disease
      development and its phenotype and function differ among lupus-prone strains, and
      these differences may contribute to the development of lupus in these mice. 

PMID- 26879681
TI  - Proportion of collagen type II in the extracellular matrix promotes the
      differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into nucleus
      pulposus cells.
AB  - During degeneration process, the catabolism of collagen type II and anabolism of
      collagen type I in nucleus pulposus (NP) may influence the bioactivity of
      transplanted cells. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) were
      cultured as a micromass or in a series of gradual proportion hydrogels of a mix
      of collagen types I and II. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were detected
      using CCK-8 and LDH assays respectively. The expression of differentiation
      related genes and proteins, including SOX9, aggrecan, collagen type I, and
      collagen type II, was examined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Novel
      phenotypic genes were also detected by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Alcian blue
      and dimethylmethylene blue assays were used to investigate sulfate proteoglycan
      expression, and PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, and Smad signaling pathways were examined by
      Western blotting. The results showed collagen hydrogels have good
      biocompatibility, and cell proliferation increased after collagen type II
      treatment. Expressions of SOX9, aggrecan, and collagen type II were increased in
      a collagen type II dependent manner. Sulfate proteoglycan synthesis increased in
      proportion to collagen type II concentration. Only hADMSCs highly expressed NP
      cell marker KRT19 in collagen type II culture. Additionally, phosphorylated
      Smad3, which is associated with phosphorylated ERK, was increased after collagen
      type II-stimulation. The concentration and type of collagen affect hADMSC
      differentiation into NP cells. Collagen type II significantly ameliorates hADMSC
      differentiation into NP cells and promotes extracellular matrix synthesis.
      Therefore, anabolism of collagen type I and catabolism of type II may attenuate
      the differentiation and biosynthesis of transplanted stem cells.

PMID- 26879680
TI  - Different Responses of an Invasive Clonal Plant Wedelia trilobata and its Native
      Congener to Gibberellin: Implications for Biological Invasion.
AB  - The invasive clonal plant Wedelia trilobata contains higher levels of ent-kaurane
      diterpenes, which are precursors of gibberellins (GAs), and higher rates of
      clonal growth than its native congener W. chinensis in invaded habitats. We
      hypothesized that the higher levels of endogenous GAs facilitate greater ramet
      growth in W. trilobata compared with W. chinensis. We quantified endogenous
      levels of GA1+3 in the two species and compared their growth responses to the
      changes of endogenous and exogenous GA3 by using short-term and long-term
      hydroponics experiments. After a period of homogeneous cultivation, levels of
      endogenous GA1+3 were higher in W. trilobata than in W. chinensis. The reduction
      of endogenous GAs repressed the emergence of adventitious roots and the growth of
      W. trilobata in the initial cultivation stage, and inhibited its shoot elongation
      and biomass. Levels of endogenous GA1+3 were positively correlated with the
      length of shoots and adventitious roots of W. trilobata. Adventitious roots of W.
      trilobata also emerged earlier and grew faster when treated with exogenous GA3.
      In contrast, exogenous GA3 treatment inhibited the length of adventitious roots
      in W. chinensis, and levels of endogenous GA1+3 did not correlate with shoot or
      adventitious root length. Our study suggests that GAs accelerate the rapid clonal
      growth of W. trilobata, more than that of its native congener W. chinensis,
      illustrating the relationship between plant hormones and the clonal growth of
      invasive plants. These findings are important for understanding the mechanisms
      associated with the invasiveness of clonal plants and their potential management.

PMID- 26879682
TI  - Early atherosclerosis aggravates renal microvascular loss and fibrosis in swine
      renal artery stenosis.
AB  - Renal function in patients with atherosclerosis and renal artery stenosis (ARAS)
      deteriorates more frequently than in nonatherosclerotic RAS. We hypothesized that
      ARAS aggravates stenotic-kidney micro vascular loss compared to RAS. Domestic
      pigs were randomized to normal, RAS, and ARAS (RAS fed a high-cholesterol diet)
      groups (n = 7 each). Ten weeks later stenotic-kidney oxygenation, renal blood
      flow, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were evaluated in vivo, and micro
      vascular density by micro-computed tomography. Blood pressure in both RAS and
      ARAS was elevated; and stenotic-kidney renal blood flow and GFR similarly
      decreased. RAS decreased the density of small-size cortical microvessels (<200
      MUm), whereas ARAS extended the decrease to medium-sized microvessels (200-300
      MUm). Cortical hypoxia and interstitial fibrosis increased in both RAS and ARAS
      but correlated inversely with micro vascular density only in RAS. Atherosclerosis
      aggravates loss of stenotic-kidney microvessels, yet additional determinants
      likely contribute to cortical hypoxia and fibrosis in swine ARAS. 

PMID- 26879683
TI  - Dehydroepiandrosterone plus climen supplementation shows better effects than
      dehydroepiandrosterone alone on infertility patients with diminished ovarian
      reserve of low-FSH level undergoing in-vitro fertilization cycles: a randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone
      (DHEA) plus climen (estradiol valerate and cyproterone acetate drug combination)
      on infertility patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and to determine if
      the combination of DHEA plus climen is superior to DHEA alone in improving
      ovarian response. METHODS: A total of 124 women were randomized into the DHEA
      group (n = 64) and the DHEA plus climen group (n = 60) for 12 weeks before being
      subjected to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. To investigate if there is a
      FSH-related difference on the effect of the addition of climen, the DHEA group
      and the DHEA plus climen group were further divided into four subgroups according
      to a basal FSH level cut-off of 10 mIU/ml. We performed a comparison of Day 3
      blood samples before and after treatment and IVF outcome parameters, including
      AMH, FSH, E2, AFC, oocytes retrieved, MII oocyte numbers, embryo numbers and
      accumulated embryo scores. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of pretreatment, the DHEA plus
      climen group demonstrated a significantly higher level of AMH (P = 0.001) and a
      significantly lower level of FSH (P = 0.001) compared with the DHEA group. When
      the two groups were divided into four subgroups based on the FSH cut-off of 10
      mIU/mL, a significant increase of AMH (P = 0.034) was found in the high-FSH DHEA
      plus climen group, whereas there was no significant difference in the high-FSH
      DHEA group (P = 0.322). A significantly higher accumulated score of embryos was
      observed in the low-FSH DHEA plus climen group compared with the low-FSH DHEA
      group (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that patients with DOR
      of a low-FSH level might benefit more from DHEA plus climen supplementation than
      from DHEA supplementation alone.

PMID- 26879685
TI  - Quantitative evaluation of local pulmonary distribution of TiO2 in rats following
      single or multiple intratracheal administrations of TiO2 nanoparticles using X
      ray fluorescence microscopy.
AB  - Uneven pulmonary nanoparticle (NP) distribution has been described when using
      single-dose intratracheal administration tests. Multiple-dose intratracheal
      administrations with small quantities of NPs are expected to improve the
      unevenness of each dose. The differences in local pulmonary NP distribution
      (called microdistribution) between single- and multiple-dose administrations may
      cause differential pulmonary responses; however, this has not been evaluated.
      Here, we quantitatively evaluated the pulmonary microdistribution (per mesh: 100
      MUm * 100 MUm) of TiO2 in lung sections from rats following one, two, three, or
      four doses of TiO2 NPs at a same total dosage of 10 mg kg(-1) using X-ray
      fluorescence microscopy. The results indicate that: (i) multiple-dose
      administrations show lower variations in TiO2 content (ng mesh(-1) ) for sections
      of each lobe; (ii) TiO2 appears to be deposited more in the right caudal and
      accessory lobes located downstream of the administration direction of NP
      suspensions, and less so in the right middle lobes, irrespective of the number of
      doses; (iii) there are not prominent differences in the pattern of pulmonary TiO2
      microdistribution between rats following single and multiple doses of TiO2 NPs.
      Additionally, the estimation of pulmonary TiO2 deposition for multiple-dose
      administrations imply that every dose of TiO2 would be randomly deposited only in
      part of the fixed 30-50% of lung areas. The evidence suggests that multiple-dose
      administrations do not offer remarkable advantages over single-dose
      administration on the pulmonary NP microdistribution, although multiple-dose
      administrations may reduce variations in the TiO2 content for each lung lobe.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26879686
TI  - Diabetes and cancer, common threads and missing links.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus is a serious and growing health problem worldwide and is
      associated with severe acute and chronic complications. Accruing epidemiological
      and clinical evidence have suggested that an increased cancer incidence is
      associated with diabetes as well as certain diabetes risk factors and diabetes
      medications. Several pathophysiological mechanisms for this relationship have
      been postulated, including insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, enhanced
      inflammation, aberrant metabolic state, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and
      deregulation of autophagy. In addition to these potential mechanisms, a number of
      common risk factors, including obesity, may be behind the association between
      diabetes and cancer. Furthermore, different anti-diabetic medications may modify
      cancer risk and mortality in patients with diabetes. This Review discusses
      evidence to support the relationship between diabetes and cancer development as
      well as the underlying mechanisms. We also discuss the relationship of current
      diabetes treatments and cancer risk or prognosis. Understanding the mechanisms
      that connect type 2 diabetes or diabetes treatments to cancer are crucial for
      establishing the fundamental strategies concerning about primary prevention,
      early detection and effective therapy against these diseases. 

PMID- 26879684
TI  - The Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT): protocol for a cluster randomised
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite improving evidence-based practice following clinical
      guidelines to optimise drug therapy, Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) still exerts a
      devastating toll from vascular complications and premature death. Biochemical
      remission of T2DM has been demonstrated with weight loss around 15kg following
      bariatric surgery and in several small studies of non-surgical energy-restriction
      treatments. The non-surgical Counterweight-Plus programme, running in Primary
      Care where obesity and T2DM are routinely managed, produces >15 kg weight loss in
      33% of all enrolled patients. The Diabetes UK-funded Counterpoint study suggested
      that this should be sufficient to reverse T2DM by removing ectopic fat in liver
      and pancreas, restoring first-phase insulin secretion. The Diabetes Remission
      Clinical Trial (DiRECT) was designed to determine whether a structured,
      intensive, weight management programme, delivered in a routine Primary Care
      setting, is a viable treatment for achieving durable normoglycaemia. Other aims
      are to understand the mechanistic basis of remission and to identify
      psychological predictors of response. METHODS/DESIGN: Cluster-randomised design
      with GP practice as the unit of randomisation: 280 participants from around 30
      practices in Scotland and England will be allocated either to continue usual
      guideline-based care or to add the Counterweight-Plus weight management
      programme, which includes primary care nurse or dietitian delivery of 12-20weeks
      low calorie diet replacement, food reintroduction, and long-term weight loss
      maintenance. Main inclusion criteria: men and women aged 20-65 years, all
      ethnicities, T2DM 0-6years duration, BMI 27-45 kg/m(2). Tyneside participants
      will undergo Magnetic Resonance (MR) studies of pancreatic and hepatic fat, and
      metabolic studies to determine mechanisms underlying T2DM remission. Co-primary
      endpoints: weight reduction >= 15 kg and HbA1c <48 mmol/mol at one year. Further
      follow-up at 2 years. DISCUSSION: This study will establish whether a structured
      weight management programme, delivered in Primary Care by practice nurses or
      dietitians, is a viable treatment to achieve T2DM remission. Results, available
      from 2018 onwards, will inform future service strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN03267836 . Date of Registration 20/12/2013.

PMID- 26879687
TI  - STP Best Practices for Evaluating Clinical Pathology in Pharmaceutical Recovery
      Studies.
AB  - The Society of Toxicologic Pathology formed a working group in collaboration with
      the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology to provide recommendations
      for the appropriate inclusion of clinical pathology evaluation in recovery arms
      of nonclinical toxicity studies but not on when to perform recovery studies.
      Evaluation of the recovery of clinical pathology findings is not required
      routinely but provides useful information on risk assessment in nonclinical
      toxicity studies and is recommended when the ability of the organ to recover is
      uncertain. The study design generally requires inclusion of concurrent controls
      to separate procedure-related changes from test article-related changes, but
      return of clinical pathology values toward baseline may be sufficient in some
      cases. Evaluation of either a select or full panel of standard hematology,
      coagulation, and serum and urine chemistry biomarkers can be scientifically
      justified. It is also acceptable to redesignate dosing phase animals to the
      recovery phase or vice versa to optimize data interpretation. Assessment of
      delayed toxicity during the recovery phase is not required but may be appropriate
      in development programs with unique concerns. Evaluation of the recovery of
      clinical pathology data for vaccine development is required and, for efficacy
      markers, is recommended if it furthers pharmacologic understanding. 

PMID- 26879689
TI  - Fecal Calprotectin: Diagnostic Accuracy of the Immunochromatographic CalFast
      Assay in a Pediatric Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fecal calprotectin is a noninvasive marker for bowel diseases and it
      is high valuable to follow disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD) and
      ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance
      of the recently introduced immunochromatographic assay CalFast in comparison to
      the well-known ELISA tests for calprotectin assay to obtain a rapid diagnosis of
      bowel inflammation in pediatric patients. METHODS: CalFast was tested in parallel
      to the classic ELISA tests CalPrest and PhiCal (gold standards for the
      calprotectin determination) on 148 fecal samples from pediatric subjects
      including 104 healthy subjects, 29 with CD, and 15 with UC. RESULTS: In this
      study, the sensitivity and specificity of CalFast, CalPrest, and PhiCal were
      86.4%, 88.6%, and 93.2% and 86.6%, 74%, and 64.4%, respectively. The area under
      the curve, obtained from receiver operating characteristic analysis, indicated
      the lack of significant difference among all the kits used. CONCLUSION: The
      immunochromatographic assay demonstrated good diagnostic predictive values,
      comparable to those of the ELISA methods, and may represent a valid alternative
      in order to save operators' time. The test, in fact, has a short turnaround time
      and does not need a specific ELISA instrumentation.

PMID- 26879690
TI  - Changes in psychopathology in schizophrenia patients starting treatment with new
      generation antipsychotics: therapeutic drug monitoring in a naturalistic
      treatment setting.
AB  - Previous studies on the relationship between plasma levels of new-generation
      antipsychotics (NGAs) and clinical response did not account for inter- and intra
      individual variability in drug levels. Therefore, the present study calculated
      the ratio of observed versus expected NGA plasma levels and investigated its
      relationship with changes in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
      Data of patients starting monotherapy with a NGA were collected 2, 4, 8, and 12
      weeks after initiation of treatment. Next to the assessment of changes in
      psychopathology (PANSS) the ratio of observed versus expected plasma level was
      calculated. A total number of 221 ratios were eligible for analysis. About half
      of them ranged from 0.5-2 and were considered "normal", whereas the others were
      considered either "too low" or "too high". Psychopathological symptoms improved
      over the course of treatment, but changes in PANSS from baseline did not
      correlate significantly with the ratios of observed versus expected plasma levels
      at any assessment. The lack of linear correlation can be explained by the fact
      that 92% of the observed NGA plasma levels were at >= 50% of the lower limit of
      the therapeutic reference range, i.e., within the asymptote of the logistic
      plasma level-effect relationship. Accordingly, our findings indicate that the
      great majority of patients were treated with NGA doses that led to optimal plasma
      levels, based on the clinical impression of the treating psychiatrist only. Thus,
      calculating the ratio of observed versus expected plasma level may not be
      necessary in a routine clinical setting.

PMID- 26879688
TI  - Recommendations from the INHAND Apoptosis/Necrosis Working Group.
AB  - Historically, there has been confusion relating to the diagnostic nomenclature
      for individual cell death. Toxicologic pathologists have generally used the terms
      "single cell necrosis" and "apoptosis" interchangeably. Increased research on the
      mechanisms of cell death in recent years has led to the understanding that
      apoptosis and necrosis involve different cellular pathways and that these
      differences can have important implications when considering overall mechanisms
      of toxicity, and, for these reasons, the separate terms of apoptosis and necrosis
      should be used whenever differentiation is possible. However, it is also
      recognized that differentiation of the precise pathway of cell death may not be
      important, necessary, or possible in routine toxicity studies and so a more
      general term to indicate cell death is warranted in these situations.
      Morphological distinction between these two forms of cell death can sometimes be
      straightforward but can also be challenging. This article provides a brief
      discussion of the cellular mechanisms and morphological features of apoptosis and
      necrosis as well as guidance on when the pathologist should use these terms. It
      provides recommended nomenclature along with diagnostic criteria (in hematoxylin
      and eosin [H&E]-stained sections) for the most common forms of cell death
      (apoptosis and necrosis). This document is intended to serve as current guidance
      for the nomenclature of cell death for the International Harmonization of
      Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria Organ Working Groups and the toxicologic
      pathology community at large. The specific recommendations are:Use necrosis and
      apoptosis as separate diagnostic terms.Use modifiers to denote the distribution
      of necrosis (e.g., necrosis, single cell; necrosis, focal; necrosis, diffuse;
      etc.).Use the combined term apoptosis/single cell necrosis whenThere is no
      requirement or need to split the processes, orWhen the nature of cell death
      cannot be determined with certainty, orWhen both processes are present together.
      The diagnosis should be based primarily on the morphological features in H&E
      stained sections. When needed, additional, special techniques to identify and
      characterize apoptosis can also be used. 

PMID- 26879691
TI  - Chronic inflammation and autoimmunity as risk factors for the development of
      chronic myelomonocytic leukemia?
AB  - In this study, we investigate if chronic inflammation and autoimmunity might be
      related to the development of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Conducting
      a case-control study, we included 112 CMML subjects diagnosed at three
      hematological departments in Denmark between 2003 and 2013. Controls were 231
      unmatched chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) subjects diagnosed at one of the
      departments between 2003 and 2012. Subjects with a history of chronic
      inflammation or autoimmune disorders were retrieved and odds ratios (ORs)
      calculated. 16.1% of CMML subjects and 6.5% of CLL subjects presented with a
      history of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. This was significantly
      associated with an increased risk of CMML (adjusted OR 3.24, 95% CI: 1.5-7.0). At
      individual levels, this association was statistically significant for polymyalgia
      rheumatica and ITP (p values  < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). We found an
      association of CMML and smoking status (OR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.90) with more
      "former smokers" in the CMML group.

PMID- 26879692
TI  - Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Dearomative Arylation or Alkenylation of
      Quinolinium Salts.
AB  - A highly enantioselective rhodium(I)-catalyzed dearomative arylation or
      alkenylation of easily available N-alkylquinolinium salts is reported, thus
      providing an effective and practical approach to the synthesis of
      dihydroquinolines in up to 99 % ee. This reaction tolerates a wide range of
      functional groups with respect to both the organic boronic acids and the
      quinoline starting materials. Moreover, the synthetic utility of this protocol is
      demonstrated in the formal asymmetric synthesis of bioactive tetrahydroquinoline
      and the total syntheses of (-)-angustureine and (+)-cuspareine. 

PMID- 26879693
TI  - The effect of blood pressure and cardiac output on the quality of the surgical
      field and middle cerebral artery blood flow during endoscopic sinus surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A clear surgical field is critical during endoscopic sinus surgery
      (ESS). Hypotensive anesthesia and cardiac output (CO) may optimize the surgical
      field; however, evidence of their effect on bleeding and cerebral blood flow is
      conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of blood pressure
      (BP) and CO on intraoperative bleeding and middle cerebral artery blood flow
      velocity (Vmca ) during ESS. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized
      controlled trial. Patients undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis at a
      tertiary institution in 2013 were randomized to receive BP manipulation using
      target-controlled noradrenaline infusion during surgery to either their left or
      right sinuses. The contralateral side in each patient served as control. Bleeding
      was scored using a 0 to 10 point bleeding assessment scale (BAS, 0-10) and Vmca
      was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography every 10 minutes or when
      surgically opportune, and time-matched with BP and CO. Data was analyzed using
      Bland-Altman methods. RESULTS: A total of 105 time points were collected across a
      mean arterial pressure (MAP) range of 32 to 118 mmHg. Significant correlations
      were demonstrated between MAP and Vmca (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001), MAP and BAS (r =
      0.50, p < 0.0001), CO and Vmca (r = 0.57, p < 0.0001), and CO and BAS (r = 0.42,
      p < 0.0001). The best surgical fields were seen at 40 to 59 mmHg MAP. However,
      MAP below 60 mmHg produced >50% reduction in Vmca in more than 10% of time
      points. CONCLUSION: Balancing surgical visibility with organ perfusion remains a
      challenge. The results of this study show that moderate hypotension significantly
      improves the surgical field; however reducing BP below 60 mmHg may risk cerebral
      hypoperfusion.

PMID- 26879694
TI  - Live Cell Imaging of Actin Dynamics in the Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus
      nidulans.
AB  - Hyphal cells of filamentous fungi grow at their tips in a method analogous to
      pollen tube and root hair elongation. This process, generally referred to as tip
      growth, requires precise regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and characterizing
      the various actin structures in these cell types is currently an active area of
      research. Here, the actin marker Lifeact was used to document actin dynamics in
      the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Contractile double rings were
      observed at septa, and annular clusters of puncta were seen subtending growing
      hyphal tips, corresponding to the well-characterized subapical endocytic collar.
      However, Lifeact also revealed two additional structures. One, an apical array,
      was dynamic on the face opposite the tip, while a subapical web was dynamic on
      the apical face and was located several microns behind the growth site. Each was
      observed turning into the other over time, implying that they could represent
      different localizations of the same structure, although hyphae with a subapical
      web grew faster than those exhibiting an apical array. The subapical web has not
      been documented in any filamentous fungus to date, and is separate from the
      networks of F-actin seen in other tip-growing organisms surrounding septa or
      stationary along the plasmalemma. 

PMID- 26879695
TI  - Measurement of daily physical activity using the SenseWear Armband: Compliance,
      comfort, adverse side effects and usability.
AB  - Little is known about the acceptability of wearing physical activity-monitoring
      devices. This study aimed to examine the compliance, comfort, incidence of
      adverse side effects, and usability when wearing the SenseWear Armband (SWA) for
      daily physical activity assessment. In a prospective study, 314 participants (252
      people with COPD, 36 people with a dust-related respiratory disease and 26
      healthy age-matched people) completed a purpose-designed questionnaire following
      a 7-day period of wearing the SWA. Compliance, comfort levels during the day and
      night, adverse side effects and ease of using the device were recorded. Non
      compliance with wearing the SWA over 7 days was 8%. The main reasons for removing
      the device were adverse side effects and discomfort. The SWA comfort level during
      the day was rated by 11% of participants as uncomfortable/very uncomfortable,
      with higher levels of discomfort reported during the night (16%). Nearly half of
      the participants (46%) experienced at least one adverse skin irritation side
      effect from wearing the SWA including itchiness, skin irritation and rashes,
      and/or bruising. Compliance with wearing the SWA for measurement of daily
      physical activity was found to be good, despite reports of discomfort and a high
      incidence of adverse side effects. 

PMID- 26879697
TI  - Pemphigus foliaceus induced by topical 5-fluorouracil.

PMID- 26879696
TI  - Clinical review: Endobronchial valve treatment for emphysema.
AB  - Breathlessness and impaired quality of life are prominent features in patients
      with severe emphysema even when conventional methods of treatment are optimal.
      Lung volume reduction using endobronchial management for emphysema has emerged as
      a new method to relieve symptoms and improve lung function tests in this group.
      The endobronchial valves (EBVs) are the most widely used treatment. This article
      outlines current criteria of patients' selection with literature review and
      evidence of efficacy. Complications of EBV insertion as well as current
      shortfalls of this method of treatment are also discussed. 

PMID- 26879698
TI  - Cell cycle kinetics, apoptosis rates and gene expressions of MDR-1, TP53, BCL-2
      and BAX in transmissible venereal tumour cells and their association with therapy
      response.
AB  - Transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) generally presents different degrees of
      aggressiveness, which makes them unresponsive to conventional treatment
      protocols. This implies a progressive alteration of their biological profile.
      This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, cell survival, apoptosis and cell
      cycle alterations in TVT cell cultures subjected to treatment with vincristine.
      Similarly, it assessed possible implications of MDR-1, TP53, BCL-2, and BAX gene
      expressions in eight TVT primary cultures for both resistance to chemotherapy and
      biological behaviour. When comparing TVT cells receiving vincristine to those
      untreated, a statistical difference related to increased cytotoxicity and
      decreased survival rates, and alterations in G1 and S cell cycle phases were
      found but without detectable differences in apoptosis. Increased MDR-1 gene
      expression was observed after treatment. The groups did not differ statistically
      in relation to the TP53, BAX and BCL-2 genes. Although preliminary, the findings
      suggest that such augmented expression is related to tumour malignancy and
      chemotherapy resistance.

PMID- 26879699
TI  - Treatment of bone defects: Bone transport or the induced membrane technique?

PMID- 26879700
TI  - Recombinant mussel proximal thread matrix protein promotes osteoblast cell
      adhesion and proliferation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a key load bearing domain for mamalian
      cell adhesion by binding various macromolecular ligands in extracellular matrix
      such as, collagens, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. Interestingly, vWF like
      domains are also commonly found in load bearing systems of marine organisms such
      as in underwater adhesive of mussel and sea star, and nacre of marine abalone,
      and play a critical load bearing function. Recently, Proximal Thread Matrix
      Protein1 (PTMP1) in mussel composed of two vWF type A like domains has
      characterized and it is known to bind both mussel collagens and mammalian
      collagens. RESULTS: Here, we cloned and mass produced a recombinant PTMP1 from E.
      coli system after switching all the minor codons to the major codons of E. coli.
      Recombinant PTMP1 has an ability to enhance mouse osteoblast cell adhesion,
      spreading, and cell proliferation. In addition, PTMP1 showed vWF-like properties
      as promoting collagen expression as well as binding to collagen type I,
      subsequently enhanced cell viability. Consequently, we found that recombinant
      PTMP1 acts as a vWF domain by mediating cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation,
      and formation of actin cytoskeleton. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that both
      mammalian cell adhesion and marine underwater adhesion exploits a strong vWF
      collagen interaction for successful wet adhesion. In addition, vWF like domains
      containing proteins including PTMP1 have a great potential for tissue engineering
      and the development of biomedical adhesives as a component for extra-cellular
      matrix.

PMID- 26879701
TI  - Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancer in Bangladesh, 2001-2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer burden among children and adolescents is largely unknown in
      Bangladesh. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview on childhood and
      adolescent cancers and to contribute to the future strategies to deal with these
      diseases in Bangladesh. METHODS: Data on malignant neoplasms in patients aged
      less than 20 years diagnosed between 2001 and 2014 (N = 3143) in Bangladesh was
      collected by the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital and ASHIC
      Foundation. The age pattern and distribution of cancer types were analysed and
      the incidence rates were calculated. RESULTS: The age-standardised incidence rate
      was 7.8 per million person-years for children (0-14 years) in the last time
      period (2011-2014). Retinoblastoma (25%) and leukaemia (18%) were the most common
      childhood cancers. For adolescents (15-19 years), the age-specific incidence rate
      was 2.1 per million person-years in the same time period. Most common adolescent
      cancers were malignant bone tumours (38%), germ cell and gonadal tumours (17%),
      and epithelial tumours (16%). There were more boys affected (M: F ratio 2.0 in
      children and 1.4 in adolescents) than girls. CONCLUSION: Cancer incidences were
      lower than expected most likely due to a low level of awareness about cancer
      among clinicians and the population, inadequate access to health care, lack of
      diagnostic equipment and incomplete recording of cases. Improvements on different
      levels should be made to get a better epidemiologic insight and to detect cancer
      earlier resulting in a better outcome for affected children and adolescents.

PMID- 26879702
TI  - The Motor-Scooter Handlebar Syndrome: Right Common Femoral Artery Occlusion
      Secondary to Blunt Trauma.

PMID- 26879703
TI  - Cardiac Complications of Methamphetamine Exposures.

PMID- 26879704
TI  - Embolic Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Detected with Point-of-care
      Ultrasonography in the Emergency Department.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ocular emergencies account for 2-3% of all emergency department (ED)
      visits. Sonographic evaluation of the eye offers a very useful diagnostic tool in
      the ED. In the ED setting, ocular ultrasound could identify a retinal detachment,
      or a massive vitreous hemorrhage, and the training for emergency medicine
      practitioners is quite easy. CASE REPORT: An 84-year-old woman presented to our
      ED with a painless acute vision loss in her right eye. Immediate bedside
      emergency ocular ultrasound was performed, and it showed a retrobulbar
      hyperechoic material, suggestive of an embolus within the central retinal artery.
      Fluorescein angiography showed limited and sluggish filling of the retinal
      arteries after injection of fluorescein, and optical coherence tomography
      demonstrated a decrease in the reflectivity and thickness of the inner retinal
      layers. The final diagnosis was embolic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).
      WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Among the causes of acute
      loss of vision, CRAO is associated with systemic vascular disease. The importance
      of visible retinal emboli has been well documented due to its association with
      increase in mortality. A rapid evaluation of the central retinal artery could be
      a simple tool to identify an embolus, and this could lead to a rapid treatment.
      The evaluation of central retinal artery is a less defined setting in emergency
      physician bedside ultrasound, but the identification of CRAO could lead to a
      rapid acceleration in diagnosis and treatment of a potentially life-threatening
      disease.

PMID- 26879705
TI  - A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with
      idiopathic epilepsy - CORRIGENDUM.

PMID- 26879706
TI  - Nitration of Norcorrolatonickel(II): First Observation of a Diatropic Current in
      a System Comprising a Norcorrole Ring.
AB  - A one-pot reaction of 5,14-bis(mesityl)-norcorrolatonickel(II) with isoamyl
      nitrite under mild reaction conditions resulted in the consecutive formation of 3
      nitro-, 3,12-dinitro- and 3,16-dinitro-, 3,7,12-trinitro-, and 3,7,12,16
      tetranitro-norcorrolatonickel(II) in 50-80% yield. The substituted macrocycles
      retained their antiaromatic character. The observed regioselectivity of the
      substitution was analyzed by comparing the relative energies of the DFT energy
      optimized models of the radical or arenium cationic intermediates that can be
      formed upon reaction with NO2. The nitrated systems were characterized by high
      resolution mass spectrometry, NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction
      analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT calculations. A significant and systematic
      cathodic shift of the redox couples was observed to correlate with an increasing
      number of the NO2 group. A decrease of the LUMO energies in the tri- and tetra
      nitrated products stabilizes mono- and bis-reduced complexes of these ligands.
      The reduction takes place on the macrocycle rather than on the metal ion leading
      to the consecutive formation of stable paramagnetic monoanion radicals and water
      soluble diamagnetic dianions with an aromatic character, which were revealed by
      ESR and (1)H NMR measurements, respectively. The electronic structures of the
      reduced forms were analyzed by extensive TD-DFT calculations.

PMID- 26879707
TI  - Prevalence of oral Candida colonization in patients with diabetes mellitus.
AB  - OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: We aimed to assess the prevalence of oral Candida
      colonization in patients with diabetes and its relationship with factors such as
      Candida species, serum glucose level, and the susceptibility rate of isolated
      yeasts to antifungals. PATIENTS: Random samples were obtained from 113 patients
      with type 2 diabetes, 24 patients with type 1 diabetes, and 105 healthy controls.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples were taken by swabbing the oral mucosa of
      patients with diabetes mellitus and healthy individuals. Afterwards the samples
      were inoculated onto CHROMagar-Candida. The growing colonies were counted, and
      the isolated yeasts were identified by PCR-RFLP and RapID methods. Various
      isolated species of Candida were also subjected to susceptibility testing of
      antibiotic drugs. Blood samples were taken to evaluate glycosylated hemoglobin
      (HbA1c). RESULTS: Although the Candida carriage rate and density were
      statistically higher in diabetics than healthy individuals, no direct association
      was found between having high Candida-burden and glycosylated hemoglobin. The
      most commonly isolated species in both diabetics and controls was Candida
      albicans. Of the tested antifungal drugs, the highest rate of resistance was
      found against itraconazole, followed in frequency by ketoconazole and
      fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a significant association between
      the poor glycemic control and the higher prevalence rates of Candida carriage and
      density in diabetic patients. In addition, a high prevalence of C. dubliniensis
      in diabetic patients was found, which might be misdiagnosed with its
      morphologically related species, C. albicans.

PMID- 26879708
TI  - CdS Nanowires Decorated with Ultrathin MoS2 Nanosheets as an Efficient
      Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution.
AB  - CdS nanowires decorated with ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized for the
      first time by ultrasonic exfoliation by using dimethylformamide as the dispersing
      agent. An excellent hydrogen evolution rate of 1914 MUmol  h(-1) (20 mg catalyst)
      under visible-light irradiation (lambda >= 400 nm, ~ 154 mW cm(-1) ) and an
      apparent quantum yield of 46.9% at lambda=420 nm were achieved over the MoS2 /CdS
      composite. The presence of ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets (rich in active edge sites)
      on the CdS surface promotes the separation of photogenerated charge carriers and
      facilitates the surface processes of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

PMID- 26879709
TI  - Contact gating at GHz frequency in graphene.
AB  - The paradigm of graphene transistors is based on the gate modulation of the
      channel carrier density by means of a local channel gate. This standard
      architecture is subject to the scaling limit of the channel length and further
      restrictions due to access and contact resistances impeding the device
      performance. We propose a novel design, overcoming these issues by implementing
      additional local gates underneath the contact region which allow a full control
      of the Klein barrier taking place at the contact edge. In particular, our work
      demonstrates the GHz operation of transistors driven by independent contact
      gates. We benchmark the standard channel and novel contact gating and report for
      the later dynamical transconductance levels at the state of the art. Our finding
      may find applications in electronics and optoelectronics whenever there is need
      to control independently the Fermi level and the electrostatic potential of
      electronic sources or to get rid of cumbersome local channel gates. 

PMID- 26879710
TI  - Defensive activation to (un)predictable interoceptive threat: The NPU respiratory
      threat test (NPUr).
AB  - Potentially life-threatening interoceptive sensations easily engage the
      behavioral defensive system. Resulting fear and anxiety toward interoceptive
      threat are functionally distinct states that are hypothesized to play a prominent
      role in the etiology of panic disorder. The present study aimed to investigate
      whether fear- and anxiety-potentiated startle responses occur to predictable and
      unpredictable interoceptive threat, respectively. Therefore, we modified the NPU
      threat test (Schmitz & Grillon, ) and replaced the aversive electrocutaneous
      stimulus with an aversive interoceptive stimulus (a breathing occlusion, making
      it briefly impossible to breathe). Healthy participants (N = 48) underwent three
      instructed conditions. A visual cue signaled the occlusion in the predictable
      condition (P), whereas another cue was unrelated to the occurrence of the
      occlusion in the unpredictable condition (U). The safe condition (N) also had a
      visual cue, but no occlusion. Both fear- and anxiety-potentiated startle blink
      responses were observed in response to predictable and unpredictable respiratory
      threat, respectively. The current study presents and validates the NPU
      respiratory threat test (NPUr) as an ecologically valid paradigm to study both
      anxiety and fear in response to a panic-relevant interoceptive threat. The
      paradigm allows future testing of contextual generalization, investigation of
      different clinical groups, and more explicit comparisons of defensive responding
      to interoceptive versus exteroceptive threats.

PMID- 26879711
TI  - Up high and down low: Molecular systematics and insight into the diversification
      of the ground beetle genus Rhadine LeConte.
AB  - Rhadine LeConte is a Nearctic genus of flightless ground beetles that is poorly
      studied despite its relevance to evolutionary studies of subterranean fauna.
      Adults are notable for their slender and leggy habitus and the wide variety of
      habitat preferences among species, with several known only from mountaintops
      while others are restricted to caves or more general subterranean habitats. In
      central Texas, USA there are several cave endemics relevant to conservation. Here
      we present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the overall structure of the
      genus with an emphasis on the troglobites in central Texas. We infer the
      phylogeny of Rhadine from ~2.4-kb of aligned nucleotide sites from the nuclear
      genes, 28S rDNA and CAD, and the mitochondrial gene COI. These data were obtained
      for 30 species of Rhadine as well as from members of their putative sister group,
      Tanystoma Motschulsky. Results reveal that Rhadine is polyphyletic, and
      morphological characters that have been traditionally used to classify the genus
      into species groups are shown to be convergent in many cases. Rhadine aside from
      two species of uncertain placement is composed of two major clades, Clades I and
      II that both include epigean and subterranean species in very unequal
      proportions. Clade I is primarily composed of subterranean species, and Clade II
      includes many epigean species and high altitude montane endemics. A clade of
      troglobitic, cave-restricted species in Texas includes several species of large
      eyed cave Rhadine. The slender habitus typical of some species [e.g., R. exilis
      (Barr and Lawrence), R. subterranea (Van Dyke), R. austinica Barr] evolved
      independently at least three times. Major biogeographic and evolutionary patterns
      based on these results include: troglobitic species north of the Colorado River
      in Texas (that also lack lateral pronotal setae) are found to comprise a
      monophyletic group, beetles in caves south of the Colorado River likely form
      another monophyletic group, and the "species pairs" of troglobitic Rhadine known
      to occur in the same caves are not resolved as each other's sister group,
      suggesting that these caves were colonized independently by more than one lineage
      of Rhadine. Our divergence time estimates support a Miocene age for the split
      between Clade I and II Rhadine and indicate that all subterranean Clade I Rhadine
      began diversifying in the late Miocene-early Pliocene, contemporary with cave
      formation in the Balcones Escarpment. 

PMID- 26879712
TI  - Sorting out relationships among the grouse and ptarmigan using intron,
      mitochondrial, and ultra-conserved element sequences.
AB  - The Holarctic phasianid clade of the grouse and ptarmigan has received
      substantial attention in areas such as evolution of mating systems, display
      behavior, and population ecology related to their conservation and management as
      wild game species. There are multiple molecular phylogenetic studies that focus
      on grouse and ptarmigan. In spite of this, there is little consensus regarding
      historical relationships, particularly among genera, which has led to unstable
      and partial taxonomic revisions. We estimated the phylogeny of all currently
      recognized species using a combination of novel data from seven nuclear loci
      (largely intron sequences) and published data from one additional autosomal
      locus, two W-linked loci, and four mitochondrial regions. To explore
      relationships among genera and assess paraphyly of one genus more rigorously, we
      then added over 3000 ultra-conserved element (UCE) loci (over 1.7million bp)
      gathered using Illumina sequencing. The UCE topology agreed with that of the
      combined nuclear intron and previously published sequence data with 100%
      bootstrap support for all relationships. These data strongly support previous
      studies separating Bonasa from Tetrastes and Dendragapus from Falcipennis.
      However, the placement of Lagopus differed from previous studies, and we found no
      support for Falcipennis monophyly. Biogeographic analysis suggests that the
      ancestors of grouse and ptarmigan were distributed in the New World and
      subsequently underwent at least four dispersal events between the Old and New
      Worlds. Divergence time estimates from maternally-inherited and autosomal markers
      show stark differences across this clade, with divergence time estimates from
      maternally-inherited markers being nearly half that of the autosomal markers at
      some nodes, and nearly twice that at other nodes. 

PMID- 26879713
TI  - [Development and applying of the diagnostic techniques in chest computed
      tomography].

PMID- 26879714
TI  - [Clinical analysis of grand glass opacity on CT as the first change of lung
      infection accompanied by hematologic malignancies].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of grand glass opacity(GGO) on CT as a
      diagnostic sign of pulmonary fungal infection. METHODS: The clinical data of 143
      patients treated in department of hematology from January 2007 to June 2015 were
      analyzed retrospectively, and GGO or other attendant signs were observed.
      RESULTS: The cases of fungal infection secondary to acute leukemia(AL),
      myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL), multiple
      myeloma(MM), Hodgkin's lymphoma(HL) were 83, 23, 18, 10, 9, respectively,
      including 23 patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Ninety
      percent(128/143) of patients with GGO changes was accompanied with the presence
      of neutropenia.GGO was mostly accompanied by funicular inflammatory infiltrating
      shadows or nodules.The cases of possible invasive pulmonary fungal
      infections(IPFI), probable IPFI, proven IPFI, undefined IPFI were 56, 15, 4, 26,
      respectively.The total effective cases after anti-fungal therapy was 92.
      CONCLUSIONS: Ground glass opacity as sign of pulmonary infection of CT mostly
      occurred in neutropenia and is more common in patients with acute leukemia or
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.GGO is a diagnostic sign of pulmonary
      fungal infection and it's indicating that anti-fungal medicine should be
      considered.

PMID- 26879715
TI  - [Clinicoradiologic characteristics of active pulmonary tuberculosis with
      perilymphatic involvement].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of perilymphatic involvement and
      clinicoradiologic characteristics of active pulmonary tuberculosis according to
      the distribution of micronodules on CT images. METHODS: A total of 124 in
      patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis in Haihe Clinical College of Tianjin
      Medical University from September 2013 to March 2015 were enrolled in this study,
      all patients underwent CT before antituberculosis therapy.A retrospective
      investigation of CT images focused on the distribution of micronodules, as well
      as other major CT features of active pulmonary tuberculosis.Clinical and CT
      findings of the three groups which based on the distribution of micronodules
      (perilymphatic, centrilobular and mixed) were compared. RESULTS: All patients
      existed micronodules.Among these patients, the number of the perilymphatic
      micronodules, interlobular septal thickening, intralobular septal thickening,
      bronchial or bronchovascular bundle thickening, galaxy or cluster sign, reversed
      halo sign was 80(64.5%), 83(66.9%), 56(45.2%), 56(45.2%), 17(13.7%) and 4(3.2%),
      respectively.There were 35, 36 and 45 cases who were classified into the
      perilymphatic, centrilobular and mixed groups, respectively.Interlobular septal
      thickening (88.6% vs 38.9%), intralobular septal thickening (97.1% vs 0),
      bronchial or bronchovascular bundle thickening (74.3% vs 19.4%) and galaxy or
      cluster sign (37.1% vs 0) in perilymphatic group were higher than those of
      centrilobular group, consolidation or macronodule (80% vs 100%) and cavitation
      (42.9% vs 77.8%) in perilymphatic group were lower than those of centrilobular
      group. Age (32+/-16 vs 41+/-14), the rate of sputum acid-fast bacilli smears
      staining positive (28.6% vs 58.3%) and sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis (54.3% vs 94.4%) in perilymphatic group were lower than those of
      centrilobular group. CONCLUSIONS: CT findings representing pulmonary
      perilymphatic involvement are relatively common in patients with active
      tuberculosis, galaxy or cluster sign and reversed halo sign are uncommon. The
      patients with tuberculosis are relatively younger who principally showed
      pulmonary perilymphatic involvement, and detection of sputum Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis in these patients is relatively lower.

PMID- 26879716
TI  - [Diagnostic value of CT pulmonary artery imaging for idiopathic pulmonary artery
      hypertension].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of CT pulmonary artery (CTPA) imaging
      with idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPAH). METHODS: A total of 20
      patients with right heart catheterization (RHC) proven IPAH were retrospectively
      analyzed between January 2012 and November 2015.The imaging was analyzed
      including pulmonary parenchyma, pulmonary interstitial, mediastinal lymph nodes,
      pericardium and pleural cavity on the CTPA examination.Cardiovascular parameters
      were measured in CTPA including right ventricle biggest short axis diameter
      (RVD), left ventricle biggest short axis diameter (LVD), main pulmonary artery
      diameter (MPAD), right pulmonary artery diameter (RPAD), left pulmonary artery
      diameter (LPAD), right low pulmonary artery diameter (RLPAD), ascending aorta
      diameter (AAD) and descending aorta diameter (DAD), and parameters were
      calculated including the ratio of the main pulmonary and ascending aorta diameter
      (rPA), the ratio of the ascending and descending aorta diameter (rAD), the ratio
      of the right ventricular and left ventricular short axis diameter (RV/LV). The
      relationship between sex, pulmonary, lymph nodes, pericardium, pleural and
      pulmonary arrery pressure (PAP) was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation
      analysis.All the parameters between mild-moderate (4 cases) and severe (16 cases)
      PAH were analyzed by independent sample t test.PAP of different age (<50 years
      and>=50 years) groups was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Of
      20 cases, 7 cases showed patch exudative change, 5 cases showed"mosaic
      pattern"inhomogeneous perfusion, 3 cases displayed ill-defined centrilobular
      nodules, 6 cases manifested mediastinal lymphadenopathy, 10 cases had pericardial
      effusion including 4 cases of pleural effusion, 4 cases of dilated bronchial
      artery, 1 cases of secondary right pulmonary artery embolism.When comparing the
      presence or absence of pleural effusion, these was statistical difference of PAP
      (r=0.445, P=0.049). LVD, LPAD, RPAD, AAD, DAD and rPA were statistically
      different between mild-moderate and severe PAH (t values were 3.194, -3.393, 
      7.771, 10.299, 11.394 and -12.715, respectively, P<0.05). PAP was statistically
      different between different age groups (r=-0.481, P=0.032). CONCLUSION: CTPA is a
      very important examination for the diagnosis of IPAH.The changes of lung,
      mediastinum, percardium, pleural cavity and the cardiovascular parameters can
      help diognose and evaluate IPAH.

PMID- 26879717
TI  - [Microsurgical treatment for giant invasive spinal schwannoma assisted by three
      dimensional navigation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experience of microsurgical treatment for
      giant invasive spinal schwannoma assisted by three-dimensional navigation.
      METHODS: A total of 15 cases of giant invasive spinal schwannoma were
      retrospectively analyzed from 2013 to 2014 in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital.All
      patients were performed microsurgery assisted by three-dimensional navigation and
      were followed up for at least 12 months.A modified McCormick Scale was used to
      assess the patients' neurologic status and change. RESULTS: Four lesions were in
      the cervical region, 3 in the sacral, 2 each in the cervicothoracic, lumbar and
      thoracic regions, 1 each in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral regions.A total of
      28 pedicle screws were placed satisfactorily in the 5 patients with spinal
      instability.No severe complications were encountered.Gross total resection was
      performed in 13 of the 15 patients, and subtotal resection performed in 2
      patients.Satisfactory decompression was achieved in all patients for neural
      compression.Postoperative clinical symptoms were improved in all patients, and
      none of the patients showed loosening or displacement of the implants.
      CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional navigation provides great help for neurosurgeons
      in surgical treatment of giant invasive spinal schwannoma, and it has great
      potential in raising the intraoperative localization accuracy, reducing
      operational damage and surgical complications.Total resection is suggested for
      giant invasive spinal schwannoma; if not, total resection of the intraspinal
      portion is recommended.

PMID- 26879718
TI  - [Clinical significance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in female patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to evaluate the level and clinical significance of
      serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
      METHODS: Totally 82 untreated RA female patients (RA group) and 32 healthy
      females (control group) were enrolled.According to the disease activity score in
      28 joints (DAS28), patients in RA group were divided into remission stage group
      (<2.6 scores, 32 cases) and active stage group (>=2.6 scores, 50 cases). The
      correlations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH)-D) level with related indicators
      were analyzed. RESULTS: (1)The levels of serum 25-(OH)-D in female RA active
      stage group were significantly lower than those in control group [(12.5+/-6.3)
      MUg/L vs (26.6+/-5.3) MUg/L ] (P<0.01). The levels of serum 25-(OH)-D in female
      RA remission stage group were significantly lower than those in control group
      [(14.2+/-7.2) MUg/L vs (26.6+/-5.3) MUg/L] (P<0.01). (2)Serum 25-(OH)-D levels
      were inversely associated with C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate (ESR), DAS28 score (r=-0.575, r=-0.528, r=-0.354, P<0.05) in
      female RA active stage group, but not in female RA remission stage group
      (P>0.05). (3)In active stage group, the 25-(OH)-D levels of premenopausal RA
      patients were negatively correlated with CRP, ESR, DAS28 (r=-0.707, r=-0.625, r=
      0.487, P<0.05), but not in postmenopausal RA patients (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The
      25-(OH)-D levels in serum are reduced in female patients with RA.Serum 25-(OH)-D
      level can be a marker to monitor the disease activity in RA premenopausal female
      patients.

PMID- 26879719
TI  - [Small-world properties of the brain functional networks in patients with chronic
      ischemic stroke].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of small-world properties of the brain
      functional networks in patients with chronic ischemic stroke. METHODS: A total of
      42 stroke patients and 25 matched healthy volunteers were scanned with BOLD-fMRI
      and the whole-brain functional networks were constructed.Two sample t-tests were
      used to evaluate the changes.The properties including Eglobal, Elocal, Lp, Cp,
      gamma, lambda, sigma. RESULTS: Within 0.1<=sparsity<=0.2, both groups satisfied
      the small-world properties(sigma>1). However, the Cp and Elocal of stroke group
      was significantly lower (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The networks in both groups still
      satisfied the small-world but parts of the properties in patients have changed.
      The reduced properties including Cp and Elocal.These changes will provide a new
      perspective for pathophysiological mechanism and also be helpful for
      understanding this disease.

PMID- 26879720
TI  - [Influence of diastolic filling pattern on the efficacy of cardiac
      resynchronization therapy in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of diastolic filling pattern on the
      efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-ischemic
      cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Between January 2012 and September 2013, 100 patients
      with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing CRT were enrolled in the study, and
      all patients were grouped by the pre-CRT diastolic filling pattern as impaired
      relaxation, pseudonormalized and restrictive filling. After follow up for 12
      months, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class and echocardiography were
      used to assess the efficacy of CRT.The endpoint was rehospitalization for heart
      failure or cardiac death. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to assess
      prognosis. RESULTS: All patients had varying degrees of diastolic
      dysfunction.Logistic regression analysis indicated that diastolic filling pattern
      was the independent factor for the response of CRT.(1)The response rate (78.7%)
      of impaired relaxation group (n=61) was significantly higher than that of the
      other two groups (P<0.01); postoperative NYHA class, left ventricular ejection
      fraction (LVEF), fraction shortening (FS), left ventricular end-systolic volume
      (LVESV) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) were significantly
      improved (all P<0.01). (2)For pseudonormalized group (n=18), at the 3(rd) month,
      NYHA class decreased from 3.3+/-0.5 to 2.3+/-0.5, LVEF increased from 27%+/-7% to
      31%+/-6% (both P<0.01), and FS improved significantly (P<0.05); no significant
      decrease of LVEDV and LVESV was found. At the 6(th) month, LVEF improved
      significantly (P<0.01); LVESV was reduced (P<0.05). (3)In restrictive filling
      group (n=21), CRT brought short-term improvement in NYHA class but did not induce
      any significant improvement in LVEF, FS, LVESV and LVEDV.At the 6(th) month,
      there were significant differences in efficacy among the three groups (P<0.05).
      At the end of follow-up, 5 patients died, and the cumulative endpoint incidence
      was significantly higher in restrictive filling group (81%) than the other two
      groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure,
      left ventricular diastolic dysfunction affects the efficacy of CRT, patients with
      impaired relaxation benefit significantly, pseudonormalized patients take longer
      to benefit, but patients with restrictive filling do not benefit from CRT.

PMID- 26879721
TI  - [Use of quantitative electroencephalogram in patients with septic shock].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG)
      characteristics of the patients with septic shock in intensive care unit (ICU),
      and to find the early presence and severity of septic-associated encephalopathy
      (SAE) in these patients. METHODS: During November 2014 to August 2015, 26 cases
      with septic shock were included from the ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital,
      Sun Yat-sen University.During the same period, 14 healthy volunteers were
      included as control. The brain function instrument was used to monitor the
      patients by the bed, placing leads as the internationally used 10-20 system,
      bipolar longitudinal F3-P3, F4-P4 four channels, and then consecutive clips of 5
      minutes was chosen, using the average value of the clips, the amplitude
      integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG), relative frequency band energy, spectrum
      entropy, relative alpha ariability to carry out statistical analysis.And the qEEG
      features of septic shock patients with different Glasgow coma scale (GCS) levels
      were also analyzed. RESULTS: (1) 96% of the patients with septic shock had EEG
      abnormalities.Alpha frequency band energy, alpha ariability, aEEG amplitude,
      spectrum entropy decreased significantly (P<0.05=, while the delta frequency band
      energy significantly increased (P<0.05=. (2) aEEG amplitude decline appeared in
      34% of patients with septic shock, and within the septic shock groups, amplitude
      decreased significantly (P<0.05= in patients with GCS under five. CONCLUSIONS:
      Patients with septic shock tends to have diffuse inhibition in EEG, and the
      inhibition degree can reflect cerebral lesion degree; changes of EEG frequency as
      early warning indicators of brain damage are sensitive, and the decline of
      amplitude often indicates critical injury.

PMID- 26879722
TI  - [Analysis of medical cost of atlantoaxial disorders in patients receiving
      innovated treatment technologies].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of innovated technologies and products on
      improving outcomes and decreasing medical costs by analyzing a total and subtotal
      medical costs of patients with atlantoaxial disorders. METHODS: The medical costs
      of 1 489 patients with atlantoaxial disorders from Peking University Third
      Hospital from 2005 to 2014, who received innovated technologies and products
      treatment were retrospectively analyzed and compared.Descriptive analysis and
      ANOVA were used for statistical analysis, and SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze data.
      RESULTS: From 2005 to 2014, under the situation of a general increase in medical
      cost by 327%, the total medical costs were stable for patients who used innovated
      technologies and products for treatment, fluctuating from 20 851 in 2005 to 20
      878 in 2014; however, the cases of operation increased year by year, from 88 in
      2005 to 163 in 2014; the average length of stay decreased from 21 in 2005 to 10
      in 2014; the total cases of transfusion were 22 from 2005 to 2014; the safety,
      stability and feasibility of the innovated technologies and products were
      illustrated through the decrease of average length of stay, the reduction of
      bleeding and the significance of outcomes. CONCLUSION: It is illustrated that the
      innovated technologies and products not only decrease patients' suffering and
      medical costs but also are safe, stable and feasible.

PMID- 26879723
TI  - [Clinical analysis of ovarian metastasis in patients with Ib stage cervical
      adenocarcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of ovarian metastasis and its related factors
      in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma, and explore whether the ovary should be
      reserved or not in cervical adenocarcinoma. METHOD: The clinical data of 111
      patients with cervical adenocarcinoma who received extensive total hysterectomy
      plus pelvic lymph node resection in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and Quanzhou
      Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2014 were collected
      and analyzed by single factor chi(2) test and multivariate logistic regression
      analysis. RESULTS: The median age of the included 111 cases of cervical
      adenocarcinoma was 44. Sixty-five of the patients were stage Ib1, while 46 were
      stage Ib2. The single factor analysis indicated that lymph-vascular space
      invasion(LSVI), lymph node status, interstitial infiltration depth, parametrial
      involvement and involvement of cervical body junction were associated with
      ovarian metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that LSVI (HR: 47.01, 95% CI:
      2.48-890.03, P=0.010) and lymph node status (HR: 23.58, 95% CI: 1.20-463.21,
      P=0.038) were independent risk factors for ovarian metastasis. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ovarian metastasis rate of stage Ib cervical adenocarcinoma is low; patients with
      age less than or equal to 45 years old, negative LSVI, <1/2 cervical stromal
      invasion, no lymph node metastasis and no cervical body junction involvement can
      consider preservation of ovary; but these findings still need to be further
      confirmed by large randomized controlled trials.

PMID- 26879724
TI  - [Association of serum uric acid level with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the serum uric acid (UA) level
      and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS). METHODS: The serum UA levels were
      measured from 164 ALS patients and 164 gender and age matched controls. The serum
      creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were also measured to reduce
      the bias caused by possible differences in renal excretion function.The
      differences of the above indexes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS:
      The serum UA levels in ALS patients were lower than those in healthy controls
      ((310+/-88) MUmol/L vs (356+/-78) MUmol/L, P<0.01). The differences were observed
      in both genders. In a Logistic regression model using ALS as a dependent
      variable, the serum UA level was significantly associated with ALS. The
      differences of the serum UA levels in ALS patients stratified by the revised ALS
      functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) and the progression rate of ALSFRS-R(DeltaFS)
      were not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ALS patients are found
      to have significantly lower serum UA levels than healthy individuals. The serum
      UA level is not involved in disease severity and progression.

PMID- 26879725
TI  - [Prevalence and risk factors of mild vision loss in patients with type 2 diabetes
      in Beixinjing Community of Shanghai].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of mild vision loss in
      adult patients with type 2 diabetes in Beixinjing Community, Shanghai, China.
      METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional survey among 2 216 Chinese Han adult
      patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted from October 2014 to January
      2015.Random cluster sampling was used to enroll diabetic patients based on the
      local Chronic Diseases Prevention and Control System data.The survey was preceded
      by a pilot study in which operational methods were refined and quality assurance
      evaluation was carried out.Eligible participants underwent a comprehensive eye
      examination, including the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) test using the
      logarithm of the minimum angle resolution charts.Mild vision loss was defined as
      BCVA <20/32 to >=20/63 following the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO)
      2002 definitions.The primary causes of visual impairment and blindness were
      determined.The prevalence and causes of monocular and binocular mild vision loss
      were investigated.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the related
      risk factors of binocular mild vision loss. RESULTS: Among 2 582 patients, 2 216
      were examined, and the response rate was 85.8%.Monocular mild vision loss was
      found in 591 patients with a prevalence rate of 26.7%.Binocular mild vision loss
      was detected in 650 patients, with a prevalence rate of 29.3%.Totally 1 891 eyes
      were confirmed as mild vision loss.Diabetic retinopathy (27.3%, 517/1 891) were
      the second leading cause of mild vision loss, after cataract (31.3%, 591/1 891).
      Binocular mild vision loss of unknown reasons happened in 201 persons.Old age,
      female gender, lower educational level, higher glycosylated hemoglobin A1c level
      and longer duration of diabetes were associated with the prevalence of total
      binocular mild vision loss and binocular mild vision loss of unknown reasons.
      CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mild vision loss is higher among adult patients
      with type 2 diabetes in Beixinjing Community.Intensive glucose control is
      recommended to prevent and slow mild vision loss in Chinese Han patients with
      type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26879726
TI  - [Effects of Topiramate for atypical antipsychotic-induced body weight gain and
      metabolic adversities: a systematic review and meta-analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To systematically determine the effectiveness of Topiramate to
      counteract atypical antipsychotic-induced body weight gain and metabolic
      adversities in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A literature search
      using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM and WanFang Data
      for randomized, open and double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of Topiramate
      targeting atypical antipsychotic-induced weight gain was performed.Two reviewers
      independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion
      criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included
      studies.Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. RESULTS: A
      total of 10 RCTs was included, consisting of 453 subjects. The results of meta
      analysis showed that: compared with placebo, Topiramate was moderate effective in
      reducing antipsychotics-related weight gain (WMD=-1.82 kg (95%CI: -2.65--0.99),
      P<0.000 1), BMI increase (WMD=-1.31 kg/m(2) (95%CI: -1.69--0.93), P<0.000 01) and
      fasting glucose increase (SMD=-1.15 (95%CI: -1.50--0.79), P<0.000 01); but can
      not regulate the lipid metabolic disorders (Cholesterol: SMD=-0.23 (95%CI: -0.81
      0.35), P=0.44); Triglycerides: SMD=-0.28 (95%CI: -0.75-0.19), P=0.24; HDL: SMD=
      0.01 (95%CI: -0.52-0.53), P=0.98); LDL: SMD=-0.39 (95%CI: -0.89-0.11), P=0.13).
      Meanwhile, when compared with placebo, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
      (PANSS) in patients with schizophrenia did not show obviously clinical
      improvement in concomitant Topiramate group. CONCLUSION: Topiramate can prevent
      and/or treat atypical antipsychotic induced weight gain and glucose disorder, but
      current evidence does not support the effect of Topiramate in lipid metabolic
      regulation and the clinical symptoms improvement assessed by PANSS.

PMID- 26879727
TI  - Understanding the experience of adult daughters caring for an ageing parent, a
      qualitative study.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to describe how adult
      daughters experience caring for a frail older parent at home. BACKGROUND: In the
      near future the ageing of the population will have a major impact on the demand
      for formal and informal long-term care. Relatives, especially spouses and adult
      children are the main providers of informal care. DESIGN: Qualitative research
      methodology was used to study the experience of adult daughters caring for their
      frail older parents. A phenomenological research perspective was used to better
      understand the daily experiences of caring for an ageing parent. METHODS: Data
      were collected using open-ended interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and
      transcribed verbatim. Data were subject to thematic analysis. RESULTS: Eleven
      women between 40-70 years of age participated in this study. Inductive coding of
      the interview data led to four main themes: being a caregiver as a natural
      process in life, the perception and consequences of caregiving activities,
      sharing care and finding a good balance between caring for an ageing parent and
      other responsibilities. Caregiving activities could be divided into visible and
      invisible activities and generated different feelings. The visible activities
      were more easily shared with other family members and professionals than the
      invisible ones. The women who struggled the most and tended to have a higher
      level of burden were those who experienced less support from their family.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provided more insight into the experiences women have
      when caring for a parent. Supporting family networks that help in both visible
      and invisible activities may prevent overburden. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:
      Consumer-led care and the active participation of the informal caregiver in the
      decision-making process for building the care plan need to become more prominent.

PMID- 26879728
TI  - Strain Imaging: The Emergence of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography into Clinical
      Pediatric Cardiology.
AB  - Speckle tracking echocardiography measures myocardial strain and allows for the
      quantification of regional and global left and right ventricular function. A
      growing body of literature is supporting its transition from research into
      clinical practice. This article aims to provide a practical review of strain
      imaging as it applies to congenital and pediatric heart disease, with the goals
      of increasing literacy and advocating for greater clinical integration. 

PMID- 26879729
TI  - Mechanochemical Iridium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Bond Amidation of Benzamides with
      Sulfonyl Azides under Solvent-Free Conditions in a Ball Mill.
AB  - Mechanochemical conditions have been applied to an iridium(III)-catalyzed C-H
      bond amidation process for the first time. In the absence of solvent, the
      mechanochemical activation enables the formation of an iridium species that
      catalyzes the ortho-selective amidation of benzamides with sulfonyl azides as the
      nitrogen source. As the reaction proceeds in the absence of organic solvents
      without external heating and yields the desired products in excellent yields
      within short reaction times, this method constitutes a powerful, fast, and
      environmentally benign alternative to the common solvent-based standard
      approaches. 

PMID- 26879730
TI  - [De-intensified chemoradiation therapy for favorable-risk human papillomavirus
      associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

PMID- 26879731
TI  - The synergistic effect of surface topography and sustained release of TGF-beta1
      on myogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.
AB  - A combination of topographical cues and controlled release of biochemical factors
      is a potential platform in controlling stem cells differentiation. In this study
      the synergistic effect of nanotopography and sustained release of biofunctional
      transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) on differentiation of human
      Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hWJ-derived UC-MSCs) toward
      myogenic lineage was investigated. In order to achieve a sustained release of TGF
      beta1, this factor was encapsulated within chitosan nanoparticles. Afterwards the
      aligned composite mats were fabricated using poly-E-caprolacton (PCL) containing
      TGF-beta1-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). The
      nanofiber topography notably up-regulated the expressions of calponin1 and
      SM22alpha compared with tissue culture polystyrene (TCP). Moreover, the
      combination of nanofiber topography and sustained TGF-beta1release resulted in
      more significant enhancement of SMC marker, in particular smooth muscle alpha
      actin (ASMA) expression, compared with bolus delivery despite lower amounts of
      TGF-beta1 (>10 times lower). Additionally, immunofluorescence staining showed
      that ASMA and desmin were expressed at higher intensity in cells exposed to
      controlled TGF-beta1 delivery rather than bolus delivery. These results
      demonstrated the importance of combined effect of topography and drug delivery in
      directing stem cell fate and the potential of such biofunctional scaffolds for
      cell transplantation applications in bladder tissue engineering. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1610-1621, 2016.

PMID- 26879732
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Retropubic Mid-urethral Sling Placement in Women Who Void
      With Valsalva.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes after retropubic sling (RPS) in women with and
      without Valsalva voiding. METHODS: Women who underwent RPS for stress
      incontinence from 2010 to 2014 were identified and their baseline characteristics
      were examined. Valsalva voiding was defined as abdominal straining throughout
      voiding on preoperative urodynamics. Sub-analysis of those with Valsalva included
      a subset with detrusor underactivity on urodynamics. Follow-up was at 1, 3, 6,
      and 12 months. Primary outcomes were rates of subjective success, revisions,
      complications, and voiding dysfunction. Secondary measures were Urogenital
      Distress Inventory (UDI-6) score, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7)
      score, post-void residual, and pad use. RESULTS: Subjects (n = 141) analyzed
      included 75 Valsalva voiders (VV) and 66 non-Valsalva voiders. At baseline, there
      were no differences in age, race, comorbidity, post-void residual, pad use, UDI
      6, or capacity. Postoperatively, there were no differences in rates of passing
      initial void trial, need for clean intermittent catheterization, revisions,
      complications, or voiding dysfunction. No differences in pad use, UDI-6, or IIQ-7
      were seen at 6 or 12 months. Within VV, no differences between patients with and
      without detrusor underactivity were seen for any primary or secondary outcomes
      (all P > .05). CONCLUSION: In patients who void with Valsalva, RPS appears to be
      safe and effective. Between VV and non-Valsalva voiders, there were no
      differences in rates of subjective success, revisions, or complications, even in
      patients with Valsalva voiding without appreciable detrusor contraction.

PMID- 26879733
TI  - Impact of Detrusor Underactivity on Surgical Outcomes of Laser Prostatectomy:
      Comparison in Serial 12-Month Follow-Up Outcomes Between Potassium-Titanyl
      Phosphate Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) and Holmium Laser
      Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate impacts of preoperative detrusor underactivity (DU) on
      outcomes of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) or holmium laser
      enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and to
      compare them between the two surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1423
      men, who underwent PVP (group A) or HoLEP (group B), were categorized into four
      groups: A1 (239 without DU), A2 (432 with DU), B1 (329 without DU), and B2 (423
      with DU). DU was defined as bladder contractility index of <100. Outcomes were
      assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively using International Prostate
      Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and prostate-specific antigen. Successful
      outcome was defined as reductions by >=50% of total IPSS at 12 months
      postoperatively. RESULTS: In all four groups, almost all parameters of IPSS and
      uroflowmetry improved starting from 1 month. A1 or B1 had greater increases in
      maximum flow rate than A2 or B2. Decreases of total IPSS in A2 were less than in
      A1 starting from 1 month after PVP, whereas those in B2 were less than those in
      B1 as late as 12 months after HoLEP. B2 showed greater improvements in maximum
      flow rate, subtotal voiding symptom score, bladder voiding efficiency, and total
      IPSS than A2. In all patients, multivariate regression analysis revealed that the
      absence of DU, presence of bladder outlet obstruction, and higher baseline total
      IPSS were independent predictors of successful outcome after surgery, but the
      type of laser surgery (PVP vs HoLEP) was not. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that
      micturition symptoms, maximum flow rate, bladder voiding efficiency, and quality
      of life improve starting from the early period after PVP or HoLEP, irrespective
      of DU. However, patients with DU may have less degree of improvement in
      micturition after PVP or HoLEP than those without DU.

PMID- 26879734
TI  - The Long-term Disease-specific Mortality of Low-risk Localized Prostate Cancer: A
      Prospective Population-based Register Study Over Two Decades.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify prognostic factors, and to estimate the long-term disease
      specific and annual disease-specific mortality rates of low-risk prostate cancer
      patients from the early prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: We studied data extracted from the Southeast Region Prostate Cancer
      Register in Sweden, on1300 patients with clinically localized low-risk tumors, T1
      2, PSA level <=10 ug/L and Gleason scores 2-6 or World Health Organization Grade
      1, diagnosed 1992-2003. The Cox multivariate regression model was used to
      evaluate factors predicting survival. Prostate cancer death rates per 1000 person
      years were estimated for 4 consecutive follow-up time periods: 0-5, 5-10, 10-15,
      and 15+ years after diagnosis. RESULTS: During the follow-up of overall survivors
      (mean 10.6 years; maximum 21.8 years), 93 patients (7%) died of prostate cancer.
      Cancer-specific survival was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-0.99), 0.95
      (95% CI 0.93-0.96), 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.91), and 0.84 (95% CI 0.80-0.88), 5, 10,
      15, and 20 years after diagnosis. The 5-year increases in cancer-specific
      mortality were statistically significant (P  <  .001). Patients with PSA >= 4
      ug/L managed initially with watchful waiting and those aged 70 years or older had
      a significantly higher risk of dying from their prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: The
      long-term disease-specific mortality of low-risk localized prostate cancer is
      low, but the annual mortality rate from prostate cancer gradually increases. This
      indicates that some tumors slowly develop into lethal cancer, particularly in
      patients 70 years or older with a PSA level >= 4 ug/L.

PMID- 26879735
TI  - Experienced Open vs Early Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A
      10-year Prospective and Retrospective Comparison.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To undertake a prospective/retrospective comparison of longer-term
      oncologic and quality of life outcomes in open radical prostatectomy (ORP) or
      robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) patients. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: The clinical progression of ORP and RALP patients who underwent
      surgery during 2004 was followed over an extended (10 year) period. Pre- and
      perioperative parameters, oncologic outcomes, recurrence, mortality, and quality
      of life were compared between surgical modalities. Follow-up time was calculated
      from the time of surgery to the latest contact. Postoperative quality of life
      data were obtained from Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite survey
      questionnaires. Recurrence rates, times to recurrence, surgical time, length of
      stay, hematocrit, follow-up time, and sexual and urinary bother scores were
      compared between surgical groups. Multivariate analyses were used to predict
      positive surgical margins and biochemical recurrence. RESULTS: 63 ORP and 116
      RALP patients were included (mean age of 60.4 +/- 6.4 and 58.6 +/- 5.8 years; P =
      .067), with follow-up times of 10.3 and 10.1 years (P = .191). RALP patients had
      longer operative times (P < .001), shorter hospital stays (P < .001), and higher
      discharge hematocrits (P < .001). With prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score,
      and T-stage as covariates, time to recurrence (P = .365) and positive margin rate
      (P = .230) were not statistically different between groups. Ninety-five percent
      of RALP patients were continent and 48.0% were potent vs 92.6% and 41.5% of ORP
      patients (P = .720; .497). Urinary and sexual bother were not significantly
      different between groups (P = .392; .985). CONCLUSION: Our longer-term follow-up
      data suggest that ORP and RALP patients have comparable oncologic and quality of
      life outcomes.

PMID- 26879736
TI  - Management of Radiation Anterior Prostato-symphyseal Fistulas With Interposition
      Rectus Abdominis Muscle Flap.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel, organ-sparing approach for reconstruction of
      radiation-induced anterior prostato-symphyseal fistulas (PSFs) at our institution
      over a consecutive 10-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a
      retrospective review of patients undergoing surgical reconstruction for anterior
      PSF between January 1, 2006 and October 31, 2015. Patient demographics as well as
      preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were reviewed, including etiology
      of fistula, surgical management, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 4 patients
      with anterior PSF underwent organ-sparing reconstruction. All fistulas were the
      result of previous pelvic radiation. All 4 patients presented with pubic
      osteomyelitis. Patients underwent pubic symphysis debridement, fistula closure,
      and placement of an interposition rectus abdominis muscle flap. At a median
      follow-up of 27 months, 100% of the patients undergoing repair with interposition
      rectus flap were closed with 1 procedure. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced PSF can
      be successfully reconstructed with pubic symphysis debridement and fistula
      closure using an adjunct rectus abdominis interposition flap, avoiding
      prostatectomy and urinary diversion.

PMID- 26879737
TI  - Where There's Smoke, There's Fire: the Effect of Truncated Testimony on Juror
      Decision-making.
AB  - In countries that allow child complainants of abuse to present their direct
      evidence via pre-recorded videotape, the recording is sometimes truncated for
      relevance or admissibility purposes before it is presented to the jury. In two
      experiments, we investigated how this practice affects mock jurors' judgments of
      child credibility and defendant culpability when truncation omitted the child's
      less plausible allegations. Mock jurors read a transcript of a 6-year-old girl
      making an abuse allegation against the janitor at her school. Some jurors read
      this allegation only (truncated version), while others also read either one or
      two additional - but less plausible - allegations by the same child. Contrary to
      what we predicted, the presence of these additional allegations did not decrease
      jurors' belief in the core allegation, nor did it influence their judgments about
      the child complainant's honesty or cognitive competence. In fact, under at least
      one condition, reading additional, less plausible allegations made jurors more
      likely to pronounce the defendant guilty of the core allegation - even when
      jurors did not believe the additional allegations. This finding stands in stark
      contrast to prior research on jurors' evaluation of adults' testimony that
      includes implausible details. Future research in this area will help to elucidate
      the conditions under which the presentation of truncated testimony may or may not
      influence juror decision-making. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26879739
TI  - Cell contractility arising from topography and shear flow determines human
      mesenchymal stem cell fate.
AB  - Extracellular matrix (ECM) of the human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) influences
      intracellular tension and is known to regulate stem cell fate. However, little is
      known about the physiological conditions in the bone marrow, where external
      forces such as fluid shear stress, apart from the physical characteristics of the
      ECM, influence stem cell response. Here, we hypothesize that substrate topography
      and fluid shear stress alter the cellular contractile forces, influence the
      genetic expression of the stem cells and hence alter their lineage. When fluid
      shear stress was applied, human MSCs with higher contractility (seeded on 1 MUm
      wells) underwent osteogenesis, whereas those with lower contractility (seeded on
      2 MUm gratings) remained multipotent. Compared to human MSCs seeded on gratings,
      those seeded on wells exhibited altered alignment and an increase in the area and
      number of focal adhesions. When actomyosin contractility was inhibited, human
      MSCs did not exhibit differentiation, regardless of the topographical feature
      they were being cultured on. We conclude that the stresses generated by the
      applied fluid flow impinge on cell contractility to drive the stem cell
      differentiation via the contractility of the stem cells. 

PMID- 26879740
TI  - Diagnosis and Treatment of Childhood Meningitis Caused by Streptococcus bovis
      Group.
AB  - Streptococcus bovis is a rare, but important cause of bacterial meningitis in
      children. Since its discovery in the early 1970s, the pathogen has undergone
      multiple taxonomic changes producing four distinct subspecies today, the most
      prevalent of which is S. gallolyticus subsp pasteurianus in infants and children.
      While initially reported as sporadic case reports, there is a growing body of
      literature documenting invasive disease primarily in neonates and infants
      clinically indistinguishable from group B streptococcus. In this review, I
      discuss the taxonomic evolution of S. bovis meningitis and its subsequent
      clinical diagnosis, manifestations and treatment in children. 

PMID- 26879741
TI  - Pyomyositis in Children.
AB  - Primary pyomyositis in children is prevalent in the tropics and increasingly
      being recognised from temperate regions. Staphylococcus aureus remains the
      principle causative organism worldwide, while proportion of community-acquired
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is on rise. Commonly
      involved groups are around the pelvis and lower limbs. Clinical presentation
      depends on the stage of disease, most commonly a child presenting with limping
      with fever. Early diagnosis and management are crucial. The investigation of
      choice is MRI scan. Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be instituted at the
      earliest opportunity along with drainage. Majority of patients show excellent and
      complete recovery with no long-term complications once treatment is started
      early. A high level of awareness and suspicion of this condition is warranted
      from all paediatric clinicians. 

PMID- 26879742
TI  - Multifunctional Antioxidants: Regenerable Radical-Trapping and Hydroperoxide
      Decomposing Ebselenols.
AB  - Regenerable, multifunctional ebselenol antioxidants were prepared that could
      quench peroxyl radicals more efficiently than alpha-tocopherol. These compounds
      act as better mimics of the glutathione peroxidase enzymes than ebselen.
      Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS)
      in human mononuclear cells was considerably decreased upon exposure to the
      organoselenium compounds. At a concentration of 25 MUm, the ebselenol derivatives
      showed minimal toxicity in pre-osteoblast MC3T3 cells. 

PMID- 26879743
TI  - Differences of side branch jailing between left main-left anterior descending
      artery stenting and left main-left circumflex artery stenting with Nobori
      biolimus-eluting stent.
AB  - The aim of this study is to indicate differences of side branch jailing between
      the left main (LM)-left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenting and the LM-left
      circumflex artery (LCx) stenting. Thirty-one patients who underwent single
      stenting using a two-link ten-crowns biolimus-eluting stent (Japanese design of
      BES, J-BES) and subsequent kissing balloon dilation (KBD) on an LM bifurcation
      with optical coherence tomography (OCT) were divided into two groups according to
      the stented vessel. Bifurcation angles were measured by three-dimensional (3D)
      quantitative coronary analysis. The jailing pattern on a side branch ostium was
      evaluated by stent-enhanced 3D-OCT. Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) after KBD
      was compared between the stented vessels. The to-be-stented angle of the LM-LCx
      stenting (n = 11) was significantly steeper than that of the LM-LAD stenting (n =
      20) (132.6 degrees  +/- 16.9 degrees  vs. 150.7 degrees  +/- 10.6 degrees , p <
      0.01). The incidence of the free carina type, which has no stent links bridging
      from a carina, in the LM-LCx stenting was significantly higher than that in the
      LM-LAD stenting (90.9 vs. 45.0 %, p = 0.02). The percentage of ISA at the
      bifurcation segment in the LM-LCx stenting was significantly smaller than that in
      the LM-LAD stenting (4.4 +/- 8.2 vs. 12.7 +/- 9.2 %, p = 0.0003). This study
      showed, by higher incidence of the favorable configuration, that the LM-LCx
      stenting achieved a smaller percentage of ISA than the LM-LAD stenting. These
      insights may help guide LM bifurcation stenting with J-BES.

PMID- 26879744
TI  - Pediatric trauma at a general hospital in Cali, Colombia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children.
      Blunt trauma is the most common type and falls and road traffic injuries (RTI)
      are the most frequent mechanisms. METHODS: Secondary analysis of institutional
      data included within the Panamerican Society of Trauma Registry (STP-ITSDP). A
      total of 581 trauma patients younger than 18years, hospitalized between 2012 and
      2014, were included. RESULTS: Blunt trauma (BT) (68%) was the most common type,
      and falls (42.5%) the most common mechanism. Median age was: 14years for
      penetrating trauma (PT), 8years for BT, and 5.5years for other types of trauma
      (OT). Of all patients, 8.1% had a Glasgow score<8, 9% had a Glasgow score of 8-13
      and 81.1% had a Glasgow score higher than 14. Death occurred in 5.2% of patients:
      83.3% as inpatients and 16.7% during initial management in the emergency room
      (ER). Patients dying in the ER were mostly PT victims, with higher ISS and lower
      Glasgow scores. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma is an important cause of morbidity and
      mortality in our pediatric population. Fundacion Valle de Lili (FVL), a referral
      hospital, receives a high number of trauma patients from southwestern Colombia.
      Detailed knowledge of epidemiological data will help us to develop rapid response
      strategies for patients with trauma and to develop prevention and promotion
      programs.

PMID- 26879745
TI  - Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genomes in basal
      hymenopterans.
AB  - The Symphyta is traditionally accepted as a paraphyletic group located in a basal
      position of the order Hymenoptera. Herein, we conducted a comparative analysis of
      the mitochondrial genomes in the Symphyta by describing two newly sequenced ones,
      from Trichiosoma anthracinum, representing the first mitochondrial genome in
      family Cimbicidae, and Asiemphytus rufocephalus, from family Tenthredinidae. The
      sequenced lengths of these two mitochondrial genomes were 15,392 and 14,864 bp,
      respectively. Within the sequenced region, trnC and trnY were rearranged to the
      upstream of trnI-nad2 in T. anthracinum, while in A. rufocephalus all sequenced
      genes were arranged in the putative insect ancestral gene arrangement.
      Rearrangement of the tRNA genes is common in the Symphyta. The rearranged genes
      are mainly from trnL1 and two tRNA clusters of trnI-trnQ-trnM and trnW-trnC-trnY.
      The mitochondrial genomes of Symphyta show a biased usage of A and T rather than
      G and C. Protein-coding genes in Symphyta species show a lower evolutionary rate
      than those of Apocrita. The Ka/Ks ratios were all less than 1, indicating
      purifying selection of Symphyta species. Phylogenetic analyses supported the
      paraphyly and basal position of Symphyta in Hymenoptera. The well-supported
      phylogenetic relationship in the study is Tenthredinoidea + (Cephoidea +
      (Orussoidea + Apocrita)).

PMID- 26879746
TI  - The effectiveness of pre-operative exercise physiotherapy rehabilitation on the
      outcomes of treatment following anterior cruciate ligament injury: a systematic
      review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-operative exercise physiotherapy
      rehabilitation on the outcomes of treatment following anterior cruciate ligament
      injury. METHODS: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Ovid, The
      Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Studies published between the inception of
      the databases and December 2015 were sought using appropriate keywords in various
      combinations. This search was supplemented with a manual search of the references
      of selected studies. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using the
      Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. RESULTS: A total of 500 studies were
      identified, of which eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included
      in the present review. The average Physiotherapy Evidence Database score for the
      studies included was 5.8, which reflects an overall moderate methodological
      quality. The eight studies investigated a total of 451 subjects of which 71% (
      n=319) were males. The age of the participants in the eight studies ranged from
      15 to 57 years. The duration of the intervention in the studies ranged from 3 to
      24 weeks. This review found that pre-operative physiotherapy rehabilitation is
      effective for improving the outcomes of treatment following anterior cruciate
      ligament injury, including increasing knee-related function and improving muscle
      strength. However, whilst there was a significant improvement in quality of life
      from baseline following intervention, no significant difference in quality of
      life was found between the control and intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is
      evidence to suggest that pre-operative physiotherapy rehabilitation is beneficial
      to patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

PMID- 26879747
TI  - Effect of oxygen availability and pH on the furan concentration formed during
      thermal preservation of plant-based foods.
AB  - Thermally treated fruit- and vegetable-based foods are important contributors to
      the furan exposure of children and adults. Furan reduction by adding or removing
      precursors from the product has proven to be challenging because of major food
      constituents and interactions involved in the reaction pathways leading to furan
      formation. Instead of intervening at the precursor level, it might be more
      feasible to influence these formation pathways by adjusting the matrix properties
      of the product. As opposed to many previous literature sources, the present study
      investigated the effects of oxygen availability (normal versus reduced) and pH
      (acid versus low acid) on the furan formation in a real food system. Different
      combinations of both matrix properties were prepared in a reconstituted potato
      puree and subjected to a thermal treatment with a pasteurisation or sterilisation
      intensity. Irrespective of the addition of the furan precursors ascorbic acid,
      fructose and fatty acids, a considerable furan reduction was observed for the
      sterilised purees (F121(10) = 15 min) with either a reduced oxygen availability
      (0.1-1.8 mg l(-1)) or at pH 3. The effects of both matrix properties were less
      pronounced in the pasteurised purees (P90(10) = 10 min), because of the lower
      furan concentrations. Even though the mechanisms of furan reduction for both
      types of matrix properties could not be fully elucidated, the results showed that
      lowering the oxygen concentration or pH prior to thermal processing offers a
      powerful, additional strategy for furan mitigation in thermally treated plant
      based foods.

PMID- 26879748
TI  - The Family Diet Study: a cross-sectional study into the associations between
      diet, food habits and body weight status in Malay families.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is becoming more common as Malaysia experiences
      rapid nutrition transition. Current evidence related to parental influences on
      child dietary intake and body weight status is limited. The present study aimed
      to report, among Malay families, the prevalence of energy mis-reporting and
      dietary relationships within family dyads. METHODS: The cross-sectional Family
      Diet Study (n = 236) was conducted at five primary schools in central of
      Peninsular Malaysia. Each family consisted of a Malay child, aged 8-12 years, and
      their main caregiver(s). Information on socio-demographics, dietary intake and
      anthropometry were collected. Correlations and regression analyses were used to
      assess dietary relationships within family dyads. RESULTS: Approximately 29.6% of
      the children and 75.0% parents were categorised as being overweight or obese.
      Intakes of nutrients and food groups were below the national recommended targets
      for majority of children and adults. A large proportion of energy intake mis
      reporters were identified: mothers (55.5%), fathers (40.2%) and children (40.2%).
      Children's body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with parental BMI
      (fathers, r = 0.37; mothers, r = 0.34; P < 0.01). For dietary intakes, moderate
      to-strong (0.35-0.72) and weak-to-moderate (0.16-0.35) correlations were found
      between mother-father and child-parent dyads, respectively. Multiple regression
      revealed that maternal percentage energy from fat (beta = 0.09, P < 0.01)
      explained 81% of the variation in children's fat intake. CONCLUSIONS: Clear
      parental dietary relationships, especially child-mother dyads, were found.
      Despite a significant proportion of families with members who were overweight or
      obese, the majority reported dietary intakes below recommended levels, distorted
      by energy mis-reporting. The findings of the present study can inform
      interventions targeting parent-child relationships to improve family dietary
      patterns in Malaysia.

PMID- 26879749
TI  - Phantom limb perception interferes with motor imagery after unilateral upper-limb
      amputation.
AB  - A potential contributor to impaired motor imagery in amputees is an alteration of
      the body schema as a result of the presence of a phantom limb. However, the
      nature of the relationship between motor imagery and phantom experiences remains
      unknown. In this study, the influence of phantom limb perception on motor imagery
      was investigated using a hand mental rotation task by means of behavioral and
      electrophysiological measures. Compared with healthy controls, significantly
      prolonged response time for both the intact and missing hand were observed
      specifically in amputees who perceived a phantom limb during the task but not in
      amputees without phantom limb perception. Event-related desynchronization of EEG
      in the beta band (beta-ERD) in central and parietal areas showed an angular
      disparity specifically in amputees with phantom limb perception, with its source
      localized in the right inferior parietal lobule. The response time as well as the
      beta-ERD values were significantly positively correlated with phantom vividness.
      Our results suggest that phantom limb perception during the task is an important
      interferential factor for motor imagery after amputation and the interference
      might be related to a change of the body representation resulting from an
      unnatural posture of the phantom limb. 

PMID- 26879750
TI  - Behavioral and emotional adverse events of drugs frequently used in the treatment
      of bipolar disorders: clinical and theoretical implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Behavioral and emotional adverse events induced by drugs commonly
      prescribed to patients with bipolar disorders are of paramount importance to
      clinical practice and research. However, no reviews on the topic have been
      published so far. METHODS: An extensive search was performed. Reports were
      reviewed if they described behavioral side effects related to pharmacological
      treatments for bipolar disorders in healthy subjects or patients with different
      neuropsychiatric disorders. For this review, lithium, antipsychotics,
      anticonvulsants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were included.
      RESULTS: Apathy or emotional blunting, diminished sexual desire, and inability to
      cry were reported to be associated with exposure to selective serotonin reuptake
      inhibitors. Neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome/emotional detachment and
      obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and decision-making modifications. A lithium
      related amotivational syndrome was also reported in the literature. Furthermore,
      hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive symptoms have been noted in subjects
      treated with lamotrigine. LIMITATIONS: Primary studies on drug-related adverse
      events are scant so far and most of the data currently available derive from case
      reports. Moreover, most of the evidence reviewed is based on studies performed on
      healthy subjects and patients with neuropsychiatric conditions other than bipolar
      disorders. DISCUSSION: There is a remarkable dearth of data on behavioral adverse
      events of pharmacological treatment for bipolar disorders. However, the pieces of
      evidence available at present, though scant and scattered, suggest that different
      behavioral adverse events may be related to pharmacological treatment for these
      disorders. The implications of these findings for research and management of
      patients with mood disorders are discussed.

PMID- 26879751
TI  - Conformational Dynamics and Allostery in Pyruvate Kinase.
AB  - Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the final step in glycolysis and is allosterically
      regulated to control flux through the pathway. Two models are proposed to explain
      how Escherichia coli pyruvate kinase type 1 is allosterically regulated: the
      "domain rotation model" suggests that both the domains within the monomer and the
      monomers within the tetramer reorient with respect to one another; the "rigid
      body reorientation model" proposes only a reorientation of the monomers within
      the tetramer causing rigidification of the active site. To test these hypotheses
      and elucidate the conformational and dynamic changes that drive allostery, we
      performed time-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry coupled to
      hydrogen-deuterium exchange studies followed by mutagenic analysis to test the
      activation mechanism. Global exchange experiments, supported by thermostability
      studies, demonstrate that fructose 1,6-bisphosphate binding to the allosteric
      domain causes a shift toward a globally more dynamic ensemble of conformations.
      Mapping deuterium exchange to peptides within the enzyme highlight site-specific
      regions with altered conformational dynamics, many of which increase in
      conformational flexibility. Based upon these and mutagenic studies, we propose an
      allosteric mechanism whereby the binding of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate
      destabilizes an alpha-helix that bridges the allosteric and active site domains
      within the monomeric unit. This destabilizes the beta-strands within the
      (beta/alpha)8-barrel domain and the linked active site loops that are responsible
      for substrate binding. Our data are consistent with the domain rotation model but
      inconsistent with the rigid body reorientation model given the increased
      flexibility at the interdomain interface, and we can for the first time explain
      how fructose 1,6-bisphosphate affects the active site. 

PMID- 26879752
TI  - Pneumatic cystolithotripsy versus holmium:yag laser cystolithotripsy in the
      treatment of pediatric bladder stones: a prospective randomized study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser and Pneumatic
      cystolithotripsy (CL) are the most widely practiced transurethral procedures for
      treatment of pediatric bladder stones. The aim of our study was to compare the
      safety and efficacy of Ho:YAG laser CL and pneumatic CL in the treatment of
      pediatric bladder stones. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study from
      January 2012 to April 2015, 25 male children with bladder stones <3 cm were
      consecutively randomized into two treatment groups: group A (pneumatic CL)
      consisted of 13 patients and group B (Ho:YAG CL) consisted of 12 patients.
      Operative time, duration of stay and complications were recorded. Patients were
      followed up prospectively. RESULTS: The mean operative time was significantly
      lower in group B (25.6 vs. 31.6 min) for stones <1.5 cm (p = 0.040). However, for
      stones between 1.5 and 3 cm in size, the mean operating times were similar in
      both the groups (49.4 min in Ho:YAG vs. 44.6 min in pneumatic, p = 0.40). There
      was no difference in complication rates and hospital stay in both the groups. No
      major complications were seen in both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that
      Ho:YAG CL was more effective than pneumatic CL for treating bladder stones
      smaller than 1.5 cm.

PMID- 26879753
TI  - Alterations of putaminal shape in de novo Parkinson's disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Several neuroimaging studies have been carried out to gain insight
      on the pathological processes that cause PD, but literature findings are
      inconsistent. The aim of this study was to combine information carried by
      functional imaging with DA transporter ligands and structural MRI. METHODS: Forty
      two untreated, de novo-PD patients and 30 control subjects were involved in this
      study. Patients were divided in subgroups according to the presence of uni- or
      bilateral reduction of ligand uptake in the putamen, as observed on DA
      transporter single-photon emission tomography: 12 patients had abnormal uptake in
      the right putamen and 11 in the left, whereas 19 had bilateral abnormal uptake.
      Voxel-based morphometry and shape analysis were used to compare healthy subjects
      to all de novo-PD or to patients with either right or left abnormal uptake.
      RESULTS: Shape analysis identified significant differences between de novo-PD and
      controls in putaminal regions. In patients with unilateral abnormal uptake, only
      the medial surface of the structure was involved. When patients with bilateral
      uptake reduction were also considered, changes extended from the medial to the
      lateral surface of putamina. Voxel-based morphometry showed similar results to
      those detected with shape analysis, but it failed to identify the putaminal
      subfield involved in patients with asymmetric or symmetric damage on DA
      transporter single-photon emission tomography. CONCLUSIONS: Shape analysis in de
      novo-PD patients suggested a progressive medial-to-lateral involvement of the
      putamina that paralleled an asymmetric-to-bilateral distribution of DA
      transporter depletion. (c) 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder
      Society.

PMID- 26879754
TI  - Up-Regulation of microRNA-183 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Glioma
      By Directly Targeting NEFL.
AB  - Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of primary
      malignant brain tumor. In recent years, increasing reports suggest that discovery
      of microRNAs (miRNAs) might provide a novel therapeutical target for human
      cancers, including GBM. The expression and roles of microRNA-183 (miR-183) has
      been explored in several types of human cancers, including in GBM, and plays
      important roles in tumor initiation and progression. However, its biological
      functions in GBM remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that miR
      183 was significantly up-regulated in astrocytoma tissues and glioblastoma cell
      lines. Introduction of miR-183 mimics into U251 cells could promoted, while its
      antisense oligos inhibited cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, we
      identified neurofilament light polypeptide (NEFL) as a novel target gene of miR
      183. The expression levels of NEFL are inversely correlated with that of miR-183
      in human astrocytoma clinical specimens. In addition, NEFL-siRNA could
      significantly attenuate the inhibitory effects of knockdown miR-183 on the
      proliferation and invasion of U251 cells via mTOR signaling pathway. Overall,
      This study revealed that miR-183 promotes glioma cell proliferation by targeting
      NEFL, and also demonstrated that miR-183 could be a potential target for GBM
      treatment.

PMID- 26879756
TI  - Erratum to: PINK1 expression increases during brain development and stem cell
      differentiation, and affects the development of GFAPpositive astrocytes.

PMID- 26879755
TI  - Hypothyroidism Enhanced Ectonucleotidases and Acetylcholinesterase Activities in
      Rat Synaptosomes can be Prevented by the Naturally Occurring Polyphenol
      Quercetin.
AB  - Thyroid hormones have an influence on the functioning of the central nervous
      system. Furthermore, the cholinergic and purinergic systems also are extensively
      involved in brain function. In this context, quercetin is a polyphenol with
      antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This study investigated the effects
      of (MMI)-induced hypothyroidism on the NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine
      deaminase (ADA), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in synaptosomes of
      rats and whether the quercetin can prevent it. MMI at a concentration of 20
      mg/100 mL was administered for 90 days in the drinking water. The animals were
      divided into six groups: control/water (CT/W), control/quercetin 10 mg/kg,
      control/quercetin 25 mg/kg, methimazole/water (MMI/W), methimazole/quercetin 10
      mg/kg (MMI/Q10), and methimazole/quercetin 25 mg/kg (MMI/Q25). On the 30th day,
      hormonal dosing was performed to confirm hypothyroidism, and the animals were
      subsequently treated with 10 or 25 mg/kg quercetin for 60 days. NTPDase activity
      was not altered in the MMI/W group. However, treatment with quercetin decreased
      ATP and ADP hydrolysis in the MMI/Q10 and MMI/Q25 groups. 5'-nucleotidase
      activity increased in the MMI/W group, but treatments with 10 or 25 mg/kg
      quercetin decreased 5'-nucleotidase activity. ADA activity decreased in the CT/25
      and MMI/Q25 groups. Furthermore, AChE activity was reduced in all groups with
      hypothyroidism. In vitro tests also demonstrated that quercetin per se decreased
      NTPDase, 5'-nucleotidase, and AChE activities. This study demonstrated changes in
      the 5'-nucleotidase and AChE activities indicating that purinergic and
      cholinergic neurotransmission are altered in this condition. In addition,
      quercetin can alter these parameters and may be a promising natural compound with
      important neuroprotective actions in hypothyroidism.

PMID- 26879757
TI  - Non-canonical features of the Golgi apparatus in bipolar epithelial neural stem
      cells.
AB  - Apical radial glia (aRG), the stem cells in developing neocortex, are unique
      bipolar epithelial cells, extending an apical process to the ventricle and a
      basal process to the basal lamina. Here, we report novel features of the Golgi
      apparatus, a central organelle for cell polarity, in mouse aRGs. The Golgi was
      confined to the apical process but not associated with apical centrosome(s). In
      contrast, in aRG-derived, delaminating basal progenitors that lose apical
      polarity, the Golgi became pericentrosomal. The aRG Golgi underwent
      evolutionarily conserved, accordion-like compression and extension concomitant
      with cell cycle-dependent nuclear migration. Importantly, in line with
      endoplasmic reticulum but not Golgi being present in the aRG basal process, its
      plasma membrane contained glycans lacking Golgi processing, consistent with
      direct ER-to-cell surface membrane traffic. Our study reveals hitherto unknown
      complexity of neural stem cell polarity, differential Golgi contribution to their
      specific architecture, and fundamental Golgi re-organization upon cell fate
      change. 

PMID- 26879758
TI  - Heme oxygenase-1 inhibits basophil maturation and activation but promotes its
      apoptosis in T helper type 2-mediated allergic airway inflammation.
AB  - The anti-inflammatory role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been studied
      extensively in many disease models including asthma. Many cell types are anti
      inflammatory targets of HO-1, such as dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. In
      contrast to previous reports that HO-1 had limited effects on basophils, which
      participate in T helper type 2 immune responses and antigen-induced allergic
      airway inflammation, we demonstrated in this study, for the first time, that the
      up-regulation of HO-1 significantly suppressed the maturation of mouse basophils,
      decreased the expression of CD40, CD80, MHC-II and activation marker CD200R on
      basophils, blocked DQ-ovalbumin uptake and promoted basophil apoptosis both in
      vitro and in vivo, leading to the inhibition of T helper type 2 polarization.
      These effects of HO-1 were mimicked by exogenous carbon monoxide, which is one of
      the catalytic products of HO-1. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of HO-1-modified
      basophils reduced ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation. The above
      effects of HO-1 can be reversed by the HO-1 inhibitor Sn-protoporphyrin IX.
      Moreover, conditional depletion of basophils accompanying hemin treatment further
      attenuated airway inflammation compared with the hemin group, indicating that the
      protective role of HO-1 may involve multiple immune cells. Collectively, our
      findings demonstrated that HO-1 exerted its anti-inflammatory function through
      suppression of basophil maturation and activation, but promotion of basophil
      apoptosis, providing a possible novel therapeutic target in allergic asthma. 

PMID- 26879760
TI  - E-cadherin is required for cranial neural crest migration in Xenopus laevis.
AB  - The cranial neural crest (CNC) is a highly motile and multipotent embryonic cell
      population, which migrates directionally on defined routes throughout the embryo,
      contributing to facial structures including cartilage, bone and ganglia. Cadherin
      mediated cell-cell adhesion is known to play a crucial role in the directional
      migration of CNC cells. However, migrating CNC co-express different cadherin
      subtypes, and their individual roles have yet to be fully explored. In previous
      studies, the expression of individual cadherin subtypes has been analysed using
      different methods with varying sensitivities, preventing the direct comparison of
      expression levels. Here, we provide the first comprehensive and comparative
      analysis of the expression of six cadherin superfamily members during different
      phases of CNC cell migration in Xenopus. By applying a quantitative RT-qPCR
      approach, we can determine the copy number and abundance of each expressed
      cadherin through different phases of CNC migration. Using this approach, we show
      for the first time expression of E-cadherin and XB/C-cadherin in CNC cells,
      adding them as two new members of cadherins co-expressed during CNC migration.
      Cadherin co-expression during CNC migration in Xenopus, in particular the
      constant expression of E-cadherin, contradicts the classical epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) model postulating a switch in cadherin expression.
      Loss-of-function experiments further show that E-cadherin is required for proper
      CNC cell migration in vivo and also for cell protrusion formation in vitro.
      Knockdown of E-cadherin is not rescued by co-injection of other classical
      cadherins, pointing to a specific function of E-cadherin in mediating CNC cell
      migration. Finally, through reconstitution experiments with different E-cadherin
      deletion mutants in E-cadherin morphant embryos, we demonstrate that the
      extracellular domain, but not the cytoplasmic domain, of E-cadherin is sufficient
      to rescue CNC cell migration in vivo. 

PMID- 26879761
TI  - Selectivity between Oxygen and Chlorine Evolution in the Chlor-Alkali and
      Chlorate Processes.
AB  - Chlorine gas and sodium chlorate are two base chemicals produced through
      electrolysis of sodium chloride brine which find uses in many areas of industrial
      chemistry. Although the industrial production of these chemicals started over 100
      years ago, there are still factors that limit the energy efficiencies of the
      processes. This review focuses on the unwanted production of oxygen gas, which
      decreases the charge yield by up to 5%. Understanding the factors that control
      the rate of oxygen production requires understanding of both chemical reactions
      occurring in the electrolyte, as well as surface reactions occurring on the
      anodes. The dominant anode material used in chlorate and chlor-alkali production
      is the dimensionally stable anode (DSA), Ti coated by a mixed oxide of RuO2 and
      TiO2. Although the selectivity for chlorine evolution on DSA is high, the
      fundamental reasons for this high selectivity are just now becoming elucidated.
      This review summarizes the research, since the early 1900s until today,
      concerning the selectivity between chlorine and oxygen evolution in chlorate and
      chlor-alkali production. It covers experimental as well as theoretical studies
      and highlights the relationships between process conditions, electrolyte
      composition, the material properties of the anode, and the selectivity for oxygen
      formation. 

PMID- 26879762
TI  - Regulating the expression of CD80/CD86 on dendritic cells to induce immune
      tolerance after xeno-islet transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antigen present cells (APCs) have been demonstrated to play dual
      roles in immune tolerance. Recently, compelling evidence indicates that APCs that
      express CD80, but not CD86 can protect allograft. We investigated whether
      modulation of CD80 in dendritic cells (DCs) offer protection for xeno-islets.
      METHODS: In vitro, isolated mature murine DCs received untransfection,
      transfection with CD86 siRNA or negative control siRNA. The DCs were used in
      mixed lymphocyte reaction in which rat islets and murine splenocytes were further
      added. On day 3 of co-culturing, the proliferation of lymphocytes was measured
      and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta),
      interferon gamma (INF-gamma) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) from the
      supernatants were determined. Islets viability and function were also assessed.
      In vivo, streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice underwent rat islets
      transplantation were pre-treated with above DCs. At designated time, xeno-islets
      were subjected to histopathology, immunohistochemistry, survival time and
      functional tests. Peripheral blood T lymphocyte profiles were also examined.
      RESULTS: CD86-silenced-DCs had unchanged expression of CD80 and significantly
      suppressed the proliferation of lymphocytes. CD86-silenced-DCs simultaneously
      reduced IL-2 and INF-gamma and increased IL-10, TGF-beta and IDO, while had
      minimal effect on IL-4. The CD86-silenced-DCs also improved cell viability and
      function of xeno-islets when compared to untransfection and transfection control
      groups. In xeno-islets transplanted diabetic mice, transfer of CD86-silenced-DCs
      resulted in improved histopathology and dramatically prolonged survival time of
      the islets. These effects were also mirrored by the functional tests. Further
      analysis revealed that CD86-silenced-DCs had up-regulated levels of
      CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells in the peripheral blood compared to the other groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: CD86-silenced-DCs induced immune tolerance of rat xeno-islets in
      recipient diabetic mice with up-regulated peripheral blood CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells.

PMID- 26879763
TI  - Integrated Approach for Pain Management in Parkinson Disease.
AB  - Pain, one of the most frequent nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD), is
      recognized as an important component of the illness that adversely affects
      patient quality of life. The aims of this review are to summarize the current
      knowledge on the clinical assessment and to provide a detailed overview of the
      evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to treating pain.
      Results of a literature search include studies investigating pain/sensory
      abnormalities in PD. The effects of levodopa administration, deep brain
      stimulation (DBS), pallidotomy, spinal cord stimulation, rehabilitation, and
      complementary/alternative medicine are reviewed critically. PD patients have
      altered pain and sensory thresholds; levodopa and DBS improve pain and change
      sensory abnormalities toward normal levels through antinociceptive and/or
      modulatory effects that remain unknown. A wide range of nonpharmacologic
      approaches require further investigation. A multidisciplinary approach is
      fundamental in managing pain syndromes in PD. 

PMID- 26879764
TI  - Prevalence and associated factors for decreased appetite among patients with
      stable heart failure.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of decreased appetite and factors
      associated with appetite among patients with stable heart failure. BACKGROUND:
      Decreased appetite is an important factor for the development of undernutrition
      among patients with heart failure, but there are knowledge gaps about prevalence
      and the factors related to appetite in this patient group. DESIGN: Observational,
      cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 186 patients with mild to severe heart
      failure were consecutively recruited from three heart failure outpatient clinics.
      Data were obtained from medical records (heart failure diagnosis, comorbidity and
      medical treatment) and self-rated questionnaires (demographics, appetite, self
      perceived health, symptoms of depression and sleep). Blood samples were taken to
      determine myocardial stress and nutrition status. Heart failure symptoms and
      cognitive function were assessed by clinical examinations. The Council on
      Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported appetite.
      Bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted
      to explore factors associated with appetite. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients (38%)
      experienced a loss of appetite with a significant risk of developing weight loss.
      The final multiple regression model showed that age, symptoms of depression,
      insomnia, cognitive function and pharmacological treatment were associated with
      appetite, explaining 27% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: In this cross
      sectional study, a large share of patients with heart failure was affected by
      decreased appetite, associated with demographic, psychosocial and medical
      factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Loss of appetite is a prevalent problem
      among patients with heart failure that may lead to undernutrition. Health care
      professionals should routinely assess appetite and discuss patients' experiences
      of appetite, nutrition intake and body weight and give appropriate nutritional
      advice with respect to individual needs.

PMID- 26879765
TI  - Transient ischemic attack: management in the emergency department and impact of
      an outpatient neurovascular clinic.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: 1) To evaluate whether transient ischemic attack (TIA) management in
      emergency departments (EDs) of the Nova Scotia Capital District Health Authority
      followed Canadian Best Practice Recommendations, and 2) to assess the impact of
      being followed up in a dedicated outpatient neurovascular clinic. METHODS:
      Retrospective chart review of all patients discharged from EDs in our district
      from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 with a diagnosis of TIA. Cox
      proportional hazards models, Kaplan-Meier survival curve, and propensity matched
      analyses were used to evaluate 90-day mortality and readmission. RESULTS: Of the
      686 patients seen in the ED for TIA, 88.3% received computed tomography (CT)
      scanning, 86.3% received an electrocardiogram (ECG), 35% received vascular
      imaging within 24 hours of triage, 36% were seen in a neurovascular clinic, and
      4.2% experienced stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death within 90 days.
      Rates of antithrombotic use were increased in patients seen in a neurovascular
      clinic compared to those who were not (94% v. 86.3%, p<0.0001). After adjustment
      for age, sex, vascular disease risk factors, and stroke symptoms, the risk of
      readmission for stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death was lower for
      those seen in a neurovascular clinic compared to those who were not (adjusted
      hazard ratio 0.28; 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.99, p=0.048). CONCLUSION: The
      majority of patients in our study were treated with antithrombotic agents in the
      ED and investigated with CT and ECG within 24 hours; however, vascular imaging
      and neurovascular clinic follow-up were underutilized. For those with
      neurovascular clinic follow-up, there was an association with reduced risk of
      subsequent stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death.

PMID- 26879766
TI  - Exploring Regioselective Bond Cleavage and Cross-Coupling Reactions using a Low
      Valent Nickel Complex.
AB  - Recently, esters have received much attention as transmetalation partners for
      cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we report a systematic study of the reactivity
      of a series of esters and thioesters with [{(dtbpe)Ni}2(MU-eta(2):eta(2)-C6H6)]
      (dtbpe=1,2-bis(di-tert-butyl)phosphinoethane), which is a source of
      (dtbpe)nickel(0). Trifluoromethylthioesters were found to form eta(2)-carbonyl
      complexes. In contrast, acetylthioesters underwent rapid Cacyl-S bond cleavage
      followed by decarbonylation to generate methylnickel complexes. This
      decarbonylation could be pushed backwards by the addition of CO, allowing for
      regeneration of the thioester. Most of the thioester complexes were found to
      undergo stoichiometric cross-coupling with phenylboronic acid to yield sulfides.
      While ethyl trifluoroacetate was also found to form an eta(2)-carbonyl complex,
      phenyl esters were found to predominantly undergo Caryl-O bond cleavage to yield
      arylnickel complexes. These could also undergo transmetalation to yield biaryls.
      Attempts to render the reactions catalytic were hindered by ligand scrambling to
      yield nickel bis(acetate) complexes, the formation of which was supported by
      independent syntheses. Finally, 2-naphthyl acetate was also found to undergo
      clean Caryl-O bond cleavage, and although stoichiometric cross-coupling with
      phenylboronic acid proceeded with good yield, catalytic turnover has so far
      proven elusive.

PMID- 26879767
TI  - An assessment of auditory-guided locomotion in an obstacle circumvention task.
AB  - This study investigated how effectively audition can be used to guide navigation
      around an obstacle. Ten blindfolded normally sighted participants navigated
      around a 0.6 * 2 m obstacle while producing self-generated mouth click sounds.
      Objective movement performance was measured using a Vicon motion capture system.
      Performance with full vision without generating sound was used as a baseline for
      comparison. The obstacle's location was varied randomly from trial to trial: it
      was either straight ahead or 25 cm to the left or right relative to the
      participant. Although audition provided sufficient information to detect the
      obstacle and guide participants around it without collision in the majority of
      trials, buffer space (clearance between the shoulder and obstacle), overall
      movement times, and number of velocity corrections were significantly (p < 0.05)
      greater with auditory guidance than visual guidance. Collisions sometime occurred
      under auditory guidance, suggesting that audition did not always provide an
      accurate estimate of the space between the participant and obstacle. Unlike
      visual guidance, participants did not always walk around the side that afforded
      the most space during auditory guidance. Mean buffer space was 1.8 times higher
      under auditory than under visual guidance. Results suggest that sound can be used
      to generate buffer space when vision is unavailable, allowing navigation around
      an obstacle without collision in the majority of trials.

PMID- 26879768
TI  - Tactile stimulation during development alters the neuroanatomical organization of
      the optic nerve in normal rats.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the progressive effect of tactile
      stimulation in the cytoarchitecture of the optic nerve of normal rats during
      early postnatal development. We used 36 male pups which were randomly assigned to
      either the tactile-stimulated group (TS-stimulation for 3 min, once a day, from
      postnatal day (P) 1 to 32) or the non-tactile-stimulated (NTS) group.
      Morphological analysis were performed to evaluate the alterations caused by
      tactile stimulation, and morphometric analysis were carried out to determine
      whether the observed changes in optic nerve cytoarchitecture were significantly
      different between groups and at three different ages (P18, P22, and P32), thereby
      covering the entire progression of development of the optic nerve from its start
      to its completion. The rats of both groups presented similar increase in body
      weight. The morphometric analysis revealed no difference in the astrocyte density
      between age-matched groups; however, the oligodendrocyte density of TS group was
      higher compared to the NTS at P22, and P32, but not at P18. The optic nerve of TS
      group showed an increase of blood vessels and a reduction of damage fiber density
      when compared to the age-matched pups of NTS. Taken together, these findings
      support the view that tactile stimulation, an enriching experience, can
      positively affects the neuroanatomy of the brain, modifying its cellular
      components by progressive morphological and morphometric changes.

PMID- 26879769
TI  - Gait patterns in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.
AB  - Previous research has shown that adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder
      (DCD) show increased variability of foot placement measures and movement of the
      centre of mass (CoM) while walking. The current study considered the gait
      patterns of young and older children with DCD. Fourteen young children with DCD
      (7-12 years), 15 older children with DCD (12-17 years) and 29 age- and gender
      matched typically developing children took part. Children were asked to walk up
      and down a flat 10-m-long pathway for 1 min, while the movement of their feet and
      trunk was recorded using motion analysis. The gait pattern of children with DCD
      was characterised by wider steps, elevated variability in the time spent in
      double support and stride time and greater medio-lateral velocity and
      acceleration compared to their peers. An elevated variability in medio-lateral
      acceleration was also seen in the young but not the older children with DCD. In
      addition, the young children showed a greater variability in velocity and
      acceleration in all three directions compared to the older children. The data
      suggest that the high incidence of trips and falls seen in children with DCD may
      be due to differences in the control of the CoM.

PMID- 26879770
TI  - Coordination of muscle torques stabilizes upright standing posture: an UCM
      analysis.
AB  - The control of upright stance is commonly explained on the basis of the single
      inverted pendulum model (ankle strategy) or the double inverted pendulum model
      (combination of ankle and hip strategy). Kinematic analysis using the
      uncontrolled manifold (UCM) approach suggests, however, that stability in upright
      standing results from coordinated movement of multiple joints. This is based on
      evidence that postural sway induces more variance in joint configurations that
      leave the body position in space invariant than in joint configurations that move
      the body in space. But does this UCM structure of kinematic variance truly
      reflect coordination at the level of the neural control strategy or could it
      result from passive biomechanical factors? To address this question, we applied
      the UCM approach at the level of muscle torques rather than joint angles.
      Participants stood on the floor or on a narrow base of support. We estimated
      torques at the ankle, knee, and hip joints using a model of the body dynamics. We
      then partitioned the joint torques into contributions from net, motion-dependent,
      gravitational, and generalized muscle torques. A UCM analysis of the structure of
      variance of the muscle torque revealed that postural sway induced substantially
      more variance in directions in muscle torque space that leave the Center of Mass
      (COM) force invariant than in directions that affect the force acting on the COM.
      This difference decreased when we decorrelated the muscle torque data by
      randomizing across time. Our findings show that the UCM structure of variance
      exists at the level of muscle torques and is thus not merely a by-product of
      biomechanical coupling. Because muscle torques reflect neural control signals
      more directly than joint angles do, our results suggest that the control strategy
      for upright stance involves the task-specific coordination of multiple degrees of
      freedom.

PMID- 26879771
TI  - Neural activities in V1 create the bottom-up saliency map of natural scenes.
AB  - A saliency map is the bottom-up contribution to the deployment of exogenous
      attention. It, as well as its underlying neural mechanism, is hard to identify
      because of the influence of top-down signals. A recent study showed that neural
      activities in V1 could create a bottom-up saliency map (Zhang et al. in Neuron
      73(1):183-192, 2012). In this paper, we tested whether their conclusion can
      generalize to complex natural scenes. In order to avoid top-down influences, each
      image was presented with a low contrast for only 50 ms and was followed by a high
      contrast mask, which rendered the whole image invisible to participants
      (confirmed by a forced-choice test). The Posner cueing paradigm was adopted to
      measure the spatial cueing effect (i.e., saliency) by an orientation
      discrimination task. A positive cueing effect was found, and the magnitude of the
      cueing effect was consistent with the saliency prediction of a computational
      saliency model. In a following fMRI experiment, we used the same masked natural
      scenes as stimuli and measured BOLD signals responding to the predicted salient
      region (relative to the background). We found that the BOLD signal in V1, but not
      in other cortical areas, could well predict the cueing effect. These results
      suggest that the bottom-up saliency map of natural scenes could be created in V1,
      providing further evidence for the V1 saliency theory (Li in Trends Cogn Sci
      6(1):9-16, 2002).

PMID- 26879772
TI  - Near-infrared light (670 nm) reduces MPTP-induced parkinsonism within a broad
      therapeutic time window.
AB  - We have shown previously that near-infrared light (NIr), when applied at the same
      time as a parkinsonian insult (e.g. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine;
      MPTP), reduces behavioural deficits and offers neuroprotection. Here, we explored
      whether the timing of NIr intervention-either before, at the same time or after
      the MPTP insult-was important. Mice received MPTP injections (total of 50 mg/kg)
      and, at various stages in relation to these injections, extracranial application
      of NIr. Locomotor activity was tested with an open-field test, and brains were
      processed for immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that regardless of when
      NIr was applied in relation to MPTP insult, behavioural impairment was reduced by
      a similar magnitude. The beneficial effect of NIr was fast-acting (within
      minutes) and long-lasting (for several days). There were more dopaminergic cells
      in the NIr-treated MPTP groups than in the MPTP group; there was no clear
      indication that a particular combination of NIr treatment and MPTP injection
      resulted in a higher cell number. In summary, irrespective of whether it was
      applied before, at the same time as or after MPTP insult, NIr reduced both
      behavioural and structural measures of damage by a similar magnitude. There was a
      broad therapeutic time window of NIr application in relation to the stage of
      toxic insult, and the NIr was fast-acting and long-lasting.

PMID- 26879773
TI  - Assessment of the Access AMH assay as an automated, high-performance replacement
      for the AMH Generation II manual ELISA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The manual Generation II (Gen II) ELISA method used to measure Anti
      Mullerian Hormone (AMH) from Beckman Coulter has recently been superseded by a
      fully automated AMH immunoassay. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      performance of the Access AMH assay and directly compare it to the modified Gen
      II ELISA method. A secondary aim was to verify that the fertile age-related AMH
      range previously established using the Gen II ELISA could be used to interpret
      results from the new automated Access assay. METHODS: The precision, stability,
      linearity, measurement range and detection limits were determined using
      recombinant AMH and patient serum samples. Different diluents and their effects
      on AMH concentration were compared. A correlation study was performed on patient
      samples to compare the Access AMH assay to the ELISA method on the Access2 and
      DxI800 analysers. The fertile AMH range was verified by comparing the 10th, 50th
      and 90th percentile values from both methods obtained from 489 natural conception
      pregnant women. RESULTS: The Access AMH assay showed good performance across the
      measuring range for both intra-assay (CV 1.41-3.30 %) and inter-assay (CV 3.04
      5.76 %) precision and acceptable sample stability. Dilution of the high
      concentration samples with the recommended diluent resulted in a small but
      significant downward shift in values. The assay was linear over the range of
      values recommended by the manufacturer, allowing for accurate reporting within
      the reported range. The two assay types were highly correlated (R(2) = 0.9822 and
      0.9832 for Access2 and DxI800, respectively), and the differences observed
      between the Access2 and DxI800 analysers were within clinically acceptable
      ranges, indicating that the methods are interchangeable. Furthermore, we
      demonstrated that results from the published reference range for the Gen II ELISA
      correlate with those from the automated Access AMH assay. CONCLUSION: Here, we
      verified the published performance of the Access AMH assay and showed excellent
      correlation with the Gen II ELISA method. Moreover, we validated this correlation
      by confirming that the results from a fertile AMH reference range established
      using the preceding Gen II ELISA are interchangeable with the new automated
      Access AMH assay.

PMID- 26879774
TI  - Correction: Dry shear aligning: a simple and versatile method to smooth and align
      the surfaces of carbon nanotube thin films.
AB  - Correction for 'Dry shear aligning: a simple and versatile method to smooth and
      align the surfaces of carbon nanotube thin films' by D. D. Tune et al.,
      Nanoscale, 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08784h. 

PMID- 26879775
TI  - Incidence of acute kidney injury among patients with chronic kidney disease: a
      single-center retrospective database analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication among
      hospitalized individuals and is closely associated with chronic kidney disease
      (CKD). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the incidences of AKI
      according to CKD stage at Kochi Medical School hospital during 1981-2011. AKI was
      defined and staged according to the kidney disease improving global outcomes
      criteria, using serum creatinine levels. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 122,653
      Japanese patients (57,105 men, 46.6 %). The incidence of AKI was 7.8 % (95 %
      confidence interval 7.7-8.0 %). Compared to non-AKI patients, patients with stage
      1-2 AKI were more likely to be men. Patients with stage 1-2 AKI were
      significantly older than non-AKI or stage 3 AKI patients. The incidences of AKI
      were 6.7, 5.9, 10.4, 18.4, 30.0, and 48.8 % among individuals with estimated
      glomerular filtration rates of >=90, 60-89, 45-59, 30-44, 15-29, and <15
      mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; these were significantly different from the
      incidence for the baseline eGFR. The proportions of inpatients with AKI exhibited
      step-wise increases with more severe pre-existing reduced kidney function, and
      the proportions among outpatients exhibited step-wise increases with milder pre
      existing reduced kidney function. CONCLUSIONS: CKD was a risk factor for AKI, and
      the incidence of AKI was positively associated with pre-existing reduced kidney
      function (CKD stage). We also found that the prevalence of AKI at early-stage CKD
      among outpatients was higher than expected. We suggest that outpatients should be
      monitored for AKI, given its unexpected incidence in that population.

PMID- 26879776
TI  - Stereoselectivity and the potential endocrine disrupting activity of di-(2
      ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) against human progesterone receptor: a computational
      perspective.
AB  - Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a phthalate plasticizer and is one of the
      very common endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contaminating our ecosystem. It
      is used for imparting flexibility to plastics and frequently used in personal and
      industrial products. Clinical and experimental studies have indicated that
      exposure to DEHP is associated with developmental abnormalities of the
      reproductive system particularly of male neonates, endometriosis and miscarriage
      in women, low sperm counts and lower sperm motility and DNA integrity in men, and
      placental problems with higher rates of low birth weight, premature birth, and
      fetal loss in laboratory animals. Binding of DEHP to progesterone receptor (PR)
      represents a potential mechanism of interference in the reproductive functions.
      DEHP is a chiralmolecule and is available commercially as a racemic mixture of
      RR, SS and RS stereoisomers. The ability of individual stereoisomers of DEHP to
      interfere with the reproductive functions of humans and animals is not known and
      molecular interactions of DEHP stereoisomers with PR are not available. In the
      present study, in silico approaches were adopted for molecular simulation studies
      of the three stereoisomers of DEHP with PR. The study suggested that all three
      stereoisomers of DEHP have the potential to compete with the normal substrate
      binding of PR. However, the binding of DEHP to PR was stereoselective with RR
      stereoisomer of DEHP having the best binding characteristics compared with SS,
      and RS stereoisomers. It has been suggested that stereoselectivity may be
      employed for improving the safety of the commercial compounds using pure
      stereoisomers instead of racemic mixtures.

PMID- 26879777
TI  - Acute Myocardial Infarction in Adult Congenital Patients with Bodily Isomerism.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Children born with congenital malformations of the heart are
      increasingly surviving into adulthood. This population of patients possesses
      lesion-specific complication risks while still being at risk for common
      illnesses. Bodily isomerism or heterotaxy, is a unique clinical entity associated
      with congenital malformations of the heart which further increases the risk for
      future cardiovascular complications. We aimed to investigate the frequency of
      myocardial infarction in adults with bodily isomerism. METHODS: We utilized the
      2012 iteration of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify adult inpatient
      admissions associated with acute myocardial infarction in patients with
      isomerism. Data regarding demographics, comorbidities and various procedures were
      collected and compared between those with and without isomerism. RESULTS: A total
      of 6,907,109 admissions were analyzed with a total of 172,394 admissions being
      associated with an initial encounter for acute myocardial infarction. The
      frequency of myocardial infarction did not differ between those with and without
      isomerism and was roughly 2% in both groups. Similarly, the number of procedures
      and in-hospital mortality did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The
      frequency and short-term prognosis of acute myocardial infarction is similar in
      patients with and without isomerism.

PMID- 26879778
TI  - The predictability and magnitude of life-history divergence to ecological agents
      of selection: a meta-analysis in livebearing fishes.
AB  - Environments causing variation in age-specific mortality - ecological agents of
      selection - mediate the evolution of reproductive life-history traits. However,
      the relative magnitude of life-history divergence across selective agents,
      whether divergence in response to specific selective agents is consistent across
      taxa and whether it occurs as predicted by theory, remains largely unexplored. We
      evaluated divergence in offspring size, offspring number, and the trade-off
      between these traits using a meta-analysis in livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae).
      Life-history divergence was consistent and predictable to some (predation,
      hydrogen sulphide) but not all (density, food limitation, salinity) selective
      agents. In contrast, magnitudes of divergence among selective agents were
      similar. Finally, there was a negative, asymmetric relationship between offspring
      number and offspring-size divergence, suggesting greater costs of increasing
      offspring size than number. Ultimately, these results provide strong evidence for
      predictable and consistent patterns of reproductive life-history divergence and
      highlight the importance of comparing phenotypic divergence across species and
      ecological selective agents. 

PMID- 26879779
TI  - Body mass index predicts perioperative complications following orthopaedic trauma
      surgery: an ACS-NSQIP analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The impact of obesity on outcomes has been documented extensively in the
      elective orthopaedic literature, but little is known about the impact of obesity
      on outcomes following orthopaedic trauma surgery. Utilizing the ACS-NSQIP
      database, we sought to investigate the relationship between BMI and perioperative
      complications in orthopaedic trauma patients. METHODS: 53,219 orthopaedic trauma
      patients were identified using a CPT code search between 2005 and 2013 in the
      NSQIP database. Patient demographics, and perioperative complications (including
      minor, major, and total) were collected. Multivariate regression analysis was
      performed to control for baseline demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS:
      Compared with patients of normal weight, underweight patients had significantly
      greater odds of minor [OR 1.12, 95 % CI (1.0, 1.26), p = 0.04], major [OR 1.20,
      95 % CI (1.1, 1.3), p = 0.0009], and total complications [OR 1.18, 95 % CI (1.1,
      1.3), p = 0.0003]. Morbidly obese patients had significantly greater odds of
      major [OR 1.22, 95 % CI (1.0, 1.5), p = 0.023] and total complications [OR 1.18,
      95 % CI (1.0, 1.4), p = 0.023] compared to normal weight patients. When wound
      related complications were examined independently, obesity was associated with
      increased odds of superficial [OR 1.67, 95 % CI (1.3, 2.1), p < 0.0001] and deep
      wound infection [OR 1.52, 95 % CI (1.075, 2.144), p = 0.018], and morbid obesity
      was associated with increased odds of wound dehiscence [OR 2.29, 95 % CI (1.1,
      4.9), p = 0.034] and deep infection [OR 2.51, 95 % CI (1.6, 3.9), p < 0.0001].
      CONCLUSIONS: Morbidly obese patients have significantly greater odds of wound
      dehiscence, deep wound infection, major complications, and total complications
      compared to patients of normal weight. Additionally, BMI under 18.5 is associated
      with increased odds of minor, major, and total perioperative complications.
      Interventions aimed at decreasing complication rates should be targeted at these
      high-risk patient populations on both ends of the BMI spectrum.

PMID- 26879780
TI  - Trauma team activation criteria in managing trauma patients at an emergency room
      in Thailand.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trauma team activation (TTA) criteria were first implemented in the
      Emergency Department (ED) of Songklanagarind Hospital in 2009 to treat severe
      trauma patients. PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of the TTA criteria on the
      acute trauma care process in the ED and the 28-day mortality rate. METHODS: A 1
      year prospective cohort study was conducted at the ED. Trauma patients who were
      18 years old and over who met the TTA criteria were enrolled. Demographic data,
      physiologic parameters, ED length of stay (EDLOS), and the injury severity score
      (ISS) were recorded. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the
      factors affecting 28-day mortality. Institutional review board approval was
      obtained from the Prince of Songkla University. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients
      (74 male and 6 female) were eligible with a mean age of 34.3 years old. Shock,
      penetrating torso injury, and pulse rate >120 beats per minute were the three
      most common criteria for trauma team consultation. At the ED, 9 patients (11.3 %)
      were non-survivors, 30 patients (37.5 %) needed immediate operation, and 41
      patients (51.2 %) were admitted. All of the arrest patients died (p < 0.0001).
      The median time of EDLOS was 85 min: 68 min in the non-survivor group and 120 min
      in the survivor group (p = 0.028). The median ISS was 21.0 (1-75): 25.0 in the
      non-survivor group and 17.0 in the survivor group. When compared with pilot data
      prior to TTA implementation, the median time of EDLOS improved from 184 to 85 min
      and the 28-day mortality rate decreased from 66.7 to 46.3 %. The high ISS was a
      predictor of death. CONCLUSION: The trauma team activation criteria improved
      acute trauma care in the ED which was demonstrated by the decreased EDLOS and
      mortality rate. A high ISS is the sole parameter predicting mortality.

PMID- 26879781
TI  - ["Consensus" and "individual treatment" of Helicobacter pylori infection].

PMID- 26879782
TI  - [Indication for Helicobacter pylori eradication: points to ponder].

PMID- 26879783
TI  - [The explanation of Holistic Integrative Medicine in theory].

PMID- 26879784
TI  - [Quadruple regimens using domestically manufactured drugs in gastritis and
      duodenal ulcer patients for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a perspective,
      multicenter, randomized controlled trial].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects and safety of quadruple regimens including
      domestically manufactured rabeprazole used as first line/initial therapy for
      Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) eradication in gastritis and duodenal ulcer
      patients, and to investigate the effects of extended use of bismuth after the
      quadruple therapy on eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: From January to August
      2013, 430 patients with chronic gastritis or duodenal ulcer who were confirmed as
      H. pylori positive in gastroscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms were
      enrolled from 12 centers in China for initial treatment using quadruple regimens
      for H. pylori eradication. The study was a prospective, multicenter, randomized
      double-blinded double-dummy parallel-controlled clinical trial. The 310 chronic
      gastritis patients were divided into 2 groups: group A1 was given quadruple
      regime (rabeprazole+ amoxicillin+ clarithromycin+ bismuth potassium citrate) for
      10 days followed by bismuth-placebo for 21 days; group A2 was given the quadruple
      regimen for 10 days and then bismuth potassium citrate for 21 days. The duodenal
      ulcer patients were given the quadruple for 10 days, then rabeprazole for 14
      days. All the patients took (13)C urea breath test to detect H. pylori 28 days
      after medicine withdrawal. RESULTS: Altogether 428 cases were enrolled and 404
      completed the trial. The total eradication rate in the chronic gastritis patients
      was 85.1% (262/308, intention-to-treat (ITT)analysis), which was 81.7% (125/153,
      ITT) in the A1 group and 88.4% (137/155, ITT) in the A2 group; the eradication
      rate in the duodenal ulcer patients was 85.8% (103/120, ITT). No severe adverse
      effects were reported. The symptoms (pain, burning sensation, reflux, belching,
      nausea, and vomiting) improvement status was similar among A1 and A2 groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: The quadruple regimen using rabeprazole manufactured in China and
      administered for 10 days as first line/initial therapy in chronic gastritis and
      duodenal ulcer patients could achieve good H. pylori eradication rate. The
      extended use of bismuth after 10-day quadruple regimen might further improve the
      eradication rate. The regimens containing proton-pump inhibitor and bismuth may
      be well tolerated and safe in clinical application.

PMID- 26879785
TI  - [Detection of Helicobacter pylori by immunoblot: a multiple-center study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of Helicobacter
      pylori(H.pylori)antibody detection kit (immunoblot) in typing H. pylori strains,
      and to investigate the relationship between characteristics of H. pylori strains
      and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A total of 378 patients with upper
      gastrointestinal symptoms who had received gastroscopy and had pathological
      results within the period from March to August 2012 were collected from 6 centers
      in China.In all the patients, H. pylori antibody detection kit was used to detect
      and type serum H. pylori antibodies.The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of
      immunoblot in diagnosing H. pylori infection were evaluation in comparison to
      (13)C urea breath test (UBT) as the"gold standard". The results were also
      compared with those colloidal gold method.The relationship between H. pylori
      typing and clinical conditions was analyzed. RESULTS: Totally 378 patients were
      enrolled, in which 257 had H. pylori-positive (13)C UBT results, and 121 were
      negative.With (13)C UBT as the"gold standard", the sensitivity, specificity,
      positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and concordance rate of H.
      pylori antibodies detection kit(immunoblot)were 97.7%, 86.8%, 94.0%, 94.6%, and
      94.2%, respectively; the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value,
      negative predictive value, and concordance rate of colloidal gold method were
      84.4%, 92.6%, 96.0%, 73.7%, and 87.0%, respectively.In patients diagnosed as H.
      pylori-positive by (13)C UBT and immunoblot, 93.0%(53/57) in H. pylori
      eradication failure patients and 93.8%(182/194)in untreated patients were
      infected with type I H. pylori as detected by immunoblot, with no statistically
      significant difference (P=0.764). The type I strains positive rate was
      94.2%(65/69), 89.9%(62/69)and 98.2% (55/56) in non-atrophy gastritis, atrophy
      gastritis, and duodenal ulcer untreated patients, respectively, the positive rate
      of type I strains higher in duodenal ulcer cases than in gastritis ones, but with
      no statistically significant difference(P=0.185). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with
      the"gold standard"(13)C UBT, the accuracy of H. pylori antibody detection kit
      (immunoblot) and that of colloidal gold method are both fairly high.Different H.
      pylori strains may have significantly different potential in causing diseases, as
      typeItrain appeared to be more virulent than type II strain, especially in
      causing peptic ulcer.There was no obvious difference between eradication failure
      and untreated patients in terms of positive rate of type I H. pylori strains,
      hence further study is needed to explore the relationship between type I H.
      pylori and eradication rates.

PMID- 26879786
TI  - [Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates in Hebei
      Province].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) clinical
      isolates to various antibiotics, in order to guide rational drug use in Hebei
      Province. METHODS: From January 2014 to July 2015, 260 patients with H. pylori
      infection who had not received eradication treatment were enrolled in Third
      Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Gastric mucosa biopsy tissue samples were
      collected from these patients before treatment for isolation and culture of H.
      pylori. Kirby-Bauer method was used to detect drug-resistance rate of the H.
      pylori clinical isolates to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin,
      levofloxacin, and furazolidone. RESULTS: A total of 155 H. pylori strains were
      isolated from tissue samples of the 260 patients (positive rate, 59.6%). The drug
      resistance rate of H. pylori isolated to metronidazole, clarithromycin,
      amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and furazolidone was 94.2%(146/155), 21.3%(33/155),
      2.6%(4/155), 5.8% (9/155), and 1.9%(3/155), respectively. There was no
      statistically significant difference in positive culture rate and drug-resistance
      rate between different sex, age, and disease category(all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In
      Hebei Province, the resistance rates of H. pylori to metronidazole and
      clarithromycin appear to be higher than those to amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and
      furazolidone.

PMID- 26879787
TI  - [Risk factors associated with long-term mortality in patients with pulmonary
      embolism and the predictive value of Charlson comorbidity index].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors associated with long-term mortality and
      the predictive value of Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) for long-term mortality
      in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: A total of 234 patients with
      confirmed PE from the medical departments of West China Hospital of Sichuan
      University from January 2010 and December 2012 were enrolled, and these meeting
      the inclusion criteria were followed-up for 2 years after discharge. The long
      term mortality was calculated and univariate and multivariate analysis were
      performed to identify the risk factors associated with long-term mortality of PE.
      All the patients were assessed the comorbidity burden with the CCI, and survival
      analysis was used to study its value in predicting long-term mortality in
      patients with PE. RESULTS: A total of 176 PE patients were finally included in
      this study, and 53 patients died during the follow-up period, with 2 years'
      mortality 30.1%. The univariate analysis showed diabetes (P=0.034), malignant
      neoplasm (P=0.001), chronic lung disease (P=0.035), liver disease (P=0.048), in
      bed for a long time (P=0.049), inappropriate anticoagulant therapy (P=0.016) were
      associated with the long-term mortality of PE patients. Among these risk factors,
      the multivariate analysis revealed malignant neoplasm (OR=9.28, 95%CI: 2.85
      31.00, P=0.003), chronic lung disease (OR=2.96, 95%CI: 1.15-7.62, P=0.024),
      inappropriate anticoagulant therapy (OR=4.08, 95%CI: 1.64-10.20, P=0.003) were
      the independent risk factors. The median CCI scores for died PE patients during
      follow-up was higher than that for the survived PE patients ((2(1, 3) vs 1(0, 2),
      P<0.001); PE patients with one and more comorbidities (CCI>=1) were associated
      with 2.61-fold increased risk of long-term mortality compared with patients with
      no comorbidity (CCI=0) (95%CI: 1.14-6.00, P=0.024). The per 1-score increase of
      CCI was associated with 1.76-fold increased risk of long-term mortality in PE
      patients (95%CI: 1.04-2.97, P=0.035). Survival analysis showed that the 2-year
      cumulative survival of PE patients with CCI score>=1 was significant lower than
      that of patients with CCI=0 (46.7% vs 78.5%, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant
      neoplasm, chronic lung disease and inappropriate anticoagulant therapy are
      independent risk factors of long-term mortality in patients with PE. The CCI can
      predict long-term mortality risk among patients with PE and the risk increases
      with the increase of comorbidites patients have.

PMID- 26879788
TI  - [Significance of intraoperative precise management on intracavitary treatment for
      pulmonary thromboembolism].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare cardiac adverse events, clinical outcomes and mid-and-long
      term effects among massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) patients under
      different periodswho received thrombus fragmentation by pigtail catheter.
      METHODS: Two groups of patients who receivedthrombusfragmentation bypigtail
      catheter in different periods were analyzed retrospectively. Group E: 38 cases
      received therapy from July 2004 to October 2009 with local anesthesia; Group P:
      64 cases with general anesthesia from March 2010 to December 2014. All patients
      were confirmedPEby CT and angiography. Parts of patients with deep vein
      thrombosis (DVT) received inferior vena cava filter placement 3 days later. The
      patients were followed up for 6-24 months after discharge. Cardiac adverse
      events, clinical outcomes during the thrombusfragmentation process, and mid-and
      long-term effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no
      significant differences in preoperative clinical data betweenthe two groups
      (P>0.05). Compared with group E, clinical warning events were significantly
      improved in group P (odds ratio(OR): 1.24, 98.3, 1.45, 2.50; P<0.05). Within
      group P, there were significant differences inarterial oxygen partial pressure
      (PaO2) [(98.3+/-8.7)vs(81.3+/-7.1)], mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)
      [(25.3+/-7.9)vs(37.2+/-7.6)], heart rate (HR) [(94.3+/-7)vs(122+/-9)], airway
      resistance [(16.7+/-1.6)vs (22.5+/-2.1)] and mean arterial pressure (MAP)
      [(53.4+/-7)vs(42.5+/-6)] before and after thrombus fragmentationtreatment
      (P<0.05). The incidence of congestive heart failure and pulmonary arterial
      hypertension associated with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (CPEPH) during
      follow-up were significantly different between group P andgroup E (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Thrombus fragmentation by pigtail catheter with intraoperativeprecise
      management under general anesthesia can reduce cardiac adverse events andimprove
      the mid-and-long-term effects among PE patients.

PMID- 26879789
TI  - [Effectsof the time interval and the endocrine therapy on the prognosis and
      consistency of the biological indicatorsin patients with bilateral primary breast
      cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to discuss whether the time interval between bilateral
      primary breast cancers (BPBC)and the endocrine therapy status after thefirst
      primary cancer could influence the prognosis and consistency of the biological
      indicators. METHODS: Clinical data of 133 patients with BPBC in cancer institute
      and hospital of Tianjin medical university from January 2005 to December 2008
      were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups
      according to the time interval and the endocrine therapy. The consistency of
      hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) expression
      between the bilateral tumors and the prognosis of BPBC in different groups were
      analyzed. RESULTS: With the extension of time interval, the consistent rate of
      biological indicators between the bilateral tumorshas decreased.The consistent
      rate of estrogen receptor (ER)was higher than that of progestin hormone (PR) in
      each group. When the time interval was six or less months, ER and HER-2 had the
      consistency and correlation between the two primary cancers(P<=0.05). In patients
      who did not receiveendocrine therapyafter the first cancer, the consistent rates
      of the biological indicators were higher and ER had betterconsistency and
      correlation(P<=0.05). Time interval and endocrine therapy hadno effecton the
      overall survival of the patients. CONCLUSION: With the extension of the time
      interval, the consistency of the biological indicators in BPBChas decreased.ER
      and HER-2 of the bilateral tumorshad a high similarity in patients whose time
      interval wasno more than 6 months.Endocrine therapy could also affect the
      consistency of the biological indicators.However, these two factors were not
      associated with prognosis in patients with BPBC.

PMID- 26879791
TI  - [Cost and effectiveness analysis of treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs and effectiveness of treatments for benign
      prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including pharmaceuticals (finasteride, tamsulosin,
      combined therapy), transurethral 2 micron laser resection of the prostate and
      transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). METHODS: Since July 2007 to June
      2009, a total of 790 patients with BPH were prospectively collected in this
      study, including 390 outpatients with pharmaceuticals who were randomly
      classified into 3 groups of finasteride, tamsulosin and combined therapy, 140
      inpatients with transurethral 2 micron laser resection of the prostate and 260
      inpatients with TURP. The costs and effectiveness of each group were compared.
      RESULTS: Prostate volume of finasteride group was decreased after three months of
      medication, of tamsulosin group no change, of combined therapy group was
      decreased after one month of medication. Maximum flow rate (MFR) of three groups
      was higher after one month of medication. International prostate symptom score
      (IPSS) and quality of life (QOL) score were decreased after one month of
      medication and further decreased 3 months, 6 months after the medicine, the
      difference was statistically significant. The effective rate of three
      pharmaceutical groups after 6 months of treatment was 84%, 89% and 89%,
      respectively. The cost of operative group was lower than 5-year cost of
      pharmaceutical group. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin combined with finasteride is the
      better pharmaceutical option for BPH patients and the transurethral 2 micron
      laser resection of the prostate, the cost of which is lower than pharmaceuticals,
      is a safe and effective surgery.

PMID- 26879790
TI  - [Efficacy and safety analysis of endovascular aortic repair of abdominal aortic
      aneurysms in patients over eighty years old].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of the endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of
      abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in patients over 80 years old and analyze the
      factors that influence its long-term curative effect. METHODS: Follow-up visits
      and analysis were conducted from January 2004 to December 2013 on a total of 96
      AAA patients aged over 80 years old who had been treated with EVAR and thus met
      the inclusion criteria. The primary focus of the study was all-cause mortality
      and secondary focuses included the rate of intervention-related complications,
      the rate of secondary interventions and procedural data. The Kaplan-Meier
      survival curve was used to analyze the long-term survival rate and the cumulative
      probability of intervention-related complications. The Cox proportional hazards
      regression model was used to analyze factors that could influence the long-term
      survival rate. RESULTS: Effective follow-up visits were conducted on 76 patients
      (79.2%). The patients were tracked for an average of 3.63 years, with the longest
      follow-up lasting 10.34 years. During the study, 27 deaths occurred and the all
      cause mortality rate was 28.1%. Furthermore, 8 cases of intervention-related
      complications (8.3%) were observed, including endoleaks and spinal cord ischemia.
      A total of 6 secondary interventions were conducted on 6 patients, with the rate
      of secondary interventions being 6.3%. The five-year cumulative survival rate was
      64% (95%CI: 0.53-0.78) and the ten-year cumulative survival rate was 35%(95%CI:
      0.15-0.84). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that an ASA classification
      of III/IV (HR=8.45, 95%CI: 1.26-56.55, P<0.05), smoking (HR=2.08, 95%CI: 0.70
      2.63, P<0.05) and cerebrovascular diseases (HR=2.96, 95%CI: 1.06-8.25, P<0.05)
      could significantly increase the risk of the long-term all-cause mortality of an
      AAA patient treated with EVAR. While hypertension could significantly decrease
      the risk (HR=0.25, 95%CI: 0.10-0.66, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EVAR is safe for senior
      patients with AAA though personalized preoperative assessment is very important.

PMID- 26879792
TI  - [Effect of laparoscopic surgery under total intravenous anesthesia on
      postoperative pregnancy outcomes of heterotopic pregnancies].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of laparoscopic surgery under total
      intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on outcomes of heterotopic pregnancies which need
      to receive laparoscopic procedures. METHODS: The data of 108 cases of pregnant
      women in Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital were
      retrospectively analyzed, and divided into two groups according to whether
      received surgery. Surgery group : 48 pregnant women after in vitro fertilization
      embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were diagnosed as heterotopic pregnancies and received
      laparoscopic procedures under TIVA. CONTROL GROUP: 60 normal pregnant women after
      IVF-ET. The miscarriage rate, pregnant complications rate, premature birth rate,
      live birth rate, delivery weeks and cesarean section rate of two groups were
      compared. Meanwhile, the newborn's weight, male rate, birth defect rate and Apgar
      score in 1 min and 5 min of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The
      miscarriage rate, pregnant complications rate, premature birth rate, cesarean
      section rate, male rate of surgery group were 14.6%, 16.7%, 4.2%, 82.9%, 51.2%
      respectively, which were 15.0%, 18.3%, 6.7%, 84.3%, 52.9% in control group
      respectively. There were no significant difference between the two groups
      (chi(2)=-0.072, -0.241, -0.569, -0.442, -0.163, P>0.05). The delivery weeks and
      newborn's weight of surgery group were (38.3+/-1.7)weeks and(3 394.9+/-460.7)g
      respectively , which were (37.9+/-1.5) weeks and (3 406.3+/-512.6 )g in control
      group. There were no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.083, 
      0.111, P>0.05). The 1 min Apgar score and 5 min Apgar score of surgery group were
      9.6(9.0-10.0), 10(10-10) scores and were 9.5(9.0-10.0), 10(10-10) scores in
      control group.There were no significant difference between the two groups (Z=
      0.418, 0.000, P>0.05). The live birth rate of two groups were both 100%, and the
      birth defect rate were both 0. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery under TIVA has no
      effect on the outcome of heterotopic pregnancies.

PMID- 26879793
TI  - [Effects of intrathecal injection PI3K antagonist on inflammatory cytokines in
      spinal cord of bone cancer pain model in rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of PI3K in bone cancer pain, the present
      study was performed to demonstrate the changes of pain-related behavior and the
      production of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha after intrathecal injection of
      wortmannin (antagonist of PI3K receptors) in rat model. METHODS: A total of 44 SD
      rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, sham group (group S), sham + wormannin
      group (group SW), cancer group (group A), cancer + wortmannin group (group AW).
      Group S and group W were injected with 10 MUl Hank's solution into left tibial
      medullary cavity; group A and group AW received injections of Walker 256 mammary
      cancer cells(10 MUl, 2*10 cells/ml) into the same place to establish the model of
      bone cancer pain. In the meantime intratheacal catheterization was performed
      between L3 and L4 vertrbra on the rats of every group. Nine days after the
      operation, group S and group A received a single intratheacal injection of saline
      (0.9%, 10 MUl), group SW and group AW received intratheacal wortmannin 0.5 MUg/10
      MUl. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds were measured on the left hind paw before
      and every 10 min after intrathecal injection. Then the L4-L6 sections of spinal
      cord 30 min after injection were collected to determine the expression of IL
      1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. RESULTS: At 30 min post-injection, mechanical
      withdrawal thresholds of groups S, SW, A and AW were (30.1+/-4.3), (31.7+/-1.3),
      (17.2+/-2.0), (24.8+/-2.3) g respectively at Day 9 postinoculation (F=22.403,
      P<0.01), the mechanical withdrawal thresholds in group AW increased obviously
      versus group A. The expressions of TNF-alpha in groups S, SW, A and AW were
      (84.5+/-6.3), (78.7+/-12.5), (110.5+/-7.3), (57.8+/-4.6) pg/ml. Compared with
      groups S and W, the expression of TNF-alpha in group A showed a significant
      upregulation (F=28.119, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: An intrathecal injection of
      wortmannin may alleviate hyperalgesia, and inhibit the up-regulated expression of
      spinal cord inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha in rats with bone cancer. PI3K may
      be involved in the development of bone cancer pain by regulating the expressions
      of TNF-alpha.

PMID- 26879794
TI  - [Effects of PM2.5 on phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages in chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease mice].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of fine particulate matter with a mean
      aerodynamic diameter <=2.5 MUm (PM2.5) collected from Lanzhou city on phagocytic
      function of alveolar macrophages (AM) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      (COPD) mice. METHODS: Forty male mice were randomly divided into four groups:
      healthy group, healthy PM2.5 group, COPD group and COPD PM2.5 group. COPD mice
      were established by cigarette smoking. PM2.5 (10 mg/kg) collected by air sampler
      was intratracheally instilled in healthy PM2.5 group and COPD PM2.5 group. Mice
      were sacrificed after 14 days, and alveolar macrophages (AM) were isolated. Mean
      fluorescence intensity (MFI) and the positive percent of alveolar macrophages
      engulfing flurescein isothiocyanate-labeled Escherichia coli (FITC-E.coli) (AM%)
      were detected by flow cytometry. Total antioxidative capacity (TAC) was measured
      by O-phenanthroline colorimetry. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by
      thiobarbiturieacid colorimetry and myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured by O
      dianisidine colorimetry. RESULTS: The peak inspiratory flow (PIF), peak
      expiratory flow (PEF) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) of COPD group were
      significantly lower than healthy control group. The pathology of COPD group
      showed disruption of alveolar septa, formation of emphysema, and that the number
      of alveoli had a significant reduction. The MFI and AM% in COPD group were
      significant lower than healthy group (14.1+/-1.7 vs 43.2+/-6.1, 9.2%+/-2.3% vs
      69.1%+/-8.3%)(all P<0.01). Comparing to healthy group and COPD group, the MFI and
      AM% in healthy PM2.5 group (20.3+/-4.5, 40.4%+/-4.4%) and COPD PM2.5 group (7.5+/
      1.3, 6.0%+/-2.2%) were respectively lowered. The level of TAC in COPD group was
      significantly lower than healthy group [(3.10+/-0.64) vs (15.43+/-0.69)U/mg], the
      levels of MDA and MPO in COPD group were higher than healthy group[(2.72+/-0.13)
      vs (1.31+/-0.16) nmol/mg, (1.63+/-0.11) vs (0.92+/-0.13)U/g] (all P<0.01). In
      both healthy PM2.5 group and COPD PM2.5 group, the levels of TAC [(6.75+/-1.06),
      (2.34+/-0.61) U/mg] were lower than their corresponding control group; while the
      levels of MDA [(1.96+/-0.31), (3.20+/-0.19) nmol/mg] and the levels of MPO
      [(1.01+/-0.19), (1.74+/-0.13) U/g] were increased (all P<0.01). For the COPD
      group at baseline and after the intervention of PM2.5, the MFI and AM% showed
      positive correlation with the levels of TAC, and negative correlation with the
      levels of MDA , and negative correlation with the levels of MPO (all P<0.05). For
      health group at baseline and after the intervention PM2.5, the above
      relationships still existed (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PM2.5 can damage
      phagocytosis of AM and exacerbate oxidative stress in COPD mice, and AM
      phagocytosis impairment by PM2.5 is closely associated with oxidative stress.

PMID- 26879795
TI  - [Quantitatively evaluating the evolution of the tumor perfusion in A549 lung
      adenocarcinoma transplantation model induced by antiangiogenic treatment].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively evaluate the evolution of the tumor perfusion in
      A549 lung adenocarcinoma transplantation model induced by antiangiogenic
      treatment. METHODS: To establish the preclinical transplantation model of lung
      adenocarcinoma, 60 BALB/c nu/nu mice was inoculated with A549 cell lines via
      axilla. Sixty mice were randomly divided into 2 groups. The treatment group was
      treated with intravenous Bevacizumab (10 mg/kg weight, in a single injection),
      and the control group received saline only in the same dose. Five times of volume
      perfusion CT (VPCT) scan was performed before treatment, and on the second,
      forth, sixth and tenth days of treatment, respectively. The values of blood flow
      (BF) in the A549 tumors were measured after scanning. The microvessel density
      (MVD), vessel maturity index (VMI) in the tumors were determined using
      multiplexed QDs-based immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Comparing the values
      of BF, VMI and MVD between the two groups on the same day before treatment, the
      values of BF, VMI and MVD of the treatment group were (13.5+/-1.5) ml.(100 ml)(
      1).min(-1,) 0.14+/-0.04, (45.7+/-16.5)/HPF, respectively, and those in the
      control group were (13.4+/-1.6) ml.(100 ml)(-1).min(-1) , 0.14+/-0.05, (48.0+/
      7.0) /HPF , respectively. There was no significant difference between the two
      groups (all P>0.05). And on the second, forth, sixth, tenth days of treatment,
      the values of BF of the treatment group were (17.9+/-7.3), (32.2+/-6.9), (18.5+/
      2.4) and (13.8+/-1.8) ml.(100 ml)(-1).min(-1,) respectively, and those in the
      control group were (10.5+/-0.6), (9.6+/-0.8), (5.7+/-1.2) and (1.9+/-1.0) ml.(100
      ml)(-1).min(-1,) respectively. The values of VMI of the treatment group were
      1.17+/-0.22, 3.25+/-0.23, 2.94+/-0.31 and 1.07+/-0.18, respectively, and those in
      the control group were 0.12+/-0.03, 0.13+/-0.03, 0.15+/-0.03, and 0.13+/-0.03,
      respectively. The values of MVD of the treatment group were (38.0+/-6.3), (24.3+/
      5.4), (15.2+/-3.4) and (13.5+/-4.7)/HPF, respectively, and those in the control
      group were (44.8+/-5.9), (48.0+/-12.8), (41.8+/-5.7) and (45.7+/-20.3)/HPF,
      respectively. In treated mice, BF and VMI were significantly higher than those in
      the control group (all P<0.01). BF and VMI increased from day2, and reached the
      peak at day4 (P<0.01), then decreased at day6, however the value of BF at day6
      was still higher than that in the baseline (P<0.01) and decreased to the baseline
      level at day10; while the value of VMI was still higher than that in the baseline
      at day10. And on the forth, sixth, tenth days of treatment, in treated mice, the
      values of MVD were significantly lower than those in the control group and the
      baseline level before treatment (all P<0.01). In control mice, BF decreased (all
      P<0.01) with the time, while MVD and VMI had no changes. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor
      perfusion and vessel maturity are transiently increased in A549 lung
      adenocarcinoma transplantation model induced by antiangiogenic treatment. VPCT is
      helpful to quantify the evolution of the tumor perfusion and then evaluate the
      functional changes of tumor vessel maturity.

PMID- 26879796
TI  - Organo-Iodine(III)-Catalyzed Oxidative Phenol-Arene and Phenol-Phenol Cross
      Coupling Reaction.
AB  - The direct oxidative coupling reaction has been an attractive tool for
      environmentally benign chemistry. Reported herein is that the hypervalent iodine
      catalyzed oxidative metal-free cross-coupling reaction of phenols can be achieved
      using Oxone as a terminal oxidant in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFIP).
      This method features a high efficiency and regioselectivity, as well as
      functional-group tolerance under very mild reaction conditions without using
      metal catalysts. 

PMID- 26879797
TI  - Stable Alkynyl Glycosyl Carbonates: Catalytic Anomeric Activation and Synthesis
      of a Tridecasaccharide Reminiscent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cell Wall
      Lipoarabinomannan.
AB  - Oligosaccharide synthesis is still a challenging task despite the advent of
      modern glycosidation techniques. Herein, alkynyl glycosyl carbonates are shown to
      be stable glycosyl donors that can be activated catalytically by gold and silver
      salts at 25  degrees C in just 15 min to produce glycosides in excellent yields.
      Benzoyl glycosyl carbonate donors are solid compounds with a long shelf life.
      This operationally simple protocol was found to be highly efficient for the
      synthesis of nucleosides, amino acids, and phenolic and azido glycoconjugates.
      Repeated use of the carbonate glycosidation method enabled the highly convergent
      synthesis of tridecaarabinomannan in a rapid manner.

PMID- 26879799
TI  - Endoscopic vocal fold injection using a 25-gauge butterfly needle.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a useful technique for infiltrating a bulking agent using
      a butterfly needle, as part of a transoral endoscopic vocal fold medialisation
      procedure. METHODS: This paper describes the procedure of grasping the needle
      with phonosurgery forceps and administering the injectate to the vocal fold
      through careful application of the syringe plunger via a length of rubber tubing
      from outside the mouth. RESULTS: This procedure is performed routinely in our
      institution without complication. The advantages of this technique are discussed.
      CONCLUSION: This is a safe and easy method of injecting into a vocal fold.

PMID- 26879798
TI  - Loss of spatial organization and destruction of the pericellular matrix in early
      osteoarthritis in vivo and in a novel in vitro methodology.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Current repair procedures for articular cartilage (AC) cannot restore
      the tissue's original form and function because neither changes in its
      architectural blueprint throughout life nor the respective biological
      understanding is fully available. We asked whether two unique elements of human
      cartilage architecture, the chondrocyte-surrounding pericellular matrix (PCM) and
      the superficial chondrocyte spatial organization (SCSO) beneath the articular
      surface (AS) are congenital, stable or dynamic throughout life. We hypothesized
      that inducing chondrocyte proliferation in vitro impairs organization and PCM and
      induces an advanced osteoarthritis (OA)-like structural phenotype of human
      cartilage. METHODS: We recorded propidium-iodine-stained fetal and adult
      cartilage explants, arranged stages of organization into a sequence, and created
      a lifetime-summarizing SCSO model. To replicate the OA-associated dynamics
      revealed by our model, and to test our hypothesis, we transduced specifically
      early OA-explants with hFGF-2 for inducing proliferation. The PCM was examined
      using immuno- and auto-fluorescence, multiphoton second-harmonic-generation
      (SHG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Spatial organization
      evolved from fetal homogeneity, peaked with adult string-like arrangements, but
      was completely lost in OA. Loss of organization included PCM perforation (local
      micro-fibrillar collagen intensity decrease) and destruction [regional collagen
      type VI (CollVI) signal weakness or absence]. Importantly, both loss of
      organization and PCM destruction were successfully recapitulated in FGF-2
      transduced explants. CONCLUSION: Induced proliferation of spatially characterized
      early OA-chondrocytes within standardized explants recapitulated the full range
      of loss of SCSO and PCM destruction, introducing a novel in vitro methodology.
      This methodology induces a structural phenotype of human cartilage that is
      similar to advanced OA and potentially of significance and utility.

PMID- 26879800
TI  - A perfectly stoichiometric and flat CeO2(111) surface on a bulk-like ceria film.
AB  - In surface science and model catalysis, cerium oxide (ceria) is mostly grown as
      an ultra-thin film on a metal substrate in the ultra-high vacuum to understand
      fundamental mechanisms involved in diverse surface chemistry processes. However,
      such ultra-thin films do not have the contribution of a bulk ceria underneath,
      which is currently discussed to have a high impact on in particular surface redox
      processes. Here, we present a fully oxidized ceria thick film (180 nm) with a
      perfectly stoichiometric CeO2(111) surface exhibiting exceptionally large,
      atomically flat terraces. The film is well-suited for ceria model studies as well
      as a perfect substitute for CeO2 bulk material. 

PMID- 26879801
TI  - Urinary tract infection pattern in adult women followed from childhood.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of urinary tract
      infection (UTI) and bladder function in women who had experienced recurrent UTI
      in childhood, with and without consequent renal damage, and followed for three to
      four decades. METHODS: A population-based cohort of women who had been followed
      from the first UTI in childhood and previously studied at a median age of 27
      years was studied at a median age of 41 years. Renal damage was evaluated by
      (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan. Clinical data were collected on the pattern
      of recurrent UTIs and bladder function. RESULTS: A total of 86 women were
      investigated, of whom 58 had suffered renal damage and 28 were without. Febrile
      UTI in adulthood had occurred in 22 patients, once in 15 women and twice or more
      in seven women. There was a change in the infection pattern over time, evident
      already in childhood, that was characterized by a decrease in UTI frequency and a
      shift from febrile to non-febrile infections. A significant association was found
      between renal damage and febrile UTI (p = 0.046), and between abnormal bladder
      function and recurrent non-febrile UTI (p = 0.002). There was no relationship
      between persisting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and proneness to either
      symptomatic UTI (p = 0.99) or febrile UTI in adulthood (p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS:
      Among this study cohort there was a continuously decreasing rate of febrile UTI
      in adulthood. Persisting VUR was not related to UTI in adulthood. Abnormal
      bladder function was related to non-febrile UTI but not to febrile UTI.

PMID- 26879802
TI  - Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis (CFPD) improves ultrafiltration in children
      with acute kidney injury on conventional PD using a 4.25 % dextrose solution.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Criticism against the use of acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been
      its low clearance and low ultrafiltration (UF) volumes compared to extracorporeal
      techniques. The aim of our study was to determine whether continuous flow
      peritoneal dialysis (CFPD) would improve UF in children with acute kidney injury
      (AKI) in cases where UF on conventional PD was inadequate using 4.25 % glucose
      concentrations. METHODS: Five infants were prospectively studied. All had AKI
      with fluid overload. The median age of the patients was 6 (range 0.43-9) months;
      the median weight was 6.5 (range 2.7-8.4) kg. Each patient served as his or her
      own control, undergoing both CFPD and conventional PD. CFPD was performed with
      two bedside-placed catheters using a 2.5 % glucose concentration. After initial
      filling, a dialysate flow rate of 100 ml/min/1.73 m(2) was maintained with an
      adapted continuous venovenous haemofiltration machine. The UF flow rate was set
      at 2.5 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and adapted as necessary. UF and clearance rates were
      measured for both PD and CFPD. RESULTS: The median UF rate achieved was 1.7
      (range 0.01-5.30) mg/kg/h with conventional PD versus 6.7 (range 2.17-15.7)
      mg/kg/h with CFPD (p = 0.042). The clearances of urea and creatinine were 6.89
      (range 4.50-7.55) and 7.46 (range 4.79-10.50) mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively,
      with conventional PD and 19 (17.0-30.0) and 41 (standard deviation17.4, range
      12.0-52.0) mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively, with CFPD (both p = 0.043).
      CONCLUSION: Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis improves UF in fluid overloaded
      infants who are not achieving adequate UF on conventional PD.

PMID- 26879803
TI  - Exogenous lipoid pneumonia in laryngectomy patients: Is ground glass
      opacity/crazy paving pattern an organizing pneumonia reaction that can predict
      poor outcome?

PMID- 26879804
TI  - Improving risk literacy in surgeons.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To effectively practice evidence-based medicine, surgeons need to
      understand and be able to communicate health-relevant numerical information. We
      present the first study examining risk literacy in surgeons by assessing numeracy
      and surgical risk comprehension. Our study also investigated whether visual aids
      improve risk comprehension in surgeons with limited numeracy. METHODS:
      Participants were 292 surgeons from 60 countries who completed an instrument
      measuring numeracy and evaluated the results of a randomized controlled trial
      including post-surgical side-effects. Half of the surgeons received this
      information in numbers. The other half received the information represented
      visually. Accuracy of risk estimation, reading latency, and estimate latency
      (i.e., deliberation) were assessed. RESULTS: Some surgeons have low numeracy and
      could not correctly interpret surgical risks without additional support. Visual
      aids made risks transparent and eliminated differences in risk understanding
      between more and less numerate surgeons, increasing the amount of time that less
      numerate surgeons spent deliberating about risks. CONCLUSIONS: Visual aids can be
      an efficient and inexpensive means of improving risk comprehension and clinical
      judgement in surgeons with low numerical and statistical skills. PRACTICE
      IMPLICATIONS: Programs designed to help professionals represent and communicate
      health-relevant numerical information in simple transparent graphs may
      unobtrusively promote informed decision making.

PMID- 26879805
TI  - A systematic review of Motivational Interviewing interventions in cancer patients
      and survivors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) interventions
      among cancer patients and survivors, and determine aspects of intervention design
      that are common across successful MI interventions for this population. METHODS:
      We conducted a systematic review of studies addressing behavior change in cancer
      patients or survivors using Motivational Interviewing techniques. Studies were
      categorized into three groups based on behavioral outcome; lifestyle behaviors,
      psychosocial outcomes, and cancer-related symptom management. RESULTS: We
      included 15 studies in our analysis. Studies addressed behaviors such as diet,
      exercise, smoking cessation, cancer-related stress, and fatigue management.
      Counseling sessions varied in frequency and method of delivery, although
      telephone-based interventions were common. Trained oncology nurses often
      delivered MI sessions, and the majority of interventions included quality
      assessment to verify fidelity of MI techniques. CONCLUSION: Solid evidence exists
      for the efficacy of MI to address lifestyle behaviors as well as the psychosocial
      needs of cancer patients and survivors. More research is needed on the use of MI
      for self-management of cancer-related symptoms. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:
      Motivational Interviewing is a promising technique for addressing many types of
      behavior change in cancer patients or survivors. Intervention design must be
      sensitive to cancer type, phase of care, and complexity of desired behavior.

PMID- 26879806
TI  - Lead Levels in Landfill Areas and Childhood Exposure: An Integrative Review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Landfills are high-risk areas for environmental lead exposure for
      children living in poverty stricken areas in many countries. This review examines
      landfills and lead toxicity in children. The review discusses the effects of lead
      toxicity, provides evidenced based recommendations to reduce lead exposure, and
      identify gaps in the evidence. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A database search was conducted
      of articles in English from 1985 to 2014. Ten articles met the inclusion
      criteria. The Whittemore and Knafl framework and the John Hopkins Research
      Evidence Appraisal Tool(c) were used for reviewing the data. RESULTS: Elevated
      blood lead levels (BLLs) of children living near landfills were related to
      increased soil lead levels. Toxic effects of lead included adverse outcomes such
      as encephalopathy or death for children. Different approaches to decrease lead
      level include environmental surveillance, BLL screening, and soil abatement which
      are costly. CONCLUSION: Increased BLL through environmental exposure is connected
      with poor health outcomes and death among children. Evidence-based prevention
      included monitoring and screening and costly soil abatement. It is recommended
      that future studies focus on community education for exposure avoidance for
      children living near landfill areas.

PMID- 26879808
TI  - Sustaining integrating imatinib and interferon-alpha into maintenance therapy
      improves survival of patients with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
AB  - We report the clinical results of sustainedly integrating imatinib and interferon
      alpha into maintenance therapy in the patients ineligible for allogeneic
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Maintenance therapy lasted
      for 5 years with imatinib 400 mg daily, interferon-alpha 3 million units, 2~3
      doses per week, and chemotherapy including vindesine and dexamethasone scheduled
      monthly in first year, once every 2 months in second year, and once every 3
      months in third year. The chemotherapy was discontinued after 3 years and the
      imatinib and interferon-alpha continued for another 2 years. For 41 patients
      without allo-HSCT with a median follow-up of 32 months, the 3-year DFS and OS
      were 42.7  +/- 8.6% and 57.9  +/- 8.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that
      sustaining maintenance with low-dose chemotherapy, imatinib and interferon-alpha
      improved survival of adult Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph
      + ALL) patients ineligible for allo-HSCT, and even provided an opportunity for
      cure. BCR/ABL persistent negativity at 6 and 9 months may have benefit to choose
      suitable patients for the imatinib/interferon-alpha maintenance strategy.

PMID- 26879807
TI  - Long-term intravenous inotropes in low-output terminal heart failure?
AB  - Intravenous inotropic therapy may be necessary to achieve short-term survival in
      end-stage heart failure patients with cardiogenic shock or extreme low output and
      severe organ hypoperfusion. However, mid- or long-term intravenous inotropic
      therapy is associated with an increased mortality in advanced stage D heart
      failure patients using beta-adrenoceptor agonists (dobutamine) or PDE-3
      inhibitors (milrinone). Intermittent levosimendan may evolve as a reasonable
      therapeutic option. Randomized trials or other meaningful scientific evidence
      addressing the optimal treatment of exclusively the most threatened subgroup of
      hospitalized patients with persistent severe organ hypoperfusion are missing, but
      urgently needed. Despite a lack of other beneficial pharmacological options, the
      use of long-term intravenous inotropic therapy as a treatment for refractory
      heart failure or as an obligatory criterion for high urgency (HU) listing of
      heart transplant candidates with a median waiting time of 66 days in Germany is
      not based on scientific evidence. In addition, it might create a disincentive to
      achieve the HU status as well as keeping it, thereby potentially exposing the
      patient to an unnecessary additional risk. Upcoming new allocation algorithms may
      possibly help to improve the inadequate present situation. There is need for
      both, a better definition and a better treatment of high risk terminal heart
      failure requiring high urgent transplant listing. 

PMID- 26879810
TI  - Association between television viewing time and risk of incident stroke in a
      general population: Results from the REGARDS study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between
      TV/video viewing, as a measure of sedentary behavior, and risk of incident stroke
      in a large prospective cohort of men and women. METHODS: This analysis involved
      22,257 participants from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in
      Stroke (REGARDS) study who reported at baseline the amount of time spent watching
      TV/video daily. Suspected stroke events were identified at six-monthly telephone
      calls and were physician-adjudicated. Cox proportional hazards models were used
      to examine risk of stroke at follow-up. RESULTS: During 7.1years of follow-up,
      727 incident strokes occurred. After adjusting for demographic factors, watching
      TV/video >=4h/day (30% of the sample) was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.37
      increased risk of all stroke (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-1.71) and
      incident ischemic stroke (hazard ratio 1.35, CI 1.06-1.72). This association was
      attenuated by socioeconomic factors such as employment status, education and
      income. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that while TV/video viewing is
      associated with increased stroke risk, the effect of TV/video viewing on stroke
      risk may be explained through other risk factors.

PMID- 26879811
TI  - Is the Risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Modifiable?

PMID- 26879809
TI  - Mechanisms of amphetamine action illuminated through optical monitoring of
      dopamine synaptic vesicles in Drosophila brain.
AB  - Amphetamines elevate extracellular dopamine, but the underlying mechanisms remain
      uncertain. Here we show in rodents that acute pharmacological inhibition of the
      vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) blocks amphetamine-induced locomotion and
      self-administration without impacting cocaine-induced behaviours. To study VMAT's
      role in mediating amphetamine action in dopamine neurons, we have used novel
      genetic, pharmacological and optical approaches in Drosophila melanogaster. In an
      ex vivo whole-brain preparation, fluorescent reporters of vesicular cargo and of
      vesicular pH reveal that amphetamine redistributes vesicle contents and
      diminishes the vesicle pH-gradient responsible for dopamine uptake and retention.
      This amphetamine-induced deacidification requires VMAT function and results from
      net H(+) antiport by VMAT out of the vesicle lumen coupled to inward amphetamine
      transport. Amphetamine-induced vesicle deacidification also requires functional
      dopamine transporter (DAT) at the plasma membrane. Thus, we find that at
      pharmacologically relevant concentrations, amphetamines must be actively
      transported by DAT and VMAT in tandem to produce psychostimulant effects. 

PMID- 26879812
TI  - Anxiety Adversely Impacts Response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Children
      with Chronic Pain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether clinical anxiety in children presenting to a
      pediatric pain management center is associated with a poorer treatment response
      for those who completed pain-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). STUDY
      DESIGN: The total sample consisted of 175 children, 40 of whom completed CBT for
      chronic pain. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders was
      completed at initial evaluation and outcome measures (average pain intensity and
      the Functional Disability Inventory) were collected during the initial evaluation
      and at the end of CBT. Group differences in outcomes were examined following CBT.
      The role of anxiety in CBT initiation and completion was also explored. RESULTS:
      Presence of clinical anxiety was associated with greater initiation and/or
      completion of pain-focused CBT but also a poorer treatment response.
      Specifically, the group with subclinical anxiety exhibited a substantial
      reduction in pain intensity, and the group with clinical anxiety exhibited a more
      limited response to treatment (F [1, 36] = 13.68 P < .01). A similar effect was
      observed for Functional Disability Inventory, such that the group with clinical
      anxiety had a significantly smaller response to treatment (F [1, 38] = 4.33 P <
      .05). The difference in pain and disability between groups following CBT suggest
      moderate effects (Cohen d = 0.77 and 0.78, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although
      youths with clinical anxiety are more likely to start and/or complete pain
      focused CBT, anxiety has an adverse impact on CBT treatment response in children
      with chronic pain. Identification of patients with anxiety and use of tailored
      behavioral interventions may improve clinical outcomes.

PMID- 26879813
TI  - Recent Developments in p-Type Oxide Semiconductor Materials and Devices.
AB  - The development of transparent p-type oxide semiconductors with good performance
      may be a true enabler for a variety of applications where transparency, power
      efficiency, and greater circuit complexity are needed. Such applications include
      transparent electronics, displays, sensors, photovoltaics, memristors, and
      electrochromics. Hence, here, recent developments in materials and devices based
      on p-type oxide semiconductors are reviewed, including ternary Cu-bearing oxides,
      binary copper oxides, tin monoxide, spinel oxides, and nickel oxides. The crystal
      and electronic structures of these materials are discussed, along with approaches
      to enhance valence-band dispersion to reduce effective mass and increase
      mobility. Strategies to reduce interfacial defects, off-state current, and
      material instability are suggested. Furthermore, it is shown that promising
      progress has been made in the performance of various types of devices based on p
      type oxides. Several innovative approaches exist to fabricate transparent
      complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices, including novel device
      fabrication schemes and utilization of surface chemistry effects, resulting in
      good inverter gains. However, despite recent developments, p-type oxides still
      lag in performance behind their n-type counterparts, which have entered volume
      production in the display market. Recent successes along with the hurdles that
      stand in the way of commercial success of p-type oxide semiconductors are
      presented.

PMID- 26879814
TI  - Modulation of monocytes in septic patients: preserved phagocytic activity,
      increased ROS and NO generation, and decreased production of inflammatory
      cytokines.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The nature of the inflammatory response underscoring the
      pathophysiology of sepsis has been extensively studied. We hypothesized that
      different cell functions would be differentially regulated in a patient with
      sepsis. We evaluated the modulation of monocyte functions during sepsis by
      simultaneously assessing their phagocytic activity, the generation of reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and the production of inflammatory
      cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha). METHODS: Whole blood was obtained from patients
      with severe sepsis and septic shock both at admission (D0, n = 34) and after
      seven days of therapy (D7, n = 15); 19 healthy volunteers were included as a
      control group. The cells were stimulated with LPS, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and
      Staphylococcus aureus. The ROS and NO levels were quantified in monocytes in
      whole blood by measuring the oxidation of 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and 4
      amino-5-methylamino-2,7-difluorofluorescein diacetate, respectively.
      Intracellular IL-6 and TNF-alpha were detected using fluorochrome-conjugated
      specific antibodies. Monocyte functions were also evaluated in CD163+ and CD163-
      monocyte subsets. RESULTS: The monocytes from septic patients presented with
      preserved phagocytosis, enhanced ROS and NO generation, and decreased production
      of inflammatory cytokines compared with the monocytes from healthy volunteers.
      TNF-alpha and IL-6 increased and ROS generation decreased in D7 compared with D0
      samples. In general, CD163+ monocytes produced higher amounts of IL-6 and TNF
      alpha and lower amounts of ROS and NO than did CD163- monocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We
      demonstrated that monocytes from septic patients, which are impaired to produce
      inflammatory cytokines, display potent phagocytic activity and increased ROS and
      NO generation.

PMID- 26879815
TI  - Distribution of allelic and genotypic frequencies of IL1A, IL4, NFKB1 and PAR1
      variants in Native American, African, European and Brazilian populations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The inflammatory response plays a key role at different stages of
      cancer development. Allelic variants of the interleukin 1A (IL1A), interleukin 4
      (IL4), nuclear factor kappa B1 (NFKB1) and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)
      genes may influence not only the inflammatory response but also susceptibility to
      cancer development. Among major ethnic or continental groups, these polymorphic
      variants present different allelic frequencies. In admixed populations, such as
      the Brazilian population, data on distribution of these polymorphisms are
      limited. Here, we collected samples of cancer-free individuals from the north,
      northeast, midwest, south and southeast regions of Brazil and from the three main
      groups that gave rise to the Brazilian population: Native Americans from the
      Brazilian Amazon, Africans and Europeans. We describe the allelic distributions
      of four IL1A (rs3783553), IL4 (rs79071878), NFKB1 (rs28362491) and PAR1
      (rs11267092) gene polymorphisms, which the literature describes as polymorphisms
      with a risk of cancer or worse prognosis for cancer. RESULTS: The genotypic
      distribution of the four polymorphisms was statistically distinct between Native
      Americans, Africans and Europeans. For the allelic frequency of these
      polymorphisms, the Native American population was the most distinct among the
      three parental populations, and it included the greatest number of alleles with a
      risk of cancer or worse prognosis for cancer. The PAR1 gene polymorphism allelic
      distribution was similar among all Brazilian regions. For the other three
      markers, the northern region population was statistically distinct from other
      Brazilian region populations. CONCLUSION: The IL1A, IL4, NFKB1 and PAR1 gene
      polymorphism allelic distributions are homogeneous among the regional Brazilian
      populations, except for the northern region, which significantly differs from the
      other four Brazilian regions. Among the parental populations, the Native American
      population exhibited a higher incidence of alleles with risk of cancer or worse
      prognosis for cancer, which can indicate greater susceptibility to this disease.
      These genetic data may be useful for future studies on the association between
      these polymorphisms and cancer in the investigated populations.

PMID- 26879816
TI  - Population pharmacokinetic properties of artemisinin in healthy male Vietnamese
      volunteers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Artemisinin-based combination therapy is recommended as first-line
      anti-malarial treatment worldwide. A combination of artemisinin with the long
      acting drug piperaquine has shown high efficacy and tolerability in patients with
      uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infections. The aim of this study was to
      characterize the population pharmacokinetic properties of artemisinin in healthy
      male Vietnamese volunteers after two different dose sizes, formulations and in a
      combination with piperaquine. A secondary aim was to compare two different
      methods for the evaluation of bioequivalence of the formulations. METHODS:
      Fifteen subjects received four different dose regimens of a single dose of
      artemisinin as a conventional formulation (160 and 500 mg) and as a micronized
      test formulation (160 mg alone and in combination with piperaquine phosphate, 360
      mg) with a washout period of 3 weeks between each period (i.e. four-way cross
      over). Venous plasma samples were collected frequently up to 12 h after dose in
      each period. Artemisinin was quantified in plasma using liquid chromatography
      coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. A nonlinear mixed-effects modelling
      approach was utilized to evaluate the population pharmacokinetic properties of
      the drug and to investigate the clinical impact of different formulations.
      RESULTS: The plasma concentration-time profiles for artemisinin were adequately
      described by a transit-absorption model with a one-compartment disposition, in
      all four sequences simultaneously. The mean oral clearance, volume of
      distribution and terminal elimination half-life was 417 L/h, 1210 L and 1.93 h,
      respectively. Influence of formulation, dose and possible interaction of
      piperaquine was evaluated as categorical covariates in full covariate approaches.
      No clinically significant differences between formulations were shown which was
      in accordance with the previous results using a non-compartmental bioequivalence
      approach. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first population pharmacokinetic
      characterization of artemisinin in healthy volunteers. Increasing the dose
      resulted in a significant increase in the mean transit-time but the micronized
      formulation or concomitant piperaquine administration did not affect the
      pharmacokinetic properties of artemisinin. The results from the traditional
      bioequivalence evaluation were comparable with results obtained from mixed
      effects modelling.

PMID- 26879817
TI  - Childhood and adolescent influenza vaccination in Europe: A review of current
      policies and recommendations for the future.
AB  - Children and adolescents experience some of the highest rates of influenza
      infection and the subsequent burden on both infected children and their
      parents/carers is substantial. Vaccinating children and adolescents against
      seasonal influenza has the potential to reduce the burden of disease in both
      vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals due to the pivotal role that younger age
      groups play in the transmission of infection. While countries such as the USA,
      Canada and the UK have consequently recommended the universal vaccination of
      children, the vast majority of European countries have not yet extended their
      vaccination policies to this age group. This review examines the rationale for
      childhood and adolescent vaccination against seasonal influenza and reviews
      current vaccination policies in Europe. We discuss key policy considerations for
      European countries that must be considered when extending vaccination programmes
      to younger age groups alongside recommendations for European policy makers based
      on our findings. 

PMID- 26879818
TI  - Nitroxyl as a ligand in ruthenium tetraammine systems: a density functional
      theory study.
AB  - The properties of the free nitroxyl molecule and the nitroxyl ligand in Ru(ii)
      tetraammines (trans-[Ru(NH3)4(nitroxyl)(n)(L)](2+n) (n = nitroxyl charge; L =
      NH3, py, P(OEt)3, H2O, Cl(-) and Br(-))) were studied using density functional
      theory. According to the calculated conformational energies, HNO complexes are
      more stable than their deprotonated analogues, and the singlet configuration
      (trans-(1)[Ru(NH3)4(L)HNO](2+)) is lower in energy than the corresponding triplet
      (trans-(3)[Ru(NH3)4(L)HNO](2+)). An evaluation of the sigma and pi components of
      the L-Ru-HNO bond suggest that the increased stability of these orbitals and the
      enhanced contributions from the HNO orbitals correlate to shorter Ru-N(H)O
      distances and higher nuRu-HNO stretching frequencies. The stability of the Ru-HNO
      bond was also evaluated through a theoretical kinetic study of HNO dissociation
      from trans-(1)[Ru(NH3)4(L)HNO](2+). The order of the Ru-HNO bonding stability in
      trans-(1)[Ru(NH3)4(L)HNO](2+) as a function of L was found to be as follows: H2O
      > Cl(-)~ Br(-) > NH3 > py > P(OEt)3. This order parallels the order of the trans
      effect and trans-influence series experimentally measured for L in octahedral
      complexes. The same trend was also observed using an explicit solvent model,
      considering the presence of both HNO and H2O molecules in the transition state.
      For this series, the calculated bond dissociation enthalpies for the Ru-HNO bonds
      are in the range 23.8 to 45.7 kcal mol(-1). A good agreement was observed between
      the calculated DeltaG(?) values for the displacement of HNO by H2O in trans
      (1)[Ru(NH3)4(P(OEt)3HNO](2+) (23.4 kcal mol(-1)) and the available experimental
      data for the substitution reactions of trans[Ru(NH3)4(POEt)3(Lx)](2+) (19.4 to
      24.0 kcal mol(-1) for Lx = isn and P(OET)3, respectively). 

PMID- 26879819
TI  - Osteoporosis Associated with Epilepsy and the Use of Anti-Epileptics-a Review.
AB  - The increased rate of fractures associated with epilepsy has been long recognised
      but remains incompletely understood. Study quality and study results have varied,
      with some but not all studies showing bone diseases including osteoporosis and/or
      osteomalacia, and a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are
      also noted. Falls risk can also be higher in patients with epilepsy taking anti
      epileptic medications, potentially leading to fracture. Larger research
      collaborations are recommended to further advance understanding in this field,
      particularly to examine underlying genetic and pharmacogenomic associations of
      epilepsy and anti-epileptic medication usage and its association with bone
      diseases and fractures, as well as further investigation into optimal management
      of bone health in epilepsy. 

PMID- 26879821
TI  - [Rare case of a mesenteric tumor].

PMID- 26879820
TI  - [Contralateral hepatic hypertrophy following unilateral yttrium-90
      radioembolization : Implications for liver surgery].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preservation of an adequate future liver remnant (FLR) is the
      principal limitation to liver surgery in patients with primary or secondary liver
      malignancies. Hence, methods to increase the volume of the FLR in preparation for
      liver resection are gaining in importance. OBJECTIVE: In addition to the
      traditional methods for induction of FLR hypertrophy, such as portal vein
      embolization (PVE) or portal vein ligation (PVL) with or without parenchymal
      dissection (ALPPS, in situ split), radioembolization (RE) using yttrium-90
      microspheres also leads to a volume increase of non-embolized liver parenchyma.
      This review outlines its potential role as an alternative procedure for induction
      of liver hypertrophy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Synopsis and critical discussion of
      the available literature on the mechanisms of induction of liver hypertrophy, the
      advantages and drawbacks of the traditional methods, and current research on
      volume changes associated with RE as well as their implications for possible
      clinical use in preparation for liver surgery. RESULTS: Both PVE and PVL can
      achieve a substantial contralateral volume gain of up to 70 %. The development of
      contralateral hypertrophy can be accelerated by dissecting the liver parenchyma
      along the intended plane of resection in addition to PVL (in situ split).
      Compared to these methods, RE achieves less contralateral liver hypertrophy;
      however, this effect should not be disregarded as RE provides effective treatment
      of ipsilateral liver tumors along with induction of hypertrophy and may be
      associated with a reduced risk of tumor progression compared to PVE and PVL.
      CONCLUSION: The available data suggest that RE can complement the armamentarium
      of methods for induction of FLR hypertrophy in specific situations. Further
      studies are needed to establish its definitive role for this indication and are
      in preparation.

PMID- 26879822
TI  - Impairment of motor skills in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in
      remote Australia: The Lililwan Project.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: We aimed to characterise motor performance in
      predominantly Aboriginal children living in very remote Australia, where rates of
      prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are high. Motor performance was assessed, and the
      relationship between motor skills, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and
      PAE was explored. DESIGN AND METHODS: Motor performance was assessed using the
      Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition Complete Form, in a
      population-based study of children born in 2002 or 2003 living in the Fitzroy
      Valley, Western Australia. Composite scores >=2SD (2nd percentile) and >=1SD
      (16th percentile) below the mean were used respectively for FASD diagnosis and
      referral for treatment. FASD diagnoses were assigned using modified Canadian
      Guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 108 children (Aboriginal: 98.1%; male: 53%) with
      a mean age of 8.7 years was assessed. The cohort's mean total motor composite
      score (mean +/- SD 47.2 +/- 7.6) approached the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor
      Proficiency-Second Edition normative mean (50 +/- 10). Motor performance was
      lower in children with FASD diagnosis than without (mean difference (MD) +/- SD: 
      5.0 +/- 1.8; confidence interval: -8.6 to -1.5). There was no difference between
      children with PAE than without (MD +/- SE: -2.2 +/- 1.5; confidence interval: 
      5.1 to 0.80). The prevalence of motor impairment (>=-2SD) was 1.9% in the entire
      cohort, 9.5% in children with FASD, 3.3% in children with PAE and 0.0% both in
      children without PAE or FASD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Almost of 10% of
      children with FASD has significant motor impairment. Evaluation of motor function
      should routinely be included in assessments for FASD, to document impairment and
      enable targeted early intervention.[Lucas BR, Doney R, Latimer J, Watkins RE,
      Tsang TW, Hawkes G, Fitzpatrick JP, Oscar J, Carter M, Elliott EJ. Impairment of
      motor skills in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in remote
      Australia: The Lililwan Project. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:719-727].

PMID- 26879823
TI  - Development of non-defective recombinant densovirus vectors for microRNA delivery
      in the invasive vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus.
AB  - We previously reported that mosquito densoviruses (MDVs) are potential vectors
      for delivering foreign nucleic acids into mosquito cells. However, considering
      existing expression strategies, recombinant viruses would inevitably become
      replication-defective viruses and lose their ability for secondary transmission.
      The packaging limitations of the virion represent a barrier for the development
      of MDVs for viral paratransgenesis or as high-efficiency bioinsecticides. Herein,
      we report the development of a non-defective recombinant Aedes aegypti densovirus
      (AaeDV) miRNA expression system, mediated by an artificial intron, using an
      intronic miRNA expression strategy. We demonstrated that this recombinant vector
      could be used to overexpress endogenous miRNAs or to decrease endogenous miRNAs
      by generating antisense sponges to explore the biological functions of miRNAs. In
      addition, the vector could express antisense-miRNAs to induce efficient gene
      silencing in vivo and in vitro. The recombinant virus effectively self-replicated
      and retained its secondary transmission ability, similar to the wild-type virus.
      The recombinant virus was also genetically stable. This study demonstrated the
      first construction of a non-defective recombinant MDV miRNA expression system,
      which represents a tool for the functional analysis of mosquito genes and lays
      the foundation for the application of viral paratransgenesis for dengue virus
      control. 

PMID- 26879824
TI  - The heterogeneous energy landscape expression of KWW relaxation.
AB  - Here we show a heterogeneous energy landscape approach to describing the
      Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts (KWW) relaxation function. For a homogeneous dynamic
      process, the distribution of free energy landscape is first proposed, revealing
      the significance of rugged fluctuations. In view of the heterogeneous relaxation
      given in two dynamic phases and the transmission coefficient in a rate process,
      we obtain a general characteristic relaxation time distribution equation for the
      KWW function in a closed, analytic form. Analyses of numerical computation show
      excellent accuracy, both in time and frequency domains, in the convergent
      performance of the heterogeneous energy landscape expression and shunning the
      catastrophic truncations reported in the previous work. The stretched exponential
      beta, closely associated to temperature and apparent correlation with one dynamic
      phase, reveals a threshold value of 1/2 defining different behavior of the
      probability density functions. Our work may contribute, for example, to in-depth
      comprehension of the dynamic mechanism of glass transition, which cannot be
      provided by existing approaches. 

PMID- 26879825
TI  - Attitudes and preferences toward monitoring symptoms, distress, and quality of
      life in glioma patients and their informal caregivers.
AB  - PURPOSE: Glioma patients and their informal caregivers face many challenges in
      living with the disease and its disease-specific consequences. To better meet
      their needs, a system to monitor symptoms, distress, and quality of life could
      prove useful. We explored glioma patients' and caregivers' attitudes and
      preferences toward monitoring in general and specifically toward paper-and-pencil
      and computerized (eHealth) options. METHODS: In total, 15 patients and 15
      informal caregivers participated in individual, semi-structured interviews.
      Interviews were transcribed smooth verbatim and coded by two researchers
      independently. RESULTS: Advantages of monitoring generated by participants
      include increased awareness of problems and their flow over time, and
      facilitating supportive care provision. Disadvantages include investment of time
      and mastering the discipline to monitor frequently. Patients reported more
      disadvantages of monitoring, including practical and disease-specific
      impediments, while caregivers mentioned more advantages. Preferences for specific
      methods mentioned to monitor are highly personal but most prefer to have an
      option for face-to-face contact to discuss results of monitoring with health care
      professionals even in computerized instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Informal caregivers
      view a monitoring system more favorably than glioma patients. In developing an
      efficient monitoring system to help glioma patients and caregivers find their way
      to supportive care, a computerized instrument with the added opportunity to
      contact a health care professional seems to be the best option to advise.

PMID- 26879826
TI  - Safe RESIDential Environments? A longitudinal analysis of the influence of crime
      related safety on walking.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous cross-sectional studies have investigated the premise that
      the perception of crime will cause residents to constrain their walking; however
      the findings to date are inconclusive. In contrast, few longitudinal or
      prospective studies have examined the impact of crime-related safety on residents
      walking behaviours. This study used longitudinal data to test whether there is a
      causal relationship between crime-related safety and walking in the local
      neighbourhood. METHODS: Participants in the RESIDential Environments Project
      (RESIDE) in Perth, Australia, completed a questionnaire before moving to their
      new neighbourhood (n = 1813) and again approximately one (n = 1467), three (n =
      1230) and seven years (n = 531) after relocating. Self-report measures included
      neighbourhood perceptions (modified NEWS items) and walking inside the
      neighbourhood (min/week). Objective built environmental measures were generated
      for each participant's 1600 m neighbourhood at each time-point, and the count of
      crimes reported to police were generated at the suburb-level for the first three
      time-points only. The impact of crime-related safety on walking was examined in
      SAS using the Proc Mixed procedure (marginal repeated measures model with
      unrestricted variance pattern). Initial models controlled for demographics, time
      and self-selection, and subsequent models progressively adjusted for other built
      and social environment factors based on a social ecological model. RESULTS: For
      every increase of one level on a five-point Likert scale in perceived safety from
      crime, total walking within the local neighbourhood increased by 18.0 min/week (p
      = 0.000). This relationship attenuated to an increase of 10.5 min/week after
      accounting for other built and social environment factors, but remained
      significant (p = 0.008). Further analyses examined transport and recreational
      walking separately. In the fully adjusted models, each increase in safety from
      crime was associated with a 7.0 min/week increase in recreational walking (p =
      0.009), however findings for transport walking were non-significant. All
      associations between suburb-level crime and walking were non-significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provides longitudinal evidence of a potential causal
      relationship between residents' perceptions of safety from crime and recreational
      walking. Safety perceptions appeared to influence recreational walking, rather
      than transport-related walking. Given the popularity of recreational walking and
      the need to increase levels of physical activity, community social and physical
      environmental interventions that foster residents' feelings of safety are likely
      to increase recreational walking and produce public health gains.

PMID- 26879827
TI  - Can an early phase clinical pharmacology study replace a thorough QT study?
      Experience with a novel H3-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of
      pitolisant on QTcF interval in a single ascending dose (SAD) study and a thorough
      QT (TQT) study. METHODS: The SAD study at three dose levels of pitolisant
      enrolled 24 males and the TQT study at two dose levels 25 males. Both studies
      intensively monitored ECGs and pitolisant exposure. Effect on QTcF interval was
      analysed by Intersection Union Test (IUT) and by exposure-response (ER) analysis.
      Results from the two studies were compared. RESULTS: In both studies,
      moxifloxacin effect established assay sensitivity. IUT analysis revealed
      comparable pitolisant-induced maximum mean (90 % confidence interval (CI))
      placebo-corrected increase from baseline (DeltaDeltaQTcF) in both the studies,
      being 13.3 (8.1; 18.5) ms at 200-mg and 9.9 (4.7; 15.1) ms at 240-mg doses in SAD
      study and 5.27 (2.35; 8.20) ms at 120-mg dose in TQT study. ER analysis revealed
      that ER slopes in SAD and TQT studies were comparable and significantly positive
      (0.031 vs 0.027 ms/ng/mL, respectively). At geometric mean concentrations,
      bootstrap predicted DeltaDeltaQTcF (90 % CI) were 9.23 (4.68; 14.4) ms at 279
      ng/mL (240-mg dose) in the SAD study and 4.97 (3.42; 8.19) ms at 156 ng/mL (120
      mg dose) in the TQT study. CONCLUSION: Pitolisant lacked an effect of regulatory
      concern on QTc interval in both the studies, however analysed, suggesting that
      the results from the SAD study could have mitigated the need for a TQT study. Our
      findings add to the growing evidence that intensive ECG monitoring in early phase
      clinical studies can replace a TQT study.

PMID- 26879828
TI  - A Contextualized Approach to Faith-Based HIV Risk Reduction for African American
      Women.
AB  - HIV/AIDS has a devastating impact on African Americans, particularly women and
      young adults. We sought to characterize risks, barriers, and content and delivery
      needs for a faith-based intervention to reduce HIV risk among African American
      women ages 18 to 25. In a convergent parallel mixed methods study, we conducted
      four focus groups (n = 38) and surveyed 71 young adult women. Data were collected
      across four African American churches for a total of 109 participants. We found
      the majority of women in this sample were engaged in behaviors that put them at
      risk for contracting HIV, struggled with religiously based barriers and matters
      of sexuality, and had a desire to incorporate their intimate relationships,
      parenting, and financial burdens into faith-based HIV risk-reduction
      interventions. Incorporating additional social context-related factors into HIV
      risk-reduction interventions for young African American women is critical to
      adapting and developing HIV interventions to reduce risk among young adult women
      in faith settings.

PMID- 26879829
TI  - Validation of an Interaction Model of Health Behavior Among Adults With
      Hypertension.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test the Interaction Model of Client Health
      Behavior among adults with hypertension. The predictive associations among health
      literacy, quality of the provider interaction, perceived communication skills,
      and behavioral activation on blood pressure control were examined. Participants
      were 109 adults with hypertension recruited from community settings. A path
      analysis using maximum likelihood estimation was conducted in Analysis of Moment
      Structures for Windows (AMOS). The model fit to these data was excellent (chi(2)
      = 1.1, p = .76, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 1.1, comparative fit index [CFI] =
      1.0, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .00, standardized root
      mean residual [SRMR] = .03). As hypothesized, health literacy, quality of the
      provider interaction, and perceived communication skills directly affected
      behavioral action. The quality of the provider interaction, perceived
      communication skills, and behavioral activation had direct effects on systolic
      blood pressure control. The study results support health literacy screening and
      communication skill building, and improving the quality of provider interactions
      to enhance blood pressure control among adults with hypertension.

PMID- 26879830
TI  - Teaching research: a programme to develop research capacity in undergraduate
      medical students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Improved research ability is a core competency to achieve in health
      professionals. The Selectives is a three-year, longitudinal, community-based
      programme within the undergraduate curriculum which aims to develop research
      capacity in all medical students during the prescribed curriculum. In relation to
      the programme, the authors describe the types of studies conducted by students,
      conditions that facilitated their learning, how the experience improved students'
      knowledge of research and public health and their development of reflective
      learning practices. METHODS: A cohort of 212 students completed the Selectives
      Programme in 2014, and 69 (32 %) completed an anonymous online evaluation
      thereafter. Data collected include students' perceptions of the research
      component of Selectives; its impact on their knowledge of research and a
      documentary analysis of their research protocols and posters. Ethical approval
      for the ongoing evaluation of the Selectives was sought and obtained from the
      institutional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: During Selectives,
      75 groups of 2-4 students conducted research studies of primary health care
      problems in community settings. Each group is assessed on their presentation of
      research findings as a scientific poster. The Selectives facilitated learning for
      the majority of the cohort. Students reported positive learning experiences about
      the research process, including ethics; protocol writing; data processing;
      dissemination of findings and results; and their use in informing a health
      promotion intervention. Students reported having gained a better understanding of
      their strengths and weaknesses through reflective learning from this academic
      activity. The Selectives is scheduled adjacent to the students' mid-year
      vacation. This scheduling together with the placement in the students' home
      community minimizes travel and accommodation costs associated with working
      outside the academic teaching platform and therefore makes it a cost-effective
      model in a low resource context. CONCLUSIONS: The Selectives has proven
      beneficial to develop a range of generic and practical research competencies for
      a full cohort of students enrolled in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The
      Selectives research process is integrated with learning about population health
      and the social determinants of health in a primary health care setting.

PMID- 26879831
TI  - Invasive occipital nerve stimulation for refractory chronic cluster headache:
      what evolution at long-term? Strengths and weaknesses of the method.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Invasive Occipital Nerve Stimulation (iONS) is a costly technique
      which appears effective in drug-refractory chronic cluster headache (drCCH)
      management. Available data on long-term effectiveness and safety of iONS in this
      indication are scarce, though they could be useful to neurologists and patients
      in daily practice. The purpose of this short report is to discuss the very long
      term outcome of a drCCH cohort, including adverse events. FINDINGS: Previously,
      favourable results were obtained with iONS in 15 drCCH patients: 80 % were
      significantly improved and 60 % were pain free. We report here the very long-term
      follow-up (up to nine years) of 10 patients belonging to this cohort. Meanwhile 5
      patients had to be definitively explanted because of device infection (3) or
      paresthesia intolerance (2). Four patients (40 %) evolved to an episodic form of
      CH. Six remained chronic but their attack frequency was decreased by 70 % on
      average. Intake of preventive drugs is still necessary in 80 % of patients. All
      patients needed at least one battery replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Up to nine years
      after implantation, iONS is still effective in most patients with drCCH.
      Concomitant preventive drugs remain often necessary. Forty percent of patients
      reverse to episodic CH, possibly by natural history. iONS is not a benign
      procedure but device-related complications appear similar to those reported with
      other invasive neurostimulators.

PMID- 26879833
TI  - Tacrolimus Trough Levels as a Risk Factor for Acute Rejection in Renal Transplant
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Use of tacrolimus (TAC) is pivotal to renal transplant (RT)
      immunosuppressive maintenance regimens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      relationship between TAC trough levels and the development of acute rejection
      (AR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. We included
      recipients transplanted between 01/2008 and 05/2012. Regression analyses (Cox's
      proportional hazards model) and sub-analysis of AR and TAC levels over different
      time periods were performed. RESULTS: We included 198 patients with an average
      age of 32 years (+/-12.1) and predominantly male (54.5%). Mean follow-up was 2
      years (min-max 15d - 5.2yrs). Sixty-two AR events were documented (BL: 31,
      Cellular AR: 19, Humoral AR: 12). We found that TAC levels (HR 0.76, 0.65-0.88,
      p<0.001), a high risk for CMV infection (D+/R-) (HR 2.92, 1.47-1.014, p=0.002),
      pre-transplant donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA) (HR 3.04 1.29-7.16, p=0.011),
      and post-RT DSA (HR 2.4, 1.16-4.9, p=0.018) were significantly associated with
      AR. The relationship between TAC levels and rejection was independent of follow
      up duration. CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis, TAC though levels were directly
      related to AR events; trough levels >8 ng/ml were the most effective in
      decreasing immunological adverse events. A decrease in TAC levels throughout the
      post-transplant follow-up period should be considered due to its possible
      association with AR events.

PMID- 26879832
TI  - Interictal burden attributable to episodic headache: findings from the Eurolight
      project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most primary headaches are episodic, and most estimates of the heavy
      disability burden attributed to headache derive from epidemiological data focused
      on the episodic subtypes of migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). These
      disorders give rise directly but intermittently to symptom burden. Nevertheless,
      people with these disorders may not be symptom-free between attacks. We analysed
      the Eurolight dataset for interictal burden. METHODS: Eurolight was a cross
      sectional survey using modified cluster sampling from the adult population (18-65
      years) in 10 countries of the European Union. We used data from nine. The
      questionnaire included headache-diagnostic questions based on ICHD-II and several
      question sets addressing impact, including interictal and cumulative burdens.
      RESULTS: There were 6455 participants with headache (male 2444 [37.9 %]).
      Interictal symptoms were reported by 26.0 % of those with migraine and 18.9 %
      with TTH: interictal anxiety by 10.6 % with migraine and avoidance (lifestyle
      compromise) by 14.8 %, both much more common than in TTH (3.1 % [OR 3.8] and 4.7
      % [OR 3.5] respectively). Mean time spent in the interictal state was 317
      days/year for migraine, 331 days/year for TTH. Those who were "rarely" or "never"
      in control of their headaches (migraine 15.2 %, TTH 9.6 %) had significantly
      raised odds of interictal anxiety, avoidance and other interictal symptoms. Among
      those with migraine, interictal anxiety increased markedly with headache
      intensity and frequency, avoidance less so but still significantly. Lost
      productive time was associated with high ORs (up to 5.3) of anxiety and
      avoidance. A third (32.9 %) with migraine and a quarter (26.7 %) with TTH
      (difference: p < 0.0001) were reluctant to tell others of their headaches. About
      10 % with each disorder felt families and friends did not understand their
      headaches. Nearly 12 % with migraine reported their employers and colleagues did
      not. Regarding cumulative burden, 11.8 % reported they had done less well in
      education because of headache, 5.9 % reported reduced earnings and 7.4 % that
      their careers had suffered. CONCLUSIONS: Interictal burden in those with episodic
      headache is common, more so in migraine than TTH. Some elements have the
      potential to be profoundly consequential. New methodology is needed to measure
      interictal burden if descriptions of headache burden are to be complete.

PMID- 26879834
TI  - Increased urinary 6-hydroxymelatoninsulfate levels in attention deficit
      hyperactivity disorder diagnosed children and adolescent.
AB  - There are some studies in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which
      note altered circadian rhythms, suggesting abnormalities in melatonin physiology.
      In order to better characterize the possible melatonin alteration in ADHD, in
      this study we aimed to detect daytime, nighttime and 24 h levels of 6
      hydroxymelatoninsulfate (6-OH MS) in the patients diagnosed with ADHD. Twenty
      seven patients between 6 and 16 years-old, who had been diagnosed initially with
      ADHD, but without other physical and psychiatric disease history and who had not
      taken psychotropic pharmacotherapy for six months, plus 28 healthy volunteer
      controls, were included in the study. Urine samples were collected during the
      whole 24 h cycle, daytime and nighttime separately to assess the time-dependent
      excretion of the 6-OH MS, which is the main urine metabolite of melatonin. The
      Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method was used for measuring the urine
      6-OH MS level. Daytime (15.4 (8.9-24.8) ng/ml vs 6.9 (2.5-15.9) ng/ml, p=0.002),
      nighttime (102.9 (65.3-197.7) ng/ml vs 61.5 (37.2-114.4) ng/ml, p=0.012) and 24 h
      (54.1 (34.6-83.9) ng/ml vs 27.3 (14.3-48.9) ng/ml, p=0.000) 6-OH MS levels median
      (25p-75p) were found to be significantly higher in the ADHD group. After
      adjustment for age and sex, there was a statistically significant difference
      between the ADHD group (59.8 +/- 4.9) and control group (33.8 +/- 4.8) in 24-h 6
      OH MS levels (F(1, 51)=13.673, p=.001, partial eta2=.211). There was no
      relationship between 6-OH MS levels and Conners Parent Rating Scale short form
      subscale scores for the ADHD group. These findings indicate that melatonin
      production is increased in ADHD cases. Further research is needed to determine
      and thereby understand the mechanisms underlying the higher melatonin production,
      to assess the impact of altered melatonin on the pathophysiology of ADHD.

PMID- 26879835
TI  - Z-guggulsterone negatively controls microglia-mediated neuroinflammation via
      blocking IkappaB-alpha-NF-kappaB signals.
AB  - Induction of pro-inflammatory factors is one of the characteristics of microglial
      activation and can be regulated by numerous active agents extracted from plants.
      Suppression of pro-inflammatory factors is beneficial to alleviate
      neuroinflammation. Z-guggulsterone, a compound extracted from the gum resin of
      the tree commiphora mukul, exhibits numerous anti-inflammatory effects. However,
      the role and mechanism of Z-guggulsterone in pro-inflammatory responses in
      microglia remains unclear. This study addressed this issue in in vitro murine
      microglia and in vivo neuroinflammation models. Results showed that Z
      guggulsterone reduced inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) protein expression as well as
      nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL
      6) production in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. Z-guggulsterone also reduced the mRNA
      level of iNOS, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Mechanistic studies revealed that Z
      guggulsterone attenuated the LPS-induced degradation of inhibitor kappa B-alpha
      (IkappaB-alpha) as well as the LPS-induced nuclear translocation of nuclear
      factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Z-guggulsterone, however, failed to reduce the LPS
      induced increase in NF-kappaB phosphorylation level. These major findings were
      ascertained in primary microglia where the LPS-induced increases in iNOS
      expression, NO content, and IkappaB-alpha degradation were diminished by Z
      guggulsterone treatment. In a mouse model of neuroinflammation, Z-guggulsterone
      exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects, which were exemplified by the
      attenuation of microglial activation and neuroinflammation-induced behavioral
      abnormalities in Z-guggulsterone-treated mice. Taken together, these studies
      demonstrate that Z-guggulsterone attenuates the LPS-mediated induction of pro
      inflammatory factors in microglia via inhibition of IkappaB-alpha-NF-kappaB
      signals, providing evidence to uncover the potential role of Z-guggulsterone in
      neuroinflammation-associated disorder therapies. 

PMID- 26879836
TI  - The blockade of GABAA receptors attenuates the inhibitory effect of orexin type 1
      receptors antagonist on morphine withdrawal syndrome in rats.
AB  - The aim of present study was to investigate the involvement of orexin-A
      neuropeptide in naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal syndrome via modulating
      neurons bearing GABAA receptors. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a sensitive site for
      expression of the somatic aspects of morphine withdrawal. Intra-LC microinjection
      of GABAA receptor agonist attenuates morphine withdrawal signs in rats. Here we
      studied the influence of LC orexin type 1 receptors blockade by SB-334867 in
      presence of bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, on naloxone-induced
      morphine withdrawal syndrome. Adult male Wistar rats, weighing 250-300 g, were
      rendered dependent on morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of increasing
      morphine doses (6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56 and 66 mg/kg, 2 ml/kg) at set intervals of
      24 h for 7 days. On 8th day, naloxone (3 mg/kg, s.c.) was injected and the
      somatic signs of morphine withdrawal were evaluated. Intra-LC microinjections
      (0.2 MUl) of either bicuculline (15 MUM) or SB-334867 (3 mM) or a combination of
      both chemicals were done immediately before naloxone injection. Intra-LC
      microinjection of bicuculline (15 MUM) had no significant effect on morphine
      withdrawal signs, whereas intra-LC microinjection of SB-334867 considerably
      attenuated morphine withdrawal signs. However, the effect of SB-334867 in
      attenuating naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal signs was blocked in presence of
      bicuculline. This finding, for the first time, indicated that orexin-A may
      participate in expression of naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal syndrome partly
      through decreasing the activity of neurons bearing GABAA receptors.

PMID- 26879837
TI  - A hypothesis of couplet molecules and couplet cells in gastric function and an
      association with Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastrin, from G-cells, and histamine, from enterochromaffin-like
      (ECL) cells, are two of the hormones that regulate gastric activity. DISCUSSION:
      It is proposed that the G-cells and the ECL cells are coupled by the couplet
      molecules gastrin and histamine and by a prior asymmetrical cell division. The
      gastrin (from G-cells) stimulates the ECL cells to produce and secrete histamine
      while, in a reciprocal way, this histamine (from ECL cells), stimulates the G
      cells to produce and secrete gastrin. These molecules would also stimulate cell
      division - the gastrin would stimulate cell division of ECL cells while histamine
      would stimulate that of G-cells. A chemical complex of gastrin and histamine is
      postulated as is also the asymmetric cell divisions of precursor cells to produce
      the coupled G-cells and ECL cells. CONCLUSION: There is sufficient evidence to
      support the feasibility of the model in general, but more direct experimental
      evidence is required to validate the model as applied here to gastric function.

PMID- 26879838
TI  - Sulforaphane targets cancer stemness and tumor initiating properties in oral
      squamous cell carcinomas via miR-200c induction.
AB  - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are deemed as the driving force of
      tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). In this study, we
      investigated the chemotherapeutic effect of sulforaphane, a dietary component
      from broccoli sprouts, on targeting OSCC-CSCs. METHODS: The effect of
      sulforaphane on normal oral epithelial cells (SG) and sphere-forming OSCC-CSCs
      isolated from SAS and GNM cells was examined. ALDH1 activity and CD44 positivity
      of OSCC-CSCs with sulforaphane treatment was assessed by flow cytometry analysis.
      In vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity assays of OSCC-CSCs with sulforaphane
      treatment were presented. RESULTS: We observed that the sulforaphane dose
      dependently eliminated the proliferation rate of OSCC-CSCs, whereas the
      inhibition on SG cells proliferation was limited. Cancer stemness properties
      including self-renewal, CD44 positivity, and ALDH1 activity were also decreased
      in OSCC-CSCs with different doses of sulforaphane treatment. Moreover,
      sulforaphane treatment of OSCC-CSCs decreased the migration, invasion,
      clonogenicity, and in vivo tumorigenicity of xenograghts. Sulforaphane treatment
      resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the levels of tumor suppressive miR200c.
      CONCLUSION: These lines of evidence suggest that sulforaphane can suppress the
      cancer stemness and tumor-initiating properties in OSCC-CSCs both in vitro and in
      vivo.

PMID- 26879839
TI  - Long-term effect of epoetin alfa on clinical and biochemical markers in
      friedreich ataxia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Friedreich ataxia is an autosomal recessive disease with no available
      therapy. Clinical trials with erythropoietin in Friedreich ataxia patients have
      yielded conflicting results, and the long-term effect of the drug remains
      unknown. METHODS: We designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter
      trial to test the efficacy of epoetin alfa on 56 patients with Friedreich ataxia.
      The primary endpoint of the study was the effect of epoetin alfa on peak oxygen
      uptake (VO2 max) at the cardiopulmonary exercise test. Secondary endpoints were
      frataxin levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, improvement in
      echocardiography findings, vascular reactivity, neurological progression, upper
      limb dexterity, safety, and quality of life. Epoetin alfa or placebo (1:1 ratio)
      was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 1200 IU/Kg of body weight every 12
      weeks for 48 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were randomized; 27 completed
      the study in the active treatment group, and 26 completed the study in the
      placebo group[KG1]. VO2 max was not modified after treatment (0.01 [-0.04 to
      0.05]; P = .749), as well as most of the secondary endpoint measures, including
      frataxin. The 9-hole peg test showed a significant amelioration in the treatment
      group (-17.24 sec. [-31.5 to -3.0]; P = .018). The treatment was safe and well
      tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Although results are not in favor of an effect of epoetin
      alfa in Friedreich ataxia, this is the largest trial testing its effect. It is
      still possible that epoetin alfa may show some symptomatic effect on upper-limb
      performance. This study provides class I evidence that erythropoietin does not
      ameliorate VO2 max in patients with Friedreich ataxia. (c) 2016 International
      Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26879840
TI  - Acid-Base-Triggered Structural Transformation of a Polyoxometalate Core Inside a
      Dodecahedrane-like Silver Thiolate Shell.
AB  - Self-assembly of metavanadate and organosilver(I) salts leads to a novel
      dodecahedrane-like [Ag30 ((t) BuS)20 ](10+) silver(I) thiolate nanocage that
      tightly wraps an unusual C2h polyoxovanadate anion. The polyoxovanadate core
      undergoes transformation to a D3d configuration upon acidification, and reverts
      back to its original C2h structure upon addition of base. Chromism was observed
      for the silver(I) thiolate cluster during the configurational change of the
      central polyoxovanadate core; the color of the solution changes reversibly from
      green to dark yellow. This work represents the first reported example of chromic
      polyoxometalate-templated silver(I) thiolate shells that respond to external acid
      base stimuli. It also represents an important advance in providing
      crystallographic proof that structural transformations occur in a nanoscale core
      shell cluster. 

PMID- 26879843
TI  - Modelling populations of Lygus hesperus on cotton fields in the San Joaquin
      Valley of California: the importance of statistical and mathematical model
      choice.
AB  - Understanding the population dynamics of herbivorous insects is critical to
      developing and implementing effective pest control protocols. In the context of
      inverse problems, we explore the dynamic effects of pesticide treatments on Lygus
      hesperus, a common pest of cotton in the western United States. Fitting models to
      field data, we explore the topic of model selection for an appropriate
      mathematical model and corresponding statistical models, and use techniques
      including ANOVA-based model comparison tests and residual plot analysis to make
      the best selections. In addition we explore the topic of data information
      content: in this example, we are testing the question of whether data, as it is
      currently collected, can support time-dependent parameter estimation.
      Furthermore, we investigate the statistical assumptions often haphazardly made in
      the process of parameter estimation and consider the implications of unfounded
      assumptions.

PMID- 26879842
TI  - Treatment of beta amyloid 1-42 (Abeta(1-42))-induced basal forebrain cholinergic
      damage by a non-classical estrogen signaling activator in vivo.
AB  - In Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a loss in cholinergic innervation targets
      of basal forebrain which has been implicated in substantial cognitive decline.
      Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta(1-42)) accumulates in AD that is highly toxic for
      basal forebrain cholinergic (BFC) neurons. Although the gonadal steroid estradiol
      is neuroprotective, the administration is associated with risk of off-target
      effects. Previous findings suggested that non-classical estradiol action on
      intracellular signaling pathways has ameliorative potential without estrogenic
      side effects. After Abeta(1-42) injection into mouse basal forebrain, a single
      dose of 4-estren-3alpha, 17beta-diol (estren), the non-classical estradiol
      pathway activator, restored loss of cholinergic cortical projections and also
      attenuated the Abeta(1-42)-induced learning deficits. Estren rapidly and directly
      phosphorylates c-AMP-response-element-binding-protein and extracellular-signal
      regulated-kinase-1/2 in BFC neurons and restores the cholinergic fibers via
      estrogen receptor-alpha. These findings indicated that selective activation of
      non-classical intracellular estrogen signaling has a potential to treat the
      damage of cholinergic neurons in AD.

PMID- 26879841
TI  - A review of trabecular bone functional adaptation: what have we learned from
      trabecular analyses in extant hominoids and what can we apply to fossils?
AB  - Many of the unresolved debates in palaeoanthropology regarding evolution of
      particular locomotor or manipulative behaviours are founded in differing opinions
      about the functional significance of the preserved external fossil morphology.
      However, the plasticity of internal bone morphology, and particularly trabecular
      bone, allowing it to respond to mechanical loading during life means that it can
      reveal greater insight into how a bone or joint was used during an individual's
      lifetime. Analyses of trabecular bone have been commonplace for several decades
      in a human clinical context. In contrast, the study of trabecular bone as a
      method for reconstructing joint position, joint loading and ultimately behaviour
      in extant and fossil non-human primates is comparatively new. Since the initial
      2D studies in the late 1970s and 3D analyses in the 1990 s, the utility of
      trabecular bone to reconstruct behaviour in primates has grown to incorporate
      experimental studies, expanded taxonomic samples and skeletal elements, and
      improved methodologies. However, this work, in conjunction with research on
      humans and non-primate mammals, has also revealed the substantial complexity
      inherent in making functional inferences from variation in trabecular
      architecture. This review addresses the current understanding of trabecular bone
      functional adaptation, how it has been applied to hominoids, as well as other
      primates and, ultimately, how this can be used to better interpret fossil
      hominoid and hominin morphology. Because the fossil record constrains us to
      interpreting function largely from bony morphology alone, and typically from
      isolated bones, analyses of trabecular structure, ideally in conjunction with
      that of cortical structure and external morphology, can offer the best resource
      for reconstructing behaviour in the past.

PMID- 26879844
TI  - Self-Powered High-Resolution and Pressure-Sensitive Triboelectric Sensor Matrix
      for Real-Time Tactile Mapping.
AB  - A triboelectric sensor matrix (TESM) can accurately track and map 2D tactile
      sensing. A self-powered, high-resolution, pressure-sensitive, flexible and
      durable TESM with 16 * 16 pixels is fabricated for the fast detection of single
      point and multi-point touching. Using cross-locating technology, a cross-type
      TESM with 32 * 20 pixels is developed for more rapid tactile mapping, which
      significantly reduces the addressing lines from m * n to m + n. 

PMID- 26879845
TI  - Change in Depression Symptomatology and Cognitive Function in Twins: A 10-Year
      Follow-Up Study.
AB  - A complex interrelation exists between change in depression symptomatology and
      cognitive decline. Studies indicate either that depression is a direct risk
      factor for cognitive change over time, or vice versa. Longitudinal twin studies
      provide the possibility to unravel cause and effect of correlated traits. Here,
      we have applied twin modeling approaches to shed light on the genetic correlation
      between both level and change of depression symptomatology and cognitive
      functioning, and to further explore the bidirectionality of any such correlation
      using assessments of both phenotypes at two occasions 10 years apart. The study
      included 2,866 Danish twins with a mean age of 56.8 years at intake (range: 45-68
      years). Of these, 1,267 were intact pairs. A total number of 1,582 twins (55%),
      of whom 557 were intact pairs, participated in the follow-up survey. We found
      stable cross-sectional heritability estimates of approximately 60% for general
      cognitive abilities and 30% for affective depressive symptoms. There was a
      considerable decline in the mean cognitive performance over 10 years, whereas the
      mean affective depression symptoms score was stable and with no genetic
      contribution to any individual change. Additionally, we saw a small but
      significant cross-trait correlation at both occasions (-0.11 and -0.09,
      respectively), but cross-trait cross-occasion analysis revealed no evidence that
      either of the two traits predicts the other over a 10-year interval. Thus, our
      study was not able to detect any causal association between change in depressive
      symptomatology and cognitive decline in middle-aged and elderly people over a 10
      year interval. 

PMID- 26879846
TI  - Successful treatment outcome of primary melioidosis pneumonia-a case report from
      Bangladesh.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Melioidosis is endemic in tropical Australia and Southeast Asian
      countries and its causative organism Burkholderia pseudomallei is a recognized
      cause of pneumonia in these regions. Recent isolation of the organism in the soil
      of Kapasia, Gazipur, Bangladesh has proven its exposure among the population
      residing in endemic areas of our country. Pneumonia is the most common
      presentation of melioidosis. Acute, subacute and chronic pneumonia due to B.
      pseudomallei can present as primary or secondary pneumonia. Treatment of such
      cases are challenging as well. Till date, few cases of acute and chronic
      pneumonia due to melioidosis occurring in local Bangladeshis as well as in
      returning travelers to Europe have been reported. To the best of our knowledge,
      this is the first reported case of primary melioidosis pneumonia declared cured
      after a 27 weeks of treatment regimen from Bangladesh. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43
      year-old Bangladeshi gentleman, known diabetic, hypertensive, smoker, presented
      with the complaints of recurrent episodes of low to high grade intermittent
      fever, productive cough with occasional haemoptysis and 10 kg weight loss over
      one and half months. Poorly responding to conventional antibiotics, he was
      suspected as a case of pulmonary tuberculosis. Examination and investigations
      revealed left sided consolidation with cavitary lesion, hepato-splenomegaly and
      sputum analysis confirmed growth of Burkholderia pseudomallei. The patient was
      successfully treated as a case of primary melioidosis pneumonia. CONCLUSION:
      Often misdiagnosed and empirically treated as tuberculosis, untreated melioidosis
      pneumonia may even lead to death. Therefore, melioidosis should be suspected in
      appropriate clinical scenario in patients with a history of residing in or
      traveling to endemic areas. In Bangladesh, time has come to explore whether
      melioidosis should be considered as an emerging infectious disease.

PMID- 26879847
TI  - A nutrient profiling system for the (re)formulation of a global food and beverage
      portfolio.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the Nestle Nutritional Profiling System (NNPS) developed to
      guide the reformulation of Nestle products, and the results of its application in
      the USA and France. DESIGN: The NNPS is a category-specific system that
      calculates nutrient targets per serving as consumed, based on age-adjusted
      dietary guidelines. Products are aggregated into 32 food categories. The NNPS
      ensures that excessive amounts of nutrients to limit cannot be compensated for by
      adding nutrients to encourage. A study was conducted to measure changes in
      nutrient profiles of the most widely purchased Nestle products from eight food
      categories (n = 99) in the USA and France. A comparison was made between the 2009
      2010 and 2014-2015 products. RESULTS: The application of the NNPS between 2009
      2010 and 2014-2015 was associated with an overall downwards trend for all
      nutrients to limit. Sodium and total sugars contents were reduced by up to 22 and
      31 %, respectively. Saturated Fatty Acids and total fat reductions were less
      homogeneous across categories, with children products having larger reductions.
      Energy per serving was reduced by <10 % in most categories, while serving sizes
      remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The NNPS sets feasible and yet challenging
      targets for public health-oriented reformulation of a varied product portfolio;
      its application was associated with improved nutrient density in eight major food
      categories in the USA and France. Confirmatory analyses are needed in other
      countries and food categories; the impact of such a large-scale reformulation on
      dietary intake and health remains to be investigated.

PMID- 26879848
TI  - Prediction of risk of recurrence of venous thromboembolism following treatment
      for a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism: systematic review, prognostic
      model and clinical decision rule, and economic evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Unprovoked first venous thromboembolism (VTE) is defined as VTE in
      the absence of a temporary provoking factor such as surgery, immobility and other
      temporary factors. Recurrent VTE in unprovoked patients is highly prevalent, but
      easily preventable with oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy. The unprovoked
      population is highly heterogeneous in terms of risk of recurrent VTE. OBJECTIVES:
      The first aim of the project is to review existing prognostic models which
      stratify individuals by their recurrence risk, therefore potentially allowing
      tailored treatment strategies. The second aim is to enhance the existing research
      in this field, by developing and externally validating a new prognostic model for
      individual risk prediction, using a pooled database containing individual patient
      data (IPD) from several studies. The final aim is to assess the economic cost
      effectiveness of the proposed prognostic model if it is used as a decision rule
      for resuming OAC therapy, compared with current standard treatment strategies.
      METHODS: Standard systematic review methodology was used to identify relevant
      prognostic model development, validation and cost-effectiveness studies.
      Bibliographic databases (including MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library) were
      searched using terms relating to the clinical area and prognosis. Reviewing was
      undertaken by two reviewers independently using pre-defined criteria. Included
      full-text articles were data extracted and quality assessed. Critical appraisal
      of included full texts was undertaken and comparisons made of model performance.
      A prognostic model was developed using IPD from the pooled database of seven
      trials. A novel internal-external cross-validation (IECV) approach was used to
      develop and validate a prognostic model, with external validation undertaken in
      each of the trials iteratively. Given good performance in the IECV approach, a
      final model was developed using all trials data. A Markov patient-level
      simulation was used to consider the economic cost-effectiveness of using a
      decision rule (based on the prognostic model) to decide on resumption of OAC
      therapy (or not). RESULTS: Three full-text articles were identified by the
      systematic review. Critical appraisal identified methodological and applicability
      issues; in particular, all three existing models did not have external
      validation. To address this, new prognostic models were sought with external
      validation. Two potential models were considered: one for use at cessation of
      therapy (pre D-dimer), and one for use after cessation of therapy (post D-dimer).
      Model performance measured in the external validation trials showed strong
      calibration performance for both models. The post D-dimer model performed
      substantially better in terms of discrimination (c = 0.69), better separating
      high- and low-risk patients. The economic evaluation identified that a decision
      rule based on the final post D-dimer model may be cost-effective for patients
      with predicted risk of recurrence of over 8% annually; this suggests continued
      therapy for patients with predicted risks >= 8% and cessation of therapy
      otherwise. CONCLUSIONS: The post D-dimer model performed strongly and could be
      useful to predict individuals' risk of recurrence at any time up to 2-3 years,
      thereby aiding patient counselling and treatment decisions. A decision rule using
      this model may be cost-effective for informing clinical judgement and patient
      opinion in treatment decisions. Further research may investigate new predictors
      to enhance model performance and aim to further externally validate to confirm
      performance in new, non-trial populations. Finally, it is essential that further
      research is conducted to develop a model predicting bleeding risk on therapy, to
      manage the balance between the risks of recurrence and bleeding. STUDY
      REGISTRATION: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42013003494. FUNDING: The
      National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

PMID- 26879849
TI  - Timing of malaria in pregnancy and impact on infant growth and morbidity: a
      cohort study in Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a major cause of fetal growth
      restriction and low birth weight in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
      Understanding of the impact of MiP on infant growth and infant risk of malaria or
      morbidity is poorly characterized. The objective of this study was to describe
      the impact of MIP on subsequent infant growth, malaria and morbidity. METHODS:
      Between 2006 and 2009, 82 % (832/1018) of pregnant women with live-born
      singletons and ultrasound determined gestational age were enrolled in a
      prospective cohort with active weekly screening and treatment for malaria.
      Infants were followed monthly for growth and morbidity and received active
      monthly screening and treatment for malaria during their first year of life.
      Multivariate analyses were performed to analyse the association between malaria
      exposure during pregnancy and infants' growth, malaria infections, diarrhoea
      episodes and acute respiratory infections. RESULTS: Median time of infant follow
      up was 12 months and infants born to a mother who had MiP were at increased risk
      of impaired height and weight gain (-2.71 cm, 95 % CI -4.17 to -1.25 and -0.42
      kg, 95 % CI -0.76 to -0.08 at 12 months for >1 MiP compared to no MiP) and of
      malaria infection (relative risk 10.42, 95 % CI 2.64-41.10 for infants born to
      mothers with placental malaria). The risks of infant growth restriction and
      infant malaria infection were maximal when maternal malaria occurred in the 12
      weeks prior to delivery. Recurrent MiP was also associated with acute respiratory
      infection (RR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.25-3.06) and diarrhoea during infancy (RR 1.93, 95
      % CI 1.02-3.66). CONCLUSION: This study shows that despite frequent active
      screening and prompt treatment of MiP, impaired growth and an increased risk of
      malaria and non-malaria infections can be observed in the infants. Effective
      preventive measures in pregnancy remain a research priority. This study was
      registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00495508.

PMID- 26879850
TI  - Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between energy intake and BMI z
      score in European children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence for the effect of dietary energy on BMI z-scores in young
      children is limited. We aim to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal
      effects of daily energy intake (EI) on BMI z-scores of European boys and girls
      considering growth-related height dependencies of EI using residual EI. METHODS:
      To investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of daily energy intake
      (EI) on BMI z-scores of European boys and girls considering growth-related height
      dependencies of EI using residual EI. METHODS: Subjects were children aged 2- <
      10 y old (N = 2753, 48.2% girls) participating in the IDEFICS (Identification and
      prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and
      infantS) baseline and follow-up examination. Usual EI (kcal/day) was calculated
      based on the National Cancer Institute-method excluding subjects with implausible
      reported EI. Effect of age, height and sex-adjusted residuals of EI on BMI z
      score was investigated stratified by baseline age -group (2- < 4 y, 4- < 6 y, 6-
      < 8 y and 8- < 10 y) cross-sectionally using linear regression models adjusted
      for relevant confounders (crude model: age, sex, country; fully adjusted model:
      plus parental ISCED level, parental BMI, screen time; subgroup analysis: plus
      objectively measured physical activity). Longitudinal associations were estimated
      between changes in (Delta) residual EI per year and DeltaBMI z-score per year
      with adjustments analogously to the cross-sectional models but with additional
      adjustment for residual EI at baseline. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, positive
      associations were observed between residual EI and BMI z-score for the full study
      sample, for boys and in older (>=6 years) but not in younger children in the
      crude and fully adjusted model. Longitudinally, small positive associations were
      observed between Deltaresidual EI per y on DeltaBMI z-score per y for the full
      study sample and in 4- < 6 y olds in the crude and fully adjusted model.
      CONCLUSION: In conclusion, EI above the average intakes for a certain sex, age
      and height are weakly associated with BMI z-scores in European children. Residual
      EI may be considered as a useful exposure measure in children as it accounts for
      growth-related changes in usual EI during childhood.

PMID- 26879852
TI  - Reduced expressions of calmodulin genes and protein and reduced ability of
      calmodulin to activate plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase in the brain of protein
      undernourished rats: modulatory roles of selenium and zinc supplementation.
AB  - The roles of protein undernutrition as well as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn)
      supplementation on the ability of calmodulin (CaM) to activate erythrocyte ghost
      membrane (EGM) Ca(2+)-ATPase and the calmodulin genes and protein expressions in
      rat's cortex and cerebellum were investigated. Rats on adequate protein diet and
      protein-undernourished (PU) rats were fed with diet containing 16% and 5% casein,
      respectively, for a period of 10 weeks. The rats were then supplemented with Se
      and Zn at a concentration of 0.15 and 227 mg l(-1), respectively, in drinking
      water for 3 weeks. The results obtained from the study showed significant
      reductions in synaptosomal plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) activity,
      Ca(2+)/CaM activated EGM Ca(2+) ATPase activity and calmodulin genes and protein
      expressions in PU rats. Se or Zn supplementation improved the ability of
      Ca(2+)/CaM to activate EGM Ca(2+)-ATPase and protein expressions. Se or Zn
      supplementation improved gene expression in the cerebellum but not in the cortex.
      Also, the activity of PMCA was significantly improved by Zn. In conclusion, it is
      postulated that Se and Zn might be beneficial antioxidants in protecting against
      neuronal dysfunction resulting from reduced level of calmodulin such as present
      in protein undernutrition.

PMID- 26879853
TI  - Synthesis of fluorinated carbazoles via C-H arylation catalyzed by Pd/Cu bimetal
      system and their antibacterial activities.
AB  - An effective intramolecular C-H arylation reaction catalyzed by a bimetallic
      catalytic system Pd(OAc)2/CuI for the synthesis of fluorine-substituted
      carbazoles from corresponding N-phenyl-2-haloaniline derivatives under ligand
      free conditions is demonstrated. The established method is effective for both N
      phenyl-2-bromoaniline and N-phenyl-2-chloroaniline, and requires the low loading
      of Pd(OAc)2 (0.5 mol%). A series of new fluorinated carbazoles were synthesized
      in excellent yields using the protocol (>83%, 19 examples) and were fully
      characterized by (1)H, (13)C and (19)F NMR spectral data, HRMS and elemental
      analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against
      four bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and
      methicillin-resistant S. aureus with resistance to gentamicin) by serial dilution
      technique. All tested compounds showed antibacterial activity against three test
      strains (S. aureus, B. subtilis and MRSA), and most of these compounds displayed
      pronounced antimicrobial activities against these three strains with low MIC
      values ranging from 0.39 to 6.25 MUg/mL. Among them, compounds 7 and 14 exhibited
      potent inhibitory activity better than reference drugs meropenem and
      streptomycin. Three compounds (2, 4 and 5) showed antibacterial activity against
      E. coli. with MIC values from 12.5 to 25 MUg/mL.

PMID- 26879854
TI  - Design and synthesis of a series of serine derivatives as small molecule
      inhibitors of the SARS coronavirus 3CL protease.
AB  - Synthesis of serine derivatives having the essential functional groups for the
      inhibitor of SARS 3CL protease and evaluation of their inhibitory activities
      using SARS 3CL R188I mutant protease are described. The lead compounds,
      functionalized serine derivatives, were designed based on the tetrapeptide
      aldehyde and Bai's cinnamoly inhibitor, and additionally performed with
      simulation on GOLD softwear. Structure activity relationship studies of the
      candidate compounds were given reasonable inhibitors ent-3 and ent-7k against
      SARS 3CL R188I mutant protease. These inhibitors showed protease selectivity and
      no cytotoxicity. 

PMID- 26879855
TI  - Functionalized imidazolium and benzimidazolium salts as paraoxonase 1 inhibitors:
      Synthesis, characterization and molecular docking studies.
AB  - Paraoxonase (PON) is a key enzyme in metabolism of living organisms and decreased
      activity of PON1 was acknowledged as a risk for atherosclerosis and
      organophosphate toxicity. The present study describes the synthesis,
      characterization, PON1 inhibitory properties and molecular docking studies of
      functionalized imidazolium and benzimidazolium salts (1a-5g). The structures of
      all compounds were elucidated by IR, NMR, elemental analysis and structures of
      compounds 2b and 2c were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
      Compound 1c, a coumarin substituted imidazolium salt showed the best inhibitory
      effect on the activity of PON1 with good IC50 value (6.37 MUM). Kinetic
      investigation was evaluated for this compound and results showed that this
      compound is competitive inhibitor of PON1 with Ki value of 2.39 MUM. Molecular
      docking studies were also performed for most active compound 1c and one of least
      active compound 2c in order to determine the probable binding model into active
      site of PON1 and validation of the experimental results.

PMID- 26879856
TI  - Salicylanilide N-monosubstituted carbamates: Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial
      activity.
AB  - The research of innovative antimicrobial agents represents a cutting edge topic.
      Hence, we synthesized and characterised novel salicylanilide N-monosubstituted
      carbamates. Twenty compounds were evaluated in vitro against eight bacterial
      strains and eight fungal species. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations
      (MICs) were found to be ?0.49 MUM. Genus Staphylococcus, including methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes showed
      uniformly the highest rate of susceptibility, whilst Gram-negative bacteria and
      most of the fungi were less susceptible. A wide range of carbamates provided
      comparable or superior in vitro antimicrobial activity in comparison to
      established drugs. Interestingly, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing
      strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was inhibited with MICs starting from 31.25 MUM.
      With respect to Staphylococci, 2-[(4-bromophenyl)carbamoyl]-4-chlorophenyl
      phenylcarbamate exhibited the lowest MIC values (?0.98 MUM). 2-[(4
      Bromophenyl)carbamoyl]-4-chlorophenyl benzylcarbamate showed the widest spectrum
      of antifungal action. The results indicate that some salicylanilide carbamates
      can be considered to be promising candidates for future investigation.

PMID- 26879857
TI  - Application of PEG-400 as a green biodegradable polymeric medium for the catalyst
      free synthesis of spiro-dihydropyridines and their use as acetyl and
      butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.
AB  - A simple, efficient and green approach for the synthesis of spiro
      dihydropyridines derivatives by one-pot multi-component reaction of isatin or
      acenaphthoquinone derivatives (1 equiv) with malononitrile (1 equiv) and N,N'
      substituted-2-nitroethene-1,1-diamines (1 equiv) in PEG-400 under catalyst-free
      conditions is described. This method provides several advantages such as
      environmental friendliness, short reaction time, and simple workup procedure for
      the synthesis of biologically important compounds. The ability of synthesized
      compounds in inhibition of acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase were investigated
      both in vitro and in silico. All compounds showed moderate to high level activity
      against both acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase. There was a good correlation
      between in vitro and in silico studies.

PMID- 26879858
TI  - Intramolecular Cyclopropanation of 1,4-Dienes through Hydroboration-Homologation:
      Easy Access to Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes.
AB  - An intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction involving B-(1
      chloroalkyl)catecholborane intermediates generated from 1,4-dienes through
      hydroboration with catecholborane and Matteson homologation was developed. This
      sequential procedure leading to bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes involves the formation of
      three new sigma C-C bonds at the same carbon atom. A mechanistic study supports
      the involvement of carbocationic intermediates. 

PMID- 26879859
TI  - An Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Brief Self-Report Scale to Detect
      Neurocognitive Impairment Among Participants Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance
      Therapy.
AB  - The present study examines the factor structure of the existing
      Neuropsychological Impairment Scale (NIS) through the use of exploratory factor
      analysis (EFA). The NIS is a brief, self-report measure originally designed to
      assess neurocognitive impairment (NCI) by having patients rate a range of items
      that may influence cognitive functioning. Stabilized patients on methadone
      maintenance therapy (MMT; N=339) in New Haven, CT who reported drug- or sex
      related HIV risk behaviors in the past 6 months were administered the full 95
      item NIS. An EFA was then conducted using principal axis factoring and orthogonal
      varimax rotation. The EFA resulted in retaining 57 items, with a 9-factor
      solution that explained 54.8% of the overall variance. The revised 9-factor
      measure--now referred to as the Brief Inventory of Neuro-cognitive Impairment
      (BINI)--showed a diverse set of factors with excellent to good reliability (i.e.,
      F1 alpha=0.97 to F9 alpha=0.73). This EFA suggests the potential utility of using
      the BINI in the context of addiction treatment. Further research should examine
      the utility of this tool within other clinical care settings.

PMID- 26879860
TI  - Epidermal thymic stromal lymphopoietin predicts the development of atopic
      dermatitis during infancy.

PMID- 26879861
TI  - PKD signaling and pancreatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is a serious medical disorder with no current
      therapies directed to the molecular pathogenesis of the disorder. Inflammation,
      inappropriate intracellular activation of digestive enzymes, and parenchymal
      acinar cell death by necrosis are the critical pathophysiologic processes of
      acute pancreatitis. Thus, it is necessary to elucidate the key molecular signals
      that mediate these pathobiologic processes and develop new therapeutic strategies
      to attenuate the appropriate signaling pathways in order to improve outcomes for
      this disease. A novel serine/threonine protein kinase D (PKD) family has emerged
      as key participants in signal transduction, and this family is increasingly being
      implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular functions and diseases.
      METHODS: This review summarizes recent findings of our group and others regarding
      the signaling pathway and the biological roles of the PKD family in pancreatic
      acinar cells. In particular, we highlight our studies of the functions of PKD in
      several key pathobiologic processes associated with acute pancreatitis in
      experimental models. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that PKD signaling is required
      for NF-kappaB activation/inflammation, intracellular zymogen activation, and
      acinar cell necrosis in rodent experimental pancreatitis. Novel small-molecule
      PKD inhibitors attenuate the severity of pancreatitis in both in vitro and in
      vivo experimental models. Further, this review emphasizes our latest advances in
      the therapeutic application of PKD inhibitors to experimental pancreatitis after
      the initiation of pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings suggest that
      PKD signaling is a necessary modulator in key initiating pathobiologic processes
      of pancreatitis, and that it constitutes a novel therapeutic target for
      treatments of this disorder.

PMID- 26879863
TI  - Recent developments in time-of-flight PET.
AB  - While the first time-of-flight (TOF)-positron emission tomography (PET) systems
      were already built in the early 1980s, limited clinical studies were acquired on
      these scanners. PET was still a research tool, and the available TOF-PET systems
      were experimental. Due to a combination of low stopping power and limited spatial
      resolution (caused by limited light output of the scintillators), these systems
      could not compete with bismuth germanate (BGO)-based PET scanners. Developments
      on TOF system were limited for about a decade but started again around 2000. The
      combination of fast photomultipliers, scintillators with high density, modern
      electronics, and faster computing power for image reconstruction have made it
      possible to introduce this principle in clinical TOF-PET systems. This paper
      reviews recent developments in system design, image reconstruction, corrections,
      and the potential in new applications for TOF-PET. After explaining the basic
      principles of time-of-flight, the difficulties in detector technology and
      electronics to obtain a good and stable timing resolution are shortly explained.
      The available clinical systems and prototypes under development are described in
      detail. The development of this type of PET scanner also requires modified image
      reconstruction with accurate modeling and correction methods. The additional
      dimension introduced by the time difference motivates a shift from sinogram- to
      listmode-based reconstruction. This reconstruction is however rather slow and
      therefore rebinning techniques specific for TOF data have been proposed. The main
      motivation for TOF-PET remains the large potential for image quality improvement
      and more accurate quantification for a given number of counts. The gain is
      related to the ratio of object size and spatial extent of the TOF kernel and is
      therefore particularly relevant for heavy patients, where image quality degrades
      significantly due to increased attenuation (low counts) and high scatter
      fractions. The original calculations for the gain were based on analytical
      methods. Recent publications for iterative reconstruction have shown that it is
      difficult to quantify TOF gain into one factor. The gain depends on the measured
      distribution, the location within the object, and the count rate. In a clinical
      situation, the gain can be used to either increase the standardized uptake value
      (SUV) or reduce the image acquisition time or administered dose. The localized
      nature of the TOF kernel makes it possible to utilize local tomography
      reconstruction or to separate emission from transmission data. The introduction
      of TOF also improves the joint estimation of transmission and emission images
      from emission data only. TOF is also interesting for new applications of PET-like
      isotopes with low branching ratio for positron fraction. The local nature also
      reduces the need for fine angular sampling, which makes TOF interesting for
      limited angle situations like breast PET and online dose imaging in proton or
      hadron therapy. The aim of this review is to introduce the reader in an
      educational way into the topic of TOF-PET and to give an overview of the benefits
      and new opportunities in using this additional information. 

PMID- 26879864
TI  - CADA-computer-aided DaTSCAN analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dopamine transporter (DaT) imaging (DaTSCAN) is useful for the
      differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. Visual evaluation of DaTSCAN
      images represents the generally accepted diagnostic method, but it is strongly
      dependent on the observer's experience and shows inter- and intra-observer
      variability. A reliable and automatic method for DaTSCAN evaluation can provide
      objective quantification; it is desirable for longitudinal studies, and it allows
      for a better follow-up control. Moreover, it is crucial for an automated method
      to produce coherent measures related to the severity of motor symptoms. METHODS:
      In this work, we propose a novel fully automated technique for DaTSCAN analysis
      that generates quantitative measures based on striatal intensity, shape, symmetry
      and extent. We tested these measures using a support vector machine (SVM)
      classifier. RESULTS: The proposed measures reached 100 % accuracy in
      distinguishing between patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and control
      subjects. We also demonstrate the existence of a linear relationship and an
      exponential trend between pooled structural and functional striatal
      characteristics and the Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor
      score. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel, highly reproducible, user-independent
      technique for DaTSCAN analysis producing quantitative measures directly connected
      to striatum uptake and shape. In our method, no a priori assumption is required
      on the spatial conformation and localization of striatum, and both uptake and
      symmetry contribute to the index quantification. These measures can reliably
      support a computer-assisted decision system.

PMID- 26879862
TI  - Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for peptic ulcer disease 2015.
AB  - The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE) revised the evidence-based
      clinical practice guidelines for peptic ulcer disease in 2014 and has created an
      English version. The revised guidelines consist of seven items: bleeding gastric
      and duodenal ulcers, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy, non
      eradication therapy, drug-induced ulcer, non-H. pylori, non-nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drug (NSAID) ulcer, surgical treatment, and conservative therapy for
      perforation and stenosis. Ninety clinical questions (CQs) were developed, and a
      literature search was performed for the CQs using the Medline, Cochrane, and
      Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases between 1983 and June 2012. The guideline was
      developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and
      Evaluation (GRADE) system. Therapy is initially provided for ulcer complications.
      Perforation or stenosis is treated with surgery or conservatively. Ulcer bleeding
      is first treated by endoscopic hemostasis. If it fails, surgery or interventional
      radiology is chosen. Second, medical therapy is provided. In cases of NSAID
      related ulcers, use of NSAIDs is stopped, and anti-ulcer therapy is provided. If
      NSAID use must continue, the ulcer is treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
      or prostaglandin analog. In cases with no NSAID use, H. pylori-positive patients
      receive eradication and anti-ulcer therapy. If first-line eradication therapy
      fails, second-line therapy is given. In cases of non-H. pylori, non-NSAID ulcers
      or H. pylori-positive patients with no indication for eradication therapy, non
      eradication therapy is provided. The first choice is PPI therapy, and the second
      choice is histamine 2-receptor antagonist therapy. After initial therapy,
      maintenance therapy is provided to prevent ulcer relapse. 

PMID- 26879865
TI  - Network stratification analysis for identifying function-specific network layers.
AB  - A major challenge of systems biology is to capture the rewiring of biological
      functions (e.g. signaling pathways) in a molecular network. To address this
      problem, we proposed a novel computational framework, namely network
      stratification analysis (NetSA), to stratify the whole biological network into
      various function-specific network layers corresponding to particular functions
      (e.g. KEGG pathways), which transform the network analysis from the gene level to
      the functional level by integrating expression data, the gene/protein network and
      gene ontology information altogether. The application of NetSA in yeast and its
      comparison with a traditional network-partition both suggest that NetSA can more
      effectively reveal functional implications of network rewiring and extract
      significant phenotype-related biological processes. Furthermore, for time-series
      or stage-wise data, the function-specific network layer obtained by NetSA is also
      shown to be able to characterize the disease progression in a dynamic manner. In
      particular, when applying NetSA to hepatocellular carcinoma and type 1 diabetes,
      we can derive functional spectra regarding the progression of the disease, and
      capture active biological functions (i.e. active pathways) in different disease
      stages. The additional comparison between NetSA and SPIA illustrates again that
      NetSA could discover more complete biological functions during disease
      progression. Overall, NetSA provides a general framework to stratify a network
      into various layers of function-specific sub-networks, which can not only analyze
      a biological network on the functional level but also investigate gene rewiring
      patterns in biological processes. 

PMID- 26879866
TI  - Cholinergic activation of neurons in the medulla oblongata changes urinary
      bladder activity by plasma vasopressin release in female rats.
AB  - The central control of the micturition is dependent on cortical areas and other
      ascending and descending pathways in the brain stem. The descendent pathways from
      the pons to the urinary bladder (UB) can be direct or indirect through medullary
      neurons (MN). Chemical stimulation with l-glutamate of MN known for their
      involvement in cardiovascular regulation evokes changes in pelvic nerves
      activities, which innervate the urinary bladder. Different neurotransmitters have
      been found in medullary areas; nevertheless, their involvement in UB control is
      few understood. We focused to investigate if cholinergic activation of neurons in
      the medulla oblongata changes the urinary bladder activity. Carbachol
      (cholinergic agonist) or atropine (cholinergic antagonist) was injected into the
      4thV in anesthetized female Wistar rats and the intravesical pressure (IP), mean
      arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal conductance (RC) were recorded
      for 30 min. Carbachol injection into the 4thV increased IP with peak response at
      30 min after carbachol and yielded no changes in MAP, HR and RC. Atropine
      injection into the 4thV decreased IP and elicited no changes in MAP, HR and RC.
      Plasma vasopressin levels evaluated by ELISA kit assay increased after carbachol
      into the 4th V. Intravenous blockade of V1 receptors prior to carbachol into the
      4thV abolished the increase in IP evoked by carbachol. Therefore, our findings
      suggest that cholinergic activation of neurons in the medulla oblongata by
      carbachol injections into the 4thV increases IP due to plasma vasopressin
      release, which acts in V1 receptors in the UB.

PMID- 26879867
TI  - Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress-activated IRE1alpha-TRAF2-caspase-12
      apoptotic pathway is involved in the neuroprotective effects of telmisartan in
      the rotenone rat model of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Telmisartan, one unique angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, has been
      attracting attention due to its putative peroxisome proliferator-activated
      receptor (PPAR)-gamma or beta/delta actions. Recently, telmisartan has been
      reported to exert neuroprotective effects in animal models of Parkinson's disease
      (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully clarified. Recently,
      accumulating evidence has shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a
      crucial role in rotenone-induced neuronal apoptosis. Additionally, studies have
      revealed that inositol-requiring enzyme/endonuclease 1alpha (IRE1alpha) is
      necessary and sufficient to trigger ER stress. In the present study, we aimed to
      determine whether ER stress-activated IRE1alpha-mediated apoptotic pathway is
      involved in the neuroprotection of telmisartan in the rotenone rats of PD and
      explore the possible involvement of PPAR-beta/delta activation. The catalepsy
      tests were performed to test the catalepsy symptom. The dopamine content and
      alpha-synuclein expression were ascertained through high-performance liquid
      chromatography and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The expression of
      IRE1alpha, TNF receptor associated factor 2 (TRAF2), caspase-12 and PPAR
      beta/delta was detected by western blot. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL
      and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that telmisartan ameliorated the
      catalepsy symptom and attenuated dopamine depletion as well as alpha-synuclein
      accumulation. Moreover, telmisartan decreased ER stress-mediated neuronal
      apoptosis. Furthermore, telmisartan inhibited IRE1alpha-TRAF2-caspase-12
      apoptotic signaling pathway. Additionally, telmisartan activated PPAR beta/delta,
      implying that PPAR-beta/delta activation properties of telmisartan are possibly
      or partially involved in the neuroprotective effects. In conclusion, our findings
      suggest that suppressing ER stress-activated IRE1alpha-TRAF2-caspase-12 apoptotic
      pathway is involved in the neuroprotective effects of telmisartan in the rotenone
      rats of PD. 

PMID- 26879868
TI  - Ghrelin induces colon cancer cell proliferation through the GHS-R, Ras, PI3K,
      Akt, and mTOR signaling pathways.
AB  - Colon cancer is the third most common malignancy worldwide. Recently, some
      interesting associations between ghrelin and cancer were reported, and it may
      participate in colon cancer development. In the present report, we explored the
      role of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), Ras,
      phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin
      (mTOR) pathways in the ghrelin-induced proliferation of human colon cancer cells.
      Ghrelin-caused HT-29 proliferation was reduced by [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (a GHS-R
      inhibitor). We also found that a dominant negative mutant of Ras (Ras DN), a PI3K
      inhibitor (LY 294002), an Akt DN, and an mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) attenuated
      ghrelin-caused colon cancer cell proliferation. We found that ghrelin induced
      time-dependent increases in Ras activity. Moreover, ghrelin-mediated Akt Ser473
      phosphorylation was attenuated by a Ras DN and LY 294002. Furthermore, a Ras DN,
      LY 294002, and an Akt DN all inhibited ghrelin-caused mTOR Ser2448
      phosphorylation. These results indicate that the Ras/PI3K/Akt/mTOR cascade plays
      a critical role in ghrelin-induced colon cancer cell proliferation. 

PMID- 26879869
TI  - Celecoxib enhanced the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in chemo-resistant gastric
      cancer xenograft mouse models through a cyclooxygenase-2-dependent manner.
AB  - Our previous study suggested that co-administration of celecoxib increased chemo
      sensitivity of multidrug-resistant human gastric cancer SGC-7901/DDP cells to
      cisplatin (DDP) in vitro. The present study was designed to investigate whether
      celecoxib had the similar activities in vivo. SGC-7901/DDP and SGC-7901 xenograft
      mouse models were established. At the end of the experiment, cisplatin treatment
      alone significantly inhibited tumor growth in SGC-7901 xenograft, as compared
      with that in SGC-7901/DDP xenograft, suggesting that it maintained cisplatin
      sensitivity. When cisplatin and celecoxib were co-administrated, their antitumor
      activities were augmented in SGC-7901/DDP xenograft. The levels of Ki67 and PCNA
      after combination therapy were significantly decreased in SGC-7901/DDP xenograft,
      as compared with those of cisplatin treatment alone. Moreover, examining the
      apoptotic index by TUNEL assay showed similar results. Further studies
      demonstrated the inhibitory effect of celecoxib on cyclooxygenase-2 and P
      glycoprotein expression was the possible reason to increase sensitivity of SGC
      7901/DDP cells to cisplatin in vivo. However, the ratio of thromboxane B2 and
      prostaglandin F1alpha was elevated after celecoxib treatment in mice. This has
      been proposed to increase the risk of thrombogenesis. Further studies are
      required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of celecoxib for reducing chemo
      resistance in gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26879870
TI  - Cis-vaccenic acid induces differentiation and up-regulates gamma globin synthesis
      in K562, JK1 and transgenic mice erythroid progenitor stem cells.
AB  - Gamma globin induction remains a promising pharmacological therapeutic treatment
      mode for sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia, however Hydroxyurea remains the
      only FDA approved drug which works via this mechanism. In this regard, we assayed
      the gamma-globin inducing capacity of Cis-vaccenic acid (CVA). CVA induced
      differentiation of K562, JK1 and transgenic mice primary bone marrow
      hematopoietic progenitor stem cells. CVA also significantly up-regulated gamma
      globin gene expression in JK-1 and transgenic mice bone marrow erythroid
      progenitor stem cells (TMbmEPSCs) but not K562 cells without altering cell
      viability. Increased gamma-globin expression was accompanied by KLF1 suppression
      in CVA induced JK-1 cells. Erythropoietin induced differentiation of JK-1 cells
      24h before CVA induction did not significantly alter CVA induced differentiation
      and gamma-globin expression in JK-1 cells. Inhibition of JK-1 and Transgenic mice
      bone marrow erythroid progenitor stem cells Fatty acid elongase 5 (Elovl5) and
      Delta(9) desaturase suppressed the gamma-globin inductive effects of CVA. CVA
      treatment failed to rescue gamma-globin expression in Elovl5 and Delta(9)
      desaturase inhibited cells 48 h post inhibition in JK-1 cells. The data suggests
      that CVA directly modulates differentiation of JK-1 and TMbmEPSCs, and indirectly
      modulates gamma-globin gene expression in these cells. Our findings provide
      important clues for further evaluations of CVA as a potential fetal hemoglobin
      therapeutic inducer.

PMID- 26879871
TI  - Does depression diagnosis and antidepressant prescribing vary by location?
      Analysis of ethnic density associations using a large primary-care dataset.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies have linked ethnic differences in depression rates with
      neighbourhood ethnic density although results have not been conclusive. We looked
      at this using a novel approach analysing whole population data covering just over
      one million GP patients in four London boroughs. METHOD: Using a dataset of GP
      records for all patients registered in Lambeth, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham
      in 2013 we investigated new diagnoses of depression and antidepressant use for:
      Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, black Caribbean and black African patients.
      Neighbourhood effects were assessed independently of GP practice using a cross
      classified multilevel model. RESULTS: Black and minority ethnic groups are up to
      four times less likely to be newly diagnosed with depression or prescribed
      antidepressants compared to white British patients. We found an inverse
      relationship between neighbourhood ethnic density and new depression diagnosis
      for some groups, where an increase of 10% own-ethnic density was associated with
      a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduced odds of depression for Pakistani
      [odds ratio (OR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-0.93], Indian (OR 0.88,
      CI 0.81-0.95), African (OR 0.88, CI 0.78-0.99) and Bangladeshi (OR 0.94, CI 0.90
      0.99) patients. Black Caribbean patients, however, showed the opposite effect (OR
      1.26, CI 1.09-1.46). The results for antidepressant use were very similar
      although the corresponding effect for black Caribbeans was no longer
      statistically significant (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: New depression diagnosis and
      antidepressant use was shown to be less likely in areas of higher own-ethnic
      density for some, but not all, ethnic groups.

PMID- 26879872
TI  - CCR9 in cancer: oncogenic role and therapeutic targeting.
AB  - Cancer is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is one of
      the most challenging major public health problems. The main challenges faced by
      clinicians in the management and treatment of cancer mainly arise from
      difficulties in early diagnosis and the emergence of tumor chemoresistance and
      metastasis. The structures of chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) and its specific ligand
      chemokine ligand 25 (CCL25) have been elucidated, and, interestingly, a number of
      studies have demonstrated that CCR9 is a potential tumor biomarker in diagnosis
      and therapy, as it has been found to be highly expressed in a wide range of
      cancers. This expression pattern suggests that CCR9 may participate in many
      important biological activities involved in cancer progression. Researchers have
      shown that CCR9 that has been activated by its specific ligand CCL25 can interact
      with many signaling pathways, especially those involved in tumor chemoresistance
      and metastasis. This review, therefore, focuses on CCR9 induction activity and
      summarizes what is currently known regarding its role in cancers and its
      potential application in tumor-targeted therapy. 

PMID- 26879873
TI  - Botulinum Toxin: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Roles in Pain States.
AB  - Botulinum toxin, also known as Botox, is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a
      gram-positive anaerobic bacterium, and botulinum toxin injections are among the
      most commonly practiced cosmetic procedures in the USA. Although botulinum toxin
      is typically associated with cosmetic procedures, it can be used to treat a
      variety of other conditions, including pain. Botulinum toxin blocks the release
      of acetylcholine from nerve endings to paralyze muscles and to decrease the pain
      response. Botulinum toxin has a long duration of action, lasting up to 5 months
      after initial treatment which makes it an excellent treatment for chronic pain
      patients. This manuscript will outline in detail why botulinum toxin is used as a
      successful treatment for pain in multiple conditions as well as outline the risks
      associated with using botulinum toxin in certain individuals. As of today, the
      only FDA-approved chronic condition that botulinum toxin can be used to treat is
      migraines and this is related to its ability to decrease muscle tension and
      increase muscle relaxation. Contraindications to botulinum toxin treatments are
      limited to a hypersensitivity to the toxin or an infection at the site of
      injection, and there are no known drug interactions with botulinum toxin.
      Botulinum toxin is an advantageous and effective alternative pain treatment and a
      therapy to consider for those that do not respond to opioid treatment. In
      summary, botulinum toxin is a relatively safe and effective treatment for
      individuals with certain pain conditions, including migraines. More research is
      warranted to elucidate chronic and long-term implications of botulinum toxin
      treatment as well as effects in pregnant, elderly, and adolescent patients.

PMID- 26879874
TI  - New Pain Management Options for the Surgical Patient on Methadone and
      Buprenorphine.
AB  - Perioperative management of patients receiving opioid addiction therapy presents
      a unique challenge for the anesthesiologist. The goal of pain management in this
      patient population is to effectively manage postoperative pain, to improve
      patient satisfaction and outcomes, and to reduce the cost of health care.
      Multimodal analgesics, including nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous
      acetaminophen, gabapentanoid agents, and low-dose ketamine infusions, have been
      used to improve postoperative pain and to reduce postoperative opioid use.
      Patients on long-term opioid management therapy with methadone and buprenorphine
      require special considerations. Recommendations and options for treating
      postoperative pain in patients on methadone and buprenorphine are outlined below.
      Other postoperative pain management options include patient-controlled analgesia,
      intravenous, and transdermal, in addition to neuraxial and regional anesthesia
      techniques. Special patient populations include the parturient on long-term
      opioid therapy. Recommendations for use of opioids in these patients during labor
      and delivery and in the postpartum period are discussed. 

PMID- 26879875
TI  - Post-herpetic Neuralgia: a Review.
AB  - Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic neuropathic pain condition that
      persists 3 months or more following an outbreak of shingles. Shingles, also known
      as acute herpes zoster, is associated with the reactivation of the dormant
      varicella zoster virus in an individual who has experienced chicken pox. PHN is
      associated with persistent and often refractory neuropathic pain. Patients may
      experience multiple types of pain including a constant deep, aching, or burning
      pain; a paroxysmal, lancinating pain; hyperalgesia (painful stimuli are more
      painful than expected); and allodynia (pain associated with typically non-painful
      stimuli). The pharmacological treatment of PHN may include a variety of
      medications including alpha-2 delta ligands (gabapentin and pregabalin), other
      anticonvulsants (carbamazepine), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline,
      nortriptyline, doxepin), topical analgesics (5 % lidocaine patch, capsaicin)
      tramadol, or other opioids. The considerable side effect profiles of the commonly
      used oral medications often limit their practical use, and a combination of both
      topical and systemic agents may be required for optimal outcomes. Physicians and
      other treatment providers must tailor treatment based on the response of
      individual patients. 

PMID- 26879876
TI  - Perioperative Pain Control in the Ambulatory Setting.
AB  - Across the USA and various parts of the world, ambulatory surgery centers have
      transitioned to accepting patients with advanced ASA statuses, leading to a
      larger volume and higher complexity of surgeries performed, while still urging
      for same-day patient discharges. Inadequate postoperative pain management and
      opioid analgesia side effects, such as sedation, respiratory depression, and
      postoperative nausea and vomiting, are the most common complications and most
      common reasons for readmission after ambulatory surgery. The trend to limiting
      these complications and achieve a more rapid patient discharge currently
      emphasizes a multifactorial, balanced analgesia strategy. This article reviews
      the multimodal approach by detailing the important aspects of specific regional
      nerve blocks, nerve blockade with catheter techniques, acetaminophen, non
      selective NSAIDs, Cox-2 inhibitors, membrane stabilizers, and corticosteroids.
      Pain management in the ambulatory surgery patient will thus be optimized with a
      thorough preoperative evaluation, recognizing intraoperative events, and
      implementing multiple analgesic modalities. 

PMID- 26879877
TI  - Red Ear Syndrome.
AB  - The Red Ear syndrome (RES) is an intriguing syndrome originally described for the
      first time nearly 20 years ago. RES is characterized by unilateral/bilateral
      episodes of pain and burning sensation of the ear, associated with ipsilateral
      erythema. RES episodes are indeed isolated in some patients, but they can occur
      in association with primary headaches, including in particular migraine in the
      developmental age. Although the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are
      still uncertain, in the recent years the described comorbidities have aroused
      increasing interest because of possible clinical implications. Moreover, RES
      seems to be more often associated with clinical features of migraine partially
      provoked by the involvement of the parasympathetic system. This clinical
      association has shed new light on the pathophysiology of RES, supporting the
      hypothesis of a shared pathophysiological background, for example, through the
      activation of the trigeminal autonomic reflex. Current therapies of RES will be
      also discussed. Finally, we will resume the more controversial aspects of this
      relatively new and probably underestimated neurological syndrome.

PMID- 26879878
TI  - Headache and Facial Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - Children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a high prevalence of
      recurrent headaches (24.0-43.9 %). Acute presentation with headache can be
      diagnostically challenging, as the clinician must consider evaluation of several
      potentially devastating conditions including vascular diseases (stroke,
      hemorrhage, venous sinus thrombosis, moyamoya, posterior reversible
      encephalopathy syndrome), facial and orbital bone infarcts, dental pain, and
      osteomyelitis. Patients with SCD and primary headache disorders may benefit from
      comprehensive headache treatment plans that include abortive therapy,
      prophylactic therapy, and non-pharmacological modalities. Although there is
      limited data in adults, those with SCD are at risk for medication overuse
      headache secondary to frequent opioid use. Addressing headache in patients with
      SCD may help to reduce their use of opioids and disability and improve pain and
      quality of life. 

PMID- 26879879
TI  - [Prevalence and complications of MRI scans of cochlear implant patients: German
      version].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cochlear implants (CI) are the preferred method of treatment for
      patients with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and
      unilateral deafness. For many years, because of the magnetic field during
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, MRI examinations were
      contraindicated for CI patients or feasible only under specific circumstances.
      MRI examinations of CI recipients entail complications and therefore preventive
      measures have to be considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      incidence of MRI scans in CI recipients and the occurrence of complications, and
      furthermore to investigate the preventive measures taken in radiological daily
      routine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to 482
      patients that received CIs from 1999-2013. Details of the MRI examination and
      subjective and objective incidents during and after the MRI scan were evaluated.
      RESULTS: A total of 204 CI recipients answered the retrospective questionnaire
      (42.3%). Twenty patients (9.8%) with 23 implants underwent a total of 33 MRI
      scans with their cochlear implant in place. In 16 cases the scanned region was
      the head (49%). Preventive measures in the form of head bandages were taken in 20
      cases (61%). The most common complication was pain in 23 cases (70%) and the most
      serious complication was the dislocation of the internal magnet in 3 cases (9%).
      CONCLUSIONS: The number of CI recipients undergoing MRI scans is quite high.
      Possible complications and preventive measures attract too little attention in
      radiological daily routine.

PMID- 26879880
TI  - [Specific anosmia as a principle of olfactory perception].
AB  - Specific anosmia, the inability to perceive a specific odor, while olfactory
      perception is otherwise intact, is known as a rather seldom phenomenon. By
      testing the prevalence of specific anosmia to 20 different odors in a sample of
      1600 people, we were able to estimate the general prevalence of anosmia. This
      revealed that specific anosmia is not rare at all. In contrast, the general
      likelihood for specific anosmia approaches 1. In addition, specific anosmia can
      be very well reversed by "smell training" during the course of 3 months. To
      summarize, specific anosmia seems to be a rule, not an exception, of olfactory
      sensation. The lack of perception of certain odors may constitute a flexible
      peripheral filter mechanism, which can be adapted by exposure to odors. 

PMID- 26879881
TI  - Successful infection control for a vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus
      outbreak in an advanced emergency medical service centre.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) (vancomycin
      minimum inhibitory concentration: 4mg/L) outbreak occurred in an advanced
      emergency medical service centre [hereafter referred to as the intensive care
      unit (ICU)] between 2013 and 2014. AIM: Our objective was to evaluate the
      infection control measures that were successful. METHODS: Seventeen VISA strains
      were isolated from the sputum of 15 inpatients and the skin of two inpatients.
      Fourteen VISA strains were recognized as colonization. However, three VISA
      strains were isolated from the sputum of three inpatients with pneumonia.
      Environmental cultures were performed and VISA strains were detected in five of
      65 sites. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing
      (MLST) was performed on 21 VISA strains. FINDINGS: Molecular typing including
      PFGE and MLST showed that the patterns of 19 VISA strains were identical and
      those of the other two VISA strains were possibly related. This meant that a
      horizontal transmission of VISA strains had occurred in the ICU. In August 2013,
      the infection control team began interventions. However, new inpatients with VISA
      strains continued to appear. Therefore, in October 2013, the ICU was partially
      closed in order to try to prevent further horizontal transmission, and existing
      inpatients with the VISA strain were isolated. Although new cases quickly
      dissipated after the partial closure, it took approximately five months to
      eradicate the VISA outbreak. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that despite the
      employment of various other infection control measures, partial closure of the
      ICU was essential in terminating this VISA outbreak.

PMID- 26879882
TI  - Length time bias in surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma and how to avoid
      it.
AB  - AIM: Length time bias is a selection bias which can lead to an overestimation of
      survival of screening-detected cases caused by the relative excess of slower
      growing tumors detected with respect to symptomatic cases. This leads to the
      incorrect perception that screening improves outcomes when it only selects tumors
      with a favorable biology. Data regarding this bias in surveillance for
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have never been provided. METHODS: A semi-Markov
      model was developed to investigate this issue. An exponential tumor growth was
      applied. During its growth, tumor diagnosis "at surveillance appointments" was
      made when tumor attained a size equal to or above the size of tumors diagnosed in
      surveilled patients obtained from pertinent published reports, or "in-between
      appointments" (due to the development of symptoms) if tumor size attained the
      size of symptomatic diagnosis, derived from published reports; otherwise the
      tumor continued to grow until the time horizon had been reached. Tumor doubling
      time (DT) values were recorded according to the method of diagnosis. RESULTS: In
      a theoretical cohort of 1000 patients submitted to semiannual surveillance, 72.5%
      will be diagnosed at a surveillance appointment and 18% because of symptom
      development, although under surveillance. Patients diagnosed with HCC at a
      surveillance appointment had a median tumor DT of 100 days (interquartile range,
      68-143 days), whereas those diagnosed because of symptoms had a median DT of 42
      days (interquartile range, 29-58 days) although under surveillance. CONCLUSION:
      The surveillance propensity to detect slower-growth tumors is relevant, and
      practical suggestions to minimize this bias in longitudinal studies are provided.

PMID- 26879883
TI  - A little trick to make inside out vein graft technique easier in experimental
      animal models.

PMID- 26879884
TI  - Selectivity Effects in Bimetallic Catalysis.
AB  - An emerging area of homogeneous catalysis is the use of catalysts featuring two
      closely associated metal sites. This approach complements the traditional focus
      on single-site catalysts and makes available new parameters with which to
      optimize catalytic behavior. Single-site catalysts are optimized through changing
      1) the identity of the metal, and 2) the steric and electronic properties of the
      ligands. Bimetallic catalysts introduce new optimization parameters such as 3)
      catalyst nuclearity (mononuclear vs. binuclear), and 4) bimetallic pairing
      (relative compatibility of two metal sites). In order to harness these new
      optimization parameters in developing systems, it is necessary to first
      understand the origin of bimetallic selectivity effects that already have been
      documented. This Concept article highlights bimetallic effects on the chemo-,
      regio-, and stereoselectivity of catalytic transformations, using selected case
      studies from the recent literature as illustrative examples.

PMID- 26879885
TI  - Difficulties in using interpreters in clinical encounters as experienced by
      immigrants living in Sweden.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study a group of immigrants' experiences regarding
      interactions with primary health care through an interpreter. BACKGROUND:
      Approximately, 230 million people are resettled outside of their own home
      country. Thus, more than 3% of the world's population are migrants. It is a major
      challenge for health care providers to satisfy immigrants' needs for
      individualised health care services. DESIGN: Qualitative study. METHODS: Focus
      group interviews were conducted with four groups of immigrants (n = 24) from
      Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Somalia. The group interviews were
      audio recorded, transcribed and analysed, and the text was categorised using the
      content analysis method. RESULTS: Participants' expectations of the interpreter
      mediated consultations were high, but not always fulfilled. Interpreters being
      late, lacking professionalism or lacking knowledge in medical terminology and the
      use of health care professionals or relatives as interpreters were some of the
      problems raised. CONCLUSION: A well-organised, disciplined interpreter service
      with professional and competent interpreters is needed to overcome problems
      regarding clinical consultations involving interpreters. A satisfactory language
      bridge has a significant impact on the quality of communications. CLINICAL
      IMPLICATION: Interpreter services should be well organised, and interpreters
      should be linguistically, culturally and socially competent, as these factors may
      have a significant impact on consultation outcomes. Using relatives or staff as
      interpreters can sometimes be a solution but often results in an unsatisfactory
      clinical consultation.

PMID- 26879886
TI  - A common variant association study reveals novel susceptibility loci for low HDL
      cholesterol levels in ethnic Arabs.
AB  - The genetic susceptibility to acquiring low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol
      (LHDLC) levels is not completely elucidated yet. In this study, we performed a
      common variant association study for harboring this trait in ethnic Arabs. We
      employed the Affymetrix high-density Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array (Asian
      population) providing a coverage of 598,000 single nucleotide variations (SNPs)
      to genotype 5495 individuals in a two-phase study involving discovery and
      validation sets of experiments. The rs1800775 [1.31 (1.22-1.42); p = 3.41E-12] in
      the CETP gene and rs359027 [1.26 (1.16-1.36); p = 2.55E-08] in the LMCD1 gene
      were significantly associated with LHDLC levels. Furthermore, rs3104435 [1.26
      (1.15-1.38); p = 1.19E-06] at the MATN1 locus, rs9835344 [1.16 (1.08-1.26); p =
      8.75E-06] in the CNTN6 gene, rs1559997 [1.3 (1.14-1.47); p = 9.48E-06] in the SDS
      gene and rs1670273 [1.2 (1.1-1.31); p = 4.81E-06] in the DMN/SYNM gene exhibited
      suggestive association with the disorder. Seven other variants including
      rs1147169 in the PLCL1 gene, rs10248618 in the DNAH11, rs476155 in the GLIS3,
      rs7024300 in the ABCA1, intergenic rs10836699, rs11603691 in P2RX3 and rs750134
      in CORO1C gene exhibited borderline protective properties. Validation and joint
      meta-analysis resulted in rs1800775, rs3104435 and rs359027 retaining their
      predisposing properties, while rs10836699 and rs11603691 showed protective
      properties. Our data show several predisposing variants across the genome for
      LHDLC levels in ethnic Arabs.

PMID- 26879887
TI  - Niclosamide inhibits leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae in rice.
AB  - Rice leaf blight, which is caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae
      pv. oryzae (Xoo), results in huge losses in grain yield. Here, we show that Xoo
      induced rice leaf blight is effectively controlled by niclosamide, an oral
      antihelminthic drug and molluscicide, which also functions as an anti-tumor
      agent. Niclosamide directly inhibited the growth of the three Xoo strains PXO99,
      10208 and K3a. Niclosamide moved long distances from the site of local
      application to distant rice tissues. Niclosamide also increased the levels of
      salicylate and induced the expression of defense-related genes such as OsPR1 and
      OsWRKY45, which suppressed Xoo-induced leaf wilting. Niclosamide had no
      detrimental effects on vegetative/reproductive growth and yield. These combined
      results indicate that niclosamide can be used to block bacterial leaf blight in
      rice with no negative side effects. 

PMID- 26879888
TI  - Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Torque Capacity and Circulating Ceramides in Patients
      with Advanced Heart Failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF)-related exercise intolerance is thought to be
      perpetuated by peripheral skeletal muscle functional, structural, and metabolic
      abnormalities. We analyzed specific dynamics of muscle contraction in patients
      with HF compared with healthy, sedentary controls. METHODS: Isometric and
      isokinetic muscle parameters were measured in the dominant upper and lower limbs
      of 45 HF patients and 15 healthy age-matched controls. Measurements included peak
      torque normalized to body weight, work normalized to body weight, power, time to
      peak torque, and acceleration and deceleration to maximum strength times. Body
      morphometry (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan) and circulating fatty acids
      and ceramides (lipodomics) were analyzed in a subset of subjects (18 HF and 9
      controls). RESULTS: Extension and flexion time-to-peak torque was longer in the
      lower limbs of HF patients. Furthermore, acceleration and deceleration times in
      the lower limbs were also prolonged in HF subjects. HF subjects had increased
      adiposity and decreased lean muscle mass compared with controls. Decreased
      circulating unsaturated fatty acids and increased ceramides were found in
      subjects with HF. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed torque development suggests skeletal
      muscle impairments that may reflect abnormal neuromuscular functional coupling.
      These impairments may be further compounded by increased adiposity and
      inflammation associated with increased ceramides.

PMID- 26879889
TI  - Activated learning; providing structure in global health education at the David
      Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)- a
      pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Global health rotations are increasingly popular amongst medical
      students. The training abroad is highly variable and there is a recognized need
      for global health curriculum development. We sought to create and evaluate a
      curriculum, applicable to any global health rotation, that requires students to
      take an active role in their education and promotes engagement. METHODS:
      Prospective, observational, mixed method study of 4th year medical students
      enrolled in global health courses at UCLA in 2011-12. Course directors identified
      4 topics common to all rotations (traditional medicine, health systems, limited
      resources, pathology) and developed activities for students to complete abroad:
      observation, interview and reflection on resources, pathology, medical practices;
      and compare/contrast their experience with the US healthcare system. Students
      posted responses on a discussion board moderated by US faculty. After the
      rotation, students completed an anonymous internet-based evaluative survey.
      Responses were tabulated. Qualitative data from discussion board postings and
      free response survey items were analyzed using the framework method. RESULTS: 14
      (100 %) students completed the Activated Learning assignment. 12 submitted the
      post rotation survey (85.7 %). Activated Learning enhanced GH education for 67 %
      and facilitated engagement in the local medical culture for 67 %. Qualitative
      analysis of discussion board posting demonstrated multiple areas of knowledge
      gain and analysis of free response survey items revealed 5 major themes
      supporting Activated Learning: guided learning, stimulation of discussion, shared
      interactions, cultural understanding, and knowledge of global healthcare systems.
      Increased interactivity emerged as the major theme for future improvement.
      CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that an Activated Learning program
      may enhance education, standardize curricular objectives across multiple sites
      and promote engagement in local medical culture, pathology and delivery systems.
      Increased interaction between students and faculty may augment the impact of such
      a program.

PMID- 26879890
TI  - Curettage with cement augmentation of large bone defects in giant cell tumors
      with pathological fractures in lower-extremity long bones.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thorough curettage and cement augmentation is the procedure of choice
      for treating giant cell tumor lesions, particularly those associated with large
      defects. Its association with pathological fractures has not been studied to a
      great extent, although a pathological fracture following a giant cell tumor is
      not a contraindication to treatment by curettage and cementation. We present our
      experience of bone cementation following intralesional curettage for treatment of
      giant cell tumors of the long bones of lower limbs with associated pathological
      fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 patients who had undergone a
      procedure in the weight-bearing long bones of lower limbs were included in the
      study. The age of the patients ranged from 18-79 years with a mean age of 38.57
      years. The average follow-up was 102.42 months (8.5 years) ranging from 60-186
      months (5-15.5 years). Results were based on serial radiographs showing
      consolidation of the lesion along with a subjective clinical examination and
      Enneking functional evaluation noted in the patient's records. RESULTS:
      Approximately 76 % of the lesions occurred around the knee. The results were
      graded as excellent (72 %), good (12.82 %) fair (10.25 %) and poor (5.12 %). Four
      cases developed a recurrence. Apart from a few documented complications, the
      lesions showed good consolidation and healed well. CONCLUSION: Giant cell tumors
      of the long bones of lower limbs with an associated pathological fracture at
      diagnosis can be managed with thorough curettage and cement augmentation of the
      bone defect with a satisfactory outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID- 26879891
TI  - Alternaria keratitis after uneventful phacoemulsification in an otherwise healthy
      adult.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fungal infections of self-sealing corneal incisions in cataract
      surgery are scarce. We report a case of Alternaria keratitis, several weeks after
      uneventful clear-cornea phacoemulsification. FINDINGS: A 42-year-old woman, with
      a history of retinitis pigmentosa, complained of painful red right eye, 45 days
      after uneventful self-sealing clear-cornea phacoemulsification. Slit-lamp
      examination revealed multiple snow-like contiguous stromal infiltrates, with
      irregular margins, and no epithelial defect. These infiltrates were unresponsive
      to topical quinolones and topical corticosteroids as well as oral valaciclovir.
      Culture from corneal biopsy specimen grew Alternaria species. Management
      consisted of topical amphotericin-B, and then a combination of topical and oral
      voriconazole. The corneal infiltrates progressively healed. One year later, the
      best-corrected visual acuity was 20/400. CONCLUSIONS: Fungal infection,
      particularly Alternaria keratitis, should be considered in the differential
      diagnosis of delayed post-cataract surgery keratitis. Prompt diagnosis and
      management are mandatory to improve visual prognosis.

PMID- 26879892
TI  - Earth's oldest mantle fabrics indicate Eoarchaean subduction.
AB  - The extension of subduction processes into the Eoarchaean era (4.0-3.6 Ga) is
      controversial. The oldest reported terrestrial olivine, from two dunite lenses
      within the ~3,720 Ma Isua supracrustal belt in Greenland, record a shape
      preferred orientation of olivine crystals defining a weak foliation and a well
      defined lattice-preferred orientation (LPO). [001] parallel to the maximum finite
      elongation direction and (010) perpendicular to the foliation plane define a B
      type LPO. In the modern Earth such fabrics are associated with deformation of
      mantle rocks in the hanging wall of subduction systems; an interpretation
      supported by experiments. Here we show that the presence of B-type fabrics in the
      studied Isua dunites is consistent with a mantle origin and a supra-subduction
      mantle wedge setting, the latter supported by compositional data from nearby
      mafic rocks. Our results provide independent microstructural data consistent with
      the operation of Eoarchaean subduction and indicate that microstructural analyses
      of ancient ultramafic rocks provide a valuable record of Archaean geodynamics. 

PMID- 26879893
TI  - The effects of a pro-active integrated care intervention for frail community
      dwelling older people: a quasi-experimental study with the GP-practice as single
      entry point.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study explored the effectiveness of a pro-active, integrated
      care model for community-dwelling frail older people compared to care as usual by
      evaluating the effects on a comprehensive set of outcomes: health outcomes
      (experienced health, mental health and social functioning); functional abilities;
      and quality of life (general, health-related and well-being). METHODS: The design
      of this study was quasi-experimental. In this study, 184 frail older patients of
      three GP practices that implemented the Walcheren Integrated Care Model were
      compared with 193 frail older patients of five GP practices that provided care as
      usual. In the Walcheren Integrated Care Model, community-dwelling elderly were
      pro-actively screened for frailty from the GP practice using the Groningen
      Frailty Indicator, and care needs were assessed with the EASYcare instrument. The
      GP practice functioned as single entry point from which case management was
      provided, and the GP was the coordinator of care. The entire process was
      supported by multidisciplinary meetings, multidisciplinary protocols and web
      based patient files. The outcomes of this study were obtained at baseline, after
      3 months and after 12 months and analyzed with linear mixed models of repeated
      measures. RESULTS: The Walcheren Integrated Care Model had a positive effect on
      love and friendship and a moderately positive effect on general quality of life.
      The ability to receive love and friendship and general quality of life decreased
      in the control group but was preserved in the experimental group. No significant
      differences were found on health outcomes such as experienced health, mental
      health, social functioning and functional abilities. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      indicated that pro-active, integrated care can be beneficial for frail older
      people in terms of quality of life and love and friendship but not in terms of
      health outcomes and functional abilities. Recommendations for future research are
      to gain greater insight into what specific outcomes can be achieved with
      proactive and integrated care, considering the specific content of this care, and
      to allow for the heterogeneity of frail older people in evaluation research.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN05748494. Registration date:
      14/03/2013.

PMID- 26879894
TI  - Guest editorial: Efficacious and effective preventive interventions to tackle
      cyberbullying in the school environment.

PMID- 26879895
TI  - Effects of the cyberbullying prevention program media heroes (Medienhelden) on
      traditional bullying.
AB  - There is considerable debate over whether cyberbullying is just another form of
      bullying, or whether it is a problem distinct enough to require specific
      intervention. One way to explore this issue is to analyze whether programs
      designed to prevent traditional bullying help prevent cyberbullying, and whether
      programs designed to prevent cyberbullying prevent traditional bullying. The main
      goal of the current study was to analyze the spillover effects of the
      cyberbullying prevention program Media Heroes (Medienhelden) on traditional
      bullying. Media Heroes promotes empathy, knowledge of risks and consequences, and
      strategies that allow bystanders to defend victims from cyberbullying. Mixed
      ANOVAs were conducted comparing pretest and post-test (6 months after
      intervention) measures of 722 students (ages 11-17) assigned to a long (15
      sessions) intervention, a short (1 day) intervention, and a control group. In
      addition to confirming the previously reported effects on cyberbullying, Media
      Heroes was found to reduce traditional bullying. Effects were larger for the long
      version of the program than for the short 1-day version. No effects were found on
      victimization by either cyberbullying or traditional bullying. Strategies to
      complement traditional and cyberbullying prevention efforts are discussed. Aggr.
      Behav. 42:157-165, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26879896
TI  - Effectiveness and sustainability of the ViSC Social Competence Program to prevent
      cyberbullying and cyber-victimization: Class and individual level moderators.
AB  - We investigated whether the general anti-bullying program ViSC sustainably
      prevents cyberbullying and cyber-victimization. A longitudinal randomized control
      group design was used to examine (i) program effectiveness immediately after a 1
      year implementation phase and (ii) sustainable program effects 6 months later
      taking several moderators on the class level (class climate and ethnic diversity)
      and on the individual level (gender, age, internet usage, traditional
      bullying/victimization) into account. Effectiveness (e.g., the change between
      waves 2 and 1) was examined in 2,042 students (47.6% girls), aged 11.7 years (SD
      = 0.88) enrolled in 18 schools and 103 classes. Sustainability (e.g., the change
      between waves 3 and 2) was examined in a sub-sample of 6 schools and 35 classes
      comprising 659 students. The self-assessment multiple-item scales showed
      longitudinal and multiple group invariance. Factor scores were extracted to
      compute difference scores for effectiveness (Posttest minus Pretest) and
      sustainability (Follow-up test minus Posttest) for cyberbullying and cyber
      victimization. Multilevel Modeling was applied to examine (i) the effectiveness
      and (ii) the sustainability of the ViSC intervention controlling for several
      individual and class level variables. Controlling for covariates, it was
      demonstrated that the ViSC program is effective in preventing cyberbullying and
      cyber-victimization and that the effects are sustainable after 6 months. The
      consequences for cyberbullying prevention are discussed.

PMID- 26879897
TI  - Evidence-based intervention against bullying and cyberbullying: Evaluation of the
      NoTrap! program in two independent trials.
AB  - The NoTrap! (Noncadiamointrappola!) program is a school-based intervention, which
      utilizes a peer-led approach to prevent and combat both traditional bullying and
      cyberbullying. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the
      third Edition of the program in accordance with the recent criteria for evidence
      based interventions. Towards this aim, two quasi-experimental trials involving
      adolescents (age M = 14.91, SD = .98) attending their first year at different
      high schools were conducted. In Trial 1 (control group, n = 171; experimental
      group, n = 451), latent growth curve models for data from pre-, middle- and post
      tests showed that intervention significantly predicted change over time in all
      the target variables (victimization, bullying, cybervictimization, and
      cyberbullying). Specifically, target variables were stable for the control group
      but decreased significantly over time for the experimental group. Long-term
      effects at the follow up 6 months later were also found. In Trial 2 (control
      group, n = 227; experimental group, n = 234), the moderating effect of gender was
      examined and there was a reported decrease in bullying and cyberbullying over
      time (pre- and post-test) in the experimental group but not the control group,
      and this decrease was similar for boys and girls.

PMID- 26879898
TI  - How accessible are coral reefs to people? A global assessment based on travel
      time.
AB  - The depletion of natural resources has become a major issue in many parts of the
      world, with the most accessible resources being most at risk. In the terrestrial
      realm, resource depletion has classically been related to accessibility through
      road networks. In contrast, in the marine realm, the impact on living resources
      is often framed into the Malthusian theory of human density around ecosystems.
      Here, we develop a new framework to estimate the accessibility of global coral
      reefs using potential travel time from the nearest human settlement or market. We
      show that 58% of coral reefs are located < 30 min from the nearest human
      settlement. We use a case study from New Caledonia to demonstrate that travel
      time from the market is a strong predictor of fish biomass on coral reefs. We
      also highlight a relative deficit of protection on coral reef areas near people,
      with disproportional protection on reefs far from people. This suggests that
      conservation efforts are targeting low-conflict reefs or places that may already
      be receiving de facto protection due to their isolation. Our global assessment of
      accessibility in the marine realm is a critical step to better understand the
      interplay between humans and resources. 

PMID- 26879899
TI  - Assessment of glycemic control using glycated hemoglobin among diabetic patients
      in Jimma University specialized hospital, Ethiopia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen dramatically over the past
      two decades and is expected to keep rising for the next 20 years. If uncontrolled
      it may lead to complications to the patients that could be prevented or delayed.
      The disease could be diagnosed and monitored by blood glucose and/or glycated
      hemoglobin (HbA1) testing. HbA1 can tell long term hyperglycemia of the last 2-3
      months period and can predict the risk of diabetic complications; however, the
      use of glycated hemoglobin test in the country, specifically, in the study area
      is almost none. Therefore, this study had the aim of assessing glycemic control
      and describing the risk of complications among diabetic patients using glycated
      hemoglobin. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma University
      specialized hospital among 148 diabetic patients from May to July 2012. After the
      study was ethically approved, HbA1, random blood sugar (RBS), socio-demographic
      data and clinical information were collected from every diabetic patients who
      were willing to participate in the study among patients coming to the hospital
      for their routine follow up visits. RESULTS: Even though all the study
      participants were on diabetes treatment, majority of them were found to be poor
      glycemic control. It was found out that the mean HbA1 and RBS level of the
      participants were 7.6 % and 280 mg/dL (15.5 mmol/L), respectively. Using HbA1,5
      9.5 % of the patients had poor glycemic control and these patients were
      considered to be at higher risk of developing complications. Among all the study
      subjects with poor glycemic control, 70.8 % were within 15-30 years of age; 62.3
      % were females; 60.8 % were urban dwellers; 67.4 % were illiterate; 69.6 % were
      with BMI less than 18.5 kg/m(2), and 61.4 % were taking injectable drugs. Among
      136 patients whose clinical history was reviewed, 52.9 % had one or more
      documented history of major microvascular complications: visual disturbance
      accounting for 21.3 %, nephropathy 19.1 % and peripheral neuropathy 13.2 %.
      Eighty-four had poor glycemic control of which 54.7 % had already documented
      history of one or more complications but the remaining 45.2 % had no documented
      history. CONCLUSION: Even if all of the diabetic patients were on treatment, the
      mean HbA1 level as well as RBS level of the study subjects was above the normal
      range indicating poor glycemic control. More than half of diabetic patients in
      the hospital had poor glycemic control and were at higher risk of developing
      diabetic complications or they already developed the complications. Accordingly
      we recommended tracing the cause of this poor glycemic control for mitigating the
      problem.

PMID- 26879900
TI  - delta-Opioid receptor (DOR) signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate
      intermittent hypoxia induced protection of canine myocardium.
AB  - Intermittent, normobaric hypoxia confers robust cardioprotection against ischemia
      induced myocardial infarction and lethal ventricular arrhythmias. delta-Opioid
      receptor (DOR) signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated
      in cardioprotective phenomena, but their roles in intermittent hypoxia are
      unknown. This study examined the contributions of DOR and ROS in mediating
      intermittent hypoxia-induced cardioprotection. Mongrel dogs completed a 20 day
      program consisting of 5-8 daily, 5-10 min cycles of moderate, normobaric hypoxia
      (FIO2 0.095-0.10), with intervening 4 min room air exposures. Subsets of dogs
      received the DOR antagonist naltrindole (200 MUg/kg, sc) or antioxidant N
      acetylcysteine (250 mg/kg, po) before each hypoxia session. Twenty-four hours
      after the last session, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded
      for 60 min and then reperfused for 5 h. Arrhythmias detected by
      electrocardiography were scored according to the Lambeth II conventions. Left
      ventricles were sectioned and stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium-chloride,
      and infarct sizes were expressed as percentages of the area at risk (IS/AAR).
      Intermittent hypoxia sharply decreased IS/AAR from 41 +/- 5 % (n = 12) to 1.8 +/-
      0.9 % (n = 9; P < 0.001) and arrhythmia score from 4.1 +/- 0.3 to 0.7 +/- 0.2 (P
      < 0.001) vs. non-hypoxic controls. Naltrindole (n = 6) abrogated the
      cardioprotection with IS/AAR 35 +/- 5 % and arrhythmia score 3.7 +/- 0.7 (P <
      0.001 vs. untreated intermittent hypoxia). N-acetylcysteine (n = 6) interfered to
      a similar degree, with IS/AAR 42 +/- 3 % and arrhythmia score 4.7 +/- 0.3 (P <
      0.001 vs. untreated intermittent hypoxia). Without the intervening
      reoxygenations, hypoxia (n = 4) was not cardioprotective (IS/AAR 50 +/- 8 %;
      arrhythmia score 4.5 +/- 0.5; P < 0.001 vs. intermittent hypoxia). Thus DOR, ROS
      and cyclic reoxygenation were obligatory participants in the gradually evolving
      cardioprotection produced by intermittent hypoxia.

PMID- 26879901
TI  - Spectroscopic Study of Terahertz Generation in Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade
      Lasers.
AB  - Terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intra-cavity difference
      frequency generation are currently the only room-temperature mass-producible
      diode-laser-like emitters of coherent 1-6 THz radiation. Device performance has
      improved dramatically over the past few years to reach milliwatt-level power
      output and broad tuning from 1.2 to 5.9 THz, all at room-temperature. Terahertz
      output in these sources originates from intersubband optical nonlinearity in the
      laser active region. Here we report the first comprehensive spectroscopic study
      of the optical nonlinearity and investigate its dependence on the mid-infrared
      pump frequencies. Our work shows that the terahertz generation efficiency can
      vary by a factor of 2 or greater depending on the spectral position of the mid
      infrared pumps for a fixed THz difference-frequency. We have also measured for
      the first time the linewidth for transitions between the lower quantum cascade
      laser states, which is critical for determining terahertz nonlinearity and
      predicting optical loss in quantum cascade laser waveguides. 

PMID- 26879902
TI  - Low serum albumin and advanced age predict early mortality in Asian patients with
      extreme elevations of serum aminotransferase.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Extreme elevations of serum aminotransferases (EESAT), defined as
      alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) level of above 3000
      U/L, reflect severe liver injury and poor outcomes of the patients. This study
      aimed to evaluate the prevalence, etiology and clinical outcomes of EESAT in
      Asian patients and to identify the predictors of early mortality. METHODS:
      Medical records of patients with EESAT over a 1-year period were retrospectively
      analyzed for disease prevalence, etiology and clinical outcome. The primary
      outcome was 28-day mortality (defined as death occurring within 28 days of the
      onset of EESAT). A logistic regression was performed to identify independent
      predictors of mortality. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients with a mean age of 57.4
      +/- 18.0 years met the criteria for EESAT, resulted in a prevalence of 1.4 per
      1000 admissions. Altogether 63.4% of the patients were men. The etiologies of
      EESAT were hypoxic hepatitis (74.2%), viral hepatitis (20.8%), rhabdomyolysis
      (3.0%), drug-induced hepatitis (1.0%) and choledocholithiasis (1%). The 28-day
      mortality of EESAT was 53.5%. EESAT due to hypoxic hepatitis was associated with
      high mortality (70.7%) whereas the mortality risk was low in EESAT from viral
      hepatitis (9.5%). Serum albumin <28 g/L (HR 5.78, 95% CI 1.41-23.62) and age >55
      years (HR 4.81, 95% CI 1.29-17.90) were independent predictors of mortality.
      CONCLUSIONS: The main etiology of EESAT is hypoxic hepatitis, which carries a
      high mortality. EESAT due to viral hepatitis is common in Asians and has a good
      outcome. Low serum albumin and elder age are independent predictors of early
      mortality in EESAT patients.

PMID- 26879903
TI  - Knockdown of Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 Inhibits Activation of Hepatic Stellate
      Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is a positive regulator of
      tumorigenesis and a valuable prognostic marker of a diverse array of cancers,
      including liver cancer; however, the relationship between AEG-1 and hepatic
      fibrogenesis is not known. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore
      the expression of AEG-1 during hepatic fibrogenesis and determine how AEG-1
      regulates the profibrogenic phenotype of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS:
      The levels of AEG-1 were monitored in the fibrotic livers and transforming growth
      factor-beta (TGF-beta)- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated HSCs. The
      expression of AEG-1 was knocked down by lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA in
      HSCs, and collagen expression, proliferation assays, apoptosis induction studies,
      and migration assays were simultaneously conducted in vitro. RESULTS: AEG-1
      expression was increased in the fibrotic livers. At the cellular level, TGF-beta
      or LPS stimulation, which caused HSC activation, induced AEG-1 expression in HSC
      T6 and primary rat HSCs (P < 0.05). Knockdown of AEG-1 inhibited collagen I and
      alpha-smooth muscle actin expression (P < 0.05), reduced cell proliferation (P <
      0.05) and motility (P < 0.05), and induced cell apoptosis (P < 0.05) in HSCs.
      This antifibrotic effect caused by lack of AEG-1 was associated with the
      inactivation of PI3K/Akt and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
      CONCLUSIONS: Knockdown of AEG-1 suppressed the activation of HSCs by modulating
      the phenotype and inducing apoptosis. AEG-1 might be a potential target in
      treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

PMID- 26879904
TI  - Immune/Inflammatory Response and Hypocontractility of Rabbit Colonic Smooth
      Muscle After TNBS-Induced Colitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The contractility of colonic smooth muscle is dysregulated due to
      immune/inflammatory responses in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflammation in
      vitro induces up-regulation of regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4)
      expression in colonic smooth muscle cells. AIMS: To characterize the
      immune/inflammatory responses and RGS4 expression pattern in colonic smooth
      muscle after induction of colitis. METHODS: Colitis was induced in rabbits by
      intrarectal instillation of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).
      Innate/adaptive immune response RT-qPCR array was performed using colonic
      circular muscle strips. At 1-9 weeks after colonic intramuscular microinjection
      of lentivirus, the distal and proximal colons were collected, and muscle strips
      and dispersed muscle cells were prepared from circular muscle layer. Expression
      levels of RGS4 and NFkappaB signaling components were determined by Western blot
      analysis. The biological consequences of RGS4 knockdown were assessed by
      measurement of muscle contraction and phospholipase C (PLC)-beta activity in
      response to acetylcholine (ACh). RESULTS: Contraction in response to ACh was
      significantly inhibited in the inflamed colonic circular smooth muscle cells.
      RGS4, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, CCL3, CD1D, and ITGB2 were significantly up-regulated,
      while IL-18, CXCR4, CD86, and C3 were significantly down-regulated in the
      inflamed muscle strips. RGS4 protein expression in the inflamed smooth muscles
      was dramatically increased. RGS4 stable knockdown in vivo augmented ACh
      stimulated PLC-beta activity and contraction in colonic smooth muscle cells.
      CONCLUSION: Inflamed smooth muscle exhibits up-regulation of IL-1-related
      signaling components, Th1 cytokines and RGS4, and inhibition of contraction.
      Stable knockdown of endogenous RGS4 in colonic smooth muscle increases PLC-beta
      activity and contractile responses.

PMID- 26879905
TI  - Synergistic anti-malarial action of cryptolepine and artemisinins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cryptolepine (CPE) is the major indoloquinoline isolated from the
      popular West African anti-malarial plant, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. CPE
      possesses various pharmacological activities with potent anti-malarial activity
      against both chloroquine (CQ)-resistant and -sensitive strains. The search for
      safe and novel anti-malarial agents and combinations to delay resistance
      development to Plasmodium falciparum directed this work aimed at evaluating the
      anti-malarial interaction and safety of CPE in combination with some artemisinin
      derivatives. METHODS: The in vitro SYBR Green I, fluorescent-based, drug
      sensitivity assay using a fixed ratio method was carried out on the CQ-sensitive
      plasmodial strain 3D7 to develop isobolograms from three CPE-based combinations
      with some artemisinin derivatives. CPE and artesunate (ART) combinations were
      also evaluated using the Rane's test in ICR mice infected with Plasmodium berghei
      NK-65 strains in a fixed ratio combination (1:1) and fractions of their ED50s in
      order to determine the experimental ED50 (Zexp) of the co-administered compounds.
      Isobolograms were constructed to compare the Zexp to the Zadd. RESULTS: CPE
      exhibited promising synergistic interactions in vitro with ART, artemether and
      dihydroartemisinin. In vivo, CPE combination with ART again showed synergy as the
      Zexp was 1.02 +/- 0.02, which was significantly less than the Zadd of 8.3 +/-
      0.31. The haematological, biochemical, organ/body weight ratio and histopathology
      indices in the rats treated with CPE at all doses (25, 50, 100 mg kg(-1) po) and
      in combination with ART (4 mg kg(-1)) showed no significant difference compared
      to the control group. CONCLUSION: The combination of CPE with the artemisinin
      derivatives were safe in the rodent model and showed a synergistic anti-malarial
      activity in vivo and in vitro. This study supports the basis for the selection of
      CPE as a prospective lead compound as the search for new anti-malarial
      combinations continues.

PMID- 26879906
TI  - Increased expression of upstream TH2-cytokines in a mouse model of viral-induced
      asthma exacerbation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of asthma caused by respiratory viral infections are
      serious conditions in need of novel treatment. To this end animal models of
      asthma exacerbations are warranted. We have shown that dsRNA challenges or
      rhinoviral infection produce exacerbation effects in mice with ovalbumin (OVA)
      induced allergic asthma. However, house dust mite (HDM) is a more human asthma
      relevant allergen than OVA. We thus hypothesised that dsRNA challenges in mice
      with HDM-induced experimental asthma would produce important translational
      features of asthma exacerbations. METHOD: Mouse airways were challenged locally
      with HDM or saline three times a week for three weeks to establish experimental
      asthma. Then daily local dsRNA challenges were given for three consecutive days
      to induce exacerbation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analysed for
      inflammatory cells, total protein, the necrosis marker LDH and the alarmin ATP.
      Lung homogenates were analysed for mRNA expression (RT-qPCR) of TNF-alpha, CCL2,
      CCL5, IL-1beta, IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and IL-25 as well as
      pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) RIG-I, MDA5 and TLR3. Lung tissue IL-33 was
      analysed with ELISA and PRRs were quantified by western blot.
      Immunohistochemistry indicated lung distribution of IL-33. RESULTS: HDM challenge
      alone caused sustained increase in BALF total protein, eosinophils, lymphocytes
      and neutrophils, and transient increase in lung tissue expression of TSLP, IL-33
      and TNF-alpha. dsRNA-induced exacerbation markedly and dose-dependently
      exaggerated these effects. Further, BALF levels of LDH and ATP, and lung tissue
      expression of CCL2, CCL5, IL-1beta, IL-25 and PRRs were increased exclusively at
      the exacerbations. Lung protein levels of IL-33 were transiently increased by HDM
      and further increased at exacerbation. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate several novel
      aspects of HDM-induced experimental asthma and added exacerbation effects of
      dsRNA. General inflammatory parameters in BALF such as exuded proteins, mixed
      granulocytes, LDH and ATP were increased at the present exacerbations as they are
      in human asthma exacerbations. We suggest that this model of asthma exacerbation
      involving dsRNA challenges given to mice with established HDM-induced asthma has
      translational value and suggest that it may be particularly suited for in vivo
      studies involving pharmacological effects on exacerbation-induced expression of
      major upstream TH2-cytokines; IL-33, TSLP and IL-25, as well as PRRs.

PMID- 26879908
TI  - Forecasting medical waste generation using short and extra short datasets: Case
      study of Lithuania.
AB  - The aim of the study is to evaluate the performance of various mathematical
      modelling methods, while forecasting medical waste generation using Lithuania's
      annual medical waste data. Only recently has a hazardous waste collection system
      that includes medical waste been created and therefore the study access to gain
      large sets of relevant data for its research has been somewhat limited. According
      to data that was managed to be obtained, it was decided to develop three short
      and extra short datasets with 20, 10 and 6 observations. Spearman's correlation
      calculation showed that the influence of independent variables, such as visits at
      hospitals and other medical institutions, number of children in the region,
      number of beds in hospital and other medical institutions, average life
      expectancy and doctor's visits in that region are the most consistent and common
      in all three datasets. Tests on the performance of artificial neural networks,
      multiple linear regression, partial least squares, support vector machines and
      four non-parametric regression methods were conducted on the collected datasets.
      The best and most promising results were demonstrated by generalised additive
      (R(2) = 0.90455) in the regional data case, smoothing splines models (R(2) =
      0.98584) in the long annual data case and multilayer feedforward artificial
      neural networks in the short annual data case (R(2) = 0.61103). 

PMID- 26879909
TI  - Anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste.
AB  - Anaerobic co-digestion of organic matter improves digester operating
      characteristics and its performance. In the present work, food waste was
      collected from the institute cafeteria. Two types of sludge (before centrifuge
      and after centrifuge) were collected from the fluidised bed reactor of the
      institute treating sewage wastewater. Food waste and sludge were studied for
      their physico-chemical characteristics, such as pH, chemical oxygen demand, total
      solids, volatile solids, ammoniacal nitrogen, and total nitrogen. A biomethane
      potential assay was carried out to find out the optimum mixing ratio of food
      waste and sludge for anaerobic co-digestion. Results indicated that food waste
      mixed with sludge in the ratio of 1:2 produced the maximum biogas of 823 ml gVS(
      1)(21 days) with an average methane content of 60%. Batch studies were conducted
      in 5 L lab-glass reactors at a mesophilic temperature. The effect of different
      substrate loading rates on biogas production was investigated. The mixing ratio
      of food waste and sludge was 1:2. A loading rate of 1 gVS L d(-1)gave the maximum
      biogas production of 742 ml g(-1)VS L d(-1)with a methane content of 50%,
      followed by 2 gVS L d(-1)with biogas of 539 ml g(-1)VS L d(-1) Microbial
      diversity of the reactor during fed batch studies was investigated by terminal
      restriction fragment length polymorphism. A pilot-scale co-digestion of food
      waste and sludge (before centrifuge) indicated the process stability of anaerobic
      digestion.

PMID- 26879910
TI  - Injectable pullulan hydrogel for the prevention of postoperative tissue adhesion.
AB  - Methods for reducing and preventing postoperative abdominal adhesions have been
      researched for decades; however, despite these efforts, the formation of
      postoperative peritoneal adhesions is continuously reported. Adhesions cause
      serious complications such as postoperative pain, intestinal obstruction, and
      infertility. Tissue adhesion barriers have been developed as films, membranes,
      knits, sprays, and hydrogels. Hydrogels have several advantages when used as
      adhesion barriers, including flexibility, low tissue adhesiveness,
      biodegradability, and non-toxic degraded products. Furthermore, compared with
      preformed hydrogels, injectable hydrogels can fill and cover spaces of any shape
      and do not require a surgical procedure for implantation. In this study, pullulan
      was modified through reaction with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)
      and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) to introduce carboxyl and
      phenyl groups as crosslinking sites. The grafting of tyramine on pullulan allows
      crosslinking branches on pullulan backbone. We successfully fabricated pullulan
      hydrogel with an enzymatic reaction using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The chemical structure of modified pullulan was
      analyzed with ATR-FTIR and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. Rheological properties were
      tested by measuring storage modulus with varying H2O2, HRP, polymer solution
      concentrations and tyramine substitution rates. Cell viability and animal tests
      were performed. The modified pullulan hydrogel is an invaluable advance in anti
      adhesion agents. 

PMID- 26879911
TI  - Composition and anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharides from Sargassum
      horneri in RAW264.7 macrophages.
AB  - Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from brown marine algae have been shown to
      possess a variety of biological activities. We assessed the potential activity of
      the sulfated polysaccharide from Sargassum horneri (SP) and its isolated two
      major components (fraction-1 (F1) and fraction-2 (F2)), on anti-inflammatory
      activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In the
      present study, analysis of polysaccharide chemical composition found that the
      constituent ratios of sulfate ester and fucose in SP and F1 were 4.95% vs 7.6%,
      and 4.48% vs 55.9%, respectively, suggesting that F1 may be a major sulfated
      polysaccharide containing fucose. Meanwhile, our findings demonstrated that TNF
      alpha secretion levels were significantly (P<0.05) decreased by SP and F1
      treatments in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner under the
      preventive and repair experimental models. Pro-/anti-inflammatory (TNF-alpha/IL
      10) cytokines secretion ratios by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were
      significantly (P<0.05) inhibited by SP and F1 treatments, particularly by F1 (at
      high dose, 200MUg/ml). Moreover, NO release and iNOS activity were significantly
      (P<0.05) inhibited by F1. Collectively, the present study suggested that purified
      component, F1 from SP, had strong anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-stimulated
      RAW264.7 macrophages in the preventive and repair manner through inhibiting TNF
      alpha secretion levels and NO release. 

PMID- 26879912
TI  - Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution by thiosemicarbazide
      modified chitosan.
AB  - The removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution by thiosemicarbazide
      modified chitosan (TCS) was studied in this article. The synthesized TCS was
      characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray
      diffraction (XRD), element analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrophotometer (XPS). Moreover, the
      influence of solution pH, contact time, initial heavy metal concentration, and
      solution temperature on the adsorption process was examined, and the adsorbent
      reusability and adsorption mechanisms were also studied. The results showed that
      TCS adsorbed greater amount of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions than the raw chitosan. The
      adsorption amounts of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions were affected by increasing solution
      pH and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacities of the TCS for Pb(II) and
      Cd(II) ions were found to be 325.2 and 257.2 mg/g, respectively. The endothermic
      adsorption fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetics equation and the adsorption
      isotherms could be well described by Langmuir model. The metal ions adsorption
      mechanism was concluded to be mainly dominated by complexation reaction process.
      The desorption study indicated that the target adsorbent was easy to be
      regenerated.

PMID- 26879907
TI  - Adult neurogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases: A systems biology perspective.
AB  - New neurons are generated throughout adulthood in two regions of the brain, the
      olfactory bulb and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and are incorporated into
      the hippocampal network circuitry; disruption of this process has been postulated
      to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and
      Parkinson's disease. Known modulators of adult neurogenesis include signal
      transduction pathways, the vascular and immune systems, metabolic factors, and
      epigenetic regulation. Multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as
      neurotrophic factors, transcription factors, and cell cycle regulators control
      neural stem cell proliferation, maintenance in the adult neurogenic niche, and
      differentiation into mature neurons; these factors act in networks of signaling
      molecules that influence each other during construction and maintenance of neural
      circuits, and in turn contribute to learning and memory. The immune system and
      vascular system are necessary for neuronal formation and neural stem cell fate
      determination. Inflammatory cytokines regulate adult neurogenesis in response to
      immune system activation, whereas the vasculature regulates the neural stem cell
      niche. Vasculature, immune/support cell populations (microglia/astrocytes),
      adhesion molecules, growth factors, and the extracellular matrix also provide a
      homing environment for neural stem cells. Epigenetic changes during hippocampal
      neurogenesis also impact memory and learning. Some genetic variations in
      neurogenesis related genes may play important roles in the alteration of neural
      stem cells differentiation into new born neurons during adult neurogenesis, with
      important therapeutic implications. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of and
      interactions between these modulators of adult neurogenesis, as well as
      implications for neurodegenerative disease and current therapeutic research. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26879913
TI  - The efficacy of a sulphated polysaccharide fraction from Hypnea musciformis
      against diarrhea in rodents.
AB  - Seaweeds are sources of diverse bioactive compounds, such as sulphated
      polysaccharides. This study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and
      anti-diarrheal activity of a fraction of sulphated polysaccharide (PLS) obtained
      from the red seaweed Hypnea musciformis in different animal models, and to
      elucidate the underlying mechanisms. PLS was obtained by aqueous extraction, with
      a yield of 31.8% of the seaweed dry weight. The total carbohydrate content
      accounted for 99% of the sample. The sulfate content of the polysaccharide was
      5.08% and the percentage of carbon was 25.98%. Pretreatment with all doses of PLS
      inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhea, with reduction of the total amount of
      stool, diarrheal stools, and the severity of diarrhea. PLS (90 mg/Kg) decreased
      castor oil- and PGE2-induced enteropooling. In addition, PLS (90 mg/Kg) increased
      the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in the small intestine and reduced
      gastrointestinal transit, possibly via activation of cholinergic receptors.
      Interestingly, the cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion and Cl(-) ion levels
      decreased in the intestinal contents of the animals pretreated with PLS (90
      mg/kg), probably via reduction of toxin-GM1 receptor binding. In conclusion, PLS
      exerts anti-diarrheal activity by increasing Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity,
      inhibiting gastrointestinal motility, and blocking the toxin-GM1 receptor
      binding.

PMID- 26879915
TI  - Negative consequences of other people's drinking: Prevalence, perpetrators and
      locations.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: While both policy makers and researchers have shown
      renewed interest in drinking and harm to others, several questions concerning the
      issue remain unanswered. The aim of this study was to address some of these
      questions by: (i) presenting updated figures on the prevalence of experienced
      harm from other people's drinking in various sub-groups; and (ii) examining in
      which locations such episodes most often occur and who the perpetrators usually
      are. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a general population survey
      among 16- to 79-year-old Norwegians (n = 1947), where experiences of five
      negative consequences related to other people's drinking (e.g. physical abuse and
      verbal abuse) were assessed. Those who reported such experiences were asked to
      specify at which location the last episode occurred and who the perpetrator was.
      RESULTS: Altogether, 17.3% had experienced one or more problems during the past
      12 months. Persons who were young, not living with a partner, an urban resident,
      with low education and often intoxicated were at increased risk. The direction of
      statistically significant gender differences depended on the type of problem.
      While the episodes were spread across different locations (private homes, on
      premise outlets and outdoors), perpetrators were more often strangers or
      friends/acquaintances than partners or family members. DISCUSSION AND
      CONCLUSIONS: In a preventive perspective, increased knowledge regarding the
      context of episodes where people experience harm from other people's drinking is
      important. We have shed some light on this issue by examining the locations and
      perpetrators of such episodes. [Storvoll EE, Moan IS, Lund IO. Negative
      consequences of other people's drinking: Prevalence, perpetrators and locations.
      Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:755-762].

PMID- 26879914
TI  - Morphologic and neuropsychological patterns in patients suffering from
      Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We conducted a retrospective study to identify morphological
      subgroups of patients referred for AD or aMCI and to seek for differences across
      neuropsychological performances. METHODS: One hundred forty-five patients (mean
      age = 76.01, 88 women and 57 men) referred for AD, either at the stage of
      dementia or aMCI, were examined using structural MRI. Five observers reviewed
      blindly twice all examinations. We rated microangiopathy, hippocampal, parietal
      atrophies, including a gradient of fronto-parietal atrophy (GFPA). A multiple
      component analysis (MCA) followed by a hierarchical ascending classification was
      conducted to identify morphologically distinct subgroups. Among these, 76
      patients completed all the neuropsychological tests. Univariate and multivariate
      analyses were further conducted on these data across morphological subgroups. The
      institutional review board approved the research protocol. RESULTS: Inter- and
      intra-raters' agreements were excellent and very good for microangiopathy and
      hippocampal atrophy ratings. They were higher for GFPA than for the parietal
      atrophy scale. MCA without priors identified three groups: group 1 was
      characterized by no/discrete microangiopathy, severe hippocampal, and predominant
      parietal atrophy; group 2 had significant microangiopathy, severe hippocampal
      atrophy, and no predominant parietal atrophy; group 3 had a mild hippocampal
      atrophy and parietal atrophies. In group 1, working memory profile was less
      impaired than in group 2 (p = 0.01). Neuropsychological performances of group 3
      were higher in most domains. CONCLUSION: Combined characterization of
      microangiopathy, hippocampal, parietal, and GFPA allows identifying morphological
      subgroups among patients referred for AD and at risk. These groups have some
      neuropsychological differences, suggesting different pathophysiological
      mechanisms or co-existing conditions.

PMID- 26879916
TI  - Enhancing the energy density of safer Li-ion batteries by combining high-voltage
      lithium cobalt fluorophosphate cathodes and nanostructured titania anodes.
AB  - Recently, Li-ion batteries have been heavily scrutinized because of the apparent
      incompatibility between safety and high energy density. This work report a high
      voltage full battery made with TiO2/Li3PO4/Li2CoPO4F. The Li2CoPO4F cathode and
      TiO2 anode materials are synthesized by a sol-gel and anodization methods,
      respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that Li2CoPO4F is well
      crystallized in orthorhombic crystal structure with Pnma space group. The Li3PO4
      coated anode was successfully deposited as shown by the (011) lattice fringes of
      anatase TiO2 and (200) of gamma-Li3PO4, as detected by HRTEM. The charge profile
      of Li2CoPO4F versus lithium shows a plateau at 5.0 V, revealing its importance as
      potentially high-voltage cathode and could perfectly fit with the plateau of
      anatase anode (1.8-1.9 V). The full cell made with TiO2/Li3PO4/Li2CoPO4F
      delivered an initial reversible capacity of 150 mA h g(-1) at C rate with good
      cyclic performance at an average potential of 3.1-3.2 V. Thus, the full cell
      provides an energy density of 472 W h kg(-1). This full battery behaves better
      than TiO2/Li2CoPO4F. The introduction of Li3PO4 as buffer layer is expected to
      help the cyclability of the electrodes as it allows a rapid Li-ion transport. 

PMID- 26879918
TI  - The Pfirrmann classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration: an
      independent inter- and intra-observer agreement assessment.
AB  - PURPOSE: Grading inter-vertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is important in the
      evaluation of many degenerative conditions, including patients with low back
      pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best imaging instrument
      to evaluate IDD. The Pfirrmann classification is commonly used to grade IDD; the
      authors describing this classification showed an adequate agreement using it;
      however, there has been a paucity of independent agreement studies using this
      grading system. The aim of this study was to perform an independent inter- and
      intra-observer agreement study using the Pfirrmann classification. METHODS: T2
      weighted sagittal images of 79 patients consecutively studied with lumbar spine
      MRI were classified using the Pfirrmann grading system by six evaluators (three
      spine surgeons and three radiologists). After a 6-week interval, the 79 cases
      were presented to the same evaluators in a random sequence for repeat evaluation.
      The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the weighted kappa (wkappa)
      were used to determine the inter- and intra-observer agreement. RESULTS: The
      inter-observer agreement was excellent, with an ICC = 0.94 (0.93-0.95) and wkappa
      = 0.83 (0.74-0.91). There were no differences between spine surgeons and
      radiologists. Likewise, there were no differences in agreement evaluating the
      different lumbar discs. Most differences among observers were only of one grade.
      Intra-observer agreement was also excellent with ICC = 0.86 (0.83-0.89) and
      wkappa = 0.89 (0.85-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: In this independent study, the Pfirrmann
      classification demonstrated an adequate agreement among different observers and
      by the same observer on separate occasions. Furthermore, it allows communication
      between radiologists and spine surgeons.

PMID- 26879919
TI  - Surgical management of an osteoblastoma involving the entire C2 vertebra and a
      review of literature.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical management of an
      osteoblastoma involving the entire C2 vertebra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 14-year
      old girl presented with unbearable neck pain. Her medical history was
      unremarkable. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed lytic
      and osteoblastic bone lesions involving the entire C2 vertebra. The tumor was
      resected in two stages with vertebral artery mobilization. Histological
      examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteoblastoma. The pain resolved
      postoperatively, and the patient had no further complaints. Sufficient fusion
      formation and no tumor recurrence with no complaints were seen in postoperatively
      4 years. CONCLUSION: Marginal resection remains the best treatment for
      osteoblastoma of the spine. If tumor tissue surrounds the vertebral artery, the
      vertebral artery should be mobilized and the surrounding tumor mass excised.

PMID- 26879920
TI  - A pilot orthopedic trauma registry in Ugandan district hospitals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries are a major public health problem in low
      income countries like Uganda. Patterns of musculoskeletal injuries presenting to
      district hospitals are unknown. Our pilot orthopedic trauma registry establishes
      a framework for broader district hospital injury surveillance. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We interviewed and examined patients presenting to Mityana, Entebbe, and
      Nakaseke hospitals with musculoskeletal injuries from October 2013 to January
      2014. We compared patient and Demographic and Health Survey population
      demographics and determined predictors of delayed presentation for care. RESULTS:
      Men, adults, and individuals with postsecondary education were more common among
      patients than in the Demographic and Health Survey population. Common causes
      included road traffic injuries (48.5%) and falls (25.1%). Closed, simple
      fractures comprised 70% of injuries. Compared to the self-employed, subsistence
      farmers (odds ratio [OR] = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-7.91),
      motorcycle taxi drivers (OR = 10.50, 95% CI = 1.92-64.57), and preschool children
      (OR = 4.24, 95% CI = 1.05-17.39) were significantly more likely to be delayed to
      care after adjustment for covariates. Subsistence farmers were more likely than
      other occupations to seek care from traditional bonesetters (23% versus 7%, P =
      0.001). All patients who visited bonesetters were delayed to hospital care.
      CONCLUSIONS: Policies for trauma systems strengthening must address the needs of
      underserved groups and involve all stakeholders, including bonesetters. Research
      should address reasons for delayed care among subsistence farmers, motorcycle
      taxi drivers, and preschool children. Injury surveillance at district hospitals
      facilitates evidence-based resource allocation and should continue in the form of
      an Ugandan national trauma registry.

PMID- 26879921
TI  - Long-term outcomes for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated
      on The Cancer Institute of New Jersey ALL trial (CINJALL).
AB  - The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia trial (CINJALL)
      employed a post-induction regimen centered on intensive oral antimetabolite
      therapy, with no intravenous methotrexate (MTX). Fifty-eight patients enrolled
      between 2001 and 2005. A high rate of induction death (n = 3) or induction
      failure (n = 1) was observed. Among those who entered remission, five-year DFS is
      80 +/- 8.9% for those at standard risk of relapse and 76 +/- 7.8% for high-risk
      patients, with median follow up over six years. The estimated cumulative
      incidence of testicular relapse among boys was elevated (13 +/- 7.2%) compared to
      the rate observed on contemporary protocols. We conclude that post-induction
      therapy using intensive oral antimetabolites for children with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can result in overall long-term DFS comparable to
      that observed among children treated with regimens including intravenous MTX.
      However, an increased risk of late extramedullary relapse among boys was
      observed, supporting the prevailing opinion that high-dose MTX improves outcome
      for children with ALL.

PMID- 26879923
TI  - Assessment of surgery for the underdeveloped thumb.

PMID- 26879922
TI  - The Integration of Noninvasive Prenatal Screening into the Existing Prenatal
      Paradigm: a Survey of Current Genetic Counseling Practice.
AB  - Since its introduction four years ago, noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal
      aneuploidy (NIPS) has been widely adopted as a screening tool for women at a high
      risk for fetal aneuploidy. As use expands into the general population, questions
      arise concerning the integration of NIPS into preexisting screening paradigms.
      This study aims to examine the use of NIPS in current practice among prenatal
      counselors, predominantly in the United States, in order to inform strategies for
      the optimal use of both new and existing screening techniques. We electronically
      surveyed 208 members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors to ascertain
      how NIPS is currently being used. Genetic counselors were also queried as to the
      advantages and disadvantages of offering NIPS to all patients regardless of a
      priori risk. Results indicate substantial variation in practice regarding which
      patients are offered NIPS and how counselors have incorporated this technology
      into existing screening routines. The majority of participants report offering
      NIPS in conjunction with another method of screening for fetal aneuploidy,
      indicating that NIPS is being used as an addition rather than as a replacement.
      These screening methods primarily include nuchal translucency (NT) (45.1 %, n =
      78) and first trimester serum screening, with or without an NT (19.7 %, n = 34).
      Furthermore, the majority report that they would be concerned about losing the
      clinical value of an NT in a complete transition to NIPS (85.4 %, n = 164).
      Counselors are evenly split on the merits of expanding the use of NIPS to the
      general population (con: 55.3 %, n = 105; pro: 44.7 %, n = 85). The lack of
      consensus suggests that updated practice guidelines might benefit counselors. In
      addition, respondents emphasized the need to better educate patients and
      providers about the risks, benefits, and limitations of the test.

PMID- 26879924
TI  - Zhao L, Chen X, Zhang L. Digital necrosis after triamcinolone acetonide injection
      for trigger thumb: case report. J Hand Surg Eur. 2015, 40:741-2.

PMID- 26879926
TI  - Atorvastatin (Lipitor) attenuates the effects of aspirin on pancreatic
      cancerogenesis and the chemotherapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine on pancreatic
      cancer by promoting M2 polarized tumor associated macrophages.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interactions of inflammatory cells with pancreatic cancer cells play
      crucial roles in pancreatic cancer, however the dynamic changes of inflammatory
      cell populations in pancreatic cancerogensis and after chemotherapy have not been
      well eclucidated. The combinational use of aspirin and atrovastatin (Lipitor)
      have been widely prescribled for cardio-cerebral vascular diseases mainly by
      regulation of inflammations, and they have been also reported to have plausible
      anti-tumor effects, however their potential roles in pancreatic cancerogenesis
      and chemotherapeutic effects have been seldom investigated. We scanned the
      dynamic changes of pan-inflammatory cell populations in pancreatic cancerogensis
      and after chemotherapy and found the potential target cell populations. Then we
      tested the roles of aspirin and Lipitor to regulate these inflammatory cell
      populations and their effects on pancreatic cancerogenesis and chemotherapeutic
      effects. METHODS: Cancerogen, dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), was used to induce
      pancreatic cancerogenesis and subcatunous implantation of syngenic murine Panc02
      pancreatic cancer cells was adopted as well. Gemcitabine was used for
      chemotherapy. The peripheral blood, pancreatic lesions and tumor samples were
      harvested and analyzed to search for the potential target cell populations. The
      roles of aspirin and Lipitor to regulate these cell populations and their
      potential effects on pancreatic cancerogenesis and chemotherapeutic efficacy were
      investigated both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: We found progressive
      accumulations of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and M2-polarzied tumor
      associated macrophages(M2) in pancreatic lesions accompanied with dynamic
      reducations of cytotoxic T cells(CTL) and helper T cells(Th) in the progression
      of pancreatic cancerogenesis. After gemcitabine treatment, the MDSC significantly
      reduced, however M2 soared up unexpectedly. Aspirin could significantly inhibit
      the MDSC and M2 to prevent pancreatic cancerogenesis and improve chemotherapeutic
      effects of gemcitabine, however Lipitor did not significantly affect MDSC,
      instead it could promote M2 to attenuate the postive effects of aspirin and
      gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS: MDSC and M2 accumulate in progression of pancreatic
      cancerogenesis and gemcitabine can induce M2. Aspirin could prevent pancreatic
      cancerogenesis and improve efficacy of gemcitabine partially by inhibiting MDSC
      and M2, however when used in combination, Lipitor could weaken the efficacy of
      aspirin and gemcitabine partially by promoting M2.

PMID- 26879927
TI  - Validation of the Sour Seven Questionnaire for screening delirium in hospitalized
      seniors by informal caregivers and untrained nurses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common condition in hospitalized seniors that
      nonetheless often goes undetected by nurses or is delayed in being detected which
      negatively impacts quality of care and outcomes. We sought to develop a new
      screening tool for delirium, The Sour Seven Questionnaire, a 7-item questionnaire
      suitable to be completed from informal or untrained caregiver observation. The
      study aimed to develop the scoring criteria for a positive delirium screen and
      assess concurrent validity of the questionnaire against a geriatric
      psychiatrist's assessment. METHODS: A pilot study of 80 hospitalized seniors over
      age 65 recruited from three units (2 medical, 1 orthopedic). Participants were
      assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) with a brief cognitive
      screen and the Sour Seven Questionnaire posed to the appointed informal caregiver
      (family member) or untrained nurse for up-to 7 days. Subjects testing positive on
      the CAM and a random sample of negatively CAM screened subjects were assessed by
      the geriatric psychiatrist. RESULTS: From 80 participants, 21 screened positive
      for delirium on the CAM. 18 of the 21 CAM positive screens were diagnosed to have
      delirium by the geriatric psychiatrist, and 17 of the 18 randomly assigned
      negative CAM screens were confirmed as not having delirium. From the
      questionnaires on these 39 participants, weighted scoring for each of the 7
      questions of the Sour Seven Questionnaire was developed based on their relative
      risks for correctly predicting delirium when compared to the geriatric
      psychiatrist's clinical assessment. Total scoring of the questionnaire resulted
      in the following positive predictive values for delirium: 89% with a total score
      of 4 (sensitivity 89.5%, specificity 90%), and 100% with a total score of 9
      (sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 100%). Comparison between scoring on
      questionnaires posed to informal caregivers versus untrained nurses showed no
      differences. CONCLUSION: A weighted score of 4 in the Sour Seven Questionnaire
      has concurrent validity as a screening tool for delirium and a score of 9 is
      diagnostic for delirium. The Sour Seven Questionnaire is the first screening tool
      for delirium shown to be suitable for use by informal caregivers and untrained
      nurses in hospitalized seniors.

PMID- 26879928
TI  - Normocellular CSF in herpes simplex encephalitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common cause of sporadic
      encephalitis worldwide. The high mortality rate (70-80 %) of herpes simplex
      encephalitis (HSE) can be reduced to 20-30 % by antiviral therapy. However,
      normocellular CSF can lure physicians to look for non-infectious causes,
      resulting in delayed treatment. This study aimed to investigate, characterize and
      differentiate HSE patients, with normocellular and pleocytosis CSF, according to
      neuroimaging patterns, underlying disease, CSF viral load and clinical outcome.
      Patients with proven (by PCR positive CSF) or presumed viral infections of the
      CNS admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between January 2002 and
      2011 were analyzed. RESULTS: HSV was detected in the CSF of 43 patients but only
      23 patients had encephalitis. Among these 23 patients, 6 cases (26.1 %) had
      normal CSF WBC (<5 cells/mm(3)). One patient in this normocellular CSF group had
      HIV infection. Although this patient had low CD4 counts (<200 cells/mm(3)), the
      peripheral WBC counts showed only mild leukopenia. The CSF HSV viral load in the
      pleocytosis group was higher than the normocellular group, with an average of
      12,200 vs 3027 copies/ml respectively. There was no correlation between the viral
      load and the clinical outcome. With respect to neuroimaging, 4 (66.7 %) patients
      in the normocellular group had unremarkable/non-specific results. CONCLUSIONS:
      Normocellular CSF in HSE is not rare, and can be seen in normal as well as
      immunocompromised hosts. Clinicians should not exclude CNS infection, especially
      HSE, merely based on the absence of CSF pleocytosis and/or unremarkable
      neuroimaging study.

PMID- 26879925
TI  - Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum.
AB  - Depression is a common complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period. There
      are multiple risk factors for peripartum mood disorders, most important of which
      is a prior history of depression. Both depression and antidepressant medications
      confer risk upon the infant. Maternal depression has been associated with preterm
      birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and postnatal cognitive and
      emotional complications. Antidepressant exposure has been associated with preterm
      birth, reductions in birth weight, persistent pulmonary hypertension, and
      postnatal adaptation syndrome (PNAS) as well as a possible connection with autism
      spectrum disorder. Paroxetine has been associated with cardiac malformations.
      Most antidepressant medications are excreted in low levels in breast milk and are
      generally compatible with breastfeeding. The use of antidepressants during
      pregnancy and postpartum must be weighed against the risk of untreated depression
      in the mother. 

PMID- 26879929
TI  - Direct Spectroscopic Evidence for an n->pi* Interaction.
AB  - The n->pi* interaction is an extremely weak but very important noncovalent
      interaction. Although this interaction is widely present in biomolecules and
      materials, its existence is counterintuitive and so has been debated extensively.
      Herein, we have reported direct spectroscopic evidence for an n->pi* interaction
      for the first time by probing the carbonyl stretching frequency in phenyl formate
      using isolated gas-phase IR spectroscopy. This result also demonstrates that the
      conformational preference for the cis conformer of phenyl formate compared to the
      trans conformer arises due to the presence of the n->pi* interaction in the
      former. The direct proof reported herein for this controversial but important
      noncovalent interaction should stimulate further experimental and theoretical
      investigation on this intriguing research topic.

PMID- 26879931
TI  - Ecological distribution of leaf stomata and trichomes among tree species in a
      Malaysian lowland tropical rain forest.
AB  - The vertical structure of a tropical rain forest is complex and multilayered,
      with strong variation of micro-environment with height up to the canopy. We
      investigated the relation between morphological traits of leaf surfaces and tree
      ecological characteristics in a Malaysian tropical rain forest. The shapes and
      densities of stomata and trichomes on the abaxial leaf surfaces and their
      relation with leaf characteristics such as leaf area and leaf mass per area (LMA)
      were studied in 136 tree species in 35 families with different growth forms in
      the tropical moist forest. Leaf physiological properties were also measured in 50
      canopy and emergent species. Most tree species had flat type (40.4 %) or mound
      type (39.7 %) stomata. In addition, 84 species (61.76 %) in 22 families had
      trichomes, including those with glandular (17.65 %) and non-glandular trichomes
      (44.11 %). Most leaf characteristics significantly varied among the growth form
      types: species in canopy and emergent layers and canopy gap conditions had higher
      stomatal density, stomatal pore index (SPI), trichome density and LMA than
      species in understory and subcanopy layers, though the relation of
      phylogenetically independent contrasts to each characteristic was not
      statistically significant, except for leaf stomatal density, SPI and LMA.
      Intrinsic water use efficiency in canopy and emergent tree species with higher
      trichome densities was greater than in species with lower trichome densities.
      These results suggest that tree species in tropical rain forests adapt to a
      spatial difference in their growth forms, which are considerably affected by
      phylogenetic context, by having different stomatal and trichome shapes and/or
      densities. 

PMID- 26879930
TI  - Characterization of triterpenoid profiles and triterpene synthase expression in
      the leaves of eight Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in the Upper Rhine Valley.
AB  - Plant triterpenoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites with wide
      distribution, high chemical diversity and interesting pharmacological and
      antimicrobial properties. The first step in the biosynthesis of all triterpenoids
      is the cyclization of the 2,3-oxidosqualene precursor, catalyzed by oxidosqualene
      cyclases (OSCs), which have characteristic product specificities. Biosynthesis
      and functions of pentacyclic triterpenes have been poorly studied in grapevine.
      In this study, we first investigated the profile of triterpenoids present in leaf
      cuticular waxes from eight Vitis vinifera cultivars cultivated in the Upper Rhine
      Valley. Further quantification of triterpenoids showed that these cultivars can
      be divided into two groups, characterized by high levels of lupeol (e.g., Pinot
      noir) or taraxerol (e.g., Gewurztraminer) respectively. We further analyzed the
      OSC family involved in the synthesis of pentacyclic triterpenes (called VvTTPSs)
      in the sequenced V. vinifera 40024 genome and found nine genes with similarity to
      previously characterized triterpene synthases. Phylogenetic analysis further
      showed that VvTTPS1-VvTTPS3 and VvTTPS5-VvTTPS9 belong to the beta-amyrin
      synthase and multifunctional triterpene synthase clade, whereas VvTTPS10 belongs
      to the lupeol synthase clade. We studied the expression of several members of the
      VvTTPS family following biotic and abiotic stresses in V. vinifera 40024 as well
      as in the eight healthy cultivars. This study further revealed that one candidate
      gene, VvTTPS5, which does not belong to the lupeol synthase clade, is highly
      expressed in lupeol-rich cultivars. VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6, VvTTPS7 and
      VvTTPS10 were highly upregulated by UV stress, but only VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6
      and VvTTPS10 were upregulated following downy mildew and gray mold infections
      respectively. These results suggest differential roles of VvTTPS against
      environmental stresses in grape leaves. 

PMID- 26879932
TI  - Genista anglica (Fabaceae): One very diverse species or one species complex?
AB  - Genista anglica represents a widely distributed group of shrubs in the Iberian
      Peninsula, as well as in the North of the Moroccan Mountains, the South of Italy
      and in most oceanic territories of Western Europe, with its northern limit in
      Sweden. Up to five different species within the group have been described in
      these territories: Genista ancistrocarpa, G. acutifolia, G. brutia and G. silana,
      as well as G. anglica sensu stricto. The diversity of Genista anglica sensu lato
      as well as the phylogenetic patterns that have generated this diversity have been
      analyzed through the use of nuclear (ITS, ETS) and chloroplastic (trnL, trnL-F,
      rbcL, matK) DNA sequences. Our results show that the group probably originated in
      the West of the Iberian Peninsula and subsequently spread to the rest of the
      European oceanic territories. Additionally, the results support the idea that the
      presence of a group of plants in the South of Italy, where G. brutia and G.
      silana were previously described, has been the consequence of the introduction of
      seeds collected in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Our results also
      indicate that, in contrast to some authors, the populations from the West of the
      Iberian Peninsula are not isolated and, consequently, they should be grouped into
      one species with high diversity, therefore differentiation into different taxa is
      no longer adequate. 

PMID- 26879934
TI  - Thanking our peer reviewers.

PMID- 26879933
TI  - Adaptation and reliability of the Readiness for Inter professional Learning Scale
      in a Danish student and health professional setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Shared learning activities aim to enhance the collaborative skills of
      health students and professionals in relation to both colleagues and patients.
      The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale is used to assess such skills.
      The aim of this study was to validate a Danish four-subscale version of the RIPLS
      in a sample of 370 health-care students and 200 health professionals. METHODS:
      The questionnaire was translated following a two-step process, including forward
      and backward translations, and a pilot test. A test of internal consistency and a
      test-retest of reliability were performed using a web-based questionnaire.
      RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 370 health care students and 200
      health professionals (test) whereas the retest was completed by 203 health
      professionals. A full data set of first-time responses was generated from the 570
      students and professionals at baseline (test). Good internal association was
      found between items in Positive Professional Identity (Q13-Q16), with factor
      loadings between 0.61 and 0.72. The confirmatory factor analyses revealed 11
      items with factor loadings above 0.50, 18 below 0.50, and no items below 0.20.
      Weighted kappa values were between 0.20 and 0.40, 16 items with values between
      0.40 and 0.60, and six items between 0.60 and 0.80; all showing p-values below
      0.001. CONCLUSION: Strong internal consistency was found for both populations.
      The Danish RIPLS proved a stable and reliable instrument for the Teamwork and
      Collaboration, Negative Professional Identity, and Positive Professional Identity
      subscales, while the Roles and Responsibility subscale showed some limitations.
      The reason behind these limitations is unclear.

PMID- 26879935
TI  - Region and dynamic specificities of adult neural stem cells and oligodendrocyte
      precursors in myelin regeneration in the mouse brain.

PMID- 26879938
TI  - Prospects of Supercritical Fluids in Realizing Graphene-Based Functional
      Materials.
AB  - Supercritical-fluids science and technology predate all the approaches that are
      currently established for graphene production by several decades in advanced
      materials design. However, it has only recently been proposed as a plausible
      approach for graphene processing. Since then, supercritical fluids have emerged
      into contention as an alternative to existing technologies because of their
      scalability and versatility in processing graphene materials, which include
      composites, aerogels, and foams. Here, an overview is presented of such materials
      prepared through supercritical fluids from an advanced materials science
      standpoint, with a discussion on their fundamental properties and technological
      applications. The benefits of supercritical-fluid processing over conventional
      liquid-phase processing are presented. The benefits include not only better
      performances for advanced applications but also environmental issues associated
      with the synthesis process. Nevertheless, the limitations of supercritical-fluid
      processing are also stressed, along with challenges that are still faced toward
      the achievement of the great expectations from graphene materials. 

PMID- 26879936
TI  - Novel molecular diagnostic tools for malaria elimination: a review of options
      from the point of view of high-throughput and applicability in resource limited
      settings.
AB  - As malaria transmission continues to decrease, an increasing number of countries
      will enter pre-elimination and elimination. To interrupt transmission, changes in
      control strategies are likely to require more accurate identification of all
      carriers of Plasmodium parasites, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, using
      diagnostic tools that are highly sensitive, high throughput and with fast
      turnaround times preferably performed in local health service settings. Currently
      available immunochromatographic lateral flow rapid diagnostic tests and field
      microscopy are unlikely to consistently detect infections at parasite densities
      less than 100 parasites/uL making them insufficiently sensitive for detecting all
      carriers. Molecular diagnostic platforms, such as PCR and LAMP, are currently
      available in reference laboratories, but at a cost both financially and in
      turnaround time. This review describes the recent progress in developing
      molecular diagnostic tools in terms of their capacity for high throughput and
      potential for performance in non-reference laboratories for malaria elimination. 

PMID- 26879937
TI  - Elevated urinary urea by high-protein diet could be one of the inducements of
      bladder disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous work found that urea accumulation in urothelial cells caused
      by urea transporter B knockout led to DNA damage and apoptosis that contributed
      to the carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential
      connection between high urinary urea concentration and the bladder disorders.
      METHODS: A high protein diet rat model was conducted by feeding with 40 % protein
      diet. In-silico modeling and algorithm, based on the results of microarray and
      proteomics from the bladder urothelium, were used for the reconstruction of
      accurate cellular networks and the identification of novel master regulators in
      the high-protein diet rat model. Pathway and biological process enrichment
      analysis were used to characterize predicted targets of candidate mRNAs/proteins.
      The expression pattern of the most significant master regulators was evaluated by
      qPCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of different
      expressed mRNAs/proteins, 15 significant ones (CRP, MCPT2, MCPT9, EPXH2,
      SERPING1, SRGN, CDKN1C, CDK6, CCNB1, PCNA, BAX, MAGEB16, SERPINE1, HSPA2, FOS)
      were highly identified and verified by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. They were
      involved in immune and inflammatory response, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and
      pathways in cancer. These abnormally activated processes caused the bladder
      interstitial congestion and inflammatory infiltrates under the thinner
      urothelium, cell desquamation, cytoplasm vacuolization, nucleus swelling and
      malformation in the high-protein diet group. CONCLUSIONS: We provided evidences
      that high urinary urea concentration caused by high-protein diet might be a
      potential carcinogenic factor in bladder.

PMID- 26879939
TI  - Sediments and Soils Act as Reservoirs for Taxonomic and Functional Bacterial
      Diversity in the Upper Mississippi River.
AB  - In this study, we utilized Illumina next-generation sequencing of 16S rDNA to
      characterize the bacterial communities in water, sediments, and soils at four
      sites along the Mississippi River and Minnesota River, in Minnesota, in order to
      evaluate community exchanges between these habitats. Communities in water and
      sediment were hypothesized to show greater taxonomic similarity than those in
      soil, while microbial communities in sediment and soil would show greater
      functional similarity. Habitat-specific communities showed significant
      differences in phylogenetic structure and beta-diversity (P < 0.001), but site
      specific differences in community structures within a single habitat type did not
      differ greatly (P >= 0.083). Community exchange among habitats generally
      influenced < 5% of the total community composition in a single sample, with the
      exception of the sediment community at the Minnesota River site, which
      contributed to a mean of 14% of the microbial community in the water column.
      Communities from all habitat types were significantly correlated with each other
      (r = 0.44-0.64, P <= 0.004). Furthermore, approximately 33% of the taxonomic
      units were found in all samples and comprised at least 40% of the bacterial
      community. Functional annotation of shotgun sequencing data revealed similar
      functional profiles for sediment and soil communities that were distinct from
      those in the water. Results of this study suggest that sediments, when disturbed,
      contribute significantly to bacterial communities in the water and that a core
      bacterial community may be supported in the soils and sediments. Furthermore, a
      high degree of functional redundancy results in similar functional profiles in
      sediment and soil communities.

PMID- 26879940
TI  - The Influence of Time and Plant Species on the Composition of the Decomposing
      Bacterial Community in a Stream Ecosystem.
AB  - Foliar chemistry influences leaf decomposition, but little is known about how
      litter chemistry affects the assemblage of bacterial communities during
      decomposition. Here we examined relationships between initial litter chemistry
      and the composition of the bacterial community in a stream ecosystem. We
      incubated replicated genotypes of Populus fremontii and P. angustifolia leaf
      litter that differ in percent tannin and lignin, then followed changes in
      bacterial community composition during 28 days of decomposition using 16S rRNA
      gene-based pyrosequencing. Using a nested experimental design, the majority of
      variation in bacterial community composition was explained by time (i.e., harvest
      day) (R(2) = 0.50). Plant species, nested within harvest date, explained a
      significant but smaller proportion of the variation (R(2) = 0.03). Significant
      differences in community composition between leaf species were apparent at day
      14, but no significant differences existed among genotypes. Foliar chemistry
      correlated significantly with community composition at day 14 (r = 0.46)
      indicating that leaf litter with more similar phytochemistry harbor bacterial
      communities that are alike. Bacteroidetes and beta-proteobacteria dominated the
      bacterial assemblage on decomposing leaves, and Verrucomicrobia and alpha- and
      delta-proteobacteria became more abundant over time. After 14 days, bacterial
      diversity diverged significantly between leaf litter types with fast-decomposing
      P. fremontii hosting greater richness than slowly decomposing P. angustifolia;
      however, differences were no longer present after 28 days in the stream. Leaf
      litter tannin, lignin, and lignin: N ratios all correlated negatively with
      diversity. This work shows that the bacterial community on decomposing leaves in
      streams changes rapidly over time, influenced by leaf species via differences in
      genotype-level foliar chemistry.

PMID- 26879942
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26879941
TI  - A Pure Life: The Microbial Ecology of High Purity Industrial Waters.
AB  - The microbial ecology of various natural environments has been an active area of
      research since the earlier part of the twentieth century. Remote and sometimes
      extreme environments such as the deep ocean and the deep terrestrial subsurface
      have revealed a remarkable array of microorganisms. The majority of these
      environments are nutrient limited, and microorganisms-principally, bacteria-have
      developed a number of survival strategies that enable their survival and, in some
      cases, replication. While planktonic microorganisms exist in oligotrophic
      environments, the predominant mode of survival and growth is associated with
      biofilms. There are a number of similarities between the physicochemistry of
      industrial water systems and some natural aquatic ecosystems, and these
      similarities extend to the microbial populations and the survival mechanisms that
      are employed. The "starvation-survival" mechanisms, including biofilm formation,
      may be associated with deleterious effects on industrial water systems. These
      effects include heat transfer inhibition, microbially influenced corrosion, and
      contamination of various products manufactured in a wide array of industries.
      Biological fouling of industrial water systems has significant direct and
      indirect (through antimicrobial chemical applications) impacts on engineered
      materials and on the etiology of some waterborne diseases. This review provides
      an overview of the microbial ecology of purified waters and discusses the impacts
      of biological activity on industrial systems.

PMID- 26879944
TI  - A stumbling block or a stepping stone?

PMID- 26879943
TI  - [In order to see clearly it is often sufficient just to change the perspective].

PMID- 26879945
TI  - A stumbling block or a stepping stone?

PMID- 26879946
TI  - Independent prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score and coronary
      computed tomography angiography in an outpatient cohort of low to intermediate
      risk chest pain patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited studies report on the additional prognostic value of coronary
      computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and the coronary artery calcium score
      (CACS). METHODS: For a median of 637 days, 1551 outpatients with chest pain,
      without known coronary artery disease (CAD) and low or intermediate pre-test
      probability of CAD, were followed for major adverse cardiac events (MACE),
      defined as death, myocardial infarction or late revascularisation. Cox
      proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate the independent prognostic
      value of CCTA and CACS. RESULTS: MACE occurred in 23 patients (1.5 %): death (3,
      0.2 %), myocardial infarction (4, 0.3 %) and late revascularisation (16, 1.3 %).
      Multivariate analysis showed an independent prognostic value of CCTA (p < 0.001),
      CACS of 100-400 (p = 0.035) and CACS of > 400 (p = 0.021). CCTA showed
      obstructive CAD in 3.1 % of patients with CACS = 0. No events occurred in
      patients with CACS = 0 without obstructive CAD at CCTA, whereas 2/23 patients (9
      %) with CACS = 0 with obstructive CAD had a MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows
      that both CCTA and higher CACS categories have independent prognostic value in
      chest pain patients with low to intermediate pre-test probability of obstructive
      CAD, in which CCTA is appropriate. Furthermore a non-negligible amount of
      patients with CACS = 0 have obstructive CAD at CCTA. CCTA can be used in these
      patients to identify those at risk for MACE.

PMID- 26879948
TI  - Are severe hypoglycemic episodes in diabetes correctly identified by
      administrative data? Evidence of underreporting from the HYPOTHESIS study.

PMID- 26879947
TI  - Living in the Now: Decision-Making and Delay Discounting in Adolescent Gamblers.
AB  - Several studies examining the relationship of affective decision-making and delay
      discounting in disordered gambling demonstrated that adult pathological gamblers
      differ from healthy controls on both reward-related decision tasks. To date no
      study analyzed the relative contribution of these variables in adolescent
      gambling. This study was designed to compare affective decision-making and delay
      discounting in gamblers and nongamblers Italian adolescents, controlling for
      alcohol consumption. A total of 138 adolescents took part in the research. Two
      equal-number groups, defined according to the scoring rules for the South Oaks
      Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents, were administered the Iowa Gambling Task
      (IGT), the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ), and the Alcohol Use Disorders
      Identification Test (AUDIT). Zero-order correlations among all variables revealed
      a moderate negative association between IGT and MCQ scores only in nongamblers
      group. Results of mixed-model ANOVAs indicated that, compared with nongamblers,
      adolescent gamblers performed worse on the IGT, showed steeper delay discounting,
      and scored significantly higher on the AUDIT. Results of logistic regression
      analysis indicated that IGT, MCQ, and AUDIT scores are all significant predictors
      of gambling status. This novel finding provides the first evidence of an
      association among problematic gambling, maladaptive decision-making, and steep
      delay discounting among adolescents, as already observed in adults.

PMID- 26879949
TI  - Accidental exposures to blood and body fluids among health care workers in a
      Referral Hospital of Cameroon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accidental exposure to blood and body fluids is a public health
      concern, especially among health workers and constitutes a risk of transmission
      of blood-borne viruses including HIV, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.
      The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and the post exposure
      management of accidental exposures to blood and body fluid among health workers
      in the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional
      hospital-based study conducted from the 1st to the 30th of September 2013. Self
      administered questionnaires to health workers were used to collect data on self
      reported accidents, circumstances and post-exposure management. Their knowledge
      on accidental exposure to blood was also assessed. Data were entered and analyzed
      using Epi Info software version 3.5.4. Descriptive analysis was performed to
      measure the importance of AEB and to evaluate the risk of contamination. RESULTS:
      One hundred and fifty health workers were interviewed among which 36.7 % reported
      having been exposed to blood and body fluid at least once in the preceding 3
      months. Splash was the most reported injury (in 60.3 % of cases), followed by
      needle stick (28.7 %) and cuts (10.9 %). Moreover, 43.6 % of victims were not
      vaccinated against HBV, 7.3 % were not wearing gloves during the accident and 41
      % of splash occurs on injured skin. The majority of victims belong to the
      surgical Department [20 %, p = 0.2310]. None of these injuries had been reported
      in the registry of accidental exposure to blood. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high
      rate of accidental exposure to blood and body fluid in the daily hospital
      routine. Preventives measures, including wearing of protective equipment's during
      care and vaccination against HBV are not systematically done among health
      workers. Health institution should develop and provide standard operating
      procedures targeting surveillance of occupational risks, staff training, and
      supervision.

PMID- 26879951
TI  - Validating mammalian resistance to stressor-mediated reproductive impact using
      rodent sperm analysis.
AB  - Small rodents from chemically and radiologically contaminated areas on the
      Savannah River Site, SC were evaluated for sensitive reproductive parameters in a
      dual purpose study. The primary intent was to observe if established reproductive
      thresholds-for effect could be exceeded in animals that, due to their restricted
      home ranges, are maximally exposed to local contamination. Secondarily,
      validation was sought for a principal element of the Rodent Sperm Analysis method
      that is used in support of ecological risk assessments for contaminated
      terrestrial properties. The method's fundamental underlying premise is that
      during decades of elapsed time between contamination release events and
      ecological assessments being conducted, rodents develop a resilience to potential
      stressors, evidenced by their continuing presence. During spring 2014 we
      collected 89 cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) across three contaminated
      locations and one reference location, and quantified important male and female
      reproductive parameters (sperm counts and sperm morphology, and ovarian follicle
      counts, respectively) and organ weights. The outcome of the comprehensive sperm
      parameter review, in conjunction with the parallel female reproduction review and
      other corroborative population and tissue-based information gathered, suggests
      that mammalian assessments at contaminated sites are unnecessary in the common
      case. 

PMID- 26879950
TI  - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in West Virginia Substate Regions, 2007-2013.
AB  - PURPOSE: The opioid epidemic is a public health threat with consequences
      affecting newborns. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of
      withdrawal symptoms resulting primarily from in utero opioid exposure. The
      purpose of this study was to examine NAS and drug-specific trends in West
      Virginia (WV), where rurality-related issues are largely present. METHODS: The
      2007-2013 WV Health Care Authority, Uniform Billing Data were analyzed for
      119,605 newborn admissions with 1,974 NAS diagnoses. NAS (ICD9-CM 779.5) and
      exposure diagnostic codes for opioids, hallucinogens, and cocaine were utilized
      as incidence rate (IR) per 1,000 live births. FINDINGS: Between 2007 and 2013,
      NAS IR significantly increased from 7.74 to 31.56 per 1,000 live births per year
      (Z: -19.10, P < .0001). During this time period, opioid exposure increased (Z: 
      9.56, P < .0001), while cocaine exposure decreased (Z: 3.62, P = .0003). In 2013,
      the southeastern region of the state had the highest NAS IR of 48.76 per 1,000
      live births. NAS infants were more likely to experience other clinical
      conditions, longer hospital stay, and be insured by Medicaid. CONCLUSIONS:
      Statewide NAS IR increased 4-fold over the study period, with rates over 3 times
      the national annual averages. This alarming trend is deleterious for the health
      of WV mother-child dyads and it strains the state's health care system.
      Therefore, WV has a unique need for prenatal public health drug treatment and
      prevention resources, specifically targeting the southeastern region. Further
      examination of maternal drug-specific trends and general underutilization of
      neonatal exposure ICD-9-CM codes is indicated.

PMID- 26879953
TI  - Molecular serotyping and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Actinobacillus
      pleuropneumoniae isolated from pigs in South Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causes porcine pleuropneumonia
      (PP). OBJECTIVE: Serotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns in APP isolates
      from pigs in Korea were examined. METHODS: Sixty-five APP isolates were
      genetically serotyped using standard and multiplex PCR (polymerase chain
      reaction). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested using the standardized disk
      agar method. PCR was used to detect beta-lactam, gentamicin and tetracycline
      resistance genes. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns were
      determined by PCR. RESULTS: Korean pigs predominantly carried APP serotypes 1 and
      5. Among 65 isolates, one isolate was sensitive to all 12 antimicrobials tested
      in this study. Sixty-two isolates was resistant to tetracycline and 53 isolates
      carried one or five genes including tet(B), tet(A), tet(H), tet(M)/tet(O),
      tet(C), tet(G) and/or tet(L)-1 markers. Among 64 strains, 9% and 26.6% were
      resistance to 10 and three or more antimicrobials, respectively. Thirteen
      different antimicrobial resistance patterns were observed and RAPD analysis
      revealed a separation of the isolates into two clusters: cluster II (6 strains
      resistant to 10 antimicrobials) and cluster I (the other 59 strains). CONCLUSION:
      Results show that APP serotypes 1 and 5 are the most common in Korea, and multi
      drug resistant strains are prevalent. RAPD analysis demonstrated that six
      isolates resistant to 10 antimicrobials belonged to the same cluster.

PMID- 26879952
TI  - Involvement of hormones in olfactory imprinting and homing in chum salmon.
AB  - The olfactory hypothesis for salmon imprinting and homing to their natal stream
      is well known, but the endocrine hormonal control mechanisms of olfactory memory
      formation in juveniles and retrieval in adults remain unclear. In brains of
      hatchery-reared underyearling juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta),
      thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene expression increased immediately after release
      from a hatchery into the natal stream, and the expression of the essential NR1
      subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor increased during downstream
      migration. Gene expression of salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) and
      NR1 increased in the adult chum salmon brain during homing from the Bering Sea to
      the natal hatchery. Thyroid hormone treatment in juveniles enhanced NR1 gene
      activation, and GnRHa treatment in adults improved stream odour discrimination.
      Olfactory memory formation during juvenile downstream migration and retrieval
      during adult homing migration of chum salmon might be controlled by endocrine
      hormones and could be clarified using NR1 as a molecular marker. 

PMID- 26879954
TI  - The association between MTHFR polymorphisms and cervical cancer risk: a system
      review and meta analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays an important role in
      determining the proportions of folate coenzymes for DNA synthesis or DNA
      methylation. Published data on the association between the MTHFR polymorphisms
      and cervical risk are controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to assess
      whether the polymorphisms of MTHFR are associated with cervical cancer risk.
      METHODS: Medline, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese
      Biomedicine Databases were searched to identify eligible studies. Pooled odds
      ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C
      polymorphisms and cervical cancer were appropriately derived from fixed-effects
      or random effects models. Five different ORs were calculated: (1) allele contrast
      (C vs. T), (2) homozygous comparison (CC vs. TT), (3) heterozygous comparison (CC
      vs. CT), (4) dominant model (CC vs. CT+TT) and (5) recessive model (CC+CT vs.
      TT). RESULTS: A total of 13 studies, which included 12 studies for MTHFR C677T
      (2332 cases and 3000 controls) and five studies for A1298C polymorphisms (677
      cases and 1191 controls), were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The pooled
      analyses revealed that MTHFR C677T polymorphism was not associated with cervical
      cancer risk; while the A1298C polymorphism had a significant association with
      increased cervical cancer risk in allele contrast, heterozygote comparison and
      dominant model (A C, OR = 0.84, 95 % CI = 0.71-0.98; AA vs. CC OR = 0.72, 95 % CI
      = 0.59-0.89; AA vs. AC+CC, OR = 0.72, 95 % CI = 0.59-0.88). The significant
      associations between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and cervical cancer were found
      among Asians and population-based case-control studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      indicated that the MTHFR C677T may be no associated with cervical cancer risk,
      and yet the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism may be a risk factor for cervical cancer.

PMID- 26879956
TI  - Location, location, location: Validating the position of deep brain stimulation
      electrodes.

PMID- 26879955
TI  - Deep-sequencing identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in decidua and
      villus of recurrent miscarriage patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play critical
      roles in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation. The aim of this study
      was to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in decidua and villus of
      recurrent miscarriage (RM) patients. METHODS: Participants were recruited at the
      outpatient Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of
      Tianjin Medical University, China. Decidua and villus tissues were collected by
      curettage from recruited RM patients and normal pregnant women with their
      informed consent. MiRNAs expression profiles in decidua or villus were
      respectively determined by the deep-sequencing analysis. The predicated target
      genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were analyzed by miRWalk. The
      differential expressions of four miRNAs in decidua and four miRNAs in villus
      between the six pairs of RM patients and normal pregnant women were confirmed by
      qRT-PCR analysis. The expression patterns of two predicated target genes, Bcl-2
      and Pten, in the same six pairs of decidual or villus tissues were detected by
      Western blotting analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Totally 18 RM patients and 15
      normal pregnant women were recruited. Thirty-two miRNAs in decidua and four
      miRNAs in villus of RM patients were screened out to be significantly up
      regulated compared to that of normal pregnant women, and five miRNAs in villus of
      RM patients were screened out to be remarkably down-regulated compared to that of
      normal pregnant women (P value < 0.05 and Fold change >2). These differentially
      expressed miRNAs were predicted to target a large number of genes that involved
      in cell apoptosis, p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle and other cellular bio
      functions. Differential expressions of hsa-miR-516a-5p, -517a-3p, -519a-3p and 
      519d in decidua, as well as hsa-miR-1, -372, -100-5p and -146a-5p in villus, were
      validated by qRT-PCR analysis. In the decidual of RM patients, expression of hsa
      miR-516a-5p, -517a-3p, -519a-3p and -519d were significantly up-regulated
      compared to normal pregnancy. In the villi of RM patients, expression of hsa-miR
      100 and -146a-5p were significantly higher, while hsa-miR-1 and -372 were
      significantly lower compared to normal pregnancy. Furthermore, the expression of
      Bcl-2 and Pten, a predicated target gene of hsa-miR-1 or hsa-miR-372
      respectively, was significantly up-regulated in the villi of RM patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data suggested that the pathogenic process of RM might be
      associated with the alteration of miRNAs expression profiles in decidua and
      villus. Especially, the aberrant placental expression of hsa-miR-1 and -372 might
      be involved in the progression of RM, but need to be further investigated by
      larger studies in the future.

PMID- 26879957
TI  - Multiple effects of trace elements on methanogenesis in a two-phase anaerobic
      membrane bioreactor treating starch wastewater.
AB  - For enhancing anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating food processing
      wastewater due to speed-limited methanogenesis step, multiple effects of trace
      element (TE) supplementation on methanogenesis of a two-phase AnMBR were firstly
      investigated in batch tests. TE supplementation included individual element,
      combination and recovery of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn supplementation. Multiple
      effects of TE supplementation were highest stimulated by 22.4 +/- 5.6 % (TE313)
      for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, 43.1 +/- 12.5 % (TE303) for specific
      methanogenic activity (SMA) and 13.9 +/- 3.7 % (TE405) for biomass growth,
      respectively, although only 7.5 +/- 0.6 % (TE106) for methane production. Dosage
      of TEs played a critical role in methane production, COD removal and biomass
      growth of the AnMBR's methanogenesis. Low dosages of TE supplementation improved
      the COD removal and slightly stimulated the COD bioconverting to methane and
      biomass, but their specific methanation activities were inhibited in the initial
      rapid methanogenesis stage. Several methanation functional species were increased
      in abundance like Methanosarcina and Methanoculleus. 

PMID- 26879958
TI  - Impacts of ruminal microorganisms on the production of fuels: how can we
      intercede from the outside?
AB  - The ruminal microbiome rapidly converts plant biomass to short-chain fatty acids
      (SCFA) that nourish the ruminant animal host. Because of its high species
      diversity, functional redundancy, and ease of extraruminal cultivation, this
      mixed microbial community is a particularly accomplished practitioner of the
      carboxylate platform for producing fuels and chemical precursors. Unlike reactor
      microbiomes derived from anaerobic digesters or sediments, the ruminal community
      naturally produces high concentrations of SCFA, with only modest methane
      production owing to the absence of both proton-reducing acetogens and
      aceticlastic methanogens. The extraruminal fermentation can be improved by
      addition of ethanol or lactate product streams, particularly in concert with
      reverse beta-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Clostridium kluyveri or Megasphaera
      elsdenii) that facilitate production of valeric and caproic acids. Application of
      fundamental principles of thermodynamics allows identification of optimal
      conditions for SCFA chain elongation, as well as discovery of novel synthetic
      capabilities (e.g., medium-chain alcohol and alkane production) by this mixed
      culture system. 

PMID- 26879959
TI  - Insights into conformational regulation of PfMATE transporter from Pyrococcus
      furiosus induced by alternating protonation state of Asp41 residue: A molecular
      dynamics simulation study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family transporters
      induce multiple-drug resistance (MDR) of bacterial pathogens and cancer cells,
      thus causing critical reductions in the therapeutic efficacies of antibiotics and
      anti-cancer drugs. Unfortunately, to date, the details and intrinsic reason about
      conformational regulation mechanism of MATE transporters remain elusive. METHOD:
      In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to explore the
      conformational regulation mechanism of PfMATE transporter from Pyrococcus
      furiosus based on different protonation state of Asp41. Two (MD) simulation
      systems were investigated: a system with protonation of Asp41 and a system
      without protonation of Asp41, which were named by D184(H)D41(H) system and
      D184(H) system, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Firstly, MD simulation
      results indicate that conformational changes mainly happen in extracellular
      regions of PfMATE protein. Further analysis reveals that PfMATE protein
      experiences different motion mode and forms different conformation based on
      different protonation state of Asp41. In the D184(H)D41(H) system, PfMATE
      experiences an opening motion and forms a more outward-open conformation. As for
      the D184(H) system, the protein has an anticlockwise rotational motion with the
      channel axis of protein and the more outward-open conformation does not appear.
      It can be inferred that protonation of Asp41 is essential for conformational
      regulation of PfMATE during transporting substrates. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: These
      findings provide intrinsic information for understanding the conformational
      regulation mechanism of PfMATE and will be very meaningful to explore the MDR
      mechanism of PfMATE further.

PMID- 26879960
TI  - In Silico Analysis of the Structure of Fungal Fructooligosaccharides-Synthesizing
      Enzymes.
AB  - Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics commonly manufactured using fungal
      fructosyltransferases (FTases) or beta-fructofuranosidases. Several reports have
      attempted to optimize FOS production by changing operational conditions.
      Nevertheless, there is a lack of information related to the molecular enzyme
      substrate interaction. In this study, we present an in silico evaluation of the
      interactions between substrates (i.e., glucose, sucrose, GF2, GF3, and GF4) and
      native FOS-synthesizing enzymes from fungi, with reported FOS production yield.
      In addition, a molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to assess the stability
      of these interactions. Six fungal enzymes with reported data of FOS production
      were selected: sucrose-sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase from A. foetidus (GenBank
      No. CAA04131); intracellular invertase from A. niger (GenBank No. ABB59679);
      extracellular invertase from A. niger (GenBank No. ABB59678); beta
      fructofuranidase from A. japonicus ATCC 20611 (GenBank No. BAB67771);
      fructosyltransferase from A. oryzae N74 (GenBank No. ACZ48670); and
      fructosyltransferase from A. japonicus (PDB ID 3LF7). These enzymes shared an
      identity between 15 and 96 %, but have a highly conserved folding, and the
      characteristic FTases domains. Docking results showed that these enzymes also
      share a similar protein-ligand interaction profile. It was observed that the
      production yield of total FOS correlated with the sum of affinity energies for
      GF2, GF3, and GF4. Finally, we present the first molecular dynamic simulation for
      FOS and fungal FOS-synthesizing enzymes, showing that the protein-ligand
      interaction does not induce significant changes on the enzyme stability. Overall,
      these results represent valuable information to continue understanding the FOS
      synthesis process by fungal FOS-synthesizing enzymes, and they can have a
      significant impact toward the improvement in their catalytic properties and the
      synthesis of specific FOS.

PMID- 26879961
TI  - Enhanced Prediction and Characterization of CDK Inhibitors Using Optimal Class
      Distribution.
AB  - Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) govern the regulation of cyclin
      dependent kinases, which are responsible for controlling cell cycle progression.
      The members of the CDKI protein family play important roles in many processes
      like tumor suppression, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation. The sequence
      similarity-based search methods to annotate putative CDKIs do not yield optimal
      performance due to sequence diversity of CDKIs. As a consequence, machine
      learning-based models have become viable choices for predicting CDKI. In this
      work, we have developed a framework for handling the class imbalance factor
      (which is encountered very frequently in biological datasets) in order to enhance
      the prediction of CDKI through machine learning approaches. We have designed our
      experiments to achieve the optimal performance of machine learning-based methods
      in predicting CDKI by investigating the dataset-related prediction enhancement
      issues, like: (1) What should be the optimal class distribution ratio in the
      training set? (2) Should we oversample or undersample? (3) At what ratio,
      positive and negative samples should be oversampled or undersampled? and (4) How
      to select the best-performing classifier? We have addressed these issues through
      comparing the results from an imbalanced training set with training sets which
      are created at different resampling rates by using synthetic minority over
      sampling technique and undersampling technique to have varied class
      distributions. The proposed framework resulted in 100 % sensitivity, 93.7 %
      specificity, 96.4 % accuracy, 0.929 MCC with 0.981 AUC using simple sequence
      based features on a leave-one-out cross-validation test. The generalization
      ability of the trained model was further tested on four separate blind testing
      sets. Our work supports the fact that the performance of the algorithms can be
      enhanced by creating an optimal class distribution in the training set besides
      fine-tuning of the parameters of the algorithms. This optimal ratio of positive
      and negative samples in the training set is an important learning enhancement
      parameter for prediction models based on machine learning algorithms.

PMID- 26879962
TI  - Incidence of dementia declined in past 30 years in US, study shows.

PMID- 26879963
TI  - The first Mesozoic microwhip scorpion (Palpigradi): a new genus and species in
      mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar.
AB  - A fossil palpigrade is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
      amber from northern Myanmar. Electrokoenenia yaksha Engel and Huang, gen. n. et
      sp. n., is the first Mesozoic fossil of its order and the only one known as an
      inclusion in amber, the only other fossil being a series of individuals encased
      in Pliocene onyx marble and 94-97 million years younger than E. yaksha. The genus
      is distinguished from other members of the order but is remarkably consistent in
      observable morphological details when compared to extant relatives, likely
      reflecting a consistent microhabitat and biological preferences over the last 100
      million years. 

PMID- 26879966
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26879965
TI  - Energy Drink Use Among Ohio Appalachian Smokers.
AB  - Caffeine-containing energy drinks have emerged as a public health concern due to
      their association with caffeine toxicity and alcohol use. Despite the fact that
      previous research has linked caffeine use in the form of coffee drinking to
      smoking, there is little research examining the association between energy drinks
      and smoking. The present study examines demographic and behavioral factors
      associated with energy drink use among a sample of rural Ohio Appalachian
      smokers. It was hypothesized that male gender, young age (21-30 years.) and
      alcohol use would be associated with energy drink use. A sample of adult smokers
      (n = 298) from Ohio Appalachian counties were interviewed regarding demographic
      and behavioral factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the
      association between these factors and energy drink use. Seventy percent of Ohio
      Appalachian smokers studied had ever used an energy drink and 40 % had used an
      energy drink in the past month. Young age, male gender, and single marital status
      were associated with higher odds of ever having used an energy drink. Young age,
      and binge drinking were associated with higher odds of past 30-day use while
      abstinence from drinking was associated with lower odds of past 30-day use. Ohio
      Appalachian adult smokers had higher rates of energy drink use compared to
      previous estimates of ever or past month use found in other studies. The combined
      use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol warrants attention due to potential for
      health risk.

PMID- 26879964
TI  - Sarcopenia-related features and factors associated with lower muscle strength and
      physical performance in older Chinese: a cross sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The associations of sarcopenia with adverse health status have
      highlighted the importance of sarcopenia research and intervention. This study
      was designed to analyze the characteristics of aging-related differences in
      appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), handgrip strength (HS), gait speed (GS)
      and their associated factors in older Chinese, in order to generate guidance for
      sarcopenia intervention in this population. METHODS: Population-based cross
      sectional study. The criteria proposed by Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were
      used to define low ASM, HS, and GS. The time required for five repeated chair
      stands (RCS) was also measured to evaluate physical performance. The differences
      of continuous variables were compared using one-way ANOVA tests and the Pearson
      correlation was used to analyze the relationship of each measurement adjusted by
      gender and age. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine associated
      factors of low HS and low physical performance. RESULTS: The data were analyzed
      in a total of 218 younger adults (aged 20-59, 76 males, 142 females) and 461
      older adults (>=60 year, 207 males and 254 females). There were significant
      differences among age groups for HS, GS, and RCS while females were found to have
      significantly lower HS and GS values. ASM was significantly correlated with HS
      but not with other measures. Correlations among HS and GS, RCS were influenced by
      age differences. In the older group, unstructured daily routine (OR = 2.77) was
      associated with the risk of low GS, while physical exercise (OR = 0.27), and
      engaging in hobbies (OR = 0.11) were associated with faster GS. Co-morbidity (OR
      = 1.99) was associated with the risk of reduced performance of RCS, while
      engaging in hobbies was associated with faster RCS performance (OR = 0.35).
      CONCLUSIONS: Muscle strength and physical performance varied with aging in older
      Chinese. Measures of GS, HS, and RCS provide a readily available and effective
      method for assessing the risk of functional mobility decline. Maintaining a
      healthy life style and physical activity throughout life is beneficial for older
      people to improve their physical performance, especially in the early stages of
      aging.

PMID- 26879968
TI  - [Lung ultrasound in the newborn].
AB  - Lung ultrasound (LU) is becoming a bedside point-of-care technique in critical
      care and emergency medicine as it is performed and immediately interpreted by the
      clinician. LU is quick, easy, relatively inexpensive, and provides accurate
      diagnostic information when compared with conventional lung imaging methods, such
      as CT scans and chest radiographs, with the additional advantage of being non
      irradiating, adapted to bedside use, and easily repeatable with no side effects
      for the patient. LU is easy to learn, does not require sophisticated ultrasound
      machines or settings, and shows low intra- and interobserver variability when a
      standardized approach is used. A comprehensive and standardized ultrasound
      semiology has been described and validated in both adults and children. In
      summary, LU allows for quick easy recognition of a normally aerated lung in
      contrast to an interstitial or alveolar pattern. Recognition of these patterns
      may be even easier in neonates due to their small size and the absence of obesity
      and heavy musculature. Specific LU findings have been described for some types of
      neonatal lung injury, such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, transient
      tachypnea of the neonate, meconium aspiration syndrome, and neonatal pneumonia.
      In the newborn, LU has proved its usefulness in predicting the need for hospital
      admission and/or intubation based on simple LU patterns. A recently proposed LU
      score, adapted for the neonate, correlates well with oxygenation status,
      independently of gestational age and underlying respiratory condition. The score
      reliably predicts the need for surfactant treatment in preterm babies less than
      34 weeks gestation treated with nasal CPAP from birth. LU is a promising tool
      with numerous potential applications that warrant future studies. However, like
      every technique, LU has its limitations and should not completely replace
      standard radiography. LU can nevertheless largely reduce exposure to ionizing
      radiation by limiting the use of conventional radiographs to a strict minimum.

PMID- 26879967
TI  - [Insulin treatment of gestational diabetes and respiratory outcome in late
      preterm and term babies].
AB  - While the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy has been steadily
      increasing in recent years, the link between gestational DM and respiratory
      outcome in neonates has not been firmly established. To address this gap in
      understanding, we asked whether DM status and its treatment during pregnancy
      influence risk of neonatal respiratory distress. We conducted retrospective
      analysis of a large cohort to determine the relationship between maternal DM
      status (non-DM, insulin-treated DM [DTI], and non-insulin-treated DM [DTR]) and
      respiratory distress in term and near-term singletons, born at Robert-Debre
      Hospital over a 7-year period. Of 18,095 singletons delivered at 34 weeks of
      gestation or later, 412 (2.3%) were admitted to the NICU for respiratory distress
      within the first hours of life. The incidence of NICU admissions due to
      respiratory distress was 2.2% in the non-DM group, 2.1% in the DTR group, and
      5.7% in the DTI group. Insulin treatment of DM, together with several other
      perinatal factors, was associated with an increased risk for severe respiratory
      distress. In a multivariate model, we found that DTI, but not DTR, was a risk
      factor independent of gestational age and cesarean section, with an IRR of 1.44
      (95% CI, 1.00-2.08). The data indicate that newborns of mothers with DM treated
      with diet are not at risk for severe respiratory distress. Conversely, newborns
      of mothers with DM treated with insulin are associated with elevated risk for
      severe respiratory disease and should therefore be closely monitored.

PMID- 26879969
TI  - [Kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants at Albert-Royer National
      Children Hospital Center of Dakar].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Kangaroo care (KC) is an effective method to care for low birth
      weight (LBW) newborns, particularly in developing countries. The objective of
      this study was to estimate the efficacy of this method and its impact on
      morbidity and mortality of LBW infants admitted to the KC unit of Albert-Royer
      National Children's Hospital Center (ARNCHC) in Dakar, Senegal. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study from July 2011 to July
      2013. We collected sociodemographic, maternal, and obstetrical data, neonatal
      characteristics and information during KC (age and weight at inclusion,
      thermoregulation, feeding, growth, and overall progression). Data were entered
      and analyzed using SPSS version 9.0. RESULTS: We included 135 newborns, with a
      female predominance (sex ratio: 0.78). One-third of the mothers (35.5%) were
      primiparous and only 21.1% had a socioprofessional activity and the majority had
      a low educational level. The mean gestational age (GA) was 33.08+/-2.06 weeks of
      amenorrhea and the mean birth weight 1485+/-370 g. There were 20 term babies with
      intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (14.8%) and 115 (85.2%) preterm newborns,
      83 (72.2%) of whom, showed IUGR. The mean duration of conventional care was 12.3
      days (range: 4-27 days) and the main complications were respiratory distress
      (46.2%), infection (36.9%), and necrotizing enterocolitis (15.1%). At KC
      admission, the mean post-conceptional age was 34.2+/-2.46 weeks and the mean
      weight 1445+/-319 g (minimum, 700 g). The main complications in KC were
      infections (20.2%), hypoglycemia (18.5%), and gastro-esophageal reflux disease
      (16.4%). Only 56.3% of the babies were exclusively breastfed. The mean weight
      gain during the stay in the KC unit was 15.3+/-9.08 g/kg/day and the mean weight
      at discharge was 1761+/-308 g. Only three episodes of hypothermia were noted. The
      mean duration in the KC unit was 10.2 days (range: 3-24 days). Five babies died
      (3.7%): one during KC, one at home, and the three others after readmission to
      neonatology. CONCLUSION: Kangaroo care for LBW infants is highly effective in our
      context. This method should be spread to a large majority of health centers in
      the country.

PMID- 26879970
TI  - Retraction Note: Notice of formal retraction of articles by Dr. Akihiro Cho.

PMID- 26879973
TI  - Connecting the dots on health inequalities--a systematic review on the social
      determinants of health in Portugal.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Health inequalities are recognised as a public health issue
      worldwide, but only a few countries have developed national strategies to monitor
      and reduce them. Despite its considerable health inequalities, Portugal seems to
      lack a systematic strategy to tackle them, possibly due to the absence of
      organised evidence on the issue. We performed a systematic review that aimed to
      describe the available evidence on social inequalities in health in Portugal, in
      order to contribute towards a comprehensive and focused strategy to tackle them.
      METHODS: We followed the PRISMA guidelines and searched Scopus, Web of Science
      and PubMed for studies that looked at the association between a measure of
      socioeconomic status and a health outcome in the Portuguese resident population
      since the year 2000. We excluded health behaviours and healthcare use from our
      search. We performed a qualitative description of the results. RESULTS: Seventy
      one publications were selected, all reporting observational analyses, most of
      them using cross-sectional data. These publications showed strong evidence for
      health inequalities related to education and gender, chiefly for obesity, self
      rated health and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the eligible
      publications showed that current research does not seem to have consistently
      covered the link between health and key Portuguese social problems. A strategy
      focusing on the monitoring of most prevalent diseases, most determining
      socioeconomic factors and vulnerable populations would be crucial to guide
      academic research in a country in which health inequalities are so ubiquitous and
      deeply rooted. REGISTRATION: This systematic review is not registered.

PMID- 26879972
TI  - Medication use in juvenile uveitis patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis
      and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is not yet a commonly accepted, standardized approach in the
      treatment of juvenile idiopathic uveitis when initial steroid therapy is
      insufficient. We sought to assess current practice patterns within a large cohort
      of children with juvenile uveitis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional cohort
      study of patients with uveitis enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and
      Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRAnet) registry. Clinical information
      including, demographic information, presenting features, disease complications,
      and medications were collected. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to
      assess for associations between medications and clinical characteristics.
      RESULTS: Ninety-two children with idiopathic and 656 with juvenile idiopathic
      arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis were identified. Indication (arthritis or
      uveitis) for medication use was not available for JIA patients; therefore,
      detailed analysis was limited to children with idiopathic uveitis. In this group,
      94 % had received systemic steroids. Methotrexate (MTX) was used in 76 % of
      patients, with oral and subcutaneous forms given at similar rates. In
      multivariable analysis, non-Caucasians were more likely to be treated initially
      with subcutaneous MTX (P = 0.003). Of the 53 % of patients treated with a
      biologic DMARD, all received a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. TNF
      inhibitor use was associated with a higher frequency of cataracts (52 % vs 21 %;
      P = 0.001) and antinuclear antibody positivity (49 % vs 29 %; P = 0.04), although
      overall complication rates were not higher in these patients. CONCLUSION: Among
      idiopathic uveitis patients enrolled in the CARRAnet registry, MTX was the most
      commonly used DMARD, with subcutaneous and oral forms equally favored. Patients
      who received a TNF inhibitor were more likely to be ANA positive and have
      cataracts.

PMID- 26879974
TI  - HIV-1 Vaccine-elicited Antibodies Reverted to Their Inferred Naive Germline
      Reveal Associations between Binding Affinity and in vivo Activation.
AB  - The elicitation of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies following envelope
      glycoprotein (Env) vaccination is exceedingly difficult. Suboptimal engagement of
      naive B cells is suggested to limit these low frequency events, especially at the
      conserved CD4bs. Here, we analyzed CD4bs-directed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
      elicited by YU2 gp140-foldon trimers in a non-human primate by selective sorting
      using CD4bs "knock out" trimers. Following two inoculations, the CD4bs-directed
      mAbs efficiently recognized the eliciting immunogen in their affinity-maturing
      state but did not recognize CD4bs-defective probes. We reverted these mAbs to
      their most likely inferred germline (igL) state, leaving the HCDR3 unaltered, to
      establish correlates of in vitro affinity to in vivo activation. Most igL
      reverted mAbs bound the eliciting gp140 immunogen, indicating that CD4bs-directed
      B cells possessing reasonable affinity existed in the naive repertoire. We
      detected relatively high affinities for the majority of the igL mAbs to gp120 and
      of Fabs to gp140, which, as expected, increased when the antibodies 'matured'
      following vaccination. Affinity increases were associated with slower off-rates
      as well as with acquisition of neutralizing capacity. These data reveal in vitro
      binding properties associated with in vivo activation that result in functional
      archiving of antigen-specific B cells elicited by a complex glycoprotein antigen
      following immunization. 

PMID- 26879975
TI  - Genome-wide transcriptional regulation of estrogen receptor targets in fallopian
      tube cells and the role of selective estrogen receptor modulators.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The fallopian tube epithelium is one of the potential sources of high
      grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC). The use of estrogen only hormone replacement
      therapy increases ovarian cancer (OVCA) risk. Despite estrogen's influence in
      OVCA, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) typically demonstrate only a
      20 % response rate. This low response could be due to a variety of factors
      including the loss of estrogen receptor signaling or the role of estrogen in
      different potential cell types of origin. The response of fallopian tube
      epithelium to SERMs is not known, and would be useful when determining
      therapeutic options for tumors arising from this cell type, such as HGSC.
      RESULTS: Using normal murine derived oviductal epithelial cells (mouse equivalent
      to the fallopian tube) estrogen receptor expression was confirmed and interaction
      with its ligand, estradiol, triggered mRNA and protein induction of progesterone
      receptor (PR). The SERMs 4-hydroxytamoxifen, raloxifene and desmethylarzoxifene,
      functioned as estrogen receptor antagonists in oviductal cells. Cellular
      proliferation and migration assays suggested that estradiol does not
      significantly impact cellular migration and increased proliferation. Further,
      using RNAseq, the oviduct specific transcriptional genes targets of ER when
      stimulated by estradiol and 4-hydroxytamoxifen signaling were determined and
      validated. The RNA-seq revealed enrichment in proliferation, anti-apoptosis,
      calcium signaling and steroid signaling processes. Finally, the ER and PR
      receptor status of a panel of HGSC cell lines was investigated including
      Kuramochi, OVSAHO, OVKATE, OVCAR3, and OVCAR4. OVSAHO demonstrated receptor
      expression and response, which highlights the need for additional models of
      ovarian cancer that are estrogen responsive. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the fallopian
      tube has specific gene targets of estrogen receptor and demonstrates a tissue
      specific response to SERMs consistent with antagonistic action.

PMID- 26879976
TI  - Development of a Cell Marker ELISA for the Detection of Goose T Cell Surface
      CD8alpha Molecules.
AB  - CD8 molecule is a key marker on T cell surface and is connected with the antigen
      recognition and activation of T lymphocytes. In order to provide a detection
      method for quantifying goose CD8alpha expression, this study raised the protein
      and antibody for goose CD8alpha and developed a feasible cell marker enzyme
      linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method. Recombinant protein of the
      extracellular region gene of goCD8alpha was expressed in prokaryotic expression
      system, and specific polyclonal antibodies for goCD8alpha were raised and
      purified, which was further confirmed by Western-blot, immunofluorescence assay
      (IFA), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A cell marker ELISA was established and
      optimized to detect the change of goCD8alpha expression between goose parvovirus
      (GPV)-infected and mock-infected goose peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      (PBMCs), which is consistent with our previously results of real-time
      quantitative PCR (qPCR). Cell marker ELISA can provide a new method to detect
      goCD8alpha in protein level and in a sensitive, specific, and simple way. This
      may provide a convenient and novel method for the detection of goCD8alpha
      expression. 

PMID- 26879977
TI  - A Novel Method for Efficient Preparation of Mucosal Adjuvant Escherichia coli
      Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Mutant (LTm) by Artificially Assisted Self-Assembly In
      Vitro.
AB  - As well-known powerful mucosal adjuvant proteins, Escherichia coli heat-labile
      enterotoxin (LT) and its non-toxic or low-toxic mutants (LTm) are capable of
      promoting strong mucosal immune responses to co-administered antigens in various
      types of vaccines. However, due to the complex composition and special structure,
      the yield of LTm directly from the recombinant genetic engineering strains is
      quite low. Here, we put forward a novel method to prepare LTm protein which
      designed, expressed, and purified three kinds of component subunits respectively
      and assembled them into a hexamer structure in vitro by two combination modes. In
      addition, by simulated in vivo environment of polymer protein assembly, the
      factors of the protein solution system which include environment temperature, pH,
      ionic strength of the solution, and ratio between each subunit were taken into
      consideration. Finally, we confirmed the optimal conditions of two assembly
      strategies and prepared the hexamer holotoxin in vitro. These results are not
      only an important significance in promoting large-scale preparation of the
      mucosal adjuvant LTm but also an enlightening to produce other multi-subunit
      proteins. 

PMID- 26879978
TI  - GH53 Endo-Beta-1,4-Galactanase from a Newly Isolated Bacillus licheniformis CBMAI
      1609 as an Enzymatic Cocktail Supplement for Biomass Saccharification.
AB  - Galactanases (endo-beta-1,4-galactanases-EC 3.2.1.89) catalyze the hydrolysis of
      beta-1,4 galactosidic bonds in arabinogalactan and galactan side chains found in
      type I rhamnogalacturan. The aim of this work was to understand the catalytic
      function, biophysical properties, and use of a recombinant GH53 endo-beta-1,4
      galactanase for commercial cocktail supplementation. The nucleotide sequence of
      the endo-beta-1,4-galactanase from Bacillus licheniformis CBMAI 1609 (Bl1609Gal)
      was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical and biophysical
      properties of the enzyme were characterized. The optimum pH range and temperature
      of Bl1609Gal activity were 6.5-8 and 40  degrees C, respectively. Furthermore,
      Bl1609Gal showed remarkable pH stability, retaining more than 75 % activity even
      after 24 h of incubation at pH 4-10. The enzyme was thermostable, retaining
      nearly 100 % activity after 1-h incubation at pH 7.0 at 25-45  degrees C. The
      enzymatic efficiency (K cat /K m ) against potato galactan under optimum
      conditions was 241.2 s(-1) mg(-1) mL. Capillary zone electrophoresis demonstrated
      that the pattern of galactan hydrolysis by Bl1609Gal was consistent with that of
      endogalactanases. Supplementation of the commercial cocktail ACCELLERASE((r))1500
      with recombinant Bl1609Gal increased hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse
      by 25 %. 

PMID- 26879979
TI  - The serum angiotensin converting enzyme and lysozyme levels in patients with
      ocular involvement of autoimmune and infectious diseases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increased serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme and lysozyme
      are considered as inflammatory markers for diagnosis of sarcoidosis which is an
      autoimmune inflammatory disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the
      significance of differences in serum angiotensin converting enzyme and lysozyme
      levels of patients with ocular involvement of other autoimmune inflammatory and
      infectious diseases. METHODS: This is a prospective study involving patients with
      ankylosing spondylitis, behcet's disease, presumed sarcoidosis, presumed latent
      tuberculosis, presumed latent syphilis, and control group. The serum levels of
      angiotensin converting enzyme and lysozyme were analyzed by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. Bonnferoni analysis was used to assess pairwise comparisons
      between the groups. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in serum
      angiotensin converting enzyme level in patients with presumed sarcoidosis
      compared to ankylosing spondylitis (p = 0.0001), behcet's disease (p = 0.0001),
      presumed latent tuberculosis (p = 0.0001), presumed latent syphilis (p = 0.0001),
      and control group (p = 0.0001). The increase in serum lysozyme level was
      significant for patients with presumed sarcoidosis with respect to ankylosing
      spondylitis (p = 0.0001), behcet's disease, (p = 0.0001) presumed latent
      tuberculosis (p = 0.001), presumed latent syphilis (p = 0.033), and control group
      (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels are
      significant for patients with presumed sarcoidosis compared to ocular involvement
      of other autoimmune diseases such as behcet's disease and ankylosing spondylitis,
      and ocular involvement of infectious diseases such as presumed latent
      tuberculosis and presumed latent syphilis. However, elevated serum lysozyme level
      might be also detected in ocular involvement of infectious diseases such as
      presumed latent tuberculosis and presumed latent syphilis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 
      TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02627209. Date of registration: 12/09/2015.

PMID- 26879980
TI  - Ammonia oxidizing bacteria and archaea in horizontal flow biofilm reactors
      treating ammonia-contaminated air at 10  degrees C.
AB  - The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of novel,
      Horizontal Flow Biofilm Reactor (HFBR) technology for the treatment of ammonia
      (NH3)-contaminated airstreams. Three laboratory-scale HFBRs were used for
      remediation of an NH3-containing airstream at 10  degrees C during a 90-d trial
      to test the efficacy of low-temperature treatment. Average ammonia removal
      efficiencies of 99.7 % were achieved at maximum loading rates of 4.8 g NH3 m(3)
      h(-1). Biological nitrification of ammonia to nitrite (NO2 (-)) and nitrate (NO3
      (-)) was mediated by nitrifying bacterial and archaeal biofilm populations.
      Ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) were significantly more abundant than ammonia
      oxidising archaea (AOA) vertically at each of seven sampling zones along the
      vertical HFBRs. Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira, were the two most dominant
      bacterial genera detected in the HFBRs, while an uncultured archaeal clone
      dominated the AOA community. The bacterial community composition across the three
      HFBRs was highly conserved, although variations occurred between HFBR zones and
      were driven by physicochemical variables. The study demonstrates the feasibility
      of HFBRs for the treatment of ammonia-contaminated airstreams at low
      temperatures; identifies key nitrifying microorganisms driving the removal
      process; and provides insights for process optimisation and control. The findings
      are significant for industrial applications of gas oxidation technology in
      temperate climates.

PMID- 26879981
TI  - Relationships Between Health Behaviors, Self-Efficacy, and Health Locus of
      Control of Students at the Universities of the Third Age.
AB  - BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the relationship of health behaviors
      with the health locus of control and the sense of self-efficacy against the
      background of socio-economic factors and self-rated health among students of the
      Universities of the Third Age (U3As). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 320
      U3A students, with mean age of 67.5 years. The following research tools were
      used: Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control
      Scale (MHLC), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and an original survey of
      the author's own design. RESULTS Mean total HBI and GSES scores were 90.63 and
      30.12, respectively. These results are satisfactory. A slight predominance of
      internal health locus of control was documented. A number of significant
      correlations were found between the HBI, GSES, and MHLC scores, except for the
      MHLC subscale expressing the influence of chance. Educational attainment was
      shown to have a significant impact on the scores for the positive attitude and
      proper dietary habits subscales of HBI, as well as on the GSES scores. Economic
      status of the participants influenced the levels of positive attitude, internal
      health locus of control, and self-efficacy. Furthermore, internal health locus of
      control was found to be modulated by subjective health of the respondents. The
      scores for external health locus of control and the influence of chance increased
      significantly with age. CONCLUSIONS The currently noticeable emphasis placed on
      lifelong education should serve as a good prognostic factor for health behaviors
      and personal health resources for years to come. 

PMID- 26879983
TI  - Distribution and risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in suburban and rural
      soils of Beijing with various land uses.
AB  - We investigated the sources, distribution, and health risks of polycyclic
      aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of peri-urban Beijing. The mean
      concentrations of total 16 PAHs in suburban and rural soils of Beijing were 321.8
      +/- 408.2 and 219.2 +/- 233.5 ng/g, respectively. The PAH concentrations
      decreased along the urban-suburban-rural gradient and varied with land use
      categories. The industrial areas had the highest soil PAH concentrations followed
      by the living areas, roadsides, green areas, and agricultural areas. The major
      sources of PAHs in these soils were coal and biomass combustion. Traffic emission
      was not the dominant source of PAHs in peri-urban Beijing. At a few sites, high
      soil PAH contents were caused by point sources such as iron and steel plants and
      a wood preservative factory. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) of
      adults and children exposed to PAHs in the soils were acceptable. However,
      cautions should be paid to the abandoned industrial sites, which might be
      converted to residential area during the urbanization process. 

PMID- 26879982
TI  - Physiotherapy students' perspectives of online e-learning for interdisciplinary
      management of chronic health conditions: a qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To qualitatively explore physiotherapy students' perceptions of
      online e-learning for chronic disease management using a previously developed,
      innovative and interactive, evidence-based, e-learning package: Rheumatoid
      Arthritis for Physiotherapists e-Learning (RAP-eL). METHODS: Physiotherapy
      students participated in three focus groups in Perth, Western Australia.
      Purposive sampling was employed to ensure maximum heterogeneity across age,
      gender and educational background. To explore students' perspectives on the
      advantages and disadvantages of online e-learning, ways to enhance e-learning,
      and information/learning gaps in relation to interdisciplinary management of
      chronic health conditions, a semi-structured interview schedule was developed.
      Verbatim transcripts were analysed using inductive methods within a grounded
      theory approach to derive key themes. RESULTS: Twenty-three students (78 %
      female; 39 % with previous tertiary qualification) of mean (SD) age 23 (3.6)
      years participated. Students expressed a preference for a combination of both
      online e-learning and lecture-style learning formats for chronic disease
      management, citing flexibility to work at one's own pace and time, and access to
      comprehensive information as advantages of e-learning learning. Personal
      interaction and ability to clarify information immediately were considered
      advantages of lecture-style formats. Perceived knowledge gaps included practical
      application of interdisciplinary approaches to chronic disease management and
      developing and implementing physiotherapy management plans for people with
      chronic health conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy students preferred multi
      modal and blended formats for learning about chronic disease management. This
      study highlights the need for further development of practically-oriented
      knowledge and skills related to interdisciplinary care for people with chronic
      conditions among physiotherapy students. While RAP-eL focuses on rheumatoid
      arthritis, the principles of learning apply to the broader context of chronic
      disease management.

PMID- 26879985
TI  - Desertification and its effect on the erosion of vegetation in the south-western
      region of Saudi Arabia.
AB  - This study was conducted in Jazan region of south-western Saudi Arabia.
      Vegetation cover, frequency, abundance and soil characteristics were analysed at
      three locations with different quantitative and descriptive vegetation
      characteristics. Plant species were classified into three primary communities
      dominated by Salvadora persic, Acacia tortilis and Ziziphus spini-Christi. The
      results indicated that the distribution of plant species is controlled by soil
      characteristics. Very limited water resources are also limiting factor in
      vegetation growth. Among the three studied sites, desert and coastal environments
      are affected by desertification. Rehabilitation of the degraded lands requires
      collaborative efforts and support from the different related governmental
      sectors. Ecological conservation and sustainable development must be adopted as
      tools of rehabilitation. 

PMID- 26879984
TI  - Concentration of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb in soil, sugarcane leaf and juice:
      residual effect of sewage sludge and organic compost application.
AB  - Many researchers have evaluated the effects of successive applications of sewage
      sludge (SS) on soil plant-systems, but most have not taken into account the
      residual effect of organic matter remaining from prior applications. Furthermore,
      few studies have been carried out to compare the effects of the agricultural use
      of SS and sewage sludge compost (SSC). Therefore, we evaluated the residual
      effect of SS and SSC on the heavy metal concentrations in soil and in sugarcane
      (Saccharum spp.) leaves and juice. The field experiment was established after the
      second harvesting of unburned sugarcane, when the organic materials were applied.
      The SS and SSC rates were (t ha(-1), dry base): 0, 12.5, 25, and 50; and 0, 21,
      42, and 84, respectively. All element concentrations in the soil were below the
      standards established by Sao Paulo State environmental legislation. SS promoted
      small increases in Zn concentrations in soil and Cu concentrations in leaves.
      However, all heavy metals concentrations in the leaves were lower than the limits
      established for toxic elements and were in accordance with the limits established
      for micronutrients. There were reductions in the concentrations of Ni and Cu in
      soil and the concentration of Pb in juice, with increasing rates of SSC. The
      heavy metal concentrations were very low in the juice. Under humid tropical
      conditions and with short-term use, SS and SSC containing low heavy metal
      concentrations did not have negative effects on plants and soil. 

PMID- 26879986
TI  - Dissipation kinetics and risk assessment of thiamethoxam and dimethoate in mango.
AB  - Thiamethoxam and dimethoate are two insecticides used to control hoppers and
      inflorescence midges in mango. Thiamethoxam (0.008 and 0.016%) and dimethoate
      (0.06 and 0.12%) were sprayed on Dashehari mango trees during the pre-mature
      stage of fruit (first week of May) to study their dissipation kinetics and risk
      assessment in mango fruit. Thiamethoxam dissipated in fruit from 1.93 and 3.71 mg
      kg(-1) after 2 h of spraying to 0.08 and 0.13 mg kg(-1) after 20 days of spraying
      at single and double doses, respectively. Its residue did not persist beyond 20
      days in fruit. Dimethoate dissipated in fruit from 2.81 and 5.34 mg kg(-1) after
      2 h of application to 0.12 and 0.19 mg kg(-1) after 10 days of application at
      single and double doses, respectively. No residue was detected in fruit beyond 10
      days after its application. Both ready-to-harvest mature mango fruit and pulp
      (after 40 days of spraying) were free from any residues of these insecticides at
      both the concentration levels. The rate of dissipation of these insecticides
      followed first-order kinetics in fruit with residual half-lives of 4.0 to 4.5
      days for thiamethoxam and 2 days for dimethoate. Based on their MRL values of 0.5
      and 2.0 mg kg(-1) in mango, pre-harvest intervals of 7 and 11 days, and 6 and 7
      days were suggested for thiamethoxam and dimethoate, respectively, after spraying
      at single and double doses. The theoretical maximum residue contribution (TMRC)
      values for both the insecticides, calculated for residues corresponding to each
      sampling date, were found to be below the maximum permissible intake (MPI) values
      on mango fruit (except for dimethoate double dose up to 3 days); hence, both
      thiamethoxam and dimethoate could be considered non-hazardous to consumers at the
      above doses and time intervals.

PMID- 26879987
TI  - 3-Acylated tetramic and tetronic acids as natural metal binders: myth or reality?
AB  - Covering: up to 20153-Acylated tetramic and tetronic acids are characterized by a
      low pKa and are likely to be deprotonated under physiological conditions. In
      addition, their structure makes them excellent chelators of metallic cations. We
      will discuss the significance of these chemical properties with regard to the
      biological properties and mechanisms of action of these compounds, highlighting
      the importance of considering them as salts or chelates for biological purposes,
      rather than acids. 

PMID- 26879988
TI  - Pelvic digit: A rare congenital anomaly.

PMID- 26879991
TI  - Epidemiology of laryngeal carcinoma in Germany, 1998-2011.
AB  - Constituting 25-30 % of all head and neck cancer cases, laryngeal carcinoma is
      the most prevalent entity. Major risk factors of laryngeal cancer are smoking and
      excessive alcohol consumption. This study presents the recent developments in the
      incidence of laryngeal cancer from 1998 to 2011 in Germany. Laryngeal carcinoma
      was identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and
      Related Health Problems (ICD10) from German population-based cancer registries.
      The incidence was provided by the Robert Koch Institute, and the mortality data
      were derived from German death statistics for further evaluation. Both
      descriptive and analytical analyses were conducted. From 1998 to 2011, a total of
      14,847 laryngeal carcinoma cases were reported, in 13,195 men and 1652 women.
      Glottic carcinoma represented the main entity, constituting 69 % of male cases
      and 50 % of female cases. For men, a decline in incidence was observed starting
      in 2006. The incidence rate for women remained stable for the period of
      observation. The incidence of laryngeal cancer resembles the development of
      smoking behaviour in Germany. To maintain the positive trend of the male
      population and to reduce the incidence in women, it is crucial to continue and to
      improve the prevention of smoking campaigns in Germany. 

PMID- 26879992
TI  - In response to: Hyaluronic acid fat graft myringoplasty vs. fat patch fat graft
      myringoplasty.

PMID- 26879990
TI  - The diagnostic value of narrow band imaging in different oral and oropharyngeal
      subsites.
AB  - The diagnostic value of narrow band imaging (NBI) in the "optical biopsy" of
      leukoplakias (LP) and erythroplakias (EP) in different oral cavity (OC) and
      oropharyngeal (OP) subsites is still to be defined. We evaluated 128 unbiopsied
      and untreated OC/OP LP and EP by conventional oral examination (COE), white light
      (WL) endoscopy, and NBI and categorized them as "suspicious" or "innocuous". All
      lesions were treated by excisional biopsy. True positives were those considered
      as "suspicious" and with histopathology ranging from mild dysplasia to invasive
      carcinoma. Epithelia were classified as follows: type 1, keratinized thick
      stratified (gingiva, hard palate, dorsal tongue); type 2a, non-keratinized thin
      stratified (floor of mouth, vestibule, ventral tongue, soft palate, palatine
      tonsils, base of tongue); type 2b, non-keratinized, very thick stratified
      (retromolar trigon, lateral tongue, labial and buccal mucosa). Histopathology
      revealed 32 % benign lesions, 13 % mild to moderate dysplasias, 15 % severe
      dysplasias/carcinoma in situ, 16 % microinvasive, and 23 % invasive carcinomas.
      The false positive rates were 32 % at COE, 27 % at WL, and 15 % at NBI. The false
      negative rates were 49, 22, and 11 %, respectively. Diagnositic performance was
      higher for NBI compared to COE (p < 0.001) and to WL (p = 0.004). Comparison of
      the diagnostic value of NBI among different OC/OP subsites did not show
      statistically significant difference. NBI as an "optical biopsy" tool
      significantly reduces the rates of false positives and false negatives in
      diagnosis of OC/OP cancer compared with COE and WL. No statistically significant
      difference was noted in its diagnostic value among different OC/OP subsites. 

PMID- 26879989
TI  - Heterotrimeric G protein signaling via GIV/Girdin: Breaking the rules of
      engagement, space, and time.
AB  - Canonical signal transduction via heterotrimeric G proteins is spatially and
      temporally restricted, that is, triggered exclusively at the plasma membrane
      (PM), only by agonist activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) via a
      process that completes within a few hundred milliseconds. Recently, a rapidly
      emerging paradigm has revealed a non-canonical pathway for activation of
      heterotrimeric G proteins by the non-receptor guanidine-nucleotide exchange
      factor (GEF), GIV/Girdin. This pathway has distinctive temporal and spatial
      features and an unusual profile of receptor engagement: diverse classes of
      receptors, not just GPCRs can engage with GIV to trigger such activation. Such
      activation is spatially and temporally unrestricted, that is, can occur both at
      the PM and on internal membranes discontinuous with the PM, and can continue for
      prolonged periods of time. Here, we provide the most complete up-to-date review
      of the molecular mechanisms that govern the unique spatiotemporal aspects of non
      canonical G protein activation by GIV and the relevance of this new paradigm in
      health and disease. 

PMID- 26879993
TI  - In response to: The effects of different environmental pH on healing of tympanic
      membrane: an experimental study.

PMID- 26879994
TI  - Hearing outcome does not depend on the interval of intratympanic steroid
      administration in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
AB  - We studied the effect of intratympanic steroid administration with different
      intervals on hearing outcomes in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural
      hearing loss (ISSNHL). The subjects were 197 consecutive patients (197 ears) with
      ISSNHL (hearing level >=40 dB, interval between onset and treatment <=30 days).
      They received systemic administration of prednisolone (100 mg followed by tapered
      doses) combined with intratympanic injection of dexamethasone (4 mg/ml).
      Intratympanic injection was performed once a week for 4 weeks in 105 patients
      (long-interval group), or 4 times in 1 week in 92 patients (short-interval
      group). The hearing outcomes were evaluated at two points of time: 1 week from
      the start of treatment, and 1-2 months after the completion of treatment when the
      hearing level reached a plateau. There was no significant difference in the cure
      rate, marked-recovery rate, recovery rate, hearing gain, hearing level, or
      percent hearing improvement between the long- and short-interval groups at either
      point of time. Multiple regression analysis also showed that the final hearing
      level did not depend on the interval of intratympanic steroid injection. These
      results indicate that the hearing outcome of ISSNHL does not improve even if the
      interval of intratympanic injection is shortened. This implies that a lower total
      number of intratympanic steroid injections may be as effective as the present
      protocol. 

PMID- 26879996
TI  - Phimosis in male dromedary camels: Clinical findings and changes in the hemogram,
      nitric oxide metabolites, and testosterone concentrations.
AB  - The objectives of this study were to elucidate the clinical findings in male
      dromedary camels with phimosis (PHI, n = 43) and to investigate the association
      of this syndrome with the hemogram, nitric oxide metabolites (NOMs), and
      testosterone concentrations. History and signalment were obtained, and a breeding
      soundness examination was performed. The penis was exteriorized after
      administration of a pudendal nerve block. Abnormal masses obtained from the
      prepuce and penis were prepared for histopathology. Blood samples for hemogram
      assessment were taken from the diseased animals and from 10 healthy control
      males. Total nitrates/nitrites were determined in sera using the Griess assay.
      Testosterone was estimated in sera using ELISA. Phimosis associated with
      detectable pathologic lesions, mainly including ulcerative posthitis and
      lacerated glans penis, was present in 34 (79.1%) of the 43 cases (PHI-P), whereas
      the remaining nine (20.9%) of the 43 cases had no noticeable lesions (PHI-N). The
      PHI-P group showed higher leukocyte counts (P = 0.001), especially neutrophils (P
      = 0.0001), and greater NOM concentrations (P = 0.002) than the PHI-N and control
      groups. However, testosterone concentrations did not differ among groups. In
      conclusion, PHI in the male dromedary camels was mainly associated with
      ulcerative posthitis and laceration of the glans penis. The presence of
      pathologic lesions in cases with PHI was associated with leukocytosis,
      neutrophilia, and high NOM concentrations. 

PMID- 26879995
TI  - Management algorithm for HIV-associated parotid lymphoepithelial cysts.
AB  - We report an evidence-based management algorithm for benign lymphoepithelial
      cysts (BLEC) of the parotid glands in HIV patients based on long-term outcomes
      after radiation therapy. From 1987 to 2013, 72 HIV-positive patients with BLEC of
      the parotid glands treated at our institutions were identified and their medical
      records were reviewed and analyzed. The primary endpoint of our study was to
      determine a dose response in HIV patients with BLEC. In group A (<=18 Gy), which
      received a median dose of 10 Gy (8-18), overall response (OvR), complete response
      (CR), partial response (PR), and local failure (LF) was experienced by 7, 7, 0,
      and 93 %, respectively. In group B (>=22.5 Gy), which received a median dose of
      24 Gy (22.5-30), OvR, CR, PR, and LF was experienced by 88, 65, 23, and 12 %.
      Logistic regression revealed that higher dose (>=22.5 Gy) predicted for cosmetic
      control (p = 0.0003). Multiple regression analysis revealed higher dose predicted
      for cosmetic control (p = 0.0001) after adjusting for confounding variables (age,
      gender, race, HAART use, BLEC duration, and fractionation size). No patients in
      either group experienced RTOG grade >=3 toxicities. A radiation dose of 24 Gy
      delivered in 12-16 fractions of 1.5-2 Gy per fraction provides long-term cosmetic
      control in HIV-positive patients with BLEC of the parotid glands. 

PMID- 26879997
TI  - The effect of isosorbide dinitrate on uterine and ovarian blood flow in cycling
      and early pregnant mares: A pilot study.
AB  - Poor uterine perfusion has been proposed as a cause of infertility in mares. The
      objective of this study was to investigate the effect of isosorbide dinitrate
      (ISDN), a nitric oxide donor, on uterine and ovarian blood flow resistance during
      diestrus and early pregnancy in mares. Six Trotter mares, aged 7 to 14 years,
      were examined daily during the first 11 days of three diestrous periods, and five
      of those mares were also examined during the first 11 days of two pregnancies.
      Six mares randomly received a placebo, a low dose (30 mg, ISDN30), or a high dose
      of ISDN (60 mg, ISDN60) through three nonconsecutive cycles. The treatments were
      administered orally, every 12 hours from Day 1 to 11 of the cycle (Day 0 =
      ovulation). Five of the 6 mares received a placebo or 60 mg of ISDN orally every
      12 hours from Day 1 to 11 of pregnancy. The mares were short cycled on Day 12 of
      each trial. Transrectal color Doppler was used to determine blood flow resistance
      semiquantitatively and expressed as pulsatility index. Mean pulsatility index of
      both uterine arteries combined and of the dominant (ipsilateral to the CL)
      ovarian artery was lower (treatment effects: P <= 0.01; time effects: P <= 0.002)
      in mares receiving 30 mg or 60 mg of ISDN compared with placebo-treated mares.
      Blood flow resistance in the dominant ovarian artery was lower in ISDN-treated
      pregnant mares than in placebo-treated pregnant and cycling mares (treatment
      effect: P = 0.04; time effect: P = 0.003). Isosorbide dinitrate increases uterine
      and ovarian perfusion in cycling mares and ovarian perfusion in early pregnant
      mares. Further studies are needed to investigate these effects in relation to
      fertility of the mare. 

PMID- 26879998
TI  - Effects of cilostamide and/or forskolin on the meiotic resumption and development
      competence of growing ovine oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue staining.
AB  - The relevance of low developmental competence of in vitro-matured oocyte to the
      incomplete/delayed cytoplasmic maturation, and the heterogeneity of retrieved
      oocytes is well established in several species. A short phase of prematuration
      culture was used to allow better oocyte cytoplasmic maturation. The preselection
      of growing and fully grown oocytes has been proposed to improve developmental
      competency. This study investigated the effects of phosphodiesterase type 3
      specific inhibitor, cilostamide, and adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, on
      the resumption of meiosis and developmental competence of growing ovine oocytes
      selected by brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining. Results indicate that
      cilostamide, forskolin, and their combination significantly (P < 0.05) increased
      the percentage of growing (BCB-) oocytes maintained at the germinal vesicle
      stage. However, only forskolin significantly (P < 0.05) increased the yield and
      quality of blastocysts derived from BCB- oocytes compared with non-BCB-treated
      oocytes. We conclude that a short prematuration culture with forskolin may
      improve the in vitro developmental competency of growing oocytes in ovine. 

PMID- 26879999
TI  - Oxidative stress at different stages of two-step semen cryopreservation
      procedures in dogs.
AB  - Sperm cryopreservation generates sperm damage and reduced fertilization capacity
      as a consequence of reactive oxygen species formation. Identifying the critical
      points of the process will contribute to the development of strategies for
      oxidative stress prevention. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to verify
      the occurrence of oxidative stress during the two-step cryopreservation process
      in dogs. Six healthy mature dogs were used and submitted to the two-step sperm
      cryopreservation protocol. The sperm analysis was done at three time points:
      after refrigeration, after glycerolization, and after thawing by sperm motility,
      measurement of spontaneous and induced oxidative stress, sperm mitochondrial
      activity, plasma membrane integrity, flow cytometric evaluation of plasma and
      acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and sperm
      chromatin structure assay. There was an increase in free radical production after
      glycerolization (87.4 +/- 15.5 ng/mL of spontaneous thiobarbituric acid reactive
      substances (TBARS) after refrigeration and 1226.3 +/- 256.0 ng/mL after
      glycerolization; P < 0.05), in association with loss of sperm mitochondrial
      activity. However, frozen-thawed samples had lower sperm motility, lower
      resistance to oxidative stress (448.7 +/- 23.6 ng/mL of induced TBARS after
      glycerolization and 609.4 +/- 35.9 ng/mL after thawing; P < 0.05) and increased
      lipid peroxidation (4815.2 +/- 335.4 ng/mL of spontaneous TBARS after thawing; P
      < 0.05) as well as increased damage to plasma and acrosomal membranes, compared
      with refrigeration and glycerolization. In conclusion, the production of free
      radicals by sperm cells begins during glycerolization. However, sperm oxidative
      damage intensifies after thawing. Despite intracellular ice formation during
      cryopreservation, the increased production of reactive oxygen species can be the
      explanation of the decrease in sperm motility, reduced mitochondrial activity,
      and sperm plasma membrane and acrosomal damage. 

PMID- 26880000
TI  - The 9-day CIDR-PG protocol: Incorporation of PGF2alpha pretreatment into a long
      term progestin-based estrus synchronization protocol for postpartum beef cows.
AB  - A pilot experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that administration of
      PGF2alpha before progestin treatment would allow for a reduced duration of
      progestin treatment in a long-term progestin-based estrus synchronization
      protocol. A modified presynchronization treatment was compared with a standard
      long-term controlled internal drug release (CIDR) treatment, and treatments were
      compared on the basis of ovarian follicular dynamics, estrous response rate,
      synchrony of estrus expression, and pregnancy rates resulting from timed
      artificial insemination (TAI) in postpartum beef cows. Estrous was synchronized
      for 85 cows, with cows assigned to one of two treatments based on age, days
      postpartum, and body condition score. Cows assigned to the 14-day CIDR-PG
      protocol received a CIDR insert (1.38 g progesterone) on Day 0, CIDR removal on
      Day 14, and administration of PGF2alpha (25 mg im) on Day 30. Cows assigned to
      the 9-day CIDR-PG protocol received PGF2alpha concurrent with CIDR insertion on
      Day 5, PGF2alpha concurrent with CIDR removal on Day 14, and administration of
      PGF2alpha on Day 30. In both treatments, split-time AI was performed based on
      estrous response. At 72 hours after PGF2alpha (Day 33), cows having expressed
      estrus received TAI; cows that failed to express estrus by 72 hours received TAI
      24 hours later (96 hours after PGF2alpha on Day 34), with GnRH (100 MUg im)
      administered to nonestrous cows. Estrus-detection transmitters were used from
      CIDR removal until AI to determine onset time of estrus expression both after
      CIDR removal and after PGF2alpha. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed at CIDR
      removal on Day 14, PGF2alpha on Day 30, and AI on Days 33 or 34. At CIDR removal
      on Day 14, diameter of the largest follicle present on the ovary was similar
      between treatments. The proportion of cows expressing estrus after CIDR removal
      tended to be higher (P = 0.09) among cows assigned to the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment
      (93%; 40 of 43) than among cows assigned to the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (81%; 34
      of 42). After PGF2alpha, a significantly higher proportion (P = 0.02) of cows
      expressed estrus after synchronization with the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment (91%; 39
      of 43) than the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (69%; 29 of 42). Consequently, pregnancy
      rate to TAI tended to be increased (P = 0.09) among the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment
      (76.7%; 33 of 43) compared with the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (59.5%; 25 of 42).
      In summary, a long-term CIDR-based estrous synchronization protocol for
      postpartum beef cows was enhanced through administration of PGF2alpha at CIDR
      insertion and CIDR removal. 

PMID- 26880002
TI  - Clandestine abortion causing uterine perforation and bowel infarction in a rural
      area: a case report and brief review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An unsafe abortion is defined as a procedure for terminating an
      unintended pregnancy carried out either by a person lacking the necessary skills
      or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards or both.
      Majority of these unsafe abortions are carried out in rural areas of developing
      countries, usually by unskilled persons who do not have proper knowledge of the
      anatomy of reproductive organs and in unhygienic environments thus leading to
      various complications. CASE PRESENTATION: We discuss the case of a 21 year old
      female who presented in septic shock after she underwent an unsafe abortion of an
      11 weeks pregnancy with uterine wall perforation and bowel injury that required
      resection. CONCLUSION: Unsafe abortion is an important public health problem
      which accounts for a significant cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in
      resource poor countries. A high index of suspicion of clandestine abortion with
      ensuing complications should prevail when faced with a woman of child bearing age
      with the triad of vaginal bleeding, amenorrhea and pelvic sepsis.

PMID- 26880001
TI  - Biocontrol agents promote growth of potato pathogens, depending on environmental
      conditions.
AB  - There is a pressing need to understand and optimize biological control so as to
      avoid over-reliance on the synthetic chemical pesticides that can damage
      environmental and human health. This study focused on interactions between a
      novel biocontrol-strain, Bacillus sp. JC12GB43, and potato-pathogenic
      Phytophthora and Fusarium species. In assays carried out in vitro and on the
      potato tuber, the bacterium was capable of near-complete inhibition of pathogens.
      This Bacillus was sufficiently xerotolerant (water activity limit for growth =
      0.928) to out-perform Phytophthora infestans (~0.960) and challenge Fusarium
      coeruleum (~0.847) and Fusarium sambucinum (~0.860) towards the lower limits of
      their growth windows. Under some conditions, however, strain JC12GB43 stimulated
      proliferation of the pathogens: for instance, Fusarium coeruleum growth-rate was
      increased under chaotropic conditions in vitro (132 mM urea) by >100% and on
      tubers (2-M glycerol) by up to 570%. Culture-based assays involving macromolecule
      stabilizing (kosmotropic) compatible solutes provided proof-of-principle that the
      Bacillus may provide kosmotropic metabolites to the plant pathogen under
      conditions that destabilize macromolecular systems of the fungal cell. Whilst
      unprecedented, this finding is consistent with earlier reports that fungi can
      utilize metabolites derived from bacterial cells. Unless the antimicrobial
      activities of candidate biocontrol strains are assayed over a full range of field
      relevant parameters, biocontrol agents may promote plant pathogen infections and
      thereby reduce crop yields. These findings indicate that biocontrol activity,
      therefore, ought to be regarded as a mode-of-behaviour (dependent on prevailing
      conditions) rather than an inherent property of a bacterial strain. 

PMID- 26880003
TI  - Long-term radiographic follow-up of bisphosphonate-associated atypical femur
      fractures.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the appearance of bisphosphonate-related femur
      insufficiency fractures on long-term follow-up radiographic studies and to
      describe the rate of fracture line obscuration and cortical beak healing over
      time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, bisphosphonate-related
      femur fracture radiographs were reviewed by two radiologists for the presence of
      a fracture line, callus, and the characteristic cortical beak. Kaplan-Meier
      curves were used to analyze the time to first indication of healing. Femurs were
      also subdivided into those who underwent early versus late surgical fixation and
      those who underwent early versus late discontinuation of bisphosphonate. Clinical
      data including pain level and medication history were collected. RESULTS: Forty
      seven femurs with a bisphosphonate-related femur fracture were identified in 28
      women. Eighty-five percent took a bisphosphonate for greater than 5 years and 59
      % for greater than 10 years. The median time to beak healing was 265 weeks and
      the median time to fracture line healing was 56 weeks in the 31 femurs with a
      baseline fracture. No statistically significant difference was identified between
      surgical fixation and conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Bisphosphonate
      related fractures demonstrate notably prolonged healing time on long-term follow
      up.

PMID- 26880004
TI  - Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Antibodies in Mexican Pigs.
AB  - The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of Hepatitis E, an enterically
      transmitted disease. HEV infections in pigs and humans have been reported
      worldwide, but data from Mexico are scarce. In the present study, the prevalence
      of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was investigated in a quite large number of swine from
      Mexico by means of an ELISA based on a recombinant open reading frame 2 protein
      of HEV genotype 3. Serum samples from 683 healthy pigs (1-48 months old),
      collected during 2010-2013 in 109 herds from 48 municipalities located in 9
      states in the centre of the country were assayed. A 30.75 % (210/683) of the sera
      tested were positive, and they were distributed along all the states included in
      the study. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies varied widely between
      municipalities and herds, and it was higher in pigs 4-6 months of age. No
      relationships were detected between seroprevalences and farm characteristics.
      Forty individual faecal samples were analysed by RT-PCR and all resulted
      negative. These data indicate that HEV infection is widespread in Mexican pigs;
      thus, representing a potential zoonotic risk for humans.

PMID- 26880005
TI  - Influence of Obesity Diagnosis With Organ Dysfunction, Mortality, and Resource
      Use Among Children Hospitalized With Infection in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sepsis induces inflammation in response to infection and is a major
      cause of mortality and hospitalization in children. Obesity induces chronic
      inflammation leading to many clinical manifestations. Our understanding of the
      impact of obesity on diseases, such as infection and sepsis, is limited. The
      objective of this study was to evaluate the association of obesity with organ
      dysfunction, mortality, duration, and charges during among US children
      hospitalized with infection. METHODS: Retrospective study of hospitalizations in
      children with infection aged 0 to 20 years, using the 2009 Kids' Inpatient
      Database. RESULTS: Of 3.4 million hospitalizations, 357 701 were for infection,
      5685 of which were reported as obese children. Obese patients had higher rates of
      organ dysfunction (7.35% vs 5.5%, P < .01), longer hospital stays (4.1 vs 3.5
      days, P < .001), and accrued higher charges (US$29 019 vs US$21 200, P < .001).
      In multivariable analysis, mortality did not differ by obesity status (odds
      ratio: 0.56, 95% confidence interval: 0.23-1.34), however severity of illness
      modified the association between obesity status and the other outcomes.
      CONCLUSIONS: While there was no difference in in-hospital mortality by obesity
      diagnosis, variation in organ dysfunction, hospital stay, and hospital charges
      according to obesity status was mediated by illness severity. Findings from this
      study have significant implications for targeted approaches to mitigate the
      burden of obesity on infection and sepsis.

PMID- 26880006
TI  - Does Infection Site Matter? A Systematic Review of Infection Site Mortality in
      Sepsis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Sepsis treatment protocols emphasize source control with empiric
      antibiotics and fluid resuscitation. Previous reviews have examined the impact of
      infection site and specific pathogens on mortality from sepsis; however, no
      recent review has addressed the infection site. This review focuses on the impact
      of infection site on hospital mortality among patients with sepsis. METHODS: The
      PubMed database was searched for articles from 2001 to 2014. Studies were
      eligible if they included (1) one or more statistical models with hospital
      mortality as the outcome and considered infection site for inclusion in the model
      and (2) adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. Data
      abstracted included stage of sepsis, infection site, and raw and adjusted effect
      estimates. Nineteen studies were included. Infection sites most studied included
      respiratory (n = 19), abdominal (n = 19), genitourinary (n = 18), and skin and
      soft tissue infections (n = 11). Several studies found a statistically
      significant lower mortality risk for genitourinary infections on hospital
      mortality when compared to respiratory infections. CONCLUSION: Based on studies
      included in this review, the impact of infection site in patients with sepsis on
      hospital mortality could not be reliably estimated. Misclassification among
      infections and disease states remains a serious possibility in studies on this
      topic.

PMID- 26880007
TI  - Hitting the moving target: modelling ontogenetic shifts with stable isotopes
      reveals the importance of isotopic turnover.
AB  - Ontogenetic niche shifts are widely prevalent in nature and are important in
      shaping the structure and dynamics of ecosystems. Stable isotope analysis is a
      powerful tool to assess these shifts, with delta(15) N providing a measure of
      trophic level and delta(13) C a measure of energy source. Previous applications
      of stable isotopes to study ontogenetic niche shifts have not considered the
      appreciable time lag between diet and consumer tissue associated with isotopic
      turnover. These time lags introduce significant complexity into field studies of
      ontogenetic niche shifts. Juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
      migrate from freshwater to marine ecosystems and shift their diet from feeding
      primarily on invertebrates to feeding primarily on fish. This dual ontogenetic
      habitat and diet shift, in addition to the long time lag associated with isotopic
      turnover, suggests that there is potential for a disconnect between the prey
      sources that juvenile salmon are consuming, and the inferred prey sources from
      stable isotopes. We developed a model that considered ontogenetic niche shifts
      and time lags associated with isotopic turnover, and compared this 'ontogeny'
      model to one that considered only isotopic turnover. We used a Bayesian framework
      to explicitly account for parameter uncertainty. Data showed overwhelming support
      for the ontogeny model relative to the isotopic turnover model. Estimated
      variables from best model fits indicate that the ontogeny model predicts a much
      greater reliance on fish prey than does the stomach content data. Overall, we
      found that this method of quantifying ontogenetic niche shifts effectively
      accounted for both isotopic turnover and ontogenetic diet shifts; a finding that
      could be widely applicable to a variety of systems.

PMID- 26880008
TI  - Early-life predictors of resilience and related outcomes up to 66 years later in
      the 6-day sample of the 1947 Scottish mental survey.
AB  - PURPOSE: Psychological resilience, the ability to manage and quickly recover from
      stress and trauma, is associated with a range of health and wellbeing outcomes.
      Resilience is known to relate to personality, self-esteem and positive affect,
      and may also depend upon childhood experience and stress. In this study, we
      investigated the role of early-life contributors to resilience and related
      factors in later life. METHODS: We used data from the 6-day sample of the
      Scottish mental survey 1947, an initially representative sample of Scottish
      children born in 1936. They were assessed on a range of factors between the ages
      of 11 and 27 years, and resilience and other outcomes at 77 years. RESULTS:
      Higher adolescent dependability unexpectedly predicted lower resilience in older
      age, as did childhood illnesses, while a count of specific stressors experienced
      throughout early life significantly predicted higher later-life resilience. We
      also observed significant cross-sectional correlations between resilience and
      measures of physical health, mental health, wellbeing and loneliness. Some of the
      associations between early-life predictors and later-life outcomes were
      significantly mediated by resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the
      hypothesis that stress throughout early life may help to build resilience in
      later-life, and demonstrate the importance of resilience as a mediator of other
      influences on health and wellbeing in older age. We suggest that the mechanisms
      determining how early-life stress leads to higher resilience are worthy of
      further investigation, and that psychological resilience should be a focus of
      research and a target for therapeutic interventions aiming to improve older-age
      health and wellbeing.

PMID- 26880009
TI  - Information giving challenges and support strategies at the time of a mental
      health diagnosis: qualitative views from Australian health professionals.
AB  - PURPOSE: Communication of a mental health diagnosis can be a difficult process
      and is a poorly understood area of service provision. The aim of this qualitative
      study was to examine clinicians' perceptions of barriers and helpful strategies
      to discussing information about a mental health condition. METHOD: Qualitative
      interviews with 19 Australian clinicians (general practitioners, mental health
      nurses, psychiatrists, and psychologists) working in several settings (community,
      hospital inpatient, outpatient, accident and emergency) and locations (urban,
      suburban and rural) were conducted and analysed thematically. RESULTS: After
      theme saturation was reached, four primary themes relating to barriers and
      facilitators to communication at the time of diagnosis were identified in the
      data. Outside a recognised lack of focus on this area in training, themes
      included (1) engagement and timing of conversations; (2) stigma and its
      reduction; (3) perceived and desired knowledge for diagnostic information; and
      (4) working with distress. The synthesis of themes is demonstrated in a flowchart
      of suggestions for communicating news of mental health diagnosis that tracks the
      patient journey in receiving information from initial engagement to follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: Talking with an individual about a mental health diagnosis is a non
      linear, complex and changeable situation. However, health professionals report
      using specific strategies to aid this communication process, to meet the specific
      individual's needs. Strategies such as tailoring to the person's situation,
      utilising collaborative practice, effective coordination, and addressing stigma
      may be useful to inform clinician training and support whilst diagnosis remains a
      key feature of the mental health system in Australia.

PMID- 26880010
TI  - Pitfalls and solutions in virtual design of nasoalveolar molding plates by using
      CAD/CAM technology--A preliminary clinical study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Computer-assisted design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
      technology in nasoalveolar molding (NAM) should save time and manpower and reduce
      family input in cases of cleft lip and palate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intraoral
      casts from 12 infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were taken
      immediately after birth (T1) and after (T2) NAM treatment, digitalized, and
      transformed into STL data. The infants were randomized into Group 1 (n = 6)
      receiving conventional NAM treatment or Group 2 receiving CAD/CAM NAM (n = 6). We
      analyzed the following variables by using Geomagic software: intersegmental
      alveolar distance (ISAD); intersegmental lip distance (ISLD); nostril height
      cleft/noncleft (NHc/nc); nasal width cleft/noncleft (NWn/nc); and columella
      deviation angle (CDA). RESULTS: In both groups, all variables except NHnc and
      NWnc were changed significantly between T1 and T2. The analysis of the mean
      differences of the variables in Group 1 and 2 showed no significant differences,
      with a comparable incidence of clinical alterations such as skin or mucosal
      irritations. CONCLUSION: NAM plates can be produced virtually by using CAD/CAM
      technology. The CAD/CAM NAM results show no significant differences from the
      conventional technique. We present our clinically usable virtual CAD/CAM workflow
      for producing a basic NAM plate.

PMID- 26880011
TI  - Utility of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose and 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission
      tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis of medication-related
      osteonecrosis of the jaw: A preclinical study in a rat model.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical utility of positron
      emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF for
      the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), by observing characteristics in
      rat models treated with zoledronic acid (ZA) and/or dexamethasone (DX) followed
      by tooth extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 48 rats were divided
      randomly into four groups: Group 1, rats treated with ZA and DX; Group 2, rats
      treated with ZA; Group 3, rats treated with DX; and Group 4, rats treated with
      vehicle as normal controls. They underwent examinations with both 18F-FDG and 18F
      NaF PET/CT at 4 weeks prior to tooth extraction (baseline) and 4 weeks after
      tooth extraction. Rats were then sacrificed to evaluate the histological
      incidence and characteristics of ONJ. Histological and radiological
      characteristics of all groups were compared to assess the effects of medication
      and tooth extraction. RESULTS: Baseline PET/CT studies using 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF
      showed no difference in uptake among the groups. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT
      performed at 4 weeks after tooth extraction showed increased glucose metabolism
      at the extraction site in both the ZA/DX and the ZA-only groups compared with
      that in the vehicle-treated group, in accordance with the higher incidence of
      histological ONJ (p < 0.05, respectively). 18F-NaF PET/CT performed at 4 weeks
      after tooth extraction showed decreased bone uptake in the extraction site in the
      ZA/DX, ZA, and DX groups versus the vehicle group (all p < 0.05), but this was
      not correlated with the incidence of histological ONJ. The incidence of ONJ was
      highest in the ZA/DX group (66.7%), followed by the ZA group, both of which were
      significantly higher than in the DX and vehicle groups (both p < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/CT as an inflammatory marker appeared to be a more
      appropriate imaging modality than 18F-NaF PET/CT in diagnosing ONJ in a rat model
      including a ZA/DX group. However, the decreased bone remodeling tendency
      highlighted by 18F-NaF PET/CT may be an indicator of a possible risk of ONJ
      before the onset of clinical signs and symptoms.

PMID- 26880012
TI  - Three-dimensional analysis of maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy using
      hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide plate.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate three-dimensional change in maxillary position using
      biodegradable plates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 53 patients who underwent
      orthognathic surgery using biodegradable plates were analyzed retrospectively.
      The position of maxilla was measured three-dimensionally using cone beam computed
      tomography data at preoperative (T0), 1-month postoperative (T1), and 1-year
      postoperative (T2) time points. Changes in the maxilla 1 year after the operation
      (T2-T1) were analyzed to demonstrate postoperative stability. The correlation
      between postoperative relapse (T2-T1) and surgical movement (T1-T0) of the
      maxilla was investigated. RESULTS: At 1-year postoperatively, no significant
      changes in maxillary position were noted in the antero-posterior and transverse
      dimensions. The anterior maxillary position in the vertical dimension also showed
      no significant changes, but the posterior maxillary position (posterior nasal
      spine, greater palatine foramen) showed a 0- to 2.98-mm relapse at 1-year
      postoperatively. The posterior maxilla tended to relapse inferiorly when the
      amount of surgical upward movement was greater than 3-3.5 mm and to relapse
      superiorly when the amount of surgical upward movement was less than 3-3.5 mm.
      For all patients, no postoperative complications in the osteofixated maxilla were
      observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Maxilla fixed with
      biodegradable plates was stable in the antero-posterior and transverse and the
      vertical (anterior maxilla) dimensions. Posterior maxillary vertical relapse was
      clinically acceptable, but relapse patterns that relate to the amount of surgical
      upward movement should be considered for surgical treatment planning.

PMID- 26880013
TI  - Eyelid fat grafting: Indications, operative technique and complications; a
      systematic review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Many recent studies concerning autologous fat grafting in the
      eyelids have been published, mostly consisting of case reports and retrospective
      case series. However, no study on the overall complication or satisfaction rate
      associated with the various grafting techniques exists. We performed a
      comprehensive literature review to determine the outcomes and complications of
      eyelid fat grafting, as well as patient satisfaction. METHODS: A systematic
      review of the literature using the PRISMA criteria was conducted. This protocol
      was registered at the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews at the National
      Institute for Health Research. RESULTS: Sixteen studies, representing 1,159
      patients and published between June 2004 and December 2014, were included.
      Satisfactory results, judged by clinical examination, were observed in all
      studies. Few postoperative complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: We
      demonstrated that the procedures were easy to perform, and achieved satisfactory
      and sustainable results with few complications in both reconstructive and
      cosmetic surgery. However, a wide disparity exists in the various fat harvesting,
      fat purification, and reinjection techniques. Further studies are required to
      assess the long-term outcomes. Our conclusions should be accepted cautiously due
      to the small number of articles and the lack of evidence in published studies.

PMID- 26880014
TI  - Nasofacial angle and nasal prominence: A quantitative investigation of idealized
      and normative values.
AB  - PURPOSE: A quantitative evaluation of the influence of the nasofacial angle on
      perceived attractiveness and threshold values of desire for rhinoplasty. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: The nasofacial angle of an idealized silhouette male Caucasian/white
      profile image was altered incrementally between 21 degrees  and 48 degrees .
      Images were rated on a Likert scale by pretreatment patients (n = 75), laypersons
      (n = 75), and clinicians (n = 35). RESULTS: A nasofacial angle of approximately
      30 degrees  was deemed to be ideal, with a range of 27 degrees -36 degrees 
      deemed acceptable. Angles above or below this range were perceived as
      unattractive. Angles outside the range of 21 degrees -42 degrees  were deemed
      very unattractive. Excessive nasal prominence (nasofrontal angle of 48 degrees )
      was deemed the least attractive. In terms of threshold values of desire for
      surgery, for all groups a threshold value of >=39 degrees  and <=24 degrees 
      indicated a preference for surgery, with clinicians least likely to suggest
      surgery. The patient group assessments demonstrated the greatest variability,
      stressing the importance of using patients as observers, as well as laypersons
      and clinicians, in facial attractiveness research. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended
      that in rhinoplasty planning, the range of normal variability of the nasofrontal
      angle, in terms of observer acceptance, is taken into account, as well as
      threshold values of desire for surgery.

PMID- 26880015
TI  - Discopexy using resorbable pins in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy: Clinical
      and magnetic resonance imaging medium-term results.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the use of resorbable pins for disc fixation in a series of
      patients and their medium-term outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was
      conducted in 26 patients who underwent operative arthroscopic surgery and
      discopexy using resorbable pins. All patients were refractory to conservative
      treatment and presented, in at least one joint, anterior disc displacement
      without reduction on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pre- and postoperative
      evaluation parameters were disc position on MRI, maximal interincisal opening,
      lateral movements, joint pain, and articular locking and clicking. RESULTS: The
      technique was performed in 34 joints, and 47 pins were inserted. Mouth opening
      increased significantly, from a mean of 31.24 mm preoperatively to 39.57 mm 1
      year postoperatively (p < 0.05). Patients reported a decrease in pain, obtaining
      values on a visual analogue scale (1-100) of less than 20 after 1 year
      postsurgery (mean improvement 47.9 points, p < 0.05). Analyzing 1-year MRI
      findings, in 65% of joints the discs were repositioned and in 20% of joints discs
      were in a more posterior position. CONCLUSIONS: The use of resorbable pins is a
      useful technique for disc fixation and shows medium-term improvement in clinical
      parameters and mandibular function. However, further studies are needed to
      evaluate a longer follow-up, joint morphologic changes, and disc stability on
      imaging.

PMID- 26880016
TI  - The Effect of Hydrophile Topology in RAFT-Mediated Polymerization-Induced Self
      Assembly.
AB  - Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) was employed to compare the self
      assembly of different amphiphilic block copolymers. They were obtained by
      emulsion polymerization of styrene in water using hydrophilic poly(N
      acryloylmorpholine) (PNAM)-based macromolecular RAFT agents with different
      structures. An average of three poly (ethylene glycol acrylate) (PEGA) units were
      introduced either at the beginning, statistically, or at the end of a PNAM
      backbone, resulting in formation of nanometric vesicles and spheres from the two
      former macroRAFT architectures, and large vesicles from the latter. Compared to
      the spheres obtained with a pure PNAM macroRAFT agent, composite macroRAFT
      architectures promoted a dramatic morphological change. The change was induced by
      the presence of PEGA hydrophilic side-chains close to the hydrophobic polystyrene
      segment. 

PMID- 26880017
TI  - Margins in breast conserving surgery: A practice-changing process.
AB  - Margins in breast conserving surgery (BCS) have been a long standing subject
      debate. This largely arises from the absence of a consensus on what constitutes
      an adequate margin width, resulting in re-excision rates of 25-40% for close or
      positive margins and its consequent impact upon cosmesis, economic costs, patient
      dissatisfaction and lack of bearing on survival. Accepting that the increased
      risk of local recurrences (LR) has its influence on survival, the decrease in LR
      in BCS in the last decade have been motivated by better surgical techniques for
      assessing negative margins, use of targeted therapies and in general with the
      multimodal treatment in the management of breast cancer patients. Since the
      publication of the consensus guidelines on margins there has evolved a trend of
      changing attitudes towards re-excision. Surgeons are considering margins in the
      context of all factors including not only patient and tumor characteristics but
      also the regional and systemic treatment the patient is receiving. 

PMID- 26880018
TI  - A homozygous nonsense variant in IFT52 is associated with a human skeletal
      ciliopathy.
AB  - Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is vital for the functioning of primary cilia.
      Defects in several components of IFT complexes cause a spectrum of ciliopathies
      with variable involvement of skeleton, brain, eyes, ectoderm and kidneys. We
      examined a child from a consanguineous family who had short stature, narrow
      thorax, short hands and feet, postaxial polydactyly of hands, pigmentary
      retinopathy, small teeth and skeletal dysplasia. The clinical phenotype of the
      child shows significant overlap with cranioectodermal dysplasia type I
      (Sensenbrenner syndrome). Whole-exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense
      variant p.R142* in IFT52 encoding an IFT-B core complex protein as the probable
      cause of her condition. This is the first report of a human disease associated
      with IFT52.

PMID- 26880019
TI  - Evidence for No Significant Impact of Mullerian Anomalies on Reproductive
      Outcomes of Twin Pregnancy in Korean Women.
AB  - The present article aimed to evaluate the impact of congenital Mullerian
      anomalies (MA) on twin pregnancy after 24 gestational weeks in Korean women. All
      records of twin pregnancies in a large maternity hospital in Korea between
      January 2005 and July 2013 were analyzed. Patients with monochorionic
      monoamniotic (MCMA) twins, non-Korean patients, patients with twins delivered
      prior to 24 gestational weeks, and patients with miscarriage of one fetus or
      intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) before 24 gestational weeks were excluded from
      data analysis. In total, 1,422 women with twin pregnancy were eligible for data
      analysis, including 17 (1.2%) who had a known congenital MA (septate uterus,
      bicornuate uterus, arcuate uterus, and unicornuate uterus). Except for the mode
      of conception, baseline demographics were similar between women with MA and those
      without MA. No significant differences were found in pregnancy outcomes of
      gestational age at delivery (p = .86), birth weight of smaller and larger twins
      (p = .54 and p = .65), and number of twins with birth weight <5th percentile for
      gestational age (p = .43).The rates of obstetrical complications such as pre
      eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), placenta previa, cerclage, IUFD,
      and postpartum hemorrhage were not significantly different between the two groups
      either. We concluded that the presence of congenital MA may not increase
      obstetrical risks in outcomes of pregnancy of twins delivered after 24
      gestational weeks.

PMID- 26880021
TI  - High cholesterol diet is not linked to increased heart risk, study shows.

PMID- 26880020
TI  - Nuclear ferritin mediated regulation of JNK signaling in corneal epithelial
      cells.
AB  - Corneal epithelial (CE) cells are exposed to environmental insults (e.g., UV
      irradiation), yet they suffer little damage. Our previous studies suggest that
      chicken CE cells have a novel form of protection involving having ferritin in a
      nuclear location where it can bind to DNA and sequester free iron. Here we
      describe another potential nuclear ferritin-mediated protective mechanism: the
      down-regulation of the JNK signaling pathway. The JNK pathway has been shown by
      others to promote apoptosis in response to cell damage and also to be activated
      in CE cell lines following exposure to UV radiation. Here we show in COS7
      reporter cell lines that the expression of ferritin in a nuclear localization
      significantly down-regulates the JNK pathway (p = 5.7 * 10(-6)), but has no
      effect on the NFkB or the Erk pathways. In organ cultures of embryonic chicken
      corneas, we observed that inhibiting the synthesis of nuclear ferritin in CE
      cells, using the iron-chelating molecule deferoxamine, led to an increase in JNK
      signaling, as measured by phospho-JNK levels compared to CE cells with nuclear
      ferritin. Furthermore, the chemical inhibition of the JNK pathway using the
      molecule AS601245 decreased the production of nuclear ferritin. Taken together,
      these observations suggest that in CE cells a feedback-loop exists in which JNK
      signaling increases the production of nuclear ferritin and, in turn, nuclear
      ferritin decreases the activity of the JNK signaling pathway.

PMID- 26880022
TI  - Levodopa increases oxidative stress and repulsive guidance molecule A levels: a
      pilot study in patients with Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Exposure to free radicals influences synthesis, degradation and function of
      proteins, such as repulsive guidance molecule A. Decay of this protein is
      essential for neuronal maintenance and recovery. Levodopa elevates oxidative
      stress. Therefore levodopa may impact repulsive guidance molecule A metabolism.
      Objectives were to investigate plasma concentrations of repulsive guidance
      molecule A, levodopa, cysteine and cysteinyl-glycine before and 1 h after
      levodopa application in patients with Parkinson's disease. Cysteine and cysteinyl
      glycine as biomarkers for oxidative stress exposure decreased, repulsive guidance
      molecule A and levodopa rose. Repulsive guidance molecule A remained unchanged in
      levodopa naive patients, but particularly went up in patients on a prior chronic
      levodopa regimen. Decay of cysteine specifically cysteinyl-glycine results from
      an elevated glutathione generation with rising cysteine consumption respectively
      from the alternative glutathione transformation to its oxidized form glutathione
      disulfide after free radical scavenging. Repulsive guidance molecule A rise may
      inhibit physiologic mechanisms for neuronal survival.

PMID- 26880024
TI  - Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometry
      assay solves misidentification of rapidly growing mycobacteria.

PMID- 26880023
TI  - Associations between prenatal mercury exposure and early child development in the
      ALSPAC study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that high levels of mercury exposure to the
      pregnant woman can result in damage to the brain of the developing fetus. However
      there is uncertainty as to whether lower levels of the metal have adverse effects
      on the development of the infant and whether components of fish consumption
      and/or the selenium status of the woman is protective. METHODS: In this study we
      analysed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
      (n=2875-3264) to determine whether levels of total blood mercury of pregnant
      women collected in the first half of pregnancy are associated with the
      development of the offspring at ages 6, 18, 30 and 42 months. The developmental
      measures used maternal self-reported scales for individual types of development
      (fine and gross motor, social and communication skills) and total scores.
      Multiple and logistic regression analyses treated the outcomes both as continuous
      and as suboptimal (the lowest 15th centile). The statistical analyses first
      examined the association of prenatal mercury exposure with these developmental
      endpoints and then adjusted each for a number of social and maternal lifestyle
      factors; finally this model was adjusted for the blood selenium level. RESULTS:
      Total maternal prenatal blood mercury and selenium ranged from 0.17 to 12.76 and
      17.0 to 324MUg/L respectively. We found no evidence to suggest that prenatal
      levels of maternal blood mercury were associated with adverse development of the
      child, even when the mother had consumed no fish during pregnancy. In general,
      the higher the mercury level the more advanced the development of the child
      within the range of exposure studied. For example, the fully adjusted effect
      sizes for total development at 6 and 42 months were +0.51 [95%CI +0.05, +1.00]
      and +0.43 [95%CI +0.08, +0.78] points per SD of mercury. For the risk of
      suboptimal development the ORs at these ages were 0.90 [95%CI 0.80, 1.02] and
      0.88 [95%CI 0.77, 1.02]. In regard to the associations between blood mercury and
      child development there were no differences between the mothers who ate fish and
      those who did not, thus implying that the benefits were not solely due to the
      beneficial nutrients in fish. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of adverse
      associations between maternal prenatal blood mercury and child development
      between 6 and 42 months of age. The significant associations that were present
      were all in the beneficial direction.

PMID- 26880026
TI  - Central motor conduction time as prodromal biomarker in spinocerebellar ataxia
      type 2.

PMID- 26880025
TI  - Safety and Feasibility of Laparoscopic Nephrectomy for Big Tumors (>= 10 cm): A
      Retrospective Multicentric Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic nephrectomy for big tumors.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 116 patients were retrospectively collected from
      16 tertiary centres. Clinical and operative parameters, tumor characteristics,
      pre- and postoperative parameters, and renal function before and after surgery
      were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age and body mass index were 61 years and 27.8
      kg/m(2), respectively. Males represented 63.8% of patients, and 54.4% presented
      symptoms at diagnosis. Median tumor size was 11 cm, and 75% of the cases were
      performed by expert surgeons. Median operative time and blood loss were 180
      minutes and 200 mL respectively. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in
      20.7% of cases. Intraoperative complications related to massive hemorrhage
      occurred in 16.4% of patients, resulting in open conversion in 62.5%. Major
      postoperative complications occurred in only 10 patients (8.6%). In univariate
      analysis, intraoperative complications, age, and blood loss were predictive
      factors of conversion to open surgery. Positive surgical margins occurred in 6
      patients (5.2%). None of them presented a local recurrence. Predictive factors of
      recurrence or progression were lymph node invasion, metastases, and Furhman
      grade. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic nephrectomy for tumors > 10 cm can be performed
      safely. Complication rate and positive surgical margins are similar to open
      surgery. In experienced hands, the benefit of a mini invasive surgery remains
      evident.

PMID- 26880027
TI  - Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of the effects of stacking faults on the
      radiation response of 3C-SiC.
AB  - In this study, an ab initio molecular dynamics method is employed to investigate
      how the existence of stacking faults (SFs) influences the response of SiC to low
      energy irradiation. It reveals that the C and Si atoms around the SFs are
      generally more difficult to be displaced than those in unfaulted SiC, and the
      corresponding threshold displacement energies for them are generally larger,
      indicative of enhanced radiation tolerance caused by the introduction of SFs,
      which agrees well with the recent experiment. As compared with the unfaulted
      state, more localized point defects are generated in faulted SiC. Also, the
      efficiency of damage production for Si recoils is generally higher than that of C
      recoils. The calculated potential energy increases for defect generation in SiC
      with intrinsic and extrinsic SFs are found to be higher than those in unfaulted
      SiC, due to the stronger screen-Coulomb interaction between the PKA and its
      neighbors. The presented results provide a fundamental insight into the
      underlying mechanism of displacement events in faulted SiC and will help to
      advance the understanding of the radiation response of SiC with and without SFs. 

PMID- 26880029
TI  - Gender Differences in the Incidence of Depression Among Immigrants and Natives in
      Aragon, Spain.
AB  - Knowledge of depression among immigrants within Spanish primary care is limited.
      This database study investigates the incidence of depressive disorders among
      immigrants and natives within primary care in Aragon (Spain). Participants were
      patients registered in an electronic record register, aged above 20 years
      diagnosed with depression. Incidence of depression was calculated and compared
      per continent of origin, gender and age with the Mann-Whitney U test and the
      Kruskal-Wallis test. The population consisted of 11,088 patients with depression
      of whom 93.0 % natives and 7.0 % immigrants. Incidence of depression amongst male
      immigrants was lower than amongst male natives (OR 0.80). Eastern European males
      showed the lowest incidence 4.1 (3.5-5.3). The gender difference in incidence was
      larger in immigrants than in natives (OR 3.4 vs. 2.7). Due to male immigrants the
      incidence of depression within primary care is lower among immigrants. Equal care
      should be provided to patients of both genders and all origin.

PMID- 26880028
TI  - The Klotho gene G-395A polymorphism and metabolic syndrome in very elderly
      people.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate the possible association of the Klotho G-395A
      polymorphism and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among a population of Chinese
      nonagenarians and centenarians. METHODS: Subjects were from the Project of
      Longevity and Aging in Dujiangyan (PLAD). The genotyping of G-395A (rs1207568) in
      the promoter region of the Klotho gene was performed using the TaqMan allelic
      discrimination assay. MetS was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes
      Federation criteria. RESULTS: We included 695 subjects aged 93.5 +/- 3.2 years. G
      and A allele frequencies were 0.852 and 0.148, respectively. In the whole
      population, the frequency of MetS was 10.8% and 5.9% in the GG and GA + AA
      genotype group, respectively (p = 0.004). The -395A allele carriers had
      significantly lower risk of MetS in the whole population (odd ratio [OR] 0.50,
      95% confidential interval [CI] 0.25 to 0.98) and in women (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.24
      to 0.97), but not in men (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.05 to 3.85). In the whole population
      and women, the relationship between the Klotho G-395A SNP and MetS might due to
      its influence on high blood pressure (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.67; OR 0.47, 95%
      CI 0.31 to 0.71, respectively) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.39 to
      0.95; OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.98, respectively). In men, this relationship
      might due to its influence on high blood pressure (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.90)
      and low HDL-C (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The -395A allele
      carriers of the Klotho gene were correlated with lower risk of MetS among Chinese
      nonagenarians and centenarians, especially in women.

PMID- 26880030
TI  - Undocumented Immigrant Women in Spain: A Scoping Review on Access to and
      Utilization of Health and Social Services.
AB  - This scoping review summarizes and analyzes relevant studies related to the
      evidence published on undocumented immigrant women's access to and utilization of
      health and social services in Spain. Scientific literature was identified by
      entering search terms in seven electronic databases which combined retrieved
      health sciences peer-reviewed articles (Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL Plus and Scopus)
      and grey literature databases (Europa OpenGrey, DART-Europe and Google Scholar)
      published between 2004 and 2014 and written in Spanish or in English presenting
      data about Spain. Those that fulfill the inclusion criteria were selected after a
      blind peer reviewed process when pertinence and quality was debated. A total of
      16 publications were included, the main topics being socio-cultural differences
      in the access and utilization of social and health services and barriers faced by
      immigrant women. None of the studies focused exclusively on undocumented women,
      hence further research is needed in this area.

PMID- 26880031
TI  - NPR2 is involved in FSH-mediated mouse oocyte meiotic resumption.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that follicle-stimulating hormone
      (FSH) is often added to culture media to induce oocyte meiotic resumption and
      maturation and to improve subsequent embryonic development during in vitro
      maturation (IVM). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS:
      Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from ovaries 46-48 h after the
      female mice were intraperitoneally injected with 8 IU equine chorionic
      gonadotropin (eCG) and then the COCs were cultured in different medium. qRT-PCR
      analysis was used to assess mRNA expression of EGF-like factors and natriuretic
      peptide receptor 2 (NPR2). Western Blot analysis was used to assess
      phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1). The oocytes
      were morphologically assessed for meiotic resumption. RESULTS: FSH stimulated the
      expression of EGF-like factors, the activation of MAPK3/1, a decrease in NPR2
      mRNA and oocyte meiotic resumption. Moreover, the FSH-induced decrease in NPR2
      and oocyte meiotic resumption occurred via the MAPK3/1 singling pathway, which
      was activated by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway.
      CONCLUSIONS: NPR2 is involved in FSH-mediated oocyte meiotic resumption, and this
      process is associated with the EGFR and MAPK3/1 signaling pathways.

PMID- 26880033
TI  - The anterior and posterior pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus are involved in
      behavior and neuronal activity of the cuneiform and entopeduncular nuclei.
AB  - Loss of cholinergic neurons in the mesencephalic locomotor region, comprising the
      pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and the cuneiform nucleus (CnF), is related to
      gait disturbances in late stage Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigate the
      effect of anterior or posterior cholinergic lesions of the PPN on gait-related
      motor behavior, and on neuronal network activity of the PPN area and basal
      ganglia (BG) motor loop in rats. Anterior PPN lesions, posterior PPN lesions or
      sham lesions were induced by stereotaxic microinjection of the cholinergic toxin
      AF64-A or vehicle in male Sprague-Dawley rats. First, locomotor activity (open
      field), postural disturbances (Rotarod) and gait asymmetry (treadmill test) were
      assessed. Thereafter, single-unit and oscillatory activities were measured in the
      non-lesioned area of the PPN, the CnF and the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN), the
      BG output region, with microelectrodes under urethane anesthesia. Additionally,
      ECoG was recorded in the motor cortex. Injection of AF64-A into the anterior and
      posterior PPN decreased cholinergic cell counts as compared to naive controls
      (P<0.001) but also destroyed non-cholinergic cells. Only anterior PPN lesions
      decreased the front limb swing time of gait in the treadmill test, while not
      affecting other gait-related parameters tested. Main electrophysiological
      findings were that anterior PPN lesions increased the firing activity in the CnF
      (P<0.001). Further, lesions of either PPN region decreased the coherence of alpha
      (8-12 Hz) band between CnF and motor cortex (MCx), and increased the beta (12-30
      Hz) oscillatory synchronization between EPN and the MCx. Lesions of the PPN in
      rats had complex effects on oscillatory neuronal activity of the CnF and the BG
      network, which may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of gait
      disturbance in PD.

PMID- 26880032
TI  - WBSMDA: Within and Between Score for MiRNA-Disease Association prediction.
AB  - Increasing evidences have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are functionally
      associated with the development and progression of various complex human
      diseases. However, the roles of miRNAs in multiple biological processes or
      various diseases and their underlying molecular mechanisms still have not been
      fully understood yet. Predicting potential miRNA-disease associations by
      integrating various heterogeneous biological datasets is of great significance to
      the biomedical research. Computational methods could obtain potential miRNA
      disease associations in a short time, which significantly reduce the experimental
      time and cost. Considering the limitations in previous computational methods, we
      developed the model of Within and Between Score for MiRNA-Disease Association
      prediction (WBSMDA) to predict potential miRNAs associated with various complex
      diseases. WBSMDA could be applied to the diseases without any known related
      miRNAs. The AUC of 0.8031 based on Leave-one-out cross validation has
      demonstrated its reliable performance. WBSMDA was further applied to Colon
      Neoplasms, Prostate Neoplasms, and Lymphoma for the identification of their
      potential related miRNAs. As a result, 90%, 84%, and 80% of predicted miRNA
      disease pairs in the top 50 prediction list for these three diseases have been
      confirmed by recent experimental literatures, respectively. It is anticipated
      that WBSMDA would be a useful resource for potential miRNA-disease association
      identification. 

PMID- 26880034
TI  - Rilpivirine analogs potently inhibit drug-resistant HIV-1 mutants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are a class
      of antiretroviral compounds that bind in an allosteric binding pocket in HIV-1
      RT, located about 10 A from the polymerase active site. Binding of an NNRTI
      causes structural changes that perturb the alignment of the primer terminus and
      polymerase active site, preventing viral DNA synthesis. Rilpivirine (RPV) is the
      most recent NNRTI approved by the FDA, but like all other HIV-1 drugs, suboptimal
      treatment can lead to the development of resistance. To generate better compounds
      that could be added to the current HIV-1 drug armamentarium, we have developed
      several RPV analogs to combat viral variants that are resistant to the available
      NNRTIs. RESULTS: Using a single-round infection assay, we identified several RPV
      analogs that potently inhibited a broad panel of NNRTI resistant mutants.
      Additionally, we determined that several resistant mutants selected by either RPV
      or Doravirine (DOR) caused only a small increase in susceptibility to the most
      promising RPV analogs. CONCLUSIONS: The antiviral data suggested that there are
      RPV analogs that could be candidates for further development as NNRTIs, and one
      of the most promising compounds was modeled in the NNRTI binding pocket. This
      model can be used to explain why this compound is broadly effective against the
      panel of NNRTI resistance mutants.

PMID- 26880035
TI  - Current practices in corrosion, surface characterization, and nickel leach
      testing of cardiovascular metallic implants.
AB  - In an effort to better understand current test practices and improve nonclinical
      testing of cardiovascular metallic implants, the Food and Drug Administration
      (FDA) held a public workshop on Cardiovascular Metallic Implants: corrosion,
      surface characterization, and nickel leaching. The following topics were
      discussed: (1) methods used for corrosion assessments, surface characterization
      techniques, and nickel leach testing of metallic cardiovascular implant devices,
      (2) the limitations of each of these in vitro tests in predicting in vivo
      performance, (3) the need, utility, and circumstances when each test should be
      considered, and (4) the potential testing paradigms, including acceptance
      criteria for each test. In addition to the above topics, best practices for these
      various tests were discussed, and knowledge gaps were identified. Prior to the
      workshop, discussants had the option to provide feedback and information on
      issues relating to each of the topics via a voluntary preworkshop assignment.
      During the workshop, the pooled responses were presented and a panel of experts
      discussed the results. This article summarizes the proceedings of this workshop
      and background information provided by workshop participants. Published 2016.
      This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. J
      Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1330-1341, 2017.

PMID- 26880036
TI  - Narrative review of women's health in Iran: challenges and successes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In each society, the health of women in different periods may be
      endangered by an unequal distribution of resources, facilities, and gender
      prejudices. The present study evaluated the time trend of Iranian women's health
      between 1990 and 2013. METHODS: This narrative review includes an integration and
      descriptive summary of the existing evidence on trends and criteria of different
      aspects of women's health from social determinant point of view. The evidence was
      drawn from peer-reviewed, cross-national or large-scale studies, official sources
      of the Ministry of Health, reviews, and online scientific databases published
      between 1990 and 2013. RESULTS: The average life expectancy of Iranian women has
      increased from 44.15 years in 1960 to 75.75 years in 2012; in most deprived
      provinces of Iran, however, this criterion is about 67.3 years, and in the
      capital it is 75.8 years. In 2011, 43.37 % of DALYS, 36.21 % of YLL, and 1.92 %
      of YLD were dedicated to women; these figures were 3.63 % lower than they were in
      2003. Although a significant reduction has occurred in maternal mortality rate,
      which dropped from 83 to 23 per 100,000 between 1990 and 2013, there is no equal
      distribution in maternal mortality across the country as manifested by the
      unfavorable conditions of border provinces (SD = 19.2). The prevalence of
      HIV/AIDS is an alarming health problem among Iranian females, increasing
      approximately 546 % between 2007 and 2015. As for mental health, depression in
      women was ranked first among diseases in 2011 compared to a second place ranking
      in 2003. As regards social health, the delinquency of women has increased in
      recent years compared to men with women committing more crimes related to drugs
      and actions against virtue. The annual report of the United Nations for the
      gender gap index in 2013 ranked Iran as 130 among 136 countries (from 0.622 in
      2000 to 0.584 in 2013). CONCLUSION: Generally, over the last three decades, the
      health indices of Iranian women have grown in aspects of physical, mental, and
      social health. Remarkable differences can be seen among female health indices
      based on geographic location and in comparison with men. To promote an improved
      health status for Iranian women, the root causes of the discrepancies must be
      identified and a comprehensive national plan must be established.

PMID- 26880037
TI  - Men's harassment behavior in online video games: Personality traits and game
      factors.
AB  - Online video games afford co-play and social interaction, often anonymous, among
      players from around the world. As predicted by the social identity model of
      deindividuation effects, undesirable behavior is not uncommon in online gaming
      environments, and online harassment has become a pervasive issue in the gaming
      community. In this study, we sought to determine what personality traits and game
      related variables predicted two types of online aggression in video games:
      general harassment (e.g., skill-based taunting, insulting others' intelligence)
      and sexual harassment (e.g., sexist comments, rape threats). Men who play online
      video games (N = 425) participated in an anonymous online survey. Social
      dominance orientation and hostile sexism predicted higher levels of both sexual
      harassment and general harassment in online games. Game involvement and hours of
      weekly gameplay were additional predictors of general harassment. We discuss
      implications of online social aggression and online sexual harassment for online
      gaming. We also apply our findings to the broader understanding of online
      harassment, cyberaggression, cyberbullying, and other forms of online hostility
      in computer-mediated communication contexts. Aggr. Behav. 42:513-521, 2016. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26880038
TI  - Macrophages: sentinels and regulators of the immune system.
AB  - The important role of macrophages in host defense against a variety of pathogens
      has long been recognized and has been documented and reviewed in numerous
      publications. Recently, it has become clear that tissue macrophages are not
      entirely derived from monocytes, as has been assumed for a long time, but rather
      show an ontogenetic dichotomy in most tissues: while part of the tissue
      macrophages are derived from monocytes, a major subset is prenatally seeded from
      the yolk sac. The latter subset shows a remarkable longevity and is maintained by
      self-renewal in the adult animal. This paradigm shift poses interesting
      questions: are these two macrophage subsets functionally equivalent cells that
      are recruited into the tissue at different development stages, or are both
      macrophage subsets discrete cell types with distinct functions, which have to
      exist side by side? Is the functional specialization that can be observed in most
      macrophages due to their lineage or due to their anatomical niche? This review
      will give an overview about what we know of macrophage ontogeny and will discuss
      the influence of the macrophage lineage and location on their functional
      specialization. 

PMID- 26880039
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed Insertion into Heteroatom-Hydrogen Bonds with
      Trifluorodiazoalkanes.
AB  - Copper-catalyzed Si-H, B-H, P-H, S-H, and N-H insertion reactions of 2,2,2
      trifluoro-1-diazoethane and 1-aryl 2,2,2-trifluorodiazoethanes generated a large
      number of new fluorine-containing chemical entities for medicinal chemists. With
      selected Si-H and B-H insertion reactions, we demonstrate successful extension to
      asymmetric catalysis. 

PMID- 26880040
TI  - Low Beclin-1 expression predicts improved overall survival in patients treated
      with immunomodulatory drugs for multiple myeloma and identifies autophagy
      inhibition as a promising potentially druggable new therapeutic target: an
      analysis from The Austrian Myeloma Registry (AMR).
AB  - Beclin-1 is a key regulator of autophagy and has been suggested to be involved in
      the development of drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). We analyzed the
      expression of Beclin-1 in a retrospective cohort of 70 MMs. Beclin-1 expression
      did not influence overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in
      patients with therapy-naive MM. In patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs
      (IMiDs) lack of or low Beclin-1 expression resulted in a significantly improved
      OS and PFS compared to those treated with bortezomib or nonnovel agents. Beclin-1
      expression was more frequently detected in relapsed MM than in therapy-naive MM
      probably being a hallmark of tumor progression and therapy resistance. If
      validated prospectively, Beclin-1 expression might identify patients prone to
      profit above average from IMiDs and enable a more rational allocation of
      antimyeloma therapies. Furthermore, the inhibition of autophagy could be a new
      promising target to improve response to treatment in the relapsed/refractory
      setting.

PMID- 26880041
TI  - Athermal domain-wall creep near a ferroelectric quantum critical point.
AB  - Ferroelectric domain walls are typically stationary because of the presence of a
      pinning potential. Nevertheless, thermally activated, irreversible creep motion
      can occur under a moderate electric field, thereby underlying rewritable and non
      volatile memory applications. Conversely, as the temperature decreases, the
      occurrence of creep motion becomes less likely and eventually impossible under
      realistic electric-field magnitudes. Here we show that such frozen ferroelectric
      domain walls recover their mobility under the influence of quantum fluctuations.
      Nonlinear permittivity and polarization-retention measurements of an organic
      charge-transfer complex reveal that ferroelectric domain-wall creep occurs via an
      athermal process when the system is tuned close to a pressure-driven
      ferroelectric quantum critical point. Despite the heavy masses of material
      building blocks such as molecules, the estimated effective mass of the domain
      wall is comparable to the proton mass, indicating the realization of a
      ferroelectric domain wall with a quantum-particle nature near the quantum
      critical point. 

PMID- 26880042
TI  - Mitigation of Coral Reef Warming Across the Central Pacific by the Equatorial
      Undercurrent: A Past and Future Divide.
AB  - Global climate models (GCMs) predict enhanced warming and nutrient decline across
      the central tropical Pacific as trade winds weaken with global warming.
      Concurrent changes in circulation, however, have potential to mitigate these
      effects for equatorial islands. The implications for densely populated island
      nations, whose livelihoods depend on ecosystem services, are significant. A
      unique suite of in situ measurements coupled with state-of-the-art GCM
      simulations enables us to quantify the mitigation potential of the projected
      circulation change for three coral reef ecosystems under two future scenarios.
      Estimated historical trends indicate that over 100% of the large-scale warming to
      date has been offset locally by changes in circulation, while future simulations
      predict a warming mitigation effect of only 5-10% depending on the island. The
      pace and extent to which GCM projections overwhelm historical trends will play a
      key role in defining the fate of marine ecosystems and island communities across
      the tropical Pacific. 

PMID- 26880043
TI  - Genetic and epigenetic differences associated with environmental gradients in
      replicate populations of two salt marsh perennials.
AB  - While traits and trait plasticity are partly genetically based, investigating
      epigenetic mechanisms may provide more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms
      underlying response to environment. Using AFLP and methylation-sensitive AFLP, we
      tested the hypothesis that differentiation to habitats along natural salt marsh
      environmental gradients occurs at epigenetic, but not genetic loci in two salt
      marsh perennials. We detected significant genetic and epigenetic structure among
      populations and among subpopulations, but we found multilocus patterns of
      differentiation to habitat type only in epigenetic variation for both species. In
      addition, more epigenetic than genetic loci were correlated with habitat in both
      species. When we analysed genetic and epigenetic variation simultaneously with
      partial Mantel, we found no correlation between genetic variation and habitat and
      a significant correlation between epigenetic variation and habitat in Spartina
      alterniflora. In Borrichia frutescens, we found significant correlations between
      epigenetic and/or genetic variation and habitat in four of five populations when
      populations were analysed individually, but there was no significant correlation
      between genetic or epigenetic variation and habitat when analysed jointly across
      the five populations. These analyses suggest that epigenetic mechanisms are
      involved in the response to salt marsh habitats, but also that the relationships
      among genetic and epigenetic variation and habitat vary by species. Site-specific
      conditions may also cloud our ability to detect response in replicate populations
      with similar environmental gradients. Future studies analysing sequence data and
      the correlation between genetic variation and DNA methylation will be powerful to
      identify the contributions of genetic and epigenetic response to environmental
      gradients.

PMID- 26880044
TI  - Congenital Venous Lymphatic Malformation as an Unusual Source of Premenarchal
      Vaginal Bleeding.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Premenarchal vaginal bleeding can present a diagnostic challenge and
      has not been previously reported in association with congenital venous lymphatic
      malformation. CASE: A 3-year-old girl presented with intermittent vaginal
      bleeding since birth. Evaluation showed premenarchal estradiol and gonadotropin
      hormones, a normal pelvic ultrasound and normal colonoscopy. Examination under
      anesthesia and vaginoscopy showed a congested appearance of the hymen and vaginal
      petechiae. Sudden development of a vulvar cyst led to a pelvic magnetic resonance
      imaging scan, which revealed a venous malformation of the pelvis and vulvar
      lymphatic cyst. Vaginal bleeding stopped for approximately 6 months after
      sclerotherapy with doxycycline and ethanol, however recurred and required repeat
      sclerotherapy. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Congenital venous lymphatic malformations
      can rarely be associated with premenarchal vaginal bleeding and should be
      considered when all more common etiologies have been ruled out. Diagnosis is made
      using magnetic resonance imaging, and treatment might include doxycycline and
      ethanol sclerotherapy.

PMID- 26880045
TI  - Prepubertal Vulvar Fibroma: Neoplasm or Physiological Condition?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several authors have previously reconsidered vulvar fibroma, a rare
      prepubertal neoplasm, as a physiological labial asymmetry of early puberty,
      recommending a conservative approach for all cases, although some required
      further clarification. CASE: A fibrous mass found in the left labium majus of a 4
      year-old girl was surgically removed. Imaging confirmed a relapse after 10 months
      and a second surgery was performed due to extremely rapid growth. No subsequent
      relapse occurred after 2 years of follow-up. Diagnosis confirmed prepubertal
      vulvar fibroma, with positive CD34 and lack of actin, desmin, S100, and estrogen
      receptors. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of prepubertal labial asymmetry
      should prompt careful consideration of several variables, such as age, and
      radiologic and histologic features, in order to differentiate between a
      physiological condition and a neoplasm.

PMID- 26880046
TI  - Printed Carbon Nanotube Electronics and Sensor Systems.
AB  - Printing technologies offer large-area, high-throughput production capabilities
      for electronics and sensors on mechanically flexible substrates that can
      conformally cover different surfaces. These capabilities enable a wide range of
      new applications such as low-cost disposable electronics for health monitoring
      and wearables, extremely large format electronic displays, interactive
      wallpapers, and sensing arrays. Solution-processed carbon nanotubes have been
      shown to be a promising candidate for such printing processes, offering stable
      devices with high performance. Here, recent progress made in printed carbon
      nanotube electronics is discussed in terms of materials, processing, devices, and
      applications. Research challenges and opportunities moving forward from
      processing and system-level integration points of view are also discussed for
      enabling practical applications. 

PMID- 26880047
TI  - Multi-functionalized carbon dots as theranostic nanoagent for gene delivery in
      lung cancer therapy.
AB  - Theranostics, an integrated therapeutic and diagnostic system, can simultaneously
      monitor the real-time response of therapy. Different imaging modalities can
      combine with a variety of therapeutic moieties in theranostic nanoagents. In this
      study, a multi-functionalized, integrated theranostic nanoagent based on folate
      conjugated reducible polyethylenimine passivated carbon dots (fc-rPEI-Cdots) is
      developed and characterized. These nanoagents emit visible blue photoluminescence
      under 360 nm excitation and can encapsulate multiple siRNAs (EGFR and cyclin B1)
      followed by releasing them in intracellular reductive environment. In vitro cell
      culture study demonstrates that fc-rPEI-Cdots is a highly biocompatible material
      and a good siRNA gene delivery carrier for targeted lung cancer treatment.
      Moreover, fc-rPEI-Cdots/pooled siRNAs can be selectively accumulated in lung
      cancer cells through receptor mediated endocytosis, resulting in better gene
      silencing and anti-cancer effect. Combining bioimaging of carbon dots, stimulus
      responsive property, gene silencing strategy, and active targeting motif, this
      multi-functionalized, integrated theranostic nanoagent may provide a useful tool
      and platform to benefit clinicians adjusting therapeutic strategy and
      administered drug dosage in real time response by monitoring the effect and
      tracking the development of carcinomatous tissues in diagnostic and therapeutic
      aspects. 

PMID- 26880048
TI  - Progesterone response in neonatal endometrium is key to future reproductive
      health in adolescents.

PMID- 26880049
TI  - Sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor following hepatic resection in patients
      aged 70 years and older with hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - AIM: The present study investigated the effect of sarcopenia on short- and long
      term surgical outcomes and identified potential prognostic factors for
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatectomy among patients 70 years of
      age and older. METHODS: Patient data were retrospectively collected for 296
      consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC with curative intent.
      Patients were assigned to two groups according to age (younger than 70 years, and
      70 years and older), and the presence of sarcopenia. The clinicopathological,
      surgical outcome, and long-term survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: Sarcopenia
      was present in 112 of 296 (37.8%) patients with HCC, and 35% of patients aged 70
      years and older. Elderly patients had significantly lower serum albumin levels,
      prognostic nutrition index, percentage of liver cirrhosis, and histological
      intrahepatic metastasis compared with patients younger than 70 years. Overall
      survival and disease-free survival rates in patients with sarcopenia correlated
      with significantly poor prognosis in the group aged 70 years and older.
      Multivariate analysis revealed that sarcopenia was predictive of an unfavorable
      prognosis. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis revealed that sarcopenia was
      predictive of worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival after
      hepatectomy in patients 70 years of age and older with HCC.

PMID- 26880050
TI  - Do early noun and verb production predict later verb and noun production?
      Theoretical implications.
AB  - Many studies have addressed the question of the relative dominance of nouns over
      verbs in the productive vocabularies of children in the second year of life.
      Surprisingly, cross-class (noun-to-verb and verb-to-noun) relations between these
      two lexical categories have seldom been investigated. The present longitudinal
      study employed observational and parent-report data obtained from thirty mother
      child dyads at 1;4, 1;8, and 2;0 to examine this issue. Both the Natural
      Partitions/Relational Relativity (NP/RR) hypothesis and the Emergentist Coalition
      Model (ECM) predict that having an initial repertoire of common nouns should
      facilitate the acquisition of novel verbs, whereas only the ECM suggests that
      children exploit the syntactic and semantic constraints of known verbs to infer
      the meaning of novel nouns. In line with the ECM, hierarchical regression
      analyses indicated that the percentages of nouns produced by children at 1;4
      predicted later verbs at 1;8, whereas the percentages of verbs produced at 1;8
      predicted later nouns at 2;0.

PMID- 26880051
TI  - Pulmonary hypertension in valve disease: A beast of the past?

PMID- 26880052
TI  - Evidence for thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: Getting stronger?
AB  - Thymectomy is part of the therapeutic armamentarium for myasthenia gravis (MG).
      During the past 80 years, multiple observational studies have shown that
      thymectomy can potentially fasten stabilization of the disease, reduce the need
      for corticosteroids, and in some patients lead to complete remission. The benefit
      from thymectomy in MG is supported by propensity score analysis. A randomized
      control trial looking at the role of thymectomy in nonthymomatous MG patients was
      recently completed, but the results are not yet available. The approach and
      extent of thymectomy remain a topic of intense discussion, particularly with the
      development of minimally invasive surgery. Although the presence of extracapsular
      thymic tissue is frequent and well described, the accessibility of these ectopic
      thymic foci as well as their function and impact on outcome after surgery have
      been unclear, leading to divergent views between proponents of a maximal
      cervicomediastinal thymectomy with en bloc resection of all fatty tissue between
      the thyroid grand and the diaphragm and those of a less extensive approach. In
      the future, better definition of the type of thymectomy will be important,
      particularly if prospective studies and randomized trials are performed to
      compare different surgical approaches. One possibility would be to reserve the
      term "extended thymectomy" to resection of the thymus with the anterior
      mediastinal fat between both pleura, the pericardium and diaphragm. More
      extensive surgery should be specified when it encompasses sites such as the right
      and left pericardiophrenic angles, the aortopulmonary window, the aortocaval
      groove and retroinnominate space, and the perithyroid area.

PMID- 26880053
TI  - How to balance family with career: A man's perspective.

PMID- 26880054
TI  - Failure mechanisms in denture adhesives.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The mechanical properties of bio adhesives in oral care application
      are expected to be critical in defining the stability and release of devices such
      as dentures from the oral tissue. A multiscale experimental mechanical approach
      is used to evaluate the performance of denture adhesive materials. METHODS: The
      inherent mechanical behavior of denture fixatives was examined by separating
      adhesive material from a representative polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) surface
      using atomic force microscopy (AFM) approaches and compared to macroscopic
      mechanical testing. RESULTS: Failure of denture adhesive material was found to be
      critically dependent on the formation of fibrillar structures within the
      adhesive. Small scale mechanical testing provided evidence for the mechanical
      properties of the fibrillar structures formed within the adhesive in macroscopic
      mechanical testing and indicated the importance of the forces required to fail
      the adhesive at these small length scales in controlling both the maximum forces
      sustained by the bulk material as well as the ease of separating the adhesive
      from PMMA surfaces. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results are important in defining the
      performance of denture fixative materials and their control of adhesive behavior,
      allowing the potential to tune properties required in the adhesion and removal of
      dentures.

PMID- 26880055
TI  - Determination of the Influence of Side-Chain Conformation on Glycosylation
      Selectivity using Conformationally Restricted Donors.
AB  - The synthesis of a series of conformationally locked mannopyranosyl
      thioglycosides in which the C6-O6 bond adopts either the gauche,gauche,
      gauche,trans, or trans,gauche conformation is described, and their influence on
      glycosylation stereoselectivity investigated. Two 4,6-O-benzylidene-protected
      mannosyl thioglycosides carrying axial or equatorial methyl groups at the 6
      position were also synthesized and the selectivity of their glycosylation
      reactions studied to enable a distinction to be made between steric and
      stereoelectronic effects. The presence of an axial methoxy group at C6 in the
      bicyclic donor results in a decreased preference for formation of the beta
      mannoside, whereas an axial methyl group has little effect on selectivity. The
      result is rationalized in terms of through-space stabilization of a transient
      intermediate oxocarbenium ion by the axial methoxy group resulting in a higher
      degree of SN 1-like character in the glycosylation reaction. Comparisons are made
      with literature examples and exceptions are discussed in terms of pervading
      steric effects layered on top of the basic stereoelectronic effect. 

PMID- 26880057
TI  - Risk of stroke in patients with mycosis fungoides: A nationwide population-based
      cohort study.

PMID- 26880056
TI  - Cost-utility analysis of stenting versus endarterectomy in the International
      Carotid Stenting Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The International Carotid Stenting Study was a multicenter randomized
      trial in which patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis were randomly
      allocated to treatment by carotid stenting or endarterectomy. Economic evidence
      comparing these treatments is limited and inconsistent. AIMS: We compared the
      cost-effectiveness of stenting versus endarterectomy using International Carotid
      Stenting Study data. METHODS: We performed a cost-utility analysis estimating
      mean costs and quality-adjusted life years per patient for both treatments over a
      five-year time horizon based on resource use data and utility values collected in
      the trial. Costs of managing stroke events were estimated using individual
      patient data from a UK population-based study (Oxford Vascular Study). RESULTS:
      Mean costs per patient (95% CI) were US$10,477 ($9669 to $11,285) in the stenting
      group (N = 853) and $9669 ($8835 to $10,504) in the endarterectomy group (N =
      857). There were no differences in mean quality-adjusted life years per patient
      (3.247 (3.160 to 3.333) and 3.228 (3.150 to 3.306), respectively). There were no
      differences in adjusted costs between groups (mean incremental costs for stenting
      versus endarterectomy $736 (95% CI -$353 to $1826)) or adjusted outcomes (mean
      quality-adjusted life years gained -0.010 (95% CI -0.117 to 0.097)). The
      incremental net monetary benefit for stenting versus endarterectomy was not
      significantly different from zero at the maximum willingness to pay for a quality
      adjusted life year commonly used in the UK. Sensitivity analyses showed little
      uncertainty in these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Economic considerations should not
      affect whether patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis undergo stenting or
      endarterectomy.

PMID- 26880058
TI  - Performance of e-ASPECTS software in comparison to that of stroke physicians on
      assessing CT scans of acute ischemic stroke patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) is an established
      10-point quantitative topographic computed tomography scan score to assess early
      ischemic changes. We compared the performance of the e-ASPECTS software with
      those of stroke physicians at different professional levels. METHODS: The
      baseline computed tomography scans of acute stroke patients, in whom computed
      tomography and diffusion-weighted imaging scans were obtained less than two hours
      apart, were retrospectively scored by e-ASPECTS as well as by three stroke
      experts and three neurology trainees blinded to any clinical information. The
      ground truth was defined as the ASPECTS on diffusion-weighted imaging scored by
      another two non-blinded independent experts on consensus basis. Sensitivity and
      specificity in an ASPECTS region-based and an ASPECTS score-based analysis as
      well as receiver-operating characteristic curves, Bland-Altman plots with mean
      score error, and Matthews correlation coefficients were calculated. Comparisons
      were made between the human scorers and e-ASPECTS with diffusion-weighted imaging
      being the ground truth. Two methods for clustered data were used to estimate
      sensitivity and specificity in the region-based analysis. RESULTS: In total, 34
      patients were included and 680 (34 * 20) ASPECTS regions were scored. Mean time
      from onset to computed tomography was 172 +/- 135 min and mean time difference
      between computed tomographyand magnetic resonance imaging was 41 +/- 31 min. The
      region-based sensitivity (46.46% [CI: 30.8;62.1]) of e-ASPECTS was better than
      three trainees and one expert (p <= 0.01) and not statistically different from
      another two experts. Specificity (94.15% [CI: 91.7;96.6]) was lower than one
      expert and one trainee (p < 0.01) and not statistically different to the other
      four physicians. e-ASPECTS had the best Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.44
      (experts: 0.38 +/- 0.08 and trainees: 0.19 +/- 0.05) and the lowest mean score
      error of 0.56 (experts: 1.44 +/- 1.79 and trainees: 1.97 +/- 2.12). CONCLUSION: e
      ASPECTS showed a similar performance to that of stroke experts in the assessment
      of brain computed tomographys of acute ischemic stroke patients with the Alberta
      Stroke Program Early CT score method.

PMID- 26880059
TI  - The anterolateral thigh fold-over flap for total and subtotal glossectomy
      reconstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We present a fold-over technique for total and subtotal glossectomy
      reconstruction utilizing the ALT flap with the goal of increasing soft tissue
      bulk. METHODS: Retrospective review of total and subtotal glossectomy patients
      undergoing ALT fold-over flap reconstruction from January 2007 to December 2012.
      RESULTS: Eight patients fit inclusion criteria. Average length of follow-up was
      35 months. There were no flap failures. At last follow-up, no patients were
      tracheostomy dependent. Six out of 8 patients (75%) did not require a g-tube and
      were able to maintain their weight. Speech intelligibility was good in 6/8
      patients (75%). CONCLUSIONS: The ALT fold-over flap technique provides sufficient
      bulk to allow decannulation and airway protection as well as PO intake in most
      patients. Given the minimal donor site morbidity, it is our technique of choice
      for total and subtotal glossectomy defects. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
      Microsurgery 36:297-302, 2016.

PMID- 26880061
TI  - Cancer Multidisciplinary Teams can be a Valuable and an Effective Use of a
      Clinician's Time.

PMID- 26880060
TI  - The utility of ultrasound elastography in differentiation of endometriomas and
      hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse
      imaging in differentiation of endometriomas and hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 84 ovarian cysts with high internal
      echogenicity diagnosed in 70 consecutive women. We excluded simple cysts and
      hemorrhagic cysts containing septations or mural nodules with detectable flow on
      Doppler ultrasonography. We obtained the elastographic shear wave velocity (SWV)
      value of the cysts that could be endometriomas or hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.
      RESULTS: Among the 78 ovarian cysts in 70 women without any septation or mural
      nodule, there were 42 endometriomas and 36 hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. Analysis of
      median SWV values of the ovarian cysts showed that the endometriomas had
      considerably higher levels of stiffness compared to the hemorrhagic ovarian cysts
      [median SWV 4.20 +/- 0.42 vs 2.54 +/- 1.04 m/s, p < 0.001]. A SWV cutoff value
      greater than 3.81 m/s yielded sensitivity and specificity values of 82.1 and 79.2
      % respectively, for differentiation of endometriomas from hemorrhagic ovarian
      cysts. CONCLUSION: Sonoelastography is a novel imaging technique that enables us
      to evaluate the stiffness of adnexal lesions. The accurate discrimination of
      endometriomas and hemorrhagic ovarian cysts is important for avoiding unnecessary
      surgical procedures. ARFI imaging has a high sensitivity and specificity for
      distinguishing endometrioma from hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.

PMID- 26880062
TI  - Radiation Exposure and Health Effects - is it Time to Reassess the Real
      Consequences?
AB  - Our acceptance of exposure to radiation is somewhat schizophrenic. We accept that
      the use of high doses of radiation is still one of the most valuable weapons in
      our fight against cancer, and believe that bathing in radioactive spas is
      beneficial. On the other hand, as a species, we are fearful of exposure to man
      made radiation as a result of accidents related to power generation, even though
      we understand that the doses are orders of magnitude lower than those we use
      everyday in medicine. The 70th anniversary of the detonation of the atomic bombs
      in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was marked in 2015. The 30th anniversary of the
      Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident will be marked in April 2016. March 2016
      also sees the fifth anniversary of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power
      plant. Perhaps now is an opportune time to assess whether we are right to be
      fearful of the effects of low doses of radiation, or whether actions taken
      because of our fear of radiation actually cause a greater detriment to health
      than the direct effect of radiation exposure. 

PMID- 26880063
TI  - Targeting the MET Pathway in Gastric and Oesophageal Cancers: Refining the
      Optimal Approach.
AB  - Gastric and oesophageal cancers are a major cause of global cancer-related
      morbidity and mortality. Improvements in treatment for locoregional and
      metastatic gastric and oesophageal cancer have been incremental and the overall
      prognosis remains poor. Increasingly, molecular classification has identified
      recurrent, therapeutically relevant, somatic alterations in gastroesophageal
      malignancies. However, other than ERBB2 amplification, molecularly directed
      therapies have not translated to improved survival. Amplification of the receptor
      tyrosine kinase MET is found in about 5% of gastroesophageal cancers and
      represents an oncogenic driver and therapeutic target. Small series have shown
      activity of MET-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but the clinical benefit of
      anti-MET antibodies has been disappointing. Here we discuss the MET pathway in
      gastroesophageal cancers, the clinical data for MET small molecule tyrosine
      kinase inhibitors, anti-MET antibodies and future clinical directions for
      targeting MET in gastric and oesophageal cancers. To our knowledge, this is the
      most comprehensive review of the clinical experience with MET-directed therapies
      in gastric and oesophageal cancers.

PMID- 26880064
TI  - Changes in Patterns of Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Verification and Quality
      Assurance in the UK.
AB  - AIMS: Between 2012 and 2014 the number of patients treated in the UK with
      intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques increased significantly. One
      reason for this was the radiotherapy innovation fund for the centres in England.
      Before the announcement of the fund, a survey of radiotherapy centres was carried
      out in 2012 which collected data on IMRT uptake, obstacles to implementation,
      equipment used, delivery techniques and verification methods. A repeat survey was
      carried out in 2014 to identify key changes to IMRT quality assurance and
      verification practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent
      out to all 65 UK radiotherapy centres in the summer of 2012 and again in the
      summer of 2014. Questions covered background and equipment, machine tolerance and
      quality assurance, machine-based verification, software-based verification and
      future plans. RESULTS: There have been significant changes in the delivery
      techniques used for IMRT, with more than twice as many centres reporting the use
      of volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques in 2014 compared with 2012. This
      has been combined with an increase in Monte Carlo-based algorithms in treatment
      planning systems. In 2012 all centres reported the need to carry out machine
      based measurements for IMRT plan verification, dropping to 93% in 2014. Nineteen
      per cent of centres now report making only one measurement per month for prostate
      plans and 8% of breast plans never have physical measurements. Most centres use
      detector arrays for quality assurance measurement (86% in 2012 and 91% in 2014),
      but a significant number still use film and/or ionisation chambers (51% and 41%).
      In the analysis of these measurements there has been an increase in the use of
      tighter criteria. There has been a significant increase in the use of software
      for verification from 63% in 2012 to 95% in 2014. All centres reported that they
      needed further resources in order to efficiently achieve the quality assurance
      required for the number of patients planned to be treated in their centre.
      CONCLUSIONS: The increased numbers of patients being treated with IMRT has meant
      that there have been significant changes in the way that quality assurance is
      carried out. These have been mainly in the reduction of measurements and the
      increase in software-based verification. However, quality assurance is still a
      significant burden and still has an effect on the numbers of patients who can be
      treated with IMRT.

PMID- 26880065
TI  - In Silico Analysis of FMR1 Gene Missense SNPs.
AB  - The FMR1 gene, a member of the fragile X-related gene family, is responsible for
      fragile X syndrome (FXS). Missense single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are
      responsible for many complex diseases. The effect of FMR1 gene missense SNPs is
      unknown. The aim of this study, using in silico techniques, was to analyze all
      known missense mutations that can affect the functionality of the FMR1 gene,
      leading to mental retardation (MR) and FXS. Data on the human FMR1 gene were
      collected from the Ensembl database (release 81), National Centre for Biological
      Information dbSNP Short Genetic Variations database, 1000 Genomes Browser, and
      NHLBI Exome Sequencing Project Exome Variant Server. In silico analysis was then
      performed. One hundred-twenty different missense SNPs of the FMR1 gene were
      determined. Of these, 11.66 % of the FMR1 gene missense SNPs were in highly
      conserved domains, and 83.33 % were in domains with high variety. The results of
      the in silico prediction analysis showed that 31.66 % of the FMR1 gene SNPs were
      disease related and that 50 % of SNPs had a pathogenic effect. The results of the
      structural and functional analysis revealed that although the R138Q mutation did
      not seem to have a damaging effect on the protein, the G266E and I304N SNPs
      appeared to disturb the interaction between the domains and affect the function
      of the protein. This is the first study to analyze all missense SNPs of the FMR1
      gene. The results indicate the applicability of a bioinformatics approach to FXS
      and other FMR1-related diseases. I think that the analysis of FMR1 gene missense
      SNPs using bioinformatics methods would help diagnosis of FXS and other FMR1
      related diseases. 

PMID- 26880066
TI  - Amyloid-beta peptides in interaction with raft-mime model membranes: a neutron
      reflectivity insight.
AB  - The role of first-stage beta-amyloid aggregation in the development of the
      Alzheimer disease, is widely accepted but still unclear. Intimate interaction
      with the cell membrane is invoked. We designed Neutron Reflectometry experiments
      to reveal the existence and extent of the interaction between beta-amyloid
      (Abeta) peptides and a lone customized biomimetic membrane, and their dependence
      on the aggregation state of the peptide. The membrane, asymmetrically containing
      phospholipids, GM1 and cholesterol in biosimilar proportion, is a model for a
      raft, a putative site for amyloid-cell membrane interaction. We found that the
      structured-oligomer of Abeta(1-42), its most acknowledged membrane-active state,
      is embedded as such into the external leaflet of the membrane. Conversely, the
      Abeta(1-42) unstructured early-oligomers deeply penetrate the membrane, likely
      mimicking the interaction at neuronal cell surfaces, when the Abeta(1-42) is
      cleaved from APP protein and the membrane constitutes a template for its further
      structural evolution. Moreover, the smaller Abeta(1-6) fragment, the N-terminal
      portion of Abeta, was also used. Abeta N-terminal is usually considered as
      involved in oligomer stabilization but not in the peptide-membrane interaction.
      Instead, it was seen to remove lipids from the bilayer, thus suggesting its role,
      once in the whole peptide, in membrane leakage, favouring peptide recruitment. 

PMID- 26880069
TI  - Long-term effects of lowering the alcohol minimum purchasing age on traffic crash
      injury rates in New Zealand.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: In December 1999, New Zealand lowered the alcohol minimum
      purchasing age from 20 to 18 years. We tested hypotheses that this change was
      associated with long-term increases in traffic injury attributable to alcohol
      impaired driving among 18- to 19-year-olds (target age group) and 15- to 17-year
      olds (affected by 'trickle-down'). DESIGN AND METHODS: We undertook a controlled
      before-and-after comparison of rates of fatal and non-fatal traffic injury to
      persons of any age attributable to impaired drivers aged 18-19 years and 15-17
      years, versus 20- to 21-year-olds. Crash data including assessment of driver
      alcohol impairment were recorded by New Zealand Police. The pre-change period was
      1996-1999. Post-change periods were 2000-2003, 2004-2007 and 2008-2010. Outcomes
      were population-based and vehicle travel-based rates. RESULTS: Compared with the
      change in injury rates attributable to alcohol-impaired 20- to 21-year-old male
      drivers, injuries attributable to 18- to 19-year-old male drivers increased in
      all post-change periods and significantly so in the second post-change period
      (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 1.5). For 15
      to 17-year-old male drivers, rates increased in all post-change periods compared
      with 20- to 21-year-olds, and more so in the second (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4)
      and third (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4) periods. There was a short-term relative
      increase in harm attributable to 18- to 19-year-old female drivers (IRR 1.5; 1.1
      to 2.0). Results were similar for vehicle travel-based rates. DISCUSSION AND
      CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the alcohol minimum purchasing age was followed by long
      term increases in the incidence of traffic injury attributable to male 15- to 19
      year-old alcohol-impaired drivers. [Kypri K, Davie G, McElduff P, Langley J,
      Connor J. Long-term effects of lowering the alcohol minimum purchasing age on
      traffic crash injury rates in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:178-185].

PMID- 26880070
TI  - Observation of magnetic anomalies in one-step solvothermally synthesized nickel
      cobalt ferrite nanoparticles.
AB  - Magnetic anomalies corresponding to the Verwey transition and reorientation of
      anisotropic vacancies are observed at 151 K and 306 K, respectively, in NiCoFe2O4
      nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by a modified-solvothermal method followed by
      annealing. Cationic disorder and spherical shape induced non-stoichiometry
      suppress the Verwey transition in the as-synthesized NPs. On the other hand,
      reorientation of anisotropic vacancies is quite robust. XRD and electron
      microscopy investigations confirm a single phase spinel structure and the surface
      morphology of the as-synthesized NPs changes from spherical to octahedral upon
      annealing. Rietveld analysis reveals that the Ni(2+) ions migrate from
      tetrahedral (A) to octahedral (B) sites upon annealing. The Mossbauer results
      show canted spins in both the NPs and the strength of superexchange is stronger
      in Co-O-Fe than Ni-O-Fe. Magnetic force images show that the as-synthesised NPs
      are single-domain whereas the annealed NPs are multi-domain octahedral particles.
      The FMR study reveals that both the NPs have a broad FMR line-width; and
      resonance properties are consistent with the random anisotropy model. The broad
      inhomogeneous FMR line-width, observation of the Verwey transition, tuning of the
      magnetic domain structure as well as the magnetic properties suggest that the
      NiCoFe2O4 ferrite NPs may be promising for future generation spintronics, magneto
      electronics, and ultra-high-density recording media as well as for radar
      absorbing applications. 

PMID- 26880068
TI  - Molecular optimization of rabies virus glycoprotein expression in Pichia
      pastoris.
AB  - In this work, different approaches were investigated to enhance the expression
      rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G) in the yeast Pichia pastoris; this membrane
      protein is responsible for the synthesis of rabies neutralizing antibodies.
      First, the impact of synonymous codon usage bias was examined and an optimized
      RABV-G gene was synthesized. Nevertheless, data showed that the secretion of the
      optimized RABV-G gene was not tremendously increased as compared with the non
      optimized one. In addition, similar levels of RABV-G were obtained when alpha
      factor mating factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae or the acid phosphatase PHO1
      was used as a secretion signal. Therefore, sequence optimization and secretion
      signal were not the major bottlenecks for high-level expression of RABV-G in P.
      pastoris. Unfolded protein response (UPR) was induced in clones containing high
      copy number of RABV-G expression cassette indicating that folding was the
      limiting step for RABV-G secretion. To circumvent this limitation, co
      overexpression of five factors involved in oxidative protein folding was
      investigated. Among these factors only PDI1, ERO1 and GPX1 proved their benefit
      to enhance the expression. The highest expression level of RABV-G reached 1230 ng
      ml(-1). Competitive neutralizing assay confirmed that the recombinant protein was
      produced in the correct conformational form in this host.

PMID- 26880071
TI  - Does the Medicare Part D Decision-Making Experience Differ by Rural/Urban
      Location?
AB  - PURPOSE: Although much has been written about Medicare Part D enrollment, much
      less is known about beneficiaries' personal experiences with choosing a Part D
      plan, especially among rural residents. This study sought to address this gap by
      examining geographic differences in Part D enrollees' perceptions of the plan
      decision-making process, including their confidence in their choice, their
      knowledge about the program, and their satisfaction with available information.
      METHODS: We used data from the 2012 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and
      included adults ages 65 and older who were enrolled in Part D at the time of the
      survey (n = 3,706). We used ordered logistic regression to model 4 outcomes based
      on beneficiaries' perceptions of the Part D decision-making and enrollment
      process, first accounting only for differences by rurality, then adjusting for
      sociodemographic, health, and coverage characteristics. FINDINGS: Overall, half
      of all beneficiaries were not very confident in their Part D knowledge. Rural
      beneficiaries had lower odds of being confident in the plan they chose and in
      being satisfied with the amount of information available to them during the
      decision-making process. After adjusting for all covariates, micropolitan
      residents continued to have lower odds of being confident in the plan that they
      chose. CONCLUSIONS: Policy-makers should pay particular attention to making
      information about Part D easily accessible for all beneficiaries and to
      addressing unique barriers that rural residents have in accessing information
      while making decisions, such as reduced Internet availability. Furthermore,
      confidence in the decision-making process may be improved by simplifying the Part
      D program.

PMID- 26880072
TI  - Effect of long-term high-fat diet intake on peripheral insulin sensibility, blood
      pressure, and renal function in female rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study determines whether 8-week high-fat diet (HFD) consumption
      alters insulin sensitivity, kidney function, and blood pressure (BP) in female
      rats when compared with standard rodent diet (ND) intake in gender- and age
      matched rats. METHODS: The present study investigates, in female Wistar HanUnib
      rats, the effect of long-term high-fat fed group (HFD) compared with standard
      chow on BP by an indirect tail-cuff method using an electrosphygmomanometer,
      insulin and glucose function, and kidney function by creatinine and lithium
      clearances. RESULTS: The current study shows glucose tolerance impairment, as
      demonstrated by increased fasting blood glucose (ND: 78+/-2.8 vs. HFD: 87+/-3.8
      mg/dL) associated with reduced insulin secretion (ND: 0.58+/-0.07 vs. HFD: 0.40+/
      0.03 ng/mL) in 8-week female HFD-treated rats. The incremental area under the
      curve (AUC, ND: 1,4558.0+/-536.0 vs. HFD: 1,6507.8+/-661.9), homeostasis model
      assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, and the first-order rate
      constant for the disappearance of glucose (Kitt) were significantly enhanced in 8
      week HFD-treated rats compared with age-matched ND group (respectively, P=0.03,
      P=0.002, and P<0.0001). The current study also shows a significantly higher
      systolic BP measured in 5 and 8 weeks posttreatment in HFD (5-week HFD-treated:
      155.25+/-10.54 mmHg and 8-week HFD-treated: 165+/-5.8 mmHg) (P=0.0001), when
      compared to BP values in 5-week ND, 137+/-4.24 mmHg and 8-week ND, 131.75+/-5.8
      mmHg age-matched group. Otherwise, the glomerular filtration rate and renal
      sodium handling evaluated by FENa, FEPNa and FEPPNa, were unchanged in both
      groups. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that 8-week female HFD-fed rats compared with
      ND group stimulate harmful effects, such as BP rise and peripheral glucose
      intolerance. The increased BP occurs through insulin resistance and supposedly
      decreased vasodilatation response without any change on renal function.

PMID- 26880073
TI  - Women's dietary diversity scores and childhood anthropometric measurements as
      indices of nutrition insecurity along the urban-rural continuum in Ouagadougou,
      Burkina Faso.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is still prevalent worldwide, and its severity, which
      differs between regions and countries, has led to international organisations
      proposing its inclusion in the global development framework that will succeed the
      Millennium Development Goals (post-2015 framework). In Sub-Saharan Africa,
      malnutrition is particularly severe, among women and children under 5 years. The
      prevalence of malnutrition has been reported worldwide, differing from region to
      region and country to country. Nevertheless, little is known about how
      malnutrition differs between multiple locations along an urban-rural continuum.
      OBJECTIVE: A survey was carried out in and around Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso,
      between August and September 2014 to map household nutrition insecurity along the
      urban-rural continuum, using a transect approach to guide the data collection.
      DESIGN: Transects of 70 km long and 2 km wide directed radially from the city
      centre outwards were laid, and data were collected from randomly selected
      households along these transects. Women's dietary diversity scores (WDDSs) were
      calculated from a sample of 179 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from
      randomly selected households. Additionally, anthropometric data (height/length
      and weight) of 133 children under 5 years of age were collected along the same
      transects for the computation of anthropometric indices. RESULTS: We found that
      relative proportions of the nutrition indices such as stunting, wasting and
      underweight varied across the urban-rural continuum. Rural households (15%) had
      the highest relative proportion of WDDS compared with urban households (11%) and
      periurban households (8%). There was a significant association between children
      under 5 years' nutritional status (wasting, stunting and underweight) and spatial
      location (p=0.023). The level of agricultural activities is a possible indicator
      of wasting in children aged 6-59 months (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Childhood
      undernutrition certainly has a spatial dimension that is highly influenced by the
      degree of urbanity, which should be taken into consideration in policy
      formulation and implementation.

PMID- 26880074
TI  - Id2 regulates hyporesponsive invariant natural killer T cells.
AB  - While the invariant natural killer T (iNKT)-cell response to primary stimulation
      with the glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer), is robust, the
      secondary response to this stimulus is muted resulting in a hyporesponsive state
      characterized by anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) production and high
      expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD1) and neuropilin 1 (NRP1). The E
      protein transcription factors and their negative regulators, the Id proteins,
      have previously been shown to regulate iNKT cell thymic development, subset
      differentiation and peripheral survival. Here, we provide evidence that the
      expression of the transcriptional regulator Id2 is downregulated upon stimulation
      of iNKT cells with their cognate antigen. Moreover, loss of Id2 expression by
      iNKT cells resulted in a hyporesponsive state, with splenic Id2-deficient iNKT
      cells expressing low levels of TBET, high levels of PD1 and NRP1 and production
      of IL-10 upon stimulation. We propose that downregulation of Id2 expression is an
      essential component of induction of the anti-inflammatory, hyporesponsive state
      in iNKT cells.

PMID- 26880077
TI  - Erratum: Bisphenol-A Induces Podocytopathy With Proteinuria in Mice by Nuria Olea
      Herrero, Maria Isabel Arenas, Carmen Munoz-Moreno, Rafael Moreno-Gomez-Toledano,
      Marta Gonzalez-Santander, Ignacio Arribas and Ricardo J. Bosch.

PMID- 26880076
TI  - Colorectal cancer risk variants at 8q23.3 and 11q23.1 are associated with disease
      phenotype in APC mutation carriers.
AB  - Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a dominantly inherited syndrome caused by
      germline mutations in the APC gene and characterized by the development of
      multiple colorectal adenomas and a high risk of developing colorectal cancer
      (CRC). The severity of polyposis is correlated with the site of the APC mutation.
      However, there is also phenotypic variability within families with the same
      underlying APC mutation, suggesting that additional factors influence the
      severity of polyposis. Genome-wide association studies identified several single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with CRC. We assessed whether
      these SNPs are associated with polyp multiplicity in proven APC mutation
      carriers. Sixteen CRC-associated SNPs were analysed in a cohort of 419 APC
      germline mutation carriers from 182 families. Clinical data were retrieved from
      the Dutch Polyposis Registry. Allele frequencies of the SNPs were compared for
      patients with <100 colorectal adenomas versus patients with >=100 adenomas, using
      generalized estimating equations with the APC genotype as a covariate. We found a
      trend of association of two of the tested SNPs with the >=100 adenoma phenotype:
      the C alleles of rs16892766 at 8q23.3 (OR 1.71, 95 % CI 1.05-2.76, p = 0.03,
      dominant model) and rs3802842 at 11q23.1 (OR 1.51, 95 % CI 1.03-2.22, p = 0.04,
      dominant model). We identified two risk variants that are associated with a more
      severe phenotype in APC mutation carriers. These risk variants may partly explain
      the phenotypic variability in families with the same APC gene defect. Further
      studies with a larger sample size are recommended to evaluate and confirm the
      phenotypic effect of these SNPs in FAP.

PMID- 26880079
TI  - [Richner-Hanhart syndrome].

PMID- 26880075
TI  - Maternal mental health in primary care in five low- and middle-income countries:
      a situational analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The integration of maternal mental health into primary health care
      has been advocated to reduce the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle
      income countries (LMICs). This study reports findings of a cross-country
      situation analysis on maternal mental health and services available in five
      LMICs, to inform the development of integrated maternal mental health services
      integrated into primary health care. METHODS: The situation analysis was
      conducted in five districts in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda,
      as part of the Programme for Improving Mental Health Care (PRIME). The analysis
      reports secondary data on the prevalence and impact of priority maternal mental
      disorders (perinatal depression, alcohol use disorders during pregnancy and
      puerperal psychosis), existing policies, plans and services for maternal mental
      health, and other relevant contextual factors, such as explanatory models for
      mental illness. RESULTS: Limited data were available at the district level,
      although generalizable data from other sites was identified in most cases.
      Community and facility-based prevalences ranged widely across PRIME countries for
      perinatal depression (3-50 %) and alcohol consumption during pregnancy (5-51 %).
      Maternal mental health was included in mental health policies in South Africa,
      India and Ethiopia, and a mental health care plan was in the process of being
      implemented in South Africa. No district reported dedicated maternal mental
      health services, but referrals to specialised care in psychiatric units or
      general hospitals were possible. No information was available on coverage for
      maternal mental health care. Challenges to the provision of maternal mental
      health care included; limited evidence on feasible detection and treatment
      strategies for maternal mental disorders, lack of mental health specialists in
      the public health sector, lack of prescribing guidelines for pregnant and
      breastfeeding women, and stigmatising attitudes among primary health care staff
      and the community. CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to anticipate demand for mental
      health care at district level in the five countries, given the lack of evidence
      on the prevalence and treatment coverage of women with maternal mental disorders.
      Limited evidence on effective psychosocial interventions was also noted, and must
      be addressed for mental health programmes, such as PRIME, to implement feasible
      and effective services.

PMID- 26880078
TI  - Training in psychiatry throughout Europe.
AB  - Psychiatry is the largest medical specialty in Europe. Despite efforts to bring
      harmonisation, training in psychiatry in Europe continues to be very diverse. The
      Union Europeenne des Medecins Specialistes (UEMS) has issued as from 2000 a
      charter of requirements for the training in psychiatry with an additional
      European Framework for Competencies in Psychiatry in 2009. Yet these have not
      been implemented throughout Europe. In this paper, the diversity in training
      throughout Europe is approached from different angles: the cultural differences
      between countries with regards to how mental health care is considered and
      founded on, the cultural differences between people throughout Europe in all
      states. The position of psychotherapy is emphasised. What once was the
      cornerstone of psychiatry as medical specialty seems to have become a neglected
      area. Seeing the patient with mental health problems within his cultural context
      is important, but considering him within his family context. The purpose of any
      training is enabling the trainee to gain the knowledge and acquire the
      competencies necessary to become a well-equipped professional is the subject of
      the last paragraph in which trainees consider their position and early career
      psychiatrists look back to see whether what they were trained in matches with
      what they need in the working situation. Common standard for training and
      certification are a necessity within Europe, for the benefit of the profession of
      psychiatrist but also for patient safety. UEMS is advised to join forces with the
      Council of National Psychiatric Associations (NPAs) within the EPA and trainings
      and early career psychiatrist, to discuss with the users what standards should be
      implemented in all European countries and how a European board examination could
      ensure professional quality of psychiatrists throughout the continent. 

PMID- 26880080
TI  - [Aphthous ulcers and oral ulcerations].
AB  - Aphthous ulcers are painful ulcerations located on the mucous membrane, generally
      in the mouth, less often in the genital area. Three clinical forms of aphthous
      ulcers have been described: minor aphthous ulcers, herpetiform aphthous ulcers
      and major aphthous ulcers. Many other conditions presenting with oral bullous or
      vesiculous lesions orulcerations and erosions can be mistaken for aphthous
      ulcers. Currently, treatment of aphthous ulcers is palliative and symptomatic.
      Topical treatments (topical anesthetics, topical steroids and sucralfate) are the
      first line therapy. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is defined by the
      recurrence of oral aphthous ulcers at least 4 times per year. RAS is often
      idiopathic but can be associated with gastro-intestinal diseases (i.e. celiac
      disease, inflammatory bowel diseases), nutritional deficiencies (iron,
      folates...), immune disorders (HIV infection, neutropenia) and rare syndromes.
      Behcet's disease is a chronic, inflammatory, disease whose main clinical feature
      is recurrent bipolar aphthosis. Colchicine associated with topical treatments
      constitutes a suitable treatment of most RAS. Thalidomide is the most effective
      treatment of RAS but its use is limited by frequent adverse effects. Oral ulcers
      can be related to a wide range of conditions that constitute the differential
      diagnoses of aphthous ulcers. Oral ulcers are classified into three main groups:
      acute ulcers with abrupt onset and short duration, recurrent ulcers (mainly due
      to postherpetic erythema multiforme) and chronic ulcers (with slow onset and
      insidious progression). Acute oral ulcers are due to trauma, bacterial infections
      (including acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis), deep fungal infection,
      gastro-intestinal (namely inflammatory bowel disease) or systemic diseases.
      Chronic oral ulcers may be drug-induced, or due to benign or malignant tumors.
      Every oral solitary chronic ulcer should be biopsied to rule out squamous cell
      carcinoma. A solitary palatal ulcer can be related with necrotizing
      sialometaplasia.

PMID- 26880081
TI  - [The NLRP3 inflammasome: Physiopathology and therapeutic application].
AB  - The innate immune system constitutes the first line of host defense against
      pathogens. "Nonself", such as exogenous particles or pathogens, triggers an
      inflammatory response. Inflammasomes are molecular platforms activated upon
      cellular infection or stress that trigger the maturation of proinflammatory
      cytokines such as IL-1beta. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, the
      most extensively studied, appears to be the corner stone of many inflammatory
      diseases, including Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Cryopyrine
      associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are NLRP3 inflammasome-associated diseases.
      Canakinumab (Ilaris((r))) is the only drug approved for CAPS treatment in France.
      Targeted therapy against NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1beta might be the new anti
      inflammatory drugs. 

PMID- 26880082
TI  - Detrimental Health Effects of Benzene Exposure in Adults After a Flaring Disaster
      at the BP Refinery Plant in Texas City.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the adverse effects of benzene exposure in adults from a
      prolonged flaring disaster at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. METHODS:
      Adults aged 18 years and older who had been exposed and unexposed to benzene were
      included. We reviewed medical charts and compared measures of white blood cells
      (WBCs), platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine,
      alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino
      transferase (ALT) in exposed and unexposed adults. RESULTS: Records from 2213
      adults (benzene exposed, n=1826; unexposed, n=387) were reviewed. Benzene-exposed
      subjects had significantly higher WBC counts (7.9+/-2.3 vs 6.8+/-1.6*10(3) per
      uL, P=0.0000) and platelet counts (270.8+/-60.9 vs 242.5+/-53.7*10(3) per uL,
      P=0.0000) than did the unexposed subjects. Serum creatinine levels were also
      significantly higher in the exposed group than in the unexposed group (1.0+/-0.2
      vs 0.8+/-0.2 mg/dL, P=0.000). Serum levels of ALP were significantly higher in
      the exposed subjects than in the unexposed subjects (82.1+/-15.6 vs 71.8+/-8.2
      IU/L, P=0.000). Similarly, benzene-exposed subjects had significantly higher
      levels of AST (26.2+/-6.4 vs 19.7+/-5.3 IU/L, P=0.000) and ALT (30.6+/-10.8 vs
      20.9+/-9.6 IU/L, P=0.000) than in those unexposed to benzene. CONCLUSION: Benzene
      exposure resulted in significant alterations in hematologic and liver profiles in
      adults.

PMID- 26880083
TI  - Efficacy of three therapy approaches in preschool children with cerebral palsy: a
      randomized controlled trial.
AB  - AIM: To examine the efficacy of child-focused, context-focused, and regular care
      approaches, delivered in a rehabilitation setting by physical or occupational
      therapists to preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP), in optimizing the
      child's self-care and mobility capabilities. METHOD: A multicentre randomized
      controlled trial clustered at therapist level was conducted in 13 rehabilitation
      centres. It included 68 children with CP (38 males, 30 females; mean age 3y, SD
      6mo, range 1y 11mo-4y), classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System
      levels I to IV, who were already receiving therapy. Children received a child
      focused, context-focused, or regular care approach during a 6-month period. Self
      care and mobility capabilities were assessed with the Functional Skills Scale of
      the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory. RESULTS: The child-focused,
      context-focused, and regular care approaches all resulted in significant but
      similar improvements in self-care (regular: reference; child-focused: beta=-0.11,
      95% confidence interval [CI] -0.68 to 0.46; context-focused: beta=0.13, CI -0.38
      to 0.64) and mobility (regular: reference; child-focused: beta=-0.09, CI=-0.93 to
      0.75; and context-focused: beta=0.14, CI -0.65 to 0.94) capabilities.
      INTERPRETATION: The results suggest that the three therapy approaches were
      equally efficacious for preschool children with CP. Depending on a child's
      individual situation each approach can be selected.

PMID- 26880085
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of hair keratins, high sulfur keratin-associated
      proteins and sulfhydryl oxidase in the human hair.
AB  - Hardening of the human hair shaft during cornification results from the bonding
      of keratins and keratin-associated proteins. In situ hybridization and light
      immunocytochemical studies have shown the general distribution of different
      keratins and some associated proteins but not determined their ultrastructural
      localization. I report here the localization of hair keratins, two high-sulfur
      keratin-associated proteins and sulfhydryl oxidase has been studied under the
      transmission electron microscope in the cornification zone of the human hair. The
      ultrastructural study on keratin distribution in general confirms previous light
      microscopic studies. Sulfur-rich KAP1 is mainly cortical but the labeling
      disappears in fully cornified cortical cells while a diffuse labeling is also
      present in differentiating cuticle cells. Sulfur-rich K26 immunolocalization is
      only detected in the exocuticle and endocuticle. Sparse labeling for sulfhydryl
      oxidase occurs in differentiating cortical cells but is weak and uneven in
      cuticle cells and absent in medulla and inner root sheath. Labeling disappears in
      the upper fully cornified cortex and cuticle. The observations indicate that
      sulfhydryl oxidase and keratin associated proteins are initially produced in the
      cytoplasm among keratin bundles accumulating in cortical and cuticle cells but
      these proteins undergo changes during the following cornification that alter the
      epitopes tagged by the antibodies.

PMID- 26880084
TI  - Attenuation of teratoma formation by p27 overexpression in induced pluripotent
      stem cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells or induced
      pluripotent stem cells, have a great potential for regenerative medicine. Induced
      pluripotent stem cells, in particular, are suitable for replacement of tissue by
      autologous transplantation. However, tumorigenicity is a major risk in clinical
      application of both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. This
      study explores the possibility of manipulating the cell cycle for inhibition of
      tumorigenicity. METHODS: We genetically modified mouse induced pluripotent stem
      cells (miPSCs) to overexpress p27 tumor suppressor and examined their
      proliferation rate, gene expression, cardiac differentiation, tumorigenicity, and
      therapeutic potential in a mouse model of coronary artery ligation. RESULTS:
      Overexpression of p27 inhibited cell division of miPSCs, and that inhibition was
      dependent on the expression level of p27. p27 overexpressing miPSCs had
      pluripotency characteristics but lost stemness earlier than normal miPSCs during
      embryoid body and teratoma formation. These cellular characteristics led to none
      or smaller teratoma when the cells were injected into nude mice. Transplantation
      of both miPSCs and p27 overexpressing miPSCs into the infarcted mouse heart
      reduced the infarction size and improved left ventricular function. CONCLUSIONS:
      The overexpression of p27 attenuated tumorigenicity by reducing proliferation and
      earlier loss of stemness of miPSCs. The overexpression of p27 did not affect
      pluripotency and differentiation characteristics of miPSC. Therefore, regulation
      of the proliferation rate of miPSCs offers great therapeutic potential for repair
      of the injured myocardium.

PMID- 26880086
TI  - Micro-CT analysis of the anatomical characteristics of the stapedial annular
      ligament.
AB  - The oval window region has recently been identified as a potential route for drug
      diffusion into the inner ear. Locally applied gadolinium and
      trimethylphenylammonium (TMPA) have been shown to directly diffuse into the
      vestibule through the oval window region. Given the potential importance of the
      oval window region in the diffusion of substances into the inner ear, this work
      aimed to use micro-CT to obtain a data set of anatomical characteristics of the
      annular ligament of the stapes in the human temporal bone, a region thus far
      poorly studied. Twenty-one temporal bones were micro-dissected to preserve the
      otic capsule and allow perfusion of fixative stains into the inner ear. The
      specimens were scanned with micro-CT methods to provide 3D reconstructions and
      measurement. The 3D reconstructions were able to demonstrate an undisturbed
      stapes footplate and annular ligament from which measurements could be taken.
      This study found a wide variance in the volumes and thicknesses of the stapedial
      ligaments. There was a positive correlation between the size of the stapes
      footplate and the annular ligament.

PMID- 26880087
TI  - Development of a multicomponent vaccine for Streptococcus pyogenes based on the
      antigenic targets of IVIG.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Despite over a century of research and the careful scrutiny of many
      promising targets, there is currently no vaccine available for the prevention of
      Streptococcus pyogenes infection. Through analysis of the protective, anti
      streptococcal components of pooled human immunoglobulin, we previously identified
      ten highly conserved and invariant S. pyogenes antigens that contribute to anti
      streptococcal immunity in the adult population. We sought to emulate population
      immunity to S. pyogenes through a process of active vaccination, using the
      antigens targeted by pooled human immunoglobulin. METHODS: Seven targets were
      produced recombinantly and mixed to form a multicomponent vaccine (Spy7).
      Vaccinated mice were challenged with S. pyogenes isolates representing four
      globally relevant serotypes (M1, M3, M12 and M89) using an established model of
      invasive disease. RESULTS: Vaccination with Spy7 stimulated the production of
      anti-streptococcal antibodies, and limited systemic dissemination of M1 and M3 S.
      pyogenes from an intramuscular infection focus. Vaccination additionally
      attenuated disease severity due to M1 S. pyogenes as evidenced by reduction in
      weight loss, and modulated cytokine release. CONCLUSION: Spy7 vaccination
      successfully stimulated the generation of protective anti-streptococcal immunity
      in vivo. Identification of reactive antigens using pooled human immunoglobulin
      may represent a novel route to vaccine discovery for extracellular bacteria.

PMID- 26880088
TI  - UK malaria treatment guidelines 2016.
AB  - 1.Malaria is the tropical disease most commonly imported into the UK, with 1300
      1800 cases reported each year, and 2-11 deaths. 2. Approximately three quarters
      of reported malaria cases in the UK are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is
      capable of invading a high proportion of red blood cells and rapidly leading to
      severe or life-threatening multi-organ disease. 3. Most non-falciparum malaria
      cases are caused by Plasmodium vivax; a few cases are caused by the other species
      of plasmodium: Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae or Plasmodium knowlesi. 4.
      Mixed infections with more than one species of parasite can occur; they commonly
      involve P. falciparum with the attendant risks of severe malaria. 5. There are no
      typical clinical features of malaria; even fever is not invariably present.
      Malaria in children (and sometimes in adults) may present with misleading
      symptoms such as gastrointestinal features, sore throat or lower respiratory
      complaints. 6. A diagnosis of malaria must always be sought in a feverish or sick
      child or adult who has visited malaria-endemic areas. Specific country
      information on malaria can be found at http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. P.
      falciparum infection rarely presents more than six months after exposure but
      presentation of other species can occur more than a year after exposure. 7.
      Management of malaria depends on awareness of the diagnosis and on performing the
      correct diagnostic tests: the diagnosis cannot be excluded until more than one
      blood specimen has been examined. Other travel related infections, especially
      viral haemorrhagic fevers, should also be considered. 8. The optimum diagnostic
      procedure is examination of thick and thin blood films by an expert to detect and
      speciate the malarial parasites. P. falciparum and P. vivax (depending upon the
      product) malaria can be diagnosed almost as accurately using rapid diagnostic
      tests (RDTs) which detect plasmodial antigens. RDTs for other Plasmodium species
      are not as reliable. 9. Most patients treated for P. falciparum malaria should be
      admitted to hospital for at least 24 h as patients can deteriorate suddenly,
      especially early in the course of treatment. In specialised units seeing large
      numbers of patients, outpatient treatment may be considered if specific protocols
      for patient selection and follow up are in place. 10. Uncomplicated P. falciparum
      malaria should be treated with an artemisinin combination therapy (Grade 1A).
      Artemether-lumefantrine (Riamet((r))) is the drug of choice (Grade 2C) and
      dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (Eurartesim((r))) is an alternative. Quinine or
      atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone((r))) can be used if an ACT is not available.
      Quinine is highly effective but poorly-tolerated in prolonged treatment and
      should be used in combination with an additional drug, usually oral doxycycline.
      11. Severe falciparum malaria, or infections complicated by a relatively high
      parasite count (more than 2% of red blood cells parasitized) should be treated
      with intravenous therapy until the patient is well enough to continue with oral
      treatment. Severe malaria is a rare complication of P. vivax or P. knowlesi
      infection and also requires parenteral therapy. 12. The treatment of choice for
      severe or complicated malaria in adults and children is intravenous artesunate
      (Grade 1A). Intravenous artesunate is unlicensed in the EU but is available in
      many centres. The alternative is intravenous quinine, which should be started
      immediately if artesunate is not available (Grade 1A). Patients treated with
      intravenous quinine require careful monitoring for hypoglycemia. 13. Patients
      with severe or complicated malaria should be managed in a high-dependency or
      intensive care environment. They may require haemodynamic support and management
      of: acute respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation,
      acute kidney injury, seizures, and severe intercurrent infections including Gram
      negative bacteraemia/septicaemia. 14. Children with severe malaria should also be
      treated with empirical broad spectrum antibiotics until bacterial infection can
      be excluded (Grade 1B). 15. Haemolysis occurs in approximately 10-15% patients
      following intravenous artesunate treatment. Haemoglobin concentrations should be
      checked approximately 14 days following treatment in those treated with IV
      artemisinins (Grade 2C). 16. Falciparum malaria in pregnancy is more likely to be
      complicated: the placenta contains high levels of parasites, stillbirth or early
      delivery may occur and diagnosis can be difficult if parasites are concentrated
      in the placenta and scanty in the blood. 17. Uncomplicated falciparum malaria in
      the second and third trimester of pregnancy should be treated with artemether
      lumefantrine (Grade 2B). Uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the first trimester
      of pregnancy should usually be treated with quinine and clindamycin but
      specialist advice should be sought. Severe malaria in any trimester of pregnancy
      should be treated as for any other patient with artesunate preferred over quinine
      (Grade 1C). 18. Children with uncomplicated malaria should be treated with an ACT
      (artemether-lumefantrine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine) as first line
      treatment (Grade 1A). Quinine with doxycycline or clindamycin, or atovaquone
      proguanil at appropriate doses for weight can also be used. Doxycycline should
      not be given to children under 12 years. 19. Either an oral ACT or chloroquine
      can be used for the treatment of non-falciparum malaria. An oral ACT is preferred
      for a mixed infection, if there is uncertainty about the infecting species, or
      for P. vivax infection from areas where chloroquine resistance is common (Grade
      1B). 20. Dormant parasites (hypnozoites) persist in the liver after treatment of
      P. vivax or P. ovale infection: the only currently effective drug for eradication
      of hypnozoites is primaquine (1A). Primaquine is more effective at preventing
      relapse if taken at the same time as chloroquine (Grade 1C). 21. Primaquine
      should be avoided or given with caution under expert supervision in patients with
      Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), in whom it may cause severe
      haemolysis. 22. Primaquine (for eradication of P. vivax or P. ovale hypnozoites)
      is contraindicated in pregnancy and when breastfeeding (until the G6PD status of
      child is known); after initial treatment for these infections a pregnant woman
      should take weekly chloroquine prophylaxis until after delivery or cessation of
      breastfeeding when hypnozoite eradication can be considered. 23. An acute attack
      of malaria does not confer protection from future attacks: individuals who have
      had malaria should take effective anti-mosquito precautions and chemoprophylaxis
      during future visits to endemic areas.

PMID- 26880089
TI  - Normocaloric versus hypocaloric feeding in ICU patients: response to comments by
      Bitzani.

PMID- 26880090
TI  - Comments on Marik and Hooper: Normocaloric versus hypocaloric feeding on the
      outcomes of ICU patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PMID- 26880092
TI  - What Can US Single-Payer Supporters Learn From the Swiss Rejection of Single
      Payer?
AB  - On September 27, 2014, Swiss voters rejected a proposal to replace their system
      of about 60 health insurance companies offering mandatory basic health coverage
      with a single public insurer, the state, which would offer taxpayer-funded
      coverage of all medically necessary care. The Swiss and the U.S. media, academia,
      and business sectors, from conservative and liberal camps, interpreted the
      results to mean a rejection of single payer and a preference for a privately run
      system, with important implications for health reform in the United States. While
      on the surface mainstream interpretations appear reasonable, I argue that they
      have little basis on fact because they rely on assumptions that, while untrue,
      are repeated as mantras that conveniently justify the continuation of a model of
      health insurance that is unraveling, less conspicuously in Switzerland,
      dramatically in the United States. To make my case, I describe the dominant
      narrative about Swiss health care and mainstream interpretations of the latest
      referendum on health reform, unpack the problem within these interpretations, and
      conclude by identifying what lessons the Swiss referendum contains for single
      payer advocates in the United States in particular and for those who struggle for
      social and economic rights more generally. 

PMID- 26880091
TI  - The Intensive Care Global Study on Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (IC
      GLOSSARI): a multicenter, multinational, 14-day inception cohort study.
AB  - PURPOSE: In this prospective, multicenter, 14-day inception cohort study, we
      investigated the epidemiology, patterns of infections, and outcome in patients
      admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) as a result of severe acute respiratory
      infections (SARIs). METHODS: All patients admitted to one of 206 participating
      ICUs during two study weeks, one in November 2013 and the other in January 2014,
      were screened. SARI was defined as possible, probable, or microbiologically
      confirmed respiratory tract infection with recent onset dyspnea and/or fever. The
      primary outcome parameter was in-hospital mortality within 60 days of admission
      to the ICU. RESULTS: Among the 5550 patients admitted during the study periods,
      663 (11.9 %) had SARI. On admission to the ICU, Gram-positive and Gram-negative
      bacteria were found in 29.6 and 26.2 % of SARI patients but rarely atypical
      bacteria (1.0 %); viruses were present in 7.7 % of patients. Organ failure
      occurred in 74.7 % of patients in the ICU, mostly respiratory (53.8 %),
      cardiovascular (44.5 %), and renal (44.6 %). ICU and in-hospital mortality rates
      in patients with SARI were 20.2 and 27.2 %, respectively. In multivariable
      analysis, older age, greater severity scores at ICU admission, and hematologic
      malignancy or liver disease were independently associated with an increased risk
      of in-hospital death, whereas influenza vaccination prior to ICU admission and
      adequate antibiotic administration on ICU admission were associated with a lower
      risk. CONCLUSIONS: Admission to the ICU for SARI is common and associated with
      high morbidity and mortality rates. We identified several risk factors for in
      hospital death that may be useful for risk stratification in these patients.

PMID- 26880093
TI  - Abdominal aorta rupture secondary to spinal trauma.

PMID- 26880094
TI  - Studying metal ion binding properties of a three-way junction RNA by
      heteronuclear NMR.
AB  - Self-splicing group II introns are highly structured RNA molecules, containing a
      characteristic secondary and catalytically active tertiary structure, which is
      formed only in the presence of Mg(II). Mg(II) initiates the first folding step
      governed by the kappazeta element within domain 1 (D1kappazeta). We recently
      solved the NMR structure of D1kappazeta derived from the mitochondrial group II
      intron ribozyme Sc.ai5gamma and demonstrated that Mg(II) is essential for its
      stabilization. Here, we performed a detailed multinuclear NMR study of metal ion
      interactions with D1kappazeta, using Cd(II) and cobalt(III)hexammine to probe
      inner- and outer-sphere coordination of Mg(II) and thus to better characterize
      its binding sites. Accordingly, we mapped (1)H, (15)N, (13)C, and (31)P spectral
      changes upon addition of different amounts of the metal ions. Our NMR data reveal
      a Cd(II)-assisted macrochelate formation at the 5'-end triphosphate, a
      preferential Cd(II) binding to guanines in a helical context, an electrostatic
      interaction in the zeta tetraloop receptor and various metal ion interactions in
      the GAAA tetraloop and kappa element. These results together with our recently
      published data on Mg(II) interaction provide a much better understanding of
      Mg(II) binding to D1kappazeta, and reveal how intricate and complex metal ion
      interactions can be.

PMID- 26880096
TI  - GP is suspended after prescribing zopiclone for patient to give to neighbours.

PMID- 26880097
TI  - Cuprous halides semiconductors as a new means for highly efficient light-emitting
      diodes.
AB  - In group-III nitrides in use for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs), optical
      gain, measure of luminous efficiency, is very low owing to the built-in
      electrostatic fields, low exciton binding energy, and high-density misfit
      dislocations due to lattice-mismatched substrates. Cuprous halides I-VII
      semiconductors, on the other hand, have negligible built-in field, large exciton
      binding energies and close lattice matched to silicon substrates. Recent
      experimental studies have shown that the luminescence of I-VII CuCl grown on Si
      is three orders larger than that of GaN at room temperature. Here we report yet
      unexplored potential of cuprous halides systems by investigating the optical gain
      of CuCl/CuI quantum wells. It is found that the optical gain and the luminescence
      are much larger than that of group III-nitrides due to large exciton binding
      energy and vanishing electrostatic fields. We expect that these findings will
      open up the way toward highly efficient cuprous halides based LEDs compatible to
      Si technology. 

PMID- 26880095
TI  - The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus-A functional hypothesis from the
      comparative literature.
AB  - We present data from animal studies showing that the pedunculopontine tegmental
      nucleus-conserved through evolution, compartmentalized, and with a complex
      pattern of inputs and outputs-has functions that involve formation and updates of
      action-outcome associations, attention, and rapid decision making. This is in
      contrast to previous hypotheses about pedunculopontine function, which has served
      as a basis for clinical interest in the pedunculopontine in movement disorders.
      Current animal literature points to it being neither a specifically motor
      structure nor a master switch for sleep regulation. The pedunculopontine is
      connected to basal ganglia circuitry but also has primary sensory input across
      modalities and descending connections to pontomedullary, cerebellar, and spinal
      motor and autonomic control systems. Functional and anatomical studies in animals
      suggest strongly that, in addition to the pedunculopontine being an input and
      output station for the basal ganglia and key regulator of thalamic (and
      consequently cortical) activity, an additional major function is participation in
      the generation of actions on the basis of a first-pass analysis of incoming
      sensory data. Such a function-rapid decision making-has very high adaptive value
      for any vertebrate. We argue that in developing clinical strategies for treating
      basal ganglia disorders, it is necessary to take an account of the normal
      functions of the pedunculopontine. We believe that it is possible to use our
      hypothesis to explain why pedunculopontine deep brain stimulation used clinically
      has had variable outcomes in the treatment of parkinsonism motor symptoms and
      effects on cognitive processing. (c) 2016 International Parkinson and Movement
      Disorder Society.

PMID- 26880098
TI  - Response of the human tympanic membrane to transient acoustic and mechanical
      stimuli: Preliminary results.
AB  - The response of the tympanic membrane (TM) to transient environmental sounds and
      the contributions of different parts of the TM to middle-ear sound transmission
      were investigated by measuring the TM response to global transients (acoustic
      clicks) and to local transients (mechanical impulses) applied to the umbo and
      various locations on the TM. A lightly-fixed human temporal bone was prepared by
      removing the ear canal, inner ear, and stapes, leaving the incus, malleus, and TM
      intact. Motion of nearly the entire TM was measured by a digital holography
      system with a high speed camera at a rate of 42 000 frames per second, giving a
      temporal resolution of <24 MUs for the duration of the TM response. The entire TM
      responded nearly instantaneously to acoustic transient stimuli, though the peak
      displacement and decay time constant varied with location. With local mechanical
      transients, the TM responded first locally at the site of stimulation, and the
      response spread approximately symmetrically and circumferentially around the umbo
      and manubrium. Acoustic and mechanical transients provide distinct and
      complementary stimuli for the study of TM response. Spatial variations in decay
      and rate of spread of response imply local variations in TM stiffness, mass, and
      damping.

PMID- 26880099
TI  - Immunoreactions for P53 isoforms are associated with ultrastructural
      proliferative profiles in benign thyroid nodules.
AB  - BACKGROUND: P53 isoforms originate from the alternative initiation of P53 gene
      translation through usage of an internal promoter located in intron 4. All P53
      isoforms are spliced in intron 9 and may modulate cell proliferation and cell
      fate outcome in response to DNA damage. AIM: To examine immunoexpression of P53
      isoforms in benign proliferative lesions occurring in multinodular thyroids and
      to assess the ultrastructural phenotype of P53 distribution in the thyrocytes of
      those lesions by electron microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By
      immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we evaluated 38
      multinodular thyroids containing a total of 102 benign lesions: 38 nodular
      goiters (NG; colloid=20, parenchymatous=18), 52 follicular adenomas (FA) and 12
      Hashimoto's thyroditis (HT). FA were classified into 10 normo-follicular, 9 macro
      follicular, 28 micro-follicular and 5 solid variants. RESULTS: Immunoreaction for
      P53 isoforms was observed in approximately 50% of all lesions, except
      macrofollicular variant FA (33%). At TEM analysis, immunoreactive NG, FA and TH
      lesions showed signs of proliferation by simultaneous appearance of dispersed
      chromatin, increased amounts of cytoplasmic organelles and dilation of the rough
      endoplasmic reticulum. TEM signs of apoptosis and proliferation were also
      detected in FA, but with different rates compared to NG. CONCLUSION: The
      immunohistochemical expression of P53 isoforms in NG, FA and HT suggests their
      role in the development of these lesions. Ultrastructural findings support the
      hypothesis that P53 immunoexpression correlates with reactive proliferative
      changes in thyrocytes.

PMID- 26880100
TI  - Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene-PdCl2-(iso)quinoline complexes and their
      application in arylamination at low catalyst loadings.
AB  - A new type of N-heterocyclic carbene-PdCl2-(iso)quinoline complexes 3 were
      successfully achieved in acceptable to good yields from easily available starting
      materials under mild conditions, and their structures were unambiguously
      confirmed using X-ray single crystal diffraction. Furthermore, their catalytic
      activity toward Buchwald-Hartwig arylamination of aryl chlorides with primary and
      secondary amines was fully tested. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the
      expected arylated amines can be obtained in high to excellent yields at low
      catalyst loadings (0.005-0.05 mol%). It may be worth noting here that comparison
      of these complexes with other well-defined and easily available NHC-Pd(ii)
      complexes bearing different N-containing ancillary ligands was also carried out,
      showing their superior catalytic activity over all others.

PMID- 26880101
TI  - Sexually transmitted infections and use of contraceptives in women living with
      HIV in Denmark - the SHADE cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No Danish guidelines for screening of sexually transmitted infections
      (STIs) in women living with HIV (WLWH) exist, except for annual syphilis testing.
      Drug-drug interaction between hormonal contraceptives and some types of highly
      active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) occurs. We assessed prevalence of STIs,
      contraceptive choices and predictors of condom use in a cohort of WLWH in
      Denmark. METHODS: WLWH consecutively enrolled during their outpatient visits from
      2011 to 2012. Gynaecological examination and an interview were performed at entry
      and 6-month follow-up. Inclusion criteria were HIV-1 infection and >= 18 years of
      age. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, alcohol- or drug abuse impeding adherence
      to the protocol. At entry, participants were tested (and where appropriate,
      treated according to guidelines) for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria
      gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2). At follow-up,
      predictors of condom use were estimated in sexually active WLWH. RESULTS: In
      total, 334 of the 1,392 eligible WLWH in Denmark were included (median age and
      HIV duration: 42.5 and 11.3 years). Chlamydia trachomatis was present in four
      individuals (1 %), and six (2 %) tested positive for HSV-2 by PCR. None were
      positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, HSV-1 or had active syphilis. At follow-up,
      252 (76 %) participated; 168 (70 %) were sexually active. Contraceptives were
      used by 124 (75 %); condoms were preferred (62 %). Having an HIV-negative partner
      predicted condom use (adjusted OR 3.89 (95 %CI 1.49-10.11)). In the group of
      participants of reproductive age without pregnancy desires 13 % used no birth
      control. Possible drug-drug interaction between hormonal contraceptives and HAART
      was found in 13/14 WLWH receiving both kinds of medication. CONCLUSION: The
      prevalence of STIs in WLWH in Denmark was low. The need for annual STI screening
      is questionable. Condoms were preferred contraceptives, especially in WLWH with
      an HIV-negative partner. In this cohort, 13 % of WLWH of reproductive age were at
      risk of unintended pregnancies due to lack of birth-control. Finally, in the
      subgroup of WLWH receiving both hormonal contraceptives and HAART possible drug
      drug interactions could occur.

PMID- 26880102
TI  - A New Strategy to Evaluate Technical Efficiency in Hospitals Using Homogeneous
      Groups of Casemix : How to Evaluate When There is Not DRGs?
AB  - The public health system has restricted economic resources. Because of that, it
      is necessary to know how the resources are being used and if they are properly
      distributed. Several works have applied classical approaches based in Data
      Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) for this
      purpose. However, if we have hospitals with different casemix, this is not the
      best approach. In order to avoid biases in the comparisons, other works have
      recommended the use of hospital production data corrected by the weights from
      Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), to adjust the casemix of hospitals. However, not
      all countries have this tool fully implemented, which limits the efficiency
      evaluation. This paper proposes a new approach for evaluating the efficiency of
      hospitals. It uses a graph-based clustering algorithm to find groups of hospitals
      that have similar production profiles. Then, DEA is used to evaluate the
      technical efficiency of each group. The proposed approach is tested using the
      production data from 2014 of 193 Chilean public hospitals. The results allowed to
      identify different performance profiles of each group, that differs from other
      studies that employs data from partially implemented DRGs. Our results are able
      to deliver a better description of the resource management of the different
      groups of hospitals. We have created a website with the results (
      bioinformatic.diinf.usach.cl/publichealth ). Data can be requested to the
      authors. 

PMID- 26880103
TI  - Porcine parvovirus infection activates mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling
      pathway by inducing ROS accumulation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Porcine parvovirus (PPV) infection primarily causes reproductive
      failure of pregnant swine and results in host cell death. Boars, as an important
      disseminator, shed PPV to sows via semen. PPV infects and numerously replicates
      in boar testicle, which results in damage of swine testicle in vivo. Reactive
      oxygen species (ROS), a mediator of cell apoptosis, play a crucial role in the
      mitochondria apoptotic pathway. However, whether PPV infection induces ST cells
      apoptosis and ROS accumulation is still unclear. METHODS: To determine the
      effects of PPV infection on the apoptosis, we detected morphological changes, DNA
      ladder, activities of caspases, and expression of PARP in PPV-infected ST cells.
      Moreover, aiming to investigate the effect of PPV infection on the mitochondrial
      apoptotic pathway and ROS accumulation, we detected the Deltapsim, apoptosis
      related genes, and ROS. To investigate the role of ROS in the process of PPV
      induced apoptosis, the ST cells were infected with PPV and treated with the ROS
      antioxidants. The ROS level was measured using Reactive Oxygen Species Assay Kit
      and the Deltapsim, expression level of Bcl-2, translocation of Bax, and
      redistribution of mitochondria cytochrome c were tested. RESULTS: In this study,
      we demonstrated that PPV infection could induce apoptosis that was characterized
      by morphological changes, DNA fragmentation and activation of caspases. Moreover,
      PPV infection suppressed Bcl-2 expression, enhanced Bax expression and
      translocation to mitochondria, decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane
      potential, and triggered the release of cytochrome c, which caused the subsequent
      activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and initiation of apoptosis. However,
      during the process of PPV-induced apoptosis, the protein levels of Fas and FasL
      were not affected. Further studies showed that PPV infection caused ROS
      accumulation. Inhibition of ROS could reduce mitochondrial transmembrane
      potential and could significantly block ST cells apoptosis via suppressing Bax
      translocation, cytochrome c and caspase-3 activation. CONCLUSIONS: All these
      results suggest that PPV-induced ROS accumulation mediates apoptosis in ST cells,
      which provided theoretical basis for the molecular pathogenesis of PPV infection.

PMID- 26880104
TI  - Pentraxin-3 as a marker of disease severity and risk of death in patients with
      necrotizing soft tissue infections: a nationwide, prospective, observational
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: New biomarkers are needed to assess the severity of necrotizing soft
      tissue infection (NSTI) at an early stage and to individualize treatment
      strategies. We assessed pentraxin-3 (PTX3) as a marker of disease severity and
      risk of death in patients with NSTI. METHODS: We conducted a prospective,
      observational study in the intensive care unit at Copenhagen University Hospital,
      where treatment of NSTI is centralized at a national level. We compared PTX3,
      procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in septic shock versus nonshock patients and
      in amputated versus nonamputated patients using the Mann-Whitney U test. The
      prognostic value of the markers for 180-day mortality was assessed using Cox
      regression analyses. RESULTS: Patients with NSTI (n = 135) were included over 25
      months with up to 2.5-year follow-up; 71% had septic shock, amputation was
      undertaken in 20% and the 180-day mortality was 27%. Baseline plasma PTX3 level
      was significantly higher in patients with septic shock (67.3 versus 24.6 ng/mL, p
      < 0.0001) and in patients who underwent amputation (118.6 versus 43.6 ng/mL, p =
      0.019). No significant differences in baseline procalcitonin or C-reactive
      protein levels were found according to amputation (25.2 versus 7.0 MUg/L, p =
      0.060 and 202 versus 225 mg/L, p = 0.123), respectively. Baseline PTX3 level
      above the median was associated with death (p = 0.009, log-rank test) and the
      univariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between
      PTX3 level upon admission and 180-day mortality (hazard ratio 2.60 (95%
      confidence interval 1.28-5.29), p = 0.008). When adjusted for age, sex, chronic
      disease and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, no significant association was
      found. CONCLUSIONS: High PTX3 level is associated with septic shock, amputation
      and risk of death in patients with NSTI, but it is not an independent predictor
      of 180-day mortality in this patient group. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02180906. Date of registration: June 29, 2014.

PMID- 26880105
TI  - Impact of Preemptive Fibrinogen Concentrate on Transfusion Requirements in Liver
      Transplantation: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled
      Trial.
AB  - We hypothesized that preemptive fibrinogen administration to obtain an initial
      plasma level of 2.9 g/L would reduce transfusion requirements in liver
      transplantation. A randomized, multicenter, hemoglobin-stratified, double-blind,
      fibrinogen-versus-saline-controlled trial was conducted. The primary end point
      was the percentage of patients requiring red blood cells. We evaluated 51
      patients allocated to fibrinogen and 48 allocated to saline; the primary end
      point was assessed using data for 92 patients because the electronic record forms
      were offline for three patients in the fibrinogen group and four in the saline
      group. We injected a median of 3.54 g fibrinogen preemptively in the fibrinogen
      group. Nine patients in the saline group (20.9%) required fibrinogen at graft
      reperfusion (compared with one patient [2.1%] in the fibrinogen group; p =
      0.005). Blood was transfused to 52.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 42.5-63.3%)
      in the fibrinogen group and 42.74% (95% CI 28.3-57.2%) in the saline group (p =
      0.217). Relative risk for blood transfusion was 0.80 (95% CI 0.57-1.13).
      Thrombotic events occurred in one patient (2.1%) and five patients (11.4%) in the
      fibrinogen and saline groups, respectively. Seven patients (14.6%) in the
      fibrinogen group and nine (20.3%) in the saline group required reoperation.
      Preemptive administration of fibrinogen concentrate did not influence transfusion
      requirements.

PMID- 26880106
TI  - Modified RNAs in CRISPR/Cas9: An Old Trick Works Again.
AB  - Old tricks, new dog: CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful tool for gene editing that
      requires an endonuclease (Cas9) and RNA strands. It has been shown that chemical
      modification of the RNA structures, an approach that has been used to improve the
      efficiency of RNA interference, can also be applied to enhance the activity of
      CRISPR/Cas9 and reduce its off-target effects. 

PMID- 26880107
TI  - Experimental warming of a mountain tundra increases soil CO2 effluxes and
      enhances CH4 and N2O uptake at Changbai Mountain, China.
AB  - Climatic warming is expected to particularly alter greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
      from soils in cold ecosystems such as tundra. We used 1 m(2) open-top chambers
      (OTCs) during three growing seasons to examine how warming (+0.8-1.2  degrees C)
      affects the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)
      from alpine tundra soils. Results showed that OTC warming increased soil CO2
      efflux by 141% in the first growing season and by 45% in the second and third
      growing season. The mean CH4 flux of the three growing seasons was -27.6 and 
      16.7 MUg CH4-C m(-2)h(-1) in the warmed and control treatment, respectively.
      Fluxes of N2O switched between net uptake and emission. Warming didn't
      significantly affect N2O emission during the first and the second growing season,
      but stimulated N2O uptake in the third growing season. The global warming
      potential of GHG was clearly dominated by soil CO2 effluxes (>99%) and was
      increased by the OTC warming. In conclusion, soil temperature is the main
      controlling factor for soil respiration in this tundra. Climate warming will lead
      to higher soil CO2 emissions but also to an enhanced CH4 uptake with an overall
      increase of the global warming potential for tundra. 

PMID- 26880108
TI  - Toward a re-interpretation of self-harm: A cross-contextual approach.
AB  - A common view is that self-harmers are individuals who are exposed to or have
      been exposed to stressors and hostility in everyday settings. A strand of
      research has also found that self-harmers expose other people to their hostility.
      Extending these findings, this study examined whether adolescent self-harmers are
      simultaneously exposed and expose others to hostility in their everyday
      interpersonal contexts-at home, at school, and during leisure-time. The
      participants were 1,482 adolescents, ranging from 13 to 16 years of age, who
      attended different schools in a medium-sized city in central Sweden. The results
      show that the adolescents involved in mutually hostile relationships in their
      different interpersonal contexts exhibited higher self-harm than the adolescents
      who were exposed to others' hostility or exposed other people to their hostility.
      Also, the more mutually hostile settings the adolescents were involved in, the
      more self-harm they reported. Overall, our findings suggest not only that self
      harmers are exposed to hostility in their different interpersonal contexts, as
      has been typically assumed, but also that they simultaneously expose others to
      hostility in these contexts. This has implications for our understanding of young
      people who harm themselves and also for intervention. Aggr. Behav. 42:522-532,
      2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26880109
TI  - Micafungin in invasive fungal infections in children with acute leukemia or
      undergoing stem cell transplantation.

PMID- 26880112
TI  - Brain matters: from environmental ethics to environmental neuroethics.
AB  - The ways in which humans affect and are affected by their environments have been
      studied from many different perspectives over the past decades. However, it was
      not until the 1970s that the discussion of the ethical relationship between
      humankind and the environment formalized as an academic discipline with the
      emergence of environmental ethics. A few decades later, environmental health
      emerged as a discipline focused on the assessment and regulation of environmental
      factors that affect living beings. Our goal here is to begin a discussion
      specifically about the impact of modern environmental change on biomedical and
      social understandings of brain and mental health, and to align this with ethical
      considerations. We refer to this focus as Environmental Neuroethics, offer a case
      study to illustrate key themes and issues, and conclude by offering a five-tier
      framework as a starting point of analysis. 

PMID- 26880111
TI  - Altered drug susceptibility during host adaptation of a Plasmodium falciparum
      strain in a non-human primate model.
AB  - Infections with Plasmodium falciparum, the most pathogenic of the Plasmodium
      species affecting man, have been reduced in part due to artemisinin-based
      combination therapies. However, artemisinin resistant parasites have recently
      emerged in South-East Asia. Novel intervention strategies are therefore urgently
      needed to maintain the current momentum for control and elimination of this
      disease. In the present study we characterize the phenotypic and genetic
      properties of the multi drug resistant (MDR) P. falciparum Thai C2A parasite
      strain in the non-human Aotus primate model, and across multiple passages. Aotus
      infections with C2A failed to clear upon oral artesunate and mefloquine treatment
      alone or in combination, and ex vivo drug assays demonstrated reduction in drug
      susceptibility profiles in later Aotus passages. Further analysis revealed
      mutations in the pfcrt and pfdhfr loci and increased parasite multiplication rate
      (PMR) across passages, despite elevated pfmdr1 copy number. Altogether our
      experiments suggest alterations in parasite population structure and increased
      fitness during Aotus adaptation. We also present data of early treatment failures
      with an oral artemisinin combination therapy in a pre-artemisinin resistant P.
      falciparum Thai isolate in this animal model. 

PMID- 26880110
TI  - Tenomodulin promotes human adipocyte differentiation and beneficial visceral
      adipose tissue expansion.
AB  - Proper regulation of energy storage in adipose tissue is crucial for maintaining
      insulin sensitivity and molecules contributing to this process have not been
      fully revealed. Here we show that type II transmembrane protein tenomodulin
      (TNMD) is upregulated in adipose tissue of insulin-resistant versus insulin
      sensitive individuals, who were matched for body mass index (BMI). TNMD
      expression increases in human preadipocytes during differentiation, whereas
      silencing TNMD blocks adipogenesis. Upon high-fat diet feeding, transgenic mice
      overexpressing Tnmd develop increased epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT)
      mass, and preadipocytes derived from Tnmd transgenic mice display greater
      proliferation, consistent with elevated adipogenesis. In Tnmd transgenic mice,
      lipogenic genes are upregulated in eWAT, as is Ucp1 in brown fat, while liver
      triglyceride accumulation is attenuated. Despite expanded eWAT, transgenic
      animals display improved systemic insulin sensitivity, decreased collagen
      deposition and inflammation in eWAT, and increased insulin stimulation of Akt
      phosphorylation. Our data suggest that TNMD acts as a protective factor in
      visceral adipose tissue to alleviate insulin resistance in obesity. 

PMID- 26880115
TI  - Novel yellowish-green light-emitting Ca10(PO4)6O:Ce(3+) phosphor: structural
      refinement, preferential site occupancy and color tuning.
AB  - Here we report a novel Ca10(PO4)6O:Ce(3+) phosphate phosphor, consisting of an
      apatite structure, whose emission peaks under excitation with near-ultra violet
      light were found to shift from 410 nm (blue light) to 510 nm (yellowish-green
      light) with an increasing Ce(3+) doping level due to the Ce(3+) at the different
      concentrations preferentially occupying different crystallographic sites. 

PMID- 26880113
TI  - Inferences from tip-calibrated phylogenies: a review and a practical guide.
AB  - Molecular dating of phylogenetic trees is a growing discipline using sequence
      data to co-estimate the timing of evolutionary events and rates of molecular
      evolution. All molecular-dating methods require converting genetic divergence
      between sequences into absolute time. Historically, this could only be achieved
      by associating externally derived dates obtained from fossil or biogeographical
      evidence to internal nodes of the tree. In some cases, notably for fast-evolving
      genomes such as viruses and some bacteria, the time span over which samples were
      collected may cover a significant proportion of the time since they last shared a
      common ancestor. This situation allows phylogenetic trees to be calibrated by
      associating sampling dates directly to the sequences representing the tips
      (terminal nodes) of the tree. The increasing availability of genomic data from
      ancient DNA extends the applicability of such tip-based calibration to a variety
      of taxa including humans, extinct megafauna and various microorganisms which
      typically have a scarce fossil record. The development of statistical models
      accounting for heterogeneity in different aspects of the evolutionary process
      while accommodating very large data sets (e.g. whole genomes) has allowed using
      tip-dating methods to reach inferences on divergence times, substitution rates,
      past demography or the age of specific mutations on a variety of spatiotemporal
      scales. In this review, we summarize the current state of the art of tip dating,
      discuss some recent applications, highlight common pitfalls and provide a 'how
      to' guide to thoroughly perform such analyses.

PMID- 26880116
TI  - High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Environmental Stability
      Based on Amphiphile-Modified CH3 NH3 PbI3.
AB  - A new aliphatic fluorinated amphiphilic additive is added to CH3 NH3 PbI3
      perovskite to tune the morphology and enhance the environmental stability without
      sacrificing the performance of the devices. Judicious screening of the perovskite
      precursor solution realizes a power conversion efficiency of 18.0% for mesoporous
      perovskite solar cells as a result of improved surface coverage. A slower
      degradation in ambient air is observed with this modified perovskite. 

PMID- 26880114
TI  - Endocannabinoid regulation of beta-cell functions: implications for glycaemic
      control and diabetes.
AB  - Visceral obesity is a major risk factor for the development of insulin resistance
      which can progress to overt type 2 diabetes (T2D) with loss of beta-cell function
      and, ultimately, loss of beta-cells. Insulin secretion by beta-cells of the
      pancreatic islets is tightly coupled to blood glucose concentration and modulated
      by a large number of blood-borne or locally released mediators, including
      endocannabinoids. Obesity and its complications, including T2D, are associated
      with increased activity of the endocannabinoid/CB1 receptor (CB1 R) system, as
      indicated by the therapeutic effects of CB1 R antagonists. Similar beneficial
      effects of CB1 R antagonists with limited brain penetrance indicate the important
      role of CB1 R in peripheral tissues, including the endocrine pancreas. Pancreatic
      beta-cells express all of the components of the endocannabinoid system, and
      endocannabinoids modulate their function via both autocrine and paracrine
      mechanisms, which influence basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion and also
      affect beta-cell proliferation and survival. The present brief review will survey
      available information on the modulation of these processes by endocannabinoids
      and their receptors, with an attempt to assess the contribution of such effects
      to glycaemic control in T2D and insulin resistance.

PMID- 26880117
TI  - Risk Factors for Subtherapeutic Tacrolimus Levels after Conversion from
      Continuous Intravenous Infusion to Oral in Children after Allogeneic
      Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
AB  - Tacrolimus (FK506) is a calcineurin inhibitor and is an essential component of
      many immunosuppressive regimens. The oral bioavailability of tacrolimus may be
      affected by many factors, including patient age and gender, as well as by drug
      drug interactions or genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolism. The dosing
      recommendations for pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
      (alloHCT) recipients have been derived from tacrolimus use in adult solid-organ
      transplantation patients. Data describing the impact of conversion of i.v.
      tacrolimus to oral on the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD)
      are limited in children after alloHCT. In this study, we describe the incidence
      of grades II to IV aGVHD after conversion from i.v. tacrolimus to oral tacrolimus
      and study the clinical factors associated with delayed achievement of therapeutic
      blood levels. In this retrospective analysis, 68 pediatric patients (median age,
      6.7 years; range, .25 to 22 years), underwent alloHCT for malignant and
      nonmalignant diseases and received tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil for aGVHD
      prophylaxis. Among all patients, the median number of days to achieve therapeutic
      tacrolimus trough concentration (10 ng/mL to 20 ng/mL) was 7 days (range, 0 to 37
      days). Twenty-two patients developed grades II to IV aGVHD and the cumulative
      incidence of grades II to IV aGVHD in all patients was 32.4% (standard error,
      .06). On multivariate analysis ethnicity (white versus others: odds ratio [OR], 
      4.5; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.091 to 18.91; P = .038) and >= 10 days
      of subtherapeutic tacrolimus levels in first 30 days on i.v. (OR, -3.8; 95% CI,
      1.276 to 11.43; P = .017) were significantly associated with delay in achieving
      therapeutic tacrolimus trough concentration. The impact of race/ethnicity on
      therapeutic tacrolimus trough concentration in pediatric alloHCT recipients
      should be further studied prospectively so that individualized dosing plans can
      be developed. 

PMID- 26880119
TI  - Principal components analysis--K-means transposon element based foxtail millet
      core collection selection method.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Core collections are important tools in genetic resources research
      and administration. At present, most core collection selection criteria are based
      on one of the following item characteristics: passport data, genetic markers, or
      morphological traits, which may lead to inadequate representations of variability
      in the complete collection. The development of a comprehensive methodology that
      includes as much element data as possible has been explored poorly. Using a
      collection of (Setaria italica sbsp. italica (L.) P. Beauv.) as a model, we
      developed a method for core collection construction based on genotype data and
      numerical representations of agromorphological traits, thereby improving the
      selection process. RESULTS: Principal component analysis allows the selection of
      the most informative discriminators among the various elements evaluated,
      regardless of whether they are genetic or morphological, thereby providing an
      adequate criterion for further K-mean clustering. Overall, the core collections
      of S. italica constructed using only genotype data demonstrated overall better
      validation scores than other core collections that we generated. However, core
      collection based on both genotype and agromorphological characteristics
      represented the overall diversity adequately. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of both
      genotype and agromorphological characteristics as a comprehensive dataset in this
      methodology ensures that agricultural traits are considered in the core
      collection construction. This approach will be beneficial for genetic resources
      management and research activities for S. italica as well as other genetic
      resources.

PMID- 26880118
TI  - Three-dimensional Organotypic Culture Models of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - Three-dimensional cell culture methods are viable in vitro approaches that
      facilitate the examination of biological features cancer cells present in vivo.
      In this study, we demonstrate that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in porous
      alginate scaffolds can generate organoid-like spheroids that mimic numerous
      features of glandular epithelium in vivo, such as acinar morphogenesis and apical
      expression patterns of EpCAM, a hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker highly
      expressed in a subset of HCC with stemness features. We show that the activation
      of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, an essential pathway for maintaining HCC stemness,
      is required for EpCAM(+) HCC spheroid formation as well as the maintenance of the
      acinous structure. Furthermore, we demonstrate that EpCAM(+) HCC cells cultured
      as spheroids are more sensitive to TGF/beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition with highly tumorigenic and metastatic potential in vivo compared to
      conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture. In addition, HCC cells in EpCAM(+)
      spheroids are more resistant to chemotherapeutic agents than 2D-cultured cells.
      The alginate scaffold-based organotypic culture system is a promising, reliable,
      and easy system that can be configured into a high throughput fashion for the
      identification of critical signaling pathways and screening of molecular drug
      targets specific for HCC. 

PMID- 26880120
TI  - [Not Available].
AB  - Different care settings in Quebec use levels of medical intervention forms, also
      called levels of care (LOC), to determine the code status of patients and to
      improve end-of-life care planning. It is not currently possible to know whether
      the levels of care in hospitals benefit patients and staff in facilitating the
      decision making process of treatment options and resuscitation measures. No
      study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, has been published about LOC,
      particularly in Quebec and Canada. This literature review was undertaken on
      levels of care in order to clarify this topic. Relevant articles are discussed
      under different themes that are pertinent to LOC. The themes addressed in this
      article include care at the end of life, do-not-resuscitate orders, treatment
      withdrawal, and decision making at end of life. 

PMID- 26880121
TI  - Fibroblast growth factor-23 and chronic allograft injury in pediatric renal
      transplant recipients: a Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium study.
AB  - The chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) produces fibroblast
      growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and related circulating pathogenic factors that are
      strongly associated with vascular injury and declining kidney function in native
      CKD. Similarly, chronic renal allograft injury (CRAI) is characterized by
      vascular injury and declining allograft function in transplant CKD. We
      hypothesized that circulating CKD-MBD factors could serve as non-invasive
      biomarkers of CRAI. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter case-control
      study. Cases (n = 31) had transplant function >20 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and biopsy
      proven CRAI. Controls (n = 31) had transplant function >90 mL/min/1.73 m(2)
      and/or a biopsy with no detectable abnormality in the previous six months. We
      measured plasma CKD-MBD factors at a single time point using ELISA. Median
      (range) FGF23 levels were over twofold higher in CRAI vs. controls [106 (10-475)
      pg/mL vs. 45 (8-91) pg/mL; p < 0.001]. FGF23 levels were inversely correlated
      with transplant function (r(2) = -0.617, p < 0.001). Higher FGF23 levels were
      associated with increased odds of biopsy-proven CRAI after adjusting for
      transplant function, clinical, and demographic factors [OR (95% CI) 1.43 (1.23,
      1.67)]. Relationships between additional CKD-MBD factors and CRAI were attenuated
      in multivariable models. Higher FGF23 levels were independently associated with
      biopsy-proven CRAI in children. 

PMID- 26880122
TI  - Association between age and risk of stroke or death from carotid endarterectomy
      and carotid stenting: a meta-analysis of pooled patient data from four randomised
      trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Age was reported to be an effect-modifier in four randomised
      controlled trials comparing carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid
      endarterectomy (CEA), with better CEA outcomes than CAS outcomes noted in the
      more elderly patients. We aimed to describe the association of age with treatment
      differences in symptomatic patients and provide age-specific estimates of the
      risk of stroke and death within narrow (5 year) age groups. METHODS: In this meta
      analysis, we analysed individual patient-level data from four randomised
      controlled trials within the Carotid Stenosis Trialists' Collaboration (CSTC)
      involving patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. We included only trials
      that randomly assigned patients to CAS or CEA and only patients with symptomatic
      stenosis. We assessed rates of stroke or death in 5-year age groups in the
      periprocedural period (between randomisation and 120 days) and ipsilateral stroke
      during long-term follow-up for patients assigned to CAS or CEA. We also assessed
      differences between CAS and CEA. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat
      basis. FINDINGS: Collectively, 4754 patients were randomly assigned to either CEA
      or CAS treatment in the four studies. 433 events occurred over a median follow-up
      of 2.7 years. For patients assigned to CAS, the periprocedural hazard ratio (HR)
      for stroke and death in patients aged 65-69 years compared with patients younger
      than 60 years was 2.16 (95% CI 1.13-4.13), with HRs of roughly 4.0 for patients
      aged 70 years or older. We noted no evidence of an increased periprocedural risk
      by age group in the CEA group (p=0.34). These changes underpinned a CAS-versus
      CEA periprocedural HR of 1.61 (95% CI 0.90-2.88) for patients aged 65-69 years
      and an HR of 2.09 (1.32-3.32) for patients aged 70-74 years. Age was not
      associated with the postprocedural stroke risk either within treatment group
      (p>=0.09 for CAS and 0.83 for CEA), or between treatment groups (p=0.84).
      INTERPRETATION: In these RCTs, CEA was clearly superior to CAS in patients aged
      70-74 years and older. The difference in older patients was almost wholly
      attributable to increasing periprocedural stroke risk in patients treated with
      CAS. Age had little effect on CEA periprocedural risk or on postprocedural risk
      after either procedure. FUNDING: None.

PMID- 26880123
TI  - Zika virus outbreak: reproductive health and rights in Latin America.

PMID- 26880125
TI  - Tungiasis: diagnosis at a glance.

PMID- 26880124
TI  - Averting a malaria disaster: will insecticide resistance derail malaria control?
AB  - World Malaria Day 2015 highlighted the progress made in the development of new
      methods of prevention (vaccines and insecticides) and treatment (single dose
      drugs) of the disease. However, increasing drug and insecticide resistance
      threatens the successes made with existing methods. Insecticide resistance has
      decreased the efficacy of the most commonly used insecticide class of
      pyrethroids. This decreased efficacy has increased mosquito survival, which is a
      prelude to rising incidence of malaria and fatalities. Despite intensive research
      efforts, new insecticides will not reach the market for at least 5 years.
      Elimination of malaria is not possible without effective mosquito control.
      Therefore, to combat the threat of resistance, key stakeholders need to rapidly
      embrace a multifaceted approach including a reduction in the cost of bringing new
      resistance management methods to market and the streamlining of associated
      development, policy, and implementation pathways to counter this looming public
      health catastrophe. 

PMID- 26880126
TI  - Age and carotid intervention outcomes.

PMID- 26880127
TI  - Feeding ecology of some fish species occurring in artisanal fishery of Socotra
      Island (Yemen).
AB  - The demersal species Lethrinus borbonicus, Lethrinus mahsena, Lethrinus microdon,
      Lethrinus nebulosus, Lutjanus bohar, Lutjanus gibbus, Lutjanus kasmira,
      Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus stoliczkae, Carangoides gymnostethus and
      Euthynnus affinis are important coastal fishes species of the northern coast of
      Socotra (Yemen), exploited by local fishery. The biology and feeding ecology of
      these species are poorly known in the area. A total of 1239 specimens were
      sampled from the main fishing landing site of the island (Hadibo). Total length
      and weight were measured, stomach contents were analyzed, diet overlap, Fulton's
      Condition index, and trophic levels were estimated. C. gymnostethus, L. microdon
      and L. kasmira occupied the highest position (T=4.50), L. nebulosus occupied the
      lower one (TL=3.41). The role of the increasing abundance of small pelagic fish
      in the diet of many species after the upwelling event is evident, but also
      different feeding strategies are reported, according to fish ecology. 

PMID- 26880128
TI  - The density-driven circulation of the coastal hypersaline system of the Great
      Barrier Reef, Australia.
AB  - The coastal hypersaline system of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in the dry season,
      was investigated for the first time using a 3D baroclinic model. In the shallow
      coastal embayments, salinity increases to c.a. 10/00 above typical offshore
      salinity (~35.40/00). This salinity increase is due to high evaporation rates and
      negligible freshwater input. The hypersalinity drifts longshore north-westward
      due to south-easterly trade winds and may eventually pass capes or headlands,
      e.g. Cape Cleveland, where the water is considerably deeper (c.a. 15m). Here, a
      pronounced thermohaline circulation is predicted to occur which flushes the
      hypersalinity offshore at velocities of up to 0.08m/s. Flushing time of the
      coastal embayments is around 2-3weeks. During the dry season early summer, the
      thermohaline circulation reduces and therefore, flushing times are predicted to
      be slight longer due to the reduced onshore-offshore density gradient compared to
      that in the dry season winter period. 

PMID- 26880129
TI  - First comprehensive screening of lipophilic organic contaminants in surface
      waters of the megacity Jakarta, Indonesia.
AB  - Jakarta is an Indonesian coastal megacity with over 10 million inhabitants. The
      rivers flowing through the city receive enormous amounts of untreated wastewaters
      and discharge their pollutant loads into Jakarta Bay. We utilized a screening
      approach to identify those site-specific compounds that represent the major
      contamination of the cities' water resources, and detected a total number of 71
      organic contaminants in Jakarta river water samples. Especially contaminants
      originating from municipal wastewater discharges were detected in high
      concentrations, including flame retardants, personal care products and
      pharmaceutical drugs. A flame retardant, a synthetic fragrance and caffeine were
      used as marker compounds to trace the riverine transport of municipal wastewaters
      into Jakarta Bay. These markers are also appropriate to trace municipal
      wastewater discharges to other tropical coastal ecosystems. This application is
      in particular useful to evaluate wastewater inputs from land-based sources to
      habitats which are sensitive to changing water quality, like coral reefs. 

PMID- 26880130
TI  - Electrochemical disinfection of simulated ballast water on PbO2/graphite felt
      electrode.
AB  - A novel PbO2/graphite felt electrode was constructed by electrochemical
      deposition of PbO2 on graphite felt and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction
      (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The prepared electrode is
      a viable technology for inactivation of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis,
      and Artemia salina as indicator organisms in simulated ballast water treatment,
      which meets the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Regulation D-2. The
      effects of contact time and current density on inactivation were investigated. An
      increase in current density generally had a beneficial effect on the inactivation
      of the three species. E.faecalis and A.salina were more resistant to
      electrochemical disinfection than E. coli. The complete disinfection of E.coli
      was achieved in <8min at an applied current density of 253A/m(2). Complete
      inactivation of E. faecalis and A.salina was achieved at the same current density
      after 60 and 40min of contact time, respectively. A. salina inactivation follows
      first-order kinetics. 

PMID- 26880131
TI  - Cross-clamping of bony stumps in preparation for osteosynthesis in digital
      replantation.

PMID- 26880132
TI  - Is It Easy to Be a Woman in Science?
AB  - A total devotion to your science is the main component of success! In this Guest
      Editorial, I. P. Beletskaya, Professor of chemistry at Moscow State University
      and a board member of Chemistry--A European Journal, describes her perspective on
      being a woman in science and shares some personal insights into her career and
      life as a chemist.

PMID- 26880133
TI  - Association of extraintestinal manifestations and anaemia with disease outcomes
      in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The association between extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) and
      disease activity suggest a common pathogenetic link with inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD). We report on the association of EIMs and anaemia with long-term
      disease outcomes, including treatment steps, hospitalization, and surgery in the
      prospective population-based IBD inception cohort from Veszprem province.
      METHODS: Data of 678 incident IBD patients (Crohn's disease/ulcerative
      colitis(CD/UC): 331/347) diagnosed from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2012
      were analyzed (CD: m/f: 176/155, median age at diagnosis: 28, IQR: 21-40 years,
      disease duration: 6, IQR: 2-9 years; UC: m/f: 200/147, median age at diagnosis:
      36, IQR: 26-50 years, duration: 7, IQR: 4-10 years). RESULTS: EIMs were present
      in 30% of the CD and 17.3% of the UC patients. In CD, female gender (p = 0.02)
      need for steroid (p  < 0.001) and azathioprine (AZA) (p = 0.02), while in UC,
      young age at onset (p = 0.03), extensive disease (p = 0.003), female gender (p =
      0.07), need for steroids (p < 0.001) and AZA (p = 0.004) and need for IBD-related
      hospitalization (p = 0.01) were associated with the presence of EIMs. Anaemia was
      present in 56.7% of the CD and 30.2% of the UC patients. In both CD and UC
      anaemia was associated with age at onset (pCD = 0.001, pUC = 0.04), disease
      location/extent (pCD = 0.02, pUC < 0.001), steroid and AZA use (for both pCD,UC <
      0.001), need for surgery/colectomy (pCD < 0.001, pUC = 0.002) and hospitalization
      (pCD = 0.004, pUC < 0.001) and in CD, it was associated with anti TNF therapy(p =
      0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of EIMs was associated with disease phenotype
      in UC and with treatment strategy in both CD and UC. Additionally, anaemia was
      associated with hospitalization and surgery in both CD and UC, suggesting that
      EIMs and anaemia may be helpful in stratifying disease severity in IBD.

PMID- 26880135
TI  - Bone marrow-derived cells in ocular neovascularization: contribution and
      mechanisms.
AB  - Ocular neovascularization often leads to severe vision loss. The role of bone
      marrow-derived cells (BMCs) in the development of ocular neovascularization, and
      its significance, is increasingly being recognized. In this review, we discuss
      their contribution and the potential mechanisms that mediate the effect of BMCs
      on the progression of ocular neovascularization. The sequence of events by which
      BMCs participate in ocular neovascularization can be roughly divided into four
      phases, i.e., mobilization, migration, adhesion and differentiation. This process
      is delicately regulated and liable to be affected by multiple factors. Cytokines
      such as vascular endothelial growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
      and erythropoietin are involved in the mobilization of BMCs. Studies have also
      demonstrated a key role of cytokines such as stromal cell-derived factor-1, tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor, in
      regulating the migration of BMCs. The adhesion of BMCs is mainly regulated by
      vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular
      endothelial cadherin. However, the mechanisms regulating the differentiation of
      BMCs are largely unknown at present. In addition, BMCs secrete cytokines that
      interact with the microenvironment of ocular neovascularization; their
      contribution to ocular neovascularization, especially choroidal
      neovascularization, can be aggravated by several risk factors. An extensive
      regulatory network is thought to modulate the role of BMCs in the development of
      ocular neovascularization. A comprehensive understanding of the involved
      mechanisms will help in the development of novel therapeutic strategies related
      to BMCs. In this review, we have limited the discussion to the recent progress in
      this field, especially the research conducted at our laboratory. 

PMID- 26880136
TI  - Late Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the basolateral amygdala is essential for
      persistence of newly-acquired and reactivated contextual fear memories.
AB  - A feature of fear memory is its persistence, which could be a factor for
      affective disorders. Memory retrieval destabilizes consolidated memories, and
      then rapid molecular cascades contribute to early stabilization of reactivated
      memories. However, persistence of reactivated memories has been poorly
      understood. Here, we discover that late Arc (also known as Arg3.1) expression in
      the mouse basolateral amygdala (BLA) is involved in persistence of newly-acquired
      and reactivated fear memories. After both fear learning and retrieval, Arc levels
      increased at 2 h, returned to basal levels at 6 h but increased again at 12 h.
      Inhibiting late Arc expression impaired memory retention 7 d, but not 2 d, after
      fear learning and retrieval. Moreover, blockade of NR2B-containing N-methyl-D
      aspartate receptors (NMDARs) prevented memory destabilization and inhibited late
      Arc expression. These findings indicate that NR2B-NMDAR and late Arc expression
      plays a critical role in the destabilization and persistence of reactivated
      memories. 

PMID- 26880137
TI  - Stimulating soil microorganisms for mineralizing the herbicide isoproturon by
      means of microbial electroremediating cells.
AB  - The absence of suitable terminal electron acceptors (TEA) in soil might limit the
      oxidative metabolism of environmental microbial populations. Microbial
      electroremediating cells (MERCs) consist in a variety of bioelectrochemical
      devices that aim to overcome electron acceptor limitation and maximize metabolic
      oxidation with the purpose of enhancing the biodegradation of a pollutant in the
      environment. The objective of this work was to use MERCs principles for
      stimulating soil bacteria to achieve the complete biodegradation of the herbicide
      (14) C-isoproturon (IPU) to (14) CO(2) in soils. Our study concludes that using
      electrodes at a positive potential [+600 mV (versus Ag/AgCl)] enhanced the
      mineralization by 20-fold respect the electrode-free control. We also report an
      overall profile of the (14) C-IPU metabolites and a (14) C mass balance in
      response to the different treatments. The remarkable impact of electrodes on the
      microbial activity of natural communities suggests a promising future for this
      emerging environmental technology that we propose to name bioelectroventing.

PMID- 26880138
TI  - Cross-sectional survey on awareness of colorectal cancer and a screening
      programme for primary health care professionals in Catalonia, Spain.
AB  - This study aimed to assess whether primary health care professionals have
      accurate information regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening procedures,
      surveillance recommendations and referral strategies. This cross-sectional
      descriptive study was based on a survey conducted among primary health care
      professionals in Barcelona, Spain. The questionnaire was used to gather
      information regarding CRC screening procedures as well as demographic and
      professional characteristics of the study subjects. A CRC and screening awareness
      score (ranging from 0 to 12) was created based on the survey questions. The
      response rate was 58.9% (206/305). The estimated mean score (standard deviation)
      was 8.43 (SD: 1.30). For four questions, more than 60% of the answers were
      incorrect: one related to risk factors, two concerning follow-up colonoscopy, and
      one related to surveillance. Only 30.8% of the participants believed that they
      were responsible for determining the appropriate surveillance intervals and for
      scheduling colonoscopies. Although the professionals had sufficient knowledge of
      CRC screening, professional knowledge of some aspects related to the major non
      modifiable risk factors for the disease and surveillance colonoscopy procedures
      could be improved. Frequent communication with professionals is necessary to
      maintain updated screening-related information. Possible methods for facilitating
      communication could include continuous briefings, regular message reminders or
      educational websites.

PMID- 26880142
TI  - The Two-Minute Radiologist.

PMID- 26880140
TI  - Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived From a Reproductive Tissue Niche Under
      Oxidative Stress Have High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity.
AB  - The use of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) in regenerative medicine often
      requires MSC to function in environments of high oxidative stress. Human
      pregnancy is a condition where the mother's tissues, and in particular her
      circulatory system, are exposed to increased levels of oxidative stress. MSC in
      the maternal decidua basalis (DMSC) are in a vascular niche, and thus would be
      exposed to oxidative stress products in the maternal circulation. Aldehyde
      dehydrogenases (ALDH) are a large family of enzymes which detoxify aldehydes and
      thereby protect stem cells against oxidative damage. A subpopulation of MSC
      express high levels of ALDH (ALDH(br)) and these are more potent in repairing and
      regenerating tissues. DMSC was compared with chorionic villous MSC (CMSC) derived
      from the human placenta. CMSC reside in vascular niche and are exposed to the
      fetal circulation, which is in lower oxidative state. We screened an ALDH isozyme
      cDNA array and determined that relative to CMSC, DMSC expressed high levels of
      ALDH1 family members, predominantly ALDH1A1. Immunocytochemistry gave qualitative
      confirmation at the protein level. Immunofluorescence detected ALDH1
      immunoreactivity in the DMSC and CMSC vascular niche. The percentage of ALDH(br)
      cells was calculated by Aldefluor assay and DMSC showed a significantly higher
      percentage of ALDH(br) cells than CMSC. Finally, flow sorted ALDH(br) cells were
      functionally potent in colony forming unit assays. DMSC, which are derived from
      pregnancy tissues that are naturally exposed to high levels of oxidative stress,
      may be better candidates for regenerative therapies where MSC must function in
      high oxidative stress environments.

PMID- 26880141
TI  - Reducing routine vaccination dropout rates: evaluating two interventions in three
      Kenyan districts, 2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Globally, vaccine preventable diseases are responsible for nearly 20%
      of deaths annually among children <5 years old. Worldwide, many children dropout
      from the vaccination program, are vaccinated late, or incompletely vaccinated. We
      evaluated the impact of text messaging and sticker reminders to reduce dropouts
      from the vaccination program. METHODS: The evaluation was conducted in three
      selected districts in Kenya: Machakos, Langata and Njoro. Three health facilities
      were selected in each district, and randomly allocated to send text messages or
      provide stickers reminding parents to bring their children for second and third
      dose of pentavalent vaccine, or to the control group (routine reminder) with next
      appointment date indicated on the well-child booklet. Children aged <12 months
      presenting for their first dose of pentavalent vaccine were enrolled. A dropout
      was defined as not returning for vaccination >= 2 weeks after scheduled date for
      third dose of pentavalent vaccine. We calculated dropout rate as a percentage of
      the difference between first and third pentavalent dose. RESULTS: We enrolled
      1,116 children; 372 in each intervention and 372 controls between February and
      October 2014. Median age was 45 days old (range: 31-99 days), and 574 (51%) were
      male. There were 136 (12%) dropouts. Thirteen (4%) children dropped out among
      those who received text messages, 60 (16%) among who received sticker reminders,
      and 63 (17%) among the controls. Having a caregiver with below secondary
      education [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.1-3.2], and
      residing >5 km from health facility (OR 1.6, CI 1.0-2.7) were associated with
      higher odds of dropping out. Those who received text messages were less likely to
      drop out compared to controls (OR 0.2, CI 0.04-0.8). There was no statistical
      difference between those who received stickers and controls (OR 0.9, CI 0.5-1.6).
      CONCLUSION: Text message reminders can reduce vaccination dropout rates in Kenya.
      We recommend the extended implementation of text message reminders in routine
      vaccination services.

PMID- 26880143
TI  - Three-dimensional inverse design of nanopatterns with block copolymers and
      homopolymers.
AB  - We propose a facile inverse design strategy to generate three-dimensional (3D)
      nanopatterns by using either block copolymers or a binary homopolymer blend via
      dissipative particle dynamics simulations. We find that the composition window of
      block copolymers to form a specific 3D morphology can be expanded when the self
      assembly of block copolymers is directed by templates. We also find that a binary
      homopolymer blend can serve as a better candidate in the inverse templating
      design, since they have similar performances on recovering the target pattern,
      with much lower cost. This strategy is proved efficient for fabricating templates
      with desired topographical configuration, and the inverse design idea sheds
      lights on better control and design of materials with complex nanopatterns. 

PMID- 26880144
TI  - Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola isolated from weeds in bean crop fields.
AB  - Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola, the causative agent of halo blight in
      common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), was isolated from weeds associated with bean
      crops in Spain. The bacterium was recovered from Fumaria sp, Mercurialis annua,
      Solanum nigrum and Sonchus oleraceus. Ps. s. pv. phaseolicola had previously been
      isolated from leguminous plants and S. nigrum, but to our knowledge, this is the
      first time it was recovered from the other three species. The isolates were
      phenotypically and genetically characterized, and they were compared with
      isolates recovered from common beans. Five different genotypic profiles were
      detected by PmeI-PFGE, two of them being of new description. Weed isolates were
      as pathogenic on bean plants as bean isolates, but they were not pathogenic on S.
      nigrum. Regarding the survival of the pathogen in weeds, Ps. s. pv. phaseolicola
      was isolated from So. oleraceus 11 weeks after the end of the bean crop. These
      results strongly support the idea of weeds as a potential source of inoculum for
      halo blight in bean. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It has traditionally
      been considered that the main source of inoculum of Pseudomonas syringae pv.
      phaseolicola causing halo blight disease in Phaseolus vulgaris are the bean
      seeds, and that the host range of the bacterium is almost restricted to
      leguminous plants. In this study, the bacterium was recovered from four
      nonleguminous weed species collected in bean fields, and its permanence in weeds
      for at least 11 weeks after the harvesting of the beans was demonstrated. We have
      also proved that the strains isolated from weeds were pathogenic on bean plants.
      Accordingly, the host range of Ps. s. pv. phaseolicola could be broader than
      previously thought and weeds appear to be acting as a reservoir of the pathogen
      until the next crop.

PMID- 26880145
TI  - Surgical Patient Safety Outcomes in Critical Access Hospitals: How Do They
      Compare?
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine whether Critical Access Hospitals
      (CAHs), the predominant type of hospital in small and isolated rural areas,
      perform better than, the same as, or worse than Prospective Payment System (PPS)
      hospitals on measures of quality. METHODS: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization
      Project State Inpatient Databases and American Hospital Association annual survey
      data were used for analyses. A total of 35,674 discharges from 136 nonfederal
      general hospitals with fewer than 50 beds were included in the analyses: 14,296
      from 100 CAHs and 21,378 from 36 PPS hospitals. Outcome measures included 6
      bivariate indicators of adverse events (including complications) of surgical care
      developed from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety
      Indicators. Multiple logistic regression models were developed to examine the
      relationship between hospital adverse events and CAH status. FINDINGS: Compared
      with PPS hospitals, CAHs are significantly less likely to have any observed
      (unadjusted) adverse event on 4 of the 6 indicators. After adjusting for patient
      mix and hospital characteristics, CAHs perform better on 3 of the 6 indicators.
      Accounting for the number of discharges eliminated the differences between CAHs
      and PPS hospitals in the likelihood of adverse events across all indicators
      except one. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests there are no differences in surgical
      patient safety outcomes between CAHs and PPS hospitals of comparable size. This
      reinforces the central role of CAHs in providing quality surgical care to
      populations in rural and isolated areas, and underscores the importance of
      strategies to sustain rural surgery infrastructure.

PMID- 26880146
TI  - Schizophrenia as a prodromal symptom in a patient harboring SNCA duplication.
AB  - We present the case of a patient who developed delusions and auditory
      hallucinations and was clinically diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Ten years
      after the onset of schizophrenia, the disease progressed to mild parkinsonism.
      SNCA duplication was confirmed. This case expands the spectrum of clinical
      features in carriers of SNCA duplication. 

PMID- 26880147
TI  - Distinct Processes Drive Diversification in Different Clades of Gesneriaceae.
AB  - Using a time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis including 768 Gesneriaceae
      species (out of [Formula: see text]3300 species) and more than 29,000 aligned
      bases from 26 gene regions, we test Gesneriaceae for diversification rate shifts
      and the possible proximal drivers of these shifts: geographic distributions,
      growth forms, and pollination syndromes. Bayesian Analysis of Macroevolutionary
      Mixtures analyses found five significant rate shifts in Beslerieae, core
      Nematanthus, core Columneinae, core Streptocarpus, and Pacific Cyrtandra These
      rate shifts correspond with shifts in diversification rates, as inferred by
      Binary State Speciation and Extinction Model and Geographic State Speciation and
      Extinction model, associated with hummingbird pollination, epiphytism, unifoliate
      growth, and geographic area. Our results suggest that diversification processes
      are extremely variable across Gesneriaceae clades with different combinations of
      characters influencing diversification rates in different clades. Diversification
      patterns between New and Old World lineages show dramatic differences, suggesting
      that the processes of diversification in Gesneriaceae are very different in these
      two geographic regions.

PMID- 26880149
TI  - Introductory paragraph.

PMID- 26880148
TI  - Integrative Taxonomy Recognizes Evolutionary Units Despite Widespread Mitonuclear
      Discordance: Evidence from a Rotifer Cryptic Species Complex.
AB  - Mitonuclear discordance across taxa is increasingly recognized as posing a major
      challenge to species delimitation based on DNA sequence data. Integrative
      taxonomy has been proposed as a promising framework to help address this problem.
      However, we still lack compelling empirical evidence scrutinizing the efficacy of
      integrative taxonomy in relation to, for instance, complex introgression
      scenarios involving many species. Here, we report remarkably widespread
      mitonuclear discordance between about 15 mitochondrial and 4 nuclear Brachionus
      calyciflorus groups identified using different species delimitation approaches.
      Using coalescent-, Bayesian admixture-, and allele sharing-based methods with DNA
      sequence or microsatellite data, we provide strong evidence in support of
      hybridization as a driver of the observed discordance. We then describe our
      combined molecular, morphological, and ecological approaches to resolving
      phylogenetic conflict and inferring species boundaries. Species delimitations
      based on the ITS1 and 28S nuclear DNA markers proved a more reliable predictor of
      morphological variation than delimitations using the mitochondrial COI gene. A
      short-term competition experiment further revealed systematic differences in the
      competitive ability between two of the nuclear-delimited species under six
      different growth conditions, independent of COI delimitations; hybrids were also
      observed. In light of these findings, we discuss the failure of the COI marker to
      estimate morphological stasis and morphological plasticity in the B. calyciflorus
      complex. By using B. calyciflorus as a representative case, we demonstrate the
      potential of integrative taxonomy to guide species delimitation in the presence
      of mitonuclear phylogenetic conflicts.

PMID- 26880150
TI  - Beliefs in an Unjust World: Mediating Ethnicity-Related Stressors and
      Psychological Functioning.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Racism is negatively associated with health. Explorations of cognitive
      reactions, such as beliefs in an unjust world (BUW), are needed to understand the
      associations between both perceived discrimination and own-group conformity
      pressures (OGCPS) and reduced psychological well-being. METHOD: With a sample of
      215 ethnic minority individuals, this study used structural equation modeling to
      explore BUW's mediating role between the two aforementioned forms of ethnicity
      related stressors (ERS), anger rumination, and negative affect. RESULTS: ERS were
      directly positively associated with BUW, anger rumination, and negative affect.
      BUW were directly and positively associated with both anger rumination and
      negative affect. Finally, BUW significantly mediated the direct relationships
      between both ethnicity-related stressors and anger rumination and negative
      affect. CONCLUSION: Although addressing racism and OGCPS at a systemic level
      (e.g., policy, prejudice prevention) is needed to reduce ERS, these findings
      suggest that BUW is one point of possible clinical intervention for individuals
      who have experienced these stressors.

PMID- 26880151
TI  - A General and Mild Approach to Controllable Preparation of Manganese-Based Micro-
      and Nanostructured Bars for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.
AB  - One-dimensional (1D) micro- and nanostructured electrode materials with
      controllable phase and composition are appealing materials for use in lithium-ion
      batteries with high energy and power densities, but they are challenging to
      prepare. Herein, a novel ethanol-water mediated co-precipitation method by a
      chimie douce route (synthesis conducted under mild conditions) has been exploited
      to selectively prepare an extensive series of manganese-based electrode
      materials, manifesting the considerable generalizability and efficacy of the
      method. Moreover, by simply tuning the mixed solvent and reagents, transition
      metal oxide bars with differing aspect ratios and compositions were prepared with
      an unprecedented uniformity. Application prospects are demonstrated by Li-rich
      0.5 Li2 MnO3 ?0.5 LiNi1/3 Co1/3 Mn1/3 O2 bars, which demonstrate excellent
      reversible capacity and rate capability thanks to the steerable nature of the
      synthesis and material quality. This work opens a new route to 1D micro- and
      nanostructured materials by customizing the precipitating solvent to orchestrate
      the crystallization process. 

PMID- 26880152
TI  - Enablers and barriers for implementing high-quality hypertension care in a rural
      primary care setting in Nigeria: perspectives of primary care staff and health
      insurance managers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a highly prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular
      diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that can be modified through timely and long
      term treatment in primary care. OBJECTIVE: We explored perspectives of primary
      care staff and health insurance managers on enablers and barriers for
      implementing high-quality hypertension care, in the context of a community-based
      health insurance programme in rural Nigeria. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi
      structured individual interviews with primary care staff (n = 11) and health
      insurance managers (n=4). Data were analysed using standard qualitative
      techniques. RESULTS: Both stakeholder groups perceived health insurance as an
      important facilitator for implementing high-quality hypertension care because it
      covered costs of care for patients and provided essential resources and
      incentives to clinics: guidelines, staff training, medications, and diagnostic
      equipment. Perceived inhibitors included the following: high staff workload;
      administrative challenges at facilities; discordance between healthcare provider
      and insurer on how health insurance and provider payment methods work; and
      insufficient fit between some guideline recommendations and tools for patient
      education and characteristics/needs of the local patient population. Perceived
      strategies to address inhibitors included the following: task-shifting; adequate
      provider payment benchmarking; good provider-insurer relationships; automated
      administration systems; and tailoring guidelines/patient education. CONCLUSIONS:
      By providing insights into perspectives of primary care providers and health
      insurance managers, this study offers information on potential strategies for
      implementing high-quality hypertension care for insured patients in SSA.

PMID- 26880153
TI  - The importance of intersectoral factors in promoting equity-oriented universal
      health coverage: a multilevel analysis of social determinants affecting neonatal
      infant and under-five mortality in Bangladesh.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Health is multidimensional and affected by a wide range of factors,
      many of which are outside the health sector. To improve population health and
      reduce health inequality, it is important that we take into account the complex
      interactions among social, environmental, behavioural, and biological factors and
      design our health interventions accordingly. OBJECTIVES: This study examines
      mortality differentials in children of different age groups by key social
      determinants of health (SDH) including parental education and employment,
      mother's level of autonomy, age, asset index, living arrangements (utilities),
      and other geographical contextual factors (area of residence, road conditions).
      DESIGN: We used data from the two rounds of Bangladesh Health and Demographic
      Survey, a nationally representative sample survey of the population residing in
      Bangladesh. Multilevel logistic models were used to study the impact of SDH on
      child mortality. RESULTS: The study found that the mother's age, the education of
      both parents, the mother's autonomy to take decisions about matters linked to the
      health of her child, the household socio-economic conditions, the geographical
      region of residence, and the condition of the roads were significantly associated
      with higher risks of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in Bangladesh.
      CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest there are complex relationships among
      different SDH. Thus larger intersectoral actions will be needed to reduce
      disparities in child health and mortality and achieve meaningful progress towards
      equity-oriented universal health coverage.

PMID- 26880155
TI  - Prenatal smoking and childhood behavior problems: is the association mediated by
      birth weight?
AB  - Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with both reduced birth weight
      and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate
      longitudinal associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood
      behavioral outcomes, and to determine the role of birth weight in mediating such
      associations. The study included 489 mother-child pairs. Prenatal exposures were
      assessed via maternal interviews conducted on average 1 year after delivery and
      child behavior assessments were completed at 5-12 years of age using the Child
      Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF). Maternal smoking during
      pregnancy was associated with externalizing and total behavior problems according
      to both mother and teacher report. Maternal smoking was also associated with the
      following percentage increases in scores: 41% (CBCL) and 44% (TRF) for aggressive
      behavior and 65% (CBCL) and 47% (TRF) for attention problems. Associations with
      behavior problems were attenuated or no longer observed for mothers that quit
      smoking in early pregnancy. The proportion of the total effect of maternal
      smoking on behavioral outcomes explained by differences in birth weight was small
      and ranged from 6.6% for externalizing behavior on the CBCL to 20.1% for rule
      breaking behavior on the CBCL. Our results suggest that birth weight differences
      explain only a small proportion of the magnitude of association between maternal
      smoking during pregnancy and selected behavioral outcomes.

PMID- 26880154
TI  - Communication strategies to promote the uptake of childhood vaccination in
      Nigeria: a systematic map.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effective communication is a critical component in ensuring that
      children are fully vaccinated. Although numerous communication interventions have
      been proposed and implemented in various parts of Nigeria, the range of
      communication strategies used has not yet been mapped systematically. This study
      forms part of the 'Communicate to vaccinate' (COMMVAC) project, an initiative
      aimed at building research evidence for improving communication with parents and
      communities about childhood vaccinations in low- and middle-income countries.
      OBJECTIVE: This study aims to: 1) identify the communication strategies used in
      two states in Nigeria; 2) map these strategies against the existing COMMVAC
      taxonomy, a global taxonomy of vaccination communication interventions; 3) create
      a specific Nigerian country map of interventions organised by purpose and target;
      and 4) analyse gaps between the COMMVAC taxonomy and the Nigerian map. DESIGN: We
      conducted the study in two Nigerian states: Bauchi State in Northern Nigeria and
      Cross River State in Southern Nigeria. We identified vaccination communication
      interventions through interviews carried out among purposively selected
      stakeholders in the health services and relevant agencies involved in vaccination
      information delivery; through observations and through relevant documents. We
      used the COMMVAC taxonomy to organise the interventions we identified based on
      the intended purpose of the communication and the group to which the intervention
      was targeted. RESULTS: The Nigerian map revealed that most of the communication
      strategies identified aimed to inform and educate and remind or recall. Few aimed
      to teach skills, enhance community ownership, and enable communication. We did
      not identify any intervention that aimed to provide support or facilitate
      decision-making. Many interventions had more than one purpose. The main targets
      for most interventions were caregivers and community members, with few
      interventions directed at health workers. Most interventions identified were used
      in the context of campaigns rather than routine immunisation programmes.
      CONCLUSIONS: The identification and development of the Nigerian vaccination
      communication interventions map could assist programme managers to identify gaps
      in vaccination communication. The map may be a useful tool as part of efforts to
      address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination coverage in Nigeria and similar
      settings.

PMID- 26880156
TI  - Shedding light on the leukodystrophies.

PMID- 26880158
TI  - A transcriptome study on Macrobrachium rosenbergii hepatopancreas experimentally
      challenged with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).
AB  - The world production of shrimp such as the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn,
      Macrobrachium rosenbergii is seriously affected by the white spot syndrome virus
      (WSSV). There is an urgent need to understand the host pathogen interaction
      between M. rosenbergii and WSSV which will be able to provide a solution in
      controlling the spread of this infectious disease and lastly save the aquaculture
      industry. Now, using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), we will be able to capture
      the response of the M. rosenbergii to the pathogen and have a better
      understanding of the host defence mechanism. Two cDNA libraries, one of WSSV
      challenged M. rosenbergii and a normal control one, were sequenced using the
      Illumina HiSeqTM 2000 platform. After de novo assembly and clustering of the
      unigenes from both libraries, 63,584 standard unigenes were generated with a mean
      size of 698bp and an N50 of 1137bp. We successfully annotated 35.31% of all
      unigenes by using BLASTX program (E-value <10-5) against NCBI non-redundant (Nr),
      Swiss-Prot, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway (KEGG) and Orthologous
      Groups of proteins (COG) databases. Gene Ontology (GO) assessment was conducted
      using BLAST2GO software. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by using the FPKM
      method showed 8443 host genes were significantly up-regulated whereas 5973 genes
      were significantly down-regulated. The differentially expressed immune related
      genes were grouped into 15 animal immune functions. The present study showed that
      WSSV infection has a significant impact on the transcriptome profile of M.
      rosenbergii's hepatopancreas, and further enhanced the knowledge of this host
      virus interaction. Furthermore, the high number of transcripts generated in this
      study will provide a platform for future genomic research on freshwater prawns.

PMID- 26880159
TI  - Investigating the significance of the role of Ostrea edulis larvae in the
      transmission and transfer of Bonamia ostreae.
AB  - In this study, the ability of oyster larvae, brooded in the pallial cavity of the
      parent oyster, to become infected in the pallial fluid, which is influenced by
      the brooding oyster and surrounding environment, was investigated. Larvae were
      collected over three summers from three areas around Ireland. Samples were
      screened for the presence of Bonamia ostreae DNA using PCR analysis. Four samples
      of larvae were found to be positive for B. ostreae DNA, though the parent oysters
      were negative for infection. Larvae may be able to acquire the pathogen from the
      water column during filter feeding or elimination of pseudo-faeces by the
      brooding adult.

PMID- 26880157
TI  - East London's Homeless: a retrospective review of an eye clinic for homeless
      people.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is very little published work on the visual needs of homeless
      people. This paper is the first study to investigate the visual needs of homeless
      people in the UK. Although similar work has been done in other countries, this
      study is unique because the United Kingdom is the only country with a National
      Health Service which provides free healthcare at the point of access. This study
      analysed the refractive status of the sample used, determined the demographics of
      homeless people seeking eye care and established if there is a need for community
      eye health with access to free spectacle correction in East London. METHODS: This
      retrospective case study analysed the clinical records of 1,141 homeless people
      using the Vision Care for Homeless People services at one of their clinics in
      East London. All eye examinations were carried out by qualified optometrists and,
      where appropriate, spectacles were dispensed to patients. Data captured included
      age, gender, ethnicity and refractive error. Results were analysed using two
      sample t-tests with Excel and Minitab. RESULTS: Demographics of age, gender and
      ethnicity are described. Spherical equivalents (SE) were calculated from
      prescription data available for 841 clinic users. Emmetropia was defined as SE
      0.50DS to +1DS, myopia as SE < -0.50DS, and hyperopia as SE > +1DS. The majority
      of clinic users were male (79.2 %, n = 923). Approximately 80 % (n = 583) of
      clinic users were white, 10 % (n = 72) were 'black', 4 % (n = 29) 'Asian' and the
      remaining 5.6 % (n = 40) were of 'mixed ethnicity' and 'other' groups. The mean
      age of females attending the clinic was significantly lower than that of males
      (45.9 years, SD = 13.8 vs' 48.4 years, SD = 11.8) when analysed using a two
      sample t-test (t (317) = 2.44, p = 0.02). One third of service users were aged
      between 50-59 years. Myopia and hyperopia prevalence rates were 37.0 % and 21.0 %
      respectively. A total of 34.8 % of homeless people were found to have uncorrected
      refractive error, and required spectacle correction. CONCLUSIONS: This study has
      identified a high proportion of uncorrected refractive error in this sample and
      therefore a need for regular eye examinations and provision of refractive
      correction for homeless people.

PMID- 26880160
TI  - Microelectrode array analysis of hippocampal network dynamics following theta
      burst stimulation via current source density reconstruction by Gaussian
      interpolation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multielectrode arrays (MEAs) have been used to understand
      electrophysiological network dynamics by recording real-time activity in groups
      of cells. The extent to which the collection of such data enables hypothesis
      testing on the level of circuits and networks depends largely on the
      sophistication of the analyses applied. NEW METHOD: We studied the systemic
      temporal variations of endogenous signaling within an organotypic hippocampal
      network following theta-burst stimulation (TBS) to the Schaffer collateral
      commissural pathways. The recovered current source density (CSD) information from
      the raw grid of extracellular potentials by using a Gaussian interpolation method
      increases spatial resolution and avoids border artifacts by numerical
      differentials. RESULTS: We compared total sink and source currents in DG, CA3,
      and CA1; calculated accumulated correlation coefficients to compare pre- with
      post-stimulation CSD dynamics in each region; and reconstructed functional
      connectivity maps for regional cross-correlations with respect to temporal CSD
      variations. The functional connectivity maps for potential correlations pre- and
      post-TBS were compared to investigate the neural network as a whole, revealing
      differences post-TBS. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S): Previous MEA work on
      plasticity in hippocampal evoked potentials has focused on synchronicity across
      the hippocampus within isolated subregions. Such analyses ignore the complex
      relationships among diverse components of the hippocampal circuitry, thus failing
      to capture network-level behaviors integral to understanding hippocampal
      function. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method of recovering current source density
      to examine whole-hippocampal function is sensitive to experimental manipulation
      and is worth further examination in the context of network-level analyses of
      neural signaling.

PMID- 26880161
TI  - Improved FastICA algorithm in fMRI data analysis using the sparsity property of
      the sources.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As a blind source separation technique, independent component
      analysis (ICA) has many applications in functional magnetic resonance imaging
      (fMRI). Although either temporal or spatial prior information has been introduced
      into the constrained ICA and semi-blind ICA methods to improve the performance of
      ICA in fMRI data analysis, certain types of additional prior information, such as
      the sparsity, has seldom been added to the ICA algorithms as constraints. NEW
      METHOD: In this study, we proposed a SparseFastICA method by adding the source
      sparsity as a constraint to the FastICA algorithm to improve the performance of
      the widely used FastICA. The source sparsity is estimated through a smoothed l0
      norm method. We performed experimental tests on both simulated data and real fMRI
      data to investigate the feasibility and robustness of SparseFastICA and made a
      performance comparison between SparseFastICA, FastICA and Infomax ICA. RESULTS:
      Results of the simulated and real fMRI data demonstrated the feasibility and
      robustness of SparseFastICA for the source separation in fMRI data. COMPARISON
      WITH EXISTING METHODS: Both the simulated and real fMRI experimental results
      showed that SparseFastICA has better robustness to noise and better spatial
      detection power than FastICA. Although the spatial detection power of
      SparseFastICA and Infomax did not show significant difference, SparseFastICA had
      faster computation speed than Infomax. CONCLUSIONS: SparseFastICA was comparable
      to the Infomax algorithm with a faster computation speed. More importantly,
      SparseFastICA outperformed FastICA in robustness and spatial detection power and
      can be used to identify more accurate brain networks than FastICA algorithm.

PMID- 26880162
TI  - Long-term primary culture of neurons taken from chick embryo brain: A model to
      study neural cell biology, synaptogenesis and its dynamic properties.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studying neuronal growth, development and synaptogenesis are among
      the hot research topics. However, it is faced with various challenges and
      technical limitations that include but not limited to donor's species and health,
      threat to life, age of embryo, glial contamination, real-time tracking, and
      follow-up. NEW METHOD: We have successfully standardized a method for long-term
      primary culture of neurons collected from post-fertilized 9 day incubated chicken
      embryo brain overcoming the limitations mentioned above. Fertilized eggs were
      incubated in the laboratory and neurons from the embryonic brain were collected
      and low-density culture, apparently without glial contamination, was studied at
      least for 35 days in vitro (DIV). RESULTS: Neurons were characterized by double
      immunostaining using stringent neuronal and glial markers. Neuronal
      differentiation, cytomorphology, neurite and axon formation, development and
      maturation, spine formation and synaptogenesis were tracked in real-time in a
      stage and time dependent manner. The neurons were transfected with Synaptophysin
      RFP to label synaptic vesicles, which were followed in real-time under live-cell
      imaging. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Every step was carried out under
      controlled laboratory conditions. Eggs are easily available, easy to handle,
      neurons from desired day of incubation could be conveniently studied for long
      period in apparently glia-free condition. In addition to common factors affecting
      primary culture, selection of culture media and cover glass coating are other key
      factors affecting neuronal cultures. CONCLUSIONS: We describe an inexpensive,
      simpler pure primary neuronal culture method for studying neuronal cell-biology,
      synaptogenesis, vesicular dynamics and it has potential to grow 3D-multilayered
      brain in vitro.

PMID- 26880163
TI  - Is Gly16Arg beta2 Receptor Polymorphism Related to Impulse Oscillometry in a Real
      Life Asthma Clinic Setting?
AB  - PURPOSE: We evaluated whether Gly16Arg beta2-receptor genotype relates to impulse
      oscillometry (IOS) in a real-life clinic setting. METHODS: Patients with
      persistent asthma taking inhaled corticosteroid +/- long-acting beta-agonist (ICS
      +/- LABA) were evaluated. We compared genotype groups comprising either no Arg
      copies (i.e. GlyGly) versus one or two Arg copies (i.e. ArgArg or ArgGly). IOS
      outcomes included total airway resistance at 5 Hz (R5), central airway resistance
      at 20 Hz (R20), peripheral airway resistance (R5-R20), reactance at 5 Hz, area
      under reactance curve (AX) and resonant frequency (RF). In addition, we recorded
      ACQ-5 and salbutamol use. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve ICS-treated asthmatic
      patients (mean ICS dose 1238 ug/day), mean age 43 years, ACQ 2.34, FEV1 82 %, R5
      177 % were identified-89 were also taking LABA. 61 patients were GlyGly, while 14
      were ArgArg and 37 were ArgGly. There were no significant differences in IOS
      outcomes, ACQ or salbutamol use between the genotypes. The allelic risk (as odds
      ratio) for less well-controlled asthma (as ACQ > 1.5) was 1.1 (95 % CI 0.72-1.68)
      in relation to each Arg copy with a corresponding odds ratio for abnormal R5-R20
      > 0.07kPA/l.s being 0.91 (95 % CI 0.57-1.44). 71 % of patients had an ACQ > 1.5
      in the GlyGly group, versus 67 % in GlyArg/ArgArg group, with corresponding
      figures for abnormal R5-R20 > 0.07 kPa/l.s being 69 versus 73 %. CONCLUSION: In a
      real-life clinic setting for patients with poorly controlled persistent asthma
      taking ICS +/- LABA, we found no evidence of any relationship of Gly16Arg to IOS,
      ACQ or salbutamol use.

PMID- 26880164
TI  - DIPNECH: Association Between Histopathology and Clinical Presentation.
AB  - Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare
      disorder which can be an incidental finding in imaging tests performed during the
      investigation of another condition, or is the final diagnosis in patients
      evaluated for chronic obstructive complaints. To explore the possible association
      between specific histopathology features and the mode of clinical presentation,
      we retrieved the clinical, functional, radiological, and pathological data of all
      13 patients diagnosed with DIPNECH at our Institution over a 14-year period (2000
      2014). As compared to patients with incidental disease (6/13, 46 %), patients
      with symptomatic disease were younger [mean (SD): 57.7 vs. 68.7 years, p =
      0.046], were more likely to have mosaic attenuation (100 vs. 0 %, p = 0.001) and
      small multiple nodules (100 vs. 17 %, p = 0.005) at CT, and showed a
      significantly higher number of foci of linear neuroendocrine proliferation
      [median (IQR): 28 (13-37) vs. 6 (5-13), p = 0.018] and of tumorlets [median
      (IQR): 10 (8-20) vs. 1 (1-1), p = 0.002] at histology. Incidental disease was
      found in association with pulmonary adenocarcinoma in five out of six patients
      (83.3 %). The results of our study provide preliminary evidence that symptomatic
      patients with DIPNECH represent a specific subset characterized by younger age
      and a higher burden of foci of neuroendocrine proliferation. 

PMID- 26880165
TI  - Matrix metalloproteinase-based photodynamic molecular beacons for targeted
      destruction of bone metastases in vivo.
AB  - The metastatic spread of cancer from the primary site or organ is one of its most
      devastating aspects, being responsible for up to 90% of cancer-associated
      mortality. Bone is one of the common sites of metastatic spread, including the
      vertebrae. Regardless of the treatment strategy, the clinical goals for patients
      with vertebral metastases are to improve the quality of life by preventing
      neurologic decline, to achieve durable pain relief and enhance local tumor
      control. However, in part due to the close proximity of the spinal cord, current
      treatment options are limited. We propose a novel therapeutic strategy with the
      use of photodynamic molecular beacons (PMBs) for targeted destruction of spinal
      metastases, particularly to de-bulk lesions as an adjuvant to vertebroplasty or
      kyphoplasty in order to mechanically stabilize weak or fractured vertebrae. The
      PDT efficacy of a matrix metalloproteinase-specific PMB is reported in a
      metstatic model that recapitulates the clinical features of tumor growth within
      the bone. We demonstrate that not only does tumor cell destruction occur but also
      the killing of bone stromal cells. The potential of PMB-PDT to destroy metastatic
      tumors, disrupt the osteolytic cycle and better preserve critical organs with an
      increased therapeutic window compared with conventional photosensitizers is
      demonstrated. 

PMID- 26880166
TI  - [Breastfeeding, complementary feeding and risk of childhood obesity].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of breastfeeding and weaning as a risk of
      obesity in pre-school children from a Primary Care Unit. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      analytical study LOCATION: Cancun, Quintana Roo (Mexico). PARTICIPANTS: Children
      from 2-4 years of age from a Primary Care Unit. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Duration of
      total and exclusive breastfeeding, age and food utilized for complementary
      feeding reported by the mother or career of the child and nutritional status
      assessment evaluated by body mass index (BMI) >= 95 percentile. Determination of
      prevalence ratio (PR), odds ratio (OR), chi squared (x2), and binary logistic
      regression. RESULTS: The study included 116 children (55.2% girls) with a mean
      age of 3.2 years, with obesity present in 62.1%, Exclusive breastfeeding in 72.4%
      with mean duration of 2.3 months, and age at introducing solids foods was 5.0
      months. There was a difference for breastfeeding and complementary feeding by
      gender sex (P<.05). A PR=3.9 (95% CI: 1.49-6.34) was calculated for exclusive
      breastfeeding and risk of obesity. The model showed no association between these
      variables and obesity in children CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding of less
      than three months is associated with almost 4 more times in obese children. There
      was a difference in age of complementary feeding, duration of breastfeeding, and
      formula milk consumption time for obese and non-obese children.

PMID- 26880167
TI  - Effectiveness of Internet- and mobile-based psychological interventions for the
      prevention of mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite progress in developing technologies for health promotion and
      disease treatment, mental disorders remain highly prevalent. In light of the
      associated personal and societal burden, primary prevention of new onset disorder
      can be seen as a primary challenge for health care systems and society. Internet-
      and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) are a promising approach to scale up
      preventive measures to a population level. The present protocol describes the
      rationale and design of a systematic review on the effectiveness of IMIs for the
      prevention of mental disorders. METHODS/DESIGN: A systematic literature search
      (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL) will be conducted. Keywords will target the topics
      "prevention", "mental disorders", and "Internet and mobile-based interventions".
      Studies eligible for inclusion will be retrieved, and data will be extracted and
      evaluated (design, population, outcomes, sample size, duration of intervention
      and follow-up, drop-out rate) by two independent researchers. Quality of evidence
      will be assessed, and results will be synthesized qualitatively and pooled meta
      analytically when outcome data are comparable in terms of endpoints, assessments,
      and target disorders. DISCUSSION: Prevention of mental disorders is one of the
      major emerging global health challenges. This review and meta-analysis will
      contribute to our understanding of the potential role for IMIs to help address
      this challenge. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42015026781.

PMID- 26880170
TI  - Alpha synuclein and crystallin expression in human lens in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26880169
TI  - Role of ITPA gene polymorphism in ribavirin-induced anemia and thrombocytopenia
      in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ribavirin (RBV)-induced anemia is one of the major causes of dose
      reduction and discontinuation of therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.
      We investigated the role of inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) single
      nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs1127354) in predicting RBV-induced anemia and
      thrombocytopenia among Egyptian patients with CHC genotype 4 infection. METHODS:
      One hundred and twenty Egyptian patients with CHC genotype 4 who had received
      standard of care combination therapy were enrolled in this study. Single
      nucleotide polymorphism at ITPA (rs1127354) was genotyped by real-time detection
      polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Hb levels between CC and non-CC groups were
      significantly different at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Hemoglobin decline was
      significantly higher among CC patient than non-CC patients at week 4 and week 8
      of treatment. The RBV dose reduction was higher in CC than non-CC group. Platelet
      decline was significantly lower in CC patients than non-CC patients at baseline,
      4, 12 weeks only. CONCLUSION: Rs1127354 ITPA polymorphism was associated with RBV
      induced anemia and thrombocytopenia in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus
      genotype 4 infection.

PMID- 26880168
TI  - Gene expression profiling and DNA methylation analyses of CTCs.
AB  - A variety of molecular assays have been developed for CTCs detection and
      molecular characterization. Molecular assays are based on the nucleic acid
      analysis in CTCs and are based on total RNA isolation and subsequent mRNA
      quantification of specific genes, or isolation of genomic DNA that can be for DNA
      methylation studies and mutation analysis. This review is mainly focused on gene
      expression and methylation studies in CTCs in various types of cancer. 

PMID- 26880171
TI  - Nanoscale optical interferometry with incoherent light.
AB  - Optical interferometry has empowered an impressive variety of biosensing and
      medical imaging techniques. A widely held assumption is that devices based on
      optical interferometry require coherent light to generate a precise optical
      signature in response to an analyte. Here we disprove that assumption. By
      directly embedding light emitters into subwavelength cavities of plasmonic
      interferometers, we demonstrate coherent generation of surface plasmons even when
      light with extremely low degrees of spatial and temporal coherence is employed.
      This surprising finding enables novel sensor designs with cheaper and smaller
      light sources, and consequently increases accessibility to a variety of analytes,
      such as biomarkers in physiological fluids, or even airborne nanoparticles.
      Furthermore, these nanosensors can now be arranged along open detection surfaces,
      and in dense arrays, accelerating the rate of parallel target screening used in
      drug discovery, among other high volume and high sensitivity applications. 

PMID- 26880172
TI  - Applications of process improvement techniques to improve workflow in abdominal
      imaging.
AB  - Major changes in the management and funding of healthcare are underway that will
      markedly change the way radiology studies will be reimbursed. The result will be
      the need to deliver radiology services in a highly efficient manner while
      maintaining quality. The science of process improvement provides a practical
      approach to improve the processes utilized in radiology. This article will
      address in a step-by-step manner how to implement process improvement techniques
      to improve workflow in abdominal imaging. 

PMID- 26880173
TI  - Effect of available intravenous access on accuracy and timeliness of epinephrine
      administration.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of available intravenous (IV) access on the
      accuracy and timeliness of epinephrine administration during a surprise mock
      severe contrast reaction. METHODS: Informed consent was waived for this
      prospective randomized IRB-approved study. Radiology trainees with previous
      annual hands-on contrast reaction training (n = 46) were randomized to one of two
      surprise mock contrast reactions over a 23-month period: Group 1-severe laryngeal
      edema with IV access present (n = 27) or Group 2-severe laryngeal edema without
      IV access present (n = 19). Both intramuscular (IM, Epi-Pen((r))) and IV
      epinephrine were available in both scenarios. Time-to-treat and epinephrine
      administration error rates were compared by study group and by route of
      administration using two-tailed Student's t test or chi (2) test. Epinephrine
      administration errors were correlated with training experience using Pearson's
      correlation. RESULTS: Mean time to epinephrine administration was significantly
      faster for scenarios without IV access (Group 2: 35 +/- 16 s vs. Group 1: 62 +/-
      49 s, p = 0.03), and for intramuscular administrations overall (IM: 42 +/- 34 s
      vs. IV: 98 +/- 46 s, p < 0.001). Epinephrine administration errors were common:
      (63% [17/27, Group 1] vs. 61% [11/18, Group 2], p = 1.00), had no relationship
      with time to most recent hands-on training (r = 0.24, p = 0.11), and were not
      predicted by year of post-graduate training (r = 0.04, p = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS:
      Lack of IV access is associated with a faster epinephrine administration time but
      no improvement in epinephrine administration error rate among radiology trainees
      responding to a surprise mock severe contrast reaction. Annual hands-on training
      appears to have little effect on epinephrine administration accuracy.

PMID- 26880174
TI  - Diagnostic value of strain elastography for differentiation between renal cell
      carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of kidney.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic
      performance of strain elastography for differentiation between renal cell
      carcinomas (RCCs) and transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of kidney. METHODS: A
      total of 99 consecutive patients who were referred to our hospital because of a
      newly diagnosed solid renal mass suspicious for malignancy on radiological
      screenings were evaluated with sonography, including strain elastography. Strain
      elastography was used to compare the stiffness of the renal masses and renal
      cortex. The ratio of strain in a renal mass and nearby renal cortex was defined
      as the strain index value. Mean strain index values for RCCs and TCCs were
      compared, and mean strain index values between histological subtypes of RCC were
      also compared. RESULTS: Although TCCs were smaller than RCCs (p < 0.001), there
      were no significant differences in gender distribution and mean age of the
      patients, and mean probe-tumor distance between RCC and TCC. The mean strain
      index value +/-SD for TCC (5.18 +/- 1.12) was significantly higher than the value
      for RCC (4.04 +/- 0.72; p < 0.001). Mean strain index value for papillary cell
      carcinomas (4.09 +/- 0.45) was slightly higher than that for clear cell
      carcinomas (3.85 +/- 0.78): however, the difference was not statistically
      significant (p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: Strain elastography can be used as a
      valuable imaging technique for preoperative differentiation between RCC and TCC
      of kidney.

PMID- 26880175
TI  - Reassessing medicare trends in diagnostic CT colonography after achieving CPT
      code category I status.
AB  - PURPOSE: Compare national trends in utilization and coverage of diagnostic (non
      screening) computed tomography colonography (CTC) in the Medicare population
      before and after achieving Current Procedural Terminology((r)) (CPT) Category I
      code status in 2010. METHODS: Claims by provider type and location for diagnostic
      CTC were identified between 2005 and 2013 using Medicare Physician Supplier
      Procedure Summary Master Files. Frequencies of billed and denied services were
      used to calculate denial rates for CTC and abdominal computed tomography (CT).
      PubMed search for articles with "CT colonography" in abstract or title during
      1997-2013 was performed. Publications were recorded yearly and matched to CTC
      denial rates. RESULTS: Annual Medicare claims for diagnostic CTC increased 212%
      during 2005-2009 in Category III status and increased 27.4% during 2009-2013
      after implementation of Category I codes. Claims for abdominal CT rose 13.4% over
      the same overall period. Denial rates decreased from 70% to 32.8% between 2005
      and 2009, and fluctuated between 24.7 and 30.6% thereafter. Denial rates for
      abdominal CT remained constant (4.1%-4.6%). From 2005 to 2013, services grew most
      in the private office (1678-7293) and hospital outpatient (1644-6449) settings
      with radiologists performing 93.3% of CTC. 1037 CTC publications were identified
      which increased 3567% between 1997 (3) and 2008 (107), plateaued until 2010 (114)
      and declined thereafter (75 in 2013). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic CTC grew
      dramatically from 2005 to 2009, but slowed thereafter; even after achieving CPT
      Category I code status in 2010. Medicare denial rates declined during early years
      but later stabilized which paralleled a slowing in new peer-reviewed research.
      CTC continues to be performed predominately by radiologists in the outpatient
      setting.

PMID- 26880176
TI  - Influence of age, sex, body mass index, alcohol, and smoking on shear wave
      velocity (p-SWE) of the pancreas.
AB  - PURPOSE: A variety of elastographic techniques have been developed to facilitate
      the non-invasive assessment of tissue properties. The goal of the study was to
      examine the influence of gender, age, BMI, alcohol consumption, and smoking in
      healthy volunteers. METHODS: Of the 263 participants who met all the study
      inclusion criteria, 234 had successful measurements. The examination was
      performed with the Siemens Acuson S3000 (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany),
      using the 6C1 curved array transducer with the virtual touch tissue
      quantification (VTQ) method. RESULTS: The values determined with the curved array
      in the head of the pancreas were 1.44 +/- 0.39 m/s for women and 1.19 +/- 0.29
      m/s for men; in the body, the results were 1.49 +/- 0.37 m/s for women and 1.26
      +/- 0.30  m/s for men; in the tail, the corresponding values were 1.29 +/- 0.36
      m/s for women and 1.05 +/- 0.30 m/s for men. Comparison of gender showed that men
      have significantly lower mean values than women. There were significantly higher
      values in all parts of the organ with the increasing age of the participants (p <
      0.0001). For BMI, there was a significant correlation with the values only when
      considering the BMI in continuous form. Alcohol consumption and smoking did not
      have any significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: ARFI-VTQ is qualified for use on
      pancreatic tissue. Further studies are required to examine the influence of other
      factors in larger populations.

PMID- 26880177
TI  - Microwave ablation for liver tumors.
AB  - Surveillance programs and widespread use of medical imaging have increased the
      detection of hepatic tumors. When feasible, surgical resection is widely accepted
      as the curative treatment of choice, but surgical morbidity and mortality has
      spurred the development of minimally invasive ablative technologies over the last
      2 decades. Microwave ablation has emerged as a promising thermal ablation
      modality with improving oncologic efficacy due to technical improvements and
      image guidance strategies. This article provides an overview of microwave
      application in liver tumors, and we discuss currently available equipment,
      clinical efficacy, and safety and provide comparisons with other commonly used
      therapies. This article also introduces advanced ablative techniques and
      combination therapies that may help achieve precise ablation and further enhance
      the efficacy of microwave ablation.

PMID- 26880178
TI  - Kidney disease and aging: A reciprocal relation.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are
      overrepresented in elderly patients. This provides specific challenges for the
      treatment, as the start of dialysis in vulnerable elderly patients may be
      associated with a rapid decline in functional performance. However, prognosis in
      elderly patients with ESRD is quite variable and related to the presence of
      comorbidity and geriatric impairments. The decision to start dialysis in elderly
      patients should always be based on shared decision making, which may be aided by
      the use of prediction models which should however not be used to withhold
      dialysis treatment. The treatment of ESRD in elderly patients should be based on
      a multidimensional treatment plan with a role for active rehabilitation.
      Moreover, there also appears to be a reciprocal relationship between aging and
      CKD, as the presence of geriatric complications is also high in younger patients
      with ESRD. This has led to the hypothesis of a premature aging process associated
      with CKD, resulting in different phenotypes such as premature vascular aging,
      muscle wasting, bone disease, cognitive dysfunction and frailty. Prevention and
      treatment of this phenotype is based on optimal treatment of CKD, associated
      comorbidities, and lifestyle factors by established treatments. For the future,
      interventions, which are developed to combat the aging process in general, might
      also have relevance for the treatment of patients with CKD, but their role should
      always be investigated in adequately powered clinical trials, as results obtained
      in experimental trials may not be directly translatable to the clinical situation
      of elderly patients. In the meantime, physical exercise is a very important
      intervention, by improving both physical capacity and functional performance, as
      well as by a direct effect on the aging process.

PMID- 26880179
TI  - EMG Functional tasks recordings determines frailty phenotypes in males and
      females.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identification of frailty is essential to understanding and
      mitigating age-related physical impairments. Previous studies have indicated that
      frailty phenotype can be identified through electromyography (EMG) when collected
      over the course of an 8-h day. However, long duration recordings challenge both
      the clinician and the older adults but activities of daily living that are most
      sensitive to changes in frailty status are currently unknown. The purpose of this
      study was to determine if muscle activity recorded during specific task, or
      groups of tasks, could be used to correctly classify middle-aged, non-frail, pre
      frail, and frail older adult pheonotypes. METHODS: Fifteen middle-aged (49 +/- 5
      years) and 76 older adults (77 +/- 8 years) participated. Older adults were
      categorized as non-frail (n = 49), pre-frail (n = 20), or frail (n = 7) using
      self-selected normal gait speed and a modified frailty index score. Bursts and
      gaps in EMG of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and biceps
      femoris were measured bilaterally during nine different functional tasks.
      RESULTS: Relatively high levels of success for frailty group classification (near
      90%) can be achieved from EMG. Bursts were more frequent and gaps fewer in frail
      compared with middle-aged and non-frail adults. The numbers of gaps and muscle
      quiescence in the upper limbs were particularly important. Changes in muscle
      activity offer predictive value in identifying frailty phenotype. Completing
      functional tasks (rising from the floor, toilet and chair) while undergoing EMG
      assessment can contribute to the identification of differences in frailty
      phenotype among older adults.

PMID- 26880180
TI  - Fluorine-directed 1,2-trans glycosylation of rare sugars.
AB  - To reconcile the urgent need to access well defined beta-configured 2,6-di
      deoxypyranose analogues for chemical biology, with the intrinsic alpha
      selectivity of the native system, the directing role of fluorine at C2 has been
      explored. Localised partial charge inversion (C-H(delta+)-> C-F(delta-)) elicits
      a reversal of the substrate-based alpha-stereoselectivity, irrespective of the
      protecting group electronics. 

PMID- 26880181
TI  - The effects of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and other chronic tic disorders on
      quality of life across the lifespan: a systematic review.
AB  - Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and other chronic tic disorders are
      neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by the presence of tics and
      associated behavioral problems. Whilst converging evidence indicates that these
      conditions can affect patients' quality of life (QoL), the extent of this
      impairment across the lifespan is not well understood. We conducted a systematic
      literature review of published QoL studies in GTS and other chronic tic disorders
      to comprehensively assess the effects of these conditions on QoL in different age
      groups. We found that QoL can be perceived differently by child and adult
      patients, especially with regard to the reciprocal contributions of tics and
      behavioral problems to the different domains of QoL. Specifically, QoL profiles
      in children often reflect the impact of co-morbid attention-deficit and
      hyperactivity symptoms, which tend to improve with age, whereas adults'
      perception of QoL seems to be more strongly affected by the presence of
      depression and anxiety. Management strategies should take into account
      differences in age-related QoL needs between children and adults with GTS or
      other chronic tic disorders. 

PMID- 26880184
TI  - Effect of Electrolyte Concentration on the Stern Layer Thickness at a Charged
      Interface.
AB  - The chemistry and physics of charged interfaces is regulated by the structure of
      the electrical double layer (EDL). Herein we quantify the average thickness of
      the Stern layer at the silica (SiO2 ) nanoparticle/aqueous electrolyte interface
      as a function of NaCl concentration following direct measurement of the
      nanoparticles' surface potential by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We
      find the Stern layer compresses (becomes thinner) as the electrolyte
      concentration is increased. This finding provides a simple and intuitive picture
      of the EDL that explains the concurrent increase in surface charge density, but
      decrease in surface and zeta potentials, as the electrolyte concentration is
      increased. 

PMID- 26880183
TI  - Hidden Inflammatory Molecular Signatures in Graft Kidney Biopsies: Silent Markers
      of Graft Fate?

PMID- 26880182
TI  - Folate supplementation in people with sickle cell disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is a group of disorders that affects haemoglobin,
      which causes distorted sickle- or crescent-shaped red blood cells. It is
      characterized by anaemia, increased susceptibility to infections and episodes of
      pain. The disease is acquired by inheriting abnormal genes from both parents, the
      combination giving rise to different forms of the disease. Due to increased
      erythropoiesis in people with sickle cell disease, it is hypothesized that they
      are at an increased risk for folate deficiency. For this reason, children and
      adults with sickle cell disease, particularly those with sickle cell anaemia,
      commonly take 1 mg of folic acid orally every day on the premise that this will
      replace depleted folate stores and reduce the symptoms of anaemia. It is thus
      important to evaluate the role of folate supplementation in treating sickle cell
      disease. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the efficacy and possible adverse effects of
      folate supplementation (folate occurring naturally in foods, provided as
      fortified foods or additional supplements such as tablets) in people with sickle
      cell disease. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and
      Genetic Disorders Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register comprising
      references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and
      handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings.
      We also conducted additional searches in both electronic databases and clinical
      trial registries.Date of last search: 07 December 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Randomised, placebo-controlled trials of folate supplementation for sickle cell
      disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Four review authors assessed the
      eligibility and risk of bias of the included trials and extracted and analysed
      the data included in the review. We used the standard Cochrane-defined
      methodological procedures. MAIN RESULTS: One trial, undertaken in 1983, was
      eligible for inclusion in the review. This was a double-blind placebo-controlled
      quasi-randomised triaI of supplementation of folic acid in people with sickle
      cell disease. A total of 117 children with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease
      aged six months to four years of age participated over a one-year period
      (analysis was restricted to 115 children).Serum folate measures, obtained after
      trial entry at six and 12 months, were available in 80 of 115 (70%) participants.
      There were significant differences between the folic acid and placebo groups with
      regards to serum folate values above 18 ug/l and values below 5 ug/l. In the
      folic acid group, values above 18 ug/l were observed in 33 of 41 (81 %) compared
      to six of 39 (15%) participants in the placebo (calcium lactate) group.
      Additionally, there were no participants in the folic acid group with serum
      folate levels below 5 ug/l, whereas in the placebo group, 15 of 39 (39%)
      participants had levels below this threshold. Haematological indices were
      measured in 100 of 115 (87%) participants at baseline and at one year. After
      adjusting for sex and age group, the investigators reported no significant
      differences between the trial groups with regards to total haemoglobin
      concentrations, either at baseline or at one year. It is important to note that
      none of the raw data for the outcomes listed above were available for
      analysis.The proportions of participants who experienced certain clinical events
      were analysed in all 115 participants, for which raw data were available. There
      were no statistically significant differences noted; however, the trial was not
      powered to investigate differences between the folic acid and placebo groups with
      regards to: minor infections, risk ratio 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to
      1.15); major infections, risk ratio 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.47 to 1.66);
      dactylitis, risk ratio 0.67 (95% confidence interval 0.35 to 1.27); acute splenic
      sequestration, risk ratio 1.07 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 2.57); or
      episodes of pain, risk ratio 1.16 (95% confidence interval 0.70 to 1.92).
      However, the investigators reported a higher proportion of repeat dactylitis
      episodes in the placebo group, with two or more attacks occurring in 10 of 56
      participants compared to two of 59 in the folic acid group (P < 0.05).Growth,
      determined by height-for-age and weight-for-age, as well as height and growth
      velocity, was measured in 103 of the 115 participants (90%), for which raw data
      were not available. The investigators reported no significant differences in
      growth between the two groups.The trial had a high risk of bias with regards to
      random sequence generation and incomplete outcome data. There was an unclear risk
      of bias in relation to allocation concealment, outcome assessment, and selective
      reporting. Finally, There was a low risk of bias with regards to blinding of
      participants and personnel. Overall the quality of the evidence in the review was
      low.There were no trials identified for other eligible comparisons, namely:
      folate supplementation (fortified foods and physical supplementation with
      tablets) versus placebo; folate supplementation (naturally occurring in diet)
      versus placebo; folate supplementation (fortified foods and physical
      supplementation with tablets) versus folate supplementation (naturally occurring
      in diet). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: One doubIe-blind, placebo-controlled triaI on
      folic acid supplementation in children with sickle cell disease was included in
      the review. Overall, the trial presented mixed evidence on the review's outcomes.
      No trials in adults were identified. With the limited evidence provided, we
      conclude that, while it is possible that folic acid supplementation may increase
      serum folate levels, the effect of supplementation on anaemia and any symptoms of
      anaemia remains unclear.Further trials may add evidence regarding the efficacy of
      folate supplementation. Future trials should assess clinical outcomes such as
      folate concentration, haemoglobin concentration, adverse effects and benefits of
      the intervention, especially with regards to sickle cell disease-related
      morbidity. Trials should include people with sickle cell disease of all ages and
      both sexes, in any setting. To investigate the effects of folate supplementation,
      trials should recruit more participants and be of longer duration, with long-term
      follow up, than the trial currently included in this review.

PMID- 26880185
TI  - Interface Structure of MoO3 on Organic Semiconductors.
AB  - We have systematically studied interface structure formed by vapor-phase
      deposition of typical transition metal oxide MoO3 on organic semiconductors.
      Eight organic hole transport materials have been used in this study. Ultraviolet
      photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to
      measure the evolution of the physical, chemical and electronic structure of the
      interfaces at various stages of MoO3 deposition on these organic semiconductor
      surfaces. For the interface physical structure, it is found that MoO3 diffuses
      into the underlying organic layer, exhibiting a trend of increasing diffusion
      with decreasing molecular molar mass. For the interface chemical structure, new
      carbon and molybdenum core-level states are observed, as a result of interfacial
      electron transfer from organic semiconductor to MoO3. For the interface
      electronic structure, energy level alignment is observed in agreement with the
      universal energy level alignment rule of molecules on metal oxides, despite
      deposition order inversion. 

PMID- 26880186
TI  - Government promises L1bn a year more to "transform" mental health in England.

PMID- 26880189
TI  - Corrigendum: Overexpression of miRNA-497 inhibits tumor angiogenesis by targeting
      VEGFR2.

PMID- 26880187
TI  - Characterization of hepatitis E virus infection in tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri
      chinensis).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of hepatitis in developing
      countries and poses a threat to public health worldwide. Tree shrew (Tupaia
      belangeri chinensis) is a useful animal model in studies on hepatitis viruses,
      such as hepatitis B and C viruses. However, the use of this animal model for HEV
      research is yet to be developed. METHODS: Tree shrews were intravenously (IV)
      injected with swine genotype 4 HEV or infected by contact-exposure to IV infected
      tree shrews. RT-nPCR was performed to detect HEV RNA in the feces, tissues, and
      blood. HEV capsid protein in the different tissues was detected by Western blot
      and estimated by quantitative RT-PCR. Anti-HEV antibodies were determined by
      ELISA. Liver damages were evaluated by histopathologic examination and analysis
      of liver-specific enzymes activities. RESULTS: Both negative and positive strands
      of HEV RNA were detected in the feces of the HEV-infected or contact-exposed tree
      shrews 3-4 days post-inoculation. HEV RNA was detectable in the liver, spleen,
      kidneys, and bile. Virusemia developed in all the HEV-infected tree shrews. HEV
      capsid protein was expressed in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The histological
      examination and analysis of liver-specific enzymes activities showed that HEV
      caused acute liver lesions in the tree shrews. Meanwhile, the infected tree
      shrews showed positive IgG and IgM antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Tree shrews are
      susceptible to HEV and may be useful animal models for HEV experimental infection
      studies on pathogenesis or preclinical drug development.

PMID- 26880188
TI  - Precision multidimensional assay for high-throughput microRNA drug discovery.
AB  - Development of drug discovery assays that combine high content with throughput is
      challenging. Information-processing gene networks can address this challenge by
      integrating multiple potential targets of drug candidates' activities into a
      small number of informative readouts, reporting simultaneously on specific and
      non-specific effects. Here we show a family of networks implementing this concept
      in a cell-based drug discovery assay for miRNA drug targets. The networks
      comprise multiple modules reporting on specific effects towards an intended miRNA
      target, together with non-specific effects on gene expression, off-target miRNAs
      and RNA interference pathway. We validate the assays using known perturbations of
      on- and off-target miRNAs, and evaluate an ~700 compound library in an automated
      screen with a follow-up on specific and non-specific hits. We further customize
      and validate assays for additional drug targets and non-specific inputs. Our
      study offers a novel framework for precision drug discovery assays applicable to
      diverse target families. 

PMID- 26880190
TI  - The Effect of a Workplace-Based Early Intervention Program on Work-Related
      Musculoskeletal Compensation Outcomes at a Poultry Meat Processing Plant.
AB  - Introduction The aim of this study is to determine whether a workplace-based
      early intervention injury prevention program reduces work-related musculoskeletal
      compensation outcomes in poultry meat processing workers. Methods A poultry
      meatworks in Queensland, Australia implemented an onsite early intervention which
      included immediate reporting and triage, reassurance, multidisciplinary
      participatory consultation, workplace modifica tion and onsite physiotherapy.
      Secondary pre-post analyses of the meatworks' compensation data over 4 years were
      performed, with the intervention commencing 2 years into the study period.
      Outcome measures included rate of claims, costs per claim and work days absent at
      an individual claim level. Where possible, similar analyses were performed on
      data for Queensland's poultry meat processing industry (excluding the meatworks
      used in this study). Results At the intervention meatworks, in the post
      intervention period an 18 % reduction in claims per 1 million working hours (p =
      0.017) was observed. Generalized linear modelling revealed a significant
      reduction in average costs per claim of $831 (OR 0.74; 95 % CI 0.59-0.93; p =
      0.009). Median days absent was reduced by 37 % (p = 0.024). For the poultry meat
      processing industry over the same period, generalized linear modelling revealed
      no significant change in average costs per claim (OR 1.02; 95 % CI 0.76-1.36; p =
      0.91). Median days absent was unchanged (p = 0.93). Conclusion The introduction
      of an onsite, workplace-based early intervention injury prevention program
      demonstrated positive effects on compensation outcomes for work-related
      musculoskeletal disorders in poultry meat processing workers. Prospective studies
      are needed to confirm the findings of the present study.

PMID- 26880192
TI  - Selection against recombinant hybrids maintains reproductive isolation in
      hybridizing Populus species despite F1 fertility and recurrent gene flow.
AB  - Natural hybrid zones have proven to be precious tools for understanding the
      origin and maintenance of reproductive isolation (RI) and therefore species. Most
      available genomic studies of hybrid zones using whole- or partial-genome
      resequencing approaches have focused on comparisons of the parental source
      populations involved in genome admixture, rather than exploring fine-scale
      patterns of chromosomal ancestry across the full admixture gradient present
      between hybridizing species. We have studied three well-known European
      'replicate' hybrid zones of Populus alba and P. tremula, two widespread,
      ecologically divergent forest trees, using up to 432 505 single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) from restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing.
      Estimates of fine-scale chromosomal ancestry, genomic divergence and
      differentiation across all 19 poplar chromosomes revealed strikingly contrasting
      results, including an unexpected preponderance of F1 hybrids in the centre of
      genomic clines on the one hand, and genomically localized, spatially variable
      shared variants consistent with ancient introgression between the parental
      species on the other. Genetic ancestry had a significant effect on survivorship
      of hybrid seedlings in a common garden trial, pointing to selection against early
      generation recombinants. Our results indicate a role for selection against
      recombinant genotypes in maintaining RI in the face of apparent F1 fertility,
      consistent with the intragenomic 'coadaptation' model of barriers to
      introgression upon secondary contact. Whole-genome resequencing of hybridizing
      populations will clarify the roles of specific genetic pathways in RI between
      these model forest trees and may reveal which loci are affected most strongly by
      its cyclic breakdown.

PMID- 26880193
TI  - Selecting stage ypT0-1N0 for locally advanced rectal cancer following
      preoperative chemoradiotherapy: implications for potential candidates of organ
      sparing management.
AB  - AIM: Local excision or a wait-and-see policy may offer the possibility of organ
      preservation for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after preoperative
      chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Identifying associated factors of good responders (GR)
      with stage ypT0-1N0 would probably influence the selection of potential
      candidates who were theoretically eligible for organ-sparing management. This
      study was to establish a scoring system to select stage ypT0-1N0 for LARC
      following preoperative CRT. METHOD: Between 2009 and 2014, 262 patients with
      middle and low LARC were treated with CRT and radical surgery.
      Clinicopathological data which were found to be significantly associated with GR
      were incorporated into a scoring system. RESULTS: Fifty-seven (21.8%) patients
      were GR with stage ypT0-1N0 in the operative specimen. Multivariate analyses
      indicated that a low level of pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and
      post-treatment CEA <2.55 ng/ml (P = 0.008 and P = 0.009 respectively) and long
      axis diameter of residual tumours (P = 0.006) were independently associated with
      stage ypT0-1N0. The three factors were incorporated into a scoring system. Using
      receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we determined a cutoff value of
      -0.3 for scores, at which the system's sensitivity was 71.9% and specificity
      73.1%. When applied to testing samples, the sensitivity was 74.1% and specificity
      76.2%. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that low levels of pretreatment and post
      treatment CEA and the long-axis diameter of residual tumours were associated with
      stage ypT0-1N0 for LARC after CRT. Therefore, the three-factor scoring system may
      be used to select potential candidates for organ-sparing management.

PMID- 26880191
TI  - Fugong virus, a novel hantavirus harbored by the small oriental vole (Eothenomys
      eleusis) in China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rodents are natural reservoirs of hantaviruses, which cause two
      disease types: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Eurasia and hantavirus
      pulmonary syndrome in North America. Hantaviruses related human cases have been
      observed throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. To date, 23 distinct
      species of hantaviruses, hosted by reservoir, have been identified. However, the
      diversity and number of hantaviruses are likely underestimated in China, and
      hantavirus species that cause disease in many regions, including Yunnan province,
      are unknown. RESULTS: In August 2012, we collected tissue samples from 189
      captured animals, including 15 species belonging to 10 genera, 5 families, and 4
      orders in Fugong county, Yunnan province, China. Seven species were positive for
      hantavirus: Eothenomys eleusis (42/94), Apodemus peninsulae (3/25), Niviventer
      eha (3/27), Cryptotis montivaga (2/8), Anourosorex squamipes (1/1), Sorex araneus
      (1/1), and Mustela sibirica (1/2). We characterized one full-length genomic
      sequence of the virus (named fugong virus, FUGV) from a small oriental vole
      (Eothenomys eleusis). The full-length sequences of the small, medium, and large
      segments of FUGV were 1813, 3630, and 6531 nt, respectively. FUGV was most
      closely related to hantavirus LX309, a previously reported species detected in
      the red-backed vole in Luxi county, Yunnan province, China. However, the amino
      acid sequences of nucleocapsid (N), glycoprotein (G), and large protein (L) were
      highly divergent from those of Hantavirus LX309, with amino acid differences of
      11.2, 15.3, and 12.7 %, respectively. In phylogenetic trees, FUGV clustered in
      the lineage corresponding to hantaviruses carried by rodents in the subfamily
      Arvicolinae. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of hantavirus infection in small
      mammals was found in Fugong county, Yunnan province, China. A novel hantavirus
      species FUGV was identified from the small oriental vole. This virus is
      phylogenetic clustering with another hantavirus LX309, but shows highly genomic
      divergence.

PMID- 26880194
TI  - Diagnosis and prognosis of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin for acute
      kidney injury with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been identified
      as an early biomarker for prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the
      utility of NGAL to predict the occurrence of AKI in septic patients remains
      controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the
      evidence on diagnosis of sepsis AKI and the prediction of other clinical
      outcomes. METHOD: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and CNKI
      databases were systematically searched up to August 19, 2015. Quality assessment
      was applied by using the Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy
      (QUADAS-2) tool. The diagnostic performance of NGAL for the prediction of AKI in
      sepsis was evaluated using pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity,
      likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), as well as summary receiver
      operating characteristic curves (SROC). RESULTS: Fifteen studies with a total of
      1,478 patients were included in the meta-analysis. For plasma NGAL, the pooled
      sensitivity and specificity with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were
      0.83 (95% CI: 0.77 - 0.88) and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.54 - 0.61), respectively. The
      pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 3.10 (95% CI: 1.57 - 6.11) and the
      pooled negative likelihood ratio (NLR) was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.13 - 0.43). The pooled
      DOR was 14.72 (95% CI: 6.55 - 33.10) using a random effects model. The area under
      the curve (AUC) for SROC to summarize diagnostic accuracy was 0.86. For urine
      NGAL, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC values were
      0.80 (95% CI: 0.77 - 0.83), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77 - 0.83), 4.42 (95% CI: 2.84 -
      6.89), 0.21 (95% CI: 0.13 - 0.35), 24.20 (95% CI: 9.92 - 59.05) and 0.90,
      respectively. Significant heterogeneity was explored as a potential source. There
      was no notable publication bias observed across the eligible studies. NGAL for
      prediction of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and mortality associated with AKI
      in septic patients were also evaluated. CONCLUSION: To a certain extent, NGAL is
      not only an effective predictive factor for AKI in the process of sepsis, but
      also shows potential predictive value for RRT and mortality. However, future
      trials are needed to clarify this controversial issue.

PMID- 26880196
TI  - Thermal and Environmental Stability of Semi-Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells
      for Tandems Enabled by a Solution-Processed Nanoparticle Buffer Layer and
      Sputtered ITO Electrode.
AB  - A sputtered oxide layer enabled by a solution-processed oxide nanoparticle buffer
      layer to protect underlying layers is used to make semi-transparent perovskite
      solar cells. Single-junction semi-transparent cells are 12.3% efficient, and
      mechanically stacked tandems on silicon solar cells are 18.0% efficient. The semi
      transparent perovskite solar cell has a T 80 lifetime of 124 h when operated at
      the maximum power point at 100  degrees C without additional sealing in ambient
      atmosphere under visible illumination.

PMID- 26880195
TI  - Does local ambient temperature impact children's blood pressure? A Chinese
      National Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies demonstrated a short-term association between ambient
      temperature and blood pressure. However, few studies have assessed the long-term
      effect of ambient temperature on children's blood pressure. The present study
      aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to local ambient
      temperature and children's blood pressure in China. METHODS: We analyzed the
      systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) data of 71,763 children from
      2010 Chinese National Survey on Students' Construction and Health (CHNSCH), and
      local annual average ambient temperature, relative humidity, air pollutants data
      from China Meteorological Administration and Ministry of Environment Protection
      of China. We used generalized additive model (GAM) with non-linear function to
      examine the effects of ambient temperature on children's blood pressure. RESULTS:
      The results showed that decrease of ambient temperature was negatively associated
      with increase of both SBP and DBP in Chinese children while adjusting for
      individual characteristics, socioeconomic conditions, air pollutants and relative
      humidity. The largest alteration of SBP related to the temperature difference was
      observed from 20.4 to 9.6  degrees C, with 9.0 mmHg (95 % CI: 8.4, 9.5) increase
      in SBP, while the largest alteration of DBP was observed from 21.7 to 10.2 
      degrees C, with 6.1 mmHg (95 % CI: 5.6, 6.6) increase in DBP. However, when
      temperature below 9.6 and 10.2  degrees C, SBP and DBP started to decrease, which
      might be caused by the use of heating system in the extreme cold areas.
      CONCLUSIONS: Public health policy should be improved for protecting children's
      cardiovascular health from adverse effects of low temperature. Development of
      heating system in moderate cold area might be a good solution.

PMID- 26880197
TI  - Elisabetta Dejana: Probing the vagaries of vessels.

PMID- 26880198
TI  - Breaking down to build up: Neuroligin's C-terminal domain strengthens the
      synapse.
AB  - The mechanisms by which neuroligin adhesion molecules modulate synaptic
      plasticity remain unclear. In this issue, Liu et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol.
      http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201509023) demonstrate that neuroligin 1 promotes
      actin assembly associated with synaptic strengthening independent of adhesion,
      suggesting additional ways for neuroligins to contribute to neuronal development
      and disease pathology. 

PMID- 26880199
TI  - MRN, CtIP, and BRCA1 mediate repair of topoisomerase II-DNA adducts.
AB  - Repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) with complex ends poses a special
      challenge, as additional processing is required before DNA ligation. For example,
      protein-DNA adducts must be removed to allow repair by either nonhomologous end
      joining or homology-directed repair. Here, we investigated the processing of
      topoisomerase II (Top2)-DNA adducts induced by treatment with the
      chemotherapeutic agent etoposide. Through biochemical analysis in Xenopus laevis
      egg extracts, we establish that the MRN (Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1) complex, CtIP,
      and BRCA1 are required for both the removal of Top2-DNA adducts and the
      subsequent resection of Top2-adducted DSB ends. Moreover, the interaction between
      CtIP and BRCA1, although dispensable for resection of endonuclease-generated DSB
      ends, is required for resection of Top2-adducted DSBs, as well as for cellular
      resistance to etoposide during genomic DNA replication. 

PMID- 26880200
TI  - Ndel1 suppresses ciliogenesis in proliferating cells by regulating the
      trichoplein-Aurora A pathway.
AB  - Primary cilia protrude from the surface of quiescent cells and disassemble at
      cell cycle reentry. We previously showed that ciliary reassembly is suppressed by
      trichoplein-mediated Aurora A activation pathway in growing cells. Here, we
      report that Ndel1, a well-known modulator of dynein activity, localizes at the
      subdistal appendage of the mother centriole, which nucleates a primary cilium. In
      the presence of serum, Ndel1 depletion reduces trichoplein at the mother
      centriole and induces unscheduled primary cilia formation, which is reverted by
      forced trichoplein expression or coknockdown of KCTD17 (an E3 ligase component
      protein for trichoplein). Serum starvation induced transient Ndel1 degradation,
      subsequent to the disappearance of trichoplein at the mother centriole. Forced
      expression of Ndel1 suppressed trichoplein degradation and axonemal microtubule
      extension during ciliogenesis, similar to trichoplein induction or KCTD17
      knockdown. Most importantly, the proportion of ciliated and quiescent cells was
      increased in the kidney tubular epithelia of newborn Ndel1-hypomorphic mice.
      Thus, Ndel1 acts as a novel upstream regulator of the trichoplein-Aurora A
      pathway to inhibit primary cilia assembly. 

PMID- 26880201
TI  - Biophysical changes reduce energetic demand in growth factor-deprived
      lymphocytes.
AB  - Cytokine regulation of lymphocyte growth and proliferation is essential for
      matching nutrient consumption with cell state. Here, we examine how cellular
      biophysical changes that occur immediately after growth factor depletion promote
      adaptation to reduced nutrient uptake. After growth factor withdrawal, nutrient
      uptake decreases, leading to apoptosis. Bcl-xL expression prevents cell death,
      with autophagy facilitating long-term cell survival. However, autophagy induction
      is slow relative to the reduction of nutrient uptake, suggesting that cells must
      engage additional adaptive mechanisms to respond initially to growth factor
      depletion. We describe an acute biophysical response to growth factor withdrawal,
      characterized by a simultaneous decrease in cell volume and increase in cell
      density, which occurs before autophagy initiation and is observed in both FL5.12
      Bcl-xL cells depleted of IL-3 and primary CD8(+) T cells depleted of IL-2 that
      are differentiating toward memory cells. The response reduces cell surface area
      to minimize energy expenditure while conserving biomass, suggesting that the
      biophysical properties of cells can be regulated to promote survival under
      conditions of nutrient stress. 

PMID- 26880202
TI  - Neuroligin 1 regulates spines and synaptic plasticity via LIMK1/cofilin-mediated
      actin reorganization.
AB  - Neuroligin (NLG) 1 is important for synapse development and function, but the
      underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It is known that at least some aspects of
      NLG1 function are independent of the presynaptic neurexin, suggesting that the C
      terminal domain (CTD) of NLG1 may be sufficient for synaptic regulation. In
      addition, NLG1 is subjected to activity-dependent proteolytic cleavage,
      generating a cytosolic CTD fragment, but the significance of this process remains
      unknown. In this study, we show that the CTD of NLG1 is sufficient to (a) enhance
      spine and synapse number, (b) modulate synaptic plasticity, and (c) exert these
      effects via its interaction with spine-associated Rap guanosine triphosphatase
      activating protein and subsequent activation of LIM-domain protein kinase
      1/cofilin-mediated actin reorganization. Our results provide a novel postsynaptic
      mechanism by which NLG1 regulates synapse development and function. 

PMID- 26880205
TI  - Mechanisms of germ line genome instability.
AB  - During meiosis, numerous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are formed as part of
      the normal developmental program. This seemingly destructive behavior is
      necessary for successful meiosis, since repair of the DSBs through homologous
      recombination (HR) helps to produce physical links between the homologous
      chromosomes essential for correct chromosome segregation later in meiosis.
      However, DSB formation at such a massive scale also introduces opportunities to
      generate gross chromosomal rearrangements. In this review, we explore ways in
      which meiotic DSBs can result in such genomic alterations.

PMID- 26880203
TI  - Ataxin-3 phosphorylation decreases neuronal defects in spinocerebellar ataxia
      type 3 models.
AB  - Different neurodegenerative diseases are caused by aberrant elongation of
      repeated glutamine sequences normally found in particular human proteins.
      Although the proteins involved are ubiquitously distributed in human tissues,
      toxicity targets only defined neuronal populations. Changes caused by an expanded
      polyglutamine protein are possibly influenced by endogenous cellular mechanisms,
      which may be harnessed to produce neuroprotection. Here, we show that ataxin-3,
      the protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, also known as Machado
      Joseph disease, causes dendritic and synapse loss in cultured neurons when
      expanded. We report that S12 of ataxin-3 is phosphorylated in neurons and that
      mutating this residue so as to mimic a constitutive phosphorylated state counters
      the neuromorphologic defects observed. In rats stereotaxically injected with
      expanded ataxin-3-encoding lentiviral vectors, mutation of serine 12 reduces
      aggregation, neuronal loss, and synapse loss. Our results suggest that S12 plays
      a role in the pathogenic pathways mediated by polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3 and
      that phosphorylation of this residue protects against toxicity. 

PMID- 26880206
TI  - Development and Psychometric Testing of the Humanistic Nurse-Patient Scale.
AB  - Quality of life and well-being of older patients in chronic care facilities is
      often determined by their relationships with nurses. The authors developed and
      tested a scale to assess patients' views of what matters most when relating to
      nurses. Based on the humanistic nursing theory by Paterson and Zderad (1988), 69
      items were created and tested with a sample of 40 patients, resulting in
      refinement of a scale with 24 items. This scale was factor analysed on responses
      from 249 patients residing in five facilities in Ontario, Canada. The Humanistic
      Relationship Importance Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency,
      stability, and reliability with a five-factor solution (alpha = .87). Construct
      validity was supported through factual identification. This scale is a valid
      measure of patients' perspectives of a nurse-patient relationship in chronic care
      and can be used to measure health professionals' relationships with their older
      patients and evaluate interventions to enhance relational care. 

PMID- 26880207
TI  - The Elsevier trophoblast research award lecture: Impacts of placental growth
      factor and preeclampsia on brain development, behaviour, and cognition.
AB  - Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant gestational disorder affecting 3-5% of all
      human pregnancies. In many PE pregnancies, maternal plasma is deficient in
      placental growth factor (PGF), a placentally-produced angiokine. Beyond immediate
      fetal risks associated with acute termination of the pregnancy, offspring of PE
      pregnancies (PE-F1) have higher long-term risks for hypertension, stroke, and
      cognitive impairment compared to F1s from uncomplicated pregnancies. At present,
      mechanisms that explain PE-F1 gains in postpartum risks are poorly understood.
      Our laboratory found that mice genetically-deleted for Pgf have altered fetal and
      adult brain vascular development. This is accompanied by sexually dimorphic
      alterations in anatomic structure in the adult Pgf-/- brain and impaired
      cognitive functions. We hypothesize that cerebrovascular and neurological
      aberrations occur in fetuses exposed to the progressive development of PE and
      that these brain changes impair cognitive functioning, enhance risk for stroke,
      elevate severity of stroke, and lead to worse stroke outcomes. These brain and
      placental outcomes may be linked to down-regulated PGF gene expression in early
      pre-implantation embryos, prior to gastrulation. This review explores our
      hypothesis that there are mechanistic links between low PGF detection in maternal
      plasma prodromal to PE, PE, and altered brain vascular, structural, and
      functional development amongst PE-F1s. We also include a summary of preliminary
      outcomes from a pilot study of 7-10 year old children that is the first to report
      magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and functional brain
      region assessment by eye movement control studies in PE-F1s.

PMID- 26880209
TI  - In Memoriam. Lori L. Altshuler M.D.

PMID- 26880208
TI  - Lithium treatment and cancer incidence in bipolar disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether there is an increased risk of cancer
      associated with lithium treatment in patients with bipolar disorder compared to
      the general population. METHODS: A nationwide Swedish register study of incidence
      rate ratios (IRRs) of total cancer and site-specific cancer in the 50-84-year age
      range was carried out in patients with bipolar disorder (n = 5,442) with and
      without lithium treatment from July 2005 to December 2009 compared to the general
      population using linked information from The Swedish Cancer Register, The
      National Patient Register, and The Drug Prescription Register. RESULTS: The
      overall cancer risk was not increased in patients with bipolar disorder. There
      was no difference in risk of unspecified cancer, neither in patients with lithium
      treatment compared to the general population [IRR = 1.04, 95% confidence interval
      (CI): 0.89-1.23] nor in patients with bipolar disorder without lithium treatment
      compared to the general population (IRR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.89-1.19). The cancer
      risk was significantly increased in patients with bipolar disorder without
      lithium treatment in the digestive organs (IRR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.12-1.93), in the
      respiratory system and intrathoracic organs (IRR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.11-2.66), and
      in the endocrine glands and related structures (IRR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.24-5.47),
      but in patients with bipolar disorder with lithium treatment, there was no
      significantly increased cancer risk compared to the general population.
      CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar disorder was not associated with increased cancer incidence
      and neither was lithium treatment in these patients. Specifically, there was an
      increased risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine cancer in patients
      with bipolar disorder without lithium treatment.

PMID- 26880204
TI  - Effect of TGF-beta1 on the Migration and Recruitment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
      after Vascular Balloon Injury: Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinase-14.
AB  - Restenosis or occlusion after vascular procedures is ascribed to intimal
      hyperplasia. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is involved in recruitment of
      mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) following arterial injury, and its release from
      latent TGF-binding protein by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14-induced
      proteolysis contributes to neointima formation. However, the relationship between
      MMP-14 and TGF-beta1 activation in restenosis is unknown. This study investigated
      the relationship using a rat model of balloon-induced injury. Rats were assigned
      to vehicle-, SB431542 (SB)-, or recombinant human (rh)TGF-beta1-treated groups
      and examined at various time points after balloon-induced injury for expression
      of TGF-beta1/Smad signalling pathway components, MMP-14 and MSCs markers
      including Nestin, CD29, and Sca1(+)CD29(+)CD11b/c(-)CD45(-). Intimal hyperplasia
      was reduced in SB- and rhTGF-beta1-treated rats. The expression of TGF-beta1, TGF
      beta1RI, and Smad2/3 was decreased, but the levels of phosphorylated Smad2/3 were
      higher in SB-treated rats than vehicle-treated after 7 days to 14 days. rhTGF
      beta1 administration decreased the expression of TGF-beta1/Smad pathway proteins,
      except for TGF-beta1RI. Nestin and CD29 expression and the number of
      Sca1(+)CD29(+)CD11b(-)CD45(-) cells were reduced, whereas MMP-14 expression was
      increased after SB431542 and rhTGF-beta1 administration. These results suggest
      that TGF-beta1/Smad signalling and MMP-14 act to recruit MSCs which differentiate
      to vascular smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal-like cells that participate in
      arterial repair/remodelling. 

PMID- 26880210
TI  - Total Synthesis of (-)-Chromodorolide B.
AB  - The first total synthesis of a chromodorolide diterpenoid is described. The
      synthesis features a bimolecular radical addition/cyclization/fragmentation
      cascade that unites butenolide and trans-hydrindane fragments while fashioning
      two C-C bonds and stereoselectively forming three of the ten contiguous
      stereocenters of chromodorolide B. 

PMID- 26880211
TI  - Conformational analysis and NMR assignments of dibenzoxocins from Sappan Lignum.

PMID- 26880212
TI  - Synthesis of Bis(pentafluoroethyl)germanes.
AB  - The chemistry of bis(pentafluoroethyl)germanes (C2F5)2 GeX2 is presented. The
      synthesis of such species requires Br2 GePh2 , wherein the phenyl substituents
      function as suitable protecting groups. After treatment with two equivalents of
      LiC2 F5, (C2F5)2 GePh2 is produced. The replacement of the phenyl rings is
      smoothly effected by gaseous HBr or HCl in the presence of a Lewis acidic
      catalyst. The trigermoxane [(C2F5)2 GeO]3 results from the reaction of (C2F5)2
      GeBr2 with Ag2 CO3. Its crystalline 1,10-phenanthroline adduct was fully
      characterised by X-ray diffraction. The combination of (C2F5)2 GeBr2 with Bu3 SnH
      gave rise to the formation of (C2F5)2 GeH2 .

PMID- 26880214
TI  - Evaluation of Safety of Iron-Fortified Soybean Sprouts, a Potential Component of
      Functional Food, in Rat.
AB  - Ferritin-iron is currently considered as one of the most promising iron forms to
      prevent iron deficiency anaemia. We found that the cultivation of soybean seeds
      in a solution of ferrous sulfate results in material with extremely high iron
      content - 560.6 mg Fe/100 g of dry matter, while ferritin iron content was 420.5
      mg/100 g dry matter. To assess the potential adverse effects of a preparation
      containing such a high concentration of iron, male and female Wistar rats were
      exposed via diet to 10, 30, 60 g soybean sprouts powder/kg feed for 90 days.
      There were no differences in final body weight and mean food consumption between
      controls and rats administered sprouts. No statistically significant differences
      in haematology and clinical chemistry parameters were found between controls and
      treated rats. Microscopic examination of 22 tissues did not reveal any pathology
      due to soybean sprouts intake. Long term administration of the test material did
      not cause oxidative damage to DNA and protein in the liver as evidenced by the
      unchanged basal levels of DNA damage as well as carbonyl groups content. Lipid
      peroxidation was slightly increased only in females. The activity of several
      antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione
      S-transferase was increased, which substantially enhanced the antioxidant status
      in the liver from the rats treated with soybean sprouts. Hence, the material
      tested can be recommended as a component of food supplements for individuals with
      iron deficiency anaemia and inflammatory bowel diseases.

PMID- 26880213
TI  - Impact of selenium supplementation on fish antiviral responses: a whole
      transcriptomic analysis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed
      supranutritional levels of Sel-Plex(r).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is required for the synthesis of proteins
      (selenoproteins) with essential biological functions. Selenoproteins have a
      crucial role in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis in nearly all
      tissues, and are also involved in thyroid hormone metabolism, inflammation and
      immunity. Several immune processes rely on Se status and can be compromised if
      this element is present below the required level. Previous work has supported the
      notion that when Se is delivered at levels above those deemed to be the minimal
      required but below toxic concentrations it can have a boosting effect on the
      organism's immune response. Based on this concept Se-enriched supplements may
      represent a valuable resource for functional feeds in animal farming, including
      aquaculture. RESULTS: In this study we tested the effects of Se supplemented as
      Sel-Plex during an immune challenge induced by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid
      (poly(I:C)), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that mimics viral
      infection. Trout were fed two diets enriched with 1 or 4 mg Se Kg(-1) of feed
      (dry weight) by Sel-Plex addition and a commercial formulation as control. The
      whole trout transcriptomic response was investigated by microarray and gene
      ontology analysis, the latter carried out to highlight the biological processes
      that were influenced by Sel-Plex supplementation in the head kidney (HK) and
      liver, the main immune and metabolic organs in fish. Overall, Sel-Plex enrichment
      up to 4 mg Se Kg(-1) induced an important response in the trout HK, eliciting an
      up-regulation of several genes involved in pathways connected with hematopoiesis
      and immunity. In contrast, a more constrained response was seen in the liver,
      with lipid metabolism being the main pathway altered by Se supplementation. Upon
      stimulation with poly(I:C), supplementation of 4 mg Se Kg(-1) increased the
      expression of principal mediators of the antiviral defences, especially IFN
      gamma, and down-stream molecules involved in the cell-mediated immune response.
      CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of diets with 4 mg Se Kg(-1) using Sel-Plex
      remarkably improved the fish response to viral PAMP stimulation. Sel-Plex, being
      a highly bioavailable supplement of organic Se, might represent a suitable option
      for supplementation of fish feeds, to achieve the final aim of improving fish
      fitness and resistance against immune challenges.

PMID- 26880215
TI  - The Potential Use of Fermented Chickpea and Faba Bean Flour as Food Ingredients.
AB  - Apart from being a rich and inexpensive protein source, legumes provide essential
      vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Considering the nutritional benefits,
      legumes flour can potentially be incorporated in the development of new products.
      The aim of this study was to investigate whether fermentation affects the protein
      content, in vitro protein digestibility, trypsin inhibitor activity and the
      functionality of proteins in faba bean, desi and kabuli chickpea. Australian
      grown chickpea and faba bean were selected and initially soaked, de-hulled, dried
      and milled into flour. This was fermented with lyophilised yoghurt cultures in a
      30  degrees C orbital shaker for 16 h. While protein contents in fermented desi
      and kabuli flour were lower than their raw counterparts (p > 0.05), it was
      significantly higher in fermented faba bean. A significant increase (9.5%) in in
      vitro protein digestibility was found in fermented desi. Trypsin inhibitor
      activity in fermented desi, kabuli and faba bean reduced by 2.7, 1.1 and 4.7%,
      respectively (p > 0.05). Overall, the in vitro protein digestibility in flour
      samples increased, while simultaneously reducing the trypsin inhibitor activity.
      The water absorption capacity of the fermented kabuli flour significantly
      increased by 11.3%. All fermented flour samples had significantly higher oil
      absorption capacity than their corresponding raw flour that was likely due to
      increased insoluble hydrophobic protein. Although, the foaming capacity in all
      fermented flour samples was significantly lower than their respective raw
      samples, only fermented desi and faba bean flour showed lower foaming stability
      (p > 0.05). The present study suggests that fermented legume flour could fulfill
      the demand for innovative products of higher nutritional value.

PMID- 26880216
TI  - Protective effects of genetic inhibition of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 in
      experimental renal disease.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease is a progressive incurable pathology affecting millions of
      people. Intensive investigations aim to identify targets for therapy. We have
      previously demonstrated that abnormal expression of the Discoidin Domain Receptor
      1 (DDR1) is a key factor of renal disease by promoting inflammation and fibrosis.
      The present study investigates whether blocking the expression of DDR1 after the
      initiation of renal disease can delay or arrest the progression of this
      pathology. Severe renal disease was induced by either injecting nephrotoxic serum
      (NTS) or performing unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, and the expression
      of DDR1 was inhibited by administering antisense oligodeoxynucleotides either at
      4 or 8 days after NTS (corresponding to early or more established phases of
      disease, respectively), or at day 2 after ligation. DDR1 antisense administration
      at day 4 stopped the increase of proteinuria and protected animals against the
      progression of glomeruloneprhitis, as evidenced by functional, structural and
      cellular indexes. Antisense administration at day 8 delayed progression -but to a
      smaller degree- of renal disease. Similar beneficial effects on renal structure
      and inflammation were observed with the antisense administration of DDR1 after
      ureteral ligation. Thus, targeting DDR1 can be a promising strategy in the
      treatment of chronic kidney disease. 

PMID- 26880217
TI  - Photodegradation of diethyl phthalate with PANi/CNT/TiO2 immobilized on glass
      plate irradiated with visible light and simulated sunlight-effect of synthesized
      method and pH.
AB  - Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is one of the most common phthalates for industrial use
      and has widely spread in environment. A series of PANi/CNT/TiO2 potocatalysts
      immobilized on glass plate irradiated with visible light were presented to
      degrade DEP in this study. The PANi/CNT/TiO2 potocatalysts were fabricated by co
      doping with polyaniline (PANi) and two functionalized CNT (CNT-COCl and CNT-COOH)
      onto TiO2 followed by a hydrothermal synthesis and a sol-gel hydrolysis. Doping
      of PANi resulted in the absorption edge of the fabricated potocatalysts shifting
      to 421-437nm and the most distinguished red-shift effect was found in
      hydrothermal synthesized photocatalysts. The best DEP degradation of 41.5-59.0%
      and 44.5-67.4% was found in the simulated sunlight system irradiated for 120min
      for sol-gel hydrolysis PANi/CNT/TiO2 photocatalysts and hydrothermal synthesized
      ones, respectively. The optimum pH was determined at 5.0 and 7.0 for the two
      PANi/CNT/TiO2 photocatalysts mentioned above, respectively. The reusability of
      the sol-gel hydrolyzed photocatalysts up to 5 times was observed no decline in
      the photodegradation efficiency but less photocatalytic stability of the
      hydrothermal synthesized ones was found. Meanwhile, the active species of OH
      radicals generated in the DEP degradation system was identified by free radical
      scavenging experiments.

PMID- 26880218
TI  - Epidermal growth factor induces p38 MAPK-dependent G0/G1-to-S transition in
      prostate cancer cells upon androgen deprivation conditions.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is thought to contribute to the emergence of
      castration-resistant (CR) prostate tumors by inducing proliferation of cancer
      cells despite the low levels of circulating androgens achieved by androgen
      deprivation therapy. We show that, in LNCaP cells, androgen deprivation induces
      arrest in the G0/G1 cell cycle phase, and that EGF partially rescues this arrest
      without affecting cell death. Inhibition of p38 MAPK, but not MEK or IKK-beta,
      completely abrogates the EGF-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells in androgen
      depleted medium, and decreases the fraction of G0/G1-arrested cells. Our results
      suggest that EGF enables prostate cancer cells to overcome the growth restriction
      imposed by androgen deprivation by stimulating G0/G1-to-S transition via p38
      MAPK. These results suggest the potential of developing therapies for advanced
      prostate cancer that block the G0/G1 to S transition, such as by targeting p38
      MAPK, or that aim to induce apoptosis in G0/G1-arrested cancer cells.

PMID- 26880219
TI  - A universal mechanism of extreme events and critical phenomena.
AB  - The occurrence of extreme events and critical phenomena is of importance because
      they can have inquisitive scientific impact and profound socio-economic
      consequences. Here we show a universal mechanism describing extreme events along
      with critical phenomena and derive a general expression of the probability
      distribution without concerning the physical details of individual events or
      critical properties. The general probability distribution unifies most important
      distributions in the field and demonstrates improved performance. The shape and
      symmetry of the general distribution is determined by the parameters of the
      fluctuations. Our work sheds judicious insights into the dynamical processes of
      complex systems with practical significance and provides a general approach of
      studying extreme and critical episodes in a combined and multidisciplinary
      scheme. 

PMID- 26880221
TI  - Remarkably enhanced thermal transport based on a flexible horizontally-aligned
      carbon nanotube array film.
AB  - It has been more than a decade since the thermal conductivity of vertically
      aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays was reported possible to exceed that of
      the best thermal greases or phase change materials by an order of magnitude.
      Despite tremendous prospects as a thermal interface material (TIM), results were
      discouraging for practical applications. The primary reason is the large thermal
      contact resistance between the CNT tips and the heat sink. Here we report a
      simultaneous sevenfold increase in in-plane thermal conductivity and a fourfold
      reduction in the thermal contact resistance at the flexible CNT-SiO2 coated heat
      sink interface by coupling the CNTs with orderly physical overlapping along the
      horizontal direction through an engineering approach (shear pressing). The
      removal of empty space rapidly increases the density of transport channels, and
      the replacement of the fine CNT tips with their cylindrical surface insures
      intimate contact at CNT-SiO2 interface. Our results suggest horizontally aligned
      CNT arrays exhibit remarkably enhanced in-plane thermal conductivity and reduced
      out-of-plane thermal conductivity and thermal contact resistance. This novel
      structure makes CNT film promising for applications in chip-level heat
      dissipation. Besides TIM, it also provides for a solution to anisotropic heat
      spreader which is significant for eliminating hot spots. 

PMID- 26880222
TI  - Current topics in the multimodality treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.
AB  - The multimodality approach to the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer has
      evolved to include neoadjuvant radiotherapy with or without concurrent
      chemotherapy, total mesorectal excision and adjuvant fluoropyrimidine-based
      chemotherapy. Though this broad strategy has yielded improvements in local
      control compared with historical data, overall survival remains largely
      unchanged. Current investigations focus on improving patient selection through
      new imaging modalities, improving surgical techniques, incorporating more
      aggressive systemic treatment regimens and the selective use of radiation. Here,
      we review emerging data regarding newer staging techniques, neoadjuvant
      chemotherapy, optimal timing of surgery, selective use of radiation and
      nonoperative approaches to the management of locally advanced rectal cancers. 

PMID- 26880220
TI  - The Total Incidence of Complications and the Impact of an Anticoagulation Regime
      on Adverse Events After Cryoballoon Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Single
      Center Study of 409 Patients.
AB  - AIM: Data evaluating the complications of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using
      second-generation cryoballoons (CB) related to different anticoagulation regimes
      are limited. This study evaluates the total complications and the impact of novel
      oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared to phenprocoumon on adverse events in the
      setting of PVI using CB. METHODS AND RESULTS: PVI was performed using second
      generation CB by two experienced investigators. A total of 409 patients (58.9%
      male; mean age = 61 +/- 10 years) with atrial fibrillation were included in this
      study. In group I, 150/409 (36.7%) patients received phenprocoumon therapy, and
      in group II, 259/409 (63.3%) patients were treated with NOACs (rivaroxaban: n =
      193; dabigatran: n = 48; and apixaban: n = 18). In both groups, the rates of
      major complications were similar (group I [phenprocoumon]: four pts (2.7%) vs.
      Group II [NOACs]: seven pts (2.7%); P = 0.999). In this cohort, 275 patients were
      ablated with the bonus freeze protocol, and 134 patients were ablated without
      bonus freezes. The procedure duration significantly decreased with the bonus
      freeze protocol from 102.3 +/- 24.6 min to 68.5 +/- 16.2 min (P < 0.001). The
      impact of the bonus freeze on the postprocedural increase of C-reactive protein
      (CRP) levels was significant compared to the postprocedural CRP levels after
      procedures without the bonus freeze protocol (postprocedural CRP level+ bonus
      protocol: 1.6 +/- 1.2 mg/L vs. postprocedural CRP level+ nonbonus protocol: 1.3
      +/- 1.3 mg/L; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The incidence of adverse events in PVI using
      the second-generation CB with the periprocedural administration of NAOCs was not
      significantly different compared to phenprocoumon. Further, large-scale
      randomized studies are needed to evaluate the safety of two anticoagulation
      regimes comparing vitamin K antagonists and NOACs, as well as different NOAC
      regimes, in patients undergoing PVI using cryoballoon ablation.

PMID- 26880224
TI  - Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on socioemotional feelings,
      authenticity, and autobiographical disclosure in healthy volunteers in a
      controlled setting.
AB  - The drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy", "molly") is a widely
      used illicit drug and experimental adjunct to psychotherapy. MDMA has unusual,
      poorly understood socioemotional effects, including feelings of interpersonal
      closeness and sociability. To better understand these effects, we conducted a
      small (n=12) within-subjects double-blind placebo controlled study of the effects
      of 1.5 mg/kg oral MDMA on social emotions and autobiographical disclosure in a
      controlled setting. MDMA displayed both sedative- and stimulant-like effects,
      including increased self-report anxiety. At the same time, MDMA positively
      altered evaluation of the self (i.e. increasing feelings of authenticity) while
      decreasing concerns about negative evaluation by others (i.e. decreasing social
      anxiety). Consistent with these feelings, MDMA increased how comfortable
      participants felt describing emotional memories. Overall, MDMA produced a
      prosocial syndrome that seemed to facilitate emotional disclosure and that
      appears consistent with the suggestion that it represents a novel pharmacological
      class. 

PMID- 26880225
TI  - Time course of pharmacokinetic and hormonal effects of inhaled high-dose
      salvinorin A in humans.
AB  - Salvinorin A is a kappa opioid agonist and the principal psychoactive constituent
      of the Salvia divinorum plant, which has been used for hallucinogenic effects.
      Previous research on salvinorin A pharmacokinetics likely underestimated plasma
      levels typically resulting from the doses administered due to inefficient
      vaporization and not collecting samples during peak drug effects. Six healthy
      adults inhaled a single high dose of vaporized salvinorin A (n = 4, 21 mcg/kg; n
      = 2, 18 mcg/kg). Participant- and monitor-rated effects were assessed every 2 min
      for 60 min post-inhalation. Blood samples were collected at 13 time points up to
      90 min post-inhalation. Drug levels peaked at 2 min and then rapidly decreased.
      Drug levels were significantly, positively correlated with participant and
      monitor drug effect ratings. Significant elevations in prolactin were observed
      beginning 5 min post-inhalation and peaking at 15 min post-inhalation. Cortisol
      showed inconsistent increases across participants. Hormonal responses were not
      well correlated with drug levels. This is the first study to demonstrate a direct
      relationship between changes in plasma levels of salvinorin A and drug effects in
      humans. The results confirm the efficacy of an inhalation technique for
      salvinorin A. 

PMID- 26880228
TI  - Scalable synthesis of Cu-based ultrathin nanowire networks and their
      electrocatalytic properties.
AB  - In this research, we developed an easy way to generate CuM (M = Pd, Pt and PdPt)
      ultrathin nanowire networks by simply injecting the metallic precursors into an
      aqueous solution which contained sodium borohydride under vigorous stirring. The
      reaction can be finished quickly without needing any other reagents, thus leaving
      the products with a clean surface. The prepared materials show an ultrathin
      diameter of less than 5 nanometers. The reaction can be easily amplified,
      resulting in scalable products. These properties combined with the superior
      catalytic performance of the prepared CuM nanowire networks underpin their
      potential use in glycerol electrooxidation reaction. 

PMID- 26880227
TI  - Randomised clinical trial: prucalopride, a colonic pro-motility agent, reduces
      the duration of post-operative ileus after elective gastrointestinal surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that recovery of colonic transit is a
      major determinant of post-operative ileus and clinical recovery after
      gastrointestinal surgery. Prucalopride is a highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine
      receptor-4 agonist with colonic pro-motility effects. AIM: To evaluate the effect
      and safety of prucalopride on post-operative ileus and surgical outcomes after
      elective gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: In this phase II randomised clinical
      trial, 110 patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery were randomised
      to either oral prucalopride (2 mg/day) (n = 55) or placebo (n = 55). Intervention
      was started 24 h after surgery and stopped after defecation or maximally at 7
      days. The primary outcome was time to defecation. Secondary outcomes included
      time to first passage of flatus, tolerance of solid food, nasogastric tube
      reinsertion, post-operative length of stay, hospital readmission, overall cost,
      time to walk independently, surgical complications and inflammatory parameters.
      RESULTS: Patients who received prucalopride had a shorter time to defecation
      (65.0 vs. 94.5 h, P = 0.001), passage of flatus (53.0 vs. 73.0 h, P < 0.001), and
      post-operative length of stay (7.0 vs. 8.0 days, P = 0.001) than controls. The
      number of patients with prolonged ileus (>5 days) (16.4% vs. 34.5%, P = 0.026)
      and the C-reactive protein level on post-operative day 5 (35.67 vs. 59.07 mg/L, P
      = 0.040) were lower in the prucalopride group. There was no significant
      difference in post-operative Clavien-Dindo grade III and IV complications (P =
      0.606) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Prucalopride is a safe and effective
      treatment to reduce post-operative ileus and systemic inflammation without
      affecting post-operative complications in patients undergoing elective
      gastrointestinal surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02004652.

PMID- 26880229
TI  - Targeted activation of CREB in reactive astrocytes is neuroprotective in focal
      acute cortical injury.
AB  - The clinical challenge in acute injury as in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is to
      halt the delayed neuronal loss that occurs hours and days after the insult. Here
      we report that the activation of CREB-dependent transcription in reactive
      astrocytes prevents secondary injury in cerebral cortex after experimental TBI.
      The study was performed in a novel bitransgenic mouse in which a constitutively
      active CREB, VP16-CREB, was targeted to astrocytes with the Tet-Off system. Using
      histochemistry, qPCR, and gene profiling we found less neuronal death and damage,
      reduced macrophage infiltration, preserved mitochondria, and rescued expression
      of genes related to mitochondrial metabolism in bitransgenic mice as compared to
      wild type littermates. Finally, with meta-analyses using publicly available
      databases we identified a core set of VP16-CREB candidate target genes that may
      account for the neuroprotective effect. Enhancing CREB activity in astrocytes
      thus emerges as a novel avenue in acute brain post-injury therapeutics.

PMID- 26880230
TI  - Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging analysis of diffusion and
      microperfusion in grading gliomas and comparison with arterial spin labeling for
      evaluation of tumor perfusion.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the utility of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging
      in grading gliomas and compare IVIM perfusion metrics with arterial spin labeling
      (ASL)-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two
      patients with pathologically confirmed gliomas underwent IVIM and ASL imaging at
      3.0T. IVIM perfusion-related diffusivity (D*), perfusion fraction (f), product of
      f and D*(f*D*), true diffusivity (D), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)
      were obtained to distinguish glioma grades. The CBF derived from pseudocontinuous
      ASL within the solid tumor was compared and correlated with IVIM perfusion
      metrics for grading of gliomas. Values were also normalized to the contralateral
      normal-appearing white matter. Receiver-operating characteristic was performed to
      determine diagnostic efficiency. The reliability was estimated with intraclass
      coefficient, coefficient of variance, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: IVIM
      perfusion metrics and CBF were significantly higher in the high-grade than the
      low-grade gliomas (P < 0.001), ADC and D were significantly lower in the high
      grade than the low-grade gliomas (P < 0.001). f*D* differed significantly between
      grades II through IV (P < 0.05 for all). The other metrics showed significant
      difference between grade II and grade III (P < 0.05 for all). Area under the
      curve (AUC) was largest for f*D* in distinguishing high-grade from low-grade
      gliomas (AUC = 0.979, P < 0.001) and between grade II and grade III (AUC = 0.957,
      P < 0.001). f*D* improved diagnostic performance of CBF in grading gliomas and
      showed strong correlation with CBF (r = 0.696, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: IVIM
      derived metrics are promising biomarkers in preoperative grading gliomas. IVIM
      imaging may be an additive method to ASL and ADC for evaluating tumor perfusion
      and diffusion. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:620-632.

PMID- 26880231
TI  - Vulvar cancer: initial management and systematic review of literature on
      currently applied treatment approaches.
AB  - This review provides guidelines and aims to estimate utilisation rates of
      treatment modalities applied in vulvar cancer. Current standards of treatment are
      as follows: wide local excision instead of radical vulvectomy in the case of
      small tumour (T < 2 cm), no lymph node dissection in the case of a micro-invasive
      tumour (invasion <1 mm), unilateral lymph node dissection in the case of a
      lateral tumour and inguinal-femoral lymphadenectomy by separate incisions instead
      of en bloc inguinal-femoral lymph node excision. Implementation of sentinel lymph
      node biopsy in patients with tumours not exceeding 4 cm is safe and efficiently
      eliminates redundant groin dissections. Pre-operative treatment with
      chemoradiotherapy reduces tumour size and improves surgical excision of
      inoperable primary tumours or fixed lymph nodes, but side effects are
      considerable. Literature search performed using PubMed database (from: 1 June
      2005 to 1 June 2015) with the terms 'consecutive', 'vulvar cancer', 'treatment'
      identified seven full-text manuscripts, including data on 1114 patients.
      Utilisation rates of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, chemotherapy alone, surgery,
      adjuvant radiotherapy and adjuvant radiochemotherapy were 5.9%, 0.3%, 89.3%,
      22.6% and 0.2% respectively. An evidence-based estimation of appropriate rates of
      surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for vulvar cancer is needed to compare
      management reflecting guidelines with presented here real frequency of applied
      modalities. 

PMID- 26880226
TI  - Individual differences in timing of peak positive subjective responses to d
      amphetamine: Relationship to pharmacokinetics and physiology.
AB  - Rate of delivery of psychostimulants has been associated with their positive
      euphoric effects and potential addiction liability. However, information on
      individual differences in onset of d-amphetamine's effects remains scarce. We
      examined individual differences in the time to peak subjective and physiological
      effects and the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of oral d-amphetamine. We
      considered two independent studies that used different dosing regimens where
      subjects completed the drug effects questionnaire at multiple time points post d
      amphetamine. Based on the observation of distinct individual differences in time
      course of drug effects questionnaire "feel", "high", and "like" ratings
      (DEQH+L+F) in Study 1, subjects in both studies were categorized as early peak
      responders (peak within 60 minutes), late peak responders (peak > 60 minutes) or
      nonresponders; 20-25% of participants were categorized as early peak responders,
      50-55% as late peak responders and 20-30% as nonresponders. Physiological (both
      studies) and plasma d-amphetamine (Study 1) were compared among these groups.
      Early peak responders exhibited an earlier rise in plasma d-amphetamine levels
      and more sustained elevation in heart rate compared to late peak responders. The
      present data illustrate the presence of significant individual differences in the
      temporal pattern of responses to oral d-amphetamine, which may contribute to
      heightened abuse potential. 

PMID- 26880232
TI  - Body shape and size in 6-year old children: assessment by three-dimensional
      photonic scanning.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Body shape and size are typically described using measures such as
      body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, which predict disease risks in
      adults. However, this approach may underestimate the true variability in
      childhood body shape and size. OBJECTIVE: To use a comprehensive three
      dimensional photonic scan approach to describe variation in childhood body shape
      and size. SUBJECTS/METHODS: At age 6 years, 3350 children from the population
      based 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study were assessed by three-dimensional photonic
      scanner, traditional anthropometry and dual X-ray absorptiometry. Principal
      component analysis (PCA) was performed on height and 24 photonic scan variables
      (circumferences, lengths/widths, volumes and surface areas). RESULTS: PCA
      identified four independent components of children's body shape and size, which
      we termed: Corpulence, Central:peripheral ratio, Height and arm lengths, and
      Shoulder diameter. Corpulence showed strong correlations with traditional
      anthropometric and body composition measures (r>0.90 with weight, BMI, waist
      circumference and fat mass; r>0.70 with height, lean mass and bone mass); in
      contrast, the other three components showed weak or moderate correlations with
      those measures (all r<0.45). There was no sex difference in Corpulence, but boys
      had higher Central:peripheral ratio, Height and arm lengths and Shoulder diameter
      values than girls. Furthermore, children with low birth weight had lower
      Corpulence and Height and arm lengths but higher Central:peripheral ratio and
      Shoulder diameter than other children. Children from high socio-economic position
      (SEP) families had higher Corpulence and Height and arm lengths than other
      children. Finally, white children had higher Corpulence and Central:peripheral
      ratio than mixed or black children. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive assessment by
      three-dimensional photonic scanning identified components of childhood body shape
      and size not captured by traditional anthropometry or body composition measures.
      Differences in these novel components by sex, birth weight, SEP and skin colour
      may indicate their potential relevance to disease risks.

PMID- 26880233
TI  - The effect of the accessory proteins, soluble CD14 and lipopolysaccharide-binding
      protein on Toll-like receptor 4 activity in human monocytes and adipocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a growinge body of evidence pointing towards an important
      role for Toll-like receptors (TLR) especially TLR4 in obesity and metabolic
      syndrome. OBJECTIVE: Owing to the paucity of data on the effect of the accessory
      proteins, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14)
      on TLR4 activation, the present study was undertaken to examine the effect of
      sCD14 and LBP on TLR4 activation in pivotal cells of meta-inflammation, monocytes
      and adipocytes. METHODS: The dose-response effects of sCD14 and LBP on TLR4
      protein abundance in monocytes obtained from normal human volunteers was
      determined by flow cytometry and in human-differentiated adipocytes by western
      blotting. Additionally, the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 and downstream
      biomediators interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      alpha were measured in the cell culture supernatants by ELISA (enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay). RESULTS: In LPS-primed monocytes, sCD14 but not LBP,
      augments both TLR4 abundance and inflammatory biomediators (IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-6
      and TNF-alpha).sCD14 also showed a similar effect in LPS-primed human adipocytes
      by augmenting TLR4 protein expression and activity in terms of NF-kappaB p65 and
      downstream biomediators (IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-alpha). LBP at the highest
      concentration only promoted secretion of IL-8 and TNF-alpha. However in both
      monocytes and adipocytes, the effect of sCD14 was superior to LBP. CONCLUSIONS:
      In the present report, we make the novel observation that sCD14 compared with
      LBP, offers a preferred target to ameliorate TLR especially TLR4-induced
      inflammation and insulin resistance in human obesity and metabolic syndrome.

PMID- 26880235
TI  - Subclassification of fatty liver by its pathogenesis: cIEFing is believing.
AB  - Fatty liver, also termed hepatic steatosis or fatty liver disease, is a condition
      characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver. Common causes of fatty
      liver include obesity, ageing, medications, genetic disorders, viral hepatitis,
      excess alcohol or toxins. This diversity in pathogenesis is matched by an equally
      diverse spectrum of consequences, whereby some individuals remain asymptomatic
      yet others progress through a series of inflammatory, fibrotic and metabolic
      disorders that can lead to liver failure, cancer or diabetes. Current treatment
      approaches for fatty liver do not differ by disease aetiology and primarily
      involve weight loss strategies or management of co-morbidities. In a recent paper
      published in this journal, Urasaki et al used capillary isoelectric focusing
      (cIEF) to create profiles of protein post-translational modifications that
      distinguish four different models of fatty liver in mice. Importantly, this new
      cIEF approach has the potential to provide rapid individualized diagnosis of
      fatty liver pathogenesis that may enable more accurate and personalized treatment
      strategies. Further testing and optimization of cIEF as a diagnostic screening
      tool in humans is warranted.

PMID- 26880234
TI  - A cross sectional study of anemia and iron deficiency as risk factors for arsenic
      induced skin lesions in Bangladeshi women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the Ganges Delta, chronic arsenic poisoning is a health concern
      affecting millions of people who rely on groundwater as their potable water
      source. The prevalence of anemia is also high in this region, particularly among
      women. Moreover, arsenic is known to affect heme synthesis and erythrocytes and
      the risk of arsenic-induced skin lesions appears to differ by sex. METHODS: We
      conducted a case-control study in 147 arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi women to assess
      the association between anemia and arsenic-induced skin lesions. RESULTS: We
      observed that the odds of arsenic-related skin lesions were approximately three
      times higher among women who were anemic (hemoglobin < 120 g/L) compared to women
      with normal hemoglobin levels [Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.32, 95% Confidence Intervals
      (CI): 1.29, 8.52] after adjusting for arsenic levels in drinking water and other
      covariates. Furthermore, 75% of the women with anemia had adequate iron stores
      (serum ferritin >= 12 MUg/L), suggesting that the majority of anemia detected in
      this population was unrelated to iron depletion. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the
      magnitude of arsenic exposure and prevalence of anemia in Bangladeshi women,
      additional research is warranted that identifies the causes of anemia so that
      effective interventions can be implemented while arsenic remediation efforts
      continue.

PMID- 26880236
TI  - Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge (TRACK) Score and Cardiac Surgery in
      Patients Refusing Transfusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge (TRACK) score is a simple
      tool to predict the chance of undergoing blood transfusion in cardiac surgery.
      The authors evaluated the relationship between the TRACK score and clinical
      outcomes of cardiac surgery in patients who refused blood transfusion. DESIGN: An
      observational study. SETTING: A single hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six adult
      Jehovah's Witnesses refusing blood transfusion who underwent cardiac surgeries.
      INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their TRACK
      score: low-risk group (n = 57, TRACK score of less than 13) and high-risk group
      (n = 19, TRACK score of 13 or more). Perioperative and long-term clinical
      outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The
      operative mortality was 0% in the low-risk group, and 21.1% (n = 4) in the high
      risk group (p = 0.003). The incidence of major postoperative complications was
      higher in the high-risk group (57.9%) than in the low-risk group (17.5%) (p =
      0.002). The high-risk group had more postoperative bleeding-related complications
      (21.1%) than did the low-risk group (1.8%) (p = 0.013). There were no significant
      differences of predictive performance in mortality and morbidity between the
      TRACK score and EuroSCORE II. CONCLUSION: In cardiac surgery patients refusing
      transfusions, the TRACK score predicted postoperative morbidity and mortality of
      cardiac surgery.

PMID- 26880237
TI  - Phenyl-Modified Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots with Distinct Photoluminescence
      Behavior.
AB  - A novel type of quantum dot (Ph-CN) is manufactured from graphitic carbon nitride
      by "lining" the carbon nitride structure with phenyl groups through
      supramolecular preorganization. This approach requires no chemical etching or
      hydrothermal treatments like other competing nanoparticle syntheses and is easy
      and safe to use. The Ph-CN nanoparticles exhibit bright, tunable fluorescence,
      with a high quantum yield of 48.4 % in aqueous colloidal suspensions.
      Interestingly, the observed Stokes shift of approximately 200 nm is higher than
      the maximum values reported for carbon nitride based fluorophores. The high
      quantum yield and the large Stokes shift are related to the structural surface
      organization of the phenyl groups, which affects the pi-electron delocalization
      in the conjugated carbon nitride networks and induces colloidal stability. The
      remarkable performance of the Ph-CN nanoparticles in imaging is demonstrated by a
      simple incubation study with HeLa cells. 

PMID- 26880238
TI  - National Perspective of Health Outcomes of 8- to 11-Year-Old Children Born
      Prematurely and Their Full-Term Peers.
AB  - The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the health sequelae of preterm
      birth on children 8 to 11years of age as compared to same age children born at
      term; selected variables include special health care needs, chronic conditions,
      and caregiver perception of health. DESIGN/METHODS: A secondary data analysis was
      conducted to evaluate the health outcomes of children 8 to 11years of age who
      were born prematurely compared to a sample of children born at term. The
      2011/2012 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) is a nationally
      representative telephone interview survey of parents/caregivers of children 0 to
      17years of age. Preterm birth was determined by parent report of birth more than
      3weeks early. RESULTS: Utilizing the Children with Special Health Care Needs
      (CSHCN) Screener, 35% of children born prematurely, compared to 24% of children
      born at term were identified as having a special health care need. The 5 most
      prevalent conditions were the same in both groups of 8 to 11year old children and
      in the larger total sample of children 2 to 17years of age. However 82% of
      children born prematurely were described by parents as having excellent or very
      good health. CONCLUSIONS: Premature birth places children at increased risk for
      conditions that impede the crucial activities of childhood (education,
      psychosocial development and play). These conditions may require both medications
      and increased health care services. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding the
      relationship between preterm birth and ongoing health risks has the potential to
      inform the health care providers' ability to provide care that maximizes the
      potential of children born prematurely. Health care providers need to be
      cognizant of this risk, utilizing early screening and encouraging intervention
      and family supports.

PMID- 26880239
TI  - Online peer-to-peer support in youth mental health: seizing the opportunity.

PMID- 26880240
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26880241
TI  - Safety of combination antiretroviral prophylaxis in high-risk HIV-exposed
      newborns: a retrospective review of the Canadian experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The optimal management of infants born to HIV-positive mothers who
      are untreated or have detectable viral load prior to delivery remains
      controversial. Despite the increasing use of combination antiretroviral therapy
      (cART) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of neonates at high risk of HIV
      infection, there is little safety and pharmacokinetic data to support this
      approach. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability
      of cART for PEP in HIV-exposed neonates. METHODS: Retrospective study on 148 cART
      and 145 Zidovudine (ZDV) monotherapy-exposed infants identified from four
      Canadian centres where cART for PEP has routinely been prescribed in high-risk
      situations. Physician-reported adverse events and clinical outcomes were
      extracted by chart review. Haematological and growth parameters at birth, one and
      six months of age were compared between cART and ZDV-exposed infants using
      multivariate mixed effects modelling. RESULTS: Non-specific signs and symptoms
      were reported in 10.2% of cART recipients versus none of the ZDV recipients.
      Treatment was discontinued prematurely in 9.5% of cART recipients versus 2.1% of
      ZDV recipients (p=0.01). In the multivariate model, cART recipients had lower
      mean haemoglobin (decrease of 2.07 g/L) over the 6-month period compared with ZDV
      recipients (p=0.04), but no effect was seen on absolute neutrophil count. cART
      recipients had lower weight and smaller head circumference at birth and one month
      of age compared with ZDV-exposed infants; these differences were no longer
      significant at six months of age. CONCLUSIONS: cART administered at treatment
      doses for PEP in neonates was generally well tolerated, though a higher incidence
      of non-specific signs and symptoms and early treatment discontinuation occurred
      among cART recipients.

PMID- 26880243
TI  - Predicting motor impairments among children born extremely preterm or very low
      birthweight.

PMID- 26880242
TI  - Episodic memories of relationship quality, procedural knowledge of attachment
      scripts, and the experience of daughters caring for a parent with dementia.
AB  - A caregiver's attachment history with their parents may affect the thoughts,
      feelings, and behavior they now have as they care for a parent with dementia.
      Participants were 77 daughters of a parent with dementia. The nature of
      participant conscious episodic memories of their parental figures and unconscious
      procedural knowledge of caregiving processes (secure base script knowledge) were
      identified as two aspects of the caregiver's relationship history that may impact
      their involvement in care, relationship conflict, critical attitudes, and strain.
      Our findings indicated that the nature of episodic memories of the caregiver
      relationship history with parental figures were significantly associated with
      stress and criticism of their parent. Greater unconscious procedural knowledge of
      the secure base script was associated with caregiver report of less conflict and
      less involvement in the caregiving tasks. Potential clinical implications of this
      pattern are also discussed.

PMID- 26880244
TI  - Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Promotes Autophagy to Facilitate Cisplatin
      Resistance in Melanoma Cells through the Activation of PARP1.
AB  - Xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XPA), a key protein in the nucleotide excision
      repair pathway, has been shown to promote the resistance of tumor cells to
      chemotherapeutic drugs by facilitating the DNA repair process. However, the role
      of XPA in the resistance of melanoma to platinum-based drugs like cisplatin is
      largely unknown. In this study, we initially found that XPA was expressed at
      higher levels in cisplatin-resistant melanoma cells than in cisplatin-sensitive
      ones. Furthermore, the knockdown of XPA not only increased cellular apoptosis but
      also inhibited cisplatin-induced autophagy, which rendered the melanoma cells
      more sensitive to cisplatin. Moreover, we discovered that the increased XPA in
      resistant melanoma cells promoted poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase 1
      (PARP1) activation and that the inhibition of PARP1 could attenuate the cisplatin
      induced autophagy. Finally, we proved that the inhibition of PARP1 and the
      autophagy process made resistant melanoma cells more susceptible to cisplatin
      treatment. Our study shows that XPA can promote cell-protective autophagy in a
      DNA repair-independent manner by enhancing the activation of PARP1 in melanoma
      cells resistant to cisplatin and that the XPA-PARP1-mediated autophagy process
      can be targeted to overcome cisplatin resistance in melanoma chemotherapy.

PMID- 26880245
TI  - [Usefulness of imaging in large vessel vasculitis].
AB  - The imaging is essential for the diagnosis of large vessels arteritis, in order
      to assess the persistent inflammation of arterial lesions, to evaluate the
      treatment response and search the vascular complications. In patients with giant
      cell arteritis (GCA), the aortitis could be suspected in 2 situations: in the
      presence of general constitutional symptoms or systematic screening of aortitis
      in patient with confirmed GCA. The frequency of aortitis varies according to the
      imaging method and could be detected in 40 % of patients with computed tomography
      and MRI, and approximately in 60 % with FDG-PET/CT. The clinical and prognostic
      value of systematic detection of aortitis during the GCA remains to be
      determined. In Takayasu arteritis, imaging is performed to diagnose the large
      vessels vasculitis, to determine the arterial lesions extension to assess the
      persistent inflammation of arterial lesions. The persistent vascular inflammation
      should be suspected in the presence of arterial thickness, of arterial
      enhancement, a parietal edema and increased arterial FDG uptake (>liver).
      However, the value of these parameters and the threshold remain to be determined.
      Thus, the value of FDG-PET/CT and MRI and of parameters used to characterize the
      persistent arterial inflammation should be further studied. 

PMID- 26880246
TI  - A comparison of methods for extracting influenza viral titer characteristics.
AB  - Viral titer data collected in vitro or in vivo is often analyzed by extracting
      viral titer characteristics such as peak viral titer, time of viral peak and area
      under the curve (AUC). Researchers compare these characteristics in the absence
      and presence of various concentrations of antivirals in an attempt to quantify
      the effect of antivirals. Often these characteristics are estimated using only
      measured data points, although fitting of simple mathematical models to estimate
      these parameters is becoming more prevalent. In this article, our aim is to
      compare the estimates of different viral titer characteristics using three
      different approaches. The first approach is the traditional method that uses
      estimates based on experimentally measured data. The second approach relies on
      the use of a linear model to fit the viral titer data. The third approach uses an
      exponential model for the fitting process and the parameters of interest are
      extracted from there. The mathematical models are tested using in vivo and in
      vitro influenza infection data. Estimates of viral titer characteristics using
      either of the two fitting approaches were similar, but differed from estimates
      using the traditional method. 

PMID- 26880247
TI  - Association mapping for drought tolerance in barley at the reproductive stage.
AB  - Drought is an important abiotic stress causing the major crop losses worldwide.
      Identification of genomic regions associated with drought-related traits is
      essential for improving drought tolerance in barley. Association mapping was
      implemented to investigate the associations between 76 SSR markers and six
      drought-related traits on a set of 107 barley accessions evaluated under well
      watered and drought-stressed conditions. Highly significant differences between
      well-watered and drought-stressed conditions were observed in all measured
      traits. A high level of polymorphism with SSR markers was observed. A total of 36
      significant marker-trait associations for drought-related traits were detected. A
      high extent of significant LD (>61%) was observed between markers on different
      chromosomes, suggesting epistatic interaction. Several molecular markers are
      significantly associated with more than one phenotypic trait, suggesting the
      possible presence of pleiotropic or indirect effects. The phenotypic variation,
      explained by individual marker-trait associations, ranged from 6.33% to 35.78%. 

PMID- 26880248
TI  - Alpha-synuclein gene variants may predict neurostimulation outcome.

PMID- 26880249
TI  - IGHV1-69 polymorphism modulates anti-influenza antibody repertoires, correlates
      with IGHV utilization shifts and varies by ethnicity.
AB  - IGHV polymorphism provides a rich source of humoral immune system diversity. One
      important example is the IGHV1-69 germline gene where the biased use of alleles
      that encode the critical CDR-H2 Phe54 (F-alleles) to make broadly neutralizing
      antibodies (HV1-69-sBnAb) to the influenza A hemagglutinin stem domain has been
      clearly established. However, whether IGHV1-69 polymorphism can also modulate B
      cell function and Ab repertoire expression through promoter and copy number (CN)
      variations has not been reported, nor has whether IGHV1-69 allelic distribution
      is impacted by ethnicity. Here we studied a cohort of NIH H5N1 vaccinees and
      demonstrate for the first time the influence of IGHV1-69 polymorphism on V
      segment usage, somatic hypermutation and B cell expansion that elucidates the
      dominance of F-alleles in HV1-69-sBnAbs. We provide evidence that Phe54/Leu54
      (F/L) polymorphism correlates with shifted repertoire usage of other IGHV
      germline genes. In addition, we analyzed ethnically diverse individuals within
      the 1000 genomes project and discovered marked variations in F- and L- genotypes
      and CN among the various ethnic groups that may impact HV1-69-sBnAb responses.
      These results have immediate implications for understanding HV1-69-sBnAb
      responses at the individual and population level and for the design and
      implementation of "universal" influenza vaccine. 

PMID- 26880251
TI  - Show Me My Health Plans: a study protocol of a randomized trial testing a
      decision support tool for the federal health insurance marketplace in Missouri.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The implementation of the ACA has improved access to quality health
      insurance, a necessary first step to improving health outcomes. However, access
      must be supplemented by education to help individuals make informed choices for
      plans that meet their individual financial and health needs. METHODS/DESIGN:
      Drawing on a model of information processing and on prior research, we developed
      a health insurance decision support tool called Show Me My Health Plans.
      Developed with extensive stakeholder input, the current tool (1) simplifies
      information through plain language and graphics in an educational component; (2)
      assesses and reviews knowledge interactively to ensure comprehension of key
      material; (3) incorporates individual and/or family health status to personalize
      out-of-pocket cost estimates; (4) assesses preferences for plan features; and (5)
      helps individuals weigh information appropriate to their interests and needs
      through a summary page with "good fit" plans generated from a tailored algorithm.
      The current study will evaluate whether the online decision support tool improves
      health insurance decisions compared to a usual care condition (the healthcare.gov
      marketplace website). The trial will include 362 individuals (181 in each group)
      from rural, suburban, and urban settings within a 90 mile radius around St.
      Louis. Eligibility criteria includes English-speaking individuals 18-64 years old
      who are eligible for the ACA marketplace plans. They will be computer randomized
      to view the intervention or usual care condition. DISCUSSION: Presenting
      individuals with options that they can understand tailored to their needs and
      preferences could help improve decision quality. By helping individuals narrow
      down the complexity of health insurance plan options, decision support tools such
      as this one could prepare individuals to better navigate enrollment in a plan
      that meets their individual needs. The randomized trial was registered in
      clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02522624) on August 6, 2015.

PMID- 26880252
TI  - Effects of Acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Traditional Chinese Medicine
      Five-Element Music Therapy on Symptom Management and Quality of Life for Cancer
      Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: Most cancer patients suffer from both the disease itself and symptoms
      induced by conventional treatment. Available literature on the clinical effects
      on cancer patients of acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Traditional
      Chinese Medicine Five-Element Music Therapy (TCM-FEMT) reports controversial
      results. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate
      the effect of acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, Qigong, and TCM-FEMT on various
      symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer; risk of bias for the
      selected trials also was assessed. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching
      electronic databases (MEDLINE via both PubMed and Ovid, Cochrane Central, China
      National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, China
      Biology Medicine, and Wanfang Database). All randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      using acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, Qigong, or TCM-FEMT published before October
      2, 2014, were selected, regardless of whether the article was published in
      Chinese or English. RESULTS: We identified 67 RCTs (5465 patients) that met our
      inclusion criteria to perform this meta-analysis. Analysis results showed that a
      significant combined effect was observed for QOL change in patients with terminal
      cancer in favor of acupuncture and Tuina (Cohen's d: 0.21-4.55, P < 0.05),
      whereas Tai Chi and Qigong had no effect on QOL of breast cancer survivors (P >
      0.05). The meta-analysis also demonstrated that acupuncture produced small-to
      large effects on adverse symptoms including pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and
      some gastrointestinal discomfort; however, no significant effect was found on the
      frequency of hot flashes (Cohen's d = -0.02; 95% CI = -1.49 to 1.45; P = 0.97;
      I(2) = 36%) and mood distress (P > 0.05). Tuina relieved gastrointestinal
      discomfort. TCM-FEMT lowered depression level. Tai Chi improved vital capacity of
      breast cancer patients. High risk of bias was present in 74.63% of the selected
      RCTs. Major sources of risk of bias were lack of blinding, allocation
      concealment, and incomplete outcome data. CONCLUSION: Taken together, although
      there are some clear limitations regarding the body of research reviewed in this
      study, a tentative conclusion can be reached that acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi,
      Qigong, or TCM-FEMT represent beneficial adjunctive therapies. Future study
      reporting in this field should be improved regarding both method and content of
      interventions and research methods.

PMID- 26880253
TI  - A Mixed-Methods, Randomized, Controlled Feasibility Trial to Inform the Design of
      a Phase III Trial to Test the Effect of the Handheld Fan on Physical Activity and
      Carer Anxiety in Patients With Refractory Breathlessness.
AB  - CONTEXT: The handheld fan is an inexpensive and safe way to provide facial
      airflow, which may reduce the sensation of chronic refractory breathlessness, a
      frequently encountered symptom. OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility of developing
      an adequately powered, multicenter, multinational randomized controlled trial
      comparing the efficacy of a handheld fan and exercise advice with advice alone in
      increasing activity in people with chronic refractory breathlessness from a
      variety of medical conditions, measuring recruitment rates; data quality; and
      potential primary outcome measures. METHODS: This was a Phase II, multisite,
      international, parallel, nonblinded, mixed-methods randomized controlled trial.
      Participants were centrally randomized to fan or control. All received
      breathlessness self-management/exercise advice and were followed up weekly for
      four weeks. Participants/carers were invited to participate in a semistructured
      interview at the study's conclusion. RESULTS: Ninety-seven people were screened,
      49 randomized (mean age 68 years; 49% men), and 43 completed the study. Site
      recruitment varied from 0.25 to 3.3/month and screening:randomization from 1.1:1
      to 8.5:1. There were few missing data except for the Chronic Obstructive
      Pulmonary Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (two-thirds of data missing). No harms were
      observed. Three interview themes included 1) a fan is a helpful self-management
      strategy, 2) a fan aids recovery, and 3) a symptom control trial was welcome.
      CONCLUSION: A definitive, multisite trial to study the use of the handheld fan as
      part of self-management of chronic refractory breathlessness is feasible.
      Participants found the fan useful. However, the value of information for changing
      practice or policy is unlikely to justify the expense of such a trial, given
      perceived benefits, the minimal costs, and an absence of harms demonstrated in
      this study.

PMID- 26880255
TI  - Improvement of hyperpigmentation within a plexiform neurofibroma after treatment
      with Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser.

PMID- 26880254
TI  - Heart failure and orthostatic hypotension.
AB  - Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is traditionally defined as a fall of >=20 mmHg in
      systolic and/or >=10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure within 3 min of active
      standing. OH is a common comorbidity among patients with heart failure (HF). A
      comprehensive review regarding the relationship between OH and HF has not been
      published in the English literature. Here we provide current information about
      concomitant HF and OH, including: pathophysiology, methods of evaluation,
      prevalence, risk factors, prognosis and management of OH in HF patients, as well
      as the incidence of HF among patients with OH. The prevalence of OH in HF ranges
      from 8 % among community-living individuals to 83 % in elderly hospitalized
      patients. Dizziness and palpitations are the most frequent OH symptoms. Main
      predisposing factors for OH are HF severity, non-ischemic HF etiology, prolonged
      bed rest, hypertension and polypharmacy. OH in HF is generally managed according
      to recommendations for treatment of OH in the non-HF population. However, since
      acceptable pharmacotherapy with fludrocortisone and midodrine is problematic in
      HF due to adverse effects, the management of OH is based mainly on non
      pharmacologic interventions. Several prospective epidemiological studies reported
      that OH is independently associated with an increased risk of developing HF.
      Since OH is a common and frequently symptomatic condition in HF patients, its
      clinical implications should be emphasized. Longitudinal studies should be
      conducted to investigate the prognostic significance and optimal management of OH
      in the HF population.

PMID- 26880256
TI  - Granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors for newly
      diagnosed patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of
      haematological diseases which are characterised by a uni- or multilineage
      dysplasia of haematological stem cells. Standard treatment is supportive care of
      the arising symptoms including red blood cell transfusions or the administration
      of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in the case of anaemia or the
      treatment with granulocyte (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating
      factors (GM-CSF) in cases of neutropenia. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this
      review is to assess the evidence for the treatment of patients with MDS with G
      CSF and GM-CSF in addition to standard therapy in comparison to the same standard
      therapy or the same standard therapy and placebo. SEARCH METHODS: We searched
      MEDLINE (from 1950 to 3 December 2015) and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials until 3 December 2015), as well as conference proceedings
      (American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European
      Hematology Association, European Society of Medical Oncology) for randomised
      controlled trials (RCTs). Two review authors independently screened search
      results. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included RCTs examining G-CSF or GM-CSF in
      addition to standard therapy in patients with newly diagnosed MDS. DATA
      COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used hazard ratios (HR) as effect measure for overall
      survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression, and risk
      ratios for response rates, adverse events, antibiotic use and hospitalisation.
      Two independent review authors extracted data and assessed risk of bias.
      Investigators of two trials were contacted for subgroup information, however, no
      further data were provided. G-CSF and GM-CSF were analysed separately. MAIN
      RESULTS: We screened a total of 566 records. Seven RCTs involving 486 patients
      were identified, but we could only meta-analyse the two evaluating GM-CSF. We
      judged the potential risk of bias of these trials as unclear, mostly due to
      missing information. All trials were randomised and open-label studies. However,
      three trials were published as abstracts only, therefore we were not able to
      assess the potential risk of bias for these trials in detail. Overall, data were
      not reported in a comparable way and patient-related outcomes like survival, time
      to progression to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or the incidence of infections
      was reported in two trials only.Five RCTs (N = 337) assessed the efficacy of G
      CSF in combination with standard therapy (supportive care, chemotherapy or
      erythropoietin). We were not able to perform meta-analyses for any of the pre
      planned outcomes due to inconsistent and insufficient reporting of data. There is
      no evidence for a difference for overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 0.80, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 0.44 to 1.47), progression-free survival (only P value
      provided), progression to AML, incidence of infections and number of red blood
      transfusions (average number of 12 red blood cell transfusions in each arm). We
      judged the quality of evidence for all these outcomes as very low, due to very
      high imprecision and potential publication bias, as three trials were published
      as abstracts only. Data about quality of life and serious adverse events were not
      reported in any of the included trials.Two RCTs (N = 149) evaluated GM-CSF in
      addition to standard therapy (chemotherapy). For mortality (two RCTs; HR 0.88,
      95% CI 0.62 to 1.26), we found no evidence for a difference (low-quality
      evidence). Data for progression-free survival and serious adverse events were not
      comparable across both studies, without evidence for a difference between both
      arms (low-quality evidence). For infections, red blood cell and platelet
      transfusions, we found no evidence for a difference, however, these outcomes were
      reported by one trial only (low-quality evidence). Time to progression to AML and
      quality of life were not reported at all.Moreover, we identified two cross-over
      trials, including 244 patients and evaluating GM-CSF versus placebo, without
      publishing results for each arm before crossing over. In addition, we identified
      two ongoing studies, one of which was discontinued due to withdrawal of
      pharmaceutical support, the other was terminated early, both without publishing
      results. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Although we identified seven trials with a total
      number of 486 patients, and two unpublished, prematurely finished studies, this
      systematic review mainly shows that there is a substantial lack of data, which
      might inform the use of G-CSF and GM-CSF for the prevention of infections,
      prolonging of survival and improvement of quality of life. The impact on
      progression to AML remains unclear.

PMID- 26880257
TI  - Levels of naturally occurring gamma radiation measured in British homes and their
      prediction in particular residences.
AB  - Gamma radiation from natural sources (including directly ionising cosmic rays) is
      an important component of background radiation. In the present paper, indoor
      measurements of naturally occurring gamma rays that were undertaken as part of
      the UK Childhood Cancer Study are summarised, and it is shown that these are
      broadly compatible with an earlier UK National Survey. The distribution of indoor
      gamma-ray dose rates in Great Britain is approximately normal with mean 96 nGy/h
      and standard deviation 23 nGy/h. Directly ionising cosmic rays contribute about
      one-third of the total. The expanded dataset allows a more detailed description
      than previously of indoor gamma-ray exposures and in particular their
      geographical variation. Various strategies for predicting indoor natural
      background gamma-ray dose rates were explored. In the first of these, a
      geostatistical model was fitted, which assumes an underlying geologically
      determined spatial variation, superimposed on which is a Gaussian stochastic
      process with Matern correlation structure that models the observed tendency of
      dose rates in neighbouring houses to correlate. In the second approach, a number
      of dose-rate interpolation measures were first derived, based on averages over
      geologically or administratively defined areas or using distance-weighted
      averages of measurements at nearest-neighbour points. Linear regression was then
      used to derive an optimal linear combination of these interpolation measures. The
      predictive performances of the two models were compared via cross-validation,
      using a randomly selected 70 % of the data to fit the models and the remaining 30
      % to test them. The mean square error (MSE) of the linear-regression model was
      lower than that of the Gaussian-Matern model (MSE 378 and 411, respectively). The
      predictive performance of the two candidate models was also evaluated via
      simulation; the OLS model performs significantly better than the Gaussian-Matern
      model.

PMID- 26880258
TI  - The Use of Avoidance, Adjustment, Interaction and Acceptance Strategies to Handle
      Participation Restrictions Among Swedish Men with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Living with a chronic disease means learning to live under new
      circumstances and involves a continuous adaptation to new ways of living. There
      is increasing knowledge about how people cope with stressful life events and
      adapt to new life situations. Approximately a third of patients diagnosed with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are men; however, few studies have described the needs
      and experiences of men living with RA. The aim of the present study was to
      explore men's strategies for handling challenges related to participation in
      everyday life. METHODS: The present study was associated with the prospective
      Swedish multicentre early arthritis project (given the Swedish acronym TIRA),
      which, in 2006-2009, included patients with early RA, contemporarily treated,
      with a mean disease duration of three years. From this cohort, 25 men, aged 20-63
      years, were recruited consecutively. Data were collected in individual
      interviews, using the critical incident technique. The strategies for dealing
      with the challenges of RA in everyday life were analysed and categorized using
      content analysis. RESULTS: Men with RA described four types of strategy for
      dealing with participation restrictions in everyday life: (i) Adjustment
      strategies - adjust behaviour, movements, medication, equipment and clothing to
      find new ways to conduct tasks or activities; (ii) Avoidance strategies - avoid
      activities, movements, social contacts and sometimes medication; (iii)
      Interaction strategies - say no, ask for help and work together to handle
      participation restrictions; and (iv) Acceptance strategies - learn to accept RA,
      with the pain, the slower work pace and the extended time needed. CONCLUSIONS:
      According to men's lived experiences, a combination of strategies was used to
      deal with RA, depending on the situation and the experienced restriction. The
      results provided an understanding of how men with RA manage their disease, to
      reduce physical, social and emotional challenges. This knowledge may be used
      further to develop multi-professional interventions and patient education
      tailored to men with RA.

PMID- 26880259
TI  - Multimodality Imaging of Cardiac Transthyretin Amyloidosis 16 Years After a
      Domino Liver Transplantation.
AB  - We report the case of a 62-year-old man hospitalized in May 2015 for symptomatic
      heart failure. His medical history included two liver transplantations. The first
      liver transplantation was performed in 1999 for a mixed alcoholic and hepatitis C
      related cirrhosis and the patient received the liver of another patient with
      Val30Met transthyretin amyloidosis using the domino technique. In 2008, he
      complained of neuropathic pains and an iatrogenic-acquired transthyretin
      amyloidosis was diagnosed. On cardiac evaluation, amyloidosis was suspected. In
      March 2010, a second liver transplantation was performed with a deceased donor
      without complication. In May 2015, a first episode of symptomatic heart failure
      occurred and cardiac amyloidosis was investigated by a multimodality evaluation.
      Electrocardiogram, cardiac biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI were in
      favor of the diagnosis of amyloidosis, whereas 99m Tc-dicarboxypropane
      diphosphonate scintigraphy was not. Endomyocardial biopsy finally confirmed the
      positive diagnosis of iatrogenic-acquired cardiac amyloidosis. This case is, to
      the best of our knowledge, the first to report biopsy-proven cardiac amyloidosis
      induced by domino liver transplantation and progressing heart failure in spite of
      retransplantation. The diagnostic modalities are discussed. This case should
      alert physicians to the cardiac risk in domino liver transplanted patients.

PMID- 26880260
TI  - Mechanical stretching stimulates collagen synthesis via down-regulating SO2/AAT1
      pathway.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the role of endogenous sulfur dioxide
      (SO2)/ aspartate aminotransferase 1 (AAT1) pathway in stretch-induced excessive
      collagen expression and its mechanism. The mechanical stretch downregulated
      SO2/AAT1 pathway and increased collagen I and III protein expression.
      Importantly, AAT1 overexpression blocked the increase in collagen I and III
      expression, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF- beta1) expression and
      phosphorylation of Smad2/3 induced by stretch, but AAT1 knockdown mimicked the
      increase in collagen I and III expression, TGF- beta1 expression and
      phosphorylation of Smad2/3 induced by stretch. Mechanistically, SB431542, a TGF
      beta1/Smad2/3 inhibitor, eliminated excessive collagen I and III accumulation
      induced by AAT1 knockdown, stretch or stretch plus AAT1 knockdown. In a rat model
      of high pulmonary blood flow-induced pulmonary vascular collagen accumulation,
      AAT1 expression and SO2 content in lung tissues of rat were reduced in shunt rats
      with high pulmonary blood flow. Supplement of SO2 derivatives inhibited
      activation of TGF- beta1/Smad2/3 pathway and alleviated the excessive collagen
      accumulation in lung tissues of shunt rats. The results suggested that deficiency
      of endogenous SO2/AAT1 pathway mediated mechanical stretch-stimulated abnormal
      collagen accumulation via TGF-beta1/Smad2/3 pathway. 

PMID- 26880262
TI  - Catalytic Asymmetric Tandem Reaction of Tertiary Enamides: Expeditious Synthesis
      of Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline Alkaloid Derivatives.
AB  - Reported is a new and efficient strategy for rapid construction of the chiral
      tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-3(2H)-one structure from unique tertiary
      enamide synthons. A Cu(OTf)2 /chiral Pybox complex catalyzes the intramolecular
      enantioselective addition of tertiary enamides to ketonic carbonyls with
      subsequent diastereoselective interception of the resulting acyliminium by
      tethered electron-rich aryl moiety. The tandem reaction produces diverse
      tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-3(2H)-one derivatives as the sole
      diastereoisomers in good to excellent yields with up to 98.5 % ee. The
      transformations of the resulting heterocycles into various hexahydropyrrolo[2,1
      a]isoquinoline derivatives were also demonstrated. The cyclization products,
      which are difficult to obtain by other synthetic means, are structural motifs
      found in many bioactive alkaloids. 

PMID- 26880261
TI  - The relationship between non-symbolic multiplication and division in childhood.
AB  - Children without formal education in addition and subtraction are able to perform
      multi-step operations over an approximate number of objects. Further, their
      performance improves when solving approximate (but not exact) addition and
      subtraction problems that allow for inversion as a shortcut (e.g., a + b - b =
      a). The current study examines children's ability to perform multi-step
      operations, and the potential for an inversion benefit, for the operations of
      approximate, non-symbolic multiplication and division. Children were trained to
      compute a multiplication and division scaling factor (*2 or /2, *4 or /4), and
      were then tested on problems that combined two of these factors in a way that
      either allowed for an inversion shortcut (e.g., 8*4/4) or did not (e.g., 8*4/2).
      Children's performance was significantly better than chance for all scaling
      factors during training, and they successfully computed the outcomes of the multi
      step testing problems. They did not exhibit a performance benefit for problems
      with the a*b/b structure, suggesting that they did not draw upon inversion
      reasoning as a logical shortcut to help them solve the multi-step test problems.

PMID- 26880264
TI  - Effects of chronic exercise on the endocannabinoid system in Wistar rats with
      high-fat diet-induced obesity.
AB  - The endocannabinoid system is dysregulated during obesity in tissues involved in
      the control of food intake and energy metabolism. We examined the effect of
      chronic exercise on the tissue levels of endocannabinoids (eCBs) and on the
      expression of genes coding for cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid
      receptor 2 (CB2) (Cnr1 and Cnr2, respectively) in the subcutaneous (SAT) and
      visceral adipose tissues and in the soleus and extensor digitorim longus (EDL)
      muscles, in rats fed with standard or high-fat diet. Twenty-eight male Wistar
      rats were placed on high-fat diet or standard diet (HFD and Ctl groups,
      respectively) during 12 weeks whereafter half of each group was submitted to an
      exercise training period of 12 weeks (HFD + training and Ctl + training). Tissue
      levels of eCBs were measured by LC-MS while expressions of genes coding for CB1
      and CB2 receptors were investigated by qPCR. High-fat diet induced an increase in
      anandamide (AEA) levels in soleus and EDL (p < 0.02). In soleus of the HFD group,
      these changes were accompanied by elevated Cnr1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels (p <
      0.05). In EDL, exercise training allowed to reduce significantly this diet
      induced AEA increase (p < 0.005). 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels were
      decreased and increased by high-fat diet in SAT and EDL, respectively (p < 0.04),
      but not affected by exercise training. Unlike the HFD + training group, 2-AG
      levels in soleus were also decreased in the HFD group compared to Ctl (p < 0.04).
      The levels of eCBs and Cnr1 expression are altered in a tissue-specific manner
      following a high-fat diet, and chronic exercise reverses some of these
      alterations. 

PMID- 26880265
TI  - Requirement of interleukin 7 signaling for anti-tumor immune response under
      lymphopenic conditions in a murine lung carcinoma model.
AB  - Induction of lymphopenia before adoptive transfer of T cells was followed by
      lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP) and generated a potent anti-tumor immune
      response in rodents and in a clinical setting. Previously, we reported that CD28
      signaling is essential for the differentiation of functional effector cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes (CTLs) under lymphopenic conditions and sequential LIP of T cells. In
      this study, to clarify the correlation between LIP and the anti-tumor effect, LIP
      was inhibited with interleukin 7 (IL7) receptor blockade at various stages, and
      the anti-tumor effect then assessed. We confirmed that IL7 signaling at the start
      of LIP is crucial for the anti-tumor immune response. In contrast, continuous IL7
      signaling was not required for tumor regression, although LIP of naive CD8+ T
      cells is usually regulated by IL7. The expansion and migration of CTLs in
      lymphopenic hosts depend on IL7 signaling during the induction phase. Here, we
      propose that IL7 signaling and subsequent LIP of T cells have distinct roles in
      the induction of T cell immunity during lymphopenia.

PMID- 26880266
TI  - A Potent HER3 Monoclonal Antibody That Blocks Both Ligand-Dependent and 
      Independent Activities: Differential Impacts of PTEN Status on Tumor Response.
AB  - HER3/ERBB3 is a kinase-deficient member of the EGFR family receptor tyrosine
      kinases (RTK) that is broadly expressed and activated in human cancers. HER3 is a
      compelling cancer target due to its important role in activation of the oncogenic
      PI3K/AKT pathway. It has also been demonstrated to confer tumor resistance to a
      variety of cancer therapies, especially targeted drugs against EGFR and HER2.
      HER3 can be activated by its ligand (heregulin/HRG), which induces HER3
      heterodimerization with EGFR, HER2, or other RTKs. Alternatively, HER3 can be
      activated in a ligand-independent manner through heterodimerization with HER2 in
      HER2-amplified cells. We developed a fully human mAb against HER3 (KTN3379) that
      efficiently suppressed HER3 activity in both ligand-dependent and independent
      settings. Correspondingly, KTN3379 inhibited tumor growth in divergent tumor
      models driven by either ligand-dependent or independent mechanisms in vitro and
      in vivo Most intriguingly, while investigating the mechanistic underpinnings of
      tumor response to KTN3379, we discovered an interesting dichotomy in that PTEN
      loss, a frequently occurring oncogenic lesion in a broad range of cancer types,
      substantially blunted the tumor response in HER2-amplified cancer, but not in the
      ligand-driven cancer. To our knowledge, this represents the first study
      ascertaining the impact of PTEN loss on the antitumor efficacy of a HER3 mAb.
      KTN3379 is currently undergoing a phase Ib clinical trial in patients with
      advanced solid tumors. Our current study may help us optimize patient selection
      schemes for KTN3379 to maximize its clinical benefits. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(4);
      689-701. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880267
TI  - Paclitaxel-Loaded Polymersomes for Enhanced Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
AB  - Peritoneal carcinomatosis is present in more than 60% of gastric cancer, 40% of
      ovarian cancer, and 35% of colon cancer patients. It is the second most common
      cause of cancer-related mortality, with a median survival of 1 to 3 months.
      Cytoreductive surgery combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy is the current
      clinical treatment, but achieving curative drug accumulation and penetration in
      peritoneal carcinomatosis lesions remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we used
      flexible and pH-sensitive polymersomes for payload delivery to peritoneal gastric
      (MKN-45P) and colon (CT26) carcinoma in mice. Polymersomes were loaded with
      paclitaxel and in vitro drug release was studied as a function of pH and time.
      Paclitaxel-loaded polymersomes remained stable in aqueous solution at neutral pH
      for up to 4 months. In cell viability assay on cultured cancer cell lines (MKN
      45P, SKOV3, CT26), paclitaxel-loaded polymersomes were more toxic than free drug
      or albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane). Intraperitoneally administered
      fluorescent polymersomes accumulated in malignant lesions, and immunofluorescence
      revealed an intense signal inside tumors with no detectable signal in control
      organs. A dual targeting of tumors was observed: direct (circulation-independent)
      penetration, and systemic, blood vessel-associated accumulation. Finally, we
      evaluated preclinical antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel-polymersomes in the
      treatment of MKN-45P disseminated gastric carcinoma using a total dose of 7
      mg/kg. Experimental therapy with paclitaxel-polymersomes improved the therapeutic
      index of drug over free paclitaxel and Abraxane, as evaluated by intraperitoneal
      tumor burden and number of metastatic nodules. Our findings underline the
      potential utility of the polymersome platform for delivery of drugs and imaging
      agents to peritoneal carcinomatosis lesions. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(4); 670-9.
      (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880268
TI  - CD20-Targeting Immunotherapy Promotes Cellular Senescence in B-Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - The CD20-targeting monoclonal antibody rituximab is an established component of
      immunochemotherapeutic regimens against B-cell lymphomas, where its
      coadministration with conventional anticancer agents has significantly improved
      long-term outcome. However, the cellular mechanisms by which rituximab exerts its
      antilymphoma activity are only partially understood. We show here that rituximab
      induces typical features of cellular senescence, a long-term growth arrest of
      viable cells with distinct biologic properties, in established B-cell lymphoma
      cell lines as well as primary transformed B cells. In addition, rituximab-based
      immunotherapy sensitized lymphoma cells to senescence induction by the
      chemotherapeutic compound adriamycin (a.k.a. doxorubicin), and, to a lesser
      extent, by the antimicrotubule agent vincristine. Anti-CD20 treatment further
      enhanced secretion of senescence-associated cytokines, and augmented the DNA
      damage response signaling cascade triggered by adriamycin. As the underlying
      prosenescence mechanism, we found intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      levels to be elevated in response to rituximab, and, in turn, the ROS scavenger N
      acetylcysteine to largely abrogate rituximab-mediated senescence. Our results,
      further supported by gene set enrichment analyses in a clinical data set of
      chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient samples exposed to a rituximab-containing
      treatment regimen, provide important mechanistic insights into the biologic
      complexity of anti-CD20-evoked tumor responses, and unveil cellular senescence as
      a hitherto unrecognized effector principle of the antibody component in lymphoma
      immunochemotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5); 1074-81. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880270
TI  - From Umpolung to Alternation: Modified Reactivity of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes
      Towards Nucleophiles in Reaction with Nitroalkanes.
AB  - A conceptually new type of donor-acceptor cyclopropane reactivity towards
      nucleophiles has been disclosed. An essential characteristic of the process is an
      unusual nucleophilic attack on the C(3)-position of a cyclopropane, combined with
      typical small ring-opening by cleavage of the C(1)-C(2) bond between the acceptor
      and the donor. Based on this new reaction between cyclopropane-1,1-diesters and
      nitroalkanes, we developed a convenient approach to gamma-nitroesters that can be
      efficiently transformed to the substituted pyrrolidones, structural analogues of
      racetame family drugs (rolipram, phenylpiracetam, etc.). 

PMID- 26880269
TI  - Chondroitin sulfate prevents peritoneal fibrosis in mice by suppressing NF-kappaB
      activation.
AB  - Long-term peritoneal dialysis causes peritoneal fibrosis, and previous reports
      suggest that inflammation plays a critical role in peritoneal fibrosis.
      Chondroitin sulfate (CS) suppresses the inflammatory response by preventing
      activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. We examined the effect of CS on the
      peritoneal fibrosis induced by chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) in mice. CS or water
      was administered daily. We divided mice into four groups: administered vehicle
      and water (control); administered vehicle and CS (CS); administered CG and water
      (CG); and administered CG and CS (CG+CS). Morphologic changes were assessed by
      Masson's trichrome staining. Inflammation- and fibrosis-associated factors were
      assessed by immunohistochemistry. Activation of NF-kappaB was examined by
      southwestern histochemistry. CS administration suppressed the progression of
      submesothelial thickening. The numbers of inflammation- and fibrosis-associated
      factors -positive cells were significantly decreased in the CG+CS group, compared
      to the CG group. Based on SWH, the CG+CS group contained significantly fewer NF
      kappaB-activated cells than the CG group. Our results indicate that CS suppresses
      peritoneal fibrosis via suppression of NF-kappaB activation. These results
      suggest that CS has therapeutic potential for peritoneal fibrosis. 

PMID- 26880272
TI  - The Use of Ultrasound to Improve Axillary Vein Access and Minimize Complications
      during Pacemaker Implantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the United States
      recommends the use of ultrasound (US) for central venous access to improve
      patient outcomes. However, in a recent publication, US is still underutilized for
      axillary vein access during pacemaker implantation. OBJECTIVE: We sought to
      describe a technique for US-guided axillary vein access during pacemaker
      implantation and to report complication rates and success rate. METHODS:
      Retrospective data collection included success rate and complications on all
      pacemaker implants by one operator since implementing the systematic use of US at
      our institution, from November 2012 to January 2015. For the last 59 cases, data
      were collected prospectively to include time of venous access and number of
      attempts. RESULTS: A total of 403 consecutive patients were included in the
      analysis. Two leads were implanted in 255 cases and one lead was implanted in 148
      cases. The rate of successful US-guided access was 99.25%. There were no access
      related complications. The average number of venipuncture attempts was 1.18 per
      patient. The average time to obtain venous access was 2.24 minutes including the
      time to apply the sterile US sleeve. CONCLUSION: The described technique has the
      potential to improve the success rate of axillary vein access and minimize
      complications during pacemaker implantation.

PMID- 26880273
TI  - Transcriptomic response to injury sheds light on the physiological costs of
      reproduction in ant queens.
AB  - The trade-off between reproduction and longevity is widespread among
      multicellular organisms. As an important exception, the reproductive females of
      perennial social insects (ants, honeybees, termites) are simultaneously highly
      fertile and very long-lived relative to their nonreproductive nestmates. The
      observation that increased fecundity is not coupled with decreased lifespan
      suggests that social insect queens do not have to reallocate resources between
      reproduction and self-maintenance. If queens have to compensate for the costs of
      reproduction on the level of the individual, the activation of other energy
      demanding physiological processes might force them to reduce the production of
      eggs. To test this hypothesis in ant queens, we increased immunity costs by
      injury and measured the effect of this treatment on egg-laying rates and
      genomewide gene expression. Amputation of both middle legs led to a temporary
      decrease in egg-laying rates and affected the expression of 947 genes
      corresponding to 9% of the transcriptome. The changes comprised the upregulation
      of the immune and wound healing response on the one hand, and the downregulation
      of germ cell development, central nervous system development and learning ability
      on the other hand. Injury strongly influenced metabolism by inducing catabolism
      and repressing amino acid and nitrogen compound metabolism. By comparing our
      results to similar transcriptomic studies in insects, we found a highly
      consistent upregulation of immune genes due to sterile and septic wounding. The
      gene expression changes, complemented by the temporary decline of egg-laying
      rates, clearly reveal a trade-off between reproduction and the immune response in
      social insect queens.

PMID- 26880271
TI  - Discovery of cahuitamycins as biofilm inhibitors derived from a convergent
      biosynthetic pathway.
AB  - Pathogenic microorganisms often have the ability to attach to a surface, building
      a complex matrix where they colonize to form a biofilm. This cellular
      superstructure can display increased resistance to antibiotics and cause serious,
      persistent health problems in humans. Here we describe a high-throughput in vitro
      screen to identify inhibitors of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms using a library
      of natural product extracts derived from marine microbes. Analysis of extracts
      derived from Streptomyces gandocaensis results in the discovery of three peptidic
      metabolites (cahuitamycins A-C), with cahuitamycin C being the most effective
      inhibitor (IC50=14.5 MUM). Biosynthesis of cahuitamycin C proceeds via a
      convergent biosynthetic pathway, with one of the steps apparently being catalysed
      by an unlinked gene encoding a 6-methylsalicylate synthase. Efforts to assess
      starter unit diversification through selective mutasynthesis lead to production
      of unnatural analogues cahuitamycins D and E of increased potency (IC50=8.4 and
      10.5 MUM). 

PMID- 26880275
TI  - Down-to-up transanal rectal resection with total mesorectal excision assisted by
      single-incision laparoscopy - a video vignette.

PMID- 26880274
TI  - Dynamic changes in protein interaction between AKAP95 and Cx43 during cell cycle
      progression of A549 cells.
AB  - Here we show that A-kinase anchoring protein 95 (AKAP95) and connexin 43 (Cx43)
      dynamically interact during cell cycle progression of lung cancer A549 cells.
      Interaction between AKAP95 and Cx43 at different cell cycle phases was examined
      by tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS), confocal immunofluorescence microscopy,
      Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP). Over the course of a complete
      cell cycle, interaction between AKAP95 and Cx43 occurred in two stages: binding
      stage from late G1 to metaphase, and separating stage from anaphase to late G1.
      The binding stage was further subdivided into complex binding to DNA in
      interphase and complex separating from DNA in metaphase. In late G1, Cx43
      translocated to the nucleus via AKAP95; in anaphase, Cx43 separated from AKAP95
      and aggregated between two daughter nuclei. In telophase, Cx43 aggregated at the
      membrane of the cleavage furrow. After mitosis, Cx43 was absent from the furrow
      membrane and was located in the cytoplasm. Binding between AKAP95 and Cx43 was
      reduced by N-(2-[P-Bromocinnamylamino]-ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonmide (H89)
      treatment and enhanced by Forskolin. dynamic interaction between AKAP95 and Cx43
      varies with cell cycle progression to regulate multiple biological processes. 

PMID- 26880276
TI  - Nanoarchitectured Nb2O5 hollow, Nb2O5@carbon and NbO2@carbon Core-Shell
      Microspheres for Ultrahigh-Rate Intercalation Pseudocapacitors.
AB  - Li-ion intercalation materials with extremely high rate capability will blur the
      distinction between batteries and supercapacitors. We construct a series of
      nanoarchitectured intercalation materials including orthorhombic (o-) Nb2O5
      hollow microspheres, o-Nb2O5@carbon core-shell microspheres and tetragonal (t-)
      NbO2@carbon core-shell microspheres, through a one-pot hydrothermal method with
      different post-treatments. These nanoarchitectured materials consist of small
      nanocrystals with highly exposed active surface, and all of them demonstrate good
      Li(+) intercalation pseudocapacitive properties. In particular, o-Nb2O5 hollow
      microspheres can deliver the specific capacitance of 488.3 F g(-1), and good rate
      performance of 126.7 F g(-1) at 50 A g(-1). The o-Nb2O5@carbon core-shell
      microspheres show enhanced specific capacitance of 502.2 F g(-1) and much
      improved rate performance (213.4 F g(-1) at 50 A g(-1)). Furthermore, we
      demonstrate for the first time, t-NbO2 exhibits much higher rate capability than
      o-Nb2O5. For discharging time as fast as 5.9 s (50 A g(-1)), it still exhibits a
      very high specific capacitance of 245.8 F g(-1), which is 65.2% retention of the
      initial capacitance (377.0 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1)). The unprecedented rate
      capability is an intrinsic feature of t-NbO2, which may be due to the conductive
      lithiated compounds. 

PMID- 26880278
TI  - Achieving near-infrared emission in platinum(II) complexes by using an extended
      donor-acceptor-type ligand.
AB  - A series of C^N ligands with donor-acceptor (D-A) frameworks, i.e. TPA-BTPy, TPA
      BTPy-Fl and Fl(TPA-BTPy)2, as well as their mono- and di-nuclear platinum(II)
      complexes of (TPA-BTPy)Pt(pic), (TPA-BTPy-Fl)Pt(pic) and [Fl(TPA-BTPy)2]Pt2(pic)2
      are respectively designed and synthesized, in which triphenylamine (TPA) and
      fluorene (Fl) are used as the D units, 4-(pyrid-2-yl)benzothiadiazole (BTPy) as
      the A unit, and the picolinate anion (pic) as the auxiliary ligand. Their
      thermal, photophysical and electrochemical characteristics were investigated.
      Compared to mono-nuclear platinum complexes and their free ligands, this
      dinuclear one of [Fl(TPA-BTPy)2]Pt2(pic)2 shows an obvious interaction from the
      platinum atom to ligand and dual emission peaks at 828 and 601 nm in thin films.
      Upon oxidation with antimony pentachloride in dichloromethane, charge transfer
      transitions between the platinum and ligand are observed for the three complexes.
      The single-emissive-layer polymer light-emitting devices doped with [Fl(TPA
      BTPy)2]Pt2(pic)2 display a strong electroluminescence with dual emission peaks at
      780 and 600 nm at a dopant concentration over 4 wt%. A maximum external quantum
      efficiency of 0.02% with a radiance of 59 MUW cm(-2) is obtained in the device at
      30 wt% dopant concentration. This work indicates that the use of an extended D-A
      type ligand is an effective strategy to achieve NIR emission for platinum
      complexes in PLEDs.

PMID- 26880277
TI  - Surface-Nanoengineered Bacteria for Efficient Local Enrichment and Biodegradation
      of Aqueous Organic Wastes: Using Phenol as a Model Compound.
AB  - Bacteria armed with thermally responsive silica nanoparticles are prepared for
      efficient biodegradation of phenol in water. The adsorption and release
      properties of thermally responsive silica nanoparticles under different
      temperatures can lead to a higher local concentration of phenol, which
      accelerates the biodegradation process. 

PMID- 26880279
TI  - Local adaptation to osmotic environment in killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, is
      supported by divergence in swimming performance but not by differences in excess
      post-exercise oxygen consumption or aerobic scope.
AB  - Regulation of internal ion homeostasis is essential for fishes inhabiting
      environments where salinities differ from their internal concentrations. It is
      hypothesized that selection will reduce energetic costs of osmoregulation in a
      population's native osmotic habitat, producing patterns of local adaptation.
      Killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, occupy estuarine habitats where salinities
      range from fresh to seawater. Populations inhabiting an environmental salinity
      gradient differ in physiological traits associated with acclimation to acute
      salinity stress, consistent with local adaptation. Similarly, metabolic rates
      differ in populations adapted to different temperatures, but have not been
      studied in regard to salinity. We investigated evidence for local adaptation
      between populations of killifish native to fresh and brackish water habitats.
      Aerobic scope (the difference between minimum and maximum metabolic rates),
      excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, and swimming performance (time and
      distance to reach exhaustion) were used as proxies for fitness in fresh and
      brackish water treatments. Swimming performance results supported local
      adaptation; fish native to brackish water habitats performed significantly better
      than freshwater-native fish at high salinity while low salinity performance was
      similar between populations. However, results from metabolic measures did not
      support this conclusion; both populations showed an increase in resting metabolic
      rate and a decrease of aerobic scope in fresh water. Similarly, excess post
      exercise oxygen consumption was higher for both populations in fresh than in
      brackish water. While swimming results suggest that environmentally dependent
      performance differences may be a result of selection in divergent osmotic
      environments, the differences between populations are not coupled with divergence
      in metabolic performance.

PMID- 26880280
TI  - Integrating Time-Varying and Ecological Exposures into Multivariate Analyses of
      Hospital-Acquired Infection Risk Factors: A Review and Demonstration.
AB  - OBJECTIVES Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) develop rapidly after brief and
      transient exposures, and ecological exposures are central to their etiology.
      However, many studies of HAIs risk do not correctly account for the timing of
      outcomes relative to exposures, and they ignore ecological factors. We aimed to
      describe statistical practice in the most cited HAI literature as it relates to
      these issues, and to demonstrate how to implement models that can be used to
      account for them. METHODS We conducted a literature search to identify 8
      frequently cited articles having primary outcomes that were incident HAIs, were
      based on individual-level data, and used multivariate statistical methods. Next,
      using an inpatient cohort of incident Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), we
      compared 3 valid strategies for assessing risk factors for incident infection: a
      cohort study with time-fixed exposures, a cohort study with time-varying
      exposures, and a case-control study with time-varying exposures. RESULTS Of the 8
      studies identified in the literature scan, 3 did not adjust for time-at-risk, 6
      did not assess the timing of exposures in a time-window prior to outcome
      ascertainment, 6 did not include ecological covariates, and 6 did not account for
      the clustering of outcomes in time and space. Our 3 modeling strategies yielded
      similar risk-factor estimates for CDI risk. CONCLUSIONS Several common
      statistical methods can be used to augment standard regression methods to improve
      the identification of HAI risk factors. Infect.

PMID- 26880281
TI  - Social media and gamification: Engaging vulnerable parents in an online evidence
      based parenting program.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility (accessibility, engagement
      and impact) of adding social media and gaming features (e.g., social sharing with
      anonymity, badges to incentivize skills practice, an accredited facilitator for
      support) and access via smartphones to an evidenced-based parenting program,
      Triple P Online. The highly vulnerable population included 155 disadvantaged,
      high-risk parents (e.g., 76% had a family annual income of less than $15,000; 41%
      had been incarcerated; 38% were in drug/alcohol treatment; and 24% had had a
      child removed due to maltreatment). The ethnic groups most commonly identified
      were African American (24%) and Hispanic (66%). Respondents were primarily
      mothers (86%) from five community programs in Los Angeles. The study used a
      single group repeated measures design (pre, post, 6-month follow-up). Data
      collected included standardized self-report measures, post-intervention focus
      groups and interviews, website usage reports, and Google Analytics. Significant
      multivariate ANOVA time effects were found, demonstrating reductions in child
      behavioral problems, reduced lax/permissive and over-reactive parenting, and
      decreased parental stress. No effects were found for parental confidence,
      attributions, or depression and anxiety (which were in the normal range at
      baseline). Positive effects were maintained or improved at 6-month follow-up. The
      participants engaged in the online community and valued its flexibility,
      anonymity, and shared learning. This foundational implementation trial provides
      support for future rigorous evaluation of social media and gaming features as a
      medium for increasing parental engagement in evidence-based parenting programs
      online--a public health approach to protect and improve the development of
      vulnerable children.

PMID- 26880282
TI  - Lower dose basal insulin infusion has positive effect on glycaemic control for
      children with type I diabetes on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion
      therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to explore a possible relationship between
      proportion of basal insulin dose (%BD/T) and glycaemic control in children with
      type I diabetes on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy.
      METHODS: All patients under the age of 18 with type I diabetes mellitus, treated
      in a general hospital in Utrecht, The Netherlands, who were on CSII therapy
      between 2000 and 2011 were selected for inclusion. All data as recorded during
      outpatient visits were retrospectively collected from patients' charts. Analyses
      were performed using R Statistical Software. RESULTS: Data of 847 outpatient
      visits of 78 patients [31 males (39.7%) and 47 females (60.3%)] were analyzed.
      Mean age at diagnosis was 7.1 +/- 3.7 yr, mean age at start of pump therapy 10.1
      +/- 3.8 yr. Mean HbA1c before pump start was 8.3 +/- 1.0%, median BMI standard
      deviation score for age and gender was 0.64 (-1.89-3.79). Median follow-up time
      per patient was 29 months with an average of 10 visits (range: 3-25).
      Multivariate analysis revealed that a change of 10% in %BD/T resulted in a
      decrease or increase of HbA1c of 0.22% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.29).
      No significant effect was observed from SDS BMI, sex, or duration of diabetes.
      CONCLUSION: Low dose basal insulin infusion as a percentage of total insulin dose
      has a positive effect on metabolic outcome as expressed in HbA1c-levels. A change
      of 10% in %BD/T results in a decrease or increase of HbA1c of 0.22%. This
      supports the tendency to aim at the lowest basal insulin requirements in pump
      setting strategy.

PMID- 26880283
TI  - Senator questions pain panel's ties to industry.

PMID- 26880284
TI  - The Short-Term Longitudinal and Reciprocal Relations Between Peer Victimization
      on Facebook and Adolescents' Well-Being.
AB  - Although studies have shown that depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and
      adolescents' online peer victimization are associated, there remain critical gaps
      in our understanding of these relationships. To address these gaps, the present
      two-wave panel study (N Time1 = 1840) (1) examines the short-term longitudinal
      and reciprocal relationships between peer victimization on Facebook, depressive
      symptoms and life satisfaction during adolescence, and (2) explores the
      moderating role of adolescents' gender, age, and perceived friend support. Self
      report data from 1621 adolescent Facebook users (48 % girls; M Age  = 14.76; SD =
      1.41) were used to test our hypotheses. The majority of the sample (92 %) was
      born in Belgium. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that peer victimization on
      Facebook marginally predicted decreases in life satisfaction, and life
      satisfaction predicted decreases in peer victimization on Facebook. However,
      depressive symptoms were a risk factor for peer victimization on Facebook, rather
      than an outcome. In addition, support from friends protected adolescents from the
      harmful outcomes of peer victimization on Facebook. Both theoretical and
      practical implications are discussed.

PMID- 26880285
TI  - Does Media Literacy Mitigate Risk for Reduced Body Satisfaction Following
      Exposure to Thin-Ideal Media?
AB  - Exposure to thin-ideal media can contribute to increased body dissatisfaction in
      adolescent girls. Understanding the factors that may prevent or exacerbate the
      negative effects of media exposure on body dissatisfaction is important to
      facilitate prevention of these problems. This study evaluated the effects of
      exposure to thin-ideal media images on body image in three instructional set
      experimental conditions: appearance comparison, peer norms, and control. An
      important aim was to examine baseline levels of media literacy as a protective
      factor and trait thin-ideal internalization and trait upward appearance
      comparison as risk factors. Early adolescent girls (N = 246) completed baseline
      measures and 1 week later viewed thin-ideal media images, before and after which
      they rated their state body satisfaction. Participants in the appearance
      comparison instruction but not peer norms instruction condition had significantly
      reduced body satisfaction. Media literacy, particularly high levels of critical
      thinking, mitigated the negative effects of trait thin-ideal internalization and
      trait upward appearance comparison on body satisfaction outcomes. These findings
      provide evidence for the role of media literacy as a protective factor against
      the negative effects on body satisfaction of exposure to thin-ideal media images,
      and also provide evidence to support the development and implementation of media
      literacy-based body image interventions.

PMID- 26880286
TI  - Mitral regurgitation as a phenotypic manifestation of nonphotosensitive
      trichothiodystrophy due to a splice variant in MPLKIP.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nonphotosensitive trichothiodystrophy (TTDN) is a rare autosomal
      recessive disorder of neuroectodermal origin. The condition is marked by hair
      abnormalities, intellectual impairment, nail dystrophies and susceptibility to
      infections but with no UV sensitivity. METHODS: We identified three
      consanguineous Pakistani families with varied TTDN features and used homozygosity
      mapping, linkage analysis, and Sanger and exome sequencing in order to identify
      pathogenic variants. Haplotype analysis was performed and haplotype age
      estimated. A splicing assay was used to validate the effect of the MPLKIP splice
      variant on expression. RESULTS: Affected individuals from all families exhibit
      several TTDN features along with a heart-specific feature, i.e. mitral
      regurgitation. Exome sequencing in the probands from families ED168 and ED241
      identified a homozygous splice mutation c.339 + 1G > A within MPLKIP. The same
      splice variant co-segregates with TTDN in a third family ED210. The MPLKIP splice
      variant was not found in public databases, e.g. the Exome Aggregation Consortium,
      and in unrelated Pakistani controls. Functional analysis of the splice variant
      confirmed intron retention, which leads to protein truncation and loss of a
      phosphorylation site. Haplotype analysis identified a 585.1-kb haplotype which
      includes the MPLKIP variant, supporting the existence of a founder haplotype that
      is estimated to be 25,900 years old. CONCLUSION: This study extends the allelic
      and phenotypic spectra of MPLKIP-related TTDN, to include a splice variant that
      causes cardiomyopathy as part of the TTDN phenotype.

PMID- 26880288
TI  - Secondary metabolites of seagrasses (Alismatales and Potamogetonales;
      Alismatidae): Chemical diversity, bioactivity, and ecological function.
AB  - Seagrasses are the only higher plants living in fully marine environments; they
      play a significant role in coastal ecosystems. Seagrasses inhabit the coastal
      shelves of all continents except Antarctica and can grow in depths of up to 90 m.
      Because of their eminent ecological importance, innumerous studies have been
      dedicated to seagrasses and their ecology. However, the phytochemistry has not
      been equally well investigated yet and many of the existing studies in chemical
      ecology are only investigating the chemistry at the level of compound classes,
      e.g. phenolics, and not at the level of chemically defined metabolites. In the
      present review, the existing literature on secondary metabolites of seagrasses,
      their known source seagrasses, their bioactivity, and ecological function are
      compiled and critically assessed. Moreover, research gaps are highlighted and
      avenues for future research are discussed. Currently, a total of 154 chemically
      defined natural products have been reported from the about 70 seagrass species
      known worldwide. Compounds reported include simple phenols derivatives (four
      compounds), phenylmethane derivatives (14 compounds), phenylethane derivatives
      (four compounds), phenylpropane derivatives including their esters and dimers (20
      compounds), chalkones (four compounds), flavonoids including catechins (57
      compounds), phenylheptanoids (four compounds), one monoterpene derivative, one
      sesquiterpene, diterpenoids (13 compounds), steroids (31 compounds), and one
      alkaloid. Most of the existing bioactivity studies of seagrass metabolites and
      extracts have been directed to potential cytotoxic, antimicrobial, or
      antimacrofouling activity. Antimicrobial studies have been performed towards
      panels of both human pathogens and ecologically relevant pathogens. In the
      antimacrofouling studies, investigations of the potential of zosteric acid from
      the genus Zostera are the most numerous and have yielded so far the most
      interesting results. Studies on the chemical ecology of seagrasses often have
      been focused on variation in phenolic compounds and include but are not limited
      to studies on variation due to abiotic factors, seasonal variation, variation in
      response to grazing by fish or sea urchins, or following microbial attack.

PMID- 26880287
TI  - Toxigenic profile of methicillin-sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus
      isolated from special groups.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is characterized by its pathogenicity and high
      prevalence, causing disease in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals due
      to its easy dissemination. This fact is aggravated by the widespread
      dissemination of S. aureus carrying toxigenic genes. The objective of this study
      was to determine the toxigenic profile of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA)
      and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in patients with purulent skin and/or
      soft tissue infections seen at the Dermatology Department of the University
      Hospital of the Botucatu Medical School, asymptomatic adults older than 60 years
      living in nursing homes, and prison inmates of the Avare Detention Center.
      METHODS: PCR was used for the detection of the mecA gene, enterotoxin genes (sea,
      seb, and sec), exfoliative toxins A and B (eta and etb), toxic shock syndrome
      toxin 1 (tst), panton-valentine leukocidin (lukS-PV and lukF-PV), and alpha- and
      delta-hemolysins or cytotoxins (hla and hld). RESULTS: The results showed a
      significant prevalence of toxigenic genes among S. aureus isolates from
      asymptomatic individuals, with the observation of a higher prevalence of
      cytotoxin genes. However, the panton-valentine leukocidin gene was only detected
      in MSSA isolated from patients with skin infections and the tst gene was
      exclusively found in MSSA isolated from prison inmates. CONCLUSIONS: The present
      study demonstrated a significant prevalence of toxigenic genes in MSSA and MRSA
      strains isolated from asymptomatic S. aureus carriers. There was a higher
      prevalence of cytotoxin genes.

PMID- 26880289
TI  - Identification and characterization of two bisabolene synthases from linear
      glandular trichomes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., Asteraceae).
AB  - Sunflower is known to produce a variety of bisabolene-type sesquiterpenes and
      accumulates these substances in trichomes of leaves, stems and flowering parts. A
      bioinformatics approach was used to identify the enzyme responsible for the
      initial step in the biosynthesis of these compounds from its precursor farnesyl
      pyrophosphate. Based on sequence similarity with a known bisabolene synthases
      from Arabidopsis thaliana AtTPS12, candidate genes of Helianthus were searched in
      EST-database and used to design specific primers. PCR experiments identified two
      candidates in the RNA pool of linear glandular trichomes of sunflower. Their
      sequences contained the typical motifs of sesquiterpene synthases and their
      expression in yeast functionally characterized them as bisabolene synthases.
      Spectroscopic analysis identified the stereochemistry of the product of both
      enzymes as (Z)-gamma-bisabolene. The origin of the two sunflower bisabolene
      synthase genes from the transcripts of linear trichomes indicates that they may
      be involved in the synthesis of sesquiterpenes produced in these trichomes.
      Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the sunflower bisabolene synthases
      showed high similarity with sesquiterpene synthases from other Asteracean species
      and indicated putative evolutionary origin from a beta-farnesene synthase. 

PMID- 26880290
TI  - Prenylated phenyl polyketides and acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum
      peplidifolium.
AB  - In search for new or chemo-taxonomically relevant bioactive compounds from
      chemically unexplored Hypericum species, four previously undescribed natural
      products, named peplidiforones A-D were isolated and characterized from Hypericum
      peplidifolium A. Rich., together with six known compounds. The structures of all
      compounds were elucidated by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, high
      resolution mass spectrometric analyses (HR-MS), and by comparison with data
      reported in the literature. Seven of these compounds are phenyl polyketides while
      three are acylphloroglucinol type compounds. Peplidiforone C, which possesses an
      unusual carbon skeleton consisting of a furan ring substituted by a 2,2
      dimethylbut-3-enoyl moiety, is the first example of a prenylated furan derivative
      isolated from the genus Hypericum. The cytotoxicity, antifungal, and anti-herpes
      simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activities of extracts and compounds are described. 

PMID- 26880292
TI  - Kawasaki disease and cardiovascular risk: a comprehensive review of subclinical
      vascular changes in the longer term.
AB  - Studies of subclinical vascular changes post-Kawasaki disease indicate that, in
      general, individuals with a history of coronary artery aneurysms have increased
      carotid intima-media thickness, evidence of endothelial dysfunction, and
      increased arterial stiffness, possibly indicative of heightened cardiovascular
      risk. The results are less consistent for low-risk groups. CONCLUSION: Until data
      are available from larger prospective studies, it is prudent to advise families
      of individuals with a history of Kawasaki disease to minimise traditional
      modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.

PMID- 26880293
TI  - Solvent-Dependent Structure of Iridium Dihydride Complexes: Different Geometries
      at Low and High Dielectricity of the Medium.
AB  - The hydride iridium pincer complex [(PCyP)IrH2] (PCyP=cis-1,3-bis[(di-tert
      butylphosphino)methyl]cyclohexane, 1) reveals remarkably solvent-dependent
      hydride chemical shifts, isotope chemical shifts, JHD and T1(min), with rHH
      increasing upon moving to more polar medium. The only known example of such
      behaviour (complex [(POCOP)IrH2], POCOP=2,6-(tBu2PO)2C6H3) was explained by the
      coordination of a polar solvent molecule to the iridium (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006,
      128, 17114). Based on the existence of an agostic bond between alpha-C-H and
      iridium in 1 in all solvents, we argue that the coordination of solvent can be
      rejected. DFT calculations revealed that the structures of 1 and [(POCOP)IrH2]
      depend on the dielectric permittivity of the medium and these compounds adopt
      trigonal-bipyramidal geometries in non-polar media and square-pyramidal
      geometries in polar media.

PMID- 26880294
TI  - Primary upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: Clinical characteristics and
      outcome according to the presence of thoracic outlet syndrome.

PMID- 26880295
TI  - Heterogeneity of the prognostic significance of B-type natriuretic peptide levels
      on admission in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure syndromes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that variation in baseline characteristics of
      patients with acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) affects the prognostic
      significance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels because of heterogeneity
      of this patient population. We evaluated the association of elevated BNP levels
      on admission with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes in subgroups of
      patients hospitalized for AHFS. METHODS: This study included patients from the
      acute decompensated heart failure syndromes (ATTEND) study, a multicenter
      prospective cohort of 4501 AHFS patients with BNP data on admission. RESULTS: The
      geometric mean BNP level was 654.9pg/mL (95% confidence interval: 636.1-674.2),
      and the optimal cut-off value for all-cause death was 1157pg/mL. All-cause
      mortality after admission was significantly higher in patients with high BNP
      levels (>1157pg/mL) than in those with low BNP levels (<=1157pg/mL) (median
      follow-up: 508days, log-rank P<0.001). Subgroup analyses were performed to
      evaluate the heterogeneity of the prognostic significance of BNP levels. The
      effect of high BNP levels on the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly
      greater in the subgroup of patients with a non-hypertensive etiology, low
      creatinine levels (<1.3mg/dL), and high sodium levels (>=135mEq/L) than in those
      without these factors (P=0.024, P<0.001, and P<0.001 for the interaction,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis shows that underlying etiology
      of heart failure (i.e., hypertensive), renal function, and sodium levels should
      be considered for assessing the clinical significance of elevated BNP levels on
      admission in relation to the risk of adverse outcome after hospitalization for
      AHFS.

PMID- 26880296
TI  - Where do people live longer and shorter lives? An ecological study of old-age
      survival across 4404 small areas from 18 European countries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Further increases in life expectancy in high-income countries depend
      to a large extent on advances in old-age survival. We aimed to characterise the
      spatial distribution of old-age survival across small areas of Europe, and to
      identify areas with significantly high or low survivorship. METHODS: This study
      incorporated 4404 small areas from 18 European countries. We used a 10-year
      survival rate to express the proportion of population aged 75-84 years who
      reached 85-94 years of age (beyond average life expectancy). This metric was
      calculated for each gender using decennial census data (1991, 2001 and 2011) at
      small geographical areas. To address problems associated with small areas, rates
      were smoothed using a Bayesian spatial model. Excursion sets were defined to
      identify areas with significantly high (>95th centile) and low (<5th) survival.
      RESULTS: In 2011, on average, 47.1% (range: 22.5-71.5) of the female population
      aged 75-84 years had reached 85-94 years of age, compared to 34.2% (16.4-49.6) of
      the males. These figures, however, hide important and time-persistent spatial
      inequalities. Higher survival rates were concentrated in northern Spain, Andorra
      and northeastern Italy, and in the south and west of France. Lower survival was
      found in parts of the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands, and in some areas of
      southern Europe. Within these regions, we detected areas with significantly high
      and low old-age survival. CONCLUSIONS: Clear and persistent spatial inequalities
      in old-age survival exist, suggesting that European social unity is still to be
      accomplished. These inequalities could arise from a myriad of population health
      determinants (eg, poverty, unhealthy lifestyles), which merit further study.

PMID- 26880297
TI  - Facile synthesis of flexible macroporous polypropylene sponges for separation of
      oil and water.
AB  - Oil spill disasters always occur accidentally, accompanied by the release of
      plenty of crude oil that could spread quickly over a wide area, creating enormous
      damage to the fragile marine ecological system. Therefore, the facile large-scale
      synthesis of hydrophobic three-dimensional (3-D) porous sorbents from low cost
      raw materials is in urgent demand. In this study, we report the facile template
      free synthesis of polypropylene (PP) sponge by using a thermally-induced phase
      separation (TIPS) technique. The obtained sponge showed macroporous structure,
      excellent mechanical property, high hydrophobicity, and superoleophilicity. Oil
      could be separated from an oil/water mixture by simple immersing the sponge into
      the mixture and subsequent squeezing the sponge. All of these features make this
      sponge the most promising oil sorbent that will replace commercial non-woven PP
      fabrics. 

PMID- 26880299
TI  - Predictive value of PI-RADS classification in MRI-directed transrectal ultrasound
      guided prostate biopsy.
AB  - AIM: To correlate the results of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided targeted
      prostate biopsies (performed in the setting of at least one previous negative
      biopsy) with the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS). MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients (mean age 64 years, range 52-76 years), with
      previous negative prostate biopsy underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      directed TRUS-guided targeted and sectoral biopsy. A retrospective review of MRI
      examinations was carried out, blinded to biopsy results. PI-RADS scores (T2,
      diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI] and overall) were assigned on a per lesion
      basis, and localised to sextants. The scores were correlated with biopsy results,
      and the positive predictive values (PPV) of PIRADS scores for positive biopsies
      were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, biopsies were positive in 23/52 (44.2%)
      patients. Eighty-one areas were targeted in 52 patients. On a per lesion basis,
      there was significant correlation between positive targeted biopsy and both T2
      and overall PI-RADS score (p<0.001). The correlation between biopsy and DWI score
      was significant for peripheral zone tumours only, not for transitional zone
      tumours. The PPV of overall PI-RADS scores of 3, 4, and 5 were 10.6%, 44%, and
      100%, respectively. The PPV of T2 PI-RADS scores of 3, 4, and 5 were 19.6%, 60%,
      and 100%, respectively. The PPV of DWI PI-RADS scores of 3, 4, and 5 were 50%,
      27.3%, and 33%, respectively. When transitional tumours were excluded, the PPV of
      DWI PI-RADS 3, 4, and 5 were 40%, 43%, and 78%. CONCLUSION: The PIRADS score
      provides an effective framework for determining the likelihood of prostate cancer
      on MRI. The DWI PI-RADS score correlates well with the presence of peripheral
      zone tumour on targeted biopsy, but not with transitional zone tumours.

PMID- 26880298
TI  - Timing of excision after a non-severe burn has a significant impact on the
      subsequent immune response in a murine model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Burn excision has emerged as the dominant clinical paradigm in
      treatment of deep burns. Surgical intervention is common but the timing of wound
      excision is a balance between wound depth assessment, avoidance of infection and
      unnecessary intervention. However the physiological impact of timing of excision
      and consequences for the immune response are not well understood. METHODS: Mice
      were subject to full-thickness burn (<8% TBSA) followed by early (day 1) or late
      (day 8) surgical excision. Draining lymph nodes, wound tissue and sera were
      collected longitudinally at day 2 and day 6 after excision and analyzed for
      cytokine, dendritic cell and T cell profiles using FACS and multiplex ELISA
      assays. RESULTS: Delayed excision after injury initiated acute and severe
      inflammatory responses, with high levels of inflammatory cytokines, increased
      chemokine responses, and elevated Th2 promoting cytokines compared to early
      excision. Cellular inflammation in the wound was exacerbated with elevated
      neutrophils, eosinophil and monocytes. Wound cellular innate immune response
      decreased after late excision with a loss of inflammatory dendritic cells (DC),
      decreased NKT cells, and inhibition of NK cell activation. Systemically late
      excision increased trafficking conventional CD8alpha(-) DC to the lymph node, but
      there was no apparent DC activation. This was reflected in the induction of CD4T
      regulatory (Treg) cells and suppression of CD8T cell proliferation after late
      excision. No suppression was observed with early excision. CONCLUSION: This data
      suggests early excision of the wound, during the phase of immune down-regulation
      initiated by the burn, maintains an innate and adaptive immune cell response. In
      contrast, late wound excision induced a severe inflammatory response, with
      subsequent down-regulation of innate and adaptive immune cell responses.
      Therefore timing of excision is critical in affecting the immune response to
      burn.

PMID- 26880300
TI  - An advanced bioinformatics approach for analyzing RNA-seq data reveals sigma H
      dependent regulation of competence genes in Listeria monocytogenes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alternative sigma factors are important transcriptional regulators in
      bacteria. While sigma(B) has been shown to control a large regulon and play
      important roles in stress response and virulence in the pathogen Listeria
      monocytogenes, the function of sigma(H) has not yet been well defined in
      Listeria, even though sigma(H) controls a large regulon in the closely related
      non-pathogenic Bacillus subtilis. RESULTS: Using RNA-seq characterization of a L.
      monocytogenes strain with deletions of all 4 genes encoding alternative sigma
      factors (DeltaBCHL), which was further modified to overexpress sigH (DeltaBCHL::P
      rha -sigH), we identified 6 transcription units (TUs) that are transcribed from
      sigma(H)-dependent promoters. Five of these TUs had not been previously
      identified. Identification of these promoters was facilitated by use of a bio
      informatics approach that compared normalized RNA-seq coverage (NRC), between
      DeltaBCHL::P rha -sigH and a DeltaBCHL control, using sliding windows of 51 nt
      along the whole genome rather than comparing NRC calculated only for whole genes.
      Interestingly, we found that three operons that encode competence genes
      (comGABCDEFG, comEABC, coiA) are transcribed from sigma(H)-dependent promoters.
      While these promoters were highly conserved in L. monocytogenes, none of them
      were found in all Listeria spp. and coiA and its sigma(H)-dependent promoter were
      only found in L. monocytogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that a number of
      L. monocytogenes competence genes are regulated by sigma(H). This sigma(H)
      dependent regulation of competence related genes is conserved in the pathogen L.
      monocytogenes, but not in other non-pathogenic Listeria strains. Combined with
      prior data that indicated a role of sigma(H) in virulence in a mouse model, this
      suggests a possible novel role of sigma(H)-dependent competence genes in L.
      monocytogenes virulence. Development and implementation of a sliding window
      approach to identify differential transcription using RNA-seq data, not only
      allowed for identification of sigma(H)-dependent promoters, but also provides a
      general approach for sensitive identification of differentially transcribed
      promoters and genes, particularly for genes that are transcribed from multiple
      promoter elements only some of which show differential transcription.

PMID- 26880301
TI  - Genetic dissection of plant architecture and yield-related traits in Brassica
      napus.
AB  - An optimized plant architecture (PA) is fundamental for high-yield breeding but
      the genetic control of the important trait is largely unknown in rapeseed. Here
      plant architecture factors (PAFs) were proposed to consist of main inflorescence
      length proportion (MILP), branch height proportion (BHP), and branch segment
      proportion (BSP). Comparison of different genotypes in a DH population grown in
      diverse environments showed that an optimized PAF performance with MILP and BHP
      between 0.3-0.4 was important for high yield potential. In total, 163 unique
      quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PA- and plant yield (PY)-related traits were
      mapped onto a high-density genetic map. Furthermore, 190 PA-related candidate
      genes for 91 unique PA QTLs and 2350 PY epistatic interaction loci-pairs were
      identified, which explain 2.8-51.8% and 5.2-23.6% of phenotypic variation,
      respectively. Three gene categories, transcription factor, auxin/IAA, and
      gibberellin, comprise the largest proportions of candidate genes for PA-related
      QTLs. The effectiveness of QTL candidate genes prediction was demonstrated by
      cloning of three candidate genes, Bna.A02.CLV2, Bna.A09.SLY2, and Bna.C07.AHK4.
      The study thus outlines a gene network for control of PA-related traits and
      provides novel information for understanding the establishment of ideal PA and
      for developing effective breeding strategies for yield improvement in rapeseed
      and other crops. 

PMID- 26880302
TI  - Atherogenicity of postprandial hyperglycemia and lipotoxicity.
AB  - Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a gradual decline in insulin secretion in
      response to nutrient loads; hence, it is primarily a disorder of postprandial
      glucose regulation. However, physicians continue to rely on fasting plasma
      glucose and glycated hemoglobin to guide management. There is a linear
      relationship between the risk of cardiovascular death and the 2-h oral glucose
      tolerance test, while a study confirms postprandial hyperglycemia as independent
      risk factor for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. At the same time,
      several studies show that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia may also be a
      cardiovascular risk factor. Interestingly, the simultaneous presence of
      postprandial hyperglycemia and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia has an additive
      effect in worsening endothelial function and inflammation. Evidence supports the
      hypothesis glucose postprandial hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia may favor
      the appearance of the cardiovascular disease through the generation of an
      oxidative stress. Furthermore, clinical data suggest that postprandial
      hyperglycemia is a common phenomenon even in patients who may be considered in
      "good metabolic control". Therefore, physicians should consider monitoring and
      targeting postprandial plasma glucose, as well as glycated hemoglobin and fasting
      plasma glucose, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26880304
TI  - 2-Methoxyestradiol prevents monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cells via
      downregulation of VCAM-1 expression.
AB  - 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) reduces atherosclerotic lesion formation. However, the
      underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this work, we investigated the
      effect of 2-ME on monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cells.
      Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) greatly increased the attachment of monocyte onto
      cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), which was inhibited
      by 2-ME in a dose- and time-dependent manner, or by the vascular cell adhesion
      protein-1 (VCAM-1) neutralizing antibody, suggesting that a functional
      releationship between 2-ME and VCAM-1 may exist. In accordance with this,
      treatment with 2-ME (10(-)(7)-10(-)(5) M) for 6-48 h downregulated VCAM-1 protein
      expression. Meanwhile, the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 subunit activity
      and its nuclear translocation was inhibited by 2-ME in HUVECs. The PI3K inhibitor
      wortmannin or the specific Akt siRNA both inhibited the effects of 2-ME,
      suggesting that 2-ME inhibited p65 activity via PI3K/Akt signaling. In
      conclusion, 2-ME inhibits VCAM-1 expression and thus prevents monocyte adhesion
      to vascular endothelial cells via regulation of PI3K/Akt and NF-kappaB signaling.
      These findings will be helpful for better understanding the mechanisms through
      which 2-ME improves endothelial function. 

PMID- 26880305
TI  - Central Pain Following Cord Severance for Cephalosomatic Anastomosis.
AB  - One of the key obstacles to a successful head transplant is the possible onset of
      central pain, a chronic pain condition that would impair the quality of life of
      the transplantee. In this review, we provide the reader with a knowledge of this
      neglected aspect of the head transplant initiative and outline the management
      should this eventuality occur. 

PMID- 26880303
TI  - Methodological issues in human studies of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
AB  - Possible harm from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in humans is speculated
      based on two types of evidence; 1) increasing trends of suspected diseases in
      ecological studies of populations and 2) findings from traditional
      epidemiological studies of individuals. However, ecological findings are not
      regarded as direct human evidence of the relation between EDCs and disease, while
      the evidence among epidemiological studies of individuals is often inconsistent.
      Thus, a criticism is that linking EDCs and health in human is naively presumed
      without solid evidence. However, human studies of EDCs are methodologically
      complex and understanding methodological issues will help to interpret findings
      from existing human studies and to properly design optimal human studies. The key
      issues are low reliability of exposure assessment of EDCs with short half-lives,
      EDC mixtures, possibility of non-monotonic dose-response relationships, non
      existence of an unexposed group, difficulties in measuring exposure during
      critical periods, and interactions with established risk factors. Furthermore,
      EDC mixtures may affect human health through other mechanisms than traditional
      endocrine disruption, for example glutathione depletion or mitochondrial
      dysfunction. Given this complexity, the most plausible scenario in humans is that
      exposure to EDC mixtures leads to increasing risk of related diseases at the
      ecological level, but inconsistent associations would be expected in traditional
      epidemiological studies. Although epidemiologists have long relied on Bradford
      Hill's criteria to objectively evaluate whether associations observed in
      epidemiology can be interpreted as causal, there are challenges to use these
      criteria for EDCs, particularly concerning consistency across studies and the
      findings of linear dose-response relationships. At the individual level, compared
      to EDCs with short half-lives, epidemiological studies of EDCs with long half
      lives among populations with a relatively low exposure dose range of exposure can
      likely produce relatively more reliable results, because the measurement of EDCs
      with long half-lives likely represents typical long-term exposure and populations
      with exposure in the low range of doses are likely to have a reference group
      closer to non-exposure. 

PMID- 26880308
TI  - Structural analysis of ruthenium-arene complexes using ion mobility mass
      spectrometry, collision-induced dissociation, and DFT.
AB  - Ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and collision-induced dissociation (CID)
      techniques were used to investigate the influence of the phosphine ligand on the
      physicochemical properties of [RuCl2(p-cymene)(PCy3)] (), [RuCl2(p-cymene)(PPh3)]
      (), and [RuCl2(p-cymene)(PTA)] () in the gas phase (PTA is 1,3,5-triaza-7
      phosphaadamantane). Electrospray ionization of complexes and led to the
      corresponding [RuCl(p-cymene)(PR3)](+) ions via the dissociation of a chlorido
      ligand, whereas RAPTA-C () afforded two molecular ions by in-source oxidation
      ([Ru(III)Cl2(p-cymene)(PTA)](+)) or protonation ([RuCl2(p-cymene)(PTA+H)](+)).
      Control experiments showed that the balance between these two ionization paths
      was strongly influenced by the nature of the solvent used for infusion. Collision
      cross sections (CCSs) of the four molecular ions accurately reflected the
      variations of steric bulk inferred from the Tolman steric parameters (theta) of
      the phosphine ligands. Moreover, DFT calculations combined with a model based on
      the kinetic theory of gases (the trajectory method of the IMoS software) afforded
      reliable CCS predictions. The almost two times higher dipole moment of [RuCl2(p
      cymene)(PTA+H)](+) (MU = 13.75 D) compared to [Ru(III)Cl2(p-cymene)(PTA)](+) (MU
      = 7.18 D) was held responsible for increased ion-induced dipole interactions with
      a polarizable drift gas such as N2. Further experiments with He and CO2 confirmed
      that increasing the polarizability of the buffer gas improved the separation
      between the two molecular ions derived from complex . The fragmentation patterns
      of complexes were determined by CID. The sequence of collision voltages at which
      50% of a precursor ion dissociates (V50) recorded for the molecular ions derived
      from compounds was in good agreement with simple electronic considerations based
      on the donor strength of the phosphine ligand. Thus, the CCS and V50 parameters
      used to determine the shape and stability of ionic species in the gas phase are
      complementary to the Tolman steric and electronic parameters (theta and TEP)
      commonly used by organometallic chemists in condensed phases.

PMID- 26880307
TI  - Patient outcomes following second surgery for recurrent glioblastoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The most appropriate management of recurrent glioblastoma is still
      controversial. In particular, the role of surgery at recurrence remains
      uncertain. PATIENTS & METHODS: From our Institutional data warehouse we analyzed
      270 consecutive patients who received second surgery for recurrent glioblastoma,
      to assess survival after second surgery, and to evaluate prognostic factors.
      RESULTS: Complete resection was found in 128 (47.4%) and partial resection in 142
      patients (52.6%). Median survival from second surgery was 11.4 months (95% CI:
      10.0-12.7). Multivariate analysis showed that age (p = 0.001), MGMT methylation
      (p = 0.021) and extent of surgery (p < 0.001) are associated with better
      survival. CONCLUSION: A complete resection should be the goal for second
      resection and younger age and MGMT methylation status might be considered in the
      selection of patients.

PMID- 26880309
TI  - [Towards new therapeutic concepts to fight against chronic hepatitis B].

PMID- 26880306
TI  - Transferrin Receptor Controls AMPA Receptor Trafficking Efficiency and Synaptic
      Plasticity.
AB  - Transferrin receptor (TFR) is an important iron transporter regulating iron
      homeostasis and has long been used as a marker for clathrin mediated endocytosis.
      However, little is known about its additional function other than iron transport
      in the development of central nervous system (CNS). Here we demonstrate that TFR
      functions as a regulator to control AMPA receptor trafficking efficiency and
      synaptic plasticity. The conditional knockout (KO) of TFR in neural progenitor
      cells causes mice to develop progressive epileptic seizure, and dramatically
      reduces basal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP). We further
      demonstrate that TFR KO remarkably reduces the binding efficiency of GluR2 to AP2
      and subsequently decreases AMPA receptor endocytosis and recycling. Thus, our
      study reveals that TFR functions as a novel regulator to control AMPA trafficking
      efficiency and synaptic plasticity. 

PMID- 26880310
TI  - [Denosumab: Lifetime treatment of osteoporosis?].

PMID- 26880311
TI  - [Environmental medicine: Towards a COP21?].

PMID- 26880312
TI  - Clinical significance of prospectively assigned Gleason tertiary pattern 4 in
      contemporary Gleason score 3+3=6 prostate cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the oncologic impact of prospectively assigned tertiary
      pattern 4 in contemporary Gleason score (GS) 3 + 3 = 6 radical prostatectomy (RP)
      specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Oncologic outcomes were retrospectively reviewed
      for 720 consecutive patients from a single National Comprehensive Cancer Network
      (NCCN) center with at least 6 months follow-up after RP for GS3 + 3 = 6 (GS6, N =
      222), GS6 with tertiary pattern 4 (GS6t4, N = 62), or GS3 + 4 = 7 (N = 436)
      prostate cancer, as prospectively graded since 2006 using the 2005 International
      Society of Urologic Pathologists criteria. Preoperative NCCN risk category, RP
      pathology, progression-free survival (PFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS)
      were compared among the GS6, GS6t4, and GS3 + 4 = 7 groups using chi(2) , Kaplan
      Meier, and log-rank analyses. RESULTS: The incidence of low NCCN preoperative
      risk classification for GS6t4 patients (63%) was less than that for GS6 patients
      (77%) while greater than that for GS3 + 4 = 7 patients (30%, P < 0.001). GS6t4
      patients had RP pathologic features which were intermediate in risk between that
      of GS6 and GS3 + 4 = 7 based on extraprostatic extension (27% vs. 6% vs. 31%,
      respectively, P < 0.001) and mean percentage of prostate gland involvement (13%
      vs. 10% vs. 16%, respectively, P < 0.001). With a mean overall follow-up of 42
      months, PFS for GS6t4 patients (5-year 85%) was intermediate between that of GS6
      (5-year 93%) and GS3 + 4 = 7 (5-year 76%) patients (P < 0.001). The 5-year MFS
      rate was 100% for GS6 and GS6t4 patients compared to 97% for GS3 + 4 = 7 patients
      (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the longest follow-up to date for RP
      patients with prospectively assigned GS6t4 and supports a risk for adverse RP
      pathology and postoperative disease progression that is intermediate between GS6
      and GS3 + 4 = 7. Whether a tertiary pattern 4 in GS6 disease increases the risk
      of metastasis is uncertain and requires longer term study. Given favorable
      oncologic outcomes, less stringent postoperative surveillance for both GS6 and
      GS6t4 patients may be warranted.

PMID- 26880313
TI  - Polycatechol nanosheet: a superior nanocarrier for highly effective chemo
      photothermal synergistic therapy in vivo.
AB  - The integration of phototherapy and chemotherapy in a single system holds great
      promise to improve the therapeutic efficacy of tumor treatment, but it remains a
      key challenge. In this study, we describe our recent finding that polycatechol
      nanosheet (PCCNS) can be facilely prepared on a large scale via chemical
      polymerization at 4  degrees C, as an effective nanocarrier for loading high
      density CuS nanocrystals as a photothermal agent. The resulting CuS/PCCNS
      nanocomposites exhibit good biocompatibility, strong stability, and a high
      photothermal conversion efficiency of ~45.7%. The subsequent loading of
      anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) creates a superior theranostic agent with pH-
      and heat-responsive drug release, leading to almost complete destruction of mouse
      cervical tumor under NIR laser irradiation. This development offers an attractive
      theranostic agent for in vivo chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy toward
      biomedical applications. 

PMID- 26880315
TI  - Allocation of Residency Training Positions in Spain: Contextual Effects on
      Specialty Preferences.
AB  - In Spain's 'MIR' system, medical school graduates are ranked by their performance
      on a national exam and then sequentially choose from the available residency
      training positions. We took advantage of a unique survey of participants in the
      2012 annual MIR cycle to analyze preferences under two different choice
      scenarios: the residency program actually chosen by each participant when it came
      her turn (the 'real') and the program that she would have chosen if all residency
      training programs had been available (the 'counterfactual'). Utilizing
      conditional logit models with random coefficients, we found significant
      differences in medical graduates' preferences between the two scenarios,
      particularly with respect to three specialty attributes: work hours/lifestyle,
      prestige among colleagues, and annual remuneration. In the counterfactual world,
      these attributes were valued preferentially by those nearer to the top, while in
      the real world, they were valued preferentially by graduates nearer to the bottom
      of the national ranking. Medical graduates' specialty preferences, which we
      conclude, are not intrinsically stable but depend critically on the 'rules of the
      game'. The MIR assignment system, by restricting choice, effectively creates an
      externality in which those at the bottom, who have fewer choices, want what those
      at the top already have. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26880314
TI  - Tuftsin-driven experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis recovery requires
      neuropilin-1.
AB  - Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of
      demyelinating autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), which is
      characterized by central nervous system white matter lesions, microglial
      activation, and peripheral T-cell infiltration secondary to blood-brain barrier
      disruption. We have previously shown that treatment with tuftsin, a tetrapeptide
      generated from IgG proteolysis, dramatically improves disease symptoms in EAE.
      Here, we report that microglial expression of Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) is required for
      tuftsin-driven amelioration of EAE symptoms. Nrp1 ablation in microglia blocks
      microglial signaling and polarization to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, and
      ablation in either the microglia or immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs)
      reduces extended functional contacts between them and Treg activation,
      implicating a role for microglia in the activation process, and more generally,
      how immune surveillance is conducted in the CNS. Taken together, our findings
      delineate the mechanistic action of tuftsin as a candidate therapeutic against
      immune-mediated demyelinating lesions.

PMID- 26880316
TI  - Engineering Plants for Geminivirus Resistance with CRISPR/Cas9 System.
AB  - The CRISPR/Cas9 system is an efficient genome-editing platform for diverse
      eukaryotic species, including plants. Recent work harnessed CRISPR/Cas9
      technology to engineer resistance to geminiviruses. Here, we discuss
      opportunities, emerging developments, and potential pitfalls for using this
      technology to engineer resistance against single and multiple geminivirus
      infections in plants. 

PMID- 26880317
TI  - Electrical Wiring and Long-Distance Plant Communication.
AB  - Electrical signalling over long distances is an efficient way of achieving cell
      to-cell communication in living organisms. In plants, the phloem can be
      considered as a 'green cable' that allows the transmission of action potentials
      (APs) induced by stimuli such as wounding and cold. Measuring phloem potential
      changes and separating them from secondary responses of surrounding tissues can
      be achieved using living aphids as bioelectrodes. Two glutamate receptor-like
      genes (GLR3.3 and 3.6) were identified as being involved in the propagation of
      electrical activity from the damaged to undamaged leaves. However, phloem APs are
      initiated and propagated independently of these glutamate receptors. Here, we
      propose new screening approaches to obtain further information on the components
      required for electrical signalling in phloem cables.

PMID- 26880318
TI  - Participation rates of childhood cancer survivors to self-administered
      questionnaires: a systematic review.
AB  - This review aimed to assess participation rates of childhood cancer survivors
      (CCS) invited to fill out a health-related questionnaire. Additionally, effects
      of study and CCS characteristics on participation rates were examined. PubMed,
      Web of Science, Ovid (EMBASE) and CINAHL databases were searched. Publications
      included were questionnaire-based studies among CCS diagnosed with cancer before
      the age of 21, alive at least 5 years past diagnosis and aged 16 years or older
      at the time of study. Thirty-five studies were included; the median participation
      rate was 65%. Sixteen studies reported information about CCS actively declining
      participation (median rate 5%). Five study characteristics seemed to influence
      participation rates: the use of reminders and incentives, the option to answer a
      shortened questionnaire, the recruitment of participants through their general
      practitioner and a pre-notification before sending out the questionnaire.
      Furthermore, CCS characteristics related to improved participation were female
      gender, Caucasian ethnicity and a higher educational level. The results of this
      study will help to improve the (methodological) quality of future questionnaire
      based studies among CCS, thereby increasing our knowledge about late effects
      among this group of survivors.

PMID- 26880319
TI  - Addressing the needs of people with disability in Nepal: The urgent need.
AB  - Health planners and policy makers often overlook the needs of people with
      disability (PWDs) in less developed countries such as Nepal. The aftermath of
      conflict and earthquake has further escalated the need of people with disability
      in Nepal. While the country is preparing for the implementation of a national
      health sector strategy for the next five years and when the health system is
      being restructured, we believe that this is the right time to address needs of
      people with disability by strengthening the health system and operationalizing
      community based rehabilitation. Furthermore, there is a need of a standard
      database and monitoring system to regularly assess social inclusion of people
      with disability. 

PMID- 26880320
TI  - Evaluation of Inpatient Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Acceptance Rates
      With Pharmacist Education.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To detail the implementation of a pharmacist-driven education program
      targeting patients who originally declined pneumococcal or influenza vaccination
      upon hospital admission and to evaluate the results. METHODS: Patients admitted
      to a small community hospital who qualified to receive pneumococcal
      polysaccharide or influenza vaccination but declined upon admission were educated
      in person by pharmacists or pharmacy interns and reoffered vaccination. Patient
      education sheets were provided. Data were obtained via pharmacy intervention
      documentation in the pharmacy order entry system. Staff documented the outcome of
      counseling for each patient. RESULTS: A total of 214 and 83 patients receiving
      influenza and pneumococcal vaccination counseling, respectively, were evaluated.
      As a result, 23.4% ( P = .06) and 26.5% (n = 83, P = .18) of patients agreed to
      receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, respectively. An unanticipated
      subset of patients were undecided after counseling and wanted to consider the
      information further before making a final decision. Taken together with those who
      consented to receive the vaccine after counseling, 39.2% ( P = .001) and 45.8% (
      P = .01) of patients were influenced by the influenza and pneumococcal
      vaccination counseling, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patient education performed by
      a pharmacist or pharmacy intern showed a trend toward increased pneumococcal and
      influenza vaccination acceptance rates for inpatients who had initially declined.

PMID- 26880321
TI  - Is Intimate Partner and Client Violence Associated with Condomless Anal
      Intercourse and HIV Among Male Sex Workers in Lima, Peru?
AB  - Violence experience can increase HIV risk behaviors; however, literature is
      scarce on violence among male sex workers (MSWs) globally. In 2014, 210 Peruvian
      MSWs (median age 24.9) were interviewed about their experience of physical,
      emotional, and sexual violence and condom use with non-paying intimate partners
      and clients and were tested for HIV. Multivariable models examined relationships
      between violence in the past 6 months, condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) in the
      past 3 months and HIV infection. HIV infection (24 %), CLAI (43 %), being a
      violence victim (42 %) and perpetrator (39 %) were common. In separate
      multivariable models, being a violence victim [adjusted prevalence ratio aPR =
      1.49 (95 % CI 1.09-2.03)] and perpetrator [aPR = 1.39 (1.03-1.87)] were
      associated with CLAI. Further, being a victim [aPR = 1.65 (1.04-2.62)] was
      associated with HIV infection. Violence, which was significantly associated with
      CLAI and HIV infection, is common among Peruvian MSWs, reinforcing the importance
      of violence awareness and prevention as HIV risk-reduction strategies.

PMID- 26880325
TI  - Ciliary transcription factors in cancer--how understanding ciliogenesis can
      promote the detection and prognosis of cancer types.
AB  - Cilia play a plethora of roles in normal development and homeostasis as well as
      in disease. Their involvement in cell signalling processes and ability to inhibit
      cell cycle progression make them especially interesting subjects of investigation
      in the context of tumour formation and malignancy. Several key transcription
      factors regulate the transcriptional programme in cilia formation and some of
      these, eg RFX factors and FOXJ1, are implicated in cancer formation. Furthermore,
      RFX factors and FOXJ1 are increasingly being explored for their potential as
      markers to diagnose, classify and predict the outcome of cancers in patients,
      including recent work published in this journal on aggressive ependymoma and
      choroid plexus tumours. Here, some of the key findings and concepts on the roles
      of ciliary transcription factors in tumourigenesis are highlighted, and a brief
      perspective is given on how the investigation of ciliogenesis could contribute
      valuable tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers.

PMID- 26880324
TI  - Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease:
      Comparison of clinical and anatomic-pathophysiologic classification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Between 5% and 10% of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD)
      develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-CHD). Patients can be classified
      using either a clinical or anatomic-pathophysiologic system. No study has
      previously utilized both systems in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Two
      hundred forty consecutive PAH-CHD patients diagnosed at a pulmonary hypertension
      referral center during 1995 to 2014 were identified from our unit database.
      Baseline characteristics, treatment and survival data were retrieved and survival
      analyses was performed. RESULTS: Both systems identified clear differences in
      baseline characteristics between subgroups. The anatomic-pathophysiologic system
      identified patients with post-tricuspid defects as having superior survival from
      point of referral to those with pre-tricuspid or complex defects (p < 0.05).
      Survival from point of referral was, however, not significantly different when
      patients were grouped using the clinical classification, although survival in all
      4 groups was superior to that of 175 patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial
      hypertension. Older age and higher creatinine, lower transfer factor of the lung
      for DLCO percent predicted and FEV1 percent predicted were independent adverse
      prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Both PAH-CHD classification systems identified
      groups of patients distinct in terms of baseline characteristics. In our cohort,
      however, only the anatomic-pathophysiologic classification identified
      significantly different survival from point of referral. The presence of adverse
      prognostic markers may be useful in identifying patients requiring more
      aggressive pulmonary vascular therapy.

PMID- 26880322
TI  - Comparing Perceptions with Actual Reports of Close Friend's HIV Testing Behavior
      Among Urban Tanzanian Men.
AB  - Men have lower rates of HIV testing and higher rates of AIDS-related mortality
      compared to women in sub-Saharan Africa. To assess whether there is an
      opportunity to increase men's uptake of testing by correcting misperceptions
      about testing norms, we compare men's perceptions of their closest friend's HIV
      testing behaviors with the friend's actual testing self-report using a unique
      dataset of men sampled within their social networks (n = 59) in Dar es Salaam,
      Tanzania. We examine the accuracy and bias of perceptions among men who have
      tested for HIV (n = 391) and compare them to the perceptions among men who never
      tested (n = 432). We found that testers and non-testers did not differ in the
      accuracy of their perceptions, though non-testers were strongly biased towards
      assuming that their closest friends had not tested. Our results lend support to
      social norms approaches designed to correct the biased misperceptions of non
      testers to promote men's HIV testing.

PMID- 26880327
TI  - No association between fish consumption and risk of stroke in the Spanish cohort
      of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain):
      a 13.8-year follow-up study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the associations between lean fish, fatty fish
      and total fish intakes and risk of stroke in the Spanish cohort of the European
      Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain). DESIGN: Fish
      intake was estimated from a validated dietary questionnaire. Cox proportional
      hazards regression models were used to assess the association between the intakes
      of lean fish, fatty fish and total fish and stroke risk. Models were run
      separately for men and women. SETTING: Five Spanish regions (Asturias, San
      Sebastian, Navarra, Granada and Murcia). SUBJECTS: Individuals (n 41 020; 15 490
      men and 25 530 women) aged 20-69 years, recruited from 1992 to 1996 and followed
      up until December 2008 (December 2006 in the case of Asturias). Only participants
      with definite incident stroke were considered as cases. RESULTS: During a mean
      follow-up of 13.8 years, 674 strokes were identified and subsequently validated
      by record linkage with hospital discharge databases, primary-care records and
      regional mortality registries, comprising 531 ischaemic, seventy-nine
      haemorrhagic, forty-two subarachnoid and twenty-two unspecific strokes. After
      multiple adjustments, no significant associations were observed between lean
      fish, fatty fish and total fish consumption and the risk of stroke in men or
      women. In men, results revealed a non-significant trend towards an inverse
      association between lean fish (hazard ratio=0.84; 95 % CI 0.55, 1.29, P
      trend=0.06) and total fish consumption (hazard ratio=0.77; 95 % CI 0.51, 1.16, P
      trend=0.06) and risk of total stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In the EPIC-Spain cohort, no
      association was found between lean fish, fatty fish and total fish consumption
      and risk of stroke.

PMID- 26880326
TI  - APOBEC3B is an enzymatic source of molecular alterations in esophageal squamous
      cell carcinoma.
AB  - APOBEC3B belongs to the cytidine deaminase apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme
      catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3) family of enzymes and induces C to T
      transitions of target DNA by cytidine deamination. Recently, several mutations in
      various cancers have been linked to APOBEC3B, suggesting a crucial role for this
      protein in carcinogenesis and cancer development. However, the significance of
      APOBEC3B in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains uncertain. In
      addition, the APOBEC3B immunoreactivity in cancer tissues is uncertain. Recently,
      we have demonstrated that PIK3CA mutation and the methylation level of long
      interspersed nucleotide element 1 (LINE-1) (a surrogate marker of global DNA
      methylation level) are prognostic markers and have crucial role on malignancy in
      ESCC patients. This study aims to clarify the impact of APOBEC3B on the clinical,
      pathological, and molecular features of ESCC. We evaluated APOBEC3B expression in
      ESCC and investigated the relationships among the immunoreactivity of APOBEC3B,
      clinical and pathological features, and the molecular features of ESCC (PIK3CA
      mutation, p53 expression, and LINE-1 methylation level). The immunoreactivity and
      mRNA level of APOBEC3B were significantly higher in cancer tissues than in
      noncancerous esophageal mucosae (P = 0.050). APOBEC3B expression was
      significantly correlated with PIK3CA mutation (P = 0.013), particularly with C to
      T transitions of PIK3CA (P = 0.041). Moreover, a high expression of APOBEC3B was
      significantly associated with LINE-1 hypomethylation (P = 0.027). Given the
      crucial roles of PIK3CA mutation and LINE-1 methylation levels, our findings
      might provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of ESCC tumorigenesis
      and progression. 

PMID- 26880328
TI  - Clinical Outcomes and Costs Within 90 Days of Primary or Revision Total Joint
      Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the factors and costs associated with discharge
      destination and readmission, within 90 days of surgery, for primary or revision
      total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: This
      retrospective database analysis used health care claims from the Truven
      MarketScan Database (2009-2013). Patients were selected if aged >=18 years, with
      continuous health plan enrollment from 3-month baseline through 3-month follow
      up. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze
      factors associated with discharge destination and risk of readmission. Total 90
      day costs were calculated for different patient pathways of care, dependent on
      complications, discharge destination, and readmission status. RESULTS: A total of
      323,803 primary TKA, 25,354 revision TKA, 159,390 primary THA, and 17,934
      revision THA cases met selection criteria. All-cause complications occurred in
      2.5%, 37.2%, 2.6%, and 35.0% of each cohort. Complications, transfusions, and
      length of stay >=3 days were associated with greater odds of discharge to home
      with home health services or skilled nursing facility (SNF) vs home under self
      care (P < .001 all cohorts), whereas discharge to home with home health services
      or SNF was associated with greater risk of readmission (P < .05 for all cohorts
      except one). The ratio of total 90-day costs for the highest- (revision, SNF,
      readmission) vs lowest-cost (primary, home under self-care, no readmission) care
      pathways ranged from 1.8 to 2.2. CONCLUSION: As Medicare payment policy for total
      joint arthroplasty shifts toward bundling, an awareness of factors associated
      with outlier costs will be requisite to remain profitable.

PMID- 26880329
TI  - Systemic Metal Ion Levels in Patients With Modular-Neck Stems: A Prospective
      Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent registry data reveal that modular-neck hip prostheses are
      associated with increased revision rates compared to fixed-neck stems. Poor
      implant survival has been associated to corrosion at the neck-stem junction,
      inducing metal ion release and subsequently adverse local tissue reactions. Data
      on metal ion release on the neck-stem junction of such stems are scarce. The
      purpose of this study was to evaluate corrosion at this interface by determining
      metal ion release. METHODS: Serum and whole blood metal ion levels of 40 patients
      after 1 year of implantation of a modular-neck stem (titanium stem and cobalt
      chromium neck) were compared with 10 patients with a monobloc version of the stem
      (all titanium) and 10 patients having no implant at all. RESULTS: Seven of 40
      patients (18%) with a modular-neck stem had cobalt or chromium concentrations >2
      MUg/L. These patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging using metal artifact
      reduction sequences, which revealed a pseudotumor in 1 patient. CONCLUSION:
      Corrosion at the neck-stem junction of modular-neck stems is a reported
      phenomenon, which is in part reflected by elevated systemic ion levels. The use
      of such implants should be restricted to a minimum, and screening algorithms of
      patients with such implants must be developed.

PMID- 26880330
TI  - A Rhodium-Pentane Sigma-Alkane Complex: Characterization in the Solid State by
      Experimental and Computational Techniques.
AB  - The pentane sigma-complex [Rh{Cy2 P(CH2 CH2 )PCy2 }(eta(2) :eta(2) -C5 H12
      )][BAr(F) 4 ] is synthesized by a solid/gas single-crystal to single-crystal
      transformation by addition of H2 to a precursor 1,3-pentadiene complex.
      Characterization by low temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction (150 K) and
      SSNMR spectroscopy (158 K) reveals coordination through two Rh???H-C interactions
      in the 2,4-positions of the linear alkane. Periodic DFT calculations and
      molecular dynamics on the structure in the solid state provide insight into the
      experimentally observed Rh???H-C interaction, the extended environment in the
      crystal lattice and a temperature-dependent pentane rearrangement implicated by
      the SSNMR data. 

PMID- 26880331
TI  - Contraceptive practices of women with epilepsy: Findings of the epilepsy birth
      control registry.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the contraceptive practices of women with epilepsy (WWE) in
      the community, predictors of highly effective contraception use, and reasons WWE
      provide for the selection of a particular method. METHODS: These cross-sectional
      data come from the Epilepsy Birth Control Registry (EBCR) web-based survey
      regarding the contraceptive practices of 1,144 WWE in the community, ages 18-47
      years. We report demographic, epilepsy, and antiepileptic drug (AED)
      characteristics as well as contraceptive use. We determined the frequency of use
      of highly effective contraception use, that is, methods with failure rate
      <10%/year, and conducted binary logistic regression analysis to determine
      predictors of highly effective contraception use. We report frequencies of WWE
      who consult various health care providers regarding the selection of a method and
      the reasons cited for selection. RESULTS: Of the 796 WWE at risk of unintended
      pregnancy, 69.7% use what is generally considered to be highly effective
      contraception (hormonal, intrauterine device [IUD], tubal, vasectomy). Efficacy
      in WWE, especially for the 46.6% who use hormonal contraception, remains to be
      proven. Significant predictors of highly effective contraception use are
      insurance (insured 71.6% vs. noninsured 56.0%), race/ethnicity (Caucasian 71.3%
      vs. minority 51.0%), and age (38-47, 77.5%; 28-37, 71.8%; 18-27, 67.0%). Of the
      87.2% who have a neurologist, only 25.4% consult them regarding selection of a
      method, although AED interaction is cited as the top reason for selection.
      SIGNIFICANCE: The EBCR web-based survey is the first large-scale study of the
      contraceptive practices of WWE in the community. The findings suggest a need for
      the development of evidence-based guidelines that address the efficacy and safety
      of contraceptive methods in this special population, and for greater discourse
      between neurologists and WWE regarding contraception.

PMID- 26880332
TI  - Person-centered older military veteran care when there are consequences.
AB  - The consequences of each war present themselves in many ways and differently
      within a veteran's lifetime. For civilian nurses to give applicable, vital care
      to the older veteran, they need to deeply appreciate the military culture, the
      strength of the ethos, as well as the various health concerns connected with the
      individual war/conflict. Attentiveness to the evolving health issues of older
      veterans are a priority at a time when many personal developmental changes are
      also creating life stressors for the Vietnam veterans and they are often
      presenting to civilian health facilities for their care. This article explores
      the controversial war within Vietnam (1955-1973), and the use of the universal
      question of "Have you ever served in the military?" An incremental veteran health
      assessment is discussed in order to care for the specific, prior-era
      physical/behavioral issues of post-traumatic stress disorder, Agent Orange,
      military sexual trauma, hepatitis C, and homelessness that are discussed for
      these men and women veterans, along with a rationale for their long-term
      presence, which is still evident today. Other relevant nursing interventions for
      veterans are suggested such as reminiscing, and art/animal-assisted therapy to
      supplement their medical care.

PMID- 26880333
TI  - The Densely O-Glycosylated MUC2 Mucin Protects the Intestine and Provides Food
      for the Commensal Bacteria.
AB  - All mucins are highly O-glycosylated by variable glycans depending on species,
      histoblood group and organ. This makes the intestinal main mucin MUC2 non
      degradable by the host digestive system but well by both commensal and pathogenic
      bacteria. The MUC2 glycans are important for selection of the commensal bacteria
      and act as a nutritional source for the bacteria; this also helps the host to
      recover some of the energy spent on constantly renewing the protective mucus
      layer. Glycosylation is the most diverse and common posttranslational
      modification of cell surfaces and secreted proteins. N-Glycosylation is most well
      studied and predictable, whereas O-glycosylation is more diverse and less well
      understood. O-Glycosylation is also often called mucin-type glycosylation as it
      is typical for mucins that often have more than 80% of the mass as O-glycans.
      This review will discuss the mucin-type O-glycosylation and especially the O
      glycosylation of human and mice intestinal mucin MUC2 in relation to bacteria and
      disease.

PMID- 26880334
TI  - High-Resolution Mapping of the Folding Transition State of a WW Domain.
AB  - Fast-folding WW domains are among the best-characterized systems for comparing
      experiments and simulations of protein folding. Recent microsecond-resolution
      experiments and long duration (totaling milliseconds) single-trajectory modeling
      have shown that even mechanistic changes in folding kinetics due to mutation can
      now be analyzed. Thus, a comprehensive set of experimental data would be helpful
      to benchmark the predictions made by simulations. Here, we use T-jump relaxation
      in conjunction with protein engineering and report mutational Phi-values (Phi(M))
      as indicators for folding transition-state structure of 65 side chain, 7 backbone
      hydrogen bond, and 6 deletion and /or insertion mutants within loop 1 of the 34
      residue hPin1 WW domain. Forty-five cross-validated consensus mutants could be
      identified that provide structural constraints for transition-state structure
      within all substructures of the WW domain fold (hydrophobic core, loop 1, loop 2,
      beta-sheet). We probe the robustness of the two hydrophobic clusters in the
      folding transition state, discuss how local backbone disorder in the native-state
      can lead to non-classical Phi(M)-values (Phi(M) > 1) in the rate-determining loop
      1 substructure, and conclusively identify mutations and positions along the
      sequence that perturb the folding mechanism from loop 1-limited toward loop 2
      limited folding.

PMID- 26880336
TI  - Modulation of helix stability of indolocarbazole-pyridine hybrid foldamers.
AB  - Through variation of the central pyridine in an indolocarbazole-pyridine hybrid
      foldamer, the kinetic stabilities of helical conformations were determined and
      compared based on the inter-conversion rates of P and M helical isomers. 

PMID- 26880337
TI  - Current and future economic burden of diabetes among working-age adults in Asia:
      conservative estimates for Singapore from 2010-2050.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diabetes not only imposes a huge health burden but also a large
      economic burden worldwide. In the working-age population, cost of lost
      productivity can far exceed diabetes-related medical cost. In this study, we
      aimed to estimate the current and future indirect and excess direct costs of
      diagnosed type 2 diabetes among the working-age population in Singapore. METHODS:
      A previously-published epidemiological model of diabetes was adapted to forecast
      prevalence among working-age patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes in the
      absence of interventions. The current methodology of the American Diabetes
      Association was adopted to estimate the costs of diabetes for this population.
      Diabetes-related excess direct medical costs were obtained from a local cost
      study while indirect costs were calculated using the human capital approach
      applied to local labor force statistics. These cost were estimated conservatively
      from a societal perspective on a per patient basis and projected to the overall
      Singapore population from 2010 to 2050. RESULTS: In 2010, total economic costs
      per working-age patient were estimated to be US$5,646 (US$4,432-US$10,612), of
      which 42% were excess direct medical costs and 58% indirect productivity-related
      losses. Total cost is projected to rise to US$7,791 (US$5,741-US$12,756) in 2050,
      with the share of indirect costs rising to 65%. Simultaneous increases in
      prevalence imply that the total economic costs of diabetes for the entire working
      age population will increase by 2.4 fold from US$787 million in 2010 to US$1,867
      million in 2050. CONCLUSIONS: By current projections, diabetes in Singapore
      represents a growing economic burden. Among the working-age population, the
      impact of productivity loss will become increasingly significant. Prevention
      efforts to reduce overall prevalence should also engage stakeholders outside the
      health sector who ultimately bear the indirect burden of disease.

PMID- 26880338
TI  - Chaetomium atrobrunneum and Aspergillus fumigatus in multiple tracheal aspirates:
      Copathogens or symbiosis.
AB  - Chaetomium atrobrunneum has never been reported to be associated with pneumonia.
      We report the isolation of C. atrobrunneum and Aspergillus fumigatus from a
      Chinese elderly patient with fatal pneumonia. Branched, long, and septate hyphae
      were observed in potassium hydroxide preparations and Gram-stained smears, and
      confluent C. atrobrunneum growth and a few A. fumigatus colonies were found in
      tracheal aspirates (nine separate occasions). These isolates were identified by
      conventional morphological methods and by sequencing the internal transcribed
      spacer and the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene. The patient responded poorly to
      the combination therapy of amphotericin B and caspofungin. This report adds C.
      atrobrunneum to the list of fungal pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. This
      case report also illustrated the presence of a growth symbiosis between
      Chaetomium species and A. fumigatus. 

PMID- 26880339
TI  - Lazy workers are necessary for long-term sustainability in insect societies.
AB  - Optimality theory predicts the maximization of productivity in social insect
      colonies, but many inactive workers are found in ant colonies. Indeed, the low
      short-term productivity of ant colonies is often the consequence of high
      variation among workers in the threshold to respond to task-related stimuli. Why
      is such an inefficient strategy among colonies maintained by natural selection?
      Here, we show that inactive workers are necessary for the long-term
      sustainability of a colony. Our simulation shows that colonies with variable
      thresholds persist longer than those with invariable thresholds because inactive
      workers perform the critical function of replacing active workers when they
      become fatigued. Evidence of the replacement of active workers by inactive
      workers has been found in ant colonies. Thus, the presence of inactive workers
      increases the long-term persistence of the colony at the expense of decreasing
      short-term productivity. Inactive workers may represent a bet-hedging strategy in
      response to environmental stochasticity. 

PMID- 26880335
TI  - Intersubunit Bridges of the Bacterial Ribosome.
AB  - The ribosome is a large two-subunit ribonucleoprotein machine that translates the
      genetic code in all cells, synthesizing proteins according to the sequence of the
      mRNA template. During translation, the primary substrates, transfer RNAs, pass
      through binding sites formed between the two subunits. Multiple interactions
      between the ribosomal subunits, termed intersubunit bridges, keep the ribosome
      intact and at the same time govern dynamics that facilitate the various steps of
      translation such as transfer RNA-mRNA movement. Here, we review the molecular
      nature of these intersubunit bridges, how they change conformation during
      translation, and their functional roles in the process.

PMID- 26880340
TI  - Corticostriatal plasticity modulation: New roads for therapeutic targets.

PMID- 26880341
TI  - The novel adaptive rotating beam test unmasks sensorimotor impairments in a
      transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Development of disease modifying therapeutics for Parkinson's disease (PD), the
      second most common neurodegenerative disorder, relies on availability of animal
      models which recapitulate the disease hallmarks. Only few transgenic mouse
      models, which mimic overexpression of alpha-synuclein, show dopamine loss,
      behavioral impairments and protein aggregation. Mice overexpressing human
      wildtype alpha-synuclein under the Thy-1 promotor (Thy1-aSyn) replicate these
      features. However, female mice do not exhibit a phenotype. This was attributed to
      a potentially lower transgene expression located on the X chromosome. Here we
      support that female mice overexpress human wildtype alpha-synuclein only about
      1.5 fold in the substantia nigra, compared to about 3 fold in male mice. Since
      female Thy1-aSyn mice were shown previously to exhibit differences in
      corticostriatal communication and synaptic plasticity similar to their male
      counterparts we hypothesized that female mice use compensatory mechanisms and
      strategies to not show overt motor deficits despite an underlying endophenotype.
      In order to unmask these deficits we translated recent findings in PD patients
      that sensory abnormalities can enhance motor dysfunction into a novel behavioral
      test, the adaptive rotating beam test. We found that under changing sensory input
      female Thy1-aSyn mice showed an overt phenotype. Our data supports that the
      integration of sensorimotor information is likely a major contributor to symptoms
      of movement disorders and that even low levels of overexpression of human
      wildtype alpha-synuclein has the potential to disrupt processing of these
      information. The here described adaptive rotating beam test represents a
      sensitive behavioral test to detect moderate sensorimotor alterations in mouse
      models. 

PMID- 26880342
TI  - Inhibition of catecholamine degradation ameliorates while chemical sympathectomy
      aggravates the severity of acute Friend retrovirus infection in mice.
AB  - Several lines of evidence indicate that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
      might be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of retroviral infections.
      However, experimental data are scarce and findings inconsistent. Here, we
      investigated the role of the SNS during acute infection with Friend virus (FV), a
      pathogenic murine retrovirus that causes polyclonal proliferation of erythroid
      precursor cells and splenomegaly in adult mice. Experimental animals were
      infected with FV complex, and viral load, spleen weight, and splenic
      noradrenaline (NA) concentration was analyzed until 25 days post infection.
      Results show that FV infection caused a massive but transient depletion in
      splenic NA during the acute phase of the disease. At the peak of the virus
      induced splenomegaly, splenic NA concentration was reduced by about 90% compared
      to naive uninfected mice. Concurrently, expression of the catecholamine degrading
      enzymes monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was
      significantly upregulated in immune cells of the spleen. Pharmacological
      inhibition of MAO-A and COMT by the selective inhibitors clorgyline and 3,5
      dinitrocatechol, respectively, efficiently blocked NA degradation and
      significantly reduced viral load and virus-induced splenomegaly. In contrast,
      chemical sympathectomy prior to FV inoculation aggravated the acute infection and
      extended the duration of the disease. Together these findings demonstrate that
      catecholamine availability at the site of viral replication is an important
      factor affecting the course of retroviral infections.

PMID- 26880343
TI  - Excessive behaviors in clinical practice--A state of the art article.
AB  - This paper concerns difficulties with excessive food intake, sexual activities,
      romantic relationships, gambling, Internet use, shopping, and exercise-behaviors
      that might cause considerable suffering. Excessive behaviors are seen as
      expressions of underlying difficulties that often co-occur with other
      psychological difficulties, and behaviors may accompany or replace each other.
      Moreover, they might pass unnoticed in clinical practice. Given the complexity of
      excessive behaviors, integrated and individualized treatment has been
      recommended. This paper presents an overview of the terminology concerning
      excessive behaviors, and the impact of naming is acknowledged. Thereafter,
      methods for identification and assessment, as well as treatment needs are
      discussed. Because identification, assessment, and treatment occur in an
      interaction between client and practitioner, this paper presents a discussion of
      the need to empower practitioners to identify and assess excessive behaviors and
      provide an integrated treatment. Moreover, the need to support practitioners'
      capacity to handle and tolerate the overwhelming suffering and the negative
      consequences connected to excessive behaviors is discussed. Qualitative studies
      are suggested in order to understand the meaning of excessive behaviors,
      treatment needs, and the interaction between client and practitioner. 

PMID- 26880344
TI  - Reversible morphological changes of assembled supramolecular amphiphiles
      triggered by pH-modulated host-guest interactions.
AB  - Reversible template-directed micellar-size and shape modulation by virtue of host
      guest reversible docking of molecular templates at the micellar-solvent interface
      was achieved in water. By combining a pi-electron deficient bipyridinium-based
      gemini amphiphile which is capable of binding and aligning with a pi-electron
      rich tri(ethylene glycol)-disubstituted 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, a switchable
      detergent system which operates through the pH-responsive formation of
      bisammonium dications was realised. The binding of the 1,5-diaminonaphthalene
      guest to the bipyridinium-based micellar aggregate superstructure can be actuated
      by the addition of acid and base. Upon the addition of acid, protonation of the
      guest forming the dication deactivates molecular recognition with the charged
      head groups of the micellar aggregate by Coulombic repulsion. This process is
      completely reversible upon the addition of base, whereby the guest reintercalates
      into the superstructure -again forming donor-acceptor pi-pi stacks at the
      micellar-solvent interface amongst contiguous surfactant head groups. Synchrotron
      small angle X-ray scattering and dynamic laser light scattering confirm that this
      form of reversible directionally-templated micellisation results in an oblate
      spheroid-to-lamellar micelle morphological transition with a stabilising net
      decrease in the free energy of micellisation of 1.4 kcal mol(-1) per hydrophobic
      tail. 

PMID- 26880345
TI  - 'Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour'-like dedifferentiation of anaplastic
      lymphoma kinase-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma.
AB  - AIMS: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) functions as an oncogenic driver in a
      subset of haematopoietic, epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasms. Activation of ALK
      most commonly occurs through gene fusion events, the presence of which predicts
      response to ALK-targeted inhibitors in some tumour types. Echinoderm microtubule
      associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK fusions represent the majority of ALK
      rearrangements in lung adenocarcinomas and were, until recently, thought to be
      exclusive to that tumour type. However, recent work has identified EML4-ALK
      fusions in ~20% of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs), particularly in
      those arising in the lung. Here, we present a patient with an ALK-rearranged
      poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma with a predominant sarcomatoid
      component that was morphologically indistinguishable from IMT. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Targeted next-generation sequencing revealed EML4-ALK rearrangements in
      both components, with identical fusion sequences. Copy number analysis
      demonstrated focal gain of the MYC gene in the IMT-like component. The findings
      support a diagnosis of ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma with IMT-like
      dedifferentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ALK-driven epithelial
      and mesenchymal neoplasms exist on a morphological spectrum, and emphasize the
      need to consider translocation testing in pulmonary tumours with unusual
      sarcomatoid morphology.

PMID- 26880347
TI  - Are We Emerging From the Ice Age of Liver Preservation?

PMID- 26880346
TI  - Apolipoprotein E allele frequencies in chronic and self-limited hepatitis C
      suggest a protective effect of APOE4 in the course of hepatitis C virus
      infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles bind to host
      lipoproteins such as low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Low-density lipoprotein
      receptors (LDLR) have been termed candidate receptors for HCV-LDL complexes.
      Functional host genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the
      apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene encoding apolipoprotein E (apoE) - a major
      structural LDL component and natural ligand of LDLR - likely influence the course
      of HCV infection. We investigated the prevalence of APOE SNPs in two large and
      independent cohorts of patients with chronic HCV infection compared to respective
      controls. METHODS: We genotyped 996 chronically HCV-infected patients; 179
      patients with spontaneous HCV clearance; 283 individuals with non-HCV-associated
      liver disease; and 2 234 healthy controls. RESULTS: APOE genotype proportions in
      patients with persistent HCV infection significantly differed from healthy
      controls (P = 0.007) primarily because of a substantial under-representation of
      APOE4 alleles in chronically HCV-infected patients (10.2%) compared to 13.0% in
      healthy controls (P = 0.001). The distribution of APOE4 allele positive genotypes
      (epsilon2epsilon4, epsilon3epsilon4, epsilon4epsilon4) also significantly
      differed between chronically HCV-infected patients and healthy controls (1.4%,
      17%, 1% vs. 2.4%, 20.5%, 1.7%; P = 0.001), suggesting a protective effect of the
      APOE4 allele in HCV infection. This was confirmed by a significant over
      representation of the APOE4 allele in patients with spontaneous HCV clearance
      (17.6%; P = 0.00008). The APOE4 allele distribution in patients with non-HCV
      associated liver disease (14.0%) was very similar to healthy controls and also
      differed from chronically HCV-infected patients (P = 0.012), suggesting HCV
      specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the APOE4 allele may confer a
      protective effect in the course of HCV infection.

PMID- 26880348
TI  - Perceptual biases in the horizontal and vertical dimensions are driven by
      separate cognitive mechanisms.
AB  - Perceptual attention in healthy participants is characterized by two biases, one
      operating in the horizontal plane, which draws attention leftward, and the other
      operating in the vertical plane, which draws attention upward. Given that these
      biases are reliably found in the same individual, and appear similar at a surface
      level, a number of researchers have investigated the relationship between
      horizontal and vertical attentional biases. To date, these investigations have
      failed to find an association, and this may be due to the fact that one
      dimensional vertical and horizontal stimuli were presented separately rather than
      being measured from a single, two-dimensional stimulus. Across three experiments,
      two dimensional stimuli were presented, and participants marked the centre of the
      stimuli. In addition, the shapes of the stimuli were manipulated to determine
      whether this produced the same modulation of the two biases. Across 13 stimuli
      and three experiments there were no correlations between the vertical and
      horizontal biases. In addition, manipulations of stimulus shape, which affected
      biases in one dimension, did not affect biases in the other dimension. There
      were, however, consistent correlations between the degree of bias within each
      dimension across the different stimuli. This study has produced converging
      evidence that horizontal and vertical biases in spatial judgments rely on
      separate cognitive mechanisms. To account for these results we discuss a model
      whereby horizontal asymmetries rely more on space-based mechanisms whereas
      vertical asymmetries rely more on object-based mechanisms.

PMID- 26880349
TI  - Stability of B12 (CN)12 (2-) : Implications for Lithium and Magnesium Ion
      Batteries.
AB  - Multiply charged negative ions are seldom stable in the gas phase. Electrostatic
      repulsion leads either to autodetachment of electrons or fragmentation of the
      parent ion. With a binding energy of the second electron at 0.9 eV, B12 H12 (2-)
      is a classic example of a stable dianion. It is shown here that ligand
      substitution can lead to unusually stable multiply charged anions. For example,
      dodecacyanododecaborate, B12 (CN)12 (2-) , created by substituting H by CN is
      found to be highly stable with the second electron bound by 5.3 eV, which is six
      times larger than that in the B12 H12 (2-) . Equally important is the observation
      that CB11 (CN)12 (2-) , which contains one electron more than needed to satisfy
      the Wade-Mingos rule, is also stable with its second electron bound by 1.1 eV,
      while CB11 H12 (2-) is unstable. The ability to stabilize multiply charged anions
      in the gas phase by ligand manipulation opens a new door for multiply charged
      species with potential applications as halogen-free electrolytes in ion
      batteries. 

PMID- 26880350
TI  - Bis-tert-Alcohol-Functionalized Crown-6-Calix[4]arene: An Organic Promoter for
      Nucleophilic Fluorination.
AB  - A bis-tert-alcohol-functionalized crown-6-calix[4]arene (BACCA) was designed and
      prepared as a multifunctional organic promoter for nucleophilic fluorinations
      with CsF. By formation of a CsF/BACCA complex, BACCA could release a
      significantly active and selective fluoride source for SN2 fluorination
      reactions. The origin of the promoting effects of BACCA was studied by quantum
      chemical methods. The role of BACCA was revealed to be separation of the metal
      fluoride to a large distance (>8 A), thereby producing an essentially "free" F(
      ). The synergistic actions of the crown-6-calix[4]arene subunit (whose O atoms
      coordinate the counter-cation Cs(+)) and the terminal tert-alcohol OH groups
      (forming controlled hydrogen bonds with F(-)) of BACCA led to tremendous
      efficiency in SN2 fluorination of base-sensitive substrates.

PMID- 26880351
TI  - Editorial: The Rhoton Collection and the Journal of Neurosurgery: expanding the
      reach of neuroanatomy in the digital print world.

PMID- 26880352
TI  - Lipoprotein(a) and Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of the population has elevated circulating levels
      of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), one of the most robust predictors of cardiovascular
      disease risk. This is particularly true for women. HYPOTHESIS: Many female
      patients with "normal" traditional risk factors or low atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores may harbor high risk related to
      elevated levels of Lp(a). METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of
      consecutive female patients presenting to Heart Centers for Women was performed.
      Discordance between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a) was
      determined. The ASCVD risk and Reynolds Risk Score models A (RRS-A) and B (RRS-B)
      were calculated, and level of agreement in patients meeting treatment threshold
      (>=7.5% for ASCVD, >=10% for RRS-A and RRS-B) were compared. RESULTS: Among 713
      women, 290 (41%) had elevated Lp(a); however, LDL-C and Lp(a) were weakly
      correlated (r = 0.08). Significant discordance was observed between abnormal LDL
      C and Lp(a) levels (McNemar P = 0.03). There was moderate correlation between RRS
      A and ASCVD risk (r = 0.71, P < 0.001), and Bland-Altman plot showed diminished
      correlation with increased risk. More patients met treatment threshold by ASCVD
      risk estimation, but nearly 1 out of 20 patients met treatment threshold by RRS-A
      but not ASCVD score. CONCLUSIONS: There is high prevalence of elevated Lp(a)
      among women presenting to Heart Centers for Women. Although traditional risk
      markers such as elevated LDL-C or high ASCVD risk may be absent in some women,
      elevated Lp(a) may identify patients who may benefit from aggressive risk-factor
      modification and pharmacologic therapy.

PMID- 26880353
TI  - Ancient and modern colonization of North America by hemlock woolly adelgid,
      Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), an invasive insect from East Asia.
AB  - Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, is an invasive pest of hemlock trees
      (Tsuga) in eastern North America. We used 14 microsatellites and mitochondrial
      COI sequences to assess its worldwide genetic structure and reconstruct its
      colonization history. The resulting information about its life cycle,
      biogeography and host specialization could help predict invasion by insect
      herbivores. We identified eight endemic lineages of hemlock adelgids in central
      China, western China, Ulleung Island (South Korea), western North America, and
      two each in Taiwan and Japan, with the Japanese lineages specializing on
      different Tsuga species. Adelgid life cycles varied at local and continental
      scales with different sexual, obligately asexual and facultatively asexual
      lineages. Adelgids in western North America exhibited very high microsatellite
      heterozygosity, which suggests ancient asexuality. The earliest lineages diverged
      in Asia during Pleistocene glacial periods, as estimated using approximate
      Bayesian computation. Colonization of western North America was estimated to have
      occurred prior to the last glacial period by adelgids directly ancestral to those
      in southern Japan, perhaps carried by birds. The modern invasion from southern
      Japan to eastern North America caused an extreme genetic bottleneck with just two
      closely related clones detected throughout the introduced range. Both
      colonization events to North America involved host shifts to unrelated hemlock
      species. These results suggest that genetic diversity, host specialization and
      host phylogeny are not predictive of adelgid invasion. Monitoring non-native
      sentinel host trees and focusing on invasion pathways might be more effective
      methods of preventing invasion than making predictions using species traits or
      evolutionary history.

PMID- 26880354
TI  - Making microbiology of the built environment relevant to design.
AB  - Architects are enthusiastic about "bioinformed design" as occupant well-being is
      a primary measure of architectural success. However, architects are also under
      mounting pressure to create more sustainable buildings. Scientists have a
      critical opportunity to make the emerging field of microbiology of the built
      environment more relevant and applicable to real-world design problems by
      addressing health and sustainability in tandem. Practice-based research, which
      complements evidence-based design, represents a promising approach to advancing
      knowledge of the indoor microbiome and translating it to architectural practice. 

PMID- 26880355
TI  - Dye-Sensitized Cu2 XSnS4 (X=Zn, Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn) Nanofibers for Efficient
      Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.
AB  - The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activities of low-cost and noble-metal-free
      Cu2 XSnS4 (X=Zn, Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn) nanofiber catalysts have been investigated
      using triethanolamine as an electron donor and eosin Y as a photosensitizer under
      visible-light irradiation. The rates of hydrogen evolution by Cu2 XSnS4 (X=Zn,
      Ni, Fe, Co, and Mn) nanofibers have been compared with each other and with that
      of the noble metal Pt. The hydrogen evolution rates for the nanofibers change in
      the order Cu2 NiSnS4 >Cu2 FeSnS4 >Cu2 CoSnS4 >Cu2 ZnSnS4 >Cu2 MnSnS4 (2028, 1870,
      1926, 1420, and 389 MUmol g(-1) h(-1) , respectively). The differences between
      the hydrogen evolution rates of the nanofibers could be attributed to their
      energy levels. Moreover, Cu2 NiSnS4, Cu2 FeSnS4 , and Cu2 CoSnS4 nanofibers show
      higher and more stable photocatalytic hydrogen production rates than that of the
      noble metal Pt under long-term irradiation with visible light.

PMID- 26880356
TI  - Contraception: the Need for Expansion of Counsel in Adolescent and Young Adult
      (AYA) Cancer Care.
AB  - Little is known about oncology provider recommendations regarding best practices
      in contraception use during cancer treatment and through survivorship for
      adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. This review examined the
      literature to identify related studies on contraception recommendations,
      counseling discussions, and methods of contraception in the AYA oncology
      population. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, including all peer
      reviewed journals with no publication date exclusions. A systematic review of the
      literature was conducted using combinations of the following phrases or keywords:
      "oncology OR cancer" AND "contraception, family planning, contraceptive devices,
      contraceptive agents, intrauterine devices OR IUD, vaccines, spermatocidal
      agents, postcoital, immunologic, family planning, vasectomy, tubal ligation,
      sterilization" AND "young adult OR adolescent" AND "young adult AND adolescent".
      Reviewers assessed articles using the "Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative
      Studies" which considers: (1) selection bias; (2) study design; (3) confounders;
      (4) blinding; (5) data collection methods; and (6) withdrawals and dropouts. A
      total of five articles were included and all studies were quantitative. Results
      showed no consistent recommendations among providers, references to guidelines,
      or methods of contraceptive types. Provider guidelines for discussions with AYA
      patients should be expanded to provide comprehensive, consistent, and quality
      cancer care in the AYA population.

PMID- 26880359
TI  - Tourism-Induced Livelihood Changes at Mount Sanqingshan World Heritage Site,
      China.
AB  - Although tourism has the potential to improve the wellbeing of residents, it may
      also disrupt livelihood systems, social processes, and cultural traditions. The
      livelihood changes at three rural villages at Mount Sanqingshan World Heritage
      Site, China, are assessed to determine the extent to which tourism strategies are
      contributing to local livelihoods. A sustainable livelihood framework is adopted
      to guide the analysis. The three villages exhibit different development patterns
      due to institutional, organizational, and location factors. New strategies
      involving tourism were constructed and incorporated into the traditional
      livelihood systems and they resulted in different outcomes for residents of
      different villages. Village location, including the relationship to the site
      tourism plan, affected the implications for rural livelihoods. High dependence on
      tourism as the single livelihood option can reduce sustainability. Practical
      implications are suggested to enhance livelihood sustainability at such rural
      heritage tourism sites. 

PMID- 26880358
TI  - Individual Variations in Nucleus Accumbens Responses Associated with Major
      Depressive Disorder Symptoms.
AB  - Abnormal reward-related responses in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) have been
      reported for major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. However, variability
      exists in the reported results, which could be due to heterogeneity in
      neuropathology of depression. To parse the heterogeneity of MDD we investigated
      variation of NAcc responses to gain and loss anticipations using fMRI. We found
      NAcc responses to monetary gain and loss were significantly variable across
      subjects in both MDD and healthy control (HC) groups. The variations were seen as
      a hyperactive response subtype that showed elevated activation to the
      anticipation of both gain and loss, an intermediate response with greater
      activation to gain than loss, and a suppressed-activity with reduced activation
      to both gain and loss compared to a non-monetary condition. While these response
      variability were seen in both MDD and HC subjects, specific symptoms were
      significantly associated with the right NAcc variation in MDD. Both the hyper-
      and suppressed-activity subtypes of MDD patients had severe suicidal ideation and
      anhedonia symptoms. The intermediate subjects had less severity in these
      symptoms. These results suggest that differing propensities in reward
      responsiveness in the NAcc may affect the development of specific symptoms in
      MDD. 

PMID- 26880357
TI  - Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Among Academic and
      Community Physicians in Mangalore, India.
AB  - Cervical cancer is the most common cancer found in Indian women. Two human
      papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines were approved for use in India in 2006; however,
      neither has become readily accepted. Physician attitudes and recommendations are
      crucial in the uptake of HPV vaccines among adolescent women in the USA; thus, we
      ought to investigate provider attitudes and practices related to HPV vaccination
      in India via a survey administered to 210 Indian physicians. Of the 210
      physicians, 46 % were community physicians and 54 % were academic physicians. The
      correct response to HPV knowledge questions was identified around 50 % of the
      time in 6/11 questions. Only 47 % of the physicians knew that there was an HPV
      vaccine approved for use in India. Only 11 % and 15 % of physicians strongly
      agree that the HPV vaccine will lead to long-lasting immunity and has a safe side
      effect profile, respectively. A total of 30 % of those surveyed reported that
      they would recommend the HPV vaccine to their patients, while 73 % agreed that
      the cost of the HPV vaccine is a major barrier to acceptance. After multivariate
      analysis, there were two significant variables independently associated with a
      physician's decision to recommend HPV vaccine. These variables were as follows:
      "whether the vaccine was freely available from the government sector" and
      "uncertainty about whether HPV must be persistent to cause cervical cancer vs
      not." Given the lack of knowledge among practicing physicians in Mangalore,
      increasing the education about HPV infection and HPV vaccination towards health
      care providers has the potential to increase vaccine recommendations.

PMID- 26880360
TI  - Apical lymph node dissection of the inferior mesenteric artery.
AB  - AIM: It is controversial whether a high or low ligation of the inferior
      mesenteric artery (IMA) is superior. The former allows an extended lymph node
      clearance whereas the latter preserves the distal vascular supply via the left
      colic artery (LCA). Apical lymph node dissection of the IMA (ALMA) harvests nodal
      tissue along the IMA proximal to the LCA whilst performing a low ligation. This
      anatomically replicates the oncological benefit of high ligation and the vascular
      preservation of low ligation. Our study evaluates the nodal yield of ALMA and the
      short-term outcome of this technique. METHOD: We retrospectively studied 19
      patients with sigmoid or rectal cancer who underwent curative surgical resection
      with ALMA. All ALMAs were performed with a standard technique previously
      described (Kobayashi et al., Surg Endosc 2005, 20:563-9; Sekimoto et al. Surg
      Endosc 2010, 25:861-6) . The lymph node yield from the dissection (the ALMA
      specimen) was compared with the total lymph node yield. Data on the LCA anatomy,
      time required to perform ALMA, complications and postoperative recovery were
      evaluated. RESULTS: ALMA was successful in 18 patients. Median postoperative
      hospitalization was 5 (2-26) days without ALMA-related morbidity or mortality.
      The median lymph node yield was 20 (9-41) and a median of 14.3 (0-80)% were
      harvested with ALMA. Two patients not having neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy had
      fewer than 12 lymph nodes, excluding nodes harvested from ALMA. The average time
      required for ALMA was 18 min. CONCLUSION: ALMA is a safe and feasible technique,
      allowing extended lymphadenectomy without sacrificing the LCA. In this small
      group of patients none were upstaged due to cancerous involvement of the proximal
      nodes.

PMID- 26880361
TI  - The importance of mold sensitivity in nonallergic rhinitis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In recent studies, local specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) production
      against allergens in nasal mucosa and a positive response to a nasal allergen
      provocation test (NAPT) have been demonstrated in some patients initially
      diagnosed as nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) or idiopathic rhinitis (IR). The aim of
      this study was to evaluate the presence of local allergic rhinitis (LAR) in
      patients who experience rhinitis symptoms in indoor and outdoor moldy conditions
      and to investigate the role of the NAPT in diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 40 NAR
      patients with a history of persistent rhinitis and who had negative skin-prick
      tests (SPTs) and serum sIgE levels to common aeroallergens, as well as 20 healthy
      subjects were included in the study. NAPTs were performed with Aspergillus
      fumigatus (group 1) or a mixture of Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium
      herbarum extracts (group 2). RESULTS: In patient nasal lavage fluids, tryptase
      and mold sIgE levels were not significantly different from the control group.
      NAPT with Aspergillus fumigatus was positive in 8 of 12 NAR patients (66.6%) in
      group 1 and NAPT with the mixture of extracts was positive in 9 of 13 NAR
      patients (69.2%) in group 2. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that LAR may exist
      in a significant number of the persistent rhinitis patients who were previously
      considered as NAR based on negative SPTs or serum sIgE tests. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first study evaluating a nasal local allergic response to
      both indoor and outdoor molds.

PMID- 26880362
TI  - Estimating Infection Incidence in Longitudinal Studies.

PMID- 26880363
TI  - Daldionin, an Unprecedented Binaphthyl Derivative, and Diverse Polyketide
      Congeners from a Fungal Orchid Endophyte.
AB  - Thailand possesses a rich diversity of orchid species that, in turn, live in
      symbiosis with a wide variety of fungi. Such endophytes have the potential to
      produce secondary metabolites with bioactivity against orchid and/or human
      pathogens. The orchid-associated fungal strain Daldinia eschscholtzii was found
      to produce a diverse range of aromatic polyketides including the new naphthalene
      derivatives daldionin, nodulones B and C, and daldinones F and G along with eight
      known compounds. Daldionin possesses an unprecedented oxane-linked binaphthyl
      ring system. These compounds demonstrate the high diversity of structural
      variations that are constructed during fungal biosynthesis, and the results
      include important observations concerning the biosynthesis of binaphthyl
      derivatives. Daldionin was found to have weak antiproliferative activity against
      HUVEC and K-562 cell lines. All but one of the isolated compounds showed moderate
      antimicrobial activity towards at least one of the four tested microbial strains.

PMID- 26880365
TI  - Non-electrolytic synthesis of copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite by surface plasma
      in super-dehydrated ethanol.
AB  - Electrolytic processes are widely used to synthesize different nanomaterials and
      it does not depend on what kind of the method has been applied (wet-chemistry,
      sonochemistry, plasma chemistry, electrolysis and so on). Generally, the
      reactions in the electrolyte are considered to be reduction/oxidation (REDOX)
      reactions between chemical reagents or the deposition of matter on the
      electrodes, in line with Faraday's law. Due to the presence of electroconductive
      additives in any electrolyte, the polarization effect of polar molecules
      conducting an electrical current disappears, when external high-strength electric
      field is induced. Because initially of the charge transfer always belongs of
      electroconductive additive and it does not depend on applied voltage. The
      polarization of ethanol molecules has been applied to conduct an electric current
      by surface plasma interaction for the synthesis of a copper oxide/carbon
      nanocomposite material. 

PMID- 26880364
TI  - Seasonal changes in the expression of energy metabolism-related genes in white
      adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in female Japanese black bears.
AB  - Bears undergo annual cycles in body mass: rapid fattening in autumn (i.e.,
      hyperphagia), and mass loss in winter (i.e., hibernation). To investigate how
      Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) adapt to such extreme
      physiological conditions, we analyzed changes in the mRNA expression of energy
      metabolism-related genes in white adipose tissues and skeletal muscle throughout
      three physiological stages: normal activity (June), hyperphagia (November), and
      hibernation (March). During hyperphagia, quantitative real-time polymerase chain
      reaction analysis revealed the upregulation of de novo lipogenesis-related genes
      (e.g., fatty acid synthase and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2) in white
      adipose tissue, although the bears had been maintained with a constant amount of
      food. In contrast, during the hibernation period, we observed a downregulation of
      genes involved in glycolysis (e.g., glucose transporter 4) and lipogenesis (e.g.,
      acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1) and an upregulation of genes in fatty acid catabolism
      (e.g., carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A) in both tissue types. In white adipose
      tissues, we observed upregulation of genes involved in glyceroneogenesis,
      including pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1,
      suggesting that white adipose tissue plays a role in the recycling of circulating
      free fatty acids via re-esterification. In addition, the downregulation of genes
      involved in amino acid catabolism (e.g., alanine aminotransferase) and the TCA
      cycle (e.g., pyruvate carboxylase) indicated a role of skeletal muscle in muscle
      protein sparing and pyruvate recycling via the Cori cycle. These examples of
      coordinated transcriptional regulation would contribute to rapid mass gain during
      the pre-hibernation period and to energy preservation and efficient energy
      production during the hibernation period. 

PMID- 26880366
TI  - Landmark estimation of survival and treatment effects in observational studies.
AB  - Clinical studies aimed at identifying effective treatments to reduce the risk of
      disease or death often require long term follow-up of participants in order to
      observe a sufficient number of events to precisely estimate the treatment effect.
      In such studies, observing the outcome of interest during follow-up may be
      difficult and high rates of censoring may be observed which often leads to
      reduced power when applying straightforward statistical methods developed for
      time-to-event data. Alternative methods have been proposed to take advantage of
      auxiliary information that may potentially improve efficiency when estimating
      marginal survival and improve power when testing for a treatment effect.
      Recently, Parast et al. (J Am Stat Assoc 109(505):384-394, 2014) proposed a
      landmark estimation procedure for the estimation of survival and treatment
      effects in a randomized clinical trial setting and demonstrated that significant
      gains in efficiency and power could be obtained by incorporating intermediate
      event information as well as baseline covariates. However, the procedure requires
      the assumption that the potential outcomes for each individual under treatment
      and control are independent of treatment group assignment which is unlikely to
      hold in an observational study setting. In this paper we develop the landmark
      estimation procedure for use in an observational setting. In particular, we
      incorporate inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) in the landmark
      estimation procedure to account for selection bias on observed baseline
      (pretreatment) covariates. We demonstrate that consistent estimates of survival
      and treatment effects can be obtained by using IPTW and that there is improved
      efficiency by using auxiliary intermediate event and baseline information. We
      compare our proposed estimates to those obtained using the Kaplan-Meier
      estimator, the original landmark estimation procedure, and the IPTW Kaplan-Meier
      estimator. We illustrate our resulting reduction in bias and gains in efficiency
      through a simulation study and apply our procedure to an AIDS dataset to examine
      the effect of previous antiretroviral therapy on survival.

PMID- 26880368
TI  - Determination of the Absolute Configuration of the Pseudo-Symmetric Natural
      Product Elatenyne by the Crystalline Sponge Method.
AB  - Elatenyne is a marine natural product that was isolated in 1986. Despite its
      simple 2,2'-bifuranyl backbone, its relative structure was only recently
      determined. The absolute configuration of elatenyne has still not been
      unequivocally confirmed because of its pseudo-meso core structure, which results
      in a specific rotation, [alpha]D  , of almost zero. In this work, the structure
      of natural elatenyne was determined by the crystalline sponge method and the use
      of a porous coordination network (a crystalline sponge) capable of absorbing
      organic guests; in the sponge, the absorbed guests are ordered and
      crystallographically observable. The crystalline sponge could differentiate
      between the two very similar alkyl side chains, and the absolute structure of
      elatenyne was thus reliably determined. The total amount required for the
      experiments was only approximately 100 MUg, and the majority (95 MUg) could be
      recovered after the experiments. 

PMID- 26880369
TI  - Australian doctors refuse to discharge refugee girl into government detention.

PMID- 26880370
TI  - Mutation of epigenetic regulators TET2 and MLL3 in patients with HTLV-I-induced
      acute adult T-cell leukemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epigenetic regulators play a critical role in the maintenance of
      specific chromatin domains in an active or repressed state. Disruption of
      epigenetic regulatory mechanisms is widespread in cancer cells and largely
      contributes to the transformation process through active repression of tumor
      suppressor genes. While mutations of epigenetic regulators have been reported in
      various lymphoid malignancies and solid cancers, mutation of these genes in HTLV
      I-associated T-cell leukemia has not been investigated. METHOD: Here we used
      whole genome next generation sequencing (NGS) of uncultured freshly isolated ATL
      samples and identified the presence of mutations in SUZ12, DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B,
      TET1, TET2, IDH1, IDH2, MLL, MLL2, MLL3 and MLL4. RESULTS: TET2 was the most
      frequently mutated gene, occurring in 32 % (10/31) of ATL samples analyzed.
      Interestingly, NGS revealed nonsense mutations accompanied by loss of
      heterozygosity (LOH) in TET2 and MLL3, which was further confirmed by cloning and
      direct sequencing of DNA from uncultured cells. Finally, direct sequencing of
      matched control and tumor samples revealed that TET2 mutation was present only in
      ATL tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that inactivation of MLL3 and
      TET2 may play an important role in the tumorigenesis process of HTLV-I-induced
      ATL.

PMID- 26880371
TI  - The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
      syndrome and its relationship with cardiovascular disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte
      ratio (NLR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) severity and whether the
      NLR predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with OSAS. BACKGROUND: OSAS
      is known as a risk factor for CVD. An increased NLR was strongly correlated with
      cardiovascular outcomes in several studies. METHODS: We retrospectively examined
      the laboratory data for 289 patients with suspected OSAS evaluated using
      polysomnography. RESULTS: The study included 171 OSAS patients and 118 controls.
      The NLR was higher in OSAS group than control group. The NLR was significantly
      higher in patients with CVD than in those without (3.31 +/- 1.1 vs. 1.93 +/- 0.8,
      p = 0.002). There were also significant correlations between the NLR and apnoea
      hypopnoea index, mean SaO2, and oxygen desaturation index. CONCLUSIONS: There was
      a significant correlation between the NLR and OSAS severity and the NLR was
      independently associated with CVD in patients with OSAS.

PMID- 26880372
TI  - Continuous-Flow N-Heterocyclic Carbene Generation and Organocatalysis.
AB  - Two methods were assessed for the generation of common N-heterocyclic carbenes
      (NHCs) from stable imidazol(in)ium precursors using convenient and
      straightforward continuous-flow setups with either a heterogeneous inorganic base
      (Cs2CO3 or K3PO4) or a homogeneous organic base (KN(SiMe3)2). In-line quenching
      with carbon disulfide revealed that the homogeneous strategy was most efficient
      for the preparation of a small library of NHCs. The generation of free
      nucleophilic carbenes was next telescoped with two benchmark NHC-catalyzed
      reactions; namely, the transesterification of vinyl acetate with benzyl alcohol
      and the amidation of N-Boc-glycine methyl ester with ethanolamine. Both
      organocatalytic transformations proceeded with total conversion and excellent
      yields were achieved after extraction, showcasing the first examples of
      continuous-flow organocatalysis with NHCs.

PMID- 26880375
TI  - Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a population-based registry
      study.
AB  - AIM: We assessed prevalence and location of pain in a total population of
      children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) based on the Gross Motor
      Function Classification System (GMFCS), age and gender. METHODS: This cross
      sectional study was based on the last assessment of children aged 1-14 years in
      the combined Swedish follow-up programme and national quality register programme
      for CP. All were born 2001-2012 and reported to the registry in 2013-2014.
      Logistic regression was used to regress age, gender and the GMFCS level on the
      presence of pain. We also assessed pain sites among GMFCS groups. RESULTS: We
      included 2777 children (57% boys) at a median age of 7 years; 32.4% reported
      pain, with significantly more girls than boys experiencing pain and significantly
      more children at GMFCS levels III and V than GMFCS I. Pain frequency increased
      with age and differences among GMFCS levels were found in the lower extremities
      and abdomen. Pain in the abdomen and hips was most frequent at GMFCS V, knee pain
      at level III and foot pain at level I. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that
      although a lower prevalence than in many other studies, pain constituted a
      significant problem in children and adolescents with CP.

PMID- 26880374
TI  - Guidelines for the Management of Pregnant Women With Substance Use Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Women of reproductive potential with substance use disorders,
      especially those who are pregnant, present many clinical challenges to healthcare
      providers, including comorbid psychiatric disorders, a history of trauma and
      abuse, avoidance of or poor access to prenatal care, fear of legal consequences,
      and countertransference reactions. METHODS: In November 2013, members of the
      Women's Mental Health Special Interest Group of the Academy of Psychosomatic
      Medicine presented a Workshop reviewing substance abuse in pregnancy,
      highlighting the specific contributions that psychosomatic medicine specialists
      can make in the care of these patients. The discussion focused on epidemiology;
      maternal and fetal risks; and screening and treatment considerations for tobacco,
      alcohol, cannabis, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and several other
      substances. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose in publishing this review is to provide
      clinicians and educators with the most up-to-date summary in this field to better
      engage these patients in care and break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and
      addiction.

PMID- 26880373
TI  - Reduction of self-perceived discomforts in critically ill patients in French
      intensive care units: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is now well documented that critically ill patients are exposed to
      stressful conditions and experience discomforts from multiple sources. Improved
      identification of the discomforts of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may
      have implications for managing their care, including consideration of ethical
      issues, and may assist clinicians in choosing the most appropriate interventions.
      The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a
      multicomponent program of discomfort reduction in critically ill patients. The
      secondary objectives were to assess the sustainability of the impact of the
      program and the potential seasonality effect. METHODS/DESIGN: We conducted a
      multicenter, cluster-randomized, controlled, single (patient)-blind study
      involving 34 French adult ICUs. The experimental intervention was a 6-month
      period during which the multicomponent program was implemented in the ICU and
      included the following steps: identification of discomforts, immediate feedback
      to the healthcare team, and implementation of targeted interventions. The control
      intervention was a 6-month period during which any program was implemented. The
      primary endpoint was the monthly overall score of self-reported discomfort from
      the French questionnaire on discomforts in ICU patients (IPREA). The secondary
      endpoints were the scores of the discomfort items of IPREA. The sample size was
      660 individuals to obtain 80% power to detect a 25% difference in the overall
      discomfort score of IPREA between the two groups (design effect: 2.9).
      DISCUSSION: The results of this cluster-randomized controlled study are expected
      to confirm that a multicomponent program of discomfort reduction may be a new
      strategy in the management of care for critically ill patients. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02442934, registered 11 May 2015.

PMID- 26880376
TI  - EPR Steering inequalities with Communication Assistance.
AB  - In this paper, we investigate the communication cost of reproducing Einstein
      Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering correlations arising from bipartite quantum
      systems. We characterize the set of bipartite quantum states which admits a local
      hidden state model augmented with c bits of classical communication from an
      untrusted party (Alice) to a trusted party (Bob). In case of one bit of
      information (c = 1), we show that this set has a nontrivial intersection with the
      sets admitting a local hidden state and a local hidden variables model for
      projective measurements. On the other hand, we find that an infinite amount of
      classical communication is required from an untrusted Alice to a trusted Bob to
      simulate the EPR steering correlations produced by a two-qubit maximally
      entangled state. It is conjectured that a state-of-the-art quantum experiment
      would be able to falsify two bits of communication this way. 

PMID- 26880377
TI  - Molecular Basis for Differential Anion Binding and Proton Coupling in the Cl(
      )/H(+) Exchanger ClC-ec1.
AB  - Cl-/H+ transporters of the CLC superfamily form a ubiquitous class of membrane
      proteins that catalyze stoichiometrically coupled exchange of Cl- and H+ across
      biological membranes. CLC transporters exchange H+ for halides and certain
      polyatomic anions, but exclude cations, F-, and larger physiological anions, such
      as PO43- and SO42-. Despite comparable transport rates of different anions, the
      H+ coupling in CLC transporters varies significantly depending on the chemical
      nature of the transported anion. Although the molecular mechanism of exchange
      remains unknown, studies on bacterial ClC-ec1 transporter revealed that Cl-
      binding to the central anion-binding site (Scen) is crucial for the anion-coupled
      H+ transport. Here, we show that Cl-, F-, NO3-, and SCN- display distinct binding
      coordinations at the Scen site and are hydrated in different manners. Consistent
      with the observation of differential bindings, ClC-ec1 exhibits markedly variable
      ability to support the formation of the transient water wires, which are
      necessary to support the connection of the two H+ transfer sites (Gluin and
      Gluex), in the presence of different anions. While continuous water wires are
      frequently observed in the presence of physiologically transported Cl-, binding
      of F- or NO3- leads to the formation of pseudo-water-wires that are substantially
      different from the wires formed with Cl-. Binding of SCN-, however, eliminates
      the water wires altogether. These findings provide structural details of anion
      binding in ClC-ec1 and reveal a putative atomic-level mechanism for the
      decoupling of H+ transport to the transport of anions other than Cl-.

PMID- 26880378
TI  - The establishment of species-specific primers for the molecular identification of
      ten stored-product psocids based on ITS2 rDNA.
AB  - Psocids are important stored product pests found worldwide that can be spread
      through grain trade. Most stored-product psocids, including eggs, nymphs, and
      adults, are very small (~1 mm) and difficult to identify morphologically. Here,
      we collected 10 economically important stored-product Liposcelis spp. psocids (L.
      bostrychophila, L. entomophila, L. decolor, L. paeta, L. brunnea, L. corrodens,
      L. mendax, L. rufa, L. pearmani, and L. tricolor) from 35 geographical locations
      in 5 countries (China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, and the United States).
      The ITS2 rDNA gene was extracted and sequenced. The interspecific genetic
      distance of the stored-product psocids was significantly higher than the
      intraspecific genetic distance according to the barcoding gap analysis. Ten pairs
      of species-specific primers based on the ITS2 rDNA were developed for psocid
      identification. The sensitivity estimation indicated that the species-specific
      primers could correctly amplify the target ITS2 gene and successfully identify
      psocids at 1.0 ng/mL. Additionally, these species-specific primers could quantify
      specificity and identify 10 stored-product psocids; this approach could also be
      used to accurately identify other stored-product psocids. This work provides a
      practical approach for the precise examination of 10 stored-product psocid
      species and also contributes to the development of an identification method using
      ITS2 rDNA. 

PMID- 26880379
TI  - The potential of methylxanthine-based therapies in pediatric respiratory tract
      diseases.
AB  - Caffeine, theophylline and theobromine are the most known methylxanthines as they
      are present in coffee, tea and/or chocolate. In the last decades, a huge
      experimental effort has been devoted to get insight into the variety of actions
      that these compounds exert in humans. From such knowledge it is known that
      methylxanthines have a great potential in prevention, therapy and/or management
      of a variety of diseases. The benefits of methylxanthine-based therapies in the
      apnea of prematurity and their translational potential in pediatric affections of
      the respiratory tract are here presented. 

PMID- 26880380
TI  - Development of Photoactivatable Allosteric Modulators for the Chemokine Receptor
      CXCR3.
AB  - The CXCR3 receptor, a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is involved in
      the regulation and trafficking of various immune cells. CXCR3 antagonists have
      been proposed to be beneficial for the treatment of a wide range of disorders
      including but not limited to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The structure
      based design of CXCR3 ligands remains, however, hampered by a lack of structural
      information describing in detail the interactions between an allosteric ligand
      and the receptor. We designed and synthesized photoactivatable probes for the
      structural and functional characterization, using photoaffinity labeling followed
      by mass spectrometry, of the CXCR3 allosteric binding pocket of AMG 487 and
      RAMX3, two potent and selective CXCR3 negative allosteric modulators.
      Photoaffinity labeling is a common approach to elucidate binding modes of small
      molecule ligands of GPCRs through the aid of photoactivatable probes that convert
      to extremely reactive intermediates upon photolysis. The photolabile probe N-[({1
      [3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-yl]ethyl}-2-[4
      fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-{1-[4-(3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirin-3
      yl]benzyl}piperidin-4-yl)methyl]acetamide (10) showed significant labeling of the
      CXCR3 receptor (80%) in a [(3) H]RAMX3 radioligand displacement assay. Compound
      10 will serve as an important tool compound for the detailed investigation of the
      binding pocket of CXCR3 by mass spectrometry.

PMID- 26880381
TI  - Demonstration of Synaptic Behaviors and Resistive Switching Characterizations by
      Proton Exchange Reactions in Silicon Oxide.
AB  - We realize a device with biological synaptic behaviors by integrating silicon
      oxide (SiO(x)) resistive switching memory with Si diodes. Minimal synaptic power
      consumption due to sneak-path current is achieved and the capability for spike
      induced synaptic behaviors is demonstrated, representing critical milestones for
      the use of SiO2-based materials in future neuromorphic computing applications.
      Biological synaptic behaviors such as long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term
      depression (LTD) and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) are demonstrated
      systematically using a comprehensive analysis of spike-induced waveforms, and
      represent interesting potential applications for SiO(x)-based resistive switching
      materials. The resistive switching SET transition is modeled as hydrogen (proton)
      release from (SiH)2 to generate the hydrogen bridge defect, and the RESET
      transition is modeled as an electrochemical reaction (proton capture) that re
      forms (SiH)2. The experimental results suggest a simple, robust approach to
      realize programmable neuromorphic chips compatible with large-scale CMOS
      manufacturing technology.

PMID- 26880382
TI  - The PD-1/PD-L1 axis in the pathogenesis of urothelial bladder cancer and
      evaluating its potential as a therapeutic target.

PMID- 26880383
TI  - Novel therapies for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
AB  - Advanced squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma (SqCC) has traditionally been
      considered the 'neglected sibling' compared with lung adenocarcinoma due to lack
      of effective targeted treatment options. Currently, limited progress has been
      made in the systemic treatment of advanced disease and combination chemotherapy
      remains the gold standard. However, the recent completion of the molecular
      characterization of SqCC revealed an interestingly complex genomic profile,
      comprising various genetic alterations that can potentially function as molecular
      targets for the development of novel targeted agents. Recent encouraging results
      of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in several neoplasms has emerged as a
      promising novel treatment option for advanced SqCC. Future personalized studies,
      enrolling SqCC patients according to specific driving mutations are underway. 

PMID- 26880385
TI  - Cancer as a changed tissue's way of life (when to treat, when to watch and when
      to think).
AB  - The profound scientific and commercial success of molecular biology, the progress
      of 'cancer gene' investigation technologies, together, pushed forward the
      postulate that genes explain 'everything'. Yet, during the last few years the
      microenvironments of solid tumors have emerged as key modulators of initiation,
      progression and metastasis and as essential to the therapeutic response. In the
      present review, we provide a synthetic examination of the main traits of cells
      embedded into the cancer stroma and emphasize several evidences that all
      components of the tumor tissue cooperate in space and time. Then we turn to
      discuss the epitheliocentric somatic mutational view and other new paradigms
      assuming that disturbed tissue interactions among cell populations are critical
      to cancer causation, growth and spread. 

PMID- 26880386
TI  - Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2015: part 2.
AB  - 38th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), San Antonio, TX, USA, 8-12
      December 2015 The 38th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium was convened in
      San Antonio (TX, USA) on 8-12 December 2015. More than 7000 clinicians and
      scientists from around the world participated in the symposium, which featured a
      range of presentations and keynote talks pertaining to breast cancer screening,
      prevention, loco-regional and systemic therapies. This two-part report highlights
      a selection of important studies presented at this premier breast cancer event
      with part 1 focusing on radiotherapy treatment, translational approaches to
      immunotherapy and longer term cardiotoxicity from anti-HER2 therapies. The second
      part of this report will discuss a range of topics including de-escalation of
      chemotherapy regimens in luminal A tumors, the prognostic relevance of
      circulating tumor cells, the optimum treatment of triple-negative breast cancer
      and shifting attitudes to primary surgical treatment.

PMID- 26880384
TI  - The role of neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer: a review.
AB  - Controversy remains regarding neoadjuvant approaches in the treatment of
      pancreatic cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy has several potential advantages over
      adjuvant therapy including earlier delivery of systemic treatment, in vivo
      assessment of response, increased resectability rate in borderline resectable
      patients and increased margin-negative resection rate. At present, there are no
      randomized data favoring neoadjuvant over adjuvant therapy and multiple
      neoadjuvant approaches are under investigation. Combination chemotherapy regimens
      including 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin, gemcitabine with or without
      abraxane, or docetaxel and capecitabine have been used in the neoadjuvant
      setting. Radiation and chemoradiation have also been incorporated into
      neoadjuvant strategies, and delivery of alternative fractionation regimens is
      being explored. This review provides an overview of neoadjuvant therapies for
      pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26880387
TI  - Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2015: part 1.
AB  - 38th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX, USA, 8-12 December
      2015 The 38th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) was convened in
      San Antonio (TX, USA) on 8-12 December 2015. More than 7000 clinicians and
      scientists from around the world participated in the symposium, which featured a
      range of presentations and keynote talks pertaining to breast cancer screening,
      prevention, loco-regional and systemic therapies. This two-part report highlights
      a selection of important studies presented at this premier breast cancer event
      with part 1 focusing on radiotherapy treatment, translational approaches to
      immunotherapy and longer term cardiotoxicity from anti-HER2 therapies. The second
      part of this report will discuss a range of topics including de-escalation of
      chemotherapy regimens in luminal A tumors, the prognostic relevance of
      circulating tumor cells, the optimum treatment of triple-negative breast cancer
      and shifting attitudes to primary surgical treatment. 

PMID- 26880388
TI  - Relative cytotoxic potencies and cell death mechanisms of alpha1 -adrenoceptor
      antagonists in prostate cancer cell lines.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some alpha1 -adrenoceptor antagonists possess anti-cancer actions
      that are independent of alpha1 -adrenoceptors and the aim of these studies was to
      assess the relative cytotoxic potencies of alpha1 -adrenoceptor antagonists and
      the mechanisms involved in these actions. METHODS: PC-3 and LNCap human prostate
      cancer cells were exposed to alpha1 -adrenoceptor antagonists (0.01-100 MUM) and
      cell survival assessed after 24-72 hr. The levels of apoptosis, autophagy and
      stress related proteins were also determined. RESULTS: The relative cytotoxic
      potency order was prazosin = doxazosin > terazosin = silodosin = alfuzosin >
      tamsulosin on both cell types, but LNCaP cells were significantly more sensitive
      to these effects than PC-3 cells. Prazosin and doxazosin increased levels of
      apoptotsis and autophagy in both cell lines, and activated EphA2 receptors in PC
      3 cells. Autophagy contributed to survival of LNCaP, but promoted cell death in
      PC-3 cells. Treatment with prazosin (30 MUM) altered the expression of several
      cell stress-related proteins: elevating phospho-p38alpha and reducing S6 kinase
      in both cell lines. Surprisingly some proteins were differentially affected in
      the two prostate cancer cell lines: Akt and p27 increasing and HIF-1alpha
      decreasing in LNCap cells but not PC-3, while ADAMTS1 was increased in PC-3 cells
      only. CONCLUSIONS: Prazosin and doxazosin demonstrated cytotoxic actions on both
      castration-resistant PC-3 and androgen-sensitive LNCap prostate cancer cells. The
      mechanisms involved included changes in a number of proliferation and apoptosis
      regulatory proteins. The role of autophagy depended on the cell type, but
      contributed to cell death in PC3 cells.

PMID- 26880389
TI  - Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery in Type 1 Diabetes During Supervised
      Outpatient Conditions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Efficacy and safety of the Medtronic Hybrid Closed-Loop (HCL) system
      were tested in subjects with type 1 diabetes in a supervised outpatient setting.
      METHODS: The HCL system is a prototype research platform that includes a sensor
      augmented insulin pump in communication with a control algorithm housed on an
      Android-based cellular device. Nine subjects with type 1 diabetes (5 female, mean
      age 53.3 years, mean A1C 7.2%) underwent 9 studies totaling 571 hours of closed
      loop control using either default or personalized parameters. The system required
      meal announcements with estimates of carbohydrate (CHO) intake that were based on
      metabolic kitchen quantification (MK), dietician estimates (D), or subject
      estimates (Control). Postprandial glycemia was compared for MK, D, and Control
      meals. RESULTS: The overall sensor glucose mean was 145 +/- 43, the overall
      percentage time in the range 70-180 mg/dL was 80%, the overall percentage time
      <70 mg/dL was 0.79%. Compared to intervals of default parameter use (225 hours),
      intervals of personalized parameter use (346 hours), sensor glucose mean was 158
      +/- 49 and 137 +/- 37 mg/dL (P < .001), respectively, and included more time in
      range (87% vs 68%) and less time below range (0.54% vs 1.18%). Most subjects
      underestimated the CHO content of meals, but postprandial glycemia was not
      significantly different between MK and matched Control meals (P = .16) or between
      D and matched Control meals (P = .76). There were no episodes of severe
      hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: The HCL system was efficacious and safe during this
      study. Personally adapted HCL parameters were associated with more time in range
      and less time below range than default parameters. Accurate estimates of meal CHO
      did not contribute to improved postprandial glycemia.

PMID- 26880390
TI  - Nonadjunctive Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes Treatment
      Decisions.
AB  - While self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is the current standard used by
      people with diabetes to manage glucose levels, recent improvements in accuracy of
      continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology are making it very likely that
      diabetes-related treatment decisions will soon be made based on CGM values alone.
      Nonadjunctive use of CGM will lead to a paradigm shift in how patients manage
      their glucose levels and will require substantial changes in how care providers
      educate their patients, monitor their progress, and provide feedback to help them
      manage their diabetes. The approval to use CGM nonadjunctively is also a critical
      step in the pathway toward FDA approval of an artificial pancreas system, which
      is further expected to transform diabetes care for people with type 1 diabetes.
      In this article, we discuss how nonadjunctive CGM is expected to soon replace
      routine SMBG and how this new usage scenario is expected to transform health
      outcomes and patient care.

PMID- 26880391
TI  - Glucose Variability: Comparison of Different Indices During Continuous Glucose
      Monitoring in Diabetic Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glucose variability has been suspected to be a major factor of
      diabetic complications. Several indices have been proposed for measuring glucose
      variability, but their interest remains discussed. Our aim was to compare
      different indices. METHODS: Glucose variability was studied in 150 insulin
      treated diabetic patients (46% men, 42% type 1 diabetes, age 52 +/- 11 years)
      using a continuous glucose monitoring system (668 +/- 564 glucose values; mean
      glucose value 173 +/- 38 mg/dL). Results from the mean, the median, different
      indices (SD, MAGE, MAG, glucose fluctuation index (GFI), and percentages of low
      [<60 mg/dL] and high [>180 mg/dL] glucose values), and ratios (CV = SD/m, MAGE/m,
      MAG/m, and GCF = GFI/m) were compared using Pearson linear correlations and a
      multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS: CV, MAGE/m (ns), GCF
      and GFI (P < .05), MAG and MAG/m (P < .01) were not strongly correlated with the
      mean. The percentage of high glucose values was mainly correlated with indices.
      The percentage of low glucose values was mainly correlated with ratios. PCA
      showed 3 main axes; the first was associated with descriptive data (mean, SD, CV,
      MAGE, MAGE/m, and percentage of high glucose values); the second with ratios
      MAG/m and GCF and with the percentage of low glucose values; and the third with
      MAG, GFI, and the percentage of high glucose values. CONCLUSIONS: Indices and
      ratios provide complementary pieces of information associated with high and low
      glucose values, respectively. The pairs MAG+MAG/m and GFI+GCF appear to be the
      most reliable markers of glucose variability in diabetic patients.

PMID- 26880393
TI  - Visible light response, electrical transport, and amorphization in compressed
      organolead iodine perovskites.
AB  - Recent scientific advances on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are mainly
      focused on the improvement of power conversion efficiency. So far, how
      compression tunes their electronic and structural properties remains less
      understood. By combining in situ photocurrent, impedance spectroscopy, and X-ray
      diffraction (XRD) measurements, we have studied the electrical transport and
      structural properties of compressed CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) nanorods. The visible
      light response of MAPbI3 remains robust below 3 GPa while it is suppressed when
      it becomes amorphous. Pressure-induced electrical transport properties of MAPbI3
      including resistance, relaxation frequency, and relative permittivity have been
      investigated under pressure up to 8.5 GPa by in situ impedance spectroscopy
      measurements. These results indicate that the discontinuous changes of these
      physical parameters occur around the structural phase transition pressure. The
      XRD studies of MAPbI3 under high pressure up to 20.9 GPa show that a phase
      transformation below 0.7 GPa, could be attributed to the tilting and distortion
      of PbI6 octahedra. And pressure-induced amorphization is reversible at a low
      density amorphous state but irreversible at a relatively higher density state.
      Furthermore, the MAPbI3 nanorods crush into nanopieces around 0.9 GPa which helps
      us to explain why the mixed phase of tetragonal and orthorhombic was observed at
      0.5 GPa. The pressure modulated changes of electrical transport and visible light
      response properties open up a new approach for exploring CH3NH3PbI3-based photo
      electronic applications. 

PMID- 26880394
TI  - Toll-like receptor-mediated immune response inhibits prion propagation.
AB  - Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans and
      various mammals. The prominent neuropathological change in prion diseases is
      neuroinflammation characterized by activation of neuroglia surrounding prion
      deposition. The cause and effect of this cellular response, however, is unclear.
      We investigated innate immune defenses against prion infection using primary
      mixed neuronal and glial cultures. Conditional prion propagation occurred in
      glial cultures depending on their immune status. Preconditioning of the cells
      with the toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand, lipopolysaccharide, resulted in a
      reduction in prion propagation, whereas suppression of the immune responses with
      the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, increased prion propagation. In
      response to recombinant prion fibrils, glial cells up-regulated TLRs (TLR1 and
      TLR2) expression and secreted cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin
      1beta, interleukin-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and
      interferon-beta). Preconditioning of neuronal and glial cultures with recombinant
      prion fibrils inhibited prion replication and altered microglial and astrocytic
      populations. Our results provide evidence that, in early stages of prion
      infection, glial cells respond to prion infection through TLR-mediated innate
      immunity.

PMID- 26880392
TI  - The Potential Cost Implications of Averting Severe Hypoglycemic Events Requiring
      Hospitalization in High-Risk Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Using Real-Time
      Continuous Glucose Monitoring.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Severe hypoglycemia remains a major barrier to optimal diabetes
      management and places a high burden on the US health care system due to the high
      costs of hypoglycemia-related emergency visits and hospitalizations. Patients
      with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) who have hypoglycemia unawareness are at a
      particularly high risk for severe hypoglycemia, the incidence of which may be
      reduced by the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM). METHODS:
      We performed a cost calculation using values of key parameters derived from
      various published sources to examine the potential cost implications of
      standalone RT-CGM as a tool for reducing rates of severe hypoglycemia requiring
      hospitalization in adult patients with T1DM who have hypoglycemia unawareness.
      RESULTS: In a hypothetical commercial health plan with 10 million members aged 18
      64 years, 9.3% (930 000) are expected to have diagnosed diabetes, with
      approximately 5% (46 500) having T1DM, of whom approximately 20% (9300) have
      hypoglycemia unawareness. RT-CGM was estimated to reduce the cost of annual
      hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in this select population by $54 369 000,
      yielding an estimated net cost savings of $8 799 000 to $12 519 000 and a savings
      of $946 to $1346 per patient. CONCLUSION: This article presents a cost
      calculation based on available data from multiple sources showing that RT-CGM has
      the potential to reduce short-term health care costs by averting severe
      hypoglycemic events requiring hospitalization in a select high-risk population.
      Prospective, randomized studies that are adequately powered and specifically
      enroll patients at high risk for severe hypoglycemia are needed to confirm that
      RT-CGM significantly reduces the incidence of these costly events.

PMID- 26880395
TI  - Risking Life and Limb: Estimating a Measure of Medical Care Economic Risk and
      Considering its Implications.
AB  - This paper considers the risk of incurring future medical expenditures in light
      of a family's resources available to pay for those expenditures as well as their
      choice of health insurance. We model non-premium medical out-of-pocket
      expenditures and use the estimates from our model to develop a prospective
      measure of medical care economic risk estimating the proportion of families who
      are at risk of incurring high non-premium out-of-pocket medical care expenses in
      relation to its resources. We further use the estimates from our model to compare
      the extent to which different types of insurance mitigate the risk of incurring
      non-premium expenditures by providing for increased utilization of medical care.
      We find that while 21.3% of families lack the resources to pay for the median
      expenditures for their insurance type, 42.4% lack the resources to pay for the
      99th percentile of expenditures for their insurance type. We also find the
      mediating effect of insurance on non-premium expenditures to outweigh the
      associated premium expense for expenditures above $1804 for employer-sponsored
      insurance and $4337 for direct purchase insurance for those younger than age 65;
      and above $12 118 of expenditures for Medicare supplementary plans for those aged
      65 or older. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the
      public domain in the USA.

PMID- 26880396
TI  - Can No-Report Paradigms Extract True Correlates of Consciousness?

PMID- 26880397
TI  - Thermal Tolerances of the Spotted-Wing Drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Diptera:
      Drosophilidae).
AB  - The spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii Matsumura) is an invasive species
      of Asian origin that is now widely distributed in North America and Europe.
      Because of the female's serrated ovipositor, eggs are laid in preharvest fruit,
      causing large economic losses in cultivated berries and stone fruit. Modeling D.
      suzukii population dynamics and potential distribution will require information
      on its thermal tolerance. Large summer populations have been found in regions
      with severe winter conditions, though little is known about responses to
      prolonged low-temperature exposure. We used controlled chambers to examine D.
      suzukii fecundity, development rate, and mortality across a range of temperatures
      encompassing the upper and lower thresholds (5-35 degrees C). Optimal
      temperatures (Topt) were found to be 28.2 degrees C for the development of the
      egg-to-adult stage, and 22.9 degrees C for reproductive output. No adult eclosion
      occurred below 8.1 degrees C (Tlower) or above 30.9 degrees C (Tupper). We also
      investigated survival outcomes following prolonged (42-d) low-temperature
      exposure to a simulated cold winter (-5, -3, -1, 1, 3, and 5 degrees C). Adult
      survival was dependent on temperature, with a mean LT50 of 4.9 degrees C. There
      were no effects of sex, mating status, geographic strain, and photoperiod
      preexposure on overwintering survival. Thirty-eight percent of females that were
      mated prior, but not after, prolonged low-temperature exposure produced viable
      offspring, suggesting that this species may undergo sperm storage. This study
      provides data on the thermal tolerances of D. suzukii, which can be used for
      models of D. suzukii population dynamics, degree-day, and distribution models.

PMID- 26880398
TI  - Modulation of Juvenile Hormone Esterase Gene Expression Against Development of
      Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).
AB  - The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a
      widespread and destructive pest of cruciferous crops. Owing to its increasing
      resistance to conventional pesticides, new strategies need to be developed for
      diamondback moth control. Here, we investigated factors that modulate juvenile
      hormone esterase (JHE) activity and jhe (Px004817) transcription, and determined
      the effects of these factors on subsequent growth and development in diamondback
      moth. Starvation inhibited JHE activity and jhe transcription, increased
      mortality, and decreased the rate of molting from the third- to the fourth-instar
      stages. Larvae kept at 32 degrees C molted earlier and showed increased JHE
      activity and jhe transcription after 24-h treatment. Exposure to 1,325 mg/liter
      OTFP (3-octylthio-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone) delayed molting and pupation,
      increased pupal weight, and decreased JHE activity and jhe transcription at both
      24 and 48 h. Treatment with 500 mg/liter pyriproxyfen delayed molting, completely
      suppressed pupation, and significantly increased JHE activity at 48 h and jhe
      transcription at 24 and 48 h. A combination of OTFP (1,325 mg/liter) and
      pyriproxyfen (500 mg/liter) induced the highest mortality, delayed molting,
      completely suppressed pupation, and significantly increased JHE activity at 48 h
      and jhe transcription at 24 and 48 h. These effects on JHE activity and jhe
      transcription were similar to those in insects treated only with pyriproxyfen.
      The results demonstrated that JHE and jhe (Px004817) were involved in the
      responses of diamondback moth to external modulators and caused changes in growth
      and development. The combination of OTFP and pyriproxyfen increased the
      effectiveness of action against diamondback moth.

PMID- 26880399
TI  - The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics by liver
      transplant recipients.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the reasons and the frequency of
      the use of over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
      or analgesics by liver transplant recipients (LTR). Patient awareness of possible
      drug-related side-effects was also assessed. BACKGROUND: NSAIDs and analgesics
      available without prescription belong to the most commonly used class of drugs.
      However, use of these drugs might be complicated by toxic adverse effects (AEs).
      Patients at risk for AEs include the transplant recipients. DESIGN/METHODS: This
      was a descriptive study. An anonymous survey was carried out in 73 randomly
      selected LTR, who represented 10% of all LTR at our centre. RESULTS: There were
      64% of the patients who confirmed taking NSAIDs or analgesics; 16% of these
      patients took these drugs at least several times a week and 10% took them daily.
      For 39% of patients, the only way to manage their pain were OTC NSAIDs or
      analgesics. As many as 36% of patients were unaware of the risks associated with
      the use of these drugs. Ninety per cent of LTR consider physicians the most
      trusted source of drugs information. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that two-thirds
      of LTR take OTC NSAIDs or analgesics and one-third are unaware of the AEs
      associated with these drugs. Therefore, both transplant nurses and doctors should
      educate their patients about the use and possible AE of these drugs. RELEVANCE TO
      CLINICAL PRACTICE: Considering the high NSAIDs consumption rates, the side
      effects of these drugs should always be suspected. Especially in patients taking
      these drugs and referring to medical advisors with specific symptoms, such as:
      abdominal pain, anaemia, elevated serum creatinine concentration or liver enzymes
      activity. Awareness of the scale of the problem enables health professionals to
      cooperate in educating patients. Such practices may reduce uncontrolled abuse of
      these drugs and related health care costs.

PMID- 26880400
TI  - Chromosomal microarray provides enhanced targetable gene aberration detection
      when paired with next generation sequencing panel in profiling lung and
      colorectal tumors.
AB  - The development of targeted therapies based on specific genomic alterations has
      altered the treatment and management of lung and colorectal cancers. Chromosomal
      microarray (CMA) has allowed identification of copy number variations (CNVs) in
      lung and colorectal cancers in great detail, and next-generation sequencing (NGS)
      is used extensively to analyze the genome of cancers for molecular subtyping and
      use of molecularly guided therapies. The main objective of this study was to
      evaluate the utility of combining CMA and NGS for a comprehensive genomic
      assessment of lung and colorectal adenocarcinomas, especially for detecting drug
      targets. We compared the results from NGS and CMA data from 60 lung and 51
      colorectal tumors. From CMA analysis, 33% were amplified, 89% showed gains, 75%
      showed losses and 41% demonstrated loss of heterozygosity; pathogenic variants
      were identified in 81% of colon and 67% lung specimens through NGS. KRAS
      mutations commonly occurred with loss in TP53 and there was significant loss of
      BRCA1 and NF1 among male patients with lung cancer. For clinically actionable
      targets, 23% had targetable CNVs when no pathogenic variants were detected by
      NGS. The data thus indicate that combining the two approaches provides
      significant benefit in a routine clinical setting not available by NGS alone. 

PMID- 26880401
TI  - Persistent inflammation and recovery after intensive care: A systematic review.
AB  - PURPOSE: Physical weakness is common after critical illness; however, it is not
      clear how best to treat it. Inflammation characterizes critical illness, is
      associated with loss of muscle mass during critical illness, and potentially
      modifies post-intensive care unit (ICU) recovery. We sought to identify published
      reports on the prevalence of systemic inflammation after critical illness and its
      association with physical recovery. METHODS: This is a systematic review of the
      literature from MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CPCI-SSH, and CPCI-S from January 1982
      to December 2011. RESULTS: From 7433 references, 207 full-text articles were
      reviewed, 57 were eligible, and 22 were included. Inflammation was present in
      most patients at ICU discharge according to C-reactive protein concentration
      (range, 70%-100%), procalcitonin (range, 89%-100%), tumor necrosis factor alpha
      (100%), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (range, 92%-95%).
      Fewer patients had elevated myeloperoxidase concentrations (range, 0%-56%). At
      hospital discharge, 9 (90%) of 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
      had elevated C-reactive protein. No studies tested the association between
      inflammation and physical recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation is present in most
      patients at ICU discharge, but little is known or has been investigated about
      persistent inflammation after this time point. No studies have explored the
      relationship between persistent inflammation and physical recovery. Further
      research is proposed.

PMID- 26880403
TI  - The Uptake and Assembly of Alkanes within a Porous Nanocapsule in Water: New
      Information about Hydrophobic Confinement.
AB  - In Nature, enzymes provide hydrophobic cavities and channels for sequestering
      small alkanes or long-chain alkyl groups from water. Similarly, the porous metal
      oxide capsule [{Mo(VI) 6 O21 (H2 O)6 }12 {(Mo(V) 2 O4 )30 (L)29 (H2 O)2 }](41-)
      (L=propionate ligand) features distinct domains for sequestering differently
      sized alkanes (as in Nature) as well as internal dimensions suitable for multi
      alkane clustering. The ethyl tails of the 29 endohedrally coordinated ligands, L,
      form a spherical, hydrophobic "shell", while their methyl end groups generate a
      hydrophobic cavity with a diameter of 11 A at the center of the capsule. As such,
      C7 to C3 straight-chain alkanes are tightly intercalated between the ethyl tails,
      giving assemblies containing 90 to 110 methyl and methylene units, whereas two or
      three ethane molecules reside in the central cavity of the capsule, where they
      are free to rotate rapidly, a phenomenon never before observed for the uptake of
      alkanes from water by molecular cages or containers. 

PMID- 26880402
TI  - Eosinophil resistance to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis is mediated by the
      transcription factor NFIL3.
AB  - The mainstay of asthma therapy, glucocorticoids (GCs) exert their therapeutic
      effects through the inhibition of inflammatory signaling and induction of
      eosinophil apoptosis. However, laboratory and clinical observations of GC
      resistant asthma suggest that GCs' effects on eosinophil viability may depend on
      the state of eosinophil activation. In the present study we demonstrate that
      eosinophils stimulated with IL-5 show impaired pro-apoptotic response to GCs. We
      sought to determine the contribution of GC-mediated transactivating (TA) and
      transrepressing (TR) pathways in modulation of activated eosinophils' response to
      GC by comparing their response to the selective GC receptor (GR) agonist Compound
      A (CpdA) devoid of TA activity to that upon treatment with Dexamethasone (Dex).
      IL-5-activated eosinophils showed contrasting responses to CpdA and Dex, as IL-5
      treated eosinophils showed no increase in apoptosis compared to cells treated
      with Dex alone, while CpdA elicited an apoptotic response regardless of IL-5
      stimulation. Proteomic analysis revealed that both Nuclear Factor IL-3 (NFIL3)
      and Map Kinase Phosphatase 1 (MKP1) were inducible by IL-5 and enhanced by Dex;
      however, CpdA had no effect on NFIL3 and MKP1 expression. We found that
      inhibiting NFIL3 with specific siRNA or by blocking the IL-5-inducible Pim-1
      kinase abrogated the protective effect of IL-5 on Dex-induced apoptosis,
      indicating crosstalk between IL-5 anti-apoptotic pathways and GR-mediated TA
      signaling occurring via the NFIL3 molecule. Collectively, these results indicate
      that (1) GCs' TA pathway may support eosinophil viability in IL-5-stimulated
      cells through synergistic upregulation of NFIL3; and (2) functional inhibition of
      IL-5 signaling (anti-Pim1) or the use of selective GR agonists that don't
      upregulate NFIL3 may be effective strategies for the restoring pro-apoptotic
      effect of GCs on IL-5-activated eosinophils. 

PMID- 26880404
TI  - Soluble galectin-3 is associated with premature myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammatory responses are pivotal in the initiation and development
      of premature atherosclerotic lesions. Galectin-3 represents a valuable biomarker
      for both progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic lesions. This study
      aims to assess the involvement of galectin-3 in premature myocardial infarction.
      DESIGN: In this multicentre case-control study, we assessed circulating galectin
      3 levels in 144 patients comprising 72 consecutive survivors of acute myocardial
      infarction (<= 40 years) and 72 hospital controls frequency matched for age,
      gender and centre. RESULTS: Patients with acute myocardial infarction showed
      significantly higher galectin-3 levels as compared to controls in the acute phase
      of acute myocardial infarction (2552 +/- 1992 vs. 1666 +/- 829 pg/mL; P < 0.001)
      as well as in the stable phase 1 year after the index event (3692 +/- 1774 vs.
      1666 +/- 829 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Circulating galectin-3 was significantly and
      independently associated with premature myocardial infarction in the logistic
      regression analysis (acute phase: adj. OR per 1-SD change 2.03, 95% CI 1.30-3.19;
      P = 0.002; stable phase: adj. OR of 6.54 (95% CI 2.56-16.68; P < 0.001).
      Moreover, we observed a significant correlation between circulating galectin-3
      and leucocyte count (r = 0.35, P < 0.001), non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.23, P =
      0.014) and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.29, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated
      that elevated levels of circulating galectin-3 are strongly associated with
      premature myocardial infarction. Galectin-3 might serve as link between
      dyslipidaemia as driving force of plaque formation with inflammation as initiator
      of plaque rupture in patients with premature acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 26880405
TI  - Potential intake of vitamins "A" and "D" through branded intravenous lipid
      emulsions: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis.
AB  - No data exist for vitamin A group and vitamin D2/D3 content in branded
      intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs). Our goal is to evaluate and quantify their
      concentrations in different ILEs to assess whether they are clinically relevant.
      Analyses were carried out in triplicates on six ILEs: 1) 30% soybean oil-based,
      2) 20% olive-soybean oil based, 3) 10 + 10% soybean - MCT coconut oil based, 4)
      20% soybean-olive-MCT-fish oil based, 5) 20% soybean-MCT-fish oil based and 6)
      10% pure fish oil based, respectively. Retinol group (vitamin A) and ergo-chole
      calciferol (vitamin D2/D3) were analyzed and quantified by a quali-quantitative
      Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method after potassium
      hydroxide alkaline hydrolysis, hexane extraction, reverse phase-liquid
      chromatography and specific multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) detection. On
      average, measured retinol content was in the range of 200-1000 MUg/L in ILEs
      (1,2, and 3), whereas it was higher (1000-2000 MUg/L) in the ILEs containing fish
      oil. Vitamin D content was in the range of 1-10 MUg/L in the fish-oil based ILEs,
      but undetectable in those ILEs containing purely vegetable oils. This study shows
      that vitamin A and D contents are variably present in ILEs based on their
      different lipid sources. Both contents should be explicitly mentioned in the
      products.

PMID- 26880406
TI  - Reply - Letter to the Editor - Pulmonary rehabilitation and oral nutritional
      supplement enriched with beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate for bronchiectasis
      participants: A prospective, randomised study.

PMID- 26880407
TI  - The Usefulness of Chest X-Rays for T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma Surveillance.
AB  - PURPOSE: The overall incidence of pulmonary metastasis of T1 renal cell carcinoma
      is low. We evaluated the usefulness of chest x-rays based on the current AUA
      (American Urological Association) guidelines and NCCN Guidelines(r) for T1a renal
      cell carcinoma surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2012, 258
      patients with T1a renal cell carcinoma were treated with partial nephrectomy,
      radical nephrectomy or radio frequency ablation with surveillance followup at our
      institution. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify demographics,
      pathological findings and surveillance records. The primary outcome was the
      incidence of asymptomatic pulmonary recurrences diagnosed by chest x-ray in cases
      of T1a disease. Our secondary outcome was a comparison of diagnoses by treatment
      modality (partial nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy or radio frequency ablation).
      RESULTS: Pulmonary metastases developed in 3 of 258 patients (1.2%) but only 1
      (0.4%) was diagnosed by standard chest x-ray surveillance. Median followup in the
      entire cohort was 36 months (range 6 to 152) and 193 of 258 patients (75%) had
      greater than 24 months of followup. A mean of 3.3 surveillance chest x-rays were
      completed per patient. When assessed by treatment type, there was no significant
      difference in the recurrence rate for partial nephrectomy (0 of 191 cases),
      radical nephrectomy (0 of 22) or radio frequency ablation (1 of 45 or 2.2%) (p =
      0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Chest x-rays are a low yield diagnostic tool for detecting
      pulmonary metastasis in patients treated for T1a renal cel carcinoma. Treatment
      mode does not appear to influence the need for chest x-ray surveillance.

PMID- 26880408
TI  - Prostate Cancer Diagnosis on Repeat Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Transrectal
      Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy of Benign Lesions: Recommendations for Repeat Sampling.
AB  - PURPOSE: Urologists face a dilemma when a lesion identified on multiparametric
      magnetic resonance imaging is benign on image guided fusion biopsy. We
      investigated the detection rate of prostate cancer on repeat fusion biopsy in
      multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging lesions initially found to be
      pathologically benign on fusion biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the
      records of all patients from 2007 to 2014 who underwent multiparametric magnetic
      resonance imaging and image guided fusion biopsy. We identified men who underwent
      rebiopsy of the same discrete lesion after initial fusion biopsy results were
      benign. Data were documented on a per lesion basis. We manually reviewed UroNav
      system (Invivo, Gainesville, Florida) needle tracking to verify accurate image
      registration. Multivariate analysis was used to identify clinical and imaging
      factors predictive of prostate cancer detection at repeat fusion biopsy. RESULTS:
      A total of 131 unique lesions were rebiopsied in 90 patients. Of these 131
      resampled lesions 21 (16%) showed prostate cancer, which in 13 (61.9%) was
      Gleason 3 + 3. On multivariate analysis only lesion growth on repeat
      multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging was significantly associated with
      prostate cancer detection at repeat biopsy (HR 3.274, 95% CI 1.205-8.896, p =
      0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Pathologically benign multiparametric magnetic resonance
      imaging lesions on initial image guided fusion biopsy are rarely found to harbor
      clinically significant prostate cancer on repeat biopsy. When prostate cancer was
      identified, most disease was low risk. An increase in lesion diameter was an
      independent predictor of prostate cancer detection. While these data are
      retrospective, they may provide some confidence in the reliability of negative
      initial image guided fusion biopsies despite a positive multiparametric magnetic
      resonance imaging finding.

PMID- 26880409
TI  - Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Due to Bacterial Persistence or Reinfection in
      Women-Does This Factor Impact Upper Tract Imaging Findings?
AB  - PURPOSE: We compared the rates of upper tract imaging abnormalities of recurrent
      urinary tract infections due to bacterial persistence or reinfection. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Following institutional review board approval we reviewed a
      prospectively maintained database of women with documented recurrent urinary
      tract infections (3 or more per year) and trigonitis. We searched for demographic
      data, urine culture findings and findings on radiology interpreted upper tract
      imaging, including renal ultrasound, computerized tomography or excretory
      urogram. Patients with irretrievable images, absent or incomplete urine culture
      results for review, no imaging performed, an obvious source of recurrent urinary
      tract infections or a history of pyelonephritis were excluded from analysis.
      RESULTS: Of 289 women from 2006 to 2014 with symptomatic recurrent urinary tract
      infections 116 met study inclusion criteria. Mean +/- SD age was 65.0 +/- 14.4
      years. Of the women 95% were white and 81% were postmenopausal. Almost a third
      were sexually active and none had prolapse stage 2 or greater. Of the 116 women
      48 (41%) had persistent and 68 (59%) had reinfection recurrent urinary tract
      infection. Imaging included ultrasound in 52 patients, computerized tomography in
      26, ultrasound and computerized tomography in 31, and excretory urogram with
      ultrasound/computerized tomography in 7. Of the total of 58 imaging findings in
      55 women 57 (98%) were noncontributory. One case (0.9%) of mild hydronephrosis
      was noted in the persistent recurrent urinary tract infection group but it was
      not related to any clinical parameters. Escherichia coli was the dominant
      bacteria in 71% of persistent and 47% of reinfection recurrent urinary tract
      infections in the most recently reported urine culture. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      reaffirms that upper tract imaging is not indicated for bacterial reinfection,
      recurrent urinary tract infections. However, the same conclusion can be extended
      to recurrent urinary tract infections secondary to bacterial persistence, thus,
      questioning the routine practice of upper tract studies in white postmenopausal
      women with recurrent urinary tract infections and trigonitis.

PMID- 26880410
TI  - Promising Effects of a Novel EP2 and EP3 Receptor Dual Agonist, ONO-8055, on
      Neurogenic Underactive Bladder in a Rat Lumbar Canal Stenosis Model.
AB  - PURPOSE: We investigated whether the novel EP (prostaglandin E2) receptor agonist
      ONO-8055 would improve the lower urinary tract dysfunction of neurogenic
      underactive bladder in a rat lumbar spinal canal stenosis model. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: First, we studied the agonistic effect of ONO-8055 on EP receptors in EP
      receptor expressing CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells using the increase in the
      intracellular calcium level and intracellular cAMP (cyclic adenosine
      monophosphate) production as indicators of receptor activation. The effects of
      ONO-8055 on bladder and urethral strips from normal rats were then investigated.
      Finally, the effects of ONO-8055 on bladder and urethral function in rats with
      lumbar spinal canal stenosis were evaluated by awake cystometry and intraurethral
      perfusion pressure, respectively. The effects of tamsulosin and distigmine on
      urethral pressure were also evaluated. RESULTS: ONO-8055 is a highly potent and
      selective agonist for EP2 and EP3 receptors on CHO cells. While this compound
      contracted bladder strips, it relaxed urethral strips. Awake cystometry showed
      that ONO-8055 significantly decreased bladder capacity, post-void residual urine
      and voiding pressure. Compared with vehicle, tamsulosin and ONO-8055
      significantly decreased urethral pressure. CONCLUSIONS: ONO-8055 decreased post
      void residual urine, probably by decreasing bladder capacity. The decrease in
      voiding pressure probably resulted from the lowered urethral pressure due to
      relaxation of the urethra. Thus, the novel EP2 and EP3 receptor dual agonist ONO
      8055 has the potential to improve neurogenic underactive bladder.

PMID- 26880411
TI  - Evaluating Alternative Materials for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence
      and Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Comparison of the In Vivo Response to Meshes
      Implanted in Rabbits.
AB  - PURPOSE: Serious complications can develop with the mesh implants used for stress
      urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery. We evaluated 2 materials
      currently in clinical use and 2 alternative materials using a rabbit abdominal
      model to assess host response and biomechanical properties of the materials
      before and after implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Poly-L-lactic acid and
      polyurethane meshes were electrospun to be compared to commercially available
      polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride meshes. A total of 40 immunocompetent
      full-thickness abdominal wall defect rabbit models were used, including 8 in each
      of the poly-L-lactic acid, polyurethane, polyvinylidene fluoride and
      polypropylene experimental groups, and sham controls. Two 20 mm defects were
      created per animal and primarily repaired. The experimental groups then underwent
      onlay of each repair material while sham controls did not. Four rabbits per group
      were sacrificed at days 30 and 90. Abdominal wall specimens containing the defect
      with or without repair material were explanted to be assessed by histology
      (hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry) and biomechanical
      testing at 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: At 90 days of implantation tissues repaired
      with all 4 materials showed biomechanical properties without significant
      differences. However, polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride meshes
      demonstrated a sustained chronic inflammatory response profile by 90 days. In
      contrast, poly-L-lactic acid and polyurethane meshes integrated well into host
      tissues with a decreased inflammatory response, indicative of constructive
      remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Poly-L-lactic acid and polyurethane alternative
      materials achieved better host integration in rabbit models than current
      synthetic repair materials.

PMID- 26880412
TI  - Hydrogen Sulfide Induced Erythropoietin Synthesis is Regulated by HIF Proteins.
AB  - PURPOSE: Anemia of end stage renal disease affects 90% of patients on
      hemodialysis and it is a tremendous concern of patients and health care
      providers. Renal disease creates a state of renal hypoxia, which may contribute
      to a lack of erythropoietin production from the kidney when low oxygen levels are
      sensed. This necessitates the use of exogenous erythropoietin preparations.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recent evidence suggests that endogenously derived
      hydrogen sulfide may mediate oxygen sensing in tissues. Given the known
      involvement of other small molecules such as nitric oxide in erythropoietin
      production and the observation of decreased urinary H2S levels in patients with
      renal failure, we postulated that H2S may be the primary mediator of
      erythropoietin production during hypoxia. PK1, 786-O and Hep3B cells were
      incubated in hypoxia (1% O2) for 24 hours. Hypoxic cells were treated with the
      H2S donor GYY 4137 and the H2S inhibitor hydroxylamine. Following hypoxia
      erythropoietin, HIF-1alpha, HIF-2alpha and CBS expression was measured by
      quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS:
      Hydroxylamine administration led to a significant decrease in erythropoietin, HIF
      1alpha, HIF-2alpha and CBS protein levels during hypoxia. This was rescued by
      administration of GYY 4137 for erythropoietin, CBS and HIF-2alpha. Additionally,
      CSE -/- mice placed in hypoxia for 72 hours showed decreased renal erythropoietin
      production compared to wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest previously
      undocumented interplay of the production and action of H2S during hypoxia with
      subsequent erythropoietin production. The use of novel hydrogen sulfide donors
      could represent an alternative to standard therapies of anemia of renal failure.

PMID- 26880413
TI  - A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prostate
      Cancer Screening in the General Population.
AB  - PURPOSE: To our knowledge the role of magnetic resonance imaging as a first line
      screening test for prostate cancer is unknown. We performed a pilot study to
      evaluate the feasibility of prostate magnetic resonance imaging as the primary
      screening test for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited
      unselected men from the general population. Prostate multiparametric magnetic
      resonance imaging and random or targeted biopsies were performed in all patients,
      in addition to prostate specific antigen testing. We compared the performance of
      prostate magnetic resonance imaging and prostate specific antigen test results to
      predict prostate cancer. RESULTS: Of the 47 recruited patients 18 (38.3%) had
      cancer while 29 (61.7%) had no evidence of cancer. The adjusted OR of prostate
      cancer was significantly higher for magnetic resonance imaging score than for
      prostate specific antigen level (2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.4, p = 0.004 vs 1.1, 95% CI
      0.9-1.4, p = 0.21). Among the 30 patients with a normal prostate specific antigen
      (less than 4.0 ng/ml) the positive predictive value in those with a magnetic
      resonance imaging score of 4 or more was 66.7% (6 of 9) and the negative
      predictive value in those with a magnetic resonance imaging score of 3 or less
      was 85.7% (18 of 21, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study we determined
      the feasibility of using multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging as
      the primary screening test for prostate cancer. Initial results showed that
      prostate magnetic resonance imaging was better to predict prostate cancer than
      prostate specific antigen in an unselected sample of the general population.

PMID- 26880414
TI  - Use of Pediatric Open, Laparoscopic and Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Ureteral
      Reimplantation in the United States: 2000 to 2012.
AB  - PURPOSE: We characterize the use of pediatric open, laparoscopic and robot
      assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation in the United States from 2000 to
      2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Kids' Inpatient Database to identify
      patients who underwent ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux.
      Before 2009 laparoscopic ureteral reimplantion and robot-assisted laparoscopic
      ureteral reimplantation were referred to together as minimally invasive ureteral
      reimplantation. A detailed analysis of open vs robot-assisted laparoscopic
      ureteral reimplantation was performed for 2009 and 2012. RESULTS: A total of
      14,581 ureteral reimplantations were performed. The number of ureteral
      reimplantations yearly decreased by 14.3%. However, the proportion of minimally
      invasive ureteral reimplantations increased from 0.3% to 6.3%. A total of 125
      robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantations were performed in 2012
      (81.2% of minimally invasive ureteral reimplantations), representing 5.1% of all
      ureteral reimplantations, compared to 3.8% in 2009. In 2009 and 2012 mean +/- SD
      patient age was 5.7 +/- 3.6 years for robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral
      reimplantation and 4.3 +/- 3.3 years for open reimplantation (p <0.0001). Mean +/
      SD length of hospitalization was 1.6 +/- 1.3 days for robot-assisted
      laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation and 2.4 +/- 2.6 for open reimplantation (p
      <0.0001). Median charges were $22,703 for open and $32,409 for robot-assisted
      laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (p <0.0001). These relationships maintained
      significance on multivariate analyses. On multivariate analysis robot-assisted
      laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation use was associated with public insurance
      status (p = 0.04) and geographic region outside of the southern United States (p
      = 0.02). Only 50 of 456 hospitals used both approaches (open and robotic), and
      only 6 hospitals reported 5 or more robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral
      reimplantations during 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of primary vesicoureteral
      reflux with ureteral reimplantation is decreasing. Robot-assisted laparoscopic
      ureteral reimplantation is becoming more prevalent but remains relatively
      uncommon. Length of stay is shorter for the robotic approach but the costs are
      higher. Nationally robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation appears to
      still be in the early phase of adoption and is clustered at a small number of
      hospitals.

PMID- 26880416
TI  - A remote coordination booster enhances the catalytic efficiency by accelerating
      the generation of an active catalyst.
AB  - A remote Ru(II)(terpy)2 unit incorporated in conjugation with the [NHC
      Ru(II)(para-cymene)] catalytic site, acts as a "coordination booster" for
      enhancing the catalytic efficiency to achieve excellent performance in selective
      oxidative scission of various carbon-carbon multiple bonds to the corresponding
      aldehydes, ketones and diketones. Generation of an active catalyst via oxidative
      loss of para-cymene from the precatalyst was found to be accelerated by the
      "coordination booster" through the electronic effect. 

PMID- 26880415
TI  - Anticipating the Unintended Consequences of Closing the Door on Physician Self
      Referral.
AB  - PURPOSE: While physician self-referral has been associated with increased health
      care use, the downstream effects of the practice remain poorly characterized.
      Accordingly we identified the relationship between urologist self-referral and
      downstream health care use in patients with urinary stone disease. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: With urologist self-referral status as the exposure of interest, we
      performed a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries from 2008 to
      2010 to evaluate the relationship between self-referral and imaging intensity,
      risk of surgical treatment and time to surgical treatment for urinary stone
      disease. RESULTS: We identified dose dependent increases in computerized
      tomography use with increasing stratum of urologist self-referral. Compared to
      nonself-referring urologists, computerized tomography use was 1.19 times higher
      (95% CI 1.07-1.34) in episodes ascribed to intermediate frequency (5 to 9) and
      1.32 times higher (95% CI 1.16-1.50) in episodes ascribed to high frequency (10+)
      self-referring urologists. Self-referral was inversely associated with risk of
      surgical treatment for stone disease. Specifically, patients treated by
      intermediate and high frequency self-referring urologists were less likely to
      undergo surgical treatment than those treated by nonself-referring urologists,
      with HR 0.84 (95% CI 0.71-0.99) and HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.66-0.99), respectively. We
      identified no statistically significant between-group differences in time to
      surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Self-referral is associated with increased use
      of computerized tomography and with decreased use of surgery for stone disease.
      While policy efforts to further restrict physician self-referral may reduce the
      use of computerized tomography, they may also result in unintended consequences
      with respect to patterns of surgical care.

PMID- 26880417
TI  - [Malnutrition in children admitted to hospital. Results of a national survey].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition on admission is closely related to a longer hospital
      stay and a higher morbidity. The prevalence of hospital malnutrition has been
      reported as almost as high as 50%, with 6% being the lowest. DHOSPE study
      investigates nutrition status in Spanish hospitals and its outcome during the
      hospital stay. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal, multicentre, descriptive,
      cross-sectional study, with a short follow-up period was conducted in 32
      hospitals during 2011. A total of 991 patients were included, with ages from 0 to
      17 years. Each patient was measured at admission (weight, length, weight for
      length -W/L-, length for age -L/A-), and at 7 and 14 days. The STAMP nutritional
      screening tool was completed on admission. Anthropometric measurements were
      reported as z-score, and nutrition status classified according to W/L and L/A for
      acute and chronic malnutrition, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of
      malnutrition was 7.1% for moderate, and 0.7% for severe acute malnutrition. For
      chronic malnutrition, it was 2.7% moderate, and 1.4% severe. There were
      significant differences according to the underlying condition but not according
      to age. Results of STAMP show that around 75% of patients had a moderate to high
      risk of malnutrition. Nutritional status changed during admission for weight, as
      well as W/L and L/A. A worst nutritional status at admission and a higher STAMP
      score were positively correlated with the need for nutrition support.
      CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of undernutrition was slightly lower (<8%) than
      previously reported, probably in relation to the variety of hospitals in the
      survey. Nevertheless, nutritional risk when evaluated with STAMP showed a high
      risk of malnutrition.

PMID- 26880418
TI  - Hypomethylation in Parkinson's disease: An epigenetic drug effect?

PMID- 26880419
TI  - Differential expression of beta-tubulin isotypes in different life stages of
      Parascaris spp after exposure to thiabendazole.
AB  - Anthelmintic resistance (AR) to macrocyclic lactones (ML) has been described in
      Parascaris of horses world-wide. In contrast, benzimidazoles (BZ) are still
      effective, although reduced efficacy to this drug class was recently reported.
      The mode of action of BZ is binding to beta-tubulin, which prevents
      polymerisation of microtubules. In this study, beta-tubulin gene expression of
      isotypes 1 and 2 was investigated at seven time points (0, 6, 24, 72, 96 and 120
      h) during embryogenesis and in adult worms. In addition, an in ovo larval
      developmental test was developed to study beta-tubulin gene expression of both
      isotypes in parasacaris eggs after exposure to different concentrations of
      thiabendazole (TBZ) for five days at 25  degrees C. A strong pattern of
      differential expression of beta-tubulin and isotype 1 was observed in all stages,
      while isotype 2 expression was mainly found at an early phase of the
      embryogenesis. For isotype 1, a 5-fold increase was observed during the first 48
      h, but gene expression gradually decreased after 72, 96 and 120 h. Isotype 2 was
      only expressed during the first 24h, followed by a 130-fold decrease at (time
      points) 72, 96 and 120 h. The in ovo larval developmental test, in which we
      exposed initially unembryonated eggs to increased concentrations of TBZ, did
      affect isotype 1 gene expression but not isotype 2. This assumes that each
      isotype has specific functions in different life stages. This is in agreement
      with the 'multi-tubulin' hypothesis, which states that different tubulin isotypes
      are required for specialised microtubule functions. Isotype 1 is the most likely
      drug target for BZs, as isotype 2 was only expressed at very low levels later in
      development. Increasing concentrations of TBZ altered beta-tubulin isotype 1 gene
      expression after exposure of the eggs for five days, but this was not seen for
      isotype 2.

PMID- 26880420
TI  - Human sex ratio at birth and residential proximity to nuclear facilities in
      France.
AB  - The possible detrimental genetic impact on humans living in the vicinity of
      nuclear facilities has been previously studied. We found evidence for an increase
      in the human secondary sex ratio (sex odds) within distances of up to 35km from
      nuclear facilities in Germany and Switzerland. Here, we extend our pilot
      investigations using new comprehensive data from France. The French data (1968
      2011) account for 36,565 municipalities with 16,968,701 male and 16,145,925
      female births. The overall sex ratio was 1.0510. Using linear and nonlinear
      logistic regression models with dummy variables coding for appropriately grouped
      municipalities, operation time periods, and corresponding spatiotemporal
      interactions, we consider the association between annual municipality-level birth
      sex ratios and minimum distances of municipalities from nuclear facilities.
      Within 35km from 28 nuclear sites in France, the sex ratio is increased relative
      to the rest of France with a sex odds ratio (SOR) of 1.0028, (95% CI: 1.0007,
      1.0049). The detected association between municipalities' minimum distances from
      nuclear facilities and the sex ratio in France corroborates our findings for
      Germany and Switzerland.

PMID- 26880422
TI  - Rhodium-catalyzed ortho C-H bond activation of arylamines for the synthesis of
      quinoline carboxylates.
AB  - The rhodium catalyzed annulation of anilines with alkynic esters allowing for the
      high-yield synthesis of quinoline carboxylates with excellent regioselectivity is
      described. This unprecedented reaction employs either formic acid as the C1
      source and reductant or copper(ii) as the oxidant and is proposed to proceed via
      rhodacycle of in situ generated amide and enamine ester followed by ortho C-H
      activation of arylamines with rhodium as the catalyst. 

PMID- 26880423
TI  - A socio-ecological perspective of access to and acceptability of HIV/AIDS
      treatment and care services: a qualitative case study research.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Access to healthcare is an essential element of health development
      and a fundamental human right. While access to and acceptability of healthcare
      are complex concepts that interact with different socio-ecological factors
      (individual, community, institutional and policy), it is not known how these
      factors affect HIV care. This study investigated the impact of socio-ecological
      factors on access to and acceptability of HIV/AIDS treatment and care services
      (HATCS) in Wolaita Zone of Ethiopia. METHOD: Qualitative case study research was
      conducted in six woredas (districts). Focus group discussions (FGDs) were
      conducted with 68 participants in 11 groups (six with people using antiretroviral
      therapy (ART) and five with general community members). Key informant interviews
      (KIIs) were conducted with 28 people involved in HIV care, support services and
      health administration at different levels. Individual in-depth interviews (IDIs)
      were conducted with eight traditional healers and seven defaulters from (ART).
      NVIVO 10 was used to assist qualitative content data analysis. RESULTS: A total
      of 111 people participated in the study, of which 51 (45.9%) were male and 60
      (54.1%) were female, while 58 (53.3%) and 53 (47.7%) were urban and rural
      residents, respectively. The factors that affect access to and acceptability of
      HATCS were categorized in four socio-ecological units of analysis: client-based
      factors (awareness, experiences, expectations, income, employment, family, HIV
      disclosure and food availability); community-based factors (care and support,
      stigma and discrimination and traditional healing); health facility-based factors
      (interactions with care providers, availability of care, quality of care,
      distance, affordability, logistics availability, follow up and service
      administration); and policy and standards (healthcare financing, service
      standards, implementation manuals and policy documents). CONCLUSIONS: A socio
      ecological perspective provides a useful framework to investigate the interplay
      among multilevel and interactive factors that impact on access to and
      acceptability of HATCS such as clients, community, institution and policy.
      Planners, resource allocators and implementers could consider these factors
      during planning, implementation and evaluation of HATCS. Further study is
      required to confirm the findings.

PMID- 26880421
TI  - A review of the proposed role of neutrophils in rodent amebic liver abscess
      models.
AB  - Host invasion by Entamoeba histolytica, the pathogenic agent of amebiasis, can
      lead to the development of amebic liver abscess (ALA). Due to the difficulty of
      exploring host and amebic factors involved in the pathogenesis of ALA in humans,
      most studies have been conducted with animal models (e.g., mice, gerbils, and
      hamsters). Histopathological findings reveal that the chronic phase of ALA in
      humans corresponds to lytic or liquefactive necrosis, whereas in rodent models
      there is granulomatous inflammation. However, the use of animal models has
      provided important information on molecules and mechanisms of the host/parasite
      interaction. Hence, the present review discusses the possible role of neutrophils
      in the effector immune response in ALA in rodents. Properly activated neutrophils
      are probably successful in eliminating amebas through oxidative and non-oxidative
      mechanisms, including neutrophil degranulation, the generation of free radicals
      (O2(-), H2O2, HOCl) and peroxynitrite, the activation of NADPH-oxidase and
      myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzymes, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular
      traps (NETs). On the other hand, if amebas are not eliminated in the early stages
      of infection, they trigger a prolonged and exaggerated inflammatory response that
      apparently causes ALAs. Genetic differences in animals and humans are likely to
      be key to a successful host immune response. 

PMID- 26880424
TI  - Looking back on 40 years of JAN.

PMID- 26880425
TI  - STAN technology, surrogate outcomes and possible sources of bias.

PMID- 26880426
TI  - Preferences of Lay Persons and Dental Professionals Regarding the Recurring
      Esthetic Dental Proportion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the preferences of dental professionals and lay
      persons with respect to the Recurring Esthetic Dental (RED) Proportion, an
      objective mathematical tool used in treatment planning the "apparent" widths of
      maxillary anterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stock dentofacial and facial
      images of a prototypical smiling male and female were digitally altered to
      demonstrate five different RED proportion relationships (0.62, 0.65, 0.70, 0.75,
      and 0.80). Four sets of the five altered images were presented to dental
      professionals and lay persons using a web-based survey site. The professional
      group included dentists and dental laboratory technicians. The lay group included
      anyone without previous dental education or experience. Study participants were
      asked to rank each series from most to least esthetic and their preferences were
      extracted from the data. RESULTS: Preference data from the five RED proportion
      relationships was consolidated into two categories: a narrow group including
      0.62, 0.65, and 0.70 and a broad group including 0.75 and 0.80. Analysis shows
      that the level of professional training or experience does not play a significant
      role in the RED proportion preferences of study participants. Only in the
      prototypical male facial views was there any significant difference between
      professional and lay groups. For that view, a greater percentage of the layperson
      group preferred the narrow RED proportions. However, for the male dentofacial
      views that difference disappeared and both participant groups showed a slight
      preference for the broad proportion category. This may be due to the traditional
      esthetic stereotype for males to have broader, more vigorous appearing anterior
      teeth. For the prototypical female images, all participants expressed a clear,
      statistically significant preference for the narrower RED proportions in both
      full face and close up views. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results above, dental
      professionals who are developing a treatment plan should attempt to utilize a RED
      proportion <= 0.70 for both male and female patients. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The
      RED proportion is an objective numeric tool for relating the apparent widths of
      maxillary anterior teeth. It may be used by dental professionals to help diagnose
      and develop an optimal esthetic treatment plan. This paper offers insight into
      whether there are specific RED proportions that are preferred, whether there is a
      difference in preference when considering the male or female smile and whether
      professional educational training changes those preferences.

PMID- 26880427
TI  - Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Gentiana
      (Gentianaceae).

PMID- 26880428
TI  - Contribution to a Taxonomic Revision of the Sicilian Helichrysum Taxa by PCA
      Analysis of Their Essential-Oil Compositions.
AB  - The chemical profile of the essential oils in ten populations of the genus
      Helichrysum Mill. (Asteraceae), collected in the loci classici of the
      nomenclatural types of the taxa endemic to Sicily, were analyzed. Our results
      confirm that the analysis of secondary metabolites can be used to fingerprint
      wild populations of Helichrysum, the chemical profiles being coherent with the
      systematic arrangement of the investigated populations in three main clusters,
      referring to the aggregates of H. stoechas, H. rupestre, and H. italicum, all
      belonging to the section Stoechadina. The correct nomenclatural designation of
      the investigated populations is discussed and the following two new combinations
      are proposed: Helichrysum preslianum subsp. compactum (Guss.) Maggio, Bruno,
      Guarino, Senatore & Ilardi and Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. latifolium Maggio,
      Bruno, Guarino, Senatore & Ilardi. 

PMID- 26880429
TI  - Novel Nucleolipids of Pyrimidine beta-D-Ribonucleosides: Combinatorial Synthesis,
      Spectroscopic Characterization, and Cytostatic/Cytotoxic Activities.
AB  - Four series of nucleolipids with either uridine, 5-methyluridine, 5
      fluorouridine, and 6-azauridine as beta-D-ribonucleoside component have been
      prepared in a combinatorial (not parallel!) manner (see Formulae). All compounds
      have been characterized by elemental analyses, ESI mass spectrometry as well as
      by (1) H-, and (13) C-NMR, and UV spectroscopy. A selection of eight nucleolipids
      with different lipophilizing moieties, based on earlier findings, as well as of 5
      fluorouridine as control were first tested on their cytotoxic effect towards PMA
      differentiated human THP-1 macrophages. Those compounds which did not exhibit a
      significant inhibitory effect on the survival of the macrophages were next tested
      on their cytostatic/cytotoxic effect towards the human
      astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma GOS-3 cells as well as against the rat malignant
      neuroectodermal BT4Ca cell line. Additionally, induction of apoptosis of the cell
      lines was evaluated. It turned out that particularly a combined lipophilization
      of the nucleosides by an 2',3'-O-ethyl levulinate residue plus a farnesyl moiety
      at N(3) of the pyrimidine moiety of the corresponding nucleolipids leads to an
      active compound with the highest probability. 

PMID- 26880431
TI  - New Acylated Flavonol Glycosides and a Phenolic Profile of Pritzelago alpina, a
      Forgotten Edible Alpine Plant.
AB  - Thirteen acylated flavonoid glycosides, 1-13, including eleven new congeners, 3
      13, were isolated from the aerial parts of Pritzelago alpina (Brassicaceae) by a
      combination of column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20, and preparative and semi
      preparative HPLC. The structures were established by extensive NMR and MS
      experiments in combination with acid hydrolysis and sugar analysis by GC/MS. The
      new compounds were shown to be kaempferol and quercetin glycosides acylated for
      most of them by a branched short chain fatty acid or a hydroxycinnamic acid
      residue on the sugar portion. As shown by a HPLC-DAD analysis of a MeOH extract,
      these compounds are the main phenolic constituents in the aerial parts of the
      plant. 

PMID- 26880430
TI  - Essential-Oil Variability in Natural Populations of Pinus mugo Turra from the
      Julian Alps.
AB  - The composition and variability of the terpenes and their derivatives isolated
      from the needles of a representative pool of 114 adult trees originating from
      four natural populations of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra) from the
      Julian Alps were investigated by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 54 of the
      57 detected essential-oil components were identified. Among the different
      compound classes present in the essential oils, the chief constituents belonged
      to the monoterpenes, comprising an average content of 79.67% of the total oil
      composition (74.80% of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 4.87% of oxygenated
      monoterpenes). Sesquiterpenes were present in smaller amounts (average content of
      19.02%), out of which 16.39% were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 2.62% oxygenated
      sesquiterpenes. The most abundant components in the needle essential oils were
      the monoterpenes delta-car-3-ene, beta-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, beta-myrcene,
      and beta-pinene and the sesquiterpene beta-caryophyllene. From the total data set
      of 57 detected compounds, 40 were selected for principal-component analysis
      (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and cluster analysis (CA). The overlap
      tendency of the four populations suggested by PCA, was as well observed by DA. CA
      also demonstrated similarity among the populations, which was the highest between
      Populations I and II. 

PMID- 26880432
TI  - Essential-Oil Constituents and Alkanes of Cephalaria ambrosioides Roem. & Schult.
      (Family Caprifoliaceae, Subfamily Dipsacaceae) and (Chemo)taxonomic Discernment
      of the Subfamilies Dipsacaceae and Morinaceae.
AB  - Herein, the results of the first study of the volatile and alkane profiles of
      Cephalaria ambrosioides Roem. & Schult. (Caprifoliaceae, subfamily Dipsacaceae)
      were reported. The GC-FID and GC/MS analyses of the essential oils hydrodistilled
      from leaves and stems (CA1) and flowers (CA2) of C. ambrosioides allowed the
      identification of 284 different components. The main compounds of the studied oil
      samples were palmitic acid (24.3 and 32.5% for CA1 and CA2, resp.),
      hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (1.4 and 10.8% for CA1 and CA2, resp.), (Z)-hex-3-en-1
      ol (7.0 and <0.1% for CA1 and CA2, resp.), and linoleic acid (1.9 and 6.5% for
      CA1 and CA2, resp.). Essential-oil compositional data of selected plant species
      belonging to the Dipsacaceae (15) and Morinaceae (2) subfamilies were used to
      resolve taxonomical ambiguities regarding the genus Cephalaria and its
      infrageneric relations, especially concerning the subfamily Morinaceae (formerly
      a genus within Dipsacaceae). The results of multivariate statistical analyses (25
      different essential-oil samples) supported the exclusion of Morina species from
      the Dipsacaceae subfamily. The relative abundances of alkanes from n-, iso-, and
      anteiso-series followed a (distorted) Gaussian-like distribution and suggested
      that the biosyntheses of n- and branched alkanes in C. ambrosioides are possibly
      not controlled by the same elongase. Also, the obtained results suggested that
      there was a difference in the biosynthesis/accumulation of alkanes in the
      vegetative and reproductive parts of C. ambrosioides. 

PMID- 26880433
TI  - Comprehensive Study of Mediterranean (Croatian) Propolis Peculiarity: Headspace,
      Volatiles, Anti-Varroa-Treatment Residue, Phenolics, and Antioxidant Properties.
AB  - Eight propolis samples from Croatia were analyzed in detail, to study the
      headspace, volatiles, anti-Varroa-treatment residue, phenolics, and antioxidant
      properties. The samples exhibited high qualitative/quantitative variability of
      the chemical profiles, total phenolic content (1,589.3-14,398.3 mg GAE (gallic
      acid equivalent)/l EtOH extract), and antioxidant activity (11.1-133.5 mmol
      Fe(2+) /l extract and 6.2-65.3 mmol TEAC (Trolox(r) equivalent antioxidant
      capacity)/l extract). The main phenolics quantified by HPLC-DAD at 280 and 360 nm
      were vanillin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, chrysin, galangin, and caffeic acid
      phenethyl ester. The major compounds identified by headspace solid-phase
      microextraction (HS-SPME), simultaneous distillation extraction (SDE), and
      subsequent GC-FID and GC/MS analyses were alpha-eudesmol (up to 19.9%), beta
      eudesmol (up to 12.6%), gamma-eudesmol (up to 10.5%), benzyl benzoate (up to
      28.5%), and 4-vinyl-2-methoxyphenol (up to 18.1%). Vanillin was determined as
      minor constituent by SDE/GC-FID/MS and HPLC-DAD. The identified acaricide residue
      thymol was ca. three times more abundant by HS-SPME/GC-FID/MS than by SDE/GC
      FID/MS and was not detected by HPLC-DAD.

PMID- 26880434
TI  - Essential Oil Composition of Three Globularia Species.
AB  - The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from
      the aerial parts of Globularia cordifolia L., G. meridionalis (Podp.) O.Schwarz,
      and G. punctata Lapeyr. was characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. Among the
      33 identified compounds, the most abundant present in all investigated samples
      were oct-1-en-3-ol (2.9-47.0%), 6-(1,5-dimethylhex-4-enyl)-3-methylcyclohex-2
      enone (8.2-40.9%), and fukinanolid (7.4-31.6%). Multivariate statistical analyses
      (PCA and HCA) of the hitherto studied Globularia volatile compounds confirmed to
      some extent the assumed phylogenetic relationships of the Globularia species
      studied, including the close relationship between the morphologically similar
      species G. cordifolia and G. meridionalis, but also evidenced several
      discrepancies in the current classification of Globularia species. 

PMID- 26880435
TI  - 'Does my Diet Affect my Perfume?' Identification and Quantification of Cuticular
      Compounds in Five Drosophila melanogaster Strains Maintained over 300 Generations
      on Different Diets.
AB  - Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in Drosophila melanogaster represent the basis of
      chemical communication being involved in many important biological functions. The
      aim of this study was to characterize chemical composition and variation of
      cuticular profiles in five D. melanogaster strains. These strains were reared for
      approximately 300 generations on five diets: standard cornmeal medium and
      substrates prepared with apple, banana, tomato, and carrot. Differences in
      quantity and/or quality in CHCs were assumed as a result of activation of
      different metabolic pathways involved in food digestion and adaptations to the
      particular diet type. In total, independently of sex and strain, 66 chemical
      compounds were identified. In females of all strains, 60 compounds were
      identified, while, in males, 47 compounds were extracted. Certain new chemical
      compounds for D. melanogaster were found. MANOVA confirmed that CHC amounts
      significantly depend on sex and substrates, as well as on their interactions.
      Discriminant analysis revealed that flies belonging to 'apple' and 'carrot'
      strains exhibited the most noticeable differences in CHC repertoires. A non
      hydrocarbon pheromone, cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) also contributed to the
      variation in the pheromone bouquet among the strains. Variability detected in
      CHCs and cVA may be used in the explanation of differences in mating behaviour
      previously determined in analyzed fly strains. 

PMID- 26880437
TI  - A Model of Information Carried over a Neuron Soma.
AB  - A series of cellular automata models of amino acid side chains on a neuron soma
      membrane have been created to simulate their hydropathic influences on adjacent
      water molecules. The presence of pathways, referred to as water wires, is
      identified. These pathways are invoked as passage ways across a neuron soma of
      proton hopping carrying the information from dendrites to the axon hillock. 

PMID- 26880436
TI  - Characteristic Steroids from the South China Sea Gorgonian Muricella sibogae and
      Their Cytotoxicities.
AB  - Twenty-four steroid-based natural products, 9,10-secosteroids (1-10), 1,4-dien-3
      one steroids (11-19), and 4-en-3-one steroids (20-24), containing varying side
      chains, were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian Muricella sibogae. The
      structures of one new 9,10-secosteroid, sibogol D (1), and two new 1,4-dien-3-one
      steroids, sibogols E and F (11 and 12), were elucidated by extensive
      spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with the literature data. Cytotoxicities
      for all the isolates were evaluated against four selected tumor cell lines, HL
      60, HCT116, K562, and P388. Compounds 3, 9, and 13 exhibited potent cytotoxic
      activities against the HL-60 cell line, with IC50 values ranging from 1.27 to
      10.05 MUM, and compound 3 was also cytotoxic against HCT116 with an IC50 value of
      5.8 MUM. The bioassay results also indicated a potential relationship between
      structural patterns and activity. The newly presented series of 1,4-dien-3-one
      and 4-en-3-one types of steroids relating to the unique 9,10-secosteroids in
      biogenesis were found in this species for the first time, which is of
      considerable chemotaxonomic significance. 

PMID- 26880438
TI  - The Essential Oil Compositions of Ocimum basilicum from Three Different Regions:
      Nepal, Tajikistan, and Yemen.
AB  - The aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum L. were collected from four different
      geographical locations, Sindhuli and Biratnagar (Nepal), Chormaghzak village
      (Tajikistan), and Sana'a (Yemen). The essential oils were obtained by
      hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A cluster
      analysis of 179 essential oil compositions revealed six major chemotypes:
      Linalool, eugenol, estragole, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and geraniol. All four
      of the basil oils in this study were of the linalool-rich variety. Some of the
      basil oils were screened for bioactivity including antimicrobial, cytotoxicity in
      human cancer cells, brine shrimp lethality, nematicidal, larvicidal,
      insecticidal, and antioxidant. The basil oils in this study were not notably
      antibacterial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, nor nematicidal, but were active in the
      brine shrimp lethality test, and did show larvicidal and insecticidal activities.

PMID- 26880439
TI  - Sterols and Fatty Acids of the Harmful Dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides.
AB  - Sterol and fatty acid compositions were determined for Cochlodinium
      polykrikoides, a toxic, bloom-forming dinoflagellate of global significance. The
      major sterols were dinosterol (40% of total sterols), dihydrodinosterol (32%),
      and the rare 4alpha-methyl Delta(8(14)) sterol, amphisterol (23%). A minor
      sterol, 4alpha-methylergost-24(28)-enol was also detected (5.0%). The fatty acids
      had a high proportion of PUFAs (47%), consisting mainly of EPA (20%) and the
      relatively uncommon octadecapentaenoic acid (18 : 5, 22%). While unlikely to be
      responsible for toxicity to fish, these lipids may contribute to the deleterious
      effects of this alga to invertebrates. 

PMID- 26880440
TI  - Bioprospecting Chemical Diversity and Bioactivity in a Marine Derived Aspergillus
      terreus.
AB  - A comparative metabolomic study of a marine derived fungus (Aspergillus terreus)
      grown under various culture conditions is presented. The fungus was grown in
      eleven different culture conditions using solid agar, broth cultures, or grain
      based media (OSMAC). Multivariate analysis of LC/MS data from the organic
      extracts revealed drastic differences in the metabolic profiles and guided our
      subsequent isolation efforts. The compound 7-desmethylcitreoviridin was isolated
      and identified, and is fully described for the first time. In addition, 16 known
      fungal metabolites were also isolated and identified. All compounds were
      elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and tested for antibacterial
      activities against five human pathogens and tested for cytotoxicity. This study
      demonstrates that LC/MS based multivariate analysis provides a simple yet
      powerful tool to analyze the metabolome of a single fungal strain grown under
      various conditions. This approach allows environmentally-induced changes in
      metabolite expression to be rapidly visualized, and uses these differences to
      guide the discovery of new bioactive molecules. 

PMID- 26880443
TI  - We still go for the jugular: implications of the 3SITES central venous catheter
      study for nephrology.
AB  - The 3SITES study randomly assigned a nontunneled central venous catheter site in
      over 3000 adults treated in intensive care units. The subclavian site was
      associated with a lower rate of short-term complications, including catheter
      related bloodstream infection and deep venous thrombosis, compared to the femoral
      or internal jugular site. Nephrologists should be aware of this study and should
      continue to advocate for alternatives to subclavian vein catheter placement in
      patients with chronic kidney disease who are expected to require arteriovenous
      access for dialysis in the future. 

PMID- 26880442
TI  - Averting the legacy of kidney disease--focus on childhood.
AB  - World Kidney Day 2016 focuses on kidney disease in childhood and the antecedents
      of adult kidney disease that can begin in earliest childhood. Chronic kidney
      disease in childhood differs from that in adults, as the largest diagnostic group
      among children includes congenital anomalies and inherited disorders, with
      glomerulopathies and kidney disease in the setting of diabetes being relatively
      uncommon. In addition, many children with acute kidney injury will ultimately
      develop sequelae that may lead to hypertension and chronic kidney disease in
      later childhood or in adult life. Children born early or who are small-for-date
      newborns have a relatively increased risk for the development of chronic kidney
      disease later in life. Persons with a high-risk birth and early childhood history
      should be watched closely in order to help detect early signs of kidney disease
      in time to provide effective prevention or treatment. Successful therapy is
      feasible for advanced chronic kidney disease in childhood; there is evidence that
      children fare better than adults if they receive kidney replacement therapy
      including dialysis and transplant, whereas only a minority of children may
      require this ultimate intervention. Because there are disparities in access to
      care, effort is needed so that those children with kidney disease, wherever they
      live, may be treated effectively, irrespective of their geographic or economic
      circumstances. Our hope is that World Kidney Day will inform the general public,
      policy makers, and caregivers about the needs and possibilities surrounding
      kidney disease in childhood. 

PMID- 26880444
TI  - Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition and cardiovascular risk reduction in
      patients with type 2 diabetes: the emerging role of natriuresis.
AB  - Inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 causes both glycosuria and
      natriuresis, leading to reductions in hyperglycemia, body weight, blood pressure,
      and proteinuria. The recently published EMPA-REG OUTCOME study demonstrated
      significant cardiovascular and mortality benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter
      2 inhibition with empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes and established
      cardiovascular disease, and may suggest a broader role for sodium-glucose
      cotransporter 2 inhibition in patients with heart failure. 

PMID- 26880445
TI  - "AVOID"ing harm by a double-edged sword: is there a role for ultrafiltration in
      heart failure?
AB  - Prior studies comparing ultrafiltration with medical management for acute
      decompensated heart failure have yielded conflicting results. The AVOID-HF trial
      was designed as a definitive comparison of optimal ultrafiltration versus optimal
      diuretic-based medical therapy; unfortunately, the trial was terminated
      prematurely because of slow recruitment. The results of AVOID-HF nevertheless
      provide a rationale for well-designed, adequately powered trials to determine
      whether ultrafiltration has a role in the routine management of acute
      decompensated heart failure. 

PMID- 26880446
TI  - Role of proton receptor OGR1 in bone response to metabolic acidosis?
AB  - Chronic metabolic acidosis stimulates bone resorption, resulting in loss of
      calcium and bicarbonate from bone. Both osteoblasts and osteoclasts sense
      extracellular H(+) by the G-protein coupled receptor, OGR1, whose activation
      leads to increased bone resorption as well as decreased bone formation. Krieger
      et al. examined the effect of OGR1 knockout in mice. They found an unexpected
      increase in bone resorption, but nevertheless an increase in bone volume linked
      to enhanced bone formation. This discovery opens a window of opportunity to
      explore potential new anabolic treatments for patients with low bone mass. 

PMID- 26880447
TI  - The harmful effect of indoxyl sulfate on neovascularization in chronic kidney
      disease.
AB  - Patients with chronic kidney disease display an impairment of neovascularization
      in ischemic tissues. Studies have suggested the involvement of the uremic toxin
      indoxyl sulfate by demonstrating that indoxyl sulfate affects endothelial
      progenitor cells. However, few data are available on the effects of indoxyl
      sulfate on neovascularization and on the mechanisms involved. The article by Hung
      et al. shows that indoxyl sulfate suppresses neovascularization in uremic mice by
      impairing endothelial progenitor cell function via the inhibition of hypoxia
      induced hypoxia-inducible factor/interleukin-10/vascular endothelial growth
      factor signaling. 

PMID- 26880448
TI  - Klotho connects intermedin1-53 to suppression of vascular calcification in
      chronic kidney disease.
AB  - Vascular calcification is one of the leading causes of death in chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) patients. Klotho protein encoded by the anti-aging gene, Klotho,
      and intermedin1-53 have both been shown to protect the vasculature from
      calcification in CKD. The study by Chang and colleagues links Klotho and
      intermedin1-53 in prevention of vascular calcification in CKD by showing that
      intermedin1-53 increased renal, vascular, and plasma Klotho, and reduced vascular
      calcification in CKD rats. Intermedin1-53 may be a novel therapeutic agent for
      CKD. 

PMID- 26880449
TI  - Eculizumab in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome.
AB  - Greenbaum et al. report the first prospective trial of eculizumab in pediatric
      atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. As in adult trials, eculizumab appears
      effective and no serious safety signals were reported. There is the first
      suggestion of a dichotomy in response to treatment with a trend toward poorer
      outcome in those without complement abnormalities. This group, however, had worse
      renal function at presentation, and it remains to be seen whether this represents
      true non-response or merely late presentation. 

PMID- 26880450
TI  - The role of urinary peptidomics in kidney disease research.
AB  - Urinary peptidomics focuses on endogenous urinary peptide content. Many studies
      now show the usefulness of this approach for the discovery and validation of
      biomarkers in kidney diseases that are as varied as chronic kidney disease, acute
      kidney injury, congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract, and
      polycystic kidney disease. Most studies focus on chronic kidney disease and
      demonstrate that urinary peptidome analysis can substantially contribute to early
      detection and stratification of patients with chronic kidney disease. A number of
      multicenter studies are ongoing that aim further validation in a clinical setting
      and broaden the applicability of urinary peptides. The association of urinary
      peptides with kidney disease also starts to deliver information on the
      pathophysiology of kidney disease with emphasis on extracellular matrix
      remodeling. Bioinformatic peptide centric tools have been developed that allow to
      model the changes in protease activity involved in kidney disease, based on the
      urinary peptidome content. A novel application of urinary peptidome analysis is
      the back-translation of results obtained in humans to animals for animal model
      validation and improvement of readout in these preclinical models. In conclusion,
      urinary peptidomics not only contribute to detection and stratification of kidney
      disease in the clinic, but might also create a new impulse in drug discovery
      through better insight in the pathophysiology of disease and optimized
      translatability of animal models.

PMID- 26880451
TI  - Treatment of hyperkalemia: something old, something new.
AB  - Treatment options for hyperkalemia have not changed much since the introduction
      of the cation exchange resin, sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate, Covis
      Pharmaceuticals, Cary, NC), over 50 years ago. Although clinicians of that era
      did not have ready access to hemodialysis or loop diuretics, the other tools that
      we use today-calcium, insulin, and bicarbonate-were well known to them. Currently
      recommended insulin regimens provide too little insulin to achieve blood levels
      with a maximal kalemic effect and too little glucose to avoid hypoglycemia. Short
      acting insulins have theoretical advantages over regular insulin in patients with
      severe kidney disease. Although bicarbonate is no longer recommended for acute
      management, it may be useful in patients with metabolic acidosis or intact kidney
      function. Kayexalate is not effective as acute therapy, but a new randomized
      controlled trial suggests that it is effective when given more chronically.
      Gastrointestinal side effects and safety concerns about Kayexalate remain. New
      investigational potassium binders are likely to be approved in the coming year.
      Although there are some concerns about hypomagnesemia and positive calcium
      balance from patiromer, and sodium overload from ZS-9 (ZS Pharma, Coppell, TX),
      both agents have been shown to be effective and well tolerated when taken
      chronically. ZS-9 shows promise in the acute treatment of hyperkalemia and may
      make it possible to avoid or postpone the most effective therapy, emergency
      hemodialysis. 

PMID- 26880452
TI  - Impact of acute kidney injury on distant organ function: recent findings and
      potential therapeutic targets.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in critically ill patients and
      subsequently worsens outcomes. Although many drugs to prevent and treat AKI have
      shown benefits in preclinical models, no specific agent has been shown to benefit
      AKI in humans. Moreover, despite remarkable advances in dialysis techniques that
      enable management of AKI in hemodynamically unstable patients with shock,
      dialysis-requiring severe AKI is still associated with an unacceptably high
      mortality rate. Thus, focusing only on kidney damage and loss of renal function
      has not been sufficient to improve outcomes of patients with AKI. Recent data
      from basic and clinical research have begun to elucidate complex organ
      interactions in AKI between kidney and distant organs, including heart, lung,
      spleen, brain, liver, and gut. This review serves to update the topic of organ
      cross talk in AKI and focuses on potential therapeutic targets to improve patient
      outcomes during AKI-associated multiple organ failure. 

PMID- 26880453
TI  - Increased bone density in mice lacking the proton receptor OGR1.
AB  - Chronic metabolic acidosis stimulates cell-mediated calcium efflux from bone
      through osteoblastic prostaglandin E2-induced stimulation of receptor activator
      of NF-kB ligand leading to increased osteoclastic bone resorption. Osteoblasts
      express the proton-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor OGR1, which activates
      inositol phosphate-mediated intracellular calcium. Proton-induced osteoblastic
      intracellular calcium signaling requires ovarian cancer G-protein-coupled
      receptor 1 (OGR1), suggesting that OGR1 is the sensor activated during acidosis
      to cause bone resorption. Growing mice produce large amounts of metabolic acids,
      which must be buffered, primarily by bone, before excretion by the kidney. Here
      we tested whether lack of OGR1 inhibits proton-induced bone resorption by
      measuring bone mineral density by micro-computed tomography and histomorphometry
      in 8-week-old male OGR1(-/-) and C57/Bl6 wild type mice. OGR1(-/-) mice have
      normal skeletal development with no atypical gross phenotype. Trabecular and
      cortical bone volume was increased in tibiae and vertebrae from OGR1(-/-). There
      were increased osteoblast numbers on the cortical and trabecular surfaces of
      tibiae from OGR1(-/-) mice, increased endocortical and trabecular bone formation
      rates, and osteoblastic gene expression. Osteoclast numbers and surface were
      increased in tibiae of OGR1(-/-) mice. Thus, in rapidly growing mice, lack of
      OGR1 leads to increased bone mass with increased bone turnover and a greater
      increase in bone formation than resorption. This supports the important role of
      the proton receptor OGR1 in the response of bone to protons. 

PMID- 26880454
TI  - Indoxyl sulfate suppresses endothelial progenitor cell-mediated
      neovascularization.
AB  - Patients with chronic kidney disease have an increased prevalence of peripheral
      arterial disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are pivotal in
      neovascularization, but their role in mediating peripheral arterial disease in
      chronic kidney disease is not fully known. Here we studied the impact of indoxyl
      sulfate, a protein-bound uremic toxin, on EPC function in response to tissue
      ischemia or cell hypoxia in mice that underwent subtotal nephrectomy or sham
      operation. At 16 weeks, unilateral hindlimb ischemia was induced in all. Four
      weeks later, subtotal nephrectomy mice had significantly increased plasma levels
      of indoxyl sulfate, reduced reperfusion, decreased EPC mobilization, and impaired
      neovascularization in ischemic hindlimbs compared with control mice. Treatment
      with AST-120, an oral adsorbent of uremic toxins, reversed these changes.
      Ischemia-induced protein expression including phospho-eNOS, phospho-STAT3,
      interleukin-10, and VEGF were significantly decreased in ischemic hindlimbs of
      subtotal nephrectomy mice versus control mice; all effects were reversed by AST
      120. Subtotal nephrectomy mice fed a diet with indole for 12 weeks resulted in
      impaired neovascularization in ischemic hindlimbs; also reversed by AST-120. In
      cultured human EPCs, VEGF expression was increased in hypoxia through HIF-1alpha
      and interleukin-10/STAT3 signaling; effects suppressed by pretreatment with
      indoxyl sulfate. Moreover, indoxyl sulfate markedly attenuated hypoxia-induced
      EPC migration and tube formation. Thus, indoxyl sulfate may be a therapeutic
      target for EPC-rescue of impaired neovascularization in patients with chronic
      kidney disease and peripheral arterial disease. 

PMID- 26880455
TI  - Intermedin1-53 attenuates vascular calcification in rats with chronic kidney
      disease by upregulation of alpha-Klotho.
AB  - Deficiency in alpha-Klotho is involved in the pathogenesis of vascular
      calcification. Since intermedin (IMD)1-53 (a calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related
      peptide) protects against vascular calcification, we studied whether IMD1-53
      inhibits vascular calcification by upregulating alpha-Klotho. A rat model of
      chronic kidney disease (CKD) with vascular calcification induced by the 5/6
      nephrectomy plus vitamin D3 was used for study. The aortas of rats with CKD
      showed reduced IMD content but an increase of its receptor, calcitonin receptor
      like receptor, and its receptor modifier, receptor activity-modifying protein 3.
      IMD1-53 treatment reduced vascular calcification. The expression of alpha-Klotho
      was greatly decreased in the aortas of rats with CKD but increased in the aortas
      of IMD1-53-treated rats with CKD. In vitro, IMD1-53 increased alpha-Klotho
      protein level in calcified vascular smooth muscle cells. alpha-Klotho knockdown
      blocked the inhibitory effect of IMD1-53 on vascular smooth muscle cell
      calcification and their transformation into osteoblast-like cells. The effect of
      IMD1-53 to upregulate alpha-Klotho and inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell
      calcification was abolished by knockdown of its receptor or its modifier protein,
      or treatment with the protein kinase A inhibitor H89. Thus, IMD1-53 may attenuate
      vascular calcification by upregulating alpha-Klotho via the calcitonin
      receptor/modifying protein complex and protein kinase A signaling.

PMID- 26880456
TI  - Uroplakin 1b is critical in urinary tract development and urothelial
      differentiation and homeostasis.
AB  - Proper development and maintenance of urothelium is critical to its function.
      Uroplakins are expressed in developing and mature urothelium where they establish
      plaques associated with the permeability barrier. Their precise functional role
      in development and disease is unknown. Here, we disrupted Upk1b in vivo where its
      loss resulted in urothelial plaque disruption in the bladder and kidney.
      Upk1b(RFP/RFP) bladder urothelium appeared dysplastic with expansion of the
      progenitor cell markers, Krt14 and Krt5, increased Shh expression, and loss of
      terminal differentiation markers Krt20 and uroplakins. Upk1b(RFP/RFP) renal
      urothelium became stratified with altered cellular composition. Upk1b(RFP/RFP)
      mice developed age-dependent progressive hydronephrosis. Interestingly, 16% of
      Upk1b(RFP/RFP) mice possessed unilateral duplex kidneys. Our study expands the
      role of uroplakins, mechanistically links plaque formation to urinary tract
      development and function, and provides a tantalizing connection between
      congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract along with functional
      deficits observed in a variety of urinary tract diseases. Thus, kidney and
      bladder urothelium are regionally distinct and remain highly plastic, capable of
      expansion through tissue-specific progenitor populations. Furthermore, Upk1b
      plays a previously unknown role in early kidney development representing a novel
      genetic target for congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. 

PMID- 26880457
TI  - The dipeptide alanyl-glutamine ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis and attenuates IL
      17 dependent pathways during peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can result in chronic inflammation and progressive
      peritoneal membrane damage. Alanyl-Glutamine (Ala-Gln), a dipeptide with
      immunomodulatory effects, improved resistance of mesothelial cells to PD fluids.
      Recently, interleukin-17 (IL-17) was found to be associated with PD-induced
      peritoneal damage. Here we studied the capacity of intraperitoneal Ala-Gln
      administration to protect against peritoneal damage by modulating IL-17
      expression in uremic rat and mouse PD exposure models. Supplementation of PD
      fluid with Ala-Gln resulted in reduced peritoneal thickness, alphaSMA expression
      and angiogenesis. Addition of Ala-Gln also attenuated the IL-17 pathway
      expression induced by PD, reflected by substantial reduction or normalization of
      peritoneal levels of IL-17, transforming growth factor beta, IL-6, and the
      transcription factor retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma T.
      Moreover, increased levels of IL-17 were associated with PD-induced peritoneal
      thickening. Conversely, Ala-Gln treatment prevented peritoneal extracellular
      matrix deposition, an effect seen with IL-17 blockade. Thus, intraperitoneal
      administration of Ala-Gln, a stable dipeptide commonly used in parenteral
      nutrition, ameliorates PD-induced peritoneal damage in animal models, in part by
      modulating IL-17 expression. Hence, Ala-Gln supplementation of dialysate may be a
      potential strategy to ameliorate peritoneal deterioration during PD.

PMID- 26880458
TI  - Prolonged warm ischemia time is associated with graft failure and mortality after
      kidney transplantation.
AB  - Warm ischemia time is a potentially modifiable insult to transplanted kidneys,
      but little is known about its effect on long-term outcomes. Here we conducted a
      study of United States kidney transplant recipients (years 2000-2013) to
      determine the association between warm ischemia time (the time from organ removal
      from cold storage to reperfusion with warm blood) and death/graft failure. Times
      under 10 minutes were potentially attributed to coding error. Therefore, the 10
      to-under-20-minute interval was chosen as the reference group. The primary
      outcome was mortality and graft failure (return to chronic dialysis or preemptive
      retransplantation) adjusted for recipient, donor, immunologic, and surgical
      factors. The study included 131,677 patients with 35,901 events. Relative to the
      reference patients, times of 10 to under 20, 20 to under 30, 30 to under 40, 40
      to under 50, 50 to under 60, and 60 and more minutes were associated with hazard
      ratios of 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.15), 1.13 (1.06-1.22), 1.17 (1.09
      1.26), 1.20 (1.12-1.30), and 1.23 (1.15-1.33) for the composite event,
      respectively. Association between prolonged warm ischemia time and death/graft
      failure persisted after stratification by donor type (living vs. deceased donor)
      and delayed graft function status. Thus, warm ischemia time is associated with
      adverse long-term patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation.
      Identifying strategies to reduce warm ischemia time is an important consideration
      for future study. 

PMID- 26880459
TI  - Maternal compared with paternal donor kidneys are associated with poorer graft
      outcomes after kidney transplantation.
AB  - Noninherited maternal human leukocyte antigens may be less detrimental on
      allograft outcomes after kidney transplantation compared with noninherited
      paternal antigens, but this association in the era of modern immunosuppression
      remains unknown. Here we determine the association between parental donor
      kidneys, acute rejection, and graft failure in primary live-donor parental kidney
      transplant recipients using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and
      Transplant Registry between 1997 and 2012. Of the 1139 recipients followed for a
      median of 7.2 years (8588 person-years), 652 received kidneys from maternal
      donors. Compared with paternal donor kidneys, maternal donor kidneys were
      associated with a significantly increased risk of acute rejection (adjusted odds
      ratio 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.07) and significant overall
      graft loss. The latter was confined to recipients who have experienced acute
      rejection (adjusted hazard ratio 1.60; 95%CI, 1.05-2.43) but not in those who did
      not experience acute rejection. Thus, our study suggests that recipients of
      maternal donor kidneys have a greater risk of rejection and graft loss. Hence,
      clinicians and patients should be cognizant of this association when determining
      which of the 2 parental donors is most suitable for transplantation.

PMID- 26880460
TI  - Low parathyroid hormone status induced by high dialysate calcium is an
      independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in hemodialysis patients.
AB  - Here we studied a possible association between low parathyroid hormone (PTH)
      status and mortality in incident patients undergoing hemodialysis . A total of
      1983 patients were included at baseline and prospectively followed for 24 months.
      Patients were classified according to their Kidney Disease: Improving Global
      Outcomes PTH status at baseline and at 12 months, and mortality evaluated at 12
      to 24 months using adjusted Cox analysis. Factors potentially involved in PTH
      status variability between baseline and 12 months were analyzed. A decrease in
      serum PTH from normal or high to low values between baseline and 12 months was
      associated with significantly increased cardiovascular mortality at 12 to 24
      months (hazard ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.36). For patients
      with high or normal baseline PTH levels, the main independent factor at 6 months
      for a decrease to low PTH levels at 12 months was high dialysate calcium (1.75
      mmol/L), whereas prescription of non-calcium-based phosphate binders was
      associated with a lower risk of PTH decrease. In the high cardiovascular (CV)
      mortality risk subgroup of patients who acquired a low PTH status at 12 months,
      the main independent factor at 12 months associated with significant 12- to 24
      month CV mortality was high dialysate calcium (odds ratio, 5.44; 95% CI, 2.52
      11.75). Thus, patients with a serum PTH decrease to low values after 1 year of
      hemodialysis treatment are at high risk of short-term CV death. High dialysate
      calcium was an important contributor to PTH oversuppression, and continued use
      was associated with increased CV mortality. 

PMID- 26880461
TI  - Body mass index and causes of death in chronic kidney disease.
AB  - In chronic kidney disease (CKD), a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated
      with a lower risk for death, but cause-specific death details are unknown across
      the BMI range. To define this, we studied 54,506 patients with CKD (stage 3 CKD-
      [91.5%]) from an institutional electronic medical record based-registry. We
      examined the associations among various causes of death (cardiovascular-,
      malignancy- and noncardiovascular/nonmalignancy-related deaths) across the BMI
      range using Cox proportional hazards and competing risks regression models.
      During a median follow-up of 3.7 years, 14,518 patients died. In the
      multivariable model, an inverted J-shaped association was noted between BMI and
      cardiovascular-related, malignancy-related, and noncardiovascular/nonmalignancy
      related deaths. Similar associations were noted for BMI 25-29.9, 30-34.9, and 35
      39.9 kg/m(2) categories. A BMI >40 kg/m(2) was not associated with cardiovascular
      related and noncardiovascular/nonmalignancy-related deaths in CKD. Sensitivity
      analyses yielded similar results even after adjusting for proteinuria and
      excluding diabetes and hypertension from the models. In CKD, compared with a BMI
      of 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2), those who are overweight, with class 1 and 2 obesity have a
      lower risk for cardiovascular-related, malignancy-related, and
      noncardiovascular/nonmalignancy-related deaths. Future studies should examine the
      associations of other measures of adiposity with outcomes in CKD.

PMID- 26880463
TI  - Lung ultrasonography: a novel clinical tool to consider in nephrology.

PMID- 26880462
TI  - Eculizumab is a safe and effective treatment in pediatric patients with atypical
      hemolytic uremic syndrome.
AB  - Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is caused by alternative complement
      pathway dysregulation, leading to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and
      severe end-organ damage. Based on 2 prospective studies in mostly adults and
      retrospective data in children, eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, is
      approved for aHUS treatment. Here we prospectively evaluated efficacy and safety
      of weight-based dosing of eculizumab in eligible pediatric patients with aHUS in
      an open-label phase II study. The primary end point was complete TMA response by
      26 weeks. Twenty-two patients (aged 5 months-17 years) were treated; 16 were
      newly diagnosed, 12 had no prior plasma exchange/infusion during current TMA
      symptomatology, 11 received baseline dialysis and 2 had prior renal transplants.
      By week 26, 14 achieved a complete TMA response, 18 achieved hematologic
      normalization, and 16 had 25% or better improvement in serum creatinine. Plasma
      exchange/infusion was discontinued in all, and 9 of the 11 patients who required
      dialysis at baseline discontinued, whereas none initiated new dialysis.
      Eculizumab was well tolerated; no deaths or meningococcal infections occurred.
      Bone marrow failure, wrist fracture, and acute respiratory failure were reported
      as unrelated severe adverse events. Thus, our findings establish the efficacy and
      safety of eculizumab for pediatric patients with aHUS and are consistent with
      proposed immediate eculizumab initiation following diagnosis in children.

PMID- 26880464
TI  - Ipilimumab-associated minimal-change disease.

PMID- 26880465
TI  - Absorbable phosphate in medication.

PMID- 26880466
TI  - Adriamycin susceptibility among C57BL/6 substrains.

PMID- 26880467
TI  - Toxoplasma chorioretinitis following renal transplantation.

PMID- 26880468
TI  - Myoglobinuric renal failure after a wasp attack.

PMID- 26880469
TI  - Make your diagnosis. The Case | Nonneurological tetraplegia. The Diagnosis |
      Alcohol-associated tubular dysfunction.

PMID- 26880470
TI  - Biodegradable Peptide-Silica Nanodonuts.
AB  - We report hybrid organosilica toroidal particles containing a short peptide
      sequence as the organic component of the hybrid systems. Once internalised in
      cancer cells, the presence of the peptide allows for interaction with peptidase
      enzymes, which attack the nanocarrier effectively triggering its structural
      breakdown. Moreover, these biodegradable nanovectors are characterised by high
      cellular uptake and exocytosis, showing great potential as biodegradable drug
      carriers. To demonstrate this feature, doxorubicin was employed and its delivery
      in HeLa cells investigated. 

PMID- 26880471
TI  - Perioperative nutritional intervention: a way to improve long-term outcomes.

PMID- 26880472
TI  - Perioperative nutritional intervention: a way to improve long-term outcomes.

PMID- 26880473
TI  - Haematological cancer: Ibrutinib supercharges CAR T cells.

PMID- 26880474
TI  - Gastrointestinal cancer: CDX2: prognostic marker for high-risk colon cancer.

PMID- 26880476
TI  - Effectiveness of a universal internet-based prevention program for ecstasy and
      new psychoactive substances: a cluster randomized controlled trial.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of an online school-based prevention program
      for ecstasy (MDMA) and new psychoactive substances (NPS). DESIGN: Cluster
      randomized controlled trial with two groups (intervention and control). SETTING:
      Eleven secondary schools in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1126 students
      (mean age: 14.9 years). INTERVENTION: The internet-based Climate Schools: Ecstasy
      and Emerging Drugs module uses cartoon storylines to convey information about
      harmful drug use. It was delivered once weekly, during a 4-week period, during
      health education classes. Control schools received health education as usual.
      MEASUREMENT: Primary outcomes were self-reported intentions to use ecstasy and
      NPS at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were ecstasy and NPS knowledge and life-time
      use of ecstasy and NPS. Surveys were administered at baseline, post-intervention
      and 6 and 12 month post-baseline. FINDINGS: At 12 months, the proportion of
      students likely to use NPS was significantly greater in the control group (1.8%)
      than the intervention group [0.5%; odds ratio (OR) = 10.17, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) = 1.31-78.91]. However, students' intentions to use ecstasy did not
      differ significantly between groups (control = 2.1%, intervention = 1.6%; OR =
      5.91, 95% CI = 1.01-34.73). There was a significant group difference in the
      change from baseline to post-test for NPS knowledge (beta = -0.42, 95% CI = -0.62
      to -0.21, Cohen's d = 0.77), with controls [mean = 2.78, standard deviation (SD =
      1.48] scoring lower than intervention students (mean = 3.85, SD = 1.49). There
      was also evidence of a significant group difference in ecstasy knowledge at post
      test (control: mean = 9.57, SD = 3.31; intervention: mean = 11.57, SD = 3.61;
      beta = -0.54, 95% CI = -0.97 to -0.12, P = 0.01, d = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: The
      Climate Schools: Ecstasy and Emerging Drugs module, a universal online school
      based prevention program, appeared to reduce students' intentions to use new
      psychoactive substances and increased knowledge about ecstasy and new
      psychoactive substances in the short term.

PMID- 26880475
TI  - Impact of Awareness and Patterns of Nonhospitalized Atrial Fibrillation on the
      Risk of Mortality: The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke
      (REGARDS) Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although mortality associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) has been
      reported to decrease over prior decades, the mortality risk of asymptomatic,
      nonhospitalized AF has not been examined. HYPOTHESIS: Asymptomatic,
      nonhospitalized AF is associated with an increased risk of death. METHODS: This
      analysis included 25,976 participants (mean age, 65 +/- 9.4 years; 55% female;
      38% black) from the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences (REGARDS)
      study. Atrial fibrillation was detected on the baseline electrocardiogram (ECG
      AF) or by self-reported history. Atrial fibrillation unawareness was defined as
      present if ECG evidence of the arrhythmia was detected but no self-reported
      history was reported. All-cause mortality was confirmed during follow-up through
      March 31, 2014. RESULTS: A total of 2208 (8.5%) participants had AF at baseline
      (ECG: n = 371/17%; self-reported: n = 1837/83%). Over a median follow-up of 7.6
      years, 3481 deaths occurred. In a multivariable Cox regression model, AF was
      associated with a 32% increased risk of mortality (95% confidence interval [CI]:
      1.19-1.46). Risk of death was higher among those with ECG AF (hazard ratio: 1.71,
      95% CI: 1.42-2.07) compared with self-reported cases (hazard ratio: 1.15, 95% CI:
      1.03-1.29). Those who were unaware of their AF diagnosis had a 94% increased risk
      of death (95% CI: 1.50-2.52) compared with AF participants who were aware of
      their diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic, nonhospitalized AF is associated with
      an increased risk of mortality in the general population. Mortality is higher in
      those with ECG-confirmed cases and among those who are unaware of their
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26880477
TI  - A New 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-Based Hole-Transport Material for Efficient CH3 NH3 PbBr3
      Perovskite Solar Cells.
AB  - A new hole-transport material (HTM) based on the 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety (H1) was
      prepared through a single-step synthetic pathway starting from commercially
      available products. Thanks to a deep HOMO level, H1 was used as HTM in CH3 NH3
      PbBr3 perovskite solar cells yielding an efficiency of 5.8%. The reference HTM
      (Spiro-OMeTAD), under the same testing conditions, furnished a lower efficiency
      of 5.1%. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence of the thin films
      showed good charge-extraction dynamics for H1 devices. In addition, H1 shows a
      large thermal stability and completely amorphous behavior (as evaluated by
      thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry).

PMID- 26880479
TI  - Mimicking enzymatic systems: modulation of the performance of polymeric
      organocatalysts by ion-specific effects.
AB  - Like natural enzymatic systems, our study has demonstrated that the activity of
      the polymeric organocatalysts can be modulated by ion-specific effects via the
      combination of anion-specific salting-in/out effects and anion-specific
      polarization of hydrogen bonding induced stabilization of the transition state. 

PMID- 26880478
TI  - Differential regulation of taurine biosynthesis in rainbow trout and Japanese
      flounder.
AB  - Animals have varied taurine biosynthesis capability, which was determined by
      activities of key enzymes including cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and cysteine
      sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD). However, whether CDO and CSD are differentially
      regulated across species remains unexplored. In the present study, we examined
      the regulations of CDO and CSD in rainbow trout and Japanese flounder, the two
      fish species with high and low taurine biosynthesis ability respectively. Our
      results showed that the expression of CDO was lower in rainbow trout but more
      responsive to cysteine stimulation compared to that in Japanese flounder. On the
      other hand, both the expression and catalytic efficiency (k(cat)) of CSD were
      higher in rainbow trout than those of Japanese flounder. A three-residue
      substrate recognition motif in rainbow trout CSD with sequence of F126/S146/Y148
      was identified to be responsible for high k(cat), while that with sequence of
      F88/N108/F110 in Japanese flounder led to low k(cat), as suggested by site
      directed mutagenesis studies. In summary, our results determined new aspects of
      taurine biosynthesis regulation across species.

PMID- 26880480
TI  - An association between systemic cyclosporine administration and development of
      acute bullous keratopathy in cats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether any association exists between the onset of
      feline acute bullous keratopathy (ABK) and administration of systemic
      corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy. ANIMALS STUDIED: Medical records of
      cats diagnosed with ABK between the years of 2000 and 2008 were retrospectively
      reviewed. Breed, age at diagnosis, weight, systemic disease status, eye affected,
      ophthalmic examination findings, systemic and topical therapy instituted, dosage
      and duration of therapy, visual outcome and histopathological analyses were
      recorded in cases meeting the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 12 cats of
      a surveyed population of 70 167 met the inclusion criteria with 17/24 eyes
      affected by ABK. Medical and/or surgical therapy was utilized for management of
      ABK with 13/17 eyes remaining sighted at the time of last follow-up. In a subset
      of cases corneal cytology, aerobic bacterial culture, FHV-1 PCR, virus isolation
      and/or histopathology were performed; no infectious organisms were identified. A
      rupture in Descemet's membrane of the cornea was identified histologically in two
      globes. A total of 10 of 12 cats had been previously diagnosed with ongoing
      systemic disease. A total of 10 of 12 cats were receiving systemic therapy, and a
      significant association (P < 0.001) was noted between systemic administration of
      corticosteroids and/or cyclosporine A and the development of ABK. A total of 8 of
      10 cats were administered oral prednisolone at doses between 1-2 mg/kg every 12
      24 h. A total of 5 of 8 cats receiving oral prednisolone were concurrently
      administered oral cyclosporine at doses of 1.5-7 mg/kg every 12-24 h. Systemic
      cyclosporine therapy was found to be a significant risk factor (P < 0.001) for
      ABK development, while systemic prednisolone was not significant (P = 0.10).
      CONCLUSIONS: Systemic cyclosporine administration appears to be a risk factor for
      development of ABK in the population of cats studied.

PMID- 26880481
TI  - Canine Staphylococcus pseudintermedius sinonasal infection in human hosts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a gram-positive bacterium commonly
      found as part of the normal skin and nasal flora of healthy dogs. It may act as
      an opportunistic pathogen in dogs, but has also been shown to colonize the nasal
      mucosa of humans. We report 4 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to
      aggressive medical management with cultures that grew S. pseudintermedius, with
      clinical improvement only after initiating culture-directed therapy. METHODS:
      Retrospective review of 4 patients with CRS treated at a tertiary academic
      medical center with sinonasal cultures growing S. pseudintermedius. RESULTS: All
      4 patients are dog owners and had clinical diagnoses of CRS. Three of the 4
      patients had a diagnosis related to immune dysfunction (sarcoidosis, Crohn's
      disease, history of lymphoma). After undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery, each
      patient was treated with aggressive medical therapy but continued to have
      purulent nasal discharge. Sinonasal cultures repeatedly grew S. pseudintermedius
      in all cases, with 3 patients' dogs also having had concurrent S.
      pseudintermedius wound infections of the ear and leg with similar antibiotic
      susceptibilities. Treatment with culture-directed therapy improved the infections
      in all cases. CONCLUSION: Opportunistic pathogens have a propensity to exacerbate
      infection in CRS patients with immune dysfunction. We report the first case
      series of sinonasal S. pseudintermedius infection in humans. Though a rare cause
      of disease, pathogens such as S. pseudintermedius from nonhuman hosts should be
      considered in the management of CRS patients refractory to medical therapy.

PMID- 26880482
TI  - Complications of Hospital-Onset Healthcare Facility-Associated Clostridium
      difficile Infections Among Veterans.
AB  - Complications within 30 days of a clinically confirmed hospital-onset Clostridium
      difficile infection diagnosis from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015, in 127
      acute care Veterans Health Administration facilities were evaluated. Pooled rates
      for attributable intensive care unit admissions, colectomies, and deaths were
      2.7%, 0.5%, and 0.4%, respectively. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:717
      719.

PMID- 26880483
TI  - Trianguleniums as Optical Probes for G-Quadruplexes: A Photophysical,
      Electrochemical, and Computational Study.
AB  - Nucleic acids can adopt non-duplex topologies, such as G-quadruplexes in vitro.
      Yet it has been challenging to establish their existence and function in vivo due
      to a lack of suitable tools. Recently, we identified the triangulenium compound
      DAOTA-M2 as a unique fluorescence probe for such studies. This probe's emission
      lifetime is highly dependent on the topology of the DNA it interacts with opening
      up the possibility of carrying out live-cell imaging studies. Herein, we describe
      the origin of its fluorescence selectivity for G-quadruplexes. Cyclic voltammetry
      predicts that the appended morpholino groups can act as intra- molecular photo
      induced electron transfer (PET) quenchers. Photophysical studies show that a
      delicate balance between this effect and inter-molecular PET with nucleobases is
      key to the overall fluorescence enhancement observed upon nucleic acid binding.
      We utilised computational modelling to demonstrate a conformational dependence of
      intra-molecular PET. Finally, we performed orthogonal studies with a
      triangulenium compound, in which the morpholino groups were removed, and
      demonstrated that this change inverts triangulenium fluorescence selectivity from
      G-quadruplex to duplex DNA, thus highlighting the importance of fine tuning the
      molecular structure not only for target affinity, but also for fluorescence
      response. 

PMID- 26880484
TI  - Poly C binding protein 1 represses autophagy through downregulation of LC3B to
      promote tumor cell apoptosis in starvation.
AB  - Accumulating evidences indicate that poly C binding protein (PCBP1) is
      downregulated in various carcinomas as a tumor suppressor, but the underlying
      mechanism in suppression of tumorigenesis still remains elusive. Here, we found
      that PCBP1 overexpression attenuates tumor cell growth upon serum-free
      starvation. Notably, the autophagic degradation inhibitor, chloroquine, could
      mimic this suppressive effect in tumor cell growth. Autophagy analyses
      demonstrated that PCBP1 overexpression blocked autophagic flux of tumor cells
      under starvation conditions, while PCBP1 downregulation in turn refueled this
      autophagic flux, protecting cells from death. Mechanistically, PCBP1
      overexpression attenuated microtubule-associated protein Light chain 3 (LC3B)
      mRNA stability to repress LC3B expression, resulting in the autophagy inhibition.
      Consequently, PCBP1 overexpression strongly triggered the caspase 3 and 8
      mediated apoptosis of tumor cells and downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2
      expression upon starvation, which could be further synergized by autophagic
      inhibitor, indicating that PCBP1 not only inhibits tumor cell autophagy, but also
      renders them to apoptosis. Taken together, our results uncovered a novel
      mechanism of PCBP1 in repressing autophagy-mediated cell survival and indicated
      that inhibition of tumor cell autophagy by PCBP1 upregulation or with autophagic
      inhibitors could be an effective therapeutical strategy to colon and ovary tumors
      with low PCBP1 expression. 

PMID- 26880486
TI  - Cyclic Hypervalent Iodine Reagents for Atom-Transfer Reactions: Beyond
      Trifluoromethylation.
AB  - Hypervalent iodine compounds are privileged reagents in organic synthesis because
      of their exceptional reactivity. Among these compounds, cyclic derivatives stand
      apart because of their enhanced stability. They have been widely used as
      oxidants, but their potential for functional-group transfer has only begun to be
      investigated recently. The use of benziodoxol(on)es for trifluoromethylation
      (Togni's reagents) is already widely recognized, but other transformations have
      also attracted strong interest recently. In this Review, the development in the
      area since 2011 will be presented. After a short summary of synthetic methods to
      prepare benziodoxol(on)e reagents, their use to construct carbon-heteroatom and
      carbon-carbon bonds will be presented. In particular, the introduction of alkynes
      by using ethynylbenziodoxol(on)e (EBX) reagents has been highly successful.
      Breakthroughs in the introduction of alkoxy, azido, difluoromethyl, and cyano
      groups will also be described. 

PMID- 26880485
TI  - Sex Biased Gene Expression Profiling of Human Brains at Major Developmental
      Stages.
AB  - There are many differences in brain structure and function between males and
      females. However, how these differences were manifested during development and
      maintained through adulthood are still unclear. Here we present a time series
      analyses of genome-wide transcription profiles of the human brain, and we
      identified genes showing sex biased expression at major developmental stages
      (prenatal time, early childhood, puberty time and adulthood). We observed a great
      number of genes (>2,000 genes) showing between-sex expression divergence at all
      developmental stages with the greatest number (4,164 genes) at puberty time.
      However, there are little overlap of sex-biased genes among the major
      developmental stages, an indication of dynamic expression regulation of the sex
      biased genes in the brain during development. Notably, the male biased genes are
      highly enriched for genes involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders like
      schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease and autism, while no such
      pattern was seen for the female-biased genes, suggesting that the differences in
      brain disorder susceptibility between males and females are likely rooted from
      the sex-biased gene expression regulation during brain development. Collectively,
      these analyses reveal an important role of sex biased genes in brain development
      and neurodevelopmental disorders. 

PMID- 26880487
TI  - "She Learned it from her Mother and Grandmother": Women's Experiences with
      Delivery and Post-partum Practices in Peri-urban Yangon, Myanmar.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Every year in Myanmar more than one million women give birth.
      Although births in hospitals and those attended by skilled birth attendants have
      increased considerably, the majority of women continue to give birth at home. Our
      needs assessment explored women's reproductive health in peri-urban Yangon, a
      rapidly growing area characterized by poor infrastructure, slum settlements and a
      mobile, migrant population. In this article, we focus specifically on the
      perceptions and experiences of adult women, key informants, and health care
      providers regarding delivery and post-partum care. METHODS: Our study team
      conducted a systematic literature review, 18 key informant interviews, 27
      facility surveys, a survey with 147 adult women, and seven focus group
      discussions with women and health care providers over the summer of 2014. We
      analyzed these data for content and themes using deductive and inductive
      techniques and used descriptive statistics to analyze the survey results.
      RESULTS: Women in peri-urban Yangon are increasingly choosing to give birth in
      hospitals; however public hospitals are often inaccessible due to financial
      constraints and lack of transportation. Further, sociocultural and financial
      considerations continue to make deliveries with a traditional birth attendant an
      appealing option for some women and potentially harmful traditional post-partum
      practices remain common. CONCLUSIONS: Peri-urban populations face competing
      influences that guide decision-making surrounding delivery. Efforts to address
      the barriers to accessing hospital-based maternity services and trained providers
      appear warranted. The development of culturally-relevant resources that seek to
      raise awareness of the potential risks of traditional post-partum practices may
      also be of use.

PMID- 26880488
TI  - The Quadruple Bonding in C2 Reproduces the Properties of the Molecule.
AB  - Ever since Lewis depicted the triple bond for acetylene, triple bonding has been
      considered as the highest limit of multiple bonding for main elements. Here we
      show that C2 is bonded by a quadruple bond that can be distinctly characterized
      by valence-bond (VB) calculations. We demonstrate that the quadruply-bonded
      structure determines the key observables of the molecule, and accounts by itself
      for about 90% of the molecule's bond dissociation energy, and for its bond
      lengths and its force constant. The quadruply-bonded structure is made of two
      strong pi bonds, one strong sigma bond and a weaker fourth sigma-type bond, the
      bond strength of which is estimated as 17-21 kcal mol(-1). Alternative VB
      structures with double bonds; either two pi bonds or one pi bond and one sigma
      bond lie at 129.5 and 106.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively, above the quadruply
      bonded structure, and they collapse to the latter structure given freedom to
      improve their double bonding by dative sigma bonding. The usefulness of the
      quadruply-bonded model is underscored by "predicting" the properties of the
      (3)Sigma+u state. C2's very high reactivity is rooted in its fourth weak bond.
      Thus, carbon and first-row main elements are open to quadruple bonding!

PMID- 26880489
TI  - ID-Viewer: a visual analytics architecture for infectious diseases surveillance
      and response management in Pakistan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Globally, disease surveillance systems are playing a significant role
      in outbreak detection and response management of Infectious Diseases (IDs).
      However, in developing countries like Pakistan, epidemic outbreaks are difficult
      to detect due to scarcity of public health data and absence of automated
      surveillance systems. Our research is intended to formulate an integrated service
      oriented visual analytics architecture for ID surveillance, identify key
      constituents and set up a baseline for easy reproducibility of such systems in
      the future. STUDY DESIGN: This research focuses on development of ID-Viewer,
      which is a visual analytics decision support system for ID surveillance. It is a
      blend of intelligent approaches to make use of real-time streaming data from
      Emergency Departments (EDs) for early outbreak detection, health care resource
      allocation and epidemic response management. METHODS: We have developed a robust
      service-oriented visual analytics architecture for ID surveillance, which
      provides automated mechanisms for ID data acquisition, outbreak detection and
      epidemic response management. Classification of chief-complaints is accomplished
      using dynamic classification module, which employs neural networks and fuzzy
      logic to categorize syndromes. Standard routines by Center for Disease Control
      (CDC), i.e. c1-c3 (c1-mild, c2-medium and c3-ultra), and spatial scan statistics
      are employed for detection of temporal and spatio-temporal disease outbreaks
      respectively. Prediction of imminent disease threats is accomplished using
      support vector regression for early warnings and response planning. Geographical
      visual analytics displays are developed that allow interactive visualization of
      syndromic clusters, monitoring disease spread patterns, and identification of
      spatio-temporal risk zones. RESULTS: We analysed performance of surveillance
      framework using ID data for year 2011-2015. Dynamic syndromic classifier is able
      to classify chief-complaints to appropriate syndromes with high classification
      accuracy. Outbreak detection methods are able to detect the ID outbreaks in start
      of epidemic time zones. Prediction model is able to forecast dengue trend for 20
      weeks ahead with nominal normalized root mean square error of 0.29. Interactive
      geo-spatiotemporal displays, i.e. heat-maps, and choropleth are shown in
      respective sections. CONCLUSION: The proposed framework will set a standard and
      provide necessary details for future implementation of such a system for resource
      constrained regions. It will improve early outbreak detection attributable to
      natural and man-made biological threats, monitor spatio-temporal epidemic trends
      and provide assurance that an outbreak has, or has not occurred. Advanced
      analytics features will be beneficial in timely organization/formulation of
      health management policies, disease control activities and efficient health care
      resource allocation.

PMID- 26880490
TI  - Mental health among currently enrolled medical students in Germany.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study identifies the prevalence of common mental disorders
      according to the patient health questionnaire (PHQ) and the use of psychotropic
      substances in a sample of currently enrolled medical students. STUDY DESIGN: A
      cross-sectional survey with a self-administrated questionnaire. METHODS: All
      newly enrolled medical students at the University of Dusseldorf, with study
      beginning either in 2012 or 2013, respectively, were invited to participate. The
      evaluation was based on 590 completed questionnaires. Mental health outcomes were
      measured by the PHQ, including major depression, other depressive symptoms
      (subthreshold depression), anxiety, panic disorders and psychosomatic complaints.
      Moreover, information about psychotropic substances use (including medication)
      was obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate
      associations between sociodemographic and socio-economic factors and mental
      health outcomes. RESULTS: The prevalence rates, measured by the PHQ, were 4.7%
      for major depression, 5.8% for other depressive symptoms, 4.4% for anxiety, 1.9%
      for panic disorders, and 15.7% for psychosomatic complaints. These prevalence
      rates were higher than those reported in the general population, but lower than
      in medical students in the course of medical training. In all, 10.7% of the
      students reported regular psychotropic substance use: 5.1% of students used
      medication 'to calm down,' 4.6% 'to improve their sleep,' 4.4% 'to elevate mood,'
      and 3.1% 'to improve cognitive performance.' In the fully adjusted model,
      expected financial difficulties were significantly associated with poor mental
      health (odds ratio [OR]: 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.48),
      psychosomatic symptoms (OR:1.85; 95% CI: 1.11-3.09) and psychotropic substances
      use (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.51-4.75). CONCLUSION: The high rates of mental disorders
      among currently enrolled medical students call for the promotion of mental
      health, with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups.

PMID- 26880492
TI  - India sets out plan to eliminate malaria by 2030.

PMID- 26880491
TI  - Lung ultrasound decreased radiation exposure in preterm infants in a neonatal
      intensive care unit.

PMID- 26880494
TI  - Bone-Prosthesis Junction for Active Tendon Implants: A Biomechanical Comparison
      of 2 Fixation Techniques.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study the biomechanical characteristics (percent stretch, stiffness,
      and ultimate load) of 2 distal fixation techniques for an active tendon implant
      used in the reconstruction of flexor tendons. METHODS: We evaluated percent
      stretch after cyclical loading and at failure, stiffness during load-to-failure,
      and peak load of 28 bone-prosthesis junctions using cadaveric canine middle
      phalanges to study 2 fixation techniques: metal cleat and screw versus polyester
      cords secured with a knot. RESULTS: The knot constructs displayed greater percent
      stretch during and following cyclical loading between 2 N and 50 N and at peak
      load. The screw construct showed greater stiffness from 50 N to 150 N during load
      to-failure. Both fixation techniques failed at a mean peak load greater than 340
      N. CONCLUSIONS: Both fixation techniques for active tendon implants withstood
      loads seen with passive and active motion in the immediate postoperative period.
      Knot constructs displayed significant stretch during cyclical and load-to-failure
      testing, which would need to be compensated for during surgery. The screw
      constructs showed greater stiffness than the constructs secured with the
      surgeon's knot, but failure created an intra-articular fracture. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: The results may aid the surgeon in choosing which fixation technique
      to use, during tensioning of cords, and in permitting active motion following
      surgery.

PMID- 26880493
TI  - Diagnosis of adults Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma by
      immunohistochemistry and FISH assays: clinicopathological data from ethnic
      Chinese population.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the utility of transcription factor E3 (TFE3) break
      apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay in diagnosis of Xp11.2
      translocation renal cell carcinoma (Xp11.2 RCC) and to compare the
      clinicopathological features between adult Xp11.2 RCC and non-Xp11.2 RCC. 76
      pathologically suspected Xp11.2 RCCs were recruited from our institution. Both
      TFE3 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and TFE3 FISH assay were performed for the entire
      cohort. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) curves were
      estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. FISH analysis confirmed 30 Xp11.2 RCCs,
      including 28 cases with positive TFE3 immunostaining and 2 cases with negative
      immunostaining. The false-positive and false-negative rates were 6.7% (2/30) and
      4.3% (2/46), respectively, for TFE3 IHC compared with FISH assay. Xp11.2 RCC was
      significantly associated with higher pathological stage and Fuhrman nuclear grade
      compared with non-Xp11.2 RCC (P < 0.05). The median PFS and OS for TFE3 FISH
      positive group were 13.0 months (95% CI, 8.4-17.6 months) and 50.0 months (95%
      CI, 27.6-72.4 months), respectively, while the median PFS and OS had not been
      reached for TFE3 FISH-negative group. In conclusion, TFE3 break-apart FISH assay
      is a highly useful and standard diagnostic method for Xp11.2 RCC. Adult Xp11.2
      RCC is clinically aggressive and often presents at advanced stage with poor
      prognosis. 

PMID- 26880495
TI  - The Effect of Short Nerve Grafts in Series on Axonal Regeneration Across
      Isografts or Acellular Nerve Allografts.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the regenerative effect of the additional suture line when
      using either isografts (ISOs) or acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) placed end-to
      end to span a short gap in a rat model. METHODS: Rat sciatic nerves were
      transected and repaired with 2-cm nerve grafts (ISO or ANA). The grafts were 2 cm
      in length or a 1-cm segment was connected end-to-end to a 1-cm segment to yield a
      2-cm length. At 8 weeks, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle force and mass
      were measured. Nerves were harvested for histomorphometry. In a separate parallel
      study, the nerves were harvested 2 weeks following graft implantation to assess
      gene expression changes. RESULTS: All grafts demonstrated regeneration across the
      2-cm segment(s). The additional suture line did not result in statistical
      differences in the number of myelinated nerve fibers that reached the distal
      nerve. However, when the graft types were compared, there was a significant
      decrease in nerve fibers in the ANA groups. The EDL muscle mass was significantly
      greater by using nerve ISOs compared with ANAs, regardless of an additional
      suture line, but there were no statistical differences noted in EDL muscle force.
      Gene expression analysis did not differ owing to an additional suture line.
      CONCLUSIONS: Minimal axonal loss and no functional deficits were identified with
      an additional suture line in this rodent short nerve gap model. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Placing nerve grafts in series is a viable option for treating short
      nerve gaps; however, the use of autografts remains preferable over the use of
      ANAs.

PMID- 26880496
TI  - Health Literacy and Time Spent With a Hand Surgeon.
AB  - PURPOSE: To characterize the relationship between health literacy and duration of
      new hand surgery office visits. METHODS: Using a stopwatch from outside the room,
      we measured the duration of the visit (minutes of face-to-face contact between
      attending surgeon and patient) for 224 new patients presenting to 1 of 5
      orthopedic hand surgeons (D.R.). Directly after the visit, patients were asked to
      complete the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy test, a sociodemographic
      survey, and 3 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-based
      questionnaires: Pain Interference, Upper Extremity Function, and Depression. The
      Newest Vital Sign scores were divided into limited (0-3) and adequate (4-6)
      health literacy. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on diagnosis,
      visit type, management, and whether patients were first seen by a
      resident/fellow. Multiple linear regression modeling was used to characterize the
      association between health literacy and duration of visit while controlling for
      the effect of other patient and visit characteristics. RESULTS: The unadjusted
      mean visit duration was 1.9 minutes shorter in patients with limited health
      literacy (9.4 minutes) than in patients with adequate health literacy (11.3
      minutes), and this difference persisted after adjustment for a broad range of
      patient and visit characteristics. Greater magnitude of disability was associated
      with longer visits, as were second-opinion appointments, a diagnosis of
      nonspecific arm pain or compression neuropathy, and appointments in which
      operative management was chosen. Visits in which a resident/fellow saw the
      patient first were shorter than visits without resident/fellow assistance.
      CONCLUSIONS: The finding that limited health literacy correlated with shorter
      visits may suggest that patients who may stand to benefit the most from detailed
      health education and counseling received less. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Prognostic II.

PMID- 26880497
TI  - Care Transfers for Patients With Upper Extremity Trauma: Influence of Health
      Insurance Type.
AB  - PURPOSE: To understand the differences in transfer incidence for patients with
      upper extremity trauma by hospital trauma center designation. We hypothesized
      that patients with public or no insurance were more likely to be transferred to
      another facility compared with privately insured patients. METHODS: Trauma
      centers are designated by local authorities and verified by the American College
      of Surgeons. Using the 2012 National Trauma Data Bank, we examined the
      probability of being transferred from one center to another for patients who
      sustained isolated upper extremity trauma. We used multivariable logistic
      regression with a clustered variance method to adjust for intrahospital
      correlation to compare risk-adjusted transfer incidence for patients with upper
      extremity injuries by trauma center designation. RESULTS: In 2012, 6,214 patients
      ages 18-64 with isolated upper extremity trauma presented to 477 hospitals.
      Overall, transfer incidence was significantly higher among level III trauma
      centers (26%) compared with level II (11%) or level I (2%) trauma centers.
      Adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics patients with Medicaid were
      more likely to be transferred from level III trauma centers to another center
      compared with privately insured patients. CONCLUSIONS: Current regulations may
      not prevent unnecessary patient transfers based on insurance status among level
      III trauma centers. Policy makers should compensate or provide incentives to
      hospitals that take care of poorly insured patients. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Economic/decision III.

PMID- 26880498
TI  - A Matched Comparative Study of the Bilhaut Procedure Versus Resection and
      Reconstruction for Treatment of Radial Polydactyly Types II and IV.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of the Bilhaut procedure with outcomes of
      conventional resection and reconstruction in radial polydactyly types II and IV.
      METHODS: Patients treated with the Bilhaut procedure were radiologically matched
      with patients treated with reconstruction. Evaluated outcomes included the
      Rotterdam assessment system, pinch strength, and thumb size measurements. To
      determine objectively which aesthetic outcome scores truly depended on surgical
      technique rather than observer opinion, we analyzed evaluations by a panel of 22
      individuals with varying clinical experience who were blinded to the study
      protocol, using a linear mixed regression model. RESULTS: The Bilhaut procedure
      reduced the risk of suboptimal outcome for metacarpophalangeal joint instability
      in type IV radial polydactyly. Conversely, the Bilhaut procedure increased the
      risk of suboptimal scar appearance, residual prominence at amputation site, thumb
      size, and nail appearance. Tip pinch strength was more significantly reduced
      after the Bilhaut compared with reconstruction, whereas pulp circumference and
      nail width exceeded 100% of the unaffected contralateral hand after the Bilhaut
      reconstruction. There was no significant difference in active range of motion
      between procedures. Nail appearance proved the only aesthetic drawback of the
      Bilhaut procedure after adjustment for clinical experience. CONCLUSIONS: There
      was superior metacarpophalangeal joint stability after the Bilhaut procedure for
      radial polydactyly type IV, but this did not result in the presumed benefit to
      thumb strength. For experienced surgeons, both procedures resulted in comparable
      thumb active range of motion. However, aesthetic results were more likely
      perceived as pleasing after conventional reconstruction, even after adjusting for
      observer experience with regard to nail appearance. Despite possible benefits of
      modified Bilhaut procedures that preserve the nail, conventional reconstruction
      is the preferred procedure until otherwise proven. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.

PMID- 26880499
TI  - A Comparison of Elbow Range of Motion Measurements: Smartphone-Based Digital
      Photography Versus Goniometric Measurements.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to validate elbow flexion and extension
      measured from smartphone photography obtained by participants and compared them
      with photographs obtained by surgeons and goniometric measurements. METHODS: We
      enrolled 32 participants with a total of 64 elbows, aged 25 to 68 years.
      Participants obtained smartphone photographs of full elbow flexion and extension.
      Then surgeons obtained the same photographs and goniometric measurement of elbow
      range of motion (ROM). We measured ROM from the photographs using Adobe Photoshop
      and calculated average ROM. Comparisons of manual goniometer versus digital
      measurements, participant versus surgeon photograph measurements, and
      interobserver measurements were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Average ROM
      measured by manual goniometer and digital photographs was 0 degrees  to 129
      degrees  (range, 0 degrees  to 140 degrees ) and 0 degrees  to 129 degrees 
      (range, 0 degrees  to 145 degrees ), respectively. The goniometer versus digital
      measurements interclass correlation was 0.828 (L) and 0.740 (R). Pearson
      coefficient was 0.845 (L) and 0.757 (R). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated that 30
      of 32 digital measurements (L) and 31 of 32 measurements (R) were within the 95%
      confidence interval. Participant-obtained photographs compared with researcher's
      photographs interclass correlation was 0.955 (L) and 0.941 (R), with a Pearson
      coefficient of 0.962 (L) and 0.957 (R), respectively. Reviewing interobserver
      reliability, concordance coefficients were 0.793 (L) and 0.767 (R) and Pearson
      coefficients were 0.811 (L) and 0.780 (R). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated that
      28 of 32 digital measurements (L) and 26 of 32 measurements (R) were within the
      95% confidence interval. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring elbow ROM using smartphone
      digital photography is valid and reliable. Participants were able to obtain
      accurate photographs and the measurements based on these photographs show no
      statistical difference from those taken by surgeons or goniometric measurement.
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study validates using smartphone photography for
      measuring elbow ROM by laymen in a remote setting. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

PMID- 26880500
TI  - Generating trust: Programmatic strategies to reach women who inject drugs with
      harm reduction services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of methadone-assisted
      therapy (MAT) to treat opioid dependence, reduce the risk of HIV transmission,
      and improve HIV related health outcomes among people who inject drugs (PWID). HIV
      prevalence reaches 71% in women who inject drugs (WWID) in Dar es Salaam,
      Tanzania; creating an urgent need for access to MAT. Despite the availability and
      potential benefits of treatment, few women have enrolled in services. This
      formative research sought to identify programmatic strategies to increase women's
      participation in outreach and their subsequent enrollment in MAT. METHODS: We
      conducted twenty-five, in-depth interviews with patients and their providers at a
      MAT clinic. Open-ended interviews explored enrollment experiences, with a focus
      on contextual barriers and facilitators unique to women. Ethnographic
      observations of harm reduction education at outreach sites and the MAT clinic
      enriched interview data. Trust/mistrust emerged as an overarching theme cross
      cutting patient and provider accounts of the connective process to enroll PWID in
      the methadone program. We explore trust and mistrust in relationship to the
      interrelated themes of family loss, social isolation, vehement discrimination and
      motivation for treatment. RESULTS: Narratives delineated both the generation of
      mistrust against PWID and the generation of mistrust in PWID against outsiders
      and medical institutions. In order to enroll PWID in treatment, community base
      organizations engaged outreach strategies to overcome mistrust and connect
      eligible patients to care, which varied in their success at recruiting women and
      men. Greater discrimination against WWID pushed them into hiding, away from
      outreach teams that focus on outdoor areas where men who inject drugs congregate.
      Building trust through multiple encounters and making a personal connection
      facilitated entry into care for women. Only PWID were eligible for MAT, due to
      resource constraints and the higher risk associated with injection drug use. Many
      women smoke heroin, yet still face high risk of HIV, resulting from low condom
      use during sex work to fund drug use. CONCLUSION: Expanding outreach times and
      locations, by women peers, could increase women's enrollment in treatment.
      Allowing women who smoke heroin to enter the program could prevent onward
      transmission via sex work and reduce the chance of progressing from the lower
      risk smoking or sniffing to injection drug use.

PMID- 26880501
TI  - Novel 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives as Multitarget Compounds for the Treatment
      of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - We discovered a small series of hit compounds that show multitargeting activities
      against key targets in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The compounds were designed by
      combining the structural features of the anti-AD drug donepezil with clioquinol,
      which is able to chelate redox-active metals, thus decreasing metal-driven
      oxidative phenomena and beta-amyloid (Abeta)-mediated neurotoxicity. The majority
      of the new hybrid compounds selectively target human butyrylcholinesterase at
      micromolar concentrations and effectively inhibit Abeta self-aggregation. In
      addition, compounds 5-chloro-7-((4-(2-methoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-8
      hydroxyquinoline (1 b), 7-((4-(2-methoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-8
      hydroxyquinoline (2 b), and 7-(((1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)amino)methyl)-5-chloro-8
      hydroxyquinoline (3 a) are able to chelate copper(II) and zinc(II) and exert
      antioxidant activity in vitro. Importantly, in the case of 2 b, the multitarget
      profile is accompanied by high predicted blood-brain barrier permeability, low
      cytotoxicity in T67 cells, and acceptable toxicity in HUVEC primary cells.

PMID- 26880503
TI  - Potential use of high levels of vegetal proteins in diets for market-sized
      gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).
AB  - The effect of partial or total dietary substitution of fishmeal (FM) by vegetal
      protein sources on growth and feed efficiency was carried out in on-growing
      gilthead sea bream (mean initial weight 131 g). The Control diet (FM 100)
      contained FM as the primary protein source, while in Diets FM 25 and FM 0 the FM
      protein was replaced at 75% and 100%, respectively, by a vegetable protein
      mixture consisting of wheat gluten, soybean meal, rapeseed meal and crystalline
      amino acids. Diets FM 25 and FM 0 also contained krill meal at 47 g/kg in order
      to improve palatability. At the end of the trial (after 158 d), fish survival was
      above 90%. Final weight and the specific growth rate were statistically lower in
      fish fed the Control diet (361 g and 0.64%/d), compared with 390-396 g and 0.69
      0.70%/d after feeding vegetal diets. No significant differences were found
      regarding feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The digestibility of protein and
      amino acids (determined with chromium oxide as indicator) was similar in all
      diets. The blood parameters were not significantly affected by treatments. The
      activity of trypsin and pepsin was significantly reduced after feeding Diet FM 0.
      In the distal intestine, the villi length in fish fed Diet FM 25 was
      significantly longer and the intestine of the fish fed the FM 100 diet showed a
      smaller number of goblet cells. In conclusion, a total FM substitution by a
      vegetal mix supplemented with synthetic amino acids in on-growing sea bream is
      feasible.

PMID- 26880502
TI  - Pancreatic beta-Cell Membrane Fluidity and Toxicity Induced by Human Islet
      Amyloid Polypeptide Species.
AB  - Aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) into fibrils and plaques
      is associated with pancreatic beta-cell loss in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However,
      due to the rapidness of hIAPP conversion in aqueous phase, exactly which hIAPP
      species is responsible for the observed toxicity and through what mechanisms
      remains ambiguous. In light of the importance of understanding hIAPP toxicity for
      T2D here we show a biophysical scheme based on the use of a lipophilic Laurdan
      dye for examining MIN6 cell membranes upon exposure to fresh and oligomeric hIAPP
      as well as mature amyloid. It has been found that all three hIAPP species,
      especially fresh hIAPP, enhanced membrane fluidity and caused losses in cell
      viability. The cell generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), however, was the
      most pronounced with mature amyloid hIAPP. The correlation between changes in
      membrane fluidity and cell viability and their lack of correlation with ROS
      production suggest hIAPP toxicity is elicited through both physical and
      biochemical means. This study offers a new insight into beta-cell toxicity
      induced by controlled hIAPP species, as well as new biophysical methodologies
      that may prove beneficial for the studies of T2D as well as neurological
      disorders. 

PMID- 26880505
TI  - Pelvic Organ Prolapse: New Concepts in Pelvic Floor Anatomy.
AB  - As the field of reconstructive pelvic surgery continues to evolve, with
      descriptions of new procedures to repair pelvic organ prolapse, it remains
      imperative to maintain a functional understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and
      support. The goal of this review was to provide a focused, conceptual approach to
      differentiating anatomic defects contributing to prolapse in the various
      compartments of the vagina. Rather than provide exhaustive descriptions of pelvic
      floor anatomy, basic pelvic floor anatomy is reviewed, new and historical
      concepts of pelvic floor support are discussed, and relevance to the surgical
      management of specific anatomic defects is addressed. 

PMID- 26880506
TI  - Anatomy of the Vulva and the Female Sexual Response.
AB  - The female vulva is an intricate structure comprising several components. Each
      structure has been described separately, but the interplay among them and
      physiologic significance remain controversial. The structures extend inferiorly
      from the pubic arch and include the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora,
      vestibule, and clitoris. The clitoris is widely accepted as the most critical
      anatomic structure to female sexual arousal and orgasm. The female sexual
      response cycle is also very complex, requiring emotional and mental stimulation
      in addition to end organ stimulation. 

PMID- 26880504
TI  - The Epidemiology of Pelvic Floor Disorders and Childbirth: An Update.
AB  - Using a lifespan model, this article presents new scientific findings regarding
      risk factors for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), focusing on the role of
      childbirth in the development of single or multiple coexisting PFDs. Phase I of
      the model includes predisposing factors, such as genetic predisposition and race.
      Phase II includes inciting factors, such as obstetric events. Prolapse, urinary
      incontinence (UI), and fecal incontinence (FI) are more common among vaginally
      parous women, although the impact of vaginal delivery on risk of FI is less
      dramatic than prolapse and UI. Phase III includes intervening factors, such as
      age and obesity. 

PMID- 26880507
TI  - Stress Urinary Incontinence: Comparative Efficacy Trials.
AB  - Women seeking relief from symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may
      choose from a broad array of treatment options. Therapies range from
      lifestyle/behavioral modification to surgical interventions, and differ in terms
      of both effectiveness and risk. Individualized treatment plans can be developed
      to address a patient's expectations and goals for treatment, as well as her
      tolerance for potential adverse events. This article reviews the highest-quality
      clinical trials comparing contemporary treatment options for women with SUI.
      Clinicians and patients can use this compendium to inform their treatment
      selection. 

PMID- 26880508
TI  - Overactive Bladder.
AB  - Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition affecting millions of individuals in the
      United States. Anticholinergics are the mainstay of treatment. Bladder botulinum
      toxin injections have shown an improvement in symptoms of OAB equivalent to
      anticholinergic therapy. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation can decrease
      symptoms of urinary frequency and urge incontinence. Sacral neuromodulation for
      refractory patients has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for
      treatment of OAB, urge incontinence, and urinary retention. Few randomized, head
      to-head comparisons of the different available alternatives exist; however,
      patients now have increasing options to manage their symptoms and improve their
      quality of life. 

PMID- 26880509
TI  - Native Tissue Prolapse Repairs: Comparative Effectiveness Trials.
AB  - This report reviews the success rates and complications of native tissue
      (nonmesh) vaginal reconstruction of pelvic organ prolapse by compartment. For
      apical prolapse, both uterosacral ligament suspensions and sacrospinous ligament
      fixations are effective and provided similar outcomes in anatomy and function
      with few adverse events. In the anterior compartment, traditional colporrhaphy
      technique is no different than ultralateral suturing. In the posterior
      compartment, transvaginal rectocele repair is superior to transanal repair. For
      uterine preservation, sacrospinous hysteropexy is not inferior to vaginal
      hysterectomy with uterosacral ligament suspension for treatment of apical
      uterovaginal prolapse. 

PMID- 26880510
TI  - Pelvic Organ Prolapse---Vaginal and Laparoscopic Mesh: The Evidence.
AB  - This report summarizes the current literature on abdominal, laparoscopic, and
      transvaginal mesh for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. This article
      reviews objective and subjective cure rates as well as complications associated
      with synthetic mesh use for pelvic organ prolapse repair. The focus is on the
      latest literature that provides evidence for when synthetic mesh use is most
      appropriate. The use of mesh for the repair of urinary incontinence is not
      reviewed in this article. 

PMID- 26880512
TI  - Registries as Tools for Clinical Excellence and the Development of the Pelvic
      Floor Disorders Registry.
AB  - Surgical device innovation has been less regulated than drug development,
      allowing integration of unproven techniques and materials into standard practice.
      Successful device registries gather information on patient outcomes and can
      provide postmarket surveillance of new technologies and allow comparison with
      currently established treatments or devices. The Pelvic Floor Disorders Registry
      was developed in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration, device
      manufacturers, and other stakeholders to serve as a platform for industry
      sponsored postmarket device surveillance, investigator-initiated research, and
      quality and effectiveness benchmarking, all designed to improve the care of women
      with pelvic floor disorders. 

PMID- 26880513
TI  - Informed Consent for Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery.
AB  - Informed consent is the process in which a patient makes a decision about a
      surgical procedure or medical intervention after adequate information is relayed
      by the physician and understood by the patient. This process is critical for
      reconstructive pelvic surgeries, particularly with the advent of vaginal mesh
      procedures. In this article, we review the principles of informed consent, the
      pros and cons of different approaches in reconstructive pelvic surgery, the
      current legal issues surrounding mesh use for vaginal surgery, and tips on how to
      incorporate this information when consenting patients for pelvic floor surgery. 

PMID- 26880514
TI  - Ultrasound Imaging of the Pelvic Floor.
AB  - This article discusses the background and appraisal of endoluminal ultrasound of
      the pelvic floor. It provides a detailed anatomic assessment of the muscles and
      surrounding organs of the pelvic floor. Different anatomic variability and
      pathology, such as prolapse, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, vaginal
      wall cysts, synthetic implanted material, and pelvic pain, are easily assessed
      with endoluminal vaginal ultrasound. With pelvic organ prolapse in particular,
      not only is the prolapse itself seen but the underlying cause related to the
      anatomic and functional abnormalities of the pelvic floor muscle structures are
      also visualized. 

PMID- 26880511
TI  - Evidence-Based Update on Treatments of Fecal Incontinence in Women.
AB  - Fecal incontinence is a highly prevalent and distressing condition that has a
      negative impact on quality of life. The etiology is often multifactorial, and the
      evaluation and treatment of this condition can be hindered by a lack of
      understanding of the mechanisms and currently available treatment options. This
      article reviews the evidence-based update for the management of fecal
      incontinence. 

PMID- 26880515
TI  - Keeping Informed About Management Options for Pelvic Floor Disorders.

PMID- 26880516
TI  - Medical and Advanced Surgical Management of Pelvic Floor Disorders.

PMID- 26880517
TI  - See the unseen: Mesorectal lymph node metastases in prostate cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our study is the first evaluation of nodal metastatic prostate cancer
      (PCa) to mesorectal lymph nodes (MLN) detected by (68) Ga-PSMA-PET/CT. METHODS:
      We retrospectively analyzed 76 consecutive PCa patients who underwent (68) Ga
      PSMA-PET/CT: 61 PCa patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after curative
      treatment and 15 high-risk PCa before primary therapy. We assessed PET-positive
      MLN, which are indicative for PCa. RESULTS: We detected PET-positive lesions for
      PCa in (68) Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in 66 of 76 (87%) patients. Nodal disease was imaged
      in 47 of 66 (71%) patients. Indicative mesorectal nodal lesions for PCa were
      detected in 12 of 76 (15.8%) patients. The median number of PET-positive MLN was
      one per patient. Seven of twelve patients had recurrent PCa after radical
      prostatectomy with a median PSA value of 1.84 ng/ml (range 0.31-13). Five of
      twelve patients had untreated first diagnosed high-risk PCa with median PSA value
      of 90 ng/ml (range 4.6-93) at PET/CT, respectively. For all PET positive MLN a
      morphological correlate was found in CT (shortest diameter median 4 mm [range 4
      21]; longest diameter median 7.5 mm [range 5-25]). After PET/CT, four patients
      with recurrent PCa received hormonal therapy, one patient was treated with
      directed radiation therapy of MLN, one patient received chemotherapy, and one
      patient was treated with pelvic lymph node dissection. Three high-risk PCa
      patients received hormonal therapy, and two patients were treated with adjuvant
      hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Detection and exact
      location of nodal metastasis for PCa is crucial for the choice of treatment and
      the patient's prognosis. (68) Ga-PSMA-PET/CT seems to improve the detection of
      nodal metastasis in PCa, especially concerning mesorectal lymph nodes.

PMID- 26880518
TI  - Highly energetic compositions based on functionalized carbon nanomaterials.
AB  - In recent years, research in the field of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), such as
      fullerenes, expanded graphite (EG), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and
      graphene oxide (GO), has been widely used in energy storage, electronics,
      catalysts, and biomaterials, as well as medical applications. Regarding energy
      storage, one of the most important research directions is the development of CNMs
      as carriers of energetic components by coating or encapsulation, thus forming
      safer advanced nanostructures with better performances. Moreover, some CNMs can
      also be functionalized to become energetic additives. This review article covers
      updated preparation methods for the aforementioned CNMs, with a more specific
      orientation towards the use of these nanomaterials in energetic compositions. The
      effects of these functionalized CNMs on thermal decomposition, ignition,
      combustion and the reactivity properties of energetic compositions are
      significant and are discussed in detail. It has been shown that the use of
      functionalized CNMs in energetic compositions greatly improves their combustion
      performances, thermal stability and sensitivity. In particular, functionalized
      fullerenes, CNTs and GO are the most appropriate candidate components in
      nanothermites, solid propellants and gas generators, due to their superior
      catalytic properties as well as facile preparation methods. 

PMID- 26880519
TI  - Semi-volatile organic compounds in the air and dust of 30 French schools: a pilot
      study.
AB  - The contamination of indoor environments with chemical compounds released by
      materials and furniture, such as semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), is less
      documented in schools than in dwellings-yet children spend 16% of their time in
      schools, where they can also be exposed. This study is one of the first to
      describe the contamination of the air and dust of 90 classrooms from 30 nursery
      and primary schools by 55 SVOCs, including pesticides, phosphoric esters, musks,
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), phthalates,
      and polybromodiphenylethers (PBDEs). Air samples were collected using an active
      sampling method, and dust samples were collected via two sampling methods (wiping
      and vacuum cleaning). In air, the highest concentrations (median >100 ng/m3 )
      were measured for diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl
      phthalate (DEP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and galaxolide. In dust, the
      highest concentrations (median >30 MUg/g) were found for DEHP, diisononyl
      phthalate (DiNP), DiBP, and DBP. An attempt to compare two floor dust sampling
      methods using a single unit (ng/m2) was carried out. SVOC concentrations were
      higher in wiped dust, but frequencies of quantification were greater in vacuumed
      dust.

PMID- 26880520
TI  - Staging significance of bone invasion in small-sized (4cm or less) oral squamous
      cell carcinoma as defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The staging significance of bone invasion is controversial in oral
      squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases with tumors measuring 4cm or less according
      to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Our aim was to retrospectively
      examine a large group of patients with OSCC to determine the staging significance
      of bone invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-three patients
      with primary OSCC were classified based on tumor size. Bone invasion was
      categorized as absent, one side bone, and both buccal and lingual bones, and
      analyzed for association with disease progression. Regional lymph node metastasis
      (N), perineural invasion, vascular invasion, surgical margin involvement, and
      adjuvant treatment were also analyzed. RESULTS: In all OSCC cases, bone invasion
      (p=0.007) with stage N, perineural invasion, and surgical margin involvement were
      significant independent prognostic factors of disease progression. However, in
      OSCC cases with tumors measuring 4cm or less, bone invasion was not significantly
      associated with disease progression. Nevertheless, invasion of both buccal and
      lingual bones was significantly associated with disease progression (p=0.03). In
      multivariate analysis, both buccal and lingual bone invasion (p=0.04; hazard
      ratio=3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-11.0), stage N2, and perineural invasion
      were also independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Although OSCC bone invasion
      was an independent prognostic factor, bone invasion in small OSCC was not.
      However, small OSCC with both buccal and lingual bone invasion had a
      significantly worse prognosis. The AJCC T system is of limited prognostic value
      for small OSCC with bone invasion. But other elements should be examined before a
      modification can be accepted.

PMID- 26880521
TI  - Characterization of persistent colors and decolorization of effluent from
      biologically treated cellulosic ethanol production wastewater.
AB  - The high chroma of cellulosic ethanol production wastewater poses a serious
      environmental concern; however, color-causing compounds are still not fully
      clear. The characteristics of the color compounds and decolorization of
      biologically treated effluent by electro-catalytic oxidation were investigated in
      this study. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM), fourier transform infrared
      spectrometer (FTIR), UV-Vis spectra, and ultrafiltration (UF) fractionation were
      used to analyze color compounds. High chroma of wastewater largely comes from
      humic materials, which exhibited great fluorescence proportion (67.1 %) in the
      biologically treated effluent. Additionally, the color compounds were mainly
      distributed in the molecular weight fractions with 3-10 and 10-30 kDa, which
      contributed 53.5 and 34.6 % of the wastewater color, respectively. Further
      decolorization of biologically treated effluent by electro-catalytic oxidation
      was investigated, and 98.3 % of color removal accompanied with 97.3 % reduction
      of humic acid-like matter was achieved after 180 min. The results presented
      herein will facilitate the development of a well decolorization for cellulosic
      ethanol production wastewater and better understanding of the biological
      fermentation. 

PMID- 26880522
TI  - Catalyst support materials for prominent mineralization of bisphenol A in
      catalytic ozonation process.
AB  - Degradation of aqueous solution of bisphenol A (BPA) has been investigated
      through non-catalytic and catalytic ozonation treatments conducted in a semi
      batch reactor. Non-catalytic ozonation resulted in complete degradation of
      aqueous BPA in less than 3 min but did not completely convert the reaction
      intermediates of BPA ozonation into CO2 and H2O. The main goal of this study was
      to find an effective heterogeneous catalyst to increase the extent of BPA
      mineralization at different pH conditions. In this way, the most promising
      catalyst carrier was gamma-Al2O3; at pH = 8.0, 68 % of total organic carbon (TOC)
      was removed in the period of 75 min, out of which 42 % was attributed to
      mineralization. Finally, 3.0 wt.% Ru/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited over 82 % of
      TOC removal after 240 min of ozonation at pH = 5.9, of which 56 % was
      mineralized. 

PMID- 26880524
TI  - An ecological vegetation-activated sludge process (V-ASP) for decentralized
      wastewater treatment: system development, treatment performance, and mathematical
      modeling.
AB  - An environment-friendly decentralized wastewater treatment process that is
      comprised of activated sludge process (ASP) and wetland vegetation, named as
      vegetation-activated sludge process (V-ASP), was developed for decentralized
      wastewater treatment. The long-term experimental results evidenced that the
      vegetation sequencing batch reactor (V-SBR) process had consistently stable
      higher removal efficiencies of organic substances and nutrients from domestic
      wastewater compared with traditional sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The
      vegetation allocated into V-SBR system could not only remove nutrients through
      its vegetation transpiration ratio but also provide great surface area for
      microorganism activity enhancement. This high vegetation transpiration ratio
      enhanced nutrients removal effectiveness from wastewater mainly by flux
      enhancement, oxygen and substrate transportation acceleration, and vegetation
      respiration stimulation. A mathematical model based on ASM2d was successfully
      established by involving the specific function of vegetation to simulate system
      performance. The simulation results on the influence of operational parameters on
      V-ASP treatment effectiveness demonstrated that V-SBR had a high resistance to
      seasonal temperature fluctuations and influent loading shocking. 

PMID- 26880525
TI  - An evaluation of factors affecting preference for immediate, delayed or no breast
      reconstruction in women with high-risk breast cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Women with locally advanced breast cancer face many conflicting issues
      affecting their choice of immediate versus delayed versus no breast
      reconstruction (BR). This single-centre pilot study assessed high-risk women's
      reasons and priorities in choosing the timing and type of BR in a setting where
      all clinically feasible options were discussed with all women. METHODS: Fifty-one
      women from a metropolitan breast oncology practice, who were likely to require
      post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT), were recruited after making their decision
      about BR. Participants completed a questionnaire (69% preoperatively), adapted
      from Reaby (1998), evaluating the factors affecting their decision. Responses
      were subsequently classified into eight issue-based domains (feeling normal,
      feeling good, being practical, influence of others, expectations, fear, timing
      and unnecessary). Demographic and clinical data were also collected. RESULTS:
      There were 32 immediate BR (IBR = 63%), seven delayed BR (DBR = 13%) and 12 no BR
      (NBR = 23%). Analysis using the chi square test showed women over 60 were more
      likely to choose NBR (p = 0.005), while women living with a partner were more
      likely to choose IBR (p = 0.032). The most relevant domains for both IBR and DBR
      were 'feeling good' and 'feeling normal'; and for NBR were 'unnecessary' and
      'being practical'. Although all women understood pre-operatively the potential
      aesthetic limitations of PMRT, 63% still chose IBR. CONCLUSIONS: These data will
      enable clinicians, researchers and women with breast cancer to gain a clearer
      understanding of the factors that impact on the choice and timing of BR in women
      requiring PMRT, a major breast cancer survivorship decision. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26880523
TI  - Relationship between e-waste recycling and human health risk in India: a critical
      review.
AB  - Informal recycling of waste (including e-waste) is an emerging source of
      environmental pollution in India. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
      polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and heavy metals, among other
      substances, are a major health concern for workers engaged in waste disposal and
      processing, and for residents living near these facilities, and are also a
      detriment to the natural environment. The main objective of this review article
      was to evaluate the status of these impacts. The review found that, huge quantity
      of e-waste/waste generated, only a small amount is treated formally; the
      remainder is processed through the informal sector. We also evaluated the
      exposure pathways, both direct and indirect, and the human body load markers
      (e.g., serum, blood, breast milk, urine, and hair), and assessed the evidence for
      the association between these markers and e-waste exposure. Our results indicated
      that the open dumping and informal e-waste recycling systems should be replaced
      by the best available technology and environmental practices, with proper
      monitoring and regular awareness programs for workers and residents. Further and
      more detailed investigation in this area is also recommended. 

PMID- 26880526
TI  - Development of a patient decision aid for the treatment of localised prostate
      cancer: a participatory design approach.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To develop a patient decision aid and to prepare an overview
      of requirements for implementation. BACKGROUND: We developed a decision aid that
      fits the preferences of patients and health care professionals to ensure adequate
      uptake in clinical practice. DESIGN: A participatory design approach was used to
      acquire insight into preferences regarding the content and design of a decision
      aid and into barriers and aspects of the decision aid that facilitate
      implementation in clinical practice. METHODS: Three focus group interviews with
      patients, their partners and health care professionals were conducted. A
      prototype of the decision aid was developed and presented to patients (n = 14)
      and health care professionals (n = 13) in semi-structured interviews. Patients (n
      = 5) participated in a usability study. Data were analysed by two independent
      coders. RESULTS: Health care professionals considered medical information on
      treatments and side effects as the most important aspect to be included in the
      decision aid. Patients also focused on nonmedical considerations, such as
      location. Both expected the decision aid to support patients in making a
      treatment choice. According to health care professionals, the oncology nurse was
      the most suitable to discuss the decision aid with patients, while some patients
      preferred to discuss the patient decision aid with the urologist. The main
      barrier to implementation of the decision aid was said to be the expectation that
      it is time and money consuming, while the incorporation of the decision aid into
      clinical guidelines and basing the content on these guidelines, would promote
      implementation. CONCLUSIONS: By using a participatory design approach a patient
      decision aid was designed to meet patients' and health care professionals' needs.
      Insight was also gained on requirements for implementation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL
      PRACTICE: Wide-scale implementation of decision aids is desirable. An overview is
      provided of requirements for implementation to successfully incorporate a
      decision aid into clinical practice.

PMID- 26880527
TI  - Methods for Quantifying the Clinical Significance of Change During Intervention
      Program Participation.
AB  - Assessing the practical or clinical significance (CS) of an intervention
      program's outcomes is useful in determining its effectiveness. The CS approach
      gives information beyond traditional analyses by quantifying the proportions of
      people who meaningfully improve and deteriorate. We link latent transition
      analyses (LTA) to the CS literature and use a case study to contrast it with the
      long-standing Jacobson and Truax (JT) approach. Data came from 2,717 individuals
      convicted of a substance-related offense who participated in an indicated
      prevention program Prime For Life(r) (PFL). We selected outcomes describing
      drinking beliefs and behavior. Both CS approaches categorized a majority of
      participants as improved (i.e., transitioning from baseline subgroups with risky
      behaviors and cognitions into posttest subgroups showing lower risk). Results
      demonstrate how the JT approach allows the assessment of improvements on
      individual outcomes, while the LTA provides more nuanced information about risk
      groupings. Selecting a CS approach depends on research goals, availability of
      normative data, and data considerations. JT is an appropriate method when
      evaluating single outcomes. In contrast, LTA is better when a multivariate
      description is desired, advanced missing data handling methods are needed, or
      outcomes are not normally distributed. Although infrequently done, evaluating CS
      provides useful information about program effectiveness.

PMID- 26880528
TI  - Hemifacial Spasm in a Child Treated With Microvascular Decompression of the
      Facial Nerve.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemifacial spasm is a rare condition in children that is
      characterized by involuntary contractions of muscles innervated by the
      ipsilateral facial nerve. PATIENT DESCRIPTION: We describe a 6-year-old girl who
      presented with intermittent involuntary spasms of the right face. Magnetic
      resonance imaging demostrated a loop of the anterior inferior cerebral artery
      contacting and elevating the cisternal segment of the right facial nerve; this
      finding was confirmed at surgery where microvascular decompression of the facial
      nerve was performed without complication. Following surgery she had immediate
      remission of symptoms, but the hemifacial spasms slowly recurred within 8 months
      of surgery only to resolve by age 11 years. CONCLUSION: This is the youngest
      patient reported with hemifacial spasms related to a vascular etiology, which
      initially responded to surgical treatment. The authors review this syndrome in
      children and discuss possible etiologies and management options.

PMID- 26880529
TI  - Ictal Coprolalia: A Case Report and Review of Ictal Speech as a Localizing
      Feature in Epilepsy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recognizing ictal semiology is an essential component to localization
      of seizure onset, especially in intractable epilepsy where surgical therapies may
      be beneficial. Ictal speech can be a common component of seizure semiology, but
      the various forms of ictal speech may have different lateralizing and localizing
      value. Coprolalia is a very rare form of ictal speech. METHODS: We present a 15
      year old with medically intractable seizures characterized by agitation and
      coprolalia. RESULTS: The patient underwent surgical evaluation including video
      EEG, MRI, and functional neuroimaging. These studies indicated onset within the
      dominant frontal lobe which was further localized using stereo
      electroencephalography prior to focal cortical resection. CONCLUSIONS: Ictal
      coprolalia is a rare presentation of ictal speech. We review the various forms of
      ictal speech and their value in localizing seizure onset.

PMID- 26880530
TI  - The relationship of pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance to pulmonary
      artery wedge pressure during submaximal exercise in healthy older adults.
AB  - KEY POINTS: A consistent inverse hyperbolic relationship has been observed
      between pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance, although changes in
      pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) may modify this relationship. This
      relationship predicts that pulmonary artery systolic, diastolic and mean pressure
      maintain a consistent relationship relative to the PAWP. We show that, in healthy
      exercising human adults, both pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance
      decrease in relation to exercise-associated increases in PAWP. Pulmonary artery
      systolic, diastolic and mean pressures maintain a consistent relationship with
      one another, increasing linearly with increasing PAWP. Increases in PAWP in the
      setting of exercise are directly related to a decrease in pulmonary vascular
      compliance, despite small decreases in pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby
      increasing the pulsatile afterload to the right ventricle. ABSTRACT: The
      resistive and pulsatile components of right ventricular afterload (pulmonary
      vascular resistance, Rp; compliance, Cp) are related by an inverse hyperbolic
      function, expressed as their product known as RpCp-time. The RpCp-time exhibits a
      narrow range, although it may be altered by the pulmonary artery wedge pressure
      (PAWP). Identifying the determinants of RpCp-time should improve our
      understanding of the physiological behaviour of pulmonary arterial systolic
      (PASP), diastolic (PADP) and mean (mPAP) pressures in response to perturbations.
      We examined the effect of exercise in 28 healthy non-athletic adults (55 +/- 6
      years) who underwent right heart catheterization to assess haemodynamics and
      calculate Rp and Cp. Measurements were made at rest and during two consecutive 8
      10 min stages of cycle ergometry, at targeted heart-rates of 100 beats min(-1)
      (Light) and 120 beats min(-1) (Moderate). Cardiac output increased progressively
      during exercise. PASP, PADP, mPAP and PAWP increased for Light exercise, without
      any further rise for Moderate exercise. RpCp-time decreased for Light exercise
      (0.39 +/- 0.08 to 0.25 +/- 0.08, P < 0.001) without any further change for
      Moderate exercise, and the decrease in RpCp-time was related to changes in PAWP
      (r(2)  = 0.26, P < 0.001). Changes in PASP (r(2)  = 0.43, P < 0.001), PADP (r(2) 
      = 0.47, P < 0.001) and mPAP (r(2)  = 0.50, P < 0.001) were linearly correlated
      with changes in PAWP, although they were not significantly related to changes in
      cardiac output. In healthy adults, exercise is associated with decreases in Cp
      and a resultant decline in RpCp-time, indicating increased pulsatile right
      ventricular afterload. Changes in RpCp-time, PASP, PADP and mPAP were
      systematically related to increases in PAWP.

PMID- 26880531
TI  - Not single but periodic injections of synovial mesenchymal stem cells maintain
      viable cells in knees and inhibit osteoarthritis progression in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of single or repetitive intra-articular
      injections of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on a rat osteoarthritis (OA)
      model, and elucidated the behaviors and underlying mechanisms of the stem cells
      after the injection. DESIGN: One week after the transection of the anterior
      cruciate ligament (ACL) of wild type Lewis rats, one million synovial MSCs were
      injected into the knee joint every week. Cartilage degeneration was evaluated
      with safranin-o staining after the first injection. To analyze cell kinetics or
      MSC properties, luciferase, LacZ, and GFP expressing synovial MSCs were used. To
      confirm the role of MSCs, species-specific microarray and PCR analyses were
      performed using human synovial MSCs. RESULTS: Histological analysis for femoral
      and tibial cartilage showed that a single injection was ineffective but weekly
      injections had significant chondroprotective effects for 12 weeks. Histological
      and flow-cytometric analyses of LacZ and GFP expressing synovial MSCs revealed
      that injected MSCs migrated mainly into the synovium and most of them retained
      their undifferentiated MSC properties though the migrated cells rapidly
      decreased. In vivo imaging analysis revealed that MSCs maintained in knees while
      weekly injection. Species-specific microarray and PCR analyses showed that the
      human mRNAs on day 1 for 21 genes increased over 50-fold, and increased the
      expressions of PRG-4, BMP-2, and BMP-6 genes encoding chondroprotective proteins,
      and TSG-6 encoding an anti-inflammatory one. CONCLUSION: Not single but periodic
      injections of synovial MSCs maintained viable cells without losing their MSC
      properties in knees and inhibited osteoarthritis (OA) progression by secretion of
      trophic factors.

PMID- 26880532
TI  - Tailored Cyclic and Linear Polycarbosilazanes by Barium-Catalyzed N-H/H-Si
      Dehydrocoupling Reactions.
AB  - Ba[CH(SiMe3 )2 ]2 (THF)3 catalyzes the fast and controlled dehydrogenative
      polymerization of Ph2 SiH2 and p-xylylenediamine to afford polycarbosilazanes.
      The structure (cyclic versus linear; end-groups) and molecular weight of the
      macromolecules can be tuned by adjusting the Ph2 SiH2 /diamine feed ratio. A
      detailed analysis of the resulting materials (mol. wt up to ca. 10 000 g mol(-1)
      ) is provided. 

PMID- 26880533
TI  - The interrelationships of birthweight, inflammation and body composition in
      healthy adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lower birthweight is associated with an increased risk of
      cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. We hypothesized that inflammation and body
      fat may be potential mediators for these inverse relationships. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Healthy adults aged 25-41 years were enrolled in a prospective
      population-based cohort study in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Main
      exclusion criteria were diabetes, overt cardiovascular disease or a body mass
      index > 35 kg/m(2) . Birthweight was self-reported by the study participants.
      White blood cell (WBC) count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
      levels were assayed from fresh blood samples. Body composition was determined by
      bioelectrical impedance analysis. Multivariable linear regression models were
      constructed to assess the relationships between birthweight, inflammation and
      body composition. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 1774 participants (53.4%
      females) with a median age of 37 years. Median birthweight was 3355 g. In
      multivariable models, we found an inverse relationship of birthweight with hs-CRP
      levels (beta -0.010 (95% CI -0.02; -0.002), P = 0.01) and WBC count (beta -0.002
      (95% CI -0.004; -0.0002), P = 0.03). Additional adjustment for body fat mass
      attenuated these relationships (beta -0.008 (95% CI -0.02; 0.0003), P = 0.06 for
      hs-CRP levels and (beta -0.002 (95% CI -0.004; 0.0006), P = 0.16 for WBC count.
      Body fat mass itself was strongly associated with birthweight (beta -0.06 (95% CI
      -0.10; -0.03), P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Birthweight is inversely associated with
      inflammation in adulthood. This relationship may be mediated by an elevated body
      fat mass among individuals with lower birthweight.

PMID- 26880534
TI  - GPER is required for the age-dependent upregulation of the myocardial endothelin
      system.
AB  - AIMS: Cardiac aging is associated with progressive structural changes and
      functional impairment, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis and
      diastolic dysfunction. Aging also increases myocardial activity of endothelin-1
      (ET-1), a multifunctional peptide with growth-promoting and pro-fibrotic
      activity. Because the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) regulates
      vascular responsiveness to ET-1, we investigated whether GPER also plays a role
      in the regulation of the myocardial endothelin system with aging. MAIN METHODS:
      Young (4month-old) and aged (24month-old) wild-type and Gper-deficient (Gper(-/
      )) mice were studied. Gene expression levels of prepro-ET-1, endothelin
      converting enzymes ECE-1 and ECE-2, and endothelin ETA and ETB receptors were
      determined by qPCR in left ventricular myocardium. KEY FINDINGS: Aging markedly
      increased steady-state mRNA expression levels of ECE-1, ECE-2, ETA and ETB
      receptors (each p<0.001 vs. young mice). Deletion of Gper inhibited the age
      dependent increase in ECE-2 and ETB receptor mRNA levels (57% and 40% reduction,
      respectively, each p<0.01 vs. wild-type mice), whereas gene expression of prepro
      ET-1, ECE-1, and the ETA receptor was unaffected in Gper(-/-) mice. SIGNIFICANCE:
      We identified a novel regulatory mechanism through which the endogenous Gper
      facilitates the age-dependent increase in myocardial expression of ECE-2 and the
      ETB receptor, which is compatible with an activating role of GPER for the local
      endothelin system with aging. Targeting GPER signaling by selective antagonists
      may therefore be considered a new therapeutic approach to reduce age-dependent
      increased ET-1 activity and the associated development of left ventricular
      hypertrophy, fibrosis and heart failure.

PMID- 26880535
TI  - Pharmacological inhibition of galectin-1 by lactulose alleviates weight gain in
      diet-induced obese rats.
AB  - AIMS: Galectin-1 (GAL1) is an important member of the lectin family with a
      carbohydrate recognition domain and has recently been demonstrated to be involved
      in adipose metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of
      targeted inhibition of GAL1 by its binding inhibitor lactulose under high fat
      diet (HFD)-induced obesity. MAIN METHODS: Effects of targeted inhibition of GAL1
      by lactulose on lipid metabolism were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Changes
      in lipogenic capacity in lactulose-treated adipocytes were demonstrated by Oil
      Red O staining, triglyceride quantification and major adipogenic marker
      expression patterns. After lactulose treatment in Sprague-Dawley rats, various
      important body weight parameters, food efficiency, plasma metabolic parameters
      (glucose, ALT, free fatty acid, triglycerides, leptin, and insulin) and metabolic
      protein expression patterns were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: Lactulose treatment
      reduced adipogenesis and fat accumulation in vitro by down-regulation of major
      adipogenic transcription factors such as C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma. In vivo
      treatment of lactulose to 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats significantly
      alleviated HFD-induced body weight gain and food efficiency as well as improved
      plasma and other metabolic parameters. In addition, lactulose treatment down
      regulated major adipogenic marker proteins (C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma) in adipose
      tissue as well as stimulated expression of proteins involved in energy
      expenditure and lipolysis (ATP5B, COXIV, HSL, and CPT1). SIGNIFICANCE: In
      conclusion, reduced adipogenesis and increased energy expenditure mediated by
      lactulose treatment synergistically contribute to alleviation of HFD-induced body
      weight gain. Therefore, pharmaceutical targeting of GAL1 using lactulose would be
      a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity.

PMID- 26880536
TI  - Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease is improved by transcranial
      direct current stimulation combined with physical therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by both motor and cognitive
      deficits. In PD, physical exercise has been found to improve physical
      functioning. Recent studies demonstrated that repeated sessions of transcranial
      direct current stimulation led to an increased performance in cognitive and motor
      tasks in patients with PD. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the effects
      of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the dorsolateral
      prefrontal cortex and combined with physical therapy in PD patients. METHODS: A
      total of 20 patients with PD were assigned to 1 of 2 study groups: group 1,
      anodal transcranial direct current stimulation plus physical therapy (n = 10) or
      group 2, placebo transcranial direct current stimulation plus physical therapy (n
      = 10). The 2 weeks of treatment consisted of daily direct current stimulation
      application for 25 minutes during physical therapy. Long-term effects of
      treatment were evaluated on clinical, neuropsychological, and motor task
      performance at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: An improvement in motor abilities and
      a reduction of depressive symptoms were observed in both groups after the end of
      treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating
      Scale and verbal fluency test performances increased only in the anodal direct
      current stimulation group with a stable effect at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The
      application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation may be a relevant
      tool to improve cognitive abilities in PD and might be a novel therapeutic
      strategy for PD patients with mild cognitive impairment. (c) 2016 International
      Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26880537
TI  - A novel salt-inducible vector for efficient expression and secretion of
      heterologous proteins in Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - Bacillus subtilis is commonly used as a host for heterologous protein production
      via plasmid-based expression system. In order to improve product safety, avoid
      carbon catabolite repression and lower production cost, a novel salt-inducible
      vector, pSaltExSePR5, was developed based on a natural plasmid of Lactobacillus
      plantarum BCC9546. Salt-inducible promoter opuAA and a DNA fragment encoding a
      signal peptide of subtilisin E (SubE) were sequentially added to the core shuttle
      vector to facilitate expression and secretion of a target protein in B. subtilis.
      To evaluate the effectiveness of this system under salt induction, a protease
      gene from Halobacillus sp. without its native signal sequence was inserted in the
      pSaltExSePR5 plasmid downstream of SubE signal sequence and transformed into B.
      subtilis WB800. Protease activities from cell-free supernatants of the
      recombinant bacteria cultures induced with 0.5-6% NaCl were analyzed. The highest
      protease activity of 9.1 U/ml was obtained after induction with 4% NaCl, while
      the non-induced culture exhibited activity of 0.128 U/ml. The results
      demonstrated that pSaltExSePR5 provides an alternative vector for efficient and
      simple production of heterologous proteins in B. subtilis with a safer and more
      economic inducer.

PMID- 26880538
TI  - Continuous flocculation-sedimentation for harvesting Nannochloropsis salina
      biomass.
AB  - A continuous flow process is developed for recovery of the biomass of the marine
      microalga Nannochloropsis salina. Flocculation-sedimentation is used to recover
      the biomass from an algal suspension with an initial dry biomass concentration of
      0.5 g L(-1), as would be typical of a raceway-based biomass production system.
      More than 85% of the biomass initially in suspension could be settled by gravity
      in a flocculation-sedimentation device with a total residence time of ~148 min.
      Aluminum sulfate was used as an inexpensive, readily available and safe
      flocculant. The optimal flocculant dosage (as Al2(SO4)3) was 229 mg L(-1).
      Relative to a highly effective 62-min batch flocculation-sedimentation process
      for the same alga and flocculant, the continuous flow operation took longer and
      required nearly double the flocculant dose. The design of the flocculation
      sedimentation system is explained.

PMID- 26880539
TI  - Biosynthesis of fluorescent CdS nanocrystals with semiconductor properties:
      Comparison of microbial and plant production systems.
AB  - This study investigated fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and hairy roots
      of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as in vitro production vehicles for biological
      synthesis of CdS quantum dots. Cd added during the mid-growth phase of the
      cultures was detoxified within the biomass into inorganic sulphide-containing
      complexes with the quantum confinement properties of semiconductor nanocrystals.
      Significant differences were found between the two host systems in terms of
      nanoparticle production kinetics, yield and quality. The much slower growth rate
      of hairy roots compared with yeast is a disadvantage for commercial scaled-up
      production. Nanoparticle extraction from the biomass was less effective for the
      roots: 19% of the Cd present in the hairy roots was recovered after extraction
      compared with 34% for the yeast. The overall yield of CdS quantum dots was also
      lower for the roots: relative to the amount of Cd taken up into the biomass, 8.5%
      was recovered in yeast gel filtration fractions exhibiting quantum dot properties
      whereas the result for hairy roots was only 0.99%. Yeast-produced CdS
      crystallites were somewhat smaller with diameters of approximately 2-6 nm
      compared with those of 4-10nm obtained from the roots. The average ratio of
      inorganic sulphide to Cd for the purified and size-fractionated particles was
      0.44 for the yeast and 1.6 for the hairy roots. Despite the limitations
      associated with hairy roots in terms of culture kinetics and product yield, this
      system produced CdS nanoparticles with enhanced photostability and 3.7-13-fold
      higher fluorescence quantum efficiency compared with those generated by yeast.
      This work demonstrates that the choice of cellular host can have a significant
      effect on nanoparticle functional properties as well as on the bioprocessing
      aspects of biological quantum dot synthesis.

PMID- 26880540
TI  - The use of real-time polymerase chain reaction with high resolution melting (real
      time PCR-HRM) analysis for the detection and discrimination of nematodes
      Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Bursaphelenchus mucronatus.
AB  - The real-time PCR-HRM analysis was developed for the detection and discrimination
      of the quarantine nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Bursaphelenchus
      mucronatus. A set of primers was designed to target the ITS region of rDNA. The
      results have demonstrated that this analysis is a valuable tool for
      differentiation of these both species. 

PMID- 26880541
TI  - A randomized controlled trial protocol testing a decision support intervention
      for older patients with advanced kidney disease.
AB  - AIM: To assess the effectiveness of a decision support intervention using a
      pragmatic single blind Randomized Controlled Trial. BACKGROUND: Worldwide the
      proportion of older people (aged 65 years and over) is rising. This population is
      known to have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases including chronic kidney
      disease. The resultant effect of the changing health landscape is seen in the
      increase in older patients (aged >=65 years) commencing on dialysis. Emerging
      evidence suggests that for some older patients dialysis may provide minimal
      benefit. In a majority of renal units non-dialysis management is offered as an
      alternative to undertaking dialysis. Research regarding decision-making support
      that is required to assist this population in choosing between dialysis or non
      dialysis management is limited. DESIGN: A multisite single blinded pragmatic
      randomized controlled trial is proposed. METHODS: Patients will be recruited from
      four Queensland public hospitals and randomizd into either the control or
      intervention group. The decision support intervention is multimodal and includes
      counselling provided by a trained nurse. The comparator is standard decision
      making support. The primary outcomes are decisional regret and decisional
      conflict. Secondary outcomes are improved knowledge and quality of life. Ethics
      approval obtained November 2014. CONCLUSION: This is one of the first randomized
      controlled trials assessing a decision support intervention in older people with
      advance chronic kidney disease. The results may provide guidance for clinicians
      in future approaches to assist this population in decision-making to ensure
      reduced decisional regret and decisional conflict.

PMID- 26880542
TI  - Persistence, period and precision of autonomous cellular oscillators from the
      zebrafish segmentation clock.
AB  - In vertebrate development, the sequential and rhythmic segmentation of the body
      axis is regulated by a "segmentation clock". This clock is comprised of a
      population of coordinated oscillating cells that together produce rhythmic gene
      expression patterns in the embryo. Whether individual cells autonomously maintain
      oscillations, or whether oscillations depend on signals from neighboring cells is
      unknown. Using a transgenic zebrafish reporter line for the cyclic transcription
      factor Her1, we recorded single tailbud cells in vitro. We demonstrate that
      individual cells can behave as autonomous cellular oscillators. We described the
      observed variability in cell behavior using a theory of generic oscillators with
      correlated noise. Single cells have longer periods and lower precision than the
      tissue, highlighting the role of collective processes in the segmentation clock.
      Our work reveals a population of cells from the zebrafish segmentation clock that
      behave as self-sustained, autonomous oscillators with distinctive noisy dynamics.

PMID- 26880543
TI  - A synergy-based hand control is encoded in human motor cortical areas.
AB  - How the human brain controls hand movements to carry out different tasks is still
      debated. The concept of synergy has been proposed to indicate functional modules
      that may simplify the control of hand postures by simultaneously recruiting sets
      of muscles and joints. However, whether and to what extent synergic hand postures
      are encoded as such at a cortical level remains unknown. Here, we combined
      kinematic, electromyography, and brain activity measures obtained by functional
      magnetic resonance imaging while subjects performed a variety of movements
      towards virtual objects. Hand postural information, encoded through kinematic
      synergies, were represented in cortical areas devoted to hand motor control and
      successfully discriminated individual grasping movements, significantly
      outperforming alternative somatotopic or muscle-based models. Importantly, hand
      postural synergies were predicted by neural activation patterns within primary
      motor cortex. These findings support a novel cortical organization for hand
      movement control and open potential applications for brain-computer interfaces
      and neuroprostheses. 

PMID- 26880544
TI  - The horizontally-acquired response regulator SsrB drives a Salmonella lifestyle
      switch by relieving biofilm silencing.
AB  - A common strategy by which bacterial pathogens reside in humans is by shifting
      from a virulent lifestyle, (systemic infection), to a dormant carrier state. Two
      major serovars of Salmonella enterica, Typhi and Typhimurium, have evolved a two
      component regulatory system to exist inside Salmonella-containing vacuoles in the
      macrophage, as well as to persist as asymptomatic biofilms in the gallbladder.
      Here we present evidence that SsrB, a transcriptional regulator encoded on the
      SPI-2 pathogenicity-island, determines the switch between these two lifestyles by
      controlling ancestral and horizontally-acquired genes. In the acidic macrophage
      vacuole, the kinase SsrA phosphorylates SsrB, and SsrB~P relieves silencing of
      virulence genes and activates their transcription. In the absence of SsrA,
      unphosphorylated SsrB directs transcription of factors required for biofilm
      formation specifically by activating csgD (agfD), the master biofilm regulator by
      disrupting the silenced, H-NS-bound promoter. Anti-silencing mechanisms thus
      control the switch between opposing lifestyles. 

PMID- 26880545
TI  - A circuit mechanism for the propagation of waves of muscle contraction in
      Drosophila.
AB  - Animals move by adaptively coordinating the sequential activation of muscles. The
      circuit mechanisms underlying coordinated locomotion are poorly understood. Here,
      we report on a novel circuit for the propagation of waves of muscle contraction,
      using the peristaltic locomotion of Drosophila larvae as a model system. We found
      an intersegmental chain of synaptically connected neurons, alternating excitatory
      and inhibitory, necessary for wave propagation and active in phase with the wave.
      The excitatory neurons (A27h) are premotor and necessary only for forward
      locomotion, and are modulated by stretch receptors and descending inputs. The
      inhibitory neurons (GDL) are necessary for both forward and backward locomotion,
      suggestive of different yet coupled central pattern generators, and its
      inhibition is necessary for wave propagation. The circuit structure and
      functional imaging indicated that the commands to contract one segment promote
      the relaxation of the next segment, revealing a mechanism for wave propagation in
      peristaltic locomotion. 

PMID- 26880546
TI  - Active sensing in the categorization of visual patterns.
AB  - Interpreting visual scenes typically requires us to accumulate information from
      multiple locations in a scene. Using a novel gaze-contingent paradigm in a visual
      categorization task, we show that participants' scan paths follow an active
      sensing strategy that incorporates information already acquired about the scene
      and knowledge of the statistical structure of patterns. Intriguingly,
      categorization performance was markedly improved when locations were revealed to
      participants by an optimal Bayesian active sensor algorithm. By using a
      combination of a Bayesian ideal observer and the active sensor algorithm, we
      estimate that a major portion of this apparent suboptimality of fixation
      locations arises from prior biases, perceptual noise and inaccuracies in eye
      movements, and the central process of selecting fixation locations is around 70%
      efficient in our task. Our results suggest that participants select eye movements
      with the goal of maximizing information about abstract categories that require
      the integration of information from multiple locations. 

PMID- 26880547
TI  - Nanoscale dynamics of synaptic vesicle trafficking and fusion at the presynaptic
      active zone.
AB  - The cytomatrix at the active zone (CAZ) is a macromolecular complex that
      facilitates the supply of release-ready synaptic vesicles to support
      neurotransmitter release at synapses. To reveal the dynamics of this supply
      process in living synapses, we used super-resolution imaging to track single
      vesicles at voltage-clamped presynaptic terminals of retinal bipolar neurons,
      whose CAZ contains a specialized structure-the synaptic ribbon-that supports both
      fast, transient and slow, sustained modes of transmission. We find that the
      synaptic ribbon serves a dual function as a conduit for diffusion of synaptic
      vesicles and a platform for vesicles to fuse distal to the plasma membrane
      itself, via compound fusion. The combination of these functions allows the ribbon
      type CAZ to achieve the continuous transmitter release required by synapses of
      neurons that carry tonic, graded visual signals in the retina. 

PMID- 26880548
TI  - Involvement of the Acyl-CoA binding domain containing 7 in the control of food
      intake and energy expenditure in mice.
AB  - Acyl-CoA binding domain-containing 7 (Acbd7) is a paralog gene of the diazepam
      binding inhibitor/Acyl-CoA binding protein in which single nucleotide
      polymorphism has recently been associated with obesity in humans. In this report,
      we provide converging evidence indicating that a splice variant isoform of the
      Acbd7 mRNA is expressed and translated by some POMC and GABAergic-neurons in the
      hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). We have demonstrated that the ARC ACBD7
      isoform was produced and processed into a bioactive peptide referred to as
      nonadecaneuropeptide (NDN) in response to catabolic signals. We have
      characterized NDN as a potent anorexigenic signal acting through an
      uncharacterized endozepine G protein-coupled receptor and subsequently via the
      melanocortin system. Our results suggest that ACBD7-producing neurons participate
      in the hypothalamic leptin signalling pathway. Taken together, these data suggest
      that ACBD7-producing neurons are involved in the hypothalamic control exerted on
      food intake and energy expenditure by the leptin-melanocortin pathway. 

PMID- 26880550
TI  - Comparative Genomics: One for all.
AB  - Using a common analysis pipeline to compare data from three major lineages of
      complex eukaryotes reveals that transcription seems to evolve at a common rate.

PMID- 26880549
TI  - Membrane palmitoylated protein 2 is a synaptic scaffold protein required for
      synaptic SK2-containing channel function.
AB  - Mouse CA1 pyramidal neurons express apamin-sensitive SK2-containing channels in
      the post-synaptic membrane, positioned close to NMDA-type (N-methyl-D-aspartate)
      glutamate receptors. Activated by synaptically evoked NMDAR-dependent Ca(2+)
      influx, the synaptic SK2-containing channels modulate excitatory post-synaptic
      responses and the induction of synaptic plasticity. In addition, their activity-
      and protein kinase A-dependent trafficking contributes to expression of long-term
      potentiation (LTP). We have identified a novel synaptic scaffold, MPP2 (membrane
      palmitoylated protein 2; p55), a member of the membrane-associated guanylate
      kinase (MAGUK) family that interacts with SK2-containing channels. MPP2 and SK2
      co-immunopurified from mouse brain, and co-immunoprecipitated when they were co
      expressed in HEK293 cells. MPP2 is highly expressed in the post-synaptic density
      of dendritic spines on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Knocking down MPP2 expression
      selectively abolished the SK2-containing channel contribution to synaptic
      responses and decreased LTP. Thus, MPP2 is a novel synaptic scaffold that is
      required for proper synaptic localization and function of SK2-containing
      channels. 

PMID- 26880552
TI  - Large-scale microtubule networks contract quite well.
AB  - The quantitative investigation of how networks of microtubules contract can boost
      our understanding of actin biology.

PMID- 26880551
TI  - TBP/TFIID-dependent activation of MyoD target genes in skeletal muscle cells.
AB  - Change in the identity of the components of the transcription pre-initiation
      complex is proposed to control cell type-specific gene expression. Replacement of
      the canonical TFIID-TBP complex with TRF3/TBP2 was reported to be required for
      activation of muscle-gene expression. The lack of a developmental phenotype in
      TBP2 null mice prompted further analysis to determine whether TBP2 deficiency can
      compromise adult myogenesis. We show here that TBP2 null mice have an intact
      regeneration potential upon injury and that TBP2 is not expressed in established
      C2C12 muscle cell or in primary mouse MuSCs. While TFIID subunits and TBP are
      downregulated during myoblast differentiation, reduced amounts of these proteins
      form a complex that is detectable on promoters of muscle genes and is essential
      for their expression. This evidence demonstrates that TBP2 does not replace TBP
      during muscle differentiation, as previously proposed, with limiting amounts of
      TFIID-TBP being required to promote muscle-specific gene expression. 

PMID- 26880553
TI  - Structural insights into the mechanism of activation of the TRPV1 channel by a
      membrane-bound tarantula toxin.
AB  - Venom toxins are invaluable tools for exploring the structure and mechanisms of
      ion channels. Here, we solve the structure of double-knot toxin (DkTx), a
      tarantula toxin that activates the heat-activated TRPV1 channel. We also provide
      improved structures of TRPV1 with and without the toxin bound, and investigate
      the interactions of DkTx with the channel and membranes. We find that DkTx binds
      to the outer edge of the external pore of TRPV1 in a counterclockwise
      configuration, using a limited protein-protein interface and inserting
      hydrophobic residues into the bilayer. We also show that DkTx partitions
      naturally into membranes, with the two lobes exhibiting opposing energetics for
      membrane partitioning and channel activation. Finally, we find that the toxin
      disrupts a cluster of hydrophobic residues behind the selectivity filter that are
      critical for channel activation. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel mode
      of toxin-channel recognition that has important implications for the mechanism of
      thermosensation. 

PMID- 26880554
TI  - Neuronal processing of noxious thermal stimuli mediated by dendritic Ca(2+)
      influx in Drosophila somatosensory neurons.
AB  - Adequate responses to noxious stimuli causing tissue damages are essential for
      organismal survival. Class IV neurons in Drosophila larvae are polymodal
      nociceptors responsible for thermal, mechanical, and light sensation.
      Importantly, activation of Class IV provoked distinct avoidance behaviors,
      depending on the inputs. We found that noxious thermal stimuli, but not blue
      light stimulation, caused a unique pattern of Class IV, which were composed of
      pauses after high-frequency spike trains and a large Ca(2+) rise in the dendrite
      (the Ca(2+) transient). Both these responses depended on two TRPA channels and
      the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (L-VGCC), showing that the
      thermosensation provokes Ca(2+) influx. The precipitous fluctuation of firing
      rate in Class IV neurons enhanced the robust heat avoidance. We hypothesize that
      the Ca(2+) influx can be a key signal encoding a specific modality. 

PMID- 26880556
TI  - Selectively driving cholinergic fibers optically in the thalamic reticular
      nucleus promotes sleep.
AB  - Cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain and brainstem are thought to
      play important roles in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and arousal. Using
      transgenic mice in which channelrhdopsin-2 is selectively expressed in
      cholinergic neurons, we show that optical stimulation of cholinergic inputs to
      the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) activates local GABAergic neurons to promote
      sleep and protect non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. It does not affect REM
      sleep. Instead, direct activation of cholinergic input to the TRN shortens the
      time to sleep onset and generates spindle oscillations that correlate with NREM
      sleep. It does so by evoking excitatory postsynaptic currents via alpha7
      containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and inducing bursts of action
      potentials in local GABAergic neurons. These findings stand in sharp contrast to
      previous reports of cholinergic activity driving arousal. Our results provide new
      insight into the mechanisms controlling sleep. 

PMID- 26880558
TI  - Evolution: How the zebrafish got its stripes.
AB  - Live-cell imaging and genetic tools reveal a new way in which pigment cells
      communicate in zebrafish.

PMID- 26880557
TI  - Non-canonical antagonism of PI3K by the kinase Itpkb delays thymocyte beta
      selection and renders it Notch-dependent.
AB  - beta-selection is the most pivotal event determining alphabeta T cell fate. Here,
      surface-expression of a pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) induces thymocyte metabolic
      activation, proliferation, survival and differentiation. Besides the pre-TCR,
      beta-selection also requires co-stimulatory signals from Notch receptors - key
      cell fate determinants in eukaryotes. Here, we show that this Notch-dependence is
      established through antagonistic signaling by the pre-TCR/Notch effector,
      phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and by inositol-trisphosphate 3-kinase B
      (Itpkb). Canonically, PI3K is counteracted by the lipid-phosphatases Pten and
      Inpp5d/SHIP-1. In contrast, Itpkb dampens pre-TCR induced PI3K/Akt signaling by
      producing IP4, a soluble antagonist of the Akt-activating PI3K-product PIP3.
      Itpkb(-/-) thymocytes are pre-TCR hyperresponsive, hyperactivate Akt, downstream
      mTOR and metabolism, undergo an accelerated beta-selection and can develop to
      CD4(+)CD8(+) cells without Notch. This is reversed by inhibition of Akt, mTOR or
      glucose metabolism. Thus, non-canonical PI3K-antagonism by Itpkb restricts pre
      TCR induced metabolic activation to enforce coincidence-detection of pre-TCR
      expression and Notch-engagement. 

PMID- 26880555
TI  - Regulatory polymorphisms modulate the expression of HLA class II molecules and
      promote autoimmunity.
AB  - Targeted sequencing of sixteen SLE risk loci among 1349 Caucasian cases and
      controls produced a comprehensive dataset of the variations causing
      susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Two independent disease
      association signals in the HLA-D region identified two regulatory regions
      containing 3562 polymorphisms that modified thirty-seven transcription factor
      binding sites. These extensive functional variations are a new and potent facet
      of HLA polymorphism. Variations modifying the consensus binding motifs of IRF4
      and CTCF in the XL9 regulatory complex modified the transcription of HLA-DRB1,
      HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 in a chromosome-specific manner, resulting in a 2.5-fold
      increase in the surface expression of HLA-DR and DQ molecules on dendritic cells
      with SLE risk genotypes, which increases to over 4-fold after stimulation.
      Similar analyses of fifteen other SLE risk loci identified 1206 functional
      variants tightly linked with disease-associated SNPs and demonstrated that common
      disease alleles contain multiple causal variants modulating multiple immune
      system genes. 

PMID- 26880559
TI  - Prediction of primary somatosensory neuron activity during active tactile
      exploration.
AB  - Primary sensory neurons form the interface between world and brain. Their
      function is well-understood during passive stimulation but, under natural
      behaving conditions, sense organs are under active, motor control. In an attempt
      to predict primary neuron firing under natural conditions of sensorimotor
      integration, we recorded from primary mechanosensory neurons of awake, head-fixed
      mice as they explored a pole with their whiskers, and simultaneously measured
      both whisker motion and forces with high-speed videography. Using Generalised
      Linear Models, we found that primary neuron responses were poorly predicted by
      whisker angle, but well-predicted by rotational forces acting on the whisker:
      both during touch and free-air whisker motion. These results are in apparent
      contrast to previous studies of passive stimulation, but could be reconciled by
      differences in the kinematics-force relationship between active and passive
      conditions. Thus, simple statistical models can predict rich neural activity
      elicited by natural, exploratory behaviour involving active movement of sense
      organs. 

PMID- 26880560
TI  - Bitter taste receptors confer diverse functions to neurons.
AB  - Bitter compounds elicit an aversive response. In Drosophila, bitter-sensitive
      taste neurons coexpress many members of the Gr family of taste receptors.
      However, the molecular logic of bitter signaling is unknown. We used an in vivo
      expression approach to analyze the logic of bitter taste signaling. Ectopic or
      overexpression of bitter Grs increased endogenous responses or conferred novel
      responses. Surprisingly, expression of Grs also suppressed many endogenous bitter
      responses. Conversely, deletion of an endogenous Gr led to novel responses.
      Expression of individual Grs conferred strikingly different effects in different
      neurons. The results support a model in which bitter Grs interact, exhibiting
      competition, inhibition, or activation. The results have broad implications for
      the problem of how taste systems evolve to detect new environmental dangers. 

PMID- 26880561
TI  - Imaging a memory trace over half a life-time in the medial temporal lobe reveals
      a time-limited role of CA3 neurons in retrieval.
AB  - Whether retrieval still depends on the hippocampus as memories age or relies then
      on cortical areas remains a major controversy. Despite evidence for a functional
      segregation between CA1, CA3 and parahippocampal areas, their specific role
      within this frame is unclear. Especially, the contribution of CA3 is questionable
      as very remote memories might be too degraded to be used for pattern completion.
      To identify the specific role of these areas, we imaged brain activity in mice
      during retrieval of recent, early remote and very remote fear memories by
      detecting the immediate-early gene Arc. Investigating correlates of the memory
      trace over an extended period allowed us to report that, in contrast to CA1, CA3
      is no longer recruited in very remote retrieval. Conversely, we showed that
      parahippocampal areas are then maximally engaged. These results suggest a shift
      from a greater contribution of the trisynaptic loop to the temporoammonic pathway
      for retrieval. 

PMID- 26880562
TI  - Aurkb/PP1-mediated resetting of Oct4 during the cell cycle determines the
      identity of embryonic stem cells.
AB  - Pluripotency transcription programs by core transcription factors (CTFs) might be
      reset during M/G1 transition to maintain the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells
      (ESCs). However, little is known about how CTFs are governed during cell cycle
      progression. Here, we demonstrate that the regulation of Oct4 by Aurora kinase b
      (Aurkb)/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) during the cell cycle is important for
      resetting Oct4 to pluripotency and cell cycle genes in determining the identity
      of ESCs. Aurkb phosphorylates Oct4(S229) during G2/M phase, leading to the
      dissociation of Oct4 from chromatin, whereas PP1 binds Oct4 and dephosphorylates
      Oct4(S229) during M/G1 transition, which resets Oct4-driven transcription for
      pluripotency and the cell cycle. Aurkb phosphor-mimetic and PP1 binding-deficient
      mutations in Oct4 alter the cell cycle, effect the loss of pluripotency in ESCs,
      and decrease the efficiency of somatic cell reprogramming. Our findings provide
      evidence that the cell cycle is linked directly to pluripotency programs in ESCs.

PMID- 26880564
TI  - Phototaxis: Life in focus.
AB  - Single-celled photosynthetic bacteria determine the direction of incoming light
      by acting as lenses.

PMID- 26880563
TI  - Identity of neocortical layer 4 neurons is specified through correct positioning
      into the cortex.
AB  - Many cell-intrinsic mechanisms have been shown to regulate neuronal subtype
      specification in the mammalian neocortex. However, how much cell environment is
      crucial for subtype determination still remained unclear. Here, we show that
      knockdown of Protocadherin20 (Pcdh20), which is expressed in post-migratory
      neurons of layer 4 (L4) lineage, caused the cells to localize in L2/3. The
      ectopically positioned "future L4 neurons" lost their L4 characteristics but
      acquired L2/3 characteristics. Knockdown of a cytoskeletal protein in the future
      L4 neurons, which caused random disruption of positioning, also showed that those
      accidentally located in L4 acquired the L4 characteristics. Moreover, restoration
      of positioning of the Pcdh20-knockdown neurons into L4 rescued the specification
      failure. We further suggest that the thalamocortical axons provide a positional
      cue to specify L4 identity. These results suggest that the L4 identity is not
      completely determined at the time of birth but ensured by the surrounding
      environment after appropriate positioning. 

PMID- 26880567
TI  - Effect of Nanofiller Loading on Cure Efficiency and Potential Color Change of
      Model Composites.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of nanofiller loading on cure efficiency and
      potential color change of experimental composites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four
      different polymeric materials were produced using the same organic matrix blend.
      To this matrix, different amounts of 0.05 MUm fumed silica filler were added: no
      filler, 13, 52, and 65wt%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to
      evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) for each composite using near-IR analysis,
      and spectrophotometry according to CIELab chromatic space was used to evaluate
      the color change.To induce color change, composites were artificially aged with
      exposure to cycles of UV-B light for 300 hours. Trasmission electron microscopy
      was used to illustrate nanoffiler aglomeration in the resin matrix. Data were
      analyzed using correlation analysis (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: There was an
      excellent inverse linear correlation between filler wt% and either DC or color
      change. Greater changes to red (+Deltaa) and yellow (+Deltab) were observed as
      the filler wt% increased. CONCLUSIONS: A higher percentage of nano-sized filler
      particles in dental resin composites directly affects their cure efficiency and
      potential for color change. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The increase in filler
      particle loading negatively affected monomer conversion and color stability of
      resin-based composites. As reduced filler loading results in poorer mechanical
      properties, to enhance color stability, resin-based composites should be
      formulated by making the refractive index of the polymeric matrix more closely
      match that of the filler throughout the polymerization process. (J Esthet Restor
      Dent, 2016).

PMID- 26880568
TI  - Maskless, High-Precision, Persistent, and Extreme Wetting-Contrast Patterning in
      an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope.
AB  - A maskless and programmable direct electron beam writing method is reported for
      making high-precision superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic wetting patterns with 152
      degrees  contact angle contrast using an environmental scanning electron
      microscope (ESEM). The smallest linewidth achieved is below 1 MUm. The reported
      effects of the electron beam induced local plasma may also influence a variety of
      microscopic wetting studies in ESEM. 

PMID- 26880565
TI  - Nucleocapsid assembly in pneumoviruses is regulated by conformational switching
      of the N protein.
AB  - Non-segmented, (-)RNA viruses cause serious human diseases. Human metapneumovirus
      (HMPV), an emerging pathogen of this order of viruses (Mononegavirales) is one of
      the main causes of respiratory tract illness in children. To help elucidate the
      assembly mechanism of the nucleocapsid (the viral RNA genome packaged by the
      nucleoprotein N) we present crystallographic structures of HMPV N in its
      assembled RNA-bound state and in a monomeric state, bound to the polymerase
      cofactor P. Our structures reveal molecular details of how P inhibits the self
      assembly of N and how N transitions between the RNA-free and RNA-bound
      conformational state. Notably, we observe a role for the C-terminal extension of
      N in directly preventing premature uptake of RNA by folding into the RNA-binding
      cleft. Our structures suggest a common mechanism of how the growth of the
      nucleocapsid is orchestrated, and highlight an interaction site representing an
      important target for antivirals. 

PMID- 26880569
TI  - Control of Surface Plasmon Resonance of Au/SnO2 by Modification with Ag and Cu
      for Photoinduced Reactions under Visible-Light Irradiation over a Wide Range.
AB  - Gold particles supported on tin(IV) oxide (0.2 wt% Au/SnO2) were modified with
      copper and silver by the multistep photodeposition method. Absorption around
      lambda=550 nm, attributed to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au, gradually
      shifted to longer wavelengths on modification with Cu and finally reached
      lambda=620 nm at 0.8 wt% Cu. On the other hand, the absorption shifted to shorter
      wavelength with increasing amount of Ag and reached lambda=450 nm at 0.8 wt% Ag.
      These Cu- and Ag-modified 0.2 wt% Au/SnO2 materials (Cu-Au/SnO2 and Ag-Au/SnO2)
      and 1.0 wt% Au/SnO2 were used for mineralization of formic acid to carbon dioxide
      in aqueous suspension under irradiation with visible light from a xenon lamp and
      three kinds of light-emitting diodes with different wavelengths. The reaction
      rates for the mineralization of formic acid over these materials depend on the
      wavelength of light. Apparent quantum efficiencies of Cu-Au/SnO2, Au/SnO2, and Ag
      Au/SnO2 reached 5.5% at 625 nm, 5.8% at 525 nm, and 5.1% at 450 nm, respectively.
      These photocatalysts can also be used for selective oxidation of alcohols to
      corresponding carbonyl compounds in aqueous solution under visible-light
      irradiation. Broad responses to visible light in formic acid mineralization and
      selective alcohol oxidation were achieved when the three materials were used
      simultaneously.

PMID- 26880570
TI  - Clinical Outcome of First- vs Second-Generation DES According to DAPT Duration:
      Results of ARCTIC-Generation.
AB  - There is an apparent benefit with extension of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)
      beyond 1 year after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES). Assessment by a
      Double Randomization of a Conventional Antiplatelet Strategy vs a Monitoring
      Guided Strategy for Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation, and of Treatment
      Interruption vs Continuation One Year After Stenting (ARCTIC)-Generation assessed
      whether there is a difference of outcome between first- vs second-generation DES
      and if there is an interaction with DAPT duration in the ARCTIC-Interruption
      study. ARCTIC-Interruption randomly allocated 1259 patients 1 year after stent
      implantation to a strategy of interruption of DAPT (n = 624), in which aspirin
      antiplatelet treatment only was maintained, or DAPT continuation (n = 635) for 6
      to 18 additional months. The primary endpoint was the composite of death,
      myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, or urgent revascularization. A
      total of 520 and 722 patients received a first- and a second-generation DES,
      respectively. After a median follow-up of 17 months (interquartile range, 15-18
      months) after randomization, the primary endpoint occurred in 32 (6.2%) and 19
      (2.6%) patients with first- and second-generation DES, respectively (hazard
      ratio: 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-4.07, P = 0.004). This was observed
      irrespective of the strategy of interruption or continuation of DAPT and timing
      of study recruitment. Major bleeding events occurred in 4 (0.8%) and 3 patients
      (0.4%) with first- and second-generation DES, respectively (hazard ratio: 1.79,
      95% confidence interval: 0.40-8.02, P = 0.44). Results did not change after
      multiple adjustments for potential confounding variables. ARCTIC-Generation
      showed worse clinical outcome with first- vs second-generation DES, a difference
      that appeared to persist even with prolonged DAPT. 

PMID- 26880572
TI  - A successful high-visibility enforcement intervention targeting underage drinking
      drivers.
AB  - AIMS: To measure the effectiveness of a high-visibility enforcement campaign to
      reduce rates of underage drinking and driving. DESIGN: Mixed-model analysis
      compares rates of drinking and driving (1) between the baseline and intervention
      period and (2) between the baseline and follow-up period. The impact of the
      intervention was evaluated using roadside surveys and web surveys. SETTING: Two
      college-town communities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
      PARTICIPANTS: Study participants consisted of 6825 drivers stopped, interviewed
      and breathalyzed on weekend nights. Web survey data were collected from 2061
      students from large state universities in each community. INTERVENTION: Increased
      high-visibility enforcement of drinking and driving laws, featuring the use of
      passive alcohol sensors by police, along with a coordinated publicity campaign.
      MEASURES: Roadside surveys measured breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) of
      drivers. The web surveys measured self-reported drinking. FINDINGS: Mixed-model
      analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in drivers with BrACs >=
      0.08 g/dl during the intervention and follow-up periods, F(2, 5744)  = 6.5, P <
      0.01. The web-survey revealed that students under age 21 also reported
      significantly less driving after drinking during the intervention and follow-up
      periods, F(2, 1767)  = 4.6, P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: A high-visibility enforcement
      campaign targeting underage drinking and driving appeared to reduce both underage
      driving after drinking among US college students as well as drunk driving (breath
      alcohol concentration >= 0.08 g/dl) at any age..

PMID- 26880571
TI  - Exploring self-rated health among adolescents: a think-aloud study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite extensive use of self-rated health questions in youth
      studies, little is known about what such questions capture among adolescents.
      Hence, the aim of this study was to explore how adolescents interpret and reason
      when answering a question about self-rated health. METHODS: A qualitative study
      using think-aloud interviews explored the question, "How do you feel most of the
      time?", using five response options ("Very good", "Rather good", "Neither good,
      nor bad", "Rather bad", and "Very bad"). The study involved 58 adolescents (29
      boys and 29 girls) in lower secondary school (7th grade) and upper secondary
      school (12th grade) in Sweden. RESULTS: Respondents' interpretations of the
      question about how they felt included social, mental, and physical aspects.
      Gender differences were found primarily in that girls emphasized stressors, while
      age differences were reflected mainly in the older respondents' inclusion of a
      wider variety of influences on their assessments. The five response options all
      demonstrated differences in self-rated health, and the respondents' understanding
      of the middle option, "Neither good, nor bad", varied widely. In the answering of
      potential sensitive survey questions, rationales for providing honest or biased
      answers were described. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a self-rated health question
      including the word 'feel' captured a holistic view of health among adolescents.
      Differences amongst response options should be acknowledged when analyzing self
      rated health questions. If anonymity is not feasible when answering questions on
      self-rated health, a high level of privacy is recommended to increase the
      likelihood of reliability.

PMID- 26880573
TI  - Enhancing hepatic fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a choline
      deficient diet: a follow-up report on long-term effects of oxidative stress in
      non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously reported a model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD) using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), fed a choline-deficient
      (CD) diet for 5 weeks, that hepatic steatosis but not fibrosis is developed
      through oxidative stress. To determine the relationship between hypertension and
      hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD, we examined whether long-term CD diet leads to hepatic
      fibrosis through oxidative stress. METHODS: Eight-week-old male SHR and
      normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) were fed a CD diet for 5 or 20 weeks, then
      liver histology and hepatic expression of genes related to lipid metabolism,
      fibrosis, and oxidative stress were assessed. Oxidative stress was assessed by
      hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. RESULTS: After 5
      weeks on CD diet, prominent hepatic steatosis and decrease in expression of genes
      for lipid metabolism were observed in SHRs as compared with WKYs. SHRs on a CD
      diet demonstrated a downregulated expression of genes for antioxidants, along
      with significant increases in hepatic TBARS. After 20 weeks on CD diet, SHRs
      demonstrated severe liver fibrosis and upregulated expressions of genes for
      fibrosis when compared with WKY. CONCLUSION: Hypertension precipitated hepatic
      steatosis, and further, acts as an enhancer in NAFLD progression to liver
      fibrosis through oxidative stress.

PMID- 26880574
TI  - Sinonasal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a systematic review of 80
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to review the published literature
      related to sinonasal small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCNECs). Clinical
      presentation, demographics, treatment, and outcomes of this uncommon disease are
      reported. METHODS: A systematic review of studies for sinonasal SCNECs in PubMed
      and Ovid databases from 1970 to 2014 was conducted. Bibliographies of selected
      articles were also examined. Articles were examined for patient data that
      reported disease outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-four articles were included in this
      analysis, comprising a total of 80 cases. The mean age of presentation was 53.0
      years. Nasal obstruction (53.8%) and epistaxis (48.8%) were the most common
      presenting symptoms. The nasal cavity and septum (32.5%) was the most common site
      of involvement. Seventy percent of patients presented with American Joint
      Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IV disease. Combination chemotherapy and
      radiation therapy was the most common treatment modality, used in 21 cases
      (26.3%). The second and third most common treatment modalities was combination
      surgery and chemoradiation therapy (21.3%), and surgery alone (18.8%),
      respectively. A total of 37 patients (46.3%) were alive after a mean follow-up of
      30.8 months (median 15.5 months), independent of treatment modality. Of the
      treatment modalities, multimodality therapy remained the most common therapy.
      CONCLUSION: This review contains the largest pool of sinonasal SCNEC patients to
      date. Sinonasal SCNEC is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, and there is currently
      no standard of care for treatment. Various treatment modalities have been
      employed. Our systematic review suggests that multimodality therapy remains the
      most common treatment of sinonasal SCNEC.

PMID- 26880575
TI  - Determinants of Successful Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
      Decolonization.

PMID- 26880576
TI  - RNase H2 catalytic core Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome-related mutant invokes cGAS
      STING innate immune-sensing pathway in mice.
AB  - The neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS)
      develops from mutations in genes encoding several nucleotide-processing proteins,
      including RNase H2. Defective RNase H2 may induce accumulation of self-nucleic
      acid species that trigger chronic type I interferon and inflammatory responses,
      leading to AGS pathology. We created a knock-in mouse model with an RNase H2 AGS
      mutation in a highly conserved residue of the catalytic subunit,
      Rnaseh2a(G37S/G37S) (G37S), to understand disease pathology. G37S homozygotes are
      perinatal lethal, in contrast to the early embryonic lethality previously
      reported for Rnaseh2b- or Rnaseh2c-null mice. Importantly, we found that the G37S
      mutation led to increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes dependent on
      the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Ablation of STING in the G37S mice results in
      partial rescue of the perinatal lethality, with viable mice exhibiting white
      spotting on their ventral surface. We believe that the G37S knock-in mouse
      provides an excellent animal model for studying RNASEH2-associated autoimmune
      diseases. 

PMID- 26880579
TI  - Synthesis and Reactivity of a Bio-inspired Dithiolene Ligand and its Mo Oxo
      Complex.
AB  - An original synthesis of the fused pyranoquinoxaline dithiolene ligand qpdt(2-)
      is discussed in detail. The most intriguing step is the introduction of the
      dithiolene moiety by Pd-catalyzed carbon-sulfur coupling. The corresponding
      Mo(IV)O complex (Bu4N)2 [MoO(qpdt)2] (2) underwent reversible protonation in a
      strongly acidic medium and remained stable under anaerobic conditions. Besides, 2
      was found to be very sensitive towards oxygen, as upon oxidation it formed a
      planar dithiin derivative. Moreover, the qpdt(2-) ligand in the presence of
      [MoCl4 (tBuNC)2] formed a tetracyclic structure. The products resulting from the
      unique reactivity of qpdt(2-) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, mass
      spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemistry.
      Plausible mechanisms for the formation of these products are also proposed.

PMID- 26880577
TI  - Functional screen identifies regulators of murine hematopoietic stem cell
      repopulation.
AB  - Understanding the molecular regulation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell
      (HSPC) engraftment is paramount to improving transplant outcomes. To discover
      novel regulators of HSPC repopulation, we transplanted >1,300 mice with shRNA
      transduced HSPCs within 24 h of isolation and transduction to focus on detecting
      genes regulating repopulation. We identified 17 regulators of HSPC repopulation:
      Arhgef5, Armcx1, Cadps2, Crispld1, Emcn, Foxa3, Fstl1, Glis2, Gprasp2, Gpr56,
      Myct1, Nbea, P2ry14, Smarca2, Sox4, Stat4, and Zfp251. Knockdown of each of these
      genes yielded a loss of function, except in the cases of Armcx1 and Gprasp2,
      whose loss enhanced hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) repopulation. The discovery of
      multiple genes regulating vesicular trafficking, cell surface receptor turnover,
      and secretion of extracellular matrix components suggests active cross talk
      between HSCs and the niche and that HSCs may actively condition the niche to
      promote engraftment. We validated that Foxa3 is required for HSC repopulating
      activity, as Foxa3(-/-) HSC fails to repopulate ablated hosts efficiently,
      implicating for the first time Foxa genes as regulators of HSPCs. We further show
      that Foxa3 likely regulates the HSC response to hematologic stress. Each gene
      discovered here offers a window into the novel processes that regulate stable
      HSPC engraftment into an ablated host. 

PMID- 26880578
TI  - Antibodies against a secreted product of Staphylococcus aureus trigger phagocytic
      killing.
AB  - Host immunity against bacteria typically involves antibodies that recognize the
      microbial surface and promote phagocytic killing. Methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent cause of lethal bloodstream infection;
      however, vaccines and antibody therapeutics targeting staphylococcal surface
      molecules have thus far failed to achieve clinical efficacy. S. aureus secretes
      coagulase (Coa), which activates host prothrombin and generates fibrin fibrils
      that protect the pathogen against phagocytosis by immune cells. Because of
      negative selection, the coding sequence for the prothrombin-binding D1-D2 domain
      is highly variable and does not elicit cross-protective immune responses. The R
      domain, tandem repeats of a 27-residue peptide that bind fibrinogen, is conserved
      at the C terminus of all Coa molecules, but its functional significance is not
      known. We show here that the R domain enables bloodstream infections by directing
      fibrinogen to the staphylococcal surface, generating a protective fibrin shield
      that inhibits phagocytosis. The fibrin shield can be marked with R-specific
      antibodies, which trigger phagocytic killing of staphylococci and protect mice
      against lethal bloodstream infections caused by a broad spectrum of MRSA
      isolates. These findings emphasize the critical role of coagulase in
      staphylococcal escape from opsonophagocytic killing and as a protective antigen
      for S. aureus vaccines. 

PMID- 26880580
TI  - Filtering promiscuous compounds in early drug discovery: is it a good idea?
AB  - The use of computational filters for excluding supposedly nonspecific and
      promiscuous compounds from chemical libraries is a controversial issue, because
      many drugs used in clinics today would never reach the market if these filters
      were applied. In part, this conflict could be caused by the paradigm: one-drug
      one-target, even though it is widely agreed that drug action is a result of a
      complex network of biomolecular interactions. Therefore, the so-called pan assay
      interference compounds (PAINS) or promiscuous compounds could be in fact assay
      artifacts, false positives or, simply, bright chemical matter (BCM) composed of
      privileged scaffolds, as we propose here. Despite apparent promiscuity, BCM can
      be tailored into new and safe drugs after overcoming selectivity criteria.

PMID- 26880581
TI  - Conformational Studies and Atropisomerism Kinetics of the ALK Clinical Candidate
      Lorlatinib (PF-06463922) and Desmethyl Congeners.
AB  - Lorlatinib (PF-06463922) is an ALK/ROS1 inhibitor and is in clinical trials for
      the treatment of ALK positive or ROS1 positive NSCLC (i.e. specific subsets of
      NSCLC). One of the laboratory objectives for this molecule indicated that it
      would be desirable to advance a molecule which was CNS penetrant in order to
      treat brain metastases. From this perspective, a macrocyclic template was
      attractive for a number of reasons. In particular, this template reduces the
      number of rotatable bonds, provides the potential to shield polar surface area
      and reinforces binding through a restricted conformation. All of these features
      led to better permeability for the molecules of interest and thus increased the
      chance for better blood brain barrier penetration. With a CNS penetrant molecule,
      kinase selectivity is a key consideration particularly with regard to proteins
      such as TrkB, which are believed to influence cognitive function. Removal of the
      chiral benzylic methyl substituent from lorlatinib was perceived as not only a
      means to simplify synthetic complexity, but also as a strategy to further
      truncate the molecule of interest. Examination of the NMR of the desmethyl
      analogues revealed that the compound existed as a mixture of atropisomers, which
      proved separable by chiral SFC. The individual atropisomers were evaluated
      through a series of in vitro assays, and shown to have a favorable selectivity
      profile when compared to lorlatinib. The challenge to develop such a molecule
      lies in the rate at which the atropisomers interchange dictated by the energy
      barrier required to do this. Here, we describe the synthesis of the desmethyl
      macrocycles, conformational studies on the atropisomers, and the kinetics of the
      interconversion. In addition, the corresponding conformational studies on
      lorlatinib are reported providing a hypothesis for why a single diastereomer is
      observed when the chiral benzylic methyl group is introduced. 

PMID- 26880582
TI  - Platinum-Copper Nanoframes: One-Pot Synthesis and Enhanced Electrocatalytic
      Activity.
AB  - Platinum-copper nanoframes were produced from copper nanoparticles by a one-pot
      synthesis method. The growth mechanism was thoroughly studied by experiment and
      theoretical calculations. Owing to the unique structure, Pt-Cu nanoframes
      exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation
      of methanol compared to commercial Pt black. 

PMID- 26880583
TI  - Tumor suppressor NGX6 inhibits the growth and metastasis of multiple cancers.
AB  - Nasopharyngeal carcinoma-associated gene 6 (NGX6) is a membrane protein primarily
      located in the nuclear membrane and cell membrane. Several groups reported that
      NGX6 gene was down-regulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric cancer,
      lung cancer, liver cancer, and colorectal cancer and even less in the carcinomas
      with metastasis. Current studies have demonstrated that NGX6 possesses various
      biological functions, such as regulating protein expression of related genes,
      involving cell signal transduction pathways, negatively controlling cell cycle
      progression, inhibiting angiogenesis, and increasing the sensitivity of patients
      to anti-cancer drugs. Some factors regulating the expression level of NGX6 gene
      also have been studied. The methylation of promoter of NGX6 and histone H3K9
      negatively regulates its expression, similar to the function of transcription
      factor special protein-1 (Sp1). However, the regulatory factor early growth
      response gene 1 (Egr-1) is provided with positive regulation function. This
      review will summarize the progress of those studies on NGX6 and elucidate the
      potential application of NGX6 for some malignant diseases. 

PMID- 26880584
TI  - Hypoxia inducible factor: a potential prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer. Hypoxia
      inducible factor (HIF) is involved in many malignant tumors' growth and
      metastasis and upregulated by hypoxia, including oral cancer. Many studies have
      studied about the prognostic value of HIF expression in OSCC; however, they do
      not get the consistent results. Therefore, this study explored the correlation
      between the HIF expression and the prognosis of OSCC. It conducted a meta
      analysis of relevant publications searched in the Web of Science, PubMed, and ISI
      Web of Knowledge databases. Totally, this study identified 12 relevant articles
      reporting a total of 1112 patients. This analysis revealed a significant
      association between increased risk of mortality (RR = 1.20; 95 % CI 0.74-1.95; I
      (2) 85.4 %) and overexpression of HIFs. Furthermore, different HIF isoforms were
      associated with overall survival [HIF-1alpha (RR = 1.18; 95 % CI 0.66-2.11; I (2)
      87.2 %) and HIF-2alpha (RR = 1.40; 95 % CI 0.93-2.09; I(2) 0.0 %)]. These results
      show that overexpression of HIFs, regardless of whether the HIF-1alpha or HIF
      2alpha isoforms are overexpressed is significantly associated with increased risk
      of mortality in OSCC patients. In this study, the funnel is symmetric, suggesting
      existed no publication bias. 

PMID- 26880585
TI  - Association of toll-like receptor 2 ?22 and risk for gastric cancer considering
      main effects and interactions with smoking: a matched case-control study from
      Mizoram, India.
AB  - Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionary conserved cell surface receptors of
      the innate immune system. Smoking has significant immunological effects which are
      mediated via TLRs on various receptor-mediated innate response pathways.
      Polymorphisms of TLR genes are associated with susceptibility toward various
      malignancies. The present study was undertaken to examine the association between
      TLR2 ?22 and gastric cancer. In this study, we also investigated the interaction
      between TLR2 ?22 and smoking. A total of 133 histologically confirmed gastric
      cancer cases and 266 age-sex-matched controls were selected for this study. TLR2
      ?22 genotypes were determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
      Binary conditional logistic regression analysis was used to find the association
      of TLR2 ?22 with risk of gastric cancer. Logistic regression using hierarchically
      well-formulated models was used for interaction analysis between smoking and TLR2
      ?22. Persons having TLR2 ?22 heterozygous genotype had two times increased risk
      of gastric cancer in multivariate logistic regression model. The interaction
      analysis using hierarchical logistic regression models between smoking and TLR2
      ?22 by calculating separate X (2) for interaction model and only main effect
      model, the difference of X (2) 57.68-47.70 = 9.98 and degrees of freedom (df) 5-3
      = 2, revealed significant (alpha = 0.05, df = 2) omnibus interaction. Our present
      study revealed TLR2 ?22 to be significantly and independently associated with
      gastric cancer risk in Mizoram, and there is also evidence of significant
      interaction between smoking and TLR2 ?22 with risk of gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26880586
TI  - Transcriptomic changes associated with DKK4 overexpression in pancreatic cancer
      cells detected by RNA-Seq.
AB  - The promotion of tumor development by Dickkopf 4 (DKK4) is receiving increased
      attention. However, the association between DKK4 and pancreatic cancer remains
      unclear. DKK4 expression was measured in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues
      using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. A DKK4-overexpressing pancreatic cancer
      cell line was established, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that
      were induced by DKK4 were identified using transcriptome sequencing. The
      association between the identified DEGs and pancreatic cancer was assessed using
      gene ontology (GO), pathway analysis, pathway interaction networks,
      differentially expressed gene interaction network analysis, and co-expression
      gene networks. Finally, the accuracy of the analyses was validated using serial
      paraffin and frozen sections of clinical samples. DKK4 is highly expressed in
      pancreatic cancer tissues. DEGs of overexpression DKK4 of PANC-1 are mostly
      upregulated. GO and pathway analysis showed that DKK4 are associated with tumor
      and organ development and immune inflammation. The mitogen-activated protein
      kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was the main signal transduction pathway that
      showed significant enrichment in overexpression DKK4 of PANC-1. The results of
      GO, pathway analyses, and differentially expressed gene interaction network
      identified genes that are closely associated with tumor development, including
      MAPK3, PIK3R3, VAV3, JAG1, and Notch3. The immunohistochemistry and
      immunofluorescence results suggested that DKK4 is co-expressed with MAPK3 and
      VAV3 in pancreatic cancer tissues. The results presented here show for the first
      time that DKK4 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues. Bioinformatics
      analysis of a DKK4-overexpressing of PANC-1 identified several oncogenes that are
      closely associated with tumors, and the MAPK signaling pathway is the core signal
      transduction pathway. DKK4 can be co-expressed with MAPK3 and VAV3 in pancreatic
      ductal adenocarcinoma tissues. Thus, DKK4 may have function on the development
      and progression of pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26880587
TI  - The interplay between microRNAs and Twist1 transcription factor: a systematic
      review.
AB  - Twist1 (also known as Twist) is a transcription factor that belongs to the family
      of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. It functions as a negative regulator
      of epithelial gene expression and a positive regulator of mesenchymal gene
      expression, thereby leading to induction of the epithelial mesenchymal transition
      (EMT), a process in which epithelial cells acquire the motile and migratory
      characteristics of mesenchymal cells. In addition to regulating the expression of
      protein-coding genes, Twist1 regulates the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs),
      adding a regulatory layer to EMT induction. Interestingly, the mRNA of Twist1
      represents a downstream target of miRNAs, indicating an intricate network between
      miRNAs and Twist1. This network was shown to play multiple roles in cancer cell
      migration, invasion, and metastasis. The network can induce angiogenesis, protect
      cells from oncogene-induced apoptosis and senescence, enhance cancer cell
      resistance to conventional therapies, and increase cancer stem cell (CSC)
      populations. Recently, miRNAs have attracted considerable attention as potential
      promising tools in cancer therapies. Thus, this systematic review was conducted
      to clarify the reciprocal link between Twist1 and miRNAs in order to provide
      potential candidate miRNAs for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer
      treatment. 

PMID- 26880588
TI  - Comparison of in vitro antileukemic activity of obatoclax and ABT-737.
AB  - Obatoclax and ABT-737 belong to a new class of anticancer agents known as BH3
      mimetics. These agents antagonize the anti-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family. The
      Bcl-2 proteins modulate sensitivity of many types of cancer cells to
      chemotherapy. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine and
      compare the antileukemic activity of obatoclax and ABT-737 applied alone, and in
      combination with anticancer agent, mafosfamide and daunorubicin. The in vitro
      cytotoxic effects of the tested agents on human leukemia cells were determined
      using the spectrophotometric MTT test, Coulter electrical impedance method, flow
      cytometry annexin V-fluorescein/propidium iodide assay, and light microscopy
      technique. The combination index analysis was used to quantify the extent of
      agent interactions. BH3 mimetics significantly decreased the leukemia cell
      viability and synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic effects induced by
      mafosfamide and daunorubicin. Obatoclax affected the cell viability to a greater
      degree than did ABT-737. In addition, various patterns of temporary changes in
      the cell volume and count, and in the frequency of leukemia cells undergoing
      apoptosis, were found 24 and 48 h after the tested agent application. ABT-737
      combined with anticancer agents induced apoptosis more effectively than obatoclax
      when given in the same combination regimen. The results of the present study
      point to the different antileukemic activities of obatoclax and ABT-737, when
      applied alone, and in combination with anticancer agents. A better understanding
      of the exact mechanisms of BH3 mimetic action is of key importance for their
      optional use in cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26880589
TI  - Coffee consumption protects against progression in liver cirrhosis and increases
      long-term survival after liver transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Therapeutic options to treat progression of end-stage liver disease
      (ESLD) or improve long-term survival after liver transplantation remain scarce.
      We investigated the impact of coffee consumption under these conditions. METHODS:
      We recorded coffee consumption habits of 379 patients with ESLD awaiting liver
      transplantation and 260 patients after liver transplantation. Survival was
      analyzed based on coffee intake. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-five patients with
      ESLD consumed coffee on a daily basis, while 184 patients did not. Actuarial
      survival was impaired (P = 0.041) in non-coffee drinkers (40.4 +/- 4.3 months,
      95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.0-48.9) compared with coffee drinkers (54.9 +/-
      5.5 months, 95% CI: 44.0-65.7). In subgroup analysis, the survival of patients
      with alcoholic liver disease (ALD; P = 0.020) and primary sclerosing cholangitis
      (PSC; P = 0.017) was increased with coffee intake while unaffected in patients
      with chronic viral hepatitis (P = 0.517) or other liver disease entities (P =
      0.652). Multivariate analysis showed that coffee consumption of PSC and ALD
      patients retained as an independent risk factor (odds ratio [OR]: 1.94; 95% CI:
      1.15-3.28; P = 0.013) along with MELD score (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.09-1.17; P =
      0.000). Following liver transplantation, long-term survival was longer in coffee
      drinkers (coffee: 61.8 +/- 2.0 months, 95% CI: 57.9-65.8) than non-drinkers (52.3
      +/- 3.5 months, 95% CI: 45.4-59.3; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Coffee consumption
      delayed disease progression in ALD and PSC patients with ESLD and increased long
      term survival after liver transplantation. We conclude that regular coffee intake
      might be recommended for these patients.

PMID- 26880590
TI  - An integrative approach to phylogeny reveals patterns of environmental
      distribution and novel evolutionary relationships in a major group of ciliates.
AB  - Peritrichs are a major group of ciliates with worldwide distribution. Yet, its
      internal phylogeny remains unresolved owing to limited sampling. Additionally,
      ecological distributions of peritrichs are poorly known. We performed
      substantially expanded phylogenetic analyses of peritrichs that incorporated SSU
      rDNA sequences of samples collected from three continents, revealing a number of
      new relationships between and within major lineages that greatly challenged the
      classic view of the group. Interrogation of a dataset comprising new
      environmental sequences from an estuary and the open ocean generated with high
      throughput sequencing and clone libraries plus putative environmental peritrich
      sequences at Genbank, produced a comprehensive tree of peritrichs from a variety
      of habitats and revealed unique ecological distribution patterns of several
      lineages for the first time. Also, evidence of adaptation to extreme environments
      in the Astylozoidae clade greatly broadened the phylogenetic range of peritrichs
      capable of living in extreme environments. Reconstruction of ancestral states
      revealed that peritrichs may have transitioned repeatedly from freshwater to
      brackish/marine/hypersaline environments. This work establishes a phylogenetic
      framework for more mature investigations of peritrichs in the future, and the
      approach used here provides a model of how to elucidate evolution in the context
      of ecological niches in any lineage of microbial eukaryotes. 

PMID- 26880591
TI  - Microwave-assisted Synthesis and antifungal activity of coumarin[8,7
      e][1,3]oxazine derivatives.
AB  - The synthesis of novel coumarin[8,7-e][1,3]oxazine derivatives through a
      microwave-assisted three-component one-pot Mannich reaction is described in this
      study. All the target compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antifungal
      activity against Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum capsici, Alternaria solani,
      Gibberella zeae, Rhizoctonia solani, and Alternaria mali. The preliminary
      bioassays showed that 5e, 5m, and 5s exhibited good antifungal activity and the
      most active compound was 5m with an [Formula: see text] value as low as 2.1 nM
      against Botrytis cinerea. 

PMID- 26880592
TI  - New psychoactive substance use among regular psychostimulant users in Australia,
      2010-2015.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the rates and patterns of new psychoactive substance (NPS)
      use amongst regular psychostimulant users (RPU) in Australia. METHOD: Data were
      obtained from the 2010-2015 Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS),
      which comprised a total cross-sectional sample of 4122RPU. RESULTS: Recent use of
      'any' NPS increased from 33% in 2010 to 40% in 2015, although trends of use
      differed significantly across NPS classes. The correlates associated with NPS use
      also varied across NPS classes: frequent (i.e. weekly or more) ecstasy users were
      more likely to report recent phenethylamine use; LSD users were more likely to
      report recent phenethylamine and tryptamine use; and daily cannabis users were
      more likely to report recent synthetic cannabinoid use than RPU who had not used
      NPS. 'Poly' NPS consumers were found to be a particularly high risk group and
      were significantly more likely to be younger, male, report daily cannabis use,
      report weekly or more ecstasy use, report recent LSD use, have higher levels of
      poly drug use, have overdosed on any drug in the past year, and to have engaged
      in past month criminal activity. CONCLUSION: NPS use has been established as a
      significant and ongoing practice amongst our sample of RPU. It appears that RPU
      seek out NPS with similar properties to the illicit drugs that they are already
      consuming, with poly NPS consumers found to be a particularly high risk group.

PMID- 26880593
TI  - Interviewer-administered TLFB vs. self-administered computerized (A-CASI) drug
      use frequency questions: a comparison in HIV-infected drug users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Substance use can have major consequences among HIV patients.
      Interviewer- or self-administered modalities are widely used to measure drug use
      frequency. This often involves Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) interviewer
      administered measures, or self-administered computerized questions assessing
      similar information via Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interview (A-CASI). Little
      is known about agreement between these two modalities on drug use frequency in
      HIV-infected samples. METHODS: Prior to randomization into a trial of brief
      interventions to reduce drug use, 240 HIV patients completed a baseline A-CASI
      assessment battery that included questions on drug use frequency, followed by an
      interviewer-administered TLFB. Each measure generated number of days patients
      used their primary drug in the prior 30 days. Agreement between TLFB and A-CASI
      modalities on days using primary drug was determined using intraclass correlation
      coefficients (ICC). Regression analysis tested the association of patient
      characteristics with discrepancies between TLFB and A-CASI modalities. RESULTS:
      Overall agreement was excellent (ICC=.80), with little variation by primary drug,
      education, race, current drug treatment, binge drinking or years since HIV
      diagnosis. Gender, ethnicity (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic) and age predicted
      differences in days used (p<0.05); the A-CASI modality reflected more days used
      than TLFB. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of days used primary drug showed high agreement
      whether assessed by interviewer-administered TLFB or by questions self
      administered via the A-CASI modality. Differences by gender, ethnicity and age
      suggest some caution in using the TLFB, although additional studies are needed.
      However, findings generally indicate that studies based on one assessment method
      or the other can be compared with reasonable confidence.

PMID- 26880594
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of an internet-delivered treatment for substance abuse: Data
      from a multisite randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Substance misuse and excessive alcohol consumption are major public
      health issues. Internet-based interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs)
      are a relatively new method for addressing barriers to access and supplementing
      existing care. This study examines cost-effectiveness in a multisite, randomized
      trial of an internet-based version of the community reinforcement approach (CRA)
      with contingency management (CM) known as the Therapeutic Education System (TES).
      METHODS: Economic evaluation of the 12-week trial with follow-up at 24 and 36
      weeks. 507 individuals who were seeking therapy for alcohol or other substance
      use disorders at 10 outpatient community-based treatment programs were recruited
      and randomized to either treatment as usual (TAU) or TES+TAU. Sub-analyses were
      completed on participants with a poorer prognosis (i.e., those not abstinent at
      study entry). RESULTS: From the provider's perspective, TES+TAU as it was
      implemented in this study costs $278 (SE=87) more than TAU alone after 12 weeks.
      The quality-adjusted life years gained by TES+TAU and TAU were similar; however,
      TES+TAU has at least a 95% chance of being considered cost-effective for
      providers and payers with willingness-to-pay thresholds as low as $20,000 per
      abstinent year. Findings for the subgroup not abstinent at study entry are
      slightly more favorable. CONCLUSIONS: With regard to the clinical outcome of
      abstinence, our cost-effectiveness findings of TES+TAU compare favorably to those
      found elsewhere in the CM literature. The analyses performed here serve as an
      initial economic framework for future studies integrating technology into SUD
      therapy.

PMID- 26880597
TI  - Assignment of absolute stereostructures through quantum mechanics electronic and
      vibrational circular dichroism calculations.
AB  - Elucidation of absolute configuration of chiral molecules including structurally
      complex natural products remains a challenging problem in organic chemistry. A
      reliable method for assigning the absolute stereostructure is to combine the
      experimental circular dichroism (CD) techniques such as electronic and
      vibrational CD (ECD and VCD), with quantum mechanics (QM) ECD and VCD
      calculations. The traditional QM methods as well as their continuing developments
      make them more applicable with accuracy. Taking some chiral natural products with
      diverse conformations as examples, this review describes the basic concepts and
      new developments of QM approaches for ECD and VCD calculations in solution and
      solid states. 

PMID- 26880596
TI  - An ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor based on signal
      amplification strategy of multifunctional magnetic graphene loaded with cadmium
      ions.
AB  - Herein, a novel and ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor was
      proposed for quantitative detection of human Immunoglobulin G (IgG). The amino
      functionalized magnetic graphenes nanocomposites (NH2-GS-Fe3O4) were prepared to
      bond gold and silver core-shell nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs) by constructing stable
      Au-N and Ag-N bond between Au@Ag NPs and -NH2. Subsequently, the Au@Ag/GS-Fe3O4
      was applied to absorb cadmium ion (Cd(2+)) due to the large surface area, high
      conductivity and exceptional adsorption capability. The functional nanocomposites
      of gold and silver core-shell magnetic graphene loaded with cadmium ion (Au@Ag/GS
      Fe3O4/Cd(2+)) can not only increase the electrocatalytic activity towards
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but also improve the effective immobilization of
      antibodies because of synergistic effect presented in Au@Ag/GS-Fe3O4/Cd(2+),
      which greatly extended the scope of detection. Under the optimal conditions, the
      proposed immunosensor was used for the detection of IgG with good linear relation
      in the range from 5 fg/mL to 50 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 2 fg/mL (S/N
      = 3). Furthermore, the proposed immunosensor showed high sensitivity, special
      selectivity and long-term stability, which had promising application in bioassay
      analysis. 

PMID- 26880595
TI  - Emotion dysregulation and amygdala dopamine D2-type receptor availability in
      methamphetamine users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individuals who use methamphetamine chronically exhibit emotional and
      dopaminergic neurochemical deficits. Although the amygdala has an important role
      in emotion processing and receives dopaminergic innervation, little is known
      about how dopamine transmission in this region contributes to emotion regulation.
      This investigation aimed to evaluate emotion regulation in subjects who met DSM
      IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, and to test for a relationship
      between self-reports of difficulty in emotion regulation and D2-type dopamine
      receptor availability in the amygdala. METHOD: Ninety-four methamphetamine-using
      and 102 healthy-control subjects completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation
      Scale (DERS); 33 of those who used methamphetamine completed the Addiction
      Severity Index (ASI). A subset of 27 methamphetamine-group and 20 control-group
      subjects completed positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fallypride to assay
      amygdala D2-type dopamine receptor availability, measured as binding potential
      (BPND). RESULTS: The methamphetamine group scored higher than the control group
      on the DERS total score (p<0.001), with DERS total score positively correlated
      with the Drug Composite Score on the ASI (p=0.02) in the methamphetamine group.
      The DERS total score was positively correlated with amygdala BPND in both groups
      and the combined group of participants (combined: r=0.331, p=0.02), and the
      groups did not differ in this relationship. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight
      problems with emotion regulation linked to methamphetamine use, possibly
      contributing to personal and interpersonal behavioral problems. They also suggest
      that D2-type dopamine receptors in the amygdala contribute to emotion regulation
      in both healthy and methamphetamine-using subjects.

PMID- 26880598
TI  - Marine natural products sourced from marine-derived Penicillium fungi.
AB  - Marine micro-organisms have been proven to be a major source of marine natural
      products (MNPs) in recent years, in which filamentous fungi are a vital source of
      bioactive natural products for their large metagenomes and more complex genetic
      backgrounds. This review highlights the 390 new MNPs from marine-derived
      Penicillium fungi during 1991 to 2014. These new MNPs are categorized based on
      the environment sources of the fungal hosts and their bioactivities are
      summarized. 

PMID- 26880599
TI  - Elderly people as "apocalyptic demography"? A study of the life stories of older
      people in Hong Kong born in the 1930s.
AB  - In Hong Kong, the general view still follows the biomedical discourse to define
      aging. The government and leading gerontologists follow the prevailing
      representation of elderly and describe growing old as a process of becoming
      "frail, infirm, and vulnerable" (Fealy et al., 2012: 91). Discussions of
      demographic trends often focus on the drastic effects of an aging society on
      economic development. Our research indicates that Hong Kong's construction of
      aging is a product of its market-driven economy. Drawing from the life stories of
      eight participants born in the 1930s, we examine the meaning of aging and the
      formation of character in a specific historical context, adopting the life-course
      perspective. We wish to understand how larger movements in the social and
      political world shaped the experiences of the participants and the strategies
      they developed to maintain agency and control in life. The participants in our
      study struggled for survival through unprecedented political disasters and social
      turmoil in their youth. When they reached maturity in the 1960s and 1970s, they
      devoted themselves to bettering their lives and contributed to the economic boom
      of the city. We maintain that the biomedical model offers a reductive and unjust
      means of viewing the people in this cohort, who are often seen as a problem and a
      burden. Challenging the prevailing ageist attitude, we set the life stories of
      the participants against the dominant biomedical model of aging. Our work aims to
      establish a just description of the life experiences of Hong Kong people. 

PMID- 26880600
TI  - The complexities of female aging: Four women protagonists in Penelope Lively's
      novels.
AB  - Penelope Lively is a well-known contemporary British author who has published a
      good number of novels and short stories since she started her literary career in
      her late thirties. In her novels, Lively looks at the lives of contemporary
      characters moulded by specific historical as well as cultural circumstances. Four
      of her novels, published from 1987 to 2004, present middle-aged and older women
      as their main protagonists. Through the voices and thoughts of these female
      characters, the reader is presented with a multiplicity of realities in which
      women find themselves after their mid-fifties within a contemporary context.
      Being a woman and entering into old age is a double-sided jeopardy which has
      increasingly been present in contemporary fiction. Scholars such as Simone de
      Beauvoir (1949) and Susan Sontag (1972) were among the first to point out a
      "double standard of aging" when they assured that women were punished when
      showing external signs of aging much sooner than men. In Lively's four novels,
      the aging protagonists present their own stories and, through them, as well as
      through the voices of those around them, the reader is invited to go beyond the
      aging appearance of the female protagonists while challenging the limiting
      conceptions attached to the old body and, by extension, to the social and
      cultural overtones associated with old age. 

PMID- 26880601
TI  - The meaningfulness of time; Narratives of cancer among chronically ill older
      adults.
AB  - This study, using ethnographically-based interviews, sought to describe how
      chronically ill older adults experience a new cancer diagnosis and the effects of
      this on their interpretations of personal health, aging, and the future. Three
      semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the fifteen informants. We
      asked questions that explored each individual's life history, chronic illness
      occurrence, and direct experiences with cancer. Interviews were structured to
      provide social and historical contexts to enhance our understanding of the
      informants' illness narratives. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically
      to describe how individuals described the cancer experience, its meaning, and its
      consequences. One of the major findings of our study was the role of cancer in
      disrupting individual biography, an interruption that fragmented time into three
      distinct segments: the Recalled Past, the Existent Present, and the Imagined
      Future. We highlight three main themes around the experience of illness-related
      time: (1) disruption found in individual biographical accounts as a result of
      fragmented time dimensions; (2) altered projections of a continuous sense of self
      into the future; and (3) modified treatment decisions resulting from a perceived
      altered life course and the finitude of advancing age. We further introduce the
      concept of Anomalous Time as a permutation of time central to individual
      experiences of cancer. Implications for how older adults understood their cancer
      and individual reactions relevant to seeking care are discussed. 

PMID- 26880602
TI  - 'Nobody would say that it is Alzheimer's or dementia at this age': Family
      adjustment following a diagnosis of early-onset dementia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Family interaction and intergenerational dynamics have been known to
      influence the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and as such, the
      understanding of such dynamics in the experience of transitions can assist in
      strengthening the support provided to families living with such diagnoses. As
      such, the aims and objectives of this work were to develop a deeper understanding
      of family transition in early-onset dementia and to construct a representative
      model of this experience. METHOD: This qualitative study used an 'initial-and
      follow-up' interview design with semi-structured in-depth interviews in
      participants' homes. A framework approach to qualitative data analysis was used
      in order to identify important points of transition in the family experience of
      early-onset dementia and how families frame and respond to their own health
      expectations. RESULTS: Nine families provided written informed consent to
      participate in the study. The nine participating families were made up of 20
      participants, including nine spousal pairs and two young adult children. Each
      family participated in two research interviews in their individual homes. Four
      major themes emerged from the data: Diagnosis; Finances; Relationships; and
      Meaningful Activity. CONCLUSION: Transitions experienced by families in early
      onset dementia can be significantly impacted by the opportunity and availability
      of meaningful activity and/or a purposeful role. Not only does this activity
      benefit both the person with dementia and their family, but also supports much
      needed home and community living for people with dementia, as demonstrated by
      predicted future bed shortages in Canadian hospitals and long term care
      facilities.

PMID- 26880603
TI  - Aging embodiment and the somatic work of getting into and out of a car.
AB  - This study examines the embodied realities and sensory experience of vehicle
      ingress and egress from the point of view of older drivers. In-depth interviews
      were conducted with 15 women and three men, aged 57-81, and followed by ride-a
      longs whereby the researcher observed participants in interaction with their
      automobile. Using the perspective of phenomenological gerontology and the concept
      of somatic work (Vannini, Waskul, & Gottschalk, 2012), older drivers are
      conceptualized as simultaneously sensing and making sense of somatic experience
      evoked by aging embodiment and the bodily movements required of entry and exit
      into an automobile. It is argued that older drivers acquire a sensory auto
      biography of incorporated bodily memory regarding vehicle morphology and texture
      in their past and current life, which informs embodied capacities of movement,
      awareness, and response relative to practical knowledge about what is attainable
      (or unattainable) for a sensuous older body. Through reflective and reflexive
      engagement with the sensory realm and material world, participants report
      structuring their lives through the haptics of touch, adoption of somatic rules,
      consumerist practices, as well as, specialized bodily movements and footwork
      sequences to ensure safety and comfort when using their automobile. 

PMID- 26880605
TI  - No more lock-step retirement: Boomers' shifting meanings of work and retirement.
AB  - Standard pathways for work and retirement are being transformed as the large
      Boomer cohort moves through typical retirement ages during a moment of economic,
      social and political change. People are delaying retirement and moving into and
      out of paid work as the standard lock-step retirement becomes less dominant.
      However, little research has explored how and why Boomers are taking on these
      diverse pathways in their later careers. Accordingly, we conduct in-depth
      interviews with working and retired white-collar Boomers, exploring how they are
      working and the meanings and motivations for their decisions and plans in their
      later careers. We find that there is no single dominant pattern for retirement,
      but rather a diverse mix of pathways shaped by occupational identities, finances,
      health and perceptions of retirement. Boomers express a desire to have control
      over their time and to find meaning and purpose in either paid or unpaid
      activities. However, life course transitions, normative cultural scripts, and
      gender and class locations as well as workplace and social policies constrain
      their decisions and plans. 

PMID- 26880604
TI  - Aging bodies and desistance from crime: Insights from the life stories of
      offenders.
AB  - The processes involved in the transition from crime to desistance, in relation to
      how those involved in criminal activity give meaning to their experiences of
      aging over time, has received little empirical scrutiny in the criminological
      literature. In this article, we unpack and flesh out the multiple meanings of age
      by drawing on a life story study of desistance from crime. Our analysis
      foregrounds the following key themes and the interactive parts they play in the
      process of desistence: general perceptions of aging (critical ages and the
      ambiguity of age); the significance of the aging body (crime as a young person's
      game, tiredness, and slowing down); age and risk assessment; and feelings of
      missing out and lost time with age. We conclude by suggesting that researchers
      into the phenomenon of desistance with an interest in maturation theory might
      benefit from integrating work undertaken in the sociology of embodiment and
      critical gerontology. A brief example of how this integration might operate is
      provided. 

PMID- 26880606
TI  - Measuring the size dependence of thermal conductivity of suspended graphene disks
      using null-point scanning thermal microscopy.
AB  - Using null-point scanning thermal microscopy (NP SThM), we have measured and
      analyzed the size dependence of the thermal conductivity of graphene. To do so,
      we rigorously re-derived the principal equation of NP SThM in terms of thermal
      property measurements so as to explain how this technique can be effectively used
      to quantitatively measure the local thermal resistance with nanoscale spatial
      resolution. This technique has already been proven to resolve the major problems
      of conventional SThM, and to quantitatively measure the temperature profile.
      Using NP SThM, we measured the variation in the thermal resistance of suspended
      chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene disks with radii of 50-3680 nm
      from the center to the edge with respect to the size. By thoroughly analyzing the
      size dependence of the thermal resistance, we show that, with increasing graphene
      size, the ballistic resistance becomes more dominant in the thermal resistance
      experienced by a heat source of finite size and that the thermal conductivity
      experienced by such a heat source can even decrease. The results of this study
      reveal that the thermal conductivity of graphene detected by a heat source
      depends on the size of the heat source relative to that of the suspended graphene
      and on how the heat source and graphene are connected. As demonstrated in this
      study, NP SThM will be very useful for quantitative thermal characterization of
      not only CVD-grown graphene but also various other nanomaterials and nanodevices.

PMID- 26880607
TI  - Maternal exposure to carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter during pregnancy
      in an urban Tanzanian cohort.
AB  - Low birthweight contributes to as many as 60% of all neonatal deaths; exposure
      during pregnancy to household air pollution has been implicated as a risk factor.
      Between 2011 and 2013, we measured personal exposures to carbon monoxide (CO) and
      fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) in 239 pregnant women in Dar es Salaam,
      Tanzania. CO and PM2.5 exposures during pregnancy were moderately high (geometric
      means 2.0 ppm and 40.5 MUg/m3 ); 87% of PM2.5 measurements exceeded WHO air
      quality guidelines. Median and high (75th centile) CO exposures were increased
      for those cooking with charcoal and kerosene versus kerosene alone in quantile
      regression. High PM2.5 exposures were increased with charcoal use. Outdoor
      cooking reduced median PM2.5 exposures. For PM2.5 , we observed a 0.15 kg
      reduction in birthweight per interquartile increase in exposure (23.0 MUg/m3 ) in
      multivariable linear regression; this finding was of borderline statistical
      significance (95% confidence interval 0.30, 0.00 kg; P = 0.05). PM2.5 was not
      significantly associated with birth length or head circumference nor were CO
      exposures associated with newborn anthropometrics. Our findings contribute to the
      evidence that exposure to household air pollution, and specifically fine
      particulate matter, may adversely affect birthweight.

PMID- 26880608
TI  - MULTIDETECTOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC AND LOW-FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
      ANATOMY OF THE QUADRIGEMINAL CISTERN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SUPRACOLLICULAR
      FLUID ACCUMULATIONS IN DOGS.
AB  - Focal fluid accumulations in the supracollicular region are commonly termed
      quadrigeminal cysts and may be either subclinical or associated with neurologic
      deficits in dogs. Little published information is available on normal imaging
      anatomy and anatomic relationships for the canine quadrigeminal cistern.
      Objectives of this observational, cross-sectional study were to describe normal
      quadrigeminal cistern anatomy and determine the prevalence and characteristics of
      supracollicular fluid accumulations in dogs. Normal descriptions were
      accomplished using computed tomographic (CT) cisternography in one canine
      cadaver, and CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the brain in four
      prospectively recruited dogs with no evidence of intracranial disease. Prevalence
      and characteristics descriptions were accomplished using a retrospective review
      of brain CT or MRI studies performed during the period of 2005-2015. The normal
      quadrigeminal cistern consistently exhibited a complex H shape and was separated
      from the third ventricle by a thin membrane. Prevalence of supracollicular fluid
      accumulations (SFAs) was 2.19% among CT studies (n = 4427) and 2.2% among MRI
      studies (n = 626). Dogs with SFA were significantly younger than control dogs (P
      < 0.0001). Shih-tzu (OR = 111.6), Chihuahua (OR = 81.1), and Maltese (OR = 27.6)
      breed dogs were predisposed (P < 0.0001). Among dogs with SFAs, the following
      three patterns were defined: (1) third ventricle (49.54%), (2) quadrigeminal
      cistern (13.51%), and (3) both third ventricle and quadrigeminal cistern
      (36.93%). Authors recommend that the term supracollicular fluid accumulation
      (SFA) should be used rather than the term quadrigeminal cyst to describe these
      focal fluid accumulations in dogs. 

PMID- 26880610
TI  - Microsatellite Instability as a Biomarker for PD-1 Blockade.
AB  - Initial results by Le and colleagues, which were published in the June 25, 2015
      issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, report significant responses of
      cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI) to anti-PD-1 inhibitors in patients
      who failed conventional therapy. This finding fits into a broader body of
      research associating somatic hypermutation and neoepitope formation with response
      to immunotherapy, with the added benefit of relying on a simple, widely used
      diagnostic test. This review surveys the pathogenesis and prognostic value of
      MSI, diagnostic guidelines for detecting it, and the frequency of MSI across
      tumors, with the goal of providing a reference for its use as a biomarker for PD
      1 blockade. MSI usually arises from either germline mutations in components of
      the mismatch repair (MMR) machinery (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2) in patients with
      Lynch syndrome or somatic hypermethylation of the MLH1 promoter. The result is a
      cancer with a 10- to 100-fold increase in mutations, associated in the colon with
      poor differentiation, an intense lymphocytic infiltrate, and a superior
      prognosis. Diagnostic approaches have evolved since the early 1990s, from relying
      exclusively on clinical criteria to incorporating pathologic features, PCR-based
      MSI testing, and immunohistochemistry for loss of MMR component expression. Tumor
      types can be grouped into categories based on the frequency of MSI, from
      colorectal (20%) and endometrial (22%-33%) to cervical (8%) and esophageal (7%)
      to skin and breast cancers (0%-2%). If initial results are validated, MSI testing
      could have an expanded role as a tool in the armamentarium of precision medicine.

PMID- 26880611
TI  - Does Recognition of Meaning in Life Confer Resiliency to Suicide Ideation Among
      Community-Residing Older Adults? A Longitudinal Investigation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test a theoretical model of the onset and/or exacerbation of late
      life suicide ideation, incorporating consideration of risk, resiliency, and
      precipitating factors. DESIGN: A longitudinal study investigating whether
      recognition of meaning in life (MIL) at baseline confers resiliency to the onset
      and/or exacerbation of suicide ideation over a 6- to 22-month period of follow
      up, controlling for baseline depression, self-rated health, and physical
      functioning, and for frequency and intensity of intervening daily hassles.
      SETTING: Mental health research offices in an urban academic health sciences
      center. PARTICIPANTS: 173 community-residing older adults (mean: 73.9 years, SD:
      6.1 years, range: 65-93 years) recruited from health, wellness, and interest
      programs, and from newspaper ads and flyers posted in London, Ontario, a mid
      sized Canadian city. A total of 126 (73%) completed follow-up assessments.
      MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed a demographics form, a cognitive screen, and
      measures of suicide ideation and of risk (depressive symptom severity, self-rated
      health problems, and physical functioning) and potential resiliency (recognition
      of MIL) factors at baseline and follow-up assessment points, and a measure of
      intervening daily hassles. RESULTS: MIL at baseline was negatively associated
      with the onset and/or exacerbation of suicide ideation over time, controlling for
      risk factors and intervening precipitating factors. The extent and relative
      significance of this finding differed with the manner in which MIL and suicide
      ideation were operationalized. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings add to a growing body
      of knowledge suggesting that MIL may play an important role in promoting mental
      health and well-being and potentially conferring resiliency to contemplations of
      suicide in later life.

PMID- 26880612
TI  - Age Differences in the Association of Social Support and Mental Health in Male
      U.S. Veterans: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between multiple aspects of social support
      perceived support, structural support, and community integration-and mental
      health difficulties in younger and older male veterans. Drawing from
      Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST), we hypothesized that greater support
      would be more strongly negatively related to mental health difficulties in older
      than younger veterans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional Web survey of younger and older
      male veterans recruited from a contemporary, nationally representative sample of
      veterans residing in the United States. SETTING: Data were drawn from the
      National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were
      290 younger male veterans (mean age: 37.0 years, SD: 6.9, range: 21-46) and 326
      older male veterans (mean age: 81.7 years, SD: 3.2, range: 78-96). MEASUREMENTS:
      Participants completed measures of sociodemographic and military characteristics,
      perceived and structural social support, community integration, and mental health
      difficulties. RESULTS: In contrast to SST, higher perceived support was
      associated with fewer mental health difficulties in younger but not older
      veterans. In line with SST, community integration was associated with fewer
      mental health difficulties in older but not younger veterans. Structural support
      was not associated with mental health difficulties in either group. CONCLUSION:
      Results of this study provide mixed support for SST and suggest that different
      aspects of social support may help promote the mental health of younger and older
      male U.S. veterans. Promotion of community engagement may help promote mental
      health in older veterans, whereas promotion of functional social support may help
      promote mental health in younger veterans.

PMID- 26880613
TI  - Prevalence, Correlates, and Treatment of Mental Disorders among Lebanese Older
      Adults: A National Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Data on the mental health of older adults in the Middle East is
      lacking. Prevalence of mental disorders in Lebanese older adults (age: 60+ years)
      as well as accounts of their attitude towards seeking professional help for
      mental disorders were investigated. The results of older adults were compared to
      a younger age group (18-59 years). DESIGN: Cross-sectional nationally
      representative study, using data from the Lebanese Evaluation of the Burden of
      Ailments and Needs of the Nation. SETTING: Community-based epidemiologic survey.
      PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults (N = 2,857) in Lebanon. MEASUREMENTS:
      Mental disorders were evaluated using the World Health Organization Composite
      International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The lifetime and 12-month
      prevalences of having "any mental disorder" in older adults (N = 593) were 17.4%
      and 10.6%, respectively, and were significantly lower than the prevalence in
      younger adults (25.7% and 18.5%, respectively). Female sex, low household income,
      social disability, and exposure to war trauma were significant correlates of 12
      month mental disorders in older adults. Of those with a 12-month mental disorder,
      16.0% sought professional help for their condition in the past year. CONCLUSIONS:
      As shown in other epidemiologic studies, the prevalence of mental disorders in
      Lebanon was lower in older adults as compared to younger adults. Several factors
      in epidemiologic studies, however, may contribute to the underdiagnosis of mental
      disorders in older adults. No significant differences in attitude towards mental
      health services were found between older and younger age groups. The importance
      of interventions that improve the social relationships of older adults is
      highlighted.

PMID- 26880614
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26880617
TI  - Species selection and random drift in macroevolution.
AB  - Species selection resulting from trait-dependent speciation and extinction is
      increasingly recognized as an important mechanism of phenotypic macroevolution.
      However, the recent bloom in statistical methods quantifying this process faces a
      scarcity of dynamical theory for their interpretation, notably regarding the
      relative contributions of deterministic versus stochastic evolutionary forces. I
      use simple diffusion approximations of birth-death processes to investigate how
      the expected and random components of macroevolutionary change depend on
      phenotype-dependent speciation and extinction rates, as can be estimated
      empirically. I show that the species selection coefficient for a binary trait,
      and selection differential for a quantitative trait, depend not only on
      differences in net diversification rates (speciation minus extinction), but also
      on differences in species turnover rates (speciation plus extinction), especially
      in small clades. The randomness in speciation and extinction events also produces
      a species-level equivalent to random genetic drift, which is stronger for higher
      turnover rates. I then show how microevolutionary processes including mutation,
      organismic selection, and random genetic drift cause state transitions at the
      species level, allowing comparison of evolutionary forces across levels. A key
      parameter that would be needed to apply this theory is the distribution and rate
      of origination of new optimum phenotypes along a phylogeny. 

PMID- 26880615
TI  - Carbon dioxide-mediated vasomotion of extra-cranial cerebral arteries in humans:
      a role for prostaglandins?
AB  - KEY POINTS: Cerebral blood flow increases during hypercapnia and decreases during
      hypocapnia; it is unknown if vasomotion of the internal carotid artery is
      implicated in these responses. Indomethacin, a non-selective cyclooxygenase
      inhibitor (used to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis), has a unique ability to
      blunt cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity, while other cyclooxygenase
      inhibitors have no effect. We show significant dilatation and constriction of the
      internal carotid artery during hypercapnia and hypocapnia, respectively.
      Indomethacin, but not ketorolac or naproxen, reduced the dilatatory response of
      the internal carotid artery to hypercapnia The differential effect of
      indomethacin compared to ketorolac and naproxen suggests that indomethacin
      inhibits vasomotion of the internal carotid artery independent of prostaglandin
      synthesis inhibition. ABSTRACT: Extra-cranial cerebral blood vessels are
      implicated in the regulation of cerebral blood flow during changes in arterial
      CO2 ; however, the mechanisms governing CO2 -mediated vasomotion of these vessels
      in humans remain unclear. We determined if cyclooxygenase inhibition with
      indomethacin (INDO) reduces the vasomotor response of the internal carotid artery
      (ICA) to changes in end-tidal CO2 (P ETC O2). Using a randomized single-blinded
      placebo-controlled study, participants (n = 10) were tested on two occasions,
      before and 90 min following oral INDO (1.2 mg kg(-1) ) or placebo. Concurrent
      measurements of beat-by-beat velocity, diameter and blood flow of the ICA were
      made at rest and during steady-state stages (4 min) of iso-oxic hypercapnia (+3,
      +6, +9 mmHg P ETC O2) and hypocapnia (-3, -6, -9 mmHg P ETC O2). To examine if
      INDO affects ICA vasomotion independent of cyclooxygenase inhibition, two
      participant subsets (each n = 5) were tested before and following oral ketorolac
      (post 45 min, 0.25 mg kg(-1) ) or naproxen (post 90 min, 4.2 mg kg(-1) ). During
      pre-drug testing in the INDO trial, the ICA dilatated during hypercapnia at +6
      mmHg (4.72 +/- 0.45 vs. 4.95 +/- 0.51 mm; P < 0.001) and +9 mmHg (4.72 +/- 0.45
      mm vs. 5.12 +/- 0.47 mm; P < 0.001), and constricted during hypocapnia at -6 mmHg
      (4.95 +/- 0.33 vs. 4.88 +/- 0.27 mm; P < 0.05) and -9 mmHg (4.95 +/- 0.33 vs.
      4.82 +/- 0.27 mm; P < 0.001). Following INDO, vasomotor responsiveness of the ICA
      to hypercapnia was reduced by 67 +/- 28% (0.045 +/- 0.015 vs. 0.015 +/- 0.012 mm
      mmHg P ETC O2(-1) ). There was no effect of the drug in the ketorolac and
      naproxen trials. We conclude that: (1) INDO markedly reduces the vasomotor
      response of the ICA to changes in P ETC O2; and (2) INDO may be reducing CO2 
      mediated vasomotion via a mechanism(s) independent of cyclooxygenase inhibition.

PMID- 26880618
TI  - Model reduction of the intracellular-signaling subsystem of apoptosis.
AB  - In recent few decades numerical treatment has become a standard tool in the
      system analysis and investigation of complex chemical reactions networks of
      reacting flows. The information about certain networks of biochemical reactions
      constantly increases. This leads to detailed descriptions of biochemical
      processes as a system of differential equations of high complexity and dimension.
      Nowadays methods, which are able automatically reduce the system dimension and
      complexity, are highly desirable. Recently several methods were developed for
      model reduction in combustion and chemical kinetics aiming at automatic numerical
      treatment and constructing the reduced system. The reduced system represents
      reliable description reproducing the detailed system behavior accurately enough.
      In this work the method of qualitative ODEs system analysis and the global quasi
      linearization method (GQL) for kinetic mechanism reduction of combustion models
      are applied to the biochemical reaction network of the apoptosis. It is shown
      that the original model of the apoptosis can be essentially simplified firstly by
      using linear system integrals (9 dimensions) of the ODEs system, secondly the
      results of GQL analysis reveals the possibility of a further reduction (4
      dimensions). It means that the final system dimension reaches 15 compare to the
      original 28 without any noticeable accuracy losses. 

PMID- 26880616
TI  - Inhibitory effects of compounds isolated from the dried branches and leaves of
      murta (Myrceugenia euosma) on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.
AB  - As obesity is a global health concern the demand for anti-obesity drugs is high.
      In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of the dried branches and
      leaves of murta (Myrceugenia euosma Legrand, Myrtaceae). A methanol extract of
      the dried branches and leaves of murta inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.
      Three known flavanones-cryptostrobin (1), pinocembrin (4), and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8
      dimethylflavanone (6), and three chalcones-2',6'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-4'
      methoxychalcone (2), pinostrobin chalcone (3), and 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy
      3',5'-dimethylchalcone (5) were isolated from the active fraction. Structures of
      these compounds were identified using various spectral data. Each of these
      compounds also inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. In particular, compound 3
      was a more potent inhibitor of triglyceride accumulation than the positive
      control berberine. Gene expression studies revealed that treatment of 3T3-L1
      cells with 3 lowers the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha
      and peroxisome proliferator activator gamma2 during adipogenesis without
      affecting cell viability. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with 3 reduced the expression
      levels of mRNAs encoding sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and several
      lipogenic enzymes, including fatty acid synthase and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1.
      These results indicate that the methanol extract and compounds isolated from the
      dried branches and leaves of murta exert their anti-obesity effects through the
      inhibition of adipogenesis. 

PMID- 26880619
TI  - Serially peeled images of the curved surface of the face based on cross-sectional
      images for use in plastic surgery.

PMID- 26880620
TI  - Comparison of four different lasers for acne scars: Resurfacing and fractional
      lasers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acne scars are common and cause cosmetic problems. There is a
      multitude of treatment options for acne scars, including dermabrasion, chemical
      peeling, and fillers, but the advent of laser technology has greatly improved the
      treatment of acne scars. Although several laser systems are available, studies
      comparing their efficacy are limited. This study compares the results of
      treatments using resurfacing (carbon dioxide, CO2; erbium-doped yttrium aluminum
      garnet, Er:YAG) versus fractional (nonablative fractional laser, NAFL; ablative
      fractional laser, AFL) lasers. METHODS: A retrospective photographic analysis of
      58 patients who underwent laser treatment for facial atrophic acne scars was
      performed. Clinical improvement was assessed by six blinded investigators with a
      scale graded from 0 to 10. Adverse events were also noted. RESULTS: Mean
      improvement scores of the CO2, Er:YAG, NAFL, and AFL groups were 6.0, 5.8, 2.2,
      and 5.2, respectively. The NAFL group showed a significantly lower score than the
      other groups. The mean number of treatments was significantly greater in the
      fractional laser groups than in the resurfacing laser groups. The resurfacing
      laser groups had a prolonged recovery period and high risk of complications. The
      Er:YAG laser caused less erythema or pigmentation compared to the CO2 laser.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although the CO2 laser, Er:YAG laser, and AFL improved the acne
      scars, the CO2 laser had a greater downtime. Three consecutive AFL treatments are
      as effective as a single treatment with resurfacing lasers, with shorter social
      downtime periods and less adverse effects.

PMID- 26880621
TI  - Considerations regarding lipofilling in patients after breast cancer.

PMID- 26880622
TI  - Patient physiological status at the emergency department-ward interface and
      emergency calls for clinical deterioration during early hospital admission.
AB  - AIMS: To examine the relationship between physiological status at the emergency
      department-ward interface and emergency calls (medical emergency team or cardiac
      arrest team activation) during the first 72 hours of hospital admission.
      BACKGROUND: Ward adverse events are related to abnormal physiology in emergency
      department however the relationship between physiology at the emergency
      department-ward interface and ward adverse events is unknown. DESIGN: Descriptive
      and exploratory design. METHODS: The study involved 1980 patients at three
      hospitals in Melbourne Australia: i) 660 randomly selected adults admitted via
      the emergency department to medical or surgical wards during 2012 and who had an
      emergency call; and ii) 1320 adults without emergency calls matched for gender,
      triage category, usual residence, admitting unit and age. RESULTS/FINDINGS: The
      median age was 78 years and 48.8% were males. The median time to the first
      emergency call was 18.8 hours and >=1 abnormal parameters were documented in
      34.9% of patients during the last hour of ED care and 47.1% of patients during
      first hour of ward care. Emergency calls were significantly more common in
      patients with heart rate and conscious state abnormalities during the last hour
      of emergency care and abnormal oxygen saturation, heart rate or respiratory rate
      during the first hour of ward care. Medical emergency team afferent limb failure
      occurred in 55.3% patients with medical emergency team activation criteria during
      first hour of ward care. CONCLUSION: The use of physiological status at the
      emergency department-ward interface to guide care planning and reasons for and
      outcomes of medical emergency team afferent limb failure are important areas for
      future research.

PMID- 26880623
TI  - NIH peer review percentile scores are poorly predictive of grant productivity.
AB  - Peer review is widely used to assess grant applications so that the highest
      ranked applications can be funded. A number of studies have questioned the
      ability of peer review panels to predict the productivity of applications, but a
      recent analysis of grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in
      the US found that the percentile scores awarded by peer review panels correlated
      with productivity as measured by citations of grant-supported publications. Here,
      based on a re-analysis of these data for the 102,740 funded grants with
      percentile scores of 20 or better, we report that these percentile scores are a
      poor discriminator of productivity. This underscores the limitations of peer
      review as a means of assessing grant applications in an era when typical success
      rates are often as low as about 10%. 

PMID- 26880624
TI  - Direct ingestion method for enhancing production and bioavailability of
      resveratrol and other phytoalexins in Vitis vinifera.
AB  - Phytoalexins such as resveratrol and pterostilbene, produced de novo by many
      plant species, including grapevine (Vitis vinifera), play a role in plant defense
      against injury and pathogens. In human cell lines and in animal studies,
      phytoalexins have been shown to be highly beneficial, with protective effects
      against cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes,
      hyperglycemia, as well as potential effects on longevity. However, in clinical
      studies, there are multiple factors that restrict this plethora of health
      benefits attributed to phytoalexins. One of these barriers is rapid metabolism in
      the intestines and liver. As a means to overcome this barrier, there is evidence
      that retaining resveratrol in the mouth for extended periods allows for higher
      plasma levels of resveratrol. Processing, transport or storage may cause
      degradation due to light and air exposure. When the berries have been picked,
      they may not be at their peak phytoalexin production due to lack of elicitor
      induction. To overcome these barriers inherent in phytoalexin production and
      uptake, it is proposed that berries and possibly the edible leaves be directly
      ingested off of a grapevine, without harvesting. In addition to the benefit of
      removing these barriers to potential health benefits, this method introduces a
      variety of known phytoalexin elicitors, in the form of plant wounding and human
      saliva, which may enhance the levels of phytoalexins dramatically. The combined
      effect of multiple phytoalexins may also play a role in enhanced health benefits.
      To test this hypothesis, experiments with direct ingestion would be performed,
      followed by testing the participants' plasma levels of resveratrol and
      potentially other phytoalexins. Proposed variables to be tested include:
      different subjects, elicitors, cultivars of grapevine, ripeness of fruit, and a
      range of time for the ingestion process. The potential implications include a
      direct means of obtaining, in clinically beneficial doses, the tremendous health
      benefits that have been documented for phytoalexins in vitro and in animal
      studies, but that have so far remained elusive in clinical studies. This study on
      direct ingestion may lead to alternative methods for obtaining these clinically
      beneficial doses. 

PMID- 26880625
TI  - Electrical stimulation to optimize cardioprotective exosomes from cardiac stem
      cells.
AB  - Injured or ischemic cardiac tissue has limited intrinsic capacity for
      regeneration. While stem cell transplantation is a promising approach to
      stimulating cardiac repair, its success in humans has thus far been limited.
      Harnessing the therapeutic benefits of stem cells requires a better understanding
      of their mechanisms of action and methods to optimize their function. Cardiac
      stem cells (CSC) represent a particularly effective cellular source for cardiac
      repair, and pre-conditioning CSC with electrical stimulation (EleS) was
      demonstrated to further enhance their function, although the mechanisms are
      unknown. Recent studies suggest that transplanted stem cells primarily exert
      their effects through communicating with endogenous tissues via the release of
      exosomes containing cardioprotective molecules such as miRNAs, which upon uptake
      by recipient cells may stimulate survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
      Exosomes are also effective therapeutic agents in isolation and may provide a
      feasible alternative to stem cell transplantation. We hypothesize that EleS
      enhances CSC-mediated cardiac repair through its beneficial effects on production
      of cardioprotective exosomes. Moreover, we hypothesize that the beneficial
      effects of biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure may in part result
      from EleS-induced preconditioning of endogenous CSC to promote cardiac repair.
      With future research, our hypothesis may provide applications to optimize stem
      cell therapy and augment current pacing protocols, which may significantly
      advance the treatment of patients with heart disease. 

PMID- 26880626
TI  - The asymmetric protein expression hypothesis - Explaining the unilaterality of
      HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitides.
AB  - For reasons still unclear, most HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitides occur
      unilaterally. Building upon the growing literature showing that left-right
      asymmetry exist at the biomolecular and at the cellular levels, we propose a new
      hypothesis to explain why HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitides tend to
      affect one eye selectively. We postulate that left and right uveal tissue may
      present quantitatively and qualitatively different proteins to the immune system,
      capable to trigger an autoimmune response, and that other variables, including
      anatomical, cellular and molecular barriers, as well as our own eye-derived
      immunological tolerance and immune suppressive intraocular microenvironment may
      also be unequally distributed, and impact differently the immune privileges of
      the left and right eye. These same quantitative and qualitative differences might
      also explain why HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitides can flip-flop between
      the left and the right eye, after the first attack. By trying to figure out why
      one eye is targeted by an autoimmune reaction while the other is clinically
      unaffected, we might be able to better understand how and why an autoimmune
      reaction starts. Hopefully, this will help us devise better treatments for ocular
      autoimmune diseases, and contribute to the management of autoinflammatory
      conditions with a marked asymmetric clinical presentation in other fields. 

PMID- 26880627
TI  - Adhesive capsulitis: An age related symptom of metabolic syndrome and chronic low
      grade inflammation?
AB  - Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is very poorly understood, particularly it's underlying
      etiology. Obesity and metabolic syndrome, which are strongly associated with
      chronic low grade inflammation, are becoming increasingly understood to underlie
      a raft of morbid states including upper limb pain syndromes, diabetes (DM),
      cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and central nervous system dysfunction and
      degeneration. Notwithstanding age, two of the strongest established risk factors
      for AC are DM and CVD. The hypothesis argues that similar to DM and CVD, the
      inflammation and capsular fibrosis seen in AC is precipitated by metabolic
      syndrome and chronic low grade inflammation. These pathophysiological mechanisms
      are highly likely to be perpetuated by upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine
      production, sympathetic dominance of autonomic balance, and neuro-immune
      activation. The hypothesis predicts and describes how these processes may
      etiologically underpin and induce each sub-classification of AC. An improved
      understanding of the etiology of AC may lead to more accurate diagnosis, improved
      management, treatment outcomes, and reduce or prevent pain, disability and
      suffering associated with the disease. The paper follows on with a discussion of
      similarities between the pathophysiology of AC to general systemic inflammatory
      control mechanisms whereby connective tissue (CT) fibrosis is induced as a
      storage depot for leukocytes and chronic inflammatory cells. The potential role
      of hyaluronic acid (HA), the primary component of the extracellular matrix (ECM)
      and CT, in the pathophysiology of AC is also discussed with potential treatment
      implications. Lastly, a biochemical link between physical and mental health
      through the ECM is described and the concept of a periventricular-limbic central
      driver of CT dysfunction is introduced. 

PMID- 26880628
TI  - Cortical gray matter loss in schizophrenia: Could microglia be the culprit?
AB  - Cortical gray matter loss in schizophrenia remains a great therapeutic
      difficulty. Each psychotic episode causes irreversible cortical gray matter loss,
      that causes the patients to never regain their previous state of functioning.
      Microglial cells are part of the innate immune system and their functions, among
      others, include phagocytosis and release of neurotrophic factors. They have a key
      impact on developmental and plasticity-induced removal of neuronal precursors,
      live-but-stressed neurons and synapses, while also stimulating synaptic growth
      and development. We hypothesize that microglia are the culprit for the cortical
      gray matter loss in schizophrenia through abnormal synaptic pruning, phagocytosis
      of stressed neurons and lacking neurotrophic factor release. Furthermore, we
      propose a research that could validate the hypotheses using serum samples of
      first-episode early-onset patients. By measuring the serum levels of milk fat
      globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8), subcomponent in the classical pathway of
      complement activation (C1q), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), we could gain an insight into
      the state of microglial activation during various stages of the disease. If this
      hypothesis is valid, new targeted drugs could be developed in order to reduce the
      deterioration of cortical gray matter, thereby possibly improving negative
      symptoms and cognitive deficits. 

PMID- 26880629
TI  - Muscle growth across a variety of exercise modalities and intensities:
      Contributions of mechanical and metabolic stimuli.
AB  - This paper reviews the existing evidence for the potential contribution of
      metabolic and mechanical stimuli to muscle growth in response to a variety of
      exercise modalities and intensities. Recent research has demonstrated that low
      load resistance training can elicit comparable hypertrophy to that of high-load
      resistance training when each set is performed until failure. The degree of
      metabolic fatigue would be greater for resistance training with lower loads
      compared to higher loads at the point of muscle failure, which may compensate for
      the lower mechanical stress. This may also explain why muscle hypertrophy occurs
      to varying magnitudes when activities such as cycling and walking are performed.
      Furthermore, the application of blood flow restriction to the working muscles
      during these activities induces greater hypertrophy albeit at the same level of
      mechanical stress, which would suggest a possible contribution from metabolic
      stress. Thus, it is plausible that both mechanical and metabolic stimuli are
      primary mechanisms for muscle hypertrophy and the degree of contributions of both
      stimuli determines the exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy. 

PMID- 26880630
TI  - PTH intermittent administration may be a useful therapeutic agent to avoid
      premature eruption of the tooth.
AB  - Parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts as a controller of bone remodeling and has
      influence on periodontal tissues. In addition to the well-established catabolic
      effects (activation of bone resorption) of PTH, it is recognized that the PTH
      intermittent administration has anabolic effects (promotion of bone formation).
      However, there is no information regarding the effects of the PTH intermittent
      administration on the eruption tooth rate. Studies have shown that tooth eruption
      depends on the presence of osteoclasts to create an eruption pathway through the
      alveolar bone. It may also be controlled by osteoblast, precursor of osteoclast,
      and cells of periodontal ligament. Our hypothesis is based on previous studies
      showing that the PTH intermittent administration can promote bone formation,
      particularly in the areas around which the tooth erupts. Furthermore, the PTH
      intermittent administration influenced periodontal ligament fiber, what may be
      seen as greater organization, and isomerization, as well as higher birefringence
      of the periodontal ligament fiber, which then offers increased resistance to the
      process, delaying tooth eruption. Thus, this article opens new perspectives for
      the treatment and maintenance of teeth that can erupt early. 

PMID- 26880631
TI  - Dkk1: A promising molecule to connect Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis.
AB  - Osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the two common diseases mostly
      affecting persons aged over 60. Epidemiological findings revealed that
      osteoporosis and AD have a very high comorbidity. However, the mechanisms
      underlying their association are poorly understood. The Wnt signaling pathway
      plays a crucial role in the proper development and maintenance of brain and bone
      structure and function. Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk1), a vital antagonist of
      the Wnt signaling, was reported to be closely associated with bone homeostasis
      and osteoporosis. Interestingly, high level of Dkk1 in the brain increases the
      risk of AD. It is suggested that Dkk1 may be a common potent risk factor involved
      in osteoporosis and AD. Therefore, we hypothesize that Dkk1 may play a role in
      both osteoporosis and AD. Our hypothesis will shed new light on the understanding
      of the relationship between these two diseases and help to explain some common
      characters of osteoporosis and AD. 

PMID- 26880632
TI  - The Baby Food Hypothesis: An explanation why high fat high sugar (HFHS) mixtures
      are so addictive, providing novel treatment strategies to control appetite in
      obesity and anorexia.

PMID- 26880633
TI  - The low-frequency (delta and theta) oscillations model of hallucinations
      integrating neuronal mechanism of object representation, emotions, plasticity,
      memory and noise signal.

PMID- 26880634
TI  - Hypothesis: A single dose of an anxiolitic may prevent unnecessary visits to the
      emergency room during blood pressure elevations.
AB  - Blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices are very commonly used by the general
      public for self-measurement. Approximately 19% of people using these devises
      check their BP every day or almost every day and only one third use them because
      their doctor recommended it. Measurement often causes anxiety and anxiety
      increases blood pressure in the short term. Elderly patients often visit the
      emergency room (ER) due to these BP elevations. Almost 10% of patients presenting
      to ERs complained of high BP, and between 50-75% of them receive antihypertensive
      drugs (sometimes with serious adverse effects) despite the fact that only 7.5%
      are classified as hypertensive emergencies, and only 2.8% are at risk of serious
      outcome. Two studies suggested the use of anxiolitics in the treatment of
      excessive hypertension. When compared to captopril, treatment with diazepam or
      alprazolam showed to be effective in lowering BP, with no significant difference
      between the two groups. We therefore suggest that patients with acute elevations
      of BP (measured at home) try an anxiolytic before deciding to go to the ER.
      Patients in which BP lowers with the use of tranquilizers do not need to go to
      the ER. We also suggest using this strategy in patients visiting community
      clinics and ER for the same reason. Our hypothesis is that by using our
      suggestions there will be a significant reduction in the number of unnecessary
      visits to the ER, the use of medication that may produce serious adverse effects,
      and an important health cost reduction, without increasing the risk for patients
      (a 10% reduction of ER visits may save up to 300 million dollars/year in the US
      alone and prevent unnecessary use of medical facilities and manpower). 

PMID- 26880635
TI  - ACAID as a potential therapeutic approach to modulate inflammation in
      neurodegenerative diseases.
AB  - The progressive loss of neurons and inflammation characterizes neurodegenerative
      diseases. Although the etiology, progression and outcome of different
      neurodegenerative diseases are varied, they share chronic inflammation maintained
      largely by central nervous system (CNS)-derived antigens recognized by T cells.
      Inflammation can be beneficial by recruiting immune cells to kill pathogens or to
      clear cell debris resulting from the primary insult. However, chronic
      inflammation exacerbates and perpetuates tissue damage. An increasing number of
      therapies that attempt to modulate neuroinflammation have been developed.
      However, so far none has succeeded in decreasing the secondary damage associated
      with chronic inflammation. A potential strategy to modulate the immune system is
      related to the induction of tolerance to CNS antigens. In this line, it is our
      hypothesis that this could be accomplished by using anterior chamber associated
      immune deviation (ACAID) as a strategy. Thus, we review current knowledge
      regarding some neurodegenerative diseases and the associated immune response that
      causes inflammation. In addition, we discuss further our hypothesis of the
      possible usefulness of ACAID as a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate damage to
      the CNS. 

PMID- 26880636
TI  - Implication of immunokine profiling for cancer staging.
AB  - Tumor may arise from the dysregulation of immune system, which plays pivotal
      roles in counteracting tumor colonization, late-stage tumors, and metastases. In
      the midst of the establishment of cancer in vivo, immune cells are activated to
      release a multitude of immunokines, such as cytokines, and chemokines. Thus,
      since cytokine levels in tumor bearing host would be differential among local
      (intratumoral lesion, peritumoral normal tissue), and systemic sample site
      (serum), these differences might be significantly correlated to prognosis and
      treatment outcome for cancer patients. Previously, despite small number of
      patients, we demonstrated the feasibility of this proposition via only cytokine
      profiling. Based on this, herein we propose that immunokine profiling would be
      used as a surrogate, predictive tool for cancer staging, and progression. 

PMID- 26880637
TI  - Can we find a possible structural explanation for antibody-dependent enhancement
      of dengue virus infection resulting in hemorrhagic fever?
AB  - Dengue virus infection is one of the most prevalent mosquito-borne illnesses
      worldwide, affecting as many as 400 million persons annually. Most people
      experience a self-limited viral illness, but some experience life-threatening
      disease. Subsequent infection with other dengue virus serotypes increases the
      risk of development of severe dengue disease with plasma leakage with or without
      hemorrhage and end organ impairment. Antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue
      virus infection has been implicated in the development of severe dengue disease,
      previously referred to as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. We
      propose a structural explanation for the role of non-neutralizing antibodies in
      the development of antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection via
      complement fixation or binding to Fcgamma receptors facilitating entry into
      target cells. 

PMID- 26880638
TI  - Systemic activation of the immune system in HIV infection: The role of the immune
      complexes (hypothesis).
AB  - Currently, immune activation is proven to be the basis for the HIV infection
      pathogenesis and a strong predictor of the disease progression. Among the causes
      of systemic immune activation the virus and its products, related infectious
      agents, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and regulatory CD4+ T cells' decrease are
      considered. Recently microbial translocation (bacterial products yield into the
      bloodstream as a result of the gastrointestinal tract mucosal barrier integrity
      damage) became the most popular hypothesis. Previously, we have found an
      association between immune complexes present in the bloodstream of HIV infected
      patients and the T cell activation. On this basis, we propose a significantly
      modified hypothesis of immune activation in HIV infection. It is based on the
      immune complexes' participation in the immunocompetent cells' activation. Immune
      complexes are continuously formed in the chronic phase of the infection. Together
      with TLR-ligands (viral antigens, bacterial products coming from the damaged gut)
      present in the bloodstream they interact with macrophages. As a result
      macrophages are transformed into the type II activated forms. These macrophages
      block IL-12 production and start synthesizing IL-10. High level of this cytokine
      slows down the development of the full-scale Th1-response. The anti-viral
      reactions are shifted towards the serogenesis. Newly synthesized antibodies'
      binding to viral antigens leads to continuous formation of the immune complexes
      capable of interacting with antigen-presenting cells. 

PMID- 26880640
TI  - The coordinated action of lecithin:retinol acyltransferase and cellular retinol
      binding proteins for regulation of vitamin A esterification.
AB  - Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin required for many physiological functions. The
      intracellular transport of vitamin A is assisted by proteins called cellular
      retinol-binding proteins (CRBP I/II). The absorption, storage and usage of
      vitamin A are regulated by a protein called lecithin:retinol acyltransferase
      (LRAT), a retinol-related enzyme that transfers an acyl group derived from an sn
      1 position of phosphatidylcholine to retinol. LRAT is a member of the protein
      family which includes HRAS-like tumor suppressors (HRASLS). However, the HRASLS
      proteins never use retinol as an acyl acceptor. The mechanisms underlying the
      different substrate specificities between LRAT and HRASLS proteins are unknown.
      We propose in this report that LRAT physically interacts with CRBP and the LRAT
      CRBP complex represents the binding pockets for both an acyl group and retinol,
      thus assuring the substrate specificity of LRAT. 

PMID- 26880639
TI  - Does plasma membrane lipid composition impact the miRNA-mediated regulation of
      vascular inflammation?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both PUFA and miRNAs are believed to be of importance in vascular
      diseases. On the one hand diverse nutrition societies recommend PUFA consumption
      to dampen inflammatory processes. On the other hand scientists intensify efforts
      to use miRNAs for diagnostics or therapy in context of vascular disorders.
      PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: There might be is a causal link between the
      plasma membrane lipid composition and the miRNA expression of monocytes and
      endothelial cells. PUFA enrichment of cells may affect the type and the amount of
      particular miRNAs produced. In this way dietary fatty acids are supposed to
      impact the miRNA-mediated regulation of vascular inflammatory processes. PROPOSED
      EXPERIMENTAL SETTING TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS: PUFA-supplemented monocytes and
      endothelial cells are analyzed with respect to membrane fatty acid patterns,
      typical markers of vascular inflammation and miRNA expression. Experiments are
      performed both for undifferentiated/unstimulated as well as for
      differentiated/stimulated cells. Verification of identified miRNA targets is
      performed by means of mimics/antagomirs. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS:
      Innovative mechanism of action, which could point the way to a new understanding
      of the PUFA-mediated modulation of cellular signal transduction. If confirmed
      experimentally, it might stimulate vascular inflammation research and immunologic
      lipid science, hence, acting as source of inspiration for future therapeutic
      interventions in vascular diseases.

PMID- 26880642
TI  - Great expectations: Nutritional medicine as a mainstream in clinical psychiatry
      and weighing opportunities against risks.

PMID- 26880641
TI  - Folate deficiency affects histone methylation.
AB  - Formaldehyde is extremely toxic reacting with proteins to crosslinks peptide
      chains. Formaldehyde is a metabolic product in many enzymatic reactions and the
      question of how these enzymes are protected from the formaldehyde that is
      generated has largely remained unanswered. Early experiments from our laboratory
      showed that two liver mitochondrial enzymes, dimethylglycine dehydrogenase
      (DMGDH) and sarcosine dehydrogenase (SDH) catalyze oxidative demethylation
      reactions (sarcosine is a common name for monomethylglycine). The enzymatic
      products of these enzymes were the demethylated substrates and formaldehyde,
      produced from the removed methyl group. Both DMGDH and SDH contain FAD and both
      have tightly bound tetrahydrofolate (THF), a folate coenzyme. THF binds
      reversibly with formaldehyde to form 5,10-methylene-THF. At that time we showed
      that purified DMGDH, with tightly bound THF, reacted with formaldehyde generated
      during the reaction to form 5,10-methylene-THF. This effectively scavenged the
      formaldehyde to protect the enzyme. Recently, post-translational modifications on
      histone tails have been shown to be responsible for epigenetic regulation of gene
      expression. One of these modifications is methylation of lysine residues. The
      first enzyme discovered to accomplish demethylation of these modified histones
      was histone lysine demethylase (LSD1). LSD1 specifically removes methyl groups
      from di- and mono-methylated lysines at position 4 of histone 3. This enzyme
      contained tightly bound FAD and the products of the reaction were the
      demethylated lysine residue and formaldehyde. The mechanism of LSD1 demethylation
      is analogous to the mechanism previously postulated for DMGDH, i.e. oxidation of
      the N-methyl bond to the methylene imine followed by hydrolysis to generate
      formaldehyde. This suggested that THF might also be involved in the LSD1 reaction
      to scavenge the formaldehyde produced. Our hypotheses are that THF is bound to
      native LSD1 by analogy to DMGDH and SDH and that the bound THF serves to protect
      the FAD class of histone demethylases from the destructive effects of
      formaldehyde generation by formation of 5,10-methylene-THF. We present pilot data
      showing that decreased folate in livers as a result of dietary folate deficiency
      is associated with increased levels of methylated lysine 4 of histone 3. This can
      be a result of decreased LSD1 activity resulting from the decreased folate
      available to scavenge the formaldehyde produced at the active site caused by the
      folate deficiency. Because LSD1 can regulate gene expression this suggests that
      folate may play a more important role than simply serving as a carrier of one
      carbon units and be a factor in other diseases associated with low folate. 

PMID- 26880643
TI  - Hematopoietic ontogeny and its relevance for pediatric leukemias.
AB  - Fetal and infant hematopoiesis display characteristics different from the adult
      one: our suggestion is that these features may help to explain the peculiar
      incidence rates of acute leukemias. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are fast
      cycling (those in adults instead are largely quiescent) and studies in mice
      demonstrated that their relative contribution to myelo- and lymphopoiesis varies
      during development. We hypothesize that during development some of the "hits"
      needed for the onset of leukemia are usually occurring (being part of the normal
      development), so leukemogenesis needs less mutations than in adults to take place
      and therefore it's more probable. The switch between the relative incidence of
      acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemias may be related to the changes of the
      percentage of lymphoid-deficient and lymphoid-proficient sub-set of HSCs during
      development. Further investigations may clarify this hypothesis, elucidating also
      the roles of the different microenvironments in determining the myeloid/lymphoid
      predisposition of the HSCs. 

PMID- 26880645
TI  - Nanotrastuzumab in combination with radioimmunotherapy: Can it be a viable
      treatment option for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with brain
      metastasis?
AB  - Brain metastasis of primary breast cancer (BCBM) has been rising during the last
      couple of decades. Approximately 25% of the patients with BCBM have a hormone
      receptor-negative, HER2-positive disease. Given the short life expectancy in
      patients with BCBM, researchers have tried many new approaches, including cesium
      131(131Cs) brachytherapy, radretumab radioimmunotherapy and nanoparticles. Novel
      biological drug delivery techniques have successfully delivered nanobioconjugates
      across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, nanobioconjugates have significant
      toxicities and other drawbacks that prevent therapeutic concentrations of the
      active drug from being delivered to the brain lesions. Radretumab
      radioimmunotherapy combined with nanotrastruzumab can theoretically overcome this
      challenge. Radiotherapy can increase the BBB permeability, which can promote the
      transport and effect of nanotrastuzumab, reduce radretumab radioimmunotherapy
      dose and target patients with HER2-positive BCBM lesions more specifically. In
      this article, we propose that nanotrastuzumab in combination with
      radioimmunotherapy could be a viable treatment option for patients with HER2
      positive breast cancer with brain metastasis. 

PMID- 26880644
TI  - Autism: Will vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood
      reduce the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in the world including the
      vulnerable group of pregnant women. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is
      hypothesized to contribute to the cause of autism. Further, it is hypothesized
      that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood will reduce
      the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings. METHODS: To investigate the
      hypothesis an open label prospective study was performed prescribing vitamin D
      during pregnancy to mothers of children with autism at a dose of 5000IU/day. The
      newborn siblings were at high risk for the recurrence of autism. The newborn
      infants were also prescribed vitamin D, 1000IU/day to their third birthday. The
      newborn siblings were followed for three years and during that time, were
      assessed for autism on two separate occasions: at 18months and 36months of age.
      The results were compared to the reported recurrence rates in siblings of
      autistic children in the literature. RESULTS: The final outcome was 1 out of 19
      (5%) developed autism in contrast to the recurrence rate of approximately 20% in
      the literature. We did not have a control group, nor was there blinding.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results are promising, however, this is a preliminary study with
      very small numbers and was uncontrolled. Further study with larger numbers is
      indicated. The ethics of prescribing a low dosage of vitamin D such as 400IU
      D3/day to a control group of mothers in comparison to a large dose such as 5000IU
      D3/day are problematic in our opinion.

PMID- 26880646
TI  - The cubyl cation rearrangements.
AB  - Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations and high-level ab initio
      computations predict that the cage-opening rearrangement of the cubyl cation to
      the 7H(+)-pentalenyl cation is feasible in the gas phase. The rate-determining
      step is the formation of the cuneyl cation with an activation barrier of 25.3
      kcal mol(-1) at the CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP//MP2/def2-TZVP level. Thus, the cubyl
      cation is kinetically stable enough to be formed and trapped at moderate
      temperatures, but it may be rearranged at higher temperatures. 

PMID- 26880647
TI  - Toxicogenomic analysis of the pulmonary toxic effects of hexanal in F344 rat.
AB  - Hexanal is a major component of indoor air pollutants and is a kind of aldehydes;
      it has adverse effects on human health. We performed an in vivo inhalation study
      and transcriptomic analysis to determine the mode of toxic actions in response to
      hexanal. Fischer 344 rats of both sexes were exposed by inhalation to hexanal
      aerosol for 4 h day-1 , 5 days week-1 for 4 weeks at 0, 600, 1000, and 1500 ppm.
      Throughout our microarray-based genome-wide expression analysis, we identified 56
      differentially expressed genes in three doses of hexanal; among these genes, 11
      genes showed dose-dependent expression patterns (10 downregulated and 1
      upregulated, 1.5-fold, p < 0.05). Through a comparative toxicogenomics database
      (CTD) analysis of 11 genes, we determined that five genes (CCL12, DDIT4, KLF2,
      CEBPD, and ADH6) are linked to diverse disease categories such as cancer,
      respiratory tract disease, and immune system disease. These diseases were
      previously known for being induced by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our data
      demonstrated that the hexanal-induced dose-dependent altered genes could be
      valuable quantitative biomarkers to predict hexanal exposure and to perform
      relative risk assessments, including pulmonary toxicity. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 382-396, 2017.

PMID- 26880648
TI  - Can Cyclen Bind Alkali Metal Azides? A DFT Study as a Precursor to Synthesis.
AB  - Can cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) bind alkali metal azides? This
      question is addressed by studying the geometric and electronic structures of the
      alkali metal azide-cyclen [M(cyclen)N3] complexes using density functional theory
      (DFT). The effects of adding a second cyclen ring to form the sandwich alkali
      metal azide-cyclen [M(cyclen)2N3] complexes are also investigated. N3(-) is found
      to bind to a M(+) (cyclen) template to give both end-on and side-on structures.
      In the end-on structures, the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1)
      bonds to the metal as well as to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring through a
      hydrogen bond in an end-on configuration to the cyclen ring. In the side-on
      structures, the N3 unit is bonded (in a side-on configuration to the cyclen ring)
      to the metal through the terminal nitrogen atom of the azide group (N1), and
      through the other terminal nitrogen atom (N3) of the azide group by a hydrogen
      bond to a hydrogen atom of the cyclen ring. For all the alkali metals, the N3
      side-on structure is lowest in energy. Addition of a second cyclen unit to
      [M(cyclen)N3] to form the sandwich compounds [M(cyclen)2N3] causes the bond
      strength between the metal and the N3 unit to decrease. It is hoped that this
      computational study will be a precursor to the synthesis and experimental study
      of these new macrocyclic compounds; structural parameters and infrared spectra
      were computed, which will assist future experimental work.

PMID- 26880650
TI  - A mindful and unemotional revolution.

PMID- 26880649
TI  - Guideline-Directed Medication Use in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced
      Ejection Fraction in India: American College of Cardiology's PINNACLE India
      Quality Improvement Program.
AB  - Little is known about the use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in
      outpatients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction
      (HFrEF; <=40%) in India. Our objective was to understand the use of GDMT in
      outpatients with HFrEF in India. The Practice Innovation And Clinical Excellence
      (PINNACLE) India Quality Improvement Program (PIQIP) is a registry for
      cardiovascular quality improvement in India supported by the American College of
      Cardiology Foundation. Between January 2008 and September 2014, we evaluated
      documentation of use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
      (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and beta-blockers, or both, among
      outpatients with HFrEF seeking care in 10 centers enrolled in the PIQIP registry.
      Among 75 639 patients in the PIQIP registry, 34 995 had EF reported, and 15 870
      had an EF <=40%. The mean age was 56 years; 23% were female. Hypertension,
      diabetes, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction were present in 37%,
      23%, 27%, and 17%, respectively. Use of ACEIs/ARBs, beta-blockers, and both were
      documented in 33.5%, 34.9%, and 29.6% of patients, respectively. The
      documentation of GDMT was higher in men, in patients age >=65 years, and in those
      with presence of hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease.
      Documentation of GDMT gradually increased over the study period. Among patients
      enrolled in the PIQIP registry, about two-thirds of patients with EF <=40% did
      not have documented receipt of GDMT. This study is an initial step toward
      improving adherence to GDMT in India and highlights the feasibility of examining
      quality of care in HFrEF in a resource-limited setting. 

PMID- 26880651
TI  - Mastering mindfulness for survival in medicine.

PMID- 26880652
TI  - Thomas Chalmers, vitamin C and the common cold.

PMID- 26880653
TI  - A history of the evolution of guidelines for reporting medical research: the long
      road to the EQUATOR Network.

PMID- 26880657
TI  - The impact of obstructive sleep apnea on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in
      patients with severe obesity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among candidates for bariatric
      surgery. OSA and its associated intermittent hypoxia have been implicated in the
      pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic
      steatohepatitis. A large cohort of bariatric surgery patients was studied in an
      effort to explore the relationship between OSA severity, hypoxia, metabolic
      syndrome, and the severity of NAFLD. METHODS: Bariatric surgery candidates who
      underwent both polysomnography and liver biopsy were studied. The severity of OSA
      as determined by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and parameters of hypoxia was
      studied in relation to extent of abnormalities of liver histology as measured by
      the presence of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. RESULTS: The study
      cohort included 362 patients with a mean age of 46.2 years and BMI of 49.9
      kg/m(2) . On the basis of AHI, 26% of the cohort had no OSA, 32% mild OSA, 22%
      moderate OSA, and 20% severe OSA. For the study subjects without metabolic
      syndrome, positive correlations were found between OSA severity, as measured by
      AHI, and parameters of hypoxia, with the severity of NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: OSA
      severity and its accompanying hypoxia are associated with the severity of NAFLD.

PMID- 26880658
TI  - Initial experience of an algorithm-based protocol for the community follow-up of
      men with prostate cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of a novel algorithm-based discharge
      programme for the community follow-up of men with prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Men with prostate cancer considered suitable for discharge were
      identified from consultant-led and clinical nurse-specialist telephone clinics at
      Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Patients were
      discharged on to one of four discharge pathways: watchful waiting, androgen
      deprivation therapy (ADT), post-prostatectomy, and post-radiotherapy. Primary
      care providers were asked to adhere to specific surveillance measures and refer
      patients back to secondary care after breach of pre-defined prostate-specific
      antigen (PSA) level threshold criteria. Reasons for non-compliance, re-referral,
      and cause of death were determined for all discharged men. RESULTS: In all, 573
      men were discharged across all four pathways; 169 on the watchful-waiting
      pathway, 229 on the ADT pathway, 95 on the post-prostatectomy pathway, and 80 on
      the post-radiotherapy pathway. All patients had >=12 months of follow-up. In all,
      48 of 54 (88.9%) men were re-referred promptly after a PSA-threshold breach. Of
      the remaining six patients there were three refusals, one unrelated death before
      referral, and two late referrals at 4 months. Three patients were lost to follow
      up due to database non-registration and were subsequently recalled, none of whom
      had a PSA-threshold breach. There were three unexpected deaths attributed to
      prostate cancer: two were community deaths with no biochemical or clinical
      evidence of prostate cancer progression, while one was due to a likely
      progressive PSA non-secreting tumour. CONCLUSION: Initial results suggest the
      algorithm-based protocol is a viable, effective, and oncologically safe method
      for the controlled discharge of men from secondary to primary care. Longer-term
      follow-up, patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness data are required to
      assess the true impact of the initiative.

PMID- 26880659
TI  - The role of stem cells in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced
      xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer.
AB  - Xerostomia is an important complication following radiotherapy (RT) for head and
      neck cancer. Current treatment approaches are insufficient and can only
      temporarily relieve symptoms. New insights into the physiopathology of radiation
      induced xerostomia might help us in this regard. This review discusses the
      current knowledge of salivary gland stem cells in radiation-induced xerostomia
      and their value in the prevention and treatment of this complication. Salivary
      gland stem cell transplantation, bone marrow-derived cell mobilization, molecular
      regulation of parotid stem cells, stem cell sparing RT, and adaptive RT are
      promising techniques that are discussed in this study.

PMID- 26880661
TI  - Triphos derivatives and diphosphines as ligands in the ruthenium-catalysed
      alcohol amination with NH3.
AB  - The ruthenium-triphos and diphosphine-catalysed amination of alcohols with
      ammonia is reported. Various types of triphos derivatives with electron-donating
      functional group were synthesized and used as ligands in the Ru-catalysed alcohol
      amination with NH3. The triphos derivatives are effective for the formation of
      primary amines. On the other hand, if hemilabile diphosphines as tridentate
      ligands are used, mixtures of secondary-along with primary amines are obtained.
      It was found that even simple diphosphines can be used as ligands for the
      selective formation of the secondary amines. The diphosphine system allows a new
      entry to the Ru-catalysed formation of secondary amines. 

PMID- 26880660
TI  - A needle in the haystack--the dire straits of needle exchange in Hungary.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The two largest needle exchange programs (NEPs) in Hungary were
      forced to close down in the second half of 2014 due to extreme political attacks
      and related lack of government funding. The closures occurred against a
      background of rapid expansion in Hungary of injectable new psychoactive
      substances, which are associated with very frequent injecting episodes and
      syringe sharing. The aim of our analysis was to predict how the overall Hungarian
      NEP syringe supply was affected by the closures. METHODS: We analyzed all
      registry data from all NEPs in Hungary for all years of standardized NEP data
      collection protocols currently in use (2008-2014) concerning 22 949 client
      enrollments, 9,211 new clients, 228,167 client contacts, 3,160,560 distributed
      syringes, and 2,077,676 collected syringes. RESULTS: We found that while the
      combined share of the two now closed NEPs decreased over time, even in their
      partial year 2014 they still distributed and collected about half of all
      syringes, and attended to over half of all clients and client contacts in
      Hungary. The number of distributed syringes per PWID (WHO minimum target = 100)
      was 81 in 2014 in Hungary, but 39 without the two now closed NEPs. CONCLUSIONS:
      There is a high probability that the combination of decreased NEP coverage and
      the increased injection risk of new psychoactive substances may lead in Hungary
      to a public health disaster similar to the HIV outbreaks in Romania and Greece.
      This can be avoided only by an immediate change in the attitude of the Hungarian
      government towards harm reduction.

PMID- 26880662
TI  - Obesity, Dietary Habits, and Sedentary Behaviors Among Adolescents in Sudan:
      Alarming Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases in a Poor Country.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity,
      dietary habits, and sedentary patterns among Sudanese adolescents. METHODS: A
      multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 945 adolescents (507
      males and 438 females) aged 14 to 18 years, from Khartoum State, Sudan. A self
      reported pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Overweight and
      obesity were determined using the International Obesity Task Force standard,
      which is based on body mass index for sex and age. RESULTS: Overweight and
      obesity were growing problems among urban Sudanese adolescents (10.7%). Breakfast
      was commonly consumed on a daily basis by the majority of adolescents (74.2%),
      followed by lunch (63.9%) and supper (33.5%). Snacking was not a common practice
      among these individuals. Vegetables (63.9%) were more frequently consumed (more
      than 3 days per week) than fruit (30.1%). There were significant differences
      between genders regarding intake of vegetables (P < .048), chicken (P < .013),
      dairy products, sweets, nuts, chocolate, and legumes (P < .001 for all).
      Sedentary behaviors (long duration of television viewing and Internet use) were
      highly prevalent, and physical activity was rarely practiced (6.8%). CONCLUSION:
      The findings indicated that risk factors for diet-related chronic diseases such
      as unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behaviors are starting to rise among
      urban adolescents in Sudan. This creates the need for immediate action to prevent
      and control these risk factors before these diseases become major public health
      problems.

PMID- 26880663
TI  - Dairy and Growth, Latest Findings, and Lessons Learned.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low birth weight is a significant risk factor in infant mortality and
      morbidity and the likelihood of chronic and clinical disease in later life.
      OBJECTIVE: To identify reported associations between maternal dietary patterns
      and risk of low birth weight offspring. METHODS: This article reviews some of the
      literature on this subject, with emphasis on maternal intake of dairy products.
      RESULTS: Published data show a positive association between maternal dairy
      product intake and birth weight but are inconclusive with respect to fetal
      length. While data are limited, 2 studies have reported a positive association
      between maternal consumption of milk and yogurt and birth weight, but this
      association is not observed with respect to consumption of cheese. CONCLUSION: If
      correct, by deduction, this observation is suggestive that whey protein may be a
      contributing factor to birth weight. Indirect evidence supporting why this
      observation merits further investigation is presented.

PMID- 26880664
TI  - Protein Quality, Growth, and Malnutrition: Advances in Science and the Role of
      Dairy Ingredients in Food Aid: Introduction.
AB  - This article is the introduction to our formal proceedings of the symposium
      titled "Protein Quality, Growth and Malnutrition: Latest Scientific Findings and
      the Role of Dairy in Food Aid," held during the Experimental Biology 2015 annual
      meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. 

PMID- 26880665
TI  - Efficient MoS2 Exfoliation by Cross-beta-Amyloid Nanotubes for Multistimuli
      Responsive and Biodegradable Aqueous Dispersions.
AB  - Herein, we report the efficient exfoliation of MoS2 in aqueous medium by short
      cationic peptide nanotubes featuring the nucleating core (17) LVFFA(21) of beta
      amyloid (Abeta 1-42), a sequence associated with Alzheimer's disease. The role of
      morphology, length, and nature of the amyloid surface on exfoliation/dispersions
      of MoS2 were investigated through specific mutations of the amyloid sequences.
      Notably, owing to the properties of both the constituents, self-assembled soft
      nanostructures and MoS2 , the hybrid dispersions responded reversibly to various
      stimuli, including temperature, pH, and light. Addition of a protease resulted in
      loss of the dispersions, which are otherwise stable for months at ambient
      conditions. The design flexibility of the peptide sequences, along with the
      stimuli-responsiveness and biodegradability, can complement the applications of
      MoS2 in diverse fields.

PMID- 26880666
TI  - Visible-Light-Promoted Trifluoromethylthiolation of Styrenes by Dual
      Photoredox/Halide Catalysis.
AB  - Herein, we report a new visible-light-promoted strategy to access radical
      trifluoromethylthiolation reactions by combining halide and photoredox catalysis.
      This approach allows for the synthesis of vinyl-SCF3 compounds of relevance in
      pharmaceutical chemistry directly from alkenes under mild conditions with
      irradiation from household light sources. Furthermore, alkyl-SCF3-containing
      cyclic ketone and oxindole derivatives can be accessed by radical-polar crossover
      semi-pinacol and cyclization processes. Inexpensive halide salts play a crucial
      role in activating the trifluoromethylthiolating reagent towards photoredox
      catalysis and aid the formation of the SCF3 radical.

PMID- 26880667
TI  - Non-Radiative Carrier Recombination Enhanced by Two-Level Process: A First
      Principles Study.
AB  - Non-radiative recombination plays an important role in the performance of
      optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as solar cells and light-emitting
      diodes. Most textbook examples assume that the recombination process occurs
      through a single defect level, where one electron and one hole are captured and
      recombined. Based on this simple picture, conventional wisdom is that only defect
      levels near the center of the bandgap can be effective recombination centers.
      Here, we present a new two-level recombination mechanism: first, one type of
      carrier is captured through a defect level forming a metastable state; then the
      local defect configuration rapidly changes to a stable state, where the other
      type of carrier is captured and recombined through another defect level. This
      novel mechanism is applied to the recombination center Te(cd)(2+) in CdTe. We
      show that this two-level process can significantly increase the recombination
      rate (by three orders of magnitude) in agreement with experiments. We expect that
      this two-level recombination process can exist in a wide range of semiconductors,
      so its effect should be carefully examined in characterizing optoelectronic
      materials.

PMID- 26880668
TI  - Extended prediction rule to optimise early detection of heart failure in older
      persons with non-acute shortness of breath: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There is a need for a practical tool to aid general practitioners in
      early detection of heart failure in the elderly with shortness of breath. In this
      study, such a screening rule was developed based on an existing rule for
      detecting heart failure in older persons with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease. The original rule included a history of ischaemic heart
      disease, body mass index, laterally displaced apex beat, heart rate, elevated N
      terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and an abnormal ECG. DESIGN: Cross
      sectional data were used to validate, update and extend the original prediction
      rule according to a standardised state-of-the-art stepwise approach. SETTING:
      Primary care with 30 participating general practices. PARTICIPANTS: Community
      dwelling people aged >= 65 years with shortness of breath on exertion. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: Validation of the existing screening rule in our population showed
      satisfying discrimination with a concordance statistic of 0.84 (range 0.80-0.85),
      but poor calibration. Performance measures were most improved by adding the
      predictors age >75 years, peripheral oedema and systolic murmur, resulting in a
      concordance statistic of 0.88 (range 0.85-0.90) and a net reclassification
      improvement of 31%. A risk score was computed, which showed high accuracy with a
      negative predictive value of 87% and a positive predictive value of 73%.
      Evaluating the improved rule in the derivation set and an independent set of
      patients with type 2 diabetes aged 60 years or older showed satisfying
      generalisability of the rule. CONCLUSIONS: Our rule resulted in excellent
      prediction of heart failure in the large domain of the elderly with shortness of
      breath, and would help general practitioners to select those needing
      echocardiography. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01202006.

PMID- 26880669
TI  - Safety and efficacy of insulin glargine 300 u/mL compared with other basal
      insulin therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a network meta
      analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of a concentrated formulation of
      insulin glargine (Gla-300) with other basal insulin therapies in patients with
      type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN: This was a network meta-analysis (NMA)
      of randomised clinical trials of basal insulin therapy in T2DM identified via a
      systematic literature review of Cochrane library databases, MEDLINE and MEDLINE
      In-Process, EMBASE and PsycINFO. OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in HbA1c (%) and body
      weight, and rates of nocturnal and documented symptomatic hypoglycaemia were
      assessed. RESULTS: 41 studies were included; 25 studies comprised the main
      analysis population: patients on basal insulin-supported oral therapy (BOT).
      Change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was comparable between Gla-300 and detemir
      (difference: -0.08; 95% credible interval (CrI): -0.40 to 0.24), neutral
      protamine Hagedorn (NPH; 0.01; -0.28 to 0.32), degludec (-0.12; -0.42 to 0.20)
      and premixed insulin (0.26; -0.04 to 0.58). Change in body weight was comparable
      between Gla-300 and detemir (0.69; -0.31 to 1.71), NPH (-0.76; -1.75 to 0.21) and
      degludec (-0.63; -1.63 to 0.35), but significantly lower compared with premixed
      insulin (-1.83; -2.85 to -0.75). Gla-300 was associated with a significantly
      lower nocturnal hypoglycaemia rate versus NPH (risk ratio: 0.18; 95% CrI: 0.05 to
      0.55) and premixed insulin (0.36; 0.14 to 0.94); no significant differences were
      noted in Gla-300 versus detemir (0.52; 0.19 to 1.36) and degludec (0.66; 0.28 to
      1.50). Differences in documented symptomatic hypoglycaemia rates of Gla-300
      versus detemir (0.63; 0.19 to 2.00), NPH (0.66; 0.27 to 1.49) and degludec (0.55;
      0.23 to 1.34) were not significant. Extensive sensitivity analyses supported the
      robustness of these findings. CONCLUSIONS: NMA comparisons are useful in the
      absence of direct randomised controlled data. This NMA suggests that Gla-300 is
      also associated with a significantly lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia
      compared with NPH and premixed insulin, with glycaemic control comparable to
      available basal insulin comparators.

PMID- 26880670
TI  - The China Patient-Centred Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (China PEACE)
      Prospective Study of 3-Vessel Disease: rationale and design.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Complex coronary artery disease (left main and three-vessel
      disease) carries high risks of adverse events and cost burden. However, in China,
      little is known about which patients are directed toward which treatment
      strategies and what outcomes are being achieved. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the
      China PEACE (Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events) research
      network, this prospective study of three-Vessel Disease, the China PEACE-3VD
      study, has a plan to consecutively register over 4000 patients with a diagnosis
      of 3VD and/or left-main disease by elective coronary angiography at 24 large
      cardiovascular centres in China. We centrally conducted medical record
      abstraction and SYNTAX Score calculation for all registered patients. The sites
      invited patients to the prospective cohort, and conducted 1-year follow-up on
      major events, including cardiac events, symptoms, secondary prevention and
      quality of life. The estimated entire sample size of eligible patients of 4000
      was determined based on both feasibility and consideration of adequate
      statistical precision for describing the treatment decisions, guidelines
      adherence and appropriateness of treatment for patients with complex coronary
      artery diseases. The study is designed to investigate patient, clinician and
      hospital factors associated with each treatment strategy (percutaneous coronary
      intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting or medical therapy) as well as
      appropriateness of treatment choice, current guideline compliance and patient
      reported outcomes for patients with complex coronary artery disease in large
      cardiovascular centres in China, as a foundation for enhanced knowledge in the
      field and to assist quality improvement initiatives. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:
      The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee at the China National
      Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. Findings will be shared with participating
      hospitals, policymakers and the academic community, to promote quality
      monitoring, quality improvement and the efficient allocation, and use of coronary
      revascularisation procedures in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01625312;
      Pre-results.

PMID- 26880671
TI  - SCALS: a fourth-generation study of assisted living technologies in their
      organisational, social, political and policy context.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Research to date into assisted living technologies broadly consists
      of 3 generations: technical design, experimental trials and qualitative studies
      of the patient experience. We describe a fourth-generation paradigm: studies of
      assisted living technologies in their organisational, social, political and
      policy context. Fourth-generation studies are necessarily organic and emergent;
      they view technology as part of a dynamic, networked and potentially unstable
      system. They use co-design methods to generate and stabilise local solutions,
      taking account of context. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: SCALS (Studies in Co-creating
      Assisted Living Solutions) consists (currently) of 5 organisational case studies,
      each an English health or social care organisation striving to introduce
      technology-supported services to support independent living in people with health
      and/or social care needs. Treating these cases as complex systems, we seek to
      explore interdependencies, emergence and conflict. We employ a co-design approach
      informed by the principles of action research to help participating organisations
      establish, refine and evaluate their service. To that end, we are conducting in
      depth ethnographic studies of people's experience of assisted living technologies
      (micro level), embedded in evolving organisational case studies that use
      interviews, ethnography and document analysis (meso level), and exploring the
      wider national and international context for assisted living technologies and
      policy (macro level). Data will be analysed using a sociotechnical framework
      developed from structuration theory. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Research ethics
      approval for the first 4 case studies has been granted. An important outcome will
      be lessons learned from individual co-design case studies. We will document the
      studies' credibility and rigour, and assess the transferability of findings to
      other settings while also recognising unique aspects of the contexts in which
      they were generated. Academic outputs will include a cross-case analysis and
      progress in theory and method of fourth-generation assisted living technology
      research. We will produce practical guidance for organisations, policymakers,
      designers and service users.

PMID- 26880672
TI  - HIV counselling and testing practices for children seen in an urban emergency
      department of a tertiary referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a
      retrospective cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe the HIV counselling and testing practices for children
      presenting to an emergency department (ED) in a low-income country. SETTING: The
      ED of a large east African national referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: This
      retrospective review of all paediatric (<18 years old) ED visits in 2012 enrolled
      patients who had an HIV test ordered and excluded those without testing. Files
      were available for 5540/5774 (96%) eligible patients and 1632 (30%) were tested
      for HIV, median age 1.3 years (IQR 9 months to 4 years), 58% <18 months old and
      61% male. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was
      documentation of pretest and post-test counselling, or deferral of counselling,
      for children tested for HIV in the ED. Secondary measures included the overall
      rate of HIV testing, rate of counselling documented in the inpatient record when
      deferred in the ED, rate of counselling documented when testing was initiated by
      the inpatient service, rate of counselling documented by test result (positive vs
      negative) and the rate of referral to follow-up HIV care among patients testing
      positive. RESULTS: Of 418 patients tested in the ED, counselling, or deferral of
      counselling, was documented for 70 (17%). When deferred to the ward, subsequent
      counselling was documented for 15/42 (36%). Counselling was documented in 33% of
      patients testing positive versus 1.1% patients testing negative (OR 43 (95% CI 23
      to 83). Of 199 patients who tested positive and survived to hospital discharge,
      76 (38%) were referred for follow-up at the HIV clinic on discharge. CONCLUSIONS:
      Physicians documented the provision, or deferral, of counselling for <20% of
      children tested for HIV in the ED. Counselling was much more likely to be
      documented when the test result was positive. Less than 40% of those testing
      positive were referred for follow-up care.

PMID- 26880674
TI  - On "Implementing the Use of Chemical-Free Products in a Perinatal Unit".

PMID- 26880675
TI  - Potentially harmful secondary metabolites produced by indoor Chaetomium species
      on artificially and naturally contaminated building materials.
AB  - The presence of the fungal genus Chaetomium and its secondary metabolites in
      indoor environments is suspected to have a negative impact on human health and
      well-being. About 200 metabolites have been currently described from Chaetomium
      spp., but only the bioactive compound group, chaetoglobosins, have been screened
      for and thus detected in buildings. In this study, we used a liquid
      chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry approach to screen both
      artificially and naturally infected building materials for all the Chaetomium
      metabolites described in the literature. Pure agar cultures were also
      investigated to establish differences between metabolite production in vitro and
      on building materials as well as in comparison with non-indoor reference strains.
      On building materials, six different chaetoglobosins were detected in total
      concentrations of up to 950 mg/m2 from Chaetomium globosum along with three
      different chaetoviridins/chaetomugilins in concentrations up to 200 mg/m2 .
      Indoor Chaetomium spp. preferred wood-based materials over gypsum, both in terms
      of growth rate and metabolite production. Cochliodones were detected for the
      first time on all building materials infected by both C. globosum and Chaetomium
      elatum and are thus candidates as Chaetomium biomarkers. No sterigmatocystin was
      produced by Chaetomium spp. from indoor environment.

PMID- 26880673
TI  - Copying hierarchical leaders' voices? Acoustic plasticity in female Japanese
      macaques.
AB  - It has been historically claimed that call production in nonhuman primates has
      been shaped by genetic factors, although, recently socially-guided plasticity and
      cortical control during vocal exchanges have been observed. In humans, context
      dependent vocal convergence with relatives, friends or leaders' voices can be
      found. Comparative studies with monkeys and apes presenting tolerant social
      organizations have demonstrated that affiliative bonding is the determining
      factor of convergence. We tested whether vocal copying could also exist in a
      primate species with a despotic social organization. We compared the degree of
      inter-individual similarity of contact calls in two groups of Japanese macaques
      as a function of age, dominance rank, maternal kin and affiliative bonds. We
      found a positive relationship between dyadic acoustic similarity and female rank
      differences. Since most call exchanges were initiated by dominant females and
      since this species is known for the ability of responders to acoustically match
      initiators' calls, we conclude that high social status may motivate vocal
      convergence in this despotic society. Accordingly, intra-individual comparisons
      showed that isolated calls were more stereotyped than exchanged calls, and that
      dominants had more stereotyped voices than subordinates. This opens new lines of
      research with regard to social motivation guiding acoustic plasticity in
      primates. 

PMID- 26880676
TI  - OUTCOMES AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE SINONASAL TUMORS TREATED
      WITH CURATIVE INTENT CONE-BASED STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY (1999-2013).
AB  - Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a relatively new therapeutic option in
      veterinary oncology. The role of this modality has not been extensively evaluated
      for the use in canine nasal tumors. The objective of this retrospective,
      observational study was to describe the clinical outcome and prognostic factors
      associated with survival times in a sample of canine patients treated with SRS
      for sinonasal tumors. Fifty-seven dogs with sinonasal tumors met inclusion
      criteria. Histologic diagnoses included sarcoma (SA) (n = 9), carcinoma (CA) (n =
      40), osteosarcoma (OSA) (n = 7), and round cell (n = 1). Four of 57 cases were
      treated twice with SRS. For these, the median and mean doses delivered were 30Gy
      and 33Gy, respectively (range 18.75Gy-56Gy). Late effects occurred in 23 cases
      and ranged from grades I-III. The median overall survival time was 8.5 months.
      The median overall survival times in dogs with tumor type of CA, SA, and OSA were
      10.4, 10.7, and 3.1 months, respectively. Dogs with the tumor type of OSA had
      shorter overall survival time than that in dogs with tumor type of CA and SA.
      Findings from this retrospective study indicated that SRS may be beneficial for
      canine patients with sinonasal tumors, however a controlled clinical trial would
      be needed to confirm this. Prospective studies are also needed to better define
      the role of SRS as palliative or curative, and to further investigate the risk of
      clinically significant toxicity. 

PMID- 26880677
TI  - Environmental variation alters the fitness effects of rifampicin resistance
      mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - The fitness effects of antibiotic resistance mutations in antibiotic-free
      conditions play a key role in determining the long-term maintenance of
      resistance. Although resistance is usually associated with a cost, the impact of
      environmental variation on the cost of resistance is poorly understood. Here, we
      test the impact of heterogeneity in temperature and resource availability on the
      fitness effects of antibiotic resistance using strains of the pathogenic
      bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa carrying clinically important rifampicin
      resistance mutations. Although the rank order of fitness was generally maintained
      across environments, fitness effects relative to the wild type differed
      significantly. Changes in temperature had a profound impact on the fitness
      effects of resistance, whereas changes in carbon substrate had only a weak
      impact. This suggests that environmental heterogeneity may influence whether the
      costs of resistance are likely to be ameliorated by second-site compensatory
      mutations or by reversion to wild-type rpoB. Our results highlight the need to
      consider environmental heterogeneity and genotype-by-environment interactions for
      fitness in models of resistance evolution. 

PMID- 26880678
TI  - Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 in
      Relation to the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Results From the EPIC-Potsdam
      Study.
AB  - Higher levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) might
      raise the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) via binding of insulin-like
      growth factor 1 (IGF-1), an insulin-like hormone that is involved in glucose
      homeostasis. We investigated serum concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and their
      molar ratio in relation to T2DM incidence in a nested case-cohort study within
      the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam Study.
      We included a randomly selected subcohort of persons without T2DM at the time of
      blood sampling (n = 2,269) and 776 individuals with incident T2DM identified
      between 1994 and 2005. For the highest quartile versus lowest, the multivariable
      adjusted hazard rate ratios were 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68, 1.23;
      P for trend = 0.31) for IGF-1, 1.33 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.76; P for trend = 0.04) for
      IGFBP-3, and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57, 1.03; P for trend = 0.03) for IGF-1:IGFBP-3
      ratio. IGFBP-3 level remained positively associated with T2DM incidence-and the
      ratio of IGF-1 to IGFBP-3 was inversely related with T2DM incidence--in models
      that included adjustment for IGF-1 concentrations (P for trend < 0.05).
      Therefore, our findings do not confirm an association between total IGF-1
      concentrations and risk of T2DM in the general study population, although higher
      IGFBP-3 levels might raise T2DM risk independent of IGF-1 levels.

PMID- 26880679
TI  - A randomized controlled trial of the effect of a photographic display with and
      without music on pre-operative anxiety.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the effectiveness of photographic display at reducing pre
      operative anxiety in an ear, nose and throat surgery unit; alone and in
      combination with music. BACKGROUND: The waiting time prior to the surgery is
      often unpleasant and a time of anxiety for patients. Anxiety can affect physical
      recovery and psychological well-being; lengthening convalescence and hospital
      stay after the surgery. Improving pre-operative anxiety is a challenge with
      potential impacts on improving patients' satisfaction and well-being and
      decreasing the cost of care. DESIGN: A clinical trial was conducted with two
      intervention groups and one control group. METHODS: The sample consisted of 180
      subjects from the otolaryngology major ambulatory surgery unit in a tertiary
      hospital in the province of Granada, with 60 subjects per group. The outcome
      variables measured were state anxiety, heart and respiratory rate and blood
      pressure. The data were collected from May-December 2013. RESULTS: After the
      intervention, in the comparison between control group and photographic display
      group, all variables had lower means in the intervention group, although a
      significant P value was only obtained for respiratory rate using one-way anova
      test. When comparing control group and photographic display combined with music
      group, using one-way anova test, all mean values were lower in the intervention
      group and a significant P value were observed for all variables except diastolic
      blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Photographic display in combination with music is
      more effective at reducing pre-operative anxiety than the standard intervention
      and photographic display alone.

PMID- 26880681
TI  - Controllable Synthesis of Mesoporous Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Assemblies for
      Chemoselective Catalytic Reduction of Nitroarenes.
AB  - Iron(III) oxide is a low-cost material with applications ranging from electronics
      to magnetism, and catalysis. Recent efforts have targeted new nanostructured
      forms of Fe2O3 with high surface area-to-volume ratio and large pore volume.
      Herein, the synthesis of 3D mesoporous networks consisting of 4-5 nm gamma-Fe2O3
      nanoparticles by a polymer-assisted aggregating self-assembly method is reported.
      Iron oxide assemblies obtained from the hybrid networks after heat treatment have
      an open-pore structure with high surface area (up to 167 m(2)g(-1)) and uniform
      pores (ca. 6.3 nm). The constituent iron oxide nanocrystals can undergo
      controllable phase transition from gamma-Fe2O3 to alpha-Fe2O3 and to Fe3O4 under
      different annealing conditions while maintaining the 3D structure and open
      porosity. These new ensemble structures exhibit high catalytic activity and
      stability for the selective reduction of aryl and alkyl nitro compounds to the
      corresponding aryl amines and oximes, even in large-scale synthesis.

PMID- 26880680
TI  - Association between adiposity and cognitive function in young men: Hormonal
      mechanisms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between adiposity, hormones, and
      cognition in young men with abdominal obesity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional
      observational study, 53 nondiabetic men with abdominal obesity (mean body mass
      index, 37.3 kg/m(2) ; age, 22-45 years) and normal intelligence underwent
      detailed measures of body composition, hormonal profiles, and cognition. Age- and
      education-adjusted performance in five cognitive domains was examined. RESULTS:
      Total fat percentage was negatively associated with visuospatial skills (P =
      0.002) and visual memory (P = 0.012). Insulin resistance (homeostatic model
      assessment of insulin resistance) was also negatively associated with these
      domains (P = 0.05 and trend, P = 0.06, respectively). Total testosterone levels
      were negatively associated with executive function and verbal learning and memory
      (P = 0.04 for each), but free testosterone was not. Sex hormone-binding globulin
      (SHBG) was also inversely associated with performance in these domains (P = 0.015
      and trend, P = 0.09, respectively). In a stepwise regression model including
      percentage fat, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, SHBG, and
      free testosterone, SHBG was the only variable selected for executive function (P
      = 0.05) and showed a trend for verbal learning and memory (P = 0.09).
      CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity and insulin resistance were associated with worse function
      in visual domains. An unexpected negative association is reported between SHBG
      and cognitive measures, which seemed to be independent of free testosterone
      levels.

PMID- 26880682
TI  - Differential gene expression patterns during embryonic development of sea urchin
      exposed to triclosan.
AB  - Triclosan (TCS; 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is a broad-spectrum
      antibacterial agent used in common industrial, personal care and household
      products which are eventually rinsed down the drain and discharged with
      wastewater effluent. It is therefore commonly found in the aquatic environment,
      leading to the continual exposure of aquatic organisms to TCS and the
      accumulation of the antimicrobial and its harmful degradation products in their
      bodies. Toxic effects of TCS on reproductive and developmental progression of
      some aquatic organisms have been suggested but the underlying molecular
      mechanisms have not been defined. We investigated the expression patterns of
      genes involved in the early development of TCS-treated sea urchin
      Strongylocentrotus nudus using cDNA microarrays. We observed that the predominant
      consequence of TCS treatment in this model system was the widespread repression
      of TCS-modulated genes. In particular, empty spiracles homeobox 1 (EMX-1), bone
      morphogenic protein, and chromosomal binding protein genes showed a significant
      decrease in expression in response to TCS. These results suggest that TCS can
      induce abnormal development of sea urchin embryos through the concomitant
      suppression of a number of genes that are necessary for embryonic differentiation
      in the blastula stage. Our data provide new insight into the crucial role of
      genes associated with embryonic development in response to TCS. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 426-433, 2017.

PMID- 26880683
TI  - Role of palliative radiotherapy in the management of mural cardiac metastases:
      who, when and how to treat? A case series of 10 patients.
AB  - Cardiac metastases (CM), although a rare manifestation of metastatic cancer, are
      increasing in incidence with the improved prognosis and increased longevity of
      many patients with cancer. This condition may be life-threatening, especially for
      bulky rapidly growing tumors. Such cancer presentations may be amenable to
      palliative radiotherapy to improve symptoms and to prevent further cardiac
      function decline. Here, we report on our experience with 10 patients with mural
      CM who received radiotherapy (RT) to the heart with palliative intent. The
      radiation treatment was given in different clinical situations using different
      dose and fractionation, and with a variety of outcomes. Palliative RT was a
      reasonably effective treatment, leading to good radiographic response in five
      patients who were evaluable for radiologic response. The mean duration of
      response in responding patients was 6.3 months (range: 3-11 months). This report
      describing clinical dilemmas around CM radiation therapy summarizes the previous
      experiences with radiation in treatment of CM and may assist in the
      considerations of palliative treatment for these patients. 

PMID- 26880685
TI  - Superspreading on Immersed Gel Surfaces for the Confined Synthesis of Thin
      Polymer Films.
AB  - Liquid spreading is of significant interest in science and technology. Although
      surface topography engineering and liquid surface-tension regulating can
      facilitate spreading, the spreading layers in these strategies are inevitably
      inhomogeneous or contaminated with surfactants. Herein, we show a general
      strategy to realize the superspreading of liquids on mutually soluble gel
      surfaces. The cooperation of the hydraulic pressure under liquid phase and liquid
      like property of gel surfaces can dramatically eliminate the local pinning effect
      and enhance the advancement of three-phase contact line, thus forming stable and
      homogeneous superspreading liquid layers. Such liquid layers can be converted
      into various functional thin polymer films with controlled thicknesses (nm- to um
      scale) through one-step polymerization of the reactants. Our strategy offers
      opportunities for large-scale synthesis of versatile functional thin films for
      various applications. 

PMID- 26880684
TI  - Midlife work ability and mobility limitation in old age among non-disability and
      disability retirees--a prospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the wellbeing and mobility limitation of older
      disability retirees. Personal and environmental factors, such as time spent in
      working life, may either exacerbate or mitigate the onset of mobility limitation
      in general population. We aimed to study perceived midlife work ability as a
      determinant of self-reported mobility limitation in old age among municipal
      employees who transitioned into non-disability and disability retirement.
      METHODS: 4329 participants of the Finnish Longitudinal Study of Municipal
      Employees (FLAME) had retired during January 1985 and July 2000. They had data on
      retirement, perceived work ability in 1985, and self-reported mobility limitation
      (non-disability retirement n = 2870, men 39%; and diagnose-specific disability
      retirement n = 1459, men 48%). Self-reported mobility was measured in 1985, 1992,
      1997 and 2009. The latest score available was used to assess the number of
      mobility limitation. Work ability was measured by asking the respondents to
      evaluate their current work ability against their lifetime best in 1985.
      Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for work ability
      predicting mobility limitation in non-disability and diagnose-specific disability
      retirement groups were calculated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of mobility limitation for those who transitioned into non-disability
      retirement (Incidence Rate, IR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.44-0.46) was lower compared to
      those who retired due to disability (IR = 0.65, CI = 0.63-0.66). A one-point
      increase in the work ability score decreased the risk for having one more
      mobility limitation among non-disability and all diagnose-specific retirement
      groups (musculoskeletal disease, cardiovascular disease, mental disorder, and
      other diseases). CONCLUSIONS: Better midlife work ability may protect from old
      age mobility limitation among those who retire due to non-disability and
      disability. Promoting work ability in midlife may lead to more independent,
      active aging, regardless of type of retirement.

PMID- 26880686
TI  - Cobalt Sulfide/Graphene Composite Hydrogel as Electrode for High-Performance
      Pseudocapacitors.
AB  - Graphene and its composite hydrogels with interconnected three-dimensional (3D)
      structure have raised continuous attention in energy storage. Herein, we describe
      a simple hydrothermal strategy to synthesize 3D CoS/graphene composite hydrogel
      (CGH), which contains the reduction of GO sheets and anchoring of CoS
      nanoparticles on graphene sheets. The formed special 3D structure endows this
      composite with high electrochemical performance. Remarkably, the obtained 3D CGH
      exhibits high specific capacitance (C(s)) of 564 F g(-1) at a current density of
      1 A g(-1) (about 1.3 times higher than pure CoS), superior rate capability and
      high stability. It is worth mentioning that this methodology is readily adaptable
      to decorating CoS nanoparticles onto graphene sheets and may be extended to the
      preparation of other pseudocapacitive materials based on graphene hydrogels for
      electrochemical applications.

PMID- 26880687
TI  - Watch your step! A frustrated total internal reflection approach to forensic
      footwear imaging.
AB  - Forensic image retrieval and processing are vital tools in the fight against
      crime e.g. during fingerprint capture. However, despite recent advances in
      machine vision technology and image processing techniques (and contrary to the
      claims of popular fiction) forensic image retrieval is still widely being
      performed using outdated practices involving inkpads and paper. Ongoing changes
      in government policy, increasing crime rates and the reduction of forensic
      service budgets increasingly require that evidence be gathered and processed more
      rapidly and efficiently. A consequence of this is that new, low-cost imaging
      technologies are required to simultaneously increase the quality and throughput
      of the processing of evidence. This is particularly true in the burgeoning field
      of forensic footwear analysis, where images of shoe prints are being used to link
      individuals to crime scenes. Here we describe one such approach based upon
      frustrated total internal reflection imaging that can be used to acquire images
      of regions where shoes contact rigid surfaces. 

PMID- 26880688
TI  - Plasma concentration of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) after 100 drop to
      vertical jumps and after a 1200-km bicycle race.
AB  - High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has recently been reported to be involved in
      proinflammation and tissue repair. Therefore, we hypothesized that HMGB1 is
      released into the bloodstream after eccentric exercises or prolonged endurance
      activities. Blood samples from 11 participants that performed 100 drop to
      vertical jumps (DVJ) and from 10 participants that took part in the 1200-km
      'Paris-Brest-Paris' bicycle race (PBP) were tested for HMGB1 and creatine kinase
      (CK) levels. CK increased after both DVJ (pre: 150.6 +/- 81.5 U/L; post: 188.8 +/
      95.5 U/L 8 h: 790.5 +/- 346.4 U/L) and PBP (pre: 81.3 +/- 36.4 U/L; post: 725.2
      +/- 229.5 U/L; 12 h: 535.8 +/- 188.6 U/L), indicating membrane damage. However,
      HMGB1 plasma levels remained below the detection limit (78 pg/mL) of the applied
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for all blood samples analysed. That is,
      neither high intensity eccentric exercises (DVJ) nor prolonged endurance events
      (PBP) seemed to affect HMGB1 levels in blood at selected time points. 

PMID- 26880690
TI  - Does the morphology of the ear of the Chinese bamboo rat (Rhizomys sinensis) show
      "Subterranean" characteristics?
AB  - In spite of the growing interest in rodents with subterranean activity in general
      and the spalacids (Spalacidae) in particular, little is known about the biology
      of most members of this clade, such as the Chinese bamboo rat (Rhizomys
      sinensis). Here, we analyzed the ear morphology of R. sinensis with respect to
      hearing specialization for subterranean or aboveground modes of communication. It
      is well-known that ecology and style of life of a particular species can be
      reflected in morphology of its ear, its hearing and vocalization, so we expect
      that such information could provide us insight into its style of life and its
      sensory environment. The ratio between the eardrum and stapedial footplate areas,
      which influences the efficiency of middle ear sound transmission, suggests low
      hearing sensitivity, as is typical for subterranean species. The cochlea had 3.25
      coils and resembled species with good low frequency hearing typical for
      subterranean mammals. The length of the basilar membrane was 18.9 +/- 0.8 mm and
      its width slowly increased towards the cochlear apex from 60 to 85 MUm. The mean
      density of outer hair cells was 344 +/- 22 and of inner hair cells 114 +/- 7.3
      per 1 mm length of the organ of Corti, and increased apically. These values
      (except for relatively low hair cell density) usually characterize ears
      specialized for low frequency hearing. There was no evidence for an acoustic
      fovea. Apart of low hair cell density which is common in aboveground animals,
      this species has also relatively large auricles, suggesting the importance of
      sound localization during surface activity. The ear of the Chinese bamboo rat
      thus contains features typical for both aboveground and subterranean mammals and
      suggests that this spalacid has fossorial habits combined with regular
      aboveground activity.

PMID- 26880691
TI  - Transgenerational transmission of systemic mast cell activation disease-genetic
      and epigenetic features.
AB  - Systemic mast cell activation disease (MCAD) comprises disorders characterized by
      an enhanced release of mast cell mediators accompanied by a varying accumulation
      of dysfunctional mast cells. Within the last years, evidence has been presented
      that MCAD is a multifactorial polygenic determined disease with the KIT(D816V)
      mutation and its induced functional consequences considered as special case. The
      respective genes encode proteins for various signaling pathways, epigenetic
      regulators, the RNA splicing machinery, and transcription factors.
      Transgenerational transmission of MCAD appears to be quite common. The basics of
      the molecular mechanisms underlying predisposition of the disease, that is,
      somatic and germline mutations and the contribution of epigenetic processes have
      become identifiable. The aim of the present review is to present and discuss
      available genetic, epigenetic and epidemiological findings, and to present a
      model of MCAD pathogenesis.

PMID- 26880689
TI  - Dynamic functional network connectivity reveals unique and overlapping profiles
      of insula subdivisions.
AB  - The human insular cortex consists of functionally diverse subdivisions that
      engage during tasks ranging from interoception to cognitive control. The
      multiplicity of functions subserved by insular subdivisions calls for a nuanced
      investigation of their functional connectivity profiles. Four insula subdivisions
      (dorsal anterior, dAI; ventral, VI; posterior, PI; middle, MI) derived using a
      data-driven approach were subjected to static- and dynamic functional network
      connectivity (s-FNC and d-FNC) analyses. Static-FNC analyses replicated previous
      work demonstrating a cognition-emotion-interoception division of the insula,
      where the dAI is functionally connected to frontal areas, the VI to limbic areas,
      and the PI and MI to sensorimotor areas. Dynamic-FNC analyses consisted of k
      means clustering of sliding windows to identify variable insula connectivity
      states. The d-FNC analysis revealed that the most frequently occurring dynamic
      state mirrored the cognition-emotion-interoception division observed from the s
      FNC analysis, with less frequently occurring states showing overlapping and
      unique subdivision connectivity profiles. In two of the states, all subdivisions
      exhibited largely overlapping profiles, consisting of subcortical, sensory,
      motor, and frontal connections. Two other states showed the dAI exhibited a
      unique connectivity profile compared with other insula subdivisions.
      Additionally, the dAI exhibited the most variable functional connections across
      the s-FNC and d-FNC analyses, and was the only subdivision to exhibit dynamic
      functional connections with regions of the default mode network. These results
      highlight how a d-FNC approach can capture functional dynamics masked by s-FNC
      approaches, and reveal dynamic functional connections enabling the functional
      flexibility of the insula across time. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1770-1787, 2016. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26880692
TI  - Expanding the Scope of ENCODE.
AB  - The National Human Genome Research Institute has earmarked up to $38 million in
      grant funding for five new initiatives aimed at expanding ENCODE, its database of
      functional elements in human and mouse genomes. For the first time, grantees will
      focus on diseased tissue samples in an effort to understand how these functional
      elements influence the development of cancer and other diseases. 

PMID- 26880693
TI  - Obesity and emotional well-being in adolescents: Roles of body dissatisfaction,
      loss of control eating, and self-rated health.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Weak or inconsistent association between obesity and impairment in
      emotional well-being in population-based samples has led to efforts to identify
      mediating variables. This study examined the relative importance of body
      dissatisfaction (BD), loss of control (LOC) eating, and self-rated health (SRH)
      in mediating the association between obesity and impairment in emotional well
      being in a school-based sample of adolescents (boys, n = 437; girls, n = 950).
      METHODS: Moderated mediation analysis was employed to assess the relative
      importance of the putative mediating variables and moderation of mediation
      effects by sex following the methods suggested by Hayes and coworkers. RESULTS:
      BD and SRH, but not LOC eating, were found to mediate the association between
      obesity and impairment in emotional well-being. Stronger mediation effects were
      observed for BD than for SRH. None of these results was moderated by sex.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that it may be important to target BD in
      obesity prevention and treatment programs in order to reduce the adverse impact
      of excess body weight on young people's emotional well-being.

PMID- 26880694
TI  - A randomised, controlled trial of the effects of a mobile telehealth intervention
      on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in people with poorly controlled
      diabetes.
AB  - Objective The objective of this research is to determine the effects of mobile
      telehealth (MTH) on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and other clinical and
      patient-reported outcomes in insulin-requiring people with diabetes. Methods A
      nine-month randomised, controlled trial compared standard care to standard care
      supplemented with MTH (self-monitoring, mobile-phone data transmissions,
      graphical and nurse-initiated feedback, and educational calls). Clinical (HbA1c,
      blood pressure, daily insulin dose, diabetes outpatient appointments (DOAs)) and
      questionnaire data (health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety) were
      collected. Mean group changes over time were compared using hierarchical linear
      models and Mann-Whitney tests. Results Eighty-one participants with a baseline
      HbA1c of 8.98% +/- 1.82 were randomised to the intervention ( n = 45) and
      standard care ( n = 36). The Group by Time effect revealed MTH did not
      significantly influence HbA1c ( p = 0.228), but p values were borderline
      significant for blood pressure ( p = 0.054) and mental-health related quality of
      life ( p = 0.057). Examination of effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals for
      mean group differences at nine months supported the existence of a protective
      effect of MTH on mental health-related quality of life as well as depression.
      None of the other measured outcomes were found to be affected by the MTH
      intervention. Conclusions Findings from this study must be interpreted with
      caution given the small sample size, but they do not support the widespread
      adoption of MTH to achieve clinically significant changes in HbA1c. MTH may,
      however, have positive effects on blood pressure and protective effects on some
      aspects of mental health.

PMID- 26880695
TI  - Do weight management interventions delivered by online social networks
      effectively improve body weight, body composition, and chronic disease risk
      factors? A systematic review.
AB  - Introduction Currently, no systematic review/meta-analysis has examined studies
      that used online social networks (OSN) as a primary intervention platform.
      Therefore, the purpose of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of weight
      management interventions delivered through OSN. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO,
      Web of Science, and Scopus were searched (January 1990-November 2015) for studies
      with data on the effect of OSNs on weight loss. Only primary source articles that
      utilized OSN as the main platform for delivery of weight management/healthy
      lifestyle interventions, were published in English language peer-reviewed
      journals, and reported outcome data on weight were eligible for inclusion in this
      systematic review. Five articles were included in this review. Results One
      hundred percent of the studies ( n = 5) reported a reduction in baseline weight.
      Three of the five studies (60%) reported significant decreases in body weight
      when OSN was paired with health educator support. Only one study reported a
      clinical significant weight loss of >=5%. Conclusion Using OSN for weight
      management is in its early stages of development and, while these few studies
      show promise, more research is needed to acquire information about optimizing
      these interventions to increase their efficacy.

PMID- 26880696
TI  - Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Europium(III) DO3A as
      a Bimodal Imaging Probe.
AB  - A new prototype consisting of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)
      nanoparticles decorated with europium(III) ions encapsulated in a DO3A organic
      scaffold was designed as a platform for further development of bimodal contrast
      agents for MRI and optical imaging. The USPIO nanoparticles act as negative MRI
      contrast agents, whereas the europium(III) ion is a luminophore that is suitable
      for use in optical imaging detection. The functionalized USPIO nanoparticles were
      characterized by TEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and TXRF analysis, and a full investigation
      of the relaxometric and optical properties was conducted. The typical
      luminescence emission of europium(III) was observed and the main red emission
      wavelength was found at 614 nm. The relaxometric study of these ultrasmall
      nanoparticles showed r2 values of 114.8 mM(-1) Fes(-1) at 60 MHz, which is nearly
      double the r2 relaxivity of Sinerem((r)).

PMID- 26880697
TI  - Immunotherapy for Gastric Cancer: A Focus on Immune Checkpoints.
AB  - Gastric cancer (GC) is a major world-wide health problem. It is the third leading
      cause of death from cancer. The treatment of advanced GC by chemotherapy has
      limited efficacy. The addition of some targeted therapies like trastuzumab and
      ramucirumab have added a modest benefit, but only in human epidermal growth
      factor receptor 2 (ERBB2 or HER2)-positive patients and in the second-line
      setting, respectively. The development of new and effective therapeutic
      strategies must consider the genetic complexity and heterogeneity of GC;
      prognostic and predictive biomarkers should be identified for clinical
      implementation. Immune deregulation has been associated with some GC subtypes,
      especially those that are associated with virus infection and those with a high
      mutational rate. Different mechanisms to prevent immunologic escape have been
      characterized during the last years; in particular the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
      pembrolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab and atezolizumab have shown early sign of
      efficacy. Therefore, immunotherapeutic strategies may provide new opportunities
      for GC patients. This review will discuss (1) the main characteristics of GC
      treatment, (2) the immune response in GC, and (3) the current status of immune
      related strategies in clinical development in GC patients, focusing on immune
      checkpoints therapies.

PMID- 26880698
TI  - Effects of lipopolysaccharide, multiwalled carbon nantoubes, and the combination
      on lung alveolar epithelial cells.
AB  - Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been shown to induce lung fibrosis in
      animal models, however the underlying molecular factors/mechanisms are still
      unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS),
      MWCNT, and the combination of LPS and MWCNT on the expression of matrix
      metalloproteinase-9 and metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-9, MMP-12), collagen 3A1
      (Col3A1), and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) in alveolar epithelial
      A549 cells. MMPs are proteinases that degrade extracellular matrix and play a
      role in lung fibrosis. A549 cells were exposed to LPS (1 ng/mL), MWCNT (20
      MUg/mL), and the combination and analyzed for paracellular permeability, TGFbeta,
      Col3A1, MMP-9, MMP-12, NF-kappaB activation, and cell migration by real-time PCR
      and immunofluorescence. LPS, the combination of LPS and MWCNT, and MWCNT only at
      the highest tested dose induced blue dextran extravasation. LPS and MWCNT
      increased the expression of TGFbeta and its downstream target gene Col3A, and MMP
      9 and MMP-12 mRNA. MWCNT potently induced cell migration toward wound healing,
      whereas LPS slightly induced cell migration. Both, LPS and MWCNT, induced NF
      kappaB nuclear translocation. Our results indicate that MWCNT activated alveolar
      epithelial cells to promote fibrogenesis, and that LPS differentially primes
      molecular factors involved in lung remodeling. These findings suggest a role of
      alveolar epithelial cells in fibrogenesis and also may aid in the design and
      development of tests for screening of fibrogenic agents. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 445-455, 2017.

PMID- 26880700
TI  - A jumping shape memory alloy under heat.
AB  - Shape memory alloys are typical temperature-sensitive metallic functional
      materials due to superelasticity and shape recovery characteristics. The
      conventional shape memory effect involves the formation and deformation of
      thermally induced martensite and its reverse transformation. The shape recovery
      process usually takes place over a temperature range, showing relatively low
      temperature-sensitivity. Here we report novel Cu-Al-Fe-Mn shape memory alloys.
      Their stress-strain and shape recovery behaviors are clearly different from the
      conventional shape memory alloys. In this study, although the Cu-12.2Al-4.3Fe
      6.6Mn and Cu-12.9Al-3.8Fe-5.6Mn alloys possess predominantly L2(1) parent before
      deformation, the 2H martensite stress-induced from L2(1) parent could be retained
      after unloading. Furthermore, their shape recovery response is extremely
      temperature-sensitive, in which a giant residual strain of about 9% recovers
      instantly and completely during heating. At the same time, the phenomenon of the
      jumping of the sample occurs. It is originated from the instantaneous completion
      of the reverse transformation of the stabilized 2H martensite. This novel Cu-Al
      Fe-Mn shape memory alloys have great potentials as new temperature-sensitive
      functional materials.

PMID- 26880699
TI  - A novel approach to predict cetuximab-induced hypersensitivity reaction:
      detection of drug-specific IgE on basophils.
AB  - Cetuximab is remarkable for the relatively high rate and severity of
      hypersensitivity reactions (HR) being reported in the literature. Screening for
      cetuximab-specific IgE in serum via immunoassay has been found to be useful in
      preventing HR; however, these tests are known to have a low positive predictive
      rate. In an attempt to remedy this, we evaluated the interaction between
      cetuximab and IgE on basophils for predicting severe cetuximab-induced HR. Twelve
      head and neck cancer patients were enrolled in this single-institution study:
      four with a history of cetuximab-induced HR and eight with no such history.
      Cetuximab-specific and galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) specific IgEs in
      serum were measured in vitro using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
      IgE-cetuximab binding on basophils was also analyzed to evaluate the decrease in
      cetuximab molecules on basophils after dissociation of IgE from FcepsilonRI. The
      positive predictive value associated with the presence of cetuximab- or alpha-gal
      specific IgE in serum was found to be only 0.67, whereas the negative predictive
      value was 1.00. On the other hand, in all four patients who developed HR, the
      cetuximab molecules on basophils were decreased significantly due to the
      dissociation of IgE from basophils (P < 0.05). However, this was not the case in
      patients who did not develop HR. In conclusion, our results strongly imply that
      the IgE-cetuximab interaction on basophils may be key to developing improved
      methods for predicting severe cetuximab-induced HR.

PMID- 26880701
TI  - Genetic analysis of arsenic accumulation in maize using QTL mapping.
AB  - Arsenic (As) is a toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in crops and poses a
      threat to human health. The genetic mechanism of As accumulation is unclear.
      Herein, we used quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to unravel the genetic
      basis of As accumulation in a maize recombinant inbred line population derived
      from the Chinese crossbred variety Yuyu22. The kernels had the lowest As content
      among the different maize tissues, followed by the axes, stems, bracts and
      leaves. Fourteen QTLs were identified at each location. Some of these QTLs were
      identified in different environments and were also detected by joint analysis.
      Compared with the B73 RefGen v2 reference genome, the distributions and effects
      of some QTLs were closely linked to those of QTLs detected in a previous study;
      the QTLs were likely in strong linkage disequilibrium. Our findings could be used
      to help maintain maize production to satisfy the demand for edible corn and to
      decrease the As content in As-contaminated soil through the selection and
      breeding of As pollution-safe cultivars. 

PMID- 26880703
TI  - Healthcare leadership and the ethics of managing expectations of caregivers and
      patients.
AB  - Healthcare providers and patients are often disappointed by the level of care
      public hospitals can deliver. The remedy is to lower expectations. Providers
      should be brought to see their obligations as only to give the best care
      resources allow. The public should be clearly told what care hospitals can and
      cannot provide and involved in decision-making. Healthcare leaders can play
      innovative roles in both these remedies. 

PMID- 26880702
TI  - Degradation of Akt using protein-catalyzed capture agents.
AB  - Abnormal signaling of the protein kinase Akt has been shown to contribute to
      human diseases such as diabetes and cancer, but Akt has proven to be a
      challenging target for drugging. Using iterative in situ click chemistry, we
      recently developed multiple protein-catalyzed capture (PCC) agents that
      allosterically modulate Akt enzymatic activity in a protein-based assay. Here, we
      utilize similar PCCs to exploit endogenous protein degradation pathways. We use
      the modularity of the anti-Akt PCCs to prepare proteolysis targeting chimeric
      molecules that are shown to promote the rapid degradation of Akt in live cancer
      cells. These novel proteolysis targeting chimeric molecules demonstrate that the
      epitope targeting selectivity of PCCs can be coupled with non-traditional
      drugging moieties to inhibit challenging targets.

PMID- 26880704
TI  - Health sector changes must reach further.
AB  - Change management is relevant for healthcare leaders at all levels. This article
      offers a literature review and pulls from the author's own experience to
      emphasize the importance of transformative, sustainable change. Leaders are
      reminded that change comes from within, draws from all levels of the
      organization, and must be pervasive throughout a project. 

PMID- 26880705
TI  - Gamma scintigraphy and biodistribution of (99m)Tc-cefotaxime sodium in
      preclinical models of bacterial infection and sterile inflammation.
AB  - (99m)Tc-cefotaxime sodium ((99m)Tc-CEF) was developed and standardized under
      varying conditions of reducing and antioxidant agent concentration, pH,
      radioactivity dose, and reducing agent type. Labeling studies were performed by
      changing the selected parameters one by one, and optimum labeling conditions were
      determined. After observing the conditions for maximum labeling efficiency and
      stability, lyophilized freeze dry kits were prepared accordingly. Simple method
      for radiolabeling of CEF with (99m)Tc has been developed and standardized.
      Labeling efficiency of (99m)Tc-CEF was assessed by both radio thin-layer
      chromatography and radio high-performance liquid chromatography and found higher
      than 90%. The labeled compound was found to be stable in saline and human serum
      up to 24 h. Two different freeze dry kits were developed and evaluated. Based on
      the data obtained from this study, both products were stable for 6 months with
      high labeling efficiency. The prepared cold kit was found sterile and pyrogen
      free. The bacterial infection and sterile inflammation imaging capacity of
      (99m)Tc-CEF was evaluated. Based on the in vivo studies, (99m)Tc-CEF has higher
      uptake in infected and inflamed thigh muscle than healthy thigh muscle.

PMID- 26880706
TI  - Rotary orbital suspension culture of embryonic stem cell-derived neural
      stem/progenitor cells: impact of hydrodynamic culture on aggregate yield,
      morphology and cell phenotype.
AB  - Embryonic stem (ES)-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (ES-NSPCs) constitute a
      promising cell source for application in cell therapies for the treatment of
      central nervous system disorders. In this study, a rotary orbital hydrodynamic
      culture system was applied to single-cell suspensions of ES-NSPCs, to obtain
      homogeneously-sized ES-NSPC cellular aggregates (neurospheres). Hydrodynamic
      culture allowed the formation of ES-NSPC neurospheres with a narrower size
      distribution than statically cultured neurospheres, increasing orbital speeds
      leading to smaller-sized neurospheres and higher neurosphere yield. Neurospheres
      formed under hydrodynamic conditions (72 h at 55 rpm) showed higher cell
      compaction and comparable percentages of viable, dead, apoptotic and
      proliferative cells. Further characterization of cellular aggregates provided new
      insights into the effect of hydrodynamic shear on ES-NSPC behaviour. Rotary
      neurospheres exhibited reduced protein levels of N-cadherin and beta-catenin, and
      higher deposition of laminin (without impacting fibronectin deposition), matrix
      metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and percentage of neuronal cells. In line
      with the increased MMP-2 activity levels found, hydrodynamically-cultured
      neurospheres showed higher outward migration on laminin. Moreover, when cultured
      in a 3D fibrin hydrogel, rotary neurospheres generated an increased percentage of
      neuronal cells. In conclusion, the application of a constant orbital speed to
      single-cell suspensions of ES-NSPCs, besides allowing the formation of
      homogeneously-sized neurospheres, promoted ES-NSPC differentiation and outward
      migration, possibly by influencing the expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules
      and the secretion of proteases/extracellular matrix proteins. These findings are
      important when establishing the culture conditions needed to obtain uniformly
      sized ES-NSPC aggregates, either for use in regenerative therapies or in in vitro
      platforms for biomaterial development or pharmacological screening. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26880707
TI  - Advance care planning in an acute care world.

PMID- 26880709
TI  - Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and insulin resistance: a meta
      analysis.

PMID- 26880710
TI  - Thorax at 70.

PMID- 26880708
TI  - Is there a progression-free survival benefit of first-line crizotinib versus
      standard chemotherapy and second-line crizotinib in ALK-positive advanced lung
      adenocarcinoma? A retrospective study of Chinese patients.
AB  - Although crizotinib has demonstrated promising efficacy and acceptable toxicity
      in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the available
      evidence in Chinese populations is currently limited. This study compared the
      progression-free survival (PFS) of Chinese patients with anaplastic lymphoma
      kinase (ALK)-positive, advanced lung adenocarcinoma who received first-line
      crizotinib therapy with that of patients who received first-line standard
      chemotherapy, and also the PFS benefit of first-line versus second-line
      crizotinib treatment. Data on 80 patients with ALK-positive, advanced lung
      adenocarcinoma who received crizotinib or standard chemotherapy as first-line
      treatments between June 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively collected; 26
      of the patients received crizotinib as second-line therapy after progressive
      disease (PD) occurred on first-line chemotherapy. Tumor responses were assessed
      using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1. The
      median PFS was 13.3 months (95% CI: 6.5-20.0 months) in patients who received
      first-line crizotinib as compared with 5.4 months (95% CI: 4.4-6.5 months) in
      patients who received first-line standard chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio for
      progression or death with crizotinib, 0.20; 95% CI: 0.11-0.36; P < 0.001). In
      patients who received second-line crizotinib therapy, the median PFS was 9.9
      months (95% CI: 6.4-13.4 months). The difference between first-line and second
      line crizotinib treatment was not statistically significant (adjusted hazard
      ratio for progression, 0.56; 95% CI: 0.29-1.11; P = 0.092). Thus, there was a
      significant PFS benefit of first-line crizotinib versus first-line standard
      chemotherapy in Chinese patients with ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma.
      Additionally, crizotinib showed promising efficacy in patients who received it as
      second-line therapy after PD had occurred on first-line chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26880712
TI  - Reversible Morphological Evolution of Responsive Giant Vesicles to Nanospheres by
      the Self-Assembly of Crystalline-b-Coil Polyphosphazene Block Copolymers.
AB  - The preparation of long-term-stable giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs, diameter >=
      1000 nm) and large vesicles (diameter >= 500 nm) by self-assembly in THF of the
      crystalline-b-coil polyphosphazene block copolymers [N=P(OCH2CF3)2 ]n-b
      [N=PMePh]m (4 a: n=30, m=20; 4 b: n=90, m=20; 4 c: n=200, m=85), which combine
      crystalline [N=P(OCH2CF3)2] and amorphous [N=PMePh] blocks, both of which are
      flexible, is reported. SEM, TEM, and wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments
      demonstrated that the stability of these GUVs is induced by crystallization of
      the [N=P(OCH2CF3)2] blocks at the capsule wall of the GUVS, with the [N=PMePh]
      blocks at the corona. Higher degrees of crystallinity of the capsule wall are
      found in the bigger vesicles, which suggests that the crystallinity of the
      [N=P(OCH2CF3)2] block facilitates the formation of large vesicles. The GUVs are
      responsive to strong acids (HOTf) and, after selective protonation of the
      [N=PMePh] block, they undergo a morphological evolution to smaller spherical
      micelles in which the core and corona roles have been inverted. This
      morphological evolution is totally reversible by neutralization with a base
      (NEt3), which regenerates the original GUVs. The monitoring of this process by
      dynamic light scattering allowed a mechanism to to be proposed for this
      reversible morphological evolution in which the block copolymer 4 a and its
      protonated form 4 a(+) are intermediates. This opens a route to the design of
      reversibly responsive polymeric systems in organic solvents. This is the first
      reversibly responsive vesicle system to operate in organic media.

PMID- 26880713
TI  - Intramolecular charge transfer in aminobenzonitriles and tetrafluoro
      counterparts: fluorescence explained by competition between low-lying excited
      states and radiationless deactivation. Part I: A mechanistic overview of the
      parent system ABN.
AB  - Recent theoretical and experimental studies on the Intramolecular Charge Transfer
      (ICT) reaction of some members of the aminobezonitrile family (ABN) suggest the
      involvement of a (pi-sigma*) excited state (called ICT(CN) in this work) in the
      ICT process and the existence of a partially twisted ICT species that could be
      responsible for the anomalous fluorescence observed. These suggestions made us to
      revise our previous study on the photophysics of ABN and dimethyl-ABN (DMABN),
      based on the analysis of the potential energy surfaces of the low-lying excited
      states by means of ab initio calculations, using the CASSCF/CASPT2 protocol. We
      have first focused our attention to ABN. We have found that the (pi-sigma*)
      excited state can be in fact an intermediary state in the path to populate the
      ICT bright state, although its involvement in the process is not very probable.
      Our results suggest that the ICT most stable species is the twisted ICT(TICT) and
      that the partially twisted ICT minimum found in previous studies could be an
      artefact of the computational method. We have also found that radiationless
      deactivation is a competitive reaction that must be taken into account to explain
      the fluorescence patterns of these systems. To confirm our theories, we have also
      studied other systems with a similar architecture but with a very different
      luminescence behaviour: dimethyl-ABN, and the 2,3,4,5-tetrafluoro derivatives of
      ABN and DMABN (ABN-4F and DMABN-4F). The extension of the work and the different
      approaches in the study of the parent system and of the derivatives make the
      division of the work in two parts advisable. Part I collects the characterization
      of the minima and reaction paths connecting the critical points of the potential
      energy surfaces of the states involved in the ICT reaction of ABN. We have
      obtained, for the first time, the pathways of radiationless deactivation for this
      compound. We have also computed transition energies from the excited minima, to
      interpret the excited state absorption (ESA) spectra obtained experimentally.
      This information helps in the elucidation of the mechanism of ICT. In Part II we
      show an analoguous study for DMABN and ABN-4F and DMABN-4F and analyse and
      compare these results and those of Part I to explain different luminescence
      behaviours of the four systems studied. 

PMID- 26880714
TI  - Guillain-Barre syndrome in the elderly.
AB  - The aim of the study was to analyze specific features of Guillain-Barre syndrome
      (GBS) in old people. The study included 403 GBS patients (62% young [<60 years],
      35% young-old [60-80 years], and 3% old-old [>80 years]). Diagnosis of GBS was
      made according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
      (NINDS criteria). Severe disability (GBS disability score of >3) at nadir was
      more common in old compared with young patients (p = 0.0001) as was mortality (9%
      vs. 2%, respectively). Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy and hyponatremia
      were more common in old compared with young patients (12% vs. 6% and 27% vs. 18%,
      respectively, p = 0.04). A positive history for malignancy was more than three
      times more common in old than young patients (11% vs. 3%, respectively, p =
      0.01). Disability on nadir was similar in young-old and old-old subjects with
      disability on discharge being more severe in old-old (p = 0.04) suggesting slower
      recovery in this subgroup. Bulbar symptoms were more common in old-old compared
      with young-old (50% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.01). Comorbidities were present
      in virtually all old-old patients compared with 66% of young-old patients (p =
      0.04). In conclusion, Elderly patients, and especially old-old patients, with GBS
      have more severe disease with slower recovery than do younger patients.

PMID- 26880716
TI  - Measuring Associations of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Suicide Prevention
      Campaign on the Use of Crisis Support Services.
AB  - Campaigns have become popular in public health approaches to suicide prevention;
      however, limited empirical investigation of their impact on behavior has been
      conducted. To address this gap, utilization patterns of crisis support services
      associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Crisis Line (VCL)
      suicide prevention campaign were examined. Daily call data for the National
      Suicide Prevention Lifeline, VCL, and 1-800-SUICIDE were modeled using a novel
      semi-varying coefficient method. Analyses reveal significant increases in call
      volume to both targeted and broad resources during the campaign. Findings
      underscore the need for further research to refine measurement of the effects of
      these suicide prevention efforts.

PMID- 26880715
TI  - Mutant KRAS Conversion of Conventional T Cells into Regulatory T Cells.
AB  - Constitutive activation of the KRAS oncogene in human malignancies is associated
      with aggressive tumor growth and poor prognosis. Similar to other oncogenes, KRAS
      acts in a cell-intrinsic manner to affect tumor growth or survival. However, we
      describe here a different, cell-extrinsic mechanism through which mutant KRAS
      contributes to tumor development. Tumor cells carrying mutated KRAS induced
      highly suppressive T cells, and silencing KRAS reversed this effect.
      Overexpression of the mutant KRAS(G12V)gene in wild-type KRAS tumor cells led to
      regulatory T-cell (Treg) induction. We also demonstrate that mutant KRAS induces
      the secretion of IL10 and transforming growth factor-beta1 (both required for
      Treg induction) by tumor cells through the activation of the MEK-ERK-AP1 pathway.
      Finally, we report that inhibition of KRAS reduces the infiltration of Tregs in
      KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis even before tumor formation. This cell-extrinsic
      mechanism allows tumor cells harboring a mutant KRAS oncogene to escape immune
      recognition. Thus, an oncogene can promote tumor progression independent of its
      transforming activity by increasing the number and function of Tregs. This has a
      significant clinical potential, in which targeting KRAS and its downstream
      signaling pathways could be used as powerful immune modulators in cancer
      immunotherapy.

PMID- 26880717
TI  - Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. dissemination during wastewater treatment and
      comparative detection via immunofluorescence assay (IFA), nested polymerase chain
      reaction (nested PCR) and loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).
AB  - Environmental water samples from the Lower Rhine area in Germany were
      investigated via immunofluorescence assays (IFAs), nested polymerase chain
      reaction (nested PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect
      the presence of Giardia spp. (n=185) and Cryptosporidium spp. (n=227). The
      samples were concentrated through filtration or flocculation, and oocysts were
      purified via centrifugation through a sucrose density gradient. For all samples,
      IFA was performed first, followed by DNA extraction for the nested PCR and LAMP
      assays. Giardia cysts were detected in 105 samples (56.8%) by IFA, 62 samples
      (33.5%) by nested PCR and 79 samples (42.7%) by LAMP. Cryptosporidium spp. were
      detected in 69 samples (30.4%) by IFA, 95 samples (41.9%) by nested PCR and 99
      samples (43.6%) by LAMP. According to these results, the three detection methods
      are complementary for monitoring Giardia and Cryptosporidium in environmental
      waters. 

PMID- 26880718
TI  - Novel tubular constructs for urinary diversion: a biocompatibility study in pigs.
AB  - The use of bowel tissue for urinary diversion can be associated with severe
      complications, and regenerative medicine may circumvent this by providing an
      engineered conduit. In this study, a novel tubular construct was identified for
      this purpose. Three constructs (diameter 15 mm) were prepared from type I
      collagen and either (a) a semi-biodegradable Vypro II polymer (COL-Vypro), (b) a
      rapidly biodegradable Vicryl polymer (COL-Vicryl) or (c) an additional
      collagenous layer (COL-DUAL). After freezing, lyophilization and crosslinking,
      all constructs showed a porous structure with a two-fold higher strength for the
      polymer-containing constructs. These constructs were connected to full bladder
      defects of 11 female pigs and evaluated after 1 (n = 4) or 3 months (n = 5). With
      respect to surgical handling, the polymer-containing constructs were superior.
      All pigs voided normally without leakage and the survival rate was 82%. For the
      implanted COL-Vypro constructs (8/9), stone formation was observed. COL-DUAL and
      COL-Vicryl showed better biocompatibility and only small remnants were found 1
      month post-implantation. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis showed the
      best regeneration for COL-Vicryl with respect to urothelium; muscle pedicles and
      elastin formation were best developed in the COL-Vicryl constructs. In this
      study, COL-Vicryl constructs were superior in both biocompatibility and bladder
      tissue regeneration and have high potential for artificial urinary diversions.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26880721
TI  - Influence of Equilibration Time in Solution on the Inclusion/Exclusion Topology
      Ratio of Host-Guest Complexes Probed by Ion Mobility and Collision-Induced
      Dissociation.
AB  - Host-guest complexes are formed by the creation of multiple noncovalent bonds
      between a large molecule (the host) and smaller molecule(s) or ion(s) (the
      guest(s)). Ion-mobility separation coupled with mass spectrometry nowadays
      represents an ideal tool to assess whether the host-guest complexes, when
      transferred to the gas phase upon electrospray ionization, possess an exclusion
      or inclusion nature. Nevertheless, the influence of the solution conditions on
      the nature of the observed gas-phase ions is often not considered. In the
      specific case of inclusion complexes, kinetic considerations must be taken into
      account beside thermodynamics; the guest ingression within the host cavity can be
      characterized by slow kinetics, which makes the complexation reaction kinetically
      driven on the timescale of the experiment. This is particularly the case for the
      cucurbituril family of macrocyclic host molecules. Herein, we selected para
      phenylenediamine and cucurbit[6]uril as a model system to demonstrate, by means
      of ion mobility and collision-induced dissociation measurements, that the
      inclusion/exclusion topology ratio varies as a function of the equilibration time
      in solution prior to the electrospray process. 

PMID- 26880720
TI  - Effective percutaneous "edge-to-edge" mitral valve repair with mitraclip in a
      patient with acute post-MI regurgitation not related to papillary muscle rupture.
AB  - A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our institution for rest dyspnea and
      hypotension. EKG showed sinus tachycardia with signs of infero-posterior STEMI.
      2D-echocardiogram showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with a-
      diskynesia of the inferior and posterior walls and severe functional mitral
      regurgitation (MR). The patient underwent urgent coronary angiography that showed
      3-vessels disease with total occlusion of both first obtuse marginal (OM) branch
      of the left circumflex artery and right coronary artery (RCA) and critical
      stenosis of left anterior descending (LAD). Because of extremely high surgical
      risk, we performed a staged totally percoutaneous approach. First, we reopened
      the presumed culprit vessels (RCA and OM) and then, after 48 hr, we performed
      angioplasty of the LAD. Since revascularization provided no significant
      improvement in respiratory and hemodynamic parameters we performed a percutaneous
      mitral repair with Mitraclip. MR grade was reduced from severe to trivial with
      rapid improvement of the respiratory and hemodynamic parameters. The post
      procedural course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 7 days later. At
      the 30-day and 6-month follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic in NYHA I
      functional class with no recurrence of MR. Acute MR due to post-AMI mechanical
      complications is generally considered a contraindication to MitraClip
      implantation for several reasons. However, the present report shows that, in
      selected cases, the Mitraclip system may be successfully used to reduce the
      severity of acute MR secondary to AMI and may allow to reverse cardiogenic shock
      and/or refractory pulmonary congestion related to the acute regurgitation. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26880719
TI  - Glycosylation status of serum immunoglobulin G in patients with prostate
      diseases.
AB  - Occurrences of high values in patients with benign prostate disease and low
      values in patients with highly suspicious cancer have diminished the
      trustworthiness of prostate-specific antigen as an early diagnostic marker of
      prostate cancer. In the search for other complimentary markers, we focused on
      serum IgG from patients with prostate diseases as well as normal subjects. IgG
      purified from the sera of normal control subjects and patients with prostate
      diseases, was digested with peptide N-glycanase. Released glycans were quantified
      using MALDI-time of flight mass spectrometry. We report that N-linked (N
      acetylhexosamine)2 (deoxyhexose)(mannose)3 (N-acetylglucosamine)2 was
      significantly increased in the IgG heavy chains of patients with prostate cancer
      compared with that of either benign prostatic disease patients or healthy
      subjects, whereas (hexose)(N-acetylhexosamine)2 (deoxyhexose)(mannose)3 (N
      acetylglucosamine)2 was more abundant in the heavy chains of healthy subjects and
      benign prostatic disease patients. Thus, an absence of the terminal hexose of N
      linked glycans has been closely connected to the progression of prostate cancer.
      Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance analyses have revealed that IgG from
      patients with prostate cancer has a decreased binding for Sambucus nigra lectin,
      compared with that from the benign prostatic disease patients or from normal
      subjects, suggesting lower levels of (N-acetylneuraminic acid)(alpha2
      6)galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine groups in the N-linked glycans of patient IgG.
      Meanwhile, wheat germ agglutinin binding to IgG of the cancer group was
      significantly larger than that for the benign prostatic disease group but smaller
      than that for normal subjects. Our study indicates that the glycosylation changes
      in IgG can become useful diagnostic parameters for prostate cancer.

PMID- 26880722
TI  - Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation-clinical and angiographic spectrum with
      management perspective: an institutional experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare
      developmental intracranial vascular malformation. We analyzed the clinical
      presentations, imaging findings, angioarchitecture, management options, and
      outcome in a demographically heterogeneous set of VGAM patients. METHODS: We
      retrospectively analyzed cases of VGAM from our departmental archive collected
      between 1988 and January 2015. Demographic, clinical, therapeutic, and follow-up
      details were obtained for each patient from the available records. RESULTS: We
      identified 36 patients with VGAM including 6 neonates, 18 infants, 7 children
      aged 2-10 years, and 5 adults. Macrocrania was the commonest presenting feature.
      Type of fistulae was mural in 14 and choroidal in 18 patients while 4 had a
      thrombosed sac at presentation. In 3 cases the dilated venous sac had connection
      with the deep venous system. Bilateral jugular atresia and stenosis were seen in
      9 and 6 patients, respectively. Giant venous sac (>4 cm) was significantly
      correlated with mural type (p=0.0001). Dural arterial recruitment was seen in 4
      patients including 3 adults. Among the 23 patients treated by endovascular means,
      14 had a good outcome, 5 had a poor outcome, and 4 died. A significant
      correlation was noted between jugular atresia and poor outcome (p=0.003).
      CONCLUSIONS: We encountered a wide range of demographic, clinical, and
      angiographic features in VGAM. Mural type malformations were associated with
      giant venous sacs. Good outcome after embolization was seen in selected neonates
      and in most of the infants, children, and adults. Jugular atresia was
      significantly associated with poor outcome.

PMID- 26880723
TI  - Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling: experience in 327 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe findings and outcomes of 331 bilateral inferior petrosal
      sinus sampling (BIPSS) procedures performed in 327 patients evaluated for Cushing
      disease (CD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiology department's electronic
      database was searched to identify all BIPSS procedures (1990-2013). Electronic
      medical records were used to identify demographics, laboratory, procedural,
      surgical and pathologic findings. RESULTS: A total of 331 BIPSS procedures were
      performed in 327 patients (254 F, 73 M), mean age 41 (range 7-81) years. The
      overall technical success rate was 88% for bilateral cannulation, though nearly
      two-thirds of the technical failures had unilateral sampling that diagnosed CD.
      Of the 331 BIPSS procedures, 40 were performed without, and 291 with stimulation
      by Acthrel or desmopressin. Sensitivity was 89-94% for unstimulated BIPSS, 96%
      for stimulated BIPSS, and 77% for MRI. BIPSS lateralization was accurate in about
      half of patients, compared with 75% accuracy for MRI. Mean inferior petrosal
      sinus (IPS):peripheral adrenocorticotropic hormone ratio was 17.3 (SE 1.8) at
      baseline, and 99.2 (SE 14.8) at 3 min, with decreasing values over time. All
      patients with follow-up after surgical resection for centralizing BIPSS were
      reported to be cured, with cortisol levels significantly decreased from 19 to 4
      MUg/dL (p<0.0001). Complications from BIPSS were rare, including groin hematoma
      (2.5%), but no thromboembolic complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: BIPSS remains
      the 'gold standard' for diagnosing CD. Stimulation with Acthrel or desmopressin
      is key to increasing specificity. When only one IPS can be successfully
      cannulated, results may still be diagnostic. BIPSS findings cannot be used to
      accurately lateralize lesions within the pituitary.

PMID- 26880724
TI  - Computational fluid dynamics analysis of flow reduction induced by flow-diverting
      stents in intracranial aneurysms: a patient-unspecific hemodynamics change
      perspective.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Flow-diverter stents (FDSs) have been used effectively to
      treat large neck and complex saccular aneurysms on the anterior carotid
      circulation. Intra-aneurysmal flow reduction induces progressive aneurysm
      thrombosis in most patients. Understanding the degree of flow modification
      necessary to induce complete aneurysm occlusion among patients with considerable
      hemodynamics variability may be important for treatment planning. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Patients with incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms who underwent
      FDS endovascular procedures were included and studied for a 12 months' follow-up
      period. We used computational fluid dynamics on patient-specific geometries from
      3D rotational angiography without and with virtual stent placement and thus
      compared intra-aneurysmal hemodynamic problems. Receiver operating characteristic
      analysis was used to estimate the stent:no-stent minimum hemodynamic ratio
      thresholds that significantly (p<=0.05) determined the condition necessary for
      long-term (12 months) aneurysm occlusion. RESULTS: We included 12 consecutive
      patients with sidewall aneurysms located in the internal carotid or vertebral
      artery. The measured porosity of the 12 deployed virtual FDSs was 83+/-3% (mean+/
      SD). Nine aneurysms were occluded during the 12 months' follow-up, whereas three
      were not. A significant (p=0.05) area under the curve (AUC) was found for
      spatiotemporal mean velocity reduction in the aneurysms: AUC=0.889+/-0.113
      (mean+/-SD) corresponding to a minimum velocity reduction threshold of 0.353 for
      occlusion to occur. The 95% CI of the AUC was 0.66 to 1.00. The sensitivity and
      specificity of the method were ~99% and ~67%, respectively. For both wall shear
      stress and pressure reductions in aneurysms no thresholds could be determined:
      AUC=0.63+/-0.16 (p=0.518) and 0.67+/-0.165 (p=0.405), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      For successful FDS treatment the post-stent average velocity in sidewall
      intracranial aneurysms must be reduced by at least one-third from the initial pre
      stent conditions.

PMID- 26880725
TI  - A Hospital-Based Interdisciplinary Model for Increasing Nurses' Engagement in
      Legislative Advocacy.
AB  - The Legislative Action Interest Group (LAIG) is a hospital-based health policy
      forum that engages nurses in exploring clinical implications of existing and
      pending health policies and regulations, while also creating a feedback loop to
      inform policy makers about the realities nursing practice and patient care. The
      LAIG is a collaborative effort between the hospital's Department of Nursing and
      Patient Care Services and the Office of Government Relations at an academic
      children's hospital. Nurses participating in the LAIG forums build a working
      knowledge of health policy and can articulate the practice realities for policy
      decision makers. Participants explore the political context of nursing and
      pediatric policies while learning about the state legislative process. Beyond the
      monthly meetings, members build policy advocacy skills and have testified at
      public hearings, met with state and federal legislators, and led tours for policy
      makers through the hospital. The LAIG model also benefits the government
      relations staff by providing time for them to discuss clinical implications of
      pending policies with nurses from practice settings in the hospital. Forum
      discussions enhance the ability of the hospital's lobbyists to articulate
      practice implications of health policy to lawmakers. This case study, describing
      the origin, structure, operations, and outcomes of the LAIG model, and has
      implications for nurses in hospitals and academic settings who are interested in
      engaging in policy work. Opportunities to research the sustainability,
      replicability, and patient-centered outcomes of LAIG forums represent future work
      needed to advance nursing's participation in policy. 

PMID- 26880726
TI  - Analysis of Kentucky's Law Protecting the Rights of Schoolchildren With Type 1
      Diabetes Mellitus: Application of Kingdon's Policy Stream Model.
AB  - Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic, life-threatening disorder that affects
      children of all ages. Based on data from 2008 to 2009, the Centers for Disease
      Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, 191,986 youth younger
      than age 20 require treatment for diabetes, the majority of whom have Type 1
      diabetes mellitus. These children require assistance with counting carbohydrates,
      testing blood glucose, and administering subcutaneous insulin. Establishing
      appropriate diabetes care models in schools is necessary for children's immediate
      safety, long-term well-being, and optimal academic performance. Kentucky House
      Bill 98 was passed by the state legislature in 2014 to allow unlicensed school
      personnel to assist children with diabetes care. The purpose of this article is
      to apply Kingdon's policy streams model to an analysis of a state policy allowing
      unlicensed school personnel to assist children with diabetes care. The article
      covers potential policy alternatives and concludes with a discussion of
      implications for nursing practice. 

PMID- 26880727
TI  - ZnO Nanowire-Based Corona Discharge Devices Operated Under Hundreds of Volts.
AB  - Minimizing the voltage of corona discharges, especially when using nanomaterials,
      has been of great interest in the past decade or so. In this paper, we report a
      new corona discharge device by using ZnO nanowires operated in atmospheric air to
      realize continuous corona discharge excited by hundreds of volts. ZnO nanowires
      were synthesized on microelectrodes using electric-field-assisted wet chemical
      method, and a thin tungsten film was deposited on the microchip to enhance
      discharging performance. The testing results showed that the corona inception
      voltages were minimized greatly by using nanowires compared to conventional
      dischargers as a result of the local field enhancement of nanowires. The corona
      could be continuously generated and self-sustaining. It was proved that the law
      of corona inception voltage obeyed the conventional Peek's breakdown criterion.
      An optimal thickness of tungsten film coated over ZnO nanowires was figured out
      to obtain the lowest corona inception voltage. The ion concentration of the
      nanowire-based discharger attained 10(17)/m(3) orders of magnitude, which is
      practicable for most discharging applications. 

PMID- 26880728
TI  - Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Luminescent g-C3N4 Photocatalyst in
      Darkroom.
AB  - Graphitic-C3N4(g-C3N4), a low-cost visible-light-driven photocatalyst, was used
      for the photocatalytic oxidation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) in the dark with
      Sr4Al14O25:(Eu,Dy) assistance. The Sr4Al14O25:(Eu,Dy)/g-C3N4 photocatalysts were
      fabricated through the ultrasonic dispersion method. The commercial
      Sr4Al14O25:(Eu,Dy) phosphor was used as a long afterglow supplier for exciting g
      C3N4 in the dark. The results demonstrated that the metal-free g-C3N4
      photocatalyst could use the eye-visible long afterglow to photocatalytically
      decompose MB dyes in the dark. This work may expand the appealing application of
      g-C3N4 for the environmental cleanup. 

PMID- 26880729
TI  - The Effect of Pre-sowing Seed Treatment with Metal Nanoparticles on the Formation
      of the Defensive Reaction of Wheat Seedlings Infected with the Eyespot Causal
      Agent.
AB  - The paper presents research data of lipid peroxidation and lectin activity in
      wheat seedlings at seed treatment with solution of metal nanoparticles (Zn, Ag,
      Fe, Mn, Cu) and sole solution of copper nanoparticles under the high pathogen
      infection background of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton
      (synonym: Oculimacula yallundae (Wallwork & Sponer) Crous & W. Gams). It was
      shown that investigated nonionic colloidal solutions of biogenic metals have the
      antioxidant effect through the inhibition of the synthesis of lipid peroxidation
      products. The increase of lectin activity levels during the early plants
      ontogenesis stages was observed in wheat seedlings infected with pathogen pre
      treated with the mixture of metal nanoparticles. 

PMID- 26880730
TI  - Influence of Treatment Temperature on Microstructure and Properties of YSZ-NiO
      Anode Materials.
AB  - The cyclic treatment technique (redox cycling) comprising stages of material
      exposition in reducing and oxidizing high-temperature environments and
      intermediate degassing between these stages has been developed to improve the
      structural integrity of YSZ-NiO ceramic anode substrates for solid oxide fuel
      cells. A series of specimens were singly reduced in a hydrogenous environment
      (the Ar-5 vol% N2 mixture or hydrogen of 99.99 vol% H2 purity) under the pressure
      of 0.15 MPa or subjected to redox cycling at 600 or 800  degrees C. The influence
      of redox cycling at the treatment temperatures of 600 and 800  degrees C on the
      structure, strength and electrical conductivity of the material has been
      analysed. Using the treatment temperature 600  degrees C, a structure providing
      improved physical and mechanical properties of the material was formed. However,
      at the treatment temperature 800  degrees C, an anode structure with an array of
      microcracks was formed that significantly reduced the strength and electrical
      conductivity of the material. 

PMID- 26880731
TI  - Involvement of sensory innervation in the skin of SOD1(G93A) ALS mice.
AB  - Sensory alterations have been described in both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      (ALS) patients and mouse models. While involvement of intraepidermal and
      subepidermal axons has been shown in skin biopsies of ALS patients, it is unclear
      if the SOD1(G93A) mouse presents similar alterations. We analyzed the epidermal
      and dermal innervation, based on PGP9.5 immunostaining, of SOD1(G93A) mice at
      different stages. The results showed a marked reduction of intraepidermal nerve
      fibers, Meissner's corpuscles, and subepidermal nerve density already at 4 weeks.
      This loss of innervation progressed over time. Dermal axonal density decreased at
      a later stage of the disease. There was a gradient of axonal loss, with a more
      severe decline in the epidermis compared with deeper structures, indicating a
      distal axonal neuropathy as the mechanism of degeneration. These findings suggest
      that the analysis of the cutaneous sensory innervation may be an accessible and
      useful tool to assess the neurodegeneration process in motoneuron diseases.

PMID- 26880732
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of risk-based screening for cervical length to prevent preterm
      birth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite much debate, there is no consensus on whether women without a
      history of prior spontaneous preterm birth should receive universal cervical
      length screening. Risk-based screening has been proposed as an alternative to
      universal cervical length measurement and may represent a more cost-effective
      approach to preterm birth prevention. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the cost
      effectiveness of risk-based screening compared to universal cervical length
      screening or no screening for preterm birth prevention in low-risk women. STUDY
      DESIGN: A decision analytic model compared the cost and effectiveness of 3
      cervical length screening strategies in a population of women with no prior
      preterm birth. Risk-based screening, universal screening, and no screening were
      compared using cost, probability, and utility estimates derived from the existing
      literature and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for each strategy were
      calculated. RESULTS: In the base-case analysis, risk-based screening and
      universal screening were more effective and less costly than no screening. In
      comparison to the risk-based strategy, universal screening of the United States
      population of women without a prior preterm birth (N = 3.5 million annually)
      would result in 2.19 million more transvaginal ultrasounds, 11,027 more women
      treated with vaginal progesterone, 913 fewer preterm births <35 weeks gestational
      age, and 63 fewer neonatal deaths at an additional cost of $51,936,699 annually.
      Despite costing more, the additional health benefits of universal screening
      resulted in that strategy being more cost-effective than risk-based screening,
      with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $21,144 per quality-adjusted life
      year. CONCLUSION: In women without a prior spontaneous preterm birth, universal
      cervical length screening is cost-effective in comparison to both risk-based
      screening and no screening.

PMID- 26880733
TI  - The "occiput-spine angle": a new sonographic index of fetal head deflexion during
      the first stage of labor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fetal head "attitude" (relationship of fetal head to spine) in the
      first stage of labor may have a substantial impact on labor outcome. The
      diagnosis of fetal head deflexion traditionally is based on digital examination
      in labor, although the use of ultrasound to support clinical diagnosis has been
      recently reported. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify the
      degree of fetal head deflection via the use of sonography during the first stage
      of labor; and (2) to determine whether a parameter derived from ultrasound
      examination (the occiput-spine angle) has a relationship with the course and
      outcome of labor. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective multicentric, cross
      sectional study conducted at the Maternity Unit of the University of Bologna and
      Parma from January 2014 to April 2015. A nonconsecutive series of women with
      uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at term gestation (37 weeks or more) were
      submitted to transabdominal ultrasound during the first stage of labor. If fetal
      position was occiput anterior or transverse, the angle between the fetal occiput
      and the cervical spine (the occiput-spine angle) was sonographically obtained on
      the sagittal plane. The measurements of the occiput spine-angle were performed
      offline by 2 operators who were blinded to the labor outcome. The intra- and
      interobserver reproducibility and the correlation between the occiput-spine angle
      and the mode of delivery were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 108 pregnant women
      were recruited, 79 of which underwent a spontaneous vaginal delivery and 29 were
      submitted to obstetric intervention (19 cesarean delivery and 10 instrumental
      vaginal deliveries). The mean value of the occiput-spine angle measured in the
      active phase of the first stage was 126 degrees  +/- 9.8 degrees  (SD). The
      occiput-spine angle measurement showed a very good intraobserver (r = 0.86; 95%
      confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80-0.90) and a fair-to-good interobserver (r =
      0.64; 95% CI 0.51-0.74) agreement. The occiput-spine angle was significantly
      narrower in women who underwent obstetric intervention (cesarean or vacuum
      delivery) due to labor arrest (121 degrees  +/- 10.5 degrees  vs 127 degrees  +/-
      9.4 degrees , P = .03). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that
      narrow occiput-spine angle values (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.00-1.16; P = .04) and
      nulliparity (OR 16.06; 95% CI 1.71-150.65; P = .02) were independent risk factors
      for operative delivery. A larger occiput-spine angle width (i.e., >125 degrees )
      showed to be significantly associated with a shorter duration of labor (hazard
      ratio = 1.62; 95% CI 1.07-2.45; P = .02). CONCLUSION: We described herein the
      "occiput-spine angle," a new sonographic parameter to assess fetal head
      deflection during labor. Fetuses with smaller occiput-spine angle (<125 degrees )
      are at increased risk for operative delivery.

PMID- 26880734
TI  - Identifying late-onset fetal growth restriction by measuring circulating
      placental RNA in the maternal blood at 28 weeks' gestation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) is often undetected prior
      to birth, which puts the fetus at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes
      including stillbirth. OBJECTIVE: Measuring RNA circulating in the maternal blood
      may provide a noninvasive insight into placental function. We examined whether
      measuring RNA in the maternal blood at 26-30 weeks' gestation can identify
      pregnancies at risk of late-onset FGR. We focused on RNA highly expressed in
      placenta, which we termed "placental-specific genes." STUDY DESIGN: This was a
      case-control study nested within a prospective cohort of 600 women recruited at
      26-30 weeks' gestation. The circulating placental transcriptome in maternal blood
      was compared between women with late-onset FGR (<5th centile at >36+6 weeks) and
      gestation-matched well-grown controls (20-95th centile) using microarray (n =
      12). TaqMan low-density arrays, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR), and digital PCR were used to validate the microarray findings (FGR n = 40,
      controls n = 80). RESULTS: Forty women developed late-onset FGR (birthweight 2574
      +/- 338 g, 2nd centile) and were matched to 80 well-grown controls (birthweight
      3415 +/- 339 g, 53rd centile, P < .05). Operative delivery and neonatal admission
      were higher in the FGR cohort (45% vs 23%, P < .05). Messenger RNA coding 137
      placental-specific genes was detected in the maternal blood and 37 were
      differentially expressed in late-onset FGR. Seven were significantly dysregulated
      with PCR validation (P < .05). Activating transcription factor-3 messenger RNA
      transcripts were the most promising single biomarker at 26-30 weeks: they were
      increased in fetuses destined to be born FGR at term (2.1-fold vs well grown at
      term, P < .001) and correlated with the severity of FGR. Combining biomarkers
      improved prediction of severe late-onset FGR (area under the curve, 0.88; 95% CI
      0.80-0.97). A multimarker gene expression score had a sensitivity of 79%, a
      specificity of 88%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 6.2 for subsequent
      delivery of a baby <3rd centile at term. CONCLUSION: A unique placental
      transcriptome is detectable in maternal blood at 26-30 weeks' gestation in
      pregnancies destined to develop late-onset FGR. Circulating placental RNA may
      therefore be a promising noninvasive test to identify pregnancies at risk of
      developing FGR at term.

PMID- 26880736
TI  - US term stillbirth rates and the 39-week rule: a cause for concern?
AB  - BACKGROUND: More than a decade ago an obstetric directive called "the 39-week
      rule" sought to limit "elective" delivery, via labor induction or cesarean
      delivery, before 39 weeks 0 days of gestation. In 2010 the 39-week rule became a
      formal quality measure in the United States. The progressive adherence to the 39
      week rule throughout the United States has caused a well-documented, progressive
      reduction in the proportion of term deliveries occurring during the early-term
      period. Because of the known association between increasing gestational age
      during the term period and increasing cumulative risk of stillbirth, however,
      there have been published concerns that the 39-week rule-by increasing the
      gestational age of delivery for a substantial number of pregnancies-might
      increase the rate of term stillbirth within the United States. Although adherence
      to the 39-week rule is assumed to be beneficial, its actual impact on the US rate
      of term stillbirth in the years since 2010 is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine
      whether the adoption of the 39-week rule was associated with an increased rate of
      term stillbirth in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Sequential ecological study,
      based on state data, of US term deliveries that occurred during a 7-year period
      bounded by 2007 and 2013. The patterns of the timing of both term childbirth and
      term stillbirth were determined for each state and for the United States as a
      whole. RESULTS: A total of 46 usable datasets were obtained (45 states and the
      District of Columbia). During the 7-year period, there was a continuous reduction
      in all geographic entities in the proportion of term deliveries that occurred
      before 39 weeks of gestation. The overall rate of term stillbirth, when we
      compared 2007-2009 with 2011-2013, increased significantly (1.103/1000 vs
      1.177/1000, RR 1.067, 95% confidence interval 1.038-1.096). Furthermore, during
      the 7-year period, the increase in the rate of US term stillbirth appeared to be
      continuous (estimated slope: 0.0186/1000/year, 95% confidence interval 0.002
      0.035). Assuming 3.5 million term US births per year, and given 6 yearly
      "intervals" with this rate increase, it is possible that more than 335 additional
      term stillbirths occurred in the United States in 2013 as compared with 2007. In
      addition, during the 7-year period, there was a progressive shift in the timing
      of delivery from the 40th week to the 39th week. Absent this confounding factor,
      the magnitude of association between the adoption of the 39-week rule and the
      increase in rate of term stillbirth might have been greater. CONCLUSIONS: Between
      2007 and 2013 in the United States, the adoption of the 39-week rule caused a
      progressive reduction in the proportion of term births occurring before the 39th
      week of gestation. During the same interval the United States experienced a
      significant increase in its rate of term stillbirth. This study raises the
      possibility that the 39-week rule may be causing unintended harm. Additional
      studies of the actual impact of the adoption of the 39-week rule on major
      childbirth outcomes are urgently needed. Pressures to enforce the 39-week rule
      should be reconsidered pending the findings of such studies.

PMID- 26880735
TI  - Alterations in expression of imprinted genes from the H19/IGF2 loci in a
      multigenerational model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The H19/IGF2 imprinted loci have attracted recent attention because
      of their role in cellular differentiation and proliferation, heritable gene
      regulation, and in utero or early postnatal growth and development. Expression
      from the imprinted H19/IGF2 locus involves a complex interplay of 3 means of
      epigenetic regulation: proper establishment of DNA methylation, promoter
      occupancy of CTCF, and expression of microRNA-675. We have demonstrated
      previously in a multigenerational rat model of intrauterine growth restriction
      the epigenetic heritability of adult metabolic syndrome in a F2 generation. We
      have further demonstrated abrogation of the F2 adult metabolic syndrome phenotype
      with essential nutrient supplementation of intermediates along the 1-carbon
      pathway and shown that alterations in the metabolome precede the adult onset of
      metabolic syndrome. The upstream molecular and epigenomic mediators underlying
      these observations, however, have yet to be elucidated fully. OBJECTIVE: In the
      current study, we sought to characterize the impact of the intrauterine growth
      restricted lineage and essential nutrient supplementation on both levels and
      molecular mediators of H19 and IGF2 gene expression in the F2 generation. STUDY
      DESIGN: F2 intrauterine growth-restricted and sham lineages were obtained by
      exposing P1 (grandmaternal) pregnant dams to bilateral uterine artery ligation or
      sham surgery at gestational day 19.5. F1 pups were allocated to the essential
      nutrient supplemented or control diet at postnatal day 21, and bred at 6-7 weeks
      of age. Hepatic tissues from the resultant F2 offspring at birth and at weaning
      (day 21) were obtained. Bisulfite modification and sequencing was employed for
      methylation analysis. H19 and IGF2 expression was measured by quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction. Promoter occupancy was quantified by the use of
      chromatin immunoprecipitation, or ChIP, against CTCF insulator proteins. RESULTS:
      Growth-restricted F2 on control diet demonstrated significant down-regulation in
      H19 expression compared with sham lineage (0.7831 vs 1.287; P < .05); however,
      essential nutrient supplementation diet abrogates this difference (4.995 vs
      5.100; P > .05). Conversely, Igf2 was up-regulated by essential nutrient
      supplemented diet on the sham lineage (2.0 fold, P = .01), an effect that was not
      observed in the growth restricted offspring. A significant differential
      methylation was observed in the promoter region of region H19 among the
      intrauterine growth-restricted lineage (18% vs 25%; P < .05) on a control diet,
      whereas the essential nutrient supplemented diet was alternately associated with
      hypermethylation in both lineages (sham: 50%; intrauterine growth restriction:
      84%, P < .05). Consistent with essential nutrient supplementation impacting the
      epigenome, a decrease of CTCF promoter occupancy was observed in CTCF4 of the
      growth restricted lineage (2.45% vs 0.56%; P < .05) on the control diet, an
      effect that was repressed with essential nutrient supplementation. CONCLUSION:
      Heritable growth restriction is associated with changes in H19 gene expression;
      these changes are reversible with diet supplementation to favorably impact adult
      metabolic syndrome.

PMID- 26880737
TI  - Determining performance characteristics of an NGS-based HLA typing method for
      clinical applications.
AB  - This study presents performance specifications of an in-house developed human
      leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing assay using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on
      the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 253 samples, previously characterized for
      HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 were included in this study, which were typed at
      high-resolution using a combination of Sanger sequencing, sequence-specific
      primer (SSP) and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP) technologies and
      recorded at the two-field level. Samples were selected with alleles that cover a
      high percentage of HLA specificities in each of five different race/ethnic
      groups: European, African-American, Asian Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Native
      American. Sequencing data were analyzed by two software programs, Omixon's target
      and GenDx's NGSengine. A number of metrics including allele balance, sensitivity,
      specificity, precision, accuracy and remaining ambiguity were assessed. Data
      analyzed by the two software systems are shown independently. The majority of
      alleles were identical in the exonic sequences (third field) with both programs
      for HLA-A, -B, -C and -DQB1 in 97.7% of allele determinations. Among the
      remaining discrepant genotype calls at least one of the analysis programs agreed
      with the reference typing. Upon additional manual analysis 100% of the 2530
      alleles were concordant with the reference HLA genotypes; the remaining
      ambiguities did not exceed 0.8%. The results demonstrate the feasibility and
      significant benefit of HLA typing by NGS as this technology is highly accurate,
      eliminates virtually all ambiguities, provides complete sequencing information
      for the length of the HLA gene and forms the basis for utilizing a single
      methodology for HLA typing in the immunogenetics labs. 

PMID- 26880738
TI  - Creating a Community of Practice to Prevent Suicide Through Multiple Channels:
      Describing the Theoretical Foundations and Structured Learning of PC CARES.
AB  - It is critical to develop practical, effective, ecological, and decolonizing
      approaches to indigenous suicide prevention and health promotion for the North
      American communities. The youth suicide rates in predominantly indigenous small,
      rural, and remote Northern communities are unacceptably high. This health
      disparity, however, is fairly recent, occurring over the last 50 to 100 years as
      communities experienced forced social, economic, and political change and
      intergenerational trauma. These conditions increase suicide risk and can reduce
      people's access to shared protective factors and processes. In this context, it
      is imperative that suicide prevention includes--at its heart--decolonization,
      while also utilizing the "best practices" from research to effectively address
      the issue from multiple levels. This article describes such an approach:
      Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES). PC
      CARES uses popular education strategies to build a "community of practice" among
      local and regional service providers, friends, and families that fosters personal
      and collective learning about suicide prevention in order to spur practical
      action on multiple levels to prevent suicide and promote health. This article
      will discuss the theoretical underpinnings of the community intervention and
      describe the form that PC CARES takes to structure ongoing dialogue, learning,
      solidarity, and multilevel mobilization for suicide prevention.

PMID- 26880739
TI  - Role of SFRP1 in NPC Metastasis-Response.

PMID- 26880741
TI  - Jerome Harold Kay (17 March 1921-14 August 2015): a great innovator in cardiac
      surgery.

PMID- 26880740
TI  - Role of SFRP1 in NPC Metastasis-Letter.

PMID- 26880742
TI  - Cadaveric validation study of computational fluid dynamics model of sinus
      irrigations before and after sinus surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Investigations into the distribution of sinus irrigations have been
      limited by labor-intensive methodologies that do not capture the full dynamics of
      irrigation flow. The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of a
      computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for sinonasal irrigations through a
      cadaveric experiment. METHODS: Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed on 2 fresh
      cadavers to open all 8 sinuses, including a Draf III procedure for cadaver 1, and
      Draf IIb frontal sinusotomies for cadaver 2. Computed tomography maxillofacial
      scans were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively, from which CFD models
      were created. Blue-dyed saline in a 240-mL squeeze bottle was used to irrigate
      cadaver sinuses at 60 mL/second (120 mL per side, over 2 seconds). These
      parameters were replicated in CFD simulations. Endoscopes were placed through
      trephinations drilled through the anterior walls of the maxillary and frontal
      sinuses, and sphenoid roofs. Irrigation flow into the maxillary, frontal, and
      sphenoid sinuses was graded both ipsilateral and contralateral to the side of
      nasal irrigation, and then compared with the CFD simulations. RESULTS: In both
      cadavers, preoperative and postoperative irrigation flow into maxillary, frontal,
      and sphenoid sinuses matched extremely well when comparing the CFD models and
      cadaver endoscopic videos. For cadaver 1, there was 100% concordance between the
      CFD model and cadaver videos, and 83% concordance for cadaver 2. CONCLUSION: This
      cadaveric experiment provided potential validation of the CFD model for
      simulating saline irrigation flow into the maxillary, frontal, and sphenoid
      sinuses before and after sinus surgery.

PMID- 26880743
TI  - Tobacco price increase and smoking behaviour changes in various subgroups: a
      nationwide longitudinal 7-year follow-up study among a middle-aged Japanese
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Few longitudinal studies have examined the effect of tobacco price
      increase on both cessation among smokers and relapse among quitters. Our
      objective was to investigate the differential impact of the tobacco price
      increase on the changes in smoking status in the total population and various
      subgroups. METHODS: We analysed data from a Japanese nationally representative
      longitudinal study of 30 773 individuals aged 50-59 years (weighted sum of
      discrete-time number = 215 411) with smoking information, using inverse
      probability weighting to account for non-response at follow-up. Generalised
      estimating equation models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for
      smoking behavioural changes (cessation among smokers and relapse among quitters),
      using discrete-time design. Stratified analyses were conducted according to
      demographic, socioeconomic and health behavioural characteristics. RESULTS: From
      2005 to 2012, current smoker prevalence among the middle-aged Japanese population
      decreased from 30.5% to 24.3%. Of all the factors surveyed, only the tobacco
      price increase in 2010 (up by 37%, the highest increase during the period) was
      significantly associated with both cessation among smokers (OR 2.14, 95%
      confidence interval 1.90 to 2.41) and prevention of relapse among quitters (0.60,
      0.46 to 0.77). Regarding the subgroup analysis, the tobacco price increase was
      associated with a significant reduction in relapse in the lowest income, recent
      quitters and very poor health subgroups. However, different associations were
      observed for cessation; a significant association between price increase and
      cessation was observed among all subgroups except for the heavy smoker and
      recently unemployed subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the tobacco price
      rise was associated with increasing cessation and decreasing relapse
      concurrently. Furthermore, this price rise was associated with favourable smoking
      changes in nearly all population subgroups; a large differential impact was not
      observed across the various subgroups.

PMID- 26880744
TI  - Contemporary impact of tobacco use on periodontal disease in the USA.

PMID- 26880745
TI  - Electronic cigarette use and indoor air quality in a natural setting.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Secondhand smoke (SHS) from combustible cigarettes causes numerous
      diseases. Policies have been developed to prevent SHS exposure from indoor
      cigarette use to reduce health risks to non-smokers. However, fewer policies have
      been implemented to deter electronic cigarette (ECIG) use indoors, and limited
      research has examined the impact of secondhand exposure to ECIG aerosol. METHODS:
      Indoor air quality was measured at a 2-day ECIG event held in a large room at a
      hotel. Fine particulate matter (PM) was measured using 2 devices that measured
      concentrations of PM 2.5 MUm aerodynamic diameter or smaller (PM2.5).
      Measurements were taken before the event, over 2 days when the event was ongoing,
      and the day after the event. PM2.5 measurements were also taken from the
      restaurant at the hotel hosting the event and a restaurant at a nearby hotel.
      RESULTS: During 6 time points when the event was ongoing, between 59 and 86
      active ECIG users were present in the event room (room volume=4023 m3). While the
      event was ongoing, median PM2.5 concentrations in the event room increased from a
      baseline of 1.92-3.20 MUg/m3 to concentrations that ranged from 311.68 MUg/m3
      (IQR 253.44-411.84 MUg/m3) to 818.88 MUg/m3 (IQR 760.64-975.04 MUg/m3).
      CONCLUSIONS: PM2.5 concentrations observed at the ECIG event were higher than
      concentrations reported previously in hookah cafes and bars that allow cigarette
      smoking. This study indicates that indoor ECIG use exposes non-users to
      secondhand ECIG aerosol. Regulatory bodies should consider establishing policies
      that prohibit ECIG use anywhere combustible cigarette use is prohibited.

PMID- 26880747
TI  - Analysis of root growth from a phenotyping data set using a density-based model.
AB  - Major research efforts are targeting the improved performance of root systems for
      more efficient use of water and nutrients by crops. However, characterizing root
      system architecture (RSA) is challenging, because roots are difficult objects to
      observe and analyse. A model-based analysis of RSA traits from phenotyping image
      data is presented. The model can successfully back-calculate growth parameters
      without the need to measure individual roots. The mathematical model uses partial
      differential equations to describe root system development. Methods based on
      kernel estimators were used to quantify root density distributions from
      experimental image data, and different optimization approaches to parameterize
      the model were tested. The model was tested on root images of a set of 89
      Brassica rapa L. individuals of the same genotype grown for 14 d after sowing on
      blue filter paper. Optimized root growth parameters enabled the final (modelled)
      length of the main root axes to be matched within 1% of their mean values
      observed in experiments. Parameterized values for elongation rates were within +/
      4% of the values measured directly on images. Future work should investigate the
      time dependency of growth parameters using time-lapse image data. The approach is
      a potentially powerful quantitative technique for identifying crop genotypes with
      more efficient root systems, using (even incomplete) data from high-throughput
      phenotyping systems. 

PMID- 26880746
TI  - Selective Targeting of Heme Protein in Cytochrome P450 and Nitric Oxide Synthase
      by Diphenyleneiodonium.
AB  - Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes mediate mixed-function oxidation reactions
      important in drug metabolism. The aromatic heterocyclic cation,
      diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), binds flavin in cytochrome P450 reductase and inhibits
      CYP-mediated activity. DPI also inhibits CYP by directly interacting with heme.
      Herein, we report that DPI effectively inhibits a number of CYP-related
      monooxygenase reactions including NADPH oxidase, a microsomal enzyme activity
      that generates hydrogen peroxide in the absence of metabolizing substrates.
      Inhibition of monooxygenase by DPI was time and concentration dependent with
      IC50's ranging from 0.06 to 1.9 MUM. Higher (4.6-23.9 MUM), but not lower (0.06
      1.9 MUM), concentrations of DPI inhibited electron flow via cytochrome P450
      reductase, as measured by its ability to reduce cytochrome c and mediate quinone
      redox cycling. Similar results were observed with inducible nitric oxide synthase
      (iNOS), an enzyme containing a C-terminal reductase domain homologous to
      cytochrome P450 reductase that mediates reduction of cytochrome c, and an N
      terminal heme-thiolate oxygenase domain mediating nitric oxide production.
      Significantly greater concentrations of DPI were required to inhibit cytochrome c
      reduction by iNOS (IC50 = 3.5 uM) than nitric oxide production (IC50 = 0.16 uM).
      Difference spectra of liver microsomes, recombinant CYPs, and iNOS demonstrated
      that DPI altered heme-carbon monoxide interactions. In the presence of NADPH, DPI
      treatment of microsomes and iNOS yielded a type II spectral shift. These data
      indicate that DPI interacts with both flavin and heme in CYPs and iNOS. Increased
      sensitivity for inhibition of CYP-mediated metabolism and nitric oxide production
      by iNOS indicates that DPI targets heme moieties within the enzymes.

PMID- 26880748
TI  - Two major quantitative trait loci controlling the number of seminal roots in
      maize co-map with the root developmental genes rtcs and rum1.
AB  - The genetic dissection of root architecture and functions allows for a more
      effective and informed design of novel root ideotypes and paves the way to
      evaluate their effects on crop resilience to a number of abiotic stresses. In
      maize, limited attention has been devoted to the genetic analysis of root
      architecture diversity at the early stage. The difference in embryonic (including
      seminal and primary) root architecture between the maize reference line B73
      (which mostly develops three seminal roots) and the landrace Gaspe Flint (with
      virtually no seminal roots) was genetically dissected using a collection of
      introgression lines grown in paper rolls and pots. Quantitative trait locus (QTL)
      analysis identified three QTLs controlling seminal root number (SRN) on
      chromosome bins 1.02, 3.07, and 8.04-8.05, which collectively explained 66% of
      the phenotypic variation. In all three cases, Gaspe Flint contributed the allele
      for lower SRN. Primary root dry weight was negatively correlated with SRN (r= 
      0.52), and QTLs for primary root size co-mapped with SRN QTLs, suggesting a
      pleiotropic effect of SRN QTLs on the primary root, most probably caused by
      competition for seed resources. Interestingly, two out of three SRN QTLs co
      mapped with the only two known maize genes (rtcs and rum1) affecting the number
      of seminal roots. The strong additive effect of the three QTLs and the
      development of near isogenic lines for each QTL in the elite B73 background
      provide unique opportunities to characterize functionally the genes involved in
      root development and to evaluate how root architecture affects seedling
      establishment, early development, and eventually yield in maize. 

PMID- 26880750
TI  - Introduction of a simple guideline to improve neurological assessment in
      paediatric patients presenting with upper limb fractures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurological examination in children presenting with upper limb
      fractures is often poorly performed in the Emergency Department (ED). We aimed to
      assess the improvement in documented neurological examination for children
      presenting with upper limb fractures following introduction of a simple
      guideline. METHODS: We developed and introduced a simple guideline for upper limb
      neurological assessment in children ('rock, paper, scissors, OK'). We compared
      documentation of neurological examination and nerve injury detection at our
      hospital before and after introduction of this guideline, as well as for children
      admitted from external hospitals (where the guideline had not been introduced).
      RESULTS: In the period following guideline introduction, 97 children with upper
      limb fractures were admitted (46% presenting directly to our ED and 54% admitted
      from external hospitals). This cohort was similar in number and distribution to
      the cohort reviewed prior to the guideline. Documentation of neurological
      examination in our ED increased from 92% to 98% after guideline introduction.
      Documented information on nerves examined also increased from 2% to 68% (p<0.01).
      Prior to the guideline, there were six nerve injuries, all of which were missed
      in our ED. After guideline introduction, there were four nerve injuries, all of
      which were detected in our ED. Documentation and nerve injury detection at
      external hospitals over the same time period showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS:
      A simple guideline to assist neurological examination in children with upper limb
      fractures can significantly improve the quality of documented neurological
      assessment and nerve injury detection.

PMID- 26880749
TI  - Prioritizing quantitative trait loci for root system architecture in tetraploid
      wheat.
AB  - Optimization of root system architecture (RSA) traits is an important objective
      for modern wheat breeding. Linkage and association mapping for RSA in two
      recombinant inbred line populations and one association mapping panel of 183
      elite durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) accessions evaluated as
      seedlings grown on filter paper/polycarbonate screening plates revealed 20
      clusters of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for root length and number, as well as
      30 QTLs for root growth angle (RGA). Divergent RGA phenotypes observed by seminal
      root screening were validated by root phenotyping of field-grown adult plants.
      QTLs were mapped on a high-density tetraploid consensus map based on transcript
      associated Illumina 90K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) developed for
      bread and durum wheat, thus allowing for an accurate cross-referencing of RSA
      QTLs between durum and bread wheat. Among the main QTL clusters for root length
      and number highlighted in this study, 15 overlapped with QTLs for multiple RSA
      traits reported in bread wheat, while out of 30 QTLs for RGA, only six showed co
      location with previously reported QTLs in wheat. Based on their relative additive
      effects/significance, allelic distribution in the association mapping panel, and
      co-location with QTLs for grain weight and grain yield, the RSA QTLs have been
      prioritized in terms of breeding value. Three major QTL clusters for root length
      and number (RSA_QTL_cluster_5#, RSA_QTL_cluster_6#, and RSA_QTL_cluster_12#) and
      nine RGA QTL clusters (QRGA.ubo-2A.1, QRGA.ubo-2A.3, QRGA.ubo-2B.2/2B.3, QRGA.ubo
      4B.4, QRGA.ubo-6A.1, QRGA.ubo-6A.2, QRGA.ubo-7A.1, QRGA.ubo-7A.2, and QRGA.ubo
      7B) appear particularly valuable for further characterization towards a possible
      implementation of breeding applications in marker-assisted selection and/or
      cloning of the causal genes underlying the QTLs. 

PMID- 26880751
TI  - Estrogen maintains myometrial tumors in a lymphangioleiomyomatosis model.
AB  - Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease in women. Patients with LAM
      develop metastatic smooth-muscle cell adenomas within the lungs, resulting in
      reduced pulmonary function. LAM cells contain mutations in tuberous sclerosis
      genes (TSC1 or TSC2), leading to up-regulation of mTORC1 activity and elevated
      proliferation. The origin of LAM cells remains unknown; however, inactivation of
      Tsc2 gene in the mouse uterus resulted in myometrial tumors exhibiting LAM
      features, and approximately 50% of animals developed metastatic myometrial lung
      tumors. This suggests that LAM tumors might originate from the uterine
      myometrium, possibly explaining the overwhelming prevalence of LAM in female.
      Here, we demonstrate that mouse Tsc2-null myometrial tumors exhibit nearly all
      the features of LAM, including mTORC1/S6K activation, as well as expression of
      melanocytic markers and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Estrogen ablation
      reduces S6K signaling and results in Tsc2-null myometrial tumor regression. Thus,
      even without TSC2, estradiol is required to maintain tumors and mTORC1/S6K
      signaling. Additionally, we find that MMP-2 and -9, as well as neutrophil
      elastase (NE), are overexpressed in Tsc2-null myometrial tumors in an estrogen
      dependent fashion. In vivo fluorescent imaging using MMP- or NE-sensitive optical
      biomarkers confirms that protease activity is specific to myometrial tumors.
      Similar to LAM cells, uterine Tsc2-null myometrial cells also overexpress
      melanocytic markers in an estrogen-dependent fashion. Finally, we identify
      glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB) as a melanocytic marker up-regulated in Tsc2-null mouse
      uteri and human LAM samples. Our data highlight the potential importance of
      estradiol in LAM cells, suggesting that anti-estrogen therapy may be a treatment
      modality. Furthermore, proteases and GPNMB might be useful LAM biomarkers. 

PMID- 26880752
TI  - Reverberation of excitation in neuronal networks interconnected through voltage
      gated gap junction channels.
AB  - We combined Hodgkin-Huxley equations and gating models of gap junction (GJ)
      channels to simulate the spread of excitation in two-dimensional networks
      composed of neurons interconnected by voltage-gated GJs. Each GJ channel contains
      two fast and slow gates, each exhibiting current-voltage (I-V) rectification and
      gating properties that depend on transjunctional voltage (Vj). The data obtained
      show how junctional conductance (gj), which is necessary for synchronization of
      the neuronal network, depends on its size and the intrinsic firing rate of
      neurons. A phase shift between action potentials (APs) of neighboring neurons
      creates bipolar, short-lasting Vj spikes of approximately +/- 100 mV that induce
      Vj gating, leading to a small decay of gj, which can accumulate into larger
      decays during bursting activity of neurons. We show that I-V rectification of GJs
      in local regions of the two-dimensional network of neurons can lead to
      unidirectional AP transfer and consequently to reverberation of excitation. This
      reverberation can be initiated by a single electrical pulse and terminated by a
      low-amplitude pulse applied in a specific window of reverberation cycle. Thus,
      the model accounts for the influence of dynamically modulatable electrical
      synapses in shaping the function of a neuronal network and the formation of
      reverberation, which, as proposed earlier, may be important for the development
      of short-term memory and its consolidation into long-term memory.

PMID- 26880753
TI  - Multiple cytosolic calcium buffers in posterior pituitary nerve terminals.
AB  - Cytosolic Ca(2+) buffers bind to a large fraction of Ca(2+) as it enters a cell,
      shaping Ca(2+) signals both spatially and temporally. In this way, cytosolic
      Ca(2+) buffers regulate excitation-secretion coupling and short-term plasticity
      of release. The posterior pituitary is composed of peptidergic nerve terminals,
      which release oxytocin and vasopressin in response to Ca(2+) entry. Secretion of
      these hormones exhibits a complex dependence on the frequency and pattern of
      electrical activity, and the role of cytosolic Ca(2+) buffers in controlling
      pituitary Ca(2+) signaling is poorly understood. Here, cytosolic Ca(2+) buffers
      were studied with two-photon imaging in patch-clamped nerve terminals of the rat
      posterior pituitary. Fluorescence of the Ca(2+) indicator fluo-8 revealed
      stepwise increases in free Ca(2+) after a series of brief depolarizing pulses in
      rapid succession. These Ca(2+) increments grew larger as free Ca(2+) rose to
      saturate the cytosolic buffers and reduce the availability of Ca(2+) binding
      sites. These titration data revealed two endogenous buffers. All nerve terminals
      contained a buffer with a Kd of 1.5-4.7 uM, and approximately half contained an
      additional higher-affinity buffer with a Kd of 340 nM. Western blots identified
      calretinin and calbindin D28K in the posterior pituitary, and their in vitro
      binding properties correspond well with our fluorometric analysis. The high
      affinity buffer washed out, but at a rate much slower than expected from
      diffusion; washout of the low-affinity buffer could not be detected. This work
      has revealed the functional impact of cytosolic Ca(2+) buffers in situ in nerve
      terminals at a new level of detail. The saturation of these cytosolic buffers
      will amplify Ca(2+) signals and may contribute to use-dependent facilitation of
      release. A difference in the buffer compositions of oxytocin and vasopressin
      nerve terminals could contribute to the differences in release plasticity of
      these two hormones. 

PMID- 26880755
TI  - Correction: Orai1 pore residues control CRAC channel inactivation independently
      of calmodulin.

PMID- 26880754
TI  - Regulation of ENaC trafficking in rat kidney.
AB  - The epithelial Na channel (ENaC) forms a pathway for Na(+) reabsorption in the
      distal nephron, and regulation of these channels is essential for salt
      homeostasis. In the rat kidney, ENaC subunits reached the plasma membrane in both
      immature and fully processed forms, the latter defined by either endoglycosidase
      H-insensitive glycosylation or proteolytic cleavage. Animals adapted to a low
      salt diet have increased ENaC surface expression that is specific for the mature
      forms of the subunit proteins and is similar (three- to fourfold) for alpha,
      beta, and gammaENaC. Kidney membranes were fractionated using differential
      centrifugation, sucrose-gradient separation, and immunoabsorption. Endoplasmic
      reticulum membranes, isolated using an antibody against calnexin, expressed
      immature gammaENaC, and the content decreased with Na depletion. Golgi membranes,
      isolated with an antibody against the cis-Golgi protein GM130, expressed both
      immature and processed gammaENaC; Na depletion increased the content of processed
      gammaENaC in this fraction by 3.8-fold. An endosomal compartment isolated using
      an antibody against Rab11 contained both immature and processed gammaENaC; the
      content of processed subunit increased 2.4-fold with Na depletion. Finally, we
      assessed the content of gammaENaC in the late endocytic compartments indirectly
      using urinary exosomes. All of the gammaENaC in these exosomes was in the fully
      cleaved form, and its content increased by 4.5-fold with Na depletion. These
      results imply that stimulation of ENaC surface expression results at least in
      part from increased rates of formation of fully processed subunits in the Golgi
      and subsequent trafficking to the apical membrane. 

PMID- 26880757
TI  - Autoethnography in Health Research: Growing Pains?
AB  - Autoethnography is gaining acceptance as a legitimate research method in health
      science research. The growing volume of published autoethnographies is indicative
      of this trend. After discussing the methodological tenents of this qualitative
      research method and its compatibility with health-related research, the author
      illustrates this trend with examples of published autoethnogrpahic books, theses,
      and journal articles. While celebrating the potential of autoethnography as a
      suitable health research method, the author critiques dominatly descriptive and
      evocative illness self-narratives that may evoke emontionally compelling
      responses from readers but offer insufficient sociocultural insights about the
      illness phenomenon. To identify a "desirable" autoethnography that provides not
      only a "thick description" of personal experiences but also a sociocultural
      interpration of such experiences, the author recommends both creators and
      consumers of autoethnography to ask five evaluative questions: (1) Does the
      autoethnography use authentic and trustworthy data?; (2) Does the autoethnography
      follow a reliable research process and show the process clearly?; (3) Does the
      autoethnography follow ethical steps to protect the rights of self and others
      presented and implicated in the autoethnography?; (4) Does the autoethnography
      analyze and interpret the sociocultural meaning of the author's personal
      experiences?; and (5) Does the autoethnography attempt to make a scholarly
      contribution with its conclusion and engagement of the existing literature? 

PMID- 26880758
TI  - Does reactivity to accelerometers occur in a single trial? Brief report in a
      sample of young adults.
AB  - This study aimed to test acute reactivity during a physical activity in an
      outdoor setting and to verify the relative perceived performance. In all, 38
      volunteers wore accelerometers or not and completed two 20-minute sessions of
      self-selected pace physical activity. Covered distance, exertional responses, and
      perceived efficacy were recorded at the end of every session. Relevant finding of
      this study has been that reactivity to accelerometers also occurs in acute
      condition. Consequently, this condition leads to a better performance and a
      greater perceived exertion. Moreover, this situation seems to occur in a state of
      awareness.

PMID- 26880756
TI  - Retigabine holds KV7 channels open and stabilizes the resting potential.
AB  - The anticonvulsant Retigabine is a KV7 channel agonist used to treat
      hyperexcitability disorders in humans. Retigabine shifts the voltage dependence
      for activation of the heteromeric KV7.2/KV7.3 channel to more negative
      potentials, thus facilitating activation. Although the molecular mechanism
      underlying Retigabine's action remains unknown, previous studies have identified
      the pore region of KV7 channels as the drug's target. This suggested that the
      Retigabine-induced shift in voltage dependence likely derives from the
      stabilization of the pore domain in an open (conducting) conformation. Testing
      this idea, we show that the heteromeric KV7.2/KV7.3 channel has at least two open
      states, which we named O1 and O2, with O2 being more stable. The O1 state was
      reached after short membrane depolarizations, whereas O2 was reached after
      prolonged depolarization or during steady state at the typical neuronal resting
      potentials. We also found that activation and deactivation seem to follow
      distinct pathways, suggesting that the KV7.2/KV7.3 channel activity displays
      hysteresis. As for the action of Retigabine, we discovered that this agonist
      discriminates between open states, preferentially acting on the O2 state and
      further stabilizing it. Based on these findings, we proposed a novel mechanism
      for the therapeutic effect of Retigabine whereby this drug reduces excitability
      by enhancing the resting potential open state stability of KV7.2/KV7.3 channels.
      To address this hypothesis, we used a model for action potential (AP) in Xenopus
      laevis oocytes and found that the resting membrane potential became more negative
      as a function of Retigabine concentration, whereas the threshold potential for AP
      firing remained unaltered. 

PMID- 26880760
TI  - Why people don't use family planning: how different methods of enquiry elicit
      different responses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Engaging community, government and non-governmental organisation
      (NGO) stakeholders in the design of family planning (FP) programmes is best
      practice. Stakeholders can provide local insights on barriers to FP. However, it
      can be difficult to know whether there may be limited programme perceptions if
      only one method of enquiry is used. AIM: This study aimed to validate the
      perceptions of stakeholders on barriers to FP in Malawi. METHODS: The study was
      conducted in a rural area in Lilongwe District, Malawi and employed a mixed
      methods exploratory design. Five focus groups were run with community, government
      and NGO stakeholders to identify barriers to using modern FP. The results of the
      qualitative phase were then compared using a quantitative survey of 960 women who
      had at least one child aged under 5 years. RESULTS: The qualitative phase
      identified a range of barriers to FP, including lack of awareness, lack of
      access, religious beliefs, myths, and opposition by husbands. However, the
      quantitative survey found that these issues are not a concern for the majority of
      women. The main reasons given by women for not using FP were that were not
      currently having sex or had a child recently, and so they felt they did not need
      to use it. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of stakeholders from a qualitative approach
      do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of the population as documented in a
      quantitative survey. When involving stakeholders it is important to recognise
      that different approaches may elicit different responses, particularly with
      regard to sensitive issues or issues that apply to particular subgroups.
      Consequently, a deeper understanding is likely to be obtained by using a
      multimethod approach.

PMID- 26880759
TI  - Dual protection to address the global syndemic of HIV and unintended pregnancy in
      Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Syndemic HIV and unintended pregnancy is prevalent in Brazil, where
      79% of female HIV cases occur in women of reproductive age and 55% of all
      pregnancies are unintended. Although increasing condom use to prevent HIV may
      decrease non-barrier contraception and increase unintended pregnancy, few studies
      focus on dual protection or dual methods (condoms with another modern
      contraceptive). AIM: To describe the correlates of dual method use and consistent
      condom use in women of reproductive age in Brazil. METHOD: Data are from the 2006
      Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude da Mulher e da Crianca, a decennial
      nationally representative household survey of women of reproductive age in
      Brazil. Multivariate logistic regression models identify the socio-demographic,
      sexual debut, fertility and relationship factors associated with dual method use
      and consistent condom use. RESULTS: Two-thirds of contracepting women in Brazil
      used dual protection (40% exclusive condoms, 27% dual methods). Consistent condom
      use in the past year occurred among 61% of exclusive condom users and 27% of dual
      method users. Dual methods (vs exclusive condoms) was associated with some high
      school education [relative risk ratio (RRR)=1.69, p<0.05], living in the Southern
      region (RRR=1.59, p<0.01), and number of children (RRR=1.22, p<0.01), net of
      other factors. Consistent condom use was associated with condom use at sexual
      debut [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.84, p<0.001], wants no (more) children
      (AOR=1.86, p<0.001), single/separated relationship status (AOR=2.77/2.45,
      p<0.001) and using exclusive condoms (vs dual methods: AOR=0.19, p<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight that targeting and delivering integrated HIV and
      family planning services should focus on completed/large families.
      single/separated individuals, and promoting dual protection at sexual debut.

PMID- 26880761
TI  - Activation of Nod1 Signaling Induces Fetal Growth Restriction and Death through
      Fetal and Maternal Vasculopathy.
AB  - Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) and death (IUFD) are both serious
      problems in the perinatal medicine. Fetal vasculopathy is currently considered to
      account for a pathogenic mechanism of IUGR and IUFD. We previously demonstrated
      that an innate immune receptor, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-1
      (Nod1), contributed to the development of vascular inflammations in mice at
      postnatal stages. However, little is known about the deleterious effects of
      activated Nod1 signaling on embryonic growth and development. We report that
      administration of FK565, one of the Nod1 ligands, to pregnant C57BL/6 mice
      induced IUGR and IUFD. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that maternally
      injected FK565 was distributed to the fetal tissues across placenta. In addition,
      maternal injection of FK565 induced robust increases in the amounts of CCL2, IL
      6, and TNF proteins as well as NO in maternal, placental and fetal tissues. Nod1
      was highly expressed in fetal vascular tissues, where significantly higher levels
      of CCL2 and IL-6 mRNAs were induced with maternal injection of FK565 than those
      in other tissues. Using Nod1-knockout mice, we verified that both maternal and
      fetal tissues were involved in the development of IUGR and IUFD. Furthermore,
      FK565 induced upregulation of genes associated with immune response,
      inflammation, and apoptosis in fetal vascular tissues. Our data thus provided new
      evidence for the pathogenic role of Nod1 in the development of IUGR and IUFD at
      the maternal-fetal interface. 

PMID- 26880763
TI  - In Vivo Visualizing the IFN-beta Response Required for Tumor Growth Control in a
      Therapeutic Model of Polyadenylic-Polyuridylic Acid Administration.
AB  - The crucial role that endogenously produced IFN-beta plays in eliciting an immune
      response against cancer has recently started to be elucidated. Endogenous IFN
      beta has an important role in immune surveillance and control of tumor
      development. Accordingly, the role of TLR agonists as cancer therapeutic agents
      is being revisited via the strategy of intra/peritumoral injection with the idea
      of stimulating the production of endogenous type I IFN inside the tumor.
      Polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (poly A:U) is a dsRNA mimetic explored empirically
      in cancer immunotherapy a long time ago with little knowledge regarding its
      mechanisms of action. In this work, we have in vivo visualized the IFN-beta
      required for the antitumor immune response elicited in a therapeutic model of
      poly A:U administration. In this study, we have identified the role of host type
      I IFNs, cell populations that are sources of IFN-beta in the tumor
      microenvironment, and other host requirements for tumor control in this model.
      One single peritumoral dose of poly A:U was sufficient to induce IFN-beta,
      readily visualized in vivo. IFN-beta production relied mainly on the activation
      of the transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 3 and the molecule UNC93B1,
      indicating that TLR3 is required for recognizing poly A:U. CD11c(+) cells were an
      important, but not the only source of IFN-beta. Host type I IFN signaling was
      absolutely required for the reduced tumor growth, prolonged mice survival, and
      the strong antitumor-specific immune response elicited upon poly A:U
      administration. These findings add new perspectives to the use of IFN-beta
      inducing compounds in tumor therapy. 

PMID- 26880762
TI  - LincRNA-Cox2 Promotes Late Inflammatory Gene Transcription in Macrophages through
      Modulating SWI/SNF-Mediated Chromatin Remodeling.
AB  - Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are long noncoding transcripts (>200
      nt) from the intergenic regions of annotated protein-coding genes. One of the
      most highly induced lincRNAs in macrophages upon TLR ligation is lincRNA-Cox2,
      which was recently shown to mediate the activation and repression of distinct
      classes of immune genes in innate immune cells. We report that lincRNA-Cox2,
      located at chromosome 1 proximal to the PG-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2/Cox2)
      gene, is an early-primary inflammatory gene controlled by NF-kappaB signaling in
      murine macrophages. Functionally, lincRNA-Cox2 is required for the transcription
      of NF-kappaB-regulated late-primary inflammatory response genes stimulated by
      bacterial LPS. Specifically, lincRNA-Cox2 is assembled into the switch/sucrose
      nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex in cells after LPS stimulation. This resulting
      lincRNA-Cox2/SWI/SNF complex can modulate the assembly of NF-kappaB subunits to
      the SWI/SNF complex, and ultimately, SWI/SNF-associated chromatin remodeling and
      transactivation of the late-primary inflammatory-response genes in macrophages in
      response to microbial challenge. Therefore, our data indicate a new regulatory
      role for NF-kappaB-induced lincRNA-Cox2 as a coactivator of NF-kappaB for the
      transcription of late-primary response genes in innate immune cells through
      modulation of epigenetic chromatin remodeling. 

PMID- 26880764
TI  - A Heterozygous RAB27A Mutation Associated with Delayed Cytolytic Granule
      Polarization and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.
AB  - Frequently fatal, primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs in
      infancy resulting from homozygous mutations in NK and CD8 T cell cytolytic
      pathway genes. Secondary HLH presents after infancy and may be associated with
      heterozygous mutations in HLH genes. We report two unrelated teenagers with HLH
      and an identical heterozygous RAB27A mutation (c.259G->C). We explore the
      contribution of this Rab27A missense (p.A87P) mutation on NK cell cytolytic
      function by cloning it into a lentiviral expression vector prior to introduction
      into the human NK-92 cell line. NK cell degranulation (CD107a expression), target
      cell conjugation, and K562 target cell lysis was compared between mutant- and
      wild-type-transduced NK-92 cells. Polarization of granzyme B to the immunologic
      synapse and interaction of mutant Rab27A (p.A87P) with Munc13-4 were explored by
      confocal microscopy and proximity ligation assay, respectively. Overexpression of
      the RAB27A mutation had no effect on cell conjugate formation between the NK and
      target cells but decreased NK cell cytolytic activity and degranulation.
      Moreover, the mutant Rab27A protein decreased binding to Munc13-4 and delayed
      granzyme B polarization toward the immunologic synapse. This heterozygous RAB27A
      mutation blurs the genetic distinction between primary and secondary HLH by
      contributing to HLH via a partial dominant-negative effect. 

PMID- 26880766
TI  - Expression and Regulation of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
      in Rat Placental Cells.
AB  - Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) was first identified
      as a hypophysiotropic factor that regulates pituitary cell functions and has been
      subsequently shown to be widely distributed and have multiple functions. The
      PACAP is known to be expressed in placental tissues and is suggested to have a
      critical role in physiological function of the placenta. In addition to PACAP,
      the hypothalamic peptides kisspeptin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
      are also expressed in placental cells. In this study, we used primary cultures of
      placental tissues from rats of 16 to 18 days gestation and examined the
      regulation and function of PACAP. The PACAP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and
      PACAP-immunoreactive cells were detected in primary cultures of rat placental
      cells. The PACAP mRNA expression in placental cells was upregulated in the
      presence of the sex steroids estradiol and progesterone; however, their combined
      treatment failed to enhance their individual effects. When the cells were
      stimulated with kisspeptin, PACAP mRNA expression was increased. Similarly, GnRH
      had a stimulatory effect on PACAP expression. Conversely, kisspeptin expression
      in placental cells was increased by PACAP stimulation, whereas PACAP failed to
      stimulate GnRH mRNA expression in these cells. Finally, we found that PACAP had a
      stimulatory effect on human chorionic gonadotropin expression in placental cells.
      Our current observations suggest that the hypothalamic peptides PACAP,
      kisspeptin, and GnRH are interrelated and maintain placental functions.

PMID- 26880765
TI  - T-bet Regulates Natural Regulatory T Cell Afferent Lymphatic Migration and
      Suppressive Function.
AB  - T-bet is essential for natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) to regulate Th1
      inflammation, but whether T-bet controls other Treg functions after entering the
      inflammatory site is unknown. In an islet allograft model, T-bet(-/-) nTreg, but
      not induced Treg, failed to prolong graft survival as effectively as wild-type
      Treg. T-bet(-/-) nTreg had no functional deficiency in vitro but failed to home
      from the graft to draining lymph nodes (dLN) as efficiently as wild type. T-bet
      regulated expression of adhesion- and migration-related molecules, influencing
      nTreg distribution in tissues, so that T-bet(-/-) nTreg remained in the grafts
      rather than migrating to lymphatics and dLN. In contrast, both wild-type and T
      bet(-/-) CD4(+) conventional T cells and induced Treg migrated normally toward
      afferent lymphatics. T-bet(-/-) nTreg displayed instability in the graft, failing
      to suppress Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells and prevent their infiltration into the
      graft and dLN. Thus, T-bet regulates nTreg migration into afferent lymphatics and
      dLN and consequently their suppressive stability in vivo. 

PMID- 26880767
TI  - Aberrant Methylation of the E-Cadherin Gene Promoter Region in the Endometrium of
      Women With Uterine Fibroids.
AB  - A uterine fibroid is a leiomyoma that originates from the smooth muscle layer of
      the uterus. A variety of endometrial abnormalities are associated with uterine
      fibroids. This study aims to investigate the methylation status of the E-cadherin
      gene (CDH1) promoter region in the endometrium of patients with uterine fibroids.
      The methylation of CDH1 was studied using methylation-specific polymerase chain
      reaction in the endometrial tissue of 102 patients with uterine fibroids and 50
      control patients. The E-cadherin expression was examined by flow cytometry. The
      methylation rate of CDH1 promoter region was 33.3% in the endometrium of patients
      with uterine fibroids and 8% in the endometrium of women without fibroids. The
      frequency of CDH1 promoter methylation in the endometrium of patients with
      fibroids was significantly higher than that in the endometrium of women without
      fibroids (P = .001). Furthermore, the E-cadherin expression level in methylation
      positive tissues was significantly lower than that in methylation-negative
      tissues (P = .017). These results suggest that epigenetic aberration of CDH1 may
      occur in the endometrium of patients with fibroids, which may be associated with
      E-cadherin protein expression in endometrial tissue.

PMID- 26880768
TI  - Stresses on Female Mice Impair Oocyte Developmental Potential: Effects of Stress
      Severity and Duration on Oocytes at the Growing Follicle Stage.
AB  - AIM: Although previous studies found that 1-time acute stress applied during
      follicle maturation impaired oocyte competence, it is unknown whether repeated
      chronic stress, which is known to cause animal behavioral adaptation, would
      damage oocytes when applied during follicle growth. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this
      study, female mice were exposed to repeated restraint stress (RRS) or
      unpredictable stress (UPS) for different days before equine chorionic
      gonadotropin injection to initiate oocyte prematuration development and to
      observe effects of different stressors on oocytes in the growing follicles. The
      results showed that although oocyte pre- and postimplantation development was
      unaffected when mice were exposed to RRS or UPS once a day for 4 days,
      development was impaired when mice were exposed to RRS for 8 or more days or to
      UPS twice a day for 4 days (4 * 2). The 4 * 2 UPS caused more oxidative stress in
      oocytes and severer apoptosis in antral follicles than did the 4-day RRS. The RRS
      mice were stressed consistently from days 1 to 23 of restraint, and the stress
      that a mouse had 4 * 2 UPS was severer than that from 4-day RRS. CONCLUSION: The
      results suggest that (1) the degree that a stress damages oocytes is the product
      of duration * severity of the stress; (2) RRS impaired oocyte developmental
      potential through cumulative effects on growing follicles; and (3) preantral
      follicles were not as sensitive to stress as antral follicles were.

PMID- 26880769
TI  - Apelin in Normal Pregnancy and Pregnancies Complicated by Placental
      Insufficiency.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Apelin is a potent inotropic agent and causes endothelium-mediated
      vasodilation. Its cardiovascular profile suggests a role in the regulation of
      gestational hemodynamics. METHODS: We longitudinally assessed maternal serum
      apelin levels and hemodynamics (cardiac output and total peripheral resistance)
      between 20 and 34 weeks gestation in 18 women at high risk of placental
      dysfunction. Placental apelin staining was assessed by immunohistochemistry in
      placentas from uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 6), preterm deliveries (n = 6),
      preeclampsia (PET, n = 8), and isolated intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR, n
      = 8). Placental apelin gene expression was assessed by quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction. RESULTS: In the high-risk cohort, 4 fetuses developed isolated
      IUGR and 6 women developed PET. We obtained a median of 5 (range 2-9) hemodynamic
      and apelin measurements per woman. Apelin levels throughout gestation were best
      fitted by a quadratic curve. Apelin levels between 20 and 26 weeks gestation
      correlated with total peripheral resistance (r = .57, P = .01) and showed a trend
      toward an inverse correlation with stroke volume (r = -.42, P = .08). Apelin
      serum levels were 30% lower in pregnancies complicated by IUGR than in
      uncomplicated pregnancies or in women with preeclampsia (P = .009). Placental
      apelin gene expression was similar in IUGR, PET, preterm, and term normal
      placentas. Apelin staining was seen both in syncytiotrophoblast and stroma of the
      placental villi. In IUGR placentas, apelin staining was strongly decreased in
      both compartments compared to normals. Preeclamptic placentas showed an
      intermediate staining. CONCLUSIONS: Apelin levels mirror the cardiovascular
      changes seen in pregnancy. Serum and placental apelin levels are decreased in
      IUGR.

PMID- 26880771
TI  - Controlling Malaria in Western Pacific with Mosquito Nets Treated with
      Pyrethroids in Village Communities, 1979-1999.
AB  - Insecticide-treated mosquito nets were first put to practical use in the Western
      Pacific Region. Less than a decade after conducting workshops and other
      promotional activities, millions of people were protected by 1989. This occurred
      before the availability of commercially produced pretreated nets and before
      global funding for mass net distribution. This paper describes the sequence of
      steps leading to regional control success. The beginning stages in 1979
      recognized that treating torn mosquito nets was a viable control option. Basic
      net treatment procedures were established by 1983 and workshops were held the
      next 2 years in China, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
      Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Malaria staff became convinced of net
      benefits and were motivated to impart their knowledge to others. Village
      inhabitants soaked the nets in washbasins containing permethrin or deltamethrin
      solution, then dried them horizontally on mats. By the 1990s, the population
      protected by nets had appreciably increased, and regional malaria cases confirmed
      by microscopy were markedly reduced. This coincided with commercial interest to
      mass-produce pretreated mosquito nets for worldwide use.

PMID- 26880770
TI  - The Presence and Seroprevalence of Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Nasiriyah
      Governorate, Southern Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - The knowledge on the presence and seroprevalence of arboviruses in Iraq is
      fragmental. To assess the exposure of the population to arbovirus infections in
      southern Iraq, we conducted a serological screening of the most common arbovirus
      groups using immunofluorescence, hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization
      tests. Serum samples of 399 adult volunteers were collected in Nasiriyah, Iraq.
      Antibodies were detected against West Nile virus (WNV) (11.6%), sandfly-borne
      Sicilian virus serocomplex (18.2%), sandfly-borne Naples virus serocomplex
      (7.8%), Sindbis virus (1.5%), chikungunya virus (0.5%), and Tahyna virus (2.0%).
      The results suggest that WNV and sandfly-borne phlebovirus infections are common
      in southern Iraq, and these viruses should be considered as potential causative
      agents in patients with febrile disease and/or neurological manifestations. 

PMID- 26880772
TI  - Extremely High Prevalence of Metronidazole-Resistant Helicobacter pylori Strains
      in Mountain People (Karen and Hmong) in Thailand.
AB  - This study aimed to survey the prevalence, patterns of antibiotic resistance, and
      clinical factors associated with antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori
      among the Karen and Hmong mountain people of Thailand. We recruited dyspeptic
      patients in the Maesod district, Tak Province, Thailand. All subjects underwent
      upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and three antral gastric biopsies were obtained
      for rapid urease tests and culture. An epsilometer was used to determine the
      minimum inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLR),
      metronidazole (MNZ), levofloxacin (LVX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and tetracycline
      (TET). A total of 291 subjects were enrolled; 149 (51.2%) were infected with H.
      pylori. Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 47.1% of Thai, 51.7% of
      Karen, and 58.7% of Hmong subjects. Antibiotic resistance was present in 75.8%
      including AMX (0.8%), TET (0%), CLR (5.6%), MNZ (71.8%), CIP (19.4%), LVX
      (19.4%), and multidrug resistance in 21.8%. Karen subjects had the highest
      prevalence of MNZ resistance (84.6%), and Hmong subjects had the highest
      prevalence of fluoroquinolone (27.3%) and multidrug (34.1%) resistance. MNZ plus
      fluoroquinolone (14.5%) was the most common multidrug resistance. There was no
      association between clinical factors and antibiotic resistance. MNZ resistance
      was prevalent, whereas fluoroquinolone- and multidrug-resistant H. pylori
      infections are important problems in mountain people of Thailand.

PMID- 26880774
TI  - Detection of Onchocerca volvulus in Skin Snips by Microscopy and Real-Time
      Polymerase Chain Reaction: Implications for Monitoring and Evaluation Activities.
AB  - Microscopic evaluation of skin biopsies is the monitoring and evaluation (M and
      E) method currently used by multiple onchocerciasis elimination programs in
      Africa. However, as repeated mass drug administration suppresses microfilarial
      loads, the sensitivity and programmatic utility of skin snip microscopy is
      expected to decrease. Using a pan-filarial real-time polymerase chain reaction
      with melt curve analysis (qPCR-MCA), we evaluated 1) the use of a single-step
      molecular assay for detecting and identifying Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae
      in residual skin snips and 2) the sensitivity of skin snip microscopy relative to
      qPCR-MCA. Skin snips were collected and examined with routine microscopy in
      hyperendemic regions of Uganda and Ethiopia (N= 500 each) and "residual" skin
      snips (tissue remaining after induced microfilarial emergence) were tested with
      qPCR-MCA. qPCR-MCA detected Onchocerca DNA in 223 residual snips: 139 of 147
      microscopy(+) and 84 among microscopy(-) snips, suggesting overall sensitivity of
      microscopy was 62.3% (139/223) relative to qPCR-MCA (75.6% in Uganda and 28.6% in
      Ethiopia). These findings demonstrate the insufficient sensitivity of skin snip
      microscopy for reliable programmatic monitoring. Molecular tools such as qPCR-MCA
      can augment sensitivity and provide diagnostic confirmation of skin biopsies and
      will be useful for evaluation or validation of new onchocerciasis M and E tools.

PMID- 26880773
TI  - Quantifying Contact with the Environment: Behaviors of Young Children in Accra,
      Ghana.
AB  - To better understand the risks of exposure for young children to fecal
      contamination in their environment, we systematically characterized and
      quantified behaviors of 154 children, 0-5 years old, in four high-density, low
      income neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana. A repertoire of six different activities
      and five different compartments (categories of locations within the household)
      was developed, and about 500 hours of ordered structured observations of
      activities and locations of individual children were collected. These records
      were analyzed using a competing hazards model, estimating (Weibull) hazard rates
      for each state (activity/compartment combination), dependent on the present state
      and the preceding state. The estimated rates were used to simulate sequences of
      behavior and describe days in the life of a child in low-income, urban Africa.
      Children younger than 1 year spent most time playing or sleeping off the ground,
      older children frequently played on floors. Relatively little time was spent in
      drains or wet trash areas. Critical combinations of activities, like handwashing
      after defecation or before eating were estimated to occur rarely. These
      quantitative behavior estimates can inform future risk assessments that examine
      the relative roles of various fecal-oral exposure pathways in low-income urban
      settings. 

PMID- 26880775
TI  - The Utility of Blood Culture Fluid for the Molecular Diagnosis of Leptospira: A
      Prospective Evaluation.
AB  - Leptospirosis is an important zoonosis worldwide, with infections occurring after
      exposure to contaminated water. Despite being a global problem, laboratory
      diagnosis remains difficult with culture results taking up to 3 months, serology
      being retrospective by nature, and polymerase chain reaction showing limited
      sensitivity. Leptospira have been shown to survive and multiply in blood culture
      media, and we hypothesized that extracting DNA from incubated blood culture fluid
      (BCF), followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) could
      improve the accuracy and speed of leptospira diagnosis. We assessed this
      retrospectively, using preincubated BCF of Leptospira spp. positive (N= 109) and
      negative (N= 63) febrile patients in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The final method showed
      promising sensitivities of 66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 55-76) and 59% (95%
      CI: 49-68) compared with direct or direct and indirect testing combined, as the
      respective reference standards (specificities > 95%). Despite these promising
      diagnostic parameters, a subsequent prospective evaluation in a Lao hospital
      population (N= 352) showed that the sensitivity was very low (~30%) compared with
      qPCR on venous blood samples. The disappointingly low sensitivity does suggest
      that venous blood samples are preferable for the clinical microbiology
      laboratory, although BCF might be an alternative if leptospirosis is only
      suspected postadmission after antibiotics have been used.

PMID- 26880776
TI  - Polyandry Depends on Postmating Time Interval in the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti.
AB  - Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of the dengue and chikungunya viruses. After
      mating, male seminal fluid molecules cause females to become unreceptive to a
      subsequent mating. This response is often assumed to be immediate and complete,
      but a growing body of evidence suggests that some females do mate more than once.
      It is unknown how quickly a female becomes unreceptive to a second mating.
      Furthermore, the degree to which she remains monandrous after laying several
      batches of eggs has not been rigorously tested. Therefore, we assessed the rates
      of polyandry in two sets of experiments using wild-type males and those with
      fluorescent sperm. The first experiment tested the likelihood of polyandry after
      postmating intervals of various durations. Most females became refractory to a
      second mating within 2 hours after mating, and rates of polyandry ranged from 24%
      immediately after mating to 3% at 20 hours after mating. The second experiment
      tested whether females were polyandrous after cycles of blood meals and
      oviposition. No re-insemination was found after one, three, or five such cycles.
      This study is the first to demonstrate that polyandrous behavior depends on the
      postmating interval. Our results will inform future applications that depend on
      an accurate knowledge of Ae. aegypti mating behavior, including models of gene
      flow, investigations of molecules that drive female mating behavior, and control
      strategies that deploy genetically modified mosquitoes into the field.

PMID- 26880777
TI  - An Emerging Epidemic of Noncommunicable Diseases in Developing Populations Due to
      a Triple Evolutionary Mismatch.
AB  - With their transition from adverse to affluent environments, developing
      populations experience a rapid increase in the number of individuals with
      noncommunicable diseases. Here, we emphasize that developing populations are more
      susceptible than western populations to acquire these chronic diseases, because
      their genetic, cultural, and epigenetic characteristics do not match with the
      eagerly awaited affluent environments. In regard to this, there is an urgent need
      for public health organizations to reorganize current environments in developing
      populations so as to fit their inherited characteristics. Unfortunately, this
      need is neglected as an essential part of the Sustainable Development Goals that
      form the core of the United Nations' Post-2015 Development Agenda. Only through
      global collaborative efforts can the environments in developing populations be
      reorganized and, thereby, the emerging epidemic of noncommunicable diseases be
      stalled.

PMID- 26880778
TI  - Assessing the Contribution of Malaria Vector Control and Other Maternal and Child
      Health Interventions in Reducing All-Cause Under-Five Mortality in Zambia, 1990
      2010.
AB  - Under-five mortality in Zambia has declined since 1990, with reductions
      accelerating after 2000. Zambia's scale-up of malaria control is viewed as the
      driver of these gains, but past studies have not fully accounted for other
      potential factors. This study sought to systematically evaluate the impact of
      malaria vector control on under-five mortality. Using a mixed-effects regression
      model, we quantified the relationship between malaria vector control, other
      priority health interventions, and socioeconomic indicators and district-level
      under-five mortality trends from 1990 to 2010. We then conducted counterfactual
      analyses to estimate under-five mortality in the absence of scaling up malaria
      vector control. Throughout Zambia, increased malaria vector control coverage
      coincided with scaling up three other interventions: the pentavalent vaccine,
      exclusive breast-feeding, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
      services. This simultaneous scale-up made statistically isolating intervention
      specific impact infeasible. Instead, in combination, these interventions jointly
      accelerated declines in under-five mortality by 11% between 2000 and 2010.
      Zambia's scale-up of multiple interventions is notable, yet our findings
      highlight challenges in quantifying program-specific impact without better health
      data and information systems. As countries aim to further improve health
      outcomes, there is even greater need-and opportunity-to strengthen routine data
      systems and to develop more rigorous evaluation strategies.

PMID- 26880779
TI  - Laboratory-Based Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of Dengue Viruses in
      Taiwan, 2014.
AB  - We present the results of a laboratory-based surveillance of dengue in Taiwan in
      2014. A total of 240 imported dengue cases were identified. The patients had
      arrived from 16 countries, and Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China
      were the most frequent importing countries. Phylogenetic analyses showed that
      genotype I of dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) and the cosmopolitan genotype of DENV
      2 were the predominant DENV strains circulating in southeast Asia. The 2014
      dengue epidemic was the largest ever to occur in Taiwan since World War II, and
      there were 15,492 laboratory-confirmed indigenous dengue cases. Phylogenetic
      analysis showed that the explosive dengue epidemic in southern Taiwan was caused
      by a DENV-1 strain of genotype I imported from Indonesia. There were several
      possible causes of this outbreak, including delayed notification of the outbreak,
      limited staff and resources for control measures, abnormal weather conditions,
      and a serious gas pipeline explosion in the dengue hot spot areas in Kaohsiung
      City. However, the results of this surveillance indicated that both active and
      passive surveillance systems should be strengthened so appropriate public health
      measures can be taken promptly to prevent large-scale dengue outbreaks. 

PMID- 26880780
TI  - Cost and Predictors of Care-Seeking Behaviors Among Caregivers of Febrile
      Children-Uganda, 2009.
AB  - Fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of
      age in resource-limited countries. Although prevention and treatment of febrile
      illnesses have improved, the costs--both financial and nonfinancial--remain
      barriers to care. Using data from the 2009 Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey, we
      describe the costs associated with the care of a febrile child and assess
      predictors of care-seeking behavior. Over 80% of caregivers sought care for their
      febrile child, however less than half did so on either the day of or the day
      after the development of fever. The odds of seeking care decreased with each
      additional month of the child's age. Caregivers living in rural areas were more
      likely to seek care, however were less likely to seek care promptly. Caregivers
      with at least a primary school education and those familiar with the protective
      effect of bed nets and the need to seek care promptly were more likely to seek
      care. Despite government assistance, the majority of caregivers did incur costs
      (mean 13,173 Ugandan shilling; $6.84 U.S. dollars) associated with medical care.
      Continued efforts targeting barriers to seeking care, including the economic
      burden, are necessary.

PMID- 26880781
TI  - Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Stool Detects Transmission of
      Strongyloides stercoralis from an Infected Donor to Solid Organ Transplant
      Recipients.
AB  - Solid organ transplant recipients can acquire Strongyloides stercoralis from an
      infected donor. The diagnosis of S. stercoralis in immunocompromised individuals
      may be challenging due to a lower sensitivity of available parasitological and
      serological methods, compared with immunocompetent individuals. Recently, a real
      time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in stool has been developed for S.
      stercoralis diagnosis. We report two cases of S. stercoralis infection
      transmitted by a donor to two solid organ transplant recipients, who were
      diagnosed with RT-PCR in stool. This test could play an important role inS.
      stercoralis diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients, facilitating rapid treatment
      initiation and reducing the risk of severe strongyloidiasis. Adherence to current
      recommendations of screening among donors and recipients from endemic areas is
      also urgently needed.

PMID- 26880782
TI  - Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan Immigrants to Spain.
AB  - Immigrants may be carriers of infectious diseases because of the prevalence of
      these diseases in their country of origin, exposure during migration, or
      conditions during resettlement, with this prevalence being particularly high in
      sub-Saharan Africans. We performed a retrospective review of 180 sub-Saharan
      immigrants screened for infectious diseases at an International Health Center
      from January 2009 to December 2012. At least one pathogenic infectious disease
      was diagnosed in 72.8% patients: 60.6% latent tuberculosis infection, 36.8%
      intestinal parasites (intestinal protozoa or helminths), 28.1% helminths, 14.8%
      hepatitis B surface antigen positive, 1.2% anti-hepatitis C virus positive, 1.2%
      human immunodeficiency virus-positive, and 1.2% malaria. Coinfections were
      present in 28.4%. There was significant association between eosinophilia
      (absolute count or percentage) or hyper-IgE and the presence of helminths (P<
      0.001). Relative eosinophilia and hyper-IgE were better indicators of helminth
      infection than absolute eosinophilia, particularly for schistosomiasis and
      strongyloidiasis. We found a high prevalence of infectious diseases in sub
      Saharan immigrants, which could lead to severe health problems (in the absence of
      prompt treatment), representing a high cost to the public health system and
      possible transmission in the host country. Accurate screening and tailored
      protocols for infectious diseases are recommended in sub-Saharan immigrants. 

PMID- 26880783
TI  - Changes of soil prokaryotic communities after clear-cutting in a karst forest:
      evidences for cutting-based disturbance promoting deterministic processes.
AB  - To understand the temporal responses of soil prokaryotic communities to clear
      cutting disturbance, we examined the changes in soil bacterial and archaeal
      community composition, structure and diversity along a chronosequence of forest
      successional restoration using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our
      results demonstrated that clear-cutting significantly altered soil bacterial
      community structure, while no significant shifts of soil archaeal communities
      were observed. The hypothesis that soil bacterial communities would become
      similar to those of surrounding intact primary forest with natural regeneration
      was supported by the shifts in the bacterial community composition and structure.
      Bacterial community diversity patterns induced by clear-cutting were consistent
      with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Dynamics of bacterial communities
      was mostly driven by soil properties, which collectively explained more than 70%
      of the variation in bacterial community composition. Community assembly data
      revealed that clear-cutting promoted the importance of the deterministic
      processes in shaping bacterial communities, coinciding with the resultant low
      resource environments. But assembly processes in the secondary forest returned a
      similar level compared to the intact primary forest. These findings suggest that
      bacterial community dynamics may be predictable during the natural recovery
      process.

PMID- 26880784
TI  - Diversity of the nitrogen starvation responses in subarctic Desmodesmus sp.
      (Chlorophyceae) strains isolated from symbioses with invertebrates.
AB  - We report on common and strain-specific responses to nitrogen (N) starvation
      recorded in four closely related symbiotic Desmodesmus strains from taxonomically
      very distant animals (hydroids, a sponge and a polychaete) dwelling in the White
      Sea. A number of common for the studied strains and free-living microalgae as
      well as some specific patterns of acclimation to the N starvation were
      documented. The common responses included a slowdown of cell division, a
      reduction of photosynthetic apparatus and a vast expansion of storage
      subcompartments of the cell. Although these responses were qualitatively similar
      to those known in free-living chlorophytes, in the studied strains they occurred
      in a strain-specific manner. The specific N-starvation responses comprised
      formation of chloroplast envelope membrane twirls, thinning of the appressed
      thylakoid membranes and a loss of the luminal depositions and channeling of the
      fixed carbon to cell wall polysaccharide layer. Desmodesmus sp. from a hydroid
      featured a unique, among the studied strains, capability of 'emergency'
      degradation of Rubisco, apparently to salvage the N contained in this protein.
      The obtained results are discussed in view of the remarkable physiological
      plasticity of the symbiotic Desmodesmus spp. and their survival under the harsh
      conditions of the subarctic sea habitat. 

PMID- 26880785
TI  - Characterization of the faecal bacterial community of wild young South American
      (Arctocephalus australis) and Subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis).
AB  - The microbiota of wild marine mammals is poorly understood, perhaps due to the
      migratory habits of some species and the difficulty in obtaining samples. Using
      high-throughput sequencing, the present study examines the faecal bacterial
      community of wild young South American (Arctocephalus australis) and Subantarctic
      fur seals (A. tropicalis). Faecal samples from South American (n = 6) and
      Subantarctic fur seals (n = 4) found dead along the south coast of Brazil were
      collected. Sequences were assigned to taxa using the Ribosomal Database Project
      Bayesian classifier. Diversity of the microbiota was assessed by categorization
      of sequence reads into operational taxonomic units. Results indicate that
      Firmicutes (88.556%-84.016%) was the predominant phylum in South American and
      Subantarctic fur seals. The distribution of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria
      varied according to the fur seal species. Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes
      represented less than 1% of the sequences. The most abundant order in both fur
      seals was Clostridiales (88.64% and 87.49%). Individual variable incidences were
      observed in the composition of family among the fur seals, though the families
      Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Coriobacteriaceae
      were more prevalent. This study provides insight into the faecal bacterial
      community of wild young South American and Subantarctic fur seals.

PMID- 26880787
TI  - Antimicrobial prescribing practices by Swiss, German and Austrian equine
      practitioners.

PMID- 26880788
TI  - Preventative Services for Sexual Offenders.
AB  - The role of primary prevention of sexual offences is an understudied area. The
      current study examined a sample ( N = 100) of men charged or convicted of a
      sexual offence to determine their interest in interventions that could be offered
      prior to offending, reasons for not seeking out interventions in the past, and
      demographic information including onset of deviant sexual fantasy and interests.
      The majority indicated that preventative interventions, including individual and
      group treatment, would have been beneficial, but inaccessibility of interventions
      and fear of arrest prevented them from seeking services. The findings suggest
      that men who progress to committing a sexual offence are interested in
      preventative interventions but require information regarding availability of
      accessible support and the development of primary prevention structures to
      fulfill society's desire to prevent sexual offending.

PMID- 26880786
TI  - Mogat1 deletion does not ameliorate hepatic steatosis in lipodystrophic (Agpat2-/
      ) or obese (ob/ob) mice.
AB  - Reducing triacylglycerol (TAG) in the liver continues to pose a challenge in
      states of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis. MonoacylglycerolO-acyltransferase
      (MOGAT) enzymes convert monoacylglycerol (MAG) to diacylglycerol, a precursor for
      TAG synthesis, and are involved in a major pathway of TAG synthesis in selected
      tissues, such as small intestine. MOGAT1 possesses MGAT activity in in vitro
      assays, but its physiological function in TAG metabolism is unknown. Recent
      studies suggest a role for MOGAT1 in hepatic steatosis in lipodystrophic [1
      acylglycerol-3-phosphateO-acyltransferase (Agpat)2(-/-)] and obese (ob/ob) mice.
      To test this, we deletedMogat1in theAgpat2(-/-)andob/obgenetic background to
      generateMogat1(-/-);Agpat2(-/-)andMogat1(-/-);ob/obdouble knockout (DKO) mice.
      Here we report that, despite the absence ofMogat1in either DKO mouse model, we
      did not find any decrease in liver TAG by 16 weeks of age. Additionally, there
      were no measureable changes in plasma glucose (diabetes) and insulin resistance.
      Our data indicate a minimal role, if any, of MOGAT1 in liver TAG synthesis, and
      that TAG synthesis in steatosis associated with lipodystrophy and obesity is
      independent of MOGAT1. Our findings suggest that MOGAT1 likely has an alternative
      function in vivo. 

PMID- 26880789
TI  - Exploring Neural Correlates of Empathy in Juveniles Who Have Sexually Offended.
AB  - To effectively address the needs of youth who perpetrate sexual violence and
      reduce rates of recidivism, a better understanding of the mechanisms of juvenile
      sexual offending is needed. Current literature identifies various factors that
      are believed to put youth at risk for sexual offending, two of which are empathy
      deficits and childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The extent to which empathy deficits
      contribute to juvenile sexual offending, however, is often debated, though
      studies have not yet explored a neurobehavioral model of this mechanism. This
      pilot study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the
      neural correlates of empathy in juveniles who sexually offend (JSOs), and the
      possible role of CSA. A total of 38 males (ages 12-20) were enrolled, including
      11 healthy control subjects and 27 JSOs, of which, 11 had a history of CSA.
      Participants underwent clinical assessment and completed an empathy task during
      fMRI. Using both whole-brain and region-of-interest analysis, results of the fMRI
      data showed no statistical differences in engagement of brain regions associated
      with empathy between controls and all JSOs. There were also no significant
      differences between JSOs with and without a history of CSA. These null findings
      pose implications for guiding future research studies with larger samples and
      more statistical power, and may support the need to further explore empathy
      related explanatory models and interventions for JSOs. Neuroimaging may
      demonstrate to be a useful tool to identify individualized risk factors and aid
      in tailoring interventions for this population.

PMID- 26880790
TI  - Risk factors for preoperative respiratory complications in children with
      tracheobronchial foreign bodies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for preoperative respiratory complications
      associated with tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (TFBA) by
      retrospectively analysing paediatric cases presenting with or without
      complications. METHODS: Paediatric patients who presented with TFBA and were
      admitted to hospital were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two
      groups based on occurrence of preoperative respiratory complications as confirmed
      by computed tomography. Age, sex, TFBA symptoms, type of foreign body, retention
      timeand location of the foreign body were documented and compared between the
      groups. RESULTS: In total, 223 children were included: group A (n = 161) included
      those with respiratory complications; group B (n = 62) included those without
      respiratory complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses found that type
      of foreign body, and symptoms differed significantly between the two groups.
      CONCLUSION: Respiratory complications of TFBA in children were correlated with
      the type of foreign body and symptoms.

PMID- 26880791
TI  - Plate fixation versus intramedullary fixation for midshaft clavicle fractures:
      Meta-analysis of complications and functional outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This analysis critically compares publications discussing
      complications and functional outcomes of plate fixation (PF) versus
      intramedullary fixation (IF) for midshaft clavicle fractures. METHODS: Relevant
      studies published between January 1990 and October 2014, without language
      restrictions, were identified in database searches of PubMed(r), Medline(r),
      Embase and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Studies that
      compared postoperative complications and functional outcomes between PF and IF
      for midshaft clavicle fractures, and provided sufficient data for analysis, were
      included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: After strict evaluation, 12 studies were
      included in this meta-analysis. Studies encompassed 462 participants in the PF
      group and 440 in the IF group. Study participants were followed up for >=1 year.
      Outcomes were superior with IF compared with PF in terms of shoulder constant
      score at 6-month follow-up, fewer symptomatic hardware complications, lower rate
      of refracture after hardware removal and less hypertrophic scarring. In other
      aspects, such as functional recovery at 12-months and 24-months, Disability of
      Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire results at 12-month follow-up,
      shoulder motion range, rates of superficial infection, temporary brachial plexus
      lesion, nonunion, malunion, delayed union, implant failure and need for major
      revision, both techniques were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this meta
      analysis suggest that, in many respects, IF was superior to PF for the management
      of midshaft clavicle fractures. This finding could aid surgeons in making
      decisions on the optimum internal fixation pattern for midshaft clavicular
      fractures.

PMID- 26880792
TI  - Epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin E2 levels in Helicobacter pylori
      positive gastric intraepithelial neoplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and
      prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in Han Chinese patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive
      gastric low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN). METHODS: In this prospective,
      observational study, gastric specimens from patients with LGIN were collected by
      gastroscopy with consecutive biopsy. EGF and PGE2 concentrations in serum and
      gastric juice from patients with LGIN were measured by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. Presence of H. pylori infection was assessed in patients
      with LGIN and healthy controls. RESULTS: Out of 5 638 patients and 548 controls,
      H. pylori infection in patients with chronic gastritis was associated with
      disease type (endoscopic classification) and disease severity. Patients with H.
      pylori-positive LGIN had significantly higher concentrations of serum EGF and
      lower concentrations of serum PGE2 versus patients with H. pylori-negative LGIN.
      Serum EGF and PGE2 levels in patients with LGIN were not significantly associated
      with disease type, but were significantly associated with disease severity.
      CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection was associated with chronic gastritis type
      (endoscopic classification) and disease severity. Abnormal EGF and PGE2 levels
      may be associated with H. pylori-positive LGIN in Han Chinese patients in central
      China.

PMID- 26880793
TI  - Early stage primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma: Outcome-based clinicopathological
      study in comparison with serous carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates
      between patients with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma and those with primary
      ovarian serous carcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed archival
      tumour specimens, originally diagnosed as primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma,
      using refined histological criteria. All patients were contacted to establish
      survival status. Clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival data
      were compared with a group of control patients with primary ovarian serous
      carcinoma. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients originally diagnosed with primary ovarian
      mucinous carcinoma, this diagnosis was only confirmed in 18. Primary ovarian
      mucinous carcinoma was more commonly associated with early International
      Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics tumour stages and low-grade histology
      than primary ovarian serous carcinoma. Patients with primary ovarian mucinous
      carcinoma had a significantly higher overall 5-year survival rate than those with
      primary ovarian serous carcinoma (12/12 [100%] versus 14/24 [58%]). Kaplan-Meier
      survival plots demonstrated that patients with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma
      had a survival advantage over patients with primary ovarian serous carcinoma.
      CONCLUSIONS: Primary ovarian mucinous carcinomas are frequently low-grade, stage
      I tumours and have an excellent prognosis.

PMID- 26880794
TI  - Comparison of effects of intravenous midazolam and ketamine on emergence
      agitation in children: Randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to compare
      the effect of preoperative midazolam or ketamine on the incidence of emergence
      agitation (EA) following sevoflurane anaesthesia in children. METHODS: Paediatric
      patients (2-6 years old) undergoing ophthalmic surgery were allocated to receive
      premedication with either 0.1 mg/kg midazolam or 1 mg/kg ketamine. Incidence of
      EA and postoperative pain scores were recorded at 10-min intervals in the
      postanaesthetic care unit (PACU). The use of EA rescue medications (fentanyl or
      midazolam) was recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of EA was significantly lower in
      the ketamine group (n = 33) than the midazolam group (n = 34) at 10 and 20 min
      after transfer to PACU. There was no significant difference in overall incidence
      of EA. The frequency of midazolam use as rescue medication was significantly
      lower in the katamine group than in the midazolam group. CONCLUSION:
      Premedication with ketamine is more effective than midazolam in preventing EA
      during the early emergence period after sevoflurane anaesthesia in children.

PMID- 26880795
TI  - MiR-205 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma cells by activation of AKT signalling.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of microRNA (miR)-205 in proliferation, migration
      and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: The human NPC cell line
      CNE2 was transfected with miR-205 mimic, anti-miR-205 inhibitor or scrambled
      oligonucleotide (control). Cell proliferation was assessed via MTT assay. Cell
      migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell migration and Matrigel(r)
      invasion assay, respectively. Radiation induced apoptosis was quantified via
      Caspase-Glo3/7 assay. Apoptotic proteins and epithelial-mesenchymal transition
      (EMT) proteins were semiquantified by Western blot analysis. RESULTS:
      Overexpression of miR-205 increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of
      CNE2 cells, and decreased radiation-induced apoptosis compared with control
      cells. MiR-205 overexpression downregulated E-cadherin and upregulated Snail
      expression via downregulation of PTEN and upregulation of AKT. CONCLUSION: MiR
      205 plays vital roles in tumourigenesis and tumour progression in NPC, and may be
      a potential treatment target.

PMID- 26880797
TI  - Asynchronous spore germination in isogenic natural isolates of Saccharomyces
      paradoxus.
AB  - Spores from wild yeast isolates often show great variation in the size of
      colonies they produce, for largely unknown reasons. Here we measure the colonies
      produced from single spores from six different wild Saccharomyces paradoxus
      strains. We found remarkable variation in spore colony sizes, even among spores
      that were genetically identical. Different strains had different amounts of
      variation in spore colony sizes, and variation was not affected by the number of
      preceding meioses, or by spore maturation time. We used time-lapse photography to
      show that wild strains also have high variation in spore germination timing,
      providing a likely mechanism for the variation in spore colony sizes. When some
      spores from a laboratory strain make small colonies, or no colonies, it usually
      indicates a genetic or meiotic fault. Here, we demonstrate that in wild strains
      spore colony size variation is normal. We discuss and assess potential adaptive
      and non-adaptive explanations for this variation.

PMID- 26880798
TI  - (-)-Nortrachelogenin from Partrinia scabiosaefolia elicits an apoptotic response
      in Candida albicans.
AB  - This study analyzes the antifungal properties of (-)-nortrachelogenin and
      elucidates its mode of action against pathogenic fungi. We performed
      susceptibility tests against several pathogenic fungi and verified the absence of
      hemolysis against human erythrocytes. Its antifungal activity increased reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) in response to intracellular stress and increased
      concentrations of both intracellular and extracellular trehalose without causing
      hemolysis. In addition, a cell wall regeneration study indicated its action on
      the cytoplasmic membrane. A cell surface study using 3,3(')
      dipropylthiacarbocyanine iodide [DiSC3(5)] and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene
      (DPH) demonstrated dissipation of the cytoplasmic membrane at high
      concentrations. Our study revealed a disturbance in the membrane at higher
      concentrations and externalization of phosphatidylserine in a dose-dependent
      manner, affecting other intracellular responses. Furthermore, we investigated the
      late stage of apoptosis using TUNEL and 4('),6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)
      assays. (-)-Nortrachelogenin-treated cells underwent apoptosis which was
      triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction via depolarization of the mitochondrial
      membrane, release of cytochrome c and calcium ion signaling, resulting in the
      activation of metacaspases. Different concentrations of (-)-nortrachelogenin
      induced membrane disruption and caspase-dependent apoptosis.

PMID- 26880796
TI  - 60 YEARS OF POMC: Biosynthesis, trafficking, and secretion of pro
      opiomelanocortin-derived peptides.
AB  - Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a prohormone that encodes multiple smaller peptide
      hormones within its structure. These peptide hormones can be generated by
      cleavage of POMC at basic residue cleavage sites by prohormone-converting enzymes
      in the regulated secretory pathway (RSP) of POMC-synthesizing endocrine cells and
      neurons. The peptides are stored inside the cells in dense-core secretory
      granules until released in a stimulus-dependent manner. The complexity of the
      regulation of the biosynthesis, trafficking, and secretion of POMC and its
      peptides reflects an impressive level of control over many factors involved in
      the ultimate role of POMC-expressing cells, that is, to produce a range of
      different biologically active peptide hormones ready for action when signaled by
      the body. From the discovery of POMC as the precursor to adrenocorticotropic
      hormone (ACTH) and beta-lipotropin in the late 1970s to our current knowledge,
      the understanding of POMC physiology remains a monumental body of work that has
      provided insight into many aspects of molecular endocrinology. In this article,
      we describe the intracellular trafficking of POMC in endocrine cells, its sorting
      into dense-core secretory granules and transport of these granules to the RSP.
      Additionally, we review the enzymes involved in the maturation of POMC to its
      various peptides and the mechanisms involved in the differential processing of
      POMC in different cell types. Finally, we highlight studies pertaining to the
      regulation of ACTH secretion in the anterior and intermediate pituitary and POMC
      neurons of the hypothalamus.

PMID- 26880799
TI  - Serum Glucocorticoid-Regulated Kinase 1 Blocks CKD-Induced Muscle Wasting Via
      Inactivation of FoxO3a and Smad2/3.
AB  - Muscle proteolysis in CKD is stimulated when the ubiquitin-proteasome system is
      activated. Serum glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK-1) is involved in
      skeletal muscle homeostasis, but the role of this protein in CKD-induced muscle
      wasting is unknown. We found that, compared with muscles from healthy controls,
      muscles from patients and mice with CKD express low levels of SGK-1. In mice, SGK
      1-knockout (SGK-1-KO) induced muscle loss that correlated with increased
      expression of ubiquitin E3 ligases known to facilitate protein degradation by the
      ubiquitin-proteasome, and CKD substantially aggravated this response. SGK-1-KO
      also altered the phosphorylation levels of transcription factors FoxO3a and
      Smad2/3. In C2C12 muscle cells, expression of dominant negative FoxO3a or
      knockdown of Smad2/3 suppressed the upregulation of E3 ligases induced by loss of
      SGK-1. Additionally, SGK-1 overexpression increased the level of phosphorylated N
      myc downstream-regulated gene 1 protein, which directly interacted with and
      suppressed the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Overexpression of SGK-1 in wild-type
      mice with CKD had similar effects on the phosphorylation of FoxO3a and Smad2/3
      and prevented CKD-induced muscle atrophy. Finally, mechanical stretch of C2C12
      muscle cells or treadmill running of wild-type mice with CKD stimulated SGK-1
      production, and treadmill running inhibited proteolysis in muscle. These
      protective responses were absent in SGK-1-KO mice. Thus, SGK-1 could be a
      mechanical sensor that mediates exercise-induced improvement in muscle wasting
      stimulated by CKD.

PMID- 26880801
TI  - Small-Molecule Inhibition of GCNT3 Disrupts Mucin Biosynthesis and Malignant
      Cellular Behaviors in Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive neoplasm with almost uniform lethality and a 5
      year survival rate of 7%. Several overexpressed mucins that impede drug delivery
      to pancreatic tumors have been therapeutically targeted, but enzymes involved in
      mucin biosynthesis have yet to be preclinically evaluated as potential targets.
      We used survival data from human patients with pancreatic cancer, next-generation
      sequencing of genetically engineered Kras-driven mouse pancreatic tumors and
      human pancreatic cancer cells to identify the novel core mucin-synthesizing
      enzyme GCNT3 (core 2 beta-1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase). In mouse
      pancreatic cancer tumors, GCNT3 upregulation (103-fold; P < 0.0001) was
      correlated with increased expression of mucins (5 to 87-fold; P < 0.04-0.0003).
      Aberrant GCNT3 expression was also associated with increased mucin production,
      aggressive tumorigenesis, and reduced patient survival, and CRISPR-mediated
      knockout of GCNT3 in pancreatic cancer cells reduced proliferation and spheroid
      formation. Using in silico small molecular docking simulation approaches, we
      identified talniflumate as a novel inhibitor that selectively binds to GCNT3. In
      particular, docking predictions suggested that three notable hydrogen bonds
      between talniflumate and GCNT3 contribute to a docking affinity of -8.3 kcal/mol.
      Furthermore, talniflumate alone and in combination with low-dose gefitinib
      reduced GCNT3 expression, leading to the disrupted production of mucins in vivo
      and in vitro Collectively, our findings suggest that targeting mucin biosynthesis
      through GCNT3 may improve drug responsiveness, warranting further development and
      investigation in preclinical models of pancreatic tumorigenesis. Cancer Res;
      76(7); 1965-74. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880800
TI  - Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Express Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase and Can Be
      Depleted in Tumor-Bearing Hosts by Ibrutinib Treatment.
AB  - Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous group of immature
      myeloid cells that expand in tumor-bearing hosts in response to soluble factors
      produced by tumor and stromal cells. MDSC expansion has been linked to loss of
      immune effector cell function and reduced efficacy of immune-based cancer
      therapies, highlighting the MDSC population as an attractive therapeutic target.
      Ibrutinib, an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and IL2
      inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), is in clinical use for the treatment of B-cell
      malignancies. Here, we report that BTK is expressed by murine and human MDSCs,
      and that ibrutinib is able to inhibit BTK phosphorylation in these cells.
      Treatment of MDSCs with ibrutinib significantly impaired nitric oxide production
      and cell migration. In addition, ibrutinib inhibited in vitro generation of human
      MDSCs and reduced mRNA expression of indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase, an
      immunosuppressive factor. Treatment of mice bearing EMT6 mammary tumors with
      ibrutinib resulted in reduced frequency of MDSCs in both the spleen and tumor.
      Ibrutinib treatment also resulted in a significant reduction of MDSCs in wild
      type mice bearing B16F10 melanoma tumors, but not in X-linked immunodeficiency
      mice (XID) harboring a BTK mutation, suggesting that BTK inhibition plays an
      important role in the observed reduction of MDSCs in vivo Finally, ibrutinib
      significantly enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 (CD274) therapy in a murine
      breast cancer model. Together, these results demonstrate that ibrutinib modulates
      MDSC function and generation, revealing a potential strategy for enhancing immune
      based therapies in solid malignancies. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2125-36. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880802
TI  - Redundant Innate and Adaptive Sources of IL17 Production Drive Colon
      Tumorigenesis.
AB  - IL17-producing Th17 cells, generated through a STAT3-dependent mechanism, have
      been shown to promote carcinogenesis in many systems, including microbe-driven
      colon cancer. Additional sources of IL17, such as gammadelta T cells, become
      available under inflammatory conditions, but their contributions to cancer
      development are unclear. In this study, we modeled Th17-driven colon
      tumorigenesis by colonizing Min(Ap) (c+/-) mice with the human gut bacterium,
      enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), to investigate the link between
      inflammation and colorectal cancer. We found that ablating Th17 cells by knocking
      out Stat3 in CD4(+) T cells delayed tumorigenesis, but failed to suppress the
      eventual formation of colonic tumors. However, IL17 blockade significantly
      attenuated tumor formation, indicating a critical requirement for IL17 in
      tumorigenesis, but from a source other than Th17 cells. Notably, genetic ablation
      of gammadelta T cells in ETBF-colonized Th17-deficient Min mice prevented the
      late emergence of colonic tumors. Taken together, these findings support a
      redundant role for adaptive Th17 cell- and innate gammadeltaT17 cell-derived IL17
      in bacteria-induced colon carcinogenesis, stressing the importance of
      therapeutically targeting the cytokine itself rather than its cellular sources.
      Cancer Res; 76(8); 2115-24. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880803
TI  - Deletion of Interstitial Genes between TMPRSS2 and ERG Promotes Prostate Cancer
      Progression.
AB  - TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions that occur frequently in human prostate cancers can be
      generated either through insertional chromosomal rearrangement or by
      intrachromosomal deletion. Genetically, a key difference between these two
      mechanisms is that the latter results in deletion of a ~3-Mb interstitial region
      containing genes with unexplored roles in prostate cancer. In this study, we
      characterized two mouse models recapitulating TMPRSS2-ERG insertion or deletion
      events in the background of prostate-specific PTEN deficiency. We found that only
      the mice that lacked the interstitial region developed prostate adenocarcinomas
      marked by poor differentiation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
      Mechanistic investigations identified several interstitial genes, including Ets2
      and Bace2, whose reduced expression correlated in the gene homologs in human
      prostate cancer with biochemical relapse and lethal disease. Accordingly, PTEN
      deficient mice with prostate-specific knockout of Ets2 exhibited marked
      progression of prostate adenocarcinomas that was partly attributed to activation
      of MAPK signaling. Collectively, our findings established that Ets2 is a tumor
      suppressor gene in prostate cancer, and its loss along with other genes within
      the TMPRSS2-ERG interstitial region contributes to disease progression. Cancer
      Res; 76(7); 1869-81. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880804
TI  - Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Identifies Longitudinal Urinary Metabolite
      Profiles Predictive of Radiation-Induced Cancer.
AB  - Nonlethal exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) is a public concern due to its
      known carcinogenic effects. Although latency periods for IR-induced neoplasms are
      relatively long, the ability to detect cancer as early as possible is highly
      advantageous for effective therapeutic intervention. Therefore, we hypothesized
      that metabolites in the urine from mice exposed to total body radiation (TBI)
      would predict for the presence of cancer before a palpable mass was detected. In
      this study, we exposed mice to 0 or 5.4 Gy TBI, collected urine samples
      periodically over 1 year, and assayed urine metabolites by using mass
      spectrometry. Longitudinal data analysis within the first year post-TBI revealed
      that cancers, including hematopoietic, solid, and benign neoplasms, could be
      distinguished by unique urinary signatures as early as 3 months post-TBI.
      Furthermore, a distinction among different types of malignancies could be clearly
      delineated as early as 3 months post-TBI for hematopoietic neoplasms, 6 months
      for solid neoplasms, and by 1 year for benign neoplasms. Moreover, the feature
      profile for radiation-exposed mice 6 months post-TBI was found to be similar to
      nonirradiated control mice at 18 months, suggesting that TBI accelerates aging.
      These results demonstrate that urine feature profiles following TBI can identify
      cancers in mice prior to macroscopic detection, with important implications for
      the early diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 26880808
TI  - Tobacco Causes Human Cancers--A Concept Founded on Epidemiology and an Insightful
      Experiment Now Requires Translation Worldwide.
AB  - The recognition that tobacco smoke is carcinogenic led to the most significant
      and successful effort at reducing cancer incidence in human history. A major
      milestone of this effort was the publication in Cancer Research by Wynder and
      colleagues, which demonstrated the ability of tobacco tars to produce tumors in
      mice. This study provided a powerful link between the epidemiology of cancer and
      mechanisms of carcinogenesis. This commentary asserts that we have a moral
      obligation to translate our success in reducing lung cancer in the United States
      to the 1.25 billion smokers throughout the rest of the world. See related article
      by Wynder et al., Cancer Res 1953;13:855-64.

PMID- 26880805
TI  - KLF4-Mediated Suppression of CD44 Signaling Negatively Impacts Pancreatic Cancer
      Stemness and Metastasis.
AB  - KLF4 and CD44 regulate cancer cell stemness, but their precise functions and
      roles in metastatic progression are not well understood. In this study, we used
      both inducible and genetic engineering approaches to assess whether the
      activities of these two factors intersect in pancreatic cancer. We found that
      genetic ablation of Klf4 in pancreatic cancer cells isolated from Klf4(flox/flox)
      mice drastically increased CD44 expression and promoted the acquisition of stem
      like properties, whereas tetracycline-inducible expression of KLF4 suppressed
      these properties in vitro and in vivo Further mechanistic investigation revealed
      that KLF4 bound to the CD44 promoter to negatively regulate transcription and
      also the expression of the CD44 variant. Moreover, in human pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues, the expression patterns of KLF4 and CD44 were
      mutually exclusive, and this inverse relationship was particularly striking in
      human metastatic pancreatic tumors and in autochthonous mouse models of PDAC.
      Taken together, our findings demonstrate that KLF4 acts as a tumor suppressor in
      PDAC cells that restricts metastatic behaviors through direct negative regulation
      of CD44, providing support for the clinical investigation of therapeutic
      approaches focusing on targeted KLF4 activation in advanced tumors. Cancer Res;
      76(8); 2419-31. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26880809
TI  - A Retrospective: On Clinical Studies with 5-Fluorouracil.

PMID- 26880810
TI  - Correction: Tumor Angiogenesis Mediated by Myeloid Cells Is Negatively Regulated
      by CEACAM1.

PMID- 26880806
TI  - At the Crossroads of Cancer Stem Cells, Radiation Biology, and Radiation
      Oncology.
AB  - Reports that a small subset of tumor cells initiate and sustain tumor growth, are
      resistant to radiation and drugs, and bear specific markers have led to an
      explosion of cancer stem cell research. These reports imply that the evaluation
      of therapeutic response by changes in tumor volume is misleading, as volume
      changes reflect the response of the sensitive rather than the resistant
      tumorigenic cell population. The reports further suggest that the marker-based
      selection of the tumor cell population will facilitate the development of
      radiation treatment schedules, sensitizers, and drugs that specifically target
      the resistant tumorigenic cells that give rise to treatment failure. This review
      presents evidence that contests the observations that cancer stem cell markers
      reliably identify the subset of tumor cells that sustain tumor growth and that
      the marker-identified population is radioresistant relative to the marker
      negative cells. Experimental studies show that cells and tumors that survive
      large radiation doses are not more radioresistant than unirradiated cells and
      tumors, and also show that the intrinsic radiosensitivity of unsorted colony
      forming tumor cells, in combination with the fraction of unsorted tumor cells
      that are tumor initiating, predicts tumor radiocurability.

PMID- 26880811
TI  - Tertiary hyperparathyroidism presenting as posterior reversible encephalopathy
      syndrome.

PMID- 26880812
TI  - ABCD2 score and secondary stroke prevention: Meta-analysis and effect per 1,000
      patients triaged.

PMID- 26880813
TI  - Teaching NeuroImages: Red forehead dot syndrome and migraine revisited.

PMID- 26880814
TI  - Clinical Reasoning: A 62-year-old woman with bizarre behavior and recurrent
      episodes of behavioral arrest.

PMID- 26880815
TI  - Clinical Reasoning: A 37-year-old man with multiple cranial neuropathies.

PMID- 26880817
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26880816
TI  - Teaching NeuroImages: MRI findings of biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease
      before and after treatment.

PMID- 26880818
TI  - Pheophytinase Knockdown Impacts Carbon Metabolism and Nutraceutical Content Under
      Normal Growth Conditions in Tomato.
AB  - Although chlorophyll (Chl) degradation is an essential biochemical pathway for
      plant physiology, our knowledge regarding this process still has unfilled gaps.
      Pheophytinase (PPH) was shown to be essential for Chl breakdown in dark-induced
      senescent leaves. However, the catalyzing enzymes involved in pigment turnover
      and fruit ripening-associated degreening are still controversial. Chl metabolism
      is closely linked to the biosynthesis of other isoprenoid-derived compounds, such
      as carotenoids and tocopherols, which are also components of the photosynthetic
      machinery. Chls, carotenoids and tocopherols share a common precursor,
      geranylgeranyl diphosphate, produced by the plastidial methylerythritol 4
      phosphate (MEP) pathway. Additionally, the Chl degradation-derived phytol can be
      incorporated into tocopherol biosynthesis. In this context, tomato turns out to
      be an interesting model to address isoprenoid-metabolic cross-talk since fruit
      ripening combines degreening and an intensely active MEP leading to carotenoid
      accumulation. Here, we investigate the impact of PPH deficiency beyond senescence
      by the comprehensive phenotyping of SlPPH-knockdown tomato plants. In leaves,
      photosynthetic parameters indicate altered energy usage of excited Chl. As a
      mitigatory effect, photosynthesis-associated carotenoids increased while
      tocopherol content remained constant. Additionally, starch and soluble sugar
      profiles revealed a distinct pattern of carbon allocation in leaves that suggests
      enhanced sucrose exportation. The higher levels of carbohydrates in sink organs
      down-regulated carotenoid biosynthesis. Additionally, the reduction in Chl
      derived phytol recycling resulted in decreased tocopherol content in transgenic
      ripe fruits. Summing up, tocopherol and carotenoid metabolism, together with the
      antioxidant capacity of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions, were
      differentially affected in leaves and fruits of the transgenic plants. Thus, in
      tomato, PPH plays a role beyond senescence-associated Chl degradation that, when
      compromised, affects isoprenoid and carbon metabolism which ultimately alters the
      fruit's nutraceutical content. 

PMID- 26880819
TI  - Involvement of Potassium Transport Systems in the Response of Synechocystis PCC
      6803 Cyanobacteria to External pH Change, High-Intensity Light Stress and Heavy
      Metal Stress.
AB  - The unicellular photosynthetic cyanobacterium, able to survive in varying
      environments, is the only prokaryote that directly converts solar energy and CO2
      into organic material and is thus relevant for primary production in many
      ecosystems. To maintain the intracellular and intrathylakoid ion homeostasis upon
      different environmental challenges, the concentration of potassium as a major
      intracellular cation has to be optimized by various K(+)uptake-mediated transport
      systems. We reveal here the specific and concerted physiological function of
      three K(+)transporters of the plasma and thylakoid membranes, namely of SynK
      (K(+)channel), KtrB (Ktr/Trk/HKT) and KdpA (Kdp) in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC
      6803, under specific stress conditions. The behavior of the wild type, single,
      double and triple mutants was compared, revealing that only Synk contributes to
      heavy metal-induced stress, while only Ktr/Kdp is involved in osmotic and salt
      stress adaptation. With regards to pH shifts in the external medium, the Kdp/Ktr
      uptake systems play an important role in the adaptation to acidic pH. Ktr, by
      affecting the CO2 concentration mechanism via its action on the bicarbonate
      transporter SbtA, might also be responsible for the observed effects concerning
      high-light stress and calcification. In the case of illumination with high
      intensity light, a synergistic action of Kdr/Ktp and SynK is required in order to
      avoid oxidative stress and ensure cell viability. In summary, this study
      dissects, using growth tests, measurement of photosynthetic activity and analysis
      of ultrastructure, the physiological role of three K(+)transporters in adaptation
      of the cyanobacteria to various environmental changes.

PMID- 26880820
TI  - When is a mass not a mass? An unusual presentation of prominent crista
      terminalis.
AB  - This case report describes a patient in whom echocardiography showed borderline
      left ventricular hypertrophy and a mass adjacent to the right atrial wall. This
      naturally caused some concern as the differential diagnoses included that of a
      right atrial myxoma and further investigations were organised. A subsequent
      cardiac MRI revealed this thickening to be a prominent crista terminalis. The
      crista terminalis is a variant of normal anatomical structures within the right
      atrium, which mimics an atrial mass. 

PMID- 26880821
TI  - Perianal melanoma with a BRAF gene mutation in a young Portuguese Roma native.
AB  - A case of a young man diagnosed with perianal nodular melanoma with a gene
      mutation, accompanied by regional and pulmonary metastases on initial
      presentation, and later on with hepatic and bone involvement, is presented. The
      patient underwent wide local excision but was unresponsive to dacarbazine.
      Targeted therapy with vemurafenib had shown clinical improvement for a 5-month
      duration until he showed signs of disease progression. Just after the shift of
      adjuvant therapy to ipilimumab, he was diagnosed with multiple cerebral
      metastases that eventually led to his demise 6 months after initiation of
      vemurafenib, having had a 12-month survival period from the time of initial
      melanoma diagnosis.

PMID- 26880822
TI  - Multiple carpometacarpal dislocations and an associated fracture of the hamate:
      an uncommon injury.
AB  - Dislocation of the four ulnar carpometacarpal (CMC) joints with a concurrent
      fracture of the hamate is a rare injury, with a paucity of published cases. A
      great force is required to dislocate a CMC joint. Diagnosis can easily be missed,
      due to other serious associated injuries. Appropriate treatment of CMC joint
      dislocations usually leads to excellent outcomes. We present a case of dorsal
      dislocation of the four ulnar CMC joints after punching a wall. The injury was
      treated with a closed reduction and percutaneous transfixation with Kirschner
      wires. Despite the extensive injury, the functional result was good (full and
      painless range of motion) at 12 weeks of follow-up.

PMID- 26880823
TI  - Recovery of renal function after long-term dialysis and resolution of
      cardiomyopathy in a patient with aHUS receiving eculizumab.
AB  - We present the case of a 18-month-old girl with renal and cardiac manifestations
      of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), and a novel complement factor H
      mutation. Transient haematological remission was achieved with intensive
      plasmapheresis, but cardiac function deteriorated and renal function was not
      restored. Initiation of eculizumab after 6 months of dialysis significantly
      improved organ function. At 43 months after presentation, haematological values
      had normalised and cardiac function had improved. Dialysis was discontinued after
      10 months (the longest reported time in a patient with aHUS) and the estimated
      glomerular filtration rate had recovered to 70 mL/min/1.73 m(2). In conclusion,
      treatment of aHUS with eculizumab, even after long-term dialysis, can
      significantly improve renal function. Discontinuation of dialysis and resolution
      of cardiac function has implications on the potential recovery and treatment
      choice of such patients. Earlier initiation of eculizumab, however, might have
      prevented the irreversible renal sclerosis and cardiac dysfunction.

PMID- 26880824
TI  - Dysuria and fever in a young woman diagnosed as having inflammatory
      myofibroblastic tumour of the urinary bladder.
AB  - A 38-year-old woman presented with dysuria and fever. Her medical and family
      histories were unremarkable. CT scan of the abdomen revealed a polypoid mass of
      4*2.6*2.2 cm. Her cystoscopy showed a 4*2 cm solid broad-based growth at trigone
      of the urinary bladder. She underwent transurethral resection of the urinary
      bladder tumour (TURBT). Histopathology revealed a poorly circumscribed
      proliferation of spindle cells arranged in a haphazard and fascicular manner
      along with many traversing blood vessels in a myxoid and hyalinised stroma.
      Immunohistochemistry was positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1, smooth muscle
      actin, CD10, cytokeratin and desmin; and negative for CD34 and S-100 protein. Ki
      67 proliferative index in the tumour was <1%. The patient was diagnosed as having
      inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the urinary bladder. After TURBT, her
      fever and urinary symptoms resolved. Her 1-month postoperative period was
      uneventful. She has been advised regular follow-up. 

PMID- 26880825
TI  - Long-term follow-up of unsuccessful coil embolisation in Osler-Weber-Rendu
      syndrome.

PMID- 26880826
TI  - Radiographically occult intrasinusoidal liver metastases leading to hepatic
      failure in a case of breast cancer.
AB  - The liver is one of the commonest sites of metastatic involvement in breast
      cancer, usually evident as focal lesions on imaging tests. Rarely, the pattern of
      metastatic spread is so diffuse that it remains radiologically occult. Such
      patients usually present with signs of hepatic insufficiency without any focal
      lesions on liver imaging. In such cases, liver biopsy is required to make a
      definitive diagnosis. We report a case of a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman with
      metastatic breast cancer who presented with subacute progressive liver failure.
      Repeated imaging of the liver was normal or non-descript. Liver biopsy finally
      established the diagnosis of intrasinusoidal metastases from breast cancer. 

PMID- 26880827
TI  - Lhermitte-Duclos disease.

PMID- 26880828
TI  - Lipschutz ulcers: uncommon diagnosis of vulvar ulcerations.

PMID- 26880829
TI  - Easily missed fracture: distal radius and concomitant proximal ulna.

PMID- 26880830
TI  - Large apical thrombus due to Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26880831
TI  - Increased levels of peptidylarginine deiminase 2 in synovial fluid from anti-CCP
      positive rheumatoid arthritis patients: Association with disease activity and
      inflammatory markers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To quantify peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) in SF of RA patients
      and OA patients, and to determine the association between PAD2 levels, disease
      activity and inflammatory markers in RA. METHODS: Blood and SF samples were
      obtained from 39 RA patients and 40 patients with OA. PAD2 content and PAD
      activity were measured by means of in-house assays. TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL
      8, IL-10 and IL-12 were measured using flow cytometry. RESULTS: PAD2 levels and
      PAD activity were higher in SF from RA than OA patients (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03,
      respectively), as were all cytokine levels (P < 0.0001-0.05). SF PAD2 levels were
      higher among anti-CCP-positive patients than among anti-CCP-negative patients (P
      = 0.005). PAD2 levels in SF from RA patients correlated with disease activity, as
      assessed by DAS28 (P < 0.005). Moreover, SF PAD2 levels correlated with
      circulating CRP and anti-CCP levels (P < 0.0006), as well as with leucocyte
      count, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels in SF (P < 0.0001-0.02). PAD activity in SF
      was higher in RA patients than in OA patients, and correlated with PAD2
      concentration. CONCLUSION: Extracellular PAD2 levels in SF correlate with disease
      activity in RA patients. Anti-CCP-positive RA patients have higher PAD2 levels in
      SF than anti-CCP-negative RA patients and OA patients. Since we could demonstrate
      enzymatically active PADs in SF, we propose that free, extracellular PAD is of
      pathogenic relevance.

PMID- 26880832
TI  - The relationship between skin symptoms and the scleroderma modification of the
      health assessment questionnaire, the modified Rodnan skin score, and skin
      pathology in patients with systemic sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine how well skin symptoms considered specific to SSc are
      captured by patient reported outcomes currently used for assessing patients with
      SSc, the SHAQ, or skin disease, the Skindex-29; and how well these symptoms
      correlate with the extent of skin disease on physical exam and skin pathology.
      METHODS: SSc patients completed the scleroderma modification of the Health
      Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ), Skindex-29 and a Skin Symptom Assessment
      questionnaire developed for this study. Correlations were assessed between the
      Skin Symptom Assessment and SHAQ, Skindex-29, modified Rodnan skin score, and
      skin pathological features including myofibroblast staining completed on the same
      date. RESULTS: Tight, hard and rigid/stiff skin symptoms correlated moderately
      highly with the modified Rodnan skin score (r = 0.445, P = 0.0008; r = 0.486, P =
      0.0002; and r = 0.488, P = 0.0002, respectively). Tight skin symptoms correlated
      moderately with myofibroblast infiltration (r = 0.544, P = 0.0023) and hyalinized
      collagen (r = 0.442, P = 0.0164), while both hard and rigid/stiff skin correlated
      moderately with inflammation (r = 0.401, P = 0.0310 and r = 0.513, P = 0.0045),
      myofibroblast infiltration(r = 0.480, P = 0.0084 and r = 0.527, P = 0.0033) and
      hyalinized collagen (r = 0.453, P = 0.0137 and r = 0.478, P = 0.0087), while the
      SHAQ was not found to correlate with any of these pathological changes. In
      contrast, painful skin symptoms correlated moderately with the SHAQ (r = 0.413, P
      = 0.0073), and with the three domains of Skindex-29: Symptoms, Emotions and
      Functioning. Skindex-29 indicates that dcSSc patient skin symptoms are nearly as
      severe as those of patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSION:
      Patient reported skin symptoms correlate with clinical and pathological measures
      in the skin. A validated patient reported skin symptom instrument might
      considerably improve evaluation of SSc skin disease.

PMID- 26880833
TI  - Communicating about ocean health: theoretical and practical considerations.
AB  - As anthropogenic stressors threaten the health of marine ecosystems, there is a
      need to better understand how the public processes and responds to information
      about ocean health. Recent studies of public perceptions about ocean issues
      report high concern but limited knowledge, prompting calls for information
      campaigns to mobilize public support for ocean restoration policy. Drawing on the
      literature from communication, psychology and related social science disciplines,
      we consider a set of social-cognitive challenges that researchers and advocates
      are likely to encounter when communicating with the public about ocean health and
      emerging marine diseases--namely, the psychological distance at which ocean
      issues are construed, the unfamiliarity of aquatic systems to many members of the
      public and the potential for marine health issues to be interpreted through
      politicized schemas that encourage motivated reasoning over the dispassionate
      consideration of scientific evidence. We offer theory-based strategies to help
      public outreach efforts address these challenges and present data from a recent
      experiment exploring the role of message framing (emphasizing the public health
      or environmental consequences of marine disease) in shaping public support for
      environmental policy.

PMID- 26880834
TI  - Managing marine mollusc diseases in the context of regional and international
      commerce: policy issues and emerging concerns.
AB  - Marine mollusc production contributes to food and economic security worldwide and
      provides valuable ecological services, yet diseases threaten these industries and
      wild populations. Although the infrastructure for mollusc aquaculture health
      management is well characterized, its foundations are not without flaws. Use of
      notifiable pathogen lists can leave blind spots with regard to detection of
      unlisted and emerging pathogens. Increased reliance on molecular tools has come
      without similar attention to diagnostic validation, raising questions about assay
      performance, and has been accompanied by a reduced emphasis on microscopic
      diagnostic expertise that could weaken pathogen detection capabilities.
      Persistent questions concerning pathogen biology and ecology promote regulatory
      paralysis that impedes trade and which could weaken biosecurity by driving
      commerce to surreptitious channels. Solutions that might be pursued to improve
      shellfish aquaculture health management include the establishment of more broad
      based surveillance programmes, wider training and use of general methods like
      histopathology to ensure alertness to emerging diseases, an increased focus on
      assay assessment and validation as fundamental to assay development, investment
      in basic research, and application of risk analyses to improve regulation. A
      continual sharpening of diagnostic tools and approaches and deepening of
      scientific knowledge is necessary to manage diseases and promote sustainable
      molluscan shellfish industries. 

PMID- 26880835
TI  - Managing marine disease emergencies in an era of rapid change.
AB  - Infectious marine diseases can decimate populations and are increasing among some
      taxa due to global change and our increasing reliance on marine environments.
      Marine diseases become emergencies when significant ecological, economic or
      social impacts occur. We can prepare for and manage these emergencies through
      improved surveillance, and the development and iterative refinement of approaches
      to mitigate disease and its impacts. Improving surveillance requires fast,
      accurate diagnoses, forecasting disease risk and real-time monitoring of disease
      promoting environmental conditions. Diversifying impact mitigation involves
      increasing host resilience to disease, reducing pathogen abundance and managing
      environmental factors that facilitate disease. Disease surveillance and
      mitigation can be adaptive if informed by research advances and catalysed by
      communication among observers, researchers and decision-makers using information
      sharing platforms. Recent increases in the awareness of the threats posed by
      marine diseases may lead to policy frameworks that facilitate the responses and
      management that marine disease emergencies require. 

PMID- 26880836
TI  - Lessons from sea louse and salmon epidemiology.
AB  - Effective disease management can benefit from mathematical models that identify
      drivers of epidemiological change and guide decision-making. This is well
      illustrated in the host-parasite system of sea lice and salmon, which has been
      modelled extensively due to the economic costs associated with sea louse
      infections on salmon farms and the conservation concerns associated with sea
      louse infections on wild salmon. Consequently, a rich modelling literature
      devoted to sea louse and salmon epidemiology has been developed. We provide a
      synthesis of the mathematical and statistical models that have been used to study
      the epidemiology of sea lice and salmon. These studies span both conceptual and
      tactical models to quantify the effects of infections on host populations and
      communities, describe and predict patterns of transmission and dispersal, and
      guide evidence-based management of wild and farmed salmon. As aquaculture
      production continues to increase, advances made in modelling sea louse and salmon
      epidemiology should inform the sustainable management of marine resources. 

PMID- 26880837
TI  - Shifting white pox aetiologies affecting Acropora palmata in the Florida Keys,
      1994-2014.
AB  - We propose 'the moving target hypothesis' to describe the aetiology of a
      contemporary coral disease that differs from that of its historical disease
      state. Hitting the target with coral disease aetiology is a complex pursuit that
      requires understanding of host and environment, and may lack a single pathogen
      solution. White pox disease (WPX) affects the Caribbean coral Acropora palmata.
      Acroporid serratiosis is a form of WPX for which the bacterial pathogen (Serratia
      marcescens) has been established. We used long-term (1994-2014) photographic
      monitoring to evaluate historical and contemporary epizootiology and aetiology of
      WPX affecting A. palmata at eight reefs in the Florida Keys. Ranges of WPX
      prevalence over time (0-71.4%) were comparable for the duration of the 20-year
      study. Whole colony mortality and disease severity were high in historical (1994
      2004), and low in contemporary (2008-2014), outbreaks of WPX. Acroporid
      serratiosis was diagnosed for some historical (1999, 2003) and contemporary
      (2012, 2013) outbreaks, but this form of WPX was not confirmed for all WPX cases.
      Our results serve as a context for considering aetiology as a moving target for
      WPX and other coral diseases for which pathogens are established and/or candidate
      pathogens are identified. Coral aetiology investigations completed to date
      suggest that changes in pathogen, host and/or environment alter the disease state
      and complicate diagnosis. 

PMID- 26880840
TI  - Improving marine disease surveillance through sea temperature monitoring,
      outlooks and projections.
AB  - To forecast marine disease outbreaks as oceans warm requires new environmental
      surveillance tools. We describe an iterative process for developing these tools
      that combines research, development and deployment for suitable systems. The
      first step is to identify candidate host-pathogen systems. The 24 candidate
      systems we identified include sponges, corals, oysters, crustaceans, sea stars,
      fishes and sea grasses (among others). To illustrate the other steps, we present
      a case study of epizootic shell disease (ESD) in the American lobster. Increasing
      prevalence of ESD is a contributing factor to lobster fishery collapse in
      southern New England (SNE), raising concerns that disease prevalence will
      increase in the northern Gulf of Maine under climate change. The lowest maximum
      bottom temperature associated with ESD prevalence in SNE is 12  degrees C. Our
      seasonal outlook for 2015 and long-term projections show bottom temperatures
      greater than or equal to 12  degrees C may occur in this and coming years in the
      coastal bays of Maine. The tools presented will allow managers to target efforts
      to monitor the effects of ESD on fishery sustainability and will be iteratively
      refined. The approach and case example highlight that temperature-based
      surveillance tools can inform research, monitoring and management of emerging and
      continuing marine disease threats.

PMID- 26880838
TI  - Infectious diseases of marine molluscs and host responses as revealed by genomic
      tools.
AB  - More and more infectious diseases affect marine molluscs. Some diseases have
      impacted commercial species including MSX and Dermo of the eastern oyster, QPX of
      hard clams, withering syndrome of abalone and ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1)
      infections of many molluscs. Although the exact transmission mechanisms are not
      well understood, human activities and associated environmental changes often
      correlate with increased disease prevalence. For instance, hatcheries and large
      scale aquaculture create high host densities, which, along with increasing ocean
      temperature, might have contributed to OsHV-1 epizootics in scallops and oysters.
      A key to understanding linkages between the environment and disease is to
      understand how the environment affects the host immune system. Although we might
      be tempted to downplay the role of immunity in invertebrates, recent advances in
      genomics have provided insights into host and parasite genomes and revealed
      surprisingly sophisticated innate immune systems in molluscs. All major innate
      immune pathways are found in molluscs with many immune receptors, regulators and
      effectors expanded. The expanded gene families provide great diversity and
      complexity in innate immune response, which may be key to mollusc's defence
      against diverse pathogens in the absence of adaptive immunity. Further advances
      in host and parasite genomics should improve our understanding of genetic
      variation in parasite virulence and host disease resistance. 

PMID- 26880841
TI  - Vibrio bacteria in raw oysters: managing risks to human health.
AB  - The human-pathogenic marine bacteria Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus
      are strongly correlated with water temperature, with concentrations increasing as
      waters warm seasonally. Both of these bacteria can be concentrated in filter
      feeding shellfish, especially oysters. Because oysters are often consumed raw,
      this exposes people to large doses of potentially harmful bacteria. Various
      models are used to predict the abundance of these bacteria in oysters, which
      guide shellfish harvest policy meant to reduce human health risk. Vibrio
      abundance and behaviour varies from site to site, suggesting that location
      specific studies are needed to establish targeted risk reduction strategies.
      Moreover, virulence potential, rather than simple abundance, should be also be
      included in future modeling efforts. 

PMID- 26880839
TI  - Complementary approaches to diagnosing marine diseases: a union of the modern and
      the classic.
AB  - Linking marine epizootics to a specific aetiology is notoriously difficult.
      Recent diagnostic successes show that marine disease diagnosis requires both
      modern, cutting-edge technology (e.g. metagenomics, quantitative real-time PCR)
      and more classic methods (e.g. transect surveys, histopathology and cell
      culture). Here, we discuss how this combination of traditional and modern
      approaches is necessary for rapid and accurate identification of marine diseases,
      and emphasize how sole reliance on any one technology or technique may lead
      disease investigations astray. We present diagnostic approaches at different
      scales, from the macro (environment, community, population and organismal scales)
      to the micro (tissue, organ, cell and genomic scales). We use disease case
      studies from a broad range of taxa to illustrate diagnostic successes from
      combining traditional and modern diagnostic methods. Finally, we recognize the
      need for increased capacity of centralized databases, networks, data repositories
      and contingency plans for diagnosis and management of marine disease. 

PMID- 26880843
TI  - Fishing diseased abalone to promote yield and conservation.
AB  - Past theoretical models suggest fishing disease-impacted stocks can reduce
      parasite transmission, but this is a good management strategy only when the
      exploitation required to reduce transmission does not overfish the stock. We
      applied this concept to a red abalone fishery so impacted by an infectious
      disease (withering syndrome) that stock densities plummeted and managers closed
      the fishery. In addition to the non-selective fishing strategy considered by past
      disease-fishing models, we modelled targeting (culling) infected individuals,
      which is plausible in red abalone because modern diagnostic tools can determine
      infection without harming landed abalone and the diagnostic cost is minor
      relative to the catch value. The non-selective abalone fishing required to
      eradicate parasites exceeded thresholds for abalone sustainability, but targeting
      infected abalone allowed the fishery to generate yield and reduce parasite
      prevalence while maintaining stock densities at or above the densities attainable
      if the population was closed to fishing. The effect was strong enough that stock
      and yield increased even when the catch was one-third uninfected abalone. These
      results could apply to other fisheries as the diagnostic costs decline relative
      to catch value. 

PMID- 26880842
TI  - Reserves as tools for alleviating impacts of marine disease.
AB  - Marine protected areas can prevent over-exploitation, but their effect on marine
      diseases is less clear. We examined how marine reserves can reduce diseases
      affecting reef-building corals following acute and chronic disturbances. One year
      after a severe tropical cyclone, corals inside reserves had sevenfold lower
      levels of disease than those in non-reserves. Similarly, disease prevalence was
      threefold lower on reserve reefs following chronic exposure to terrestrial run
      off from a degraded river catchment, when exposure duration was below the long
      term site average. Examination of 35 predictor variables indicated that lower
      levels of derelict fishing line and injured corals inside reserves were
      correlated with lower levels of coral disease in both case studies, signifying
      that successful disease mitigation occurs when activities that damage reefs are
      restricted. Conversely, reserves were ineffective in moderating disease when
      sites were exposed to higher than average levels of run-off, demonstrating that
      reductions in water quality undermine resilience afforded by reserve protection.
      In addition to implementing protected areas, we highlight that disease management
      efforts should also target improving water quality and limiting anthropogenic
      activities that cause injury. 

PMID- 26880844
TI  - Ochre star mortality during the 2014 wasting disease epizootic: role of
      population size structure and temperature.
AB  - Over 20 species of asteroids were devastated by a sea star wasting disease (SSWD)
      epizootic, linked to a densovirus, from Mexico to Alaska in 2013 and 2014. For
      Pisaster ochraceus from the San Juan Islands, South Puget Sound and Washington
      outer coast, time-series monitoring showed rapid disease spread, high mortality
      rates in 2014, and continuing levels of wasting in the survivors in 2015. Peak
      prevalence of disease at 16 sites ranged to 100%, with an overall mean of 61%.
      Analysis of longitudinal data showed disease risk was correlated with both size
      and temperature and resulted in shifts in population size structure; adult
      populations fell to one quarter of pre-outbreak abundances. In laboratory
      experiments, time between development of disease signs and death was influenced
      by temperature in adults but not juveniles and adult mortality was 18% higher in
      the 19  degrees C treatment compared to the lower temperature treatments. While
      larger ochre stars developed disease signs sooner than juveniles, diseased
      juveniles died more quickly than diseased adults. Unusual 2-3  degrees C warm
      temperature anomalies were coincident with the summer 2014 mortalities. We
      suggest these warm waters could have increased the disease progression and
      mortality rates of SSWD in Washington State.

PMID- 26880846
TI  - Marine disease impacts, diagnosis, forecasting, management and policy.

PMID- 26880845
TI  - Infectious diseases in oyster aquaculture require a new integrated approach.
AB  - Emerging diseases pose a recurrent threat to bivalve aquaculture. Recently,
      massive mortality events in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas associated with
      the detection of a microvariant of the ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1uVar) have
      been reported in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Although the spread of
      disease is often viewed as a governance failure, we suggest that the development
      of protective measures for bivalve farming is presently held back by the lack of
      key scientific knowledge. In this paper, we explore the case for an integrated
      approach to study the management of bivalve disease, using OsHV-1 as a case
      study. Reconsidering the key issues by incorporating multidisciplinary science
      could provide a holistic understanding of OsHV-1 and increase the benefit of
      research to policymakers. 

PMID- 26880851
TI  - Prospective assessment of a palliative care tool to predict one-year mortality in
      patients with acute coronary syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identifying patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are
      approaching the end of life and who may not benefit from an aggressive
      interventional approach is important but clinically challenging. The Gold
      Standards Framework (GSF) prognostic guide was developed using multidimensional
      criteria to identify cancer patients who could benefit from end-of-life care. We
      assessed the utility of the GSF to predict one-year mortality in ACS patients.
      METHODS: ACS patients admitted between May 2012 and July 2013 at the three
      participating cardiac centres in Europe were enrolled. Patients were assessed
      during admission using the GSF, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events
      (GRACE) score, the age, creatinine, ejection fraction (ACEF) score and the New
      York Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (NY-PCI) risk score. The pre-specified
      primary outcome was all-cause mortality at one year; secondary outcomes were
      cardiovascular death, non-cardiovascular mortality, re-hospitalisation for ACS
      and re-hospitalisation for non-ACS causes. RESULTS: Six hundred and twenty-nine
      ACS patients were enrolled and one-year follow-up data was available for 626
      patients. Fifty-two patients (8.3%) met GSF criteria for end-of-life care. These
      patients were older, predominantly female, had lower body mass index (BMI), and
      were less likely to receive angiography (75% vs 95%, p<0.001) and angioplasty
      (60% vs 77%, p=0.005) compared with patients who did not meet GSF criteria.
      Patients meeting GSF criteria had higher one-year all-cause mortality (42.3% vs
      4.5%, p<0.001), cardiovascular mortality (15.4% vs 2.8%, p<0.001) and non
      cardiovascular mortality (26.9% vs 1.7%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis
      confirmed that meeting GSF criteria independently predicted all-cause mortality.
      CONCLUSION: GSF is a multidimensional tool which may be used to identify ACS
      patients that are at high risk of death and may benefit from end-of-life care.

PMID- 26880852
TI  - Coronary flow improvement following unsuccessful primary percutaneous coronary
      intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction with diffuse ectatic coronary
      artery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with diffuse
      ectatic coronary artery, extensive thrombi inhibit achievement of final
      successful revascularization of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI)
      grade 3 flow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, clinical
      and angiographic outcomes of such patients are uncertain. The present study
      examined clinical and angiographic outcomes in STEMI incorporating giant coronary
      artery with diffuse ectasia. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty-four STEMI patients
      undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were surveyed
      retrospectively. Culprit lesions in giant coronary artery with diffuse ectasia
      (Ectatic group, n=39) were investigated. Percutaneous coronary intervention
      success rate and angiographic or clinical outcomes at 360 days were compared with
      those of the Non-ectatic group ( n=705). RESULTS: Angiographic percutaneous
      coronary intervention success rate was significantly lower in the Ectatic group
      due to lower achievement of final TIMI grade 3 flow (53.8% vs. 92.9%, p<0.0001;
      53.8% vs. 93.5%, p<0.0001, respectively). In follow-up angiography, 86% of the
      Ectatic group showed angiographic improvement from TIMI grade 2 or less
      immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention to TIMI grade 3 flow at
      follow-up. In contrast, angiographic improvement was observed in only 25% of
      cases in the Non-ectatic group. All-cause 360-day mortality was significantly
      lower in the ectatic group (2.6% vs. 14.5%, p=0.0361, respectively). CONCLUSION:
      In patients with STEMI in giant coronary artery with diffuse ectasia, achievement
      of TIMI grade 3 flow was significantly reduced immediately after percutaneous
      coronary intervention. However, improvement of coronary flow up to TIMI grade 3
      was not uncommon at follow-up angiogram. Patients had low mortality despite low
      TIMI grade 3 achievement immediately after primary percutaneous coronary
      intervention.

PMID- 26880853
TI  - The Long Term Recovery of New Orleans' Population after Hurricane Katrina.
AB  - Hurricane Katrina created a catastrophe in the city of New Orleans when the storm
      surge caused the levee system to fail on August 29, 2005. The destruction of
      housing displaced hundreds of thousands of residents for varying lengths of time,
      often permanently. It also revealed gaps in our knowledge of how population is
      recovered after a disaster causes widespread destruction of urban infrastructure,
      housing and workplaces, and how mechanisms driving housing recovery often produce
      unequal social, spatial and temporal population recovery. In this article, I
      assemble social, spatial and temporal explanatory frameworks for housing and
      population recovery and then review research on mobility - both evacuation and
      migration - after Hurricane Katrina. The review reveals a need for a
      comprehensive social, spatial and temporal framework for explaining inequality in
      population recovery and displacement. It also shows how little is known about in
      migrants and permanent out-migrants after a disaster.

PMID- 26880854
TI  - Skin Autofluorescence in Systemic Sclerosis Is Related to the Disease and
      Vascular Damage: A Cross-Sectional Analytic Study of Comparative Groups.
AB  - Skin autofluorescence (AF), a relatively simple and time saving procedure,
      measures the accumulation of advanced glycation end (AGE) products. The
      importance in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, particularly, systemic sclerosis
      (SSc), has not been evaluated yet. The aim of our study was to examine the skin
      AF in the context of SSc patients and to analyse the relations between skin AF
      and other surrogate measures of atherosclerosis. Forty-seven patients with SSc
      and 47 healthy volunteers were included in this study as controls. Patients and
      controls underwent common carotid artery wall assessment, arterial stiffness and
      wave reflection measurements, laser Doppler measurements of capillary flow,
      assessment of endothelial function by brachial ultrasound, peripheral arterial
      tonometry, and AGE measurement by skin AF. Wall properties of the common carotid
      arteries and wave reflection measurements were not affected in these study
      patients compared to controls while measures reflecting small capillary flow were
      altered. The accumulation of AGE products measured by skin AF was more prominent
      in SSc patients than in healthy controls. AGE products' score was significantly
      associated with carotid radial pulse wave velocity, intima media/carotid artery
      diameter ratio, capillary flow percentage change during occlusion, and the
      disease itself in a multivariate linear analysis model. 

PMID- 26880855
TI  - Comparison of Serum MicroRNA21 and Tumor Markers in Diagnosis of Early Non-Small
      Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical value of serum microRNA21 (miR21) and other
      tumor markers in early diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS:
      Serums carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1),
      neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and miR21 were detected in 50 NSCLC cases and 60
      healthy control individuals. RESULTS: Average serums miR21, CEA, NSE, and CYFRA21
      1 levels were significantly higher in the case group than in control group (P <
      0.01). Analysis of areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve
      (AUC) revealed that CEA had the highest diagnostic efficiency for NSCLC. Serums
      miR21 and CYFRA21-1 levels were significantly lower at TNM stages I-II than
      stages III-IV (P < 0.05). Further, logistic multivariate regression analysis
      showed that the incidence of early NSCLC (TNM stages I-II) was correlated with
      serums CYFRA21-1 (OR = 1.076) and miR21 (OR = 2.473) levels (P < 0.05). By AUC
      analysis, miR21 had the highest diagnostic efficiency for early NSCLC, and single
      or combined detection of serums CYFRA21-1 and miR21 levels showed improved
      diagnostic efficiency for joint detection of both markers. CONCLUSIONS: Serum
      miR21 could serve as an important marker for auxiliary diagnosis of early NSCLC,
      while joint detection of serums miR21 and CYFRA21-1 levels could improve
      diagnostic efficiency.

PMID- 26880856
TI  - Circulating Glutamate and Taurine Levels Are Associated with the Generation of
      Reactive Oxygen Species in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.
AB  - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, but its
      proarrhythmic mechanism remains to be elucidated. Glutamate (Glu) and taurine
      (Tau) are present in the myocardium at substantially higher concentrations than
      in the plasma, suggesting their active role in myocardium. Here, we tested the
      hypothesis that the metabolism of Glu and Tau is altered in association with the
      generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with AF. Fifty patients
      with paroxysmal AF and 50 control subjects without a history of AF were
      consecutively enrolled. Circulating Glu and Tau levels were measured and
      correlations between Glu/Tau and ROS levels were examined. Glu/Tau content was
      significantly higher in patients with AF versus controls (Glu: 79.2 +/- 23.9
      versus 60.5 +/- 25.2 nmol/L; Tau: 78.8 +/- 19.8 versus 68.5 +/- 20.8 nmol/L; mean
      +/- standard deviation (SD), p < 0.001 for both). Glu/Tau levels also showed an
      independent association with AF by multiple logistic regression analysis. Glu and
      Tau levels both showed significant positive associations with plasma
      hydroperoxide concentrations. These data suggest a novel pathophysiological role
      of Glu and Tau in association with ROS production in paroxysmal AF, providing new
      insights into the elevated amino acid content in cardiac disease. 

PMID- 26880857
TI  - Systemic Inflammatory Response Based on Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a
      Prognostic Marker in Bladder Cancer.
AB  - A growing body of evidence suggests that systemic inflammatory response (SIR) in
      the tumor microenvironment is closely related to poor oncologic outcomes in
      cancer patients. Over the past decade, several SIR-related hematological factors
      have been extensively investigated in an effort to risk-stratify cancer patients
      to improve treatment selection and to predict posttreatment survival outcomes in
      various types of cancers. In particular, one readily available marker of SIR is
      neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which can easily be measured on the basis
      of absolute neutrophils and absolute lymphocytes in a differential white blood
      cell count performed in the clinical setting. Many investigators have vigorously
      assessed NLR as a potential prognostic biomarker predicting pathological and
      survival outcomes in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder. In
      this paper, we aim to present the prognostic role of NLR in patients with UC of
      the bladder through a thorough review of the literature. 

PMID- 26880858
TI  - Executive Function and Temperamental Fear Concurrently Predict Deception in
      School-Aged Children.
AB  - The decision to intentionally withhold truthful information, or deception, is a
      key component of moral development and may be a precursor to more serious anti
      social tendencies. Two factors, executive function and temperamental fear are
      each thought to influence childhood deception. Few studies, however, have
      explored deception in relation to both of these factors simultaneously. This was
      the goal of the present study. Executive function, as measured by a working
      memory task, and temperamental fear, as measured via maternal report were
      assessed in relation to observed deceptive behavior among 6 - 9-year-old children
      (N = 43). Results showed that children displaying high working memory capacity
      and high temperamental fear were more likely to exhibit deceptive behavior.
      Implications for predictors of childhood deception and applications for moral
      education are discussed.

PMID- 26880859
TI  - Cox-2 Plays a Vital Role in the Impaired Anxiety Like Behavior in Colchicine
      Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer Disease.
AB  - The anxiety status is changed along with memory impairments in
      intracerebroventricular colchicine injected rat model of Alzheimer Disease (cAD)
      due to neurodegeneration, which has been indicated to be mediated by
      inflammation. Inducible cox-2, involved in inflammation, may have important role
      in the colchicine induced alteration of anxiety status. Therefore, the present
      study was designed to investigate the role of cox-2 on the anxiety behavior
      (response to novelty in an elevated open field space) of cAD by inhibiting it
      with three different doses (10, 20, and 30 mg) of etoricoxib (a cox-2 blocker) in
      two time points (14 and 21 days). The results showed anxiolytic behavior in cAD
      along with lower serum corticosterone level, both of which were recovered at all
      the doses of etoricoxib on day 21. On day 14 all of the anxiety parameters showed
      similar results to that of day 21 at high doses but not at 10 mg/kg body weight.
      Results indicate that the parameters of anxiety were dependent on neuronal
      circuitries that were probably sensitive to etoricoxib induced blocking of
      neurodegeneration. The present study showed that anxiolytic behavior in cADr is
      predominantly due to cox-2 mediated neuroinflammation induced neurodegeneration
      in the brain. 

PMID- 26880860
TI  - Role of the RAGE Axis during the Immune Response after Severe Trauma: A
      Prospective Pilot Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Severe traumatization induces a complex pathophysiology, driven by
      the patient's own immune system. The initial activation is a result of damage
      associated molecular patterns, which are released from disrupted and dying cells
      and recognized by immune receptors, for example, RAGE. In this study we aimed to
      evaluate the contribution of the RAGE axis to early and late immune responses.
      METHODS: We enrolled 16 patients with severe trauma together with 10 patients
      after major abdominal surgery and 10 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were taken
      on admission and every 48 h for a total of 8 days. Plasma concentrations of
      various RAGE ligands as well as RAGE isoforms and IL-6 were measured by ELISA.
      Monocyte surface expression of RAGE and HLA-DR was assessed by flow cytometry.
      RESULTS: High and transient levels of IL-6 and methylglyoxal characterize the
      early immune response after trauma, whereas samples from later time points
      provide evidence for a secondary release of RAGE ligands. CONCLUSION: Our results
      provide evidence for a persisting activation of the RAGE axis while classical
      mediators like IL-6 disappear early. Considering the immunocompromised phenotype
      of the monocytes, the RAGE ligands might be substantial contributors to the well
      known secondary stage of impaired immune responsiveness in trauma patients.

PMID- 26880861
TI  - Inflammation of the Dental Pulp.

PMID- 26880863
TI  - Matrine Attenuates COX-2 and ICAM-1 Expressions in Human Lung Epithelial Cells
      and Prevents Acute Lung Injury in LPS-Induced Mice.
AB  - Matrine is isolated from Sophora flavescens and shows anti-inflammatory effects
      in macrophages. Here we evaluated matrine's suppressive effects on cyclooxygenase
      2 (COX-2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expressions in
      lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated human lung epithelial A549 cells.
      Additionally, BALB/c mice were given various matrine doses by intraperitoneal
      injection, and then lung injury was induced via intratracheal instillation of
      LPS. In LPS-stimulated A549 cells, matrine inhibited the productions of
      interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and IL-6 and decreased COX
      2 expression. Matrine treatment also decreased ICAM-1 protein expression and
      suppressed the adhesion of neutrophil-like cells to inflammatory A549 cells. In
      vitro results demonstrated that matrine significantly inhibited mitogen-activated
      protein kinase phosphorylation and decreased nuclear transcription factor kappa-B
      subunit p65 protein translocation into the nucleus. In vivo data indicated that
      matrine significantly inhibited neutrophil infiltration and suppressed
      productions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 in mouse bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid and serum. Analysis of lung tissue showed that matrine decreased the
      gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, COX-2, and ICAM-1. Our
      findings suggest that matrine improved lung injury in mice and decreased the
      inflammatory response in human lung epithelial cells. 

PMID- 26880862
TI  - Irbesartan Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy by Suppressing the RANKL-RANK-NF
      kappaB Pathway in Type 2 Diabetic db/db Mice.
AB  - The receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK are
      overexpressed in focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), IgA nephropathy
      (IgAN), and membranous nephropathy (MN). However, the expression and the
      potential roles of RANKL and RANK in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remain unclear.
      Irbesartan (Irb) has beneficial effects against diabetes-induced renal damage,
      but its mechanisms are poorly understood. Our present study investigated the
      effects of Irb in DN and whether the renal protective effects of Irb are mediated
      by RANKL/RANK and the downstream NF-kappaB pathway in db/db mice. Our results
      showed that db/db mice revealed severe metabolic abnormalities, renal
      dysfunction, podocyte injury, and increased MCP-1; these symptoms were reversed
      by Irb. At the molecular level, RANKL and RANK were overexpressed in the kidneys
      of db/db mice and Irb downregulated RANKL and RANK and inhibited the downstream
      NF-kappaB pathway. Our study suggests that Irb can ameliorate DN by suppressing
      the RANKL-RANK-NF-kappaB pathway. 

PMID- 26880865
TI  - Prognostic Value of Adrenomedullin and Natriuretic Peptides in Uroseptic Patients
      Induced by Ureteroscopy.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to investigate whether urosepsis is related to
      irrigation pressure of ureteroscopy (URS) and evaluate the prognostic value of
      adrenomedullin (ADM) and atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) in
      URS-induced uroseptic patients. From July 2008 to October 2013, we enrolled 332
      patients with untreated unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The UUO group
      included three subgroups of, respectively, 118, 132, and 82 patients who
      underwent URS under intermittent stable irrigation pressure of, respectively, 80,
      120, and 160 mmHg. The plasma concentrations of ADM, ANP, and BNP were measured
      in all subjects. URS was performed for all UUO patients; the values of the three
      peptides were measured again after URS. Irrigation pressure and stone size were
      independent risk factors of urosepsis. After URS, the plasma concentrations of
      ADM, ANP, and BNP were significantly higher in uroseptic patients. Moreover, the
      concentrations were significantly higher depending on the disease severity.
      Plasma concentrations of the three peptides were correlated with plasma ET
      concentration in the uroseptic patients. The areas under receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curve of ADM, ANP, and BNP for predicting urosepsis were
      0.811, 0.728, and 0.764, respectively. In conclusion, ADM, along with ANP and
      BNP, is valuable for prognosis in urosepsis secondary to URS which is associated
      with irrigation pressure.

PMID- 26880864
TI  - Fostering Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Sphingolipid Strategies to Join Forces.
AB  - Complex sphingolipids are essential structural components of intestinal
      membranes, providing protection and integrity to the intestinal mucosa and
      regulating intestinal absorption processes. The role of sphingolipid signaling
      has been established in numerous cellular events, including intestinal cell
      survival, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. A significant body of knowledge
      demonstrates that intestinal sphingolipids play a crucial role, as such and
      through their signaling pathways, in immunity and inflammatory disorders. In this
      review, we report on and discuss the current knowledge on the metabolism,
      signaling, and functional implications of sphingolipids in inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD), focusing on the different aspects of sphingolipid actions on
      inflammatory responses and on the potential of sphingolipid-targeted molecules as
      anti-IBD therapeutic agents. 

PMID- 26880866
TI  - A test of the facultative calibration/reactive heritability model of
      extraversion.
AB  - A model proposed by Lukaszewski and Roney (2011) suggests that each individual's
      level of extraversion is calibrated to other traits that predict the success of
      an extraverted behavioural strategy. Under 'facultative calibration',
      extraversion is not directly heritable, but rather exhibits heritability through
      its calibration to directly heritable traits ("reactive heritability"). The
      current study uses biometrical modelling of 1659 identical and non-identical
      twins and their siblings to assess whether the genetic variation in extraversion
      is calibrated to variation in facial attractiveness, intelligence, height in men
      and body mass index (BMI) in women. Extraversion was significantly positively
      correlated with facial attractiveness in both males (r=.11) and females (r=.18),
      but correlations between extraversion and the other variables were not consistent
      with predictions. Further, twin modelling revealed that the genetic variation in
      facial attractiveness did not account for a substantial proportion of the
      variation in extraversion in either males (2.4%) or females (0.5%).

PMID- 26880867
TI  - Long-Term Clinical Responses of Neoadjuvant Dendritic Cell Infusions and
      Radiation in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
AB  - Purpose. Patients with large >5 cm, high-grade resectable soft tissue sarcomas
      (STS) have the highest risk of distant metastases. Previously we have shown that
      dendritic cell (DC) based vaccines show consistent immune responses. Methods.
      This was a Phase I single institution study of neoadjuvant radiation with DC
      injections on 18 newly diagnosed high-risk STS patients. Neoadjuvant treatment
      consisted of 50 Gy of external beam radiation (EBRT), given in 25 fractions
      delivered five days/week, combined with four intratumoral injections of DCs
      followed by complete resection. The primary endpoint was to establish the
      immunological response to neoadjuvant therapy and obtain data on its clinical
      safety and outcomes. Results. There were no unexpected toxicities or serious
      adverse events. Twelve out of 18 (67%) patients were alive, of which an
      encouraging 11/18 (61%) were alive with no systemic recurrence over a period of 2
      8 years. Favorable immunological responses correlated with clinical responses in
      some cases. Conclusions. This study provides clinical support to using dendritic
      cell injections along with radiation in sarcomas, which when used optimally in
      combination can help clinical outcomes in soft tissue sarcoma. Study registration
      number is NCT00365872. 

PMID- 26880868
TI  - Characterization of Fatty Acids in Crenarchaeota by GC-MS and NMR.
AB  - Lipids composed of condensed isoprenyl units connected to glycerol backbones by
      ether linkages are a distinguishing feature of Archaea. Data suggesting that
      fatty acids with linear hydrocarbon chains are present in some Archaea have been
      available for decades. However, lack of genomic and biochemical evidence for the
      metabolic machinery required to synthesize and degrade fatty acids has left the
      field unclear on this potentially significant biochemical aspect. Because lipids
      are energy currency and cell signaling molecules, their presence in Archaea is
      significant for understanding archaeal biology. A recent large-scale
      bioinformatics analysis reignited the debate as to the importance of fatty acids
      in Archaea by presenting genetic evidence for the presence of enzymes required
      for anabolic and catabolic fatty acid metabolism across the archaeal domain.
      Here, we present direct biochemical evidence from gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the
      presence of fatty acids in two members of the Crenarchaeota, Sulfolobus
      solfataricus and Ignicoccus hospitalis. This is the first report providing
      biochemical data for the existence of fatty acids in these Crenarchaeota, opening
      new discussions on energy balance and the potential for the discovery of new
      thermostable enzymes for industry. 

PMID- 26880869
TI  - Characterising protein/detergent complexes by triple-detection size-exclusion
      chromatography.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In vitro investigations of membrane proteins usually depend on
      detergents for protein solubilisation and stabilisation. The amount of detergent
      bound to a membrane protein is relevant to successful experiment design and data
      analysis but is often unknown. Triple-detection size-exclusion chromatography
      enables simultaneous separation of protein/detergent complexes and protein-free
      detergent micelles and determination of their molar masses in a straightforward
      and absolute manner. Size-exclusion chromatography is used to separate different
      species, while ultraviolet absorbance, static light scattering, and refractive
      index measurements allow molar mass determination of protein and detergent
      components. RESULTS: We refined standard experimental and data-analysis
      procedures for challenging membrane-protein samples that elude routine
      approaches. The general procedures including preparatory steps, measurements, and
      data analysis for the characterisation of both routine and complex samples in
      difficult solvents such as concentrated denaturant solutions are demonstrated.
      The applicability of the protocol but also its limitations and possible solutions
      are discussed, and an extensive troubleshooting section is provided. CONCLUSIONS:
      We established and validated a protocol for triple-detection size-exclusion
      chromatography that enables the inexperienced user to perform and analyse
      measurements of well-behaved protein/detergent complexes. More experienced users
      are provided with an example of a more sophisticated analysis procedure allowing
      mass determination under challenging separation conditions.

PMID- 26880870
TI  - A Tactile Sensor for Ultrasound Imaging Systems.
AB  - Medical ultrasound systems are capable of monitoring a variety of health
      conditions while avoiding invasive procedures. However this function is
      complicated by ultrasound contrast of the tissue varying with contact pressure
      exerted by the probe. The knowledge of the contact pressure is beneficial for a
      variety of screening and diagnostic procedures involving ultrasound. This paper
      introduces a solid-state sensor array which measures the contact pressure
      distribution between the probe and the tissue marginally affecting the ultrasound
      imaging capabilities. The probe design utilizes the dielectrostriction mechanism
      which relates the change in dielectric properties of the sensing layer to
      deformation. The concept, structure, fabrication, and performance of this sensor
      array are discussed. The prototype device is highly tolerant to overloads (>1 MPa
      tested) and provides stress measurements in the range of 0.14 to 10 kPa. Its loss
      of ultrasound transmissivity is less 3dB at 9 MHz ultrasound frequency. This
      performance is satisfactory for clinical and biomedical research in ultrasound
      image formation and interpretation, however for commercial product, a higher
      ultrasound transmissivity is desired. Directions for improving the sensor
      ultrasound transparency and electrical performance are discussed. The sensor
      array described in this paper has been developed specifically for ultrasound
      diagnosis during breast cancer screening. However, the same sensing mechanism,
      similar configuration and sensor array structure can be applied to other
      applications involving ultrasound tools for medical diagnostics.

PMID- 26880872
TI  - Solving the Traveling Salesman's Problem Using the African Buffalo Optimization.
AB  - This paper proposes the African Buffalo Optimization (ABO) which is a new
      metaheuristic algorithm that is derived from careful observation of the African
      buffalos, a species of wild cows, in the African forests and savannahs. This
      animal displays uncommon intelligence, strategic organizational skills, and
      exceptional navigational ingenuity in its traversal of the African landscape in
      search for food. The African Buffalo Optimization builds a mathematical model
      from the behavior of this animal and uses the model to solve 33 benchmark
      symmetric Traveling Salesman's Problem and six difficult asymmetric instances
      from the TSPLIB. This study shows that buffalos are able to ensure excellent
      exploration and exploitation of the search space through regular communication,
      cooperation, and good memory of its previous personal exploits as well as tapping
      from the herd's collective exploits. The results obtained by using the ABO to
      solve these TSP cases were benchmarked against the results obtained by using
      other popular algorithms. The results obtained using the African Buffalo
      Optimization algorithm are very competitive. 

PMID- 26880873
TI  - EEG Classification for Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface Using a Tensor Based
      Multiclass Multimodal Analysis Scheme.
AB  - Electroencephalogram- (EEG-) based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems usually
      utilize one type of changes in the dynamics of brain oscillations for control,
      such as event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS), steady state
      visual evoked potential (SSVEP), and P300 evoked potentials. There is a recent
      trend to detect more than one of these signals in one system to create a hybrid
      BCI. However, in this case, EEG data were always divided into groups and analyzed
      by the separate processing procedures. As a result, the interactive effects were
      ignored when different types of BCI tasks were executed simultaneously. In this
      work, we propose an improved tensor based multiclass multimodal scheme especially
      for hybrid BCI, in which EEG signals are denoted as multiway tensors, a
      nonredundant rank-one tensor decomposition model is proposed to obtain
      nonredundant tensor components, a weighted fisher criterion is designed to select
      multimodal discriminative patterns without ignoring the interactive effects, and
      support vector machine (SVM) is extended to multiclass classification. Experiment
      results suggest that the proposed scheme can not only identify the different
      changes in the dynamics of brain oscillations induced by different types of tasks
      but also capture the interactive effects of simultaneous tasks properly.
      Therefore, it has great potential use for hybrid BCI. 

PMID- 26880874
TI  - An Improved Cuckoo Search Optimization Algorithm for the Problem of Chaotic
      Systems Parameter Estimation.
AB  - This paper proposes an improved cuckoo search (ICS) algorithm to establish the
      parameters of chaotic systems. In order to improve the optimization capability of
      the basic cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, the orthogonal design and simulated
      annealing operation are incorporated in the CS algorithm to enhance the
      exploitation search ability. Then the proposed algorithm is used to establish
      parameters of the Lorenz chaotic system and Chen chaotic system under the
      noiseless and noise condition, respectively. The numerical results demonstrate
      that the algorithm can estimate parameters with high accuracy and reliability.
      Finally, the results are compared with the CS algorithm, genetic algorithm, and
      particle swarm optimization algorithm, and the compared results demonstrate the
      method is energy-efficient and superior. 

PMID- 26880875
TI  - Forecasting SPEI and SPI Drought Indices Using the Integrated Artificial Neural
      Networks.
AB  - The presented paper compares forecast of drought indices based on two different
      models of artificial neural networks. The first model is based on feedforward
      multilayer perceptron, sANN, and the second one is the integrated neural network
      model, hANN. The analyzed drought indices are the standardized precipitation
      index (SPI) and the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI) and were
      derived for the period of 1948-2002 on two US catchments. The meteorological and
      hydrological data were obtained from MOPEX experiment. The training of both
      neural network models was made by the adaptive version of differential evolution,
      JADE. The comparison of models was based on six model performance measures. The
      results of drought indices forecast, explained by the values of four model
      performance indices, show that the integrated neural network model was superior
      to the feedforward multilayer perceptron with one hidden layer of neurons. 

PMID- 26880871
TI  - Insight into the Molecular Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of
      individuals worldwide. Earlier it was diagnosed only via clinical assessments and
      confirmed by postmortem brain histopathology. The development of validated
      biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease has given impetus to improve diagnostics and
      accelerate the development of new therapies. Functional imaging like positron
      emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT),
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and proton magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy provides a means of detecting and characterising the regional
      changes in brain blood flow, metabolism, and receptor binding sites that are
      associated with Alzheimer's disease. Multimodal neuroimaging techniques have
      indicated changes in brain structure and metabolic activity, and an array of
      neurochemical variations that are associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
      Radiotracer-based PET and SPECT potentially provide sensitive, accurate methods
      for the early detection of disease. This paper presents a review of neuroimaging
      modalities like PET, SPECT, and selected imaging biomarkers/tracers used for the
      early diagnosis of AD. Neuroimaging with such biomarkers and tracers could
      achieve a much higher diagnostic accuracy for AD and related disorders in the
      future. 

PMID- 26880876
TI  - FPGA-Based Stochastic Echo State Networks for Time-Series Forecasting.
AB  - Hardware implementation of artificial neural networks (ANNs) allows exploiting
      the inherent parallelism of these systems. Nevertheless, they require a large
      amount of resources in terms of area and power dissipation. Recently, Reservoir
      Computing (RC) has arisen as a strategic technique to design recurrent neural
      networks (RNNs) with simple learning capabilities. In this work, we show a new
      approach to implement RC systems with digital gates. The proposed method is based
      on the use of probabilistic computing concepts to reduce the hardware required to
      implement different arithmetic operations. The result is the development of a
      highly functional system with low hardware resources. The presented methodology
      is applied to chaotic time-series forecasting. 

PMID- 26880877
TI  - Imbalanced Learning Based on Logistic Discrimination.
AB  - In recent years, imbalanced learning problem has attracted more and more
      attentions from both academia and industry, and the problem is concerned with the
      performance of learning algorithms in the presence of data with severe class
      distribution skews. In this paper, we apply the well-known statistical model
      logistic discrimination to this problem and propose a novel method to improve its
      performance. To fully consider the class imbalance, we design a new cost function
      which takes into account the accuracies of both positive class and negative class
      as well as the precision of positive class. Unlike traditional logistic
      discrimination, the proposed method learns its parameters by maximizing the
      proposed cost function. Experimental results show that, compared with other state
      of-the-art methods, the proposed one shows significantly better performance on
      measures of recall, g-mean, f-measure, AUC, and accuracy. 

PMID- 26880878
TI  - A Modified Sparse Representation Method for Facial Expression Recognition.
AB  - In this paper, we carry on research on a facial expression recognition method,
      which is based on modified sparse representation recognition (MSRR) method. On
      the first stage, we use Haar-like+LPP to extract feature and reduce dimension. On
      the second stage, we adopt LC-K-SVD (Label Consistent K-SVD) method to train the
      dictionary, instead of adopting directly the dictionary from samples, and add
      block dictionary training into the training process. On the third stage, stOMP
      (stagewise orthogonal matching pursuit) method is used to speed up the
      convergence of OMP (orthogonal matching pursuit). Besides, a dynamic
      regularization factor is added to iteration process to suppress noises and
      enhance accuracy. We verify the proposed method from the aspect of training
      samples, dimension, feature extraction and dimension reduction methods and noises
      in self-built database and Japan's JAFFE and CMU's CK database. Further, we
      compare this sparse method with classic SVM and RVM and analyze the recognition
      effect and time efficiency. The result of simulation experiment has shown that
      the coefficient of MSRR method contains classifying information, which is capable
      of improving the computing speed and achieving a satisfying recognition result. 

PMID- 26880879
TI  - Combining Review Text Content and Reviewer-Item Rating Matrix to Predict Review
      Rating.
AB  - E-commerce develops rapidly. Learning and taking good advantage of the myriad
      reviews from online customers has become crucial to the success in this game,
      which calls for increasingly more accuracy in sentiment classification of these
      reviews. Therefore the finer-grained review rating prediction is preferred over
      the rough binary sentiment classification. There are mainly two types of method
      in current review rating prediction. One includes methods based on review text
      content which focus almost exclusively on textual content and seldom relate to
      those reviewers and items remarked in other relevant reviews. The other one
      contains methods based on collaborative filtering which extract information from
      previous records in the reviewer-item rating matrix, however, ignoring review
      textual content. Here we proposed a framework for review rating prediction which
      shows the effective combination of the two. Then we further proposed three
      specific methods under this framework. Experiments on two movie review datasets
      demonstrate that our review rating prediction framework has better performance
      than those previous methods. 

PMID- 26880880
TI  - Explore Interregional EEG Correlations Changed by Sport Training Using Feature
      Selection.
AB  - This paper investigated the interregional correlation changed by sport training
      through electroencephalography (EEG) signals using the techniques of
      classification and feature selection. The EEG data are obtained from students
      with long-time professional sport training and normal students without sport
      training as baseline. Every channel of the 19-channel EEG signals is considered
      as a node in the brain network and Pearson Correlation Coefficients are
      calculated between every two nodes as the new features of EEG signals. Then, the
      Partial Least Square (PLS) is used to select the top 10 most varied features and
      Pearson Correlation Coefficients of selected features are compared to show the
      difference of two groups. Result shows that the classification accuracy of two
      groups is improved from 88.13% by the method using measurement of EEG overall
      energy to 97.19% by the method using EEG correlation measurement. Furthermore,
      the features selected reveal that the most important interregional EEG
      correlation changed by training is the correlation between left inferior frontal
      and left middle temporal with a decreased value. 

PMID- 26880881
TI  - The Study of Intelligent Vehicle Navigation Path Based on Behavior Coordination
      of Particle Swarm.
AB  - In the behavior dynamics model, behavior competition leads to the shock problem
      of the intelligent vehicle navigation path, because of the simultaneous
      occurrence of the time-variant target behavior and obstacle avoidance behavior.
      Considering the safety and real-time of intelligent vehicle, the particle swarm
      optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed to solve these problems for the
      optimization of weight coefficients of the heading angle and the path velocity.
      Firstly, according to the behavior dynamics model, the fitness function is
      defined concerning the intelligent vehicle driving characteristics, the distance
      between intelligent vehicle and obstacle, and distance of intelligent vehicle and
      target. Secondly, behavior coordination parameters that minimize the fitness
      function are obtained by particle swarm optimization algorithms. Finally, the
      simulation results show that the optimization method and its fitness function can
      improve the perturbations of the vehicle planning path and real-time and
      reliability. 

PMID- 26880882
TI  - A Motion Detection Algorithm Using Local Phase Information.
AB  - Previous research demonstrated that global phase alone can be used to faithfully
      represent visual scenes. Here we provide a reconstruction algorithm by using only
      local phase information. We also demonstrate that local phase alone can be
      effectively used to detect local motion. The local phase-based motion detector is
      akin to models employed to detect motion in biological vision, for example, the
      Reichardt detector. The local phase-based motion detection algorithm introduced
      here consists of two building blocks. The first building block measures/evaluates
      the temporal change of the local phase. The temporal derivative of the local
      phase is shown to exhibit the structure of a second order Volterra kernel with
      two normalized inputs. We provide an efficient, FFT-based algorithm for
      implementing the change of the local phase. The second processing building block
      implements the detector; it compares the maximum of the Radon transform of the
      local phase derivative with a chosen threshold. We demonstrate examples of
      applying the local phase-based motion detection algorithm on several video
      sequences. We also show how the locally detected motion can be used for
      segmenting moving objects in video scenes and compare our local phase-based
      algorithm to segmentation achieved with a widely used optic flow algorithm. 

PMID- 26880883
TI  - Molecular Epidemiology of Enteric Adenovirus Gastroenteritis in under-Five-Year
      Old Children in Iran.
AB  - Background. Acute gastroenteritis is one of the major sources of morbidity and
      mortality among young children in developed and developing countries. The aim of
      this study was to determine the prevalence of human adenovirus- (HAdV-) 40 and
      HAdV-41 in children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in five different health
      centers of Iran. Methods. In a cross-sectional epidemiological study, we studied
      2682 fecal specimens that were collected from children under the age of 5 years
      in five educational and therapeutic pediatric centers in Iran from February 2012
      to February 2013. Samples were tested for HAdV-40 and HAdV-41, using a specific
      pair of primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results. HAdV-40 and
      HAdV-41 were detected in 132 (5.18%) of the patients with diarrhea. A
      significantly higher prevalence of HAdV-40 and HAdV-41 (58.3%) was observed in
      children under 12 months of age, compared to other age groups. The male to female
      ratio was 1.7. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrated that HAdV-40
      and HAdV-41 could be considered etiological agents for acute gastroenteritis
      among children in Iran. The PCR as a rapid test may increase the chance for a
      relatively mild course of the disease followed by a complete recovery and
      avoiding administration of unnecessary antibiotics. 

PMID- 26880884
TI  - A Novel Diagnostic Aid for Detection of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions to the Anterior
      Abdominal Wall Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
AB  - Introduction. Abdominal adhesions can cause serious morbidity and complicate
      subsequent operations. Their diagnosis is often one of exclusion due to a lack of
      a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic technique. Development and testing of a
      candidate technique are described below. Method. During respiration, smooth
      visceral sliding motion occurs between the abdominal contents and the walls of
      the abdominal cavity. We describe a technique involving image segmentation and
      registration to calculate shear as an analogue for visceral slide based on the
      tracking of structures throughout the respiratory cycle. The presence of an
      adhesion is attributed to a resistance to visceral slide resulting in a
      discernible reduction in shear. The abdominal movement due to respiration is
      captured in sagittal dynamic MR images. Results. Clinical images were selected
      for analysis, including a patient with a surgically confirmed adhesion.
      Discernible reduction in shear was observed at the location of the adhesion while
      a consistent, gradually changing shear was observed in the healthy volunteers.
      Conclusion. The technique and its validation show encouraging results for
      adhesion detection but a larger study is now required to confirm its potential. 

PMID- 26880885
TI  - Role of S100 Proteins in Colorectal Carcinogenesis.
AB  - The family of S100 proteins represents 25 relatively small (9-13 kD) calcium
      binding proteins. These proteins possess a broad spectrum of important
      intracellular and extracellular functions. Colorectal cancer is the third most
      common cancer in men (after lung and prostate cancer) and the second most
      frequent cancer in women (after breast cancer) worldwide. S100 proteins are
      involved in the colorectal carcinogenesis through different mechanisms: they
      enable proliferation, invasion, and migration of the tumour cells; furthermore,
      S100 proteins increase angiogenesis and activate NF-kappabeta signaling pathway,
      which plays a key role in the molecular pathogenesis especially of colitis
      associated carcinoma. The expression of S100 proteins in the cancerous tissue and
      serum levels of S100 proteins might be used as a precise diagnostic and
      prognostic marker in patients with suspected or already diagnosed colorectal
      neoplasia. Possibly, in the future, S100 proteins will be a therapeutic target
      for tailored anticancer therapy. 

PMID- 26880886
TI  - Accurate Prediction of Advanced Liver Fibrosis Using the Decision Tree Learning
      Algorithm in Chronic Hepatitis C Egyptian Patients.
AB  - Background/Aim. Respectively with the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C in the
      world, using noninvasive methods as an alternative method in staging chronic
      liver diseases for avoiding the drawbacks of biopsy is significantly increasing.
      The aim of this study is to combine the serum biomarkers and clinical information
      to develop a classification model that can predict advanced liver fibrosis.
      Methods. 39,567 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included and randomly
      divided into two separate sets. Liver fibrosis was assessed via METAVIR score;
      patients were categorized as mild to moderate (F0-F2) or advanced (F3-F4)
      fibrosis stages. Two models were developed using alternating decision tree
      algorithm. Model 1 uses six parameters, while model 2 uses four, which are
      similar to FIB-4 features except alpha-fetoprotein instead of alanine
      aminotransferase. Sensitivity and receiver operating characteristic curve were
      performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed models. Results. The best
      model achieved 86.2% negative predictive value and 0.78 ROC with 84.8% accuracy
      which is better than FIB-4. Conclusions. The risk of advanced liver fibrosis, due
      to chronic hepatitis C, could be predicted with high accuracy using decision tree
      learning algorithm that could be used to reduce the need to assess the liver
      biopsy. 

PMID- 26880887
TI  - Functional Constipation and Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome in
      the General Population: Data from the GECCO Study.
AB  - Background. The prevalence of constipation in the (German) population has been
      shown to be 14.9% in a telephone survey, but more detailed data are required to
      characterize the sociographics and clinical characteristics of persons with
      different types of functional constipation, either constipation-predominant
      irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) or functional constipation with or without
      meeting Rome criteria. Methods. Of 2239 constipated individuals identified during
      the telephone interview, 1037 (46.3%) were willing to provide a postal address
      for a questionnaire, of which 589 (56.8%) returned the questionnaire, inquiring
      about sociographic data, clinical symptoms, and health care behavior related to
      constipation, as well as health-related quality-of-life (SF12). Subgroups of
      functionally constipated individuals were compared. Results. More than 50% of the
      respondents reported a somatic comorbid condition and/or regular medication
      intake that may contribute to constipation. We split the remaining individuals (N
      = 214) into three groups, matching Rome-criteria for IBS (IBS-C, n = 64) and for
      functional constipation (FC-R, n = 36) and FC not matching Rome criteria (n =
      114). Nearly all sociographic and clinical characteristics were equal among them,
      and all individuals with constipation had similar and lowered QOL on the SF-12
      physical health domain, but in IBS-C the scores were also significantly lower in
      comparison to FC-R and FC, in both the physical health and the mental health
      domain. Conclusion. Only a fraction of individuals with chronic constipation
      match Rome criteria for IBS-C or FC, but subgroups do not differ with respect to
      most other measures except quality-of-life profiles. 

PMID- 26880888
TI  - Lifor Solution: An Alternative Preservation Solution in Small Bowel
      Transplantation.
AB  - Background and Objectives. The intestinal mucosa is extremely sensitive to
      ischemia. Better intestinal preservation is the first step to improve the results
      of intestinal transplantation. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect
      of cold Lifor solution on preservation of swine small bowel. Methods. Swine ileum
      segments (200 cm) were allotransplanted heterotopically after 9-hour cold storage
      with UW solution (group 1, n = 6), with Lifor solution (group 2, n = 6), or
      without storage (group 3, n = 6), respectively. After cold storage, mucosal
      adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations and histopathologic analysis after
      preservation were performed. At day 7 after the transplantation, intestinal
      absorptive function was also observed. Results. After 9 h cold preservation,
      pathological changes, the content of ATP in the intestinal mucosa, and the
      intestinal absorptive function after transplantation in group 2 were similar to
      those of group 1. Conclusion. The effect of cold storage of swine small bowel
      with Lifor solution is similar to that of UW solution. It may provide additional
      rationale for further exploration of Lifor as an alternative preservation
      solution in small bowel transplantation. 

PMID- 26880889
TI  - Current Molecular Targeted Therapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Comprehensive
      Review of Therapeutic Mechanism, Clinical Trials, and Practical Application.
AB  - Despite the great progress in the treatment of gastric cancer, it is still the
      third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Patients often miss the
      opportunity for a surgical cure, because the cancer has already developed into
      advanced cancer when identified. Compared to best supportive care, chemotherapy
      can improve quality of life and prolong survival time, but the overall survival
      is often short. Due to the molecular study of gastric cancer, new molecular
      targeted drugs have entered the clinical use. Trastuzumab, an antibody targeting
      human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), can significantly improve
      survival in advanced gastric cancer patients with HER2 overexpression. Second
      line treatment of advanced gastric cancer with ramucirumab, an antibody targeting
      VEGFR-2, alone or in combination with paclitaxel, has been proved to provide a
      beneficial effect. The VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, apatinib, can improve
      the survival of advanced gastric cancer patients after second-line chemotherapy
      failure. Unfortunately, none of the EGFR targeting antibodies (cetuximab or
      panitumumab), VEGF targeting monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab), mTOR inhibitor
      (everolimus), or HGF/MET pathway targeting drugs has a significant survival
      benefit. Many other clinical trials based on molecular markers are underway. This
      review will summarize targeted therapies for advanced gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26880890
TI  - Treatment with a Monoclonal Anti-IL-12p40 Antibody Induces Substantial Gut
      Microbiota Changes in an Experimental Colitis Model.
AB  - Background and Aim. Crohn's disease is associated with gut microbiota (GM)
      dysbiosis. Treatment with the anti-IL-12p40 monoclonal antibody (12p40-mAb) has
      therapeutic effect in Crohn's disease patients. This study addresses whether a
      12p40-mAb treatment influences gut microbiota (GM) composition in mice with
      adoptive transfer colitis (AdTr-colitis). Methods. AdTr-colitis mice were treated
      with 12p40-mAb or rat-IgG2a or NaCl from days 21 to 47. Disease was monitored by
      changes in body weight, stool, endoscopic and histopathology scores,
      immunohistochemistry, and colonic cytokine/chemokine profiles. GM was
      characterized through DGGE and 16S rRNA gene-amplicon high-throughput sequencing.
      Results. Following 12p40-mAb treatment, most clinical and pathological parameters
      associated with colitis were either reduced or absent. GM was shifted towards a
      higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio compared to rat-IgG2a treated mice.
      Significant correlations between 17 bacterial genera and biological markers were
      found. The relative abundances of the RF32 order (Alphaproteobacteria) and
      Akkermansia muciniphila were positively correlated with damaged histopathology
      and colonic inflammation. Conclusions. Shifts in GM distribution were observed
      with clinical response to 12p40-mAb treatment, whereas specific GM members
      correlated with colitis symptoms. Our study implicates that specific changes in
      GM may be connected with positive clinical outcomes and suggests preventing or
      correcting GM dysbiosis as a treatment goal in inflammatory bowel disease. 

PMID- 26880891
TI  - Ultrasonic Dissection versus Conventional Dissection for Pancreatic Surgery: A
      Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Background. The role of ultrasonic dissection (UD) in pancreatic surgery remains
      controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical effect
      of UD in pancreatic surgery when compared with conventional dissection (CD).
      Materials and Methods. A comprehensive literature search was performed to
      identify eligible studies that compared UD with CD for pancreatic surgery in
      PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Risk ratio (RR) or mean
      difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Results. Six studies
      were included with a total of 215 patients undergoing UD and 210 undergoing CD.
      In comparison with CD in distal pancreatectomy, UD was associated with lower
      rates of pancreatic fistula (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27-0.76) and abdominal abscess
      and shorter operation time and hospital stay (P < 0.05). In
      pancreaticoduodenectomy, there was no significant difference in pancreatic
      fistula rate between two groups (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.48-1.29). However, the
      significantly less intraoperative blood loss and the transfused blood unit were
      found in patients receiving UD (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The results of this meta
      analysis show that, in comparison with CD, UD is associated with better
      perioperative outcomes in pancreatic surgery. 

PMID- 26880892
TI  - A Retrospective Research of the Characteristic of Hypertriglyceridemic
      Pancreatitis in Beijing, China.
AB  - Aim. To investigate the characteristic of hypertriglyceridemic- (HTG-) induced
      pancreatitis (HTG pancreatitis). Methods. We reviewed 126 cases of HTG
      pancreatitis and 168 cases of biliary pancreatitis as control. Results. The HTG
      group mean age was younger than biliary group. The number of females was a little
      higher than males in both groups. There were 18 cases that were recurrent in HTG
      group and 11 in billiary group. The mean hospitalization times were 13.7 +/- 2.6
      and 11.2 +/- 2.3 days in two groups. Six patients received apheresis in HTG
      group. The proportion of severe AP was 31.0% and 26.2%, mortality 1.6% and 1.2%,
      comorbidity of diabetes mellitus (DM) 20.6% and 6.5% in two groups. The number of
      complications of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, sepsis, and multiple organ
      dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in HTG group and biliary group was 1, 1, and 2 versus
      4, 12, and 4. Conclusions. The proportion of recurrent and severe AP and
      comorbidity of DM of HTG group was higher than billiary group. The proportion of
      the complications of GI bleeding, sepsis, and MODS of HTG group was less than
      biliary group. Apheresis could effectively reduce serum TG levels soon. There was
      no significant difference of the mortality between two groups. 

PMID- 26880893
TI  - MR Imaging in Diagnosis of Pelvic Floor Descent: Supine versus Sitting Position.
AB  - Introduction. Functional disorders of the pelvic floor represent have a
      significant impact on the quality of life. The advent of open-configuration
      systems allowed for the evaluation of defecation with MR imaging in sitting
      position. The purpose of the present study is to compare the results of static
      and dynamic pelvic MR performed in supine position versus sitting position, using
      a new MR prototype machine, in the diagnosis of pelvic floor descent. Materials
      and Methods. Thirty-one patients with pelvic floor disorders were enrolled, and
      underwent MR Defecography in supine position with 1.5 T closed magnet (MAGNETOM
      Symphony, Siemens, Germany) and in sitting position with a 0.25-Tesla open magnet
      system (G-Scan ESAOTE, Italy). Results. In rest and squeezing phases, positions
      of bladder, vagina, and ARJ were significantly different when the patient was
      imaged in supine versus sitting position. In the defecation phase, a significant
      difference for the bladder and vagina position was detected between the two exams
      whereas a significant difference for the ARJ was not found. A statistically
      significant difference exists when the pelvic floor descent is evaluated in
      sitting versus supine position. Conclusion. Our results show that MR Defecography
      in sitting position may represent a useful tool to correctly diagnose and grade
      the pelvic organ descent. 

PMID- 26880894
TI  - Optimal Bowel Preparation for Video Capsule Endoscopy.
AB  - During video capsule endoscopy (VCE), several factors, such as air bubbles, food
      material in the small bowel, and delayed gastric and small bowel transit time,
      influence diagnostic yield, small bowel visualization quality, and cecal
      completion rate. Therefore, bowel preparation before VCE is as essential as bowel
      preparation before colonoscopy. To date, there have been many comparative
      studies, consensus, and guidelines regarding different kinds of bowel cleansing
      agents in bowel preparation for small bowel VCE. Presently, polyethylene glycol-
      (PEG-) based regimens are given primary recommendation. Sodium picosulphate-based
      regimens are secondarily recommended, as their cleansing efficacy is less than
      that of PEG-based regimens. Sodium phosphate as well as complementary simethicone
      and prokinetics use are considered. In this paper, we reviewed previous studies
      regarding bowel preparation for small bowel VCE and suggested optimal bowel
      preparation of VCE. 

PMID- 26880895
TI  - Loss of CADM1/TSLC1 Expression Is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcome in
      Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - Aims. We sought to determine the relationship between CADM1/TSLC1 expression and
      clinicopathological characteristics in patients with esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma (ESCC) and the correlation with survival. Materials and Methods. Two
      hundred and ninety-three ESCC tissues and paired adjacent normal esophageal
      tissues were immunohistochemically assessed in this study. The association of
      CADM1/TSLC1 with clinicopathological parameters, as well as disease-free survival
      (DFS) and overall survival (OS), was determined based on the Kaplan-Meier method
      and Cox regression models. Results. CADM1/TSLC1 was detected in 236 (80.5%) tumor
      tissues and 19 (8.0%) paired adjacent normal esophageal tissues. Decreased
      CADM1/TSLC1 expression was correlated with more advanced histological grade.
      CADM1/TSLC1 negative tumors were more frequently observed in male cases than in
      female cases. DFS and OS in the CADM1/TSLC1 negative group were significantly
      shorter than those in the positive group, particularly in male patients with
      ESCC. Conclusion. Loss or reduction of CADM1/TSLC1 expression is associated with
      more advanced histological grade and predicts early recurrence and short survival
      duration. Thus, loss of CADM1/TSLC1 could be a prognostic factor that can be used
      to assess the risk of recurrence and survival. 

PMID- 26880896
TI  - Efficacy of Tenofovir-Based Combination Therapy versus Tenofovir Monotherapy in
      Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Presenting with Suboptimal Responses to
      Pretreatment: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Background/Aims. It remains unclear whether tenofovir disoproxil fumarate- (TDF-)
      based combination therapy produces better outcomes than TDF monotherapy in
      chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The aim of this study was to compare the
      efficacy of the two regimens by performing a meta-analysis. Methods. A
      comprehensive literature search was performed on the comparison of TDF-based
      combination therapy and monotherapy for CHB patients in the PubMed, Embase, Web
      of Science, and the Cochrane Libraries. Both dichotomous and continuous variables
      were extracted and pooled outcomes were expressed as risk ratio (RR) or standard
      mean difference (SMD). Results. Nine eligible studies (1089 subjects in total)
      were included in our analysis. The proportion of patients with undetectable HBV
      DNA at 24, 48, and 96 weeks were similar between the two comparable groups (62.5%
      versus 70.9%, P = 0.086; 78.1% versus 83.7%, P = 0.118; 86.4% versus 87.9%, P =
      0.626, resp.). HBV DNA reduction, rates of ALT normalization, hepatitis B e
      antigen (HBeAg) loss, and HBeAg seroconversion were also similar between the two
      groups. Conclusions. On the current data, TDF-based combination therapy seemed to
      be no better than those achieved by monotherapy. Further studies are needed to
      verify this comparison. 

PMID- 26880897
TI  - Preoperative Biliary Drainage in Cases of Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
      Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery.
AB  - Objective. To elucidate the optimum preoperative biliary drainage method for
      patients with pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
      Material and Methods. From January 2010 through December 2014, 20 patients with
      borderline resectable pancreatic cancer underwent preoperative biliary drainage
      and NAC with a plastic or metallic stent and received NAC at Hiroshima University
      Hospital. We retrospectively analyzed delayed NAC and complication rates due to
      biliary drainage, effect of stent type on perioperative factors, and
      hospitalization costs from diagnosis to surgery. Results. There were 11 cases of
      preoperative biliary drainage with plastic stents and nine metallic stents. The
      median age was 64.5 years; delayed NAC occurred in 9 cases with plastic stent and
      1 case with metallic stent (p = 0.01). The complication rates due to biliary
      drainage were 0% (0/9) with metallic stents and 72.7% (8/11) with plastic stents
      (p = 0.01). Cumulative rates of complications determined with the Kaplan-Meier
      method on day 90 were 60% with plastic stents and 0% with metallic stents (log
      rank test, p = 0.012). There were no significant differences between group in
      perioperative factors or hospitalization costs from diagnosis to surgery.
      Conclusions. Metallic stent implantation may be effective for preoperative
      biliary drainage for pancreatic cancer treated with NAC. 

PMID- 26880898
TI  - Do NSAIDs and ASA Cause More Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Elderly than
      Adults?
AB  - Purpose. NSAIDs and ASA may cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) both in
      adults and in elderly. There is no study that compares this increased bleeding
      risk between adult and elderly subjects. Methods. A total of 524 patients with
      UGIB were included in this study. The data of patients were, respectively,
      analyzed. Results. NSAIDs and ASA-associated UGIB rates were similar between <65
      years (345 patients) (group 1) and >=65 years (179 patients) (group 2) (28.4%
      versus 23.5%, p = 0.225 and 13% versus 19%, p = 0.071, resp.). Warfarin
      associated UGIB was found significantly higher in group 2 than group 1. Elderly
      patients with NSAID-associated UGIB had significantly higher length of stay (LoS)
      and CoH than adult patients with NSAID-associated UGIB (p = 0.002 and 0.001,
      resp.). Elderly patients with ASA-associated UGIB had significantly higher CoH
      than adult patients with NSAID-associated UGIB. Conclusions. Using NSAIDs without
      gastroprotective drugs or using ASA with gastroprotective drugs in elderly
      patients is as safe as in adult patients. Not only should adding gastroprotective
      drugs to ASA or NSAID be based on their risk of UGIB, but the cost of
      hospitalization of ASA or NSAID-associated UGIB should be considered. 

PMID- 26880899
TI  - Postoperative Albumin Drop Is a Marker for Surgical Stress and a Predictor for
      Clinical Outcome: A Pilot Study.
AB  - Background. Surgical stress during major surgery may be related to adverse
      clinical outcomes and early quantification of stress response would be useful to
      allow prompt interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute phase
      protein albumin in the context of the postoperative stress response. Methods.
      This prospective pilot study included 70 patients undergoing frequent abdominal
      procedures of different magnitude. Albumin (Alb) and C-reactive protein (CRP)
      levels were measured once daily starting the day before surgery until
      postoperative day (POD) 5. Maximal Alb decrease (Alb Delta min) was correlated
      with clinical parameters of surgical stress, postoperative complications, and
      length of stay. Results. Albumin values dropped immediately after surgery by
      about 10 g/L (42.2 +/- 4.5 g/L preoperatively versus 33.8 +/- 5.3 g/L at day 1, P
      < 0.001). Alb Delta min was correlated with operation length (Pearson rho =
      0.470, P < 0.001), estimated blood loss (rho = 0.605, P < 0.001), and maximal CRP
      values (rho = 0.391, P = 0.002). Alb Delta min levels were significantly higher
      in patients having complications (10.0 +/- 5.4 versus 6.1 +/- 5.2, P = 0.005) and
      a longer hospital stay (rho = 0.285, P < 0.020). Conclusion. Early postoperative
      albumin drop appeared to reflect the magnitude of surgical trauma and was
      correlated with adverse clinical outcomes. Its promising role as early marker for
      stress response deserves further prospective evaluation. 

PMID- 26880900
TI  - Results of Medium Seventeen Years' Follow-Up after Laparoscopic Choledochotomy
      for Ductal Stones.
AB  - Introduction. In a previously published article the authors reported the long
      term follow-up results in 138 consecutive patients with gallstones and common
      bile duct (CBD) stones who underwent laparoscopic transverse choledochotomy (TC)
      with T-tube biliary drainage and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Aim of this
      study is to evaluate the results at up to 23 years of follow-up in the same
      series. Methods. One hundred twenty-one patients are the object of the present
      study. Patients were evaluated by clinical visit, blood assay, and abdominal
      ultrasound. Symptomatic patients underwent cholangio-MRI, followed by endoscopic
      retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as required. Results. Out of 121
      patients, 61 elderly patients died from unrelated causes. Fourteen patients were
      lost to follow-up. In the 46 remaining patients, ductal stone recurrence occurred
      in one case (2,1%) successfully managed by ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy.
      At a mean follow-up of 17.1 years no other patients showed signs of bile stasis
      and no patient showed any imaging evidence of CBD stricture at the site of
      choledochotomy. Conclusions. Laparoscopic transverse choledochotomy with routine
      T-tube biliary drainage during LC has proven to be safe and effective at up to 23
      years of follow-up, with no evidence of CBD stricture when the procedure is
      performed with a correct technique. 

PMID- 26880901
TI  - Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding with Rivaroxaban: A Comparative Study with
      Warfarin.
AB  - Introduction. The risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with rivaroxaban has not
      been studied extensively. The aim of our study was to assess this risk in
      comparison to warfarin. Methods. We examined the medical records for patients who
      were started on rivaroxaban or warfarin from April 2011 to April 2013. Results.
      We identified 300 patients (147 on rivaroxaban versus 153 on warfarin). GI
      bleeding occurred in 4.8% patients with rivaroxaban when compared to 9.8%
      patients in warfarin group (p = 0.094). GI bleeding occurred in 8% with
      therapeutic doses of rivaroxaban (>10 mg/d) compared to 9.8% with warfarin (p =
      0.65). Multivariate analysis showed that patients who were on rivaroxaban for
      <=40 days had a higher incidence of GI bleeding than those who were on it for >40
      days (OR = 2.8, p = 0.023). Concomitant use of dual antiplatelet agents was
      associated with increased risk of GI bleeding in the rivaroxaban group (OR = 7.4,
      p = 0.0378). Prior GI bleeding was also a risk factor for GI bleeding in
      rivaroxaban group (OR = 15.5). Conclusion. The incidence of GI bleeding was
      similar between rivaroxaban and warfarin. The risk factors for GI bleeding with
      rivaroxaban were the first 40 days of taking the drug, concomitant dual
      antiplatelet agents, and prior GI bleeding. 

PMID- 26880902
TI  - Clinical Experience with the PillCam Patency Capsule prior to Video Capsule
      Endoscopy: A Real-World Experience.
AB  - Background. In patients with known or suspected risk factors for gastrointestinal
      stenosis, the PillCam patency capsule (PC) is given before a video capsule
      endoscopy (VCE) in order to minimize the risk of capsule retention (CR). CR is
      considered unlikely upon excretion of the PC within 30 hours, excretion in an
      undamaged state after 30 hours, or radiological projection to the colon. Methods.
      We performed a retrospective analysis of 38 patients with risk factors for CR,
      who received a PC from 02/2013 to 04/2015 at Klinikum Augsburg. Results. Sixteen
      of our 38 patients observed a natural excretion after a mean time of 34 hours
      past ingestion. However, only 8 patients observed excretion within 30 hours, as
      recommended by the company. In 20 patients passage of the PC into the colon was
      shown via RFID-scan or radiological imaging (after 33 and 45 hours, resp.). Only
      2 patients showed a pathologic PC result. In consequence, 32 patients received
      the VCE; no CR was observed. Conclusion. Our data indicates that a VCE could
      safely be performed even if the PC excretion time is longer than 30 hours and the
      excreted PC was not screened for damage. 

PMID- 26880903
TI  - Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Patients with Fabry Disease.
AB  - In order to characterize gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of 50 patients with Fabry
      disease (FD) (22 M; age range: 4-70 y; 35 adults and 15 children), validated
      questionnaires of GI symptoms were used to diagnose the functional
      gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) of the patients with GI symptoms (33/50 (66%);
      25/35 adults and 8/15 children) according to Rome III criteria. In 16/25 of these
      adults and 2/8 of these children, the symptoms mimicked FGID. The adult subgroup
      included patients with unspecified functional bowel disorder (n = 9), functional
      bloating (n = 7), and IBS (n = 5), and the child subgroup included patients with
      abdominal migraine (n = 1) and IBS (n = 1). Among the 25 adults, 14 reported
      feeling full after a regular-size meal, and 12 complained of abdominal
      bloating/distension. All of the children with GI symptoms complained of low
      abdominal pain associated with changes in the form of the stool/improvements with
      defecation. In conclusion, according to Rome III criteria, the most frequent
      diagnoses of FGID among the adults with FD were unspecified functional bowel
      disorder, followed by functional bloating and IBS. The most frequent GI symptom
      in the children in our population was IBS-like abdominal pain, while the adults
      exhibited a full feeling following a regular-size meal and abdominal
      bloating/distension. 

PMID- 26880904
TI  - Capsule Endoscopy for Ileitis with Potential Involvement of Other Sections of the
      Small Bowel.
AB  - Ileitis is defined as inflammation of the ileum. This condition includes ulcers,
      aphthous ulcers, erosions, and nodular or erythematous mucosa. Various etiologies
      are associated with ileitis. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, medications
      such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, infectious conditions, neoplasms,
      infiltrative disorders, vasculitides, spondyloarthritis, endometriosis, and
      radiation therapy-related conditions involve the ileum. However, the differential
      diagnosis of terminal ileitis can be difficult in many cases. Video capsule
      endoscopy (VCE) has become a useful tool for the diagnosis of a variety of small
      bowel lesions. This review describes each of the various conditions associated
      with ileitis and the diagnostic value of VCE for ileitis, which may help identify
      and evaluate these conditions in clinical practice. Based on the information
      provided by VCE, a definitive diagnosis could be made using the patients' medical
      history, clinical course, laboratory and ileocolonoscopic findings, radiologic
      imaging findings, and histologic findings.

PMID- 26880905
TI  - Crude Aloe vera Gel Shows Antioxidant Propensities and Inhibits Pancreatic Lipase
      and Glucose Movement In Vitro.
AB  - Aloe vera gel (AVG) is traditionally used in the management of diabetes, obesity,
      and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory
      potential of AVG against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase
      activity in vitro. Enzyme kinetic studies using Michaelis-Menten (K m ) and
      Lineweaver-Burk equations were used to establish the type of inhibition. The
      antioxidant capacity of AVG was evaluated for its ferric reducing power, 2
      diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate scavenging ability, nitric oxide scavenging
      power, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. The glucose entrapment ability,
      antimicrobial activity, and total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and anthocyanin
      content were also determined. AVG showed a significantly higher percentage
      inhibition (85.56 +/- 0.91) of pancreatic lipase compared to Orlistat. AVG was
      found to increase the Michaelis-Menten constant and decreased the maximal
      velocity (V max) of lipase, indicating mixed inhibition. AVG considerably
      inhibits glucose movement across dialysis tubes and was comparable to Arabic gum.
      AVG was ineffective against the tested microorganisms. Total phenolic and
      flavonoid contents were 66.06 +/- 1.14 (GAE)/mg and 60.95 +/- 0.97 (RE)/mg,
      respectively. AVG also showed interesting antioxidant properties. The biological
      activity observed in this study tends to validate some of the traditional claims
      of AVG as a functional food. 

PMID- 26880906
TI  - Development of an Experimental Model of Diabetes Co-Existing with Metabolic
      Syndrome in Rats.
AB  - Background. The incidence of metabolic syndrome co-existing with diabetes
      mellitus is on the rise globally. Objective. The present study was designed to
      develop a unique animal model that will mimic the pathological features seen in
      individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, suitable for pharmacological
      screening of drugs. Materials and Methods. A combination of High-Fat Diet (HFD)
      and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) at 30, 35, and 40 mg/kg was used to induce
      metabolic syndrome in the setting of diabetes mellitus in Wistar rats. Results.
      The 40 mg/kg STZ produced sustained hyperglycemia and the dose was thus selected
      for the study to induce diabetes mellitus. Various components of metabolic
      syndrome such as dyslipidemia {(increased triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL
      cholesterol, and decreased HDL cholesterol)}, diabetes mellitus (blood glucose,
      HbA1c, serum insulin, and C-peptide), and hypertension {systolic blood pressure}
      were mimicked in the developed model of metabolic syndrome co-existing with
      diabetes mellitus. In addition to significant cardiac injury, atherogenic index,
      inflammation (hs-CRP), decline in hepatic and renal function were observed in the
      HF-DC group when compared to NC group rats. The histopathological assessment
      confirmed presence of edema, necrosis, and inflammation in heart, pancreas,
      liver, and kidney of HF-DC group as compared to NC. Conclusion. The present study
      has developed a unique rodent model of metabolic syndrome, with diabetes as an
      essential component. 

PMID- 26880907
TI  - Subjective Memory Complaint and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in
      Portugal.
AB  - Background. Older adults report subjective memory complaints (SMCs) but whether
      these are related to depression remains controversial. In this study we
      investigated the relationship between the SMCs and depression and their
      predictors in a sample of old adults. Methods. This cross-sectional study
      enrolled 620 participants aged 55 to 96 years (74.04 +/- 10.41). Outcome measures
      included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, a SMC scale (QSM), a
      Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and a
      Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results. The QSM mean total score for the
      main results suggests that SMCs are higher in old adults with depressed symptoms,
      comparatively to nondepressed old adults. The GDS scores were positively
      associated with QSM but negatively associated with education, MMSE, and MoCA. GDS
      scores predicted almost 63.4% of variance. Scores on QSM and MoCA are
      significantly predicted by depression symptomatology. Conclusion. Depression
      symptoms, lower education level, and older age may be crucial to the
      comprehension of SMCs. The present study suggested that depression might play a
      role in the SMCs of the older adults and its treatment should be considered. 

PMID- 26880908
TI  - Bacteriospermia and Its Impact on Basic Semen Parameters among Infertile Men.
AB  - Introduction. Semen analysis is considered as the surrogate marker for male
      fecundity while assessing infertile men. There are several reasons for altered
      semen quality and bacteriospermia could be one among them. Thereby the aim of our
      work is to study the semen culture and its impact on semen parameters among
      infertile men. Materials and Methods. Semen samples were collected from men
      attending infertility clinic. Semen parameters were analysed based on WHO
      guidelines. Also, samples were subjected to culture using standard
      bacteriological techniques. Results. A total of 85 samples were collected. A
      number of 47 (55.30%) had normal sperm count, 37 (43.50%) had oligozoospermia,
      and one (1.17%) had azoospermia. Teratozoospermia was the most common abnormality
      observed (81.17%) followed by asthenozoospermia (28.23%). The prevalence of
      bacteriospermia was 35.3%. Enterococcus faecalis (30%) was the most common
      organism isolated followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (23.33%),
      Staphylococcus aureus (20%), and E. coli (10%). Other less frequently isolated
      organisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.66%), Proteus sp. (6.66%), and
      Citrobacter sp. (3.33%). Conclusion. The presence of asymptomatic bacteriospermia
      did not correlate with abnormal semen parameters. 

PMID- 26880909
TI  - Circulating Interferon-Gamma Levels Are Associated with Low Body Weight in Newly
      Diagnosed Kenyan Non-Substance Using Tuberculosis Individuals.
AB  - Although interferon-gamma, interleukin-10, and adiponectin are key
      immunopathogenesis mediators of tuberculosis, their association with clinical
      manifestations of early stage disease is inconclusive. We determined interferon
      gamma, interleukin-10, and adiponectin levels in clinically and phenotypically
      well-characterised non-substance using new pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n =
      13) and controls (n = 14) from Kenya. Interferon-gamma levels (P < 0.0001) and
      interferon-gamma to interleukin-10 (P < 0.001) and interferon-gamma to
      adiponectin (P = 0.027) ratios were elevated in tuberculosis cases. Correlation
      analyses in tuberculosis cases showed associations of interferon-gamma levels
      with body weight (rho = -0.849; P < 0.0001), body mass index (rho = 0.664; P =
      0.013), hip girth (rho = -0.579; P = 0.038), and plateletcrit (rho = 0.605; P =
      0.028); interferon-gamma to interleukin-10 ratio with diastolic pressure (rho = 
      0.729; P = 0.005); and interferon-gamma to adiponectin ratio with body weight
      (rho = -0.560; P = 0.047), body mass index (rho = -0.604; P = 0.029), and
      plateletcrit (rho = 0.793; P = 0.001). Taken together, our results suggest mild
      inflammation in early stage infection characterised by upregulation of
      circulating interferon-gamma production in newly infected TB patients. 

PMID- 26880910
TI  - FN-Identify: Novel Restriction Enzymes-Based Method for Bacterial Identification
      in Absence of Genome Sequencing.
AB  - Sequencing and restriction analysis of genes like 16S rRNA and HSP60 are
      intensively used for molecular identification in the microbial communities. With
      aid of the rapid progress in bioinformatics, genome sequencing became the method
      of choice for bacterial identification. However, the genome sequencing technology
      is still out of reach in the developing countries. In this paper, we propose FN
      Identify, a sequencing-free method for bacterial identification. FN-Identify
      exploits the gene sequences data available in GenBank and other databases and the
      two algorithms that we developed, CreateScheme and GeneIdentify, to create a
      restriction enzyme-based identification scheme. FN-Identify was tested using
      three different and diverse bacterial populations (members of Lactobacillus,
      Pseudomonas, and Mycobacterium groups) in an in silico analysis using restriction
      enzymes and sequences of 16S rRNA gene. The analysis of the restriction maps of
      the members of three groups using the fragment numbers information only or along
      with fragments sizes successfully identified all of the members of the three
      groups using a minimum of four and maximum of eight restriction enzymes. Our
      results demonstrate the utility and accuracy of FN-Identify method and its two
      algorithms as an alternative method that uses the standard microbiology
      laboratories techniques when the genome sequencing is not available. 

PMID- 26880911
TI  - In Silico Phylogenetic Analysis and Molecular Modelling Study of 2-Haloalkanoic
      Acid Dehalogenase Enzymes from Bacterial and Fungal Origin.
AB  - 2-Haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase enzymes have broad range of applications,
      starting from bioremediation to chemical synthesis of useful compounds that are
      widely distributed in fungi and bacteria. In the present study, a total of 81
      full-length protein sequences of 2-haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase from bacteria
      and fungi were retrieved from NCBI database. Sequence analysis such as multiple
      sequence alignment (MSA), conserved motif identification, computation of amino
      acid composition, and phylogenetic tree construction were performed on these
      primary sequences. From MSA analysis, it was observed that the sequences share
      conserved lysine (K) and aspartate (D) residues in them. Also, phylogenetic tree
      indicated a subcluster comprised of both fungal and bacterial species. Due to
      nonavailability of experimental 3D structure for fungal 2-haloalkanoic acid
      dehalogenase in the PDB, molecular modelling study was performed for both fungal
      and bacterial sources of enzymes present in the subcluster. Further structural
      analysis revealed a common evolutionary topology shared between both fungal and
      bacterial enzymes. Studies on the buried amino acids showed highly conserved Leu
      and Ser in the core, despite variation in their amino acid percentage.
      Additionally, a surface exposed tryptophan was conserved in all of these selected
      models. 

PMID- 26880912
TI  - Effect of Metformin and Sitagliptin on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in
      Rats: Impact of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis.
AB  - Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used antineoplastic drug whose efficacy is limited
      by its cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible
      protective role of the antidiabetic drugs metformin (250 mg/kg dissolved in DW
      p.o. for seven days) and sitagliptin (10 mg/kg dissolved in DW p.o. for seven
      days) in a model of DOX-induced (single dose 15 mg/kg i.p. at the fifth day)
      cardiotoxicity in rats. Results of our study revealed that pretreatment with
      metformin or sitagliptin produced significant (P < 0.05) cardiac protection
      manifested by a significant decrease in serum levels of LDH and CK-MB enzymes and
      cardiac MDA and total nitrites and nitrates levels, a significant increase in
      cardiac SOD activity, and remarkable improvement in the histopathological
      features as well as a significant reduction in the immunohistochemical expression
      of COX-2, iNOS, and caspase-3 enzymes as compared to DOX group. These results may
      suggest using metformin and/or sitagliptin as preferable drugs for diabetic
      patients suffering from cancer and receiving DOX in their chemotherapy regimen. 

PMID- 26880913
TI  - Chalcone Scaffold in Anticancer Armamentarium: A Molecular Insight.
AB  - Cancer is an inevitable matter of concern in the medicinal chemistry era.
      Chalcone is the well exploited scaffold in the anticancer domain. The molecular
      mechanism of chalcone at cellular level was explored in past decades. This mini
      review provides the most recent updates on anticancer potential of chalcones. 

PMID- 26880914
TI  - Hospital Admission Patterns in Children with CAH: Admission Rates and Adrenal
      Crises Decline with Age.
AB  - Objective. To examine patterns of hospitalisation for acute medical conditions in
      children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Design. A retrospective study
      of hospitalisation using administrative data. Setting. All hospitals in NSW,
      Australia. Patients. All patients admitted with CAH and a random sample of
      admissions in patients aged 0 to 18 years without adrenal insufficiency (AI).
      Main Outcome Measures. Admissions and comorbidities by age and sex. Results. Of
      573 admissions for medical problems in CAH children, 286 (49.9%) were in males,
      and 236 (41.2%) had a principal diagnosis of CAH or had an adrenal crisis (AC).
      37 (6.5%) ACs were recorded. An infection was found in 43.5% (n = 249) of the CAH
      patient admissions and 51.7% (n = 1613) of the non-AI group, p < 0.001. Children
      aged up to one year had the highest number of admissions (n = 149) and six ACs
      (four in males). There were 21 ACs recorded for children aged 1-5 years. Older
      CAH children had fewer admissions and fewer ACs. No in-hospital deaths were
      recorded. Conclusions. Admission for medical problems in CAH children declines
      with age. An AC was recorded in 6.5% of the admissions, with the majority of ACs
      occurring in the 1 to 5 years age group and there were no deaths. 

PMID- 26880915
TI  - Pharmacogenetics of Risperidone and Cardiovascular Risk in Children and
      Adolescents.
AB  - Objective. To identify the frequency of obesity and metabolic complications in
      child and adolescent users of risperidone. Potential associations with clinical
      parameters and SNPs of the HTR2C, DRD2, LEP, LEPR, MC4R, and CYP2D6 genes were
      analyzed. Methods. Samples from 120 risperidone users (8-20 years old) were
      collected and SNPs were analyzed, alongside assessment of chronological and bone
      ages, prescribed and weight-adjusted doses, use of other psychotropic drugs,
      waist circumference, BMI z-scores, blood pressure, HOMA-IR index, fasting levels
      of serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, transaminases, and leptin.
      Results. Thirty-two (26.7%) patients were overweight and 5 (4.2%) obese.
      Hypertension was recorded in 8 patients (6.7%), metabolic syndrome in 6 (5%), and
      increased waist circumference in 20 (16.7%). The HOMA-IR was high for 22 patients
      (18.3%), while total cholesterol and triglycerides were high in 20 (16.7%) and 41
      (34.2%) patients, respectively. SNP associations were found for LEP, HTR2C, and
      CYP2D6 with BMI; CYP2D6 with blood pressure, ALT, and HOMA-IR; HTR2C and LEPR
      with leptin levels; MC4R and DRD2 with HOMA-IR; HTR2C with WC; and LEP with ALT.
      Conclusions. Although not higher than in the general pediatric population, a high
      frequency of patients was overweight/obese, with abnormalities in metabolic
      parameters and some pharmacogenetic associations. 

PMID- 26880916
TI  - Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Women in Ilorin, North
      Central Nigeria: A Community-Based Study.
AB  - Introduction. Cancer of the cervix is the leading cause of cancer deaths among
      women in developing countries. Screening is one of the most cost effective
      control strategies for the disease. This study assessed the determinants of
      cervical cancer screening uptake among Nigerian women. Methodology. This cross
      sectional study was conducted using multistage sampling technique among 338
      participants in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. A pretested questionnaire was used
      for data collection and data analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Chi-square
      test was used for bivariate analysis while binary logistic regression was used
      for multivariate analysis. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results.
      Only 8.0% of the respondents had ever been screened for cancer of the cervix. The
      proportion of women who had ever been screened was significantly higher among
      those who demonstrated positive attitude to screening (81.5%, p = 0.001),
      respondents who were aware of the disease (100.0%, p = 0.001), and those who were
      aware of cervical cancer screening (88.9%, p = 0.001). Respondents who had
      negative attitude had 63% lesser odds of being screened compared to those who had
      positive attitudes towards screening (AOR; 0.37, 95% CI; 0.01-0.28). Conclusion.
      There is urgent need to improve the knowledge base and attitude of Nigerian women
      to enhance cervical cancer screening uptake among them. 

PMID- 26880917
TI  - What Prevents Men Aged 40-64 Years from Prostate Cancer Screening in Namibia?
AB  - Objectives. Although a growing body of evidence demonstrates the public health
      burden of prostate cancer in SSA, relatively little is known about the underlying
      factors surrounding the low levels of testing for the disease in the context of
      this region. Using Namibia Demographic Health Survey dataset (NDHS, 2013), we
      examined the factors that influence men's decision to screen for prostate cancer
      in Namibia. Methods. We use complementary log-log regression models to explore
      the determinants of screening for prostate cancer. We also corrected for the
      effect of unobserved heterogeneity that may affect screening behaviours at the
      cluster level. Results. The results show that health insurance coverage (OR =
      2.95, p = 0.01) is an important predictor of screening for prostate cancer in
      Namibia. In addition, higher education and discussing reproductive issues with a
      health worker (OR = 2.02, p = 0.05) were more likely to screening for prostate
      cancer. Conclusions. A universal health insurance scheme may be necessary to
      increase uptake of prostate cancer screening. However it needs to be acknowledged
      that expanded screening can have negative consequences and any allocation of
      scarce resources towards screening must be guided by evidence obtained from the
      local context about the costs and benefits of screening. 

PMID- 26880918
TI  - Expression of Factor X in BHK-21 Cells Promotes Low Pathogenic Influenza Viruses
      Replication.
AB  - A cDNA clone for factor 10 (FX) isolated from chicken embryo inserted into the
      mammalian cell expression vector pCDNA3.1 was transfected into the baby hamster
      kidney (BHK-21) cell line. The generated BHK-21 cells with inducible expression
      of FX were used to investigate the efficacy of the serine transmembrane protease
      to proteolytic activation of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) with monobasic
      cleavage site. Data showed that the BHK-21/FX stably expressed FX after ten
      serial passages. The cells could proteolytically cleave the HA of low pathogenic
      avian influenza virus at multiplicity of infection 0.01. Growth kinetics of the
      virus on BHK-21/FX, BHK-21, and MDCK cells were evaluated by titrations of virus
      particles in each culture supernatant. Efficient multicycle viral replication was
      markedly detected in the cell at subsequent passages. Virus titration
      demonstrated that BHK-21/FX cell supported high-titer growth of the virus in
      which the viral titer is comparable to the virus grown in BHK-21 or MDCK cells
      with TPCK-trypsin. The results indicate potential application for the BHK-21/FX
      in influenza virus replication procedure and related studies. 

PMID- 26880919
TI  - Comparison of the Mechanical Properties of Early Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich
      Fibrin versus PRGF/Endoret Membranes.
AB  - Objectives. The mechanical properties of membranes are important factors in the
      success of treatment and clinical handling. The goal of this study was to compare
      the mechanical properties of early leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF)
      versus PRGF/Endoret membrane. Materials and Methods. In this experimental study,
      membranes were obtained from 10 healthy male volunteers. After obtaining 20 cc
      venous blood from each volunteer, 10 cc was used to prepare early L-PRF (group 1)
      and the rest was used to get a membrane by PRGF-Endoret system (group 2). Tensile
      loads were applied to specimens using universal testing machine. Tensile
      strength, stiffness, and toughness of the two groups of membranes were calculated
      and compared by paired t-test. Results. The mean tensile strength and toughness
      were higher in group 1 with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The mean
      stiffness in group 1 was also higher but not statistically significant (P >
      0.05). Conclusions. The results showed that early L-PRF membranes had stronger
      mechanical properties than membranes produced by PRGF-Endoret system. Early L-PRF
      membranes might have easier clinical handling and could be a more proper scaffold
      in periodontal regenerative procedures. The real results of the current L-PRF
      should be in fact much higher than what is reported here. 

PMID- 26880920
TI  - Micellar Enhanced Spectrofluorimetric Method for the Determination of Ponatinib
      in Human Plasma and Urine via Cremophor RH 40 as Sensing Agent.
AB  - An impressively simple and precise spectrofluorimetric procedure was established
      and validated for ponatinib (PTB) quantitation in biological fluids such as human
      plasma and human urine. This method depends on examining the fluorescence
      characteristics of PTB in a micellar system of Cremophor RH 40 (Cr RH 40). Cr RH
      40 enhanced the intrinsic fluorescence of PTB distinctly in aqueous water. The
      fluorescence spectra of PTB was recorded at 457 nm following its excitation at
      305 nm. Maximum fluorescence intensity was attained by addition of 0.7 mL of Cr
      RH 40 and one mL of phosphate buffer to PTB aliquots and then dilution with
      distilled water. There is a linear relationship between the fluorescence
      intensity of PTB and its concentration over the range 5-120 ngmL(-1), with limit
      of detection and limit of quantification equal to 0.905 ngmL(-1) and 2.742 ngmL(
      1), respectively. The accuracy and the precisions of the proposed method were
      checked and gave adequate results. The adopted method was applied with a great
      success for PTB quantitation in different biological matrices (spiked human
      plasma and urine) giving high recovery values. 

PMID- 26880921
TI  - Enantioseparation of Citalopram by RP-HPLC, Using Sulfobutyl Ether-beta
      Cyclodextrin as a Chiral Mobile Phase Additive.
AB  - Enantiomeric separation of citalopram (CIT) was developed using a reversed phase
      HPLC (RP-HPLC) with sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-beta-CD) as a chiral
      mobile phase additive. The effects of the pH value of aqueous buffer,
      concentration of chiral additive, composition of mobile phase, and column
      temperature on the enantioseparation of CIT were investigated on the Hedera ODS-2
      C18 column (250 mm * 4.6 mm * 5.0 um). A satisfactory resolution was achieved at
      25 degrees C using a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of aqueous buffer (pH
      of 2.5, 5 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and 12 mM SBE-beta-CD), methanol, and
      acetonitrile with a volumetric ratio of 21 : 3 : 1 and flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.
      This analytical method was evaluated by examining the precision (lower than
      3.0%), linearity (regression coefficients close to 1), limit of detection (0.070
      ug/mL for (R)-CIT and 0.076 ug/mL for (S)-CIT), and limit of quantitation (0.235
      ug/mL for (R)-CIT and 0.254 ug/mL for (S)-CIT). 

PMID- 26880922
TI  - Integration of Rabbit Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Hydroxyapatite
      Burr Hole Button Device for Bone Interface Regeneration.
AB  - Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, multipotent stem cells isolated from
      adipose tissue, present close resemblance to the natural in vivo milieu and
      microenvironment of bone tissue and hence widely used for in bone tissue
      engineering applications. The present study evaluates the compatibility of tissue
      engineered hydroxyapatite burr hole button device (HAP-BHB) seeded with Rabbit
      Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSCs). Cytotoxicity, oxidative stress
      response, apoptotic behavior, attachment, and adherence of adipose MSC seeded on
      the device were evaluated by scanning electron and confocal microscopy. The
      results of the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide)
      assay indicated that powdered device material was noncytotoxic up to 0.5 g/mL on
      cultured cells. It was also observed that oxidative stress related reactive
      oxygen species production and apoptosis on cell seeded device were similar to
      those of control (cells alone) except in 3-day period which showed increased
      reactive oxygen species generation. Further scanning electron and confocal
      microscopy indicated a uniform attachment of cells and viability up to 200 MUm
      deep inside the device, respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded
      that the in-house developed HAP-BHB device seeded with ADMSCs is nontoxic/safe
      compatible device for biomedical application and an attractive tissue engineered
      device for calvarial defect regeneration. 

PMID- 26880923
TI  - Comparison of Bone Mineral Density in Thalassemia Major Patients with Healthy
      Controls.
AB  - Chronic hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia are associated with many osteopathies
      like osteoporosis. Methods. This observational study was carried out to compare
      the bone mineral density (BMD) in transfusion dependent thalassemics with that of
      healthy controls. Thirty-two thalassemia patients, aged 2-18 years, and 32 age
      and sex matched controls were studied. The bone mineral concentration (BMC) and
      BMD were assessed at lumbar spine, distal radius, and neck of femur. Biochemical
      parameters like serum calcium and vitamin D levels were also assessed. Results.
      The BMC of neck of femur was significantly low in cases in comparison to
      controls. We also observed significantly lower BMD at the lumbar spine in cases
      in comparison to controls. A significantly positive correlation was observed
      between serum calcium levels and BMD at neck of femur. Conclusion. Hence, low
      serum calcium may be used as a predictor of low BMD especially in populations
      where incidence of hypovitaminosis D is very high. 

PMID- 26880924
TI  - Rapid Accumulation of Total Lipid in Rhizoclonium africanum Kutzing as Biodiesel
      Feedstock under Nutrient Limitations and the Associated Changes at Cellular
      Level.
AB  - Increase of total lipid and the proportion of the favorable fatty acids in marine
      green filamentous macroalga Rhizoclonium africanum (Chlorophyceae) was studied
      under nitrate and phosphate limitations. These stresses were given by both
      eliminating and doubling the required amounts of nitrate and phosphate salts in
      the growth media. A significant twofold increase in total lipid (193.03 mg/g) was
      achieved in cells in absence of nitrate in the culture medium, followed by
      phosphate limitation (142.65 mg/g). The intracellular accumulation of neutral
      lipids was observed by fluorescence microscopy. The scanning electron microscopic
      study showed the major structural changes under nutrient starvation. Fourier
      transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of ester (C-O-C
      stretching), ketone (C-C stretching), carboxylic acid (O-H bending), phosphine (P
      H stretching), aromatic (C-H stretching and bending), and alcohol (O-H stretching
      and bending) groups in the treated cells indicating the high accumulation of
      lipid hydrocarbons in the treated cells. Elevated levels of fatty acids favorable
      for biodiesel production, that is, C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, and C20:1, were
      identified under nitrate- and phosphate-deficient conditions. This study shows
      that the manipulation of cultural conditions could affect the biosynthetic
      pathways leading to increased lipid production while increasing the proportion of
      fatty acids suitable for biodiesel production. 

PMID- 26880925
TI  - Spectrum and the In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Yeast Isolates in
      Ethiopian HIV Patients with Oropharyngeal Candidiasis.
AB  - Background. In Ethiopia, little is known regarding the distribution and the in
      vitro antifungal susceptibility profile of yeasts. Objective. This study was
      undertaken to determine the spectrum and the in vitro antifungal susceptibility
      pattern of yeasts isolated from HIV infected patients with OPC. Method. Oral
      pharyngeal swabs taken from oral lesions of study subjects were inoculated onto
      Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Yeasts were identified by employing conventional test
      procedures and the susceptibility of yeasts to antifungal agents was evaluated by
      disk diffusion assay method. Result. One hundred and fifty-five yeast isolates
      were recovered of which 91 isolates were from patients that were not under HAART
      and 64 were from patients that were under HAART. C. albicans was the most
      frequently isolated species followed by C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C.
      kefyr, Cryptococcus laurentii, and Rhodotorula species. Irrespective of yeasts
      isolated and identified, 5.8%, 5.8%, 12.3%, 8.4%, 0.6%, and 1.3% of the isolates
      were resistant to amphotericin B, clotrimazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole,
      miconazole, and nystatin, respectively. Conclusion. Yeast colonization rate of
      69.2% and 31% resistance to six antifungal agents was documented. These highlight
      the need for nationwide study on the epidemiology of OPC and resistance to
      antifungal drugs. 

PMID- 26880926
TI  - Modulation of mecA Gene Expression by Essential Oil from Salvia sclarea and
      Synergism with Oxacillin in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis
      Carrying Different Types of Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec.
AB  - The essential oil (EO) from Salvia sclarea was shown to increase the
      susceptibility of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE)
      isolates to oxacillin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of
      EO from S. sclarea on expression of mecA gene of MRSE carrying different types of
      staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCCmec) and to evaluate potential
      synergistic effect of EO with oxacillin. Using real-time PCR we found that EO
      alone inhibited the expression of the resistant genes mecA, mecR1, and mecI and
      blaZ, blaR1, and blaI. The use of the combination of EO with oxacillin resulted
      in significantly inhibited expression of mecA gene in all tested strains with
      different types of SCCmec. Using time-kill assay and checkerboard assay we
      confirmed synergistic effect of EO from S. sclarea and oxacillin in MRSE. 

PMID- 26880927
TI  - In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Spices and Medicinal Herbs against Selected
      Microbes Associated with Juices.
AB  - In the present investigation, comparison of antimicrobial activities of different
      spices, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, and Mentha arvensis, and medicinal
      herbs, such as Withania somnifera, Rauvolfia serpentina, Emblica officinalis,
      Terminalia arjuna, and Centella asiatica, was evaluated. Different extraction
      solvents (acetone, methanol, ethanol, and water) were used and extracts were
      examined against Bacillus cereus, Serratia sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa,
      Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citrinum isolated from juices. Extracts from
      the medicinal herb and spices have significant activity. B. cereus was the most
      sensitive and R. mucilaginosa was the most resistant among the microorganisms
      tested. Ethanolic and methanolic extract of C. asiatica displayed maximum
      diameter of inhibition zone against bacteria and yeast and percentage mycelial
      inhibition against moulds. This study confirmed the potential of selected
      extracts of spices as effective natural food preservative in juices. 

PMID- 26880928
TI  - In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Thymus schimperi, Matricaria
      chamomilla, Eucalyptus globulus, and Rosmarinus officinalis.
AB  - In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of four plant essential oils
      (T. schimperi, E. globulus, R. officinalis, and M. Chamomilla) were evaluated
      against bacteria and fungi. The studies were carried out using agar diffusion
      method for screening the most effective essential oils and agar dilution to
      determine minimum inhibitory concentration of the essential oils. Results of this
      study revealed that essential oils of T. schimperi, E. globulus, and R.
      officinalis were active against bacteria and some fungi. The antimicrobial effect
      of M. chamomilla was found to be weaker and did not show any antimicrobial
      activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of T. schimperi were <15.75
      mg/mL for most of the bacteria and fungi used in this study. The minimum
      inhibitory concentration values of the other essential oils were in the range of
      15.75-36.33 mg/mL against tested bacteria. This study highlighted the
      antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of E. globulus, M. chamomilla, T.
      Schimperi, and R. officinalis. The results indicated that T. schimperi have shown
      strong antimicrobial activity which could be potential candidates for preparation
      of antimicrobial drug preparation. 

PMID- 26880929
TI  - Erythema Ab Igne due to Heating Pad Use: A Case Report and Review of Clinical
      Presentation, Prevention, and Complications.
AB  - Erythema ab igne is an asymptomatic cutaneous condition caused by exposure to
      heat. Cases of erythema ab igne may prove to be diagnostically challenging due to
      lack of familiarity with the condition. While this dermatosis carries a favorable
      prognosis, nonmelanoma skin cancers have been reported to arise within lesions of
      erythema ab igne. Erythema ab igne is preventable, and, thus, clinicians should
      provide education regarding safe use of heating devices to patients using these
      products in both outpatient and inpatient settings. 

PMID- 26880930
TI  - Pica for Uncooked Basmati Rice in Two Women with Iron Deficiency and a Review of
      Ryzophagia.
AB  - Reports of pica for uncooked rice (ryzophagia) in adults who reside in European
      and derivative countries are uncommon. We evaluated and treated two nonpregnant
      women with pica for uncooked basmati rice. Both women reported fatigue, abdominal
      discomfort after consuming large quantities of uncooked basmati rice, and hair
      loss. One woman was from India and the other was from Pakistan. Both women were
      vegetarians. Basmati was the local rice in their native countries and their usual
      rice in the USA. Both women had tooth damage due to eating uncooked rice and iron
      deficiency with microcytic anemia attributed to menorrhagia and multiparity.
      Ryzophagia and other manifestations (except tooth damage) resolved after iron
      dextran therapy. We review and discuss other reports of ryzophagia associated
      with iron deficiency, pregnancy, race/ethnicity, geographic origin, and local
      traditions. We conclude that adults with ryzophagia in European and derivative
      countries are likely to be non-Europeans. 

PMID- 26880931
TI  - Successful Treatment of Secondary Aortoenteric Fistula with a Special Graft.
AB  - Aortoenteric fistula is an uncommon but life-threatening cause of
      gastrointestinal blood loss. We report a case of a 70-year-old man who presented
      to the emergency department with an episode of melena and infection in the left
      inguinal region. Diagnosis of secondary aortoenteric fistula was made between the
      left limb of the aortobifemoral graft and the descending colon. We performed
      excision of the infected graft and in situ silver acetate coating of prosthetic
      vascular graft replacement (aortoleft femoral) on the patient. This study reports
      a rare type of secondary aortoenteric fistula to the left colon, and it describes
      an unusual and successful surgical treatment. Antimicrobial coating of prosthetic
      vascular grafts may be a good alternative in the presence of graft infection
      associated with aortoenteric fistula because in situ grafts may carry an
      increased risk of reinfection. 

PMID- 26880932
TI  - Longitudinal Cell Tracking and Simultaneous Monitoring of Tissue Regeneration
      after Cell Treatment of Natural Tendon Disease by Low-Field Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging.
AB  - Treatment of tendon disease with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is a
      promising option to improve tissue regeneration. To elucidate the mechanisms by
      which MSC support regeneration, longitudinal tracking of MSC labelled with
      superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could
      provide important insight. Nine equine patients suffering from tendon disease
      were treated with SPIO-labelled or nonlabelled allogeneic umbilical cord-derived
      MSC by local injection. Labelling of MSC was confirmed by microscopy and MRI. All
      animals were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographical, and low-field MRI
      examinations before and directly after MSC application as well as 2, 4, and 8
      weeks after MSC application. Hypointense artefacts with characteristically low
      signal intensity were identified at the site of injection of SPIO-MSC in T1- and
      T2 (*) -weighted gradient echo MRI sequences. They were visible in all 7 cases
      treated with SPIO-MSC directly after injection, but not in the control cases
      treated with nonlabelled MSC. Furthermore, hypointense artefacts remained
      traceable within the damaged tendon tissue during the whole follow-up period in 5
      out of 7 cases. Tendon healing could be monitored at the same time. Clinical and
      ultrasonographical findings as well as T2-weighted MRI series indicated a gradual
      improvement of tendon function and structure. 

PMID- 26880933
TI  - Proangiogenic Features of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Therapeutic
      Applications.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown their therapeutic potency for treatment
      of cardiovascular diseases owing to their low immunogenicity, ease of isolation
      and expansion, and multipotency. As multipotent progenitors, MSCs have revealed
      their ability to differentiate into various cell types and could promote
      endogenous angiogenesis via microenvironmental modulation. Studies on
      cardiovascular diseases have demonstrated that transplanted MSCs could engraft at
      the injured sites and differentiate into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells as
      well. Accordingly, several clinical trials using MSCs have been performed and
      revealed that MSCs may improve relevant clinical parameters in patients with
      vascular diseases. To fully comprehend the characteristics of MSCs, understanding
      their intrinsic property and associated modulations in tuning their behaviors as
      well as functions is indispensable for future clinical translation of MSC
      therapy. This review will focus on recent progresses on endothelial
      differentiation and potential clinical application of MSCs, with emphasis on
      therapeutic angiogenesis for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. 

PMID- 26880935
TI  - Cancer Stem Cell Signaling during Repopulation in Head and Neck Cancer.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate cancer stem signaling during the
      repopulation response of a head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) xenograft
      after radiation treatment. Xenografts were generated from low passage HNSCC cells
      and were treated with either sham radiation or 15 Gy in one fraction. At
      different time points, days 0, 3, and 10 for controls and days 4, 7, 12, and 21,
      after irradiation, 3 tumors per group were harvested for global gene expression,
      pathway analysis, and immunohistochemical evaluation. 316 genes were identified
      that were associated with a series of stem cell-related genes and were
      differentially expressed (p <= 0.01 and 1.5-fold) at a minimum of one time point
      in UT-SCC-14 xenografts after radiation. The largest network of genes that showed
      significant changes after irradiation was associated with CD44, NOTCH1, and MET.
      c-MET and ALDH1A3 staining correlated with the changes in gene expression. A
      clear pattern emerged that was consistent with the growth inhibition data in that
      genes associated with stem cell pathways were most active at day 7 and day 12
      after irradiation. The MET/CD44 axis seemed to be an important component of the
      repopulation response. 

PMID- 26880934
TI  - Mimicking Neural Stem Cell Niche by Biocompatible Substrates.
AB  - Neural stem cells (NSCs) participate in the maintenance, repair, and regeneration
      of the central nervous system. During development, the primary NSCs are
      distributed along the ventricular zone of the neural tube, while, in adults, NSCs
      are mainly restricted to the subependymal layer of the subventricular zone of the
      lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the
      hippocampus. The circumscribed areas where the NSCs are located contain the
      secreted proteins and extracellular matrix components that conform their niche.
      The interplay among the niche elements and NSCs determines the balance between
      stemness and differentiation, quiescence, and proliferation. The understanding of
      niche characteristics and how they regulate NSCs activity is critical to building
      in vitro models that include the relevant components of the in vivo niche and to
      developing neuroregenerative approaches that consider the extracellular
      environment of NSCs. This review aims to examine both the current knowledge on
      neurogenic niche and how it is being used to develop biocompatible substrates for
      the in vitro and in vivo mimicking of extracellular NSCs conditions. 

PMID- 26880937
TI  - Osteogenesis from Dental Pulp Derived Stem Cells: A Novel Conditioned Medium
      Including Melatonin within a Mixture of Hyaluronic, Butyric, and Retinoic Acids.
AB  - Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) have shown relevant potential for cell
      therapy in the orthopedic and odontoiatric fields. The optimization of their
      osteogenic potential is currently a major challenge. Vascular endothelial growth
      factor A (VEGF A) has been recently reported to act as a major conductor of
      osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Here, we attempted to prime endogenous VEGF A
      expression without the need for viral vector mediated gene transfer technologies.
      We show that hDPSCs exposure to a mixture of hyaluronic, butyric, and retinoic
      acids (HA + BU + RA) induced the transcription of a gene program of osteogenesis
      and the acquirement of an osteogenic lineage. Such response was also elicited by
      cell exposure to melatonin, a pleiotropic agent that recently emerged as a
      remarkable osteogenic inducer. Interestingly, the commitment to the osteogenic
      fate was synergistically enhanced by the combinatorial exposure to a conditioned
      medium containing both melatonin and HA + BU + RA. These in vitro results suggest
      that in vivo osteogenesis might be improved and further studies are needed. 

PMID- 26880936
TI  - Vascular Wall-Resident Multipotent Stem Cells of Mesenchymal Nature within the
      Process of Vascular Remodeling: Cellular Basis, Clinical Relevance, and
      Implications for Stem Cell Therapy.
AB  - Until some years ago, the bone marrow and the endothelial cell compartment lining
      the vessel lumen (subendothelial space) were thought to be the only sources
      providing vascular progenitor cells. Now, the vessel wall, in particular, the
      vascular adventitia, has been established as a niche for different types of stem
      and progenitor cells with the capacity to differentiate into both vascular and
      nonvascular cells. Herein, vascular wall-resident multipotent stem cells of
      mesenchymal nature (VW-MPSCs) have gained importance because of their large range
      of differentiation in combination with their distribution throughout the
      postnatal organism which is related to their existence in the adventitial niche,
      respectively. In general, mesenchymal stem cells, also designated as mesenchymal
      stromal cells (MSCs), contribute to the maintenance of organ integrity by their
      ability to replace defunct cells or secrete cytokines locally and thus support
      repair and healing processes of the affected tissues. This review will focus on
      the central role of VW-MPSCs within vascular reconstructing processes (vascular
      remodeling) which are absolute prerequisite to preserve the sensitive
      relationship between resilience and stability of the vessel wall. Further, a
      particular advantage for the therapeutic application of VW-MPSCs for improving
      vascular function or preventing vascular damage will be discussed. 

PMID- 26880939
TI  - Improvement of Mouth Functional Disability in Systemic Sclerosis Patients over
      One Year in a Trial of Fat Transplantation versus Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells.
AB  - Background. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease characterized by
      cutaneous and visceral fibrosis. Face and mouth changes include telangiectasia,
      sicca syndrome, and thinning and reduction of mouth width (microcheilia) and
      opening (microstomia). We applied autologous fat transplantation compared with
      autologous adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) injection to evaluate the
      clinical improvement of mouth opening. Methods. From February to May 2013 ten
      consecutive SSc patients were enrolled from the outpatient clinic of Plastic
      Surgery Department of Sapienza University of Rome. Patients were divided into two
      groups as follows: 5 patients were treated with fat transplantation and 5
      patients received infiltration of ADSCs produced by cell factory of our
      institution. To value mouth opening, we use the Italian version of Mouth Handicap
      in Systemic Sclerosis Scale (IvMHISS). Mouth opening was assessed in centimetres
      (Maximal Mouth Opening, MMO). In order to evaluate compliance and physician and
      patient satisfaction, we employed a Questionnaire of Satisfaction and the Visual
      Analogic Scale (VAS) performed before starting study and 1 year after the last
      treatment. Results and Conclusion. We noticed that both procedures obtained
      significant results but neither one emerged as a first-choice technique. The
      present clinical experimentation should be regarded as a starting point for
      further experimental research and clinical trials. 

PMID- 26880938
TI  - Cell Therapy in Ischemic Heart Disease: Interventions That Modulate Cardiac
      Regeneration.
AB  - The incidence of severe ischemic heart disease caused by coronary obstruction has
      progressively increased. Alternative forms of treatment have been studied in an
      attempt to regenerate myocardial tissue, induce angiogenesis, and improve
      clinical conditions. In this context, cell therapy has emerged as a promising
      alternative using cells with regenerative potential, focusing on the release of
      paracrine and autocrine factors that contribute to cell survival, angiogenesis,
      and tissue remodeling. Evidence of the safety, feasibility, and potential
      effectiveness of cell therapy has emerged from several clinical trials using
      different lineages of adult stem cells. The clinical benefit, however, is not yet
      well established. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of cell
      therapy in terms of regenerative and angiogenic capacity after myocardial
      ischemia. In addition, we addressed nonpharmacological interventions that may
      influence this therapeutic practice, such as diet and physical training. This
      review brings together current data on pharmacological and nonpharmacological
      approaches to improve cell homing and cardiac repair. 

PMID- 26880940
TI  - High Content Analysis of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Hepatocytes Reveals
      Drug Induced Steatosis and Phospholipidosis.
AB  - Hepatotoxicity is one of the most cited reasons for withdrawal of approved drugs
      from the market. The use of nonclinically relevant in vitro and in vivo testing
      systems contributes to the high attrition rates. Recent advances in
      differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into pure cultures
      of hepatocyte-like cells expressing functional drug metabolizing enzymes open up
      possibilities for novel, more relevant human cell based toxicity models. The
      present study aimed to investigate the use of hiPSC derived hepatocytes for
      conducting mechanistic toxicity testing by image based high content analysis
      (HCA). The hiPSC derived hepatocytes were exposed to drugs known to cause
      hepatotoxicity through steatosis and phospholipidosis, measuring several
      endpoints representing different mechanisms involved in drug induced
      hepatotoxicity. The hiPSC derived hepatocytes were benchmarked to the HepG2 cell
      line and generated robust HCA data with low imprecision between plates and
      batches. The different parameters measured were detected at subcytotoxic
      concentrations and the order of which the compounds were categorized (as severe,
      moderate, mild, or nontoxic) based on the degree of injury at isomolar
      concentration corresponded to previously published data. Taken together, the
      present study shows how hiPSC derived hepatocytes can be used as a platform for
      screening drug induced hepatotoxicity by HCA. 

PMID- 26880942
TI  - Endothelial Progenitor Cell Migration-Enhancing Factors in the Secretome of
      Placental-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
AB  - Therapeutic potentials of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) depend largely on their
      ability to secrete cytokines or factors that modulate immune response, enhance
      cell survival, and induce neovascularization in the target tissues. We studied
      the secretome profile of gestational tissue-derived MSCs and their effects on
      functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), another angiogenic cell type
      that plays an important role during the neovascularization. MSCs derived from
      placental tissues (PL-MSCs) significantly enhanced EPC migration while BM-MSCs,
      which are the standard source of MSCs for various clinical applications, did not.
      By using protein fractionation and mass spectrometry analysis, we identified
      several novel candidates for EPC migration enhancing factor in PL-MSCs secretome
      that could be used to enhance neovascularization in the injured/ischemic tissues.
      We recommend that the strategy developed in our study could be used to
      systematically identify therapeutically useful molecules in the secretomes of
      other MSC sources for the clinical applications. 

PMID- 26880941
TI  - A Role for Notch Signalling in Breast Cancer and Endocrine Resistance.
AB  - Over the past decade, there has been growing interest in the Notch signalling
      pathway within the breast cancer field. This interest stemmed initially from the
      observation that Notch signalling is aberrantly activated in breast cancer and
      its effects on various cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and
      cancer stem cell activity. However more recently, elevated Notch signalling has
      been correlated with therapy resistance in oestrogen receptor-positive breast
      cancer. As a result, inhibiting Notch signalling with therapeutic agents is being
      explored as a promising treatment option for breast cancer patients. 

PMID- 26880943
TI  - The New Role of CD163 in the Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells into
      Vascular Endothelial-Like Cells.
AB  - Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into vascular endothelial
      cells (VECs). It is regarded as an important solution to cure many diseases, such
      as ischemic diseases and diabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying BMSC
      differentiation into VECs are not well understood. Recent reports showed that
      CD163 expression was associated with angiogenesis. In this study, overexpression
      of CD163 in BMSCs elevated the protein level of the endothelial-associated
      markers CD31, Flk-1, eNOS, and VE-cadherin, significantly increased the
      proportion of Alexa Fluor 488-acetylated-LDL-positive VECs, and promoted
      angiogenesis on Matrigel. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CD163 acted
      downstream homeobox containing 1 (Hmbox1) and upstream fibroblast growth factor 2
      (FGF-2). These data suggested that CD163 was involved in Hmbox1/CD163/FGF-2
      signal pathway in BMSC differentiation into vascular endothelial-like cells. We
      found a new signal pathway and a novel target for further investigating the gene
      control of BMSC differentiation into a VEC lineage. 

PMID- 26880944
TI  - The Use of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Physiological and
      Pathological Vulvar Dystrophies.
AB  - "Vulvar dystrophy" is characterized by chronic alterations of vulvar trophism,
      occurring in both physiological (menopause) and pathological (lichen sclerosus,
      vulvar graft-versus-host disease) conditions. Associated symptoms are itching,
      burning, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness. Current treatments often do not imply a
      complete remission of symptoms. Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) injection
      represents a valid alternative therapy to enhance trophism and tone of dystrophic
      tissues. We evaluated efficacy of ADSCs-based therapy in the dystrophic areas.
      From February to April 2013 we enrolled 8 patients with vulvar dystrophy. A
      biopsy specimen was performed before and after treatment. Digital photographs
      were taken at baseline and during the follow-up. Pain was detected with Visual
      Analogue Scale and sexual function was evaluated with Female Sexual Function
      Index. All patients received 2 treatments in 3 months. Follow-up was at 1 week ,
      1 and 3 months, and 1 and 2 years. We obtained a significant vulvar trophism
      enhancement in all patients, who reported pain reduction and sexual function
      improvement. Objective exam with speculum was easy to perform after treatment. We
      believe ADSCs-based therapy finds its application in the treatment of vulvar
      dystrophies, since ADSCs could induce increased vascularization due to their
      angiogenic properties and tissue trophism improvement thanks to their eutrophic
      effect. 

PMID- 26880945
TI  - Genetic Background of Immune Complications after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem
      Cell Transplantation in Children.
AB  - Immune reactions are among the most serious complications observed after
      hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children. Microarray technique
      allows for simultaneous assessment of expression of nearly all human genes. The
      objective of the study was to compare the whole genome expression in children
      before and after HSCT. A total of 33 children referred for HSCT were enrolled in
      the study. In 70% of the patients HSCT was performed for the treatment of
      neoplasms. Blood samples were obtained before HSCT and six months after the
      procedure. Subsequently, the whole genome expression was assessed in leukocytes
      using GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST microarray. The analysis of genomic profiles
      before and after HSCT revealed altered expression of 124 genes. Pathway
      enrichment analysis revealed upregulation of five pathways after HSCT: allograft
      rejection, graft-versus-host disease, type I diabetes mellitus, autoimmune
      thyroid disease, and viral myocarditis. The activation of those pathways seems to
      be related to immune reactions commonly observed after HSCT. Our results
      contribute to better understanding of the genomic background of the immunologic
      complications of HSCT. 

PMID- 26880946
TI  - LncRNAs in Stem Cells.
AB  - Noncoding RNAs are critical regulatory factors in essentially all forms of life.
      Stem cells occupy a special position in cell biology and Biomedicine, and
      emerging results show that multiple ncRNAs play essential roles in stem cells. We
      discuss some of the known ncRNAs in stem cells such as embryonic stem cells,
      induced pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, adult stem cells, and
      cancer stem cells with a focus on long ncRNAs. Roles and functional mechanisms of
      these lncRNAs are summarized, and insights into current and future studies are
      presented. 

PMID- 26880947
TI  - MicroRNAs-Proteomic Networks Characterizing Human Medulloblastoma-SLCs.
AB  - Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of pediatric age
      and is characterized by cells expressing stem, astroglial, and neuronal markers.
      Among them, stem-like cells (hMB-SLCs) represent a fraction of the tumor cell
      population with the potential of self-renewal and proliferation and have been
      associated with tumor poor prognosis. In this context, microRNAs have been
      described as playing a pivotal role in stem cells differentiation. In our paper,
      we analyze microRNAs profile and genes expression of hMB-SLCs before and after
      Retinoic Acid- (RA-) induced differentiation. We aimed to identify pivotal
      players of specific pathways sustaining stemness and/or tumor development and
      progression and integrate the results of our recent proteomic study. Our results
      uncovered 22 differentially expressed microRNAs that were used as input together
      with deregulated genes and proteins in the Genomatix Pathway System (GePS)
      analysis revealing 3 subnetworks that could be interestingly involved in the
      maintenance of hMB-SLCs proliferation. Taken together, our findings highlight
      microRNAs, genes, and proteins that are significantly modulated in hMB-SLCs with
      respect to their RA-differentiated counterparts and could open new perspectives
      for prognostic and therapeutic intervention on MB. 

PMID- 26880948
TI  - Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Outer Retinal Disease.
AB  - The retina, which is composed of multiple layers of differing cell types, has
      been considered the first choice for gene therapy, disease modeling, and stem
      cell-derived retinal cell transplant therapy. Because of its special
      characteristics, the retina, located in the posterior part of the eye, can be
      well observed directly after gene therapy or transplantation. The blood-retinal
      barrier is part of a specialized ocular microenvironment that is immune
      privileged. This protects transplanted cells and tissue. Having two eyes makes
      perfect natural control possible after a single eye receives gene or stem cell
      therapy. For this reason, research about exploring retinal diseases' underlying
      molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic approach using stem cell technique
      has been developing rapidly. This review is to present an up-to-date summary of
      the iPSC's sources, variations, differentiation methods, and the wide-ranging
      application of iPSCs-RPCS or iPSCs-RPE on retinal disease modeling, diagnostics,
      and therapeutics. 

PMID- 26880949
TI  - The Interaction between Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived
      Cardiomyocytes Leads to Proarrhythmic Changes in In Vitro Cocultures.
AB  - Transplantation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is one of the most promising
      therapeutic approaches after myocardial infarction, as loss of cardiomyocytes is
      virtually irreversible by endogenous repair mechanisms. In myocardial scars,
      transplanted cardiomyocytes will be in immediate contact with cardiac
      fibroblasts. While it is well documented how the electrophysiology of neonatal
      cardiomyocytes is modulated by cardiac fibroblasts of the same developmental
      stage, it is unknown how adult cardiac fibroblasts (aCFs) affect the function of
      embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CMs). To investigate the effects
      of aCFs on ESC-CM electrophysiology, we performed extra- and intracellular
      recordings of murine aCF-ESC-CM cocultures. We observed that spontaneous beating
      behaviour was highly irregular in aCF-ESC-CM cocultures compared to cocultures
      with mesenchymal stem cells (coefficient of variation of the interspike interval:
      40.5 +/- 15.2% versus 9.3 +/- 2.0%, p = 0.008) and that action potential
      amplitude and maximal upstroke velocity (V max) were reduced (amplitude: 52.3 +/-
      1.7 mV versus 65.1 +/- 1.5 mV, V max: 7.0 +/- 1.0 V/s versus 36.5 +/- 5.3 V/s),
      while action potential duration (APD) was prolonged (APD50: 25.6 +/- 1.0 ms
      versus 16.8 +/- 1.9 ms, p < 0.001; APD90: 52.2 +/- 1.5 ms versus 43.3 +/- 3.3 ms,
      p < 0.01) compared to controls. Similar changes could be induced by aCF
      conditioned medium. We conclude that the presence of aCFs changes automaticity
      and induces potentially proarrhythmic changes of ESC-CM electrophysiology. 

PMID- 26880950
TI  - Revisiting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Liver Fibrosis: Clues for a
      Better Understanding of the "Reactive" Biliary Epithelial Phenotype.
AB  - Whether liver epithelial cells contribute to the development of hepatic scarring
      by undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a controversial
      issue. Herein, we revisit the concept of EMT in cholangiopathies, a group of
      severe hepatic disorders primarily targeting the bile duct epithelial cell
      (cholangiocyte), leading to progressive portal fibrosis, the main determinant of
      liver disease progression. Unfortunately, therapies able to halt this process are
      currently lacking. In cholangiopathies, fibrogenesis is part of ductular
      reaction, a reparative complex involving epithelial, mesenchymal, and
      inflammatory cells. Ductular reactive cells (DRC) are cholangiocytes derived from
      the activation of the hepatic progenitor cell compartment. These cells are
      arranged into irregular strings and express a "reactive" phenotype, which enables
      them to extensively crosstalk with the other components of ductular reaction. We
      will first discuss EMT in liver morphogenesis and then highlight how some of
      these developmental programs are partly reactivated in DRC. Evidence for "bona
      fide" EMT changes in cholangiocytes is lacking, but expression of some
      mesenchymal markers represents a fundamental repair mechanism in response to
      chronic biliary damage with potential harmful fibrogenetic effects. Understanding
      microenvironmental cues and signaling perturbations promoting these changes in
      DRC may help to identify potential targets for new antifibrotic therapies in
      cholangiopathies. 

PMID- 26880952
TI  - BMSCs Interactions with Adventitial Fibroblasts Display Smooth Muscle Cell
      Lineage Potential in Differentiation and Migration That Contributes to Neointimal
      Formation.
AB  - In this study a model of simulated vascular injury in vitro was used to study the
      characterization of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) morphology
      and to investigate the differentiation and migration of BMSCs in the presence of
      adventitial fibroblasts. BMSCs from rats were indirectly cocultured with
      adventitial fibroblasts in a transwell chamber apparatus for 7 days, and
      clonogenic assays demonstrated that BMSCs could be differentiated into smooth
      muscle-like cells with this process, including smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha
      SMA) expression by immunofluorescence staining. Cell morphology of BMSCs was
      assessed by inverted microscope, while cell proliferation was assessed by MTT
      assay. The expressions of TGF-beta1, MMP-1, and NF-kappaB were detected by
      immunofluorescence staining and Smad3 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription
      PCR. Migration ability of BMSCs with DAPI-labeled nuclei was measured by laser
      confocal microscopy. Our results demonstrate that indirect interactions with
      adventitial fibroblasts can induce proliferation, differentiation, and migration
      of BMSCs that can actively participate in neointimal formation. Our results
      indicate that the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling might perform via TGF
      beta1/Smad3 signal transduction pathways. 

PMID- 26880951
TI  - In Vivo Tracking of Cell Therapies for Cardiac Diseases with Nuclear Medicine.
AB  - Even though heart diseases are amongst the main causes of mortality and morbidity
      in the world, existing treatments are limited in restoring cardiac lesions. Cell
      transplantations, originally developed for the treatment of hematologic ailments,
      are presently being explored in preclinical and clinical trials for cardiac
      diseases. Nonetheless, little is known about the possible efficacy and mechanisms
      for these therapies and they are the center of continuous investigation. In this
      scenario, noninvasive imaging techniques lead to greater comprehension of cell
      therapies. Radiopharmaceutical cell labeling, firstly developed to track
      leukocytes, has been used successfully to evaluate the migration of cell
      therapies for myocardial diseases. A substantial rise in the amount of reports
      employing this methodology has taken place in the previous years. We will review
      the diverse radiopharmaceuticals, imaging modalities, and results of experimental
      and clinical studies published until now. Also, we report on current limitations
      and potential advances of radiopharmaceutical labeling for cell therapies in
      cardiac diseases. 

PMID- 26880953
TI  - Wound Dressing Model of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Alginates
      Complex Promotes Skin Wound Healing by Paracrine Signaling.
AB  - Purpose. To probe growth characteristics of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem
      cells (hUCMSCs) cultured with alginate gel scaffolds, and to explore feasibility
      of wound dressing model of hUCMSCs-alginates compound. Methods. hUCMSCs were
      isolated, cultured, and identified in vitro. Then cells were cultivated in 100 mM
      calcium alginate gel, and the capacity of proliferation and migration and the
      expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) were investigated
      regularly. Wound dressing model of hUCMSCs-alginate gel mix was transplanted into
      Balb/c mice skin defects. Wound healing rate and immunohistochemistry were
      examined. Results. hUCMSCs grew well but with little migration ability in the
      alginate gel. Compared with control group, a significantly larger cell number and
      more VEGF expression were shown in the gel group after culturing for 3-6 days (P
      < 0.05). In addition, a faster skin wound healing rate with more
      neovascularization was observed in the hUCMSCs-alginate gel group than in control
      groups at 15th day after surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusion. hUCMSCs can proliferate
      well and express massive VEGF in calcium alginate gel porous scaffolds. Wound
      dressing model of hUCMSCs-alginate gel mix can promote wound healing through
      paracrine signaling. 

PMID- 26880954
TI  - Comparative Analysis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord, Dental
      Pulp, and Menstrual Blood as Sources for Cell Therapy.
AB  - Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based therapy has been considered as a
      promising tool for tissue repair and regeneration, the optimal cell source
      remains unknown. Umbilical cord (UC), dental pulp (DP), and menstrual blood (MB)
      are easily accessible sources, which make them attractive candidates for MSCs.
      The goal of this study was to compare the biological characteristics, including
      morphology, proliferation, antiapoptosis, multilineage differentiation capacity,
      and immunophenotype of UC-, DP-, and MB-MSCs in order to provide a theoretical
      basis for clinical selection and application of these cells. As a result, all UC
      , DP-, and MB-MSCs have self-renewal capacity and multipotentiality. However, the
      UC-MSCs seemed to have higher cell proliferation ability, while DP-MSCs may have
      significant advantages for osteogenic differentiation, lower cell apoptosis, and
      senescence. These differences may be associated with the different expression
      level of cytokines, including vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast
      growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor in each
      of the MSCs. Comprehensively, our results suggest DP-MSCs may be a desired source
      for clinical applications of cell therapy. 

PMID- 26880955
TI  - Improved Protective Effect of Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Transplantation on
      Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury in Mice Pretreated with Antithymocyte Globulin.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recognised as a promising tool to improve renal
      recovery in experimental models of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.
      However, these preclinical studies were performed on severely immunodeficient
      animals. Here, we investigated whether human umbilical cord derived MSC treatment
      could equally ameliorate acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin and prolong
      survival in mice with a normal immune system and those with a suppressed immune
      system by polyclonal antithymocyte globulin (ATG). We demonstrated that ATG
      pretreatment, when followed by MSC transplantation, significantly improved
      injured renal function parameters, as evidenced by decreased blood urea nitrogen
      and serum creatinine concentration, as well as improved renal morphology. This
      tissue restoration was also supported by increased survival of mice. The
      beneficial effects of ATG were associated with reduced level of inflammatory
      protein serum amyloid A3 and induced antioxidative expression of superoxide
      dismutase-1 (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and hem oxygenase-1 (HO-1).
      Infused MSCs became localised predominantly in peritubular areas and acted to
      reduce renal cell death. In conclusion, these results show that ATG diminished in
      situ inflammation and oxidative stress associated with cisplatin-induced acute
      kidney injury, the effects that may provide more favourable microenvironment for
      MSC action, with consequential synergistic improvements in renal injury and
      animal survival as compared to MSC treatment alone. 

PMID- 26880957
TI  - Hijacking the Cellular Mail: Exosome Mediated Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem
      Cells.
AB  - Bone transplantation is one of the most widely performed clinical procedures.
      Consequently, bone regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells and tissue
      engineering strategies is one of the most widely researched fields in
      regenerative medicine. Recent scientific consensus indicates that a biomimetic
      approach is required to achieve proper regeneration of any tissue. Exosomes are
      nanovesicles secreted by cells that act as messengers that influence cell fate.
      Although exosomal function has been studied with respect to cancer and
      immunology, the role of exosomes as inducers of stem cell differentiation has not
      been explored. We hypothesized that exosomes can be used as biomimetic tools for
      regenerative medicine. In this study we have explored the use of cell-generated
      exosomes as tools to induce lineage specific differentiation of stem cells. Our
      results indicate that proosteogenic exosomes isolated from cell cultures can
      induce lineage specific differentiation of naive MSCs in vitro and in vivo.
      Additionally, exosomes can also bind to matrix proteins such as type I collagen
      and fibronectin enabling them to be tethered to biomaterials. Overall, the
      results from this study show the potential of cell derived exosomes in bone
      regenerative medicine and opens up new avenues for future research. 

PMID- 26880956
TI  - Stem/Progenitor Cell Niches Involved in Hepatic and Biliary Regeneration.
AB  - Niches containing stem/progenitor cells are present in different anatomical
      locations along the human biliary tree and within liver acini. The most primitive
      stem/progenitors, biliary tree stem/progenitor cells (BTSCs), reside within
      peribiliary glands located throughout large extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile
      ducts. BTSCs are multipotent and can differentiate towards hepatic and pancreatic
      cell fates. These niches' matrix chemistry and other characteristics are
      undefined. Canals of Hering (bile ductules) are found periportally and contain
      hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HpSCs), participating in the renewal of small
      intrahepatic bile ducts and being precursors to hepatocytes and cholangiocytes.
      The niches also contain precursors to hepatic stellate cells and endothelia,
      macrophages, and have a matrix chemistry rich in hyaluronans, minimally sulfated
      proteoglycans, fetal collagens, and laminin. The microenvironment furnishes key
      signals driving HpSC activation and differentiation. Newly discovered third
      niches are pericentral within hepatic acini, contain Axin2+ unipotent hepatocytic
      progenitors linked on their lateral borders to endothelia forming the central
      vein, and contribute to normal turnover of mature hepatocytes. Their relationship
      to the other stem/progenitors is undefined. Stem/progenitor niches have important
      implications in regenerative medicine for the liver and biliary tree and in
      pathogenic processes leading to diseases of these tissues. 

PMID- 26880959
TI  - Endovascular Management of Aorta-Iliac Stenosis and Occlusive Disease by Kissing
      Stent Technique.
AB  - Kissing-stenting treatment has been used to treat patients with peripheral artery
      disease (PAD). However, the long term efficacy of the stenting therapy is not
      well defined in Chinese PAD patients. To investigate the question, sixty-three
      PAD patients (37 males and 26 females), aged 66 +/- 7.3 years, were analysed in
      the study. They were featured as claudication (n = 45, 71.4%), rest pain (n = 18,
      28.6%), or gangrene (n = 8, 12.7%). In total, 161 stents were applied in aorta
      iliac lesions with 2.6 stents for each patient, including 55 self-expanding
      stents, 98 balloon expandable stents, and 8 covered stents. The success rate of
      implanting Kissing-stents was 100%. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) with
      urokinase was performed in 8 cases (12.7%). The severity of peripheral ischemia
      was significantly improved, as evidenced by 3.3-fold increase of ankle-brachial
      pressure index (ABI) after the surgery (P = 0.008). One, three, five, and seven
      years after surgery, the primary patency rate was 87.3%, 77.4%, 71.1%, and 65.0%,
      whereas the secondary patency rate was 95.2%, 92.5%, 89.5%, and 85.0%,
      respectively. No in-hospital mortality was recorded. In conclusion, Kissing
      stenting technique for aorta-iliac lesions is safe and effective with lower
      complications. It is beneficial for aorta-iliac occlusions that are longer than
      60 mm. 

PMID- 26880958
TI  - Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment for Discogenic Low Back Pain and Disc
      Degeneration.
AB  - Low back pain with resultant loss of function, decreased productivity, and high
      economic costs is burdensome for both the individual and the society. Evidence
      suggests that intervertebral disc pathology is a major contributor to spine
      related pain and degeneration. When commonly used conservative therapies fail,
      traditional percutaneous or surgical options may be beneficial for pain relief
      but are suboptimal because of their inability to alter disc microenvironment
      catabolism, restore disc tissue, and/or preserve native spine biomechanics.
      Percutaneously injected Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) therapy has
      recently gained clinical interest for its potential to revolutionarily treat disc
      generated (discogenic) pain and associated disc degeneration. Unlike previous
      therapies to date, MSCs may uniquely offer the ability to improve discogenic pain
      and provide more sustained improvement by reducing disc microenvironment
      catabolism and regenerating disc tissue. Consistent treatment success has the
      potential to create a paradigm shift with regards to the treatment of discogenic
      pain and disc degeneration. 

PMID- 26880960
TI  - Stem Cell Mobilization with G-CSF versus Cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF in Mexican
      Children.
AB  - Fifty-six aphaereses were performed in 23 pediatric patients with malignant
      hematological and solid tumors, following three different protocols for PBPC
      mobilization and distributed as follows: A: seventeen mobilized with 4 g/m(2) of
      cyclophosphamide (CFA) and 10 MUg/kg/day of granulocyte colony stimulating factor
      (G-CSF), B: nineteen with CFA + G-CSF, and C: twenty only with G-CSF when the WBC
      count exceeded 10 * 10(9)/L. The average number of MNC/kg body weight
      (BW)/aphaeresis was 0.4 * 10(8) (0.1-1.4), 2.25 * 10(8) (0.56-6.28), and 1.02 *
      10(8) (0.34-2.5) whereas the average number of CD34+ cells/kg BW/aphaeresis was
      0.18 * 10(6)/kg (0.09-0.34), 1.04 * 10(6) (0.19-9.3), and 0.59 * 10(6) (0.17
      0.87) and the count of CFU/kg BW/aphaeresis was 1.11 * 10(5) (0.31-2.12), 1.16 *
      10(5) (0.64-2.97), and 1.12 * 10(5) (0.3-6.63) in groups A, B, and C,
      respectively. The collection was better in group B versus group A (p = 0.007 and
      p = 0.05, resp.) and in group C versus group A (p = 0.08 and p = 0.05, resp.).
      The collection of PBPCs was more effective in the group mobilized with CFM + G
      CSF when the WBC exceeded 10 * 10(3)/MUL in terms of MNC and CD34+ cells and
      there was no toxicity of the chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26880961
TI  - Monitoring the Bystander Killing Effect of Human Multipotent Stem Cells for
      Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors.
AB  - Tumor infiltrating stem cells have been suggested as a vehicle for the delivery
      of a suicide gene towards otherwise difficult to treat tumors like glioma. We
      have used herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase expressing human multipotent
      adult progenitor cells in two brain tumor models (hU87 and Hs683) in immune
      compromised mice. In order to determine the best time point for the
      administration of the codrug ganciclovir, the stem cell distribution and
      viability were monitored in vivo using bioluminescence (BLI) and magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment was assessed by in vivo BLI and MRI of the
      tumors. We were able to show that suicide gene therapy using HSV-tk expressing
      stem cells can be followed in vivo by MRI and BLI. This has the advantage that
      (1) outliers can be detected earlier, (2) GCV treatment can be initiated based on
      stem cell distribution rather than on empirical time points, and (3) a more
      thorough follow-up can be provided prior to and after treatment of these animals.
      In contrast to rodent stem cell and tumor models, treatment success was limited
      in our model using human cell lines. This was most likely due to the lack of
      immune components in the immune-compromised rodents. 

PMID- 26880962
TI  - The Progress of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as Models of Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were widely used for
      investigating the mechanisms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Somatic cells from
      patients with SNCA (alpha-synuclein), LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2), PINK1
      (PTEN induced putative kinase 1), Parkin mutations, and at-risk individuals
      carrying GBA (beta-glucocerebrosidase) mutations have been successfully induced
      to iPSCs and subsequently differentiated into dopaminergic (DA) neurons.
      Importantly, some PD-related cell phenotypes, including alpha-synuclein
      aggregation, mitophagy, damaged mitochondrial DNA, and mitochondrial dysfunction,
      have been described in these iPSCs models, which further investigated the
      pathogenesis of PD. In 2007, Takahashi et al. and Vodyanik et al. generated iPSCs
      from human somatic cells for the first time. Since then, patients derived iPSCs
      were applied for disease modeling, drug discovery and screening, autologous cell
      replacement therapy, and other biological applications. iPSC research has now
      become a hot topic in a wide range of fields. This review summarizes the recent
      progress of PD patients derived iPSC models in pathogenic mechanism investigation
      and potential clinical applications, especially their promising strategy in
      pharmacological study and DA neurons transplantation therapy. However, the
      challenges of iPSC transplantation still exist, and it has a long way to go
      before it can be used in clinical application. 

PMID- 26880963
TI  - Human Hepatocyte-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: MYC Expression,
      Similarities to Human Germ Cell Tumors, and Safety Issues.
AB  - Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a most promising approach to the
      development of a hepatocyte transplantable mass sufficient to induce long-term
      correction of inherited liver metabolic diseases, thus avoiding liver
      transplantation. Their intrinsic self-renewal ability and potential to
      differentiate into any of the three germ layers identify iPSC as the most
      promising cell-based therapeutics, but also as drivers of tumor development.
      Teratoma development currently represents the gold standard to assess iPSC
      pluripotency. We analyzed the tumorigenic potential of iPSC generated from human
      hepatocytes (HEP-iPSC) and compared their immunohistochemical profiles to that of
      tumors developed from fibroblast and hematopoietic stem cell-derived iPSC. HEP
      iPSC generated tumors significantly presented more malignant morphological
      features than reprogrammed fibroblasts or CD34+ iPSC. Moreover, the protooncogene
      myc showed the strongest expression in HEP-iPSC, compared to only faint
      expression in the other cell subsets. Random integration of transgenes and the
      use of potent protooncogenes such as myc might be a risk factor for malignant
      tumor development if hepatocytes are used for reprogramming. Nonviral vector
      delivery systems or reprogramming of cells obtained from less invasive harvesting
      methods would represent interesting options for future developments in stem cell
      based approaches for liver metabolic diseases. 

PMID- 26880964
TI  - Evaluating the Impact of Human Amnion Epithelial Cells on Angiogenesis.
AB  - The effects of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) on angiogenesis remain
      controversial. It is yet unknown if the presence of inflammation and/or
      gestational age of hAEC donors have an impact on angiogenesis. In this study, we
      examined the differences between term and preterm hAECs on angiogenesis in vitro
      and in vivo. Conditioned media from term hAECs induced the formation of longer
      huVEC tubules on Matrigel. Both term and preterm hAECs expressed VEGFA, PDGFB,
      ANGPT1, and FOXC1, which significantly increased after TNFalpha and IFNgamma
      stimulation. In the presence of TNFalpha and IFNgamma, coculture with term hAECs
      reduced gene transcription of Tie-2 and Foxc1 in huVECs, while coculture with
      preterm hAECs increased gene transcription of PDGFRalpha and PDGFRbeta and
      reduced gene transcription of FOXC1 in huVECs. In vivo assessment of angiogenesis
      using vWF immunostaining revealed that hAEC treatment decreased angiogenesis in a
      bleomycin model of lung fibrosis but increased angiogenesis in a neonatal model
      of hyperoxia-induced lung injury. In summary, our findings suggested that the
      impact of hAECs on angiogenesis may be influenced by the presence of inflammation
      and underlying pathology. 

PMID- 26880965
TI  - Tissue-Related Hypoxia Attenuates Proinflammatory Effects of Allogeneic PBMCs on
      Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells In Vitro.
AB  - Human adipose tissue-stromal derived cells (ASCs) are considered a perspective
      tool for regenerative medicine. Depending on the application mode ASC/allogeneic
      immune cell interaction can occur in the systemic circulation under plenty high
      concentrations of O2 and in target tissues at lower O2 levels. Here we examined
      the effects of allogeneic PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      (PBMCs) on ASCs under ambient (20%) oxygen and "physiological" hypoxia (5% O2).
      As revealed with microarray analysis ASCs under 20% O2 were more affected by
      activated PBMCs, which was manifested in differential expression of more than 300
      genes, whereas under 5% O2 only 140 genes were changed. Altered gene pattern was
      only partly overlapped at different O2 conditions. Under O2 ASCs retained their
      proliferative and differentiative capacities, mesenchymal phenotype, and
      intracellular organelle' state. ASCs were proinflammatory activated on
      transcription level that was confirmed by their ability to suppress activation
      and proliferation of mitogen-stimulated PBMCs. ASC/PBMCs interaction resulted in
      anti-inflammatory shift of paracrine mediators in conditioning medium with
      significant increase of immunosuppressive LIF level. Our data indicated that
      under both ambient and tissue-related O2 ASCs possessed immunosuppressive
      potential and maintained functional activity. Under "physiological" hypoxia ASCs
      were less susceptible to "priming" by allogeneic mitogen-activated PBMCs. 

PMID- 26880966
TI  - The Androgen Receptor Bridges Stem Cell-Associated Signaling Nodes in Prostate
      Stem Cells.
AB  - The therapeutic potential of stem cells relies on dissecting the complex
      signaling networks that are thought to regulate their pluripotency and self
      renewal. Until recently, attention has focused almost exclusively on a small set
      of "core" transcription factors for maintaining the stem cell state. It is now
      clear that stem cell regulatory networks are far more complex. In this review, we
      examine the role of the androgen receptor (AR) in coordinating interactions
      between signaling nodes that govern the balance of cell fate decisions in
      prostate stem cells. 

PMID- 26880967
TI  - Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Fibroblast-Derived
      Extracellular Matrix Synergistically Activate Apoptosis in a p21-Dependent
      Mechanism in WHCO1 and MDA MB 231 Cancer Cells In Vitro.
AB  - The tumour microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumour progression and
      comprises tumour stroma which is made up of different cell types and the
      extracellular matrix (ECM). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are part of the
      tumour stroma and may have conflicting effects on tumour growth. In this study we
      investigated the effect of Wharton's Jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) and a
      fibroblast-derived ECM (fd-ECM) on esophageal (WHCO1) and breast (MDA MB 231)
      cancer cells in vitro. Both WJ-MSCs and the fd-ECM, alone or in combination,
      downregulate PCNA, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and MMPs and upregulate p53 and p21.
      p21 induction resulted in G2 phase cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in
      vitro. Our data suggest that p21 induction is via p53-dependent and p53
      independent mechanisms in WHCO1 and MDA MB 231 cells, respectively. Vascular
      endothelial growth factor, Akt, and Nodal pathways were downregulated in cancer
      cells cocultured with WJ-MSCs. We also demonstrate that WJ-MSCs effects on cancer
      cells appear to be short-lived whilst the fd-ECM effect is long-lived. This study
      shows the influence of tumour microenvironment on cancer cell behaviour and
      provides alternative therapeutic targets for potential regulation of tumour
      cells. 

PMID- 26880968
TI  - Inhibition of JAK-STAT ERK/MAPK and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Induces a Change
      in Gene Expression Profile of Bovine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
AB  - Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) fall in two states, one highly undifferentiated,
      the naive state, and the primed state, characterized by the inability to
      contribute to germinal lineage. Several reports have demonstrated that these
      states can be modified by changes to the cell culture conditions. With the advent
      of nuclear reprogramming, bovine induced pluripotent stem cells (biPSCs) have
      been generated. These cells represent examples of a transient-intermediate state
      of pluripotency with remarkable characteristics and biotechnological potential.
      Herein, we generated and characterized biPSC. Next, we evaluated different
      culture conditions for the ability to affect the expression of the set of core
      pluripotent transcription factors in biPSC. It was found that the use of 6
      bromoindirubin-3-oxime and Sc1 inhibitors alone or in combination with 5-AzaC
      induced significantly higher levels of expression of endogenous REX1, OCT4,
      NANOG, and SOX2. Furthermore, LIF increased the levels of expression of OCT4 and
      REX1, compared with those cultured with LIF + bFGF. By contrast, bFGF decreased
      the levels of expression for both REX1 and OCT4. These results demonstrate that
      the biPSC gene expression profile is malleable by modification of the cell
      culture conditions well after nuclear reprogramming, and the culture conditions
      may determine their differentiation potential. 

PMID- 26880969
TI  - Formation of Tumorspheres with Increased Stemness without External Mitogens in a
      Lung Cancer Model.
AB  - Like with most solid tumors, the presence of a subpopulation of cancer stem cells
      (CSCs) or cancer stem-like cells (CS-LCs) has been associated with
      chemoresistance and tumor relapse in lung cancer cells. In the absence of serum,
      CSCs/CS-LCs have the ability to grow as lung tumorspheres (LTSs), and this system
      is routinely used for isolation and characterization of putative CSCs/CS-LCs.
      Methods to isolate LTSs are usually performed in serum-free media supplemented
      with specific additives such as epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast
      growth factor. In this study, we report the generation of LTSs without the
      addition of any external mitogenic stimulation. LTSs generated in this manner
      demonstrated several traits usually associated with increased stemness such as
      elevated expression of the stemness-associated marker Sox2 and increased
      chemoresistance to conventional anticancer drugs. In addition, we report that the
      FDA-approved drug Digitoxin, at concentration close to its therapeutic level,
      decreased the viability of LTSs and downregulated Sox2 independent of the
      PI3K/AKT pathway. The potential use of LTSs generated without the addition of any
      external mitogenic stimulation to study the role of specific factor(s) associated
      with stemness properties is also discussed. 

PMID- 26880970
TI  - The Effect of Culture on Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Focus on DNA
      Methylation Profiles.
AB  - Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) are the best characterized
      multipotent adult stem cells. Their self-renewal capacity, multilineage
      differentiation potential, and immunomodulatory properties have indicated that
      they can be used in many clinical therapies. In a previous work we studied the
      DNA methylation levels of hBM-MSC genomic DNA in order to delineate a kind of
      methylation signature specific for early and late passages of culture. In the
      present work we focused on the modification of the methylation profiles of the X
      chromosome and imprinted loci, as sites expected to be more stable than whole
      genome. We propose a model where cultured hBM-MSCs undergo random modifications
      at the methylation level of most CGIs, nevertheless reflecting the original
      methylation status. We also pointed out global genome-wide demethylation
      connected to the long-term culture and senescence. Modification at CGIs promoters
      of specific genes could be related to the decrease in adipogenic differentiation
      potential. In conclusion, we showed important changes in CGIs methylation due to
      long-term in vitro culture that may affect the differentiation potential of hBM
      MSCs. Therefore it is necessary to optimize the experimental conditions for in
      vitro expansion in order to minimize these epigenetic changes and to standardize
      safer procedures. 

PMID- 26880971
TI  - DNA Methylation in Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Specification, Proliferation, and
      Differentiation.
AB  - An unresolved and critically important question in skeletal muscle biology is how
      muscle stem cells initiate and regulate the genetic program during muscle
      development. Epigenetic dynamics are essential for cellular development and
      organogenesis in early life and it is becoming increasingly clear that epigenetic
      remodeling may also be responsible for the cellular adaptations that occur in
      later life. DNA methylation of cytosine bases within CpG dinucleotide pairs is an
      important epigenetic modification that reduces gene expression when located
      within a promoter or enhancer region. Recent advances in the field suggest that
      epigenetic regulation is essential for skeletal muscle stem cell identity and
      subsequent cell development. This review summarizes what is currently known about
      how skeletal muscle stem cells regulate the myogenic program through DNA
      methylation, discusses a novel role for metabolism in this process, and addresses
      DNA methylation dynamics in adult skeletal muscle in response to physical
      activity. 

PMID- 26880972
TI  - iPSCs: A Minireview from Bench to Bed, including Organoids and the CRISPR System.
AB  - When Dolly the sheep was born, the first probe into an adult mammalian genome
      traveling back in time and generating a whole new animal appeared. Ten years
      later, the reprogramming process became a defined method of producing induced
      pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through the overexpression of four transcription
      factors. iPSCs are capable of originating virtually all types of cells and
      tissues, including a whole new animal. The reprogramming strategies based on
      patient-derived cells should make the development of clinical applications of
      cell based therapy much more straightforward. Here, we analyze the current state,
      opportunities, and challenges of iPSCs from bench to bed, including organoids and
      the CRISPR system. 

PMID- 26880974
TI  - Subculture of Germ Cell-Derived Colonies with GATA4-Positive Feeder Cells from
      Neonatal Pig Testes.
AB  - Enrichment of spermatogonial stem cells is important for studying their self
      renewal and differentiation. Although germ cell-derived colonies (GDCs) have been
      successfully cultured from neonatal pig testicular cells under 31 degrees C
      conditions, the short period of in vitro maintenance (<2 months) limited their
      application to further investigations. To develop a culture method that allows
      for in vitro maintenance of GDCs for long periods, we subcultured the GDCs with
      freshly prepared somatic cells from neonatal pig testes as feeder cells. The
      subcultured GDCs were maintained up to passage 13 with the fresh feeder cells
      (FFCs) and then frozen. Eight months later, the frozen GDCs could again form the
      colonies on FFCs as shown in passages 1 to 13. Immunocytochemistry data revealed
      that the FFCs expressed GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA4), which is also detected in
      the cells of neonatal testes and total testicular cells, and that the expression
      of GATA4 was decreased in used old feeder cells. The subcultured GDCs in each
      passage had germ and stem cell characteristics, and flow cytometric analyses
      revealed that ~60% of these cells were GFRalpha-1 positive. In conclusion,
      neonatal pig testes-derived GDCs can be maintained for long periods with GATA4
      expressing testicular somatic cells. 

PMID- 26880975
TI  - Residual Dyslipidemia Leads to Unfavorable Outcomes in Patients with Acute
      Coronary Syndrome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
AB  - Background. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and prognosis of
      residual lipid abnormalities in statin-treated acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
      patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Subjects and Methods. A
      total of 3,047 ACS patients who underwent PCI and received statin therapy were
      included. Plasma concentrations of LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG were measured. For the
      follow-up study, major adverse cardiovascular cerebrovascular events (MACCE;
      including total death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and
      revascularization) were documented. Results. A total of 93.14% of all individuals
      were followed up for 18.1 months (range, 0-29.3 months). Of all 3,047 patients,
      those with a suboptimal goal were 67.75%, 85.85%, and 33.64% for LDL-C, HDL-C,
      and TG levels, respectively. Multiple Cox regression analysis revealed there were
      significant increases in cumulative MACCE of 41% (HR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.09-1.82],
      p = 0.008), and revascularization of 48% (HR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.10-1.99], p =
      0.01) in low HDL-C patients with ACS after PCI, but not the high TG group at the
      end of study. Conclusions. Our results showed there is high rate of dyslipidemia
      in Chinese ACS patients after PCI. Importantly, low HDL-C but not high TG levels
      are associated with higher MACCE and revascularization rates in ACS patients
      after PCI. 

PMID- 26880973
TI  - Pharmacological Therapy in the Heart as an Alternative to Cellular Therapy: A
      Place for the Brain Natriuretic Peptide?
AB  - The discovery that stem cells isolated from different organs have the ability to
      differentiate into mature beating cardiomyocytes has fostered considerable
      interest in developing cellular regenerative therapies to treat cardiac diseases
      associated with the loss of viable myocardium. Clinical studies evaluating the
      potential of stem cells (from heart, blood, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, and
      fat) to regenerate the myocardium and improve its functional status indicated
      that although the method appeared generally safe, its overall efficacy has
      remained modest. Several issues raised by these studies were notably related to
      the nature and number of injected cells, as well as the route and timing of their
      administration, to cite only a few. Besides the direct administration of cardiac
      precursor cells, a distinct approach to cardiac regeneration could be based upon
      the stimulation of the heart's natural ability to regenerate, using
      pharmacological approaches. Indeed, differentiation and/or proliferation of
      cardiac precursor cells is controlled by various endogenous mediators, such as
      growth factors and cytokines, which could thus be used as pharmacological agents
      to promote regeneration. To illustrate such approach, we present recent results
      showing that the exogenous administration of the natriuretic peptide BNP triggers
      "endogenous" cardiac regeneration, following experimental myocardial infarction. 

PMID- 26880976
TI  - Prospect of Stem Cells in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Review.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been the subject of many studies in recent
      years, ranging from basic science that looks into MSCs properties to studies that
      aim for developing bioengineered tissues and organs. Adult bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have been the focus of most studies due to the
      inherent potential of these cells to differentiate into various cell types.
      Although, the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represents a
      paradigm shift in our understanding of cellular differentiation. These cells are
      another attractive stem cell source because of their ability to be reprogramed,
      allowing the generation of multiple cell types from a single cell. This paper
      briefly covers various types of stem cell sources that have been used for tissue
      engineering applications, with a focus on bone regeneration. Then, an overview of
      some recent studies making use of MSC-seeded 3D scaffold systems for bone tissue
      engineering has been presented. The emphasis has been placed on the reported
      scaffold properties that tend to improve MSCs adhesion, proliferation, and
      osteogenic differentiation outcomes. 

PMID- 26880978
TI  - Validation of Housekeeping Genes to Study Human Gingival Stem Cells and Their In
      Vitro Osteogenic Differentiation Using Real-Time RT-qPCR.
AB  - Gingival stem cells (GSCs) are recently isolated multipotent cells. Their
      osteogenic capacity has been validated in vitro and may be transferred to human
      cell therapy for maxillary large bone defects, as they share a neural crest cell
      origin with jaw bone cells. RT-qPCR is a widely used technique to study gene
      expression and may help us to follow osteoblast differentiation of GSCs. For
      accurate results, the choice of reliable housekeeping genes (HKGs) is crucial.
      The aim of this study was to select the most reliable HKGs for GSCs study and
      their osteogenic differentiation (dGSCs). The analysis was performed with ten
      selected HKGs using four algorithms: DeltaCt comparative method, GeNorm,
      BestKeeper, and NormFinder. This study demonstrated that three HKGs, SDHA, ACTB,
      and B2M, were the most stable to study GSC, whereas TBP, SDHA, and ALAS1 were the
      most reliable to study dGSCs. The comparison to stem cells of mesenchymal origin
      (ASCs) showed that SDHA/HPRT1 were the most appropriate for ASCs study. The
      choice of suitable HKGs for GSCs is important as it gave access to an accurate
      analysis of osteogenic differentiation. It will allow further study of this
      interesting stem cells source for future human therapy. 

PMID- 26880977
TI  - Vitamin D and the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.
AB  - Several studies support reciprocal regulation between the active vitamin D
      derivative 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and the epithelial to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT). Thus, 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits EMT via the induction of
      a variety of target genes that encode cell adhesion and polarity proteins
      responsible for the epithelial phenotype and through the repression of key EMT
      inducers. Both direct and indirect regulatory mechanisms mediate these effects.
      Conversely, certain master EMT inducers inhibit 1,25(OH)2D3 action by repressing
      the transcription of VDR gene encoding the high affinity vitamin D receptor that
      mediates 1,25(OH)2D3 effects. Consequently, the balance between the strength of
      1,25(OH)2D3 signaling and the induction of EMT defines the cellular phenotype in
      each context. Here we review the current understanding of the genes and
      mechanisms involved in the interplay between 1,25(OH)2D3 and EMT. 

PMID- 26880979
TI  - The Application of Human iPSCs in Neurological Diseases: From Bench to Bedside.
AB  - In principle, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated from somatic
      cells by reprogramming and gaining the capacity to self-renew indefinitely as
      well as the ability to differentiate into cells of different lineages. Human
      iPSCs have absolute advantages over human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and animal
      models in disease modeling, drug screening, and cell replacement therapy. Since
      Takahashi and Yamanaka first described in 2007 that iPSCs can be generated from
      human adult somatic cells by retroviral transduction of the four transcription
      factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, disease specific iPSC lines have sprung
      up worldwide like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, making iPSC one of the
      hottest and fastest moving topics in modern science. The craze for iPSCs has
      spread throughout main branches of clinical medicine, covering neurology,
      hematology, cardiology, endocrinology, hepatology, ophthalmology, and so on. Here
      in this paper, we will focus on the clinical application of human iPSCs in
      disease modeling, drug screening, and cell replacement therapy for neurological
      diseases. 

PMID- 26880982
TI  - Bladder Smooth Muscle Cells Differentiation from Dental Pulp Stem Cells: Future
      Potential for Bladder Tissue Engineering.
AB  - Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating
      into multiple cell lines, thus providing an alternative source of cell for tissue
      engineering. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) regeneration is a crucial step in tissue
      engineering of the urinary bladder. It is known that DPSCs have the potential to
      differentiate into a smooth muscle phenotype in vitro with differentiation
      agents. However, most of these studies are focused on the vascular SMCs. The
      optimal approaches to induce human DPSCs to differentiate into bladder SMCs are
      still under investigation. We demonstrate in this study the ability of human
      DPSCs to differentiate into bladder SMCs in a growth environment containing
      bladder SMCs-conditioned medium with the addition of the transforming growth
      factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1). After 14 days of exposure to this medium, the gene and
      protein expression of SMC-specific marker (alpha-SMA, desmin, and calponin)
      increased over time. In particular, myosin was present in differentiated cells
      after 11 days of induction, which indicated that the cells differentiated into
      the mature SMCs. These data suggested that human DPSCs could be used as an
      alternative and less invasive source of stem cells for smooth muscle
      regeneration, a technology that has applications for bladder tissue engineering. 

PMID- 26880980
TI  - The Importance of Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Cellular Reprogramming.
AB  - Ubiquitination of core stem cell transcription factors can directly affect stem
      cell maintenance and differentiation. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination must
      occur in a timely and well-coordinated manner to regulate the protein turnover of
      several stemness related proteins, resulting in optimal embryonic stem cell
      maintenance and differentiation. There are two switches: an E3 ubiquitin ligase
      enzyme that tags ubiquitin molecules to the target proteins for proteolysis and a
      second enzyme, the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUBs), that performs the opposite
      action, thereby preventing proteolysis. In order to maintain stemness and to
      allow for efficient differentiation, both ubiquitination and deubiquitination
      molecular switches must operate properly in a balanced manner. In this review, we
      have summarized the importance of the ubiquitination of core stem cell
      transcription factors, such as Oct3/4, c-Myc, Sox2, Klf4, Nanog, and LIN28,
      during cellular reprogramming. Furthermore, we emphasize the role of DUBs in
      regulating core stem cell transcriptional factors and their function in stem cell
      maintenance and differentiation. We also discuss the possibility of using DUBs,
      along with core transcription factors, to efficiently generate induced
      pluripotent stem cells. Our review provides a relatively new understanding
      regarding the importance of ubiquitination/deubiquitination of stem cell
      transcription factors for efficient cellular reprogramming. 

PMID- 26880983
TI  - Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: The Current
      Status and Challenges.
AB  - Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common urinary system disease that mostly
      affects women. Current treatments still do not solve the critical problem of
      urethral sphincter dysfunction. In recent years, there have been major
      developments in techniques to obtain, culture, and characterize autologous stem
      cells as well as many studies describing their applications for the treatment of
      SUI. In this paper, we review recent publications and clinical trials
      investigating the applications of several stem cell types as potential treatments
      for SUI and the underlying challenges of such therapy. 

PMID- 26880984
TI  - Inhibition of Viability, Proliferation, Cytokines Secretion, Surface Antigen
      Expression, and Adipogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem
      Cells by Seven-Day Exposure to 0.5 T Static Magnetic Fields.
AB  - After seven-day exposure to 0.5-Tesla Static Magnetic Field (SMF), Adipose
      derived Stem Cells (ASCs) and those labeled by superparamagnetic iron oxide
      (SPIO) nanoparticles were examined for viability by methyl thiazol tetrazolium
      (MTT) assay, proliferation by cell counting and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)
      incorporation, DNA integrity by single cell gel electrophoresis, surface antigen
      by flow cytometry analysis, and the expression of cytokines and genetic markers
      by reverse transcription-PCR and underwent adipogenic and osteogenic
      differentiation assessed by quantifying related specific genes expression. The
      SMF slightly reduced cell viability and proliferation and inhibited the
      expression of CD49d, CD54, and CD73 but did not damage DNA integrity. The SMF
      slightly downregulated the expression of cytokines including Vascular Endothelial
      Growth Factor (VEGF), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Transforming Growth
      Factor Beta 1 (TGF-beta1), genetic markers comprising Stem Cell Antigen-1 (Sca1),
      Octamer-4 (Oct-4), ATP-binding Cassette Subfamily B Member 1 (ABCB1), adipogenic
      marker genes containing Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), Peroxisome Proliferator
      Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR-gamma), and osteogenic marker genes including
      Secreted Phosphor-protein 1 (SPP1) and Osterix (OSX). Exposure to 0.5 T SMF for
      seven days inhibited viability, proliferation, surface antigen expression,
      cytokine secretion, stem cell genetic marker expression, and adipogenic and
      osteogenic differentiation but did not affect the DNA integrity in ASCs with or
      without SPIO labeling. 

PMID- 26880981
TI  - Glioblastoma Stem Cells Microenvironment: The Paracrine Roles of the Niche in
      Drug and Radioresistance.
AB  - Among all solid tumors, the high-grade glioma appears to be the most vascularized
      one. In fact, "microvascular hyperplasia" is a hallmark of GBM. An altered
      vascular network determines irregular blood flow, so that tumor cells spread
      rapidly beyond the diffusion distance of oxygen in the tissue, with the
      consequent formation of hypoxic or anoxic areas, where the bulk of glioblastoma
      stem cells (GSCs) reside. The response to this event is the induction of
      angiogenesis, a process mediated by hypoxia inducible factors. However, this new
      capillary network is not efficient in maintaining a proper oxygen supply to the
      tumor mass, thereby causing an oxygen gradient within the neoplastic zone. This
      microenvironment helps GSCs to remain in a "quiescent" state preserving their
      potential to proliferate and differentiate, thus protecting them by the effects
      of chemo- and radiotherapy. Recent evidences suggest that responses of
      glioblastoma to standard therapies are determined by the microenvironment of the
      niche, where the GSCs reside, allowing a variety of mechanisms that contribute to
      the chemo- and radioresistance, by preserving GSCs. It is, therefore, crucial to
      investigate the components/factors of the niche in order to formulate new
      adjuvant therapies rendering more efficiently the gold standard therapies for
      this neoplasm. 

PMID- 26880986
TI  - Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes.
AB  - Pericytes are pluripotent cells that can be found in the vascular wall of both
      microvessels and large arteries and veins. They have distinct morphology with
      long branching processes and form numerous contacts with each other and with
      endothelial cells, organizing the vascular wall cells into a three-dimensional
      network. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that pericytes may play a key role in
      the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Macrovascular
      pericytes are able to accumulate lipids and contribute to growth and
      vascularization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, they participate in the
      local inflammatory process and thrombosis, which can lead to fatal consequences.
      At the same time, pericytes can represent a useful model for studying the
      atherosclerotic process and for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
      In particular, they are suitable for testing various substances' potential for
      decreasing lipid accumulation induced by the incubation of cells with atherogenic
      low-density lipoprotein. In this review we will discuss the application of
      cellular models for studying atherosclerosis and provide several examples of
      successful application of these models to drug research. 

PMID- 26880985
TI  - Decellularized and Engineered Tendons as Biological Substitutes: A Critical
      Review.
AB  - Tendon ruptures are a great burden in clinics. Finding a proper graft material as
      a substitute for tendon repair is one of the main challenges in orthopaedics, for
      which the requirement of a biological scaffold would be different for each
      clinical application. Among biological scaffolds, the use of decellularized
      tendon-derived matrix increasingly represents an interesting approach to treat
      tendon ruptures. We analyzed in vitro and in vivo studies focused on the
      development of efficient protocols for the decellularization and for the cell
      reseeding of the tendon matrix to obtain medical devices for tendon substitution.
      Our review considered also the proper tendon source and preclinical animal models
      with the aim of entering into clinical trials. The results highlight a wide
      panorama in terms of allogenic or xenogeneic tendon sources, specimen dimensions,
      physical or chemical decellularization techniques, and the cell type variety for
      reseeding from terminally differentiated to undifferentiated mesenchymal stem
      cells and their static or dynamic culture employed to generate implantable
      constructs tested in different animal models. We try to identify the most
      efficient approach to achieve an optimal biological scaffold for biomechanics and
      intrinsic properties, resembling the native tendon and being applicable in
      clinics in the near future, with particular attention to the Achilles tendon
      substitution. 

PMID- 26880987
TI  - Stem Cell Modeling of Core Binding Factor Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - Even though clonally originated from a single cell, acute leukemia loses its
      homogeneity soon and presents at clinical diagnosis as a hierarchy of cells
      endowed with different functions, of which only a minority possesses the ability
      to recapitulate the disease. Due to their analogy to hematopoietic stem cells,
      these cells have been named "leukemia stem cells," and are thought to be chiefly
      responsible for disease relapse and ultimate survival after chemotherapy. Core
      Binding Factor (CBF) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is cytogenetically
      characterized by either the t(8;21) or the inv(16)/t(16;16) chromosomal
      abnormalities, which, although being pathognomonic, are not sufficient per se to
      induce overt leukemia but rather determine a preclinical phase of disease when
      preleukemic subclones compete until the acquisition of clonal dominance by one of
      them. In this review we summarize the concepts regarding the application of the
      "leukemia stem cell" theory to the development of CBF AML; we will analyze the
      studies investigating the leukemogenetic role of t(8;21) and inv(16)/t(16;16),
      the proposed theories of its clonal evolution, and the role played by the
      hematopoietic niches in preserving the disease. Finally, we will discuss the
      clinical implications of stem cell modeling of CBF AML for the therapy of the
      disease. 

PMID- 26880989
TI  - Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha Regulates the Migration of Bone Marrow
      Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Integrin alpha 4.
AB  - Although hypoxic environments have been known to regulate the migratory ability
      of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), which is a critical
      factor for maximizing the therapeutic effect, the underlying mechanisms remain
      unclear. Therefore, we aimed to confirm the effect of hypoxia-inducible factor
      1alpha (HIF-1alpha) on the migration of BM-MSCs and to analyze the interaction
      between HIF-1alpha and integrin-mediated signals. Hypoxia-activated HIF-1alpha
      significantly increased BM-MSC migration. The expression of integrin alpha 4 was
      decreased in BM-MSCs by increased HIF-1alpha under hypoxia, whereas the
      expression of Rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1) and Rac1/2/3 was increased. After
      downregulation of HIF-1alpha by YC-1, which is an inhibitor of HIF-1alpha, BM-MSC
      migration was decreased via upregulation of integrin alpha 4 and downregulation
      of ROCK1 and Rac1/2/3. Knockdown of integrin alpha 4 by integrin alpha 4 siRNA
      (siITGA4) treatment increased BM-MSC migration by upregulation of ROCK1,
      Rac1/2/3, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 regardless of oxygen tension. Moreover,
      siITGA4 treatment increased HIF-1alpha expression and augmented the translocation
      of HIF-1alpha into the nucleus under hypoxia. Taken together, the alternative
      expression of HIF-1alpha induced by microenvironment factors, such as hypoxia and
      integrin alpha 4, may regulate the migration of BM-MSCs. These findings may
      provide insights to the underlying mechanisms of BM-MSC migration for successful
      stem cell-based therapy. 

PMID- 26880988
TI  - Glioma Stem Cells: Signaling, Microenvironment, and Therapy.
AB  - Glioblastoma remains the most common and devastating primary brain tumor despite
      maximal therapy with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The glioma stem cell
      (GSC) subpopulation has been identified in glioblastoma and likely plays a key
      role in resistance of these tumors to conventional therapies as well as recurrent
      disease. GSCs are capable of self-renewal and differentiation; glioblastoma
      derived GSCs are capable of de novo tumor formation when implanted in xenograft
      models. Further, GSCs possess unique surface markers, modulate characteristic
      signaling pathways to promote tumorigenesis, and play key roles in glioma
      vascular formation. These features, in addition to microenvironmental factors,
      present possible targets for specifically directing therapy against the GSC
      population within glioblastoma. In this review, the authors summarize the current
      knowledge of GSC biology and function and the role of GSCs in new vascular
      formation within glioblastoma and discuss potential therapeutic approaches to
      target GSCs. 

PMID- 26880990
TI  - Corrigendum to "Particle Radiation-Induced Nontargeted Effects in Bone-Marrow
      Derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells".
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/496512.]. 

PMID- 26880992
TI  - In Vitro Expansion of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alters DNA
      Double Strand Break Repair of Etoposide Induced DNA Damage.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of interest for use in diverse cellular
      therapies. Ex vivo expansion of MSCs intended for transplantation must result in
      generation of cells that maintain fidelity of critical functions. Previous
      investigations have identified genetic and phenotypic alterations of MSCs with in
      vitro passage, but little is known regarding how culturing influences the ability
      of MSCs to repair double strand DNA breaks (DSBs), the most severe of DNA
      lesions. To investigate the response to DSB stress with passage in vitro, primary
      human MSCs were exposed to etoposide (VP16) at various passages with subsequent
      evaluation of cellular damage responses and DNA repair. Passage number did not
      affect susceptibility to VP16 or the incidence and repair kinetics of DSBs.
      Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) transcripts showed little alteration with VP16
      exposure or passage; however, homologous recombination (HR) transcripts were
      reduced following VP16 exposure with this decrease amplified as MSCs were
      passaged in vitro. Functional evaluations of NHEJ and HR showed that MSCs were
      unable to activate NHEJ repair following VP16 stress in cells after successive
      passage. These results indicate that ex vivo expansion of MSCs alters their
      ability to perform DSB repair, a necessary function for cells intended for
      transplantation. 

PMID- 26880993
TI  - Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Generation Strategy and Epigenetic Mystery behind
      Reprogramming.
AB  - Possessing the ability of self-renewal with immortalization and potential for
      differentiation into different cell types, stem cells, particularly embryonic
      stem cells (ESC), have attracted significant attention since their discovery. As
      ESC research has played an essential role in developing our understanding of the
      mechanisms underlying reproduction, development, and cell (de)differentiation,
      significant efforts have been made in the biomedical study of ESC in recent
      decades. However, such studies of ESC have been hampered by the ethical issues
      and technological challenges surrounding them, therefore dramatically inhibiting
      the potential applications of ESC in basic biomedical studies and clinical
      medicine. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), generated from the reprogrammed
      somatic cells, share similar characteristics including but not limited to the
      morphology and growth of ESC, self-renewal, and potential differentiation into
      various cell types. The discovery of the iPSC, unhindered by the aforementioned
      limitations of ESC, introduces a viable alternative to ESC. More importantly, the
      applications of iPSC in the development of disease models such as
      neurodegenerative disorders greatly enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis
      of such diseases and also facilitate the development of clinical therapeutic
      strategies using iPSC generated from patient somatic cells to avoid an immune
      rejection. In this review, we highlight the advances in iPSCs generation methods
      as well as the mechanisms behind their reprogramming. We also discuss future
      perspectives for the development of iPSC generation methods with higher
      efficiency and safety. 

PMID- 26880994
TI  - iPSC-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Allografts Do Not Elicit Detrimental
      Effects in Rats: A Follow-Up Study.
AB  - Phototransduction is accomplished in the retina by photoreceptor neurons and
      retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Photoreceptors rely heavily on the RPE,
      and death or dysfunction of RPE is characteristic of age-related macular
      degeneration (AMD), a very common neurodegenerative disease for which no cure
      exists. RPE replacement is a promising therapeutic intervention for AMD, and
      large numbers of RPE cells can be generated from pluripotent stem cells. However,
      questions persist regarding iPSC-derived RPE (iPS-RPE) viability, immunogenicity,
      and tumorigenesis potential. We showed previously that iPS-RPE prevent
      photoreceptor atrophy in dystrophic rats up until 24 weeks after implantation. In
      this follow-up study, we longitudinally monitored the same implanted iPS-RPE, in
      the same animals. We observed no gross abnormalities in the eyes, livers,
      spleens, brains, and blood in aging rats with iPSC-RPE grafts. iPS-RPE cells that
      integrated into the subretinal space outlived the photoreceptors and survived for
      as long as 2 1/2 years while nonintegrating RPE cells were ingested by host
      macrophages. Both populations could be distinguished using immunohistochemistry
      and electron microscopy. iPSC-RPE could be isolated from the grafts and
      maintained in culture; these cells also phagocytosed isolated photoreceptor outer
      segments. We conclude that iPS-RPE grafts remain viable and do not induce any
      obvious associated pathological changes. 

PMID- 26880995
TI  - Stromal Derived Factor-1/CXCR4 Axis Involved in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem
      Cells Recruitment to Injured Liver.
AB  - The molecular mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal stem cells (BMSCs)
      mobilization and migration to the liver was poorly understood. Stromal cell
      derived factor-1 (SDF-1) participates in BMSCs homing and migration into injury
      organs. We try to investigate the role of SDF-1 signaling in BMSCs migration
      towards injured liver. The expression of CXCR4 in BMSCs at mRNA level and protein
      level was confirmed by RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry. The SDF-1
      or liver lysates induced BMSCs migration was detected by transwell inserts. CXCR4
      antagonist, AMD3100, and anti-CXCR4 antibody were used to inhibit the migration.
      The Sprague-Dawley rat liver injury model was established by intraperitoneal
      injection of thioacetamide. The concentration of SDF-1 increased as modeling time
      extended, which was determined by ELISA method. The Dir-labeled BMSCs were
      injected into the liver of the rats through portal vein. The cell migration in
      the liver was tracked by in vivo imaging system and the fluorescent intensity was
      measured. In vivo, BMSCs migrated into injured liver which was partially blocked
      by AMD3100 or anti-CXCR4 antibody. Taken together, the results demonstrated that
      the migration of BMSCs was regulated by SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling which involved in
      BMSCs recruitment to injured liver. 

PMID- 26880991
TI  - The Rise of CRISPR/Cas for Genome Editing in Stem Cells.
AB  - Genetic manipulation is a powerful tool to establish the causal relationship
      between a genetic lesion and a particular pathological phenotype. The rise of
      CRISPR/Cas9 genome-engineering tools overcame the traditional technical
      bottleneck for routine site-specific genetic manipulation in cells. To create the
      perfect in vitro cell model, there is significant interest from the stem cell
      research community to adopt this fast evolving technology. This review addresses
      this need directly by providing both the up-to-date biochemical rationale of
      CRISPR-mediated genome engineering and detailed practical guidelines for the
      design and execution of CRISPR experiments in cell models. Ultimately, this
      review will serve as a timely and comprehensive guide for this fast developing
      technology. 

PMID- 26880996
TI  - NK Cell and CD4+FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cell Based Therapies for Hematopoietic Stem
      Cell Engraftment.
AB  - Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a powerful therapy to
      treat multiple hematological diseases. The intensive conditioning regimens used
      to allow for donor hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment are often associated
      with severe toxicity, delayed immune reconstitution, life-threatening infections,
      and thus higher relapse rates. Additionally, due to the high incidence of graft
      versus host disease (GvHD), HCT protocols have evolved to prevent such disease
      that has a detrimental impact on antitumor and antiviral responses. Here, we
      analyzed the role of host T and natural killer (NK) cells in the rejection of
      donor HSC engraftment as well as the impact of donor regulatory T cells (Treg)
      and NK cells on HSC engraftment. We review some of the current strategies that
      utilize NK or Treg to improve allogeneic HCT therapy in order to accomplish
      better HSC engraftment and immune reconstitution and achieve a lower incidence of
      cancer relapse, opportunistic infections, and GvHD. 

PMID- 26880999
TI  - Antimicrobial Resistance of Enteric Salmonella in Bangui, Central African
      Republic.
AB  - Introduction. The number of Salmonella isolated from clinical samples that are
      resistant to multiple antibiotics has increased worldwide. The aim of this study
      was to determine the prevalence of resistant Salmonella enterica isolated in
      Bangui. Methods. All enteric Salmonella strains isolated from patients in 2008
      were identified and serotyped, and the phenotypes of resistance were determined
      by using the disk diffusion method. Nine resistance-associated genes, bla TEM ,
      bla OXA , bla SHV , tetA, aadA1, catA1, dhfrA1, sul I, and sul II, were sought by
      genic amplification in seven S.e. Typhimurium strains. Results. The 94 strains
      isolated consisted of 47 S.e. Typhimurium (50%), 21 S.e. Stanleyville (22%), 18
      S.e. Enteritidis (19%), 4 S.e. Dublin (4%), 4 S.e. Hadar (4%), and 1 S.e. Papuana
      (1%). Twenty-five (28%) were multiresistant, including 20 of the Typhimurium
      serovar (80%). Two main phenotypes of resistance were found: four antibiotics
      (56%) and to five antibiotics (40%). One S.e. Typhimurium isolate produced an
      extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). Only seven strains of S.e. Typhimurium
      could be amplified genically. Only phenotypic resistance to tetracycline and
      aminosides was found. Conclusion. S. Typhimurium is the predominant serovar of
      enteric S. enterica and is the most widely resistant. The search for resistance
      genes showed heterogeneity of the circulating strains. 

PMID- 26880997
TI  - Stem Cell Imaging: Tools to Improve Cell Delivery and Viability.
AB  - Stem cell therapy (SCT) has shown very promising preclinical results in a variety
      of regenerative medicine applications. Nevertheless, the complete utility of this
      technology remains unrealized. Imaging is a potent tool used in multiple stages
      of SCT and this review describes the role that imaging plays in cell harvest,
      cell purification, and cell implantation, as well as a discussion of how imaging
      can be used to assess outcome in SCT. We close with some perspective on potential
      growth in the field. 

PMID- 26881000
TI  - Additional Effects of Back-Shu Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion in
      Cardioprotection of Rat Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.
AB  - Many preclinical studies show that electroacupuncture (EA) on PC6 and ST36 can
      reduce infarct size after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Yet studies to
      enhance the treatment effect size are limited. The purpose of this study was to
      explore whether EA has additional myocardial protective effects on an ischemia
      reperfusion (IR) injury rat model when back-shu EA and moxibustion are added. SD
      rats were divided into several groups and treated with either EA only, EA + back
      shu EA (B), or EA + B + moxibustion (M) for 5 consecutive days. Transthoracic
      echocardiography and molecular and immunohistochemical evaluations were
      performed. It was found that although myocardial infarct areas were significantly
      lower and cardiac function was also significantly preserved in the three
      treatment groups compared to the placebo group, there were no additional
      differences between the three treatment groups. In addition, HSP20 and HSP27 were
      expressed significantly more in the treatment groups. The results suggest that
      adding several treatments does not necessarily increase protection. Our study
      corroborates previous findings that more treatment, such as prolonging EA
      duration or increasing EA intensity, does not always lead to better results.
      Other methods of increasing treatment effect size should be explored. 

PMID- 26880998
TI  - Neuromuscular Regeneration: Perspective on the Application of Mesenchymal Stem
      Cells and Their Secretion Products.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells are posing as a promising character in the most recent
      therapeutic strategies and, since their discovery, extensive knowledge on their
      features and functions has been gained. In recent years, innovative sources have
      been disclosed in alternative to the bone marrow, conveying their associated
      ethical concerns and ease of harvest, such as the umbilical cord tissue and the
      dental pulp. These are also amenable of cryopreservation and thawing for desired
      purposes, in benefit of the donor itself or other patients in pressing need.
      These sources present promising possibilities in becoming useful cell sources for
      therapeutic applications in the forthcoming years. Effective and potential
      applications of these cellular-based strategies for the regeneration of
      peripheral nerve are overviewed, documenting recent advances and identified
      issues for this research area in the near future. Finally, besides the
      differentiation capacities attributed to mesenchymal stem cells, advances in the
      recognition of their effective mode of action in the regenerative theatre have
      led to a new area of interest: the mesenchymal stem cells' secretome. The
      paracrine modulatory pathway appears to be a major mechanism by which these are
      beneficial to nerve regeneration and comprehension on the specific growth
      factors, cytokine, and extracellular molecules secretion profiles is therefore of
      great interest. 

PMID- 26881001
TI  - Ferulic Acid against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Heart Toxicity in Mice by
      Inhibiting NF-kappaB Pathway.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the protective effects of
      ferulic acid (FA) against cyclophosphamide- (CTX-) induced changes in mice. Forty
      eight male ICR mice were divided into four groups. Control group was
      intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with 200 MUL of phosphate buffer saline (PBS).
      Model group was intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of CTX (200 mg/kg).
      FA (50 mg/kg) and FA (100 mg/kg) groups were intraperitoneally injected with a
      single dose of CTX (200 mg/kg) followed by the intragastric treatment with FA
      (50, 100 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. After 12 d, the mice were sacrificed to
      analyze the hematological, biochemical, histological parameters and mechanism
      research. The results indicated that FA significantly decreased the serum levels
      of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine
      kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, and
      tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in CTX-injected mice. In addition, FA
      effectively reduced the total numbers of white blood cells (WBCs), red blood
      cells, platelets, and hemoglobin content. FA also obviously attenuated the
      histological changes of the heart tissues caused by CTX. Moreover, Western blot
      demonstrated that FA inhibited the phosphorylations of NF-kappaB signaling
      pathway in CTX-stimulated cardiac tissues. In conclusion, FA might be considered
      as an effective agent in the amelioration of the heart toxicity resulting from
      CTX treatment. 

PMID- 26881003
TI  - Pharmacopuncture in Korea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized
      Controlled Trials.
AB  - Background. Pharmacopuncture is a new form of acupuncture combining acupuncture
      with herbal medicine, and it has been used under various conditions in Korea. The
      aim of this study is to establish clinical evidence for the safety and efficacy
      of pharmacopuncture in Korea. Methods. We searched 9 databases and two relevant
      journals up to December 2014 using keywords, such as pharmacopuncture. All
      randomized, controlled trials evaluating pharmacopuncture under any conditions in
      Korea were considered. Results. Twenty-nine studies involving 1,211 participants
      were included. A meta-analysis of two studies on obesity showed that 5 to 8 weeks
      of pharmacopuncture reduced weight, waist circumference, and body mass index
      (BMI) more than normal saline injections. In the 5 studies of musculoskeletal
      conditions, 7 to 30 days of pharmacopuncture had additional effects on the
      reduction of pain intensity, and this benefit was maintained by limiting analyses
      to studies with a low risk of bias for randomization and/or allocation
      concealment. Conclusions. This systematic review suggests the potential of
      pharmacopuncture for obesity and musculoskeletal diseases. However, it is
      difficult to recommend pharmacopuncture as an evidence-based treatment because of
      methodological flaws and small sample sizes of the included studies. Further well
      designed trials are needed to draw a definitive conclusion. 

PMID- 26881002
TI  - Ethnomedical Knowledge of Plants Used for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in Johor,
      Malaysia.
AB  - This study documented ethnomedical knowledge of plants used for the treatment of
      tuberculosis (TB) and its related symptoms as practiced by the Jakun community of
      Kampung Peta, situated in Endau Rompin Johor National Park, Johor, Malaysia.
      Eight key informants were selected by snowball sampling technique and data about
      medicinal plants were collected by semistructured interviews, participatory
      observations, and focus group. Qualitative analysis was undertaken using thematic
      analysis. There were 23 species of plants (22 genera, 20 families) documented and
      herbarium specimens were deposited at the UTHM Herbarium. Dipterocarpus
      sublamellatus was recorded for the first time with ethnomedical uses while other
      species were previously reported. The qualitative approach employed in this study
      demonstrates the emic perspective in terms of perceptions on traditional herbal
      medicine, transfer of knowledge, significant taboos related with medicinal
      plants, and their conservation efforts. Local and biomedical terminology in
      treatment of TB showed substantial correspondence. The outcomes obtained in the
      study are worth being further investigated for conservation strategies and are
      worthy of verifying their ethnomedical claims scientifically. 

PMID- 26881004
TI  - The Status of Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Medicinal Plants and the Impacts of
      Resettlement in Delanta, Northwestern Wello, Northern Ethiopia.
AB  - The present study was conducted in Delanta (Ethiopia) to examine the use of
      medicinal plants and investigate the impacts of the 1984/85 resettlement program
      on the local people's knowledge on herbal medicine and its uses. The research was
      conducted with 72 informants in six study sites through semistructured
      interviews, group discussion, and market survey. In this study, 133 species
      belonging to 116 genera and 57 families were documented. These plants were
      mentioned for uses in the treatment of about 76 human and livestock ailments. The
      family Asteraceae was represented by the highest number with 14 species. Herbs
      accounted for 52.6% of the total species and leaves (32.6%) were the most
      frequently used parts. The analysis showed that the resettlement program has both
      positive and negative impacts on nature rehabilitation and local knowledge along
      with many human induced threats. Most of the plant knowledge is held by
      traditional healers and permanent residents. The people's preference for some
      medicinal plants gave indications of continuity of the ethnomedicinal information
      among the inhabitants. The findings inform that efforts need to be directed to in
      situ conservation in two of the plant community types which could protect a good
      proportion (about 50%) of the medicinal plant species. 

PMID- 26881005
TI  - Experienced versus Inexperienced Interexaminer Reliability on Location and
      Classification of Myofascial Trigger Point Palpation to Diagnose Lateral
      Epicondylalgia: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - The purpose was to evaluate the interexaminer reliability of experienced and
      inexperienced examiners on location and classification of myofascial trigger
      points (MTrPs) in two epicondylar muscles and the association between the MTrP
      found and the diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia (LE). Fifty-two pianists (some
      suffered LE) voluntarily participated in the study. Three physiotherapists (one
      inexperienced in myofascial pain) examined, located, and marked MTrPs in the
      extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and extensor digitorum communis (EDC)
      muscles. Forearms were photographed and analyzed to establish the degree of
      agreement on MTrPs diagnosis. Data showed 81.73% and 77.88% of agreement on MTrP
      classification and 85.58% and 72.12% on MTrP location between the expert
      evaluators for ECRB and EDC, respectively. The agreement on MTrP classification
      between experienced and inexperienced examiners was 54.81% and 51.92% for ECRB
      and 50.00% and 55.77% for EDC. Also, agreement on MTrP location was 54.81% and
      60.58% for ECRB and 48.08% and 48.08% for EDC. A strong association was found
      between presence of relevant MTrPs, LE diagnosis, and forearm pain when the
      examiners were experts. The analysis of location and classification of MTrPs in
      the epicondylar muscles through physical examination by experienced evaluators is
      reliable, reproducible, and suitable for diagnosing LE. 

PMID- 26881007
TI  - Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Salvia fruticosa: An HPLC
      Determination of Phenolic Contents.
AB  - Objectives. Salvia fruticosa Mill. (S. fruticosa) is widely used in folk
      medicine. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant
      and anti-inflammatory activities of S. fruticosa, and to determine the phenolic
      constituents of its extracts. Methods. The antioxidant activity was determined
      using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay. Total phenolic contents were estimated
      using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and high-performance liquid chromatography was
      performed to identify phenolic constituents. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory
      activity, carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema was determined
      plethysmographically. Key Findings. Different plant extracts demonstrated strong
      radical scavenging activity, where the ethyl acetate extract had the highest
      value in the roots and the lowest in the aerial parts. This antioxidant activity
      was correlated to the total phenolic content of different extracts, where rutin
      and luteolin were the most abundant constituents. Interestingly, both the roots
      and aerial parts revealed a significant anti-inflammatory activity comparable to
      diclofenac. Conclusions. This study is the first to demonstrate pharmacologic
      evidence of the potential anti-inflammatory activity of S. fruticosa. This
      activity may partly be due to the radical scavenging effects of its polyphenolic
      contents. These findings warrant the popular use of the East Mediterranean sage
      and highlight the potential of its active constituents in the development of new
      anti-inflammatory drugs. 

PMID- 26881006
TI  - The Effect of External Apple Vinegar Application on Varicosity Symptoms, Pain,
      and Social Appearance Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - Aim. We aimed to determine the effect of external apple vinegar application on
      the symptoms and social appearance anxiety of varicosity patients who were
      suggested conservative treatment. Method. The study was planned as an
      experimental, randomized, and controlled study. 120 patients were randomly
      selected and then were randomly allocated to either experimental or control group
      by simple blind random sampling method. In the collection of research data, a
      questionnaire questioning sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the
      Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale
      (SAAS) were used. The patients in the study group were suggested to apply apple
      vinegar to the area of the leg with varicosity alongside the treatment suggested
      by the doctor. The patients in the control group received no intervention during
      the study. Results. The sociodemographic and clinic characteristics of both
      groups were found to be similar (p > 0.05). The patients were evaluated with
      regard to cramps, pain, leg fatigue perception, edema, itching, pigmentation, and
      weight feelings in the leg, VAS, and SAAS averages in the second evaluation; the
      control group had a decrease in such symptoms (p > 0.05) although the decrease in
      the application group was higher and statistically meaningful (p < 0.05).
      Conclusion. We determined that the external application of apple vinegar on
      varicosity patients, which is a very easy application, increased the positive
      effects of conservative treatment. 

PMID- 26881008
TI  - A Review of Techniques for Detection of Movement Intention Using Movement-Related
      Cortical Potentials.
AB  - The movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) is a low-frequency negative shift
      in the electroencephalography (EEG) recording that takes place about 2 seconds
      prior to voluntary movement production. MRCP replicates the cortical processes
      employed in planning and preparation of movement. In this study, we recapitulate
      the features such as signal's acquisition, processing, and enhancement and
      different electrode montages used for EEG data recoding from different studies
      that used MRCPs to predict the upcoming real or imaginary movement. An authentic
      identification of human movement intention, accompanying the knowledge of the
      limb engaged in the performance and its direction of movement, has a potential
      implication in the control of external devices. This information could be helpful
      in development of a proficient patient-driven rehabilitation tool based on brain
      computer interfaces (BCIs). Such a BCI paradigm with shorter response time
      appears more natural to the amputees and can also induce plasticity in brain.
      Along with different training schedules, this can lead to restoration of motor
      control in stroke patients. 

PMID- 26881009
TI  - Diagnosing Parkinson's Diseases Using Fuzzy Neural System.
AB  - This study presents the design of the recognition system that will discriminate
      between healthy people and people with Parkinson's disease. A diagnosing of
      Parkinson's diseases is performed using fusion of the fuzzy system and neural
      networks. The structure and learning algorithms of the proposed fuzzy neural
      system (FNS) are presented. The approach described in this paper allows enhancing
      the capability of the designed system and efficiently distinguishing healthy
      individuals. It was proved through simulation of the system that has been
      performed using data obtained from UCI machine learning repository. A comparative
      study was carried out and the simulation results demonstrated that the proposed
      fuzzy neural system improves the recognition rate of the designed system. 

PMID- 26881010
TI  - P300 Detection Based on EEG Shape Features.
AB  - We present a novel approach to describe a P300 by a shape-feature vector, which
      offers several advantages over the feature vector used by the BCI2000 system.
      Additionally, we present a calibration algorithm that reduces the dimensionality
      of the shape-feature vector, the number of trials, and the electrodes needed by a
      Brain Computer Interface to accurately detect P300s; we also define a method to
      find a template that best represents, for a given electrode, the subject's P300
      based on his/her own acquired signals. Our experiments with 21 subjects showed
      that the SWLDA's performance using our shape-feature vector was 93%, that is, 10%
      higher than the one obtained with BCI2000-feature's vector. The shape-feature
      vector is 34-dimensional for every electrode; however, it is possible to
      significantly reduce its dimensionality while keeping a high sensitivity. The
      validation of the calibration algorithm showed an averaged area under the ROC
      (AUROC) curve of 0.88. Also, most of the subjects needed less than 15 trials to
      have an AUROC superior to 0.8. Finally, we found that the electrode C4 also leads
      to better classification. 

PMID- 26881011
TI  - Systems Medicine of Cancer: Bringing Together Clinical Data and Nonlinear
      Dynamics of Genetic Networks.

PMID- 26881012
TI  - Reactive Oxygen Species and Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the
      United States. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generally increased in
      pancreatic cancer cells compared with normal cells. ROS plays a vital role in
      various cellular biological activities including proliferation, growth,
      apoptosis, and invasion. Besides, ROS participates in tumor microenvironment
      orchestration. The role of ROS is a doubled-edged sword in pancreatic cancer. The
      dual roles of ROS depend on the concentration. ROS facilitates carcinogenesis and
      cancer progression with mild-to-moderate elevated levels, while excessive ROS
      damages cancer cells dramatically and leads to cell death. Based on the recent
      knowledge, either promoting ROS generation to increase the concentration of ROS
      with extremely high levels or enhancing ROS scavenging ability to decrease ROS
      levels may benefit the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, when faced with
      oxidative stress, the antioxidant programs of cancer cells have been activated to
      help cancer cells to survive in the adverse condition. Furthermore, ROS signaling
      and antioxidant programs play the vital roles in the progression of pancreatic
      cancer and in the response to cancer treatment. Eventually, it may be the novel
      target for various strategies and drugs to modulate ROS levels in pancreatic
      cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26881013
TI  - Evaluation of Lasting Effects of Heat Stress on Sperm Profile and Oxidative
      Status of Ram Semen and Epididymal Sperm.
AB  - Higher temperatures lead to an increase of testicular metabolism that results in
      spermatic damage. Oxidative stress is the main factor responsible for testicular
      damage caused by heat stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate lasting
      effects of heat stress on ejaculated sperm and immediate or long-term effects of
      heat stress on epididymal sperm. We observed decrease in motility and mass
      motility of ejaculated sperm, as well as an increase in the percentages of sperm
      showing major and minor defects, damaged plasma and acrosome membranes, and a
      decrease in the percentage of sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential in
      the treated group until one spermatic cycle. An increased enzymatic activity of
      glutathione peroxidase and an increase of stressed cells were observed in
      ejaculated sperm of the treated group. A decrease in the percentage of epididymal
      sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in the treated
      group. However, when comparing immediate and long-term effects, we observed an
      increase in the percentage of sperm with low mitochondrial membrane potential. In
      conclusion, testicular heat stress induced oxidative stress that led to rescuable
      alterations after one spermatic cycle in ejaculated sperm and also after 30 days
      in epididymal sperm. 

PMID- 26881015
TI  - Hypochlorite-Modified Albumin Upregulates ICAM-1 Expression via a MAPK-NF-kappaB
      Signaling Cascade: Protective Effects of Apocynin.
AB  - Hypochlorite-modified albumin (HOCl-alb) has been linked to endothelial
      dysfunction, which plays an important role in the development of hypertension,
      diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. However, whether HOCl-alb induces
      endothelial dysfunction via vascular inflammation and whether a signaling pathway
      is involved are unknown and have not been investigated. HOCl-alb was found to
      upregulate ICAM-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
      in a time- and dose-dependent manner. HOCl-alb time-dependently phosphorylated
      ERK1/2 and p38(MAPK). HOCl-alb also activated NF-kappaB. ICAM-1 expression was
      dose-dependently inhibited by U0126 (a specific inhibitor of MEK1/2, a signal
      upstream from ERK1/2), SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38(MAPK)), and SN50 (a
      specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB). U0126 and SB203580 both counteracted the
      activation of NF-kappaB, whereas the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38(MAPK) was
      not blocked by SN50. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was blocked by U0126 but not by
      SB203580, and p38(MAPK) activity was reduced by SB203580 but not by U0126.
      Apocynin, a specific NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor, inhibited ICAM-1 expression
      and the activity of ERK1/2, p38(MAPK), and NF-kappaB. These results indicate that
      HOCl-alb-induced ICAM-1 expression is caused by the activation of a redox
      sensitive intracellular signal cascade involving ERK1/2 and p38(MAPK),
      culminating in the activation of NF-kappaB and involving NOXs among the upstream
      signals. 

PMID- 26881014
TI  - Killing Me Softly: Connotations to Unfolded Protein Response and Oxidative Stress
      in Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - This review is focused on the possible causes of mitochondrial dysfunction in AD,
      underlying molecular mechanisms of this malfunction, possible causes and known
      consequences of APP, Abeta, and hyperphosphorylated tau presence in mitochondria,
      and the contribution of altered lipid metabolism (nonsterol isoprenoids) to
      pathological processes leading to increased formation and accumulation of the
      aforementioned hallmarks of AD. Abnormal protein folding and unfolded protein
      response seem to be the outcomes of impaired glycosylation due to metabolic
      disturbances in geranylgeraniol intermediary metabolism. The origin and
      consecutive fate of APP, Abeta, and tau are emphasized on intracellular
      trafficking apparently influenced by inaccurate posttranslational modifications.
      We hypothesize that incorrect intracellular processing of APP determines protein
      translocation to mitochondria in AD. Similarly, without obvious reasons, the
      passage of Abeta and tau to mitochondria is observed. APP targeted to
      mitochondria blocks the activity of protein translocase complex resulting in poor
      import of proteins central to oxidative phosphorylation. Besides, APP, Abeta, and
      neurofibrillary tangles of tau directly or indirectly impair mitochondrial
      biochemistry and bioenergetics, with concomitant generation of
      oxidative/nitrosative stress. Limited protective mechanisms are inadequate to
      prevent the free radical-mediated lesions. Finally, neuronal loss is observed in
      AD-affected brains typically by pathologic apoptosis. 

PMID- 26881017
TI  - Advanced Glycation End Products Evolution after Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation:
      Plasmatic and Cutaneous Assessments.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus leads to increased Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE)
      production, which has been associated with secondary diabetic complications. Type
      1 diabetic patients undergoing pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) can restore
      normoglycemia and renal function, eventually decreasing AGE accumulation. We
      aimed to prospectively study AGE evolution after SPKT. Circulating AGE were
      assessed in 20 patients, at time 0 (T0), 3 months (T3), 6 months (T6), and 12
      months (T12) after successful SPKT. Global AGE and carboxymethyllysine (CML) were
      analyzed, as well as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). Skin biopsies
      were obtained at T0 and T12. Immunohistochemistry with anti-AGE antibody
      evaluated skin AGE deposition. AGE mean values were 16.8 +/- 6.4 MUg/mL at T0;
      17.1 +/- 3.8 MUg/mL at T3; 17.5 +/- 5.6 MUg/mL at T6; and 16.0 +/- 5.2 MUg/mL at
      T12. CML mean values were 0.94 +/- 0.36 ng/mL at T0; 1.11 +/- 0.48 ng/mL at T3;
      0.99 +/- 0.42 ng/mL at T6; and 0.78 +/- 0.38 ng/mL at T12. AOPP mean values were
      130.1 +/- 76.8 MUMol/L at T0; 137.3 +/- 110.6 MUMol/L at T3; 116.4 +/- 51.2
      MUMol/L at T6; and 106.4 +/- 57.9 MUMol/L at T12. CML variation was significant
      (P = 0.022); AOPP variation was nearly significant (P = 0.076). Skin biopsies
      evolved mostly from a cytoplasmic diffuse to a peripheral interkeratinocytic
      immunoreaction pattern; in 7 cases, a reduction in AGE immunoreaction intensity
      was evident at T12. In conclusion, glycoxidation markers decrease, plasmatic and
      on tissues, may start early after SPKT. Studies with prolonged follow-up may
      confirm these data.

PMID- 26881016
TI  - 1,4-Dihydropyridine Derivatives: Dihydronicotinamide Analogues-Model Compounds
      Targeting Oxidative Stress.
AB  - Many 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) possess redox properties. In this review DHPs
      are surveyed as protectors against oxidative stress (OS) and related disorders,
      considering the DHPs as specific group of potential antioxidants with
      bioprotective capacities. They have several peculiarities related to antioxidant
      activity (AOA). Several commercially available calcium antagonist, 1,4-DHP drugs,
      their metabolites, and calcium agonists were shown to express AOA. Synthesis,
      hydrogen donor properties, AOA, and methods and approaches used to reveal
      biological activities of various groups of 1,4-DHPs are presented. Examples of
      DHPs antioxidant activities and protective effects of DHPs against OS induced
      damage in low density lipoproteins (LDL), mitochondria, microsomes, isolated
      cells, and cell cultures are highlighted. Comparison of the AOA of different DHPs
      and other antioxidants is also given. According to the data presented, the DHPs
      might be considered as bellwether among synthetic compounds targeting OS and
      potential pharmacological model compounds targeting oxidative stress important
      for medicinal chemistry. 

PMID- 26881019
TI  - Effects of Polyphenol, Measured by a Biomarker of Total Polyphenols in Urine, on
      Cardiovascular Risk Factors After a Long-Term Follow-Up in the PREDIMED Study.
AB  - Several epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between the
      consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and risk of cardiovascular diseases.
      However, accuracy and reliability of these studies may be increased using urinary
      total polyphenol excretion (TPE) as a biomarker for total polyphenol intake. Our
      aim was to assess if antioxidant activity, measured by a Folin-Ciocalteu assay in
      urine, is correlated with an improvement in cardiovascular risk factors (blood
      pressure and serum glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and
      triglyceride concentrations) in an elderly population at high risk. A
      longitudinal study was performed with 573 participants (aged 67.3 +/- 5.9) from
      the PREDIMED study (ISRCTN35739639). We used Folin-Ciocalteu method to determine
      TPE in urine samples, assisting with solid phase extraction. Participants were
      categorized into three groups according to changes in TPE. Multiple linear
      regression models were used to assess relationships between TPE and clinical
      cardiovascular risk factors, adjusting for potential confounders. After a 5-year
      follow-up, significant inverse correlations were observed between changes in TPE
      and plasma triglyceride concentration (beta = -8.563; P = 0.007), glucose
      concentration (beta = -4.164; P = 0.036), and diastolic blood pressure (beta = 
      1.316; P = 0.013). Our results suggest that the consumption of more polyphenols,
      measured as TPE in urine, could exert a protective effect against some
      cardiovascular risk factors. 

PMID- 26881018
TI  - Dietary Phenolic Compounds Interfere with the Fate of Hydrogen Peroxide in Human
      Adipose Tissue but Do Not Directly Inhibit Primary Amine Oxidase Activity.
AB  - Resveratrol has been reported to inhibit monoamine oxidases (MAO). Many
      substrates or inhibitors of neuronal MAO interact also with other amine oxidases
      (AO) in peripheral organs, such as semicarbazide-sensitive AO (SSAO), known as
      primary amine oxidase, absent in neurones, but abundant in adipocytes. We asked
      whether phenolic compounds (resveratrol, pterostilbene, quercetin, and caffeic
      acid) behave as MAO and SSAO inhibitors. AO activity was determined in human
      adipose tissue. Computational docking and glucose uptake assays were performed in
      3D models of human AO proteins and in adipocytes, respectively. Phenolic
      compounds fully inhibited the fluorescent detection of H2O2 generated during MAO
      and SSAO activation by tyramine and benzylamine. They also quenched H2O2-induced
      fluorescence in absence of biological material and were unable to abolish the
      oxidation of radiolabelled tyramine and benzylamine. Thus, phenolic compounds
      hampered H2O2 detection but did not block AO activity. Only resveratrol and
      quercetin partially impaired MAO-dependent [(14)C]-tyramine oxidation and behaved
      as MAO inhibitors. Phenolic compounds counteracted the H2O2-dependent benzylamine
      stimulated glucose transport. This indicates that various phenolic compounds
      block downstream effects of H2O2 produced by biogenic or exogenous amine
      oxidation without directly inhibiting AO. Phenolic compounds remain of interest
      regarding their capacity to limit oxidative stress rather than inhibiting AO. 

PMID- 26881020
TI  - It Is All about (U)biquitin: Role of Altered Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and
      UCHL1 in Alzheimer Disease.
AB  - Free radical-mediated damage to macromolecules and the resulting oxidative
      modification of different cellular components are a common feature of aging, and
      this process becomes much more pronounced in age-associated pathologies,
      including Alzheimer disease (AD). In particular, proteins are particularly
      sensitive to oxidative stress-induced damage and these irreversible modifications
      lead to the alteration of protein structure and function. In order to maintain
      cell homeostasis, these oxidized/damaged proteins have to be removed in order to
      prevent their toxic accumulation. It is generally accepted that the age-related
      accumulation of "aberrant" proteins results from both the increased occurrence of
      damage and the decreased efficiency of degradative systems. One of the most
      important cellular proteolytic systems responsible for the removal of oxidized
      proteins in the cytosol and in the nucleus is the proteasomal system. Several
      studies have demonstrated the impairment of the proteasome in AD thus suggesting
      a direct link between accumulation of oxidized/misfolded proteins and reduction
      of this clearance system. In this review we discuss the impairment of the
      proteasome system as a consequence of oxidative stress and how this contributes
      to AD neuropathology. Further, we focus the attention on the oxidative
      modifications of a key component of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, UCHL1,
      which lead to the impairment of its activity. 

PMID- 26881022
TI  - Evidence for Detrimental Cross Interactions between Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen
      Species in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Cells.
AB  - Here we have collected evidence suggesting that chronic changes in the NO
      homeostasis and the rise of reactive oxygen species bioavailability can
      contribute to cell dysfunction in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)
      patients. We report that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), derived from
      a female LHON patient with bilateral reduced vision and carrying the pathogenic
      mutation 11778/ND4, display increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and
      reactive nitrogen species (RNS), as revealed by flow cytometry, fluorometric
      measurements of nitrite/nitrate, and 3-nitrotyrosine immunodetection. Moreover,
      viability assays with the tetrazolium dye MTT showed that lymphoblasts from the
      same patient are more sensitive to prolonged NO exposure, leading to cell death.
      Taken together these findings suggest that oxidative and nitrosative stress
      cooperatively play an important role in driving LHON pathology when excess NO
      remains available over time in the cell environment. 

PMID- 26881023
TI  - Lycopene Deficiency in Ageing and Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Lycopene is a hydrocarbon phytochemical belonging to the tetraterpene carotenoid
      family and is found in red fruit and vegetables. Eleven conjugated double bonds
      predetermine the antioxidant properties of lycopene and its ability to scavenge
      lipid peroxyl radicals, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide. Lycopene has a
      low bioavailability rate and appears in the blood circulation incorporated into
      chylomicrons and other apo-B containing lipoproteins. The recent body of evidence
      suggests that plasma concentration of lycopene is not only a function of
      intestinal absorption rate but also lycopene breakdown via enzymatic and
      oxidative pathways in blood and tissues. Oxidative stress and the accumulation of
      reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide may represent a major cause of lycopene
      depletion in ageing, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has
      been shown recently that low carotenoid levels, and especially decreased serum
      lycopene levels, are strongly predictive of all-cause mortality and poor outcomes
      of cardiovascular disease. However, there is a poor statistical association
      between dietary and serum lycopene levels which occurs due to limited
      bioavailability of lycopene from dietary sources. Hence, it is very unlikely that
      nutritional intervention alone could be instrumental in the correction of
      lycopene and carotenoid deficiency. Therefore, new nutraceutical formulations of
      carotenoids with enhanced bioavailability are urgently needed. 

PMID- 26881021
TI  - The Role of the Reactive Oxygen Species and Oxidative Stress in the
      Pathomechanism of the Age-Related Ocular Diseases and Other Pathologies of the
      Anterior and Posterior Eye Segments in Adults.
AB  - The reactive oxygen species (ROS) form under normal physiological conditions and
      may have both beneficial and harmful role. We search the literature and current
      knowledge in the aspect of ROS participation in the pathogenesis of anterior and
      posterior eye segment diseases in adults. ROS take part in the pathogenesis of
      keratoconus, Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, and granular corneal dystrophy
      type 2, stimulating apoptosis of corneal cells. ROS play a role in the
      pathogenesis of glaucoma stimulating apoptotic and inflammatory pathways on the
      level of the trabecular meshwork and promoting retinal ganglion cells apoptosis
      and glial dysfunction in the posterior eye segment. ROS play a role in the
      pathogenesis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and traumatic optic
      neuropathy. ROS induce apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells. ROS promote
      apoptosis of vascular and neuronal cells and stimulate inflammation and
      pathological angiogenesis in the course of diabetic retinopathy. ROS are
      associated with the pathophysiological parainflammation and autophagy process in
      the course of the age-related macular degeneration. 

PMID- 26881025
TI  - Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension Is Attenuated by Overexpressing Copper/Zinc
      Superoxide Dismutase in the Brain Organum Vasculosum of the Lamina Terminalis.
AB  - Angiotensin II (AngII) can access the brain via circumventricular organs (CVOs),
      including the subfornical organ (SFO) and organum vasculosum of the lamina
      terminalis (OVLT), to modulate blood pressure. Previous studies have demonstrated
      a role for both the SFO and OVLT in the hypertensive response to chronic AngII,
      yet it is unclear which intracellular signaling pathways are involved in this
      response. Overexpression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) in the SFO
      has been shown to attenuate the chronic hypertensive effects of AngII. Presently,
      we tested the hypothesis that elevated levels of superoxide (O2 (?-)) in the OVLT
      contribute to the hypertensive effects of AngII. To facilitate overexpression of
      superoxide dismutase, adenoviral vectors encoding human CuZnSOD or control
      adenovirus (AdEmpty) were injected directly into the OVLT of rats. Following 3
      days of control saline infusion, rats were intravenously infused with AngII (10
      ng/kg/min) for ten days. Blood pressure increased 33 +/- 8 mmHg in AdEmpty rats
      (n = 6), while rats overexpressing CuZnSOD (n = 8) in the OVLT demonstrated a
      blood pressure increase of only 18 +/- 5 mmHg after 10 days of AngII infusion.
      These results support the hypothesis that overproduction of O2 (?-) in the OVLT
      plays an important role in the development of chronic AngII-dependent
      hypertension. 

PMID- 26881026
TI  - Phenolic Rich Extract from Clinacanthus nutans Attenuates Hyperlipidemia
      Associated Oxidative Stress in Rats.
AB  - Clinacanthus nutans is used as traditional medicine in Asia but there are limited
      scientific studies to support its use. In this study, the stem and leaf of C.
      nutans were extracted using solvents of differing polarities, and their
      antioxidant capacities were determined using multiple antioxidant assays. The
      water and aqueous methanolic leaf extracts were further fractionated and their
      antioxidant capacities and phenolic compositions were tested. Furthermore, the
      efficacies of the water and aqueous methanolic leaf extracts were tested against
      hyperlipidemia-induced oxidative stress in rats. Serum and hepatic antioxidant
      and oxidative stress markers were tested after feeding the rats with high fat
      diet together with the extracts or simvastatin for 7 weeks. The results indicated
      that both leaf extracts attenuated oxidative stress through increasing serum
      antioxidant enzymes activity and upregulating the expression of hepatic
      antioxidant genes. Multiple phenolic compounds were detected in the extracts and
      fractions of C. nutans, although protocatechuic acid was one of the most abundant
      and may have contributed significantly towards the bioactivities of the extracts.
      However, synergistic effects of different phenolics may have contributed to the
      overall bioactivities. C. nutans can be a good source of functional ingredients
      for the management of oxidative stress-related diseases. 

PMID- 26881024
TI  - Ion Channels and Oxidative Stress as a Potential Link for the Diagnosis or
      Treatment of Liver Diseases.
AB  - Oxidative stress results from a disturbed balance between oxidation and
      antioxidant systems. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species
      (RNS) may be either harmful or beneficial to the cells. Ion channels are
      transmembrane proteins that participate in a large variety of cellular functions
      and have been implicated in the development of a variety of diseases. A
      significant amount of the available drugs in the market targets ion channels.
      These proteins have sulfhydryl groups of cysteine and methionine residues in
      their structure that can be targeted by ROS and RNS altering channel function
      including gating and conducting properties, as well as the corresponding
      signaling pathways associated. The regulation of ion channels by ROS has been
      suggested to be associated with some pathological conditions including liver
      diseases. This review focuses on understanding the role and the potential
      association of ion channels and oxidative stress in liver diseases including
      fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease, and cancer. The potential association between
      ion channels and oxidative stress conditions could be used to develop new
      treatments for major liver diseases. 

PMID- 26881029
TI  - Protective Role of Dietary Curcumin in the Prevention of the Oxidative Stress
      Induced by Chronic Alcohol with respect to Hepatic Injury and Antiatherogenic
      Markers.
AB  - Curcumin, an antioxidant compound found in Asian spices, was evaluated for its
      protective effects against ethanol-induced hepatosteatosis, liver injury,
      antiatherogenic markers, and antioxidant status in rats fed with Lieber-deCarli
      low menhaden (2.7% of total calories from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
      (PUFA)) and Lieber-deCarli high menhaden (13.8% of total calories from omega-3
      PUFA) alcohol-liquid (5%) diets supplemented with or without curcumin (150
      mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Treatment with curcumin protected against high omega-3
      PUFA and ethanol-induced hepatosteatosis and increase in liver injury markers,
      alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. Curcumin upregulated
      paraoxonase 1 (PON1) mRNA and caused significant increase in serum PON1 and
      homocysteine thiolactonase activities as compared to high omega-3 PUFA and
      ethanol group. Moreover, treatment with curcumin protected against ethanol
      induced oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant glutathione and decreasing
      the lipid peroxidation adduct 4-hydroxynonenal. These results strongly suggest
      that chronic ethanol in combination with high omega-3 PUFA exacerbated
      hepatosteatosis and liver injury and adversely decreases antiatherogenic markers
      due to increased oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione. Curcumin
      supplementation significantly prevented these deleterious actions of chronic
      ethanol and high omega-3 PUFA. Therefore, we conclude that curcumin may have
      therapeutic potential to protect against chronic alcohol-induced liver injury and
      atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26881030
TI  - Polydatin Attenuates H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress via PKC Pathway.
AB  - Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endothelial
      dysfunction, which is found to precede the development of diverse cardiovascular
      diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to observe the protective effects of
      PD against H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury (OSI) in human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the possible mechanism of PD in OSI treatment.
      HUVECs were subjected to H2O2 in the absence or presence of PD. It turned out
      that PD improved cell viability and adhesive and migratory abilities, inhibited
      the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and
      elevated the content of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase
      (SOD). TUNEL, fluorometric assays, and Western blotting showed that OSI
      upregulated the apoptosis ratio, the activity of caspase-3 and the level of
      proapoptotic protein Bax and decreased the level of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2.
      However, PD treatment partially reversed these damage effects and Protein Kinase
      C (PKC) activation by thymeleatoxin (THX) in turn eliminated the antiapoptotic
      effect of PD. Furthermore, PD attenuated the H2O2-induced phosphorylation of PKCs
      alpha and delta and increased the phosphorylation of PKC epsilon. Our results
      indicated that PD might exert protective effects against OSI through various
      interactions with PKC pathway. 

PMID- 26881028
TI  - Update on the Mechanisms of Pulmonary Inflammation and Oxidative Imbalance
      Induced by Exercise.
AB  - The mechanisms involved in the generation of oxidative damage and lung
      inflammation induced by physical exercise are described. Changes in lung function
      induced by exercise involve cooling of the airways, fluid evaporation of the
      epithelial surface, increased contact with polluting substances, and activation
      of the local and systemic inflammatory response. The present work includes
      evidence obtained from the different types of exercise in terms of duration and
      intensity, the effect of both acute performance and chronic performance, and the
      influence of special conditions such as cold weather, high altitude, and polluted
      environments. Levels of prooxidants, antioxidants, oxidative damage to
      biomolecules, and cellularity, as well as levels of soluble mediators of the
      inflammatory response and its effects on tissues, are described in samples of
      lung origin. These samples include tissue homogenates, induced sputum,
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, biopsies, and exhaled breath condensate obtained in
      experimental protocols conducted on animal and human models. Finally, the need to
      simultaneously explore the oxidative/inflammatory parameters to establish the
      interrelation between them is highlighted. 

PMID- 26881027
TI  - Redox Control of Multidrug Resistance and Its Possible Modulation by
      Antioxidants.
AB  - Clinical efficacy of anticancer chemotherapies is dramatically hampered by
      multidrug resistance (MDR) dependent on inherited traits, acquired defence
      against toxins, and adaptive mechanisms mounting in tumours. There is
      overwhelming evidence that molecular events leading to MDR are regulated by redox
      mechanisms. For example, chemotherapeutics which overrun the first obstacle of
      redox-regulated cellular uptake channels (MDR1, MDR2, and MDR3) induce a
      concerted action of phase I/II metabolic enzymes with a temporal redox-regulated
      axis. This results in rapid metabolic transformation and elimination of a toxin.
      This metabolic axis is tightly interconnected with the inducible Nrf2-linked
      pathway, a key switch-on mechanism for upregulation of endogenous antioxidant
      enzymes and detoxifying systems. As a result, chemotherapeutics and cytotoxic by
      products of their metabolism (ROS, hydroperoxides, and aldehydes) are inactivated
      and MDR occurs. On the other hand, tumour cells are capable of mounting an
      adaptive antioxidant response against ROS produced by chemotherapeutics and host
      immune cells. The multiple redox-dependent mechanisms involved in MDR prompted
      suggesting redox-active drugs (antioxidants and prooxidants) or inhibitors of
      inducible antioxidant defence as a novel approach to diminish MDR. Pitfalls and
      progress in this direction are discussed. 

PMID- 26881031
TI  - Does the Interdependence between Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Explain the
      Antioxidant Paradox?
AB  - Oxidative stress has been implicated in many chronic diseases. However,
      antioxidant trials are so far largely unsuccessful as a preventive or curative
      measure. Chronic low-grade inflammatory process, on the other hand, plays a
      central role in the pathogenesis of a number of chronic diseases. Oxidative
      stress and inflammation are closely related pathophysiological processes, one of
      which can be easily induced by another. Thus, both processes are simultaneously
      found in many pathological conditions. Therefore, the failure of antioxidant
      trials might result from failure to select appropriate agents that specifically
      target both inflammation and oxidative stress or failure to use both antioxidants
      and anti-inflammatory agents simultaneously or use of nonselective agents that
      block some of the oxidative and/or inflammatory pathways but exaggerate the
      others. To examine whether the interdependence between oxidative stress and
      inflammation can explain the antioxidant paradox we discussed in the present
      review the basic aspects of oxidative stress and inflammation and their
      relationship and dependence. 

PMID- 26881032
TI  - Mitochondrial Alterations in Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells from Alzheimer's
      Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients.
AB  - It is well recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to
      neurodegeneration occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, evidences of
      mitochondrial defects in AD peripheral cells are still inconclusive. Here, some
      mitochondrial-encoded and nuclear-encoded proteins, involved in maintaining the
      correct mitochondria machine, were investigated in terms of protein expression
      and enzymatic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated
      from AD and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients and healthy subjects. In
      addition mitochondrial DNA copy number was measured by real time PCR. We found
      some differences and some similarities between AD and MCI patients when compared
      with healthy subjects. For example, cytochrome C and cytochrome B were decreased
      in AD, while MCI showed only a statistical reduction of cytochrome C. On the
      other hand, both AD and MCI blood cells exhibited highly nitrated MnSOD, index of
      a prooxidant environment inside the mitochondria. TFAM, a regulator of
      mitochondrial genome replication and transcription, was decreased in both AD and
      MCI patients' blood cells. Moreover also the mitochondrial DNA amount was reduced
      in PBMCs from both patient groups. In conclusion these data confirmed peripheral
      mitochondria impairment in AD and demonstrated that TFAM and mtDNA amount
      reduction could be two features of early events occurring in AD pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26881034
TI  - Correlation of Oxidative and Antioxidative Processes in the Blood of Patients
      with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.
AB  - The effect of cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) on oxidative stress parameters
      was assessed. The study was conducted in 42 patients with CSCI (studied group),
      15 patients with cerebral concussion, without CSCI (Control II), and 30 healthy
      volunteers (Control I). Blood was taken from the basilic vein: before and seven
      days after the spinal cord decompression surgery (mean time from CSCI to surgery:
      8 hours) in the studied group and once in the controls. Thiobarbituric acid
      reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (CD) concentrations, and
      glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and creatine kinase (CK) activities
      before the surgery were higher in the studied group than in the controls. Reduced
      glutathione concentration was similar in all groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      in the studied group was 16% lower (P <= 0.001) than in Control I. Lipid
      peroxidation products, and GPx and CAT activities in erythrocytes seven days
      after the surgery were lower (P <= 0.001), while SOD was 25% higher (P <= 0.001)
      than before the surgery. CK in blood plasma after the surgery was 34% lower (P <=
      0.001) than before it. CSCI is accompanied by oxidative stress. Surgical and
      pharmacological treatment helps to restore the oxidant-antioxidant balance. 

PMID- 26881033
TI  - Hydrogen Sulfide and Cellular Redox Homeostasis.
AB  - Intracellular redox imbalance is mainly caused by overproduction of reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) or weakness of the natural antioxidant defense system. It is
      involved in the pathophysiology of a wide array of human diseases. Hydrogen
      sulfide (H2S) is now recognized as the third "gasotransmitters" and proved to
      exert a wide range of physiological and cytoprotective functions in the
      biological systems. Among these functions, the role of H2S in oxidative stress
      has been one of the main focuses over years. However, the underlying mechanisms
      for the antioxidant effect of H2S are still poorly comprehended. This review
      presents an overview of the current understanding of H2S specially focusing on
      the new understanding and mechanisms of the antioxidant effects of H2S based on
      recent reports. Both inhibition of ROS generation and stimulation of antioxidants
      are discussed. H2S-induced S-sulfhydration of key proteins (e.g., p66Shc and
      Keap1) is also one of the focuses of this review. 

PMID- 26881035
TI  - Novel Perspectives in Redox Biology and Pathophysiology of Failing Myocytes:
      Modulation of the Intramyocardial Redox Milieu for Therapeutic Interventions-A
      Review Article from the Working Group of Cardiac Cell Biology, Italian Society of
      Cardiology.
AB  - The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is still increasing worldwide, with enormous
      human, social, and economic costs, in spite of huge efforts in understanding
      pathogenetic mechanisms and in developing effective therapies that have
      transformed this syndrome into a chronic disease. Myocardial redox imbalance is a
      hallmark of this syndrome, since excessive reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
      can behave as signaling molecules in the pathogenesis of hypertrophy and heart
      failure, leading to dysregulation of cellular calcium handling, of the
      contractile machinery, of myocardial energetics and metabolism, and of
      extracellular matrix deposition. Recently, following new interesting advances in
      understanding myocardial ROS and RNS signaling pathways, new promising
      therapeutical approaches with antioxidant properties are being developed, keeping
      in mind that scavenging ROS and RNS tout court is detrimental as well, since
      these molecules also play a role in physiological myocardial homeostasis. 

PMID- 26881037
TI  - Exercise Training Improves the Altered Renin-Angiotensin System in the Rostral
      Ventrolateral Medulla of Hypertensive Rats.
AB  - The imbalance between angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) in
      the brain has been reported to contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction in
      hypertension. Exercise training (ExT) is beneficial to hypertension and the
      mechanism is unclear. This study was aimed to determine if ExT improves
      hypertension via adjusting renin angiotensin system in cardiovascular centers
      including the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Spontaneously hypertensive
      rats (SHR, 8 weeks old) were subjected to low-intensity ExT or kept sedentary
      (Sed) for 12 weeks. Blood pressure elevation coupled with increase in age was
      significantly decreased in SHR received ExT compared with Sed. The results in
      vivo showed that ExT significantly reduced or increased the cardiovascular
      responses to central application of sarthran (antagonist of Ang II) or A779
      (antagonist of Ang 1-7), respectively. The protein expression of the Ang II
      acting receptor AT1R and the Ang 1-7 acting receptor Mas in the RVLM was
      significantly reduced and elevated in SHR following ExT, respectively. Moreover,
      production of reactive oxygen species in the RVLM was significantly decreased in
      SHR following ExT. The current data suggest that ExT improves hypertension via
      improving the balance of Ang II and Ang 1-7 and antioxidative stress at the level
      of RVLM. 

PMID- 26881036
TI  - Antioxidant Potential of Spirulina platensis Mitigates Oxidative Stress and
      Reprotoxicity Induced by Sodium Arsenite in Male Rats.
AB  - The present study aimed to examine the protective role of Spirulina platensis (S.
      platensis) against arsenic-induced testicular oxidative damage in rats. Arsenic
      (in the form of NaAsO2 at a dose of 6.3 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks) caused a
      significant accumulation of arsenic in testicular tissues as well as a decrease
      in the levels of testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced
      glutathione, and zinc. Moreover, it significantly decreased plasma testosterone,
      luteinizing hormone (LH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels and
      reduced sperm motility and sperm count. Arsenic (AS) led to a significant
      increase in testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha), nitric oxide (NO), and sperm abnormalities. S. platensis at a dose of 300
      mg/kg was found to attenuate As-induced oxidative stress, testicular damage, and
      sperm abnormalities by its potent antioxidant activity. S. platensis may
      represent a potential therapeutic option to protect the testicular tissue from
      arsenic intoxication. 

PMID- 26881039
TI  - Is Modulation of Oxidative Stress an Answer? The State of the Art of Redox
      Therapeutic Actions in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
AB  - The central nervous system is particularly sensitive to oxidative stress due to
      many reasons, including its high oxygen consumption even under basal conditions,
      high production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species from specific
      neurochemical reactions, and the increased deposition of metal ions in the brain
      with aging. For this reason, along with inflammation, oxidative stress seems to
      be one of the main inducers of neurodegeneration, causing excitotoxicity,
      neuronal loss, and axonal damage, ultimately being now considered a key element
      in the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases, including
      Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple
      sclerosis, and hereditary spastic paraplegia. Thus, the present paper reviews the
      role of oxidative stress and of its mechanistic insights underlying the
      pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative diseases, with particular focus on
      current studies on its modulation as a potential and promising therapeutic
      strategy. 

PMID- 26881040
TI  - Tanshinone IIA Protects against Dextran Sulfate Sodium- (DSS-) Induced Colitis in
      Mice by Modulation of Neutrophil Infiltration and Activation.
AB  - Neutrophils play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of intestinal
      inflammation. However, conventional neutrophil-targeted therapies can impair
      normal host defense. Tanshinone IIA has been recently revealed to act directly on
      neutrophils. Hence, we aimed at investigating whether Tanshinone IIA can protect
      against experimental colitis through modulation of neutrophils. We induced
      colitis in C57BL/6 mice by giving 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) orally, and
      meanwhile, we treated mice daily with Tanshinone IIA intraperitoneally. The
      severity of colitis was evaluated by calculating disease activity index (DAI) and
      histological parameters. Neutrophil infiltration and activation in the colons of
      mice were measured. Moreover, whether Tanshinone IIA has direct effects on
      neutrophil migration and activation was determined in vitro. Our data showed that
      Tanshinone IIA significantly ameliorated the severity of DSS-induced colitis in
      mice, evidenced by the reduced DAI and improved colonic inflammation. In
      addition, Tanshinone IIA decreased neutrophil infiltration of intestinal mucosa
      and activation and reduced colonic inflammatory cytokines in DSS-treated mice.
      Furthermore, Tanshinone IIA was demonstrated to significantly suppress neutrophil
      migration and activation. These results provide compelling evidence that
      Tanshinone IIA has a therapeutic potential for alleviating inflammatory colitis
      in mice, which is possibly mediated by the immunomodulation of neutrophils. 

PMID- 26881038
TI  - Sulforaphane and Other Nutrigenomic Nrf2 Activators: Can the Clinician's
      Expectation Be Matched by the Reality?
AB  - The recognition that food-derived nonnutrient molecules can modulate gene
      expression to influence intracellular molecular mechanisms has seen the emergence
      of the fields of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. The aim of this review is to
      describe the properties of nutrigenomic activators of transcription factor Nrf2
      (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), comparing the potential for
      sulforaphane and other phytochemicals to demonstrate clinical efficacy as
      complementary medicines. Broccoli-derived sulforaphane emerges as a phytochemical
      with this capability, with oral doses capable of favourably modifying genes
      associated with chemoprevention. Compared with widely used phytochemical-based
      supplements like curcumin, silymarin, and resveratrol, sulforaphane more potently
      activates Nrf2 to induce the expression of a battery of cytoprotective genes. By
      virtue of its lipophilic nature and low molecular weight, sulforaphane displays
      significantly higher bioavailability than the polyphenol-based dietary
      supplements that also activate Nrf2. Nrf2 activation induces cytoprotective genes
      such as those playing key roles in cellular defense mechanisms including redox
      status and detoxification. Both its high bioavailability and significant Nrf2
      inducer capacity contribute to the therapeutic potential of sulforaphane-yielding
      supplements. 

PMID- 26881041
TI  - Liver Damage in Patients with HCV/HIV Coinfection Is Linked to HIV-Related
      Oxidative Stress.
AB  - HIV infection aggravates the progression of liver damage in HCV-coinfected
      patients, with the underlying pathogenesis being multifactorial. Although high
      level of oxidative stress has been observed frequently in patients infected with
      HIV or HCV, the status of oxidative stress in HIV/HCV coinfection and its
      contribution to HCV liver damage have not been determined. This study involved
      363 HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive former blood donors recruited from a
      village in central China in July 2005; of these, 140 were positive for HIV. Of
      these 363 subjects, 282 were successfully followed up through July 2009. HIV/HCV
      coinfected subjects had higher rates of end-stage liver disease-related death
      than those monoinfected with HCV. Liver ultrasound manifestations were poor in
      HIV-positive than in HIV-negative individuals, in both chronic HCV carriers and
      those with resolved HCV. Serum concentrations of total glutathione (tGSH),
      malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), GSSG, and reduced GSH
      were higher in HIV-positive than HIV-negative subjects. GSSG concentrations were
      higher in HIV-infected subjects with abnormal ALT/AST levels than in those with
      normal ALT/AST levels and were associated with poorer liver ultrasound
      manifestations. These finding indicated that HIV infection accelerated HCV
      associated liver damage in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals. Increased oxidative
      stress, induced primarily by HIV coinfection, may contribute to aggravated liver
      damage. 

PMID- 26881042
TI  - Proliferation of Human Primary Myoblasts Is Associated with Altered Energy
      Metabolism in Dependence on Ageing In Vivo and In Vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND. Ageing is associated with suppressed regenerative potential of muscle
      precursor cells due to decrease of satellite cells and suppressive intramuscular
      milieu on their activation, associated with ageing-related low-grade
      inflammation. The aim of the study was to characterize the function of oxidative
      phosphorylation (OXPHOS), glycolysis, adenylate kinase (AK), and creatine kinase
      (CK) mediated systems in young and older individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS.
      Myoblasts were cultivated from biopsies taken by transcutaneous conchotomy from
      vastus lateralis muscle in young (20-29 yrs, n = 7) and older (70-79 yrs, n = 7)
      subjects. Energy metabolism was assessed in passages 2 to 6 by oxygraphy and
      enzyme analysis. RESULTS. In myoblasts of young and older subjects the rate of
      OXPHOS decreased during proliferation from passages 2 to 6. The total activities
      of CK and AK decreased. Myoblasts of passage 2 cultivated from young muscle
      showed higher rate of OXPHOS and activities of CK and AK compared to myoblasts
      from older subjects while hexokinase and pyruvate kinase were not affected by
      ageing. CONCLUSIONS. Proliferation of myoblasts in vitro is associated with
      downregulation of OXPHOS and energy storage and transfer systems. Ageing in vivo
      exerts an impact on satellite cells which results in altered metabolic profile in
      favour of the prevalence of glycolytic pathways over mitochondrial OXPHOS of
      myoblasts.

PMID- 26881044
TI  - Experimental Colitis Is Attenuated by Cardioprotective Diet Supplementation That
      Reduces Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Mucosal Damage.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's
      disease (CD) are multifactorial, relapsing disorders of the gastrointestinal
      tract. However, the etiology is still poorly understood but involves altered
      immune responses, epithelial dysfunction, environmental factors, and nutrition.
      Recently, we have shown that the diet supplement corabion has cardioprotective
      effects due to reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation. Since oxidative
      stress and inflammation are also prominent risk factors in IBD, we speculated
      that corabion also has beneficial effects on experimental colitis. Colitis was
      induced in male mice by administration of 3.5% (w/v) dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)
      in drinking water for a period of 3 or 7 days with or without daily gavage
      feeding of corabion consisting of vitamin C, vitamin E, L-arginine, and
      eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. We found that corabion administration
      attenuated DSS-induced colon shortening, tissue damage, and disease activity
      index during the onset of colitis. Mechanistically, these effects could be
      explained by reduced neutrophil recruitment, oxidative stress, production of
      proinflammatory cytokines, and internalization of the junctional proteins ZO-1
      and E-cadherin leading to less edema formation. Thus, corabion may be a useful
      diet supplement for the management of chronic inflammatory intestinal disorders
      such as IBD. 

PMID- 26881045
TI  - Interplay between Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Peroxisome
      Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma Polymorphisms on the Risk of End-Stage
      Renal Disease among Han Chinese Patients.
AB  - Background. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of antioxidants, including
      superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), play an
      important role in the risk for cancer and metabolic disorders. However, little is
      known regarding the effect of antioxidant SNPs on renal events. Methods. We
      prospectively enrolled multicenter patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
      and those without chronic kidney disease (CKD) of Han Chinese origin, with SOD2
      (Val16Ala), GPX1 (Pro197Leu), and PPAR-gamma (Pro12Ala, C161T) genotyped.
      Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the significant risk
      determinants for ESRD. Results. Compared to ESRD patients, non-CKD subjects were
      more likely to have T allele at SOD2 Val16Ala (p = 0.036) and CC genotype at PPAR
      gamma Pro12Ala (p = 0.028). Regression analysis showed that TT genotype of SOD2
      Val16Ala conferred significantly lower ESRD risk among patients without diabetes
      (odds ratio 0.699; p = 0.018). GPX1 SNP alone did not alter the risk. We detected
      significant interactions between SNPs including PPAR-gamma Pro12Ala, C161T, and
      GPX1 regarding the risk of ESRD. Conclusion. This is the first and largest study
      on the association between adverse renal outcomes and antioxidant SNPs among Han
      Chinese population. Determination of SOD2 and PPAR-gamma SNPs status might assist
      in ESRD risk estimation. 

PMID- 26881043
TI  - A Potential Alternative against Neurodegenerative Diseases: Phytodrugs.
AB  - Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) primarily affect the neurons in the human brain
      secondary to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. ND are more common and have
      a disproportionate impact on countries with longer life expectancies and
      represent the fourth highest source of overall disease burden in the high-income
      countries. A large majority of the medicinal plant compounds, such as
      polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenes, have therapeutic properties. Polyphenols
      are the most common active compounds in herbs and vegetables consumed by man. The
      biological bioactivity of polyphenols against neurodegeneration is mainly due to
      its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiamyloidogenic effects. Multiple
      scientific studies support the use of herbal medicine in the treatment of ND;
      however, relevant aspects are still pending to explore such as metabolic
      analysis, pharmacokinetics, and brain bioavailability. 

PMID- 26881046
TI  - Maresin 1, a Proresolving Lipid Mediator, Mitigates Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced
      Liver Injury in Mice.
AB  - Maresin 1 (MaR 1) was recently reported to have protective properties in several
      different animal models of acute inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory
      response. However, its function in acute liver injury is still unknown. To
      address this question, we induced liver injury in BALB/c mice with
      intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride with or without treatment of
      MaR 1. Our data showed that MaR 1 attenuated hepatic injury, oxidative stress,
      and lipid peroxidation induced by carbon tetrachloride, as evidenced by increased
      thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and reactive oxygen species levels were
      inhibited by treatment of MaR 1. Furthermore, MaR 1 increased activities of
      antioxidative mediators in carbon tetrachloride-treated mice liver. MaR 1
      decreased indices of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha,
      interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein 1,
      myeloperoxidase, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase.
      Administration of MaR 1 inhibited activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF
      kappab) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the liver of CCl4
      treated mice. In conclusion, these results suggested the antioxidative, anti
      inflammatory properties of MaR 1 in CCl4 induced liver injury. The possible
      mechanism is partly implicated in its abilities to inhibit ROS generation and
      activation of NF-kappab and MAPK pathway. 

PMID- 26881047
TI  - In Situ Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Rat Fatty Liver Induced by a Methionine
      and Choline-Deficient Diet.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious health problem in developed
      countries. We documented the effects of feeding with a NAFLD-inducing, methionine
      and choline-deficient (MCD) diet, for 1-4 weeks on rat liver oxidative stress,
      with respect to a control diet. Glycogen, neutral lipids, ROS, peroxidated
      proteins, and SOD2 were investigated using histochemical procedures; ATP, GSH,
      and TBARS concentrations were investigated by biochemical dosages, and SOD2
      expression was investigated by Western Blotting. In the 4-week-diet period,
      glycogen stores decreased whereas lipid droplets, ROS, and peroxidated proteins
      expression (especially around lipid droplets of hepatocytes) increased. SOD2
      immunostaining decreased in poorly steatotic hepatocytes but increased in the
      thin cytoplasm of macrosteatotic cells; a trend towards a quantitative decrease
      of SOD expression in homogenates occurred after 3 weeks. ATP and GSH values were
      significantly lower for rats fed with the MCD diet with respect to the controls.
      An increase of TBARS in the last period of the diet is in keeping with the high
      ROS production and low antioxidant defense; these TBARS may promote protein
      peroxidation around lipid droplets. Since these proteins play key roles in lipid
      mobilization, storage, and metabolism, this last information appears significant,
      as it points towards a previously misconsidered target of NAFLD-associated
      oxidative stress that might be responsible for lipid dysfunction. 

PMID- 26881048
TI  - Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Dysfunction of Mitochondrial Dynamics
      Induced by Oxidative Stress.
AB  - This paper studied the chronic fatigue induced by excessive exercise and the
      restoration effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on mitochondria. In vivo,
      we found that excessive exercise could cause oxidative stress statue which led to
      morphological and functional changes of mitochondria. The changes, including
      imbalance between mitochondria fusion-fission processes, activation of mitophagy,
      and decrease of PGC-1alpha expression, could be restored by APS. We further
      confirmed in vitro, and what is more, we found that APS may ameliorate
      mitochondrial dysfunction through Sirt1 pathway. Based on the results, we may
      figure out part of the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial amelioration by APS. 

PMID- 26881051
TI  - Effects of healthy aging on human primary visual cortex.
AB  - Aging often results in reduced visual acuity from changes in both the eye and
      neural circuits [1-4]. In normally aging subjects, primary visual cortex has been
      shown to have reduced responses to visual stimulation [5]. It is not known,
      however, to what extent aging affects visual field representations and population
      receptive sizes in human primary visual cortex. Here we use functional MRI (fMRI)
      and population receptive field (pRF) modeling [6] to measure angular and
      eccentric retinotopic representations and population receptive fields in primary
      visual cortex in healthy aging subjects ages 57 - 70 and in healthy young
      volunteers ages 24 - 36 (n = 9). Retinotopic stimuli consisted of black and
      white, drifting checkerboards comprising moving bars 11 deg in radius. Primary
      visual cortex (V1) was clearly identifiable along the calcarine sulcus in all
      hemispheres. There was a significant decrease in the surface area of V1 from 0 to
      3 deg eccentricity in the aging subjects with respect to the young subjects (p =
      0.039). The coherence of the fMRI% BOLD modulation was significantly decreased in
      the aging subjects compared to the young subjects in the more peripheral
      eccentricity band from 7 to 10 deg (p = 0.029). Finally, pRF sizes were
      significantly increased within the 0 to 3 deg foveal representation of V1 in the
      aging subjects compared to the young subjects (p = 0.019). Understanding the
      extent of changes that occur in primary visual cortex during normal aging is
      essential both for understanding the normal aging process and for comparisons of
      healthy, aging subjects with aging patients suffering from age-related visual and
      cortical disorders.

PMID- 26881050
TI  - Clinical Implications of Mutations in the PI3K Pathway in HER2+ Breast Cancer:
      Prognostic or Predictive?
AB  - Recent advances in tumor genetics and drug development have led to the generation
      of a wealth of anti-cancer-targeted therapies. These drugs aim at targeting a
      particular vulnerability in the tumor generated in most cases as a result of
      dependence on an oncogene and/or loss of a tumor suppressor. Genes in the
      phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway are the most frequently altered in
      human cancers. Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway has been shown to
      confer resistance to HER2-targeted therapies. Several drugs targeting PI3K/ATK
      have been developed and are currently in clinical trials in different phases of
      clinical development, alone or in combination. The impact of mutations in the
      phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway in HER2-amplified breast cancers
      will be the focus of this review.

PMID- 26881052
TI  - Prevalence of herbal medicine use and associated factors among pregnant women
      attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Hossana Town, Southern
      Ethiopia: facility based cross sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of herbal medicine has been on increase in many developing
      and industrialized countries. More pregnant women use herbal remedies to treat
      pregnancy related problems due to cost-effectiveness of therapy and easy access
      of these products. We sought to assess the prevalence of herbal medicine use and
      associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of public
      health facilities. METHODS: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted
      among 363 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics from May to June 2015 at
      public health facilities in Hossana town, Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia.
      Pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from each study
      subject. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to see significance of
      association between the outcome and independent variables. Odds ratios at 95 % CI
      were computed to measure the strength of the association between the outcome and
      the independent variables. P-value <0.05 was considered as a statistically
      significant in multivariate analysis. RESULT: Two hundred fifty eight (73.1 %) of
      pregnant women used herbal medicine during current pregnancy . The herbal
      medicines commonly taken during current pregnancy were ginger (55.8 %), garlic
      (69.8 %), eucalyptus (11.6 %), tenaadam (rutachalenssis) (26.4 %), damakesse
      (ocimumlamiifolium) (22.8 %), feto (3.5 %) and omore (3.1 %). Being students
      (AOR: (5.68, 95 % CI: (1.53, 21.13), second trimester of pregnancy (AOR: 0.22, 95
      % CI: (0.08, 0.76), sufficient knowledge on herbal medicine (AOR: 0.37, 95 % CI:
      (0.19, 0.79), no formal education (AOR: 4.41, 95 % CI: (1.11, 17.56), primary
      education (AOR: 4.15, 95 % CI: (1.51, 11.45) and secondary education (AOR: 2.55,
      95 % CI: (1.08,6.03) were significantly associated with herbal medicine use.
      CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that herbal medicine use during
      pregnancy is a common experience. Commonly used herbal medicines during current
      pregnancy were garlic, ginger, tenaadam, damakasse and eucalyptus. Educational
      status, occupation, knowledge on herbal medicine and second trimester of
      pregnancy were the major factors affecting use of herbal medicine. Health
      education about the effects of herbal medicine on pregnancy should be given
      during antenatal care sessions and through media. Health care providers,
      especially those that are involved in antenatal care should aware of evidence
      regarding potential benefits or harm of herbal medicinal agents when used by
      pregnant women.

PMID- 26881053
TI  - Health-related quality of life measurement in asthma and chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease: review of the 2009-2014 literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequent
      in the general population. These diseases can worsen the quality of life of
      people suffering from them, limiting their daily activities and disrupting their
      sleep at night. Some questionnaires to measure the impact of the diseases on the
      daily life of patients are available. The measurements of subjective outcomes
      have become a part of clinical practice, and are used very frequently in clinical
      trials. Our aim was to describe how data on HRQoL in asthma and COPD are reported
      in papers published in the medical literature. METHODS: We identified papers on
      the recent respiratory drugs (chemical, not biological), that reported the HRQoL
      measurement and that were published from 2009 to April 2014. We planned to
      describe data about HRQoL, and we had no intention of comparing the degree of
      efficacy of drugs. RESULTS: The most used questionnaires are the Asthma Quality
      of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire
      (SGRQ). These tools, administered at the baseline and at the end of the study
      (and interim evaluations in the longer studies) allowed for the identification of
      improvements as perceived by the patient after the treatment, even if in some
      cases these improvements were limited and not clinically relevant. Subjective
      measurements have always been placed among the secondary endpoints and the number
      of patients (estimated for the main endpoint) has often statistically
      overestimated the result. In addition, it is clear that subjective data is
      normally reported, but rarely commented on. CONCLUSIONS: There are some
      methodology aspects that should be discussed in more depth, for example the
      necessity to express variations in the subjective perception, not as p-value but
      as effect-size.

PMID- 26881049
TI  - Metals and Neuronal Metal Binding Proteins Implicated in Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent age-related dementia affecting
      millions of people worldwide. Its main pathological hallmark feature is the
      formation of insoluble protein deposits of amyloid-beta and hyperphosphorylated
      tau protein into extracellular plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles,
      respectively. Many of the mechanistic details of this process remain unknown, but
      a well-established consequence of protein aggregation is synapse dysfunction and
      neuronal loss in the AD brain. Different pathways including mitochondrial
      dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metal metabolism have been
      suggested to be implicated in this process. In particular, a body of evidence
      suggests that neuronal metal ions such as copper, zinc, and iron play important
      roles in brain function in health and disease states and altered homeostasis and
      distribution as a common feature across different neurodegenerative diseases and
      aging. In this focused review, we overview neuronal proteins that are involved in
      AD and whose metal binding properties may underlie important biochemical and
      regulatory processes occurring in the brain during the AD pathophysiological
      process. 

PMID- 26881054
TI  - Gene expression in the brain of a migratory songbird during breeding and
      migration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We still have limited knowledge about the underlying genetic
      mechanisms that enable migrating species of birds to navigate the globe. Here we
      make an attempt to get insight into the genetic architecture controlling this
      complex innate behaviour. We contrast the gene expression profiles of two closely
      related songbird subspecies with divergent migratory phenotypes. In addition to
      comparing differences in migratory strategy we include a temporal component and
      contrast patterns between breeding adults and autumn migrating juvenile birds of
      both subspecies. The two willow warbler subspecies, Phylloscopus trochilus
      trochilus and P. t. acredula, are remarkably similar both in phenotype and
      genotype and have a narrow contact zone in central Scandinavia. Here we used a
      microarray gene chip representing 23,136 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the
      zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata to identify mRNA level differences in willow
      warbler brain tissue in relation to subspecies and season. RESULTS: Out of the
      22,109 EST probe sets that remained after filtering poorly binding probes, we
      found 11,898 (51.8 %) probe sets that could be reliably and uniquely matched to a
      total of 6,758 orthologous zebra finch genes. The two subspecies showed very
      similar levels of gene expression with less than 0.1 % of the probe sets being
      significantly differentially expressed. In contrast, 3,045 (13.8 %) probe sets
      were found to be differently regulated between samples collected from breeding
      adults and autumn migrating juvenile birds. The genes found to be differentially
      expressed between seasons appeared to be enriched for functional roles in
      neuronal firing and neuronal synapse formation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show
      that only few genes are differentially expressed between the subspecies. This
      suggests that the different migration strategies of the subspecies might be
      governed by few genes, or that the expression patterns of those genes are time
      structured or tissue-specific in ways, which our approach fails to uncover. Our
      findings will be useful in the planning of new experiments designed to unravel
      the genes involved in the migratory program of birds.

PMID- 26881055
TI  - Assessment of the nevirapine safety signal using data from the national
      antiretroviral dispensing database: a retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical trials showed a higher risk of skin- and liver- related
      adverse reactions when NVP-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated in
      female and male patients with baseline CD4 cell counts >=250 and >=400,
      respectively. Some studies reported no difference in risk between the high and
      low CD4 count groups. Consequently, the use of NVP-based ART in all patients with
      a CD4 cell count <350, was recommended. In 2011, the Pharmacovigilance Centre
      detected an increase in reports of grade III and IV reactions. The center was
      required to determine if there was an increase in NVP-related reactions. METHODS:
      Automated dispensing records from January 2008 to November 2011 were accessed
      from the National Antiretroviral Dispensing Database (NDB). Records of patients
      who were initiated on NVP-based ART were selected, and records showing a
      replacement of NVP with protease inhibitor (PI) were identified. The proportions
      of grade III and IV reactions were calculated per quarter, and Odds Ratios (OR)
      were calculated, with the confidence interval set at 95 % and a p-value of <0.05.
      RESULTS: From 2008 to 2011 a total of 84,741 patients were started on ART. Of
      these 67,794 were initiated on NVP-containing ART. Of these, 211 females and 79
      males were substituted from NVP to a PI. The OR for females was 2.4 (95 %
      confidence interval [CI] 1.8 - 3.1). For males the OR was 2.4 (OR 2.4; 95 % CI
      1.4 - 3.8) which occurred nine months after the change observed in the females.
      The odds of a NVP-to-PI substitution in females compared to males before the
      launch of Namibia's 2010 ART guidelines was the same as the odds after the
      publication of the guidelines (before, OR 1.6; 95 % CI 1.1 - 2.5; after, OR 1.6;
      95 % CI 1.2 - 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in substitutions of NVP
      with a PI following the increase in the CD4 threshold for initiating NVP-based
      HAART, meaning that there was an increase in grade III and IV reactions
      associated with NVP. Therefore the NVP-safety signal was confirmed to be a true
      signal, which contributed to the Ministry's decision to review the use of NVP.

PMID- 26881056
TI  - Comparison of Partec Rapid Malaria Test with Conventional Light Microscopy for
      Diagnosis of Malaria in Northwest Ethiopia.
AB  - Background. Laboratory diagnosis of malaria is the key for effective disease
      management. Diagnosis of malaria infection requires rapid, sensitive, and
      specific test methods with an affordable cost. This study was aimed to assess the
      diagnostic performance of Partec rapid malaria test with reference to light
      microscopy for the diagnosis of malaria in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A total
      of 180 febrile patients were tested for malaria using Giemsa stain microscopy and
      Partec rapid malaria test from June to July 2013 at Gendewuha health centers,
      Metema district. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software.
      Odds ratio with 95% CI was calculated. Result. The sensitivity and specificity of
      Partec rapid malaria test were 93.8% (95% CI = 87.1%-100%) and 87.9% (95% CI =
      79.7%-96.1%), respectively, while the positive predictive value and negative
      predictive value were 6.4% (95% CI = 77.2%-95.5%) and 94.6% (95% CI = 88.7%
      100%), respectively. There was also an excellent agreement between two tests with
      Kappa value of 0.811 (95% CI = 0.625-0.996). Conclusion. Partec rapid malaria
      test showed good sensitivity and specificity with an excellent agreement to the
      reference light microscopy. Therefore PT can be considered as alternative
      diagnostic tools in malaria endemic areas. 

PMID- 26881057
TI  - Pathogenesis of Common Ocular Diseases.

PMID- 26881058
TI  - Novice Reviewers Retain High Sensitivity and Specificity of Posterior Segment
      Disease Identification with iWellnessExamTM.
AB  - Introduction. Four novices to Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD
      OCT) image review were provided a brief lecture on the interpretation of iVue
      iWellnessExamTM findings (available on iVue(r) SD-OCT, Optovue, Inc., Fremont,
      CA). For a cohort of 126 (Confirmed) Normal, 101 (Confirmed) Disease subjects,
      iWellnessExamTM OD, OS, and OU reports were provided. Each novice independently
      reviewed and sorted the subjects into one of four categories: normal, retinal
      disease, optic nerve (ON) disease, and retinal + ON disease. Their accuracy is
      compared between the novices and with an expert reviewer. Results. Posterior
      segment disease was properly detected by novices with sensitivities of 90.6%, any
      disease; 84.3%, retinal disease; 88.0%, ON disease; expert sensitivity: 96.0%,
      95.5%, and 90.0%, respectively; specificity: 84.3%, novices; 99.2%, expert.
      Novice accuracy correlates best with clinical exposure and amount of time spent
      reviewing each image set. The novices' negative predictive value was 92.0% (i.e.,
      very few false negatives). Conclusions. Novices can be trained to screen for
      posterior segment disease efficiently and effectively using iWellnessExamTM data,
      with high sensitivity, while maintaining high specificity. Novice reviewer
      accuracy covaries with both clinical exposure and time spent per image set. These
      findings support exploration of training nonophthalmic technicians in a primary
      medical care setting. 

PMID- 26881059
TI  - Evaluation of Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Teenagers with Myopia
      through Noninvasive Keratograph.
AB  - Purpose. This study aims to evaluate dry eye and ocular surface conditions of
      myopic teenagers by using questionnaire and clinical examinations. Methods. A
      total of 496 eyes from 248 myopic teenagers (7-18 years old) were studied. We
      administered Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, slit-lamp
      examination, and Keratograph 5M. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on
      OSDI dry eye standard, and their ocular surfaces and meibomian gland conditions
      were evaluated. Results. The tear meniscus heights of the dry eye and normal
      groups were in normal range. Corneal fluorescein scores were significantly higher
      whereas noninvasive break-up time was dramatically shorter in the dry eye group
      than in the normal group. All three meibomian gland dysfunction parameters (i.e.,
      meibomian gland orifice scores, meibomian gland secretion scores, and meibomian
      gland dropout scores) of the dry eye group were significantly higher than those
      of the normal group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. The prevalence of dry eye in
      myopic teenagers is 18.95%. Meibomian gland dysfunction plays an important role
      in dry eye in myopic teenagers. The Keratograph 5M appears to provide an
      effective noninvasive method for assessing ocular surface situation of myopic
      teenagers. 

PMID- 26881060
TI  - Usefulness of Surgical Media Center as a Cataract Surgery Educational Tool.
AB  - Purpose. This study retrospectively analyzed cataract surgeries to examine the
      usefulness of Surgical Media Center (SMC) (Abbott Medical Optics Inc.), a new
      cataract surgery recording device, for training of cataract surgery. Methods. We
      studied five hundred cataract surgeries conducted with a phacoemulsification
      system connected to the SMC. After surgery, the surgical procedures were
      reviewed, with changes in aspiration rate, vacuum level, and phaco power
      displayed as graphs superimposed on the surgical video. We examined whether use
      of SMC is able to demonstrate the differences in technique between experienced
      and trainee operators, to identify inappropriate phacoemulsification techniques
      from analyzing the graphs, and to elucidate the cause of intraoperative
      complications. Results. Significant differences in the time taken to reach
      maximum vacuum and the speed of increase in vacuum during irrigation and
      aspiration were observed between experienced and trainee operators. Analysis of
      the graphs displayed by SMC detected inappropriate phacoemulsification techniques
      mostly in cases operated by trainee operators. Conclusions. Using SMC, it was
      possible to capture details of cataract surgery objectively. This recording
      device allows surgeons to review cataract surgery techniques and identify the
      cause of intraoperative complication and is a useful education tool for cataract
      surgery. 

PMID- 26881061
TI  - Scheimpflug Imaging Parameters Associated with Tear Mediators and Bronchial
      Asthma in Keratoconus.
AB  - Purpose. To determine associations between mediators in tears in the whole
      spectrum of keratoconus (KC); to explore connections between mediators and
      Scheimpflug parameters; to examine correlations between Scheimpflug parameters
      and bronchial asthma. Methods. Tear samples were collected from 69 patients and
      19 controls. Concentrations of mediators-IL-6, -10; CXCL8, CCL5; MMP-9, -13; TIMP
      1; t-PA, PAI-1-were measured by Cytometric Bead Array. Measured Pentacam
      parameters include keratometry values (K 1, K 2, K max), corneal thickness (Pachy
      Pupil, Apex, Min), and elevations and indices (including Belin-Ambrosio deviation
      (BAD-D)). Results. A number of significant positive associations were observed
      between pairs of mediator concentrations. Significant positive correlations were
      found between BAD-D and CXCL8/MMP-9 and K 2 and MMP-9. Significant negative
      associations were explored between Pachy Min and CXCL8/t-PA. Significant
      associations were found between pairs of mediators (IL-6 and CXCL8; CCL5 and
      CXCL8/MMP-9; TIMP-1 and MMP-9/-13/t-PA; t-PA and CXCL8/CCL5/PAI-1) and the
      severity of KC. Significant positive correlation between asthma and the severity
      of KC was explored. Conclusion. Cooperation of different mediators in tears all
      taking part in the complex pathomechanism of keratoconus was revealed. Our
      research verifies that inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of
      KC. Additionally this study confirms the effect of bronchial asthma on
      keratoconus. 

PMID- 26881062
TI  - Endotoxin-Induced Tryptophan Degradation along the Kynurenine Pathway: The Role
      of Indolamine 2,3-Dioxygenase and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated
      Immunosuppressive Effects in Endotoxin Tolerance and Cancer and Its Implications
      for Immunoparalysis.
AB  - The degradation of tryptophan (TRP) along the kynurenine pathway plays a crucial
      role as a neuro- and immunomodulatory mechanism in response to inflammatory
      stimuli, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In endotoxemia or sepsis, an enhanced
      activation of the rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is
      associated with a higher mortality risk. It is assumed that IDO induced
      immunosuppressive effects provoke the development of a protracted compensatory
      hypoinflammatory phase up to a complete paralysis of the immune system, which is
      characterized by an endotoxin tolerance. However, the role of IDO activation in
      the development of life-threatening immunoparalysis is still poorly understood.
      Recent reports described the impact of inflammatory IDO activation and aryl
      hydrocarbon receptor- (AhR-) mediated pathways on the development of LPS
      tolerance and immune escape of cancer cells. These immunosuppressive mechanisms
      offer new insights for a better understanding of the development of cellular
      dysfunctions in immunoparalysis. This review provides a comprehensive update of
      significant biological functions of TRP metabolites along the kynurenine pathway
      and the complex regulation of LPS-induced IDO activation. In addition, the review
      focuses on the role of IDO-AhR-mediated immunosuppressive pathways in endotoxin
      tolerance and carcinogenesis revealing the significance of enhanced IDO activity
      for the establishment of life-threatening immunoparalysis in sepsis. 

PMID- 26881064
TI  - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Association between Hypertension and
      Tinnitus.
AB  - Hypertension has been suggested to be one possible risk factor of tinnitus, but
      the association between hypertension and tinnitus remains uncertain. The authors
      performed a meta-analysis of the existing studies on the association between
      hypertension and tinnitus. We performed literature search of studies using
      SinoMed, CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
      Studies reported the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) (or provided
      sufficient information for calculation) of the association between hypertension
      and tinnitus were included. A total of 19 eligible studies with 20 effect
      estimates were used in this study. They included 63,154 participants with age
      ranging from 14 to 92. The pooled OR, which was pooled using a random effects
      model, was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.16 to 1.62). There was no evidence of publication bias
      (p = 0.11 for Begg's test, p = 0.96 for Egger's test). By meta-regression, we
      found that study design may be one possible factor of heterogeneity. Sensitivity
      analysis found that the result was stable. This study suggests that hypertension
      might be one risk factor of tinnitus, and hypertension prevention and control
      might be helpful in preventing tinnitus. 

PMID- 26881063
TI  - Tryptophan Biochemistry: Structural, Nutritional, Metabolic, and Medical Aspects
      in Humans.
AB  - L-Tryptophan is the unique protein amino acid (AA) bearing an indole ring: its
      biotransformation in living organisms contributes either to keeping this chemical
      group in cells and tissues or to breaking it, by generating in both cases a
      variety of bioactive molecules. Investigations on the biology of Trp highlight
      the pleiotropic effects of its small derivatives on homeostasis processes. In
      addition to protein turn-over, in humans the pathways of Trp indole derivatives
      cover the synthesis of the neurotransmitter/hormone serotonin (5-HT), the pineal
      gland melatonin (MLT), and the trace amine tryptamine. The breakdown of the Trp
      indole ring defines instead the "kynurenine shunt" which produces cell-response
      adapters as L-kynurenine, kynurenic and quinolinic acids, or the coenzyme
      nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)). This review aims therefore at tracing
      a "map" of the main molecular effectors in human tryptophan (Trp) research,
      starting from the chemistry of this AA, dealing then with its biosphere
      distribution and nutritional value for humans, also focusing on some proteins
      responsible for its tissue-dependent uptake and biotransformation. We will thus
      underscore the role of Trp biochemistry in the pathogenesis of human complex
      diseases/syndromes primarily involving the gut, neuroimmunoendocrine/stress
      responses, and the CNS, supporting the use of -Omics approaches in this field. 

PMID- 26881066
TI  - Production of Thermoalkaliphilic Lipase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans DA2 and
      Application in Leather Industry.
AB  - Thermophilic and alkaliphilic lipases are meeting a growing global attention as
      their increased importance in several industrial fields. Over 23 bacterial
      strains, novel strain with high lipolytic activity was isolated from Southern
      Sinai, Egypt, and it was identified as Geobacillus thermoleovorans DA2 using 16S
      rRNA as well as morphological and biochemical features. The lipase was produced
      in presence of fatty restaurant wastes as an inducing substrate. The optimized
      conditions for lipase production were recorded to be temperature 60 degrees C, pH
      10, and incubation time for 48 hrs. Enzymatic production increased when the
      organism was grown in a medium containing galactose as carbon source and ammonium
      phosphate as nitrogen source at concentrations of 1 and 0.5% (w/v), respectively.
      Moreover, the optimum conditions for lipase production such as substrate
      concentration, inoculum size, and agitation rate were found to be 10% (w/v), 4%
      (v/v), and 120 rpm, respectively. The TA lipase with Triton X-100 had the best
      degreasing agent by lowering the total lipid content to 2.6% as compared to
      kerosene (7.5%) or the sole crude enzyme (8.9%). It can be concluded that the
      chemical leather process can be substituted with TA lipase for boosting the
      quality of leather and reducing the environmental hazards. 

PMID- 26881065
TI  - Immunomodulatory Effects of Chitotriosidase Enzyme.
AB  - Chitotriosidase enzyme (EC: 3.2.1.14) is the major active chitinase in the human
      body. It is produced mainly by activated macrophages, in which its expression is
      regulated by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic signals. Chitotriosidase was
      confirmed as essential element in the innate immunity against chitin containing
      organisms such as fungi and protozoa; however, its immunomodulatory effects
      extend far beyond innate immunity. In the current review, we will try to explore
      the expanding spectrum of immunological roles played by chitotriosidase enzyme in
      human health and disease and will discuss its up-to-date clinical value. 

PMID- 26881068
TI  - Spectrum of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Children: A Report from PICU of a
      Resource Limited Country.
AB  - Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in children is a rare but disabling disease that
      accounts for almost half cases of stroke. We report our experience of ICH in
      children. Retrospective review of medical records of children (1 month-16 years)
      admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit between January 2007 and December 2014
      was done. Data collected included age, gender, presentation, examination
      findings, neuroimaging done (CT, MRI, and angiography) management
      (conservative/intervention), and outcome. Results are presented as frequency and
      percentages. Of the total 50 patients, 58% were male and 26% were <1 year. On
      presentation 44% had vomiting, 42% had seizures, and GCS < 8 while 40% had
      altered level of consciousness. Single bleed was present in 88%, 94% had
      supratentorial bleed, and 32% had intraventricular extension. 72% had bleed
      volume of <30 mL and 8% had >60 mL. CT scan was done in 98% patients and MRI in
      34%, while 6% underwent conventional angiography. 60% patients were managed
      conservatively, 36% underwent neurosurgical intervention, and 6% underwent
      radiological vascular intervention. Hematologic causes were identified in 52%
      patients and vascular malformations in 14% and in 26% no cause could be
      identified. 26% of patients expired. 

PMID- 26881067
TI  - A Copy Number Variant on Chromosome 20q13.3 Implicated in Thinness and Severe
      Obesity.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To identify copy number variants (CNVs) which are
      associated with body mass index (BMI). SUBJECTS/METHODS: CNVs were identified
      using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on members of pedigrees
      ascertained through severely obese (BMI >= 35 kg/m(2)) sib pairs (86 pedigrees)
      and thin (BMI <= 23 kg/m(2)) probands (3 pedigrees). Association was inferred
      through pleiotropy of BMI with CNV log?2 intensity ratio. RESULTS: A 77-kilobase
      CNV on chromosome 20q13.3, confirmed by real-time qPCR, exhibited deletions in
      the obese subjects and duplications in the thin subjects (P = 2.2 * 10(-6)).
      Further support for the presence of a deletion derived from inference by
      likelihood analysis of null alleles for SNPs residing in the region. CONCLUSIONS:
      One or more of 7 genes residing in a chromosome 20q13.3 CNV region appears to
      influence BMI. The strongest candidate is ARFRP1, which affects glucose
      metabolism in mice.

PMID- 26881070
TI  - The Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Psychosocial Care in Adolescents with
      Epilepsy.
AB  - Introduction. Studies about epilepsy are more associated with physiological
      aspects and drug therapy and far too little attention has been paid to
      psychological and social care, especially in teens. Hence, the present study
      aimed to assess relationship between self-efficacy and psychosocial care in
      adolescents with epilepsy. Methods. A cross-sectional association study was
      conducted on 74 consecutive adolescents aged 10 to 18 years with general attacks
      of epilepsy referred to Pediatric Neurology Clinics affiliated with the Tabriz
      University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Data were collected by interview using
      multisegment tools including demographic characteristics, self-efficacy scaling
      in children with epilepsy, and reporting tools for children psychosocial care.
      Results. Our study showed a significant association of self-efficacy with
      "information received" (P < 0.02) and also with "need for information or support"
      (P < 0.01) as well as "concerns and fears" (P < 0.01). The comments of doctor or
      nurse were directly associated with higher self-efficacy and patients'
      information needs were inversely associated with higher self-efficacy.
      Conclusion. For adolescents with epilepsy, providing educational materials such
      as pamphlets and booklets, designing especial websites, and setting especial
      meetings with and without parents separately are recommended. Scheduling
      psychosocial supports and collecting more information about this disorder for
      adolescents will be helpful. 

PMID- 26881069
TI  - Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Bipolar Disorder with Mixed Features.
AB  - Introduction. Mixed states represent a frequent presentation of bipolar disorder,
      associated with higher resistance to psychopharmacology. Limited evidence
      supports the use of ECT in these patients. We aim to report our experience on
      treating bipolar mixed states with ECT. Methods. Retrospective data were
      collected from all bipolar patients submitted to acute ECT treatment, between
      June 2006 and June 2011. Three groups were created in terms of affective polarity
      of the episode. CGI rating was used to establish clinical remission and
      demographic and clinical variables were compared among groups. Long-term outcome
      was assessed through readmission measures, considering the use of continuation or
      maintenance ECT. Results. During the study time frame, a total of 50 ECT course
      treatments were performed on 41 bipolar patients. All affective episodes, except
      one mixed state, showed a positive clinical response. Patients with mixed state
      presentation tended to be younger and have an earlier first hospitalization than
      depressed patients. No differences were found in terms of ECT sessions performed,
      length of hospital admission, referral to continuation ECT treatment, number of
      readmissions, and time until next readmission. Conclusions. Our results support
      the effectiveness of ECT in patients experiencing a mixed affective state. 

PMID- 26881071
TI  - Length of Stay Comparison between Rivaroxaban and Warfarin in the Treatment of
      Pulmonary Embolism: Results from a Real-World Observational Cohort Study.
AB  - Background. Trials have shown that novel oral anticoagulants may decrease length
      of stay versus warfarin. A comparison of length of stay in the treatment of
      pulmonary embolism (PE) has not been performed outside post hoc analysis of a
      large clinical trial. Objective. To evaluate if rivaroxaban decreases length of
      stay compared to warfarin plus enoxaparin in the treatment of PE. Methods. This
      was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study. Patients were
      identified based on discharge diagnosis of PE and were excluded if they received
      anticoagulants prior to admission and had additional indications for
      anticoagulation or reduced creatinine clearance. The primary endpoint was length
      of stay. Secondary endpoints included time from initial dose of oral
      anticoagulant to discharge and length of stay comparison between subgroups.
      Results. Inclusion criterion was met by 158 patients (82 warfarin, 76
      rivaroxaban). The median length of stay was 4.5 days (interquartile range [IQR],
      2.7, 5.9) in the warfarin group and 1.8 days (IQR, 1.2, 3.7) in the rivaroxaban
      group (P < 0.001). Time interval from first dose of oral anticoagulant to
      discharge was shorter with rivaroxaban (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Patients given
      rivaroxaban had decreased length of stay versus those given warfarin plus
      enoxaparin for the treatment of PE. 

PMID- 26881072
TI  - Factors Associated with Opioid Use in a Cohort of Patients Presenting for
      Surgery.
AB  - Objectives. Patients taking opioids prior to surgery experience prolonged
      postoperative opioid use, worse clinical outcomes, increased pain, and more
      postoperative complications. We aimed to compare preoperative opioid users to
      their opioid naive counterparts to identify differences in baseline
      characteristics. Methods. 107 patients presenting for thoracotomy, total knee
      replacement, total hip replacement, radical mastectomy, and lumpectomy were
      investigated in a cross-sectional study to characterize the associations between
      measures of pain, substance use, abuse, addiction, sleep, and psychological
      measures (depressive symptoms, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, somatic
      fear and anxiety, and fear of pain) with opioid use. Results. Every 9-point
      increase in the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised
      (SOAPP-R) score was associated with 2.37 (95% CI 1.29-4.32) increased odds of
      preoperative opioid use (p = 0.0005). The SOAPP-R score was also associated with
      3.02 (95% CI 1.36-6.70) increased odds of illicit preoperative opioid use (p =
      0.007). Also, every 4-point increase in baseline pain at the future surgical site
      was associated with 2.85 (95% CI 1.12-7.27) increased odds of legitimate
      preoperative opioid use (p = 0.03). Discussion. Patients presenting with
      preoperative opioid use have higher SOAPP-R scores potentially indicating an
      increased risk for opioid misuse after surgery. In addition, legitimate
      preoperative opioid use is associated with preexisting pain. 

PMID- 26881073
TI  - Study of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Subjects with Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
      A Pilot Study in Vietnam.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO),
      reflecting the activity of inducible NO synthase in airway epithelium, has been
      found to increase in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study
      aimed to measure eNO concentration in patients with suspected OSA and to
      correlate different eNO parameters with clinical and sleep apnea characteristics.
      METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, all patients underwent in-lab overnight
      polysomnography (PSG) and eNO measurement using a method of multiple flow rates
      before and after PSG (pre- and post-PSG). RESULTS: According to the result of
      PSG, 82 persons were divided into two groups: control subjects (n = 30; 54 +/- 14
      years) and patients with OSA defined as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >= 5/hour (n =
      52; 53 +/- 12 years). Body mass index (BMI) and neck and abdomen circumferences
      of OSA patients were significantly higher than those from control subjects. In
      OSA group, post-PSG alveolar NO concentration (CANO) (5.3 +/- 1.9 ppb) was
      significantly higher than pre-PSG CANO (4.0 +/- 1.7 ppb; P < 0.001). Significant
      correlations have been found between CANO and AHI (P < 0.001) and between CANO
      and nadir SpO2 (P < 0.05). The daytime CANO value of more than 4.1 ppb can be
      used to screen symptomatic subjects for the presence of OSA with a high
      specificity of 93.3%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate CANO as a surrogate
      marker for OSA in persons with suggestive symptoms.

PMID- 26881075
TI  - Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Some O-Propargylated-N-acetylpyrazole
      Derived from 1,3-Diarylpropenones.
AB  - In search of novel effective potent therapeutic agents delivered by oral route
      for inflammation treatment, some novel O-propargylated-N-acetylpyrazole analogs
      (5a-j) were prepared by treating N-acetylpyrazole (4a-j) derived from 1,3
      diarylpropenones (3a-j) with propargyl bromide. Claisen-Schmidt condensation of a
      series of substituted aryl ketones 1 and benzaldehydes 2 in glacial acetic acid
      afforded 1,3-diarylpropenones which on further treatment with hydrazine hydrate
      in acetic acid under reflux conditions afforded 1-acetyl-3,5-diaryl-4,5
      dihydro(1H)pyrazoles (4a-j). The products were characterized by using
      spectroscopic techniques such as IR and NMR. In addition, the in vivo anti
      inflammatory activity of the synthesized compounds was determined using the
      carrageenan-induced paw oedema method in rats. 

PMID- 26881074
TI  - Theory of Mind Indexes the Broader Autism Phenotype in Siblings of Children with
      Autism at School Age.
AB  - Subclinical variants of the social-communicative challenges and rigidity that
      define autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known as the broader autism phenotype
      (BAP). The BAP has been conceptualized categorically (as specific to a subset of
      relatives of individuals with ASD) and dimensionally (as continuously distributed
      within the general population). The current study examined the compatibility of
      these two approaches by assessing associations among autism symptoms and social
      communicative skills in young school-age children with ASD, children who have a
      sibling with ASD, and children without a sibling with ASD. Autism symptoms were
      associated with reduced Theory of Mind (ToM), adaptive skills, cognitive empathy,
      and language skills across the full sample. Reduced ToM was a core aspect of the
      BAP in the current sample regardless of whether the BAP was defined categorically
      (in terms of siblings of children with ASD who exhibited atypical developmental)
      or dimensionally (in terms of associations with autism symptoms across the entire
      sample). Early language skills predicted school-age ToM. Findings support the
      compatibility of categorical and dimensional approaches to the BAP, highlight
      reduced ToM as a core aspect of the school-age BAP, and suggest that narrative
      based approaches to promoting ToM may be beneficial for siblings of children with
      ASD. 

PMID- 26881077
TI  - Unravelling the Interactions between Hydrolytic and Oxidative Enzymes in
      Degradation of Lignocellulosic Biomass by Sporothrix carnis under Various
      Fermentation Conditions.
AB  - The mechanism underlying the action of lignocellulolytic enzymes in
      biodegradation of lignocellulosic biomass remains unclear; hence, it is crucial
      to investigate enzymatic interactions involved in the process. In this study,
      degradation of corn cob by Sporothrix carnis and involvement of lignocellulolytic
      enzymes in biodegradation were investigated over 240 h cultivation period. About
      60% degradation of corn cob was achieved by S. carnis at the end of fermentation.
      The yields of hydrolytic enzymes, cellulase and xylanase, were higher than
      oxidative enzymes, laccase and peroxidase, over 144 h fermentation period.
      Maximum yields of cellulase (854.4 U/mg) and xylanase (789.6 U/mg) were at 96 and
      144 h, respectively. Laccase and peroxidase were produced cooperatively with
      maximum yields of 489.06 U/mg and 585.39 U/mg at 144 h. Drastic decline in
      production of cellulase at 144 h (242.01 U/mg) and xylanase at 192 h (192.2 U/mg)
      indicates that they play initial roles in biodegradation of lignocellulosic
      biomass while laccase and peroxidase play later roles. Optimal degradation of
      corn cob (76.6%) and production of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes were achieved
      with 2.5% inoculum at pH 6.0. Results suggest synergy in interactions between the
      hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes which can be optimized for improved
      biodegradation. 

PMID- 26881076
TI  - Label-Free Proteomic Analysis of Flavohemoglobin Deleted Strain of Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae.
AB  - Yeast flavohemoglobin, YHb, encoded by the nuclear gene YHB1, has been implicated
      in the nitrosative stress responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is still
      unclear how S. cerevisiae can withstand this NO level in the absence of
      flavohemoglobin. To better understand the physiological function of
      flavohemoglobin in yeast, in the present study a label-free differential
      proteomics study has been carried out in wild-type and YHB1 deleted strains of S.
      cerevisiae grown under fermentative conditions. From the analysis, 417 proteins
      in Y190 and 392 proteins in DeltaYHB1 were identified with high confidence.
      Interestingly, among the differentially expressed identified proteins, 40
      proteins were found to be downregulated whereas 41 were found to be upregulated
      in DeltaYHB1 strain of S. cerevisiae (p value < 0.05). The differentially
      expressed proteins were also classified according to gene ontology (GO) terms.
      The most enriched and significant GO terms included nitrogen compound
      biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, translational regulation, and protein
      folding. Interactions of differentially expressed proteins were generated using
      Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. This is the
      first report which offers a more complete view of the proteome changes in S.
      cerevisiae in the absence of flavohemoglobin. 

PMID- 26881078
TI  - Silica Nanoparticles Effects on Blood Coagulation Proteins and Platelets.
AB  - Interaction of nanoparticles with the blood coagulation is important prior to
      their using as the drug carriers or therapeutic agents. The aim of present work
      was studying of the primary effects of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) on
      haemostasis in vitro. We studied the effect of SiNPs on blood coagulation
      directly estimating the activation of prothrombin and factor X and to verify any
      possible effect of SiNPs on human platelets. It was shown that SiNPs shortened
      coagulation time in APTT and PT tests and increased the activation of factor X
      induced by RVV possibly due to the sorption of intrinsic pathway factors on their
      surface. SiNPs inhibited the aggregation of platelet rich plasma induced by ADP
      but in the same time partially activated platelets as it was shown using flow
      cytometry. The possibility of SiNPs usage in nanomedicine is strongly dependant
      on their final concentration in bloodstream and the size of the particles that
      are used. However SiNPs are extremely promising as the haemostatic agents for
      preventing the blood loss after damage. 

PMID- 26881079
TI  - Can Melatonin Act as an Antioxidant in Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress
      Model in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells?
AB  - Purpose. We aimed to investigate the possible effects of melatonin on gene
      expressions and activities of MnSOD and catalase under conditions of oxidative
      stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      (PBMCs). Materials and Methods. PBMCs were isolated from healthy subjects and
      treated as follows: (1) control (only with 0.1% DMSO for 12 h); (2) melatonin (1
      mM) for 12 h; (3) H2O2 (250 MUM) for 2 h; (4) H2O2 (250 MUM) for 2 h following 10
      h pretreatment with melatonin (1 mM). The gene expression was evaluated by real
      time PCR. MnSOD and catalase activities in PBMCs were determined by colorimetric
      assays. Results. Pretreatment of PBMCs with melatonin significantly augmented
      expression and activity of MnSOD which were diminished by H2O2. Melatonin
      treatment of PBMCs caused a significant upregulation of catalase by almost 2-fold
      in comparison with untreated cells. However, activity and expression of catalase
      increased by 1.5-fold in PBMCs under H2O2-induced oxidative stress compared with
      untreated cell. Moreover, pretreatment of PBMCs with melatonin resulted in a
      significant 1.8-fold increase in catalase expression compared to PBMCs treated
      only with H2O2. Conclusion. It seems that melatonin could prevent from
      undesirable impacts of H2O2-induced oxidative stress on MnSOD downregulation.
      Moreover, melatonin could promote inductive effect of H2O2 on catalase mRNA
      expression. 

PMID- 26881080
TI  - Australian Pregnant Women's Awareness of Gestational Weight Gain and Dietary
      Guidelines: Opportunity for Action.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) can negatively impact on
      maternal and foetal health. Guidelines based on Institute of Medicine (IOM)
      encourage managing GWG by following healthy eating recommendations and increasing
      physical activity. This study investigated pregnant women's knowledge of their
      optimal GWG and recommended dietary approaches for GWG management. METHOD:
      English-speaking pregnant women were recruited from five hospitals in New South
      Wales (Australia) and an online link. Prepregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) was
      calculated from self-reported height and prepregnancy weight. Participants
      identified their recommended GWG. A survey assessed practical dietary knowledge
      and asked about broad dietary recommendations to prevent excessive GWG. Chi
      square and logistic regression analyses were used. RESULTS: N = 326 pregnant
      women completed the surveys; 49% entered pregnancy overweight (25.2%) or obese
      (23.6%); and knowledge of recommended GWG was lacking. Prepregnancy BMI was a
      significant predictor of GWG recommendation knowledge (P < 0.000). Pregnant women
      were highly knowledgeable about broad dietary recommendations but had poor
      knowledge of detailed recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Limited knowledge of IOM's
      GWG guidelines and of specific dietary recommendations for pregnancy should be
      addressed by health care providers and education initiatives to assist the high
      number of women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese.

PMID- 26881081
TI  - Childhood Obesity Associates Haemodynamic and Vascular Changes That Result in
      Increased Central Aortic Pressure with Augmented Incident and Reflected Wave
      Components, without Changes in Peripheral Amplification.
AB  - The aims were to determine if childhood obesity is associated with increased
      central aortic blood pressure (BP) and to characterize haemodynamic and vascular
      changes associated with BP changes in obese children and adolescents by means of
      analyzing changes in cardiac output (stroke volume, SV), arterial stiffness
      (aortic pulse wave velocity, PWV), peripheral vascular resistances (PVR), and net
      and relative contributions of reflected waves to the aortic pulse wave amplitude.
      We included 117 subjects (mean/range age: 10 (5-15) years, 49 females), who were
      obese (OB) or had normal weight (NW). Peripheral and central aortic BP, PWV, and
      pulse wave-derived parameters (augmentation index, amplitude of forward and
      backward components) were measured with tonometry (SphygmoCor) and oscillometry
      (Mobil-O-Graph). With independence of the presence of dyslipidemia, hypertension,
      or sedentarism, the aortic systolic and pulse BP were higher in OB than in NW
      subjects. The increase in central BP could not be explained by the elevation in
      the relative contribution of reflections to the aortic pressure wave and higher
      PVR or by an augmented peripheral reflection coefficient. Instead, the rise in
      central BP could be explained by an increase in the amplitude of both incident
      and reflect wave components associated to augmented SV and/or PWV. 

PMID- 26881082
TI  - Susceptibility Pattern and Distribution of Oxacillinases and bla PER-1 Genes
      among Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a Teaching Hospital in Iran.
AB  - Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important nosocomial pathogen in
      healthcare institutions. beta-Lactamase-mediated resistance is the most common
      mechanism for carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii. The aim of this study was to
      determine the antibiotic resistance pattern, to detect OXA encoding genes, class
      A, bla PER-1, and to detect the presence of ISAba1. A total of 124 A. baumannii
      isolates were collected from hospitalized patients in a teaching hospital in
      Kashan, Iran. The susceptibility of isolates to different antibiotics was
      determined by disk-diffusion method. PCR was used to detect bla PER-1, bla OXA
      23, bla OXA-24, bla OXA-51, bla OXA-58, and ISAba1 genes. All isolates were
      resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime. All of the isolates
      revealed susceptibility to polymyxin B and colistin. Ninety-six percent of the
      isolates were extensive drug resistance (XDR), 5.6% extended spectrum beta
      lactamase (ESBL), and 54.8% metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL). All isolates were
      positive for bla OXA-51 and ISAba1. bla OXA-23,  bla OXA-24, and bla OXA-58 were
      found in 79.8%, 25%, and 3.2%, respectively. The frequency rate of bla PER-1 gene
      was 52.4%. Multidrug resistant A. baumannii isolates are increasing in our
      setting and extensively limit therapeutic options. The high rate presence of
      class D carbapenemase-encoding genes, mainly bla OXA-23 carbapenemases, is
      worrying and alarming as an emerging threat in our hospital. 

PMID- 26881083
TI  - Emergence of Tetracycline Resistant Vibrio cholerae O1 Biotype El Tor Serotype
      Ogawa with Classical ctxB Gene from a Cholera Outbreak in Odisha, Eastern India.
AB  - In September 2010, a cholera outbreak was reported from Odisha, Eastern India. V.
      cholerae isolated from the clinical samples were biochemically and serologically
      confirmed as serogroup O1, biotype El Tor, and serotype Ogawa. Multiplex PCR
      screening revealed the presence of various genes, namely, ompW, ctxB, zot, rfbO1,
      tcp, ace, hlyA, ompU, rtx, and toxR, in all of the isolates. The isolates were
      resistant to co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid, polymyxin B, spectinomycin,
      streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, trimethoprim, and vibriostatic
      agent 2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropylpteridine (O/129). Minimum inhibitory
      concentration of tetracycline decreased in the presence of carbonyl cyanide m
      chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), suggesting the involvement of efflux pumps. PCR
      analysis confirmed the presence of class I integrons as well as SXT elements
      harbouring antibiotic resistance genes in all isolates. Sequencing revealed the
      presence of ctxB gene of classical biotype in all the isolates. The isolates
      harboured an RS1-CTX prophage array with El Tor type rstR and classical ctxB on
      the large chromosome. The study indicated that the V. cholerae El Tor variants
      are evolving in the area with better antibiotic resistance and virulence
      potential. 

PMID- 26881085
TI  - Which Are the Most Relevant Questions in the Assessment of Outcome after Distal
      Radial Fractures?
AB  - A study was designed to determine which wrist scoring system best correlates with
      patient satisfaction and which individual variables predict a satisfactory
      outcome. We looked at forty-five females and 5 males with wrist fractures at 12
      weeks after injury and compared their level of satisfaction with various
      respected outcome measures. The mean age was 66 years. Multivariate regression
      analysis was carried out using a statistical software package. Patient
      satisfaction correlated best with the MacDermid, Watts, and DASH scores. The
      variables in these scoring systems that predicted satisfaction were pain and
      ability to perform household chores or usual occupation, open packets, and cut
      meat. The four most important questions to ask in the clinic following wrist
      fractures are about severity of pain and ability to open packets, cut meat, and
      perform household chores or usual occupation. This may provide simple and more
      concise means of assessing outcome after distal radial fractures. Level of
      evidence is level 4. 

PMID- 26881084
TI  - Role of Heat-Shock Proteins in Cellular Function and in the Biology of Fungi.
AB  - Stress (biotic or abiotic) is an unfavourable condition for an organism including
      fungus. To overcome stress, organism expresses heat-shock proteins (Hsps) or
      chaperons to perform biological function. Hsps are involved in various routine
      biological processes such as transcription, translation and posttranslational
      modifications, protein folding, and aggregation and disaggregation of proteins.
      Thus, it is important to understand holistic role of Hsps in response to stress
      and other biological conditions in fungi. Hsp104, Hsp70, and Hsp40 are found
      predominant in replication and Hsp90 is found in transcriptional and
      posttranscriptional process. Hsp90 and Hsp70 in combination or alone play a major
      role in morphogenesis and dimorphism. Heat stress in fungi expresses Hsp60,
      Hsp90, Hsp104, Hsp30, and Hsp10 proteins, whereas expression of Hsp12 protein was
      observed in response to cold stress. Hsp30, Hsp70, and Hsp90 proteins showed
      expression in response to pH stress. Osmotic stress is controlled by small heat
      shock proteins and Hsp60. Expression of Hsp104 is observed under high pressure
      conditions. Out of these heat-shock proteins, Hsp90 has been predicted as a
      potential antifungal target due to its role in morphogenesis. Thus, current
      review focuses on role of Hsps in fungi during morphogenesis and various stress
      conditions (temperature, pH, and osmotic pressure) and in antifungal drug
      tolerance. 

PMID- 26881086
TI  - Computed Tomography Analysis of Postsurgery Femoral Component Rotation Based on a
      Force Sensing Device Method versus Hypothetical Rotational Alignment Based on
      Anatomical Landmark Methods: A Pilot Study.
AB  - Rotation of the femoral component is an important aspect of knee arthroplasty,
      due to its effects on postsurgery knee kinematics and associated functional
      outcomes. It is still debated which method for establishing rotational alignment
      is preferable in orthopedic surgery. We compared force sensing based femoral
      component rotation with traditional anatomic landmark methods to investigate
      which method is more accurate in terms of alignment to the true transepicondylar
      axis. Thirty-one patients underwent computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty
      for osteoarthritis with femoral rotation established via a force sensor. During
      surgery, three alternative hypothetical femoral rotational alignments were
      assessed, based on transepicondylar axis, anterior-posterior axis, or the
      utilization of a posterior condyles referencing jig. Postoperative computed
      tomography scans were obtained to investigate rotation characteristics.
      Significant differences in rotation characteristics were found between rotation
      according to DKB and other methods (P < 0.05). Soft tissue balancing resulted in
      smaller deviation from anatomical epicondylar axis than any other method. 77% of
      operated knees were within a range of +/-3 degrees  of rotation. Only between 48%
      and 52% of knees would have been rotated appropriately using the other methods.
      The current results indicate that force sensors may be valuable for establishing
      correct femoral rotation. 

PMID- 26881087
TI  - Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Contact Pattern between the Cortical Bone and
      Femoral Prosthesis after Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - The cementless stem Excia (B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) implant has a
      rectangular cross-sectional shape with back-and-forth flanges and a plasma
      sprayed, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate coating from the middle to proximal
      portion to increase initial fixation and early bone formation. Here, the
      conformity of the Excia stem to the femoral canal morphology was three
      dimensionally assessed using computed tomography. Forty-three patients (45 hips)
      were examined after primary total hip arthroplasty with a mean follow-up of 27 +/
      3 months (range: 24-36 months). Spot welds occurred at zone 2 in 16 hips and at
      zone 6 in 24 hips, with 83% (20/24 hips) of those occurring within 3 months after
      surgery. First- (n = 12 hips), second- (n = 32), and third- (n = 1) degree stress
      shielding were observed. The stem was typically in contact with the cortical bone
      in the anterolateral mid-portion (100%) and posteromedial distal portions (85%).
      Stress shielding did not progress, even in cases where the stems were in contact
      with the distal portions. The anterior flange was in contact with the bone in all
      cases. The stability of the mid-lateral portion with the dicalcium phosphate
      dihydrate coating and the anterior flange may have inhibited the progression of
      stress shielding beyond the second degree. 

PMID- 26881088
TI  - Five-Minute Awake Snoring Test for Determining CPAP Pressures (Five-Minute CPAP
      Test): A Pilot Study.
AB  - Objective. To develop a quick, simple, bedside test for determining continuous
      positive airway pressures (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
      Study Design. Prospective case series at a tertiary medical center. Methods. The
      Five-Minute Awake Snoring Test for Determining CPAP (Five-Minute CPAP Test) was
      developed and tested. Patients wear a soft-gel nasal triangle mask while holding
      a tongue depressor with the wide section (1.75 cm) between the teeth. Fixed
      pressure nasal CPAP is applied while the patient simulates snoring at 4
      centimeters of water pressure. The pressure is incrementally titrated up and then
      down to determine the lowest pressure at which the patient cannot snore (Quiet
      Pressure). Results. Overall, thirty-eight patients participated. All could
      simulate snoring. Correlation coefficients were statistically significant between
      Quiet Pressures and body mass index (r s = 0.60 [strong positive relationship], p
      = 0.0088), apnea-hypopnea index (r s = 0.49 [moderate positive relationship], p =
      0.039), lowest oxygen saturation (r s = -0.47 [moderate negative relationship], p
      = 0.048), and oxygen desaturation index (r s = 0.62 [strong positive
      relationship], p = 0.0057). Conclusion. This pilot study introduces a new
      concept, which is the final product of over one year of exploration, development,
      and testing. Five-Minute CPAP Test is a quick, inexpensive, and safe bedside test
      based on supine awake simulated snoring with nasal CPAP. 

PMID- 26881089
TI  - Neural Plasticity following Abacus Training in Humans: A Review and Future
      Directions.
AB  - The human brain has an enormous capacity to adapt to a broad variety of
      environmental demands. Previous studies in the field of abacus training have
      shown that this training can induce specific changes in the brain. However, the
      neural mechanism underlying these changes remains elusive. Here, we reviewed the
      behavioral and imaging findings of comparisons between abacus experts and average
      control subjects and focused on changes in activation patterns and changes in
      brain structure. Finally, we noted the limitations and the future directions of
      this field. We concluded that although current studies have provided us with
      information about the mechanisms of abacus training, more research on abacus
      training is needed to understand its neural impact. 

PMID- 26881092
TI  - CNS Plasticity in Injury and Disease.

PMID- 26881090
TI  - Perspectives of TRPV1 Function on the Neurogenesis and Neural Plasticity.
AB  - The development of new strategies to renew and repair neuronal networks using
      neural plasticity induced by stem cell graft could enable new therapies to cure
      diseases that were considered lethal until now. In adequate microenvironment a
      neuronal progenitor must receive molecular signal of a specific cellular context
      to determine fate, differentiation, and location. TRPV1, a nonselective calcium
      channel, is expressed in neurogenic regions of the brain like the subgranular
      zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the telencephalic subventricular zone,
      being valuable for neural differentiation and neural plasticity. Current data
      show that TRPV1 is involved in several neuronal functions as cytoskeleton
      dynamics, cell migration, survival, and regeneration of injured neurons,
      incorporating several stimuli in neurogenesis and network integration. The
      function of TRPV1 in the brain is under intensive investigation, due to multiple
      places where it has been detected and its sensitivity for different chemical and
      physical agonists, and a new role of TRPV1 in brain function is now emerging as a
      molecular tool for survival and control of neural stem cells. 

PMID- 26881091
TI  - Abnormal Pressure Pain, Touch Sensitivity, Proprioception, and Manual Dexterity
      in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
AB  - Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often display an abnormal
      reactivity to tactile stimuli, altered pain perception, and lower motor skills
      than healthy children. Nevertheless, these motor and sensory deficits have been
      mostly assessed by using clinical observation and self-report questionnaires. The
      present study aims to explore somatosensory and motor function in children with
      ASD by using standardized and objective testing procedures. METHODS: Tactile and
      pressure pain thresholds in hands and lips, stereognosis, proprioception, and
      fine motor performance of the upper limbs were assessed in high-functioning
      children with ASD (n = 27) and compared with typically developing peers (n = 30).
      RESULTS: Children with ASD showed increased pain sensitivity, increased touch
      sensitivity in C-tactile afferents innervated areas, and diminished fine motor
      performance and proprioception compared to healthy children. No group differences
      were observed for stereognosis. CONCLUSION: Increased pain sensitivity and
      increased touch sensitivity in areas classically related to affective touch (C
      tactile afferents innervated areas) may explain typical avoiding behaviors
      associated with hypersensitivity. Both sensory and motor impairments should be
      assessed and treated in children with ASD.

PMID- 26881093
TI  - Node Detection Using High-Dimensional Fuzzy Parcellation Applied to the Insular
      Cortex.
AB  - Several functional connectivity approaches require the definition of a set of
      regions of interest (ROIs) that act as network nodes. Different methods have been
      developed to define these nodes and to derive their functional and effective
      connections, most of which are rather complex. Here we aim to propose a
      relatively simple "one-step" border detection and ROI estimation procedure
      employing the fuzzy c-mean clustering algorithm. To test this procedure and to
      explore insular connectivity beyond the two/three-region model currently proposed
      in the literature, we parcellated the insular cortex of 20 healthy right-handed
      volunteers scanned in a resting state. By employing a high-dimensional functional
      connectivity-based clustering process, we confirmed the two patterns of
      connectivity previously described. This method revealed a complex pattern of
      functional connectivity where the two previously detected insular clusters are
      subdivided into several other networks, some of which are not commonly associated
      with the insular cortex, such as the default mode network and parts of the dorsal
      attentional network. Furthermore, the detection of nodes was reliable, as
      demonstrated by the confirmative analysis performed on a replication group of
      subjects. 

PMID- 26881094
TI  - Neural Hyperactivity of the Central Auditory System in Response to Peripheral
      Damage.
AB  - It is increasingly appreciated that cochlear pathology is accompanied by adaptive
      responses in the central auditory system. The cause of cochlear pathology varies
      widely, and it seems that few commonalities can be drawn. In fact, despite
      intricate internal neuroplasticity and diverse external symptoms, several
      classical injury models provide a feasible path to locate responses to different
      peripheral cochlear lesions. In these cases, hair cell damage may lead to
      considerable hyperactivity in the central auditory pathways, mediated by a
      reduction in inhibition, which may underlie some clinical symptoms associated
      with hearing loss, such as tinnitus. Homeostatic plasticity, the most discussed
      and acknowledged mechanism in recent years, is most likely responsible for
      excited central activity following cochlear damage. 

PMID- 26881097
TI  - Chronic Mild Stress Modulates Activity-Dependent Transcription of BDNF in Rat
      Hippocampal Slices.
AB  - Although activity-dependent transcription represents a crucial mechanism for long
      lasting experience-dependent changes in the hippocampus, limited data exist on
      its contribution to pathological conditions. We aim to investigate the influence
      of chronic stress on the activity-dependent transcription of brain-derived
      neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The ex vivo methodology of acute stimulation of
      hippocampal slices obtained from rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) was
      used to evaluate whether the adverse experience may alter activity-dependent BDNF
      gene expression. CMS reduces BDNF expression and that acute depolarization
      significantly upregulates total BDNF mRNA levels only in control animals, showing
      that CMS exposure may alter BDNF transcription under basal conditions and during
      neuronal activation. Moreover, while the basal effect of CMS on total BDNF
      reflects parallel modulations of all the transcripts examined, isoform-specific
      changes were found after depolarization. This different effect was also observed
      in the activation of intracellular signaling pathways related to the
      neurotrophin. In conclusion, our study discloses a functional alteration of BDNF
      transcription as a consequence of stress. Being the activity-regulated
      transcription a critical process in synaptic and neuronal plasticity, the
      different regulation of individual BDNF promoters may contribute to long-lasting
      changes, which are fundamental for the vulnerability of the hippocampus to stress
      related diseases. 

PMID- 26881096
TI  - Lasting Differential Effects on Plasticity Induced by Prenatal Stress in Dorsal
      and Ventral Hippocampus.
AB  - Early life adversaries have a profound impact on the developing brain structure
      and functions that persist long after the original traumatic experience has
      vanished. One of the extensively studied brain structures in relation to early
      life stress has been the hippocampus because of its unique association with
      cognitive processes of the brain. While the entire hippocampus shares the same
      intrinsic organization, it assumes different functions in its dorsal and ventral
      sectors (DH and VH, resp.), based on different connectivity with other brain
      structures. In the present review, we summarize the differences between DH and VH
      and discuss functional and structural effects of prenatal stress in the two
      sectors, with the realization that much is yet to be explored in understanding
      the opposite reactivity of the DH and VH to stressful stimulation. 

PMID- 26881095
TI  - Obesity Reduces Cognitive and Motor Functions across the Lifespan.
AB  - Due to a sedentary lifestyle, more and more people are becoming obese nowadays.
      In addition to health-related problems, obesity can also impair cognition and
      motor performance. Previous results have shown that obesity mainly affects
      cognition and motor behaviors through altering brain functions and
      musculoskeletal system, respectively. Many factors, such as insulin/leptin
      dysregulation and inflammation, mediate the effect of obesity and cognition and
      motor behaviors. Substantial evidence has suggested exercise to be an effective
      way to improve obesity and related cognitive and motor dysfunctions. This paper
      aims to discuss the association of obesity with cognition and motor behaviors and
      its underlying mechanisms. Following this, mechanisms of exercise to improve
      obesity-related dysfunctions are described. Finally, implications and future
      research direction are raised. 

PMID- 26881098
TI  - Hippocampal Dendritic Spines Are Segregated Depending on Their Actin
      Polymerization.
AB  - Dendritic spines are mushroom-shaped protrusions of the postsynaptic membrane.
      Spines receive the majority of glutamatergic synaptic inputs. Their morphology,
      dynamics, and density have been related to synaptic plasticity and learning. The
      main determinant of spine shape is filamentous actin. Using FRAP, we have
      reexamined the actin dynamics of individual spines from pyramidal hippocampal
      neurons, both in cultures and in hippocampal organotypic slices. Our results
      indicate that, in cultures, the actin mobile fraction is independently regulated
      at the individual spine level, and mobile fraction values do not correlate with
      either age or distance from the soma. The most significant factor regulating
      actin mobile fraction was the presence of astrocytes in the culture substrate.
      Spines from neurons growing in the virtual absence of astrocytes have a more
      stable actin cytoskeleton, while spines from neurons growing in close contact
      with astrocytes show a more dynamic cytoskeleton. According to their recovery
      time, spines were distributed into two populations with slower and faster
      recovery times, while spines from slice cultures were grouped into one
      population. Finally, employing fast lineal acquisition protocols, we confirmed
      the existence of loci with high polymerization rates within the spine. 

PMID- 26881099
TI  - The Endocannabinoid System in the Retina: From Physiology to Practical and
      Therapeutic Applications.
AB  - Cannabis is one of the most prevalent drugs used in industrialized countries. The
      main effects of Cannabis are mediated by two major exogenous cannabinoids: ?9
      tetrahydroxycannabinol and cannabidiol. They act on specific endocannabinoid
      receptors, especially types 1 and 2. Mammals are endowed with a functional
      cannabinoid system including cannabinoid receptors, ligands, and enzymes. This
      endocannabinoid signaling pathway is involved in both physiological and
      pathophysiological conditions with a main role in the biology of the central
      nervous system. As the retina is a part of the central nervous system due to its
      embryonic origin, we aim at providing the relevance of studying the
      endocannabinoid system in the retina. Here, we review the distribution of the
      cannabinoid receptors, ligands, and enzymes in the retina and focus on the role
      of the cannabinoid system in retinal neurobiology. This review describes the
      presence of the cannabinoid system in critical stages of retinal processing and
      its broad involvement in retinal neurotransmission, neuroplasticity, and
      neuroprotection. Accordingly, we support the use of synthetic cannabinoids as new
      neuroprotective drugs to prevent and treat retinal diseases. Finally, we argue
      for the relevance of functional retinal measures in cannabis users to evaluate
      the impact of cannabis use on human retinal processing. 

PMID- 26881100
TI  - Multilevel Deficiency of White Matter Connectivity Networks in Alzheimer's
      Disease: A Diffusion MRI Study with DTI and HARDI Models.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in elderly people.
      It is an irreversible and progressive brain disease. In this paper, we utilized
      diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to detect abnormal topological organization of
      white matter (WM) structural networks. We compared the differences between WM
      connectivity characteristics at global, regional, and local levels in 26 patients
      with probable AD and 16 normal control (NC) elderly subjects, using connectivity
      networks constructed with the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) model and the high
      angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) model, respectively. At the global
      level, we found that the WM structural networks of both AD and NC groups had a
      small-world topology; however, the AD group showed a significant decrease in both
      global and local efficiency, but an increase in clustering coefficient and the
      average shortest path length. We further found that the AD patients had
      significantly decreased nodal efficiency at the regional level, as well as weaker
      connections in multiple local cortical and subcortical regions, such as
      precuneus, temporal lobe, hippocampus, and thalamus. The HARDI model was found to
      be more advantageous than the DTI model, as it was more sensitive to the
      deficiencies in AD at all of the three levels. 

PMID- 26881101
TI  - Defining Optimal Aerobic Exercise Parameters to Affect Complex Motor and
      Cognitive Outcomes after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Synthesis.
AB  - Although poststroke aerobic exercise (AE) increases markers of neuroplasticity
      and protects perilesional tissue, the degree to which it enhances complex motor
      or cognitive outcomes is unknown. Previous research suggests that timing and
      dosage of exercise may be important. We synthesized data from clinical and animal
      studies in order to determine optimal AE training parameters and recovery
      outcomes for future research. Using predefined criteria, we included clinical
      trials of stroke of any type or duration and animal studies employing any
      established models of stroke. Of the 5,259 titles returned, 52 articles met our
      criteria, measuring the effects of AE on balance, lower extremity coordination,
      upper limb motor skills, learning, processing speed, memory, and executive
      function. We found that early-initiated low-to-moderate intensity AE improved
      locomotor coordination in rodents. In clinical trials, AE improved balance and
      lower limb coordination irrespective of intervention modality or parameter. In
      contrast, fine upper limb recovery was relatively resistant to AE. In terms of
      cognitive outcomes, poststroke AE in animals improved memory and learning, except
      when training was too intense. However, in clinical trials, combined training
      protocols more consistently improved cognition. We noted a paucity of studies
      examining the benefits of AE on recovery beyond cessation of the intervention. 

PMID- 26881103
TI  - The Role of Perspective in Mental Time Travel.
AB  - Recent years have seen accumulating evidence for the proposition that people
      process time by mapping it onto a linear spatial representation and automatically
      "project" themselves on an imagined mental time line. Here, we ask whether people
      can adopt the temporal perspective of another person when travelling through
      time. To elucidate similarities and differences between time travelling from
      one's own perspective or from the perspective of another person, we asked
      participants to mentally project themselves or someone else (i.e., a
      coexperimenter) to different time points. Three basic properties of mental time
      travel were manipulated: temporal location (i.e., where in time the travel
      originates: past, present, and future), motion direction (either backwards or
      forwards), and temporal duration (i.e., the distance to travel: one, three, or
      five years). We found that time travels originating in the present lasted longer
      in the self- than in the other-perspective. Moreover, for self-perspective, but
      not for other-perspective, time was differently scaled depending on where in time
      the travel originated. In contrast, when considering the direction and the
      duration of time travelling, no dissimilarities between the self- and the other
      perspective emerged. These results suggest that self- and other-projection,
      despite some differences, share important similarities in structure. 

PMID- 26881102
TI  - Is the Frequency in Somatosensory Electrical Stimulation the Key Parameter in
      Modulating the Corticospinal Excitability of Healthy Volunteers and Stroke
      Patients with Spasticity?
AB  - Somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) has been proposed as an approach to
      treat patients with sensory-motor impairment such as spasticity. However, there
      is still no consensus regarding which would be the adequate SES parameters to
      treat those deficits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the
      effects of applying SES over the forearm muscles at four different frequencies of
      stimulation (3, 30, 150, and 300 Hz) and in two intervals of time (5' and 30') by
      means of transcranial magnetic stimulation and Hoffmann's reflex (H-reflex) in
      healthy volunteers (Experiments  I and II). A group of stroke patients
      (Experiment  III) was also preliminary evaluated to ascertain SES effects at a
      low frequency (3 Hz) applied for 30' over the forearm spastic flexors muscles by
      measuring the wrist joint passive torque. Motor evoked potentials and the H
      reflex were collected from different forearm and hand muscles immediately before
      and after SES and up to 5' (Experiment  I) and 10' (Experiments  I and II) later.
      None of the investigated frequencies of SES was able to operate as a key in
      switching modulatory effects in the central nervous system of healthy volunteers
      and stroke patients with spasticity.

PMID- 26881104
TI  - Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells Cotreated with Thyroid Hormone and GDNF Gene
      Induces Neuroprotection in Rats of Chronic Experimental Allergic
      Encephalomyelitis.
AB  - The present study investigates whether transplantation of NSCs treated with T3
      alone (T3/NSCs), or in conjunction with GDNF gene (GDNF-T3/NSCs), provides a
      better therapeutic effect than NSCs for chronic EAE. EAE rats were, respectively,
      injected with NSCs, T3/NSCs, GDNF-T3/NSCs, and saline at 10 days and sacrificed
      at 60 days after EAE immunization. The three cell grafted groups showed a
      significant reduction in clinical scores, inflammatory infiltration, and
      demyelination compared with the saline-injected group, and among the cell grafted
      groups, the reduction in GDNF-T3/NSCs group was the most notable, followed by
      T3/NSCs group. Grafted T3/NSCs and GDNF-T3/NSCs acquired more MAP2, GalC, and
      less GFAP in brain compared with grafted NSCs, and grafted GDNF-T3/NSCs acquired
      most MAP2 and least GalC among the cell grafted groups. Furthermore, T3/NSCs and
      GDNF-T3/NSCs grafting increased the expression of mRNA for PDGFalphaR, GalC, and
      MBP in lesion areas of brain compared with NSCs grafting, and the expression of
      mRNA for GalC and MBP in GDNF-T3/NSCs group was higher than that in T3/NSCs
      group. In conclusion, T3/NSCs grafting, especially GDNF-T3/NSCs grafting,
      provides a better neuroprotective effect for EAE than NSCs transplantation. 

PMID- 26881105
TI  - The Role of Hypothalamic Neuropeptides in Neurogenesis and Neuritogenesis.
AB  - The hypothalamus is a source of neural progenitor cells which give rise to
      different populations of specialized and differentiated cells during brain
      development. Newly formed neurons in the hypothalamus can synthesize and release
      various neuropeptides. Although term neuropeptide recently undergoes
      redefinition, small-size hypothalamic neuropeptides remain major signaling
      molecules mediating short- and long-term effects on brain development. They
      represent important factors in neurite growth and formation of neural circuits.
      There is evidence suggesting that the newly generated hypothalamic neurons may be
      involved in regulation of metabolism, energy balance, body weight, and social
      behavior as well. Here we review recent data on the role of hypothalamic
      neuropeptides in adult neurogenesis and neuritogenesis with special emphasis on
      the development of food intake and social behavior related brain circuits. 

PMID- 26881106
TI  - Effects of Patterned Sound Deprivation on Short- and Long-Term Plasticity in the
      Rat Thalamocortical Auditory System In Vivo.
AB  - Postnatal sensory experience plays a significant role in the maturation and
      synaptic stabilization of sensory cortices, such as the primary auditory cortex
      (A1). Here, we examined the effects of patterned sound deprivation (by rearing in
      continuous white noise, WN) during early postnatal life on short- and long-term
      plasticity of adult male rats using an in vivo preparation (urethane anesthesia).
      Relative to age-matched control animals reared under unaltered sound conditions,
      rats raised in WN (from postnatal day 5 to 50-60) showed greater levels of long
      term potentiation (LTP) of field potentials in A1 induced by theta-burst
      stimulation (TBS) of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN). In contrast, analyses
      of short-term plasticity using paired-pulse stimulation (interstimulus intervals
      of 25-1000 ms) did not reveal any significant effects of WN rearing. However, LTP
      induction resulted in a significant enhancement of paired-pulse depression (PPD)
      for both rearing conditions. We conclude that patterned sound deprivation during
      early postnatal life results in the maintenance of heightened, juvenile-like long
      term plasticity (LTP) into adulthood. Further, the enhanced PPD following LTP
      induction provides novel evidence that presynaptic mechanisms contribute to
      thalamocortical LTP in A1 under in vivo conditions. 

PMID- 26881107
TI  - The Vitamin A Derivative All-Trans Retinoic Acid Repairs Amyloid-beta-Induced
      Double-Strand Breaks in Neural Cells and in the Murine Neocortex.
AB  - The amyloid-beta peptide or Abeta is the key player in the amyloid-cascade
      hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Abeta appears to trigger cell death but also
      production of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in aging and Alzheimer's disease. All
      trans retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of vitamin A, was already known for its
      neuroprotective effects against the amyloid cascade. It diminishes, for instance,
      the production of Abeta peptides and their oligomerisation. In the present work
      we investigated the possible implication of RA receptor (RAR) in repair of Abeta
      induced DSBs. We demonstrated that RA, as well as RAR agonist Am80, but not AGN
      193109 antagonist, repair Abeta-induced DSBs in SH-SY5Y cells and an astrocytic
      cell line as well as in the murine cortical tissue of young and aged mice. The
      nonhomologous end joining pathway and the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated kinase
      were shown to be involved in RA-mediated DSBs repair in the SH-SY5Y cells. Our
      data suggest that RA, besides increasing cell viability in the cortex of young
      and even of aged mice, might also result in targeted DNA repair of genes
      important for cell or synaptic maintenance. This phenomenon would remain
      functional up to a point when Abeta increase and RA decrease probably lead to a
      pathological state. 

PMID- 26881108
TI  - Amyloid-Beta Induced Changes in Vesicular Transport of BDNF in Hippocampal
      Neurons.
AB  - The neurotrophin brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important growth
      factor in the CNS. Deficits in transport of this secretory protein could underlie
      neurodegenerative diseases. Investigation of disease-related changes in BDNF
      transport might provide insights into the cellular mechanism underlying, for
      example, Alzheimer's disease (AD). To analyze the role of BDNF transport in AD,
      live cell imaging of fluorescently labeled BDNF was performed in hippocampal
      neurons of different AD model systems. BDNF and APP colocalized with low
      incidence in vesicular structures. Anterograde as well as retrograde transport of
      BDNF vesicles was reduced and these effects were mediated by factors released
      from hippocampal neurons into the extracellular medium. Transport of BDNF was
      altered at a very early time point after onset of human APP expression or after
      acute amyloid-beta(1-42) treatment, while the activity-dependent release of BDNF
      remained unaffected. Taken together, extracellular cleavage products of APP
      induced rapid changes in anterograde and retrograde transport of BDNF-containing
      vesicles while release of BDNF was unaffected by transgenic expression of mutated
      APP. These early transport deficits might lead to permanently impaired brain
      functions in the adult brain. 

PMID- 26881109
TI  - N100 Repetition Suppression Indexes Neuroplastic Defects in Clinical High Risk
      and Psychotic Youth.
AB  - Highly penetrant mutations leading to schizophrenia are enriched for genes coding
      for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling complex (NMDAR-SC), implicating
      plasticity defects in the disease's pathogenesis. The importance of plasticity in
      neurodevelopment implies a role for therapies that target these mechanisms in
      early life to prevent schizophrenia. Testing such therapies requires noninvasive
      methods that can assess engagement of target mechanisms. The auditory N100 is an
      obligatory cortical response whose amplitude decreases with tone repetition. This
      adaptation may index the health of plasticity mechanisms required for normal
      development. We exposed participants aged 5 to 17 years with psychosis (n = 22),
      at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis (n = 29), and healthy controls (n = 17)
      to an auditory tone repeated 450 times and measured N100 adaptation (mean
      amplitude during first 150 tones - mean amplitude during last 150 tones). N100
      adaptation was reduced in CHR and psychosis, particularly among participants <13
      years old. Initial N100 blunting partially accounted for differences. Decreased
      change in the N100 amplitude with tone repetition may be a useful marker of
      defects in neuroplastic mechanisms measurable early in life. 

PMID- 26881110
TI  - The Galphao Activator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in
      Hippocampal Neurons.
AB  - Mastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived
      from wasp venom, is a direct activator of Pertussis toxin- (PTX-) sensitive G
      proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types;
      however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocampal neurons.
      We examined the specific role of Mas-7 in the development of dendritic spines,
      the sites of excitatory synaptic contact that are crucial for synaptic
      plasticity. We report here that exposure of hippocampal neurons to a low dose of
      Mas-7 increases dendritic spine density and spine head width in a time-dependent
      manner. Additionally, Mas-7 enhances postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95)
      clustering in neurites and activates Galpha(o) signaling, increasing the
      intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. To define the role of signaling
      intermediates, we measured the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC), c
      Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase
      IIalpha (CaMKIIalpha) after Mas-7 treatment and determined that CaMKII activation
      is necessary for the Mas-7-dependent increase in dendritic spine density. Our
      results demonstrate a critical role for Galpha(o) subunit signaling in the
      regulation of synapse formation.

PMID- 26881111
TI  - Interhemispheric Plasticity following Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in
      Chronic Poststroke Aphasia.
AB  - The effects of noninvasive neurostimulation on brain structure and function in
      chronic poststroke aphasia are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of
      intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) applied to residual language
      responsive cortex in chronic patients using functional and anatomical MRI data
      acquired before and after iTBS. Lateralization index (LI) analyses, along with
      comparisons of inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activation and connectivity during
      covert verb generation, were used to assess changes in cortical language
      function. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess effects on regional
      grey matter (GM). LI analyses revealed a leftward shift in IFG activity after
      treatment. While left IFG activation increased, right IFG activation decreased.
      Changes in right to left IFG connectivity during covert verb generation also
      decreased after iTBS. Behavioral correlations revealed a negative relationship
      between changes in right IFG activation and improvements in fluency. While
      anatomical analyses did not reveal statistically significant changes in grey
      matter volume, the fMRI results provide evidence for changes in right and left
      IFG function after iTBS. The negative relationship between post-iTBS changes in
      right IFG activity during covert verb generation and improvements in fluency
      suggests that iTBS applied to residual left-hemispheric language areas may reduce
      contralateral responses related to language production and facilitate recruitment
      of residual language areas after stroke. 

PMID- 26881112
TI  - Seeding Stress Resilience through Inoculation.
AB  - Stress is a generalized set of physiological and psychological responses observed
      when an organism is placed under challenging circumstances. The stress response
      allows organisms to reattain the equilibrium in face of perturbations.
      Unfortunately, chronic and/or traumatic exposure to stress frequently overwhelms
      coping ability of an individual. This is manifested as symptoms affecting
      emotions and cognition in stress-related mental disorders. Thus environmental
      interventions that promote resilience in face of stress have much clinical
      relevance. Focus of the bulk of relevant neurobiological research at present
      remains on negative aspects of health and psychological outcomes of stress
      exposure. Yet exposure to the stress itself can promote resilience to subsequent
      stressful episodes later in the life. This is especially true if the prior stress
      occurs early in life, is mild in its magnitude, and is controllable by the
      individual. This articulation has been referred to as "stress inoculation,"
      reminiscent of resilience to the pathology generated through vaccination by
      attenuated pathogen itself. Using experimental evidence from animal models, this
      review explores relationship between nature of the "inoculum" stress and
      subsequent psychological resilience. 

PMID- 26881113
TI  - TLR4 Signaling in MPP+-Induced Activation of BV-2 Cells.
AB  - AIMS: This work was conducted to establish an in vitro Parkinson's disease (PD)
      model by exposing BV-2 cells to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) and
      exploring the roles of TLR2/TLR4/TLR9 in inflammatory responses to MPP(+).
      METHODS/RESULTS: MTT assay showed that cell viability of BV-2 cells was 84.78 +/-
      0.86% and 81.18 +/- 0.99% of the control after incubation with 0.1 mM MPP(+) for
      12 hours and 24 hours, respectively. Viability was not significantly different
      from the control group. With immunofluorescence technique, we found that MPP(+)
      incubation at 0.1 mM for 12 hours was the best condition to activate BV-2 cells.
      In this condition, the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and iNOS protein were
      statistically increased compared to the control according to ELISA tests. Real
      time RT-PCR and western blot measurements showed that TLR4 was statistically
      increased after 0.1 mM MPP(+) incubation for 12 hours. Furthermore, after siRNA
      interference of TLR4 mRNA, NF-kappaB activation and the levels of TNF-alpha, IL
      1beta, and iNOS were all statistically decreased in this cell model. CONCLUSION:
      MPP(+) incubation at the concentration of 0.1 mM for 12 hours is the best
      condition to activate BV-2 cells for mimicking PD inflammation in BV-2 cells.
      TLR4 signalling plays a critical role in the activation of BV-2 cells and the
      induction of inflammation in this cell model.

PMID- 26881115
TI  - Body Perception and Action Following Deafness.
AB  - The effect of deafness on sensory abilities has been the topic of extensive
      investigation over the past decades. These investigations have mostly focused on
      visual capacities. We are only now starting to investigate how the deaf
      experience their own bodies and body-related abilities. Indeed, a growing corpus
      of research suggests that auditory input could play an important role in body
      related processing. Deafness could therefore disturb such processes. It has also
      been suggested that many unexplained daily difficulties experienced by the deaf
      could be related to deficits in this underexplored field. In the present review,
      we propose an overview of the current state of knowledge on the effects of
      deafness on body-related processing. 

PMID- 26881116
TI  - Self-Rated Attentiveness Interacts with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
      and Noise Stimulation in Reaction Time in a Go/No-Go Task.
AB  - Previous research has found that stimulating inattentive people with auditory
      white noise induces enhancement in cognitive performance. This enhancement is
      believed to occur due to a statistical phenomenon called stochastic resonance,
      where noise increases the probability of a signal passing the firing threshold in
      the neural cells. Here we investigate whether people with low attentiveness
      benefit to a larger extent than attentive people from stimulation by auditory
      white noise and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The results show,
      for both auditory noise and tDCS stimulation, that the changes in performance
      relative to nonstimulation correlate with the degree of attentiveness in a Go/No
      Go task, but not in a N-back task. These results suggest that the benefit of tDCS
      may interact with inattentiveness. 

PMID- 26881118
TI  - Multisession Anodal tDCS Protocol Improves Motor System Function in an Aging
      Population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of
      five consecutive, daily 20-minute sessions of M1 a-tDCS on motor learning in
      healthy, cognitively intact, aging adults. DESIGN: A total of 23 participants (51
      to 69 years old) performed five consecutive, daily 20-minute sessions of a serial
      reaction time task (SRT task) concomitant with either anodal (n = 12) or sham (n
      = 11) M1 a-tDCS. RESULTS: We found a significant group * training sessions
      interaction, indicating that whereas aging adults in the sham group exhibited
      little-to-no sequence-specific learning improvements beyond the first day of
      training, reproducible improvements in the ability to learn new motor sequences
      over 5 consecutive sessions were the net result in age-equivalent participants
      from the M1 a-tDCS group. A significant main effect of group on sequence-specific
      learning revealed greater motor learning for the M1 a-tDCS group when the five
      learning sessions were averaged. CONCLUSION: These findings raise into prominence
      the utility of multisession anodal TDCS protocols in combination with motor
      training to help prevent/alleviate age-associated motor function decline.

PMID- 26881114
TI  - Neuron-Glia Interactions in Neural Plasticity: Contributions of Neural
      Extracellular Matrix and Perineuronal Nets.
AB  - Synapses are specialized structures that mediate rapid and efficient signal
      transmission between neurons and are surrounded by glial cells. Astrocytes
      develop an intimate association with synapses in the central nervous system (CNS)
      and contribute to the regulation of ion and neurotransmitter concentrations.
      Together with neurons, they shape intercellular space to provide a stable milieu
      for neuronal activity. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components are synthesized by
      both neurons and astrocytes and play an important role in the formation,
      maintenance, and function of synapses in the CNS. The components of the ECM have
      been detected near glial processes, which abut onto the CNS synaptic unit, where
      they are part of the specialized macromolecular assemblies, termed perineuronal
      nets (PNNs). PNNs have originally been discovered by Golgi and represent a
      molecular scaffold deposited in the interface between the astrocyte and subsets
      of neurons in the vicinity of the synapse. Recent reports strongly suggest that
      PNNs are tightly involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity. Moreover,
      several studies have implicated PNNs and the neural ECM in neuropsychiatric
      diseases. Here, we highlight current concepts relating to neural ECM and PNNs and
      describe an in vitro approach that allows for the investigation of ECM functions
      for synaptogenesis. 

PMID- 26881117
TI  - Effects of Fast Simple Numerical Calculation Training on Neural Systems.
AB  - Cognitive training, including fast simple numerical calculation (FSNC), has been
      shown to improve performance on untrained processing speed and executive function
      tasks in the elderly. However, the effects of FSNC training on cognitive
      functions in the young and on neural mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated
      the effects of 1-week intensive FSNC training on cognitive function, regional
      gray matter volume (rGMV), and regional cerebral blood flow at rest (resting
      rCBF) in healthy young adults. FSNC training was associated with improvements in
      performance on simple processing speed, speeded executive functioning, and simple
      and complex arithmetic tasks. FSNC training was associated with a reduction in
      rGMV and an increase in resting rCBF in the frontopolar areas and a weak but
      widespread increase in resting rCBF in an anatomical cluster in the posterior
      region. These results provide direct evidence that FSNC training alone can
      improve performance on processing speed and executive function tasks as well as
      plasticity of brain structures and perfusion. Our results also indicate that
      changes in neural systems in the frontopolar areas may underlie these cognitive
      improvements. 

PMID- 26881119
TI  - Distribution of N-Acetylgalactosamine-Positive Perineuronal Nets in the Macaque
      Brain: Anatomy and Implications.
AB  - Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular molecules that form around neurons
      near the end of critical periods during development. They surround neuronal cell
      bodies and proximal dendrites. PNNs inhibit the formation of new connections and
      may concentrate around rapidly firing inhibitory interneurons. Previous work
      characterized the important role of perineuronal nets in plasticity in the visual
      system, amygdala, and spinal cord of rats. In this study, we use
      immunohistochemistry to survey the distribution of perineuronal nets in
      representative areas of the primate brain. We also document changes in PNN
      prevalence in these areas in animals of different ages. We found that PNNs are
      most prevalent in the cerebellar nuclei, surrounding >90% of the neurons there.
      They are much less prevalent in cerebral cortex, surrounding less than 10% of
      neurons in every area that we examined. The incidence of perineuronal nets around
      parvalbumin-positive neurons (putative fast-spiking interneurons) varies
      considerably between different areas in the brain. Our survey indicates that the
      presence of PNNs may not have a simple relationship with neural plasticity and
      may serve multiple functions in the central nervous system. 

PMID- 26881121
TI  - Motor Cortex Plasticity during Unilateral Finger Movement with Mirror Visual
      Feedback.
AB  - Plasticity is one of the most important physiological mechanisms underlying motor
      recovery from brain lesions. Rehabilitation methods, such as mirror visual
      feedback therapy, which are based on multisensory integration of motor,
      cognitive, and perceptual processes, are considered effective methods to induce
      cortical reorganization. The present study investigated 3 different types of
      visual feedback (direct, mirrored, and blocked visual feedback: DVF, MVF, and
      BVF, resp.) on M1 cortex excitability and intracortical inhibition/facilitation
      at rest and during phasic unimanual motor task in 11 healthy individuals. The
      excitability of the ipsilateral M1 cortex and the intracortical facilitation
      increased during motor task performance in the DVF and MVF but not in the BVF
      condition. In addition, MVF induced cortical disinhibition of the ipsilateral
      hemisphere to the index finger performing the motor task, which was greater when
      compared to the BVF and restricted to the homologue first dorsal interosseous
      muscle. The visual feedback is relevant to M1 cortex excitability modulation but
      the MVF plays a crucial role in promoting changes in intracortical inhibition in
      comparison to BVF. Altogether, it can be concluded that a combination of motor
      training with MVF therapy may induce more robust neuroplastic changes through
      multisensory integration that is relevant to motor rehabilitation. 

PMID- 26881120
TI  - Simultaneous Assessment of White Matter Changes in Microstructure and
      Connectedness in the Blind Brain.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the human brain has provided converging
      evidence that visual deprivation induces regional changes in white matter (WM)
      microstructure. It remains unclear how these changes modify network connections
      between brain regions. Here we used diffusion-weighted MRI to relate differences
      in microstructure and structural connectedness of WM in individuals with
      congenital or late-onset blindness relative to normally sighted controls.
      Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provided voxel-specific microstructural features
      of the tissue, while anatomical connectivity mapping (ACM) assessed the
      connectedness of each voxel with the rest of the brain. ACM yielded reduced
      anatomical connectivity in the corpus callosum in individuals with congenital but
      not late-onset blindness. ACM did not identify any brain region where blindness
      resulted in increased anatomical connectivity. DTI revealed widespread
      microstructural differences as indexed by a reduced regional fractional
      anisotropy (FA). Blind individuals showed lower FA in the primary visual and the
      ventral visual processing stream relative to sighted controls regardless of the
      blindness onset. The results show that visual deprivation shapes WM
      microstructure and anatomical connectivity, but these changes appear to be
      spatially dissociated as changes emerge in different WM tracts. They also
      indicate that regional differences in anatomical connectivity depend on the onset
      of blindness. 

PMID- 26881123
TI  - Large and Small Dendritic Spines Serve Different Interacting Functions in
      Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Homeostasis.
AB  - The laying down of memory requires strong stimulation resulting in specific
      changes in synaptic strength and corresponding changes in size of dendritic
      spines. Strong stimuli can also be pathological, causing a homeostatic response,
      depressing and shrinking the synapse to prevent damage from too much Ca(2+)
      influx. But do all types of dendritic spines serve both of these apparently
      opposite functions? Using confocal microscopy in organotypic slices from mice
      expressing green fluorescent protein in hippocampal neurones, the size of
      individual spines along sections of dendrite has been tracked in response to
      application of tetraethylammonium. This strong stimulus would be expected to
      cause both a protective homeostatic response and long-term potentiation. We
      report separation of these functions, with spines of different sizes reacting
      differently to the same strong stimulus. The immediate shrinkage of large spines
      suggests a homeostatic protective response during the period of potential danger.
      In CA1, long-lasting growth of small spines subsequently occurs consolidating
      long-term potentiation but only after the large spines return to their original
      size. In contrast, small spines do not change in dentate gyrus where potentiation
      does not occur. The separation in time of these changes allows clear functional
      differentiation of spines of different sizes. 

PMID- 26881122
TI  - Neuroprotective Transcription Factors in Animal Models of Parkinson Disease.
AB  - A number of transcription factors, including En1/2, Foxa1/2, Lmx1a/b, Nurr1,
      Otx2, and Pitx3, with key roles in midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron
      development, also regulate adult mDA neuron survival and physiology. Mouse models
      with targeted disruption of some of these genes display several features
      reminiscent of Parkinson disease (PD), in particular the selective and
      progressive loss of mDA neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The
      characterization of these animal models has provided valuable insights into
      various mechanisms of PD pathogenesis. Therefore, the dissection of the
      mechanisms and survival signalling pathways engaged by these transcription
      factors to protect mDA neuron from degeneration can suggest novel therapeutic
      strategies. The work on En1/2-mediated neuroprotection also highlights the
      potential of protein transduction technology for neuroprotective approaches in
      PD. 

PMID- 26881124
TI  - Social Isolation Stress Induces Anxious-Depressive-Like Behavior and Alterations
      of Neuroplasticity-Related Genes in Adult Male Mice.
AB  - Stress is a major risk factor in the onset of several neuropsychiatric disorders
      including anxiety and depression. Although several studies have shown that social
      isolation stress during postweaning period induces behavioral and brain molecular
      changes, the effects of social isolation on behavior during adulthood have been
      less characterized. Aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between
      the behavioral alterations and brain molecular changes induced by chronic social
      isolation stress in adult male mice. Plasma corticosterone levels and adrenal
      glands weight were also analyzed. Socially isolated (SI) mice showed higher
      locomotor activity, spent less time in the open field center, and displayed
      higher immobility time in the tail suspension test compared to group-housed (GH)
      mice. SI mice exhibited reduced plasma corticosterone levels and reduced
      difference between right and left adrenal glands. SI showed lower mRNA levels of
      the BDNF-7 splice variant, c-Fos, Arc, and Egr-1 in both hippocampus and
      prefrontal cortex compared to GH mice. Finally, SI mice exhibited selectively
      reduced mGluR1 and mGluR2 levels in the prefrontal cortex. Altogether, these
      results suggest that anxious- and depressive-like behavior induced by social
      isolation stress correlates with reduction of several neuroplasticity-related
      genes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of adult male mice. 

PMID- 26881125
TI  - Effects of Cannabinoid Exposure during Adolescence on the Conditioned Rewarding
      Effects of WIN 55212-2 and Cocaine in Mice: Influence of the Novelty-Seeking
      Trait.
AB  - Adolescent exposure to cannabinoids enhances the behavioural effects of cocaine,
      and high novelty-seeking trait predicts greater sensitivity to the conditioned
      place preference (CPP) induced by this drug. Our aim was to evaluate the
      influence of novelty-seeking on the effects of adolescent cannabinoid exposure.
      Adolescent male mice were classified as high or low novelty seekers (HNS and LNS)
      in the hole-board test. First, we evaluated the CPP induced by the cannabinoid
      agonist WIN 55212-2 (0.05 and 0.075 mg/kg, i.p.) in HNS and LNS mice. Then, HNS
      and LNS mice were pretreated i.p. with vehicle, WIN 55212-2 (0.1 mg/kg), or
      cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg) and were subsequently conditioned
      with WIN 55212-2 (0.05 mg/kg, i.p.) or cocaine (1 or 6 mg/kg, i.p.). Only HNS
      mice conditioned with the 0.075 mg/kg dose acquired CPP with WIN 55212-2.
      Adolescent exposure to this cannabinoid agonist increased the rewarding effects
      of 1 mg/kg of cocaine in both HNS and LNS mice, and in HNS mice it also increased
      the reinstating effect of a low dose of cocaine. Our results endorse a role for
      individual differences such as a higher propensity for sensation-seeking in the
      development of addiction.

PMID- 26881126
TI  - Status Epilepticus Enhances Depotentiation after Fully Established LTP in an
      NMDAR-Dependent but GluN2B-Independent Manner.
AB  - N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) can
      be reversed by low-frequency stimulation (LFS) referred to as depotentiation
      (DP). We previously found GluN2B upregulated in CA1 neurons from post-status
      epilepticus (post-SE) tissue associated with an enhanced LTP. Here, we tested
      whether LFS-induced DP is also altered in pathological GluN2B upregulation.
      Although LTP was enhanced in post-SE tissue, LTP was significantly reversed in
      this tissue, but not in controls. We next tested the effect of the GluN2B subunit
      specific blocker Ro 25-6981 (1 MUM) on LFS-DP. As expected, LFS had no effect on
      synaptic strength in the presence of the GluN2B blocker in control tissue. In
      marked contrast, LFS-DP was also attained in post-SE tissue indicating that
      GluN2B was obviously not involved in depotentiation. To test for NMDA receptor
      dependence, we applied the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 (50 MUM) prior to LFS
      and observed that DP was abolished in both control and post-SE tissue confirming
      NMDA receptor involvement. These results indicate that control Schaffer
      collateral-CA1 synapses cannot be depotentiated after fully established LTP, but
      LFS was able to reverse LTP significantly in post-SE tissue. However, while LFS
      DP clearly required NMDA receptor activation, GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors
      were not involved in this form of depotentiation. 

PMID- 26881127
TI  - Systematic Underreproduction of Time Is Independent of Judgment Certainty.
AB  - We recently proposed that systematic underreproduction of time is caused by a
      general judgment bias towards earlier responses, instead of reflecting a genuine
      misperception of temporal intervals. Here we tested whether this bias can be
      explained by the uncertainty associated with temporal judgments. We applied
      transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to inhibit neuronal processes in the
      right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and tested its effects on time
      discrimination and reproduction tasks. The results show increased certainty for
      discriminative time judgments after PPC inhibition. They suggest that the right
      PPC plays an inhibitory role for time perception, possibly by mediating the
      multisensory integration between temporal stimuli and other quantities.
      Importantly, this increased judgment certainty had no influence on the degree of
      temporal underreproduction. We conclude that the systematic underreproduction of
      time is not caused by uncertainty for temporal judgments. 

PMID- 26881128
TI  - Transcriptional Control of Synaptic Plasticity by Transcription Factor NF-kappaB.
AB  - Activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcription factors is
      required for the induction of synaptic plasticity and memory formation. All
      components of this signaling pathway are localized at synapses, and
      transcriptionally active NF-kappaB dimers move to the nucleus to translate
      synaptic signals into altered gene expression. Neuron-specific inhibition results
      in altered connectivity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses and functionally in
      selective learning deficits. Recent research on transgenic mice with impaired or
      hyperactivated NF-kappaB gave important insights into plasticity-related target
      gene expression that is regulated by NF-kappaB. In this minireview, we update the
      available data on the role of this transcription factor for learning and memory
      formation and comment on cross-sectional activation of NF-kappaB in the aged and
      diseased brain that may directly or indirectly affect kappaB-dependent
      transcription of synaptic genes. 

PMID- 26881129
TI  - Sensory Cortical Plasticity Participates in the Epigenetic Regulation of Robust
      Memory Formation.
AB  - Neuroplasticity remodels sensory cortex across the lifespan. A function of adult
      sensory cortical plasticity may be capturing available information during
      perception for memory formation. The degree of experience-dependent remodeling in
      sensory cortex appears to determine memory strength and specificity for important
      sensory signals. A key open question is how plasticity is engaged to induce
      different degrees of sensory cortical remodeling. Neural plasticity for long-term
      memory requires the expression of genes underlying stable changes in neuronal
      function, structure, connectivity, and, ultimately, behavior. Lasting changes in
      transcriptional activity may depend on epigenetic mechanisms; some of the best
      studied in behavioral neuroscience are DNA methylation and histone acetylation
      and deacetylation, which, respectively, promote and repress gene expression. One
      purpose of this review is to propose epigenetic regulation of sensory cortical
      remodeling as a mechanism enabling the transformation of significant information
      from experiences into content-rich memories of those experiences. Recent evidence
      suggests how epigenetic mechanisms regulate highly specific reorganization of
      sensory cortical representations that establish a widespread network for memory.
      Thus, epigenetic mechanisms could initiate events to establish exceptionally
      persistent and robust memories at a systems-wide level by engaging sensory
      cortical plasticity for gating what and how much information becomes encoded. 

PMID- 26881130
TI  - Compensation of Vestibular Function and Plasticity of Vestibular Nucleus after
      Unilateral Cochleostomy.
AB  - Dizziness and vertigo frequently occur after cochlear implantation (CI) surgery,
      particularly during the early stages. It could recover over time but some of the
      patients suffered from delayed or sustained vestibular symptoms after CI. This
      study used rat animal models to investigate the effect of unilateral cochleostomy
      on the vestibular organs over time. Twenty-seven Sprague Dawley rats underwent
      cochleostomy to evaluate the postoperative changes in hearing threshold, gain and
      symmetry of the vestibular ocular response, overall balance function, number of
      hair cells in the crista, and the c-Fos activity in the brainstem vestibular
      nucleus. Loss of vestibular function was observed during the early stages, but
      function recovered partially over time. Histopathological findings demonstrated a
      mild decrease in vestibular hair cells numbers. Increased c-Fos immunoreactivity
      in the vestibular nucleus, observed in the early stages after cochleostomy,
      decreased over time. Cochleostomy is a risk factor for peripheral vestibular
      organ damage that can cause functional impairment in the peripheral vestibular
      organs. Altered vestibular nucleus activity may be associated with vestibular
      compensation and plasticity after unilateral cochleostomy. 

PMID- 26881131
TI  - Potential Role of JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway in the Neurogenic-to-Gliogenic Shift
      in Down Syndrome Brain.
AB  - Trisomy of human chromosome 21 in Down syndrome (DS) leads to several phenotypes,
      such as mild-to-severe intellectual disability, hypotonia, and craniofacial
      dysmorphisms. These are fundamental hallmarks of the disorder that affect the
      quality of life of most individuals with DS. Proper brain development involves
      meticulous regulation of various signaling pathways, and dysregulation may result
      in abnormal neurodevelopment. DS brain is characterized by an increased number of
      astrocytes with reduced number of neurons. In mouse models for DS, the pool of
      neural progenitor cells commits to glia rather than neuronal cell fate in the DS
      brain. However, the mechanism(s) and consequences of this slight neurogenic-to
      gliogenic shift in DS brain are still poorly understood. To date, Janus kinase
      signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling has been
      proposed to be crucial in various developmental pathways, especially in promoting
      astrogliogenesis. Since both human and mouse models of DS brain exhibit less
      neurons and a higher percentage of cells with astrocytic phenotypes,
      understanding the role of JAK-STAT signaling in DS brain development will provide
      novel insight into its role in the pathogenesis of DS brain and may serve as a
      potential target for the development of effective therapy to improve DS
      cognition. 

PMID- 26881132
TI  - Otx2-PNN Interaction to Regulate Cortical Plasticity.
AB  - The ability of the environment to shape cortical function is at its highest
      during critical periods of postnatal development. In the visual cortex, critical
      period onset is triggered by the maturation of parvalbumin inhibitory
      interneurons, which gradually become surrounded by a specialized
      glycosaminoglycan-rich extracellular matrix: the perineuronal nets. Among the
      identified factors regulating cortical plasticity in the visual cortex,
      extracortical homeoprotein Otx2 is transferred specifically into parvalbumin
      interneurons and this transfer regulates both the onset and the closure of the
      critical period of plasticity for binocular vision. Here, we review the
      interaction between the complex sugars of the perineuronal nets and homeoprotein
      Otx2 and how this interaction regulates cortical plasticity during critical
      period and in adulthood. 

PMID- 26881134
TI  - Emerging Roles of BAI Adhesion-GPCRs in Synapse Development and Plasticity.
AB  - Synapses mediate communication between neurons and enable the brain to change in
      response to experience, which is essential for learning and memory. The sites of
      most excitatory synapses in the brain, dendritic spines, undergo rapid remodeling
      that is important for neural circuit formation and synaptic plasticity.
      Abnormalities in synapse and spine formation and plasticity are associated with a
      broad range of brain disorders, including intellectual disabilities, autism
      spectrum disorders (ASD), and schizophrenia. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms
      that regulate these neuronal processes is critical for understanding brain
      function and disease. The brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor (BAI) subfamily
      of adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (adhesion-GPCRs) has recently emerged as
      central regulators of synapse development and plasticity. In this review, we will
      summarize the current knowledge regarding the roles of BAIs at synapses,
      highlighting their regulation, downstream signaling, and physiological functions,
      while noting the roles of other adhesion-GPCRs at synapses. We will also discuss
      the relevance of BAIs in various neurological and psychiatric disorders and
      consider their potential importance as pharmacological targets in the treatment
      of these diseases. 

PMID- 26881135
TI  - Endogenous and Synthetic Cannabinoids as Therapeutics in Retinal Disease.
AB  - The functional significance of cannabinoids in ocular physiology and disease has
      been reported some decades ago. In the early 1970s, subjects who smoked Cannabis
      sativa developed lower intraocular pressure (IOP). This led to the isolation of
      phytocannabinoids from this plant and the study of their therapeutic effects in
      glaucoma. The main treatment of this disease to date involves the administration
      of drugs mediating either the decrease of aqueous humour synthesis or the
      increase of its outflow and thus reduces IOP. However, the reduction of IOP is
      not sufficient to prevent visual field loss. Retinal diseases, such as glaucoma
      and diabetic retinopathy, have been defined as neurodegenerative diseases and
      characterized by ischemia-induced excitotoxicity and loss of retinal neurons.
      Therefore, new therapeutic strategies must be applied in order to target retinal
      cell death, reduction of visual acuity, and blindness. The aim of the present
      review is to address the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of
      cannabinoids in retinal disease. 

PMID- 26881133
TI  - Dendritic Spines in Depression: What We Learned from Animal Models.
AB  - Depression, a severe psychiatric disorder, has been studied for decades, but the
      underlying mechanisms still remain largely unknown. Depression is closely
      associated with alterations in dendritic spine morphology and spine density.
      Therefore, understanding dendritic spines is vital for uncovering the mechanisms
      underlying depression. Several chronic stress models, including chronic restraint
      stress (CRS), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and chronic social defeat
      stress (CSDS), have been used to recapitulate depression-like behaviors in
      rodents and study the underlying mechanisms. In comparison with CRS, CUMS
      overcomes the stress habituation and has been widely used to model depression
      like behaviors. CSDS is one of the most frequently used models for depression,
      but it is limited to the study of male mice. Generally, chronic stress causes
      dendritic atrophy and spine loss in the neurons of the hippocampus and prefrontal
      cortex. Meanwhile, neurons of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens exhibit an
      increase in spine density. These alterations induced by chronic stress are often
      accompanied by depression-like behaviors. However, the underlying mechanisms are
      poorly understood. This review summarizes our current understanding of the
      chronic stress-induced remodeling of dendritic spines in the hippocampus,
      prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens and also
      discusses the putative underlying mechanisms. 

PMID- 26881138
TI  - The Effects of Leptin Replacement on Neural Plasticity.
AB  - Leptin, an adipokine synthesized and secreted mainly by the adipose tissue, has
      multiple effects on the regulation of food intake, energy expenditure, and
      metabolism. Its recently-approved analogue, metreleptin, has been evaluated in
      clinical trials for the treatment of patients with leptin deficiency due to
      mutations in the leptin gene, lipodystrophy syndromes, and hypothalamic
      amenorrhea. In such patients, leptin replacement therapy has led to changes in
      brain structure and function in intra- and extrahypothalamic areas, including the
      hippocampus. Furthermore, in one of those patients, improvements in
      neurocognitive development have been observed. In addition to this evidence
      linking leptin to neural plasticity and function, observational studies
      evaluating leptin-sufficient humans have also demonstrated direct correlation
      between blood leptin levels and brain volume and inverse associations between
      circulating leptin and risk for the development of dementia. This review
      summarizes the evidence in the literature on the role of leptin in neural
      plasticity (in leptin-deficient and in leptin-sufficient individuals) and its
      effects on synaptic activity, glutamate receptor trafficking, neuronal
      morphology, neuronal development and survival, and microglial function. 

PMID- 26881137
TI  - Current Research Therapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently presents one of the biggest healthcare issues
      in the developed countries. There is no effective treatment capable of slowing
      down disease progression. In recent years the main focus of research on novel
      pharmacotherapies was based on the amyloidogenic hypothesis of AD, which posits
      that the beta amyloid (Abeta) peptide is chiefly responsible for cognitive
      impairment and neuronal death. The goal of such treatments is (a) to reduce Abeta
      production through the inhibition of beta and gamma secretase enzymes and (b) to
      promote dissolution of existing cerebral Abeta plaques. However, this approach
      has proven to be only modestly effective. Recent studies suggest an alternative
      strategy centred on the inhibition of the downstream Abeta signalling,
      particularly at the synapse. Abeta oligomers may cause aberrant N-methyl-D
      aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation postsynaptically by forming complexes with
      the cell-surface prion protein (PrPC). PrPC is enriched at the neuronal
      postsynaptic density, where it interacts with Fyn tyrosine kinase. Fyn activation
      occurs when Abeta is bound to PrPC-Fyn complex. Fyn causes tyrosine
      phosphorylation of the NR2B subunit of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5
      (mGluR5). Fyn kinase blockers masitinib and saracatinib have proven to be
      efficacious in treating AD symptoms in experimental mouse models of the disease. 

PMID- 26881139
TI  - mGlu5 Receptors and Relapse to Cocaine-Seeking: The Role of Receptor Trafficking
      in Postrelapse Extinction Learning Deficits.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that MTEP, an allosteric antagonist of mGlu5,
      infused into the nucleus accumbens attenuates relapse after abstinence from
      cocaine self-administration. MTEP infused into the dorsolateral striatum (dlSTR)
      does not alter relapse but has long-lasting effects on subsequent extinction
      learning. Here we tested whether systemic MTEP would prevent relapse after
      abstinence or alter extinction learning. We also investigated the mechanism of
      action by which intra-dlSTR MTEP on test day alters extinction on subsequent
      days. Animals self-administered cocaine for 12 days followed by abstinence for 20
      21 days. MTEP (0.5-5 mg/kg IP) was administered prior to placement into the
      operant chamber for a context-primed relapse test. A separate group of animals
      received intra-dlSTR MTEP prior to the relapse test and were sacrificed day
      later. Systemic administration of MTEP attenuated abstinent-relapse without
      significantly affecting extinction learning. Surface biotinylation analysis of
      protein expression in the dlSTR revealed that, in cocaine animals, intra-dlSTR
      MTEP administration decreased mGlu5 surface expression and prevented changes in
      Arc and GluA1/GluA2 observed in their vehicle counterparts. Thus, blockade of
      mGlu5 receptors may be utilized in future treatment strategies for relapse
      prevention in humans, although the effects of chronic blockade on extinction
      learning should be further evaluated. 

PMID- 26881136
TI  - Are Anxiety Disorders Associated with Accelerated Aging? A Focus on
      Neuroprogression.
AB  - Anxiety disorders (AnxDs) are highly prevalent throughout the lifespan, with
      detrimental effects on daily-life functioning, somatic health, and quality of
      life. An emerging perspective suggested that AnxDs may be associated with
      accelerated aging. In this paper, we explored the association between AnxDs and
      hallmarks of accelerated aging, with a specific focus on neuroprogression. We
      reviewed animal and human findings that suggest an overlap between processes of
      impaired neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, structural, functional, molecular, and
      cellular modifications in AnxDs, and aging. Although this research is at an early
      stage, our review suggests a link between anxiety and accelerated aging across
      multiple processes involved in neuroprogression. Brain structural and functional
      changes that accompany normal aging were more pronounced in subjects with AnxDs
      than in coevals without AnxDs, including reduced grey matter density, white
      matter alterations, impaired functional connectivity of large-scale brain
      networks, and poorer cognitive performance. Similarly, molecular correlates of
      brain aging, including telomere shortening, Abeta accumulation, and immune
      inflammatory and oxidative/nitrosative stress, were overrepresented in anxious
      subjects. No conclusions about causality or directionality between anxiety and
      accelerated aging can be drawn. Potential mechanisms of this association,
      limitations of the current research, and implications for treatments and future
      studies are discussed. 

PMID- 26881142
TI  - An Unusual Case of Biatrial Myxoma in a Young Female.
AB  - Myxoma, a rare type of intracardiac tumor, forms a very small percentage of the
      cardiac cases. Reports of biatrial myxoma are rarer, with cases of single tumor
      reaching both atria being more common. Here, we present an unusual case of two
      independently growing atrial myxoma in a 29-year-old female. We emphasize that
      early recognition of symptoms, confirmation of diagnosis by transesophageal
      echocardiography, and prompt surgical excision remain vital in the management of
      such patients. The patient in the present case was managed successfully with no
      evidences of recurrence at the last follow-up. 

PMID- 26881140
TI  - The Endocannabinoid System as a Therapeutic Target in Glaucoma.
AB  - Glaucoma is an irreversible blinding eye disease which produces progressive
      retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the
      only modifiable risk factor, and lowering IOP results in reduced risk of
      progression of the disorder. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has attracted
      considerable attention as a potential target for the treatment of glaucoma,
      largely due to the observed IOP lowering effects seen after administration of
      exogenous cannabinoids. However, recent evidence has suggested that modulation of
      the ECS may also be neuroprotective. This paper will review the use of
      cannabinoids in glaucoma, presenting pertinent information regarding the
      pathophysiology of glaucoma and how alterations in cannabinoid signalling may
      contribute to glaucoma pathology. Additionally, the mechanisms and potential for
      the use of cannabinoids and other novel agents that target the endocannabinoid
      system in the treatment of glaucoma will be discussed. 

PMID- 26881143
TI  - Left Atrial Myxoma Hypervascularized from the Right Coronary Artery: An
      Interesting Cath Lab Finding.
AB  - Primary cardiac tumors are rare and approximately half of them are atrial
      myxomas. They rarely remain asymptomatic, especially if large. The imaging of a
      myxoma by contrast dye during coronary angiography is an infrequent sign, which
      clarifies the vascular supply of the tumor. We report herein an interesting and
      rare case of a left atrial myxoma hypervascularized from the right coronary
      artery. 

PMID- 26881141
TI  - Synaptic Wnt/GSK3beta Signaling Hub in Autism.
AB  - Hundreds of genes have been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and
      the interaction of weak and de novo variants derive from distinct autistic
      phenotypes thus making up the "spectrum." The convergence of these variants in
      networks of genes associated with synaptic function warrants the study of cell
      signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the synapse. The Wnt/beta
      catenin signaling pathway plays a central role in the development and regulation
      of the central nervous system and several genes belonging to the cascade have
      been genetically associated with ASDs. In the present paper, we review basic
      information regarding the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in
      excitatory/inhibitory balance (E/I balance) through the regulation of pre- and
      postsynaptic compartments. Furthermore, we integrate information supporting the
      role of the glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) in the onset/development of
      ASDs through direct modulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Finally, given
      GSK3beta activity as key modulator of synaptic plasticity, we explore the
      potential of this kinase as a therapeutic target for ASD. 

PMID- 26881144
TI  - A Striking Coronary Artery Pattern in a Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease
      Patient.
AB  - Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a myocardial disorder probably due to
      the arrest of normal embryogenesis of the left ventricle. It could be isolated or
      associated with other extracardiac and cardiac abnormalities, including coronary
      artery anomalies. Despite the continuous improvement of imaging resolution
      quality, this cardiomyopathy still remains frequently misdiagnosed, especially if
      associated with other heart diseases. We report a case of LVNC association with
      both malposition of the great arteries and a very original coronary artery
      pattern. 

PMID- 26881145
TI  - Oral Myiasis Affecting Gingiva in a Child Patient: An Uncommon Case Report.
AB  - Certain dipteran flies larvae causing invasion of the tissues and organs of the
      humans or other vertebrates are called as myiasis, which feed on hosts dead or
      living tissues. It is well documented in the skin and hot climate regions;
      underdeveloped countries are affected more commonly. Oral cavity is affected
      rarely and it can be secondary to serious medical conditions. Poor oral hygiene,
      alcoholism, senility, or suppurating lesions can be associated with the oral
      myiasis. Inflammatory and allergic reactions are the commonest clinical
      manifestations of the disease. In the present case, gingiva of maxillary anterior
      region was affected by larval infection in a 13-year-old mentally retarded
      patient. 

PMID- 26881146
TI  - A Rare Case of Concomitant Maxilla and Mandible Brown Tumours, Papillary Thyroid
      Carcinoma, Parathyroid Adenoma, and Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica.
AB  - Objective. The brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism is a result of a metabolic
      disorder caused by primary hyperparathyroidism. Report. We described a case of a
      37-year-old female patient presenting bimaxillary intraoral lesions and swelling
      in the neck. Incisional biopsy of the oral lesion was performed and
      histopathological examination revealed a central giant cell lesion composed by
      intense haemorrhagic exudate, abundant presence of giant cells, and areas with
      hemosiderin pigment. The patient also presented high levels of serum calcium and
      parathyroid hormone, hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue, bilateral parenchymal
      nephropathy, and densitometry lower than expected, showing an advanced stage of
      osteitis fibrosa cystica. Synchronous parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid
      carcinoma were confirmed by imaging exams and histopathologically. Conclusion.
      The composition of all the clinical, pathological, and imaging findings led to
      the final diagnosis of brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism. The occurrence of
      parathyroid adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and brown tumours of
      hyperparathyroidism in their late stage (osteitis fibrosa cystica) associated
      with oral brown tumours involving the mandible and maxilla is extremely rare. 

PMID- 26881147
TI  - Direct Midline Diastema Closure with Composite Layering Technique: A One-Year
      Follow-Up.
AB  - Objective. Maxillary anterior spacing is a common aesthetic complaint of
      patients. Midline diastema has a multifactorial etiology such as labial frenulum,
      microdontia, mesiodens, peg-shaped lateral incisors, agenesis, cysts, habits such
      as finger sucking, tongue thrusting, or lip sucking, dental malformations,
      genetics, proclinations, dental-skeletal discrepancies, and imperfect coalescence
      of interdental septum. Appropriate technique and material for effective treatment
      are based on time, physical, psychological, and economical limitations. Direct
      composite resins in diastema cases allow dentist and patient complete control of
      these limitations and formation of natural smile. Clinical Considerations. In
      this case report a maxillary midline diastema was closed with direct composite
      resin restorations in one appointment without any preparation. One bottle total
      etch adhesive was used and translucent/opaque composite resin shades were layered
      on mesial surfaces of the teeth that were isolated with rubber dam and Teflon
      bands. Finishing and polishing procedures were achieved by using polishing discs.
      Patient was informed for recalls for every 6 months. Conclusions. At one-year
      recall no sensitivities, discolorations, or fractures were detected on teeth and
      restorations. Direct composite resins seemed to be highly aesthetic and durable
      restorations that can satisfy patients as under the conditions of case presented.

PMID- 26881148
TI  - A 27-Year-Old Severely Immunosuppressed Female with Misleading Clinical Features
      of Disseminated Cutaneous Sporotrichosis.
AB  - Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic granulomatous mycosis caused by fungus of
      the Sporothrix schenckii complex. It is considered to be a rare condition in most
      parts of the world. It mostly causes cutaneous infection but can also cause
      multisystemic disease. Unlike most deep cutaneous mycoses which have a primary
      pulmonary focus, it is usually caused by direct inoculation of the fungus into
      the skin causing a classical linear, lymphocutaneous nodular eruption. However,
      atypical presentations of the condition can occur especially in immunosuppressed
      individuals. We report the case of a severely immunosuppressed female who
      presented with disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis which was initially
      diagnosed and treated as disseminated cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. 

PMID- 26881149
TI  - Pentobarbital Toxicity after Self-Administration of Euthasol Veterinary
      Euthanasia Medication.
AB  - Suicide attempt via sodium pentobarbital is uncommon. A 48-year-old woman with a
      history of depression and prior suicide attempt was found unresponsive by her
      veterinarian spouse near a syringe containing pink solution. Upon EMS' arrival,
      the patient was experiencing apnea, hypoxemia, and miotic pupils; her blood
      glucose level measured 73 mg/dL. She was bradycardic and administered atropine
      with transient improvement in heart rate and transported to an emergency
      department; 2 mg of intravenous naloxone was administered without effect. She was
      endotracheally intubated via rapid sequence intubation. Rapid urine drug
      screening detected both benzodiazepines and barbiturates. The patient was
      transferred to an intensive care unit where she demonstrated a nearly absent
      radial pulse. Emergent fasciotomy to the left forearm and carpal tunnel was
      performed for acute compartment syndrome; "Euthasol" had been self-administered
      into the antecubital fossa. Expanded toxicological analysis via liquid
      chromatography/mass spectroscopy detected caffeine, atropine, 7-aminoclonazepam,
      phenytoin, citalopram, and naproxen. The patient's coma resolved over 48 hours
      and she was successfully extubated without complication. Emergency physicians
      must closely monitor patients exposed to veterinary euthanasia agents who develop
      central nervous system and respiratory depression, hypothermia, bradycardia,
      hypotension, or skin injury. Consultation with a regional poison center and
      medical toxicologist is recommended. 

PMID- 26881150
TI  - Treatment of Ipilimumab Induced Graves' Disease in a Patient with Metastatic
      Melanoma.
AB  - Objective. Thyroid disease has been reported among the endocrinopathies that can
      occur after treatment with ipilimumab. Graves' disease, however, has been rarely
      reported with this medication. Here we report a case of Graves' disease diagnosed
      after initiation of ipilimumab in a patient with melanoma. Methods. We present
      the clinical presentation and management course of this patient followed by a
      related literature review. Results. A 67-year-old male with metastatic melanoma
      was started on ipilimumab. He developed hyperthyroidism after two doses of
      ipilimumab. The cause of hyperthyroidism was determined to be Graves' disease.
      Ipilimumab was held and the patient was started on methimazole with return to
      euthyroid status. Ipilimumab was resumed and the patient continued methimazole
      during the course of ipilimumab therapy, with controlled hyperthyroidism.
      Restaging studies following four cycles of ipilimumab showed complete response in
      the lungs, with residual melanoma in the neck. The patient then underwent total
      thyroidectomy and left neck dissection as a definitive treatment for both
      hyperthyroidism and residual melanoma. Conclusion. Graves' disease can develop
      after starting ipilimumab and methimazole can be an effective treatment. For
      patients whose hyperthyroidism is well-controlled on methimazole, ipilimumab may
      be resumed with close monitoring. 

PMID- 26881151
TI  - Left Colon Diverticulitis Presenting as Perforated Lumbar Abscess: A Case Report
      and Review of the Current Literature.
AB  - Diverticular perforation is a common complication of diverticulitis and can lead
      to the creation of abscesses. The presence of such abscesses on the abdominal
      wall is rare and can lead to misdiagnosis. We present the case of a patient with
      abdominal pain and the formation of a large left lumbar abscess due to
      perforation of a diverticulum of the left colon and our surgical treatment of
      choice with favorable results. 

PMID- 26881152
TI  - Protein Loosing Enteropathy Secondary to Strongyloidiasis: Case Report and Review
      of the Literature.
AB  - Strongyloidiasis is a helminthic disease which affects millions around the world
      resulting in a significant burden in certain high risk groups. It is rarely
      reported in the Lebanese population probably due to the low index of suspicion in
      common practice. We are reporting a case of strongyloidiasis that was found in an
      elderly patient presenting initially with dyspnea followed by skin rash, protein
      loosing enteropathy, diarrhea, and abdominal pain while on corticosteroid
      therapy. The diagnosis was suspected based on clinical presentation in addition
      to peripheral eosinophilia. We will also describe the upper and lower endoscopic
      aspects of the disease, as well as histologic findings on duodenal and colonic
      biopsies. 

PMID- 26881153
TI  - Light Chain Escape in 3 Cases: Evidence of Intraclonal Heterogeneity in Multiple
      Myeloma from a Single Institution in Poland.
AB  - We report three cases of light chain escape (LCE) at a single institution in
      Poland, including an interesting case of biclonal monoclonal gammopathy of
      undetermined significance (MGUS) that satisfied the criteria for progression to
      light chain multiple myeloma (LCMM) with a rapid rise in serum free light chain
      (FLC) levels, following steroidal treatment for simultaneous temporal artery
      inflammation and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). In the three cases discussed,
      progression of the disease by light chain escape was associated with rapid and
      severe renal impairment, highlighting the necessity for prompt detection of such
      free light chain-only producing clones in order to prevent the possible
      development of irreversible end-organ damage. Interestingly, monitoring of these
      three patients by serum free light chain assay (sFLC) and retrospective
      heavy/light chain analysis (HLC) detected this clonal evolution prior to clinical
      relapse and suggests that these assays represent important additional tools for
      more accurate monitoring of multiple myeloma patients. 

PMID- 26881154
TI  - Native Valve Streptococcus bovis Endocarditis and Refractory Transfusion
      Dependent Iron Deficiency Anaemia Associated with Concomitant Carcinoma of the
      Colon: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Streptococcus bovis is found as a commensal organism in human gut and may become
      opportunistically pathogenic. Infective endocarditis is one of the commonest
      modes of presentation of this infection. The association between Streptococcus
      bovis endocarditis and colorectal cancer is well recognized. We report a case of
      Streptococcus bovis endocarditis along with a refractory iron deficiency anaemia
      associated with concomitant carcinoma of ascending colon in a 63-year-old male.
      Cooccurrence of these two conditions may cause a challenge in the management.
      Considering the strong association of colon cancer with Streptococcus bovis
      endocarditis, a detailed screening colonoscopy is mandatory following the
      diagnosis of the latter. 

PMID- 26881155
TI  - Angiographic Evidence of a Purely Pial Bihemispheric Intracranial
      Hemangiopericytoma.
AB  - Background. Classification of hemangiopericytoma (HPC) has evolved to a
      mesenchymal, nonmeningothelial grade two or three neoplasm according to the World
      Health Organization; however its blood supply has always been defined by dual
      origin, pial and dural contribution. Case Description. We present the case of a
      patient with an intracranial HPC with only pial vascular supply. Angiography
      confirmed the lack of dural supply to this bihemispheric intracranial mass.
      Subsequent histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma.
      Angiographic evidence here is atypical of the natural history of
      hemangiopericytomas with dual vascular supply and was critical in the decision
      making towards surgical resection without tumor embolization. Conclusion. Data
      presented suggests the lack of dural vascular supply alone does not rule out the
      diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma. 

PMID- 26881156
TI  - Cognitive Impairments Preceding and Outlasting Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis.
AB  - Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be the initial manifestation of autoimmune
      limbic encephalitis (ALE), a disorder that at times presents a diagnostic
      challenge. In addition to memory impairment, clinical features that might suggest
      this disorder include personality changes, agitation, insomnia, alterations of
      consciousness, and seizures. Once recognized, ALE typically responds to treatment
      with immune therapies, but long-term cognitive deficits may remain. We report two
      cases of patients with MCI who were ultimately diagnosed with ALE with antibodies
      against the voltage gated potassium channel complex. Months after apparent
      resolution of their encephalitides, both underwent neuropsychological testing,
      which demonstrated persistent cognitive deficits, primarily in the domains of
      memory and executive function, for cases 1 and 2, respectively. A brief review of
      the literature is included. 

PMID- 26881157
TI  - Case with a Nonreassuring Fetal Status Induced by Massive Hematemesis due to
      Mallory-Weiss Tear That Required Emergency Cesarean Section at 38 Weeks'
      Gestation.
AB  - We describe a rare case of Mallory-Weiss tear with massive hematemesis at 38
      weeks' gestation. A 35-year-old woman presented with epigastralgia followed by
      massive hematemesis. An emergency endoscopy indicated active pulsatile bleeding
      at the esophagocardial junction. Although an emergency endoscopic hemostasis was
      successful, late decelerations without acceleration on cardiotocogram were
      observed. Therefore, the patient underwent emergency cesarean section, along with
      blood transfusion, following the endoscopic hemostasis. The hemoglobin level just
      before the operation was 5.1 g/dL. We suspected that massive hematemesis induced
      maternal acute anemia and hypovolemia, which resulted in a nonreassuring fetal
      status. Hence, urgent endoscopic hemostasis, adequate blood transfusion, and
      emergency cesarean section were needed. Mallory-Weiss tear during the third
      trimester may have a possibility of massive hematemesis and urgent blood
      transfusion, emergency endoscopic hemostasis, and emergency cesarean section may
      be needed. 

PMID- 26881158
TI  - Rare Case of Methemoglobinemia Complicating Pregnancy.
AB  - A patient at 38 weeks of gestation when taken for emergency cesarean section had
      her oxygen saturation of 66 to 70% (by saturation probe on monitor) in operation
      theatre. She was otherwise asymptomatic but her oxygen saturation was
      persistently low on the monitors. Her arterial blood gas analysis showed all
      parameters to be normal. Her electrocardiography was normal. Her surgery was
      imperative but due to her reduced oxygen saturation she became a high-risk case.
      In presence of senior consultants of anesthesia and gynecology and under high
      risk consent she had an uneventful cesarean delivery. Physician and cardiologist
      opinions were sought thereafter. The outcomes and the results of our efforts to
      find the etiology of her reduced saturation on monitors despite being clinically
      asymptomatic lead to the disclosure of this rare hemoglobinopathy. Mother and
      baby had uneventful course after delivery and were discharged well. 

PMID- 26881159
TI  - Serous Macular Detachment Secondary to Optic Pit: Surgical Treatment and Long
      Time Results.
AB  - 32-year-old Turkish male patient presented with an optic disk pit and serous
      macular detachment in the left eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography
      revealed serous macular detachment and retinoschisis. After vitrectomy the retina
      gradually flattened and vision was gradually improved. We aimed to report a case
      of serous macula detachment secondary to optic pit and long term result of
      surgical treatment. 

PMID- 26881160
TI  - Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction Alone Using a Fibular-Based Technique in a
      Patient with Persistent Unstable Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.
AB  - Posterolateral rotatory instability is a relatively uncommon cause of unstable
      total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In most cases, surgical treatment requires
      revision TKA into a more constrained design or thicker polyethylene liner. We
      present a case of a patient with unstable TKA who remained unstable after
      increasing thickness of the polyethylene liner and undergoing more constrained
      TKA. After several revision surgeries, the patient was still unstable.
      Posterolateral corner reconstruction with a fibular-based technique using a
      tibialis anterior allograft was performed. At 1-year follow-up, the patient was
      stable and asymptomatic and with excellent function. A soft-tissue procedure only
      (fibular-based posterolateral corner reconstruction) can be effective at
      restoring posterolateral rotatory stability in a patient with persistent
      instability after revision TKA. 

PMID- 26881161
TI  - Ossification of the Interosseous Membrane of the Leg in a Football Player: Case
      Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Introduction. We report a case of ossification of the interosseous membrane (OIM)
      of the leg in a football player who had no history of severe local traumas. A
      review of the literature of the OIM of the leg in athletes was also carried out.
      Case Report. A 38-year-old Caucasian male patient complained of pain on lateral
      aspect of the leg when playing football. Pain progressively worsened until he had
      to stop the sporting activity. Radiographs, and then CT and MRI, showed OIM in
      the middle third of the left leg. MRI showed inflammation of tibia periosteum and
      bone adjacent to the ossification, which was then excised. Two months after
      surgery the patient returned to play football. Conclusion. A thorough analysis of
      the literature revealed three types of OIM of the leg in athletes. Type I usually
      occurs after a syndesmosis ankle sprain, Type II appears to result from a tibia
      fracture, and Type III, of which only one fully recorded case has been published,
      is probably caused, as in our patient, by repetitive minor traumas to the leg.
      Awareness of the existence of Type III OIM can avoid erroneous diagnoses leading
      to useless investigations and treatments. 

PMID- 26881162
TI  - Bilateral Neck of Femur Fractures in a Bilateral Below-Knee Amputee: A Unique
      Case.
AB  - According to the National Hip Fracture Database, over 64,000 patients were
      admitted with a hip fracture across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 2013,
      but very few are bilateral, and there are no current cases in the literature of
      bilateral neck of femur fractures in a patient with bilateral below-knee
      amputations. We present a case of a 69-year-old bilateral below-knee amputee male
      admitted to the emergency department with bilateral hip pain and radiological
      evidence of bilateral displaced neck of femur fractures. The patient subsequently
      underwent synchronous bilateral total hip replacements under general anaesthetic
      and an epidural and then went on to make a full recovery. He was discharged 27
      days after arrival in hospital. Outpatient follow-up at 3 months has shown that
      the patient has returned to a similar level of preinjury function and is still
      able to carry out his daily activities with walking aids and bilateral leg
      prostheses. 

PMID- 26881163
TI  - Auditory Cortical Maturation in a Child with Cochlear Implant: Analysis of
      Electrophysiological and Behavioral Measures.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to longitudinally assess the behavioral and
      electrophysiological hearing changes of a girl inserted in a CI program, who had
      bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss and underwent surgery of cochlear
      implantation with electrode activation at 21 months of age. She was evaluated
      using the P1 component of Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potential (LLAEP); speech
      perception tests of the Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure (GASP); Infant
      Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS); and Meaningful Use of
      Speech Scales (MUSS). The study was conducted prior to activation and after
      three, nine, and 18 months of cochlear implant activation. The results of the
      LLAEP were compared with data from a hearing child matched by gender and
      chronological age. The results of the LLAEP of the child with cochlear implant
      showed gradual decrease in latency of the P1 component after auditory stimulation
      (172 ms-134 ms). In the GASP, IT-MAIS, and MUSS, gradual development of listening
      skills and oral language was observed. The values of the LLAEP of the hearing
      child were expected for chronological age (132 ms-128 ms). The use of different
      clinical instruments allow a better understanding of the auditory habilitation
      and rehabilitation process via CI. 

PMID- 26881164
TI  - Septic Lateral Sinus Thrombosis: Sinus Exploration Is Unnecessary.
AB  - The algorithm of treatment of septic lateral sinus thrombosis (SLST) has
      undergone a paradigm shift with the understanding of the natural history of
      sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Thus, the recent medical literature promulgates the
      management of these cases with no sinus exploration. However, in view of marked
      paucity of literature on the cited subject, not much is known about this form of
      treatment. We present our experience of treating two paediatric cases of SLST
      with mastoid surgery and no sinus exploration: both cases had excellent recovery.
      Finally, conclusions are drawn in light of contemporary literature on this
      subject. 

PMID- 26881165
TI  - Unexpected Malignant Diagnosis in Colonic Biopsies: Malignant Transformation of
      Ovarian Mature Teratomas-Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Colorectal adenocarcinoma is the second cause of cancer-related deaths in the
      United States. The occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in the colorectum is
      extremely unusual. Malignant transformation from mature cystic teratoma of the
      ovary is a rare event. The most common transformation is squamous cell carcinoma,
      followed by adenocarcinoma. It occurs more often in elderly patients, who usually
      present with advance disease. We report two unusual cases of postmenopausal women
      diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in colon biopsies. After surgical
      resections, the carcinoma was proven to be the result of malignant transformation
      of ovarian mature cystic teratomas. Since squamous cell carcinoma of the
      colorectum is extremely rare, the presence of squamous cell carcinoma in a
      colonic biopsy in a female patient should alert the clinicians to other possible
      primary sites, as seen in these cases. 

PMID- 26881166
TI  - Metastatic Chordoma: A Diagnostic Challenge on Fine Needle Aspiration.
AB  - Chordomas are primary low grade malignant tumors of bone that usually arise
      within both ends of axial skeleton. The Notochord is a midline, ectoderm-derived
      structure that defines the phylum of chordates. Chordomas may pose difficult
      diagnostic challenges when encountered in secondary locations, such as lungs or
      other parenchymatous organs. We report the cytologic findings of a metastatic
      chordoma sampled through CT-scan guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of lower
      lobe lung nodule in a 54-year-old man diagnosed with recurrent chordoma involving
      the lumber spine and paraspinal region. 

PMID- 26881167
TI  - Metachronous Occurrence of Granular Cell Tumor in Breast Skin and Scalp:
      Diagnostic Challenging Differentiating Benign from Malignant and a Literature
      Review.
AB  - Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a Schwann cell related benign neoplasm of soft
      tissue. GCT is an uncommon entity that occurs in a wide variety of body sites,
      but it is generally presented in the skin, oral cavity, superficial soft tissue,
      and respiratory and digestive tracts. Most of the GCTs are benign but clinically
      and radiologically these may mimic malignancy. Histopathological diagnosis is
      gold standard for establishing the true nature of the lesion. GCT is most
      commonly solitary but in about 10% of cases can be multifocal, usually involving
      various skin and soft tissue sites versus involving various internal sites.
      Therefore, these can involve skin and soft tissue or submucosa and viscera. GCT
      is usually benign; however, local recurrence is common due to incomplete removal.
      Malignant cases are rarely reported in 1-2% of cases. In this study, we report
      clinical and histopathological findings of a 36-year-old woman with metachronous
      GCT in breast and scalp. The clinical features raise the question of whether
      these are metachronous benign GCTs or whether this is establishment of malignant
      behavior. The aim of this report is to present the histopathological and clinical
      features of GCT and the diagnostic challenge of differentiating benign from
      malignant GCT. 

PMID- 26881168
TI  - Trichohepatoenteric Syndrome or Syndromic Diarrhea-Report of Three Members in a
      Family, First Report from Iran.
AB  - Introduction. Intractable diarrhea of infancy (IDI) includes several types of
      early onset diarrhea; one of the rare etiologies is trichohepatoenteric (THE)
      syndrome, also known as syndromic diarrhea (SD) which was primarily described by
      Stankler et al. Hereby we report a family with several affected members which to
      our knowledge is the first case report from Iran. Report of Cases. A three-year
      old boy referred with short stature, poor weight gain, and intermittent steatotic
      diarrhea to our center. He was born to healthy, relative parents (cousins). He
      did not gain any weight after four months of age and began having intermittent
      steatotic diarrhea, abdominal distension, and fever. He was hospitalized several
      times. Two other children in the family also showed somewhat similar symptoms.
      Two sweat tests were negative for cystic fibrosis. Workup for Celiac disease was
      performed several times which was negative; however, gluten-free diet was tried
      several times which was not effective. Workup for Hirschsprung's disease was
      performed but colon was ganglionic. Evidence of liver involvement was approved by
      elevated liver enzymes and coarse echo of liver on sonography. Discussion.
      Trichoenterohepatic syndrome should be put in mind in cases of intractable
      diarrhea presenting in a family with several affected members. Early diagnosis
      would save patients from unnecessary workups. 

PMID- 26881169
TI  - A Case of a 4-Year-Old Boy with a Mesenteric Chylous Cyst Infected with
      Histoplasma capsulatum.
AB  - Mesenteric cysts are uncommon entities and chyle- (lymph-) containing cysts are
      the rarest of this group. This is a case report of a 4-year-old boy with a
      mesenteric chylous cyst who was later found to have Histoplasma capsulatum
      infection. 

PMID- 26881170
TI  - Intrathoracic Kidney after Blunt Abdominal Trauma: A Case Report and Review of
      the Literature.
AB  - Abdominal trauma is responsible for most genitourinary injuries. The incidence of
      renal artery injury and intrathoracic kidney is quite low in patients who present
      with blunt trauma experiencing damage. There are four defined etiologies for
      intrathoracic kidney, which include real intrathoracic ectopic kidney,
      eventration of the diaphragm, congenital diaphragmatic herniation, and traumatic
      diaphragmatic rupture. The traumatic intrathoracic kidney is an extremely rare
      case. We presented intrathoracic kidney case after traumatic posterior
      diaphragmatic rupture. 

PMID- 26881171
TI  - Incidental Finding of a Rare Urachal Pathology: Urachal Mucinous Cystic Tumour of
      Low Malignant Potential.
AB  - Urachal mucinous cystic tumours are rare pathological findings with only 23
      previously reported cases in the literature. We present the case of a 54-year-old
      man with an incidentally found urachal mucinous cystic tumour laparoscopically
      excised. With its known potential to cause pseudomyxoma peritonei, complete
      surgical excision is important. Long-term cystoscopic and radiological
      surveillance is also required. 

PMID- 26881172
TI  - Diagnostic Yield of Echocardiography in Syncope Patients with Normal ECG.
AB  - Aim. This study aimed to assess the role of echocardiography as a diagnostic tool
      in evaluating syncope patients with normal versus abnormal electrocardiogram.
      Methods. We conducted a retrospective study of 468 patients who were admitted
      with syncope in 2011 at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ.
      Hospital records and patient charts, including initial emergency room history and
      physical, were carefully reviewed. Patients were separated into normal versus
      abnormal electrocardiogram groups and then further divided as normal versus
      abnormal echocardiogram groups. Causes of syncope were extrapolated after
      reviewing all test results and records of consultations. Results. Three hundred
      twelve of the total patients (68.6%) had normal ECG. Two-thirds of those patients
      had echocardiograms; 11 patients (5.7%) had abnormal echo results. Of the
      aforementioned patients, three patients had previous documented history of severe
      aortic stenosis on prior echocardiograms. The remaining eight had abnormal but
      nondiagnostic echocardiographic findings. Echocardiography was done in 93 of 147
      patients with abnormal ECG (63.2%). Echo was abnormal in 27 patients (29%), and
      the findings were diagnostic in 6.5% patients. Conclusions. This study
      demonstrates that echocardiogram was not helpful in establishing a diagnosis of
      syncope in patients with normal ECG and normal physical examination. 

PMID- 26881173
TI  - The Current Approach to Diagnosis and Management of Left Ventricular
      Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy: Review of the Literature.
AB  - Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a genetic cardiomyopathy
      characterized by prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intertrabecular
      recesses, or sinusoids, in communication with the left ventricular cavity. The
      low prevalence of patients with this cardiomyopathy presents a unique challenge
      for large, prospective trials to assess its pathogenesis, management, and
      outcomes. In this paper we review the embryology and genetics of LVNC, the
      diagnostic approach, and propose a management approach based on the current
      literature available. 

PMID- 26881174
TI  - EOLA1 Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
      Expression by Association with MT2A in ECV304 Cells.
AB  - Our research group firstly discovered endothelial-overexpressed
      lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1, GenBank number AY074889) as a
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsive gene in ECV304 cells. The previous studies
      have further demonstrated the association of EOLA1 with metallothionein 2A
      (MT2A), while the role of EOLA1 during LPS-induced inflammatory response in
      ECV304 cells is unknown. In this report, we determined the subcellular
      localization of EOLA1 and the regulatory capacity of EOLA1 on vascular cell
      adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in response to LPS in ECV304 cells. Our results show
      that EOLA1 is broadly diffuse in the cells, and EOLA1 expression is dramatically
      induced by LPS. EOLA1 knockdown results in significant enhancement of LPS-induced
      VCAM-1 production. Consistent with this, overexpression of EOLA1 leads to the
      reduction of LPS-induced VCAM-1 production. Furthermore, MT2A knockdown reduces
      LPS-induced VCAM-1 production. Collectively, our results demonstrate a negative
      regulatory role of EOLA1 on LPS-induced VCAM-1 expression involving its
      association with MT2A in ECV304 cells. 

PMID- 26881175
TI  - Nicotine Inhibits Clostridium difficile Toxin A-Induced Colitis but Not Ileitis
      in Rats.
AB  - Nicotine is protective in ulcerative colitis but not Crohn's disease of the small
      intestine, but little is known about the effects of nicotine on Clostridium
      difficile toxin A-induced enteritis. Isolated ileal or colonic segments in
      anesthetized rats were pretreated with nicotine bitartrate or other
      pharmacological agents before intraluminal injection of toxin A. After 3 hours,
      the treated segments were removed and inflammation was assessed. Nicotine
      biphasically inhibited toxin A colitis but not ileitis. Pretreatment with the
      nicotinic receptor antagonist, hexamethonium, blocked the effects of nicotine.
      Pretreating the colonic segments with hexamethonium before toxin A administration
      resulted in more inflammation than seen with toxin A alone, suggesting that a
      tonic nicotinic anti-inflammatory condition exists in the colon. Nicotine also
      inhibited toxin A-induced increased colonic concentrations of the TRPV1
      (transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1) agonist, leukotriene B4
      (LTB4), and release of the proinflammatory neuropeptide, substance P.
      Pretreatment with nicotine did not protect against direct TRPV1-mediated colitis
      caused by intraluminal capsaicin. Nicotinic cholinergic receptors tonically
      protect the colon against inflammation and nicotine inhibits toxin A colitis but
      not toxin A ileitis in rats in part by inhibition of toxin A-induced activation
      of TRPV1 by endogenous TRPV1 agonists such as LTB4. 

PMID- 26881176
TI  - The Effects of Noncompliance to Prolia (Denosumab) on the Changes in Bone Mineral
      Density: A Retrospective Review.
AB  - Although denosumab (Prolia) has been shown to be a safe and efficacious therapy
      for osteoporotic patients in numerous clinical trials, few studies have
      determined its effectiveness in real world clinical practice. A retrospective
      review of patients prescribed Prolia assessing the impact that noncompliance from
      the regular dosing regimen of six months for denosumab has on bone mineral
      density (BMD) was performed. 924 patient records were reviewed between August
      2012 and September 2013 with 436 patients meeting the eligibility criteria.
      Patients were divided into three groups: subsequent injection of denosumab (1)
      less than five months, (2) between five and seven months, and (3) more than seven
      months after their initial subcutaneous injection. A multivariable regression
      analysis was conducted comparing the differences among the three prespecified
      groups in BMD change (g/cm(2)) after one year of denosumab therapy at both the
      lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN). The differences in LS and FN BMD have
      shown that the relationship between the timing of drug administration in these
      three groups and change in BMD over 1 year was not clinically or statistically
      significant (p > 0.05). A follow-up study with a larger sample size and longer
      follow-up duration is required to further characterize this relationship. 

PMID- 26881177
TI  - Significance of TNF-alpha and the Adhesion Molecules: L-Selectin and VCAM-1 in
      Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
AB  - Circulating levels of TNF-alpha and the adhesion molecules L-Selectin and VCAM-1
      as well as their expression in the primary tumors of patients with benign thyroid
      diseases and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have been determined in this
      study. The serum levels of TNF-alpha, L-Selectin, and VCAM-1 were significantly
      higher in patients with both benign thyroid diseases and PTC as compared to the
      healthy individuals. However, the levels of only TNF-alpha and L-Selectin, and
      not VCAM-1, were significantly higher in patients with PTC in comparison to those
      observed in patients with benign thyroid diseases. Further the expression of TNF
      alpha and L-Selectin was also significantly higher in the primary tumors of PTC
      patients, relative to the benign thyroid diseases. The expression of L-Selectin
      and VCAM-1 significantly correlated with aggressive tumor behavior. In PTC
      patients, the circulating TNF-alpha levels significantly positively correlated
      with the levels of L-Selectin, while TNF-alpha immunoreactivity was significantly
      associated with VCAM-1 expression. Serum TNF-alpha was found to be a significant
      prognosticator for OS in PTC patients. Overall the results signify that the
      interaction between TNF-alpha and the adhesion molecules may have a role in
      thyroid carcinogenesis and understanding this complexity may offer potential
      therapeutic targets for better management of thyroid cancer. 

PMID- 26881178
TI  - Foetal Cell Transplantation for Parkinson's Disease: Focus on Graft-Induced
      Dyskinesia.
AB  - Transplantation of dopamine- (DA-) rich foetal ventral mesencephalic cells
      emerged as a promising therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), as it allowed
      significant improvement of motor symptoms in several PD patients in open-label
      studies. However, double-blind clinical trials have been largely disappointing.
      The general agreement in the field is that the lack of standardization of tissue
      collection and preparation, together with the absence of postsurgical
      immunosuppression, played a key role in the failure of these studies. Moreover, a
      further complication that emerged in previous studies is the appearance of the so
      called graft-induced dyskinesia (GID), in a subset of grafted patients, which
      resembles dyskinesia induced by L-DOPA but in the absence of medication.
      Preclinical evidence pointed to the serotonin neurons as possible players in the
      appearance of GID. In agreement, clinical investigations have shown that grafted
      tissue may contain a large number of serotonin neurons, in the order of half of
      the DA cells; moreover, the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone has been
      found to produce significant dampening of GID in grafted patients. In this paper,
      we will review the recent preclinical and clinical studies focusing on cell
      transplantation for PD and on the mechanisms underlying GID. 

PMID- 26881179
TI  - Abnormal Echogenicity of the Substantia Nigra, Raphe Nuclei, and Third-Ventricle
      Width as Markers of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinsonian Disorders: A Cross
      Sectional Study.
AB  - Background. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a high risk of cognitive
      problems. Objective. This study assesses whether abnormal echogenicity of the
      substantia nigra (SN) and raphe nuclei (RN) and the diameter of third ventricle
      are markers of cognitive impairment in patients with PD and other forms of
      parkinsonism. Methods. 126 outpatients with early signs of parkinsonism underwent
      transcranial sonography (TCS). The scales for the outcome of Parkinson's disease
      cognition (SCOPA-COG) were used as cognitive measure. Definite neurological
      diagnosis was established after two-year follow-up. Results. One-third of the
      patients with PD and half of those with APS had signs of cognitive impairment.
      The echogenicity of the SN was not related to cognitive impairment. The diameter
      of the third ventricle was significantly larger in PD patients with cognitive
      impairment compared to those without. In patients with APS we found a
      significantly higher frequency of hypoechogenic RN in patients with cognitive
      problems. Conclusions. Cognitive impairment is already present in a substantial
      proportion of patients with PD and APS at first referral. In patients with APS
      the frequency of hypoechogenic RN points to the direction of other
      pathophysiology with more emphasis on deficits in the serotonergic
      neurotransmitter system. The larger diameter of the third ventricle in PD
      patients with cognitive impairment may reflect Alzheimer like brain atrophy, as
      has been reported in earlier studies. 

PMID- 26881180
TI  - Exposure to Early Life Stress Results in Epigenetic Changes in Neurotrophic
      Factor Gene Expression in a Parkinsonian Rat Model.
AB  - Early life adversity increases the risk of mental disorders later in life.
      Chronic early life stress may alter neurotrophic factor gene expression including
      those for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell derived
      neurotrophic factor (GDNF) that are important in neuronal growth, survival, and
      maintenance. Maternal separation was used in this study to model early life
      stress. Following unilateral injection of a mild dose of 6-hydroxydopamine (6
      OHDA), we measured corticosterone (CORT) in the blood and striatum of stressed
      and nonstressed rats; we also measured DNA methylation and BDNF and GDNF gene
      expression in the striatum using real time PCR. In the presence of stress, we
      found that there was increased corticosterone concentration in both blood and
      striatal tissue. Further to this, we found higher DNA methylation and decreased
      neurotrophic factor gene expression. 6-OHDA lesion increased neurotrophic factor
      gene expression in both stressed and nonstressed rats but this increase was
      higher in the nonstressed rats. Our results suggest that exposure to early
      postnatal stress increases corticosterone concentration which leads to increased
      DNA methylation. This effect results in decreased BDNF and GDNF gene expression
      in the striatum leading to decreased protection against subsequent insults later
      in life. 

PMID- 26881181
TI  - Clinical Pain and Neuropsychological Functioning in Parkinson's Disease: Are They
      Related?
AB  - Introduction. Pain is an important nonmotor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD).
      Brain areas such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex play an important
      role in the processing of pain. Since these brain areas are also involved in
      cognitive functioning, for example, episodic memory and executive functions,
      respectively, we examined whether a relationship exists between cognitive
      functioning and spontaneous pain in PD. Methods. Forty-eight patients with PD and
      57 controls participated. Cognitive functioning was measured by a comprehensive
      battery of neuropsychological tests. Both the sensory-discriminative aspect and
      the motivational-affective aspect of pain were assessed. Multiple linear
      regression analyses were performed to assess a relation between cognition and
      pain. Results. Cognition was related to neither the sensory nor the affective
      aspect of pain in our sample of PD patients. Variance in pain measures was
      primarily explained by symptoms of depression and anxiety. Discussion. The
      difference between the affective and the sensory aspect of pain might be due to
      the neuropathology of PD, which is mainly present in areas processing the
      affective aspect of pain. Pain treatment might improve when mood is taken into
      account. We provide several explanations for the lack of an association between
      pain and cognition. 

PMID- 26881182
TI  - Social Network Analysis of Cattle Movement in Sukhothai Province, Thailand: A
      Study to Improve Control Measurements.
AB  - The aim of this study is to analyse the pattern of cattle movement in Sukhothai
      province, Thailand. A validated questionnaire was applied to 308 respondents
      related to cattle farming using one-step snowball sampling. The results showed
      that most of the nodes are farmers who move their animals in the province. The
      average normalized degree centrality and normalized closeness centrality were low
      (<0.01 and 0.04, resp.). We found that traders are the nodes with a high value of
      centrality. This corresponds with the cutpoint analysis results that traders are
      outstanding. In conclusion, the relevant authorities should focus on the nodes
      such as traders for controlling disease. However, a measure to detect disease in
      the early stages needs to be implemented. 

PMID- 26881184
TI  - Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Faecal Shedding of Cryptosporidium
      Oocysts in Dogs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
AB  - Cryptosporidium is one of the causes of diarrhoeal illness in man and animals
      worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors
      associated with faecal shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts in dogs in FCT Abuja,
      Nigeria. A total of 276 dog faecal samples were examined using Modified Acid Fast
      (MAF) technique and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Fifteen (5.4%) and
      51 (18.5%) out of the 276 dog faecal samples examined were positive for
      Cryptosporidium oocysts and coproantigens, respectively. There was a fair
      agreement (0.371) between the two tests used in this study. The prevalence of
      Cryptosporidium infection was highest in 4 dogs (21.0%) between 3 and 9 months of
      age. Ten diarrhoeic dogs (30.3%) and 31 dogs from rural settlements were more
      infected (22.46%) with Cryptosporidium oocysts. There was statistical association
      between prevalence of Cryptosporidium and confinement of dogs (OR = 0.41; 95% CI
      on OR: 0.21 < OR < 0.80). However, there was no statistical association (P >
      0.05) between prevalence of Cryptosporidium and age, diarrhoeic status of the
      dogs, sex, breed, and location. A total of 62.7% respondents did not have prior
      knowledge about dogs harbouring organisms that can infect humans. The finding of
      this research is of public health significance. 

PMID- 26881183
TI  - Brazilian Spotted Fever with an Approach in Veterinary Medicine and One Health
      Perspective.
AB  - There is increasing interaction between man and pathogens transmitted by
      arthropods, especially by ticks. It is on this background that a holistic
      approach stands out, for the sake of Public Health. Brazilian Spotted Fever is an
      endemic disease at the country's southeast, with Amblyomma sculptum as its major
      contributor, followed by A. aureolatum and potentially Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
      Dogs have been considered sentinels, and in some areas the disease in dogs can
      precede human disease. Considering the importance of this disease for human
      health, the serological evidence in dogs, and the transmission of ticks between
      dogs and their owners, this review aimed to elucidate the importance of the
      epidemiological investigation, the diagnosis in dogs, and the role of
      veterinarians in Public Health to control vector-borne zoonotic diseases. We
      encourage veterinarians to include this rickettsial infection in the diagnosis of
      febrile diseases of common occurrence in dogs. 

PMID- 26881185
TI  - Selective and Sensitive Detection of Cyanide Based on the Displacement Strategy
      Using a Water-Soluble Fluorescent Probe.
AB  - A water-soluble fluorescent probe (C-GGH) was used for the highly sensitive and
      selective detection of cyanide (CN(-)) in aqueous media based on the displacement
      strategy. Due to the presence of the recognition unit GGH (Gly-Gly-His), the
      probe C-GGH can coordinate with Cu(2+) and consequently display ON-OFF type
      fluorescence response. Furthermore, the in situ formed nonfluorescent C-GGH
      Cu(2+) complex can act as an effective OFF-ON type fluorescent probe for sensing
      CN(-) anion. Due to the strong binding affinity of CN(-) to Cu(2+), CN(-) can
      extract Cu(2+) from C-GGH-Cu(2+) complex, leading to the release of C-GGH and the
      recovery of fluorescent emission of the system. The probe C-GGH-Cu(2+) allowed
      detection of CN(-) in aqueous solution with a LOD (limit of detection) of 0.017
      MUmol/L which is much lower than the maximum contaminant level (1.9 MUmol/L) for
      CN(-) in drinking water set by the WHO (World Health Organization). The probe
      also displayed excellent specificity for CN(-) towards other anions, including F(
      ), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), SCN(-), PO4 (3-), N3 (-), NO3 (-), AcO(-), SO4 (2-), and
      CO3 (2-). 

PMID- 26881186
TI  - Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction of Bismuth in Various Samples and
      Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.
AB  - A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method for the determination of
      bismuth in various samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry is described.
      In this method, crystal violet was used as counter positive ion for BiCl4 (-)
      complex ion, chloroform as extraction solvent, and ethanol as disperser solvent.
      The analytical parameters that may affect the extraction efficiency like acidity
      of sample, type and amount of extraction and disperser solvents, amount of
      ligand, and extraction time were studied in detail. The effect of interfering
      ions on the analyte recovery was also investigated. The calibration graph was
      linear in the range of 0.040-1.00 mg L(-1) with detection limit of 4.0 MUg L(-1)
      (n = 13). The precision as relative standard deviation was 3% (n = 11, 0.20 mg L(
      1)) and the enrichment factor was 74. The developed method was applied
      successfully for the determination of bismuth in various water, pharmaceutical,
      and cosmetic samples and the certified reference material (TMDA-64 lake water). 

PMID- 26881187
TI  - Primary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Prostate Gland: A Review of the
      Literature.
AB  - Background. Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the prostate gland
      (PLELCP) is rare with hardly any information on its diagnostic features and
      biological behaviour. Aim. To review the literature. Method. Various Internet
      data bases were searched. Literature Review. PLELCP is extremely rare and there
      are hardly any pictures of the tumour involving the prostate; hence it would
      appear that clinicians would need to use their knowledge of the microscopic and
      immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumour in the nasopharynx and urinary
      bladder as diagnostic aid. PLELCP on microscopy mimics nasopharyngeal LELC. The
      LELC component of the tumour is characterized by indistinct cytoplasmic borders
      and a syncytial growth pattern. The stroma may be densely infiltrated by lymphoid
      cells admixed with some plasma cells and neutrophils and at times prominent
      infiltration of eosinophils. PLELCPs tend to have adenocarcinoma, either as the
      only pattern or with additional ductal components or adenosquamous carcinoma.
      PLELCPs stain positively with PSA, PSAP, AMACR/P504S, EMA, and cytokeratins
      AE1/AE3, 7, 8, and 20. There is no consensus on treatment of PLECP. The reported
      prognosis has been poor. Conclusions. PLELCPs should be entered into a
      multicenter trial to determine the biological behaviour and to find the best
      treatment option that would improve the prognosis. 

PMID- 26881189
TI  - Stroke and sleep-disordered breathing: A relationship under construction.
AB  - The association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular risk
      has been the focus of attention in recent years. Sleep disorders are emerging
      risk factors for cardiovascular disease and have been related to the whole
      spectrum of stroke, including transient ischemic attack, ischemic cerebral
      infarction and intracerebral haemorrhage. It has been shown that lacunar stroke
      or lacunar infarctions affecting the internal capsule or the protuberance are
      associated with a higher frequency of SDB. Acute stroke patients with associated
      SDB have a worse prognosis and a higher mortality as compared to patients with
      first-ever stroke without SDB. Preliminary studies provide evidence of the
      usefulness of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure when SDB is
      present in stroke patients. 

PMID- 26881188
TI  - Visual Working Memory in Human Cortex.
AB  - Visual working memory (VWM) is the ability to maintain visual information in a
      readily available and easily updated state. Converging evidence has revealed that
      VWM capacity is limited by the number of maintained objects, which is about 3 - 4
      for the average human. Recent work suggests that VWM capacity is also limited by
      the resolution required to maintain objects, which is tied to the objects'
      inherent complexity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies using the Contralateral
      Delay Activity (CDA) paradigm have revealed that cortical representations of VWM
      are at a minimum loosely organized like the primary visual system, such that the
      left side of space is represented in the right hemisphere, and vice versa. Recent
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) work shows that the number of
      objects is maintained by representations in the inferior intraparietal sulcus
      (IPS) along dorsal parietal cortex, whereas the resolution of these maintained
      objects is subserved by the superior IPS and the lateral occipital complex (LOC).
      These areas overlap with recently-discovered, retinotopically-organized visual
      field maps (VFMs) spanning the IPS (IPS-0/1/2/3/4/5), and potentially maps in
      lateral occipital cortex, such as LO-1/2, and/or TO-1/2 (hMT+). Other fMRI
      studies have implicated early VFMs in posterior occipital cortex, suggesting that
      visual areas V1-hV4 are recruited to represent information in VWM. Insight into
      whether and how these VFMs subserve VWM may illuminate the nature of VWM. In
      addition, understanding the nature of these maps may allow a greater
      investigation into individual differences among subjects and even between
      hemispheres within subjects.

PMID- 26881192
TI  - Black esophagus syndrome associated with diabetic ketoacidosis.
AB  - Acute esophageal necrosis, also known as "black esophagus syndrome", is a rare
      acute esophageal disease that is often associated with vomiting and upper
      gastrointestinal haemorrhage. At present, little is known regarding the
      pathogenesis of this disease. We present the case of a 50-year-old white male
      patient with diabetic ketoacidosis suffering from acute esophageal necrosis with
      nausea and vomiting but without any clinical signs of upper gastrointestinal
      bleeding. 

PMID- 26881190
TI  - Cytopathologic diagnosis of fine needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules.
AB  - Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients
      with thyroid lesions. Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic
      diagnosis of the thyroid nodules. However cases with indeterminate cytological
      findings still remain a matter of debate. In this review we analyze all
      literature regarding Thyroid Cytopathology Reporting systems trying to identify
      the most suitable methodology to use in clinical practice for the preoperative
      diagnosis of thyroid nodules. A review of the English literature was conducted,
      and data were analyzed and summarized and integrated from the authors'
      perspective. The main purpose of thyroid FNA is to identify patients with higher
      risk for malignancy, and to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions.
      The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is the most widely used
      system for the diagnosis of thyroid FNA specimens. This system also contains
      guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate or suspicious for
      malignancy cases. In conclusion, patients who require repeated FNAs for
      indeterminate diagnoses will be resolved by repeat FNA in a percentage of 72%
      80%. 

PMID- 26881193
TI  - Herpes simplex induced necrotizing tonsillitis in an immunocompromised patient
      with ulcerative colitis.
AB  - We here present the case of a 22-year-old female of Suriname ethnicity with
      ulcerative colitis who received treatment with mercaptopurine and infliximab. She
      presented herself with a severe necrotizing tonsillitis due to herpes simplex
      virus type-1 (HSV-1). Combination therapy consisting of immunomodulators and anti
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is increasingly being used. Anti-TNF therapy
      is associated with an increased risk of developing serious infections, and
      especially patients receiving combination treatment with thiopurines are at an
      increased risk. We here show that HSV infections can cause a severe tonsillitis
      in immunocompromised patients. Early recognition is essential when there is no
      improvement with initial antibiotic therapy within the first 24 to 72 h. HSV
      infections should be in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients
      presenting with a necrotizing tonsillitis and can be confirmed by polymerase
      chain reaction. Early treatment with antiviral agents should be considered
      especially if antibiotic treatment fails in such patients. 

PMID- 26881191
TI  - Safety and efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factors alpha in patients with
      psoriasis and chronic hepatitis C.
AB  - Up to date, in literature, it is still debated the role of anti-tumor necrosis
      factors (TNF)-alpha treatments in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. TNF-alpha
      performs a lot of functions, it is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine and it
      is involved in the host's immunity. Since TNF-alpha is implicated in the
      apoptotic signaling pathway of hepatocytes infected by HCV, anti TNF-alpha
      therapy may increase the risk of viral replication or their reactivation. However
      the treatment of anti TNF-alpha could have a healthful role because TNF-alpha
      appears to be engaged in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, inducing apoptotic
      pathways. We describe the case of a patient with plaque-type psoriasis and
      concomitant chronic HCV, who was treated successfully with anti-TNF agents
      simultaneously to cyclosporine without sign of reactivation of HCV and increase
      of liver enzymes. Our personal experience shows that anti-TNF-alpha agents are
      not only effective but also safe. Furthermore the combination therapy of
      cyclosporine and anti-TNF-alpha appears to be well-tolerated and able to reduce
      the amount of liver enzymes as well as HCV-viral-load. However systematic, large
      scale studies with long follow-ups will be needed to confirm our results, in
      association with close liver function monitoring. 

PMID- 26881194
TI  - Plant Comparative and Functional Genomics.

PMID- 26881195
TI  - Transcriptome Profile of the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) Using Illumina
      HiSeq 4000 Sequencing: De Novo Assembly, Functional Annotation, and Discovery of
      SSR Markers.
AB  - Vespa mandarinia found in the forests of East Asia, including Korea, occupies the
      highest rank in the arthropod food web within its geographical range. It serves
      as a source of nutrition in the form of Vespa amino acid mixture and is listed as
      a threatened species, although no conservation measures have been implemented.
      Here, we performed de novo assembly of the V. mandarinia transcriptome by
      Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing. Over 60 million raw reads and 59,184,811 clean
      reads were obtained. After assembly, a total of 66,837 unigenes were clustered,
      40,887, 44,455, and 22,390 of which showed homologous matches against the PANM,
      Unigene, and KOG databases, respectively. A total of 15,675 unigenes were
      assigned to Gene Ontology terms, and 5,132 unigenes were mapped to 115 KEGG
      pathways. The zinc finger domain (C2H2-like), serine/threonine/dual specificity
      protein kinase domain, and RNA recognition motif domain were among the top
      InterProScan domains predicted for V. mandarinia sequences. Among the unigenes,
      we identified 534,922 cDNA simple sequence repeats as potential markers. This is
      the first transcriptomic analysis of the wasp V. mandarinia using Illumina HiSeq
      4000. The obtained datasets should promote the search for new genes to understand
      the physiological attributes of this wasp. 

PMID- 26881196
TI  - A Validated TLC-Densitometric Method for the Determination of Mesterolone in Bulk
      Material and in Tablets.
AB  - Mesterolone is a synthetic androgenic steroid indicating a weak anabolic
      activity. A new, simple in use, and economical TLC-densitometric method in normal
      phase system (NP-TLC) has been developed and validated for the identification and
      quantitative determination of mesterolone in bulk drug and in tablet formulation.
      NP-TLC analysis was performed on aluminium plates precoated with silica gel
      60F254 as the stationary phase using chloroform-acetone (40 : 10, v/v) as mobile
      phase. Densitometric analysis was carried out at lambda = 745 nm after staining
      with phosphomolybdic acid. These conditions were found to give visible (dark
      blue) spot and sharp peak, respectively, for mesterolone at R F 0.75 +/- 0.02 and
      enabled satisfactory separation of mesterolone from its related substance
      (potential impurity). The proposed NP-TLC-densitometric method was validated for
      specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, and sensitivity
      according to ICH guideline and other validation requirements. The limit of
      detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 61.0 ng . spot(-1) and
      184.0 ng . spot(-1), respectively. The percent content of mesterolone in marketed
      tablet formulation was found to be 99.40% of label claim. The developed TLC
      densitometric method can be successfully used in quality control of mesterolone
      in bulk material and also tablet formulation.

PMID- 26881197
TI  - Spinal Motion Preservation Surgery.

PMID- 26881198
TI  - Effect of Air-Polishing on Titanium Surfaces, Biofilm Removal, and
      Biocompatibility: A Pilot Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aims of this in vitro study were to evaluate morphological changes
      induced by glycine powder air-polishing on titanium surfaces, biofilm removal,
      and biocompatibility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Titanium grade IV discs were
      allocated into two groups: (1) discs without biofilm and (2) discs for
      Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation. Discs in each group were further
      subdivided into (a) no treatment and (b) air-polishing treatment with glycine
      powder. Discs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron
      dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and confocal microscopy. Bacterial biofilms were
      quantified using a crystal violet dye-binding assay. Biocompatibility was
      evaluated by measuring the coverage and viability of L929 fibroblast cells
      cultured on the discs. RESULTS: Air-polishing increased the roughness of treated
      discs (P < 0.05). EDS analysis did not show significant differences in the
      chemical composition of treated and nontreated discs. The amount of residual
      biofilm on treated discs was 8.6-fold lower than untreated controls (P < 0.05).
      Coverage of treated discs by fibroblasts was half that of untreated discs (P <
      0.05) although both groups had the same cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: Air
      polishing removed a significant amount of biofilm from titanium surfaces. The
      "polishing" was accompanied by increased surface roughness, but there were no
      changes in chemical and elemental compositions, nor the biocompatibility.

PMID- 26881199
TI  - Impact of Fibrotic Tissue on Shear Wave Velocity in Thyroid: An Ex Vivo Study
      with Fresh Thyroid Specimens.
AB  - We sought to elucidate the correlation between shear wave velocity (SWV) and
      fibrosis in thyroid by precisely assessing pathological structures inside 5 * 5
      mm(2) regions of interest (ROIs) of resected specimens, under conditions that
      excluded physical artifacts. The materials were unselected thyroid and lymph node
      specimens resected during thyroid surgery. Immediately after surgery, fresh
      unfixed thyroid and metastatic lymph node specimens were suspended in gel
      phantoms, and SWV was measured. Upon pathological examination of each specimen,
      the extent of fibrosis was graded as none, moderate, or severe. A total of 109
      specimens were evaluated: 15 normal thyroid, 16 autoimmune thyroiditis, 40
      malignant nodules, 19 benign thyroid nodules, and 19 metastatic lymph nodes. When
      all specimens were classified according to the degree of fibrosis determined by
      pathological imaging, the mean SWV was 1.49 +/- 0.39 m/s for no fibrosis, 2.13 +/
      0.66 m/s for moderate fibrosis, and 2.68 +/- 0.82 m/s for severe fibrosis. The
      SWVs of samples with moderate and severe fibrosis were significantly higher than
      those of samples without fibrosis. The results of this study demonstrate that
      fibrosis plays an important role in determining stiffness, as measured by SWV in
      thyroid. 

PMID- 26881200
TI  - Assessment of Random Error in Phantom Dosimetry with the Use of Error Simulation
      in Statistical Software.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate if software simulation is practical for quantifying
      random error (RE) in phantom dosimetry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We applied
      software error simulation to an existing dosimetry study. The specifications and
      the measurement values of this study were brought into the software (R version
      3.0.2) together with the algorithm of the calculation of the effective dose (E).
      Four sources of RE were specified: (1) the calibration factor; (2) the background
      radiation correction; (3) the read-out process of the dosimeters; and (4) the
      fluctuation of the X-ray generator. RESULTS: The amount of RE introduced by these
      sources was calculated on the basis of the experimental values and the
      mathematical rules of error propagation. The software repeated the calculations
      of E multiple times (n = 10,000) while attributing the applicable RE to the
      experimental values. A distribution of E emerged as a confidence interval around
      an expected value. CONCLUSIONS: Credible confidence intervals around E in phantom
      dose studies can be calculated by using software modelling of the experiment.
      With credible confidence intervals, the statistical significance of differences
      between protocols can be substantiated or rejected. This modelling software can
      also be used for a power analysis when planning phantom dose experiments.

PMID- 26881201
TI  - Minimally Invasive Techniques to Accelerate the Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A
      Systematic Review of Animal Studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate various noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures for
      the enhancement of orthodontic tooth movement in animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Literature was searched using NCBI (PubMed, PubMed Central, and PubMed Health),
      MedPilot (Medline, Catalogue ZB MED, Catalogue Medicine Health, and Excerpta
      Medica Database (EMBASE)), and Google Scholar from January 2009 till 31 December
      2014. We included original articles related to noninvasive and minimally invasive
      procedures to enhance orthodontic tooth movement in animals. Extraction of data
      and quality assessments were carried out by two observers independently. RESULTS:
      The total number of hits was 9195 out of which just 11 fulfilled the inclusion
      criteria. Nine articles were good and 5 articles were moderate in quality. Low
      level laser therapy (LLLT) was among the most common noninvasive techniques
      whereas flapless corticision using various instruments was among the commonest
      minimally invasive procedures to enhance velocity of tooth movement. CONCLUSIONS:
      LLLT, low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), mechanical vibration, and flapless
      corticision are emerging noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques which need
      further researches to establish protocols to use them clinically with conviction.

PMID- 26881202
TI  - Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Features of Breast Malignancies with Different
      Sizes: Correlation with Prognostic Factors.
AB  - This study was to investigate the correlation between contrast-enhanced
      ultrasonography (CEUS) characteristics with prognostic factors in breast cancers
      with different sizes. A retrospective analysis of CEUS characteristics of 104
      pathologically proven malignant lesions from 104 women was conducted. Lesions
      were divided into two groups according to their size measured by US (Group 1:
      maximum diameter <=20 mm; Group 2: maximum diameter >20 mm). Features including
      enhancement degree, order and pattern, enlargement of the enhancement area, and
      penetrating vessels on CEUS were evaluated. Pathologic prognostic factors,
      including estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and the expression of c-erb
      B2, p53, Ki-67, and VEGF were assessed. Comparison of enhancement pattern
      parameters between Group 1 and Group 2 showed statistically significant
      differences (P < 0.0001). A significant correlation was found between enlargement
      of the enhancement area and ER positivity in Group 1 (P = 0.032). In Group 2 the
      absence of penetrating vessels was significantly associated with VEGF negativity
      (P = 0.022) and ER negativity (P = 0.022). Centripetal enhancement reflected VEGF
      negativity (P = 0.033) in lesions with diameter >20 mm. Thus, breast cancers with
      different sizes show different CEUS features; small breast cancers show
      homogeneous enhancement pattern while cancers with diameter >20 mm show
      homogeneous enhancement pattern. Some CEUS characteristics of differently sized
      breast cancers could be correlated with prognostic factors, which may be useful
      in prognosis assessment. 

PMID- 26881203
TI  - Enhanced and Secretory Expression of Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor
      by Bacillus subtilis SCK6.
AB  - This study describes a simplified approach for enhanced expression and secretion
      of a pharmaceutically important human cytokine, that is, granulocyte colony
      stimulating factor (GCSF), in the culture supernatant of Bacillus subtilis SCK6
      cells. Codon optimized GCSF and pNWPH vector containing SpymwC signal sequence
      were amplified by prolonged overlap extension PCR to generate multimeric plasmid
      DNA, which was used directly to transform B. subtilis SCK6 supercompetent cells.
      Expression of GCSF was monitored in the culture supernatant for 120 hours. The
      highest expression, which corresponded to 17% of the total secretory protein, was
      observed at 72 hours of growth. Following ammonium sulphate precipitation, GCSF
      was purified to near homogeneity by fast protein liquid chromatography on a QFF
      anion exchange column. Circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis showed that the
      secondary structure contents of the purified GCSF are similar to the commercially
      available GCSF. Biological activity, as revealed by the regeneration of
      neutrophils in mice treated with ifosfamine, was also similar to the commercial
      preparation of GCSF. This, to our knowledge, is the first study that reports
      secretory expression of human GCSF in B. subtilis SCK6 with final recovery of up
      to 96 mg/L of the culture supernatant, without involvement of any chemical
      inducer. 

PMID- 26881204
TI  - MyD88 Polymorphisms and Association with Susceptibility to Salmonella Pullorum.
AB  - Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88), a universal adapter
      protein, plays an important role in activating the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF
      kappaB) and regulating the expression of proinflammatory genes like tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), which were highly involved in
      Salmonella Pullorum infection. To detect the relationship between polymorphisms
      of the MyD88 gene and Salmonella Pullorum disease, we screened the coding region
      (CDS) of the MYD88 gene by DNA pool construction and sequencing based on case
      control study. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the sequenced
      fragment (5 exons), 7 known loci and one novel mutation named G4810372T (SNP8),
      were found in the fifth exon. In addition, we found 7 nonsynonymous
      substitutions. The allele frequency of only one SNP, g.4810191C > T (SNP1), was
      significantly different (P < 0.05) between case and control groups. The genotype
      frequencies of SNP1 (g.4810191C > T) and SNP3 (g.4810257G > T) were of
      significant difference between the case and the control groups (P < 0.05).
      Collectively, SNPs of the MyD88 gene were significantly associated with
      susceptibility to Salmonella Pullorum infection, which can be used as a disease
      resistant marker in chicken. These results provided a theoretical basis for
      future research on chicken breeding by marker-assisted selection. 

PMID- 26881205
TI  - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is Associated with the Morphologic and
      Functional Parameters in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is mostly autosomal dominant
      disease of the myocardium, which is characterized by myocardial hypertrophy.
      Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in myocyte function,
      growth, and survival. The aim of study was to analyze the clinical significance
      of VEGF in structural and functional changes in patient with HCM. METHODS: In a
      group of 21 patients with nonobstructive HCM, we assessed serum VEGF and analyzed
      its association with morphological and functional parameters. Compared to healthy
      controls, serum VEGF was increased: 199 (IQR: 120.4-260.8) ng/L versus 20 (IQR:
      14.8-37.7) ng/L, P < 0.001. VEGF levels were associated with left atrium diameter
      (r = 0.51, P = 0.01), left ventricle ejection fraction (r = -0.56, P = 0.01),
      fractional shortening (r = -0.54, P = 0.02), left ventricular mass (r = 0.61, P =
      0.03), LV mass index (r = 0.46, P = 0.04), vena cava inferior diameter (r = 0.65,
      P = 0.01), and peak gradient of tricuspid regurgitation (r = 0.46, P = 0.03).
      CONCLUSIONS: Increased VEGF level is associated with structural and functional
      parameters in patients with HCM and serves as a potential tool for diagnostic
      process of these patients.

PMID- 26881206
TI  - Computational Analysis of the Binding Specificities of PH Domains.
AB  - Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains share low sequence identities but extremely
      conserved structures. They have been found in many proteins for cellular signal
      dependent membrane targeting by binding inositol phosphates to perform different
      physiological functions. In order to understand the sequence-structure
      relationship and binding specificities of PH domains, quantum mechanical (QM)
      calculations and sequence-based combined with structure-based binding analysis
      were employed in our research. In the structural aspect, the binding
      specificities were shown to correlate with the hydropathy characteristics of PH
      domains and electrostatic properties of the bound inositol phosphates. By
      comparing these structure properties with sequence-based profiles of
      physicochemical properties, PH domains can be classified into four functional
      subgroups according to their binding specificities and affinities to inositol
      phosphates. The method not only provides a simple and practical paradigm to
      predict binding specificities for functional genomic research but also gives new
      insight into the understanding of the basis of diseases with respect to PH domain
      structures. 

PMID- 26881207
TI  - Analgesic Effect of Intra-Articular Injection of Temperature-Responsive Hydrogel
      Containing Bupivacaine on Osteoarthritic Pain in Rats.
AB  - The present study examined the analgesic effects of slow-releasing bupivacaine
      from hydrogel on chronic arthritic pain in rats. Osteoarthritis (OA) was induced
      by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) injection into the right knee joint. Hydrogel
      (HG: 20, 30, and 50 MUL) and temperature-sensitive hydrogel containing
      bupivacaine (T-gel: 20, 30, and 50 MUL) were injected intra-articularly 14 days
      after MIA injection. Behavioral tests were conducted. The rats showed a
      significant decrease in weight load and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT). Intra
      articular 0.5% bupivacaine (10 and 20 MUL) significantly reversed MIA-induced
      decreased PWT, with no effect on weight load. In normal rats, hydrogel did not
      produce significant changes in PWT but at 30 and 50 MUL slightly decreased weight
      bearing; T-gel did not cause any changes in both the weight load and PWT. In OA
      rats, T-gel at 20 MUL had a significant analgesic effect for 2 days, even though
      T-gel at 50 MUL further reduced the weight load, demonstrating that intra
      articular T-gel (20 MUL) has long-lasting analgesic effects in OA rats. Thus, T
      gel designed to deliver analgesics into the joint cavity could be an effective
      therapeutic tool in the clinical setting. 

PMID- 26881208
TI  - Treatment of Endometriosis with the GnRHa Deslorelin and Add-Back Estradiol and
      Supplementary Testosterone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This randomized, multicenter, open-label clinical trial was intended
      to generate pilot data on the efficacy and safety of the gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone agonist (GnRHa) deslorelin (D) with low-dose estradiol +/- testosterone
      (E2  +/- T) add-back for endometriosis-related pelvic pain. METHODS: Women with
      pelvic pain and laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were treated with a six
      month course of daily intranasal D with concurrent administration of either
      transdermal E2, intranasal E2, or intranasal E2  + T. Efficacy data included
      evaluation of dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, tenderness, and induration.
      Cognition and quality of life were also assessed. Safety parameters included
      assessment of endometrial hyperplasia, bone mineral density (BMD), and hot
      flashes. RESULTS: Endometriosis symptoms and signs scores decreased in all
      treatment arms from a baseline average of 7.4 to 2.5 after 3 months of treatment
      and 3.4 after 6 months. BMD changes and incidence of hot flashes were minimal,
      and no endometrial hyperplasia was observed. Patient-reported outcomes showed
      significant improvement across multiple domains. CONCLUSIONS: Daily intranasal D
      with low dose E2  +/- T add-back resulted in significant reduction in severity of
      endometriosis symptoms and signs with few safety signals and minimal
      hypoestrogenic symptoms that would be expected with the use of a GnRHa alone.

PMID- 26881209
TI  - Fuzheng Huayu Recipe Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis by Restoring Balance between
      Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition in
      Hepatic Stellate Cells.
AB  - Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) depending on epithelial-to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT) reflects the key event of liver fibrosis.
      Contrastively, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) of HSCs facilitates the
      fibrosis resolution. Here we investigated the effect of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY)
      recipe, a Chinese herbal decoction made of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Semen
      Persicae, Cordyceps sinensis, Pollen Pini, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum, on liver
      fibrosis concerning the balance of EMT and MET in HSCs. In contrast to the
      increased TGF-beta 1/BMP-7 ratio in activated HSCs, FZHY administration induced
      significant upregulation of BMP-7 and downregulation of TGF-beta 1 at both
      transcription and translation levels. Restoration of TGF-beta 1/BMP-7 ratio
      inhibited the expression of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK, resulting in
      the reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to mesenchymal-to
      epithelial transition (MET) as characterized by the abolishment of EMT markers
      (alpha-SMA and desmin) and reoccurrence of MET marker (E-cadherin). In vivo
      treatment of FZHY recipe also demonstrated the statistical reduction of activated
      HSCs with EMT phenotype, which attenuated the carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-)
      induced liver fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. These findings may highlight a
      novel antifibrotic role of FZHY recipe on the basis of rebalancing EMT and MET in
      HSCs. 

PMID- 26881210
TI  - The Effect of Femoral Cutting Guide Design Improvements for Patient-Specific
      Instruments.
AB  - Although the application of patient-specific instruments (PSI) for total knee
      arthroplasty (TKA) increases the cost of the surgical procedure, PSI may reduce
      operative time and improve implant alignment, which could reduce the number of
      revision surgeries. We report our experience with TKA using PSI techniques in 120
      patients from March to December 2014. PSI for TKA were created from data provided
      by computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); which
      imaging technology is more reliable for the PSI technique remains unclear. In the
      first 20 patients, the accuracy of bone resection and PSI stability were compared
      between CT and MRI scans with presurgical results as a reference; MRI produced
      better results. In the second and third groups, each with 50 patients, the
      results of bone resection and stability were compared in MRI scans with respect
      to the quality of scanning due to motion artifacts and experienced know-how in
      PSI design, respectively. The optimized femoral cutting guide design for PSI
      showed the closest outcomes in bone resection and PSI stability with presurgical
      data. It is expected that this design could be a reasonable guideline in PSI. 

PMID- 26881212
TI  - Erratum to "Need for Scientific Rigor in the Evaluation of Minimally Invasive
      Alternative Procedures".

PMID- 26881211
TI  - CTA Characteristics of the Circle of Willis and Intracranial Aneurysm in a
      Chinese Crowd with Family History of Stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The vascular morphology in crowd with family history of
      stroke remains unclear. The present study clarified the characteristics of the
      intracranial vascular CoW and prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in subjects
      with family history of stroke. METHODS: A stratified cluster, random sampling
      method was used for subjects with family history of stroke among rural residents
      in Jixian, Tianjin, China. All the subjects underwent a physical examination,
      head computed tomography (CT) scan, and cephalic and cervical computed tomography
      angiography (CTA) scan. Anatomic variations in the Circle of Willis and
      cerebrovascular disease in this population were analyzed. RESULTS: In the crowd
      with similar living environment, stable genetic background, and family history of
      stroke and without obvious nerve function impairment (1) hypoplasia or absence of
      A1 segment was significantly different in gender (male versus female: 9.8% versus
      18.8%, p = 0.031), especially the right-side A1 (male versus female: 5.9% versus
      16.4%, p = 0.004). (2) Hypoplasia or absence of bilateral posterior communicating
      arteries was more common in men than women (58.2% versus 45.3%, p = 0.032).
      Unilateral fetal posterior cerebral artery was observed more often in women than
      men (17.2% versus 8.5%, p = 0.028). (3) The percentage of subjects with
      incomplete CoW did not increase significantly with age. Compared to healthy
      Chinese people, the crowd had a higher percentage of incomplete CoW (p < 0.001).
      (4) No obvious correlation between risk factors and CoW was found. (5) The
      prevalence of aneurysm was 10.3% in the special crowd. CONCLUSIONS: The certain
      variations of CoW showed significant relation to gender, but not to age in people
      with family history of stroke. The incomplete circle may be a dangerous factor
      that is independent of common risk factors for stroke and tend to lead to
      cerebral ischemia in the crowd with family history of stroke. The prevalence of
      intracranial aneurysm is comparatively high in the present subjects compared to
      other people.

PMID- 26881214
TI  - Advances and Controversies in Perioperative Airway Management.

PMID- 26881213
TI  - Effects of Tetrahydrocurcumin on Tumor Growth and Cellular Signaling in Cervical
      Cancer Xenografts in Nude Mice.
AB  - Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is a stable metabolite of curcumin (CUR) in
      physiological systems. The mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of THC is
      not completely understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of
      THC on tumor growth and cellular signaling in cervical cancer xenografts in nude
      mice. Cervical cancer cells (CaSki) were subcutaneously injected in nude mice to
      establish tumors. One month after the injection, mice were orally administered
      vehicle or 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg of THC daily for 30 consecutive days. Relative
      tumor volume (RTV) was measured every 3-4 days. COX-2, EGFR, p-ERK1&2, p-AKT, and
      Ki-67 expressions were measured by immunohistochemistry whereas cell apoptosis
      was detected by TUNELS method. THC treatments at the doses of 100, 300, and 500
      mg/kg statistically retarded the RTV by 70.40%, 76.41%, and 77.93%, respectively.
      The CaSki + vehicle group also showed significantly increased COX-2, EGFR, p
      ERK1&2, and p-AKT; however they were attenuated by all treatments with THC. Ki-67
      overexpression and a decreasing of cell apoptosis were found in CaSki + vehicle
      group, but these findings were reversed after the THC treatments. 

PMID- 26881215
TI  - Establishment of a Rat Adjuvant Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease Model.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Development of an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial
      lung disease (RA-ILD) and improved knowledge of the pathogenesis of RA-ILD may
      facilitate earlier diagnosis and the development of more effective targeted
      therapies. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were studied in an adjuvant arthritis
      (AA) model induced by the injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Rats
      were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after FCA injection. Lung tissue was
      obtained for histopathological examination and evaluation of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1)
      and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta1) protein expression levels.
      RESULTS: Pulmonary inflammation was evident in lung tissue from day 21 after FCA
      injection. Inflammation and mild fibrosis were observed in lung tissue on day 28
      after FCA injection. Cav-1 protein expression was significantly decreased from
      day 7 through day 28 and TGF-beta1 protein expression was significantly increased
      on day 28 after FCA injection compared to control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We
      established an AA rat model that exhibited the extra-articular complication of RA
      ILD. We identified Cav-1 and TGF-beta1 as protein biomarkers of RA-ILD in this
      model and propose their signaling pathway as a possible target for therapeutic
      intervention.

PMID- 26881216
TI  - Characteristics of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Wild Birds Confiscated in
      Illegal Trade Markets, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AB  - The prevalence of Salmonella spp. was investigated in 109 wild birds poached in
      the illegal wildlife trade in Rio de Janeiro; most of them are passerines from
      Thraupidae family and three from Psittacidae. One strain of Salmonella ser.
      Typhimurium and two strains of Salmonella ser. Panama were isolated from
      passerine species and all of them showed resistance to multiple antimicrobial
      drugs, like ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ceftiofur, tetracycline, gentamicin,
      nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin. PFGE showed 100% similarity
      among the Salmonella ser. Typhimurium strain isolated from a Temminck's seedeater
      (Sporophila falcirostris) and the strains isolated from a human outbreak, in
      southern Brazil. The two Salmonella ser. Panama strains isolated from two
      chestnut-capped blackbirds (Chrysomus ruficapillus) present in the same catch
      showed the same clonal origin and have never been associated with epizooties and
      human outbreaks. Potential for dissemination of resistant Salmonella through
      situations offered by captive management and the isolation of the same strain
      from wild birds and human sources may become a problem for the conservation of
      natural populations and to public health. 

PMID- 26881217
TI  - Modification of the Sweetness and Stability of Sweet-Tasting Protein Monellin by
      Gene Mutation and Protein Engineering.
AB  - Natural sweet protein monellin has a high sweetness and low calorie, suggesting
      its potential in food applications. However, due to its low heat and acid
      resistance, the application of monellin is limited. In this study, we show that
      the thermostability of monellin can be improved with no sweetness decrease by
      means of sequence, structure analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis. We analyzed
      residues located in the alpha-helix as well as an ionizable residue C41. Of the
      mutants investigated, the effects of E23A and C41A mutants were most remarkable.
      The former displayed significantly improved thermal stability, while its
      sweetness was not changed. The mutated protein was stable after 30 min incubation
      at 85 degrees C. The latter showed increased sweetness and slight improvement of
      thermostability. Furthermore, we found that most mutants enhancing the
      thermostability of the protein were distributed at the two ends of alpha-helix.
      Molecular biophysics analysis revealed that the state of buried ionizable
      residues may account for the modulated properties of mutated proteins. Our
      results prove that the properties of sweet protein monellin can be modified by
      means of bioinformatics analysis, gene manipulation, and protein modification,
      highlighting the possibility of designing novel effective sweet proteins based on
      structure-function relationships. 

PMID- 26881218
TI  - Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Medication with Antibiotics in Al Wazarat
      Health Center, Riyadh City, KSA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are responsible for most dramatic improvement in medical
      therapy in history. These medications contributed significantly to the decreasing
      mortality and morbidity when prescribed based on evidence of microbial infection.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors
      of self-prescription with antibiotics in Al Wazarat Health Center, Riyadh City,
      Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study was
      conducted in Al Wazarat Health Center between February 2014 and November 2014.
      Respondents were randomly selected using a multistage clustered random sampling
      technique. Data was entered into SPSS version 21 and analyzed. Descriptive
      statistics and multiple logistic regression models were applied. RESULTS: A total
      of 681 patients have participated in this study with a response rate of 92%. The
      prevalence of self-prescription with antibiotics in Al Wazarat Health Center was
      78.7%. Amoxicillin was the most used self-prescribed antibiotic with prevalence
      of (22.3%). Friend advice on self-prescription of antibiotics use (p = 0.000) and
      pharmacy near to the participants (p = 0.002) were the most common predictors for
      self-prescription with antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The level of self-prescribing
      antibiotics is relatively high among participants. Health education on the
      appropriate use of antibiotics is highly recommended. The proper use of treatment
      guidelines for antibiotic therapy will significantly reduce self-prescription
      with antibiotics.

PMID- 26881221
TI  - Addressing Peritoneal Dialysis: In Vitro PD Models, In Vivo Rodent PD Model,
      Clinical Biobanks, and Underutilization of PD.

PMID- 26881219
TI  - New Therapeutic Concept of NAD Redox Balance for Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity.
AB  - Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various
      tumors. In addition to its antitumor activity, cisplatin affects normal cells and
      may induce adverse effects such as ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and peripheral
      neuropathy. Various mechanisms such as DNA adduct formation, mitochondrial
      dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses are closely associated
      with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity; however, the precise mechanism remains
      unclear. The cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) has emerged as a
      key regulator of cellular energy metabolism and homeostasis. Recent studies have
      demonstrated associations between disturbance in intracellular NAD(+) levels and
      clinical progression of various diseases through the production of reactive
      oxygen species and inflammation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that reduction of
      the intracellular NAD(+)/NADH ratio is critically involved in cisplatin-induced
      kidney damage through inflammation and oxidative stress and that increase of the
      cellular NAD(+)/NADH ratio suppresses cisplatin-induced kidney damage by
      modulation of potential damage mediators such as oxidative stress and
      inflammatory responses. In this review, we describe the role of NAD(+) metabolism
      in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and discuss a potential strategy for the
      prevention or treatment of cisplatin-induced adverse effects with a particular
      focus on NAD(+)-dependent cellular pathways. 

PMID- 26881220
TI  - Cartilage Regeneration in Human with Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells: Current
      Status in Clinical Implications.
AB  - Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common debilitating disorders among the
      elderly population. At present, there is no definite cure for the underlying
      causes of OA. However, adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in the form of
      stromal vascular fraction (SVF) may offer an alternative at this time. ADSCs are
      one type of mesenchymal stem cells that have been utilized and have demonstrated
      an ability to regenerate cartilage. ADSCs have been shown to regenerate cartilage
      in a variety of animal models also. Non-culture-expanded ADSCs, in the form of
      SVF along with platelet rich plasma (PRP), have recently been used in humans to
      treat OA and other cartilage abnormalities. These ADSCs have demonstrated
      effectiveness without any serious side effects. However, due to regulatory
      issues, only ADSCs in the form of SVF are currently allowed for clinical uses in
      humans. Culture-expanded ADSCs, although more convenient, require clinical trials
      for a regulatory approval prior to uses in clinical settings. Here we present a
      systematic review of currently available clinical studies involving ADSCs in the
      form of SVF and in the culture-expanded form, with or without PRP, highlighting
      the clinical effectiveness and safety in treating OA. 

PMID- 26881222
TI  - Encoding and Recognition Processing of Chinese Characters: A Functional Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging Study.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the conceptual memory processes that underlie
      encoding and recognition processing of Chinese characters. Healthy participants
      (n = 14) performed a semantic-relatedness paradigm using categorically related
      logogram pairs from four different categories (fruit, animal, tool, and
      clothing). During intentional encoding, subjects were instructed to make semantic
      judgments and select category-correlated features to bind and memorize logogram
      pairs. During recognition, subjects were asked to recognize the memorized items.
      The MATLAB software and spatial clustering analysis were used for image data
      processing. Compared with baseline, encoding mainly activated BA13, with
      significant effects in BA6/8/9/46/45/47, BA24, BA7/39/40, BA37/20, and BA18/19;
      meanwhile, recognition mainly activated BA6/8/9/10/13/45/46/47, BA31, BA7/40, and
      BA18/19. Compared with recognition, encoding activated BA18/19/37/20/36 with a
      peak activation area in BA18. Compared with encoding, recognition significantly
      activated BA7, BA31/32, and BA10. In conclusion, distributed networks of discrete
      cortical regions with distinct roles are active during semantic processing of
      logograms. The ventral occipitotemporal and inferior frontal regions display
      increased levels of encoding-related activity. The dorsal medial brain regions,
      including the superior frontal gyrus and occipitoparietal regions, are associated
      with recognition-related activity. 

PMID- 26881225
TI  - The Correlation of Age and Postoperative Visual Acuity for Age-Related Cataract.
AB  - PURPOSE: Clinically, what is the best time for age-related cataract (ARC)
      patients to receive surgeries and get the most benefits is important. We explored
      the relationship between age and presenting postoperative visual acuity (POVA) in
      patients from rural China. METHODS: Three Lifeline Express Hospital Eye-Train
      missions of Peking University People's Hospital were chosen. At the first day
      after surgery, 3452 ARC eyes with the presenting POVA >= 6/60 were enrolled. The
      relationship between age and POVA was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: In these
      three missions, there were more female patients than males; the ratio of females
      to males was 1.71. The average age of females was older than males. Overall, the
      percentages of patients with good visual outcomes (>=6/18) were significantly
      decreased with aging. Different regions had variations, but the trends were the
      same. There was weak linear correlation between age and POVA. The correlations of
      females were stronger than males in Yuncheng and Sanmenxia and weaker than males
      in Zhoukou. CONCLUSION: The good visual outcomes of presenting POVA were
      significantly decreased with aging and there were weak linear correlations
      between age and POVA in rural China. The linear correlation might be influenced
      by the difference of gender and region.

PMID- 26881223
TI  - MicroRNAs: Novel Crossroads between Myeloma Cells and the Bone Marrow
      Microenvironment.
AB  - Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of differentiated plasma cells
      that accumulate in the bone marrow, where a complex microenvironment made by
      different cell types supports proliferation, survival, and drug resistance of
      tumor cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene
      expression at posttranscriptional level. Emerging evidence indicates that miRNAs
      are aberrantly expressed or functionally deregulated in MM cells as the result of
      multiple genetic or epigenetic mechanisms and that also the tumor
      microenvironment regulates MM cell functions by miRNAs. Consistently, modulation
      of miRNA levels in MM cells has been demonstrated to impair their functional
      interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment and to produce significant
      antitumor activity even able to overcome the protective bone marrow milieu. This
      review will describe the most recent findings on miRNA function in the context of
      MM bone marrow microenvironment, focusing on the therapeutic potential of miRNA
      based approaches. 

PMID- 26881226
TI  - Intraoral Digital Impressions for Virtual Occlusal Records: Section Quantity and
      Dimensions.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to locate the 3D spatial position mandibular cast
      and determine its occlusal contacts in a novel way by using an intraoral scanner
      as part of the virtual occlusal record procedure. This study also analyzes the
      requirements in quantity and dimensions of the intraoral virtual occlusal record.
      The results showed that the best section combination consists of 2 lateral and
      frontal sections, the width of this section being that of 2 teeth (24 mm * 15
      mm). This study concluded that this procedure was accurate enough to locate the
      mandibular cast on a virtual articulator. However, at least 2 sections of the
      virtual occlusal records were necessary, and the best results were obtained when
      the distance between these sections was maximum. 

PMID- 26881224
TI  - Neurolinguistics: Structure, Function, and Connectivity in the Bilingual Brain.
AB  - Advances in neuroimaging techniques and analytic methods have led to a
      proliferation of studies investigating the impact of bilingualism on the
      cognitive and brain systems in humans. Lately, these findings have attracted much
      interest and debate in the field, leading to a number of recent commentaries and
      reviews. Here, we contribute to the ongoing discussion by compiling and
      interpreting the plethora of findings that relate to the structural, functional,
      and connective changes in the brain that ensue from bilingualism. In doing so, we
      integrate theoretical models and empirical findings from linguistics,
      cognitive/developmental psychology, and neuroscience to examine the following
      issues: (1) whether the language neural network is different for first (dominant)
      versus second (nondominant) language processing; (2) the effects of bilinguals'
      executive functioning on the structure and function of the "universal" language
      neural network; (3) the differential effects of bilingualism on phonological,
      lexical-semantic, and syntactic aspects of language processing on the brain; and
      (4) the effects of age of acquisition and proficiency of the user's second
      language in the bilingual brain, and how these have implications for future
      research in neurolinguistics. 

PMID- 26881227
TI  - Sandwich Immunoassays of Multicomponent Subtrace Pathogenic DNA Based on Magnetic
      Fluorescent Encoded Nanoparticles.
AB  - A novel magnetic fluorescent encoded nanoimmunoassay system for multicomponent
      detection and separation of the subtrace pathogenic DNA (hepatitis B virus
      surface gene, HBV; hepatitis A virus poly the protein gene, HAV) was established
      based on new type of magnetic fluorescent encoded nanoparticles and sandwich
      immunoassay principle. This method combines multifunctional nanoparticles,
      immunoassay technique, fluorescence labeling, and magnetic separation of
      multicomponent technology. It has many advantages such as high sensitivity, low
      detection limit, easy operation, and great potential for development. The results
      of this work show that, based on nanoimmunoassay system, it could quantitatively
      detect the multicomponent trace pathogenic HAV and HBV DNA, as well as detection
      limit up to 0.1 pM and 0.12 pM. Furthermore, with the improvement of the
      performances of magnetic fluorescent encoded nanoparticles, the sensitivity will
      be further improved. In this experiment, a new nanoimmunoassay system based on
      magnetic fluorescent encoded nanoparticles was established, which will provide a
      new way for the immunoassay and separation of multicomponent biomolecules. 

PMID- 26881232
TI  - Application of Innovative Technologies for Improved Food Quality and Safety.

PMID- 26881228
TI  - One-Year Outcome of Geriatric Hip-Fracture Patients following Prolonged ICU
      Treatment.
AB  - PURPOSE: Incidence of geriatric fractures is increasing. Knowledge of outcome
      data for hip-fracture patients undergoing intensive-care unit (ICU) treatment,
      including invasive ventilatory management (IVM) and hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF),
      is sparse. METHODS: Single-center prospective observational study including 402
      geriatric hip-fracture patients. Age, gender, the American Society of
      Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and the Barthel index (BI) were
      documented. Underlying reasons for prolonged ICU stay were registered, as well as
      assessed procedures like IVM and CVVHDF. Outcome parameters were in-hospital, 6
      month, and 1-year mortality and need for nursing care. RESULTS: 15% were treated
      > 3 days and 68% < 3 days in ICU. Both cohorts had similar ASA, BI, and age. In
      hospital, 6-month, and 12-month mortality of ICU > 3d cohort were significantly
      increased (p = 0.001). Most frequent indications were cardiocirculatory pathology
      followed by respiratory failure, renal impairment, and infection. 18% of patients
      needed CVVHDF and 41% IVM. In these cohorts, 6-month mortality ranged > 80% and
      12-month mortality > 90%. 100% needed nursing care after 6 and 12 months.
      Conclusions. ICU treatment > 3 days showed considerable difference in mortality
      and nursing care needed after 6 and 12 months. Particularly, patients requiring
      CVVHDF or IVM had disastrous long-term results. Our study may add one further
      element in complex decision making serving this vulnerable patient cohort.

PMID- 26881230
TI  - Improvement in the Detection of Cystic Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by
      Measurement of Thyroglobulin in Aspirated Fluid.
AB  - Cystic change in metastatic lymph nodes of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a
      diagnostic challenge for fine needle aspiration (FNA) because of the scant
      cellularity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement of
      thyroglobulin in fine needle aspirate (Tg-FNA) for detecting metastatic PTC in
      patients with cystic neck lesions and to validate the optimal cutoff value of Tg
      FNA. A total of 75 FNA specimens of cystic lesions were identified, including 40
      of metastatic PTC. Predetermined threshold levels of 0.04 (minimum detection
      level), 0.9, 10.0, and 77.0 ng/mL (maximum normal serum-Tg level) were used to
      evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Tg-FNA for metastatic PTC detection. The
      areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for diagnosing metastatic
      PTC of Tg-FNA values of 0.04, 0.9, 10.0, and 77.0 ng/mL were 0.5 (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.382-0.618), 0.645 (95% CI, 0.526-0.752), 0.945 (95% CI, 0.866
      0.984), and 0.973 (95% CI, 0.907-0.996), respectively. With a cutoff value of
      77.0 ng/mL, the combination of Tg-FNA and FNA cytology showed superior diagnostic
      power (97.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity) compared to FNA cytology alone
      (80% sensitivity and 100% specificity). We recommend a Tg-FNA cutoff of 77.0
      ng/mL, the maximum normal serum-Tg level, for cystic neck lesions. 

PMID- 26881229
TI  - Polymorphisms in DNA Repair Gene XRCC3 and Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in
      Saudi Females.
AB  - We investigated three common polymorphisms (SNPs) in the XRCC3 gene (rs861539,
      rs1799794, and rs1799796) in 143 Saudi females suffering from breast cancer
      (median age = 51.4 years) and 145 age matched normal healthy controls. DNA was
      extracted from whole blood and genotyping was conducted using PCR-RFLP. rs1799794
      showed significant association, where AA and AA+AG occurred at a significantly
      higher frequency in the cancer patients compared to the control group (OR: 28.1;
      95% CI: 3.76-21.12; chi (2): 22.82; p < 0.0001). The G allele was protective and
      presented with a dominant model. The genotype and allele frequencies of rs861539
      C>T and rs1799796 A>G did not show a significant difference when the results in
      the patients and controls were compared. However, the frequency of rs1799796
      differed significantly in patients with different age of diagnosis, tumor grade,
      and ER and HER2 status. The wild type A allele occurred at a higher frequency in
      the ER- and HER2- group. Our results among Saudis suggest that some variations in
      XRCC3 may contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. In conclusion, the results
      obtained during this study suggest that rs1799794 in XRCC3 shows strong
      association with breast cancer development in Saudi females. 

PMID- 26881231
TI  - Disease Combinations Associated with Physical Activity Identified: The SMILE
      Cohort Study.
AB  - In the search of predictors of inadequate physical activity, an investigation was
      conducted into the association between multimorbidity and physical activity (PA).
      So far the sum of diseases used as a measure of multimorbidity reveals an inverse
      association. How specific combinations of chronic diseases are associated with PA
      remains unclear. The objective of this study is to identify clusters of
      multimorbidity that are associated with PA. Cross-sectional data of 3,386
      patients from the 2003 wave of the Dutch cohort study SMILE were used. Ward's
      agglomerative hierarchical clustering was executed to establish multimorbidity
      clusters. Chi-square statistics were used to assess the association between
      clusters of chronic diseases and PA, measured in compliance with the Dutch PA
      guideline. The highest rate of PA guideline compliance was found in patients the
      majority of whom suffer from liver disease, back problems, rheumatoid arthritis,
      osteoarthritis, and inflammatory joint disease (62.4%). The lowest rate of PA
      guideline compliance was reported in patients with heart disease, respiratory
      disease, and diabetes mellitus (55.8%). Within the group of people with
      multimorbidity, those suffering from heart disease, respiratory disease, and/or
      diabetes mellitus may constitute a priority population as PA has proven to be
      effective in the prevention and cure of all three disorders. 

PMID- 26881233
TI  - South Vietnamese Rural Mothers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Child Health
      Care.
AB  - A study of 600 rural under-five mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP)
      in child care was performed in 4 southern provinces of Vietnam. The mothers were
      randomly selected and interviewed about sociodemographic factors, health seeking
      behaviour, and practice of home care of children and neonates. 93.2% of the
      mothers were literate and well-educated, which has been shown to be important for
      child health care. 98.5% were married suggesting a stable family, which is also
      of importance for child health. Only 17.3% had more than 2 children in their
      family. The mother was the main caretaker in 77.7% of the families. Only 1% would
      use quacks as their first health contact, but 25.2% would use a private clinic,
      which therefore eases the burden on the government system. Nearly 69% had given
      birth in a hospital, 27% in a commune health station, and only 2.7% at home
      without qualified assistance. 89% were giving exclusive breast feeding at 6
      months, much more frequent than in the cities. The majority of the mothers could
      follow IMCI guideline for home care, although 25.2% did not deal correctly with
      cough and 38.7% did not deal correctly with diarrhoea. Standard information about
      Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) based home care is still
      needed. 

PMID- 26881235
TI  - Outcomes of Various Interventions for First-Time Perianal Abscesses in Children.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In children treated surgically for first-time perianal abscesses,
      discovery and excision of concomitant fistulas may also be warranted. AIM: To
      evaluate children of varying age after incision and drainage of first-time
      perianal abscesses, examining recurrences rates with and without search for a
      fistula. METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted, analyzing children (ages 0
      15 years) treated for first-time perianal abscesses at a tertiary pediatric
      surgical center, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 104
      patients subjected to 112 treatments for first-time perianal abscesses were
      eligible. Surgical procedures constituted 84 (75%) of treatments, searching for
      fistulas in 49 (58%). In 34 (69%), fistulas were confirmed and treated. In the
      surgically treated subset, the recurrence rate was higher if no attempt was made
      to exclude a fistula (46%), as opposed to confirmed absence of a fistula (27%) or
      concurrent fistulotomy (9%; p = 0.02). Younger patients showed a higher
      recurrence rate (12/26; 46%), compared with older counterparts (11/58; 19%) (p =
      0.002). CONCLUSION: In children surgically treated for first-time perianal
      abscess, recurrence rates appear to be lowered by locating and treating
      coexisting fistulas.

PMID- 26881237
TI  - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism (rs2010963) and Its
      Receptor, Kinase Insert Domain-Containing Receptor Gene Polymorphism (rs2071559),
      and Markers of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - Background. The current study was designed to reveal possible associations
      between the polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene
      (rs2010963) and its receptor, kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) gene
      polymorphism (rs2071559), and markers of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with
      type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods. 595 T2DM subjects and 200
      control subjects were enrolled. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and
      plaque characteristics (presence and structure) were assessed
      ultrasonographically. Biochemical analyses were performed using standard
      biochemical methods. Genotyping of VEGF/KDR polymorphisms (rs2010963, rs2071559)
      was performed using KASPar assays. Results. Genotype distributions and allele
      frequencies of the VEGF/KDR polymorphisms (rs2010963, rs2071559) were not
      statistically significantly different between diabetic patients and controls. In
      our study, we demonstrated an association between the rs2071559 of KDR and either
      CIMT or the sum of plaque thickness in subjects with T2DM. We did not, however,
      demonstrate any association between the tested polymorphism of VEGF (rs2010963)
      and either CIMT, the sum of plaque thickness, the number of involved segments,
      hsCRP, the presence of carotid plaques, or the presence of unstable carotid
      plaques. Conclusions. In the present study, we demonstrated minor effect of the
      rs2071559 of KDR on markers of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with T2DM. 

PMID- 26881236
TI  - Incretin-Based Therapy for Prevention of Diabetic Vascular Complications.
AB  - Diabetic vascular complications are the most common cause of mortality and
      morbidity worldwide, with numbers of affected individuals steadily increasing.
      Diabetic vascular complications can be divided into two categories: macrovascular
      andmicrovascular complications. Macrovascular complications include coronary
      artery diseaseand cerebrovascular disease, while microvascular complications
      include retinopathy and chronic kidney disease. These complications result from
      metabolic abnormalities, including hyperglycemia, elevated levels of free fatty
      acids, and insulin resistance. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to mediate
      the adverse effects of these metabolic disorders on vascular tissues, including
      stimulation of protein kinase C signaling and activation of the polyol pathway by
      oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, the loss of tissue-specific
      insulin signaling induced by hyperglycemia and toxic metabolites can induce
      cellular dysfunction and both macro- and microvascular complications
      characteristic of diabetes. Despite these insights, few therapeutic methods are
      available for the management of diabetic complications. Recently, incretin-based
      therapeutic agents, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and dipeptidyl peptidase-4
      inhibitors, have been reported to elicit vasotropic actions, suggesting a
      potential for effecting an actual reduction in diabetic vascular complications.
      The present review will summarize the relationship between multiple adverse
      biological mechanisms in diabetes and putative incretin-based therapeutic
      interventions intended to prevent diabetic vascular complications. 

PMID- 26881234
TI  - The Impact of Sperm Metabolism during In Vitro Storage: The Stallion as a Model.
AB  - In vitro sperm storage is a necessary part of many artificial insemination or in
      vitro fertilization regimes for many species, including the human and the horse.
      In many situations spermatozoa are chilled to temperatures between 4 and 10
      degrees C for the purpose of restricting the metabolic rate during storage, in
      turn, reducing the depletion of ATP and the production of detrimental by-products
      such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Another result of lowering the temperature
      is that spermatozoa may be "cold shocked" due to lipid membrane phase separation,
      resulting in reduced fertility. To overcome this, a method of sperm storage must
      be developed that will preclude the need to chill spermatozoa. If a thermally
      induced restriction-of-metabolic-rate strategy is not employed, ATP production
      must be supported while ameliorating the deleterious effects of ROS. To achieve
      this end, an understanding of the nature of energy production by the spermatozoa
      of the species of interest is essential. Human spermatozoa depend predominantly
      on glycolytic ATP production, producing significantly less ROS than oxidative
      phosphorylation, with the more efficient pathway predominantly employed by
      stallion spermatozoa. This review provides an overview of the implications of
      sperm metabolism for in vitro sperm storage, with a focus on ambient temperature
      storage in the stallion. 

PMID- 26881238
TI  - Free Fatty Acids Activate Renin-Angiotensin System in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes through
      Nuclear Factor-kappa B Pathway.
AB  - The activity of a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the adipose tissue is
      closely associated with obesity-related diseases. However, the mechanism of RAS
      activation in adipose tissue is still unknown. In the current study, we found
      that palmitic acid (PA), one kind of free fatty acid, induced the activity of RAS
      in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the presence of fetuin A (Fet A), PA upregulated the
      expression of angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) and
      stimulated the secretion of angiotensin II (ANG II) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
      Moreover, the activation of RAS in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was blocked when we blocked
      Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway using TAK242 or NF-kappaB signaling
      pathway using BAY117082. Together, our results have identified critical molecular
      mechanisms linking PA/TLR4/NF-kappaB signaling pathway to the activity of the
      local renin-angiotensin system in adipose tissue. 

PMID- 26881240
TI  - New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for Preventing the Progression of
      Diabetic Retinopathy.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe sight-threatening complication of diabetes
      mellitus. Retinal laser photocoagulation, antivascular endothelial growth
      factors, steroid therapy, and pars plana vitrectomy are now used extensively to
      treat advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy. Currently, diagnostic devices like
      ultrawide field fundus fluorescein angiography and the improvement of optical
      coherence tomography have provided quicker and more precise diagnosis of early
      diabetic retinopathy. Thus, treatment protocols have been modified accordingly.
      Various types of lasers, including the subthreshold micropulse laser and RPE
      targeting laser, and selective targeted photocoagulation may be future
      alternatives to conventional retinal photocoagulation, with fewer complications.
      The new developed intravitreal medications and implants have provided more
      therapeutic options, with promising results. 

PMID- 26881242
TI  - Community-Based Diabetes Screening and Risk Assessment in Rural West Virginia.
AB  - This project utilized a cross-sectional study design to assess diabetes risk
      among 540 individuals from 12 counties using trained extension agents and
      community organizations in West Virginia. Individuals were screened for diabetes
      using (1) the validated 7-item diabetes risk assessment survey and (2) hemoglobin
      A1c tests. Demographic and lifestyle behaviors were also collected. The average
      age, body mass index, and A1c were 51.2 +/- 16.4, 31.1 +/- 7.5, and 5.8 +/- 0.74,
      respectively. The majority were females, Non-Hispanic Whites with no prior
      diagnosis of diabetes. Screenings showed that 61.8% of participants were at high
      risk for diabetes. Family history of diabetes (siblings or parents), overweight
      or obese status, sedentary lifestyle, and older age were commonly prevalent risk
      factors. Higher risk scores computed from the 7-item questions correlated
      positively with higher A1c (r = 0.221, P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic
      regression analyses, higher diabetes risk was predicted by obesity, older age,
      family history of hypertension, and gestational diabetes. Females were 4 times at
      higher risk than males. The findings indicated that community-based screenings
      were an effective way to assess diabetes risk in rural West Virginia. Linking
      diabetes screenings with referrals to lifestyle programs for high risk
      individuals can help reduce the burden of diabetes in the state. 

PMID- 26881241
TI  - Tyrosine Is Associated with Insulin Resistance in Longitudinal Metabolomic
      Profiling of Obese Children.
AB  - In obese children, hyperinsulinaemia induces adverse metabolic consequences
      related to the risk of cardiovascular and other disorders. Branched-chain amino
      acids (BCAA) and acylcarnitines (Carn), involved in amino acid (AA) degradation,
      were linked to obesity-associated insulin resistance, but these associations yet
      have not been studied longitudinally in obese children. We studied 80 obese
      children before and after a one-year lifestyle intervention programme inducing
      substantial weight loss >0.5 BMI standard deviation scores in 40 children and no
      weight loss in another 40 children. At baseline and after the 1-year
      intervention, we assessed insulin resistance (HOMA index), fasting glucose,
      HbA1c, 2 h glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test, AA, and Carn. BMI adjusted
      metabolite levels were associated with clinical markers at baseline and after
      intervention, and changes with the intervention period were evaluated. Only
      tyrosine was significantly associated with HOMA (p < 0.05) at baseline and end
      and with change during the intervention (p < 0.05). In contrast, ratios depicting
      BCAA metabolism were negatively associated with HOMA at baseline (p < 0.05), but
      not in the longitudinal profiling. Stratified analysis revealed that the children
      with substantial weight loss drove this association. We conclude that tyrosine
      alterations in association with insulin resistance precede alteration in BCAA
      metabolism. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier
      NCT00435734.

PMID- 26881243
TI  - The Motivating Function of Healthcare Professional in eHealth and mHealth
      Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Patients and the Mediating Role of Patient
      Engagement.
AB  - eHealth and mHealth interventions for type 2 diabetes are emerging as useful
      strategies to accomplish the goal of a high functioning integrated care system.
      However, mHealth and eHealth interventions in order to be successful need the
      clear endorsement from the healthcare professionals. This cross-sectional study
      included a sample of 93 Italian-speaking type 2 diabetes patients and
      demonstrated the role of the perceived ability of healthcare professionals to
      motivate patients' initiative in improving the level of their engagement and
      activation in type 2 diabetes self-management. The level of type 2 diabetes
      patients' activation resulted also in being a direct precursor of their attitude
      to the use of mHealth and eHealth. Furthermore, patient engagement has been
      demonstrated to be a mediator of the relationship between the perceived ability
      of healthcare professionals in motivating type 2 diabetes patients and patients'
      activation. Finally, type 2 diabetes patients adherence did not result in being a
      direct consequence of the frequency of mHealth and eHealth use. Patient adherence
      appeared to be directly influenced by the level of perceived healthcare
      professionals ability of motivating patients' autonomy. These results offer
      important insights into the psychosocial and organizational elements that impact
      on type 2 diabetes patients' activation in self-management and on their
      willingness to use mHealth and eHealth devices. 

PMID- 26881239
TI  - Vitamin B6 Prevents Endothelial Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, and Hepatic
      Lipid Accumulation in Apoe (-/-) Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet.
AB  - Backgrounds. VitB6 deficiency has been associated with a number of adverse health
      effects. However, the effects of VitB6 in metabolic syndrome are poorly
      understood. Methods. VitB6 (50 mg/kg/day) was given to Apoe (-/-) mice with
      hkdigh-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance,
      and hepatic lipid contents were determined. Results. VitB6 administration
      remarkably increased acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and
      decreased random blood glucose level in Apoe (-/-) mice fed with HFD. In
      addition, VitB6 improved the tolerance of glucose and insulin, normalized the
      histopathology of liver, and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation but did not
      affect the liver functions. Clinical and biochemical analysis indicated that the
      levels of VitB6 were decreased in patients with fatty liver. Conclusions. Vitamin
      B6 prevents endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipid
      accumulation in Apoe (-/-) mice fed with HFD. Supplementation of VitB6 should be
      considered to prevent metabolic syndrome. 

PMID- 26881244
TI  - Conserved Metabolic Changes in Nondiabetic and Type 2 Diabetic Bariatric Surgery
      Patients: Global Metabolomic Pilot Study.
AB  - The goal of this study was to provide insight into the mechanism by which
      bariatric surgical procedures led to weight loss and improvement or resolution of
      diabetes. Global biochemical profiling was used to evaluate changes occurring in
      nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients experiencing either less extreme
      sleeve gastrectomy or a full gastric bypass. We were able to identify changes in
      metabolism that were affected by standard preoperation liquid weight loss diet as
      well as by bariatric surgery itself. Preoperation weight-loss diet was associated
      with a strong lipid metabolism signature largely related to the consumption of
      adipose reserves for energy production. Glucose usage shift away from glycolytic
      pyruvate production toward pentose phosphate pathway, via glucose-6-phosphate,
      appeared to be shared across all patients regardless of T2D status or bariatric
      surgery procedure. Our results suggested that bariatric surgery might promote
      antioxidant defense and insulin sensitivity through both increased heme synthesis
      and HO activity or expression. Changes in histidine and its metabolites following
      surgery might be an indication of altered gut microbiome ecology or liver
      function. This initial study provided broad understanding of how metabolism
      changed globally in morbidly obese nondiabetic and T2D patients following weight
      loss surgery. 

PMID- 26881245
TI  - Diabetes Mellitus in Outpatients in Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, Ethiopia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by
      hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or
      both. Most people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries and
      these will experience the greatest increase in cases of diabetes over the next 22
      years. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of diabetes
      mellitus among outpatients of Debre Berhan Referral Hospital. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2015 among
      385 patients. Random quota sampling technique was used to get individual patients
      and risk factors assessment. Patients diabetes status was ascertained by World
      Health Organization Diabetes Mellitus Diagnostic Criteria. The collected data
      were entered, cleaned, and analyzed and Chi-square test was applied to test any
      association between dependent and independent variable. Result. Out of the total
      385 study patients, 368 have participated in the study yielding a response rate
      of 95.3%. Concerning clinical presentation of diabetes mellitus, 13.3% of
      patients reported thirst, 14.4% of patients declared polyurea, and 14.9% of
      patients ascertained unexplained weight loss. The statistically significant
      associated factors of diabetes mellitus were hypertensive history, obesity, the
      number of parities, and smoking history. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetes
      mellitus among outpatients in Debre Berhan Referral Hospital was 0.34% and
      several clinical and behavioral factors contribute to the occurrence of diabetes
      mellitus which impose initiation of preventive, promotive, and curative
      strategies.

PMID- 26881246
TI  - Diabetic Retinopathy: Animal Models, Therapies, and Perspectives.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications of diabetes. Although
      great efforts have been made to uncover the mechanisms underlying the pathology
      of DR, the exact causes of DR remain largely unknown. Because of multifactor
      involvement in DR etiology, currently no effective therapeutic treatments for DR
      are available. In this paper, we review the pathology of DR, commonly used animal
      models, and novel therapeutic approaches. Perspectives and future directions for
      DR treatment are discussed. 

PMID- 26881247
TI  - Metabolic Health Has Greater Impact on Diabetes than Simple Overweight/Obesity in
      Mexican Americans.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the risk for diabetes in each of 4 categories of metabolic
      health and BMI. METHODS: Participants were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic
      Cohort, a randomly selected Mexican American cohort in Texas on the US-Mexico
      border. Subjects were divided into 4 phenotypes according to metabolic health and
      BMI: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight/obese,
      metabolically unhealthy normal weight, and metabolically unhealthy
      overweight/obese. Metabolic health was defined as having less than 2 metabolic
      abnormalities. Overweight/obese status was assessed by BMI higher than 25
      kg/m(2). Diabetes was defined by the 2010 ADA definition or by being on a
      diabetic medication. RESULTS: The odds ratio for diabetes risk was 2.25 in the
      metabolically healthy overweight/obese phenotype (95% CI 1.34, 3.79), 3.78 (1.57,
      9.09) in the metabolically unhealthy normal weight phenotype, and 5.39 (3.16,
      9.20) in metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese phenotype after adjusting for
      confounding factors compared with the metabolically healthy normal weight
      phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic health had a greater effect on the increased
      risk for diabetes than overweight/obesity. Greater focus on metabolic health
      might be a more effective target for prevention and control of diabetes than
      emphasis on weight loss alone.

PMID- 26881248
TI  - Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Family: Verbenaceae) Extract Upregulates the beta-Cell
      Regeneration in STZ Induced Diabetic Rats.
AB  - Gmelina arborea Roxb. (common name: Et-demata, Family: Verbenaceae) has been used
      traditionally in Sri Lanka as a remedy against diabetes mellitus. The objective
      of the present study was to evaluate antidiabetic mechanisms of the aqueous bark
      extract of G. arborea in streptozotocin induced (STZ) diabetic male Wistar rats.
      Aqueous bark extract of G. arborea (1.00 g/kg) and glibenclamide as the standard
      drug (0.50 mg/kg) were administered orally using a gavage to STZ diabetic rats
      (65 mg/kg, ip) for 30 days. The antidiabetic mechanisms of aqueous extract of G.
      arborea (1.00 g/kg) were determined at the end of the experiment. The fasting
      blood glucose concentration was significantly lowered and the serum insulin and C
      peptide concentrations were increased by 57% and 39% in plant extract treated
      rats on day 30, respectively (p < 0.05). The histopathology and
      immunohistochemistry results of the plant extract treated group showed a
      regenerative effect on beta-cells of the pancreas in diabetic rats. In addition,
      serum lipid parameters were improved in G. arborea extract treated diabetic rats.
      The results revealed that the aqueous stem bark extract of G. arborea (1.00 g/kg)
      showed beneficial effects against diabetes mellitus through upregulating the beta
      cell regeneration and biosynthesis of insulin in diabetic rats.

PMID- 26881250
TI  - Diabetic Nephropathy: Proteinuria, Inflammation, and Fibrosis.

PMID- 26881249
TI  - Transgenerational Glucose Intolerance of Tumor Necrosis Factor with Epigenetic
      Alteration in Rat Perirenal Adipose Tissue Induced by Intrauterine Hyperglycemia.
AB  - Changes in DNA methylation may play a role in the genetic mechanism underlying
      glucose intolerance in the offspring of mothers with diabetes. Here, we
      established a rat model of moderate intrauterine hyperglycemia induced by
      streptozotocin to detect glucose and lipid metabolism of first-generation (F1)
      and second-generation (F2) offspring. Moderate intrauterine hyperglycemia induced
      high body weight in F1 and F2 offspring of diabetic mothers. F1 offspring had
      impaired glucose tolerance and abnormal insulin level. Additionally, F1 and F2
      offspring that were exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia had impaired insulin
      secretion from the islets. The tumor necrosis factor (Tnf) gene was upregulated
      in perirenal adipose tissue from F1 offspring and relatively increased in F2
      offspring. Both F1 and F2 offspring showed similar hypomethylation level at the 
      1952 site of Tnf. We confirmed that DNA methylation occurs in offspring exposed
      to intrauterine hyperglycemia and that the DNA methylation is intergenerational
      and inherited. 

PMID- 26881251
TI  - Effect of Ranirestat on Sensory and Motor Nerve Function in Japanese Patients
      with Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.
AB  - We conducted a 26-week oral-administration study of ranirestat (an aldose
      reductase inhibitor) at a once-daily dose of 20 mg to evaluate its efficacy and
      safety in Japanese patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). The primary
      endpoint was summed change in sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) for the
      bilateral sural and proximal median sensory nerves. The sensory NCV was
      significantly (P = 0.006) improved by ranirestat. On clinical symptoms evaluated
      with the use of modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS), obvious
      efficacy was not found in total score. However, improvement in the sensory test
      domain of the mTCNS was significant (P = 0.037) in a subgroup of patients
      diagnosed with neuropathy according to the TCNS severity classification. No
      clinically significant effects on safety parameters including hepatic and renal
      functions were observed. Our results indicate that ranirestat is effective on DPN
      (Japic CTI-121994).

PMID- 26881252
TI  - The Stricter the Better? The Relationship between Targeted HbA1c Values and
      Metabolic Control of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It remains unclear how HbA1c recommendations influence metabolic
      control of paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. To evaluate this we
      compared reported HbA1c with guideline thresholds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      searched systematically MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies reporting on HbA1c in
      children with T1DM and grouped them according to targeted HbA1c obtained from
      regional guidelines. We assessed the discrepancies in the metabolic control
      between these groups by comparing mean HbA1c extracted from each study and the
      differences between actual and targeted HbA1c. RESULTS: We included 105 from 1365
      searched studies. The median (IQR) HbA1c for the study population was 8.30%
      (8.00%-8.70%) and was lower in "6.5%" than in "7.5%" as targeted HbA1c level
      (8.20% (7.85%-8.57%) versus 8.40% (8.20%-8.80%); p = 0.028). Median difference
      between actual and targeted HbA1c was 1.20% (0.80%-1.70%) and was higher in
      "6.5%" than in "7.5%" (1.70% (1.30%-2.07%) versus 0.90% (0.70%-1.30%), resp.; p <
      0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the 7.5% threshold results in HbA1c
      levels being closer to the therapeutic goal, but the actual values are still
      higher than those observed in the "6.5%" group. A meta-analysis of raw data from
      national registries or a prospective study comparing both approaches is warranted
      as the next step to examine this subject further.

PMID- 26881253
TI  - Fyn Mediates High Glucose-Induced Actin Cytoskeleton Reorganization of Podocytes
      via Promoting ROCK Activation In Vitro.
AB  - Fyn, a member of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, is a key regulator in
      cytoskeletal remodeling in a variety of cell types. Recent studies have
      demonstrated that Fyn is responsible for nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation, which
      will result in polymerization of actin filaments and podocyte damage. Thus
      detailed involvement of Fyn in podocytes is to be elucidated. In this study, we
      investigated the potential role of Fyn/ROCK signaling and its interactions with
      paxillin. Our results presented that high glucose led to filamentous actin (F
      actin) rearrangement in podocytes, accompanied by paxillin phosphorylation and
      increased cell motility, during which Fyn and ROCK were markedly activated. Gene
      knockdown of Fyn by siRNA showed a reversal effect on high glucose-induced
      podocyte damage and ROCK activation; however, inhibition of ROCK had no
      significant effects on Fyn phosphorylation. These observations demonstrate that
      in vitro Fyn mediates high glucose-induced actin cytoskeleton remodeling of
      podocytes via promoting ROCK activation and paxillin phosphorylation. 

PMID- 26881254
TI  - Decrease in (Major) Amputations in Diabetics: A Secondary Data Analysis by AOK
      Rheinland/Hamburg.
AB  - AIM: In two German regions with 11.1 million inhabitants, 6 networks for
      specialized treatment of DFS were implemented until 2008. Data provided for
      accounting purposes was analysed in order to determine changes in the rate of
      diabetics requiring amputations in the years before and after the implementation.
      METHOD: Data covering 2.9 million people insured by the largest insurance company
      between 2007 and 2013 was analysed by the use of log-linear Poisson regression
      adjusted for age, gender and region. RESULTS: The rate of diabetics needing major
      amputations fell significantly by 9.5% per year (p < 0.0001) from 217 to 126 of
      100,000 patients per year. The rate of diabetics needing amputations of any kind
      fell from 504 to 419 of 100,000 patients per year (p = 0.0038). DISCUSSION: The
      networks integrate health care providers in an organised system of shared care.
      They educate members of the medical community and the general public. At the same
      time, a more general disease management program for people with diabetes was
      implemented, which may also have contributed to this decrease. At the end of the
      observation period, the rate of diabetics requiring amputations was still high.
      For this reason, further expansion of organised specialized care is urgently
      needed.

PMID- 26881255
TI  - The Expression of miR-192 and Its Significance in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients
      with Different Urine Albumin Creatinine Ratio.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of miR-192 and its significance in
      diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients. METHODS: 464 patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (T2DM) were divided into normal albuminuria group (NA, n = 157),
      microalbuminuria group (MA, n = 159), and large amount of albuminuria group (LA,
      n = 148). 127 healthy persons were selected as the control group (NC, n = 127).
      The serum miR-192 levels were detected by Real-Time PCR and transforming growth
      factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and fibronectin (FN) were detected by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. The relationships among these parameters were analyzed by
      Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS:
      The miR-192 in the LA group was significantly lower than other groups, which was
      lower in the MA group than in the NA group (P < 0.01). The TGF-beta1 and FN in
      the LA group were significantly higher than other groups, which were higher in
      the MA group than in the NA group (P < 0.01). The expression of miR-192 was
      negatively correlated with TGF-beta1, FN, and Ln (UACR) and miR-192, TGF-beta1,
      and FN were independent relevant factors affecting Ln (UACR) in T2DM (P < 0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the levels of miR-192 were lower
      accompanied by the decrease of urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) and the
      association between miR-192 and nephritic fibrosis in DN.

PMID- 26881257
TI  - Hypoxia Alters the Expression of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 and Induces Developmental
      Remodeling of Human Preadipocytes.
AB  - Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), a transmembrane protein, has been identified in
      human adipose tissue and is considered to be associated with obesity-related type
      2 diabetes. Since adipose tissue is relatively hypoxic in obese participants, we
      investigated the expression of DPP4 in human preadipocytes (hPA) and adipocytes
      in hypoxia, during differentiation and upon insulin stimulation. The results show
      that DPP4 is abundantly expressed in hPA but very sparsely in adipocytes. During
      differentiation in vitro, the expression of DPP4 in hPA is reduced on the
      addition of differentiation medium, indicating that this protein can be hPA
      marker. Long term hypoxia altered the expression of DPP4 in hPA. In in vitro
      hypoxic conditions the protease activity of shed DPP4 is reduced; however, in the
      presence of insulin, the increase in DPP4 expression is potentiated by hypoxia. 

PMID- 26881256
TI  - High Glucose and Lipopolysaccharide Prime NLRP3 Inflammasome via ROS/TXNIP
      Pathway in Mesangial Cells.
AB  - While inflammation is considered a central component in the development in
      diabetic nephropathy, the mechanism remains unclear. The NLRP3 inflammasome acts
      as both a sensor and a regulator of the inflammatory response. The NLRP3
      inflammasome responds to exogenous and endogenous danger signals, resulting in
      cleavage of procaspase-1 and activation of cytokines IL-1beta, IL-18, and IL-33,
      ultimately triggering an inflammatory cascade reaction. This study observed the
      expression of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling stimulated by high glucose,
      lipopolysaccharide, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor N-acetyl-L
      cysteine in glomerular mesangial cells, aiming to elucidate the mechanism by
      which the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway may contribute to diabetic
      nephropathy. We found that the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein
      (TXNIP), NLRP3, and IL-1beta was observed by immunohistochemistry in vivo.
      Simultaneously, the mRNA and protein levels of TXNIP, NLRP3, procaspase-1, and IL
      1beta were significantly induced by high glucose concentration and
      lipopolysaccharide in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in vitro. This
      induction by both high glucose and lipopolysaccharide was significantly inhibited
      by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Our results firstly reveal that high glucose and
      lipopolysaccharide activate ROS/TXNIP/ NLRP3/IL-1beta inflammasome signaling in
      glomerular mesangial cells, suggesting a mechanism by which inflammation may
      contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy. 

PMID- 26881258
TI  - Noninsulin Antidiabetic Drugs for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Are We
      Respecting Their Contraindications?
AB  - AIM: To assess prescribing practices of noninsulin antidiabetic drugs (NIADs) in
      T2DM with several major contraindications according to prescribing information or
      clinical guidelines: renal failure, heart failure, liver dysfunction, or history
      of bladder cancer. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter study.
      Electronic medical records were retrieved from all T2DM subjects who attended
      primary care centers pertaining to the Catalan Health Institute in Catalonia in
      2013 and were pharmacologically treated with any NIAD alone or in combination.
      RESULTS: Records were retrieved from a total of 255,499 pharmacologically treated
      patients. 78% of patients with some degree of renal impairment (glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min) were treated with metformin and 31.2% with
      sulfonylureas. Even in the event of severe renal failure (GFR < 30 mL/min), 35.3%
      and 22.5% of patients were on metformin or sulfonylureas, respectively. Moreover,
      metformin was prescribed to more than 60% of patients with moderate or severe
      heart failure. CONCLUSION: Some NIADs, and in particular metformin, were
      frequently used in patients at high risk of complications when they were
      contraindicated. There is a need to increase awareness of potential inappropriate
      prescribing and to monitor the quality of prescribing patterns in order to help
      physicians and policymakers to yield better clinical outcomes in T2DM.

PMID- 26881259
TI  - Characteristics of Type 2 Diabetes with Ketosis in Baoshan, Yunnan of China.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study provided data to demonstrate the characteristics of type 2
      diabetes (T2D) with ketosis in rural parts of south-west border of China in order
      to help health professionals with optimizing diabetic care. METHODS: All
      hospitalized adult diabetic patients consecutively between January 2011 and July
      2015 in Baoshan People's Hospital, Yunnan province of China, were evaluated. T2D
      with ketosis, ordinary T2D (without ketosis), and type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients
      were analyzed according to the clinical and biochemical parameters and chronic
      complications in these subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of T2D with ketosis was
      12% in the whole study subjects. Overweight and obese patients were predominant
      (49.1%) in T2D patients with ketosis. The mean HbA1c (13.3 +/- 3.1%, P = 0.01),
      fasting plasma glucose (16.9 +/- 6 mmol/L, P < 0.0001), and plasma triglyceride
      (4.0 +/- 4.0 mmol/L, P < 0.0001) in T2D patients with ketosis were significantly
      higher than ordinary T2D patients without ketosis. Infections were the most
      common inducements in T2D patients with ketosis. Chronic complications including
      peripheral neuropathy (34.9%), retinopathy (12.7%), diabetic foot (18.1%), and
      persistent microalbuminuria (11.7%) were common in T2D patients with ketosis.
      CONCLUSIONS: . This study indicated the poor glycemic control in diabetic
      patients in rural areas of south-west part of China. More efforts were urgently
      required to popularize public health education and improve medical quality in
      diabetic treatment in these regions.

PMID- 26881260
TI  - Puerarin Improves Diabetic Aorta Injury by Inhibiting NADPH Oxidase-Derived
      Oxidative Stress in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Puerarin is a natural flavonoid isolated from the TCM lobed kudzuvine
      root. This study investigated the effect and mechanisms of puerarin on diabetic
      aorta in rats. METHODS: Streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats were
      administered with puerarin for 3 weeks. Levels of serum insulin (INS), PGE2,
      endothelin (ET), glycated hemoglobin (GHb), H2O2, and nitric oxide (NO) in rats
      were measured by ELISA and colorimetric assay kits. The aortas were stained with
      H&E. Moreover, the mRNA expression of ICAM-1, LOX-1, NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), and
      NOX4 and the protein expression of ICAM-1, LOX-1, NF-kappaB p65, E-selectin,
      NOX2, and NOX4 in aorta tissues were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot,
      respectively. The localization of ICAM-1, NF-kappaB p65, NOX2, and NOX4 in the
      aorta tissues was also determined through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Puerarin
      treatment exerted no effect on fasting blood glucose levels but significantly
      reduced the serum levels of INS, GHb, PGE2, ET, H2O2, and NO. In addition,
      puerarin improved the pathological alterations and inhibited the expression of
      ICAM-1, LOX-1, NOX2, and NOX4 at both mRNA and protein levels. Puerarin also
      significantly reduced the number of cells showing positive staining for ICAM-1,
      NOX2, NOX4, and NF-kappaB p65. CONCLUSION: Puerarin demonstrated protective
      effect on the STZ-induced diabetic rat aorta. The protective mechanisms may
      include regulation of NF-kappaB and inhibition of NOX2 and NOX4 followed by
      inhibition of cell adhesion molecule expression.

PMID- 26881261
TI  - Corrigendum to "Diabetes Remission after Nonsurgical Intensive Lifestyle
      Intervention in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes".

PMID- 26881262
TI  - Knowledge and Lifestyle-Associated Prevalence of Obesity among Newly Diagnosed
      Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Diabetic Clinic at Komfo Anokye
      Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the knowledge and prevalence of obesity among
      Ghanaian newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics. This cross-sectional study was
      conducted among diagnosed type 2 diabetics. Structured questionnaire was used to
      obtain data. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood sugar levels were also
      assessed. Participants had adequate knowledge about the general concept of
      obesity (72.0%) and method of weight measurement (98.6%) but were less
      knowledgeable of ideal body weight (4.2%). The commonly known cause,
      complication, and management of obesity were poor diet (76.9%), hypertension
      (81.8%), and diet modification (86.7%), respectively. The anthropometric measures
      were higher among females compared to males. Prevalence of obesity was 61.3%
      according to WHR classification, 40.8% according to WHtR classification, 26.1%
      according to WC, and 14.8% according to BMI classification. Being female was
      significantly associated with high prevalence of obesity irrespective of the
      anthropometric measure used (p < 0.05). Taking of snacks in meals, eating meals
      late at night, physical inactivity, excessive fast food intake, and alcoholic
      beverage intake were associated with increased prevalence of obesity (p < 0.05).
      Prevalence of obesity is high among diabetic patient and thus increasing effort
      towards developing and making education programs by focusing on adjusting to
      lifestyle modifications is required. 

PMID- 26881263
TI  - MIrExpress: A Database for Gene Coexpression Correlation in Immune Cells Based on
      Mutual Information and Pearson Correlation.
AB  - Most current gene coexpression databases support the analysis for linear
      correlation of gene pairs, but not nonlinear correlation of them, which hinders
      precisely evaluating the gene-gene coexpression strengths. Here, we report a new
      database, MIrExpress, which takes advantage of the information theory, as well as
      the Pearson linear correlation method, to measure the linear correlation,
      nonlinear correlation, and their hybrid of cell-specific gene coexpressions in
      immune cells. For a given gene pair or probe set pair input by web users, both
      mutual information (MI) and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) are calculated,
      and several corresponding values are reported to reflect their coexpression
      correlation nature, including MI and r values, their respective rank orderings,
      their rank comparison, and their hybrid correlation value. Furthermore, for a
      given gene, the top 10 most relevant genes to it are displayed with the MI, r, or
      their hybrid perspective, respectively. Currently, the database totally includes
      16 human cell groups, involving 20,283 human genes. The expression data and the
      calculated correlation results from the database are interactively accessible on
      the web page and can be implemented for other related applications and
      researches. 

PMID- 26881267
TI  - Investigation on Effect of Material Hardness in High Speed CNC End Milling
      Process.
AB  - This research paper analyzes the effects of material properties on surface
      roughness, material removal rate, and tool wear on high speed CNC end milling
      process with various ferrous and nonferrous materials. The challenge of material
      specific decision on the process parameters of spindle speed, feed rate, depth of
      cut, coolant flow rate, cutting tool material, and type of coating for the
      cutting tool for required quality and quantity of production is addressed.
      Generally, decision made by the operator on floor is based on suggested values of
      the tool manufacturer or by trial and error method. This paper describes effect
      of various parameters on the surface roughness characteristics of the precision
      machining part. The prediction method suggested is based on various experimental
      analysis of parameters in different compositions of input conditions which would
      benefit the industry on standardization of high speed CNC end milling processes.
      The results show a basis for selection of parameters to get better results of
      surface roughness values as predicted by the case study results. 

PMID- 26881268
TI  - Angle and Context Free Grammar Based Precarious Node Detection and Secure Data
      Transmission in MANETs.
AB  - Growing attractiveness of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), its features, and
      usage has led to the launching of threats and attacks to bring negative
      consequences in the society. The typical features of MANETs, especially with
      dynamic topology and open wireless medium, may leave MANETs vulnerable. Trust
      management using uncertain reasoning scheme has previously attempted to solve
      this problem. However, it produces additional overhead while securing the
      network. Hence, a Location and Trust-based secure communication scheme (L&TS) is
      proposed to overcome this limitation. Since the design securing requires more
      than two data algorithms, the cost of the system goes up. Another mechanism
      proposed in this paper, Angle and Context Free Grammar (ACFG) based precarious
      node elimination and secure communication in MANETs, intends to secure data
      transmission and detect precarious nodes in a MANET at a comparatively lower
      cost. The Elliptic Curve function is used to isolate a malicious node, thereby
      incorporating secure data transfer. Simulation results show that the dynamic
      estimation of the metrics improves throughput by 26% in L&TS when compared to the
      TMUR. ACFG achieves 33% and 51% throughput increase when compared to L&TS and
      TMUR mechanisms, respectively. 

PMID- 26881266
TI  - Differences Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Heterosexual Individuals, and those Who
      Reported an Other Identity on an Open-Ended Response on Levels of Social Anxiety.
AB  - Previous research suggests that individuals with a marginalized sexual
      orientation report higher levels of emotional distress (Cochran, 2001; Mayer,
      2003), including higher prevalence of social anxiety (Gilman et al., 2001;
      Potoczniak, Aldea, & DeBlaere, 2007; Safren & Pantalone, 2006) than
      heterosexuals. The present study builds on previous research by examining results
      across sexual minority identities, including an additional write-in response
      option. One hundred eighty individuals participated in an online study in which
      they indicated their sexual orientation and completed measures of social anxiety.
      Results indicated that in a sample recruited in a liberal urban population,
      lesbian/gay, and heterosexual individuals rated similar levels of social anxiety
      across four Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale subscales (fear, avoidance, social,
      and performance; Liebowitz, 1987). Alternatively, individuals who identified as
      bisexual, or indicated a write-in sexual orientation rated significantly higher
      levels of social anxiety than the heterosexual, and lesbian/gay groups. Findings
      highlight the importance of offering a write-in sexual identity option, as well
      as looking at differences among group experiences across sexual minorities.
      Future studies should investigate potential group differences in social anxiety
      across sexual orientations in larger samples so that comparisons can be made
      among subgroups of the write-in response group, as well as investigate potential
      contributors to these group differences.

PMID- 26881265
TI  - A Preliminary Comparative Assessment of the Role of CD8+ T Cells in Chronic
      Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Background. CD8+ T cells have putative roles in the regulation of adaptive immune
      responses during infection. The purpose of this paper is to compare the status of
      CD8+ T cells in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic
      Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Methods. This preliminary investigation comprised 23
      CFS/ME patients, 11 untreated MS patients, and 30 nonfatigued controls. Whole
      blood samples were collected from participants, stained with monoclonal
      antibodies, and analysed on the flow cytometer. Using the following CD markers,
      CD27 and CD45RA (CD45 exon isoform 4), CD8+ T cells were divided into naive,
      central memory (CM), effector memory CD45RA- (EM), and effector memory CD45RA+
      (EMRA) cells. Results. Surface expressions of BTLA, CD127, and CD49/CD29 were
      increased on subsets of CD8+ T cells from MS patients. In the CFS/ME patients
      CD127 was significantly decreased on all subsets of CD8+ T cells in comparison to
      the nonfatigued controls. PSGL-1 was significantly reduced in the CFS/ME patients
      in comparison to the nonfatigued controls. Conclusions. The results suggest
      significant deficits in the expression of receptors and adhesion molecules on
      subsets of CD8+ T cells in both MS and CFS/ME patients. These deficits reported
      may contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases. However, larger sample size
      is warranted to confirm and support these encouraging preliminary findings. 

PMID- 26881269
TI  - Development of Energy Efficient Clustering Protocol in Wireless Sensor Network
      Using Neuro-Fuzzy Approach.
AB  - Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of sensor nodes with limited processing
      capability and limited nonrechargeable battery power. Energy consumption in WSN
      is a significant issue in networks for improving network lifetime. It is
      essential to develop an energy aware clustering protocol in WSN to reduce energy
      consumption for increasing network lifetime. In this paper, a neuro-fuzzy energy
      aware clustering scheme (NFEACS) is proposed to form optimum and energy aware
      clusters. NFEACS consists of two parts: fuzzy subsystem and neural network system
      that achieved energy efficiency in forming clusters and cluster heads in WSN.
      NFEACS used neural network that provides effective training set related to energy
      and received signal strength of all nodes to estimate the expected energy for
      tentative cluster heads. Sensor nodes with higher energy are trained with center
      location of base station to select energy aware cluster heads. Fuzzy rule is used
      in fuzzy logic part that inputs to form clusters. NFEACS is designed for WSN
      handling mobility of node. The proposed scheme NFEACS is compared with related
      clustering schemes, cluster-head election mechanism using fuzzy logic, and energy
      aware fuzzy unequal clustering. The experiment results show that NFEACS performs
      better than the other related schemes. 

PMID- 26881264
TI  - Immune Checkpoint Modulators: An Emerging Antiglioma Armamentarium.
AB  - Immune checkpoints have come to the forefront of cancer therapies as a powerful
      and promising strategy to stimulate antitumor T cell activity. Results from
      recent preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate how checkpoint inhibition can
      be utilized to prevent tumor immune evasion and both local and systemic immune
      suppression. This review encompasses the key immune checkpoints that have been
      found to play a role in tumorigenesis and, more specifically, gliomagenesis. The
      review will provide an overview of the existing preclinical and clinical data,
      antitumor efficacy, and clinical applications for each checkpoint with respect to
      GBM, as well as a summary of combination therapies with chemotherapy and
      radiation. 

PMID- 26881270
TI  - Challenges of Assessing Maltreated Children Coming into Foster Care.
AB  - Children who have experienced early adversity have been known to be at risk of
      developing cognitive, attachment, and mental health problems; therefore, it is
      crucial that children entering foster care can be properly assessed as early as
      possible. There are known difficulties in assessing children in foster care, for
      example, in finding a reliable informant. An ongoing randomised controlled trial
      in Glasgow, Scotland, recruiting infants entering foster care, provides a unique
      opportunity to explore some of the issues which need to be considered when
      assessing these children. The assessment data of 70 infants entering care is
      described while exploring the reliability of foster carers as informants and the
      importance of infant engagement with tasks. This group of infants was shown to be
      having more problems than children from the general population. While
      correlations were found between a carer's level of concern about a child and the
      severity of a child's problem, there were still a number of children displaying
      worrying problem scores whom foster carers did not report concern. The child's
      engagement in the cognitive task showed associations with the child's attainment
      on the task. Findings emphasise the importance of a holistic assessment for these
      children and all should be considered as potential cases with Maltreatment
      Associated Psychiatric Problems (MAPP). 

PMID- 26881271
TI  - Software Design Challenges in Time Series Prediction Systems Using Parallel
      Implementation of Artificial Neural Networks.
AB  - Software development life cycle has been characterized by destructive disconnects
      between activities like planning, analysis, design, and programming. Particularly
      software developed with prediction based results is always a big challenge for
      designers. Time series data forecasting like currency exchange, stock prices, and
      weather report are some of the areas where an extensive research is going on for
      the last three decades. In the initial days, the problems with financial analysis
      and prediction were solved by statistical models and methods. For the last two
      decades, a large number of Artificial Neural Networks based learning models have
      been proposed to solve the problems of financial data and get accurate results in
      prediction of the future trends and prices. This paper addressed some
      architectural design related issues for performance improvement through
      vectorising the strengths of multivariate econometric time series models and
      Artificial Neural Networks. It provides an adaptive approach for predicting
      exchange rates and it can be called hybrid methodology for predicting exchange
      rates. This framework is tested for finding the accuracy and performance of
      parallel algorithms used. 

PMID- 26881272
TI  - Comparative Study on Various Authentication Protocols in Wireless Sensor
      Networks.
AB  - Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of lightweight devices with low cost, low
      power, and short-ranged wireless communication. The sensors can communicate with
      each other to form a network. In WSNs, broadcast transmission is widely used
      along with the maximum usage of wireless networks and their applications. Hence,
      it has become crucial to authenticate broadcast messages. Key management is also
      an active research topic in WSNs. Several key management schemes have been
      introduced, and their benefits are not recognized in a specific WSN application.
      Security services are vital for ensuring the integrity, authenticity, and
      confidentiality of the critical information. Therefore, the authentication
      mechanisms are required to support these security services and to be resilient to
      distinct attacks. Various authentication protocols such as key management
      protocols, lightweight authentication protocols, and broadcast authentication
      protocols are compared and analyzed for all secure transmission applications. The
      major goal of this survey is to compare and find out the appropriate protocol for
      further research. Moreover, the comparisons between various authentication
      techniques are also illustrated. 

PMID- 26881273
TI  - An Enhanced PSO-Based Clustering Energy Optimization Algorithm for Wireless
      Sensor Network.
AB  - Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network which formed with a maximum number of
      sensor nodes which are positioned in an application environment to monitor the
      physical entities in a target area, for example, temperature monitoring
      environment, water level, monitoring pressure, and health care, and various
      military applications. Mostly sensor nodes are equipped with self-supported
      battery power through which they can perform adequate operations and
      communication among neighboring nodes. Maximizing the lifetime of the Wireless
      Sensor networks, energy conservation measures are essential for improving the
      performance of WSNs. This paper proposes an Enhanced PSO-Based Clustering Energy
      Optimization (EPSO-CEO) algorithm for Wireless Sensor Network in which clustering
      and clustering head selection are done by using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)
      algorithm with respect to minimizing the power consumption in WSN. The
      performance metrics are evaluated and results are compared with competitive
      clustering algorithm to validate the reduction in energy consumption. 

PMID- 26881274
TI  - Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Animal-Source Salmonella Heidelberg
      Isolates.
AB  - Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg (S. Heidelberg) is frequently implicated
      in human foodborne Salmonella infections and often produces more severe clinical
      disease than other serotypes. Livestock and poultry products represent a
      potential risk for transmission to humans. The purpose of this study was to
      evaluate 49 S. Heidelberg veterinary isolates for exponential growth rate (EGR),
      PFGE pattern, and antimicrobial resistance to evaluate these parameters as
      mechanisms by which S. Heidelberg emerged as a virulent foodborne pathogen.
      Isolates were categorized by species of origin; clinical or environmental
      sources; and time frame of recovery. Growth rates were determined in nutrient
      media using serial dilutions and colony counts; PFGE was performed according to
      the CDC PulseNet protocol. Minimum inhibitory concentration and susceptibility
      determinations were performed against antimicrobials important in human medicine.
      Eighteen unique PFGE patterns were detected in the isolates tested. Antimicrobial
      resistance was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for ten of 15 drugs in clinical
      over environmental isolates; for four drugs between the time frames; and for ten
      drugs between species of origin. The large genetic diversity present in isolates
      of this serotype may convey competitive advantages to this organism, while the
      presence of antimicrobial resistance represents a potential zoonotic risk via
      animal-source food products. 

PMID- 26881275
TI  - Real-time PCR melting analysis with fiber optic SPR enables multiplex DNA
      identification of bacteria.
AB  - A fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR) technology was developed that
      enables simultaneous quantification and identification of multiple DNA targets on
      the same platform. The bioassay was based on the hybridization/melting of DNA
      coated Au nanoparticles on the FO-SPR sensor when targets are present. The
      multiplex concept was successfully demonstrated on two related bacteria and for
      detection of multiple mutations in sequences. In conclusion, FO-SPR technology
      shows a great potential as a next generation in vitro diagnostics tool. 

PMID- 26881281
TI  - A 15-MHz 1-3 Piezocomposite Concave Array  Transducer for Ophthalmic Imaging.
AB  - Because of the spherical shape of the human eye, the anterior segments of the
      eye, particularly the cornea and the lens, create high levels of refraction and
      reflection of ultrasound which negatively affect the performance of linear and
      convex arrays. To minimize the ultrasound energy loss, a 15-MHz concave array
      transducer was designed, fabricated, and characterized; its footprint is able to
      mesh well with the shape of the cornea. The concave array has a curvature with a
      radius of 15 mm and 128 elements with a 1.44- pitch. Its elevational focus and
      view angle are 30 mm and 72.3 degrees , respectively, thus allowing the imaging
      area to cover the retinal region of interest in the posterior segment. As an
      active layer, a 1-3 piezocomposite was designed and fabricated in response to the
      bidirectional (i.e., azimuthal and elevational) curvature of the concave array
      and the high coupling coefficient. From the performance evaluation, it was found
      that the completed concave array is able to provide a center frequency of 15.95
      MHz and a -6-dB fractional bandwidth of 67.8% after electrical tuning has been
      conducted. The crosstalk level was measured to be less than -25 dB. It was
      verified that the concave array is robust to the refraction and reflection from
      the cornea through pulse-echo testing using a custom-made eye-mimicking phantom.
      Furthermore, images of both the wire-target phantom and the ex vivo porcine eye
      were acquired by the finished concave array, which was connected to a commercial
      ultrasound scanner equipped with a research package. The evaluation results
      demonstrated that the developed concave array transducer is a possible
      alternative to conventional arrays for effectively imaging the posterior segment
      of the eye.

PMID- 26881277
TI  - A green surfactant-assisted synthesis of hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with
      excellent catalytic properties for oxidative desulfurization.
AB  - Hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with uniform intracrystalline mesopores have been
      successfully synthesized through the hydrothermal method by using the green and
      cheap surfactant Triton X-100 as the mesoporous template. The resultant materials
      exhibit remarkably enhanced catalytic activity in oxidative desulfurization
      reactions compared to the conventional TS-1 zeolite. 

PMID- 26881282
TI  - For love of metals.

PMID- 26881276
TI  - Noncompetitive affinity assays of glucagon and amylin using mirror-image aptamers
      as affinity probes.
AB  - The ability to detect picomolar concentrations of glucagon and amylin using
      fluorescently labeled mirror-image aptamers, so-called Spiegelmers, is
      demonstrated. Spiegelmers rival the specificity of antibodies and overcome the
      problem of biostability of natural aptamers in a biological matrix. Using
      Spiegelmers as affinity probes, noncompetitive capillary electrophoresis affinity
      assays of glucagon and murine amylin were developed and optimized. The detection
      limit for glucagon was 6 pM and for amylin was 40 pM. Glucagon-like peptide-1 and
      -2 did not interfere with the glucagon assay, while the amylin assay showed cross
      reactivity to calcitonin gene related peptide. The developed assays were combined
      with a competitive immunoassay for insulin to measure glucagon, amylin, and
      insulin secretion from batches of islets after incubation with different glucose
      concentrations. The development of these assays is an important step towards
      incorporation into an online measurement system for monitoring dynamic secretion
      from single islets. 

PMID- 26881284
TI  - Correction.
AB  - Neogi T, Jansen TLTA, Dalbeth N, et al. 2015 Gout classification criteria: an
      American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative
      initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2015;74:1789-98. The name of the 20th author was
      misspelled. The correct spelling is Janitzia Vazquez-Mellado. We regret the
      error.

PMID- 26881283
TI  - Hepatitis A infection during pregnancy.
AB  - QUESTION: Many of my patients are from Southeast Asia, where hepatitis A virus
      (HAV) infection is quite common. What precautions can I suggest my pregnant
      patients take before traveling to these areas and what is the risk of contracting
      HAV during pregnancy? ANSWER: Hepatitis A virus is a water-borne pathogen
      transmitted by the fecal-oral route. To reduce the risk of contracting HAV while
      traveling to endemic areas, it is important to maintain hygienic practices such
      as hand washing with safe water, particularly before handling food, avoiding
      drinking water or using ice cubes of unknown purity, and avoiding eating unpeeled
      fruits and vegetables. An HAV vaccine is available and can be administered before
      traveling to endemic countries. Hepatitis A virus infection has a largely
      favourable expected outcome even during pregnancy. Infection occurring in the
      second or third trimester has been reported to be associated with preterm labour.

PMID- 26881286
TI  - Densely Packed Lanthanide Cubane Based 3D Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient
      Magnetic Refrigeration and Slow Magnetic Relaxation.
AB  - Two isostructural densely packed squarato-bridged lanthanide-based 3D metal
      organic frameworks (MOFs) [Ln5(MU3-OH)5(MU3-O)(CO3)2(HCO2)2(C4O4)(H2O)2] [Ln = Gd
      (1) and Dy (2)] show giant cryogenic magnetic refrigeration (for 1) and slow
      magnetic relaxation (for 2). The structural analyses reveal the presence of a
      self-assembled crown-shaped building unit with a cubane-based rectangular moiety
      that leads to a special array of metal centers in 3D space in the complexes.
      Magnetic investigations confirm that complex 1 exhibits one of the largest
      cryogenic magnetocaloric effects among the molecular magnetic refrigerant
      materials reported so far (-DeltaSm = 64.0 J kg(-1) K(-1) for DeltaH = 9 T at 3
      K). The cryogenic cooling effect (of 1) is also quite comparable with that of the
      commercially used magnetic refrigerant gadolinium-gallium garnet, whereas for
      complex 2, slow relaxation of magnetization was observed below 10 K. 

PMID- 26881287
TI  - Statistical models for multilevel skewed physical activity data in health
      research and behavioral medicine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Researchers who study physical activity often use outcome variables
      that have a lower bound of zero and are positively skewed (e.g., minutes of
      physical activity in a day). Researchers also often use statistical methods that
      assume the outcome is normally distributed or transform the outcome as an attempt
      to make it more normal, both of which can be problematic. In this article, the
      authors describe multilevel 2-part models that use a mixture of logistic
      regression-to predict whether a person was active-and gamma regression-to predict
      amount of activity if there was activity. METHOD: The authors contrast the 2-part
      models to a linear multilevel model using data from a longitudinal study of
      physical activity (N = 113; 2,305 observations). The dependent variable was
      minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity in a day and the predictor variables
      were day, satisfaction, and gender. RESULTS: The 2-part models outperform the
      linear model and provide researchers critical information that is conceptually
      relevant, such as distinguishing between predictors of whether activity occurred
      and of how much activity occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Two-part models represent a
      flexible and useful addition to the analysis repertoire of health researchers. To
      assist researchers in learning these methods, the online supplemental materials
      provide additional technical information as well as annotated computer code for
      estimating these models. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881289
TI  - Additive Effects on Asymmetric Catalysis.
AB  - This review highlights a number of additives that can be used to make asymmetric
      reactions perfect. Without changing other reaction conditions, simply adding
      additives can lead to improved asymmetric catalysis, such as reduced reaction
      time, improved yield, or/and increased selectivity. 

PMID- 26881288
TI  - Stimuli-Responsive Programmed Specific Targeting in Nanomedicine.
AB  - Both passive targeting and actively enhanced cellular internalization play
      significant roles in tumor-targeted therapy. Programmed specific targeting, as a
      novel targeting strategy that exploits stimuli-responsive structures, expects
      that nanocarriers show high stability during blood circulation for efficient
      passive targeting, then respond to tumor internal or external stimuli and
      transform into more cell-interactive forms upon arrival at the tumor tissue for
      enhanced cellular internalization. In this Perspective, we introduce recent
      advances in the design and development of stimuli-responsive programmed specific
      targeting nanomedicines, which are based on switchable surface charge,
      activatable targeting molecules, and variable coatings, to combine the advantages
      of passive targeting and actively enhanced cellular internalization. 

PMID- 26881290
TI  - Meter-Long Spiral Carbon Nanotube Fibers Show Ultrauniformity and Flexibility.
AB  - Conventional straight fibers spun from carbon nanotubes have rather limited
      deformability; creating a spiral structure holds the promise to break this shape
      restriction and enhance structural flexibility. Here, we report up to one meter
      length threads containing purely single-walled nanotubes twisted into spiral
      loops (about 1.3 * 10(5) loops per meter) with tunable fiber diameters and
      electrical conductivity. Because of significant increase of the loop number and
      long-range homogeneity, the fibers display many unique properties (e.g., self
      shrinking and forming extremely entangled structure, fast stretching with great
      resilience, large-degree axial and lateral deflection, and excellent fatigue
      resistance) that are difficult to achieve in straight yarns or short helical
      segments. They also have potential applications as macroscopic fiber-shaped
      temperature sensors and deformable gas sensors. Our long spiral fibers may be
      configured into versatile structures such as nanotextiles for developing wearable
      electronics and multifunctional fabrics. 

PMID- 26881291
TI  - Correlation of in Situ Oxazolidine Formation with Highly Synergistic Cytotoxicity
      and DNA Cross-Linking in Cancer Cells from Combinations of Doxorubicin and
      Formaldehyde.
AB  - Anthracyclines are a class of antitumor compounds that are successful and widely
      used but suffer from cardiotoxicity and acquired tumor resistance. Formaldehyde
      interacts with anthracyclines to enhance antitumor efficacy, bypass resistance
      mechanisms, improve the therapeutic profile, and change the mechanism of action
      from a topoisomerase II poison to a DNA cross-linker. Contrary to current dogma,
      we show that both efficient DNA cross-linking and potent synergy in combination
      with formaldehyde correlate with the anthracycline's ability to form cyclic
      formaldehyde conjugates as oxazolidine moieties and that the cyclic conjugates
      are better cross-linking agents and cytotoxins than acyclic conjugates. We also
      provide evidence that suggests that the oxazolidine forms in situ, since
      cotreatment with doxorubicin and formaldehyde is highly cytotoxic to dox
      resistant tumor cell lines, and that this benefit is absent in combinations of
      formaldehyde and epirubicin, which cannot form stable oxazolidines. These results
      have potential clinical implications in the active field of anthracycline prodrug
      design and development. 

PMID- 26881292
TI  - Strategic balance of drug lifecycle management options differs between domestic
      and foreign companies in Japan.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Drug approvals and patent protections are critical in drug
      lifecycle management (LCM) in order to maximize drug discovery investment
      returns. AREA COVERED: We analyzed drug LCM activities implemented by 10 top
      companies in Japan, focusing on drug approvals and patent term extensions. EXPERT
      OPINION: Foreign companies acquired numerous drug approvals primarily for new
      molecular entities (NMEs), while Japanese companies mainly obtained approvals for
      improved drugs including new indications, and intensively extended patent terms.
      Furthermore, we discovered three factors likely responsible for differences in
      drug LCM strategies of Japanese and foreign companies: research and development
      capacities for drugs, drug lags of foreign-origin NMEs, and cooperation between
      Research and Development Departments and Intellectual Property Departments.

PMID- 26881293
TI  - The potential of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) inhibitors for treating lung
      cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Molecular alterations in neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) genes
      have been identified in several solid tumors including lung cancer. Pre-clinical
      and clinical evidence suggested their potential role as oncogenic drivers and
      predictive biomarkers for targeted inhibition, leading to the clinical
      development of a new class of compounds blocking the NTRK molecular pathway,
      which are currently undner early clinical investigation. AREA COVERED: This
      review describes the biology of the NTRK pathway and its molecular alterations in
      lung cancer. It focuses on the pre-clinical and clinical development of emerging
      NTRK inhibitors, which have shown very promising activity in early phase I
      studies. EXPERT OPINION: Among the several NTRK-inhibitors, entrectinib and LOXO
      101 are those in more advanced stage of clinical development. Both agents have
      shown encouraging activity along with a tolerable safety profile in patients with
      different solid tumors harboring NTRK-fusions, emerging as new promising
      therapeutic options for molecularly selected patients with advanced Trk-driven
      lung cancers. Results from ongoing phase II basket trials are eagerly awaited.

PMID- 26881294
TI  - Factors associated with quality of life in middle-aged and older patients living
      with HIV.
AB  - HIV infection has been historically considered a disease of young adults;
      however, adults aged 50 years and older represent now an increasing proportion of
      HIV cases worldwide, including in Portugal. In this context, given the
      considerable burden associated with living with HIV, the topic of quality-of-life
      (QoL) assessment has become increasingly relevant. The aims of this study were to
      examine the age-related differences in QoL and depressive symptoms of younger and
      middle-aged and older adults with HIV as well as the sociodemographic, HIV
      related and depressive symptoms (cognitive-affective and somatic) associated with
      QoL domains. The sample consisted of 1194 HIV-infected patients, recruited from
      10 Portuguese hospitals. QoL data were collected using the WHOQOL-HIV-Bref
      questionnaire. Patients also completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Of the 1194
      patients, 185 (15.5%) were over 50 years old. Middle-aged and older patients
      reported significantly lower QoL in the physical, independence and social
      relationships domains. Regarding the specific facets of QoL, middle-aged and
      older patients reported significantly lower scores in seven of the 29 specific
      facets of the WHOQOL-HIV-Bref and higher scores in one facet (financial
      resources). Overall, among middle-aged and older patients, higher education,
      being employed, a shorter time since HIV diagnosis, use of combination anti
      retroviral therapy and fewer depressive symptoms were significantly associated
      with higher QoL ratings. Our findings suggest that both cognitive-affective and
      somatic depressive symptoms account for significant variability in QoL scores in
      middle-aged and older patients. Because an important feature of healthy ageing is
      maintaining QoL, these data may provide useful information for tailoring age
      appropriate and effective interventions to improve the mental health and QoL of
      middle-aged and older patients living with HIV.

PMID- 26881295
TI  - Scanning Electronic Microscopy Evaluation of the Roughness of the Stromal Bed
      After Deep Corneal Cut with the LDV Femtosecond Laser (Z6) (Ziemer) and the ONE
      Microkeratome (Moria).
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the stromal bed surface quality and the accuracy of
      dissection depth after deep lamellar cuts using the Leonardo Da Vinci (LDV)
      femtosecond laser (Z6) and the ONE Microkeratome. METHODS: Deep lamellar cuts
      were performed on nine human donor corneoscleral buttons: five with the LDV
      femtosecond (FS) laser (Z6) (Ziemer) and four with the ONE Microkeratome (MK)
      (Moria). Corneal thickness was measured with ultrasound pachymetry before and
      after the dissection. The Stromal bed quality was evaluated using light
      microscopy (n = 4) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n = 9). The surface
      roughness on SEM images was graded on the scale of 1 (smoothest) to 5 (roughest)
      by four observers, blinded to the method used. Particle analysis on the SEM
      images was performed in order to have an objective measure of smoothness.
      RESULTS: The achieved dissection depth using the FS laser was 496.4 +/- 46.4 um
      when attempting 500 um and 474 +/- 60 um with the microkeratome when attempting
      350 um. Histological evaluation of the corneoscleral buttons by both light and
      electron microscopy showed significantly smoother surface using the FS laser
      compared to the microkeratome. There were fewer and smaller particles observed in
      the SEM images of FS laser cut buttons (p < 0.001).The average observer based
      score of anterior surface roughness (50*) was 2.2 for the FS laser and 3.9 for
      the microkeratome dissections (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The LDV femtosecond laser
      (Z6) platform is capable of creating deep corneal lamellar dissection with
      smoother surface quality and with more predictable cut depth as compared to the
      One Microkeratome.

PMID- 26881296
TI  - Spatially Organized Enzymes Drive Cofactor-Coupled Cascade Reactions.
AB  - We report the construction of an artificial enzyme cascade based on the xylose
      metabolic pathway. Two enzymes, xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase, were
      assembled at specific locations on DNA origami by using DNA-binding protein
      adaptors with systematic variations in the interenzyme distances and defined
      numbers of enzyme molecules. The reaction system, which localized the two enzymes
      in close proximity to facilitate transport of reaction intermediates, resulted in
      significantly higher yields of the conversion of xylose into xylulose through the
      intermediate xylitol with recycling of the cofactor NADH. Analysis of the initial
      reaction rate, regenerated amount of NADH, and simulation of the intermediates'
      diffusion indicated that the intermediates diffused to the second enzyme by
      Brownian motion. The efficiency of the cascade reaction with the bimolecular
      transport of xylitol and NAD(+) likely depends more on the interenzyme distance
      than that of the cascade reaction with unimolecular transport between two
      enzymes. 

PMID- 26881297
TI  - Residence Times of Molecular Complexes in Solution from NMR Data of
      Intermolecular Hydrogen-Bond Scalar Coupling.
AB  - The residence times of molecular complexes in solution are important for
      understanding biomolecular functions and drug actions. We show that NMR data of
      intermolecular hydrogen-bond scalar couplings can yield information on the
      residence times of molecular complexes in solution. The molecular exchange of
      binding partners via the breakage and reformation of a complex causes self
      decoupling of intermolecular hydrogen-bond scalar couplings, and this self
      decoupling effect depends on the residence time of the complex. For protein-DNA
      complexes, we investigated the salt concentration dependence of intermolecular
      hydrogen-bond scalar couplings between the protein side-chain (15)N and DNA
      phosphate (31)P nuclei, from which the residence times were analyzed. The results
      were consistent with those obtained by (15)Nz-exchange spectroscopy. This self
      decoupling-based kinetic analysis is unique in that it does not require any
      different signatures for the states involved in the exchange, whereas such
      conditions are crucial for kinetic analyses by typical NMR and other methods. 

PMID- 26881298
TI  - Facile Use of Cationic Hydrogel Particles for Surface Modification of Planar
      Substrates Toward Multifunctional Neural Permissive Surfaces: An in Vitro
      Investigation.
AB  - Synthetic materials such as silicon have been commonly used for neural
      interfacing applications but are intrinsically noninteractive with neurons. Here,
      a facile approach has been developed to integrate both chemical and topographical
      cues to impart neural permissiveness for such materials. The approach simply
      exploits the basic phenomenon of electrostatically driven adsorption of colloidal
      particles onto a solid material and applies it to a cationic hydrogel particle
      system that we have developed recently based on "click" reaction of epoxide and
      amine. The particle adsorption process can be tuned by varying the adsorption
      time and the concentration of the original colloidal suspension, both of which
      directly control the surface densities of the adsorbed hydrogel particles. Using
      the PC12 cell line and primary cortical neurons derived from chick embryo, we
      demonstrate that the particle-adsorbed surface readily supports robust cell
      adhesion and differentiation. Although the extent of neural permissiveness
      exhibited by such particle-adsorbed surface was comparable to the cationic
      polyethylenimine-coated control surface, the adsorbed hydrogel particles offer a
      unique reservoir function to the modified surface that is unparalleled by the
      control. The successful loading of hydrophobic dye of nile red to the surface
      adsorbed hydrogel particles indicates that the modified surface not only provides
      physical support of neurons, but also can be explored in the future to exert
      localized therapeutic actions favorable for neural interfacing. 

PMID- 26881300
TI  - Conducting Carbon Dot-Polypyrrole Nanocomposite for Sensitive Detection of Picric
      acid.
AB  - We report the conducting nature of carbon dots (Cdots) synthesized from citric
      acid and ethylene diamine. Chemically synthesized conducting nanocomposite
      consisting of Cdots and polypyrrole (PPy) is further reported, which showed
      higher electrical conductiviy in comparison to the components i.e., Cdots or PPy.
      The conductive film of the composite material was used for highly sensitive and
      selective detection of picric acid in water as well as in soil. To the best of
      our knowledge, this is the first report on the conductivity based sensing
      application of Cdot nanocomposite contrary to the traditional fluorescence based
      sensing approaches. 

PMID- 26881299
TI  - Alginate Sulfates Mitigate Binding Kinetics of Proangiogenic Growth Factors with
      Receptors toward Revascularization.
AB  - Ever since proangiogenic growth factors have been used as a vascular medicine to
      treat tissue ischemia, efforts have been increasingly made to develop a method to
      enhance efficacy of growth factors in recreating microvascular networks,
      especially at low dose. To this end, we hypothesized that polysaccharides
      substituted with sulfate groups would amplify growth factor receptor activation
      and stimulate phenotypic activities of endothelial cells involved in
      neovascularization. We examined this hypothesis by modifying alginate with a
      controlled number of sulfates and using it to derive a complex with vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as confirmed with fluorescence resonance energy
      transfer (FRET) assay. Compared with the bare VEGF and with a mixture of VEGF and
      unmodified alginates, the VEGF complexed with alginate sulfates significantly
      reduced the dissociation rate with the VEGFR-2, elevated VEGFR-2 phosphorylation
      level, and increased the number of endothelial sprouts in vitro. Furthermore, the
      VEGF-alginate sulfate complex improved recovery of perfusion in an ischemic
      hindlimb of a mouse due to the increase of the capillary density. Overall, this
      study not only demonstrates an important cofactor of VEGF but also uncovers an
      underlying mechanism by which the cofactor mitigates the VEGF-induced signaling
      involved in the binding kinetics and activation of VEGFR. We therefore believe
      that the results of this study will be highly useful in improving the therapeutic
      efficacy of various growth factors and expediting their uses in clinical
      treatments of wounds and tissue defects.

PMID- 26881302
TI  - The foundational principles as psychological lodestars: Theoretical inspiration
      and empirical direction in rehabilitation psychology.
AB  - Historically, the Foundational Principles articulated by Wright (1983) and others
      guided theory development, research and scholarship, and practice in
      rehabilitation psychology. In recent decades, these principles have become more
      implicit and less explicit or expressive in the writings and work of
      rehabilitation professionals. We believe that the Foundational Principles are
      essential lodestars for working with people with disabilities that can guide
      inquiry, practice, and service. To introduce this special issues, this commentary
      identifies and defines key Foundational Principles, including, for example,
      Lewin's (1935) person-environment relation, adjustment to disability, the
      malleability of self-perceptions of bodily states, and the importance of
      promoting dignity for people with disabilities. We then consider the role the
      Foundational Principles play in the articles appearing in this special issue. We
      close by considering some new principles and their potential utility in
      rehabilitation settings. Readers in rehabilitation psychology and aligned areas
      (e.g., social-personality psychology, health psychology, rehabilitation
      therapist, psychiatry, and nursing) are encouraged to consider how the
      Foundational Principles underlie and can shape their research and practice.

PMID- 26881301
TI  - A Case Study of the Neti Pot's Rise, Americanization, and Rupture as Integrative
      Medicine in U.S. Media Discourse.
AB  - In a period of only one decade in the United States, the neti pot shifted from
      obscure Ayurvedic health device to mainstream complementary and integrative
      medicine (CIM), touted by celebrities and sold widely in drug stores. We examine
      the neti pot as a case study for understanding how a foreign health practice
      became mainstreamed, and what that process reveals about more general discourses
      of health in the United States. Using discourse analysis of U.S. popular press
      and new media news (1999-2012) about the neti pot, we trace the development of
      discourses from neti's first introduction in mainstream news, through the hype
      following Dr. Oz's presentation on Oprah, to 2011 when two adults tragically died
      after using Naegleria fowleri amoeba-infested tap water in their neti pots. Neti
      pot discourses are an important site for communicative analysis because of the
      pot's complexity as an intercultural artifact: Neti pots and their use are
      enfolded into the biomedical practice of nasal irrigation and simultaneously
      Orientalized as exotic/magical and suspect/dangerous. This dual positioning as
      normal and exotic creates inequitable access for using the neti pot as a resource
      for increasing cultural health capital (CHC). This article contributes to work
      that critically theorizes the transnationalism of CIM, as the neti pot became
      successfully Americanized. These results have implications for understanding
      global health practices' incorporation or co-optation in new contexts, and the
      important role that popularly mediated health communication can play in framing
      what health care products and practices mean for consumers.

PMID- 26881304
TI  - Predicting quality of life in adults with severe mental illness: Extending the
      International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.
AB  - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability
      and Health (ICF) framework was used to investigate person-environment contextual
      factors, mental functioning, activity limitations, and participation as
      predictors of quality of life (QoL) in adults with severe mental illness (SMI).
      RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: A quantitative descriptive design using multiple
      regression and correlational analyses was used. One hundred ninety-four
      individuals with SMI from 4 community-based mental health agencies in 2 states
      from Southern and Midwestern regions of the United States participated in the
      study. The criterion variable was QoL. Predictor variables comprised the ICF
      constructs: (a) demographics, (b) personal factors, (c) environmental factors,
      (d) mental functioning, (e) activity limitations, and (f) participation. RESULTS:
      A majority of participants were White (60.3%) and not employed (59.8%). Half of
      them received Social Security Disability Income and/or Supplemental Security
      Income (50.0%). Correlations between QoL and the predictor variables ranged from
      small to large (r = .01 to .63, respectively). The final regression model
      accounted for 58% of the variance in QoL. After controlling for other factors,
      social competency, social support, societal stigma, psychological distress,
      cognitive dysfunction, activity limitations, and participation were found to be
      significant predictors of QoL in adults with SMI. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The
      study supports the use of the ICF to predict QoL for adults with SMI. Evidence
      based treatments focused on increasing social competence, social support, and
      participation should be developed to promote rehabilitation outcomes and overall
      QoL.

PMID- 26881305
TI  - Application of well-being therapy to people with disability and chronic illness.
AB  - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Research data clearly indicate most people living with a
      disability return to premorbid levels of psychological functioning. However, some
      individuals living with a disability are vulnerable for the development of
      psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress
      disorder. Rather than understanding this phenomenon of vulnerability solely as
      the presence of psychopathology, it can be understood from a positive psychology
      standpoint as a deficit of well-being. We extend this approach by demonstrating
      the links between the historic foundational principles of rehabilitation
      psychology and the relevant current research on psychology of well-being. The
      article then explores the implications of providing meaningful interventions that
      could improve the lives of persons living with disability and chronic illness.
      RESULTS: Based on this view, well-being therapy is proposed as an intervention
      because it has proven efficacy in acting as a buffer against the development of
      some negative affective states. The assumptions and dimensions underlying this
      approach are shown to be relevant to both persons living with disability and to
      the foundational principles of rehabilitation psychology. A model for assisting
      people with disability in improving their well-being and decreasing negative
      aspects of their life by balancing factors relevant to well-being is discussed.
      CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The authors conclude by exploring the benefits of
      engendering positive well-being versus the traditional focus on solely
      alleviating negative affective states.

PMID- 26881303
TI  - Resilience and vulnerability in individuals with chronic pain and physical
      disability.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent contributions of vulnerability and
      resilience factors to pain interference, self-efficacy for managing pain, global
      mental health, and global physical health. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: Secondary
      analysis of baseline data from individuals with a spinal cord injury (n = 73),
      amputation (n = 33), or multiple sclerosis (n = 82) and chronic pain who
      participated in a randomized controlled trial comparing 2 chronic pain
      interventions. Participants completed a comprehensive battery of pain-related
      outcomes that assessed for both psychosocial assets and maladaptive cognitions
      and behaviors. RESULTS: Results suggested that vulnerability and resilience
      factors together account for a considerable amount of variance in the physical
      outcomes, but that neither set of factors was able to make a substantial
      contribution above and beyond the other. In contrast, for mental health related
      outcomes, results indicated that resilience factors did make a meaningful
      contribution above and beyond vulnerability factors, suggesting the important
      contribution of resilience factors to the psychological experience of chronic
      pain. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested a valuable contribution of both
      resilience and vulnerability factors to pain outcomes, with the additional caveat
      that resilience factors uniquely impact specific outcomes-particularly those that
      are more psychosocially focused-above and beyond vulnerability factors. Taken
      together, this highlights the importance of considering resilience factors in
      addition to vulnerability factors for individuals with chronic pain. Additional
      research is needed to explore other factors that could be considered
      representative of the resilience construct and more attention should be focused
      on evaluating the effects of interventions that seek to build an individual's
      assets.

PMID- 26881306
TI  - The unfairness of it all: Exploring the role of injustice appraisals in
      rehabilitation outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A fundamental principle of rehabilitation psychology is that
      individual appraisals of the social and physical environment-including injury
      itself-have profound consequences for coping and adjustment. When core
      assumptions of a just and predictable world are violated and accompanied by
      ostensibly undeserved suffering and loss, perceptions of injustice can arise.
      Given the role of appraisal processes in adjustment to disability, mounting
      empirical support, and absence of targeted interventions, the current article
      considers perceptions of injustice regarding personal injury/disability as a
      fundamental appraisal affecting rehabilitation outcomes. RESEARCH METHOD: The
      authors review theory underpinning the relevance of injustice appraisals and
      critically examine existing literature regarding the impact of perceived
      injustice and related constructs (i.e., attribution of blame, anger, and belief
      in a just world) on adjustment following injury. RESULTS: The authors bring
      attention to perceptions of injustice regarding personal injury/disability as a
      fundamental appraisal affecting rehabilitation outcomes. Dimensions of the social
      environment that have not received substantial attention in current research on
      condition-related injustice appraisals are highlighted. IMPLICATIONS: Perceived
      injustice is a potentially central appraisal process to physical and
      psychological outcomes in the context of rehabilitation. Research regarding the
      role of perceived injustice, related constructs, and potential
      social/environmental modulators of injustice perception is still in its infancy.
      Guided buy its foundational principles, the field of rehabilitation psychology
      can broaden and shape inquiry regarding perceived injustice. This article aims to
      guide future research, offer concepts for key areas of discourse, and consider
      potential interventions in the rehabilitation psychology domain.

PMID- 26881307
TI  - Teaching the foundational principles of rehabilitation psychology.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Wright (1983) described 20 "value-laden beliefs and principles" that
      form the foundational principles of rehabilitation psychology, and the education
      and training of rehabilitation psychologists necessitates that they acquire the
      specialty-specific knowledge and attitudes/values related to these principles.
      This article addresses 2 questions about how these principles can be taught in
      rehabilitation psychology training: (a) What are the core theories and evidence
      supporting these foundational principles, and what should be the content of a
      "core curriculum" for teaching these?; and (b) What is known about the most
      effective methods for teaching these foundational principles, including questions
      of how to teach values? METHOD: The foundational principles were grouped into 3
      categories: individual psychological processes, social psychological processes,
      and values related to social integration. A literature review was conducted in
      these 3 categories, and the results are summarized and discussed. RESULTS: A core
      curriculum is discussed for teaching about disability-specific individual
      psychological processes, social psychological processes, and values related to
      social integration, including methods to reduce group prejudice and promote
      values relevant to the foundational principles. Specific suggestions for training
      program content and methods are provided. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that effective
      teaching of Wright's (1983) value-laden beliefs and principles will help
      rehabilitation psychology trainers and trainees focus on the key knowledge and
      attitude-value competencies that are to be acquired in training.

PMID- 26881308
TI  - Globalizing rehabilitation psychology: Application of foundational principles to
      global health and rehabilitation challenges.
AB  - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: This article reviewed foundational principles in
      rehabilitation psychology and explored their application to global health
      imperatives as outlined in the World Report on Disability (World Health
      Organization & World Bank, 2011). RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: Historical theories and
      perspectives are used to assist with conceptual formulation as applied to
      emerging international rehabilitation psychology topics. RESULTS: According to
      the World Report on Disability (World Health Organization & World Bank, 2011),
      there are approximately 1 billion individuals living with some form of disability
      globally. An estimated 80% of persons with disabilities live in low- to middle
      income countries (WHO, 2006). The primary messages and recommendations of the
      World Report on Disability have been previously summarized as it relates to
      potential opportunities for contribution within the field of rehabilitation
      psychology (MacLachlan & Mannan, 2014). Yet, undeniable barriers remain to
      realizing the full potential for contributions in low- to middle-income country
      settings. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: A vision for engaging in international
      capacity building and public health efforts is needed within the field of
      rehabilitation psychology. Foundational rehabilitation psychology principles have
      application to the service of individuals with disabilities in areas of the world
      facing complex socioeconomic and sociopolitical challenges. Foundational
      principles of person-environment interaction, importance of social context, and
      need for involvement of persons with disabilities can provide guidance to the
      field as it relates to global health and rehabilitation efforts. The authors
      illustrate the application of rehabilitation psychology foundational principles
      through case examples and description of ongoing work, and link foundational
      principles to discreet domains of intervention going forward.

PMID- 26881309
TI  - Supervision in rehabilitation psychology: Application of Beatrice Wright's value
      laden beliefs and principles.
AB  - Clinical supervision is of critical importance for training subsequent
      generations of psychologists. Specialty training in rehabilitation psychology
      requires exposure to specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to
      disability and specialized supervision and mentorship. In the literature to date,
      minimal guidance exists regarding supervision training and methods specifically
      for rehabilitation psychologists. This article aims to provoke discussion
      regarding supervision practice and dissemination of the values fundamental to our
      specialty. The foundational wisdom of Dr. Beatrice Wright (1983) is applied for
      the purposes of this endeavor. Examples of clinical supervision scenarios are
      presented as teaching vignettes to demonstrate ways in which supervisors and
      mentors can incorporate this content, promote discussion, and apply it to real
      world practice.

PMID- 26881310
TI  - Clinical utility and measurement characteristics of the Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale for individuals with traumatic brain injury.
AB  - This Rehabilitation Measures Database summary provides a review of the
      psychometric properties of the HADS in individuals with TBI. A full review of the
      HADS as well as reviews of over 330 other instruments can be found at
      www.rehabmeasures.org.

PMID- 26881312
TI  - Experimental Solubility Approach to Determine PDMS-Water Partition Constants and
      PDMS Activity Coefficients.
AB  - Freely dissolved aqueous concentration and chemical activity are important
      determinants of contaminant transport, fate, and toxic potential. Both parameters
      are commonly quantified using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) based on a
      sorptive polymer such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This method requires the
      PDMS-water partition constants, KPDMSw, or activity coefficient to be known. For
      superhydrophobic contaminants (log KOW >6), application of existing methods to
      measure these parameters is challenging, and independent measures to validate
      KPDMSw values would be beneficial. We developed a simple, rapid method to
      directly measure PDMS solubilities of solid contaminants, SPDMS(S), which
      together with literature thermodynamic properties was then used to estimate
      KPDMSw and activity coefficients in PDMS. PDMS solubility for the test compounds
      (log KOW 7.2-8.3) ranged over 3 orders of magnitude (4.1-5700 MUM), and was
      dependent on compound class. For polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and
      polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), solubility-derived KPDMSw increased
      linearly with hydrophobicity, consistent with trends previously reported for less
      chlorinated congeners. In contrast, subcooled liquid PDMS solubilities, SPDMS(L),
      were approximately constant within a compound class. SPDMS(S) and KPDMSw can
      therefore be predicted for a compound class with reasonable robustness based
      solely on the class-specific SPDMS(L) and a particular congener's entropy of
      fusion, melting point, and aqueous solubility. 

PMID- 26881313
TI  - Sleep quality influences subsequent motor skill acquisition.
AB  - While the influence of sleep on motor memory consolidation has been extensively
      investigated, its relation to initial skill acquisition is less well understood.
      The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of sleep
      quality and quantity on subsequent motor skill acquisition in young adults
      without sleep disorders. Fifty-five healthy adults (mean age = 23.8 years; 34
      women) wore actigraph wristbands for 4 nights, which provided data on sleep
      patterns before the experiment, and then returned to the laboratory to engage in
      a motor sequence learning task (explicit 5-item finger sequence tapping task).
      Indicators of sleep quality and quantity were then regressed on a measure of
      motor skill acquisition (Gains Within Training, GWT). Wake After Sleep Onset
      (WASO; i.e., the total amount of time the participants spent awake after falling
      asleep) was significantly and negatively related to GWT. This effect was not
      because of general arousal level, which was measured immediately before the motor
      task. Conversely, there was no relationship between GWT and sleep duration or
      self-reported sleep quality. These results indicate that sleep quality, as
      assessed by WASO and objectively measured with actigraphy before the motor task,
      significantly impacts motor skill acquisition in young healthy adults without
      sleep disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881311
TI  - Obesity-Dependent Increases in Oocyte mRNAs Are Associated With Increases in
      Proinflammatory Signaling and Gut Microbial Abundance of Lachnospiraceae in
      Female Mice.
AB  - RNAs stored in the metaphase II-arrested oocyte play important roles in
      successful embryonic development. Their abundance is defined by transcriptional
      activity during oocyte growth and selective degradation of transcripts during LH
      induced oocyte maturation. Our previous studies demonstrated that mRNA abundance
      is increased in mature ovulated oocytes collected from obese humans and mice and
      therefore may contribute to reduced oocyte developmental competence associated
      with metabolic dysfunction. In the current study mouse models of diet-induced
      obesity were used to determine whether obesity-dependent increases in
      proinflammatory signaling regulate ovarian abundance of oocyte-specific mRNAs.
      The abundance of oocyte-specific Bnc1, Dppa3, and Pou5f1 mRNAs as well as markers
      of proinflammatory signaling were significantly increased in ovaries of obese
      compared with lean mice which were depleted of fully grown preovulatory
      follicles. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analyses also demonstrated increased
      association of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
      with the Pou5f1 promoter in ovaries of obese mice suggesting that proinflammatory
      signaling regulates transcription of this gene in the oocyte. The cecum microbial
      content of lean and obese female mice was subsequently examined to identify
      potential relationships between microbial composition and proinflammatory
      signaling in the ovary. Multivariate Association with Linear Models identified
      significant positive correlations between cecum abundance of the bacterial family
      Lachnospiraceae and ovarian abundance of Tnfa as well as Dppa3, Bnc1, and Pou5f1
      mRNAs. Together, these data suggest that diet-induced changes in gut microbial
      composition may be contributing to ovarian inflammation which in turn alters
      ovarian gene expression and ultimately contributes to obesity-dependent reduction
      in oocyte quality and development of infertility in obese patients. 

PMID- 26881314
TI  - Differential influence of social versus isolate housing on vicarious fear
      learning in adolescent mice.
AB  - Laboratory rodents can adopt the pain or fear of nearby conspecifics. This
      phenotype conceptually lies within the domain of empathy, a bio-psycho-social
      process through which individuals come to share each other's emotion. Using a
      model of cue-conditioned fear, we show here that the expression of vicarious fear
      varies with respect to whether mice are raised socially or in solitude during
      adolescence. The impact of the adolescent housing environment was selective: (a)
      vicarious fear was more influenced than directly acquired fear, (b) "long-term"
      (24-h postconditioning) vicarious fear memories were stronger than "short-term"
      (15-min postconditioning) memories in socially reared mice whereas the opposite
      was true for isolate mice, and (c) females were more fearful than males. Housing
      differences during adolescence did not alter the general mobility of mice or
      their vocal response to receiving the unconditioned stimulus. Previous work with
      this mouse model underscored a genetic influence on vicarious fear learning, and
      the present study complements these findings by elucidating an interaction
      between the adolescent social environment and vicarious experience. Collectively,
      these findings are relevant to developing models of empathy amenable to
      mechanistic exploitation in the laboratory. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26881315
TI  - Charge-Neutral Constant pH Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using a Parsimonious
      Proton Buffer.
AB  - In constant pH molecular dynamics simulations, the protonation states of
      titratable sites can respond to changes of the pH and of their electrostatic
      environment. Consequently, the number of protons bound to the biomolecule, and
      therefore the overall charge of the system, fluctuates during the simulation. To
      avoid artifacts associated with a non-neutral simulation system, we introduce an
      approach to maintain neutrality of the simulation box in constant pH molecular
      dynamics simulations, while maintaining an accurate description of all
      protonation fluctuations. Specifically, we introduce a proton buffer that, like a
      buffer in experiment, can exchange protons with the biomolecule enabling its
      charge to fluctuate. To keep the total charge of the system constant, the uptake
      and release of protons by the buffer are coupled to the titration of the
      biomolecule with a constraint. We find that, because the fluctuation of the total
      charge (number of protons) of a typical biomolecule is much smaller than the
      number of titratable sites of the biomolecule, the number of buffer sites
      required to maintain overall charge neutrality without compromising the charge
      fluctuations of the biomolecule, is typically much smaller than the number of
      titratable sites, implying markedly enhanced simulation and sampling efficiency. 

PMID- 26881316
TI  - Independent associations of polymorphisms in vitamin D binding protein (GC) and
      vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes with obesity and plasma 25OHD3 levels demonstrate
      sex dimorphism.
AB  - We investigated a possible association between polymorphisms in vitamin D binding
      protein (GC) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes and obesity in Bahraini adults.
      For this purpose, 406 subjects with varying body mass indexes (BMIs) were
      selected. Plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) were measured by
      chemiluminescence immunoassay. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms, 2 in the VDR
      gene (rs731236 TC and rs12721377 AG) and 4 in the GC gene (rs2282679 AC, rs4588
      CA, rs7041 GT, and rs2298849 TC), were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain
      reaction. We found that the rs7041 minor allele (G) and rare genotype (GG) were
      associated with higher BMI (p = 0.007 and p = 0.012, respectively), but they did
      not influence 25OHD3 levels. However, the minor alleles of rs2282679 (A) and
      rs4588 (C) were associated with low 25OHD3 plasma levels (p = 0.039 and p =
      0.021, respectively), but not with BMI. Having categorized the subjects based on
      their sex, we found that (i) rs7041 GG associated with high BMI in females (p =
      0.003), (ii) rs4588 CC associated with high BMI in females (p = 0.034) and low
      25OHD3 levels in males (p = 0.009), and (iii) rs12721377 AA associated with low
      25OHD3 levels in females (p = 0.039). Notably, none of the common haplotypes (6
      in the GC gene and 3 in the VDR gene) were associated with BMI. Therefore,
      polymorphisms in the GC (rs2282679, rs4588, rs7041) and VDR (rs12721377) genes
      were independently associated with obesity and 25OHD3 levels with a clear sex
      dimorphism. 

PMID- 26881317
TI  - Effects of aerobic training, resistance training, or both on cardiorespiratory
      and musculoskeletal fitness in adolescents with obesity: the HEARTY trial.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic, resistance, and
      combined exercise training on cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness in
      postpubertal adolescents with obesity. After a 4-week supervised moderate
      intensity exercise run-in, 304 adolescents aged 14-18 years with body mass index
      >=85th percentile were randomized to 4 groups for 22 weeks of aerobic training,
      resistance training, combined training, or a nonexercising control. All
      participants received dietary counselling with a maximum daily energy deficit of
      250 kcal. Cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption) was measured by
      indirect calorimetry using a graded treadmill exercise test. Musculoskeletal
      fitness was measured using the 2003 Canadian Physical Activity Fitness and
      Lifestyle Appraisal tests (hand grip, push-ups, partial curl-ups, sit and reach,
      and vertical jump). Muscular strength was assessed using an 8-repetition maximum
      test on the bench press, seated row, and leg press machines. A greater increase
      in peak oxygen consumption in the aerobic exercise group (30.6 +/- 0.6 to 33.4 +/
      0.7 mLO2/kg/min) was measured relative to the control group (30.6 +/- 0.5 to
      30.9 +/- 0.7 mLO2/kg/min) (p = 0.002). Similarly, the number of partial curl-ups
      increased in the aerobic group (19 +/- 1 to 23 +/- 1) while no differences were
      measured in the control group (19 +/- 1 to 20 +/- 1) (p = 0.015). Increases in
      muscular strength and number of push-ups were greatest in the resistance group
      versus the control and combined groups versus the aerobic group (p < 0.05). In
      conclusion, aerobic training had the strongest effect on cardiorespiratory
      fitness, while resistance and combined training improved both muscular strength
      and endurance more than control and aerobic training alone, respectively, in
      adolescents with obesity. 

PMID- 26881318
TI  - Holding on while letting go: trauma and growth on the pathway of dementia care in
      families.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Limited research explores the medical model of residential care in
      dementia from the family caregiver's perspectives. METHOD: This study sought
      subjective interpretations of nine family caregivers who experienced
      relinquishing their status as primary caregiver to a medical model, dementia care
      residential setting. Following semi-structured interviews and transcription data
      was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: One
      superordinate theme, navigating 'system' control, overarched three subordinate
      themes: connecting/disconnecting, windows closing, and capacity for sensation.
      Navigating system control reflected participants' experience of circumnavigating
      a medical system fraught with hierarchical challenges inclusive of a complex maze
      of contradictions that appeared threatening, yet appeared comforting;
      authoritarian, yet often humane. For them, care of self, while advocating for a
      family member with dementia, required vigilance to manoeuvre a system of care
      that imposed its uninvited authority at will. Connection/disconnection highlights
      the enduring struggle for inclusivity in caregiving despite the omnipresent
      trauma of windows closing. Psychological growth came to these participants
      through an unexpected capacity for sensation which offered a unique lens to
      communication with the family member with dementia primarily through sensory
      exchange. CONCLUSIONS: Models of dementia care and therapeutic interventions
      could inclusively involve dementia family caregivers who may be experiencing
      traumatic distress, and associated guilt, stigma, loss, and grief. Co-existing
      psychological wellbeing, however, is possible when family members are encouraged
      to transition communication to sensory awareness and exchange as windows close.

PMID- 26881319
TI  - Case-mix adjustment for diabetes indicators: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Case-mix adjustment is generally considered indispensable for fair
      comparison of healthcare performance. Inaccurate results are also unfair to
      patients as they are ineffective for improving quality. However, little is known
      about what factors should be adjusted for. We reviewed case-mix factors included
      in adjustment models for key diabetes indicators, the rationale for their
      inclusion, and their impact on performance. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.
      METHODS: This systematic review included studies published up to June 2013
      addressing case-mix factors for 6 key diabetes indicators: 2 outcomes and 2
      process indicators for glycated hemoglobin (A1C), low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol, and blood pressure. Factors were categorized as demographic,
      diabetes-related, comorbidity, generic health, geographic, or care-seeking, and
      were evaluated on the rationale for inclusion in the adjustment models, as well
      as their impact on indicator scores and ranking. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were
      included, mainly addressing A1C value and measurement. Twenty-three different
      case-mix factors, mostly demographic and diabetes-related, were identified, and
      varied from 1 to 14 per adjustment model. Six studies provided selection motives
      for the inclusion of case-mix factors. Marital status and body mass index showed
      a significant impact on A1C value. For the other factors, either no or
      conflicting associations were reported, or too few studies (n <= 2) investigated
      this association. CONCLUSIONS: Scientific knowledge about the relative importance
      of case-mix factors for diabetes indicators is emerging, especially for
      demographic and diabetes-related factors and indicators on A1C, but is still
      limited. Because arbitrary adjustment potentially results in inaccurate quality
      information, meaningful stratification that demonstrates inequity in care might
      be a better guide, as it can be a driver for quality improvement.

PMID- 26881320
TI  - The effect of Medicare Advantage enrollment on mammographic screening.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the rates of mammographic screening and reasons for not
      receiving mammography between Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare fee-for
      service (FFS) beneficiaries. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS:
      Unadjusted rates of mammographic screening and reasons for not receiving
      mammography were compared between MA and FFS beneficiaries in total and within
      subgroups. Probabilities of mammographic screening were also compared between the
      MA and FFS beneficiaries after adjusting for age, education, race/ethnicity,
      health status, marriage status, and region of residence using modified Poisson
      regression models. RESULTS: We found significantly higher unadjusted rates of
      mammographic screening in the MA beneficiary population compared with the FFS
      population (50.3% vs 44%, respectively; P < .0001). MA beneficiaries were more
      likely to receive a mammogram than FFS beneficiaries (unadjusted relative risk
      [RR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19; and adjusted RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12).
      Furthermore, the top 6 reasons why MA and FFS beneficiaries did not receive
      mammograms were: "not needed," "doctor did not recommend," "forgot," "not
      recommended annually," "did not like mammograms," and "appointment due soon."
      Among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics specifically, FFS beneficiaries were more
      likely to report doctors not recommending mammograms than MA beneficiaries.
      CONCLUSIONS: MA beneficiaries were 1.06 times more likely to receive mammography
      screening compared with the FFS population. Additionally, providers were less
      likely to recommend mammographic screening to non-Hispanic black and Hispanic FFS
      beneficiaries compared with non-Hispanic black and Hispanic MA beneficiaries.

PMID- 26881321
TI  - Molecular testing patterns in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Identification of oncogene mutations and gene rearrangements in
      individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can help identify candidates
      for targeted therapy. This study examined whether clinicians are ordering
      molecular testing for patients with metastatic NSCLC (mNSCLC) prior to therapy
      initiation. STUDY DESIGN: Members from a national health plan with lung cancer
      and metastatic disease were followed retrospectively. METHODS: Members were
      identified in medical claims data from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, if
      they had 2 or more claims for lung cancer (International Classification of
      Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 162.xx) and
      metastatic disease (>= 1 claim with ICD-9-CM code 196.xx-198.xx) who were
      continuously enrolled in a fully insured plan 180 days prior to index date.
      Patients were excluded if they had a history of chemotherapy used primarily in
      small cell lung cancer, or a medical claim associated with an unrelated
      malignancy. The timing of molecular testing was compared with the start of
      chemotherapy and targeted therapy, if applicable. RESULTS: A total of 2623
      patients presumed to have mNSCLC were included for analysis; of whom, 52.5% were
      male with a mean age of 72.5 years (SD = 8.2 years). A total of 1597 (60.9%)
      patients had a Current Procedural Terminology code associated with molecular
      testing at any time in their claims history. Of the 733 patients with molecular
      testing and chemotherapy or targeted therapy claims, testing occurred prior to
      systemic therapy initiation in 651 (88.8%; 95% CI, 86.1%-90.9%) patients. The
      median time between testing and therapy initiation was 38 days (interquartile
      range = 23-69 days). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of oncogene mutations and gene
      rearrangements in mNSCLC routinely occurs prior to treatment initiation as
      suggested by analyses of claims data from a large US health plan. Validation
      using patient medical records is needed.

PMID- 26881322
TI  - Inappropriate ordering of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging: are providers
      Choosing Wisely?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To analyze inappropriate use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for
      patients with low back pain in a healthcare system with no financial incentives
      for overuse. STUDY DESIGN: We used administrative data to assess the
      appropriateness of lumbar spine (LS) MRI in the Veterans Health Administration.
      METHODS: All veterans who received LS MRI in the outpatient setting in fiscal
      year 2012 were included. We based our assessments of appropriateness on CMS
      criteria, which have been endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Generalized
      estimating equations were used to evaluate characteristics of inappropriate
      scans. RESULTS: Of the 110,661 LS MRIs performed, 31% were classified as
      inappropriate. Most scans that were considered appropriate were characterized as
      such because they were preceded by conservative therapy (53%). "Red flag"
      conditions were responsible for a much smaller percentage of scans being
      considered appropriate; 13% of scans were preceded by conservative therapy and
      were performed in patients with a red flag condition, while only 4% of scans were
      considered appropriate because of red flag conditions only. Scans ordered in the
      emergency department and in urgent care, primary care, and internal medicine
      clinics were most likely to be classified as inappropriate. Resident physicians
      were significantly less likely than other provider types to order inappropriate
      LS MRIs (odds ratio, 0.80; P < .0001). Approximately 24% of providers ordered 74%
      of inappropriate scans. CONCLUSIONS: We found that 31% of LS MRIs were
      inappropriate in a healthcare system largely absent of financial and other
      incentives for ordering. The problem of inappropriate ordering of LS MRI is
      concentrated in a small number of providers; any provider-facing interventions to
      reduce inappropriate order should therefore be targeted, rather than aimed at all
      providers who order LS MRI.

PMID- 26881323
TI  - USPSTF colorectal cancer screening guidelines: an extended look at multi-year
      interval testing.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released draft
      recommendations regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in October 2015.
      Despite evidence that annual fecal blood testing test use is uncommon in screen
      eligible adults, with only 10.4% reporting the use of such a test in 2012, and
      features poor adherence over time, the USPSTF recommended only 3 noninvasive
      screening strategy options, all including annual fecal occult blood testing: 1)
      annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) alone; 2) annual FIT in combination with
      flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years; and 3) annual high-sensitivity fecal
      occult blood test (hsFOBT). Mt-sDNA is the only FDA-approved CRC screening test,
      is covered by Medicare every 3 years, and is included as an every-3-year (3y)
      option in the American Cancer Society guidelines. We demonstrate that USPSTF
      modeling includes an embedded sensitivity analysis of less frequent than annual
      test adherence, which provides support for the inclusion of mt-sDNA 3y as a
      recommended test. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive analysis of USPSTF modeling of the
      clinical impact of various stool based CRC screening strategies. METHODS: We
      analyzed the data generated by the USPSTF CRC screening models describing the
      impact of noninvasive CRC screening strategies on CRC incidence, CRC related
      mortality, life years gained (LYG), colonoscopy volume and associated
      complication, test efficiency (a measure of benefits (LYG) and harms
      (colonoscopies generated), and identified strategies that provide 90% or more of
      the LYG by screening with colonoscopy every 10 years. We compared mt-sDNA at 3y
      intervals and FIT and hsFOBT at 2-year (2y) and 3y intervals and did not consider
      annual testing. RESULTS: We found that only mt-sDNA 3y, FIT 2y, and FIT 3y were
      within 98% of the efficiency frontier. However, only mt-sDNA 3y generates more
      than 90% of the life-years gained with screening colonoscopy. These results meet
      the USPSTF criteria for a recommendation for mt-sDNA 3y for routine screening.
      CONCLUSIONS: Given poor adherence to annual testing, any screening opportunity
      with a test, such as mt-sDNA, that has high sensitivity for CRC and for the most
      significant precancerous lesions would be an important screening option for
      patients for maximizing screening effectiveness in reducing CRC incidence and
      mortality.

PMID- 26881324
TI  - Auditory processing abilities in children with chronic otitis media with
      effusion.
AB  - CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that children with a history of otitis
      media with effusion (OME) suffer from auditory processing disorder to some
      degree. The findings support the hypothesis that fluctuating hearing loss may
      affect central auditory processing during critical periods. OBJECTIVES: Evidence
      suggests that prolonged OME in children can result in an auditory processing
      disorder, presumably because hearing has been disrupted during an important
      developmental period. A lack of auditory stimulation leads to the abnormal
      development of the hearing pathways in the brain. The aim of the present study
      was to determine the effects of OME on binaural auditory function and auditory
      temporal processing. METHOD: In the present study, the dichotic digit test (DDT)
      was used for binaural hearing, and the gap in noise (GIN) test was used to
      evaluate temporal hearing processing. RESULTS: The average values of GIN differed
      significantly between children with a history of OME and normal controls (p <
      0.001). The mean values of the DDT score were significantly different between the
      two groups (p = 0.002).

PMID- 26881325
TI  - Boundary problem in Simon's two-stage clinical trial designs.
AB  - The activity of a new treatment in clinical trials with binary endpoints can be
      assessed by comparing the observed response rate to the target response rate.
      Traditionally, a one-sided hypothesis is used to make statistical inference, and
      the actual Type I error rate has to be computed over the parameter space of the
      null hypothesis. The monotonicity property is a fundamental property that
      guarantees the actual Type I error rate occurring at the boundary. One-arm two
      stage designs are considered in this article. We theoretically proved this
      important property when the final threshold value of a design is less than the
      first-stage sample size together with another weak condition being satisfied. The
      method used in this article may finally lead to the final complete proof of this
      property in the future. We also numerically proved that the monotonicity property
      is satisfied for designs with the first-stage and the second-stage sample sizes
      from 10 to 100.

PMID- 26881326
TI  - VATER/VACTERL Association and Caudal Regression with Xq25-q27.3 Microdeletion: A
      Case Report.
AB  - We report a term female neonate with vertebral anomalies, anal and urethral
      atresia, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), renal agenesis,
      pulmonary hypoplasia, genital and sacral appendages, and a single umbilical
      artery. Genetic studies revealed a 20.91 Mb interstitial deletion of the long arm
      of X chromosome: Xq25-q27.3. This is a new case of VATER/VACTERL association with
      Xq25 microdeletion. 

PMID- 26881327
TI  - Osteomyoplastic Transtibial Amputation: The Ertl Technique.
AB  - Amputation may be required for management of lower extremity trauma and medical
      conditions, such as neoplasm, infection, and vascular compromise. The Ertl
      technique, an osteomyoplastic procedure for transtibial amputation, can be used
      to create a highly functional residual limb. Creation of a tibiofibular bone
      bridge provides a stable, broad tibiofibular articulation that may be capable of
      some distal weight bearing. Several different modified techniques and fibular
      bridge fixation methods have been used; however, no current evidence exists
      regarding comparison of the different techniques. Additional research is needed
      to elucidate the optimal patient population, technique, and postoperative
      protocol for the Ertl osteomyoplastic transtibial amputation technique. 

PMID- 26881328
TI  - The Global AIMs Nano set: A 31-plex SNaPshot assay of ancestry-informative SNPs.
AB  - A 31-plex SNaPshot assay, named 'Global AIMs Nano', has been developed by
      reassembling the most differentiated markers of the EUROFORGEN Global AIM-SNP
      set. The SNPs include three tri-allelic loci and were selected with the goal of
      maintaining a balanced differentiation of: Africans, Europeans, East Asians,
      Oceanians and Native Americans. The Global AIMs Nano SNP set provides higher
      divergence between each of the five continental population groups than previous
      small-scale AIM sets developed for forensic ancestry analysis with SNaPshot. Both
      of these characteristics minimise potential bias when estimating co-ancestry
      proportions in individuals with admixed ancestry; more likely to be observed when
      using markers disproportionately informative for only certain population group
      comparisons. The optimised multiplex is designed to be easily implemented using
      standard capillary electrophoresis regimes and has been used to successfully
      genotype challenging forensic samples from highly degraded material with low
      level DNA. The ancestry predictive performance of the Global AIMs Nano set has
      been evaluated by the analysis of samples previously characterised with larger
      AIM sets. 

PMID- 26881329
TI  - SkydancerPlex: A novel STR multiplex validated for forensic use in the hen
      harrier (Circus cyaneus).
AB  - The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a bird of prey which is heavily persecuted in
      the UK because it preys on the game bird red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus).
      To help investigations into illegal killings of hen harrier, a STR multiplex kit
      containing eight short tandem repeat (STR) markers and a chromohelicase DNA
      binding protein 1 (CHD 1) sexing marker was developed. The multiplex kit was
      tested for species specificity, sensitivity, robustness, precision, accuracy and
      stability. Full profiles were obtained with as little as 0.25 ng of template DNA.
      Concurrent development of an allelic ladder to ensure reliable and accurate
      allele designation across laboratories makes the SkydancerPlex the first forensic
      DNA profiling system in a species of wildlife to be fully validated according to
      SWGDAM and ISFG recommendations. An average profile frequency of 3.67 * 10(-8), a
      PID estimate of 5.3 * 10(-9) and a PID-SIB estimate of 9.7 * 10(-4) make the
      SkydancerPlex an extremely powerful kit for individualisation.

PMID- 26881330
TI  - Utilization of maternal health care services among indigenous women in
      Bangladesh: A study on the Mru tribe.
AB  - Despite startling developments in maternal health care services, use of these
      services has been disproportionately distributed among different minority groups
      in Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with the use of
      these services among the Mru indigenous women in Bangladesh. A total of 374
      currently married Mru women were interviewed using convenience sampling from
      three administrative sub-districts of the Bandarban district from June to August
      of 2009. Associations were assessed using Chi-square tests, and a binary logistic
      regression model was employed to explore factors associated with the use of
      maternal health care services. Among the women surveyed, 30% had ever visited
      maternal health care services in the Mru community, a very low proportion
      compared with mainstream society. Multivariable logistic regression analyses
      revealed that place of residence, religion, school attendance, place of service
      provided, distance to the service center, and exposure to mass media were factors
      significantly associated with the use of maternal health care services among Mru
      women. Considering indigenous socio-cultural beliefs and practices, comprehensive
      community-based outreach health programs are recommended in the community with a
      special emphasis on awareness through maternal health education and training
      packages for the Mru adolescents.

PMID- 26881331
TI  - Clinical Approach to the Heavy Cannabis User in the Age of Medical Marijuana.
AB  - This article begins with a case vignette exemplifying the common clinical problem
      of heavy marijuana users. The epidemiology and basic science underlying cannabis
      dependence is outlined, followed by clinical strategies for basing a therapeutic
      alliance on known research findings and using motivational interviewing to deal
      with typical patterns of denial. 

PMID- 26881332
TI  - Etirinotecan pegol for the treatment of breast cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Advanced breast cancer is incurable for most patients with limited
      therapeutic options. As such, there is a critical need for new and novel agents
      that lack cross-resistance and mitigate overlapping toxicities. AREAS COVERED:
      This review examines etirinotecan pegol as a promising new agent for the
      treatment of refractory metastatic breast cancer. Etirinotecan pegol is the first
      topoisomerase I inhibitor with a novel design: a long-acting polymer conjugate of
      irinotecan molecularly engineered to concentrate in vascularized tumors and
      provide sustained circulation time of SN38 for prolonged tumor cell exposure.
      Etirinotecan pegol pharmacology is reviewed in this paper along with safety and
      efficacy data from preclinical and clinical trials. In the phase II advanced
      breast cancer setting, etirinotecan pegol provided promising activity, which was
      maintained in poor prognostic subgroups, with low rates of neutropenia and
      neuropathy - issues plaguing our currently available agents. EXPERT OPINION:
      Etirinotecan pegol demonstrates anti-tumor activity and improved tolerability in
      patients with refractory metastatic breast cancer. As a novel topoisomerase I
      inhibitor in breast cancer, etirinotecan pegol holds great therapeutic potential,
      allowing the challenge of resistance in the advanced disease setting to be
      addressed.

PMID- 26881333
TI  - Post-treatment mechanical refining as a method to improve overall sugar recovery
      of steam pretreated hybrid poplar.
AB  - This study investigates the effect of mechanical refining to improve the sugar
      yield from biomass processed under a wide range of steam pretreatment conditions.
      Hybrid poplar chips were steam pretreated using six different conditions with or
      without SO2. The resulting water insoluble fractions were subjected to mechanical
      refining. After refining, poplar pretreated at 205 degrees C for 10min without
      SO2 obtained a 32% improvement in enzymatic hydrolysis and achieved similar
      overall monomeric sugar recovery (539kg/tonne) to samples pretreated with SO2.
      Refining did not improve hydrolyzability of samples pretreated at more severe
      conditions, nor did it improve the overall sugar recovery. By maximizing overall
      sugar recovery, refining could partially decouple the pretreatment from other
      unit operations, and enable the use of low temperature, non-sulfur pretreatment
      conditions. The study demonstrates the possibility of using post-treatment
      refining to accommodate potential pretreatment process upsets without sacrificing
      sugar yields. 

PMID- 26881334
TI  - Co-production of bio-oil and propylene through the hydrothermal liquefaction of
      polyhydroxybutyrate producing cyanobacteria.
AB  - A polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing cyanobacteria was converted through
      hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) into propylene and a bio-oil suitable for
      advanced biofuel production. HTL of model compounds demonstrated that in contrast
      to proteins and carbohydrates, no synergistic effects were detected when
      converting PHB in the presence of algae. Subsequently, Synechocystis cf. salina,
      which had accumulated 7.5wt% PHB was converted via HTL (15% dry weight loading,
      340 degrees C). The reaction gave an overall propylene yield of 2.6%, higher than
      that obtained from the model compounds, in addition to a bio-oil with a low
      nitrogen content of 4.6%. No propylene was recovered from the alternative non-PHB
      producing cyanobacterial strains screened, suggesting that PHB is the source of
      propylene. PHB producing microorganisms could therefore be used as a feedstock
      for a biorefinery to produce polypropylene and advanced biofuels, with the level
      of propylene being proportional to the accumulated amount of PHB. 

PMID- 26881335
TI  - Enzyme feeding strategies for better fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis of empty
      fruit bunch.
AB  - Lignin inhibitory becomes a major obstacle for enzymatic hydrolysis of empty
      fruit bunch conducted in high solid loading. Since current technology required
      high enzyme loading, surfactant application could not effectively used since it
      is only efficient in low enzyme loading. In addition, it will increase final
      operation cost. Hence, another method namely "proportional enzyme feeding" was
      investigated in this paper. In this method, enzyme was added to reactor
      proportionally to substrate addition, different from conventional method ("whole
      enzyme feeding") where whole enzyme was added prior to hydrolysis process
      started. Proportional enzyme feeding could increase enzymatic digestibility and
      glucose concentration up to 26% and 12% respectively, compared to whole enzyme
      feeding for hydrolysis duration more than 40h. If enzymatic hydrolysis was run
      less than 40h (25% solid loading), whole enzyme feeding is preferable. 

PMID- 26881337
TI  - Evidence for electrohydrodynamic convection as a source of spontaneous self
      ordering in porous anodic alumina films.
AB  - A comparative study of self-ordering behaviour of anodic alumina films fabricated
      in a series of diluted (down to 0.05 M) oxalic acid electrolytes allowed
      developing a relationship between the supporting electrolyte concentration and
      self-ordering voltages for the formation of porous oxide materials. Besides its
      practical importance, this work elucidates some fundamental principles of porous
      alumina formation, e.g. it suggests that the cell patterning arises from the
      electrohydrodynamic (EHD) convection process rather than the interfacial tension
      gradients near the anode surface (Marangoni-type instability). 

PMID- 26881336
TI  - Persistent organic pollutants in juvenile Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus
      magellanicus) in South America.
AB  - Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, are the most abundant penguins
      living in temperate regions of South America and are good indicators of
      environmental pollution in the region. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were
      detected in the liver of Magellanic penguins found debilitated or dead on the
      beaches of Brazil (states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio
      Grande do Sul) between 2008 and 2012 as well as in Uruguay and Chile in 2011.
      Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were more prevalent than organochlorine
      pesticides (DDTs ~ HCB ~ Drins) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Among
      PCBs, penta-, hexa- and hepta-chlorinated congeners were predominant.
      Concentrations of POPs were similar between the Pacific and Atlantic penguin
      populations, except for PCBs, which were relatively higher in the Pacific
      population. During the study years (2008-2012), large variations were found in
      organochlorine pesticides and PCBs tended to decline. Overall, the southern
      portion of South America has low concentrations of POPs, with either a constant
      trend or evidence of decline.

PMID- 26881338
TI  - Long-Term Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate on the Progression of
      Structural Changes in Knee Osteoarthritis: Six-Year Followup Data From the
      Osteoarthritis Initiative.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the long-term (6-year) effect of combined glucosamine (Glu)
      and chondroitin sulfate (CS) treatment on cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis
      (OA). METHODS: Participants were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative progression
      and incidence subcohorts, had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the target knee
      at baseline and 6 years, joint space width >1 mm, and data available on Glu/CS
      consumption (n = 1,593). They were stratified into 2 main groups based on whether
      or not they had medial meniscal extrusion at baseline. The group with meniscal
      extrusion (n = 429) was further stratified into subgroups based on exposure or no
      exposure to Glu/CS as follows: not exposed, 1 year, 2-3 years, and 4-6 years.
      Cartilage volume was assessed using fully automated quantitative MRI technology.
      RESULTS: The Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test indicated that treatment with Glu/CS
      significantly reduced the cartilage volume loss in the global knee, associated
      with the lateral compartment. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that the
      extent of the treatment's positive effect was related to exposure time to
      treatment, the protective effect at 6 years being significant in participants
      exposed to >=2 years of treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings provide future
      support for the long-term protective structure-modifying effects of Glu/CS
      treatment in knee OA subjects.

PMID- 26881340
TI  - Structures and photoelectric properties of five benzotrithiophene isomers-based
      donor-acceptor copolymers.
AB  - In this paper, we have investigated the structures, electronic and optical
      properties of five conjugated copolymers (BTT1-BTz, BTT2-BTz, BTT3-BTz, BTT4-BTz
      and BTT5-BTz) featuring benzotrithiophene (BTT) isomers as donor units and
      benzothiadiazole (BTz) as acceptor units, linked through thiophene spacers,
      employing many-body perturbation theory (MBPT). We have explored the isomer
      effects by configuration of the sulfur atoms in BTT units, aimed to get insight
      into how the structural modifications to the conjugated backbone can influence
      the molecular structures and electronic properties of conjugated polymers. Using
      the trimer as the computational model, the calculated low and high energy
      absorption bands (660 and 413 nm) for BTT1-BTz agree well with the experimental
      ones (645 and 430 nm) with a small offset of ~15 nm. On the basis of our
      calculations, it is found that the backbones of these polymers display different
      coplanarities, with the dihedral angles between the two neighboring rings varying
      from 12.3 degrees  to 79.0 degrees . Importantly, both BTT1-BTz and BTT2-BTz
      exhibit intense adsorption around 660 and 623 nm, indicating their promising
      application in solar cells, whereas BTT3-BTz and BTT4-BTz display the intense
      adsorption at 569 and 551 nm, which are also usable in the tandem solar cells.
      BTT5-BTz has narrow and weak adsorption in the visible and infrared region,
      implying it is not conducive to the sunlight absorption. The blue shift of about
      150 nm from BTT1-BTz to BTT5-BTz is suggested to be originated from the shorter
      effective conjugation lengths.

PMID- 26881339
TI  - The prevalence and predictors of bipolar and borderline personality disorders
      comorbidity: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Data about the prevalence of borderline personality (BPD) and
      bipolar (BD) disorders comorbidity are scarce and the boundaries remain
      controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating
      the prevalence of BPD in BD and BD in people with BPD. METHODS: Two independent
      authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library from
      inception till November 4, 2015. Articles reporting the prevalence of BPD and BD
      were included. A random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were conducted.
      RESULTS: Overall, 42 papers were included: 28 considering BPD in BD and 14
      considering BD in BPD. The trim and fill adjusted analysis demonstrated the
      prevalence of BPD among 5273 people with BD (39.94 +/- 11.78 years, 44% males)
      was 21.6% (95% CI 17.0-27.1). Higher comorbid BPD in BD were noted in BD II
      participants (37.7%, 95% CI 21.9-56.6, studies=6) and North American studies
      (26.2%, 95% CI 18.7-35.3, studies=11). Meta regression established that a higher
      percentage of males and higher mean age significantly (p<0.05) predicted a lower
      prevalence of comorbid BPD in BD participants. The trim and fill adjusted
      prevalence of BD among 1814 people with BPD (32.22 +/- 7.35 years, 21.5% male)
      was 18.5% (95% CI 12.7-26.1). LIMITATIONS: Paucity of longitudinal/control group
      studies and accurate treatment records. CONCLUSIONS: BPD-BD comorbidity is
      common, with approximately one in five people experiencing a comorbid diagnosis.
      Based on current diagnostic constructs, and a critical interpretation of results,
      both qualitative and quantitative syntheses of the evidence prompt out the
      relevance of differences rather similarities between BD and BPD.

PMID- 26881341
TI  - [Determining freedom of choice in forensic psychiatry is of great importance to
      psychiatry as a whole].

PMID- 26881342
TI  - [Psychopathology in families: an integral approach via the family outpatient
      clinic].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders run in families. To bridge the gap between
      child and youth psychiatry and adult psychiatry, GGZ inGeest has started
      screening parents of new registered children for psychopathology - and if
      indicated - offers parents treatment in the same department as their children.
      AIM: To examine the feasibility and usefulness of this procedure, to investigate
      how many parents agree to screening, further diagnostics and treatment, and to
      find out how many parents have in fact suffered from recent psychiatric problems.
      METHOD: Prior to the children's first appointment, the parents were asked to
      complete a questionnaire, the Adult Self Report (ASR), about their own problems.
      If these scores were (sub)clinical, parents were invited to participate in a
      telephonic interview. This consisted of the Composite International Diagnostic
      Interview (CIDI) and Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). If the results
      indicate psychopathology, further psychiatric assessment and, if necessary,
      treatment is offered. RESULTS: The first response was 55.7% and, if indicated,
      most of the parents agreed on further diagnostics. On the ASR 2 out of 5 mothers
      (42.1%) and 1 out of 5 fathers (21.8%) reported problems that could point to a
      psychiatric disorder. According to the ASR, within this high-risk group 37% of
      the mothers met the criteria for an axis I diagnosis (less than one month
      earlier) compared to 70.6% of the fathers. A mood disorder was the primary
      diagnosis for women, whereas men most often suffered from an anxiety disorder. In
      total, 19.1% of the parents screened were suffering from recent psychopathology
      and 75% of this group agreed to receive mental health care (treatment at the
      family outpatient clinic or referred to another clinic). CONCLUSION:
      Implementation of the family outpatient clinic scheme is feasible. However,
      further efforts are needed in order to reach a larger group of parents,
      particularly fathers. The family outpatient clinic is useful because parents who
      suffer from psychopathology do not always receive mental health care. However, a
      randomised control trial is needed to determine whether parallel treatment of
      parents and children can improve the treatment outcome for children.

PMID- 26881343
TI  - [Risk factors and protective factors relating to suicide in the Netherlands and
      Flanders].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The suicide rate is 82% higher in the Flanders region of Belgium than
      in the Netherlands. AIM: To investigate to what extent Flanders and the
      Netherlands differ with regard to the risk factors and protective factors
      relating to suicide and attempted suicide. METHOD: By means of a structured
      postal questionnaire, we collected data on the following topics from 2999 Flemish
      and Dutch people between 18 and 64 years: mental well-being and earlier attempts
      to commit suicide, the help they had received and their intention to seek help
      for psychological problems, awareness of the mental health care available,
      satisfaction with the help received, and attitudes to suicide. RESULTS: The
      incidence of psychological problems and suicidality did not differ significantly
      between Flanders and the Netherlands. Compared to Flemish people, Dutch people
      with psychological problems had received more psychological help and more often
      expressed the intention to seek help in the future. Furthermore, the Dutch were
      better informed about mental health care, and patient satisfaction was higher in
      the Netherlands. Compared to the Flemish people, the Dutch had more positive and
      understanding attitude to suicide. CONCLUSION: In general, risk factors for
      suicide were similar in the Netherlands and Flanders. However, the Dutch were
      characterised by more protective factors. We attempt to explain these differences
      and suggest ways of improving suicidal prevention policy.

PMID- 26881344
TI  - [Social dysfunction in schizotypy].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Schizotypy is a personality organisation that is closely related to
      schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia and is characterised by
      deficits in social functioning. Although the dimensions of social dysfunction
      have not yet been fully explored certain aspects of social dysfunction are
      promising predictive markers for schizophrenia. AIM: To describe schizotypy and
      its influence on social functioning. METHOD: We reviewed the literature
      systematically using the online databases PubMed and PsycINFO. RESULTS: The
      disorder known as schizotypy lies at the basis of schizotypal personality
      disorder. Both disorders are characterised by an increased risk for
      schizophrenia. The social dysfunctioning seen in schizotypy corresponds to the
      social dysfunction seen in schizophrenia. Impairments in social cognition are
      causal factors of this social dysfunction. Both the negative and the positive
      dimension of schizotypy influence social cognition. CONCLUSION: More focused,
      objective and interactive research to the various aspects of social functioning
      in schizotypy is needed in order to discover potential premorbid markers for
      schizophrenia.

PMID- 26881345
TI  - [Auditory verbal hallucinations in patients with borderline personality
      disorder].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Traditionally, auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) experienced by
      patients with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) are considered to be rare,
      to have a 'pseudo'-quality, and to cause little distress. AIM: To provide an
      overview of studies of the prevalence and phenomenological characteristics of
      AVHs in patients with a BPD, and of the ensuing degree of suffering. METHOD: We
      performed a systematic literature search using PubMed and the Ovid database.
      RESULTS: 27% of patients with a BPD experience AVH. Phenomenologically, these
      percepts are indistinguishable from those experienced by patients with a
      schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Hallucinations in several modalities were
      present in 50% of the patients with BPD. The mean time-span in which AVH were
      experienced was 17 years, the mean frequency was several minutes per day. The
      degree of suffering was high and the patient's life was interrupted to a moderate
      degree. CONCLUSION: AVH and other hallucinations are common in BPD. We advise
      clinicians to inquire directly whether patients experience them and to provide
      treatment whenever possible. However, one of the problems is, that evidence-based
      treatment methods such as antipsychotics, cognitive-behavioural therapy and
      transcranial magnetic stimulation have not yet been studied systematically for
      this specific patient group.

PMID- 26881346
TI  - [Hearing voices is an aspecific symptom].

PMID- 26881347
TI  - [A personal diagnosis for patients who hear voices: symptoms can improve in a
      meaningful context].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In his controversial book Beyond dsm-5 (written in Dutch) Jim van Os
      makes a plea for a 'personal diagnosis'. AIM: To describe how a personal
      diagnosis can be made in the case of patients who hear voices. METHOD: We
      described and tested extensively how we achieved a personal diagnosis for
      patients who hear voices. RESULTS: This method enabled us to establish a
      relationship between hearing voices and events in a patient's personal life. This
      association plays an important role in the patient's recovery. CONCLUSION: Such a
      personal diagnosis has important advantages, both for the patient who hear voices
      and for the professional: it is drawn up with the personal involvement of the
      patient, and strengthens the working relationship; the patient's personal history
      plays a central role. A personal diagnosis empowers the patient, it is written in
      language that the patient can understand. It also reveals possible ways of
      solving the patient's personal problems and can thereby lead to further treatment
      and recovery.

PMID- 26881348
TI  - [Could you please reduce your seclusion rates? To structure patient care by the
      methodical work approach].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Creating a safe treatment environment with a minimum use of seclusion
      at a ward for intensive psychiatric care is a complex process involving many
      actors. Although s/he is accountable for the use of seclusion, the psychiatrist's
      influence on actual seclusion practices is limited. The methodical work approach
      (MWA) to patient care is designed to improve multidisciplinary care delivery.
      AIM: To investigate ways in which the psychiatrist can structure the treatment
      and reduce seclusion rates by introducing the MWA. METHOD: We performed a
      quantitative analysis of the effects that the implementation of the MWA on an
      intervention ward had on the use of seclusion, comparing the intervention ward to
      control wards. We also conducted a qualitative analysis of the changes that
      occurred in the work process and in the roles of the various professionals
      involved. RESULTS: The use of seclusion had reduced significantly more at the
      intervention ward than it had at the control wards. The reduced seclusion rates
      were associated with an increase in interdisciplinary collaboration and
      professionalisation. CONCLUSION: By helping to limit the use of seclusion,
      possibly due to enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and professionalisation,
      the MWA offers new horizons for mental health care professionals and their
      patients.

PMID- 26881349
TI  - [A philosophical information leaflet to accompany a DSM classification].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The introduction of the dsm-5 has re-ignited discussion about the
      classification of mental disorders. The public may have misconceptions with
      regard to the nature of the information contained in a dsm-classification. AIM:
      To bring about a conceptual switch so that the professional user of a
      classification sees it as an aid to diagnosis rather than as a definition of a
      problem or illness. METHOD: We devised a 'thought experiment' to serve as a
      support for dsm classifications. RESULTS: The 'thought experiment' led us to
      devise a medicine package containing a 'philosophical' information leaflet. This
      'thought-experiment', the information leaflet and the medicine package were
      presented to both students and trainee doctors at the ucp in Groningen and to
      clinicians at the fpc dr. S. van Mesdag Clinic. CONCLUSION: Students and trainee
      doctors were able to make the desired conceptual switch as a result of 'the
      thought experiment' and with the help they received from the medicine packaging
      containing the 'philosophical' information leaflet.

PMID- 26881350
TI  - [Fatal aortarupture following electroconvulsive therapy].
AB  - Electroconvulsive therapy (ect) is a highly effective and safe form of treatment
      in psychiatry. However, fatal cardiovascular complications are rarely discussed
      in the literature. We describe the case of a 49-year old man who died from a
      ruptured aorta following treatment with ect. 

PMID- 26881351
TI  - [Are appearances deceptive? Evidence-based instead of marketing-based
      psychiatry].

PMID- 26881352
TI  - [Interests in pharmacological research are wider than big pharma's interest in
      this field].

PMID- 26881356
TI  - Waiting Room: Philip Evergood.

PMID- 26881357
TI  - Despite Potential Health Benefits of Maternity Leave, US Lags Behind Other
      Industrialized Countries.

PMID- 26881358
TI  - If You Can't Measure Performance, Can You Improve It?

PMID- 26881365
TI  - Integrating Predictive Analytics Into High-Value Care: The Dawn of Precision
      Delivery.

PMID- 26881366
TI  - A PIECE OF MY MIND. The Unreasonable Patient.

PMID- 26881367
TI  - Ensuring the Quality of Quality Metrics for Emergency Care.

PMID- 26881368
TI  - Embrace the Complexity: The US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation on
      Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

PMID- 26881369
TI  - In-Hospital Outcomes and Costs Among Patients Hospitalized During a Return Visit
      to the Emergency Department.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Unscheduled short-term return visits to the emergency department (ED)
      are increasingly monitored as a hospital performance measure and have been
      proposed as a measure of the quality of emergency care. OBJECTIVE: To examine in
      hospital clinical outcomes and resource use among patients who are hospitalized
      during an unscheduled return visit to the ED. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:
      Retrospective analysis of adult ED visits to acute care hospitals in Florida and
      New York in 2013 using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.
      Patients with index ED visits were identified and followed up for return visits
      to the ED within 7, 14, and 30 days. EXPOSURES: Hospital admission occurring
      during an initial visit to the ED vs during a return visit to the ED. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: In-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU)
      admission, length of stay, and inpatient costs. RESULTS: Among the 9,036,483
      index ED visits to 424 hospitals in the study sample, 1,758,359 patients were
      admitted to the hospital during the index ED visit. Of these patients, 149,214
      (8.5%) had a return visit to the ED within 7 days of the index ED visit, 228,370
      (13.0%) within 14 days, and 349,335 (19.9%) within 30 days, and 76,151 (51.0%),
      122,040 (53.4%), and 190,768 (54.6%), respectively, were readmitted to the
      hospital. Among the 7,278,124 patients who were discharged during the index ED
      visit, 598,404 (8.2%) had a return visit to the ED within 7 days, 839,386 (11.5%)
      within 14 days, and 1,205,865 (16.6%) within 30 days. Of these patients, 86,012
      (14.4%) were admitted to the hospital within 7 days, 121,587 (14.5%) within 14
      days, and 173,279 (14.4%) within 30 days. The 86,012 patients discharged from the
      ED and admitted to the hospital during a return ED visit within 7 days had
      significantly lower rates of in-hospital mortality (1.85%) compared with the
      1,609,145 patients who were admitted during the index ED visit without a return
      ED visit (2.48%) (odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.69-0.78]), lower rates of ICU
      admission (23.3% vs 29.0%, respectively; odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.71-0.76]),
      lower mean costs ($10,169 vs $10,799; difference, $629 [95% CI, $479-$781]), and
      longer lengths of stay (5.16 days vs 4.97 days; IRR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.03-1.05]).
      Similar outcomes were observed for patients returning to the ED within 14 and 30
      days of the index ED visit. In contrast, patients who returned to the ED after
      hospital discharge and were readmitted had higher rates of in-hospital mortality
      and ICU admission, longer lengths of stay, and higher costs during the repeat
      hospital admission compared with those admitted to the hospital during the index
      ED visit without a return ED visit. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Compared with
      adult patients who were hospitalized during the index ED visit and did not have a
      return visit to the ED, patients who were initially discharged during an ED visit
      and admitted during a return visit to the ED had lower in-hospital mortality, ICU
      admission rates, and in-hospital costs and longer lengths of stay. These findings
      suggest that hospital admissions associated with return visits to the ED may not
      adequately capture deficits in the quality of care delivered during an ED visit.

PMID- 26881371
TI  - Screening Yield of HIV Antigen/Antibody Combination and Pooled HIV RNA Testing
      for Acute HIV Infection in a High-Prevalence Population.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Although acute HIV infection contributes disproportionately to onward
      HIV transmission, HIV testing has not routinely included screening for acute HIV
      infection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of an HIV antigen/antibody
      (Ag/Ab) combination assay to detect acute HIV infection compared with pooled HIV
      RNA testing. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multisite, prospective, within
      individual comparison study conducted between September 2011 and October 2013 in
      7 sexually transmitted infection clinics and 5 community-based programs in New
      York, California, and North Carolina. Participants were 12 years or older and
      seeking HIV testing, without known HIV infection. EXPOSURES: All participants
      with a negative rapid HIV test result were screened for acute HIV infection with
      an HIV Ag/Ab combination assay (index test) and pooled human immunodeficiency
      virus 1 (HIV-1) RNA testing. HIV RNA testing was the reference standard, with
      positive reference standard result defined as detectable HIV-1 RNA on an
      individual RNA test. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Number and proportion with acute
      HIV infections detected. RESULTS: Among 86,836 participants with complete test
      results (median age, 29 years; 75.0% men; 51.8% men who have sex with men),
      established HIV infection was diagnosed in 1158 participants (1.33%) and acute
      HIV infection was diagnosed in 168 participants (0.19%). Acute HIV infection was
      detected in 134 participants with HIV Ag/Ab combination testing (0.15% [95% CI,
      0.13%-0.18%]; sensitivity, 79.8% [95% CI, 72.9%-85.6%]; specificity, 99.9% [95%
      CI, 99.9%-99.9%]; positive predictive value, 59.0% [95% CI, 52.3%-65.5%]) and in
      164 participants with pooled HIV RNA testing (0.19% [95% CI, 0.16%-0.22%];
      sensitivity, 97.6% [95% CI, 94.0%-99.4%]; specificity, 100% [95% CI, 100%-100%];
      positive predictive value, 96.5% [95% CI, 92.5%-98.7%]; sensitivity comparison, P
      < .001). Overall HIV Ag/Ab combination testing detected 82% of acute HIV
      infections detectable by pooled HIV RNA testing. Compared with rapid HIV testing
      alone, HIV Ag/Ab combination testing increased the relative HIV diagnostic yield
      (both established and acute HIV infections) by 10.4% (95% CI, 8.8%-12.2%) and
      pooled HIV RNA testing increased the relative HIV diagnostic yield by 12.4% (95%
      CI, 10.7%-14.3%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a high-prevalence population, HIV
      screening using an HIV Ag/Ab combination assay following a negative rapid test
      detected 82% of acute HIV infections detectable by pooled HIV RNA testing, with a
      positive predictive value of 59%. Further research is needed to evaluate this
      strategy in lower-prevalence populations and in persons using preexposure
      prophylaxis for HIV prevention.

PMID- 26881373
TI  - Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

PMID- 26881372
TI  - Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: US Preventive Services
      Task Force Recommendation Statement.
AB  - DESCRIPTION: New US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on
      screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children. METHODS: The
      USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the accuracy, benefits, and potential harms of
      brief, formal screening instruments for ASD administered during routine primary
      care visits and the benefits and potential harms of early behavioral treatment
      for young children identified with ASD through screening. POPULATION: This
      recommendation applies to children aged 18 to 30 months who have not been
      diagnosed with ASD or developmental delay and for whom no concerns of ASD have
      been raised by parents, other caregivers, or health care professionals.
      RECOMMENDATION: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to
      assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for ASD in young children
      for whom no concerns of ASD have been raised by their parents or a clinician. (I
      statement).

PMID- 26881370
TI  - Association Between Interstitial Lung Abnormalities and All-Cause Mortality.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Interstitial lung abnormalities have been associated with lower 6
      minute walk distance, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, and total lung
      capacity. However, to our knowledge, an association with mortality has not been
      previously investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether interstitial lung
      abnormalities are associated with increased mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      POPULATION: Prospective cohort studies of 2633 participants from the FHS
      (Framingham Heart Study; computed tomographic [CT] scans obtained September 2008
      March 2011), 5320 from the AGES-Reykjavik Study (Age Gene/Environment
      Susceptibility; recruited January 2002-February 2006), 2068 from the COPDGene
      Study (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; recruited November 2007-April
      2010), and 1670 from ECLIPSE (Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify
      Predictive Surrogate Endpoints; between December 2005-December 2006). EXPOSURES:
      Interstitial lung abnormality status as determined by chest CT evaluation. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: All-cause mortality over an approximate 3- to 9-year
      median follow-up time. Cause-of-death information was also examined in the AGES
      Reykjavik cohort. RESULTS: Interstitial lung abnormalities were present in 177
      (7%) of the 2633 participants from FHS, 378 (7%) of 5320 from AGES-Reykjavik, 156
      (8%) of 2068 from COPDGene, and in 157 (9%) of 1670 from ECLIPSE. Over median
      follow-up times of approximately 3 to 9 years, there were more deaths (and a
      greater absolute rate of mortality) among participants with interstitial lung
      abnormalities when compared with those who did not have interstitial lung
      abnormalities in the following cohorts: 7% vs 1% in FHS (6% difference [95% CI,
      2% to 10%]), 56% vs 33% in AGES-Reykjavik (23% difference [95% CI, 18% to 28%]),
      and 11% vs 5% in ECLIPSE (6% difference [95% CI, 1% to 11%]). After adjustment
      for covariates, interstitial lung abnormalities were associated with a higher
      risk of death in the FHS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.7 [95% CI, 1.1 to 6.5]; P = .03),
      AGES-Reykjavik (HR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.2 to 1.4]; P < .001), COPDGene (HR, 1.8 [95%
      CI, 1.1 to 2.8]; P = .01), and ECLIPSE (HR, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.1 to 2.0]; P = .02)
      cohorts. In the AGES-Reykjavik cohort, the higher rate of mortality could be
      explained by a higher rate of death due to respiratory disease, specifically
      pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In 4 separate research cohorts,
      interstitial lung abnormalities were associated with a greater risk of all-cause
      mortality. The clinical implications of this association require further
      investigation.

PMID- 26881374
TI  - Hyperpigmented Reticulated Patch in an Older Man.

PMID- 26881375
TI  - Salt and Sodium Intake in China.

PMID- 26881376
TI  - US Trends for Diabetes Prevalence Among Adults.

PMID- 26881377
TI  - US Trends for Diabetes Prevalence Among Adults--Reply.

PMID- 26881378
TI  - Pharmacy Expenditures for Children With Serious Chronic Illness.

PMID- 26881380
TI  - Inaccurate Service Description.

PMID- 26881379
TI  - Pharmacy Expenditures for Children With Serious Chronic Illness--Reply.

PMID- 26881382
TI  - Error in Flow Diagram Randomization Boxes.

PMID- 26881381
TI  - Incorrect Minor Allele Frequency.

PMID- 26881384
TI  - Cancer of the Breast: Figures Which Show That Education Can Increase the Number
      of Cures.

PMID- 26881385
TI  - JAMA PATIENT PAGE. Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

PMID- 26881386
TI  - Distinguishing the desire to learn from the desire to perform: The social value
      of achievement goals.
AB  - We sought to distinguish mastery goals (i.e., desire to learn) from performance
      goals (i.e., desire to achieve more positive evaluations than others) in the
      light of social judgment research. In a pilot study, we made a conceptual
      distinction between three types of traits (agency, competence, and effort) that
      are often undifferentiated. We then tested the relevance of this distinction for
      understanding how people pursuing either mastery or performance goals are judged.
      On self-perception, results revealed that effort was predicted by the adoption of
      mastery goals and agency by performance goals (Study 1). On judgments, results
      showed that (a) the target pursuing mastery goals was perceived as oriented
      toward effort, and (b) the target pursuing performance goals was oriented toward
      agency (Study 2). Finally, these links were shown again by participants who
      inferred a target's goals from his traits (Study 3). Results are discussed in
      terms of the social value of achievement goals at school.

PMID- 26881387
TI  - Association of Social Determinants With Children's Hospitals' Preventable
      Readmissions Performance.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Performance-measure risk adjustment is of great interest to hospital
      stakeholders who face substantial financial penalties from readmissions pay-for
      performance (P4P) measures. Despite evidence of the association between social
      determinants of health (SDH) and individual patient readmission risk, the effect
      of risk adjusting for SDH on readmissions P4P penalties to hospitals is not well
      understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether risk adjustment for commonly
      available SDH measures affects the readmissions-based P4P penalty status of a
      national cohort of children's hospitals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:
      Retrospective cohort study of 43 free-standing children's hospitals within the
      Pediatric Health Information System database in the calendar year 2013. We
      evaluated hospital discharges from 2013 that met criteria for 3M Health
      Information Systems' potentially preventable readmissions measure for calendar
      year 2013. The analysis was conducted from July 2015 to August 2015. EXPOSURES:
      Two risk-adjustment models: a baseline model adjusted for severity of illness and
      an SDH-enhanced model that adjusted for severity of illness and the following 4
      SDH variables: race, ethnicity, payer, and median household income for the
      patient's home zip code. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Change in a hospital's
      potentially preventable readmissions penalty status (ie, change in whether a
      hospital exceeded the penalty threshold) using an observed-to-expected
      potentially preventable readmissions ratio of 1.0 as a penalty threshold.
      RESULTS: For the 179,400 hospital discharges from the 43 hospitals meeting
      inclusion criteria, median (interquartile range [IQR]) hospital-level percentages
      for the SDH variables were 39.2% nonwhite (n = 71,300; IQR, 28.6%-54.6%), 17.9%
      Hispanic (n = 32,060; IQR, 6.7%-37.0%), and 58.7% publicly insured (n = 106,116;
      IQR, 50.4%-67.8%). The hospital median household income for the patient's home
      zip code was $ 40,674 (IQR, $ 35,912-$ 46,190). When compared with the baseline
      model, adjustment for SDH resulted in a change in penalty status for 3 hospitals
      within the 15-day window (2 were no longer above the penalty threshold and 1 was
      newly penalized) and 5 hospitals within the 30-day window (3 were no longer above
      the penalty threshold and 2 were newly penalized). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
      Risk adjustment for SDH changed hospitals' penalty status on a readmissions-based
      P4P measure. Without adjusting P4P measures for SDH, hospitals may receive
      penalties partially related to patient SDH factors beyond the quality of hospital
      care.

PMID- 26881388
TI  - Lipid desaturation - the next step in targeting lipogenesis in cancer?
AB  - Metabolic reprogramming is a central feature of transformed cells. Cancer
      metabolism is now fully back in the focus of cancer research, as the interactions
      between oncogenic signalling and cellular metabolic processes are uncovered. One
      aspect of metabolic reprogramming in cancer is alterations in lipid metabolism.
      In contrast to most untransformed tissues, which satisfy their demand from
      dietary lipids, cancer cells frequently re-activate de novo lipogenesis. However,
      compounds targeting fatty acid synthase (FASN), a multiprotein complex integral
      to lipogenesis, have so far shown limited efficacy in pre-clinical cancer models
      and to date only one FASN inhibitor has entered clinical trials. Recently, a
      number of studies have suggested that enhanced production of fatty acids in
      cancer cells could also increases their dependence on the activity of
      desaturases, a class of enzymes that insert double bonds into acyl-CoA chains.
      Targeting desaturase activity could provide a window of opportunity to
      selectively interfere with the metabolic activity of cancer cells. This review
      will summarise some key findings that implicate altered lipid metabolism in
      cancer and investigate the molecular interactions between lipid desaturation and
      cancer cell survival.

PMID- 26881391
TI  - Emerging ferroelectric transistors with nanoscale channel materials: the
      possibilities, the limitations.
AB  - Combining the nonvolatile, locally switchable polarization field of a
      ferroelectric thin film with a nanoscale electronic material in a field effect
      transistor structure offers the opportunity to examine and control a rich variety
      of mesoscopic phenomena and interface coupling. It is also possible to introduce
      new phases and functionalities into these hybrid systems through rational design.
      This paper reviews two rapidly progressing branches in the field of ferroelectric
      transistors, which employ two distinct classes of nanoscale electronic materials
      as the conducting channel, the two-dimensional (2D) electron gas graphene and the
      strongly correlated transition metal oxide thin films. The topics covered include
      the basic device physics, novel phenomena emerging in the hybrid systems,
      critical mechanisms that control the magnitude and stability of the field effect
      modulation and the mobility of the channel material, potential device
      applications, and the performance limitations of these devices due to the complex
      interface interactions and challenges in achieving controlled materials
      properties. Possible future directions for this field are also outlined,
      including local ferroelectric gate control via nanoscale domain patterning and
      incorporating other emergent materials in this device concept, such as the simple
      binary ferroelectrics, layered 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, and the 4d
      and 5d heavy metal compounds with strong spin-orbit coupling. 

PMID- 26881392
TI  - Targeting the programmed cell death-1 pathway in breast and ovarian cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Immune checkpoint blockade is changing cancer therapy.
      Targeting the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway releases T cells from
      inhibitory signals within the tumor microenvironment, thereby activating a latent
      antitumor immune response. Here, we review the biology underlying the activity of
      PD-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antagonists, and data describing
      their clinical activity in breast and ovarian cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Several
      antagonists of PD-1 and PD-L1 have been tested in breast and ovarian cancer.
      These drugs are generally well tolerated, with some immune-related adverse events
      that are typically easily managed. Objective response rates generally range from
      about 10 to 20% in both breast cancer and ovarian cancer, with durable responses
      noted in multiple trials. Selecting patients with PD-L1 expression by cells
      within the tumor microenvironment appears to enrich for responses. These agents
      are under accelerated development based on these promising early data. SUMMARY:
      Monoclonal antibody-based blockade of the PD-1 pathway results in objective and
      durable clinical responses in a subset of patients with breast or ovarian
      cancers, particularly those with PD-L1-positive cells within the tumor
      microenvironment. Current priorities are to refine biomarkers of therapeutic
      response, and to develop combination immunotherapy strategies that integrate PD
      1/PD-L1 antagonists with both standard and immune-based cancer therapies to
      increase efficacy.

PMID- 26881390
TI  - A genetic study and meta-analysis of the genetic predisposition of prostate
      cancer in a Chinese population.
AB  - Prostate cancer predisposition has been extensively investigated in European
      populations, but there have been few studies of other ethnic groups. To
      investigate prostate cancer susceptibility in the under-investigated Chinese
      population, we performed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis on a
      cohort of Chinese cases and controls and then meta-analysis with data from the
      existing Chinese prostate cancer genome-wide association study (GWAS). Genotyping
      211,155 SNPs in 495 cases and 640 controls of Chinese ancestry identified several
      new suggestive Chinese prostate cancer predisposition loci. However, none of them
      reached genome-wide significance level either by meta-analysis or replication
      study. The meta-analysis with the Chinese GWAS data revealed that four 8q24 loci
      are the main contributors to Chinese prostate cancer risk and the risk alleles
      from three of them exist at much higher frequencies in Chinese than European
      populations. We also found that several predisposition loci reported in Western
      populations have different effect on Chinese men. Therefore, this first extensive
      single-nucleotide polymorphism study of Chinese prostate cancer in comparison
      with European population indicates that four loci on 8q24 contribute to a great
      risk of prostate cancer in a considerable large proportion of Chinese men. Based
      on those four loci, the top 10% of the population have six- or two-fold prostate
      cancer risk compared with men of the bottom 10% or median risk respectively,
      which may facilitate the design of prostate cancer genetic risk screening and
      prevention in Chinese men. These findings also provide additional insights into
      the etiology and pathogenesis of prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26881393
TI  - Diet-Induced Arthritis in Pigs: Comment on the Article by Scher et al.

PMID- 26881394
TI  - Realities of Anesthesia Care in Resource-limited Settings.

PMID- 26881396
TI  - A "Nitrous Oxide Gas" Advertising Bookmark from Dr. A. K. Harroun.

PMID- 26881395
TI  - Providing Anesthesia Care in Resource-limited Settings: A 6-year Analysis of
      Anesthesia Services Provided at Medecins Sans Frontieres Facilities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anesthesia is integral to improving surgical care in low-resource
      settings. Anesthesia providers who work in these areas should be familiar with
      the particularities associated with providing care in these settings, including
      the types and outcomes of commonly performed anesthetic procedures. METHODS: The
      authors conducted a retrospective analysis of anesthetic procedures performed at
      Medecins Sans Frontieres facilities from July 2008 to June 2014. The authors
      collected data on patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and patient
      outcome. The factors associated with perioperative mortality were analyzed.
      RESULTS: Over the 6-yr period, 75,536 anesthetics were provided to adult
      patients. The most common anesthesia techniques were spinal anesthesia (45.56%)
      and general anesthesia without intubation (33.85%). Overall perioperative
      mortality was 0.25%. Emergent procedures (0.41%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR],
      15.86; 95% CI, 2.14 to 115.58), specialized surgeries (2.74%; AOR, 3.82; 95% CI,
      1.27 to 11.47), and surgical duration more than 6 h (9.76%; AOR, 4.02; 95% CI,
      1.09 to 14.88) were associated with higher odds of mortality than elective
      surgeries, minor surgeries, and surgical duration less than 1 h, respectively.
      Compared with general anesthesia with intubation, spinal anesthesia, regional
      anesthesia, and general anesthesia without intubation were associated with lower
      perioperative mortality rates of 0.04% (AOR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.18), 0.06%
      (AOR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.92), and 0.14% (AOR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.45),
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of anesthetics can be carried out safely
      in resource-limited settings. Providers need to be aware of the potential risks
      and the outcomes associated with anesthesia administration in these settings.

PMID- 26881397
TI  - Porter's Pain King: Ether in Alcohol "for Man and Beast".

PMID- 26881398
TI  - Legacies of Charles Bernard Pittinger, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.A., D.A.B.A. (1913
      1990).

PMID- 26881399
TI  - Conclusions on Ventilator-induced Mechanical Injuries Associated with Ventilation
      Using Abnormally Large Tidal Volume.

PMID- 26881400
TI  - In Reply.

PMID- 26881403
TI  - Association between Intraoperative Hypotension and Hypertension and 30-day
      Postoperative Mortality in Noncardiac Surgery: Erratum.

PMID- 26881410
TI  - Anesthesiologists Without Borders: Working for Better Surgical Outcomes in
      Resource Limited Settings.

PMID- 26881411
TI  - Initiation of robot-assisted radical prostatectomies in Finland: Impact on
      centralization and quality of care.
AB  - Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of introduction of
      robot-assisted prostate surgery and its quality measures in Finland from 2008 to
      2012. Materials and methods Registry data were collected for time trends and
      national distribution of prostate cancer surgery in Finland, while preoperative,
      operative and follow-up data were collected for quality measures. Results The
      number and proportion of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies
      (RALPs) increased rapidly and they accounted for 68% of all radical
      prostatectomies in 2012. The number of centers performing prostatectomies
      diminished from 25 to 20 at the expense of low-volume centers. In total, 1996
      patients were operated on in the four RALP centers in 2008-2012. As anticipated,
      the learning curve was uniform between the centers, as were mean blood loss (212
      ml), hospitalization (1.8 days) and catheterization times (10.6 days). At 3 and
      12 months, 49.4% and 71.2% of patients, respectively, were totally continent (no
      pads). After unilateral nerve-sparing surgery, 9.9% and 5.1% had partial or
      normal erection at 3 months postoperatively and 14.8% and 20.4% at 12 months,
      respectively. If bilateral nerve sparing was done, the figures were 13.0% and
      13.5% at 3 months and 14.6% and 34.9% at 12 months. Clavien-Dindo grade 3, 4 or 5
      complications were seen in 0.3%, 0.3% and 0.1% of patients, respectively.
      Limitations of the study include non-standardized collection of outcome
      parameters. Conclusions This report shows that the main impact of adoption of
      RALP on a national level was rapid spontaneous centralization of prostate cancer
      surgery. The main advantages of minimally invasive prostatectomy, i.e. low blood
      loss and short hospitalization, are easily achieved, while continuous effort is
      necessary for improvements in surgical outcomes. 

PMID- 26881412
TI  - Quality of Reporting Nutritional Randomized Controlled Trials in Patients With
      Cystic Fibrosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have a major role in the making of
      evidence-based guidelines. The aim of the present study was to critically
      appraise the RCTs that addressed nutritional interventions in patients with
      cystic fibrosis. METHODS: Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were
      systematically searched until July 2015. Methodology and reporting of nutritional
      RCTs were evaluated by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)
      checklist and additional dimensions relevant to patients with CF. RESULTS: Fifty
      one RCTs were included. Full details on methods were provided in a minority of
      studies. The mean duration of intervention was <6 months. 56.9% of the RCTs did
      not define a primary outcome; 70.6% of studies did not provide details on sample
      size calculation; and only 31.4% reported on the subgroup or separated between
      important subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The examined RCTs were characterized by a weak
      methodology, a small number of patients with no sample size calculations, a
      relatively short intervention, and many times did not examine the outcomes that
      are important to the patient. Improvement over the years has been minor.

PMID- 26881413
TI  - Herpesvirus Infections and Transglutaminase Type 2 Antibody Positivity in
      Childhood: The Generation R Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Persistent viral infections have been implicated in the etiology of
      autoimmune diseases in adulthood, but it is not known whether herpesviruses are
      associated with the development of celiac disease autoimmunity in childhood. We
      assessed whether herpesvirus infections are associated with transglutaminase type
      2 antibody (TG2A) concentrations in children at 6 years of age. METHODS: The
      present study was embedded within a population-based prospective cohort study.
      Serum immunoglobulin G levels against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV),
      and herpes simplex virus type 1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay , and TG2A concentrations with fluorescence enzyme immunoassay in 4420
      children at 6 years of age. Children were categorized based on TG2A
      concentrations into negative (<7 U/mL), positive (>=7-70 U/mL), and strongly
      positive (>=70 U/mL), that is, 10 times upper limit normal. RESULTS: Fifty-nine
      children (1.3%) were TG2A positive, and of these 31 (53%) had concentrations 70
      U/mL or more. Children with TG2A concentrations 70 U/mL or more were less often
      infected with CMV (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-0.98, P = 0.04)
      and with any of the 3 viruses (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18-0.78, P < 0.01) than
      children with TG2A negative concentrations. In addition, children with TG2A
      concentrations 70 U/mL or more were less often infected with 2 or more viruses
      than children with TG2A negative concentrations (aOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.65, P =
      0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both CMV single infection and combined CMV, Epstein-Barr
      virus and/or herpes simplex virus type 1 infections are inversely associated with
      strongly TG2A positivity. This may indicate a protective effect of herpesvirus
      infections in the pathogenesis of celiac disease autoimmunity.

PMID- 26881414
TI  - Synthesis and Utilization of Trialkylammonium-Substituted Cyclodextrins as Water
      Soluble Chiral NMR Solvating Agents for Anionic Compounds.
AB  - Cationic trialkylammonium-substituted alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins
      containing trimethyl-, triethyl-, and tri-n-propylammonium substituent groups
      were synthesized and analyzed for utility as water-soluble chiral nuclear
      magnetic resonance (NMR) solvating agents. Racemic and enantiomerically pure (3
      chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)trimethyl-, triethyl-, and tri-n-propyl ammonium chloride
      were synthesized from the corresponding trialkyl amine hydrochloride and either
      racemic or enantiomerically pure epichlorohydrin. The ammonium salts were then
      reacted with alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins at basic pH to provide the
      corresponding randomly substituted cationic cyclodextrins. The (1) H NMR spectra
      of a range of anionic, aromatic compounds was recorded with the cationic
      cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins with a single stereochemistry at the hydroxy group
      on the (2-hydroxypropyl)trialkylammonium chloride substituent were often but not
      always more effective than the corresponding cyclodextrin in which the C-2
      position was racemic. In several cases, the larger triethyl or tri-n-propyl
      derivatives were more effective than the corresponding trimethyl derivative at
      causing enantiomeric differentiation. None of the cyclodextrin derivatives were
      consistently the most effective for all of the anionic compounds studied.

PMID- 26881415
TI  - Fluorescent supramolecular micelles for imaging-guided cancer therapy.
AB  - A novel smart fluorescent drug delivery system composed of a perylene diimide
      (PDI) core and block copolymer poly(d,l-lactide)-b-poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate)
      is developed and named as PDI-star-(PLA-b-PEEP)8. The biodegradable PDI-star-(PLA
      b-PEEP)8 is a unimolecular micelle and can self-assemble into supramolecular
      micelles, called as fluorescent supramolecular micelles (FSMs), in aqueous media.
      An insoluble drug camptothecin (CPT) can be effectively loaded into the FSMs and
      exhibits pH-responsive release. Moreover, the FSMs with good biocompatibility can
      also be employed as a remarkable fluorescent probe for cell labelling because the
      maximum emission of PDI is beneficial for bio-imaging. The flow cytometry and
      confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis demonstrate that the micelles are
      easily endocytosed by cancer cells. In vitro and in vivo tumor growth-inhibitory
      studies reveal a better therapeutic effect of FSMs after CPT encapsulation when
      compared with the free CPT drug. The multifunctional FSM nanomedicine platform as
      a nanovehicle has great potential for fluorescence imaging-guided cancer therapy.

PMID- 26881416
TI  - Comparative adoption of cone beam computed tomography and panoramic radiography
      machines across Australia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the current adoption of
      cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiography (PR) machines
      across Australia. METHODS: Information regarding registered CBCT and PR machines
      was obtained from radiation regulators across Australia. The number of X-ray
      machines was correlated with the population size, the number of dentists, and the
      gross state product (GSP) per capita, to determine the best fitting regression
      model(s). RESULTS: In 2014, there were 232 CBCT and 1681 PR machines registered
      in Australia. Based on absolute counts, Queensland had the largest number of CBCT
      and PR machines whereas the Northern Territory had the smallest number. However,
      when based on accessibility in terms of the population size and the number of
      dentists, the Australian Capital Territory had the most CBCT machines and Western
      Australia had the most PR machines. The number of X-ray machines correlated
      strongly with both the population size and the number of dentists, but not with
      the GSP per capita. CONCLUSIONS: In 2014, the ratio of PR to CBCT machines was
      approximately 7:1. Projected increases in either the population size or the
      number of dentists could positively impact on the adoption of PR and CBCT
      machines in Australia.

PMID- 26881419
TI  - In vivo evaluation of a simvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier for bone
      tissue regeneration.
AB  - Alveolar bone loss has long been a challenge in clinical dental implant therapy.
      Simvastatin (SV) has been demonstrated to exert excellent anabolic effects on
      bone. However, the successful use of SV to increase bone formation in vivo
      largely depends on the local concentration of SV at the site of action, and there
      have been continuing efforts to develop an appropriate delivery system.
      Specifically, nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) systems have become a popular
      type of encapsulation carrier system. Therefore, SV-loaded NLCs (SNs) (179.4 nm
      in diameter) were fabricated in this study, and the osteogenic effect of the SNs
      was evaluated in a critical-sized rabbit calvarial defect. Our results revealed
      that the SNs significantly enhanced bone formation in vivo, as evaluated by
      hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, and a fluorescence
      analysis. Thus, this novel nanostructured carrier system could be a potential
      encapsulation carrier system for SV in bone regeneration applications. 

PMID- 26881420
TI  - Suniti Solomon, Founder-Director Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and
      Education (YRG CARE).

PMID- 26881417
TI  - Framing Financial Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Overweight and
      Obese Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Financial incentive designs to increase physical activity have not
      been well-examined. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of 3 methods to frame
      financial incentives to increase physical activity among overweight and obese
      adults. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 02030119).
      SETTING: University of Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: 281 adult employees (body mass
      index >=27 kg/m2). INTERVENTION: 13-week intervention. Participants had a goal of
      7000 steps per day and were randomly assigned to a control group with daily
      feedback or 1 of 3 financial incentive programs with daily feedback: a gain
      incentive ($1.40 given each day the goal was achieved), lottery incentive (daily
      eligibility [expected value approximately $1.40] if goal was achieved), or loss
      incentive ($42 allocated monthly upfront and $1.40 removed each day the goal was
      not achieved). Participants were followed for another 13 weeks with daily
      performance feedback but no incentives. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was the
      mean proportion of participant-days that the 7000-step goal was achieved during
      the intervention. Secondary outcomes included the mean proportion of participant
      days achieving the goal during follow-up and the mean daily steps during
      intervention and follow-up. RESULTS: The mean proportion of participant-days
      achieving the goal was 0.30 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.37) in the control group, 0.35
      (CI, 0.28 to 0.42) in the gain-incentive group, 0.36 (CI, 0.29 to 0.43) in the
      lottery-incentive group, and 0.45 (CI, 0.38 to 0.52) in the loss-incentive group.
      In adjusted analyses, only the loss-incentive group had a significantly greater
      mean proportion of participant-days achieving the goal than control (adjusted
      difference, 0.16 [CI, 0.06 to 0.26]; P = 0.001), but the adjusted difference in
      mean daily steps was not significant (861 [CI, 24 to 1746]; P = 0.056). During
      follow-up, daily steps decreased for all incentive groups and were not different
      from control. LIMITATION: Single employer. CONCLUSION: Financial incentives
      framed as a loss were most effective for achieving physical activity goals.
      PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institute on Aging.

PMID- 26881418
TI  - Spatiotemporal patterns of population in mainland China, 1990 to 2010.
AB  - According to UN forecasts, global population will increase to over 8 billion by
      2025, with much of this anticipated population growth expected in urban areas. In
      China, the scale of urbanization has, and continues to be, unprecedented in terms
      of magnitude and rate of change. Since the late 1970s, the percentage of Chinese
      living in urban areas increased from ~18% to over 50%. To quantify these patterns
      spatially we use time-invariant or temporally-explicit data, including census
      data for 1990, 2000, and 2010 in an ensemble prediction model. Resulting multi
      temporal, gridded population datasets are unique in terms of granularity and
      extent, providing fine-scale (~100 m) patterns of population distribution for
      mainland China. For consistency purposes, the Tibet Autonomous Region, Taiwan,
      and the islands in the South China Sea were excluded. The statistical model and
      considerations for temporally comparable maps are described, along with the
      resulting datasets. Final, mainland China population maps for 1990, 2000, and
      2010 are freely available as products from the WorldPop Project website and the
      WorldPop Dataverse Repository. 

PMID- 26881421
TI  - Applying the Principles of McDonaldization to Medicine.

PMID- 26881422
TI  - Mathematical Method for Analysis of the Refractive Outcome after Toric
      Intraocular Lens Implantation.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aimed to develop a self-designed software programmed with a
      mathematical method that analyzes the refractive outcome after toric intraocular
      lens (IOL) implantation, taking the axis misalignment of the toric IOL into
      consideration. METHODS: A mathematical method that can analyze the refractive
      outcome after toric IOL implantation was devised. Compared with the conventional
      method, which performs the analysis based on precise alignment of the IOL,
      optional meridian orientations of the toric IOL were taken into account in this
      method. Self-designed computer software was developed using the mathematical
      method. RESULTS: Relatively high accordance was achieved between the mathematical
      analysis and the actual postoperative outcome. The mean predicted spherical power
      was 0.37 +/- 0.74 dpt, and the mean measured spherical power was 0.37 +/- 0.71
      dpt (paired t test, p = 0.98). The mean predicted cylindrical power was -1.35 +/-
      0.86 dpt, and the mean measured cylindrical power was -1.42 +/- 0.85 dpt (p =
      0.27). The mean predicted change in the astigmatic axis was 33.7 +/- 11.8 degrees
      , and the mean measured parameter was 32.5 +/- 15.4 degrees  (p = 0.49).
      CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of the present mathematical method is that the
      postoperative refractive outcome can be analyzed under IOL misalignment.

PMID- 26881423
TI  - Congenital Hypothyroidism: Long-Term Experience with Early and High Levothyroxine
      Dosage.
AB  - AIM: To assess the management and outcome of the congenital hypothyroidism (CH)
      patients followed at our institution since the introduction of systemic neonatal
      screening for CH. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 139 CH patients referred to our
      center between 1978 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Biochemical and
      imaging data at diagnosis, initial treatment and growth were analyzed. RESULTS:
      111 patients had thyroid dysgenesis (64 ectopy, 46 athyreosis and 1 hypoplasia)
      and 28 patients had a gland in situ (17 dyshormonogenesis/goiter and 11 normal
      sized gland). Levothyroxine treatment was initiated at a median age of 11 days
      with a mean dose of 11.4 ug/kg/day. Compared to those with ectopy, patients with
      athyreosis had higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and lower thyroxine at
      diagnosis as well as more delayed bone maturation. Between 1978 and 2014, we
      observed earlier treatment and earlier TSH normalization. Birth auxology was
      slightly above the mean of the reference population. Growth at 1 and 6 years and
      school progression at 11 years were similar to those of the reference population.
      CONCLUSION: Ectopy is the commonest cause of CH. Children with CH treated early
      with a mean levothyroxine dose of 11.4 ug/kg/day had a median TSH of 3.07 mU/l at
      1 month of age and normal growth.

PMID- 26881425
TI  - Psychology and health after apartheid: Or, Why there is no health psychology in
      South Africa.
AB  - As part of a growing literature on the histories of psychology in the Global
      South, this article outlines some historical developments in South African
      psychologists' engagement with the problem of "health." Alongside movements to
      formalize and professionalize a U.S.-style "health psychology" in the 1990s,
      there arose a parallel, eclectic, and more or less critical psychology that
      contested the meaning and determinants of health, transgressed disciplinary
      boundaries, and opposed the responsibilization of illness implicit in much health
      psychological theorizing and neoliberal discourse. This disciplinary bifurcation
      characterized South African work well into the postapartheid era, but ideological
      distinctions have receded in recent years under a new regime of knowledge
      production in thrall to the demands of the global market. The article outlines
      some of the historical-political roots of key trends in psychologists' work on
      health in South Africa, examining the conditions that have impinged on its
      directions and priorities. It raises questions about the future trajectories of
      psychological research on health after 20 years of democracy, and argues that
      there currently is no "health psychology" in South Africa, and that the
      discipline is the better for it.

PMID- 26881424
TI  - Release of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 and 9 by S-Nitrosylated Caveolin-1
      Contributes to Degradation of Extracellular Matrix in tPA-Treated Hypoxic
      Endothelial Cells.
AB  - Intracranial hemorrhage remains the most feared complication in tissue
      plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolysis for ischemic stroke. However, the
      underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly elucidated. In this study, we
      reported an important role of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) s-nitrosylation in matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and 9 secretion from tPA-treated ischemic endothelial
      cells. Brain vascular endothelial cells (bEND3) were exposed to oxygen-glucose
      deprivation (OGD) for 2 h before adding recombinant human tPA for 6 h. This
      treatment induced a significant increase of MMP2 and 9 in the media of bEND3
      cells and a simultaneous degradation of fibronectin and laminin beta-1, the two
      main components of extracellular matrix (ECM). Inhibition of MMP2 and 9 with SB
      3CT completely blocked the degradation of fibronectin and laminin beta-1. ODG+tPA
      treatment led to Cav-1 shedding from bEND3 cells into the media. Notably, OGD
      triggered nitric oxide (NO) production and S-nitrosylationof Cav-1 (SNCav-1).
      Meanwhile tPA induced activation of ERK signal pathway and stimulates the
      secretion of SNCav-1. Pretreatment of bEND3 cells with C-PTIO (a NO scavenger) or
      U0126 (a specific ERK inhibitor) significantly reduced OGD-induced S
      nitrosylation of Cav-1 in cells and blocked the secretion of Cav-1 and MMP2 and 9
      into the media as well as the degradation of fibronectin and laminin beta-1 in
      OGD and tPA-treated cells. These data indicate that OGD-triggered Cav-1 S
      nitrosylation interacts with tPA-induced ERK activation to augment MMP2 and 9
      secretion and subsequent ECM degradation, which may account for the exacerbation
      of ischemic blood brain barrier damage following tPA thrombolysis for ischemic
      stroke. 

PMID- 26881426
TI  - When Children Become Adults: Should Biobanks Re-Contact?

PMID- 26881427
TI  - Survey of the Influence of the Width of Urban Branch Roads on the Meeting of Two
      Way Vehicle Flows.
AB  - Branch roads, which are densely distributed in cities, allow for the flow of
      local traffic and provide connections between the city and outlying areas. Branch
      roads are typically narrow, and two-way traffic flows on branch roads are thus
      affected when vehicles traveling in opposite directions meet. This study
      investigates the changes in the velocities of vehicles when they meet on two-way
      branch roads. Various widths of branch roads were selected, and their influence
      on traffic flows was investigated via a video survey. The results show that,
      depending on the average vehicle velocity, branch roads require different widths
      to prevent a large decrease in velocity when vehicles meet. When the velocity on
      a branch road is not high (e.g., the average velocity without meeting is
      approximately 6 m/s), appropriately increasing the road width will notably
      increase the meeting velocity. However, when the velocity is high (e.g., the
      average velocity without meeting is greater than 10 m/s), there is a large
      decrease in velocity when meeting even if the road surface is wide (6.5 m). This
      study provides a basis for selecting the width of urban branch roads and the
      simulation of bidirectional traffic on such roads. 

PMID- 26881428
TI  - Preserving a Comprehensive Vegetation Knowledge Base--An Evaluation of Four
      Historical Soviet Vegetation Maps of the Western Pamirs (Tajikistan).
AB  - We edited, redrew, and evaluated four unpublished historical vegetation maps of
      the Western Pamirs (Tajikistan) by the Soviet geobotanist Okmir E. Agakhanjanz.
      These maps cover an area of 5,188 km2 and date from 1958 to 1960. The purpose of
      this article is to make the historic vegetation data available to the scientific
      community and thus preserve a hitherto non available and up to now neglected or
      forgotten data source with great potential for studies on vegetation and
      ecosystem response to global change. The original hand-drawn maps were scanned,
      georeferenced, and digitized and the corresponding land cover class was assigned
      to each polygon. The partly differing legends were harmonized and plant names
      updated. Furthermore, a digital elevation model and generalized additive models
      were used to calculate response curves of the land cover classes and to explore
      vegetation-topography relationships quantitatively. In total, 2,216 polygons
      belonging to 13 major land cover classes were included that are characterized by
      252 different plant species. As such, the presented maps provide excellent
      comparison data for studies on vegetation and ecosystem change in an area that is
      deemed to be an important water tower in Central Asia. 

PMID- 26881430
TI  - Pediatric Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and peritoneal dialysis
      are the preferred forms of dialysis delivery in critically ill children for the
      treatment of severe acute kidney injury. The epidemiology and the outcome of
      acute pediatric dialysis will be reviewed. SUMMARY: The prospective pediatric
      CRRT (pCRRT) registry has provided important epidemiologic information: pCRRT is
      required in about 5% of patients in pediatric intensive care units, and the
      mortality rate of these patients is about 60%. CRRT outcomes are significantly
      associated with age, the presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and the
      amount of fluid overload in children before CRRT inception. The timing and the
      dose of pCRRT are to be further evaluated in prospective trials. A final aspect
      worthy of review is a technical issue: the accuracy of new-generation CRRT
      monitors and novel dedicated circuits that have been developed. In future years,
      the delivery and the outcome of pCRRT are expected to significantly improve, with
      the target of expanding and anticipating dialysis initiation in critically ill
      pediatric patients.

PMID- 26881429
TI  - Disparities in Prevalence of Cardiometablic Risk Factors in Rural, Urban-Poor,
      and Urban-Middle Class Women in India.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Urbanization is an important determinant of cardiovascular disease
      (CVD) risk. To determine location-based differences in CVD risk factors in India
      we performed studies among women in rural, urban-poor and urban middle-class
      locations. METHODS: Population-based cross-sectional studies in rural, urban
      poor, and urban-middle class women (35-70 y) were performed at multiple sites. We
      evaluated 6853 women (rural 2616, 5 sites; urban-poor 2008, 4 sites; urban middle
      class 2229, 11 sites) for socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric and
      biochemical risk factors. Descriptive statistics are reported. RESULTS: Mean
      levels of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR),
      systolic BP, fasting glucose and cholesterol in rural, urban-poor and urban
      middle class women showed significantly increasing trends (ANOVAtrend, p <0.001).
      Age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and risk factors among rural, urban-poor and
      urban-middle class women, respectively was, diabetes (2.2, 9.3, 17.7%),
      overweight BMI >=25 kg/m2 (22.5, 45.6, 57.4%), waist >80 cm (28.3, 63.4, 61.9%),
      waist >90 cm (8.4, 31.4, 38.2%), waist hip ratio (WHR) >0.8 (60.4, 90.7, 88.5),
      WHR>0.9 (13.0, 44.3, 56.1%), hypertension (31.6, 48.2, 59.0%) and
      hypercholesterolemia (13.5, 27.7, 37.4%) (Mantel Haenszel X2 ptrend <0.01).
      Inverse trend was observed for tobacco use (41.6, 19.6, 9.4%). There was
      significant association of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes with
      overweight and obesity (adjusted R2 0.89-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: There are
      significant location based differences in cardiometabolic risk factors in India.
      The urban-middle class women have the highest risk compared to urban-poor and
      rural.

PMID- 26881432
TI  - Microbial Community Profile and Water Quality in a Protected Area of the Caatinga
      Biome.
AB  - The Caatinga is a semi-arid biome in northeast Brazil. The Paraguacu River is
      located in the Caatinga biome, and part of its course is protected by the
      National Park of Chapada Diamantina (PNCD). In this study we evaluated the effect
      of PNCD protection on the water quality and microbial community diversity of this
      river by analyzing water samples obtained from points located inside and outside
      the PNCD in both wet and dry seasons. Results of water quality analysis showed
      higher levels of silicate, ammonia, particulate organic carbon, and nitrite in
      samples from the unprotected area compared with those from protected areas.
      Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that Burkholderiales was abundant
      in samples from all three sites during both seasons and was represented primarily
      by the genus Polynucleobacter and members of the Comamonadaceae family (e.g.,
      genus Limnohabitans). During the dry season, the unprotected area showed a higher
      abundance of Flavobacterium sp. and Arthrobacter sp., which are frequently
      associated with the presence and/or degradation of arsenic and pesticide
      compounds. In addition, genes that appear to be related to agricultural impacts
      on the environment, as well as those involved in arsenic and cadmium resistance,
      copper homeostasis, and propanediol utilization, were detected in the unprotected
      areas by metagenomic sequencing. Although PNCD protection improves water quality,
      agricultural activities around the park may affect water quality within the park
      and may account for the presence of bacteria capable of pesticide degradation and
      assimilation, evidencing possible anthropogenic impacts on the Caatinga. 

PMID- 26881431
TI  - Chimeric Vaccine Stimulation of Human Dendritic Cell Indoleamine 2, 3-Dioxygenase
      Occurs via the Non-Canonical NF-kappaB Pathway.
AB  - A chimeric protein vaccine composed of the cholera toxin B subunit fused to
      proinsulin (CTB-INS) was shown to suppress type 1 diabetes onset in NOD mice and
      upregulate biosynthesis of the tryptophan catabolic enzyme indoleamine 2, 3
      dioxygenase (IDO1) in human dendritic cells (DCs). Here we demonstrate siRNA
      inhibition of the NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK) suppresses vaccine-induced IDO1
      biosynthesis as well as IKKalpha phosphorylation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation
      (ChIP) analysis of CTB-INS inoculated DCs showed that RelB bound to NF-kappaB
      consensus sequences in the IDO1 promoter, suggesting vaccine stimulation of the
      non-canonical NF-kappaB pathway activates IDO1 expression in vivo. The addition
      of Tumor Necrosis Factor Associated Factors (TRAF) TRAF 2, 3 and TRAF6 blocking
      peptides to vaccine inoculated DCs was shown to inhibit IDO1 biosynthesis. This
      experimental outcome suggests vaccine activation of the TNFR super-family
      receptor pathway leads to upregulation of IDO1 biosynthesis in CTB-INS inoculated
      dendritic cells. Together, our experimental data suggest the CTB-INS vaccine uses
      a TNFR-dependent signaling pathway of the non-canonical NF-kappaB signaling
      pathway resulting in suppression of dendritic cell mediated type 1 diabetes
      autoimmunity. 

PMID- 26881433
TI  - A Robust and Accurate Two-Step Auto-Labeling Conditional Iterative Closest Points
      (TACICP) Algorithm for Three-Dimensional Multi-Modal Carotid Image Registration.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is among the leading causes of death and disability. Combining
      information from multi-modal vascular images is an effective and efficient way to
      diagnose and monitor atherosclerosis, in which image registration is a key
      technique. In this paper a feature-based registration algorithm, Two-step Auto
      labeling Conditional Iterative Closed Points (TACICP) algorithm, is proposed to
      align three-dimensional carotid image datasets from ultrasound (US) and magnetic
      resonance (MR). Based on 2D segmented contours, a coarse-to-fine strategy is
      employed with two steps: rigid initialization step and non-rigid refinement step.
      Conditional Iterative Closest Points (CICP) algorithm is given in rigid
      initialization step to obtain the robust rigid transformation and label
      configurations. Then the labels and CICP algorithm with non-rigid thin-plate
      spline (TPS) transformation model is introduced to solve non-rigid carotid
      deformation between different body positions. The results demonstrate that
      proposed TACICP algorithm has achieved an average registration error of less than
      0.2mm with no failure case, which is superior to the state-of-the-art feature
      based methods. 

PMID- 26881435
TI  - Oxidative Stress in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
AB  - Backgrouund: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a multifaceted disorder with a
      pathogenetic pathway that is not fully understood yet. Apart from hormonal
      derangements, insulin signaling defects and adipose tissue dysfunction, oxidative
      stress, defined as an imbalance derived from excessive formation of oxidants in
      the presence of limited antioxidants defenses, has been actively implicated in
      the etiology of the syndrome. METHODS: This review focuses on understanding the
      putative role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of PCOS and analyzing
      its interconnection with the rest etiologic parameters and its contribution to
      the reproductive and metabolic manifestations of the syndrome. RESULTS: Although
      underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated yet, it becomes evident that
      oxidative stress holds a respectable share in the pathogenesis of PCOS. In fact,
      PCOS can be considered as a purely oxidative state, where the body antioxidants
      cannot outweigh the excessive production of free radicals. CONCLUSION: Oxidative
      stress, in conjunction with the rest etiologic mechanisms of PCOS and the
      cardinal contribution of environmental factors, leads to an adverse redox status
      that stigmatizes the natural process of the syndrome.

PMID- 26881436
TI  - Covalently and Ionically Crosslinked Chitosan Nanogels for Drug Delivery.
AB  - Chitosan nanogels present a very interesting combination of valuable
      characteristics for drug delivery; those derived from their nanometric size, such
      as, large surface area, rapid stimuli-response, and easy functionalization; and
      those emerged especially from their biocompatibility, biodegradability and
      mucoadhesive nature. Due to this, chitosan nanogels have reached a prominent
      position as nanocarriers and have originated accelerated research worldwide.
      Diverse methods to prepare chitosan nanogels have been reported, showing a
      dependence on final swelling, drug encapsulation capability and release
      properties with different synthesis variables, in such a way that they can be
      exploited to be modulated. The present review describes the properties of
      chitosan nanogels, along with the different methods of crosslinking and confining
      chitosan in nanosized particles, and the various fields of drug delivery where
      they have been applied. This work aims to emphasize the connection between the
      characteristics of chitosan and the synthetic variables with the final properties
      of chitosan nanogels in order to enhance controlled drug loading and a sustained
      release.

PMID- 26881434
TI  - CDK1 Is a Synthetic Lethal Target for KRAS Mutant Tumours.
AB  - Activating KRAS mutations are found in approximately 20% of human cancers but no
      RAS-directed therapies are currently available. Here we describe a novel, robust,
      KRAS synthetic lethal interaction with the cyclin dependent kinase, CDK1. This
      was discovered using parallel siRNA screens in KRAS mutant and wild type
      colorectal isogenic tumour cells and subsequently validated in a genetically
      diverse panel of 26 colorectal and pancreatic tumour cell models. This
      established that the KRAS/CDK1 synthetic lethality applies in tumour cells with
      either amino acid position 12 (p.G12V, pG12D, p.G12S) or amino acid position 13
      (p.G13D) KRAS mutations and can also be replicated in vivo in a xenograft model
      using a small molecule CDK1 inhibitor. Mechanistically, CDK1 inhibition caused a
      reduction in the S-phase fraction of KRAS mutant cells, an effect also
      characterised by modulation of Rb, a master control of the G1/S checkpoint. Taken
      together, these observations suggest that the KRAS/CDK1 interaction is a robust
      synthetic lethal effect worthy of further investigation. 

PMID- 26881437
TI  - Taste and Hypertension in Humans: Targeting Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - The association between salty taste and NaCl intake with hypertension is well
      established, although it is far from completely understood. Other taste types
      such as sweet, umami or bitter have also been related to alterations in blood
      pressure. Here, we review the mutual relationship between taste and hypertension
      to identify potential avenues to better control blood pressure. This review
      focuses on published data involving humans, with the exception of a section on
      molecular mechanisms. There is compelling evidence to suggest that changes in
      salty taste sensitivity can be used to predict the onset of hypertension. This
      goes hand in hand with the medical concept of sodium sensitivity, which also
      increases with age, particularly in hypertensive patients. The association of
      hypertension with the loss of taste acuity less definitive with some
      data/conclusions masked by the use of anti-hypertensive drugs. In fact, this
      group of therapeutic agents can reduce food taste perception resulting in mild to
      severe hypogeusia and dysgeusia. In the elderly, antihypertensive drugs may lead
      to a loss of appetite, thus, selecting treatments with low or no impact on taste
      perception should be advised. Pharmacological approaches to mitigate
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) could well take a different spin in the future
      following the discovery of taste receptors (TAS1R and TAS2R) in the
      cardiovascular system. Finally, long-term dietary strategies to minimize the risk
      of development of hypertension and CVD are discussed identifying several
      nutrients and public health policies with relevant potential.

PMID- 26881438
TI  - Chemical Senses Affecting Cough and Swallowing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of swallowing and coughing leads to life-threatening
      aspiration pneumonia, especially in the elderly. In order to induce the cough and
      swallowing reflexes efficiently, sensory inputs to trigger the reflexes are
      essential. METHODS: Both the cough and swallowing reflexes respond to mechanical
      and chemical stimuli. However, the mechanisms of action of the two reflexes are
      not homogeneous. Some substances stimulate both reflexes, but others stimulate
      one of the reflexes and inhibit the other one. RESULTS: Capsaicin, a TRPV1
      agonist, stimulates both the cough and swallowing reflexes. Menthol, a TRPM8
      agonist, stimulates the swallowing reflex, but it inhibits the cough reflex,
      especially if applied to the nose. Acid stimulates the cough reflex but its
      effect on the swallowing reflex is complicated. Theophylline inhibits the cough
      reflex by decreasing the excitability of sensory nerves, whereas it stimulates
      the swallowing reflex by antagonizing adenosine receptors. In smoking, cigarette
      smoke and nicotine have different effects. Cigarette smoke stimulates the cough
      reflex, while it inhibits the swallowing reflex. Nicotine inhibits the cough
      reflex but does not affect the swallowing reflex. CONCLUSION: Whenever you
      prescribe for an abnormality of one of the reflexes, you should think about the
      effect of the prescription on the other reflex.

PMID- 26881439
TI  - Chemical Sensing Regulates Mastication/Swallowing.
AB  - Mastication and swallowing are the first stage of digestion involving several
      motor processes such as food intake, intra-oral food transport, bolus formation
      and chewing and swallowing reflex. These complicated motor functions are
      accomplished by the well-coordinated activities in the jaw, hyoid, tongue, facial
      and pharyngeal muscles. Although the basic activity patterns of these movements
      are controlled by the brainstem pattern generators, these movements generate
      various peripheral sensory inputs. Among the sensory inputs, it is well-known
      that somatic sensory inputs play important roles in reflexively modulating the
      movements so that the final motor outputs fit the environmental demand. However,
      little is known about the effects of chemical sensory inputs such as taste and
      olfaction originating from the ingested foods by these movements. A possible
      reason could be raised that cognition of the chemical sensory inputs at the
      higher brain also influences the movements, so it is difficult to discuss the
      neural mechanisms underlying the observed effect. In this review, we focus on the
      effects of chemical sensory inputs on the masticatory movements and initiation of
      swallowing. We first summarize chemical sensory inputs occurring during
      mastication and swallowing, and their receptive mechanisms. In addition, we will
      introduce the effect of application of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) solution as
      an umami taste to the oropharynx on the swallow initiation which is involuntary
      controlled and the possible neural mechanisms underlying this effect is
      discussed.

PMID- 26881440
TI  - Chemical Senses in Cancer Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer and its treatment therapies, such as chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy, have negative effects on taste and smell functions. It is easy to
      explain smell and taste dysfunctions when a cancer involves the peripheric end
      organs or neurologic pathways of smell and taste. However, it is difficult to
      understand how distortion in sensory perception develops as cancer progresses and
      cancer therapies are applied, because few studies on this subject have described
      heterogeneous oncological patient populations who are receiving different
      treatment regimens. METHODS: A literature review was performed about the chemical
      senses of the patients with various cancer types, and also about the possible
      mechanisms of taste and smell dysfunctions in cancer patients. RESULTS:
      Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may cause taste and smell alterations by destroying
      taste and olfactory receptor cells, creating alterations on the surfaces of cells
      and receptors as well as interrupting neural coding. The prevalence of taste
      dysfunctions in cancer patients has been reported to be up to 77%. Unlike taste
      dysfunction, diminished sensitivity of smell in cancer patients is described
      infrequently and the available literature contains some conflicting results for
      smell dysfunction in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed on
      the loss of appetite in cancer patients, and specific treatments should be
      identified according to the pathologic mechanism responsible for anorexia and
      particularly for taste and smell dysfunctions. Because sufficient nutrition and
      energy intake can help patients overcome the cancer and its treatment-related
      complications.

PMID- 26881441
TI  - Smell and Taste Disorders Resulting from Cancer and Chemotherapy.
AB  - Malnutrition is common in both adult and pediatric patients undergoing treatment
      for cancer. Patients commonly attribute difficulties maintaining food intake to
      an altered taste developed during treatment. This review summarizes what is known
      about taste and smell dysfunction in patients with undergoing chemotherapy as
      their main treatment modality. Self-reported taste and smell alterations are
      prevalent in upwards of 86% of cancer patients. There is some evidence for
      decreased taste sensitivity in cancer patients when assessed using common
      gustatory tests. In some patients, taste and smell alterations may continue well
      after their cancer treatment has been completed. Such disorders can increase
      distress, reduce appetite and contribute towards poor nutritional status in
      cancer patients. There remain no effective interventions for improving the
      appetite or nutritional intake of patients with cancer experiencing taste and
      smell changes. There is a lack of consistency in assessment methodologies for
      measuring taste and smell changes in cancer patients and we therefore recommend
      that future work use well-established methods. Research should also take into
      account the role of food hedonics, food flavor and texture in assessing the
      association between taste dysfunction, poor oral intake and malnutrition in
      cancer patients. Both adult and child cancer patients should be counselled on the
      potential impact taste and smell dysfunction can have on their appetite and oral
      intake.

PMID- 26881442
TI  - Clinical Significance of Umami Taste and Umami-Related Gene Expression Analysis
      for the Objective Assessment of Umami Taste Loss.
AB  - Loss of umami taste sensation affects quality of life and causes weight loss and
      health problems, particularly in the elderly. We recently expanded the use of the
      filter paper disc method to include assessment of umami taste sensitivity, using
      monosodium glutamate as the test solution. This test showed high diagnostic
      performance for discriminating between normal taste function and disorders in
      sensation of the umami taste, according to established cut-off values. The test
      also revealed: (1) some elderly patients suffered from specific loss of umami
      taste sensation with preservation of the other four taste sensations (sweet,
      salty, sour, and bitter); (2) umami taste disorder caused a loss of appetite and
      decline in weight, resulting in poor health; (3) appetite, weight and overall
      health improved after appropriate treatment for umami taste disorder. Because of
      the subjective nature of the test, however, it may not be useful for patients who
      cannot express which taste sensation is induced by a tastant, such as those with
      dementia. Most recently, using tissue samples collected from the tongue by
      scraping the foliate papillae, we showed that evaluation of umami taste receptor
      gene expression may be clinically useful for the objective genetic diagnosis of
      umami taste disorders.

PMID- 26881445
TI  - Complex Formation Between Lysozyme and Stabilized Micelles with a Mixed
      Poly(ethylene oxide)/Poly(acrylic acid) Shell.
AB  - The electrostatic complexation between lysozyme and stabilized polymeric micelles
      (SPMs) with a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or a mixed poly(ethylene
      oxide)/poly(acrylic acid) (PEO/PAA) shell (SPMs with a mixed shell, SPMMS) and a
      temperature-responsive poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) core was investigated by means
      of dynamic, static, and electrophoretic light scattering. The SPMs and different
      types of SPMMS used resulted from the self-assembly of PAA-PPO-PAA triblock
      copolymer chains, or PAA-PPO-PAA and PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer chain
      mixtures (with varying chain lengths and molar ratios) in aqueous solutions at pH
      10 and the subsequent cross-linking of their PPO cores via loading and photo
      cross-linking of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETA). The solution behavior,
      structure and properties of the formed complexes at pH 7 and 0.01 M ionic
      strength, were studied as a function of the protein concentration in the solution
      (the concentration of the stabilized micelles was kept constant) or equivalently
      the ratio of the two components. The complexation process and properties of the
      complexes proved to be dependent on the protein concentration, while of
      particular interest was the effect of the structure of the shell of the SPMs on
      the stability/solubility of the complexes. Finally, the fluorescence and mid
      infrared spectroscopic investigation of the structure of the complexed protein
      showed that, although a small stretching of the protein molecules occurred in
      some cases, no protein denaturation takes place upon complexation. 

PMID- 26881446
TI  - Predicting therapist effectiveness from their own practice-based evidence.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Differences between therapists (therapist effect) are often larger
      than differences between treatments (treatment effect) in explaining client
      outcomes, and thus should be considered relevant to providing optimal treatment
      to clients. However, research on therapist effectiveness has focused largely on
      global measures of distress as opposed to a multidimensional assessment, and has
      failed to risk-adjust for client characteristics. The purpose of this study was
      to examine the stability and predictive validity of therapist effectiveness
      across multiple outcome domains using risk-adjusted outcomes. METHOD: Initial and
      follow-up outcome data on the Treatment Outcome Package (Kraus, Seligman, &
      Jordan, 2005) were collected on 3,540 clients who were treated in naturalistic
      settings by a sample of 59 therapists. After risk-adjusting outcomes based on
      case-mix variables using random forest models, outcome data from the first 30
      clients of each therapist were used to classify each therapist's effectiveness on
      12 outcome domains. These results were then compared with outcome data from the
      therapist's next 30 clients. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that therapist
      effectiveness was relatively stable, although somewhat domain specific.
      Therapists classified as "exceptional" were significantly more likely to remain
      above average with future cases, suggesting that a therapist's past performance
      is an important predictor of their future performance. CONCLUSIONS: Clients are
      likely to experience differential benefit depending on the particular therapist
      and his or her strengths. Clinical outcomes may be improved by developing the
      best possible prediction model for each new client and then providing that client
      with referrals to therapists with well-matched strengths. (PsycINFO Database
      Record

PMID- 26881444
TI  - Interrelationship Between Periapical Lesion and Systemic Metabolic Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periapical periodontitis, also known as periapical lesion, is a
      common dental disease, along with periodontitis (gum disease). Periapical
      periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, caused by endodontic infection,
      and its development is regulated by the host immune/inflammatory response.
      Metabolic disorders, which are largely dependent on life style such as eating
      habits, have been interpreted as a "metabolically-triggered" low-grade systemic
      inflammation and may interact with periapical periodontitis by triggering immune
      modulation. The host immune system is therefore considered the common fundamental
      mechanism of both disease conditions. METHOD: We have reviewed >200 articles to
      discuss the interrelationship between periapical lesions and metabolic disorders
      including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver
      diseases (NAFLD), and their common pathological background in
      immunology/osteoimmunology and cytokine biology. RESULTS: An elevated
      inflammatory state caused by metabolic disorders can impact the clinical outcome
      of periapical lesions and interfere with wound healing after endodontic
      treatment. Although additional well-designed clinical studies are needed,
      periapical lesions appear to affect insulin sensitivity and exacerbate non
      alcoholic steatohepatitis. CONCLUSION: Immune regulatory cytokines produced by
      various cell types, including immune cells and adipose tissue, play an important
      role in this interrelationship.

PMID- 26881443
TI  - Therapeutic Targets for Management of Periodontitis and Diabetes.
AB  - The increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic periodontitis (CP)
      worldwide imposes a rethinking of individualized therapy for patients with both
      conditions. Central to bidirectional links between DM and CP is deregulated
      systemic inflammation and dysfunctional immune responses to altered-self and non
      self. Control of blood glucose levels and metabolic imbalances associated with
      hyperglycemia in DM, and disruption of pathogenic subgingival biofilms in CP are
      currently the main therapeutic approaches for these conditions. Mounting evidence
      suggests the need to integrate immune modulatory therapeutics in treatment
      regimens that address the unresolved inflammation associated with DM and CP. The
      current review discusses the pathogenesis of DM and CP with emphasis on
      deregulated inflammation, current therapeutic approaches and the novel pro
      resolution lipid mediators derived from Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

PMID- 26881447
TI  - Cognitive-behavioral therapy augmentation of SSRI reduces cortisol levels in
      older adults with generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Elevated cortisol in stress and aging, such as has been seen in late
      life anxiety disorders, is postulated to accelerate cognitive and physiological
      decline in this large and increasing population. Selective serotonin-reuptake
      inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are both effective
      treatments for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults. On the other
      hand, there is very little research examining the effect of combining these
      therapies on peak cortisol levels. For the current analyses, we examined the
      effectiveness of CBT augmentation on peak cortisol levels in older adults
      diagnosed with GAD. METHODS: The sample consisted of 42 individuals with late
      life GAD who received an acute course of the SSRI escitalopram and then entered a
      16-week randomized phase. Twenty-one participants were randomized to receive 16
      sessions of CBT in addition to continuing escitalopram and the remaining 21
      participants continued on escitalopram without CBT. Generalized estimating
      equations were performed to assess the effectiveness of CBT augmentation on peak
      cortisol levels (30 min after waking). RESULTS: Older adults with GAD who
      received both escitalopram and CBT demonstrated a significant reduction in peak
      cortisol levels at posttreatment compared to the group who received escitalopram
      without CBT augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: CBT augmentation of SSRI treatment reduced
      peak cortisol levels for older adults with GAD. Since persistently high cortisol
      levels in aging are thought to increase age-related cognitive and medical
      problems, our findings suggest that there may be a benefit to health and
      cognition of CBT augmentation for late-life anxiety disorders.

PMID- 26881448
TI  - The role of setting versus treatment type in alliance within youth therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Does the strength of the youth-therapist alliance differ across
      treatment settings or treatment type? We examined these questions in the context
      of youth therapy. METHOD: Eighty-nine youths (M age = 10.56, SD = 1.99; 63.70%
      Caucasian; 52.80% male) diagnosed with an anxiety disorder received (a) manual
      based individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) in a research setting, (b)
      manual-based ICBT in practice settings, or (c) nonmanualized usual care (UC) in
      practice settings. Coders, using the Therapy Process Observational Coding System
      Alliance scale, rated 865 sessions. Youth completed the Therapeutic Alliance
      Scale for Children at posttreatment. RESULTS: Youth who received ICBT in a
      research setting had significantly higher observer-rated alliance than youth who
      received either therapy delivered in practice settings. In practice settings,
      youth who received ICBT had significantly stronger observer-rated alliance early
      in treatment than youth in UC, but this difference was not observed at the end of
      treatment. Similarly, youth-report alliance at posttreatment was significantly
      higher in ICBT in the research setting, and there was no difference between ICBT
      and UC delivered in practice settings. Alliance differences largely held when
      controlling for youth characteristics; however, differences early in treatment
      between the ICBT groups were no longer statistically significant when controlling
      for anxiety severity or primary anxiety diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      suggest that (a) the alliance may be stronger in research settings, and (b)
      treatment manuals do not undermine alliance. Future research is required to help
      pinpoint whether other youth, therapist, or setting factors contribute to the
      lower alliance seen in practice settings.

PMID- 26881449
TI  - Mechanisms of personality-targeted intervention effects on adolescent alcohol
      misuse, internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the mechanisms of personality-targeted
      intervention effects on problematic drinking, internalizing and externalizing
      symptoms. METHOD: As part of a cluster-randomized trial, 1,210 high-risk students
      (mean age 13.7 years) in 19 London high schools (42.6% White, 54% male) were
      identified using the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale. Intervention school
      participants were invited to participate in personality-matched interventions by
      trained school staff. MacKinnon's products of coefficients method was used to
      compare 3 complementary mechanism hypotheses, namely, whether early changes in
      (a) alcohol use, (b) internalizing and externalizing symptoms, or (c) personality
      during the 6 months postintervention accounted for intervention effects over 2
      years. RESULTS: Early intervention effects on drinking behaviors during the 6
      months postintervention partially accounted for longer term intervention effects
      on the onset of binge drinking (95% confidence interval [CI] [-.349, -.062]) and
      drinking problems (95% CI [-.206, -.016]) over 2 years. Intervention effects on
      anxiety symptoms and conduct problems were partially mediated by early reductions
      in depressive symptoms (95% CI [-.013, -.001]; 95% CI [-.047, -.001]), and
      intervention effects on internalizing symptoms were also partially mediated by
      reductions in anxiety sensitivity (95% CI [-.003, 0]). CONCLUSIONS: 2-year
      intervention effects on problematic drinking were largely accounted for by early
      changes in drinking behaviors, and were not mediated by changes in mental health
      symptoms or personality risk factors. Early improvements in mood and anxiety
      sensitivity partially mediated longer term reductions in mental health problems.

PMID- 26881450
TI  - Crystal Phase Transformation in Self-Assembled InAs Nanowire Junctions on
      Patterned Si Substrates.
AB  - We demonstrate the growth and structural characteristics of InAs nanowire
      junctions evidencing a transformation of the crystalline structure. The junctions
      are obtained without the use of catalyst particles. Morphological investigations
      of the junctions reveal three structures having an L-, T-, and X-shape. The
      formation mechanisms of these structures have been identified. The NW junctions
      reveal large sections of zinc blende crystal structure free of extended defects,
      despite the high stacking fault density obtained in individual InAs nanowires.
      This segment of zinc blende crystal structure in the junction is associated with
      a crystal phase transformation involving sets of Shockley partial dislocations;
      the transformation takes place solely in the crystal phase. A model is developed
      to demonstrate that only the zinc blende phase with the same orientation as the
      substrate can result in monocrystalline junctions. The suitability of the
      junctions to be used in nanoelectronic devices is confirmed by room-temperature
      electrical experiments. 

PMID- 26881451
TI  - Phylogenetic Analysis of Ethiopian HIV-1 Subtype C Near Full-Length Genomes
      Reveals High Intrasubtype Diversity and a Strong Geographical Cluster.
AB  - In this study, we characterize HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) strains at the near full
      length genome (NFLG) level and perform genotypic drug resistance testing (GRT)
      and genotypic tropism testing (GTT) from Ethiopia (HIV-1CET). Plasma samples (n =
      150) were obtained from therapy-naive individuals residing in Addis Ababa,
      Ethiopia in 2008. HIV-NFLG was performed in a subset of patients (n = 30). GRT
      (pol) and GTT (V3 env) were performed using in-house methods. GTT was analyzed by
      PhenoSeq-C. The phylogenetic analysis of the NLFG identified two separate
      clusters of HIV-1CET, although all strains formed one large overarching cluster
      together. At NFLG, greater diversity was found among HIV-1CET strains compared to
      HIV-1C strains from other geographical locations. The geographic clustering was
      weak in the small subgenomic (pol and env) regions. The primary drug-resistant
      mutations were identified at a low level (<5%). GTT identified that 12% (12/102)
      of the patients were predicted to be harboring X4-tropic or both R5/X4-tropic
      viruses.

PMID- 26881452
TI  - Oppositely Charged Ions at Water-Air and Water-Oil Interfaces: Contrasting the
      Molecular Picture with Thermodynamics.
AB  - The surface-active ions tetraphenylarsonium (Ph4As(+)) and tetraphenylboron
      (Ph4B(-)) have a similar structure but opposite charge. At the solution-air
      interface, the two ions affect the surface tension in an identical manner, yet
      sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectra reveal an enhanced surface propensity for
      Ph4As(+) compared with Ph4B(-), in addition to opposite alignment of interfacial
      water molecules. At the water-oil interface, the interfacial tension is 7 mN/m
      lower for Ph4As(+) than for Ph4B(-) salts, but this can be fully accounted for by
      the different bulk solubility of these ions in the hydrophobic phase, rather than
      inherently different surface activities. The different solubility can be
      accounted for by differences in electronic structure, as evidenced by quantum
      chemical calculations and NMR studies. Our results show that the surface
      propensity concluded from SFG spectroscopy does not necessarily correlate with
      interfacial adsorption concluded from thermodynamic measurements. 

PMID- 26881453
TI  - Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms of Radioprotective Effects of Naringenin, a
      Phytochemical from Citrus Fruits.
AB  - The present study was aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effects of naringenin
      in vivo using Swiss albino mice as a model system. Oral administration of 50
      mg/kg body weight of naringenin for 7 days prior to radiation exposure protected
      mice against radiation-induced DNA, chromosomal and membrane damage. Naringenin
      pretreatment also increased the antioxidant status of irradiated mice. Multiple
      factors operating at cellular and molecular levels led to increased endogenous
      spleen colonies and survival of mice. Although naringenin induces apoptosis in
      cancer cells we found that it can protect against radiation-induced apoptosis in
      normal cells by modulating the expression of p53, Bax, and Bcl-2. The results
      from the present study indicate that naringenin inhibits the NF-kB pathway and
      down regulates radiation-induced apoptotic proteins resulting in radioprotection
      at the cellular, tissue and organism levels. 

PMID- 26881454
TI  - Recent Developments in General Methodologies for the Synthesis of alpha
      Ketoamides.
AB  - The alpha-ketoamide motif is widely found in many natural products and drug
      candidates with relevant biological activities. Furthermore, alpha-ketoamides are
      attractive candidates to synthetic chemists due to the ability of the motif to
      access a wide range of functional group transformations, including multiple bond
      forming processes. For these reasons, a vast array of synthetic procedures for
      the preparation of alpha-ketoamides have been developed over the past decades,
      and the search for expeditious and efficient protocols continues unabated. The
      aim of this review is to give an overview of the diverse methodologies that have
      emerged since the 1990s up to the present. The different synthetic routes have
      been grouped according to the way the alpha-ketoamide moiety has been created.
      Thus, syntheses of alpha-ketoamides proceeding via C(2)-oxidation of amide
      starting compounds are detailed, as are amidation approaches installing the alpha
      ketoamide residue through C(1)-N bond formation. Also discussed are the
      methodologies centered on C(1)-C(2) sigma-bond construction and C(2)-R/Ar bond
      forming processes. Finally, the literature regarding the synthesis of alpha
      ketoamide compounds by palladium-catalyzed double-carbonylative amination
      reactions is discussed. 

PMID- 26881455
TI  - Exploring the Gradient Paths and Zero Flux Surfaces of Molecular Electrostatic
      Potential.
AB  - The gradient vector field of molecular electrostatic potential, ?V(r), has
      remained relatively unexplored in molecular quantum mechanics. The present
      article explores the conceptual as well as practical aspects of this vector
      field. A three-dimensional atomic partition of molecular space has been achieved
      on the basis of zero flux surfaces (ZFSs) of ?V(r). Such ZFSs may completely
      enclose some of the atoms in the molecule, unlike what is observed in density
      based atomic partitioning. The demonstration of this phenomenon is elucidated
      through typical examples, e.g., N2, CO, H2O, H2CO, OF(*), :CH2, and NH3BF3, where
      the electronegative atoms or group of atoms (group electronegativity) exhibits a
      closed ZFS of ?V(r) around them. The present article determines an explicit
      reason for this phenomenon and also provides a necessary and sufficient condition
      for such a closed ZFS of ?V(r) to exist. It also describes how the potential
      based picture of atoms in molecules differs from its electron density-based
      analogue. This work further illustrates the manifestation of anisotropy in the
      gradient paths of MESP of some molecular systems, with respect to CO, (*)OH, H2O,
      and H2CO, and points to its potential in understanding the reactivity patterns of
      the interacting molecules. 

PMID- 26881456
TI  - A Designed Tryptophan- and Lysine/Arginine-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide with
      Therapeutic Potential for Clinical Antibiotic-Resistant Candida albicans
      Vaginitis.
AB  - New therapeutic agents for Candida albicans vaginitis are urgently awaiting to be
      developed because of the increasing antibiotic resistance of C. albicans.
      Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one of the most promising choices for next
      generation antibiotics. In this study, novel peptides were designed based on
      snake venom antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin-BF to promote anti-C. albicans
      activity and decrease side-effects. The designing strategies include
      substitutions of charged or hydrophobic amino acid residues for noncharged polar
      residues to promote antimicrobial activity and insertion of a hydrophobic residue
      in the hydrophilic side of the helix structure to reduce hemolysis. A designed
      tryptophan and lysine/arginine-rich cationic peptide 4 (ZY13) (VKRWKKWRWKWKKWV
      NH2) exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against either common strain or
      clinical isolates of antibiotic-resistant C. albicans with little hemolysis.
      Peptide 4 showed significant therapeutic effects on vaginitis in mice induced by
      the infection of clinical antibiotic-resistant C. albicans. The approaches herein
      might be useful for designing of AMPs. 

PMID- 26881457
TI  - Water Availability for Shale Gas Development in Sichuan Basin, China.
AB  - Unconventional shale gas development holds promise for reducing the predominant
      consumption of coal and increasing the utilization of natural gas in China. While
      China possesses some of the most abundant technically recoverable shale gas
      resources in the world, water availability could still be a limiting factor for
      hydraulic fracturing operations, in addition to geological, infrastructural, and
      technological barriers. Here, we project the baseline water availability for the
      next 15 years in Sichuan Basin, one of the most promising shale gas basins in
      China. Our projection shows that continued water demand for the domestic sector
      in Sichuan Basin could result in high to extremely high water stress in certain
      areas. By simulating shale gas development and using information from current
      water use for hydraulic fracturing in Sichuan Basin (20,000-30,000 m(3) per
      well), we project that during the next decade water use for shale gas development
      could reach 20-30 million m(3)/year, when shale gas well development is projected
      to be most active. While this volume is negligible relative to the projected
      overall domestic water use of ~36 billion m(3)/year, we posit that
      intensification of hydraulic fracturing and water use might compete with other
      water utilization in local water-stress areas in Sichuan Basin.

PMID- 26881458
TI  - Stability Diagrams for Paul Ion Traps Driven by Two-Frequencies.
AB  - In this paper, we present and discuss stability diagrams for Paul traps driven by
      two ac voltages. In contrast to a typical Paul trap, here we suggest a secondary
      ac voltage whose frequency is twice the frequency of the primary one. The ratio
      between their amplitudes can be used to expand the region of stability and to
      access different states of motion of trapped ions. This provides a further
      mechanism to trap, cool, and manipulate single ions and also to improve the
      experimental framework where ion clouds and crystals can be prepared and
      controlled. Such approach opens the possibility of designing more sophisticated
      trapping architectures, leading to a wide variety of applications on ion trap
      research and mass analysis techniques. 

PMID- 26881459
TI  - Synthesis-Dependent Surface Defects and Morphology of Hematite Nanoparticles and
      Their Effect on Cytotoxicity in Vitro.
AB  - In this study, we investigate the toxicity of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3)
      nanoparticles on the Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line. The oxide
      particles have been synthesized through two different methods and annealing
      conditions. These two methods, spray precipitation and precipitation, resulted in
      particles with rod-like and spherical morphology and feature different particle
      sizes, surface features, and magnetic properties. Through flow cytometry it was
      found that particle morphology heavily influences the degree to which the
      nanomaterials are internalized into the cells. It was also found that the ability
      of the nanoparticles to generate free radicals species is hindered by the
      formation of tetrahedrally coordinated maghemite-like (gamma-Fe2O3) spinel
      defects on the surfaces of the particles. The combination of these two factors
      resulted in variable cytotoxic effects of the hematite nanoparticles synthesized
      with different conditions. This article highlights the importance on the
      fabrication method, materials properties, and surface characteristics on the
      cytotoxicity of hematite nanomaterials. 

PMID- 26881460
TI  - Intraoperative Distal Femoral Fine Wire Traction to Facilitate Intramedullary
      Nailing of the Femur.
AB  - Many techniques have been employed to facilitate intramedullary nailing of femur
      fractures. Maintaining limb length during the operation can be difficult. The
      authors describe the use of distal femoral fine wire skeletal traction as a
      technique to maintain reduction while allowing intramedullary nailing of femur
      fractures. This technique is safe, is effective, and negates the need for a
      fracture table or an assistant.

PMID- 26881461
TI  - Effectiveness and Safety of Zoledronic Acid in the Treatment of Osteoporosis.
AB  - The effectiveness of current treatments for osteoporosis is limited by poor
      patient compliance. However, a favorable dosing regimen of zoledronic acid (ZA)
      has the potential to improve patient compliance and thus clinical outcomes. The
      author conducted a retrospective analysis to examine adherence to and the
      antiosteoporotic effects of a once-yearly infusion of 5 mg of ZA in Taiwanese
      patients with osteoporosis for up to 48 months. Five men and 149 postmenopausal
      women (mean age, 77.1 years) were included. Prior to ZA treatment, 66.2% of
      patients had fractures; most patients discontinued previous treatments due to
      compliance or convenience issues. Approximately 85% of patients received at least
      2 infusions of ZA. Following ZA treatment, bone mineral density improved from
      baseline at 12 months (11% from baseline; P=.01) and 48 months (20.7% from
      baseline; P=.009). In addition there was a significant reduction in mean beta-C
      telopeptide at all time points from 12 (P<.001) to 36 months (P=.010). New
      clinical fractures occurred in 16 (10.4%) patients, of which 12 patients
      experienced a single fracture. Zoledronic acid had an acceptable safety profile;
      no adverse events were considered to be drug related. Treatment with ZA improved
      bone health by enhancing bone mineral density and reducing bone turnover, even in
      high-risk patients. Low fracture rates and high adherence further elucidate the
      benefits of ZA in the treatment of osteoporosis.

PMID- 26881462
TI  - Internal Compression Screw Exchange for Reduction of Distal Tibiofibular
      Syndesmotic Injuries.
AB  - Traumatic injuries to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis often accompany ankle
      fractures. Repair of the syndesmosis is critical for the normal function of the
      ankle joint. Conventional reduction of the diastasis is achieved with the use of
      a periarticular reduction clamp. The authors describe an alternative method for
      reduction of the syndesmosis using a screw exchange technique. This proposed
      procedure has the prospective of avoiding the multiple potential drawbacks to the
      use of a reduction clamp.

PMID- 26881463
TI  - Short-term Outcomes With a Second-Generation Uncemented Stem in Total Hip
      Arthroplasty.
AB  - An uncemented stem has been used successfully in total hip arthroplasty for 2
      decades, and some implants have been updated. The authors have used second
      generation uncemented proximal porous coating stems, the Echo Bi-Metric Full
      Proximal Profile stem (Echo FPP; Biomet, Warsaw, Indiana) and the Echo Reduced
      Proximal Profile stem (Echo RPP; Biomet). This article reports short-term
      outcomes with these stems compared with their predecessor, the Bi-Metric stem
      (Biomet). The authors reviewed 1280 Echo FPP stems, 366 Echo RPP stems, and 1497
      Bi-Metric stems. With more than 5 years of follow-up, both the Echo FPP and the
      Echo RPP stems had 100% survivorship with stem revision as the endpoint, and the
      Bi-Metric stems also had 100% survivorship for more than 20 years. Average Harris
      Hip Scores for the Echo FPP, the Echo RPP, and the Bi-Metric stems were 53.3,
      49.7, and 51.5 preoperatively, 93.8, 94.6, and 95.2 at 1 year, and 94.0, 95.8,
      and 95.4 at 3 years postoperatively, respectively. Dislocation after surgery was
      significantly lower with the Echo FPP and the Echo RPP stems than with the Bi
      Metric stems, but this was more relevant to the surgical approach and head size.
      All radiographs of the Echo FPP, the Echo RPP, and the Bi-Metric stems showed
      proximal femoral remodeling consistent with osseous ingrowth. Distal cortical
      hypertrophy around the implanted stem and spot-welding were comparably observed
      in all 3 cohorts. The short-term outcomes of the updated uncemented stems were as
      excellent as the previously used stem regarding survivorship, complications, and
      radiographic assessment.

PMID- 26881464
TI  - Pedicolaminar Fracture-Dislocation.
AB  - A 28-year-old man presented to a level 1 trauma center with significant cervical
      spine pain after sliding into third base during a softball game. He struck his
      head on the thigh of the defensive player and had immediate pain in his neck and
      arm. He reported no loss of consciousness, no transient tetraplegia/paraplegia,
      and no loss of bowel and bladder control. After initial imaging, enhanced
      computed tomography scans were obtained. 

PMID- 26881465
TI  - Short-term Results of Robinson Type 2B2 Clavicular Fractures Treated
      Conservatively or Surgically.
AB  - The most frequently treated injuries, representing approximately 82% of all
      clavicular fractures, involve the midshaft clavicle. Historically, most acute
      displaced midshaft clavicular fractures were treated nonsurgically. However, the
      outcomes of nonsurgical treatment have recently been thought to be not as good as
      expected in the past, and the trend is to treat these fractures surgically. The
      goal of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of Robinson
      type 2B2 clavicular fractures treated conservatively vs with locked plate
      fixation. Among 59 patients included in the study, 30 patients (mean age, 45+/
      13.7 years; range, 30-62 years) treated conservatively were designated as group
      A, and 29 patients (mean age, 38.8+/-11.1 years; range, 20-60 years) treated with
      locked plate fixation were designated as group B. All patients were evaluated
      using Oxford and Constant scoring systems at final follow-up. Mean follow-up was
      18 months (range, 12-24 months). In group A, mean Constant score was 70.5+/-15.1
      (range, 98-43) and mean Oxford score was 46.6+/-1.3 (range, 49-44) at final
      follow-up. In group B, mean Constant score was 89.2+/-8 (range, 100-77) and mean
      Oxford score was 46.5+/-1.2 (range, 48-44) at final follow-up. Callus was
      detected radiographically in both groups at 6-week follow-up. Patients in groups
      A and B started active range-of-motion exercises at weeks 6 and 3 after
      treatment, respectively. Locked plate fixation of Robinson type 2B2 clavicular
      fractures can be the first treatment option because of good clinical results, low
      complication rates, and good cosmesis.

PMID- 26881466
TI  - Use of the G-guide for Measuring Stem Antetorsion During Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - Implant positioning is one of the critical factors influencing postoperative
      outcomes in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Several studies have reported that the
      postoperative antetorsion (AT) measurement for the femoral stem inserted without
      navigation showed wide variability. The current authors developed a simple
      instrument, the Gravity-guide (G-guide), for intraoperative assessment of stem AT
      and adjustment. They evaluated the effectiveness of the G-guide with
      postoperative computed tomography (CT) examination. Ninety patients (96 hips) who
      underwent primary THA using the G-guide for stem adjustment were evaluated. The G
      guide consists of 2 parts: one attached to the lower leg and the other attached
      to the handle of the rasp. The G-guide was used to evaluate the AT at the time of
      inserting the final rasp. In addition, the AT value in the G-guide evaluation
      system required correction by the angle obtained in the preoperative epicondylar
      view. Intraoperative stem AT was defined as the sum of the intraoperative G-guide
      value and the correction angle. Postoperative AT was evaluated by CT examination.
      The discrepancy between the intra- and postoperative measurements was 4.6 degrees
      +/-4.1 degrees . Acceptable accuracy with discrepancy of less than 5 degrees  and
      10 degrees  was achieved in 66 (69%) hips and 85 (89%) hips, respectively. The
      use of the G-guide could effectively reduce the variability of stem anteversion
      compared with manual adjustment. This study proved the effectiveness of the newly
      developed G-guide system in intraoperative stem AT adjustment.

PMID- 26881467
TI  - Investigational insulin secretagogues for type 2 diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Insulin secretory defects are a key feature in the pathophysiology
      of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Classical insulin-secreting agents such as
      sulfonlyureas stimulate insulin secretion independent of glucose and cause
      hypoglycemia. Despite the advantages offered by incretin-based therapies, there
      is still a medical need for developing new insulin secretagogues for treating
      T2D. AREA COVERED: This article discusses: the new advances in the field of
      incretin-based therapies, glucokinase (GK) activators, free fatty acid receptor
      (FFAR) or G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) agonists (GPR40, GPR119, GPR120),
      imeglimin and some other insulin secretagogues with diverse mechanisms of action
      still in preclinical development. EXPERT OPINION: New insulin secretagogues
      should offer major advantages over sulfonylureas and gliptins. The challenge is
      to avoid uncontrolled insulin secretion and minimize the risk of hypoglycemia, to
      protect cells from progressive loss of mass and function for a better durability
      of glucose control, and to offer a good safety profile. Numerous approaches are
      in development. However, it is too early to decide whether one new
      pharmacological class will emerge as a clinically useful insulin secretagogue in
      the near feature.

PMID- 26881469
TI  - The agentic person: shifting the focus of care.

PMID- 26881468
TI  - A review of glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis: why patented crystalline
      glucosamine sulfate should be differentiated from other glucosamines to maximize
      clinical outcomes.
AB  - The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and
      Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) treatment algorithm for knee osteoarthritis (OA)
      recommends symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs) first line
      for the medium to long term management of OA, due to their ability to control
      pain, improve function, and delay joint structural changes. Among SYSADOAs,
      glucosamine is probably the most widely used intervention. In the present review
      of glucosamine for knee OA, we have investigated whether the evidence is greater
      for the patented crystalline glucosamine sulfate (pCGS) preparation
      (Rottapharm/Meda) than for other glucosamine formulations. Glucosamine is
      actually widely available in many forms, as the prescription-grade pCGS
      preparation, generic and over-the-counter formulations of glucosamine sulfate
      (GS) and food supplements containing glucosamine hydrochloride (GH), which vary
      substantially in molecular form, pharmaceutical formulation and dose regimens.
      Only pCGS is given as a highly bioavailable once daily dose (1500 mg) with a
      proven pharmacological effect. pCGS consistently reaches the plasma levels of
      around 10 MUM required to inhibit interleukin-1 induced expression of genes
      involved in the pathophysiology of joint inflammation and tissue destruction,
      compared with sub-therapeutic levels achieved with GH. It is evident, from
      careful consideration of the evidence base, that only the pCGS formulation of
      glucosamine reliably provides an effect size on pain that is higher than that of
      paracetamol and equivalent to that provided by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
      drugs. In comparison, the effect size on pain of non-crystalline GS preparations
      and GH from randomized controlled trials is repeatedly demonstrated to be zero.
      In addition, there is evidence that chronic administration of pCGS has disease
      modifying effects, with a reduction in the need for total joint replacement
      surgery lasting for at least 5 years after treatment cessation. Consequently, the
      pCGS preparation (Rottapharm/Meda) is the logical choice, with demonstrated
      medium-term control of pain and lasting impact on disease progression.

PMID- 26881471
TI  - Correction to: Astrobiology 2011;11(10):1041-1052.

PMID- 26881470
TI  - Martian Superoxide and Peroxide O2 Release (OR) Assay: A New Technology for
      Terrestrial and Planetary Applications.
AB  - This study presents an assay for the detection and quantification of soil metal
      superoxides and peroxides in regolith and soil. The O2 release (OR) assay is
      based on the enzymatic conversion of the hydrolysis products of metal oxides to
      O2 and their quantification by an O2 electrode based on the stoichiometry of the
      involved reactions. The intermediate product O2- from the hydrolysis of metal
      superoxides is converted by cytochrome c to O2 and by superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      to 1/2 mol O2 and 1/2 mol H2O2, which is then converted by catalase (CAT) to 1/2
      mol O2. The product H2O2 from the hydrolysis of metal peroxides and
      hydroperoxides is converted to 1/2 mol O2 by CAT. The assay method was validated
      in a sealed sample chamber by using a liquid-phase Clark-type O2 electrode with
      known concentrations of O2- and H2O2, and commercial metal superoxide and
      peroxide mixed with Mars analog Mojave and Atacama Desert soils. Carbonates and
      perchlorates, both present on Mars, do not interfere with the assay. The assay
      lower limit of detection, when using luminescence quenching/optical sensing O2
      electrodes, is 1 nmol O2 cm(-3) or better. The activity of the assay enzymes SOD
      and cytochrome c was unaffected up to 6 Gy exposure by gamma radiation, while CAT
      retained 100% and 40% of its activity at 3 and 6 Gy, respectively, which
      demonstrates the suitability of these enzymes for planetary missions, for
      example, on Mars or Europa.

PMID- 26881473
TI  - Children's Cognitive and Affective Responses About a Narrative Versus a Non
      Narrative Cartoon Designed for an Active Videogame.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article presents the results of interviews conducted with
      children regarding their cognitive and affective responses toward a narrative and
      a non-narrative cartoon. The findings will be used to further explore the role of
      a narrative in motivating continued active videogame play. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Twenty children (8-11 years old of mixed gender) watched two cartoons (narrative
      and non-narrative) and were subsequently interviewed. A thematic matrix was used
      to analyze the interviews. RESULTS: The narrative cartoon (n = 11) was only
      slightly preferred compared with the non-narrative one (n = 9), with little
      difference among the participants. The theme categories identified during the
      analyses were plot, characters, and suggestions. The fight scenes were mentioned
      by the children as a likeable aspect of the narrative cartoon. In the non
      narrative cartoon, the vast majority (n = 17) liked the information about
      physical activity that was provided. The children enjoyed the appearance and
      personalities of the characters in both cartoons. A discrepancy in the data about
      the fight scenes (narrative cartoon) and characters (both cartoons) was found
      among the female participants (i.e., some girls did not like the fight and
      thought the characters were too aggressive). However, most of the children wanted
      to see more action in the story, an increase in the number of fight scenes
      (narrative cartoon), or more information about exercise and examples of exercises
      they could do (non-narrative cartoon). They also suggested adding a game to the
      non-narrative cartoon, including more characters, and improving the animation in
      both cartoons. CONCLUSIONS: The children preferred the narrative cartoon because
      of the story and the fight. Some gender differences were found, which further
      studies should investigate.

PMID- 26881474
TI  - HIV and infant feeding in resource-rich settings: considering the clinical
      significance of a complicated dilemma.
AB  - With advances in the care of HIV-positive pregnant women, the likelihood of
      perinatal transmission is now less than 1%. In resource-rich settings women are
      instructed to abstain from breastfeeding, as studies have shown that
      breastfeeding increases the likelihood of infant acquisition of HIV. As
      practitioners caring for HIV-positive parents, we are now facing growing tension
      about the complex issues that inform decisions about infant feeding. In the face
      of changing guidelines and global immigration patterns, simply telling women that
      breastfeeding is contraindicated may no longer be good enough. We must fully open
      the lines of communication regarding this important and evolving issue. This
      commentary will review the clinical, social and cultural considerations that
      impact decisions regarding infant feeding in the context of HIV.

PMID- 26881472
TI  - Genomic instability in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a new step towards precision
      medicine and novel therapeutic approaches.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancers. Whole genome sequencing
      studies have been conducted to elucidate the underlying fundamentals underscoring
      disease behavior. Studies have identified a subgroup of pancreatic cancer
      patients with distinct molecular and clinical features. Genetic fingerprinting of
      these tumors is consistent with an unstable genome and defective DNA repair
      pathways, which creates unique susceptibility to agents inducing DNA damage.
      BRCA1/2 mutations, both germline and somatic, which lead to impaired DNA repair,
      are found to be important biomarkers of genomic instability as well as of
      response to DNA damaging agents. Recent studies have elucidated that PARP
      inhibitors and platinum agents may be effective to induce tumor regression in
      solid tumors bearing an unstable genome including pancreatic cancer. In this
      review we discuss the characteristics of genomic instability in pancreatic cancer
      along with its clinical implications and the utility of DNA targeting agents
      particularly PARP inhibitors as a novel treatment approach. 

PMID- 26881475
TI  - Psychometric evaluation of the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) in
      female survivors of sexual assault.
AB  - The authors of this study evaluated the factor structure, internal consistency,
      and concurrent and discriminant validity of the Posttraumatic Cognitions
      Inventory (PTCI; Foa et al. 1999) in a sample of 107 female survivors of sexual
      assault with a mean age of 29.1 years (SD = 7.7). All participants were recruited
      between July 2010 and December 2014 from a care center for sexual assault victims
      in Madrid, Spain. Results supported the three-factor structure of the PTCI: (1)
      negative cognition about self, (2) negative cognition about the world, and (3)
      self-blame. The negative cognitions about self and the world subscales showed
      adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92 and 0.82, respectively),
      as well as good concurrent and discriminant validity. Nevertheless, the subscale
      measuring self-blame showed poor internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.75)
      and discriminant validity. The PTCI presents sound psychometric characteristics
      and has the potential to contribute to women's sexual posttrauma assessment.

PMID- 26881477
TI  - Interim decision-making strategies in adaptive designs for population selection
      using time-to-event endpoints.
AB  - Adaptive designs in oncology clinical trials with interim analyses for population
      selection could be used in the development of targeted therapies if a predefined
      biomarker hypothesis exists. In this article, we consider an interim analysis
      using overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and both OS and
      PFS, to determine whether the whole population or only the biomarker-positive
      population should continue into the subsequent stage of the trial, whereas the
      final decision is made based on OS data only. In order to increase the
      probability of selecting the most appropriate population at the interim analysis,
      we propose an interim decision-making strategy in adaptive designs with
      correlated endpoints considering the post-progression survival (PPS) magnitudes.
      In our approach, the interim decision is made on the basis of predictive power by
      incorporating information on OS as well as PFS to supplement the incomplete OS
      data. Simulation studies assuming a targeted therapy demonstrated that our
      interim decision-making procedure performs well in terms of selecting the proper
      population, especially under a scenario in which PPS affects the correlation
      between OS and PFS.

PMID- 26881478
TI  - How Formerly Overweight and Obese Individuals Negotiate Disclosure of Their
      Weight Loss.
AB  - Overweight and obese individuals frequently experience weight-based stigma, and
      reducing stigma is one reason people want to lose weight. However, research
      suggests even after individuals become a normal weight, knowledge of their old
      body size can result in stigma. Through interviews of 30 formerly overweight or
      obese individuals and the framework of Communication Privacy Management theory,
      this study found the vast majority of participants perceived more benefits from
      disclosing their larger identity than risks, regardless of weight-loss method.
      Participants revealed their weight loss in order to inspire others, build
      relationships, or hold themselves accountable. Conversely, a few participants
      concealed to protect their thinner identity (i.e., they feared stigma) or to
      avoid coming across as boastful. In contrast to previous studies, this
      investigation suggests most participants were not dissuaded from revealing their
      former body size due to a threat of residual stigma. Participants' disclosure was
      overwhelmingly met with encouraging and supportive responses.

PMID- 26881476
TI  - Factor XIa inhibitors: A review of the patent literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Anticoagulants are the mainstay for prevention and/or treatment of
      thrombotic disorders. Each clinically used anticoagulant is associated with
      significant adverse consequences, especially bleeding. Factor XIa (FXIa), a key
      factor involved in the amplification of procoagulation signal, has been suggested
      as a major target for anticoagulant drug discovery because of reduced risk of
      bleeding. AREAS COVERED: Our literature search uncovered dozens of industrial and
      academic patents on the discovery of novel FXIa/FXI inhibitors. Small
      peptidomimetics, sulfated glycosaminoglycan mimetics, polypeptides, antisense
      oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibodies have been developed as inhibitors of
      FXIa. Although many agents are in early discovery/development phases, the
      activity and safety of a few have been evaluated in various animal models and in
      humans. EXPERT OPINION: FXIa is a promising drug target for development of
      effective anticoagulants with limited bleeding complications. Literature reveals
      a major trend in the number of patent applications over the last three years.
      These inhibitors exploit different approaches for target inhibition. Allosteric
      modulation of FXIa and biosynthetic inhibition of FXI are mechanistically unique.
      Despite initial results in patients undergoing knee anthroplasty as with
      antisense oligonucleotides, major advances should be realized, particularly with
      respect to pharmacokinetics, for FXI/FXIa inhibitors to enter the clinic.

PMID- 26881479
TI  - Facilitation of facial nerve regeneration using chitosan-beta-glycerophosphate
      nerve growth factor hydrogel.
AB  - Conclusion C/GP hydrogel was demonstrated to be an ideal drug delivery vehicle
      and scaffold in the vein conduit. Combined use autologous vein and NGF
      continuously delivered by C/GP-NGF hydrogel can improve the recovery of facial
      nerve defects. Objective This study investigated the effects of chitosan-beta
      glycerophosphate-nerve growth factor (C/GP-NGF) hydrogel combined with autologous
      vein conduit on the recovery of damaged facial nerve in a rat model. Methods A 5
      mm gap in the buccal branch of a rat facial nerve was reconstructed with an
      autologous vein. Next, C/GP-NGF hydrogel was injected into the vein conduit. In
      negative control groups, NGF solution or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was
      injected into the vein conduits, respectively. Autologous implantation was used
      as a positive control group. Vibrissae movement, electrophysiological assessment,
      and morphological analysis of regenerated nerves were performed to assess nerve
      regeneration. Results NGF continuously released from C/GP-NGF hydrogel in vitro.
      The recovery rate of vibrissae movement and the compound muscle action potentials
      of regenerated facial nerve in the C/GP-NGF group were similar to those in the
      Auto group, and significantly better than those in the NGF group. Furthermore,
      larger regenerated axons and thicker myelin sheaths were obtained in the C/GP-NGF
      group than those in the NGF group. 

PMID- 26881480
TI  - Cryptic epitope for antibodies should not be forgotten in vaccine design.

PMID- 26881481
TI  - Divided attention enhances explicit but not implicit conceptual memory: an item
      specific account of the attentional boost effect.
AB  - The Attentional Boost Effect (ABE) refers to the counterintuitive finding that
      words encoded with to-be-responded targets in a divided-attention condition are
      remembered better than words encoded with distractors. Previous studies suggested
      that the ABE-related enhancement of verbal memory depends upon the activation of
      abstract lexical representations. In the present study, we extend this hypothesis
      by embedding it in the context of a broader perspective, which proposes that
      divided attention in the ABE paradigm affects item-specific, but not relational,
      processing. To this purpose, we examined the ABE in the matched tasks of category
      cued recall (CCRT: explicit memory) and category exemplar generation (CEGT:
      implicit memory). In addition, study time was varied (500, 1500 or 4000 ms), to
      further determine whether the attentional boost manipulation could influence late
      phase elaborative processing. In agreement with the predictions of the item
      specific account, the results showed that exemplars encoded with targets were
      recalled better than exemplars encoded with distractors in the CCRT, but not in
      the CEGT. Moreover, performance in the CCRT increased with study time, whereas
      the size of the ABE-related enhancement tended to decrease, further confirming
      that this effect hinges upon early phase encoding processes.

PMID- 26881482
TI  - The catalytic activity of the iron-coated pumice particles used as heterogeneous
      catalysts in the oxidation of natural organic matter by H2O2.
AB  - The oxidative removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from waters was
      investigated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and iron-coated pumice particles in
      heterogeneous catalytic oxidation process (HCOP). Removal of trihalomethane (THM)
      precursors, which is formed THM by the reacts with chloride, was performed with
      the hydroxyl radicals. Coating the original pumice particles with iron oxides
      significantly enhanced the removal of NOM with peroxide. The studies were carried
      out in two sections: (1) decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in pure water with
      iron-coated pumice and (2) oxidation of THM Precursor (NOM) by hydrogen peroxide
      with iron-coated pumice. The monitored parameters in this study include dissolved
      organic carbon and trihalomethanes formation potential. The results show that
      iron-coated pumice catalyst significantly increased the removal efficiency of NOM
      in the HCOP. The results show that iron-coated pumice catalyst significantly
      increased the removal efficiency of NOM in the HCOP. Results show that the
      oxidation of NOM and remaining NOM with H2O2 is improved by the addition of iron
      coated pumice particles which activate the H2O2 molecule, leading to the
      formation of hydroxyl radicals in a Fenton-like process. 

PMID- 26881483
TI  - Organizational Responsibility for Age-Friendly Social Participation: Views of
      Australian Rural Community Stakeholders.
AB  - This qualitative study critically explores the barriers experienced by diverse
      rural community stakeholders in facilitating environments that enable age
      friendly social participation. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were
      conducted across two rural Australian communities with stakeholders from local
      government, health, social care, and community organizations. Findings identify
      that rural community stakeholders face significant difficulties in securing
      resources for groups and activities catering to older adults, which subsequently
      impacts their capacity to undertake outreach to older adults. However, in
      discussing these issues, questions were raised in relation to whose
      responsibility it is to provide resources for community groups and organizations
      providing social initiatives and whose responsibility it is to engage isolated
      seniors. These findings provide a much-needed critical perspective on current age
      friendly research by acknowledging the responsibilities of various macro-level
      social structures-different community-level organizations, local government, and
      policy in fostering environments to enable participation of diverse rural older
      adults. 

PMID- 26881484
TI  - Conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines for sickle cell disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: People affected with sickle cell disease are at high risk of
      infection from Haemophilus influenzae type b. Before the implementation of
      Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccination in high-income countries,
      this was responsible for a high mortality rate in children under five years of
      age. In African countries, where coverage of this vaccination is still extremely
      low, Haemophilus influenzae type b remains one of the most common cause of
      bacteraemias in children with sickle cell disease. The increased uptake of this
      conjugate vaccination may substantially improve the survival of children with
      sickle cell disease. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to determine whether
      Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines reduce mortality and morbidity
      in children and adults with sickle cell disease.The secondary objectives were to
      assess the following in children and adults with sickle cell disease: the
      immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines; the safety of
      these vaccines; and any variation in effect according to type of vaccine, mode of
      administration (separately or in combination with other vaccines), number of
      doses, and age at first dose. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic
      Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register,
      compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and
      conference abstract books. We also contacted relevant pharmaceutical companies to
      identify unpublished trials.Date of last search: 23 November 2015. SELECTION
      CRITERIA: All randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing
      Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines with placebo or no treatment, or
      comparing different types of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines in
      people with sickle cell disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: No trials of
      Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines in people with sickle cell
      disease were found. MAIN RESULTS: There is an absence of evidence from randomised
      controlled trials relating to the subject of this review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
      There has been a dramatic decrease in the incidence of invasive Haemophilus
      influenzae type b infections observed in the post-vaccination era in people with
      sickle cell disease living in high-income countries. Therefore, despite the
      absence of evidence from randomised controlled trials, it is expected that
      Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines may be useful in children
      affected with sickle cell disease, especially in African countries where there is
      a high prevalence of the disease. The implementation of childhood immunisation
      schedules, including universal Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate
      vaccination, may substantially improve the survival of children with sickle cell
      disease living in low-income countries. We currently lack data to evaluate the
      potential effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination among unvaccinated
      adults with sickle cell disease. Further research should assess the optimal Hib
      immunisation schedule in children and adults with sickle cell disease.

PMID- 26881485
TI  - Improvements in HCV-related Knowledge Among Substance Users on Opioid Agonist
      Therapy After an Educational Intervention.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Lack of knowledge about hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a principal
      barrier to substance users' engagement into care for the infection. As a step
      toward their increased engagement into HCV care, the objective of this study was
      to deliver an HCV-related educational intervention to substance users on opioid
      agonist therapy and to assess the change in HCV-related knowledge after the
      intervention. METHODS: We designed a comprehensive and interactive hepatitis C
      related educational intervention, composed of two 30 to 60-minute sessions
      conducted during 2 consecutive weeks. Patients' knowledge about hepatitis C was
      assessed immediately before and after the intervention using a 7-item
      questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients completed both educational
      sessions. Patients' mean age was 54.7 +/- 7.8 years, 58.7% were men, 70.4%
      African American, and 30% were Hispanic. We observed a significant increase in
      HCV-related knowledge after completion of the educational intervention. Whereas
      65.45% of patients answered 5 or more questions correctly before the
      intervention, 83.64% had 5 or more questions answered correctly on the
      posteducational quiz (P < 0.001). Male sex, ever receiving an HCV diagnostic test
      before the educational intervention, and a higher level of HCV knowledge on the
      preeducational quiz were found to be significantly associated with HCV-related
      knowledge after the educational intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' knowledge
      about hepatitis C was found to be significantly improved after the educational
      intervention. Therefore, HCV-related education could be the first step toward
      effective enrollment of patients on opioid agonist therapy into hepatitis C care.

PMID- 26881486
TI  - Organ donation as an outcome of traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest: A cost
      evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Survival after traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest (TCPA) is rare and
      requires significant resource expenditure. Organ donation as an outcome of TCPA
      resuscitation has not yet been included in a cost analysis. The aims of this
      study were to identify variables associated with survival and organ donation
      after TCPA, and to estimate the cost of achieving these outcomes. We hypothesized
      that the inclusion of organ donation as a potential outcome would make TCPA
      resuscitation more cost-effective. METHODS: Adult patients who required
      resuscitation for TCPA at a level I trauma center were retrospectively reviewed
      over 36 months. Data were obtained from medical records, hospital accounting
      records, and the local organ procurement agency. Outcomes included survival to
      discharge, neurologic function, and organ donor eligibility. An individual-level
      state-transition cost-effectiveness model was used to evaluate the cost of TCPA
      resuscitation with and without organ donation included as an outcome. Incremental
      cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated to determine additional cost per life
      saved when organ donation is included. RESULTS: Over the study period, 8,932
      subjects were evaluated. Traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest occurred in 237
      patients (3%). The mortality rate was 97%. Variables associated with survival
      included emergency department disposition to the operating room (p < 0.01) and
      reactive pupils (p < 0.001). Of seven survivors, four were discharged
      neurologically intact. Of the patients with TCPA, 5% were eligible for organ
      donation with a procurement rate of 2%. Organ donor eligibility was associated
      with arrest after arrival to the emergency department (p < 0.01) and transfusion
      of fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.01). The cost of TCPA resuscitation per survivor
      was $1.8 million; cost per survivor or life saved by donation was $538,000. The
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $76,816 per additional life saved
      including donation as an outcome. CONCLUSION: The decision to pursue
      resuscitation should continue to be based on the presence of signs of life,
      especially pupil reactivity and duration of arrest. If the primary objective is
      survival, organ procurement will be maximized without conflict of interest. Early
      fresh frozen plasma transfusion may increase successful organ donation. The
      financial burden of TCPA resuscitation can be mitigated by expanding end points
      to include organ donation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiologic study,
      level III; cost analysis, level V.

PMID- 26881487
TI  - Recommendations for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in pediatric trauma
      patients: A national, multidisciplinary consensus study.

PMID- 26881488
TI  - Frailty in trauma: A systematic review of the surgical literature for clinical
      assessment tools.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elderly trauma patients have outcomes worse than those of similarly
      injured younger patients. Although patient age and comorbidities explain some of
      the difference, the contribution of frailty to outcomes is largely unknown
      because of the lack of assessment tools developed specifically to assess frailty
      in the trauma population. This systematic review of the surgical literature
      identifies currently available frailty clinical assessment tools and evaluates
      the potential of each instrument to assess frailty in elderly patients with
      trauma. METHODS: This review was registered with PROSPERO (the international
      prospective register of systematic reviews, registration number CRD42014015350).
      Publications in English from January 1995 to October 2014 were identified by a
      comprehensive search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL, supplemented by
      manual screening of article bibliographies and subjected to three tiers of
      review. Forty-two studies reporting on frailty assessment tools were selected for
      analysis. Criteria for objectivity, feasibility in the trauma setting, and
      utility to predict trauma outcomes were formulated and used to evaluate the
      tools, including their subscales and individual items. RESULTS: Thirty-two unique
      frailty assessment tools were identified. Of those, 4 tools as a whole, 2
      subscales, and 29 individual items qualified as objective, feasible, and useful
      in the clinical assessment of trauma patients. The single existing tool developed
      specifically to assess frailty in trauma did not meet evaluation criteria.
      CONCLUSION: Few frailty assessment tools in the surgical literature qualify as
      objective, feasible, and useful measures of frailty in the trauma population.
      However, a number of individual tool items and subscales could be combined to
      assess frailty in the trauma setting. Research to determine the accuracy of these
      measures and the magnitude of the contribution of frailty to trauma outcomes is
      needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review, level III.

PMID- 26881490
TI  - Evidence of data quality in trauma registries: A systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trauma registries are clinical databases designed for quality
      improvement activities and research and have made important contributions to the
      improvements in trauma care during the last few decades. The effectiveness of
      trauma registries in improving patient outcomes depends on data quality (DQ).
      However, our understanding of DQ in trauma registries is limited. The objective
      of this study was to review evidence of the completeness, accuracy, precision,
      correctness, consistency, and timeliness of data in trauma registries. METHODS: A
      systematic review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and The Cochrane
      Library was performed including studies evaluating trauma registry DQ based on
      completeness, accuracy, precision, correctness, consistency, or timeliness. We
      also searched MEDLINE to identify regional, national, and international trauma
      registries whose data were used 10 times or more in original studies in the last
      10 years; administrators of those registries were contacted to obtain their
      latest DQ report. Two authors abstracted the data independently. RESULTS: The
      search retrieved 7,495 distinct published articles, of which 10 were eligible for
      inclusion. We also reviewed DQ reports from five provincial and international
      trauma registries. Evaluation was mostly based on completeness with values
      between 46.8% (mechanism of injury) and 100% (age and sex). Accuracy was between
      81.0% (operating room time) and 99.8% (sex). No evidence of data precision or
      timeliness was available. Correctness varied from 47.6% (Injury Severity Score
      [ISS]) to 83.2% (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score) and consistency between
      variables from 87.5% (International Classification of Disease--9th Rev.--Clinical
      Modification [ICD-9-CM]/Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS]) to 99.6% (procedure
      time). CONCLUSION: In the few studies we identified, DQ evaluation in trauma
      registries was mostly based on completeness. There is a need to develop a
      standardized and reproducible method to evaluate DQ in trauma registries.
      Determinants of DQ and the impact of DQ on trauma registry analyses such as
      benchmarking with quality indicators should also be explored.

PMID- 26881491
TI  - Simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation or liver transplantation alone for
      patients in need of liver transplantation with renal dysfunction.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There have been no well defined guidelines to determine
      whether a kidney transplant should be offered to liver transplant candidates who
      have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or prolonged acute kidney injury while awaiting
      a liver transplant. This article provides a review of current literature on risk
      factors for CKD progression after liver transplantation alone (LTA) in patients
      with pretransplant renal dysfunction and the utility of cystatin C (Cyst C) to
      assess renal function in cirrhotic patients. Studies evaluating risk factors for
      transplant futility are also discussed. Based on available literature and
      existing consensus guidelines, a proposed algorithm for simultaneous liver-kidney
      transplantation (SLKT) or LTA is formulated. RECENT FINDINGS: In LTA recipients
      with pretransplant renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus and type 2 hepatorenal
      syndrome are associated with CKD progression posttransplant. Coexisting diabetes
      and stages 3-4 CKD increase end-stage renal disease risk. Cyst C may be a better
      marker of renal function in cirrhotics. In LTA recipients, very high MELD scores
      and the concomitant presence of multiple comorbidities increase liver transplant
      futility risk. Similar studies in SLKT recipients are lacking. SUMMARY:
      Pretransplant diabetes status should be incorporated into future guidelines for
      SLKT, whereas simultaneous kidney transplantation should be deferred in highest
      acuity SLKT candidates with high kidney transplant futility risk. Cyst C-based
      equations may allow clinicians to better select the most appropriate candidates
      for SLKT or LTA. Further studies are needed.

PMID- 26881492
TI  - Nutritional strategies to enhance adaptation in intestinal failure.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article summarizes the current and potential future
      nutritional approaches to stimulate adaptation in intestinal failure. Adaptation
      in this context usually refers to intestinal adaptation but also involves changes
      in whole body physiology as well as in eating/drinking behavior. RECENT FINDINGS:
      Adaptation largely depends on residual functional anatomy. Luminal exposure to
      complex nutrients is the most important trigger for intestinal adaptation.
      Enteral fat as well as enteral or parenteral short chain fatty acids have a
      specific stimulatory effect. Zinc and vitamin A status need to be optimized for
      adaptation to proceed and be maintained. In the context of maintaining sodium and
      water homeostasis, flushing the remnant intestine because of uncontrolled
      thirst/drinking must be avoided. Complications of nutritional care such as
      malnutrition, intestinal failure-associated liver disease, and recurrent line
      sepsis also need optimal management. SUMMARY: Stimulation by luminal nutrients as
      well as prophylaxis against and treatment of (nutritional) complications are the
      cornerstones of adaptation to the short bowel situation. Based on ample data from
      animal studies but only limited evidence in humans specific nutritional
      stimulators need to be studied more rigorously. As long as such data are missing
      they can be tried on an individual basis.

PMID- 26881489
TI  - The acute respiratory distress syndrome following isolated severe traumatic brain
      injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is common after traumatic
      brain injury (TBI) and is associated with worse neurologic outcomes and longer
      hospitalization. However, the incidence and associated causes of ARDS in isolated
      TBI have not been well studied. METHODS: We performed a subgroup analysis of 210
      consecutive patients with isolated severe TBI enrolled in a prospective
      observational cohort at a Level 1 trauma center between 2005 and 2014. Subjects
      required endotracheal intubation and had isolated severe TBI defined by a head
      Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 3 or greater and AIS score lower than 3
      in all other categories. ARDS within the first 8 days of admission was rigorously
      adjudicated using Berlin criteria. Regression analyses were used to test the
      association between predictors of interest and ARDS. RESULTS: The incidence of
      ARDS in the first 8 days after severe isolated TBI was 30%. Patients who
      developed ARDS were administered more crystalloids (4.3 L vs. 3.5 L, p = 0.005)
      and blood products in the first 12 hours of admission. Patients with ARDS had
      significantly worse clinical outcomes measured at 28 days, including longer
      median intensive care unit and hospital stays (4 days vs. 13 days, p < 0.001, and
      7.5 days vs. 14.5 days, p < 0.001, respectively). In unadjusted logistic
      regression analyses, the odds of developing ARDS were significantly associated
      with head AIS score (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; p = 0.018), male sex (OR, 2.9; p =
      0.012), and early transfusion of platelets (OR, 2.8; p = 0.003). These
      associations were similar in a multivariate logistic regression model.
      CONCLUSION: In the era of balanced hemostatic resuscitation practices, severity
      of head injury, male sex, early crystalloids, and early transfusion of platelets
      are associated with a higher risk of ARDS after severe isolated TBI. Early
      transfusion of platelets after severe TBI may be a modifiable risk factor for
      ARDS, and these findings invite further investigation into causal mechanisms
      driving this observed association. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic
      study, level III.

PMID- 26881493
TI  - Pharmacological strategies to enhance adaptation in intestinal failure.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Intestinal failure because of more or less extensive resection
      of parts of the small and large intestine (short bowel syndrome) results from the
      reduction of absorptive surface of the remaining intestine and frequently results
      in dependence on parenteral nutrition. Parenteral nutrition, although lifesaving,
      is associated with short and long-term complications as well as with reduced
      quality of life and overall survival. RECENT FINDINGS: Pharmacological
      enhancement of the physiological intestinal adaptive response by subcutaneous
      application of the glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue teduglutide results in an
      improved, hyperadaptive response. This is reflected by decreased parenteral
      calorie and fluid requirements, decreased parenteral nutrition infusion days per
      week including complete weaning off parenteral nutrition with complete oral
      autonomy, improved quality of life, and metabolic and nutritional stability.
      SUMMARY: The advent of teduglutide as an authority-approved specific medication
      for intestinal failure in parenteral nutrition-dependent short bowel syndrome
      offers an effective and beneficial treatment for these patients. As a result,
      patients are more stable whether for medical or further surgical management
      including intestinal transplantation. Long-term efficacy and safety still have to
      be proven.

PMID- 26881494
TI  - Intramolecular structure and energetics in supercooled water down to 255 K.
AB  - We studied the structure and energetics of supercooled water by means of X-ray
      Raman and Compton scattering. Under supercooled conditions down to 255 K, the
      oxygen K-edge measured by X-ray Raman scattering suggests an increase of
      tetrahedral order similar to the conventional temperature effect observed in non
      supercooled water. Compton profile differences indicate contributions beyond the
      theoretically predicted temperature effect and provide a deeper insight into
      local structural changes. These contributions suggest a decrease of the electron
      mean kinetic energy by 3.3 +/- 0.7 kJ (mol K)(-1) that cannot be modeled within
      established water models. Our surprising results emphasize the need for water
      models that capture in detail the intramolecular structural changes and quantum
      effects to explain this complex liquid. 

PMID- 26881496
TI  - Development and Preliminary Validation of the Drinking Expectancy Sexual
      Vulnerabilities Questionnaire (DESV-Q): A Purpose-Specific Instrument for Rape
      Perception Research.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alcohol expectancies likely play a role in people's perceptions of
      alcohol-involved sexual violence. However, no appropriate measure exists to
      examine this link comprehensively. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to
      develop an alcohol expectancy measure which captures young adults' beliefs about
      alcohol's role in sexual aggression and victimization. METHOD: Two cross
      sectional samples of young Australian adults (18-25 years) were recruited for
      scale development (Phase 1) and scale validation (Phase 2). In Phase 1,
      participants (N = 201; 38.3% males) completed an online survey with an initial
      pool of alcohol expectancy items stated in terms of three targets (self, men,
      women) to identify the scale's factor structure and most effective items. A
      revised alcohol expectancy scale was then administered online to 322 young adults
      (39.6% males) in Phase 2. To assess the predictive, convergent, and discriminant
      validity of the scale, participants also completed established measures of
      personality, social desirability, alcohol use, general and context-specific
      alcohol expectancies, and impulsiveness. RESULTS: Principal axis factoring (Phase
      1) and confirmatory factor analysis (Phase 2) resulted in a target-equivalent
      five-factor structure for the final 66-item Drinking Expectancy Sexual
      Vulnerabilities Questionnaire (DESV-Q). The factors were labeled (1) Sexual
      Coercion, (2) Sexual Vulnerability, (3) Confidence, (4) Self-Centeredness, and
      (5) Negative Cognitive and Behavioral Changes. The measure demonstrated effective
      items, high internal consistency, and satisfactory predictive, convergent, and
      discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The DESV-Q is a purpose-specific instrument
      that could be used in future research to elucidate people's attributions for
      alcohol-involved sexual aggression and victimization.

PMID- 26881497
TI  - Liver Transplantation for Propionic Acidemia.

PMID- 26881498
TI  - Theory of spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) and related phenomena.
AB  - We review the so-called spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in bilayers of a
      magnetic insulator and a metal, in which spin currents are generated in the
      normal metal by the spin Hall effect. The associated angular momentum transfer to
      the ferromagnetic layer and thereby the electrical resistance is modulated by the
      angle between the applied current and the magnetization direction. The SMR
      provides a convenient tool to non-invasively measure the magnetization direction
      and spin-transfer torque to an insulator. We introduce the minimal theoretical
      instruments to calculate the SMR, i.e. spin diffusion theory and quantum
      mechanical boundary conditions. This leads to a small set of parameters that can
      be fitted to experiments. We discuss the limitations of the theory as well as
      alternative mechanisms such as the ferromagnetic proximity effect and Rashba spin
      orbit torques, and point out new developments. 

PMID- 26881500
TI  - Global trends in specialist training, certification, and regulation of oncology
      practice and its implications for the developing world.

PMID- 26881501
TI  - Uncomfortable bedfellows: Whole brain radiation therapy and neurocognition in
      animal and human studies.

PMID- 26881499
TI  - One-pot multienzyme (OPME) systems for chemoenzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates.
AB  - Glycosyltransferase-catalyzed enzymatic and chemoenzymatic syntheses are powerful
      approaches for the production of oligosaccharides, polysaccharides,
      glycoconjugates, and their derivatives. Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of
      sugar nucleotide donors can be combined with glycosyltransferases in one pot for
      efficient production of the target glycans from simple monosaccharides and
      acceptors. The identification of enzymes involved in the salvage pathway of sugar
      nucleotide generation has greatly facilitated the development of simplified and
      efficient one-pot multienzyme (OPME) systems for synthesizing major glycan
      epitopes in mammalian glycomes. The applications of OPME methods are steadily
      gaining popularity mainly due to the increasing availability of wild-type and
      engineered enzymes. Substrate promiscuity of these enzymes and their mutants
      allows OPME synthesis of carbohydrates with naturally occurring post
      glycosylational modifications (PGMs) and their non-natural derivatives using
      modified monosaccharides as precursors. The OPME systems can be applied in
      sequence for synthesizing complex carbohydrates. The sequence of the sequential
      OPME processes, the glycosyltransferase used, and the substrate specificities of
      the glycosyltransferases define the structures of the products. The OPME and
      sequential OPME strategies can be extended to diverse glycans in other glycomes
      when suitable enzymes with substrate promiscuity become available. This
      Perspective summarizes the work of the authors and collaborators on the
      development of glycosyltransferase-based OPME systems for carbohydrate synthesis.
      Future directions are also discussed. 

PMID- 26881502
TI  - Is thyroid gland an organ at risk in breast cancer patients treated with
      locoregional radiotherapy? Results of a pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aim was to evaluate the dose distribution within the thyroid gland
      its association with hypothyroidism in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving
      supraclavicular (SC) radiation therapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive
      40 BC patients with baseline normal thyroid function tests (TFTs), were
      randomized into two groups: (a) Adjuvant chest wall/breast with SC-RT (20
      patients) and (b) control group (adjuvant chest wall/breast RT only); 20
      patients. The thyroid gland was contoured for each patient. Each patient's dose
      volume histogram (DVH), mean thyroid volume, the volume percentages of the
      thyroid absorbing respectively 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Gy (V5, V10, V20, V30,
      V40, and V50), and Dmean (average dose in whole volume of thyroid) were then
      estimated. TFTs were performed at the time of the last follow-up and compared.
      RESULTS: Mean thyroid volume of cohort was 19.6 cm(3) (4.02-93.52) and Dmean of
      thyroid gland in SC-RT and control group was 25.8 Gy (16.4-52.2) and 5.6 Gy (0.7
      12.8), respectively. Median values of V5, V10, V20, V30, V40, and V50 were 54%,
      51%, 42.8%, 30.8%, 27.8%, and 7.64%, respectively, in SC-RT as compared to
      control group (V5;4.9%, V10;2.4%, V20;1.75%, V301%, V40;0%, and V50;0%,
      respectively) with P < 0.0001. At 52 months, a majority of patients (90%) had a
      normal thyroid function whereas four patients (10%) had hypothyroidism; 3/20
      (15%) patients in SC-RT and 1/20 (5%) in control group with P < 0.001.
      Significant prognostic factors were; SC-RT (P = 0.001), V30 above 50% (P =
      0.001), and smaller thyroid volume (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The risk of
      hypothyroidism in BC patients after SC-RT depends on the thyroid gland volume and
      V30 >50% and the risk can be minimized by thyroid gland shielding during RT.

PMID- 26881503
TI  - Evaluation of on-board imager cone beam CT hounsfield units for treatment
      planning using rigid image registration.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the on-board imager cone beam CT (OBI-CBCT) Hounsfield units
      (HUs) for treatment planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HU-electron density (eD)
      calibration for CBCT, the CATphan504 phantom was used, and the CBCT HU (HUCBCT)
      consistency was studied by analyzing the CBCT images of Rando phantom and
      compared with planning CT. The latter study was also performed on CBCT images of
      10 H&N patients. For comparison, the structures contoured and treatment plans
      generated on CT were transferred on to the CBCT after registration. The treatment
      plans were compared using gamma (g) index analysis and the plan comparison dose
      volume histograms (DVHPlanComp). RESULTS: Although the HU-eD calibration curves
      of both the planning CT and CBCT were found to be linear, differences in mean HU
      values were found in the region of interest (ROI) corresponding to Acrylic,
      Derlin, and Teflon, viz., 144 +/- 11 HU, 193 +/- 5 HU, and 257 +/- 7 HU
      respectively. For all the cases, the consistency and reproducibility of HUCBCT
      values for low density medium agreed the HU CT except at regions of high density.
      Overall g-evaluation showed more than 94% pixels pass rate and DVH results showed
      small difference in the DVHPlanComp, Rando, and large differences in DVHPlanComp,
      patient for structures contoured at peripheral regions (PV) of CBCT images.
      CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the pixel-to-pixel HU corrections for entire range
      of eD are not necessary for OBI-CBCT images. Application of local correction in
      the high-density and penumbral regions would facilitate the use of CBCT images
      for routine treatment planning.

PMID- 26881504
TI  - Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in qualitative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node
      metastasis in breast cancer: A meta-analysis.
AB  - AIM: This meta-analysis aims to determine the accuracy of contrast-enhanced
      ultrasonography (CEUS) in the qualitative diagnosis of metastatic sentinel lymph
      node (SLN) for patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We screened
      PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, Google Scholar,
      CBM, and CNKI databases. All analyses were calculated using the STATA software,
      version 12.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA). We calculated the summary
      statistics for sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Spe), positive and negative
      likelihood ratios (LR + /LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and receiver operating
      characteristic (SROC) curve. Thirteen articles that met all inclusion criteria
      were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 876 breast cancer
      patients were assessed, including 372 patients with metastatic SLN and 504
      patients without metastatic SLN. All SLN were histologically confirmed after
      conducting CEUS. The pooled Sen was 0.80 (95%CI = 0.76-0.84); the pooled Spe was
      0.94 (95% CI = 0.91-0.96). The pooled LR + was 6.28 (95%CI = 3.61-10.92); the
      pooled negative LR - was 0.218 (95% CI = 0.10-0.31). The pooled DOR of CEUS in
      qualitative diagnosis of SLN metastasis was 49.10 (95% CI = 27.89-86.45). The
      area under the SROC curve was 0.937 (standard error [SE] =0.0128). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our meta-analysis suggests that CEUS may have high a diagnostic accuracy in
      testing for metastatic SLN in breast cancer. Thus, CEUS may be a good tool for
      differential diagnosis between metastatic and non-metastatic SLN.

PMID- 26881505
TI  - Radiotherapy concurrent with weekly gemcitabine after transurethral tumor
      resection in muscle invasive bladder cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this report, we determined the efficacy and the toxicity of low
      dose weekly gemcitabine with radiotherapy, in medically unfit or refused surgery
      muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2008 to
      2012, 15 patients were included into the retrospective analysis. Weekly
      gemcitabine was administered at a rate of 50 mg/m(2) with a median dose of 63 Gy
      radiotherapy. RESULTS: The median age was 69 (range, 55-86). Median follow-up was
      15 months (range, 5-53 months). A complete response was achieved in 12 patients
      (80%). Median progression free survival and overall survival were 15 months
      (range, 7-23 months) and 18 months (range not calculated), respectively. Local
      recurrence was found in 3 patients (20%) and distant recurrence was found in 5
      patients (33.3%) for the entire group. While salvage surgery was performed on 1
      patient, salvage chemotherapy was delivered for 4 patients. Treatment was well
      tolerated, there was no treatment interruption or instances of toxic death. A
      serious toxicity (grade 3) cystitis was seen in only 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS:
      Multimodality treatment of muscle invasive BC proved a feasible and effective
      treatment option. Gemcitabine based chemoradiation is an active treatment option
      with a low toxicity profile for patients with muscle invasive BC, who are not
      suitable medically or refused to surgery.

PMID- 26881506
TI  - Tumor suppressive effects of WEE1 gene silencing could not enhance
      immunopotentiation effects of CD80 and 4-1BBL co-stimulation in human T cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Activation of T cells against tumors by recruiting co-stimulatory
      molecules has been an attractive approach for cancer immunotherapy. Reports
      suggested that targeting different genes in tumors might also boost T cell
      mediated tumor destruction. AIMS: We investigated whether in vitro WEE1 gene
      silencing in MDA-MB-468 and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines could enhance
      immunopotentiating effects of CD80 and 4-1BBL co-stimulation in human T cells.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: WEE1 gene was specifically silenced in the cancer cells
      using shRNA technology. The co-stimulatory molecules were over-expressed on the
      surface of the cancer cells by recombinant non-replicative adenoviruses. The
      immune reaction of T cells in the co-culture with tumor cells was studied. IFN-g
      production was assessed by intracellular staining of T cells. To assess cytotoxic
      activity of CD8+ T cells, the CD107a mobilization-degranulation assay was
      performed. Expression of granzyme B, perforin and fasl were examined by real time
      PCR. RESULTS: T cell dual co-stimulation led to a significant increase in the
      frequency of IFN-g producing cells and higher percentages of degranulation in
      CD8+ T cells. It also resulted in higher expression levels of the cytotoxicity
      related genes. WEE1 gene silencing in the target cells alone however, could not
      produce significant immune reactivation in the cultured T cells. Likewise, the
      immune responses of T cells neither improved nor suppressed when dually co
      stimulated PBMCs were exposed to the cancer cells with silenced WEE1.
      CONCLUSIONS: In spite of antitumor effects of WEE1 silencing, combination of this
      approach with immune co-stimulation could not boost the reactivity of cultured T
      cells against the tested breast cancer cells.

PMID- 26881507
TI  - Combination of survivin siRNA with neoadjuvant chemotherapy enhances apoptosis
      and reverses drug resistance in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic resistance is a main problem in clinical breast
      cancer therapy. The purpose of our study is to investigate whether the
      combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and survivin siRNA treatment could
      enhance the therapeutic effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using paclitaxel or
      epirubicin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The molecular cloning technique was applied to
      construct the expression vector of siRNA against survivin. Effectene Transfection
      Reagent was used to transfect plasmids to MCF-7 cells. Survivin expressions were
      detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot methods. The
      effect of paclitaxel or epirubicin, with or without the combination of survivin
      siRNA treatment, on drug susceptibility of MCF-7 cells was detected by CCK-8
      assay. MCF-7 cell apoptosis was detected by Flow Cytometry. RESULTS: Survivin
      siRNA effectively inhibited the expression of Survivin RNA and protein levels (P
      < 0.05). Both paclitaxel and epirubicin can suppress the proliferation of MCF-7
      cells and induce apoptosis to a certain degree respectively. The combination of
      survivin siRNA with the two chemotherapy drugs significantly enhanced both
      effects of the two chemotherapeutics respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Survivin siRNA combined with the neoadjuvant chemotherapy can significantly
      enhance the sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to chemotherapeutics and cell apoptosis.
      This technology has important potential value in the therapeutic study of breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26881508
TI  - Prospective randomized trial to compare accelerated (six fractions a week)
      radiotherapy against concurrent chemoradiotherapy (using conventional
      fractionation) in locally advanced head and neck cancers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is currently considered to be the
      standard of care in locally advanced head and neck cancer. The optimum
      radiotherapy schedule for best local control and acceptable toxicity is not yet
      clear. We aimed at shortening of treatment time by using accelerated radiation,
      thereby comparing the disease response, loco-regional tumor control and
      tolerability of accelerated radiation (six fractions per week) against CCRT in
      locally advanced head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted the
      prospective randomized study for a period of 2 years from June 2011 to May 2013
      in 133 untreated patients of histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of
      head and neck. Study group (66 patients) received accelerated radiotherapy with 6
      fractions per week (66Gy/33#/51/2 weeks). Control group (67 patients) received
      CCRT with 5 fractions per week radiation (66 Gy/33#/61/2 weeks) along with
      intravenous cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) weekly. Tumor control, survival, acute and late
      toxicities were assessed. RESULTS: Median overall treatment time was 38 days and
      45 days in the accelerated radiotherapy and concurrent chemoradiation arm,
      respectively. At a median follow up of 12 months, 41 patients (62.1%) in the
      accelerated radiotherapy arm and 47 patients (70.1%) in the CCRT arm were disease
      free (P = 0.402). Local disease control was comparable in both the arms. Acute
      toxicities were significantly higher in the CCRT arm as compared with accelerated
      radiotherapy arm. There was no difference in late toxicities between the two
      arms. CONCLUSION: We can achieve, same or near to the same local control, with
      lower toxicities with accelerated six fractions per week radiation compared with
      CCRT especially for Indian population.

PMID- 26881509
TI  - Malpingian carcinoma of the urinary bladder: A case series.
AB  - CONTEXT: Malpingian carcinoma (MC) of the bladder is a rare entity. Although
      distant metastases are very rare it is, usually, diagnosed in the advanced stage,
      and most patients die. AIMS: The aim was to reveal the characteristics of this
      tumor and discuss reasons explaining its particular biological behavior. SETTINGS
      AND DESIGN: The pathologic and clinical characteristics, as well as treatment and
      outcome of six consecutive cases, were retrospectively studied. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: Medical records of patients with bladder tumors who were treated in our
      hospital from 2004 onward were reviewed in order to identify those with MC of the
      bladder. RESULTS: We identified found seven cases. Almost all had locally
      advanced disease. Three developed visceral metastases and died within few months
      from the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring protocols required for the
      early control of local recurrence.

PMID- 26881510
TI  - Survival and failure patterns in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas: A single
      center experience of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Intracranial meningiomas are the second most common tumor of the
      CNS. The high-grade tumors are atypical and malignant meningioma comprising 5-7%
      and 1-3% of all meningiomas. The high-grade meningioma have an aggressive
      histopathological and clinical behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed 37 patients of high-grade meningioma treated in our
      institute from 2002 to 2011. Clinical characteristics and treatment modality in
      form of surgery and radiotherapy (RT) were noted. Statistical analysis was done
      with regards to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using
      Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 45.0
      years. The median duration of symptoms was 6 months. Headache was the most common
      presenting symptom. Fourteen patients underwent complete excision, while 23 had
      subtotal excision. Twenty-two patients had World Health Organization (WHO) grade
      II histology tumors and 15 patients had grade III histology. Median RT dose
      delivered was 50 Gy for grade II tumors and 54 Gy for grade III tumors. Five-year
      PFS for grade II and III tumors was 58 and 20%, respectively. Five-year OS for
      grade II and III tumors was 83 and 23%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High-grade
      meningiomas represent a rare and aggressive neoplasm. The mainstay of therapy is
      gross total resection (GTR) at the initial surgery. Postoperative adjuvant RT
      should be offered to all patients, regardless of the degree of resection
      achieved. Long-term follow-up is important as local recurrences and progression
      can develop years after the initial treatment.

PMID- 26881511
TI  - Nodal ratio of positive to excised nodes, but not number of positive lymph nodes
      is better to predict group to avoid chemotherapy among postmenopausal ER
      positive, lymph node-positive T1-T2 breast cancer patients.
AB  - AIM OF STUDY: To identify whether nodal ratio (NR) of positive to excised nodes
      is superior to number of positive lymph nodes to predict group to avoid
      chemotherapy among postmenopausal ER-positive, lymph node-positive, T1-T2 breast
      cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postmenopausal estrogen receptor (ER)
      positive, lymph node-positive patients who received endocrine therapy (n = 173)
      with complete baseline data in our hospital between 2000 and 2006 were included.
      The disease-free survival (DFS) was compared. Survival analysis was performed
      using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate
      the prognostic value of chemotherapy with different NR for DFS. P--values less
      than 0.05 were regarded as significant. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 72
      months. Three of 13 variables analyzed remained significantly prognostic for
      survival in the Cox proportional hazards model. These included age (hazard ratio
      (HR) =1.642, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.154-2.337, P = 0.006); histological
      grade (HR = 2.463,95% CI = 1.389-4.367, P = 0.002); and NR (HR = 2.280, 95% CI =
      1.113-4.671, P = 0.024). Subgroup analysis by NR status showed that in patients
      with NR >= 0.20, chemotherapy significantly improves DFS (HR = 0.360, 95% CI =
      0.195-0.663, P = 0.001); while in patients with NR < 0.20, chemotherapy did not
      significantly affect DFS (HR = 0.677, 95% CI = 0.227-2.107, P = 0.493).
      Radiotherapy is an important factor that improves DFS in lymph node-positive
      patients, so it is considered in all analysis. CONCLUSION: This retrospective
      analysis demonstrates that NR of positive to excised nodes, but not number of
      positive lymph nodes is better to predict group to avoid chemotherapy among
      postmenopausal ER-positive, lymph node-positive T1-T2 breast cancer patients.

PMID- 26881512
TI  - Improving the accuracy of target volume delineation by combined use of computed
      tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography in head
      and neck carcinomas.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Conformal radiation therapy mandates accurate delineation of target
      volumes, which requires incorporation of modern imaging modalities like magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) in addition to
      conventionally used computed tomography (CT). This can resolve discrepancies in
      target delineation in head and neck carcinomas resulting in better local control.
      We hereby report the comparison of Gross Tumor Volumes (GTVs) (primary) drawn
      using PET, CT and MRI and their concordance indices. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Twenty
      five patients with head and neck cancer were taken into this study. MRI, PET and
      CT planning scans were done as per standard guidelines. Three sets of primary
      GTVs namely GTV- PET, GTV-CT and GTV-MRI were contoured on fused images. All the
      three volumes and concordances among the volumes were analyzed. RESULT: The mean
      GTV-CT, GTV-PET and GTV-MRI volumes were 29.65 cc +/- 31.27, 32.05 cc +/- 33.75
      and 24.85 cc +/- 25.28 respectively. There was a significant difference in the
      GTV-MRI & GTV-CT volumes (P = 0.023) and GTV-PET & GTV-MRI volumes (P = 0.049).
      However, there was no significant difference in the GTV-PET & GTV-CT volume (P =
      0.468). The mean CI (PET-MRI), CI (CT-MRI) and CI (PET-CT) was 0.42, 0.46 and
      0.47 respectively, which depicts a moderate concordance. CONCLUSION: PET and MRI
      are useful imaging tools in head and neck malignancies and should be used in
      conjunction with CT scan for improved target volume delineation.

PMID- 26881513
TI  - Tumor dose enhancement by nanoparticles during high dose rate (192)Ir
      brachytherapy.
AB  - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to evaluate and compare the dose
      enhancement factor (DEF) of tumor injected with different nanoparticles (NPs)
      around high dose rate (HDR) (192)Ir brachytherapy source. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Monte Carlo calculations were performed with MCNPX code to determine the DEF
      caused by in tumor injected with (79)Au, (64)Gd, (26)Fe, and (22)Ti NPs during
      HDR (192)Ir brachytherapy. The uniform and non-uniform distribution of NPs within
      tumor was modeled with simple NPs-water mixture, and realistic nano-scale-lattice
      model. Furthermore, a margin of (79)Au and 64 Gd NPs was implemented around the
      tumor volume. RESULTS: The increased dose caused by uniformly distributed (79)Au
      and 64)Gd NPs with 7, 18, and 30 mgr/gr concentrations was 4.7%, 11.8%, 19.4%,
      and 3.3%, 8.3%, and 18.6%, respectively. For non-uniform distribution, it was
      0.4%, 1.2%, 1.9%, and 0.2%, 0.7%, and 1.2%, respectively. Increased tumor dose
      due to (26)Fe and 22 Ti was not significant. The peripheral-healthy tissue dose
      as margin with 2, 5, and 8.5 mgr/gr of 7(9)Au and 6(4)Gd increased by 1.3%, 3.6%,
      6.5%, and 1.1%, 2.5%, and 4.2%, respectively. Increase the radial depth of tumor
      (from 1.5 to 5 cm) increase DEF (up to 22.3%). The nano-lattice model
      underestimated the DEF up to 4% and 3.6% for 79Au and (64)Gd NPs, respectively.
      CONCLUSION: Injecting of high-Z gold NPs into tumor increases the absorbed dose
      of tumor irradiated with (192)Ir HDR brachytherapy source. Size, geometry,
      concentration, and distribution model of NPs and tumor depth are crucial factors
      to accurately estimate the DEF.

PMID- 26881514
TI  - Association between CYP1A1 2454A > G polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk: A
      meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to assess the association of CYP1A1 2454A >
      G polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE Springer, Elsevier Science
      Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant trials
      until December 2013. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%
      CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the association. Subgroup analyses
      were conducted based on geographical region and size of the study samples.
      RESULTS: Thirteen eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis with 3490
      cases and 4076 controls. There were significant associations under the overall
      ORs for G-allele comparison (G vs. A, pooled OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.61, P =
      0.03), GG versus AA comparison (pooled OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17-1.91, P < 0.01),
      recessive model (GG vs. GA + AA, pooled OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.94, P < 0.01)
      between CYP1A1 2454A > G polymorphism and CRC risk. Subgroup analyses stratified
      by geographical region demonstrated an association in Asia and Europe, but not in
      America. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that CYP1A1 2454A > G
      polymorphism might be associated with susceptibility of CRC and the allele G
      might increase the CRC risk in Asia and Europe.

PMID- 26881515
TI  - Dose response characteristics of a novel CCD camera-based electronic portal
      imaging device comparison with OCTAVIUS detector.
AB  - AIM: Dosimetric properties of a CCD camera-based Electronic Portal Imaging Device
      (EPID) for clinical dosimetric application have been evaluated. Characteristics
      obtained by EPID also compared with commercial 2D array of ion chambers.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Portal images acquired in dosimetry mode then exported raw
      fluence or uncorrected images were investigated. Integration time of image
      acquisition mode has adjusted on 1 s per frame. RESULTS: As saturation of camera
      of the EPID, dose response does not have linear behavior. The slight nonlinearity
      of the camera response can be corrected by a logarithmic expression. A fourth
      order polynomial regression model with coefficient of determination of 0.998
      predicts a response to absolute dose values at less than 50 cGy. A field size
      dependent response of up to 7% (0.99-1.06) relative OCTAVIUS detector measurement
      was found. The EPID response can be fitted by a cubic regression for field size
      changes, yielded coefficient of determination of 0.999. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results indicate that the EPID is well suited for accurate dosimetric purposes,
      the major limitation currently being due to integration time and dead-time in
      frame acquisition.

PMID- 26881516
TI  - Conventional vs concomitant boost radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin in
      advanced head and neck cancer.
AB  - AIM OF STUDY: To compare outcome of concomitant boost therapy (CBT) with
      conventional radiotherapy with cisplatin as a radiosensitizer in advanced head
      and neck cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective comparative study was
      undertaken. Patients were assigned alternately to ArmA (conventional arm) and
      ArmB (CBT arm), 30 in each arm and total 60 patients were enrolled. RESULTS: Out
      of 30 patients in conventional Arm A, 13 had complete response (CR; 43.33%), 9
      had partial response (PR; 30%), three patients (10%) had stable disease (SD), and
      five patients (16.66%) had progressive disease (PD). In arm B out of 30 patients,
      18 patients (60%) had CR, five patients (16.66%) had partial response (PR), four
      patients (13.33%) showed SD, and three patients (10%) had PD. There was no
      statistically significant difference between the two arms for CR (P - value =
      0.196). CONCLUSIONS: CBT can be used as an alternative to conventional RT in
      advanced head and neck cancers which minimize the total duration and the workload
      can be reduced. The locoregional control with CBT is comparable with the response
      of conventional RT.

PMID- 26881517
TI  - Evaluation of dose perturbation at the interface of two different density medium
      using GAFCHROMIC film EBT2 and Monte Carlo code EGSnrc for Co-60 beam.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Accurate dosimetry at the interface of two different density medium
      (e.g., air cavity in the head and neck cancers and lungs in thoracic region) is a
      major cause of concern in external beam radiation therapy. It has been observed
      that there is dose variation in and around air cavities, which occur as a result
      of the loss of both longitudinal and lateral electronic equilibrium.
      Heterogeneous structures with spatial differences in functionality and
      sensitivity for radiation pose challenge to radiation dosimetry. This study is an
      attempt to evaluate the dose perturbations produced at the interface of two
      medium for C0-60 gamma radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Low density polyethene
      foam has been used to mimic air cavity. GAFCHROMIC EBT2 dosimetry film was used
      for the measurement of dose at different locations. Simulation studies were
      performed using DOSRZnrc user code that comes with EGSnrc V4 2.4.0. Cylindrical
      geometry is used for all the simulations. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We observed
      significant variation in dose for smaller fields. There is a dose build down in
      the backward region and a dose build up in the forward direction. In the region
      of electronic disequilibrium, dose reduction near interface (proximal end) will
      have negative impact if target region is embedded there, on the contrary, it
      would be beneficial if there is normal tissue/critical organ adjacent to it.

PMID- 26881518
TI  - Clinicopathological characteristics and primary treatment of prostate cancer in a
      urology unit of Sri Lanka.
AB  - AIMS: The aim was to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of prostate
      cancer and the primary treatment modality in a cohort of patients seen in a
      urology unit of Sri Lanka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected
      prospectively from all patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and managed
      in a urology unit in Sri Lanka from January 2010 to December 2013. Patient's age,
      clinical presentation, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, mode of diagnosis,
      Gleason sum score, stage of the disease and main modality of treatment were
      recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 278 cases of histologically proven
      prostate cancer. Mean patient age was 70.5 years. About 50% presented with lower
      urinary tract symptoms. Only 2% were screening detected cases. Five (2%) patients
      had a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer. About 81% of patients had a
      serum PSA above 20 ng/ml. Gleason sum score was 8 or more in 44% of patients.
      Metastases were found at the time of diagnosis in 60% of patients. Forty-eight
      patients underwent radical radiotherapy, while seven patients had radical
      prostatectomy. Most (94%) of the 203 patients who required androgen deprivation
      therapy had surgical orchiectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Sri Lankans appear to be having a
      low incidence of prostate cancer, but a larger proportion of high-grade cancers
      in comparison to the UK and USA. Although genetic differences may exist, a
      dietary or an environmental factor is more likely to be the cause for these
      changes. The protective effect of this factor appears to wane as South Asians
      emigrate and live in UK and USA.

PMID- 26881519
TI  - Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with elevated aspartate
      aminotransferase level in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible rate-limiting enzyme of
      prostaglandins biosynthesis, is involved in the pathogenesis of many chronic
      inflammation-related human malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
      However, its clinical significance in HCC remains obscure. The aim of our study
      was to evaluate COX-2 expression in HCC and correlate its expression to both
      clinicopathological parameters and patients survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      present study was conducted on 17 HCC and 21 adjacent nontumor liver tissues
      obtained from 22 HCC patients underwent hepatectomy. Eight normal liver tissues
      taken from normal donors and HepG2 cells were used as controls. Total RNA was
      extracted and COX-2 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction and correlated to the clinicopathological criteria and to patient's
      survival. RESULTS: COX-2 mRNA was detected in 58.8% of the HCC tissues and in
      28.6% of the adjacent nontumor liver tissues. COX-2 expression was significantly
      associated with elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with
      high specificity for disease detection. There was no significance between COX-2
      expression and any of the histopathological criteria. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2
      expression may be involved in HCC carcinogenesis with high specificity for
      disease detection. COX-2 expression is significantly associated with elevated AST
      levels indicating a mechanism that may correlate both markers. However COX-2
      expression seems to be an independent factor with no correlation to any of the
      histopathological data or patient's survival.

PMID- 26881520
TI  - Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for elderly nonsmall cell lung cancer:
      Short-term and long-term outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide,
      and the number of elderly patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has
      risen with increasing life-expectancy. AIMS: To evaluate safety and efficacy of
      thoracoscopic lobectomy for NSCLC patients above 75 years old. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: We reviewed the data of 795 consecutive patients with NSCLC, who
      underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy from January 2006 to December
      2013. Patients were divided into two groups: The elderly group aged at least 75
      years old (n = 54), the contrast group aged <75 years old (n = 741). The general
      characteristic, comorbidity, intraoperative observations, complications,
      operative mortality and long-term survival were compared between the two groups.
      RESULTS: The elderly group had a higher incidence of squamous cell carcinoma
      (40.74% vs. 29.69%) and a lower incidence of adenocarcinoma (37.04% vs. 52.63%)
      than the contrast group (P = 0.083). The ratio of smoking (61.11% vs. 41.97%),
      preoperative comorbidities (62.96% vs. 38.06%), perioperative blood transfusion
      (25.93% vs. 13.50%) and thoracic intubation indwelling time (10.3 vs. 8.2 days)
      in the elderly group were higher (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference
      in duration of surgery (222.9 vs. 226.6 min), intraoperative blood loss (299.8
      vs. 253.5 min), hospital stay (18.2 vs. 15.8 days) or postoperative hospital stay
      (10.3 vs. 8.4 days) between the two groups. Postoperative morbidities occurred
      more frequently in the elderly group than the contrast group (24.07% vs. 12.01%,
      P = 0.018). Thirty-day mortality rate of two groups showed no significant
      difference (1.85% vs. 0.40%, P = 0.246). The overall survival and recurrence-free
      survival in the elderly group were comparable with the contrast group (P = 0.114
      and 0.092, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is
      a safe and reliable approach with acceptable short- and long-term outcome in the
      elderly.

PMID- 26881521
TI  - Lymphatic vessel assessment by podoplanin (D2-40) immunohistochemistry in breast
      cancer.
AB  - CONTEXT: Lymph node metastasis has an important bearing on the staging of breast
      cancer. Lymph node metastasis occurs by hematogenous and lymphatic spread. The
      hematogenous and lymphatic spread can be quantified by the blood vessel and
      lymphatic vessel density in the intra-tumoral and peri-tumoral zone by specific
      markers for blood vessels and lymph vessels. AIMS: In this study, we are trying
      to study the localization of podoplanin in lymph vessels of invasive breast
      carcinoma, to quantify lymphangiogenesis in tissue sections of invasive breast
      carcinomas by podoplanin immunohistochemistry (IHC) by D2-40 antibody, and
      compare it with blood microvessel count using CD-31 antibody and correlating
      clinicopathologic parameters with the results of IHC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IHC
      for biomarkers D2-40 and CD-31 were performed on sections from 30 mastectomy
      specimens to assess blood vessel and lymphatic vessel density in intra-tumoral
      and peri-tumoral zone. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for
      Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 statistical analysis software. RESULTS: The
      results showed that both lymph vessel density and blood vessel density increased
      with the increase in lymph node ratio. Lymph node ratio is the ratio of positive
      lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes removed. CONCLUSION: Taking into
      account our small sample size, we conclude that a further large-sized study
      should be carried out to further prove the role of lymphatics in tumor
      dissemination. New therapeutic options can be developed targeting the lymphatic
      channels to arrest the lymphatic spread of the breast cancer.

PMID- 26881522
TI  - Retrospective analysis of third-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: First- and second-line chemotherapies have been demonstrated to be
      effective in treatment of patients with inoperable, advanced non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC), although the role of third-line chemotherapy remains unclear. The
      present investigation assessed treatment outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC
      who received third-line and higher chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This
      retrospective study included consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who
      received at least three lines of systemic chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 72
      patients who had received third-line or higher chemotherapy were included in the
      analysis. The median age of patients was 49 years (range 41-76), and there were
      13 (18.1%) women and 59 (81.9%) men. Estimated median survival was 26 months.
      Moreover, overall survival was significantly longer in patients for whom disease
      control was achieved after second-line chemotherapy compared to those with
      disease progression (34 vs. 17 months, respectively). Survival after third-line
      treatment was significantly longer in the group with Eastern Cooperative Oncology
      Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 at the beginning of third-line therapy
      compared to patients with a status of 2-3. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with advanced
      stage NSCLC, administration of third-line and higher systemic chemotherapy may be
      associated with increase in overall survival. Furthermore, greater increases in
      overall survival were also observed in patients for whom disease control was
      achieved after second-line therapy and in those with ECOG performance status of 0
      1 before third-line treatment.

PMID- 26881523
TI  - Contribution of PGR genetic polymorphisms to the pathogenesis of endometrial
      cancer: A meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis is to identify whether two common
      genetic polymorphisms (rs1042838 G > T and rs10895068 C > T) in the PGR gene may
      contribute to the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      MEDLINE (1966 ~ 2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE
      (1980 ~ 2013), CINAHL (1982 ~ 2013), Web of Science (1945 ~ 2013) and the Chinese
      Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982 ~ 2013) were searched without language
      restrictions. Meta-analyses were conducted using the STATA software (Version
      12.0, Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA). We calculated odds ratio
      (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to estimate the relationships
      between PGR genetic polymorphisms and the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer.
      RESULTS: Six studies with a total of 6,285 patients with endometrial cancer and
      12,120 control subjects met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Our
      findings suggested that PGR rs1042838 polymorphism was significantly correlated
      with an increased risk of endometrial cancer (T allele vs. G allele: OR = 1.23,
      95% CI: 1.07 ~ 1.42, P = 0.005; GT + TT vs. GG: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06 ~ 1.40, P
      = 0.006; TT vs. GG + GT: OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.09 ~ 2.49, P = 0.017; TT vs. GG: OR
      = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.12 ~ 2.65, P = 0.013; TT vs. GT: OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.01 ~
      2.00, P = 0.044, respectively). We also observed positive associations between
      PGR rs10895068 polymorphism and the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (T allele
      vs. C allele: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02 ~ 1.29, P = 0.027; CT + TT vs. CC: OR =
      1.14, 95% CI: 1.00 ~ 1.29, P = 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ethnicity
      stratified analysis indicated that rs1042838 and rs10895068 polymorphisms in the
      PGR gene might be strongly related to the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer
      among Caucasians and mixed populations (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, our
      findings provide empirical evidence that PGR rs1042838 and rs10895068
      polymorphisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer.

PMID- 26881524
TI  - Regulation of demethylation and re-expression of RASSF1A gene in hepatocellular
      carcinoma cell lines treated with NCTD in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma, a lethal malignant neoplasm with poor
      prognosis, has dismal results of surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy.
      Norcantharidin (NCTD), the demethylated analog of cantharidin derived from a
      traditional Chinese medicine, Mylabris, has been used in the treatment of cancer.
      However, the detailed mechanisms underlying this process are generally unclear.
      PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of NCTD-induced
      apoptosis in HepG2 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human HepG2 cell lines were
      treated with NCTD at different concentrations (2.50, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 40.00
      MUg/mL) for 24 hours. Cell proliferation was evaluated by measurement of cellular
      3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The
      methylation levels of RASSF1A (Ras-association domain family 1 A) in HepG2 cells
      were detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The mRNA levels of RASSF1A in
      HepG2 cells were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). The
      levels of RASSF1A protein expression of HepG2 cells were detected by Western
      blotting assay. RESULTS: The inhibition of cell proliferation was observed when
      treated with NCTD at concentrations (2.5 MUg/mL), and as concentration increased,
      the proliferation of HepG2 cells was markedly inhibited by NCTD in dose-dependent
      manners. The levels of methylation of RASSF1A decreased at the increasing
      concentration of 10, 20 and 40 MUg/mL. The levels of RASSF1A mRNA and protein
      were decreased when treated with NCTD at the concentrations of 10, 20 and 40
      MUg/mL, which were also in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: NCTD can reverse
      the methylation state of RASSF1A gene and induce its re-expression, which will
      provide the theoretical basis for the clinical practice.

PMID- 26881525
TI  - Doxorubicin enhances (131)I-rituximab induced cell death in Raji cells.
AB  - AIM: There are various therapeutic modalities of treatment for non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma, but with certain limitations, hence, investigating the scope of
      combined therapeutic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this article, cellular
      toxicity, apoptosis and expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling
      pathway proteins were investigated in Raji cells preincubated with doxorubicin
      followed by (131)I-rituximab (rituximab radiolabeled with Iodine-131) treatment.
      RESULTS: It was found that the (131)I-rituximab in combination with doxorubicin
      showed a higher amount of cell toxicity and apoptosis compared to respective
      controls. Expression of anti-apoptotic protein (B-cell lymphoma-extra-large) was
      downregulated and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a marker of apoptosis
      was higher in cells treated with doxorubicin (2 MUg/mL) and 131 I-rituximab (P <=
      0.05). Moreover, in these cells the basal level of expression of p42/44 and p38
      were increased while its phosphorylation was decreased. CONCLUSION: These results
      suggest that doxorubicin has the potential to sensitize (131)I-rituximab induced
      cell death in Raji cells.

PMID- 26881526
TI  - Adult rhabdomyosarcoma: Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in adults is a rare malignancy. The objective
      of our study was to determine presentation, treatment, patterns of failure, and
      outcome in this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 25
      patients of adult (>16 years) RMS who were treated at our institute from 2000 to
      2009 was carried out. Tumors were classified according to the Intergroup
      Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) staging. All patients were treated with
      multimodality treatment except for three patients who received chemotherapy as
      the only modality. RESULTS: The median age was 19 years (range, 16-68 years). The
      most common site was head and neck (52%) followed by extremities (24%),
      genitourinary (20%), and retroperitoneal RMS (4%). Three out of 25 patients
      presented with distant metastasis. With a median follow-up of 45 months, the 5
      year overall survival (OS) rate was 45%. The 5-year local control (LC) rate was
      53%. IRS grouping and complete response after primary therapy were predictors of
      a better survival. CONCLUSIONS: RMS in adults have poor prognosis as compared to
      childhood RMS. Adult RMS should therefore be treated aggressively with
      multidisciplinary approach comprising of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to
      achieve cure and prolonged survival.

PMID- 26881527
TI  - Post chemotherapy extravasation injuries: Hypogastric flap for reconstruction of
      wounds over dorsum of hand.
AB  - CONTEXT: Management of extravasation injuries over the dorsum of hand after
      administration of chemotherapeutic agents. AIM: To study the results of
      hypogastric flap reconstruction in chemotherapy extravasation wounds over dorsum
      of hand. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: At our
      center over 3-years period, 32 patients were treated for chemotherapy
      extravasation wounds. Out of these 32 patients, seven had wound over dorsum of
      hand. There were five males and two females, and their mean age was 45 years
      (range, 19 - 64 years). These patients with wound over the dorsum of hand were
      treated with multiple debridements and hypogastric flap reconstruction. RESULTS:
      The mean interval between extravasation wound and surgical treatment was 6.28
      days (range, 4 - 10). The mean size of extravasation wound defect was 14 * 8
      (range, 12 * 7 to 18 * 8). Non-dominant hand was involved in six patients and
      dominant hand in one patient. In four patients, the hypogastric flap was
      supplemented with skin graft. The hypogastric flap settled well in all patients
      and enabled a good wound cover. Complete division of the flap and final insetting
      was done under local anesthesia after 3 weeks; this was followed by limb
      mobilization exercises. Contour difference over the dorsum of hand was present in
      all the cases. The range of movement of the hand was functionally restricted in
      one patient. No patient in current series developed wound infection. CONCLUSION:
      Hypogastric flap is a reliable flap to cover wound over dorsum of hand after
      extravasation of chemotherapeutic agents.

PMID- 26881528
TI  - Se-methylselenocysteine suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cell DU145
      through connexin 43-induced apoptosis.
AB  - CONTEXT: Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC), as a chemopreventive agent, shows
      antitumor effects in some cancer models, but its mechanism is still unclear.
      AIMS: This study is to explore whether MSC induces apoptosis in prostate cancer
      (PCa) cells DU145 through connexin 43 (Cx43) activation. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The
      experiment was performed in a PCa cell line model DU145 and using a series of
      biological assay methods to investigate the regulating pathway from MSC through
      Cx43 to downstream molecules, demonstrating an important role of Cx43 in PCa
      development and as a potential treatment target. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human
      PCa cell line DU145 was used as a model. The effects of MSC on Cx43 expression
      were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot;
      effects on cell growth and proliferation were determined by WST-1 and colony
      formation assay; small interfering ribonucleic acid was used to evaluate the
      direct contribution of Cx43 to cancer cell apoptosis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:
      Student's t-test was used to calculate the difference between the groups in SPSS
      software. RESULTS: Results showed that MSC inhibited the growth and colony
      formation of the DU145 cells; MSC induced cell apoptosis by increasing Cx43
      expression at messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels; MSC decreased B-cell
      lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and increased bad levels of DU145 cells. CONCLUSIONS: As a
      conclusion, MSC exerts pro-apoptosis effects through increasing Cx43 expression,
      which in turn down-regulates Bcl-2 and up-regulates bad expression.

PMID- 26881529
TI  - Protein-protein interaction networks and modules analysis for colorectal cancer
      and serrated adenocarcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To screen key modules and explore the potential mechanism of
      conventional colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal serrated adenocarcinoma
      (SAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microarray data of GSE36758 and GSE8671 were
      downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially expressed
      genes (DEGs) in SAC versus colon carcinoma (CC) and CC versus normal control (NC)
      group were analyzed and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks for DEGs
      were constructed. The modules of PPI networks were further analyzed and the
      function enrichment analysis of all enrolled DEGs was carried out based on
      ToppGene database. RESULTS: Total eight DEGs (SAC vs. CC) and 445 DEGs (CC vs.
      NC) were extracted based on the gene expression profile of GSE36758 and GSE8671,
      respectively. Total three PPI networks were constructed with DEGs in CC versus
      NC, SAC versus CC group, and DEGs in both two groups. Three modules were
      extracted from the PPI network of CC versus NC. Meanwhile, three modules were
      extracted from the network of DEGs in both two groups. Function enrichment
      analysis showed that DEGs involved in these modules were mainly associated with
      cellular activities. CONCLUSION: DEGs in modules of SAC and CRC were mainly
      involved in cellular activities pathways. The PPI networks and modules might
      contribute to the further study of pathogenesis for CRC and SAC based on the
      molecular level.

PMID- 26881530
TI  - Immunological subtypes analysis of Uygur diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in
      Xinjiang and their prognostic significance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the application of Choi's typing method in
      the immunological typing of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Xinjiang
      Autonomous Region and its prognostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy
      eight cases of DLBCL tumor tissues from Xinjiang were collected to detect the
      expression of germinal center B (GCB) cell-expressed transcript-1, FOXP1, CD10,
      bcl-6, and MUM1 using an immunohistochemical method. Then, immunological typing
      was carried out using Choi's typing method, and the survival analysis was
      performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard model was used to
      analyze the prognostic factors. RESULTS: GCB-cell-like-DLBCL and non-GCB-DLBCL
      accounting for 29.5% (23/78) and 70.5% (55/78), respectively. The 3-year overall
      survival of GCB-DLBCL was 58%, significantly higher than that of non-GCB-DLBCL
      (39%, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that International Prognostic Index
      and immunological typing were two independent prognostic factors for Uygur
      patients with DLBCL. CONCLUSION: Non-GCB-DLBCL is the main type of DLBCL in
      Xinjiang and Choi's typing method can be a helpful indicator to determine the
      prognosis of the Uygur DLBCL in Xinjiang.

PMID- 26881531
TI  - Lenalidomide in relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: An Indian
      perspective.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lenalidomide an immunomodulatory agent has shown activity in
      relapsed/refractory lymphoma. This study was conducted to evaluate its efficacy
      and optimal dose in Indian patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma who were
      unable or unwilling to undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received oral lenalidomide at 20 mg on days 1-21
      every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: A
      total of 25 patients received lenalidomide at a starting dose of 20 mg. Majority
      of patients were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The overall response rate
      (ORR) was 48%, with 16% achieved complete remission (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu),
      32% partial response (PR) and 16% stable disease (SD) Among patients with DLBCL
      the ORR was of 33.3%; with CR/CRu 20%, PR (13.3%), 20% had SD, progressive
      disease (PD) was seen in seven patients (46.6%). All follicular lymphoma patients
      responded to treatment, with CR in one patient and PR in other two. Among
      patients with mantle cell lymphoma, ORR was 75% with PR in (75%) and SD in 25%.
      One case of transformed lymphoma had a PR and peripheral T-cell lymphoma had no
      response to treatment. The median duration of response was 8.5 months, with a
      time to response of 3 months. Median progression free survival was not reached in
      responding patients. CONCLUSION: Lenalidomide is an effective treatment option in
      relapsed refractory non hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 26881532
TI  - Preliminary dosimetry of (166)Ho-propylene di-amino tetra
      (methy1enephosphonicacid) for human based on biodistribution data in rats.
AB  - CONTEXT: Nowadays, radionuclides with high beta- particle energies such as
      (166)Ho are recommended for bone marrow ablation in patients with multiple
      myeloma. The addition of skeletal targeted radiotherapy to the patients can
      improve the response rate in phase I and II trials, with promising long-term
      survival data. AIMS: In this work, the absorbed dose to each organ of human for
      (166)Ho-propylene di-amino tetra methy1enephosphonicacid (PDTMP) was evaluated
      based on biodistribution studies in rats and was compared with (166)Ho
      tetraazacyclododecane tetramethylene-phosphonate (DOTMP) as the only clinically
      used Ho-166 bone marrow ablative agent. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In this work, the
      accumulated activity in animals was extrapolated to the accumulated activity in
      humans by mass extrapolation method. The absorbed dose to each organ of human for
      (166)Ho-PDTMP was evaluated by medical internal radiation dose method. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: In this study, 166 Ho-PDTMP complex was prepared successfully using
      an in-house synthesized PDTMP ligand and (166)HoCl 3. Radiochemical purity of
      (166)Ho-PDTMP was checked by instant thin layer chromatography (>99%). The
      biodistribution of (166)Ho-PDTMP in wild-type rats was checked in animal tissues
      up to 48 h. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: All values were expressed as mean +/-
      standard deviation, and the data were compared using Student's t-test.
      Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: The highest absorbed
      dose for this complex is observed in red marrow with 0.691 mSv/MBq. (166)Ho-PDTMP
      demonstrated a higher red marrow: Non target organ uptake ratio compared to
      (166)Ho-DOTMP. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that 166 Ho-PDTMP has considerable
      characteristics compared to (166)Ho-DOTMP and therefore can be a good candidate
      for bone marrow ablation.

PMID- 26881533
TI  - Nuclear anomalies in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells of petrol station
      attendants in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
AB  - AIM: The petroleum derivatives consist of a complex mixture of chemical compounds
      one among which is benzene. Petrol station workers who pump fuel to vehicles
      absorb the products of fuel fumes and the products of combustion. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: To study the occupational exposure to petroleum derivatives such as
      benzene, exfoliated buccal cells from 40 petrol station attendants and 40 age
      matched control subjects were examined for micronuclei, binucleation,
      karyorrhexis and karyolysis frequency by using feulgen and Giemsa stains.
      Statistical evaluation was performed with ANOVA test. RESULTS: In the present
      study, inter-comparison of mean values for micronuclei, binucleation,
      karyorrhexis and karyolysis using Fuelgen stain between smokers of study and
      control group, as well as between smokers and non-smokers of study and control
      group revealed statistically highly significant results with P value 0.00002 and
      0.0001 respectively. Whereas inter comparison between non-smokers of study and
      control group using Feulgen stain and inter comparison between smokers of study
      and control group, using Giemsa stain revealed statistically significant results
      with P value 0.0034 and 0.0004, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed
      that the studied individuals belong to a risk group and should periodically
      undergo biological monitoring and proper care.

PMID- 26881534
TI  - Comparison of clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma, between 2 times
      periods, at a single institute in China.
AB  - PURPOSES: This study aims to compare the clinicopathological features of gastric
      carcinoma between two different time periods, and to investigate the prognostic
      factors for gastric carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One thousand sixteen
      consecutive gastric cancer patients were divided into two groups according to the
      operation date, period I (1994-1999) and period II (2000-2006). The
      clinicopathological features and prognosis were compared between the two periods.
      RESULTS: There were significant differences in the proportions of early gastric
      carcinoma, different tumor node metastasis (TNM) staged patients, specialized
      operation and adjuvant chemotherapy between the two periods. The 5-year survival
      rate after curative resection within period II, were significantly higher than
      those within period I. Stratification analysis revealed that the survival rates
      of the patients with curative resection, lymph node metastasis, advanced disease,
      different TNM stages, specialized operations, without adjuvant chemotherapy
      within period II, were significantly higher than those within period I.
      Multivariate regression analysis revealed that Borrmann type, histologic type,
      depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, curative resection, adjuvant
      chemotherapy, and different time periods were independent prognostic factors for
      gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment efficacy of gastric carcinoma
      within the recent period improved highly when compared with that within the early
      period. It was the elevated diagnostic rate of early gastric cancer, standardized
      radical operation, and adjuvant chemotherapy that contributed to such
      improvement.

PMID- 26881535
TI  - Cardiac troponin-I, brain natriuretic peptide and endothelin-1 levels in a rat
      model of doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity, during or after therapy, is the most serious side
      effect of doxorubicin (DXR). The risk of developing cardiac impairment increases
      concomitantly with an increase in the cumulative dose of DXR. AIM: The aim was to
      evaluate the levels of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
      and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in DXR induced cardiac injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Thirty-nine Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups; a control group
      and two-study groups that received low-dose DXR (LDD) and high-dose DXR (HDD) in
      a weekly schedule for reaching a cumulative dose. RESULTS: Serum cTnI level was
      significantly increased in both LDD and HDD-treated groups. Although serum BNP
      was not significantly increased either LDD or HDD-treated groups, ET-1 levels was
      significantly increased in only HDD-treated groups. Histopathologic injury was
      more evident in HDD-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Serum cTnI was increased even in
      LDD and parallel to it low cardiac injury induced by DXR. In the low-dose group,
      BNP and ET-1 levels were not elevated significant as cTnI despite cardiac injury.
      Thus, cTnI may be a predictive marker in of DXR-induced cardiotoxicity.

PMID- 26881536
TI  - Construction and analysis of the regulatory network disturbed by the silenced Sp1
      transcription factor in HeLa cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to explore the characteristics of the
      regulatory network after siRNA-Sp1 (Specificity Protein 1) treatment in HeLa
      cells through the regulation network construction with bioinformatics methods.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using GSE37935 datasets downloaded from Gene Expression
      Omnibus data, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out by the
      limma package in R software. Combining the DEGs with the data from the microRNA
      (miRNA) databases and transcription factor databases, an integrated regulatory
      network was established with Cytoscape. Then the motifs in the network were
      examined by FANMOD. RESULTS: A total of 708 DEGs were screened, and a regulatory
      network consisting of 585 nodes and 1070 edges was constructed. By analyzing the
      two modules extracted from the network, we found that the most significant
      biological processes were cell cycle and apoptosis, some significant DEGs among
      them were CDKN1A, CUL5, and EGFR. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
      (KEGG) pathway analysis discovered that DEGs, including EGFR, CDKN1A, RRM2B, and
      GADD45B, were significantly enriched in glioma pathway and p53 signaling pathway.
      CONCLUSION: While Sp1 was silenced by siRNA, the regulatory network in HeLa cells
      changed a lot. Genes related to cell cycle and apoptosis in the cell nucleus were
      dysregulated and the p53 signaling pathway was disturbed.

PMID- 26881537
TI  - Evaluation of stromal myofibroblasts in oral leukoplakia, oral submucous
      fibrosis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma--an immunohistochemical study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) are the main
      potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the
      most common malignancy of the oral mucosa. Myofibroblasts (MFs) secrete numerous
      growth factors and inflammatory mediators that stimulate epithelial cell
      proliferation and play an important role in tumoral invasion and use a
      combination of different factors in the course of neoplastic growth and
      development. Hence the present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the
      distribution of MFs using alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in OL, OSMF, and
      various histopathological grades OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty formalin
      fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks consisting of histopathologically diagnosed
      cases of normal mucosa (n = 10), OL (n = 14) hyperkeratosis with various grades
      of dysplasia, OSMF (n = 11), and OSCC (n = 25) were subjected to
      immunohistochemistry using alpha-SMA antibody for detection of MFs. RESULTS: MFs
      were not detected in normal oral mucosa. On comparison of frequency of mean
      scores in OL, OSMF, and OSCC the values were 0.6 +/- 0.2 (0-2), 1.2 +/- 0.68 (1
      2), and 2.6 +/- 1.34 (0-4), respectively. The results were statistically
      significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings are suggestive of role of MFs
      with the creation of a permissive environment for tumor invasion in OSCC. Hence
      the presence of MF is a prognostic marker and evaluation of the frequency in the
      stroma can be used as therapeutic targets.

PMID- 26881538
TI  - Prevalence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis: A
      retrospective, monocenter study in China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer (UC-CRC) is a serious
      complication of UC. Data on the clinical characteristics of patients in China are
      scarce. AIMS: We aimed to study the incidence, characteristics, treatment, and
      prognosis of CRC patients with a history of UC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      identified patients with UC and followed them until the first occurrence of
      cancer, death, or emigration in a single study center in China. RESULTS: A total
      of 4 UC-associated CRC patients were identified among the 642 cases recorded from
      January 2000 to December 2012. The overall risk of cancer was 0.64%. The overall
      median duration of UC was 15.5 years (range 6-21 years) in patients with UC
      associated CRC. Of these patients, 75% (3/4) were at an advanced stage when they
      were diagnosed. Longer disease duration and extensive colitis were identified as
      risk factors for developing CRC, and 5-aminosalicylic acid and steroid therapies
      were not identified as protective factors against UC-associated CRC. CONCLUSIONS:
      Patients with UC are at an increased risk for CRC. However, the prevalence of CRC
      in China remains lower than that in the West.

PMID- 26881539
TI  - Chelerythrine delayed tumor growth and increased survival duration of Dalton's
      lymphoma bearing BALB/c H(2d) mice by activation of NK cells in vivo.
AB  - AIM: The aims of the present investigation were to evaluate the antitumor effect
      of chelerythrine (CHE) on in vivo growth and survival duration of BALB/c (H2d)
      mice bearing Dalton's lymphoma (DL) and enhanced function of tumor associated NK
      cells (TANK cells). MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c (H2d) mice at 8-10 weeks of age
      of either sex were used. Increasing concentration of CHE (1.25, 2.5, and 5.0
      mg/kg), staurosporine (0.625, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (25,
      50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally and tumor regression
      and survival duration of tumor bearing host were determined, and thereafter
      expression of NKG2D and NKG2A on TANK cells were detected. RESULTS: Our results
      show that treatment with 2.5 mg/kg of CHE results in a significant reduction in
      mean tumor volume and increased survival duration of DL bearing BALB/c (H2d) mice
      when compared to control. Activating receptor NKG2D on TANK cells were observed
      upregulated in contrast to inhibitory receptor NKG2A. CONCLUSIONS: CHE reduced
      mean tumor volume and increased survival duration of DL bearing BALB/c (H2d)
      mice. Increased expression of activating receptor NKG2D on TANK cells results in
      recovery of immunosuppression during tumor progression. Therefore, CHE could be a
      potential anticancer therapeutic agent that may be used to replace chemo-radio
      therapy in future.

PMID- 26881540
TI  - A 36-year-old female with Krukenberg tumor from a colonic carcinoma.
AB  - Krukenberg tumor is bilateral ovarian carcinoma's metastasizing most commonly
      from a gastric primary followed by a colon. We report a case of 36-year-old
      female with bilateral ovarian mass diagnosed as Krukenberg with a work up for
      locating the primary site. In this case, we discuss widely the clinical aspects
      with histopathological features and literature review of Krukenberg tumor. 

PMID- 26881541
TI  - Transformation from atypical chronic myeloid leukemia to chronic myelomonocytic
      leukemia as progression of myeloid neoplasm with platelet-derived growth factor
      beta rearrangement.
AB  - Myeloid neoplasms associated with platelet-derived growth factor b (PDGFRB)
      rearrangement usually keep only one morphologic type unless blast crisis. We
      describe a unique case of hematological features transformation from atypical
      chronic myeloid leukemia to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and imatinib showed
      no clinical therapeutic effects. The phenomenon indicates that different types of
      myeloid neoplasms associated with PDGFRB rearrangement can transform into one
      another with the progression of the disease, and to some extent, this
      transformation suggests the aggravation of disease. 

PMID- 26881542
TI  - Gliosarcoma with leiomyomatous differentiation: A case report with an emphasis on
      histogenesis.
AB  - Gliosarcoma is an uncommon high-grade tumor which constitutes about 2% of all
      glioblastomas. These tumors have the histological hallmark of a biphasic pattern
      of high-grade glial and sarcomatous components. The histogenesis of these tumors
      is controversial. We report a case of primary gliosarcoma in an adult male with
      leiomyomatous differentiation and discuss the histogenesis as it appears in our
      case. Primary gliosarcomas of the brain are clinically challenging with a poor
      clinical outcome. 

PMID- 26881543
TI  - Sunitinib treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in von Hippel-Lindau
      disease.
AB  - Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a major heritable renal cell cancer (RCC)
      syndrome. 24-45% of VHL patients have a cumulative risk to develop RCC. The
      management of VHL has changed significantly as clinicians have learned how to
      best balance the risk of cancer dissemination while minimizing renal morbidity.
      Despite the improving management of this disease, there are no evidence-based
      guidelines of the treatment of localized and advanced RCC in VHL. Here, we
      describe a 39-year-old patient with VHL disease who developed metastatic RCC and
      received sunitinib with complete remission. 

PMID- 26881544
TI  - Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of ovary: Report of a rare neoplasm.
AB  - Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell neoplasm.
      Extramedullary plasmacytomas are most commonly found in head and neck region, but
      it can occur at other sites occasionally. Involvement of ovary by this tumor is
      exceedingly rare. Here, we report a case of primary ovarian plasmacytoma in a 47
      year-old woman. The patient presented with a lower abdominal pain and a left
      ovarian mass (12 cm * 10 cm) was detected during the ultrasonographic
      examination. The patient underwent hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo
      oophorectomy. Subsequent histopathologic, immunohistochemistry, bone marrow
      examination, and other relevant examinations established the diagnosis of primary
      ovarian plasmacytoma. The patient did not receive the postoperative chemotherapy
      and 6 months follow-up was uneventful.

PMID- 26881545
TI  - Juan-Ron fever: A rare case report.
AB  - Juan-Ron fever named after Juan Rosai and Ronald Dorfman is the fever associated
      with Rosai-Dorfman disease also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive
      lymphadenopathy (SHML). It is a rare disorder of unknown etiology that is
      characterized by abundant macrophages in the lymph nodes throughout the body.
      Usually patient presents with painless lymphadenopathy. We present a case of a 45
      year-old male who presented to us with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy and
      fever, later on diagnosed to have SHML. 

PMID- 26881546
TI  - Primary clear cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx.
AB  - A 22-year-old female with epistaxis and nose block had a pink, smooth, mucosa
      covered lesion occupying the nasopharynx. The histopathology and
      immunohistochemistry of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of clear cell
      carcinoma (CCC). Detailed evaluation ruled out a primary tumor elsewhere in the
      body. After complete excision of the tumor patient received radiotherapy (60 Gray
      in 30 fractions over 6 weeks). Patient is recurrence free on her 3-year follow
      up. Primary CCC of the head and neck is rare. In the past 30 years, less than 100
      cases have been reported in English literature. Out of these, only nine cases had
      nasopharyngeal origin. The literature review of those cases along with our case
      report suggest that complete excision of nasopharyngeal CCC along with
      radiotherapy leads to prolonged recurrence free interval. However, extensive
      tumors of nasopharynx exhibit poor prognosis with repeated local recurrences. 

PMID- 26881547
TI  - Acinic cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa: An unusual presentation.
AB  - Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare epithelial malignant neoplasm of salivary
      glands affecting predominantly the female population. Unusual occurrences of this
      neoplasm are reported in hard palate, maxillary sinuses, lip, etc. [1] We report
      one such case where a submandibular swelling that is provisionally diagnosed as
      pleomorphic adenoma due to its clinical and radiological findings, turned out to
      be ACC on histopathological evaluation. 

PMID- 26881548
TI  - Adult Wilms' tumor: A case report with review of literature.
AB  - Wilms' tumor presents a diagnostic problem due to its rare occurrence in adults.
      Most of the cases of adult Wilms' tumor are diagnosed unexpectedly following
      nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. We are reporting herein a rare case of
      Adult Wilms' tumor of kidney with triphasic histology and distant metastasis to
      lung. 

PMID- 26881549
TI  - Aggressive angiomyxoma of vulva in a 13-year-old female.
AB  - Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that typically affects
      females of reproductive age. It involves preferentially pelvic and perineal
      regions and was first described by Steeper and Rosai in 1983. Peak age of
      incidence for this tumor is in the fourth decade with very few cases reported in
      young girls. We present a case of this rare tumor in a 13-year-old female. 

PMID- 26881550
TI  - Mesothelioma with superior vena cava obstruction in young female following short
      latency of asbestos exposure.
AB  - An 18 years female was admitted with right-sided chest pain, dry cough, and low
      grade fever and weight loss for last 1 month. On examination, patient had
      features of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome with right-sided pleural effusion.
      Chest X-ray showed mediastinal widening with nonhomogenous opacity mainly in the
      periphery of right upper and mid zone with right-sided pleural effusion.
      Ultrasonography thorax confirmed mild pleural effusion. Pleural fluid analysis
      showed lymphocytic, exudative, low adenosine deaminase with negative for Pap
      smear. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) thorax revealed large extensive
      nodular soft tissue lesion along right mediastinum as well as costal pleura, with
      enlarged pretracheal lymphadenopathy and SVC obstruction. CT guided Tru-cut
      biopsy report came as malignant epithelial tumor with polygonal shape, abundant
      eosinophilic cytoplasm and nuclei with prominent nucleoli suggestive of
      mesothelioma of epithelioid type. The tumor cell expressed calretinin, WT-1, and
      immunonegative for thyroid transcription factor-1. 

PMID- 26881551
TI  - A rare case of primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the central nervous
      system.
AB  - Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon variant of
      extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, confined to the central nervous system (CNS)
      and is usually seen in immunocompromised patients. The vast majority of cases are
      of the B-cell type and T-cell PCNSL is rare. Here, we report an 18-year-old male
      who presented with fever, headache, and history of seizures. On evaluation, he
      was found to have a left parieto-occipital mass which was completely excised.
      Histopathology was suggestive of a T-cell neoplasm and immunohistochemistry
      showed tumor cells positive for leukocyte common antigen, anaplastic lymphoma
      kinase (ALK), CD30, and CD4 which confirmed the diagnosis of ALK-positive
      anaplastic large cell PCNSL. There was no evidence of disease outside the CNS. He
      was started on the DeAngelis protocol for PCNSL. To the best of our knowledge,
      only 27 cases of anaplastic large cell PCNSL have been previously reported in
      literature. 

PMID- 26881552
TI  - Enriched vascularity in ameloblastomas, an indeterminate entity: Report of two
      cases.
AB  - Vascularity is a highly essential element that is required for the growth,
      development, and functioning of the body and variations in it can cause
      pathologies. It is one of the prime features of a proliferating lesion, where it
      aids in the growth of the lesion through its nutrition supply. Highly increased
      vascularity in a disease can itself affect the prognosis of the lesion, and in
      malignancies, it can induce tumor seeding and secondaries. Most of the
      pathologies including tumors, related to blood vessels, and vascularity are well
      established. There are some conditions, wherein altered vascularity is one of the
      prime components along with other diagnostic components of an established
      disease. In such cases, these lesions are diagnosed with special names, with
      varying biological behavior and prognosis in comparison to that of established
      entity. However, there still are few similar conditions whose nature is uncertain
      due to the rarity of the lesion and the insufficient scientific evidence which
      eludes the diagnostician. Here is the report of two cases of ameloblastoma, an
      established entity, with significant vascularity whose nature is indeterminate. 

PMID- 26881553
TI  - T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia presenting with leukemic serous effusion in a
      prostate cancer patient.
AB  - T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is highly aggressive mature postthymic
      lymphoproliferative disorder, which is characterized by several clinical
      features. Leukemic prolymphocytes are found in the peripheral blood, bone marrow,
      lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and sometimes skin. T-PLL and solid tumor coincidence
      was reported by only four previous cases. Solid tumor components included breast
      cancer, classic Kaposi sarcoma, gastric cancer, and lung cancer in those cases.
      We report the first case of T-PLL, an extremely rare disease, presented with
      serous effusion in an elderly prostate cancer patient in literature. 

PMID- 26881554
TI  - A rare coexistence--Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Kaposi sarcoma: Case report
      and review of the literature.
AB  - Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia worldwide. Skin
      lesions associated with CLL mostly develop on the bases of infectious or a
      hemorrhagic origin with an estimated incidence of 25% of all the cases. Kaposi
      sarcoma (KS)-associated with human herpes virus-8 infection is a spindle-cell,
      malignant, low-grade tumor originating from vascular and lymphatic endothelium.
      KS mostly presents with skin lesions as the initial presentation. The relation
      between these two pathologies has not yet been clarified up to date. Herein, we
      report a case of KS along with CLL to illustrate the possible relation between
      these two pathologies. 

PMID- 26881555
TI  - Choroidal melanoma of left eye with very early liver metastasis.
AB  - Uveal melanoma is a cancer (melanoma) of the eye involving the iris, ciliary
      body, or choroid (collectively referred to as the uvea). The liver is a frequent
      site for metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma. The interval between the
      diagnosis of the uveal melanoma and the diagnosis of the metastatic lesion can
      vary. Despite therapy, the median survival of those with liver metastasis is 5-7
      months. We report here a rare case of choroidal melanoma in a 45-year-old male
      smoker presented with liver metastasis within just 8 months after completion of
      initial treatments consists of enucleation of eye and 3 Dimensional conformal
      radiation therapy (3D-CRT). The metastasis is an incidental finding on imaging
      after having some vague symptoms. This type of very early metastasis after
      completing initial treatment is very rare and proves the aggressiveness of the
      disease.

PMID- 26881556
TI  - A rare case: Hallucination associated with pazopanib.
AB  - Diarrhea, hyperglycemia, anemia, depigmentation of the hair, and rash are common
      side effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Neurological side effect like
      hallucination due to pazopanib is exceptionally rare in literature cases. Herein,
      we reported a case of hallucination related to pazopanib in a patient with renal
      cell carcinoma. A 47-year-old male patient with renal cell carcinoma developed
      repetitive hallucinations on the following days of pazopanib initiation. There
      was no other significant finding in the differential diagnosis of hallucination.
      Neurological symptoms disappeared after termination of pazopanib. We aimed to
      emphasize that neurological side effect like hallucination may rarely occur
      during the treatment of pazopanib and take note that physicians should be aware
      of this infrequent side effect in the patients treated with pazopanib. 

PMID- 26881557
TI  - Malignant extra-renal rhabdoid tumor with unusual presentation: A report of two
      cases.
AB  - Malignant extra-renal rhabdoid tumor (MERT) is a rare highly aggressive tumor
      that occurs in young children with the very poor clinical outcome. The tumor is
      characterized by a diffuse proliferation of "rhabdoid cells," which are round or
      polygonal with eccentric nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and glassy eosinophilic
      cytoplasm containing hyaline-like inclusion bodies. However, rhabdoid cells are
      also seen in certain other soft tissue sarcomas such as proximal-type epithelioid
      sarcoma, rarely synovial sarcoma, and extra-skeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.
      Because of its poor prognosis and histomorphological similarities with other soft
      tissue tumors, an accurate diagnosis is required using a wide immunohistochemical
      panel. Very few cases of MERT have been reported in the literature and to our
      knowledge none in the supra-glottis area. Due to the rarity and poor outcome of
      this tumor, we are reporting two cases of MERT. 

PMID- 26881558
TI  - Cystic adenomatoid tumor of the uterus.
AB  - We present a case of a cystic adenomatoid tumor in a 40-year-old woman. The tumor
      was an intramural multicystic mass, histologically similar to a multicystic
      mesothelioma. Cystic adenomatoid tumors of the uterus are extremely rare. They
      present with a wide differential diagnosis in radiology. The tumors are known to
      be benign and awareness of this rare entity is the key to its diagnosis for a
      pathologist. 

PMID- 26881559
TI  - A giant vagal schwannoma with unusual extension from skull base to the
      mediastinum.
AB  - Cervical vagal schwannoma is an extremely rare neoplasm. Middle aged people are
      usually affected. These tumors usually present as asymptomatic masses. These
      tumors are almost always benign. Preoperative diagnosis of these lesions is
      important due to the morbidity associated with its excision. Preoperative tissue
      diagnosis is not accurate. The imaging modality can be done to assess the extent
      and for planning the treatment. Surgical excision with preservation of neural
      origin is the treatment option. Giant vagal schwannomas are extremely rare. Only
      one case has been reported in the literature till date. There has no reported
      case of extensive vagal schwannoma from skull base to the mediastinum. Here, we
      describe the asymptomatic presentation of an unusual appearing giant cervical
      vagal schwannoma with an extension from skull base to the mediastinum. 

PMID- 26881560
TI  - Complete response of a recurrent-metastatic liposarcoma with dedifferentiated
      histological features following the administration of trabectedin and review of
      literature.
AB  - The present case report defines a rare case of a liposarcoma with bone metastasis
      resulting in a complete remission (CR) following trabectedin treatment. The
      patient was referred with abdominal swelling and pain. A retroperitoneal mass was
      detected and described as dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS). The mass was
      surgically removed and consequently adjuvant chemotherapy was administered. Three
      months after the completion of chemotherapy, patient presented with bone
      metastasis in thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Vertebroplasty and radiotherapy (RT)
      was performed. After these therapies, bone pain persisted and bone scintigraphy
      showed increased activity in L4, T11, and T12 vertebrae. Zoledronic acid was
      added to trabectedin treatment. CR has been detected on bone scintigraphy and
      positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) after 18 weeks.
      Previous cases about liposarcoma treated with trabectedin were mostly about the
      myxoid/round cell type (former name, currently known as myxoid liposarcoma (MLS))
      and mostly reported partial responses. In this study, trabectedin was used for
      the treatment of a metastatic retroperitoneal DDLS and a CR was achieved. 

PMID- 26881561
TI  - Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the prostate: A report of two cases with
      diagnostic considerations.
AB  - Primary prostatic lymphomas are extremely unusual neoplasms. Their rarity and
      nonspecific symptomatology at presentation usually prompt a clinical diagnosis of
      benign prostatic hyperplasia or chronic prostatitis, leading to significant delay
      in diagnosis. Clinical examination, serum prostate-specific antigen levels, and
      transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) are not of much utility in differential
      diagnosis, and histological examination is the gold standard. We report two cases
      of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of prostate, diffuse large B-cell type, diagnosed
      on TRUS-guided prostatic biopsies. Correct diagnosis is of crucial importance as
      the therapeutic strategy for lymphoma is radically different from that for
      carcinoma, and early detection of prostatic lymphoma can be potentially curative.
      Thus, knowledge of this rare entity, inclusion in differential diagnosis of lower
      urinary tract obstruction, and application of an appropriate immunohistochemical
      panel are essential so as not to miss this unusual diagnosis and to avoid
      unnecessary surgery. 

PMID- 26881562
TI  - Breast carcinoma with numerous large "thanatosomes".
AB  - Intracytoplasmic and stromal eosinophilic hyaline globules (HGs) have been
      observed in various neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions. Thanatosomes are
      also such HGs seen invariably associated with increased apoptosis and may contain
      nuclear fragments, occasionally observed in high-grade tumors. We are reporting a
      case of high-grade breast carcinoma with this striking morphological feature.
      Their probable nature, pathogenesis, and significance are discussed with review
      of literature. 

PMID- 26881563
TI  - A rare case of cisplatin-induced acute myocardial infarction in a patient
      receiving chemoradiation for lung cancer.
AB  - We present this unusual case of cisplatin-induced acute myocardial infarction in
      a patient with no organic coronary artery disease (CAD), receiving chemoradiation
      for small cell lung cancer. Patient developed symptoms of acute coronary syndrome
      after receiving two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide. The possible mechanism of
      vasospasm induced by cisplatin, in the background of thoracic radiation and
      hypomagnesemia, is discussed in this case report. 

PMID- 26881564
TI  - Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in Graves' disease presenting as a cystic neck
      mass.
AB  - The presentation of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) as a solitary cystic
      neck mass is uncommon. Additionally, its association with Graves' disease is very
      rare. We report a case of occult PTMC, who presented with a cystic neck mass in
      the background of Graves' disease without any goiter. Imaging like ultrasound of
      neck, single photon emission computed tomography-CT (SPECT-CT), and technetium
      scan failed to detect any lesion in the thyroid, which was picked up only by the
      contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of neck. The patient underwent total
      thyroidectomy with right modified lymph node dissection. Our case highlights the
      presentation of metastatic PTMC as a differential diagnosis of a cystic neck mass
      even in a patient with Graves' disease without any thyroid enlargement. 

PMID- 26881565
TI  - Giant cell rich osteosarcoma of the cuneiforms.
AB  - Osteosarcoma is the commonest primary malignant bone tumor in children and
      adolescents. Giant cell rich osteosarcoma is a rare subtype of conventional
      osteosarcoma. Osteosarcomas commonly involve the metaphysis and meta-diaphysis of
      long bones. We report a 19-year-old girl with giant cell rich osteosarcoma of the
      medial and intermediate cuneiform bones. Even though, giant cell rich
      osteosarcoma is frequently mistaken for osteoclastoma of the bone; age of onset,
      location of lesion, radiological features, and histological characteristics on a
      high power field helps to differentiate the two conditions. Appropriate and early
      diagnosis of this variant possibly averts severe morbidity and mortality to the
      patient. Nonmetastatic osteosarcomas in the foot have better prognosis and are
      amenable to limb salvage surgeries. 

PMID- 26881566
TI  - Imatinib mesylate induced erythroderma: A rare case series.
AB  - Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved as a first line treatment for
      chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Usually the drug is
      well-tolerated with hematological adverse effects being most commonly seen.
      Dermatological side effects are seen in 9.5-69% of patients on imatinib; majority
      of which are minor and self-limiting. We, hereby, report a case series of
      erythroderma occurring secondary to imatinib in two patients with chronic myeloid
      leukemia. Both the patients improved upon the discontinuation of the drug. The
      literature review revealed only six probable cases of erythroderma due to
      imatinib. So, this case series is being reported for the rarity of this adverse
      effect of imatinib. 

PMID- 26881567
TI  - Uterine malignant mixed Mullerian tumor camouflaging as pelvic sarcoma.
AB  - Malignant mixed Mullerian tumors (MMMTs) of the uterus are rare, aggressive
      tumors that present at an advanced stage and are associated with poor prognosis.
      They arise as a result of divergent carcinomatous and mesenchymal differentiation
      of tumor stem cells. Rarely one of the components may predominate contributing to
      diagnostic confusion. We present a rare case of uterine MMMT arising in
      endometrial adenocarcinoma, camouflaging as pelvic sarcoma with a major
      sarcomatous component. This case report highlights the importance of thorough
      tissue sampling and the role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in arriving at an
      accurate diagnosis. This case also demonstrates the conversion theory of
      histogenesis of MMMTs.

PMID- 26881568
TI  - Extragonadal yolk sac tumor of the head and neck region: A report of two cases.
AB  - Extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCTs) are rare and head and neck is a rarer
      primary site with most tumors being benign exhibiting teratoma as the leading
      histologic type. Yolk sac tumor (YST) is relatively uncommon in this location;
      most commonly described in association with a teratoma and rarely solo. We report
      two male children, aged 1 year 7 months and 3 years 5 months, with YST involving
      the head and neck region. 

PMID- 26881569
TI  - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma with
      intracranial extension: Report of two cases with literature review.
AB  - Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is a highly aggressive rare tumor of the
      nasal cavity. Surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation is the mainstay of
      treatment in SNTCS. However, intracranial extension may complicate surgical
      resection, with difficulty in achieving R0 resection. Here we present two cases
      of SNTCS with intracranial extension; both patients were seen in skull base
      clinic of our hospital and deemed unsuitable for surgery. These patients then
      were offered neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), both patients had a partial
      response with cisplatin and etoposide protocol; subsequently they underwent R0
      resection (no macroscopic residual tumor at surgery with all margins were
      negative for tumor on microscopy). The present cases highlight the fact that NACT
      with cisplatin and etoposide protocol may be considered in technically
      unresectable SNTCS. 

PMID- 26881570
TI  - Acute renal failure secondary to ingestion of alternative medication in a patient
      with breast cancer.
AB  - Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients is widely
      prevalent and often underreported. Advanced stage of disease is significantly
      associated with CAM use. The concurrent use of alternative medicines and
      chemotherapy drugs has the potential to lead to toxicities as well as altered
      therapeutic activity due to unknown interactions. We report a case of early
      breast cancer who presented to us with non-oliguric acute renal failure related
      concurrent use of Ayurvedic medicines and adjuvant anthracycline based. 

PMID- 26881571
TI  - Granulocytic sarcoma of the dorsal spine in an aleukemic patient.
AB  - The spine is an uncommon location for granulocytic sarcoma that is an
      extramedullary deposit of malignant myeloid cells. Very few cases are reported in
      literature as occurring in aleukemic patients. Due to histopathological
      similarity with lymphoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and multiple myeloma, the diagnosis is
      often missed. We describe a 22-year-old man presented with worsening dorsal
      compressive myelopathy in whose treatment was started after initial diagnosis of
      a lymphoma and who has had no leukemic conversion even after 2 years. 

PMID- 26881572
TI  - A rare case of chemotherapy induced reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
      in a patient of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
AB  - Neurotoxic reactions of chemotherapy occur frequently and are often dose limiting
      side effects of chemotherapy. It is important to differentiate these various
      nonneoplastic effects from metastases, or sometimes even from each other, since
      the therapeutic approach differs accordingly. To arrive at a definitive and
      comprehensive diagnosis, the radiologist should integrate imaging findings,
      clinical signs, and laboratory results together. Here we present a unique case of
      chemotherapy induced reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome in a 13-year
      old patient of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 

PMID- 26881573
TI  - Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the squamous part of temporal bone in a young girl
      treated with adjuvant volumetric arc therapy.
AB  - Ewing's sarcoma (ES)/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors usually arise in
      the long bones of children and young adults. Primary ES of the cranium is
      unusual. Treatment involves multi-modality therapy incorporating surgery,
      radiotherapy and chemotherapy; outcomes are similar to those arising from long
      bones. We report a case of Primary ES of the squamous part of temporal bone with
      intracranial extension in a 9-year-old girl who was treated with surgery,
      chemotherapy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy by volumetric arc therapy. Post 1
      year of treatment the girl is performing well in her classes. 

PMID- 26881574
TI  - Experience of bevacizumab in a patient with colorectal cancer after renal
      transplantation.
AB  - Bevacizumab is a drug that is widely used for the first-line treatment of
      metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Bevacizumab neutralizes vascular endothelial
      growth factor and can lead to proteinuria and renal damage. In this case,
      experience on full dose short-time treatment of bevacizumab in a patient under
      immunosuppressive treatment for renal transplantation with chronic renal failure
      has been shared. The patients were diagnosed with mCRC 7 months ago. The patient
      had multiple liver metastases at the time of the diagnosis. He had a history of
      renal transplantation 2 years ago because of renal failure, and he had been under
      immunosuppressive treatment for this reason. 5-fluorouracil-leucovorin-irinotecan
      -bevacizumab regimen was begun for the treatment of mCRC. The dose of bevacizumab
      was 5 mg/kg/day for 14 days. There was 2.5 g/day of proteinuria at the start of
      the treatment. However, renal dysfunction progressed, and proteinuria increased
      to 4 g/day in the 3rd month of treatment. In this case, the experience of using
      bevacizumab in a patient under immunosuppressive treatment for renal
      transplantation with chronic failure has been presented.

PMID- 26881575
TI  - Hepatic angiosarcoma developing in an infantile hemangioendothelioma: A rare case
      report.
AB  - Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that predominantly affect adults. Hepatic
      angiosarcoma in a child is extremely rare and associated with a poor prognosis.
      Herein, we report the pathologic features of a hepatic angiosarcoma developing in
      a 31/2-year-old child who had been earlier diagnosed and was being treated for
      hepatic hemangioendothelioma. 

PMID- 26881576
TI  - Oxaliplatin-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with isolated
      involvement of pons.
AB  - Isolated pontine lesion can be caused by the posterior reversible encephalopathy
      syndrome (PRES). It does occur in the normotensive patient who is treated with
      oxaliplatin. We reported a case of 81-year-old Chinese man with metastatic
      colorectal carcinoma who was initially treated with capecitabine. No significant
      adverse effects were noted. However, the response to the treatment was poor.
      Subsequently, Xelox was given. He developed transient altered mental status.
      Oxaliplatin was thought to be the causative agent and was withheld. Magnetic
      resonance imaging brain revealed vasogenic edema in the pons that was reversible
      after 2 weeks, as well as complete resolution of clinical symptoms. Early
      identification of the reversible cause of isolated pontine lesion, such as chemo,
      triggered PRES is crucial to facilitate prompt treatment by removing the
      offending agent or reducing the dose. 

PMID- 26881577
TI  - Atypical extraventricular neurocytoma:A report of two cases.
AB  - Central neurocytomas are tumors with neuronal differentiation, generally arising
      in the lateral ventricles in the region of foramen of Monro. Whenever these
      tumors arise in the brain parenchyma they are called "extraventricular
      neurocytomas". We present two unusual cases of extraventricular atypical
      neurocytomas at uncommon locations with a very high Ki-67 index. The WHO grading
      of this tumor is yet to be answered. 

PMID- 26881578
TI  - A rare case of chronic myeloid leukemia with acquired von Willebrand disease
      presenting as subdural hematoma.
AB  - We report a case of a 32-year-old lady with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on
      Imatinib for the past four years and in complete clinical, hematological and
      molecular remission who presented to us with sudden onset of headache, vomiting
      and diplopia following self discontinuation of Imatinib for a month.
      Investigations were suggestive of chronic phase CML (CML-CP) with massive
      thrombocytosis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed
      subdural hematoma. Coagulation studies confirmed the diagnosis of Acquired von
      Willebrand disease (AvWD) 2A because of thrombocytosis. The patient also tested
      positive for mutation T315I in bcr-abl gene. Treatment of the patient with high
      dose of Imatinib and hydroxyurea led to normalisation of platelet counts,
      reversal of coagulation defect and subsidence of symptoms. The present case
      highlights the importance of diagnosis of AvWD to determine the cause of bleeding
      in CML and distinguish it from Imatinib-induced bleeding, as prompt treatment
      with Imatinib can achieve reversal of the condition. 

PMID- 26881579
TI  - Carcinosarcoma of ovary with its various immunohistochemical expression: Report
      of a rare case.
AB  - Ovarian carcinosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor with an incidence of <2%. A
      report of such a rare case in a 40-year-old multiparous woman is being presented
      here. The patient complained of abdominal pain and distension. Abdominal computed
      tomography revealed a variegated mass in the right adnexal region. The CA-125
      level was 1635 U/ml. The patient underwent laparotomy and the tumor was removed.
      Microscopic examination of the tumor showed presence of both carcinomatous and
      sarcomatous elements. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the
      carcinomatous component was positive for cytokeratin and estrogen receptor and
      negative for progesterone receptor. The sarcomatous component was positive for
      vimentin. Ki-67 was positive in 60% cells. A final diagnosis of ovarian
      carcinosarcoma was rendered. This case is significant owing to extreme rarity of
      the tumor. Records of similar cases must be maintained for future reference with
      regard to impact of treatment protocol followed on prognosis.

PMID- 26881580
TI  - A rare occurrence of basal cell adenoma of palate: A case report with
      comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis.
AB  - Basal cell adenoma (BCA) of the salivary glands is an uncommon type of
      monomorphic adenoma which constitutes 1% of all salivary gland tumors. It most
      commonly involves parotid gland, while it rarely occurs in minor salivary glands.
      Upper lip, buccal mucosa, and lower lip are the common intraoral sites; whereas,
      palate being the rarest one. Due to prognostic implications, differential
      diagnosis with basal cell adenocarcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, and
      adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is mandatory. Considering the rarity of this
      lesion and histologic paradox regarding its diagnosis, we report a case of BCA of
      palate with emphasis on need of comprehensive immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis.

PMID- 26881581
TI  - Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the uterine corpus presenting as a
      huge abdominal neoplasm.
AB  - A 45-year-old P3L3, referred to us with abdominopelvic mass for further
      management. Vaginal examination was suggestive of uterine mass. Magnetic
      resonance imaging. (MRI) of abdomen.pelvis disclosed a uterine mass with
      equivocal invasion of the fat plane with the sigmoid colon. Coelomic antigen.
      (CA) 125 was 120.2 U/ml. (normal range, 0-35 U/ml). On exploratory laparotomy
      entire pelvic cavity was filled with a mass that was seen arising from the uterus
      and involving the sigmoid colon. Hence, a total abdominal hysterectomy with
      bilateral salpingo-oopphorectomy. (TAH BSO) was performed, along with resection
      anastomosis of the rectosigmoid and excision of omental and pelvic peritoneal
      nodules. Histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis, including S100-P
      positivity confirmed diagnosis of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.
      (MPNST), with tumor deposits in the right parametrium, omentum, sigmoid colon,
      and pelvic peritoneum. This case is presented in view of its rarity and
      associated diagnostic and therapeutic implications. 

PMID- 26881582
TI  - An atypical cause of rapidly progressing breast lump with abscess formation: Pure
      squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.
AB  - Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare type of breast malignancy and little is
      known about long-term outcome. In the present report, the clinical features,
      histopathologic findings and postoperative course of a patient with squamous cell
      carcinoma are described. We have treated a 47-years-old woman who admitted for
      right breast mass without any discharge, bleeding and pain. The tumor was, 3 * 2
      * 1.5 cm in size with central abscess formation. The result of surgical biopsy
      revealed large cell keratinizing type of SCC. The metastatic work-up studies
      ruled out any other probable sources of primary tumor. The patient was performed
      modified radical mastectomy and axillary dissection and received two cycles of
      chemotherapy. Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast (SCCB) is a rare entity and
      should be considered in patients with rapidly progressing breast mass. It should
      also be considered in breast lesions with abscess formation. The initial
      therapeutic approach should be surgical excision after histopathological
      diagnosis. 

PMID- 26881583
TI  - Liposarcoma of the maxillary antrum: A case report.
AB  - Atypical Lipomatous Tumor/Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma. (ALT/WDL) is a soft
      tissue sarcoma of intermediate malignant behavior, which most frequently affects
      the retroperitoneum and lower extremities. Liposarcomas of head and neck are
      rare, representing only 2-8% of all sarcomas in this region. The majority of
      liposarcomas occur in middle-aged adults; however, very uncommonly cases have
      been reported in infancy and early childhood. We report a case of a 14-year-old
      girl diagnosed as ALT/WDL of the maxillary antrum. 

PMID- 26881584
TI  - A rare case of carcinosarcoma of breast: Coexistence of mucinous carcinoma and
      malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
AB  - Carcinosarcoma (CS) of breast is a rare disease. Published reports provided
      little consensus about its clinical characteristics and optimal treatment
      protocols. Here we present a patient with CS of breast (mucinous carcinoma and
      malignant fibrous histiocytoma) and review related literature. Combined modality
      treatment (CMT) brings at least 2 year disease-free survival (DFS). Our case
      highlights the possibility of breast CS and helps to expand our understanding of
      this distinct breast malignancy. 

PMID- 26881585
TI  - Interleukin-11-induced capillary leak syndrome companied with abdominal chylous
      leakage in primary sigmoid carcinoma patients with thrombocytopenia.
AB  - Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare condition characterized by generalized
      edema and hypotension. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a therapeutic agent for the
      treatment of thrombocytopenia. The relationship between IL-11 and CLS has rarely
      been reported, especially in patients with colorectal cancer. We describe a case
      with sigmoid cancer treated with IL-11 after chemotherapy. After 5 days of IL-11
      therapy, the patient felt tachypnea, muscular pain and fullness of the abdomen.
      Chest X-ray indicated increased bronchovascular shadows, and abdominal ultrasound
      indicated moderate ascites. IL-11 was then discontinued, fluid resuscitation was
      performed, and fresh frozen plasma and packed red blood cells were transfused. On
      the fourth day, synchronous chylous leakage was detected. Low fat diet,
      nutritional support, and somatostatin was administered. The patient recovered 2
      weeks later. Although rare, CLS could be a severe side effect after the
      administration of IL-11. The aim of treatment is to stabilize the vital
      parameters.

PMID- 26881586
TI  - Krukenberg tumor presenting with amenorrhea as the sole initial symptom: Case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - Krukenberg tumor (KT), mostly originates from gastric cancer, is the metastatic
      tumor of ovaries accounting for 1-2% of all ovarian cancer. Common presenting
      symptoms include abdominal pain, distension, and ascites. Rests of the patients
      have non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms including dyspepsia, weight loss,
      nausea and vomiting. Gynecologic symptoms such as virilization, menstrual
      bleeding or irregularity and amenorrhea are much less frequent in the literature
      cases. Here, we present an unusual case of KT presented with amenorrhea as the
      sole initial symptom. 

PMID- 26881587
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma with sigmoid invasion.
AB  - Malignant transformation in a mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is rare occurring in
      1.8% out of 8000 cases of MCT. The most common histological types are squamous
      cell carcinoma (SCC) followed by adenocarcinoma and melanoma. Clinically, these
      tumors are usually asymptomatic but may be discovered accidentally during
      gynecologic examination due to mass effect. We present cytology and histology
      correlation of a rare case of SCC arising in a dermoid cyst with metastasis to
      sigmoid. 

PMID- 26881588
TI  - Erysipeloid rash: A rare adverse event induced by gemcitabine.
AB  - Some rare cases of erysipelas-like or pseudocellulitis have been reported in
      relation to gemcitabine. This rare adverse event is more frequent in the presence
      of edema. Here, we report a case of pseudocellulitis after adjuvant treatment for
      pancreatic cancer. Oncologists should be aware of this infrequent and non-well
      understood adverse event. They should be especially careful when administering
      gemcitabine in the presence of lymphedema. 

PMID- 26881589
TI  - An unusual case of cervical lipoblastoma with review of literature.
AB  - Lipoblastoma is a rare, benign, soft tissue neoplasm most commonly seen in
      children less than 3 years. It is usually seen on the trunk and on the limbs and
      rarely in the head and neck. In our case, a child of age 1 year and 3 months
      presented with a swelling over the nape of the neck. The swelling had rapidly
      increased in size and was associated with difficulty in neck movements.
      Intraoperatively it was found to have very minimal adhesions to the underlying
      muscles of neck. Histopathological examination confirmed it to be a lipoblastoma.
      The swelling was removed by wide excision, and there was no postoperative
      complication.

PMID- 26881590
TI  - Burkitt's lymphoma of the humerus.
AB  - Burkitt's lymphoma is an uncommon form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in adults
      and represents < 5% of NHL adults. Burkitt's lymphoma involving primarily the
      appendicular skeleton is rarely described. We present the case of a young man
      with primary Burkitt's lymphoma involving the humerus as the only site of
      disease. He received R hyper CVAD and local irradiation and is in complete
      remission at 24 months.

PMID- 26881591
TI  - Unusual presentation of melanoma of unknown primary origin: A case report and
      review of literature.
AB  - Malignant melanomas often present with metastasis to regional lymph nodes.
      Patients are also known to present with metastatic nodes in the absence of a
      known primary. However metastatic melanoma involving the stomach is rare in the
      scenario of an unknown primary lesion. We present a case of a 41-year-old lady
      who was treated for nodal disease in the right axilla 8. months earlier with an
      unknown primary. She later presented to us with a recurrent right axillary
      swelling and on evaluation was found to also have a nodular deposit on the
      greater curvature of the stomach. Histopathology of the deposit in conjunction
      with immunohistochemical markers S.100P, Melan-A and HMB-45, confirmed the
      diagnosis of malignant melanoma. The patient underwent surgical excision of both
      lesions and is now on regular follow-up. 

PMID- 26881592
TI  - Pleomorphic adenoma involving minor salivary glands of upper lip: A rare
      phenomenon.
AB  - Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of salivary glands, usually
      occurs in major salivary glands (mostly in parotid gland). It also affects the
      minor salivary glands present in the oral cavity. Most of the time it occurs in
      postero-lateral part of palate, but the involvement of upper lip is rare. The
      present report describes a case of 55-year-old male with asymptomatic firm
      nodular swelling of upper lip which was later diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma. 

PMID- 26881593
TI  - Primary juxtacortical chondrosarcoma of mandibular symphysis: Unique and rare
      case report.
AB  - Juxtacortical chondrosarcoma (JC) is a rare, malignant, cartilage-forming tumor
      arising from the external bone surface. It mainly involves long bones and very
      rarely involves maxillofacial skeleton. Chondrosarcoma in general accounts for
      about 10-20% of all bone neoplasm, of which only 1-3% is involved in
      maxillofacial skeleton. So far only two cases of JC have been reported in
      mandible. In this article we report a rare case of JC in a 49-year-old male
      primarily involving symphysis of mandible. This is the third case of JC in
      mandible and first of its kind to be reported in mandibular symphysis region is
      concerned. Literature relevant to its clinical, radiological features, and
      prognosis is analyzed. 

PMID- 26881594
TI  - A case of gastric cancer with liver metastases had a complete response with
      cisplatin and capecitabine as third-line chemotherapy.
AB  - Advanced gastric cancer has a poor prognosis, and only chemotherapy improves
      survival. Further chemotherapy after progression is controversial. Eastern
      Cooperative Oncology Group performance status is an important indicator for new
      chemotherapy decision. Complete response (CR) after recurrent disease is very
      rare, but could occur in some cases with chemotherapy. The 68-year-old male
      received chemotherapy for metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. He received
      epirubicin, cisplatin and fluorouracil in the first line, capecitabine in the
      second line and cisplatin-capecitabine in the third line. CR was observed after
      third-line chemotherapy with four courses. Mediastinal and abdominal metastases
      were completely resolved. We decided to report this patient because it is very
      unusual to achieve CR in a patient in whom the best supportive care might be
      reasonable. 

PMID- 26881595
TI  - Pulmonary plasmacytoma with endobronchial extension: A rare presentation of
      solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma: A case report and brief review of
      literature.
AB  - Extramedullary plasmacytoma is the malignant proliferation of single clone of
      plasma cells arising outside the bone marrow. Solitary extramedullary
      plasmacytoma (SEP) are solitary lesion mostly located in upper respiratory tract
      and nasopharynx. Involvement of lower respiratory tract is rarely seen in case of
      SEP. Here, we report a rare case of pulmonary plasmacytoma in a 50-year-old male
      presenting as left lower lobe lung mass with endobronchial extension. Subsequent
      investigations, histological and immunohistochemical examination of tumor
      confirmed the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. Work-up for the multiple myeloma came
      out to be negative, thus confirming the diagnosis of SEP. Pulmonary plasmacytoma,
      a rare presentation of extramedullary plasmacytoma should be kept in mind by
      dealing with the patients of lung mass and endobronchial extension. 

PMID- 26881596
TI  - Sorafenib combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of a patient
      with renal cell carcinoma plus primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The combination of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
      is extremely rare, and the prognosis for patients with these two cancers is poor.
      In the past decade, molecular targeted therapy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
      have emerged and these treatments are now playing an increasingly important role
      in the management of patients with advanced primary RCC and HCC. In this case
      report, a 72-year-old male patient diagnosed as having RCC invading the renal
      vein and grade I-II HCC was treated with RFA and sorafenib (400 mg twice daily).
      After 3 months of this combination treatment, an evaluation of his target lesions
      showed stable disease (SD), and progression-free survival (PFS) times were 28
      months weeks for RCC and 16 months weeks for HCC. Overall survival (OS) was 40
      weeks.

PMID- 26881597
TI  - Contralateral contiguous tuberculous lymphadenitis in a case of right breast
      carcinoma--Diagnostic dilemma.
AB  - Coexistence of tuberculosis (TB) in the breast or axillary lymph nodes with
      breast carcinoma though rare is not unknown. A 55-year-old woman presented with
      right axillary and left supraclavicular lymphadenopathies with no detectable
      lesion in either breasts or left axilla. Right axillary lymph node excision
      biopsy revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Diagnostic workup showed intense
      fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid lymph nodes on the left side neck at level V,
      supraclavicular, axillary, subpectoral and para-aortic regions, and low FDG
      activity in the right breast. Core biopsy of right breast lesion was reported as
      invasive ductal carcinoma and cytology of multiple left axillary
      lymphadenopathies as reactive hyperplasia. Excision biopsy of the supraclavicular
      lymph nodes unveiled the diagnosis of TB. She underwent right-modified radical
      mastectomy followed by external beam radiotherapy, has completed antituberculous
      treatment and is on follow-up. Extrapulmonary TB though uncommon; may be found in
      certain cases. Clinicians must be aware of its existence. 

PMID- 26881598
TI  - Atypical fibroxanthoma in a young female misdiagnosed clinically as a malignant
      melanoma--An unusual presentation.
AB  - Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is an uncommon spindle cell tumor with intermediate
      or borderline malignant potential. Clinically, it may be misdiagnosed as a
      squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or malignant melanoma. Solar irradiation has been
      implicated in its pathogenesis. The diagnosis of AFX rests on a combination of
      histopathological features and a negative immunohistochemical profile. AFX is a
      rare tumor usually found in sun exposed skin of head and neck region in elderly
      Caucasian men. Rarely, it has a second peak in young adults, where it is found in
      trunk and extremities. The present case is reported as AFX is quite unusual in a
      young female with a nodule in the leg which was clinically diagnosed as a
      malignant melanoma. Only a few cases of AFX have been reported in young women.
      This case highlights the fact that accurate diagnosis of atypical fibroxanthoma
      is very crucial so as to avoid overenthusiastic and overzealous treatment as
      required for a malignant tumor. 

PMID- 26881599
TI  - Primary spinal melanoma treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and concurrent
      temozolomide: A case report and review of literature.
AB  - Primary intradural extramedullary melanoma of spinal cord is an extremely rare
      tumor.It accounts for approximately 1% of the total melanoma cases.We report a
      case of primary intradural extramedullary spinal melanoma in a 28-year-old
      gentleman who was managed with surgery followed by postoperative radiation with
      concurrent temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide. The patient had a
      disease-free survival of 24 months, after which he developed marginal recurrence.
      To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a primary spinal cord
      melanoma. (PSCM) treated with postoperative radiotherapy with concurrent
      temozolomide followed by adjuvant Temozolomide. 

PMID- 26881600
TI  - Renal cell carcinoma, unclassified with unique features.
AB  - Renal cell carcinoma, unclassified constitute about 3-4% of all renal carcinomas.
      It essentially is a tumor where more than morphological variants or subtypes are
      seen in a single tumor. Usually there is a mixture of 2-3 different types.
      However, in this particular case there were at least 5 different types of
      morphological patterns in a single tumor including areas of so-called rhabdoid
      differentiation. The patient underwent nephrectomy and has been asymptomatic for
      the last 3.5. years. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of its
      own kind in the published literature. 

PMID- 26881601
TI  - Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of eyelid: A usual tumor at an unusual site.
AB  - Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a malignant epithelial neoplasm comprising mucous,
      intermediate and epidermoid cells, arising mainly in salivary gland. It is
      extremely uncommon in ocular region, where it can arise in conjunctiva, lacrimal
      gland or lacrimal sac. The index case is being presented for its rarity and for
      highlighting the importance of meticulous sampling for correct diagnosis. A 68
      year-old female presented with complaints of ulceration over right lower eyelid
      for 3 years. She underwent a local surgical excision 2 years ago after which she
      was asymptomatic for the following 1 year. Histopathological examination of
      excised specimen showed features of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Mucoepidermoid
      carcinoma in ocular adnexa may be difficult to differentiate from its close
      mimickers like basal, squamous, sebaceous cell carcinoma and apocrine carcinoma.
      Meticulous sampling, judicious use of special stains and immunohistochemistry are
      pivotal in establishing the diagnosis. 

PMID- 26881602
TI  - Ectopic Cushing syndrome secondary to recurrent pancreatoblastoma in a child:
      Lessons learnt.
AB  - Although rare, pancreatoblastoma is the most common pancreatic tumor in children.
      Cushing syndrome secondary to ectopic secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone
      (ACTH) from a pancreatoblastoma is very rare with only two previously reported
      cases. We present the management and the lesson learnt in a 3-year-old child with
      recurrent pancreatoblastoma with Cushing syndrome. 

PMID- 26881603
TI  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis diagnosed by FNAC of lymph nodes.
AB  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare clonal disorder of unknown etiology
      and characterized by the proliferation of dendritic cells. LCH most commonly
      involves the bone followed by the skin and the lymph nodes. Recently, only a few
      cases of LCH with predominant lymph node involvement have been diagnosed by fine
      needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). A 2-year-old boy presented with generalized
      lymphadenopathy, fever, and cough. The patient had hepatosplenomegaly, anemia,
      and lytic lesions in the skull. FNAC from the largest submandibular lymph node
      showed features of LCH. The large cells of LCH showed positive immunostaining for
      S-100 protein on FNAC smears. Later, lymph node biopsy and immunohistochemistry
      against S-100 protein and CD1a confirmed the diagnosis of LCH. The patient was
      treated with chemotherapy and he is under regular follow-up. This case report
      highlights the importance of FNAC as a rapid and accurate investigation in the
      diagnosis of lymph node predominant LCH. 

PMID- 26881604
TI  - Disseminated tuberculosis in a patient with recurrent transitional cell carcinoma
      of renal pelvis and bladder following intravesical BCG therapy: A report of a
      rare case.
AB  - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been used as an intravesical instillation for
      nonmuscle invasive (superficial) bladder cancer for the last 3 decades. Although
      intravesical BCG therapy is well-tolerated by most of the patients, adverse
      reactions have also been reported which are usually local, benign, and self
      limited. Systemic complications such as miliary tuberculosis (TB) are very rare
      with few documented reports in literature. We hereby report a rare case of
      disseminated TB in bilateral lungs, adrenal, cervical, mediastinal, and para
      aortic lymph nodes in a patient with recurrent transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)
      of renal pelvis and urinary bladder. Peculiar feature of this case was the
      development of TB 2 years following last BCG instillation, which is unlike most
      of the cases in the literature where TB developed within few weeks of last dose
      of BCG.

PMID- 26881605
TI  - Calcification in transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder: Does it have any
      implication on calcium metabolism and its management?
AB  - Although transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is most common histological subtype,
      calcification in TCC is rarely seen. We report a 64-year-old gentleman who on
      evaluation found to have calcification in TCC of urinary bladder and its
      implication on calcium metabolism and management. 

PMID- 26881606
TI  - Desmoplastic small round cell tumor: Diagnostic dilemma and uncertain prognosis:
      Report of few cases.
AB  - Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is rare and highly malignant
      neoplasm. DSRCT affects usually young males but can occur in adults also. Intra
      abdominal pelvic region is the preferred site. Though confirmed by histology,
      immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a key role in diagnosis. IHC profile is
      characteristic, it shows simultaneous expression of epithelial (epithelial
      membrane antigen (EMA) and cytokeratin (CK)), muscular (desmin), and neural
      (neuron-specific enolase) markers. Many cases of DSRCT are diagnosed as poorly
      differentiated carcinoma due to lack of proper panel of IHC. It is difficult to
      predict if there has been a true increase in incidence. Prognosis is uncertain in
      such an aggressive neoplasm as chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) shows
      various outcomes. Here in; we report four cases, all of which showed diagnostic
      dilemma and uncertain prognosis. 

PMID- 26881607
TI  - Spontaneous deep venous thrombosis: An unrecognized entity with sorafenib.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common, malignant tumor of liver. Most cases
      of hepatocellular carcinoma are associated with either viral hepatitis or
      cirrhosis. But major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in developing
      countries is mainly chronic hepatitis B. Sorafenib is one of the first-line drug
      which has been extensively used in metastatic and inoperable hepatocellular
      carcinoma. We report a rare case of spontaneous deep venous thrombosis of
      bilateral lower limbs as an important unrecognized side effect of sorafenib. 

PMID- 26881608
TI  - Rare case of radiologically distinct but pathologically admixed vestibular
      schwannoma and meningioma in the cerebellopontine angle: A case report.
AB  - Primary intracranial tumors generally occur as solitary tumors. The association
      of two primary intracranial tumors of different histogenesis in the same
      individual is rare, except in cases of phakomatoses or radiation-induced tumors.
      Meningiomas and vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are one of the commonest tumors
      occurring intracranially. VS account for 80% of cerebellopontine angle (CPA)
      tumors, with meningiomas being the second most common tumor of the CPA. The
      occurrence of both a schwannoma and a meningioma in the CPA is rare. We report a
      case with coexistent CPA meningioma and VS, which were distinct radiologically on
      preoperative imaging, however had admixed areas of VS and meningioma on
      histopathological evaluation. 

PMID- 26881609
TI  - Focal thyroid incidentaloma on whole body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission
      tomography/computed tomography in known cancer patients: A case-based discussion
      with a series of three examples.
AB  - The importance, imaging characteristics and outcome of focal thyroid
      incidentaloma on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed
      tomography (FDG-PET/CT) have been illustrated in this report. This is drawn from
      a series of three case examples of proven malignancy at different locations, with
      three different thyroid cytopathological diagnoses. Subsequently, a case-based
      discussion on present consensus of the management of this entity has been
      undertaken including certain specific aspects of PET-CT interpretation and its
      role in this setting. 

PMID- 26881610
TI  - A case of invasive papillary breast carcinoma: Fierce facade with favorable
      prognosis.
AB  - Invasive papillary carcinoma of the breast is a rare, distinct variant comprising
      approximately less than 1-2% of all newly diagnosed cases of breast carcinoma and
      is usually found in postmenopausal women with a more favorable prognosis. We
      report an unusual case in a 45-year-old perimenopausal female who came with a
      complaint of lump in right breast for duration of 1 year. A simple mastectomy was
      undertaken for histopathological study and immunohistochemistry (IHC) which
      showed characteristic features of an invasive papillary breast carcinoma. We
      present this case in view of its rarity and to highlight this clinicopathological
      subtype for its good prognosis and to avoid overtreatment. 

PMID- 26881611
TI  - Serous adenofibroma of ovary: An eccentric presentation.
AB  - Surface epithelial tumors of the ovary comprise over fourth of the ovarian
      neoplasms. Serous adenofibromas are lesser known variants of serous surface
      epithelial tumors. Though these tumors have a benign fate, yet they can be
      misinterpreted clinically and radiologically due to their borderline or malignant
      gross morphological as well as clinical presentation. The cell of origin of
      surface epithelial tumors of the ovary is histological debated; however, it is
      now ascertained to have origins from the ovarian cortical and surface lining.
      Adenofibromas are known to progress in an indolent manner with metachronous
      behavior for years. The present case is of an ovarian serous adenofibroma in a
      young female masquerading as peritoneal carcinomatosis. 

PMID- 26881612
TI  - Brenner's tumor associated with ovarian mucinous cystadenoma reaching a huge size
      in postmenopausal woman.
AB  - A case of a 70-year-old Egyptian postmenopausal woman presenting a Brenner's
      tumor associated with mucinous cystadenoma weighing 20.7 kg is reported here.
      Patient was admitted in our hospital with abdominal pain of one-month duration.
      On abdominal ultrasound, a huge heterogeneous mass was found to encompass the
      whole abdomen. At laparotomy, a giant, right heterogeneous mass was encountered
      and removed intact by right salpingo-oophorectomy. On the seventh postoperative
      day, she was discharged without any problem. Her pathology report disclosed a 52
      x 41 x 36 cm, partially solid, partially cystic mass diagnosed as benign
      Brenner's tumor with mucinous cystadenoma weighing 20.7 kg. This is the largest
      ovarian mass that is ever reported in our hospital and one of the largest among
      the reported cases in the literature. 

PMID- 26881613
TI  - Satisfactory therapy results of combining nimustine with nicardipine against
      glioma at advanced stage.
AB  - Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most frequent brain cancers with a
      very poor prognosis. According to cancer stem cell (CSC) theory, therapies that
      are more specifically directed against CSCs might result in much more durable
      responses. Recently, we treated a case of GBM basing on the conception of CSC and
      gained a better clinic outcome. A 37-year-old male patient complained weakness of
      left limbs for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed extensive lesions
      in the right hemisphere. We performed an intracranial tumor partial resection and
      the postoperative pathological diagnose was GBM. 1 month later, he received
      monthly chemotherapies with the combination of nimustine and nicardipine for
      totally 4 times. At the last chemotherapy, MRI scan showed the cancer almost
      completely disappeared with significantly improved clinic condition. The
      combination therapy of chemotherapeutics and nicardipine may be a promising
      treatment for patients of GBM at advanced stage. 

PMID- 26881614
TI  - Sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: A rare entity with prognostic
      significance.
AB  - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of the kidney and has
      multiple subtypes. The sarcomatoid variety is considered a form of
      dedifferentiated carcinoma. It is more commonly associated with clear cell
      variant but very few are associated with chromophobe RCC. When present, it is
      associated with a significant decrease in patient survival due to its rapid
      growth and intrusive behavior. Here, we report a unique case of sarcomatoid
      chromophobe RCC in a 35-year- old woman. 

PMID- 26881615
TI  - Myxoid degeneration of appendix wall: An entity in search of identity: Report of
      two cases.
AB  - Myxoid degeneration of the appendix wall without accompanying acute appendicitis
      (AA) is rare. We report two cases of myxoid degeneration of appendix associated
      with appendiceal adhesions. Both the cases showed marked splitting and disruption
      of smooth muscle fibers of muscularis propria by abundant myxoid ground substance
      and dispersed degenerated hypereosinophilic myofibers with pyknotic nuclei.
      Scattered degenerated myocytes with vacuolated cytoplasm were also identified.
      Focal serosal fibrosis was observed in both cases. We reviewed other pathologic
      processes that involve the appendix such as fibrous obliteration, AA, and
      appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (AMN) and conclude that the constellations of
      pathologic findings described herein are unique. Nonneoplastic dissecting myxoid
      degeneration of the appendix muscularis propria has not been reported in the
      pathology literature to date. The pathologic nature of appendiceal mucinous
      stromal change remains unclear; however, we hypothesize that the lesion occurs as
      a consequence of traction related injury to the appendix. 

PMID- 26881616
TI  - Tumor of the maxilla-odontogenic or glandular? A diagnostic challenge and the
      role of immunohistochemical markers.
AB  - Today's practice in medicine has reached remarkable change mainly due to the
      advances in the field. Odontogenic tumors represent a spectrum of lesions ranging
      from hamartomas to benign and malignant neoplasms. Rarely, odontogenic tumors
      pose a challenge due to varied histological features. But appropriate and
      accurate diagnosis is crucial for further treatment and follow-up as these have
      an influence on the prognosis. In such situations, immunohistochemical. (IHC)
      markers play a significant role in the differentiating various lesions. Within
      its palette of histology, there are multiple histopathological presentations,
      many a times these features come in an intermixed pattern simulating different
      origin. We here, report such a case presented in a 70-year-old female came with a
      complaint of swelling in the posterior maxilla. The microscopic findings were
      indicative of a benign neoplasm. To know the nature of the lesion and arrive at a
      diagnosis, many IHC markers were used. Based on all these findings, a final
      diagnosis of unicystic ameloblastoma was arrived. 

PMID- 26881617
TI  - Primary choriocarcinoma of appendix mimicking acute appendicitis.
AB  - Choriocarcinoma is a malignant trophoblastic cancer, the incidence of primary
      choriocarcinoma (PCC) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) being extremely rare,
      with only 14 cases being reported in worldwide literature. Here we present an
      extremely rare case of PCCof the appendix in a 32-year-old male who presented
      with acute pain abdomen. Histopathological examination revealed PCC of the
      appendix. Examination of the testis was unremarkable. Further investigations
      revealed a very high serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) titer with a
      normal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Radiological imaging showed multiple areas
      of liver metastasis. Chemotherapy-based treatment with bleomycin, etoposide, and
      cisplatin (BEP) regime was advised, however the patient failed to follow-up for
      further management. 

PMID- 26881618
TI  - Kimura's disease embedding radial artery: A very rare presentation.
AB  - Kimura's disease (KD) was first described in 1937 by Kimm and Szetoas a reactive,
      self-limiting, painless, persistent lesion mimicking neoplasm and described it as
      eosinophilic hyperplastic lymphogranuloma. The present nomenclature was given by
      Kimura et al., in 1948. It occurs most often in young and middle-aged Asian
      males. It is most common in head and neck region, involvement of peripheral
      vasculature although very rare has been documented. 

PMID- 26881619
TI  - Duodenoduodenal intussusception: Report of three challenging cases with
      literature review.
AB  - Small bowel intussusception is an uncommon condition with cases of
      duodenoduodenal intussusception (DDI) being exceptionally rare. Adult
      intussusception occurs infrequently and differs from childhood intussusception in
      its presentation, etiology, and treatment. DDI is very unusual due to the fixed
      position of the duodenum within the retroperitoneum. The lead point usually is
      hamartomatous polyp, adenoma, or adenocarcinoma. Only few cases of DDI in adults
      have been reported in the literature. We herein report a series of three cases of
      DDI encountered in a tertiary level research institute. All cases had underlying
      abnormality acting as lead point with different etiologies. DDI is a challenging
      condition due to its rarity and nonspecific presentation and should be considered
      in the differential diagnosis of gastric outlet obstruction, pancreatitis, and
      obstructive jaundice. We elaborate this condition with a detailed review of the
      literature to gain a better understanding of its clinical features and enable
      early diagnosis. 

PMID- 26881620
TI  - Large pedunculated lipoma of the esophagus: Report of a case and review of
      literature.
AB  - Large pedunculated esophageal lipoma is uncommon. The presenting symptoms of
      esophageal lipoma are dysphagia, regurgitated mass, and persistent sensation of a
      lump in the throat. The most frequent location of the tumor pedicle is the upper
      esophageal sphincter. Here, we present the case of a 52-year-old man who had the
      symptoms of pharyngeal unwell and dysphagia. Panendoscopy showed a pedunculated
      tumor mass within the esophageal lumen with its peduncle arising from the
      cervical esophagus. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      revealed that he might have anesophageal submucosal or intraluminal and
      pedunculated tumor mass. The tumor mass measured 25 * 16 * 45 mm in size.
      Cervical approachvia the right neck was performed for confirmation. After removal
      of the intraluminal mass, the patient became symptom free. Pathology showed a
      lipoma arising from the submucosa of the esophagus.

PMID- 26881621
TI  - Inappropriate antidiuretic syndrome hypersecretion after a single dose of
      cisplatin.
AB  - Severe hyponatremia with seizure owing to the syndrome of inappropriate
      antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) or cerebral/renal salt wasting syndrome
      related with high mortality. The correct diagnosis of the hyponatremia for each
      case is important because of the alteration of the treatment approach. SIADH is
      an important clinical manifestation that does not occur after all chemotherapy
      courses. We cannot estimate whether the disease will occur on, which course of
      the chemotherapy in this case. 

PMID- 26881622
TI  - An unusual case of eyelid metastasis from a rectal primary.
AB  - A 26-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus. (HIV).negative male, a diagnosed
      case of locally advanced adenocarcinoma rectum underwent diversion colostomy and
      received preoperative radiotherapy with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.
      (3DCRT) to a dose of 25 Gy/5 Fx/8. days to 95% planning target volume. (PTV) with
      3-field technique. (right and left lateral and posterior) by 6 and 15 MV photons.
      Postradiotherapy contrast-enhanced computed tomography. (CECT) chest and abdomen
      showed progressive disease. He was reviewed by oncosurgeon and considered
      inoperable. He presented with a swelling over upper eyelid, which on biopsy was
      proven as metastatic adenocarcinoma. He received three cycles of weekly
      chemotherapy and was planned for excision and reconstruction of eyelid. He
      finally succumbed due to small bowel obstruction, acute renal failure, and
      septicemia after an overall duration of survival of seven months. Eyelid
      metastases occur in less than one percent of malignant eye lesions in adults. To
      the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported with a primary in
      rectum.

PMID- 26881623
TI  - Pleomorphic liposarcoma arising in a malignant phyllodes tumor of breast: A rare
      occurrence.
AB  - Primary malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast accounts for 0.3-1% of all the
      tumors of breast and only a couple of cases of pleomorphic liposarcoma (PL)
      arising in a malignant phyllodes (MP) tumor have been reported. A thorough
      sampling is most essential in phyllodes tumor, not only to detect high grade
      component of the neoplasm but also to diagnose heterologous elements in the same
      lesion elsewhere, as it may affect the prognosis adversely and may have a greater
      metastatic potential. 

PMID- 26881624
TI  - Pseudoangio-matous stromal hyperplasia: A rare tumor of the breast.
AB  - Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a benign breast entity described
      first by Vuitch et al., in 1986. PASH is a benign stromal lesion containing
      complex anastomosing channels lined by slender spindle cells. It can be mistaken
      with fibroadenoma on ultrasound examination and histologically with low-grade
      angiosarcoma and phyllodes tumor. Here, presented is a case report of a 30-year
      old female who presented with huge palpable lump in left breast. Ultrasonography
      revealed the lesion as giant fibroadenoma and fine needle aspiration cytology
      report was suggestive of cystosarcoma phyllodes. Excision and reduction
      mammoplasty was done and histopathology report was suggestive of PASH. 

PMID- 26881625
TI  - Initial presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma as soft tissue swelling of the
      forearm: A rare cytomorphological diagnosis.
AB  - Bone is quite an uncommon site of metastasis in patients with hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC). We report a rare case of HCC presenting as a rapidly progressive
      painful soft tissue swelling with isolated metastasis to the radius bone of right
      forearm. The present article emphasizes the point that HCC should be considered
      in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with palpable soft tissue
      swelling with destruction of the underlying bone. Fine-needle aspiration cytology
      (FNAC) of the soft tissue mass revealed cytomorphological features of HCC. The
      primary tumor of the liver was diagnosed retrospectively, following FNAC of the
      osteolytic lesion in the right radius bone, which revealed HCC. 

PMID- 26881626
TI  - Ectopic thymoma presenting as a large intrathoracic mass.
AB  - Thymoma is an epithelial neoplasm of the thymus, which commonly lies in the
      anterior mediastinum. Unusually it can be found in other locations as well.
      Ectopic thymoma rarely presents as an intrathoracic tumor. We report a case of an
      ectopic thymoma presenting as a giant right intrathoracic tumor that was treated
      with resection. The patient was a 49-year-old postmenopausal lady who presented
      with heaviness in chest and breathlessness. Detailed investigation including
      chest computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well
      defined large solid tumor in the right thoracic cavity. Surgery was performed
      based on the radiological findings. A large solid tumor measuring 12 cm x 10 cm x
      8 cm was found in the thoracic cavity, adherent to the pericardium, diaphragm and
      the right mediastinal pleura without apparent invasion. The tumor was completely
      resected. The diagnosis given as World Health Organization classification-Type B1
      Muller-Hermelink classification-predominantly cortical thymoma.

PMID- 26881627
TI  - Adenocarcinoma of urinary bladder: A report of two patients.
AB  - Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare tumor. Primary and metastatic
      adenocarcinomas of urinary bladder are morphologically similar, but
      histogenetically different. We present two cases, a signet ring cell
      adenocarcinoma with follow-up and another of glandular adenocarcinoma of urinary
      bladder. Pathological evaluation and immunohistochemical panel of eight markers
      (E-cadherin, CK20, CK7, CDX2, estrogen receptor (ER), gross cystic disease fluid
      protein 15 (GCDFP15), 34bE12, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) provides a
      diagnostic confirmation of primary adenocarcinoma with the positive expression of
      E-cadherin and CK20 in case 1 and metastatic adenocarcinoma of prostate with
      profile of E-cadherin+, CK20-, GCDFP15+, 34bE12+, and PSA+ in case 2. 

PMID- 26881628
TI  - Spontaneous ante-grade enteral migration of jejunostomy tube: A rare
      complication.
AB  - Ante-grade migration of a feeding jejunostomy tube is a rare occurrence. A 47
      year-old lady with hypopharyngeal malignancy underwent surgical placement of
      jejunostomy tube. Eight months later, she came with disappearance of the tube
      from skin surface. Clinical examination revealed skin erosion and disappearance
      of previously placed tube. Abdominal radiograph showed radio.opaque tube in the
      abdomen in its entirety. The patient underwent reoperation to establish enteral
      feeding route and at the same time retrograde extraction of the tube (from
      proposed site for placement of jejunostomy tube). Use of proper fixation,
      placement of tube with dilated distal ends can potentially prevent these
      complications.

PMID- 26881629
TI  - A rare association of sarcoid-like granuloma with renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Non-necrotizing epithelioid granuloma has been described within the stroma of
      malignancies like carcinomas of the breast and colon, seminoma, and Hodgkin's
      lymphoma. They are designated as sarcoid-like reaction, in absence of any
      evidence of systemic sarcoidosis. But granulomatous reaction in association with
      renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is uncommon, with only few published reports in the
      literature. This reaction may have some prognostic importance also. We describe a
      rare case of conventional (clear cell) RCC associated with epithelioid granulomas
      within the tumor parenchyma, in a 42-year-old lady without any evidence of
      systemic sarcoidosis. 

PMID- 26881630
TI  - Ameloblastic fibroma with ghost cell differentiation and calcification: A unique
      case report.
AB  - The ameloblastic fibroma (AF) is an uncommon odontogenic tumor that may present
      an aggressive behavior and may have potential for malignant transformation. Ghost
      cell differentiation within AF is extremely rare. There are only seven cases in
      English literature in which ghost cells are found in AF but all these previously
      reported cases were associated with typical calcifying odontogenic cyst. Here, we
      present a unique case in 3(1/2)-year-old child with solid lesion which comprised
      odontogenic epithelium strands, islands, and myxoid ectomesenchyme with focal
      areas of ghost cell differentiation and calcification associated with neoplastic
      epithelium.

PMID- 26881631
TI  - Extramedullary hematopoiesis on 18F-FDG PET/CT in a patient with thalassemia and
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) occurs in various bone marrow disorders and is
      most commonly seen in thalassemia and myelofibrosis. Here, we report a patient
      with beta-thalassemia and nasopharyngeal carcinoma having intrathoracic EMH. Our
      patient is a 42-year-old man who complained of chest discomfort for a month. He
      was confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T3N2M0) by histopathology and received
      chemoradiotherapy 4 months ago. The patient had a long history of beta
      thalassemia and a splenectomy due to splenomegaly at 12 years of age. Computed
      tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed multiple soft tissue masses in bilateral
      thoracic cavities. 18F-FDG-PET showed no obvious increase of fluorodeoxyglucose
      (18F-FDG) uptake by the lesions, with an SUVmax value of approximately 2.19.
      These lesions were considered EMH. The patient had been followed up for more than
      1 year, and there were no changes of the lesions in the thoracic cavities. 

PMID- 26881632
TI  - Mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor in an infertile male with Klinefelter
      syndrome:A case report and literature review.
AB  - Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a well-documented abnormality of the sex chromosome,
      with an incidence of 1 in 600 newborn males. It is characterized by a 47, XXY or
      a mosaic karyotype, hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, infertility, reduced body
      hair, gynecomastia, and tall stature. Different neoplasms such as breast,
      testicular, and lymphoreticular malignancies may occur in 1% to 2% of the cases
      with KS. Herein we describe a case of mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor (GCT) in
      a 40-year-old male with KS. Interestingly, this case also had mitral valve
      prolapse, and an incidental papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland. In
      view of the presence of pulmonary nodules, antemortem differential diagnoses
      considered were mycobacterial infection, lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and a
      primary/metastatic neoplasm of the lung. As GCT was not considered, the serum
      markers of a GCT were not performed. The diagnosis of this rare mediastinal mixed
      GCT with KS was made at autopsy.

PMID- 26881633
TI  - Adenosquamous carcinoma of oral cavity.
AB  - Adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignant epithelial neoplasm characterized by
      the presence of both areas of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Only
      few cases of oral adenosquamous carcinoma have been previously reported in the
      literature. It has been described as a squamous cell carcinoma subtype with a
      high infiltrative capacity. This paper reports a rare case of adenosquamous
      carcinoma that involved the upper left buccal mucosa in a 55-year-old man.

PMID- 26881634
TI  - Primary cardiac lymphoblastic B-cell lymphoma: Should we treat more intensively?
AB  - Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare neoplasm, the majority of cases of which
      are non-Hodgkin's, diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL). We report the first case of an
      adult with PCL B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma whose disease evolution was grim. A
      52-year-old male reported dyspnea and facial swelling lasting for 4 months and
      upon a physical examination he presented bradycardia, jugular venous engorgement,
      and hypophonesis of cardiac sounds. An electrocardiography (Echo) revealed a
      right atrial mass and nodules at the pericardium. The patient was treated with R
      Hyper-CVAD (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and
      dexamethasone) and presented very short remission. At this time, we used R-ICE
      (rituximab plus ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) chemotherapy and the
      patient underwent complete remission after two courses and received autologous
      bone marrow transplantation (auto-BMT). After 75 days of follow-up, the patient
      reported dyspnea and a new Echo showed a recurrence of the disease. The patient
      died due to cardiac failure. PCL is a rare disease with an unfavorable prognosis
      and a prompt diagnosis and treatment are fundamental to survival. We believe that
      more intensive therapies, such as auto-BMT, should be considered as a first
      treatment option. 

PMID- 26881635
TI  - Cytomorphology of lung metastasis of pure choriocarcinoma of testis in a 58-year
      old male.
AB  - Choriocarcinoma is malignancy arising from the trophoblastic tissue. Pure
      choriocarcinoma is rare in testis. Choriocarcinoma of testis is more commonly
      associated with other germ cell tumors. The usual age of presentation is 2nd-3rd
      decade. Distant metastasis is known to occur in choriocarcinoma. We present a
      rare case of testicular pure choriocarcinoma in a male patient. The patient was
      treated with orchidectomy, lymphadenectomy, and chemotherapy. Three months later
      the patient presented with hemoptysis and a lung mass. The aspiration cytology of
      the lung mass revealed metastatic deposits of syncytiotrophoblastic and
      cytiotrophoblastic cells. We are reporting this case due to its rarity, rare age
      of presentation, and characteristic cytology at metastatic focus. 

PMID- 26881636
TI  - Diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of colon.
AB  - Leiomyosarcomas of colon are rare tumors accounting for less than 1% of cases
      which are often misdiagnosed and confused with gastrointestinal stromal tumor
      (GIST). We report a case of 54-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain with
      computer tomography (CT) showing a retroperitoneal mass. He underwent laparotomy
      and surgical excision of mass was done. On pathological examination, microscopy
      was suggestive of GIST, but immunohistochemistry was positive for desmin and
      ultimately this case was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma. 

PMID- 26881637
TI  - Cerebellar metastases of recurrent phyllodes tumor breast; a rare phenomenon
      reflecting the unpredictable outcome.
AB  - Carcinomas of lung, breast, colon, kidney, and malignant melanomas are the most
      common malignancies that metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS).
      Phyllodes tumor is a rare fibroepithelial tumor of the breast, often having
      unpredictable recurrences, with increasing histological grade and distant
      metastasis. Malignant forms exist, which may develop distant metastases usually
      to the lung, pleura, bone, and liver. CNS metastasis of phyllodes tumor is rare
      and associated with a poor prognosis, with resistance to chemotherapy and
      radiation. We present a rare case of cerebellar metastasis in recurrent phyllodes
      tumor breast with subsequent rapid downhill course. 

PMID- 26881638
TI  - Florid reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (lymphoma-like lesion) of cervix: A
      diagnostically challenging case and a brief review of literature.
AB  - Large lymphoid proliferations are usually regarded as synonymous with lymphomas.
      However, lymphoma-like lesions. (LLLs) of the cervix are amongst the exception.
      We report a 46-year-old woman who complained of irregular menses and was found to
      have superficial erosion in cervix, which on biopsy showed clusters of large
      atypical appearing lymphoid cells admixed with smaller reactive lymphoid cells.
      On immunohistochemistry, these large cells were strongly positive for CD20 and
      CD30 and the background cells were reactive to CD3. Based on the superficial
      nature of infiltrate and absence of a mass-forming lesion, a diagnosis of LLL of
      cervix was made. Despite a benign diagnosis, a hysterectomy was done on patient's
      insistence and only a focus of lymphoid cells similar to biopsy was seen on the
      operated specimen. Patient is free of disease on follow-up. 

PMID- 26881639
TI  - Atypical clinical presentation of orbital adenoid cystic carcinoma.
AB  - Orbital adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) always originates from epithelia of
      lacrimal gland and typically presents as lacrimal fossa mass. We describe two
      cases of biopsy-proven orbital ACC without definite lacrimal gland mass. Orbital
      images showed that the lesions of the two patients were located mainly in
      retrobulbar space, extending posteriorly to the orbital apex. Both of them had
      relatively normal lacrimal gland images. Each patient underwent complete
      ophthalmologic examination and orbital surgery. Histopathological assessment
      proved to be ACC. Immunohistochemistry showed invasion of the nerve fibers. This
      report suggests the possibility of orbital ACC without obvious lacrimal gland
      mass. The two cases of atypical orbital ACC reinforced the differential diagnosis
      of the diseases. 

PMID- 26881640
TI  - HMB-45 negative multifocal malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the
      soft tissue responding to sirolimus: First case report from India.
AB  - Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a group of sarcomas that exhibit
      a myomelanocytic phenotype and possess a unique cell type in the perivascular
      epithelioid cell. Traditionally HMB-45 immunoreactivity is the first criteria
      required to consider a tumor to be PEComa. We report a case of multifocal PEComa
      with negative HMB-45 marker. The patient presented with three big
      ulceroproliferative lesions; two over right thigh and one over the scalp in the
      right frontal region. The patient was prescribed with oral sirolimus to which
      good response was seen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of
      HMB-45 negative multifocal malignant PEComa from India. 

PMID- 26881641
TI  - Discoid lupus erythematosus-related squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in an HIV
      seropositive black male.
AB  - Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disease commonly affecting sun
      exposed areas of the skin. Subjects with DLE have high-levels of plasmacytoid
      dendritic cells -derived interferon-alpha, which mediates both loss of immune
      tolerance to self-antigens and exaggerated inflammatory state, and supports
      proliferation and differentiation of hyperactive B-cells. In a few cases, DLE of
      the lips, scalp, ears or nose may eventually progress to squamous cell carcinoma
      (SCC). Photosensitivity and the long-standing immune-mediated chronic
      inflammation and dysregulated healing characterized by atrophy, hypopigmentation
      or scarring inherent to DLE are risk factors for progression to SCC. We review
      some aspects of the pathogenesis of DLE and the possible roles of inflammation
      and photosensitivity in the carcinomatous transformation of DLE keratinocytes,
      and present an illustrative case of DLE of the lower lip in an HIV-tuberculosis
      co-infected black person, that progressed to SCC.

PMID- 26881642
TI  - Progressive paraplegia caused by recurrence of mantle-cell lymphoma with atypical
      spinal magnetic resonance imaging features.
AB  - We describe a case of paraplegia, which had progressed rapidly in a 60-year-old
      Japanese man with mantle-cell lymphoma. (MCL). He admitted to our hospital due to
      lumbago and progressive muscle weakness of bilateral lower thighs lasting for 1.
      month, while he had the history of the systemic chemotherapy for MCL since 10
      months. Magnetic resonance imaging. (MRI) revealed a wide-spreading intradural
      tumor situated in the spinal canal from L1 to L5 with an intervertebral slipped
      disk as the only site of recurrence. Laminectomy followed by salvage chemotherapy
      led disappearance of lumbago and paraplegia of the bilateral lower extremities.
      Although wide-spreading tumor formation in spinal canal without other involvement
      sites is very rare in MCL, physicians should be aware of such patterns of central
      nervous system. (CNS) relapse for the early diagnosis and adequate selection of
      treatment modality. 

PMID- 26881643
TI  - Very late recurrence of an apparently benign pheochromocytoma.
AB  - Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that has the probability to relapse in about 10% of
      surgically treated cases. Currently, the only recognized criteria of malignancy
      in these neoplasms are the evidence of metastasis at non-chromaffin sites. No
      reliable clinical or histopathological parameter has been, so far, identified to
      predict malignancy in patients with diagnosis of primary pheochromocytoma.
      Several authors has attempted to propose morphologic features to detect
      potentially malignant pheochromocytomas, but there are still too many reported
      cases of recurrence, also after decades, in tumors that, according to the current
      knowledge, are considered "benign". Here we report a case of recurrence, after 25
      years, of a pheochromocytoma that had not enough criteria to be considered as
      malignant. 

PMID- 26881644
TI  - Lung reexpansion of obstructive atelectasis caused by radiotherapy after
      continuous gefitinib treatment in nonsmall cell lung cancer.
AB  - A 75-year-old male was diagnosed with central squamous cell carcinoma of the left
      lung, who has been given 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy of total dose with
      60 Gy in 30 fractions. Three years later, the tumor relapsed in situ and he
      received another stereotactic radiotherapy with a total dose of 40 Gy at a margin
      of planning target volume (PTV) in 10 (5 fractions/week) at 4 Gy/fraction.
      Gefitinib (250 mg/day) was initiated immediately after radiotherapy. Obstructive
      atelectasis in the left lung and increased pleural effusion occurred at the
      fourth month after radiotherapy. As this patient has been detected with deletion
      in exon 19 of the EGFR gene, gefitinib was continuous administered without
      interruption. After another 4 months, the atelectasis in the left lung reexpanded
      significantly. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the
      literature that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) reversed the radiation
      atelectasis of pulmonary in the nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient. 

PMID- 26881645
TI  - Papillary thyroid carcinoma and subclinical thyrotoxicosis: Brief insight into
      the thyroid regulators other than thyroid stimulating hormone.
AB  - Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy. It
      usually develops in euthyroid patients with history of long standing Hashimoto's
      thyroiditis. Here, we describe the development of PTC in a seronegative patient
      with subclinical thyrotoxicosis. We suggest that any cold nodule having high-risk
      features on ultrasonography in hyperthyroid patients should be thoroughly
      evaluated for the possibility of a thyroid malignancy and the possible role of
      nonthyroid stimulating hormone regulatory molecules, in thyroid carcinogenesis
      needs to be further explored. 

PMID- 26881646
TI  - A complex three-way translocation with deletion of the TP53 gene in a blast
      crisis chronic myeloid leukemia patient.
AB  - Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia (Ph)
      chromosome created by the reciprocal translocation t(9;22) (q34;q11), resulting
      in the chimeric BCR-ABL oncogene. Variant Ph' chromosome translocations involving
      additional chromosomes are seen in 5-10% of CML cases. In the present study, a
      novel case of Ph' chromosome-positive CML is reported, with a three-way
      translocation involving chromosomal regions, 9q34, 22q11.2 and 17p11.2, with
      additional secondary changes. The three-way translocation has resulted in a
      deletion of the TP53 gene located on the chromosome 17p13.1 locus. Deletion of
      the TP53 gene may be a major contributing factor in the development of resistance
      to imatinib and blast crisis. 

PMID- 26881647
TI  - Gastrointestinal stromal tumor and isolated anterior tibial muscle metastasis as
      first recurrence.
AB  - In the presented case, we report gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a
      patient using adjuvant imatinib in whom isolated metastasis to anterior tibial
      muscle as first recurrence was diagnosed. A 66-year-old woman was diagnosed with
      GIST on October 2012 and was followed up with adjuvant imatinib until June 2014.
      In this time, there was a nodular and fixed lesion with 1.5-2 cm of diameter in
      right lateral pre-tibial area. The lesion was resected, and it was reported as
      GIST metastasis by pathologist. GIST metastasis to muscle under knee is a
      generally unexpected area for any tumor metastasis. In modern treatment era, due
      to the increasing survival of the patients with GIST using targeted therapy, the
      metastatic pattern and behavior of GIST may be changing. 

PMID- 26881648
TI  - Osteosarcoma of larynx: A rare case report with review of literature.
AB  - Laryngeal osteosarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive malignancy. Only very
      few cases of primary laryngeal osteosarcomas are reported in literature, and all
      have a dismal prognosis. A 50-year-old male presented with recurrent hoarseness
      of voice and was evaluated and diagnosed as sarcoma larynx. Detailed
      histopathology report of laryngectomy specimen revealed presence of osteoid,
      which confirmed the diagnosis of osteosarcoma larynx. He was further treated with
      adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation and is disease free after 9 months. Surgery
      remains the mainstay of treatment in this disease and role of adjuvant
      chemotherapy and radiotherapy is still evolving. 

PMID- 26881649
TI  - Enigma of myoepithelioma at the base of tongue: A rare case report and review of
      literature.
AB  - Myoepithelioma, once considered to be a type of pleomorphic adenoma, is a rare
      benign tumor of the salivary glands. This uncommon tumor is most commonly
      diagnosed in the parotid gland and in the minor salivary glands of the palate. We
      report a case of myoepithelioma located at the base of tongue, a rare site, in a
      48-year-old male, composed of spindle shaped myoepithelial cells. 

PMID- 26881650
TI  - Giant dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: A rare presentation over face.
AB  - Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon, locally aggressive, soft
      tissue tumor. Its occurrence over face is very rare. We are presenting a case of
      giant DFSP over left cheek, which produces oncological, functional and esthetic
      challenges and deals by multidisciplinary team. We also reviewed the relevant
      literature in short. 

PMID- 26881651
TI  - Fulminant Buddchiari syndrome caused by renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor
      with inferior vena cava thrombus extending to atrium.
AB  - Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the kidney are rare, the diagnosis
      usually being made at histopathology. A young female presented with a massive
      right renal mass with features of hepatic dysfunction. Computed tomography scan
      of the abdomen revealed a large tumor of right kidney with tumor thrombus
      extending from inferior vena cava (IVC) to right atrium with features suggesting
      Buddchiari syndrome (BCS). Needle biopsy of mass showed a round cell neoplasm and
      positive staining for neuron specific enolase and minimum inhibitory
      concentration-2 on immunohistochemistry. She was managed with neo-adjuvant
      chemotherapy, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge
      this is the first case of renal PNET with inferior IVC tumor thrombus extending
      to right atrium with BCS. We suggest that renal PNET should be kept in mind as a
      differential diagnosis in young adults presenting with a large kidney mass
      extending to IVC that shows evidence of necrosis on imaging, which may be
      associated with BCS as in index case.

PMID- 26881652
TI  - Unusual presentations of intracranial meningiomas: Report of two cases and review
      of the literature.
AB  - Meningiomas at extracranial sites are uncommon clinical presentations. They may
      present in the form of benign, slow.growing masses or may exhibit aggressive
      malignant behavior. We report two cases of intracranial meningiomas presenting at
      extracranial sites that are, at the sinonasal tract/external auditory canal and
      as a neck mass. The clinical presentations, histopathological features and
      appropriate management are discussed. 

PMID- 26881653
TI  - Clear cell renal cell carcinoma with osseous metaplasia: Rare case report.
AB  - Osseous metaplasia with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is exceedingly
      rare. There are less than 20 reported cases of osseous metaplasia in association
      with RCC. We present a case of 39-year-old male patient presented to outpatient
      department with complaints of pain in the left lumbar region since 4 years.
      Computed tomography scan revealed a heterogeneous enhanced mass lesion having
      areas of necrosis and specks of calcification involving the left kidney.
      Clinicoradiological diagnosis of RCC was made and left radical nephrectomy was
      performed. Histological sections from the growth revealed features of clear cell
      carcinoma Fuhrman grade-2 with a focal area of metaplastic bone formation. The
      prognostic implications of calcification per se are not very clearly mentioned in
      the literature. Patients with osseous metaplasia generally present with early
      stage disease and a favorable prognosis. However, few of them were of high grade
      and poorer prognosis. 

PMID- 26881654
TI  - The utility of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed
      tomography for detecting lung and esophagus multiple primary cancers involved in
      the larynx: Two case reports.
AB  - Multiple primary cancers involved in the larynx of differentiating synchronous
      multiple primary cancers from metastasis can often be very difficult, especially
      when they have the same histology. However, it is very important because the
      therapeutic approach is completely different. Clinical situations like this
      appear to be increasing as a result of the recent popular use of [18F]
      fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Herein, we
      report two cases of multiple primary cancers involved in the larynx. 

PMID- 26881655
TI  - Space occupying lesion (paraganglioma) of the urinary bladder in a young male: A
      case report and brief review of the literature.
AB  - Urinary bladder paragangliomas are rare with a reported incidence of <1% of
      bladder tumors. In the absence of typical clinical features, histopathology helps
      in rendering definitive diagnosis. We describe a case of nonfunctional urinary
      bladder paraganglioma in a 28-year-old male who presented with the chief
      complaint of abdominal pain. The final diagnosis was made by histopathological
      and immunohistochemical analysis. It is important to distinguish paraganglioma
      from urothelial carcinoma as the treatment differs. This is an additional case of
      nonfunctional urinary bladder paraganglioma in a male patient with a brief review
      of the literature. 

PMID- 26881656
TI  - Drop metastases to the spinal cord from infratentorial glioblastoma multiforme in
      post-temozolomide era.
AB  - Drop metastases from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) to the spinal cord are
      extremely rare in clinical practice. We report herewith multiple drop metastases
      to the cervical and thoracic spinal cord presenting as paraplegia in a patient
      treated initially with tumor resection followed by chemoradiation and later with
      temozolomide-.based adjuvant chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26881657
TI  - Congenital nasopharyngeal teratoma causing airway obstruction in the newborn.
AB  - Teratomas are the most common congenital tumors, but teratomas of the nasopharynx
      are rare in neonates. The present report is about an 18-day-old girl child with a
      nasopharyngeal teratoma protruding from the oral cavity. The tumor almost
      completely obstructed the airways and necessitated immediate intervention. The
      tumor was successfully removed by the transpalatal route. Histological
      examination showed that it was a mature teratoma. The case with its related
      differential diagnosis is discussed here. 

PMID- 26881658
TI  - Sacrococcygeal teratoma with complete adrenal gland.
AB  - Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common congenital neoplasm in neonates. We
      came across a post term (42 weeks) newborn baby girl delivered by normal vaginal
      route. The baby presented with a large soft, cystic mass over the sacrococcygeal
      region. Radiological examination showed a soft tissue mass with variegated
      appearance. Complete excision of the mass was done. Histopathological examination
      revealed the mass to be a mature sacrococcygeal teratoma with the extremely
      uncommon finding of a complete adrenal gland within the teratoma sac.
      Sacrococcygeal teratoma is a component of a continuum with other tumors including
      fetiform teratoma, fetus in fetu, parasitic and conjoint twins. 

PMID- 26881659
TI  - Myxoid adrenal cortical adenoma in an infant: An unusual morphology.
AB  - Myxoid adrenal cortical neoplasms are rare. To the best of our knowledge, no such
      case has been reported in pediatric or infantile age group till now. Here we
      report a case of non-functional myxoid adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) in a 7-month
      old girl, who presented with a large mass in the abdomen. Microscopically, the
      tumor was composed of alveolar clusters of cells with focal pseudoglandular
      architecture in a background of abundant alcian blue positive myxoid matrix.
      Compressed rim of adrenal tissue was identified at periphery. The patient was put
      on a close follow-up in view of scarce literature on the subject. She has been
      doing fine without any recurrences. Myxoid adrenal cortical tumors expand the
      differential diagnoses of a myxoid neoplasm in retroperitoneum. 

PMID- 26881660
TI  - Lipoblastoma and lipoblastomatosis: A clinicopathological study of six cases.
AB  - Lipoblastoma and lipoblastomatosis are benign adipocytic tumors seen in children
      less than 3 years of age. Awareness amongst surgeons of this fast growing
      lipomatous tumor in young children is important to avoid mutilating surgery and
      chemotherapy. Histological diagnosis of lipoblastoma is sometimes difficult
      because of close resemblance with myxoid, round cell, and well-differentiated
      liposarcoma. We came across a series of six cases of
      lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis, over the last 10 years (2002-2012). Of these, we
      had three cases of lipoblastomatosis, one of which recurred after 2 months. All
      others were resected completely and successfully. 

PMID- 26881662
TI  - International twinning partnerships: Promoting cancer research and therapeutics
      in developing countries.

PMID- 26881661
TI  - The role of mast cell density in tumor-associated angiogenesis and survival of
      squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

PMID- 26881663
TI  - The use of Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor for management of
      thyroid cancer.

PMID- 26881664
TI  - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cetuximab for locally advanced penile cancer.

PMID- 26881665
TI  - Micronuclei in breast aspirates.

PMID- 26881666
TI  - Patient-specific imaging schedules.

PMID- 26881667
TI  - Pros and cons of using Facebook in pediatric oncology.

PMID- 26881668
TI  - Lasers in the management of chemoradiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

PMID- 26881669
TI  - Second primary malignancies in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

PMID- 26881670
TI  - Disseminated tuberculosis presenting as prolonged fever without source in a
      pediatric patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 26881671
TI  - Solitary metastatic tumor of breast presenting as large solitary expansile lesion
      of tibia mimicking aneurysmal bone cyst.

PMID- 26881672
TI  - The rapid resolution of pseudohyperphosphatemia in an IGAkappa multiple myeloma
      patient after therapy with a bortezomib-containing regimen: Report of the first
      case.

PMID- 26881673
TI  - Does a pathological fracture affect the prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma
      of the extremities?

PMID- 26881674
TI  - Bilateral axillary node metastases from anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non
      small cell lung cancer.

PMID- 26881675
TI  - Mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the upper lip: An unusual occurrence.

PMID- 26881676
TI  - Contamination of arsenic species in rice and the calculation for risk of cancer.

PMID- 26881677
TI  - Population based cancer registry in the developing countries: A first step
      towards cancer control programs and research.

PMID- 26881678
TI  - Intracranial high grade glioma masquerading as a skull base lesion: Report of two
      unusual cases.

PMID- 26881679
TI  - Giant vulval neurofibroma: A rare entity with review of literature.

PMID- 26881680
TI  - MutY homolog Y165C and G382D mutations in cholangiocarinoma: No role.

PMID- 26881681
TI  - Mucinous carcinoma of the gall bladder--An incidental diagnosis of a rare
      variant.

PMID- 26881682
TI  - Re: Lambda light chain myeloma presenting as nodular hepatic lesion: A clinical
      rarity.

PMID- 26881683
TI  - Pruning inaccuracies in staging of inoperable carcinoma oesophagus.

PMID- 26881684
TI  - Solid pseudo-papillary tumor of pancreas: Indian perspective.

PMID- 26881685
TI  - Undifferentiated carcinoma of pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells mimicking
      a pseudopancreatic cyst.

PMID- 26881686
TI  - Primary neuroendocrine mediastinal tumor presenting with carcinoid syndrome and
      left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Clinico-radiological and pathological
      features.

PMID- 26881687
TI  - Rare case of primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma-leg type with
      testicular infiltration.

PMID- 26881688
TI  - Pure epidermoid cyst of ovary.

PMID- 26881689
TI  - Orbital retinoblastoma: Prosthetic frontier.

PMID- 26881690
TI  - A case of heterotopic gastric patch of cervical esophagus: Cervical inlet patch.

PMID- 26881691
TI  - Erratum: Changes in lymphocytes' telomerase activity by 4-1BB costimulation.

PMID- 26881692
TI  - Retraction: Colposcopy in oral epithelial dysplasia: Seeing the unseen, a pilot
      study.

PMID- 26881693
TI  - The variance of the adjusted Rand index.
AB  - For 30 years, the adjusted Rand index has been the preferred method for comparing
      2 partitions (e.g., clusterings) of a set of observations. Although the index is
      widely used, little is known about its variability. Herein, the variance of the
      adjusted Rand index (Hubert & Arabie, 1985) is provided and its properties are
      explored. It is shown that a normal approximation is appropriate across a wide
      range of sample sizes and varying numbers of clusters. Further, it is shown that
      confidence intervals based on the normal distribution have desirable levels of
      coverage and accuracy. Finally, the first power analysis evaluating the ability
      to detect differences between 2, different adjusted Rand indices is provided.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881694
TI  - Affordance-based perception-action dynamics: A model of visually guided braking.
AB  - Behavioral dynamics is a framework for understanding adaptive behavior as arising
      from the self-organizing interaction between animal and environment. The methods
      of nonlinear dynamics provide a language for describing behavior that is both
      stable and flexible. Behavioral dynamics has been criticized for ignoring the
      animal's sensitivity to its own capabilities, leading to the development of an
      alternative framework: affordance-based control. Although it is theoretically
      sound and empirically motivated, affordance-based control has resisted
      characterization in terms of nonlinear dynamics. Here, we provide a dynamical
      description of affordance-based control, extending behavioral dynamics to meet
      its criticisms. We propose a general modeling strategy consistent with both
      theories. We use visually guided braking as a representative behavior and
      construct a novel dynamical model. This model demonstrates the possibility of
      understanding visually guided action as respecting the limits of the actor's
      capabilities, while still being guided by informational variables associated with
      desired states of affairs. In addition to such "hard" constraints on behavior,
      our framework allows for the influence of "soft" constraints such as preference
      and comfort, opening a new area of inquiry in perception-action dynamics.

PMID- 26881695
TI  - Tool use and affordance: Manipulation-based versus reasoning-based approaches.
AB  - Tool use is a defining feature of human species. Therefore, a fundamental issue
      is to understand the cognitive bases of human tool use. Given that people cannot
      use tools without manipulating them, proponents of the manipulation-based
      approach have argued that tool use might be supported by the simulation of past
      sensorimotor experiences, also sometimes called affordances. However, in the
      meanwhile, evidence has been accumulated demonstrating the critical role of
      mechanical knowledge in tool use (i.e., the reasoning-based approach). The major
      goal of the present article is to examine the validity of the assumptions derived
      from the manipulation-based versus the reasoning-based approach. To do so, we
      identified 3 key issues on which the 2 approaches differ, namely, (a) the
      reference frame issue, (b) the intention issue, and (c) the action domain issue.
      These different issues will be addressed in light of studies in experimental
      psychology and neuropsychology that have provided valuable contributions to the
      topic (i.e., tool-use interaction, orientation effect, object-size effect,
      utilization behavior and anarchic hand, tool use and perception, apraxia of tool
      use, transport vs. use actions). To anticipate our conclusions, the reasoning
      based approach seems to be promising for understanding the current literature,
      even if it is not fully satisfactory because of a certain number of findings
      easier to interpret with regard to the manipulation-based approach. A new avenue
      for future research might be to develop a framework accommodating both
      approaches, thereby shedding a new light on the cognitive bases of human tool use
      and affordances. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881697
TI  - Dietary restrictions, bone density, and bone quality.
AB  - Caloric restriction (CR), protein restriction (PR), and specific amino acid
      restriction (e.g., methionine restriction (MR)) are different dietary
      interventions that have been confirmed with regard to their comprehensive
      benefits to metabolism and health. Based on bone densitometric measurements,
      weight loss induced by dietary restriction is known to be accompanied by reduced
      areal bone mineral density, bone mass, and/or bone size, and it is considered
      harmful to bone health. However, because of technological advancements in bone
      densitometric instruments (e.g., high-resolution X-ray tomography), dietary
      restrictions have been found to cause a reduction in bone mass/size rather than
      volumetric bone mineral density. Furthermore, when considering bone quality, bone
      health consists of diverse indices that cannot be fully represented by
      densitometric measurements alone. Indeed, there is evidence that moderate dietary
      restrictions do not impair intrinsic bone material properties, despite the
      reduction in whole-bone strength because of a smaller bone size. In the present
      review, we integrate research evidence from traditional densitometric
      measurements, metabolic status assays (e.g., energy metabolism, oxidative
      stresses, and inflammatory responses), and biomaterial analyses to provide
      revised conclusions regarding the effects of CR, PR, and MR on the skeleton. 

PMID- 26881696
TI  - Comparison of the Utility and Validity of Three Scoring Tools to Measure Skin
      Involvement in Patients With Juvenile Dermatomyositis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the abbreviated Cutaneous Assessment Tool (CAT), Disease
      Activity Score (DAS), and Myositis Intention to Treat Activity Index (MITAX) and
      correlate them with the physician's 10-cm skin visual analog scale (VAS) in order
      to define which tool best assesses skin disease in patients with juvenile
      dermatomyositis. METHODS: A total of 71 patients recruited to the UK Juvenile
      Dermatomyositis Cohort and Biomarker Study were included and assessed for skin
      disease using the CAT, DAS, MITAX, and skin VAS. The Childhood Myositis
      Assessment Scale (CMAS), manual muscle testing of 8 groups (MMT8), muscle
      enzymes, inflammatory markers, and physician's global VAS were recorded.
      Relationships were evaluated using Spearman's correlations and predictors with
      linear regression. Interrater reliability was assessed using intraclass
      correlation coefficients. RESULTS: All 3 tools showed correlation with the
      physician's global VAS and skin VAS, with DAS skin showing the strongest
      correlation with skin VAS. DAS skin and CAT activity were inversely correlated
      with CMAS and MMT8, but these correlations were moderate. No correlations were
      found between the skin tools and inflammatory markers or muscle enzymes. DAS skin
      and CAT were the quickest to complete (mean +/- SD 0.68 +/- 0.1 minutes and 0.63
      +/- 0.1 minutes, respectively). CONCLUSION: The 3 skin tools were quick and easy
      to use. The DAS skin correlated best with the skin VAS. The addition of CAT in a
      bivariate model containing the physician's global VAS was a statistically
      significant estimator of skin VAS score. We propose that there is scope for a new
      skin tool to be devised and tested, which takes into account the strengths of the
      3 existing tools.

PMID- 26881700
TI  - Clinical research activity in periodontal medicine: a systematic mapping of trial
      registers.
AB  - AIM: The primary aim of the study was to systematically map registration records
      on periodontal medicine in clinical trial registers. The secondary aim was to
      assess the evolution of periodontal medicine in clinical periodontal research as
      a whole. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched all registration records related to
      periodontology in the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials
      Registry Platform. For registration records classified in the field of
      periodontal medicine, we assigned the 2015 MeSH((r)) term for the most precisely
      corresponding systemic condition. RESULTS: Fifty-seven systemic conditions have
      been hypothesized to be linked with periodontal diseases, covering nearly 2% of
      the diseases indexed in MeSH. In addition to diabetes, cardiovascular disease or
      preterm birth, other systemic conditions have been the subject of registration
      records, such as anaemia, liver diseases, dyspepsia or ankylosing spondylitis. A
      trend towards increasing diversification of systemic conditions has appeared over
      time. About a third of registration records in clinical periodontal research
      deals with periodontal medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal medicine now
      constitutes an important part of clinical periodontal research. Research activity
      in periodontal medicine has grown continuously since the early 2000s, and
      exploration of registers gives a useful up-to-date snapshot of this constantly
      evolving field of research.

PMID- 26881698
TI  - Increased DNA Methylation and Reduced Expression of Transcription Factors in
      Human Osteoarthritis Cartilage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the methylome of normal and osteoarthritic (OA) knee
      articular cartilage and to determine the role of DNA methylation in the
      regulation of gene expression in vitro. METHODS: DNA was isolated from human
      normal (n = 11) and OA (n = 12) knee articular cartilage and analyzed using the
      Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array. To integrate methylation and
      transcription, RNA sequencing was performed on normal and OA cartilage and
      validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Functional validation was
      performed in the human TC28 cell line and primary chondrocytes that were treated
      with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). RESULTS:
      DNA methylation profiling revealed 929 differentially methylated sites between
      normal and OA cartilage, comprising a total of 500 individual genes. Among these,
      45 transcription factors that harbored differentially methylated sites were
      identified. Integrative analysis and subsequent validation showed a subset of 6
      transcription factors that were significantly hypermethylated and down-regulated
      in OA cartilage (ATOH8, MAFF, NCOR2, TBX4, ZBTB16, and ZHX2). Upon 5-aza-dC
      treatment, TC28 cells showed a significant increase in gene expression for all 6
      transcription factors. In primary chondrocytes, ATOH8 and TBX4 were increased
      after 5-aza-dC treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that normal and OA knee
      articular cartilage have significantly different methylomes. The identification
      of a subset of epigenetically regulated transcription factors with reduced
      expression in OA may represent an important mechanism to explain changes in the
      chondrocyte transcriptome and function during OA pathogenesis.

PMID- 26881701
TI  - Phomopchalasins A and B, Two Cytochalasans with Polycyclic-Fused Skeletons from
      the Endophytic Fungus Phomopsis sp. shj2.
AB  - Phomopchalasins A (1) and B (2), two novel cytochalasans with unprecedented
      carbon skeletons, and phomopchalasin C (3), containing a rare hydroperoxyl motif,
      were obtained from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. shj2, which was first
      isolated from the Isodon eriocalyx var. laxiflora. Their structures were
      elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism
      (ECD) calculation, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Notably, 1 possessed an
      unprecedented 5/6/5/8-fused tetracyclic ring system, and 2 featured a novel
      5/6/6/7/5-fused pentacyclic skeleton. The cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and
      antimigratory activities of 1-3 were evaluated in vitro. 

PMID- 26881703
TI  - Hyderabad declaration 2014.

PMID- 26881704
TI  - Thermal Degradation and Isomerization of beta-Carotene in Oil-in-Water
      Nanoemulsions Supplemented with Natural Antioxidants.
AB  - The goal of this study was to see the impact on the retention and isomerization
      of encapsulated beta-carotene (BC) in nanoemulsions fortified with natural
      antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol (AT) and l-ascorbic acid (AA)). The physical
      stability of nanoemulsion, oxidative stability, and isomerization of all-trans
      beta-carotene (BC) in oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions were determined in the
      presence or absence of natural antioxidants at 25 and 50  degrees C at certain
      intervals of time by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sodium
      caseinate was used as the emulsifier, and corn oil (CO) was more protective than
      medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and used for isomerization studies. Mean
      diameters of control (without antioxidants) and AA- and AT-fortified particles
      were similar. Mean particle diameter of nanoemulsions increased from 10 to 25 nm
      at 25  degrees C and from 40 to 50 nm at 50  degrees C during 30 days of storage.
      The isomerization from all-trans-BC to cis-BC isomers was inhibited by
      antioxidants. The isomerization rates were in the following order: 13-cis-BC > 15
      cis-BC > 9-cis-BC. AT had better antioxidant activities than AA in inhibiting BC
      degradation in O/W nanoemulsions. The results indicated that BC encapsulated in
      nanoemulsions supplemented with antioxidants could significantly improve BC's
      chemical stability. 

PMID- 26881702
TI  - Expression profile and overexpression outcome indicate a role for betaKlotho in
      skeletal muscle fibro/adipogenesis.
AB  - Regeneration of skeletal muscles is required throughout life to ensure optimal
      performance. Therefore, a better understanding of the resident cells involved in
      muscle repair is essential. Muscle repair relies on satellite cells (SCs), the
      resident myogenic progenitors, but also involves the contribution of interstitial
      cells including fibro/adipocyte progenitors (FAPs). To elucidate the role of the
      fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in these two cell populations, we
      previously analyzed freshly isolated cells for their FGF receptor (FGFR)
      signature. Transcript analysis of the four Fgfr genes revealed distinct
      expression profiles for SCs and FAPs, raising the possibility that these two cell
      types have different FGF-mediated processes. Here, we pursued this hypothesis
      exploring the role of the Klotho genes, whose products are known to function as
      FGFR co-receptors for the endocrine FGF subfamily. Isolated SC and FAP
      populations were analyzed in culture, exhibiting spontaneous myogenic or
      adipogenic differentiation, respectively. alphaKlotho expression was not detected
      in either population. betaKlotho expression, while not detected in SCs, was
      strongly upregulated in FAPs entering adipogenic differentiation, coinciding with
      expression of a panel of adipogenic genes and preceding the appearance of
      intracellular lipid droplets. Overexpression of betaKlotho in mouse cell line
      models enhanced adipogenesis in NIH3T3 fibroblasts but had no effect on C2C12
      myogenic cells. Our study supports a pro-adipogenic role for betaKlotho in
      skeletal muscle fibro/adipogenesis and calls for further research on involvement
      of the FGF-FGFR-betaKlotho axis in the fibro/adipogenic infiltration associated
      with functional deterioration of skeletal muscle in aging and muscular dystrophy.

PMID- 26881706
TI  - Are Human Tyrosinase and Related Proteins Suitable Targets for Melanoma Therapy?
AB  - Among the human copper-containing monooxygenases, Tyrosinase (Ty) is an important
      enzyme involved in the determinant step of the biosynthetic pathway of melanin
      pigment. In this pathway, Ty catalyzes the tyrosine monooxygenation into L-DOPA
      quinone, which is the precursor of the skin pigment melanin. Ty
      inhibitors/activators are a well-established approach for controlling in vivo
      melanin production, so their development has a huge economical and industrial
      impact. Moreover, recent publications highlight that targeting tyrosinase with
      inhibitors/activators to treat melanogenesis disorders is one of many possible
      approaches, due to the complex biochemical reaction involved in the melanin
      synthesis.

PMID- 26881705
TI  - Copper Homeostasis for the Developmental Progression of Intraerythrocytic
      Malarial Parasite.
AB  - Malaria is one of the world's most devastating diseases, particularly in the
      tropics. In humans, Plasmodium falciparum lives mainly within red blood cells,
      and malaria pathogenesis depends on the red blood cells being infected with the
      parasite. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), including cis-9-octadecenoic acid,
      and phospholipids have been critical for complete parasite growth in serum-free
      culture, although the efficacy of NEFAs in sustaining the growth of P. falciparum
      has varied markedly. Hexadecanoic acid and trans-9-octadecenoic acid have
      arrested development of the parasite, in association with down-regulation of
      genes encoding copper-binding proteins. Selective removal of Cu+ ions has
      blockaded completely the ring-trophozoite-schizont progression of the parasite.
      The importance of copper homeostasis for the developmental progression of P.
      falciparum has been confirmed by inhibition of copper-binding proteins that
      regulate copper physiology and function by associating with copper ions. These
      data have provided strong evidence for a link between healthy copper homeostasis
      and successive developmental progression of P. falciparum. Perturbation of copper
      homeostasis may be, thus, instrumental in drug and vaccine development for the
      malaria medication. We review the importance of copper homeostasis in the asexual
      growth of P. falciparum in relation to NEFAs, copperbinding proteins, apoptosis,
      mitochondria, and gene expression.

PMID- 26881707
TI  - Fatty Acid-Mediated Inhibition of Metal Binding to the Multi-Metal Site on Serum
      Albumin: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Human serum albumin (HSA) is the major protein in blood plasma and is responsible
      for circulatory transport of a range of small molecules including fatty acids,
      metal ions and drugs. We previously identified the major plasma Zn2+ transport
      site on HSA and revealed that fatty-acid binding (at a distinct site called the
      FA2 site) and Zn2+ binding are interdependent via an allosteric mechanism. Since
      binding affinities of long-chain fatty acids exceed those of plasma Zn2+, this
      means that under certain circumstances the binding of fatty acid molecules to HSA
      is likely to diminish HSA Zn2+-binding, and hence affects the control of
      circulatory and cellular Zn2+ dynamics. This relationship between circulatory
      fatty acid and Zn2+ dynamics is likely to have important physiological and
      pathological implications, especially since it has been recognised that Zn2+ acts
      as a signalling agent in many cell types. Fatty acid levels in the blood are
      dynamic, but most importantly, chronic elevation of plasma fatty acid levels is
      associated with some metabolic disorders and disease states - including
      myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we
      briefly review the metal-binding properties of albumin and highlight the
      importance of their interplay with fatty acid binding. We also consider the
      impact of this dynamic link upon levels and speciation of plasma Zn2+, its effect
      upon cellular Zn2+ homeostasis and its relevance to cardiovascular and
      circulatory processes in health and disease.

PMID- 26881708
TI  - Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Metal Complexes as Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative
      Diseases.
AB  - Pathological aggregation of endogenous proteins is a common feature of many
      neurodegenerative diseases. This is generally accompanied by elevated levels of
      oxidative stress associated with transition metal dyshomeostasis. As such,
      strategies targeted toward rectifying metal imbalance are increasingly becoming
      an attractive therapeutic option. One class of compound showing such therapeutic
      potential are the bis(thiosemicarbazone) metal complexes. These are small, orally
      bioavailable compounds capable of crossing the blood brain barrier and capable of
      delivering bioavailable metal intracellularly. Members of this family of
      compounds have been shown to successfully treat animal models of several
      neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here we review the current evidence for the
      efficacy of bis(thiosemicarbazone) metal complexes in treating these diseases and
      discuss the implications for future development of these compounds.

PMID- 26881709
TI  - Scaffold Repurposing of Old Drugs Towards New Cancer Drug Discovery.
AB  - As commented by the Nobelist James Black that "The most fruitful basis of the
      discovery of a new drug is to start with an old drug", drug repurposing
      represents an attractive drug discovery strategy. Despite the success of several
      repurposed drugs on the market, the ultimate therapeutic potential of a large
      number of non-cancer drugs is hindered during their repositioning due to various
      issues including the limited efficacy and intellectual property. With the
      increasing knowledge about the pharmacological properties and newly identified
      targets, the scaffolds of the old drugs emerge as a great treasure-trove towards
      new cancer drug discovery. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in
      the development of novel small molecules for cancer therapy by scaffold
      repurposing with highlighted examples. The relevant strategies, advantages,
      challenges and future research directions associated with this approach are also
      discussed. 

PMID- 26881710
TI  - The Importance of Bioactivation in Computer-Guided Drug Repositioning. Why the
      Parent Drug is Not Always Enough.
AB  - Although bioactivation is a well-documented process and the role of active
      metabolites in the drug discovery field has long been recognized, drug
      metabolites are usually ignored in virtual screening campaigns oriented to drug
      repositioning. The present article discusses different issues related to
      overlooking of the active metabolites in virtual screening campaigns, including
      an overview of the essential aspects of drug biotransformation and a summary of
      computational approaches that can provide solutions to those issues. Some
      valuable computational resources connected with this topic are also overviewed. 

PMID- 26881711
TI  - Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Prevention.
AB  - Development of agents for cancer prevention has been particularly challenging for
      two main reasons. One is the inherent difficulty in identifying targets for the
      heterogeneous group of processes that lead to invasive cancer arising at
      different target organ sites, while the other is the need for safe, tolerable
      interventions that can be given for lengthy periods of time. The rapidly
      increasing understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of cancer is providing new
      opportunities for early intervention, prior to the development of invasive
      disease. Furthermore, there is an ever-increasing number of approved drugs with
      many different mechanisms of action. The appeal of using drugs with well
      described mechanisms of action and safety profiles has led to renewed interest in
      repurposing such agents for cancer prevention. Here we review the rationale and
      evidence of effectiveness of three agents that are the current focus of much
      interest in the field of cancer prevention - aspirin, metformin, and
      pioglitazone. 

PMID- 26881712
TI  - Revisiting Non-Cancer Drugs for Cancer Therapy.
AB  - Although tremendous effort has been made over the past century to treat cancer
      effectively, the pace of drug development is far behind the increasing rate of
      cancer incidence and mortality. There are two major hurdles in anticancer drug
      development: dose-limiting toxic side effects that reduce either drug
      effectiveness or the quality of life of patients and complicated drug development
      processes that are costly and time consuming. Drug repositioning has recently
      gained increasing attention among cancer researchers as this approach utilizes
      existing drugs and is significantly cost- and time-effective. Existing drugs,
      particularly non-cancer drugs, have favorable safety profiles in humans and serve
      as an ever-increasing source for new anticancer drug discovery. Here we review
      the recent examples of drug repositioning of existing non-cancer drugs for
      preclinical and clinical introductions of cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26881713
TI  - Neglected Tropical Protozoan Diseases: Drug Repositioning as a Rational Option.
AB  - Neglected tropical diseases represent a major sanitary problem and a huge
      economic burden to endemic countries, and are currently expanding to non-endemic
      countries owing to migration currents. Though long abandoned in the past, recent
      research on novel therapeutics has already started to show results. Drug
      repositioning is one of the prominent, more successful strategies to approach the
      development of new treatments for these diseases. Here we present an overview on
      the limitations of the current available medications to treat African
      trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, along with a review on drug
      candidates presently undergoing clinical trials and drug candidates identified
      through drug repositioning initiatives. 

PMID- 26881714
TI  - Irreversible LSD1 Inhibitors: Application of Tranylcypromine and Its Derivatives
      in Cancer Treatment.
AB  - Due to the increasing costs and time consuming for new drug discovery, a large
      number of pharmaceutical firms have chosen to modify the existing drug molecules
      for repositioning candidates with new or improved properties, especially those
      with severe adverse effects, thereby accelerating the drug discovery process.
      Such strategy has witnessed its success with several examples reported. As the
      first identified histone lysine specific demethylase, lysine specific demethylase
      1 (LSD1) is classified as a member of monoamine oxidase (MAO) superfamily, and
      specifically removes mono- and dimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) and H3
      lysine 9 (H3K9). It has been reported that LSD1 and its downstream targets are
      involved in cancer cell growth and metastasis. Meanwhile, it is overexpressed in
      a variety of tumor cells. Inactivating LSD1 specifically inhibits tumor
      progression and metastasis. Hence, LSD1 inhibition may represent a new and
      promising direction in anti-cancer drug discovery. Based on the structure and
      cofactor of LSD1, some clinical applied MAO inhibitors have been identified as
      LSD1 inactivators. Among them, tranylcypromine presented the most potency against
      LSD1 and its derivatives were further developed by medicinal chemists in order to
      develop potent and selective LSD1 inhibitors. Currently, a number of
      tranylcypromine based LSD1 inhibitors have been developed and two of them, ORY
      1001 and GSK2879552, are in clinical trials for cancer treatment. This review
      highlights recent advances in the repurposing of tranylcypromine and its
      derivatives as irreversible LSD1 inhibitors for cancer treatment, which are
      conventionally used for the treatment of depression. 

PMID- 26881715
TI  - An Insight into Drug Repositioning for the Development of Novel Anti-Cancer
      Drugs.
AB  - Increased investments and development of new technologies in drug discovery have
      barely improved the outcome of medicinal entities in the drug discovery market
      from a long time. Minimal success rates of drug approvals, poor safety profiles,
      and long development processes are some of many hurdles encountered in the drug
      discovery field. Therefore, drug repurposing can provide an alternative approach
      to meet the demands of the new, potent and safe anti-cancer agents in terms of
      both economic cost and time efficiency. The common molecular pathways of
      different diseases and secondary indications of most of the approved drugs, and
      advances in genomics, informatics and biology, as well as the availability of
      approved or safe drug libraries can certainly provide an improved and efficient
      way of screening safer drugs for new indications. Promising results of drug
      repurposing in different therapeutic areas have encouraged the scientific
      community to discover new drugs for different diseases using this methodology.
      Herein, we provide a general overview of structurally and functionally diverse
      approved drugs that have been repurposed as anti-cancer drugs. 

PMID- 26881716
TI  - The Repurposing of Old Drugs or Unsuccessful Lead Compounds by in Silico
      Approaches: New Advances and Perspectives.
AB  - Have you a compound in your lab, which was not successful against the designed
      target, or a drug that is no more attractive? The drug repurposing represents the
      right way to reconsider them. It can be defined as the modern and rationale
      approach of the traditional methods adopted in drug discovery, based on the
      knowledge, insight and luck, alias known as serendipity. This repurposing
      approach can be applied both in silico and in wet. In this review we report the
      molecular modeling facilities that can be of huge support in the repurposing of
      drugs and/or unsuccessful lead compounds. In the last decades, different methods
      were proposed to help the scientists in drug design and in drug repurposing. The
      steps strongly depend on the approach applied. It could be a ligand or a
      structure based method, correlated to the use of specific means. These processes,
      starting from a compound with potential therapeutic properties and a sizeable
      number of toxicity passed tests, can successfully speed up the very slow
      development of a molecule from bench to market. Herein, we discuss the facilities
      available to date, classifying them by methods and types. We have reported a
      series of databases, ligand and structure stand-alone software, and of web-based
      tools, which are free accessible to scientific community. This review does not
      claim to be exhaustive, but can be of interest to help in drug repurposing
      through in silico methods, as a valuable tool for the medicinal chemistry
      community. 

PMID- 26881717
TI  - Computational Drug Repositioning: A Lateral Approach to Traditional Drug
      Discovery?
AB  - Computational drug repositioning is popular in academia and pharmaceutical
      industry globally. The repositioning hypotheses, generated using a variety of
      computational methods, can be quickly tested experimentally. Several success
      stories have emerged in the past decade or so. Newer concepts and methods such as
      drug profile matching are being tried to address the limitations of current
      computational repositioning methods. The trend is shifting from earlier small
      scale to large-scale or global-scale repositioning applications. Other related
      approaches such as prediction of molecular targets for novel molecules,
      prediction of side-effect profiles of new molecular entities (NMEs), etc., are
      applied routinely. The current article focuses on state-of-the-art of
      computational drug repositioning field with the help of relevant examples and
      case studies. This 'lateral' approach has significant potential to bring down the
      time and cost of the awfully expensive drug discovery research and clinical
      development. The persistence and perseverance in the successful application of
      these methods is likely to be paid off in near future. 

PMID- 26881718
TI  - Reprofiling of Troglitazone Towards More Active and Less Toxic Derivatives: A New
      Hope for Cancer Treatment?
AB  - The existence of unresponsive tumors and the appearance of resistant tumors
      during the course of treatments both justify that we increase urgently the panel
      of pharmacological molecules able to fight cancer. An interesting strategy is
      drug reprofiling (also known as drug repositioning, drug repurposing or drug
      retasking) that consists of identifying and developing new uses for existing
      drugs. This review illustrates drug reprofiling with troglitazone (TGZ), a
      synthetic PPARgamma agonist initially used for the treatment of type II diabetes.
      The fact that TGZ also displays anticancer effects is known since the end of the
      nineties but its development as an anticancer agent was slowed down due to
      hepatotoxic side effects. Part of the knowledge available for TGZ, mainly the
      molecular basis for PPARgamma activation, its metabolization pathways and the
      side effects on hepatocytes, were taken into account to elaborate new molecules.
      Key findings were that unsaturated TGZ derivatives, when compared to TGZ, do not
      activate PPARgamma, exhibit a higher efficiency on cancer cells and a lower
      toxicity towards hepatocytes. However, a weakness is that the mechanisms involved
      in the anticancer effects are still not completely understood and that the
      efficiency of such derivatives has not yet been completely studied in vivo. Data
      about this point should become available very soon from animal models and this
      will be a prerequisite to initiate clinical trials with these potential new
      anticancer drugs developed from a drug repurposing strategy. 

PMID- 26881719
TI  - Repositioning of DHFR Inhibitors.
AB  - Development of new drugs is a time-consuming, hugely expensive and an uncertain
      endeavor. The pharmaceutical industry is looking for cost-effective alternatives
      with reduced risks of drug failure. Validated target machinery along with
      established inhibitors indicates usefulness in drug design, discovery and further
      development. Folate metabolism, found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes,
      represents an essential druggable target for chemotherapy. Numerous enzymes in
      the cell replication cycle use folate either as a cofactor or as a substrate.
      DHFR, an enzyme of the folate biosynthesis pathway is an established
      chemotherapeutic target, initially explored for anti-cancer drug discovery.
      Diaminopteridines e.g. methotrexate and aminopterin, primarily used as anti
      cancer agents, are folic acid analogues, first reported in late 1940's, used to
      produce temporary remission of acute leukaemia in children. However, due to the
      toxicity of these drugs, they could not be used for other therapeutic
      implications such as in the treatment of infectious diseases. Development of
      newer diaminopteridine derivatives has helped in repositioning their therapeutic
      usefulness. These analogues have now been proven as anti-parasitic, immuno
      suppressants, anti-bacterial agents, to enlist a few therapeutic applications.
      Likewise, diaminopyrimidine, diaminoquinazoline and diaminodihydrotriazines are
      being explored for structural modifications by which they can be repurposed from
      their originally developed medicinal applicability and exploited for various
      other infectious disease conditions. In this review, we encompass the study of
      DHFR inhibitors potentially to be repurposed for different infectious disease
      case scenario and also highlight the novel anti-infective drug discovery benefits
      therein. 

PMID- 26881720
TI  - Metformin - The Drug for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases; A New Use of a
      Known Anti-Diabetic Drug.
AB  - Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the production of autoantibodies
      directed against specific organs of own organism. Additional common traits of
      autoimmune diseases are chronic inflammation due to generation of inflammatory
      mediators, and disorders of redox processes. The pathogenesis of autoimmune
      diseases is still unknown. Treatment is based only on relieving the symptoms and
      improving the quality of patients lives. Metformin, which is used in treatment of
      type 2 diabetes, has properties which are desirable for autoimmune disease
      therapy, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and the ability to
      regenerate the endothelium. 

PMID- 26881721
TI  - Repositioning of Drugs in Cardiometabolic Disorders: Importance and Current
      Scenario.
AB  - Cardiometabolic disorder (CMD) is a cluster of diseases, including cardiovascular
      diseases (CVDs), metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes mellitus (DM).
      Cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs) remain the principal cause of death in both
      developed and developing countries, accounting for nearly 32% of all deaths
      worldwide per year. In addition, dyslipidemia, angina, arrhythmia, cardiac
      failure, myocardial infarction (MI), and diabetes mellitus represent the leading
      killer with an estimated 19 million people died from CMDs in 2012. By 2030 more
      than 23 million people will die annually from CVDs. Existing drugs are not
      efficient enough to reduce the disease burden as well as mortality. Therefore,
      there is an urgent demand for new drugs in this area to reduce the mortality and
      control the associated disability. Nonetheless, new drug discovery (NDD) in CMDs
      has become more challenging for last couple of decades due to increased expenses
      and decreased success rate. In such a scenario, drug repositioning in the CMDs
      appears promising for introducing existing drugs for new therapeutic indication.
      Repositioning is quite an old strategy dating back to 1960s and mainly followed
      by serendipitous observations during clinical use of drugs. A major advantage of
      repositioning is that the safety profile of the drug is well established thus
      reducing the chances of failure due to adverse toxic effects. In addition,
      repositioning requires less time and investment than NDD. Considering these
      facts, pharmaceutical companies are now becoming increasingly interested in drug
      repositioning. In this follow-up, we have talked about the concept of
      repositioning with important examples of repositioned drugs in cardiometabolic
      disorder. 

PMID- 26881722
TI  - The Role of Spin-Orbit Coupling in the Double-Ionization Photoelectron Spectra of
      XCN(2+) (X = Cl, Br, and I).
AB  - The photoelectron spectra of XCN(2+) (X = Cl, Br, and I) were calculated
      employing ab initio electronic structure methods with high-level electron
      correlation and explicit treatment of spin-orbit coupling. Twelve scalar
      relativistic excited states of the dicationic systems, calculated from state
      averaged CASSCF/MRCI calculations, were used as the electronic basis to evaluate
      spin-orbit eigenstates. While the spin-orbit effects in ClCN(2+) are found to be
      negligible, the electronic spectroscopy of BrCN(2+) and ICN(2+) is significantly
      influenced by interstate spin-orbit coupling. Several electronic degeneracies are
      lifted, and many unexpected accidental degeneracies occurred due to the spin
      orbit coupling. In particular, the spin-orbit interactions between X (3)Sigma(-)
      b (1)Sigma(+), A (3)Pi-c (1)Pi, B (3)Delta-a (1)Delta, and C (3)Sigma(+)-d
      (1)Sigma(-) are found to be strong in BrCN(2+) and ICN(2+). By careful analysis
      of the effect of spin-orbit coupling parameters and the spin-orbit eigenstate
      composition, an assignment of the hitherto unidentified experimental
      photoelectron bands of BrCN(2+) and ICN(2+) is presented. 

PMID- 26881723
TI  - Spin-State Versatility in a Series of Fe4 [2 * 2] Grid Complexes: Effects of
      Counteranions, Lattice Solvent, and Intramolecular Cooperativity.
AB  - The new compartmental proligand 4-bromo-3,5-bis{6-(2,2'-bipyridyl)}pyrazole
      (HL(Br)) was synthesized and shown to form robust [2 * 2] grid complexes
      [Fe(II)4L(Br)4]X4 with various counteranions (X(-) = PF6(-), ClO4(-), BF4(-), Br(
      )). The grid [Fe(II)4L(Br)4](4+) is stable in solution and features two high-spin
      (HS) and two low-spin (LS) ferrous ions in frozen MeCN, and its redox properties
      have been studied. Six all-ferrous compounds [Fe4L(Br)4]X4 with different
      counteranions and different lattice solvent (1a-f) were structurally
      characterized by X-ray diffraction, and their magnetic properties were
      investigated by Mossbauer spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry. Variations in spin
      state for the crystalline material range from the [4HS] via the [3HS-1LS] to the
      [2HS-2LS] forms, with some grids showing thermal spin crossover (SCO). The series
      of [Fe(II)4L(Br)4](4+) compounds allowed us to establish experimentally well
      grounded correlations between structural distortion of the {FeN6} coordination
      polyhedra, quantified by using continuous shape measures, and the grid's spin
      state pattern. These correlations evidenced pronounced cooperativity for the
      multistep SCO transitions within the grid, imparted by the strain effects of the
      rigid bridging ligands, and a high stability of the dimixed-spin configuration
      trans-[2HS-2LS] that has identical sites at opposite corners of the grid. The
      results are in good agreement with recent quantum chemical calculations for such
      molecular [2 * 2] grids featuring strongly elastically coupled vertices. 

PMID- 26881724
TI  - Trapping Methylglyoxal by Genistein and Its Metabolites in Mice.
AB  - Increasing evidence supports dicarbonyl stress such as methylglyoxal (MGO) as one
      of the major pathogenic links between hyperglycemia and diabetic complications.
      In vitro studies have shown that dietary flavonoids can inhibit the formation of
      advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by trapping MGO. However, whether
      flavonoids can trap MGO in vivo and whether biotransformation limits the trapping
      capacity of flavonoids remain virtually unknown. In this study, we investigated
      whether genistein (GEN), the major soy isoflavone, could trap MGO in mice by
      promoting the formation of MGO adducts of GEN and its metabolites. Two different
      mouse studies were conducted. In the acute study, a single dose of MGO and GEN
      were administered to mice via oral gavage. In the chronic study, MGO was given to
      mice in drinking water for 1 month and then GEN was given to mice for 4
      consecutive days via oral gavage. Two mono-MGO adducts of GEN and six mono-MGO
      adducts of GEN phase I and microbial metabolites were identified in mouse urine
      samples from these studies using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization
      tandem mass spectrometry. The structures of these MGO adducts were confirmed by
      analyzing their MS(n) (n = 1-4) spectra as well as by comparing them with the
      tandem mass spectra of authentic standards. All of the MGO adducts presented in
      their phase II conjugated forms in mouse urine samples in the acute and chronic
      studies. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo evidence to demonstrate the
      trapping efficacy of GEN in mice and to show that the metabolites of GEN remain
      bioactive. 

PMID- 26881725
TI  - An NMR Biochemical Assay for Fragment-Based Drug Discovery: Evaluation of an
      Inhibitor Activity on Spermidine Synthase of Trypanosoma cruzi.
AB  - Although NMR in fragment-based drug discovery is utilized almost exclusively to
      evaluate physical binding between molecules, it should be also a powerful tool
      for biochemical assay, evaluating inhibitory effect of compounds on enzymatic
      activity. Time-dependent spectral change in real-time monitoring or inhibitor
      concentration-dependent spectral change after constant-time reaction was
      processed by factor analysis, by which reaction rate or IC50 value was obtained.
      Applications to spermidine synthase of Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas
      disease, are described. 

PMID- 26881726
TI  - Probing Defects and Correlations in the Hydrogen-Bond Network of ab Initio Water.
AB  - The hydrogen-bond network of water is characterized by the presence of
      coordination defects relative to the ideal tetrahedral network of ice, whose
      fluctuations determine the static and time-dependent properties of the liquid.
      Because of topological constraints, such defects do not come alone but are highly
      correlated coming in a plethora of different pairs. Here we discuss in detail
      such correlations in the case of ab initio water models and show that they have
      interesting similarities to regular and defective solid phases of water. Although
      defect correlations involve deviations from idealized tetrahedrality, they can
      still be regarded as weaker hydrogen bonds that retain a high degree of
      directionality. We also investigate how the structure and population of
      coordination defects is affected by approximations to the interatomic potential,
      finding that, in most cases, the qualitative features of the hydrogen-bond
      network are remarkably robust. 

PMID- 26881727
TI  - Effects of soil management techniques on soil water erosion in apricot orchards.
AB  - Soil erosion is extreme in Mediterranean orchards due to management impact, high
      rainfall intensities, steep slopes and erodible parent material. Vall d'Albaida
      is a traditional fruit production area which, due to the Mediterranean climate
      and marly soils, produces sweet fruits. However, these highly productive soils
      are left bare under the prevailing land management and marly soils are vulnerable
      to soil water erosion when left bare. In this paper we study the impact of
      different agricultural land management strategies on soil properties (bulk
      density, soil organic matter, soil moisture), soil water erosion and runoff, by
      means of simulated rainfall experiments and soil analyses. Three representative
      land managements (tillage/herbicide/covered with vegetation) were selected, where
      20 paired plots (60 plots) were established to determine soil losses and runoff.
      The simulated rainfall was carried out at 55mmh(-1) in the summer of 2013 (<8%
      soil moisture) for one hour on 0.25m(2) circular plots. The results showed that
      vegetation cover, soil moisture and organic matter were significantly higher in
      covered plots than in tilled and herbicide treated plots. However, runoff
      coefficient, total runoff, sediment yield and soil erosion were significantly
      higher in herbicide treated plots compared to the others. Runoff sediment
      concentration was significantly higher in tilled plots. The lowest values were
      identified in covered plots. Overall, tillage, but especially herbicide
      treatment, decreased vegetation cover, soil moisture, soil organic matter, and
      increased bulk density, runoff coefficient, total runoff, sediment yield and soil
      erosion. Soil erosion was extremely high in herbicide plots with 0.91Mgha(-1)h(
      1) of soil lost; in the tilled fields erosion rates were lower with 0.51Mgha(
      1)h(-1). Covered soil showed an erosion rate of 0.02Mgha(-1)h(-1). These results
      showed that agricultural management influenced water and sediment dynamics and
      that tillage and herbicide treatment should be avoided. 

PMID- 26881728
TI  - Valuing the benefits of improved marine environmental quality under multiple
      stressors.
AB  - Many marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from multiple stressors. In
      the Baltic Sea, these stressors include oil and chemical spills from shipping,
      nutrient run-off from land and the introduction of non-indigenous species. All of
      these pressures have been growing over recent years. Increasing pressures lead to
      reductions in environmental quality, which produce negative effects on human well
      being. In this paper, the choice experiment method is used to estimate the
      benefits to people in Estonia resulting from reductions in pressure from multiple
      stressors in the Baltic Sea. The main results show that, firstly, respondents
      have a positive, statistically-significant willingness to pay to reduce each of
      the three stressors analysed. Secondly, the average willingness to pay for the
      improvement in the quality of all Estonian marine waters to achieve Good
      Environmental Status is around 65 euro per household per year, with a 95%
      confidence interval of 48-77 euro. Thirdly, the greatest share of value of this
      total economic benefit is derived from the willingness to pay for reductions in
      the risk of large scale oil and chemical spills. 

PMID- 26881729
TI  - Using spatially explicit indicators to investigate watershed characteristics and
      stream temperature relationships.
AB  - We generate a series of novel indicators of spatially explicit watershed
      permeability and runoff characteristics to examine the relationship between land
      cover and water temperature parameters in a rapidly urbanizing watershed. Our
      framework provides a readily adaptable method to examine the thermal sensitivity
      of streams based upon the underlying geomorphological and surface characteristics
      of drainage basins. Using four model groups each using a different landscape
      characteristic weighting scheme (Model Group 1: areal averages; Model Group 2:
      inverse distance by total flow length; Model Group 3: overland distance to stream
      network and distance squared; Model Group 4: proportional flow accumulation), we
      examined the predictive capacity of 19 variables, including combinations of
      simplified land cover, elevation, slope, and flow accumulation, on five stream
      thermal properties: seven day moving average of daily minimum and maximum,
      seasonal mean temperature, a novel metric of thermal 'flashiness', and total days
      with maximum temperature exceeding 17.8 degrees C. We find that the use of
      spatially explicit landscape indicators combining watershed processes improves
      the performance of regressions for predicting a number of ecologically relevant
      stream temperature variables. Improved indicators of watershed condition lend
      themselves for rapid investigation of the relationship between stream thermal
      conditions and landscape characteristics in watersheds modified by human land
      uses, ultimately providing a more hydrologically meaningful indicator for the
      impacts of landscape change. 

PMID- 26881730
TI  - Change in hydrophilicity of penicillins during advanced oxidation by
      radiolytically generated OH compromises the elimination of selective pressure on
      bacterial strains.
AB  - Advanced oxidation processes are promising technologies for removal of antibiotic
      residues from wastewater in terms of their high efficacy. However, recent studies
      have reported the remaining antibacterial activity of the products at early
      stages of treatment. The present study investigates the effect of such products
      of model beta-lactams (amoxicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin) on bacteria
      introducing structure-based, and biological approaches involving Gram-positive
      and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Chemical analysis revealed the destruction
      of the beta-lactam pharmacophore in competition with the reaction at the aromatic
      ring. Multisite attack occurs on the penicillin skeleton producing OH-substituted
      products. The enhanced hydrophilicity confers higher diffusion rate through the
      porin channels of Gram-negative bacteria and through the hydrophilic cell wall of
      Gram-positive species. Accordingly, an increase in acute toxicity of treated
      samples was observed at the beginning of the treatment. The same tendency was
      observed for target-specific antimicrobial activity investigated with antibiotic
      susceptibility testing (agar-diffusion, bacterial growth). Prolonged treatments
      yielded products, e.g. polyhydroxylated phenolic compounds, being also
      deleterious for bacteria. Therefore, the advanced oxidation process should be
      judiciously optimized. 

PMID- 26881732
TI  - Dynamic exchanges between DOM and POM pools in coastal and inland aquatic
      ecosystems: A review.
AB  - Dynamic exchanges between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulate organic
      matter (POM) plays a critical role in organic carbon cycling in coastal and
      inland aquatic ecosystems, interactions with aquatic organisms, mobility and
      bioavailability of pollutants, among many other ecological and geochemical
      phenomena. Although DOM-POM exchange processes have been widely studied from
      different aspects, little to no effort has been made to date to provide a
      comprehensive, mechanistic, and micro-spatial schema for understanding various
      exchange processes occurring in different aquatic ecosystems in a unified way.
      The phenomena occurring between DOM and POM were explained here with the
      homogeneous and heterogeneous mechanisms. In the homogeneous mechanism, the
      participating components are only organic matter (OM) constituents themselves
      with aggregation and dissolution involved, whereas OM is associated with other
      components such as minerals and particulate colloids in the heterogeneous
      counterpart. Besides the generally concerned processes of aggregation/dissolution
      and adsorption/desorption, other ecological factors such as sunlight and
      organisms can also participate in DOM-POM exchanges through altering the chemical
      nature of OM. Despite the limitation of current analytical technologies, many
      unknown and/or unquantified processes need to be identified to unravel the
      complicated exchanges of OM between its dissolved and particulate states. Based
      on the review of several previous mathematical models, we proposed a unified
      conceptual model to describe all major dynamic exchange mechanisms on the basis
      of exergy theory. More knowledge of dynamic DOM-POM exchanges is warranted to
      overcome the potential problems arising from a simple division of OM into
      dissolved versus particulate states and to further develop more sophisticated
      mathematic models. 

PMID- 26881731
TI  - Conservation of the Ethiopian church forests: Threats, opportunities and
      implications for their management.
AB  - In the central and northern highlands of Ethiopia, native forest and forest
      biodiversity is almost confined to sacred groves associated with churches. Local
      communities rely on these 'church forests' for essential ecosystem services
      including shade and fresh water but little is known about their region-wide
      distribution and conservation value. We (1) performed the first large-scale
      spatially-explicit assessment of church forests, combining remote-sensing and
      field data, to assess the number of forests, their size, shape, isolation and
      woody plant species composition, (2) determined their plant communities and
      related these to environmental variables and potential natural vegetation, (3)
      identified the main challenges to biodiversity conservation in view of plant
      population dynamics and anthropogenic disturbances, and (4) present guidelines
      for management and policy. The 394 forests identified in satellite images were on
      average ~2ha in size and generally separated by ~2km from the nearest neighboring
      forest. Shape complexity, not size, decreased from the northern to the central
      highlands. Overall, 148 indigenous tree, shrub and liana species were recorded
      across the 78 surveyed forests. Patch alpha-diversity increased with mean annual
      precipitation, but typically only 25 woody species occurred per patch. The
      combined results showed that >50% of tree species present in tropical northeast
      Africa were still present in the 78 studied church forests, even though
      individual forests were small and relatively species-poor. Tree species
      composition of church forests varied with elevation and precipitation, and
      resembled the potential natural vegetation. With a wide distribution over the
      landscape, these church forests have high conservation value. However, long-term
      conservation of biodiversity of individual patches and evolutionary potential of
      species may be threatened by isolation, small sizes of tree species populations
      and disturbance, especially when considering climate change. Forest management
      interventions are essential and should be supported by environmental education
      and other forms of public engagement. 

PMID- 26881733
TI  - Pathogens and fecal indicators in waste stabilization pond systems with direct
      reuse for irrigation: Fate and transport in water, soil and crops.
AB  - Wastewater use for irrigation is expanding globally, and information about the
      fate and transport of pathogens in wastewater systems is needed to complete
      microbial risk assessments and develop policies to protect public health. The
      lack of maintenance for wastewater treatment facilities in low-income areas and
      developing countries results in sludge accumulation and compromised performance
      over time, creating uncertainty about the contamination of soil and crops. The
      fate and transport of pathogens and fecal indicators was evaluated in waste
      stabilization ponds with direct reuse for irrigation, using two systems in
      Bolivia as case studies. Results were compared with models from the literature
      that have been recommended for design. The removal of Escherichia coli in both
      systems was adequately predicted by a previously-published dispersed flow model,
      despite more than 10years of sludge accumulation. However, a design equation for
      helminth egg removal overestimated the observed removal, suggesting that this
      equation may not be appropriate for systems with accumulated sludge. To assess
      the contamination of soil and crops, ratios were calculated of the pathogen and
      fecal indicator concentrations in soil or on crops to their respective
      concentrations in irrigation water (termed soil-water and crop-water ratios).
      Ratios were similar within each group of microorganisms but differed between
      microorganism groups, and were generally below 0.1mLg(-1) for coliphage, between
      1 and 100mLg(-1) for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and between 100 and 1000mLg(-1)
      for helminth eggs. This information can be used for microbial risk assessments to
      develop safe water reuse policies in support of the United Nations' 2030
      Sustainable Development Agenda. 

PMID- 26881734
TI  - Pridopidine for the treatment of Huntington's disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Huntington's disease is a rare dominantly-inherited
      neurodegenerative disease with motor, cognitive and behavioral manifestations. It
      results from an expanded unstable trinucleotide repeat in the coding region of
      the huntingtin gene. Treatment is symptomatic, but a poor evidence baseguides
      selection of therapeutic agents. Non-choreic derangements in voluntary movement
      contribute to overall motor disability and are poorly addressed by current
      therapies. Pridopidine is a novel agent in the dopidine class believed to have
      'state dependent' effects at dopamine receptors, thus show promise in the
      treatment of these disorders of voluntary movement. AREAS COVERED: This review
      discusses the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pridopidine and reviews
      clinical trials supporting development of the drug for HD. This information was
      culled from literature searches for dopidines, pridopidine, and HD experimental
      therapeutics in PubMed and at http://www.clinicaltrials.org . EXPERT OPINION:
      There is a compelling need to discover new treatments for motor disability in HD,
      particularly for non-choreic motor symptoms. While pridopidine failed to achieve
      its primary efficacy outcomes in 2 large trials, reproducible effects on
      secondary motor outcomes have fueled an ongoing trial studying higher doses and
      more focused clinical endpoints. This and phase III trials will define define the
      utility of pridopidine for HD.

PMID- 26881735
TI  - Ameliorative potential of fluoxetine/raloxifene combination on experimentally
      induced breast cancer.
AB  - Breast cancer is one of the most common types of malignancies in females
      worldwide. Targeting the estrogen receptors alone with raloxifene (RAL) reduces
      the incidence of estrogen receptor positive tumors. Fluoxetine (FLX) is one of
      selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that was proven to have anticancer
      properties. Our aim was to detect the effects of RAL/FLX combination on
      experimentally induced breast cancer. Eighty female Wistar rats were divided into
      four equal groups: 7,12-Dimethyl Benzanthracene (DMBA) induced breast cancer
      group, DMBA+RAL, DMBA+FLX and DMBA+RAL+FLX. Tumor volume, tissue malondialdehyde
      (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF
      beta1) were determined in the tumor tissues. Parts of the tumor were subjected to
      histopathological examination. RAL or FLX alone or in combination induced
      significant increase in tumor CAT and SOD with significant decrease in tumor
      volume, tissue MDA, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TGF-beta1 and alleviated the
      histopathological and immunohistochemical changes compared to DMBA group. In
      conclusion, RAL/FLX combination had a better effect than each of RAL or FLX alone
      against DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats which may represent a new therapeutic
      modality for management of breast cancer. 

PMID- 26881736
TI  - Ultrastructural study of the spermatozoon of Hemiurus appendiculatus (Digenea,
      Hemiuroidea, Hemiuridae), a parasite of Boops boops (Pisces, Teleostei, Sparidae)
      off Senegal.
AB  - The mature spermatozoon of Hemiurus appendiculatus exhibits the general pattern
      described in most of the digenean namely, two axonemes of the 9 + "1" pattern of
      the Trepaxonemata, a nucleus, a filiform mitochondrion, external ornamentations
      of the plasma membrane and parallel cortical microtubules located on one side of
      the spermatozoon. In this study, we show for the second time in a digenean
      spermatozoon the presence of microtubules of the second axoneme associated each
      in a short length with an external ornamentation, seven cortical microtubules, a
      terminal bulge in the anterior spermatozoon extremity separate from the remainder
      of the spermatozoon by a transverse constriction and the simultaneous presence of
      the external ornamentation of the plasma membrane with a filamentous
      ornamentation. The external ornamentations have a differentiated distribution,
      cover almost the anterior region of the spermatozoon, are more abundant around
      the first axoneme and extend backwards over a short distance around the second
      axoneme. This study also allowed us to reveal for the first time the existence in
      the Hemiuroidea of an axoneme that begins to disrupt before reaching the front
      end of the mitochondrion. 

PMID- 26881737
TI  - Determination of Protein Thiol Reduction Potential by Isotope Labeling and Intact
      Mass Measurement.
AB  - Oxidation/reduction of thiol residues in proteins is an important type of post
      translational modification that is implicated in regulating a range of biological
      processes. The nature of the modification makes it possible to define a
      quantifiable electrochemical potential (E(?)) for oxidation/reduction that allows
      cysteine-containing proteins to be ranked based on their propensity to be
      oxidized. Measuring oxidation of cysteine residues in proteins is difficult using
      standard electrochemical methods, but top-down mass spectrometry recently has
      been shown to enable the quantification of E(?) for thiol oxidations. In this
      paper, we demonstrate that mass spectrometry of intact proteins can be used in
      combination with an isotopic labeling strategy and an automated data analysis
      algorithm to measure E(?) for the thiols in both E. coli Thioredoxin 1 and human
      Thioredoxin 1. Our methodology relies on accurate mass measurement of proteins
      using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) analyses and does not
      necessarily require top-down fragmentation. In addition to analyzing homogeneous
      protein samples, we also demonstrate that our methodology can be used to
      determine thiol E(?) measurements in samples that contain mixtures of proteins.
      Thus, the combination of experimential methodology and data analysis regime has
      the potential to make such measurements in a high-throughput manner and in a
      manner that is more accessible to a broad community of protein scientists. 

PMID- 26881738
TI  - Bacterial diversity of floor drain biofilms and drain waters in a Listeria
      monocytogenes contaminated food processing environment.
AB  - Sanitation protocols are applied on a daily basis in food processing facilities
      to prevent the risk of cross-contamination with spoilage organisms. Floor drain
      water serves along with product-associated samples (slicer dust, brine or cheese
      smear) as an important hygiene indicator in monitoring Listeria monocytogenes in
      food processing facilities. Microbial communities of floor drains are
      representative for each processing area and are influenced to a large degree by
      food residues, liquid effluents and washing water. The microbial communities of
      drain water are steadily changing, whereas drain biofilms provide more stable
      niches. Bacterial communities of four floor drains were characterized using 16S
      rRNA gene pyrosequencing to better understand the composition and exchange of
      drain water and drain biofilm communities. Furthermore, the L. monocytogenes
      contamination status of each floor drain was determined by applying cultivation
      independent real-time PCR quantification and cultivation-dependent detection
      according to ISO11290-1. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes of drain water and
      drain biofilm bacterial communities yielded 50,611 reads, which were clustered
      into 641 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), affiliated to 16 phyla dominated by
      Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The most abundant OTUs represented
      either product- (Lactococcus lactis) or fermentation- and food spoilage
      associated phylotypes (Pseudomonas mucidolens, Pseudomonas fragi, Leuconostoc
      citreum, and Acetobacter tropicalis). The microbial communities in DW and DB
      samples were distinct in each sample type and throughout the whole processing
      plant, indicating the presence of indigenous specific microbial communities in
      each processing compartment. The microbiota of drain biofilms was largely
      different from the microbiota of the drain water. A sampling approach based on
      drain water alone may thus only provide reliable information on planktonic
      bacterial cells but might not allow conclusions on the bacterial composition of
      the microbiota in biofilms. 

PMID- 26881739
TI  - Genital Self-Image and Considerations of Elective Genital Surgery.
AB  - The present study explores how genital self-image may be related to
      considerations of surgically altering one's genitals and documents the wanted
      genital changes among young adults. Evidence of a nontrivial proportion of
      respondents (98 of 1,110) had seriously considered elective genital surgery.
      Regression models indicate that, for both men and women, identifying as
      heterosexual and reporting lower composite genital self-image scores results in
      higher odds of considering genital surgery. Additionally for men, feeling
      unsatisfied with penis size increased the odds. Clinical and educational efforts
      to normalize and celebrate genital variation may influence considerations for
      genital modification in young adults.

PMID- 26881740
TI  - Predicting human intestinal absorption of diverse chemicals using ensemble
      learning based QSAR modeling approaches.
AB  - Human intestinal absorption (HIA) of the drugs administered through the oral
      route constitutes an important criterion for the candidate molecules. The
      computational approach for predicting the HIA of molecules may potentiate the
      screening of new drugs. In this study, ensemble learning (EL) based qualitative
      and quantitative structure-activity relationship (SAR) models (gradient boosted
      tree, GBT and bagged decision tree, BDT) have been established for the binary
      classification and HIA prediction of the chemicals, using the selected molecular
      descriptors. The structural diversity of the chemicals and the nonlinear
      structure in the considered data were tested by the similarity index and Brock
      Dechert-Scheinkman statistics. The external predictive power of the developed SAR
      models was evaluated through the internal and external validation procedures
      recommended in the literature. All the statistical criteria parameters derived
      for the performance of the constructed SAR models were above their respective
      thresholds suggesting for their robustness for future applications. In complete
      data, the qualitative SAR models rendered classification accuracy of >99%, while
      the quantitative SAR models yielded correlation (R(2)) of >0.91 between the
      measured and predicted HIA values. The performances of the EL-based SAR models
      were also compared with the linear models (linear discriminant analysis, LDA and
      multiple linear regression, MLR). The GBT and BDT SAR models performed better
      than the LDA and MLR methods. A comparison of our models with the previously
      reported QSARs for HIA prediction suggested for their better performance. The
      results suggest for the appropriateness of the developed SAR models to reliably
      predict the HIA of structurally diverse chemicals and can serve as useful tools
      for the initial screening of the molecules in the drug development process. 

PMID- 26881741
TI  - MnO Conversion in Li-Ion Batteries: In Situ Studies and the Role of
      Mesostructuring.
AB  - Complex manganese oxides have been extensively studied as intercalation Li-ion
      battery electrodes. The simple oxide MnO has been proposed as a conversion anode
      material with a theoretical capacity of 756 mAh g(-1) for full reduction to the
      metal. We report the reaction of MnO with Li using in situ X-ray diffraction and
      find no sign of crystalline products upon either discharge or charge. However,
      the absence of reflections, paired with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,
      suggests disordered discharge products. We also examine composite electrodes with
      porous particles of MnO as the active component, with pores generated through the
      reductive heating of Mn3O4. We compare the behavior of these with more dense MnO
      powders, including studies of the electrode morphologies pre- and postcyling. We
      find differences in the first discharge relevant to the utility of such
      mesostructuring in conversion reaction materials. Specifically, we find this type
      of mesostructure, which gives advantage in intercalation and pseudocapacitive
      storage, does not yield the same benefits for conversion reaction systems. 

PMID- 26881742
TI  - Judgment and classification of emotion terms by older and younger adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Theoretical models of adult development suggest changes in emotion
      systems with age. This study determined how younger and older adults judged and
      classified 70 emotion terms that varied in valence and arousal, and that have
      been used in previous studies of adult aging and emotion. The terms were from the
      Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded (PANAS-X) and the (KS) affect
      scales. METHOD: Older (n = 32) and younger adults (n = 111) engaged in a card
      sort task which determined how the 70 emotion terms were classified (i.e.
      grouped) in relation to one another. Activation and valence ratings of emotion
      terms were collected. RESULTS: There were 17 age group differences in item
      ratings for activation and 19 for valence. Older adults tended to rate emotion
      terms and scales as more positive and activating than younger persons. Card sort
      data indicated similarity in conceptualizations of emotion terms across groups
      with exceptions for serene, sad, and lonely. CONCLUSIONS: Research that utilizes
      self-report emotion data from older and younger persons should consider how
      perceptions of emotion terms may vary systematically with age. The constructs of
      sadness, loneliness, and serene may be age-variant and necessitate age-based
      adjustments in assessment and intervention. Further, older adults may perceive
      some emotion terms to be more activating and positive than younger persons.

PMID- 26881743
TI  - Adaptive Control of Exoskeleton Robots for Periodic Assistive Behaviours Based on
      EMG Feedback Minimisation.
AB  - In this paper we propose an exoskeleton control method for adaptive learning of
      assistive joint torque profiles in periodic tasks. We use human muscle activity
      as feedback to adapt the assistive joint torque behaviour in a way that the
      muscle activity is minimised. The user can then relax while the exoskeleton takes
      over the task execution. If the task is altered and the existing assistive
      behaviour becomes inadequate, the exoskeleton gradually adapts to the new task
      execution so that the increased muscle activity caused by the new desired task
      can be reduced. The advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require
      biomechanical or dynamical models. Our proposed learning system uses Dynamical
      Movement Primitives (DMPs) as a trajectory generator and parameters of DMPs are
      modulated using Locally Weighted Regression. Then, the learning system is
      combined with adaptive oscillators that determine the phase and frequency of
      motion according to measured Electromyography (EMG) signals. We tested the method
      with real robot experiments where subjects wearing an elbow exoskeleton had to
      move an object of an unknown mass according to a predefined reference motion. We
      further evaluated the proposed approach on a whole-arm exoskeleton to show that
      it is able to adaptively derive assistive torques even for multiple-joint motion.

PMID- 26881744
TI  - Kinome Profiling of Regulatory T Cells: A Closer Look into a Complex
      Intracellular Network.
AB  - Regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential for T cell homeostasis and maintenance of
      peripheral tolerance. They prevent activation of auto-reactive T effector cells
      (Teff) in the context of autoimmunity and allergy. Otherwise, Treg also inhibit
      effective immune responses against tumors. Besides a number of Treg-associated
      molecules such as Foxp3, CTLA-4 or GARP, known to play critical roles in Treg
      differentiation, activation and function, the involvement of additional
      regulatory elements is suggested. Herein, kinase activities seem to play an
      important role in Treg fine tuning. Nevertheless, our knowledge regarding the
      complex intracellular signaling pathways controlling phenotype and function of
      Treg is still limited and based on single kinase cascades so far. To gain a more
      comprehensive insight into the pathways determining Treg function we performed
      kinome profiling using a phosphorylation-based kinome array in human Treg at
      different activation stages compared to Teff. Here we have determined intriguing
      quantitative differences in both populations. Resting and activated Treg showed
      an altered pattern of CD28-dependent kinases as well as of those involved in cell
      cycle progression. Additionally, significant up-regulation of distinct kinases
      such as EGFR or CK2 in activated Treg but not in Teff not only resemble data we
      obtained in previous studies in the murine system but also suggest that those
      specific molecular activation patterns can be used for definition of the
      activation and functional state of human Treg. Taken together, detailed
      investigation of kinome profiles opens the possibility to identify novel
      molecular mechanisms for a better understanding of Treg biology but also for
      development of effective immunotherapies against unwanted T cell responses in
      allergy, autoimmunity and cancer. 

PMID- 26881745
TI  - Interocular Difference of Peripheral Refraction in Anisomyopic Eyes of
      Schoolchildren.
AB  - PURPOSE: Refraction in the peripheral visual field is believed to play an
      important role in the development of myopia. The purpose of this study was to
      investigate the differences in peripheral refraction among anisomyopia,
      isomyopia, and isoemmetropia for schoolchildren. METHODS: Thirty-eight
      anisomyopic children were recruited and divided into two groups: (1) both eyes
      were myopic (anisomyopic group, AM group) and (2) one eye was myopic and the
      contralateral eye was emmetropic (emmetropic anisomyopic group, EAM group). As
      controls, 45 isomyopic and isoemmetropic children were also recruited with age
      and central spherical equivalent (SE) matched to those of the AM and EAM groups.
      The controls were divided into three groups: (1) intermediate myopia group (SE
      matched to the more myopic eye of AM group), (2) low myopia group (SE matched to
      the less myopic eye of AM group and the more myopic eye of EAM group), and (3)
      emmetropia group (SE matched to the less myopic eye of EAM group). Peripheral
      refraction at 7 points across the central +/-30 degrees  on the horizontal visual
      field with a 10 degrees  interval was measured with an autorefractor. Axial
      length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were also
      determined by using the Zeiss IOL-Master. RESULTS: The relative peripheral
      spherical equivalent [RPR(M)] and relative peripheral spherical value [RPR(S)] of
      the more myopic eye was shifted more hyperopically than the contralateral eye in
      both the AM and the EAM groups (both p<0.0001). The RPR(M, S) of the less myopic
      eyes in the AM and EAM groups showed a relatively flat trend across the visual
      field and were not significantly different from the emmetropia group. The RPR(M,
      S) of less myopic eyes in the AM group were shifted less hyperopically than in
      the isomyopic low myopia group and the more myopic eye of the EAM group [RPR(M),
      p = 0.007; RPR(S), p = 0.001], although the central SEs of the three groups were
      not significantly different from each other. However, RPR(M, S) of the more
      myopic eyes were not different from the corresponding isomyopic groups. There was
      also no significant difference in the relative peripheral astigmatism [RPR(J0,
      J45)] between the more and the less myopic eyes in either the AM or the EAM
      group. CONCLUSION: Refraction of anisomyopia differs between the two eyes not
      only at the central visual field but also at the off-axis periphery. The relative
      peripheral refraction of the more myopic eye of anisomyopia was shifted
      hyperopically, as occurs in isomyopia with similar central subjective SE values.
      Less myopic eyes were much less hyperopically shifted in relative peripheral
      refraction than the corresponding isomyopic eyes, but are comparable to
      emmetropic eyes. This emmetropia-like relative peripheral refraction in less
      myopic eyes might be a factor responsible for slowing down the progression of
      myopia.

PMID- 26881746
TI  - Hepatoprotective Effect and Synergism of Bisdemethoycurcumin against MCD Diet
      Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the
      metabolic syndrome, has become one of the most common causes of chronic liver
      disease over the last decade in developed countries. NAFLD includes a spectrum of
      pathological hepatic changes, such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, advanced
      fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) is polyphenolic compounds
      with a diarylheptanoid skeleton, curcumin close analogues, which is derived from
      the Curcumae Longae Rhizoma. While the rich bioavailability research of curcumin,
      BDMC is the poor studies. We investigated whether BDMC has the hepatoprotective
      effect and combinatory preventive effect with silymarin on methionine choline
      deficient (MCD)-diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL/6J mice. C57BL/6J mice were divided
      into five groups of normal (normal diet without any treatment), MCD diet (MCD
      diet only), MCD + silymarin (SIL) 100 mg/kg group, MCD + BDMC 100 mg/kg group,
      MCD + SIL 50 mg/kg + BDMC 50 mg/kg group. Body weight, liver weight, liver
      function tests, histological changes were assessed and quantitative real-time
      polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were conducted after 4 weeks.
      Mice lost body weight on the MCD-diet, but BDMC did not lose less than the MCD
      diet group. Liver weights decreased from BDMC, but they increased significantly
      in the MCD-diet groups. All liver function test values decreased from the MCD
      diet, whereas those from the BDMC increased significantly. The MCD- diet induced
      severe hepatic fatty accumulation, but the fatty change was reduced in the BDMC.
      The BDMC showed an inhibitory effect on liver lipogenesis by reducing associated
      gene expression caused by the MCD-diet. In all experiments, the combinations of
      BDMC with SIL had a synergistic effect against MCD-diet models. In conclusion,
      our findings indicate that BDMC has a potential suppressive effect on NAFLD.
      Therefore, our data suggest that BDMC may act as a novel and potent therapeutic
      agent against NAFLD. 

PMID- 26881747
TI  - Evaluating Functional Diversity: Missing Trait Data and the Importance of Species
      Abundance Structure and Data Transformation.
AB  - Functional diversity (FD) is an important component of biodiversity that
      quantifies the difference in functional traits between organisms. However, FD
      studies are often limited by the availability of trait data and FD indices are
      sensitive to data gaps. The distribution of species abundance and trait data, and
      its transformation, may further affect the accuracy of indices when data is
      incomplete. Using an existing approach, we simulated the effects of missing trait
      data by gradually removing data from a plant, an ant and a bird community dataset
      (12, 59, and 8 plots containing 62, 297 and 238 species respectively). We ranked
      plots by FD values calculated from full datasets and then from our increasingly
      incomplete datasets and compared the ranking between the original and virtually
      reduced datasets to assess the accuracy of FD indices when used on datasets with
      increasingly missing data. Finally, we tested the accuracy of FD indices with and
      without data transformation, and the effect of missing trait data per plot or per
      the whole pool of species. FD indices became less accurate as the amount of
      missing data increased, with the loss of accuracy depending on the index. But,
      where transformation improved the normality of the trait data, FD values from
      incomplete datasets were more accurate than before transformation. The
      distribution of data and its transformation are therefore as important as data
      completeness and can even mitigate the effect of missing data. Since the effect
      of missing trait values pool-wise or plot-wise depends on the data distribution,
      the method should be decided case by case. Data distribution and data
      transformation should be given more careful consideration when designing,
      analysing and interpreting FD studies, especially where trait data are missing.
      To this end, we provide the R package "traitor" to facilitate assessments of
      missing trait data. 

PMID- 26881748
TI  - Pifithrin-MU Attenuates Acute Sickness Response to Lipopolysaccharide in C57BL/6J
      Mice.
AB  - Sickness behavior is a coordinated set of behavioral changes that happen as a
      response to acute infectious pathogens. Its well-known benefit is to reorganize
      the organism's priorities to cope with infection, but the uncontrolled
      development of sickness behavior may trigger negative feelings or chronic
      depressive events. This study aims at investigating the potential effect of
      pifithrin-MU, an inhibitor of heat shock protein 70 substrate binding activity,
      on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness response. C57BL/6J mice were
      submitted to the forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), open
      field test (OFT) and light-dark box test. Food intake and body weight were also
      evaluated. The serum corticosterone level was measured using an ELISA kit.
      Treatment of mice with LPS (0.33 mg/kg, i.p.) markedly increased the floating and
      immobility time in the FST and TST, respectively, and depressed locomotor
      activity in the OFT. LPS administration prolonged the latency to first transition
      and reduced the total number of transitions in the light-dark box test. In
      addition, LPS induced anorexia and increased serum corticosterone levels.
      Pretreatment with pifithrin-MU (1 or 5 mg/kg) attenuated behavioral changes
      induced by LPS in the FST, TST, OFT and light-dark box test. Pifithrin-MU also
      prevented the formation of anorexia as well as the increase in serum
      corticosterone levels in LPS-treated mice. Our previous studies showed that
      pifithrin-MU prevents the production of pro-inflammatory factors in both
      microglia and macrophages. These findings presented here extend the role of
      pifithrin-MU beyond an anti-inflammatory molecule to a modulator of sickness
      behavior. 

PMID- 26881749
TI  - Analysing biodiversity and conservation knowledge products to support regional
      environmental assessments.
AB  - Two processes for regional environmental assessment are currently underway: the
      Global Environment Outlook (GEO) and Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity
      and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Both face constraints of data, time, capacity,
      and resources. To support these assessments, we disaggregate three global
      knowledge products according to their regions and subregions. These products are:
      The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Key Biodiversity Areas (specifically
      Important Bird &Biodiversity Areas [IBAs], and Alliance for Zero Extinction [AZE]
      sites), and Protected Planet. We present fourteen Data citations: numbers of
      species occurring and percentages threatened; numbers of endemics and percentages
      threatened; downscaled Red List Indices for mammals, birds, and amphibians;
      numbers, mean sizes, and percentage coverages of IBAs and AZE sites; percentage
      coverage of land and sea by protected areas; and trends in percentages of IBAs
      and AZE sites wholly covered by protected areas. These data will inform the
      regional/subregional assessment chapters on the status of biodiversity, drivers
      of its decline, and institutional responses, and greatly facilitate comparability
      and consistency between the different regional/subregional assessments. 

PMID- 26881750
TI  - Hydration: The New FIFA World Cup's Challenge for Referee Decision Making?
AB  - Various continental sporting events have exposed team sports referees to
      different environmental conditions. Several studies have focused on strategies to
      prevent athlete performance impairment induced by heat or warm (or both)
      conditions, but few authors have investigated the effect of heat on referees'
      performance. In a thermoneutral environment, referees' physical activity induced
      mild 2.0% dehydration, which was responsible for reductions in physical,
      psychomotor, and cognitive performances. Therefore, the hydration status of
      referees should be taken into account to reduce referees' errors and misjudgments
      in the heat. 

PMID- 26881751
TI  - The Health Care Consequences Of Australian Immigration Policies.

PMID- 26881752
TI  - Calcitriol Suppression of Parathyroid Hormone Fails to Improve Skeletal
      Properties in an Animal Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to complex metabolic changes and
      an increased risk of fracture. Currently, calcitriol is the standard of care as
      it effectively suppresses parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in CKD patients. While
      calcitriol and its analogs improve BMD and reduce fractures in the general
      population, the extension of these benefits to patients with advanced kidney
      disease is unclear. Here, the impact of calcitriol on the skeleton was examined
      in the setting of reduction in PTH. METHODS: Male Cy/+ rats, a PKD-like CKD
      model, were treated with either vehicle or calcitriol for 5 weeks. Their normal
      littermates served as controls. Animals were assessed for changes in mineral
      metabolism and skeletal parameters (microCT, histology, whole bone mechanics and
      bone quality). RESULTS: PTH levels were significantly higher (12-fold) in animals
      with CKD compared to normal controls. CKD animals also exhibited negative changes
      in bone structural and mechanical properties. Calcitriol treatment resulted in a
      60% suppression of PTH levels in animals with CKD. Despite these changes, it had
      no impact on bone volume (cortical or cancellous), bone turnover, osteoclast
      number or whole bone mechanical properties. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that
      while calcitriol effectively lowered PTH in rats with CKD, it did little to
      prevent the negative effects of secondary hyperparathyroidism on the skeleton.

PMID- 26881753
TI  - Assessing Discriminative Performance at External Validation of Clinical
      Prediction Models.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: External validation studies are essential to study the
      generalizability of prediction models. Recently a permutation test, focusing on
      discrimination as quantified by the c-statistic, was proposed to judge whether a
      prediction model is transportable to a new setting. We aimed to evaluate this
      test and compare it to previously proposed procedures to judge any changes in c
      statistic from development to external validation setting. METHODS: We compared
      the use of the permutation test to the use of benchmark values of the c-statistic
      following from a previously proposed framework to judge transportability of a
      prediction model. In a simulation study we developed a prediction model with
      logistic regression on a development set and validated them in the validation
      set. We concentrated on two scenarios: 1) the case-mix was more heterogeneous and
      predictor effects were weaker in the validation set compared to the development
      set, and 2) the case-mix was less heterogeneous in the validation set and
      predictor effects were identical in the validation and development set.
      Furthermore we illustrated the methods in a case study using 15 datasets of
      patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. RESULTS: The permutation test
      indicated that the validation and development set were homogenous in scenario 1
      (in almost all simulated samples) and heterogeneous in scenario 2 (in 17%-39% of
      simulated samples). Previously proposed benchmark values of the c-statistic and
      the standard deviation of the linear predictors correctly pointed at the more
      heterogeneous case-mix in scenario 1 and the less heterogeneous case-mix in
      scenario 2. CONCLUSION: The recently proposed permutation test may provide
      misleading results when externally validating prediction models in the presence
      of case-mix differences between the development and validation population. To
      correctly interpret the c-statistic found at external validation it is crucial to
      disentangle case-mix differences from incorrect regression coefficients.

PMID- 26881754
TI  - Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) Test Norms for Mandarin Chinese-Speaking Chinese
      Children.
AB  - The Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test is commonly used as a clinical visual
      verbal ocular motor assessment tool to screen and diagnose reading problems at
      the onset. No established norm exists for using the DEM test with Mandarin
      Chinese-speaking Chinese children. This study aims to establish the normative
      values of the DEM test for the Mandarin Chinese-speaking population in China; it
      also aims to compare the values with three other published norms for English-,
      Spanish-, and Cantonese-speaking Chinese children. A random stratified sampling
      method was used to recruit children from eight kindergartens and eight primary
      schools in the main urban and suburban areas of Nanjing. A total of 1,425
      Mandarin Chinese-speaking children aged 5 to 12 years took the DEM test in
      Mandarin Chinese. A digital recorder was used to record the process. All of the
      subjects completed a symptomatology survey, and their DEM scores were determined
      by a trained tester. The scores were computed using the formula in the DEM
      manual, except that the "vertical scores" were adjusted by taking the vertical
      errors into consideration. The results were compared with the three other
      published norms. In our subjects, a general decrease with age was observed for
      the four eye movement indexes: vertical score, adjusted horizontal score, ratio,
      and total error. For both the vertical and adjusted horizontal scores, the
      Mandarin Chinese-speaking children completed the tests much more quickly than the
      norms for English- and Spanish-speaking children. However, the same group
      completed the test slightly more slowly than the norms for Cantonese-speaking
      children. The differences in the means were significant (P<0.001) in all age
      groups. For several ages, the scores obtained in this study were significantly
      different from the reported scores of Cantonese-speaking Chinese children
      (P<0.005). Compared with English-speaking children, only the vertical score of
      the 6-year-old group, the vertical-horizontal time ratio of the 8-year-old group
      and the errors of 9-year-old group had no significant difference (P>0.05);
      compared with Spanish-speaking children, the scores were statistically
      significant (P<0.001) for the total error scores of the age groups, except the 6
      , 9-, 10-, and 11-year-old age groups (P>0.05). DEM norms may be affected by
      differences in language, cultural, and educational systems among various
      ethnicities. The norms of the DEM test are proposed for use with Mandarin Chinese
      speaking children in Nanjing and will be proposed for children throughout China. 

PMID- 26881756
TI  - Multidimensional Approach to Adequacy of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute
      Kidney Injury.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently observed among hospitalized and critical
      care patients. In the absence of any effective therapies aiming to actively
      restore kidney function, AKI is usually managed through acute renal replacement
      therapy (ARRT). 'Optimization' of ARRT may reduce the mortality of patients with
      AKI. Although several studies have tried to identify the most adequate approach
      to ARRT in terms of dose, treatment modality and all other important dimensions,
      the literature has provided controversial results. Nowadays, adequate ARRT still
      appears difficult to dose, prescribe, deliver and monitor among different
      critical care patients. The identification of the major elements involved for a
      multidimensional approach to adequacy of ARRT in patients with AKI should
      consider the patient, the applied technology and the environment. All these
      aspects should be carefully evaluated and adequately applied in clinical practice
      through a patient-oriented approach. Adequacy of ARRT imposes the concomitant
      consideration of more complex issues, such as the timing, modality and technique
      of ARRT delivery; anticoagulation and substitution fluid choice; membrane
      selection; monitor accuracy; the role of fluid overload; and other patient
      comorbidities. The capacity of clinicians to consider all these aspects through a
      multidimensional approach, adapting the different dimensions of ARRT to actual
      patients' needs, might be the fundamental missing element in the pathway toward
      significant outcome improvements among critically ill patients with AKI. This
      narrative review provides a systematic approach to the major dimensions of ARRT
      and their multidimensional rationalization for adequate treatment prescription,
      monitoring and evaluation. 

PMID- 26881755
TI  - Effect of Serum Cholesterol on Insulin Secretory Capacity: Shimane CoHRE Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Previous studies indicate that, in addition to the blood glucose
      level, the lipid level in the blood may affect functions of pancreatic beta
      cells. In this study, we aimed to examine whether there was a relationship
      between the serum level of total cholesterol (TC) and the insulin secretory
      capacity in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In participants of health
      examinations conducted from 2006 to 2010, we analyzed data from a total of 2,499
      subjects (1,057 men and 1,442 women) after exclusion of individuals with
      dyslipidemia, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, HbA1c>=6.5%, or fasting blood
      glucose>=126 mg/dL. Homeostasis model assessment for beta cell function (HOMA
      beta) was utilized as a model representing the pancreatic beta cell function.
      RESULTS: Although the serum TC level had a positive correlation with HOMA-beta in
      a univariate correlation analysis, after adjustment by confounding factors in a
      multiple regression analysis, HOMA-beta had a negative correlation with TC. This
      was further confirmed in a multiple logistic regression analysis, showing that
      higher TC was an independent risk factor for decreased insulin secretory capacity
      (defined as HOMA-beta<=30%) together with higher age, lower BMI, lower TG, male
      sex and regular alcohol intake. After the participants were stratified by BMI
      into three groups, the effect of TC on HOMA-beta increased along with the
      increase in BMI, and it was highly significant in the highest tertile.
      CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study indicated that increased serum TC level
      might be related to the decrease of insulin secretory capacity in aged healthy
      population and that reduction of TC is more necessary in obese subjects to
      prevent diabetes.

PMID- 26881757
TI  - Autofluorescence spectroscopy in the differentiation of laryngeal epithelial
      lesions - preliminary results.
AB  - Conclusions Autofluorescence spectroscopy may be a supporting tool for
      differential diagnosis of changes in laryngeal epithelium. Objectives Early
      detection and differential diagnosis of proliferative changes in the larynx are
      still a challenge for laryngologists. The aim of the study was to evaluate the
      autofluorescence spectroscopy technique to in vitro differential diagnosis of
      pathological changes in the epithelium of the larynx. Methods Forty-two patients
      aged 34-79 years were included in the study. The fifty-two tissue specimens,
      including 10 samples of cancerous lesion, 10 adjacent normal tissue, 10 chronic
      inflammation, eight cyst, three leukoplakia, four polyp, and seven Reinke's
      edema, were obtained during laryngological procedures. All tissue samples were
      independently diagnosed histopathologically. The autofluorescence emission
      spectra at two excitation wavelengths, 290 nm and 370 nm, were measured for every
      sample studied. Results The autofluorescence signals of cancerous tissue samples
      at both excitations exhibited identical emission band shapes of much lower
      intensities at their maxima as compared to the adjacent healthy tissue samples
      studied. The autofluorescence spectra intensities of cancerous and normal tissues
      varied inter-individually. Evident differences in autofluorescence intensities
      and its band shapes of different pathological laryngeal changes at the 290 nm
      excitations were demonstrated. 

PMID- 26881762
TI  - RNA conformation: Lightening up invisible states.

PMID- 26881763
TI  - Translation: Ribosomes make sweeping arrests.

PMID- 26881765
TI  - Sickness absence and mental health: evidence from a nationally representative
      longitudinal survey.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have consistently reported evidence of large
      significant associations between measures of psychological health and sickness
      absence. Some of this association, however, may be confounded by relevant
      covariates that have not been controlled. By using data with repeated
      observations from the same individuals, this study aimed to quantify the bias due
      to unobserved characteristics that are time invariant. METHODS: Longitudinal data
      from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey were
      used to estimate negative binomial regression models of the number of annual paid
      sickness absence days. Observations spanning the period 2005-2012, and covering
      all employed persons aged 15-64 years, were used (56 348 observations from 13 622
      individuals). RESULTS: Significant associations between the number of paid
      sickness absence days taken each year and scores on the mental health subscale of
      the SF-36 (MHI-5) were found. Inclusion of correlated random effects (which
      effectively control for unobserved person-specific factors that do not vary over
      time), however, resulted in a marked decline in the magnitude of this
      association. For persons with severe depressive symptoms (MHI-5 <=52), the
      estimated incidence rate ratios were in the range 1.13-1.14 for men and 1.10-1.12
      for women. CONCLUSIONS: Poor mental health is a risk factor affecting work
      attendance, but the magnitude of this effect, at least in a country where the
      rate of sickness absence is relatively low, is modest.

PMID- 26881766
TI  - What Do You Mean by Medical Home?

PMID- 26881764
TI  - Development and application of bond cleavage reactions in bioorthogonal
      chemistry.
AB  - Bioorthogonal chemical reactions are a thriving area of chemical research in
      recent years as an unprecedented technique to dissect native biological processes
      through chemistry-enabled strategies. However, current concepts of bioorthogonal
      chemistry have largely centered on 'bond formation' reactions between two
      mutually reactive bioorthogonal handles. Recently, in a reverse strategy, a
      collection of 'bond cleavage' reactions has emerged with excellent
      biocompatibility. These reactions have expanded our bioorthogonal chemistry
      repertoire, enabling an array of exciting new biological applications that range
      from the chemically controlled spatial and temporal activation of intracellular
      proteins and small-molecule drugs to the direct manipulation of intact cells
      under physiological conditions. Here we highlight the development and
      applications of these bioorthogonal cleavage reactions. Furthermore, we lay out
      challenges and propose future directions along this appealing avenue of research.

PMID- 26881767
TI  - The Changing Drug Culture: Foreword.

PMID- 26881768
TI  - The Changing Drug Culture: Medical and Recreational Marijuana.
AB  - The major psychoactive compounds in marijuana (cannabis) are cannabinoids, the
      most significant of which is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. There are also two
      synthetic pharmaceutical cannabinoids, nabilone and dronabinol, available by
      prescription in the United States. The use of marijuana has increased in the
      United States with passage of medical marijuana laws in many states and
      legalization of recreational marijuana use in several states. In addition, the
      potency of marijuana has increased in recent years. Marijuana has been used for a
      variety of medical purposes, including management of nausea and vomiting,
      appetite and immunologic stimulation in patients with HIV infection and AIDS,
      glaucoma, neurologic disorders, and pain relief. Studies on the benefits of
      marijuana as a treatment for various conditions have been inconsistent, except
      for those on pain management. Marijuana has adverse effects, and has been
      associated with driving impairment, psychosis, dependence and withdrawal
      syndromes, hyperemesis, acute cardiac events, some cancers, and impaired lung
      function. As with studies on the benefits of marijuana, studies of adverse
      effects have yielded inconsistent results. Except for impaired driving and the
      occurrence of dependence and withdrawal syndromes, the adverse effects of
      marijuana use have not been fully studied. 

PMID- 26881769
TI  - The Changing Drug Culture: Emerging Drugs of Abuse and Legal Highs.
AB  - In recent years, there has been a large increase in the number of synthetic drugs
      used recreationally. One class of drugs is synthetic cannabinoids, which are
      sprayed onto herbal preparations and marketed under names such as K2 and spice.
      Others include amphetaminelike compounds, such as cathinones (eg, bath salts) and
      methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (eg, ecstasy, Molly). New hallucinogens,
      such as Bromo-Dragonfly, and hallucinogens that have been used for centuries,
      such as Salvia divinorum, also are gaining popularity. Because these substances
      are sold labeled as not for human consumption and because the chemicals in them
      frequently change, they often are unregulated, and many users consider them
      legal, although they are not. Their use often goes undetected because testing for
      them is not included in routine drug screening. Nonetheless, these substances can
      be associated with significant toxicities, often because their concentrations are
      unpredictable. Adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids include psychosis and
      other effects. Amphetaminelike drugs have stimulant effects and can cause
      hyponatremia and seizures. The new hallucinogens can cause serious
      vasoconstriction with ischemia. Clinicians, especially those working with
      adolescents and young adults (ie, the main users of these drugs), should be aware
      of these new substances and counsel patients about their adverse effects. 

PMID- 26881770
TI  - The Changing Drug Culture: Use and Misuse of Cognition-Enhancing Drugs.
AB  - There has been an increase in diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity
      disorder (ADHD), with approximately 9% of American children now diagnosed, and a
      concomitant increase in the use of stimulants (eg, amphetamines, methylphenidate)
      to manage ADHD. Nonstimulant drugs (eg, atomoxetine, guanfacine, clonidine) also
      are used, but most patients are treated with stimulants. All of these drugs are
      effective for management of ADHD, and, overall, use in childhood does not seem to
      increase the risk of substance abuse later in life. However, widespread use has
      resulted in prescription stimulants being diverted for nonmedical uses,
      particularly by high school and college students seeking cognitive enhancement
      for improved academic performance. Studies of ADHD drugs for improving cognition
      in patients without ADHD have mixed results, and any improvements appear to be
      modest and short-term. Other substances also are used for cognitive enhancement.
      Drugs for Alzheimer disease are being used for mild cognitive impairment, though
      there is no evidence that they are effective. Creatine may have mild cognition
      enhancing properties, but study results often are confounded by the addition of
      exercise, which by itself is thought to improve cognition. There is no evidence
      that other supplements, such as vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, improve
      cognitive function. 

PMID- 26881771
TI  - The Changing Drug Culture: Use and Misuse of Appearance- and Performance
      Enhancing Drugs.
AB  - Awareness of the prevalence of the use of appearance- and performance-enhancing
      drugs (APEDs) is increasing. Users range from professional athletes and
      bodybuilders to amateurs and adolescents. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) are
      the most widely used APEDs, typically for purposes of building muscle mass, in
      forms that include pills, injections, topical preparations, and transdermal
      systems. AASs are often used in combination with augmenting drugs taken to
      enhance androgen production and, for men, to decrease estrogen production. These
      include aromatase inhibitors, clomiphene, selective estrogen receptor modulators,
      and human chorionic gonadotropin. Other drugs used with the intention of
      improving athletic performance include human growth hormone, insulinlike growth
      factor 1, insulin, erythropoietin, stimulants, diuretics, levothyroxine, and
      gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Use of APEDs is increasing, with up to 5% of male and 2%
      of female college athletes using AASs and reports of a more than 20% usage rate
      among teenagers. Although many of these substances can increase muscle mass when
      combined with high levels of exercise and specific diets, it is not clear that
      they improve athletic performance. Furthermore, they are associated with a
      variety of serious adverse effects. AASs, in particular, can cause hepatotoxicity
      and acute cardiac events. Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms also can occur. 

PMID- 26881772
TI  - Early social isolation increases persistence of alcohol-seeking behavior in
      alcohol-related contexts.
AB  - Social conditions during rearing are well known to affect adult alcohol
      consumption, but few experiments have explored the effects of social conditions
      on behaviors that are related to alcohol dependence, such as the persistence of
      alcohol seeking. This study compared the effects of isolation (ISO) and
      interaction (INT) rearing on the persistence of alcohol-seeking behavior. Rats
      were trained to lever press for a solution of 10% alcohol diluted in water. They
      were then exposed to a two-component multiple schedule of reinforcement
      (baseline). Responses in one component were reinforced by a higher rate of
      alcohol delivery (rich component, variable interval 15 s) and responses in the
      other component were reinforced by a lower rate of delivery (lean component,
      variable interval 45 s). The persistence of lever pressing in the presence of
      each stimulus was then assessed during extinction. The results from baseline
      showed that response rates in rats in both groups were higher in the rich
      component than in the lean component, but ISO rats responded significantly more
      than INT rats in both components. The persistence of responding during extinction
      in ISO rats in both components was also higher than that in INT rats. The results
      show that effects of ISO are not restricted to alcohol consumption, but also
      affect persistence of alcohol-seeking behavior, which may reflect differences in
      the value of drug-related stimuli. 

PMID- 26881773
TI  - Caregivers' Attitudes towards HIV Testing and Disclosure of HIV Status to At-Risk
      Children in Rural Uganda.
AB  - Caregivers of HIV-positive children were interviewed in the Mbarara and Isingiro
      districts of Uganda to identify current trends in practices related to HIV
      testing and the disclosure of HIV status to the child. A total of 28 caregivers
      of at least one HIV-positive child participated in semi-structured interviews
      exploring when and why they tested the child for HIV, when the child was informed
      of their positive status, and what the caregiver did to prepare themselves and
      the child for status disclosure. For a majority (96%) of respondents, the
      decision to test the child for HIV was due to existing illness in either the
      child or a relative. Other common themes identified included the existence of
      stigma in the caregivers' communities and doubt that the children truly
      understood what was being explained to them when their status was disclosed. Most
      (65%) children were informed of their HIV status between the ages of 5 and 9,
      with the mean age of disclosure occurring at the age of 7. General provision of
      HIV information typically began at the same age as disclosure, and as many as two
      thirds (64%) of the caregivers sought advice from an HIV counsellor prior to
      disclosure. How a caregiver chose to prepare themselves and the child did not
      affect the caregiver's perception of whether the disclosure experience was
      beneficial or not. These findings suggest that the HIV disclosure experience in
      Mbarara and Isingiro districts differs from current guidelines, especially with
      respect to age of disclosure, how caregivers prepare themselves and the child,
      and approaching disclosure as an ongoing process. The doubts expressed by
      caregivers regarding the child's level of HIV understanding following the
      disclosure experience suggest the children may be insufficiently prepared at the
      time of the initial disclosure event. The findings also suggest that examining
      the content of pre-disclosure counselling and HIV education, and how health care
      professionals are trained to facilitate the disclosure process as important
      avenues for further research. 

PMID- 26881774
TI  - Clark's Nutcracker Breeding Season Space Use and Foraging Behavior.
AB  - Considering the entire life history of a species is fundamental to developing
      effective conservation strategies. Decreasing populations of five-needle white
      pines may be leading to the decline of Clark's nutcrackers (Nucifraga
      columbiana). These birds are important seed dispersers for at least ten conifer
      species in the western U.S., including whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), an
      obligate mutualist of Clark's nutcrackers. For effective conservation of both
      Clark's nutcrackers and whitebark pine, it is essential to ensure stability of
      Clark's nutcracker populations. My objectives were to examine Clark's nutcracker
      breeding season home range size, territoriality, habitat selection, and foraging
      behavior in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a region where whitebark
      pine is declining. I radio-tracked Clark's nutcrackers in 2011, a population-wide
      nonbreeding year following a low whitebark pine cone crop, and 2012, a breeding
      year following a high cone crop. Results suggest Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
      menziesii) communities are important habitat for Clark's nutcrackers because they
      selected it for home ranges. In contrast, they did not select whitebark pine
      habitat. However, Clark's nutcrackers did adjust their use of whitebark pine
      habitat between years, suggesting that, in some springs, whitebark pine habitat
      may be used more than previously expected. Newly extracted Douglas-fir seeds were
      an important food source both years. On the other hand, cached seeds made up a
      relatively lower proportion of the diet in 2011, suggesting cached seeds are not
      a reliable spring food source. Land managers focus on restoring whitebark pine
      habitat with the assumption that Clark's nutcrackers will be available to
      continue seed dispersal. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Clark's nutcracker
      populations may be more likely to be retained year-round when whitebark pine
      restoration efforts are located adjacent to Douglas-fir habitat. By
      extrapolation, whitebark pine restoration efforts in other regions may consider
      prioritizing restoration of whitebark pine stands near alternative seed sources. 

PMID- 26881776
TI  - Understanding the Activity of Antibiotics in Cerebrospinal Fluid in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In vitro studies suggest that antimicrobial activity of antibiotics
      meant to treat central nervous system infections such as meningitis or
      ventriculitis may be altered by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This could explain the
      reason behind the often observed discrepancies between the activity of
      antibiotics determined in artificial growth media in vitro, and their sometimes
      reduced clinical efficacy in CSF in vivo. If conducted in CSF, in vitro
      microbiological investigations might predict the ability of antibiotic drugs to
      treat CSF infections better than experiments in artificial growth media. In
      addition, they are less expensive, critical and time consuming than animal
      studies, and might potentially be appreciated in drug development as a rapid and
      cost-effective means to gain valuable information on drugs meant to treat
      infections residing in CSF. SUMMARY: Data from microbiological in vitro
      experiments performed in CSF were compiled for fosfomycin, rifampicin, cefepime,
      cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and vancomycin. Where
      possible, correlations between in vitro data and evidence from in vivo studies
      were established. KEY MESSAGES: As discussed in the text, no clear correlations
      between in vitro studies in CSF and clinical outcomes could be identified.
      Methodological recommendations derived from the collected studies are summarized
      in order to optimize future research on the topic.

PMID- 26881775
TI  - CD10-Equipped Melanoma Cells Acquire Highly Potent Tumorigenic Activity: A
      Plausible Explanation of Their Significance for a Poor Prognosis.
AB  - CD10 has been widely used in cancer diagnosis. We previously demonstrated that
      its expression in melanoma increased with tumor progression and predicted poor
      patient survival. However, the mechanism by which CD10 promotes melanoma
      progression remains unclear. In order to elucidate the role of CD10 in melanoma,
      we established CD10-overexpressing A375 melanoma cells and performed DNA
      microarray and qRT-PCR analyses to identify changes in the gene expression
      profile. The microarray analysis revealed that up-regulated genes in CD10-A375
      were mostly involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and resistance to
      apoptosis; down-regulated genes mostly belonged to the categories associated with
      cell adhesion and migration. Accordingly, in functional experiments, CD10-A375
      showed significantly greater cell proliferation in vitro and higher
      tumorigenicity in vivo; CD10 enzymatic inhibitors, thiorphan and phosphoramidon,
      significantly blocked the tumor growth of CD10-A375 in mice. In migration and
      invasion assays, CD10-A375 displayed lower migratory and invasive capacity than
      mock-A375. CD10 augmented melanoma cell resistance to apoptosis mediated by
      etoposide and gemcitabine. These findings indicate that CD10 may promote tumor
      progression by regulating the expression profiles of genes related to cell
      proliferation, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis. 

PMID- 26881777
TI  - Prediction of the intramembranous tissue formation during perisprosthetic healing
      with uncertainties. Part 1. Effect of the variability of each biochemical factor.
AB  - A stochastic model is proposed to predict the intramembranous process in
      periprosthetic healing in the early post-operative period. The methodology was
      validated by a canine experimental model. In this first part, the effects of each
      individual uncertain biochemical factor on the bone-implant healing are examined,
      including the coefficient of osteoid synthesis, the coefficients of haptotactic
      and chemotactic migration of osteoblastic population and the radius of the drill
      hole. A multi-phase reactive model solved by an explicit finite difference scheme
      is combined with the polynomial chaos expansion to solve the stochastic system.
      In the second part, combined biochemical factors are considered to study a real
      configuration of clinical acts. 

PMID- 26881780
TI  - Edging closer towards the goal of a dengue vaccine.

PMID- 26881778
TI  - Microenvironmental Heterogeneity Parallels Breast Cancer Progression: A Histology
      Genomic Integration Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The intra-tumor diversity of cancer cells is under intense
      investigation; however, little is known about the heterogeneity of the tumor
      microenvironment that is key to cancer progression and evolution. We aimed to
      assess the degree of microenvironmental heterogeneity in breast cancer and
      correlate this with genomic and clinical parameters. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We
      developed a quantitative measure of microenvironmental heterogeneity along three
      spatial dimensions (3-D) in solid tumors, termed the tumor ecosystem diversity
      index (EDI), using fully automated histology image analysis coupled with
      statistical measures commonly used in ecology. This measure was compared with
      disease-specific survival, key mutations, genome-wide copy number, and expression
      profiling data in a retrospective study of 510 breast cancer patients as a test
      set and 516 breast cancer patients as an independent validation set. In high
      grade (grade 3) breast cancers, we uncovered a striking link between high
      microenvironmental heterogeneity measured by EDI and a poor prognosis that cannot
      be explained by tumor size, genomics, or any other data types. However, this
      association was not observed in low-grade (grade 1 and 2) breast cancers. The
      prognostic value of EDI was superior to known prognostic factors and was enhanced
      with the addition of TP53 mutation status (multivariate analysis test set, p = 9
      * 10-4, hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% CI 1.17-1.84; validation set, p = 0.0011, hazard
      ratio = 1.78, 95% CI 1.26-2.52). Integration with genome-wide profiling data
      identified losses of specific genes on 4p14 and 5q13 that were enriched in grade
      3 tumors with high microenvironmental diversity that also substratified patients
      into poor prognostic groups. Limitations of this study include the number of cell
      types included in the model, that EDI has prognostic value only in grade 3
      tumors, and that our spatial heterogeneity measure was dependent on spatial scale
      and tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to couple
      unbiased measures of microenvironmental heterogeneity with genomic alterations to
      predict breast cancer clinical outcome. We propose a clinically relevant role of
      microenvironmental heterogeneity for advanced breast tumors, and highlight that
      ecological statistics can be translated into medical advances for identifying a
      new type of biomarker and, furthermore, for understanding the synergistic
      interplay of microenvironmental heterogeneity with genomic alterations in cancer
      cells.

PMID- 26881779
TI  - Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Tandem Occlusions: Large
      Multicenter Series and Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ischemic strokes due to tandem occlusions (TOs) have poor outcomes if
      they have been treated with only medical interventions. Recent trials
      demonstrated the effectiveness of endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke
      due to intracranial occlusions; however, most studies excluded patients with TOs.
      METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively collected thrombectomy databases
      from 3 stroke centers between 2011 and 2015. Consecutive patients with tandem
      extracranial steno-occlusive carotid disease and intracranial occlusions who
      underwent emergent thrombectomy were selected. Angiographic and clinical outcomes
      were analyzed; baseline and procedural variables were included in univariate and
      multivariate analyses to define the independent predictors of good outcomes (90
      day modified Rankin Scale <=2). RESULTS: A total of 100 patients met the study
      inclusion criteria. The mean age was 64.4 +/- 12.5, baseline National Institutes
      of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 17.6 +/- 5.0, time from last known well to
      puncture 7.3 +/- 5.8 h, and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) 7.5
      +/- 1.6. Forty percent received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.
      Intracranial occlusion sites included: internal carotid artery thrombus, 31%;
      middle cerebral artery (MCA)-M1, 53%; MCA-M2, 10%; and anterior cerebral artery,
      6%. Good outcome was achieved in 42% and successful reperfusion modified
      thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI >=2B) in 88% of the cases, including
      complete (mTICI 3) reperfusion in 40%. Severe parenchymal hematoma (PH)-2
      occurred in 6% of the patients and 90-day mortality was 20%. In the multivariate
      analysis, younger age (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88-0.98; p = 0.004), lower baseline
      NIHSS (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.94; p = 0.003), higher ASPECTS (OR 1.50; 95% CI
      1.02-2.19; p = 0.038), and mTICI 3 reperfusion (OR 3.56; 95% CI 1.18-10.76; p =
      0.024) were independent predictors of good outcome at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: Acute
      endovascular treatment of tandem anterior circulation occlusions yields good
      outcomes and has similar outcome predictors to isolated intracranial occlusions.
      Given their comparable clinical behavior, these patients should be included in
      future trials.

PMID- 26881781
TI  - Rigid, Inflexible Approach Results in No Recommendation for Autism Screening.

PMID- 26881782
TI  - Integrative Analysis of the Physical Transport Network into Australia.
AB  - Effective biosecurity is necessary to protect nations and their citizens from a
      variety of threats, including emerging infectious diseases, agricultural or
      environmental pests and pathogens, and illegal wildlife trade. The physical
      pathways by which these threats are transported internationally, predominantly
      shipping and air traffic, have undergone significant growth and changes in
      spatial distributions in recent decades. An understanding of the specific
      pathways and donor-traffic hotspots created by this integrated physical transport
      network is vital for the development of effective biosecurity strategies into the
      future. In this study, we analysed the physical transport network into Australia
      over the period 1999-2012. Seaborne and air traffic were weighted to calculate a
      "weighted cumulative impact" score for each source region worldwide, each year.
      High risk source regions, and those source regions that underwent substantial
      changes in risk over the study period, were determined. An overall risk ranking
      was calculated by integrating across all possible weighting combinations. The
      source regions having greatest overall physical connectedness with Australia were
      Singapore, which is a global transport hub, and the North Island of New Zealand,
      a close regional trading partner with Australia. Both those regions with large
      amounts of traffic across multiple vectors (e.g., Hong Kong), and those with high
      levels of traffic of only one type (e.g., Bali, Indonesia with respect to
      passenger flights), were represented among high risk source regions. These data
      provide a baseline model for the transport of individuals and commodities against
      which the effectiveness of biosecurity controls may be assessed, and are a
      valuable tool in the development of future biosecurity policy. 

PMID- 26881783
TI  - Sonographic and Clinical Features of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma Less than
      or Equal to Five Millimeters: A Retrospective Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively compare the sonographic and clinical features of
      papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) <=5 mm and PTMC >5 mm to improve the
      diagnostic value of ultrasonography. METHODS: A total of 367 cases of PTMC
      between January 2013 and December 2014 was included in this study. The patients
      were classified into group A (<=5 mm, n = 181) or group B (>5 mm, n = 186), and
      the sonographic and clinical features were reviewed and compared between the two
      groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the shape, ratio of
      length/width, boundary, peripheral halo ring, echogenicity, cystic change and
      accompanying Hashimoto's thyroiditis between these two groups. However, the
      calcification (61.3% vs. 72.6%) and hypervascularity (13.8% vs. 24.7%) were more
      frequent in group B (p = 0.026 and 0.008, respectively). The patients were
      younger, and more patients were aged less than 45 years (41.4% vs. 57.0%) in
      group B. Capsular invasion (7.2% vs. 34.4%), multifocality (21.5% vs. 48.9%),
      bilaterality (17.1% vs. 39.8%), central lymph node metastasis (13.8% vs. 38.2%)
      and lateral lymph node metastasis (1.1% vs. 5.4%) were more frequent in group B.
      No clinical or sonographic feature was related to cervical lymph node metastasis
      in group A, while less than 45 years in age (p = 0.010), male gender (p = 0.040),
      capsular invasion (p<0.001), multifocality (p = 0.016) and calcification (p =
      0.042) were related to cervical lymph node metastasis in group B. CONCLUSIONS:
      The sonographic features of PTMC <=5 mm were similar to those of PTMC >5 mm,
      including an irregular shape, a length/width ratio of >=1, an unclear boundary,
      no peripheral halo ring, hypoechogenicity, no cystic change, calcification, no
      hypervascularity and no accompanying Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The clinical
      features of PTMC <=5 mm were less aggressive than those of PTMC >5 mm.

PMID- 26881784
TI  - Influence of Landscape Diversity and Composition on the Parasitism of Cotton
      Bollworm Eggs in Maize.
AB  - We deployed >50,000 Helicoverpa armigera eggs in maize fields to assess the rate
      of parasitism by Trichogramma chilonis across 33 sites during a three-year span
      (2012-2014) in northern China. Subsequently, we used a partial least squares
      (PLS) regression approach to assess the relationship of landscape diversity with
      composition and parasitism potential. The parasitism rate of H. armigera eggs by
      T. chilonis ranged from 0-25.8%, with a mean value of 5.6%. Landscape diversity
      greatly enhanced parasitism at all four different spatial scales (0.5, 1.0, 1.5
      and 2.0 km radius). Both the proportion of arable area and the total planting
      area of two major crops (cotton and maize) had a negative correlation to the
      parasitism rate at each scale, whereas parasitism was positively correlated to
      the proportion of host crops of H. armigera other than cotton and maize at the
      0.5 to 2.0 km radius scales as well as to that of non-crop habitat at the 0.5 and
      1.0 km radius scales. The study indicated that maintaining landscape diversity
      provided an important biocontrol service by limiting H. armigera through the egg
      parasitoid T. chilonis, whereas rapid agricultural intensification would greatly
      reduce the presence and parasitism of T. chilonis in China. 

PMID- 26881785
TI  - Remote heart function monitoring: role of the CardioMEMS HF System.
AB  - Heart failure is a pandemic condition that is challenging cardiology today. The
      primary economical and social burden of this syndrome is hospitalization rate
      whose costs represent the highest ones within the entire healthcare management.
      Remote monitoring of physiological data, obtained through self-reporting via
      telephone calls or, automatically, using external devices is a potential novel
      approach to implement management of patients with heart failure and reduce
      hospitalization rates. Relatively large but, sometimes, contradicting information
      exists about the efficacy of remote monitoring via different noninvasive
      approaches to reduce the economical and social burden of heart failure
      management. This leaves still partly unaddressed this critical issue and
      generates the need for new approaches. In this context, the CardioMEMS device
      that can chronically monitor pulmonary pressures from a small microchip inserted
      transvenously in the pulmonary artery seems to represent an innovative tool to
      challenge hospitalization rates. Consecutive analyses from the CHAMPION study had
      indeed documented the efficacy of the CardioMEMS in the remote monitoring of the
      pulmonary circulation status of patients with heart failure and in providing
      adequate information to optimally manage such patients with the final result of a
      significant hospitalization rate reduction. The striking information here is that
      this appears to be true in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection
      fraction also. Overall, the reports from the CHAMPION study encourage the use of
      CardioMEMS but larger populations are needed to definitively prove its value. 

PMID- 26881787
TI  - Low-Dose IL-2 In Vivo Treg Expansion Limits Rejection in Corneal Grafting.

PMID- 26881786
TI  - Immigration transition and sleep-related symptoms experienced during menopausal
      transition.
AB  - The transition due to immigration from one country to another country (referred
      to as immigration transition henceforth) is inherently stressful, placing an
      additional dimension of stress to midlife women in the menopausal transition.
      However, few studies have examined the association of immigration to sleep
      related symptoms experienced by midlife women in the menopausal transition. The
      authors' purpose for this study was to explore the associations of immigration to
      sleep-related symptoms among four major racial/ethnic groups of 1,054 midlife
      women in the United States. This was a secondary analysis of data from two
      national surveys that were collected from 2005 to 2013. The instruments included
      questions on background characteristics, health and menopausal status,
      immigration transition, and the Sleep Index for Midlife Women. The data were
      analyzed using t-tests, chi-square tests, correlation analyses, and hierarchical
      multiple regression analyses. Immigrants reported fewer total numbers of and
      lower total severity scores of sleep-related symptoms than non-immigrants (p <
      .01). Yet, when background characteristics and health and menopausal status were
      controlled, self-reported racial/ethnic identity was the only significant factor
      associated with sleep-related symptoms (DeltaR2 = 0.02, p < .01). Health-care
      providers need to consider self-reported racial/ethnic identity as a factor
      significantly related to sleep-related symptoms during the menopausal transition.

PMID- 26881789
TI  - Self-Determination Theory and Computer-Mediated Support: Modeling Effects on
      Breast Cancer Patient's Quality-of-Life.
AB  - A breast cancer diagnosis typically results in dramatic and negative effects on
      an individual's quality of life. Web-based interactive support systems such as
      the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) offer one avenue for
      mitigating these negative effects. While evidence supports the efficacy of such
      systems, evaluations typically fail to provide a true test of the theorized model
      of effects, treating self-determination theory's constructs of competence,
      relatedness, and autonomy as outcomes rather than mediators. Using path analysis,
      this study tests the nature of the proposed mediated relationship between system
      engagement and quality-of-life indicators utilizing data collected from women (N
      = 90) who participated in the treatment condition of a CHESS randomized
      controlled trial. Findings support a latent model, indicating that system effects
      are mediated through an intertwined measure of autonomy, competence, and
      relatedness.

PMID- 26881788
TI  - In Vivo Expansion of Regulatory T Cells by Low-Dose Interleukin-2 Treatment
      Increases Allograft Survival in Corneal Transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Corneal allograft survival dramatically decreases in hosts with
      inflamed or vascularized recipient beds. We have previously shown that in
      rejected corneal allografts regulatory T cells (Treg) demonstrate diminished
      Foxp3 expression and immunoregulatory function. Treatment with low doses of IL-2
      selectively expands Treg and has been proposed for the treatment of autoimmune
      diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of low-dose IL-2
      administration on Treg function and corneal allograft survival. METHODS:
      Allogeneic corneal transplantation was performed on inflamed host beds. Low-dose
      systemic IL-2 was administered starting 3 days before grafting until 6 weeks
      after transplantation. Frequencies of Treg and their immunosuppressive function
      and antigen specificity were assessed using flow cytometry, in vitro
      proliferation assays, and adoptive transfer experiments. Frequencies of effector
      T cells (Teff) and graft infiltrating immune cells were measured at 2 weeks
      posttransplantation. Long-term allograft survival was evaluated for up to 9 weeks
      using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: Treatment with low-dose IL-2
      significantly increased frequencies of CD4CD25Foxp3 Treg and their
      immunosuppressive function. It also suppressed alloimmune response as shown by
      the decreased CD4 IFNgamma T cell frequencies and graft infiltration of CD45 and
      CD4 cells. Clinical evaluation of the grafts showed significant improvement in
      long-term corneal allograft survival in the IL-2 treated group compared with
      controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to report that treatment with low
      dose IL-2 increases survival of corneal allografts. We propose that IL-2-mediated
      Treg expansion can be an effective tool to prevent alloimmunity and to improve
      long-term allograft survival in transplantation.

PMID- 26881791
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881792
TI  - [New indicator needed for follow up of osteoporosis patients].

PMID- 26881793
TI  - ["Active health management" can provide support for vulnerable patients. New
      model for the prevention of unplanned healthcare].
AB  - A small group of frequent emergency department visitors account for a
      disproportionally large fraction of health care consumption, including unplanned
      hospitalizations and overall healthcare costs. In response, case and disease
      management programs aimed at reducing health care consumption in this group have
      been tested, however results vary widely. In this study, we aimed to investigate
      if a telephone-based, nurse led case management intervention can reduce health
      care consumption for frequent emergency department visitors in a large-scale set
      up. A total of 12,181 frequent emergency department users in three counties in
      Sweden were randomized either using Zelen's design or a traditional randomized
      design to receive a nurse led case management intervention or no intervention.
      Patients were followed for health care consumption for up to 2 years. The results
      of the study with traditional design showed an overall 12% (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 4-19%) decreased rate of hospitalization, which was mostly driven
      by effects among patients included in the last year. Similar results were
      achieved in the Zelen studies, with significant reduction of hospitalization,
      again in the last year, but mixed results in the early development of the
      project. Our study provides evidence that a carefully designed telephone-based
      intervention with accurate and systematic patient selection and appropriate staff
      training in a centralized set-up can lead to significant decreases in health care
      consumption and costs. However, we also demonstrate that the effects are
      sensitive to the delivery model chosen.

PMID- 26881794
TI  - [Not Available].
AB  - The evidence for the beneficial health effects of moderate drinking is weaker
      than commonly perceived. No randomised controlled trials have been done.
      Observational studies suffer from unavoidable methodological limitations, chiefly
      from confounding and misclassification. Clinical advice to patients as well as
      public health recommendations should discourage initiation of alcohol
      consumption, as well as recommend the reduction of excessive drinking. The
      absence of health benefits strengthens the the arguments for effective population
      level policies, e.g. raising alcohol prices and restricting the physical
      availability of alcohol. 

PMID- 26881790
TI  - Altered Energetics of Exercise Explain Risk of Rhabdomyolysis in Very Long-Chain
      Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency.
AB  - Rhabdomyolysis is common in very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
      (VLCADD) and other metabolic myopathies, but its pathogenic basis is poorly
      understood. Here, we show that prolonged bicycling exercise against a
      standardized moderate workload in VLCADD patients is associated with threefold
      bigger changes in phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi)
      concentrations in quadriceps muscle and twofold lower changes in plasma acetyl
      carnitine levels than in healthy subjects. This result is consistent with the
      hypothesis that muscle ATP homeostasis during exercise is compromised in VLCADD.
      However, the measured rates of PCr and Pi recovery post-exercise showed that the
      mitochondrial capacity for ATP synthesis in VLCADD muscle was normal.
      Mathematical modeling of oxidative ATP metabolism in muscle composed of three
      different fiber types indicated that the observed altered energy balance during
      submaximal exercise in VLCADD patients may be explained by a slow-to-fast shift
      in quadriceps fiber-type composition corresponding to 30% of the slow-twitch
      fiber-type pool in healthy quadriceps muscle. This study demonstrates for the
      first time that quadriceps energy balance during exercise in VLCADD patients is
      altered but not because of failing mitochondrial function. Our findings provide
      new clues to understanding the risk of rhabdomyolysis following exercise in human
      VLCADD. 

PMID- 26881795
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881796
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881797
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881798
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881799
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881800
TI  - [Analyze, listen, correct, apologize and learn. How an organization becomes safer
      - and better].

PMID- 26881801
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26881802
TI  - Acute Kidney Injury Epidemiology: From Recognition to Intervention.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is very common among hospitalized patients, and the
      incidence of AKI has increased over the past few decades. This increase might be
      due to an aging population and increased comorbidities. Other factors that may
      explain this are the more sensitive diagnostic criteria and better recognition.
      AKI is associated with increased mortality and increased risks of chronic kidney
      disease and end-stage renal disease. The best ways to lower the chances of having
      kidney damage are to prevent, recognize and treat AKI as early as possible. The
      incidence of AKI in China is significantly lower than in developed countries.
      Inadequate early diagnosis and management remain the major challenges for Chinese
      nephrologists. 

PMID- 26881803
TI  - The Impact of Competitive Trait Anxiety on Collegiate Powerlifting Performance.
AB  - Judge, LW, Urbina, LJ, Hoover, DL, Craig, BW, Judge, LM, Leitzelar, BM, Pearson,
      DR, Holtzclaw, KA, and Bellar, DM. The impact of competitive trait anxiety on
      collegiate powerlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2399-2405, 2016
      The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between competitive
      trait anxiety measures and powerlifting (PL) performance. Thirty-six collegiate
      powerlifters on club teams from 3 universities were recruited during a
      competition (men = 26, women = 10; age = 19.9 +/- 1.5 years; height = 172.5 +/-
      8.6 cm; weight = 81.4 +/- 21.0 kg). The athletes were distributed across weight
      classes for collegiate PL (47.6 kg: 1; 51.7 kg: 1; 54.9 kg: 1; 59.8 kg: 3; 67.1
      kg: 2; 74.8 kg: 7; 82.1 kg: 4; 89.8 kg: 9; 99.8 kg: 5; super heavyweight: 3). A
      survey containing questions about PL performance history and the 15-item Sport
      Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) were administered to the participants before
      competing. The SCAT total was negatively correlated (r = -0.397; p = 0.02) to the
      athletes' percentage of best total achieved in the competition (actual
      performance total/best comp total * 100). Of the individual lifts, the SCAT score
      was negatively correlated to the personal best for bench press (r = -0.368; p =
      0.03) and deadlift (r = -0.317, p = 0.05), but did not significantly correlate
      for squat (r = -0.182, p = 0.27). These results indicate a negative correlation
      between the SCAT score and athletes' personal best totals in PL. Increased SCAT
      scores were associated with decreased personal best PL totals. The results
      suggest that competitive trait anxiety may have negatively impacted performance
      and that some PL athletes may benefit from interventions aimed at decreasing
      anxiety before and during performance. 

PMID- 26881805
TI  - Simultaneous inference of a binary composite endpoint and its components.
AB  - Binary composite endpoints offer some advantages as a way to succinctly combine
      evidence from a number of related binary endpoints recorded in the same clinical
      trial into a single outcome. However, as some concerns about the clinical
      relevance as well as the interpretation of such composite endpoints have been
      raised, it is recommended to evaluate the composite endpoint jointly with the
      involved components. We propose an approach for carrying out simultaneous
      inference based on separate model fits for each endpoint, yet controlling the
      familywise type I error rate asymptotically. The key idea is to stack parameter
      estimates from the different fits and derive their joint asymptotic distribution.
      Simulations show that the proposed approach comes closer to nominal levels and
      has comparable or higher power as compared to existing approaches, even for
      moderate sample sizes (around 100-200 observations). The method is compared to
      the gatekeeping approach and results are provided in the Supplementary Material.
      In two data examples we show how the procedure may be adapted to handle local
      significance levels specified through a priori given weights.

PMID- 26881804
TI  - Characterization of a Decapentapletic Gene (AccDpp) from Apis cerana cerana and
      Its Possible Involvement in Development and Response to Oxidative Stress.
AB  - To tolerate many acute and chronic oxidative stress-producing agents that exist
      in the environment, organisms have evolved many classes of signal transduction
      pathways, including the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signal pathway.
      Decapentapletic gene (Dpp) belongs to the TGFbeta superfamily, and studies on Dpp
      have mainly focused on its role in the regulation of development. No study has
      investigated the response of Dpp to oxidative pressure in any organism, including
      Apis cerana cerana (A. cerana cerana). In this study, we identified a Dpp gene
      from A. cerana cerana named AccDpp. The 5? flanking region of AccDpp had many
      transcription factor binding sites that relevant to development and stress
      response. AccDpp was expressed at all stages of A. cerana cerana, with its
      highest expression in 15-day worker bees. The mRNA level of AccDpp was higher in
      the poison gland and midgut than other tissues. Furthermore, the transcription of
      AccDpp could be repressed by 4 degrees C and UV, but induced by other treatments,
      according to our qRT-PCR analysis. It is worth noting that the expression level
      of AccDpp protein was increased after a certain time when A. cerana cerana was
      subjected to all simulative oxidative stresses, a finding that was not completely
      consistent with the result from qRT-PCR. It is interesting that recombinant
      AccDpp restrained the growth of Escherichia coli, a function that might account
      for the role of the antimicrobial peptides of AccDpp. In conclusion, these
      results provide evidence that AccDpp might be implicated in the regulation of
      development and the response of oxidative pressure. The findings may lay a
      theoretical foundation for further genetic studies of Dpp. 

PMID- 26881806
TI  - Age of Sexual Debut and Cannabis Use in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the interrelationships between risky health behaviors
      is critical for health promotion efforts. Conceptual frameworks for understanding
      substance misuse (e.g. stepping-stone models) have not yet widely incorporated
      other risky behaviors, including those related to sexual health. OBJECTIVES: The
      goals of this study were to assess the relationship between early sexual debut
      and cannabis use, examine the role of licit substance use in this association,
      and evaluate differences by gender and race/ethnicity. METHODS: Data came from
      the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). Primary analysis was
      restricted to respondents who reported sexual debut at >=12 years (n = 5,036).
      Age at sexual debut was categorized as early (<18 years), average (18 years) and
      late (>18 years). Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between
      age at sexual debut and cannabis use. Interaction terms were used to evaluate
      effect modification by gender and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Later age of sexual
      debut was associated with lower odds of cannabis use relative to the average age
      of debut (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.37-0.66). For every year that respondents
      delayed their sexual debut, the relative odds of lifetime cannabis use declined
      by 17%. After accounting for alcohol and tobacco use the association between
      early sexual debut and cannabis was attenuated (AOR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.68-1.20),
      while later age of debut remained protective (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.42-0.78).
      Results were generally consistent across race/ethnicity and gender. CONCLUSIONS:
      Multifactorial intervention strategies targeting both sexual health and substance
      use may be warranted.

PMID- 26881807
TI  - Conceptualization and Development of the Leg Activity Measure (LegA) for Patient
      and Carer Reported Assessment of Activity in the Paretic Leg.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the paper is to develop a patient-reported
      outcome measure of active and passive function in the paretic lower limb with
      associated spasticity. METHODS: Potential items for inclusion were identified
      through (1) systematic review and analysis of existing measures and (2) analysis
      of the primary goals for treatment in a spasticity service. Ethical approval for
      re-evaluation of routinely collected data was received. Item reduction was
      achieved through consultation with a purposively selected group of experienced
      physiotherapists and occupational therapists (n = 16) in a two-round Delphi
      process. This was followed by a review of Delphi consultation findings by the
      Project Advisory Group consisting of patients and carers. RESULTS: Development of
      the leg activity measure (LegA) included two rounds of Delphi consultation, which
      resulted in a high degree of agreement (80% in round 2) between respondents in
      rounds 1 and 2. From an initial shortlist of 126 items, 29 items were initially
      identified for inclusion in LegA and subsequently refined to a 24-item (two sub
      scales) tool consisting of nine passive function and 15 active function items.
      DISCUSSION: The Delphi consultation with clinicians experienced in this area of
      practice ensured content validity and appropriate reduction of items. In common
      with previous work in the upper limb, a 5-point ordinal scaling structure was
      chosen, with ratings based on activity over the preceding 7 days. The LegA is
      designed to measure passive and active function following focal interventions
      associated with spasticity in the lower limb. Content and face validity have
      initially been addressed within the development process. The next phase of
      development will involve formal evaluation of psychometric properties. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26881808
TI  - Physiological and Transcriptome Responses to Combinations of Elevated CO2 and
      Magnesium in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - The unprecedented rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration and injudicious
      fertilization or heterogeneous distribution of Mg in the soil warrant further
      research to understand the synergistic and holistic mechanisms involved in the
      plant growth regulation. This study investigated the influence of elevated CO2
      (800 MUL L(-1)) on physiological and transcriptomic profiles in Arabidopsis
      cultured in hydroponic media treated with 1 MUM (low), 1000 MUM (normal) and
      10,000 MUM (high) Mg2+. Following 7-d treatment, elevated CO2 increased the shoot
      growth and chlorophyll content under both low and normal Mg supply, whereas root
      growth was improved exclusively under normal Mg nutrition. Notably, the effect of
      elevated CO2 on mineral homeostasis in both shoots and roots was less than that
      of Mg supply. Irrespective of CO2 treatment, high Mg increased number of young
      leaf but decreased root growth and absorption of P, K, Ca, Fe and Mn whereas low
      Mg increased the concentration of P, K, Ca and Fe in leaves. Transcriptomics
      results showed that elevated CO2 decreased the expression of genes related to
      cell redox homeostasis, cadmium response, and lipid localization, but enhanced
      signal transduction, protein phosphorylation, NBS-LRR disease resistance proteins
      and subsequently programmed cell death in low-Mg shoots. By comparison, elevated
      CO2 enhanced the response of lipid localization (mainly LTP transfer
      protein/protease inhibitor), endomembrane system, heme binding and cell wall
      modification in high-Mg roots. Some of these transcriptomic results are
      substantially in accordance with our physiological and/or biochemical analysis.
      The present findings broaden our current understanding on the interactive effect
      of elevated CO2 and Mg levels in the Arabidopsis, which may help to design the
      novel metabolic engineering strategies to cope with Mg deficiency/excess in crops
      under elevated CO2.

PMID- 26881809
TI  - Physiological and molecular mechanisms mediating xylem Na+ loading in barley in
      the context of salinity stress tolerance.
AB  - Time-dependent kinetics of xylem Na+ loading was investigated using a large
      number of barley genotypes contrasting in their salinity tolerance. Salt
      sensitive varieties were less efficient in controlling xylem Na+ loading and
      showed a gradual increase in the xylem Na+ content over the time. To understand
      underlying ionic and molecular mechanisms, net fluxes of Ca2+ , K+ and Na+ were
      measured from the xylem parenchyma tissue in response to H2 O2 and ABA; both of
      them associated with salinity stress signalling. Our results indicate that NADPH
      oxidase-mediated apoplastic H2 O2 production acts upstream of the xylem Na+
      loading and is causally related to ROS-inducible Ca2+ uptake systems in the root
      stelar tissue. It was also found that ABA regulates (directly or indirectly) the
      process of Na+ retrieval from the xylem and the significant reduction of Na+ and
      K+ fluxes induced by bumetanide are indicative of a major role of chloride cation
      co-transporter (CCC) on xylem ion loading. Transcript levels of HvHKT1;5_like and
      HvSOS1_like genes in the root stele were observed to decrease after salt stress,
      while there was an increase in HvSKOR_like gene, indicating that these ion
      transporters are involved in primary Na+ /K+ movement into/out of xylem.

PMID- 26881812
TI  - Comparison of the HEART and TIMI Risk Scores for Suspected Acute Coronary
      Syndrome in the Emergency Department.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The emergency department evaluation for suspected acute coronary
      syndrome (ACS) is common, costly, and challenging. Risk scores may help
      standardize clinical care and screening for research studies. The Thrombolysis in
      Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and HEART are two commonly cited risk scores. We
      tested the null hypothesis that the TIMI and HEART risk scores have equivalent
      test characteristics. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Internet Tracking
      Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (i*trACS) from 9 EDs on patients with
      suspected ACS, 1999-2001. We excluded patients with an emergency department
      diagnosis consistent with ACS, or without sufficient data to calculate TIMI and
      HEART scores. The primary outcome was 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events,
      including all-cause death, acute myocardial infarction, and urgent
      revascularization. We describe test characteristics of the TIMI and HEART risk
      scores. RESULTS: The study cohort included 8255 patients with 508 (6.2%) 30-day
      major adverse cardiovascular events. Receiver operating curve and
      reclassification analyses favored HEART [c statistic: 0.753, 95% confidence
      interval (CI): 0.733-0.773; continuous net reclassification improvement: 0.608,
      95% CI: 0.527-0.689] over TIMI (c statistic: 0.678, 95% CI: 0.655-0.702). A HEART
      score 0-3 [negative predictive value (NPV) 0.982, 95% CI: 0.978-0.986; positive
      predictive value (PPV) 0.103, 95% CI: 0.094-0.113; likelihood ratio (LR) positive
      1.76; LR negative 0.28] demonstrates similar or superior NPV/PPV/LR compared with
      TIMI = 0 (NPV 0.978, 95% CI: 0.971-0.983; PPV 0.077, 95% CI: 0.071-0.084; LR
      positive 1.28; LR negative 0.35) and TIMI = 0-1 (NPV 0.963, 95% CI: 0.958-0.968;
      PPV 0.102, 95% CI: 0.092-0.113; LR positive 1.73; LR negative 0.58). CONCLUSIONS:
      The HEART score has better discrimination than TIMI and outperforms TIMI within
      previously published "low-risk" categories.

PMID- 26881813
TI  - Discriminative Power of the HEART Score for Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
      in Acute Chest Pain Patients Referred for CCTA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of the HEART score to predict the presence
      of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) determined by coronary computed
      tomography angiography (CCTA) and its ability to predict the occurrence of major
      adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients referred for CCTA after emergency
      department (ED) presentation. METHODS: From December 2011 to August 2014, 710 ED
      patients with chest pain who underwent CCTA within 30 days were included. The
      HEART score was retrospectively calculated and patients were followed for MACE,
      comprised of death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization. Association of
      CAD at CCTA in the different categories of the HEART score was analyzed using chi
      test. The performance of the HEART score in discriminating between those with and
      without obstructive CAD was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics.
      Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess MACE-free survival stratified by HEART
      score categories. RESULTS: During median follow-up of 826 days (interquartile
      range: 563-1056), MACE occurred in 46 (6.5%) patients; 3 (0.4%) myocardial
      infarction, 8 (1.1%) death, and 36 (5.1%) revascularizations. A low HEART score
      was a significant predictor for MACE-free survival (P = 0.010). CCTA revealed
      obstructive CAD in 11.7% of patients, with no significant difference between
      patients with a low and intermediate/high HEART score, respectively 10.7% and
      13.2% (P = 0.29). The ability of the HEART score to identify obstructive CAD was
      poor with an AUC of the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.53.
      CONCLUSION: The HEART score does not adequately identify patients with
      obstructive CAD at CCTA. It does however predict occurrence of MACE in medium
      term follow-up. Excluding patients from additional testing based solely on a low
      HEART score may lead to suboptimal patient management. CCTA had important
      implications on patient management and may be a more appropriate tool to further
      stratify risk in ED chest pain patients.

PMID- 26881814
TI  - Cardiac Computed Tomography in Certified German Chest Pain Units.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The German Cardiac Society runs a nation-wide certification campaign
      for specialized chest pain units (CPUs). So far, cardiac computed tomography (CT)
      is not an integral part of such certification. The aim of our study was to
      analyze whether or not cardiac CT is nevertheless routinely used for further
      stratification in low-risk patients. METHODS: For the time interval from January
      2010 to April 2011, data were retrieved from the mandatory German CPU registry.
      Patients with and without cardiac CT during CPU index stay were compared.
      RESULTS: Out of 5800 patients, 314 patients (5.4%) underwent cardiac CT during
      the index CPU stay. Unstable angina pectoris was the most common diagnosis when
      performing cardiac CT [34.4% vs. 17.7%; odds ratio (OR), 2.44; confidence
      interval (CI), 1.91-3.11; P < 0.001). Patients undergoing cardiac CT received
      significantly less often coronary angiography (31.8% vs. 54.8%; OR, 0.39; CI,
      0.30-0.49; P < 0.001) or coronary revascularization (15.6% vs. 36.5%; OR, 0.32;
      CI, 0.23-0.46; P < 0.001). The use of cardiac CT did not prolong the length of
      stay in the CPU (20:48 vs. 20:25 h, P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac CT is
      underrepresented within the diagnostic work up in certified CPUs in Germany,
      although its use reduces unnecessary invasive diagnostics. The use of cardiac CT
      should be reconsidered during the next update of the CPU certification criteria.

PMID- 26881815
TI  - Characteristics of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Who Do Not Undergo
      Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After Prehospital Cardiac Catheterization
      Laboratory Activation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics of
      patients diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that are
      associated with an increased likelihood of not undergoing percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI) after prehospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
      activation in a regional STEMI system. METHODS: We performed a retrospective
      analysis of prehospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory activations in
      Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, between May 2008 and March 2011. Data were
      extracted from the prehospital patient record, the prehospital electrocardiogram,
      and the regional STEMI database. The independent variables of interest included
      objective patient characteristics as well as documented cardiac history and risk
      factors. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic
      regression. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-one prehospital activations were included
      in the analysis. Five independent variables were found to be associated with an
      increased likelihood of not undergoing PCI: increasing age, bundle branch block,
      elevated heart rate, left ventricular hypertrophy, and non-white race. The
      variables with the most significance were any type of bundle branch block
      [adjusted odds ratios (AOR), 5.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-16.76],
      left ventricular hypertrophy (AOR, 4.63; 95% CI, 2.03-10.53), and non-white race
      (AOR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.76-7.08). Conversely, the only variable associated with a
      higher likelihood of undergoing PCI was the presence of arm pain (AOR, 2.94; 95%
      CI, 1.36-6.25). CONCLUSIONS: Several of the above variables are expected
      electrocardiogram mimics; however, the decreased rate of PCI in non-white
      patients highlights an area for investigation and process improvement. This may
      guide the development of prehospital STEMI protocols, although avoiding false
      positive and inappropriate activations.

PMID- 26881816
TI  - The Comparison of Physician to Computer Interpreted Electrocardiograms on ST
      elevation Myocardial Infarction Door-to-balloon Times.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the project was to study the impact that immediate
      physician electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation would have on door-to-balloon
      times in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as compared with computer
      interpreted ECGs. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 340
      consecutive patients from September 2003 to December 2009 with STEMI who
      underwent emergent cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary
      intervention. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on the computer
      interpreted ECG interpretation: those with acute myocardial infarction identified
      by the computer interpretation and those not identified as acute myocardial
      infarction. Patients (n = 173) from September 2003 to June 2006 had their initial
      ECG reviewed by the triage nurse, while patients from July 2006 to December 2009
      (n = 167) had their ECG reviewed by the emergency department physician within 10
      minutes. Times for catheterization laboratory activation and percutaneous
      coronary intervention were recorded in all patients. RESULTS: Of the 340 patients
      with confirmed STEMI, 102 (30%) patients were not identified by computer
      interpretation. Comparing the prior protocol of computer ECG to physician
      interpretation, the latter resulted in significant improvements in median
      catheterization laboratory activation time {19 minutes [interquartile range
      (IQR): 10-37] vs. 16 minutes [IQR: 8-29]; P < 0.029} and in median door-to
      balloon time [113 minutes (IQR: 86-143) vs. 85 minutes (IQR: 62-106); P < 0.001].
      CONCLUSION: The computer-interpreted ECG failed to identify a significant number
      of patients with STEMI. The immediate review of ECGs by an emergency physician
      led to faster activation of the catheterization laboratory, and door-to-balloon
      times in patients with STEMI.

PMID- 26881817
TI  - There's Another Observation Unit?: A Case Series Survey of Second Level
      Observation Units.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Observation units are dedicated areas in the hospital to deliver care
      to patients in observation status-those too risky to be immediately discharged
      following an emergency department evaluation but also clearly not in need of an
      inpatient admission. Observation units have been commonplace for several decades
      but in recent years some hospitals have begun to operate an additional
      observation unit with a distinct care delivery model and patient population.
      METHODS: We conducted a survey between June 2014 and December 2014 to determine
      the prevalence and key operational characteristics of second level observation
      units in the US. We accessed the list serve of a large specialty organization to
      reach leaders likely to be directly operating or aware of the presence of a
      second level unit in their hospital. RESULTS: We received 28 responses (response
      rate of approximately 10%). We found 8 second level OUs, with respondents able to
      provide detailed data for 6 of them. All were established within the past 5
      years. CONCLUSIONS: Second level observation units are still relatively uncommon
      but are emerging as an extension of hospital-based observation services as an
      additional resource to cohort observation patients into a dedicated unit. These
      units share some similarities with traditional OUs, such as the nursing ratio of
      approximately 4:1 and the preponderance of chest pain pathways; however, they
      also differ in important ways around key metrics, such as length of stay,
      attending staffing coverage, and rate of subsequent inpatient admission.
      Additional study is needed both to fully characterize these units and their
      potential benefits.

PMID- 26881818
TI  - First Update of the Criteria for Certification of Chest Pain Units in Germany:
      Facelift or New Model?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In an effort to provide a systematic and specific standard-of-care for
      patients with acute chest pain, the German Cardiac Society introduced criteria
      for certification of specialized chest pain units (CPUs) in 2008, which have been
      replaced by a recent update published in 2015. METHODS: We reviewed the
      development of CPU establishment in Germany during the past 7 years and compared
      and commented the current update of the certification criteria. RESULTS: As of
      October 2015, 228 CPUs in Germany have been successfully certified by the German
      Cardiac Society; 300 CPUs are needed for full coverage closing gaps in rural
      regions. Current changes of the criteria mainly affect guideline-adherent
      adaptions of diagnostic work-ups, therapeutic strategies, risk stratification, in
      hospital timing and education, and quality measures, whereas the overall
      structure remained unchanged. Benchmarking by participation within the German CPU
      registry is encouraged. CONCLUSION: Even though the history is short, the concept
      of certified CPUs in Germany is accepted and successful underlined by its recent
      implementation in national and international guidelines. First registry data
      demonstrated a high standard of quality-of-care. The current update provides
      rational adaptions to new guidelines and developments without raising the level
      for successful certifications. A periodic release of fast-track updates with
      shorter time frames and an increase of minimum requirements should be considered.

PMID- 26881819
TI  - Economic Deprivation as a Predictor of the Direction of Lethal Violence: An
      Analysis of Italian Provinces.
AB  - Research on suicide and homicide rates has neglected an integrated model seeking
      to explain social variation in the direction of lethal violence. The present
      investigation explores the association between measures of social deprivation on
      the relative incidence of suicide over homicide in Italian provinces. Data refer
      to official government sources on lethal violence rates and measures of social
      deprivation. The central dependent variable (SHR) is the tendency towards suicide
      measured as the suicide rate divided by the sum of the suicide and homicide
      rates. Data were available for 102 Italian provinces in the Census year 2001. The
      percentage of the population marked by two indicators of deprivation (low
      education, household population density) were negatively associated with the SHR.
      The results are largely consistent with a stream of previous research that
      connects deprivation with a relatively high probability for disadvantaged
      populations to direct aggression outwardly in the form of homicide rather than
      inwardly in the form of suicide. The present study specifies which elements of
      deprivation best predict the direction of violence and is the first study for the
      Italian context.

PMID- 26881820
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26881821
TI  - Defining an International Standard Set of Outcome Measures for Patients With Hip
      or Knee Osteoarthritis: Consensus of the International Consortium for Health
      Outcomes Measurement Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Working Group.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define a minimum Standard Set of outcome measures and case-mix
      factors for monitoring, comparing, and improving health care for patients with
      clinically diagnosed hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA), with a focus on defining
      the outcomes that matter most to patients. METHODS: An international working
      group of patients, arthroplasty register experts, orthopedic surgeons, primary
      care physicians, rheumatologists, and physiotherapists representing 10 countries
      was assembled to review existing literature and practices for assessing outcomes
      of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic OA therapies, including surgery. A series
      of 8 teleconferences, incorporating a modified Delphi process, were held to reach
      consensus. RESULTS: The working group reached consensus on a concise set of
      outcome measures to evaluate patients' joint pain, physical functioning, health
      related quality of life, work status, mortality, reoperations, readmissions, and
      overall satisfaction with treatment result. To support analysis of these outcome
      measures, pertinent baseline characteristics and risk factor metrics were
      defined. Annual outcome measurement is recommended for all patients. CONCLUSION:
      We have defined a Standard Set of outcome measures for monitoring the care of
      people with clinically diagnosed hip or knee OA that is appropriate for use
      across all treatment and care settings. We believe this Standard Set provides
      meaningful, comparable, and easy to interpret measures ready to implement in
      clinics and/or registries globally. We view this set as an initial step that,
      when combined with cost data, will facilitate value-based health care
      improvements in the treatment of hip and knee OA.

PMID- 26881823
TI  - Rational Design of NiCoO2@SnO2 Heterostructure Attached on Amorphous Carbon
      Nanotubes with Improved Lithium Storage Properties.
AB  - It still remains very challenging to design proper heterostructures to enhance
      the electrochemical performance of transition metal oxide-based anode materials
      for lithium-ion batteries. Here, we synthesized the NiCoO2 nanosheets@SnO2 layer
      heterostructure supported by amorphous carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) which is derived
      from polymeric nanotubes (PNTs) by a stepwise method. The inner SnO2 layer not
      only provides a considerable capacity contribution but also produces the extra
      Li2O to promote the charge process of NiCoO2 and thus results in a rising cycling
      performance. Combining with the contribution of ACNTs backbone and ultrathin
      NiCoO2 nanosheets, the specific capacities of these one-dimensional
      nanostructures show an interesting gradually increasing trend even after 100
      cycles at 400 mA g(-1) with a final result of 1166 mAh g(-1). This approach can
      be an efficient general strategy for the preparation of mixed-metal-oxide one
      dimensional nanostructures and this innovative design of hybrid electrode
      materials provides a promising approach for batteries with improved
      electrochemical performance. 

PMID- 26881824
TI  - Re: Gender Dysphoria and Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorders:Review, Case
      Examples and Treatment Considerations, by Jacobs et al. (LGBT Health 2014;1:277
      282).

PMID- 26881822
TI  - The Cytolytic Amphipathic beta(2,2)-Amino Acid LTX-401 Induces DAMP Release in
      Melanoma Cells and Causes Complete Regression of B16 Melanoma.
AB  - In the present study we examined the ability of the amino acid derivative LTX-401
      to induce cell death in cancer cell lines, as well as the capacity to induce
      regression in a murine melanoma model. Mode of action studies in vitro revealed
      lytic cell death and release of danger-associated molecular pattern molecules,
      preceded by massive cytoplasmic vacuolization and compromised lysosomes in
      treated cells. The use of a murine melanoma model demonstrated that the majority
      of animals treated with intratumoural injections of LTX-401 showed complete and
      long-lasting remission. Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential
      of LTX-401 as an immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of solid tumors. 

PMID- 26881825
TI  - Bcl-2 proteins in development, health, and disease of the hematopoietic system.
AB  - Members of the Bcl-2 protein family regulate cell fate decisions following a
      variety of developmental cues or stress signals, with the outcomes of cell death
      or survival, thus shaping multiple mammalian tissues. This review describes in
      detail how anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins contribute to the development
      and functioning of the fetal and adult hematopoietic systems and how they
      influence the generation and maintenance of different hematopoietic lineages. An
      overview on how stress signals such as genotoxic stress or inflammation can
      compromise blood cell production, partially by engaging the intrinsic apoptosis
      pathway, is presented. Finally, the review describes how Bcl-2 protein
      deregulation-either leading to increased apoptosis resistance or excessive cell
      death-contributes to many hematological disorders, with specific focus on rare
      disorders of hematopoiesis and how this knowledge may be used therapeutically.

PMID- 26881826
TI  - NaFe3(HPO3)2((H,F)PO2OH)6: A Potential Cathode Material and a Novel Ferrimagnet.
AB  - A novel iron fluorophosphite, NaFe3(HPO3)2((H,F)PO2OH)6, was synthesized by a dry
      low-temperature synthesis route. The phase was shown to be electrochemically
      active for reversible insertion of Na(+) ions, with an average discharge voltage
      of 2.5 V and an experimental capacity at low rates of up to 90 mAhg(-1). Simple
      synthesis, low-cost materials, excellent capacity retention, and efficiency
      suggest this class of material is competitive with similar oxyanion-based
      compounds as a cathode material for Na batteries. The characterization of
      physical properties by means of magnetization, specific heat, and electron spin
      resonance measurements confirms the presence of two magnetically nonequivalent
      Fe(3+) sites. The compound orders magnetically at TC ~ 9.4 K into a state with
      spontaneous magnetization. 

PMID- 26881827
TI  - Using atomistic simulations to model cadmium telluride thin film growth.
AB  - Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is an excellent material for low-cost, high efficiency
      thin film solar cells. It is important to conduct research on how defects are
      formed during the growth process, since defects lower the efficiency of solar
      cells. In this work we use computer simulation to predict the growth of a sputter
      deposited CdTe thin film. On-the-fly kinetic Monte Carlo technique is used to
      simulate the CdTe thin film growth on the (1 1 1) surfaces. The results show that
      on the (1 1 1) surfaces the growth mechanisms on surfaces which are terminated by
      Cd or Te are quite different, regardless of the deposition energy (0.1~10 eV). On
      the Te-terminated (1 1 1) surface the deposited clusters first form a single
      mixed species layer, then the Te atoms in the mixed layer moved up to form a new
      layer. Whilst on the Cd-terminated (1 1 1) surface the new Cd and Te layers are
      formed at the same time. Such differences are probably caused by stronger bonding
      between ad-atoms and surface atoms on the Te layer than on the Cd layer.

PMID- 26881829
TI  - Approach for 2-(arylthio)imidazoles and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles from imidazo[2,1
      b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles by ring-opening and -reconstruction.
AB  - A highly efficient one-pot synthesis of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives has
      been developed and proceeds via a ring-opening and ring-closing reconstruction of
      imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles with phenylacetylene in the presence of
      potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK) under very mild reaction conditions. A proposed
      mechanism is calculated computationally using a DFT method at the B3LYP/6
      31+G(d,p) level. The imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles are also successfully
      converted to a series of 2-(arylthio)-1H-imidazoles using aryl halide as a
      reactant and copper(ii) acetylacetonate (Cu(acac)2) as a catalyst under microwave
      irradiation conditions. The key features of these reactions are the use of
      readily available reagents, simple operation, the convenient utilization of new
      heterocyclic synthons, and a great variety of substrates with functional group
      compatibility. 

PMID- 26881830
TI  - Spin-Free CC2 Implementation of Induced Transitions between Singlet Ground and
      Triplet Excited States.
AB  - In most organic molecules, phosphorescence has its origin in transitions from
      triplet exited states to the singlet ground state, which are spin-forbidden in
      nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. A sufficiently accurate description of
      phosphorescence lifetimes for molecules that contain only light elements can be
      achieved by treating the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) with perturbation theory (PT).
      We present an efficient implementation of this approach for the approximate
      coupled cluster singles and doubles model CC2 in combination with the resolution
      of-the-identity approximation for the electron repulsion integrals. The induced
      oscillator strengths and phosphorescence lifetimes from SOC-PT are computed
      within the response theory framework. In contrast to previous work, we employ an
      explicitly spin-coupled basis for singlet and triplet operators. Thereby, a spin
      orbital treatment can be entirely avoided for closed-shell molecules. For
      compounds containing only light elements, the phosphorescence lifetimes obtained
      with SOC-PT-CC2 are in good agreement with those of exact two-component (X2C)
      CC2, whereas the calculations are roughly 12 times faster than with X2C.
      Phosphorescence lifetimes computed for two thioketones with the SOC-PT-CC2
      approach agree very well with reference results from experiment and are similar
      to those obtained with multireference spin-orbit configuration interaction and
      with X2C-CC2. An application to phosphorescent emitters for metal-free organic
      light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with almost 60 atoms and more than 1800 basis
      functions demonstrates how the approach extends the applicability of coupled
      cluster methods for studying phosphorescence. The results indicate that other
      decay channels like vibrational relaxation may become important in such systems
      if lifetimes are large. 

PMID- 26881828
TI  - Synthesis of Chiral alpha-Trifluoromethylamines with 2,2,2-Trifluoroethylamine as
      a "Building Block".
AB  - The beta-isocupreidine, a cinchonine derived alkaloid, catalyzed asymmetric SN2'
      SN2' reaction between N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines and MBH type
      carbonates was realized in a simple and efficient way. A series of chiral alpha
      trifluoromethylamines were prepared with excellent yields and
      stereoselectivities. A subsequent and easy process of deprotection gave gamma
      trifluoromethyl-alpha-methylenelactam in a stereoselective manner. 

PMID- 26881832
TI  - Pathophysiology of Septic Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite increased understanding of the pathophysiology of septic
      acute kidney injury (AKI), treatment options are limited, and mortality remains
      high. SUMMARY: Septic AKI is triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns
      from bacteria and damage-associated molecular patterns released from or exposed
      on damaged cells. Downstream effects include glomerular and peritubular
      endothelial dysfunction, downregulation of tubular reabsorptive work, cell-cycle
      arrest, regulated cell death and destruction of damaged cell organelles. In the
      laboratory, pharmacological modulation of some of these pathways prevents AKI or
      enhances recovery from AKI, yet no data exist to support the utility of such AKI
      therapy in man. However, avoiding systemic and renal venous congestion,
      hypotension and fluid overload attenuates AKI in critically ill septic patients.
      KEY MESSAGE: While therapies aiming at modulating the sepsis-induced cellular
      response are discovered and tested, hemodynamic optimization remains critical in
      patients with or at risk of AKI.

PMID- 26881831
TI  - Pediatric Chordomas: A Population-Based Clinical Outcome Study Involving 86
      Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) Database
      (1973-2011).
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary chordomas, rare cancers arising from the notochord
      remnants, are extremely rare in the pediatric population. This study examined a
      large cohort of primary chordoma patients to determine factors impacting
      prognosis and survival. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data on 1,358 primary
      chordoma patients (86 pediatric patients <=19 years of age and 1,272 adult
      patients >=20 years of age) were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology,
      and End Result (SEER) database (1973-2011). RESULTS: Pediatric primary chordomas
      present most often as small tumors <4 cm in the cranium of male Caucasians.
      Despite the majority of primary chordomas presenting with locoregional
      involvement (90.4%), pediatric patients had more distant disease (14.8 vs. 9.2%,
      p < 0.05). Survival among pediatric patients having surgery only was
      significantly longer than for adults (22.5 vs. 14.3 years, p < 0.001). Overall
      survival was longer (17.2 vs. 12.6 years) and overall mortality was lower in
      pediatric patients (38.4 vs. 49.8%), but cancer-specific mortality was higher
      (37.2 vs. 28.6%, p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric primary chordomas present
      most often as small tumors <4 cm in the cranium of male Caucasians. Despite
      having a higher rate of metastasis, they have prolonged survival compared to
      adults. Surgical resection significantly improves survival in pediatric primary
      chordoma patients, and should be considered as first-line therapy in all eligible
      children.

PMID- 26881833
TI  - Sociodemographic, behavioral and genetic determinants of allostatic load in a
      Swiss population-based study.
AB  - Allostatic load (AL) is a marker of physiological dysregulation which reflects
      exposure to chronic stress. High AL has been related to poorer health outcomes
      including mortality. We examine here the association of socioeconomic and
      lifestyle factors with AL. Additionally, we investigate the extent to which AL is
      genetically determined. We included 803 participants (52% women, mean age 48+/
      16years) from a population and family-based Swiss study. We computed an AL index
      aggregating 14 markers from cardiovascular, metabolic, lipidic, oxidative,
      hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal and inflammatory homeostatic axes. Education and
      occupational position were used as indicators of socioeconomic status. Marital
      status, stress, alcohol intake, smoking, dietary patterns and physical activity
      were considered as lifestyle factors. Heritability of AL was estimated by maximum
      likelihood. Women with a low occupational position had higher AL (low vs. high
      OR=3.99, 95%CI [1.22;13.05]), while the opposite was observed for men (middle vs.
      high OR=0.48, 95%CI [0.23;0.99]). Education tended to be inversely associated
      with AL in both sexes(low vs. high OR=3.54, 95%CI [1.69;7.4]/OR=1.59, 95%CI
      [0.88;2.90] in women/men). Heavy drinking men as well as women abstaining from
      alcohol had higher AL than moderate drinkers. Physical activity was protective
      against AL while high salt intake was related to increased AL risk. The
      heritability of AL was estimated to be 29.5% +/-7.9%. Our results suggest that
      generalized physiological dysregulation, as measured by AL, is determined by both
      environmental and genetic factors. The genetic contribution to AL remains modest
      when compared to the environmental component, which explains approximately 70% of
      the phenotypic variance. 

PMID- 26881835
TI  - Hair cortisol and cognitive performance in working age adults.
AB  - It has been hypothesized that prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels results
      in cognitive impairment. However, previous research into the relationship between
      cortisol and cognition has produced mixed results, most likely due to
      difficulties achieving valid estimates of long-term cortisol exposure based on
      salivary or plasma cortisol assessments at a single time point. Furthermore,
      there has been little research on the cognitive effects of long-term cortisol
      exposure in working-age adults. In the present study, hair samples were collected
      from 246 nurses (89.8% female) aged from 21 to 62 (M=42.0, SD=11.2). Hair
      cortisol concentrations (HCC) in the proximal 3-cm hair segment were analyzed
      providing an estimate of integrated cortisol secretion over the 3 month-period
      prior to hair sampling. Cognition was measured using a battery of 15
      neuropsychological tests, measuring core dimensions of memory, inductive
      reasoning, processing speed, crystalized intelligence and major aspects of
      executive functioning. HCC was not significantly related to any of the cognitive
      abilities measured, either before or after controlling for potential moderators
      such as age, sex, education, health, well-being, work ability and burnout. Tests
      for nonlinear relationships also yielded non-significant results. Thus, despite
      the study being well powered, long term cortisol exposure did not appear to be
      related to cognitive performance in this sample of working-age adults, suggesting
      that long term cortisol exposure may be less relevant to cognition in younger and
      middle-aged adults than was previously thought. 

PMID- 26881834
TI  - Early life stress dampens stress responsiveness in adolescence: Evaluation of
      neuroendocrine reactivity and coping behavior.
AB  - Stressful experiences during early life (ELS) can affect brain development,
      thereby exerting a profound and long-lasting influence on mental development and
      psychological health. The stress inoculation hypothesis presupposes that
      individuals who have early experienced an attenuated form of stressors may gain
      immunity to its more virulent forms later in life. Increasing evidence
      demonstrates that ELS may promote the development of subsequent stress
      resistance, but the mechanisms underlying such adaptive changes are not fully
      understood. The present study evaluated the impact of fragmented dam-pup
      interactions by limiting the bedding and nesting material in the cage during
      postnatal days 2-9, a naturalistic animal model of chronic ELS, on the
      physiological and behavioral responses to different stressors in adolescent mice
      and characterized the possible underlying mechanisms. We found that ELS mice
      showed less social interaction deficits after chronic social defeat stress and
      acute restraint-tailshock stress-induced impaired long-term potentiation (LTP)
      and enhanced long-term depression (LTD) in hippocampal CA1 region compared with
      control mice. The effects of ELS on LTP and LTD were rescued by adrenalectomy.
      While ELS did not cause alterations in basal emotional behaviors, it
      significantly enhanced stress coping behaviors in both the tail suspension and
      the forced swimming tests. ELS mice exhibited a significant decrease in
      corticosterone response and trafficking of glucocorticoid receptors to the
      nucleus in response to acute restraint stress. Altogether, our data support the
      hypothesis that stress inoculation training, via early exposure to manageable
      stress, may enhance resistance to other unrelated extreme stressors in
      adolescence. 

PMID- 26881836
TI  - Acute restraint stress induces rapid changes in central redox status and
      protective antioxidant genes in rats.
AB  - The stress-induced imbalance in reduction/oxidation (redox) state has been
      proposed to play a major role in the etiology of neurological disorders. However,
      the relationship between psychological stress, central redox state, and potential
      protective mechanisms within specific neural regions has not been well
      characterized. In this study, we have used an acute psychological stress to
      demonstrate the dynamic changes that occur in the redox system of hippocampal and
      striatal tissue. Outbred male Wistar rats were subject to 0 (control), 60, 120,
      or 240min of acute restraint stress and the hippocampus and striatum were
      cryodissected for redox assays and relative gene expression. Restraint stress
      significantly elevated oxidative status and lipid peroxidation, while decreasing
      glutathione ratios overall indicative of oxidative stress in both neural regions.
      These biochemical changes were prevented by prior administration of the
      glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-486. The hippocampus also demonstrated
      increased glutathione peroxidase 1 and 4 antioxidant expression which was not
      observed in the striatum, while both regions displayed robust upregulation of the
      antioxidant, metallothionein 1a. This was observed with concurrent upregulation
      of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, a local reactivator of corticosterone,
      in addition to decreased expression of the cytosolic regulatory subunit of
      superoxide-producing enzyme, NADPH-oxidase. Together, this study demonstrates
      distinctive regional redox profiles following acute stress exposure, in addition
      to identifying differential capabilities in managing oxidative challenges via
      altered antioxidant gene expression in the hippocampus and striatum. 

PMID- 26881837
TI  - Decline of hippocampal stress reactivity and neuronal ensemble coherence in a
      mouse model of depression.
AB  - Dysregulations of stress systems, especially the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal
      (HPA) axis, have been commonly reported in major depression. Consistent results
      emphasized the role of the hippocampus in regulating stress systems and restoring
      an operative control on HPA axis following antidepressant treatments. However,
      very little is known about how the hippocampus integrates stress-related
      information and reacts to stressors beforehand. We therefore aimed to assess
      activations of hippocampal neuronal ensembles during stress-related experiences
      and evaluated the effects of a mouse model of depression, the Unpredictable
      Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS), and an antidepressant treatment (fluoxetine, 20mgkg(
      1)day(-1), ip) in BALB/cByJ mice. The UCMS induced a depression-like syndrome
      characterized by a reduced weight gain, a progressive deterioration of the coat,
      an altered stress-coping strategy in behavioural tests and HPA axis
      dysregulations. Chronic fluoxetine had no effect in control non-stressed mice per
      se but reversed the syndrome induced by the UCMS, including an improvement of the
      HPA-system alterations. Neuronal activation was then assessed by immediate early
      gene (c-fos) expression in different subfields of the CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG)
      along the dorso-ventral axis of the hippocampus, as they can support different
      computational functions. Our results showed that the hippocampus reacts to
      stressors by adjusting activations of cell ensembles. A pre-treatment with
      dexamethasone (DEX), a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist that produced a
      delayed inhibition of the HPA axis activity, reduced novelty-related activations
      in the proximal CA3 (CA3c) and the DG of the dorsal hippocampus. All these
      effects were compromised by the UCMS, particularly by altering activation
      coherences within the dorsal CA3-DG network, but were rescued by chronic
      fluoxetine. Our study indicates therefore that variations of CA3-DG cell ensemble
      activation may contribute to stress integration in the hippocampus and that
      dysfunctions of this process may foster HPA-system dysregulations and depression
      related states. It suggests that pharmacological interventions aiming to
      consolidate CA3-DG neural network might improve stress reactivity and possibly
      benefit to patients with major depression. 

PMID- 26881838
TI  - How to treat paracetamol overdose and when to do it.

PMID- 26881840
TI  - Rearing history and allostatic load in adult western lowland gorillas (Gorilla
      gorilla gorilla) in human care.
AB  - Disrupted rearing history is a psychological and physical stressor for nonhuman
      primates, potentially resulting in multiple behavioral and physiological changes.
      As a chronic, soma-wide stressor, altered rearing may be best assessed using a
      holistic tool such as allostatic load (AL). In humans, AL estimates outcomes of
      lifetime stress-induced damage. We predicted mother-reared gorillas would have
      lower AL than nursery-reared and wild-caught conspecifics. We estimated AL for 27
      gorillas housed at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium between 1956 and 2014. AL
      estimates were calculated using biomarkers obtained during previous anesthetic
      events. Biomarkers in the high-risk quartile were counted toward a gorilla's AL.
      Rearing history was categorized as mother-reared, nursery-reared, and wild
      caught. Using ANCOVA, rearing history and AL are significantly associated when
      age and sex are entered as covariates. Wild-caught gorillas have significantly
      higher AL than mother-reared gorillas. Neither wild-caught nor mother-reared
      gorillas are significantly different from nursery-reared gorillas. When examined
      by sex, males of all rearing histories have significantly lower AL than females.
      We suggest males face few stressors in human care and ill effects of rearing
      history do not follow. Wild-caught females have significantly higher AL than
      mother-reared females, but neither is significantly different from nursery-reared
      females. Combined with our previous work on AL in this group, wherein females had
      twofold higher AL than males, we suggest females in human care face more
      stressors than males. Disrupted rearing history may exacerbate effects of these
      stressors. Providing opportunities for females to choose their distance from
      males may help reduce their AL.

PMID- 26881839
TI  - Parallel effects of the inversion In(3R)Payne on body size across the North
      American and Australian clines in Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - Chromosomal inversions are thought to play a major role in climatic adaptation.
      In D. melanogaster, the cosmopolitan inversion In(3R)Payne exhibits latitudinal
      clines on multiple continents. As many fitness traits show similar clines, it is
      tempting to hypothesize that In(3R)P underlies observed clinal patterns for some
      of these traits. In support of this idea, previous work in Australian populations
      has demonstrated that In(3R)P affects body size but not development time or cold
      resistance. However, similar data from other clines of this inversion are largely
      lacking; finding parallel effects of In(3R)P across multiple clines would
      considerably strengthen the case for clinal selection. Here, we have analysed the
      phenotypic effects of In(3R)P in populations originating from the endpoints of
      the latitudinal cline along the North American east coast. We measured
      development time, egg-to-adult survival, several size-related traits (femur and
      tibia length, wing area and shape), chill coma recovery, oxidative stress
      resistance and triglyceride content in homokaryon lines carrying In(3R)P or the
      standard arrangement. Our central finding is that the effects of In(3R)P along
      the North American cline match those observed in Australia: standard arrangement
      lines were larger than inverted lines, but the inversion did not influence
      development time or cold resistance. Similarly, In(3R)P did not affect egg-to
      adult survival, oxidative stress resistance and lipid content. In(3R)P thus seems
      to specifically affect size traits in populations from both continents. This
      parallelism strongly suggests an adaptive pattern, whereby the inversion has
      captured alleles associated with growth regulation and clinal selection acts on
      size across both continents.

PMID- 26881842
TI  - The Effect of Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agents on Health-Related Quality of Life
      in Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The efficacy of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) for
      improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in anemia of chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) is unclear. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of ESAs on HRQOL at
      different hemoglobin targets in adults with CKD who were receiving or not
      receiving dialysis. DATA SOURCES: Searches of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane
      Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 1 November 2015, supplemented
      with manual screening. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized, controlled trials that
      evaluated the treatment of anemia with ESAs, including erythropoietin and
      darbepoetin, targeted higher versus lower hemoglobin levels, and used validated
      HRQOL metrics. DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics, quality, and data were
      assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Outcome measures were scores on the Short
      Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Kidney Dialysis Questionnaire (KDQ), and other
      tools. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of 17 eligible studies, 13 reported SF-36 outcomes and 4
      reported KDQ outcomes. Study populations consisted of patients not undergoing
      dialysis (n = 12), those undergoing dialysis (n = 4), or a mixed sample (n = 1).
      Only 4 studies had low risk of bias. Pooled analyses showed that higher
      hemoglobin targets resulted in no statistically or clinically significant
      differences in SF-36 or KDQ domains. Differences in HRQOL were further attenuated
      in studies at low risk of bias and in subgroups of dialysis recipients.
      LIMITATION: Statistically significant heterogeneity among studies, few good
      quality studies, and possible publication bias. CONCLUSION: ESA treatment of
      anemia to obtain higher hemoglobin targets does not result in important
      differences in HRQOL in patients with CKD. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: KRESCENT and
      Manitoba Health Research Council Establishment.

PMID- 26881841
TI  - AAV-Mediated Clarin-1 Expression in the Mouse Retina: Implications for USH3A Gene
      Therapy.
AB  - Usher syndrome type III (USH3A) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by
      mutations in clarin-1 (CLRN1) gene, leading to progressive retinal degeneration
      and sensorineural deafness. Efforts to develop therapies for preventing
      photoreceptor cell loss are hampered by the lack of a retinal phenotype in the
      existing USH3 mouse models and by conflicting reports regarding the endogenous
      retinal localization of clarin-1, a transmembrane protein of unknown function. In
      this study, we used an AAV-based approach to express CLRN1 in the mouse retina in
      order to determine the pattern of its subcellular localization in different cell
      types. We found that all major classes of retinal cells express AAV-delivered
      CLRN1 driven by the ubiquitous, constitutive small chicken beta-actin promoter,
      which has important implications for the design of future USH3 gene therapy
      studies. Within photoreceptor cells, AAV-expressed CLRN1 is mainly localized at
      the inner segment region and outer plexiform layer, similar to the endogenous
      expression of other usher proteins. Subretinal delivery using a full strength
      viral titer led to significant loss of retinal function as evidenced by ERG
      analysis, suggesting that there is a critical limit for CLRN1 expression in
      photoreceptor cells. Taken together, these results suggest that CLRN1 expression
      is potentially supported by a variety of retinal cells, and the right combination
      of AAV vector dose, promoter, and delivery method needs to be selected to develop
      safe therapies for USH3 disorder. 

PMID- 26881844
TI  - Multiresidue Analysis of Pesticides in Straw Roughage by Liquid Chromatography
      Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
AB  - A multiresidue analytical method using a modification of the "quick, easy, cheap,
      effective, rugged, and safe" (QuEChERS) sample preparation approach combined with
      liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was
      established and validated for the rapid determination of 69 pesticides at
      different levels (1-100 ng/g) in wheat and rice straws. In the quantitative
      analysis, the recoveries ranged from 70 to 120%, and consistent RSDs <= 20% were
      achieved for most of the target analytes (53 pesticides in wheat straw and 58 in
      rice straw). Almost all of the analytes achieved good linearity with R(2) > 0.98,
      and the limit of validation levels (LVLs) for diverse pesticides ranged from 1 to
      10 ng/g. Different extraction and cleanup conditions were evaluated in both types
      of straw, leading to different options. The use of 0.1% formic acid or not in
      extraction with acetonitrile yielded similar final outcomes, but led to the use
      of a different sorbent in dispersive solid-phase extraction. Both options are
      efficient and useful for the multiresidue analysis of targeted pesticides in
      wheat and rice straw samples. 

PMID- 26881843
TI  - Age-Associated Lipidome Changes in Metaphase II Mouse Oocytes.
AB  - The quality of mammalian oocytes declines with age, which negatively affects
      fertilization and developmental potential. The aging process often accompanies
      damages to macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, and lipids. To investigate if
      aged oocytes display an altered lipidome compared to young oocytes, we performed
      a global lipidomic analysis between oocytes from 4-week-old and 42 to 50-week-old
      mice. Increased oxidative stress is often considered as one of the main causes of
      cellular aging. Thus, we set up a group of 4-week-old oocytes treated with
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a commonly used oxidative stressor, to compare if
      similar lipid species are altered between aged and oxidative-stressed oocytes.
      Between young and aged oocytes, we identified 26 decreased and 6 increased lipids
      in aged oocytes; and between young and H2O2-treated oocytes, we identified 35
      decreased and 26 increased lipids in H2O2-treated oocytes. The decreased lipid
      species in these two comparisons were overlapped, whereas the increased lipid
      species were distinct. Multiple phospholipid classes, phosphatidic acid (PA),
      phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and lysophosphatidylserine
      (LPS) significantly decreased both in H2O2-treated and aged oocytes, suggesting
      that the integrity of plasma membrane is similarly affected under these
      conditions. In contrast, a dramatic increase in diacylglycerol (DG) was only
      noted in H2O2-treated oocytes, indicating that the acute effect of H2O2-caused
      oxidative stress is distinct from aging-associated lipidome alteration. In H2O2
      treated oocytes, the expression of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1
      increased along with increases in phosphatidylcholine. Overall, our data reveal
      that several classes of phospholipids are affected in aged oocytes, suggesting
      that the integrity of plasma membrane is associated with maintaining
      fertilization and developmental potential of mouse oocytes. 

PMID- 26881845
TI  - Revisiting Adiabatic Switching for Initial Conditions in Quasi-Classical
      Trajectory Calculations: Application to CH4.
AB  - Semiclassical quantization of vibrational energies, using adiabatic switching
      (AS), is applied to CH4 using a recent ab initio potential energy surface, for
      which exact quantum calculations of vibrational energies are available. Details
      of the present calculations, which employ a harmonic normal-mode zeroth-order
      Hamiltonian, emphasize the importance of transforming to the Eckart frame during
      the propagation of the adiabatically switched Hamiltonian. The AS energies for
      the zero-point, and fundamental excitations of two modes are in good agreement
      with the quantum ones. The use of AS in the context of quasi-classical trajectory
      calculations is revisited, following previous work reported in 1995, which did
      not recommend the procedure. We come to a different conclusion here. 

PMID- 26881846
TI  - The Future of Diabetes Prevention: A Call for Papers.

PMID- 26881847
TI  - Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) in the Mediterranean Sea: Genetic Diversity and
      Population Structure.
AB  - The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, is a largely exploited
      cephalopod species in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as
      along the coasts of Africa, Brazil and Japan, where its taxonomic identity is
      still debated. The assessment of its genetic structure is a pressing need to
      correctly manage the resource and to avoid overfishing and collapsing of local
      stocks. Here we analysed genetic variation and population structure of O.
      vulgaris using thirteen microsatellite loci in seven sampling localities from the
      Mediterranean Sea and one from the Atlantic Ocean. We also used a DNA barcoding
      approach by COI gene fragment to understand the phylogenetic relationships among
      the specimens here investigated and the ones whose sequences are available in
      literature. Our results reveal high levels of allelic richness and moderate
      heterozygosity in all samples investigated, and a pronounced differentiation of
      the Atlantic and Sicilian specimens. This latter aspect seems to support the
      isolation of the biota within the Strait of Messina. A certain degree of
      differentiation was detected among the other geographic samples within the
      Mediterranean Sea, which is more compatible with an island model than isolation
      by distance. The occurrence of null alleles affected more genetic diversity
      indices than population structure estimations. This study provides new insights
      about the genetic diversity and structure of O. vulgaris in the area of interest,
      which can be used as guidelines for a fisheries management perspective. 

PMID- 26881848
TI  - Oral health-related knowledge, attitudes and habits in relation to perceived oral
      symptoms among 12-year-old school children.
AB  - Objective The aim of the study was to investigate oral health-related knowledge,
      attitudes and habits and their relationship to perceived oral symptoms among 12
      year-olds and differences between boys and girls. Material and methods The study
      population consisted of children (n = 588) in 15 randomly selected elementary
      schools in Turku, Finland. Associations between oral health-related habits,
      knowledge and attitudes with perceived oral symptoms and gender differences were
      evaluated with chi(2)-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and logistic regression analysis.
      Results Oral health promoting habits but not knowledge or attitudes associated
      significantly with absence of oral symptoms. Girls reported a higher percentage
      of several health promotional habits than boys. Girls reported more frequently
      gingival bleeding and less frequently dental calculus than boys did. The most
      common oral symptom was gingival bleeding. Conclusions The present findings
      suggest some gender-related differences in oral health habits, attitudes, as well
      as perceived oral symptoms in 12-year-olds. There seems, however, not to be
      gender differences in relation to knowledge or the association of health habits
      with perceived oral symptoms. It is important to maintain health promotion at
      schools and additional efforts should be aimed at translating knowledge into
      action. 

PMID- 26881849
TI  - Conformational Disorganization within the Active Site of a Recently Evolved
      Organophosphate Hydrolase Limits Its Catalytic Efficiency.
AB  - The evolution of new enzymatic activity is rarely observed outside of the
      laboratory. In the agricultural pest Lucilia cuprina, a naturally occurring
      mutation (Gly137Asp) in alpha-esterase 7 (LcalphaE7) results in acquisition of
      organophosphate hydrolase activity and confers resistance to organophosphate
      insecticides. Here, we present an X-ray crystal structure of LcalphaE7:Gly137Asp
      that, along with kinetic data, suggests that Asp137 acts as a general base in the
      new catalytic mechanism. Unexpectedly, the conformation of Asp137 observed in the
      crystal structure obstructs the active site and is not catalytically productive.
      Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that alternative, catalytically competent
      conformers of Asp137 are sampled on the nanosecond time scale, although these
      states are less populated. Thus, although the mutation introduces the new
      reactive group responsible for organophosphate detoxification, the catalytic
      efficiency appears to be limited by conformational disorganization: the frequent
      sampling of low-energy nonproductive states. This result is consistent with a
      model of molecular evolution in which initial function-changing mutations can
      result in enzymes that display only a fraction of their catalytic potential due
      to conformational disorganization. 

PMID- 26881850
TI  - Tuberculosis Mortality and Living Conditions in Bern, Switzerland, 1856-1950.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a poverty-related disease that is associated
      with poor living conditions. We studied TB mortality and living conditions in
      Bern between 1856 and 1950. METHODS: We analysed cause-specific mortality based
      on mortality registers certified by autopsies, and public health reports 1856 to
      1950 from the city council of Bern. RESULTS: TB mortality was higher in the Black
      Quarter (550 per 100,000) and in the city centre (327 per 100,000), compared to
      the outskirts (209 per 100,000 in 1911-1915). TB mortality correlated positively
      with the number of persons per room (r = 0.69, p = 0.026), the percentage of
      rooms without sunlight (r = 0.72, p = 0.020), and negatively with the number of
      windows per apartment (r = -0.79, p = 0.007). TB mortality decreased 10-fold from
      330 per 100,000 in 1856 to 33 per 100,000 in 1950, as housing conditions
      improved, indoor crowding decreased, and open-air schools, sanatoria, systematic
      tuberculin skin testing of school children and chest radiography screening were
      introduced. CONCLUSIONS: Improved living conditions and public health measures
      may have contributed to the massive decline of the TB epidemic in the city of
      Bern even before effective antibiotic treatment became finally available in the
      1950s.

PMID- 26881851
TI  - Smoking, cessation, and cessation counseling in patients with cancer: A
      population-based analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Smoking is known to be carcinogenic and an important factor in the
      outcome of cancer treatment. However, to the authors' knowledge, smoking habits
      and smoking cessation counseling in patients with cancer have been poorly
      studied. The authors sought to analyze smoking habits among Americans diagnosed
      with cancer in a nationally representative dataset. METHODS: The cancer
      supplement of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 2010 was used to
      obtain information regarding self-reported smoking behavior in a representative
      sample of the US population. Cancer history, smoking history, quitting behavior,
      cessation counseling, cessation approaches, and sociodemographic variables were
      analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 27,157 individuals were interviewed for the NHIS in
      2010, representing 216,052,891 individuals, 7,058,135 of whom had ever smoked and
      13,188,875 of whom had been told that they had cancer. Approximately 51.7% of
      individuals diagnosed with cancer and who were active smokers reported being
      counseled to quit smoking by a health professional within the previous 12 months.
      Cancer survivors were no more likely to quit smoking than individuals in the
      general population. Those diagnosed with a tobacco-related cancer were found to
      be no more likely to report quitting smoking than those with other types of
      cancers. Rates of quitting did not appear to vary based on the type of smoking
      cessation method used (P = .50). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer, including
      those diagnosed with a tobacco-related cancer, do not appear to be more likely to
      quit smoking than the general population. Only approximately one-half of patients
      with cancer who smoke are counseled to quit. Smoking cessation in patients with
      cancer is an important area for intervention and investigation.

PMID- 26881852
TI  - The windblown hand and its surgical management.

PMID- 26881853
TI  - Anticoagulant, antiplatelet and antianemic effects of Punica granatum
      (pomegranate) juice in rabbits.
AB  - Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is a good source of minerals and
      phytochemicals with diverse pharmacological activities such as anxiolytic,
      antidepressant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory activities.
      Effects of P. granatum on blood parameters and coagulation have, however, been
      little studied. The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of P. granatum on
      coagulation and anticoagulation factors at different doses on blood samples of
      healthy white rabbits. Blood samples of the animals were collected twice during
      the study and biochemical assays were performed to assess the effect on
      hematological, coagulation, anticoagulation, and platelet aggregation.
      Significant changes were observed in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and mean
      corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, while bleeding and thrombin time were also
      prolonged significantly. There was significant increase in protein C, thrombin
      antithrombin complex levels, and decrease in platelet aggregation and fibrinogen
      concentration, in a dose-dependent manner. The results of hematological and
      coagulation assays lead to the speculation about a possible antianemic and
      cardioprotective effect of P. granatum. 

PMID- 26881854
TI  - An observational study of haemostatic changes, leptin and soluble endoglin during
      pregnancy in women with different BMIs.
AB  - Obesity increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy. The
      pathogenesis is hypothesized to be because of multiple factors including
      prothrombotic changes, but there has been minimal haemostatic research looking at
      the combined state of obesity and pregnancy. We aimed to determine whether
      variation in BMI in the third trimester of pregnancy was associated with
      prothrombotic changes. We recruited 110 women into four groups depending on their
      BMI at first antenatal appointment: normal, overweight, obese and morbidly obese.
      Women with increased risk of VTE, and/or receiving thromboprophylaxis, and/or
      more than 35 years and those in labour were excluded. Thromboelastography,
      platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time,
      fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, free and total protein S, plasminogen
      activator inhibitor type 1, tissue plasminogen activator antigen, D-dimers,
      soluble endoglin and leptin levels were measured. There were no significant
      differences in haemostatic measures with changing BMI. There was a positive
      correlation between BMI and both platelet count (correlation coefficient r =
      0.214, P = 0.036) and leptin (r = 0.435, P < 0.001), but only leptin had a
      significant association with BMI once adjusted for age, gestation and parity.
      Despite recruitment into the morbidly obese group being suboptimal, these
      findings suggest that in pregnancy, the increased risk of VTE seen in obese
      mothers is not mediated through increased prothrombotic changes, and thus the
      increased risk of VTE in obese pregnant women may be because of other mechanisms,
      for example endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and venous stasis.

PMID- 26881855
TI  - A novel coagulation parameter monitoring bleeding tendency of Chinese nonvalvular
      atrial fibrillation patients prescribing dabigatran etexilate.
AB  - The objective of this study was to find a new parameter to monitor bleeding
      tendency after dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) medication in Chinese nonvalvular
      atrial fibrillation patients. Blood samples of 231 nonvalvular atrial
      fibrillation patients were collected and five routine coagulation examinations
      (prothrombin time/International normalized ratio, activated partial
      thromboplastin time, fibrinogen assay, thrombin time and D-dimer) were assayed.
      After dabigatran etexilate administration, prolonged activated partial
      thromboplastin time and thrombin time were observed, especially TT. Derived
      parameter DeltaTT (TT after dabigatran etexilate medication - TT before
      dabigatran etexilate medication) of bleeding patients was higher than nonbleeding
      patients (97.7 vs. 85.6 s, P = 0.038). When using DeltaTT to distinguish patients
      with and without bleeding events, the cutoff value was 97.25 s, where sensitivity
      was 82.4% and specificity was 50.0%. The area under the curve was 0.786. TT is
      better than other routine coagulation parameters in monitoring the effect of
      dabigatran etexilate. DeltaTT can distinguish bleeding patients from nonbleeding
      patients. 

PMID- 26881856
TI  - Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI)-Mediated Amelioration in Renal
      Fibrosis Involves Suppression of Mast Cell Degranulation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mechanism by which angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
      (ACEIs) attenuate renal fibrosis has not been fully uncovered. METHODS: Renal
      fibrosis in rats was triggered by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and
      treated with Enalapril. RESULTS: Enalapril attenuated renal fibrosis, as
      evidenced by the fibrosis scores (1.07+/-0.73 versus 2.18+/-0.75 for 200 mg/ml
      Enalapril versus control, p<0.01) of Enalapril-treated UUO rats compared to mock
      treated UUO rats. The amelioration was mast cell dependent, as Enalapril
      exhibited no effects on mast cell-deficient Kit(wsh/wsh) mice developing renal
      fibrosis. We detected lower levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)
      and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA, a fibroblast activation marker) in the
      kidney tissue of Enalapril-treated UUO rats relative to the control UUO rats.
      Enalapril-treated UUO rats exhibited far fewer mast cells infiltrating per area
      in the kidney tissue than the control UUO rats (8.00+/-0.65 versus 29.00+/-0.57,
      p<0.01). Electron microscopy images revealed that mast cell degranulation was
      inhibited by Enalapril treatment. Further, IgE-mediated passive cutaneous
      anaphylaxis demonstrated that Enalapril blocked mast cell degranulation in vivo.
      CONCLUSION: Enalapril attenuated renal fibrosis in UUO rats, possibly by a
      mechanism involving the suppression of mast cell degranulation.

PMID- 26881857
TI  - Inhalation of ambroxol inhibits cigarette smoke-induced acute lung injury in a
      mouse model by inhibiting the Erk pathway.
AB  - Oral and injection administration of ambroxol has been clinically used to treat
      airway disease. However, little is known about its potentials in inhalation
      therapy. In present studies, we tested the effects of ambroxol by inhalation with
      intravenous administration, and explored the underlying working mechanism. The
      mice received 10 cigarettes exposure every day for 4 days. Inhaled solution of
      ambroxol was aerosolized 20 min before the exposure of cigarette smoke (CS). The
      effect of ambroxol on the expression of mucoprotein 5 AC (MUC5AC) and
      proinflammatory cytokines in NCI-H292 cells stimulated with cigarette smoke
      extract (CSE). Four days of daily inhalation of ambroxol at 3.75 or 7.5mg/ml for
      20 min suppressed the accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages in the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues, and inhibited increases in
      the mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, CCL-2 and KC,
      but not interleukin (IL)-1beta in the CS-exposed mice. Moreover, ambroxol at 3.75
      or 7.5mg/ml facilitated airway mucosa cilia clearance, reduced glycosaminoglycans
      level in BALF and MUC5AC mRNA levels in lung tissues. The effects of ambroxol by
      inhalation at 7.5mg/ml was comparable to that of ambroxol at 20mg/kg i.v. and
      dexamethasone at 0.5mg/kg i.p. Using cultured lung epithelial cells, we
      demonstrated that pretreatment with ambroxol at 2 or 20 MUM inhibited the CSE
      induced up-regulation of MUC5AC, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta mRNA levels, which was
      through inhibiting Erk signaling pathway. Our results demonstrate the beneficial
      effects of ambroxol as an inhalation replace systemic administration for COPD
      therapy.

PMID- 26881859
TI  - Pharmacotherapy of Aggression in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Aggression is a common, yet complex, behavioral complaint, and a
      frequent indication for referral to child and adolescent psychiatrist treatment.
      This article reviews the evidence supporting pharmacotherapy of aggression in
      youth, with a primary focus on impulsive aggression (the primary indication for
      this intervention). Relevant diagnostic considerations and consensus guidelines
      are discussed. METHODS: Articles examining the role of medications in the
      treatment of aggression in youth with pathological aggression were identified
      using PubMed and MEDLINE(r) databases over the past 15 years (2000-2015);
      selected articles published prior to 2000 and deemed to be of high relevance were
      searched and also included. Search terms included: Aggression, aggressive,
      disruptive behavior, conduct, youth, children, and adolescents. Cited references
      were also searched for relevant articles. RESULTS: There are a number of evidence
      based medication treatments for aggression, which are generally best considered
      in the context of differential diagnosis and ongoing evidence-based psychosocial
      interventions. Impulsive aggression is generally considered the type of
      aggression most amenable to medication, but other aggression subtypes may also
      possibly respond to treatment. Medication classes with positive evidence include
      the psychostimulants and alpha-2 agonists (in the presence of attention
      deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and/or disruptive behavior disorders), mood
      stabilizing agents, and atypical antipsychotics. Published guidelines recommend
      systematic and adequate trials of medications in sequential order, to optimize
      response and minimize polypharmacy. Guidelines for safety monitoring are
      available for many of the medications used for aggression in youth, and are also
      discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Aggression in children carries a high risk of poor
      outcomes, and, therefore, a better understanding of treatment options is a high
      priority. The available literature points to the importance of identifying the
      underlying disorder, when possible, and using this information to guide treatment
      selection. Future studies are needed to better inform the treatment of aggression
      across disorders, and the treatment of different aggression subtypes.

PMID- 26881860
TI  - Staying Up at Night: Overlapping Bipolar and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
      Symptoms in an Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

PMID- 26881861
TI  - Weight Loss Associated with Reboxetine Use in Adolescents.

PMID- 26881862
TI  - Putting the Spotlight on Invisible Family Caregivers.

PMID- 26881864
TI  - Management of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is known to be a common
      complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with poor short- and long-term
      outcomes. The causes of CSA-AKI include the discovered or undiscovered risk
      factors within the perioperative course, mostly non-modifiable; some are even
      iatrogenic. Recognizing and mediating risk factors preoperatively and optimizing
      intraoperative practices may decrease the incidence of CSA-AKI. By now, the
      present studies cannot confirm which drugs are better off for preventing CSA-AKI.
      The effect and whether early administration of these drugs to prevent CSA-AKI is
      effective remain uncertain, so is the administration of renal replacement
      therapy. We will demonstrate some typical studies that focus on the prevention of
      CSA-AKI and may delight further research. 

PMID- 26881865
TI  - An attentional bias for LEGO(r) people using a change detection task: Are LEGO(r)
      people animate?
AB  - Animate objects have been shown to elicit attentional priority in a change
      detection task. This benefit has been seen for both human and nonhuman animals
      compared with inanimate objects. One explanation for these results has been based
      on the importance animate objects have served over the course of our species'
      history. In the present set of experiments, we present stimuli, which could be
      perceived as animate, but with which our distant ancestors would have had no
      experience, and natural selection could have no direct pressure on their
      prioritization. In the first experiment, we compared LEGO(r) "people" with LEGO
      "nonpeople" in a change detection task. In a second experiment, we attempt to
      control the heterogeneity of the nonanimate objects by using LEGO blocks, matched
      in size and colour to LEGO people. In the third experiment, we occlude the faces
      of the LEGO people to control for facial pattern recognition. In the final 2
      experiments, we attempt to obscure high-level categorical information processing
      of the stimuli by inverting and blurring the scenes. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881863
TI  - Low Interferon Relative-Response to Cytomegalovirus Is Associated with Low
      Likelihood of Intrauterine Transmission of the Virus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a very common intrauterine
      infection which can cause severe mental and hearing impairments. Notably, only
      40% of primarily infected women transmit CMV to the fetus. CMV-specific T-cell
      response has a role in CMV disease but individual immune heterogeneity precludes
      reliable correlation between measurable T-cells response and intrauterine
      transmission. STUDY AIM: To establish a correlation between maternal T-cells
      response and fetal CMV transmission using an individual normalized immune
      response. METHODS: We analyzed IFN-gamma secretion upon whole blood stimulation
      from primary CMV-infected pregnant women, with either CMV-peptides or PHA
      mitogen. RESULTS: We established a new normalization method of individual IFN
      gamma response to CMV by defining the ratio between specific-CMV response and non
      specific mitogen response (defined as IFN-gamma relative response, RR), aiming to
      overcome high person-to-person immune variability. We found a unique
      subpopulation of women with low IFN-gamma RR strongly correlated with absence of
      transmission. IFN-gamma RR lower than 1.8% (threshold determined by ROC analysis)
      reduces the pre-test probability of transmission from 40% to 8%, revealing an
      unexpected link between low IFN-gamma RR and non-transmission. CONCLUSION: In
      pregnant women with primary CMV infection, low IFN-gamma RR is associated with
      low risk of transmission.

PMID- 26881866
TI  - Classification of Cholestatic and Necrotic Hepatotoxicants Using Transcriptomics
      on Human Precision-Cut Liver Slices.
AB  - Human toxicity screening is an important stage in the development of safe drug
      candidates. Hepatotoxicity is one of the major reasons for the withdrawal of
      drugs from the market because the liver is the major organ involved in drug
      metabolism, and it can generate toxic metabolites. There is a need to screen
      molecules for drug-induced hepatotoxicity in humans at an earlier stage.
      Transcriptomics is a technique widely used to screen molecules for toxicity and
      to unravel toxicity mechanisms. To date, the majority of such studies were
      performed using animals or animal cells, with concomitant difficulty in
      interpretation due to species differences, or in human hepatoma cell lines or
      cultured hepatocytes, suffering from the lack of physiological expression of
      enzymes and transporters and lack of nonparenchymal cells. The aim of this study
      was to classify known hepatotoxicants on their phenotype of toxicity in humans
      using gene expression profiles ex vivo in human precision-cut liver slices
      (PCLS). Hepatotoxicants known to induce either necrosis (n = 5) or cholestasis (n
      = 5) were used at concentrations inducing low (<30%) and medium (30-50%)
      cytotoxicity, based on ATP content. Random forest and support vector machine
      algorithms were used to classify hepatotoxicants using a leave-one-compound-out
      cross-validation method. Optimized biomarker sets were compared to derive a
      consensus list of markers. Classification correctly predicted the toxicity
      phenotype with an accuracy of 70-80%. The classification is slightly better for
      the low than for the medium cytotoxicity. The consensus list of markers includes
      endoplasmic reticulum stress genes, such as C2ORF30, DNAJB9, DNAJC12, SRP72,
      TMED7, and UBA5, and a sodium/bile acid cotransporter (SLC10A7). This study shows
      that human PCLS are a useful model to predict the phenotype of drug-induced
      hepatotoxicity. Additional compounds should be included to confirm the consensus
      list of markers, which could then be used to develop a biomarker PCR-array for
      hepatotoxicity screening. 

PMID- 26881867
TI  - Transcriptome regulation and chromatin occupancy by E2F3 and MYC in mice.
AB  - E2F3 and MYC are transcription factors that control cellular proliferation. To
      study their mechanism of action in the context of a regenerating tissue, we
      isolated both proliferating (crypts) and non-dividing (villi) cells from wild
      type and Rb depleted small intestines of mice and performed ChIP-exo-seq
      (chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with lambda exonuclease digestion
      followed by high-throughput sequencing). The genome-wide chromatin occupancy of
      E2F3 and MYC was determined by mapping sequence reads to the genome and
      predicting preferred binding sites (peaks). Binding sites could be accurately
      identified within small regions of only 24 bp-28 bp long, highlighting the
      precision to which binding peaks can be identified by ChIP-exo-seq. Forty
      randomly selected E2F3- and MYC-specific binding sites were validated by ChIP
      PCR. In addition, we also presented gene expression data sets from wild type, Rb
      , E2f3- and Myc-depleted crypts and villi within this manuscript. These represent
      comprehensive and validated datasets that can be integrated to identify putative
      direct targets of E2F3 and MYC involved in the control of cellular proliferation
      in normal and Rb-deficient small intestines. 

PMID- 26881868
TI  - A strontium-incorporated nanoporous titanium implant surface for rapid
      osseointegration.
AB  - Rapid osseointegration of dental implants will shorten the period of treatment
      and enhance the comfort of patients. Due to the vital role of angiogenesis played
      during bone development and regeneration, it might be feasible to promote rapid
      osseointegration by modifying the implant surface to gain a combined
      angiogenesis/osteogenesis inducing capacity. In this study, a novel coating (MAO
      Sr) with strontium-incorporated nanoporous structures on titanium implants was
      generated via a new micro-arc oxidation, in an attempt to induce angiogenesis and
      osteogenesis to enhance rapid osseointegration. In vitro, the nanoporous
      structure significantly enhanced the initial adhesion of canine BMSCs. More
      importantly, sustained release of strontium ions also displayed a stronger effect
      on the BMSCs in facilitating their osteogenic differentiation and promoting the
      angiogenic growth factor secretion to recruit endothelial cells and promote blood
      vessel formation. Advanced mechanism analyses indicated that MAPK/Erk and
      PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were involved in these effects of the MAO-Sr coating.
      Finally, in the canine dental implantation study, the MAO-Sr coating induced
      faster bone formation within the initial six weeks and the osseointegration
      effect was comparable to that of the commercially available ITI implants. These
      results suggest that the MAO-Sr coating has the potential for future use in
      dental implants. 

PMID- 26881869
TI  - Exploring Summer Medical Care Within the National Collegiate Athletic Association
      Division I Setting: A Perspective From the Athletic Trainer.
AB  - CONTEXT: Over the last few decades, the National Collegiate Athletics Association
      (NCAA) has made changes related to the increase in sanctioned team activities
      during summer athletics. These changes may affect how athletic training services
      are provided. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the methods by which athletic training
      departments of NCAA institutions manage expectations regarding athletic training
      services during the summer. DESIGN: Mixed-methods qualitative and quantitative
      study. SETTING: The NCAA Division I. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two
      athletic trainers (13 men, 9 women) participated. All were employed full time
      within the NCAA Division I setting. Participants were 35 +/- 8 years of age
      (range, 26-52 years), with 12 +/- 7 years (range, 3-29 years) of athletic
      training experience. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All participants completed a
      series of questions online that consisted of closed- (demographic and Likert
      scale 5-point) and open-ended items that addressed the research questions.
      Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and phenomenologic analyses were
      completed with the data. Peer review and multiple-analyst triangulation
      established credibility. RESULTS: Summer athletic training services included 3
      primary mechanisms: individual medical care, shared medical care, or a
      combination of the 2. Participants reported working 40 +/- 10 hours during the
      summer. Likert-item analysis showed that participants were moderately satisfied
      with their summer medical care structure (3.3 +/- 1.0) and with the flexibility
      of summer schedules (3.0 +/- 1.2). Yet the qualitative analysis revealed that
      perceptions of summer medical care were more positive for shared-care
      participants than for individual- or combination-care participants. The perceived
      effect on the athletic trainer included increased workload and expectations and a
      negative influence on work-life balance, particularly in terms of decreased
      schedule flexibility and opportunities for rejuvenation. For many, the summer
      season mimicked the hours, workload, and expectations of the nontraditional
      season. CONCLUSIONS: The NCAA rule changes and medical care expectations affected
      the summer workload of athletic trainers, but job sharing seemed to help them
      manage conflict associated with providing summer athletic training services.

PMID- 26881870
TI  - Examining Ankle-Joint Laxity Using 2 Knee Positions and With Simulated Muscle
      Guarding.
AB  - CONTEXT: Several factors affect the reliability of the anterior drawer and talar
      tilt tests, including the individual clinician's experience and skill, ankle and
      knee positioning, and muscle guarding. OBJECTIVES: To compare gastrocnemius
      activity during the measurement of ankle-complex motion at different knee
      positions, and secondarily, to compare ankle-complex motion during a simulated
      trial of muscle guarding. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research
      laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three participants aged 20.2
      +/- 1.7 years were tested. INTERVENTION(S): The ankle was loaded under 2 test
      conditions (relaxed, simulated muscle guarding) at 2 knee positions (0 degrees ,
      90 degrees  of flexion) while gastrocnemius electromyography (EMG) activity was
      recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Anterior displacement (mm), inversion-eversion
      motion ( degrees ), and peak EMG amplitude values of the gastrocnemius (MUV).
      RESULTS: Anterior displacement did not differ between the positions of 0 degrees 
      and 90 degrees  of knee flexion (P = .193). Inversion-eversion motion was greater
      at 0 degrees  of knee flexion compared with 90 degrees  (P < .001). Additionally,
      peak EMG amplitude of the gastrocnemius was not different between 0 degrees  and
      90 degrees  of knee flexion during anterior displacement (P = .101). As expected,
      the simulated muscle-guarding trial reduced anterior displacement compared with
      the relaxed condition (0 degrees  of knee flexion, P = .008; 90 degrees  of knee
      flexion, P = .016) and reduced inversion-eversion motion (0 degrees  of knee
      flexion, P = .03; 90 degrees  of knee flexion, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In a
      relaxed state, the gastrocnemius muscle did not appear to affect anterior ankle
      laxity at the 2 most common knee positions for anterior drawer testing; however,
      talar tilt testing may be best performed with the knee in 0 degrees  of knee
      flexion. Finally, our outcomes from the simulated muscle-guarding condition
      suggest that clinicians should use caution and be aware of reduced perceived
      laxity when performing these clinical examination techniques immediately
      postinjury.

PMID- 26881871
TI  - Physiological profile of a professional boxer preparing for Title Bout: A case
      study.
AB  - This study aimed to (1) profile a professional boxer (23 years and 80 kg) with
      boxing-specific, muscle function, aerobic capacity and body composition tests,
      and (2) quantify how these measures varied during an 8-week preparation phase
      leading to, and post a state-Title Bout fought in the 76.2-kg class. A series of
      boxing-specific and muscle function tests were completed on 11 occasions: 9 prior
      and twice after the bout, each separated by approximately 2 weeks. The boxing
      test included 36 maximal punches (9 of each: lead and rear straights, lead and
      rear hooks) to a punching integrator measuring forces and velocity. Muscle
      function tests included countermovement jump, drop-jumps, isometric mid-thigh
      pull and isometric bench-press. Body composition was assessed using skin-fold
      measurements on three occasions and one dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan.
      Aerobic capacity was assessed using 2 VO2 max tests. Leading up to the bout,
      performance decreased in isometric mid-thigh pull (8%), isometric bench-press
      (5%), countermovement jump (15%) and impact forces in 3 of 4 punches (4%-7%).
      Whereas measures of dynamic and isometric muscle function remained depressed or
      unchanged post competition, punching forces (6%-15%) and aerobic power (6%)
      increased. Data suggest the athlete may have super-compensated following rest as
      fatigue dissipated and further adaptation occurred. 

PMID- 26881872
TI  - Expression of SKA1 and MMP-9 in primary salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma:
      Correlation with tumor progression and patient prognosis.
AB  - Conclusion The spindle and kinetochore-associated complex sub unit 1(SKA1) and
      matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are highly expressed in salivary adenoid
      cystic carcinoma (SACC), and SKA1 may be the novel, promising prognostic factor
      for clinical outcomes in head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma patients.
      Objectives This study aimed to investigate the expression of SKA1 and MMP-9 in
      SACC tissues and the clinical significance. Methods SKA1 and MMP-9 expression in
      samples from 42 cases of SACC and 20 subjects with the normal tissue adjacent to
      carcinoma were detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Results The positive
      rate of SKA1 and MMP-9 staining was 78.6% and 66.7% in SACC, respectively,
      significantly higher than in normal salivary gland tissues (p < 0.001). Chi
      square test showed that there was no significant correlation between SKA1
      expression and MMP-9 expression in SACC tissues. However, SKA1 and MMP-9
      expression was positively associated with advanced stage and solid histological
      pattern of SACC (p < 0.05). In addition, SKA1 and MMP-9 expression was positively
      associated with recurrence and perineural invasion, and survival time,
      respectively. 

PMID- 26881873
TI  - [Intraluminal Aspect of Femoro-femoral Cross-over Bypass Graft Mimics Bladder
      Stone].
AB  - Iatrogenic bladder perforation with delayed diagnosis and treatment in the
      context of the placement of a vascular prosthesis, e.g. a femoro-femoral cross
      over bypass graft, is extremely rare. This is emphasised by the present
      publication, which is the second published case study worldwide. To identify such
      a situation is very important because there is a risk of inappropriate treatment
      if such a bypass complication remains undetected, and the potential complications
      of an improperly intended "treatment of a bladder stone" may be deleterious or
      even lethal. Therefore, the involved disciplines should be aware of this
      possibility in order to initiate relevant diagnostic measures, especially
      diagnostic cystoscopy, without any delay if symptoms such as voiding disorders or
      alguria coincide with vascular bypass grafting.

PMID- 26881874
TI  - Near-island biological hotspots in barren ocean basins.
AB  - Phytoplankton production drives marine ecosystem trophic-structure and global
      fisheries yields. Phytoplankton biomass is particularly influential near coral
      reef islands and atolls that span the oligotrophic tropical oceans. The
      paradoxical enhancement in phytoplankton near an island-reef ecosystem--Island
      Mass Effect (IME)--was first documented 60 years ago, yet much remains unknown
      about the prevalence and drivers of this ecologically important phenomenon. Here
      we provide the first basin-scale investigation of IME. We show that IME is a near
      ubiquitous feature among a majority (91%) of coral reef ecosystems surveyed,
      creating near-island 'hotspots' of phytoplankton biomass throughout the upper
      water column. Variations in IME strength are governed by geomorphic type (atoll
      vs island), bathymetric slope, reef area and local human impacts (for example,
      human-derived nutrient input). These ocean oases increase nearshore phytoplankton
      biomass by up to 86% over oceanic conditions, providing basal energetic resources
      to higher trophic levels that support subsistence-based human populations.

PMID- 26881875
TI  - Neuropilin-2 promotes melanoma growth and progression in vivo.
AB  - Tumor cell interactions with their microenvironment, and neighboring endothelial
      cells in particular, are critical for tumor cell survival and the metastatic
      process. Within the spectrum of tumors, melanomas are notorious for their ability
      to metastasize at a relatively early stage of development; however, little is
      known about the molecular pathways mediating this process. We recently performed
      a screen to assess critical mediators of melanoma metastasis by evaluating
      melanoma-endothelial cell communication. Neuropilin-2 (NRP2), a cell surface
      receptor involved in angiogenesis and axonal guidance, was found to be an
      important mediator of melanoma-endothelial cell cross-talk in these studies. Here
      we seek to further define the role of NRP2 in melanoma growth and progression. We
      use stable gene silencing of NRP2 in melanomas from varying stages of tumor
      progression to define the role of NRP2 in melanoma growth, migration, invasion,
      and metastasis. We found that NRP2 gene silencing in metastatic melanoma cell
      lines inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro; furthermore, knockdown of NRP2
      expression in the metastatic melanoma cell line 1205Lu significantly inhibited in
      vivo tumor growth and metastasis. We conclude that NRP2 plays an important role
      in mediating melanoma growth and metastasis and suggest that targeting this cell
      surface molecule may represent a significant therapeutic strategy for patients
      diagnosed with aggressive forms of melanoma.

PMID- 26881876
TI  - Ultrasound of the sentinel node in melanoma patients: echo-free island is a
      discriminatory morphologic feature for node positivity.
AB  - Unlike breast and thyroid cancer, the use of ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle
      aspiration cytology (FNAC) for preoperative staging is limited in melanoma. New
      US morphology criteria have shown that US-FNAC can correctly identify 50% of all
      involved sentinel nodes (SN) in melanoma patients before surgical excision. The
      aim of this study was to examine a new criterion: the echo-free island (EFI). A
      total of 1000 consecutively staged melanoma patients (Breslow thickness>1 or<1
      mm, but ulcerated, Clark IV/V or regressed) scheduled for SN staging underwent
      preoperative US. US morphology items were assessed: peripheral perfusion, loss of
      central echoes, balloon shape, and EFI. FNAC was performed in case of suspicious
      and malignant US patterns. All patients proceeded to undergo an SN biopsy or
      direct completion lymph node dissection (CLND) (in the case of positive FNAC). In
      all, 57% of the patients were men. The mean/median Breslow thickness was
      2.58/1.57 mm. The mean/median follow-up was 56/53 months. SN was positive in 21%.
      EFI information was available in 95.3%. EFI was seen in 40 patients (4%). EFI
      sensitivity was 10.8%, specificity was 97.6%, positive predictive value was 50%,
      and negative predictive value was 80.2%. EFI was significantly correlated to
      peripheral perfusion (67.5%). There was no correlation to balloon shape or loss
      of central echoes. Five-year melanoma-specific survival of patients with EFI was
      significantly worse: 80% versus 92% when absent. The EFI can be useful in the
      early detection of SN melanoma metastasis. It is an early sign of involvement and
      thus associated with a decreased survival.

PMID- 26881877
TI  - Multiple comparisons with two controls for ordered categorical responses.
AB  - In clinical studies, ordered categorical responses are common. To compare the
      efficacy of several treatments with a control for ordinal responses, the normal
      latent variable model has recently been proposed. This approach conceptualizes
      the responses as manifestations of an underlying continuous normal variable. In
      this article, we extend this idea to develop the multiple comparison method for
      use when there are two controls in the clinical trial. The proposed method is
      constructed such that the familywise type I error rate is controlled at a
      prespecified level. In addition, for a given level of test power, the procedure
      to evaluate the required sample size is provided. The proposed testing procedure
      is also illustrated by an example from a clinical study.

PMID- 26881879
TI  - Physiotherapy Practice: Opportunities for International Collaboration on
      Workforce Reforms, Policy and Research.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy (PT) is the most
      commonly practised allied health discipline globally. International PT workforce
      reforms are underway to deal with increasing patient numbers, shrinking medical
      and nursing workforces and lengthy waiting lists. It is timely to consider
      international differences in PT, with the aims of identifying opportunities for
      shared learning and forming stronger international alliances to support
      consistent and evidence-based workforce reforms. METHODS: This paper synthesizes
      freely available information on PT training and service delivery across the UK,
      Australia and United States (California). The paper considers differences in
      roles, workplaces, training, legislation and registration, continuing
      professional development, and accountability. RESULTS: There are similarities
      between UK, Australia and United States (California) in many areas of PT roles,
      training, registration, legislation and professional practice. However, none has
      a standard national mechanism by which to demonstrate PT accountability, patient
      safety or quality care. Moreover, there are different approaches to workforce
      reforms. There is considerable duplication in physiotherapy governance.
      CONCLUSION: There are opportunities for targeted international collaborations
      regarding workforce reforms such as extending scope of practice, and determining
      and implementing internationally agreed ways of demonstrating PT accountability.
      The findings of this review have significant policy implications, and identify
      areas for collaborative research. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26881878
TI  - Anti-norovirus therapeutics: a patent review (2010-2015).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Human noroviruses are the primary causative agents of acute
      gastroenteritis and are a pressing public health burden worldwide. There are
      currently no vaccines or small molecule therapeutics available for the treatment
      or prophylaxis of norovirus infections. An improved understanding of norovirus
      biology, as well as the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the disease, has
      provided the impetus for a range of intense exploratory drug discovery efforts
      targeting viral and host factors. AREAS COVERED: An overview of norovirus
      inhibitors disclosed in the patent literature (2010-present) and
      Clinicaltrials.gov is presented. The review is further enriched and supplemented
      by recent literature reports. EXPERT OPINION: Seminal discoveries made in recent
      years, including a better understanding of the pathobiology and life cycle of
      norovirus, the identification and targeting of multiple viral and host factors,
      the advent of a replicon system and a small animal model for the preclinical
      evaluation of lead compounds, and the availability of high resolution X-ray
      crystal structures that can be utilized in structure-based drug design and lead
      optimization campaigns, collectively suggest that a small molecule therapeutic
      and prophylactic for norovirus infection is likely to emerge in the not too
      distant future.

PMID- 26881880
TI  - Prognostic Value of Protocadherin10 (PCDH10) Methylation in Serum of Prostate
      Cancer Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy with outcome difficult
      to predict. Currently, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers that
      can accurately predict patient outcome and improve the treatment strategy. The
      aim of this study was to investigate the methylation status of PCDH10 in serum of
      prostate cancer patients and its potential relevance to clinicopathological
      features and prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The methylation status of PCDH10 in
      serum of 171 primary prostate cancer patients and 65 controls was evaluated by
      methylation-specific PCR (MSP), after which the relationship between PCDH10
      methylation and clinicopathologic features was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival
      analysis and Cox analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between PCDH10
      methylation and prognosis. RESULTS PCDH10 methylation occurred frequently in
      serum of prostate cancer patients. Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was significantly
      associated with higher preoperative PSA level, advanced clinical stage, higher
      Gleason score, lymph node metastasis, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). In
      addition, patients with methylated PCDH10 had shorter BCR-free survival and
      overall survival than patients with unmethylated PCDH10. Univariate and
      multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis indicated that PCDH10
      methylation in serum is an independent predictor of worse BCR-free survival and
      overall survival. CONCLUSIONS PCDH10 methylation in serum is a potential
      prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26881881
TI  - Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (S)-duloxetine using carbonyl reductase from
      Rhodosporidium toruloides.
AB  - A chemoenzymatic strategy was developed for (S)-duloxetine production employing
      carbonyl reductases from newly isolated Rhodosporidium toruloides into the
      enantiodetermining step. Amongst the ten most permissive enzymes identified,
      cloned, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, RtSCR9 exhibited excellent
      activity and enantioselectivity. Using co-expressed E. coli harboring both RtSCR9
      and glucose dehydrogenase, (S)-3-(dimethylamino)-1-(2-thienyl)-1-propanol 3a was
      fabricated with so far the highest substrate loading (1000mM) in a space-time
      yield per gram of biomass (DCW) of 22.9mmolL(-1)h(-1)gDCW(-1) at a 200-g scale.
      The subsequent synthetic steps from RtSCR9-catalyzed (S)-3a were further
      performed, affording (S)-duloxetine with 60.2% overall yield from 2
      acethylthiophene in >98.5% ee. 

PMID- 26881882
TI  - Centromere Protein (CENP)-W Interacts with Heterogeneous Nuclear
      Ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) U and May Contribute to Kinetochore-Microtubule
      Attachment in Mitotic Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that heterogeneous nuclear
      ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U), a component of the hnRNP complex, contributes to
      stabilize the kinetochore-microtubule interaction during mitosis. CENP-W was
      identified as an inner centromere component that plays crucial roles in the
      formation of a functional kinetochore complex. RESULTS: We report that hnRNP U
      interacts with CENP-W, and the interaction between hnRNP U and CENP-W mutually
      increased each other's protein stability by inhibiting the proteasome-mediated
      degradation. Further, their co-localization was observed chiefly in the nuclear
      matrix region and at the microtubule-kinetochore interface during interphase and
      mitosis, respectively. Both microtubule-stabilizing and microtubule-destabilizing
      agents significantly decreased the protein stability of CENP-W. Furthermore, loss
      of microtubules and defects in microtubule organization were observed in CENP-W
      depleted cells. CONCLUSION: Our data imply that CENP-W plays an important role in
      the attachment and interaction between microtubules and kinetochore during
      mitosis.

PMID- 26881883
TI  - Activation energy associated with the electromigration of oligosaccharides
      through viscosity modifier and polymeric additive containing background
      electrolytes.
AB  - The activation energy related to the electromigration of oligosaccharides can be
      determined from their measured electrophoretic mobilities at different
      temperatures. The effects of a viscosity modifier (ethylene glycol) and a
      polymeric additive (linear polyacrylamide) on the electrophoretic mobility of
      linear sugar oligomers with alpha1-4 linked glucose units (maltooligosaccharides)
      were studied in CE using the activation energy concept. The electrophoretic
      separations of 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate-labeled maltooligosaccharides
      were monitored by LIF detection in the temperature range of 20-50 degrees C,
      using either 0-60% ethylene glycol (viscosity modifier) or 0-3% linear
      polyacrylamide (polymeric additive) containing BGEs. Activation energy curves
      were constructed based on the slopes of the Arrhenius plots. With the use of
      linear polyacrylamide additive, solute size-dependent activation energy
      variations were found for the maltooligosaccharides with polymerization degrees
      below and above maltoheptaose (DP 7), probably due to molecular conformation
      changes and possible matrix interaction effects. 

PMID- 26881889
TI  - Applying the Principles of McDonaldization to Medicine--Reply.

PMID- 26881888
TI  - MRSA: treating people with infection.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a gene that
      makes it resistant to methicillin, as well as to other beta-lactam antibiotics,
      including flucloxacillin, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations,
      cephalosporins, and carbapenems. MRSA can be part of the normal body flora
      (colonisation), especially in the nose, but it can cause infection, particularly
      in people with prolonged hospital admissions, with underlying disease, or after
      antibiotic use. About 8% of S aureus in blood cultures in England, Wales, and
      Northern Ireland is resistant to methicillin. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted
      a systematic overview, aiming to answer the following clinical question: What are
      the effects of selected treatments for MRSA infections at any body site? We
      searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up
      to June 2014 (Clinical Evidence overviews are updated periodically; please check
      our website for the most up-to-date version of this overview). RESULTS: At this
      update, searching of electronic databases retrieved 312 studies. After
      deduplication and removal of conference abstracts, 133 records were screened for
      inclusion in the overview. Appraisal of titles and abstracts led to the exclusion
      of 55 studies and the further review of 78 full publications. Of the 78 full
      articles evaluated, 15 systematic reviews and one subsequent RCT were added at
      this update. In addition, six studies were added to the Comment sections. We
      performed a GRADE evaluation for 12 PICO combinations. CONCLUSIONS: In this
      systematic overview we categorised the efficacy for five interventions, based on
      information about the effectiveness and safety of cephalosporins (ceftobiprole,
      ceftaroline), daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, pristinamycin
      (streptogramins), and tigecycline.

PMID- 26881890
TI  - Repair of a Defect of the Lateral Suprabow.

PMID- 26881891
TI  - The Twenty-Year Trajectory of Suicidal Activity Among Post-Hospital Psychiatric
      Men and Women with Mood Disorders and Schizophrenia.
AB  - The Chicago Follow-up Study has followed the course of severe mental illness
      among psychiatric patients for more than 20 years after their index
      hospitalization. Among these patients are 97 schizophrenia patients, 45 patients
      with schizoaffective disorders, 102 patients with unipolar nonpsychotic
      depression, and 53 patients with a bipolar disorder. Maximum suicidal activity
      (suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and suicide completions) generally declines
      over the 3 time periods (early, middle, and late follow-ups) following discharge
      from the acute psychiatric hospitalization for both males and females across
      diagnostic categories with two exceptions: female schizophrenia patients and
      female bipolar patients. A weighted mean suicidal activity score tended to
      decrease across follow-ups for male patients in the schizophrenia,
      schizoaffective, and depressive diagnostic groups with an uneven trend in this
      direction for the male bipolars. No such pattern emerges for our female patients
      except for female depressives. Males' suicidal activity seems more triggered by
      psychotic symptoms and potential chronic disability while females' suicidal
      activity seems more triggered by affective symptoms.

PMID- 26881892
TI  - A Systems Biology Approach to the Coordination of Defensive and Offensive
      Molecular Mechanisms in the Innate and Adaptive Host-Pathogen Interaction
      Networks.
AB  - Infected zebrafish coordinates defensive and offensive molecular mechanisms in
      response to Candida albicans infections, and invasive C. albicans coordinates
      corresponding molecular mechanisms to interact with the host. However, knowledge
      of the ensuing infection-activated signaling networks in both host and pathogen
      and their interspecific crosstalk during the innate and adaptive phases of the
      infection processes remains incomplete. In the present study, dynamic network
      modeling, protein interaction databases, and dual transcriptome data from
      zebrafish and C. albicans during infection were used to infer infection-activated
      host-pathogen dynamic interaction networks. The consideration of host-pathogen
      dynamic interaction systems as innate and adaptive loops and subsequent
      comparisons of inferred innate and adaptive networks indicated previously
      unrecognized crosstalk between known pathways and suggested roles of
      immunological memory in the coordination of host defensive and offensive
      molecular mechanisms to achieve specific and powerful defense against pathogens.
      Moreover, pathogens enhance intraspecific crosstalk and abrogate host apoptosis
      to accommodate enhanced host defense mechanisms during the adaptive phase.
      Accordingly, links between physiological phenomena and changes in the
      coordination of defensive and offensive molecular mechanisms highlight the
      importance of host-pathogen molecular interaction networks, and consequent
      inferences of the host-pathogen relationship could be translated into biomedical
      applications. 

PMID- 26881893
TI  - Continuous Improvement of Physical Functioning in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients
      by Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors: Three-Year Followup and Predictors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the 3-year outcome and course of physical functioning and
      spinal mobility impairments in patients routinely treated with tumor necrosis
      factor inhibitors (TNFi) and to find predictors of physical functioning and
      spinal mobility impairments. METHODS: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients
      eligible for TNFi were followed in a 3-year prospective observational study.
      Prediction models were developed with linear mixed modeling. Bath Ankylosing
      Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology
      Index (BASMI) were used as outcome measures for physical functioning and spinal
      mobility. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients were included and treated with
      etanercept (n = 174) or adalimumab (n = 83). Physical functioning improved
      significantly during the first 6 months after the start of TNFi. The BASFI score
      decreased from mean +/- SD 5.4 +/- 2.4 to 3.3 +/- 2.6 at 6 months, and stabilized
      thereafter (BASFI third year score mean +/- SD 3.6 +/- 2.5). The BASMI showed no
      significant changes over time. Lower baseline BASFI and BASMI scores predicted a
      better level of physical functioning and spinal mobility after 3 years of TNFi
      therapy. Other predictors for a better 3-year outcome and course of physical
      functioning included absence of comorbidity, physical activity, younger age, and
      lower body mass index at baseline. CONCLUSION: Physical functioning in routinely
      TNFi-treated AS patients improved up to 6 months and stabilized thereafter.
      Therefore, it would be better to extend the period of evaluation of TNFi
      treatment to 6 months rather than the 3 months currently used. The risk factors
      of long-term physical functioning found in this study might help to identify
      patients at risk at an earlier stage and improve treatment strategy.

PMID- 26881894
TI  - Linking Genetic Variation in Adaptive Plant Traits to Climate in Tetraploid and
      Octoploid Basin Wildrye [Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Love] in the
      Western U.S.
AB  - Few studies have assessed how ploidy type within a species affects genetic
      variation among populations in relation to source climates. Basin wildrye (Leymus
      cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Love) is a large bunchgrass common in the
      intermountain Western U.S. found in both octoploid and tetraploid types. In
      common gardens at two sites over two years differences in both ploidy type and
      genetic variation within ploidy were observed in phenology, morphology, and
      production traits on 57 octoploid and 52 tetraploid basin wildrye from the
      intermountain Western U.S. (P<0.01). Octoploids had larger leaves, longer culms,
      and greater crown circumference than tetraploids but the numerical ranges of
      plant traits and their source climates overlapped between ploidy types. Still,
      among populations octoploids often had greater genetic variation for traits and
      occupied more diverse climates than tetraploids. Genetic variation for both
      ploidy types was linked to source climates in canonical correlation analysis,
      with the first two variates explaining 70% of the variation. Regression of those
      canonical variates with seed source climate variables produced models that
      explained 64% and 38% of the variation, respectively, and were used to map 15
      seed zones covering 673,258 km2. Utilization of these seed zones will help ensure
      restoration with adaptive seed sources for both ploidy types. The link between
      genetic traits and seed source climates suggests climate driven natural selection
      and adaptive evolution in basin wildrye. The more diverse climates occupied by
      octoploids and higher trait variation suggests a higher capacity for ecological
      differentiation than tetraploids in the intermountain Western U.S.

PMID- 26881895
TI  - Improved Endurance and Resistive Switching Stability in Ceria Thin Films Due to
      Charge Transfer Ability of Al Dopant.
AB  - An improvement in resistive switching (RS) characteristics of CeO2-based devices
      has been reported by charge transfer through Al metal as a dopant. Moreover,
      density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate
      the role of Al-layer sandwiched between CeO2 layers by the Vienna ab initio
      simulation package (VASP). Total density of states (TDOS) and partial electron
      density of states (PDOS) have been calculated and analyzed with respect to
      resistive switching. It is established that the oxygen vacancy based conductive
      filaments are formed and ruptured in the upper region of CeO2 layer, because of
      the fact that maximum transport of charge takes place in this region by Al and Ti
      (top electrode), while the lower region revealed less capability to generate
      conductive filaments because minimum charge transfer takes place in this region
      by Al and/or Pt (bottom electrode). The effect of Al and Al2O3 on both the
      electronic charge transfer from valence to conduction bands and the formation
      stability of oxygen vacancies in conductive filament have been discussed in
      detail. Experimental results demonstrated that the Ti/CeO2:Al/Pt sandwich
      structure exhibits significantly better switching characteristics including lower
      forming voltage, improved and stable SET/RESET voltages, enhanced endurance of
      more than 10(4) repetitive switching cycles and large memory window (ROFF/RON >
      10(2)) as compared to undoped Ti/CeOx/Pt device. This improvement in memory
      switching behavior has been attributed to a significant decrease in the formation
      energy of oxygen vacancies and to the enhanced oxygen vacancies generation within
      the CeO2 layers owing to charge transferring and oxygen gettering ability of Al
      dopant. 

PMID- 26881896
TI  - How work-self conflict/facilitation influences exhaustion and task performance: A
      three-wave study on the role of personal resources.
AB  - Although work and family are undoubtedly important life domains, individuals are
      also active in other life roles which are also important to them (like pursuing
      personal interests). Building on identity theory and the resource perspective on
      work-home interface, we examined whether there is an indirect effect of work-self
      conflict/facilitation on exhaustion and task performance over time through
      personal resources (i.e., self-efficacy and optimism). The sample was composed of
      368 Dutch police officers. Results of the 3-wave longitudinal study confirmed
      that work-self conflict was related to lower levels of self-efficacy, whereas
      work-self facilitation was related to improved optimism over time. In turn, self
      efficacy was related to higher task performance, whereas optimism was related to
      diminished levels of exhaustion over time. Further analysis supported the
      negative, indirect effect of work-self facilitation on exhaustion through
      optimism over time, and only a few reversed causal effects emerged. The study
      contributes to the literature on interrole management by showing the role of
      personal resources in the process of conflict or facilitation over time.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881898
TI  - Learning about the CS during latent inhibition: Preexposure enhances temporal
      control.
AB  - In 3 experiments, rats were given nonreinforced preexposure to an auditory
      stimulus, after which this stimulus and a second, novel cue were paired with
      food. Lower rates of conditioned responding were observed to the preexposed
      stimulus across the 3 experiments, indicative of latent inhibition. The degree to
      which animals used these cues to time the occurrence of food delivery was also
      examined. Paradoxically, the response slopes-indicating the rate of increase in
      responding over the course of the conditioned stimulus-were greater for the
      preexposed than for the novel cues, consistent with the suggestion that the
      preexposed stimulus exerted greater temporal control. Moreover, this was the case
      irrespective of whether the duration of the cue during preexposure differed from
      that during conditioning. These results suggest that although conditioned
      stimulus preexposure retards conditioning, it may enhance timing. The findings
      are discussed in terms of current models of conditioning and timing.

PMID- 26881897
TI  - Effects of Nonpurified and Choline Supplemented or Nonsupplemented Purified Diets
      on Hepatic Steatosis and Methionine Metabolism in C3H Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that nonpurified and purified commercially
      available control murine diets have different metabolic effects with potential
      consequences on hepatic methionine metabolism and liver histology. METHODS: We
      compared the metabolic and histological effects of commercial nonpurified (13%
      calories from fat; 57% calories from carbohydrates with 38 grams/kg of sucrose)
      and purified control diets (12% calories from fat; 69% calories from
      carbohydrates with ~500 grams/kg of sucrose) with or without choline
      supplementation administered to C3H mice with normal lipid and methionine
      metabolism. Diets were started 2 weeks before mating, continued through pregnancy
      and lactation, and continued in offspring until 24 weeks of age when we collected
      plasma and liver tissue to study methionine and lipid metabolism. RESULTS:
      Compared to mice fed nonpurified diets, the liver/body weight ratio was
      significantly higher in mice fed either purified diet, which was associated with
      hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Plasma alanine aminotransferase levels were
      higher in mice receiving the purified diets. The hepatic S-adenosylmethionine
      (SAM)/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio was higher in female mice fed purified
      compared to nonpurified diet (4.6 +/- 2 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.9; P < 0.05). Choline
      supplementation was associated with improvement of some parameters of lipid and
      methionine metabolism in mice fed purified diets. CONCLUSIONS: Standard
      nonpurified and purified diets have significantly different effects on
      development of steatosis in control mice. These findings can help in development
      of animal models of fatty liver and in choosing appropriate laboratory control
      diets for control animals.

PMID- 26881900
TI  - Imagine that! Cue-evoked representations guide rat behavior during ambiguous
      situations.
AB  - Mental imagery involves the perceptual-like experience of an event that is not
      physically present, or detected by the senses. Fast and Blaisdell (2011) reported
      that rats use the representation of an associatively retrieved event to guide
      behavior in ambiguous situations. Rats were reinforced for lever-pressing during
      1 of 2 lights but not both lights. They were then tested with 1 light illuminated
      while the second light was either covered by an opaque shield (ambiguous) or
      uncovered and unlit (explicitly absent). Rats lever-pressed less when the second
      light was covered compared with unlit, suggesting that a representation of the
      ambiguously absent light guided their behavior. However, Dwyer and Burgess (2011)
      offered an alternative mechanism in which the explicit absence of a cue gains
      associative value during training. Covering the light at test could effectively
      remove these associative properties, resulting in a generalization decrement of
      behavior. The current experiments were designed to test contrasting predictions
      made by these 2 accounts. Experiment 1 empirically established that
      generalization decrement can occur when an element of a compound cue is presented
      alone at test, but this decrement is attenuated, rather than enhanced, when the
      absent element is covered. Experiment 2 utilized a conditioned inhibition
      procedure to demonstrate that rat behavior during cue ambiguity is driven by an
      associatively retrieved representation rather than by generalization decrement.
      Collectively, the results argue against a purely nonrepresentational associative
      account of behavior and support a role for associatively retrieved
      representations in rats.

PMID- 26881901
TI  - The effect of additional exposure to the unique features in a perceptual learning
      task can be attributed to a location bias.
AB  - It has been suggested that human perceptual learning could be explained in terms
      of a better memory encoding of the unique features during intermixed exposure.
      However, it is possible that a location bias could play a relevant role in
      explaining previous results of perceptual learning studies using complex visual
      stimuli. If this were the case, the only relevant feature would be the location,
      rather than the content, of the unique features. To further explore this
      possibility, we attempted to replicate the results of Lavis, Kadib, Mitchell, and
      Hall (2011, Experiment 2), which showed that additional exposure to the unique
      elements resulted in better discrimination than simple intermixed exposure. We
      manipulated the location of the unique elements during the additional exposure.
      In one experiment, they were located in the same position as that when presented
      together with the common element. In another experiment, the unique elements were
      located in the center of the screen, regardless of where they were located
      together with the common element. Our results showed that additional exposure
      only improved discrimination when the unique elements were presented in the same
      position as when they were presented together with the common element. The
      results reported here do not provide support for the explanation of the effects
      of additional exposure of the unique elements in terms of a better memory
      encoding and instead suggest an explanation in terms of location bias.

PMID- 26881899
TI  - Delay discounting: Pigeon, rat, human--does it matter?
AB  - Delay discounting refers to the decrease in subjective value of an outcome as the
      time to its receipt increases. Across species and situations, animals discount
      delayed rewards, and their discounting is well-described by a hyperboloid
      function. The current review begins with a comparison of discounting models and
      the procedures used to assess delay discounting in nonhuman animals. We next
      discuss the generality of discounting, reviewing the effects of different
      variables on the degree of discounting delayed reinforcers by nonhuman animals.
      Despite the many similarities in discounting observed between human and nonhuman
      animals, several differences have been proposed (e.g., the magnitude effect;
      nonhuman animals discount over a matter of seconds whereas humans report willing
      to wait months, if not years before receiving a reward), raising the possibility
      of fundamental species differences in intertemporal choice. After evaluating
      these differences, we discuss delay discounting from an adaptationist
      perspective. The pervasiveness of discounting across species and situations
      suggests it is a fundamental process underlying decision making.

PMID- 26881902
TI  - Suboptimal choice in pigeons: Choice is primarily based on the value of the
      conditioned reinforcer rather than overall reinforcement rate.
AB  - Pigeons have sometimes shown a preference for a signaled 50% reinforcement
      alternative (leading half of the time to a stimulus that signaled 100%
      reinforcement and otherwise to a stimulus that signaled 0% reinforcement) over a
      100% reinforcement alternative. We hypothesized that pigeons may actually be
      indifferent between the 2 alternatives with previous inconsistent preferences
      resulting in part from an artifact of the use of a spatial discrimination. In the
      present experiments, we tested the hypothesis that pigeons would be indifferent
      between alternatives that provide conditioned reinforcers of equal value. In
      Experiment 1, we used the signaled 50% reinforcement versus 100% reinforcement
      procedure, but cued the alternatives with shapes that varied in their spatial
      location from trial to trial. Consistent with the stimulus value hypothesis, the
      pigeons showed indifference between the alternatives. In Experiment 2, to confirm
      that the pigeons could discriminate between the shapes, we removed the
      discriminative function from the 50% reinforcement alternative and found a clear
      preference for the 100% reinforcement alternative. Finally, in Experiment 3, when
      we returned the discriminative function to the 50% reinforcement alternative and
      reduced the 100% reinforcement alternative to 50% reinforcement, we found a clear
      preference for the discriminative stimulus alternative. These results support the
      hypothesis that pigeons prefer the alternative with the conditioned reinforcer
      that best predicts reinforcement, whereas its frequency may be relatively
      unimportant.

PMID- 26881903
TI  - Complexes with Tunable Intramolecular Ferrocene to Ti(IV) Electronic Transitions:
      Models for Solid State Fe(II) to Ti(IV) Charge Transfer.
AB  - Iron(II)-to-titanium(IV) metal-to-metal-charge transfer (MMCT) is important in
      the photosensitization of TiO2 by ferrocyanide, charge transfer in solid-state
      metal-oxide photocatalysts, and has been invoked to explain the blue color of
      sapphire, blue kyanite, and some lunar material. Herein, a series of complexes
      with alkynyl linkages between ferrocene (Fc) and Ti(IV) has been prepared and
      characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Complexes with two
      ferrocene substituents include Cp2Ti(C2Fc)2, Cp*2Ti(C2Fc)2, and Cp2Ti(C4Fc)2.
      Complexes with a single ferrocene utilize a titanocene with a trimethylsilyl
      derivatized Cp ring, (TMS)Cp, and comprise the complexes (TMS)Cp2Ti(C2Fc)(C2R),
      where R = C6H5, p-C6H4CF3, and CF3. The complexes are compared to Cp2Ti(C2Ph)2,
      which lacks the second metal. Cyclic voltammetry for all complexes reveals a
      reversible Ti(IV/III) reduction wave and an Fe(II/III) oxidation that is
      irreversible for all complexes except (TMS)Cp2Ti(C2Fc)(C2CF3). All of the
      complexes with both Fc and Ti show an intense absorption (4000 M(-1)cm(-1) <
      epsilon < 8000 M(-1)cm(-1)) between 540 and 630 nm that is absent in complexes
      lacking a ferrocene donor. The energy of the absorption tracks with the
      difference between the Ti(IV/III) and Fe(III/II) reduction potentials, shifting
      to lower energy as the difference in potentials decreases. Reorganization
      energies, lambda, have been determined using band shape analysis (2600 cm(-1) <
      lambda < 5300 cm(-1)) and are in the range observed for other donor-acceptor
      complexes that have a ferrocene donor. Marcus-Hush-type analysis of the
      electrochemical and spectroscopic data are consistent with the assignment of the
      low-energy absorption as a MMCT band. TD-DFT analysis also supports this
      assignment. Solvatochromism is apparent for the MMCT band of all complexes, there
      being a bathochromic shift upon increasing polarizability of the solvent. The
      magnitude of the shift is dependent on both the electron density at Ti(IV) and
      the identity of the linker between the titanocene and the Fc. Complexes with a
      MMCT are photochemically stable, whereas Cp2Ti(C2Ph)2 rapidly decomposes upon
      photolysis. 

PMID- 26881905
TI  - Pressure-induced phase transition in Bi2Se3 at 3 GPa: electronic topological
      transition or not?
AB  - In recent years, a low pressure transition around P3 GPa exhibited by the A2B3
      type 3D topological insulators is attributed to an electronic topological
      transition (ETT) for which there is no direct evidence either from theory or
      experiments. We address this phase transition and other transitions at higher
      pressure in bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) using Raman spectroscopy at pressure up to
      26.2 GPa. We see clear Raman signatures of an isostructural phase transition at
      P2.4 GPa followed by structural transitions at ~ 10 GPa and 16 GPa. First
      principles calculations reveal anomalously sharp changes in the structural
      parameters like the internal angle of the rhombohedral unit cell with a minimum
      in the c/a ratio near P3 GPa. While our calculations reveal the associated
      anomalies in vibrational frequencies and electronic bandgap, the calculated Z2
      invariant and Dirac conical surface electronic structure remain unchanged,
      showing that there is no change in the electronic topology at the lowest pressure
      transition.

PMID- 26881904
TI  - Pulmonary resident neutrophils regulate the production of GM-CSF and alveolar
      macrophages.
AB  - Alveolar macrophages exist in the lung airspaces, and their differentiation and
      function are considerably regulated by the microenvironment. In this study, we
      examine the important role of resident neutrophil/IL-23/granulocyte/macrophage
      colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) axis in the development and preferential
      phenotype of alveolar macrophages under physiological conditions. Using CD18
      deficient (CD18(-/-) ) mice, we show a correlation between increased
      granulopoiesis and enhanced alveolar macrophage development in an IL-23- and GM
      CSF-dependent manner. The apoptotic neutrophils could inhibit the secretion of IL
      23 from alveolar macrophages, which is important for the production of GM-CSF,
      and depletion of neutrophils disrupted the regulation of IL-23 and GM-CSF. This
      study reveals a mechanism for the regulation of the local alveolar macrophage
      population and function by neutrophil apoptosis in the circulatory system. 

PMID- 26881906
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of a highly strained donor-acceptor nanohoop.
AB  - A highly-strained, nitrogen-doped cycloparaphenylene (CPP), aza[6]CPP, was
      synthesized and then converted to a donor-acceptor nanohoop, N-methylaza[6]CPP,
      via alkylation of the nitrogen center. The energy levels of the lowest unoccupied
      molecular orbital (LUMO) and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for
      both molecules were then probed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), which revealed that
      the donor-acceptor nanohoop had a significantly lower LUMO energy relative to
      [6]CPP and aza[6]CPP. Density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the donor
      acceptor nanohoop underwent a redistribution of the frontier molecular orbital
      (FMO) density such that a significant portion of the LUMO density resided upon
      the electron-deficient nitrogen-containing ring. This localization of LUMO
      density caused a large lowering in the LUMO energy of nearly a full electron
      volt, while the HOMO energy was less affected due to a large centralization of
      the FMO on the electron-rich phenylene backbone. This ultimately resulted in a
      net lowering of the HOMO-LUMO energy gap which was observed both experimentally
      and computationally. In addition, N-methylaza[6]CPP has a significantly lower
      energy LUMO than N-methylaza[8]CPP, illustrating that the FMO levels of donor
      acceptor nanohoops can be tuned by adjusting the hoop size. 

PMID- 26881907
TI  - Experimental Droplet Study of Inverted Marangoni Effect of a Binary Liquid
      Mixture on a Nonuniform Heated Substrate.
AB  - We present an experimental study on the inversion of the Marangoni effect of a
      binary mixture droplet under a horizontal temperature gradient. In particular, we
      studied the dynamics and the evaporation behavior under these conditions. We show
      that a binary mixture (97% water-3% butanol) droplet has a tendency to migrate to
      warmer areas, as opposed to spreading in pure fluids. During the evaporation
      process, we distinguish three stages of evaporation that are correlated to the
      dynamics of the droplet. 

PMID- 26881908
TI  - De Novo Design at the Edge of Chaos.
AB  - Computational medicinal chemistry offers viable strategies for finding,
      characterizing, and optimizing innovative pharmacologically active compounds.
      Technological advances in both computer hardware and software as well as
      biological chemistry have enabled a renaissance of computer-assisted "de novo"
      design of molecules with desired pharmacological properties. Here, we present our
      current perspective on the concept of automated molecule generation by
      highlighting chemocentric methods that may capture druglike chemical space,
      consider ligand promiscuity for hit and lead finding, and provide fresh ideas for
      the rational design of customized screening of compound libraries.

PMID- 26881909
TI  - Pd(II)-Catalyzed Aminofluorination of Alkenes in Total Synthesis 6-(R)
      Fluoroswainsonine and 5-(R)-Fluorofebrifugine.
AB  - The total syntheses of two fluorinated alkaloids, 6-(R)-fluoroswainsonine and 5
      (R)-fluorofebrifugine, are described. Both encompass (4aS,7R,8aR)-7-fluoro-5
      tosylhexahydro-4H-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-b]pyridine as a key synthon which is obtained
      through a further optimized palladium-catalyzed aminofluorination of alkenes with
      high diastereoselectivity. 6-(R)-Fluoroswainsonine is synthesized from the key
      synthon in 14 steps, and 5-(R)-fluorofebrifugine requires a sequential 15-step
      transformation. 

PMID- 26881910
TI  - One size fits all? Determinants of sperm transfer in a highly dimorphic orb-web
      spider.
AB  - The evolutionary significance of widespread hypo-allometric scaling of genital
      traits in combination with rapid interspecific genital trait divergence has been
      of key interest to evolutionary biologists for many years and remains poorly
      understood. Here, we provide a detailed assessment of quantitative genital trait
      variation in males and females of the sexually highly dimorphic and cannibalistic
      orb-weaving spider Argiope aurantia. We then test how this trait variation
      relates to sperm transfer success. In particular, we test specific predictions of
      the one-size-fits-all and lock-and-key hypotheses for the evolution of genital
      characters. We use video-taped staged matings in a controlled environment with
      subsequent morphological microdissections and sperm count analyses. We find
      little support for the prediction of the one-size-fits-all hypothesis for the
      evolution of hypo-allometric scaling of genital traits, namely that intermediate
      trait dimensions confer highest sperm transfer success. Likewise, our findings do
      not support the prediction of the lock-and-key hypothesis that a tight fit of
      male and female genital traits mediates highest sperm transfer success. We do,
      however, detect directional effects of a number of male and female genital
      characters on sperm transfer, suggesting that genital trait dimensions are
      commonly under selection in nature. Importantly, even though females are much
      larger than males, spermatheca size limits the number of sperm transferred,
      contradicting a previous hypothesis about the evolutionary consequences of
      genital size dimorphism in extremely size-dimorphic taxa. We also find strong
      positive effects of male body size and copulation duration on the probability of
      sperm transfer and the number of sperm transferred, with implications for the
      evolution of extreme sexual size dimorphism and sexual cannibalism in orb
      weavers.

PMID- 26881911
TI  - Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy: New Options for a New Reality.

PMID- 26881913
TI  - Oral tofacitinib for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe chronic
      plaque psoriasis.
AB  - New treatments for psoriasis have been developed based on increasing knowledge of
      the underlying pathogenesis of the disease. The development of very safe and
      highly effective biologics has revolutionized the treatment of moderate-to-severe
      psoriasis. Biologics are not perfect, however, as they are delivered
      parenterally, immunogenic, and costly. Small molecule agents, with molecular
      weights of less than 1 kDa, are being developed and hold the advantage of being
      administered orally. Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor that has been
      developed to disrupt the aberrant JAK-STAT pathway that contributes to the
      pathogenesis of psoriasis. Phase II and Phase III clinical trial results for
      tofacitinib are encouraging, demonstrating substantial efficacy and satisfactory
      safety in the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque
      psoriasis. An effective oral treatment without the organ toxicities of
      methotrexate and cyclosporine, tofacitinib is a promising alternative to
      biologics in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

PMID- 26881912
TI  - Husbandry and propagation of the Chinese big-headed turtle (Platysternon
      megacephalum) at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Prospect Park Zoo.
AB  - Turtles worldwide are facing increasing pressures on their wild populations and
      many are listed as endangered or critically endangered. Chinese big-headed
      turtles (Platysternon megacephalum) are currently listed on IUCN's Red List as
      endangered and on Cites Appendix II. As part of the Wildlife Conservation
      Society's initiative on turtle and tortoise conservation, this species became a
      focus for propagation at Prospect Park Zoo (PPZ) in 2008. PPZ successfully bred
      and obtained eggs, with successful hatchings in 2013 and 2014. The staff
      fluctuated water and ambient temperatures along with photoperiod in order to
      simulate seasonal changes. Each May, the female was placed in the male's
      enclosure daily for at least 15 min for breeding. Once two confirmed copulations
      were observed, breeding introductions were discontinued. The female laid her eggs
      in July and August, and clutch sizes ranged from 5 to 6 eggs. Eggs were
      successfully incubated in a RCOM Juragon reptile incubator at 23.3 degrees C with
      90-95% humidity. The eggs hatched after an average incubation period of 102 days
      (98-105 days, n = 9). Hatchlings had a mean body mass of 8.84 g (8.11-10 g) and
      average carapace length * width of 36.17 * 32.20 mm. This article aims to share
      the team's experiences working with this species as well as build upon previous
      publications and successes. Our hope is that with continued efforts to increase
      our knowledgebase a future viable, sustainable North American captive population
      will become a reality for this species.

PMID- 26881914
TI  - Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Intervention in Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI) can be used for diagnosis and prognosis
      and to guide therapy. With no pharmacologic therapy clinically available for the
      treatment of AKI, prevention and early detection are of paramount importance.
      Despite the initial enthusiasm for biomarker use when it was first introduced in
      the literature, published studies' results have shown variability in biomarker
      performance. The following chapter will discuss what our expectations of AKI
      biomarkers should be and how they can be currently used for a variety of clinical
      purposes. 

PMID- 26881915
TI  - Patient and Public Risks of Powdered Alcohol: A Citywide Case Study to Prevent
      Abuse.

PMID- 26881916
TI  - Tebuthiuron Movement via Leaching and Runoff from Grazed Vertisol and Alfisol
      Soils in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion of Central Queensland, Australia.
AB  - Tebuthiuron is one of five priority herbicides identified as a water pollutant
      entering the Great Barrier Reef. A review of tebuthiuron research in Australia
      found 13 papers, 6 of which focused on water quality at the basin scale (>10,000
      km(2)) with little focus on process understanding. This study examined the
      movement of tebuthiuron in soil and runoff at the plot (1.7 m(2)) and small
      catchment (12.7 ha) scales. The greatest concentration and mass in soil occurred
      from 0 to 0.05 m depth 30-57 days after application. Concentrations at all depths
      tended to decrease after 55-104 days. Runoff at the small catchment scale
      contained high concentrations of tebuthiuron (average = 103 MUg/L) 100 days after
      application, being 0.05% of the amount applied. Tebuthiuron concentrations in
      runoff declined over time with the majority of the chemical in the dissolved
      phase. 

PMID- 26881917
TI  - Gouty Arthritis of the Atlantodental Joint.

PMID- 26881918
TI  - Analysis of Plasma Cytokine and Chemokine Profiles in Patients with and without
      Tuberculosis by Liquid Array-Based Multiplexed Immunoassays.
AB  - The aim of this study was to establish plasma cytokine/chemokine profiles in
      patients with 3 different presentations of active tuberculosis (TB), compared to
      the profiles observed in bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccinated healthy
      individuals and patients with other pulmonary diseases (non-TB patients). To this
      end, plasma samples were collected from 151 TB patients including 68 pulmonary TB
      (PTB), 43 endobronchial TB, and 40 tuberculosis pleurisy (TP) patients, as well
      as 107 no-TB cases including 26 non-TB patients and 81 BCG-vaccinated healthy
      controls. A liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassay was used to screen plasma
      samples for 20 distinct cytokines and chemokines. Multinomial logistic regression
      was used to analyze associations between cytokines/chemokines and TB/non-TB
      patients. Compared to our findings with the no-TB donors, the median plasma
      levels of the proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, IP-10, IFN
      gamma, and MIP-1beta were significantly elevated in TB patients, suggesting their
      potential use as biomarkers for diagnosing TB patients. Further comparisons with
      healthy donors showed that only the median TNF-alpha plasma level was highly
      produced in the plasma of all 3 types of TB patients. Plasma IL-6 production was
      higher only in TP patients, while the plasma levels of IP-10, IFN-gamma, and MIP
      1beta were markedly enhanced in both PTB and TP patients. Unexpectedly, among the
      above cytokines/chemokines, MIP-1beta was also highly expressed in non-TB
      patients, compared with healthy donors. Our results suggested that TNF-alpha may
      be an ideal biomarker for diagnosing the 3 forms of TB presentation, while the
      other factors (IL-6, IP-10, MCP-1, and IFN-gamma) can potentially facilitate
      differential diagnosis for the 3 TB presentation types. Further characterization
      of immune responses associated with different types of TB diseases will provide a
      basis for developing novel TB diagnostics. 

PMID- 26881919
TI  - The incidence of osteoarthritic change on computed tomography of Korean
      temporomandibular disorder patients diagnosed by RDC/TMD; a retrospective study.
AB  - Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is generally
      thought to be an age-related disease like those of other joints. This study aims
      to investigate the incidence of computed tomographic (CT) OA changes in Korean
      temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients diagnosed by the Research Diagnostic
      Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). Materials and methods The clinical records and
      radiographs of 1038 TMD patients (297 men and 741 women with mean age 31.1 +/-
      17.4 and 34.0 +/- 16.2, respectively) diagnosed based on RDC/TMD Axis I in 2010
      were reviewed. Results The incidence rate of OA changes in TMD patients is
      estimated to 27.3%, and higher in women than in men (15.5% in men and 32.0% in
      women) by 2.3 odds (p < 0.001). It has no correlation with age, showing an almost
      flat incidence rate throughout the age from the 2nd decade and has no correlation
      as well with pain or disc displacement diagnosed according to RDC/TMD, while
      arthrosis/arthritis diagnosis based on RDC/TMD supplemented by plain radiographs
      shows high risk of OA changes on CT by 38.8 odds (p < 0.05). Conclusions These
      results imply that the OA changes in young Korean TMD patients are as common as
      in the old and have no correlation with clinical pain and noise. Considered with
      high prevalence of TMDs known in the young population, the overall/absolute OA
      changes in the TMJ can be even higher in the young than in the old population,
      not like in other joints. 

PMID- 26881920
TI  - Effects of Uniaxial and Biaxial Strain on Few-Layered Terrace Structures of MoS2
      Grown by Vapor Transport.
AB  - One of the most fascinating properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is its
      ability to be subjected to large amounts of strain without experiencing
      degradation. The potential of MoS2 mono- and few-layers in electronics,
      optoelectronics, and flexible devices requires the fundamental understanding of
      their properties as a function of strain. While previous reports have studied
      mechanically exfoliated flakes, tensile strain experiments on chemical vapor
      deposition (CVD)-grown few-layered MoS2 have not been examined hitherto, although
      CVD is a state of the art synthesis technique with clear potential for scale-up
      processes. In this report, we used CVD-grown terrace MoS2 layers to study how the
      number and size of the layers affected the physical properties under uniaxial and
      biaxial tensile strain. Interestingly, we observed significant shifts in both the
      Raman in-plane mode (as high as -5.2 cm(-1)) and photoluminescence (PL) energy
      (as high as -88 meV) for the few-layered MoS2 under ~1.5% applied uniaxial
      tensile strain when compared to monolayers and few-layers of MoS2 studied
      previously. We also observed slippage between the layers which resulted in a
      hysteresis of the Raman and PL spectra during further applications of strain.
      Through DFT calculations, we contended that this random layer slippage was due to
      defects present in CVD-grown materials. This work demonstrates that CVD-grown few
      layered MoS2 is a realistic, exciting material for tuning its properties under
      tensile strain. 

PMID- 26881921
TI  - Peripheral Attentional Targets under Covert Attention Lead to Paradoxically
      Enhanced Alpha Desynchronization in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.
AB  - The limited capacity of the human brain to process the full extent of visual
      information reaching the visual cortex requires the recruitment of mechanisms of
      information selection through attention. Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) is a
      neurodevelopmental disease often exhibiting attentional deficits and learning
      disabilities, and is considered to model similar impairments common in other
      neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. In a previous study, we found that
      patients with NF1 are more prone to miss targets under overt attention
      conditions. This finding was interpreted as a result of increased occipito
      parietal alpha oscillations. In the present study, we used electroencephalography
      (EEG) to study alpha power modulations and the performance of patients with NF1
      in a covert attention task. Covert attention was required in order to perceive
      changes (target offset) of a peripherally presented stimulus. Interestingly,
      alpha oscillations were found to undergo greater desynchronization under this
      task in the NF1 group compared with control subjects. A similar pattern of
      desynchronization was found for beta frequencies while no changes in gamma
      oscillations could be identified. These results are consistent with the notion
      that different attentional states and task demands generate different patterns of
      abnormal modulation of alpha oscillatory processes in NF1. Under covert attention
      conditions and while target offset was reported with relatively high accuracy
      (over 90% correct responses), excessive desynchronization was found. These
      findings suggest an abnormal modulation of oscillatory activity and attentional
      processes in NF1. Given the known role of alpha in modulating attention, we
      suggest that alpha patterns can show both abnormal increases and decreases that
      are task and performance dependent, in a way that enhanced alpha
      desynchronization may reflect a compensatory mechanism to keep performance at
      normal levels. These results suggest that dysregulation of alpha oscillations may
      occur in NF1 both in terms of excessive or diminished activation patterns. 

PMID- 26881922
TI  - On the Temperature Dependence of Enzyme-Catalyzed Rates.
AB  - One of the critical variables that determine the rate of any reaction is
      temperature. For biological systems, the effects of temperature are convoluted
      with myriad (and often opposing) contributions from enzyme catalysis, protein
      stability, and temperature-dependent regulation, for example. We have coined the
      phrase "macromolecular rate theory (MMRT)" to describe the temperature dependence
      of enzyme-catalyzed rates independent of stability or regulatory processes.
      Central to MMRT is the observation that enzyme-catalyzed reactions occur with
      significant values of DeltaCp(?) that are in general negative. That is, the heat
      capacity (Cp) for the enzyme-substrate complex is generally larger than the Cp
      for the enzyme-transition state complex. Consistent with a classical description
      of enzyme catalysis, a negative value for DeltaCp(?) is the result of the enzyme
      binding relatively weakly to the substrate and very tightly to the transition
      state. This observation of negative DeltaCp(?) has important implications for the
      temperature dependence of enzyme-catalyzed rates. Here, we lay out the
      fundamentals of MMRT. We present a number of hypotheses that arise directly from
      MMRT including a theoretical justification for the large size of enzymes and the
      basis for their optimum temperatures. We rationalize the behavior of
      psychrophilic enzymes and describe a "psychrophilic trap" which places limits on
      the evolution of enzymes in low temperature environments. One of the defining
      characteristics of biology is catalysis of chemical reactions by enzymes, and
      enzymes drive much of metabolism. Therefore, we also expect to see
      characteristics of MMRT at the level of cells, whole organisms, and even
      ecosystems. 

PMID- 26881923
TI  - The BCL2 -938C>A Promoter Polymorphism Is Associated with Risk for and Time to
      Aseptic Loosening of Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - Aseptic loosening is a major cause of revision surgery of total hip arthroplasty
      (THA). Only few host factors affecting aseptic loosening have been identified
      until now, although they are urgently needed to identify and possibly treat those
      patients at higher risk for aseptic loosening. To determine whether the
      functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) c.-938C>A (rs2279115), located in
      the promoter region of the BCL2 gene has an impact on aseptic loosening of THA we
      genotyped and analyzed 234 patients suffering from aseptic loosening and 231
      patients after primary THA. The polymorphism is associated with risk for aseptic
      loosening with the CC genotype at highest risk for aseptic loosening, Odds Ratio
      CC vs. AA 1.93, 95%CI 1.15-3.25, p = 0.013. In contrast, low risk AA genotype
      carriers that still developed aseptic loosening showed a significantly shorter
      time to aseptic loosening than patients carrying the C allele (p = 0.004). These
      results indicate that the BCL2 -938C>A polymorphism influences the occurrence and
      course of aseptic loosening and suggests this polymorphism as an interesting
      candidate for prospective studies and analyses in THA registers. 

PMID- 26881924
TI  - Efficacy, Safety, and Dose of Pafuramidine, a New Oral Drug for Treatment of
      First Stage Sleeping Sickness, in a Phase 2a Clinical Study and Phase 2b
      Randomized Clinical Studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis [HAT]) is caused by
      protozoan parasites and characterized by a chronic progressive course, which may
      last up to several years before death. We conducted two Phase 2 studies to
      determine the efficacy and safety of oral pafuramidine in African patients with
      first stage HAT. METHODS: The Phase 2a study was an open-label, non-controlled,
      proof-of-concept study where 32 patients were treated with 100 mg of pafuramidine
      orally twice a day (BID) for 5 days at two trypanosomiasis reference centers
      (Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]) between August 2001 and
      November 2004. The Phase 2b study compared pafuramidine in 41 patients versus
      standard pentamidine therapy in 40 patients. The Phase 2b study was open-label,
      parallel-group, controlled, randomized, and conducted at two sites in the DRC
      between April 2003 and February 2007. The Phase 2b study was then amended to add
      an open-label sequence (Phase 2b-2), where 30 patients received pafuramidine for
      10 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was parasitologic cure at 24 hours (Phase
      2a) or 3 months (Phase 2b) after treatment completion. The primary safety outcome
      was the rate of occurrence of World Health Organization Toxicity Scale Grade 3 or
      higher adverse events. All subjects provided written informed consent.
      FINDINGS/CONCLUSION: Pafuramidine for the treatment of first stage HAT was
      comparable in efficacy to pentamidine after 10 days of dosing. The cure rates 3
      months post-treatment were 79% in the 5-day pafuramidine, 100% in the 7-day
      pentamidine, and 93% in the 10-day pafuramidine groups. In Phase 2b, the
      percentage of patients with at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event was
      notably higher after pentamidine treatment (93%) than pafuramidine treatment for
      5 days (25%) and 10 days (57%). These results support continuation of the
      development program for pafuramidine into Phase 3.

PMID- 26881925
TI  - alpha-Ketol linolenic acid (KODA) application affects endogenous abscisic acid,
      jasmonic acid and aromatic volatiles in grapes infected by a pathogen (Glomerella
      cingulata).
AB  - Effects of alpha-ketol linolenic acid (KODA) application on endogenous abscisic
      acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and aromatic volatiles were investigated in
      'Kyoho' grapes (Vitis labrusca*Vitis vinifera) infected by a pathogen (Glomerella
      cingulata). The expressions of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (VvNCED1), ABA
      8'-hydroxylase (VvCYP707A1), lipoxygenase (VvLOX), and allene oxide synthase
      (VvAOS) were also examined. The grape berries were dipped in 0.1mM KODA solution
      before inoculation with the pathogen and stored at 25 degrees C for 12 days. The
      development of infection was significantly suppressed upon KODA treatment.
      Endogenous ABA, JA and phaseic acid (PA) were induced in inoculated berries. KODA
      application before inoculation increased endogenous ABA, PA and JA through the
      activation of VvNCED1, VvCYP707A1 and VvAOS genes, respectively. In addition,
      terpenes, methyl salicylate (Me-SA) and C6-aldehydes such as (E)-2-hexenal and
      cis-3-hexenal associated with fungal resistance also increased in KODA-treated
      berries during storage. These results suggest that the synergistic effect of JA,
      ABA, and some aromatic volatiles induced by KODA application may provide
      resistance to pathogen infection in grape berries. 

PMID- 26881926
TI  - An alternative choice of lidocaine-loaded liposomes: lidocaine-loaded lipid
      polymer hybrid nanoparticles for local anesthetic therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: The skin permeation enhancement of local anesthetics by newer innovative
      nanotechnologies has been an appealing field recently. However, which nanocarrier
      is better for drug loading and has better stability? Therefore, the aim of our
      study was to compare two kinds of nanocarriers: liposomes and lipid-polymer
      hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) for lidocaine (LA) delivery. METHODS: LA-loaded
      liposomes (LA-LPs) and LPNs (LA-LPNs) were prepared. Two kinds of nanocarriers
      were characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation
      efficiency (EE), drug release, and stability. Their in vitro skin permeation was
      studied using a Franz diffusion cell mounted with depilated mouse skin in vitro.
      In vivo local anesthetic effects of LA containing formulations were evaluated by
      tail flick latency (TFL) test using a tail-flick measuring device. RESULTS:
      Compared with LA-LPs, LA-LPNs showed significantly better in vitro skin
      permeation ability and in vivo local anesthetic effects. CONCLUSION: The results
      demonstrated that LPNs could improve the efficacy of drugs to higher levels than
      LPs and free drugs, thus could serve as an effective drug system for LA loading
      for local anesthetic therapy.

PMID- 26881927
TI  - Acellular dermal matrices in breast reconstructions - a literature review.
AB  - During the last two decades, acellular dermal matrices (ADM) have been more
      widely used in reconstructive procedures i.e. breast reconstructions. Several,
      both synthetic and biologic products derived from human, porcine and bovine
      tissue, have been introduced. Until this point postoperative complications for
      the acellular dermal matrices, as a group, have been the main focus. The purpose
      of this literature review is to summarize the current knowledge on the each
      biologic product used in breast reconstructions, including product specific
      complication frequencies. A systematic search of the literature was performed in
      the PubMed and EMBASE databases, identifying 55 relevant articles, mainly
      evidence level III. AlloDerm seems to be associated with severe complicating
      matters in the reconstructive process compared to other products. This could be
      due to the higher number of investigating studies relative to the others. The
      surgical area faces certain challenges comparing results, due to surgical
      variance, the data collection and follow-up. More well-defined guidelines and
      more high-evidence randomized studies could increase the overall level of
      evidence in this area. 

PMID- 26881928
TI  - p16-positive lymph node metastases from cutaneous head and neck squamous cell
      carcinoma: No association with high-risk human papillomavirus or prognosis and
      implications for the workup of the unknown primary.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of p16 overexpression and the role of human
      papillomavirus (HPV) in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cHNSCC)
      are unclear. METHODS: One hundred forty-three patients with cHNSCC lymph node
      metastases involving the parotid gland were evaluated for p16 expression by
      immunohistochemistry. The detection of 18 high-risk HPV subtypes was performed
      with HPV RNA in situ hybridization for a subset of 59 patients. The results were
      correlated with clinicopathological features and outcomes. RESULTS: The median
      follow-up time was 5.3 years. No differences were observed in clinicopathological
      factors with respect to the p16 status. p16 was positive, weak, and negative in
      45 (31%), 21 (15%), and 77 cases (54%), respectively. No high-risk HPV subtypes
      were identified, regardless of the p16 status. The p16 status was not prognostic
      for overall (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.36; P =
      .528), cancer-specific (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.77-1.64; P = .542), or
      progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.83-1.29; P = .783).
      Distant metastasis-free survival, freedom from locoregional failure, and freedom
      from local failure were also not significantly associated with the p16 status.
      CONCLUSIONS: p16 positivity is common but not prognostic in cHNSCC lymph node
      metastases. High-risk HPV subtypes are not associated with p16 positivity and do
      not appear to play a role in this disease. HPV testing, in addition to the p16
      status in the unknown primary setting, may provide additional information for
      determining a putative primary site.

PMID- 26881929
TI  - E2F1 and NF-kappaB: Key Mediators of Inflammation-associated Cancers and
      Potential Therapeutic Targets.
AB  - Inflammation is the fundamental protective response; however disordered immuno
      response can cause chronic human disease, including cancer. Inflammatory cells
      and mediators are essential to the tumor microenvironment and dissection of this
      complex molecular and cellular milieu may elucidate a connection between cancer
      and inflammation and help to identify potential novel therapeutic targets. Thus,
      focusing on transcription factor NF-kappaB and E2F1 in inflammation-associated
      cancer is urgent. NF-kappaB activation is prevalent in carcinomas, mainly driven
      by inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. E2F1 is also involved in
      regulating immune responses. Understanding the crosstalk between the two pathways
      may contribute to the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

PMID- 26881930
TI  - OncomicroRNAs-Mediated Tumorigenesis: Implication in Cancer Diagnosis and
      Targeted Therapy.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control the expression of approximately 60% of protein-coding
      genes and regulate cell metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and
      apoptosis. Notably, aberrant expression of miRNAs contributes to several diseases
      including cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs play important
      roles in EMT, genesis of cancer stem cells, cancer metabolism and carcinogenesis.
      Aberrant expression of miRNAs triggers tumor initiation, progression and poor
      prognosis of cancer patients. Accordingly, oncogenic miRNAs have emerged as
      diagnostic biomarkers and targets for novel anti-cancer drug discovery. However,
      the mechanisms of miRNAs contriving tumorigenesis are not completely understood.
      This review aims to clarify the identification of tumorspecific miRNAs,
      verification of oncogenic miRNA signatures, and dynamic study of oncogenic miRNAs
      in cancer initiation and development. Despite sound progress in miRNA-mediated
      anticancer therapy, several barriers like drug stability, immunogenicity, off
      target effects and toxicities still remain. We hope our review could stimulate
      the further study of miRNAs in cancer research field, which may lead to new
      insights into the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and create new avenues for
      targeted cancer therapy.

PMID- 26881931
TI  - Current Development of ROS-Modulating Agents as Novel Antitumor Therapy.
AB  - Compared to normal cells, usually cancer cells are under higher oxidative stress.
      Elevating intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by introducing
      excessive ROS or inhibiting antioxidant system may enhance selectively of cancer
      cell killing by ROS-modulating agents through stress sensitization or stress
      overload. Meanwhile due to the adaptive response, normal cells may be capable of
      maintaining redox homeostasis under exogenous ROS. Here we review ROS-modulating
      agents in different mechanisms and classify them into groups by various targets
      for illustrating more clearly. At last, we discuss their side effects and the
      potential troubles of developing these agents and argue that might be an
      effective strategy for further exploring to modulate the unique redox regulatory
      mechanisms of cancer cells.

PMID- 26881932
TI  - MT1-MMP Activation of TGF-beta Signaling Enables Intercellular Activation of an
      Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Program in Cancer.
AB  - Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) is associated with
      cancer invasion and metastasis leading to poor patient prognosis. MT1-MMP
      mediates cancer cell invasion via degradation of basement membrane and
      extracellular matrix, and induction of cell migration. However, MT1-MMP
      expression in the cancer stroma can drive invasion of carcinoma cells in vivo,
      suggesting MT1-MMP may also promote cancer invasiveness via paracrinemediated
      mechanisms. A major step in cancer cell metastasis is thought to be an epithelial
      mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which carcinoma cells evolve from a stationary
      epithelial phenotype to a more motile mesenchymal phenotype. We demonstrate here
      that EMT is triggered by MT1-MMP-mediated activation of TGF-. signaling,
      involving induction of CUTL1 and subsequently, of Wnt5a. Mesenchymal-like cancer
      cells expressing endogenous MT1-MMP reverted to an epithelial phenotype when MT1
      MMP, SMAD4, CUTL1, or Wnt5a expression or TGF-. activity was inhibited. Wnt5a
      knockdown in MT1- MMP expressing LNCaP cells caused decreased cell migration and
      cell growth in soft agar. While MT1-MMP expression did not affect total TGF-.
      level, MT1-MMP catalytic activity increased the availability of active TGF-.,
      enabling MT1-MMP-expressing cells to activate the EMT in nearby cells. MT1-MMP
      expressing cells induced co-cultured non-MT1-MMP-expressing cells to undergo EMT
      by a TGF-.-dependent process. These results highlight a pathway by which tumor
      invasiveness may be expanded via MT1-MMP-mediated activation of TGF-. signaling,
      enabling autocrine and paracrine-mediated induction of EMT.

PMID- 26881934
TI  - Association of systolic blood pressure levels with cardiovascular and
      cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality: a result from the Kailuan study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the impact of different levels of systolic blood
      pressure (SBP) on the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and
      all-cause death in Chinese adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 97 013
      Chinese men and women from the Kailuan study were followed up with the incidence
      of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause death. The
      participants were categorized into nine groups on the basis of the different SBP
      levels (mmHg) (groups 1-9): SBP<110, 110<=SBP<120, 120<=SBP<130, 130<=SBP<140,
      140<=SBP<150, 150<=SBP<160, 160<=SBP<170, 170<=SBP<180, and SBP>=180. Hazard
      ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from Cox
      regression models. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 4.02 years, a total of
      2043 cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and 1686 of all-cause deaths
      occurred. After adjustments for potential confounding factors and using group 1
      as a reference, HRs (95% CIs) of total cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events
      for groups 2-9 were 1.35 (1.00-1.82), 1.61 (1.22-2.12), 1.54 (1.16-2.04), 2.05
      (1.55-2.72), 2.47 (1.86-3.29), 3.04 (2.28-4.06), 3.93 (2.89-5.36), and 4.56 (3.39
      6.15), respectively. HRs (95% CIs) of all-cause death for groups 2-9 were 0.92
      (0.71-1.20), 0.95 (0.75-1.20), 1.06 (0.83-1.34), 1.18 (0.93-1.50), 1.16 (0.90
      1.49), 1.39 (1.07-1.81), 1.74 (1.29-2.33), and 2.06 (1.56-2.72), respectively.
      CONCLUSION: An increase in the SBP levels is significantly associated with an
      increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause death.

PMID- 26881933
TI  - Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA): Development and Psychometric
      Properties.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health literacy refers to personal competencies for the access to,
      understanding of, appraisal of and application of health information in order to
      make sound decisions in everyday life. The aim of this study was to develop and
      evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument for the measurement of
      health literacy among adolescents (the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents
      HELMA). METHODS: This study was made up of two phases, qualitative and
      quantitative, which were carried out in 2012-2014 in Tehran, Iran. In the
      qualitative part of the study, in-depth interviews with 67 adolescents aged 15-18
      were carried out in 4 high schools to generate the initial item pool for the
      survey. The content validity of the items was then assessed by an expert panel
      review (n = 13) and face validity was assessed by interviewing adolescents (n =
      16). In the quantitative part of the study, in order to describe the psychometric
      properties of the scale, validity, reliability (internal consistency and test
      retest) and factor analysis were assessed. RESULTS: An item pool made up of 104
      items was generated at the qualitative stage. After content validity was
      considered, this decreased to 47 items. In the quantitative stage, 582
      adolescents aged 15-18 participated in the study with a mean age of 16.2 years.
      51.2% of participants were females. In principal component factor analysis, 8
      factors were loaded, which accounted for 53.37% of the variance observed.
      Reliability has been approved by alpha = 0.93 and the test-retest of the scale at
      two-week intervals indicated an appropriate stability for the scale (ICC = 0.93).
      The final questionnaire was approved with 44 items split into eight sections. The
      sections were titled: gain access to, reading, understanding, appraise, use,
      communication, self-efficacy and numeracy. CONCLUSION: The Health Literacy
      Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) is a valid and reliable tool for the measurement
      of the health literacy of adolescents aged 15-18 and can be used to evaluate
      different levels of functional, interactive, and critical health literacy in
      adolescents.

PMID- 26881935
TI  - Partial Reversal of Tissue Calcification and Extension of Life Span following
      Ammonium Nitrate Treatment of Klotho-Deficient Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Klotho is required for the inhibitory effect of FGF23 on
      1,25(OH)2D3 formation and Klotho-hypomorphic mice (kl/kl) suffer from severe
      tissue calcification due to excessive 1,25(OH)2D3 formation with subsequent
      increase of Ca2+ and phosphate concentrations and stimulation of osteogenic
      signaling. The excessive tissue calcification dramatically accelerates aging and
      leads to premature death of the animals. Osteogenic signaling in those mice is
      disrupted by treatment with NH4Cl, which prevents tissue calcification and early
      death of kl/kl mice. The present study explored whether the beneficial effects of
      NH4Cl treatment could be mimicked by NH4NO3 treatment. METHODS: The kl/kl mice
      had free access to tap water either without or with addition of NH4NO3 (0.28 M)
      starting with the mating of the parental generation. Calcification of trachea,
      lung, kidney, stomach, heart and vessels was visualized by histology with von
      Kossa staining. Plasma phosphate concentration was determined utilizing
      photometry, blood gas and electrolytes utilizing a blood Gas and Chemistry
      Analysis System and plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration with ELISA. RESULTS: In
      untreated kl/kl mice plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 and phosphate concentrations were
      elevated, and the mice suffered from marked calcification of all tissues
      analyzed. Untreated kl/kl mice further suffered from respiratory acidosis due to
      marked lung emphysema. NH4NO3-treatment decreased both, blood pCO2 and HCO3-,
      decreased calcification of trachea, lung, kidney, stomach, heart and vessels and
      increased the life span of kl/kl mice more than 1.7-fold (?) or 1.6-fold (?)
      without significantly affecting extracellular pH or plasma concentrations of
      1,25(OH)2D3, Ca2+, phosphate, Na+, and K+. CONCLUSIONS: NH4NO3-treatment turns
      respiratory acidosis into metabolic acidosis and mitigates calcification thus
      leading to a substantial extension of kl/kl mice survival.

PMID- 26881936
TI  - Red Blood Cell Fatty Acids and Incident Diabetes Mellitus in the Women's Health
      Initiative Memory Study.
AB  - CONTEXT: The relations between dietary and/or circulating levels of fatty acids
      and the development of type 2 diabetes is unclear. Protective associations with
      the marine omega-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid, and with a marker of fatty acid
      desaturase activity delta-5 desaturase (D5D ratio) have been reported, as have
      adverse relations with saturated fatty acids and D6D ratio. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine the associations between red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid distributions
      and incident type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study
      nested in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. SETTING: General
      population. SUBJECTS: Postmenopausal women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported
      incident type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: There were 703 new cases of type 2 diabetes
      over 11 years of follow up among 6379 postmenopausal women. In the fully adjusted
      models, baseline RBC D5D ratio was inversely associated with incident type 2
      diabetes [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-0.95) per 1
      SD increase. Similarly, baseline RBC D6D ratio and palmitic acid were directly
      associated with incident type 2 diabetes (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04-1.25; and HR 1.24,
      95% CI 1.14-1.35, respectively). None of these relations were materially altered
      by excluding incident cases in the first two years of follow-up. There were no
      significant relations with eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic or linoleic acids.
      CONCLUSIONS: Whether altered fatty acid desaturase activities or palmitic acid
      levels are causally related to the development of type 2 diabetes cannot be
      determined from this study, but our findings suggest that proportions of certain
      fatty acids in RBC membranes are associated with risk for type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26881937
TI  - Regulation of Oncoprotein 18/Stathmin Signaling by ERK Concerns the Resistance to
      Taxol in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Cells.
AB  - Taxol is a cytotoxic antiepithelioma chemotherapy drug widely used clinically,
      which results in appearing a broad range of taxol-resistant tumors. Oncoprotein
      18 (Op18)/stathmin is a genetically highly conserved small-molecule cytosolic
      phosphoprotein and highly expressed in tumors. Extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase (ERK) is a main member of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The
      study demonstrated that combination of blockage of ERK signal by ERK inhibitor
      PD98059 and Taxol greatly promoted taxol-induced cellular apoptosis and growth
      inhibition, decreased the expression of Op18/stathmin and total levels of
      phosphor-Op18/stathmin, while weakened the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdc2)
      activity and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression and inhibited IL-10 autocrine
      in taxol-resistant NCI-H1299 cells; Taxol-resistant NCI-H1299 cells expressed
      high levels of ERK and phosphor-ERK in contrast to taxol-sensitive CNE1 cells,
      and ERK mainly phosphorylated Op18/stathmin at Ser 25 site. These findings
      suggest that ERK-mediated Op18/stathmin is involved in taxol resistance of
      tumors; blockage of ERK signal improves the sensitivity of tumor cells to taxol,
      which provides new clues for treating taxol-resistant carcinomas. 

PMID- 26881938
TI  - Variations in Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Use and Outcomes in Michigan
      Hospitals.

PMID- 26881939
TI  - Acute Kidney Injury Prevention.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a condition associated with significant morbidity
      and mortality. The incidence of AKI is increasing due to predisposing factors
      (sepsis, nephrotoxins, and hypotension). This review will focus on the risk
      stratification of patients vulnerable to developing AKI in whom the timing of the
      insult is known (e.g., cardiac surgery, contrast exposure) as well as the
      clinical context in which the risk intensifies. The review will also focus on
      preventive measures and different pharmacological agents for preventing AKI.
      Clinical trials of pharmacological agents for the prevention of AKI are
      challenging. While many compounds are promising in preclinical testing, only a
      few compounds have been tested, and none has shown consistent results in clinical
      trials. This is in part due to the lack of large and well-designed trials. With
      well-designed clinical trials, the use of novel biomarkers and innovative
      therapeutic strategies, we are on the verge of improving outcomes in the
      prevention of AKI. 

PMID- 26881940
TI  - Genome size variation in the genus Avena.
AB  - Genome size is an indicator of evolutionary distance and a metric for genome
      characterization. Here, we report accurate estimates of genome size in 99
      accessions from 26 species of Avena. We demonstrate that the average genome size
      of C genome diploid species (2C = 10.26 pg) is 15% larger than that of A genome
      species (2C = 8.95 pg), and that this difference likely accounts for a
      progression of size among tetraploid species, where AB < AC < CC (average 2C =
      16.76, 18.60, and 21.78 pg, respectively). All accessions from three hexaploid
      species with the ACD genome configuration had similar genome sizes (average 2C =
      25.74 pg). Genome size was mostly consistent within species and in general
      agreement with current information about evolutionary distance among species.
      Results also suggest that most of the polyploid species in Avena have experienced
      genome downsizing in relation to their diploid progenitors. Genome size
      measurements could provide additional quality control for species identification
      in germplasm collections, especially in cases where diploid and polyploid species
      have similar morphology. 

PMID- 26881941
TI  - Robust retention and transfer of tool construction techniques in chimpanzees (Pan
      troglodytes).
AB  - Long-term memory can be critical to a species' survival in environments with
      seasonal and even longer-term cycles of resource availability. The present,
      longitudinal study investigated whether complex tool behaviors used to gain an
      out-of-reach reward, following a hiatus of about 3 years and 7 months since
      initial experiences with a tool use task, were retained and subsequently executed
      more quickly by experienced than by naive chimpanzees. Ten of the 11 retested
      chimpanzees displayed impressive long-term procedural memory, creating elongated
      tools using the same methods employed years previously, either combining 2 tools
      or extending a single tool. The complex tool behaviors were also transferred to a
      different task context, showing behavioral flexibility. This represents some of
      the first evidence for appreciable long-term procedural memory, and improvements
      in the utility of complex tool manufacture in chimpanzees. Such long-term
      procedural memory and behavioral flexibility have important implications for the
      longevity and transmission of behavioral traditions.

PMID- 26881942
TI  - Mate call as reward: Acoustic communication signals can acquire positive
      reinforcing values during adulthood in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia
      guttata).
AB  - Social stimuli can have rewarding properties and promote learning. In birds,
      conspecific vocalizations like song can act as a reinforcer, and specific song
      variants can acquire particular rewarding values during early life exposure. Here
      we ask if, during adulthood, an acoustic signal simpler and shorter than song can
      become a reward for a female songbird because of its particular social value.
      Using an operant choice apparatus, we showed that female zebra finches display a
      preferential response toward their mate's calls. This reinforcing value of mate's
      calls could be involved in the maintenance of the monogamous pair-bond of the
      zebra finch.

PMID- 26881943
TI  - Bonobos (Pan paniscus) vocally protest against violations of social expectations.
AB  - Research has shown that great apes possess certain expectations about social
      regularities and both perceive and act according to social rules within their
      group. During natural and experimentally induced contexts, such as the
      inequitable distribution of resources, individuals also show protesting behaviors
      when their expectations about a social situation are violated. Despite broad
      interest in this topic, systematic research examining the nature of these
      expectations and the communicative signals individuals use to express them
      remains scant. Here, we addressed this by exploring whether bonobos (Pan
      paniscus) respond to violations of social expectations in naturally occurring
      social interactions, focusing on the vocal behavior of victims following socially
      expected and unexpected aggression. Expected aggression included conflicts over a
      contested resource and conflicts that were provoked by the victim. Unexpected
      aggression was any spontaneous, unprovoked hostility toward the victim. For each
      conflict, we also determined its severity and the composition of the nearby
      audience. We found that the acoustic and temporal structure of victim screams was
      individually distinct and varied significantly depending on whether or not
      aggression could be socially predicted. Certain acoustic parameters also varied
      as a function of conflict severity, but unlike social expectation, conflict
      severity did not discriminate scream acoustic structure overall. We found no
      effect of audience composition. We concluded that, beyond the physical nature of
      a conflict, bonobos possess certain social expectations about how they should be
      treated and will publicly protest with acoustically distinctive vocal signals if
      these expectations are violated.

PMID- 26881944
TI  - Brightness illusion in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).
AB  - A long-standing debate surrounds the issue of whether human and nonhuman species
      share similar perceptual mechanisms. One experimental strategy to compare visual
      perception of vertebrates consists in assessing how animals react in the presence
      of visual illusions. To date, this methodological approach has been widely used
      with mammals and birds, while few studies have been reported in distantly related
      species, such as fish. In the present study we investigated whether fish perceive
      the brightness illusion, a well-known illusion occurring when 2 objects,
      identical in physical features, appear to be different in brightness. Twelve
      guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were initially trained to discriminate which
      rectangle was darker or lighter between 2 otherwise identical rectangles. Three
      different conditions were set up: neutral condition between rectangle and
      background (same background used for both darker and lighter rectangle);
      congruent condition (darker rectangle in a darker background and lighter
      rectangle in a lighter background); and incongruent condition (darker rectangle
      in a lighter background and lighter rectangle in a darker background). After
      reaching the learning criterion, guppies were presented with the illusory
      pattern: 2 identical rectangles inserted in 2 different backgrounds. Guppies
      previously trained to select the darker rectangle showed a significant choice of
      the rectangle that appears to be darker by human observers (and vice versa). The
      human-like performance exhibited in the presence of the illusory pattern suggests
      the existence of similar perceptual mechanisms between humans and fish to
      elaborate the brightness of objects.

PMID- 26881945
TI  - The role of redundant information in cultural transmission and cultural
      stabilization.
AB  - Redundant copying has been proposed as a manner to achieve the high-fidelity
      necessary to pass on and preserve complex traits in human cultural transmission.
      There are at least 2 ways to define redundant copying. One refers to the
      possibility of copying repeatedly the same trait over time, and another to the
      ability to exploit multiple layers of information pointing to the same trait
      during a single copying event. Using an individual-based model, we explore how
      redundant copying (defined as in the latter way) helps to achieve successful
      transmission. The authors show that increasing redundant copying increases the
      likelihood of accurately transmitting a behavior more than either augmenting the
      number of copying occasions across time or boosting the general accuracy of
      social learning. They also investigate how different cost functions, deriving,
      for example, from the need to invest more energy in cognitive processing, impact
      the evolution of redundant copying. The authors show that populations converge
      either to high-fitness/high-costs states (with high redundant copying and complex
      culturally transmitted behaviors; resembling human culture) or to low-fitness/low
      costs states (with low redundant copying and simple transmitted behaviors;
      resembling social learning forms typical of nonhuman animals). This outcome may
      help to explain why cumulative culture is rare in the animal kingdom.

PMID- 26881946
TI  - First-principles data set of 45,892 isolated and cation-coordinated conformers of
      20 proteinogenic amino acids.
AB  - We present a structural data set of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and their
      amino-methylated and acetylated (capped) dipeptides. Different protonation states
      of the backbone (uncharged and zwitterionic) were considered for the amino acids
      as well as varied side chain protonation states. Furthermore, we studied amino
      acids and dipeptides in complex with divalent cations (Ca(2+), Ba(2+), Sr(2+),
      Cd(2+), Pb(2+), and Hg(2+)). The database covers the conformational hierarchies
      of 280 systems in a wide relative energy range of up to 4 eV (390 kJ/mol),
      summing up to a total of 45,892 stationary points on the respective potential
      energy surfaces. All systems were calculated on equal first-principles footing,
      applying density-functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation
      corrected for long-range van der Waals interactions. We show good agreement to
      available experimental data for gas-phase ion affinities. Our curated data can be
      utilized, for example, for a wide comparison across chemical space of the
      building blocks of life, for the parametrization of protein force fields, and for
      the calculation of reference spectra for biophysical applications. 

PMID- 26881947
TI  - Introducing a Third Timed Up & Go Test Trial Improves Performances of
      Hospitalized and Community-Dwelling Older Individuals.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Originally, the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test was described as
      including a practice trial before a timed trial, but recent studies in
      individuals with hip fracture have reported that performance improved with a
      third trial and that high intertester reliability was achieved when the fastest
      of 3 timed trials was used. Thus, the fastest of 3 TUG trials is recommended when
      testing individuals with hip fracture. To our knowledge, no study has examined
      the number of trials needed to achieve performance stability on the TUG test
      (defined as no further improvement on subsequent trials) when performed by older
      individuals without hip fracture. The aim of the study, therefore, was to examine
      whether a third TUG trial is faster than either of 2 TUG trials conducted
      according to standardized TUG instructions and whether the fastest of 3 trials is
      the most appropriate measure to apply in hospitalized and community-dwelling
      older individuals. METHODS: Eighty-two participants (50 from a geriatric hospital
      unit and 32 from an outpatient geriatric center; 52 women, 30 men) with a mean
      (SD) age of 83.6 (7.9) years were included in this cross-sectional study. All
      participants (except one from the hospital unit) performed 3 TUG trials, as fast
      as safely possible on the same day, and separated by up to 1-minute pauses. A
      rollator (4-wheeled rolling walker) was used as a standardized walking aid in the
      geriatric hospital unit, whereas participants used their normal walking aid (if
      any) in the outpatient geriatric center. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The fastest
      trial was trial 3 for 47 (57%), trial 2 for 25 (31%), and trial 1 for 10 (12%).
      Repeated-measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni corrections showed that
      TUG times improved from trial 1 to trial 3 (P < .04). In addition, the fastest of
      the 3 timed trials was significantly (P < .001) faster than the other 2 trials.
      CONCLUSION: We suggest that the fastest of the 3 TUG trials is recorded instead
      of the second trial in both hospitalized and community-dwelling older
      individuals.

PMID- 26881948
TI  - Age-Related Changes in Postural Sway Are Not Consistent Between Land and Aquatic
      Environments.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantifying how the environment (land vs water)
      influences age-related changes in postural sway is important for the development
      of new therapies that improve balance. The authors are not aware of any previous
      studies that have compared postural sway in an aquatic environment between age
      groups or when water depth and/or perturbations are incorporated into the
      comparison. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of water depth
      and jet intensity on postural sway in older and younger adults. METHODS: Sixteen
      older (age = 62.8 +/- 9.56 years) and 15 younger (age = 22.5 +/- 1.85 years)
      adults participated. Participants stood quietly for 90 seconds on land and at
      various water depths and jet intensities while center of pressure (CoP) sway was
      recorded using a force platform. RESULTS: Statistical comparisons revealed that
      CoP range and area measurements were different between land and aquatic
      conditions (P = .04 - .001). For example, CoP sway area in chest deep water (8.51
      +/- 2.97 cm) was greater than on land (2.41 +/- 1.37 cm; effect size = 2.05).
      Furthermore, CoP sway area at the 60% jet intensity (71.4 +/- 31.2 cm) was
      substantially greater than at the 20% jet intensity (12.4 +/- 6.23 cm; effect
      size = 1.89). Surprisingly, the proportion of change across water depths and jet
      intensities was not consistent between older and younger groups as indicated by
      significant age by environment interactions (P = .03 - .001). Follow-up tests
      indicated that older adults swayed less than younger adults in water at the level
      of the hip (effect sizes = 0.42-0.94) and when water jets were applied at a 60%
      jet intensity (effect sizes = 0.63-1.97). CONCLUSIONS: Water immersion to the
      chest with high jet intensities produces the greatest CoP sway in both groups.
      This is likely a result of buoyancy and perturbation intensity. Less sway in the
      older group may reflect a strategy that reduces degrees of freedom for this group
      when faced with these stability challenges.

PMID- 26881949
TI  - Bisulfite induced chemiluminescence of g-C3N4 nanosheets and enhanced by metal
      ions.
AB  - In this work, a novel chemiluminescence (CL) phenomenon was found: a g-C3N4
      nanosheets suspension was mixed with NaHSO3 solution directly to produce
      luminescence, and the intensity of luminescence could be obviously enhanced by
      some metal ions, which was distinctly different from the phenomenon that Cu(2+)
      ions can quench the fluorescence of g-C3N4 nanosheets as reported before. 

PMID- 26881950
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26881951
TI  - Why Bayesian Psychologists Should Change the Way They Use the Bayes Factor.
AB  - The discussion following Bem's ( 2011 ) psi research highlights that applications
      of the Bayes factor in psychological research are not without problems. The first
      problem is the omission to translate subjective prior knowledge into subjective
      prior distributions. In the words of Savage ( 1961 ): "they make the Bayesian
      omelet without breaking the Bayesian egg." The second problem occurs if the
      Bayesian egg is not broken: the omission to choose default prior distributions
      such that the ensuing inferences are well calibrated. The third problem is the
      adherence to inadequate rules for the interpretation of the size of the Bayes
      factor. The current paper will elaborate these problems and show how to avoid
      them using the basic hypotheses and statistical model used in the first
      experiment described in Bem ( 2011 ). It will be argued that a thorough
      investigation of these problems in the context of more encompassing hypotheses
      and statistical models is called for if Bayesian psychologists want to add a well
      founded Bayes factor to the tool kit of psychological researchers. 

PMID- 26881952
TI  - Calibrated Bayes Factors Should Not Be Used: A Reply to Hoijtink, van Kooten, and
      Hulsker.
AB  - Hoijtink, Kooten, and Hulsker ( 2016 ) present a method for choosing the prior
      distribution for an analysis with Bayes factor that is based on controlling error
      rates, which they advocate as an alternative to our more subjective methods
      (Morey & Rouder, 2014 ; Rouder, Speckman, Sun, Morey, & Iverson, 2009 ;
      Wagenmakers, Wetzels, Borsboom, & van der Maas, 2011 ). We show that the method
      they advocate amounts to a simple significance test, and that the resulting Bayes
      factors are not interpretable. Additionally, their method fails in common
      circumstances, and has the potential to yield arbitrarily high Type II error
      rates. After critiquing their method, we outline the position on subjectivity
      that underlies our advocacy of Bayes factors. 

PMID- 26881953
TI  - Bayes Factors Have Frequency Properties-This Should Not Be Ignored: A Rejoinder
      to Morey, Wagenmakers, and Rouder.
AB  - Hoijtink, van Kooten, and Hulsker ( 2016 ) outline a research agenda for Bayesian
      psychologists: evaluate and use the frequency properties of Bayes factors. Morey,
      Wagenmakers, and Rouder ( 2016 ) respond that Bayes factors calibrated using
      frequency properties should not be used. This paper contains the response of
      Hoijtink, van Kooten, and Hulsker to the criticism of Morey, Wagenmakers, and
      Rouder ( 2016 ). 

PMID- 26881954
TI  - A Test by Any Other Name: P Values, Bayes Factors, and Statistical Inference.
AB  - Procedures used for statistical inference are receiving increased scrutiny as the
      scientific community studies the factors associated with insuring reproducible
      research. This note addresses recent negative attention directed at p values, the
      relationship of confidence intervals and tests, and the role of Bayesian
      inference and Bayes factors, with an eye toward better understanding these
      different strategies for statistical inference. We argue that researchers and
      data analysts too often resort to binary decisions (e.g., whether to reject or
      accept the null hypothesis) in settings where this may not be required. 

PMID- 26881955
TI  - Moving in Parallel Toward a Modern Modeling Epistemology: Bayes Factors and
      Frequentist Modeling Methods.
AB  - The Bayesian-frequentist debate typically portrays these statistical perspectives
      as opposing views. However, both Bayesian and frequentist statisticians have
      expanded their epistemological basis away from a singular focus on the null
      hypothesis, to a broader perspective involving the development and comparison of
      competing statistical/mathematical models. For frequentists, statistical
      developments such as structural equation modeling and multilevel modeling have
      facilitated this transition. For Bayesians, the Bayes factor has facilitated this
      transition. The Bayes factor is treated in articles within this issue of
      Multivariate Behavioral Research. The current presentation provides brief
      commentary on those articles and more extended discussion of the transition
      toward a modern modeling epistemology. In certain respects, Bayesians and
      frequentists share common goals. 

PMID- 26881956
TI  - Regression Mixture Models: Does Modeling the Covariance Between Independent
      Variables and Latent Classes Improve the Results?
AB  - Regression mixture models are increasingly used as an exploratory approach to
      identify heterogeneity in the effects of a predictor on an outcome. In this
      simulation study, we tested the effects of violating an implicit assumption often
      made in these models; that is, independent variables in the model are not
      directly related to latent classes. Results indicate that the major risk of
      failing to model the relationship between predictor and latent class was an
      increase in the probability of selecting additional latent classes and biased
      class proportions. In addition, we tested whether regression mixture models can
      detect a piecewise relationship between a predictor and outcome. Results suggest
      that these models are able to detect piecewise relations but only when the
      relationship between the latent class and the predictor is included in model
      estimation. We illustrate the implications of making this assumption through a
      reanalysis of applied data examining heterogeneity in the effects of family
      resources on academic achievement. We compare previous results (which assumed no
      relation between independent variables and latent class) to the model where this
      assumption is lifted. Implications and analytic suggestions for conducting
      regression mixture based on these findings are noted. 

PMID- 26881957
TI  - Testing for Granger Causality in the Frequency Domain: A Phase Resampling Method.
AB  - This article introduces phase resampling, an existing but rarely used surrogate
      data method for making statistical inferences of Granger causality in frequency
      domain time series analysis. Granger causality testing is essential for
      establishing causal relations among variables in multivariate dynamic processes.
      However, testing for Granger causality in the frequency domain is challenging due
      to the nonlinear relation between frequency domain measures (e.g., partial
      directed coherence, generalized partial directed coherence) and time domain data.
      Through a simulation study, we demonstrate that phase resampling is a general and
      robust method for making statistical inferences even with short time series. With
      Gaussian data, phase resampling yields satisfactory type I and type II error
      rates in all but one condition we examine: when a small effect size is combined
      with an insufficient number of data points. Violations of normality lead to
      slightly higher error rates but are mostly within acceptable ranges. We
      illustrate the utility of phase resampling with two empirical examples involving
      multivariate electroencephalography (EEG) and skin conductance data. 

PMID- 26881958
TI  - A Cross-Classified CFA-MTMM Model for Structurally Different and Nonindependent
      Interchangeable Methods.
AB  - Multirater (multimethod, multisource) studies are increasingly applied in
      psychology. Eid and colleagues (2008) proposed a multilevel confirmatory factor
      model for multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data combining structurally different and
      multiple independent interchangeable methods (raters). In many studies, however,
      different interchangeable raters (e.g., peers, subordinates) are asked to rate
      different targets (students, supervisors), leading to violations of the
      independence assumption and to cross-classified data structures. In the present
      work, we extend the ML-CFA-MTMM model by Eid and colleagues (2008) to cross
      classified multirater designs. The new C4 model (Cross-Classified CTC[M-1]
      Combination of Methods) accounts for nonindependent interchangeable raters and
      enables researchers to explicitly model the interaction between targets and
      raters as a latent variable. Using a real data application, it is shown how
      credibility intervals of model parameters and different variance components can
      be obtained using Bayesian estimation techniques. 

PMID- 26881959
TI  - Assessing Omitted Confounder Bias in Multilevel Mediation Models.
AB  - To draw valid inference about an indirect effect in a mediation model, there must
      be no omitted confounders. No omitted confounders means that there are no common
      causes of hypothesized causal relationships. When the no-omitted-confounder
      assumption is violated, inference about indirect effects can be severely biased
      and the results potentially misleading. Despite the increasing attention to
      address confounder bias in single-level mediation, this topic has received little
      attention in the growing area of multilevel mediation analysis. A formidable
      challenge is that the no-omitted-confounder assumption is untestable. To address
      this challenge, we first analytically examined the biasing effects of potential
      violations of this critical assumption in a two-level mediation model with random
      intercepts and slopes, in which all the variables are measured at Level 1. Our
      analytic results show that omitting a Level 1 confounder can yield misleading
      results about key quantities of interest, such as Level 1 and Level 2 indirect
      effects. Second, we proposed a sensitivity analysis technique to assess the
      extent to which potential violation of the no-omitted-confounder assumption might
      invalidate or alter the conclusions about the indirect effects observed. We
      illustrated the methods using an empirical study and provided computer code so
      that researchers can implement the methods discussed. 

PMID- 26881960
TI  - Bayesian Data Analysis with the Bivariate Hierarchical Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Process
      Model.
AB  - In this paper, we propose a multilevel process modeling approach to describing
      individual differences in within-person changes over time. To characterize
      changes within an individual, repeated measures over time are modeled in terms of
      three person-specific parameters: a baseline level, intraindividual variation
      around the baseline, and regulatory mechanisms adjusting toward baseline.
      Variation due to measurement error is separated from meaningful intraindividual
      variation. The proposed model allows for the simultaneous analysis of
      longitudinal measurements of two linked variables (bivariate longitudinal
      modeling) and captures their relationship via two person-specific parameters.
      Relationships between explanatory variables and model parameters can be studied
      in a one-stage analysis, meaning that model parameters and regression
      coefficients are estimated simultaneously. Mathematical details of the approach,
      including a description of the core process model-the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model
      are provided. We also describe a user friendly, freely accessible software
      program that provides a straightforward graphical interface to carry out
      parameter estimation and inference. The proposed approach is illustrated by
      analyzing data collected via self-reports on affective states. 

PMID- 26881961
TI  - Incorporating Mobility in Growth Modeling for Multilevel and Longitudinal Item
      Response Data.
AB  - Multilevel data often cannot be represented by the strict form of hierarchy
      typically assumed in multilevel modeling. A common example is the case in which
      subjects change their group membership in longitudinal studies (e.g., students
      transfer schools; employees transition between different departments). In this
      study, cross-classified and multiple membership models for multilevel and
      longitudinal item response data (CCMM-MLIRD) are developed to incorporate such
      mobility, focusing on students' school change in large-scale longitudinal
      studies. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of incorrectly modeling school
      membership in the analysis of multilevel and longitudinal item response data. Two
      types of school mobility are described, and corresponding models are specified.
      Results of the simulation studies suggested that appropriate modeling of the two
      types of school mobility using the CCMM-MLIRD yielded good recovery of the
      parameters and improvement over models that did not incorporate mobility
      properly. In addition, the consequences of incorrectly modeling the school
      effects on the variance estimates of the random effects and the standard errors
      of the fixed effects depended upon mobility patterns and model specifications.
      Two sets of large-scale longitudinal data are analyzed to illustrate applications
      of the CCMM-MLIRD for each type of school mobility. 

PMID- 26881962
TI  - ABM Clinical Protocol #26: Persistent Pain with Breastfeeding.
AB  - A central goal of The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is the development of
      clinical protocols for managing common medical problems that may impact
      breastfeeding success. These protocols serve only as guidelines for the care of
      breastfeeding mothers and infants and do not delineate an exclusive course of
      treatment or serve as standards of medical care. Variations in treatment may be
      appropriate according to the needs of an individual patient. 

PMID- 26881963
TI  - Contrasting effects of a mixed-methods high-intensity interval training
      intervention in girl football players.
AB  - Little is known about the responses of girl athletes to training interventions
      throughout maturation. This study evaluated group and individual responses to an
      8-week, mixed-methods, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programme in girl
      football players. Thirty-seven players (age 13.4 +/- 1.5 years) were tested for
      20-m speed, repeated-sprint ability, change-of-direction speed and level 1 yo-yo
      intermittent recovery (YYIR). Players were subcategorised into before-, at- and
      after-PHV (peak height velocity) based on maturity offset. Very likely moderate
      (25%; +/-90% confidence limits = 9.2) improvements occurred in YYIR, but data
      were unclear in players before-PHV with moderate individual differences in
      response. Decrements in repeated-sprint ability were most likely very large
      (6.5%; +/-3.2) before-PHV, and likely moderate (1.7%; +/-1.0) at-PHV. Data were
      unclear after-PHV. A very likely moderate (2.7%; +/-1.0) decrement occurred in
      change-of-direction speed at-PHV while there was a very likely increase (-2.4%;
      +/-1.3) in after-PHV players. Possibly small (-1.1%; +/-1.4) improvements in 20-m
      speed occurred before-PHV but the effect was otherwise unclear with moderate to
      large individual differences. These data reflect specific responses to training
      interventions in girls of different biological maturity, while highlighting
      individual responses to HIIT interventions. This can assist practitioners in
      providing effective training prescription. 

PMID- 26881965
TI  - How do Chronically Ill Patients Rate Medical Care by their GPs and Specialists?
      Results of a Germany-wide Survey.
AB  - Introduction: The ability of health systems to respond to the legitimate
      expectations of the population regarding interpersonal and organizational aspects
      of healthcare - the so-called Health System Responsiveness - is considered a key
      competence of health systems. While various studies have assessed the
      responsiveness of ambulatory care, information on differences between care
      provided by general practitioners (GP) and specialists is still scarce. Methods:
      By means of a postal survey, 51 998 chronically ill persons (type 2 diabetes
      and/or coronary heart disease) insured by a statutory health insurance body
      (Techniker Krankenkasse) were surveyed regarding their experiences with GP and
      specialist care. An adapted version of the WHO Health System Responsiveness
      questionnaires was used for assessing data. Differences in the rating of
      specialist and GP care were analyzed using McNemar's test. Results: Responses
      from 13 685 patients were included in data analyses. Overall, ambulatory care was
      rated mostly as positive. Across all dimensions of health system responsiveness,
      GP care was rated statistically significantly as more positive than specialist
      care. Considerable differences were found in the evaluation of waiting times,
      involvement in decision-making and coordination of care. Conclusion: Overall, the
      surveyed persons were mostly satisfied with their GP and specialist care.
      However, some aspects of specialist care need to be optimized.

PMID- 26881964
TI  - Human neutrophil elastase induces MUC5AC overexpression in chronic rhinosinusitis
      through tumour necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme.
AB  - Conclusion The HNE-TACE signalling pathway has an important role in the process
      of MUC5AC overexpression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Objectives To provide
      evidence of HNE-induced MUC5AC overexpression in CRS via TACE. Method HE and PAS
      staining were used to assess the pathological changes in sinus mucosa samples
      from CRS or normal control. HNE, TACE, and MUC5AC expression in the sinonasal
      mucosa was determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time polymerase
      chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, the MUC5AC and TACE expression was
      determined in a primary culture of human nasal mucosa epithelial cells in vitro.
      Results On HE staining, the main pathological feature in the sinus mucosa of CRS
      patients was hyperplasia of goblet cells, inflammatory cells, and submucosal
      glands. Mucosa from the two experimental groups also showed strong expression on
      PAS staining. IHC and qRT-PCR demonstrated that HNE, TACE, and MUC5AC expression
      was significantly higher in the CRS patients compared with control samples (p <
      0.05). MUC5AC mRNA expression was higher in cells stimulated by HNE than in
      untreated cells (p < 0.05). MUC5AC mRNA expression was significantly reduced in
      cells pre-treated with the TACE inhibitor TAPI-1 prior to HNE stimulation,
      compared with untreated and HNE-stimulated cells (p < 0.01). 

PMID- 26881966
TI  - Arbitrary cross-section SEM-cathodoluminescence imaging of growth sectors and
      local carrier concentrations within micro-sampled semiconductor nanorods.
AB  - Future one-dimensional electronics require single-crystalline semiconductor free
      standing nanorods grown with uniform electrical properties. However, this is
      currently unrealistic as each crystallographic plane of a nanorod grows at unique
      incorporation rates of environmental dopants, which forms axial and lateral
      growth sectors with different carrier concentrations. Here we propose a series of
      techniques that micro-sample a free-standing nanorod of interest, fabricate its
      arbitrary cross-sections by controlling focused ion beam incidence orientation,
      and visualize its internal carrier concentration map. ZnO nanorods are grown by
      selective area homoepitaxy in precursor aqueous solution, each of which has a
      (0001):+c top-plane and six {1-100}:m side-planes. Near-band-edge
      cathodoluminescence nanospectroscopy evaluates carrier concentration map within a
      nanorod at high spatial resolution (60 nm) and high sensitivity. It also
      visualizes +c and m growth sectors at arbitrary nanorod cross-section and history
      of local transient growth events within each growth sector. Our technique paves
      the way for well-defined bottom-up nanoelectronics. 

PMID- 26881968
TI  - Wbp2 is required for normal glutamatergic synapses in the cochlea and is crucial
      for hearing.
AB  - WBP2 encodes the WW domain-binding protein 2 that acts as a transcriptional
      coactivator for estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR).
      We reported that the loss of Wbp2 expression leads to progressive high-frequency
      hearing loss in mouse, as well as in two deaf children, each carrying two
      different variants in the WBP2 gene. The earliest abnormality we detect in Wbp2
      deficient mice is a primary defect at inner hair cell afferent synapses. This
      study defines a new gene involved in the molecular pathway linking hearing
      impairment to hormonal signalling and provides new therapeutic targets. 

PMID- 26881969
TI  - OTUB1 triggers lung cancer development by inhibiting RAS monoubiquitination.
AB  - Activation of the RAS oncogenic pathway, frequently ensuing from mutations in RAS
      genes, is a common event in human cancer. Recent reports demonstrate that
      reversible ubiquitination of RAS GTPases dramatically affects their activity,
      suggesting that enzymes involved in regulating RAS ubiquitination may contribute
      to malignant transformation. Here, we identified the de-ubiquitinase OTUB1 as a
      negative regulator of RAS mono- and di-ubiquitination. OTUB1 inhibits RAS
      ubiquitination independently of its catalytic activity resulting in sequestration
      of RAS on the plasma membrane. OTUB1 promotes RAS activation and tumorigenesis in
      wild-type RAS cells. An increase of OTUB1 expression is commonly observed in non
      small-cell lung carcinomas harboring wild-type KRAS and is associated with
      increased levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, high Ki67 score, and poorer patient
      survival. Our results strongly indicate that dysregulation of RAS ubiquitination
      represents an alternative mechanism of RAS activation during lung cancer
      development. 

PMID- 26881967
TI  - Therapeutic potential of targeting microRNA-10b in established intracranial
      glioblastoma: first steps toward the clinic.
AB  - MicroRNA-10b (miR-10b) is a unique oncogenic miRNA that is highly expressed in
      all GBM subtypes, while absent in normal neuroglial cells of the brain. miR-10b
      inhibition strongly impairs proliferation and survival of cultured glioma cells,
      including glioma-initiating stem-like cells (GSC). Although several miR-10b
      targets have been identified previously, the common mechanism conferring the miR
      10b-sustained viability of GSC is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in
      heterogeneous GSC, miR-10b regulates cell cycle and alternative splicing, often
      through the non-canonical targeting via 5'UTRs of its target genes, including
      MBNL1-3, SART3, and RSRC1. We have further assessed the inhibition of miR-10b in
      intracranial human GSC-derived xenograft and murine GL261 allograft models in
      athymic and immunocompetent mice. Three delivery routes for the miR-10b antisense
      oligonucleotide inhibitors (ASO), direct intratumoral injections, continuous
      osmotic delivery, and systemic intravenous injections, have been explored. In all
      cases, the treatment with miR-10b ASO led to targets' derepression, and
      attenuated growth and progression of established intracranial GBM. No significant
      systemic toxicity was observed upon ASO administration by local or systemic
      routes. Our results indicate that miR-10b is a promising candidate for the
      development of targeted therapies against all GBM subtypes. 

PMID- 26881971
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26881970
TI  - Clinical Relevance of VPAC1 Receptor Expression in Early Arthritis: Association
      with IL-6 and Disease Activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors VPAC1 and VPAC2
      mediate anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA). Data on the expression of these receptors could complement clinical
      assessment in the management of RA. Our goal was to investigate the correlation
      between expression of both receptors and the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score
      (DAS28) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with early
      arthritis (EA). We also measured expression of IL-6 to evaluate the association
      between VIP receptors and systemic inflammation. METHODS: We analyzed 250 blood
      samples collected at any of the 5 scheduled follow-up visits from 125 patients
      enrolled in the Princesa Early Arthritis Register Longitudinal study. Samples
      from 22 healthy donors were also analyzed. Sociodemographic, clinical, and
      therapeutic data were systematically recorded. mRNA expression levels were
      determined using real-time PCR. Then, longitudinal multivariate analyses were
      performed. RESULTS: PBMCs from EA patients showed significantly higher expression
      of VPAC2 receptors at baseline compared to healthy donors (p<0.001). With time,
      however, VPAC2 expression tended to be significantly lower while VPAC1 receptor
      expression increased in correlation with a reduction in DAS28 index. Our results
      reveal that more severe inflammation, based on high levels of IL-6, is associated
      with lower expression of VPAC1 (p<0.001) and conversely with increased expression
      of VPAC2 (p<0.001). A major finding of this study is that expression of VPAC1 is
      lower in patients with increased disease activity (p = 0.001), thus making it
      possible to differentiate between patients with various degrees of clinical
      disease activity. CONCLUSION: Patients with more severe inflammation and higher
      disease activity show lower levels of VPAC1 expression, which is associated with
      patient-reported impairment. Therefore, VPAC1 is a biological marker in EA.

PMID- 26881972
TI  - Sample size determination with familywise control of both type I and type II
      errors in clinical trials.
AB  - The concept of controlling familywise type I and type II errors at the same time
      is essentially an integrated process to deal with multiplicity issues in clinical
      trials. The process will select a multiple testing procedure (MTP) which controls
      the familywise type I error and calculate the per hypothesis sample size such
      that the "studywise power" is maintained at desired level. The power of a study
      can be defined in several ways and it depends on the objective. In this article,
      we provide general guidance on how to make the selection of MTPs and calculate
      sample size simultaneously. We introduce the concept of strong and weak control
      of the familywise type II error and generalized familywise type II error. We also
      proposed the novel Bonferroni+ and optimal Bonferroni+ procedures to allocate per
      hypothesis type II error. We demonstrated the value of the proposed work as it
      cannot be replaced by simple simulations. A real clinical trial is discussed
      throughout the article as an example.

PMID- 26881973
TI  - Scintigraphic evaluation of renal functional damage in volatile substance
      abusers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Volatile organic compounds can be maintained easily and can cause
      dependency. Volatile substance abuse may cause damage by affecting several
      systems. The aim of our study was to evaluate renal functional damage in volatile
      substance abusers by diuretic renogram. METHODS: Twenty nine volatile substance
      abusers and 30 young healthy voluntary young men were included in our study.
      Technetium-99m mertiatide diuretic renogram was used to evaluate renal functions
      and collective system urodynamics to investigate the progress of renal functional
      damage. Images were evaluated visually and quantitatively. Split renal function
      of each kidney, time to peak activity (Tmax), and half-time for
      radiopharmaceutical clearance from pelvicalyceal system (T1/2), ratio of cortical
      and whole-kidney counts at 20-3 min, and maximum counts (T20/3 and T20/max) were
      compared in the two groups. RESULTS: In the study group, time to reach peak
      activity was statistically prolonged compared with the healthy volunteers. In the
      volatile substance abuser group, the average Tmax values, average T1/2 values,
      cortical and whole-kidney T20/3, and T20/max values were found to be prolonged
      compared with the control group in the diuretic renogram. There was no
      significant difference in the split renal function ratios between the two groups.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, possible renal functional damage was evaluated in
      volatile substance abusers by diuretic renogram. In conclusion, diuretic renogram
      can be useful in the evaluation of renal functional damage before blood renal
      function tests are affected and it could be used in the follow-up of the disease
      in volatile substance abusers. The results of this pilot study from our country,
      of course, should be supported by further clinical studies.

PMID- 26881974
TI  - Development of the Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life Scale: A Hybrid
      Measure for Use Across Esophageal Conditions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in chronic
      esophageal conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic
      esophagitis, and achalasia are widely used to measure this important patient
      reported outcome. We seek to leverage these existing measures to create a hybrid
      measure of esophageal illness HRQOL (the Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life
      NEQOL), allowing for broad use across diseases while maintaining sensitivity to
      nuances of a specific condition. METHODS: A three-step, mixed-methods process per
      FDA guidelines for patient-reported outcome (PRO) development was followed:
      review and consolidation of existing HRQOL measure items into a single
      questionnaire, reliability and validity analyses (principle components factor
      analysis, Cronbach alpha, Guttman split-half, inter-item correlation, test-retest
      correlation, and Pearson's correlation with related constructs) based on
      responses from a representative sample of esophageal illness patients, and
      individual structured cognitive interviews with patients for item refinement and
      reduction. RESULTS: An initial 30-item measure was created. Two-hundred twelve
      patients completed the reliability and validity portion of the study, and 15
      completed cognitive interviews. Factor analysis and item-reduction resulted in 11
      items being removed from the NEQOL prior to patient interviews. Construct
      validity was supported by moderate and significant correlations with
      psychological distress and general HRQOL. Test-retest reliability was excellent.
      Following patient interviews, an additional 5 items were removed because of floor
      effects or participant feedback yielding a 14-item, single scale measure of
      HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Although more research is warranted, the NEQOL is a reliable
      and a valid hybrid measure of disease-specific HRQOL across several chronic
      esophageal conditions.

PMID- 26881977
TI  - The Focused Assessment With Sonography For Trauma (FAST) Examination And Pelvic
      Trauma: Indications And Limitations.
AB  - Pelvic trauma accounts for only 3% of all skeletal injuries but may have
      mortality as high as 45% in cases of severe trauma. Significant high-grade
      mechanism trauma to the pelvis must always take the abdomen into consideration
      for evaluation. The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST)
      examination has been shown to be a valuable tool in assessing the unstable trauma
      patient with blunt abdominal injury, though its diagnostic utility is much less
      well-defined than in primary pelvic trauma. This systematic review explores the
      utility and limitations of the FAST examination in patients with blunt pelvic
      trauma and discusses the timing for the examination during the trauma survey.
      Newer techniques for emergency department management of the unstable trauma
      patient are also addressed. 

PMID- 26881975
TI  - Altered Colorectal Compliance and Anorectal Physiology in Upper and Lower Motor
      Neurone Spinal Injury May Explain Bowel Symptom Pattern.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Supraconal spinal cord injury (SCI) and lower motor neurone spinal
      cord injury (LMN-SCI) cause bowel dysfunction; colorectal compliance may further
      define its pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to investigate rectal (RC)
      and sigmoid (SC) compliance and anorectal physiology parameters, in these
      subjects. METHODS: Twenty-four SCI subjects with gut symptoms (14 RC, 10 SC) and
      13 LMN-SCI subjects (9 RC, 4 SC) were compared with 20 spinal intact controls (10
      RC, 10 SC). Staircase distensions were performed using a barostat. Anorectal
      manometry, including rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) measurement, was
      performed in all. Data presented as mean+/-standard error (SCI/LMN-SCI vs.
      controls). RESULTS: SCI subjects had a higher RC (17.0+/-1.9 vs. 10.7+/-0.5 ml/mm
      Hg, P<0.05) and SC (8.5+/-0.6 vs. 5.2+/-0.5 ml/mm Hg, P=0.002). LMN-SCI subjects
      had a lower RC (7.3+/-0.7 ml/mm Hg, P=0.0021) while SC was unchanged (8.3+/-2.2
      ml/mm Hg, P>0.05). Anal resting pressure was decreased in SCI (55+/-5 vs. 79+/-7
      cmH2O, P=0.0102). Anal squeeze pressure was decreased in LMN-SCI (76+/-13 vs.
      154+/-21 cmH2O, P=0.0158). In SCI and LMN-SCI, the amplitude reduction of the
      RAIR was greater (62+/-4% and 70+/-6% vs. 44+/-3%, P=0.0007). CONCLUSIONS:
      Colorectal compliance abnormalities may explain gut symptoms: increased RC and SC
      contributing to constipation in SCI, reduced rectal compliance contributing to
      fecal incontinence (FI) in LMN-SCI. Reduced resting anal pressure in SCI and
      reduced anal squeeze pressure in LMN-SCI along with a greater RAIR amplitude
      reduction may be factors in FI. These co-existing abnormalities may explain
      symptom overlap, and represent future therapeutic targets to ameliorate
      neurogenic bowel dysfunction.

PMID- 26881978
TI  - Efforts in Epilepsy Prevention in the Last 40 Years: Lessons From a Large
      Nationwide Study.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Prevention of new-onset epilepsy is an important public health issue
      and presents a pressing unmet need. It is unclear whether progress has been made
      in preventing new-onset epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether progress has
      been made in the prevention of epilepsy in Finland during the last 40 years.
      DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using a long-term national register study of
      5.04 million Finnish individuals, we looked at first-time inpatient admissions in
      Finland for a diagnosis of epilepsy from 1973 to 2013. Patients with epilepsy
      were defined by the occurrence of 2 or more unprovoked seizures. This study was
      conducted on July 29, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: In Finland, patients with
      epilepsy are routinely hospitalized at time of diagnosis, thus providing evidence
      for the incidence of epilepsy. RESULTS: Of the mean 5.04 million Finnish
      individuals followed up for the development of epilepsy from 1973 to 2013, 100
      792 people were identified as having epilepsy. Of these, 46,995 (47%) had focal
      epilepsy. The mean age for those included in the study was 45 years for men
      (interquartile range, 24-65 years) and 46 years for women (interquartile range,
      23-71 years). We found no change in the incidence of epilepsy in the age range of
      those younger than 65 years (60 per 100,000 in 1973 and 64 per 100,000 in 2013).
      However, there was a significant increase in epilepsy among those older than 65
      years (from 57 per 100,000 to 217 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: We
      found no evidence that progress has been made in preventing new-onset epilepsy in
      those younger than 65 years in the last 40 years; in fact, there was a nearly 5
      fold rise of new-onset epilepsy among the elderly population.

PMID- 26881979
TI  - Age-Related Changes in Binaural Interaction at Brainstem Level.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Age-related hearing loss hampers the ability to understand speech in
      adverse listening conditions. This is attributed to a complex interaction of
      changes in the peripheral and central auditory system. One aspect that may
      deteriorate across the lifespan is binaural interaction. The present study
      investigates binaural interaction at the level of the auditory brainstem. It is
      hypothesized that brainstem binaural interaction deteriorates with advancing age.
      DESIGN: Forty-two subjects of various age participated in the study. Auditory
      brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded using clicks and 500 Hz tone-bursts.
      ABRs were elicited by monaural right, monaural left, and binaural stimulation.
      Binaural interaction was investigated in two ways. First, grand averages of the
      binaural interaction component were computed for each age group. Second, wave V
      characteristics of the binaural ABR were compared with those of the summed left
      and right ABRs. RESULTS: Binaural interaction in the click ABR was demonstrated
      by shorter latencies and smaller amplitudes in the binaural compared with the
      summed monaural responses. For 500 Hz tone-burst ABR, no latency differences were
      found. However, amplitudes were significantly smaller in the binaural than summed
      monaural condition. An age-effect was found for 500 Hz tone-burst, but not for
      click ABR. CONCLUSIONS: Brainstem binaural interaction seems to decline with age.
      Interestingly, these changes seem to be stimulus-dependent.

PMID- 26881980
TI  - Auditory Impairments in HIV-Infected Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In a cross-sectional study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infected adults, the authors showed lower distortion product otoacoustic
      emissions (DPOAEs) in HIV+ individuals compared with controls as well as findings
      consistent with a central auditory processing deficit in HIV+ adults on
      antiretroviral therapy. The authors hypothesized that HIV+ children would also
      have a higher prevalence of abnormal central and peripheral hearing test results
      compared with HIV- controls. DESIGN: Pure-tone thresholds, DPOAEs, and
      tympanometry were performed on 244 subjects (131 HIV+ and 113 HIV- subjects).
      Thirty-five of the HIV+, and 3 of the HIV- subjects had a history of tuberculosis
      treatment. Gap detection results were available for 18 HIV- and 44 HIV+ children.
      Auditory brainstem response results were available for 72 HIV- and 72 HIV+
      children. Data from ears with abnormal tympanograms were excluded. RESULTS: HIV+
      subjects were significantly more likely to have abnormal tympanograms, histories
      of ear drainage, tuberculosis, or dizziness. All audiometric results were
      compared between groups using a two-way ANOVA with HIV status and ear drainage
      history as grouping variables. Mean audiometric thresholds, gap detection
      thresholds, and auditory brainstem response latencies did not differ between
      groups, although the HIV+ group had a higher proportion of individuals with a
      hearing loss >25 dB HL in the better ear. The HIV+ group had reduced DPOAE levels
      (p < 0.05) at multiple frequencies compared with HIV- subjects. No relationships
      were found between treatment regimens or delay in starting treatment and
      audiological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, children with HIV+ were more
      likely to have a history of ear drainage, and to have abnormal tympanograms.
      Similar to the adult findings, the HIV+ group did not show significantly reduced
      audiometric thresholds, but did have significantly lower DPOAE magnitudes. These
      data suggest that (1) HIV+ children often have middle ear damage which
      complicates understanding the direct effects of HIV on the hearing system, and
      (2) even when corrected for confounders DPOAEs were lower in the HIV+ group.
      Previous studies suggest ototoxicity from antiretroviral drugs is an unlikely
      cause of the reduced DPOAE magnitudes. Other possibilities include effects on
      efferent pathways connecting to outer hair cells or a direct effect of HIV on the
      cochlea.

PMID- 26881981
TI  - Impact of Hearing Aid Technology on Outcomes in Daily Life I: The Patients'
      Perspective.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: One of the challenges facing hearing care providers when recommending
      hearing aids is the choice of device technology level. Major manufacturers market
      families of hearing aids that are described as spanning the range from basic
      technology to premium technology. Premium technology hearing aids include
      acoustical processing capabilities (features) that are not found in basic
      technology instruments. These premium features are intended to yield improved
      hearing in daily life compared with basic-feature devices. However, independent
      research that establishes the incremental effectiveness of premium-feature
      devices compared with basic-feature devices is lacking. This research was
      designed to explore reported differences in hearing abilities for adults using
      premium- and basic-feature hearing aids in their daily lives. DESIGN: This was a
      single-blinded, repeated, crossover trial in which the participants were blinded.
      All procedures were carefully controlled to limit researcher bias. Forty-five
      participants used carefully fitted bilateral hearing aids for 1 month and then
      provided data to describe the hearing improvements or deficiencies noted in daily
      life. Typical participants were 70 years old with mild to moderate adult-onset
      hearing loss bilaterally. Each participant used four pairs of hearing aids:
      premium- and basic-feature devices from brands marketed by each of two major
      manufacturers. Participants were blinded about the devices they used and about
      the research questions. RESULTS: All of the outcomes were designed to capture the
      participant's point of view about the benefits of the hearing aids. Three types
      of data were collected: change in hearing-related quality of life, extent of
      agreement with six positively worded statements about everyday hearing with the
      hearing aids, and reported preferences between the premium- and basic-feature
      devices from each brand as well as across all four research hearing aids
      combined. None of these measures yielded a statistically significant difference
      in outcomes between premium- and basic-feature devices. Participants did not
      report better outcomes with premium processing with any measure. CONCLUSIONS: It
      could reasonably be asserted that the patient's perspective is the gold standard
      for hearing aid effectiveness. While the acoustical processing provided by
      premium features can potentially improve scores on tests conducted in contrived
      conditions in a laboratory, or on specific items in a questionnaire, this does
      not ensure that the processing will be of noteworthy benefit when the hearing aid
      is used in the real world challenges faced by the patient. If evidence suggests
      the patient cannot detect that premium features yield improvements over basic
      features in daily life, what is the responsibility of the provider in
      recommending hearing aid technology level? In the present research, there was no
      evidence to suggest that premium-feature devices yielded better outcomes than
      basic-feature devices from the patient's point of view. All of the research
      hearing aids were substantially, but equally, helpful. Further research is needed
      on this topic with other hearing aids and other manufacturers. In the meantime,
      providers should insist on scientifically credible independent evidence to
      support effectiveness claims for any hearing help devices.

PMID- 26881982
TI  - Independent Association of Severity of Muscle Weakness With Disability as
      Measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index in Scleroderma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence and degree of muscle weakness in
      scleroderma is associated with disability. METHODS: The study included a cohort
      of 1,718 scleroderma patients who had available data on muscle strength and
      disability. The primary independent variable was muscle weakness as defined by
      the maximum Medsger muscle severity score and the outcome was disability as
      measured by the last recorded Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index
      (HAQ DI) score. Univariate regression analyses were performed to assess the
      association of HAQ DI scores with the Medsger muscle severity score and other
      scleroderma characteristics. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to
      determine whether an association existed between the degree of muscle weakness
      and disability, while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: In 1,718 patients
      with scleroderma, 22.8% (392 of 1,718) had muscle weakness, as defined by a
      Medsger muscle severity score of >=1. This subset was more likely than those
      without weakness to have diffuse cutaneous scleroderma (55.6% versus 35.1%; P <
      0.0001), higher modified Rodnan skin thickness scores (mean +/- SD 16.3 +/- 13.7
      versus 10.3 +/- 10.6; P < 0.00001), shorter disease duration (mean +/- SD 5.21 +/
      6.75 versus 6.22 +/- 7.67 years; P = 0.02), synovitis (17.7% versus 11.4%; P =
      0.001), forced vital capacity <70% (46.2% versus 30.6%; P = 0.0001), and higher
      creatine kinase values (mean +/- SD 441 +/- 1,211 versus 151 +/- 255; P =
      0.00001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that for every unit
      of increase in the Medsger muscle severity score, there was a clinically
      significant (minimum clinically important difference +/- 0.14) increase in the
      mean HAQ DI score at last followup visit. CONCLUSION: The presence of muscle
      weakness associates with several features of worse disease burden and
      independently associates with disability as measured by the HAQ DI.

PMID- 26881983
TI  - Predictors of maternal depressive symptom trajectories over the first 18 months
      in home visiting.
AB  - Maternal depression negatively impacts maternal functioning and parenting
      behaviors. Mothers participating in home visiting programs are at particularly
      elevated risk for depressive symptoms due to demographic and associated risk
      factors. Moreover, additional empirical evidence has demonstrated that mothers
      with depression do not benefit from home visiting interventions to the same
      extent as their peers without depression. The purpose of this study was to
      identify predictors of depression course in mothers participating in home
      visiting over the first 18 months of service. Participants were 220 low income
      mothers participating in a home visiting program who completed the Beck
      Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at enrollment and 9 and 18 months later.
      Measures of childhood maltreatment history, social support, and locus of control
      were also collected at enrollment. Group-based trajectory modeling revealed 3
      groups labeled as minimal (63.6%), mild (30.5%), and moderate-severe (5.9%).
      Although a slight decrease in depressive symptoms was observed over time in the
      minimal and mild groups, mothers in the moderate-severe group exhibited a large
      increase from enrollment to 9 months that persisted through 18 months. Membership
      in the mild and moderate-severe groups was predicted by history of childhood
      maltreatment, low levels of social support, and an external locus of control.
      Implications of these findings for home visiting programs are discussed.
      (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881984
TI  - Risk and protective factors across multiple microsystems associated with
      internalizing symptoms and aggressive behavior in rural adolescents: Modeling
      longitudinal trajectories from the Rural Adaptation Project.
AB  - The current study examined risk and protective factors across microsystems that
      impact the development of internalizing symptoms and aggression over 4 years in a
      sample of culturally diverse, rural adolescents. We explored whether risk and
      protective factors across microsystems were associated with changes in rates of
      internalizing symptoms and aggressive behavior. Data came from the Rural
      Adaptation Project (RAP), a 5-year longitudinal panel study of more than 4,000
      students from 26 public middle schools and 12 public high schools. Three level
      HLM models were estimated to predict internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression,
      anxiety) and aggression. Compared with other students, risk for internalizing
      symptoms and aggression was elevated for youth exposed to risk factors in the
      form of school hassles, parent-child conflict, peer rejection, and delinquent
      friends. Microsystem protective factors in the form of ethnic identity, religious
      orientation, and school satisfaction decreased risk for aggression, but were not
      associated with internalizing symptoms, whereas future orientation and parent
      support decreased risk for internalizing symptoms, but not aggression. Results
      indicate that risks for internalizing symptoms and aggression are similar, but
      that unique protective factors are related to these adolescent behavioral health
      outcomes. Implications and limitations were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26881985
TI  - Mesoporous Hybrid Shells of Carbonized Polyaniline/Mn2O3 as Non-Precious
      Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst.
AB  - Mesoporous hybrid shells of carbonized polyaniline (CPANI)/Mn2O3 with well
      controlled diameter and high surface area have been synthesized through surface
      protected calcination processes. Originating from polystyrene template, PANI,
      MnO2, and SiO2 were sequentially loaded, followed by template removal and
      calcination, resulting in the desired CPANI/Mn2O3 hybrid shells. The introduction
      of SiO2 shell was established to play the determining role in maintaining the
      configuration during calcination process under high temperature. The CPANI/Mn2O3
      hybrid shells showed outstanding electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen
      reduction reaction (ORR), with the onset potential at +0.974 V (versus RHE), the
      specific current at 60.8 mA/mg, and an overall quasi 4-electron transfer, which
      are comparable to those of the benchmark Pt/C. The remarkable ORR performance was
      attributed to the high specific surface area, the surface oxidation state of Mn,
      and composition-codependent behavior. 

PMID- 26881986
TI  - Identification and Actions of a Novel Third Maresin Conjugate in Tissue
      Regeneration: MCTR3.
AB  - Maresin conjugates in tissue regeneration (MCTR) are a new family of
      evolutionarily conserved chemical signals that orchestrate host responses to
      promote tissue regeneration and resolution of infections. Herein, we identified
      the novel MCTR3 and established rank order potencies and matched the
      stereochemistries of MCTR1, MCTR2 and MCTR3 using material prepared by total
      organic synthesis and mediators isolated from both mouse and human systems. MCTR3
      was produced from endogenous substrate by E. coli activated human macrophages and
      identified in sepsis patients. Each of the three synthetic MCTR dose-dependently
      (1-100 nM) accelerated tissue regeneration in planaria by 0.6-0.9 days. When
      administered at the onset or peak of inflammation, each of the MCTR promoted
      resolution of E. coli infections in mice. They increased bacterial phagocytosis
      by exudate leukocytes (~15-50%), limited neutrophil infiltration (~20-50%),
      promoted efferocytosis (~30%) and reduced eicosanoids. MCTR1 and MCTR2
      upregulated human neutrophil and macrophage phagocytic responses where MCTR3 also
      proved to possess potent actions. These results establish the complete
      stereochemistry and rank order potencies for MCTR1, MCTR2 and MCTR3 that provide
      novel resolution moduli in regulating host responses to clear infections and
      promote tissue regeneration.

PMID- 26881987
TI  - Focus on Noncoding RNA Regulation of Plant-Microbe Interactions.

PMID- 26881988
TI  - From outgroups to allied forces: Effect of intergroup cooperation in violent and
      nonviolent video games on boosting favorable outgroup attitudes.
AB  - Here we addressed whether even violent video games can improve intergroup
      attitudes if played cooperatively with an outgroup, in keeping with the Contact
      Hypothesis. In addition, we examined potential mechanisms of this effect. In
      Experiment 1 (N = 77), Canadians played a violent video game (Call of Duty: Black
      Ops) against zombies, either cooperatively or independently (i.e., at the same
      time but solo) with a (supposed) University of Buffalo participant. As expected,
      cooperative (vs. solo) play significantly improved outgroup attitudes and pro
      outgroup participant behavior, effects explained by heightened 1-group
      recategorization (i.e., feeling psychologically on the same team and connected
      with the outgroup member). In Experiment 2 (N = 239), effects of cooperation (vs.
      solo play) held whether playing a violent or nonviolent video game. Importantly,
      our findings offer an engaging and pragmatic solution to the pervasive issue of
      setting up and negotiating opportunities for successful intergroup cooperation.

PMID- 26881989
TI  - "Relations between perceptual and conceptual scope: How global versus local
      processing fits a focus on similarity versus dissimilarity": Retraction of
      Forster (2009).

PMID- 26881990
TI  - "Local and global cross-modal influences between vision and hearing, tasting,
      smelling, or touching": Retraction of Forster (2011).

PMID- 26881991
TI  - Caveats for the spatial arrangement method: Comment on Hout, Goldinger, and
      Ferguson (2013).
AB  - The gold standard among proximity data collection methods for multidimensional
      scaling is the (dis)similarity rating of pairwise presented stimuli. A drawback
      of the pairwise method is its lengthy duration, which may cause participants to
      change their strategy over time, become fatigued, or disengage altogether. Hout,
      Goldinger, and Ferguson (2013) recently made a case for the Spatial Arrangement
      Method (SpAM) as an alternative to the pairwise method, arguing that it is faster
      and more engaging. SpAM invites participants to directly arrange stimuli on a
      computer screen such that the interstimuli distances are proportional to
      psychological proximity. Based on a reanalysis of the Hout et al. (2013), data we
      identify three caveats for SpAM. An investigation of the distributional
      characteristics of the SpAM proximity data reveals that the spatial nature of
      SpAM imposes structure on the data, invoking a bias against featural
      representations. Individual-differences scaling of the SpAM proximity data
      reveals that the two-dimensional nature of SpAM allows individuals to only
      communicate two dimensions of variation among stimuli properly, invoking a bias
      against high-dimensional scaling representations. Monte Carlo simulations
      indicate that in order to obtain reliable estimates of the group average, SpAM
      requires more individuals to be tested. We conclude with an overview of
      considerations that can inform the choice between SpAM and the pairwise method
      and offer suggestions on how to overcome their respective limitations.

PMID- 26881992
TI  - SpAM is convenient but also satisfying: Reply to Verheyen et al. (2016).
AB  - Hout, Goldinger, and Ferguson (2013) critically examined the spatial arrangement
      method (SpAM), originally proposed by Goldstone (1994), as a fast and efficient
      way to collect similarity data for multidimensional scaling. We found that SpAM
      produced high-quality data, making it an intuitive and user-friendly alternative
      to the classic "pairwise" method. Verheyen, Voorspoels, Vanpaemel, and Storms
      (2016) reexamined our data and raised 3 caveats regarding SpAM. In this reply, we
      suggest that Verheyen et al. mischaracterized our reported data as representing
      the entire range of potential SpAM data. SpAM results might appear more nuanced
      with modified instructions or stimuli. By contrast, the pairwise method is
      inherently limited because of its laborious, serial nature. We also demonstrate
      that, when the methods are equated in terms of required data-collection time,
      SpAM is clearly superior in terms of predicting classification data. We agree
      that caution is required when adopting a new method but suggest that fair
      assessment of SpAM requires a richer data set.

PMID- 26881994
TI  - Enhancing the Magnetic Anisotropy of Linear Cr(II) Chain Compounds Using Heavy
      Metal Substitutions.
AB  - Magnetic properties of the series of three linear, trimetallic chain compounds
      Cr2Cr(dpa)4Cl2, 1, Mo2Cr(dpa)4Cl2, 2, and W2Cr(dpa)4Cl2, 3 (dpa = 2,2'
      dipyridylamido), have been studied using variable-temperature dc and ac
      magnetometry and high-frequency EPR spectroscopy. All three compounds possess an
      S = 2 electronic ground state arising from the terminal Cr(2+) ion, which
      exhibits slow magnetic relaxation under an applied magnetic field, as evidenced
      by ac magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements. The slow relaxation
      stems from the existence of an easy-axis magnetic anisotropy, which is bolstered
      by the axial symmetry of the compounds and has been quantified through rigorous
      high-frequency EPR measurements. The magnitude of D in these compounds increases
      when heavier ions are substituted into the trimetallic chain; thus D = -1.640, 
      2.187, and -3.617 cm(-1) for Cr2Cr(dpa)4Cl2, Mo2Cr(dpa)4Cl2, and W2Cr(dpa)4Cl2,
      respectively. Additionally, the D value measured for W2Cr(dpa)4Cl2 is the largest
      yet reported for a high-spin Cr(2+) system. While earlier studies have
      demonstrated that ligands containing heavy atoms can enhance magnetic anisotropy,
      this is the first report of this phenomenon using heavy metal atoms as "ligands".

PMID- 26881993
TI  - Azido- and chlorido-cobalt complex as carrier-prototypes for antitumoral
      prodrugs.
AB  - Cobalt(III) complexes are well-suited systems for cytotoxic drug release under
      hypoxic conditions. Here, we investigate the effect of cytotoxic azide release by
      cobalt-containing carrier-prototypes for antitumoral prodrugs. In addition, we
      study the species formed after reduction of Co(3+) -> Co(2+) in the proposed
      models for these prodrugs. Three new complexes, [Co(III)(L)(N3)2]BF4(1),
      [{Co(II)(L)(N3)}2](ClO4)2(2), and [Co(II)(L)Cl]PF6(3), L=[(bis(1-methylimidazol-2
      yl)methyl)(2-(pyridyl-2-yl)ethyl)amine], were synthesized and studied by several
      spectroscopic, spectrometric, electrochemical, and crystallographic methods.
      Reactivity and spectroscopic data reveal that complex 1 is able to release N3(-)
      either after reduction with ascorbic acid, or by ambient light irradiation, in
      aqueous phosphate buffer (pH6.2, 7.0 and 7.4) and acetonitrile solutions. The
      antitumoral activities of compounds 1-3 were tested in normoxia on MCF-7 (human
      breast adenocarcinoma), PC-3 (human prostate) and A-549 (human lung
      adenocarcinoma epithelial) cell lines, after 24h of exposure. Either complexes or
      NaN3 presented IC50 values higher than 200 MUM, showing lower cytotoxicity than
      the clinical standard antitumoral complex cisplatin, under the same conditions.
      Complexes 1-3 were also evaluated in hypoxia on A-549 and results indicate high
      IC50 data (>200 MUM) after 24h of exposure. However, an increase of cancer cell
      susceptibility to 1 and 2 was observed at 300 MUM. Regarding complex 3, no
      cytotoxic activity was observed in the same conditions. The data presented here
      indicate that the tridentate ligand L is able to stabilize both oxidation states
      of cobalt (+3 and +2). In addition, the cobalt(III) complex generates the low
      cytotoxic cobalt(II) species after reduction, which supports their use as as
      carrier prototypes for antitumoral prodrugs.

PMID- 26881995
TI  - De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Characterization for the Widespread and Stress
      Tolerant Conifer Platycladus orientalis.
AB  - Platycladus orientalis, of the family Cupressaceae, is a widespread conifer
      throughout China and is extensively used for ecological reforestation,
      horticulture, and in medicine. Transcriptome assemblies are required for this
      ecologically important conifer for understanding genes underpinning adaptation
      and complex traits for breeding programs. To enrich the species' genomic
      resources, a de novo transcriptome sequencing was performed using Illumina paired
      end sequencing. In total, 104,073,506 high quality sequence reads (approximately
      10.3 Gbp) were obtained, which were assembled into 228,948 transcripts and
      148,867 unigenes that were longer than 200 nt. Quality assessment using CEGMA
      showed that the transcriptomes obtained were mostly complete for highly conserved
      core eukaryotic genes. Based on similarity searches with known proteins, 62,938
      (42.28% of all unigenes), 42,158 (28.32%), and 23,179 (15.57%) had homologs in
      the Nr, GO, and KOG databases, 25,625 (17.21%) unigenes were mapped to 322
      pathways by BLASTX comparison against the KEGG database and 1,941 unigenes
      involved in environmental signaling and stress response were identified. We also
      identified 43 putative terpene synthase (TPS) functional genes loci and compared
      them with TPSs from other species. Additionally, 5,296 simple sequence repeats
      (SSRs) were identified in 4,715 unigenes, which were assigned to 142 motif types.
      This is the first report of a complete transcriptome analysis of P. orientalis.
      These resources provide a foundation for further studies of adaptation mechanisms
      and molecular-based breeding programs. 

PMID- 26881997
TI  - Assessing the orbital selective Mott transition with variational wave functions.
AB  - We study the Mott metal-insulator transition in the two-band Hubbard model with
      different hopping amplitudes t1 and t2 for the two orbitals on the two
      dimensional square lattice by using non-magnetic variational wave functions,
      similarly to what has been considered in the limit of infinite dimensions by
      dynamical mean-field theory. We work out the phase diagram at half filling (i.e.
      two electrons per site) as a function of R = t2/t1 and the on-site Coulomb
      repulsion U, for two values of the Hund's coupling J = 0 and J/U = 0.1. Our
      results are in good agreement with previous dynamical mean-field theory
      calculations, demonstrating that the non-magnetic phase diagram is only slightly
      modified from infinite to two spatial dimensions. Three phases are present: a
      metallic one, for small values of U, where both orbitals are itinerant; a Mott
      insulator, for large values of U, where both orbitals are localized because of
      the Coulomb repulsion; and the so-called orbital-selective Mott insulator (OSMI),
      for small values of R and intermediate Us, where one orbital is localized while
      the other one is still itinerant. The effect of the Hund's coupling is two-fold:
      on one side, it favors the full Mott phase over the OSMI; on the other side, it
      stabilizes the OSMI at larger values of R.

PMID- 26881996
TI  - Exogenous surfactant and alveolar recruitment in the treatment of the acute
      respiratory distress syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of alveolar recruitment combined with
      surfactant administration on children with acute respiratory distress syndrome
      (ARDS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled and
      sequential study was carried out. Group A (16 children) was treated with both the
      alveolar recruitment manoeuvres (ARM) and the administration of the surfactant
      every 8 h for 3 days; group B (15) received the usual treatment only. The
      alveolar recruitment was carried out by increasing positive end-expiratory
      pressure 2 by 2 cm H2 O to improve the transcutaneous oxygen saturation values up
      to 88% and 90%. Demographic data, gasometric and ventilator parameters, chest
      radiography and 28-day mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no
      significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. An hour after
      treatment, significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed in transcutaneous
      oxygen saturation (SaO2 ; Group A: 94.1%, Group B: 89.9%), PaO2 /FiO2 (212.7 and
      126.4) and oxygenation index (OI; 11.4 and 18.5). After 8 h, the differences in
      SaO2 (Group A: 94.6%, Group B: 90.3%), PaO2 /FiO2 (225.8 and 126.9) and OI (10.8
      and 18.4) were also significant (P < 0.001). From the fifth dose of the
      surfactant, the static compliance (P = 0.0034) and radiological images (P =
      0.002) were more greatly improved in group A than in group B. Survival was
      significantly higher in group A (81.3%) than in group B (26.7%) (P = 0.006).
      CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment of surfactant administration and ARM resulted
      in a better oxygenation and survival in children with ARDS than when only
      recruitment was used.

PMID- 26881998
TI  - Perfluorinated Alcohols Induce Complex Coacervation in Mixed Surfactants.
AB  - Recently, we reported a unique and nearly ubiquitous phenomenon of inducing
      simple and complex coacervation in solutions of a broad variety of individual and
      mixed amphiphiles and over a wide range of concentrations and mole fractions.
      This paper describes a novel type of biphasic separation in aqueous solutions of
      mixed cationic-anionic (catanionic) surfactants induced by hexafluoroisopropanol
      (HFIP). The test cases included mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)
      and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (surfactants with different carbon chain
      lengths) as well as dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) with SDS (surfactants
      with the same carbon chain lengths). The CTAB-SDS-HFIP coacervate systems can be
      produced at many different mole ratios of surfactant, but DTAB-SDS-HFIP formed
      only coacervates at equimolar (1:1) mole ratios of DTAB and SDS. The phase
      transition behavior of both systems was studied over a wide range of surfactant
      and HFIP concentrations at the stoichiometric (1:1) mole ratio of
      cationic/anionic surfactants. The chemical compositions of each of the two phases
      (aqueous-rich and coacervate phases) were studied with regard to the
      concentrations of HFIP, water, and individual surfactants. It is revealed that
      the surfactant-rich phase (coacervate phase) contains a large percentage of
      fluoroalcohol relative to the aqueous phase and is enriched in both surfactants
      but contains a small percentage of water. Surprisingly, the concentration of
      water in the coacervate phase increases as the total HFIP concentration is
      increased while the concentration of HFIP in the coacervate phase remains
      relatively constant, which means a larger amount of water associated with HFIP
      molecules is extracted into the coacervate phase, which results in the growth of
      the phase. The volume of the coacervate phase increases with an increase in
      surfactant concentration and total HFIP %. The coacervate phase is highly
      enriched in the two amphiphilic ions (DTA(+) and DS(-)) whereas the two
      counterions (Br(-) and Na(+)) primarily reside in the aqueous-rich phase. The
      results suggest the formation of a catanionic complex in the coacervate phase
      through ion pairing with a concomitant release of the surfactant counterions
      (Na(+) and Br(-)) into the aqueous-rich phase. Finally, the fluorocarbon alcohol
      systems are contrasted with the effects of aliphatic alcohols in the mixed
      catanionic surfactant systems. Isopropanol does not have the same interactions as
      HFIP with respect to solubilization, aggregation, and phase separation of the
      oppositely charged surfactants. 

PMID- 26882000
TI  - Correction to The 2.5 A Crystal Structure of the SIRT1 Catalytic Domain Bound to
      Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD(+)) and an Indole (EX527 Analogue) Reveals
      a Novel Mechanism of Histone Deacetylase Inhibition.

PMID- 26881999
TI  - An ensemble of dynamic neural network identifiers for fault detection and
      isolation of gas turbine engines.
AB  - In this paper, a new approach for Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) of gas
      turbine engines is proposed by developing an ensemble of dynamic neural network
      identifiers. For health monitoring of the gas turbine engine, its dynamics is
      first identified by constructing three separate or individual dynamic neural
      network architectures. Specifically, a dynamic multi-layer perceptron (MLP), a
      dynamic radial-basis function (RBF) neural network, and a dynamic support vector
      machine (SVM) are trained to individually identify and represent the gas turbine
      engine dynamics. Next, three ensemble-based techniques are developed to represent
      the gas turbine engine dynamics, namely, two heterogeneous ensemble models and
      one homogeneous ensemble model. It is first shown that all ensemble approaches do
      significantly improve the overall performance and accuracy of the developed
      system identification scheme when compared to each of the stand-alone solutions.
      The best selected stand-alone model (i.e., the dynamic RBF network) and the best
      selected ensemble architecture (i.e., the heterogeneous ensemble) in terms of
      their performances in achieving an accurate system identification are then
      selected for solving the FDI task. The required residual signals are generated by
      using both a single model-based solution and an ensemble-based solution under
      various gas turbine engine health conditions. Our extensive simulation studies
      demonstrate that the fault detection and isolation task achieved by using the
      residuals that are obtained from the dynamic ensemble scheme results in a
      significantly more accurate and reliable performance as illustrated through
      detailed quantitative confusion matrix analysis and comparative studies. 

PMID- 26882001
TI  - CBr4 Mediated Oxidative C-N Bond Formation: Applied in the Synthesis of
      Imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridines and Imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyrimidines.
AB  - The carbon tetrabromide mediated oxidative carbon-nitrogen bond formation of 2
      aminopyridines or 2-aminopyrimidines with beta-keto esters or 1,3-diones, leading
      to a variety of complex imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridines or imidazo[1,2
      alpha]pyrimidines, is reported. The reactions were realized under mild and metal
      free conditions. 

PMID- 26882003
TI  - Novel Approach to Securing Deep Brain Stimulation Leads: Technique and Analysis
      of Lead Migration, Breakage, and Surgical Infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fixation of the electrode during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery
      is an important aspect of the procedure. We have developed an alternative method
      for securing leads that utilizes a titanium hemoclip and cement. This technique
      is described, and the rates of complications are compared to conventional methods
      of securing leads. METHODS: A total of 291 DBS operations performed by a single
      surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. We reviewed medical records to look for
      complications. We compared rates of complications based on the technique used. Re
      sults: 9 patients (3.1%) developed surgical site infections (SSIs), 4 (1.3%) with
      SSI of the internal pulse generator pocket. Of the 5 SSIs around the leads, none
      occurred with StimLoc and 5 (1.1%) with the novel technique. Eight patients
      (2.7%) required surgical readjustment of the DBS leads due to suboptimal clinical
      benefit; all 8 (1.8%) occurred with the novel technique. Four patients (1.4%) had
      lead fractures, 2 (2.2%) with StimLoc and 2 (0.5%) with the novel technique.
      CONCLUSIONS: We described a method for securing DBS leads and showed an
      acceptable incidence of hardware complications when compared to the conventional
      method. We feel this technique has improved cosmetic results and should be
      considered as a method for securing DBS leads.

PMID- 26882002
TI  - Inter-annual patterns of aggression and pair bonding in captive American
      flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber).
AB  - Because zoos typically house animals for extended periods of time, longitudinal
      studies can play an important role in evaluating and optimizing animal care and
      management. For example, information on patterns of aggression and mating
      behavior across years can be used to monitor well-being, assess response to
      changes to group composition, and promote successful reproduction. Here, we
      report on patterns of aggression and pair bonding by American flamingos
      (Phoenicopterus ruber) at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans USA across 4 years (2012
      2015), a period that included a simultaneous introduction and removal of
      individuals in 2014. At the population level, overall rates and social network
      indices of aggressive interactions were relatively stable over the study period,
      without a strong signal of the 2014 replacement event. At the individual level,
      flamingos exhibited a high degree of within-individual consistency in levels of
      aggression initiated (W = 0.530, P < 0.001), and received (W = 0.369, P = 0.042).
      In terms of pair bonds, females re-paired with the same individuals across years
      more frequently (between 58% and 100% from year to year) than they switched
      mates, and no bonds were established between pre-existing and introduced
      individuals. These findings indicate a high degree of stability in aggression and
      pair bonding behavior in this population of captive flamingos, at both the
      population and individual level. Longitudinal studies such as this one provide an
      opportunity to better our understanding of flamingos and other long-lived, group
      living animals along with their management needs, especially in terms of
      maintaining social cohesion in captivity and improving captive breeding programs.

PMID- 26882004
TI  - Be Clear: A New Intensive Speech Treatment for Adults With Nonprogressive
      Dysarthria.
AB  - PURPOSE: This article describes the effects of a new intensive dysarthria
      treatment program (Be Clear) on speech intelligibility in adults with dysarthria
      secondary to stroke and traumatic brain injury. METHOD: A small group-repeated
      measures research design was used to examine the effects of treatment on the
      speech of 8 participants with nonprogressive dysarthria. Treatment consisted of a
      1-hr prepractice session followed by 1-hr therapy sessions, 4 times per week, for
      4 weeks (16 sessions). Paired-comparison ratings of speech intelligibility served
      as the primary outcome measure for the study. Perceptual data, quality of life,
      and communication partner opinion were obtained at 3 time intervals: (a) prior to
      treatment, (b) immediately posttreatment, and (c) 1-3 months posttreatment.
      RESULTS: Following treatment, group data demonstrated substantial improvements in
      speech intelligibility as perceived by naive listeners on a paired-comparison
      rating task. Word intelligibility was clinically significantly improved
      posttreatment and sentence intelligibility demonstrated statistically significant
      improvement. Communication partner ratings of speech intelligibility and overall
      communicative function were statistically significantly improved posttreatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that this new intensive treatment
      may have potential as an effective intervention for nonprogressive dysarthria.
      However, controlled studies are required to establish treatment efficacy.

PMID- 26882005
TI  - Milk Oligosaccharide Variation in Sow Milk and Milk Oligosaccharide Fermentation
      in Piglet Intestine.
AB  - Porcine milk oligosaccharides (PMOs) were analyzed in six colostrum and two
      mature milk samples from Dutch Landrace sows. In total, 35 PMOs were recognized
      of which 13 were new for the PMO literature: neutral HexNAc-Hex, beta4'
      galactosyllactose, putative GalNAc(alpha/beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, lacto-N
      fucopentaose-II, lacto-N-tetraose, galactose substituted lacto-N-neohexaose,
      lacto-N-hexaose and difucosyl-lacto-N-hexaose, and acidic Neu5Ac(alpha2
      6)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, sialyllacto-N-tetraose-a and -b, Neu5Ac2-Hex3,
      and sialyllacto-N-fucopentaose-II. PMOs were analyzed using capillary
      electrophoresis with laser-induced florescence detection or mass spectrometry and
      using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Interindividual variation
      regarding PMO presence and concentration was observed between porcine milks.
      Within a limited sample set, a 43% decrease of the major PMOs was found during a
      1 w lactation period. Interestingly, while some PMOs decreased, some other PMOs
      increased in concentration. PMOs were also monitored in fecal samples of suckling
      piglets. In feces of 1-2 d old piglets, few intact PMOs were found, indicating
      considerable PMO fermentation at early stage of life. 

PMID- 26882006
TI  - Brief Report: Arthritis in KRN T Cell Receptor-Transgenic Mice Does Not Require
      Interleukin-17 or Th17 Cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Th17 cells and interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokine family members are
      implicated in the pathogenesis of many rheumatic diseases. Most studies in mouse
      models of inflammatory arthritis have demonstrated a key role for the
      proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A and its receptor, the IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) A/C
      heterodimer. The aim of this study was to use a rigorous genetic approach to
      evaluate the contribution of Th17 cells and IL-17 in the autoantibody-dependent
      KRN T cell receptor-transgenic mouse model of arthritis. METHODS: We bred KRN
      mice expressing the major histocompatibility complex class II molecule A(g7)
      (referred to as K/B/g7 mice) and genetically lacking the related cytokines IL-17A
      and IL-17F or their critical receptor subunit, IL-17RA. Using bone marrow
      transplantation, we generated mice in which hematopoietic cells from K/B/g7 donor
      mice lacked the key Th17-differentiating transcription factor, retinoic acid
      receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor gammat (Rorgammat). RESULTS: K/B/g7 mice
      lacking both IL-17A and IL-17F produced normal titers of pathogenic
      autoantibodies, and arthritis developed in a typical manner. Similarly, neither
      IL-17RA nor Rorgammat expression by hematopoietic cells was required for disease
      development in this model. CONCLUSION: Despite prior reports suggesting that Th17
      cells and IL-17A are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis in K/BxN
      mice, the results presented here provide genetic evidence that IL-17A and IL-17F,
      IL-17RA, and Rorgammat expression by hematopoietic cells are dispensable for
      normal arthritis progression in the K/B/g7 mouse model system. We discuss
      potential explanations for the discrepancies between these 2 highly similar model
      systems. These findings plus those in other mouse models of arthritis provide
      insight regarding why therapeutic biologic agents targeting the Th17/IL-17 axis
      are beneficial in some human rheumatic diseases but not others.

PMID- 26882007
TI  - Exploring Cellular Interactions of Liposomes Using Protein Corona Fingerprints
      and Physicochemical Properties.
AB  - To control liposomes fate and transport upon contact with biofluids, it is
      essential to consider several parameters affecting the synthetic and biological
      identity of liposomes, as well as liposome-protein corona (PC) aspects. As a
      powerful tool in this data mining adventure, quantitative structure-activity
      relationship (QSAR) approach is used to correlate physicochemical properties of
      liposomes and their PC fingerprints to multiple quantified biological responses.
      In the present study, the relationship between cellular interactions of a set of
      structurally diverse liposomal formulations and their physicochemical and PC
      properties has been investigated via linear and nonlinear QSAR models.
      Significant parameters affecting cellular uptake and cell viability of liposomes
      in two important cancer cell lines (PC3 and HeLa) have been identified. The
      developed QSARs have the capacity to be implemented in advanced targeted delivery
      of liposomal drugs. 

PMID- 26882008
TI  - Awareness of cancer symptoms and anticipated patient interval for healthcare
      seeking. A comparative study of Denmark and Sweden.
AB  - Background Recent epidemiologic data show that Denmark has considerably poorer
      survival from common cancers than Sweden. This may be related to a lower
      awareness of cancer symptoms and longer patient intervals in Denmark than in
      Sweden. The aims of this study were to: 1) compare population awareness of three
      possible symptoms of cancer (unexplained lump or swelling, unexplained bleeding
      and persistent cough or hoarseness); 2) compare anticipated patient interval when
      noticing any breast changes, rectal bleeding and persistent cough; and 3) examine
      whether potential differences were noticeable in particular age groups or at
      particular levels of education in a Danish and Swedish population sample. Method
      Data were derived from Module 2 of the International Cancer Benchmarking
      Partnership. Telephone interviews using the Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer
      measure were conducted in 2011 among 3000 adults in Denmark and 3070 adults in
      Sweden. Results Danish respondents reported a higher awareness of two of three
      symptoms (i.e. unexplained lump or swelling and persistent cough or hoarseness)
      and a shorter anticipated patient interval for two of three symptoms studied
      (i.e. any breast changes and rectal bleeding) than Swedish respondents.
      Differences in symptom awareness and anticipated patient interval between these
      countries were most pronounced in highly educated respondents. Conclusion
      Somewhat paradoxically, the highest awareness of symptoms of cancer and the
      shortest anticipated patient intervals were found in Denmark, where cancer
      survival is lower than in Sweden. Thus, it appears that these differences in
      symptom awareness and anticipated patient interval do not help explain the cancer
      survival disparity between Denmark and Sweden. 

PMID- 26882009
TI  - The Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: A Potential
      Opportunity to Improve Care in Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Recent controlled trials, epidemiological analyses and basic research studies
      offer a comprehensive view of the short and long-term clinical repercussion of de
      novo acute kidney injury or AKI. While most post-AKI patients recover their
      baseline renal function, a significant number, approximately ~20% of those
      affected, will go on to develop long term illness characterized by an increase in
      late stage CKD, cardiovascular complications, and increased death rates. When AKI
      occurs in hospitalized patients, selected demographic and laboratory results can
      be incorporated into risk calculators that identify those at higher risk for long
      term complications. This review touches on some of the salient epidemiological
      studies of the AKI to CKD transition. It also focuses on certain recent
      advancements in our understanding of the biological and functional impact of AKI
      on the renal tubule repair mechanism, as well as the important role that genetic,
      epigenetic, biochemical and inflammatory events, seemingly beneficial to the re
      establishment of normal renal function, can be offset by mediators of progressive
      fibrosis and irreversible structural changes. Characterization of basic processes
      that mediate the AKI to CKD transition reveals promising pharmacological and
      biological agents that hopefully will one day be used in the early stages of AKI
      to prevent its deadly consequences. 

PMID- 26882010
TI  - Comparative Analysis of Lacinutrix Genomes and Their Association with Bacterial
      Habitat.
AB  - The genus Lacinutrix, which belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae, consists of
      seven bacterial species that were mainly isolated from marine life and sediments.
      As most bacteria in the family Flavobacteriaceae favor aerobic conditions, the
      seven bacterial species in the genus Lacinutrix also showed aerobic growth. We
      selected four monophyletic bacterial species living in a polar environment. Two
      of these species were isolated from sediment and two types were isolated from
      algae. In a comparative analysis, we investigated how these different
      environments were related to genomic features of these four species in the genus
      Lacinutrix. We found that the gene sets for glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and
      oxidative phosphorylation were conserved in these four type strains. However, the
      presence of nitrous oxide reductase for denitrification and the absence of
      essential components related to thiamin biosynthesis for aerobic respiration were
      only found in isolates from sediment. Elevated bacterial metabolism on the
      surface of marine sediments might limit the oxygen penetration into sediment, and
      such an environment might affect the genomes of bacteria isolated from these
      habitats. 

PMID- 26882012
TI  - Prevalence of hand osteoarthritis and its relationship to hand pain and grip
      strength in Japan: The third survey of the ROAD study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and pattern of hand osteoarthritis (HOA),
      and determine its relationship with grip strength and hand pain. METHODS: Among
      the participants of the third survey of the Research on
      Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD) study, 507 Japanese men and
      1028 Japanese women were included. Radiographs of both hands were graded for
      osteoarthritis (OA) using the modified Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale. HOA was
      defined as the presence of at least one affected joint. The absence or presence
      of subchondral erosion was also scored. RESULTS: The prevalence of HOA (KL grade
      >=2) was 89.9% in men and 92.3% in women (p = 0.11), and it was significantly
      associated with age. OA in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint was the highest
      overall. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and the residing area,
      both severity (KL grade >=3) and erosion were significantly related to low grip
      strength and hand pain. With regard to the joint groups, severe OA in the DIP and
      first carpometacarpal joints were related to hand pain. CONCLUSION: This study
      showed a high prevalence of radiographic HOA and a significant relationship
      between hand pain and the severity of HOA, in addition to erosion.

PMID- 26882013
TI  - The Impact of Third-Party Information on Trust: Valence, Source, and Reliability.
AB  - Economic exchange between strangers happens extremely frequently due to the
      growing number of internet transactions. In trust situations like online
      transactions, a trustor usually does not know whether she encounters a
      trustworthy trustee. However, the trustor might form beliefs about the trustee's
      trustworthiness by relying on third-party information. Different kinds of third
      party information can vary dramatically in their importance to the trustor. We
      ran a factorial design to study how the different characteristics of third-party
      information affect the trustor's decision to trust. We systematically varied
      unregulated third-party information regarding the source (friend or a stranger),
      the reliability (gossip or experiences), and the valence (positive or negative)
      of the information. The results show that negative information is more salient
      for withholding trust than positive information is for placing trust. If third
      party information is positive, experience of a friend has the strongest effect on
      trusting followed by friend's gossip. Positive information from a stranger does
      not matter to the trustor. With respect to negative information, the data show
      that even the slightest hint of an untrustworthy trustee leads to significantly
      less placed trust irrespective of the source or the reliability of the
      information. 

PMID- 26882011
TI  - The Fungus Tremella mesenterica Encodes the Longest Metallothionein Currently
      Known: Gene, Protein and Metal Binding Characterization.
AB  - Fungal Cu-thioneins, and among them, the paradigmatic Neurospora crassa
      metallothionein (MT) (26 residues), were once considered as the shortest MTs--the
      ubiquitous, versatile metal-binding proteins--among all organisms, and thus
      representatives of their primeval forms. Nowadays, fungal MTs of diverse lengths
      and sequence features are known, following the huge heterogeneity of the Kingdom
      of Fungi. At the opposite end of N. crassa MT, the recently reported Cryptococcus
      neoformans CnMT1 and CnMT2 (122 and 186 aa) constitute the longest reported
      fungal MTs, having been identified as virulence factors of this pathogen. CnMTs
      are high-capacity Cu-thioneins that appear to be built by tandem amplification of
      a basic unit, a 7-Cys segment homologous to N. crassa MT. Here, we report the in
      silico, in vivo and in vitro study of a still longer fungal MT, belonging to
      Tremella mesenterica (TmMT), a saprophytic ascomycete. The TmMT gene has 10
      exons, and it yields a 779-bp mature transcript that encodes a 257 residue-long
      protein. This MT is also built by repeated fragments, but of variable number of
      Cys: six units of the 7-Cys building blocks--CXCX3CSCPPGXCXCAXCP-, two fragments
      of six Cys, plus three Cys at the N-terminus. TmMT metal binding abilities have
      been analyzed through the spectrophotometric and spectrometric characterization
      of its recombinant Zn-, Cd- and Cu-complexes. Results allow it to be unambiguous
      classified as a Cu-thionein, also of extraordinary coordinating capacity.
      According to this feature, when the TmMT cDNA is expressed in MT-devoid yeast
      cells, it is capable of restoring a high Cu tolerance level. Since it is not
      obvious that T. mesenterica shares the same physiological needs for a high
      capacity Cu-binding protein with C. neoformans, the existence of this peculiar MT
      might be better explained on the basis of a possible role in Cu-handling for the
      Cu-enzymes responsible in lignin degradation pathways.

PMID- 26882014
TI  - Statistical modeling, optimization and characterization of solid self
      nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of lopinavir using design of experiment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Lopinavir (LPV), an antiretroviral protease inhibitor shows poor
      bioavailability because of poor aqueous solubility and extensive hepatic first
      pass metabolism. The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential of
      the solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) in improving
      dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of LPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liquid
      SNEDDS (L-SNEDDS) of LPV were prepared using Capmul MCM C8, Cremophor RH 40 and
      propylene glycol and their amounts were optimized by Scheffe's mixture design. L
      SNEDDS formulations were evaluated for different physicochemical and in vitro
      drug release parameters. S-SNEDDS were prepared by adsorbing L-SNEDDS on Neusilin
      US2 and characterized for solid-state properties. In vivo bioavailability of S
      SNEDDS, marketed Lopinavir + Ritonavir (LPV/RTV) formulation and pure LPV was
      studied in Wistar rats. Stability study of S-SNEDDS was performed as per ICH
      guidelines. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Optimized L-SNEDDS obtained by Scheffe design
      had drug loading 160 +/- 1.15 mg, globule size 32.9 +/- 1.45 nm and drug release
      >95% within 15 min. Solid state studies suggested the transformation of the
      crystalline drug to amorphous drug. The size and zeta potential of globules
      obtained on dilution S-SNEDDS remained similar to L-SNEEDS. In vivo
      bioavailability study revealed that S-SNEDDS has 2.97 and 1.54-folds higher
      bioavailability than pure LPV and LPV/RTV formulation, respectively. The
      optimized S-SNEDDS was found to be stable and had a shelf life of 2.85 years.
      CONCLUSION: The significant increase in drug dissolution and bioavailability by
      prepared SNEDDS suggest that the developed S-SNEDDS is a useful solid platform
      for improving oral bioavailability of poorly soluble LPV.

PMID- 26882016
TI  - Prevalence of delirium among patients at a cancer ward: Clinical risk factors and
      prediction by bedside cognitive tests.
AB  - Background Delirium is a frequent psychiatric complication to cancer, but rarely
      recognized by oncologists. Aims 1. To estimate the prevalence of delirium among
      inpatients admitted at an oncological cancer ward 2. To investigate whether
      simple clinical factors predict delirium 3. To examine the value of cognitive
      testing in the assessment of delirium. Methods On five different days, we
      interviewed and assessed patients admitted to a Danish cancer ward. The World
      Health Organization International Classification of Diseases Version 10, WHO ICD
      10 Diagnostic System and the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) were used for
      diagnostic categorization. Clinical information was gathered from medical records
      and all patients were tested with Mini Cognitive Test, The Clock Drawing Test,
      and the Digit Span Test. Results 81 cancer patients were assessed and 33% were
      diagnosed with delirium. All delirious participants were CAM positive. Poor
      performance on the cognitive tests was associated with delirium. Medical records
      describing CNS metastases, benzodiazepine or morphine treatment were associated
      with delirium. Conclusions Delirium is prevalent among cancer inpatients. The
      Mini Cognitive Test, The Clock Drawing Test, and the Digit Span Test can be used
      as screening tools for delirium among inpatients with cancer, but even in
      synergy, they lack specificity. Combining cognitive testing and attention to
      nurses' records might improve detection, yet further studies are needed to create
      a more detailed patient profile for the detection of delirium. 

PMID- 26882015
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of Pafuramidine versus Pentamidine Maleate for Treatment of
      First Stage Sleeping Sickness in a Randomized, Comparator-Controlled,
      International Phase 3 Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis [HAT]) is a
      neglected tropical disease with limited treatment options that currently require
      parenteral administration. In previous studies, orally administered pafuramidine
      was well tolerated in healthy patients (for up to 21 days) and stage 1 HAT
      patients (for up to 10 days), and demonstrated efficacy comparable to
      pentamidine. METHODS: This was a Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, open-label,
      parallel-group, active control study where 273 male and female patients with
      first stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense HAT were treated at six sites: one
      trypanosomiasis reference center in Angola, one hospital in South Sudan, and four
      hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between August 2005 and
      September 2009 to support the registration of pafuramidine for treatment of first
      stage HAT in collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration.
      Patients were treated with either 100 mg of pafuramidine orally twice a day for
      10 days or 4 mg/kg pentamidine intramuscularly once daily for 7 days to assess
      the efficacy and safety of pafuramidine versus pentamidine. Pregnant and
      lactating women as well as adolescents were included. The primary efficacy
      endpoint was the combined rate of clinical and parasitological cure at 12 months.
      The primary safety outcome was the frequency and severity of adverse events. The
      study was registered on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform at
      www.clinicaltrials.gov with the number ISRCTN85534673. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: The
      overall cure rate at 12 months was 89% in the pafuramidine group and 95% in the
      pentamidine group; pafuramidine was non-inferior to pentamidine as the upper
      bound of the 95% confidence interval did not exceed 15%. The safety profile of
      pafuramidine was superior to pentamidine; however, 3 patients in the pafuramidine
      group had glomerulonephritis or nephropathy approximately 8 weeks post-treatment.
      Two of these events were judged as possibly related to pafuramidine. Despite good
      tolerability observed in preceding studies, the development program for
      pafuramidine was discontinued due to delayed post-treatment toxicity.

PMID- 26882017
TI  - Dispositional optimism and therapeutic expectations in early-phase oncology
      trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prior research has identified unrealistic optimism as a bias that
      might impair informed consent among patient-subjects in early-phase oncology
      trials. However, optimism is not a unitary construct; it also can be defined as a
      general disposition, or what is called dispositional optimism. The authors
      assessed whether dispositional optimism would be related to high expectations for
      personal therapeutic benefit reported by patient-subjects in these trials but not
      to the therapeutic misconception. The authors also assessed how dispositional
      optimism related to unrealistic optimism. METHODS: Patient-subjects completed
      questionnaires designed to measure expectations for therapeutic benefit,
      dispositional optimism, unrealistic optimism, and the therapeutic misconception.
      RESULTS: Dispositional optimism was found to be significantly associated with
      higher expectations for personal therapeutic benefit (Spearman rank correlation
      coefficient [r], 0.333; P<.0001), but was not associated with the therapeutic
      misconception (Spearman r, -0.075; P = .329). Dispositional optimism was found to
      be weakly associated with unrealistic optimism (Spearman r, 0.215; P = .005). On
      multivariate analysis, both dispositional optimism (P = .02) and unrealistic
      optimism (P<.0001) were found to be independently associated with high
      expectations for personal therapeutic benefit. Unrealistic optimism (P = .0001),
      but not dispositional optimism, was found to be independently associated with the
      therapeutic misconception. CONCLUSIONS: High expectations for therapeutic benefit
      among patient-subjects in early-phase oncology trials should not be assumed to
      result from misunderstanding of specific information regarding the trials. The
      data from the current study indicate that these expectations are associated with
      either a dispositionally positive outlook on life or biased expectations
      concerning specific aspects of trial participation. Not all manifestations of
      optimism are the same, and different types of optimism likely have different
      consequences for informed consent in early-phase oncology research.

PMID- 26882019
TI  - Incidence and predictors of incomplete revascularization in a contemporary
      cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Complete coronary revascularization has been associated with improved
      mortality among patients undergoing surgical bypass grafting. A similar
      evaluation among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for
      multivessel disease has produced largely concordant results, although complete
      percutaneous revascularization is often not achieved in this population. The
      present study sought to evaluate the clinical and anatomic limitations to
      complete revascularization among contemporary patients undergoing percutaneous
      revascularization for multivessel coronary artery disease. METHODS: All patients
      undergoing nonemergent PCI for unprotected left main or multivessel coronary
      artery disease were identified at two academic medical centers from 2009 to 2012.
      Complete revascularization was determined through a review of the electronic
      medical records and corresponding coronary angiograms. The underlying reasons
      that precluded complete revascularization were then derived from a review of the
      clinical and angiographic findings. RESULTS: Among 978 patients with multivessel
      coronary artery disease, 267 (27%) underwent complete percutaneous coronary
      revascularization. Factors that prevented complete revascularization included
      chronic total occlusions (54%), treatment limited to the culprit lesion (24%), or
      persistent disease in small nondominant vessels (24%). After multivariable
      adjustment, the presence of a chronic total occlusion was associated with
      significantly reduced odds of receiving complete revascularization (adjusted odds
      ratio: 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.12-0.27). CONCLUSION: Complete
      percutaneous revascularization is uncommon and is hindered by the presence of
      chronic total occlusions or isolated treatment of an angiographic culprit lesion.
      Evolving interventional techniques enabling treatment of chronic total occlusions
      may increase the prevalence of complete percutaneous revascularization in the
      future.

PMID- 26882018
TI  - Coronary endothelial function testing provides superior discrimination compared
      with standard clinical risk scoring in prediction of cardiovascular events.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as the early stage of
      atherosclerosis and is associated with cardiovascular (CV) events. This study was
      designed to determine whether assessment of coronary endothelial function (CEF)
      is safe and can reclassify risk in patients with early coronary artery disease
      beyond the Framingham risk score (FRS). METHODS AND RESULTS: CEF was evaluated
      using intracoronary acetylcholine in 470 patients who presented with chest pain
      and nonobstructive coronary artery disease. CV events were assessed after a
      median follow-up of 9.7 years. The association between CEF and CV events was
      examined, and the net reclassification improvement index (NRI) was used to
      compare the incremental contribution of CEF when added to FRS.The mean age was 53
      years, and 68% of the patients were women with a median FRS of 8. Complications
      (coronary dissection) occurred in three (0.6%) and CV events in 61 (13%)
      patients. In univariate analysis, microvascular CEF [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.97, P=0.032] and epicardial CEF (HR 0.73, 95% CI
      0.59-0.90, P=0.01) were found to be significant predictors of CV events, whereas
      FRS was not (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85-1.26, P=0.61). When added to FRS, microvascular
      CEF correctly reclassified 11.3% of patients [NRI 0.11 (95% CI 0.019-0.21)],
      epicardial CEF correctly reclassified 12.1% of patients [NRI 0.12 (95% CI -0.02
      to 0.26)], and the combined microvascular and epicardial CEF correctly
      reclassified 22.8% of patients [NRI 0.23 (95% CI 0.08-0.37)]. CONCLUSION: CEF
      testing is safe and adds value to the FRS, with superior discrimination and risk
      stratification compared with FRS alone in patients presenting with chest pain or
      suspected ischemia.

PMID- 26882020
TI  - DESolve novolimus-eluting bioresorbable coronary scaffold failure assessed by
      frequency-domain optical coherence tomography imaging.

PMID- 26882021
TI  - Vacuum Ultraviolet Photodissociation and Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron
      Resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry: Revisited.
AB  - We revisited the implementation of 193 nm ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD)
      within the ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) cell of a Fourier transform-ion
      cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. UVPD performance characteristics
      were examined in the context of recent developments in the understanding of UVPD
      and in-cell tandem mass spectrometry. Efficient UVPD and photo-ECD of a model
      peptide and proteins within the ICR cell of a FT-ICR mass spectrometer are
      accomplished through appropriate modulation of laser pulse timing, relative to
      ion magnetron motion and the potential applied to an ion optical element upon
      which photons impinge. It is shown that UVPD yields efficient and extensive
      fragmentation, resulting in excellent sequence coverage for model peptide and
      protein cations. 

PMID- 26882022
TI  - Genetic Homozygosity and Phenotypic Variability in Craniosynostotic Rabbits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Craniosynostosis ranges in severity from single suture involvement
      with prenatal onset to multiple suture involvement with postnatal onset. The
      present study was designed to test the hypothesis that increasing homozygosity
      may be responsible for more severe phenotypic expression by examining the
      relationship between inbreeding and phenotypic expression in synostotic rabbits.
      METHODS: Data were obtained from 173 litters and 209 rabbits with familial
      craniosynostosis. Five distinct phenotypes were identified (normal n = 62;
      unicoronal delayed onset synostosis (DOS) n = 47; bicoronal DOS n = 21;
      unicoronal early onset synostosis (EOS) n = 26, and bicoronal EOS n= 53).
      Wright's coefficients of inbreeding (CI) were calculated using CompuPed software.
      Radiographs were taken at 10, 25, 42, 84, and 126 days of age to assess coronal
      suture, craniofacial, and skeletal growth. The relationship between CI and growth
      data was assessed using correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Mean CIs ranged from
      15.68 (+/-2.22) in normal rabbits to 25.89 (+/-5.03) in bicoronal DOS, to 36.29
      (+/-2.10) in unicoronal EOS to 42.85 (+/-2.10) in bicoronal EOS rabbits.
      Significant differences were noted among groups (F = 11.48; P < .001).
      Significant negative correlations were noted between CI and sutural and
      craniofacial growth at 25 (r = -.45, P < .001; and r = -.66, P < .001) through
      126 (r = -.40, P < .001 and r = -.46, P < .001) days of age. CONCLUSIONS: While
      the synostotic phenotype is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion in these
      rabbits, increasing homozygosity is associated with more severely affected
      phenotypes. These findings suggest that an accumulation of additional, modifier
      genes may determine the severity of the synostotic phenotype in rabbits.

PMID- 26882023
TI  - A Comparison of Nonopioid and Opioid Oral Analgesia Following Pediatric
      Palatoplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article evaluates postoperative analgesia in pediatric
      palatoplasty patients using nonopioid oral medications. DESIGN: This study was a
      retrospective chart review. SETTING: The setting for this study was a tertiary
      care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Study participants were pediatric
      patients who underwent palatoplasty procedures performed by a single surgeon.
      INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included nonopioid and opioid oral medications for
      postoperative analgesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The adequacy of nonopioid versus
      opioid oral analgesia was assessed by (1) time to discontinue IV fluid, (2) total
      IV morphine doses for breakthrough pain, (3) daily IV morphine doses for
      breakthrough pain, (4) time to discharge from the hospital, and (5) perioperative
      weight change. Group comparisons of outcome measures were performed using a two
      one-sided test. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were identified who received
      three standard pain regimens: acetaminophen + ibuprofen (12),
      hydrocodone/acetaminophen (23), and hydrocodone/acetaminophen + ibuprofen (26).
      There was sufficient evidence to suggest equivalence in outcome measures for
      acetaminophen + ibuprofen versus hydrocodone/acetaminophen and
      hydrocodone/acetaminophen + ibuprofen for the following: time to discontinue IV
      fluid (P = .02, 90% confidence interval [CI] = -0.42 to 0.17; P = .007, 90% CI = 
      0.28 to 0.34), daily IV morphine doses (P = .023, 90% CI = -0.83 to 0.65; P =
      .032, 90% CI = -0.92 to 0.28), time to discharge from the hospital (P = .017, 90%
      CI = -0.40 to 0.27; P = .015, 90% CI = -0.24 to 0.39), and perioperative weight
      change (P = .002; 90% CI = -0.25 to 0.46; P < .0001; 90% CI = -0.34 to 0.18).
      There was no sufficient evidence to suggest equivalence for total IV morphine
      doses (P = .189, 90% CI = -1.51 to 1.78; P = .169, 90% CI = -1.51 to 0.88).
      CONCLUSIONS: Oral acetaminophen and ibuprofen alone may provide similar analgesia
      to traditional regimens with reduced risks following pediatric palatoplasty.

PMID- 26882024
TI  - Initial Nutritional Assessment of Infants With Cleft Lip and/or Palate:
      Interventions and Return to Birth Weight.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess and quantify cleft team practices with regard to nutritional
      support in the neonatal period Design :  Retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary
      pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred consecutive newborn patients with a
      diagnosis of cleft lip and/or cleft palate between 2009 and 2012. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Birth weight, cleft type, initial cleft team weight measurements,
      initial feeding practices, recommended nutritional interventions, and follow-up
      nutritional assessments. RESULTS: All patients in the study were evaluated by a
      registered dietitian and an occupational feeding therapist. Average birth weight
      and average age at the first cleft team visit were similar for each cleft type:
      cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and palate (CLP), and cleft palate (CP). The calculated
      age (in days) for return to birth weight was significantly different between
      cleft types: CL = 13.58 days, CLP = 15.88 days, and CP = 21.93 days. Exclusive
      use of breast milk was 50% for patients with CL, 30.3% for patients with CLP, and
      21.4% for patients with CP. Detailed nutritional interventions were made for 31
      patients at the first visit: two with CL, 14 with CLP, and 15 with CP.
      CONCLUSIONS: Distinct differences were seen in neonatal weight gain between cleft
      types. There was significantly greater total weight gain for patients with CL at
      their first visit and significantly slower return to birth weight for patients
      with isolated CP. Patients with CL required far fewer interventions at the
      initial assessment and were more likely to be provided breast milk exclusively or
      in combination with formula. Infants with CP were far less likely to receive any
      breast milk. Patients with CLP and CP required frequent nutritional
      interventions.

PMID- 26882025
TI  - Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery: Malpractice Litigation Outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study examined malpractice claims related to cleft lip and cleft
      palate surgery to identify common allegations and injuries and reviewed financial
      outcomes. DESIGN: The WestlawNext legal database was analyzed for all malpractice
      lawsuits and settlements related to the surgical repair of cleft lip and palate.
      MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Inclusion criteria included patients undergoing surgical
      repair of a primary cleft lip or palate or revision for complications of previous
      surgery. Data evaluated included patient demographics, type of operation
      performed, plaintiff allegation, nature of injury, and litigation outcomes.
      RESULTS: A total of 36 cases were identified, with 12 unique cases from 1981 to
      2006 meeting the inclusion criteria. Six cases (50%) were decided by a jury and
      six by settlement. Five cases involved complications related to the specific
      surgery, and the other seven were associated with any surgery and perioperative
      care of children and adults. Cleft palate repair (50%) was the most frequently
      litigated surgery. Postoperative negligent supervision was the most common
      allegation (42%) and resulted in a payout in each case (mean = $3,126,032). Death
      (42%) and brain injury (25%) were the most frequent injuries reported. Financial
      awards were made in nine cases (after adjusting for inflation, mean = $2,470,552,
      range = $0 to $7,704,585). The awards were significantly larger for brain injury
      than other outcomes ($4,675,395 versus $1,368,131 after adjusting for inflation,
      P = .0101). CONCLUSION: Malpractice litigation regarding cleft lip and palate
      surgery is uncommon. However, significant financial awards involving
      perioperative brain injury have been reported.

PMID- 26882026
TI  - Tooth Abnormalities and Occlusal Disorders in Individuals With Frontonasal
      Dysplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Frontonasal dysplasia is a rare developmental defect of the midface,
      and little is known about the dental involvement in individuals with this
      condition. This study investigated tooth abnormalities and occlusal disorders in
      individuals with frontonasal dysplasia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING:
      Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of Sao Paulo,
      Bauru, Brazil. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical oral examination, analysis of patient
      records, and panoramic radiographs. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 individuals with
      frontonasal dysplasia aged 7 to 17 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of
      the several tooth abnormalities and occlusal disorders analyzed. RESULTS: A total
      of 19 individuals presented at least one tooth abnormality, with highly variable
      findings. In radiographs, 20% of individuals (all presenting oral clefts)
      presented agenesis of lateral incisors and second premolars. No supernumerary
      teeth were observed; 65% of individuals exhibited occlusal alterations,
      especially anterior open bite in the two individuals with median cleft lip.
      CONCLUSIONS: Variable clinical and radiographic alterations were observed,
      probably due to the large variety of phenotypic characteristics. No specific
      dental alteration could be related with frontonasal dysplasia.

PMID- 26882027
TI  - Alk7 Depleted Mice Exhibit Prolonged Cardiac Repolarization and Are Predisposed
      to Ventricular Arrhythmia.
AB  - We aimed to investigate the role of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK7) in
      regulating cardiac electrophysiology. Here, we showed that Alk7-/- mice exhibited
      prolonged QT intervals in telemetry ECG recordings. Furthermore, Langendorff
      perfused Alk7-/- hearts had significantly longer action potential duration (APD)
      and greater incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (AV) induced by burst pacing.
      Using whole-cell patch clamp, we found that the densities of repolarizing K+
      currents Ito and IK1 were profoundly reduced in Alk7-/- ventricular
      cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, the expression of Kv4.2 (a major subunit of Ito
      carrying channel) and KCHIP2 (a key accessory subunit of Ito carrying channel),
      was markedly decreased in Alk7-/- hearts. These findings suggest that endogenous
      expression of ALK7 is necessary to maintain repolarizing K+ currents in
      ventricular cardiomyocytes, and finally prevent action potential prolongation and
      ventricular arrhythmia. 

PMID- 26882029
TI  - Role of Liprins in the Regulation of Tumor Cell Motility and Invasion.
AB  - Invasion leading to the formation of metastasis is one of the hallmarks of
      cancer. Analysis of different human cancers has led to the identification of the
      PPFIA1 gene encoding the protein liprin-alpha1, a possible player in cancer. The
      PPFIA1 gene is amplified in malignant tumors, including about 20% of breast
      cancers. Also the liprin-alpha1 protein is found overexpressed in tumors. Liprin
      alpha1 belongs to the liprin family of cytosolic scaffold proteins that includes
      four liprin-alpha, two liprin-beta members, and liprin-gamma/kazrinE. In this
      review we will discuss the available evidence on the role of different members of
      the liprin family in distinct aspects of tumor cell migration and invasion.
      Evidence from in vitro studies indicates that the widely expressed liprin-alpha1
      protein regulates the migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells. Liprin
      alpha1 affects cell migration and invasion by regulating the organization of
      lamellipodia and invadopodia, two structures relevant to cell invasion. In the
      cell liprin-alpha1 forms a complex with liprin-beta1, ERC1/ELKS and LL5 proteins,
      which localizes at the front of migrating cells and positively regulates
      lamellipodia stability, and integrin-mediated focal adhesions. On the other hand,
      liprin-beta2 appears to play a role as tumor suppressor by inhibiting breast
      cancer cell motility and invasion. The available data indicate that liprins are
      central players in the regulation of tumor cell invasion, therefore representing
      interesting targets for anti-metastatic therapy. 

PMID- 26882028
TI  - Small Molecules Targeting Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-Related (ATR) Kinase: An
      Emerging way to Enhance Existing Cancer Therapy.
AB  - The main aim of current cancer research is to find a way to selectively affect
      the tumor cells, while leaving normal cells intact. Ataxia telangiectasia and
      Rad3-related kinase (ATR), a member of the phosphatidylinositol-3-related protein
      kinases (PIKK), represents a candidate target for achieving this goal. ATR kinase
      is one of the main kinases of the DNA damage response signaling pathway and
      responds to DNA damage caused by replication stress and various genotoxic agents
      (i.e. chemotherapy, ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light). ATR activation
      triggers cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair and apoptosis, but also resistance of
      tumor cells to DNA damaging agents, through stress support under replication
      stress. Thus, the inhibition of ATR leads to increased effectiveness of cancer
      therapy and in addition enables highly selective targeting of cancer cells
      through synthetic lethal interactions. Despite this great potential, only a few
      potent and selective inhibitors of ATR kinase have been developed to date.
      However, those which have been developed provide great promise, and are under
      evaluation in many current preclinical and clinical trials. The purpose of this
      review is to summarize the potential of ATR inhibitors and the medicinal
      chemistry efforts which resulted in their identification. 

PMID- 26882030
TI  - The Novel VEGF121-VEGF165 Fusion Attenuates Angiogenesis and Drug Resistance via
      Targeting VEGFR2-HIF-1alpha-VEGF165/Lon Signaling Through PI3K-AKT-mTOR Pathway.
AB  - Anti-angiogenesis therapy is one major approach of cancer therapies nowadays.
      Unfortunately, anti-angiogenesis therapy targeting VEGF-A was recently stumbled
      by the drugresistance that results from adaptive mechanisms, such as intratumor
      hypoxia. To obtain a more efficient therapeutic response, we created and
      identified a novel chimeric fusion of VEGF121 and VEGF165, which was connected by
      Fc region of human IgG1 to enhance dimerization. We found that the treatment of
      VEGF121-VEGF165 chimeric protein reduces proliferation, migration, invasion, and
      tube formation in endothelial and/or cancer cells through competing VEGF165
      homodimer in a paracrine and an autocrine manner. Furthermore, the fusion protein
      attenuated autocrine VEGFR2-HIF-1alpha-VEGF165/Lon signaling through PI3KAKT-
      mTOR pathway in cancer cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the
      chimeric VEGF121-VEGF165 arrests the tube formation of endothelial cells and
      interferes with tumor cell growth, migration and invasion, suggesting that it
      could be a potential drug as an angiogenesis antagonist in cancer therapy. The
      VEGF121-VEGF165 targets not only paracrine angiogenic cascade of endothelial
      cells but also autocrine PI3K-AKT-mTOR-mediated VEGFR2-HIF-1alpha- VEGF165/Lon
      signaling that drives drug resistance in tumor cells. Our study will open up the
      patient opportunities to combat drug resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. 

PMID- 26882031
TI  - A National Profile of Family and Unpaid Caregivers Who Assist Older Adults With
      Health Care Activities.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Family and unpaid caregivers commonly help older adults who are at
      high risk for poorly coordinated care. OBJECTIVE: To examine how caregivers'
      involvement in older adults' health care activities relates to caregiving
      responsibilities, supportive services use, and caregiving-related effects.
      DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1739 family and unpaid caregivers
      of 1171 community-dwelling older adults with disabilities who participated in the
      2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of
      Caregiving (NSOC). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Caregiving-related effects,
      including emotional, physical, and financial difficulty; participation
      restrictions in valued activities; and work productivity loss. EXPOSURES:
      Caregivers assisting older adults who provide substantial, some, or no help with
      health care, defined by coordinating care and managing medications (help with
      both, either, or neither activity, respectively). RESULTS: Based on NHATS and
      NSOC responses from 1739 family and unpaid caregivers of 1171 older adults with
      disabilities, weighted estimates were produced that accounted for the sampling
      designs of each survey. From these weighted estimates, 14.7 million caregivers
      assisting 7.7 million older adults, 6.5 million (44.1%) provided substantial
      help, 4.4 million (29.8%) provided some help, and 3.8 million (26.1%) provided no
      help with health care. Almost half (45.5%) of the caregivers providing
      substantial help with health care assisted an older adult with dementia.
      Caregivers providing substantial help with health care provided more hours of
      assistance per week than caregivers providing some or no help (28.1 vs 15.1 and
      8.3 hours, P < .001 for both). The use of supportive services was low but was
      greater among caregivers providing substantial vs some or no help (26.7% vs 15.5%
      and 7.6%, P < .001 for both). In multivariable regression models adjusting for
      older adults' function and caregivers' sociodemographic and health
      characteristics, caregivers providing substantial help with health care were
      significantly more likely to experience emotional difficulty (adjusted odds ratio
      [aOR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.20-2.66), physical difficulty (aOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.39
      2.97), and financial difficulty (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.52-3.22) than caregivers
      providing no help. Compared with caregivers providing no help with health care
      activities, caregivers providing substantial help with health care activities
      were more than 5 times as likely to experience participation restrictions in
      valued activities (aOR, 5.32; 95% CI, 3.31-8.59) and more than 3 times as likely
      to experience work productivity loss (aOR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.40-7.02). CONCLUSIONS
      AND RELEVANCE: Family caregivers providing substantial assistance with health
      care experience significant emotional difficulty and role-related effects, yet
      only one-quarter use supportive services.

PMID- 26882034
TI  - Puppy Temperament Assessments Predict Breed and American Kennel Club Group but
      Not Adult Temperament.
AB  - Puppy assessments for companion dogs have shown mixed long-term reliability.
      Temperament is cited among the reasons for surrendering dogs to shelters. A puppy
      temperament test that reliably predicts adult behavior is one potential way to
      lower the number of dogs given to shelters. This study used a longitudinal design
      to assess temperament in puppies from 8 different breeds at 7 weeks old (n = 52)
      and 6 years old (n = 34) using modified temperament tests, physiological
      measures, and a follow-up questionnaire. For 7-week-old puppies, results revealed
      (a) puppy breed was predictable using 3 variables, (b) 4 American Kennel Club
      breed groups had some validity based on temperament, (c) temperament was variable
      within litters of puppies, and (d) certain measures of temperament were related
      to physiological measures (heart rate). Finally, puppy temperament assessments
      were reliable in predicting the scores of 2 of the 8 adult dog temperament
      measures. However, overall, the puppy temperament scores were unreliable in
      predicting adult temperament.

PMID- 26882032
TI  - An Age-Standardized Prevalence Estimate and a Sex and Age Distribution of
      Myotonic Dystrophy Types 1 and 2 in the Rome Province, Italy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prevalence estimates for the 2 forms of myotonic dystrophy types 1
      and 2 (DM1 and DM2) are not exhaustive or non-available. Our aim was to estimate
      the minimum prevalence of DM1 and DM2 in Italy in the Rome province, applying
      standards of descriptive epidemiology. METHODS: All patients with a molecular
      diagnosis of DM1/DM2 and residents in the Rome province in 2013 have been
      enrolled, and the age-standardized prevalence has been calculated, assuming a
      Poisson distribution and adjusting for age. RESULTS: We identified 395 DM1
      patients: the age-standardized prevalence for total, females and males was 9.65,
      8.35 and 11.07/100,000, respectively. The mean age of subjects differed
      considerably according to CTG repeat length (p = 0.001). Forty DM2 patients were
      identified. The age-standardized prevalence for total, females and males was
      0.99, 1.07 and 0.90/100,000, respectively. The mean age was 57.05. CONCLUSIONS:
      We estimated for the first time the age-standardized prevalence and the sex and
      age distribution of DM1 and DM2 in a general population. A higher prevalence of
      males in DM1 and females in DM2 and a higher mean age of DM2 patients (+8 years)
      were ascertained. Prevalence of DM2 was 10% that of DM1. These prevalence values
      are probably lower than mutational rates due to the incomplete penetrance of DM1
      mutations and to the clinical elusiveness of DM2. Our findings will be useful in
      designing cohort studies and for developing a disease registry.

PMID- 26882033
TI  - The Prevalence and Determinants of Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors
      amongst Adults in the Dikgale Health Demographic and Surveillance System (HDSS)
      Site, Limpopo Province of South Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and determinants
      of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in a rural community in
      the Limpopo Province of South Africa. METHODS: This survey was conducted using
      the WHO "STEPwise approach to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases"
      (STEPS) methodology. Participants were residents of the Dikgale HDSS site and
      standardised international protocols were used to measure behavioural risk
      factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake and, physical
      activity) and physical characteristics (weight, height, waist and hip
      circumferences and blood pressure-BP). Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride,
      cholesterol and HDL-C were determined in 732 participants. Data were analysed
      using STATA 12 for Windows. RESULTS: The prevalence of current smokers amongst
      the participants was 13.7%, of which 81.3% were daily smokers. Alcohol was
      consumed by 16.3% of the participants. The majority of participants (88.6%) had
      low daily intake of fruit and vegetables and low physical activity (66.5%). The
      prevalence of hypertension amongst the participants was 38.2%. Overweight,
      obesity and high waist circumference were prevalent in females. The cardio
      metabolic risk profile was not significantly different between men and women.
      People who were older than 40 years, overweight or obese and those who consumed
      alcohol were more likely to be hypertensive. Smoking was associated significantly
      with older age, males, never married and divorced people. Alcohol consumption was
      associated with older age, males, low educational status and low income.
      CONCLUSION: High levels of risk factors for NCDs among adults in the Dikgale HDSS
      suggest an urgent need for health interventions to control these risk factors at
      the population level in order to reduce the prevalence of NCDs.

PMID- 26882035
TI  - Renal Recovery after Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Until recently, patients surviving an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) were
      assumed to have a good renal prognosis. This belief was predominantly based on
      studies that used heterogeneous AKI definitions and that considered renal
      recovery as dialysis independence at hospital discharge. Since standardized
      definitions of AKI have become available, several studies have established an
      association between AKI and adverse clinical outcomes. It is now well recognized
      that while the glomerular filtration rate generally improves after AKI, the renal
      recovery process is often incomplete and can result in a chronic decrease in
      kidney function. The loss of kidney function can vary from subclinical decreases
      in the glomerular filtration rate to end-stage renal disease. In this chapter, we
      review our current understanding of renal recovery following AKI and discuss the
      main studies that have established associations between AKI and the development
      of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.

PMID- 26882037
TI  - Serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and psychological distress in early
      pregnancy: Adjunct Study of Japan Environment and Children's Study.
AB  - N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially long-chain types such as
      docosahexaenoic acid, are important nutrients in pregnancy, but the relationship
      between n-3 PUFA levels and perinatal and postnatal depression remains
      controversial. This study examined the possible relationship between serum n-3
      PUFA levels and psychological distress among expectant mothers in early
      pregnancy. Data and specimen samples were obtained in a birth cohort study
      started at Toyama Regional Center in July 2012 as an adjunct study of the Japan
      Environment and Children's Study. Blood samples were collected at 9-14 weeks'
      gestation (75% of samples) or after 15 weeks (25%). Subjects with a Kessler
      Psychological Distress Scale score (K6) ? 9 were assigned to the psychological
      distress group (n=283). The control group (n=283) was matched for age,
      educational level and family income. Fatty acid composition was determined from
      serum samples by gas chromatography. Associations between fatty acid levels and
      incident psychological distress were evaluated by logistic regression. After
      adjusting for possible confounders, eicosapentaenoic acid showed an inverse
      association with risk of psychological distress, with an odds ratio of 0.47 (95%
      confidence interval: 0.30, 0.73) for the highest tertile. This inverse
      association remained even after applying a higher cutoff score (K6 ? 13)
      indicating severe psychological distress (74 pairs). We believe this is the first
      study to reveal the associations between serum n-3 PUFAs and risk of
      psychological distress in early pregnancy. Further research is required to verify
      the causality of these associations.

PMID- 26882036
TI  - NPY+-, but not PV+- GABAergic neurons mediated long-range inhibition from infra-
      to prelimbic cortex.
AB  - Anxiety disorders are thought to reflect deficits in the regulation of fear
      memories. While the amygdala has long been considered a site of storage of fear
      memories, newer findings suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential in
      the regulation of amygdala-dependent memories and fear expression. Here,
      activation of the prelimbic cortex (PrL) enhances the expression of fear, while
      an elevated activity in the infralimbic cortex (IL) enhances fear extinction.
      Despite the presence of these facts, we still know very little about the synaptic
      interconnectivity within the PFC. The aim of the present study was to investigate
      the inhibitory circuits between prelimbic and IL using morphological and
      electrophysiological methods. Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the
      distribution of PV(+)- and NPY(+)-GABAergic neurons was strikingly different
      within the PFC. In addition, we provided the first experimental evidence that the
      pyramidal neurons in the PrL received a direct inhibitory input mediated by
      bipolar NPY(+)-GABAergic projection neurons in the IL. Deletion of the anxiety
      related neuroligin 2 gene caused a decrease of this direct synaptic inhibition
      that originated from the IL. Thus, our data suggested that activation of the IL
      might not only directly activate the corresponding downstream anxiolytic pathway,
      but also suppress the PrL-related anxiogenic pathway and thus could
      differentially bias the regulation of fear expression and extinction. 

PMID- 26882039
TI  - Effects of combined healthy lifestyle factors on functional vascular aging: the
      Rotterdam Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether components of a healthy lifestyle, combined and
      individually, are associated with arterial stiffness as a marker of functional
      vascular aging. METHODS: We included 3235 participants aged 61-96 years from the
      Rotterdam Study. Measures of arterial stiffness included: aortic pulse wave
      velocity and carotid distensibility coefficient. Participants were scored one
      point for each of healthy lifestyle factors: consumption of five or more of
      fruits and/or vegetables per day, 75 min or more vigorous physical activity per
      week, 18.5 <= BMI <= 24. 9, never smoked and light-to-moderate alcohol intake
      (maximum seven glasses for women and 14 glasses for men) per week. Also a
      combined score (0-5) was computed by adding the five factors. Linear regression
      analysis was used to evaluate the association of healthy lifestyle and measures
      of arterial stiffness adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Participants had -0.113
      [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.196, -0.029] difference in mean aortic pulse
      wave velocity m/s per unit increment of the lifestyle factors score, independent
      of cardiovascular risk factors. Higher fruit and vegetable consumption -0.221
      (95% CI: -0.409, -0.034) and physical activity -0.239 (95% CI: -0.433, -0.044)
      were also significantly associated with reduced aortic pulse wave velocity. The
      corresponding estimates in carotid distensibility coefficient lacked statistical
      significance when we adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION:
      Combining multiple healthy lifestyle factors is associated with reduced aortic
      stiffness, a measure of functional vascular aging and independent of
      cardiovascular risk factors.

PMID- 26882038
TI  - AKT1 genotype moderates the acute psychotomimetic effects of naturalistically
      smoked cannabis in young cannabis smokers.
AB  - Smoking cannabis daily doubles an individual's risk of developing a psychotic
      disorder, yet indicators of specific vulnerability have proved largely elusive.
      Genetic variation is one potential risk modifier. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms
      in the AKT1 and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes have been implicated in
      the interaction between cannabis, psychosis and cognition, but no studies have
      examined their impact on an individual's acute response to smoked cannabis. A
      total 442 healthy young cannabis users were tested while intoxicated with their
      own cannabis-which was analysed for delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) and
      cannabidiol content-and also +/- 7 days apart when drug-free. Psychotomimetic
      symptoms and working memory were assessed on both the sessions. Variation at the
      rs2494732 locus of the AKT1 gene predicted acute psychotic response to cannabis
      along with dependence on the drug and baseline schizotypal symptoms. Working
      memory following cannabis acutely was worse in females, with some suggestion of
      an impact of COMT polymorphism on working memory when drug-free. These findings
      are the first to demonstrate that AKT1 mediates the acute response to cannabis in
      otherwise healthy individuals and implicate the AKT1 pathway as a possible target
      for prevention and treatment of cannabis psychosis.

PMID- 26882040
TI  - Arterial stiffness in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is increased with chronic inflammatory disorders.
      The reduction of inflammation by immunomodulatory therapy is associated with a
      restoration of arterial function. The aims of the study were to perform a meta
      analysis to determine whether arterial stiffness is increased in patients with
      inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a meta-regression analysis to correlate
      arterial stiffness with anti-TNFalpha therapy. METHODS: Systematic review
      registration number: CRD42015017364. A systematic literature search for arterial
      stiffness in IBD was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases
      (last accessed on 23 September 2015). The search terms were 'arterial stiffness,'
      'vascular stiffness,' or 'pulse wave velocity' in combination with 'inflammatory
      bowel disease,' 'inflammatory bowel diseases,' 'Crohn's disease,' or 'ulcerative
      colitis.' Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed publications reporting
      original data, a minimum of 20 study participants tested, and pulse wave velocity
      (PWV) measured via validated devices. Publications with titles or abstracts
      appearing to meet the inclusion criteria were selected and reviewed by two
      authors according to PRISMA 2009 guidelines. RESULTS: Carotid-femoral PWV (cf
      PWV) was measured in nine cross-sectional studies (234 patients with Crohn's
      disease, 342 with ulcerative colitis, and 435 control study participants).
      Compared with control patients, cf-PWV was significantly increased in patients
      with Crohn's disease [mean difference 1.34 z-score; 95% confidence interval (CI)
      0.71-1.97 z-score; P < 0.0001] and ulcerative colitis (mean difference 1.08 z
      score; 95% CI 0.55-1.61 z-score; P < 0.0001). In a meta-regression analysis, cf
      PWV was reduced in IBD patients treated with anti-TNFalpha therapy (beta -2.6
      m/s; 95% CI -4.9 to -0.2 m/s; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: cf-PWV is increased in both
      ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients.

PMID- 26882041
TI  - Impact of left ventricular ejection function on blood pressure-lowering therapy
      in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The prognosis of hypertensive patients with reduced left ventricular
      ejection fraction (LVEF) is poorer than that with normal LVEF. The influence of
      LVEF on blood pressure (BP)-lowering therapy remains unclear. The aim of this
      study was to clarify the impact of LVEF on clinical outcomes of BP-lowering
      therapy in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS:
      This study was a post hoc analysis from Heart Institute of Japan Candesartan
      Randomized Trial for Evaluation in Coronary Heart Disease trial, a total of 2049
      hypertensive patients with CAD were included. We analyzed 1849 patients with
      available LVEF data on enrollment. They were divided into three groups based on
      LVEF; reduced (<45%, n = 386), intermediate (45-55%, n = 524), and preserved
      (>55%, n = 999). The 'achieved SBP' was defined as the mean value of SBP in
      patients who did not experience major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and the mean
      value of SBP prior to MACE in those who experienced MACE. RESULTS: During a
      median follow-up period of 4.2 years, MACE rates were 30.6, 27.6, and 24.0% in
      the reduced, intermediate, and preserved LVEF groups, respectively. A J-shaped
      association between achieved SBP and MACE was observed only in the preserved LVEF
      group [hazard ratio of MACE in patients with lower SBP (achieved SBP < 120 mmHg)
      was 1.81 (1.13-2.90) compared to reference SBP patients (120 < achieved BP < 130
      mmHg)], but not in the reduced or intermediate LVEF groups. CONCLUSION: In
      hypertensive patients with CAD, the goal of BP-lowering therapy should consider
      LVEF status.

PMID- 26882042
TI  - Axis inhibition protein 2 deficiency leads to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
      through beta-catenin signaling pathway.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by increased
      vascular tone, altered vasoreactivity and vascular remodeling induced by smooth
      muscle cell proliferation. Similarities exist between cancer and PAH. Aberrant
      expression of the tumor suppressor protein is closely associated with PAH. Here,
      we tested the hypothesis that a tumor suppressor-axis inhibition protein 2
      (Axin2) deficiency leads to PAH. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured right
      ventricular systolic pressure in Axin2 knockout mice and assessed the expression
      of Axin2 in patients. We found that Axin2 expression level was decreased in both
      mice exposed to chronic hypoxia and patients with PAH in remodeled pulmonary
      arterioles. Axin2 knockout mice showed elevated mean right ventricular systolic
      pressure and enhanced contraction in response to phenylephrine. An increase in
      the cross-sectional area of the vessels was occupied by the vessel wall,
      indicating pulmonary vascular remodeling. Furthermore, knocking down Axin2 with
      small interfering RNA inhibited apoptosis of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle
      cells (PASMCs). This inhibition was significantly abolished by beta-catenin
      inhibitors, indicating that Axin2 through beta-catenin increased vascular wall by
      inhibiting the apoptosis of PASMCs. Importantly, overexpression of Axin2
      attenuates the development of hypoxia-induced PAH in mice. CONCLUSION: Taken
      together, our study, for the first time, established that Axin2 plays a key role
      in the progression of PAH. We identified Axin2 as a novel mediator of pulmonary
      vasoconstriction and PASMC growth in hypoxia-mediated PAH. Our results suggest
      that downregulation of Axin2 in the pulmonary vasculature may be an underlying
      mechanism in the development of hypoxia-induced PAH.

PMID- 26882043
TI  - Maximum renal responses to renin inhibition in healthy study participants: VTP
      27999 versus aliskiren.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Renin inhibition with aliskiren induced the largest increases in
      renal plasma flow (RPF) in salt-depleted healthy volunteers of all renin
      angiotensin system (RAS) blockers. However, given its side-effects at doses
      higher than 300 mg, no maximum effect of renin inhibition could be established.
      We hypothesized that VTP-27999, a novel renin inhibitor without major side
      effects at high doses, would allow us to establish this. METHODS AND RESULTS: The
      effects of escalating VTP-27999 doses (75-600 mg) on RPF, glomerular filtration
      rate (GFR), and plasma RAS components were compared with those of 300 mg
      aliskiren in 22 normal volunteers on a low-sodium diet. VTP-27999 dose
      dependently increased RPF and GFR; its effects on both parameters at 600 mg
      (increases of 18 +/- 4 and 20 +/- 4%, respectively) were equivalent to those at
      300 mg, indicating that a maximum had been reached. The effects of 300 mg
      aliskiren (increases of 13 +/- 5 and 8 +/- 6%, respectively; P < 0.01 vs. 300 and
      600 mg VTP-27999) resembled those of 150 mg VTP-27999. VTP-27999 dose-dependently
      increased renin, and lowered plasma renin activity and angiotensin II to
      detection limit levels. The effects of aliskiren on RAS components were best
      comparable to those of 150 mg VTP-27999. CONCLUSION: Maximum renal renin blockade
      in healthy, salt-depleted volunteers, requires aliskiren doses higher than 300
      mg, but can be established with 300 mg VTP-27999. To what degree such maximal
      effects (exceeding those of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and AT1
      receptor blockers) are required in patients with renal disease, given the
      potential detrimental effects of excessive RAS blockade, remains to be
      determined.

PMID- 26882044
TI  - Transient magnetorheological response of magnetoactive elastomers to step and
      pyramid excitations.
AB  - Transient rheological response of magnetoactive elastomers is experimentally
      studied using dynamic torsion at a fixed oscillation frequency in temporally
      stepwise changing magnetic fields and oscillation amplitudes. For step magnetic
      field excitations, at least three exponential functions are required to
      reasonably describe the time behavior of the storage shear modulus over long time
      scales (>10(3) s). The deduced characteristic time constants of the corresponding
      rearrangement processes of the filler network differ approximately by one order
      of magnitude: tau1 ? 10(1) s, tau2 ~ 10(2) s, and tau3 ~ 10(3) s. The sudden
      imposition of the external magnetic field activates a very fast rearrangement
      process with the characteristic time under 10 s, which cannot be determined more
      precisely due to the measurement conditions. Even more peculiar transient
      behavior has been observed during pyramid excitations, when either the external
      magnetic field was first stepwise increased and then decreased in a staircase
      manner at a fixed strain amplitude gamma or the strain amplitude gamma was first
      stepwise increased and then decreased in a staircase manner at a fixed magnetic
      field. In particular, the so-called "cross-over effect" has been identified in
      both dynamical loading programs. This cross-over effect seems to be promoted by
      the application of the external magnetic field. The experimental results are
      discussed in the context of the specific rearrangement of the magnetic filler
      network under the simultaneous action of the external magnetic field and shear
      deformation. Striking similarities of the observed phenomena to the structural
      relaxation processes in glassy materials and to the jamming transition of
      granular materials are pointed out. The obtained results are important for
      fundamental understanding of material behavior in magnetic fields as well as for
      the development of devices on the basis of magnetoactive elastomeric materials. 

PMID- 26882045
TI  - QuantraTM should be considered a tool for two-grade scale mammographic breast
      density classification.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the agreement between QuantraTM (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA)
      and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (BI-RADS((r))) and the performance
      of Quantra at reproducing BI-RADS mammographic breast density (MBD) assessment.
      METHODS: MBD assessment was performed using Quantra and BI-RADS. BI-RADS
      assessment was performed in two phases (1314 and 292 cases, respectively). Kappa
      was used to assess the interreader agreement and the agreement between Quantra
      and BI-RADS, and receiver-operating characteristics analysis was used to assess
      the performance of Quantra at reproducing BI-RADS rating. RESULTS: Agreement
      (weighted kappa) between BI-RADS and Quantra in Phase 1 was 0.75 [95% confidence
      interval (CI): 0.73-0.78] and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80-0.90) on four- and two-grade
      scales, respectively. The corresponding agreement in Phase 2 was 0.79 (95% CI:
      0.75-0.84) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79-0.87) using the majority report. In Phase 1,
      Quantra demonstrated 93.2% sensitivity and 86.1% specificity for BI-RADS on a two
      grade scale (1-2 vs 3-4). In Phase 2, it demonstrated 91.3% sensitivity and 83.6%
      specificity on a two-grade scale. CONCLUSION: Quantra is limited in reproducing
      BI-RADS rating on a four-grade scale; however, it highly reproduces BI-RADS
      assessment on a two-grade scale. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Quantra (v. 2.0) is a
      poor predictor of BI-RADS assessment on a four-grade scale, but well reproduces
      BI-RADS rating on a two-grade scale. Therefore, it should be considered a tool
      for two-grade scale MBD classification.

PMID- 26882048
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26882047
TI  - Sonographic Assessment of the Fetal Penile Development.
AB  - The intrauterine diagnosis of micropenis is an important clue in the discernment
      of some syndromes and hormonal deficiencies. In this study, we tried to establish
      reference ranges for the fetal penile length and penile width. This prospective
      cross-sectional study included 179 healthy singleton male fetus pregnancies that
      were between 17 and 37 weeks of gestation. Of these pregnancies, the fetal penile
      length and width were measured using trans-abdominal ultrasound. The correlation
      coefficients of gestational age with penile measurements were calculated. We
      observed that as the gestational age increased both the penile length and width
      increased (p < .0001, correlation coefficients R(2) = 0.854 and R(2) = 0.883;
      respectively). Reference values of the penile length in the Turkish Population
      were similar to previously evaluated populations including English, American and
      Israeli populations. The penile width measurement is a convenient way to diagnose
      micropenis, but penile width measurement alone might miss some penile
      abnormalities including chordee and hypospadias. 

PMID- 26882046
TI  - Screen-detected subsolid pulmonary nodules: long-term follow-up and application
      of the PanCan lung cancer risk prediction model.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term follow-up of subsolid nodules (SSNs) detected
      in participants of a prospective low-dose CT lung cancer screening cohort, and to
      investigate the utility of the PanCan model in stratifying risk in baseline SSNs.
      METHODS: Participants underwent a baseline scan, two annual incidence scans and
      further follow-up scans for the detected nodules. All SSNs underwent a minimum of
      2 years of follow-up (unless resolved or resected). Risk of malignancy was
      estimated using the PanCan model; discrimination [area under the receiver
      operating characteristic curve (AUC)] and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness
      of-fit test) were assessed. The Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon test was used to compare
      estimated risk between groups. RESULTS: 70 SSNs were detected in 41 (16.0%) out
      of 256 total participants. Median follow-up period was 25.5 months (range 2.0
      74.0 months). 29 (41.4%) SSNs were transient. Five (7.1%) SSNs were resected, all
      found to be Stage I lung adenocarcinoma, including one SSN stable in size for 3.0
      years before growth was detected. The PanCan model had good discrimination for
      the 52 baseline SSNs (AUC = 0.89; 95% confidence interval 0.76-1); the Hosmer
      Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was non-significant (p = 0.27). Estimated risk was
      significantly higher in the baseline SSNs found to be cancer vs those not found
      to be cancer after 2-6 years of follow-up (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings
      support a long-term follow-up approach for screen-detected SSNs for 3 years or
      longer. The PanCan model appeared discriminatory and well calibrated in this
      cohort. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The PanCan model may have utility in identifying
      low-risk SSNs which could be followed with less frequent CT scans.

PMID- 26882049
TI  - The importance of monitoring adverse drug reactions in elderly patients: the
      results of a long-term pharmacovigilance programme.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To recognise and prevent ADRs (including DDIs) in the elderly through
      a 4-year post-marketing active pharmacovigilance programme. The programme was
      designed to enhance high quality spontaneous reporting of ADRs in elderly
      patients by sampling the Italian population and was termed 'Pharmacovigilance in
      Geriatry (ViGer)'. METHODS: ADRs were collected for adults aged over 65 years of
      age treated in nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities and
      territorial health services in Lombardy. ADRs were evaluated using the Adverse
      Drug Reaction Probability Scale (Naranjo) and analysed with respect to time, sex,
      category of ADR, seriousness, suspected medicines, notoriety. We analysed all the
      potential DDIs. RESULTS: We detected 1073 cases reports corresponding to 2110
      ADRs. Vaccines, antibacterials for systemic use and antineoplastic agents were
      the pharmacotherapeutic subgroups most frequently involved. 18% of ADRs reports
      were classified as serious. In 752 reports patients were described as in
      polytherapy; in 55 patients (7.3%) the reported ADR were probably preventable
      because of DDIs involvement. CONCLUSION: The ViGer project demonstrated that
      active pos-marketing pharmacovigilance programmes are a valid strategy to
      increase awareness on geriatrics pharmacology, reduce underreporting and provide
      important information on previous unknown ADRs and DDIs, resulting in a therapy
      optimisation in clinical practice in the geriatric setting.

PMID- 26882051
TI  - Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 (SFRP4) is Elevated in Patients with Diabetes
      Mellitus.
AB  - Recently, SFRP4 was identified as a molecular link between islet inflammation and
      defective insulin secretion. Gene co-expression analysis detected a molecule
      associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), elevated HbA1c, and reduced
      insulin secretion in mice as well as in a pilot sample of humans. To our
      knowledge SFRP4 has never been investigated in patients with different types of
      diabetes. We included 179 patients: 46 with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 30 age matched
      healthy controls for patients with T1D (CO-T1D), 55 with T2D, 37 with latent
      autoimmune diabetes of the adult (LADA) and 30 healthy controls (CO) for patients
      with T2D and LADA. Apart from anthropometric data, lipids and renal parameters
      were assessed. SFRP4 levels were measured by a commercial ELISA. Patients with
      diabetes had significant higher SFRP4 levels than CO: T2D vs. CO: 37.1+/-26.7 vs.
      8.8+/-3.0 ng/ml, p<0.001; LADA vs. CO: 15.6+/-6.2 vs. 8.7+/-3.0 ng/ml, p<0.001;
      T1D vs. CO-T1D: 24.6+/-17.9 vs. 16.9+/-4.5 ng/ml, p=0.011. SFRP4 levels were
      correlated with age, BMI, HbA1c, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. A
      multivariate model revealed HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and BMI as predictors
      for SFRP4. This is the first study demonstrating that SFRP4 is significantly
      increased in patients with different types of diabetes suggesting that this
      protein is generally involved in islet dysfunction and potentially subclinical
      inflammation irrespective of type of diabetes. 

PMID- 26882050
TI  - Influence of Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone on Bone and Metabolic Risk in
      Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and
      parathyroid hormone (PTH), VO2max, bone (by DXA), and metabolic outcomes across
      age and race-matched postmenopausal women (54+/-1 years; mean+/-SEM): 1) with
      previous gestational diabetes (GDM) (32+/-1 kg/m(2); n=17), 2) without previous
      GDM, but with a similar BMI to GDM (32+/-1 kg/m(2); n=17), and 3) without
      previous GDM, but with a higher BMI than GDM (36+/-1 kg/m(2); n=17; p<0.01). The
      prevalence of 25(OH)D insufficiency and deficiency was high (~80%), but not
      different across groups, while PTH tended to be ~30% lower in women with a
      history of GDM (p=0.09). Women with a history of GDM had lower HDL cholesterol
      and higher diastolic blood pressure and fasting and 2-h glucose levels (by oral
      glucose tolerance test) (vs. groups 2 and 3; p<0.05). Bone mineral density (BMD)
      tended to be slightly higher in women with prior GDM than the BMI matched women
      with no prior GDM (p=0.09). Overall, higher PTH was associated with lower femoral
      neck (r=- 0.33) and (r=- 0.38) (p <0.05), while lower 25(OH)D was associated with
      lower VO2max (r=0.25, p=0.05) and higher fasting glucose (r=- 0.14) and insulin
      (r=- 0.29 (p <0.05). We observed that the poor metabolic profiles of
      postmenopausal women with a history of GDM are independent of 25(OH)D and PTH.
      However, due to associations between 25(OH)D and PTH with bone and metabolic
      outcomes, maintaining recommended 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations is important
      regardless of a previous history of GDM. 

PMID- 26882052
TI  - Wnt signaling as potential therapeutic target in lung cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Wingless-type (Wnt) signaling is tightly regulated at multiple
      cellular levels and is dysregulated in lung cancer. Therefore, it offers
      therapeutic targets for developing novel agents for lung cancer treatment. AREAS
      COVERED: In this article, we discuss the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in
      lung cancer, highlighting the aberrant activation of Wnt in lung cancer stem
      cells and its implication in resistance to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and
      targeted therapy. We also expound the regulatory roles of microRNAs in Wnt
      signaling, as well as the potential of the Wnt pathway to provide biomarkers and
      therapeutic targets in lung cancer. The potential use of small molecule and
      biological inhibitors targeting the Wnt pathway for lung cancer therapy and
      prevention is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION: Wnt signaling plays an important
      role in the development and metastasis of lung cancer; the pathway provides
      targets to develop agents towards for cancer prevention and therapy. A number of
      clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of Wnt pathway inhibitors in
      epithelial tumors. However, the side effects should be considered. Nevertheless,
      the results from clinical studies suggest that inhibitors targeting the Wnt
      signaling show promise against lung cancer.

PMID- 26882055
TI  - Statistical inference for noninferiority of difference in proportions of
      clustered matched-pair data from multiple raters.
AB  - In clinical investigations of diagnostic procedures to indicate noninferiority,
      efficacy is generally evaluated on the basis of results from independent multiple
      raters. For each subject, if two diagnostic procedures are performed and some
      units are evaluated, the difference in proportions for matched-pair data is
      correlated between the two diagnostic procedures and within the subject, i.e. the
      data are clustered. In this article, we propose a noninferiority test to infer
      the difference in the correlated proportions of clustered data between the two
      diagnostic procedures. The proposed noninferiority test was validated in a Monte
      Carlo simulation study. Empirical sizes of the noninferiority test were close to
      the nominal level. The proposed test is illustrated on data of aneurysm
      diagnostic procedures for patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PMID- 26882053
TI  - A potential hidden layer of meteorites below the ice surface of Antarctica.
AB  - Antarctica contains some of the most productive regions on Earth for collecting
      meteorites. These small areas of glacial ice are known as meteorite stranding
      zones, where upward-flowing ice combines with high ablation rates to concentrate
      large numbers of englacially transported meteorites onto their surface. However,
      meteorite collection data shows that iron and stony-iron meteorites are
      significantly under-represented from these regions as compared with all other
      sites on Earth. Here we explain how this discrepancy may be due to englacial
      solar warming, whereby meteorites a few tens of centimetres below the ice surface
      can be warmed up enough to cause melting of their surrounding ice and sink
      downwards. We show that meteorites with a high-enough thermal conductivity (for
      example, iron meteorites) can sink at a rate sufficient to offset the total
      annual upward ice transport, which may therefore permanently trap them below the
      ice surface and explain their absence from collection data. 

PMID- 26882056
TI  - Giant Ocular Horn Occurring in a 10-Year-Old Female.
AB  - Cutaneous horns uncommonly involve the periocular region. Involvement of the
      ocular surface is particularly rare. The authors present a patient who underwent
      a perinatal buccal mucosal graft for corneal perforation due to congenital
      corneal ectasia, most likely resulting from Peters anomaly. She developed a giant
      ocular horn 10 years later.

PMID- 26882057
TI  - Sphenoid Wing Meningioma With Extraocular Muscle Involvement Mimicking Idiopathic
      Orbital Inflammation.
AB  - Meningiomas are slow growing, typically benign, tumors originating from arachnoid
      cap cells. Specifically, sphenoid wing or spheno-orbital meningiomas infiltrate
      the lesser wing of the sphenoid, lateral orbital wall, and orbital roof with
      occasional extension to the superior orbital fissure, optic canal, anterior
      clinoid process, and middle cranial fossa where neurologic and ophthalmologic
      functions are impaired by compressive injury. The extraocular muscles are rarely
      involved. The authors present a rare case of an spheno-orbital meningioma causing
      extraocular muscle enlargement mimicking idiopathic orbital inflammation and
      highlight important diagnostic clues to meningioma.

PMID- 26882058
TI  - Eyelid Mycetoma Masquerading as Sebaceous Carcinoma.
AB  - A 56-year-old Asian woman presented with an upper eyelid mass. The lesion was
      exposed after eversion of the eyelid revealing a thickened tarsus with yellowish
      areas. Working diagnosis was sebaceous carcinoma. Biopsy was performed.
      Histopathological studies showed a mycotic eumycetoma with Splendore-Hoeppli
      phenomena and - microbiologic cultures grew Scedosporium apiospermum. The patient
      was started on voriconazole 200 mg po bid with adequate serum levels. A complete
      response was observed after 18 weeks of voriconazole therapy. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first published case of S. apiospermum eumycotic mycetoma
      of the eyelid. It is important to consider mycotic infection in the differential
      diagnosis of eyelid tumors even in healthy patients.

PMID- 26882059
TI  - Nodular Fasciitis of the Orbit: A Case Report Confirmed by Molecular Cytogenetic
      Analysis.
AB  - Nodular fasciitis is a benign fibroblastic proliferation typically found in the
      subcutaneous tissue or superficial fascia of the extremities that is often
      confused for malignancy. These lesions rarely occur on the eyelids and ocular
      adnexa and are seldom analyzed by ophthalmic pathologists. USP6 gene
      rearrangement has been recently demonstrated in nodular fasciitis and this
      rearrangement may lead to the formation of a fusion gene MYH9-USP6 in some cases.
      Herein, the authors describe a 38-year-old woman with a 6-month history of a
      progressively enlarging mass beneath her right medial upper eyelid.
      Histopathologic analysis of the excisional biopsy confirmed classic features of
      nodular fasciitis. Molecular cytogenetic analysis revealed a rearrangement of the
      USP6 locus, confirming the diagnosis of benign nodular fasciitis.

PMID- 26882060
TI  - Assessing the Outcomes of Powered Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy in Adults
      Using the Lacrimal Symptom (Lac-Q) Questionnaire.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of outcomes of
      powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using the lacrimal symptom (Lac-Q)
      questionnaire. METHODS: Prospective interventional case series of 50 consecutive
      patients who underwent primary powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy were
      included in the study. All the patients had stent placement which were removed at
      4 weeks. The Lac-Q questionnaire was administered preoperatively and at 4 weeks
      and 16 weeks following the surgery. Outcomes assessed were anatomical success,
      functional success, and changes in the social impact and lacrimal symptoms
      scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Dunnette's procedure with
      bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Fifty-five powered endoscopic dacryocysto
      rhinostomies were performed on 50 patients. A total of 150 questionnaire
      responses were analyzed. At the 16 week follow up, the anatomical and functional
      success rates were 98% and 94%, respectively. The mean social impact scores
      showed significant improvement postoperatively from 3.88 to 0.3 (p <= 0.001). The
      changes in the total scores (12.5 preoperatively to 1.0 at 16 weeks follow up)
      were statistically significant (p <= 0.001). Postoperative scoring correlated
      well with the anatomical and functional success rates. The symptom scores
      reflected changes with change in the clinical condition. CONCLUSION: The Lac-Q
      questionnaire is a simple and useful tool to evaluate the quality of outcomes of
      powered endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

PMID- 26882061
TI  - Upper Eyelid and Pupillary Effects of Topical Dilute Epinephrine.
AB  - PURPOSE: Adrenergic medications may elevate the upper eyelid and dilate the
      pupil. The effects of topical phenylephrine on Muller's muscle have been well
      described. Dilute epinephrine (DE) is a sympathomimetic agent commonly
      administered in blepharoptosis surgery, and has been shown to elevate the upper
      eyelid margin when injected subcutaneously. The effects of DE applied topically
      to the eye, whether intentional or inadvertent during surgery have not been
      characterized. The purpose of this investigation was to quantify and compare the
      effects of topical DE and phenylephrine on upper eyelid position and pupil size.
      METHODS: Prospective, nonrandomized trial of 41 adults without (n = 25, 25 eyes)
      and with ptosis (n = 16, 16 eyes). Upper eyelid margin reflex distance (MRD1) and
      pupil diameter were primary measures and pupil reactivity to light was a
      secondary measure. MRD1 and pupil diameter were recorded at baseline and at 30
      second intervals for 5 minutes after administration of topical 1% lidocaine with
      epinephrine 1:100,000 (DE). After a washout period of >24 hours, the same
      measurements were recorded after administration of topical phenylephrine 2.5%.
      RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between mean
      baseline and postexposure MRD1 after application of topical DE (p = 0.181). In
      contrast, a mean increase in MRD1 of 0.51 +/- 0.09 mm (effect size 0.33) was
      observed after exposure to phenylephrine 2.5% (p < 0.001). Baseline-adjusted
      postexposure mean MRD1 was significantly greater for phenylephrine compared with
      DE (p < 0.001, analysis of covariance). Mean pupil diameter increased 0.29 +/-
      0.09 mm (effect size 0.48) in response to DE and 0.27 +/- 0.11 mm (effect size
      0.41) after application of phenylephrine (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively).
      All pupils maintained a constrictive response to light. CONCLUSIONS: Although DE
      is similar to topical phenylephrine in causing mydriasis, it did not have a
      similar effect on elevating the upper eyelid. These findings may have
      implications on intraoperative assessment during eyelid surgery. The pupillary
      changes due to DE offer one explanation for cases of transient pupil dilation
      during orbitofacial surgery.

PMID- 26882062
TI  - Comparative Study of Clinical, Pathological, Radiological, and Genetic Features
      of Patients With Adult Ocular Adnexal Xanthogranulomatous Disease, Erdheim
      Chester Disease, and IgG4-Related Disease of the Orbit/Ocular Adnexa.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare and contrast the clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and
      genetic features of patients with ocular adnexal IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD)
      and patients with adult ocular adnexal xanthogranulomatous disease (XG). METHODS:
      This retrospective review study identified patients with histological evidence of
      either disease from records of the pathology department of our hospital from 1996
      to 2014. Clinical, imaging, and a variety of histopathologic features were
      collected for 23 patients with IgG4-RD and 13 patients with XG. Next generation
      sequencing with a 50-gene cancer screening panel was performed on biopsy tissues
      from 10 patients in each group. RESULTS: Statistical differences between the 2
      groups include eyelid (67%; p = 0.0002) and anterior orbital (75%; p = 0.0352)
      predilection for XG except for Erdheim-Chester disease subgroup which was more
      posterior and diffuse. Eyelid involvement was rare (4%) for IgG4-RD. Involvement
      of orbital nerves was seen in 30% of IgG4-RD and 0% in XG (p = 0.0695). Five
      patients with IgG4-RD developed malignancy (4 lymphoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma), but
      none of XG patients. Discriminating pathological features were the presence of
      any IgG4+ plasma cells (p = 0.0121) and the ratio of IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cells (p
      =0.0294) for IgG4-RD. Five of 12 (42%) patients with XG had sufficient numbers of
      IgG4+ plasma cells/high power field to fulfill published diagnostic criteria for
      IgG4-RD, and 5 (42%) had a ratio of IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cells over 40%, but the
      numbers overall were less than seen in the IgG4-RD patients. The only genetic
      difference between the 2 groups was that BRAF V600E mutation was found in 1 of
      the 2 Erdheim-Chester disease patients, which form a subgroup of XG. CONCLUSIONS:
      IgG4-RD and XG share clinical, imaging, and histopathological features including
      IgG4+ plasma cells. Significant differences were the eyelid involvement in XG,
      orbital nerve involvement, and an elevated IgG4+/IgG+ ratio in IgG4-RD and the
      only genetic abnormality found was BRAF V600E mutation in the Erdheim-Chester
      disease subgroup of XG.

PMID- 26882063
TI  - Chemotherapy vs supportive care alone for relapsed gastric, gastroesophageal
      junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of patient-level data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Second-line chemotherapy treatment of patients with relapsed gastric
      and oesophageal cancers in comparison with supportive care (SC) alone has been
      supported by recent phase 3 clinical trials, but a meta-analysis of patient-level
      data is lacking. METHODS: We searched Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the Web of Science for phase 3 clinical trials
      that compared second-line chemotherapy with SC alone for gastric and oesophageal
      cancers. A meta-analysis of the comprehensive patient-level data from the three
      identified trials was performed. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients with gastric
      (n=301), gastroesophageal junction (n=76), or oesophageal (n=33) adenocarcinoma
      were identified. In all, 154 patients received single-agent docetaxel and 84
      patients received single-agent irinotecan, each with SC. SC alone was given to
      172 patients. Chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of death (hazard ratio
      (HR)=0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.51-0.77, P<0.0001). This effect was
      observed for treatment with docetaxel (HR=0.71, 95% CI=0.56-0.89, P=0.003) and
      irinotecan (HR=0.49, 95% CI=0.36-0.67, P<0.001). Overall survival (OS) benefit
      was greatest for patients who progressed 3-6 months following first-line
      chemotherapy (HR=0.39, 95% CI=0.26-0.59, P<0.0001). Performance status (PS) 0-1
      compared with PS 2 (HR=0.66, 95% CI=0.46-0.94, P=0.02), locally advanced disease
      compared with metastatic disease (HR=0.41, 95% CI=0.25-0.67, P=0.0004) and older
      age (HR=0.94 per 5 years, 95% CI=0.90-0.99, P=0.01) were significant predictors
      of improved OS. Progression of disease during first-line treatment (HR=1.24, 95%
      CI=0.96-1.59) or within the first 3 months of completion of first-line treatment
      (HR=1.42, 95% CI=1.09-1.83) were predictors of an increased risk of death
      compared with progression between 3 and 6 months (P=0.03). Health-related quality
      of life outcomes were reported in only one of the three trials, precluding meta
      analysis of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis of patient-level
      data confirms that second-line chemotherapy treatment results in significantly
      better OS compared with SC alone in patients with platinum and fluoropyrimidine
      refractory gastric and oesphageal adenocarcinoma. Health-related quality of life
      outcomes should be included in future trials in this setting.

PMID- 26882064
TI  - Relationship between paediatric CT scans and subsequent risk of leukaemia and
      brain tumours: assessment of the impact of underlying conditions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously reported evidence of a dose-response relationship
      between ionising-radiation exposure from paediatric computed tomography (CT)
      scans and the risk of leukaemia and brain tumours in a large UK cohort.
      Underlying unreported conditions could have introduced bias into these findings.
      METHODS: We collected and reviewed additional clinical information from radiology
      information systems (RIS) databases, underlying cause of death and pathology
      reports. We conducted sensitivity analyses excluding participants with cancer
      predisposing conditions or previous unreported cancers and compared the dose
      response analyses with our original results. RESULTS: We obtained information
      from the RIS and death certificates for about 40% of the cohort (n~180 000) and
      found cancer-predisposing conditions in 4 out of 74 leukaemia/myelodysplastic
      syndrome (MDS) cases and 13 out of 135 brain tumour cases. As these conditions
      were unrelated to CT exposure, exclusion of these participants did not alter the
      dose-response relationships. We found evidence of previous unreported cancers in
      2 leukaemia/MDS cases, 7 brain tumour cases and 232 in non-cases. These previous
      cancers were related to increased number of CTs. Exclusion of these cancers
      reduced the excess relative risk per mGy by 15% from 0.036 to 0.033 for
      leukaemia/MDS (P-trend=0.02) and by 30% from 0.023 to 0.016 (P-trend<0.0001) for
      brain tumours. When we included pathology reports we had additional clinical
      information for 90% of the cases. Additional exclusions from these reports
      further reduced the risk estimates, but this sensitivity analysis may have
      underestimated risks as reports were only available for cases. CONCLUSIONS:
      Although there was evidence of some bias in our original risk estimates, re
      analysis of the cohort with additional clinical data still showed an increased
      cancer risk after low-dose radiation exposure from CT scans in young patients.

PMID- 26882065
TI  - Cell line and patient-derived xenograft models reveal elevated CDCP1 as a target
      in high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Development of targeted therapies for high-grade serous ovarian
      cancer (HGSC) remains challenging, as contributing molecular pathways are poorly
      defined or expressed heterogeneously. CUB-domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is
      a cell-surface protein elevated in lung, colorectal, pancreas, renal and clear
      cell ovarian cancer. METHODS: CUB-domain containing protein 1 was examined by
      immunohistochemistry in HGSC and fallopian tube. The impact of targeting CDCP1 on
      cell growth and migration in vitro, and intraperitoneal xenograft growth in mice
      was examined. Three patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models were developed
      and characterised for CDCP1 expression. The effect of a monoclonal anti-CDCP1
      antibody on PDX growth was examined. Src activation was assessed by western blot
      analysis. RESULTS: Elevated CDCP1 was observed in 77% of HGSC cases. Silencing of
      CDCP1 reduced migration and non-adherent cell growth in vitro and tumour burden
      in vivo. Expression of CDCP1 in patient samples was maintained in PDX models.
      Antibody blockade of CDCP1 significantly reduced growth of an HGSC PDX. The CDCP1
      mediated activation of Src was observed in cultured cells and mouse xenografts.
      CONCLUSIONS: CUB-domain containing protein 1 is over-expressed by the majority of
      HGSCs. In vitro and mouse model data indicate that CDCP1 has a role in HGSC and
      that it can be targeted to inhibit progression of this cancer.

PMID- 26882066
TI  - Survivin and XIAP: two valuable biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for ~5% of all thyroid
      malignancies. To date, surgery is the first-line therapy with curative intention.
      However, for advanced MTC, conventional chemotherapeutic agents do not provide
      convincing results. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers that can be
      antagonised by small-molecule therapeutics may lead to novel encouraging
      treatment options. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with surgically resected and
      histologically confirmed MTC were included in this study. Tissue microarrays were
      constructed to assess the relationship between inhibitor of apoptosis proteins
      (IAPs) survivin or XIAP expression levels and clinicopathological variables as
      well as overall survival. RESULTS: High survivin or XIAP expression was
      associated with an advanced T-stage and metastatic disease. Whereas tissue
      expression levels of survivin correlated with serum calcitonin levels, XIAP was
      overexpressed in the subgroup of patients with sporadic MTC. Both IAPs were
      negatively associated with patient survival in the multivariate Cox regressions
      analysis (survivin: hazard ratio (HR) 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21
      2.16; P=0.001; XIAP: HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.16-2.72; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Survivin
      and XIAP demonstrate distinct expression patterns in MTCs, which are associated
      with advanced disease and poor prognosis. We thus provide first evidence that
      both IAPs might serve as viable targets in patients with MTC.

PMID- 26882068
TI  - Phosphorylation of eIF4E serine 209 is associated with tumour progression and
      reduced survival in malignant melanoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Melanoma is a disease that primarily arises in the skin but is a
      derivative of the neural crest. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E
      (eIF4E) regulates translation of multiple malignancy-associated mRNAs and is
      overexpressed in many epithelial tumours. However, expression in human tumours
      derived from the neural crest is unknown. Here, we determined the association of
      eIF4E and phospho-eIF4E expression in melanocytic lesions with malignant
      conversion, metastatic potential and patient survival. METHODS: Archived formalin
      fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical specimens from 114 patients with melanocytic
      lesions were stained immunohistochemically for eIF4E and phospho-eIF4E and
      evaluated semiquantitatively. The relationship between cytoplasmic and nuclear
      eIF4E and phospho-eIF4E protein expression, melanocytic lesion subtype and tumour
      progression was determined. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional
      hazard regression were performed. RESULTS: Increased eIF4E and phospho-eIF4E
      expression was highly associated with malignancy (P<0.0001). High nuclear phospho
      eIF4E was associated with synchronous or future metastasis (P=0.0059). Kaplan
      Meier analyses demonstrated highly significant associations between high
      histoscores for cytoplasmic and nuclear phospho-eIF4E and reduced survival in all
      patients (P=0.0003 and 0.0009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased melanoma
      expression of eIF4E and phospho-eIF4E is associated with metastatic potential,
      reduced survival and increased risk of death.

PMID- 26882067
TI  - Non-thermal atmospheric plasma induces ROS-independent cell death in U373MG
      glioma cells and augments the cytotoxicity of temozolomide.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) is an ionised gas produced
      under high voltage that can generate short-lived chemically active species and
      induce a cytotoxic insult in cancer cells. Cell-specific resistance to NTAP
      mediated cytotoxicity has been reported in the literature. The aim of this study
      was to determine whether resistance against NTAP could be overcome using the
      human glioma cell line U373MG. METHODS: Non-thermal atmospheric plasma was
      generated using a Dielectric Barrier Device (DBD) system with a maximum voltage
      output of 120 kV at 50 Hz. The viability of U373MG GBM cells and HeLa cervical
      carcinoma cells was determined using morphology, flow cytometry and cytotoxicity
      assays. Fluorescent probes and inhibitors were used to determine the mechanisms
      of cytotoxicity of cells exposed to the plasma field. Combinational therapy with
      temozolomide (TMZ) and multi-dose treatments were explored as mechanisms to
      overcome resistance to NTAP. RESULTS: Non-thermal atmospheric plasma decreased
      cell viability in a dose (time)-dependent manner. U373MG cells were shown to be
      resistant to NTAP treatment when compared with HeLa cells, and the levels of
      intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantified in U373MG cells were much
      lower than in HeLa cells following exposure to the plasma field. Reactive oxygen
      species inhibitor N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) only alleviated the cytotoxic effects
      in HeLa cells and not in the relatively NTAP-resistant cell line U373MG. Longer
      exposures to NTAP induced a cell death independent of ROS, JNK and caspases in
      U373MG. The relative resistance of U373MG cells to NTAP could be overcome when
      used in combination with low concentrations of the GBM chemotherapy TMZ or
      exposure to multiple doses. CONCLUSIONS: For the very first time, we report that
      NTAP induces an ROS-, JNK- and caspase-independent mechanism of cell death in the
      U373MG GBM cell line that can be greatly enhanced when used in combination with
      low doses of TMZ. Further refinement of the technology may facilitate localised
      activation of cytotoxicity against GBM when used in combination with new and
      existing chemotherapeutic regimens.

PMID- 26882069
TI  - High level of interleukin-10 in serum predicts poor prognosis in multiple
      myeloma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a inhibiting inflammatory cytokine that
      plays an important role in immune suppressive microenvironment in multiple
      myeloma (MM). Whether the level of serum IL-10 could predict treatment response
      and survival outcomes or not needs to be investigated in MM patients. METHODS:
      The level of IL-10 in serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      in 188 patients with newly diagnosed MM. RESULTS: The best cutoff value for IL-10
      in predicting survival is 169.69 pg ml(-1) with an area under the curve (AUC)
      value of 0.747 (P<0.001). In all, 92 patients (48.9%) were classified as high-IL
      10 group (>169.96 pg ml(-1)) and 96 patients (51.1%) as low-IL-10 group (?169.96
      pg ml(-1)). The overall response rate (ORR) was 79.2% in low-IL-10 group,
      significantly higher than that in high-IL-10 group (53.3%, P<0.001). Patients in
      low-IL-10 group had significantly better survival compared with those in high-IL
      10 group (3-year PFS rate: 69.3% vs 13.3%, P<0.001; 3-year OS rate: 93.6% vs
      51.9%, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that serum IL-10 level >169.96 pg
      ml(-1) at diagnosis and certain cytogenetic abnormalities were two adverse
      factors for PFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that serum IL-10 at
      diagnosis is a novel, powerful predictor of prognosis for MM.

PMID- 26882070
TI  - Lipoarabinomannan-Responsive Polycytotoxic T Cells Are Associated with Protection
      in Human Tuberculosis.
AB  - RATIONALE: The development of host-targeted, prophylactic, and therapeutic
      interventions against tuberculosis requires a better understanding of the immune
      mechanisms that determine the outcome of infection with Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis. OBJECTIVES: To identify T-cell-dependent mechanisms that are
      protective in tuberculosis. METHODS: Multicolor flow cytometry, cell sorting and
      growth inhibition assays were employed to compare the frequency, phenotype and
      function of T lymphocytes from bronchoalveolar lavage or the peripheral blood.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At two independent study sites, bronchoalveolar
      lavage cells from donors with latent tuberculosis infection limited the growth of
      virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis more efficiently than those in patients who
      developed disease. Unconventional, glycolipid-responsive T cells contributed to
      reduced mycobacterial growth because antibodies to CD1b inhibited this effect by
      55%. Lipoarabinomannan was the most potent mycobacterial lipid antigen
      (activation of 1.3% T lymphocytes) and activated CD1b-restricted T cells that
      limited bacterial growth. A subset of IFN-gamma-producing lipoarabinomannan
      responsive T cells coexpressed the cytotoxic molecules perforin, granulysin, and
      granzyme B, which we termed polycytotoxic T cells. Taking advantage of two well
      defined cohorts of subjects latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or
      patients who developed active disease after infection, we found a correlation
      between the frequency of polycytotoxic T cells and the ability to control
      infection (latent tuberculosis infection, 62%; posttuberculosis patients, 26%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our data define an unconventional CD8(+) T-cell subset
      (polycytotoxic T cells) that is based on antigen recognition and function. The
      results link clinical and mechanistic evidence that glycolipid-responsive,
      polycytotoxic T cells contribute to protection against tuberculosis.

PMID- 26882071
TI  - The Inhibitory Effect of Natural Products on Protein Fibrillation May Be Caused
      by Degradation Products--A Study Using Aloin and Insulin.
AB  - Protein fibrillation is the pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative
      diseases and also complicates the manufacturing and use of protein drugs. As a
      case study, the inhibitory activity of the natural compound aloin against insulin
      fibrillation was investigated. Based on Thioflavin T assays, high-performance
      liquid chromatography and transmission electron microscopy it was found that a
      degradation product of aloin, formed over weeks of storage, was able to
      significantly inhibit insulin fibrillation. The activity of the stored aloin was
      significantly reduced in the presence of small amounts of sodium azide or
      ascorbic acid, suggesting the active compound to be an oxidation product. A high
      performance liquid chromatography method and a liquid chromatography-mass
      spectrometry method were developed to investigate the degradation products in the
      aged aloin solution. We found that the major compounds in the solution were aloin
      A and aloin B. In addition, 10-hydroxy aloin and elgonica dimers were detected in
      smaller amounts. The identified compounds were isolated and tested for activity
      by means of Thioflavin T assays, but no activity was observed. Thus, the actual
      fibrillation inhibitor is an as yet unidentified and potentially metastable
      degradation product of aloin. These results suggest that degradation products,
      and in particular oxidation products, are to be considered thoroughly when
      natural products are investigated for activity against protein fibrillation. 

PMID- 26882073
TI  - Registered report: RAF inhibitors prime wild-type RAF to activate the MAPK
      pathway and enhance growth.
AB  - The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns
      about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of
      selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer
      biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on
      the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This
      Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from
      'RAF inhibitors prime wild-type RAF to activate the MAPK pathway and enhance
      growth' by Hatzivassiliou and colleagues, published in Nature in 2010
      (Hatzivassiliou et al., 2010). Hatzivassiliou and colleagues examined the
      paradoxical response of RAF-WT tumors to treatment with RAF inhibitors. The key
      experiments being replicated include Figure 1A, in which the original authors
      demonstrated that treatment of a subset of BRAF(WT) tumor cell lines with RAF
      small molecule inhibitors resulted in an increase in cell viability, Figure 2B,
      which reported that RAF inhibitor activation of the MAPK pathway was dependent on
      CRAF but not BRAF, and Figure 4A, where the dimerization of BRAF and CRAF was
      modulated by the RAF inhibitor PLX4720, but not GDC-0879. The Reproducibility
      Project: Cancer Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science
      and Science Exchange, and the results of the replications will be published by
      eLife. 

PMID- 26882074
TI  - Review of Research Trends and Methods in Nano Environmental, Health, and Safety
      Risk Analysis.
AB  - Despite the many touted benefits of nanomaterials, concerns remain about their
      possible environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks in terms of their
      toxicity, long-term accumulation effects, or dose-response relationships. The
      published studies on EHS risks of nanomaterials have increased significantly over
      the past decade and half, with most focused on nanotoxicology. Researchers are
      still learning about health consequences of nanomaterials and how to make
      environmentally responsible decisions regarding their production. This article
      characterizes the scientific literature on nano-EHS risk analysis to map the
      state-of-the-art developments in this field and chart guidance for the future
      directions. First, an analysis of keyword co-occurrence networks is investigated
      for nano-EHS literature published in the past decade to identify the intellectual
      turning points and research trends in nanorisk analysis studies. The exposure
      groups targeted in emerging nano-EHS studies are also assessed. System
      engineering methods for risk, safety, uncertainty, and system reliability
      analysis are reviewed, followed by detailed descriptions where applications of
      these methods are utilized to analyze nanomaterial EHS risks. Finally, the
      trends, methods, future directions, and opportunities of system engineering
      methods in nano-EHS research are discussed. The analysis of nano-EHS literature
      presented in this article provides important insights on risk assessment and risk
      management tools associated with nanotechnology, nanomanufacturing, and nano
      enabled products.

PMID- 26882075
TI  - Heavy metals in sediment and their accumulation in commonly consumed fish species
      in Bangladesh.
AB  - Six heavy metals (chromium [Cr], nickel [Ni], copper [Cu], arsenic [As], cadmium
      [Cd], and lead [Pb]) were measured in sediments and soft tissues of eleven
      commonly consumed fish species collected from an urban river in the northern part
      of Bangladesh. The abundance of heavy metals in sediments varied in the
      decreasing order of Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Cd. The ranges of mean metal
      concentrations in fish species, in mg/kg wet weight (ww), were as follows: Cr,
      0.11-0.46; Ni, 0.77-2.6; Cu, 0.57-2.1; As, 0.43-1.7; Cd, 0.020-0.23; and Pb, 0.15
      1.1. Target hazard quotients (THQs) and target carcinogenic risk (TR) showed the
      intake of As and Pb through fish consumption were higher than the recommended
      values, indicating the consumption of these fish species is associated with
      noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks.

PMID- 26882076
TI  - Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors With Risk of Dementia: A
      Pharmacoepidemiological Claims Data Analysis.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Medications that influence the risk of dementia in the elderly can be
      relevant for dementia prevention. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used
      for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases but have also been shown to be
      potentially involved in cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association
      between the use of PPIs and the risk of incident dementia in the elderly. DESIGN,
      SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a prospective cohort study using
      observational data from 2004 to 2011, derived from the largest German statutory
      health insurer, Allgemeine Ortskrankenkassen (AOK). Data on inpatient and
      outpatient diagnoses (coded by the German modification of the International
      Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth
      Revision) and drug prescriptions (categorized according to the Anatomical
      Therapeutic Chemical Classification System) were available on a quarterly basis.
      Data analysis was performed from August to November 2015. EXPOSURES: Prescription
      of omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole, or rabeprazole. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was a diagnosis of incident dementia
      coded by the German modification of the International Statistical Classification
      of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. The association between
      PPI use and dementia was analyzed using time-dependent Cox regression. The model
      was adjusted for potential confounding factors, including age, sex,
      comorbidities, and polypharmacy. RESULTS: A total of 73,679 participants 75 years
      of age or older and free of dementia at baseline were analyzed. The patients
      receiving regular PPI medication (n = 2950; mean [SD] age, 83.8 [5.4] years;
      77.9% female) had a significantly increased risk of incident dementia compared
      with the patients not receiving PPI medication (n = 70,729; mean [SD] age, 83.0
      [5.6] years; 73.6% female) (hazard ratio, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.36-1.52]; P < .001).
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The avoidance of PPI medication may prevent the
      development of dementia. This finding is supported by recent
      pharmacoepidemiological analyses on primary data and is in line with mouse models
      in which the use of PPIs increased the levels of beta-amyloid in the brains of
      mice. Randomized, prospective clinical trials are needed to examine this
      connection in more detail.

PMID- 26882077
TI  - The association between coffee consumption and bladder cancer incidence in a
      pooled analysis of the Miyagi Cohort Study and Ohsaki Cohort Study.
AB  - Recent epidemiological studies of the association between coffee consumption and
      the risk of bladder cancer have yielded conflicting results. The aim of the
      present study was to examine the association between coffee consumption and the
      incidence of bladder cancer on the basis of pooled data from two cohort studies
      carried out in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. We delivered self
      administered questionnaires inquiring about the frequency of coffee consumption
      and other lifestyle factors in 1990 for the Miyagi Cohort Study and in 1994 for
      the Ohsaki Cohort Study. We followed 73 346 individuals from both cohorts and
      identified 274 cases of bladder cancer during 17.6 years for the Miyagi Cohort
      Study and 13.3 years for the Ohsaki Cohort Study. The multivariate-adjusted
      hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of bladder cancer incidence for the
      individuals who drank coffee occasionally, 1-2 cups/day, and 3 or more cups/day
      compared with never drinkers were 1.22 (0.90-1.66), 0.88 (0.61-1.26), and 0.56
      (0.32-0.99), respectively (Ptrend=0.04). The inverse association remained even
      after stratification for smoking status. These data indicate that there is a
      significant inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of
      bladder cancer.

PMID- 26882079
TI  - It is the examinee's IQ.
AB  - In response to the question "Whose IQ is it?" raised by McDermott, Watkins, and
      Rhoad (2014), this study examined the same concern about assessor bias by
      applying hierarchical linear modeling to a large and representative
      standardization sample of 2,200 child records in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale
      for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). When differences in child age, gender,
      ethnicity, parental education level, and some intellectual abilities were
      cojointly used as covariates to adjust for nonrandom assignment problems, the
      results revealed that the Level 2 assessor variance was trivial for Full Scale IQ
      and all WISC-IV scores, ranging from 1%-5%, with the only exception being the
      Comprehension subtest, which showed a moderate level of between-assessor variance
      (10%). Evidence shows that WISC-IV scores are valid measures of children's
      intellectual abilities, with no evidence showing harmful assessor bias. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26882078
TI  - Factors Determining the Clinical Utility of Serial Measurements of Antineutrophil
      Cytoplasmic Antibodies Targeting Proteinase 3.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Relapse following remission is common in antineutrophil cytoplasmic
      antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), particularly with ANCAs directed at
      proteinase 3 (PR3). This study was undertaken to evaluate the association of an
      increase in PR3-ANCA level with subsequent relapse. METHODS: Data from the
      Rituximab versus Cyclophosphamide for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (RAVE) trial
      were used. Starting from the time of achieving complete remission, serial
      measurements by direct and capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)
      were analyzed in 93 patients with PR3-ANCA, using Cox proportional hazards
      regression. RESULTS: An increase in PR3-ANCA level was identified in 58 of 93
      subjects (62.4%) by direct ELISA and in 59 of 93 (63.4%) by capture ELISA.
      Relapses occurred in 55 of 93 subjects (59.1%), with 25 and 21 occurring within 1
      year after an increase by direct ELISA and capture ELISA, respectively. An
      increase by direct ELISA was associated with subsequent severe relapses (hazard
      ratio [HR] 4.57; P < 0.001), particularly in patients presenting with renal
      involvement (HR 7.94; P < 0.001) and alveolar hemorrhage (HR 24.19; P < 0.001).
      Both assays identified increased risk for severe relapse in the rituximab group
      (HR 5.80; P = 0.002 for direct ELISA and HR 4.54; P = 0.007 for capture ELISA)
      but not the cyclophosphamide/azathioprine group (P = 0.103 and P = 0.197,
      respectively). CONCLUSION: The association of an increase in PR3-ANCA level with
      the risk of subsequent relapse is partially affected by the PR3-ANCA detection
      methodology, disease phenotype, and remission induction treatment. An increase in
      PR3-ANCA level during complete remission conveys an increased risk of relapse,
      particularly severe relapse, among patients with renal involvement or alveolar
      hemorrhage and those treated with rituximab. Serial measurements of PR3-ANCA may
      be informative in this subset of patients, but the risk of relapse must be
      weighed carefully against the risks associated with therapy.

PMID- 26882080
TI  - A comparison of psychometric and convergent validity for social anhedonia and
      social closeness.
AB  - Social anhedonia is an important construct that describes individual differences
      in preferences for interacting in and experiencing pleasure from social
      interactions and has been a central construct in the schizotypy literature. The
      description of social anhedonia is very similar to that of social closeness from
      the personality literature. However, no published studies have directly compared
      associations between social anhedonia and social closeness with an array of other
      measures of anhedonia, personality, and depression. The present study examined
      the internal psychometrics of primary measures of social anhedonia and social
      closeness; the bivariate association between social anhedonia and social
      closeness; and the associations between these target constructs and measures of
      individual differences in a large sample of undergraduate students (mean age =
      20.53 years; 76.3% were women). We found that (a) social anhedonia and social
      closeness were strongly correlated; (b) the unidimensional measurement model for
      social closeness was stronger than that for social anhedonia; (c) the pattern of
      associations for social closeness and social anhedonia with measures of physical
      anhedonia, personality, and depressive symptoms were substantively identical; and
      (d) a collection of items from both measures assessed information across a wider
      range of social anhedonia than either instrument alone. Thus, given the similar
      patterns of validity against multiple criteria social anhedonia and social
      closeness appear to be representing very similar constructs. The Social Closeness
      scale provides complementary information to the social anhedonia dimension. Our
      results provide recommendations for instrument selection when normative or
      elevated levels of social anhedonia are intended to be assessed. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26882081
TI  - Application of Dual Inhibition Concept within Looped Autoregulatory Systems
      toward Antivirulence Agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing (QS) is a sophisticated network of genome
      wide regulation triggered in response to population density. A major component is
      the self-inducing pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) QS system that regulates the
      production of several nonvital virulence- and biofilm-related determinants.
      Hence, QS circuitry is an attractive target for antivirulence agents with lowered
      resistance development potential and a good model to study the concept of
      polypharmacology in autoloop-regulated systems per se. Based on the finding that
      a combination of PqsR antagonist and PqsD inhibitor synergistically lowers
      pyocyanin, we have developed a dual-inhibitor compound of low molecular weight
      and high solubility that targets PQS transcriptional regulator (PqsR) and PqsD, a
      key enzyme in the biosynthesis of PQS-QS signal molecules (HHQ and PQS). In
      vitro, this compound markedly reduced virulence factor production and biofilm
      formation accompanied by a diminished content of extracellular DNA (eDNA).
      Additionally, coadministration with ciprofloxacin increased susceptibility of
      PA14 to antibiotic treatment under biofilm conditions. Finally, disruption of
      pathogenicity mechanisms was also assessed in vivo, with significantly increased
      survival of challenged larvae in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Favorable
      physicochemical properties and effects on virulence/biofilm establish a promising
      starting point for further optimization. In particular, the ability to address
      two targets of the PQS autoinduction cycle at the same time with a single
      compound holds great promise in achieving enhanced synergistic cellular effects
      while potentially lowering rates of resistance development.

PMID- 26882084
TI  - Study of the magnetite to maghemite transition using microwave permittivity and
      permeability measurements.
AB  - The microwave cavity perturbation (MCP) technique is used to identify the
      transition from magnetite (Fe3O4) to the meta-stable form of maghemite (gamma
      Fe2O3). In this study Fe3O4 was annealed at temperatures from 60 to 300  degrees
      C to vary the oxidation. Subsequent to annealing, the complex permittivity and
      magnetic permeability of the iron oxide powders were measured. The transition to
      gamma-Fe2O3 was corroborated with x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy (XPS) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD, XPS and VSM
      implied that the starting powder was consistent with Fe3O4 and the powders
      annealed at more than 200  degrees C were transitioning to gamma-Fe2O3. The MCP
      measurements gave large differences in both complex permittivity and magnetic
      permeability of the two phases in the frequency range of 2.5-10.2 GHz. Magnetic
      permeability decreased with annealing temperature, though magnetic losses showed
      frequency dependent behaviour. Complex permittivity measurements showed a large
      decrease in both dielectric constant and losses at all measurement frequencies,
      as well as a prominent loss peak centred around the phase transition
      temperatures. We interpret the loss peak as being a consequence of field effects
      due to an intermediate multi-phase mixture. Additionally, almost no frequency
      dependence was observed. The reduction in complex permittivity implies that the
      Feoct(2+) cations in the lattice provide a significant contribution to
      polarization at microwave frequencies and the effects of Feoct(3+) are nominal in
      comparison.. The change in loss can be explained as a combination of the
      differences in the effective conductivity of the two phases (i.e. Fe3O4 exhibits
      electron-hopping conduction whereas the presence of vacancies in gamma-Fe2O3
      nullifies this). This shows that the non-invasive MCP measurements serve as a
      highly sensitive and versatile method for looking at this phase transition in
      iron and potentially the effects of oxidation states on the polarization in other
      iron oxides.

PMID- 26882083
TI  - Associations between Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Corticotropin-Releasing
      Hormone-Related Genes and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
AB  - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional disorder with distinct
      features of stress-related pathophysiology. A key mediator of the stress response
      is corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Although some candidate genes have been
      identified in stress-related disorders, few studies have examined CRH-related
      gene polymorphisms. Therefore, we tested our hypothesis that single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) in CRH-related genes influence the features of IBS. METHODS:
      In total, 253 individuals (123 men and 130 women) participated in this study.
      They comprised 111 IBS individuals and 142 healthy controls. The SNP genotypes in
      CRH (rs28364015 and rs6472258) and CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) (rs10474485) were
      determined by direct sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The
      emotional states of the subjects were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety
      Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and the Self-rating Depression Scale. RESULTS:
      Direct sequencing of the rs28364015 SNP of CRH revealed no genetic variation
      among the study subjects. There was no difference in the genotype distributions
      and allele frequencies of rs6472258 and rs10474485 between IBS individuals and
      controls. However, IBS subjects with diarrhea symptoms without the rs10474485 A
      allele showed a significantly higher emotional state score than carriers.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the CRH and CRH-BP genes have no direct
      effect on IBS status. However, the CRH-BP SNP rs10474485 has some effect on IBS
      related emotional abnormalities and resistance to psychosocial stress.

PMID- 26882082
TI  - Translation and Clinical Development of Antithrombotic Aptamers.
AB  - Thrombosis is a necessary physiological process to protect the body from
      uncontrolled bleeding. Pathological thrombus formation can lead to devastating
      clinical events including heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary
      embolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Numerous drugs have been
      developed to inhibit thrombosis. These have been targeted to coagulation factors
      along with proteins and receptors that activate platelets. While these drugs are
      effective at preventing blood clotting, their major side effect is inadvertent
      hemorrhage that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. There exists a
      need for anticoagulants that are not only effective at preventing thrombosis but
      can also be readily reversed. Aptamers offer a potential solution, representing a
      new class of drug agents that can be isolated to any protein and where antidote
      oligonucleotides can be designed based on the sequence of the aptamer. We present
      a summary of the anticoagulant and antithrombotic aptamers that have been
      identified and their stage of development and comment on the future of aptamer
      based drug development to treat thrombosis.

PMID- 26882086
TI  - Protein Fibrils Induce Emulsion Stabilization.
AB  - The behavior of an oil-in-water emulsion was studied in the presence of protein
      fibrils for a wide range of fibril concentrations by using rheology, diffusing
      wave spectroscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results showed that
      above a minimum fibril concentration depletion flocculation occurred, leading to
      oil droplet aggregation and enhanced creaming of the emulsion. Upon further
      increasing the concentration of the protein fibrils, the emulsions were
      stabilized. In this stable regime both aggregates of droplets and single droplets
      are present, and these aggregates are smaller than the aggregates in the
      flocculated emulsion samples at the lower fibril concentrations. The size of the
      droplet aggregates in the stabilized emulsions is independent of fibril
      concentration. In addition, the droplet aggregation was reversible upon dilution
      both by a pH 2 HCl solution and by a fibril solution at the same concentration.
      The viscosity of the emulsions containing fibrils was comparable to that of the
      pure fibril solution. Neither fibril networks nor droplet gel networks were
      observed in our study. The stabilization mechanism of emulsions containing long
      protein fibrils at high protein fibril concentrations points toward the mechanism
      of a kinetic stabilization. 

PMID- 26882087
TI  - Prognostic value of sarcopenia in adults with solid tumours: A meta-analysis and
      systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Body composition plays an important role in predicting treatment
      outcomes in adults with cancer. Using existing computed tomographic (CT) cross
      sectional imaging and readily available software, the assessment of skeletal
      muscle mass to evaluate sarcopenia has become simplified. We performed a
      systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the prognostic value of skeletal
      muscle index (SMI) obtained from cross-sectional CT imaging on clinical outcomes
      in non-haematologic solid tumours. METHODS: We searched PubMed and the American
      Society Clinical Oncology online database of meeting abstracts up to October 2015
      for relevant studies. We included studies assessing the prognostic impact of pre
      treatment SMI on clinical outcomes in patients with non-haematologic solid
      tumours. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and the secondary outcomes
      included cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and
      progression-free survival (PFS). The summary hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence
      interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 7843 patients from 38 studies
      were included. SMI lower than the cut-off was associated with poor OS (HR = 1.44,
      95% CI = 1.32-1.56, p < 0.001). The effect of SMI on OS was observed among
      various tumour types and across disease stages. Worse CSS was also associated
      with low SMI (HR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.38-2.70, p < 0.001) as well as DFS (HR =
      1.16, 95% CI = 1.00-1.30, p = 0.014), but not PFS (HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.90-2.64,
      p = 0.117). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrates that low SMI at cancer
      diagnosis is associated with worse survival in patients with solid tumours.
      Further research into understanding and mitigating the negative effects of
      sarcopenia in adults with cancer is needed.

PMID- 26882088
TI  - Catalytic Selenium-Promoted Intermolecular Friedel-Crafts Alkylation with Simple
      Alkenes.
AB  - A method for conducting selenium-promoted intermolecular Friedel-Crafts (F-C)
      alkylation reactions has been developed with simple alkenes using trimethylsilyl
      trifluoromethanesulfonate as a catalyst and N-phenylselenophthalimide as an
      efficient selenium source. Electron-rich arenes smoothly underwent F-C alkylation
      with a variety of alkenes to afford alkylated products in good yield and with
      high regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. The regioselectivity and
      stereoselectivity of arenes and alkenes as well as a preliminary mechanism of the
      F-C alkylation reaction are discussed. 

PMID- 26882090
TI  - The Effect of BAFF Inhibition on Autoreactive B-Cell Selection in Murine Systemic
      Lupus Erythematosus.
AB  - The goal of this study was to determine how B-cell-activating factor of the TNF
      family (BAFF) availability influences selection of the autoreactive B-cell
      repertoire in NZB/W and NZW/BXSB lupus-prone mice bearing the site-directed heavy
      chain transgene 3H9 that encodes for anti-dsDNA and anti-cardiolipin (CL)
      autoantibodies. We used a bone marrow chimera system in which autoreactive 3H9
      transgenic B cells were allowed to mature in competition with wild-type cells and
      could be identified by green fluorescent protein. The light-chain repertoire
      associated with the 3H9 heavy chain in naive and antigen-activated B-cell subsets
      was assessed using single-cell polymerase chain reaction. We found that deletion
      of autoreactive transgenic B cells occurred in the bone marrow of both strains
      regardless of BAFF availability, and there were only modest and physiologically
      non-relevant effects on the naive B-cell repertoire. BAFF inhibition had
      different effects on selection of the germinal center repertoire in the two
      strains. In the NZW/BXSB strain, BAFF inhibition phenocopied the loss of one TLR7
      allele in that it influenced the selection of 3H9-encoded autoreactive B cells in
      the germinal center but did not prevent somatic mutation. In the NZB/W strain,
      BAFF inhibition did not alter the selection of 3H9-encoded B cells in the
      germinal center, but it influenced selection of a subset of germinal center cells
      into the plasma cell compartment. Our data underscore the complexity of
      regulation of the autoreactive B-cell repertoire by BAFF and may help to explain
      the heterogeneity of responses observed after BAFF inhibition in humans.

PMID- 26882091
TI  - Enhanced Graphene Mechanical Properties through Ultrasmooth Copper Growth
      Substrates.
AB  - The combination of extraordinary strength and stiffness in conjunction with
      exceptional electronic and thermal properties in lightweight two-dimensional
      materials has propelled graphene research toward a wide array of applications
      including flexible electronics and functional structural components. Tailoring
      graphene's properties toward a selected application requires precise control of
      the atomic layer growth process, transfer, and postprocessing procedures. To
      date, the mechanical properties of graphene are largely controlled through
      postprocess defect engineering techniques. In this work, we demonstrate the role
      of varied catalytic surface morphologies on the tailorability of subsequent
      graphene film quality and breaking strength, providing a mechanism to tailor the
      physical, electrical, and mechanical properties at the growth stage. A new
      surface planarization methodology that results in over a 99% reduction in Cu
      surface roughness allows for smoothness parameters beyond that reported to date
      in literature and clearly demonstrates the role of Cu smoothness toward a
      decrease in the formation of bilayer graphene defects, altered domain sizes,
      monolayer graphene sheet resistance values down to 120 Omega/? and a 78%
      improvement in breaking strength. The combined electrical and mechanical
      enhancements achieved through this methodology allows for the direct growth of
      application quality flexible transparent conductive films with monolayer
      graphene. 

PMID- 26882089
TI  - Multiple I-Type Lysozymes in the Hydrothermal Vent Mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus
      and Their Role in Symbiotic Plasticity.
AB  - The aim of this study was first to identify lysozymes paralogs in the deep sea
      mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus then to measure their relative expression or
      activity in different tissue or conditions. B. azoricus is a bivalve that lives
      close to hydrothermal chimney in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). They harbour in
      specialized gill cells two types of endosymbiont (gram-bacteria): sulphide
      oxidizing bacteria (SOX) and methanotrophic bacteria (MOX). This association is
      thought to be ruled by specific mechanism or actors of regulation to deal with
      the presence of symbiont but these mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here,
      we focused on the implication of lysozyme, a bactericidal enzyme, in this
      endosymbiosis. The relative expression of Ba-lysozymes paralogs and the global
      anti-microbial activity, were measured in natural population (Lucky Strike--1700
      m, Mid-Atlantic Ridge), and in in situ experimental conditions. B. azoricus
      individuals were moved away from the hydrothermal fluid to induce a loss of
      symbiont. Then after 6 days some mussels were brought back to the mussel bed to
      induce a re-acquisition of symbiotic bacteria. Results show the presence of 6
      paralogs in B. azoricus. In absence of symbionts, 3 paralogs are up-regulated
      while others are not differentially expressed. Moreover the global activity of
      lysozyme is increasing with the loss of symbiont. All together these results
      suggest that lysozyme may play a crucial role in symbiont regulation.

PMID- 26882092
TI  - Lactic acidosis: relationship between metformin levels, lactate concentration and
      mortality.
AB  - AIM: The role of metformin in lactic acidosis is regularly questioned. Arguments
      against a causal role for metformin in lactic acidosis occurrence are the lack of
      correlation between plasma metformin and lactate levels, as well as between
      metformin plasma levels and mortality. We aim to analyse these correlations in a
      large series of lactic acidosis cases recorded in the French nationwide
      pharmacovigilance database. METHODS: All cases of lactic acidosis spontaneously
      reported between 1985 and October 2013 associated with metformin exposure were
      extracted from the pharmacovigilance database. We assessed the statistical
      correlations between prescribed daily doses of metformin, plasma concentrations
      of metformin and lactate, pH and plasma creatinine, as well as the relationship
      between mortality and these variables. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-seven
      cases of lactic acidosis were reported during the period. Metformin plasma
      concentration was documented for 260 patients, lactate plasma concentration for
      556 patients, pH for 502 patients, creatinine for 397 patients and the vital
      outcome for 713 patients. Metformin plasma concentration, lactate concentration,
      pH and plasma creatinine were all correlated (P < 0.001). There were significant
      differences between surviving and deceased patients in terms of metformin plasma
      levels (25.2 vs. 37.4 mg/l, P = 0.002) and lactate concentrations (10.8 vs. 16.3
      mmol/l, P < 0.001). Thirty per cent of patients died when metformin concentration
      was > 5 mg/l compared with 11% for patients with concentration < 5 mg/l (P =
      0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that metformin accumulation contributes to
      the pathogenesis and prognosis of lactic acidosis.

PMID- 26882093
TI  - The Use of Sound Level Meter Apps in the Clinical Setting.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare sound level meter (SLM)
      readings obtained using a Larson-Davis (Depew, NY) Model 831 Type 1 SLM, a
      RadioShack (Fort Worth, TX) SLM, and iPhone 5 (Apple, Cupertino, CA) SLM apps.
      METHOD: In Procedure 1, pure tones were measured in an anechoic chamber (125,
      250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz); sound pressure levels (SPLs) ranged
      from 60 to 100 dB SPL in 10-dB increments. In Procedure 2, human voices were
      measured. Participants were 20 vocally healthy adults (7 women, 13 men; mean age
      = 25.1 years). The task was to sustain a vowel "ah" at 3 intensity levels: soft,
      habitual, and loud. Microphones were lined up equal distances from the
      participant's mouth, and recordings were captured simultaneously. RESULTS:
      Overall, the 3 SLM apps and the RadioShack SLM yielded inconsistent readings
      compared with the Type 1 SLM. CONCLUSION: The use of apps for SPL readings in the
      clinical setting is premature because all 3 apps adopted were incomparable with
      the Type 1 SLM.

PMID- 26882095
TI  - Commensurability Effects in Viscosity of Nanoconfined Water.
AB  - The rate of water flow through hydrophobic nanocapillaries is greatly enhanced as
      compared to that expected from macroscopic hydrodynamics. This phenomenon is
      usually described in terms of a relatively large slip length, which is in turn
      defined by such microscopic properties as the friction between water and
      capillary surfaces and the viscosity of water. We show that the viscosity of
      water and, therefore, its flow rate are profoundly affected by the layered
      structure of confined water if the capillary size becomes less than 2 nm. To this
      end, we study the structure and dynamics of water confined between two parallel
      graphene layers using equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We find that
      the shear viscosity is not only greatly enhanced for subnanometer capillaries,
      but also exhibits large oscillations that originate from commensurability between
      the capillary size and the size of water molecules. Such oscillating behavior of
      viscosity and, consequently, the slip length should be taken into account in
      designing and studying graphene-based and similar membranes for desalination and
      filtration. 

PMID- 26882094
TI  - Changes in Body Mass Related to the Initiation of Disease-Modifying Therapies in
      Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Unintentional weight loss is important and can be predictive of long
      term outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was
      undertaken to assess how primary therapies for RA may influence changes in body
      mass index (BMI) in RA patients from a large administrative database. METHODS:
      Unique dispensing episodes of methotrexate, prednisone, leflunomide, and tumor
      necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) administered to RA patients were identified
      from the US Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacy databases. Values for C
      reactive protein (CRP) level and BMI closest to the time point within 30 days of
      the treatment course start date and at follow-up time points were linked. Missing
      laboratory values were imputed. Weight loss was defined as a decrease in BMI of
      >1 kg/m(2) . Regression models were used to evaluate changes in BMI during each
      drug treatment as compared to treatment with methotrexate. To assess the impact
      of confounding by indication, propensity scores for use of each drug were
      incorporated in analyses using matched-weighting techniques. RESULTS: In total,
      52,662 treatment courses in 32,859 RA patients were identified. At 6 months from
      the date of prescription fill, weight gain was seen among patients taking
      methotrexate, those taking prednisone, and those taking TNFi. On average,
      compared to methotrexate-treated patients, prednisone-treated patients had
      significantly more weight gain, while leflunomide-treated patients demonstrated
      weight loss. In multivariable models, more weight loss (beta = -0.41 kg/m(2) ,
      95% confidence interval [95% CI] -0.46, -0.36; P < 0.001) and a greater risk of
      weight loss (odds ratio 1.73, 95% CI 1.55, 1.79; P < 0.001) were evident among
      those receiving leflunomide compared to those receiving methotrexate. Treatment
      with prednisone was associated with greater weight gain (beta = 0.072 kg/m(2) ,
      95% CI 0.042, 0.10; P < 0.001). These associations persisted in analyses adjusted
      for propensity scores and in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Leflunomide is
      associated with significantly more, but modest, weight loss, while prednisone is
      associated with greater weight gain compared to other therapies for RA.

PMID- 26882096
TI  - Prostate cancer patients' quality of life assessments across the primary
      treatment trajectory: 'True' change or response shift?
AB  - Background Self-report questionnaires are widely used to assess changes in
      quality of life (QoL) during the course of cancer treatment. However, comparing
      baseline scores to follow-up scores is only justified if patients' internal
      measurement standards have not changed over time, that is, no response shift
      occurred. We aimed to examine response shift in terms of reconceptualization,
      reprioritization and recalibration among prostate cancer patients. Material and
      methods We included 402 newly diagnosed patients (mean age 65 years) and assessed
      QoL at the beginning of cancer treatment and three months later. QoL was measured
      with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of
      Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). We employed structural equation
      modeling testing measurement invariance between occasions to disentangle 'true'
      change and change in the measurement model (response shift). Results We found
      reprioritization effects for both the Physical Functioning and Role Functioning
      subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30, indicating that both had gained importance for
      representing the latent construct of QoL at follow-up. These effects added to the
      worsening effect evident in the latent construct, thus rendering observed changes
      even more pronounced. In addition, we found recalibration effects for both the
      Emotional Functioning and Cognitive Functioning subscales indicating judgments
      becoming more lenient over time. These effects counteracted 'true' negative
      changes thus obscuring any substantial changes on the observed level. Conclusion
      Our results suggest that changes observed in some subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30
      should not be taken at face value as they may be affected by patients' changed
      measurement standards. 

PMID- 26882097
TI  - The Very Long-Term Outcome of Radiosurgery for Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Radiosurgery is one of the neurosurgical alternatives for intractable
      trigeminal neuralgia (TN). OBJECTIVE: Although acceptable short-/mid-term
      outcomes have been reported, long-term results have not been well documented.
      METHODS: We report the long-term results in 130 patients who underwent
      radiosurgery for classical TN and were subsequently monitored through at least 7
      years (median = 9.9, range = 7-14.5) of follow-up. RESULTS: The median age was
      66.5 years. A total of 122 patients (93.8%) became pain free (median delay = 15
      days) after the radiosurgery procedure (Barrow Neurological Institute, BNI class
      I-IIIa). The probability of remaining pain free without medication at 3, 5, 7 and
      10 years was 77.9, 73.8, 68 and 51.5%, respectively. Fifty-six patients (45.9%)
      who were initially pain free experienced recurrent pain (median delay = 73.1
      months). However, at 10 years, of the initial 130 patients, 67.7% were free of
      any recurrence requiring new surgery (BNI class I-IIIa). The new hypesthesia rate
      was 20.8% (median delay of onset = 12 months), and only 1 patient (0.8%) reported
      very bothersome hypesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results were comparable
      to those from our general series (recently published), and the high probability
      of long-lasting pain relief and rarity of consequential complications of
      radiosurgery may suggest it as a first- and/or second-line treatment for
      classical, drug-resistant TN.

PMID- 26882098
TI  - Functionalized Celluloses with Regular Substitution Pattern by Glycosynthase
      Catalyzed Polymerization.
AB  - Control of the monomer sequence in polymers is extraordinarily difficult by
      chemical synthesis, though Nature routinely exerts such control, including in the
      biosynthesis of polysaccharides. This inability has prevented us from being able
      to match the exquisite structure-activity control exhibited in biosynthesis of
      bioactive natural polysaccharides. We here address a powerful approach, whereby
      enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of properly modified building blocks is
      introduced as a simple route affording polysaccharides with controlled sequence
      and functionalization pattern. Targeting cellulose as a versatile scaffold for
      novel biomaterials, we describe the preparation of a perfectly alternating
      polysaccharide with repeat unit 6'-azido-6'-deoxycellobiose by a glycosynthase
      catalyzed polymerization using the Humicola insolens cellulase Cel7B E197A
      mutant, and its further functionalization to give novel modified cellulose
      derivatives with a regular substitution pattern. 

PMID- 26882099
TI  - A Method to Pattern Silver Nanowires Directly on Wafer-Scale PDMS Substrate and
      Its Applications.
AB  - This study describes a fabrication method of microsized AgNW patterns based on
      poly dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate using a poly(p-xylylene) (parylene)
      stencil technique. Various patterns of AgNW conductive sheets were created on the
      wafer scale area in the forms of straight and serpentine lines, texts, and
      symbols, which dimensions ranged from a few tens of micrometers to hundreds of
      micrometers. We demonstrated the electrical performance of straight line and
      serpentine line patterned AgNW electrodes when subjected to mechanical strains.
      The gauge factor and stretchability ranged from 0.5 to 55.2 at 2% uniaxial strain
      and from 4.7 to 55.7%, respectively, depending on the shapes and structures of
      the AgNW electrodes. Using the developed AgNW patterning technique, we fabricated
      strain sensors to detect small body signals epidermally such as hand motion, eye
      blink and heart rate. Also, tactile sensors were fabricated and exhibited the
      sensitivity of 3.91 MPa(-1) in the pressure range lower than 50 kPa, and 0.28
      MPa(-1) in the pressure range greater than 50 kPa up to 1.3 MPa. From these
      results, we concluded that the proposed technique enables the fabrication of
      reliable AgNW patterns on wafer-scale PDMS substrate and the potential
      applications for various flexible electronic devices. 

PMID- 26882100
TI  - Electronic Data Systems and Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious condition that is associated with an
      increased risk of death, long hospital stays, and high healthcare costs. The best
      chance of ameliorating the severity of AKI and improving its outcomes is through
      early recognition and intervention. Electronic health records (EHRs) have now
      become an integrated part of medical practice in most clinical settings
      worldwide. Appropriate use of EHRs potentially improves patient care, while
      poorly designed EHRs could result in unintended consequences. In recent years,
      EHRs with rule-based algorithms have been used for prompt AKI detection. Although
      studies using these systems have consistently shown that these EHRs have the
      capacity to improve the detection of AKI, their application in clinical practice
      to improve outcomes has shown conflicting results. Future use of EHRs for AKI
      should go beyond rule-based AKI detection to the creation of AKI-forecasting
      models for early identification of patients at high risk for AKI and the
      provision of clinical decision support systems to improve the quality of care and
      outcomes. Despite significant progress in the field of medical informatics and
      the growing use of EHRs to enhance the quality of care for AKI patients, these
      domains remain in the very early stages of development. In this chapter, we
      review the progress made in this field, as well as the methodologies,
      applications, and outcomes of using EHRs with AKI alerts. We also discuss the
      directions that EHR tools need to take to improve the care of patients with AKI. 

PMID- 26882101
TI  - Native voice, self-concept and the moral case for personalized voice technology.
AB  - Purpose (1) To explore the role of native voice and effects of voice loss on self
      concept and identity, and survey the state of assistive voice technology; (2) to
      establish the moral case for developing personalized voice technology. Methods
      This narrative review examines published literature on the human significance of
      voice, the impact of voice loss on self-concept and identity, and the strengths
      and limitations of current voice technology. Based on the impact of voice loss on
      self and identity, and voice technology limitations, the moral case for
      personalized voice technology is developed. Results Given the richness of
      information conveyed by voice, loss of voice constrains expression of the self,
      but the full impact is poorly understood. Augmentative and alternative
      communication (AAC) devices facilitate communication but, despite advances in
      this field, voice output cannot yet express the unique nuances of individual
      voice. The ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and equality of
      opportunity establish the moral responsibility to invest in accessible, cost
      effective, personalized voice technology. Conclusions Although further research
      is needed to elucidate the full effects of voice loss on self-concept, identity
      and social functioning, current understanding of the profoundly negative impact
      of voice loss establishes the moral case for developing personalized voice
      technology. Implications for Rehabilitation Rehabilitation of voice-disordered
      patients should facilitate self-expression, interpersonal connectedness and
      social/occupational participation. Proactive questioning about the psychological
      and social experiences of patients with voice loss is a valuable entry point for
      rehabilitation planning. Personalized voice technology would enhance sense of
      self, communicative participation and autonomy and promote shared healthcare
      decision-making. Further research is needed to identify the best strategies to
      preserve and strengthen identity and sense of self.

PMID- 26882103
TI  - Reply to a note on the magnitude of hazard ratios.

PMID- 26882104
TI  - Drone and Worker Brood Microclimates Are Regulated Differentially in Honey Bees,
      Apis mellifera.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones and workers show differences in
      morphology, physiology, and behavior. Because the functions of drones are more
      related to colony reproduction, and those of workers relate to both survival and
      reproduction, we hypothesize that the microclimate for worker brood is more
      precisely regulated than that of drone brood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We
      assessed temperature and relative humidity (RH) inside honey bee colonies for
      both drone and worker brood throughout the three-stage development period, using
      digital HOBO(r) Data Loggers. The major findings of this study are that 1) both
      drone and worker castes show the highest temperature for eggs, followed by larvae
      and then pupae; 2) temperature in drones are maintained at higher precision
      (smaller variance) in drone eggs and larvae, but at a lower precision in pupae
      than the corresponding stages of workers; 3) RH regulation showed higher variance
      in drone than workers across all brood stages; and 4) RH regulation seems largely
      due to regulation by workers, as the contribution from empty honey combs are much
      smaller compared to that from adult workers. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We
      conclude that honey bee colonies maintain both temperature and humidity actively;
      that the microclimate for sealed drone brood is less precisely regulated than
      worker brood; and that combs with honey contribute very little to the increase of
      RH in honey bee colonies. These findings increase our understanding of
      microclimate regulation in honey bees and may have implications for beekeeping
      practices.

PMID- 26882102
TI  - Clinical Efficacy of Therapy with Recombinant Human Interferon alpha1b in Hand,
      Foot, and Mouth Disease with Enterovirus 71 Infection.
AB  - A rapid expansion of HFMD with enterovirus 71 infection outbreaks has occurred
      and caused deaths in recent years in China, but no vaccine or antiviral drug is
      currently available for EV71 infection. This study aims to provide treatment
      programs for HFMD patients. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled
      trial and evaluated clinical efficacy of therapy with rHuIFN-alpha1b in HFMD
      patients with EV71 infection. There were statistical differences in outcomes
      including the fever clearance time, healing time of typical skin or oral mucosa
      lesions, and EV71 viral load of the HFMD patients among ultrasonic aerosol
      inhalation group, intramuscular injection group and control group. rHuIFN-alpha1b
      therapy reduced the fever clearance time, healing time of typical skin or oral
      mucosa lesions, and EV71 viral load in children with HFMD. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-14005153.

PMID- 26882105
TI  - The learning curve associated with anteromedial portal drilling in ACL
      reconstruction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the accuracy and
      precision of femoral and tibial tunnel placement during anterior cruciate
      ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using independent anteromedial portal (AMP)
      drilling over a three-year observation period. METHODS: This study was a
      retrospective review of 161 consecutive primary ACL reconstructions from a single
      surgeon over his first 36-months in practice. Femoral and tibial tunnel
      angulation measurements were made on anteroposterior radiographs by a single
      observer utilizing the assessment method described by Aglietti et al. The
      accuracy and precision of tunnel placement across the three-year period were
      assessed with comparisons made. RESULTS: Significantly improved accuracy was
      demonstrated toward the cadaveric ideal femoral tunnel angle of 33.5 degrees 
      over time. Improved precision of tunnel placement was also demonstrated evidenced
      by declining standard deviations across each year. Statistically significant
      improvement in femoral tunnel placement was seen between the first and second
      cohorts of 32 cases. No significant change was seen with respect to tibial tunnel
      angle across the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: A learning curve in developing
      accuracy and precision in ACL femoral tunnel placement using the AMP technique
      exists; our study indicates this to be somewhere between 32 and 64 cases. Tibial
      tunnel placement does not share the same learning curve using this surgical
      technique.

PMID- 26882106
TI  - Performance of Spot Photoscreener in Detecting Amblyopia Risk Factors in Chinese
      Pre-school and School Age Children Attending an Eye Clinic.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Spot photoscreener in detecting
      amblyopia risk factors meeting 2013 the American Association of Pediatric
      Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) criteria in Chinese preschool and school-age
      children. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-five children (310 eyes), aged between 4
      to 7 years (5.74 +/- 1.2 years) underwent complete ophthalmologic examination,
      photoscreening, and cycloplegic retinoscopy refraction. The agreement of the
      results obtained with the photoscreening and retinoscopy was evaluated by linear
      regression and Bland-Altman plots. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting
      amblyopia risk factors were calculated based on the AAPOS 2013 guidelines. The
      overall effectiveness of detecting amblyopia risk factors was analyzed with
      Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULT: The mean refractive
      errors measured with the Spot were: spherical equivalent (SE) = 0.70 +/- 1.99 D,
      J0 = 0.87 +/- 1.01 D, J45 = 0.09 +/- 0.60 D. The mean results from retinoscopy
      were: SE = 1.19 +/- 2.22 D, J0 = 0.77 +/- 1.00 D, J45 = -0.02 +/- 0.45 D. There
      was a strong linear agreement between results obtained from those two methods (R2
      = 0.88, P<0.01). Bland-Altman plot indicated a moderate agreement of cylinder
      values between the two methods. Based on the criteria specified by the AAPOS 2013
      guidelines, the sensitivity and specificity (in respective order) for detecting
      hyperopia were 98.31% and 97.14%; for detecting myopia were 78.50% and 88.64%;
      for detecting astigmatism were 90.91% and 80.37%; for detecting anisometropia
      were 93.10% and 85.25%; and for detection of strabismus was 77.55% and 88.18%.
      CONCLUSION: The refractive values measured from Spot photoscreener showed a
      moderate agreement with the results from cycloplegic retinoscopy refraction,
      however there was an overall myopic shift of -0.49D. The performance in detecting
      individual amblyopia risk factors was satisfactory, but could be further improved
      by optimizing criteria based on ROC curves.

PMID- 26882107
TI  - Can KAATSU Exercise Cause Rhabdomyolysis?
AB  - In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using low-load resistance
      exercise in combination with a reduction in blood flow to promote muscle
      adaptation (ie, blood flow-restricted exercise or KAATSU exercise). There has
      been 1 case study reported in the literature of this type of exercise resulting
      in exertional rhabdomyolysis, and herein, we report the second case of exertional
      rhabdomyolysis. In this case, a 20-year-old man performed 6 sets of blood flow
      restricted exercise (3 sets of knee-extension and 3 sets of elbow-flexion
      exercise). The subject presented with high levels of delayed onset muscle
      soreness in the days after the exercise bout exhibited high levels of creatine
      kinase (peak recorded: 36 000 IU/L), and was hospitalized for exertional
      rhabdomyolysis. We urge that investigators and practitioners use caution with
      blood flow-restricted exercise protocols and to begin these exercise programs
      modestly and gradually progress them with time.

PMID- 26882108
TI  - Integration of Molecular Networking and In-Silico MS/MS Fragmentation for Natural
      Products Dereplication.
AB  - Dereplication represents a key step for rapidly identifying known secondary
      metabolites in complex biological matrices. In this context, liquid
      chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is
      increasingly used and, via untargeted data-dependent MS/MS experiments, massive
      amounts of detailed information on the chemical composition of crude extracts can
      be generated. An efficient exploitation of such data sets requires automated data
      treatment and access to dedicated fragmentation databases. Various novel
      bioinformatics approaches such as molecular networking (MN) and in-silico
      fragmentation tools have emerged recently and provide new perspective for early
      metabolite identification in natural products (NPs) research. Here we propose an
      innovative dereplication strategy based on the combination of MN with an
      extensive in-silico MS/MS fragmentation database of NPs. Using two case studies,
      we demonstrate that this combined approach offers a powerful tool to navigate
      through the chemistry of complex NPs extracts, dereplicate metabolites, and
      annotate analogues of database entries. 

PMID- 26882109
TI  - Exploring Subclinical Phenotypic Features in Twin Pairs Discordant for Cleft Lip
      and Palate.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Monozygotic twins of an individual with an orofacial cleft have a
      significantly elevated risk for orofacial cleft compared with the general
      population, but still the concordance rate for orofacial cleft in monozygotic
      twins is about 40% to 50%. The goal of this study was to determine whether
      unaffected cotwins have an increased frequency of orbicularis oris muscle
      defects, a subclinical form of orofacial cleft. The presence of such defects may
      reduce the overall rate of discordance. METHOD: A total of 63 discordant
      monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, 262 unaffected nontwin siblings, and 543
      controls with no history of orofacial clefts were assessed for orbicularis oris
      defects by high-resolution ultrasound. Frequencies were compared by the Fisher
      exact test. RESULTS: Unaffected cotwins from discordant monozygotic pairs had a
      higher frequency of defects (12.5%) than the other test groups (6.38% to 6.99%),
      but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .74). CONCLUSIONS: In
      this study, orbicularis oris defects were not statistically significantly more
      common among the unaffected twins from orofacial cleft discordant twin pairs. The
      trends in the results warrant future studies with larger sample sizes and
      additional subclinical phenotypes.

PMID- 26882110
TI  - Exposure to Pre- and Perinatal Risk Factors Partially Explains Mean Differences
      in Self-Regulation between Races.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine whether differential exposure to pre- and perinatal risk
      factors explained differences in levels of self-regulation between children of
      different races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other). METHODS: Multiple
      regression models based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study,
      Birth Cohort (n ~ 9,850) were used to analyze the impact of pre- and perinatal
      risk factors on the development of self-regulation at age 2 years. RESULTS:
      Racial differences in levels of self-regulation were observed. Racial differences
      were also observed for 9 of the 12 pre-/perinatal risk factors. Multiple
      regression analyses revealed that a portion of the racial differences in self
      regulation was explained by differential exposure to several of the pre
      /perinatal risk factors. Specifically, maternal age at childbirth, gestational
      timing, and the family's socioeconomic status were significantly related to the
      child's level of self-regulation. These factors accounted for a statistically
      significant portion of the racial differences observed in self-regulation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate racial differences in self-regulation may be,
      at least partially, explained by racial differences in exposure to pre- and
      perinatal risk factors.

PMID- 26882111
TI  - Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and Transitional Care in Acutely Hospitalized
      Patients: The Transitional Care Bridge Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Older adults acutely hospitalized are at risk of disability. Trials
      on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and transitional care present
      inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE: To test whether an intervention of systematic
      CGA, followed by the transitional care bridge program, improved activities of
      daily living (ADLs) compared with systematic CGA alone. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: This study was a double-blind, multicenter, randomized clinical
      trial conducted at 3 hospitals with affiliated home care organizations in the
      Netherlands between September 1, 2010, and March 1, 2014. In total, 1070
      consecutive patients were eligible, 674 (63.0%) of whom enrolled. They were 65
      years or older, acutely hospitalized to a medical ward for at least 48 hours with
      an Identification of Seniors at Risk-Hospitalized Patients score of 2 or higher,
      and randomized using permuted blocks stratified by study site and Mini-Mental
      State Examination score (<24 vs >=24). The dates of the analysis were June 1,
      2014, to November 15, 2014. INTERVENTIONS: The transitional care bridge program
      intervention was started during hospitalization by a visit from a community care
      registered nurse (CCRN) and continued after discharge with home visits at 2 days
      and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. The CCRNs applied the CGA care and treatment plan.
      MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was the Katz Index of ADL at 6
      months compared with 2 weeks before admission. Secondary outcomes were mortality,
      cognitive functioning, time to hospital readmission, and the time to discharge
      from a nursing home. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 674 participants. Their
      mean age was 80 years, 42.1% (n = 284) were male, and 39.2% (n = 264) were
      cognitively impaired at admission. Intent-to-treat analysis found no differences
      in the mean Katz Index of ADL at 6 months between the intervention arm (mean,
      2.0; 95% CI, 1.8-2.2) and the CGA-only arm (mean, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.2). For
      secondary outcomes, there were 85 deaths (25.2%) in the intervention arm and 104
      deaths (30.9%) in the CGA-only arm, resulting in a lower risk on the time to
      death within 6 months after hospital admission (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56
      0.99; P = .045; number needed to treat to prevent 1 death, 16). No other
      secondary outcome was significant. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A systematic CGA,
      followed by the transitional care bridge program, showed no effect on ADL
      functioning in acutely hospitalized older patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Netherlands Trial Registry: NTR2384.

PMID- 26882113
TI  - Farmer and Public Attitudes Toward Lamb Finishing Systems.
AB  - To develop research and policy on the welfare of lambs in intensive finishing
      systems, it is important to understand public and sheep farmers' attitudes. The
      aim of this research was to identify and compare farmer and community attitudes
      relevant to the intensification of lamb finishing. The majority of respondents in
      the community sample expressed concern about all listed welfare issues, but
      particularly about feedlotting of lambs and the associated confinement. These
      attitudes correlated with community views on the importance of welfare issues
      including social contact and freedom to roam. Farmers expressed much lower levels
      of concern than did the general public except with regard to the health of lambs,
      disease control, access to shade, and lack of access to clean water. 

PMID- 26882114
TI  - Neurotensin Changes Propulsive Activity into a Segmental Motor Pattern in the Rat
      Colon.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neurotensin is a gut-brain peptide with both inhibitory and
      excitatory actions on the colonic musculature; our objective was to understand
      the implications of this for motor patterns occurring in the intact colon of the
      rat. METHODS: The effects of neurotensin with concentrations ranging from 0.1-100
      nM were studied in the intact rat colon in vitro, by investigating spatio
      temporal maps created from video recordings of colonic motility before and after
      neurotensin. RESULTS: Low concentration of neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibited
      propagating long distance contractions and rhythmic propagating motor complexes;
      in its place a slow propagating rhythmic segmental motor pattern developed. The
      neurotensin receptor 1 antagonist SR-48692 prevented the development of the
      segmental motor pattern. Higher concentrations of neurotensin (10 nM and 100 nM)
      were capable of restoring long distance contraction activity and inhibiting the
      segmental activity. The slow propagating segmental contraction showed a rhythmic
      contraction-- relaxation cycle at the slow wave frequency originating from the
      interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the myenteric plexus pacemaker. High
      concentrations given without prior additions of low concentrations did not evoke
      the segmental motor pattern. These actions occurred when neurotensin was given in
      the bath solution or intraluminally. The segmental motor pattern evoked by
      neurotensin was inhibited by the neural conduction blocker lidocaine.
      CONCLUSIONS: Neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibits the dominant propulsive motor
      patterns of the colon and a distinct motor pattern of rhythmic slow propagating
      segmental contractions develops. This motor pattern has the hallmarks of haustral
      boundary contractions.

PMID- 26882115
TI  - The Frequency of Huntington Disease and Huntington Disease-Like 2 in the South
      African Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Huntington disease (HD) has most recently been estimated to affect
      between 10.6 and 13.7 per 100,000 individuals in European populations. However,
      prevalence is known to differ geographically. In South Africa, the only published
      estimates are from a survey performed in the 1970s, an era when the disease was
      believed to be rare or absent in black individuals and molecular confirmation was
      absent. The disease phenotype in South Africa is currently attributable to
      mutations in both the huntington and junctophilin-3 genes, which underlie the
      well-known HD and the rarer HD-like 2 (HDL2) respectively. This study aimed at
      providing improved minimum estimates of disease frequency in South Africa, based
      on molecular genetic testing data. METHODS: A review of all testing records for
      HD and HDL2 over a 20-year period was undertaken. HDL2 is virtually
      indistinguishable on clinical features, thus necessitating its inclusion.
      RESULTS: Based on molecular diagnostic records, minimum estimates of disease
      frequency are: 5.1, 2.1 and 0.25 (per 100,000 individuals) for the white, mixed
      ancestry and black population groups respectively. CONCLUSION: Although
      ascertainment remains incomplete, these minimum estimates suggest that disease
      frequencies are significantly higher than those previously reported in South
      Africa.

PMID- 26882112
TI  - Impacts on Sirtuin Function and Bioavailability of the Dietary Bioactive Compound
      Dihydrocoumarin.
AB  - The plant secondary metabolite and common food additive dihydrocoumarin (DHC) is
      an inhibitor of the Sirtuin family of NAD+-dependent deacetylases. Sirtuins are
      key regulators of epigenetic processes that maintain silent chromatin in yeast
      and have been linked to gene expression, metabolism, apoptosis, tumorogenesis and
      age-related processes in multiple organisms, including humans. Here we report
      that exposure to the polyphenol DHC led to defects in several Sirtuin-regulated
      processes in budding yeast including the establishment and maintenance of Sir2p
      dependent silencing by causing disassembly of silent chromatin, Hst1p-dependent
      repression of meiotic-specific genes during the mitotic cell cycle. As both
      transient and prolonged exposure to environmental and dietary factors have the
      potential to lead to heritable alterations in epigenetic states and to modulate
      additional Sirtuin-dependent phenotypes, we examined the bioavailability and
      digestive stability of DHC using an in vivo rat model and in vitro digestive
      simulator. Our analyses revealed that DHC was unstable during digestion and could
      be converted to melilotic acid (MA), which also caused epigenetic defects, albeit
      less efficiently. Upon ingestion, DHC was observed primarily in intestinal
      tissues, but did not accumulate over time and was readily cleared from the
      animals. MA displayed a wider tissue distribution and, in contrast to DHC, was
      also detected in the blood plasma, interstitial fluid, and urine, implying that
      the conversion of DHC to the less bioactive compound, MA, occurred efficiently in
      vivo. 

PMID- 26882116
TI  - Development of Itraconazole Liquisolid Compact: Effect of Polyvinylpyrrolidone on
      the Dissolution Properties.
AB  - The aim of this work was to utilize the liquisolid technique to enhance
      dissolution of itraconazole (ITZ). Liquisolid tablets of ITZ were formulated by
      using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as liquid vehicle, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a
      precipitation inhibitor and magnesium aluminometasilicate Neusilin(r) as a
      carrier and coating material. The effect of PVP level on stability of liquid
      medication, physicomechnanical properties and dissolution rate of liquisolid
      compacts was studied in detail. The crystallinity of formulated drug and the
      interaction between excipients were examined by differential scanning calorimetry
      (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). All the liquisolid tablets showed
      higher drug dissolution rates than the conventional, directly compressed tablets.
      The flowability of liquisolid powders was slightly improved as the proportion of
      PVP in ITZ-NMP mixture increased. Moreover, the stability of liquid medication
      and wetting ability of liquisolid tablets were improved by PVP. The presence of
      low amount of PVP (<= 1%) in liquisolid formulation could enhance dissolution of
      ITZ liquisolid tablets, whereas the percentage of PVP over 5% decreased the
      dissolution of ITZ from liquisolid tablets. Both DSC and XRPD suggested reduction
      or loss of ITZ crystallinity upon liquisolid formulations indicating that the
      drug was almost solubilized and molecularly dispersed with excipients within the
      liquisolid matrix. It could be shown that increased solubility, wetting
      properties and surface area available for dissolution contributed to the
      improvement of the dissolution of ITZ from liquisolid tablets. 

PMID- 26882117
TI  - Intergenerational ambivalence in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications
      for depressive symptoms over time.
AB  - The parent-child relationship is often characterized by ambivalence, defined as
      the simultaneous experience of positive and negative relationship quality. This
      study examines reports of intergenerational ambivalence in 3 developmental
      periods: adolescence, emerging adulthood, and young adulthood, as well as its
      implications for depressive symptoms over a 12-year period. Participants ages 13
      to 29 (n = 255) were interviewed in 1992 and again in 2005 at ages 25 to 41 (n =
      186). Results indicate that offspring's reports of intergenerational ambivalence
      decreased over time. Greater ambivalence toward mothers predicted increased
      depressive symptoms over time while greater ambivalence toward fathers predicted
      decreased depressive symptoms over time. These results suggest that depressive
      symptoms in adulthood are vulnerable to the quality of the parent-child
      relationship earlier in the life course. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882119
TI  - Development of the updating executive function: From 7-year-olds to young adults.
AB  - Updating information in working memory (WM) is a critical executive function
      responsible both for continuously replacing outdated information with new
      relevant data and to suppress or inhibit content that is no longer relevant
      according to task demands. The goal of the present research is twofold: First, we
      aimed to study updating development in 548 participants of 4 different age ranges
      -7-, 11-, and 15-year-olds and young adults--using the updating task devised by
      R. De Beni and P. Palladino (2004), which allows differentiating maintenance and
      inhibition processes. Second, we attempted to determine the relation between
      these processes across development as well as the differentiation among different
      types of inhibition processes tapped by this task. Results showed that there was
      an improvement of memory performance with age along with an upgrading of
      inhibitory efficiency. However, whereas in memory performance, a progressive
      increase was observed until the age of 15 years followed by stabilization, in
      inhibition, a continuous progressive increase was observed until young adulthood.
      Importantly, results showed that development of the different inhibitory
      mechanisms does not progress equally. All the groups committed more errors
      related to inefficient suppression mechanisms in WM than errors related to
      control of long-term memory interference. Principal component analysis showed
      that updating implies different subprocesses: active maintenance/suppression of
      information in WM and control of proactive interference. Developmental
      trajectories showed that the maintenance/suppression of information in the WM
      component continues to develop far beyond adolescence but that proactive
      interference control is responsible for variations in updating across
      development.

PMID- 26882118
TI  - A systems view of mother-infant face-to-face communication.
AB  - Principles of a dynamic, dyadic systems view of mother-infant face-to-face
      communication, which considers self- and interactive processes in relation to one
      another, were tested. The process of interaction across time in a large low-risk
      community sample at infant age 4 months was examined. Split-screen videotape was
      coded on a 1-s time base for communication modalities of attention, affect,
      orientation, touch, and composite facial-visual engagement. Time-series
      approaches generated self- and interactive contingency estimates in each
      modality. Evidence supporting the following principles was obtained: (a)
      Significant moment-to-moment predictability within each partner (self
      contingency) and between the partners (interactive contingency) characterizes
      mother-infant communication. (b) Interactive contingency is organized by a
      bidirectional, but asymmetrical, process: Maternal contingent coordination with
      infant is higher than infant contingent coordination with mother. (c) Self
      contingency organizes communication to a far greater extent than interactive
      contingency. (d) Self- and interactive contingency processes are not separate;
      each affects the other in communication modalities of facial affect, facial
      visual engagement, and orientation. Each person's self-organization exists in a
      dynamic, homoeostatic (negative feedback) balance with the degree to which the
      person coordinates with the partner. For example, those individuals who are less
      facially stable are likely to coordinate more strongly with the partner's facial
      affect and vice versa. Our findings support the concept that the dyad is a
      fundamental unit of analysis in the investigation of early interaction. Moreover,
      an individual's self-contingency is influenced by the way the individual
      coordinates with the partner. Our results imply that it is not appropriate to
      conceptualize interactive processes without simultaneously accounting for
      dynamically interrelated self-organizing processes.

PMID- 26882121
TI  - A pharmacogenomic study on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in healthy subjects
      using the DMETTM Plus platform.
AB  - Genetic association studies on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus have reported
      conflicting results, except for the role of the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism. The
      objective of this study was to identify genetic variants affecting the
      pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus using the DMETTM Plus microarray in 42 healthy
      males. Aside from CYP3A5*3, the rs3814055 polymorphism in the NR1I2 gene was
      associated with the tacrolimus pharmacokinetics based on false discovery rate
      corrected multiple tests and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator
      analysis. The area under the concentration-time curve to the last quantifiable
      time point (AUClast) was 3.42 times greater in subjects with homozygous mutations
      in both genes (CYP3A5*3/*3 and NR1I2 T/T) than in wild-type subjects. The two
      variants explained the 54% variability in the tacrolimus AUClast. An in vitro
      luciferase reporter assay indicated that downregulation of PXR expression is the
      likely molecular mechanism responsible for the increased exposure to tacrolimus
      in subjects carrying the rs3814055 C>T variant.

PMID- 26882120
TI  - Up-Regulation of ENO1 by HIF-1alpha in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells after
      Hypoxic Challenge Is Not Involved in the Regulation of VEGF Secretion.
AB  - PURPOSE: Alpha-enolase (ENO1), a major glycolytic enzyme, is reported to be over
      expressed in various cancer tissues. It has been demonstrated to be regulated by
      the Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha), a crucial transcriptional
      factor implicated in tumor progression and cancer angiogenesis. Choroidal
      neovascularization (CNV), which is a leading cause of severe vision loss caused
      by newly formed blood vessels in the choroid, is also engendered by hypoxic
      stress. In this report, we investigated the expression of ENO1 and the effects of
      its down-regulation upon cobalt (II) chloride-induced hypoxia in retinal pigment
      epithelial cells, identified as the primary source of ocular angiogenic factors.
      METHODS: HIF-1alpha-diminished retinal pigment epithelial cells were generated by
      small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology in ARPE-19 cells, a human retinal
      pigment epithelial cell line. Both normal and HIF-1alpha-diminished ARPE-19 cells
      were then subjected to hypoxic challenge using cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2) or
      anaerobic chamber. The relation between ENO1 expression and vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF) secretion by retinal pigment epithelial cells were examined.
      Protein levels of HIF-1alpha and ENO1 were analyzed using Western Blot, while
      VEGF secretion was essayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
      Cytotoxicity after hypoxia was detected by Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Assay.
      RESULTS: Upon 24 hr of CoCl2-induced hypoxia, the expression levels of ENO1 and
      VEGF were increased along with HIF-1alpha in ARPE-19 cells, both of which can in
      turn be down-regulated by HIF-1alpha siRNA application. However, knockdown of
      ENO1 alone or together with HIF-1alpha did not help suppress VEGF secretion in
      hypoxic ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION: ENO1 was demonstrated to be up-regulated by
      HIF-1alpha in retinal pigment epithelial cells in response to hypoxia, without
      influencing VEGF secretion.

PMID- 26882123
TI  - Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus and Neoplastic Transformation: A Retrospective Study of
      976 Cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate the neoplastic potential of
      vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective
      study of 976 women with VLS. We recorded age at diagnosis of VLS, length of
      follow-up, and type of neoplasia, categorized as the following: (1) vulvar
      intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), further subdivided in differentiated VIN (dVIN)
      and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; (2) superficially invasive
      squamous cell carcinoma; and (3) frankly invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
      Neoplasia incidence risk, neoplasia incidence rate, and cumulative probability of
      progression to neoplasia according to the Kaplan-Meier method were estimated. Log
      rank test was used to compare the progression-free survival curves by age at
      diagnosis of VLS. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis of VLS was 60 (median = 60;
      range = 8-91) years. The mean length of follow-up was 52 (median = 21; range = 1
      331) months. The following 34 patients developed a neoplasia: 8 VIN (4 dVIN, 4
      high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), 6 keratinizing superficially
      invasive squamous cell carcinoma (5 with adjacent dVIN), and 20 keratinizing
      invasive squamous cell carcinoma (1 with adjacent dVIN). The neoplasia incidence
      risk was 3.5%. The neoplasia incidence rate was 8.1 per 1,000 person-years. The
      cumulative probability of progression to neoplasia increased from 1.2% at 24
      months to 36.8% at 300 months. The median progression-free survival was
      significantly shorter in older women (>=70 years) when compared with that in
      younger women (p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Vulvar lichen sclerosus has a
      nonnegligible risk of neoplastic transformation and requires a careful and
      lifelong follow-up in all patients, particularly in elderly women. Early clinical
      and histological detection of preinvasive lesions is essential to reduce the risk
      of vulvar cancer.

PMID- 26882124
TI  - Metastatic Genital Tract Adenocarcinoma to the Vulva: A Rare Occurrence
      Presenting as Painful Vulvar Enlargement.

PMID- 26882122
TI  - The effects of rosuvastatin on lipid-lowering, inflammatory, antioxidant and
      fibrinolytics blood biomarkers are influenced by Val16Ala superoxide dismutase
      manganese-dependent gene polymorphism.
AB  - Rosuvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug that also attenuates the inflammatory
      process and oxidative stress via the reduction of superoxide anion production.
      Superoxide anions are metabolized by manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase
      (MnSOD or SOD2) in the mitochondria. In humans, there is a gene polymorphism
      where a change of alanine (Ala) to valine (Val) occurs at the 16th amino acid
      (Ala16Val-SOD2). The VV genotype has been associated with the risk of developing
      several metabolic diseases, such as hypercholesterolemia. Thus, to further
      explore this phenomenon, this study investigated the influence of the Val16Ala
      SOD2 polymorphism on the lipid profile and inflammatory and fibrinolytic
      biomarkers of 122 hypercholesterolemic patients undergoing the first
      pharmacological cholesterol-lowering therapy who were treated with 20 mg
      rosuvastatin for 120 days. The findings indicate that the VV patients who present
      a low-efficiency SOD2 enzyme exhibit an attenuated response to rosuvastatin
      compared with the A-allele patients. The effect of rosuvastatin on inflammatory
      and fibrinolytic biomarkers was also less intense in the VV patients. These
      results suggest some pharmacogenetic effects of Val16Ala-SOD2 in
      hypercholesterolemia treatment.

PMID- 26882125
TI  - Surgical Treatment of Paget Disease of the Vulva: Prognostic Significance of
      Stromal Invasion and Surgical Margin Status.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of recurrence according
      to the surgical margin status and the presence of invasion or of superficially
      invasive carcinoma in patients with extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) of the
      vulva, who underwent elective surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      performed a retrospective analysis of 27 patients with first diagnosis of
      extramammary Paget disease of the vulva, who underwent primary and elective
      surgical treatment from January 1989 to December 2014. A p value of less than .05
      was considered statistically significant. Multivariable logistic regression was
      performed to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: We observed invasive
      disease in 11 cases, with microinvasion in 8 of them. A positive surgical margin
      was found in 10 patients. During a median follow-up period of 79.5 months, 8
      patients (29.6%) showed a first recurrence after a median (range) time of 4.9
      (2.3-7.1) years. No significant differences were observed between patients with
      recurrence and patients without recurrence with respect to age, number of vulvar
      sectors involved, bilaterality and multifocality, presence of invasion or
      microinvasion, and surgical margin status. However, during the follow-up period,
      the presence of invasion was higher (67% vs 41%) in patients with recurrence
      compared with patients without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of recurrence of
      the disease after therapy is high. Patients should be subjected to a close and
      long-term follow-up to identify those who must undergo further treatment,
      especially if they presented with an invasive or even microinvasive disease. A
      free margin of no greater than 1 to 2 cm might be the most appropriate surgical
      choice.

PMID- 26882126
TI  - Toker Cells in an Erythematous Vulva From the Case Consultation Committee of the
      International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease.

PMID- 26882127
TI  - Simultaneous determination of corynoline and acetylcorynoline in human urine by
      LC-MS/MS and its application to a urinary excretion study.
AB  - Corynoline and acetycorynoline, the major active components derived from
      Corydalis bungeana Herba, showed multiple pharmacological activities. However,
      quantification of the two compounds in human urine has not been reported. A
      simple liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the
      simultaneous determination of corynoline and acetycorynoline in human urine has
      been developed and fully validated. The analytes were extracted from urine
      samples by simple liquid-liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was
      achieved on a Hedera ODS-2C18 column with the mobile phase of water (containing
      0.5% formic acid) and acetonitrile (28:72, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4mL/min. A
      tandem mass spectrometric detection was conducted using multiple reaction
      monitoring via an electrospray ionization source in positive mode. The monitored
      ion transitions were m/z 368.1->289.1 for corynoline, m/z 410.2->289.2 for
      acetycorynoline and m/z 380.2->243.2 for donepezil (internal standard),
      respectively. The calibration curves were linear (correlation
      coefficients>0.9970) over the concentration ranges of 3.0-3000pg/mL for
      corynoline and 3.0-1000pg/mL for acetycorynoline. The established method was
      highly sensitive with the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 3.0pg/mL for
      both analytes. The intra- and inter-day precision was lower than 10% in terms of
      relative standard deviation for the low, medium, and high quality control
      samples, and lower than 16% for the LLOQ samples of the analytes. The accuracy
      was within +/-10% in terms of relative error for both analytes. The method was
      successfully applied to a urinary excretion study after oral administration of
      the Chinese medicine formula Shuanghua Baihe tablets in healthy volunteers. The
      urinary excretion profiles of corynoline and acetycorynoline in human were first
      reported. The results of this study suggest that renal excretion was not the main
      excretion pathway of corynoline and acetycorynoline in humans. 

PMID- 26882128
TI  - Recognition and binding of beta-lactam antibiotics to bovine serum albumin by
      frontal affinity chromatography in combination with spectroscopy and molecular
      docking.
AB  - Serum albumins are the most abundant carrier proteins in blood plasma and
      participate in the binding and transportation of various exogenous and endogenous
      compounds in the body. This work was designed to investigate the recognition and
      binding of three typical beta-lactam antibiotics including penicillin G (Pen G),
      penicillin V (Pen V) and cefalexin (Cef) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by
      frontal affinity chromatography in combination with UV-vis absorption spectra,
      fluorescence emission spectra, binding site marker competitive experiment and
      molecular docking under simulated physiological conditions. The results showed
      that a BSA only bound with one antibiotic molecule in the binding process, and
      the binding constants for Pen G-BSA, Pen V-BSA and Cef-BSA complexes were
      4.22*10(1), 4.86*10(2) and 3.32*10(3) (L/mol), respectively. All the three beta
      lactam antibiotics were mainly inserted into the subdomain IIA (binding site 1)
      of BSA by hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces. The binding capacity between
      the antibiotics and BSA was closely related to the functional groups and
      flexibility of side chains in antibiotics. This study provided an important
      insight into the molecular recognition and binding interaction of BSA with beta
      lactam antibiotics, which may be a useful guideline for the innovative clinical
      medications and new antibiotic designs with effective pharmacological properties.

PMID- 26882129
TI  - Sepsis following cancer surgery: the need for early recognition and standardised
      clinical care.
AB  - Despite the implementation of multimodal bundles of care in hospitalised
      patients, post-operative sepsis in patients with cancer still accounts for a
      significant burden of illness and substantial healthcare costs. Patients
      undergoing surgery for cancer are at particular risk of sepsis due to underlying
      malignancy, being immunocompromised associated with cancer management and the
      complexity of surgical procedures performed. In this review, we evaluate the
      burden of illness and risks for sepsis following surgery for cancer. Current
      evidence supporting standardised strategies for sepsis management (including
      early recognition and resuscitation) is examined together with challenges in
      implementing quality improvement programs. 

PMID- 26882130
TI  - Two Case Reports of Nodular Fasciitis: A Newly Recognized Placental Lesion.
AB  - We describe two occurrences of nontrophoblastic mesenchymal tumors of the
      placenta. The first placental tumor was found along the placental margin, and the
      second was identified close to the insertion of the fetal membranes along the
      placental disc. Microscopically both lesions demonstrated bland fibroblastic
      cells with intricate vasculature and inflammatory cells. Both lesions were
      negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), beta-HCG, PLAP,
      CD34, desmin, h-caldesmin, and smooth muscle actin by immunohistochemistry. Some
      cells were weakly positive for CD10, a nonspecific finding. The morphologic and
      immunohistochemical characteristics of these lesions were most consistent with
      nodular fasciitis, a tumor most commonly found in the soft tissues. FISH positive
      for USP6 gene rearrangement in our two patients confirmed the molecular
      similarity of these lesions to nodular fasciitis of soft tissue. Such lesions can
      be easily dismissed on gross placental examination as infarcts or thrombi, thus
      these rare entities are likely underreported. 

PMID- 26882131
TI  - Isolation and identification of berberine and berberrubine metabolites by
      berberine-utilizing bacterium Rhodococcus sp. strain BD7100.
AB  - Based on the finding of a novel berberine (BBR)-utilizing bacterium, Rhodococcus
      sp. strain BD7100, we investigated the degradation of BBR and its analog
      berberrubine (BRU). Resting cells of BD7100 demethylenated BBR and BRU, yielding
      benzeneacetic acid analogs. Isolation of benzeneacetic acid analogs suggested
      that BD7100 degraded the isoquinoline ring of the protoberberine skeleton. This
      work represents the first report of cleavage of protoberberine skeleton by a
      microorganism. 

PMID- 26882132
TI  - Hospitalists' utilization of weight loss resources with discharge texts and
      primary care contact: a feasibility study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Obesity affects a large proportion of the U.S. population, and
      hospitalizations may serve as an opportunity to promote weight loss. We sought to
      determine if multidisciplinary patient-centered inpatient weight loss
      intervention that included counseling, consults, post-discharge telephone text
      messages, and primary care follow up was feasible. METHODS: We conducted a
      feasibility study focusing on 25 obese hospitalized patients to understand the
      issues related to rolling out an intensive intervention. Actual weight loss was a
      secondary outcome and we compared these 25 patients to 28 control patients who
      were exposed to usual care; weight change was assessed at 1 and 6 months.
      RESULTS: Ninety-six percent (24/25) of nutritional consults and 92% (23/25) of
      physical therapy consults were submitted by hospital providers. All of these
      doctors were also reminded to counsel their patients about the detrimental health
      consequences. Fifty-two percent (13/25) and 40% (10/25) were actually seen and
      counseled by nutrition and physical therapy services respectively, before being
      discharged. Sixty-eight percent (17/25) received a motivational interviewing
      counseling session from the principal investigator. All patients were sent text
      messages and followed with their primary care provider after discharge who
      received the personalized weight loss discharge instructions that had been given
      to the patient. The feasibility group lost a mean of 3.0 kg at 6 months and the
      control group gained an average of 0.20 kg at 6 months post discharge (p = 0.03).
      CONCLUSION: Executing a multifaceted weight loss intervention for hospitalized
      obese patients is feasible, and there may be associated persistent improvements
      in weight status over time.

PMID- 26882133
TI  - [Factors of Influence on the Success of Rehabilitation].

PMID- 26882134
TI  - [Emotion Recognition in Patients with Peripheral Facial Paralysis - A Pilot
      Study].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The perception of emotions is an important component in enabling
      human beings to social interaction in everyday life. Thus, the ability to
      recognize the emotions of the other one's mime is a key prerequisite for this.
      OBJECTIVE: The following study aimed at evaluating the ability of subjects with
      'peripheral facial paresis' to perceive emotions in healthy individuals. METHODS:
      A pilot study was conducted in which 13 people with 'peripheral facial paresis'
      participated. This assessment included the 'Facially Expressed Emotion Labeling
      Test' (FEEL-Test), the 'Facial-Laterality-Recognition Test' (FLR-Test) and the
      'Toronto-Alexithymie-Scale 26' (TAS 26). The results were compared with data of
      healthy people from other studies. RESULTS: In contrast to healthy patients, the
      subjects with 'facial paresis' show more difficulties in recognizing basic
      emotions; however the results are not significant. The participants show a
      significant lower level of speed (right/left: p<0.001) concerning the perception
      of facial laterality compared to healthy people. With regard to the alexithymia,
      the tested group reveals significantly higher results (p<0.001) compared to the
      unimpaired people. CONCLUSIONS: The present pilot study does not prove any impact
      on this specific patient group's ability to recognize emotions and facial
      laterality. For future studies the research question should be verified in a
      larger sample size.

PMID- 26882135
TI  - [Adaptive Performance in Vocational Rehabilitation - A Standardized Self
      assessment Questionnaire (ReHadapt) for Application in RehaAssessment(r) and
      RehaConsulting].
AB  - OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A rehabilitation training requires the ability to adapt
      to a changed living and working environment. Qualitative content analysis and
      quantitative studies were conducted to (1(st)) provide a definition of adaptive
      performance (AP) in vocational rehabilitation. (2(nd)) A self-assessment
      questionnaire (ReHadapt) to measure AP was developed and (3(rd)) its validity was
      proved by the use of exploratory (N1=344) and confirmatory factor analysis
      (N2=301; N3=254) for categorical variables. RESULTS: AP is a multidimensional
      construct which can be assessed by the ReHadapt questionnaire. The ReHadapt
      questionnaire consists of 30 items which are categorized to the 6 dimensions
      training-related AP, subject-related AP, health-related AP, social AP towards
      other participants, social AP towards trainers and identification with future
      occupation. As expected, reliability (0,81<=Cronbach's Alpha<=0,95) and validity
      are confirmed. Adaptive Performance predicts return to work mediated by the
      health-related quality of life. IMPLICATIONS: Because of its economy and
      applicability in everyday work-life the ReHadapt can be used for diagnostic and
      training in RehaAssessment((r)) and RehaConsulting.

PMID- 26882136
TI  - [Progress of Rehabilitation for Cardiac Patients Depending on the Degree of Self
      Sufficiency at Admission].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There are hardly any publications about the outcome of cardiac
      rehabilitation considering patients with an increased need for medical, nursing
      and therapeutic care. The aim of this study, which consecutively included n=387
      statutory health insurance inpatients over a period of 2 years, was to find out
      differences in outcome in self-care patients (Barthel index>70) as compared to
      patients with a need for complex care (Barthel index<=70). METHODS:
      Rehabilitation outcomes concerning physical capacity, emotional status and
      activities of daily living as measured by Barthel index, FIM index, HADS,
      clinical complications, exercise test, duration of rehabilitation and form of
      dismission were analyzed and compared between both groups. RESULTS: The
      inpatients with a Barthel index <=70 at admission were older, had a longer stay
      in hospital and in rehabilitation, developed more complications and more often
      suffered from concomitant diseases. They were readmitted to hospital more often.
      They showed a comparatively higher increase in indices of self-care and a
      significant increase in physical performance tests. CONCLUSION: Higher medical
      care expenses of multimorbid cardiac inpatients are no contraindication against
      rehabilitation, because even in this group the specific rehabilitation aims of
      the healthcare payers can be reached.

PMID- 26882137
TI  - [Structures and Practice of Psychological Services in Oncological and
      Diabetological Rehabilitation: Results of a Nationwide Survey].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the structural frame conditions and the contents of
      psychological activity in oncological rehabilitation as well as in rehabilitation
      of patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey of
      psychological services in rehabilitation facilities treating oncological patients
      and patients with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: 71 (of 145) oncological and 21 (of
      63) diabetological rehabilitation facilities participated in the survey. In both
      indication areas an average of 1.1 psychologists is in charge of 100 patients.
      Between some rehabilitation facilities, however, there are considerable
      differences concerning the psychologist/patient ratio (in oncological
      rehabilitation facilities: standard deviation (SD)=0.52; in diabetological
      rehabilitation facilities: SD=0.35). Moreover, there is large heterogeneity among
      rehabilitation facilities as to the percentages of patients obtaining
      psychological interventions and the way in which psychological services allocate
      their working time. CONCLUSION: The general set-up of psychological services in
      oncological and diabetological rehabilitation facilities (especially the low
      psychologist/patient ratio in many facilities) can partly be considered
      insufficient. The heterogeneity with respect to the structural frame conditions
      and practice of psychological services reveals the low degree of standardization
      of psychological activity in both indication areas.

PMID- 26882138
TI  - [Implementation of Work-Related Medical Rehabilitation: A Propensity Score
      Matched Comparison of Two Cohorts from 2012 and 2014].
AB  - AIM OF THE STUDY: We examined if the work-related treatment dose has changed in
      2014 than compared to 2012, if the work-related treatment dose differed between
      common medical rehabilitation (MR) and work-related medical rehabilitation (WMR),
      and if the therapy recommendations for WMR were met in Northern Germany
      rehabilitation centres in 2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who were treated
      in WMR or conventional medical rehabilitation in 2014 were matched with patients
      treated in 2012 by using propensity scores. RESULTS: Patients who were treated in
      WMR in 2014 received more work-related interventions than comparable patients in
      2012 (13.5 vs. 2.5 h) and MR patients in 2014 (13.5 vs. 1.2 h). 30 min of social
      counselling, 180 min of work-related psychological groups and 360 min of work
      related functional capacity training were realised for 93.8, 82 and 41% of the
      patients participating in WMR in 2014 CONCLUSION: WMR programs in Northern
      Germany meet the recommendations of the WMR guideline.

PMID- 26882139
TI  - [Parkinsonian Syndromes: Direct Costs of Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Parkinsonian syndromes (PS) belong to the frequent chronic
      neurological disorders that, due to their progressive character and complex
      therapeutic options, pose a large economic burden. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a
      retrospective health economic study on the treatment of Parkinson's disease,
      various socioeconomic and clinical parameters were examined. In the years 2011
      2012, a total of 29 patients with the diagnosis of a Parkinsonian syndrome who
      underwent an inpatient rehabilitation in the Department of Neurology of the
      Rehabilitation MediClin Center Bad Orb were recruited. For this group of
      patients, we calculated the direct treatment cost and also analyzed the treatment
      cost based on the German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG, version 2012). RESULTS:
      The direct medical costs amounted to ? 113.47+/-13.10 per patient per day.
      Furthermore, cost simulation and comparison revealed significantly higher cost
      per day for those patients insured via the German statutory health insurance who
      undergo inpatient care service based on the DRG-based payment (? 241.77 vs.
      171.74; p<=0.015). CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the achievement of
      transparency of the direct medical costs of Parkinson's disease treatment in the
      inpatient setting and emphasizes the cost differences compared to the G-DRG-based
      payment.

PMID- 26882140
TI  - [Position Paper of the German Association for Rehabilitation: Remedies Enhance
      Self-Determined Participation].

PMID- 26882141
TI  - [Update 2015 of the Working Group "Rehabilitation and Work" of the German Society
      for Rehabilitation Sciences].

PMID- 26882144
TI  - Negative global phosphorus budgets challenge sustainable intensification of
      grasslands.
AB  - Grasslands provide grass and fodder to sustain the growing need for ruminant meat
      and milk. Soil nutrients in grasslands are removed through withdrawal in these
      livestock products and through animal manure that originates from grasslands and
      is spread in croplands. This leads to loss of soil fertility, because globally
      most grasslands receive no mineral fertilizer. Here we show that phosphorus (P)
      inputs (mineral and organic) in global grasslands will have to increase more than
      fourfold in 2050 relative to 2005 to achieve an anticipated 80% increase in grass
      production (for milk and meat), while maintaining the soil P status. Combined
      with requirements for cropland, we estimate that mineral P fertilizer use must
      double by 2050 to sustain future crop and grassland production. Our findings
      point to the need to better understand the role of grasslands and their soil P
      status and their importance for global food security. 

PMID- 26882150
TI  - The invisible Hawley retainer.
AB  - This paper provides an overview of orthodontic retention. A clinical case is
      presented using the aesthetic Clearbow(r) to retain a hypodontia case prior to
      restorative replacement of a developmentally absent upper right lateral incisor
      tooth (UR2). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orthodontic retention is an important part of
      treatment. This is especially so in the treatment of multi-disciplinary
      hypodontia cases. The Clearbow(r), aesthetic labial bow provides superior
      aesthetics in comparison to conventional Hawley retainers.

PMID- 26882145
TI  - A new PK equivalence test for a bridging study.
AB  - In a bridging study, the plasma drug concentration-time curve is generally used
      to assess bioequivalence between the two formulations. Selected pharmacokinetic
      (PK) parameters including the area under the concentration-time curve, the
      maximum plasma concentration or peak exposure (Cmax), and drug half-life (T1/2)
      are compared to ensure comparable bioavailability of the two formulations.
      Comparability in these PK parameters, however, does not necessarily imply
      equivalence of the entire concentration-time profile. In this article, we propose
      an alternative metric of equivalence based on the maximum difference between PK
      profiles of the two formulations. A test procedure based on Bayesian analysis and
      accounting for uncertainties in model parameters is developed. Through both
      theoretical derivation and empirical simulation, it is shown that the new method
      provides better control over consumer's risk.

PMID- 26882153
TI  - British Orthodontic Society University Teachers Group Abstracts 2015.

PMID- 26882157
TI  - Corrigendum.
AB  - A modified occlusal wafer for managing partially dentate orthognathic patients -
      a case series. Bhavin Kiritkumar Soneji and Pratik Sharma. Vol 42, No. 1, pages
      45-52. DOI 10.1179/1465313314Y.0000000115. The authors list for this paper should
      have read as: Bhavin Kiritkumar Soneji, Zaid Esmail and Pratik Sharma

PMID- 26882158
TI  - Erratum.
AB  - Orthodontic scanners: what's available? Catherine B. Martin, Elsinore V.
      Chalmers, Grant T. McIntyre, Heather Cochrane and Peter A. Mossey Vol 42, No. 2,
      pages 136-144. 10.1179/1465313315Y.0000000001. The second author's name was
      misreproduced and should have read: Elinor V. Chalmers.

PMID- 26882159
TI  - As time goes by.

PMID- 26882162
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26882161
TI  - Platelet type von Willebrand disease and registry report: communication from the
      SSC of the ISTH.

PMID- 26882163
TI  - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Lung Paracoccidioidomycosis.

PMID- 26882164
TI  - Effect of heavy metals on seed germination and seedling growth of common ragweed
      and roadside ground cover legumes.
AB  - In southern Quebec, supplement roadside ground covers (i.e. Trifolium spp.)
      struggle to establish near edges of major roads and thus fail to assist turf
      recruitment. It creates empty niches vulnerable to weed establishment such as
      common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). We hypothesized that heavy metal
      stresses may drive such species shifts along roadside edges. A growth chamber
      experiment was conducted to assess effects of metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cd) on
      germination and seedling behaviors of roadside weed (A. artemisiifolia) and
      ground cover legumes (Coronilla varia, Lotus corniculatus, and Trifolium
      arvense). All metals inhibited T. arvense germination, but the effect was least
      on A. artemisiifolia. Low levels of Pb and Ni promoted germination initiation of
      A. artemisiifolia. Germination of L. corniculatus was not affected by Zn, Pb, and
      Ni, but inhibited by Cu and Cd. Germination of C. varia was decreased by Ni, Cu,
      and Cd and delayed by Zn and Pb. Metal additions hindered seedling growth of all
      test species, and the inhibitory effect on the belowground growth was greater
      than on the aboveground growth. Seedling mortality was lowest in A.
      artemisiifolia but highest in T. arvense when exposed to the metal treatments. L.
      corniculatus and C. varia seedlings survived when subjected to high levels of Zn,
      Pb, and Cd. In conclusion, the successful establishment of A. artemisiifolia
      along roadside edges can be associated with its greater tolerance of heavy
      metals. The findings also revealed that L. corniculatus is a potential candidate
      for supplement ground cover in metal-contaminated roadside edges in southern
      Quebec, especially sites contaminated with Zn and Pb. 

PMID- 26882168
TI  - Understanding Local Policy Elites' Perceptions on the Benefits and Risks
      Associated with High-Voltage Power Line Installations in the State of Arkansas.
AB  - Recently, a controversial policy debate has arisen concerning the installation of
      high-voltage power lines in northwest Arkansas. While proponents argue that such
      an installation is inevitable to efficiently and reliably support the identified
      electric load in the region, opponents claim that the lines will degrade the
      natural environment and hamper the tourism-based local economy in affected
      regions, notably in Ozark Mountain areas. Of particular interest is to understand
      how local policy elites perceive the benefits and risks associated with such
      divisive proposals, which is critical for comprehending the formation and changes
      of related government policies. Based upon the dual process theory of judgment,
      this study systematically investigates the triadic relationships between (a) more
      profound personal value predispositions, (b) affects and feelings, and (c)
      perceived benefits and risks related to the proposed installation of high-voltage
      power lines among local policy elites in the state of Arkansas. In doing so, we
      analyze original data collected from a statewide Internet survey of 420 local
      leaders and key policymakers about their opinions on the related issues, while
      considering other factors claimed by previous literature to influence risk
      perceptions, including trust, knowledge level, and demographic characteristics.
      Analytical results suggest that grid-group cultural predispositions, as deeply
      held core values within local policy elites' individual belief systems, both
      directly and indirectly-through affective feelings-shape perceived utility
      associated with the installation of high-voltage power lines. We conclude this
      article by suggesting some practical considerations for better designing policy
      addressing controversial issues of this nature.

PMID- 26882165
TI  - Severe Enterovirus Infections in Hospitalized Children in the South of England:
      Clinical Phenotypes and Causative Genotypes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most enterovirus surveillance studies lack detailed clinical data,
      which limits their clinical usefulness. This study aimed to describe the clinical
      spectrum and outcome of severe enterovirus infections in children, and to
      determine whether there are associations between causative enterovirus genotypes
      and clinical phenotypes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of microbiological and
      clinical data from a tertiary children's hospital in the South of England over a
      17-month period (2012-2013). RESULTS: In total, 30 patients were identified,
      comprising sepsis (n = 9), myocarditis (n = 8), meningitis (n = 8) and
      encephalitis (n = 5). Cases with sepsis or myocarditis were significantly younger
      than those with central nervous system disease (median age 21 and 15 days vs. 79
      days; P = 0.0244 and P = 0.0310, respectively). There was considerable diversity
      in the causative genotypes in each of the clinical phenotypes, with some
      predominance of echoviruses in the meningitis group, and coxsackie B viruses in
      the myocarditis group. Thirteen cases required mechanical ventilation, 11 cases
      inotropic support, 3 cases dialysis and 3 cases extracorporal membrane
      oxygenation. The overall mortality was 10% (sepsis group, n = 1; myocarditis
      group, n = 2). Of the survivors, 5 (19%) had long-term sequelae (myocardial
      dysfunction, n = 2; neurological sequelae, n = 3). Patients with encephalitis had
      the longest hospital stay (median: 16 days), compared with 9, 6 and 3 days in
      patients with myocarditis, sepsis and meningitis, respectively (P = 0.005).
      CONCLUSIONS: Enterovirus infections, particularly enteroviral myocarditis and
      encephalitis, can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The results show
      that there are currently no strong associations between clinical phenotypes and
      particular causative enterovirus genotypes in the South of England.

PMID- 26882170
TI  - Autism Screening or Smoke Screen and Mirrors?

PMID- 26882169
TI  - Inter-Protein Sequence Co-Evolution Predicts Known Physical Interactions in
      Bacterial Ribosomes and the Trp Operon.
AB  - Interaction between proteins is a fundamental mechanism that underlies virtually
      all biological processes. Many important interactions are conserved across a
      large variety of species. The need to maintain interaction leads to a high degree
      of co-evolution between residues in the interface between partner proteins. The
      inference of protein-protein interaction networks from the rapidly growing
      sequence databases is one of the most formidable tasks in systems biology today.
      We propose here a novel approach based on the Direct-Coupling Analysis of the co
      evolution between inter-protein residue pairs. We use ribosomal and trp operon
      proteins as test cases: For the small resp. large ribosomal subunit our approach
      predicts protein-interaction partners at a true-positive rate of 70% resp. 90%
      within the first 10 predictions, with areas of 0.69 resp. 0.81 under the ROC
      curves for all predictions. In the trp operon, it assigns the two largest
      interaction scores to the only two interactions experimentally known. On the
      level of residue interactions we show that for both the small and the large
      ribosomal subunit our approach predicts interacting residues in the system with a
      true positive rate of 60% and 85% in the first 20 predictions. We use artificial
      data to show that the performance of our approach depends crucially on the size
      of the joint multiple sequence alignments and analyze how many sequences would be
      necessary for a perfect prediction if the sequences were sampled from the same
      model that we use for prediction. Given the performance of our approach on the
      test data we speculate that it can be used to detect new interactions, especially
      in the light of the rapid growth of available sequence data. 

PMID- 26882171
TI  - Comprehensive epidemiological and genotype-phenotype analyses in a large European
      sample with idiopathic achalasia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although an eight-residue insertion in HLA-DQbeta1 has been
      recently identified as a genetic risk factor for idiopathic achalasia, other risk
      factors are still unknown. In the present study, we carried out an
      epidemiological survey and a genotype-phenotype (G*P) analysis to gain further
      insights into the etiology of achalasia. METHODS: We obtained medical data from
      696 achalasia patients and 410 controls, as well as their first-degree relatives
      (2543 of patients and 1497 of controls). For the G*P analysis, we stratified the
      patients into HLA-DQbeta1 insertion carriers and noncarriers. RESULTS: Our data
      show that patients are more often affected by viral infections before achalasia
      onset (P<0.0001, most significantly for varicella zoster virus infections). In
      addition, allergic (P=0.0005) and autoimmune disorders (P=0.0007, most
      significantly for psoriasis and Sjogren's syndrome) represent comorbid disease
      conditions. First-degree relatives of patients also show higher prevalence rates
      of allergic disorders (P=0.0007) and psoriasis (P=0.016) compared with control
      relatives. Moreover, the G*P analysis reveals that achalasia is triggered by
      pregnancies in female HLA-DQbeta1 insertion carriers (P=0.031). CONCLUSION: Our
      data point to a role of viral infections in the development of achalasia. In
      addition, they provide evidence for a relationship between achalasia and
      allergic, as well as autoimmune, disorders. Furthermore, pregnancy seems to be a
      disease-triggering factor in female HLA-DQbeta1 insertion carriers, which points
      to hormonal and/or immunosuppressive factors influencing disease development.

PMID- 26882172
TI  - Supplementation of ursodeoxycholic acid improves fat digestion and absorption in
      cystic fibrosis patients with mild liver involvement.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) supplementation is recommended for cystic
      fibrosis (CF) patients with associated liver disease. However, its effect on fat
      digestion and absorption is not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 23 patients with
      mild liver involvement, a C-mixed triglyceride breath test was performed on UDCA
      supplementation (with and without pancreatic enzymes - standard and increased
      dose) and after 1 month of UDCA withdrawal. Cumulative percentage dose recovery
      [CPDR; median (interquartile range)] has been considered to reflect lipid
      digestion and absorption. RESULTS: The enzyme supplementation resulted in a
      significant CPDR improvement [0% (0-0) vs. 4.6% (0.4-6.0); P<0.00046]. With the
      increased dose of enzymes in 16 patients with abnormal C-mixed triglyceride
      breath test results and lipase dose less than 3000 U/g of fat, higher CPDR values
      [8.6% (5.6-12.7); P<0.000027] were observed. However, a 1-month UDCA withdrawal
      resulted in a significant reduction in (P<0.000031) fat digestion and absorption
      [2.9% (0.7-5.8)]. CONCLUSION: UDCA supplementation seems to enhance lipid
      digestion and absorption in pancreatic insufficient CF patients with mild liver
      involvement. This finding points toward the potential impact of UDCA
      supplementation on nutritional status in CF patients with liver disease and
      underscores the often overlooked role of factors other than pancreatic enzymes on
      digestion and absorption of fats in CF.

PMID- 26882173
TI  - A Point-of-Care Raman Spectroscopy-Based Device for the Diagnosis of Gout and
      Pseudogout: Comparison With the Clinical Standard Microscopy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the usefulness of a novel medical device based on Raman
      spectroscopy for the rapid point-of-care diagnosis of gout and pseudogout.
      METHODS: A shoebox-sized point-of-care Raman spectroscopy (POCRS) device was
      developed for use in the diagnosis of gout and pseudogout. The device included a
      disposable syringe microfiltration kit to collect arthropathic crystals from
      synovial fluid and a customized automated Raman spectroscopy system to chemically
      identify crystal species. Diagnosis according to the findings of POCRS was
      compared with the clinical standard diagnosis based on compensated polarized
      light microscopy (CPLM) of synovial fluid aspirates collected from symptomatic
      patients (n = 174). Kappa coefficients were used to measure the agreement between
      POCRS and CPLM findings. RESULTS: Overall, POCRS and CPLM results were consistent
      in 89.7% of samples (156 of 174). For the diagnosis of gout, the kappa
      coefficient for POCRS and CPLM was 0.84 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.75
      0.94). For the diagnosis of pseudogout, the kappa coefficient for POCRS and CPLM
      was 0.61 (95% CI 0.42-0.81). CONCLUSION: Kappa coefficients indicated that there
      was excellent agreement between POCRS and CPLM for the diagnosis of gout, with
      good agreement for the diagnosis of pseudogout. The POCRS device holds the
      potential to standardize and expedite the time to clinical diagnosis of gout and
      pseudogout, especially in settings where certified operators trained for CPLM
      analysis are not available.

PMID- 26882174
TI  - Uncharged nucleoside inhibitors of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase with activity
      in cells.
AB  - We report 5-substituted uridine derivatives as novel, uncharged inhibitors of
      beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase and chemical tools for cellular applications. The
      new inhibitors reduce P-selectin glycoprotein 1 (PSGL-1) expression in human
      monocytes. Our results also provide novel insights into a unique mode of
      glycosyltransferase inhibition. 

PMID- 26882175
TI  - Imaging Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Extracellular Polymer Scaffolds with
      Amphiphilic Carbon Dots.
AB  - Biofilm formation is a critical facet of pathogenesis and resilience of human,
      animal, and plant bacteria. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) constitute
      the physical scaffolding for bacterial biofilms and thus play central roles in
      their development and virulence. We show that newly synthesized amphiphilic
      fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) readily bind to the EPS scaffold of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa, a major biofilm-forming pathogen, resulting in unprecedented
      microscopic visualization of the EPS structural features. Fluorescence microscopy
      analysis utilizing the C-dots reveals that the P. aeruginosa EPS matrix exhibits
      a remarkable dendritic morphology. The experiments further illuminate the growth
      kinetics of the EPS and the effect of external factors such as temperature. We
      also show that the amphiphilic C-dot platform enabled screening of substances
      disrupting biofilm development, specifically quorum sensing inhibitors.

PMID- 26882176
TI  - Sex and HIV serostatus differences in decision making under risk among substance
      dependent individuals.
AB  - HIV+ individuals with and without substance use disorders make significantly
      poorer decisions when information about the probability and magnitude of wins and
      losses is not available. We administered the Game of Dice Task, a measure of
      decision making under risk that provides this information explicitly, to 92 HIV+
      and 134 HIV- substance-dependent men and women. HIV+ participants made
      significantly poorer decisions than HIV- participants, but this deficit appeared
      more prominent among HIV+ women. These data indicate that decision making under
      risk is impaired among HIV+ substance-dependent individuals (SDIs). Potential
      factors for the HIV+ women's relatively greater impairment are discussed. 

PMID- 26882177
TI  - The role of attention in emotional memory enhancement in pathological and healthy
      aging.
AB  - After short delays between encoding and retrieval, healthy young participants
      have better memory performance for emotional stimuli than for neutral stimuli.
      Divided-attention paradigms suggest that this emotional enhancement of memory
      (EEM) is due to different attention mechanisms involved during encoding:
      automatic processing for negative stimuli, and controlled processing for positive
      stimuli. As far as we know, no study on the influence of these factors on EEM in
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, as
      compared to healthy young and older controls, has been conducted. Thus, the goal
      of our study was to ascertain whether the EEM in these populations depends on the
      attention resources available at encoding. Participants completed two encoding
      phases: full attention (FA) and divided attention (DA), followed by two retrieval
      phases (recognition tasks). There was no EEM on the discrimination accuracy,
      independently of group and encoding condition. Nevertheless, all participants
      used a more liberal response criterion for the negative and positive stimuli than
      for neutral ones. In AD patients, larger numbers of false recognitions for
      negative and positive stimuli than for neutral ones were observed after both
      encoding conditions. In MCI patients and in healthy older and younger controls
      this effect was observed only for negative stimuli, and it depended on the
      encoding condition. Thus, this effect was observed in young controls after both
      encoding conditions, in older controls after the DA encoding, and in MCI patients
      after the FA encoding. In conclusion, our results suggest that emotional valence
      does not always enhance discrimination accuracy. Nevertheless, in certain
      conditions related to the attention resources available at encoding, emotional
      valence, especially the negative one, enhances the subjective feeling of
      familiarity and, consequently, engenders changes in response bias. This effect
      seems to be sensitive to the age and the pathology of participants. 

PMID- 26882178
TI  - Indicators of suboptimal performance embedded in the Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth
      Edition (WMS-IV).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Recognition and visual working memory tasks from the Wechsler
      Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV) have previously been documented as useful
      indicators for suboptimal performance. The present study examined the clinical
      utility of the Dutch version of the WMS-IV (WMS-IV-NL) for the identification of
      suboptimal performance using an analogue study design. METHOD: The patient group
      consisted of 59 mixed-etiology patients; the experimental malingerers were 50
      healthy individuals who were asked to simulate cognitive impairment as a result
      of a traumatic brain injury; the last group consisted of 50 healthy controls who
      were instructed to put forth full effort. RESULTS: Experimental malingerers
      performed significantly lower on all WMS-IV-NL tasks than did the patients and
      healthy controls. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed on the
      experimental malingerers and the patients. The first model contained the visual
      working memory subtests (Spatial Addition and Symbol Span) and the recognition
      tasks of the following subtests: Logical Memory, Verbal Paired Associates,
      Designs, Visual Reproduction. The results showed an overall classification rate
      of 78.4%, and only Spatial Addition explained a significant amount of variation
      (p < .001). Subsequent logistic regression analysis and receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) analysis supported the discriminatory power of the subtest
      Spatial Addition. A scaled score cutoff of <4 produced 93% specificity and 52%
      sensitivity for detection of suboptimal performance. CONCLUSION: The WMS-IV-NL
      Spatial Addition subtest may provide clinically useful information for the
      detection of suboptimal performance.

PMID- 26882179
TI  - Transfer of training benefits requires rules we cannot see (or hear).
AB  - Although humans show a remarkable ability to make rapid and accurate decisions in
      novel situations, it is surprisingly difficult to observe transferable benefits
      when training decision-making performance. The current study investigated whether
      2 properties of decision-making-amodal processing and encoding of abstract
      relationships-could be leveraged to produce transferable training gains, compared
      with the performance of an active-control group. Experiment 1 showed that
      training responses to visually presented stimuli (letters) did not transfer to
      benefit performance for the same stimuli presented in the auditory modality.
      Therefore, training exercises the integration of modality-specific information,
      not a supramodal category. However, Experiment 2 showed that when stimuli share
      an abstract rule, training transfers to new materials that conform to the same
      modality and rule, and to analogous rules in a new modality. Therefore, transfer
      of training benefits requires an abstract code that can be generalized to new
      stimulus sets. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882180
TI  - Independent planning of timing and sequencing for complex movements.
AB  - The current studies examined the processes involved in response sequencing and
      timing initiation for complex, multiple-component movements. Participants
      performed a 3 key-press sequence in simple and choice reaction time (RT)
      paradigms (Experiment 1), or a study time paradigm that allowed the participants
      to control the foreperiod delay, which is thought to reflect advance preparation
      duration (Experiment 2). Sequencing complexity was manipulated by using either
      the same hand and effector for all key presses (low complexity) or different
      hands/effectors across key presses (high complexity) while timing initiation
      complexity was manipulated by using either an isochronous (low complexity) or
      nonisochronous (high complexity) timing pattern. Increasing sequencing complexity
      had little effect on simple RT but increased participant-controlled foreperiod
      delay (i.e., study time). Conversely, increasing timing initiation complexity had
      no effect on foreperiod delay but increased simple RT. These results provide
      compelling evidence that in a simple RT paradigm, sequencing preparation is
      performed during the foreperiod while preparation of timing initiation is delayed
      until the RT interval. Furthermore, choice RT increased with sequencing
      complexity and was relatively unaffected by timing initiation complexity,
      indicative of sequencing preparation occurring during the choice RT interval and
      preparation of timing initiation occurring online. Collectively, the data
      indicate a dissociation and independence of the preparation of timing initiation
      and sequencing for complex movements. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882181
TI  - Dance expertise modulates behavioral and psychophysiological responses to
      affective body movement.
AB  - The present study shows how motor expertise increases individuals' sensitivity to
      others' affective body movement. This enhanced sensitivity is evident in the
      experts' behavior and physiology. Nineteen affective movement experts
      (professional ballet dancers) and 24 controls watched 96 video clips of
      emotionally expressive body movements while they performed an affect rating task
      (subjective response), and their galvanic skin response was recorded
      (physiological response). The movements in the clips were either sad or happy,
      and in half of the trials, movements were played in the order in which they are
      learned (forward presentation), and in the other half, movements were played
      backward (control condition). Results showed that motor expertise in affective
      body movement specifically modulated both behavioral and physiological
      sensitivity to others' affective body movement, and that this sensitivity is
      particularly strong when movements are shown in the way they are learnt (forward
      presentation). The evidence is discussed within current theories of
      proprioceptive arousal feedback and motor simulation accounts. (PsycINFO Database
      Record

PMID- 26882182
TI  - Can multiple previous treatment-requiring rejections affect biventricular
      myocardial function in heart transplant recipients? A two-dimensional speckle
      tracking study.

PMID- 26882183
TI  - A real world single centre experience using the STENTYS self-expanding coronary
      stent.

PMID- 26882184
TI  - Fontan circulation causes early, severe liver damage. Should we offer patients a
      tailored strategy?
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients with Fontan circulation, the liver is profoundly affected
      by chronic venous stasis. Little is known about early hepatic changes in this
      population. METHODS: We performed echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, liver
      elastography, cardiac catheterization, esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy and
      calculated MELD-XI score in 64 Fontan patients (69% minors), at an interval of 1
      15years since Fontan. RESULTS: Cardiac output remained stable in the first 5years
      after Fontan, then significantly decreased (r=-0.45, p(r=0)=0.003). NYHA class
      significantly increased after Fontan. Patients in NYHA class II/III (n=21, 14
      minors) had significantly higher hepatic pressures, but normal ventricular
      function and pulmonary vascular resistances (PVR). Patients with pulmonary
      arterial pressure (PAP) >=15mmHg (n=12, 6 minors) and those with PVR>=2WU*m(2)
      (n=27, 25 minors), had higher hepatic pressures (p<0.0001), a higher incidence of
      liver collaterals and/or esophageal varices (p<0.0001) and splenomegaly (p<0.02).
      Liver stiffness (LS) was elevated in most patients (median, 25th-75th
      percentile:17.3KPa, 14.1-21.4). It rapidly increased during the first 5-years
      after Fontan, compared to the following 5-years (from 12.2KPa, 9.8-14.1 to
      17.5KPa, 14.3-24.5, p=0.007), then remained stable (19.1KPa, 16.9-22.6, p=0.60).
      MELD-XI score increased linearly with the time interval since Fontan (r=0.31,
      p(r=0)=0.01). For patients above 12years we found a linear correlation between LS
      and MELD-XI score in the 6-15years period after Fontan (r=0.40. p(r=0)=0.04). The
      overall incidence of established liver cirrhosis was 22%. CONCLUSIONS: This is
      the largest study showing that Fontan circulation prompts early, progressive and
      eventually irreversible liver damage. Precautions should be taken immediately
      after Fontan, to protect this fragile population.

PMID- 26882185
TI  - A girl with 'six needles' in the heart.

PMID- 26882186
TI  - Antidepressant use, clinical depression and mortality in patients with heart
      failure.

PMID- 26882187
TI  - Details about diabetes mellitus in reported patients with Takotsubo syndrome, and
      its importance in unraveling the pathophysiology of the disease.

PMID- 26882188
TI  - Aortic regurgitation secondary to an aberrant mitral chord traversing the aortic
      valve.

PMID- 26882189
TI  - Comparing inflammatory cell density in the myocardium and coronary arteries in
      rheumatoid arthritis patients versus controls with myocardial infarction: A post
      mortem case-control study.

PMID- 26882190
TI  - Levosimendan meta-analyses: Is there a pattern in the effect on mortality?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Levosimendan is an inodilator developed for treatment of acute heart
      failure and other cardiac conditions where the use of an inodilator is considered
      appropriate. Levosimendan has been studied in different therapeutic settings
      including acutely decompensated chronic heart failure, advanced heart failure,
      right ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, septic shock, and cardiac and non
      cardiac surgery. This variety of data has been re-analysed in 25 meta-analyses
      from 15 different international research groups, based on different rationales to
      select the studies included. METHODS: We here review all previously published
      meta-analyses on levosimendan to determine any common denominators for its
      effects on patient mortality. In addition, we also perform a comparative meta
      analysis of the six phase II and III randomized double-blind trials which were
      taken into consideration by the regulatory authorities for the purpose of
      introducing levosimendan into the market. RESULTS: Irrespective of clinical
      setting or comparator, all meta-analyses consistently show benefits for
      levosimendan, with lower relative risk (or odds ratio) for patient mortality. In
      3/25 of the meta-analyses these beneficial trends did not reach statistical
      significance, while in 22/25 significance was reached. The relative risk is
      consistent overall, and very similar to that obtained in our own meta-analysis
      that considered only the 'regulatory' studies. CONCLUSION: The existing meta
      analyses, now based on a population of over 6000 patients, provide the general
      message of significant benefits for levosimendan in terms of patient mortality.
      The weight of evidence is now clearly in favour of usefulness/efficacy of
      levosimendan, with data from multiple randomized trials and meta-analyses.

PMID- 26882191
TI  - Ablation of an electrical storm in a patient with giant cell myocarditis using
      continuous flow left ventricular assist device and percutaneous right ventricular
      assist device.

PMID- 26882192
TI  - Efficacy and safety of bivalirudin versus heparin in patients undergoing
      percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled
      trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of bivalirudin versus heparin in patients
      undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)(1) remains controversial in
      to date. Our meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of
      bivalirudin compared with heparin in patients undergoing PCI. METHODS: We
      searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Clinical Trials.gov databases for
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs).(2) The primary efficacy endpoint was
      mortality. Secondary efficacy endpoints were incidence of major adverse
      cardiovascular events (MACE),(3) myocardial infarction (MI),(4) target vessel
      revascularization (TVR)(5) and stent thrombosis up to 30days and 1year. The
      safety endpoint was major bleeding up to 30days. Subgroup analyses were also
      conducted according to the clinical status of patients and the different use rate
      of GPI in two groups. RESULTS: 17 RCTs met the including criteria and 40,655
      patients were included. No significant difference was observed in mortality (risk
      ratio [RR](6) 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI](7) 0.77 to 1.05; p=0.19;
      I(2)=20%) and the risk of MACE (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.09; p=0.45; I(2)=37%).
      Bivalirudin increased the risk of MI (RR 1.10; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.19; p=0.01;
      I(2)=13%), TVR (RR 1.20; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.38; p=0.01; I(2)=6%) and stent
      thrombosis (RR 1.32; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.60; p=0.006; I(2)=0%) but decreased the
      risk of major bleeding (RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.61; p<0.00001; I(2)=0).
      CONCLUSION: Bivalirudin is associated with higher risk of MI, stent thrombosis
      and TVR but lower risk of major bleeding compared with heparin. The reduction of
      major bleeding is associated with the glycoprotein platelet IIb/IIIa inhibitor
      (GPI)(8) use rate.

PMID- 26882193
TI  - "Leadless" pacing of the left ventricle in adult congenital heart disease.

PMID- 26882194
TI  - Massive myocardial aneurysm due to inferior to posterior myocardial infarction
      complicated with right-sided heart failure in a 36-year-old male.

PMID- 26882195
TI  - Molecular functionalization of surfaces for device applications.

PMID- 26882196
TI  - The right prescriptions for reducing diagnostic errors?: Institute of Medicine
      report issues wakeup call on errors, but questions remain concerning key
      recommendations.

PMID- 26882197
TI  - Young investigator challenge: Validation and optimization of immunohistochemistry
      protocols for use on cellient cell block specimens.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to establish a process for
      validating immunohistochemistry (IHC) protocols for use on the Cellient cell
      block (CCB) system. METHODS: Thirty antibodies were initially tested on CCBs
      using IHC protocols previously validated on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded
      tissue (FFPE). Cytology samples were split to generate thrombin cell blocks (TCB)
      and CCBs. IHC was performed in parallel. Antibody immunoreactivity was scored,
      and concordance or discordance in immunoreactivity between the TCBs and CCBs for
      each sample was determined. Criteria for validation of an antibody were defined
      as concordant staining in expected positive and negative cells, in at least 5
      samples each, and concordance in at least 90% of the samples total. Antibodies
      that failed initial validation were retested after alterations in IHC conditions.
      RESULTS: Thirteen of the 30 antibodies (43%) did not meet initial validation
      criteria. Of those, 8 antibodies (calretinin, clusters of differentiation [CD] 3,
      CD20, CDX2, cytokeratin 20, estrogen receptor, MOC-31, and p16) were optimized
      for CCBs and subsequently validated. Despite several alterations in conditions, 3
      antibodies (Ber-EP4, D2-40, and paired box gene 8 [PAX8]) were not successfully
      validated. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-half of the antibodies tested in the current
      study failed initial validation using IHC conditions that were established in the
      study laboratory for FFPE material. Although some antibodies subsequently met
      validation criteria after optimization of conditions, a few continued to
      demonstrate inadequate immunoreactivity. These findings emphasize the importance
      of validating IHC protocols for methanol-fixed tissue before clinical use and
      suggest that optimization for alcohol fixation may be needed to obtain adequate
      immunoreactivity on CCBs.

PMID- 26882198
TI  - Aurophilicity in Action: Fine-Tuning the Gold(I)-Gold(I) Distance in the Excited
      State To Modulate the Emission in a Series of Dinuclear Homoleptic Gold(I)-NHC
      Complexes.
AB  - The solution-state emission profiles of a series of dinuclear Au(I) complexes 4-6
      of the general formula Au2(NHC-(CH2)n-NHC)2Br2, where NHC = N-benzylbenzimidazol
      2-ylidene and n = 1-3, were found to be markedly different from each other and
      dependent on the presence of excess bromide. The addition of excess bromide to
      the solutions of 4 and 6 leads to red shifts of ca. 60 nm, and in the case of 5,
      which is nonemissive when neat, green luminescence emerges. A detailed
      computational study undertaken to rationalize the observed behavior revealed the
      determining role aurophilicity plays in the photophysics of these compounds, and
      the formation of exciplexes between the complex cations and solvent molecules or
      counterions was demonstrated to significantly decrease the Au-Au distance in the
      triplet excited state. A direct dependence of the emission wavelength on the
      strength of the intracationic aurophilic contact allows for a controlled
      manipulation of the emission energy by varying the linker length of a diNHC
      ligand and by judicial choice of counterions or solvent. Such unique stimuli
      responsive solution-state behavior is of interest to prospective applications in
      medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and sensing. In the solid, the investigated
      complexes are intensely phosphorescent and, notably, 5 and 6 exhibit reversible
      luminescent mechanochromism arising from amorphization accompanied by the loss of
      co-crystallized methanol molecules. The mechano-responsive properties are also
      likely to be related to changes in bromide coordination and the ensuing
      alterations of intramolecular aurophilic interactions. Somewhat surprisingly, the
      photophysics of NHC ligand precursors 2 and 3 is related to the formation of
      ground-state associates with bromide counterions through hydrogen bonding,
      whereas 1 does not appear to bind its counterions.

PMID- 26882200
TI  - Error in Term Definition.

PMID- 26882201
TI  - SUICIDAL DEPRESSED PATIENTS RESPOND LESS WELL TO ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN THE SHORT
      TERM.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors could be associated to a poor
      response to antidepressant treatment, but the exclusion of suicidal patients from
      randomized clinical trials restricts the available knowledge. In this study, we
      aimed at defining more precisely the response to antidepressants among suicidal
      patients and the threshold of suicidality that best predicts a poor response.
      METHOD: We investigated the short-term response to a new antidepressant treatment
      of 4,041 depressed outpatients depending on their suicidal status (passive or
      active suicidal ideation (SI), history of suicide attempts [SAs]), either self
      rated or clinician-rated. Depression outcomes, measured with the Hospital Anxiety
      and Depression Scale, and remission rates were compared depending on suicidal
      status at baseline using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Using either a
      qualitative or a quantitative approach to measure SI, we found that suicidal
      patients were less likely to improve or attain remission, but not more likely to
      worsen, than nonsuicidal patients. In the multivariate analyses, SI (odds ratio
      [OR] = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.65) and a history of SA (OR =
      1.39; 95% CI: 1.16-1.66) were the best predictors of nonremission, independently
      of the class of antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSION: Antidepressant treatment
      seems to be less effective among those patients that need it most. Clinical
      trials including suicidal patients are needed to investigate specific treatment
      options.

PMID- 26882199
TI  - Structure of a Bacterial Virus DNA-Injection Protein Complex Reveals a Decameric
      Assembly with a Constricted Molecular Channel.
AB  - The multi-layered cell envelope structure of Gram-negative bacteria represents
      significant physical and chemical barriers for short-tailed phages to inject
      phage DNA into the host cytoplasm. Here we show that a DNA-injection protein of
      bacteriophage Sf6, gp12, forms a 465-kDa, decameric assembly in vitro. The
      electron microscopic structure of the gp12 assembly shows a ~150-A, mushroom-like
      architecture consisting of a crown domain and a tube-like domain, which embraces
      a 25-A-wide channel that could precisely accommodate dsDNA. The constricted
      channel suggests that gp12 mediates rapid, uni-directional injection of phage DNA
      into host cells by providing a molecular conduit for DNA translocation. The
      assembly exhibits a 10-fold symmetry, which may be a common feature among DNA
      injection proteins of P22-like phages and may suggest a symmetry mismatch with
      respect to the 6-fold symmetric phage tail. The gp12 monomer is highly flexible
      in solution, supporting a mechanism for translocation of the protein through the
      conduit of the phage tail toward the host cell envelope, where it assembles into
      a DNA-injection device. 

PMID- 26882202
TI  - Quantum Coherence Facilitates Efficient Charge Separation at a MoS2/MoSe2 van der
      Waals Junction.
AB  - Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2, M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) hold
      great potential in optoelectronics and photovoltaics. To achieve efficient light
      to-electricity conversion, electron-hole pairs must dissociate into free charges.
      Coulomb interaction in MX2 often exceeds the charge transfer driving force,
      leading one to expect inefficient charge separation at a MX2 heterojunction.
      Experiments defy the expectation. Using time-domain density functional theory and
      nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics, we show that quantum coherence and donor
      acceptor delocalization facilitate rapid charge transfer at a MoS2/MoSe2
      interface. The delocalization is larger for electron than hole, resulting in
      longer coherence and faster transfer. Stronger NA coupling and higher acceptor
      state density accelerate electron transfer further. Both electron and hole
      transfers are subpicosecond, which is in agreement with experiments. The
      transfers are promoted primarily by the out-of-plane Mo-X modes of the acceptors.
      Lighter S atoms, compared to Se, create larger NA coupling for electrons than
      holes. The relatively slow relaxation of the "hot" hole suggests long-distance
      bandlike transport, observed in organic photovoltaics. The electron-hole
      recombination is notably longer across the MoS2/MoSe2 interface than in isolated
      MoS2 and MoSe2, favoring long-lived charge separation. The atomistic, time-domain
      studies provide valuable insights into excitation dynamics in two-dimensional
      transition metal dichalcogenides. 

PMID- 26882203
TI  - Melatonin prevents cisplatin-induced primordial follicle loss via suppression of
      PTEN/AKT/FOXO3a pathway activation in the mouse ovary.
AB  - Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a major side effect of chemotherapy in young
      cancer patients. To develop pharmaceutical agents for preserving fertility, it is
      necessary to understand the mechanisms responsible for chemotherapy-induced
      follicle loss. Here, we show that treatment with cisplatin, a widely used
      anticancer drug, depleted the dormant follicle pool in mouse ovaries by excessive
      activation of the primordial follicles, without inducing follicular apoptosis.
      Moreover, we show that co-treatment with the antioxidant melatonin prevented
      cisplatin-induced disruption of the follicle reserve. We quantified the various
      stages of growing follicles, including primordial, primary, secondary, and
      antral, to demonstrate that cisplatin treatment alone significantly decreased,
      whereas melatonin co-treatment preserved, the number of primordial follicles in
      the ovary. Importantly, analysis of the PTEN/AKT/FOXO3a pathway demonstrated that
      melatonin significantly decreased the cisplatin-mediated inhibitory
      phosphorylation of PTEN, a key negative regulator of dormant follicle activation.
      Moreover, melatonin prevented the cisplatin-induced activating phosphorylation of
      AKT, GSK3beta, and FOXO3a, all of which trigger follicle activation.
      Additionally, we show that melatonin inhibited the cisplatin-induced inhibitory
      phosphorylation and nuclear export of FOXO3a, which is required in the nucleus to
      maintain dormancy of the primordial follicles. These findings demonstrate that
      melatonin attenuates cisplatin-induced follicle loss by preventing the
      phosphorylation of PTEN/AKT/FOXO3a pathway members; thus, melatonin is a
      potential therapeutic agent for ovarian protection and fertility preservation
      during chemotherapy in female cancer patients. 

PMID- 26882204
TI  - Sexual function and help seeking for urinary incontinence in postmenopausal
      women.
AB  - Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition, especially in middle-aged and
      older women. UI is known to affect sexual function. Many women with UI do not
      consult a doctor about their condition. The aim of this study was to determine
      the relationship of sexual function and help seeking in postmenopausal women with
      urinary incontinence. This cross-sectional correlation study took place from
      March to May 2012. The subjects were selected by a clustered sampling method from
      various zones of Rasht (North of Iran). The data were collected using personal
      data forms, Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis, Incontinence
      Severity Index, and Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were
      analyzed by SPSS17 at the significant level of P < .05 and then were compared by
      parametric and nonparametric tests. A total of 313 menopausal women aged 45 to 60
      years (mean 52.9) were recruited for the study. The mean sexual function score
      was 31.07 +/- 7.52. Only 27.3% of subjects seek care for urinary incontinence.
      There was a significant correlation between sexual function and help seeking. The
      results of this study indicate that there is a significant correlation between
      sexual function and help seeking in postmenopausal women who participated in the
      present study. Health-care professionals should pay more attention to sexual
      symptoms of UI and make patients aware of available treatments. 

PMID- 26882205
TI  - Perceived exercise barriers and their associations with regular exercise across
      three age groups of rural women in Taiwan.
AB  - The purposes of the study were to explore the differences in perceived exercise
      barriers across three age groups of Taiwanese rural women (30-50, 51-70, and >70
      years old) and to examine the associations between perceived exercise barriers
      and regular exercise behavior. A total of 227 women completed the Self-Reported
      Exercise Behavior and the Perceived Exercise Barrier Scale. Women older than 70
      reported higher physical and psychological barriers and lower administrative
      barriers than did the younger group. Women who did not exercise regularly tended
      to have a higher perception of exercise barriers.

PMID- 26882206
TI  - The Proposal for Smoke-Free Public Housing: Benefits, Challenges, and
      Opportunities for 2 Million Residents.

PMID- 26882207
TI  - Adverse Trends in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality among Young New Yorkers,
      Particularly Young Black Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality has been on the decline in the
      United States for decades. However, declines in IHD mortality have been slower in
      certain groups, including young women and black individuals. HYPOTHESIS: Trends
      in IHD vary by age, sex, and race in New York City (NYC). Young female minorities
      are a vulnerable group that may warrant renewed efforts to reduce IHD. METHODS:
      IHD mortality trends were assessed in NYC 1980-2008. NYC Vital Statistics data
      were obtained for analysis. Age-specific IHD mortality rates and confidence
      bounds were estimated. Trends in IHD mortality were compared by age and
      race/ethnicity using linear regression of log-transformed mortality rates. Rates
      and trends in IHD mortality rates were compared between subgroups defined by age,
      sex and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: The decline in IHD mortality rates slowed in
      1999 among individuals aged 35-54 years but not >=55. IHD mortality rates were
      higher among young men than women age 35-54, but annual declines in IHD mortality
      were slower for women. Black women age 35-54 had higher IHD mortality rates and
      slower declines in IHD mortality than women of other race/ethnicity groups. IHD
      mortality trends were similar in black and white men age 35-54. CONCLUSIONS: The
      decline in IHD mortality rates has slowed in recent years among younger, but not
      older, individuals in NYC. There was an association between sex and
      race/ethnicity on IHD mortality rates and trends. Young black women may benefit
      from targeted medical and public health interventions to reduce IHD mortality.

PMID- 26882208
TI  - Discovery of Potent Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) Inhibitors by Pharmacophore
      Based Virtual Screening.
AB  - There is an increasing interest in the development of soluble epoxide hydrolase
      (sEH) inhibitors, which block the degradation of endogenous anti-inflammatory
      epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Within this study, a set of pharmacophore models for
      sEH inhibitors was developed. The Specs database was virtually screened and a
      cell-free sEH activity assay was used for the biological investigation of virtual
      hits. In total, out of 48 tested compounds, 19 were sEH inhibitors with IC50 < 10
      MUM, representing a prospective true positive hit rate of 40%. Six of these
      compounds displayed IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. The most potent
      compound 21, a urea derivative, inhibited sEH with an IC50 = 4.2 nM. The applied
      approach also enabled the identification of diverse chemical scaffolds, e.g. the
      pyrimidinone derivative 29 (IC50 = 277 nM). The generated pharmacophore model set
      therefore represents a valuable tool for the selection of compounds for
      biological testing.

PMID- 26882209
TI  - Ocular manifestations of X-linked dominant FAM58A mutation in toe syndactyly,
      telecanthus, anogenital, and renal malformations ('STAR') syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the newest ophthalmic manifestations of a mother-daughter pair
      diagnosed with toe syndactyly, telecanthus, anogenital and renal malformations
      (STAR) syndrome, a rare X-linked developmental disorder. METHODS: The medical and
      ophthalmic records were reviewed for a mother-daughter pair diagnosed with FAM58A
      confirmed STAR syndrome on chromosome Xq28. RESULTS: The mother at birth had left
      foot syndactyly, telecanthus, anal stenosis, and clitoromegaly and was told at 19
      she had a hypoplastic left kidney. The daughter, born at 38 weeks after a
      complication of oligohydramnios, had a more severe presentation, demonstrating
      toe syndactyly, telecanthus, anal stenosis, clitoromegaly, bilateral renal
      hypoplasia, ureteral reflux, urogenital sinus, and congenital heart disease
      amongst others. The pair shared similar ophthalmic findings, though those of the
      daughter were more pronounced. They included bilateral, medial upper eyelid
      prominences with madarosis, mild peripapillary atrophy, and soft macular drusen
      with the daughter also displaying optic nerve hypoplasia and peripheral anterior
      synechia in the iridocorneal angle. CONCLUSION: These ophthalmic findings are the
      first reported to our knowledge in association with STAR syndrome. The literature
      frequently demonstrates that patients with developmental anomalies often have
      ocular manifestations, warranting a full ophthalmic examination when the
      diagnosis of STAR syndrome has been made or is being considered.

PMID- 26882210
TI  - Theoretical Characterization of the H-Bonding and Stacking Potential of Two
      Nonstandard Nucleobases Expanding the Genetic Alphabet.
AB  - We report a quantum chemical characterization of the non-natural (synthetic) H
      bonded base pair formed by 6-amino-5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridone (Z) and 2
      aminoimidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazin-4(8H)-one (P). The Z:P base pair, orthogonal to
      the classical G:C base pair, has been introduced into DNA molecules to expand the
      genetic code. Our results indicate that the Z:P base pair closely mimics the G:C
      base pair in terms of both structure and stability. To clarify the role of the
      NO2 group on the C5 position of the Z base, we compared the stability of the Z:P
      base pair with that of base pairs having different functional groups at the C5
      position of Z. Our results indicate that the electron-donating/-withdrawing
      properties of the group on C5 have a clear impact on the stability of the Z:P
      base pair, with the strong electron-withdrawing nitro group achieving the largest
      stabilizing effect on the H-bonding interaction and the strong electron-donating
      NH2 group destabilizing the Z:P pair by almost 4 kcal/mol. Finally, our gas-phase
      and in-water calculations confirm that the Z-nitro group reinforces the stacking
      interaction with its adjacent purine or pyrimidine ring. 

PMID- 26882211
TI  - Stem cell transplantation for the treatment of immunodeficiency in children:
      current status and hopes for the future.
AB  - Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are rare inherited disorders affecting immune
      function and can be life-threatening if not treated. Haematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation (HSCT) offers a curative approach for many of these disorders and
      gene therapy is increasingly used as an alternative therapeutic strategy for
      patients lacking a suitable donor. Early diagnosis, improved supportive care and
      advances in gene and cell therapies have resulted in increased survival rates and
      improved quality of life. This review describes current strategies employed to
      improve outcomes in PID, focusing on new developments in HSCT, gene and cell
      therapy. We also address the challenges associated with newborn screening (NBS)
      programmes and novel mutations identified through improved diagnostic technology.

PMID- 26882212
TI  - Feasibility of boar taint classification using a portable Raman device.
AB  - The feasibility of Raman spectroscopy for boar taint detection and classification
      was investigated using tainted and untainted backfat samples of 46 boars. For
      this exploratory study, backfat samples were selected according to their levels
      of androstenone and skatole as determined by gas chromatography and their sensory
      score by a trained panel. Raman spectra were collected with a portable device at
      freshly cut surfaces of frozen-thawed samples. Both inner and outer layers of
      subcutaneous fat were studied. Their varying level of unsaturation was reflected
      in the Raman spectra. Partial least squares regression discriminant analysis (PLS
      DA) was applied to the spectra together with various pre-processing methods. A
      model using only spectra obtained at the inner layer resulted in the highest
      classification accuracy for boar taint (81% of samples correctly classified). The
      discrimination is shown to reflect differences in the degree of fatty acid
      saturation between tainted and untainted boars. In conclusion, the findings
      suggest that with further development Raman spectroscopy may be used to classify
      boar taint. 

PMID- 26882213
TI  - Effect of the use of entire male fat in the production of reduced salt fermented
      sausages.
AB  - The effect of the use of entire male fat and salt reduction in dry fermented
      sausages was evaluated. Four different sausage formulations were manufactured
      with back fat from gilt or entire male and two different salt contents. The
      physicochemical parameters, sensory characteristics, texture, lipid composition,
      volatile compounds and boar taint compounds were analysed. The use of entire male
      fat produced the highest weight losses producing high hardness and chewiness
      while salt reduction produced a decrease in hardness. Entire male sausages had
      the lowest oxidation values due to the low content of C18:2n6 while salt
      reduction did not affect the oxidation process. Boar taint odour was due to the
      presence of androstenone and skatole but entire male fat sausages had different
      generations of volatile compounds. The presence of androstenone was perceived by
      consumers as abnormal odours but also other sausage characteristics such as
      texture (high hardness) and oxidation were detected due to the different chemical
      compositions of entire males versus gilts. 

PMID- 26882214
TI  - Antifouling Polymer Brushes Displaying Antithrombogenic Surface Properties.
AB  - The contact of blood with artificial materials generally leads to immediate
      protein adsorption (fouling), which mediates subsequent biological processes such
      as platelet adhesion and activation leading to thrombosis. Recent progress in the
      preparation of surfaces able to prevent protein fouling offers a potential avenue
      to mitigate this undesirable effect. In the present contribution, we have
      prepared several types of state-of-the-art antifouling polymer brushes on
      polycarbonate plastic substrate, and investigated their ability to prevent
      platelet adhesion and thrombus formation under dynamic flow conditions using
      human blood. Moreover, we compared the ability of such brushes--grafted on quartz
      via an adlayer analogous to that used on polycarbonate--to prevent protein
      adsorption from human blood plasma, assessed for the first time by means of an
      ultrahigh frequency acoustic wave sensor. Results show that the prevention of
      such a phenomenon constitutes one promising route toward enhanced resistance to
      thrombus formation, and suggest that antifouling polymer brushes could be of
      service in biomedical applications requiring extensive blood-material surface
      contact.

PMID- 26882215
TI  - Tunable Radiation Response in Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Gate Dielectrics for Low
      Voltage Graphene Electronics.
AB  - Solution-processed semiconductor and dielectric materials are attractive for
      future lightweight, low-voltage, flexible electronics, but their response to
      ionizing radiation environments is not well understood. Here, we investigate the
      radiation response of graphene field-effect transistors employing multilayer,
      solution-processed zirconia self-assembled nanodielectrics (Zr-SANDs) with ZrOx
      as a control. Total ionizing dose (TID) testing is carried out in situ using a
      vacuum ultraviolet source to a total radiant exposure (RE) of 23.1 MUJ/cm(2). The
      data reveal competing charge density accumulation within and between the
      individual dielectric layers. Additional measurements of a modified Zr-SAND show
      that varying individual layer thicknesses within the gate dielectric tuned the
      TID response. This study thus establishes that the radiation response of graphene
      electronics can be tailored to achieve a desired radiation sensitivity by
      incorporating hybrid organic-inorganic gate dielectrics. 

PMID- 26882216
TI  - Incidence rates of suicidal behaviors and treated depression in patients with and
      without psoriatic arthritis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate rates of suicidal behaviors and treated depression in
      patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in comparison to non-PsA patients.
      METHODS: Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we conducted a cohort
      study of patients with PsA compared to non-PsA patients. Patients with codes for
      suicidal behaviors (ideation, attempts, and suicide) and treated depression
      (diagnosis plus anti-depressant prescription) recorded during follow-up were
      identified as cases. We estimated incidence rates (IRs) and incidence rate ratios
      (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome and stratified
      results in the PsA cohort by receipt of systemic PsA drugs. RESULTS: The rates of
      suicide ideation, attempt, and suicide were similar for PsA and non-PsA patients
      [IRR = 0.99 (95%CI: 0.67-1.47), IRR = 1.07 (95%CI: 0.86-1.34), and 0.34 (95%CI:
      0.05-2.48), respectively] and rates of suicidal behaviors were slightly higher
      among PsA patients who received PsA drugs compared to those who did not. PsA
      patients had slightly higher rate of treated depression compared to non-PsA
      patients [IRR = 1.38 (95%CI: 1.27-1.49)] and were significantly higher in PsA
      patients who received drugs [IRR = 1.59 (95%CI: 1.35-1.86)]. CONCLUSIONS: Rate of
      depression was higher in patients with PsA compared to non-PsA patients. The rate
      of suicidal behaviors was similar between the two cohorts.

PMID- 26882217
TI  - A note on the magnitude of hazard ratios.

PMID- 26882218
TI  - Novel drug discovery approaches for treating arenavirus infections.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Arenaviruses are enveloped negative stranded viruses endemic in
      Africa, Europe and the Americas. Several arenaviruses cause severe viral
      hemorrhagic fever with high mortality in humans and pose serious public health
      threats. So far, there are no FDA-approved vaccines and therapeutic options are
      restricted to the off-label use of ribavirin. The major human pathogenic
      arenaviruses are classified as Category A agents and require biosafety level
      (BSL)-4 containment. AREAS COVERED: Herein, the authors cover the recent progress
      in the development of BSL2 surrogate systems that recapitulate the entire or
      specific steps of the arenavirus life cycle and are serving as powerful platforms
      for drug discovery. Furthermore, they highlight the identification of selected
      novel drugs that target individual steps of arenavirus multiplication describing
      their discovery, their targets, and mode of action. EXPERT OPINION: The lack of
      effective drugs against arenaviruses is an unmatched challenge in current medical
      virology. Novel technologies have provided important insights into the basic
      biology of arenaviruses and the mechanisms underlying virus-host cell
      interaction. Significant progress of our understanding of how the virus invades
      the host cell paved the way to develop powerful novel screening platforms. Recent
      efforts have provided a range of promising drug candidates currently under
      evaluation for therapeutic intervention in vivo.

PMID- 26882219
TI  - Exposure to electromagnetic field attenuates oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced
      microglial cell death by reducing intracellular Ca(2+) and ROS.
AB  - Purpose The aim of this research was to demonstrate the protective effects of
      electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the human microglial cell line, HMO6,
      against ischemic cell death induced by in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).
      Materials and methods HMO6 cells were cultured for 4 h under OGD with or without
      exposure to EMF with different combinations of frequencies and intensities (10,
      50, or 100 Hz/1 mT and 50 Hz/0.01, 0.1, or 1 mT). Cell survival, intracellular
      calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Results OGD
      caused significant HMO6 cell death as well as elevation of intracellular Ca(2+)
      and ROS levels. Among different combinations of EMF frequencies and intensities,
      50 Hz/1 mT EMF was the most potent to attenuate OGD-induced cell death and
      intracellular Ca(2+) and ROS levels. A significant but less potent protective
      effect was also found at 10 Hz/1 mT, whereas no protective effect was found at
      other combinations of EMF. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor reversed OGD-induced ROS
      production and cell death, while NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial respiration
      chain complex II inhibitors did not affect cell death. Conclusions 50 Hz/1 mT EMF
      protects human microglial cells from OGD-induced cell death by interfering with
      OGD-induced elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) and ROS levels, and xanthine
      oxidase is one of the main mediators involved in OGD-induced HMO6 cell death. Non
      invasive treatment of EMF radiation may be clinically useful to attenuate hypoxic
      ischemic brain injury. 

PMID- 26882220
TI  - A recurrent TP63 mutation causing EEC3 and Rapp-Hodgkin syndromes.
AB  - The ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and cleft lip/palate syndrome 3 (EEC3;
      OMIM #604292), the Rapp-Hodgkin syndrome (RHS), and various other syndromes are
      caused by mutations in the TP63 gene, which encodes a p53-like transcription
      factor. Here, we report on a woman aged 37 years and her daughter aged 3 years
      with the previously reported c.1028G>A (p.Arg343Gln) mutation in exon 8 of TP63.
      The mother lacked ectrodactyly, indicating a diagnosis of RHS, whereas the girl
      presented with all three major features (ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia,
      clefting) and different minor features (including small and brittle nails, and
      recurrent conjunctivitis believed to be because of stenotic and blocked
      nasolacrimal ducts) of the EEC3 syndrome. The EEC and EEC-like syndromes are
      usually distinguished on the basis of the clinical findings; however, these
      syndromes show a huge variability in features because of variable expressivity
      and incomplete penetrance, making the correct clinical assignment difficult. In
      EEC3 syndrome and RHS, a clustering of mutations in the different domains of TP63
      can be observed. Our findings indicate the clinical variability with TP63
      mutations and underline that in the case of two syndromes being clinically
      possible in a patient, the final diagnosis should be assigned only after
      molecular diagnostics.

PMID- 26882221
TI  - Relaxation Editing Using Long-Lived States and Coherences for Analysis of
      Mixtures.
AB  - Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful tool for structural and dynamical
      studies of molecules. Although widely applicable, the search for novel spectral
      editing methods that facilitate spectral assignment of peaks in high-resolution
      NMR is highly desirable. Earlier, the sensitivity of lifetime of spin states
      (spin-lattice relaxation time, T1) and coherences (spin-spin relaxation time, T2)
      to the immediate environment was utilized for spectral editing in solution NMR.
      Long-lived states (LLS) and coherences (LLCs) were recently uncovered to have
      longer and more domain sensitive lifetime than other type of states and
      coherences. Herein, this longevity and increased sensitivity of LLS and LLC
      lifetime is utilized for more enhanced dispersion in relaxation editing in NMR.
      The generality of the method as a powerful tool in spectral editing is confirmed
      with molecules containing a mixture of strongly and weakly coupled spin systems
      and finally with metabolomic mixture. Extension to insensitive nuclei enhanced by
      polarization transfer (INEPT), correlation spectroscopy (COSY), and heteronuclear
      single quantum coherence (HSQC) are also demonstrated. 

PMID- 26882222
TI  - Evaluation of a Novel Mobile Exergame in a School-Based Environment.
AB  - Physical inactivity is increasing among children globally and has been directly
      linked to the growing problems of overweight and obesity. We aim to assess the
      impact of a new mobile exergame, MobileKids Monster Manor (MKMM), in a school
      based setting. MKMM, developed with input from youth to enhance physical
      activity, is wirelessly connected to an accelerometer-based activity monitor.
      Forty-two healthy students (11.3 +/- 1.2 years old and 0.28 +/- 1.29 body-mass
      index [BMI] z-score) participated in a randomized 4-week crossover study to
      evaluate the game intervention. The two study arms consisted of week-long
      baseline, game intervention/control, washout, and control/game intervention
      phases. All participants were required to wear an activity monitor at all times
      to record steps and active minutes for the study duration. MKMM was used during
      each arm's respective intervention week, during which children were asked to play
      the game at their convenience. When children were exposed to the game, an
      increase compared with the control phase of 2,934 steps per day (p = 0.0004, 95%
      CI 1,434-4,434) and 46 active minutes per day (p = 0.001, 95% CI 20-72) from
      baseline (12,299 steps/day and 190 active minutes/day) was observed. A linear
      regression model showed that MKMM yielded a greater increase in steps and active
      minutes per day among children with a higher BMI z-score, showing 10 percent more
      steps per day and 14 percent more active minutes per day relative to baseline,
      per unit increase in BMI z-score. In conclusion, MKMM increased steps and active
      minutes in a school-based environment. This suggests that mobile exergames could
      be useful tools for schools to promote physical activity and combat obesity in
      adolescents.

PMID- 26882223
TI  - Intensive Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus -- A Balancing Act of
      Latent Benefit and Avoidable Harm: A Teachable Moment.

PMID- 26882224
TI  - SULF2 Expression Is a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Lung Cancer.
AB  - AIMS: Lung cancer is one of the most deadly cancers; median survival from
      diagnosis is less than one year in those with advanced disease. Novel lung cancer
      biomarkers are desperately needed. In this study, we evaluated SULF2 expression
      by immunohistochemistry and its association with overall survival in a cohort of
      patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We also looked for the presence
      of SULF2 protein in plasma to evaluate its potential as an early detection
      biomarker for NSCLC. METHODS: We identified patients who underwent surgical
      resection for pulmonary adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma at our
      institution. A section from each paraffin-embedded specimen was stained with a
      SULF2 antibody. A pathologist determined the percentage and intensity of tumor
      cell staining. Survival analysis was performed using a multivariate Cox
      proportional hazards model. Using a novel SULF2 ELISA assay, we analyzed plasma
      levels of SULF2 in a small cohort of healthy donors and patients with early stage
      NSCLC. RESULTS: SULF2 staining was present in 82% of the lung cancer samples.
      Squamous cell carcinomas had a higher mean percentage of staining than
      adenocarcinomas (100% vs. 60%; p<0.0005). After adjusting for age, sex, race,
      histologic type, stage, and neoadjuvant therapy, there was a non-significant
      (31%; p = 0.65) increase in the risk of death for patients with adenocarcinoma
      with SULF2 staining in tumor cells. In contrast, there was a significant decrease
      in the risk of death (89%; p = 0.02) for patients with squamous cell carcinoma
      with SULF2 staining in tumor cells. SULF2 protein was present in plasma of
      patients with early stage NSCLC, and soluble SULF2 levels increased with age.
      Finally, plasma SULF2 levels were significantly elevated in early stage NSCLC
      patients, compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor expression of SULF2
      may affect prognosis in NSCLC, while blood SULF2 levels may have a significant
      role in the diagnosis of this fatal disease.

PMID- 26882225
TI  - Tailored Enrichment Strategies and Stereotypic Behavior in Captive Individually
      Housed Macaques (Macaca spp.).
AB  - The welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity is widely dependent on the natural
      psychological, physical, and behavioral needs of the animals and how adequately
      these needs are met. Inability to engage in natural behaviors can lead to chronic
      stress and expression of stereotypic behavior. The majority of research on
      decreasing stereotypic behavior in captivity addresses problems at the group
      level and does not account for individual variability in each animal's needs,
      history, and preferences. This study combined physiological and behavioral
      measures of well being to comprehensively assess the unique needs of individually
      housed captive macaques (Macaca spp.) with the aim of developing tailored welfare
      strategies. Behavioral and hormonal data were collected under 2 conditions:
      baseline and individualized enrichment. The results showed a significant decrease
      in stereotypic behavior under the enrichment condition. Additionally, 7 out of 9
      individuals showed a decrease in fecal glucocorticoid (stress hormone) levels,
      indicating a reduction in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity. Addressing
      welfare on an individual, rather than group, level allows for a better overall
      characterization of well being and maximizes the probability of improving the
      welfare of each animal. 

PMID- 26882226
TI  - Fluid Management in Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - The goal of fluid therapy in critical care medicine is to restore hemodynamic
      stability and vital organ perfusion while avoiding interstitial edema. Acute
      kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in critically ill patients.
      Decisions regarding fluid management in critically ill patients with AKI are
      difficult, as these patients often have accompanying oliguria as well as body
      fluid overload. Both hypovolemia and volume overload are associated with
      increased morbidity and mortality in critical care patients; therefore, accurate
      assessment of the intravascular volume status as well as the response to fluid
      replacement remains one of the most challenging and important issues for
      clinicians in daily practice. Newer dynamic preload indexes, such as stroke
      volume variation and pulse pressure variation in conjunction with the end
      expiratory occlusion test and the passive leg-raising test, have been shown to be
      more reliable indicators for accurate evaluation of fluid responsiveness in
      critically ill patients than static pressure measurements, such as central vein
      pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. In patients with established
      AKI who are unresponsive to fluid administration, fluid restriction is the
      treatment of choice. When fluid therapy is indicated for AKI patients, isotonic
      crystalloids should be the preferred agents in the absence of hemorrhagic shock.
      Balanced solutions may reduce the risk of hyperchloremic acidosis and kidney
      injury. In summary, volume management is an integral part of the care of
      critically ill patients with AKI. An optimal strategy might involve a timely
      period of guided fluid resuscitation with appropriate solutions, followed by an
      appropriate fluid balance. 

PMID- 26882227
TI  - MENGA: A New Comprehensive Tool for the Integration of Neuroimaging Data and the
      Allen Human Brain Transcriptome Atlas.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Brain-wide mRNA mappings offer a great potential for neuroscience
      research as they can provide information about system proteomics. In a previous
      work we have correlated mRNA maps with the binding patterns of radioligands
      targeting specific molecular systems and imaged with positron emission tomography
      (PET) in unrelated control groups. This approach is potentially applicable to any
      imaging modality as long as an efficient procedure of imaging-genomic matching is
      provided. In the original work we considered mRNA brain maps of the whole human
      genome derived from the Allen human brain database (ABA) and we performed the
      analysis with a specific region-based segmentation with a resolution that was
      limited by the PET data parcellation. There we identified the need for a platform
      for imaging-genomic integration that should be usable with any imaging modalities
      and fully exploit the high resolution mapping of ABA dataset. AIM: In this work
      we present MENGA (Multimodal Environment for Neuroimaging and Genomic Analysis),
      a software platform that allows the investigation of the correlation patterns
      between neuroimaging data of any sort (both functional and structural) with mRNA
      gene expression profiles derived from the ABA database at high resolution.
      RESULTS: We applied MENGA to six different imaging datasets from three modalities
      (PET, single photon emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) targeting
      the dopamine and serotonin receptor systems and the myelin molecular structure.
      We further investigated imaging-genomic correlations in the case of mismatch
      between selected proteins and imaging targets.

PMID- 26882228
TI  - Attentional and Contextual Priors in Sound Perception.
AB  - Behavioral and neural studies of selective attention have consistently
      demonstrated that explicit attentional cues to particular perceptual features
      profoundly alter perception and performance. The statistics of the sensory
      environment can also provide cues about what perceptual features to expect, but
      the extent to which these more implicit contextual cues impact perception and
      performance, as well as their relationship to explicit attentional cues, is not
      well understood. In this study, the explicit cues, or attentional prior
      probabilities, and the implicit cues, or contextual prior probabilities,
      associated with different acoustic frequencies in a detection task were
      simultaneously manipulated. Both attentional and contextual priors had similarly
      large but independent impacts on sound detectability, with evidence that
      listeners tracked and used contextual priors for a variety of sound classes (pure
      tones, harmonic complexes, and vowels). Further analyses showed that listeners
      updated their contextual priors rapidly and optimally, given the changing
      acoustic frequency statistics inherent in the paradigm. A Bayesian Observer model
      accounted for both attentional and contextual adaptations found with listeners.
      These results bolster the interpretation of perception as Bayesian inference, and
      suggest that some effects attributed to selective attention may be a special case
      of contextual prior integration along a feature axis. 

PMID- 26882229
TI  - A Finger-Stick Whole-Blood HIV Self-Test as an HIV Screening Tool Adapted to the
      General Public.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2013, the French Health Authority approved the use of HIV self
      tests in pharmacies for the general public. This screening tool will allow an
      increase in the number of screenings and a reduction in the delay between
      infection and diagnosis, thus reducing the risk of further infections. We
      previously compared 5 HIV-self test candidates (4 oral fluid and one whole blood)
      and demonstrated that the whole blood HIV test exhibited the optimal level of
      performance (sensitivity/specificity). We studied the practicability of an easy
      to-use finger-stick whole blood HIV self-test "autotest VIH(r)", when used in the
      general public. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This multicenter cross-sectional study
      involved 411 participants from the Parisian region (AIDES and HF association)
      between April and July 2014 and was divided into 2 separate studies: one
      evaluating the capability of participants to obtain an interpretable result using
      only the information notice, and a second evaluating the interpretation of test
      results, using a provided chart. RESULTS: A total of 411 consenting participants,
      264 in the first study and 147 in the second, were included. All participants
      were over 18 years of age. In the first study, 99.2% of the 264 participants
      correctly administered the auto-test, and 21.2% needed, upon their request,
      telephone assistance. Ninety-two percent of participants responded that the test
      was easy/very easy to perform, and 93.5% did not find any difficulty obtaining a
      sufficient good quantity of blood. In the second study, 98.1% of the 147
      participants correctly interpreted the results. The reading/interpretation errors
      concerned the negative (2.1%) or the indeterminate (3.3%) auto-tests.
      CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of handling and interpretation of this self-test is
      very satisfactory, demonstrating its potential for use by the general public and
      its utility to increase the number of opportunities to detect HIV patients.

PMID- 26882230
TI  - Metabolic Syndrome in South African Patients with Severe Mental Illness:
      Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a surge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Africa. CVD is
      the leading cause of mortality among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) in
      developed countries, with little evidence from the African context. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine the prevalence and risk factors for MetS among South African patients
      with SMI. METHOD: In a cross sectional study, individuals with SMI treated with
      antipsychotics and a control group without a mental illness, matched for age,
      gender and ethnicity were evaluated for MetS using the 2009 Joint Interim
      statement (JIS) criteria. RESULTS: Of the 276 study group subjects, 65.9% were
      male, 84.1% black African, 9.1% white, 5.4% of Indian descent and 1.5% coloured
      (mixed race) with a mean age of 34.7 years (+/-12.5). Schizophrenia was the most
      common diagnosis (73.2%) and 40% were taking first generation antipsychotics. The
      prevalence of MetS was 23.2% (M: 15.4%, F: 38.3%) in the study group and 19.9%
      (M: 11.9%, F: 36.3%) in the control group (p = 0.4). MetS prevalence was
      significantly higher in study subjects over 55 years compared to controls (p =
      0.03). Increased waist circumference (p< 0.001) and low high density lipoprotein
      (HDL) cholesterol (p = 0.003) were significantly more prevalent in study subjects
      compared to controls. In study subjects, risk factors associated with MetS
      included age (OR: 1.09, 95% CI 1.06-1.12, p < 0.001), female gender (OR: 2.19,
      95% CI 1.06-4.55, p = 0.035) and Indian descent (OR: 5.84, 95% CI 1.66-20.52, p =
      0.006) but not class of antipsychotic (p = 0.26). CONCLUSION: The overall MetS
      prevalence was not increased in patients with SMI compared to controls; however,
      the higher prevalence of the individual components (HDL cholesterol and waist
      circumference) suggests an increased risk for CVD, especially in patients over 55
      years.

PMID- 26882231
TI  - Retrospective Cohort Study of Gender Differential in Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
      in Kuwait.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite an increase in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in
      the Middle-East, there is a paucity of published data on sex ratio among MS
      patients in the region. Therefore, this retrospective cohort study determined sex
      ratio by year of birth of MS patients born from January 1, 1950, to December 31,
      2000, who were diagnosed and registered in the Kuwait National MS Registry till
      April 30, 2013. METHODS: Patients were classified into 5-year periods according
      to their year of birth. Sex ratio (female:male) and its 95% CI for each period
      were computed. Using binomial logistic regression, sex ratio in MS patients was
      modeled with respect to year of birth and nationality. RESULTS: Of 1,035 patients
      with MS, 675 (65.2%) were women and 798 (77.1%) Kuwaiti. Sex ratio (female:male)
      of MS cases for entire study period was 1.9 (range 0.4-3.0). Multivariable
      logistic regression model showed that with each passing year of birth, there was
      statistically significant 8% increase in sex ratio (female:male) for
      vulnerability to MS risk (adjusted OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.09; p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant steady increase on logarithmic
      scale in the gender disparity for MS risk over the study period. This study from
      the Middle-East adds to the existing persuasive evidence of enhanced MS risk in
      women. Further insight in the context of differential risk factors including the
      role of sex hormones and vitamin D deficiency in MS pathogenesis may help
      designing preventive strategies.

PMID- 26882232
TI  - Dual pH-responsive 5-aminolevulinic acid pseudopolyrotaxane prodrug micelles for
      enhanced photodynamic therapy.
AB  - Novel 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) pseudopolyrotaxane prodrug micelles with dual
      pH-responsive properties were prepared by the host-guest interaction of alpha
      cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The micelles exhibited
      pH dependent cellular uptake and pH-sensitive ALA release, enabling enhanced
      photodynamic therapy. 

PMID- 26882233
TI  - The Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial: A Long-Time Coming but
      Worth the Wait.

PMID- 26882234
TI  - How Neurologists and Neuro-Ophthalmologists Think.

PMID- 26882235
TI  - Innocent Until Proven Guilty.

PMID- 26882237
TI  - What Do We Really Know About Translaminar Pressure?

PMID- 26882238
TI  - What Do We Really Know About Translaminar Pressure?: Response.

PMID- 26882239
TI  - Preparation and Characterization of Biochars from Eichornia crassipes for Cadmium
      Removal in Aqueous Solutions.
AB  - The study investigated the preparation and characterization of biochars from
      water hyacinth at 300 degrees C to 700 degrees C for cadmium (Cd) removal from
      aqueous solutions. The adsorption process was dominated by oxygen-containing
      functional groups with irregular surfaces via esterification reactions.
      Furthermore, the mineral components in the biochars also contributed to Cd
      absorption through precipitation. Parameters such as the effects of solution pH,
      contact time, and initial concentration were studied. The optimum pH value was
      observed at 5.0, in which nearly 90% of Cd was removed. The maximum Cd adsorption
      capacities based on the Langmuir isotherm were calculated at 49.837, 36.899, and
      25.826 mg g(-1). The adsorption processes of the biochars followed the pseudo
      second-order kinetics, with the equilibrium achieved around 5 h. The biochar from
      E. crassipes is a promising adsorbent for the treatment of wastewater, which can
      in turn convert one environmental problem to a new cleaning Technology.

PMID- 26882240
TI  - Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) inhibitors: a patent survey (2011-2015).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha regulates the expression of
      genes involved in angiogenesis, cellular energy metabolism, and cell survival
      during cancer development. The increased expression of HIF-1alpha in most solid
      tumors is associated with poor prognoses and therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, HIF
      has been recognized as an attractive target for cancer therapy, and many HIF
      inhibitors have been reported. AREAS COVERED: This patent survey summarizes the
      information about patented HIF inhibitors over the last 5 years (2011-2015).
      EXPERT OPINION: Although many of the HIF inhibitors reviewed in this patent
      survey possess inhibitory activity against cancer and HIF-related diseases, the
      compounds are still in the early stages of development, most likely due to the
      complexity of the HIF-1 pathway and their different mechanisms of action for HIF
      inhibition. Most cancer cells use the glycolytic pathway for energy production
      and HIF-1alpha participates deeply in the expression of several glycolytic
      enzymes. Therefore, a detailed study of HIF's function in cancer metabolisms may
      provide us an alternative strategy for further development of HIF inhibitors in
      cancer therapy.

PMID- 26882241
TI  - Safe orthotopic transplantation of hearts harvested 24 hours after brain death
      and preserved for 24 hours.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to demonstrate safe orthotopic
      transplantation of porcine donor hearts harvested 24 hours after brain death and
      preserved for 24 hours before transplantation. DESIGN: Circulatory normalization
      of brain dead (decapitated) pigs was obtained using a new pharmacological regimen
      (n = 10). The donor hearts were perfused at 8  degrees C in cycles of 15 min
      perfusion followed by 60 min without perfusion. The perfusate consisted of an
      albumin-containing hyperoncotic cardioplegic nutrition solution with hormones and
      erythrocytes. Orthotopic transplantation was done in 10 recipient pigs after 24
      hours' preservation. Transplanted pigs were monitored for 24 hours, then an
      adrenaline stress test was done. RESULTS: All transplanted pigs were stable
      throughout the 24-hour observation period with mean aortic pressure around 80
      mmHg and normal urine production. Mean right and left atrial pressures were in
      the range of 3-6 and 5-10 mmHg, respectively. Blood gases at 24 hours did not
      differ from baseline values. The adrenaline test showed a dose dependent
      response, with aortic pressure increasing from 98/70 to 220/150 mmHg and heart
      rate from 110 to 185 beats/min. CONCLUSION: Orthotopic transplantation of porcine
      hearts harvested 24 hours after brain death and preserved for 24 hours can be
      done safely.

PMID- 26882242
TI  - Differential Effects of Colchicine on Cardiac Cell Viability in an in vitro Model
      Simulating Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the effects of colchicine, currently in clinical
      trials for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), on the viability of cardiac cells
      using a cell line model of AMI. METHODS: HL-1, a murine cardiomyocyte cell line,
      and H9C2, a rat cardiomyoblast cell line, were incubated with TNFalpha or sera
      derived from rats that underwent AMI or sham operation followed by addition of
      colchicine. In another experiment, HL-1/H9C2 cells were exposed to anoxia with or
      without subsequent addition of colchicine. Cell morphology and viability were
      assessed by light microscopy, flow cytometry and Western blot analyses for
      apoptotic markers. RESULTS: Cellular viability was similar in both sera; however,
      exposing both cell lines to anoxia reduced their viability. Adding colchicine to
      anoxic H9C2, but not to anoxic HL-1, further increased their mortality, at least
      in part via enhanced apoptosis. Under any condition, colchicine induced
      detachment of H9C2 cells from their culture plates. This phenomenon did not apply
      to HL-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Colchicine enhanced cardiomyoblast mortality under in
      vitro conditions mimicking AMI and reduced their adherence capability. HL-1 was
      not affected by colchicine; nevertheless, no salvage effect was observed. We thus
      conclude that colchicine may not inhibit myocardial apoptosis following AMI.

PMID- 26882244
TI  - Combined Nurr1 and Foxa2 roles in the therapy of Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26882243
TI  - Targeting netrin-1/DCC interaction in diffuse large B-cell and mantle cell
      lymphomas.
AB  - DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Carcinoma) has been demonstrated to constrain tumor
      progression by inducing apoptosis unless engaged by its ligand netrin-1. This has
      been shown in breast and colorectal cancers; however, this tumor suppressive
      function in other cancers is not established. Using a transgenic mouse model, we
      report here that inhibition of DCC-induced apoptosis is associated with
      lymphomagenesis. In human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an imbalance of
      the netrin-1/DCC ratio suggests a loss of DCC-induced apoptosis, either via a
      decrease in DCC expression in germinal center subtype or by up-regulation of
      netrin-1 in activated B-cell (ABC) one. Such imbalance is also observed in mantle
      cell lymphoma (MCL). Using a netrin-1 interfering antibody, we demonstrate both
      in vitro and in vivo that netrin-1 acts as a survival factor for ABC-DLBCL and
      MCL tumor cells. Together, these data suggest that interference with the netrin
      1/DCC interaction could represent a promising therapeutic strategy in netrin-1
      positive DLBCL and MCL. 

PMID- 26882245
TI  - Homology modeling and molecular dynamics study on Schwanniomyces occidentalis
      alpha-amylase.
AB  - With consumers growing increasingly aware of environmental issues, industries
      find enzymes as a reasonable alternative over physical conditions and chemical
      catalysts. Amylases are important hydrolase enzymes, which have been widely used
      in variety of industrial process such as pharmaceutical, food, and fermentation
      industries. Among amylases alpha-Amylase is in maximum demand due to its wide
      range of applications. The homology modeling study on Schwanniomyces occidentalis
      amylase (AMY1, UniProt identifier number: P19269) was performed by Modeller using
      Aspergillus oryzae (6TAA) as the template. The resulting structure was analyzed
      for validity and subjected to 14 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation trough
      GROMACS. The validity of obtained model may represent that utilized OPLS force
      field is suitable for calcium-containing enzymes. DSSP secondary structure and
      contact map analysis represent the conservation of domain A TIM barrel feature
      together with calcium ion coordination sphere. Investigating the covariance
      matrix followed by principle component analyses for the first five eigenvectors
      of both trajectories indicate a little more flexibility for AMY1 structure. The
      electrostatic calculation for the final structures shows similar isoelectric
      point and superimposed buffering zone in the 5-8 pH range.

PMID- 26882246
TI  - The First Report of a Pregnancy in a Patient with Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase
      Deficiency.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cause of primary immunodeficiency has expanded to nearly 200
      distinct disorders. An improved understanding of these disorders has resulted in
      decreased morbidity and mortality with reciprocal improved life expectancy.
      Obstetricians should have knowledge of primary immunodeficiency, as more women
      with these disorders will reach reproductive age. CASE: 21-year-old G1P0 with
      purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency delivered a viable infant
      vaginally at 37 weeks. Although the patient's diagnosis and pregnancy placed her
      at increased risk for infection, she remained asymptomatic and infection-free
      throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The management of pregnancy complicated by PNP
      deficiency requires strict immune surveillance and regimented immunoglobulin
      replacement.

PMID- 26882247
TI  - [In Process Citation].

PMID- 26882248
TI  - Reflections on immunological nomenclature: in praise of imperfection.

PMID- 26882249
TI  - Fatty acid oxidation in macrophage polarization.

PMID- 26882250
TI  - Contemplating autoimmunity in the Aegean islands.
AB  - The Greek island of Crete became host to lively discussions on immunoregulation
      as experts from around the world gathered for the 7th Aegean Conference on
      Autoimmunity in September 2015. 

PMID- 26882251
TI  - SHARPINing the knowledge of TCR signal control.

PMID- 26882252
TI  - The NEK-sus of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

PMID- 26882253
TI  - A PTENtial cause for the selectivity of oncolytic viruses?

PMID- 26882254
TI  - Trabid epigenetically drives expression of IL-12 and IL-23.

PMID- 26882262
TI  - Sample size calculation for testing differences between cure rates with the
      optimal log-rank test.
AB  - In this article, sample size calculations are developed for use when the main
      interest is in the differences between the cure rates of two groups. Following
      the work of Ewell and Ibrahim, the asymptotic distribution of the weighted log
      rank test is derived under the local alternative. The optimal log-rank test under
      the proportional distributions alternative is discussed, and sample size formulas
      for the optimal and standard log-rank tests are derived. Simulation results show
      that the proposed formulas provide adequate sample size estimation for trial
      designs and that the optimal log-rank test is more efficient than the standard
      log-rank test, particularly when both cure rates and percentages of censoring are
      small.

PMID- 26882261
TI  - Inflammatory networks underlying colorectal cancer.
AB  - Inflammation is emerging as one of the hallmarks of cancer, yet its role in most
      tumors remains unclear. Whereas a minority of solid tumors are associated with
      overt inflammation, long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
      drugs is remarkably effective in reducing cancer rate and death. This indicates
      that inflammation might have many as-yet-unrecognized facets, among which an
      indolent course might be far more prevalent than previously appreciated. In this
      Review, we explore the various inflammatory processes underlying the development
      and progression of colorectal cancer and discuss anti-inflammatory means for its
      prevention and treatment. 

PMID- 26882263
TI  - Testing the functional assessment of mentation: A mobile application based
      assessment of mental status.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Altered mental status is a significant predictor of mortality in
      hospitalized patients and a prerequisite component to the diagnosis of delirium.
      However, the detection of altered mental status is often incomplete, inaccurate,
      and resource intensive. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical utility and
      feasibility of the Functional Assessment of Mentation (FAM(TM) ), a mobile
      application for evaluating attention and recall. DESIGN: Prospective
      observational pilot study. SETTING: Tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS:
      Nine hundred thirty-one adult subjects (612 nonhospitalized and 319
      hospitalized). MEASUREMENTS: Score distribution and time to FAM(TM) completion
      were compared between nonhospitalized and hospitalized subjects (as well as
      between hospitalized subjects discharged home and those not discharged home).
      Additionally, in the hospitalized subgroup, FAM(TM) was compared to the Glasgow
      Coma Scale (GCS), using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) as
      our criterion standard for altered mental status assessment. RESULTS: Median time
      to completion of FAM(TM) was 55 seconds (interquartile range [IQR], 45-67
      seconds). Our data identified a graded reduction in score comparing
      nonhospitalized subjects to hospitalized subjects discharged home and not
      discharged home (median 5 [IQR 4-7] vs 5 [IQR 3-6] vs 3 [IQR 1-5]; P < 0.001). In
      the hospitalized subset, FAM(TM) scores were more highly correlated to SPMSQ
      (Spearman rho = 0.27, P < 0.001) compared to GCS (Spearman rho = 0.05, P = 0.40).
      CONCLUSIONS: FAM(TM) is a rapid and clinically feasible tool that can identify
      minor alterations in mental status often missed by GCS. Journal of Hospital
      Medicine 2016;11:463-466. 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.

PMID- 26882264
TI  - Evidence for quorum sensing and differential metabolite production by a marine
      bacterium in response to DMSP.
AB  - Microbes, the foundation of the marine foodweb, do not function in isolation, but
      rather rely on molecular level interactions among species to thrive. Although
      certain types of interactions between autotrophic and heterotrophic
      microorganisms have been well documented, the role of specific organic molecules
      in regulating inter-species relationships and supporting growth are only
      beginning to be understood. Here, we examine one such interaction by
      characterizing the metabolic response of a heterotrophic marine bacterium,
      Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3, to growth on dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), an
      abundant organosulfur metabolite produced by phytoplankton. When cultivated on
      DMSP, R. pomeroyi synthesized a quorum-sensing molecule, N-(3-oxotetradecanoyl)-l
      homoserine lactone, at significantly higher levels than during growth on
      propionate. Concomitant with the production of a quorum-sensing molecule, we
      observed differential production of intra- and extracellular metabolites
      including glutamine, vitamin B2 and biosynthetic intermediates of cyclic amino
      acids. Our metabolomics data indicate that R. pomeroyi changes regulation of its
      biochemical pathways in a manner that is adaptive for a cooperative lifestyle in
      the presence of DMSP, in anticipation of phytoplankton-derived nutrients and
      higher microbial density. This behavior is likely to occur on sinking marine
      particles, indicating that this response may impact the fate of organic matter.

PMID- 26882265
TI  - The bacterial microbiome of Dermacentor andersoni ticks influences pathogen
      susceptibility.
AB  - Ticks are of medical importance owing to their ability to transmit pathogens to
      humans and animals. The Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni, is a
      vector of a number of pathogens, including Anaplasma marginale, which is the most
      widespread tick-borne pathogen of livestock. Although ticks host pathogenic
      bacteria, they also harbor bacterial endosymbionts that have a role in tick
      physiology, survival, as well as pathogen acquisition and transmission. The goal
      of this study was to characterize the bacterial microbiome and examine the impact
      of microbiome disruption on pathogen susceptibility. The bacterial microbiome of
      two populations of D. andersoni with historically different susceptibilities to
      A. marginale was characterized. In this study, the microbiome was disrupted and
      then ticks were exposed to A. marginale or Francisella novicida to determine
      whether the microbiome correlated with pathogen susceptibility. Our study showed
      that an increase in proportion and quantity of Rickettsia bellii in the
      microbiome was negatively correlated to A. marginale levels in ticks.
      Furthermore, a decrease in Francisella endosymbionts was associated with lower F.
      novicida infection levels, demonstrating a positive pathogen-endosymbiont
      relationship. We demonstrate that endosymbionts and pathogens have varying
      interactions, and suggest that microbiome manipulation may provide a possible
      method for biocontrol by decreasing pathogen susceptibility of ticks.

PMID- 26882266
TI  - High coverage metabolomics analysis reveals phage-specific alterations to
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa physiology during infection.
AB  - Phage-mediated metabolic changes in bacteria are hypothesized to markedly alter
      global nutrient and biogeochemical cycles. Despite their theoretic importance,
      experimental data on the net metabolic impact of phage infection on the bacterial
      metabolism remains scarce. In this study, we tracked the dynamics of
      intracellular metabolites using untargeted high coverage metabolomics in
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells infected with lytic bacteriophages from six distinct
      phage genera. Analysis of the metabolomics data indicates an active interference
      in the host metabolism. In general, phages elicit an increase in pyrimidine and
      nucleotide sugar metabolism. Furthermore, clear phage-specific and infection
      stage-specific responses are observed, ranging from extreme metabolite depletion
      (for example, phage YuA) to complete reorganization of the metabolism (for
      example, phage phiKZ). As expected, pathways targeted by the phage-encoded
      auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were enriched among the metabolites changing
      during infection. The effect on pyrimidine metabolism of phages encoding AMGs
      capable of host genome degradation (for example, YuA and LUZ19) was distinct from
      those lacking nuclease-encoding genes (for example, phiKZ), which demonstrates
      the link between the encoded set of AMGs of a phage and its impact on host
      physiology. However, a large fraction of the profound effect on host metabolism
      could not be attributed to the phage-encoded AMGs. We suggest a potentially
      crucial role for small, 'non-enzymatic' peptides in metabolism take-over and
      hypothesize on potential biotechnical applications for such peptides. The highly
      phage-specific nature of the metabolic impact emphasizes the potential importance
      of the 'phage diversity' parameter when studying metabolic interactions in
      complex communities.

PMID- 26882267
TI  - Pathways and key intermediates required for obligate aerobic ammonia-dependent
      chemolithotrophy in bacteria and Thaumarchaeota.
AB  - Chemolithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and Thaumarchaeota are central
      players in the global nitrogen cycle. Obligate ammonia chemolithotrophy has been
      characterized for bacteria; however, large gaps remain in the Thaumarchaeotal
      pathway. Using batch growth experiments and instantaneous microrespirometry
      measurements of resting biomass, we show that the terrestrial Thaumarchaeon
      Nitrososphaera viennensis EN76(T) exhibits tight control over production and
      consumption of nitric oxide (NO) during ammonia catabolism, unlike the ammonia
      oxidizing bacterium Nitrosospira multiformis ATCC 25196(T). In particular, pulses
      of hydroxylamine into a microelectrode chamber as the sole substrate for N.
      viennensis resulted in iterative production and consumption of NO followed by
      conversion of hydroxylamine to nitrite. In support of these observations,
      oxidation of ammonia in growing cultures of N. viennensis, but not of N.
      multiformis, was inhibited by the NO-scavenger PTIO. When based on the marginal
      nitrous oxide (N2O) levels detected in cell-free media controls, the higher
      levels produced by N. multiformis were explained by enzyme activity, whereas N2O
      in N. viennensis cultures was attributed to abiotic reactions of released N-oxide
      intermediates with media components. Our results are conceptualized in a pathway
      for ammonia-dependent chemolithotrophy in Thaumarchaea, which identifies NO as an
      essential intermediate in the pathway and implements known biochemistry to be
      executed by a proposed but still elusive copper enzyme. Taken together, this work
      identifies differences in ammonia-dependent chemolithotrophy between bacteria and
      the Thaumarchaeota, advances a central catabolic role of NO only in the
      Thaumarchaeotal pathway and reveals stark differences in how the two microbial
      cohorts contribute to N2O emissions.

PMID- 26882268
TI  - Microbial community modeling using reliability theory.
AB  - Linking microbial community composition with the corresponding ecosystem
      functions remains challenging. Because microbial communities can differ in their
      functional responses, this knowledge gap limits ecosystem assessment, design and
      management. To develop models that explicitly incorporate microbial populations
      and guide efforts to characterize their functional differences, we propose a
      novel approach derived from reliability engineering. This reliability modeling
      approach is illustrated here using a microbial ecology dataset from denitrifying
      bioreactors. Reliability modeling is well-suited for analyzing the stability of
      complex networks composed of many microbial populations. It could also be applied
      to evaluate the redundancy within a particular biochemical pathway in a microbial
      community. Reliability modeling allows characterization of the system's
      resilience and identification of failure-prone functional groups or biochemical
      steps, which can then be targeted for monitoring or enhancement. The reliability
      engineering approach provides a new perspective for unraveling the interactions
      between microbial community diversity, functional redundancy and ecosystem
      services, as well as practical tools for the design and management of engineered
      ecosystems.

PMID- 26882269
TI  - Bacterial communities from Arctic seasonal sea ice are more compositionally
      variable than those from multi-year sea ice.
AB  - Arctic sea ice can be classified into two types: seasonal ice (first-year ice,
      FYI) and multi-year ice (MYI). Despite striking differences in the physical and
      chemical characteristics of FYI and MYI, and the key role sea ice bacteria play
      in biogeochemical cycles of the Arctic Ocean, there are a limited number of
      studies comparing the bacterial communities from these two ice types. Here, we
      compare the membership and composition of bacterial communities from FYI and MYI
      sampled north of Ellesmere Island, Canada. Our results show that communities from
      both ice types were dominated by similar class-level phylogenetic groups.
      However, at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, communities from MYI and
      FYI differed in both membership and composition. Communities from MYI sites had
      consistent structure, with similar membership (presence/absence) and composition
      (OTU abundance) independent of location and year of sample. By contrast,
      communities from FYI were more variable. Although FYI bacterial communities from
      different locations and different years shared similar membership, they varied
      significantly in composition. Should these findings apply to sea ice across the
      Arctic, we predict increased compositional variability in sea ice bacterial
      communities resulting from the ongoing transition from predominantly MYI to FYI,
      which may impact nutrient dynamics in the Arctic Ocean.

PMID- 26882270
TI  - Cranial nerve palsy secondary to cerebrospinal fluid diversion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cranial nerve palsy (CNP) secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      diversion is less familiar to us as a result of its rarity in incidence and
      insidiousness in presentation. This study aims to further expound the
      pathophysiological mechanism, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and
      prognosis of CNP. METHODS: From June 2012 to February 2015, 5 of 347 consecutive
      patients with CNPs secondary to different CSF diversion procedures were treated
      at our institution. A systematic PubMed search of published studies written in
      English for patients developing CNPs after CSF diversion procedures from January
      1950 to June 2015 was conducted. RESULTS: Overall, 29 studies and 5 patients of
      the current series totaling 53 CNPs met the inclusion criteria. CN II, III, IV,
      V, VI, VII and VIII were got involved in 2 (3.8%), 2 (3.8%), 5 (9.4%), 1 (1.9%),
      44 (83.0%), 4 (7.5%) and 1 (1.9%) patients respectively. Thirty-eight patients
      (71.7%) developed CNPs following inadvertent lumbar puncture, 8 (15.1%) following
      lumbar drainage, and 7 (13.2%) following ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Forty-eight
      (90.6%) patients got resolved completely. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed mechanism of
      CNP after CSF diversion procedure is CSF hypovolemia and subsequent downward
      displacement of the brain and traction and distortion of the vascular and
      peripheral neural structures. As a result of its distinct anatomic
      characteristics rather than long intracranial course, CN VI is most commonly
      affected. With early recognition and timely conservative management, most
      patients could get favorable recovery.

PMID- 26882271
TI  - Bronchiectasis in China.
AB  - Bronchiectasis is a common but long-neglected disease in China, causing a
      substantial disease burden both to patients and to society. The overall
      prevalence of physician-diagnosed bronchiectasis in people aged 40 years or older
      is estimated at 1.2% and is trending upward with aging of the population. The
      etiology of bronchiectasis has not been identified heretofore in more than 70% of
      patients in China, although pneumonia and tuberculosis still appear to be the
      most common causes of acquired bronchiectasis. Etiologies, comorbidities, and
      infecting organisms vary greatly across previously published epidemiological
      studies, resulting in considerable uncertainty. Little is known about the
      spectrum of severity of bronchiectasis in China. Presently, engagement of
      pulmonologists is largely limited to acute treatment of exacerbations of severe
      bronchiectasis. Based on limited available data and expert consensus, the first
      comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis in
      China were published in 2012. Research to advance medical care for patients with
      this disease in China should focus on several priorities, including:
      standardization of diagnostic criteria with appropriate application of computed
      tomographic imaging; use of validated multidimensional grading systems to assess
      the severity of bronchiectasis; and epidemiological studies that are designed to
      measure mild to moderate as well as severe disease, and to represent the
      population beyond large urban centers. Better estimates of the true burden of
      bronchiectasis are needed to guide allocation of national medical resources and
      to implement public health strategies for prevention of the disease. Treatment
      should be expanded to include expert maintenance care of ambulatory patients in
      addition to treatment of exacerbations.

PMID- 26882272
TI  - Periprocedural Management of Direct Oral Anticoagulants: Comment on the 2015
      American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Guidelines.

PMID- 26882275
TI  - Internal conversion and intersystem crossing in alpha,beta-enones: a combination
      of electronic structure calculations and dynamics simulations.
AB  - The ab initio electronic structure calculations and CASSCF-based nonadiabatic
      dynamics simulations have been used to investigate the internal conversion and
      intersystem crossing process of both trans-acrolein and 2-cyclopentenone in the
      gas phase. Our calculation results show that relaxation from the Franck-Condon
      region to an S1 minimum is ultrafast and that the S1 state will dominantly
      undergo intersystem crossing to triplet states due to the existence of
      significant barriers to access the S1/S0 intersection points and of energetically
      close-lying triplet states. The S1/T2/T1 three-state intersection is observed in
      our dynamics simulations to play an important role in the population of the
      lowest triplet state, which is consistent with previous suggestions. Although the
      evolution into triplet states involves a similar path and gives rise to a similar
      triplet quantum yield for these two molecules, the intersystem crossing rate of 2
      cyclopentenone is lower owing to the ring constraint that results in a smaller
      spin-orbital coupling in the singlet-triplet crossing region. The present
      theoretical study reproduces the experimental results and gives an explanation
      about the structural factors that govern the excited-state decay of some types of
      alpha,beta-enones. 

PMID- 26882276
TI  - Lung Cancer Risk from Radon in Marcellus Shale Gas in Northeast U.S. Homes.
AB  - The amount of radon in natural gas varies with its source. Little has been
      published about the radon from shale gas to date, making estimates of its impact
      on radon-induced lung cancer speculative. We measured radon in natural gas
      pipelines carrying gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West
      Virginia. Radon concentrations ranged from 1,520 to 2,750 Bq/m3 (41-74 pCi/L),
      and the throughput-weighted average was 1,983 Bq/m3 (54 pCi/L). Potential radon
      exposure due to the use of Marcellus Shale gas for cooking and space heating
      using vent-free heaters or gas ranges in northeastern U.S. homes and apartments
      was assessed. Though the measured radon concentrations are higher than what has
      been previously reported, it is unlikely that exposure from natural gas cooking
      would exceed 1.2 Bq/m3 (<1% of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action
      level). Using worst-case assumptions, we estimate the excess lifetime (70 years)
      lung cancer risk associated with cooking to be 1.8*10-4 (interval spanning 95% of
      simulation results: 8.5*10-5 , 3.4*10-4 ). The risk profile for supplemental
      heating with unvented gas appliances is similar. Individuals using unvented gas
      appliances to provide primary heating may face lifetime risks as high as 3.9*10-3
      . Under current housing stock and gas consumption assumptions, expected levels of
      residential radon exposure due to unvented combustion of Marcellus Shale natural
      gas in the Northeast United States do not result in a detectable change in the
      lung cancer death rates.

PMID- 26882277
TI  - Why It's Important to Continue Universal Autism Screening While Research Fully
      Examines Its Impact.

PMID- 26882278
TI  - Editorial: Can an Increase in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody Titer
      Predict Relapses in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis?

PMID- 26882279
TI  - Crystallinity-dependence of ionic conductivity in the ion pairs of a multi
      interactive anion.
AB  - Ammonium and sodium salts (ion pairs) of a multi-interactive tri(4
      pyridyl)hexaazaphenalenyl anion (TPHAP(-)) showed completely different ion
      conductive properties depending on the crystal structure. TPHAP columnar crystals
      showed a high conductivity of 10(-3) S cm(-1) while retaining their structures
      even under humid conditions, whereas TPHAP dimer crystals exhibited a
      conductivity of ~10(-5) S cm(-1) with crystallinity deterioration. The main unit
      structures induced by multi-interactivity realized different water accessibility,
      which explains the differences in their ion conductivity and stability against
      humidity. 

PMID- 26882280
TI  - Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydrobenzoxazinones Bearing
      Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Stereocenters.
AB  - Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of
      trifluoromethyl benzoxazinones with pyrroles is reported. Under mild conditions,
      a range of enantioenriched dihydrobenzoxazinones bearing trifluoromethylated
      quaternary stereocenters could be obtained in good to excellent yield and ee. A
      remarkable fluorine effect is observed, and preliminary mechanistic studies
      combined with theory calculations suggest that triple-hydrogen-bonding
      interactions hold the transition structure rigidly and allow the bulky
      substituents of the catalyst to influence the enantioselectivity. 

PMID- 26882281
TI  - Examining Nock and Prinstein's four-function model with offenders who self
      injure.
AB  - Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate bodily harm or disfigurement
      without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned (e.g., cutting,
      burning, head banging). Nock and Prinstein (2004) proposed a 4-function model
      (FFM) of NSSI, in which the functions of NSSI are categorized by two dichotomous
      factors: (a) positive (i.e., involves the addition of a favorable stimulus) or
      negative (i.e., involves the removal of an aversive stimulus; and (b) automatic
      (i.e., intrapersonal) or social (i.e., interpersonal). This study examined the
      validity of this model with incarcerated populations. In-depth semistructured
      interviews with 201 incarcerated offenders were analyzed and categorized based on
      the FFM. Participants' descriptions of functions of NSSI were most commonly
      categorized as automatic negative reinforcement (25.0%; e.g., coping with
      negative emotions), followed by automatic positive reinforcement (31.3%; e.g.,
      self-punishment), social positive reinforcement (31.3%; e.g., to communicate with
      others), and social negative reinforcement (12.5%; e.g., to avoid hurting someone
      else). While the uniqueness of the correctional environment affects some of the
      specific functions evident in offenders, FFM can be used to adequately organize
      the functions of NSSI in offenders, providing a useful tool for explaining this
      complex behavior. Clinically, NSSI in offenders can be viewed has having the same
      underlying motivations, although automatic positive reinforcement is more
      prevalent in offenders and social positive reinforcement is more prevalence in
      nonoffenders. Given that the motivations underlying nonsuicidal self-injury are
      similar for offender and nonoffender populations, similar treatment approaches
      may be effective with both populations. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882282
TI  - The specificity of emotional switching in borderline personality disorder in
      comparison to other clinical groups.
AB  - In an attempt to better understand the nature of emotion dysregulation in the
      daily lives of persons with a borderline personality disorder (BPD), Houben et
      al. (2016) recently identified emotional switching, which refers to the tendency
      to make large changes between positive and negative emotional states over time,
      as a possible defining characteristic of the emotion dynamics observed in BPD.
      The goal of this study was to examine the specificity of these previous findings
      in 2 samples by comparing BPD patients (N = 43 in sample 1; N = 81 in sample 2)
      to patients with bulimia nervosa (N = 20), posttraumatic stress disorder (N =
      28), or healthy controls (N = 28) in sample 1, and to patients with depressive
      disorder (N = 50) in sample 2, with respect to measures of emotional switching.
      Analyses of these 2 experience sampling datasets revealed that contrary to
      expectations, BPD patients did not differ from the clinical groups regarding
      their mere tendency to switch between positive and negative emotional states on
      consecutive moments over time and regarding the magnitude of such changes between
      positive and negative emotional states over time. However, all clinical groups
      did differ from healthy controls regarding all switch measures in dataset 1.
      These results indicate that emotional switching, similar to other more
      traditional indicators of overall changes in emotional intensity in daily life,
      might reflect a feature of emotional responding characterizing a range of
      disorders with mood disturbances.

PMID- 26882283
TI  - Fluorescent Nanodiamond: A Versatile Tool for Long-Term Cell Tracking, Super
      Resolution Imaging, and Nanoscale Temperature Sensing.
AB  - Fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) has recently played a central role in fueling new
      discoveries in interdisciplinary fields spanning biology, chemistry, physics, and
      materials sciences. The nanoparticle is unique in that it contains a high density
      ensemble of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV(-)) centers as built-in
      fluorophores. The center possesses a number of outstanding optical and magnetic
      properties. First, NV(-) has an absorption maximum at ~550 nm, and when exposed
      to green-orange light, it emits bright fluorescence at ~700 nm with a lifetime of
      longer than 10 ns. These spectroscopic properties are little affected by surface
      modification but are distinctly different from those of cell autofluorescence and
      thus enable background-free imaging of FNDs in tissue sections. Such
      characteristics together with its excellent biocompatibility render FND ideal for
      long-term cell tracking applications, particularly in stem cell research. Next,
      as an artificial atom in the solid state, the NV(-) center is perfectly
      photostable, without photobleaching and blinking. Therefore, the NV-containing
      FND is suitable as a contrast agent for super-resolution imaging by stimulated
      emission depletion (STED). An improvement of the spatial resolution by 20-fold is
      readily achievable by using a high-power STED laser to deplete the NV(-)
      fluorescence. Such improvement is crucial in revealing the detailed structures of
      biological complexes and assemblies, including cellular organelles and
      subcellular compartments. Further enhancement of the resolution for live cell
      imaging is possible by manipulating the charge states of the NV centers. As the
      "brightest" member of the nanocarbon family, FND holds great promise and
      potential for bioimaging with unprecedented resolution and precision. Lastly, the
      NV(-) center in diamond is an atom-like quantum system with a total electron spin
      of 1. The ground states of the spins show a crystal field splitting of 2.87 GHz,
      separating the ms = 0 and +/-1 sublevels. Interestingly, the transitions between
      the spin sublevels can be optically detected and manipulated by microwave
      radiation, a technique known as optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). In
      addition, the electron spins have an exceptionally long coherence time, making
      FND useful for ultrasensitive detection of temperature at the nanoscale. Pump
      probe-type nanothermometry with a temporal resolution of better than 10 MUs has
      been achieved with a three-point sampling method. Gold/diamond nanohybrids have
      also been developed for highly localized hyperthermia applications. This Account
      provides a summary of the recent advances in FND-enabled technologies with a
      special focus on long-term cell tracking, super-resolution imaging, and nanoscale
      temperature sensing. These emerging and multifaceted technologies are in
      synchronicity with modern imaging modalities. 

PMID- 26882284
TI  - Jagn1 Is Induced in Response to ER Stress and Regulates Proinsulin Biosynthesis.
AB  - The Jagn1 protein was indentified in a SILAC proteomic screen of proteins that
      are increased in insulinoma cells expressing a folding-deficient proinsulin.
      Jagn1 mRNA was detected in primary rodent islets and in insulinoma cell lines and
      the levels were increased in response to ER stress. The function of Jagn1 was
      assessed in insulinoma cells by both knock-down and overexpression approaches.
      Knock-down of Jagn1 caused an increase in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
      resulting from an increase in proinsulin biosynthesis. In contrast,
      overexpression of Jagn1 in insulinoma cells resulted in reduced cellular
      proinsulin and insulin levels. Our results identify a novel role for Jagn1 in
      regulating proinsulin biosynthesis in pancreatic beta-cells. Under ER stress
      conditions Jagn1 is induced which might contribute to reducing proinsulin
      biosynthesis, in part by helping to relieve the protein folding load in the ER in
      an effort to restore ER homeostasis. 

PMID- 26882285
TI  - Potential relationship of self-injurious behavior to right temporo-parietal
      lesions.
AB  - Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is associated with several neurologic and
      psychiatric syndromes but rarely with focal lesions. Two patients with lesions of
      the right temporo-parietal junction presented to psychiatric inpatient services
      with SIB in the absence of notable neurologic deficits or suicidal ideation.
      Right temporo-parietal lesions may be associated with disturbances of agency and
      body ownership, both of which may facilitate SIB. Misoplegia, or hatred of a
      limb, may be associated with SIB and has been reported without hemiplegia with a
      right temporo-parietal lesion. Further study is warranted to improve our
      understanding of the mechanisms underlying SIB.

PMID- 26882286
TI  - Individual differences in working-memory capacity and task resumption following
      interruptions.
AB  - Previous research has shown that there is a time cost (i.e., a resumption lag)
      associated with resuming a task following an interruption and that the longer the
      duration of the interruption, the greater the time cost (i.e., resumption lag
      increases as interruption duration increases). The memory-for-goals model
      (Altmann & Trafton, 2002) suggests that this greater time cost is a result of
      increased interference caused by longer duration interruptions. Therefore, the
      goal for this research was to determine whether individuals who can better manage
      interference, i.e., individuals with higher working-memory capacity (WMC), can
      resume tasks more quickly following interruptions than those who cannot manage
      interference as well (i.e., individuals with lower WMC). A procedural
      interruption task with 3 different interruption durations and a measure of WMC
      were completed by 229 students. In line with previous research, we found a strong
      positive relationship between interruption duration and resumption lag. We found
      a strong negative effect of WMC on resumption lag (i.e., increases in WMC reduced
      resumption lags). Notably, WMC moderated the effect of interruption duration on
      resumption lag (i.e., increases in WMC attenuated the positive relationship
      between interruption duration and resumption lag). Specifically, individuals with
      high WMC experienced small increases in resumption lag as interruption duration
      increased, whereas individuals with low WMC experienced substantial increases in
      resumption lag as interruption duration increased. Our data suggest that
      individuals with higher WMC are less susceptible to interference caused by
      interruptions. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882287
TI  - Usefulness of translocation-associated immunohistochemical stains in the fine
      needle aspiration diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and
      adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is challenging due to cytologic overlap with one
      another and with other salivary gland tumors having prominent epithelial and
      myoepithelial components. Recognition of characteristic chromosomal aberrations
      in several salivary gland tumors, including PA and ACC, has the potential to
      resolve diagnostic uncertainty, but molecular diagnostics are not routinely
      available. To leverage these molecular alterations, the authors examined a panel
      of commercially available immunostains directed at commonly overexpressed
      proteins in translocation-associated PA (PLAG1 and HMGA2) and ACC (MYB) to assess
      their diagnostic usefulness. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed on cell
      block samples from 74 patients, including 11 ACC specimens and 31 PA specimens
      with antibodies to MYB, PLAG1, and HMGA2 as well as KIT (previously considered
      useful in the diagnosis of ACC). RESULTS: ACCs demonstrated significantly greater
      staining for KIT compared with non-ACCs, while PAs had significantly greater
      staining for PLAG1 than non-PAs. MYB trended toward significance for ACC (P=.097)
      and HMGA2 trended toward significance for PA (P=.094). No ACC exhibited positive
      staining for PLAG1 or HMGA2. Only 12% of PAs were found to be positive for MYB or
      KIT. Combined positivity for MYB and KIT with negative PLAG1 and HMGA2
      demonstrated a specificity and positive predictive value of 1.0 for ACC, whereas
      a positive PLAG1 or HMGA2 stain with negative MYB and KIT stains showed a
      sensitivity of 0.75, a specificity of 0.96, and a positive predictive value of
      0.95 for PAs. CONCLUSIONS: An immunohistochemical panel of MYB, KIT, PLAG1, and
      HMGA2 on fine-needle aspiration cell blocks is useful in distinguishing ACCs and
      PAs from each other and other salivary gland neoplasms. Cancer Cytopathol
      2016;124:397-405. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society.

PMID- 26882288
TI  - Challenges and Perspectives on the Development of Small-Molecule EGFR Inhibitors
      against T790M-Mediated Resistance in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - Because of the development of drug-resistance mutations, particularly the
      "gatekeeper" threonine(790)-to-methionine(790) (T790M) mutation in the ATP
      binding pocket of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the current
      generation of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors lost their clinical efficacy.
      Recently, a large number of small-molecule inhibitors with striking inhibitory
      potency against EGFR mutants with the T790M change have been identified. In
      particular, the inhibitors rociletinib and osimertinib, which can selectively
      target both sensitizing mutations and the T790M resistance while sparing the wild
      type (WT) form of the receptor, have been designated as breakthrough therapies in
      the treatment of mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by the U.S. FDA in
      2014. We hope that this review on the small-molecule EGFR T790M inhibitors, along
      with their discovery strategies, will assist in the design of future T790M
      containing EGFR inhibitors with high levels of selectivity over WT EGFR, broad
      kinase selectivity, and desirable physicochemical properties.

PMID- 26882289
TI  - Methanol-Triggered Turn-On-Type Photoluminescence in L-Cysteinato Palladium(II)
      and Platinum(II) Complexes Supported by a Bis(diphenylphosphine) Ligand.
AB  - The selective detection of methanol by photoluminescence under environmental
      conditions has been a great challenge for materials science. Herein, a
      reversible, turn-on-type photoluminescence triggered by methanol vapor in square
      planar palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes, newly prepared from [MCl2(1,3
      bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)] and L-cysteine, is reported. Both the "turn-on"
      and "turn-off" states of the complexes were crystallographically characterized,
      which revealed the presence of intermolecular OH...O and CH...pi interactions
      between methanol and the complex molecules in the turn-on state. These
      interactions prevent the vibrational quenching of the luminescence, leading to
      the turn-on-type luminescence in this system.

PMID- 26882290
TI  - Investigation of DNA binding, DNA photocleavage, topoisomerase I inhibition and
      antioxidant activities of water soluble titanium(IV) phthalocyanine compounds.
AB  - The binding mode of water soluble peripherally tetra-substituted titanium(IV)
      phthalocyanine (Pc) compounds Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 with calf thymus (CT) DNA was
      investigated by using UV-Vis spectroscopy and thermal denaturation studies in
      this work. The results of DNA binding constants (Kb) and the changes in the
      thermal denaturation profile of DNA with the addition of Pc compounds indicated
      that Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 are able to bind to CT-DNA with different binding
      affinities. DNA photocleavage studies of Pc compounds were performed in the
      absence and presence of oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2),
      ascorbic acid (AA) and 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) using the agarose gel
      electrophoresis method at irradiation 650 nm. According to the results of
      electrophoresis studies, Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 cleaved of supercoiled pBR322 DNA via
      photocleavage pathway. The Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 compounds were examined for
      topoisomerase I inhibition by measuring the relaxation of supercoiled pBR322 DNA.
      The all of Pc compounds inhibited topoisomerase I at 20 MUM concentration. A
      series of antioxidant assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)
      assay, superoxide radical scavenging (SOD) assay and metal chelating effect assay
      were performed for Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 compounds. The results of antioxidant assays
      indicated that Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 compounds have remarkable superoxide radical
      scavenging activities, moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl activities and
      metal chelating effect activities. All the experimental studies showed that Pc1,
      Pc2 and Pc3 compounds bind to CT-DNA via minor groove binding, cleave of
      supercoiled pBR322 DNA via photocleavage pathway, inhibit topoisomerase I and
      have remarkable superoxide radical scavenging activities. Thanks to these
      properties the Pc1, Pc2 and Pc3 compounds are suitable agents for photo dynamic
      therapy.

PMID- 26882292
TI  - Error in Funding/Support.

PMID- 26882291
TI  - Pharmacophore hybrid approach of new modulated bis-diimine Cu(II)/Zn(II)
      complexes based on 5-chloro Isatin Schiff base derivatives: Synthesis, spectral
      studies and comparative biological assessment.
AB  - Novel bioactive 5-chloro isatin based Schiff base ligands, (N,N'E,N,N'Z)-N,N'-(5
      chloroindoline-2,3-diylidene)bis(5-nitrobenzo [d]thiazol-2-amine), L(1) and
      (N,N'E,N,N'Z)-N,N'-(5-chloroindoline-2,3-diylidene)bis(5-nitrothiazol-2-amine),
      L(2) derived from 2-amino 5-nitrobenzothiazole and 2-amino 5-nitrothiazole and
      their metal complexes, [Cu(L(1))2]Cl2;1, [Zn(L(1))2(H2O)2]Cl2;2, [Cu(L(2))2]Cl2;3
      and [Zn(L(2))2(H2O)2]Cl2;4 have been synthesized. The composition, stoichiometry
      and geometry of the proposed ligands and their complexes have been envisaged by
      the results of elemental analyses and spectroscopic data (FT-IR, (1)H NMR and
      (13)C NMR, Mass and EPR). The molar conductivity values of the metal complexes
      revealed their ionic nature. The thermal stability of metal complexes was
      demonstrated by TGA/DTA studies while the crystalline nature of the complexes has
      been ascertained by XRD. Furthermore, a comparative account of in vitro
      antibacterial study against different bacterial strains with respect to standard
      antibiotic and scavenging activity against standard control at different
      concenterations unfolded pronounced antibacterial and radical scavenging
      potencies of the metal complexes as compared to free ligands. In addition, in
      vitro cytotoxicity of ligands and its metal complexes was also screened on MCF7
      (Human breast adenocarcinoma), HeLa (Human cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (Human
      Hepatocellular carcinoma), cell lines and normal cells (PBMC). The
      antiproliferative outcomes revealed that metal complexes exhibit superior
      activity in general as compared to free ligands (L(1) and L(2)) where metal
      complexes (1 and 2) of 5-chloro isatin linked benzothiazole motif (L(1)) are
      found to have better prospect of acting as chemotherapeutic agents which can be
      explained in terms of greater biopotency, planarity and conjugation against all
      the tested cancer cell lines with IC50<2.80 MUM.

PMID- 26882293
TI  - SYMPTOM BENCHMARKS OF IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PTSD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although research has shown that PTSD symptom change relates to
      improved quality of life, the question of how much improvement in PTSD symptoms
      is necessary to result in meaningful improvements in quality of life remains
      unanswered. We used data from a randomized clinical trial of psychotherapy for
      PTSD in female military veterans and active duty personnel to examine the
      correspondence between benchmarks of improvement in PTSD symptoms and changes in
      quality of life. METHODS: Participants were 235 female veterans and Army soldiers
      who were randomized to 10 weekly sessions of Prolonged Exposure or Present
      Centered Therapy. We operationalized PTSD symptom change in terms of four
      progressively stringent mutually exclusive definitions-No Response, Response,
      Loss of Diagnosis, and Remission-successively comparing each category to the
      prior one: No Response versus Response, Response versus Loss of Diagnosis, and
      Loss of Diagnosis versus Remission. Outcomes were clinically meaningful
      improvements and good endpoints in domains of clinician-rated and self-reported
      quality of life. RESULTS: Response was associated with improvement on almost all
      measures, but with only one good endpoint. Loss of Diagnosis was associated with
      improvement on all measures except self-rated social functioning and with
      achieving a good endpoint on all measures. Remission was associated with
      improvement in clinician-rated social impairment and a good endpoint in clinician
      rated occupational impairment. CONCLUSIONS: For most domains of quality of life,
      treating a patient until the patient no longer meets diagnostic criteria would be
      optimal. For some domains, further improvements may result by helping a patient
      achieve remission.

PMID- 26882294
TI  - Spectral and Dynamical Properties of Single Excitons, Biexcitons, and Trions in
      Cesium-Lead-Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots.
AB  - Organic-inorganic lead-halide perovskites have been the subject of recent intense
      interest due to their unusually strong photovoltaic performance. A new addition
      to the perovskite family is all-inorganic Cs-Pb-halide perovskite nanocrystals,
      or quantum dots, fabricated via a moderate-temperature colloidal synthesis. While
      being only recently introduced to the research community, these nanomaterials
      have already shown promise for a range of applications from color-converting
      phosphors and light-emitting diodes to lasers, and even room-temperature single
      photon sources. Knowledge of the optical properties of perovskite quantum dots
      still remains vastly incomplete. Here we apply various time-resolved
      spectroscopic techniques to conduct a comprehensive study of spectral and
      dynamical characteristics of single- and multiexciton states in CsPbX3
      nanocrystals with X being either Br, I, or their mixture. Specifically, we
      measure exciton radiative lifetimes, absorption cross-sections, and derive the
      degeneracies of the band-edge electron and hole states. We also characterize the
      rates of intraband cooling and nonradiative Auger recombination and evaluate the
      strength of exciton-exciton coupling. The overall conclusion of this work is that
      spectroscopic properties of Cs-Pb-halide quantum dots are largely similar to
      those of quantum dots of more traditional semiconductors such as CdSe and PbSe.
      At the same time, we observe some distinctions including, for example, an
      appreciable effect of the halide identity on radiative lifetimes, considerably
      shorter biexciton Auger lifetimes, and apparent deviation of their size
      dependence from the "universal volume scaling" previously observed for many
      traditional nanocrystal systems. The high efficiency of Auger decay in perovskite
      quantum dots is detrimental to their prospective applications in light-emitting
      devices and lasers. This points toward the need for the development of approaches
      for effective suppression of Auger recombination in these nanomaterials, using
      perhaps insights gained from previous studies of II-VI nanocrystals. 

PMID- 26882295
TI  - Synthesis and Multibromination of Nanosized Helical Aromatic Amide Foldamers via
      Segment-Doubling Condensation.
AB  - The synthesis of very long helical aromatic amide foldamers was thought to be
      limited by steric hindrance associated with stable folded conformations. This
      difficulty may be overcome by using pure reagents, relatively high
      concentrations, and long reaction times. Bromine substituents and careful
      identification and elimination of anhydride byproducts both greatly improve
      chromatographic purification, giving access to pure products amenable to a
      segment-doubling synthesis of sequences composed of up to 96 monomers. An
      efficient one-pot multibromination of helical oligomers is also reported. 

PMID- 26882296
TI  - Neuroprotective effect of melatonin in experimental optic neuritis in rats.
AB  - Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative
      condition of the optic nerve, which might induce permanent vision loss.
      Currently, there are no effective therapies for this disorder. We have developed
      an experimental model of primary ON in rats through a single microinjection of
      4.5 MUg of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the optic nerve. Since
      melatonin acts as a pleiotropic therapeutic agent in various neurodegenerative
      diseases, we analyzed the effect of melatonin on LPS-induced ON. For this
      purpose, LPS or vehicle were injected into the optic nerve from adult male Wistar
      rats. One group of animals received a subcutaneous pellet of 20 mg melatonin at
      24 hr before vehicle or LPS injection, and another group was submitted to a sham
      procedure. Melatonin completely prevented the decrease in visual evoked
      potentials (VEPs), and pupil light reflex (PLR), and preserved anterograde
      transport of cholera toxin beta-subunit from the retina to the superior
      colliculus. Moreover, melatonin prevented microglial reactivity (ED1
      immunoreactivity, P < 0.01), astrocytosis (glial fibrillary acid protein
      immunostaining, P < 0.05), demyelination (luxol fast blue staining, P < 0.01),
      and axon (toluidine blue staining, P < 0.01) and retinal ganglion cell (Brn3a
      immunoreactivity, P < 0.01) loss, induced by LPS. Melatonin completely prevented
      the increase in nitric oxide synthase 2, cyclooxygenase-2 levels (Western blot)
      and TNFalpha levels, and partly prevented lipid peroxidation induced by
      experimental ON. When the pellet of melatonin was implanted at 4 days
      postinjection of LPS, it completely reversed the decrease in VEPs and PLR. These
      data suggest that melatonin could be a promising candidate for ON treatment. 

PMID- 26882297
TI  - Web Exclusives. The Consult Guys--CHADS, SHMADS: What's All This About
      Anticoagulation?

PMID- 26882299
TI  - ACP Journal Club. Review: More- vs less-intensive BP-lowering regimens reduce
      major CV events.

PMID- 26882300
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In patients with SBP >= 130 mm Hg and CV risk, intensive vs
      standard BP control reduced CV events and mortality.

PMID- 26882301
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In resistant hypertension, add-on spironolactone reduced SBP
      more than placebo, doxazosin, or bisoprolol over 12 wk.

PMID- 26882302
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In abstinent adults with type 2 diabetes, a daily glass of wine
      (vs mineral water) improved cardiometabolic factors.

PMID- 26882303
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In high-risk patients, oral nicotinamide reduced number of new
      nonmelanoma skin cancers during treatment.

PMID- 26882304
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In acute low back pain, adding oxycodone/acetaminophen or
      cyclobenzaprine to naproxen did not improve pain or function.

PMID- 26882305
TI  - ACP Journal Club. Review: In rheumatoid arthritis, TNF-alpha inhibitors do not
      differ from placebo or DMARDs for all-cause mortality.

PMID- 26882306
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In patients with hypertension, beta-blockers in the 120 d
      before noncardiac surgery were linked to CV events and death.

PMID- 26882307
TI  - ACP Journal Club. Some risk scores plus high-sensitivity troponin may identify
      patients with chest pain for early discharge.

PMID- 26882308
TI  - ACP Journal Club. In atrial fibrillation, the ATRIA risk score better predicted
      stroke than CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores.

PMID- 26882309
TI  - Simultaneous Assessment of Acidogenesis-Mitigation and Specific Bacterial Growth
      Inhibition by Dentifrices.
AB  - Dentifrices can augment oral hygiene by inactivating bacteria and at sub-lethal
      concentrations may affect bacterial metabolism, potentially inhibiting
      acidogenesis, the main cause of caries. Reported herein is the development of a
      rapid method to simultaneously measure group-specific bactericidal and
      acidogenesis-mitigation effects of dentifrices on oral bacteria. Saliva was
      incubated aerobically and anaerobically in Tryptone Soya Broth, Wilkins-Chalgren
      Broth with mucin, or artificial saliva and was exposed to dentifrices containing
      triclosan/copolymer (TD); sodium fluoride (FD); stannous fluoride and zinc
      lactate (SFD1); or stannous fluoride, zinc lactate and stannous chloride (SFD2).
      Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined turbidometrically whilst
      group-specific minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were assessed using
      growth media and conditions selective for total aerobes, total anaerobes,
      streptococci and Gram-negative anaerobes. Minimum acid neutralization
      concentration (MNC) was defined as the lowest concentration of dentifrice at
      which acidification was inhibited. Differences between MIC and MNC were
      calculated and normalized with respect to MIC to derive the combined inhibitory
      and neutralizing capacity (CINC), a cumulative measure of acidogenesis-mitigation
      and growth inhibition. The overall rank order for growth inhibition potency (MIC)
      under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was: TD> SFD2> SFD1> FD. Acidogenesis
      mitigation (MNC) was ordered; TD> FD> SFD2> SFD1. CINC was ordered TD> FD> SFD2>
      SFD1 aerobically and TD> FD> SFD1> SFD2 anaerobically. With respect to group
      specific bactericidal activity, TD generally exhibited the greatest potency,
      particularly against total aerobes, total anaerobes and streptococci. This
      approach enables the rapid simultaneous evaluation of acidity mitigation, growth
      inhibition and specific antimicrobial activity by dentifrices. 

PMID- 26882310
TI  - The effects of cochlear implantation in Japanese single-sided deafness patients:
      five case reports.
AB  - CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation (CI) for Japanese single-sided deafness
      patients resulted in improved speech perception, increased sound localization
      accuracy, and reduced tinnitus handicap. OBJECTIVES: This study reports results
      for five adult SSD cases with CI, focusing on the benefits they obtained in terms
      of speech recognition, sound localization, and tinnitus handicap. METHODS: Five
      Japanese patients meeting the eligibility criteria were included in this study.
      All patients were implanted with a fully inserted MED-EL Concerto FLEX28(r)
      implant (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria). Speech perception outcomes in noise, as
      well as sound localization and tinnitus disturbance, were assessed pre-surgically
      and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after CI activation. RESULTS: The Japanese
      monosyllable test score in noise improved gradually after implantation. In some
      cases, speech perception ability appeared unstable, particularly in the first 1-6
      months after implantation. The sound localization ability showed marked
      improvement in all cases, with the disturbance to daily life caused by tinnitus
      also decreasing in all cases from the early post-operative period.

PMID- 26882311
TI  - Rigid Single Carbon-Carbon Bond That Does Not Rotate in Water.
AB  - Carbon-carbon bond is one of the most ubiquitous molecular building blocks for
      natural and man-made materials. Rotational isomerization is fundamentally
      important for understanding the structure and reactivity of chemical and
      biological molecules. Reported herein is the first demonstration that a single C
      C bond does not rotate in water. The two distal C-S bonds in both 1,2
      ethanedithiolate ((-)S-CH2-CH2-S(-), 1,2-EDT(2-)) and 2,3-butanedithiolate (2,3
      BuDT(2-)) are exclusively in the trans conformer with reference to their
      respective center single C-C bond. In contrast, both trans and gauche conformers
      are observed in neutral 1,2-ethanedithiol (1,2-EDT) and 2, 3-butanedithiol (2,3
      BuDT). The insight from this work should be important for understanding the
      charge effect on the molecular conformation in aqueous solutions. 

PMID- 26882312
TI  - Conditional Tissue-Specific Foxa2 Ablation in Mouse Pancreas Causes
      Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia.
AB  - The forkhead/winged helix transcription factor Foxa2 is a major upstream
      regulator of Pdx1, a transcription factor necessary for pancreatic development.
      In the present study, we conditionally knocked out Foxa2 in Pdx1-expressing
      domain and further analyzed the contribution of Foxa2 to alpha- and beta-cell
      development and the effect of Foxa2 deletion on plasma insulin, glucagon, and
      glucose levels. Homozygous pdx1 Foxa2 mice and heterozygous pdx1 Foxa2 mice were
      generated by homologous recombination using a Foxa2 gene-targeting vector. alpha-
      and beta-cell mass was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Plasma glucose,
      insulin, and plasma were measured at postnatal day 10. For pdx1 lineage tracing
      studies, heterozygous pdx1 Foxa2 EYFP and homozygous pdx1 Foxa2 EYFP mice were
      used. Our immunofluorescence analysis revealed that in the pancreas sections of
      the homozygous mutant mice, Foxa2 was virtually absent from non-beta cells and
      its expression almost exclusively coincided with remnant beta cells. The density
      of both alpha and beta cells apparently decreased in the pancreas of the
      heterozygous mutant mice and in the pancreas of the homozygous mutant mice, alpha
      cells lost its predominance and beta cells increased proportionally. Direct Pdx1
      cell lineage tracing revealed that, on embryonic day 18.5, in the homozygous
      mutant mice, Pdx1 expression coincided almost exclusively with that of insulin
      secreting beta cells. Chemiluminescence assays revealed that heterozygous pdx1
      Foxa2 mice had significantly lower insulin levels than control mice (P < 0.01).
      However, no apparent difference was observed between homozygous pdx1 Foxa2 mice
      and control mice (P > 0.05). Chemiluminescence assays also showed that Foxa2
      deletion significantly depressed plasma glucagon levels in both homozygous pdx1
      Foxa2 mice and heterozygous pdx1 Foxa2 mice (P < 0.01 vs. controls). Plasma
      glucose on postnatal day 10 was significantly lower in homozygous pdx1 Foxa2 mice
      compared with control mice (P < 0.01). Our study demonstrates that homozygous
      Foxa2 ablation leads to an imbalance in beta/alpha ratio, profound
      hypoglucagonemia, inappropriate hyperinsulinemia, and hypoglycemia in mice. Our
      conditional tissue-specific Foxa2 ablation mouse model will be useful in
      elucidating regulation of normal and abnormal alpha- and beta-cell
      differentiation and pinpointing novel targets for diabetes control.

PMID- 26882315
TI  - Synergetic Influences of Mixed-Host Emitting Layer Structures and Hole Injection
      Layers on Efficiency and Lifetime of Simplified Phosphorescent Organic Light
      Emitting Diodes.
AB  - We used various nondestructive analyses to investigate various host material
      systems in the emitting layer (EML) of simple-structured, green phosphorescent
      organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) to clarify how the host systems affect its
      luminous efficiency (LE) and operational stability. An OLED that has a unipolar
      single-host EML with conventional poly(3,4
      ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT: PSS) showed high
      operating voltage, low LE (~26.6 cd/A, 13.7 lm/W), and short lifetime (~4.4 h @
      1000 cd/m(2)). However, the combined use of a gradient mixed-host EML and a
      molecularly controlled HIL that has increased surface work function (WF)
      remarkably decreased operating voltage and improved LE (~68.7 cd/A, 77.0 lm/W)
      and lifetime (~70.7 h @ 1000 cd/m(2)). Accumulated charges at the injecting
      interfaces and formation of a narrow recombination zone close to the interfaces
      are the major factors that accelerate degradation of charge injection/transport
      and electroluminescent properties of OLEDs, so achievement of simple-structured
      OLEDs with high efficiency and long lifetime requires facilitating charge
      injection and balanced transport into the EML and distributing charge carriers
      and excitons in EML.

PMID- 26882313
TI  - Development of a Xeno-Free Feeder-Layer System from Human Umbilical Cord
      Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Prolonged Expansion of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem
      Cells in Culture.
AB  - Various feeder layers have been extensively applied to support the prolonged
      growth of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for in vitro cultures. Among them,
      mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) and mouse fibroblast cell line (SNL) are most
      commonly used feeder cells for hPSCs culture. However, these feeder layers from
      animal usually cause immunogenic contaminations, which compromises the potential
      of hPSCs in clinical applications. In the present study, we tested human
      umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) as a potent xeno-free feeder
      system for maintaining human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The hUC
      MSCs showed characteristics of MSCs in xeno-free culture condition. On the
      mitomycin-treated hUC-MSCs feeder, hiPSCs maintained the features of
      undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), such as low efficiency of
      spontaneous differentiation, stable expression of stemness markers, maintenance
      of normal karyotypes, in vitro pluripotency and in vivo ability to form
      teratomas, even after a prolonged culture of more than 30 passages. Our study
      indicates that the xeno-free culture system may be a good candidate for growth
      and expansion of hiPSCs as the stepping stone for stem cell research to further
      develop better and safer stem cells. 

PMID- 26882316
TI  - Generalized selection to overcome innate immunity selects for host breadth in an
      RNA virus.
AB  - Virus-host coevolution has selected for generalized host defense against viruses,
      exemplified by interferon production/signaling and other innate immune function
      in eukaryotes such as humans. Although cell-surface binding primarily limits
      virus infection success, generalized adaptation to counteract innate immunity
      across disparate hosts may contribute to RNA virus emergence potential. We
      examined this idea using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) populations previously
      evolved on strictly immune-deficient (HeLa) cells, strictly immune competent
      (MDCK) cells, or on alternating deficient/competent cells. By measuring viral
      fitness in unselected human cancer cells of differing innate immunity, we
      confirmed that HeLa-adapted populations were specialized for innate immune
      deficient hosts, whereas MDCK-adapted populations were relatively more
      generalized for fitness on hosts of differing innate immune capacity and of
      different species origin. We also confirmed that HeLa-evolved populations
      maintained fitness in immune-deficient nonhuman primate cells. These results
      suggest that innate immunity is more prominent than host species in determining
      viral fitness at the host-cell level. Finally, our prediction was inexact that
      selection on alternating deficient/competent hosts should produce innate viral
      generalists. Rather, fitness differences among alternating host-evolved VSV
      populations indicated variable capacities to evade innate immunity. Our results
      suggest that the evolutionary history of innate immune selection can affect
      whether RNA viruses evolve greater host-breadth.

PMID- 26882317
TI  - Ecologically dependent and intrinsic genetic signatures of postzygotic isolation
      between sympatric host races of the leaf beetle Lochmaea capreae.
AB  - The fitness of hybrids might be compromised as a result of intrinsic isolation
      and/or because they fall between ecological niches due to their intermediate
      phenotypes ("extrinsic isolation"). Here, we present data from several crosses
      (parental crosses, F1, F2, and backcrosses) between the two host races of
      Lochmaea capreae on willow and birch to test for extrinsic isolation, intrinsic
      isolation, and environmentally dependent genetic incompatibilities. We employed a
      reciprocal transplant design in which offspring were raised on either host plant
      and their survival was recorded until adulthood. We also applied joint-scaling
      analysis to determine the genetic architecture of hybrid inviability. The
      relative fitness of the backcrosses switched between environments; furthermore,
      the additive genetic-environment interaction was detected as the strongest effect
      in our analysis. These results provide strong evidence that divergent natural
      selection has played a central role in the evolution of hybrid dysfunction
      between host races. Joint-scaling analysis detected significant negative
      epistatic effects that are most evident in the poor performance of F2-hybrids on
      willow, indicating signs of intrinsic isolation. We did not find any evidence
      that genetic incompatibilities are manifested independently of environmental
      conditions. Our findings suggest the outcome of natural hybridization between
      these host races is mainly affected by extrinsic isolation and a weak
      contribution of intrinsic isolation.

PMID- 26882319
TI  - Spontaneous Ejaculations in an Adolescent With Olanzapine Use: Case Report.
AB  - Olanzapine (OLZ) is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic (AAP) frequently
      used in acute and maintenance treatment of children and adolescents with
      psychotic disorders. Most commonly reported sexual problems caused by AAPs are
      decreases in libido or arousal, erectile dysfunctions, reduced/abnormal
      ejaculations, and problems in achieving or maintaining orgasm. Olanzapine is less
      commonly implicated for those adverse effects, which may reflect its more
      selective affinity to dopaminergic receptors or more transient effects on
      prolactin levels. Sexual dysfunction with AAPs, including OLZ, is reported
      predominantly in adult patients and adverse sexual effects in
      prepubertal/peripubertal patients with psychosis received scant attention.
      Studies and reports of sexual adverse effects of AAPs in this special population
      may benefit clinicians. Therefore, in this study, we report an adolescent male
      patient with psychosis who developed spontaneous ejaculations with OLZ and whose
      complaints remitted with change in treatment. 

PMID- 26882318
TI  - The Efficacy Profile of Rotigotine During the Waking Hours in Patients With
      Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Post Hoc Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Transdermal delivery of rotigotine maintains stable plasma
      concentrations for 24 hours. Three phase 3 studies of rotigotine as add-on to
      levodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease showed a significant reduction in "off"
      time from baseline to end of maintenance (EoM). However, detailed analyses over
      the range of a day have not yet been performed. The objective was to examine the
      time course of the efficacy profile of rotigotine throughout the day. METHODS:
      Post hoc analysis of diary data from 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies
      of rotigotine in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease inadequately
      controlled with levodopa, with average "off" time of >=2.5 h/d (CLEOPATRA-PD
      [NCT00244387], 16-week maintenance; PREFER, 24-week maintenance; SP921
      [NCT00522379], 12-week maintenance). Patients marked 30-minute intervals as
      "off," "on without troublesome dyskinesia," "on with troublesome dyskinesia," or
      "sleep." Diaries completed on the 3 days before EoM were analyzed. A 2-sample t
      test was performed for comparison of rotigotine + levodopa versus placebo +
      levodopa for mean percentage of time per status during four 6-hour periods:
      12:00AM (midnight) to 6:00AM, 6:00AM to 12:00PM (noon), noon to 6:00PM, and
      6:00PM to midnight. RESULTS: Data were available for 967 patients (placebo +
      levodopa, 260; rotigotine + levodopa, 707). During the 24-hour period at EoM, an
      advantage in mean percentage time spent "off" and "on without troublesome
      dyskinesia" was observed with rotigotine + levodopa versus placebo + levodopa
      during the three 6-hour periods from 6:00AM to midnight (P < 0.05; exploratory
      analysis). CONCLUSIONS: These exploratory analyses of patients with motor
      fluctuations suggest that the efficacy of rotigotine transdermal patch, as
      captured by diary data, in reducing "off" time and increasing "on time without
      troublesome dyskinesia" may cover the full waking day.

PMID- 26882320
TI  - Effects of 36.6 GHz and static magnetic field on degree of endoreduplication in
      Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes.
AB  - Purpose To study the effect of microwave (MW) irradiation and consistent action
      of microwaves and static magnetic field (MF) on the giant chromosomes
      endoreduplication in Drosophila melanogaster Meig. Materials and methods
      Experiments were carried out on inbred wild type Canton-S strain. Exposure to
      microwaves (frequency - 36.64 GHz, power density - 1 W/m(2), exposure time - 30
      sec) and static magnetic field (intensity - 25 mT, exposure time - 5 min) applied
      at the egg stage after a 2-h oviposition. Giant chromosomes were investigated in
      squashed preparations of the salivary glands stained by acetoorcein by the
      cytomorphometric method. Preparations were obtained from Drosophila larvae at the
      0 h prepupae stage. Results Exposure to microwaves increased the degree of
      polyteny in chromosomes (DPC) by 7.5%, and the statistical power of the impact
      was: h(2) = 35.3%. A similar effect occurred after the sequential action of
      microwaves and static magnetic field: The polyteny level of chromosomes increased
      by 7.4%, statistical power was: h(2) = 30.6%. Conclusions Exposure to microwaves
      on the stage of embryogenesis has a stimulating effect on endoreduplication in
      Drosophila development. The effect of microwaves was not modified by the action
      of the static magnetic field. 

PMID- 26882321
TI  - Marijuana Legalization in California: Rational Implementation of the Adult Use of
      Marijuana Act (AUMA).

PMID- 26882314
TI  - Practical Strategies and Concepts in GPCR Allosteric Modulator Discovery: Recent
      Advances with Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors.
AB  - Allosteric modulation of GPCRs has initiated a new era of basic and translational
      discovery, filled with therapeutic promise yet fraught with caveats. Allosteric
      ligands stabilize unique conformations of the GPCR that afford fundamentally new
      receptors, capable of novel pharmacology, unprecedented subtype selectivity, and
      unique signal bias. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the basics
      of GPCR allosteric pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism, and
      validated approaches to address each of the major challenges and caveats. Then,
      the review narrows focus to highlight recent advances in the discovery of
      allosteric ligands for metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes 1-5 and 7 (mGlu1
      5,7) highlighting key concepts ("molecular switches", signal bias, heterodimers)
      and practical solutions to enable the development of tool compounds and clinical
      candidates. The review closes with a section on late-breaking new advances with
      allosteric ligands for other GPCRs and emerging data for endogenous allosteric
      modulators.

PMID- 26882323
TI  - Virtual Reality in the Assessment and Treatment of Weight-Related Disorders.
AB  - Virtual Reality (VR) has, for the past two decades, proven to be a useful
      adjunctive tool for both assessment and treatment of patients with eating
      disorders and obesity. VR allows an individual to enter scenarios that simulate
      real-life situations and to encounter food cues known to trigger his/her
      disordered eating behavior. As well, VR enables three-dimensional figures of the
      patient's body to be presented, helping him/her to reach an awareness of body
      image distortion and then providing the opportunity to confront and correct
      distortions, resulting in a more realistic body image and a decrease in body
      image dissatisfaction. In this paper, we describe seminal studies in this
      research area. 

PMID- 26882322
TI  - Virtual Worlds versus Real Body: Virtual Reality Meets Eating and Weight
      Disorders.

PMID- 26882324
TI  - A Second Chance at Health: How a 3D Virtual World Can Improve Health Self
      Efficacy for Weight Loss Management Among Adults.
AB  - Health self-efficacy, or the beliefs in one's capabilities to perform health
      behaviors, is a significant factor in eliciting health behavior change, such as
      weight loss. Research has demonstrated that virtual embodiment has the potential
      to alter one's psychology and physicality, particularly in health contexts;
      however, little is known about the impacts embodiment in a virtual world has on
      health self-efficacy. The present research is a randomized controlled trial (N =
      90) examining the effectiveness of virtual embodiment and play in a social
      virtual world (Second Life [SL]) for increasing health self-efficacy (exercise
      and nutrition efficacy) among overweight adults. Participants were randomly
      assigned to a 3D social virtual world (avatar virtual interaction experimental
      condition), 2D social networking site (no avatar virtual interaction control
      condition), or no intervention (no virtual interaction control condition). The
      findings of this study provide initial evidence for the use of SL to improve
      exercise efficacy and to support weight loss. Results also suggest that
      individuals who have higher self-presence with their avatar reap more benefits.
      Finally, quantitative findings are triangulated with qualitative data to increase
      confidence in the results and provide richer insight into the perceived
      effectiveness and limitations of SL for meeting weight loss goals. Themes
      resulting from the qualitative analysis indicate that participation in SL can
      improve motivation and efficacy to try new physical activities; however,
      individuals who have a dislike for video games may not be benefitted by avatar
      based virtual interventions. Implications for research on the transformative
      potential of virtual embodiment and self-presence in general are discussed. 

PMID- 26882325
TI  - Testing Augmented Reality for Cue Exposure in Obese Patients: An Exploratory
      Study.
AB  - Binge eating is one of the key behaviors in relation to the etiology and severity
      of obesity. Cue exposure with response prevention consists of exposing patients
      to binge foods while actual eating is not allowed. Augmented reality (AR) has the
      potential to change the way cue exposure is administered, but very few prior
      studies have been conducted so far. Starting from these premises, this study was
      aimed to (a) investigate whether AR foods elicit emotional responses comparable
      to those produced by the real stimuli, (b) study differences between obese and
      control participants in terms of emotional responses to food, and (c) compare
      emotional responses to different categories of foods. To reach these goals, we
      assess in 15 obese (age, 44.6 +/- 13 years; body mass index [BMI], 44.2 +/- 8.1)
      and 15 control participants (age, 43.7 +/- 12.8 years; BMI, 21.2 +/- 1.4) the
      emotional responses to high-calorie (savory and sweet) and low-calorie food
      stimuli, presented through different exposure conditions (real, photographic, and
      AR). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used for the assessment of state
      anxiety, and it was administered at the beginning and after the exposure to
      foods, along with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Hunger and Happiness. To
      assess the perceived pleasantness, the VAS for Palatability was administered
      after the exposure to food stimuli. Heart rate, skin conductance response, and
      facial corrugator supercilii muscle activation were recorded. Although
      preliminary, the results showed that (a) AR food stimuli were perceived to be as
      palatable as real stimuli, and they also triggered a similar arousal response;
      (b) obese individuals showed lower happiness after the exposure to food compared
      to control participants, with regard to both psychological and physiological
      responses; and (c) high-calorie savory (vs. low-calorie) food stimuli were
      perceived by all the participants to be more palatable, and they triggered a
      greater arousal response. 

PMID- 26882326
TI  - Using Virtual Reality to Distract Overweight Children from Bodily Sensations
      During Exercise.
AB  - This study analyzes the potential of virtual reality (VR) to enhance attentional
      distraction in overweight children as they experience bodily sensations during
      exercise. It has been suggested that one reason why obese children stop
      exercising is the perception of bodily sensations. In a counterbalanced design, a
      total of 109 children (33 overweight, 10-15 years old) were asked to walk twice
      for 6 minutes on a treadmill under one of two conditions: (a) traditional
      condition (TC)-focusing their attention on their physical feelings and sensations
      or (b) distraction condition (DC)-focusing their attention on a virtual
      environment. Attentional focus during exercise, bad-good feeling states (pre- and
      postexperimental), perceived exertion (3 minutes and post), heart rate, and
      enjoyment were assessed. Results indicated that overweight children focused on
      internal information under the TC, but they significantly shifted their attention
      to regard the external environment in the DC. This attentional distraction effect
      of VR was more intense in overweight than in normal-weight children. No
      differences between groups were found when examining changes in feeling states
      and perceived exertion. VR increased enjoyment during exercise, and children
      preferred exercise using virtual environments. VR is useful to promote
      distraction and may help overweight and obese children to enjoy exercise. 

PMID- 26882327
TI  - Eating Disorders and Obesity in Virtual Reality: A Comprehensive Research Chart.

PMID- 26882331
TI  - What Other Industries Can Learn From Health Care.

PMID- 26882330
TI  - Neucode Labels for Multiplexed, Absolute Protein Quantification.
AB  - We describe a new method to accomplish multiplexed, absolute protein
      quantification in a targeted fashion. The approach draws upon the recently
      developed neutron encoding (NeuCode) metabolic labeling strategy and parallel
      reaction monitoring (PRM). Since PRM scanning relies upon high-resolution tandem
      mass spectra for targeted protein quantification, incorporation of multiple
      NeuCode labeled peptides permits high levels of multiplexing that can be accessed
      from high-resolution tandem mass spectra. Here we demonstrate this approach in
      cultured cells by monitoring a viral infection and the corresponding viral
      protein production over many infection time points in a single experiment. In
      this context the NeuCode PRM combination affords up to 30 channels of
      quantitative information in a single MS experiment. 

PMID- 26882333
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of incobotulinumtoxinA influencing the
      clinical efficacy in post-stroke spasticity.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Post-stroke spasticity is a disabling neurological condition and
      may have a significant impact on quality of life. Ability to carry out activities
      of daily living is often compromised and painful contractures in the affected
      limbs may also develop. The prevalence of spasticity may be as high as 40% within
      the first year after the initial stroke event. Management of this condition
      focuses on improving muscle tone, function and pain. IncobotulinumtoxinA is
      effective in treating focal spasticity. AREAS COVERED: This review will summarize
      outcomes from incobotulinumtoxin A phase III trials in upper limb spasticity.
      Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics will also be discussed along with future
      studies and possible indications. Literature searches used for this review
      include; PubMed and www.clinicaltrials.gov searches. Congress abstracts and case
      reports are not included. EXPERT OPINION: IncobotulinumtoxinA, is a 150
      kiloDalton neurotoxin without complexing proteins and is well tolerated in
      patients with spasticity. There is an 80% improvement reported on spasticity and
      disability in several phase III studies. In the future, higher doses for upper
      and lower limb spasticity may be considered. Antibody formation does not seem to
      limit the administration of higher doses. Prospective studies are evaluating the
      efficacy of incobotulinumtoxin in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
      Furthermore, the clinical efficacy and immunogenic status of other botulinum
      neurotoxin A subtypes are currently under investigation.

PMID- 26882332
TI  - Treatment Sequencing for Childhood ADHD: A Multiple-Randomization Study of
      Adaptive Medication and Behavioral Interventions.
AB  - Behavioral and pharmacological treatments for children with attention
      deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were evaluated to address whether endpoint
      outcomes are better depending on which treatment is initiated first and, in case
      of insufficient response to initial treatment, whether increasing dose of initial
      treatment or adding the other treatment modality is superior. Children with ADHD
      (ages 5-12, N = 146, 76% male) were treated for 1 school year. Children were
      randomized to initiate treatment with low doses of either (a) behavioral parent
      training (8 group sessions) and brief teacher consultation to establish a Daily
      Report Card or (b) extended-release methylphenidate (equivalent to .15 mg/kg/dose
      bid). After 8 weeks or at later monthly intervals as necessary, insufficient
      responders were rerandomized to secondary interventions that either increased the
      dose/intensity of the initial treatment or added the other treatment modality,
      with adaptive adjustments monthly as needed to these secondary treatments. The
      group beginning with behavioral treatment displayed significantly lower rates of
      observed classroom rule violations (the primary outcome) at study endpoint and
      tended to have fewer out-of-class disciplinary events. Further, adding medication
      secondary to initial behavior modification resulted in better outcomes on the
      primary outcomes and parent/teacher ratings of oppositional behavior than adding
      behavior modification to initial medication. Normalization rates on teacher and
      parent ratings were generally high. Parents who began treatment with behavioral
      parent training had substantially better attendance than those assigned to
      receive training following medication. Beginning treatment with behavioral
      intervention produced better outcomes overall than beginning treatment with
      medication.

PMID- 26882334
TI  - Simulation of Daily Snapshot Rhythm Monitoring to Identify Atrial Fibrillation in
      Continuously Monitored Patients with Stroke Risk Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: New technologies are diffusing into medical practice swiftly. Hand
      held devices such as smartphones can record short-duration (e.g., 1-minute) ECGs,
      but their effectiveness in identifying patients with paroxysmal atrial
      fibrillation (AF) is unknown. METHODS: We used data from the TRENDS study, which
      included 370 patients (mean age 71 years, 71% men, CHADS2 score>=1 point: mean
      2.3 points) who had no documentation of atrial tachycardia (AT)/AF or
      antiarrhythmic or anticoagulant drug use at baseline. All were subsequently newly
      diagnosed with AT/AF by a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) over one
      year of follow-up. Using a computer simulation approach (5,000 repetitions), we
      estimated the detection rate for paroxysmal AT/AF via daily snapshot ECG
      monitoring over various periods, with the probability of detection equal to the
      percent AT/AF burden on each day. RESULTS: The estimated AT/AF detection rates
      with snapshot monitoring periods of 14, 28, 56, 112, and 365 days were 10%, 15%,
      21%, 28%, and 50% respectively. The detection rate over 365 days of monitoring
      was higher in those with CHADS2 scores >=2 than in those with CHADS2 scores of 1
      (53% vs. 38%), and was higher in those with AT/AF burden >=0.044 hours/day
      compared to those with AT/AF burden <0.044 hours/day (91% vs. 14%; both P<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Daily snapshot ECG monitoring over 365 days detects half of patients
      who developed AT/AF as detected by CIED, and shorter intervals of monitoring
      detected fewer AT/AF patients. The detection rate was associated with individual
      CHADS2 score and AT/AF burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov
      NCT00279981.

PMID- 26882335
TI  - Incidence of infectious morbidity events after second-line antiretroviral therapy
      initiation in HIV-infected adults in Yaounde, Cameroon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected individuals
      experience mainly non-AIDS-related conditions, among which infectious events are
      prominent. We aimed to estimate incidence and describe overall spectrum of
      infectious events, including all grade events, among HIV-1-infected adults
      failing first-line ART in Yaounde, Cameroon. METHODS: All patients from Cameroon
      enrolled in the second-line ART 2LADY trial (ANRS12169) were included in this
      secondary analysis. Medical files were reviewed with predefined criteria for
      diagnosis assessment. Incidence rates (IR) were estimated per 100 person-years (%
      PY). RESULTS: A total of 302 adult patients contributing 840 PY experienced 596
      infectious events (IR 71% PY). Only 29 (5%) events were graded as severe. Most
      frequent infections were upper respiratory tract infections (15% PY), diarrhoea
      (9% PY) and malaria (9% PY). A total of 369 (62%) infections occurred during the
      first year (IR 130% PY) followed by a persistent lower incidence during the
      following 3 years. Higher IR were observed in patients with CD4+ T-cell count
      <200 cells/mm3 for all infectious events except for mycobacterial and parasitic
      infections. IR of viral, bacterial and parasitic infectious events were lower in
      case of co-trimoxazole use in patients with CD4+ T-cell count <200 cells/mm3.
      CONCLUSIONS: Infectious events are common and mainly occur during the first year
      after treatment initiation. Second-line ART initiation had a positive impact on
      the entire spectrum of infectious morbidity.

PMID- 26882336
TI  - Sharing concerns: Interpersonal worry regulation in romantic couples.
AB  - Two dyadic studies investigated interpersonal worry regulation in heterosexual
      relationships. In Study 1, we video-recorded 40 romantic couples discussing
      shared concerns. Male partners' worry positively predicted female partners'
      interpersonal calming attempts, and negatively predicted female partners'
      interpersonal alerting attempts (i.e., attempts to make their partners appreciate
      the seriousness of concerns). Video-cued recall data also indicated that changes
      in partner A's worry over time positively predicted partner B's motivation to
      reduce partner A's worry, and that this effect was stronger when B was the female
      partner. Study 2 was a dyadic survey of 100 couples. Individual differences in
      partner A's negative affect were positive predictors of partner B's interpersonal
      calming, and individual differences in partner A's expressive suppression were
      negative predictors of partner B's interpersonal calming. Further, individual
      differences in male partners' expressivity were significant positive predictors
      of female partners' interpersonal calming, and individual differences in male
      partners' reappraisal were significant positive predictors of female partners'
      interpersonal alerting. These findings suggest that interpersonal worry
      regulation relates to partners' expression and intrapersonal regulation of worry,
      but not equally for men and women. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882337
TI  - Emotional arousal predicts intertemporal choice.
AB  - People generally prefer immediate rewards to rewards received after a delay,
      often even when the delayed reward is larger. This phenomenon is known as
      temporal discounting. It has been suggested that preferences for immediate
      rewards may be due to their being more concrete than delayed rewards. This
      concreteness may evoke an enhanced emotional response. Indeed, manipulating the
      representation of a future reward to make it more concrete has been shown to
      heighten the reward's subjective emotional intensity, making people more likely
      to choose it. Here the authors use an objective measure of arousal-pupil dilation
      to investigate if emotional arousal mediates the influence of delayed reward
      concreteness on choice. They recorded pupil dilation responses while participants
      made choices between immediate and delayed rewards. They manipulated concreteness
      through time interval framing: delayed rewards were presented either with the
      date on which they would be received (e.g., "$30, May 3"; DATE condition, more
      concrete) or in terms of delay to receipt (e.g., "$30, 7 days; DAYS condition,
      less concrete). Contrary to prior work, participants were not overall more
      patient in the DATE condition. However, there was individual variability in
      response to time framing, and this variability was predicted by differences in
      pupil dilation between conditions. Emotional arousal increased as the subjective
      value of delayed rewards increased, and predicted choice of the delayed reward on
      each trial. This study advances our understanding of the role of emotion in
      temporal discounting. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26882338
TI  - Timing of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is commonly and increasingly utilized
      in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury (AKI). The issue of
      when to start RRT in a critically ill patient with AKI has long troubled
      clinicians. SUMMARY: Currently, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence to
      guide clinician decision-making on the optimal time to start RRT. This lack of
      evidence has translated into wide variation in treatment patterns and practices.
      In patients developing life-threatening complications of AKI, the decision to
      start RRT is largely indisputable; however, in the absence of such complications,
      the optimal thresholds to start RRT that translates into improved outcomes for
      patients are unknown. Available evidence from observational studies and clinical
      trials have considerable limitations for translation to clinical practice due to
      their retrospective, post hoc secondary design, their small sample sizes,
      heterogeneity in study populations and illness severity, variation in the
      definitions of AKI and in the timing of or thresholds for starting RRT and the
      risk of residual confounding and bias related to the association between the
      timing of RRT and outcome. KEY MESSAGES: Several large randomized trials are
      planned or ongoing, and the results of these trials will greatly inform best
      clinical practice and will help reduce unnecessary variation in the practice of
      RRT prescription. For now, the decision on the appropriate time to start RRT is
      naturally complex, integrating numerous variables, and should largely be
      individualized.

PMID- 26882340
TI  - Correction: Arsenic Trioxide Sensitizes Glioblastoma to a Myc Inhibitor.

PMID- 26882339
TI  - Examining Associations between Health Information Seeking Behavior and Adult
      Education Status in the U.S.: An Analysis of the 2012 PIAAC Data.
AB  - This paper presents data from the Program for the International Assessment of
      Adult Competencies with a focus on the interrelationships among health
      information seeking behavior (HISB), and health status or use of preventive
      health measures for U.S. adults both with and without a high school diploma. Key
      results of ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses indicated that, after
      controlling for demographic factors, (1) adults with a high school diploma use
      more text-based health information sources while adults without a high school
      diploma use more oral sources, (2) using the Internet as a source of health
      information is more strongly related to reporting excellent/very good health
      status than having a high school diploma, (3) those without a high school diploma
      who use the Internet report the largest increase in health status over any other
      health information source, and (4) for those with learning disability or vision
      problem, a high facility in reading English is an important predictor of whether
      the Internet is used as a health information source. The Internet appears to play
      a key role in both enhancing health status and enabling use of preventive
      measures for those with and without a high school diploma; although, individuals
      without a high school diploma who use the Internet for health information derive
      substantial benefit in health status. 

PMID- 26882341
TI  - Toroidal Interaction and Propeller Chirality of Hexaarylbenzenes. Dynamic Domino
      Inversion Revealed by Combined Experimental and Theoretical Circular Dichroism
      Studies.
AB  - Hexaarylbenzenes (HABs) have greatly attracted much attention due to their unique
      propeller-shaped structure and potential application in materials science, such
      as liquid crystals, molecular capsules/rotors, redox materials, nonlinear optical
      materials, as well as molecular wires. Less attention has however been paid to
      their propeller chirality. By introducing small point-chiral group(s) at the
      periphery of HABs, propeller chirality was effectively induced, provoking strong
      Cotton effects in the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. Temperature and solvent
      polarity manipulate the dynamics of propeller inversion in solution. As such,
      whizzing toroids become more substantial in polar solvents and at an elevated
      temperature, where radial aromatic rings (propeller blades) prefer orthogonal
      alignment against the central benzene ring (C6 core), maximizing toroidal
      interactions. 

PMID- 26882342
TI  - 3D Reconstruction of Coronary Artery Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.
AB  - AIMS: The 3D geometry of individual vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which
      are essential for understanding the mechanical function of blood vessels, are
      currently not available. This paper introduces a new 3D segmentation algorithm to
      determine VSMC morphology and orientation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 112
      VSMCs from six porcine coronary arteries were used in the analysis. A 3D semi
      automatic segmentation method was developed to reconstruct individual VSMCs from
      cell clumps as well as to extract the 3D geometry of VSMCs. A new edge blocking
      model was introduced to recognize cell boundary while an edge growing was
      developed for optimal interpolation and edge verification. The proposed methods
      were designed based on Region of Interest (ROI) selected by user and interactive
      responses of limited key edges. Enhanced cell boundary features were used to
      construct the cell's initial boundary for further edge growing. A unified
      framework of morphological parameters (dimensions and orientations) was proposed
      for the 3D volume data. Virtual phantom was designed to validate the tilt angle
      measurements, while other parameters extracted from 3D segmentations were
      compared with manual measurements to assess the accuracy of the algorithm. The
      length, width and thickness of VSMCs were 62.9+/-14.9 MUm, 4.6+/-0.6 MUm and
      6.2+/-1.8 MUm (mean+/-SD). In longitudinal-circumferential plane of blood vessel,
      VSMCs align off the circumferential direction with two mean angles of -19.4+/-9.3
      degrees  and 10.9+/-4.7 degrees , while an out-of-plane angle (i.e., radial tilt
      angle) was found to be 8+/-7.6 degrees  with median as 5.7 degrees . CONCLUSIONS:
      A 3D segmentation algorithm was developed to reconstruct individual VSMCs of
      blood vessel walls based on optical image stacks. The results were validated by a
      virtual phantom and manual measurement. The obtained 3D geometries can be
      utilized in mathematical models and leads a better understanding of vascular
      mechanical properties and function.

PMID- 26882343
TI  - A simple aptamer-functionalized gold nanorods based biosensor for the sensitive
      detection of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
AB  - Herein, we describe a novel approach for the rapid diagnosis of human breast
      carcinoma MCF-7 cells with a detection limit of 100 cells mL(-1). In our
      strategy, the MCF-7 cells are specially recognized by mucin 1 protein (MUC-1)
      aptamer-functionalized gold nanorods (GNRs) through specific interactions, whose
      signals are simply read out by its unique localized surface plasmon resonance
      (LSPR) spectra. 

PMID- 26882345
TI  - IL-17 is not essential for inflammation and chronic pelvic pain development in an
      experimental model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
AB  - Pain and inflammation in the absence of infection are hallmarks in chronic
      prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) patients. The etiology of
      CP/CPPS is unclear, and autoimmunity has been proposed as a cause. Experimental
      autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) models have long been used for studying CP/CPPS.
      Herein, we studied prostate inflammation induction and chronic pelvic pain
      development in EAP using IL-12p40-KO, IL-4-KO, IL-17-KO, and wild-type (C57BL/6)
      mice. Prostate antigen (PAg) immunization in C57BL/6 mice induced specific Th1
      and Th17 immune responses and severe prostate inflammation and cell infiltration,
      mainly composed of CD4 T cells and macrophages. Moreover, chronic pelvic pain was
      evidenced by increased allodynia responses. In immunized IL-17-KO mice, the
      presence of a prominent PAg-specific Th1 immune response caused similar prostate
      inflammation and chronic pelvic pain. Furthermore, markedly high PAg-specific Th1
      immune responses, exacerbated prostate inflammation, and chronic pelvic pain were
      detected in immunized IL-4-KO mice. Conversely, immunized IL-12p40-KO mice
      developed PAg-specific Th2 immune responses, characterized by high IL-4 secretion
      and neither infiltration nor damage in the prostate. As observed in wild-type
      control animals, IL12p40-KO mice did not evidence tactile allodynia responses.
      Our results suggest that, as in patients, chronic pelvic pain is a consequence of
      prostate inflammation. After PAg immunization, a Th1-associated immune response
      develops and induces prostate inflammation and chronic pelvic pain. The absence
      of Th1 or Th2 cytokines, respectively, diminishes or enhances EAP susceptibility.
      In addition, IL-17 showed not to be essential for pathology induction and chronic
      pelvic pain development. 

PMID- 26882344
TI  - Is duloxetine's effect on painful physical symptoms in depression an indirect
      result of improvement of depressive symptoms? Pooled analyses of three randomized
      controlled trials.
AB  - In treating Major Depressive Disorder with associated painful physical symptoms
      (PPS), the effect of duloxetine on PPS has been shown to decompose into a direct
      effect on PPS and an indirect effect on PPS via depressive symptoms (DS)
      improvement. To evaluate the changes in relative contributions of the direct and
      indirect effects over time, we analyzed pooled data from 3 randomized double
      blind studies comparing duloxetine 60 mg/d with placebo in patients with major
      depressive disorder and PPS. Changes from baseline in Montgomery-Asberg
      Depression Rating Scale total and Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form average pain
      score were assessed over 8 weeks. Path analysis examined the (1) direct effect of
      treatment on PPS and/or indirect effect on PPS via DS improvement and (2) direct
      effect of treatment on DS and/or indirect effect on DS via PPS improvement. At
      week 1, the direct effect of duloxetine on PPS (75.3%) was greater than the
      indirect effect through DS improvement (24.7%) but became less (22.6%) than the
      indirect effect (77.4%) by week 8. Initially, the direct effect of duloxetine on
      PPS was markedly greater than its indirect effect, whereas later the indirect
      effect predominated. Conversely, at week 1, the direct effect of treatment on DS
      (46.4%) was less than the indirect effect (53.6%), and by week 8 it superseded
      (62.6%) the indirect effect (37.4%). Thus, duloxetine would relieve PPS directly
      in the initial phase and indirectly via improving DS in the later phase. 

PMID- 26882347
TI  - Activity-dependent dephosphorylation of paxillin contributed to nociceptive
      plasticity in spinal cord dorsal horn.
AB  - The enzymatic activity of protein tyrosine kinase Src is subjected to the
      regulation by C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) and protein tyrosine phosphatases
      (PTPs). Aberrant Src activation in the spinal cord dorsal horn is pivotal for the
      induction and development of nociceptive behavioral sensitization. In this study,
      we found that paxillin, one of the well-characterized cell adhesion components
      involved in cell migration and survival, integrated CSK and PTPs' signaling to
      regulate Src-dependent nociceptive plasticity. Paxillin localized at excitatory
      glutamatergic synapses in the spinal dorsal horn of mice, and the phosphorylation
      of Tyr118 on paxillin was necessary to associate with and target CSK at synapses.
      After peripheral tissue injury, the enhanced neuronal activity stimulated N
      methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype glutamate receptors, which initiated PTPs'
      signaling to catalyze Tyr118 dephosphorylation. The reduced Tyr118
      phosphorylation disrupted paxillin interaction with CSK, leading to the dispersal
      of CSK out of synapses. With the loss of CSK-mediated inhibition, Src activity
      was persistently increased. The active Src potentiated the synaptic transmission
      specifically mediated by GluN2B subunit-containing NMDA receptors. The active Src
      also facilitated the induction of long-term potentiation of C fiber-evoked field
      potentials and exaggerated painful responses. In complete Freund's adjuvant
      injected mice, viral expression of phosphomimicking paxillin mutant to resume CSK
      synaptic localization repressed Src hyperactivity. Meanwhile, this
      phosphomimicking paxillin mutant blunted NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic
      transmission and alleviated chronic inflammatory pain. These data showed that
      PTPs-mediated dephosphorylation of paxillin at Tyr118 was involved in the
      modification of nociceptive plasticity through CSK-Src signaling. 

PMID- 26882346
TI  - A combined electrophysiological and morphological study of neuropeptide Y
      expressing inhibitory interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn of the mouse.
AB  - The spinal dorsal horn contains numerous inhibitory interneurons that control
      transmission of somatosensory information. Although these cells have important
      roles in modulating pain, we still have limited information about how they are
      incorporated into neuronal circuits, and this is partly due to difficulty in
      assigning them to functional populations. Around 15% of inhibitory interneurons
      in laminae I-III express neuropeptide Y (NPY), but little is known about this
      population. We therefore used a combined electrophysiological/morphological
      approach to investigate these cells in mice that express green fluorescent
      protein (GFP) under control of the NPY promoter. We show that GFP is largely
      restricted to NPY-immunoreactive cells, although it is only expressed by a third
      of those in lamina I-II. Reconstructions of recorded neurons revealed that they
      were morphologically heterogeneous, but never islet cells. Many NPY-GFP cells
      (including cells in lamina III) appeared to be innervated by C fibres that lack
      transient receptor potential vanilloid-1, and consistent with this, we found that
      some lamina III NPY-immunoreactive cells were activated by mechanical noxious
      stimuli. Projection neurons in lamina III are densely innervated by NPY
      containing axons. Our results suggest that this input originates from a small
      subset of NPY-expressing interneurons, with the projection cells representing
      only a minority of their output. Taken together with results of previous studies,
      our findings indicate that somatodendritic morphology is of limited value in
      classifying functional populations among inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal
      horn. Because many NPY-expressing cells respond to noxious stimuli, these are
      likely to have a role in attenuating pain and limiting its spread. 

PMID- 26882348
TI  - Modelling Visual Change Detection and Identification under Free Viewing
      Conditions.
AB  - We examined whether the abilities of observers to perform an analogue of a real
      world monitoring task involving detection and identification of changes to items
      in a visual display could be explained better by models based on signal detection
      theory (SDT) or high threshold theory (HTT). Our study differed from most
      previous studies in that observers were allowed to inspect the initial display
      for 3s, simulating the long inspection times typical of natural viewing, and
      their eye movements were not constrained. For the majority of observers, combined
      change detection and identification performance was best modelled by a SDT-based
      process that assumed that memory resources were distributed across all eight
      items in our displays. Some observers required a parameter to allow for sometimes
      making random guesses at the identities of changes they had missed. However, the
      performance of a small proportion of observers was best explained by a HTT-based
      model that allowed for lapses of attention. 

PMID- 26882349
TI  - Sexually Diergic Trophic Effects of Estradiol Exposure on Developing Bovine
      Cerebellar Granule Cells.
AB  - In the mammalian brain, the differentiation of neural cells and the developmental
      organization of the underlying circuitry are influenced by steroid hormones. The
      estrogen 17-beta estradiol (E2) is one of the most potent regulators of neural
      growth during prenatal life, synthetized locally from steroid precursors
      including prenatal testicular testosterone. Estradiol promotes brain
      differentiation counting sexually dimorphic neural circuits by binding to the
      estrogen receptors, ER-alpha and ER-beta. The cerebellum has been described as a
      site of estrogen action and a potentially sexually dimorphic area. The goal of
      this study was to analyze the capacity of E2 to affect the growth of male and
      female fetal bovine cerebellar granule. We performed primary cultures of fetal
      cerebellar granules, and verified the mRNA expression of the ER-alpha and ER-beta
      in both sexes. Moreover, the distribution of ERs in the male and female
      cerebellar granules of the second fetal stage was characterized by
      immunohistochemistry. We measured morphological parameters in presence (or
      absence) of estradiol administration, focusing on the variations of the dendritic
      branching pattern of granule neurons. By using the nonparametric combination and
      permutation testing approach, we proposed a sophisticated multivariate
      statistical analysis to demonstrate that E2 induces multifarious and dimorphic
      changes in the granule cells. E2 exerts trophic effects in both female and male
      granules and this effect is stronger in female. Male granules treated with E2
      became similar to female control granule. Bos taurus species has a long gestation
      and a large brain that offers an interesting alternative in comparative
      neuroscience.

PMID- 26882350
TI  - Antibiotics detected in urines and adipogenesis in school children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although antibiotic use during early life has been demonstrated to be
      related to the altered adipogenesis in later life, limited data are available for
      the effect of antibiotic exposure in school children on adiposity from various
      sources, including from the use or contaminated food or drinking water.
      OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between the internal exposure of
      antibiotics from various sources and adipogenesis in school children using the
      biomonitoring of urinary antibiotics. METHODS: After 586 school children aged 8
      11years were selected from Shanghai in 2013, total urinary concentrations (free
      and conjugated) of 21 common antibiotics from six categories (macrolides, beta
      lactams, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and phenicols), including
      five human antibiotics (HAs), two antibiotics preferred as HA, four veterinary
      antibiotics (VAs), and ten antibiotics preferred as VA, were measured by ultra
      performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass
      spectrometry. Creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of antibiotics were
      used to assess their exposure. Overweight or obesity was determined by the body
      mass index or waist circumference-based criteria deriving from national data.
      RESULTS: All 21 antibiotics were found in urines with the overall detection
      frequency of 79.6%. The multinomial logistic regression analyses showed the
      significant associations of overweight and obesity with the exposure to VAs and
      antibiotics preferred as VA, but not with HAs or antibiotics preferred as HA.
      After adjusted for a number of obesity-relevant variables, the odds ratios (95%
      confidence interval) of BMI-based obesity risk of tertiles 2 and 3 of urinary
      concentrations relative to tertile 1 were respectively 2.54 (1.27, 5.07) and 2.92
      (1.45, 5.87) for florfenicol, 0.57 (0.12, 2.63) and 3.63 (1.41, 9.32) for
      trimethoprim, and 3.00 (1.56, 5.76) and 1.99 (0.99, 4.01) for sum of veterinary
      antibiotics. Similar results were found when the outcome used WC-based obesity
      risk. The associations were sex related and mainly observed in boys. CONCLUSIONS:
      Some types of antibiotic exposure, which were mainly from food or drinking water,
      were associated with an increased risk of obesity in school children. Due to the
      cross-sectional design, more longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted
      to further test these findings.

PMID- 26882352
TI  - Applying the pre-intentional phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)
      Model to investigate factors associated with intention on consistent condom use
      with various types of female sex partners among males who inject drugs in China.
AB  - Both drug injection and sexual transmission are the primary drivers of the HIV
      epidemic in China. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors
      of intention of consistent condom use during sexual intercourse with female
      regular partners (RP), non-regular partners (NRP) and sex workers (FSW) among
      male people who inject drugs (PWID)in China. A total of 529 male non
      institutionalized PWID aged 18-45 years with negative/unknown HIV status were
      recruited by multiple methods in Dazhou and Hengyang, China. The constructs of
      the pre-intention phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) Model,
      including partner-specific HIV risk perception, condom use positive outcome
      expectancies, condom use negative outcome expectancies, and self-efficacy of
      condom use, were assessed. The prevalence of behavioral intention of consistent
      condom use with RP, NRP, and FSW was 32.1%, 49.1%, and 63.6%, respectively. In
      multivariate stepwise analysis, conditional risk perception of HIV transmission
      via unprotected sex with RP/NRP/FSW was associated with intention of consistent
      condom use with these types of female sex partners (multivariate odds ratio (ORm)
      = 3.25-7.06). Condom use negative outcome expectancies were associated with
      intention of consistent condom use with RP and NRP (ORm = 0.30-0.46), while
      condom use self-efficacy was associated with intention of consistent condom use
      with RP and FSW in the next six months (ORm = 2.24-3.81). Male PWID are at high
      risk of HIV transmission through sexual behaviors. The pre-intention phase of the
      HAPA model may be applied to plan interventions to increase behavioral intention
      of consistent condom use with various types of female partners. Such
      interventions are warranted.

PMID- 26882351
TI  - Odontogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells on Hydrogel Scaffolds
      Derived from Decellularized Bone Extracellular Matrix and Collagen Type I.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of odontogenic
      differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on hydrogel scaffolds derived
      from bone extracellular matrix (bECM) in comparison to those seeded on collagen I
      (Col-I), one of the main components of dental pulp ECM. METHODS: DPSCs isolated
      from human third molars were characterized for surface marker expression and
      odontogenic potential prior to seeding into bECM or Col-I hydrogel scaffolds. The
      cells were then seeded onto bECM and Col-I hydrogel scaffolds and cultured under
      basal conditions or with odontogenic and growth factor (GF) supplements. DPSCs
      cultivated on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) with and without supplements were
      used as controls. Gene expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), dentin
      matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE) was
      evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT
      PCR) and mineral deposition was observed by Von Kossa staining. RESULTS: When
      DPSCs were cultured on bECM hydrogels, the mRNA expression levels of DSPP, DMP-1
      and MEPE genes were significantly upregulated with respect to those cultured on
      Col-I scaffolds or TCPS in the absence of extra odontogenic inducers. In
      addition, more mineral deposition was observed on bECM hydrogel scaffolds as
      demonstrated by Von Kossa staining. Moreover, DSPP, DMP-1 and MEPE mRNA
      expressions of DPSCs cultured on bECM hydrogels were further upregulated by the
      addition of GFs or osteo/odontogenic medium compared to Col-I treated cells in
      the same culture conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate the
      potential of the bECM hydrogel scaffolds to stimulate odontogenic differentiation
      of DPSCs.

PMID- 26882355
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26882354
TI  - Biologic Drugs in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Safety Profile.
AB  - Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD) are chronic, progressive and
      disabling disorders characterized by a heterogeneous clinical course. Some years
      ago the main goal of the therapy was to achieve and maintain clinical remission,
      whereas at present the main goal of therapy is represented by the deep remission,
      characterized by sustained clinical remission, complete mucosal healing and
      normalization of serological markers of inflammation. In the last years new
      therapeutic approaches have been introduced which have led to a reduction in the
      mortality rate and have modified the natural history of Inflammatory Bowel
      Diseases (IBD). In addition, several prognostic factors have been identified
      which have allowed to better stratify the disease and to choose the most
      appropriate therapy for the single patient. Moreover, early treatment with
      immunosuppressive drugs and/or biologics has changed, at least in the short term,
      the course of the disease by reducing hospitalization rate and the need for
      surgery. Therefore, the development of biologic therapies has represented an
      important step in the treatment of IBD, since these drugs induce remission and
      response rates that are not achieved by other therapies. Since their use can
      result in significant adverse events that increase morbidity, patients must be
      aware of the risks associated with treatment and must be strictly monitored.
      Although treatment with biologic drugs is not successful in all patients and many
      of them lose clinical response, new therapies are currently under evaluation. 

PMID- 26882356
TI  - Evaluation of the Innermost Retinal Layers and Visual Evoked Potentials in
      Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to investigate alterations in the
      innermost layers of the retina using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to
      assess potential associations of structural measures with functional markers in
      patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-four eyes of
      47 MS patients and 60 eyes of 30 healthy individuals were included in the study.
      All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination and OCT imaging to
      analyze peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner
      plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and expanded
      disability status scale (EDSS) score were assessed for MS patients. RESULTS: The
      average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were thinner in MS patients (86.2 +/- 11.9 um
      and 73.6 +/- 9.7 um, respectively) when compared with those of healthy controls
      (96.7 +/- 8.2 um and 85.9 +/- 4.6 um, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). Within
      MS patients, the average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were lower in eyes with a
      prior history of optic neuritis (MS ON) than in eyes with no optic neuritis
      history (MS non-ON) (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). RNFL and GCIPL
      thicknesses were inversely correlated with VEP latency (r = -0.40, p < 0.001 and
      r = -0.36, p < 0.001, respectively) in MS patient eyes. There was a correlation
      between GCIPL thickness and VEP amplitude in eyes with previous ON history (r =
      0.34, p = 0.035). No significant correlations were found between OCT measurements
      and EDSS score. CONCLUSIONS: Innermost layers of the retina are highly affected
      by the pathophysiologic process in MS disease, manifesting as a reduction in RNFL
      and GCIPL thickness. The structural retinal changes show correlation with
      alterations in potentials showing the optic pathway function.

PMID- 26882357
TI  - Fulvestrant for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: About one third of patients with endometrial cancer (EC) relapse
      and face a limited prognosis, if surgery or radiotherapy are not feasible. The
      remaining therapeutic options are chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. AREAS
      COVERED: This review summarizes the development of the first selective estrogen
      receptor (ER) down-regulator fulvestrant. This article provides its mechanism of
      action, pharmacokinetics and the available preclinical and clinical data.
      Furthermore, this review provides an overview of the market of treatments for
      recurrent or metastatic EC (RMEC) while also taking into account studies of
      fulvestrant in metastatic breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION: Even if fulvestrant
      showed only marginal activity in two phase II trials, it shouldn't be abandoned
      but instead further developed in EC. Firstly, the dose of fulvestrant used in
      these trials was too low from today's point of view. Secondly, the available
      literature on other endocrine agents is full of limitations and does not provide
      a gold standard. Furthermore, given the activity of mTOR inhibitors in EC, there
      may also be synergistic effects, given the cross-regulation of ER and the
      PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The authors suggest that a prospective, phase II trial in
      ER positive RMEC would help to further explore the efficacy and tolerability of
      fulvestrant together with a mTOR inhibitor.

PMID- 26882358
TI  - Refining the Diagnosis of Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome on Long-term Stored
      Tissue: c.1097G>A (p.(Arg366His)) WT1 Mutation Causing Denys Drash Syndrome.
AB  - Congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) caused by a mutation in the Wilms tumor 1
      suppressor gene (WT1) is part of Denys Drash Syndrome or Frasier syndrome. In the
      framework of genetic counseling, the diagnosis of CNS can be refined with gene
      mutation studies on long-term stored formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from
      postmortem examination. We report a case of diffuse mesangial sclerosis with
      perinatal death caused by a de novo mutation in the WT1 gene in a girl with an XY
      genotype. This is the first case of Denys Drash Syndrome with the uncommon
      missense c.1097G>A [p.(Arg366His)] mutation in the WT1 gene which has been
      diagnosed on long-term stored formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue in 1993.
      This emphasizes the importance of retained and adequately stored tissue as a
      resource in the ongoing medical care and counseling. 

PMID- 26882359
TI  - A Look to the Future: Big Data in Neurorehabilitation.

PMID- 26882360
TI  - The Rise of Big Data in Neurorehabilitation.
AB  - In some fields, Big Data has been instrumental in analyzing, predicting, and
      influencing human behavior. However, Big Data approaches have so far been less
      central in speech-language pathology. This article introduces the concept of Big
      Data and provides examples of Big Data initiatives pertaining to adult
      neurorehabilitation. It also discusses the potential theoretical and clinical
      contributions that Big Data can make. The article also recognizes some
      impediments in building and using Big Data for scientific and clinical inquiry. 

PMID- 26882361
TI  - AphasiaBank as BigData.
AB  - AphasiaBank has used a standardized protocol to collect narrative, procedural,
      personal, and descriptive discourse from 290 persons with aphasia, as well as 190
      control participants. These data have been transcribed in the Codes for the Human
      Analysis of Transcripts (CHAT) format for analysis by the Computerized Language
      Analysis (CLAN) programs. Here, we review results from 45 studies based on these
      data that investigate aphasic productions in terms of these eight areas:
      discourse, grammar, lexicon, gesture, fluency, syndrome classification, social
      factors, and treatment effects. For each area, we also indicate how use of the
      CLAN programs has facilitated the analysis. We conclude with an examination of
      ways in which the size of the database could be increased through on-site
      recordings and data from teletherapy. 

PMID- 26882362
TI  - Verb Production in Aphasia: Testing the Division of Labor between Syntax and
      Semantics.
AB  - Some individuals with aphasia preferably use semantically general light verbs,
      whereas others prefer semantically specific heavy verbs. This study aimed to test
      Gordon and Dell's "division of labor" hypothesis that light versus heavy verb
      usage depends on syntactic and semantic processes, respectively. In a
      retrospective analysis of data from the AphasiaBank corpus, narrative language of
      neurologically healthy individuals and individuals with aphasia was analyzed for
      the proportion of light verbs used, and its relationship with narrative measures
      of syntactic and semantic sophistication and verb naming scores was examined. In
      individuals with aphasia, light verb usage was positively correlated with a
      syntactic measure (developmental sentence score) and negatively associated with
      two semantic measures (idea density and verb naming). For healthy individuals,
      the number of verbs per utterance, which is a measure of syntactic complexity,
      predicted light verb use. These findings suggest that light verb usage in aphasia
      observes an inverse relationship with syntactic and semantic abilities,
      supporting the division of labor hypothesis. 

PMID- 26882363
TI  - Verb Argument Structure in Narrative Speech: Mining AphasiaBank.
AB  - Previous research has found that verb argument structure characteristics (such as
      the number of participant roles in the situation described by the verb) can
      facilitate or hinder aphasic language production and comprehension in constrained
      laboratory tasks. This research needs to be complemented by studies of narrative
      or unrestricted speech, which can capture the spontaneous selection of verbs and
      grammatical structures by people with aphasia and may be particularly sensitive
      to the relative cost of access to different verb types in more natural
      conditions. Focusing on the number of subcategorization options, we investigated
      verb argument structure effects in a large sample of narratives from AphasiaBank,
      by speakers with aphasia, as well as control speakers without brain damage. Verb
      argument structure complexity did not negatively affect verb selection in any
      type of aphasia. However, people with aphasia, particularly with Broca's aphasia,
      used verbs in less complex and diverse ways, with fewer arguments and less
      diverse subcategorization options. In line with previous research, this suggests
      that deficits in verb use in aphasia are likely due to difficulties with the
      online application of or partial damage to verb argument structure knowledge. 

PMID- 26882364
TI  - How Does Severity of Aphasia Influence Individual Responsiveness to
      Rehabilitation? Using Big Data to Understand Theories of Aphasia Rehabilitation.
AB  - Our ability to make great progress in delivering, optimizing, and predicting
      rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with aphasia is challenged by factors
      that influence rehabilitation outcomes. These include patient demographic factors
      such as age, education, and neurologic factors such as time poststroke, the site
      and size of the lesion, and the resulting severity of language impairment. Also
      variable across individuals is the type of treatment and its duration and
      intensity. This article examines the utility of big data analysis for
      understanding one of these factors, severity of impairment, and how individual
      responsiveness to rehabilitation is influenced by a patient's severity of
      language and cognitive impairment(s). Using examples from two studies and a
      larger data set, we show that when rehabilitation is tailored to an individual's
      specific level of impairment, severe and mild patients both show improvements in
      accuracy and latency. Furthermore, more severe patients tend to show substantial
      gains on targeted rehabilitation tasks as well as on standardized tests. These
      results provide support for recent reviews of aphasia rehabilitation studies in
      concluding that systematic aphasia rehabilitation is indeed effective, and
      importantly, severity is not a negative prognostic indicator for successful
      outcomes. 

PMID- 26882365
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab in the treatment of visual impairment due to
      diabetic macular edema.
AB  - Objective Ranibizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor designed for
      ocular use, has been deemed cost-effective in multiple indications by several
      Health Technology Assessment bodies. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness
      of ranibizumab monotherapy or combination therapy (ranibizumab plus laser
      photocoagulation) compared with laser monotherapy for the treatment of visual
      impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods A Markov model was
      developed in which patients moved between health states defined by best-corrected
      visual acuity (BCVA) intervals and an absorbing 'death' state. The population of
      interest was patients with DME due to type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
      Baseline characteristics were based on those of participants in the RESTORE
      study. Main outputs were costs (in 2013 CA$) and health outcomes (in quality
      adjusted life-years [QALYs]) and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)
      was calculated. This cost-utility analysis was conducted from healthcare system
      and societal perspectives in Quebec. Results From a healthcare system
      perspective, the ICERs for ranibizumab monotherapy and combination therapy vs
      laser monotherapy were CA$24 494 and CA$36 414 per QALY gained, respectively. The
      incremental costs per year without legal blindness for ranibizumab monotherapy
      and combination therapy vs laser monotherapy were CA$15 822 and CA$20 616,
      respectively. Based on the generally accepted Canadian ICER threshold of CA$50
      000 per QALY gained, ranibizumab monotherapy and combination therapy were found
      to be cost-effective compared with laser monotherapy. From a societal
      perspective, ranibizumab monotherapy and combination therapy provided greater
      benefits at lower costs than laser monotherapy (ranibizumab therapy dominated
      laser therapy). Conclusions Ranibizumab monotherapy and combination therapy
      resulted in increased quality-adjusted survival and time without legal blindness
      and lower costs from a societal perspective compared with laser monotherapy. 

PMID- 26882366
TI  - Role of Oxidative Stress Markers in Left-Sided Valve Disease: The LDL-Density
      Pressure Theory.

PMID- 26882367
TI  - Seeking wider access to HIV testing for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
AB  - More than 80% of the HIV-infected adolescents live in sub-Saharan Africa.
      Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related mortality has increased among
      adolescents 10-19 y old. The impact is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, where >80%
      of HIV-infected adolescents live. The World Health Organization has cited
      inadequate access to HIV testing and counseling (HTC) as a contributing factor to
      AIDS-related adolescent deaths, most of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa. This
      review focuses on studies conducted in high adolescent HIV-burden countries
      targeted by the "All In to End Adolescent AIDS" initiative, and describes
      barriers to adolescent HTC uptake and coverage. Fear of stigma and family
      reaction, fear of the impact of a positive diagnosis, perceived risk with respect
      to sexual exposure, poor attitudes of healthcare providers, and parental consent
      requirements are identified as major impediments. Most-at-risk adolescents for
      HIV infection and missed opportunities for testing include, those perinatally
      infected, those with early sexual debut, high mobility and multiple/older
      partners, and pregnant and nonpregnant females. Regional analyses show relatively
      low adolescent testing rates and more restrictive consent requirements for HTC in
      West and Central Africa as compared to East and southern Africa. Actionable
      recommendations for widening adolescent access to HTC and therefore timely care
      include minimizing legal consent barriers, healthcare provider training, parental
      education and involvement, and expanding testing beyond healthcare facilities.

PMID- 26882368
TI  - DNA methylation of LINE-1 and Alu repetitive elements in relation to sex hormones
      and pubertal timing in Mexican-American children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms linking environmental exposures to earlier
      pubertal development are not well characterized. Epigenetics may play an
      important role, but data on the relationship between epigenetic marks and
      puberty, particularly in humans, is limited. METHODS: We used pyrosequencing to
      measure Alu and long interspersed nucleotide elements (LINE-1) methylation in DNA
      isolated from whole blood samples collected from newborns and 9-y-old children (n
      = 266). Tanner staging was completed six times between ages 9 and 12 y to
      determine pubertal status, and hormone levels were measured in 12-y-old boys.
      RESULTS: Among girls, we observed a suggestive trend of increased odds of breast
      and pubic hair development with higher Alu and LINE-1 methylation in 9-y-old
      blood, respectively. The strongest association identified was an inverse
      association of LINE-1 methylation in 9-y-old girls with odds of experiencing
      menarche by age 12 (OR (95% CI): 0.63 (0.46, 0.87); P = 0.005). We observed a
      consistent inverse relationship for Alu and LINE-1 methylation at 9 y with
      luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in
      boys but it was only significant between LINE-1 and LH. CONCLUSION: DNA
      methylation of Alu and LINE-1 may be involved in puberty initiation and
      development. This relationship should be confirmed in future studies.

PMID- 26882369
TI  - Histopathological features of gastrointestinal mucosal biopsies in children with
      juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The association between inflammatory bowel disease and joint
      involvement is well established. There is a paucity of data describing
      histopathological features of the gut in relation to juvenile idiopathic
      arthritis (JIA). METHODS: We retrospectively identified 33 (21 male) children
      aged 3-16 y with JIA (11 with oligoarthritis, 5 with polyarthritis, 8 with
      systemic onset arthritis, 8 with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), and 1 with
      psoriatic arthritis) with significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms who
      underwent upper and/or lower endoscopy. The histopathological findings were
      reviewed in addition to presence of autoantibodies and concomitant treatment.
      RESULTS: The most common GI indications for endoscopy were persistent abdominal
      pain (14/33 (42%)) and diarrhea (10/33 (30%)). Of the 33 children, 28 (85%) had
      gut mucosal inflammation, mostly affecting the colon (80%). Active inflammation
      of the gut was found in 5 of 28 (17%) children, and 15 of 28 (53%) children
      showed mild nonspecific inflammation. Eight patients (27%) had predominantly an
      eosinophilic infiltrate. Twenty-six patients had previously received treatment
      for JIA. There was a negative association with the use of immunomodulators and
      the presence of eosinophil inflammation. CONCLUSION: The majority of children
      with JIA and GI symptoms have histological evidence of mild nonspecific
      inflammation, but some having active colitis and prominent eosinophil infiltrate.

PMID- 26882370
TI  - Higher protein intake increases cardiac function parameters in healthy children:
      metabolic programming by infant nutrition-secondary analysis from a clinical
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Protein intake may modulate cardiac structure and function in
      pathological conditions, but there is a lack of knowledge on potential effects in
      healthy infants. METHODS: Secondary analysis of an ongoing randomized clinical
      trial comparing two groups of infants receiving a higher (HP) or lower (LP)
      protein content formula in the first year of life, and compared with an
      observational group of breastfed (BF) infants. Growth and dietary intake were
      assessed periodically from birth to 2 y. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
      axis parameters were analyzed at 6 mo in a blood sample. At 2 y, cardiac mass and
      function were assessed by echocardiography. RESULTS: HP infants (n = 50) showed a
      higher BMI z-score at 2 y compared with LP (n = 47) or BF (n = 44). Cardiac
      function parameters were increased in the HP group compared with the LP and were
      directly related to the protein intake during the first 6 mo of life. Moreover,
      there was an increase in free IGF-1 in the HP group at 6 mo. CONCLUSION: A
      moderate increase in protein supply during the first year of life is associated
      with higher cardiac function parameters at 2 y. IGF-1 axis modifications may, at
      least in part, underlie these effects.

PMID- 26882371
TI  - Cytokine responses in primary and secondary respiratory syncytial virus
      infections.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are
      characterized by high levels of IL-8 and an intense neutrophilia. Little is known
      about the cytokine responses in secondary infections. Preschool children
      experiencing RSV secondary infections were recruited from the siblings of infants
      admitted to hospital with RSV acute bronchiolitis. METHODS: Fifty-one infants
      with acute bronchiolitis (39 RSV positive, 12 RSV negative) and 20 age-matched
      control infants were recruited. In addition, seven older siblings of infants from
      the RSV-positive cohort and confirmed RSV infection were recruited. Samples of
      nasal secretions were obtained using a flocked swab, and secretions extracted
      using centrifugation. Cytokine bead array was used to obtain levels of
      interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-8, IL-6, IL-21, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
      RESULTS: Levels of IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly lower in the RSV-positive
      siblings compared with the RSV-positive infants. There were no significant
      differences between levels of the other cytokines in the primary and secondary
      infections. CONCLUSION: The very high levels of IL-8 and IL-6 response
      characteristic of the primary RSV infection was not observed in secondary RSV
      positive infections and this did not appear to be due to a global reduction in
      cytokine production.

PMID- 26882372
TI  - Optimal Information Representation and Criticality in an Adaptive Sensory
      Recurrent Neuronal Network.
AB  - Recurrent connections play an important role in cortical function, yet their
      exact contribution to the network computation remains unknown. The principles
      guiding the long-term evolution of these connections are poorly understood as
      well. Therefore, gaining insight into their computational role and into the
      mechanism shaping their pattern would be of great importance. To that end, we
      studied the learning dynamics and emergent recurrent connectivity in a sensory
      network model based on a first-principle information theoretic approach. As a
      test case, we applied this framework to a model of a hypercolumn in the visual
      cortex and found that the evolved connections between orientation columns have a
      "Mexican hat" profile, consistent with empirical data and previous modeling work.
      Furthermore, we found that optimal information representation is achieved when
      the network operates near a critical point in its dynamics. Neuronal networks
      working near such a phase transition are most sensitive to their inputs and are
      thus optimal in terms of information representation. Nevertheless, a mild change
      in the pattern of interactions may cause such networks to undergo a transition
      into a different regime of behavior in which the network activity is dominated by
      its internal recurrent dynamics and does not reflect the objective input. We
      discuss several mechanisms by which the pattern of interactions can be driven
      into this supercritical regime and relate them to various neurological and
      neuropsychiatric phenomena. 

PMID- 26882373
TI  - A curve-free Bayesian decision-theoretic design for two-agent Phase I trials.
AB  - Although Bayesian statistical methods are gaining attention in the medical
      community, as they provide a natural framework for incorporating prior
      information, the complexity of these methods limited their adoptions in clinical
      trials. This article proposes a Bayesian design for two-agent Phase I trials that
      is relatively easy for clinicians to understand and implement, yet performs
      comparably to more complex designs, so that it is more likely to be adopted in
      actual trials. In order to reduce model complexity and computational burden, we
      choose a working model with conjugate priors so that the posterior distributions
      have analytical expressions. Furthermore, we provide a simple strategy to
      facilitate the specification of priors based on the toxicity information accrued
      from single-agent Phase I trials. The proposed method should be useful in terms
      of the ease of implementation and the savings in sample size without sacrificing
      performance. Moreover, the conservativeness of the dose-finding algorithm renders
      it a relatively safe method.

PMID- 26882374
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26882375
TI  - Current diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Basal cell carcinoma represents is most common tumor in fair-skinned individuals.
      In Germany, age-standardized incidence rates are 63 (women) and 80 (men) per
      100,000 population per year. Early lesions may be difficult to diagnose merely on
      clinical grounds. Here, noninvasive diagnostic tools such as optical coherence
      tomography and confocal laser scanning microscopy may be helpful. The clinical
      diagnosis is usually confirmed by histology. Standard therapy consists of
      complete excision with thorough histological examination, either by means of
      micrographic surgery or, depending on tumor size and location as well as
      infiltration, using surgical margins of 3-5 mm or more. In particular, multiple
      basal cell carcinomas (such as in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome) and locally advanced as
      well as rarely also metastatic basal cell carcinoma may pose a therapeutic
      challenge. In superficial basal cell carcinoma, nonsurgical therapies such as
      photodynamic therapy or topical agents may be considered. In case of locally
      advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma, an interdisciplinary tumor board
      should issue therapeutic recommendations. These include radiation therapy as well
      as systemic therapy with a hedgehog inhibitor. 

PMID- 26882378
TI  - Do long-chain omega-3 fatty acids protect from atopic dermatitis?
AB  - Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for human nutrition. The
      number of double bonds determines whether a given fatty acid is termed two,
      three, or x times unsaturated. Depending on the distance of the first double bond
      from the fatty acid's methyl group, one distinguishes omega-3 fatty acids from
      omega-6 fatty acids. While the use of gamma linolenic acid, a long-chain fatty
      acid of the omega-6 family, has proven unsuccessful in the prevention or
      treatment of atopic dermatitis, supplementation of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids
      may represent a promising approach in the prevention of allergic disorders,
      especially atopic dermatitis. Whether the concept of long-chain omega-3 fatty
      acid administration will also become established in a therapeutic setting,
      depends on whether the beneficial effects observed so far can be substantiated in
      randomized controlled intervention studies. 

PMID- 26882379
TI  - High-definition optical coherence tomography - an aid to clinical practice and
      research in dermatology.
AB  - At present, beyond clinical assessment, the diagnosis of skin diseases is
      primarily made histologically. However, skin biopsies have many disadvantages,
      including pain, scarring, risk of infection, and sampling error. With recent
      advances in skin imaging technology, the clinical use of imaging methods for the
      practical management of skin diseases has become an option. The in vivo high
      definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) has recently been developed and
      commercialized (Skintell; Agfa, Belgium). Compared with conventional OCT, it has
      a higher resolution; compared with reflectance confocal microscopy, it has a
      shorter time for image acquisition as well as a greater penetration depth and a
      larger field of view. HD-OCT is promising but much work is still required to
      develop it from a research tool to a valuable adjunct for the noninvasive
      diagnosis of skin lesions. Substantial work has been done to identify HD-OCT
      features in various diseases but interpretation can be time-consuming and
      tedious. Projects aimed at automating these processes and improving image quality
      are currently under way.

PMID- 26882381
TI  - Medical error analysis in dermatology according to the reports of the North Rhine
      Medical Association from 2004-2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient safety is a central issue of health care provision. There are
      various approaches geared towards improving health care provision and patient
      safety. By conducting a systematic retrospective error analysis, the present
      article aims to identify the most common complaints brought forth within the
      field of dermatology over a period of ten years. METHODS: The reports of the
      Expert Committee for Medical Malpractice Claims of the North Rhine Medical
      Association (from 2004 to 2013) on dermatological procedures were analyzed (n = 
      247 reports in the field of dermatology). RESULTS: Expert medical assessments in
      the field of dermatology are most frequently commissioned for nonsurgical
      therapies (e.g. laser therapy, phototherapy). While suspected diagnostic errors
      constitute the second most common reason for complaints, presumed dermatosurgery
      related errors represent the least common reason for commissioning expert medical
      assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The most common and easily avoidable sources of medical
      errors include failure to take a biopsy despite suspicious clinical findings, or
      incorrect clinicopathological correlations resulting in deleterious effects for
      the patient. Furthermore, given the potential for incorrect indications and the
      inadequate selection of devices to be used as well as their parameter settings,
      laser and phototherapies harbor an increased risk in the treatment of
      dermatological patients. The fourth major source of error leading to complaints
      relates to incorrect indications as well as incorrect dosage and administration
      of drugs. Analysis of expert medical assessment reports on treatment errors in
      dermatology as well as other medical specialties is helpful and provides an
      opportunity to identify common sources of error and error-prone structures.

PMID- 26882384
TI  - Verrucous seborrheic keratosis with keratoacanthoma-like features, a pitfall in
      differential diagnosis.

PMID- 26882388
TI  - Non-tender pedal plaques and nodules: pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma (Stewart-Bluefarb
      type) induced by trauma.

PMID- 26882390
TI  - Granulomatous dermatitis in a 29-year-old man from Bangladesh.

PMID- 26882393
TI  - S1 guideline: microscopically controlled surgery (MCS).
AB  - When using procedures that enable complete examination of surgical margins (3D
      histology), microscopically controlled surgery (MCS) represents a safe and proven
      method to confirm R0 resection of infiltrating tumors, especially at problematic
      sites, while preserving the adjacent tissue. This allows for excellent or good
      aesthetic results that are superior (cryosurgery, short-range irradiation) or
      equivalent (PDT) to nonsurgical and less safe procedures (PDT).

PMID- 26882396
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26882398
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26882401
TI  - Efficacy of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide combination in moderate inflammatory acne
      and its impact on patient adherence.

PMID- 26882403
TI  - HIGH D-DIMER LEVELS PREDICT A POOR OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE TRAUMA, EVEN
      WITH HIGH FIBRINOGEN LEVELS ON ARRIVAL: A MULTICENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.
AB  - Elevated D-dimer level in trauma patients is associated with tissue damage
      severity and is an indicator of hyperfibrinolysis during the early phase of
      trauma. To investigate the interacting effects of fibrinogen and D-dimer levels
      on arrival at the emergency department for massive transfusion and mortality in
      severe trauma patients in a multicenter retrospective study. This study included
      519 adult trauma patients with an injury severity score >=16. Patients with >=10
      units of red cell concentrate transfusion and/or death during the first 24 h were
      classified as having a poor outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curve
      analysis for predicting poor outcome showed the optimal cut-off fibrinogen and D
      dimer values to be 190 mg/dL and 38 mg/L, respectively. On the basis of these
      values, patients were divided into four groups: low D-dimer (<38 mg/L)/high
      fibrinogen (>190 mg/dL), low D-dimer (<38 mg/L)/low fibrinogen (<=190 mg/dL),
      high D-dimer (>=38 mg/L)/high fibrinogen (>190 mg/dL), and high D-dimer (>=38
      mg/L)/low fibrinogen (<=190 mg/dL). The survival rate was lower in the high D
      dimer/low fibrinogen group than in the other groups. Moreover, the survival rate
      was lower in the high D-dimer/high fibrinogen group than in the low D-dimer/high
      fibrinogen and low D-dimer/low fibrinogen groups. High D-dimer level on arrival
      is a strong predictor of early death or requirement for massive transfusion in
      severe trauma patients, even with high fibrinogen levels. 

PMID- 26882406
TI  - Insights into the Societal Risk of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents.
AB  - The elements of societal risk from a nuclear power plant accident are clearly
      illustrated by the Fukushima accident: land contamination, long-term relocation
      of large numbers of people, loss of productive farm area, loss of industrial
      production, and significant loss of electric capacity. NUREG-1150 and other
      studies have provided compelling evidence that the individual health risk of
      nuclear power plant accidents is effectively negligible relative to other
      comparable risks, even for people living in close proximity to a plant. The
      objective of this study is to compare the societal risk of nuclear power plant
      accidents to that of other events to which the public is exposed. We have
      characterized the monetized societal risk in the United States from major
      societally disruptive events, such as hurricanes, in the form of a complementary
      cumulative distribution function. These risks are compared with nuclear power
      plant risks, based on NUREG-1150 analyses and new MACCS code calculations to
      account for differences in source terms determined in the more recent SOARCA
      study. A candidate quantitative societal objective is discussed for potential
      adoption by the NRC. The results are also interpreted with regard to the
      acceptability of nuclear power as a major source of future energy supply.

PMID- 26882402
TI  - Airway Mucin 2 Is Decreased in Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
      Disease with Bacterial Colonization.
AB  - RATIONALE: Mucins are essential for airway defense against bacteria. We
      hypothesized that abnormal secreted airway mucin levels would be associated with
      bacterial colonization in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease (COPD) Objectives: To investigate the relationship between mucin levels
      and the presence of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms in the airways of
      stable patients with severe COPD Methods: Clinically stable patients with severe
      COPD were examined prospectively. All patients underwent a computerized
      tomography scan, lung function tests, induced sputum collection, and bronchoscopy
      with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and protected specimen brush. Patients with
      bronchiectasis were excluded. Secreted mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC5B) and
      inflammatory markers were assessed in BAL and sputum by ELISA. MEASUREMENTS AND
      MAIN RESULTS: We enrolled 45 patients, with mean age (+/-SD) of 67 (+/-8) years
      and mean FEV1 of 41 (+/-10) % predicted. A total of 31% (n = 14) of patients had
      potentially pathogenic micro-organisms in quantitative bacterial cultures of
      samples obtained by protected specimen brush. Patients with COPD with positive
      cultures had lower levels of MUC2 both in BAL (P = 0.02) and in sputum (P =
      0.01). No differences in MUC5B or MUC5AC levels were observed among the groups.
      Lower MUC2 levels were correlated with lower FEV1 (r = 0.32, P = 0.04) and higher
      sputum IL-6 (r = -0.40, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Airway MUC2 levels are decreased
      in patients with severe COPD colonized by potentially pathogenic micro-organisms.
      These findings may indicate one of the mechanisms underlying airway colonization
      in patients with severe COPD. Clinical trial registered with
      www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01976117).

PMID- 26882407
TI  - Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Alstoscholarisine A.
AB  - We report a concise and highly enantioselective total synthesis of (-)
      alstoscholarisine A (1), a recently isolated monoterpenoid indole alkaloid that
      has significant bioactivity in promoting adult neuronal stem cells proliferation.
      A highly enantioselective (99% ee), intramolecular Ir-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts
      alkylation of indole 9 with a secondary allylic alcohol was utilized to establish
      the first stereogenic center upon which the other three contiguous chiral centers
      were readily set by a highly stereoselective tandem 1,4-addition and aldol
      reaction. The key tetrahydropyran was constructed through a hemiacetal reduction,
      and the final aminal bridge was forged by a one-pot reductive
      amination/cyclization. The conciseness of this approach was highlighted by
      building core bonds in each step with a minimalist protecting group strategy. 

PMID- 26882408
TI  - To Risk Adjust or Not to Risk Adjust: Should That Be the Question?

PMID- 26882409
TI  - Foreword.

PMID- 26882410
TI  - Community Coping Strategies in Response to Hardship and Human Rights Abuses Among
      Burmese Refugees and Migrants at the Thai-Burmese Border: A Qualitative Approach.
AB  - We conducted 10 focus groups (n = 49) with community members and key informant
      interviews (n = 28) to explore hardships and community coping strategies for
      sequelae of abuse among Burmese refugees/migrants in Thailand. Transcripts were
      coded and analyzed for major themes. In Burma, they universally experienced human
      rights violations and economic hardship. Hardships continued in Thailand through
      exploitation and threat of deportation. Coping was achieved through both personal
      and community-based mechanisms including self-reflection, sharing experiences,
      spirituality, and serving their community. Western psychosocial counseling,
      although available, was used infrequently. Effective psychosocial support often
      originates from the community and should be supported by international
      organizations. 

PMID- 26882411
TI  - A 3-Component Approach Incorporating Focus Groups in Strategic Planning for
      Sexual Violence Prevention.
AB  - Sexual violence is of special concern in New Mexico because of the presence of
      large priority populations in which its prevalence is high. This article
      describes a 3-component approach to developing a strategic plan to prevent sexual
      violence in the state that consisted of an advisory group, subject matter
      experts, and focus groups from geographically and demographically diverse
      communities. Both common and community-specific themes emerged from the focus
      groups and were included in the strategic plan. By incorporating community needs
      and experiences, this approach fosters increased investment in plan
      implementation. 

PMID- 26882412
TI  - Sexual Violence Among Youth in New Mexico: Risk and Resiliency Factors That
      Impact Behavioral Health Outcomes.
AB  - Research has consistently demonstrated a relationship between history of forced
      sex and poor behavioral health outcomes. The objectives of this study were to
      describe this relationship among high school students and to explore the impact
      of resiliency factors. Using data from the 2013 New Mexico Youth Risk and
      Resiliency Survey, we found that history of forced sex was associated with
      negative behavioral health outcomes for males and females, regardless of sexual
      orientation and disability status. Furthermore, the presence of a caring adult at
      home appeared to reduce the risk of substance abuse and suicidality among
      students with and without a history of forced sex. 

PMID- 26882413
TI  - Individual- and Neighborhood-Level Determinants of Fear of Violent Crime Among
      Adolescents.
AB  - Fear of violent crime is common among adolescents in urban settings; however,
      little is known about individual- and neighborhood-level determinants of fear. A
      generalized ordered logit model was used to analyze individual- and neighborhood
      level variables among 2474 adolescents. Seeing violence significantly reduced the
      probability of feeling unafraid, as did higher levels of social disorder. The
      more block faces where police were visible, the higher the probability of feeling
      unafraid and lower the probability of feeling very afraid. Reducing fear could
      affect more people than just reducing crime. Fear-reduction strategies should
      target those most at risk of becoming fearful. 

PMID- 26882414
TI  - Gender Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Participants of a
      Violence Intervention Program at a Pediatric Hospital: A Pilot Study.
AB  - Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have emerged as a strategy
      to address posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among violently injured patients
      and their families. HVIP research, however, has focused on males and little
      guidance exists about how HVIPs could be tailored to meet gender-specific needs.
      We analyzed pediatric HVIP data to assess gender differences in prevalence and
      type of PTS symptoms. Girls reported more PTS symptoms than boys (6.96 vs 5.21, P
      = .027), particularly hyperarousal symptoms (4.00 vs 2.82, P = .002) such as
      feeling upset by reminders of the event (88.9% vs 48.3%, P = .005). Gender
      focused research represents a priority area for HVIPs. 

PMID- 26882415
TI  - Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Synthetic Review and Theoretical Model for
      Interventions.
AB  - The number of custodial grandparents has increased significantly over the past
      decade. Building on Hayslip's and Kaminski's comprehensive review of the
      literature on custodial grandparenting, we conducted an updated review of the
      literature, in particular peer-reviewed journal articles published since 2004. We
      have developed a conceptual model to contribute to understanding the causes and
      consequences of custodial grandparenting, using the stress-coping framework while
      highlighting the emerging issues related to contemporary grandfamilies such as
      cultural and ethnic heterogeneity in grandfamilies. We also emphasized loss,
      grief, and trauma among grandfamilies and provided the implications for effective
      public and community health programs. 

PMID- 26882416
TI  - Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury: State of the Science and
      Next Steps.
AB  - Women who receive traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from intimate partner violence
      (IPV) are gaining attention; however, research studies are lacking in this area.
      A review of literature conducted on TBI from IPV found prevalence of 60% to 92%
      of abused women obtaining a TBI directly correlated with IPV. Adverse overlapping
      health outcomes are associated with both TBI and IPV. Genetic predisposition and
      epigenetic changes can occur after TBI and add increased vulnerability to
      receiving and inflicting a TBI. Health care providers and community health
      workers need awareness of the link between IPV/TBI to provide appropriate
      treatment and improve the health of women and families. 

PMID- 26882417
TI  - Cascade DNA logic device programmed ratiometric DNA analysis and logic devices
      based on a fluorescent dual-signal probe of a G-quadruplex DNAzyme.
AB  - Herein, two fluorescence sensitive substrates of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme with
      inverse responses (Scopoletin and Amplex Red) were simultaneously used in one
      homogeneous system to construct a cascade advanced DNA logic device for the first
      time (a functional logic device (a three input based DNA calliper) cascade with
      an advanced non-arithmetic logic gate (1 to 2 decoder)). This cascade logic
      device was applied to label-free ratiometric target DNA detection and length
      measurement. 

PMID- 26882418
TI  - Editorial: Decreasing Crystal-Induced Consternation: New Methods of Crystal
      Identification.

PMID- 26882419
TI  - Actigraphy-based sleep parameters during the reinstatement of methamphetamine
      self-administration in rhesus monkeys.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate nighttime activity of nonhuman
      primates during extinction and cue- and drug-primed reinstatement of
      methamphetamine self-administration. Adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta; n = 5)
      self-administered methamphetamine (0.01 mg/kg/injection, i.v.) under a fixed
      ratio 20 schedule of reinforcement. Saline infusions were then substituted for
      methamphetamine and stimulus light (drug-conditioned stimulus presented during
      drug self-administration) withheld until subjects reached extinction criteria.
      Drug- and cue-induced reinstatement effects were evaluated after i.v.
      noncontingent priming injections of methamphetamine (0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 mg/kg).
      Activity-based sleep measures were evaluated with Actiwatch monitors a week
      before (baseline nighttime activity parameters) and throughout the protocol.
      Although methamphetamine self-administration did not significantly affect
      nighttime activity compared to baseline, sleeplike parameters were improved
      during extinction compared to self-administration maintenance. Priming injection
      of 0.1 mg/kg methamphetamine, but not 0.03 or 0.3 mg/kg, induced significant
      reinstatement effects. These behavioral responses were accompanied by nighttime
      outcomes, with increased sleep fragmentation and decreased sleep efficiency in
      the night following 0.1 mg/kg methamphetamine-induced reinstatement. In the
      absence of both drug and drug-paired cues (extinction conditions), nighttime
      activity decreased compared to self-administration maintenance. Additionally,
      effective reinstatement conditions impaired sleeplike measures. Our data indicate
      that the reintroduction of the stimulus light as a drug-paired cue increased
      nighttime activity.

PMID- 26882420
TI  - Best Practices for Developing Specialty Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice.
AB  - Nursing specialization involves focusing on nursing practice in an identified
      specific area within the entire field of professional nursing. A defined
      specialty scope of practice statement and standards of professional practice,
      with accompanying competencies, are unique to each nursing specialty. These
      documents help assure continued understanding and recognition of nursing's
      diverse professional contributions. The purpose of this article is to demystify
      the process for specialty nurses who are creating or revising their specialty
      nursing scope and standards of practice. We provide best practices for the
      developmental process based on our recently published scope and standards of
      specialty nursing practice. The conclusion provides strategies to disseminate
      scope and standards documents to appropriate stakeholders. 

PMID- 26882421
TI  - Historical Perspectives on an Expanded Role for Nursing.
AB  - The 2010 Institute of Medicine report, the Future of Nursing, recommended that
      nurses work to the "full extent of their training" to address the primary
      healthcare needs of United States citizens. This article identifies and describes
      historical antecedents, cornerstone documents, and legislative acts that served
      to set the stage for today, laying the groundwork for an expanded role for
      advanced practice nurses in the 21st century. Beginning with Lillian Wald's work
      in Henry Street Settlement in 1893, through Mary Breckenridge's founding of the
      Frontier Nursing Service in 1925, the discussion describes how nurses provided
      access to care for thousands of urban and rural citizens throughout the United
      States in the past. The article also discusses political forces at midcentury and
      the creation of the nurse practitioner role with the premise that nurses can
      learn from these early initiatives to create new models for nurses' roles in
      primary care today. 

PMID- 26882422
TI  - Cornerstone Documents, Milestones, and Policies: Shaping the Direction of Public
      Health Nursing 1890-1950.
AB  - The interplay of policy, milestone events, and cornerstone documents was critical
      in the evolution of the specialty of public health nursing (PHN) from 1890-1950.
      Using our contemporary lens, this article examines PHN development from an
      historical perspective, including events and milestones driving growth in the
      early 20th century. Some of the challenges faced by our founding public health
      nursing leadership are not unlike challenges we face today. In 1950, Ruth
      Hubbard, a former leader in the National Organization of Public Health Nurses and
      Director of the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia, spoke of the value of
      examining the past to forge a new future. This article calls for contemporary
      public health nurses to act upon the lessons learned from the past, to strengthen
      the renewed focus on prevention, to develop policies that impact population
      health, and to foster a vision that will guide us into the future. 

PMID- 26882423
TI  - The Nursing Code of Ethics: Its Value, Its History.
AB  - To practice competently and with integrity, today's nurses must have in place
      several key elements that guide the profession, such as an accreditation process
      for education, a rigorous system for licensure and certification, and a relevant
      code of ethics. The American Nurses Association has guided and supported nursing
      practice through creation and implementation of a nationally accepted Code of
      Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. This article will discuss ethics
      in society, professions, and nursing and illustrate how a professional code of
      ethics can guide nursing practice in a variety of settings. We also offer a brief
      history of the Code of Ethics, discuss the modern Code of Ethics, and describe
      the importance of periodic revision, including the inclusive and thorough process
      used to develop the 2015 Code and a summary of recent changes. Finally, the
      article provides implications for practicing nurses to assure that this document
      is a dynamic, useful resource in a variety of healthcare settings. 

PMID- 26882424
TI  - Development and Implementation of Cornerstone Documents to Support Nursing
      Practice in Cambodia.
AB  - Cornerstone, or guiding documents, for nursing and healthcare support the
      profession of nursing throughout the world. This article describes the impact of
      the civil war and instability in Cambodia that led to poverty and destruction of
      the healthcare system and provides a brief overview of nursing in Cambodia today.
      Since the 1990s, the Cambodian healthcare system has been recovering from war.
      Nurses have been transitioning from task oriented roles to more sophisticated
      roles that incorporate the nursing process. In addition to significant changes in
      nursing education and other advances in the healthcare system during the last
      five years, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has strongly encouraged the development
      of cornerstone documents to guide nursing practice for patient care provided in
      Cambodia. Standards and competencies have been developed based on the American
      Nurses Association (ANA) template for Scope and Standards of Practice.
      Cornerstone documents for nursing that have been implemented by the MoH, many at
      the Angkor Hospital for Children, include evidence based protocols, the nursing
      process framework, the Code of Ethics for Nurses and development of the Scope of
      Practice and Standards of Care for Cambodian Nurses. 

PMID- 26882425
TI  - Health Information Technology, Patient Safety, and Professional Nursing Care
      Documentation in Acute Care Settings.
AB  - The electronic health record (EHR) is a documentation tool that yields data
      useful in enhancing patient safety, evaluating care quality, maximizing
      efficiency, and measuring staffing needs. Although nurses applaud the EHR, they
      also indicate dissatisfaction with its design and cumbersome electronic
      processes. This article describes the views of nurses shared by members of the
      Nursing Practice Committee of the Missouri Nurses Association; it encourages
      nurses to share their EHR concerns with Information Technology (IT) staff and
      vendors and to take their place at the table when nursing-related IT decisions
      are made. In this article, we describe the experiential-reflective reasoning and
      action model used to understand staff nurses' perspectives, share committee
      reflections and recommendations for improving both documentation and
      documentation technology, and conclude by encouraging nurses to develop their
      documentation and informatics skills. Nursing issues include medication safety,
      documentation and standards of practice, and EHR efficiency. IT concerns include
      interoperability, vendors, innovation, nursing voice, education, and
      collaboration. 

PMID- 26882426
TI  - Changing the Culture of Long-Term Care: Combating Heterosexism.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to describe how heterosexism impedes the provision
      of culturally competent care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
      (LGBTQ) residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities. LTC facilities continue to
      employ staff members who lack an understanding of sexuality and sexual diversity
      in the elderly. In this article, we identify the heterosexual assumption, namely
      heterosexism, as the primary issue surrounding the holistic care of the LGBTQ
      elder in LTC. We first review the literature related to LGBTQ elders in LTC
      facilities, identifying the themes that emerged from the review, specifically the
      definitions of homophobia and heterosexism; perceptions of LGBTQ elders as they
      consider placement in LTC facilities; and staff knowledge of and biases toward
      sexuality and sexual diversity in LTC settings. Then, we suggest approaches for
      changing the culture of LTC to one in which LGBTQ elders feel safe and valued,
      and conclude by considering how facility leaders are in a unique position to
      enable LGBTQ elders to flourish in what may be their last home. 

PMID- 26882427
TI  - Shared Governance: The Role of Buy-in in Bringing About Change.
AB  - The term buy-in can be found in almost any article considering individuals'
      participation in an initiative. At the time of this writing, a Google search of
      buy-in resulted in 10.5 billion hits. The term buy-in seems intuitive, yet many
      healthcare organizations struggle to implement and sustain initiatives that
      depend on nursing buy-in and involvement. The purpose of this article is to
      identify prerequisites to buy-in and factors that facilitate buy-in which, when
      cultivated, may positively influence nurse engagement. In this article, the
      authors discuss the concept of buy-in, identify prerequisites for buy-in,
      consider factors to enhance buy-in, and present scenarios of what happens when
      buy-in happens, when it almost happens, and when it fails. They also consider
      future directions to facilitate buy-in by nursing staff members. 

PMID- 26882428
TI  - Strengthening Moral Courage Among Nurse Leaders.
AB  - Moral distress among practicing nurses is frequently discussed in the nursing
      literature, along with well-developed recommendations for increasing moral
      courage in practicing nurses. Implementing these recommendations depends on nurse
      leaders being morally fit to lead and to create an environment in which moral
      courage actions can emerge. The literature is lacking pertaining to nurse
      leaders' preparation to lead in a morally courageous and transformational manner
      in our current corporate environments and hierarchies of healthcare. In this
      article, the author reviews the literature addressing moral distress and moral
      courage among direct care nurses; describes the development of an intervention to
      strengthen the moral courage of nurse leaders; reports a study that involved
      implementing this intervention; presents the findings of this study; evaluates
      the effectiveness of the intervention; and discusses the findings in terms of
      lessons learned and future directions. He concludes with a call for healthcare
      leaders to demonstrate moral courage and create environments that promote morally
      courageous acts that enable nurses to remain centered on the patients, families,
      and communities we serve. 

PMID- 26882430
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Chinese Herbal Medicines for Treating Osteoporosis.

PMID- 26882429
TI  - Informatics: Ethical Use of Genomic Information and Electronic Medical Records.

PMID- 26882431
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Interprofessional Education: Effects On Professional
      Practice and Healthcare Outcomes.

PMID- 26882432
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Discharge Planning from Hospital to Home.

PMID- 26882433
TI  - Ethics: Harm in the Emergency Department -- Ethical Drivers for Change.

PMID- 26882435
TI  - Interaction Analysis of a Two-Component System Using Nanodiscs.
AB  - Two-component systems are the major means by which bacteria couple adaptation to
      environmental changes. All utilize a phosphorylation cascade from a histidine
      kinase to a response regulator, and some also employ an accessory protein. The
      system-wide signaling fidelity of two-component systems is based on preferential
      binding between the signaling proteins. However, information on the interaction
      kinetics between membrane embedded histidine kinase and its partner proteins is
      lacking. Here, we report the first analysis of the interactions between the full
      length membrane-bound histidine kinase CpxA, which was reconstituted in
      nanodiscs, and its cognate response regulator CpxR and accessory protein CpxP.
      Using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy in combination with interaction map
      analysis, the affinity of membrane-embedded CpxA for CpxR was quantified, and
      found to increase by tenfold in the presence of ATP, suggesting that a
      considerable portion of phosphorylated CpxR might be stably associated with CpxA
      in vivo. Using microscale thermophoresis, the affinity between CpxA in nanodiscs
      and CpxP was determined to be substantially lower than that between CpxA and
      CpxR. Taken together, the quantitative interaction data extend our understanding
      of the signal transduction mechanism used by two-component systems. 

PMID- 26882437
TI  - Native State Mass Spectrometry, Surface Plasmon Resonance, and X-ray
      Crystallography Correlate Strongly as a Fragment Screening Combination.
AB  - Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is contingent on the development of
      analytical methods to identify weak protein-fragment noncovalent interactions.
      Herein we have combined an underutilized fragment screening method, native state
      mass spectrometry, together with two proven and popular fragment screening
      methods, surface plasmon resonance and X-ray crystallography, in a fragment
      screening campaign against human carbonic anhydrase II (CA II). In an initial
      fragment screen against a 720-member fragment library (the "CSIRO Fragment
      Library") seven CA II binding fragments, including a selection of nonclassical CA
      II binding chemotypes, were identified. A further 70 compounds that comprised the
      initial hit chemotypes were subsequently sourced from the full CSIRO compound
      collection and screened. The fragment results were extremely well correlated
      across the three methods. Our findings demonstrate that there is a tremendous
      opportunity to apply native state mass spectrometry as a complementary fragment
      screening method to accelerate drug discovery. 

PMID- 26882436
TI  - FNA smears as a potential source of DNA for targeted next-generation sequencing
      of lung adenocarcinomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diff-Quik-stained fine-needle aspiration (FNA) smears and touch
      preparations from biopsies represent alternative specimens for molecular testing
      when cell block or biopsy material is insufficient. This study describes the use
      of these samples for targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of primary and
      metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and reports the DNA quality and success rates of
      FNA smears versus other specimens from 1 year of clinical use. METHODS: A
      validation set of 10 slides from 9 patients with prior clinical epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR) Sanger sequencing and KRAS pyrosequencing (5 KRAS
      positive/EGFR-negative and 4 KRAS-negative/EGFR-negative) underwent DNA
      extraction, quality assessment, and targeted NGS. Subsequently, lung
      adenocarcinoma specimens submitted for NGS solid tumor mutation panel testing in
      1 calendar year (60 biopsies, 57 resections, 33 FNA cell blocks, 12 FNA smears,
      and 10 body fluid cell blocks) were reviewed for specimen adequacy, sequencing
      success, and DNA quality. RESULTS: All 10 validation samples met the DNA quality
      threshold (delta Ct threshold < 8; range, -2.2 to 4.9) and yielded 0.5 to 22 MUg
      of DNA. The KRAS and EGFR mutation status from FNA smears according to NGS was
      concordant with previous clinical testing for all 10 samples. In the 1-year
      review, FNA smears were 100% successful, and this suggested a performance
      equivalent to or better than the performance of established specimen types,
      including FNA cell blocks. DNA quality according to DeltaCt was significantly
      better with FNA smears versus biopsies, resections, and FNA cell blocks.
      CONCLUSIONS: FNA smears of lung adenocarcinomas are high-quality alternative
      specimens for a targeted NGS panel with a high success rate in clinical practice.
      Cancer Cytopathol 2016;124:406-14. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society.

PMID- 26882438
TI  - High Loading of Pd Nanoparticles by Interior Functionalization of MOFs for
      Heterogeneous Catalysis.
AB  - In this report, the issue related to nanoparticle (NP) agglomeration upon
      increasing their loading amount into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been
      addressed by functionalization of MOFs with alkyne groups. The alkynophilicity of
      the Pd(2+) (or other noble metals) ions has been utilized successfully for
      significant loading of Pd NPs into alkyne functionalized MOFs. It has been shown
      here that the size and loading amount of Pd NPs are highly dependent on the
      surface area and pore width of the MOFs. The loading amount of Pd NPs was
      increased monotonically without altering their size distribution on a particular
      MOF. Importantly, the distinct role of alkyne groups for Pd(2+) stabilization has
      also been demonstrated by performing a control experiment considering a MOF
      without an alkyne moiety. The preparation of NPs involved two distinct steps viz.
      adsorption of metal ions inside MOFs and reduction of metal ions. Both of these
      steps were monitored by microscopic techniques. This report also demonstrates the
      applicability of Pd@MOF NPs as extremely efficient heterogeneous catalysts for
      Heck-coupling and hydrogenation reactions of aryl bromides or iodides and
      alkenes, respectively. 

PMID- 26882439
TI  - The Prevention of Epilepsy.

PMID- 26882440
TI  - CD44 variant 9 is a potential biomarker of tumor initiating cells predicting
      survival outcome in hepatitis C virus-positive patients with resected
      hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - This study investigated whether the expression of CD44 variant 9 (CD44v9) might
      be a functional marker of tumor-initiating stem-like cells in primary
      hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) of hepatitis C virus (HCV)(+) patients and
      provide an indicator of patient survival, as well as associated mechanisms. A
      total of 90 HCV(+) HCC patients who underwent surgery from 2006 to 2011 were
      enrolled and monitored for 2-8 years. Expression of CD44v9 was validated
      immunohistochemically in all HCCs, followed by comparative proteome, survival,
      and clinicopathological analyses. CD44 variant 8--10 was further evaluated in
      diethylnitrosamine-induced HCCs of C57Bl/6J mice. Focally localized CD44v(+)
      cells with a membranous staining pattern were detected in human HCV(+) and mouse
      HCCs. CD44v9(+) cells of HCCs were predominantly negative for Ki67 and P-p38,
      indicating decrease of cell proliferation in the CD44v9(+) tumor cell population,
      likely to be related to suppression of intracellular oxidative stress due to
      activation of Nrf2-mediated signaling, DNA repair, and inhibition of xenobiotic
      metabolism. CD44v9 IHC evaluation in 90 HCV(+) HCC cases revealed that positive
      expression was significantly associated with poor overall and recurrence-free
      survival, a younger age, poor histological differentiation of HCCs, and high
      alkaline phosphatase levels compared with patients with negative expression.
      CD44v9 is concluded to be a potential biomarker of tumor-initiating stem-like
      cells and a prognostic marker in HCV(+) HCC patients associated with Nrf2
      mediated resistance to oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26882441
TI  - Single-Nanowire Electrochemical Probe Detection for Internally Optimized
      Mechanism of Porous Graphene in Electrochemical Devices.
AB  - Graphene has been widely used to enhance the performance of energy storage
      devices due to its high conductivity, large surface area, and excellent
      mechanical flexibility. However, it is still unclear how graphene influences the
      electrochemical performance and reaction mechanisms of electrode materials. The
      single-nanowire electrochemical probe is an effective tool to explore the
      intrinsic mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions in situ. Here, pure MnO2
      nanowires, reduced graphene oxide/MnO2 wire-in-scroll nanowires, and porous
      graphene oxide/MnO2 wire-in-scroll nanowires are employed to investigate the
      capacitance, ion diffusion coefficient, and charge storage mechanisms in single
      nanowire electrochemical devices. The porous graphene oxide/MnO2 wire-in-scroll
      nanowire delivers an areal capacitance of 104 nF/MUm(2), which is 4.0 and 2.8
      times as high as those of reduced graphene oxide/MnO2 wire-in-scroll nanowire and
      MnO2 nanowire, respectively, at a scan rate of 20 mV/s. It is demonstrated that
      the reduced graphene oxide wrapping around the MnO2 nanowire greatly increases
      the electronic conductivity of the active materials, but decreases the ion
      diffusion coefficient because of the shielding effect of graphene. By creating
      pores in the graphene, the ion diffusion coefficient is recovered without
      degradation of the electron transport rate, which significantly improves the
      capacitance. Such single-nanowire electrochemical probes, which can detect
      electrochemical processes and behavior in situ, can also be fabricated with other
      active materials for energy storage and other applications in related fields. 

PMID- 26882442
TI  - Melatonin enhances mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in rats with carbon
      tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis.
AB  - Liver fibrosis leads to liver cirrhosis and failure, and no effective treatment
      is currently available. Growing evidence supports a link between mitochondrial
      dysfunction and liver fibrogenesis and mitochondrial quality control-based
      therapy has emerged as a new therapeutic target. We investigated the protective
      mechanisms of melatonin against mitochondrial dysfunction-involved liver
      fibrosis, focusing on mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. Rats were treated
      with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) dissolved in olive oil (0.5 mL/kg, twice a week,
      i.p.) for 8 wk. Melatonin was administered orally at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg once a
      day. Chronic CCl4 exposure induced collagen deposition, hepatocellular damage,
      and oxidative stress, and melatonin attenuated these increases. Increases in mRNA
      and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor beta1 and alpha
      smooth muscle actin in response to CCl4 were attenuated by melatonin. Melatonin
      attenuated hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction, such as mitochondrial swelling
      and glutamate dehydrogenase release. Chronic CCl4 exposure impaired mitophagy and
      mitochondrial biogenesis, and melatonin attenuated this impairment, as indicated
      by increases in mitochondrial DNA and in protein levels of PTEN-induced putative
      kinase 1 (PINK1); Parkin; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma
      coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha); nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1); and
      transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM). CCl4-mediated decreases in
      mitochondrial fission- and fusion-related proteins, such as dynamin-related
      protein 1 (DRP1) and mitofusin 2, were also attenuated by melatonin. Moreover,
      melatonin induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. These
      results suggest that melatonin protects against liver fibrosis via upregulation
      of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, and may be useful as an anti-fibrotic
      treatment.

PMID- 26882444
TI  - Displaying fairness while delivering bad news: Testing the effectiveness of
      organizational bad news training in the layoff context.
AB  - Although giving bad news at work is a stressful experience, managers are often
      underprepared for this challenging task. As a solution, we introduce
      organizational bad news training that integrates (a) principles of delivering bad
      news from the context of health care (i.e., bad news delivery component), and (b)
      principles of organizational justice theory (i.e., fairness component). We argue
      that both the formal and fair delivery of bad news at work can be enhanced with
      the help of training to mitigate distress both for the messenger and the
      recipient. We tested the effectiveness of training for the delivery of a layoff
      as a typical bad news event at work. In 2 studies, we compared the performance of
      a training group (receiving both components of training) with that of a control
      group (Study 1, Study 2) and a basics group (receiving the bad news delivery
      component only; Study 2) during a simulated dismissal notification meeting. In
      general, the results supported our hypotheses: Training improved the formal
      delivery of bad news and predicted indicators of procedural fairness during the
      conversation in both studies. In Study 2, we also considered layoff victims'
      negativity after the layoff and found that training significantly reduced
      negative responses. This relationship was fully mediated by layoff victims'
      fairness perceptions. Despite preparation, however, giving bad news remained a
      challenging task in both studies. In summary, we recommend that organizations
      provide managers with organizational bad news training in order to promote
      professional and fair bad news conversations at work. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26882443
TI  - To branch out or stay focused? Affective shifts differentially predict
      organizational citizenship behavior and task performance.
AB  - We draw from personality systems interaction (PSI) theory (Kuhl, 2000) and
      regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) to examine how dynamic positive and
      negative affective processes interact to predict both task and contextual
      performance. Using a twice-daily diary design over the course of a 3-week period,
      results from multilevel regression analysis revealed that distinct patterns of
      change in positive and negative affect optimally predicted contextual and task
      performance among a sample of 71 employees at a medium-sized technology company.
      Specifically, within persons, increases (upshifts) in positive affect over the
      course of a workday better predicted the subsequent day's organizational
      citizenship behavior (OCB) when such increases were coupled with decreases
      (downshifts) in negative affect. The optimal pattern of change in positive and
      negative affect differed, however, in predicting task performance. That is,
      upshifts in positive affect over the course of the workday better predicted the
      subsequent day's task performance when such upshifts were accompanied by upshifts
      in negative affect. The contribution of our findings to PSI theory and the
      broader affective and motivation regulation literatures, along with practical
      implications, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26882445
TI  - When are do-gooders treated badly? Legitimate power, role expectations, and
      reactions to moral objection in organizations.
AB  - Organization members who engage in "moral objection" by taking a principled stand
      against ethically questionable activities help to prevent such activities from
      persisting. Unfortunately, research suggests that they also may be perceived as
      less warm (i.e., pleasant, nice) than members who comply with ethically
      questionable procedures. In this article, we draw on role theory to explore how
      legitimate power influences observers' responses to moral objection. We argue
      that individuals expect those high in legitimate power to engage in moral
      objection, but expect those low in legitimate power to comply with ethically
      questionable practices. We further propose that these contrasting role
      expectations influence the extent to which moral objectors are perceived as warm
      and subjected to social sanctions (i.e., insults, pressure, unfriendly behavior).
      We test our predictions with 3 experiments. Study 1, which draws on participants'
      prior workplace experiences, supports the first section of our mediated
      moderation model in which the negative association between an actor's moral
      objection (vs. compliance) and observers' warmth perceptions is weaker when the
      actor is high rather than low in legitimate power and this effect is mediated by
      observers' met role expectations. Study 2, an online experiment featuring a
      biased hiring task, reveals that the warmth perceptions fostered by the Behavior
      * Legitimate Power interaction influence observers' social sanctioning
      intentions. Finally, Study 3, a laboratory experiment which exposes participants
      to unethical behavior in a virtual team task, replicates Study 2's findings and
      extends the results to actual as well as intended social sanctions. (PsycINFO
      Database Record 

PMID- 26882446
TI  - Photoacoustic microscopy of arteriovenous shunts and blood diffusion in early
      stage tumors.
AB  - Angiogenesis in a tumor region creates arteriovenous (AV) shunts that cause an
      abnormal venous blood oxygen saturation ( sO2 ) distribution. Here, we applied
      optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy to study the AV shunting in vivo.
      First, we built a phantom to image sO2 distribution in a vessel containing
      converged flows from two upstream blood vessels with different sO2 values. The
      phantom experiment showed that the blood from the two upstream vessels maintained
      a clear sO2 boundary for hundreds of seconds, which is consistent with our
      theoretical analysis using a diffusion model. Next, we xenotransplanted O-786
      tumor cells in mouse ears and observed abnormal sO2 distribution in the
      downstream vein from the AV shunts in vivo. Finally, we identified the tumor
      location by tracing the sO2 distribution. Our study suggests that abnormal sO2
      distribution induced by the AV shunts in the vessel network may be used as a new
      functional benchmark for early tumor detection.

PMID- 26882447
TI  - Imaging and graphing of cortical vasculature using dynamically focused optical
      coherence microscopy angiography.
AB  - Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography has enabled label-free
      imaging of vasculature based on dynamic scattering in vessels. However,
      quantitative volumetric analysis of the vascular networks depicted in OCT
      angiography data has remained challenging. Multiple-scattering tails (artifacts
      specific to the imaging geometry) make automated assessment of vascular
      morphology problematic. We demonstrate that dynamically focused optical coherence
      microscopy (OCM) angiography with a high numerical aperture, chosen so the
      scattering length greatly exceeds the depth-of-field, significantly reduces the
      deleterious effect of multiple-scattering tails in synthesized angiograms.
      Capitalizing on the improved vascular image quality, we devised and tailored a
      self-correcting automated graphing approach that achieves a reconstruction of
      cortical microvasculature from OCM angiography data sets with accuracy
      approaching that attained by trained operators. The automated techniques
      described here will facilitate more widespread study of vascular network topology
      in health and disease.

PMID- 26882448
TI  - Computational model of bladder tissue based on its measured optical properties.
AB  - Urinary bladder diseases are a common problem throughout the world and often
      difficult to accurately diagnose. Furthermore, they pose a heavy financial burden
      on health services. Urinary bladder tissue from male pigs was
      spectrophotometrically measured and the resulting data used to calculate the
      absorption, transmission, and reflectance parameters, along with the derived
      coefficients of scattering and absorption. These were employed to create a
      "generic" computational bladder model based on optical properties, simulating the
      propagation of photons through the tissue at different wavelengths. Using the
      Monte-Carlo method and fluorescence spectra of UV and blue excited wavelength,
      diagnostically important biomarkers were modeled. Additionally, the
      multifunctional noninvasive diagnostics system "LAKK-M" was used to gather
      fluorescence data to further provide essential comparisons. The ultimate goal of
      the study was to successfully simulate the effects of varying excited radiation
      wavelengths on bladder tissue to determine the effectiveness of photonics
      diagnostic devices. With increased accuracy, this model could be used to reliably
      aid in differentiating healthy and pathological tissues within the bladder and
      potentially other hollow organs.

PMID- 26882449
TI  - Retinal optical coherence tomography at 1 MUm with dynamic focus control and
      axial motion tracking.
AB  - High-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal imaging is important
      to noninvasively visualize the various retinal structures to aid in better
      understanding of the pathogenesis of vision-robbing diseases. However,
      conventional OCT systems have a trade-off between lateral resolution and depth-of
      focus. In this report, we present the development of a focus-stacking OCT system
      with automatic focus optimization for high-resolution, extended-focal-range
      clinical retinal imaging by incorporating a variable-focus liquid lens into the
      sample arm optics. Retinal layer tracking and selection was performed using a
      graphics processing unit accelerated processing platform for focus optimization,
      providing real-time layer-specific en face visualization. After optimization,
      multiple volumes focused at different depths were acquired, registered, and
      stitched together to yield a single, high-resolution focus-stacked dataset. Using
      this system, we show high-resolution images of the retina and optic nerve head,
      from which we extracted clinically relevant parameters such as the nerve fiber
      layer thickness and lamina cribrosa microarchitecture.

PMID- 26882450
TI  - Evaluation of low-level laser therapy in the treatment of masticatory muscles
      spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
AB  - Spasticity is a motor disorder frequently present in individuals with cerebral
      palsy (CP). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy
      (LLLT) on the spasticity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscle fibers in
      children with CP over three weeks of intermittent laser exposures. The bite force
      (BF) of the masticatory muscles and the amplitude of mouth opening were evaluated
      before and after laser irradiation in 30 children with CP. Both sides of the
      masseter and temporalis muscles were irradiated with low-intensity diode laser
      pulses of 808-nm wavelength six times over three consecutive weeks. During the
      subsequent three weeks of postlaser exposures, although no laser treatment was
      applied, the evaluation parameters were measured and recorded. A significant
      improvement in the amplitude of mouth opening and a decrease in the BF were
      observed in the weeks following LLLT (P<0.05 ). However, by the sixth week post
      LLLT, the BF and the amplitude of mouth opening reverted to values equivalent to
      those obtained before the first application of LLLT. Our investigation revealed
      low-level energy exposures from a 808-nm diode laser to be an effective short
      term therapeutic tool. This method increased the amplitude of mouth opening and
      decreased the muscle tonus of children with spastic CP over a time course of
      three weeks of intermittent laser applications.

PMID- 26882451
TI  - Effect of Stem Cell Therapy on Bone Mineral Density: A Meta-Analysis of
      Preclinical Studies in Animal Models of Osteoporosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies of the therapeutic role of stem cell based
      therapy in animal models of osteoporosis have largely yielded inconsistent
      results. We performed a meta-analysis to provide an overview of the currently
      available evidence. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were
      systematically searched for relevant controlled studies. A random-effect model
      was used for pooled analysis of the effect of stem cell based therapy on bone
      mineral density (BMD). Stratified analyses were performed to explore the effect
      of study characteristics on the outcomes. RESULTS: Pooled results from 12
      preclinical studies (110 animals in stem cell treatment groups, and 106 animals
      in control groups) indicated that stem cell based treatment was associated with
      significantly improved BMD (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.29, 95%
      Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.84-1.74, P < 0.001) with moderate heterogeneity
      (Cochrane's Q test: P = 0.02, I2 = 45%) among the constituent studies.
      Implantation of bone marrow cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, adipose
      derived stem cells, and human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cells, were all
      associated with improved BMD as compared to that in the controls (P < 0.05 for
      all); the only exception being the use of embryonic stem cell transplantation (P
      > 0.05). Egger's test detected potential publication bias (P = 0.055); however,
      'trim and fill' analysis yielded similar results after statistically
      incorporating the hypothetical studies in the analysis (SMD = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.32
      2.16, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stem cell transplantation may improve BMD in
      animal models of osteoporosis. Our meta-analysis indicates a potential
      therapeutic role of stem cell based therapy for osteoporosis, and serves to
      augment the rationale for clinical studies.

PMID- 26882452
TI  - SOD1 gene polymorphisms in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
AB  - CONCLUSION: The results suggest that SOD1 rs4998557 could be associated with
      susceptibility to SSNHL in the Japanese population. OBJECTIVES: To assess the
      gene association with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS: A two
      stage case control study was conducted to explore the relationship of the
      candidate genes to SSNHL. The 192 gene samples from SSNHL patients registered in
      the intractable inner ear disease gene bank were enrolled. As the candidate
      genes, 39 SNPs from 31 genes were selected for the first stage study. The second
      stage study examined whether the SOD1 gene polymorphisms, defined by significant
      differences between cases and controls in the first stage study, are associated
      with SSNHL. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in four SNPs from
      three genes, Glutathione-S-transferase pai 1 (GSTP1), proteine kinase C heta
      (PRKCH), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), in terms of allele frequency between
      SSNHL patients and HapMap controls. In the SOD1 gene, a significant difference
      was observed in the dominant model study of the SNP rs4998557 in the second stage
      study. Furthermore, as a result of dividing SSNHL patients based on the clinical
      data, the difference was more apparent in the case of the over 60 dB group and
      the tinnitus-positive group.

PMID- 26882453
TI  - Efficacy of tamoxifen in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced non
      small-cell lung cancer pretreated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination
      of docetaxel (TXT) plus tamoxifen (TAM) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC) patients who had received platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. A total
      of 120 advanced NSCLC patients pretreated with platinum-based chemotherapy were
      randomized into two treatment groups (the TXT and TXT+TAM groups) in a 1 : 1
      ratio. Reversal of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, tumor response, progression
      free survival, overall survival, and safety were evaluated on an intention-to
      treat basis. The median number of cycles of allocated chemotherapy was four in
      each treatment group (range: 2-6 cycles). The overall response rate and disease
      control rate in the TXT+TAM group were significantly higher than those in the TXT
      group (36.7 vs. 15.0% for overall response rate, P=0.007; 85.0 vs. 68.3% for
      disease control rate, P=0.031). The combination of TXT and TAM could effectively
      reverse P-gp expression in tumor tissues and provide a significant survival
      benefit for advanced NSCLC patients compared with TXT alone (11.6 vs. 9.1 months,
      P=0.030). In addition, in the TXT+TAM group, patients achieving P-gp reversal had
      a significantly greater median progression-free survival and overall survival
      than nonreversal patients. Furthermore, the combined therapy showed a safety
      profile comparable to that of TXT. The combination of TXT and TAM may be an
      effective and safe treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients who have already
      developed P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance.

PMID- 26882454
TI  - Complex Structural and Dynamical Interplay of Cyano-Based Ionic Liquids.
AB  - We carried out ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for the three cyano-based
      ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate ([C2C1Im][B(CN)4]), 1
      ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium dicyanamide ([C2C1Im][N(CN)2]), and 1-ethyl-3
      methylimidazolium thiocyanate ([C2C1Im][SCN]). We found that the [SCN]-based
      ionic liquid is much more prone to pi-pi stacking interactions as opposed to the
      other two ionic liquids, contrary to the fact that all liquids bear the same
      cation. Hydrogen bonding is strong in the dicyanamide- and the thiocyanate-based
      ionic liquids and it is almost absent in the tetracyanoborate liquid. The anion
      prefers to stay on-top of the imidazolium ring with the highest priority for the
      [N(CN)2](-) anion followed by the [B(CN)4](-) anion. We find that experimental
      viscosity trends cannot be correlated to the hydrogen bond dynamics which is
      fastest for [B(CN)4](-) followed by [SCN](-) and [N(CN)2](-). For the dynamics of
      the cation on-top of itself, we find the order of [B(CN)4](-) followed by
      [N(CN)2](-) and finally by [SCN](-). Interestingly, this trend correlates well
      with the viscosity, suggesting a relation between the cation-cation dynamics and
      the viscosity at least for these cyano-based ionic liquids. These findings,
      especially the apparent correlation between cation-cation dynamics and the
      viscosity, might be useful for the suggestion of better ionic liquids in
      electrolyte applications. 

PMID- 26882455
TI  - Interfaces with Tunable Mechanical and Radiosensitizing Properties.
AB  - We report the fabrication of a composite containing nanostructured GaOOH and
      Matrigel with tunable radiosensitizing and stiffness properties. Composite
      characterization was done with microscopy and rheology. The utility of the
      interface was tested in vitro using fibroblasts. Cell viability and reactive
      oxygen species assays quantified the effects of radiation dosages and GaOOH
      concentrations. Fibroblasts' viability decreased with increasing concentration of
      GaOOH and composite stiffness. During ionizing radiation experiments the presence
      of the scintillating GaOOH triggered a different cellular response. Reactive
      oxygen species data demonstrated that one can reduce the amount of radiation
      needed to modulate the behavior of cells on interfaces with different stiffness
      containing a radiosensitizing material.

PMID- 26882457
TI  - Social and emotional self-efficacy at work.
AB  - Research has shown that self-efficacy is often one of the most important personal
      resources in the work context. However, because this research has focused on
      cognitive and task-oriented self-efficacy, little is known about social and
      emotional dimensions of self-efficacy at work. The main aim of the present study
      was to investigate social and emotional self-efficacy dimensions at work and to
      compare them to a cognitive and task-oriented dimension. Scales to measure social
      and emotional self-efficacy at work were developed and validated and found to be
      well differentiated from the cognitive task-oriented occupational self-efficacy
      scale. Confirmatory factor analyses of data from 226 Swedish and 591 German
      employees resulted in four separate but correlated self-efficacy dimensions: (1)
      occupational; (2) social; (3) self-oriented emotional; and (4) other-oriented
      emotional. Social self-efficacy explained additional variance in team climate and
      emotional self-efficacy in emotional irritation and emotional exhaustion, over
      and above effects of occupational self-efficacy. Men reported higher occupational
      self-efficacy, whereas social and emotional self-efficacy revealed no clear
      gender differences. The scales have strong psychometric properties in both
      Swedish and German language versions. The positive association between social
      self-efficacy and team climate, and the negative relationships between self
      oriented emotional self-efficacy and emotional irritation and emotional
      exhaustion may provide promising tools for practical applications in work
      settings such as team-building, staff development, recruitment or other training
      programs aiming for work place health promotion. The next step will be to study
      how social and emotional self-efficacy relate to leadership, well-being and
      health over time. 

PMID- 26882456
TI  - Anthocyanins in Strawberry Polyphenolic Extract Enhance the Beneficial Effects of
      Diets with Fructooligosaccharides in the Rat Cecal Environment.
AB  - The administration of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) beneficially modulates
      gastrointestinal functions and may enhance the metabolism of polyphenols.
      However, different polyphenolic components in the diet may have different
      influences on the activities of the digestive enzymes and microbiota in the
      gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, a 4-week study of forty-eight male Wistar rats
      was conducted to investigate the physiological response of the rat cecal
      environment to diets without and with FOS that contained two different strawberry
      polyphenolic extracts, specifically EP (polyphenolic profile 60, 35, 5, and 0%
      ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, anthocyanins, respectively) and EPA
      (polyphenolic profile: 50, 35, 6, and 9%, respectively). When combined with FOS,
      both extracts beneficially enhanced the acidification of the cecal digesta
      (P<=0.05 vs the groups without extracts), but the dietary combination of EPA and
      FOS elicited the greatest reduction in putrefactive short-chain fatty acid
      production and the lowest fecal beta-glucuronidase activity in the cecum (P<=0.05
      vs group EP). Moreover, the addition of dietary FOS elevated the metabolism of
      the examined strawberry extracts in the cecum and thereby increased the
      concentrations of the metabolites in the cecal digesta and urine (P<=0.05 vs the
      group with cellulose). Overall, both strawberry extracts modulated the effects of
      FOS in the gastrointestinal tract; however, the combination with EPA extract that
      contained anthocyanins exhibited greater beneficial effects in the lower gut
      environment than the EP extract. 

PMID- 26882458
TI  - Evolution of the neobladder: A critical review of open and intracorporeal
      neobladder reconstruction techniques.
AB  - Orthotopic neobladder is an attractive alternative to the ileal conduit following
      radical cystectomy. Robotic cystectomy is gaining popularity although the uptake
      of neobladder reconstruction is low, with the majority of cases being constructed
      extracorporeally via a mini-laparotomy. Minimally invasive cystectomy using the
      robotic platform facilitates intracorporeal neobladder reconstruction and several
      techniques have been described. This review discusses issues relating to patient
      selection, and describes existing techniques of open surgical neobladder
      reconstruction and their evolution to suit an intracorporeal approach. A Medline
      search for publications from January 1970 to September 2015 with the following
      keyword search criteria was performed: radical cystectomy, robotic cystectomy,
      intracorporeal, neobladder, orthotopic bladder reconstruction, surgical
      technique, patient selection and ureteric-ileal anastomosis. 

PMID- 26882459
TI  - Do people with HIV infection have a higher risk of fracture compared with those
      without HIV infection?
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review details recent findings that inform the prevalence
      and incidence of fractures in people living with HIV (PLWH) and examines the
      effects of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART), as well as
      demographics and traditional risk factors on fractures. As antiretroviral
      guidelines have recently changed to recommend the introduction of ART at
      diagnosis of HIV infection, the long-term effects of ART on bone health and
      fracture risk need to be better understood. RECENT FINDINGS: It is apparent that
      both the effects of HIV infection alone and initiation of ART are associated with
      significant bone loss in individuals with HIV infection, resulting in osteopenia
      and osteoporosis. The clinical consequence of low bone mineral density is a
      greater risk of fragility fractures that are more common in older HIV patients,
      and those on ART. Frailty occurs at a prevalence of about 10% (about twice that
      of the general population), and the increased propensity of falls results in
      greater fracture prevalence, morbidity and mortality. SUMMARY: This review
      examines data from recent cohort studies and clinical trials to inform a better
      understanding of the complex relationship between the effects of HIV infection,
      ART and demographics on fractures in PLWH.

PMID- 26882461
TI  - Assessing Sample Bias among Venue-Based Respondents at Medical Marijuana
      Dispensaries.
AB  - Venue-based sampling is the identification of, and outreach to, locations visited
      by the population of interest for the purpose of collecting data. The method is
      frequently used to reach specific populations, commonly referred to as "hidden
      populations." Medical marijuana users represent a hidden population of persons
      who use marijuana for medicinal purposes. We examine whether venue-based
      procedures introduce selection or non-respondent bias into the study. The venue
      based sampling procedures employed for the UCLA Medical Marijuana Study used a
      two-stage, venue-based sampling approach. First, analyses were conducted to
      assess potential bias within dispensaries that agreed to participate in the
      surveys. Secondly, analyses were conducted to examine differences among patrons
      who responded to surveys. Overall, selection bias was generally absent among
      study results. Results also illuminated the minimal respondent bias observed
      among the survey respondents. Results suggest that the use of dispensaries to
      access and survey medical marijuana users is a viable option to gather patient
      information that adequately represents the greater population of medical
      marijuana users in Los Angeles. Thus, recommendations and conclusions based on
      findings from venue-based studies of medical marijuana users at dispensary sites
      serve to impartially inform meaningful research. 

PMID- 26882462
TI  - Power Normalization for Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis and Analytical Method
      Assessment.
AB  - Biomarker profiling using mass spectrometry plays an essential role in biological
      studies and is highly dependent on the data analysis for sample classification.
      In this study, we introduced power nomination of the mass spectra as a method for
      systematically altering the weights of peaks at different intensity levels. In
      combination with the use of support vector machine method (SVM), the impact on
      the sample classification has been characterized using data in four studies
      previously reported, including the distinctions of anomeric configurations of
      sugars, types of bacteria, stages of melanoma, and the types of breast cancer.
      Comprehensive analysis of the data with normalization at different power
      normalization index (PNI) was developed and analysis tools, including error-PNI
      plots, reference profiles, and error source profiles, were used to assess the
      potential of the analytical methods as well as to find the proper approaches to
      classify the samples. 

PMID- 26882460
TI  - More than osteoporosis: age-specific issues in bone health.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The interaction between fall and fracture risk factors is an
      area of increasing clinical relevance, but little information is known about the
      age-specific issues in bone health unique to HIV-infected adults. The present
      review will focus on what is known about falls and fall risk factors among HIV
      infected adults, and then review the association between decreased muscle,
      increased adiposity, and frailty with both low bone mineral density (BMD) and
      falls. RECENT FINDINGS: The rate of falls among middle-aged HIV-infected adults
      is similar to that of HIV-uninfected adults 65 years and older. Many of the
      clinical factors that contribute to low BMD overlap with risk factors for falls,
      resulting in a high risk of a serious fall among older adults with the greatest
      risk for a fracture. Low muscle mass, increased adiposity and metabolic syndrome,
      physical function impairment and frailty, common among older HIV-infected adults,
      contribute to an increased risk for low BMD and falls, and subsequently, may
      increase the risk of fracture among HIV-infected older adults. SUMMARY:
      Interventions with dual benefit on reducing fall risk and improving BMD are
      likely to have the greatest impact on fracture prevention in the older, HIV
      infected adult.

PMID- 26882463
TI  - Modeling Transient Disconnections and Compression Artifacts of Continuous Glucose
      Sensors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Modeling the various error components affecting continuous glucose
      monitoring (CGM) sensors is very important (e.g., to generate realistic scenarios
      for developing and testing CGM-based applications in type 1 diabetes simulators).
      Recent work has focused on some error components (i.e., blood-to-interstitium
      delay, calibration, and random noise), but key events such as transient faults
      have not been investigated in depth. We propose two mathematical models that
      describe the disconnections and compression artifacts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      dataset of 72 subjects monitored with the Dexcom (San Diego, CA) G4((r)) Platinum
      sensor is considered. Disconnections and compression artifacts have been
      isolated, and some basic statistical parameters (e.g., frequency and duration)
      have been extracted. A Markov chain model is proposed to describe the dynamics of
      a disconnection, and the effect of a compression artifact in the CGM profile is
      modeled as the output of a first-order linear dynamic system driven by a
      rectangular function. RESULTS: The great majority of disconnections
      (approximately 90%) lasted less than 20 min. Compression artifact median (5(th)
      95(th) percentiles) values were 45 (30-70) min for the duration and 24 (10-48)
      mg/dL for the amplitude. Both disconnections and compression artifacts happened
      with almost equal probability during the 7 days of monitoring. Disconnections
      were more frequent during the day and compression artifacts during the night. A
      three-state Markov model is shown to be effective to describe the single
      disconnection. The asymmetric shape of compression artifact is well fitted by the
      proposed model. CONCLUSIONS: The provided models are sufficiently accurate for
      simulation purposes (e.g., to create more challenging and realistic scenarios) to
      test real-time fault detection algorithms and artificial pancreas closed-loop
      controllers.

PMID- 26882464
TI  - Innovation in Analysis of Respiratory Sounds.

PMID- 26882465
TI  - Modelling exciton-phonon interactions in optically driven quantum dots.
AB  - We provide a self-contained review of master equation approaches to modelling
      phonon effects in optically driven self-assembled quantum dots. Coupling of the
      (quasi) two-level excitonic system to phonons leads to dissipation and dephasing,
      the rates of which depend on the excitation conditions, intrinsic properties of
      the QD sample, and its temperature. We describe several techniques, which include
      weak-coupling master equations that are perturbative in the exciton-phonon
      coupling, as well as those based on the polaron transformation that can remain
      valid for strong phonon interactions. We additionally consider the role of
      phonons in altering the optical emission characteristics of quantum dot devices,
      outlining how we must modify standard quantum optics treatments to account for
      the presence of the solid-state environment. 

PMID- 26882466
TI  - The Role of Patients' Stories in Emergency Medicine Triage.
AB  - Emergency medicine is a communicative activity, and characteristics such as
      incomplete information, time pressure, and the potentially serious consequences
      of errors complicate effective communication and decision making. The present
      study examined the triage process as an interpretive activity driven in part by
      the patient's story. Of four identified communication processes in the emergency
      department (ED), the "handoff" of patients between shifts has been identified as
      especially problematic since missing contextual details from patients' stories
      increased the probability of errors. The problematic nature of patient handoffs
      led to our interest in triage, the initial site of interpretation and decision
      making. Triage distinguishes patients with emergent medical conditions requiring
      immediate care from those who can more safely wait for medical attention. We
      report results from 110 hours of observing the triage process and semistructured
      interviews with 16 triage nurses in a Level I Trauma Center in an urban teaching
      hospital in the southeastern United States. Field notes and interview transcripts
      were analyzed and coded to explore decision rules and information sources used in
      triage decision making. Triage nurses generally discounted patients' stories in
      favor of information from visual cues and vital signs. Patients' stories tended
      to influence the triage process only in certain cases when the story contained
      information that was not readily apparent, such as a recent organ transplant.
      Triage nurses' reliance on "gut feeling," however, might be a kind of narrative
      sense-making that combines observable and measurable clinical facts with the
      narrative competence to utilize intuition and past experience.

PMID- 26882467
TI  - Testing specificity among parents' depressive symptoms, parenting, and child
      internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
AB  - The present study examined the specificity in relations between observed
      withdrawn and intrusive parenting behaviors and children's internalizing and
      externalizing symptoms in an at-risk sample of children (ages 9 to 15 years old)
      of parents with a history of depression (N = 180). Given past findings that
      parental depression and parenting behaviors may differentially impact boys and
      girls, gender was examined as a moderator of the relations between these factors
      and child adjustment. Correlation and linear regression analyses showed that
      parental depressive symptoms were significantly related to withdrawn parenting
      for parents of boys and girls and to intrusive parenting for parents of boys
      only. When controlling for intrusive parenting, preliminary analyses demonstrated
      that parental depressive symptoms were significantly related to withdrawn
      parenting for parents of boys, and this association approached significance for
      parents of girls. Specificity analyses yielded that, when controlling for the
      other type of problem (i.e., internalizing or externalizing), withdrawn parenting
      specifically predicted externalizing problems but not internalizing problems in
      girls. No evidence of specificity was found for boys in this sample, suggesting
      that impaired parenting behaviors are diffusely related to both internalizing and
      externalizing symptoms for boys. Overall, results highlight the importance of
      accounting for child gender and suggest that targeting improvement in parenting
      behaviors and the reduction of depressive symptoms in interventions with parents
      with a history of depression may have potential to reduce internalizing and
      externalizing problems in this high-risk population.

PMID- 26882468
TI  - Interannual Variability in Baseline Ozone and Its Relationship to Surface Ozone
      in the Western U.S.
AB  - Baseline ozone refers to observed concentrations of tropospheric ozone at sites
      that have a negligible influence from local emissions. The Mount Bachelor
      Observatory (MBO) was established in 2004 to examine baseline air masses as they
      arrive to North America from the west. In May 2012, we observed an O3 increase of
      2.0-8.5 ppbv in monthly average maximum daily 8-hour average O3 mixing ratio
      (MDA8 O3) at MBO and numerous other sites in the western U.S. compared to
      previous years. This shift in the O3 distribution had an impact on the number of
      exceedance days. We also observed a good correlation between daily MDA8
      variations at MBO and at downwind sites. This suggests that under specific
      meteorological conditions, synoptic variation in O3 at MBO can be observed at
      other surface sites in the western U.S. At MBO, the elevated O3 concentrations in
      May 2012 are associated with low CO values and low water vapor values, consistent
      with transport from the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UT/LS).
      Furthermore, the Real-time Air Quality Modeling System (RAQMS) analyses indicate
      that a large flux of O3 from the UT/LS in May 2012 contributed to the observed
      enhanced O3 across the western U.S. Our results suggest that a network of
      mountaintop observations, LiDAR and satellite observations of O3 could provide
      key data on daily and interannual variations in baseline O3. 

PMID- 26882470
TI  - Induction of TDO2 and IDO2 in Liver by High-Fat Feeding in Mice: Discrepancies
      with Human Obesity.
AB  - Low-grade and chronic inflammation is elicited in white adipose tissue in human
      obesity. The presence of inflammatory molecules leads to an increased tryptophan
      catabolism through the induction of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1). In
      order to characterize the mechanisms underlying this dysregulation, we have
      studied 2 mouse models of obesity. Unexpectedly, we did not detect any IDO1
      expression in obese or lean mice adipose tissue. In a previous study, we did not
      find any significant difference in the liver for IDO2 and tryptophan-2,3
      dioxygenase (TDO2) gene expression between normal weight and obese patients. IDO2
      and TDO2 expression was increased in the liver of high-fat fed mice, but not in
      ob/ob mice, and was strongly correlated with hydroxysteroid-(11-beta)
      dehydrogenase-1 (HSD11B1) expression, an enzyme that generates active cortisol
      within tissues. In conclusion, despite a dysregulation of tryptophan metabolism,
      obese mice display discrepancies with human obesity metabolism, rendering them
      inappropriate for further investigations in this animal model. 

PMID- 26882469
TI  - Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Individuals with HIV: A Systematic Review
      and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythms may contribute to the
      high cardiovascular disease risk in HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals. To
      synthesize the current literature on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in HIV+
      individuals, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed.
      METHODS: Medical databases were searched through November 11, 2015 for studies
      that reported ABPM results in HIV+ individuals. Data were extracted by 2
      reviewers and pooled differences between HIV+ and HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals
      in clinic BP and ABPM measures were calculated using random-effects inverse
      variance weighted models. RESULTS: Of 597 abstracts reviewed, 8 studies with HIV+
      cohorts met the inclusion criteria. The 420 HIV+ and 714 HIV- individuals in 7
      studies with HIV- comparison groups were pooled for analyses. The pooled absolute
      nocturnal systolic and diastolic BP declines were 3.16% (95% confidence interval
      [CI]: 1.13%, 5.20%) and 2.92% (95% CI: 1.64%, 4.19%) less, respectively, in HIV+
      versus HIV- individuals. The pooled odds ratio for non-dipping systolic BP
      (nocturnal systolic BP decline <10%) in HIV+ versus HIV- individuals was 2.72
      (95% CI: 1.92, 3.85). Differences in mean clinic, 24-hour, daytime, or nighttime
      BP were not statistically significant. I2 and heterogeneity chi-squared
      statistics indicated the presence of high heterogeneity for all outcomes except
      percent DBP dipping and non-dipping SBP pattern. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal diurnal
      BP pattern may be more common among HIV+ versus HIV- individuals. However,
      results were heterogeneous for most BP measures, suggesting more research in this
      area is needed.

PMID- 26882471
TI  - ZEB1 Upregulates VEGF Expression and Stimulates Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer.
AB  - Although zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) has been identified as a key
      factor in the regulation of breast cancer differentiation and metastasis, its
      potential role in modulating tumor angiogenesis has not been fully examined.
      Here, we present the novel finding that conditioned medium derived from ZEB1
      expressing MDA-MB-231 cells significantly increased the capillary tube formation
      of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), whereas ZEB1 knockdown by RNA
      interference had the opposite effect. ZEB1 caused marked upregulation of the
      expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) at both mRNA and
      protein levels. Pre-incubation of HUVECs with anti-VEGFA neutralized antibody
      attenuated ZEB1-mediated tube formation of HUVECs. In breast cancer tissues,
      expression of ZEB1 was positively correlated with those of VEGFA and CD31. At the
      molecular level, ZEB1 activated VEGFA transcription by increasing SP1 recruitment
      to its promoter, which was mediated via the activation of PI3K and p38 pathways.
      Using a nude mouse xenograft model, we demonstrated that elevated expression of
      ZEB1 promotes in vivo tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in breast cancer.
      Collectively, we found that ZEB1-expressing breast cancer cells increase VEGFA
      production and thus stimulate tumor growth and angiogenesis via a paracrine
      mechanism. 

PMID- 26882472
TI  - Artificial micro-swimmers in simulated natural environments.
AB  - Microswimmers, such as bacteria, are known to show different behaviours depending
      on their local environment. They identify spatial chemical gradients to find
      nutrient rich areas (chemotaxis) and interact with shear flows to accumulate in
      high shear regions. Recently, artificial microswimmers have been developed which
      mimic their natural counterparts in many ways. One of the exciting topics in this
      field is to study these artificial motors in several natural settings like the
      ones bacteria interact with. In this Focus article, we summarize recent
      observations of artificial swimmers in chemical gradients, shear flows and other
      interesting natural environments simulated in the lab using microfluidics and
      nanotechnology. 

PMID- 26882473
TI  - Perception of Graphical Virtual Environments by Blind Users via Sensory
      Substitution.
AB  - Graphical virtual environments are currently far from accessible to blind users
      as their content is mostly visual. This is especially unfortunate as these
      environments hold great potential for this population for purposes such as safe
      orientation, education, and entertainment. Previous tools have increased
      accessibility but there is still a long way to go. Visual-to-audio Sensory
      Substitution-Devices (SSDs) can increase accessibility generically by sonifying
      on-screen content regardless of the specific environment and offer increased
      accessibility without the use of expensive dedicated peripherals like
      electrode/vibrator arrays. Using SSDs virtually utilizes similar skills as when
      using them in the real world, enabling both training on the device and training
      on environments virtually before real-world visits. This could enable more
      complex, standardized and autonomous SSD training and new insights into
      multisensory interaction and the visually-deprived brain. However, whether
      congenitally blind users, who have never experienced virtual environments, will
      be able to use this information for successful perception and interaction within
      them is currently unclear.We tested this using the EyeMusic SSD, which conveys
      whole-scene visual information, to perform virtual tasks otherwise impossible
      without vision. Congenitally blind users had to navigate virtual environments and
      find doors, differentiate between them based on their features
      (Experiment1:task1) and surroundings (Experiment1:task2) and walk through them;
      these tasks were accomplished with a 95% and 97% success rate, respectively. We
      further explored the reactions of congenitally blind users during their first
      interaction with a more complex virtual environment than in the previous tasks
      walking down a virtual street, recognizing different features of houses and
      trees, navigating to cross-walks, etc. Users reacted enthusiastically and
      reported feeling immersed within the environment. They highlighted the potential
      usefulness of such environments for understanding what visual scenes are supposed
      to look like and their potential for complex training and suggested many future
      environments they wished to experience. 

PMID- 26882474
TI  - Cigarette smoke inhibits ROCK2 activation in T cells and modulates IL-22
      production.
AB  - Gene-environment interactions are known to play a key role in the development of
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is one of the
      strongest environmental risk factors associated with RA and has been shown to
      mediate a range of complex immunomodulatory effects from decreased T and B cell
      activation to depressed phagocytic function. The effects of CS on the function of
      TH17 cells, one of the key TH effector subsets implicated in RA pathogenesis, are
      not fully understood. IRF4 is one of the crucial transcription factors involved
      in TH-17 differentiation and is absolutely required for the production of IL-17
      and IL-21 but, interestingly, inhibits the synthesis of IL-22. The production of
      IL-17 and IL-21 by IRF4 can be augmented by its phosphorylation by the serine
      threonine kinase ROCK2. Given that CS has been reported to increase ROCK activity
      in endothelial cells, here we investigated the effects of CS on the ROCK2-IRF4
      axis in T cells. Surprisingly, we found that CS leads to decreased ROCK2
      activation and IRF4 phosphorylation in T cells. This effect was associated with
      increased IL-22 production. Using a GEF pull-down assay we furthermore identify
      ARHGEF1 as a key upstream regulator of ROCK2 whose activity in T cells is
      inhibited by CS. Thus CS can inhibit the ROCK2-IRF4 axis and modulate T cell
      production of IL-22. 

PMID- 26882476
TI  - HIV-related stigma and self-disclosure: the mediating and moderating role of
      anticipated discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS in Akure Nigeria.
AB  - Although links between HIV-related stigma and self-disclosure of HIV status among
      people living with HIV have been well established, it is unclear whether levels
      of perceived discrimination are differentially associated with self-disclosure.
      The present study using a multi-factorial survey design investigated the role of
      stigma and other self-related factors (e.g., anticipated discrimination, self
      esteem, HIV-related factors [e.g., drug use combination; knowledge of duration of
      HIV diagnosis] and socio-demographic factors [e.g., multiple spouse; age, gender,
      educational level] and psychological distress [depression]) in self-disclosure
      among People living with HIV/AIDs has been added (PLWHA) on follow-up management
      in State Specialist Hospital Akure, Nigeria. One hundred and thirty nine HIV/AIDS
      patients (49 males and 90 females) participated in the study. Mean age and mean
      time in months since diagnosis were 39.56 +/- 10.26 and 37.78 +/- 48.34,
      respectively. Four variables: multiple spouse, anticipated discrimination, HIV
      related stigma and self-esteem were related to self-disclosure at (p < .05).
      Product-term regression analyses demonstrated that perceived discrimination
      mediated the relationship between self-esteem (Sobel test: z = 2.09, Aroian =
      2.06, p < .001), perceived stigma (Sobel test: z = 2.78, Aroaian = 2.75 p < .01)
      and self-disclosure. Interaction term analysis between HIV-related stigma t (5,
      137) = 1.69, p > .05, self-esteem t (5, 137) = .59, p > .05 and anticipated
      discrimination were non-significant, suggesting a non-moderation effect of
      discrimination and disclosure. The results indicate that anticipated
      discrimination may impact HIV-related stigma to reduce self-disclosure among the
      PLWHAs in Akure, Nigeria. Interventions should incorporate anticipated
      discrimination in educational programs of HIV stigma in encouraging self
      disclosure among PLWHAs.

PMID- 26882475
TI  - ZBIT Bioinformatics Toolbox: A Web-Platform for Systems Biology and Expression
      Data Analysis.
AB  - Bioinformatics analysis has become an integral part of research in biology.
      However, installation and use of scientific software can be difficult and often
      requires technical expert knowledge. Reasons are dependencies on certain
      operating systems or required third-party libraries, missing graphical user
      interfaces and documentation, or nonstandard input and output formats. In order
      to make bioinformatics software easily accessible to researchers, we here present
      a web-based platform. The Center for Bioinformatics Tuebingen (ZBIT)
      Bioinformatics Toolbox provides web-based access to a collection of
      bioinformatics tools developed for systems biology, protein sequence annotation,
      and expression data analysis. Currently, the collection encompasses software for
      conversion and processing of community standards SBML and BioPAX, transcription
      factor analysis, and analysis of microarray data from transcriptomics and
      proteomics studies. All tools are hosted on a customized Galaxy instance and run
      on a dedicated computation cluster. Users only need a web browser and an active
      internet connection in order to benefit from this service. The web platform is
      designed to facilitate the usage of the bioinformatics tools for researchers
      without advanced technical background. Users can combine tools for complex
      analyses or use predefined, customizable workflows. All results are stored
      persistently and reproducible. For each tool, we provide documentation,
      tutorials, and example data to maximize usability. The ZBIT Bioinformatics
      Toolbox is freely available at https://webservices.cs.uni-tuebingen.de/. 

PMID- 26882477
TI  - Prechemotherapy Touch Sensation Deficits Predict Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathy
      in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the emergence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral
      neuropathy (CIPN), a dose-limiting toxicity of oxaliplatin, over the course of
      oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). Predicting which
      patients will likely develop CIPN is an ongoing clinical challenge. METHODS:
      Oxaliplatin-naive patients with CRC underwent quantitative sensory testing (QST)
      before beginning oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and then rated CIPN-related
      symptoms via the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) weekly for 26 weeks. Mixed
      modeling examined the value of QST for predicting higher CIPN (MDASI
      numbness/tingling) during treatment. Trajectory analysis identified a patient
      subgroup with consistently higher CIPN symptoms. RESULTS: Numbness/tingling was
      the most frequent, most severe symptom, with 51% of patients clustering into a
      high CIPN subgroup. Touch sensation deficits (Bumps Detection test) significantly
      predicted the development of more severe numbness/tingling [estimate (est) =
      0.106, p = 0.0003]. The high CIPN subgroup reported increased pain (est = 0.472,
      p < 0.0001) and interference with walking (est = 0.840, p < 0.0001). In the high
      CIPN subgroup, patient-reported numbness/tingling worsened rapidly in weeks 0-5
      (est = 0.57, p < 0.0001) and then more gradually in weeks 6-26 (est = 0.07, p <
      0.0001). CONCLUSION: Prechemotherapy screening with a simple, easily administered
      objective measure of touch sensation deficits (Bumps Detection test) and
      monitoring of patient-reported numbness/tingling during the first 2-3
      chemotherapy cycles may support improved personalized care of CRC patients with
      oxaliplatin-induced CIPN.

PMID- 26882478
TI  - Intraoperative OCT Pachymetry in Patients Undergoing Dextran-Free Riboflavin UVA
      Accelerated Corneal Collagen Crosslinking.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess intraoperative corneal pachymetry in patients undergoing
      accelerated corneal collagen crosslinking with a dextran-free riboflavin
      solution. METHODS: Prospective, non-comparative, multicenter interventional
      study. Thirty patients with progressive keratoconus were enrolled in the study
      from the Siena Crosslinking CenterTM in Siena, Italy and the Eye Center in
      Catanzaro, Italy. The mean age was 26.9 +/- 6.5 years. Patients underwent pulsed
      light accelerated crosslinking (PL-ACXL) by KXL I UV-A source (Avedro Inc.,
      Waltham, MS, USA) with 8 min (1 s on/1 s off) of UV-A exposure, 30 mW/cm2 and an
      energy dose of 7.2 J/cm2. Corneal stroma was soaked with a dextran-free 0.1%
      riboflavin solution plus hydroxyl-propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) (VibeX Rapid,
      Avedro). Intraoperative corneal thickness was preoperatively (PRE-OP) evaluated
      by corneal optical coherence tomography (iVUE Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA)
      after epithelium removal (EPI-R), after 10 min of riboflavin soaking (RS) and
      after UV-A irradiation (IR). Statistical analysis was conducted using a Wilcoxon
      test and SPSS v16.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically
      significant. RESULTS: Average PRE-OP central corneal thickness (CCT) and thinnest
      corneal thickness (TCT) were 437.3 +/- 36.9 and 418.9 +/- 28.8 MUm, respectively.
      Average EPI-R CCT and TCT values were 388.5 +/- 36.8 and 381.5 +/- 36.61 MUm,
      respectively. Average CCT and TCT values after 10 min RS were 385.2 +/- 37.8 and
      380.6 +/- 36.7 MUm, respectively. The final average CCT and TCT values after IR
      were 379.4 +/- 37.2 and 378.1 +/- 36.4 MUm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study
      demonstrated a non-statistically significant intraoperative corneal thickness
      reduction in patients undergoing PL-ACXL corneal collagen crosslinking by using
      dextran free HPMC 0.1% riboflavin solution.

PMID- 26882479
TI  - Worldwide Alien Invasion: A Methodological Approach to Forecast the Potential
      Spread of a Highly Invasive Pollinator.
AB  - The ecological impacts of alien species invasion are a major threat to global
      biodiversity. The increasing number of invasion events by alien species and the
      high cost and difficulty of eradicating invasive species once established require
      the development of new methods and tools for predicting the most susceptible
      areas to invasion. Invasive pollinators pose serious threats to biodiversity and
      human activity due to their close relationship with many plants (including crop
      species) and high potential competitiveness for resources with native
      pollinators. Although at an early stage of expansion, the bumblebee species
      Bombus terrestris is becoming a representative case of pollinator invasion at a
      global scale, particularly given its high velocity of invasive spread and the
      increasing number of reports of its impacts on native bees and crops in many
      countries. We present here a methodological framework of habitat suitability
      modeling that integrates new approaches for detecting habitats that are
      susceptible to Bombus terrestris invasion at a global scale. Our approach did not
      include reported invaded locations in the modeling procedure; instead, those
      locations were used exclusively to evaluate the accuracy of the models in
      predicting suitability over regions already invaded. Moreover, a new and more
      intuitive approach was developed to select the models and evaluate different
      algorithms based on their performance and predictive convergence. Finally, we
      present a comprehensive global map of susceptibility to Bombus terrestris
      invasion that highlights priority areas for monitoring. 

PMID- 26882480
TI  - Ectopic Immature Renal Tissue Associated with Lipomeningomyelocele and Enteric
      Duplication Cyst: A Report of Two Cases.
AB  - Ectopic immature renal tissue (EIRT) is a lesion rarely described in the
      literature. It shows the components of a nephrogenic rest including the blastema,
      epithelia, and stroma. We report two cases of EIRT in a 3-year-old female and an
      8 months male child, associated with lipomeningomyelocele and an enteric
      duplication cyst, respectively, along with detailed immunohistochemical profile.
      Though there are a few cases of EIRT associated with teratoma, only two cases of
      EIRT associated with lipomeningomyelocele have been described in the English
      literature. Moreover, extensive literature search did not reveal any previous
      case report where EIRT had been documented in an enteric duplication cyst. 

PMID- 26882481
TI  - Pseudoenhancement of Gallbladder Sludge: A Confusing Artifact Caused by Nonlinear
      Propagation of Ultrasound Through Microbubbles.

PMID- 26882482
TI  - The Problem of Mammographic Breast Density - The Position of the DEGUM Working
      Group on Breast Ultrasound.
AB  - Mammographic breast density correlates with breast cancer risk and also with the
      number of false-negative calls. In the USA these facts lead to the "Breast
      Density and Mammography Reporting Act" of 2011. In the case of mammographically
      dense breasts, the Working Group on Breast Ultrasound in Germany recommends
      explaining the advantages of adjunct imaging to women, depending on the
      individual breast cancer risk. Due to the particular structure of German
      healthcare, quality-assured breast ultrasound would be the first choice. Possible
      overdiagnosis, costs, potentially increased emotional stress should be addressed.
      In high familial breast cancer risk, genetic counselling and an intensified early
      detection program should be performed. 

PMID- 26882483
TI  - Simulation-Based Abdominal Ultrasound Training - A Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim is to provide a complete overview of the different simulation
      based training options for abdominal ultrasound and to explore the evidence of
      their effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review was performed
      according to the PRISMA guidelines and Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the
      Cochrane Library was searched. Articles were divided into three categories based
      on study design (randomized controlled trials, before-and-after studies and
      descriptive studies) and assessed for level of evidence using the Oxford Centre
      for Evidence Based Medicine (OCEBM) system and for bias using the Cochrane
      Collaboration risk of bias assessment tool. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were
      included in the analysis: four randomized controlled trials, eight before-and
      after studies with pre- and post-test evaluations, and five descriptive studies.
      No studies scored the highest level of evidence, and 14 had the lowest level.
      Bias was high for 11 studies, low for four, and unclear for two. No studies used
      a test with established evidence of validity or examined the correlation between
      obtained skills on the simulators and real-life clinical skills. Only one study
      used blinded assessors. CONCLUSION: The included studies were heterogeneous in
      the choice of simulator, study design, participants, and outcome measures, and
      the level of evidence for effect was inadequate. In all studies simulation
      training was equally or more beneficial than other instructions or no
      instructions. Study designs had significant built-in bias and confounding issues;
      therefore, further research should be based on randomized controlled trials using
      tests with validity evidence and blinded assessors.

PMID- 26882484
TI  - Cost-utility of albiglutide versus insulin lispro, insulin glargine, and
      sitagliptin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the US.
AB  - Objective To compare the cost-utility of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor
      agonist albiglutide with those of insulin lispro (both in combination with
      insulin glargine), insulin glargine, and the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor
      sitagliptin, representing treatments along the type 2 diabetes treatment
      continuum. Methods The Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness (CORE)
      Diabetes Model was used for the cost-utility analysis. Data from three Phase 3
      clinical trials (HARMONY 6, HARMONY 4, and HARMONY 3) evaluating albiglutide for
      the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes were used for the baseline
      characteristics and treatment effects. Utilities and costs were derived from
      published sources. Results Albiglutide treatment was associated with an
      improvement in mean quality-adjusted life expectancy of 0.099, 0.033, and 0.101
      years when compared with insulin lispro, insulin glargine, and sitagliptin,
      respectively. Over the 50-year time horizon, mean total costs in the albiglutide
      arm were $4332, $2597, and $2223 more than in the other respective treatments.
      These costs resulted in an incremental cost-utility ratio of $43,541, $79,166,
      and $22,094 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained for albiglutide vs
      insulin lispro, insulin glargine, and sitagliptin, respectively. At a willingness
      to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY gained, there was a 53.0%, 41.5%, and 67.5%
      probability of albiglutide being cost-effective compared with the other
      respective treatments. Limitations This analysis was an extrapolation over a 50
      year time horizon based on relatively short-term data obtained during clinical
      trials. It does not take into account potential differences between the
      respective treatments in adherence and persistence that can influence both
      effects and costs. Conclusions Albiglutide represents a reasonable treatment
      option for patients with type 2 diabetes based on its cost-utility, relative to
      insulin lispro, insulin glargine, and sitagliptin. 

PMID- 26882485
TI  - Epidemiological study of traumatic spinal cord injuries: experience from a
      specialized spine center in Iran.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed for
      epidemiological assessment of Iranian Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries (TSCI),
      referred to a specialized spine center. SETTING: Patient recruitment and
      evaluations were conducted at the Brain and Spinal Injury Research Center,
      Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This study was performed from September 2011 to March 2015
      on 1137 consecutive TSCIs. History, clinicoradiological findings as well as
      chronic complications and social integration were recorded. The capture-recapture
      method was used to calculate a rough estimation of TSCI prevalence in Tehran
      Province. RESULTS: Our report includes 1137 cases with a mean age of 29.1 years
      (s.d.=11.2 year)-79.2% of them being male (M/F=3.8/1). Rough estimation of TSCI
      prevalence in Tehran province was 2.36 per 10 000 population. Regarding etiology,
      61.8% were due to motor vehicle accident (MVA), followed by falling 24.5%, heavy
      drop 5.2%, violence 3.8%, sport 2.8% and others causes 1.9%. Regarding injury
      level, 31.5% were cervical, 57.9% thoracic and 10.6% lumbar. Complete lesions
      were 53.5% of patients and 46.5% were incomplete. Most common neurological type
      was T1-S5 (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale: A, B, C, 61.7%).
      Most common complications included urinary tract infection followed by pressure
      sore (grade III and IV, 37.5%), autonomic dysreflexia (37%) and neuropathic pain
      (31.2%). Substance abuse was observed in 8.8% of cases. Overall, ~25% in our
      cases were employed after TSCI. Secondary divorce was also much more frequent
      than normal matched controls. CONCLUSION: MVA was the most common cause for TSCI.
      The elderly subjects were less frequent among our patients than more developed
      countries. The high rate of unemployment and divorce in our cases deserves
      special consideration.

PMID- 26882486
TI  - Blood stream infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms among spinal cord
      injured patients, epidemiology over 16 years and associated risks: a comparative
      study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the
      epidemiology of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) during bloodstream
      infection (BSI) and identify associated risks of MDROs among patients with spinal
      cord injury (SCI). SETTING: A teaching hospital, expert center in disability, in
      France. METHODS: We studied a retrospective cohort of all BSIs occurring in SCI
      patients hospitalized over 16 years. We described the prevalence of MDRO BSI
      among this population and its evolution over time and compared the BSI population
      due to MDROs and due to non-MDROs. RESULTS: A total of 318 BSIs occurring among
      256 patients were included in the analysis. The most frequent primary sites of
      infection were urinary tract infection (34.0%), pressure sore (25.2%) and
      catheter line-associated bloodstream infection (11.3%). MDROs were responsible
      for 41.8% of BSIs, and this prevalence was stable over 16 years. No significant
      associated factor for MDRO BSI could be identified concerning sociodemographic
      and clinical characteristics, primary site of infection and bacterial species in
      univariate and multivariate analyses. BSI involving MDROs was not associated with
      initial severity of sepsis compared with infection without MDROs (43.8 vs 43.6%,
      respectively) and was not associated either with 30th-day mortality (6.2 vs 9%,
      respectively). CONCLUSION: During BSI occurrence in an SCI population, MDROs are
      frequent but remain stable over years. No associated risk can be identified that
      would help optimize antibiotic treatment. Neither the severity of the episode nor
      the mortality is significantly different when an MDRO is involved.

PMID- 26882487
TI  - Reliability of the radiographic variables in the International Spinal Cord Injury
      Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set compared with the AO classification.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Intra- and interrater reliability study for radiological variables
      of the International Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Spinal Column Injury Basic Data
      Set. OBJECTIVES: To test reliability of the radiological variables in the
      International SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set and compare it with the
      Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen (AO) classification. SETTING: The
      database of Eastern Denmark Regional SCI Referral Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
      METHODS: Ratings of the International SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set
      radiological variables and AO classification were obtained by two international
      observers for all the surgically treated spine trauma patients between 1st
      October 2010 and 31st December 2012 at the Spine Unit, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
      Statistical analyses for intra- and interrater crude agreement and Cohen's
      unweighted kappa (kappa) coefficients were performed. RESULTS: For 283 spine
      injuries, the intra- and interrater reliability for the individual radiological
      variables of the International SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set was at
      least substantial (kappa=0.67-0.97 for interrater, kappa=0.79-0.89 for the
      intrarater agreement). For the AO classification, intrarater reliability was
      moderate-to-substantial (kappa=0.57-0.75), whereas interrater reliability was
      substantial (kappa=0.67-0.69). The crude intra- and interrater agreement for a
      combined radiographic SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data Set variable showed no
      significant difference compared with the AO classification (P=0.067-0.895).
      CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of International SCI Spinal Column Injury Basic Data
      Set radiological variables is comparable to the AO classification system. We
      encourage its use for spinal column injury description, thus facilitating data
      collection and comparison between centres and countries.

PMID- 26882488
TI  - Active paraplegics are protected against exercise-induced oxidative damage
      through the induction of antioxidant enzymes.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. OBJECTIVES: Exercise improves functional
      capacity in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, exhaustive exercise, especially
      when sporadic, is linked to the production of reactive oxygen species that may
      have a detrimental effect on SCI. We aimed to study the effect of a single bout
      of exhaustive exercise on systemic oxidative stress parameters and on the
      expression of antioxidant enzymes in individuals with paraplegia. SETTING: The
      study was conducted in the Physical Therapy department and the Physical Education
      and Sports department of the University of Valencia. METHODS: Sixteen paraplegic
      subjects were submitted to a graded exercise test (GET) until volitional
      exhaustion. They were divided into active or non-active groups. Blood samples
      were drawn immediately, 1 and 2 h after the GET. We determined plasma
      malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonylation as markers of oxidative damage.
      Antioxidant gene expression (catalase and glutathione peroxidase-GPx) was
      determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: We found a significant
      increase in plasma MDA and protein carbonyls immediately after the GET (P<0.05).
      This increment correlated significantly with the lactate levels. Active
      paraplegics showed lower levels of exercise-induced oxidative damage (P<0.05) and
      higher exercise-induced catalase (P<0.01) and GPx (P<0.05) gene expression after
      the GET. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that exercise training may be useful
      in SCI patients to develop systemic antioxidant defenses that may protect them
      against exercise-induced oxidative damage.

PMID- 26882489
TI  - Therapeutic potential of human olfactory bulb neural stem cells for spinal cord
      injury in rats.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Adult human olfactory bulb neural stem cells (OBNSCs) were isolated
      from human patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection. They were
      genetically engineered to overexpresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) to help
      trace them following engraftment. Spinal cord injury (SCI) was induced in rats
      using standard laminectomy protocol, and GFP-OBNSC were engrafted into rat model
      of SCI at day 7 post injury. Three rat groups were used: (i) Control group, (ii)
      Sham group (injected with cerebrospinal fluid) and treated group (engrafted with
      OBNSCs). Tissues from different groups were collected weekly up to 2 months. The
      collected tissues were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, processed for paraffin
      sectioning, immunohistochemically stained for different neuronal and glial
      markers and examined with bright-field fluorescent microscopy. Restoration of
      sensory motor functions we assessed on a weekly bases using the BBB score.
      OBJECTIVES: To assess the therapeutic potential of OBNSCs-GFP and their ability
      to survive, proliferate, differentiate and to restore lost sensory motor
      functions following their engraftment in spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: GFP
      OBNSC were engrafted into a rat model of SCI at day 7 post injury and were
      followed-up to 8 weeks using behavioral and histochemical methods. RESULTS: All
      transplanted animals exhibited successful engraftment. The survival rate was
      about 30% of initially transplanted cells. Twenty-seven percent of the engrafted
      cells differentiated along the NG2 and O4-positive oligodendrocyte lineage, 16%
      into MAP2 and beta-tubulin-positive neurons, and 56% into GFAP-positive
      astrocytes. CONCLUSION: GFP-OBNSCs had survived for >8 weeks after engraftment
      and were differentiated into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, The
      engrafted cells were distributed throughout gray and white matter of the cord
      with no evidence of abnormal morphology or any mass formation indicative of
      tumorigenesis. However, the engrafted cells failed to restore lost sensory and
      motor functions as evident from behavioral analysis using the BBB score test.

PMID- 26882490
TI  - Efficacy and safety of phosphodieterase-5 inhibitors for treatment of erectile
      dysfunction secondary to spinal cord injury: a systemic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Systemic reviewObjective:We carried out a systematic review and
      meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of phosphodieterase-5 (PDE5)
      inhibitors on erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI).
      METHODS: A literature review was performed to identify all published randomized,
      double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of PDE5 inhibitors for treatment of ED
      secondary to SCI. The search included the following database: MEDLINE, EMBASE and
      the Cochrane Library. The outcomes and complications analyzed involved the Global
      Efficacy Question (GEQ), sexual encounter profile diary question 2 and 3 (SEP2
      and SEP3) and adverse events. All statistical analysis was performed using Stata
      12.0 software (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: Six publications
      were used in analysis, including six randomized controlled trials that compared
      PDE5 inhibitors with placebo. Compared with placebo, PDE5 inhibitors were
      associated with significant improvements in GEQ (OR 11.997, 95% CI 8.073-17.830,
      P<0.0001), SEP2 (RR 1.847, 95% CI 1.561-2.185, P<0.0001) and SEP3 (RR 2.738, 95%
      CI 2.084-3.598, P<0.0001). Despite significant greater incidences of some adverse
      events observed (headache: RR 3.717, 95% CI 2.309-5.982, P<0.0001; flushing: RR
      9.281, 95% CI 2.858-30.147, P<0.0001; gastrointestinal discomfort: RR 9.064, 95%
      CI 2.116-38.827, P=0.003), most adverse events were mild to moderate and
      transient. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that
      PDE5 inhibitors are effective and well tolerated to treat ED secondary to SCI
      compared with placebo, as measured by response to GEQ, SEP2, SEP3 and incidence
      of adverse events. PDE5 inhibitors could be considered as the first choice in the
      treatment of ED patients with SCI.

PMID- 26882491
TI  - Electrocardiographic abnormalities in the early stage following traumatic spinal
      cord injury.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Although cardiac arrhythmias
      are relatively well recognized in the chronic stage after spinal cord injury
      (SCI), little is known regarding its occurrence during the early stage. The
      objective of this study was to examine electrocardiogram changes within the first
      72 h after acute traumatic SCI. SETTING: Acute spine trauma center, Toronto,
      Ontario, CanadaMethods:This study included all consecutive patients with spine
      trauma admitted to our institution from January 1998 to June 2007 who had an
      electrocardiogram within the first 72 h post trauma. Patients were divided into
      four groups: (I) patients with motor complete SCI at T6 or above; (II) patients
      with motor incomplete SCI at T6 or above; (III) patients with spine trauma but
      no/minor SCI at T6 or above; and (IV) patients with SCI below T6. RESULTS: There
      were 69 men and 20 women with mean age of 53.8 years (16-88 years). All groups
      were comparable regarding age, sex, pre-existing comorbidities and cause of SCI.
      There were no significant differences among the groups regarding predominant
      rhythm, PR interval, atrial-ventricular conduction, ventricular rate, QRS axis
      and intraventricular conduction abnormalities. Nonetheless, patients in Group I
      had longer RR interval (P=0.016), longer QTc (P=0.025) and more prolonged
      duration of the longest QRS (P=0.017) in comparison with the other groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that electrocardiogram abnormalities are more
      common within the first 72 h following acute traumatic, motor complete, cervical
      or high-thoracic SCI. This may represent early manifestations of autonomic
      dysfunction due to disruption of descending cardiovascular pathways in
      individuals with severe SCI at T6 or above.

PMID- 26882492
TI  - Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in adults: MRI type
      predicts early neurologic outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to analyse the clinical and neuroimaging
      features of a consecutive series of adult patients with spinal cord injury
      without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) receiving early magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI), and to apply the recently proposed MRI classification system.
      METHODS: Grade of neurologic impairment at admission and discharge was reported
      according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). A
      detailed analysis and categorisation of the extra- and intramedullary MRI
      findings was performed, and the relationship between imaging type and
      neurological outcome was described. RESULTS: Twenty-six adult patients (17 male
      and 9 female) with SCIWORA were identified (mean age of 52 years). The
      distribution of the initial AIS grade was 8% A (n=2), 19% B (n=5), 31% C (n=8)
      and 42% D (n=11) at admission and 15% (n=4) C, 58% (n=15) D and 27% (n=7) E at
      discharge, respectively. Type I SCIWORA was found in 23% (n=6) and type II in 77%
      (n=20) (IIa: 0%, IIb: 25%, IIc: 75%). The mean improvement of AIS grade in
      patients with type I lesions was 1.5 (median 1, range 1-3) and 0.9 (median 1,
      range 0-3) in type II. CONCLUSION: The findings underline the prognostic role of
      early MRI for adult patients with SCIWORA and support the use of the recently
      introduced MRI classification system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level
      III.

PMID- 26882494
TI  - Editorial: Therapeutic Modulators of Cellular Senescence: Common Targets in
      Cancer And Aging.

PMID- 26882493
TI  - The relationship between anxiety, depression and religious coping strategies and
      erectile dysfunction in Iranian patients with spinal cord injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of anxiety, depressive mood and religious coping
      in erectile function among Iranian patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
      SETTING: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Repair Research Center, Neuroscience
      Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: A sample
      of N=93 men with SCI participated in this cross-sectional study. Levels of
      anxiety and depressive mood were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and
      Depression Scale. Religious coping strategies were measured using the 14-items
      Brief Coping Questionnaire. Erectile function was assessed using the
      International Index of Erectile Function. The joint effect of anxiety, depressive
      mood and religious coping strategies on erectile function was assessed by
      performing stepwise multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean age of
      the SCI patients was 37.8 years with a mean post-injury time of 4.6 years.
      Multivariate regression analyses indicated that age (B=-0.27, 95% CI=-0.47 to 
      0.07), education (B for higher education=0.63, 95% CI=0.24 to 1.02), the American
      Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (B for complete impairment=-3.36, 95%
      CI=-3.82 to -2.89), anxiety (B=-3.56, 95% CI=-5.76 to -1.42), positive religious
      coping (B=0.30, 95% CI=0.03 to 0.57), negative religious coping (B=-0.56, 95% CI=
      0.82 to -0.29) and the duration of injury (B=-0.25, 95% CI=-0.22 to -0.29) were
      all independent factors influencing erectile function in SCI patients.
      CONCLUSION: Overall, the results indicated that SCI patients who use positive
      religious coping strategies had better erectile function compared with
      individuals who applied negative religious coping strategies. Furthermore, higher
      levels of anxiety, greater impairment and longer duration of injury turned out to
      be risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

PMID- 26882495
TI  - Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Elderly Patients with Idiopathic Normal
      Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study.
AB  - We investigated white matter integrity utilizing diffusion tensor imaging in
      patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) who had a positive
      response to the cerebrospinal fluid tap test and in age- and gender-matched
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We enrolled 28 patients with INPH, 28 patients
      with AD and 20 healthy controls. Tract-based spatial statistics demonstrated that
      INPH patients had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the anterior corona radiate
      (bilateral), corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus (bilateral),
      posterior thalamic radiation (bilateral), external capsule (bilateral) and middle
      cerebellar peduncle in comparison with the AD and control groups. Volume-of
      interest analysis revealed that INPH patients, when compared to the AD and
      control groups, showed higher mean diffusivity in the anterior corona radiate
      (bilateral), corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus (bilateral),
      posterior thalamic radiation (left), external capsule (bilateral) and middle
      cerebellar peduncle. And gait dysfunction was significantly correlated with
      decreased FA in the splenium of the corpus callosum and right external capsule in
      INPH patients. Our findings may suggest a possibility for considering
      microstructural changes in white matter integrity in elderly patients as
      potential imaging markers for differentiation between INPH and AD and may help us
      understand the potential pathophysiology of gait disturbances associated with
      INPH. 

PMID- 26882496
TI  - Novel dose-finding designs and considerations on practical implementations in
      oncology clinical trials.
AB  - One of the main objectives in phase I oncology trials is to evaluate safety and
      tolerability of an experimental treatment by estimating the maximum tolerated
      dose (MTD) based on the rate of dose-limiting toxicities (DLT). To meet emerging
      challenges in dose-finding studies, over the past two decades, extensive research
      has been conducted by statistical and medical researchers to create innovative
      dose finding designs that perform better than the standard 3 + 3 design, which
      often exhibits undesirable statistical and operational properties. However,
      clinical implementation and practical usage of these new designs have been
      limited. This article begins with a review of the most recent literature and then
      provides some perspectives on implementing novel adaptive dose finding designs in
      oncology phase I trials from a pharmaceutical industry perspective. Statistical
      planning and logistical considerations on how to effectively execute such designs
      in multi-center clinical trials are discussed using two recent case studies.

PMID- 26882498
TI  - Novel Carbon-Encapsulated Porous SnO2 Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Much
      Improved Cyclic Stability.
AB  - Porous SnO2 submicrocubes (SMCs) are synthesized by annealing and HNO3 etching of
      CoSn(OH)6 SMCs. Bare SnO2 SMCs, as well as bare commercial SnO2 nanoparticles
      (NPs), show very high initial discharge capacity when used as anode material for
      lithium-ion batteries. However, during the following cycles most of the Li ions
      previously inserted cannot be extracted, resulting in considerable
      irreversibility. Porous SnO2 cubes have been proven to possess better
      electrochemical performance than the dense nanoparticles. After being
      encapsulated by carbon shell, the obtained yolk-shell SnO2 SMCs@C exhibits
      significantly enhanced reversibility for lithium-ions storage. The reversibility
      of the conversion between SnO2 and Sn, which is largely responsible for the
      enhanced capacity, has been discussed. The porous SnO2 SMCs@C shows much
      increased capacity and cycling stability, demonstrating that the porous SnO2 core
      is essential for better lithium-ion storage performance. The strategy introduced
      in this paper can be used as a versatile way to fabrication of various metal
      oxide-based composites. 

PMID- 26882499
TI  - Why Don't Our Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Listen to Us?
      The Enigma of Nonadherence.
AB  - Nonadherence--not taking pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic treatments according
      to agreed recommendations from a health care provider--is common in patients with
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nonadherence in taking maintenance
      medications, smoking cessation, maintaining regular physical activity and
      exercise, starting and staying in pulmonary rehabilitation and continuing on with
      the postrehabilitation exercise/activity prescription, and successfully following
      self-management directions results in adverse outcomes across multiple areas.
      These include a faster decline in airway function, higher symptom burden,
      impaired health status, and increased health care use and mortality risk.
      Although nonadherence can also occur in health care providers (not following
      established treatment guidelines), this perspective focuses on patient
      nonadherence. Factors such as social/economic, health system, therapy-related,
      patient-related, and condition-related factors all impact this problem. To
      improve patient adherence, we need to consider these factors in the context of
      people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and implement strategies
      directly targeting underlying issues. Strategies may include customizing and
      simplifying learning and intervention regimes, identifying barriers to adherence
      and addressing them, ensuring patient support structures are in place, and
      improving self-efficacy. Future directions should focus on research and
      development in educational design; use of technology to assist education;
      psychological intervention strategies to support learning, motivation, self
      efficacy and behavior change; and ways to improve healthcare providers'
      engagement with patients.

PMID- 26882497
TI  - Mps1Mph1 Kinase Phosphorylates Mad3 to Inhibit Cdc20Slp1-APC/C and Maintain
      Spindle Checkpoint Arrests.
AB  - The spindle checkpoint is a mitotic surveillance system which ensures equal
      segregation of sister chromatids. It delays anaphase onset by inhibiting the
      action of the E3 ubiquitin ligase known as the anaphase promoting complex or
      cyclosome (APC/C). Mad3/BubR1 is a key component of the mitotic checkpoint
      complex (MCC) which binds and inhibits the APC/C early in mitosis. Mps1(Mph1)
      kinase is critical for checkpoint signalling and MCC-APC/C inhibition, yet few
      substrates have been identified. Here we identify Mad3 as a substrate of fission
      yeast Mps1(Mph1) kinase. We map and mutate phosphorylation sites in Mad3,
      producing mutants that are targeted to kinetochores and assembled into MCC, yet
      display reduced APC/C binding and are unable to maintain checkpoint arrests. We
      show biochemically that Mad3 phospho-mimics are potent APC/C inhibitors in vitro,
      demonstrating that Mad3p modification can directly influence Cdc20(Slp1)-APC/C
      activity. This genetic dissection of APC/C inhibition demonstrates that
      Mps1(Mph1) kinase-dependent modifications of Mad3 and Mad2 act in a concerted
      manner to maintain spindle checkpoint arrests.

PMID- 26882500
TI  - Impulsive lifestyle counseling to prevent dropout from treatment for substance
      use disorders in people with antisocial personality disorder: A randomized study.
AB  - Patients with antisocial personality disorder in outpatient treatment for
      substance use disorders are at high risk of drop-out. Using a randomized design,
      this study tested the impact of adding a brief psycho-educational program, the
      Impulsive Lifestyle Counseling program, to outpatient substance abuse treatment
      in order to prevent treatment dropout. Patients (N=175) were recruited from 13
      municipal treatment centers in Denmark, and assigned to treatment as usual or to
      the experimental condition. In all, 172 patients could be included in the
      analyses. In the intent-to-treat analysis, the risk of treatment dropout was
      reduced among patients randomized to the experimental program (hazard ratio=0.63,
      p=.031), after controlling for age, gender, and substitution treatment status.
      The study supported the efficacy of the Impulsive Lifestyle Counseling program as
      a method for preventing treatment dropout for patients with comorbid antisocial
      personality disorder in substance abuse treatment. Trial registration
      #ISRCTN67266318. 

PMID- 26882501
TI  - Registered report: Fusobacterium nucleatum infection is prevalent in human
      colorectal carcinoma.
AB  - The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns
      about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of
      selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer
      biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on
      the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This
      Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from
      'Fusobacterium nucleatum infection is prevalent in human colorectal carcinoma' by
      Castellarin and colleagues published in Genome Research in 2012 (Castellarin et
      al., 2012). The experiment to be replicated is reported in Figure 2. Here,
      Castellarin and colleagues performed a metagenomic analysis of colorectal
      carcinoma (CRC) to identify potential associations between inflammatory
      microorganisms and gastrointestinal cancers. They conducted quantitative real
      time PCR on genomic DNA isolated from tumor and matched normal biopsies from a
      patient cohort and found that the overall abundance of Fusobacterium was 415
      times greater in CRC versus adjacent normal tissue. These results confirmed
      earlier studies and provide evidence for a link between tissue-associated
      bacteria and tumorigenesis. The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is a
      collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange and the
      results of the replications will be published in eLife. 

PMID- 26882502
TI  - More effective drugs lead to harder selective sweeps in the evolution of drug
      resistance in HIV-1.
AB  - In the early days of HIV treatment, drug resistance occurred rapidly and
      predictably in all patients, but under modern treatments, resistance arises
      slowly, if at all. The probability of resistance should be controlled by the rate
      of generation of resistance mutations. If many adaptive mutations arise
      simultaneously, then adaptation proceeds by soft selective sweeps in which
      multiple adaptive mutations spread concomitantly, but if adaptive mutations occur
      rarely in the population, then a single adaptive mutation should spread alone in
      a hard selective sweep. Here, we use 6717 HIV-1 consensus sequences from patients
      treated with first-line therapies between 1989 and 2013 to confirm that the
      transition from fast to slow evolution of drug resistance was indeed accompanied
      with the expected transition from soft to hard selective sweeps. This suggests
      more generally that evolution proceeds via hard sweeps if resistance is unlikely
      and via soft sweeps if it is likely. 

PMID- 26882504
TI  - Outpatient Minimally Invasive Lumbar Interbody: Fusion Predictive Factors and
      Clinical Results.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of data from a prospective patient outcomes
      registry. OBJECTIVE: The object of this work was to examine patient and surgical
      predictors of early postoperative discharge and test the predictive model against
      two clinical series of outpatient minimally invasive lumbar fusion patients.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers are
      regularly utilized for procedures with low-risk profiles and minimal need for
      extended postoperative observation, but little has been reported in lumbar spinal
      fusion producers. METHODS: Two analyses were undertaken, an examination of
      patient characteristics to determine predictors of early (<24 hours)
      postoperative discharge and then clinical examinations of patients treated with
      lumbar fusion at an ambulatory surgery center. For the predictive arm of the
      study, 1033 patients treated with minimally invasive (MIS) lateral interbody
      fusion (XLIF) were grouped according to length of postoperative hospitalization
      with 873 patients discharged <24 hours (outpatients), and 160 discharged >23
      hours after surgery (inpatients). For the clinical studies, 54 consecutive XLIF
      and 18 consecutive MIS posterior fusion patients were treated at an ambulatory
      surgery center with demographic, treatment, and complication data collected.
      RESULTS: From the predictive study, the strongest baseline predictors of early
      postoperative discharge were a less advanced diagnosis (non-deformity), younger
      age, elevated baseline hemoglobin levels, and lower body mass index. The most
      predictive treatment variables that predicted early postoperative discharge were
      fewer number of levels treated and elevated postoperative hemoglobin levels.In
      the clinical series, outpatient surgeries were performed in younger patients
      (50.6 and 53.2 yr), at relatively few levels (96% of cases were at one or two
      levels), for simple degenerative disease. No intraoperative and few
      postoperatives complications were seen in either XLIF or MIS posterior fusions
      performed in ambulatory settings with no emergent transfers to inpatient
      facilities. CONCLUSION: Select patients, by health and indication, can safely be
      treated as outpatients with XLIF or other modern MIS approaches. Being younger,
      having elevated preoperative hemoglobin levels, fewer levels being treated, for
      less advanced disease may predict early postoperative discharge. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26882503
TI  - An external sodium ion binding site controls allosteric gating in TRPV1 channels.
AB  - TRPV1 channels in sensory neurons are integrators of painful stimuli and heat,
      yet how they integrate diverse stimuli and sense temperature remains elusive.
      Here, we show that external sodium ions stabilize the TRPV1 channel in a closed
      state, such that removing the external ion leads to channel activation. In
      studying the underlying mechanism, we find that the temperature sensors in TRPV1
      activate in two steps to favor opening, and that the binding of sodium to an
      extracellular site exerts allosteric control over temperature-sensor activation
      and opening of the pore. The binding of a tarantula toxin to the external pore
      also exerts control over temperature-sensor activation, whereas binding of
      vanilloids influences temperature-sensitivity by largely affecting the
      open/closed equilibrium. Our results reveal a fundamental role of the external
      pore in the allosteric control of TRPV1 channel gating and provide essential
      constraints for understanding how these channels can be tuned by diverse stimuli.

PMID- 26882505
TI  - Long-Term Course of Alternative and Integrative Therapy for Lumbar Disc
      Herniation and Risk Factors for Surgery: A Prospective Observational 5-Year
      Follow-Up Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational 5-year study. OBJECTIVE: To assess pain,
      functional disability, surgical status, and health care use of patients who
      actively selected complementary and alternative medicine treatment and risk
      factors for lumbar surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Controversy continues
      regarding difference in long-term outcomes of conservative and surgical
      treatment. METHODS: We recruited 150 consecutive lumbar disc herniation patients
      with radiating pain (numeric rating scale >=5) from November, 2006 at a Korean
      medicine hospital outpatient department, of which 128 patients completed 6 months
      of complementary and alternative medicine treatment (herbal medicine,
      acupuncture, bee-venom pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manipulation). Follow-up data
      was collected every year for 5 years. RESULTS: We assessed surgical status in 105
      patients (82%), of which 8 replied that they had received surgery. Ninety-two
      patients (72%) attended the 5-year follow-up. Visual analog scale of back pain
      which was 4.19 +/- 2.60 at baseline improved after treatment, decreasing to 0.94
      +/- 1.13 at 6 months, and was maintained at 1.25 +/- 1.81 at 5 years. Visual
      analog scale of leg pain decreased from 7.50 +/- 1.32 to 0.94 +/- 1.29 and was
      sustained at 0.98 +/- 1.73. Participants reported less disability with Oswestry
      Disability Index scores decreasing from 41.50 +/- 15.07 at baseline to 11.24 +/-
      10.44 at 6 months, which then declined further to 7.61 +/- 9.82 at 5 years. SF-36
      quality-of-life health survey scores also improved, increasing from 33.41 +/-
      12.67 at baseline to 66.04 +/- 15.77 at 6 months, and reaching 75.43 +/- 15.79 at
      5 years. In assessment of satisfaction with current state, 20% replied "highly
      satisfied," 67% "satisfied," 10% "fairly satisfied," and 2% "dissatisfied."
      Patients with younger age, previous treatment for current pain episode, and
      higher levels of sensory impairment and pain in the lower extremities were at
      higher risk of lumbar surgery. CONCLUSION: The long-term results of lumbar disc
      herniation patients receiving nonsurgical complementary and alternative medicine
      treatment were favorable and satisfaction rates were high. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

PMID- 26882506
TI  - The Number of Patients and Therapeutic Profile of Spinal Stenosis Using Health
      Insurance Claims in Japan.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Population-based retrospective descriptive study. OBJECTIVE: To
      describe the number and therapeutic profile of patients with spinal stenosis at a
      large-scale community level using health insurance claims data. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: A few reports have documented the prevalence of spinal stenosis,
      and no report has described the therapeutic profile for spinal stenosis in a
      population base. METHODS: We studied the claims data of National Health Insurance
      and Late-stage Elderly Health Insurance in a prefecture in Japan from April 2010
      to March 2011. We considered patients to have spinal stenosis if their claims
      included at least one diagnosis coded as spinal stenosis for at least 1 month
      during the study period. Disease criteria were based on the International
      Classification of Diseases, 10th version. We then described the number and the
      therapeutic profile of the patients with spinal stenosis by age and sex. RESULTS:
      Of 699,723 beneficiaries, 52,889 patients with spinal stenosis were identified.
      The number of patients with spinal stenosis per 1000 beneficiaries was 76, and
      those for the subgroups of age >= 65 years, >= 75 years, and >= 85 years were
      128, 155, and 152, respectively. The number of patients per 1000 beneficiaries
      showed unimodal distribution, and the peak for males was 191 between the ages 95
      to 99 years and that for females was 160 between the ages 80 to 84 years.
      Analgesics, prostaglandin E1, or both were prescribed to 40%, 2%, or 20% of
      patients with spinal stenosis, respectively. Physical therapy, nerve blocks, and
      surgery were done for 19%, 8%, and 0.4% of the patients, respectively.
      Approximately, 33% of patients did not receive any treatment. CONCLUSION: There
      were a large number of patients with spinal stenosis in elderly people. Most of
      them received nonsurgical treatments. Health insurance claims data could be a
      useful source of surveillance for such common diseases as spinal stenosis. LEVEL
      OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26882507
TI  - Diffuse leptomeningeal histiocytic sarcoma in the cerebrospinal fluid of 2 dogs.
AB  - Two adult male castrated dogs were evaluated for progressive paraparesis and
      ataxia. Neurologic examination showed severe ataxia, delayed proprioceptive
      placement in the pelvic limbs, pain upon palpation of the lumbar spine as well as
      facial paresis in one dog, and decreased withdrawal reflex of the pelvic limbs in
      the other dog. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in both dogs showed diffuse
      meningeal and intramedullary lesions. However, no evidence of a mass was found.
      Biopsies could not be performed safely due to the location of the lesions.
      Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed an inflammatory pleocytosis
      associated with increased protein concentration and numerous large atypical round
      cells, often multinucleated. Nuclear fragmentation, micronuclei, and rare
      atypical mitoses were observed. Immunocytochemistry revealed CD1(+) and CD11c(+)
      staining, which, in concert with the morphology confirmed the diagnosis of
      histiocytic sarcoma (HS). Euthanasia was elected due to poor prognosis.
      Histopathologic examination showed diffuse spinal and meningeal infiltration with
      CD18(+) neoplastic cells, without any evidence of mass formation, which completed
      the diagnosis of diffuse leptomeningeal HS involving the brain and the spinal
      cord. Canine central nervous system (CNS) HS has been seldom reported in the
      literature, with only isolated cases identified on CSF cytology. The cases
      reported here are remarkable in describing a diffuse CNS leptomeningeal HS
      associated with neoplastic cells in the CSF of dogs without a tumor mass. These
      cases emphasize the potential critical importance of CSF analysis in providing an
      antemortem diagnosis of neoplasia in neurologic patients. 

PMID- 26882508
TI  - J-Graft for Correction of Vertical and Horizontal Maxillary Bone Defects.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This prospective study aims to evaluate the reliability of a
      reconstructive technique, which uses autologous J-shaped graft (J-graft)
      harvested from the mandibular ramus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six maxillary
      defects among 32 patients (20 women and 12 men) were treated. All patients
      presented enough bone volume at the donor site to perform the harvesting
      procedures needed for the autologous reconstruction. All patients underwent
      clinical and radiographical evaluations through standardized radiographs taken
      before the intervention, immediately after the bone grafting, 6 to 7 months, and
      1 year later. The loss of tooth vitality, the alterations of skin and mucosa
      sensibility, and the patients' subjective perception of discomfort related to the
      surgical procedure were investigated. RESULTS: We found an overall success rate
      of 91.66% with a mean bone gain of 4.8 mm vertically and 5.6 mm horizontally,
      assessed through computed tomography. According to clinical examinations, 35
      sites completely recovered with proper incorporation of the graft, whereas 33
      sites reached enough bone volume to allow the implant placement. CONCLUSION: The
      described technique explains how to harvest and shape a J-graft. It achieves the
      simultaneous restoration of the horizontal and vertical bone loss with a single
      bone block.

PMID- 26882509
TI  - The effects of behavioral and psychological symptoms on caregiver burden in
      frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer's disease: clinical
      experience in China.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Caregivers of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases,
      including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Lewy body dementia (DLB), and
      Alzheimer's disease (AD), experience high levels of psychological and physical
      stress, likely due to behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
      This study is the first to simultaneously evaluate the effects of BPSD on
      caregiver burden in these three types of dementia. METHOD: A total of 214
      dementia patients, including probable FTD (n = 82), DLB (n = 22), and AD (n =
      110), as well as their primary caregivers, were assessed using psychological
      inventories and cognitive evaluation. The FTD group was further divided into the
      three established clinical variants: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia
      (bvFTD, n = 51), non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA, n = 15),
      and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA, n = 16). Cognitive
      impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Mini Mental
      State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Clock Drawing Test, and
      Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), respectively. Caregiver burden was assessed
      using the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI). RESULTS: FTD patients had higher NPI and
      ZBI scores than DLB and AD patients, whose scores were similar. Logistic
      regression analysis revealed that the factors influencing caregiver burden for
      each group were: FTD: total NPI scores, agitation, and aberrant motor behavior;
      bvFTD: total NPI scores; DLB: total NPI scores; and AD: total NPI scores, onset
      age, apathy, and ADL. Caregivers of bvFTD patients had the highest levels of
      burden, which were significantly greater than for caregivers of nfvPPA, svPPA,
      DLB, and AD patients. CONCLUSION: BPSD was highly correlated with emotional
      burden in caregivers of FTD, DLB, and AD patients. The highest burden was
      observed in bvFTD caregivers.

PMID- 26882510
TI  - Continuity of Care: The Transitional Care Model.
AB  - Older adults with multiple chronic conditions complicated by other risk factors,
      such as deficits in activities of daily living or social barriers, experience
      multiple challenges in managing their healthcare needs, especially during
      episodes of acute illness. Identifying effective strategies to improve care
      transitions and outcomes for this population is essential. One rigorously tested
      model that has consistently demonstrated effectiveness in addressing the needs of
      this complex population while reducing healthcare costs is the Transitional Care
      Model (TCM). The TCM is a nurse-led intervention targeting older adults at risk
      for poor outcomes as they move across healthcare settings and between clinicians.
      This article provides a detailed summary of the evidence base for the TCM and the
      model's nine core components. We also discuss measuring the TCM's core components
      and the overall impact of this evidence-based care management approach. 

PMID- 26882511
TI  - Successes and Challenges in Patient Care Transition Programming: One Hospital's
      Journey.
AB  - The 2013 addition of the Care Transition Measures to the Hospital Consumer
      Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey; enactment of the
      Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010); and a greater focus on
      population health have brought a heightened awareness and need for action with
      patient transitions. Data are emerging from the additional Care Transition
      Measures and benchmarks have been developed. This article briefly describes the
      context of care transition. We describe the journey of Indiana University Health
      North Hospital to overcome patient care transition obstacles, ultimately
      achieving designation as a top performer. We will discuss our efforts to
      personalize patient outcomes and transition through activation and improve
      transitions for vulnerable populations, specifically in the bariatric and
      orthopedic patient populations. The article concludes with discussion of
      overcoming obstacles and future directions with continued focus on collaboration
      and improvement. 

PMID- 26882512
TI  - Pediatric Care Coordination: Lessons Learned and Future Priorities.
AB  - A fundamental component of the medical home model is care coordination. In
      Minnesota, this model informed design and implementation of the state's health
      care home (HCH) model, a key element of statewide healthcare reform legislation.
      Children with medical complexity (CMC) often require care from multiple
      specialists and community resources. Coordinating this multi-faceted care within
      the HCH is challenging. This article describes the need for specialized models of
      care coordination for CMC. Two models of care coordination for CMC were developed
      to address this challenge. The TeleFamilies Model of Pediatric Care Coordination
      uses an advanced practice registered nurse care (APRN) coordinator embedded
      within an established HCH. The PRoSPer Model of Pediatric Care Coordination uses
      a registered nurse/social worker care coordinator team embedded within a
      specialty care system. We describe key findings from implementation of these
      models, and conclude with lessons learned. Replication of the models is
      encouraged to increase the evidence base for care coordination for the growing
      population of children with medical complexities. 

PMID- 26882513
TI  - Registered Nurse Care Coordination: Creating a Preferred Future for Older Adults
      with Multimorbidity.
AB  - The concept of care coordination is often touted as the preferred way to
      streamline care for complex patients. Care coordination is even more popular with
      the mention of it in the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and with new Medicare
      payment models. The purpose of this article is to define care coordination,
      briefly describe trends for older adults and care coordination, and explore roles
      for registered nurses. We describe elder-appropriate models of care coordination
      useful for older adults with multimorbidity. A brief exemplar provides an example
      of evidence-based care coordination services provided by a nursing and social
      work team, a model supported by recent literature. As a result of this
      discussion, readers will become informed about possibilities for the future of
      care delivery and the future of professional nursing practice. 

PMID- 26882514
TI  - Care Transitions in Long-term Care and Acute Care: Health Information Exchange
      and Readmission Rates.
AB  - Care transitions between settings are a well-known cause of medical errors. A key
      component of transition is information exchange, especially in long-term care
      (LTC). However, LTC is behind other settings in adoption of health information
      technologies (HIT). In this article, we provide some brief background information
      about care transitions in LTC and concerns related to technology. We describe a
      pilot project using HIT and secure messaging in LTC to facilitate electronic
      information exchange during care transitions. Five LTC facilities were included,
      all located within Oklahoma and serviced by the same regional health system. The
      study duration was 20 months. Both inpatient readmission and return emergency
      department (ED) visit rates were lower than baseline following implementation. We
      provide discussion of positive outcomes, lessons learned, and limitations.
      Finally, we offer implications for practice and research for implementation of
      HIT and information exchange across care settings that may contribute to
      reduction in readmission rates in acute care and ED settings. 

PMID- 26882515
TI  - Relationships Between Nurses and Physicians Matter.
AB  - Both safety and quality of care patients receive depend upon the quality of the
      practice environment where care is provided. In this article, the authors review
      relevant literature, and describe their study that identified how nurses and
      physicians define respectful behavior; examined perceptions of the relationship
      between nurses and physicians in clinical settings in which they practice
      together; and analyzed the impact of nurse-physician relationships on nursing
      care decisions. Perceptions of nurse-physician relationships were assessed using
      the Professional Practice Environment Assessment Scale and perceptions of
      respectful behavior and the effect of physician behavior on nursing practice were
      assessed with single, forced-choice items. The authors report finding that
      physicians rated relationships significantly better than did nurses.
      Additionally, they note that 55% of nurses said that a physician's behavior
      impacted nursing decisions, and that younger, less experienced nurses were more
      likely to report being affected by negative physician behaviors than older nurses
      or nurses with more experience. They discuss how nurses' and physicians'
      different perceptions of the same environment is not surprising, but is
      instructive, and conclude that acknowledging differences in values, incentives,
      and perceptions can provide insights that focus improvement initiatives. 

PMID- 26882516
TI  - Finding Meaning in the Work of Nursing: An International Study.
AB  - Sixty nurses from five countries (Canada, India, Ireland, Japan, and Korea) took
      part in 11 focus groups that discussed the question: Do you consider your work
      meaningful? Fostering meaning and mentorship as part of the institutional culture
      was a central theme that emerged from the discussions. In this article, we begin
      with a background discussion of meaning and meaningful work as presented in the
      literature related to existentialism and hardiness. Next, we describe the method
      and analysis processes we used in our qualitative study asking how nurses find
      meaning in their very challenging work and report our findings of four themes
      that emerged from the comments shared by nurses, specifically relationships,
      compassionate caring, identity, and a mentoring culture. After offering a
      discussion of our findings and noting the limitations of this qualitative study,
      we conclude that nursing leaders and a culture of mentorship play an important
      role in fostering meaningful work and developing hardy employees. 

PMID- 26882518
TI  - Ethics: Predatory Publishing: Keeping the Wolves from Your Office Door.

PMID- 26882517
TI  - Workplace Discrimination: An Additional Stressor for Internationally Educated
      Nurses.
AB  - Discrimination against internationally educated nurses (IENs) remains a seldom
      explored topic in the United States. Yet, the literature describing experiences
      of IENs indicates that some do experience workplace discrimination as an
      additional workplace stressor. IENs view this discrimination as an obstacle to
      career advancement and professional recognition. Consequences of workplace
      discrimination affect IENs' physical and psychological well being, the quality of
      patient care, and healthcare organizational costs. In anticipation of future
      nursing shortages, understanding and minimizing workplace discrimination will
      benefit nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations. In this article the
      author addresses motivation and challenges associated with international nurse
      migration and immigration, relates these challenges to Roy's theoretical
      framework, describes workplace discrimination, and reviews both consequences of
      and evidence for workplace discrimination. Next, she considers the significance
      of this discrimination for healthcare agencies, and approaches for decreasing
      stress for IENs during their transition process. She concludes that workplace
      discrimination has a negative, multifaceted effect on both professional nursing
      and healthcare organizations. Support measures developed to promote mutual
      respect among all nurses are presented. 

PMID- 26882519
TI  - Legislative: From Policy to Practice: A Case for Holistic Review Diversifying the
      Nursing Workforce.

PMID- 26882520
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Gloves, Extra Gloves or Special Types of Gloves for
      Preventing Percutaneous Exposure Injuries in Healthcare Personnel.

PMID- 26882521
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Pharmacotherapies for sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's
      disease.

PMID- 26882522
TI  - Cochrane Review Brief: Lifestyle interventions to improve school achievement in
      overweight or obese children and adolescents.

PMID- 26882523
TI  - Batch vs continuous-feeding operational mode for the removal of pesticides from
      agricultural run-off by microalgae systems: A laboratory scale study.
AB  - Microalgae-based water treatment technologies have been used in recent years to
      treat different water effluents, but their effectiveness for removing pesticides
      from agricultural run-off has not yet been addressed. This paper assesses the
      effect of microalgae in pesticide removal, as well as the influence of different
      operation strategies (continuous vs batch feeding). The following pesticides were
      studied: mecoprop, atrazine, simazine, diazinone, alachlor, chlorfenvinphos,
      lindane, malathion, pentachlorobenzene, chlorpyrifos, endosulfan and clofibric
      acid (tracer). 2L batch reactors and 5L continuous reactors were spiked to 10 MUg
      L(-1) of each pesticide. Additionally, three different hydraulic retention times
      (HRTs) were assessed (2, 4 and 8 days) in the continuous feeding reactors. The
      batch-feeding experiments demonstrated that the presence of microalgae increased
      the efficiency of lindane, alachlor and chlorpyrifos by 50%. The continuous
      feeding reactors had higher removal efficiencies than the batch reactors for
      pentachlorobenzene, chlorpyrifos and lindane. Whilst longer HRTs increased the
      technology's effectiveness, a low HRT of 2 days was capable of removing
      malathion, pentachlorobenzene, chlorpyrifos, and endosulfan by up to 70%. This
      study suggests that microalgae-based treatment technologies can be an effective
      alternative for removing pesticides from agricultural run-off.

PMID- 26882524
TI  - Environmental behavior of engineered nanomaterials in porous media: a review.
AB  - A pronounced increase in the use of nanotechnology has resulted in nanomaterials
      being released into the environment. Environmental exposure to the most common
      engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as carbon-based and metal-based
      nanomaterials, can occur directly via intentional injection for remediation
      purposes, release during the use of nanomaterial-containing consumer goods, or
      indirectly via different routes. Recent reviews have outlined potential risks
      assessments, toxicity, and life cycle analyses regarding ENM emission. In this
      review, inevitable release of ENMs and their environmental behaviors in aqueous
      porous media are discussed with an emphasis on influencing factors, including the
      physicochemical properties of ENMs, solution chemistry, soil hydraulic
      properties, and soil matrices. Major findings of laboratory column studies and
      numerical approaches for the transport of ENMs are addressed, and studies on the
      interaction between ENMs and heavy metal ions in aqueous soil environments are
      examined. Future research is also presented with specific research directions and
      outlooks. 

PMID- 26882525
TI  - Attribution of Concussion-Like Symptoms and History of Collision Sports Exposure.

PMID- 26882527
TI  - The value of urine cytology in the workup of hematuria.

PMID- 26882526
TI  - Reduced DICER1 Expression Bestows Rheumatoid Arthritis Synoviocytes
      Proinflammatory Properties and Resistance to Apoptotic Stimuli.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: While the regulatory role of individual microRNAs (miRNAs) in
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well established, the role of DICER1 in the
      pathogenesis of the disease has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this
      study was to analyze the expression of factors involved in miRNA biogenesis in
      fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients and to monitor the arthritis
      triggered by K/BxN serum transfer in mice deficient in the Dicer gene (Dicer(d/d)
      ). METHODS: The expression of genes and precursor miRNAs was quantified by
      quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MicroRNA
      macroarray profiling was monitored by qRT-PCR. Cytokines were quantified by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Experimental arthritis in mice was achieved by
      the transfer of serum from K/BxN donors. Apoptosis was quantified using an enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found decreased DICER1 and mature miRNA
      expression in synovial fibroblasts from RA patients. These cells were
      hyperresponsive to lipopolysaccharide, as evidenced by their increased
      interleukin-6 secretion upon stimulation. Experimental serum-transfer arthritis
      in Dicer(d/d) mice confirmed that an unbalanced biogenesis of miRNAs correlated
      with an enhanced inflammatory response. Synoviocytes from both RA patients and
      Dicer(d/d) mice exhibited increased resistance to apoptotic stimuli. CONCLUSION:
      The findings of this study further substantiate the important role of DICER1 in
      the maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of inflammatory responses.

PMID- 26882528
TI  - Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Dementia?

PMID- 26882529
TI  - Participation in peer support services and outcomes related to recovery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article presents findings from a naturalistic study that explored
      the impact of peer support participation on recovery-related outcomes over a 6
      month period. In particular, this study hoped to fill gaps in the literature
      regarding the process through which personal change occurs in peer support
      organizations. METHOD: Fifty people newly involved in services provided by Baltic
      Street AEH (Advocacy, Employment, Housing), a consumer-operated organization,
      participated in the study. Participants were interviewed at entry and 3- and 6
      month follow-up. Attendance records were reviewed to determine the number of days
      attended, and the sample was divided into 2 categories: minimal or nonattenders
      (n = 25) and moderate or high attenders (n = 21). The relationship between
      attendance and outcomes related to recovery over time was examined using a mixed
      effect regression analysis, allowing data to be included for participants with at
      least 1 follow-up interview (n = 38). RESULTS: Relative to minimal or
      nonattenders, moderate or high attenders showed statistically significant
      improvements over time in internalized stigma, self-esteem-self-efficacy, and
      community activism-autonomy. No statistically significant differences were
      observed between groups in hopelessness, social functioning, symptom severity,
      coping with symptoms, or substance use. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR
      PRACTICE: This study demonstrates the potential impact of engagement in peer
      support services on some subjective aspects of mental health recovery. Namely,
      change mechanisms could be hypothesized to include identity transformation (from
      patient to peer). Future directions should continue to investigate potential
      mechanisms of change with larger samples in randomized studies. (PsycINFO
      Database Record

PMID- 26882532
TI  - The global burden of oral diseases in pediatric HIV-infected populations: a
      workshop report.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To achieve a comprehensive understanding about the global burden of
      oral diseases in HIV-infected children and to identify research needs. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed (2009-2014) to address
      five questions: (i) prevalence of oral diseases in HIV-infected compared with
      uninfected children, (ii) impact of oral diseases on quality of life, (iii)
      effect of antiretroviral exposure in utero on craniofacial and dental
      development, (iv) important co-infections and antiretroviral complications, and
      (v) value of atraumatic restorative treatment. RESULTS: Studies showed a high
      prevalence of dental caries in HIV-infected children but the relationship between
      HIV infection and dental caries remains unclear. Also quality of life needs
      further investigation supported by better study designs and improvement of the
      instruments used. Up-to-date evidence suggested long-term harms associated with
      in utero antiretroviral exposure were minor but would require long-term follow-up
      through National Registries. The reviews also revealed the wide spectrum of
      metabolic disease due to antiretroviral therapy and co-infections such as
      tuberculosis. Finally, atraumatic restorative technique appears to be a simple
      and safe technique to treat dental caries but outcomes need further evaluation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The impact of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected children has
      raised novel challenging questions in the field of oral health warranting future
      research.

PMID- 26882530
TI  - Controlled Release of Dexamethasone From an Intravitreal Delivery System Using
      Porous Silicon Dioxide.
AB  - PURPOSE: The current study aims to evaluate a porous silicon-based drug delivery
      system meant for sustained delivery of dexamethasone (Dex) to the vitreous and
      retina. METHODS: Dexamethasone was grafted covalently into the pore walls of
      fully oxidized porous silicon particles (pSiO2-COO-Dex), which then was evaluated
      for the pharmacological effect of the payload on cultured ARPE19 cells before
      intravitreal injection. The Dex release profile was investigated in a custom
      designed dynamic dissolution chamber to mimic the turnover of vitreous fluid in
      rabbit eyes. Ocular safety, in vivo release, and pharmacodynamics were evaluated
      in rabbit eyes, and the human VEGF-induced rabbit retinal vascular permeability
      model. RESULTS: Loading efficiency of Dex was 69 +/- 9 MUg per 1 mg of the pSiO2
      COO-Dex particles. Dynamic in vitro release demonstrated a sustained mode when
      compared to free Dex, with the drug half-life extended by 5 times. The released
      Dex was unaltered and biologically active. In vivo drug release in rabbit eyes
      revealed a mode similar to the release seen in vitro, with a vitreous half-life
      of 11 days. At 2 and 4 weeks after a single intravitreal injection of pSiO2-COO
      Dex particles (mean 2.71 +/- 0.47 mg), intravitreal 500 ng of VEGF did not induce
      significant retinal vessel dilation or fluorescein leakage, while these events
      were observed in the eyes injected with empty pSiO2 particles or with free Dex.
      The retinal vessel score from fluorescein angiography for the control eyes was
      double the score for the eyes injected with pSiO2-COO-Dex. No adverse reaction
      was observed for the eyes injected with drug-loaded pSi particles during the
      course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The porous silicon-based Dex delivery system
      (pSiO2-COO-Dex) can be administered safely into vitreous without toxicity. Dex
      release from the porous silicon particles was sustained for 2 months and was
      effective against VEGF-induced retinal vessel reaction.

PMID- 26882533
TI  - Effects of active/passive interventions on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in
      women with fibromyalgia: Randomized controlled pilot trial.
AB  - The authors of this study compared the effects of pilates exercises and
      connective tissue massage (CTM) on pain intensity; pain-pressure threshold; and
      tolerance, anxiety, progress, and health-related quality of life in females with
      fibromyalgia. It was a pilot, assessor masked, randomized controlled trial
      conducted between January and August of 2013. Twenty-one women with fibromyalgia
      were randomly assigned to the pilates exercise program (six of whom did not
      complete the program), and 22 were randomly assigned to CTM (one of whom did not
      complete this program). Each group received the assigned intervention three times
      per week during a 4-week period. The Visual Analogue Scale, algometry, State
      Trait Anxiety Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and Nottingham Health
      Profile were used at baseline and at the end of treatments. Significant
      improvements were found in both groups for all parameters. However, the scores
      for pain-pressure threshold were significantly elevated and the symptoms of
      anxiety were significantly diminished in the exercise group compared to the
      massage group. Thus, exercise and massage might be used to provide improvements
      in women with fibromyalgia. The exercise group showed more advantages than the
      massage group and thus might be preferred for patients with fibromyalgia.
      However, an adequately powered trial is required to determine this with
      certainty.

PMID- 26882534
TI  - The Patient-Centered Medical Home and Associations With Health Care Quality and
      Utilization: A 5-Year Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effects of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) are unclear.
      Previous studies had relatively short follow-up and may not have distinguished
      effects of the PCMH (which involves electronic health records [EHRs] plus
      organizational changes) from those of EHRs alone. OBJECTIVE: To determine effects
      of the PCMH on health care quality and utilization compared with paper records
      alone and EHRs alone, with extended follow-up. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study
      (2008 to 2012), including 3 years after PCMH implementation. (ClinicalTrials.gov:
      NCT00793065). SETTING: The Hudson Valley, a multipayer, multiprovider region in
      New York. PARTICIPANTS: 438 primary care physicians in 226 practices, with 136
      480 patients across 5 health plans. INTERVENTION: Level III PCMH, as defined by
      the National Committee for Quality Assurance. MEASUREMENTS: Claims-based outcomes
      included 8 quality and 7 utilization measures. Generalized estimating equations
      were used to compare adjusted differences in rates of change across study groups.
      RESULTS: Patterns of quality were fairly similar across groups. Utilization
      patterns were similar across groups from 2008 to 2011 but showed modest
      differences between the PCMH and control groups on most measures in 2012. For
      example, hospitalizations were relatively stable from 2008 to 2011 (approximately
      3.9 to 5.2 per 100 patients per year) but decreased in the PCMH group in 2012
      (incidence rate ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.69 to 0.90] compared with paper records).
      Emergency department visits were highest for the PCMH group (16.7 per 100
      patients at baseline and 15.4 per 100 patients at the end of the study period)
      and lowest for the paper group (14.3 per 100 patients at baseline and 12.2 per
      100 patients at the end of the study period), but the rate of change did not
      differ across groups. LIMITATION: Possible unmeasured confounding. CONCLUSION:
      The PCMH was associated with modest changes in most utilization measures and
      provided similar quality compared with EHRs and paper records. PRIMARY FUNDING
      SOURCE: The Commonwealth Fund and the New York State Department of Health.

PMID- 26882535
TI  - Presence of endocrine disruptors in freshwater in the northern Antarctic
      Peninsula region.
AB  - The increasing human presence in Antarctica and the waste it generates is causing
      an impact on the environment at local and border scale. The main sources of
      anthropic pollution have a mainly local effect, and include the burning of fossil
      fuels, waste incineration, accidental spillage and wastewater effluents, even
      when treated. The aim of this work is to determine the presence and origin of 30
      substances of anthropogenic origin considered to be, or suspected of being,
      endocrine disruptors in the continental waters of the Antarctic Peninsula region.
      We also studied a group of toxic metals, metalloids and other elements with
      possible endocrine activity. Ten water samples were analyzed from a wide range of
      sources, including streams, ponds, glacier drain, and an urban wastewater
      discharge into the sea. Surprisingly, the concentrations detected are generally
      similar to those found in other studies on continental waters in other parts of
      the world. The highest concentrations of micropollutants found correspond to the
      group of organophosphate flame retardants (19.60-9209ngL(-1)) and alkylphenols
      (1.14-7225ngL(-1)); and among toxic elements the presence of aluminum (a possible
      hormonal modifier) (1.7-127ugL(-1)) is significant. The concentrations detected
      are very low and insufficient to cause acute or subacute toxicity in aquatic
      organisms. However, little is known as yet of the potential sublethal and chronic
      effects of this type of pollutants and their capacity for bioaccumulation. These
      results point to the need for an ongoing system of environmental monitoring of
      these substances in Antarctic continental waters, and the advisability of
      regulating at least the most environmentally hazardous of these in the Antarctic
      legislation.

PMID- 26882536
TI  - Phe362Tyr in AChE: A Major Factor Responsible for Azamethiphos Resistance in
      Lepeophtheirus salmonis in Norway.
AB  - Organophosphates (OP) are one of the major treatments used against the salmon
      louse (Lepeophtherius salmonis) in Norwegian salmonid aquaculture. The use of OP
      since the late 1970s has resulted in widespread resistant parasites. Recently, we
      reported a single mutation (Phe362Tyr) in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as the
      major mechanism behind resistance in salmon louse towards OP. The present study
      was carried out to validate this mechanism at the field level. A total of 6658
      salmon louse samples were enrolled from 56 different fish farms across the
      Norwegian coast, from Vest Agder in the south to Finnmark in the north. All the
      samples were genotyped using a TaqMan probe assay for the Phe362Tyr mutation. A
      strong association was observed between areas with frequent use of the OP
      (azamethiphos) and the Phe362Tyr mutation. This was confirmed at 15 sites where
      results from independently conducted bioassays and genotyping of parasites
      correlated well. Furthermore, genotyping of surviving and moribund parasites from
      six bioassay experiments demonstrated a highly significant negative correlation
      between the frequency of resistance alleles and the probability of dying when
      exposed to azamethiphos in a bioassay. Based on these observations, we could
      strongly conclude that the Phe362Tyr mutation is a major factor responsible for
      OP resistance in salmon louse on Norwegian fish farms. 

PMID- 26882537
TI  - Breast Cancer Survivors' Supportive Care Needs, Posttraumatic Growth and
      Satisfaction with Doctors' Interpersonal Skills in Relation to Physical Activity
      8 Months after the End of Treatment: A Prospective Exploratory Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether breast cancer survivors' (BCSs) supportive care
      needs, posttraumatic growth (positive psychological changes) and satisfaction
      with doctors' interpersonal skills could be related to physical activity (PA).
      METHODS: A total of 426 BCSs were approached during the last week of treatment.
      Eight months later, 278 (65%) provided information on their PA levels. Ordinal
      logistic multiple regressions were performed. RESULTS: PA levels included no PA
      (n = 68), some PA (n = 83), high PA levels more than twice or more than 2 h per
      week (n = 127). The multivariate model significantly explained 13% of PA variance
      (p = 0.001). An increase in posttraumatic growth total scores (proportional OR =
      1.310; p < 0.05) and a decrease in physical and daily living supportive care
      needs subscale scores (proportional OR = 0.980; p < 0.001) and in satisfaction
      with doctors' interpersonal skill scores (proportional OR = 0.898; p < 0.05) were
      significantly associated with an increase in the likelihood of performing higher
      levels of PA. A lower educational level was associated with a decrease in the
      likelihood of performing PA. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PA in BCSs should be
      improved. Positive psychological changes after a breast cancer experience might
      contribute to performing PA. Encouraging PA needs to be accompanied by the
      alleviation of physical symptoms.

PMID- 26882538
TI  - Endoluminal loco-regional resection by TEM after R1 endoscopic removal or
      recurrence of rectal tumors.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of
      endoluminal loco-regional resection (ELRR) by transanal endoscopic microsurgery
      (TEM) after R1 endoscopic resection or local recurrence of early rectal cancer
      after operative endoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with early
      rectal cancer were enrolled, including patients with incomplete endoscopic
      resection, or complete endoscopic resection of a tumor with unfavorable
      prognostic factors (group A, ten patients), and local recurrence after endoscopic
      removal (group B, ten patients). At admission, histology after endoscopic
      polypectomy was: TisR1(4), T1R0G3(1), T1R1(5) in group A, and TisR0(8), T1R0(2)
      in group B. All patients underwent ELRR by TEM with nucleotide-guided mesorectal
      excision (NGME). RESULTS: Mean operative time was 150 minutes. Complications
      occurred in two patients (10%). Definitive histology was: moderate dysplasia(4),
      pT0N0(3), pTisN0(5), pT1N0(6), pT2N0(2). Mean number of lymph-nodes was 3.1. Mean
      follow-up was 79.5 months. All patients are alive and disease-free. CONCLUSIONS:
      ELRR by TEM after R1 endoscopic resection of early rectal cancer or for local
      recurrence after operative endoscopy is safe and effective. It may be considered
      as a diagnostic procedure, as well as a curative treatment option, instead of a
      more invasive TME.

PMID- 26882539
TI  - An open access pilot freely sharing cancer genomic data from participants in
      Texas.
AB  - Genomic data sharing in cancer has been restricted to aggregate or controlled
      access initiatives to protect the privacy of research participants. By limiting
      access to these data, it has been argued that the autonomy of individuals who
      decide to participate in data sharing efforts has been superseded and the utility
      of the data as research and educational tools reduced. In a pilot Open Access
      (OA) project from the CPRIT-funded Texas Cancer Research Biobank, many Texas
      cancer patients were willing to openly share genomic data from tumor and normal
      matched pair specimens. For the first time, genetic data from 7 human cancer
      cases with matched normal are freely available without requirement for data use
      agreements nor any major restriction except that end users cannot attempt to re
      identify the participants (http://txcrb.org/open.html). 

PMID- 26882540
TI  - Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in China: Modeling Epidemic Dynamics of Enterovirus
      Serotypes and Implications for Vaccination.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness
      caused by serotypes of the Enterovirus A species in the genus Enterovirus of the
      Picornaviridae family. The disease has had a substantial burden throughout East
      and Southeast Asia over the past 15 y. China reported 9 million cases of HFMD
      between 2008 and 2013, with the two serotypes Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and
      Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) being responsible for the majority of these cases.
      Three recent phase 3 clinical trials showed that inactivated monovalent EV-A71
      vaccines manufactured in China were highly efficacious against HFMD associated
      with EV-A71, but offered no protection against HFMD caused by CV-A16. To better
      inform vaccination policy, we used mathematical models to evaluate the effect of
      prospective vaccination against EV-A71-associated HFMD and the potential risk of
      serotype replacement by CV-A16. We also extended the model to address the co
      circulation, and implications for vaccination, of additional non-EV-A71, non-CV
      A16 serotypes of enterovirus. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Weekly reports of HFMD
      incidence from 31 provinces in Mainland China from 1 January 2009 to 31 December
      2013 were used to fit multi-serotype time series susceptible-infected-recovered
      (TSIR) epidemic models. We obtained good model fit for the two-serotype TSIR with
      cross-protection, capturing the seasonality and geographic heterogeneity of
      province-level transmission, with strong correlation between the observed and
      simulated epidemic series. The national estimate of the basic reproduction
      number, R0, weighted by provincial population size, was 26.63 for EV-A71
      (interquartile range [IQR]: 23.14, 30.40) and 27.13 for CV-A16 (IQR: 23.15,
      31.34), with considerable variation between provinces (however, predictions about
      the overall impact of vaccination were robust to this variation). EV-A71
      incidence was projected to decrease monotonically with higher coverage rates of
      EV-A71 vaccination. Across provinces, CV-A16 incidence in the post-EV-A71
      vaccination period remained either comparable to or only slightly increased from
      levels prior to vaccination. The duration and strength of cross-protection
      following infection with EV-A71 or CV-A16 was estimated to be 9.95 wk (95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 3.31, 23.40) in 68% of the population (95% CI: 37%,
      96%). Our predictions are limited by the necessarily short and under-sampled time
      series and the possible circulation of unidentified serotypes, but, nonetheless,
      sensitivity analyses indicate that our results are robust in predicting that the
      vaccine should drastically reduce incidence of EV-A71 without a substantial
      competitive release of CV-A16. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of our models to capture
      the observed epidemic cycles suggests that herd immunity is driving the epidemic
      dynamics caused by the multiple serotypes of enterovirus. Our results predict
      that the EV-A71 and CV-A16 serotypes provide a temporary immunizing effect
      against each other. Achieving high coverage rates of EV-A71 vaccination would be
      necessary to eliminate the ongoing transmission of EV-A71, but serotype
      replacement by CV-A16 following EV-A71 vaccination is likely to be transient and
      minor compared to the corresponding reduction in the burden of EV-A71-associated
      HFMD. Therefore, a mass EV-A71 vaccination program of infants and young children
      should provide significant benefits in terms of a reduction in overall HFMD
      burden.

PMID- 26882541
TI  - Attribution of Concussion-Like Symptoms and History of Collision Sports Exposure-
      Reply.

PMID- 26882542
TI  - Fish Intake in Pregnancy and Child Growth: A Pooled Analysis of 15 European and
      US Birth Cohorts.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Maternal fish intake in pregnancy has been shown to influence fetal
      growth. The extent to which fish intake affects childhood growth and obesity
      remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether fish intake in pregnancy is
      associated with offspring growth and the risk of childhood overweight and
      obesity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter, population-based birth
      cohort study of singleton deliveries from 1996 to 2011 in Belgium, France,
      Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and
      Massachusetts. A total of 26,184 pregnant women and their children were followed
      up at 2-year intervals until the age of 6 years. EXPOSURES: Consumption of fish
      during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We estimated offspring body mass
      index percentile trajectories from 3 months after birth to 6 years of age. We
      defined rapid infant growth as a weight gain z score greater than 0.67 from birth
      to 2 years and childhood overweight/obesity at 4 and 6 years as body mass index
      in the 85th percentile or higher for age and sex. We calculated cohort-specific
      effect estimates and combined them by random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: This
      multicenter, population-based birth cohort study included the 26,184 pregnant
      women and their children. The median fish intake during pregnancy ranged from 0.5
      times/week in Belgium to 4.45 times/week in Spain. Women who ate fish more than 3
      times/week during pregnancy gave birth to offspring with higher body mass index
      values from infancy through middle childhood compared with women with lower fish
      intake (3 times/week or less). High fish intake during pregnancy (>3 times/week)
      was associated with increased risk of rapid infant growth, with an adjusted odds
      ratio (aOR) of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.05-1.42) and increased risk of offspring
      overweight/obesity at 4 years (aOR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.99-1.32]) and 6 years (aOR,
      1.22 [95% CI, 1.01-1.47]) compared with an intake of once per week or less.
      Interaction analysis showed that the effect of high fish intake during pregnancy
      on rapid infant growth was greater among girls (aOR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.08-1.59])
      than among boys (aOR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.92-1.34]; P = .02 for interaction).
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: High maternal fish intake during pregnancy was
      associated with increased risk of rapid growth in infancy and childhood obesity.
      Our findings are in line with the fish intake limit proposed by the US Food and
      Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

PMID- 26882543
TI  - NAT10 regulates p53 activation through acetylating p53 at K120 and ubiquitinating
      Mdm2.
AB  - As a genome guardian, p53 maintains genome stability by arresting cells for
      damage repair or inducing cell apoptosis to eliminate the damaged cells in stress
      response. Several nucleolar proteins stabilize p53 by interfering Mdm2-p53
      interaction upon cellular stress, while other mechanisms by which nucleolar
      proteins activate p53 remain to be determined. Here, we identify NAT10 as a novel
      regulator for p53 activation. NAT10 acetylates p53 at K120 and stabilizes p53 by
      counteracting Mdm2 action. In addition, NAT10 promotes Mdm2 degradation with its
      intrinsic E3 ligase activity. After DNA damage, NAT10 translocates to nucleoplasm
      and activates p53-mediated cell cycle control and apoptosis. Finally, NAT10
      inhibits cell proliferation and expression of NAT10 decreases in human colorectal
      carcinomas. Thus, our data demonstrate that NAT10 plays a critical role in p53
      activation via acetylating p53 and counteracting Mdm2 action, providing a novel
      pathway by which nucleolar protein activates p53 as a cellular stress sensor. 

PMID- 26882544
TI  - Response to interferons and antibacterial innate immunity in the absence of
      tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT1.
AB  - Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) plays a pivotal role
      in the innate immune system by directing the transcriptional response to
      interferons (IFNs). STAT1 is activated by Janus kinase (JAK)-mediated
      phosphorylation of Y701. To determine whether STAT1 contributes to cellular
      responses without this phosphorylation event, we generated mice with Y701 mutated
      to a phenylalanine (Stat1(Y701F)). We show that heterozygous mice do not exhibit
      a dominant-negative phenotype. Homozygous Stat1(Y701F) mice show a profound
      reduction in Stat1 expression, highlighting an important role for basal IFN
      dependent signaling. The rapid transcriptional response to type I IFN (IFN-I) and
      type II IFN (IFNgamma) was absent in Stat1(Y701F) cells. Intriguingly, STAT1Y701F
      suppresses the delayed expression of IFN-I-stimulated genes (ISG) observed in
      Stat1(-/-) cells, mediated by the STAT2/IRF9 complex. Thus, Stat1(Y701F)
      macrophages are more susceptible to Legionella pneumophila infection than Stat1(
      /-) macrophages. Listeria monocytogenes grew less robustly in Stat1(Y701F)
      macrophages and mice compared to Stat1(-/-) counterparts, but STAT1Y701F is not
      sufficient to rescue the animals. Our studies are consistent with a potential
      contribution of Y701-unphosphorylated STAT1 to innate antibacterial immunity. 

PMID- 26882545
TI  - Lack of TRPV2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue.
AB  - Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a major site for mammalian non-shivering
      thermogenesis, could be a target for prevention and treatment of human obesity.
      Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), a Ca(2+)-permeable non
      selective cation channel, plays vital roles in the regulation of various cellular
      functions. Here, we show that TRPV2 is expressed in brown adipocytes and that
      mRNA levels of thermogenic genes are reduced in both cultured brown adipocytes
      and BAT from TRPV2 knockout (TRPV2KO) mice. The induction of thermogenic genes in
      response to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation is also decreased in TRPV2KO
      brown adipocytes and suppressed by reduced intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in
      wild-type brown adipocytes. In addition, TRPV2KO mice have more white adipose
      tissue and larger brown adipocytes and show cold intolerance, and lower BAT
      temperature increases in response to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation.
      Furthermore, TRPV2KO mice have increased body weight and fat upon high-fat-diet
      treatment. Based on these findings, we conclude that TRPV2 has a role in BAT
      thermogenesis and could be a target for human obesity therapy. 

PMID- 26882546
TI  - GemC1 controls multiciliogenesis in the airway epithelium.
AB  - Multiciliated cells are terminally differentiated, post-mitotic cells that form
      hundreds of motile cilia on their apical surface. Defects in multiciliated cells
      lead to disease, including mucociliary clearance disorders that result from
      ciliated cell disfunction in airways. The pathway controlling multiciliogenesis,
      however, remains poorly characterized. We showed that GemC1, previously
      implicated in cell cycle control, is a central regulator of ciliogenesis. GemC1
      is specifically expressed in ciliated epithelia. Ectopic expression of GemC1 is
      sufficient to induce early steps of multiciliogenesis in airway epithelial cells
      ex vivo, upregulating McIdas and FoxJ1, key transcriptional regulators of
      multiciliogenesis. GemC1 directly transactivates the McIdas and FoxJ1 upstream
      regulatory sequences, and its activity is enhanced by E2F5 and inhibited by
      Geminin. GemC1-knockout mice are born with airway epithelia devoid of
      multiciliated cells. Our results identify GemC1 as an essential regulator of
      ciliogenesis in the airway epithelium and a candidate gene for mucociliary
      disorders.

PMID- 26882547
TI  - miR-515-5p controls cancer cell migration through MARK4 regulation.
AB  - Here, we show that miR-515-5p inhibits cancer cell migration and metastasis. RNA
      seq analyses of both oestrogen receptor receptor-positive and receptor-negative
      breast cancer cells overexpressing miR-515-5p reveal down-regulation of NRAS,
      FZD4, CDC42BPA, PIK3C2B and MARK4 mRNAs. We demonstrate that miR-515-5p inhibits
      MARK4 directly 3' UTR interaction and that MARK4 knock-down mimics the effect of
      miR-515-5p on breast and lung cancer cell migration. MARK4 overexpression rescues
      the inhibitory effects of miR-515-5p, suggesting miR-515-5p mediates this process
      through MARK4 down-regulation. Furthermore, miR-515-5p expression is reduced in
      metastases compared to primary tumours derived from both in vivo xenografts and
      samples from patients with breast cancer. Conversely, miR-515-5p overexpression
      prevents tumour cell dissemination in a mouse metastatic model. Moreover, high
      miR-515-5p and low MARK4 expression correlate with increased breast and lung
      cancer patients' survival, respectively. Taken together, these data demonstrate
      the importance of miR-515-5p/MARK4 regulation in cell migration and metastasis
      across two common cancers.

PMID- 26882548
TI  - Feedback regulation between atypical E2Fs and APC/CCdh1 coordinates cell cycle
      progression.
AB  - E2F transcription factors control the oscillating expression pattern of multiple
      target genes during the cell cycle. Activator E2Fs, E2F1-3, induce an upswing of
      E2F targets, which is essential for the G1-to-S phase transition, whereas
      atypical E2Fs, E2F7 and E2F8, mediate a downswing of the same targets during late
      S, G2, and M phases. Expression of atypical E2Fs is induced by E2F1-3, but it is
      unknown how atypical E2Fs are inactivated in a timely manner. Here, we
      demonstrate that E2F7 and E2F8 are substrates of the anaphase-promoting
      complex/cyclosome (APC/C). Removal of CDH1, or mutating the CDH1-interacting KEN
      boxes, stabilized E2F7/8 from anaphase onwards and during G1. Expressing KEN
      mutant E2F7 during G1 impairs S phase entry and eventually results in cell death.
      Furthermore, we show that E2F8, but not E2F7, interacts also with APC/C(C)
      (dc20). Importantly, atypical E2Fs can activate APC/C(C) (dh1) by repressing its
      inhibitors cyclin A, cyclin E, and Emi1. In conclusion, we discovered a feedback
      loop between atypical E2Fs and APC/C(C) (dh1), which ensures balanced expression
      of cell cycle genes and normal cell cycle progression. 

PMID- 26882549
TI  - Exploiting dominant-negative toxins to combat Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a human pathogen that relies on the
      subversion of host phagocytes to support its pathogenic lifestyle. S. aureus
      strains can produce up to five beta-barrel, bi-component, pore-forming
      leukocidins that target and kill host phagocytes. Thus, preventing immune cell
      killing by these toxins is likely to boost host immunity. Here, we describe the
      identification of glycine-rich motifs within the membrane-penetrating stem
      domains of the leukocidin subunits that are critical for killing primary human
      neutrophils. Remarkably, leukocidins lacking these glycine-rich motifs exhibit
      dominant-negative inhibitory effects toward their wild-type toxin counterparts as
      well as other leukocidins. Biochemical and cellular assays revealed that these
      dominant-negative toxins work by forming mixed complexes that are impaired in
      pore formation. The dominant-negative leukocidins inhibited S. aureus
      cytotoxicity toward primary human neutrophils, protected mice from lethal
      challenge by wild-type leukocidin, and reduced bacterial burden in a murine model
      of bloodstream infection. Thus, we describe the first example of staphylococcal
      bi-component dominant-negative toxins and their potential as novel therapeutics
      to combat S. aureus infection. 

PMID- 26882550
TI  - Chromosome misalignments induce spindle-positioning defects.
AB  - Cortical pulling forces on astral microtubules are essential to position the
      spindle. These forces are generated by cortical dynein, a minus-end directed
      motor. Previously, another dynein regulator termed Spindly was proposed to
      regulate dynein-dependent spindle positioning. However, the mechanism of how
      Spindly regulates spindle positioning has remained elusive. Here, we find that
      the misalignment of chromosomes caused by Spindly depletion is directly provoking
      spindle misorientation. Chromosome misalignments induced by CLIP-170 or CENP-E
      depletion or by noscapine treatment are similarly accompanied by severe spindle
      positioning defects. We find that cortical LGN is actively displaced from the
      cortex when misaligned chromosomes are in close proximity. Preventing the KT
      recruitment of Plk1 by the depletion of PBIP1 rescues cortical LGN enrichment
      near misaligned chromosomes and re-establishes proper spindle orientation. Hence,
      KT-enriched Plk1 is responsible for the negative regulation of cortical LGN
      localization. In summary, we uncovered a compelling molecular link between
      chromosome alignment and spindle orientation defects, both of which are
      implicated in tumorigenesis. 

PMID- 26882552
TI  - No time to waste on the road to a liberal eugenics?

PMID- 26882553
TI  - "I bet you won't": The science-society wager on gene editing techniques.

PMID- 26882554
TI  - Carl Woese's worries about the role of bio-engineering.

PMID- 26882551
TI  - The ubiquitin signal and autophagy: an orchestrated dance leading to
      mitochondrial degradation.
AB  - The quality of mitochondria, essential organelles that produce ATP and regulate
      numerous metabolic pathways, must be strictly monitored to maintain cell
      homeostasis. The loss of mitochondrial quality control systems is acknowledged as
      a determinant for many types of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's
      disease (PD). The two gene products mutated in the autosomal recessive forms of
      familial early-onset PD, Parkin and PINK1, have been identified as essential
      proteins in the clearance of damaged mitochondria via an autophagic pathway
      termed mitophagy. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding
      how the mitochondrial serine/threonine kinase PINK1 and the E3 ligase Parkin work
      together through a novel stepwise cascade to identify and eliminate damaged
      mitochondria, a process that relies on the orchestrated crosstalk between
      ubiquitin/phosphorylation signaling and autophagy. In this review, we highlight
      our current understanding of the detailed molecular mechanisms governing Parkin
      /PINK1-mediated mitophagy and the evidences connecting Parkin/PINK1 function and
      mitochondrial clearance in neurons. 

PMID- 26882555
TI  - A new approach to toxin neutralization in Staphylococcus aureus therapy.

PMID- 26882556
TI  - Response by Caplan et al.

PMID- 26882557
TI  - Social influence and peer review - impact factor and citation.

PMID- 26882558
TI  - Sophisticated sleep improves our brains: Our advanced cognitive and social skills
      might derive from the evolution of improved sleep quality; today, sleep therapy
      could help with mental health issues and learning.

PMID- 26882559
TI  - Chilling without regrets: Deciphering the effects of cryopreservation on the
      epigenetic properties of frozen cells will benefit the applications of cryo
      technology.

PMID- 26882560
TI  - The translational relevance of Drosophila in drug discovery.

PMID- 26882561
TI  - Tree Based Method for Aggregate Survival Data Modeling.
AB  - In many scenarios, a patient in medical research is treated as a statistical
      unit. However, in some scenarios, we are interested in treating aggregate data as
      a statistical unit. In such situations, each set of aggregated data is considered
      to be a concept in a symbolic representation, and each concept has a
      hyperrectangle or multiple points in the variable space. To construct a tree
      structured model from these aggregate survival data, we propose a new approach,
      where a datum can be included in several terminal nodes in a tree. By
      constructing a model under this condition, we expect to obtain a more flexible
      model while retaining the interpretive ease of a hierarchical structure. In this
      approach, the survival function of concepts that are partially included in a node
      is constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method, where the number of events and
      risks at each time point is replaced by the expectation value of the number of
      individual descriptions of concepts. We present an application of this proposed
      model using primary brain tumor patient data. As a result, we obtained a new
      interpretation of the data in comparison to the classical survival tree modeling
      methods.

PMID- 26882562
TI  - microRNA-203 suppresses invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction
      via targeting NUAK1 in head and neck cancer.
AB  - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a high capacity for invasion.
      To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate HNSCC invasion, we compared miRNA
      expression profiles between a parent HNSCC cell line and a highly invasive clone.
      The miR-200 family and miR-203 were downregulated in the clone. Here we focused
      on the role of miR-203 in invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
      induction in HNSCC. miR-203 was downregulated during EMT induction. Moreover,
      ectopic overexpression of miR-203 suppressed the invasion and induced mesenchymal
      epithelial transition (MET) in HNSCC cells. Interestingly, we identified NUAK
      family SNF1-like kinase 1 (NUAK1) as a novel target gene of miR-203 by cyclopedic
      analysis using anti-Ago2 antibody. Increased expression of NUAK1 was observed
      during EMT induction, and ectopic expression of miR-203 delayed EMT induction by
      suppressing NUAK1 expression. Moreover, NUAK1 overexpression promoted the
      invasion of HNSCC cells. Importantly, NUAK1 expression was well correlated with
      poor differentiation, invasiveness, and lymph node metastasis in HNSCC cases.
      Overall, miR-203 has a tumor-suppressing role in invasion and EMT induction by
      targeting NUAK1 in HNSCC, suggesting miR-203 as a potential new diagnostic and
      therapeutic target for the treatment of HNSCC. 

PMID- 26882563
TI  - CTNNA3 is a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinomas and is inhibited by miR
      425.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and leading cause of death worldwide.
      Here, we identified that a cell-cell adhesion gene, CTNNA3, is a tumor suppressor
      in HCC. CTNNA3 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cell
      lines. In these cells, CTNNA3 inhibited Akt signal, and in turn decreased the
      proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the matrix metallopeptidase MMP-9,
      and increased the cell cycle inhibitor p21(Cip1/Waf1). Meanwhile, CTNNA3 is
      inhibited by miR-425 in HCC. The miR-425 directly bound to the 3'UTR of CTNNA3
      and inhibited its expression. The tumor suppressor function of CTNNA3 and the
      oncogenic function of miR-425 were further confirmed in HCC cell xenograft in
      nude mice. The miR-425/CTNNA3 axis may provide insights into the mechanisms
      underlying HCC, and contribute to potential therapeutic strategy of HCC.

PMID- 26882564
TI  - microRNAs regulate TAL1 expression in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - The transcription factor TAL1 is a proto-oncogene whose aberrant expression in
      committed T-cell precursors is associated with the development of T-cell acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The mechanisms leading to aberrant activation of
      TAL1 in T-ALL patients who lack chromosomal rearrangements involving the TAL1
      locus remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that TAL1 levels decrease during
      normal T-cell development at least in part due to miRNA-dependent silencing, in
      which case TAL1 over-expression in some T-ALL cases could be the consequence of
      deregulated miRNA expression. By performing computational prediction of miRNAs
      that bind to the human TAL1 mRNA we compiled a list of miRNAs that are candidates
      to regulate TAL1. Using a luciferase reporter system and mutagenesis assays we
      confirmed the miRNA-TAL1 mRNA interactions and selected candidate miRNAs: miR
      101, miR-520d-5p, miR-140-5p, miR-448 and miR-485-5p. Over-expression of these
      microRNAs in different T-ALL cell lines consistently resulted in the down
      regulation of TAL1 protein. In accordance, inhibition of miR-101 and miR-520d-5p
      promoted TAL1 protein expression. Importantly, we found that miR-101, miR-140-5p,
      miR-448 and miR-485-5p were down-regulated in T-ALL patient specimens and T-ALL
      cell lines. Our results show for the first time the existence of epigenetic
      regulation of TAL1 by specific miRNAs which may contribute, at least in part, to
      the ectopic expression of TAL1 in some T-ALL cases. 

PMID- 26882565
TI  - Identification of an aptamer through whole cell-SELEX for targeting high
      metastatic liver cancers.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly human cancers due to its
      ability of invasion and metastasis. Thus, the approaches to identify potential
      compounds that inhibit invasion and metastasis of HCC are critical for treatment
      of this disease. In the present study, we used HCCLM9 cells with high metastatic
      potential and MHCC97L with low metastatic potential as a model system to study
      the molecular mechanisms of HCC metastasis. By applying cell- Systematic
      Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) against living cells, we
      used HCCLM9 as target cells and MHCC97L cells as control to screen a group of HCC
      metastasis- and cell-specific DNA aptamers. One of selected aptamers, LY-1, could
      specifically bind to metastatic HCC with a dissociation constant (Kd) in
      nanomolar range. In vitro studies demonstrated that LY-1 can recognize and bind
      to membrane protein of metastatic HCC cells. Furthermore, QD605 labeled LY-1
      aptamer could recognize HCC cells in both local liver cancer tissues and
      pulmonary metastatic sites in a xenograft model of HCC with pulmonary metastasis.
      Further biochemical and immunostaining studies showed that LY-1 could selectively
      bind to a subpopulation of more metastatic cells in HCCLM9 cells, which express
      more CK19 and vimentin. Finally, treatment of highly metastatic cells with LY-1
      led to reduced migration and invasiveness of HCCLM9 cells in vitro and
      suppression of xenograft growth in vivo. Taken together, the present study
      demonstrated the tumor targeting and tumor suppressive effects of LY-1, which
      could be a promising molecular probe for metastatic HCC and a potential candidate
      of chemotherapy for metastatic HCC. 

PMID- 26882566
TI  - A novel small-molecule compound targeting CD147 inhibits the motility and
      invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
AB  - CD147, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, is highly expressed in various cancer
      types and plays important roles in tumor progression, especially by promoting the
      motility and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. These crucial
      roles make CD147 an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in HCC, but no
      small-molecule inhibitors of CD147 have been developed to date. To identify a
      candidate inhibitor, we used a pharmacophore model derived from the structure of
      CD147 to virtually screen over 300,000 compounds. The 100 highest-ranked
      compounds were subjected to biological assays, and the most potent one, dubbed AC
      73 (ID number: AN-465/42834501), was studied further. We confirmed that AC-73
      targeted CD147 and further demonstrated it can specifically disrupt CD147
      dimerization. Moreover, molecular docking and mutagenesis experiments showed that
      the possible binding sites of AC-73 on CD147 included Glu64 and Glu73 in the N
      terminal IgC2 domain, which two residues are located in the dimer interface of
      CD147. Functional assays revealed that AC-73 inhibited the motility and invasion
      of typical HCC cells, but not HCC cells that lacked the CD147 gene, demonstrating
      on-target action. Further, AC-73 reduced HCC metastasis by suppressing matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 via down-regulation of the CD147/ERK1/2/signal
      transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Finally,
      AC-73 attenuated progression in an orthotopic nude mouse model of liver
      metastasis, suggesting that AC-73 or its derivatives have potential for use in
      HCC intervention. We conclude that the novel small-molecule inhibitor AC-73
      inhibits HCC mobility and invasion, probably by disrupting CD147 dimerization and
      thereby mainly suppressing the CD147/ERK1/2/STAT3/MMP-2 pathways, which are
      crucial for cancer progression. 

PMID- 26882567
TI  - Identification of approved and investigational drugs that inhibit hypoxia
      inducible factor-1 signaling.
AB  - One of the requirements for tumor development is blood supply, most often driven
      by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis. Hypoxia induces the stabilization of hypoxia
      inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), which induces expression of an angiogenic
      factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The purpose of this study is
      to validate a new screening platform combined with orthogonal assays to rapidly
      identify HIF-1 inhibitors and to evaluate the effectiveness of approved drugs on
      modulating HIF-1 signaling. We generated an endogenous HIF-1alpha-NanoLuc
      luciferase reporter allele in the human HCT116 colon cancer cell line using
      genome editing and screened a panel of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to 960
      druggable targets and approximately 2,500 drugs on a quantitative high-throughput
      screening (qHTS) platform. Selected compounds were further investigated with
      secondary assays to confirm their anti-HIF activity and to study their mode of
      action. The qHTS assay identified over 300 drugs that inhibited HIF-1alpha
      NanoLuc expression. The siRNA screening results supported the effectiveness of
      several target-specific inhibitors. Moreover, the identified HIF-1 inhibitors,
      such as mycophenolate mofetil, niclosamide, and trametinib, were able to suppress
      cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Our study indicates that blocking the
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)
      pathways effectively inhibits hypoxia-induced HIF-1alpha accumulation and HIF
      1alpha transactivation and that proteasome inhibitors induce accumulation and
      decrease transcriptional activity of HIF-1alpha. These findings underline the
      importance of developing a battery of robust assay platforms and confirmation
      studies that focus on endogenous protein targets so that only relevant and
      reliable data will be taken into pre-clinical and clinical studies.

PMID- 26882568
TI  - LOX expression in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlation with prognostic
      parameters and outcome.
AB  - Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an extracellular matrix-remodeling enzyme that plays
      important roles in tumor development and progression. To evaluate the prognostic
      value of LOX levels in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we performed an
      immunohistochemical analysis using 233 tissue biopsy specimens from as many
      patients. We found that the extent of immunohistochemical LOX staining correlated
      inversely with the clinicopathological features and survival. High LOX expression
      correlated with decreases in 5-year survival, overall survival, distant
      metastasis-free survival and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). Cox regression
      analysis confirmed that LOX was a significant prognostic indicator of increased
      risk of 5-year mortality for all patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.670; 95%
      confidence interval [95% CI], 1.033-2.701 [p < .005]). Higher LOX expression was
      also an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma. These findings suggest LOX may be a new biomarker predictive of NPC
      prognosis and may also be a useful treatment target. 

PMID- 26882570
TI  - Talking about domestic abuse: Crucial conversations for health visitors.
AB  - Domestic abuse is a serious problem across the world and it is considered a
      public health issue. Nurses play a crucial role in recognising and responding to
      domestic abuse but they sometimes lack confidence in dealing with the issue. In
      this article, two recently completed studies are used to extract lessons for
      health visiting practice. The first study investigated primary healthcare
      professionals' beliefs about domestic abuse. Many healthcare professionals were
      confident in dealing with domestic abuse. However, there was disinclination among
      some to discuss the issue. People who experience abuse rarely discuss it unless
      asked. So the study highlighted a potential dynamic of silence between health
      professionals and abused people in their care. The second study investigated
      student nurses and student midwives experiences of learning about domestic abuse.
      The student nurses had learned less than the student midwives. They had not been
      taught about domestic abuse in university and many had not had the opportunity to
      learn about it in clinical placement. They reported reluctance among some mentors
      to discuss the issue with them, with a resulting silencing of the issue. Both of
      these studies have important lessons for health visiting practice regarding
      opening up crucial conversations about domestic abuse.

PMID- 26882569
TI  - A synthetic-lethality RNAi screen reveals an ERK-mTOR co-targeting pro-apoptotic
      switch in PIK3CA+ oral cancers.
AB  - mTOR inhibition has emerged as a promising strategy for head and neck squamous
      cell carcinomas (HNSCC) treatment. However, most targeted therapies ultimately
      develop resistance due to the activation of adaptive survival signaling
      mechanisms limiting the activity of targeted agents. Thus, co-targeting key
      adaptive mechanisms may enable more effective cancer cell killing. Here, we
      performed a synthetic lethality screen using shRNA libraries to identify
      druggable candidates for combinatorial signal inhibition. We found that the ERK
      pathway was the most highly represented. Combination of rapamycin with
      trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, demonstrated strong synergism in HNSCC-derived
      cells in vitro and in vivo, including HNSCC cells expressing the HRAS and PIK3CA
      oncogenes. Interestingly, cleaved caspase-3 was potently induced by the
      combination therapy in PIK3CA+ cells in vitro and tumor xenografts. Moreover,
      ectopic expression of PIK3CA mutations into PIK3CA- HNSCC cells sensitized them
      to the pro-apoptotic activity of the combination therapy. These findings indicate
      that co-targeting the mTOR/ERK pathways may provide a suitable precision strategy
      for HNSCC treatment. Moreover, PIK3CA+ HNSCC are particularly prone to undergo
      apoptosis after mTOR and ERK inhibition, thereby providing a potential biomarker
      of predictive value for the selection of patients that may benefit from this
      combination therapy. 

PMID- 26882571
TI  - [Distribution of virulence genes and PFGE molecular typing of Entero-hemorrhagic
      Escherichia coli O157 in Henan from 2009- 2010].

PMID- 26882572
TI  - [Multilocus sequence typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Guizhou
      province].

PMID- 26882573
TI  - Get Smart About Antibiotics Week -- November 16-22, 2015.

PMID- 26882574
TI  - Prescription Drug Abuse is a Major Public Health Problem.

PMID- 26882575
TI  - A Reminder to Our Patients and Ourselves.

PMID- 26882576
TI  - State of South Dakota's Child: 2015.
AB  - In 2014 there was an increase in the number of births in the state with 24
      percent representing minority populations. This year also brought a decrease from
      2013 in deaths for infants, yielding an infant mortality rate of deaths per 1,000
      live births (5.9) slightly below that of the most current national rate of 6.0 in
      2013. Consistent with previous years, disparities persist in rates of death for
      white and minority infants with 45 percent of 2014 infant deaths (versus 24
      percent of the births) represented by minorities. Between 2010 and 2014, 57
      percent of white and 60 percent of minority post neonatal deaths in South Dakota
      were attributable to sudden unexpected infant death, accidents and homicide for
      both whites and minorities. The rates of infant deaths due to these causes,
      however, were significantly higher (p < .01) for minorities than for whites.

PMID- 26882577
TI  - Managing H*V in Pregnancy.
AB  - A number of chronic viral infections require special attention during pregnancy
      in the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal periods. In many rural areas of South
      Dakota, these conditions are present, but readily-accessible subspecialty
      consultation is not. Fortunately, most aspects of management of these conditions
      in pregnancy are easily within the scope of practice of primary care physicians.
      This paper presents a review of the management of pregnancies complicated by HBV,
      HCV, HIV, HPV and HSV, offering a quick-reference guide for physicians who may
      infrequently encounter these patients as a part of their practices.

PMID- 26882578
TI  - Osteonecrosis of the Torus Palatinus in the Setting of Long-Term Oral
      Bisphosphonate Use--A Case Report.
AB  - Bisphosphonates are medications used orally and intravenously for a variety of
      conditions including cancer metastatic to bone, hypercalcemia of malignancy,
      Paget's disease and osteoporosis. Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been related to
      bisphosphonate use. Osteonecrosis of the jaw most commonly occurs in the setting
      of intravenous bisphosphonate use and concomitant dental work or trauma. Oral
      bisphosphonates have much less risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. We present an
      interesting case of a patient on an oral bisphosphonate for an extended period of
      time (nine years), with a torus palatinus, who burned her palate while eating a
      slice of pizza. Over six months later, she presented with an area of denuded bone
      and diagnosis consistent with osteonecrosis of the torus palatinus.

PMID- 26882579
TI  - A Case of Hepatotoxicity Related to Kombucha Tea Consumption.
AB  - The use of herbal and dietary supplements (HDSs) is widespread and growing due to
      the popular notion that these products are of natural origins and safe. Kombucha
      (or "mushroom") tea is one HDS that is consumed by people for various perceived
      health benefits. Kombucha tea is a well-known health beverage made by fermenting
      sweet black tea with a round, flat, gray fungus for a week or longer. There is
      concern, however, from the evidence of a few case reports currently available,
      that it may pose life-threatening and/or adverse effects for users.

PMID- 26882580
TI  - Early Onset Sepsis.
AB  - Early onset sepsis (EOS) is a worrisome, life-threatening condition in newborns
      with onset during the first week of life. Evaluation can be challenging due to
      the dynamic nature of the condition as the infant transitions to life ex-utero.
      Symptoms/signs can be nonspecific, thus, a high index of suspicion is warranted
      for subtle changes in condition including poor feeding, respiratory distress, or
      decreased activity. Common risk factors include chorioamnionitis, maternal fever,
      group B strep (GBS) colonization and preterm delivery. Despite universal
      screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), GBS remains the most
      frequent cause of EOS followed by Escherichia coli (E. coli). While the gold
      standard for diagnosis remains a positive blood culture, lab evaluation
      frequently involves complete blood count (CBC) with differential, c-reactive
      protein (CRP), and evaluation of spinal fluid if the infant is stable.
      Unfortunately, there is not a lab test that is rapidly diagnostic for sepsis, so
      treatment should be empirically started until it is clear that the infant is not
      infected. Treatment often includes ampicillin and gentamicin for coverage of the
      most frequent pathogens. There is much debate about timing of discontinuation of
      antibiotics. Frequently, antibiotics can be discontinued after 48 hours in well
      appearing, asymptomatic infants with negative blood cultures and either normal
      CBC analysis or normal CRP values.

PMID- 26882581
TI  - How Low Can You Go? What Can We Take From the SPRINT Trial.

PMID- 26882583
TI  - Patient Education: Key to the Treasure.

PMID- 26882582
TI  - DAKOTACARE Update: Genetic Counseling Requirement for BRCA 1/2 Testing.

PMID- 26882584
TI  - Quality Focus: Physician Reimbursement Change.

PMID- 26882585
TI  - VIOLENCE, SAFETY AND PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP.

PMID- 26882586
TI  - CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: HOSPITAL VIOLENCE!

PMID- 26882587
TI  - FUNDAMENTALS OF PATIENT SATISFACTION MEASUREMENT.

PMID- 26882588
TI  - SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING: DON'T LOSE THE BIG GAME.

PMID- 26882589
TI  - MAKING A MID-CAREER TRANSITION.

PMID- 26882590
TI  - IF YOU WANT LESS OF SOMETHING, TAX IT: THE BATTLE OVER THE CADILLAC TAX.

PMID- 26882591
TI  - BALANCING SCIENCE AND SERVICE: THE PHYSICIAN LEADER'S ROLE.

PMID- 26882592
TI  - HEALTH CARE TRANSFORMATION: FROM SERVICE LINES TO PROGRAMS.

PMID- 26882594
TI  - BUILDING THE MENTAL MODEL FOR LEADERSHIP.

PMID- 26882593
TI  - AVOIDING MISSTEPS IN THE POPULATION HEALTH JOURNEY.

PMID- 26882595
TI  - ARE YOU EMPATHETIC?

PMID- 26882596
TI  - COACHING: A USEFUL APPROACH TO DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.

PMID- 26882597
TI  - ENHANCING HUMAN PERFORMANCE FOR BETTER HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES.

PMID- 26882599
TI  - [Present Routes of Integrating Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine: Converging
      and Cooperating].

PMID- 26882598
TI  - [Inheritance, Innovation, and Developing Trace of Modern Blood Activating Stasis
      Removing School].

PMID- 26882600
TI  - [Exploration of Cooperatively Innovating Systems for National Clinical Research
      Base of Chinese Medicine].

PMID- 26882601
TI  - [Status, Challenges, and Prospects of Treating Chronic Atrophic Gastritis by
      Chinese Medical Diagnosis and Treatment].
AB  - Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), a chronic disease of the digestive system
      resulting from multi-pathogenic factors, is precancerous state of gastric cancer.
      Authors reviewed the current situation of Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment
      of CAG, and looked forward to its prospect by combining with their own clinical
      experience and scientific researches.

PMID- 26882602
TI  - [Metabonomics Study on Urine 1H-NMR in Chronic Superficial Gastritis Patients
      with Pi-qi Deficiency Syndrome/Pi-Wei Dampness-heat Syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe metabolomic changes in urine of chronic superficial
      gastritis (CSG) patients with Pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQDS) or Pi-Wei dampness
      heat syndrome (PWDHS), thereby providing scientific evidence for syndrome typing
      of them. METHODS: Urine samples were collected from CSG patients with PQDS/PWDHS
      and healthy volunteers, 10 in each group. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy (1H-NMR) based metabonomic analysis was performed on urine samples.
      Contents of related biomarkers were analyzed by principal component analysis
      (PCA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and urivariate
      statistical analysis. RESULTS: PLS-DA analysis showed that metabolites among CSG
      patients with PQDS/PWDHS and healthy volunteers could be mutually distinguished.
      Seven differentially identified metabolites were screened from urines of CSG
      patients with PQDS and healthy volunteers included glutamate, methionine, alpha
      oxoglutarate, dimethylglycine, creatinine, taurine, and glucose. Four
      differentially identified metabolites were screened from urines of CSG patients
      with PWDHS and healthy volunteers included 2-hydroxybutyric acid, trimethylamine
      oxide, taurine, and hippuric acid. Eleven differentially identified metabolites
      were screened from urines of CSG patients with PQDS and PWDHS included fucose,
      beta-hydroxybutyric acid, alanine, glutamate, methionine, succinic acid, citric
      acid, creatinine, glucose, hippuric acid, and lactic acid. CONCLUSION: The
      metabolic differences of CSG patients PQDS and PWDHS mainly manifested in
      glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acids catabolism, and 1H-NMR based
      metabonomics may be used in classified study of Chinese medical syndrome typing.

PMID- 26882603
TI  - [Correlation Study on Chinese Medical Syndrome Types of Chronic Atrophic
      Gastritis Patients, Hp, and IL-1beta Polymorphism].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between Chinese medical (CM) syndrome types
      of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients and Helicobacter pylori (Hp)
      infection, polymorphisms of IL-1B, and IL-1beta. METHODS: Totally 192 CAG
      patients and 202 healthy subjects (as the healthy control group) were recruited
      in this case-control study. The Hp infection was tested by 13C-urea breath test
      and colloidal gold-labeled assay (GICA). The concentration of peripheral blood IL
      1beta was measured by ELISA. The polymorphisms of IL-1B gene in the promoter
      region were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length
      polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS) was dominant in
      CAG patients (31.77%, 61/192 cases). The Hp infection ratio in CAG patients was
      53.65% (103/192 cases), of which, Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome(PWDHS, 64.86%, 24/37
      cases) and Gan-Wei disharmony syndrome (GWDS, 66.67%, 24/36 cases) were dominant.
      Compared with the health control group, the plasma concentration of IL-1beta was
      obviously elevated in CAG patients with PWDHS, GWDS, and static blood obstructing
      collaterals syndrome (SBOCS) (all P < 0.05). Additionally, there was no
      difference in the distribution of polymorphisms in the promoter region of IL-1 B
      gene between the CAG patients and the healthy control group (P > 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: The incidence risk of CAG was not associated with IL-1B
      polymorphism. But CM syndrome types of CAG patients was associated with Hp
      infection and peripheral blood IL-1beta levels.

PMID- 26882604
TI  - [Effect of Yiqi Huoxue Qingre Huashi Recipe on the Eradication Rate of Hp in
      Peptic Ulcer Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yiqi Huoxue Qingre Huashi Recipe (YHQHR, a
      recipe capable of supplementing qi, activating blood, clearing heat, and
      dissipating dampness) on ulcer healing and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication
      rate in Hp positive peptic ulcer patients, and to explore coccoid Hp occurrence
      in the eradication. METHODS: Totally 80 Hp positive peptic ulcer patients were
      assigned to the treatment group and the control groups by random digit table, 40
      in each group. All patients received standard triple therapy of Western medicine
      for 2 successive weeks. Those in the control group additionally took omeprazole
      enteric coated tablet, 20 mg each time, once per day for 4 successive weeks.
      Those in the treatment group additionally took YHQHR, twice per day for 6
      successive weeks. The ulcer healing was observed and recorded by gastroscope
      after discontinued medication of 14 days. The effective rate of ulcer healing
      under endoscope was statistically calculated. Rapid urease test (RUT) was
      performed in one small piece of tissue from corpora ventriculi and sinuses
      ventriculi using 14C breathe test (UBT). Gastric juice was collected from the
      stomach. Hp urease gene amplification test (urea A-PCR) was performed in living
      tissue from gastric antrum. Results obtained from the above three test methods
      were recorded and assessed to decide the final eradiation rate. Gastric mucosa
      tissue was observed under electron microscope,attempting to find non-eradicated
      Hp, which was further observed. RESULTS: The total curative effect under
      gastroscope was 97.5% (39/40 cases) in the treatment group, obviously higher than
      that in the control group (80.0%, 32/40 cases) (P < 0.05). The eradication rate
      of Hp was 75.0% (30/40 cases), obviously better than that of the control group
      (52.5%, 21/40 cases) (P < 0.05). The total positive Hp numbers after treatment
      was 14C UBT (12), RUT (8), and urea A-PCR (27), respectively. The Hp positive
      rate detected by 14C UBT and RUT was lower than the Hp positive rate detected by
      urea A-PCR (P < 0.05). Rod-like and coccoid Hp bacteria could be observed under
      electron microscope. CONCLUSION: YHQHR combined standard triple therapy was more
      effective than standard triple therapy alone in promoting ulcer healing and
      elevating the eradication rate of Hp.

PMID- 26882605
TI  - [Clinical Analysis of Drug-induced Liver Injury Caused by Polygonum multiflorum
      and its Preparations].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze hepatotoxicity of Polygonum multiflorum and clinical
      character- istics of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by Polygonum
      multiflorum and its preparations. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in
      158 patients treated at 302 Military Hospital between January 2009 and January
      2014. All of them had used Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations before the
      onset of DILI, and their clinical characteristics and prognoses were analyzed.
      RESULTS: Of the 158 DILI patients who used Polygonum multiflorum or its
      preparations, 92 (58.2%) combined with Western medicine or Chinese herbal
      preparations without Polygonum multiflorum; 66 patients (41.8%) used Polygonum
      mult florum and its preparations alone. In 66 DILI patients induced by Polygonum
      multiflorum or its preparations alone, 51 cases (77.3%) were induced by Polygonum
      multiflorum compounds and 22.7% by single Po- lygonum multiflorum; 4 cases (6.1%)
      were caused by crude Polygonum multiflorum and 62 (93.9%) by processed Polygonum
      multiflorum and its preparations. Clinical injury patterns were hepatocellular
      92.4% (61 cases), cholestatic 1.5% (1 case), and mixed 6.1% (4 cases).
      Pathological examination was per- formed by liver biopsy in 32 cases (48.15%),
      manifested as hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, fibroplasia, Kupffer
      cells with pigment granule, and a large number of eosinophil infiltration, were
      ob- served. Four patients were developed into liver failure, 4 into cirrhosis,
      and 1 died. CONCLUSION: Polygo- num multiflorum and its preparations could induce
      DILI, but clinical diagnosis of Polygonum multiflorum induced hepatotoxicity
      should be cautious.

PMID- 26882606
TI  - [Methylation in Promoter Region of SLC6A2 Gene in Heart Failure Patients and Its
      Correlation with Qi Deficiency/Blood Stasis Syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine
      transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its
      correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS). METHODS: Thirty
      six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in
      the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were
      evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group
      (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center
      of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the
      methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index
      (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation
      status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using
      Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using
      Logistic regression. RESULTS: By one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI
      in the HF group (219.72% +/- 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the
      healthy elderly group (194.47% +/- 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60%
      +/- 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy
      elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis
      , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in
      the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly
      group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an
      essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups
      (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group.
      Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with
      scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419
      respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting
      confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in
      promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS:
      Abnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of
      risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter
      region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

PMID- 26882607
TI  - [Treatment of Infective Ulcer Patients with Yang Syndrome by External Use of
      Shengji Ointment: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Shengji Ointment (SO) (by
      external use) in treating infective ulcer patients with yang syndrome (YS).
      METHODS: A multicenter, stratified, randomized controlled clinical study was used
      in this study. A random digit table was formed in the ratio of 3:1,440 infective
      ulcer patients of YS from 5 centers were recruited, 330 in the treatment group
      (external use of SO, exchange once every 24 h) and 110 in the control group
      (external use of Votalin, exchange once every 24 h). The therapeutic course
      consisted of 21 days. The ulcer area, wound depth, pain degree were observed
      before treatment at day 3, 7, 14, and 21, and safety indices monitored at the
      same time. RESULTS: The ulcer area was significantly reduced in the treatment
      group after 21-day medication, obviously superior to that of the control group (P
      = 0.002). Ulcer areas at different time points were analyzed. From the 7th day of
      medication the reduced area was obviously less in the treatment than in the
      control group (P = 0.002). Besides, the longer the more obvious difference.
      Compared with the control group, the healing rate of ulcer area, the pain
      disappearance rate, and the healing rate of ulcer depth were all obviously
      improved in the treatment group (all P < 0.01). No adverse event occurred in the
      two groups. CONCLUSIONS: External use of SO was safe and effective in treating
      infective ulcer patients with YS. It could accelerate wound healing with better
      analgesic effect.

PMID- 26882608
TI  - [Evaluation on Efficacy and Safety of Jinying Capsule in Treatment of Pelvic
      Inflammatory Disease Patients with Accumulated Damp-heat Syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jinying Capsule (JC) in
      treating pelvic inflammatory disease patients with accumulated damp-heat syndrome
      (ADHS). METHODS: Totally 328 patients were recruited in a prospective, positive
      drug parallel controlled, and multi-center clinical trial. Of them 213 patients
      in the treatment group took JC (0.5 g per capsule), 4 capsules each time, 3 times
      per day, while 115 patients in the control group took Kangfuyan Capsule (KC, 0.4
      g per capsule), 3 capsules each time, twice per day. The course of treatment was
      4 weeks for all. Scores of Chinese medical syndromes, visual analogue scale (VAS)
      of the lower abdominal pain, and European quality of life-five dimension scale
      (EQ-5D) were observed before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS:
      There were 204 patients in the treatment group and 109 in the control group who
      completed this trial. The total effective rate of Chinese medical syndrome was
      89.71% (183/204 cases) in the treatment group and 76.15% (83/109 cases) in the
      control group (P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, EQ-5D
      scores increased, and VAS scores of the lower abdominal pain decreased in the two
      groups after treatment. EQ-5D scores was 0.857 +/- 0.157 in the treatment group,
      obviously higher than that in the control group (0.753 +/- 0.126, P < 0.05). VAS
      scores of the lower abdominal pain was 2.14 +/- 1.23 in the treatment group,
      lower than that in the control group (2.33 +/- 1.24), but with no statistical
      difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). No adverse reaction occurred in the
      two groups. CONCLUSION: JC was superior to KC in improving Chinese medical
      syndrome and quality of life of pelvic inflammatory disease patients with
      accumulated damp-heat syndrome.

PMID- 26882609
TI  - [Effects of Acupuncture on Neurofunction and Neuropsychological Factors of
      Chronic Alcoholic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on neurofunction and
      neuropsychological factors of chronic alcoholic peripheral neuropathy (CAPN)
      patients. METHODS: Totally 120 CAPN patients were assigned to the common
      treatment group, acupuncture group A, and acupuncture group B according to random
      digit table, 40 in each group. All patients recieved conventional drug therapy.
      Besides, patients in the acupuncture group A were additionally needled at Pishu
      (BL20), Weishu (BL21), Xuehai (SP10), Yinlingquan (SP9), Zusanli (ST36),
      Yanglingquan (GB34), Jiexi (ST41), Xuanzhong (GB39), Xiangu (ST43),Taixi (KI3),
      Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (SJ5), Hegu (LI4), and so on. On these bases patients in
      the acupuncture group B were needled at Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3),
      Neiguan (PC6), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Taiyang (EX-HN5).
      Acupuncture was performed once a day, 14 times as a course; and then once on
      every other day, 14 times in total for 4 weeks. All treatment lasted for 8
      successive weeks. Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL),
      Neurological Severity Score (NSS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton
      Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were assessed, motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and
      sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) were detected before and after treatment.
      RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment the scores of NIS-LL and NSS significantly
      decreased in the 3 groups, with statistical difference as compared with before
      treatment (P < 0.05). Scores of NIS-LL and NSS decreased more in acupuncture
      groups A and B than in the common treatment group (P < 0.05), and more obvious in
      acupuncture group B (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group before treatment,
      MCV and SCV of median nerve, ulnar nerve, common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve
      increased in acupuncture treatment group A and B after 8-week treatment (P <
      0.05). MCV of median nerve, MCV and SCV of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve
      significantly increased in the common treatment group (P < 0.05). Compared with
      the common treatment group, SCV of median nerve, MCV and SCV of ulnar nerve,
      common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve obviously increased in acupuncture
      treatment groups A and B after treatment (P < 0.05). MCV of ulnar nerve, MCV and
      SCV of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve obviously increased more in
      acupuncture treatment group A than in acupuncture treatment group B (P < 0.05).
      At week 8 after treatment scores of HAMD and HAMA were obviously lowered in
      acupuncture groups A and B, with statistical difference as compared with before
      treatment (P < 0.05). The scores of HAMD were also decreased in the common
      treatment group, as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). At week 8 after
      treatment scores of HAMD and HAMA were obviously lowered more in acupuncture
      treatment group B than in acupuncture treatment group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Acupuncture therapy could effectively improve the neurofunction of CAPN patients,
      and improve complicated anxiety and depression by additionally needling at
      Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and
      Taiyang (EX-HN5).

PMID- 26882610
TI  - [Analysis of Applying Chinese Medical Clinical Pathway for Treating Attention
      deficit Hyperactivity Disorder].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application effect of Chinese medical clinical pathway
      for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to provide
      evidence for further improving clinical pathways. METHODS: Totally 270 ADHD
      children patients were recruited and treated at pediatrics clinics of 9
      cooperative hospitals from December 2011 to December 2012. The treatment course
      for all was 3 months. Scores of attention deficit and hyperactivity rating scale,
      scores of behavior, Conners index of hyperactivity (CIH), and Chinese medical
      syndrome scores were compared between before and after treatment. The efficacy
      difference in various sexes, ages, and disease courses were evaluated by judging
      standards for Chinese medical syndrome and ADHD. RESULTS: Fifteen children
      patients who entered clinical pathway dropped out, and the rest 255 completed
      this trial. Compared with before treatment, total scores of attention deficit and
      hyperactivity rating scale, scores of attention deficit and hyperactivity rating
      scale, CIH, and Chinese medical syndrome scores obviously decreased (all P <
      0.01). The total effective rate in disease efficacy was 87.8% (224/255 cases),
      and the total effective rate in Chinese medical syndrome curative effect was
      87.5% (223/255 cases). The clinical curative effect was not influenced by age,
      gender, or course of disease when statistically analyzed from judging standards
      for Chinese medical syndrome or for disease efficacy. CONCLUSION: Intervention by
      Chinese medical clinical pathway could improve ADHD patients' symptoms, and its
      efficacy was not influenced by sex, age, or course of disease.

PMID- 26882611
TI  - [Intervention Mechanism of Extracts from Radix Ginseng, Radix Notoginseng and
      Rhizoma Chuanxiong on Adventitia of Senescent Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the reconstruction features of adventitia in senescent
      rats, and to explore the intervention mechanism of Chinese herbs (CH, extracts
      from Radix Ginseng, Radix Notoginseng, and Rhizoma Chuanxiong). METHODS: Totally
      85 20-month senescent rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to body
      weight, i.e., the aging model group, the high dose CH group, the middle dose CH
      group, the low dose CH group, the Losartan group, 17 in each group. Another 14 2
      month old Wistar rats were selected as a young group. Extracts of CH at the daily
      dose of 1493. 4, 746. 7, and 373. 4 mg/kg were administered to rats in the 3 CH
      groups respectively by gastrogavage. Losartan suspension at the daily dose of 10
      mg/kg was administered to rats in the Losartan group by gastrogavage. Equal
      volume of distilled water was administered to rats in the aging model group and
      the young group. All medication was performed once daily. After 15-week
      intervention, morphological changes of thoracic aorta were observed by HE
      staining. The types, distribution, and contents of vessel wall collagens were
      determined using picric acid picrosirius red staining. The plasma renin activity
      (PRA) , the concentration of rennin angiotensin II (Ang II), and the content of
      Ang II in adventitia were detected by radioimmunoassay. The content of
      hydroxyproline ( Hyp) was detected by biochemical analysis. mRNA contents and
      protein expressions of angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1R) and angiotensin II
      receptor 2 (AT2R) were detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot.
      RESULTS: Compared with the young group, thickened adventitia, increased
      adventitia thickness/caliber, accumulated collagen fiber, increased area of type
      I collagen, decreased area of type III collagen, decreased type III/I collagen
      area ratio (P <0. 05), decreased plasma PRA and Ang II (P < 0.01, P < 0.05),
      increased contents of Ang II and Hyp in adventitia, down-regulated mRNA and
      protein expressions of AT1R, and up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of AT2R
      could be seen in the aging model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the aging model
      group, morphological changes could be improved in the 3 CH groups. Adventitia
      thickness/caliber was reduced in middle and high dose CH groups, as well as the
      Losartan group. The area of type I collagen was reduced and the area of type III
      collagen was enlarged, type III/I collagen area ratio obviously increased,
      contents of adventitia Hyp was obviously lowered in the high dose CH groups and
      the Losartan group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Ang II levels in adventitia decreased in
      middle and high dose CH groups and the Losartan group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There
      was no statistical difference in PAR among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared with
      the aging model group, mRNA expression of AT1R all increased in each treatment
      group (P < 0.01); mRNA expression of AT2R also increased in middle and high dose
      CH groups (P < 0.05). Protein expression of AT1R increased in the high dose CH
      group and the Losartan group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); protein expression of AT2R
      also increased in middle and high dose CH groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      Adventitia remodeling occurred in aged rats, manifested as thickened adventitia
      and accumulated collagens, disordered ratios of collagen I and III. Its mechanism
      might be possibly associated with aactivation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS).
      Extracts from Radix Ginseng, Radix Notoginseng, and Rhizoma Chuanxiong could
      improve adventitial remodeling possibly by interfering multi-targets, such as Ang
      II and AT1R, thereby delaying vascular aging.

PMID- 26882612
TI  - [Intervention Effect of Modified Dachengqi Decoction on Intestinal Mucosal
      Barrier of Severe Acute Pancreatitis Model Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Modified Dachengqi Decoction (MDD) as whole
      course therapy on mediators of inflammation in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)
      model rats, and to compare interventional advantages over intestinal mucosal
      barrier (IMB) of SAP rats between whole course therapy of MDD and early stage
      therapy of MDD. METHODS: Totally 190 SD rats were divided into five groups
      according to random digit table, i.e., the sham-operation group, the model group,
      the octreotide (OT) group, the early stage MDD treatment group, the whole course
      MDD treatment group, 38 in each group. SAP models were established with
      retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreaticobiliary duct.
      Three hours after modeling normal saline (NS) was administered to rats in the
      sham-operation group and the model group by gastrogavage, once per 12 h.1.35
      ug/100 g OT was subcutaneously injected to rats in the OT group, once every 8 h.
      0.4 mL/100 g MDD was administered to rats in the early stage MDD treatment group,
      and 6 h later changed to NS (once per 12 h).0.4 mL/100 g MDD was administered to
      rats in the whole course MDD treatment group, once every 12 h. The accumulative
      survival rate and morphological manifestations of pancreas and small intestine
      were observed under microscope 48 h after modeling. Pathologic scores of the
      pancreas and small intestine were conducted at 4, 6, 24, and 48 h after modeling.
      Contents of serum amylase (AMY), alanine transaminase (ALT), and TNF-alpha were
      also detected. The expression of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) in the
      small intestine tissue was also detected by Western blot. The positive rate of
      bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) was observed within 48
      h. Correlations between serum TNF-alpha or HMGB1 in small intestinal tissue and
      pathological scores of the pancreas or the small intestine were analyzed.
      RESULTS: The accumulative survival rate was 100. 0% in the sham-operation group,
      79. 2% in the whole course MDD treatment group, 70. 8% in the OT group, 45. 8% in
      the early stage MDD treatment group, and 37.5% in the model group. At 6 h after
      modeling, pathological scores decreased more in the whole course MDD treatment
      group, the early stage MDD treatment group, the OT group than in the model group
      (P < 0.05). At 24 and 48 h after modeling, pathological scores of the pancreas
      and the small intestine decreased more in the whole course MDD treatment group
      and the OT group than in the early stage MDD treatment group (P <0. 05). At 6,
      24, and 48 h after modeling, serum contents of AMY and ALT both decreased more in
      the whole course MDD treatment group, the early stage MDD treatment group, the OT
      group than in the model group (P < 0.05). At 48 h after modeling serum contents
      of AMY and ALT both decreased more in the whole course MDD treatment group and
      the OT group than in the early stage MDD treatment group (P < 0.05). At 6 h after
      modeling serum TNF-alpha levels decreased more in the whole course MDD treatment
      group, the early stage MDD treatment group, the OT group than in the model group
      (P < 0.05). At 6, 24, and 48 h after modeling the level of HMGB1 in the small
      intestinal tissue decreased more in the whole course MDD treatment group, the
      early stage MDD treatment group, the OT group than in the model group (P < 0.05).
      Of them, HMGB1 levels at 24 and 48 h were lower in the whole course MDD treatment
      group and the OT group than in the early stage MDD treatment group (P < 0.05).
      The number of MLNs bacterial translocation at 48 h after modeling was lower in
      the whole course MDD treatment group and the OT group than in the early stage MDD
      treatment group and the model group (P < 0.05). Serum TNF-alpha contents within 6
      h were positively correlated with pathological scores of pancreas (r = 0.579, P <
      0.01). ROC curve showed that serum TNF-alpha contents could predict the severity
      of SAP (ROC = 0.990, 95% Cl: 0.971 to 1.000). HMGB1 in the small intestine was
      positively correlated with pathological scores of the small intestine (r = 0.620,
      P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early stage use of MDD could effectively reduce the
      release of TNF-alpha, while whole course use of MDD could effectively inhibit the
      expression of HMGB1. The latter could preferably attenuate injuries of the
      pancreas and the small intestine, lower MLNs bacterial translocation, and elevate
      the survival rate.

PMID- 26882613
TI  - [Effect of Peimine on ERCC1 mRNA and LRP Expressions of A549/DDP Multidrug
      Resistance Cell Line].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of peimine on excision repair cross
      complementation 1 (ERCC1) mRNA and lung resistant protein (LRP) expressions in
      A549/cisplatin (DDP) multidrug resistance (MDR) cell line. METHODS: Lung cancer
      A549/DDP cells were cultured in vitro.Cells at logarithmic growth phase were
      divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the DDP group, the
      ligustrazine group (DDP+ligustrazine), the peimine group (DDP + peimine). After
      48-h drug action, ERCC1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and LRP expression
      detected by cell immunofluorescence. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference
      in expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA and LRP between the DDP group and the blank
      control group (P > 0.05). Compared with the DDP group, expression levels of ERCC1
      mRNA and LRP obviously decreased in the ligustrazine group and the peimine group
      (P < 0.05). They were obviously lower in the peimine group than in the
      ligustrazine group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peimine could reverse MDR of A549/DDP
      cell line. Its mechanism might be associated with down-regulating ERCC1 mRNA and
      LRP expression levels.

PMID- 26882614
TI  - [Effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on mRNA Expressions of Aorta Rho Kinase and NF
      kappaB p65 in Atherosclerosis Model Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), a
      representative formula of qi benefiting blood activating method on aorta Rho
      associated coiled-coil forming protein serine/threonine kinase (Rhokinase, ROCK)
      and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) p65 mRNA expressions and
      levels of blood lipids in atherosclerosis (AS) model rats. METHODS: The AS rat
      model was prepared by vitamin D3 and high fat diet. Totally 60 rats were randomly
      divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the low
      dose BYHWD group (10 g/kg), the high dose BYHWD group (20 g/kg), the Simvastatin
      control group (0.6 mg/kg), and the BYHWD prevention group (10 g/kg), 10 in each
      group. After successful modeling all medication was intervened for 28 days.
      Expression levels oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were detected by
      ELISA. Levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C were determined by enzyme method.
      Pathological changes of aortic tissue were observed under light microscope. mRNA
      expressions of Rho kinase and NF-kappaB p65 in aorta were detected by real time
      (RT) PCR. RESULTS: High fat diet and peritoneal injection of vitamin D3 could
      induce AS rat model. Typical atheromatous plaque formed in aorta of AS model
      rats. Compared with the normal control group, levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and ox-LDL
      significantly increased in the model group, but the HDL-C level decreased (P <
      0.01). Compared with the model group, levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and ox-LDL all
      decreased, but HDL-C increased in low and high dose BYHWD groups, the Simvastatin
      control group, and the BYHWD prevention group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with
      the low dose BYHWD group, above-mentioned indices were more obviously lowered in
      the high dose BYHWD group, the Simvastatin control group, and the BYHWD
      prevention group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, mRNA
      expression levels of Rho kinase and NF-kappaB p65 significantly increased in the
      model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA expressions of Rho
      kinase and NF-kappaB p65 obviously decreased in low and high dose BYHWD groups,
      the Simvastatin control group, and the BYHWD prevention group (P < 0.01).
      Compared with the low dose BYHWD group, the two indicators were more obviously
      lowered in the high dose BYHWD group, the Simvastatin control group, and the
      BYHWD prevention group (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in
      blood lipids levels, mRNA expression levels of Rho kinase or NF-kappaB p65 among
      the high dose BYHWD group, the Simvastatin control group, and the BYHWD
      prevention group (P >0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: BYHWD could down-regulate mRNA
      expression levels of Rho kinase and NF-kappaB p65, lower levels of blood lipids,
      and fight against AS. Suppressing Rho kinase pathway might be one of its
      mechanisms.

PMID- 26882615
TI  - [Pharmacokinetic Effect of Aikeqing Granule by Different Medication Ways on
      Zidovudine in HAART of Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacokinetic effect of Aikeqing Granule (AG) by different
      medication ways on zidovudine (AZT) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (
      HAART) of rats. METHODS: Totally 36 rats were administered with corresponding
      medications by gastrogavage, group I [HAART: AZT 31.5 mg/kg +3TC 31.5 mg/kg +
      Efavirenz (EFV) 63.0 mg/kg], group II (HAART+AG525 mg/kg), group III (HAART and
      AG 525 mg/kg after a 2-h interval). Drug concentrations of AZT were determined by
      high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) before HAART,
      and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 h after HAART, respectively. Pharmacokinetic
      parameters [such as t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUCo-t, plasma clearance rate (CL)] were
      calculated by DAS2.0 Software. RESULTS: The-equation of linear regression of AZT
      was good, with the precision, coefficient of recovery, and stability definitely
      confirmed. AUC in group II and III was larger than that of group I. There was no
      statistical difference in t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-12 h, or AUC0-infinity among
      groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: AG combined HAART could enhance the Cmax of AZT.

PMID- 26882616
TI  - [Xianglian External Lotion Restored the Sensitivity of Drug-resistant Candida
      albicans Strains to Fluconazole: a Transcriptomics Study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To perform a transcriptomics study in differential genes after
      Xianglian External Lotion (XEL) induced the recovery of drug-resistant Candida
      albicans strains sensitive to Fluconazole. METHODS: Broth microdilution
      antifungal susceptibility test was used to detect minimal inhibitory
      concentration (MIC) of drug-resistant Candida albicans strains induced by XEL.
      Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to determine and compare the
      transcription of primary drug-resistant Candida aIbicans strains and sensitive
      strains induced by XEL. High expressed genes and signaling pathways strains were
      analyzed by gene ontology (GO) method. RESULTS: XEL could induce drug-resistant
      strains of the 6th generations to recover sensitivity. Transcriptome sequencing
      showed that, as compared with primary drug-resistant strains, there were 165
      genes with up-regulated RPKM index and 144 genes with down-regulated RPKM index
      after XEL induction. GO analyses found that all genes were mainly classified as
      GO:0015903 (fluconazole transport). CONCLUSIONS: XEL could induce the recovery of
      drug-resistant Candida albicans strains sensitive to Fluconazole. By analyzing
      transcriptomes, authors speculated that XEL could recover strain sensitivity to
      fluconazole by opening fluconazole transport pathway.

PMID- 26882617
TI  - [Effect of Culture-loaded Words on English Translation of Chinese Medical
      Formulae--from the translation of "lozenge"].

PMID- 26882618
TI  - [Research on Collateral-unblocking Medicines for Cardiovascular Diseases under
      the Guidance of Vessels Collateral Theory].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: "Vessels Collateral Theory", as the inherit and development of "blood
      vessels" in Huangdi Neijing, is a systematic system by integrating severe
      vascular diseases. In this article, by taking cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a
      cut-in point, roles of "minute collateral-microvascular" lesions in the
      occurrence and development of CVD were further explored. The interventional
      effect of collateral-unblocking medicines under the guidance of Vessels
      Collateral Theory was also in-depth explored, hoping to leading Chinese medical
      prevention and treatment of CVD.

PMID- 26882619
TI  - [Reflection on Medical Treatment of Multi-drug Resistance Tuberculosis: The
      Necessity of Chinese Medicine Holistic View].
AB  - Causative factors of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were analyzed
      from iatrogenic angles, patients themselves, and society. Reviewed was the
      development of treatment strategies for MDR-TB from directly observed treatment
      short-course (DOTS) to DOTS-Plus. The history of Chinese medicine (CM) fighting
      TB and characteristics at the present stage were also analyzed. Authors pointed
      out that CM pays attention not only to killing pathogens and confirms the
      necessity of getting rid of pathogens, but also to cascade response caused by
      pathogens. It also regards the occurrence and development of MDR-TB as a whole by
      combining patients' conditions, climatic, geographic, psychological, and social
      factors. Authors believed that therapeutic principles under guidance of CM
      holistic view are of positive significance and inspiration in treating MDR-TB,
      and emphasized holistic view as basic strategies for treating MDR-TB, but not a
      single countermeasure.

PMID- 26882620
TI  - [Adverse reactions occurred in four cases induced by intravenous injection of
      Alprostadil and Shuxuening Injection in normal saline].

PMID- 26882621
TI  - [Treatment of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome Complicated Nephritis of Henoch
      Schonlein Purpura: a Case Report of One Case].

PMID- 26882622
TI  - [On Radix Aconiti Lateralis and Kidney Diseases].

PMID- 26882623
TI  - Drug Pricing Regulation Pushed From Many Sides.

PMID- 26882624
TI  - Life in the Fast Track.

PMID- 26882625
TI  - UNTANGLING THE HIE MESS.

PMID- 26882626
TI  - Next Generation ACOs Must Defy FFS Gravity.

PMID- 26882627
TI  - Narrow Networks Discussion Turns on Degree, Execution.

PMID- 26882628
TI  - A CONVERSATION WITH VINCENT DEVITA, MD. No Truce Sought in Cancer War: 'We Want
      to Cure This Disease'.

PMID- 26882629
TI  - Improved Spine Care Means Giving Physiatrists Playing Time.

PMID- 26882630
TI  - Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acid Products and Dietary Supplements Are Not
      Interchangeable.
AB  - PURPOSE: To provide an overview of prescription and dietary supplement omega-3
      fatty acid (OM3-FA) products and considerations for clinical use. DESIGN:
      Narrative review. METHODOLOGY: The PubMed database was searched for
      cardiovascular-related investigations focused on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
      and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (limit: English-only articles). Additional
      regulatory information on prescription and dietary supplements was obtained from
      United States Food and Drug Administration online sources. RESULTS: Prescription
      QM3-FA products are supported by robust clinical development and safety
      monitoring programs, whereas dietary supplements are not required to demonstrate
      safety or efficacy prior to marketing. There are no over-the-counter OM3-FA
      products available in the United States. Investigations of OM3-FA dietary
      supplements show that quantities of EPA and DHA are highly variable within and
      between brands. Dietary supplements also may contain potentially harmful
      components, including oxidized OM3-FA, other lipids, cholesterol, and toxins.
      Prescription OM3-FA products may contain DHA and EPA or EPA alone. All
      prescription OM3-FA products have demonstrated statistically significant
      triglyceride reduction as monotherapy or in combination with statins in patients
      with hypertriglyceridemia. Differential effects between products containing EPA
      and DHA compared with a high-purity EPA product (icosapent ethyl) have clinical
      implications: Increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol associated with
      DHA have the potential to confound strategies for managing patients with
      dyslipidemia. Cardiovascular outcomes studies of prescription CM3-FA products are
      ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: OM3-FA dietary supplements should not be substituted for
      prescription products, and prescription OM3-FA products that contain DHA are not
      equivalent to or interchangeable with high-purity EPA (icosapent ethyl) and
      should not be substituted for it.

PMID- 26882631
TI  - Drug spending to reach nearly $600B by 2020.

PMID- 26882632
TI  - Psychosocial needs assessment post kidney transplant: Feasibility of a post
      transplant specific support group.
AB  - This project assessed unmet psychosocial needs of kidney transplant recipients
      and the feasibility of a support group located at an urban Canadian hospital to
      meet those needs. A survey assessed transplant recipient concerns about
      psychosocial issues related to transplantation, interest in a support group,
      desired group composition, facilitation, leadership, barriers and alternative
      forms of support. Most respondents were more than two years since transplant and
      were more concerned about medical complications, returning to normalcy, and had a
      greater desire to talk to other transplant recipients. Forty per cent of
      respondents indicated they would be interested in a support group. However, 60%
      indicated that a support group hosted in the hospital setting would be a
      deterrent to attending, citing time and transportation as the greatest barriers.
      More research is needed to assess the feasibility of post-kidney transplant
      support groups closer to recipients' homes and the feasibility of alternative
      forms of support.

PMID- 26882633
TI  - Warfarin for stroke prevention in hemodialysis patients with non-valvular atrial
      fibrillation.

PMID- 26882634
TI  - Palliative care in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.
AB  - The past five decades have shown a tremendous growth, world wide, in the number
      of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with advanced
      CKD today are notably older, have significant comorbidity, substantial symptom
      burden and, ultimately, have high mortality. Subsequently, there is an increased
      global awareness of the need to integrate palliative care into routine kidney
      care to enhance the quality of life and death for patients with advanced CKD.
      This article outlines a conceptual framework for kidney palliative care for
      patients with advanced CKD and discusses issues such as symptom burden, illness
      trajectories, advance care planning, and complex decision-making, including
      decisions around the appropriate initiation, withholding and withdrawal of
      dialysis, and the potential palliative care roles and responsibilities for
      nursing staff within kidney care programs.

PMID- 26882635
TI  - Depression in patients with chronic kidney disease.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease affects 10 per cent of the general population. A number of
      studies over the last decade have established that there is a higher prevalence
      of depression amongst those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Biological,
      psychological and socio-economic factors influence the higher prevalence of
      depression in this population. The complex interplay between bio-psycho-social
      factors helps explain the bidirectional relationship between progress of CKD and
      depression. We summarize the prevalence and etiology of depression in those
      suffering from CKD and describe in brief the impact of depression in CKD on
      outcomes such as mortality and morbidity, as well as the different management
      options that are available. The purpose of this article is to provide a
      summarized and clinically applicable update on depression for nurses, which will
      assist them in recognizing and seeking treatment for depression, as well as
      highlight what is already being done and what needs to be done in terms of
      recognition and treatment of this common psychiatric condition.

PMID- 26882636
TI  - Predatory publishing: What editors need to know.

PMID- 26882637
TI  - The patient perspective--A story of Paired Exchange Renal Transplant.

PMID- 26882638
TI  - Deprescribing: Is there a role in hemodialysis?

PMID- 26882640
TI  - Thoughts on National Children's Dental Health Month.

PMID- 26882639
TI  - Practice innovation: Collaboration with community partners to improve home
      dialysis safety in the province of Ontario.

PMID- 26882641
TI  - Watch Out for Objectionable 'Insecurity Clauses' in Practice Loan Documentation.

PMID- 26882642
TI  - It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want to!

PMID- 26882643
TI  - Keep Your Dental Practice Safe from a Cyber Attack.

PMID- 26882644
TI  - PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY. Focus on Children's Dental Health.

PMID- 26882645
TI  - Etiology, Classification and Management of Ectopic Eruption of Permanent First
      Molars.
AB  - Ectopic eruption of a permanent tooth involves abnormal resorption of a portion
      or all of the adjacent primary tooth. Among the most commonly ectopically erupted
      teeth are the permanent first molars. Ectopically erupting molars may require
      intervention to allow for full eruption, or they may spontaneously self-correct
      and erupt into occlusion. Decisions regarding the necessity of intervention, its
      ideal timing, and intervention type are multifactorial. Treatment options for the
      ectopically erupting permanent first molar include the elastomeric separator,
      brass wire, pre-fabricated clip separator, custom made appliances (Humphrey
      appliance, Halterman appliance), or extraction of the primary molar. Early
      intervention when indicated can ensure proper full eruption of the permanent
      first molar and prevent mesial angulation, arch perimeter loss, tooth impaction
      and ankylosis. Two cases are described that manage ectopic eruption of the
      permanent first molar.

PMID- 26882646
TI  - Dental Treatment Considerations for Children with Complex Medical Histories: A
      Case of Townes-Brock Syndrome.
AB  - It is common for oral health and dental care to be considered a lesser priority
      for children with complex medical histories than other aspects of their health
      care. Often, these patients are at a high risk for caries and infection due to
      poor oral health practices at home, special or restricted diets, and no early
      establishment of a dental home for routine dental care. Unfortunately, many of
      these patients present to their first dental visits with caries and require
      aggressive treatment, such as extractions instead of pulp therapy, or crowns
      instead of fillings, due to their high caries risk and the difficulty in safely
      managing them medically during treatment. A unique example of this occurred at
      the Children's Hospital of Michigan, where a patient with Townes-Brock syndrome
      (TBS) presented to the dental clinic with advanced caries. TBS is a rare
      autosomal dominant disorder characterized by major findings such as anomalies of
      the external ear, imperforate anus, renal malformations, and malformations of the
      hand. Like many medically complex cases, dental anomalies are not a direct
      consequence of TBS; however, due to the necessity of high calorie and high sugar
      feeding supplementation, many of these patients are at high risk for advanced
      dental caries. Due to this high caries risk, a more aggressive treatment plan is
      necessary to minimize the risk of recurrent decay and infection. It is critical
      to stress that even if the disease, syndrome, etc., of a patient does not have
      inherent dental consequences, it is imperative for regular dental care to be part
      of the comprehensive treatment plan for these patients. This includes the
      establishment of a dental home at a young age and proper oral health education of
      the patient's caregivers and their physicians. In the case of the patient with
      TBS, recommendations for daily brushing, especially after high sugar feedings was
      stressed, as well as the reduction of any other sweets within the diet.

PMID- 26882647
TI  - Do Early Dental Visits Reduce Treatment and Treatment Costs for Children?
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to determine if number and cost of dental
      treatments in high caries-risk children differs in children with early dental
      intervention compared to children with later intervention. METHODS: Billing data
      from children age zero to seven years old, whose first dental visit was between
      January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, were collected from 20 corporate treatment
      centers serving children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds. Data
      included age at first visit, dental treatment codes, and associated costs for
      eight years after the first dental visit. Treatment included restorations,
      crowns, pulpotomies, and extractions. First visit age was categorized into early
      starters (younger than four years old) and late starters (four years of age or
      older). Linear regression with cluster adjustment for clinic determined a
      difference in costs and dental treatments by early and late starters. RESULTS: Of
      42,532 subjects, 17,040 (40 percent) were early starters and 25,492 (60 percent)
      were late starters. There were 3.58 more dental procedures per- formed on late
      starters, over eight years of follow-up, than on early starters (P < .001). Late
      starters spent $360 more over eight years of follow-up than early starters (P <
      .001). CONCLUSION: In this study, number of procedures per- formed were fewer and
      cost of treatment less for children seen earlier versus later.

PMID- 26882648
TI  - Common Barriers to Fnancial Success--And How to Overcome Them.

PMID- 26882649
TI  - New discharge planning rules focus on preferences, transitions.
AB  - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued proposed changes to the
      Medicare Conditions of Participation that would increase the focus on patient
      preferences in the discharge process and beef up communication when patients are
      discharged from the hospital. The requirements would be in effect for critical
      access hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation
      hospitals in addition to acute care hospitals and would require a discharge plan
      for patients receiving observation services, patients being released from the
      emergency department, and patients receiving same-day surgery or procedures that
      require anesthesia or sedation. The proposed rule requires the discharge plan to
      include patients' goals and preferences and that the treating physician help
      create the plan. It includes specific requirements for discharge instructions. A
      big focus is providing the primary care physician with the discharge summary and
      other comprehensive information to the patient's primary care physician within 48
      hours of discharge and pending test results within 24 hours of their
      availability. It spells out specific information that should be provided at the
      time a patient transfers to a post-acute facility or is referred for home health
      services.

PMID- 26882650
TI  - Preventing readmissions is a core focus of new discharge planning rules.

PMID- 26882651
TI  - Diabetes program focuses on the basics.
AB  - Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC, is saving about $425,000 a year by
      implementing a multidisciplinary model that teaches patients with diabetes the
      basic skills they need to stay safe after discharge. A multidisciplinary team
      that included pharmacy, nutrition, nursing, and case management developed the
      program after data showed that the hospital's traditional diabetes program was
      reaching only about 20% of the diabetes population. The team determined that
      patients need four survival skills to stay healthy at home: medications, glucose
      monitoring, hypoglycemia recognition, and having a relationship with a primary
      care provider in the community. The team developed a graphic that illustrates
      what the medical provider, the bedside nurse, the pharmacist, the case manager or
      social worker, and the nutritionist need to do for all patients with diabetes.
      Each member of the team also reinforces the four survival skills.

PMID- 26882652
TI  - Mobile teams fill the gap between the hospital and the community.
AB  - A clinical team from The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, visit at-risk patients
      at home after discharge if the patients don't qualify for or refuse home health
      services. A mobile team that includes a paramedic, a critical care nurse, and an
      emergency medical technician visits patients who have been referred by the case
      managers after a risk assessment. The team performs a comprehensive assessment of
      the patients and their home situations and reinforces the discharge teaching they
      received in the hospital. In most cases, the team makes only one visit but will
      return if the patient still needs support.

PMID- 26882653
TI  - TJC praises top hospitals in annual report.

PMID- 26882654
TI  - Petchienes A-E, Meroterpenoids from Ganoderma petchii.
AB  - Petchienes A-E (1-5), five new meroterpenoids, were isolated from the fruiting
      bodies of Ganoderma petchii. Their structures, including absolute configurations,
      were elucidated by means of spectroscopic and computational methods. Compound 4
      was isolated as a racemic mixture, which was finally purified by chiral HPLC to
      yield individual (-) and (+)-antipodes. Biological evaluation showed that
      compounds 2 and (-)-4 could increase intracellular free calcium concentration at
      10 MUM in HEK-293 cells.

PMID- 26882655
TI  - Megastigmane Glycosides from the Leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii.
AB  - Two new megastigmane glycosides, named wilfordonisides A and B (1 and 2), and
      four known compounds (3-6) were isolated from the leaves of Tripterygium
      wilfordii, and one new aglycon, named wilfordoninol A (2a), was acquired by
      enzymatic hydrolysis of 2. The absolute stereostructures of the compounds were
      determined by Mosher's method and by CD. At a concentration of 10 MUM, compounds
      1, 3, and 5 inhibited STAT1 translocation by 38.1 +/- 0.9%, 55.8 +/- 0.8%, and
      53.9 +/- 1.0%, respectively.

PMID- 26882656
TI  - Cytochalasans and Sesquiterpenes from Eutypella scoparia 1-15.
AB  - Three new compounds, an open-chain cytochalasan scoparasin C (1), a pyrichalasan
      scoparasin D (2), and a beta-eudesmol type sesquiterpene scopararane C (5), along
      with three known compounds (3, 4 and 6), were isolated from the marine fungus
      Eutypella scoparia 1-15. Their structures were determined on the basis of
      comprehensive NMR and MS analysis. Compound 2 exhibited potent cytotoxicities
      with very low IC50 values against several cancer cell lines, including A375,
      A549, HepG2 and MCF-7.

PMID- 26882657
TI  - Concise Synthesis of Taiwaniaquinol B and 5-epi-Taiwaniaquinone G.
AB  - The natural product taiwaniaquinol B and the unnatural 5-epi-taiwaniaquinone G
      were synthesized based on a highly efficient tandem acylation-Nazarov cyclization
      approach to build the tricyclic skeleton.

PMID- 26882658
TI  - Effect of Enzyme Inhibitors on Terpene Trilactones Biosynthesis and Gene
      Expression Profiling in Ginkgo biloba Cultured Cells.
AB  - The biosynthetic pathway of terpene trilactones of Ginkgo biloba is unclear. In
      this present study, suspension cultured cells of G. biloba were used to explore
      the regulation of the mevalonic acid (MVA) and methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP)
      pathways in response to specific enzyme inhibitors (lovastatin and clomazone).
      The results showed that the biosynthesis of bilobalide was more highly correlated
      with the MVA pathway, and the biosynthesis of ginkgolides was more highly
      correlated with the MEP pathway. Meanwhile, according to the results, it could be
      speculated that bilobalide might be a product of ginkgolide metabolism.

PMID- 26882659
TI  - Macrocyclic Diterpenoids from the Latex of Euphorbia helioscopia.
AB  - One new jatrophane diterpenoid, 7alpha,9beta,15beta-triacetoxy-3beta-benzoyloxy
      14beta-hydroxyjatropha-5E,11E-diene (3), together with four known macrocyclic
      diterpenoids, euphoheliosnoid A (1), epieuphoscopin B (2), euphohelioscopin A (4)
      and euphoscopin C (5), were isolated from the stem latex of Euphorbia
      helioscopia. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses. In the
      anti-inflammatory assay, euphohelioscopin A (4) exhibited moderate inhibitory
      activity on the release of cytokine TNF-alpha (IC50 = 23.7 +/- 1.7 MUM), IL-6
      (IC50 = 46.1 +/- 1.1 MUM) and chemokine MCP-1 (IC50 = 33.7 +/- 3.8 MUM) in
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 macrophages without notable
      cytotoxicity (IC50 > 80 MUM).

PMID- 26882660
TI  - A New Triterpenoid from the Aerial Parts of Agrimonia pilosa.
AB  - (1S,3R,17R,18R,19R,20R,22R)-1,3,19,22-tetrahydroxy-28-norurs-12-en-2-one (1),
      along with 5 known triterpenoids (2-6), were isolated from the aerial parts of
      Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Their structures were established based on extensive
      spectroscopic and MS analysis. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was
      deduced by circular dichroism (CD). Compound 1 was the first example of a 28
      norursene backbone isolated from the genus Agrimonia. Compounds 2-6 were tested
      for anti-inflammatory activities against RAW 264.7 macrophages. A plausible
      biosynthetic pathway for compound 1 in A. pilosa was also proposed.

PMID- 26882661
TI  - Two New 18-Norschiartane-type Schinortriterpenoids from Schisandra lancifolia.
AB  - Two new 18-norschiartane-type schinortriterpenoids, namely wuwezidilactones Q (1)
      and R (2) were isolated from the stems of Schisandra lancifolia. Their structures
      were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute
      configurations of the new compounds were further determined by ROESY and an
      empirical comparison of their experimental ECD spectra with literature.

PMID- 26882662
TI  - Terpenoids and Steroids from Euphorbia hypericifolia.
AB  - Two new triterpenoids and two new sterols, named euphyperins A-D (1-4), including
      an oleanane-type triterpenoid (1), a lupane-type nortriterpenoid (2), and two
      cholestane-type steroids (3 and 4), along with five known compounds (5-9) were
      isolated from the twigs and leaves of Euphorbia hypericifolia. Euphyperin B (2)
      represents a rare lupane-type nortriterpenoid, and euphyperin C (3) is a novel
      8,14-secocholestane-type steroid. Euphyperin A (1) exhibited moderate PTP1B
      inhibitory activity with an IC50 = 17.05 +/- 1.12 MUg/mL.

PMID- 26882663
TI  - A Fragmentation Study of Six C21 Steroidal Aglycones by Electrospray Ionization
      Ion-Trap Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
AB  - The fragmentation patterns of six C21 steroidal aglycones, metaplexigenin (1),
      caudatin (2), qingyangshengenin (3), penupogenin (4), 20-cinnamoylsarcostin (5),
      and gagamine (6), were analyzed by high-resolution electrospray ionization ion
      trap time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-IT-TOF-MS(n)). The [M-H]+
      ions of steroids 1-3 that contain a carbonyl functional group at C-20 (Type I)
      and [M+H]+ ions of steroids 5-6 that possess a hydroxyl group at C-20 (Type II)
      were readily observed in MS analyses. The fragmentation pathways and diagnostic
      fragment ions for these six steroidal aglycones were proposed on the basis of
      their MS(n) analyses. The common fragmentation pathways for type I steroidal
      aglycones include the neutral loss of the ester group at C-12 and the hydroxyl
      moieties on the steroid skeleton, as well as the cleavage of ring D. Their
      diagnostic fragment ions were identified as m/z 361(B), 343 (C), 325 (D), 307
      (F), 283 (G), 259 (E), and 243 (H). The fragmentation behavior of penupogenin (4)
      in type II was similar to those of type I, with m/z 363 (B'), 345 (C'), 327 (D'),
      309 (F'), 283 (G), and 243 (H) as its diagnostic fragment ions. The ester group
      at C-20 was difficult to cleave in the MS(n) analyses of 20-cinnamoylsarcostin
      (5) and gagamine (6) so that the loss of this ester group was slower than that at
      C-12 and hydroxyl groups; the key ions at m/z 329 (I), 311 (J), 293 (K), and 275
      (L) were characteristic for 5 and 6. The base ion peaks were derived from the
      loss of the substituent group at either C-12 or C-17 for both type I and type II
      steroidal aglycones.

PMID- 26882664
TI  - Three New Cytotoxic Withanolides from the Chinese Folk Medicine Physalis
      angulata.
AB  - Physagulides M-O, three new withanolides (1-3), were isolated from the aerial
      parts of Physalis angulata L. Their structures were elucidated through extensive
      spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. The absolute
      configurations (22-R) of these new compounds were determined by CD analysis.
      Compounds 1 and 3 showed significant selective cytotoxic activities on the MG-63
      cell line, with IC50 values of 4.28 and 5.44 MUM, respectively.

PMID- 26882665
TI  - Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum soongaricum var. pubescens.
AB  - One new diterpenoid alkaloid, pubescensine (1), along with nine known diterpenoid
      alkaloids (2-10) were isolated from the roots of Aconitum soongaricum var.
      pubescens. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and
      comparison with previously reported data. All the compounds were evaluated for
      their antifeedant activities. The aconitine-type diterpenoid alkaloids (1-6)
      showed considerably potent antifeedant activity (EC50 < 1 mg/cm2), while the
      activities of napelline-type diterpenoid alkaloids (compds. 7, 9 and 10) were not
      significant (EC50 > 50 mg/cm2).

PMID- 26882666
TI  - Two New C18-Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Delphinium anthriscifolium.
AB  - Two new C18-diterpenoid alkaloids, anthriscifoltine A (1) and anthriscifoltine B
      (2), along with three known diterpenoid alkaloids, deoxydelcorine (3),
      anthriscifolcine A (4) and anthriscifolcine G (5), were isolated from the whole
      herbs of Delphinium anthriscifolium var. majus. Their structures were elucidated
      by spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS.

PMID- 26882667
TI  - Majusine D: A New C19-diterpenoid Alkaloid from Delphinium majus.
AB  - A new C19-diterpenoid alkaloid, designated as majusine D (1), has been isolated
      from Delphinium majus W. T. Wang. The structure was elucidated by detailed NMR
      spectroscopic studies.

PMID- 26882668
TI  - Epoxide Opening of a 7,17-Seco-7,8-Epoxy-C19-Diterpenoid Alkaloid.
AB  - A new and effective approach toward epoxide opening of a 7,17-seco-7,8-epoxy-C19
      diterpenoid alkaloid is herein described. The starting epoxide was prepared from
      naturally occurring yunnaconitine via a nine-step transformation. Treatment of
      this epoxide with trifluoroacetic anhydride in dioxane at 110 degrees C followed
      by reduction with sodium boron hydride generated two epoxide opening compounds 7
      and 8. Each of their structures is characteristic of a Delta8,15 bridgehead
      double bond and a 7beta-oxygen-substituted group.

PMID- 26882669
TI  - Further Studies on Structure-Cardiac Activity Relationships of Diterpenoid
      Alkaloids.
AB  - The cardiac effect of thirty-eight diterpenoid alkaloids was evaluated on the
      isolated bullfrog heart model. Among them, twelve compounds exhibited appreciable
      cardiac activity, with compounds 3 and 35 being more active than the reference
      drug lanatoside. The structure-cardiac activity relationships of the diterpenoid
      alkaloids were summarized based on our present and previous studies [2]: i)
      1alpha-OMe or 1alpha-OH, 8-OH, 14-OH, and NH (or NMe) are key structural features
      important for the cardiac effect of the aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids
      without any esters. C18-diterpenoid alkaloids, lycoctonine-type C19-diterpenoid
      alkaloids, and the veatchine- and denudatine-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloids did
      not show any cardiac activity; ii) the presence of 3alpha-OH is beneficial to the
      cardiac activity; iii) the effect on the cardiac action of 6alpha-OMe, 13-OH,
      15alpha-OH, and 16-demethoxy or a double bond between C-15 and C-16 depends on
      the substituent pattern on the nitrogen atom.

PMID- 26882670
TI  - Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus Cultivated in Yunnan.
AB  - A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, 15,20-dehydro-3alpha-(2-oxopropyl)
      coronaridine (1), along with sixteen analogues (2-17) were isolated from the
      leaves of Catharanthus roseus cultivated in Yunnan. The new alkaloid was
      elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the known
      alkaloids were identified by comparison with the reported spectroscopic data.
      Among them, alkaloid 16 was isolated from Catharanthus for the first time.

PMID- 26882671
TI  - Two New Oxindole Alkaloid Glycosides from the Leaves of Nauclea officinalis.
AB  - Two new oxindole alkaloid glycosides, nauclealomide A and (3S,7R)-javaniside,
      were isolated from the leaves of Nauclea officinalis. Their structures and
      absolute configurations were elucidated by means of NMR, HRESIMS, X-ray
      diffraction, acid hydrolysis and quantum chemical CD calculation. Nauclealomide A
      is a novel monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloid possessing a rare tetrahydro-2H-1,3
      oxazine ring.

PMID- 26882672
TI  - Lycopodium Alkaloids from Diphasiastrum complanatum.
AB  - One new lycopodine-type Lycopodium alkaloid, dehydroisofawcettiine N-oxide (1)
      and eleven known analogues (2-12) were isolated from the whole plant of
      Diphasiastrum complanatum. The new structure was established on the basis of
      spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations
      of 2 and its new N-oxide derivative (1) were deduced by chemical transformation
      combined with Cotton effects in their electronic circular dichroism (ECD)
      spectra.

PMID- 26882673
TI  - Effects of Adding Vindoline and MeJA on Production of Vincristine and
      Vinblastine, and Transcription of their Biosynthetic Genes in the Cultured CMCs
      of Catharanthus roseus.
AB  - Vincristine and vinblastine were found by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
      (LC-MS) in Catharanthus roseuscambial meristem cells (CMCs) jointly treated with
      0.25 mM vindoline and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), suggesting that C. roseus CMCs
      contain a complete set of the enzymes which are in response to convert vindoline
      into vincristine and vinblastine. Based on the facts that the transcript levels
      of vindoline-biosynthetic genes (STR, SGD and D4H) were up-regulated instead of
      being down-regulated by adding itself to the culture, and that the
      transcriptional factor ORCA3 was up-regulated simultaneously, we further
      confirmed that the transcription of STR, SGD, D4H was manipulated by ORCA3.

PMID- 26882674
TI  - Structures and Chemotaxonomic Significance of Stemona Alkaloids from Stemona
      japonica.
AB  - A pair of new alkaloid stereo-isomers, stemocochinin (1) and isostemocochinin
      (2), was obtained from the roots of Stemona japonica Miq., along with seven known
      alkaloids, stemonamine (3), isostemonamine (4), maistemonine (5), isomaistemonine
      (6), croomine (7), stemonine (8), and protostemonine (9). The complete structure
      and stereochemistry of the pair of isomers were established by extensive analysis
      of the spectral data. Furthermore, our results indicated that S. japonica is
      chemically closer to S. sessilifolia than S. tuberosa, which are consistent with
      our previous DNA study on Stemona species.

PMID- 26882675
TI  - Chemical Constituents of Euonymus glabra.
AB  - One new phenolic compound (1) and one new flavan (2), together with eight known
      compounds (3-10) were isolated from the stems and twigs of Euonymus glabra Roxb.
      Their structures were elucidated mainly on the basis of 1D and 2D spectroscopic
      methods and circular dichroism analysis. In addition, compounds 1-10 were tested
      for their inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7
      macrophages. Compounds 1-5 and 7 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities with
      IC50 values ranged from 5.1 to 11.9 MUM.

PMID- 26882676
TI  - Isoprenylated Flavonoids with PTP1B Inhibition from Ficus tikoua.
AB  - Two new isoprenylated flavanones, ficustikousins A and B (1 and 2), together with
      seven known compounds (3-9) were isolated from the whole plant of Ficus tikoua
      (Moraceae). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of
      spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-7 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities
      against PTP1B in vitro.

PMID- 26882677
TI  - Phenolic Derivatives from Hypericum japonicum.
AB  - Three new acylphloroglucinol glycosides, hypericumols A - C, together with
      fifteen known phenolic derivatives, were isolated from the total phenolic extract
      of Hypericum japonicum. Hypericumols A, B, and C were characterized as 4,6
      dimethyl-2-methylpropanoylphloroglucinol-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 4-methyl
      2-methylpropanoylphloroglucinol-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), and (2'S)-4,6
      dimethyl-2-methylbutyrylphloroglucinol-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3),
      respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation and chemical
      degradation reaction.

PMID- 26882678
TI  - Synthesis and Anti-Proliferative Effects of Quercetin Derivatives.
AB  - Prostate cancer is the most common diagnosed invasive cancer in American men and
      is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although there are several
      therapies successful in treating early, localized stage prostate cancer, current
      treatment of advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains
      ineffective due to inevitable progression of resistance to first-line treatment
      with docetaxel. The natural product quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone),
      a flavonoid compound ubiquitous in dietary plants, possesses evidenced potential
      in treating advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However,
      its poor bioavailability and moderate potency hinder its advancement into
      clinical therapy. In order to engineer quercetin derivatives with improved
      potency and pharmacokinetic profiles for the treatment of advanced metastatic
      prostate cancer, we started this study with creating a small library of alkylated
      derivatives of quercetin for in vitro evaluation. The biological data and
      chemical reactivity of quercetin and its derivatives reported in literature
      directed us to design 3,4',7-O-trialkylquercetins as our first batch of targets.
      Consequently, nine 3,4',7-O-trialkylquercetins, together with four 3,7-O-
      dialkylquercetins, four 3,3',4',7-tetraalkylquercetins, and one 3,3',4'-O
      trialkylquercetin, were prepared by one step O-alkylation of commercially
      available quercetin mediated by potassium carbonate. Their structures were
      determined by ID and 2D NMR data, and HRMS. Their anti-proliferative activities
      towards both androgen-refractory and androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells
      were evaluated using WST-1 cell proliferation assay. The acquired structure
      activity relationships indicate that 3,7-O-dialkylquercetins rather than 3,4',7-O
      trialkylquercetins were much more potent than quercetin towards prostate cancer
      cells.

PMID- 26882679
TI  - Compounds with Antifouling Activities from the Roots of Notopterygium franchetii.
AB  - In antifouling screening, the extract of Notopterygium franchetii de Boiss showed
      obvious activity. Two new phenylpropanoids (1-2) and five known coumarins (3-7)
      were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of this species. The
      structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of
      spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-2 showed definite antifouling activity
      against larval settlement of Bugula neritina.

PMID- 26882680
TI  - New Isochromane Derivatives from the Mangrove Fungus Aspergillus ustus 094102.
AB  - Four new isochromane derivatives (1-4) along with the known peniciphenol (5) and
      (R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-3-(2-hydroxypropyl)pheno (6) were isolated from the EtOAc
      extract of the fermentation broth of the mangrove fungus, Aspergillus ustus
      094102. The structures of the new compounds including the absolute configuration
      were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, CD and ECD calculation.
      Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited alpha-glucosidase inhibition and anti-oxidation
      against DPPH radical with IC50 values of 1.4 mM and 25.7 MUM, respectively.

PMID- 26882681
TI  - Pericocins A-D, New Bioactive Compounds from Periconia sp.
AB  - One new dihydroisocoumarin, pericocin A (1), one new chromone, pericocin B (2),
      and two new alpha-pyrone derivatives, pericocins C-D (3-4), together with two
      known compounds, 3-(2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)propanoic acid (5) and (E)-3-(2-oxo-2H
      pyran-6-yl)acrylic acid (6), were isolated from the culture of the endolichenic
      fungus Periconia sp.. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.
      All these compounds are derived from the polyketone biosynthetic pathway.
      Compound 1 was obtained as a mixture of enantiomers. The antimicrobial activity
      of compounds 1-5 was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus,
      Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Compounds 1-5 showed moderate
      antimicrobial activity against A. niger and weak activity against C. albicans.

PMID- 26882682
TI  - New Benzenoids from the Roots of Lindera aggregata.
AB  - Two new benzenoids, linderagatin A and B (1-2), were isolated from the roots of
      Lindera aggregata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D (1H, 13C)
      and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) spectra. Moreover, their absolute
      configurations were established from ECD spectra compared with previous reports.

PMID- 26882683
TI  - 12-Membered Resorcylic Acid Lactones Isolated from Saccharicola bicolor, an
      Endophytic Fungi from Bergenia purpurascens.
AB  - Two new resorcylic acid lactones, 13-hydroxyhidroresorcylide (1) and 12
      hydroxyhidroresorcylide (2), along with four known congeners (3-6) were isolated
      from Saccharicola bicolor, an endophytic fungus from Bergenia purpurascens. Their
      structures were elucidated by interpretation of the spectroscopic evidence.

PMID- 26882684
TI  - Phenylpropanoid Glycosides from the Leaves of Ananas comosus.
AB  - Two new phenylpropanoid glycosides, named beta-D-(1-O-acetyl-3,6-O-diferuloyl)
      fructofuranosyl beta-D-6'-O-acetylglucopyranoside (1) and beta-D-(1-O-acetyl-3,6
      O-diferuloyl) fructofuranosyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with two known
      analogues (3-4) and four glycerides (5-8), were isolated from the EtOAc extract
      of the leaves of Ananas comosus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of
      1D- and 2D-NMR analyses, as well as HR-ESI-MS experiments. Compounds 1-4 showed
      significant antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and
      Escherichia coli.

PMID- 26882685
TI  - Tannins and Antioxidant Activities of the Walnut (Juglans regia) Pellicle.
AB  - The total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of the acetone extract and
      derived fractions from the walnut (Juglans regia) pellicle were estimated. The
      BuOH fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity with the highest
      phenolic content. A phytochemical investigation of this fraction led to the
      isolation of three tannins, 2,3-hexahydroxydiphenoylglucose (1), pedunculagin (2)
      and 2,3,4,6-tetragalloylglucose (3). Pedunculagin showed high content and
      powerful activity, which implied that this compound plays an important role in
      the antioxidant activity of the walnut pellicle.

PMID- 26882686
TI  - Chemical Constituents of Cordyceps cicadae.
AB  - One new bifuran derivative (1), together with fourteen known compounds, were
      isolated from Cordyceps cicadae X. Q. Shing. The known compounds included nine
      nucleosides, uracil (2), uridine (3), 2'-deoxyuridine (4), 2'-deoxyinosine (5),
      guanosine (6), 2'-deoxyguanosine (7), thymidine (8), adenosine (9), and 2'
      deoxyadenosine (10); three amino acids tryptophan (11), phenylalanine (12), and
      tyrosine (13); and two dopamine analogues N-acetylnoradrenaline (14) and its
      dimer, trans-2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-acetylamino-7-(N-acetyl-2"-amino
      ethylene)-1,4-benzodioxane (15). Their structures were decisively elucidated by
      spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques.

PMID- 26882687
TI  - A New Bithiophene from the Root of Echinops grijsii.
AB  - A new bithiophene, 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-1-butyny)-2,2'-bithiophene (1), and
      sixteen known thiophenes: 2-(3,4-dihydroxybut-1-ynyl)-5-(penta-1,3
      diynyl)thiophene (2), alpha-terthienyl (3), 5-(3,4-dihydroxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'
      bithiophene (4), 5-acetyl-2,2'-bithiophene (5), 5-formyl-2,2'-bithiophene (6),
      methyl 2,2'-bithiophene-5-carboxylate (7), 5-(but-3-en-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene
      (8), 5-(4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (9), cardopatine (10),
      isocardopatine (11), 5-(3-hydroxy-4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene
      (12), 5-(3-hydroxymethyl-3-isovaleroyloxyprop-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (13), 5-(4
      hydroxy-1-butynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (14), 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butynl)-2,2'-bithiophene
      (15), 2,2'-bithiophene-5-carboxylic acid (16) and 2-(4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl)-5
      (penta-1,3-diynyl)thiophene (17) were isolated from the roots of Echinops grjisii
      Hance. Among them, compounds 6, 7 and 16 were isolated from a natural source for
      the first time. Compounds 2, 4 and 14 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory
      activity against nitrite of LPS-stimulated production in the RAW 264.7 cell line.

PMID- 26882688
TI  - Cyclic Lipopeptides with Herbicidal and Insecticidal Activities Produced by
      Bacillus clausii DTM1.
AB  - Seven cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactants (1-7) were isolated for the first time
      from the fermentation broth of endophytic Bacillus clausii DTM1 and were
      identified as anteisoC13[Val7] surfactin-(L-Glu)-O-methyl-ester (1),
      anteisoC12[Val7] surfactin (2), anteisoC15[Val7] surfactin (3), isoC14[Leu7]
      surfactin (4), anteisoC12[Leu7] surfactin (5), nC13[Leu7] surfactin (6), and
      anteisoC14[Leu7] surfactin-(L-Glu)-O-methyl-ester (7); 1 has not been isolated
      before as a natural product from any source. Plate-based herbicide and
      insecticide bioassays showed that all compounds exhibited interesting
      insecticidal and herbicidal activities.

PMID- 26882689
TI  - Synthesis of (6R,12R)-6,12-Dimethylpentadecan-2-one, the Female-Produced Sex
      Pheromone from Banded Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica balteata, Based on a Chiron
      Approach.
AB  - Herein we describe a synthesis of (6R,12R)-6,12-dimethylpentadecan-2-one (5), the
      female produced sex pheromone of banded cucumber beetle Diabrotica balteata Le
      Conte, from (R)-4-methyl-5-valerolactone, a methyl-branched chiron.

PMID- 26882690
TI  - A Rapid Study of Botanical Drug-Drug Interaction with Protein by Re-ligand
      Fishing using Human Serum Albumin-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles.
AB  - A great many active constituents of botanical drugs bind to human serum albumin
      (HSA) reversibly with a dynamic balance between the free- and bound-forms in
      blood. The curative or side effect of a drug depends on its free-form level,
      which is always influenced by other drugs, combined dosed or multi-constituents
      of botanical drugs. This paper presented a rapid and convenient methodology to
      investigate the drug-drug interactions with HSA. The interaction of two steroidal
      saponins, dioscin and pseudo-protodioscin, from a botanical drug was studied for
      their equilibrium time and equilibrium amount by re-ligand fishing using HSA
      functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. A clear competitive situation was obtained
      by this method. The equilibrium was reached soon about 15 s at a ratio of 0.44:
      1. Furthermore, the interaction of pseudo-protodioscin to total steroidal
      saponins from DAXXK was also studied. The operation procedures of this method
      were faster and more convenient compared with other methods reported.

PMID- 26882691
TI  - Serum Metabolomic Profiling of Rats by Intervention of Aconitum soongaricum.
AB  - To understand the toxic mechanism and to find the changes in the endogenous
      metabolites of Aconitum soongaricum Stapf for clinical detection, a combination
      of 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis was applied to
      examine the metabolic profiles of the blood serum samples collected from the rat
      model. In total, thirteen biomarkers of A. soongaricum were found and identified.
      It turned out that A. soongaricum treatment may partially disorder the
      metabolism. The study has shown the potential application of NMR-based
      metabolomic analysis in providing further insights into the toxicity caused by A.
      soongaricum.

PMID- 26882692
TI  - Re-evaluation of ABTS*+ Assay for Total Antioxidant Capacity of Natural Products.
AB  - 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical
      cation (ABTS*+) is a stable free radical frequently used for estimating the total
      antioxidant capacity (TAC) of natural products. The existing methods for ABTS*+
      radical-scavenging activity assays are diverse in pre-diluting solvents and
      reaction time, which lead to errors in the TAC estimations. To develop an
      effective and universal method for estimating the ABTS*+ capacity accurately and
      reasonably, five pre-dilution solvents [methanol, ethanol, phosphate buffer
      (Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4, 200 mM, pH = 7.4), PBS buffer (Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4- NaCl, 200 mM,
      pH = 7.4), and distilled water] and different reaction times were investigated in
      ABTS*+ assays of five typical antioxidants. The results showed that the solvent
      effects were very significant. When using different pre-diluting solvents,
      different detection wavelengths should be selected. ABTS*+ assay could be
      measured within 2-10 min to obtain a rough result, which was mostly 6 min in the
      literature. However, full and accurate evaluation of antioxidant reactivity
      rather than capacity requires recording ABTS*+ loss continuously during the whole
      reaction period. The present study makes a recommendation for estimating the
      ABTS*+ capacity accurately and reasonably.

PMID- 26882693
TI  - Chemical Synthesis of the Echinopine Sesquiterpenoids.
AB  - As new members of the sesquiterpenoid family, echinopines A and B were found to
      possess an unprecedented [3/5/5/7] carbon framework, which has stimulated
      considerable interest among the chemistry community since their isolation. This
      review article documents chronologically the steps towards chemical synthesis of
      the echinopine sesquiterpenoids, showcasing different strategies by resorting to
      the toolkit of organic chemistry.

PMID- 26882694
TI  - Synergistic Effects of Dietary Natural Products as Anti-Prostate Cancer Agents.
AB  - This review is to describe synergistic effects of various combinations of dietary
      natural products including curcumin, quercetin, soybean isoflavones, silibinin,
      and EGCG that have potential for the treatment of prostate cancer. These data can
      provide valuable insights into the future rational design and development of
      synergistic and/or hybrid agents for potential treatment of prostate cancer.

PMID- 26882695
TI  - Ligustrum lucidum and its Constituents: A Mini-Review on the Anti-Osteoporosis
      Potential.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder commonly occurred in aging populations,
      particularly postmenopausal women and patients who undergo long-term steroid or
      anti-estrogen therapies. Given the rapid growth of the aging population, the
      prevalence of bone loss, and the huge medical and healthcare cost involved,
      demand for alternative approaches for the promotion of bone health is pressing.
      With the advent of global interest in complementary and alternative medicine and
      natural products, Chinese medicine serves as a viable source that offers benefits
      to improve and maintain bone health. This review summarizes the scientific
      information on the Chinese medicinal herb Ligustrum lucidum and its chemical
      components as potential therapy for osteoporosis.

PMID- 26882696
TI  - Alice, Benzene, and Coffee: The ABCs of Ecopharmacognosy.
AB  - The sesquicentennial celebrations of the publication of "Alice's Adventures in
      Wonderland" and the structure of benzene offer a unique opportunity to develop a
      contemporary interpretation of aspects of Alice's adventures, illuminate the
      symbolism of benzene, and contextualize both with the globalization of coffee,
      transitioning to how the philosophy and sustainable practices of ecopharmacognosy
      may be applied to modulating approaches to the quality, safety, efficacy, and
      consistency (QSEC) of traditional medicines and dietary supplements through
      technology integration, thereby improving patient-centered health care.

PMID- 26882697
TI  - [Greetings of the Special Issue for 109th Japanese Society of Medical Physics
      Annual Meeting].

PMID- 26882698
TI  - [The Project Intention and a Report on the JSMP109 Symposium 1].

PMID- 26882699
TI  - [IAEA Training Course Series TCS-37 Clinical Training of Medical Physicists
      Specializing in Radiation Oncology].
AB  - Training program IAEA TCS-37 (Training course series No.37) "Clinical Training of
      Medical Physicists Specializing in Radiation Oncology (2009)" was fixed to
      practical training syllabus at faculty and graduate course of medical physics of
      a university. TCS-47 for diagnostic radiology (2010) and TCS-50 for nuclear
      medicine (2011) were also involved in the syllabus. These training courses had
      been developed by IAEA RCA RAS6038 project since 2002. In this paper, first,
      comparison with other training programs in the world was made in terms of (1)
      Degree of extent of subject or field, (2) Concreteness or specificity, (3) Degree
      of completion, (4) Method of certification and (5) Practicability. IAEA TCS
      series got the most points among ten programs such as EMERALD/EMIT, AAPM
      rpt.No.90 and CAMPEP accredited programs. Second, TCS-37, TCS47 and TCS50 were
      broken down to 6, 5 and 6 subjects of training course respectively. Third, each
      subject was further broken down to 15 times of training schedule where every time
      was composed by 3 hours of training. Totally 45 hours of a subject were assigned
      to one semester for getting one unit of credit. Seventeen units should be
      credited up to three years in graduate course to finish the whole program.

PMID- 26882700
TI  - [Medical Physics Residency Program at University of Tsukuba].

PMID- 26882701
TI  - [Medical Physics Clinical Training at Osaka University].

PMID- 26882702
TI  - [A Report on the JSMP 109 Symposium 2 "How Could We Contribute in Reducing the
      Lung Cancer Mortality?: Facing to CMS Decision for Lung Cancer with Low Dose CT
      Screening"].

PMID- 26882703
TI  - [Current Situation and Perspective of CT Lung Cancer Screening: Trials in
      Hiroshima Prefecture].

PMID- 26882704
TI  - [A Decrease in Lung Cancer Mortality Following the Implementation of CT Screening
      for General Population].
AB  - In Hitachi Medical Area, a large-scale lung cancer screening program using low
      dose CT has been underway in two medical facilities since its introduction in
      1998 and 2001. A total of 61,914 tests were performed among 25,385 participants
      until 2006. Two hundred and ten lung cancer patients had been identified on CT
      screening. The estimated 5-year survival rate for all patients was 90%. Among
      residents in Hitachi City, nearly 40% of inhabitants aged 50-69 years were
      estimated to have participated in the screening from 1998 through 2009. Cancer
      mortality data were obtained from a regional cancer registry and the standardized
      mortality ratio (SMR) of lung cancer was calculated for each 5-year period during
      1995-2009. For residents aged 50-79 years, SMR was nearly unity between 1995 and
      2004; however, there was a significant decrease during 2005-2009, with SMR (95%
      confidence interval) being 0.76 (0.67-0.86). These results suggest that the wide
      implementation of CT screening may reduce lung cancer mortality in the community,
      4-8 years after introduction. It is desirable to continue to focus on future
      developments, including original research in Japan.

PMID- 26882705
TI  - [Current Status and Future Perspectives of CAD system in Lung Cancer CT
      Screening].
AB  - Current status of the developments of computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD)
      system for lung cancer screening with CT imaging is reviewed along with the
      commercialization status. Issues to be solved for the lung CAD popularization and
      QA for CAD are also described followed by the future perspectives of the CAD.

PMID- 26882707
TI  - [Series: Fundamental Electromagnetics for Beginners (3)].

PMID- 26882706
TI  - [Reduction of Lung Cancer Mortality by Disseminating CT Screening: Contribution
      from Medical Physics].

PMID- 26882708
TI  - [Medical Applications of the PHITS Code I: Recent Improvements and Biological
      Dose Estimation Model].
AB  - PHITS is a general purpose Monte Carlo particle transport simulation code
      developed through the collaboration of several institutes mainly in Japan. It can
      analyze the motion of nearly all radiations over wide energy ranges in 3
      dimensional matters. It has been used for various applications including medical
      physics. This paper reviews the recent improvements of the code, together with
      the biological dose estimation method developed on the basis of the
      microdosimetric function implemented in PHITS.

PMID- 26882709
TI  - UnitedHealth alone so far in threatening to exit exchanges.

PMID- 26882711
TI  - CMS' 'doc fix' may need some repairs itself.

PMID- 26882710
TI  - Bundled-payment demo has nursing homes seeing stars.

PMID- 26882712
TI  - Joint Commission to shelve hospital Top Performer program until 2017.

PMID- 26882713
TI  - U.S. hospitals take different approach than the French in planning for mass
      casualties.

PMID- 26882714
TI  - Taking a broader view of health. With less need for charity care, hospitals focus
      on community health improvement.

PMID- 26882715
TI  - Whistle-blower worries. Hospitals likely to see more False Claims suits tied to
      doc-compensation deals.

PMID- 26882717
TI  - Strengthen palliative care to help build a more patient-centered system.

PMID- 26882716
TI  - A cloudy dawn for biosimilars.

PMID- 26882718
TI  - Urban hospitals boost local hiring.

PMID- 26882719
TI  - Politicians' ACA stance depends on how close they are to the point of service.

PMID- 26882720
TI  - Largest skilled-nursing providers. Ranked by net revenue.

PMID- 26882721
TI  - A WAY FORWARD FOR THE NHS. Take a place-based approach to care.

PMID- 26882723
TI  - FOCUS SHOULD BE ON PREVENTION.

PMID- 26882722
TI  - ON CHANGING THE CULTURE OF BULLYING IN THE NHS.

PMID- 26882724
TI  - How to read the 2015 HSJ100.

PMID- 26882725
TI  - WORKFORCE. Developing new model workers.

PMID- 26882726
TI  - Delivering-change. DAWN OF THE VOLUNTEER REVOLUTION.

PMID- 26882727
TI  - TECHNOLOGY. HOW TO SPOT A GOOD APP.

PMID- 26882729
TI  - ASSET MANAGEMENT. SCANNING FOR SAVINGS.

PMID- 26882728
TI  - FINANCE. The real agency spend revealed.

PMID- 26882730
TI  - Go back and predict the future.

PMID- 26882731
TI  - Healthcare leaders back feds stepping in to restrain drug prices.

PMID- 26882732
TI  - States prodded on network rules.

PMID- 26882733
TI  - Competition heats up for patient-generated health data.

PMID- 26882734
TI  - Latest budget deal escalates false claims and civil monetary penalties.

PMID- 26882735
TI  - Prescribing a climate remedy. Healthcare leaders aim to influence international
      climate change negotiations.

PMID- 26882736
TI  - Cancer competition. As local treatment centers grow, hospitals look for ways to
      advertise their superiority.

PMID- 26882737
TI  - The need for better evidence in treating heart disease.

PMID- 26882738
TI  - Choice Act lets veterans get comprehensive care at community health centers.

PMID- 26882739
TI  - Launching a cybersecurity war room.

PMID- 26882740
TI  - Shared savings don't go far enough in accepting risk.

PMID- 26882741
TI  - Largest rehabilitation providers. Ranked by net revenue.

PMID- 26882742
TI  - PARTNERS in excellence.

PMID- 26882743
TI  - It's all about the PATIENT.

PMID- 26882744
TI  - Converging infrastructure systems.

PMID- 26882745
TI  - Lab results.

PMID- 26882747
TI  - A customer-centric approach to environmental services.

PMID- 26882746
TI  - Achieving stable power.

PMID- 26882748
TI  - Transitioning to a BIM platform.

PMID- 26882749
TI  - Mental health patients need affordable, nutritious food too.

PMID- 26882750
TI  - Choosing to work in aged care.

PMID- 26882751
TI  - Support for the AT role.

PMID- 26882753
TI  - Reporting substandard care.

PMID- 26882752
TI  - Seeking study volunteers.

PMID- 26882754
TI  - Free care in the Pacific.

PMID- 26882755
TI  - Diagnosing lesions and preventing skin cancer.

PMID- 26882756
TI  - Appreciating the gift of a new liver.

PMID- 26882757
TI  - Teaching health in South Sudan.

PMID- 26882758
TI  - Obstetric fistula--the untreated tragedy.

PMID- 26882759
TI  - The power of kindness. Acts of kindness by nurses live long in patients'
      memories.

PMID- 26882760
TI  - Resting easy in sleep.

PMID- 26882761
TI  - Cultural understanding crucial in Bougainville.

PMID- 26882762
TI  - Schools need good-quality toilets.

PMID- 26882763
TI  - Career planning useful for older nurses.

PMID- 26882764
TI  - The forgotten 'sisters' of WW1.

PMID- 26882765
TI  - Imagine what we could do!

PMID- 26882766
TI  - Shining a light on nursing.

PMID- 26882767
TI  - A big year for aged care.

PMID- 26882768
TI  - Advocating for the health of whanau.

PMID- 26882769
TI  - Respiratory nursing: Addressing inequality is the key to health.

PMID- 26882770
TI  - Emergency nurses: Asking for help important.

PMID- 26882771
TI  - Neonatal nursing: Shaping a positive journey for patients.

PMID- 26882773
TI  - Sedentary behaviour is bad for your mental health.

PMID- 26882772
TI  - Nurse managers: Creating healthy workplaces.

PMID- 26882774
TI  - Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a common condition characterised by low bone mineral density
      (BMD) and an increased risk of fragility fractures. It affects up to 30% of women
      and 12% of men at some point in their lives. Two of the most important risk
      factors are increasing age and female gender, although other common and
      potentially modifiable risk factors include long-term corticosteroid therapy,
      chronic inflammatory disease, malabsorption and untreated premature menopause.
      The diagnosis of osteoporosis can be confirmed by DEXA but this should only be
      performed in patients who have an increased risk of fracture on the basis of
      clinical risk factors. DEXA should be considered if the 10-year risk of major
      osteoporotic fracture is > 10%. If the BMD T-score values by DEXA at the lumbar
      spine, femoral neck or total hip are at or below -2.5 then the diagnosis of
      osteoporosis is confirmed. Vertebral fractures are generally taken as diagnostic
      of osteoporosis, even if spine BMD values are not in the osteoporotic range. Oral
      bisphosphonates are the first-line treatment. If they are contraindicated or not
      tolerated then parenteral therapy should be considered. There is evidence that
      fractures occur in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis at higher levels of BMD
      than in postmenopausal osteoporosis so therapy should be considered in patients
      with a BMD T-score of <-1.5. Although it is useful to have a DEXA scan before
      starting treatment to provide a baseline value to assess response, this
      investigation is not absolutely necessary to initiate bone protective therapy,
      especially in those aged above 65 since the vast majority of these patients will
      have a T-score of -1.5 or below. In younger individuals where BMD is likely to be
      higher DEXA is useful in determining if bone protective treatment is needed
      immediately or if it could be delayed until the T score falls below -1.5.

PMID- 26882775
TI  - Evaluating the patient with low back pain.
AB  - In the UK, low back pain is the most common cause of disability in young adults
      and every year 6-9% of adults consult their GP about back pain. A thorough
      history and examination is required to exclude an alternative diagnosis, such as
      pain arising from the hip or trochanteric bursa and to categorise patients as
      having: serious spinal pathology, nerve root/radicular pain or non-specific back
      pain. Inflammatory back pain is often missed, particularly in the early stages
      when examination may be normal. The primary features are pain arising in patients
      under 40, thoracolumbar or sacroiliac pain and alternating buttock pain.
      Stiffness in the early morning and after rest is a hallmark of inflammatory back
      pain. There may also be peripheral joint involvement with evidence of
      inflammatory arthritis as well as extra-articular manifestations such as iritis,
      psoriasis and colitis. Sphincter disturbance leading to loss of bladder or bowel
      control should also be explored as it is a sign of spinal cord compression or
      cauda equina syndrome. Both of these are neurosurgical emergencies and need
      urgent referral for further investigation and possible intervention. The majority
      of patients with low back pain can be managed in primary care as the pain will
      usually be self-limiting. Patients with suspected inflammatory back pain should
      be referred to rheumatology as soon as possible in order to institute early
      management and prevent long-term deformity and disability. Patients with
      suspected serious spinal pathology should be referred urgently for further
      investigation. Red flag symptoms should raise concerns regarding a possible
      sinister cause such as malignancy and more than one red flag mandates urgent
      further investigation.

PMID- 26882776
TI  - The case of the migrating IUD.
AB  - A 30-year-old lady presented to the gynaecologist with persistent vaginal
      bleeding following insertion of an IUD. At the time, abdominal examination was
      unremarkable and speculum examination revealed normal external genitalia and
      cervix. A transvaginal ultrasound showed a normal uterus, normal ovaries and no
      adnexal masses or free fluid. It was assumed that the IUD had fallen out. Around
      the same time she presented to her GP with a short history of dysuria,
      intermittent visible haematuria and recurrent urinary tract infections. After
      initial management in general practice for 12 months, she was referred to the
      urology department for further investigation. She underwent flexible cystoscopy,
      which showed the presence of an IUD within the bladder. Under general
      anaesthesia, it was found that the body of the IUD had penetrated the bladder
      mucosa and become embedded in the right lateral wall of the bladder. The IUD was
      markedly calcified but was easily removed endoscopically as a whole unit with
      grasping forceps. A three-week postoperative cystogram ruled out the presence of
      a fistula. At the six-week postoperative review she was asymptomatic and well.

PMID- 26882777
TI  - MIGRAINE AND OCULAR DEFECTS.

PMID- 26882778
TI  - A tale of the unexpected.

PMID- 26882779
TI  - THE USE OF TEMPORARY CLINICAL STAFF IN THE NHS: AN HSJ INVESTIGATION.

PMID- 26882780
TI  - ON THE SPENDING REVIEW: Osborne's 'magic sofa' might bring discomfort.

PMID- 26882782
TI  - THE STATUS QUO IS NOT AN OPTION FOR CCGs.

PMID- 26882781
TI  - STOP VICTIMISING BEREAVED FAMILIES.

PMID- 26882783
TI  - TIME TO HAND OVER POWER.

PMID- 26882784
TI  - Effectiveness and Safety of a Clinical Decision Rule to Reduce Repeat Ionized
      Calcium Testing: A Pre/Post Test Intervention.
AB  - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare
      and Medicaid Services to reimburse hospitals that demonstrate meaningful use of
      certified electronic health record technology. We sought to demonstrate
      meaningful use by developing and implementing one clinical decision support rule
      in the computerized physician order entry system that targets clinician-ordered
      repeat ionized calcium measurement at the University of Connecticut Health
      Center. The rule consists of a pop-up computer reminder that is triggered by
      ordering a second ionized calcium test within 72 hours after an initial normal
      test, with no clear indication for repeat testing. We implemented the rule on
      December 14, 2010, and have reviewed all data collected through December 2014. We
      found that the number of repeat tests decreased from 46% to 14% with no
      significant increase in the number of serious adverse events. We conclude that
      computerized reminders can decrease unnecessary repeat testing in the inpatient
      setting.

PMID- 26882785
TI  - Retinal Detachment and Symptomatic Hypercalcemia in a Patient with Sarcoidosis:
      Unusual Presentation of a Granulomatous Disease.
AB  - Sarcoidosisis amultisystemic granulomatous disease, potentially affecting any
      organ system of the body. Calcium metabolism disturbances occur in up to 20% of
      patients, of which hypercalciuria and asymptomatic hypercalcemia are most common.
      Ocular sarcoid typically presents with anterior chamber manifestations such as
      uveitis, iritis, and iridocyclitis, but can involve posterior chamber as well. We
      describe herein a unique presentation of sarcoidosis with retinal detachment and
      symptomatic hypercalcemia as its first manifestation. Prompt therapy with
      steroids is indicated in these cases, and an immediate ophthalmology referral
      cannot be overemphasized.

PMID- 26882786
TI  - Singing the "Minocycline Blues".
AB  - A variety of medical conditions and medications can lead to cutaneous dyschromia.
      We report a case of minocycline dyschromia that had been mistakenly attributed to
      chronic actinic purpura.

PMID- 26882787
TI  - Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Case Reports and Review of the
      Literature.
AB  - Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the liver are exceedingly rare, and unlike
      metastatic neuroendocrine tumors, rarely cause carcinoid syndrome. There are
      fewer than 150 cases reported in the current literature. We report two cases of
      primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas of the liver. Both patients remain
      healthy without any recurrence to date. A review of the current literature
      regarding diagnosis, pathology, and management of this disease is included.

PMID- 26882788
TI  - An Unusual Cause of a Solitary Lung Cavity.
AB  - Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Pulmonary
      involvement is common, but lung nodules in sarcoidosis are uncommon, and solitary
      nodules that cavitate are extremely rare. Nodular sarcoidosis is usually found in
      young, healthy, predominantly female individuals. These lesions need to be
      differentiated from multiple other conditions, including neoplasms and
      granulomatous infections. A thorough workup for other etiologies of cavitary lung
      lesions is required for diagnosis. Despite an ominous presentation, nodular
      cavitary sarcoidosis portends a favorable outcome. We report a patient who
      presented with a solitary cavitary nodular lung lesion that was diagnosed as
      sarcoidosis after extensive workup.

PMID- 26882789
TI  - The Rise and Fall of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation via Brachytherapy in
      a Single Institution.
AB  - Accelerated partial breast irradiation via brachytherapy (APBI-b) is offered as
      an alternative to whole breast irradiation (WBI) for selected patients with
      breast cancer. This study evaluates our clinical experience with APBI-b to
      identify the reasons for decreased clinical utilization in recent years. We
      performed an analysis of the prospective database of breast cancer patients
      treated with APBI-b between 2004 and 2013. During that time, 245 patients
      received APBI-b, most having stage I (77%) or stage 0 (20%) breast cancer. Since
      2004, the number of APBI-b cases per year rose to 49 in 2009, declining
      thereafter to 14 in 2013 (P < 0.001). The APBI-b case volume dropped in 2010
      following the publication of the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)
      consensus guidelines in 2009. After 2009 fewer unsuitable cases received APBI-b
      (11% vs. 4%,P = 0.1). CONCLUSION: The clinical utilization of APBI-b has
      decreased after the publication of consensus guidelines. A reduction in
      unsuitable cases treated after 2009 does not explain the global loss of
      referrals.

PMID- 26882790
TI  - Autosplenectomy Causing Catastrophic Pneumococcal Meningitis in a Patient with
      Lupus/Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.
AB  - We present the case ofa26-year-old female who presented to the hospital with
      pneumococcal meningitis. A review of her records showed atrophic spleen, and a
      hypercoagulable workup was positive for Systemic Lupus Erythematous
      (SLE)/Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS). An autosplenectomy from
      thrombotic occlusion of the splenic artery made her susceptible to pneumococcal
      meningitis. Autoimmune conditions, particularly SLE and APS, are important causes
      of hypercoagulable states in a young population, and earlier detection of these
      conditions and appropriate treatment helps to decrease morbidity and mortality
      among these patients.

PMID- 26882791
TI  - Transdermal Patches: Considerations in Special Populations.

PMID- 26882792
TI  - Where Light Shines Through.

PMID- 26882793
TI  - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

PMID- 26882794
TI  - Physician Burnout: Emotional Exhaustion.

PMID- 26882796
TI  - Health Insurance Literacy--It's About Transparency.

PMID- 26882795
TI  - The Present and Future Face of Medicine.

PMID- 26882797
TI  - [VASCULITIDES IN CHILDHOOD: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A PERIOD FROM 2002 TO 2012
      AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTRE ZAGREB].
AB  - The aim of our study was to analyze clinical features, laboratory findings,
      treatment, course and outcome of different types of vasculitis in children. All
      children aged up to 18 years that have been diagnosed with a vasculitis disorder
      from 2002. to 2012. at the Department of Paediatric, University Hospital Centre
      Zagreb according to EULAR/PRES/PRINTO criteria were included in the study.
      Vasculitis was diagnosed in 180 children, 101 girls and 79 boys, mean age 7.19 +/
      3.7 years, with an average follow-up of 5.58 +/- 3.28 years. Most of the
      children (155 or 86%) were diagnosed with Henoch-Shonlein purpura (HSP),
      polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was diagnosed in 6 children (3.3%), isolated cutaneous
      leukocytoclastic vasculitis in 5 (2.8%), Takayasu arteritis (TA) and Kawasaki
      disease in 2 (1.1%) respectively, hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis in one
      patient (0.5%) and other types of vasculitis in 10 (5.5%) patients (vasculitides
      in systemic connective tissue disorders in 7 and unclassified vasculitides in 3
      patients). All patients had elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies (ANCA)
      were positive only in one patient, suffering from microscopic polyangiitis.
      Treatment modality in most patients were NSAIDs, while children with kidney or
      gastrointestinal system affection were treated with glucocorticoids and/or
      immunosuppresive drugs. Biological therapy (anti-CD20, rituximab) was used in
      patients with most severe symptoms. One child (0.56%), suffering from microscopic
      polyangiitis, died due to kidney failure during the follow-up. Forty patients
      (22.6%) had one disease relapse, while 6 (3.4%) had two relapses. In conclusion,
      we found some differences in laboratory parameters (e.g. lower incidence of
      elevated antistreptolysin O titer in HSP) and epidemiological data (e.g. higher
      prevalence of PAN in female children) in comparison to data from available
      studies, while other clinical features, laboratory findings, disease outcome and
      treatment were similar.

PMID- 26882798
TI  - [RHEUMATOLOGY IN EUROPE IN 2015].
AB  - One of the main concerns of people with chronic conditions, particularly
      rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, is the availability of quality health
      care, which is being analyzed. There are differences between European countries
      regarding the access to health care. The pressure of the financial crisis has
      been recognized in making barriers more evident. Representatives of the European
      Parliament together with stakeholder organizations create policy documents for
      optimizing access to health care at both the EU and national levels. Great care
      is taken with the education of medical doctors and other professionals in
      rheumatology on all educational levels. Based on a recent study, there are
      similarities and discrepancies in the implementation of the specialty training
      programs (Chapter 6 of the UEMS Charter of Specialty Training Programmes) across
      Europe. In the meantime, the UEMS Council has endorsed the new Training
      Requirements for the Specialty of Rheumatology--European Standards for
      Postgraduate Medical Specialist Training. The training program is competency
      based, stressing the important role of professional behaviour. The document is
      being forwarded to the national societies in order to be implemented in the
      European countries. A strategy of assessment methods in the specialty training
      program is being developed. Work on the e-portfolio for European trainees as well
      as the European Specialty Board Examination is in progress.

PMID- 26882799
TI  - [BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS--OUR
      RESULTS].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an
      increased risk of developing low bone mass (LBM) or osteoporosis, either because
      of the disease itself or due to its treatment. Osteoporosis and osteoporotic
      fractures significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. We aimed to
      determine the associations of bone mineral density (BMD) changes with the
      duration of SLE, age, gender, and glucocorticoid treatment in SLE patients
      treated at our Department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BMD measurements of the lumbar
      spine and total hip were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
      Osteoporosis and LBM were determined according to the 1994 World Health
      Organization definition. In the statistical analysis, the independent Mann
      Whitney U test and Tukey post-hoc testing were used. RESULTS: The study included
      48 SLE patients (44 female and 4 male), with a mean age of 45.8 years and an
      average SLE duration of 9.8 years. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 21%, and LBM in
      15% of the patients. The mean ages of the subgroups with normal BMD, LBM, and
      osteoporosis were 41.1, 47.6, and 59.0 years, respectively. Variant analysis
      showed a statistically significant correlation between age and BMD (p < 0.05).
      The duration of SLE was significantly shorter in patients with normal BMD (7.3
      years), compared to patients with LBM (16.1 years) and osteoporosis (12.9 years)
      (p < 0.05). Nearly all patients (47 of 48) were on long-term treatment with
      glucocorticoids. One third (33.3 %) of patients did not take vitamin D3, and 56.3
      % did not take calcium supplements. CONCLUSION: The etiopathogenesis of decreased
      BMD in SLE patients is multifactorial and includes both traditional and SLE
      related risk factors. In our group of SLE patients age and glucocorticoid
      treatment were the major risk factors for LBM. Timely prevention and treatment of
      LBM and osteoporosis in SLE patients, according to current knowledge, are
      essential for reducing morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 26882800
TI  - [TAKAYASU ARTERITIS AND POSSIBLE CARDIOLOGY REPERCUSSIONS IN THE CHILDHOOD].
AB  - Vasculitides are rare rheumatic diseases of unknown etiology whose main
      characteristic is a necrotizing inflammation of blood vessels. We are presenting
      two patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) as entity forms of rare rheumatic
      diseases. One patient had TA type IIa and the other type IV. In the first patient
      we found severe symptoms of obstructive lesions of aortic branches, particularly
      severe coronary artery stenosis and complete occlusion of the left subclavian
      artery, and thoracic artery stenosis below the isthmus. The disease was diagnosed
      in the acute phase, treated extensively with medicaments (glucocorticoids,
      cytostatics, methotrexate) and a complex cardiac surgical procedure, and due to
      relapse the biological (Rituximab) therapy was used. The second patient was
      detected following symptomatic arterial hypertension, with absent pulses of lower
      limbs, whose cause was found in severe narrowing of the aorta from diaphragm to
      femoral arteries bifurcation (mid-aortic syndrome). The disease was not active
      when diagnosis was made. The patient was treated with a particular cardiac
      surgical procedure and with multiple medicaments due to a relapse. Both patients
      have reached adolescent age and are successfully treated with a satisfying
      quality of life. Type IIa with an additional occlusion of coronary arteries is
      not described in the available literature. Forementioned vasculitides emphasize
      the importance of pediatric cardiologists and rheumatologists teamwork.

PMID- 26882801
TI  - [PROF. DR. HANS GEORG FASSBENDER (1920-2015)].

PMID- 26882802
TI  - Could Blood Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) be a Diagnostic
      Marker for Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates? A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Blood neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been
      shown to be helpful for acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients and
      adults. Whether this is true in neonates remains unclear. METHODS: A systemic
      review and diagnostic meta-analysis was performed. Keywords included blood
      NGAL/serum NGAL, neonate/newborn, and AKI/acute kidney failure. Eligible studies
      measured blood or serum NGAL levels in neonates with AKI (first 30 days of life).
      Studies were excluded if they did not present sufficient data to extract or
      calculate true positives, false positives, false negatives, and true negatives,
      or were not available in English. RESULTS: Five of 50 studies were included with
      159 critically ill neonates and 251 measurements of blood NGAL concentrations.
      The overall pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.84 (95% CI 2.68
      - 12.75) and 0.23 (95% CI 0.14 - 0.38). The area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve was 0.87 and the Q value was 0.823. The overall pooled
      sensitivity and specificity of all studies were 0.813 (95% CI: 0.697 - 0.891) and
      0.859 (95% CI: 0.730 - 0.932). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 27.20 (95% CI
      8.84 - 83.74), with Cochran's Q = 4.07 (p = 0.397). No publication bias was
      found. CONCLUSIONS: Blood NGAL could be used as diagnostic marker for AKI in
      neonates.

PMID- 26882803
TI  - 5-Aza-2'-Deoxycytidine and CDDP Synergistically Induce Apoptosis in Renal
      Carcinoma Cells via Enhancing the APAF-1 Activity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the hypermethylation of APAF-1, DAPK-1 and
      other tumor suppressive genes (TSGs) correlates with progression of renal cell
      carcinoma and exerts prognostic and diagnostic relevance in renal cell carcinoma.
      A recent study has confirmed that demethylation regulates the TSGs expression and
      proliferation of various types of cancer cells. The present study was to
      recognize a potential anti-tumor effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC), a
      demethylation agent. METHODS: We evaluated the DNA demethylation by DAC in human
      renal carcinoma cells and determined the synergism of the demethylation with the
      toxicity of Cisplatin (CDDP), which is a commonly utilized anti-tumor agent for
      renal carcinoma. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that DAC promoted a significant
      global genomic demethylation and improved APAF-1 expression at both mRNA and
      protein levels. The DAC treatment deteriorated the CDDP-induced viability
      decreasing Caki or ACHN cells and synergized the apoptosis induction of CDDP in
      ACHN cells. The treatment with both DAC and CDDP promoted a significantly higher
      level of renal carcinoma cell apoptosis than singular DAC or CDDP treatment. The
      APAF-1 knockdown significantly inhibited the synergism of DAC with the CDDP
      induced apoptosis in ACHN cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that
      DAC demethylated the CpGs, particularly APAF-1 in renal carcinoma cells, and that
      the demethylation synergized the cytotoxity of CDDP in renal carcinoma cells via
      enhancing the CDDP-induced apoptosis.

PMID- 26882804
TI  - Reference Intervals for Hemoglobin and Age- and Gender-Related Trends in the
      Population of Southwest China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The establishment of a proper reference range is necessary for both
      the prognosis and diagnosis of clinical disease. Our study aimed to establish the
      hemoglobin reference interval for the population of Southwest of China and to
      compare this with published data for other races. METHODS: A total of 21085
      healthy individuals (11561 men and 9524 women, age range 18 - 100 years) living
      in Southwest China were selected. CBC was performed on an XE-2100 hematology
      analyzer. The medians were calculated and reference values were determined at the
      2.5th and 95th percentiles. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant gender
      difference for RBC count, Hb, and MCV (p = 0.000). The comparison of Hb by gender
      showed higher values among males, with lower values in females and this
      difference was similar to the values for RBC count and MCV. For males, mean
      values for Hb and RBC decreased with age. However, mean values for Hb in females
      increased after middle age. CONCLUSIONS: Reference intervals for major red blood
      cell parameters established in this study showed significant gender differences.
      For males, mean values for Hb and RBC decreased with age. This is the first
      region-wide population study on hematologic reference values among people in
      Southwest China.

PMID- 26882805
TI  - Application of a Quality Control Algorithm Independent of Control Materials in
      Molecular Testing for Personalized Medicine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The application of traditional internal quality control processes in
      molecular testing for personalized medicine often proves difficult due to limited
      control materials. We established a quality control algorithm independent of
      control materials to monitor routine clinical test results. METHODS: A quality
      control algorithm was constructed based on the parameters p, P(pos), P(neg), and
      P(con) calculated by an elementary probability theory. This quality control
      algorithm was applied in CYP2C19 genotyping and EGFR mutation testing in two
      molecular diagnostics laboratories in order to illustrate how probabilities are
      calculated and test results are analyzed. RESULTS: For CYP2C19 genotyping, when
      the p-values based on 151 specimens from 20 runs were used, three runs were out
      of control within 20 runs, while two of the three runs became acceptable with p
      values calculated with 362 samples in 40 runs. For EGFR mutation testing, one run
      was rejected because of the low P(pos)-values of deletion in exon 19 with the p
      value based on 421 specimens from 40 runs. CONCLUSIONS: The quality control
      algorithm can be employed to monitor possible false-positives and false-negatives
      according to the number and distribution of positive results. Noticeably, the
      evaluation and interpretation of the control results is essential for the
      decision by a test laboratory to reject a run.

PMID- 26882806
TI  - Diagnostic Value of Fecal MicroRNAs for Colorectal Cancer: a Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Though the fecal occult blood test is used for colorectal cancer
      (CRC) screening worldwide, it lacks sensitivity and specificity for screening an
      average-risk population. Many studies have suggested that fecal microRNAs
      (miRNAs) might serve as novel diagnostic indicators of colorectal cancer.
      However, inconsistent results have also been reported. This meta-analysis aimed
      to evaluate the feasibility of fecal miRNAs as biomarkers for colorectal
      neoplasia screening. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and
      Google Scholar for publications concerning the diagnostic value of miRNAs
      isolated from stool for CRC screening. The quality of each study was scored using
      the revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). Data
      from different studies were pooled to estimate the summary sensitivity (SEN),
      specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio
      (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) using a bivariate model. Summary receiver
      operator characteristic curves (SROCs) were plotted, and areas under the SROC
      curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the overall test performance.
      Heterogeneity was tested with the I2 test, and publication bias was tested with
      Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test. Potential sources of heterogeneity were
      analyzed through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. RESULTS: Eighteen studies
      from 9 articles, including 853 patients and 819 controls, were included in this
      meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, DLR, and DOR were 0.63
      (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 - 0.70), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77 - 0.92), 4.47
      (95% CI: 2.85 - 7.01), 0.43 (95% CI: 0.38 - 0.49), and 10.38 (95% CI: 6.85 -
      15.73), respectively. The area under the SROC was 0.77. Meta-regression suggested
      that different countries (or regions) and sample sizes may be potential sources
      of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal miRNAs are potentially useful noninvasive
      biomarkers for the diagnosis of CRC, and combining methylated gene markers or
      FOBT with miRNA markers may be an alternative approach.

PMID- 26882807
TI  - Novel Molecular Regulators of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing
      Ligand (TRAIL)-Induced Apoptosis in NSCLC Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
      (TRAIL) can selectively induce apoptosis in some non-small cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC) cells, some NSCLC cells exhibit TRAIL-resistance. The underlying
      mechanisms that regulate TRAIL sensitivity in NSCLC cells are not well
      understood. The objective of this study was to investigate molecular regulators
      of the TRAIL pathway in NSCLC cells. METHODS: The TRAIL-sensitive NSCLC cell line
      NCI-H358 and a TRAIL-resistant cell line A549 were treated with rmhTRAIL for 24
      hours. Then cell viability were measured by MTT assay, meanwhile cell cycle and
      apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, mass spectrometry (LC
      MS/MS) was used to identify the difference in the protein expression profiles.
      Finally, real-time PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of TRAIL
      receptors and apoptotic related proteins. RESULTS: These results confirmed that
      NCI-H358 cells were sensitive to TRAIL, whereas A549 cells were resistant. Both
      mRNA and protein levels of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel proteinl
      (VDAC1), caspase9 (CASP9), and cytochrome c1 (CYC1) were upregulated in H358
      cells but downregulated in A549 cells, whereas antiapoptotic protein BAG-2 was
      downregulated. In addition, TRAIL also causes DR5 low expression in A549 cells.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that rmhTRAIL had different anti-tumor
      activity in different NSCLC cell lines. Downregulation of VDAC1, CYC1, CASP9, and
      upregulation of BAG-2 might be associated with underlying TRAIL-resistance
      mechanisms. These findings motivated further studies to explore new therapeutic
      strategy overcoming TRAIL-resistance of NSCLC cells through modulating
      dysregulation of the proteins above.

PMID- 26882808
TI  - Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness and Influencing Factors in Hemodialysis
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate the increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness
      (IMT) and influencing factors in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: 90 hemodialysis
      patients were divided into groups according to their dialysis duration; 30
      healthy subjects were included as controls. High-frequency Doppler ultrasound was
      used to calculate the carotid artery IMT in, 12-, 36-, and 60-month groups;
      biochemical parameters were also measured. Data from different groups were
      compared and the associations between the risk factors and IMT were investigated.
      RESULTS: Increased IMT was found in the patients in all groups compared with
      controls (p < 0.05). IMT was also significantly higher in the 36-month group than
      in the 12-month group (p < 0.01), while no significant difference in the IMT was
      found between the 60-month group and the 36-month group. A positive association
      was found between the carotid artery IMT and systolic pressure (SBP, r = 0.39, p
      < 0.01), mean arterial pressure (r = 0.291, p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP, r
      = 0.511, p < 0.01), serum phosphate (r = 0.518, p < 0.01), and calcium-phosphorus
      product (r = 0.170, p < 0.01); a negative association was found between carotid
      artery IMT and plasma albumin (r = -0.095, p < 0.01) and prealbumin (r = -0.65, p
      < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression showed that high SBP (t = 2.004, p <
      0.01), high serum phosphate (t = 2.531, p < 0.01), and increased CRP (t = 4.737,
      p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for IMT increase. CONCLUSIONS:
      Hemodialysis increased carotid artery IMT associated with dialysis duration; high
      SBP, high serum phosphate, and increased CRP are independent risk factors for IMT
      increase, and IMT was also associated with the development of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26882809
TI  - The Diagnostic Role of Vitamin D and Cathelicidin Levels in Pelvic Inflammatory
      Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin
      D [25(OH)D] and cathelicidin levels on pelvic inflammatory disease [PID] in
      reproductive aged women. METHODS: A total of 81 reproductive aged women, 43 with
      PID and 38 without PID, were included in the study. Five millilitres of venous
      blood were collected from subjects and controls for complete hemogram and serum
      for CRP, IL-6, 25(OH)D and cathelicidin. RESULTS: There were significant
      differences between the study group and the control group for 25(OH)D (study
      group, 47.3 +/- 2.01 ng/mL, control group, 28.38 +/- 1.35 ng/mL, p = 0.001), for
      cathelicidin (study group, 165.56 +/- 65.92 ng/mL, control group, 10.34 +/- 6.48
      ng/mL, p = 0.001). There was a positive correlation between 25(OH)D,
      cathelicidin, and other markers (WBC, CRP, and IL-6). Receiver operator curve
      analysis showed that the best cutoff value for 25(OH)D was 34.25 ng/mL,
      sensitivity 88%, and specificity 89%, and for cathelicidin 15 ng/mL, sensitivity
      91%, specificity 90%. CONCLUSIONS: 25(OH)D and cathelicidin can be used as acute
      phase reactants like conventional markers in PID. Future studies are needed to
      understand the roles of these molecules in both diagnosis and follow-up of
      infectious situations.

PMID- 26882810
TI  - Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Improves Neural
      Electrophysiological Function in Patients with ALS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron
      disease. In recent years, numerous experimental and clinical studies have
      demonstrated the efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation.
      Electrophysiological measurements are critical to assess the progress and
      evaluate the prognosis of ALS. The electrophysiological measurements include
      nerve conduction velocity (NCV), motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), F-wave,
      and electromyography (EMG) of motor neurons. The present research examined
      whether autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) could
      improve neural electrophysiological function in 21 patients with ALS. METHODS: 21
      patients with ALS were injected with autologous peripheral blood stem cells, and
      the measurements were assessed prior to APBSCT at 1, 3, and 6 months after
      transplantation. The analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 17.0.
      RESULTS: APBSCT increased the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential
      (CMAP) and the frequency of the F-wave. This increase was significant at the 6
      month follow-up. We failed to detect improvement in the MCV or the distal motor
      latency (DML). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary observations suggest that APBSCT
      improved the electrophysiological function of motor neurons in ALS patients and
      therefore slowed the progression of the disease.

PMID- 26882811
TI  - Evaluation of Aging and Health Status in Real Time Based on Routine Urinalysis
      Using an Automated Urine Analyzer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To develop a quantitative system to enable straightforward objective
      assessment of health status in real time. METHODS: On the basis of routine
      urinalysis with an automated urine analyzer, we obtained the urinalysis ill
      health index (UIHI), which was the sum of urinary protein, pH, specific gravity,
      and color. Clinical laboratory parameters including stress indicators
      (neutrophilic leukocytes and glucose) and over-nutrition indicators
      (triglycerides, cholesterol, and uric acid) were monitored. The
      electrocardiography and blood pressure were also examined. A total of 1128
      subjects were selected randomly from those who underwent physical examination to
      verify the UIHI. RESULTS: The range of the UIHI score was 0 to 5. The cutoff
      value was 2.75. There were correlations of UIHI score with laboratory parameters
      and abnormal rates of BP and ECG. A greater UIHI score reflected worse health
      status (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the UIHI can reflect the
      health status of an individual. It can be derived easily from routine urinalysis
      in a clinical laboratory and may be a useful tool for the quantitative
      differentiation of health status in real time.

PMID- 26882812
TI  - The Effects of Valsartan and Amlodipine on the Levels of Irisin, Adropin, and
      Perilipin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension and obesity are two major threats for public health. Up
      to the present, antihypertensive medications have been used to lower blood
      pressure, which seem to provide a better life with lower morbidity and mortality
      rates. Their effect on etiopathogenesis of hypertension is now an area of
      developing research. The association between hypertension and obesity also
      suggests the link between antihypertensive agents and energy hemostasis. We aimed
      to investigate the effects of antihypertensive treatment on the irisin, adropin,
      and perilipin levels in patients with essential hypertension and to compare them
      with healthy volunteers in terms of their effect on energy hemostasis. METHODS:
      In total, 85 newly diagnosed patients with untreated essential hypertension were
      admitted to the outpatient clinic. Patients were randomized to one of the
      following treatment protocols: amlodipine or valsartan for a 12 week period. 42
      patients were randomized into the valsartan group and 43 patients into the
      amlodipine group. Serum perilipin, irisin, and adropin levels were measured
      before and after drug treatment by ELISA kits. RESULTS: We discovered that the
      hypertensive patients have lower levels of perilipin and higher levels of adropin
      compared with the control group. Both amlodipine and valsartan increased the
      levels of perilipin, irisin, and adropin after 12 weeks of treatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in regulating energy balance, perilipin, irisin, and
      adropin, could be of pathogenic importance in obesity-induced hypertension.
      Hence, ongoing trials need to elucidate this mechanism.

PMID- 26882813
TI  - A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the FOXP3 Gene Associated with Behcet's
      Disease in an Iranian Population.
AB  - Background: Behcet's Disease (BD) is a rare autoimmune disease that involves the
      dysfunction of regulatory T cells. FOXP3 is a key transcription factor in the
      development and function of T(reg) cells. Recent studies have shown SNPs in the
      FOXP3 contribute to the susceptibility to some autoimmune disorders. METHODS: To
      clarify the association between the FOXP3 gene and the risk of BD, 50 patients
      diagnosed with BD and 50 healthy controls from north-western Iran were genotyped
      by PCR-RFLP (Mun I and Pst I) for two SNPs including rs3761547 (-3499T/C) and
      rs3761548 (-3279 C/A) in the promoter region of the FOXP3 gene. In addition, a
      506 bp nucleotide sequence of FOXP3 promoter was analyzed. RESULTS: The allele 
      3279 C/A was significantly associated with BD [p = 0.002; odds ratio (OR) =
      3.841; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.610 - 9.161]; whereas, there was no
      contribution of the FOXP3 polymorphism -3499T/C to BD [(p = 0.084); (OR = 0.348,
      95% CI = 0.101 - 1.195)]. Meanwhile, sequence analysis showed 100% similarity in
      both controls and BD patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the SNP rs3761548 in
      the FOXP3 gene appears to contribute to the risk of Behcet's disease among the
      north-western Iranian population.

PMID- 26882814
TI  - Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases 2B17 with
      the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Chinese Han Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to investigate the association between
      polymorphisms in UGT2B17 and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in Chinese
      Han population. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted, and
      1579 healthy controls and 406 pancreatic cancer patients were enrolled. Real-time
      PCR was applied to identify the genetic polymorphisms in the subjects, and
      multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the
      association between UGT2B17 polymorphisms and susceptibility to pancreatic
      cancer. RESULTS: The prevalence of the UGT2B17 del/del, del/ins, and ins/ins in
      cases were 72.9%, 24.0%, and 3.1%, respectively, and in controls 66.6%, 30.7%,
      and 2.7%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that, compared
      with the del/del genotype, the del/ins genotype in UGT2B17 is related to a
      significant reduction in pancreatic cancer risk (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.60 - 0.99;
      P = 0.04). In the female subjects, compared with the del/del genotype, the
      del/ins genotype was related to a substantial reduction in pancreatic cancer risk
      (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.39 - 0.90, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: All these results
      indicate a higher ratio of UGT2B17 deletion polymorphisms in Asians. UGT2B17
      deletion polymorphisms are associated with the risk of developing pancreatic
      cancer in Chinese Han population, especially in the female population.

PMID- 26882815
TI  - The Evaluation of Serum Pentraxin-3 and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein
      Levels in Patients with Acute Attack of COPD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
      are characterized by the release of inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study
      was to compare serum levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and high-sensitivity C-reactive
      protein (hs-CRP) in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD with those of a
      healthy control group. METHODS: The study included 107 men and 19 women, with
      mean age of 66.5 (32 - 87) years who were diagnosed with acute COPD exacerbations
      and 48 healthy individuals as a control group. The serum PTX3 and hs-CRP levels
      were measured and pulmonary function tests were performed. RESULTS: The mean
      serum level of the hs-CRP was 39.56 mg/L (10.10 - 262), and it was higher in the
      COPD group than in the control group (p < 0.0001). The hs-CRP levels increased in
      accordance with the severity of the COPD (p < 0.0001). The serum PTX3 level was
      0.52 pcg/dL (0.42 - 0.56) in acute exacerbations. There was a correlation between
      the PTX3 levels and the pulmonary function tests, including FEV1, FVC, and
      FEV1/FVC (r = 0.317, p < 0.001; r = 0.385, p < 0.0001, and r = 0.248, p = 0.001,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The short pentraxin hs-CRP is elevated in COPD
      patients with acute exacerbations and correlates with the severity of the disease
      compared with the long pentraxin PTX3. These results support the idea that hs-CRP
      can be used as an earlier determinant of inflammation in COPD acute exacerbations
      and that PTX3 cannot be used as a marker of acute exacerbation and disease
      severity.

PMID- 26882816
TI  - Decreased Serum miR-503 Level in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serum microRNAs (miRNA, miR) are suggested to have great potential to
      serve as biomarkers. In this study, we explored the clinical role of serum miRNAs
      which may play key roles in childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS: Serum
      samples were obtained from 150 NS children and 109 age/gender-matched healthy
      controls. The levels of serum miRNAs were analyzed using the TaqMan Low Density
      Array and then validated with RT-qPCR assay. Pathological changes were examined
      in NS children with immunohistochemical analysis. The effects of miR-503 on cell
      proliferation and cell cycle were explored using MTT assay and flow cytometry in
      rat mesangial cells (RMCs). Western blot analysis was applied to determine the
      effect of miR-503 on cell cycle-related proteins. RESULTS: The concentration of
      serum miR-503 was highly decreased in NS children compared with controls (p <
      0.0001). In NS children, we found obvious enhancement of cell proliferation
      marker Ki-67 by immunohisto- chemistry. Moreover miR-503 mimics significantly
      extended the G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase in comparison with the
      negative control group. Overexpression of miR-503 obviously reduced the levels of
      cyclin E. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that cyclin E was the target of miR
      503. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we determined that serum miR-503 was
      significantly decreased in NS children. MiR-503 contributes to the aberrant
      proliferation of RMCs by targeting cyclin E, which may represent potential
      diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for idiopathic pediatric NS.

PMID- 26882817
TI  - The Assessment of Liver Reserve Function by Spectrophotometry based on
      Determination of Phenacetin and Paracetamol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To establish a technical system for assessing liver reserve function
      based on spectrophotometry by detection of phenacetin and paracetamol in blood
      samples. METHODS: Taking detected contents of phenacetin and paracetamol by high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as standard, which was proved to be able
      to detect drug concentrations with high resolution and accuracy, we established a
      technical system based on the spectrophotometric technique to assay phenacetin
      and paracetamol, including the color system, the maximum absorption wavelength,
      the influence factors of color system, and the optimal conditions for hydrolysis.
      Then we verified our established system compared with that under HPLC by recovery
      test. RESULTS: This study established a technical system to detect phenacetin and
      paracetamol in blood samples using spectrophotometry. Mainly, 3 mol/L
      hydrochloric acid (HCl) was added to samples for hydrolysis for 30 minutes, then,
      adding 0.02% 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS), 1% cetyltrimethyl ammonium
      bromide (CTA) and 2% sodium hydroxide (or 3% sodium carbonate) (ratio of 1:6:1:2
      or 3), and the absorbance was measured at 500 nm and 570 nm to calculate their
      concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Using an established spectrophotometric system to
      detect phenacetin and paracetamol in blood samples could assess liver reserve
      function, which was proved comparable with HPLC in resolution and repeatability.

PMID- 26882818
TI  - Is There a Link Between Changes in Levels of Hepcidin and Stroke?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Iron is an essential element for the living body. It is well known
      that iron homeostasis disorders are important in two ways--its deficiency and its
      overload lead to several pathologies. METHODS: We measured 17 patients with iron
      deficiency anemia (IDA); 19 with anemia of chronic diseases (ACD); 15 with
      ischemic stroke (IS). The results were compared to a previously selected control
      group. For evaluation of iron metabolism status, we measured serum iron levels,
      ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptors. For inflammation, serum interleukin
      6 and hsCRP were measured. Serum hepcidin quantification was performed using a
      previously validated immunosorbent method. Ferritin was measured by an ECLIA
      method; serum iron on AAS; hsCRP using a nephelometric analysis. RESULTS: We
      found statistically significant elevated serum hepcidin levels in patients with
      ACD and IS compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with IDA had
      statistically significant lower hepcidin levels compared to the control group (p
      < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels in the IS group was higher compared to the
      control and other groups (p < 0.001). The lowest ferritin concentrations were
      established in the IDA group compared to the control (p < 0.001). We found a
      strong correlation between serum hepcidin and ferritin levels in the IS group (r
      = 0.583; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of serum hepcidin levels might
      be used as a link for prediction of acute ischemic stroke and future therapeutic
      influences.

PMID- 26882819
TI  - Relationship between Serum Resistin Level of Xinjiang Uygur and Han Subjects with
      Metabolic Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic region of China. Many large population
      based cross-sectional studies have shown that Uygur, the largest ethnic group in
      the Xinjiang, had a higher incidence rate of metabolic syndrome (MetS) than other
      ethnic groups living in Xinjiang region, but the pathological mechanism is not
      yet clear. Insulin resistance plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of MetS.
      Resistin is an adipocyte- and monocyte-derived cytokine that represents a link
      between obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study
      is to examine the relationship between serum resistin levels and metabolic
      syndrome parameters in Uygur and Han in Xinjiang. METHODS: Subjects came from a
      population based cross-sectional study, a total of 465 subjects were selected for
      the study. Blood resistin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FINS),
      total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density
      lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), waist circumference (WC),
      body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressures (SBP), diastolic blood pressures
      (DBP), and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA
      IR) indices were measured. Dietary intake data were obtained by food frequency
      questionnaire method. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were
      adopted to define metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The MetS group has higher
      metabolic parameters of FPG, TG, TC, DBP, SBP, WC, BMI, LDL-C, and low HDL-C than
      the non-MetS group, Uygurs have higher FPG and WC than Hans, and Hans have higher
      TC, TG, and FINS than Uygurs, even after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI,
      indicating ethnic differences in MetS-related parameters. There was no
      significant difference in serum resistin levels between the MetS and non-MetS
      group, as well as between the Uygur and the Han ethnic groups, but a significant
      positive correlation was found between serum resistin levels with FIN, HOMA, and
      diet fat. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we did not observe significant differences
      in serum resitin levels between the MetS and non-MetS group, regardless of
      ethnicity. However, serum resistin was positively associated with insulin
      resistance markers, suggesting that resistin may be an independent determinant
      for insulin resistance, or indirectly contribute to the development of MetS.
      Therefore the role of resistin in MetS warrants further investigation.

PMID- 26882820
TI  - A Comparison of Three Widely Used Immunoassay Systems in Cortisol Measurement.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interassay variability is one of the challenging issues of routine
      clinical laboratory practice. Commercial plasma cortisol immunoassays are also
      subject to this issue. In this study, we intended to evaluate the
      interchangeability of cortisol results of three widely used immunoassay systems.
      METHODS: The cortisol values of 150 serum samples measured by three immunoassay
      systems, Beckman Coulter DXI 800, Roche Modular E170, and Siemens Immulite 2500,
      were compared. RESULTS: A degree of proportional biases was observed between all
      three methods; DXI 800 showed the worst biases with the other two systems (slope
      values 0.67 and 0.77 with E170 and Immulite 2500, respectively). DXI 800 showed
      poor agreement with other methods (CCC: 0.83 and 0.87, respectively). There was a
      moderate agreement between E170 and Immulite 2500 (CCC: 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: All
      three methods showed a degree of variability among themselves. DXI 800 results
      were not interchangeable with the other two systems.

PMID- 26882821
TI  - Optimization of the Original TRIzol-Based Technique Improves the Extraction of
      Circulating MicroRNA from Serum Samples.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small endogenous, non-coding RNA
      molecules that have been demonstrated to be essential regulators of many critical
      biological and pathological processes. Because of their high stability in blood
      and the strong implication of miRNA expression profiles for human diseases,
      miRNAs are currently emerging as promising circulating biomarkers for the
      diagnosis or prognosis of a variety of human diseases. The TRIzol-based technique
      has been widely used for cell or tissue RNA extraction because of its economy and
      reliability. However, the original TRIzol-based RNA isolation protocol was not
      specifically designed for microRNA extraction from serum samples. When it was
      used to extract serum microRNAs, due to the short sequence and low level of
      microRNAs, the isolation efficiency in most cases could not meet the requirement.
      To address this issue, in this study, an improved TRIzol-based protocol was
      established by modifying the extraction procedure of the original TRIzol-based
      protocol. The performance of the improved TRIzol-based protocol was evaluated by
      comparison with other methods. METHODS: Total RNA was isolated by the improved
      TRIzol-based method, the original method, and two other commonly used methods. RT
      qPCR and spectrophotometry were used to examine the quality and yield of total
      RNA. RESULTS: The improved method was more efficient than the original protocol
      and more suitable for real-time PCR-based profiling experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The
      optimized TRIzol-based method described in this report is suitable for the
      extraction of serum microRNAs and useful for the development of microRNAs as
      diagnostic biomarkers.

PMID- 26882822
TI  - Sustained Appearance of Urinary Podocytes Suggests Poor Renal Prognosis in Kidney
      Transplant Patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: Case Reports and
      Review of Literature.
AB  - Recent studies have indicated that the detection of urinary podocytes holds major
      significance for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). We present two cases
      of FSGS after kidney transplantation, focusing on urinary podocytes. In Case 1,
      treatment led to incomplete remission with the reduction of urinary podocytes,
      and his renal function was preserved. Case 2, however, showed continuous increase
      in proteinuria with loss of renal function despite apheresis. Urinary podocytes
      remained high throughout. On the basis of this experience, we suggest the
      significance of the detection of urinary podocytes for determining renal
      prognosis in FSGS following renal allograft.

PMID- 26882823
TI  - Molecular Characterization of a Novel Missense Mutation (Asp538Asn) in a Chinese
      Patient with Factor XII Deficiency.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Congenital factor XII (FXH) deficiency is an autosomal recessive
      disorder whose genetic basis has been described in a relatively small number of
      cases. METHODS: Recently, we studied a Chinese family in which the proband had
      obviously prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) associated with
      low functional and antigen FXII levels, 5% and 6.8%, respectively. To investigate
      the molecular defects in this FXII-deficient patient, we performed FXII mutation
      screening and invitro expression studies. RESULTS: Sequence analysis of the FXII
      gene revealed a heterozygous G>A transition at nucleotide 8597 in exon 13,
      causing a novel Asp538Asn mutation in the catalytic domain. CONCLUSIONS: From the
      results above, we reasoned that this mutation must confer a cross-reacting
      material (CRM) negative phenotype. Additional expression studies in COS-7 cells
      showed that the antigen level of mutant FXII (FXII-Asp538Asn) was lower compared
      to the wild type in culture media, whereas the corresponding level of FXII
      antigen in cell lysates was equivalent roughly to that of the wild type. These
      findings indicated that the Asp538Asn mutation results in intracellular
      degradation of the mutant FXII and causes FXII deficiency.

PMID- 26882824
TI  - 1471 delTTCT a Common Mutation of Tunisian Patients with Lysinuric Protein
      Intolerance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lysinuric protein intolerance is an inherited aminoaciduria caused by
      defective cationic amino acid transport. It is an autosomal recessive disease
      caused by mutations in the SLC7A 7 gene. The objective of this study was to
      identify the mutations of Tunisians patients in order to offer the genetic
      counseling and the prenatal diagnosis to families. METHODS: Five affected
      Tunisian children (4 girls and 1 boy) belonging to four consanguineous families
      were considered. The diagnosis was made based on the plasma for amino acids
      quantification by Ion Exchange chromatography, the DNA for mutational analysis by
      DHPLC and sequencing, and the amniotic fluid for prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: For
      the 5 patients, clinical features were dominated by failure to thrive, bone
      marrow abnormalities, hepatosplenomegaly, and mental retardation. The diagnosis
      for all patients was confirmed by biochemical analysis with hyperammonemia,
      hyperexcretion of urinary dibasic amino acids, and a high amount of orotic acid
      in the urine. The 1471 delTTCT mutation was identified in exon 9 in the
      homozygous state for all Tunisian patients. Genetic counseling was performed for
      three out of four families, four heterozygous and two homozygous healthy siblings
      were identified. The result of prenatal diagnosis showed the presence of the 1471
      de1TTCT mutation in the homozygous state for the third pregnancy and heterozygous
      state for the fourth. CONCLUSIONS: The 1471 deITTCT mutation seems to be a common
      mutation of Tunisian population. The identification of this specific mutation
      provides a tool for confirmatory diagnosis, genetic counseling, and prenatal
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26882825
TI  - The use of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) technique in
      evaluation of patients with cervical spine trauma: impact on radiation dose
      reduction and image quality.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of adaptive
      statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) technique on the image quality and
      radiation dose reduction. The comparison was made with the traditional filtered
      back projection (FBP) technique. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 78
      patients, who underwent cervical spine CT for blunt cervical trauma between 1
      June 2010 and 30 November 2010. 48 patients were imaged using traditional FBP
      technique and the remaining 30 patients were imaged using the ASiR technique. The
      patient demographics, radiation dose, objective image signal and noise were
      recorded; while subjective noise, sharpness, diagnostic acceptability and
      artefacts were graded by two radiologists blinded to the techniques. RESULTS: We
      found that the ASiR technique was able to reduce the volume CT dose index, dose
      length product and effective dose by 36%, 36.5% and 36.5%, respectively, compared
      with the FBP technique. There was no significant difference in the image noise (p
      = 0.39), signal (p = 0.82) and signal-to-noise ratio (p = 0.56) between the
      groups. The subjective image quality was minimally better in the ASiR group but
      not statistically significant. There was excellent interobserver agreement on the
      subjective image quality and diagnostic acceptability for both groups.
      CONCLUSION: The use of ASiR technique allowed approximately 36% radiation dose
      reduction in the evaluation of cervical spine without degrading the image
      quality. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The present study highlights that the ASiR
      technique is extremely helpful in reducing the patient radiation exposure while
      maintaining the image quality. It is highly recommended to utilize this novel
      technique in CT imaging of different body regions.

PMID- 26882826
TI  - Light manipulation of nanoparticles in arrays of topological defects.
AB  - We report a strategy to assemble and manipulate nanoparticles arrays. The
      approach is based on the use of topological defects, namely disclination lines,
      created in chiral liquid crystals. The control of nanoparticle-loaded topological
      defects by low power light is demonstrated. Large-scale rotation, translation and
      deformation of quantum dots light-emitting chains is achieved by homogeneous LED
      illumination. Full reconfigurability and time stability make this approach
      attractive for future developments and applications. 

PMID- 26882828
TI  - [Ophthalmic formulations new goals].

PMID- 26882827
TI  - In Situ Characterization of the Local Work Function along Individual Free
      Standing Nanowire by Electrostatic Deflection.
AB  - In situ characterization of the work function of quasi one dimensional
      nanomaterials is essential for exploring their applications. Here we proposed to
      use the electrostatic deflection induced by work function difference between
      nanoprobe and nanowire for in situ measuring the local work function along a free
      standing nanowire. The physical mechanism for the measurement was discussed in
      details and a parabolic relationship between the deflection and the potential
      difference was derived. As a demonstration, measurement of the local work
      functions on the tip and the sidewall of a ZnO nanowire with Au catalyst at its
      end and a LaB6 nanowire have been achieved with good accuracy. 

PMID- 26882829
TI  - Analysis of the concordance between the estimated values of creatinine clearance
      using the Cockcroft-Gault equation and the real value determined in patients from
      the Hospital Clinica Biblica.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to analyze the effect of the modifications in the Cockcroft-Gault
      equation for creatinine clearance rate determination (CrCl) and its concordance
      with the real value determined from 24-hours urine collection in a sample of
      Latin American patients hospitalized in San Jose de Costa Rica. METHOD: an
      observational, retrospective study, with patients submitted to a 24-hour urine
      collection test, and who met the inclusion criteria. The real and estimated
      values of creatinine clearance were determined, and their concordance was
      measured by applying the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient; a descriptive
      analysis of data was also conducted. RESULTS: there were 507 subjects (61% men);
      their age was described (ME = 60 years SD = 17 years), as well as their height
      (ME = 1.66 m SD = 0.09 m), current weight (ME =75 kg SD = 15 kg), body mass index
      (ME = 27.3 kg/m2 SD = 4.76 kg/m2) and endogenous creatinine clearance rates (ME =
      69.72 ml/min SD = 33 ml/min). The best concordance with the equation was obtained
      with current weight values and serum creatinine without rounding. CONCLUSIONS:
      the application of the Cockcroft-Gault equation that matches more closely the
      real value is the one that uses current weight and does not round creatinine
      values below 1 mg/dL. It is suggested to conduct a prospective analysis,
      determining other variables that could affect CrCl real measures, and to
      replicate this methodology in specific populations. *ME: Mean **SD: Standard
      Deviation.

PMID- 26882830
TI  - Chemotherapy near the end of life; assessment of the clinical practise in onco
      hematological in adult patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: ensure a good quality of life in the last phase of onco- hematological
      patients should be the primary goal, despite this, we have little data at
      European level and published studies are contradictory. Nevertheless, most of
      them agree saying that administrating chemotherapy near the end of life impacts
      negatively in the patients quality of life. The main objective of this study is
      to analyze the treatment non-aggressiveness parameters in onco-hematological
      patients. The secondary objective is to do a describing study of the clinical
      variables of the patients who receive chemotherapy at the end of life and the
      treatments more used. METHODS: a retrospective observational study was conducted
      in a tertiary hospital. Both, oncological and hematological patients receiving
      chemotherapy (oral or intravenous) between January and December 2013 who were
      receiving chemotherapy in the last 90 days before death, were included. RESULTS:
      there were 823 patients that were threated between January and December of 2013.
      Of these 106 (13%) met the inclusion criteria to be analyzed. There were a 14.1%
      (n = 93) of oncological and a 8.4% (n = 13) of hematologic patients that
      maintained the antineoplasic treatment during the last three months before death.
      A 21.7% (n = 23) of the patients received chemotherapy in the last two weeks of
      life, 41.5% (n = 44) in the last 30 days and 78.3% (n = 83) in the last two
      months of life. There was a 67.9% (n = 72) of patients that had hospital
      admissions during their last three months of life, 47,2% (n = 50) during the last
      month, 33% (n = 35) during the last two weeks and 10,4% (n = 11) during the last
      three days of life. A 25,5% (n = 27) of patients had more than one hospital
      admission during their last 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: according to the Earle et al.
      criteria, our population had been treated aggressively. We need more scientific
      evidence with consolidate date that allows us to establish a unified criteria for
      the selection of patients with advanced cancer who may benefit from receiving
      antineoplasic treatments.

PMID- 26882831
TI  - Smartphone applications for cancer patients; what we know about them?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: one of the groups that can benefit most from healthcare
      applications, are cancer patients. However, not all applications have a
      sufficient level of evidence. Our objective is to analyze the characteristics of
      mobile healthcare applications for cancer patients and know the reliability of
      their information. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a descriptive observational study of
      mobile apps targeting cancer patients. In November 2014, we searched mobile
      applications for cancer patients in the App Store (iOS) and Google Play
      (Android), using the terms "cancer" and "oncology" (English and/or Spanish
      languages). Applications were downloaded and evaluated. We registered their
      general characteristics (classification of cancer, last date of actualization,
      language and others) and their purpose (whether were informative, diagnostic, or
      preventive purposes) on an Excel(r) chart. The analysis was completed with an
      internet search to analyze their scientific evidence. RESULTS: one hundred and
      sixty six applications were downloaded. 23.5% were destined for breast cancer.
      52.4% upgraded their software in the last year. 98.2 % were in English. Most of
      the applications had more than one purpose. The most frequent were informative
      (39.8%), diagnostic (38.6%) and preventive (28.3%). 50.6% presented sufficient
      scientific evidence. CONCLUSIONS: there are many benefits that are expected from
      these applications. However, we detected a lack of validity of the information,
      as well as lack of update of the data. To prevent these apps from becoming a
      safety problem rather than a useful tool for patients, regulation should be put
      in place.

PMID- 26882832
TI  - [Evaluation of two closed-system drug transfer device in the antineoplastic drug
      elaboration process].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to assess the impact of two closed-system drug transfer device on the
      local and environmental contamination and preparation times in the process of
      preparation of parenteral chemotherapy compared to the standard system. METHOD:
      prospective observational study. Two different closed- systems providers, Care
      Fusion(r) and Icu Medical(r), were compared to standard preparation. 15 nurses of
      Pharmacy Department prepared 5 preparations each one, one with the standard
      procedure and four using closed-systems. To evaluate the contamination, a
      fluorescein solution 0.5% was prepared. Two kind of contamination were evaluated,
      local (three points connection: closed-system connect vial, syringe and final
      infusion bags) and environmental (gloves and countertop). Percentage of
      contaminated preparations was obtained in each one. Time taken by each nurse in
      each preparation was recorded. RESULTS: 75 preparations were prepared. Local
      contamination was reduced 21% and 75% in closed-system Icu Medical(r) and Care
      Fusion(r) respectively. Care Fusion(r) closed system, local contamination was
      significantly lower than the standard system to the vial, syringe and final
      package, while Icu Medical(r) closed-systems only was significantly lower in the
      connection to the vial. Time of preparation was increased significantly with the
      use of closed-system between 23.4 and 30.5 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: both closed
      systems drug transfer device have shown an improvement in contamination than the
      use of the standard system. However, preparation time has been significantly
      increased with the use of both systems.

PMID- 26882833
TI  - Effect of a single dose of lidocaine and ketamine on intraoperative opioids
      requirements in patients undergoing elective gynecological laparotomies under
      general anesthesia. A randomized, placebo controlled pilot study.
AB  - Background and goal of study: there is evidence that perioperative intravenous
      ketamine and lidocaine reduce postoperative pain, postoperative opioids
      consumption, shortens hospital stay and accelerates intestinal function recovery.
      However, it has not been studied the beneficial effects in the intraoperative
      period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of
      lidocaine and ketamine on intraoperative opioids requirements in patients
      undergoing elective gynecological laparotomies under general anesthesia.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: we performed a single-centre, prospective, randomized,
      double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. We included 33 patients (11 in the
      ketamine group, 11 in the lidocaine group and 11 in the placebo group).
      Postoperative analgesia was accomplished by patient-controlled morphine. Patients
      were randomly assigned to receive either a 1.5 mg/kg of 2% lidocaine, 0.5 mg/kg
      of 5% ketamine or 0.9% saline bolus. The primary outcome was the opioids
      consumption during surgery. The secondary outcomes included: emergence time, pain
      scores, opioids consumption within 24 h after surgery and side effects. RESULTS:
      decreased intraoperative opioids requirements were noted in the experimental
      groups (ketamine: 402.3 ?} 106.3 and lidocaine: 397.7 ?} 107.5, compared with
      saline: 561.4 ?} 97.1); p = 0.001. We found a positive correlation between
      intraoperative opioids consumption and emergence time (r = 0.864, p < 0.001).
      There was no significant difference between the groups in VAS pain scores at rest
      within the first 24 postoperative hours. Total morphine consumption within 24 h
      after surgery did not differ significantly among the groups (placebo: 27.54 ?}
      11.75; ketamine: 30.95 ?} 7.88; lidocaine 34.77 ?} 4510.25; p = 0.26).
      Postoperative nausea and vomiting were more common in placebo group (it was
      observed in 3 subjects in ketamine group, in 5 subjects in lidocaine group and in
      9 subjects in placebo group; p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: our results do not support
      the use of intraoperative single dose of lidocaine or ketamine to reduce
      postoperative pain and postoperative opioids consumption after open gynecological
      surgery. However, they seem to decrease intraoperative opioids requirements and
      shorten emergence time. Nevertheless, these findings should be validating in
      further studies with large sample size.

PMID- 26882834
TI  - [Use of leflunomide in a cytomegalovirus infection resistant: a report of a
      case].
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most
      common complications in transplant patients, which can lead to multiple organ
      failure. The 80-90% of patients are cured with intravenous treatment standard
      (ganciclovir), or its oral prodrug (valganciclovir). In case there is no answer,
      we have alternatively another antiviral, foscarnet. A small number of patients do
      not respond to this, having a bad prognosis. The aim is to describe the case of a
      double lung transplant for cystic fibrosis, and recurrent CMV infection in which
      the use of leflunomide gets lower and even reach undetectable viral load.
      DESCRIPTION OF CASE: woman, 22 year old, double lung transplant for cystic
      fibrosis in March 2014. The CMV serology performed was positive in the donor and
      negative in the recipient. Controls viral load during prophylaxis with
      valganciclovir were negative in the receiver until the 6th month after
      transplantation, at which viral load was detected in controls (2 090 IU/ml). The
      patient was admitted to our hospital to receive intravenous treatment with
      ganciclovir, after one month with intravenous therapy viral load persisted
      positive (42 400 IU/ml). One study of resistance showed that was resistant to
      ganciclovir, so began treatment with intravenous foscarnet. This drug achieved
      negativizar viral load, so the treatment was discontinued, continuing with
      fortnightly controls viral load. After two months without treatment, viral load
      increased to 13 665 IU/ml, why was requested to Pharmacy Service the off-label
      use of leflunomide, with the intention that use oral therapy, instead of
      intravenous therapy. The patient was treated with valganciclovir until have the
      authorization of use of leflunomide, although unanswered, since in March 2015, at
      the start of leflunomide treatment the patient had a viral load of 17 344 IU/ml.
      The initial regimen was 100 mg of leflunomide daily for the first five days,
      followed by 20 mg every 12 hours. After fifteen days of treatment viral load had
      fallen to 531 IU/ml, becoming undetectable in one month. After four months of
      treatment the patient remains with undetectable viral load without having any
      adverse effect associated with it. CONCLUSION: our case is an example where the
      use of leflunomide in CMV infection resistant to other therapies is an effective
      and convenient alternative for patients because it keeps undetectable viral load
      with an oral therapy without having to enter the hospital for intravenous
      treatment.

PMID- 26882835
TI  - [Mesalazine-induced intersticial pneumonitis in patients with ulcerative
      colitis].

PMID- 26882836
TI  - [Enoxaparin dosage in extreme obesity by monitoring anti-Xa factor].

PMID- 26882839
TI  - Plasmonic-enhanced perovskite-graphene hybrid photodetectors.
AB  - The surface plasmonic effect of metal nanostructures is a promising method to
      boost the performance of optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and
      photodetectors. In this report, gold nanoparticles with surface plasmon resonance
      localized at about 530 nm were synthesized and integrated into
      graphene/methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) hybrid
      photodetectors. Compared with pristine graphene-CH3NH3PbI3 devices, a device with
      gold nanoparticles embedded has a doubly higher photo-responsivity as well as a
      faster photoresponse speed. The present devices adopt a unique configuration with
      gold nanoparticles physically separated from the light harvesting component,
      i.e., the perovskite layer by graphene. Advantages are revealed through a series
      of characterization techniques and analyses. First, thanks to the tiny thickness
      of graphene, the plasmonic effect of gold nanoparticles can effectively enhance
      the near-field of perovskite and thus facilitate light-harvesting. Second, the
      enhanced light-harvesting in perovskite happens very close to this interface
      where photo-induced carriers have relatively short paths to diffuse toward
      graphene, favoring a fast photo-response. This work demonstrates a feasible and
      inspiring strategy to improve the performance of photodetectors through the
      surface plasmonic effect of metallic nanostructures. 

PMID- 26882840
TI  - Regulators in the DNA damage response.
AB  - Maintenance of genome integrity is essential for the proper function of all cells
      and organisms. In response to both endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging agents,
      mammalian cells have evolved a delicate system to sense DNA damage, stop cell
      cycle progression, modulate cell metabolism, repair damaged DNA, and induce
      programmed cell death if the damage is too severe. This coordinated global
      signaling network, namely the DNA damage response (DDR), ensures the genome
      stability under DNA damaging stress. A variety of regulators have been shown to
      modulate the activity and levels of key proteins in the DDR, including kinases,
      phosphatases, ubiquitin ligases, deubiquitinases, and other protein modifying
      enzymes. Epigenetic regulators, particularly microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs,
      have been emerging as an important payer of regulation in addition to canonical
      DNA damage signaling proteins. In this review, we will discuss the functional
      interaction between the regulators and their targets in the DDR. 

PMID- 26882841
TI  - Corrigendum: Dual modulation of Ras-Mnk and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways: A Novel c
      FLIP inhibitory mechanism of 3-AWA mediated translational attenuation through
      dephosphorylation of eIF4E.

PMID- 26882842
TI  - Divalent Ion Parameterization Strongly Affects Conformation and Interactions of
      an Anionic Biomimetic Polymer.
AB  - The description of peptides and the use of molecular dynamics simulations to
      refine structures and investigate the dynamics on an atomistic scale are well
      developed. Through a consensus in this community over multiple decades,
      parameters were developed for molecular interactions that only require the
      sequence of amino-acids and an initial guess for the three-dimensional structure.
      The recent discovery of peptoids will require a retooling of the currently
      available interaction potentials in order to have the same level of confidence in
      the predicted structures and pathways as there is presently in the peptide
      counterparts. Here we present modeling of peptoids using a combination of ab
      initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and atomistic resolution classical force field
      (FF) to span the relevant time and length scales. To properly account for the
      dominant forces that stabilize ordered structures of peptoids, namely steric-,
      electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions mediated through side chain-side
      chain interactions in the FF model, those have to be first mapped out using high
      fidelity atomistic representations. A key feature here is not only to use gas
      phase quantum chemistry tools, but also account for solvation effects in the
      condensed phase through AIMD. One major challenge is to elucidate ion binding to
      charged or polar regions of the peptoid and its concomitant role in the creation
      of local order. Here, similar to proteins, a specific ion effect is observed
      suggesting that both the net charge and the precise chemical nature of the ion
      will need to be described. 

PMID- 26882843
TI  - Electron tomography characterization of hemoglobin uptake in Plasmodium chabaudi
      reveals a stage-dependent mechanism for food vacuole morphogenesis.
AB  - In the course of their intraerythrocytic development, malaria parasites
      incorporate and degrade massive amounts of the host cell cytoplasm. This
      mechanism is essential for parasite development and represents a physiological
      step used as target for many antimalarial drugs; nevertheless, the fine
      mechanisms underlying these processes in Plasmodium species are still under
      discussion. Here, we studied the events of hemoglobin uptake and hemozoin
      nucleation in the different stages of the intraerythrocytic cycle of the murine
      malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi using transmission electron tomography of
      cryofixed and freeze-substituted cells. The results showed that hemoglobin uptake
      in P. chabaudi starts at the early ring stage and is present in all developmental
      stages, including the schizont stage. Hemozoin nucleation occurs near the
      membrane of small food vacuoles. At the trophozoite stage, food vacuoles are
      found closely localized to cytostomal tubes and mitochondria, whereas in the
      schizont stage, we observed a large food vacuole located in the central portion
      of the parasite. Taken together, these results provide new insights into the
      mechanisms of hemoglobin uptake and degradation in rodent malaria parasites. 

PMID- 26882845
TI  - The use of MRI deformable image registration for CT-based brachytherapy in
      locally advanced cervical cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Incorporation of MRI into image-based brachytherapy (IBBT) is limited by
      logistics, reimbursement, and workflow demands. Our goal is to determine if
      deformable image registration (DIR) using a preimplantation MRI is feasible to
      construct a high-risk target volume during IBBT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 2010
      to 2013, 20 patients were treated with high-dose-rate IBBT for cervical cancer. A
      preimplantation MRI was fused to the planning CT, and DIR was performed using MIM
      v6.1. The gross tumor volume (GTV) and high-risk clinical target volume were
      contoured on the MRI (HR-CTV MRI), and a separate high-risk clinical target
      volume was made from the deformable image registration of the preimplantation MRI
      to the planning CT (HR-CTV'). The treated target volume from the planning CT
      without the DIR or fusion (HR-CTV BT) was compared with the HR-CTV'. The
      geometric means of the GTV, HR-CTV MRI, HR-CTV', and HR-CTV BT were analyzed.
      Statistical analysis using Wilcoxon rank and analysis of variance were performed.
      RESULTS: There was a significant larger difference between the GTV and the HR-CTV
      MRI, HR-CTV', and HR-CTV BT (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference
      between the HR-CTV MRI vs. the HR-CTV BT (p < 0.040). There was no significant
      difference between the HR-CTV MRI and HR-CTV'. DIR was advantageous in the
      setting of residual disease pre-IBBT. CONCLUSIONS: DIR is feasible to define an
      HR-CTV for MRI-guided, CT IBBT. The HR-CTV MRI predicted a smaller treatment
      volume in comparison with the HR-CTV BT. DIR is limited by patient anatomy and is
      most beneficial in patients with gross disease.

PMID- 26882844
TI  - Inefficient DMN Suppression in Schizophrenia Patients with Impaired Cognitive
      Function but not Patients with Preserved Cognitive Function.
AB  - Previous studies have observed reduced suppression of the default mode network
      (DMN) during cognitive tasks in schizophrenia, suggesting inefficient DMN
      suppression is critical for the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Cognitive
      function in schizophrenia patients, however, varies from relatively intact to
      severely impaired. This study, which compared the DMN suppression patterns
      between first-episode schizophrenia patients with (SZ-Imp) and without (SZ-Pre)
      impaired cognitive function, may provide further insight into the role of DMN
      dysfunction in cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Independent component
      analysis (ICA) was applied to resting-state fMRI data to identify the DMN in each
      subject, and then general linear modeling based on the task-fMRI data was used to
      examine the different DMN activation patterns between groups. We observed that
      the SZ-Imp group, but not the SZ-Pre group, showed reduced suppression in the
      medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulated cortex when compared to the
      healthy controls (HC) group. Moreover, less DMN suppression was associated with
      poorer task performance in both HC and patient groups. Our findings provide the
      first direct evidence that disrupted DMN activity only exists in schizophrenia
      patients with impaired cognitive function, supporting the specific neuro
      pathological role of inefficient DMN suppression in cognitive deficits of first
      episode schizophrenia. 

PMID- 26882846
TI  - Rasch analysis of the Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes towards Children with Handicaps
      scale.
AB  - Aim To assess whether the Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes towards Children with
      Handicaps (CATCH) 36-item total scale and subscales fit the unidimensional Rasch
      model. Method The CATCH was administered to 1881 children, aged 7-16 years in a
      cross-sectional survey. Data were used from a random sample of 416 for the
      initial Rasch analysis. The analysis was performed on the 36-item scale and then
      separately for each subscale. The analysis explored fit to the Rasch model in
      terms of overall scale fit, individual item fit, item response categories, and
      unidimensionality. Item bias for gender and school level was also assessed.
      Revised scales were then tested on an independent second random sample of 415
      children. Results Analyses indicated that the 36-item overall scale was not
      unidimensional and did not fit the Rasch model. Two scales of affective attitudes
      and behavioural intention were retained after four items were removed from each
      due to misfit to the Rasch model. Additionally, the scaling was improved when the
      two most negative response categories were aggregated. There was no item bias by
      gender or school level on the revised scales. Items assessing cognitive attitudes
      did not fit the Rasch model and had low internal consistency as a scale.
      Conclusion Affective attitudes and behavioural intention CATCH sub-scales should
      be treated separately. Caution should be exercised when using the cognitive
      subscale. Implications for Rehabilitation The 36-item Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes
      towards Children with Handicaps (CATCH) scale as a whole did not fit the Rasch
      model; thus indicating a multi-dimensional scale. Researchers should use two
      revised eight-item subscales of affective attitudes and behavioural intentions
      when exploring interventions aiming to improve children's attitudes towards
      disabled people or factors associated with those attitudes. Researchers should
      use the cognitive subscale with caution, as it did not create a unidimensional
      and internally consistent scale. Therefore, conclusions drawn from this scale may
      not accurately reflect children's attitudes.

PMID- 26882847
TI  - Long noncoding RNA PVT1, a novel promising biomarker to predict lymph node
      metastasis and prognosis: a meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have found that the expression levels of long
      noncoding RNA PVT1 (lncRNA PVT1) were elevated in cancerous tissue, which was
      significantly higher than those in adjacent noncancerous tissues or corresponding
      normal tissues. Overexpression of lncRNA PVT1 was correlated with lymph node
      metastasis and a poor prognosis in various cancers. METHODS: This quantitative
      meta-analysis collected all relevant articles and explored the association of
      lncRNA PVT1 expression levels with lymph node metastasis and prognosis. The
      systematic search was conducted through multiple electronic databases (up to
      December 1, 2015). The meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.3 software
      and Stata SE12.0. RESULTS: A total of 939 patients with cancer from 10 studies
      were included. The Meta-analysis results showed that cancer patients with high
      PVT1 have a strong trend for LNM (OR=2.05, 95%CI:0.97-4.30, P=0.06, random
      effects model). Moreover, we found that cancer patients with high PVT1 expression
      had a poorer overall survival (HR=2.07, 95%CI:1.40-2.74, P=0.000, fixed-effects
      model), a shorter recurrence-free survival (HR=1.70, 95%CI:1.02-2.39, P=0.000,
      fixed-effects model), and a worse disease-free survival (HR:2.10, 95%CI:0.96
      3.23, P=0.000, fixed-effects model). CONCLUSIONS: PVT-1 may serve as a novel
      molecular marker for lymph node metastasis and prognosis.

PMID- 26882848
TI  - The Genetic Structure, Virulence, and Fungicide Sensitivity of Fusarium fujikuroi
      in Taiwan.
AB  - The rice disease bakanae, caused by Fusarium fujikuroi Nirenberg, has been
      present in Taiwan for over a century. To better understand the genetic diversity
      and structure of F. fujikuroi, a set of 16 polymorphic simple sequence repeat
      (SSR) markers were newly developed and used to analyze 637 F. fujikuroi isolates
      collected in 14 cities or counties around Taiwan from 1996 to 2013. On the basis
      of Bayesian clustering, the isolates were classified into four highly
      differentiated clusters: cluster B likely derived from the more widespread and
      genetically diversified clusters A or C, and cluster D was restricted to four
      cities or counties and may have been introduced from unknown sources genetically
      distinct from clusters A, B, and C. The coexistence of both mating types (MAT1
      1:MAT1-2 = 1:1.88) and the highly diversified vegetative compatibility groups
      (VCG) (16 VCG among the 21 assessed isolates) suggest the likelihood of sexual
      reproduction in the field. However, the biased mating type ratios and linkage
      disequilibrium in the population suggest nonrandom mating between individuals. A
      significant pattern of isolation by distance was also detected, which implies a
      geographical restricted gene flow and low dissemination ability of F. fujikuroi.
      Evaluation of 24 representative isolates on eight rice varieties revealed
      differential levels of virulence, however no clear pattern of specific variety x
      isolate interaction was observed. Investigations of the differences in virulence
      and fungicide sensitivity between 8 early isolates (1998 and 2002) and 52 recent
      isolates (2012) indicate the evolution of increased resistance to the fungicide
      prochloraz in F. fujikuroi in Taiwan. 

PMID- 26882849
TI  - A Deoxynivalenol-Activated Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Gene from Wheat Encodes a
      Nuclear Localized Protein and Protects Plants Against Fusarium Pathogens and
      Mycotoxins.
AB  - Fusarium graminearum is the fungal pathogen that causes globally important
      diseases of cereals and produces mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Owing
      to the dearth of available sources of resistance to Fusarium pathogens,
      characterization of novel genes that confer resistance to mycotoxins and
      mycotoxin-producing fungi is vitally important for breeding resistant crop
      varieties. In this study, a wheat methionyl-tRNA synthetase (TaMetRS) gene was
      identified from suspension cell cultures treated with DON. It shares conserved
      aminoacylation catalytic and tRNA anticodon binding domains with human MetRS and
      with the only previously characterized plant MetRS, suggesting that it functions
      in aminoacylation in the cytoplasm. However, the TaMetRS comprises a typical
      nuclear localization signal and cellular localization studies with a TaMetRS::GFP
      fusion protein showed that TaMetRS is localized in the nucleus. Expression of
      TaMetRS was activated by DON treatment and by infection with a DON-producing F.
      graminearum strain in wheat spikes. No such activation was observed following
      infection with a non-DON-producing F. graminearum strain. Expression of TaMetRS
      in Arabidopsis plants conferred significant resistance to DON and F. graminearum.
      These results indicated that this DON-activated TaMetRS gene may encode a novel
      type of MetRS in plants that has a role in defense and detoxification. 

PMID- 26882850
TI  - Bismerthiazol Inhibits Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri Growth and Induces
      Differential Expression of Citrus Defense-Related Genes.
AB  - Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri, is a serious disease that
      causes substantial economic losses to the citrus industry worldwide. The
      bactericide bismerthiazol has been used to control rice bacterial blight (X.
      oryzae pv. oryzae). In this paper, we demonstrate that bismerthiazol can
      effectively control citrus canker by both inhibiting the growth of X. citri ssp.
      citri and triggering the plant's host defense response through the expression of
      several pathogenesis-related genes (PR1, PR2, CHI, and RpRd1) and the
      nonexpresser of PR genes (NPR1, NPR2, and NPR3) in 'Duncan' grapefruit,
      especially at early treatment times. In addition, we found that bismerthiazol
      induced the expression of the marker genes CitCHS and CitCHI in the flavonoid
      pathway and the PAL1 (phenylalanine ammonia lyase 1) gene in the salicylic acid
      (SA) biosynthesis pathway at different time points. Moreover, bismerthiazol also
      induced the expression of the priming defense-associated gene AZI1. Taken
      together, these results indicate that the induction of the defense response in
      'Duncan' grapefruit by bismerthiazol may involve the SA signaling pathway and the
      priming defense and that bismerthiazol may serve as an alternative to copper
      bactericides for the control of citrus canker. 

PMID- 26882851
TI  - Changes in Plant Metabolism and Accumulation of Fungal Metabolites in Response to
      Esca Proper and Apoplexy Expression in the Whole Grapevine.
AB  - Trunk diseases have become among the most important grapevine diseases worldwide.
      They are caused by fungal pathogens that attack the permanent woody structure of
      the vines and cause various symptoms in woody and annual organs. This study
      examined modifications of plant responses in green stem, cordon, and trunk of
      grapevines expressing Esca proper (E) or apoplexy (A) event, which are the most
      frequent grapevine trunk disease symptoms observed in Europe. Transcript
      expression of a set of plant defense- and stress-related genes was monitored by
      quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction while plant
      phytoalexins and fungal metabolites were quantified by high-performance liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to characterize the interaction between
      the grapevine and trunk disease agents. Expression of genes encoding enzymes of
      the phenylpropanoid pathway and trans-resveratrol content were altered in the
      three organs of diseased plants, especially in the young tissues of A plants.
      Pathogenesis-related proteins and the antioxidant system were severely modulated
      in A plants, which indicates a drastic stress effect. In the meantime, fungal
      polyketides 6-MSA, (R)-mellein, and (3R,4R)-4-hydroxymellein, were accumulated in
      A plants, which suggests their potential effect on plant metabolism during the
      appearance of foliar symptoms. 

PMID- 26882852
TI  - Primary Ewing sarcoma of the lumbar spine presenting as cauda equina syndrome in
      a pediatric patient.

PMID- 26882853
TI  - A common pathology in an uncommon location: posterior migrated epidural disc
      herniation.

PMID- 26882854
TI  - Cervicothoracic intradural arachnoid cyst with scoliosis and brachial plexopathy.

PMID- 26882855
TI  - Transverse myelitis.

PMID- 26882856
TI  - Foraminal lumbar root schwannoma.

PMID- 26882857
TI  - A rare case of cervical myelopathy caused by invaginated laminae of the axis into
      the spinal canal.

PMID- 26882859
TI  - Giant retroperitoneal paraspinal liposarcoma causing thoracolumbar scoliosis.

PMID- 26882858
TI  - The relationship between back pain and schoolbag use: a cross-sectional study of
      5,318 Italian students.
AB  - BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Back pain at a young age is considered to be predictive of
      chronicity. Several studies have investigated the relationship between the use of
      a schoolbag and back pain, although some aspects are still unclear. PURPOSE: The
      aim of this study was to evaluate back pain due to schoolbag use in terms of (1)
      prevalence and intensity, (2) differences between male and female pupils, and (3)
      predisposing factors. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. PATIENT
      SAMPLE: The sample was composed of 5,318 healthy pupils aged 6 to 19 years
      (classified according to three age groups: children, younger adolescents, and
      older adolescents). OUTCOME MEASURES: Schoolbag-related pain was assessed by
      means of an ad hoc questionnaire. The intensity of pain was assessed using the
      Wong scale. METHODS: Subjects underwent a face-to-face interview using an ad hoc
      questionnaire. The intensity of pain was assessed using the Wong scale. On the
      basis of the prevalence and intensity of back pain, we divided our population
      into two groups: (1) no or mild pain group and (2) moderate or severe pain group.
      The "schoolbag load" (ratio between schoolbag and pupil weight multiplied by 100)
      was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: More than 60% of the subjects reported
      pain. Although the schoolbag load decreased from children to young and older
      adolescents, schoolbag-related pain significantly increased (p<.001). Girls
      reported significantly more frequent and more severe pain than boys. The logistic
      model confirmed that adolescent girls are the group at greatest risk of suffering
      from intense pain. The schoolbag load had a weak impact on back pain, whereas the
      schoolbag carrying time was a strong predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent girls
      have the highest risk of experiencing severe back pain, regardless of schoolbag
      load. This suggests that other factors (anatomical, physiological, or
      environmental) might play an important role in pain perception. These aspects
      should be investigated to plan appropriate preventive and rehabilitative
      strategies.

PMID- 26882860
TI  - Renal cell carcinoma metastasis presenting as an osteosarcoma.

PMID- 26882861
TI  - Acute cauda equina syndrome secondary to chondromyxoid fibroma of the lumbar
      spine.

PMID- 26882862
TI  - Decreased expression of the type III TGF-beta receptor enhances metastasis and
      invasion in hepatocellullar carcinoma progression.
AB  - The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of cytokines is
      multifunctional and involved in the regulation of cell growth and
      differentiation. TGF-beta can induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
      of both epithelial and endothelial cells. This has consequences for cancer
      progression in regards to both migration and invasion abilities. The type III TGF
      beta receptor (TbetaRIII) is a ubiquitously expressed TGF-beta co-receptor which
      regulates TGF-beta signaling and the progression of various types of cancer.
      Previous studies have shown that TbetaRIII exhibits abnormal expression and plays
      an essential role in regulating cancer invasion and metastasis, while little is
      known in regards to its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. In
      the present study, we designed the present research to study the role of
      TbetaRIII in the invasion and metastasis of HCC and the possible mechanisms
      involved. The results demonstrated decreased expression of TbetaRIII in HCC
      patient tissues and human HCC cell lines. TGF-beta1 stimulation led to the
      increased migratory ability and reduced expression of TbetaRIII in HCC cells. In
      addition, knockdown of TbetaRIII by small interfering RNA (siRNA) promoted the
      migration and invasion of HCC cells and induced activation of the Smad2 and Akt
      pathways. All the results suggest that TbetaRIII is a novel suppressor of HCC
      progression.

PMID- 26882863
TI  - All-in-one: a versatile gas sensor based on fiber enhanced Raman spectroscopy for
      monitoring postharvest fruit conservation and ripening.
AB  - In today's fruit conservation rooms the ripening of harvested fruit is delayed by
      precise management of the interior oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
      Ethylene (C2H4), a natural plant hormone, is commonly used to trigger fruit
      ripening shortly before entering the market. Monitoring of these critical process
      gases, also of the increasingly favored cooling agent ammonia (NH3), is a crucial
      task in modern postharvest fruit management. The goal of this work was to develop
      and characterize a gas sensor setup based on fiber enhanced Raman spectroscopy
      for fast (time resolution of a few minutes) and non-destructive process gas
      monitoring throughout the complete postharvest production chain encompassing
      storage and transport in fruit conservation chambers as well as commercial fruit
      ripening in industrial ripening rooms. Exploiting a micro-structured hollow-core
      photonic crystal fiber for analyte gas confinement and sensitivity enhancement,
      the sensor features simultaneous quantification of O2, CO2, NH3 and C2H4 without
      cross-sensitivity in just one single measurement. Laboratory measurements of
      typical fruit conservation gas mixtures showed that the sensor is capable of
      quantifying O2 and CO2 concentration levels with accuracy of 3% or less with
      respect to reference concentrations. The sensor detected ammonia concentrations,
      relevant for chemical alarm purposes. Due to the high spectral resolution of the
      gas sensor, ethylene could be quantified simultaneously with O2 and CO2 in a
      multi-component mixture. These results indicate that fiber enhanced Raman sensors
      have a potential to become universally usable on-site gas sensors for controlled
      atmosphere applications in postharvest fruit management. 

PMID- 26882864
TI  - Light intensity affects the uptake and metabolism of glycine by pakchoi (Brassica
      chinensis L.).
AB  - The uptake of glycine by pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), when supplied as single
      N-source or in a mixture of glycine and inorganic N, was studied at different
      light intensities under sterile conditions. At the optimal intensity (414 MUmol
      m(-2) s(-1)) for plant growth, glycine, nitrate, and ammonium contributed 29.4%,
      39.5%, and 31.1% shoot N, respectively, and light intensity altered the
      preferential absorption of N sources. The lower (15)N-nitrate in root but higher
      in shoot and the higher (15)N-glycine in root but lower in shoot suggested that
      most (15)N-nitrate uptake by root transported to shoot rapidly, with the shoot
      being important for nitrate assimilation, and the N contribution of glycine was
      limited by post-uptake metabolism. The amount of glycine that was taken up by the
      plant was likely limited by root uptake at low light intensities and by the
      metabolism of ammonium produced by glycine at high light intensities. These
      results indicate that pakchoi has the ability to uptake a large quantity of
      glycine, but that uptake is strongly regulated by light intensity, with
      metabolism in the root inhibiting its N contribution.

PMID- 26882865
TI  - Functionalized Thallium Antimony Films as Excellent Candidates for Large-Gap
      Quantum Spin Hall Insulator.
AB  - Group III-V films are of great importance for their potential application in
      spintronics and quantum computing. Search for two-dimensional III-V films with a
      nontrivial large-gap are quite crucial for the realization of dissipationless
      transport edge channels using quantum spin Hall (QSH) effects. Here we use first
      principles calculations to predict a class of large-gap QSH insulators in
      functionalized TlSb monolayers (TlSbX2; (X = H, F, Cl, Br, I)), with sizable bulk
      gaps as large as 0.22~0.40 eV. The QSH state is identified by Z2 topological
      invariant together with helical edge states induced by spin-orbit coupling (SOC).
      Noticeably, the inverted band gap in the nontrivial states can be effectively
      tuned by the electric field and strain. Additionally, these films on BN substrate
      also maintain a nontrivial QSH state, which harbors a Dirac cone lying within the
      band gap. These findings may shed new light in future design and fabrication of
      QSH insulators based on two-dimensional honeycomb lattices in spintronics.

PMID- 26882866
TI  - Estimation of retorted phosphor powder from spent fluorescent lamps by thermal
      process.
AB  - The degree of thermal stabilization of phosphor powder from spent fluorescent
      lamps (SFLs) manufactured by three companies (A, B, C) was estimated by examining
      mercury content in phosphor powder with retorting time, retorting temperature and
      rotational speed of drum. Mercury content of phosphor powders from spent
      fluorescent lamps manufactured by A, B and C companies as samples in thermal
      experiments was 4031 mg/kg, 3522 mg/kg and 3172 mg/kg, respectively. In the
      thermal experiments, the optimal conditions for retorting time, retorting
      temperature, and rotational speed were determined at 6h, 400 degrees C, and 2.0
      rpm, respectively. With thermal processing at the optimal conditions, mercury
      content of all samples for retorted phosphor powder was less than 3.0mg/kg, while
      efficiency of thermal process to control mercury content was higher than 99.9%.
      Leaching tests such as Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and
      Korea Extraction Test (KET) were subsequently carried out to verify if retorted
      phosphor powder is hazardous waste. Leaching concentrations of mercury for all
      samples of retorted phosphor powder were satisfied with regulatory levels in both
      leaching tests. Hence, retorted phosphor powders at the optimal conditions are
      considered to be non-hazardous wastes.

PMID- 26882867
TI  - The generation and cost of litter resulting from the curbside collection of
      recycling.
AB  - This study examined the generation of litter, defined as spillage and uncollected
      residue, from a curbside collection system for residential recycling. The primary
      recycling containers used in the study were 18-gal (68 L), open-top bins. The
      study, conducted over a seven-week period, was comprised of both an urban and
      suburban area. Six litter characterizations were conducted in which all new
      litter larger than 1 in.(2) was collected, segregated, counted, and weighed. We
      found that each week the open-top recycling bins contributed approximately 20,590
      pieces of litter over 1 in. in size per every 1000 households, which resulted in
      the generation of 3.74 tons of litter per 1000 households per year. In addition
      to the bins having no top, the primary root causes of the litter were constantly
      overflowing recycling bins, the method of collection, and material scavenging.
      Based on an estimated cost of litter cleanup ranging from $0.17 to $0.79 per
      piece of litter, the direct economic costs from the collection of litter and loss
      in recycling revenues were estimated at US$3920 to US$19,250 per 1000 households
      per year. Other notable impacts from the litter, such as increased risk of flood
      damage from storm drain impairment and marine ecosystem damages exist, but were
      not monetized. The results strongly suggest that modification of the curbside
      collection system would decrease the amount and associated cost of litter by
      replacing existing curbside collection containers with larger volume containers
      with covers and by modifying the task-based incentive system to emphasize litter
      prevention rather than the current aim of completing the task most quickly.

PMID- 26882868
TI  - Ultrasonographic mound height as predictor of vesicoureteral reflux resolution
      after endoscopic treatment in children.
AB  - PURPOSE: Endoscopic dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Dx/HA) injection is a
      safe and efficacious treatment option for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in
      children. Endoscopic appearance, hydrodistention and amount of injected Dx/HA
      have been demonstrated not to be reliable predictors of outcome. Aim of this
      study was to evaluate Dx/HA mounds on ultrasound scans (US) and find out any
      eventual correlation with reflux resolution. METHODS: We selected patients
      treated with endoscopic injection for moderate to high VUR, renal scaring or
      repeated infections under antibiotic prophylaxis. Success was defined by absence
      of VUR at control 3months after surgery; at 3months we also measured mound height
      ultrasonographically. RESULTS: We considered a total of 32 children (15 male, 17
      female; 53 ureters) with a median age of 3years (+/-24months). Overall success
      rate was 77% per ureter. Success rate correlates directly with age and inversely
      with VUR grade. Mound height is the major predictive parameter for reflux
      resolution (sensitivity 100%, specificity 65.9%); mean mound heights of success
      group vs. persistence-of-reflux group were 9.97+/-1.61mm and 7.29+/-1.74mm
      respectively (p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: A mound measuring at least 9.8mm at post
      operative US scan is a predictor of reflux resolution. Age and grade also seems
      to influence success rate.

PMID- 26882869
TI  - Factors associated with failure of nonoperative treatment of complicated
      appendicitis in children.
AB  - Appendicitis remains the most common cause for emergency abdominal surgery in
      children. Immediate appendectomy in complicated, perforated appendicitis can be
      hazardous and nonoperative therapy has been gaining use as an initial therapy in
      children. Previous studies have reported failure rates in nonoperative therapy in
      such cases ranging from 10% to 41%. Factors leading to treatment failures have
      been studied with various and disparate results. We reviewed our institutional
      experience in treated complicated appendicitis, with focus on those initially
      managed nonoperatively. METHODS: Records of all children admitted with the
      diagnosis of perforated appendicitis to NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue
      Hospital Center from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2013 were reviewed. The
      diagnosis was made with ultrasound and/or computed tomography scan. Those with
      abscesses amenable to drainage underwent aspiration and drain placement by an
      interventional radiologist. Broad spectrum intravenous (IV) antibiotics were
      given until the patient became afebrile, pain free and tolerating a regular diet.
      Oral antibiotics were continued for an additional week and interval appendectomy
      was done eight weeks later. The primary outcome measure was treatment response
      with failure defined as those who did not improve or required readmission for
      additional IV antibiotics and/or early appendectomy. Multiple patient and
      treatment related variables, including those previously reported as predicting
      failure in nonoperative therapy, were studied. Continuous variables were reported
      as means +/- standard error and compared using 2-tailed unpaired t tests;
      nonparametric variables were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U tests. Categorical
      variables were reported as medians +/- interquartile ranges and compared using
      Chi-square testing. Statistical significance was accepted for p<.05. RESULTS:
      Sixty-four patients were identified as undergoing initial nonoperative therapy.
      Fifty-two (81%) were categorized as treatment successes being treated
      nonoperatively and 12 (19%) were failures. Variables showing no significance in
      predicting treatment failures included duration of symptoms, presence of
      appendicolith, presence of phlegmon, presence of abscess, initial white blood
      cell count, and SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) positive. The
      variables that predicted failure of nonoperative therapy vs. successes were
      presence of bandemia (75% vs. 40%, p=0.052) and small bowel obstruction on
      imaging (42% vs. 15%, p=0.052) and presence of bandemia >=15% which was highly
      predictive of failure (67% vs. 4%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Predicting which
      patients with complicated perforated appendicitis will respond well to
      nonoperative therapy may allow us to more effectively treat patients with
      complicated perforated appendicitis. In our study the presence of small bowel
      obstruction and bandemia, especially >=15% correlated with treatment failure;
      this suggests that these select patients may need a modified treatment strategy.

PMID- 26882870
TI  - Protective effects of Chaenomeles thibetica extract against carbon tetrachloride
      induced damage via the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.
AB  - Chaenomeles thibetica, a type of fruit of the genus Chaenomeles, is commonly
      cultivated and used as Mugua in China and as liquor, candy, and functional food
      in Tibet. Total phenol, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents were measured in
      C. thibetica extract (CTE). CTE had a positive effect on free radical scavenging
      and anti-lipid oxidation in vitro. The protective effects of CTE against carbon
      tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative damage in vivo were also measured. The
      results of antioxidative enzymes indicated that CTE can increase the activities
      of the catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione contents and reduce the
      level of malondialdehyde in rats. The levels of alanine aminotransferase,
      aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were
      significantly reversed by CTE compared with the elevated levels in the CCl4
      group. Besides, CTE could reverse the cell viability of HepG2 inoculated with
      CCl4via phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), activating
      the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and increasing the
      expression of phase II detoxification enzymes. These effects may expand the
      applications of C. thibetica and offer alternative food with antioxidant and
      hepatoprotective functions in the food industry. 

PMID- 26882872
TI  - Healthcare policy in Africa: institutions and politics from colonialism to the
      present.

PMID- 26882871
TI  - Contribution of Walking to School to Individual and Population Moderate-Vigorous
      Intensity Physical Activity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study estimated the contribution of walking to/from school to
      objectively measured daily moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA)
      in individuals and populations. METHODS: MEDLINE, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus were
      systematically searched up to February 2015. Two reviewers independently screened
      titles/abstracts/full-text articles, and assessed study quality. RESULTS: Of 2430
      records, 129 were eligible for full-text screening. Twelve studies met the
      inclusion criteria of reporting objectively obtained measures of MVPA (total and
      while walking to/from school) in children and adolescents. The weighted mean MVPA
      accumulated in walking to and from school was 17 min/day in primary school pupils
      (9 samples, n = 3422) and 13 min/day in high school pupils (4 samples, n = 2600).
      Pooled analysis suggested that walking to and from school contributed 23% and 36%
      of MVPA on schooldays in primary school age children and high school pupils,
      respectively. All included studies were of high methodological quality.
      CONCLUSIONS: Walking to and from school makes a meaningful contribution to
      individual schoolday MVPA for active commuters in western countries. Since
      schooldays represent only around half of all days, and prevalence of walking to
      school is low in many countries, the contribution of walking to school to
      population MVPA is probably low.

PMID- 26882874
TI  - Neuropeptidase activities in plasma after acute restraint stress. Interaction
      with cortico-limbic areas.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of acute restraint stress (ARS) on plasma
      enkephalinase and oxytocinase activities. ARS modifies basal activities in
      cortico-limbic regions of rats and induces changes in the correlations observed
      between these regions. The interactions between plasma and cortico-limbic
      activities will be also evaluated. METHODS: Enkephalinase (AlaAP and LeuAP) and
      oxytocinase (P-LeuAP) activities were fluorometrically determined in plasma of
      control and stressed rats using aminoacyl-beta-naphthylamides (aaNNap), AlaNNap
      and LeuNNap as substrates. RESULTS: No differences in enzymatic activities were
      observed between control and stressed animals in plasma. In contrast, highly
      significant positive and negative correlations between plasma and cortico-limbic
      regions were demonstrated in controls. Stress conditions significantly alter the
      pattern of these correlations. CONCLUSION: The present results clearly support a
      connection between plasma and brain involving certain neuropeptidase activities
      that change under stress conditions.

PMID- 26882875
TI  - Organo-Zintl Clusters [P7R4]: A New Class of Superalkalis.
AB  - Zintl ions composed of Group 13, 14, and 15 elements are multiply charged cluster
      anions that form the building blocks of the Zintl phase. Superalkalis, on the
      other hand, are cationic clusters that mimic the chemistry of the alkali atoms.
      It is, therefore, counterintuitive to expect that Zintl anions can be used as a
      core to construct superalkalis. In this paper, using density functional theory,
      we show that this is indeed possible. The results are compared with calculations
      at the MP2 level of theory. A systematic study of a P7(3-) Zintl core decorated
      with organic ligands [R = Me, CH2Me, CH(Me)2 and C(Me)3] shows that the
      ionization energies of some of the P7R4 species are smaller than those of the
      alkali atoms and hence can be classified as superalkalis. This opens the door to
      the design and synthesis of a new class of superalkali moieties apart from the
      traditional ones composed of only inorganic elements. 

PMID- 26882873
TI  - Gpr176 is a Gz-linked orphan G-protein-coupled receptor that sets the pace of
      circadian behaviour.
AB  - G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) participate in a broad range of physiological
      functions. A priority for fundamental and clinical research, therefore, is to
      decipher the function of over 140 remaining orphan GPCRs. The suprachiasmatic
      nucleus (SCN), the brain's circadian pacemaker, governs daily rhythms in
      behaviour and physiology. Here we launch the SCN orphan GPCR project to (i)
      search for murine orphan GPCRs with enriched expression in the SCN, (ii) generate
      mutant animals deficient in candidate GPCRs, and (iii) analyse the impact on
      circadian rhythms. We thereby identify Gpr176 as an SCN-enriched orphan GPCR that
      sets the pace of circadian behaviour. Gpr176 is expressed in a circadian manner
      by SCN neurons, and molecular characterization reveals that it represses cAMP
      signalling in an agonist-independent manner. Gpr176 acts independently of, and in
      parallel to, the Vipr2 GPCR, not through the canonical Gi, but via the unique G
      protein subclass Gz. 

PMID- 26882878
TI  - Alcoholic liver disease: Mucosal microbes exacerbate experimental alcoholic
      steatohepatitis.

PMID- 26882876
TI  - Abdominal obesity is strongly associated with Cardiovascular Disease and its Risk
      Factors in Elderly and very Elderly Community-dwelling Chinese.
AB  - Obesity is usually considered to predispose to atherosclerotic cardiovascular
      disease (ASCVD) but milder degrees of obesity or overweight may be protective in
      some elderly populations. We examined the relationships between general and
      abdominal obesity indices with ASCVD and its risk factors in elderly (aged >= 65
      years) Shanghai community residents Among the 3950 participants, 21.5% had ASCVD,
      56.2% had body mass index (BMI) >= 24 kg/m2, 50.1% had high waist circumference
      (WC) and 77.1% had waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) >= 0.50. WHtR increased with age
      in both men and women whereas WC increased with age only in women and BMI
      decreased with age only in men. The optimal WHtR cut-off value to predict the
      risk of ASCVD determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis was WHtR
      >= 0.53 with a prevalence of 55.8%. Having abdominal obesity was significantly
      associated with prevalent ASCVD with WHtR >= 0.53 having a higher value for the
      odds ratio than high WC, whereas high BMI was not associated. All three indices
      predicted high glucose, triglycerides and hsCRP levels but only the WHtR >= 0.53
      showed a significant association with physical activity. Abdominal obesity
      indices, but not BMI, predicted prevalent ASCVD and its risk factors in this
      elderly Chinese population.

PMID- 26882879
TI  - PPIs alter gut microbiota composition.

PMID- 26882883
TI  - New entry pathway for HCV.

PMID- 26882884
TI  - Stem cells: HSCT for Crohn's disease: work in progress or a bridge too far?

PMID- 26882885
TI  - Viral hepatitis: Drug-drug interactions in HCV treatment--the good, the bad and
      the ugly.

PMID- 26882881
TI  - Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery for benign and malignant disease.
AB  - Laparoscopic surgery for benign and malignant pancreatic lesions has slowly been
      gaining acceptance over the past decade and is being introduced in many centres.
      Some studies suggest that this approach is equivalent to or better than open
      surgery, but randomized data are needed to assess outcomes. In this Review, we
      aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in laparoscopic
      pancreatic surgery by aggregating high-quality published evidence. Various
      aspects, including the benefits, limitations, oncological efficacy, learning
      curve and latest innovations, are discussed. The focus is on laparoscopic Whipple
      procedure and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for both benign and malignant
      disease, but robot-assisted surgery is also addressed. Surgical and oncological
      outcomes are discussed as well as quality of life parameters and the cost
      efficiency of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. We have also included decision-aid
      algorithms based on the literature and our own expertise; these algorithms can
      assist in the decision to perform a laparoscopic or open procedure. 

PMID- 26882886
TI  - Gut microbiota: Microbiota promote gut healing.

PMID- 26882889
TI  - Desert dust induces TLR signaling to trigger Th2-dominant lung allergic
      inflammation via a MyD88-dependent signaling pathway.
AB  - Asian sand dust (ASD) is known to exacerbate asthma, although its mechanism is
      not yet well understood. In this study, when the effects on inflammatory response
      by LPS present in ASD was investigated by measuring the gene expression of
      cytokines and chemokines in RAW264.7 cells treated with ASD and/or polymyxin B
      (PMB), the ASD effects were attenuated by PMB, but not completely. When an in
      vitro study was performed using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from WT,
      TLR2(-/-), TLR4(-/-), and MyD88(-/-) BALB/c mice and BMDMs from WT, TLR2(-/-),
      TLR4(-/-), TLR2/4(-/-), TLR7/9(-/-), and MyD88(-/-) C57BL/6J mice, cytokine (IL
      6, IL-12) production in BMDMs was higher in ASD-stimulated TLR2(-/-) cells than
      in TLR4(-/-) cells, whereas it was lower or undetectable in TLR2/4(-/-) and
      MyD88(-/-) cells. These results suggest that ASD causes cytokine production
      predominantly in a TLR4/MyD88-dependent pathway. When WT and TLRs 2(-/-), 4(-/-),
      and MyD88(-/-) BALB/c mice were intratracheally challenged with OVA and/or ASD,
      ASD caused exacerbation of lung eosinophilia along with Th2 cytokine and
      eosinophil-relevant chemokine production. Serum OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 similar
      to WT was observed in TLRs 2(-/-), 4(-/-) mice, but not in MyD88(-/-) mice. The
      Th2 responses in TLR2(-/-) mice were attenuated remarkably by PMB. These results
      indicate that ASD exacerbates lung eosinophilia in a MyD88-dependent pathway.
      TLRs 2 and 4 signaling may be important in the increase in lung eosinophilia.
      Also, the TLR4 ligand LPS and TLR2 ligand like beta-glucan may be strong
      candidates for exacerbation of lung eosinophilia. 

PMID- 26882891
TI  - Peer-Delivered Recovery Support Services for Addictions in the United States: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - This systematic review identifies, appraises, and summarizes the evidence on the
      effectiveness of peer-delivered recovery support services for people in recovery
      from alcohol and drug addiction. Nine studies met criteria for inclusion in the
      review. They were assessed for quality and outcomes including substance use and
      recovery-related factors. Despite significant methodological limitations found in
      the included studies, the body of evidence suggests salutary effects on
      participants. Current limitations and recommendations for future research are
      discussed. 

PMID- 26882890
TI  - Exposure to salient, dynamic sensory stimuli during development increases
      distractibility in adulthood.
AB  - It has been suggested that excessive exposure of children to the dynamic and
      highly salient audio-visual stimuli conveyed by electronic media may induce
      attention-related deficits in adulthood. This study was designed to evaluate this
      hypothesis in a controlled animal model setup. Building on their natural
      responsiveness to odors, we exposed juvenile rats for 1 h daily to a dynamic
      series of interchanging, highly salient odors, while controls were exposed to a
      non-changing mixture of these odors. Upon reaching adulthood, we tested the
      attentional capacity of the rats and measured their brain-derived neurotrophic
      factor (BDNF) levels as a proxy of neuronal plasticity. As compared with
      controls, rats exposed to the dynamic stimulation showed no attentional deficits
      under baseline task conditions, but their performance was dramatically impaired
      when an auditory distractor was introduced in the task. In addition, BDNF levels
      in the dorsal striatum of these rats were significantly increased relative to
      controls. These findings provide first empirical evidence that a continuous
      exposure to dynamic, highly salient stimuli has long-term effects on attentional
      functions later in life, and that these effects may have neural correlates in the
      dorsal striatum. 

PMID- 26882892
TI  - Analysis of root-knot nematode and fusarium wilt disease resistance in cotton
      (Gossypium spp.) using chromosome substitution lines from two alien species.
AB  - Chromosome substitution (CS) lines in plants are a powerful genetic resource for
      analyzing the contribution of chromosome segments to phenotypic variance. In this
      study, a series of interspecific cotton (Gossypium spp.) CS lines were used to
      identify a new germplasm resource, and to validate chromosomal regions and
      favorable alleles associated with nematode or fungal disease resistance traits.
      The CS lines were developed in the G. hirsutum L. TM-1 background with chromosome
      or chromosome segment substitutions from G. barbadense L. Pima 3-79 or G.
      tomentosum. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and fusarium wilt
      (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum) (races 1 and 4) resistance alleles and
      quantitative trait loci (QTL) previously placed on cotton chromosomes using SSR
      markers in two interspecific recombinant inbred line populations were chosen for
      testing. Phenotypic responses of increased resistance or susceptibility in
      controlled inoculation and infested field assays confirmed the resistance QTLs,
      based on substitution with the positive or negative allele for resistance. Lines
      CS-B22Lo, CS-B04, and CS-B18 showed high resistance to nematode root-galling,
      confirming QTLs on chromosomes 4 and 22 (long arm) with resistance alleles from
      Pima 3-79. Line CS-B16 had less fusarium race 1-induced vascular root staining
      and higher percent survival than the TM-1 parent, confirming a major resistance
      QTL on chromosome 16. Lines CS-B(17-11) and CS-B17 had high fusarium race 4
      vascular symptoms and low survival due to susceptible alleles introgressed from
      Pima 3-79, confirming the localization on chromosome 17 of an identified QTL with
      resistance alleles from TM1 and other resistant lines. Analyses validated regions
      on chromosomes 11, 16, and 17 harboring nematode and fusarium wilt resistance
      genes and demonstrated the value of CS lines as both a germplasm resource for
      breeding programs and as a powerful genetic analysis tool for determining QTL
      effects for disease resistance. CS lines carrying small alien chromosome segments
      with favorable QTL alleles could be used for effective introgression of biotic
      stress resistance or many other desirable traits by targeting gene interactions
      and reducing linkage drag effects.

PMID- 26882893
TI  - Saccharopolyspora subtropica sp. nov., a thermophilic actinomycete isolated from
      soil of a sugar cane field.
AB  - A novel thermophilic actinomycete, designated strain T3T, was isolated from a
      soil sample of a sugar cane field. The strain grew at 25-60  degrees C (optimum
      37-50  degrees C), at pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum 7.0-9.0) and with 0-12.0 % (w/v) NaCl
      (optimum 0-7 %). The aerial mycelium was white and the vegetative mycelium was
      colourless to pale yellow. The substrate mycelium fragmented into rod-shaped
      elements after 4-5 days at 50  degrees C. The aerial mycelium formed flexuous
      chains of 5-20 spores per chain; the oval-shaped spores had spiny surfaces and
      were non-motile. The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the
      diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell sugars
      consisted of arabinose, galactose and ribose. The cellular fatty acid profile
      consisted mainly of anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The quinone
      system was composed predominantly of MK-9(H4). The phospholipids detected were
      diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol,
      phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and ninhydrin-positive
      glycophospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain T3T was 71.3 mol%. The organism
      showed a combination of morphological and chemotaxonomic properties typical of
      members of the genus Saccharopolyspora. In the 16S rRNA gene tree of
      Saccharopolyspora it formed a distinct phyletic line and was related most closely
      to Saccharopolyspora thermophila 216T. However, the phenotypic characteristics of
      strain T3T were significantly different from those of S. thermophila 216T and DNA
      DNA hybridization revealed a low level of relatedness (28.6-32.3 %) between them.
      Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain T3T represents a novel
      species in the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora
      subtropica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T3T ( = DSM 46801T = CGMCC
      4.7206T). 

PMID- 26882894
TI  - Post graduate clinical placements: evaluating benefits and challenges with a
      mixed methods cross sectional design.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systematic evaluations of clinical placements are rare, especially
      when offered alongside academic postgraduate courses. An evidence-based approach
      is important to allow pedagogically-driven provision, rather than that solely
      governed by opinion or market demand. Our evaluation assessed a voluntary
      clinical placement scheme allied to a mental health course. METHODS: Data were
      collected over academic years 2010/11- 2013/14, from participating students (n =
      20 to 58) and clinician supervisors (n = 10-12), using a mixed-methods cross
      sectional design. Quantitative evaluation captured information on uptake,
      dropout, resource use, attitudes and experience, using standardized (the
      Placement Evaluation Questionnaire; the Scale To Assess the Therapeutic
      Relationship - Clinical version and the University of Toronto Placement
      Supervisor Evaluation) and bespoke questionnaires and audit data. Qualitative
      evaluation comprised two focus groups (5 clinicians, 5 students), to investigate
      attitudes, experience, perceived benefits, disadvantages and desired future
      developments. Data were analysed using framework analysis to identify a priori
      and emergent themes. RESULTS: High uptake (around 70 placements per annum), low
      dropout (2-3 students per annum; 5 %) and positive focus group comments suggested
      placements successfully provided added value and catered sufficiently to student
      demand. Students' responses confirmed that placements met expectations and the
      perception of benefit remained after completion with 70 % (n = 14) reporting an
      overall positive experience, 75 % (n = 15) reporting a pleasant learning
      experience, 60 % (n = 12) feeling that their clinical skills were enhanced and 85
      % (n = 17) believing that it would benefit other students. Placements contributed
      the equivalent of seven full time unskilled posts per annum to local health care
      services. While qualitative data revealed perceived 'mutual benefit' for both
      students and clinicians, this was qualified by the inherent limitations of
      students' time and expertise. Areas for development included fostering learning
      around professionalism and students' confidence on placement. CONCLUSIONS: The
      addition of healthcare placements to academic postgraduate taught courses can
      improve their attractiveness to applicants, benefit healthcare services and
      enhance students' perception of their learning experiences. Well-positioned and
      supported placement learning opportunities could become a key differentiator for
      academic courses, over potential competitors. However, the actual implications
      for student employability and achievement remain to be established.

PMID- 26882895
TI  - Impact of clinically tested NEP/ACE inhibitors on tumor uptake of [(111)In
      DOTA]MG11-first estimates for clinical translation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We have recently shown that treatment of mice with the neutral
      endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitor phosphoramidon (PA) improves the bioavailability
      and tumor uptake of biodegradable radiopeptides. For the truncated gastrin
      radiotracer [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 ([(DOTA)DGlu(10)]gastrin(10-17)), this method led
      to impressively high tumor-to-kidney ratios. Translation of this concept in the
      clinic requires the use of certified NEP inhibitors, such as thiorphan (TO) and
      its orally administered prodrug racecadotril (Race). Besides NEP, angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) has also been implicated in the catabolism of gastrin
      analogs. In the present study, we first compared the effects induced by NEP
      inhibition (using PA, TO, or Race) and/or by ACE inhibition (using lisinopril,
      Lis) on the biodistribution profile of [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 in mice. In addition,
      we compared the efficacy of PA and TO at different administered doses to enhance
      tumor uptake. METHODS: [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 was coinjected with (a) vehicle, (b) PA
      (300 MUg), (c) TO (150 MUg), (d) Lis (100 MUg), (e) PA (300 MUg) plus Lis (100
      MUg), or (f) 30-40 min after intraperitoneal (ip) injection of Race (3 mg) in
      SCID mice bearing AR42J xenografts. In addition, [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 was
      coinjected with vehicle, or with progressively increasing amounts of PA (3, 30,
      or 300 MUg) or TO (1.5, 15, and 150 MUg) in SCID mice bearing twin A431-CCK2R(+/
      ) tumors. In all above cases, biodistribution was conducted at 4 h postinjection
      (pi). RESULTS: During NEP inhibition, the uptake of [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 in the
      AR42J tumors impressively increased from 1.8 +/- 1.0 % ID/g (controls) to 15.3 +/
      4.7 % ID/g (PA) and 12.3 +/- 3.6 % ID/g (TO), while with Race tumor values
      reached 6.8 +/- 2.8 % ID/g. Conversely, Lis had no effect on tumor uptake and no
      additive effect when coinjected with PA. During the dose dependence study in
      mice, PA turned out to be more efficacious in enhancing tumor uptake of [(111)In
      DOTA]MG11 in the CCK2R-positive tumors compared to equimolar amounts of TO. In
      all cases, renal accumulation remained low, resulting in notable increases of
      tumor-to-kidney ratios. CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed NEP as the
      predominant degrading enzyme of [(111)In-DOTA]MG11 and ruled out the involvement
      of ACE in the in vivo catabolism of the radiotracer. NEP inhibition with the
      clinically tested NEP inhibitors TO and Race resulted in significant enhancement
      of tumor-to-kidney ratios vs. CONTROLS: However, compared with PA, TO and its
      prodrug Race induced less potent increases of tumor uptake, highlighting the
      significance of inhibitor type, administration route, and dose for implementing a
      first proof-of-principle study in human.

PMID- 26882896
TI  - Cholelithiasis and complicated chronic pancreatitis mimicking malignancy.

PMID- 26882897
TI  - Physiological evidence for diversification of IFNalpha- and IFNbeta-mediated
      response programs in different autoimmune diseases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Activation of the type I interferon (IFN) response program is
      described for several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), myositis (IIM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
      While IFNalpha contributes to SLE pathology, IFNbeta therapy is often beneficial
      in MS, implying different immunoregulatory roles for these IFNs. This study was
      aimed to investigate potential diversification of IFNalpha-and IFNbeta-mediated
      response programs in autoimmune diseases. METHODS: Peripheral blood gene
      expression of 23 prototypical type I IFN response genes (IRGs) was determined in
      54 healthy controls (HCs), 69 SLE (47 test, 22 validation), 149 IFNbeta-treated
      MS (71 test, 78 validation), 160 untreated MS, 78 IIM and 76 RA patients.
      Patients with a type I IFN signature were selected for analysis. RESULTS: We
      identified IFNalpha- and IFNbeta-specific response programs (GC-A and GC-B,
      respectively) in SLE and IFNbeta-treated MS patients. Concordantly, the GC-A/GC-B
      log-ratio was positive for all SLE patients and negative for virtually all
      IFNbeta-treated MS patients, which was confirmed in additional cohorts. Applying
      this information to other autoimmune diseases, IIM patients displayed positive GC
      A/GC-B log-ratios, indicating predominant IFNalpha activity. The GC-A/GC-B log
      ratio in RA was lower and approached zero in part of the patients, implying
      relative importance of both clusters. Remarkably, GC-A/GC-B log-ratios appeared
      most heterogeneous in untreated MS; half of the patients displayed GC-A
      dominance, whereas others showed GC-B dominance or log-ratios near zero.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show diversification of the type I IFN response in
      autoimmune diseases, suggesting different pathogenic roles of the type I IFNs.

PMID- 26882898
TI  - Molecular and cellular characteristics of hybrid vigour in a commercial hybrid of
      Chinese cabbage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heterosis or hybrid vigour is a phenomenon in which hybrid progeny
      exhibit superior performance compared to their parental inbred lines. Most
      commercial Chinese cabbage cultivars are F1 hybrids and their level of hybrid
      vigour is of critical importance and is a key selection criterion in the breeding
      system. RESULTS: We have characterized the heterotic phenotype of one F1 hybrid
      cultivar of Chinese cabbage and its parental lines from early- to late
      developmental stages of the plants. Hybrid cotyledons are larger than those of
      the parents at 4 days after sowing and biomass in the hybrid, determined by the
      fresh weight of leaves, is greater than that of the larger parent line by
      approximately 20% at 14 days after sowing. The final yield of the hybrid
      harvested at 63 days after sowing is 25% greater than the yield of the better
      parent. The larger leaves of the hybrid are a consequence of increased cell size
      and number of the photosynthetic palisade mesophyll cells and other leaf cells.
      The accumulation of plant hormones in the F1 was within the range of the parental
      levels at both 2 and 10 days after sowing. Two days after sowing, the expression
      levels of chloroplast-targeted genes in the cotyledon cells were upregulated in
      the F1 hybrid relative to their mid parent values. Shutdown of chlorophyll
      biosynthesis in the cotyledon by norflurazon prevented the increased leaf area in
      the F1 hybrid. CONCLUSIONS: In the cotyledons of F1 hybrids, chloroplast-targeted
      genes were upregulated at 2 days after sowing. The increased activity levels of
      this group of genes suggested that their differential transcription levels could
      be important for establishing early heterosis but the increased transcription
      levels were transient. Inhibition of the photosynthetic process in the cotyledon
      reduced heterosis in later seedling stages. These observations suggest early
      developmental events in the germinating seedling of the hybrid may be important
      for later developmental vigour and yield advantage.

PMID- 26882900
TI  - Irritable bowel syndrome-specific health-related quality of life instrument:
      development and psychometric evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome
      indicator for chronic disease, and particularly in the absence of biological
      markers for illness, such as with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aims of
      this study were to develop and evaluate a new IBS-specific HRQOL instrument (IBS
      HR-QOL). METHODS: This methodological study comprised three steps:
      conceptualization of the IBS-HR-QOL, item extraction and establishment of content
      validity, and psychometric evaluation of the instrument with 267 IBS patients
      recruited from four university hospitals. RESULTS: The content validity of the
      developed IBS-HR-QOL was assessed by 11 experts. Exploratory and confirmatory
      factor analyses yielded four factors. The criterion and convergent validities of
      the IBS-HR-QOL were demonstrated using the Short Form-36 and the Hospital Anxiety
      and Depression Scale, respectively. Known-groups validity was demonstrated using
      a symptom-severity scale. The internal consistency reliability and test-retest
      reliability were satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation
      coefficient of 0.93 and 0.88, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The IBS-HR-QOL comprises
      a total of 16 items. The IBS-HR-QOL demonstrated good psychometric properties.
      This instrument is easily comprehensible and short, rendering it feasible for use
      in clinical practice and research.

PMID- 26882899
TI  - Glycogen metabolism has a key role in the cancer microenvironment and provides
      new targets for cancer therapy.
AB  - Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells and contributes to their
      adaption within the tumour microenvironment and resistance to anticancer
      therapies. Recently, glycogen metabolism has become a recognised feature of
      cancer cells since it is upregulated in many tumour types, suggesting that it is
      an important aspect of cancer cell pathophysiology. Here, we provide an overview
      of glycogen metabolism and its regulation, with a focus on its role in metabolic
      reprogramming of cancer cells under stress conditions such as hypoxia, glucose
      deprivation and anticancer treatment. The various methods to detect glycogen in
      tumours in vivo as well as pharmacological modulators of glycogen metabolism are
      also reviewed. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic value of targeting glycogen
      metabolism as a strategy for combinational approaches in cancer treatment. 

PMID- 26882901
TI  - Ensuring the Health, Safety and Preparedness of U.S. Medical Students
      Participating in Global Health Electives Overseas.
AB  - Global health electives based in resource-poor countries have become extremely
      popular with medical students from resource rich ones. As the number of such
      programs and participants increase, so too do the absolute health and safety
      risks. It is clear from a number of published reports that many institutions
      provide little or no meaningful preparedness for students and do little to ensure
      their health and safety. These deficiencies together can affect students, their
      foreign hosts, and sponsoring institutions. The School of Public Health at the
      State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, and its predecessor, the
      Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, have sponsored a 6-8 week
      global health elective for fourth year medical students since 1980. The purposes
      of this elective are to provide students with an opportunity to observe the
      health care and public health systems in resource-poor countries, provide medical
      service, and have a cross-cultural experience. Over the course of the past 35
      years, 386 students have participated in this global health elective in more than
      41 resource-poor countries. Recent annual applications for this elective have
      been as high as 44 out of a class of 200 students. Over the past 10 years, annual
      acceptance rates have varied, ranging from a low of 32 % in 2007-2008 to a high
      of 74 % in 2010-2011 and 2013-2014. Careful screening, including a written
      application, review of academic records and personal interviews, has resulted in
      the selection of highly mature, adaptable, and dedicated students who have
      performed well at overseas sites. Appropriately preparing students for an
      overseas global health experience in resource-poor countries requires the
      investment of much professional and staff time and effort. At the SUNY Downstate
      School of Public Health, these resources have underpinned our Global Health in
      Developing Countries elective for many years. As a result, the elective is
      characterized by meticulous organization, extensive preparedness measures for
      students, and continuous monitoring of site and country safety. The health of
      students is ensured by one-on-one assessment of immunization needs, anti
      malarials, and the provision of a five-day supply of post-exposure HIV
      prophylaxis. Students sign agreements regarding the legal issues, immunizations,
      and anti-malarials recommended as well as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. They are
      also required to obtain medical evacuation insurance provided by the university,
      and medical care insurance valid overseas. Student travel plans are also approved
      as is in-country lodging. The focus of our 6-8 week global health elective is not
      clinical medicine. Rather, it is to enable students to learn about the health
      care and public health systems in a resource-poor country. Through that focus,
      they also come to understand the causes of health and health care disparities
      that exist in the country to which they are assigned. Our students are greatly
      advantaged with regard to cross-cultural understanding since our school is
      located in New York City's Borough of Brooklyn, where 40 % of the population was
      born outside of the U.S. Our comprehensive effort at risk management for this
      global health elective includes a thorough debriefing for each student upon
      his/her return. Special attention is given to ascertaining illness or injury
      while overseas, and, when necessary, immediate referral is made to an appropriate
      university clinical department where a student can be appropriately case managed.
      Meticulous oversight, careful selection of safe overseas sites, and attention to
      preparing students have resulted in significant risk reduction and successful
      experiences for the majority of our 386 students. This article describes the
      model we have developed for ensuring the health, safety, and preparedness of
      students participating in our global health elective.

PMID- 26882902
TI  - Bevacizumab for metachronous metastatic colorectal cancer: a reflection of
      community based practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the efficacy of bevacizumab has been established in patients
      with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), population-based studies are needed to
      gain insight into the actual implementation of bevacizumab in daily practice.
      Since these studies are lacking for patients with metachronous metastases, the
      aim of this study is to evaluate the current role of bevacizumab in the treatment
      of metachronous metastases of CRC. METHODS: Data on the use of bevacizumab as
      palliative treatment of metachronous metastases were collected for patients
      diagnosed with M0 CRC between 2003 and 2008 in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry (n =
      361). Median follow up was 5.3 years. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-five patients
      received bevacizumab in addition to first-line palliative chemotherapy (51%),
      ranging from 36% to 80% between hospitals of diagnosis (p < 0.0001). Combined
      cytostatic regimens (CAPOX/FOLFOX in 97%) were prescribed in the majority of
      patients (63%) and were associated with a higher odds for additional treatment
      with bevacizumab than single-agent cytostatic regimens (OR 9.9, 95% CI 5.51
      18.00). Median overall survival (OS) rates were 21.6 and 13.9 months with and
      without the addition of bevacizumab to palliative systemic treatment respectively
      (p < 0.0001). The addition of bevacizumab to palliative chemotherapy was
      associated with a reduced hazard ratio for death (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.45-0.73) after
      adjustment for patient- and tumor characteristics and the prescribed
      chemotherapeutic regimen. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab is adopted as a therapeutic
      option for metachronous metastasized CRC mainly in addition to first-line
      oxaliplatin-based regimens, and was associated with a reduced risk of death. The
      presence of inter-hospital differences in the prescription of bevacizumab
      reflected important differences in attitude and policies in clinical practice.
      Ongoing efforts should be made to further define the position of targeted agents
      in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26882903
TI  - Gadd45b prevents autophagy and apoptosis against rat cerebral neuron oxygen
      glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury.
AB  - Autophagic (type II) cell death has been suggested to play pathogenetic roles in
      cerebral ischemia. Growth arrest and DNA damage response 45b (Gadd45b) has been
      shown to protect against rat brain ischemia injury through inhibiting apoptosis.
      However, the relationship between Gadd45b and autophagy in cerebral
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to
      investigate the effect of Gadd45b on autophagy. We adopt the oxygen-glucose
      deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) model of rat primary cortex neurons, and
      lentivirus interference used to silence Gadd45b expression. Cell viability and
      injury assay were performed using CCK-8 and LDH kit. Autophagy activation was
      monitored by expression of ATG5, LC3, Beclin-1, ATG7 and ATG3. Neuron apoptosis
      was monitored by expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase3, p53 and TUNEL assay.
      Neuron neurites were assayed by double immunofluorescent labeling with Tuj1 and
      LC3B. Here, we demonstrated that the expression of Gadd45b was strongly up
      regulated at 24 h after 3 h OGD treatment. ShRNA-Gadd45b increased the expression
      of autophagy related proteins, aggravated OGD/R-induced neuron cell apoptosis and
      neurites injury. ShRNA-Gadd45b co-treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3
      methyladenine (3-MA) or Wortmannin partly inhibited the ratio of LC3II/LC3I, and
      slightly ameliorated neuron cell apoptosis under OGD/R. Furthermore, shRNA
      Gadd45b inhibited the p-p38 level involved in autophagy, but increased the p-JNK
      level involved in apoptosis. ShRNA-Gadd45b co-treatment with p38 inhibitor
      obviously induced autophagy. ShRNA-Gadd45b co-treatment with JNK inhibitor
      alleviated neuron cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our data suggested that Gadd45b
      inhibited autophagy and apoptosis under OGD/R. Gadd45b may be a common regulatory
      protein to control autophagy and apoptosis. 

PMID- 26882904
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26882905
TI  - [Rehabilitation standards for follow-up treatment and rehabilitation of patients
      with ventricular assist device (VAD)].
AB  - The increasing use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in terminal heart failure
      patients provides new challenges to cardiac rehabilitation physicians. Structured
      cardiac rehabilitation strategies are still poorly implemented for this special
      patient group. Clear guidance and more evidence for optimal modalities are
      needed. Thereby, attention has to be paid to specific aspects, such as
      psychological and social support and education (e.g., device management, INR self
      management, drive-line care, and medication).In Germany, the post-implant
      treatment and rehabilitation of VAD Patients working group was founded in 2012.
      This working group has developed clear recommendations for the rehabilitation of
      VAD patients according to the available literature. All facets of VAD patients'
      rehabilitation are covered. The present paper is unique in Europe and represents
      a milestone to overcome the heterogeneity of VAD patient rehabilitation. 

PMID- 26882906
TI  - Imaging of Abusive Trauma.
AB  - "Shaken baby syndrome" is a term often used by the physicians and public to
      describe abusive trauma inflicted on infants and young children. Advances in the
      understanding of the mechanisms and the associated clinical spectrum of injury
      has lead us to modify our terminology and address it as "abusive trauma" (AT).
      Pediatric abusive head trauma is defined as an injury to the skull or
      intracranial contents of an infant or a young child (< 5 y age) due to inflicted
      blunt impact and/or violent shaking. This chapter focuses on the imaging aspects
      of childhood abusive trauma along with a brief description of the mechanism and
      pathophysiology of abusive injury. The diagnosis of AT is not always obvious, and
      abusive injuries in many infants may remain unrecognized. Pediatricians should be
      cognizant of AT since pediatricians play a crucial role in the diagnosis,
      management and prevention of AT. 

PMID- 26882908
TI  - Normal ranges and test-retest reproducibility of flow and velocity parameters in
      intracranial arteries measured with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to investigate normal ranges
      and test-retest reproducibility of phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI)-measured flow and
      velocity parameters in intracranial arteries. METHODS: Highest flow (HF), lowest
      flow (LF), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were
      measured at two dates in the anterior (ACA), middle (MCA), and posterior (PCA)
      cerebral arteries of 30 healthy volunteers using two-dimensional PC-MRI at 3 T.
      Least detectable difference (LDD) was calculated. RESULTS: In the left ACA, HF
      was (mean (range, LDD)) 126 ml/min (36-312, 59 %), LF 61 ml/min (0-156, 101 %),
      PSV 64 cm/s (32-141, 67 %), and EDV 35 cm/s (18-55, 42 %); in the right ACA, HF
      was 154 ml/min (42-246, 49 %), LF 77 ml/min (0-156, 131 %), PSV 75 cm/s (26-161,
      82 %), and EDV 39 cm/s (7-59, 67 %). In the left MCA, HF was 235 ml/min (126-372,
      35 %), LF 116 ml/min (42-186, 48 %), PSV 90 cm/s (55-183, 39 %), and EDV 46 cm/s
      (20-66, 28 %); in the right MCA, HF was 238 ml/min (162-342, 44 %), LF 120 ml/min
      (72-216, 48 %), PSV 88 cm/s (55-141, 35 %), and EDV 45 cm/s (26-67, 23 %). In the
      left PCA, HF was 108 ml/min (42-168, 54 %), LF 53 ml/min (18-108, 64 %), PSV 50
      cm/s (24-77, 63 %), and EDV 28 cm/s (14-40, 45 %); in the right PCA, HF was 98
      ml/min (30-162, 49 %), LF 49 ml/min (12-84, 55 %), PSV 47 cm/s (27-88, 59 %), and
      EDV 27 cm/s (16-41, 45 %). CONCLUSION: PC-MRI-measured flow and velocity
      parameters in the main intracranial arteries have large normal ranges.
      Reproducibility is highest in MCA.

PMID- 26882909
TI  - Abstinence at Successful Discharge in Publicly Funded Addiction Health Services.
AB  - Abstinence at successful discharge in substance use disorder treatment is
      important to reducing relapse rates and increasing long-term recovery from
      substance use disorders. However, few studies have examined abstinence as an
      essential component of successful discharge. This study examined rates and
      correlates of reported abstinence (nonuse of drugs 30 days prior to successful
      discharge) among clients attending publicly funded treatment in Los Angeles
      County, California. Finding show that only 36% of clients who were successfully
      discharged reported abstinence. Black clients were less likely than non-Hispanic
      Whites to report abstinence at successful discharge. Clients in methadone
      treatment programs were less likely than outpatient clients to report abstinence,
      whereas clients referred to treatment through the legal system (Proposition 36)
      were more likely to report abstinence compared to self-referred clients. Findings
      underscore the importance of systematic assessment of abstinence in determining
      successful discharge and provide a basis for further examination of strategies to
      improve abstinence and reduce relapse.

PMID- 26882907
TI  - Computational pathology of pre-treatment biopsies identifies lymphocyte density
      as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a need to improve prediction of response to chemotherapy in
      breast cancer in order to improve clinical management and this may be achieved by
      harnessing computational metrics of tissue pathology. We investigated the
      association between quantitative image metrics derived from computational
      analysis of digital pathology slides and response to chemotherapy in women with
      breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: We digitised tissue
      sections of both diagnostic and surgical samples of breast tumours from 768
      patients enrolled in the Neo-tAnGo randomized controlled trial. We subjected
      digital images to systematic analysis optimised for detection of single cells.
      Machine-learning methods were used to classify cells as cancer, stromal or
      lymphocyte and we computed estimates of absolute numbers, relative fractions and
      cell densities using these data. Pathological complete response (pCR), a
      histological indicator of chemotherapy response, was the primary endpoint.
      Fifteen image metrics were tested for their association with pCR using univariate
      and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Median lymphocyte density proved
      most strongly associated with pCR on univariate analysis (OR 4.46, 95 % CI 2.34
      8.50, p < 0.0001; observations = 614) and on multivariate analysis (OR 2.42, 95 %
      CI 1.08-5.40, p = 0.03; observations = 406) after adjustment for clinical
      factors. Further exploratory analyses revealed that in approximately one quarter
      of cases there was an increase in lymphocyte density in the tumour removed at
      surgery compared to diagnostic biopsies. A reduction in lymphocyte density at
      surgery was strongly associated with pCR (OR 0.28, 95 % CI 0.17-0.47, p < 0.0001;
      observations = 553). CONCLUSIONS: A data-driven analysis of computational
      pathology reveals lymphocyte density as an independent predictor of pCR.
      Paradoxically an increase in lymphocyte density, following exposure to
      chemotherapy, is associated with a lack of pCR. Computational pathology can
      provide objective, quantitative and reproducible tissue metrics and represents a
      viable means of outcome prediction in breast cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00070278 ; 03/10/2003.

PMID- 26882911
TI  - Of Deep Waters and Thin Air: Pulmonary Edema in Swimmers Versus Mountaineers.

PMID- 26882910
TI  - Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema: Pathophysiology and Risk Reduction With
      Sildenafil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE) occurs during swimming or
      scuba diving, often in young individuals with no predisposing conditions, and its
      pathophysiology is poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that
      pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery wedge pressures are higher in SIPE
      susceptible individuals during submerged exercise than in the general population
      and are reduced by sildenafil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten study subjects with a
      history of SIPE (mean age, 41.6 years) and 20 control subjects (mean age, 36.2
      years) were instrumented with radial artery and pulmonary artery catheters and
      performed moderate cycle ergometer exercise for 6 to 7 minutes while submersed in
      20 degrees C water. SIPE-susceptible subjects repeated the exercise 150 minutes
      after oral administration of 50 mg sildenafil. Work rate and mean arterial
      pressure during exercise were similar in controls and SIPE-susceptible subjects.
      Average o2 and cardiac output in controls and SIPE-susceptible subjects were: o2
      2.42 L.min(-1) versus 1.95 L.min(-1), P=0.2; and cardiac output 17.9 L.min(-1)
      versus 13.8 L.min(-1), P=0.01. Accounting for differences in cardiac output
      between groups, mean pulmonary artery pressure at cardiac output=13.8 L.min(-1)
      was 22.5 mm Hg in controls versus 34.0 mm Hg in SIPE-susceptible subjects
      (P=0.004), and the corresponding pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 11.0 mm Hg
      versus 18.8 mm Hg (P=0.028). After sildenafil, there were no statistically
      significant differences in mean pulmonary artery pressure or pulmonary artery
      wedge pressure between SIPE-susceptible subjects and controls. CONCLUSIONS: These
      observations confirm that SIPE is a form of hemodynamic pulmonary edema. The
      reduction in pulmonary vascular pressures after sildenafil with no adverse effect
      on exercise hemodynamics suggests that it may be useful in SIPE prevention.
      CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique
      identifier: NCT00815646.

PMID- 26882914
TI  - 2016 European guideline on donovanosis.
AB  - Donovanosis is a rare sexually transmitted infection now mainly seen in sporadic
      cases in Papua New Guinea, South Africa, India, Brazil and Australia. The
      causative organism is Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, though a proposal has been
      put forward that the organism be reclassified as Klebsiella granulomatis comb nov
      The incubation period is approximately 50 days with genital papules developing
      into ulcers that increase in size. Four types of lesions are described -
      ulcerogranulomatous, hypertrophic, necrotic and sclerotic. The diagnosis is
      usually confirmed by microscopic identification of characteristic Donovan bodies
      on stained tissue smears. More recently, polymerase chain reaction methods have
      been developed. The recommended treatment is azithromycin 1 g weekly until
      complete healing is achieved.

PMID- 26882913
TI  - Pharmacological agents used for treatment and prevention in noise-induced hearing
      loss.
AB  - Noise is a stress factor that causes auditory, psychological and physiological
      effects. The realization that sudden loud noises or chronic exposure to noise in
      social and working environments can cause hearing loss has led to increased
      interest in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The best means of preventing
      primary damage is protection against noise. Since this protection is not always
      possible for various reasons, the use of pharmacological agents to prevent or
      treat NIHL should also be considered. The purpose of this study is to discuss
      current pharmacological protection and treatment options in the light of the
      literature, since no such extensive reviews have been performed to date,
      including agents used for protection against and treatment of NIHL. We reviewed
      both animal and clinical studies, and these are discussed separately for ease of
      comprehension. For each agent, first animal studies, then clinical studies, if
      available, are discussed. We also performed a two-step search of the literature.
      In the first step, we searched the terms "noise induced hearing loss",
      "treatment" and "protection" in Pubmed. Based on the results obtained, we
      identified the agents used for the treatment of and protection against NIHL. In
      the second step, we searched the names of the agents identified in the first
      step, together with the term "noise induced hearing loss," and reviewed the
      results.

PMID- 26882915
TI  - Suicidality and aggression during antidepressant treatment: authors
      misinterpreted earlier paper from the FDA.

PMID- 26882916
TI  - Authors' reply to Smith and colleagues.

PMID- 26882912
TI  - Clinical practice guideline: tonsillitis II. Surgical management.
AB  - In 2013, a total of 84,332 patients had undergone extracapsular tonsillectomies
      (TE) and 11,493 a tonsillotomy (TT) procedure in Germany. While the latter is
      increasingly performed, the number of the former is continually decreasing.
      However, a constant number of approximately 12,000 surgical procedures in terms
      of abscess-tonsillectomies or incision and drainage are annually performed in
      Germany to treat patients with a peritonsillar abscess. The purpose of this part
      of the clinical guideline is to provide clinicians in any setting with a
      clinically focused multi-disciplinary guidance through the surgical treatment
      options to reduce inappropriate variation in clinical care, improve clinical
      outcome and reduce harm. Surgical treatment options encompass intracapsular as
      well as extracapsular tonsil surgery and are related to three distinct entities:
      recurrent episodes of (1) acute tonsillitis, (2) peritonsillar abscess and (3)
      infectious mononucleosis. Conservative management of these entities is subject of
      part I of this guideline. (1) The quality of evidence for TE to resolve recurrent
      episodes of tonsillitis is moderate for children and low for adults. Conclusions
      concerning the efficacy of TE on the number of sore throat episodes per year are
      limited to 12 postoperative months in children and 5-6 months in adults. The
      impact of TE on the number of sore throat episodes per year in children is
      modest. Due to the heterogeneity of data, no firm conclusions on the
      effectiveness of TE in adults can be drawn. There is still an urgent need for
      further research to reliably estimate the value of TE compared to non-surgical
      therapy of tonsillitis/tonsillo-pharyngitis. The impact of TE on quality of life
      is considered as being positive, but further research is mandatory to establish
      appropriate inventories and standardized evaluation procedures, especially in
      children. In contrast to TE, TT or comparable procedures are characterized by a
      substantially lower postoperative morbidity in terms of pain and bleeding.
      Although tonsillar tissue remains along the capsule, the outcome appears not to
      differ from TE, at least in the pediatric population and young adults. Age and a
      history of tonsillitis are not a contraindication, abscess formation in the
      tonsillar remnants is an extremely rare finding. The volume of the tonsils should
      be graded according to Brodsky and a grade >1 is considered to be eligible for
      TT. The number of episodes during 12 months prior to presentation is crucial to
      indicate either TE or TT. While surgery is not indicated in patients with less
      than three episodes, a wait-and-see policy for 6 months is justified to include
      the potential of a spontaneous healing before surgery is considered. Six or more
      episodes appear to justify tonsil surgery. (2) Needle aspiration, incision and
      drainage, and abscess tonsillectomy are effective methods to treat patients with
      peritonsillar abscess. Compliance and ability of the patient to cooperate must be
      taken into account when choosing the surgical method. Simultaneous antibiotic
      therapy is recommended but still subject of scientific research. Abscess
      tonsillectomy should be preferred, if complications have occurred or if
      alternative therapeutic procedures had failed. Simultaneous TE of the
      contralateral side should only be performed when criteria for elective TE are
      matched or in cases of bilateral peritonsillar abscess. Needle aspiration or
      incision and drainage should be preferred if co-morbidities exist or an increased
      surgical risk or coagulation disorders are present. Recurrences of peritonsillar
      abscesses after needle aspiration or incision and drainage are rare. Interval TE
      should not be performed, the approach is not supported by contemporary clinical
      studies. (3) In patients with infectious mononucleosis TE should not be performed
      as a routine procedure for symptom control. TE is indicated in cases with
      clinically significant upper airway obstruction resulting from inflammatory
      tonsillar hyperplasia. If signs of a concomitant bacterial infection are not
      present, antibiotics should not be applied. Steroids may be administered for
      symptom relief.

PMID- 26882919
TI  - Erratum to: The efficacy of continuous subcostal transversus abdominis plane
      block for analgesia after living liver donation: a retrospective study.

PMID- 26882918
TI  - Revisiting cobalt chloride preconditioning to prevent hypobaric hypoxia-induced
      damage: identification of global proteomic alteration and key networks.
AB  - Several studies have supported the hypoxia mimetic roles and cytoprotective
      properties of cobalt chloride in vitro and in vivo. However, a clear
      understanding of biological process-based mechanism that integrates the available
      information remains unknown. This study was aimed to explore the potential
      mechanism of cobalt chloride deciphering its benefits and well-known
      physiological challenge caused by hypobaric hypoxia that reportedly affects
      nearly 24 % of the global population. In order to explore the mechanism of CoCl2,
      we used global proteomic and systems biology approach in rat model to provide a
      deeper insight into molecular mechanisms of preconditioning. Furthermore, key
      conclusions were drawn based on biological network analysis and their enrichment
      with ontological overlaps. The study was further strengthened by consistent
      identification of validation of proteins using immunoblotting. CoCl2-pretreated
      animals exposed to hypoxia showed two significant networks, one lipid metabolism
      and other cell cycle associated, with a total score of 23 and eight focus
      molecules. In this study, we delineated two primary routes: one, by direct
      modulation of reactive oxygen species metabolism and, second, by regulation of
      lipid metabolism which was not known until now. The previously known benefits of
      cobalt chloride during physiological challenge by hypobaric hypoxia are
      convincing and could be explained by some basic set of metabolic and molecular
      reorganization within the hypoxia model. Interestingly, we also observed some of
      the completely unknown roles of cobalt chloride such as regulation of lipid that
      could undulate the translational roles of cobalt chloride supplementation beyond
      hypoxia preconditioning. 

PMID- 26882917
TI  - Comprehensive identification of LMW-GS genes and their protein products in a
      common wheat variety.
AB  - Although it is well known that low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS)
      from wheat affect bread and noodle processing quality, the function of specific
      LMW-GS proteins remains unclear. It is important to find the genes that
      correspond to individual LMW-GS proteins in order to understand the functions of
      specific proteins. The objective of this study was to link LMW-GS genes and
      haplotypes characterized using well known Glu-A3, Glu-B3, and Glu-D3 gene
      specific primers to their protein products in a single wheat variety. A total of
      36 LMW-GS genes and pseudogenes were amplified from the Korean cultivar Keumkang.
      These include 11 Glu-3 gene haplotypes, two from the Glu-A3 locus, two from the
      Glu-B3 locus, and seven from the Glu-D3 locus. To establish relationships between
      gene haplotypes and their protein products, a glutenin protein fraction was
      separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) and 17 protein spots
      were analyzed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and tandem mass spectrometry
      (MS/MS). LMW-GS proteins were identified that corresponded to all Glu-3 gene
      haplotypes except the pseudogenes. This is the first report of the comprehensive
      characterization of LMW-GS genes and their corresponding proteins in a single
      wheat cultivar. Our approach will be useful to understand the contributions of
      individual LMW-GS to the end-use quality of flour. 

PMID- 26882920
TI  - Propofol reduces liver dysfunction caused by tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      production in Kupffer cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present study, conducted in rats, investigated whether propofol
      attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered liver dysfunction via regulation of
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production in activated Kupffer cells. METHODS:
      Rats received LPS (500 MUg/kg) under UrethaneTM sedation (1 g/kg) in combination
      with propofol (5 mg/kg/h) or IntralipidTM from 1 h before to 6 h after LPS
      administration. Some rats were treated with 10 mg/kg gadolinium chloride (GdCl3)
      to induce Kupffer cell depletion. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase
      (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), TNF-alpha mRNA and protein
      expression, caspase-3 activation and apoptosis were evaluated in hepatocytes.
      Immunofluorescence staining revealed expression of the pan-macrophage marker CD68
      as well as TNF-alpha in Kupffer cells. RESULTS: ALT and AST serum levels
      increased approximately four-fold in LPS-exposed rats compared with IntralipidTM
      treated rats at 6 h after LPS administration, whereas propofol and GdCl3 reduced
      the LPS-induced increases. LPS simultaneously augmented TNF-alpha expression in
      Kupffer cells, followed by increased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis in
      hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence staining and immunoblotting assay showed that TNF
      alpha expression in Kupffer cells was inhibited by propofol and GdCl3, resulting
      in a reduction of caspase-3 activity and apoptosis in LPS-treated rat
      hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol (5 mg/kg/h) attenuated LPS-triggered liver
      dysfunction via inhibition of TNF-alpha production in activated Kupffer cells.
      These results suggest that propofol is capable of inhibiting inflammation-induced
      liver dysfunction in vivo.

PMID- 26882921
TI  - Impact of anesthetic technique on the stress response elicited by laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy: a randomized trial.
AB  - The aim of this randomized, double-blind clinical trial was to elucidate the
      impact of general anesthesia alone (GA) or supplemented with epidural anesthesia
      (EpiGA) on surgical stress response during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using
      stress hormones, glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP), as potential markers.
      Sixty-two patients scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either GA or EpiGA. Stress
      hormones [cortisol (COR), human growth hormone (hGH), prolactine (PRL)], glucose,
      and CRP were determined 1 day before surgery, intraoperatively, and upon first
      postoperative day (POD1). Plasma COR, hGH, PRL, and glucose levels were maximized
      intraoperatively in GA and EpiGA groups and reverted almost to baseline on POD1.
      Significant between-group differences were detected for COR and glucose either
      intraoperatively or postoperatively, but this was not the case for hGH. PRL was
      elevated in GA group only intraoperatively. Although, CRP was minimally affected
      intraoperatively, a notable augmentation on POD1, comparable in both groups, was
      recorded. These results indicate that hormonal and metabolic stress response is
      slightly modulated by the use of epidural block supplemented by general
      anesthesia, in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy cholecystectomy.
      Nevertheless, inflammatory reaction as assessed by CRP seems to be unaffected by
      the anesthesia regimen.

PMID- 26882922
TI  - Comparison of the analgesic effect of intravenous acetaminophen with that of
      flurbiprofen axetil on post-breast surgery pain: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acetaminophen is known to be a relatively weak analgesic with fewer
      side effects than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This study aimed
      to determine whether intravenous (iv) acetaminophen produces comparable analgesic
      effects to those of flurbiprofen (positive control drug), an intravenously
      injectable NSAID, after partial mastectomies. The primary outcome assessed was
      pain intensity during the first 24 h after the operation, and the secondary
      outcome was the satisfaction rating at discharge. METHODS: After obtaining
      Institutional Ethics Committee approval, a series of 40 consecutive female
      patients who were scheduled for partial mastectomies were enrolled. Participants
      were randomly divided into two groups: an acetaminophen (1000 mg * 3) group
      (group A) and a flurbiprofen (50 mg * 3) group (group F). Each drug was
      administered 15 min before the end of surgery, and at 6 and 12 h after the
      operation. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a 100-mm visual analog scale
      (VAS) at 3, 6, and 24 h postoperatively. Satisfaction rating was evaluated on a 5
      point scale (very good, good, well, bad, and very bad). RESULTS: VAS scores (mm)
      with movement in groups A and F at 3, 6, and 24 h after the surgery were 22 vs.
      28, 14 vs. 24, and 12 vs. 20.5 (median), respectively, with no significant
      differences between the two groups. Eighteen of 20 patients in group A and 20 of
      20 patients in group F expressed a satisfaction rating of greater than good.
      CONCLUSIONS: Acetaminophen produces an equivalent analgesic effect to
      flurbiprofen in post-partial mastectomy patients.

PMID- 26882923
TI  - Adapting a Low-Cost Selective Compliant Articulated Robotic Arm for Spillage
      Avoidance.
AB  - Flexible automation systems provide the needed adaptability to serve shorter-term
      projects and specialty applications in biochemical analysis. A low-cost selective
      compliant articulated robotic arm designed for liquid spillage avoidance is
      developed here. In the vertical-plane robotic arm movement test, the signals from
      an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and accelerometer were able to sense
      collisions. In the horizontal movement test, however, only the signals from the
      IMU enabled collision to be detected. Using a calculation method developed, it
      was possible to chart the regions where the obstacle was likely to be located
      when a collision occurred. The low cost of the IMU and its easy incorporation
      into the robotic arm offer the potential to meet the pressures of lowering
      operating costs, apply laboratory automation in resource-limited venues, and
      obviate human intervention in response to sudden disease outbreaks.

PMID- 26882924
TI  - Intracellular Delivery by Shape Anisotropic Magnetic Particle-Induced Cell
      Membrane Cuts.
AB  - Introducing functional macromolecules into a variety of living cells is
      challenging but important for biology research and cell-based therapies. We
      report a novel cell delivery platform based on rotating shape anisotropic
      magnetic particles (SAMPs), which make very small cuts on cell membranes for
      macromolecule delivery with high efficiency and high survivability. SAMP delivery
      is performed by placing commercially available nickel powder onto cells grown in
      standard cell culture dishes. Application of a uniform magnetic field causes the
      magnetic particles to rotate because of mechanical torques induced by shape
      anisotropic magnetization. Cells touching these rotating particles are nicked,
      which generates transient membrane pores that enable the delivery of
      macromolecules into the cytosol of cells. Calcein dye, 3 and 40 kDa dextran
      polymers, a green fluorescence protein (GFP) plasmid, siRNA, and an enzyme (beta
      lactamase) were successfully delivered into HeLa cells, primary normal human
      dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs), and mouse cortical neurons that can be difficult to
      transfect. The SAMP approach offers several advantages, including easy
      implementation, low cost, high throughput, and efficient delivery of a broad
      range of macromolecules. Collectively, SAMP delivery has great potential for a
      broad range of academic and industrial applications. 

PMID- 26882925
TI  - Lowering Heart Rate Post Revascularization: Angina and Quality of Life
      Improvement.

PMID- 26882926
TI  - Retrograde Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion: Sine
      Qua Non of Success.

PMID- 26882927
TI  - Examination of overall treatment effect and the proportion attributable to
      contextual effect in osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of randomised controlled
      trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the overall treatment effect and the proportion
      attributable to contextual effect (PCE) in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of
      diverse treatments for osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase,
      Central, Science Citation Index, AMED and CINAHL through October 2014,
      supplemented with manual search of reference lists, published meta-analyses and
      systematic reviews. Included were RCTs in OA comparing placebo with
      representative complementary, pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical
      treatments. The primary outcome was pain. Secondary outcomes were function and
      stiffness. The effect size (ES) of overall treatment effect and the PCE were
      pooled using random-effects model. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were
      conducted to examine determinants of the PCE. RESULTS: In total, 215 trials (41
      392 participants) were included. The overall treatment effect for pain ranged
      from the smallest with lavage (ES=0.46, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.68) to the largest with
      topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ES=1.37, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.55). On
      average, 75% (PCE=0.75, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.79) of pain reduction was attributable
      to contextual effect. It varied by treatment from 47% (PCE=0.47, 95% CI 0.32 to
      0.70) for intra-articular corticosteroid to 91% (PCE=0.91, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.37)
      for joint lavage. Similar results were observed for function and stiffness.
      Treatment delivered by needle/injection and other means than oral medication,
      longer duration of treatment, large sample size (>=100 per arm) and public
      funding source were associated with increased PCE for pain reduction.
      CONCLUSIONS: The majority (75%) of the overall treatment effect in OA RCTs is
      attributable to contextual effects rather than the specific effect of treatments.
      Reporting overall treatment effect and PCE, in addition to traditional ES,
      permits a more balanced, clinically meaningful interpretation of RCT results.
      This would help dispel the frequent discordance between conclusions from RCT
      evidence and clinical experience-the 'efficacy paradox'.

PMID- 26882929
TI  - Induced gene expression in industrial Saccharomyces pastorianus var.
      carlsbergensis TUM 34/70: evaluation of temperature and ethanol inducible native
      promoters.
AB  - Induced gene expression is an important trait in yeast metabolic engineering, but
      current regulations prevent the use of conventional expression systems, such as
      galactose and copper, in food and beverage fermentations. This article examines
      the suitability of temperature-inducible native promoters for use in the
      industrial yeast strain Saccharomyces pastorianus var. carlsbergensis TUM 34/70
      under brewing conditions. Ten different promoters were cloned and characterized
      under varying temperature shifts and ethanol concentrations using a green
      fluorescent protein reporter. The activities of these promoters varied depending
      upon the stress conditions applied. A temperature shift to 4 degrees C led to the
      highest fold changes of PSSA3, PUBI4 and PHSP104 by 5.4, 4.5 and 5.0,
      respectively. Ethanol shock at 24 degrees C showed marked, concentration
      dependent induction of the promoters. Here, PHSP104 showed its highest induction
      at ethanol concentrations between 4% (v/v) and 6% (v/v). The highest fold changes
      of PSSA3 and PUBI4 were found at 10% (v/v) ethanol. In comparison, the ethanol
      shock at a typical fermentation temperature (12 degrees C) leads to lower
      induction patterns of these promoters. Taken together, the data show that three
      promoters (PHSP104, PUBI4 and PSSA3) have high potential for targeted gene
      expression in self-cloning brewing yeast using temperature shifts.

PMID- 26882928
TI  - Does flare trial design affect the effect size of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
      drugs in symptomatic osteoarthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: It is thought that the clinical trial benefits of oral non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relate to flare designs. The aim of this
      study was to examine the difference in NSAID (including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
      inhibitors) response in osteoarthritis (OA) trials based on different designs.
      METHODS: Systematic review was undertaken of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED,
      CINAHL and the Cochrane library till February 2015. Randomised controlled trials
      assessing pain, function and/or stiffness following commencement of NSAIDs in
      flare and non-flare designs were eligible. Trials were assessed using the
      Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted to assess the effect
      sizes (ES) of NSAIDs for OA with flare versus non-flare trial designs. RESULTS:
      Fifty-seven studies including 33 263 participants assessing 26 NSAIDs were
      included. Twenty-two (39%) were flare design, 24 (42%) were non-flare designs, 11
      (19%) were possible flare designs. On meta-analysis, there was no statistically
      significant difference in ES of NSAIDs versus placebo between flare and non-flare
      trial designs for absolute pain and function or stiffness at immediate-term (1
      week), short-term (2-4 week) or longer-term (12-13 week) follow-up periods
      (p>0.05). However there was a lower ES for mean change in pain in flare and
      possible flare trials compared with non-flare trials at short-term follow-up
      (0.36 vs 0.69; p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previous understanding, flare
      trial designs do not result in an increased treatment effect for NSAIDs in people
      with OA compared with non-flare design. Whether flare design influences other
      outcomes such as joint effusion remains unknown.

PMID- 26882931
TI  - Image of the Month: Lymphocytic Esophagitis in Common Variable Immune Deficiency.

PMID- 26882930
TI  - Comparative study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains to identify potential
      marker genes correlated to desiccation stress tolerance.
AB  - The most diffused formulation of starter for winemaking is active dry yeast
      (ADY). ADYs production process is essentially characterized by air-drying stress,
      a combination of several stresses, including thermal, hyperosmotic and oxidative
      and cell capacity to counteract such multiple stresses will determine its
      survival. The molecular mechanisms underlying cell stress response to desiccation
      have been mostly studied in laboratory and commercial yeast strains, but a
      growing interest is currently developing for indigenous yeast strains which
      represent a valuable and alternative source of genetic and molecular biodiversity
      to be exploited. In this work, a comparative study of different Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae indigenous wine strains, previously selected for their technological
      traits, has been carried out to identify potentially relevant genes involved in
      desiccation stress tolerance. Cell viability was evaluated along desiccation
      treatment and gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR before and during the
      stress. Our data show that the observed differences in individual strain
      sensitivity to desiccation stress could be associated to specific gene expression
      over time. In particular, either the basal or the stress-induced mRNA levels of
      certain genes, such as HSP12, SSA3, TPS1, TPS2, CTT1 and SOD1, result tightly
      correlated to the strain survival advantage. This study provides a reliable and
      sensitive method to predict desiccation stress tolerance of indigenous wine yeast
      strains which could be preliminary to biotechnological applications.

PMID- 26882932
TI  - Images of the Month: Happy Valentine's Day.

PMID- 26882934
TI  - Images of the Month: A Rare Cause of Overt Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

PMID- 26882933
TI  - Images of the Month: Hepatic Reactive Amyloidosis Secondary to Chronic
      Osteomyelitis.

PMID- 26882935
TI  - Image of the Month: A Small Bowel With Too Many Exits: An Astonishing Surgical
      Finding in a Patient With Crohn's Disease.

PMID- 26882936
TI  - Image of the Month: Viable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Foci in Radiological Complete
      Remission After Transarterial Embolization.

PMID- 26882937
TI  - Images of the Month: Visible Peristalsis.

PMID- 26882938
TI  - Images of the Month: Schistosomiasis as a Solitary Sigmoid Nodule.

PMID- 26882939
TI  - Video of the Month: The Colonic Tug of War: Removal of a Retained Surgical Item.

PMID- 26882944
TI  - Eosinophilic Esophagitis Dilation in the Community--Try It--You will Like It--But
      Start Low and Go Slow.
AB  - The saga of esophageal dilation for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and
      strictures reads like a historical novel. Currently, data from over 500
      eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients now convincingly prove that esophageal
      dilation is effective for prolonged relief and safe. It can easily be performed
      in the gastroenterologists community but follow the basic tenets of starting low
      with small diameter bougies/balloons and progressing slowly as you gradually
      dilate these strictures to 16-18 mm. Table 1 outlines my approach. 

PMID- 26882945
TI  - Low-Dose Tricyclics for Esophageal Hypersensitivity: Is it all Placebo Effect?
AB  - Limsrivilai et al. report on a randomized control trial (RCT) testing the
      efficacy of imipramine for treating esophageal hypersensitivity and functional
      heartburn, the first RCT to test this therapy in this indication. Among 43
      functional heartburn and esophageal hypersensitivity patients randomized to
      treatment with 25 mg qhs imipramine and 40 randomized to matched placebo, the
      response rates, judged by a 50% reduction in gastroesophageal reflux disease
      symptoms, were 37.2% and 37.5%, respectively, with no observed difference between
      patients with hypersensitivity and those with functional heartburn. On the
      positive side, imipramine treatment was associated with improvement in quality of
      life as assessed by total SF-36 score. Although negative at first glance, there
      are several important lessons from this study: (i) low-dose tricyclic is
      sufficient in these patients; (ii) proton pump inhibitors can (and should) be
      discontinued when they are ineffective; and (iii) distinguishing between
      functional heartburn and esophageal hypersensitivity is of unclear clinical
      relevance. 

PMID- 26882946
TI  - Response to Perez-Cuadrado Robles.

PMID- 26882947
TI  - Emergency Capsule Endoscopy and Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy may be a First-Line
      Procedure in Massive Acute Overt-Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

PMID- 26882949
TI  - Response to Farre.

PMID- 26882948
TI  - Evaluating the Esophageal Epithelial Integrity: More Complex than it Seems.

PMID- 26882950
TI  - Response to Collyer et al.

PMID- 26882951
TI  - Response to Fontana et al.

PMID- 26882953
TI  - BCL-3 promotes the tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating cell
      proliferation and the cell cycle through cyclin D1.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated the aberrant expression and oncogenic role of
      B-cell CLL/lymphoma-3 (BCL-3) in human malignancies. However, the clinical
      significance of BCL-3 and its biological function in human hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. In the present study, the expression levels of
      BCL-3 protein and mRNA in 90 pairs of HCC and matched non-tumor tissues were
      analyzed using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found that the expression levels of BCL-3
      protein and mRNA in HCC tissues were significantly higher than those in the
      matched tumor-adjacent tissues. In addition, positive expression of BCL-3 was
      associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics of the HCC patients
      including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, tumor size, cirrhosis and advanced
      tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. Moreover, HCC patients with positive
      expression of BCL-3 had significantly decreased 5-year overall survival and
      recurrence-free survival. Importantly, BCL-3 expression was an independent
      prognostic factor for indicating the survival of the HCC patients. Functionally,
      BCL-3 knockdown markedly inhibited cell viability, proliferation and cell cycle
      progression in HepG2 cells, while BCL-3 overexpression promoted these cellular
      processes in Huh7 cells. Accordingly, in vivo experiments indicated that BCL-3
      knockdown prominently suppressed the tumor growth of HepG2 cells in nude mice.
      Mechanistically, we revealed that the expression of cyclin D1 was decreased after
      BCL-3 knockdown in the HepG2 cells and was increased after BCL-3 overexpression
      in the Huh7 cells. Cyclin D1 silencing was found to abrogate the functional
      effects of BCL-3 on cellular processes in Huh7 cells. Taken together, our data
      suggest that BCL-3 may serve as a promising biomarker and an effective
      therapeutic target of HCC.

PMID- 26882955
TI  - Immunotherapy for small-cell lung cancer: emerging evidence.
AB  - Treatment for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has changed little over the past few
      decades; available therapies have failed to extend survival in advanced disease.
      In recent years, immunotherapy with treatments such as interferons, TNFs,
      vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors has advanced and shown promise in the
      treatment of several tumor types. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as
      ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, tremelimumab and ulocuplumab
      are at the forefront of immunotherapy and have achieved approvals for certain
      cancer types, including melanoma (ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab), non
      SCLC (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) and renal cell carcinoma (nivolumab). Clinical
      trials are investigating different immunotherapies in patients with other solid
      and hematologic malignancies, including SCLC. We review emerging evidence
      supporting the use of immunotherapy in SCLC patients. 

PMID- 26882954
TI  - Electrochemical sensing of etoposide using carbon quantum dot modified glassy
      carbon electrode.
AB  - In this study, enhancement of the electrochemical signals of etoposide (ETO)
      measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) by modifying a glassy carbon
      electrode (GCE) with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is demonstrated. In comparison
      with a bare GCE, the modified GCE exhibited a higher sensitivity towards
      electrochemical detection of ETO. The lowest limit of detection was observed to
      be 5 nM ETO. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence
      microscopy (FM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed
      for the further study of the working electrode surface after the modification
      with CQDs. Finally, the GCE modified with CQDs under optimized conditions was
      used to analyse real samples of ETO in the prostate cancer cell line PC3. After
      different incubation times (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 h), these samples were then
      prepared prior to electrochemical detection by the GCE modified with CQDs. High
      performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detection method was
      employed to verify the results from the GCE modified with CQDs.

PMID- 26882956
TI  - Musculoskeletal Proportionality, Biomechanical Considerations, and Their
      Contribution to Movement in Adults and Children.
AB  - The musculoskeletal system grows greatly throughout maturation. When trying to
      explain differences in strength, power and movement patterns between adults and
      children many pediatric exercise scientists will assume that this growth is
      proportional in all dimensions and structures. This article examines the evidence
      underpinning these assumptions, and considers how changes in fascicle, muscle,
      tendon and joint proportions may contribute to maturation-induced changes in
      physical performance. There are only a small number of studies to draw upon, but
      they consistently indicate that 1) growth changes the functional design of
      muscles, so that they become better at producing large forces at slow speeds but
      less able to achieve large length changes or high velocities; 2) the skeleton
      appears to grow somewhat proportionally before puberty, but this changes
      throughout adolescence, meaning the moment arm about which the muscle acts does
      not remain proportional to muscle length or the external moment arm about which
      joint work acts on the external world. In combination these results show that
      external measures of whole body or joint performance do not reflect the actual
      internal muscle function similarly in children and adults. Since our purpose
      should be to explain and not just describe maturation-induced changes in
      performance, greater efforts are needed to understand the internal "engine"
      driving our movement. This necessitates more detailed, longitudinal and
      dynamically loaded studies of the structure and function of the muscles and their
      interaction with the skeleton throughout maturation. 

PMID- 26882957
TI  - Solution-processed carrier selective layers for high efficiency
      organic/nanostructured-silicon hybrid solar cells.
AB  - The reduction of interface minority carrier recombination is regarded as a key
      performance indicator in improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of
      organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells. In this study, we chose two kinds of
      carrier-selective layers to be applied in a hybrid solar cell device. A hole
      selective transporting layer of N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenylbenzidine
      (TPD) was added to the interface between Si nanohole structures and PEDOT: PSS,
      and the electron selective layer cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) was added to the
      interface between the backside Si wafer and the rear Ti/Ag electrode. The main
      process used a clean and low-cost solution process, and the annealed temperature
      was under 140  degrees C. In addition, after we inserted these two carrier
      selective layers, the minority carrier lifetime was prolonged from 29.98 MUs to
      140.81 MUs, indicating its significance in reducing the recombination rate.
      Eventually, we demonstrated that the PCE of Si/organic heterojunction solar cells
      can be improved to 13.23%.

PMID- 26882958
TI  - Stroke patients' and informal carers' experiences with life after stroke: an
      overview of qualitative systematic reviews.
AB  - Purpose To provide a systematic overview of current qualitative systematic
      reviews and metasyntheses of patients' and informal carers' experiences with
      rehabilitation and life after stroke following discharge. Method A systematic
      literature search was performed based on PRISMA guidelines. Nine databases were
      systematically searched by a university librarian. The search yielded 1093 unique
      entries and screening by title/abstract identified 60 reviews for potential
      inclusion. After full-text assessment by two independent observers, 11 reviews
      satisfied the inclusion criteria. Following quality appraisal, four studies were
      excluded. Results Seven qualitative reviews (containing 108 primary studies) were
      included: five reviews of patients' experiences and two reviews of carers'
      experiences. Stroke causes profound disruption of life as known, and both
      patients and carers must engage in a process of adapting and rebuilding a post
      stroke life and identity. This process of rehabilitation is described as
      temperamental and unstable rather than progressive. From the reviews, five key
      experiences in this process are identified: autonomy, uncertainty, engagement,
      hope and social relations. Conclusions The need for broad, qualitative syntheses
      of stroke patients' experiences is currently fulfilled. Future qualitative
      reviews could focus more on implications for practice, e.g., by grading the
      quality of the metafindings. Implications for Rehabilitation Stroke is a profound
      disruption of life as known, and patients and carers value information that helps
      them prepare for and adjust to this new situation. Optimal rehabilitation is a
      main concern and goal for patients and carers, and thus carers may be a valuable
      asset to professionals in the rehabilitation process. Practical and emotional
      support is important for patients and carers, and rehabilitation professionals
      should be aware of the increased risk of social isolation post-stroke. Hope is a
      strong motivational factor and coping strategy for patients and carers. However,
      as hope may wane in the case of continued residual impairment, rehabilitation
      professionals should prepare patients and carers for this situation.

PMID- 26882959
TI  - Outcomes of Bleomycin-based electrochemotherapy in patients with repeated loco
      regional recurrences of vulvar cancer.
AB  - Objective To evaluate the safety, local tumor efficacy and relief of symptoms of
      electrochemotherapy (ECT) treatment in patients affected by recurrence of vulvar
      cancer (VC), unsuitable for standard treatments. Methods Ten patients were
      recruited with histological diagnosis of recurrence of VC. Intravenous bleomycin
      was injected, after an accurate mapping of all lesions and ECT was performed.
      Response to therapy was evaluated and quality of life (QoL) was evaluated via
      questionnaires. Results Diagnosis stage of primary tumors, according to the FIGO
      system, was: four patients respectively at stage IB (40%), and at stage II (40%),
      one patient at stage IIIA (10%), one patient with Paget cancer (10%). Mean age
      was 76 years (SD +/- 7) at time of enrollment. Eight patients (80%) were
      previously submitted to surgery and/or radio-chemotherapy. Mean treatment time
      was 20 (range 10-20) min. After a median follow-up of 12 (3-22) months, six
      patients (60%) were alive. Conclusions Objective responses (ORs) with local
      control of the tumor were obtained in 80%. After a mean follow-up of 12 (3-22)
      months six patients (60%) were alive. The favorable outcome of this study,
      indicates that ECT is a reliable treatment option that may improve their
      functioning, thus enhancing the care provided in the palliative setting. 

PMID- 26882960
TI  - Dual-phase CT for the assessment of acute vascular injuries in high-energy blunt
      trauma: the imaging findings and management implications.
AB  - Acute vascular injuries are the second most common cause of fatalities in
      patients with multiple traumatic injuries; thus, prompt identification and
      management is essential for patient survival. Over the past few years,
      multidetector CT (MDCT) using dual-phase scanning protocol has become the imaging
      modality of choice in high-energy deceleration traumas. The objective of this
      article was to review the role of dual-phase MDCT in the identification and
      management of acute vascular injuries, particularly in the chest and abdomen
      following multiple traumatic injuries. In addition, this article will provide
      examples of MDCT features of acute vascular injuries with correlative surgical
      and interventional findings. 

PMID- 26882961
TI  - Assistive technologies for hearing, and speaking impaired people: a survey.
AB  - This study presents a novel method for evaluating the scientific research papers
      in the field of assistive technologies pertaining to different impairment
      conditions. The objectives are to understand the technologies used for addressing
      the needs of PWD by identifying relevant criteria for the assessment, explore the
      implications of these technologies in their lives and identify the gaps among
      certain technologies in assisting PWD. In this article, we reviewed around 40
      research scientific papers in relation to the technologies used to assist PWD in
      their daily activities. A novel quantitative assessment methodology based on
      Multi-weighted Scoring Model (MWSM) has been developed. It is based on the
      judgement of clinical experts according to thirteen well-defined criteria. The
      proposed method is useful because it assesses the scientific studies related to
      PWD qualitatively according to efficient research coverage, as well as
      quantitatively in order to have good comparative judgment. Moreover, this method
      recognizes the research gap or areas which need further investigation and
      identifies the research papers that have good coverage of the respective
      criteria. Implications for Rehabilitation Human computer interface (HCI)
      solutions are critical for addressing the main issues facing people with
      disabilities (PWD) in their life. Assessment of scientific research papers
      according to well-defined criteria that address PWD needs would assist in
      verifying their suitability for PWDs. Novel quantitative assessment methodology
      is used for assessing these research papers using judgment of experienced
      researchers according to 13 well-defined criteria that have been weighted
      according to relevancy to different impairment groups. Identifying research
      papers that have good coverage of defined criteria and knowing the research area
      that needs further investigation by researchers and developers, would ultimately
      address the rehabilitation needs for PWD.

PMID- 26882962
TI  - Plant polyphenols alter a pathway of energy metabolism by inhibiting fecal
      Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in vitro.
AB  - The function of plant polyphenols in controlling body weight has been in focus
      for a long time. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plant
      polyphenols on fecal microbiota utilizing oligosaccharides. Three plant
      polyphenols, quercetin, catechin and puerarin, were added into liquid media for
      fermenting for 24 h. The pH values, OD600 of the cultures and the content of
      carbohydrates at 0, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 24 h were determined. The abundance of
      Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in each culture was quantified with qPCR after 10 h
      of fermentation, and the bacterial composition was analyzed using the software
      Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology. The results revealed that all three
      plant polyphenols could significantly inhibit the growth of Bacteroidetes (P <
      0.01) and Firmicutes (P < 0.01) while at the same time down-regulate the ratio of
      Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes (P < 0.01). But the fecal bacteria could maintain the
      ability to hydrolyze fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) in vitro. Among the tested
      polyphenols, catechin presented the most intense inhibitory activity towards the
      growth of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and quercetin was the second. Only the
      samples with catechin had a significantly lower energy metabolism (P < 0.05). In
      conclusion, plant polyphenols can change the pathway of degrading FOS or even
      energy metabolism in vivo by altering gut microbiota composition. It may be one
      of the mechanisms in which plant polyphenols can lead to body weight loss. It's
      the first report to study in vitro gastrointestinal microbiota fermenting dietary
      fibers under the intervention of plant polyphenols. 

PMID- 26882964
TI  - Cooperative effects of different temperatures and pressures on the initial and
      subsequent decomposition reactions of the nitrogen-rich energetic crystal 3,3'
      dinitroamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan.
AB  - We performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study the initiation
      mechanisms and subsequent chemical decomposition reactions of the nitrogen-rich
      furazan explosive 3,3'-dinitroamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan (DNAAF) at low temperatures
      (363-963 K) coupled with different pressures (1-5 GPa). Two different initial
      decomposition mechanisms which are dependent on the temperature and pressure were
      found: bimolecular intermolecular hydrogen transfer and unimolecular N-NO2 bond
      breaking. The subsequent decomposition reactions are sensitive to both the
      temperature and the pressure. The pressure could accelerate or decelerate the
      decomposition of DNAAF, while the temperature can change the effect of the
      pressure on the decomposition. Our study may provide new insights into the
      initial mechanisms and subsequent decomposition of furazan explosives at low
      temperatures coupled with different pressures in atomic detail. 

PMID- 26882965
TI  - Practical Considerations for Accepting "Self-Referred" Patients for Radiologic
      Screenings.

PMID- 26882966
TI  - Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction With Concomitant Tibial Tubercle
      Transfer: A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine the outcomes and complications of medial patellofemoral
      ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and concomitant tibial tubercle (TT) transfer.
      METHODS: A systematic review of published literature on MPFL reconstruction and
      TT transfer was performed using the following databases: PubMed/Medline, CINAHL
      (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), SPORTDiscus, and
      Cochrane. To be included, studies were required to present outcomes and/or
      complication data for MPFL reconstruction performed in combination with TT
      transfer. Each study was assessed for quality and level of evidence. RESULTS:
      Five studies consisting of 92 knees met the inclusion criteria. Between 57% and
      77% of the patients were female patients, and the mean age at surgery was 20.6
      years (range, 19 to 31 years). The mean follow-up period was 38 months (range, 23
      to 53 months). Postoperative outcome measures including the Lysholm score, Kujala
      score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Knee Injury and
      Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and visual analog scale score were similar to those
      previously reported for isolated MPFL reconstruction. Reported complication rates
      were lower than 15% and included wound infection, hardware irritation, and
      stiffness. Four studies were graded as Level IV evidence, and 1 study was graded
      as Level II evidence. Only 1 study scored greater than 50% in the quality
      analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the analyzed studies indicate that MPFL
      reconstruction combined with TT transfer is a safe and effective procedure, with
      a low to moderate risk of complications but overall favorable results. TT
      transfer is most often performed in conjunction with MPFL reconstruction in the
      setting of malalignment such as an increased TT-to-trochlear groove distance, and
      although the surgical indications may differ, the outcomes and risk profiles are
      similar to those of isolated MPFL reconstruction. With the recognition that these
      patients are difficult to standardize, additional well-designed studies are
      needed to further investigate the ideal surgical candidates for MPFL
      reconstruction with concomitant TT transfer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV,
      systematic review of Level II and IV studies.

PMID- 26882967
TI  - Predictors of the Clinical Outcome After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy for
      Acute Trauma-Related Symptomatic Medial Meniscal Tear in Patients More Than 60
      Years of Age.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine predictors of the clinical outcome after arthroscopic
      partial meniscectomy performed for acute trauma-related medial meniscal tear
      leading to mechanical symptoms in patients more than 60 years of age. METHODS: In
      this retrospective study with 4.1 years' follow-up, the clinical data of 154
      arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomies were evaluated. The body mass index
      (BMI), duration of symptoms, the hip-knee-ankle angle, type of the meniscal tear,
      presence of any chondral lesions, degenerative changes in the patellofemoral
      joint, the status of the cruciate ligaments and lateral meniscus, and the
      presence of any plica or synovitis were the independent variables. Visual Analog
      Scale (VAS) and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale were the instruments used as outcome
      measures. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the major predictors.
      RESULTS: The mean VAS score for 154 knees evaluated in this study improved from
      5.6 points preoperatively to 2.3 points at the latest follow-up. The mean Lysholm
      score improved from 43 points to 72.7 points. VAS and Lysholm scores at the
      latest follow-up were significantly worse in patients with a preoperative BMI >=
      26 kg/m(2), hip-knee-ankle angle > 5 degrees , grade III or IV chondral lesion of
      the medial compartment according to Outerbridge classification, degenerative
      changes in patellofemoral joint surfaces, and an anterior cruciate ligament that
      was either partially ruptured or degenerative with increased laxity. CONCLUSIONS:
      A preoperative BMI >= 26 kg/m(2), Outerbridge grade III or IV chondral lesion of
      the medial compartment of the operated knee joint diagnosed during arthroscopic
      intervention, degenerative changes in patellofemoral joint surfaces, and the
      presence of an anterior cruciate ligament either partially ruptured or
      degenerative with increased laxity should be considered as the major predictors
      of the clinical outcome after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy performed for
      acute trauma-related symptomatic medial meniscal tear in patients more than 60
      years of age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic case series.

PMID- 26882968
TI  - A Preliminary Experience with Use of Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in
      Thalamic Glioma Surgery: A Case Series of 38 Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thalamic gliomas are rare tumors that constitute 1%-5% of all central
      nervous system tumors. Despite advanced techniques and equipment, surgical
      resection remains challenging because of the vital structures adjacent to the
      tumor. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might play an active role
      during brain tumor surgery because it compensates for brain shift or operation
      induced hemorrhage, which are challenging issues for neurosurgeons. METHODS: We
      reviewed 38 patients treated surgically under intraoperative MRI guidance between
      January 2008 and July 2015 at our center. Preoperative, intraoperative, and
      postoperative MRI scans were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative motor
      power, morbidity and mortality, resection rate, surgical approach, pathologic
      results, and patient demographics were also reviewed. RESULTS: Mean patient age
      was 37 years +/- 18; 12 patients were included in the low-grade group, and 26
      patients were included in the high-grade group. Under intraoperative MRI
      guidance, the gross total resection rate was increased from 16 (42.1%) to 26
      (68.4%), and the near-total or subtotal resection rate was increased from 5
      (13.2%) to 9 (23.7%). Hematoma formation was discovered in 3 patients on
      intraoperative MRI scan; each patient underwent a hemostatic operation
      immediately. CONCLUSIONS: With improvements in neurosurgical techniques and
      equipment, surgical resection is considered feasible in patients with thalamic
      gliomas. Intraoperative MRI may be helpful in achieving the maximal resection
      rate with minimal surgical-related morbidity. However, because of severe disease
      progression, the overall prognosis is unfavorable.

PMID- 26882969
TI  - Hydrocephalus Caused by Fat Embolism: A Rare Complication of Atlanto-Axial
      Fixation for Odontoid Fractures.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Odontoid fracture is not uncommon and surgical
      treatment that uses posterior screw/rod fixation is an acceptable option. This is
      the first report of delayed hydrocephalus due to subarachnoid fat migration as a
      complication of posterior atlanto-axial (AA) fixation. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 27
      year-old man underwent posterior C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw fixation
      for a recent Anderson-D'Alonzo type 2 odontoid fracture. Autologous bone graft
      was wired for onlay fusion. The surgery was smooth, except that there was an
      incidental durotomy intraoperatively. The patient had significant relief of his
      neck pain, although computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a medial breach of the
      left C1 screw postoperation; however, he gradually developed headache and
      dizziness after discharge. Five weeks after operation, magnetic resonance imaging
      demonstrated a large pseudo-meningocele at the surgical site, which was managed
      conservatively. Nine weeks after the AA fixation, the patient was sent to the
      emergency department for altered consciousness. A brain CT demonstrated
      hydrocephalus and multiple fat emboli in the subarachnoid and intraventricular
      space. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted to manage the hydrocephalus and
      pseudo-meningocele. The patient recovered well and was followed up to 13 months
      after operation. To date, this was the first report of delayed hydrocephalus
      caused by fat embolism after AA fixation surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Incidental
      durotomy in posterior AA fixation may predispose the patient to a serious
      complication of fat-cerebrospinal fluid embolism and subsequent hydrocephalus.
      There should be a heightened awareness for such a complication. Both CT and
      magnetic resonance imaging are useful for the diagnosis of subarachnoid fat
      droplets.

PMID- 26882970
TI  - Outcome after Surgical Treatment for Late Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniations in
      Standard Open Microsurgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: There is a lack of studies highlighting the outcome by different scores
      or parameters after surgery for recurrent disc herniations of the lumbar spine at
      the initial herniation site. This study assessed the quality of life after
      surgical treatment of recurrent herniations with different standardized validated
      outcome instruments. METHODS: During a 24-month period, 64 patients underwent
      (microscope assisted) surgery for recurrent disc herniations of the lumbar spine.
      The postoperative quality of life was tested with Short Form-36, the Oswestry
      Disability Index, the EuroQol health status 5D, and Prolo questionnaires. Leg and
      back pain before and after surgery was assessed. RESULTS: The patients showed a
      good overall outcome, but still not satisfying enough compared with the very good
      surgical results reported in the literature, for the surgical treatment of
      primary disc herniations. CONCLUSIONS: Patients have to be informed carefully
      before surgery of recurrent lumbar disc herniations because of the less-promising
      outcome than after first time surgery for a lumbar disc herniation.

PMID- 26882971
TI  - Central Nervous System Melioidosis Mimics Malignancy: A Case Report and
      Literature Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) melioidosis is notorious because of the
      difficulty in bacteria eradication and the destruction of brain structures. Early
      manifestation of CNS melioidosis mimics malignancy or stroke. We present a case
      of CNS melioidosis that initially manifested as malignancy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A
      30-year-old man presented with sudden onset of left limb weakness and seizure.
      Computed tomography of the brain showed a low-density lesion over the right
      parietal lobe, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-enhanced lobulated
      lesion. Neuronavigation-guided open surgery was performed but failed to find a
      malignancy. The patient presented 3 days later with sudden loss of consciousness,
      pupil dilation, and high fever. Emergent craniectomy was performed for severe
      right hemisphere swelling with midline shift. After craniectomy, pus was found in
      the previous operative field. Burkholderia pseudomallei was cultured from pus and
      blood samples 1 week after collection. The brain lesion developed into an
      organized abscess and led to mass effect and ventriculitis. Extraventricular
      drainage and debridement was performed repeatedly accompanied by systemic and
      intraventricular antibiotic administration. After 4 months of treatment, the
      patient achieved a complete consciousness recover while left hemiparesis.
      CONCLUSIONS: CNS melioidosis requires accurate pathogen identification and
      appropriate long-term antibiotic treatment for eradication of bacteria and
      prevention of relapse. Debridement and adequate drainage provide better infection
      control and outcome.

PMID- 26882972
TI  - Anticancer activity of glucomoringin isothiocyanate in human malignant
      astrocytoma cells.
AB  - Isothiocyanates (ITCs) released from their glucosinolate precursors have been
      shown to inhibit tumorigenesis and they have received significant attention as
      potential chemotherapeutic agents against cancer. Astrocytoma grade IV is the
      most frequent and most malignant primary brain tumor in adults without any
      curative treatment. New therapeutic drugs are therefore urgently required. In the
      present study, we investigated the in vitro antitumor activity of the
      glycosylated isothiocyanate moringin [4-(alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl
      isothiocyanate] produced from quantitative myrosinase-induced hydrolysis of
      glucomoringin (GMG) under neutral pH value. We have evaluated the potency of
      moringin on apoptosis induction and cell death in human astrocytoma grade IV CCF
      STTG1 cells. Moringin showed to be effective in inducing apoptosis through p53
      and Bax activation and Bcl-2 inhibition. In addition, oxidative stress related
      Nrf2 transcription factor and its upstream regulator CK2 alpha expressions were
      modulated at higher doses, which indicated the involvement of oxidative stress
      mediated apoptosis induced by moringin. Moreover, significant reduction in 5S
      rRNA was noticed with moringin treatment. Our in vitro results demonstrated the
      antitumor efficacy of moringin derived from myrosinase-hydrolysis of GMG in human
      malignant astrocytoma cells.

PMID- 26882973
TI  - High-resolution PTP1B inhibition profiling combined with high-performance liquid
      chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry-solid-phase extraction-nuclear
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy: Proof-of-concept and antidiabetic constituents
      in crude extract of Eremophila lucida.
AB  - Type 2 diabetes (T2D) constituted 90% of the global 387 million diabetes cases in
      2014. The enzyme protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been recognized as a
      therapeutic target for treatment of T2D and its adverse complications. With the
      aim of accelerating the investigation of complex natural sources, such as crude
      plant extracts, for potential PTP1B inhibitors, we have developed a bio
      analytical platform combining high-resolution PTP1B inhibition profiling and high
      performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry-solid-phase
      extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, i.e., HR-bioassay/HPLC-HRMS
      SPE-NMR. Human recombinant PTP1B enzyme was used for the microplate-based PTP1B
      inhibition assay, which was optimized for pH and substrate concentration to be
      compatible with rate measurements within the 10 min incubation time.
      Subsequently, analytical-scale HPLC-based microfractionation followed by
      colorimetric microplate-based PTP1B bioassaying enabled construction of a high
      resolution inhibition profile corresponding to the HPLC profile. The high
      resolution PTP1B inhibition profiling was validated using an artificial mixture
      of known PTP1B inhibitors and non-inhibiting compounds as negative controls.
      Finally, a proof-of-concept study with a real sample was performed using crude
      ethyl acetate extract of the phytochemically hitherto unexplored plant Eremophila
      lucida. This led to the identification of the first viscidane type diterpene,
      i.e., 5-hydroxyviscida-3,14-dien-20-oic acid (9) as PTP1B inhibitor with an IC50
      value of 42.0 +/- 5.9 MUM. In addition, a series of flavonoids, i.e., luteolin
      (1), dinatin (3a), tricin (3b), 3,6-dimethoxyapigenin (4), jaceidin (5), and
      cirsimaritin (6) as well as a cembrene diterpene, (3Z, 7E, 11Z)-15-hydroxycembra
      3,7,11-trien-19-oic acid (8), were also identified for the first time from E.
      lucida.

PMID- 26882974
TI  - FBXO7 mutations in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.
AB  - Mutations in the F-box only protein 7 (FBXO7) gene, located on chromosome 22q12
      q13, have recently been identified as having distinct clinical features in
      patients with hereditary Parkinson's disease (PD). Pathologically, alpha
      synuclein-positive inclusions have been identified using anti-FBXO7 antibody
      staining techniques. In the present study, we screened entire exons of FBXO7 from
      271 patients (231 PD and 40 multiple system atrophy [MSA]), of which 221 samples
      were of Japanese origin. The PD patients (n = 231) comprised 31 autosomal
      dominant, 82 autosomal recessive, and 118 sporadic forms. The 40 cases of MSA
      consisted of 8 autosomal dominant, 2 autosomal recessive, and 30 sporadic forms.
      We detected a Turkish patient with autosomal recessive inheritance, harboring a
      homozygous truncating mutation, Arg498Stop (p.R498X), in the FBXO7 gene.
      Consequently, we evaluated her and assessed the correlation between her clinical
      manifestations and genotypic analysis, although the FBXO7 p.R498X gene has lower
      frequency than others. Her age at onset was 17 years, and she clinically
      manifested with progressive parkinsonism and cognitive decline. In contrast, no
      pathogenic mutations in FBXO7 among PD and MSA patients of Japanese or other
      ethnicities were observed. Based on recent literature, we reviewed and compared
      the clinical findings and population differences between documented FBXO7 cases.

PMID- 26882975
TI  - Maintaining ocular safety with light exposure, focusing on devices for
      optogenetic stimulation.
AB  - Optogenetics methods are rapidly being developed as therapeutic tools for
      treating neurological diseases, in particular, retinal degenerative diseases. A
      critical component of the development is testing the safety of the light
      stimulation used to activate the optogenetic proteins. While the stimulation
      needs to be sufficient to produce neural responses in the targeted retinal cell
      class, it also needs to be below photochemical and photothermal limits known to
      cause ocular damage. The maximal permissible exposure is determined by a variety
      of factors, including wavelength, exposure duration, visual angle, pupil size,
      pulse width, pulse pattern, and repetition frequency. In this paper, we develop
      utilities to systematically and efficiently assess the contributions of these
      parameters in relation to the limits, following directly from the 2014 American
      National Standards Institute (ANSI). We also provide an array of stimulus
      protocols that fall within the bounds of both safety and effectiveness.
      Additional verification of safety is provided with a case study in rats using one
      of these protocols. 

PMID- 26882976
TI  - Identification of a novel protein interaction between Elmo1 and Cdc27.
AB  - Elmo has no intrinsic catalytic activity but coordinate multiple cellular
      processes via their interactions with other proteins. Studies thus have been
      focused on identifying Elmo binding partners, but the number of characterized
      Elmo-interacting proteins remains limited. Here, we report Cdc27 as a novel Elmo1
      interacting protein. In yeast and mammalian cells, Cdc27 specifically interacted
      with the C-terminal region of Elmo1 essential for Dock1 association and function.
      The interaction of Elmo1 with Dock1 abrogated binding between Elmo1 and Cdc27,
      but the Dock1-Elmo1 interaction was unaffected by Cdc27. Similarly, cellular
      phagocytotic functions mediated by the Elmo1-Dock1-Rac module were unaffected by
      Cdc27 levels. In summary, a novel binding partner, Cdc27, was identified for
      Elmo1 and they appear to be independent of Elmo-Dock1-Rac-mediated processes. 

PMID- 26882977
TI  - Molecular evidence for the coordination of nitrogen and carbon metabolisms,
      revealed by a study on the transcriptional regulation of the agl3EFG operon that
      encodes a putative carbohydrate transporter in Streptomyces coelicolor.
AB  - In the agl3EFGXYZ operon (SCO7167-SCO7162, abbreviated as agl3 operon) of
      Streptomyces coelicolor M145, agl3EFG genes encode a putative ABC-type
      carbohydrate transporter. The transcription of this operon has been proved to be
      repressed by Agl3R (SCO7168), a neighboring GntR-family regulator, and this
      repression can be released by growth on poor carbon sources. Here in this study,
      we prove that the transcription of agl3 operon is also directly repressed by
      GlnR, a central regulator governing the nitrogen metabolism in S. coelicolor. The
      electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) employing the agl3 promoter and
      mixtures of purified recombinant GlnR and Agl3R indicates that GlnR and Agl3R
      bind to different DNA sequences within the promoter region of agl3 operon, which
      is further confirmed by the DNase I footprinting assay. As Agl3R and GlnR have
      been demonstrated to sense the extracellular carbon and nitrogen supplies,
      respectively, it is hypothesized that the transcription of agl3 operon is
      stringently governed by the availabilities of extracellular carbon and nitrogen
      sources. Consistent with the hypothesis, the agl3 operon is further found to be
      derepressed only under the condition of poor carbon and rich nitrogen supplies,
      when both regulators are inactivated. It is believed that activation of the
      expression of agl3 operon may facilitate the absorption of extracellular
      carbohydrates to balance the ratio of intracellular carbon to nitrogen. 

PMID- 26882978
TI  - Depletion of Rab32 decreases intracellular lipid accumulation and induces
      lipolysis through enhancing ATGL expression in hepatocytes.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease caused by the accumulation
      of lipids in hepatocytes. To date, however, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still
      unclear. Recent studies have shown that Rab GTPases, a major protein family in
      vesicle trafficking, are associated with intracellular lipid accumulation. Here,
      we show that Rab32, the only Rab GTPase located in mitochondria, participates in
      hepatic steatosis. Ablation of Rab32 can decrease intracellular lipid
      accumulation in hepatocytes (HepG2, L02). Further studying the possible
      mechanism, we found that knockdown of Rab32 can enhance lipolysis instead of
      lipogenesis via inducing the expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), a
      key enzyme on the surface of lipid droplets which has been proved to be
      significant in controlling intracellular lipid accumulation. Co
      immunoprecipitation shows that Rab32 and ATGL are not directly associated. These
      findings suggest that knockdown of Rab32 indirectly affects lipolysis through
      increasing the expression of ATGL. Taken together, our study reveals that Rab32
      can participate in regulating intracellular lipid accumulation and that knockdown
      of Rab32 can decrease intracellular lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. We also
      demonstrated that ablation of Rab32 can induce intracellular lipolysis by
      enhancing the expression of ATGL. 

PMID- 26882979
TI  - Absent Left Main Coronary Artery and Separate Ostia of Left Coronary System in a
      Patient with Holt-Oram Syndrome and Sinus Node Dysfunction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS) is a rare but significant syndrome
      consisting of structural heart defects, conduction abnormalities, and upper
      extremity anomalies. It was first described in the British Heart Journal in 1960
      by Mary Holt and Samuel Oram as a report of atrial septal defect, conduction
      disturbances, and hand malformations occurring in family members. Patients can
      present with heart blocks or symptoms of underlying congenital heart defects.
      CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old man with Holt-Oram syndrome presented with seizure
      like activity and was found to have an underlying conduction disturbance.
      Physical exam showed bilateral atrophic upper extremities with anatomic
      disfiguration, and weakness of the intrinsic hand muscles. Cardiovascular exam
      revealed a slow heart rate with irregular rhythm. EKG showed sinus arrest with
      junctional escape rhythm. Cardiac catheterization revealed coronary anomalies,
      including absent left main coronary artery and separate ostia of the left
      anterior ascending and left circumflex coronary artery. Coronary arteries were
      patent. Following electrophysiology study, sick sinus syndrome and AV block were
      diagnosed, and the patient received implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
      CONCLUSIONS: This patient presented with a seizure-like episode attributed to
      hypoxia during asystole from an underlying cardiac conduction defect associated
      with Holt-Oram syndrome. Arrhythmias and heart blocks are seen in these patients,
      and conduction defects are highly associated with congenital heart defects. Holt
      Oram syndrome rarely presents with coronary artery anomalies. There is no
      reported case of separate coronary ostia and absent left main coronary artery.
      Prompt diagnosis is important since anomalies in coronary and upper extremity
      vasculature might be challenging for invasive procedures.

PMID- 26882980
TI  - Exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella modulates juvenile
      oyster Crassostrea gigas hemocyte variables subjected to different biotic
      conditions.
AB  - The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is an important commercial species cultured
      throughout the world. Oyster production practices often include transfers of
      animals into new environments that can be stressful, especially at young ages.
      This study was undertaken to determine if a toxic Alexandrium bloom, occurring
      repeatedly in French oyster beds, could modulate juvenile oyster cellular immune
      responses (i.e. hemocyte variables). We simulated planting on commercial beds by
      conducting a cohabitation exposure of juvenile, "specific pathogen-free" (SPF)
      oysters (naive from the environment) with previously field-exposed oysters to
      induce interactions with new microorganisms. Indeed, toxic Alexandrium spp.
      exposures have been reported to modulate bivalve interaction with specific
      pathogens, as well as physiological and immunological variables in bivalves. In
      summary, SPF oysters were subjected to an artificial bloom of Alexandrium
      catenella, simultaneously with a cohabitation challenge. Exposure to A.
      catenella, and thus to the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and extracellular
      bioactive compounds produced by this alga, induced higher concentration, size,
      complexity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of circulating hemocytes.
      Challenge by cohabitation with field-exposed oysters also activated these
      hemocyte responses, suggesting a defense response to new microorganism exposure.
      These hemocyte responses to cohabitation challenge, however, were partially
      inhibited by A. catenella exposure, which enhanced hemocyte mortality, suggesting
      either detrimental effects of the interaction of both stressors on immune
      capacity, or the implementation of an alternative immune strategy through
      apoptosis. Indeed, no infection with specific pathogens (herpesvirus OsHV-1 or
      Vibrio aesturianus) was detected. Additionally, lower PST accumulation in
      challenged oysters suggests a physiological impairment through alteration of
      feeding-related processes. Overall, results of this study show that a short-term
      exposure to A. catenella combined with an exposure to a modified microbial
      community inhibited some hemocyte responses, and likely compromised physiological
      condition of the juvenile oysters. 

PMID- 26882982
TI  - "Early" thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax after esophagectomy means "now".

PMID- 26882981
TI  - Acute and Chronic Ophthalmic Involvement in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic
      Epidermal Necrolysis - A Comprehensive Review and Guide to Therapy. II.
      Ophthalmic Disease.
AB  - Our purpose is to comprehensively review the state of the art with regard to
      Stevens- Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), with
      particular attention to improving the management of associated ocular surface
      complications. SJS and TEN are two ends of a spectrum of immune-mediated disease,
      characterized in the acute phase by a febrile illness followed by skin and mucous
      membrane necrosis and detachment. Part I of this review focused on the systemic
      aspects of SJS/TEN and was published in the January 2016 issue of this journal.
      The purpose of Part II is to summarize the ocular manifestations and their
      management through all phases of SJS/TEN, from acute to chronic. We hope this
      effort will assist ophthalmologists in their management of SJS/TEN, so that
      patients with this complex and debilitating disease receive the best possible
      care and experience the most optimal outcomes in their vision and quality of
      life.

PMID- 26882984
TI  - RhesusBase PopGateway: Genome-Wide Population Genetics Atlas in Rhesus Macaque.
AB  - Although population genetics studies have significantly accelerated the
      evolutionary and functional interrogations of genes and regulations, limited
      polymorphism data are available for rhesus macaque, the model animal closely
      related to human. Here, we report the first genome-wide effort to identify and
      visualize the population genetics profile in rhesus macaque. On the basis of the
      whole-genome sequencing of 31 independent macaque animals, we profiled a
      comprehensive polymorphism map with 46,146,548 sites. The allele frequency for
      each polymorphism site, the haplotype structure, as well as multiple population
      genetics parameters were then calculated on a genome-wide scale. We further
      developed a specific interface, the RhesusBase PopGateway, to facilitate the
      visualization of these annotations, and highlighted the applications of this
      highly integrative platform in clarifying the selection signatures of genes and
      regulations in the context of the primate evolution. Overall, the updated
      RhesusBase provides a comprehensive monkey population genetics framework for in
      depth evolutionary studies of human biology.

PMID- 26882983
TI  - Advances in Time Estimation Methods for Molecular Data.
AB  - Molecular dating has become central to placing a temporal dimension on the tree
      of life. Methods for estimating divergence times have been developed for over 50
      years, beginning with the proposal of molecular clock in 1962. We categorize the
      chronological development of these methods into four generations based on the
      timing of their origin. In the first generation approaches (1960s-1980s), a
      strict molecular clock was assumed to date divergences. In the second generation
      approaches (1990s), the equality of evolutionary rates between species was first
      tested and then a strict molecular clock applied to estimate divergence times.
      The third generation approaches (since ~2000) account for differences in
      evolutionary rates across the tree by using a statistical model, obviating the
      need to assume a clock or to test the equality of evolutionary rates among
      species. Bayesian methods in the third generation require a specific or uniform
      prior on the speciation-process and enable the inclusion of uncertainty in clock
      calibrations. The fourth generation approaches (since 2012) allow rates to vary
      from branch to branch, but do not need prior selection of a statistical model to
      describe the rate variation or the specification of speciation model. With high
      accuracy, comparable to Bayesian approaches, and speeds that are orders of
      magnitude faster, fourth generation methods are able to produce reliable
      timetrees of thousands of species using genome scale data. We found that early
      time estimates from second generation studies are similar to those of third and
      fourth generation studies, indicating that methodological advances have not
      fundamentally altered the timetree of life, but rather have facilitated time
      estimation by enabling the inclusion of more species. Nonetheless, we feel an
      urgent need for testing the accuracy and precision of third and fourth generation
      methods, including their robustness to misspecification of priors in the analysis
      of large phylogenies and data sets.

PMID- 26882985
TI  - Decreased Transcription Factor Binding Levels Nearby Primate Pseudogenes Suggest
      Regulatory Degeneration.
AB  - Characteristics of pseudogene degeneration at the coding level are well-known,
      such as a shift toward neutral rates of nonsynonymous substitutions and gain of
      frameshift mutations. In contrast, degeneration of pseudogene transcriptional
      regulation is not well understood. Here, we test two predictions of regulatory
      degeneration along a pseudogenized lineage: 1) Decreased transcription factor
      (TF) binding and 2) accelerated evolution in putative cis-regulatory regions.We
      find evidence for decreased TF binding levels nearby two primate pseudogenes
      compared with functional liver genes. However, the majority of TF-bound sequences
      nearby pseudogenes do not show evidence for lineage-specific accelerated rates of
      evolution. We conclude that decreases in TF binding level could be a marker for
      regulatory degeneration, while sequence degeneration in primate cis-regulatory
      modules may be obscured by background rates of TF binding site turnover.

PMID- 26882988
TI  - Laser-initiated primary and secondary nuclear reactions in Boron-Nitride.
AB  - Nuclear reactions initiated by laser-accelerated particle beams are a promising
      new approach to many applications, from medical radioisotopes to aneutronic
      energy production. We present results demonstrating the occurrence of secondary
      nuclear reactions, initiated by the primary nuclear reaction products, using
      multicomponent targets composed of either natural boron (B) or natural boron
      nitride (BN). The primary proton-boron reaction (p + (11)B -> 3 alpha + 8.7 MeV),
      is one of the most attractive aneutronic fusion reaction. We report radioactive
      decay signatures in targets irradiated at the Elfie laser facility by laser
      accelerated particle beams which we interpret as due to secondary reactions
      induced by alpha (alpha) particles produced in the primary reactions. Use of a
      second nanosecond laser beam, adequately synchronized with the short laser pulse
      to produce a plasma target, further enhanced the reaction rates. High rates and
      chains of reactions are essential for most applications.

PMID- 26882986
TI  - Compensating the Fitness Costs of Synonymous Mutations.
AB  - Synonymous mutations do not change the sequence of the polypeptide but they may
      still influence fitness. We investigated in Salmonella enterica how four
      synonymous mutations in the rpsT gene (encoding ribosomal protein S20) reduce
      fitness (i.e., growth rate) and the mechanisms by which this cost can be
      genetically compensated. The reduced growth rates of the synonymous mutants were
      correlated with reduced levels of the rpsT transcript and S20 protein. In an
      adaptive evolution experiment, these fitness impairments could be compensated by
      mutations that either caused up-regulation of S20 through increased gene dosage
      (due to duplications), increased transcription of the rpsT gene (due to an rpoD
      mutation or mutations in rpsT), or increased translation from the rpsT transcript
      (due to rpsT mutations). We suggest that the reduced levels of S20 in the
      synonymous mutants result in production of a defective subpopulation of 30S
      subunits lacking S20 that reduce protein synthesis and bacterial growth and that
      the compensatory mutations restore S20 levels and the number of functional
      ribosomes. Our results demonstrate how specific synonymous mutations can cause
      substantial fitness reductions and that many different types of intra- and
      extragenic compensatory mutations can efficiently restore fitness. Furthermore,
      this study highlights that also synonymous sites can be under strong selection,
      which may have implications for the use of dN/dS ratios as signature for
      selection.

PMID- 26882990
TI  - External characteristic determination of eggs and cracked eggs identification
      using spectral signature.
AB  - This study was carried out to use hyperspectral imaging technique for determining
      color (L*, a* and b*) and eggshell strength and identifying cracked chicken eggs.
      Partial least squares (PLS) models based on full and selected wavelengths
      suggested by regression coefficient (RC) method were established to predict the
      four parameters, respectively. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS
      DA) and RC-partial least squares-discriminant analysis (RC-PLS-DA) models were
      applied to identify cracked eggs. PLS models performed well with the correlation
      coefficient (rp) of 0.788 for L*, 0.810 for a*, 0.766 for b* and 0.835 for
      eggshell strength. RC-PLS models also obtained the rp of 0.771 for L*, 0.806 for
      a*, 0.767 for b* and 0.841 for eggshell strength. The classification results were
      97.06% in PLS-DA model and 88.24% in RC-PLS-DA model. It demonstrated that
      hyperspectral imaging technique has the potential to be used to detect color and
      eggshell strength values and identify cracked chicken eggs. 

PMID- 26882987
TI  - R2d2 Drives Selfish Sweeps in the House Mouse.
AB  - A selective sweep is the result of strong positive selection driving newly
      occurring or standing genetic variants to fixation, and can dramatically alter
      the pattern and distribution of allelic diversity in a population. Population
      level sequencing data have enabled discoveries of selective sweeps associated
      with genes involved in recent adaptations in many species. In contrast, much
      debate but little evidence addresses whether "selfish" genes are capable of
      fixation-thereby leaving signatures identical to classical selective sweeps
      despite being neutral or deleterious to organismal fitness. We previously
      described R2d2, a large copy-number variant that causes nonrandom segregation of
      mouse Chromosome 2 in females due to meiotic drive. Here we show population
      genetic data consistent with a selfish sweep driven by alleles of R2d2 with high
      copy number (R2d2(HC)) in natural populations. We replicate this finding in
      multiple closed breeding populations from six outbred backgrounds segregating for
      R2d2 alleles. We find that R2d2(HC) rapidly increases in frequency, and in most
      cases becomes fixed in significantly fewer generations than can be explained by
      genetic drift. R2d2(HC) is also associated with significantly reduced litter
      sizes in heterozygous mothers, making it a true selfish allele. Our data provide
      direct evidence of populations actively undergoing selfish sweeps, and
      demonstrate that meiotic drive can rapidly alter the genomic landscape in favor
      of mutations with neutral or even negative effects on overall Darwinian fitness.
      Further study will reveal the incidence of selfish sweeps, and will elucidate the
      relative contributions of selfish genes, adaptation and genetic drift to
      evolution.

PMID- 26882989
TI  - Hepatocyte TRAF3 promotes liver steatosis and systemic insulin resistance through
      targeting TAK1-dependent signalling.
AB  - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis,
      insulin resistance and a systemic pro-inflammatory response. Here we show that
      tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is upregulated in
      mouse and human livers with hepatic steatosis. After 24 weeks on a high-fat diet
      (HFD), obesity, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses
      are significantly ameliorated in liver-specific TRAF3-knockout mice, but
      exacerbated in transgenic mice overexpressing TRAF3 in hepatocytes. The
      detrimental effects of TRAF3 on hepatic steatosis and related pathologies are
      confirmed in ob/ob mice. We further show that in response to HFD, hepatocyte
      TRAF3 binds to TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) to induce TAK1 ubiquitination
      and subsequent autophosphorylation, thereby enhancing the activation of
      downstream IKKbeta-NF-kappaB and MKK-JNK-IRS1(307) signalling cascades, while
      disrupting AKT-GSK3beta/FOXO1 signalling. The TRAF3-TAK1 interaction and TAK1
      ubiquitination are indispensable for TRAF3-regulated hepatic steatosis. In
      conclusion, hepatocyte TRAF3 promotes HFD-induced or genetic hepatic steatosis in
      a TAK1-dependent manner. 

PMID- 26882991
TI  - Early malnutrition results in long-lasting impairments in pattern-separation for
      overlapping novel object and novel location memories and reduced hippocampal
      neurogenesis.
AB  - Numerous epidemiological studies indicate that malnutrition during in utero
      development and/or childhood induces long-lasting learning disabilities and
      enhanced susceptibility to develop psychiatric disorders. However, animal studies
      aimed to address this question have yielded inconsistent results due to the use
      of learning tasks involving negative or positive reinforces that interfere with
      the enduring changes in emotional reactivity and motivation produced by in utero
      and neonatal malnutrition. Consequently, the mechanisms underlying the learning
      deficits associated with malnutrition in early life remain unknown. Here we
      implemented a behavioural paradigm based on the combination of the novel object
      recognition and the novel object location tasks to define the impact of early
      protein-restriction on the behavioural, cellular and molecular basis of memory
      processing. Adult rats born to dams fed a low-protein diet during pregnancy and
      lactation, exhibited impaired encoding and consolidation of memory resulting from
      impaired pattern separation. This learning deficit was associated with reduced
      production of newly born hippocampal neurons and down regulation of BDNF gene
      expression. These data sustain the existence of a causal relationship between
      early malnutrition and impaired learning in adulthood and show that decreased
      adult neurogenesis is associated to the cognitive deficits induced by childhood
      exposure to poor nutrition. 

PMID- 26882992
TI  - Long-term safety and stability of angiogenesis induced by balanced single-vector
      co-expression of PDGF-BB and VEGF164 in skeletal muscle.
AB  - Therapeutic angiogenesis by growth factor delivery is an attractive treatment
      strategy for ischemic diseases, yet clinical efficacy has been elusive. The
      angiogenic master regulator VEGF-A can induce aberrant angiogenesis if expressed
      above a threshold level. Since VEGF remains localized in the matrix around
      expressing cells, homogeneous dose distribution in target tissues is required,
      which is challenging. We found that co-expression of the pericyte-recruiting
      factor PDGF-BB at a fixed ratio with VEGF from a single bicistronic vector
      ensured normal angiogenesis despite heterogeneous high VEGF levels. Taking
      advantage of a highly controlled gene delivery platform, based on monoclonal
      populations of transduced myoblasts, in which every cell stably produces the same
      amount of each factor, here we rigorously investigated a) the dose-dependent
      effects, and b) the long-term safety and stability of VEGF and PDGF-BB co
      expression in skeletal muscle. PDGF-BB co-expression did not affect the normal
      angiogenesis by low and medium VEGF doses, but specifically prevented vascular
      tumors by high VEGF, yielding instead normal and mature capillary networks,
      accompanied by robust arteriole formation. Induced angiogenesis persisted
      unchanged up to 4 months, while no tumors appeared. Therefore, PDGF-BB co
      expression is an attractive strategy to improve safety and efficacy of
      therapeutic angiogenesis by VEGF gene delivery. 

PMID- 26882993
TI  - Mind-Wandering Tends to Occur under Low Perceptual Demands during Driving.
AB  - Fluctuations in attention behind the wheel poses a significant risk for driver
      safety. During transient periods of inattention, drivers may shift their
      attention towards internally-directed thoughts or feelings at the expense of
      staying focused on the road. This study examined whether increasing task
      difficulty by manipulating involved sensory modalities as the driver detected the
      lane-departure in a simulated driving task would promote a shift of brain
      activity between different modes of processing, reflected by brain network
      dynamics on electroencephalographic sources. Results showed that depriving the
      driver of salient sensory information imposes a relatively more perceptually
      demanding task, leading to a stronger activation in the task-positive network.
      When the vehicle motion feedback is available, the drivers may rely on vehicle
      motion to perceive the perturbations, which frees attentional capacity and tends
      to activate the default mode network. Such brain network dynamics could have
      major implications for understanding fluctuations in driver attention and
      designing advance driver assistance systems. 

PMID- 26882994
TI  - Spin noise explores local magnetic fields in a semiconductor.
AB  - Rapid development of spin noise spectroscopy of the last decade has led to a
      number of remarkable achievements in the fields of both magnetic resonance and
      optical spectroscopy. In this report, we demonstrate a new - magnetometric -
      potential of the spin noise spectroscopy and use it to study magnetic fields
      acting upon electron spin-system of an n-GaAs layer in a high-Q microcavity
      probed by elliptically polarized light. Along with the external magnetic field,
      applied to the sample, the spin noise spectrum revealed the Overhauser field
      created by optically oriented nuclei and an additional, previously unobserved,
      field arising in the presence of circularly polarized light. This "optical field"
      is directed along the light propagation axis, with its sign determined by sign of
      the light helicity. We show that this field results from the optical Stark effect
      in the field of the elliptically polarized light. This conclusion is supported by
      theoretical estimates. 

PMID- 26882995
TI  - Longitudinal spin separation of light and its performance in three-dimensionally
      controllable spin-dependent focal shift.
AB  - Spin Hall effect of light, which is normally explored as a transverse spin
      dependent separation of a light beam, has attracted enormous research interests.
      However, it seems there is no indication for the existence of the longitudinal
      spin separation of light. In this paper, we propose and experimentally realize
      the spin separation along the propagation direction by modulating the
      Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase. Due to the spin-dependent divergence and
      convergence determined by the PB phase, a focused Gaussian beam could split into
      two opposite spin states, and focuses at different distances, representing the
      longitudinal spin separation. By combining this longitudinal spin separation with
      the transverse one, we experimentally achieve the controllable spin-dependent
      focal shift in three dimensional space. This work provides new insight on
      steering the spin photons, and is expected to explore novel applications of
      optical trapping, manipulating, and micromachining with higher degree of freedom.

PMID- 26882997
TI  - Kinetics of a Multilamellar Lipid Vesicle Ripening: Simulation and Theory.
AB  - Lipid vesicle ripening via unimolecular diffusion and exchange greatly influences
      the evolution of complex vesicle structure. However, this behavior is difficult
      to capture using conventional experimental technology and molecular simulation.
      In the present work, the ripening of a multilamellar lipid vesicle (MLV) is
      effectively explored using a mesoscale coarse-grained molecular model. The
      simulation reveals that a small MLV evolves into a unilamellar vesicle over a
      very long time period. In this process, only the outermost bilayer inflates, and
      the inner bilayers shrink. With increasing MLV size, the ripening process becomes
      complex and depends on competition between a series of adjacent bilayers in the
      MLV. To understand the diffusion behavior of the unimolecule, the potentials of
      mean force (PMFs) of a single lipid molecule across unilamellar vesicles with
      different sizes are calculated. It is found that the PMF of lipid dissociation
      from the inner layer is different than that of the outer layer, and the
      dissociation energy barrier sensitively depends on the curvature of the bilayer.
      A kinetics theoretical model of MLV ripening that considers the lipid
      dissociation energy for curved bilayers is proposed. The model successfully
      interprets the MLV ripening process with various numbers of bilayers and shows
      potential to predict the ripening kinetics of complex lipid vesicles. 

PMID- 26882996
TI  - Wnt11 Gene Therapy with Adeno-associated Virus 9 Improves Recovery from
      Myocardial Infarction by Modulating the Inflammatory Response.
AB  - Acute myocardial infarction induces activation of the acute phase response and
      infiltration of leukocytes to the infarcted area. Moreover, myocardium that is
      remote from ischemic area also becomes inflamed. Inflammatory reaction clears
      dead cells and matrix debris, while prolongation or expansion of the inflammatory
      response results in dysfunction following myocardial infarction. Wnt
      glycolipoproteins are best characterized as regulators of embryonic development.
      Recently several reports suggest that they also contribute to the inflammatory
      response in adult animals. However, the effects of Wnt proteins on myocardial
      infarction have not been explored. Here we show that Wnt11 expression leads to
      significant improvements of survival and cardiac function by suppressing
      infiltration of multiple kinds of inflammatory cells in infarcted heart. Wnt11
      protein suppresses gene expression of inflammatory cytokines through the
      modulation of NF-kappaB in vitro. These results reveal a novel function of Wnt11
      in the regulation of inflammatory response and provide a rationale for the use of
      Wnt11 to manipulate human diseases that are mediated by inflammation.

PMID- 26882998
TI  - DNA replication: SUMO wrestling to get the timing right.

PMID- 26883004
TI  - Ageing: Anti-ageing formula.

PMID- 26883005
TI  - Computer-Aided Molecular Design of Bis-phosphine Oxide Lanthanide Extractants.
AB  - Computer-aided molecular design and high-throughput screening of viable host
      architectures can significantly reduce the efforts in the design of novel ligands
      for efficient extraction of rare earth elements. This paper presents a
      computational approach to the deliberate design of bis-phosphine oxide host
      architectures that are structurally organized for complexation of trivalent
      lanthanides. Molecule building software, HostDesigner, was interfaced with
      molecular mechanics software, PCModel, providing a tool for generating and
      screening millions of potential R2(O)P-link-P(O)R2 ligand geometries. The
      molecular mechanics ranking of ligand structures is consistent with both the
      solution-phase free energies of complexation obtained with density functional
      theory and the performance of known bis-phosphine oxide extractants. For the case
      where the link is -CH2-, evaluation of the ligand geometry provides the first
      characterization of a steric origin for the "anomalous aryl strengthening"
      effect. The design approach has identified a number of novel bis-phosphine oxide
      ligands that are better organized for lanthanide complexation than previously
      studied examples. 

PMID- 26883007
TI  - Fox Chase Cancer Center's Genitourinary Division: a national resource for
      research, innovation and patient care.
AB  - Founded in 1904, Fox Chase Cancer Center remains committed to its mission. It is
      one of 41 centers in the country designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by
      the National Cancer Institute, is a founding member of the National Comprehensive
      Cancer Network, holds the magnet designation for nursing excellence, is one of
      the first to establish a family cancer risk assessment program, and has achieved
      national distinction because of the scientific discoveries made there that have
      advanced clinical care. Two of its researchers have won Nobel prizes. The
      Genitourinary Division is nationally recognized and viewed as one of the top
      driving forces behind the growth of Fox Chase due to its commitment to initiating
      and participating in clinical trials, its prolific contributions to peer-reviewed
      publications and presentations at scientific meetings, its innovations in
      therapies and treatment strategies, and its commitment to bringing cutting-edge
      therapies to patients.

PMID- 26883006
TI  - Structural Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity of a Novel
      Polysaccharide from Lepidium meyenii.
AB  - A novel polysaccharide named as MC-1 was isolated from the roots of Lepidium
      meyenii using a water extraction method. Structural characterization revealed
      that MC-1 had an average molecular weight of 11.3 kDa and consisted of arabinose
      (26.21%), mannose (11.81%), glucose (53.66%), and galactose (8.32%). The main
      linkage types of MC-1 were proven to be (1 -> 5)-alpha-L-Ara, (1 -> 3)-alpha-L
      Man, (1 -> 2,6)-alpha-L-Man, (1 -> )-alpha-D-Glc, (1 -> 4)-alpha-D-Glc, (1 -> 6)
      alpha-D-Glc and (1 -> 6)-beta-D-Gal by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation
      Smith degradation and NMR analysis. The immunostimulating assay indicated that MC
      1 could significantly enhance the pinocytic and phagocytic capacity and promote
      the NO, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 secretion of RAW 264.7 cells, involving toll-like
      receptor 2, complement receptor 3, and mannose receptor mainly. These results
      suggested the potential utilization of MC-1 as an attractive functional food
      supplement candidate for hypoimmunity population.

PMID- 26883003
TI  - A decade of transcription factor-mediated reprogramming to pluripotency.
AB  - The past 10 years have seen great advances in our ability to manipulate cell
      fate, including the induction of pluripotency in vitro to generate induced
      pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This process proved to be remarkably simple from
      a technical perspective, only needing the host cell and a defined cocktail of
      transcription factors, with four factors - octamer-binding protein 3/4 (OCT3/4),
      SOX2, Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and MYC (collectively referred to as OSKM) -
      initially used. The mechanisms underlying transcription factor-mediated
      reprogramming are still poorly understood; however, several mechanistic insights
      have recently been obtained. Recent years have also brought significant progress
      in increasing the efficiency of this technique, making it more amenable to
      applications in the fields of regenerative medicine, disease modelling and drug
      discovery. 

PMID- 26883001
TI  - Molecular features of cellular reprogramming and development.
AB  - Differentiating somatic cells are progressively restricted to specialized
      functions during ontogeny, but they can be experimentally directed to form other
      cell types, including those with complete embryonic potential. Early nuclear
      reprogramming methods, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and cell
      fusion, posed significant technical hurdles to precise dissection of the
      regulatory programmes governing cell identity. However, the discovery of
      reprogramming by ectopic expression of a defined set of transcription factors,
      known as direct reprogramming, provided a tractable platform to uncover molecular
      characteristics of cellular specification and differentiation, cell type
      stability and pluripotency. We discuss the control and maintenance of cellular
      identity during developmental transitions as they have been studied using direct
      reprogramming, with an emphasis on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation. 

PMID- 26883008
TI  - MicroRNA-365a-3p promotes tumor growth and metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized as oncogenes or tumor suppressors
      in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In this study, we analyzed the roles
      of miR-365a-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-494-3p in LSCC using Annexin V/propidium
      iodide double staining and flow cyto-metry, along with a Transwell migration and
      invasion assay. The results showed that miR-365a-3p inhibitor significantly
      facilitated cell apoptosis and suppressed cell cycle progression, migration, and
      invasion in Hep-2 cells. However, miR-143-5p and miR-494-3p had no such
      influences. We then investigated the role of miR-365a-3p in LSCC in vivo and
      found that miR-365a-3p inhibitor suppressed LSCC xenograft tumor growth and
      metastasis in xenograft mouse models. Moreover, miR-365a-3p inhibitor
      significantly decreased the expression of p-AKT (Ser473), which indicated that
      miR-365a-3p can mediate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway transduction via p-AKT
      (Ser473) in LSCC. The data suggest that miR-365a-3p may act as an oncomiR and may
      promote growth and metastasis in LSCC via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and
      thus miR-365a-3p may be a potential therapeutic target for treatment of LSCC.

PMID- 26883010
TI  - Reliability and validity of the Lower Limb Function Questionnaire when completed
      by young adult orthotic and prosthetic device users.
AB  - Purpose The Lower Limb Function Questionnaire (LLFQ) was developed as a self
      report assessment of lower-limb functional ability for orthotic and prosthetic
      (O&P) device users to be suitable for a wide range of conditions, cultures, and
      ages. The measure aims to address an existing gap in tools for the assessment of
      functional ability in this population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate
      LLFQ reliability and validity in a sample of young adult O&P users. Methods
      Adolescents from a secondary school in Kenya completed the LLFQ twice, 6 d apart,
      and test-retest reliability was assessed using intra-class correlation
      coefficients. Validity evaluations involved Timed Up-and-Go, 6-min walk, 6-min
      obstacle course, and/or spatiotemporal gait assessments. Oxygen consumption was
      measured during walk tests. Associations between the LLFQ and each measure were
      evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients for construct validity. Results
      LLFQ reliability was acceptable (ICC = 0.79, 95% CIs 0.64-0.89). Construct
      validity was demonstrated via moderate correlation (r  >  0.60) with obstacle
      course distance, gait velocity, stride length, and stance/single support/double
      support percent of gait cycle. Conclusions Both LLFQ reliability and validity
      were acceptable in the sample of youth in Kenya. Further testing is required to
      determine applicability in other cultural contexts. Implications for
      Rehabilitation The LLFQ may be clinically useful across a variety of cultures and
      conditions to provide feedback on the effectiveness of rehabilitative treatment
      or assistive devices for youth with lower limb impairments. The LLFQ may enable
      specific strengths and challenges to lower limb function to be identified to
      enable planning of well-targeted rehabilitation.

PMID- 26883011
TI  - Domain configurations in Co/Pd and L10-FePt nanowire arrays with perpendicular
      magnetic anisotropy.
AB  - Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [Co/Pd]15 and L10-FePt nanowire arrays of
      period 63 nm with linewidths 38 nm and 27 nm and film thickness 27 nm and 20 nm
      respectively were fabricated using a self-assembled PS-b-PDMS diblock copolymer
      film as a lithographic mask. The wires are predicted to support Neel walls in the
      Co/Pd and Bloch walls in the FePt. Magnetostatic interactions from nearest
      neighbor nanowires promote a ground state configuration consisting of alternating
      up and down magnetization in adjacent wires. This was observed over ~75% of the
      Co/Pd wires after ac-demagnetization but was less prevalent in the FePt because
      the ratio of interaction field to switching field was much smaller. Interactions
      also led to correlations in the domain wall positions in adjacent Co/Pd
      nanowires. The reversal process was characterized by nucleation of reverse
      domains, followed at higher fields by propagation of the domains along the
      nanowires. These narrow wires provide model system for exploring domain wall
      structure and dynamics in perpendicular anisotropy systems. 

PMID- 26883009
TI  - Multiple syndemic psychosocial factors are associated with reduced engagement in
      HIV care among a multinational, online sample of HIV-infected MSM in Latin
      America.
AB  - Latin America has some of the highest levels of antiretroviral therapy (ART)
      coverage of any developing region in the world. Early initiation and optimal
      adherence to ART are necessary for improved health outcomes and reduction in
      onward transmission. Previous work has demonstrated the role of psychosocial
      problems as barriers to uptake and adherence to ART, and recently, a syndemic
      framework has been applied to the role of multiple psychosocial syndemic factors
      and adherence to ART, in the USA. However, to our knowledge, these associations
      have not been investigated outside of the USA, nor in a multi-country context. To
      address these gaps, we assessed the association between multiple co-occurring
      psychosocial factors and engagement in HIV-related medical care and adherence to
      ART among a large, multinational sample of sexually-active HIV-infected men who
      have sex with men in Latin America. Among the 2020 respondents, 80.7% reported
      currently receiving HIV-related medical care, 72.3% reported currently receiving
      ART; among those, 62.5% reported 100% adherence. Compared with experiencing no
      psychosocial health problems, experiencing five or more psychosocial health
      problems is associated with 42% lower odds of currently receiving HIV-related
      medical care (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.36, 0.95) and of
      currently receiving ART (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.38, 0.91). The number of
      psychosocial health problems experienced was associated with self-reported ART
      adherence in a dose-response relationship; compared to those with none of the
      factors, individuals with one syndemic factor had 23% lower odds (aOR = 0.77, 95%
      CI 0.60, 0.97) and individuals with five or more syndemic factors had 72% lower
      odds (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.14, 0.55) of reporting being 100% adherent to ART.
      Addressing co-occurring psychosocial problems as potential barriers to uptake and
      adherence of ART in Latin America may improve the effectiveness of secondary
      prevention interventions.

PMID- 26883012
TI  - Correlates of depressive symptoms in individuals attending outpatient stroke
      clinics.
AB  - Background and purpose Depressive symptoms are common post-stroke. We examined
      stroke deficits and lifestyle factors that are independent predictors for
      depressive symptomology. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for
      patients' post-stroke who attended outpatient clinics at a hospital in
      Southwestern Ontario between 1 January 2014 and 30 September 2014. Demographic
      variables, stroke deficits, secondary stroke risk factors and disability study
      measures [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Montreal Cognitive
      Assessment (MoCA)] were analyzed. Results Of the 221 outpatients who attended the
      stroke clinics (53% male; mean age = 65.2 +/- 14.9 years; mean time post-stroke
      14.6 +/- 20.1 months), 202 patients were used in the final analysis. About 36% of
      patients (mean = 5.17 +/- 5.96) reported mild to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ
      9 >= 5). Cognitive impairment (CI), smoking, pain and therapy enrollment (p <
      0.01) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Patients reporting
      CI were 4 times more likely to score highly on the PHQ-9 than those who did not
      report CI (OR = 4.72). While controlling for age, MoCA scores negatively related
      to depressive symptoms with higher PHQ-9 scores associated with lower MoCA scores
      (r= -0.39, p < 0.005). Conclusions High levels of depressive symptoms are common
      in the chronic phase post-stroke and were partially related to cognition, pain,
      therapy enrollment and lifestyle factors. Implications for Rehabilitation Stroke
      patients who report cognitive deficits, pain, tobacco use or being enrolled in
      therapy may experience increased depressive symptoms. A holistic perspective of
      disease and lifestyle factors should be considered while assessing risk of
      depressive symptoms in stroke patients. Patients at risk for depressive symptoms
      should be monitored at subsequent outpatient visits.

PMID- 26883013
TI  - Long-term costs of colorectal cancer treatment in Spain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Assessing the long-term cost of colorectal cancer (CRC) increases our
      understanding of the disease burden. The aim of this paper is to estimate the
      long-term costs of CRC care by stage at diagnosis and phase of care in the
      Spanish National Health Service. METHODS: Retrospective study on resource use and
      direct medical cost of a cohort of 699 patients diagnosed and treated for CRC in
      2000-2006, with follow-up until 30 June 2011, at Hospital del Mar (Barcelona).
      The Kaplan-Meier sample average estimator was used to calculate observed 11-year
      costs, which were then extrapolated to 16 years. Bootstrap percentile confidence
      intervals were calculated for the mean long-term cost per patient by stage. Phase
      specific, long-term costs for the entire CRC cohort were also estimated. RESULTS:
      With regard to stage at diagnosis, the mean long-term cost per patient ranged
      from ?20,708 (in situ) to ?47,681 (stage III). The estimated costs increased at
      more advanced stages up to stage III and then substantially decreased in stage
      IV. In terms of treatment phase, the mean cost of the initial period represented
      24.8 % of the total mean long-term cost, whereas the cost of continuing and
      advanced care phases represented 16.9 and 58.3 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study is the first to provide long-term cost estimates for CRC treatment, by
      stage at diagnosis and phase of care, based on data from clinical practice in
      Spain, and it will contribute useful information for future studies on cost
      effectiveness and budget impact of different therapeutic innovations in Spain.

PMID- 26883014
TI  - Variation in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine across human cortex and cerebellum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The most widely utilized approaches for quantifying DNA methylation
      involve the treatment of genomic DNA with sodium bisulfite; however, this method
      cannot distinguish between 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
      (5hmC). Previous studies have shown that 5hmC is enriched in the brain, although
      little is known about its genomic distribution and how it differs between
      anatomical regions and individuals. In this study, we combine oxidative bisulfite
      (oxBS) treatment with the Illumina Infinium 450K BeadArray to quantify genome
      wide patterns of 5hmC in two distinct anatomical regions of the brain from
      multiple individuals. RESULTS: We identify 37,145 and 65,563 sites passing our
      threshold for detectable 5hmC in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum
      respectively, with 23,445 loci common across both brain regions. Distinct
      patterns of 5hmC are identified in each brain region, with notable differences in
      the genomic location of the most hydroxymethylated loci between these brain
      regions. Tissue-specific patterns of 5hmC are subsequently confirmed in an
      independent set of prefrontal cortex and cerebellum samples. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study represents the first systematic analysis of 5hmC in the human brain,
      identifying tissue-specific hydroxymethylated positions and genomic regions
      characterized by inter-individual variation in DNA hydroxymethylation. This study
      demonstrates the utility of combining oxBS-treatment with the Illumina 450k
      methylation array to systematically quantify 5hmC across the genome and the
      potential utility of this approach for epigenomic studies of brain disorders.

PMID- 26883015
TI  - Prognostic value of a computer-aided diagnosis system involving bone scans among
      men treated with docetaxel for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The bone scan index (BSI), which is obtained using a computer-aided
      bone scan evaluation system, is anticipated to become an objective and
      quantitative clinical tool for evaluating bone metastases in prostate cancer.
      Here, we assessed the usefulness of the BSI as a prognostic factor in patients
      with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated using
      docetaxel. METHODS: We analyzed 41 patients who received docetaxel for mCRPC. The
      Bonenavi system was used as the calculation program for the BSI. The utility of
      the BSI as a predictor of overall survival (OS) after docetaxel was evaluated.
      The Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the association
      between clinical variables obtained at docetaxel treatment, namely PSA, patient
      age, liver metastasis, local therapy, hemoglobin (Hb), lactase dehydrogenase
      (LDH), albumin (Alb), PSA doubling time, and BSI and OS. RESULTS: The median OS
      after docetaxel therapy was 17.7 months. Death occurred in 22 (53.7%) patients;
      all deaths were caused by prostate cancer. In multivariate analysis, three
      factors were identified as significant independent prognostic biomarkers for OS
      after docetaxel; these were liver metastases (yes vs no; HR, 3.681; p = 0.026),
      Alb (<3.9 vs >= 3.9; HR, 3.776; p = 0.020), and BSI (>1% vs <= 1%; HR, 3.356; p =
      0.037). We evaluated the discriminatory ability of our models including or
      excluding the BSI by quantifying the c-index. The BSI improved the c-index from
      0.758 to 0.769 for OS after docetaxel. CRPC patients with a BSI >1 had a
      significantly shorter OS than patients with a BSI <= 1 (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS:
      The BSI, liver metastases and Alb were independent prognostic factors for OS
      after docetaxel. The BSI might be a useful tool for risk stratification of mCRPC
      patients undergoing docetaxel treatment.

PMID- 26883018
TI  - Mothers and Fathers Both Matter: The Positive Influence of Parental Physical
      Activity Modelling on Children's Leisure-Time Physical Activity.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate associations between maternal and paternal sport
      participation, and children's leisure-time physical activity, and to explore
      differences by child gender. METHOD: The sample comprised 737 year five students
      (mean age: 11.0 +/- 0.6 years, 52% male) recruited through the Fit for Pisa
      Project which was conducted in 2008 at 6 secondary schools in Goettingen,
      Germany. Maternal and paternal sport participation were assessed through child
      reports of mothers' and fathers' weekly participation in sport. Children's
      leisure-time physical activity was measured as minutes/week that children engaged
      in organized and nonorganized sport. Multiple linear regression was used to
      assess associations between maternal and paternal sport participation, and
      children's leisure-time physical activity. RESULTS: Both maternal and paternal
      sport participation were positively associated with children's leisure-time
      physical activity (maternal: b = 34.20, p < .001; paternal: b = 25.32, p < .05).
      When stratifying analyses by child gender, maternal sport participation remained
      significantly associated with leisure-time physical activity in girls (b = 60.64,
      p < .001). In contrast, paternal sport participation remained significantly
      associated with leisure-time physical activity in boys (b = 43.88, p < .01).
      CONCLUSION: Both maternal and paternal modeling positively influence children's
      leisure-time physical activity.

PMID- 26883017
TI  - C14orf166 overexpression correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis of
      breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chromosome 14 open reading frame 166 (C14orf166) is upregulated in
      various tumors, but its role in breast cancer has not been reported. METHODS:
      Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to determine C14orf166
      expression in normal breast epithelial cells (NBEC), breast cancer cells, and
      four matched pairs of breast cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues.
      Using immunohistochemistry, we determined C14orf166 expression in paraffin
      embedded tissues from 121 breast cancer patients. Statistical analyses were
      performed to examine the associations among C14or166 expression,
      clinicopathological parameters and prognosis outcome of breast cancer. MTT and
      colony formation assay were used to determine the effect of C14orf166 on cell
      proliferation by overexpression or knockdown of C14orf166 level. RESULTS:
      C14orf166 was upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissues compared with
      the normal cells and adjacent normal breast tissues, high C14orf166 expression
      was positively with advancing clinical stage. The correlation analysis between
      C14orf166 expression and clinicopathological characteristics suggested C14orf166
      expression was significantly correlated with clinical stages, T classification, N
      classification and PR expression, Kaplan-Meier curves with log rank tests showed
      patients with low C14orf166 expression had better survival, Cox-regression
      analysis suggested C14orf166 was an unfavorable prognostic factor for breast
      cancer patients. C14orf166 overexpression promoted breast cancer cell
      proliferation, whereas knockdown of C14orf166 inhibited this effect. Further
      analysis found C14orf166 overexpression inhibited cell cycle inhibitors P21 and
      P27 expression, and increased the levels of Cyclin D1 and phosphorylation of Rb,
      suggesting C14orf166 contributed to cell proliferation by regulating G1/S
      transition. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested C14orf166 could be a novel
      prognostic biomarker of breast cancer, it also contributes to cell proliferation
      by regulating G1/S transition.

PMID- 26883016
TI  - Comparison of transforming growth factor beta expression in healthy and diseased
      human tendon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diseased tendons are characterised by fibrotic scar tissue, which
      adversely affects tendon structure and function and increases the likelihood of
      re-injury. The mechanisms and expression profiles of fibrosis in diseased tendon
      is understudied compared to pulmonary and renal tissues, where transforming
      growth factor (TGF)beta and its associated superfamily are known to be key
      drivers of fibrosis and modulate extracellular matrix homeostasis. We
      hypothesised that differential expression of TGFbeta superfamily members would
      exist between samples of human rotator cuff tendons with established disease
      compared to healthy control tendons. METHODS: Healthy and diseased rotator cuff
      tendons were collected from patients presenting to an orthopaedic referral
      centre. Diseased tendinopathic (intact) and healthy rotator cuff tendons were
      collected via ultrasound-guided biopsy and torn tendons were collected during
      routine surgical debridement. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time
      polymerase chain reaction were used to investigate the protein and gene
      expression profiles of TGFbeta superfamily members in these healthy and diseased
      tendons. RESULTS: TGFbeta superfamily members were dysregulated in diseased
      compared to healthy tendons. Specifically, TGFbeta-1, TGFbeta receptor (R)1 and
      TGFbeta R2 proteins were reduced (p < 0.01) in diseased compared to healthy
      tendons. At the mRNA level, TGFbeta R1 was significantly reduced in samples of
      diseased tendons, whereas TGFbeta R2 was increased (p < 0.01). BMP-2, BMP-7 and
      CTGF mRNA remained unchanged with tendon disease. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that
      downregulation of TGFbeta pathways in established tendon disease may be a
      protective response to limit disease-associated fibrosis. The disruption of the
      TGFbeta axis with disease suggests associated downstream pathways may be
      important for maintaining healthy tendon homeostasis. The findings from our study
      suggest that patients with established tendon disease would be unlikely to
      benefit from therapeutic TGFbeta blockade, which has been investigated as a
      treatment strategy in several animal models. Future studies should investigate
      the expression profile of fibrotic mediators in earlier stages of tendon disease
      to improve understanding of the targetable mechanisms underpinning tendon
      fibrosis.

PMID- 26883019
TI  - Incidence and timing of potentially high-risk arrhythmias detected through long
      term continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is the standard to
      screen for high-risk arrhythmias. We evaluated the clinical utility of a novel,
      leadless electrode, single-patient-use ECG monitor that stores up to 14 days of a
      continuous recording to measure the burden and timing of potentially high-risk
      arrhythmias. METHODS: We examined data from 122,815 long term continuous
      ambulatory monitors (iRhythm ZIO(r) Service, San Francisco) prescribed from 2011
      to 2013 and categorized potentially high-risk arrhythmias into two types: (1)
      ventricular arrhythmias including non-sustained and sustained ventricular
      tachycardia and (2) bradyarrhythmias including sinus pauses >3 s, atrial
      fibrillation pauses >5 s, and high-grade heart block (Mobitz Type II or third
      degree heart block). RESULTS: Of 122,815 ZIO(r) recordings, median wear time was
      9.9 (IQR 6.8-13.8) days and median analyzable time was 9.1 (IQR 6.4-13.1) days.
      There were 22,443 (18.3%) with at least one episode of non-sustained ventricular
      tachycardia (NSVT), 238 (0.2%) with sustained VT, 1766 (1.4%) with a sinus pause
      >3 s (SP), 520 (0.4%) with a pause during atrial fibrillation >5 s (AFP), and
      1486 (1.2%) with high-grade heart block (HGHB). Median time to first arrhythmia
      was 74 h (IQR 26-149 h) for NSVT, 22 h (IQR 5-73 h) for sustained VT, 22 h (IQR 7
      64 h) for SP, 31 h (IQR 11-82 h) for AFP, and 40 h (SD 10-118 h) for HGHB.
      CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of potentially high-risk arrhythmias are
      not identified within 48-h of ambulatory ECG monitoring. Longer-term continuous
      ambulatory ECG monitoring provides incremental detection of these potentially
      clinically relevant arrhythmic events.

PMID- 26883020
TI  - Any progress in pancreatic cancer?

PMID- 26883021
TI  - Access and utilisation of healthcare services in rural Tanzania: A comparison of
      public and non-public facilities using quality, equity, and trust dimensions.
AB  - This study compared the access and utilisation of health services in public and
      non-public health facilities in terms of quality, equity and trust in the Mbarali
      district, Tanzania. Interviews, focus group discussions, and informal discussions
      were used to generate data. Of the 1836 respondents, 1157 and 679 respondents
      sought healthcare services on their last visit at public or non-public health
      facilities, respectively. While 45.5% rated the quality of services to be good in
      both types of facilities, reported medicine shortages were more pronounced among
      those who visited public rather than non-public health facilities (OR = 1.7, 95%
      CI 1.4, 2.1). Respondents who visited public facilities were 4.9 times less
      likely than those who visited non-public facilities to emphasise the influence of
      cost in accessing and utilising health care (OR = 4.9, CI 3.9-6.1). A significant
      difference was also found in the provider-client relationship satisfaction level
      between non-public (89.1%) and public facilities (74.7%) (OR = 2.8, CI: 1.5-5.0),
      indicating a level of lower trust in the later. Revised strategies are needed to
      ensure availability of medicines in public facilities, which are used by the
      majority of the population, while strengthening private-public partnerships to
      harmonise healthcare costs.

PMID- 26883024
TI  - Comorbid Gender Dysphoria in a Preadolescent Boy With Fragile X Syndrome.

PMID- 26883022
TI  - Selective adsorption and efficient regeneration via smart adsorbents possessing
      thermo-controlled molecular switches.
AB  - Adsorption and desorption are equally important in an adsorptive separation
      process, while conventional adsorbents with fixed pores benefit only one of them
      rather than both. Here, a new generation of adsorbents was fabricated by
      incorporating thermo-responsive polymers (TRPs) into pores. The TRPs act as
      molecular switches, making pore spaces and active sites responsive to
      adsorption/desorption conditions. The adsorbents can thus realize both selective
      adsorption and efficient desorption, which are extremely desirable for adsorptive
      separation. 

PMID- 26883025
TI  - Measuring Gender Dysphoria: A Multicenter Examination and Comparison of the
      Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale and the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria
      Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults.
AB  - This study examined two instruments measuring gender dysphoria within the
      multicenter study of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender
      Incongruence (ENIGI). The Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale (UGDS) and the Gender
      Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults (GIDYQ-AA)
      were examined for their definitions of gender dysphoria and their psychometric
      properties, and evaluated for their congruence in assessing the construct. The
      sample of 318 participants consisted of 178 male-to-females (MtF) and 140 female
      to-males (FtM) who were recruited from the four ENIGI gender clinics. Both
      instruments were significantly correlated in the group of MtFs. For the FtM
      group, there was a trend in the same direction but smaller. Gender dysphoria was
      found to be defined differently in the two instruments, which led to slightly
      different findings regarding the subgroups. The UGDS detected a difference
      between the subgroups of early and late onset of gender identity disorder in the
      group of MtFs, whereas the GIDYQ-AA did not. For the FtM group, no significant
      effect of age of onset was found. Therefore, both instruments seem to capture not
      only similar but also different aspects of gender dysphoria. The UGDS focusses on
      bodily aspects, gender identity, and gender role, while the GIDYQ-AA addresses
      subjective, somatic, social, and sociolegal aspects. For future research,
      consistency in theory and definition of gender dysphoria is needed and should be
      in line with the DSM-5 diagnosis of gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults.

PMID- 26883026
TI  - On the Association Between Self-Reported Own- and Other-Gender Similarity and the
      Use of Physical and Relational Aggression in Sixth Grade Children.
AB  - The goal was to assess the association between felt similarity to each gender (an
      aspect of gender identity) and girls' and boys' differential use of relational
      versus physical aggression. We extend past research on gender differences in the
      use of aggression by expanding the gender dichotomy and allowing for more
      variations in an individual's gender identity. Students (N = 414, 47 % female,
      6th grade) reported how similar they felt to both their own- and other-gender
      peers, from which cluster analyses derived four typologies of perceived gender
      similarity (those who feel similar to their own-gender group; those who feel
      similar to the other-gender group; those who feel similar to both gender groups;
      those who feel similar to neither gender group). Peers reported which classmates
      were relationally and physically aggressive. Analyses compared how girls and boys
      in each typology of gender similarity differed in their use of relational and
      physical aggression. Results indicated that most children were engaged in gender
      normative aggression more than gender non-normative aggression (with the notable
      exception of low-gender similar girls). Findings were discussed in terms of their
      importance both for examining a broad spectrum of gender similarity and for
      understanding the use of aggressive behavior among children.

PMID- 26883027
TI  - Pretreatment whole blood Epstein-Barr virus-DNA is a significant prognostic
      marker in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.
AB  - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the peripheral blood has become a significant
      predictor of clinical outcomes in EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However,
      due to its relative rarity, prevalence and prognostic role of circulating EBV-DNA
      has not been well established in Asian patients. Seventy patients with newly
      diagnosed HL were prospectively registered between October 2007 and January 2013,
      and underwent pretreatment whole blood (WB) EBV-DNA quantitation using real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). WB EBV-DNA in baseline and serial RT-PCR
      within 1 year were investigated. Clinicopathologic parameters of the patients
      according to pretreatment WB EBV-DNA were also explored. Twelve patients (17.1 %)
      demonstrated WB EBV-DNA(+), which was significantly associated to older age,
      advanced stages, frequent involvements of extranodal sites, low serum albumin and
      hemoglobin levels, and high international prognostic scores >=2. Three-year event
      free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly inferior in
      patients with pretreatment WB EBV-DNA(+) (53.5 vs 67.0 and 65.6 vs 90.2 %) (p <
      0.032 and <0.01). Negatively conversed EBV-DNA within 1 year after chemotherapy
      also significantly affected favorable EFS (p < 0.01). Taken together,
      pretreatment WB EBV-DNA(+) may be a significant predictor of inferior EFS and OS
      over EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH)(+) in Korean patients with
      HL. Serial EBV-DNA monitoring following chemotherapy also seems helpful to
      predict survival outcomes.

PMID- 26883028
TI  - Immunization of A4galt-deficient mice with glycosphingolipids from renal cell
      cancers resulted in the generation of anti-sulfoglycolipid monoclonal antibodies.
AB  - In this study, we immunized Gb3/CD77 synthase gene (A4galt) knockout (KO) mice
      with glycosphingolipids (GSLs) extracted from 3 renal cell cancer (RCC) cell
      lines to raise monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with globo-series GSLs
      specifically expressed in RCCs. Although a number of mAbs reactive with globo
      series GSLs were generated, they reacted with both RCC cell lines and normal
      kidney cells. When we analyzed recognized antigens by mAbs that were specifically
      reactive with RCC, but not with normal kidney cells at least on the cell surface,
      many of them turned out to be reactive with sulfoglycolipids. Eight out of 11 RCC
      specific mAbs were reactive with SM2 alone, and the other 3 mAbs were more
      broadly reactive with sulfated glycolipids, i.e. SM3 and SM4 as well as SM2. In
      the immunohistochemistry, these anti-sulfoglycolipids mAbs showed RCC-specific
      reaction, with no or minimal reaction with adjacent normal tissues. Thus,
      immunization of A4galt KO mice with RCC-derived GSLs resulted in the generation
      of anti sulfated GSL mAbs, and these mAbs may be applicable for the therapeutics
      for RCC patients. 

PMID- 26883030
TI  - Social Movements Against Racist Police Brutality and Department of Justice
      Intervention in Prince George's County, Maryland.
AB  - Racist police brutality has been systemic in Prince George's County, Maryland.
      The victims include African Americans, the mentally challenged, and immigrant
      populations, creating a complex and uneven public health impact. Three threads
      characterize the social movements and intervention since 1970. First, a
      significant demographic shift occurred as African Americans became the majority
      population in the late 1980s when the first Black county executive was elected in
      1994. Despite the change in political leadership, police brutality remained
      rampant. Lower-income households located close to the District of Columbia and
      "inside the beltway" experienced the most police brutality. In 2001, The
      Washington Post revealed that between 1990 and 2000, Prince George's police shot
      and killed more citizens per officer than any of the 50 largest city and county
      law enforcement agencies in the country, 84 % of whom were black. Of the 147
      persons shot during the 1990s, 12 were mentally and/or emotionally disturbed; 6
      of these shootings were fatal. Second, resistance to police brutality emerged in
      a variety of political formations throughout the period, especially in the late
      1990s. Sustained community pressure prompted the Department of Justice (DOJ) to
      open a civil rights investigation of the police department in November 2000. To
      avoid a potential federal lawsuit, the county leadership negotiated a memorandum
      of agreement (MOA) with the DOJ to enact policy reforms, part of which called for
      supplementing the departmental mobile crisis team, comprised of mental health
      care professionals, to respond to all cases involving mentally challenged
      citizens. Third, the incomplete process of change subsequent to the ending of DOJ
      oversight suggests a continued challenge to social movements opposing police
      brutality. This study focuses on the effectiveness of the MOA along with the
      activism of the People's Coalition for Police Accountability (PCPA) in reforming
      a culture of police brutality. The intensive oversight by the DOJ, combined with
      engaged resident activism, reduced the incidences of police brutality during the
      period 2004-2013. Since the termination of DOJ oversight, disturbing developments
      suggest the need for continued and sustained activism. Since 2010, county police
      officers have fatally shot 21 people, several in questionable circumstances. At
      the same time, the Prince George's Police Department has received more tactical
      military weaponry than any other jurisdiction in the state of Maryland under the
      1033 program of the National Defense Authorization Act. 

PMID- 26883029
TI  - Postpartum Pain in the Community Among Migrant and Non-migrant Women in Canada.
AB  - International migrant women of childbearing age represent a large proportion of
      immigrants to high-income countries, yet research focusing on their postpartum
      health is limited. We investigated predictive factors for breast and non-breast
      pain 1 week post-birth in migrant and non-migrant women in Canada. Among migrant
      women, difficulty accessing health services; being from a middle-or high-income
      country; poor functionality in English and French; living with the father of
      their infant; and having no regular care provider were predictive of breast pain.
      Among non-migrant women, difficulties accessing health services, multiparity and
      prenatal education were predictive of breast pain, while receiving an epidural
      and having no regular care provider were predictive of non-breast pain. Among
      both groups, difficulties accessing health services and having no regular care
      provider were predictive of breast pain, while second degree or higher perineal
      tearing was predictive of non-breast pain. Migration-specific indicators should
      be considered in postpartum care planning.

PMID- 26883031
TI  - TransMilenio, a Scalable Bus Rapid Transit System for Promoting Physical
      Activity.
AB  - Transport systems can play an important role in increasing physical activity
      (PA). Bogota has been recognized for its bus rapid transit (BRT) system,
      TransMilenio (TM). To date, BRTs have been implemented in over 160 cities
      worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and the
      use of TM among adults in Bogota. The study consists of a cross-sectional study
      conducted from 2010 to 2011 with 1000 adults. PA was measured using the
      International Physical Activity Questionnaire. In a subsample of 250 adults, PA
      was objectively measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Analyses were conducted
      using multilevel logistic regression models. The use of TM was associated with
      meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). TM users were more likely to complete an
      average of >22 min a day of MVPA (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, confidence interval [CI]
      = 95 % 1.4-7.1) and to walk for transportation for >=150 min per week (OR = 1.5;
      CI = 95 % 1.1-2.0). The use of TM was associated with 12 or more minutes of MVPA
      (95 % CI 4.5-19.4, p < 0.0001). Associations between meeting PA recommendations
      and use of TM did not differ by socioeconomic status (p value = 0.106) or sex (p
      value = 0.288). The use of TM is a promising strategy for enhancing public health
      efforts to reduce physical inactivity through walking for transport. Given the
      expansion of BRTs, these results could inform the development of transport PA
      programs in low- to high-income countries.

PMID- 26883032
TI  - Distribution and Fate of Mercury in Pulverized Bituminous Coal-Fired Power Plants
      in Coal Energy-Dominant Huainan City, China.
AB  - A better understanding on the partitioning behavior of mercury (Hg) during coal
      combustion in large-scale coal-fired power plants is fundamental for drafting Hg
      emission control regulations. Two large coal-fired utility boilers, equipped with
      electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and a wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD)
      system, respectively, in coal energy-dominant Huainan City, China, were selected
      to investigate the distribution and fate of Hg during coal combustion. In three
      sampling campaigns, we found that Hg in bottom ash was severely depleted with a
      relative enrichment (RE) index <7 %, whereas the RE index for fly ash (9-54%) was
      comparatively higher and variable. Extremely high Hg was concentrated in gypsum
      (<=4500 ng/g), which is produced in the WFGD system. Mass balance calculation
      shows that the shares of Hg in bottom ash, fly ash, WFGD products (gypsum,
      effluents, sludge), and stack emissions were <2, 17-32, 7-22, and 54-82%,
      respectively. The Hg-removal efficiencies of ESPs, WFGD, and ESPs + WFGD were 17
      32, 10-29, and 36-46%, respectively. The Hg-emission factor of studied boilers
      was in a high range of 0.24-0.29 g Hg/t coal. We estimated that Hg emissions in
      all Huainan coal-fired power plants varied from 1.8 Mg in 2003 to 7.3 Mg in 2010.

PMID- 26883034
TI  - Differential effects of a high-fat diet on serum lipid parameters and ovarian
      gene expression in young and aged female mice.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare serum lipid profiles and ovarian gene
      expression between aged and younger female mice fed a control or a high-fat diet
      for 2 months. For this 16 female mice (C57BL/6) of 4 months (Young, n = 8) or 13
      months (Old, n = 8) of age were used. The females were divided into four groups:
      (i) young females fed a normal diet; (ii) young females fed a high-fat diet;
      (iii) old females fed a normal diet; and (iv) old females fed a high-fat diet.
      Food intake was reduced (P < 0.05) in mice fed with a high-fat (2.9 +/- 0.1 g)
      diet in comparison with control mice (3.9 +/- 0.1 g). Body weight was higher for
      old females on the high-fat diet (35.1 +/- 0.3 g) than for young females on the
      same diet (23.3 +/- 0.4 g; P < 0.05). PON1 activity was lower in the high-fat
      than control diet group (114.3 +/- 5.8 vs. 78.1 +/- 6.0 kU/L, respectively) and
      was higher in older than younger females (85.9 +/- 6.4 vs. 106.5 +/- 5.3; P <
      0.05, respectively). Females fed a high-fat diet had lower expression of Igf1
      mRNA (P = 0.04). There was an interaction between age and diet for the expression
      of Gdf9 and Survivin, with lower expression in older females in both diets and
      young females that received the high-fat diet (P < 0.05). Concluding, the high
      fat diet reduced the expression of ovarian Igf1 mRNA, and Gdf9 and Survivin mRNA
      in younger females, which can indicate lower fertility rates. High-density
      lipoprotein concentration and PON1 activity were higher in aged female mice. 

PMID- 26883037
TI  - The EPA guidance document series.

PMID- 26883033
TI  - EOS((r)) biplanar X-ray imaging: concept, developments, benefits, and
      limitations.
AB  - PURPOSE: In 1992, Georges Charpak invented a new type of X-ray detector, which in
      turn led to the development of the EOS((r)) 2D/3D imaging system. This system
      takes simultaneous anteroposterior and lateral 2D images of the whole body and
      can be utilized to perform 3D reconstruction based on statistical models. The
      purpose of this review is to present the state of the art for this EOS((r))
      imaging technique, to report recent developments and advances in the technique,
      and to stress its benefits while also noting its limitations. METHODS: The review
      was based on a thorough literature search on the subject as well as personal
      experience gained from many years of using the EOS((r)) system. RESULTS: While
      EOS((r)) imaging could be proposed for many applications, it is most useful in
      relation to scoliosis and sagittal balance, due to its ability to take
      simultaneous orthogonal images while the patient is standing, to perform 3D
      reconstruction, and to determine various relationships among adjacent segments
      (cervical spine, pelvis, and lower limbs). The technique has also been validated
      for the study of pelvic and lower-limb deformity and pathology in adult and
      pediatric populations; in such a study it has the advantage of allowing the
      measurement of torsional deformity, which classically requires a CT scan.
      CONCLUSIONS: The major advantages of EOS((r)) are the relatively low dose of
      radiation (50-80 % less than conventional X-rays) that the patient receives and
      the possibility of obtaining a 3D reconstruction of the bones. However, this 3D
      reconstruction is not created automatically; a well-trained operator is required
      to generate it. The EOS((r)) imaging technique has proven itself to be a very
      useful research and diagnostic tool.

PMID- 26883035
TI  - Investigation of a High-Dose pH-Dependent-Release Mesalazine on the Induction of
      Remission in Active Crohn's Disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The effect of mesalazine in treating active Crohn's disease (CD)
      remains controversial, possibly due to the various formulae of mesalazine used to
      treat inflammation located in different regions of the digestive tract. METHODS:
      This exploratory, multicenter, uncontrolled, open-label study included 17
      patients with active CD. The inclusion criteria were patients with a CD activity
      index (CDAI) of >= 200 and <350, and in whom mucosal lesions were observed in the
      area from the terminal ileum to the rectum using colonoscopy (CS). Each patient
      was treated with pH-dependent-release mesalazine at 4.8 g/day. The drug was
      administered three times daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by the change
      in CDAI at the time of final observation (at week 12 or at discontinuation), and
      safety was evaluated by the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug
      reactions (ADRs). RESULTS: In the full analysis set (n = 17), the change in CDAI
      at the time of final observation was -67.4, and the mean change in CDAI from
      baseline was -49.3 at week 2, -61.8 at week 4, -78.3 at week 8, and -101.1 at
      week 12. A statistically significant improvement was observed from week 2 to week
      12 compared with baseline, and the incidences of AEs and ADRs were 94.1 and
      58.8%, respectively. All events were known events, as the results suggested,
      which is in line with the known safety profile of pH-dependent-release
      mesalazine. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the administration of pH
      dependent-release mesalazine 4.8 g/day for 12 weeks could be an effective and
      highly safe treatment option for patients with mild to moderately active CD in
      whom mucosal lesions were observed in the area from the terminal ileum to the
      rectum. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: JapicCTI-111460.

PMID- 26883036
TI  - High-grade hemorrhoids requiring surgical treatment are common after laparoscopic
      ventral mesh rectopexy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe patients developing grade III and IV hemorrhoids requiring
      surgery after laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) and to explore the
      relationship between developing such hemorrhoids and recurrence of rectal
      prolapse after LVMR. METHODS: All consecutive patients receiving LVMR at the
      Meander Medical Centre, Amersfoort, the Netherlands, between 2004 and 2013 were
      analyzed. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated for recurrences. RESULTS: A
      total of 420 patients underwent LVMR. Sixty-five of these patients (actuarial 5
      year incidence 24.3, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 18.6-30.0) developed
      symptomatic grade III/IV hemorrhoids requiring stapled or excisional
      hemorrhoidectomy. Re-do surgery for recurrent grade III/IV hemorrhoids was
      required for 15 of the 65 patients (actuarial 5-year recurrence rate 40.6, 95 %
      CI 23.2-58.0) after the primary hemorrhoidectomy. Three of the 65 patients
      developed an external rectal prolapse (ERP) recurrence and eight an internal
      rectal prolapse (IRP) recurrence. This generated a 5-year recurrence rate of 25.3
      % (95 % CI 0-53.9) for ERP recurrence and 24.4 % (95 % CI 9.1-39.7) for IRP
      recurrence. The rest of the LVMR cohort not receiving additional surgery for
      hemorrhoids (n = 355) showed significantly lower actuarial 5-year ERP (0.8 %, p =
      0.011) and IRP (11 %, p = 0.020) recurrence rates. CONCLUSION: High-grade
      hemorrhoids requiring surgery may be common after LVMR. The development of high
      grade hemorrhoids after LVMR might be considered a predictor of rectal prolapse
      recurrence.

PMID- 26883038
TI  - Coupled electrophysiological recording and single cell transcriptome analyses
      revealed molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal maturation.
AB  - The mammalian brain is heterogeneous, containing billions of neurons and
      trillions of synapses forming various neural circuitries, through which sense,
      movement, thought, and emotion arise. The cellular heterogeneity of the brain has
      made it difficult to study the molecular logic of neural circuitry wiring,
      pruning, activation, and plasticity, until recently, transcriptome analyses with
      single cell resolution makes decoding of gene regulatory networks underlying
      aforementioned circuitry properties possible. Here we report success in
      performing both electrophysiological and whole-genome transcriptome analyses on
      single human neurons in culture. Using Weighted Gene Coexpression Network
      Analyses (WGCNA), we identified gene clusters highly correlated with neuronal
      maturation judged by electrophysiological characteristics. A tight link between
      neuronal maturation and genes involved in ubiquitination and mitochondrial
      function was revealed. Moreover, we identified a list of candidate genes, which
      could potentially serve as biomarkers for neuronal maturation. Coupled
      electrophysiological recording and single cell transcriptome analysis will serve
      as powerful tools in the future to unveil molecular logics for neural circuitry
      functions. 

PMID- 26883039
TI  - Targeted genotyping-by-sequencing permits cost-effective identification and
      discrimination of pasture grass species and cultivars.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: A targeted amplicon-based genotyping-by-sequencing approach has
      permitted cost-effective and accurate discrimination between ryegrass species
      (perennial, Italian and inter-species hybrid), and identification of cultivars
      based on bulked samples. Perennial ryegrass and Italian ryegrass are the most
      important temperate forage species for global agriculture, and are represented in
      the commercial pasture seed market by numerous cultivars each composed of
      multiple highly heterozygous individuals. Previous studies have identified
      difficulties in the use of morphophysiological criteria to discriminate between
      these two closely related taxa. Recently, a highly multiplexed single nucleotide
      polymorphism (SNP)-based genotyping assay has been developed that permits
      accurate differentiation between both species and cultivars of ryegrasses at the
      genetic level. This assay has since been further developed into an amplicon-based
      genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach implemented on a second-generation
      sequencing platform, allowing accelerated throughput and ca. sixfold reduction in
      cost. Using the GBS approach, 63 cultivars of perennial, Italian and
      interspecific hybrid ryegrasses, as well as intergeneric Festulolium hybrids,
      were genotyped. The genetic relationships between cultivars were interpreted in
      terms of known breeding histories and indistinct species boundaries within the
      Lolium genus, as well as suitability of current cultivar registration
      methodologies. An example of applicability to quality assurance and control
      (QA/QC) of seed purity is also described. Rapid, low-cost genotypic assays
      provide new opportunities for breeders to more fully explore genetic diversity
      within breeding programs, allowing the combination of novel unique genetic
      backgrounds. Such tools also offer the potential to more accurately define
      cultivar identities, allowing protection of varieties in the commercial market
      and supporting processes of cultivar accreditation and quality assurance.

PMID- 26883040
TI  - Production and cytomolecular identification of new wheat-perennial rye (Secale
      cereanum) disomic addition lines with yellow rust resistance (6R) and increased
      arabinoxylan and protein content (1R, 4R, 6R).
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Wheat-Secale cereanum addition lines with yellow rust resistance
      (6R) and increased arabinoxylan content (1R, 4R, 6R) have been selected and
      identified in order to increase biodiversity of wheat. Perennial rye (Secale
      cereanum, 2n = 2x = 14, RR) cultivar Kriszta has a large gene pool that can be
      exploited in wheat breeding. It has high protein and dietary fibre content,
      carries several resistance genes, tolerant to frost and drought, and adapts well
      to disadvantageous soil and weather conditions. In order to incorporate
      agronomically useful features from this perennial rye into cultivated wheat,
      backcross progenies derived from a cross between the wheat line Mv9kr1 and
      perennial rye 'Kriszta' have been produced, and addition lines disomic for 1R, 4R
      and 6R chromosomes have been selected using GISH, FISH and SSR markers. Quality
      measurements showed that addition of 'Kriszta' chromosomes 4R and 6R to the wheat
      genome had increased the total protein content. The 4R addition line contained
      slightly, while 1R and 6R additions significantly higher amount of arabinoxylan
      than the parental wheat line. Besides this, the 6R addition line appeared to be
      resistant to yellow rust in highly infected nurseries, consequently it may carry
      a new effective gene different from that harboured in the 1RS.1BL translocation
      for resistance to this disease.

PMID- 26883041
TI  - Integrated analysis in bi-parental and natural populations reveals CsCLAVATA3
      (CsCLV3) underlying carpel number variations in cucumber.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Carpel number variation in cucumber was controlled by a single gene,
      Cn . Linkage and association analysis revealed CsCLV3 as the candidate gene of
      the Cn locus. Carpel number (CN) is an important fruit quality trait of cucumber,
      but the genetic basis of CN variations is largely unknown. In the present study,
      segregating analysis in multiple bi-parental mapping populations (F2, F3, and
      RILs) derived from WI2757 (CN = 3) * True Lemon (CN = 5) suggested that CN is
      controlled by a simply inherited gene, Cn, with CN = 3 being incompletely
      dominant to CN = 5. Initial linkage mapping located Cn in a 1.9-Mb region of
      cucumber chromosome 1. Exploration of DNA sequence variations in this region with
      in silico bulked segregant analysis among eight re-sequenced lines allowed
      delimiting the Cn locus to a 16-kb region with five predicted genes including
      CsCLV3, a homolog of the Arabidopsis gene CLAVATA3. Fine genetic mapping in F2
      and RIL populations and association analysis in natural populations confirmed
      CsCLV3 as the candidate gene for Cn, which was further evidenced from gene
      expression analysis and microscopic examination of floral meristem size in the
      two parent lines. This study highlights the importance of integrated use of
      linkage and association analysis as well as next-gen high-throughput sequencing
      in mapping and cloning genes that are difficult in accurate genotyping. The
      results provide new insights into the genetic control of CN variations in
      cucumber, which were discussed in the context of the well-characterized CLAVATA
      pathway for stem cell homeostasis and regulation of meristem sizes in plants. The
      associations of carpel number with fruit shape, size, and weight in cucumber and
      melon are also discussed.

PMID- 26883042
TI  - Genetic mapping and molecular marker development for Pi65(t), a novel broad
      spectrum resistance gene to rice blast using next-generation sequencing.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: A novel R gene was mapped to a locus on chromosome 11 from 30.42 to
      30.85 Mb, which was proven to be efficient in the improvement of rice blast
      resistance. Rice blast is a devastating fungal disease worldwide. The use of
      blast resistance (R) genes is the most important approach to control the disease
      in rice breeding. In the present study, we finely mapped a novel resistance gene
      Pi65(t), conferring a broad-spectrum resistance to the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae,
      using bulked segregant analysis in combination with next-generation sequencing
      technology. Segregation in a doubled haploid (DH) population and a BC1F2
      population suggested that resistance to blast in Gangyu129 was likely conferred
      by a single dominant gene, designated Pi65(t); it was located on chromosome 11
      from 30.20 to 31.20 Mb using next-generation sequencing. After screening
      recombinants with newly developed molecular markers, the region was narrowed down
      to 0.43 Mb, flanked by SNP-2 and SNP-8 at the physical location from 30.42 to
      30.85 Mb based on the Nipponbare reference database in build 5. Using the
      software QTL IciMapping, Pi65(t) was further mapped to a locus between InDel-1
      and SNP-4 with genetic distances of 0.11 and 0.98 cM, respectively. Within this
      region, 4 predicted R genes were found with nucleotide binding site and leucine
      rich repeat (NBS-LRR) domains. We developed molecular markers to genotype 305 DH
      lines and found that InDel-1 was closely linked with Pi65(t). Using InDel-1, a
      new rice variety Chuangxin1 containing Pi65(t) was developed, and it is highly
      resistant to rice blast and produces a high yield in Liaoning province of China.
      This indicated that Pi65(t) could play a key role in the improvement of rice
      blast resistance.

PMID- 26883043
TI  - Mapping by sequencing in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) line MD52ne identified
      candidate genes for fiber strength and its related quality attributes.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Three QTL regions controlling three fiber quality traits were
      validated and further fine-mapped with 27 new single nucleotide polymorphism
      (SNP) markers. Transcriptome analysis suggests that receptor-like kinases found
      within the validated QTLs are potential candidate genes responsible for superior
      fiber strength in cotton line MD52ne. Fiber strength, length, maturity and
      fineness determine the market value of cotton fibers and the quality of spun
      yarn. Cotton fiber strength has been recognized as a critical quality attribute
      in the modern textile industry. Fine mapping along with quantitative trait loci
      (QTL) validation and candidate gene prediction can uncover the genetic and
      molecular basis of fiber quality traits. Four previously-identified QTLs (qFBS
      c3, qSFI-c14, qUHML-c14 and qUHML-c24) related to fiber bundle strength, short
      fiber index and fiber length, respectively, were validated using an F3 population
      that originated from a cross of MD90ne * MD52ne. A group of 27 new SNP markers
      generated from mapping-by-sequencing (MBS) were placed in QTL regions to improve
      and validate earlier maps. Our refined QTL regions spanned 4.4, 1.8 and 3.7 Mb of
      physical distance in the Gossypium raimondii reference genome. We performed RNA
      sequencing (RNA-seq) of 15 and 20 days post-anthesis fiber cells from MD52ne and
      MD90ne and aligned reads to the G. raimondii genome. The QTL regions contained 21
      significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two near-isogenic
      parental lines. SNPs that result in non-synonymous substitutions to amino acid
      sequences of annotated genes were identified within these DEGs, and mapped. Taken
      together, transcriptome and amino acid mutation analysis indicate that receptor
      like kinase pathway genes are likely candidates for superior fiber strength and
      length in MD52ne. MBS along with RNA-seq demonstrated a powerful strategy to
      elucidate candidate genes for the QTLs that control complex traits in a complex
      genome like tetraploid upland cotton.

PMID- 26883044
TI  - Outlier detection methods for generalized lattices: a case study on the
      transition from ANOVA to REML.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: We review and propose several methods for identifying possible
      outliers and evaluate their properties. The methods are applied to a genomic
      prediction program in hybrid rye. Many plant breeders use ANOVA-based software
      for routine analysis of field trials. These programs may offer specific in-built
      options for residual analysis that are lacking in current REML software. With the
      advance of molecular technologies, there is a need to switch to REML-based
      approaches, but without losing the good features of outlier detection methods
      that have proven useful in the past. Our aims were to compare the variance
      component estimates between ANOVA and REML approaches, to scrutinize the outlier
      detection method of the ANOVA-based package PlabStat and to propose and evaluate
      alternative procedures for outlier detection. We compared the outputs produced
      using ANOVA and REML approaches of four published datasets of generalized lattice
      designs. Five outlier detection methods are explained step by step. Their
      performance was evaluated by measuring the true positive rate and the false
      positive rate in a dataset with artificial outliers simulated in several
      scenarios. An implementation of genomic prediction using an empirical rye multi
      environment trial was used to assess the outlier detection methods with respect
      to the predictive abilities of a mixed model for each method. We provide a
      detailed explanation of how the PlabStat outlier detection methodology can be
      translated to REML-based software together with the evaluation of alternative
      methods to identify outliers. The method combining the Bonferroni-Holm test to
      judge each residual and the residual standardization strategy of PlabStat
      exhibited good ability to detect outliers in small and large datasets and under a
      genomic prediction application. We recommend the use of outlier detection methods
      as a decision support in the routine data analyses of plant breeding experiments.

PMID- 26883045
TI  - A splice acceptor site mutation in TaGW2-A1 increases thousand grain weight in
      tetraploid and hexaploid wheat through wider and longer grains.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Across 13 experiments the gw2 - A1 mutant allele shifts grain size
      distribution consistently across all grains significantly increasing grain weight
      (6.6 %), width (2.8 %) and length (2.1 %) in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat.
      There is an urgent need to identify, understand and incorporate alleles that
      benefit yield in polyploid wheat. The rice OsGW2 gene functions as a negative
      regulator of grain weight and width and is homologous to the wheat TaGW2 gene.
      Previously it was shown that transcript levels of the A-genome homoeologue, TaGW2
      A1, are negatively associated with grain width in hexaploid wheat. In this study
      we screened the tetraploid Kronos TILLING population to identify mutants in TaGW2
      A1. We identified a G to A transition in the splice acceptor site of exon 5 which
      leads to mis-splicing in TaGW2-A1. We backcrossed the mutant allele into
      tetraploid and hexaploid wheat and generated a series of backcross derived
      isogenic lines which were evaluated in glasshouse and field conditions. Across 13
      experiments the GW2-A1 mutant allele significantly increased thousand grain
      weight (6.6 %), grain width (2.8 %) and grain length (2.1 %) in tetraploid and
      hexaploid wheat compared to the wild type allele. In hexaploid wheat, this led to
      an increase in spike yield since no differences were detected for spikelet or
      grain number between isogenic lines. The increase in grain width and length was
      consistent across grains of different sizes, suggesting that the effect of the
      mutation is stable across the ear and within spikelets. Differences in carpel
      size and weight between alleles were identified as early as 5 days before
      anthesis, suggesting that TaGW2-A1 acts on maternal tissue before anthesis to
      restrict seed size. A single nucleotide polymorphism marker was developed to aid
      the deployment of the mutant allele into breeding programmes.

PMID- 26883046
TI  - Copy number variation of CBF-A14 at the Fr-A2 locus determines frost tolerance in
      winter durum wheat.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Frost tolerance in durum wheat is mainly controlled by copy number
      variation of CBF - A14 at the Fr - A2 locus. Frost tolerance is a key trait for
      successful breeding of winter durum wheat (Triticum durum) which can increase the
      yield performance in regions favoring autumn-sown winter cereals. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the genetic architecture of frost tolerance in order to
      provide molecular support for the breeding of winter durum wheat. To this end, a
      diverse panel of 170 winter and 14 spring durum wheat genotypes of worldwide
      origin was evaluated for frost tolerance in the field, as well as in a semi
      controlled test. A total of 30,611 polymorphic genome-wide markers obtained by a
      genotyping-by-sequencing approach and markers for candidate loci were used to
      assess marker-trait associations. One major QTL was detected on chromosome 5A,
      likely corresponding to Frost Resistance-A2 (Fr-A2). Further analyses strongly
      support the conclusion that copy number variation of CBF-A14 at the Fr-A2 locus
      is the causal polymorphism underlying this major QTL. It explains 91.6 % of the
      genotypic variance and a haploblock of two strongly associated markers in the QTL
      region also allowed to capture the variance of this QTL. In addition to this
      major QTL, a much smaller contribution of 4.2 % was observed for Fr-B2. We
      further investigated this major QTL and found that the copy number of CBF-A14 and
      the frequency of the frost tolerant haplotype mirrored the climatic conditions in
      the genotypes' country of origin, suggesting selection through breeding. Two
      functional KASP markers were developed which facilitate a high-throughput
      screening of the haploblock and thus a marker-based breeding of frost tolerance
      in winter durum wheat.

PMID- 26883047
TI  - Cloning of TaSST genes associated with water soluble carbohydrate content in
      bread wheat stems and development of a functional marker.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: We cloned TaSST genes, developed a gene-specific marker for TaSST
      D1, and identified three QTL in the Doumai/Shi 4185 RIL population. TaSST-D1 is
      within one of the three QTL. Sucrose:sucrose-1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST), a
      critical enzyme in the fructan biosynthetic pathway, is significantly and
      positively associated with water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in bread
      wheat stems. In the present study, wheat 1-SST genes (TaSST) were isolated and
      located on chromosomes 4A, 7A and 7D. Sequence analysis of TaSST-D1 revealed 15
      single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the third exon between cultivars with
      higher and lower WSC content. A cleaved amplified polymorphism sequence (CAPS)
      marker, WSC7D, based on the polymorphism at position 1216 (C-G) was developed to
      discriminate the two alleles. WSC7D was located on chromosome 7DS using a
      recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from a Doumai/Shi 4185 cross, and a set
      of Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomic lines. TaSST-D1 co-segregated with the
      CAPS marker WSC7D and was linked to SNP marker BS00108793_51 on chromosome 7DS at
      a genetic distance of 6.1 cM. It explained 8.8, 10.9, and 11.3% of the phenotypic
      variances in trials at Beijing and Shijiazhuang as well as the averaged data from
      those environments, respectively. Two additional QTL (QWSC.caas-4BS and QWSC.caas
      7AS) besides TaSST-D1 were mapped in the RIL population. One hundred and forty
      nine Chinese wheat cultivars and advanced lines tested in four environments were
      used to validate a highly significant (P < 0.01) association between WSC7D and
      WSC content in wheat stems. WSC7D can be used as a gene-specific marker for
      improvement of stem WSC content in wheat breeding programs.

PMID- 26883048
TI  - Epistasis and covariance: how gene interaction translates into genomic
      relationship.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Models based on additive marker effects and on epistatic
      interactions can be translated into genomic relationship models. This equivalence
      allows to perform predictions based on complex gene interaction models and
      reduces computational effort significantly. In the theory of genome-assisted
      prediction, the equivalence of a linear model based on independent and
      identically normally distributed marker effects and a model based on multivariate
      Gaussian distributed breeding values with genomic relationship as covariance
      matrix is well known. In this work, we demonstrate equivalences of marker effect
      models incorporating epistatic interactions and corresponding mixed models based
      on relationship matrices and show how to exploit these equivalences
      computationally for genome-assisted prediction. In particular, we show how models
      with epistatic interactions of higher order (e.g., three-factor interactions)
      translate into linear models with certain covariance matrices and demonstrate how
      to construct epistatic relationship matrices for the linear mixed model, if we
      restrict the model to interactions defined a priori. We illustrate the practical
      relevance of our results with a publicly available data set on grain yield of
      wheat lines growing in four different environments. For this purpose, we select
      important interactions in one environment and use this knowledge on the network
      of interactions to increase predictive ability of grain yield under other
      environmental conditions. Our results provide a guide for building relationship
      matrices based on knowledge on the structure of trait-related gene networks.

PMID- 26883050
TI  - Relationships between suicidal ideation and psychosocial factors among residents
      living in Nagano Prefecture of Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Feeling ashamed for seeking help when distressed is known to be a
      critical factor promoting suicidal behaviors. The objective of this study was to
      examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and psychosocial factors,
      including worries or anxieties, having a person to confide in, feeling ashamed
      for seeking help when distressed, and K6 score. METHODS: Fourteen out of 77
      municipalities from Nagano Prefecture participated in this questionnaire survey.
      Participants of both sexes over 20 years of age were randomly selected according
      to age distribution in each municipality. Association between suicidal ideation
      and sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, including "feeling ashamed for
      seeking help", were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:
      Among a total of 11,100 participants, 7394 (66.6%) returned the questionnaire.
      2147 participants responded properly to essential study parameters and were
      submitted to the final analyses. The adjusted odds ratio of suicidal ideation was
      2.09 (95% CI 1.49-2.94) among participants feeling ashamed for seeking help,
      compared to those not feeling ashamed. Although the rate of "no person to confide
      in" was 4.4%, participants who responded with "no person to confide in" had
      significantly increased odds ratio of suicidal ideation compared with those who
      responded with "having a person to confide in" (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.12-3.47).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a need for tailored intervention targeting
      individuals at risk by gatekeepers to encourage individuals at risk to overcome
      feeling ashamed for seeking help and to cultivate an appropriate person to
      confide in.

PMID- 26883049
TI  - Reliability and validity of Japanese versions of KIDSCREEN-27 and KIDSCREEN-10
      questionnaires.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of Japanese
      versions of the KIDSCREEN-27 (J-KIDSCREEN-27) and KIDSCREEN-10 (J-KIDSCREEN-10)
      questionnaires, which are shorter versions of the KIDSCREEN-52 (J-KIDSCREEN-52).
      METHODS: The present analyses are based on a pre-existing dataset of the J
      KIDSCREEN-52 validation study, including 1564 children and adolescents aged 8-18
      years and their 1326 parents. All were asked to complete the J-KIDSCREEN and
      Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires. Test-retest
      reliability was assessed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) in a one
      way random effects model, and internal consistency reliability was measured using
      Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Agreement between child and parent scores was
      evaluated using ICCs in a two-way mixed effects model. To assess concurrent
      validity, a sub-sample of 535 parents evaluated their child's mental health
      status using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: For
      children, test-retest ICCs were >=0.60 and Cronbach's alpha >=0.70 for every
      dimension of both instruments. Correlations of corresponding dimensions between
      the J-KIDSCREEN-27 or -10 and the PedsQL were acceptable. For parents, test
      retest ICCs were >=0.60, Cronbach's alpha >=0.70, and ICCs between child and
      parent scores >=0.41 in every dimension of both instruments. In multivariate
      logistic regression models, after adjusting for confounders, lower health-related
      QOL in every dimension of both instruments, except Physical Well-being, was
      significantly associated with higher odds ratios for borderline and clinical
      ranges of the SDQ. CONCLUSION: The child/adolescent and parent/proxy versions of
      the J-KIDSCREEN-27 and J-KIDSCREEN-10 demonstrated acceptable levels of
      reliability and validity.

PMID- 26883051
TI  - Deep RNA-Seq profile reveals biodiversity, plant-microbe interactions and a large
      family of NBS-LRR resistance genes in walnut (Juglans regia) tissues.
AB  - Deep RNA-Seq profiling, a revolutionary method used for quantifying
      transcriptional levels, often includes non-specific transcripts from other co
      existing organisms in spite of stringent protocols. Using the recently published
      walnut genome sequence as a filter, we present a broad analysis of the RNA-Seq
      derived transcriptome profiles obtained from twenty different tissues to extract
      the biodiversity and possible plant-microbe interactions in the walnut ecosystem
      in California. Since the residual nature of the transcripts being analyzed does
      not provide sufficient information to identify the exact strain, inferences made
      are constrained to the genus level. The presence of the pathogenic oomycete
      Phytophthora was detected in the root through the presence of a glyceraldehyde-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase. Cryptococcus, the causal agent of cryptococcosis, was
      found in the catkins and vegetative buds, corroborating previous work indicating
      that the plant surface supported the sexual cycle of this human pathogen. The RNA
      Seq profile revealed several species of the endophytic nitrogen fixing
      Actinobacteria. Another bacterial species implicated in aerobic biodegradation of
      methyl tert-butyl ether (Methylibium petroleiphilum) is also found in the root.
      RNA encoding proteins from the pea aphid were found in the leaves and vegetative
      buds, while a serine protease from mosquito with significant homology to a female
      reproductive tract protease from Drosophila mojavensis in the vegetative bud
      suggests egg-laying activities. The comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq data
      present also unraveled detailed, tissue-specific information of ~400 transcripts
      encoded by the largest family of resistance (R) genes (NBS-LRR), which possibly
      rationalizes the resistance of the specific walnut plant to the pathogens
      detected. Thus, we elucidate the biodiversity and possible plant-microbe
      interactions in several walnut (Juglans regia) tissues in California using deep
      RNA-Seq profiling. 

PMID- 26883052
TI  - Behavioral Outcome Effects of Serious Gaming as an Adjunct to Treatment for
      Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Controlled
      Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The need for accessible and motivating treatment approaches within
      mental health has led to the development of an Internet-based serious game
      intervention (called "Plan-It Commander") as an adjunct to treatment as usual for
      children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). OBJECTIVE: The aim
      was to determine the effects of Plan-It Commander on daily life skills of
      children with ADHD in a multisite randomized controlled crossover open-label
      trial. METHODS: Participants (N=170) in this 20-week trial had a diagnosis of
      ADHD and ranged in age from 8 to 12 years (male: 80.6%, 137/170; female: 19.4%,
      33/170). They were randomized to a serious game intervention group (group 1;
      n=88) or a treatment-as-usual crossover group (group 2; n=82). Participants
      randomized to group 1 received a serious game intervention in addition to
      treatment as usual for the first 10 weeks and then received treatment as usual
      for the next 10 weeks. Participants randomized to group 2 received treatment as
      usual for the first 10 weeks and crossed over to the serious game intervention in
      addition to treatment as usual for the subsequent 10 weeks. Primary (parent
      report) and secondary (parent, teacher, and child self-report) outcome measures
      were administered at baseline, 10 weeks, and 10-week follow-up. RESULTS: After 10
      weeks, participants in group 1 compared to group 2 achieved significantly greater
      improvements on the primary outcome of time management skills (parent-reported;
      P=.004) and on secondary outcomes of the social skill of responsibility (parent
      reported; P=.04), and working memory (parent-reported; P=.02). Parents and
      teachers reported that total social skills improved over time within groups,
      whereas effects on total social skills and teacher-reported planning/organizing
      skills were nonsignificant between groups. Within group 1, positive effects were
      maintained or further improved in the last 10 weeks of the study. Participants in
      group 2, who played the serious game during the second period of the study (weeks
      10 to 20), improved on comparable domains of daily life functioning over time.
      CONCLUSIONS: Plan-It Commander offers an effective therapeutic approach as an
      adjunct intervention to traditional therapeutic ADHD approaches that improve
      functional outcomes in daily life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard
      Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 62056259; http://www.controlled
      trials.com/ISRCTN62056259 (Archived by WebCite at
      http://www.webcitation.org/6eNsiTDJV).

PMID- 26883053
TI  - Evaluation and Targeted Therapy of Voiding Dysfunction in Children.
AB  - Significant strides have been made over the past two decades in more precisely
      evaluating and managing children with voiding complaints. A thorough history
      should offer insight into the possible causes for the presenting complaints and
      this should be supplemented by physical examination, urine studies, and select
      imaging. Uroflowmetry and external sphincter electromyography with measurement of
      postvoid residual urine should allow for accurate diagnosis using categories
      offered by the International Children's Continence Society. This ability to make
      an accurate diagnosis should naturally lead to the use of treatment options
      (urotherapy, pharmacotherapy, biofeedback, and neuromodulation) that specifically
      target the responsible cause of the complaints rather than simply their symptoms.

PMID- 26883055
TI  - Survey and analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in three genomes of Candida
      species.
AB  - Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) or microsatellites, which composed of tandem
      repeated short units of 1-6 bp, have been paying attention continuously. Here,
      the distribution, composition and polymorphism of microsatellites and compound
      microsatellites were analyzed in three available genomes of Candida species
      (Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata and Candida orthopsilosis). The results
      show that there were 118,047, 66,259 and 61,119 microsatellites in genomes of C.
      dubliniensis, C. glabrata and C. orthopsilosis, respectively. The SSRs covered
      more than 1/3 length of genomes in the three species. The microsatellites, which
      just consist of bases A and (or) T, such as (A)n, (T)n, (AT)n, (TA)n, (AAT)n,
      (TAA)n, (TTA)n, (ATA)n, (ATT)n and (TAT)n, were predominant in the three genomes.
      The length of microsatellites was focused on 6 bp and 9 bp either in the three
      genomes or in its coding sequences. What's more, the relative abundance
      (19.89/kbp) and relative density (167.87 bp/kbp) of SSRs in sequence of
      mitochondrion of C. glabrata were significantly great than that in any one of
      genomes or chromosomes of the three species. In addition, the distance between
      any two adjacent microsatellites was an important factor to influence the
      formation of compound microsatellites. The analysis may be helpful for further
      studying the roles of microsatellites in genomes' origination, organization and
      evolution of Candida species.

PMID- 26883054
TI  - Downregulation of Microrna-126 Contributes to Tumorigenesis of Squamous Tongue
      Cell Carcinoma via Targeting KRAS.
AB  - BACKGROUND miR-126 has been reported to be differentially expressed in various
      malignancies, whereas its role in the pathogenesis of tongue squamous cell
      carcinoma (TSCC) remains largely unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, we
      collected 21 pairs of TSCC cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples,
      with which we performed real-time PCR to determine and compare the expression of
      6 candidate miRNAs that are reportedly associated with tumorigenesis of TSCC,
      including miR-100, miR-451, miR-221, let-7a, miR-21, and miR-126. We further
      performed luciferase assay to validate KRAS as a target of miR-126, and conducted
      transfection to study the effect of miR-126 on proliferation and apoptosis of the
      cells. RESULTS We identified that miR-126 was significantly downregulated in the
      cancerous tissue samples compared with the non-cancerous control tissue samples.
      By using computational analysis, we identified that KRAS is a virtual target of
      miR-126, and such association was verified by using luciferase assay. In
      addition, we found that mRNA and protein expression level of KRAS was
      significantly higher in the tumor tissue than the control tissue samples.
      CONCLUSIONS The following in vitro experiment showed that both mRNA and protein
      KRAS expression were significantly decreased in SCC-15 cells in which miR-126 was
      overexpressed, in comparison with similar cells transfected with a negative
      control, while downregulation of miR-126 by transfecting the cells with miR-126
      inhibitors significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of KRAS.
      CONCLUSIONS: miR-126 might be a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target in
      the prevention and management of TSCC patients.

PMID- 26883056
TI  - Properties of lipid electropores I: Molecular dynamics simulations of stabilized
      pores by constant charge imbalance.
AB  - Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a powerful tool to study
      electroporation (EP) in atomic detail. In the last decade, numerous MD studies
      have been conducted to model the effect of pulsed electric fields on membranes,
      providing molecular models of the EP process of lipid bilayers. Here we extend
      these investigations by modeling for the first time conditions comparable to
      experiments using long (MUs-ms) low intensity (~kV/cm) pulses, by studying the
      characteristics of pores formed in lipid bilayers maintained at a constant
      surface tension and subject to constant charge imbalance. This enables the
      evaluation of structural (size) and electrical (conductance) properties of the
      pores formed, providing information hardly accessible directly by experiments.
      Extensive simulations of EP of simple phosphatidylcholine bilayers in 1M NaCl
      show that hydrophilic pores with stable radii (1-2.5 nm) form under transmembrane
      voltages between 420 and 630 mV, allowing for ionic conductance in the range of
      6.4-29.5 nS. We discuss in particular these findings and characterize both
      convergence and size effects in the MD simulations. We further extend these
      studies in a follow-up paper (Rems et al., Bioelectrochemistry, Submitted), by
      proposing an improved continuum model of pore conductance consistent with the
      results from the MD simulations.

PMID- 26883057
TI  - Revisiting direct electron transfer in nanostructured carbon laccase oxygen
      cathodes.
AB  - The biocatalytic electroreduction of oxygen has been studied on large surface
      area graphite and Vulcan(r) carbon electrodes with adsorbed Trametes trogii
      laccase. The electrokinetics of the O2 reduction reaction (ORR) was studied at
      different electrode potentials, O2 partial pressures and concentrations of
      hydrogen peroxide. Even though the overpotential at 0.25 mA.cm(-2) for the ORR at
      T1Cu of the adsorbed laccase on carbon is 0.8 V lower than for Pt of similar
      geometric area, the rate of the reaction and thus the operative current density
      is limited by the enzyme reaction rate at the T2/T3 cluster site for the adsorbed
      enzyme. The transition potential for the rate determining step from the direct
      electron transfer (DET) to the enzyme reaction shifts to higher potentials at
      higher oxygen partial pressure. Hydrogen peroxide produced by the ORR on bare
      carbon support participates in an inhibition mechanism, with uncompetitive
      predominance at high H2O2 concentration, non-competitive contribution can be
      detected at low inhibitor concentration.

PMID- 26883059
TI  - Degradation kinetics and metabolites in continuous biodegradation of isoprene.
AB  - The kinetic parameters of isoprene biodegradation were studied in a bioreactor,
      comprising of bioscrubber and polyurethane foam packed biofilter in series and
      inoculated with Pseudomonas sp., using a Michaelis-Menten type model. The maximum
      elimination capacity, ECmax; substrate constant, Ks and ECmax/Ks values for
      bioscrubber were found to be 666.7 g m(-3) h(-1), 9.86 g m(-3) and 67.56 h(-1),
      respectively while those for biofilter were 3333 g m(-3) h(-1), 13.96 g m(-3) and
      238.7 h(-1), respectively. The biofilter section exhibited better degradation
      efficiency compared to the bioscrubber unit. Around 62-75% of the feed isoprene
      got converted to carbon dioxide, indicating the efficient capability of bacteria
      to mineralize isoprene. The FTIR and GC-MS analyses of degradation products
      indicated oxidative cleavage of unsaturated bond of isoprene. These results were
      used for proposing a plausible degradation pathway for isoprene.

PMID- 26883058
TI  - Mothering a Preterm Infant Receiving NIDCAP Care in a Level III Newborn Intensive
      Care Unit.
AB  - The purpose of the study is to describe the unique meaning and significance of
      the essential elements of mothering a preterm infant receiving Newborn
      Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) care in a level
      III NICU. The overall aim was to promote an increased understanding among
      healthcare practitioners of the experience of this group of women. DESIGN AND
      METHODS: The authors utilized an existential-phenomenologic method to investigate
      the experience of 7 mothers of a preterm infant 30weeks gestation or less at
      birth. RESULTS: Analysis of interview transcripts revealed one overarching theme,
      parenting with permission, and three essential themes with nine underlying
      subthemes: choosing to participate (subthemes: managing, settling in, making
      friends), dealing with people (subthemes: meeting needs, facing judgment, and
      recognizing not everyone is 'on board,' and coming to feel like a mother
      (subthemes: overcoming fear, gaining understanding, and feeling empowered).
      CONCLUSIONS/PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Mothers universally praised NIDCAP for the
      education and support it provided them. However findings also suggest that great
      sensitivity and patience is required by professionals to assist mothers to
      overcome their fear, gain confidence, and participate in NIDCAP without feeling
      judged. In addition private rooms were found to hold great significance for
      mothers and should be maintained for the entire hospitalization whenever
      possible. Finally, ongoing NIDCAP education/support for staff and regular team
      meetings to discuss and problem-solve concerns are suggested. This might address
      inconsistent adherence to the NIDCAP care plan by some nurses, which is the
      greatest source of maternal conflict and frustration.

PMID- 26883060
TI  - Gradient packing bed bio-filter for landfill methane mitigation.
AB  - We assessed the suitability of various biogenic materials for development of a
      gradient packed bed bio-filter to mitigate the methane (CH4) emission from
      landfills. Five different biogenic materials (windrow compost-WC; vermicompost
      VC; landfill top cover-LTC; landfill bottom soil-LBS; and river soil sediment-SS)
      were screened. Among these materials, the VC showed a better CH4 oxidation
      potential (MOP) of 12.6MUg CH4 gdw(-1)h(-1). Subsequently, the VC was used as a
      packing material along with wood chips in proto-type bio-filters. Wood chips were
      mixed at 5-15% to form three distinct gradients in a test bio-filter. Under the
      three different CH4 loading rates of 33, 44 and 55 gCH4 m(-3)h(-1), the achieved
      MOPs were 31, 41, and 47gCH4 m(-3)h(-1), respectively. The gradient packed bed
      bio-filter is effective for landfill CH4 mitigation than the conventional bio
      filter as the latter shows gas channeling effects with poor MOPs. 

PMID- 26883062
TI  - Perceived time and temporal structure: Neural entrainment to isochronous
      stimulation increases duration estimates.
AB  - Distortions of perceived duration can give crucial insights into the mechanisms
      that underlie the processing and representation of stimulus timing. One factor
      that affects duration estimates is the temporal structure of stimuli that fill an
      interval. For example, regular filling (isochronous interval) leads to an
      overestimation of perceived duration as compared to irregular filling
      (anisochronous interval). In the present article, we use electroencephalography
      (EEG) to investigate the neural basis of this subjective lengthening of perceived
      duration with isochrony. In a two-interval forced choice task, participants
      judged which of two intervals lasts longer - one always being isochronous, the
      other one anisochronous. Response proportions confirm the subjective
      overestimation of isochronous intervals. At the neural level, isochronous
      sequences are associated with enhanced pairwise phase consistency (PPC) at the
      stimulation frequency, reflecting the brain's entrainment to the regular
      stimulation. The PPC over the entrainment channels is further enhanced for
      isochronous intervals that are reported to be longer, and the magnitude of this
      PCC effect correlates with the amount of perceptual bias. Neural entrainment has
      been proposed as a mechanism of attentional selection, enabling increased neural
      responsiveness toward stimuli that arrive at an expected point in time. The
      present results support the proposed relationship between neural response
      magnitudes and temporal estimates: An increase in neural responsiveness leads to
      a more pronounced representation of the individual stimuli filling the interval
      and in turn to a subjective increase in duration.

PMID- 26883063
TI  - The role of the neural reward circuitry in self-referential optimistic belief
      updates.
AB  - People are motivated to adopt the most favorable beliefs about their future
      because positive beliefs are experienced as rewarding. However, it is so far
      inconclusive whether brain regions known to represent reward values are involved
      in the generation of optimistically biased belief updates. To address this
      question, we investigated neural correlates of belief updates that result in
      relatively better future outlooks, and therefore imply a positive subjective
      value of the judgment outcome. Participants estimated the probability of
      experiencing different adverse future events. After being provided with
      population base rates of these events, they had the opportunity to update their
      initial estimates. Participants made judgments concerning themselves or a similar
      other, and were confronted with desirable or undesirable base rates (i.e., lower
      or higher than their initial estimates). Belief updates were smaller following
      undesirable than desirable information, and this optimism bias was stronger for
      judgments regarding oneself than others. During updating, the positive value of
      self-related updates was reflected by neural activity in the subgenual
      ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) that increased both with increasing sizes
      of favorable updates, and with decreasing sizes of unfavorable updates. During
      the processing of self-related undesirable base rates, increasing activity in a
      network including the dorsomedial PFC, hippocampus, thalamus and ventral striatum
      predicted decreasing update sizes. Thus, key regions of the neural reward
      circuitry contributed to the generation of optimistically biased self-referential
      belief updates. While the vmPFC tracked subjective values of belief updates, a
      network including the ventral striatum was involved in neglecting information
      calling for unfavorable updates.

PMID- 26883061
TI  - ETP-46321, a dual p110alpha/delta class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor
      modulates T lymphocyte activation and collagen-induced arthritis.
AB  - Class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are essential to function of normal
      and tumor cells, and to modulate immune responses. T lymphocytes express high
      levels of p110alpha and p110delta class IA PI3K. Whereas the functioning of PI3K
      p110delta in immune and autoimmune reactions is well established, the role of
      p110alpha is less well understood. Here, a novel dual p110alpha/delta inhibitor
      (ETP-46321) and highly specific p110alpha (A66) or p110delta (IC87114) inhibitors
      have been compared concerning T cell activation in vitro, as well as the effect
      on responses to protein antigen and collagen-induced arthritis in vivo. In vitro
      activation of naive CD4(+) T lymphocytes by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 was inhibited
      more effectively by the p110delta inhibitor than by the p110alpha inhibitor as
      measured by cytokine secretion (IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-gamma), T-bet expression and
      NFAT activation. In activated CD4(+) T cells re-stimulated through CD3 and ICOS,
      IC87114 inhibited Akt and Erk activation, and the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL
      17A, and IFN-gamma better than A66. The p110alpha/delta inhibitor ETP-46321, or
      p110alpha plus p110delta inhibitors also inhibited IL-21 secretion by
      differentiated CD4(+) T follicular (Tfh) or IL-17-producing (Th17) helper cells.
      In vivo, therapeutic administration of ETP-46321 significantly inhibited
      responses to protein antigen as well as collagen-induced arthritis, as measured
      by antigen-specific antibody responses, secretion of IL-10, IL-17A or IFN-gamma,
      or clinical symptoms. Hence, p110alpha as well as p110delta Class IA PI3Ks are
      important to immune regulation; inhibition of both subunits may be an effective
      therapeutic approach in inflammatory autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid
      arthritis. 

PMID- 26883064
TI  - Avatars and arrows in the brain.
AB  - In this Commentary article we critically assess the claims made by Schurz,
      Kronbichler, Weissengrubler, Surtees, Samson and Perner (2015) relating to the
      neural processes underlying theory of mind and visual perspective taking. They
      attempt to integrate research findings in these two areas of social neuroscience
      using a perspective taking task contrasting mentalistic agents ('avatars'), with
      non-mentalistic control stimuli ('arrows'), during functional Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging. We support this endeavour whole-heartedly, agreeing that the integration
      of findings in these areas has been neglected in research on the social brain.
      However, we cannot find among the behavioural or neuroimaging data presented by
      Schurz et al. evidence supporting their claim of 'implicit mentalizing'-the
      automatic ascription of mental states to another representing what they can see.
      Indeed, we suggest that neuroimaging methods may be ill-suited to address the
      existence of implicit mentalizing, and suggest that approaches utilizing
      neurostimulation methods are likely to be more successful. 

PMID- 26883065
TI  - Decoding the neural representation of fine-grained conceptual categories.
AB  - Neuroscientific research on conceptual knowledge based on the grounded cognition
      framework has shed light on the organization of concrete concepts into semantic
      categories that rely on different types of experiential information. Abstract
      concepts have traditionally been investigated as an undifferentiated whole, and
      have only recently been addressed in a grounded cognition perspective. The
      present fMRI study investigated the involvement of brain systems coding for
      experiential information in the conceptual processing of fine-grained semantic
      categories along the abstract-concrete continuum. These categories consisted of
      mental state-, emotion-, mathematics-, mouth action-, hand action-, and leg
      action-related meanings. Thirty-five sentences for each category were used as
      stimuli in a 1-back task performed by 36 healthy participants. A univariate
      analysis failed to reveal category-specific activations. Multivariate pattern
      analyses, in turn, revealed that fMRI data contained sufficient information to
      disentangle all six fine-grained semantic categories across participants.
      However, the category-specific activity patterns showed no overlap with the
      regions coding for experiential information. These findings demonstrate the
      possibility of detecting specific patterns of neural representation associated
      with the processing of fine-grained conceptual categories, crucially including
      abstract ones, though bearing no anatomical correspondence with regions coding
      for experiential information as predicted by the grounded cognition hypothesis.

PMID- 26883066
TI  - Reverse inference of memory retrieval processes underlying metacognitive
      monitoring of learning using multivariate pattern analysis.
AB  - Monitoring of learning is only accurate at some time after learning. It is
      thought that immediate monitoring is based on working memory, whereas later
      monitoring requires re-activation of stored items, yielding accurate judgements.
      Such interpretations are difficult to test because they require reverse
      inference, which presupposes specificity of brain activity for the hidden
      cognitive processes. We investigated whether multivariate pattern classification
      can provide this specificity. We used a word recall task to create single trial
      examples of immediate and long term retrieval and trained a learning algorithm to
      discriminate them. Next, participants performed a similar task involving
      monitoring instead of recall. The recall-trained classifier recognized the
      retrieval patterns underlying immediate and long term monitoring and classified
      delayed monitoring examples as long-term retrieval. This result demonstrates the
      feasibility of decoding cognitive processes, instead of their content.

PMID- 26883068
TI  - Transcranial direct current stimulation changes resting state functional
      connectivity: A large-scale brain network modeling study.
AB  - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive technique for
      affecting brain dynamics with promising application in the clinical therapy of
      neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's
      disease, depression, and schizophrenia. Resting state dynamics increasingly play
      a role in the assessment of connectivity-based pathologies such as Alzheimer's
      and schizophrenia. We systematically applied tDCS in a large-scale network model
      of 74 cerebral areas, investigating the spatiotemporal changes in dynamic states
      as a function of structural connectivity changes. Structural connectivity was
      defined by the human connectome. The main findings of this study are fourfold:
      Firstly, we found a tDCS-induced increase in functional connectivity among
      cerebral areas and among EEG sensors, where the latter reproduced empirical
      findings of other researchers. Secondly, the analysis of the network dynamics
      suggested synchronization to be the main mechanism of the observed effects.
      Thirdly, we found that tDCS sharpens and shifts the frequency distribution of
      scalp EEG sensors slightly towards higher frequencies. Fourthly, new dynamic
      states emerged through interacting areas in the network compared to the dynamics
      of an isolated area. The findings propose synchronization as a key mechanism
      underlying the changes in the spatiotemporal pattern formation due to tDCS. Our
      work supports the notion that noninvasive brain stimulation is able to bias brain
      dynamics by affecting the competitive interplay of functional subnetworks. 

PMID- 26883067
TI  - Identification and individualized prediction of clinical phenotypes in bipolar
      disorders using neurocognitive data, neuroimaging scans and machine learning.
AB  - Diagnosis, clinical management and research of psychiatric disorders remain
      subjective - largely guided by historically developed categories which may not
      effectively capture underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of dysfunction.
      Here, we report a novel approach of identifying and validating distinct and
      biologically meaningful clinical phenotypes of bipolar disorders using both
      unsupervised and supervised machine learning techniques. First, neurocognitive
      data were analyzed using an unsupervised machine learning approach and two
      distinct clinical phenotypes identified namely; phenotype I and phenotype II.
      Second, diffusion weighted imaging scans were pre-processed using the tract-based
      spatial statistics (TBSS) method and 'skeletonized' white matter fractional
      anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) maps extracted. The 'skeletonized'
      white matter FA and MD maps were entered into the Elastic Net machine learning
      algorithm to distinguish individual subjects' phenotypic labels (e.g. phenotype I
      vs. phenotype II). This calculation was performed to ascertain whether the
      identified clinical phenotypes were biologically distinct. Original
      neurocognitive measurements distinguished individual subjects' phenotypic labels
      with 94% accuracy (sensitivity=92%, specificity=97%). TBSS derived FA and MD
      measurements predicted individual subjects' phenotypic labels with 76% and 65%
      accuracy respectively. In addition, individual subjects belonging to phenotypes I
      and II were distinguished from healthy controls with 57% and 92% accuracy
      respectively. Neurocognitive task variables identified as most relevant in
      distinguishing phenotypic labels included; Affective Go/No-Go (AGN), Cambridge
      Gambling Task (CGT) coupled with inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and
      callosal white matter pathways. These results suggest that there may exist two
      biologically distinct clinical phenotypes in bipolar disorders which can be
      identified from healthy controls with high accuracy and at an individual subject
      level. We suggest a strong clinical utility of the proposed approach in defining
      and validating biologically meaningful and less heterogeneous clinical sub
      phenotypes of major psychiatric disorders.

PMID- 26883069
TI  - Combining non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation with neuroimaging and
      electrophysiology: Current approaches and future perspectives.
AB  - Non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation (NTBS) techniques such as
      transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial current stimulation
      (TCS) are important tools in human systems and cognitive neuroscience because
      they are able to reveal the relevance of certain brain structures or neuronal
      activity patterns for a given brain function. It is nowadays feasible to combine
      NTBS, either consecutively or concurrently, with a variety of neuroimaging and
      electrophysiological techniques. Here we discuss what kind of information can be
      gained from combined approaches, which often are technically demanding. We argue
      that the benefit from this combination is twofold. Firstly, neuroimaging and
      electrophysiology can inform subsequent NTBS, providing the required information
      to optimize where, when, and how to stimulate the brain. Information can be
      achieved both before and during the NTBS experiment, requiring consecutive and
      concurrent applications, respectively. Secondly, neuroimaging and
      electrophysiology can provide the readout for neural changes induced by NTBS.
      Again, using either concurrent or consecutive applications, both "online" NTBS
      effects immediately following the stimulation and "offline" NTBS effects
      outlasting plasticity-inducing NTBS protocols can be assessed. Finally, both
      strategies can be combined to close the loop between measuring and modulating
      brain activity by means of closed-loop brain state-dependent NTBS. In this paper,
      we will provide a conceptual framework, emphasizing principal strategies and
      highlighting promising future directions to exploit the benefits of combining
      NTBS with neuroimaging or electrophysiology. 

PMID- 26883070
TI  - Peptide Reactivity of Isothiocyanates--Implications for Skin Allergy.
AB  - Skin allergy is a chronic condition that affects about 20% of the population of
      the western world. This disease is caused by small reactive compounds, haptens,
      able to penetrate into the epidermis and modify endogenous proteins, thereby
      triggering an immunogenic reaction. Phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) and ethyl
      isothiocyanate (EITC) have been suggested to be responsible for allergic skin
      reactions to chloroprene rubber, the main constituent of wetsuits, orthopedic
      braces, and many types of sports gear. In the present work we have studied the
      reactivity of the isothiocyanates PITC, EITC, and tetramethylrhodamine-6
      isothiocyanate (6-TRITC) toward peptides under aqueous conditions at
      physiological pH to gain information about the types of immunogenic complexes
      these compounds may form in the skin. We found that all three compounds reacted
      quickly with cysteine moieties. For PITC and 6-TRITC the cysteine adducts
      decomposed over time, while stable adducts with lysine were formed. These
      experimental findings were verified by DFT calculations. Our results may suggest
      that the latter are responsible for allergic reactions to isothiocyanates. The
      initial adduct formation with cysteine residues may still be of great importance
      as it prevents hydrolysis and facilitates the transport of isothiocyanates into
      epidermis where they can form stable immunogenic complexes with lysine-containing
      proteins. 

PMID- 26883072
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26883071
TI  - Universality of slip avalanches in flowing granular matter.
AB  - The search for scale-bridging relations in the deformation of amorphous materials
      presents a current challenge with tremendous applications in material science,
      engineering and geology. While generic features in the flow and microscopic
      dynamics support the idea of a universal scaling theory of deformation, direct
      microscopic evidence remains poor. Here, we provide the first measurement of
      internal scaling relations in the deformation of granular matter. By combining
      macroscopic force fluctuation measurements with internal strain imaging, we
      demonstrate the existence of robust scaling relations from particle-scale to
      macroscopic flow. We identify consistent power-law relations truncated by
      systematic pressure-dependent cutoff, in agreement with recent mean-field theory
      of slip avalanches in elasto-plastic materials, revealing the existence of a
      mechanical critical point. These results experimentally establish scale-bridging
      relations in the flow of matter, paving the way to a new universal theory of
      deformation. 

PMID- 26883074
TI  - Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: Does Diet Matter?

PMID- 26883073
TI  - STAT1 and NF-kappaB Inhibitors Diminish Basal Interferon-Stimulated Gene
      Expression and Improve the Productive Infection of Oncolytic HSV in MPNST Cells.
AB  - Interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) encode diverse proteins that mediate intrinsic
      antiviral resistance in infected cells. Here it was hypothesized that malignant
      peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells resist the productive infection of
      oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) through activation of the JAK/STAT1 pathway
      and resultant upregulation of ISGs. Multiple human and mouse MPNST cells were
      used to explore the relationship between STAT1 activation and the productive
      infection of Deltagamma134.5 oHSVs. STAT1 activation in response to oHSV
      infection was found to associate with diminished Deltagamma134.5 oHSVs
      replication and spread. Multiday pretreatment, but not cotreatment, with a JAK
      inhibitor significantly improved viral titer and spread. ISG expression was found
      to be elevated prior to infection and downregulated when treated with the
      inhibitor, suggesting that the JAK/STAT1 pathway is active prior to infection.
      Conversely, upregulation of ISG expression in normally permissive cells
      significantly decreased oHSV productivity. Finally, a possible link between NF
      kappaB pathway activation and ISG expression was established through the
      expression of inhibitor of kB (IkappaB) which decreased basal STAT1 transcription
      and ISG expression. These results demonstrate that basal ISG expression prior to
      infection contributes to the resistance of Deltagamma134.5 oHSVs in MPNST cells.
      IMPLICATIONS: Although cancer-associated ISG expression has been previously
      reported to impart resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, these data show
      that basal ISG expression also contributes to oncolytic HSV resistance. Mol
      Cancer Res; 14(5); 482-92. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26883075
TI  - High-flow nasal cannula oxygen and nasal continuous positive airway pressure and
      full oral feeding in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the time to achieve full oral feeding differed
      between infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) supported by nasal
      continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) compared with those supported by
      nCPAP and subsequently transferred to heated, humidified, high-flow nasal cannula
      oxygen (HHFNC). DESIGN: Two-cohort comparison. SETTING: Tertiary neonatal unit.
      PATIENTS: -72 infants, median gestational age 27 (range 24-32) weeks in the nCPAP
      group, and 44 infants, median gestational age 27 (range 24-31) weeks in the
      nCPAP/HHFNC group. INTERVENTIONS: Between 2011 and 2013, infants post extubation
      were supported by nCPAP and from 2013 infants were supported by nCPAP and then
      HHFNC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The postnatal age at which oral feeds were first
      trialled and full oral feeds established. The length of respiratory support as
      either nCPAP or nCPAP/HHFNC and the total length of respiratory support and
      hospital stay were also determined. Subanalysis was undertaken of infants
      requiring respiratory support beyond 34 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). RESULTS:
      The postnatal age at trial of first oral feeds was earlier in the nCPAP/HHFNC
      group (p=0.012), but infants were a shorter time on nCPAP compared with
      nCPAP/HHFNC (p=0.003). On subgroup analysis, the age to achieve full oral feeds
      was earlier in the nCPAP/HHFNC group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In infants with BPD
      who required respiratory support beyond 34 weeks PMA, use of nCPAP then HHFNC was
      associated with earlier establishment of full oral feeds. Consideration should be
      given to assessing stable BPD infants with regard to oral feeding while on CPAP.

PMID- 26883076
TI  - The Association of Poor Mental Health Status and Sociocultural Factors in Men: A
      Population-Based Study in Tehran, Iran.
AB  - Mental ill-health has increased among Iranian men in the recent years. Mental
      health is complexly determined by sociocultural, psychological, demographic
      characteristics, and some health-risk behaviors such as smoking. This study aimed
      to explore the association(s) between demographic factors, smoking status, social
      capital, and poor mental health status in a sample of Iranian men. The data were
      derived from a survey titled "Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool-2"
      in Tehran, Iran ( n = 11,064). A multistage sampling method was applied in the
      study. The General Health Questionnaire-28 was used to assess poor mental health
      status (range = 0-84, scores higher than 23 indicated poor mental health status).
      The data were analyzed using t test, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic
      regression. The means of age and family size were 47.14 +/- 17.26 years (range =
      20-91) and 3.54 +/- 1.32 individuals (range = 1-15), respectively. The majority
      of the participants were employed (57%, n = 6,361). The prevalence of poor mental
      health was 36.36%, 95% confidence interval (CI) [35.46, 37.26]. The components of
      social capital were positively associated with poor mental health status. Family
      size (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.93; 95% CI [0.90, 0.96]), job status
      (unemployed vs. employed, AOR = 1.34; 95% CI [1.16, 1.55]), marital status
      (widowed and divorced vs. single, AOR = 1.09; 95% CI [1.02, 1.17]), education
      level (illiterate vs. academic, AOR = 1.18; 95% CI [1.09, 1.29]), and smoking
      status (smokers vs. nonsmokers, AOR = 1.46; 95% CI [1.31, 1.62]) were directly
      associated with poor mental health status in the logistic regression model. These
      results suggest that social capital could be an important approach for men to
      attain suitable mental health and reduce mental disorders. The high prevalence of
      poor mental health in men merits more attention in mental health policy and
      program planning.

PMID- 26883078
TI  - Folic acid to prevent neural tube defects: another solution.

PMID- 26883079
TI  - Fit to WHO weight standard of European infants over time.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The 2006 WHO growth charts were created to provide an international
      standard for optimal growth, based on healthy, breastfed populations, but it has
      been suggested that Northern European children fit them poorly. This study uses
      infant weight data spanning 50 years to determine how well-nourished preschool
      children from different eras fit the WHO standard, and discuss the implications
      of deviations. DESIGN: Four longitudinal datasets from the UK and one from
      Finland were used comprising over 8000 children born between 1959 and 2003.
      Weights from birth to 2 years were converted to age-sex-adjusted Z scores using
      the WHO standard and summarised using Generalized Additive Models for Location,
      Scale and Shape. RESULTS: Weights showed a variable fit to the WHO standard. Mean
      weights for all cohorts were above the WHO median at birth, but dipped by up to
      0.5 SD to a nadir at 8 weeks before rising again. Birth weights increased in
      successive cohorts and the initial dip became slightly shallower. By age 1 year,
      cohorts were up to 0.75 SD above the WHO median, but there was no consistent
      pattern by era. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO standard shows an acceptable, but variable
      fit for Northern European infants. While birth weights increased over time, there
      was, unexpectedly, no consistent variation by cohort beyond this initial period.
      Discrepancies in weight from the standard may reflect differences in measurement
      protocol and trends in infant feeding practice.

PMID- 26883080
TI  - Trace analysis of multi-class pesticide residues in Chinese medicinal health
      wines using gas chromatography with electron capture detection.
AB  - A method is described for multi-residue, high-throughput determination of trace
      levels of 22 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 5 pyrethroid pesticides (PYPs)
      in Chinese medicinal (CM) health wines using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap,
      effective, rugged, and safe) based extraction method and gas chromatography
      electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Several parameters were optimized to improve
      preparation and separation time while still maintaining high sensitivity.
      Validation tests of spiked samples showed good linearities for 27 pesticides (R =
      0.9909-0.9996) over wide concentration ranges. Limits of detection (LODs) and
      quantification (LOQs) were measured at ng/L levels, 0.06-2 ng/L and 0.2-6 ng/L
      for OCPs and 0.02-3 ng/L and 0.06-7 ng/L for PYPs, respectively. Inter- and intra
      day precision tests showed variations of 0.65-9.89% for OCPs and 0.98-13.99% for
      PYPs, respectively. Average recoveries were in the range of 47.74-120.31%, with
      relative standard deviations below 20%. The developed method was then applied to
      analyze 80 CM wine samples. Beta-BHC (Benzene hexachloride) was the most
      frequently detected pesticide at concentration levels of 5.67-31.55 mg/L,
      followed by delta-BHC, trans-chlordane, gamma-BHC, and alpha-BHC. The validated
      method is simple and economical, with adequate sensitivity for trace levels of
      multi-class pesticides. It could be adopted by laboratories for this and other
      types of complex matrices analysis.

PMID- 26883081
TI  - A novel biliary stent coated with silver nanoparticles prolongs the unobstructed
      period and survival via anti-bacterial activity.
AB  - Symptomatic biliary stricture causes life-threatening complications, such as
      jaundice, recurrent cholangitis and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Fully covered
      self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMSs) are gaining acceptance for treatments of
      benign biliary stricture and palliative management of malignant biliary
      obstructions. However, the high rate of FCSEMS obstruction limits their clinic
      use. In this study, we developed a novel biliary stent coated with silver
      nanoparticles (AgNPs) and investigated its efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. We
      first identified properties of the AgNP complex using ultraviolet detection. The
      AgNP complex was stable without AgNP agglomeration, and Ag abundance was
      correspondingly increased with an increased bilayer number. The AgNP biliary
      stent demonstrated good performance in the spin-assembly method based on
      topographic observation. The AgNP biliary stent also exhibited a long-term anti
      coagulation effect and a slow process of Ag(+) release. In vitro anti-bacteria
      experiments indicated that the AgNP biliary stent exhibited high-efficiency anti
      bacterial activity for both short- and long-term periods. Importantly,
      application of the AgNP biliary stent significantly prolonged the unobstructed
      period of the biliary system and improved survival in preclinical studies as a
      result of its anti-microbial activity and decreased granular tissue formation on
      the surface of the anastomotic biliary, providing a novel and effective treatment
      strategy for symptomatic biliary strictures. 

PMID- 26883082
TI  - HIV coreceptor tropism determination and mutational pattern identification.
AB  - In the early stages of infection, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)
      generally selects CCR5 as the primary coreceptor for entering the host cell. As
      infection progresses, the virus evolves and may exhibit a coreceptor-switch to
      CXCR4. Accurate determination coreceptor usage and identification key mutational
      patterns associated tropism switch are essential for selection of appropriate
      therapies and understanding mechanism of coreceptor change. We developed a
      classifier composed of two coreceptor-specific weight matrices (CMs) based on a
      full-scale dataset. For this classifier, we found an AUC of 0.97, an accuracy of
      95.21% and an MCC of 0.885 (sensitivity 92.92%; specificity 95.54%) in a ten-fold
      cross-validation, outperforming all other methods on an independent dataset (13%
      higher MCC value than geno2pheno and 15% higher MCC value than PSSM). A web
      server (http://spg.med.tsinghua.edu.cn/CM.html) based on our classifier was
      provided. Patterns of genetic mutations that occur along with coreceptor
      transitions were further identified based on the score of each sequence. Six
      pairs of one-AA mutational patterns and three pairs of two-AA mutational patterns
      were identified to associate with increasing propensity for X4 tropism. These
      mutational patterns offered new insights into the mechanism of coreceptor switch
      and aided in monitoring coreceptor switch. 

PMID- 26883083
TI  - Impact of Angiotensin I-converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Type-1
      Receptor Blockers on Survival of Patients with NSCLC.
AB  - It has been shown that angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and
      angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) can decrease tumor growth and
      tumor-associated angiogenesis and inhibit metastasis. Epidermal growth factor
      receptor (EGFR) mutations are found in approximately 30% of patients with
      advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in East Asia and in 10-15% of such
      patients in Western countries. We retrospectively identified 228 patients with
      histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC and 73 patients with early stage disease;
      103 of these patients took antihypertensive drugs, and 112 received treatment
      with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). There was a significant difference
      in progression-free survival after first-line therapy (PFS1) between the ACEI/ARB
      group and the non-ACEI/ARB group. For the patients treated with TKIs, there was a
      significant difference in PFS but not in overall survival (OS) between the
      ACEI/ARB group and the non-ACEI/ARB group. For the patients with advanced NSCLC,
      there was a significant difference in PFS1 between the ACEI/ARB group and the non
      ACEI/ARB group. ACEI/ARB in combination with standard chemotherapy or TKIs had a
      positive effect on PFS1 or OS, regardless of whether the lung cancer was in the
      early or advanced stage. 

PMID- 26883085
TI  - Sampling Depths, Depth Shifts, and Depth Resolutions for Bi(n)(+) Ion Analysis in
      Argon Gas Cluster Depth Profiles.
AB  - Gas cluster sputter depth profiling is increasingly used for the spatially
      resolved chemical analysis and imaging of organic materials. Here, a study is
      reported of the sampling depth in secondary ion mass spectrometry depth
      profiling. It is shown that effects of the sampling depth leads to apparent
      shifts in depth profiles of Irganox 3114 delta layers in Irganox 1010 sputtered,
      in the dual beam mode, using 5 keV Ar2000+ ions and analyzed with Bi(q+), Bi3(q+)
      and Bi5(q+) ions (q = 1 or 2) with energies between 13 and 50 keV. The profiles
      show sharp delta layers, broadened from their intrinsic 1 nm thickness to full
      widths at half-maxima (fwhm's) of 8-12 nm. For different secondary ions, the
      centroids of the measured delta layers are shifted deeper or shallower by up to 3
      nm from the position measured for the large, 564.36 Da (C33H46N3O5-)
      characteristic ion for Irganox 3114 used to define a reference position. The
      shifts are linear with the Bi(n)(q+) beam energy and are greatest for Bi3(q+),
      slightly less for Bi5(q+) with its wider or less deep craters, and significantly
      less for Bi(q+) where the sputtering yield is very low and the primary ion
      penetrates more deeply. The shifts increase the fwhm's of the delta layers in a
      manner consistent with a linearly falling generation and escape depth
      distribution function (GEDDF) for the emitted secondary ions, relevant for a
      paraboloid shaped crater. The total depth of this GEDDF is 3.7 times the delta
      layer shifts. The greatest effect is for the peaks with the greatest shifts, i.e.
      Bi3(q+) at the highest energy, and for the smaller fragments. It is recommended
      that low energies be used for the analysis beam and that carefully selected,
      large, secondary ion fragments are used for measuring depth distributions, or
      that the analysis be made in the single beam mode using the sputtering Ar cluster
      ions also for analysis.

PMID- 26883086
TI  - Plasmon Excitations of Multi-layer Graphene on a Conducting Substrate.
AB  - We predict the existence of low-frequency nonlocal plasmons at the vacuum-surface
      interface of a superlattice of N graphene layers interacting with conducting
      substrate. We derive a dispersion function that incorporates the polarization
      function of both the graphene monolayers and the semi-infinite electron liquid at
      whose surface the electrons scatter specularly. We find a surface plasmon
      polariton that is not damped by particle-hole excitations or the bulk modes and
      which separates below the continuum mini-band of bulk plasmon modes. The surface
      plasmon frequency of the hybrid structure always lies below omegas = omegap/?2,
      the surface plasmon frequency of the conducting substrate. The intensity of this
      mode depends on the distance of the graphene layers from the conductor's surface,
      the energy band gap between valence and conduction bands of graphene monolayer
      and, most importantly, on the number of two-dimensional layers. For a
      sufficiently large number of layers (N >= 7) the hybrid structure has no surface
      plasmon. The existence of plasmons with different dispersion relations indicates
      that quasiparticles with different group velocity may coexist for various ranges
      of wavelengths determined by the number of layers in the superlattice.

PMID- 26883084
TI  - ARTD1 regulates osteoclastogenesis and bone homeostasis by dampening NF-kappaB
      dependent transcription of IL-1beta.
AB  - While ADP-ribosyltransferase diphtheria toxin-like 1 (ARTD1, formerly PARP1) and
      its enzymatic activity have been shown to be important for reprogramming and
      differentiation of cells, such as during adipogenesis, their role and mechanism
      in regulating osteoclastogenesis and bone homeostasis are largely unknown. Here,
      in cell culture-based RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis models, we show that
      silencing of ARTD1 or inhibition of its enzymatic activity enhances osteoclast
      differentiation and function. As a consequence of ARTD1 silencing or inhibition,
      the recruitment of p65/RelA to the IL-1beta promoter, which is associated with
      transcriptionally active histone marks, IL-1beta expression and inflammasome
      dependent secretion of IL-1beta are enhanced. This subsequently promotes
      sustained induction of the transcription factor Nfatc1/A and osteoclastogenesis
      in an autocrine manner via the IL-1 receptor. In vivo, Artd1-deficient mice
      display significantly decreased bone mass as a consequence of increased
      osteoclast differentiation. Accordingly, the expression of osteoclast markers is
      enhanced in mutant compared to wild-type mice. Together, these results indicate
      that ARTD1 controls osteoclast development and bone remodelling via its enzymatic
      activity by modulating the epigenetic marks surrounding the IL-1beta promoter and
      expression of IL-1beta and subsequently also Nfatc1/A.

PMID- 26883087
TI  - Elimination and Concentration Correlations between Edible Tissues and Biological
      Fluids and Hair of Ractopamine in Pigs and Goats Fed with Ractopamine-Medicated
      Feed.
AB  - Ractopamine (RAC), a beta-adrenergic leanness-enhancing agent, endangers the food
      safety of animal products because of overdosing and illegal use in food animals.
      Excretion and residue depletion of RAC in pigs and goats were investigated to
      determine a representative biological fluid or surface tissue for preslaughter
      monitoring. After a single oral gavage of RAC, 64-67% of the dose was excreted
      from the urine of pigs and goats within 12-24 h. RAC persisted the longest in the
      hair of pigs and goats but depleted rapidly in the plasma, muscle, and fat. Urine
      and hair were excellent for predicting RAC residues in edible tissues of pigs,
      whereas plasma and urine were satisfactory body fluids for the prediction of RAC
      concentrations in edible tissues of goats. These data provided a simple and
      economical preslaughter living monitoring method for the illegal use and
      violative residue of RAC in food animals. 

PMID- 26883088
TI  - Cryptococcus neoformans Thermotolerance to Avian Body Temperature Is Sufficient
      For Extracellular Growth But Not Intracellular Survival In Macrophages.
AB  - Cryptococcus neoformans is a fatal fungal pathogen of humans that efficiently
      parasitises macrophages. Birds can be colonised by cryptococci and can transmit
      cryptococcosis to humans via inhalation of inoculated bird excreta. However,
      colonisation of birds appears to occur in the absence of symptomatic infection.
      Here, using a pure population of primary bird macrophages, we demonstrate a
      mechanism for this relationship. We find that bird macrophages are able to
      suppress the growth of cryptococci seen in mammalian cells despite C. neoformans
      being able to grow at bird body temperature, and are able to escape from bird
      macrophages by vomocytosis. A small subset of cryptococci are able to adapt to
      the inhibitory intracellular environment of bird macrophages, exhibiting a large
      cell phenotype that rescues growth suppression. Thus, restriction of
      intracellular growth combined with survival at bird body temperature explains the
      ability of birds to efficiently spread C. neoformans in the environment whilst
      avoiding systemic disease. 

PMID- 26883090
TI  - Comment on "Virtues and limitations of Pittsburgh green for ozone detection" by
      C. C. Beltran, E. A. Palmer, B. R. Buckley and F. Iza, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51,
      1579.
AB  - We previously developed Pittsburgh Green homoallyl ether to quantify trace ozone.
      Independently, problems were reported when the method was used for excess ozone.
      Here, we discuss the origin of the reported problems and demonstrate that when
      this method is used according to our previous report, no problems occur. 

PMID- 26883089
TI  - Effects of TRP channel agonist ingestion on metabolism and autonomic nervous
      system in a randomized clinical trial of healthy subjects.
AB  - Various lines of published evidence have already demonstrated the impact of TRPV1
      agonists on energetic metabolism through the stimulation of the sympathetic
      nervous system (SNS). This study presents a trial investigating if stimulation of
      the two related sensory receptors TRPA1 and TRPM8 could also stimulate the SNS
      and impact the energetic metabolism of healthy subjects. The trial was designed
      to be double-blinded, randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled with healthy
      subjects and the impact on the energetic metabolism and the autonomic nervous
      system (ANS) of cinnamaldehyde, capsaicin and a cooling flavor was measured
      during the 90 min after ingestion. Energy expenditure and substrate oxidation
      were measured by indirect calorimetry. An exploratory method to measure ANS
      activity was by facial thermography and power spectral analysis of heart rate
      variability using ECG was also used. Following cinnamaldehyde ingestion, energy
      expenditure was increased as compared to placebo. Furthermore, postprandial fat
      oxidation was maintained higher compared to placebo after cinnamaldehyde and
      capsaicin ingestion. Similar peripheral thermoregulation was observed after
      capsaicin and cinnamaldehyde ingestion. Unlike capsaicin, the dose of
      cinnamaldehyde was not judged to be sensorially 'too intense' by participants
      suggesting that Cinnamaldehyde would be a more tolerable solution to improve
      thermogenesis via spicy ingredients as compared to capsaicin.

PMID- 26883091
TI  - Heritability of non-speech auditory processing skills.
AB  - Recent insight into the genetic bases for autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia,
      stuttering, and language disorders suggest that neurogenetic approaches may also
      reveal at least one etiology of auditory processing disorder (APD). A person with
      an APD typically has difficulty understanding speech in background noise despite
      having normal pure-tone hearing sensitivity. The estimated prevalence of APD may
      be as high as 10% in the pediatric population, yet the causes are unknown and
      have not been explored by molecular or genetic approaches. The aim of our study
      was to determine the heritability of frequency and temporal resolution for
      auditory signals and speech recognition in noise in 96 identical or fraternal
      twin pairs, aged 6-11 years. Measures of auditory processing (AP) of non-speech
      sounds included backward masking (temporal resolution), notched noise masking
      (spectral resolution), pure-tone frequency discrimination (temporal fine
      structure sensitivity), and nonsense syllable recognition in noise. We provide
      evidence of significant heritability, ranging from 0.32 to 0.74, for individual
      measures of these non-speech-based AP skills that are crucial for understanding
      spoken language. Identification of specific heritable AP traits such as these
      serve as a basis to pursue the genetic underpinnings of APD by identifying
      genetic variants associated with common AP disorders in children and adults.

PMID- 26883094
TI  - Role of dose exposure and inflammatory status in a single center, real-world
      analysis of sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - AIM, PATIENTS & METHODS: To evaluate the real-world setting use of sunitinib, we
      reviewed data of our patients from January 2007 to December 2014. RESULTS: In 114
      patients, sunitinib was used as first-line TKI. Out of 110 evaluable patients, 5
      complete responses, 37 partial responses, 42 stabilizations were reported. Median
      progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 14.3 and 28.4 months.
      Patients who received >= 4 full-dose cycles had a better OS (p = 0.02). A
      neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio <3 was associated both with OS and progression-free
      survival (50.4 vs 8.4 and 20.0 vs 3.3 months). CONCLUSION: Sunitinib is active
      and feasible. Patients receiving <4 full-dose cycles or having increased
      neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio achieved worse outcomes: therefore, these are present
      potential predictive factors.

PMID- 26883092
TI  - A family-based, genome-wide association study of young-onset breast cancer:
      inherited variants and maternally mediated effects.
AB  - Young-onset breast cancer shows certain phenotypic and etiologic differences from
      older-onset breast cancer and may be influenced by some distinct genetic
      variants. Few genetic studies of breast cancer have targeted young women and no
      studies have examined whether maternal variants influence disease in their adult
      daughters through prenatal effects. We conducted a family-based, genome-wide
      association study of young-onset breast cancer (age at diagnosis <50 years). A
      total of 602 188 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for 1279
      non-Hispanic white cases and their parents or sisters. We used likelihood-based
      log-linear models to test for transmission asymmetry within families and for
      maternally mediated genetic effects. Three autosomal SNPs (rs28373882, P=2.8 *
      10(-7); rs879162, P=9.2 * 10(-7); rs12606061, P=9.1 * 10(-7)) were associated
      with risk of young-onset breast cancer at a false-discovery rate below 0.20. None
      of these loci has been previously linked with young-onset or overall breast
      cancer risk, and their functional roles are unknown. There was no evidence of
      maternally mediated, X-linked, or mitochondrial genetic effects, and no notable
      findings within cancer subcategories defined by menopausal status, estrogen
      receptor status, or by tumor invasiveness. Further investigations are needed to
      explore other potential genetic, epigenetic, or epistatic mechanisms and to
      confirm the association between these three novel loci and young-onset breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26883093
TI  - Congenital protein losing enteropathy: an inborn error of lipid metabolism due to
      DGAT1 mutations.
AB  - Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a clinical disorder of protein loss from the
      gastrointestinal system that results in hypoproteinemia and malnutrition. This
      condition is associated with a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders.
      Recently, a unique syndrome of congenital PLE associated with biallelic mutations
      in the DGAT1 gene has been reported in a single family. We hypothesize that
      mutations in this gene are responsible for undiagnosed cases of PLE in infancy.
      Here we investigated three children in two families presenting with severe
      diarrhea, hypoalbuminemia and PLE, using clinical studies, homozygosity mapping,
      and exome sequencing. In one family, homozygosity mapping using SNP arrays
      revealed the DGAT1 gene as the best candidate gene for the proband. Sequencing of
      all the exons including flanking regions and promoter regions of the gene
      identified a novel homozygous missense variant, p.(Leu295Pro), in the highly
      conserved membrane-bound O-acyl transferase (MBOAT) domain of the DGAT1 protein.
      Expression studies verified reduced amounts of DGAT1 in patient fibroblasts. In a
      second family, exome sequencing identified a previously reported splice site
      mutation in intron 8. These cases of DGAT1 deficiency extend the molecular and
      phenotypic spectrum of PLE, suggesting a re-evaluation of the use of DGAT1
      inhibitors for metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes.

PMID- 26883095
TI  - DNA methylation-induced E-cadherin silencing is correlated with the
      clinicopathological features of melanoma.
AB  - E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, has an important
      role in epithelial cell function, maintenance of tissue architecture and cancer
      suppression. Loss of E-cadherin promotes tumor metastatic dissemination and
      predicts poor prognosis. The present study investigated the clinicopathological
      significance of E-cadherin expression in cutaneous, mucosal and uveal melanoma
      related to epigenetic mechanisms that may contribute to E-cadherin silencing. E
      cadherin expression was reduced in 55/130 cutaneous (42.3%), 49/82 mucosal
      (59.7%) and 36/64 uveal (56.2%) melanoma samples as compared to normal skin
      controls and was inversely associated with promoter methylation. Of the 10
      different CpG sites studied (nt 863, 865, 873, 879, 887, 892, 901, 918, 920 and
      940), two sites (nt 892 and 940) were 90-100% methylated in all the melanoma
      specimens examined and the other ones were partially methylated (range, 53-86%).
      In contrast, the methylation rate of the E-cadherin gene was low in normal
      tissues (range, 5-24%). In all the three types of melanoma studied, a significant
      correlation was found between reduced levels of E-cadherin and reduced survival,
      high mitotic index and metastasis, accounting for the predilection of lymph nodal
      localization. In cutaneous and mucosal melanoma, low E-cadherin expression was
      positively correlated also with head/neck localization and ulceration. A high
      frequency of reduced E-cadherin levels occurred in choroid melanomas. In vitro
      experiments showed that E-cadherin transcription was restored following 5-aza-2'
      deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment or DNMT1 silencing and was negatively
      correlated with the invasive potential of melanoma cells. The significant
      relationship between E-cadherin silencing and several poor prognostic factors
      indicates that this adhesion molecule may play an important role in
      melanomagenesis. Therefore, the inverse association of E-cadherin expression with
      promoter methylation raises the intriguing possibility that reactivation of E
      cadherin expression through promoter demethylation may represent a potential
      therapeutic strategy for the treatment of melanoma.

PMID- 26883097
TI  - A three-dimensional integrated nanogenerator for effectively harvesting sound
      energy from the environment.
AB  - An integrated triboelectric nanogenerator (ITNG) with a three-dimensional
      structure benefiting sound propagation and adsorption is demonstrated to more
      effectively harvest sound energy with improved output performance. With different
      multifunctional integrated layers working harmonically, it could generate a short
      circuit current up to 2.1 mA, an open-circuit voltage up to 232 V and the maximum
      charging rate can reach 453 MUC s(-1) for a 1 mF capacitor, which are 4.6 times,
      2.6 times and 7.4 times the highest reported values, respectively. Further study
      shows that the ITNG works well under sound in a wide range of sound intensity
      levels (SILs) and frequencies, and its output is sensitive to the SIL and
      frequency of the sound, which reveals that the ITNG can act as a self-powered
      active sensor for real-time noise surveillance and health care. Moreover, this
      generator can be used to directly power the Fe(OH)3 sol electrophoresis and shows
      great potential as a wireless power supply in the electrochemical industry. 

PMID- 26883096
TI  - Psychological reactance and HIV-related stigma among women living with HIV.
AB  - Psychological reactance is defined as the drive to re-establish autonomy after it
      has been threatened or constrained. People living with HIV may have high levels
      of psychological reactance due to the restrictions that they may perceive as a
      result of living with HIV. People living with HIV may also exhibit levels of HIV
      related stigma. The relationship between psychological reactance and HIV-related
      stigma is complex yet understudied. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to
      examine the association between psychological reactance and HIV-related stigma
      among women living with HIV. Data were obtained from one time-point (a cross
      sectional assessment) of a longitudinal HIV disclosure study. Psychological
      reactance was measured using the 18-item Questionnaire for the Measurement of
      Psychological Reactance. HIV-related stigma was measured using the HIV Stigma
      Scale, which has four domains: personalized, disclosure concerns, negative self
      image, and concerns with public attitudes. Principal component analysis was used
      to derive components of psychological reactance. Linear regression models were
      used to determine the association between overall psychological reactance and its
      components, and stigma and its four domains, and depressive and anxiety symptoms.
      The associations between stigma and mental health were also examined. Three
      components of psychological reactance were derived: Opposition, Irritability, and
      Independence. Overall psychological reactance and irritability were associated
      with all forms of stigma. Opposition was linked to overall and negative self
      image stigma. Overall psychological reactance, opposition, and irritability were
      positively associated with anxiety symptoms while opposition was also associated
      with Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression depressive symptoms. There were
      also positive associations between all forms of stigma, and depressive and
      anxiety symptoms. Health-care providers and counselors for women living with HIV
      addressing feelings of irritability and opposition toward others may reduce HIV
      related stigma. Future research should examine the link between psychological
      reactance, mental health, and HIV-related stigma among other populations living
      with HIV. 

PMID- 26883098
TI  - The PQRS-Montreal: a measure of patients' perceptions of the quality of
      rehabilitation services for persons with a traumatic brain injury.
AB  - Purpose To determine the factorial validity, internal consistency, criterion
      related and concurrent validity of the Perception of Quality of Rehabilitation
      Services - Montreal (PQRS-Montreal) questionnaire for persons receiving traumatic
      brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation services. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting
      Seventeen facilities providing acute care and intensive inpatient and outpatient
      TBI adult rehabilitation. Participants Five-hundred thirty adults (GCS  =  3-15;
      mean age  =  41.5 +/- 16.9 years) who received rehabilitation were administered
      the questionnaire during an interview near time of discharge. Subjects responded
      to the 61 PQRS-Montreal items (five-point scale of agreement) and to the Client
      Satisfaction Question (CSQ8). Results Exploratory and confirmatory factor
      analyses identified three potential subscales (one- and two-factor solutions)
      explaining 26.1-41% of the variance (ecological approach, quality of team,
      service organization). The subscales' internal structures were interpretable and
      their internal consistency varied from 0.51 to 0.90 (Cronbach's alpha).
      Rehabilitation phase significantly and positively impacted factor scores and all
      factor scores were significantly and moderately correlated with CSQ8 scores.
      Conclusions The PQRS-Montreal possesses adequate psychometric properties
      supporting its use as a valid tool to measure patients' perception of the quality
      of TBI rehabilitation services. This tool could help guide the development and
      monitoring of TBI rehabilitation service delivery. Implications for
      Rehabilitation The importance of measuring and monitoring quality of care is
      increasingly important in rehabilitation. Using the experiences and perceptions
      of care of service users is a valid way of assessing the quality of
      rehabilitation services. The PQRS-Montreal has adequate psychometric properties
      supporting its use as a valid tool to measure patients' perception of the quality
      of TBI rehabilitation services. This tool could help guide the development and
      monitoring of TBI rehabilitation service delivery.

PMID- 26883099
TI  - Digestion and absorption of an egg white ACE-inhibitory peptide in human
      intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate the digestion and absorption of
      egg white-derived angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide TNGIIR
      in human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers. Results showed that the digestion of
      TNGIIR to simulated gastrointestinal enzymes and brush border membrane peptidases
      were 5.87% +/- 1.92% and 17.17% +/- 0.64%, respectively (p < 0.05). The apparent
      permeability coefficients (P(app)) of TNGIIR from the apical to basolateral side
      in Caco-2 cell monolayers was determined to be (4.92 +/- 0.40) * 10(-6) cm/s,
      indicating that TNGIIR can transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers in intact
      form. In addition, only cytochalasin D, a disruptor of tight junctions (TJs),
      changed TNGIIR transport rate significantly (p < 0.05), suggesting that the main
      transport route for TNGIIR across Caco-2 cell monolayers was paracellular pathway
      via TJs.

PMID- 26883100
TI  - Impact of cytomegalovirus reactivation on relapse and survival in patients with
      acute leukemia who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in
      first remission.
AB  - Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-reactivation is associated with graft-vs-leukemia (GVL)
      effect by stimulating natural-killer or T-cells, which showed leukemia relapse
      prevention after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We enrolled
      patients with acute myeloid leukemia (n = 197) and acute lymphoid leukemia (n =
      192) who underwent allogeneic-HSCT in first remission. We measured RQ-PCR weekly
      to detect CMV-reactivation and preemptively used ganciclovir (GCV) when the titer
      increased twice consecutively, but GCV was sometimes delayed in patients without
      significant graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) by reducing immunosuppressive agents. In
      the entire group, CMV-reactivation showed poor overall survival (OS). To evaluate
      subsequent effects of CMV-reactivation, we excluded early relapse and deaths
      within 100 days, during which most of the CMV-reactivation occurred. Untreated
      CMV-reactivated group (n = 173) showed superior OS (83.8% vs. 61.7% vs. 74.0%, p
      < 0.001) with lower relapse rate (10.1% vs 22.1% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.004) compared
      to GCV-treated CMV-reactivated group (n = 122) and CMV-undetected group (n = 42).
      After excluding chronic GVHD, untreated CMV-reactivated group still showed lower
      relapse rate (9.4% vs. 24.1% vs. 30.2%, p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis showed
      adverse-risk karyotype and patients in other than untreated CMV-reactivated group
      were independent factors for relapse prediction. Our data showed possible GVL
      effect of CMV-reactivation and minimizing antiviral therapy may benefit for
      relapse prevention in acute leukemia. 

PMID- 26883101
TI  - Synergic interaction between amyloid precursor protein and neural cell adhesion
      molecule promotes neurite outgrowth.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases
      worldwide. The main features of AD are the pathological changes of density and
      distribution of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and extracellular
      amyloid plaques. The processing of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) to beta
      amyloid peptide (Abeta) is one of the critical events in the pathogenesis of AD.
      In this study, we evaluated the role of the interaction of neural cell adhesion
      molecule (NCAM) and APP in neurite outgrowth using two different experimental
      systems: PC12E2 cells and hippocampal neurons that were isolated from wild type,
      APP knock-in and APP knock-out mice. PC12E2 cells or hippocampal neurons were co
      cultured with NCAM-negative or NCAM-positive fibroblasts L929 cells. We found
      that APP promoted neurite outgrowth of PC12E2 cells and hippocampal neurons in
      either the presence or absence of NCAM. Secreted APP can rescue the neurite
      outgrowth in hippocampal neurons from APP knock-out mice. The interaction of APP
      and NCAM had synergic effect in promoting neurite outgrowth in both PC12E2 cells
      and hippocampal neurons. Our results suggested that the interaction of APP with
      NCAM played an important role in AD development and therefore could be a
      potential therapeutic target for AD treatment. 

PMID- 26883102
TI  - Myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q demonstrate a high frequency of
      mutations in SETBP1, SRSF2, ASXL1 and NRAS.
AB  - Isolated isochromosome 17q, i(17q), accounts for less than 1% of myeloid
      neoplasms that are commonly classified as myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative
      neoplasms, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or
      myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). We have shown previously that these cases
      have distinctive clinicopathologic features, a poor prognosis and absence of TP53
      mutations. However, their molecular mutation profile has not been studied. Here,
      we explored the mutation profile of 32 cases of myeloid neoplasm with isolated
      i(17q) that included AML, MDS/MPN, MDS and MPN. In addition to the common i(17q),
      these neoplasms had frequent mutations in SRSF2 (55%), SETBP1 (59%), ASXL1 (55%),
      and NRAS (31%); TET2 and TP53 mutations were rare. Eight of 28 patients (29%)
      showed concurrent mutations in ASXL1, SRSF2, SETBP1 and RAS. There was a
      significant association between mutations in SETBP1 and RAS (p = 0.003). The
      mutation pattern was independent of the morphologic diagnosis. Sequential
      analysis of 5 cases showed evolution from a diploid karyotype to i(17q) and that
      SRSF2 and ASXL1 mutations precede the detection of i(17q) whereas SETBP1
      mutations are associated with i(17q). 

PMID- 26883103
TI  - Withaferin-A suppress AKT induced tumor growth in colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - The oncogenic activation of AKT gene has emerged as a key determinant of the
      aggressiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC); hence, research has focused on
      targeting AKT signaling for the treatment of advanced stages of CRC. In this
      study, we explored the anti-tumorigenic effects of withaferin A (WA) on CRC cells
      overexpressing AKT in preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) models. Our results
      indicated that WA, a natural compound, resulted in significant inhibition of AKT
      activity and led to the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and invasion
      by downregulating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in CRC
      cells overexpressing AKT. The oral administration of WA significantly suppressed
      AKT-induced aggressive tumor growth in a xenograft model. Molecular analysis
      revealed that the decreased expression of AKT and its downstream pro-survival
      signaling molecules may be responsible for tumor inhibition. Further, significant
      inhibition of some important EMT markers, i.e., Snail, Slug, beta-catenin and
      vimentin, was observed in WA-treated human CRC cells overexpressing AKT.
      Significant inhibition of micro-vessel formation and the length of vessels were
      evident in WA-treated tumors, which correlated with a low expression of the
      angiogenic marker RETIC. In conclusion, the present study emphasizes the crucial
      role of AKT activation in inducing cell proliferation, angiogenesis and EMT in
      CRC cells and suggests that WA may overcome AKT-induced cell proliferation and
      tumor growth in CRC. 

PMID- 26883104
TI  - Prognostic and therapeutic role of targetable lesions in B-lineage acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia without recurrent fusion genes.
AB  - To shed light into the molecular bases of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      lacking known fusion transcripts, i.e. BCR-ABL1, ETV6-RUNX1, E2A-PBX1, and MLL
      rearrangements (B-NEG ALL) and the differences between children,
      adolescents/young adults (AYA) and adults, we analyzed 168 B-NEG ALLs by genome
      wide technologies. This approach showed that B-NEG cases carry 10.5 mutations and
      9.1 copy-number aberrations/sample. The most frequently mutated druggable
      pathways were those pertaining to RAS/RTK (26.8%) and JAK/STAT (12.5%) signaling.
      In particular, FLT3 and JAK/STAT mutations were detected mainly in AYA and
      adults, while KRAS and NRAS mutations were more frequent in children. RAS/RTK
      mutations negatively affected the outcome of AYA and adults, but not that of
      children. Furthermore, adult B-NEG ALL carrying JAK/STAT mutations had a shorter
      survival. In vitro experiments showed that FLT3 inhibitors reduced significantly
      the proliferation of FLT3-mutated primary B-NEG ALL cells. Likewise, PI3K/mTOR
      inhibitors reduced the proliferation of primary cells harboring RAS and IL7R
      mutations. These results refine the genetic landscape of B-NEG ALL and suggest
      that the different distribution of lesions and their prognostic impact might
      sustain the diverse outcome between children, adults and partly AYA - whose
      genomic scenario is similar to adults - and open the way to targeted therapeutic
      strategies. 

PMID- 26883105
TI  - An alternatively spliced variant of CXCR3 mediates the metastasis of CD133+ liver
      cancer cells induced by CXCL9.
AB  - Metastasis of liver cancer is closely linked to tumor microenvironment, in which
      chemokines and their receptors act in an important role. The CXCR3, the receptor
      of chemokine CXCL9, belongs to a superfamily of rhodopsin-like seven
      transmembrane GPCRs and CXCR subfamily. In HCC tissues, CXCR3 was frequently
      upregulated and correlated with tumor size, tumor differentiation, portal
      invasion and metastasis. In the study, CXCR3-A isoform that was bound by CXCL9
      was found to cause significant change of ERK1/2 phosphorylation level in the MAPK
      signaling pathway, consequently upregulating the MMP2 and MMP9 expression and
      promoting invasion and metastasis of CD133+ liver cancer cells. Also, CXCR3-A
      suppressed the adhesion ability of CD133+ liver cancer cells that stimulated by
      CXCL9 for 24h. These findings suggest that CXCR3 and its ligand CXCL9 could
      promote the metastasis of liver cancer cells and might be a potential target for
      the intervention of liver cancer metastasis. 

PMID- 26883106
TI  - Cross-platform comparison of independent datasets identifies an immune signature
      associated with improved survival in metastatic melanoma.
AB  - Platform and study differences in prognostic signatures from metastatic melanoma
      (MM) gene expression reports often hinder consensus arrival. We performed
      survival/outcome-based pairwise comparisons of three independent MM gene
      expression profiles using the threshold-free algorithm rank-rank hypergeometric
      overlap analysis (RRHO). We found statistically significant overlap for genes
      overexpressed in favorable outcome (FO) groups, but no overlap for poor outcome
      (PO) groups. This "favorable outcome signature" (FOS) of 228 genes coinciding on
      all three overlapping gene lists showed immune function predominated in FO MM.
      Surprisingly, specific cell signature-enrichment analysis showed B cell
      associated genes enriched in FO MM, along with T cell-associated genes. Higher
      levels of B and T cells (p<0.05) and their relative proximity (p<0.05) were
      detected in FO-to-PO tumor comparisons from an independent MM patients cohort.
      Finally, expression of FOS in two independent Stage III MM tumor datasets
      correctly predicted clinical outcome in 12/14 and 44/70 patients using a weighted
      gene voting classifier (area under the curve values 0.96 and 0.75, respectively).
      This RRHO-based, cross-study analysis emphasizes the RRHO approach power,
      confirms T cells relevance for prolonged MM survival, supports a favorable role
      for B cells in anti-melanoma immunity, and suggests B cells potential as means of
      intervention in melanoma treatment. 

PMID- 26883107
TI  - Porcine circovirus type 2 activates PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK pathways to promote
      interleukin-10 production in macrophages via Cap interaction of gC1qR.
AB  - Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection caused PCV2-associated diseases
      (PCVAD) is one of the major emerging immunosuppression diseases in pig industry.
      In this study, we investigated how PCV2 inoculation increases interleukin (IL)-10
      expression in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). PCV2 inoculation significantly
      upregulated IL-10 expression compared with PCV1. Upon initial PCV2 inoculation,
      PI3K/Akt cooperated with NF-kappaB pathways to promote IL-10 transcription via
      p50, CREB and Ap1 transcription factors, whereas inhibition of PI3K/Akt
      activation blocked Ap1 and CREB binding to the il10 promoter, and decreased the
      binding level of NF-kappaB1 p50 with il10 promoter, leading to great reduction in
      early IL-10 transcription. In the later phase of inoculation, PCV2 further
      activated p38 MAPK and ERK pathways to enhance IL-10 production by promoting Sp1
      binding to the il10 promoter. For PCV2-induced IL-10 production in macrophages,
      PCV2 capsid protein Cap, but not the replicase Rep or ORF3, was the critical
      component. Cap activated PI3K/Akt, p38 MAPK, and ERK signaling pathways to
      enhance IL-10 expression. In the whole process, gC1qR mediated PCV2-induced
      PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK activation to enhance IL-10 induction by interaction with
      Cap. Depletion of gC1qR blocked PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK activation, resulting in
      significant decrease in IL-10 production in PCV2-inoculated cells. Thus, gC1qR
      might be a critical functional receptor for PCV2-induced IL-10 production. Taken
      together, these data demonstrated that Cap protein binding with host gC1qR
      induction of PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK signalings activation is a critical process in
      enhancing PCV2-induced IL-10 production in porcine alveolar macrophages. 

PMID- 26883109
TI  - Antibody h-R3-dendrimer mediated siRNA has excellent endosomal escape and tumor
      targeted delivery ability, and represents efficient siPLK1 silencing and
      inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and invasion.
AB  - The major obstacle to developing siRNA delivery is their extracellular and
      intracellular barriers. Herein, a humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody h-R3
      was developed to modify the self-assembled binary complexes (dendriplexes) of
      PAMAM and siRNA via electrostatic interactions, and two common ligands HSA and
      EGF were used as a control. Compared to dendriplexes, h-R3/EGF/HSA-dendriplexes
      showed increased particle size, decreased zeta potentials and lower cytotoxicity.
      Moreover, h-R3-dendriplexes presented greater cellular uptake and excellent
      endosomal escape ability in HepG2 cells. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging revealed
      that h-R3-dendriplexes showed higher targeted delivery and gene expression in the
      tumors than dendriplexes, HSA-dendriplexes and EGF-dendriplexes, which was in
      agreement with confocal results of cryosections. Furthermore, h-R3-dendriplexes
      for siPLK1 delivery indicated efficient gene silencing, potentiated cell growth
      inhibition and cell apoptosis, and suppressed cellular migration/invasion. These
      results indicate that h-R3-dendriplexes represent a great potential to be used as
      efficient targeted siRNA delivery carriers. 

PMID- 26883108
TI  - Inhibition of WIP1 phosphatase sensitizes breast cancer cells to genotoxic stress
      and to MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3.
AB  - PP2C family serine/threonine phosphatase WIP1 acts as a negative regulator of the
      tumor suppressor p53 and is implicated in silencing of cellular responses to
      genotoxic stress. Chromosomal locus 17q23 carrying the PPM1D (coding for WIP1) is
      commonly amplified in breast carcinomas and WIP1 was proposed as potential
      pharmacological target. Here we employed a cellular model with knocked out PPM1D
      to validate the specificity and efficiency of GSK2830371, novel small molecule
      inhibitor of WIP1. We have found that GSK2830371 increased activation of the DNA
      damage response pathway to a comparable level as the loss of PPM1D. In addition,
      GSK2830371 did not affect proliferation of cells lacking PPM1D but significantly
      supressed proliferation of breast cancer cells with amplified PPM1D. Over time
      cells treated with GSK2830371 accumulated in G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle
      in a p21-dependent manner and were prone to induction of senescence by a low dose
      of MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3. In addition, combined treatment with GSK2830371 and
      doxorubicin or nutlin-3 potentiated cell death through a strong induction of p53
      pathway and activation of caspase 9. We conclude that efficient inhibition of
      WIP1 by GSK2830371 sensitizes breast cancer cells with amplified PPM1D and wild
      type p53 to chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26883111
TI  - Targeting endothelial connexin40 inhibits tumor growth by reducing angiogenesis
      and improving vessel perfusion.
AB  - Endothelial connexin40 (Cx40) contributes to regulate the structure and function
      of vessels. We have examined whether the protein also modulates the altered
      growth of vessels in tumor models established in control mice (WT), mice lacking
      Cx40 (Cx40-/-), and mice expressing the protein solely in endothelial cells (Tie2
      Cx40). Tumoral angiogenesis and growth were reduced, whereas vessel perfusion,
      smooth muscle cell (SMC) coverage and animal survival were increased in Cx40-/-
      but not Tie2-Cx40 mice, revealing a critical involvement of endothelial Cx40 in
      transformed tissues independently of the hypertensive status of Cx40-/- mice. As
      a result, Cx40-/- mice bearing tumors survived significantly longer than
      corresponding controls, including after a cytotoxic administration. Comparable
      observations were made in WT mice injected with a peptide targeting Cx40,
      supporting the Cx40 involvement. This involvement was further confirmed in the
      absence of Cx40 or by peptide-inhibition of this connexin in aorta-sprouting,
      matrigel plug and SMC migration assays, and associated with a decreased
      expression of the phosphorylated form of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The
      data identify Cx40 as a potential novel target in cancer treatment. 

PMID- 26883110
TI  - Inhibition of the p53/hDM2 protein-protein interaction by cyclometallated
      iridium(III) compounds.
AB  - Inactivation of the p53 transcription factor by mutation or other mechanisms is a
      frequent event in tumorigenesis. One of the major endogenous negative regulators
      of p53 in humans is hDM2, a ubiquitin E3 ligase that binds to p53 causing
      proteasomal p53 degradation. In this work, a library of organometallic
      iridium(III) compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to
      disrupt the p53/hDM2 protein-protein interaction. The novel cyclometallated
      iridium(III) compound 1 [Ir(eppy)2(dcphen)](PF6) (where eppy = 2-(4
      ethylphenyl)pyridine and dcphen = 4, 7-dichloro-1, 10-phenanthroline) blocked the
      interaction of p53/hDM2 in human amelanotic melanoma cells. Finally, 1 exhibited
      anti-proliferative activity and induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines consistent
      with inhibition of the p53/hDM2 interaction. Compound 1 represents the first
      reported organometallic p53/hDM2 protein-protein interaction inhibitor. 

PMID- 26883112
TI  - Involvement of calprotectin (S100A8/A9) in molecular pathways associated with
      HNSCC.
AB  - Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a heterodimeric protein complex of calcium-binding
      proteins S100A8 and S100A9, plays key roles in cell cycle regulation and
      inflammation, with potential functions in squamous cell differentiation. While
      upregulated in many cancers, S100A8/A9 is downregulated in squamous cell
      carcinomas of the cervix, esophagus, and the head and neck (HNSCC). We previously
      reported that ectopic S100A8/A9 expression inhibits cell cycle progression in
      carcinoma cells. Here, we show that declining expression of S100A8/A9 in patients
      with HNSCC is associated with increased DNA methylation, less differentiated
      tumors, and reduced overall survival. Upon ectopic over-expression of S100A8/A9,
      the cancer phenotype of S100A8/A9-negative carcinoma cells was suppressed in
      vitro and tumor growth in vivo was significantly decreased. MMP1, INHBA, FST,
      LAMC2, CCL3, SULF1, and SLC16A1 were significantly upregulated in HNSCC but were
      downregulated by S100A8/A9 expression. Our findings strongly suggest that
      downregulation of S100A8/A9 through epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to
      increased proliferation, malignant transformation, and disease progression in
      HNSCC. 

PMID- 26883113
TI  - Distinct features between MLH1-methylated and unmethylated colorectal carcinomas
      with the CpG island methylator phenotype: implications in the serrated neoplasia
      pathway.
AB  - The presence or absence of MLH1 methylation may critically affect the
      heterogeneity of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with the CpG island methylator
      phenotype (CIMP). Here, we investigated the differential characteristics of CIMP
      high (CIMP-H) CRCs according to MLH1 methylation status. To further confirm the
      MLH1-dependent features in CIMP-H CRC, an independent analysis was performed
      using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In our CIMP-H CRC samples, MLH1
      methylated tumors were characterized by older patient age, proximal colonic
      location, mucinous histology, intense lymphoid reactions, RUNX3/SOCS1 promoter
      methylation, BRAF mutations, and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status.
      By contrast, MLH1-unmethylated tumors were associated with earlier age of onset,
      increased distal colorectal localization, adverse pathologic features, and KRAS
      mutations. In the TCGA dataset, the MLH1-silenced CIMP-H CRC demonstrated
      proximal location, MSI-H status, hypermutated phenotype, and frequent BRAF
      mutations, but the MLH1-non-silenced CIMP-H CRC was significantly associated with
      high frequencies of KRAS and APC mutations. In conclusion, the differential
      nature of CIMP-H CRCs depends primarily on the MLH1 methylation status. Based on
      the current knowledge, the sessile serrated adenoma/polyp may be the major
      precursor of MLH1-methylated CIMP-H CRCs, whereas MLH1-unmethylated CIMP-H CRCs
      may develop predominantly from KRAS-mutated traditional serrated adenomas and
      less commonly from BRAF-mutated traditional serrated adenomas and/or sessile
      serrated adenomas/polyps. 

PMID- 26883114
TI  - NAB2-STAT6 Gene Fusion in Meningeal Hemangiopericytoma and Solitary Fibrous
      Tumor.
AB  - Meningeal solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and hemangiopericytoma (HPC) are
      considered to be distinct entities in the WHO Classification of CNS Tumours
      (2007). They harbor NAB2-STAT6 fusions similar to their soft tissue counterparts,
      supporting the view that they are part of a tumor continuum. We examined 30
      meningeal-based tumors originally diagnosed as either SFT or HPC. These showed a
      spectrum of morphologic features and were diagnosed as SFTs, malignant SFTs,
      HPCs, or tumors with "intermediate" features. All of the tumors showed nuclear
      expression of STAT6. SFTs consistently expressed diffuse CD34, while HPCs and
      intermediate tumors had heterogeneous staining. NAB2-STAT6 fusions were
      identified in 20 cases, including 7 with exon 4-exon 3, 9 with exon 6-exon 17,
      and 4 with exon 6-exon 18 fusions. NAB2 exon 4-STAT6 exon 3 fusion correlated
      with classic SFT morphology and older age and showed a trend toward less mitotic
      activity; there was also a trend toward more aggressive behavior in tumors
      lacking NAB2 exon 4-STAT6 exon 3. Thus, despite their clinical and morphologic
      differences, meningeal-based SFTs, HPCs, and tumors with intermediate features,
      similar to their soft tissue counterparts, form a histopathologic spectrum
      unified by STAT6 immunoexpression and NAB2-STAT6 fusion. 

PMID- 26883115
TI  - Assessment of Quantitative and Allelic MGMT Methylation Patterns as a Prognostic
      Marker in Glioblastoma.
AB  - Methylation of the O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene is a
      predictive and prognostic marker in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients treated
      with temozolomide but how MGMT methylation should be assessed to ensure optimal
      detection accuracy is debated. We developed a novel quantitative methylation
      specific PCR (qMSP) MGMT assay capable of providing allelic methylation data and
      analyzed 151 glioblastomas from patients receiving standard of care treatment
      (Stupp protocol). The samples were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC),
      standard bisulfite pyrosequencing, and genotyped for the rs1690252 MGMT promoter
      single nucleotide polymorphism. Monoallelic methylation was observed more
      frequently than biallelic methylation, and some cases with monoallelic
      methylation expressed the MGMT protein whereas others did not. The presence of
      MGMT methylation was associated with better overall survival (p = 0.006; qMSP and
      p = 0.002; standard pyrosequencing), and the presence of the protein was
      associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.009). Combined analyses of qMSP and
      standard pyrosequencing or IHC identified additional patients who benefited from
      temozolomide treatment. Finally, low methylation levels were also associated with
      better overall survival (p = 0.061; qMSP and p = 0.02; standard pyrosequencing).
      These data support the use of both MGMT methylation and MGMT IHC but not allelic
      methylation data as prognostic markers in patients with temozolomide-treated
      glioblastoma.

PMID- 26883116
TI  - Widespread RNA binding by chromatin-associated proteins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that RNA interaction can regulate the
      activity and localization of chromatin-associated proteins. However, it is
      unknown if these observations are specialized instances for a few key RNAs and
      chromatin factors in specific contexts, or a general mechanism underlying the
      establishment of chromatin state and regulation of gene expression. RESULTS:
      Here, we perform formaldehyde RNA immunoprecipitation (fRIP-Seq) to survey the
      RNA associated with a panel of 24 chromatin regulators and traditional RNA
      binding proteins. For each protein that reproducibly bound measurable quantities
      of bulk RNA (90% of the panel), we detect enrichment for hundreds to thousands of
      both noncoding and mRNA transcripts. CONCLUSION: For each protein, we find that
      the enriched sets of RNAs share distinct biochemical, functional, and chromatin
      properties. Thus, these data provide evidence for widespread specific and
      relevant RNA association across diverse classes of chromatin-modifying complexes.

PMID- 26883117
TI  - MB3W1 is an orthotopic xenograft model for anaplastic medulloblastoma displaying
      cancer stem cell- and Group 3-properties.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children
      and can be divided in different molecular subgroups. Patients whose tumor is
      classified as a Group 3 tumor have a dismal prognosis. However only very few
      tumor models are available for this subgroup. METHODS: We established a robust
      orthotopic xenograft model with a cell line derived from the malignant pleural
      effusions of a child suffering from a Group 3 medulloblastoma. RESULTS: Besides
      classical characteristics of this tumor subgroup, the cells display cancer stem
      cell characteristics including neurosphere formation, multilineage
      differentiation, CD133/CD15 expression, high ALDH-activity and high
      tumorigenicity in immunocompromised mice with xenografts exactly recapitulating
      the original tumor architecture. CONCLUSIONS: This model using unmanipulated,
      human medulloblastoma cells will enable translational research, specifically
      focused on Group 3 medulloblastoma.

PMID- 26883118
TI  - Evaluating a complex model designed to increase access to high quality primary
      mental health care for under-served groups: a multi-method study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many people with mental distress are disadvantaged because care is
      not available or does not address their needs. In order to increase access to
      high quality primary mental health care for under-served groups, we created a
      model of care with three discrete elements: community engagement, primary care
      training and tailored wellbeing interventions. We have previously demonstrated
      the individual impact of each element of the model. Here we assess the
      effectiveness of the combined model in increasing access to and improving the
      quality of primary mental health care. We test the assumptions that access to the
      wellbeing interventions is increased by the presence of community engagement and
      primary care training; and that quality of primary mental health care is
      increased by the presence of community engagement and the wellbeing
      interventions. METHODS: We implemented the model in four under-served localities
      in North-West England, focusing on older people and minority ethnic populations.
      Using a quasi-experimental design with no-intervention comparators, we gathered a
      combination of quantitative and qualitative information. Quantitative
      information, including referral and recruitment rates for the wellbeing
      interventions, and practice referrals to mental health services, was analysed
      descriptively. Qualitative information derived from interview and focus group
      responses to topic guides from more than 110 participants. Framework analysis was
      used to generate findings from the qualitative data. RESULTS: Access to the
      wellbeing interventions was associated with the presence of the community
      engagement and the primary care training elements. Referrals to the wellbeing
      interventions were associated with community engagement, while recruitment was
      associated with primary care training. Qualitative data suggested that the
      mechanisms underlying these associations were increased awareness and sense of
      agency. The quality of primary mental health care was enhanced by information
      gained from our community mapping activities, and by the offer of access to the
      wellbeing interventions. There were variable benefits from health practitioner
      participation in community consultative groups. We also found that participation
      in the wellbeing interventions led to increased community engagement.
      CONCLUSIONS: We explored the interactions between elements of a multilevel
      intervention and identified important associations and underlying mechanisms.
      Further research is needed to test the generalisability of the model. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials, reference ISRCTN68572159 . Registered 25
      February 2013.

PMID- 26883120
TI  - Marmoricola ginsengisoli sp. nov. and Marmoricola pocheonensis sp. nov. isolated
      from a ginseng-cultivating field.
AB  - Two novel actinobacteria, designated strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T, isolated
      from soil of a ginseng field, South Korea, were characterized by a polyphasic
      approach to clarify their taxonomic positions. They were Gram-reaction-positive,
      aerobic, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S
      rRNA gene sequences indicated that both isolates belong to the genus Marmoricola
      and were related most closely to Marmicola solisilvae KIS18-7T (99.1 and 98.3 %
      similarity, respectively), Marmicola terrae JOS5-1T (97.9 and 97.9 %), Marmicola
      scoriae Sco-D01T (97.8 and 97.1 %) and Marmicola aequoreus SST-45T (97.5 and 97.0
      %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.8 and 70.0 mol%, respectively. Both
      strains were characterized chemotaxonomically as having ll-2,6-diaminopimelic
      acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and
      C17 : 1omega6c, C18 : 1omega9c, C18 : 0 10-methyl and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty
      acids. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of both strains to the
      genus Marmoricola. However, levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between the two strains
      and closely related type strains of Marmoricola species were less than 30 %.
      Moreover, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the
      phenotypic differentiation of strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T from other
      Marmoricola species with validly published names. Therefore, the two isolates
      represent two novel species, for which the names Marmoricola ginsengisoli sp.
      nov. (type strain Gsoil 097T = KACC 14267T = DSM 22772T) and Marmoricola
      pocheonensis sp. nov. (type strain Gsoil 818T = KACC 14275T = DSM 22773T) are
      proposed. 

PMID- 26883119
TI  - Effectiveness of two different doses of rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid
      arthritis in an international cohort: data from the CERERRA collaboration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The approved dose of rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis is 1000
      mg * 2, but some data have suggested similar clinical efficacy with 500 mg * 2.
      The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the regular and low
      doses given as first treatment course. METHODS: Twelve European registries
      participating in the CERERRA collaboration (The European Collaborative Registries
      for the Evaluation of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis) submitted anonymized
      datasets with demographic, efficacy and treatment data for patients who had
      started RTX. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by DAS28 reductions and EULAR
      responses after 6 months. RESULTS: Data on RTX dose were available for 2,873
      patients, of whom 2,625 (91.4 %) and 248 (8.6 %) received 1000 mg * 2 and 500 mg
      * 2, respectively. Patients treated with 500 mg * 2 were significantly older, had
      longer disease duration, higher number of prior DMARDs, but lower number of prior
      biologics and lower baseline DAS28 than those treated with 1000 mg * 2. Fewer
      patients in the low-dose group received concomitant DMARDs but more frequently
      received concomitant corticosteroids. Both doses led to significant clinical
      improvements at 6 months. DAS28 reductions at 6 months were comparable in the 2
      dose regimens [mean DeltaDAS28 +/- SD -2.0 +/- 1.3 (high dose) vs. -1.7 +/- 1.4
      (low dose), p = 0.23 adjusted for baseline differences]. Similar percentages of
      patients achieved EULAR good response in the two dose groups, 18.4 % vs. 17.3 %,
      respectively (p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: In this large observational cohort initial
      treatment with RTX at 500 mg * 2 and 1000 mg * 2 led to comparable clinical
      outcomes at 6 months.

PMID- 26883122
TI  - Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting with an improved rib
      spreader and a new-shaped cardiac stabilizer: results of 200 consecutive cases in
      a single institution.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Performing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)
      grafting via small chest incisions on a beating heart is challenging. We report
      our experiences of MIDCAB with the utilization of both an improved rib spreader
      to harvest the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and a new-shaped cardiac
      stabilizer to facilitate LIMA-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary
      anastomosis. METHODS: Between May 2012 and June 2104, a total of 200 patients who
      were consecutively operated on in this period were enrolled in this study. Data
      reported included demographic information, preoperative clinical and cardiac
      status, LIMA harvest time, postoperative in-hospital outcomes, and 30-day
      mortality. RESULTS: The average LIMA harvest time was 43 min. The mean age was
      62.59 +/- 10.19 years, and 45 of the 200 were females. The 30-day mortality was
      0.5% (one patient) due to perioperative myocardial infarction. Duration of
      mechanical ventilation and length of stay in intensive care unit was 9.27 +/-
      7.65 and 24.27 +/- 17.85 h, respectively. The unit of packed RBC transfusion was
      0.79 +/- 1.58. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was observed in 14 (7%)
      patients. There was no postoperative stroke, renal failure, or incision
      complication. CONCLUSION: Performing MIDCAB with the improved retractor and
      stabilizer utilized in this study showed favorable outcomes in terms of
      harvesting the LIMA, postoperative morbidities, and 30-day mortality.

PMID- 26883124
TI  - Highly-sensitive Eu(3+) ratiometric thermometers based on excited state
      absorption with predictable calibration.
AB  - Temperature measurements ranging from a few degrees to a few hundreds of Kelvin
      are of great interest in the fields of nanomedicine and nanotechnology. Here, we
      report a new ratiometric luminescent thermometer using thermally excited state
      absorption of the Eu(3+) ion. The thermometer is based on the simple Eu(3+)
      energy level structure and can operate between 180 and 323 K with a relative
      sensitivity ranging from 0.7 to 1.7% K(-1). The thermometric parameter is defined
      as the ratio between the emission intensities of the (5)D0 -> (7)F4 transition
      when the (5)D0 emitting level is excited through the (7)F2 (physiological range)
      or (7)F1 (down to 180 K) level. Nano and microcrystals of Y2O3:Eu(3+) were chosen
      as a proof of concept of the operational principles in which both excitation and
      detection are within the first biological transparent window. A novel and of
      paramount importance aspect is that the calibration factor can be calculated from
      the Eu(3+) emission spectrum avoiding the need for new calibration procedures
      whenever the thermometer operates in different media. 

PMID- 26883123
TI  - Reconstruction of a charge balanced genome-scale metabolic model to study the
      energy-uncoupled growth of Zymomonas mobilis ZM1.
AB  - Zymomonas mobilis is an ethanologenic bacterium and is known to be an example
      microorganism with energy-uncoupled growth. A genome-scale metabolic model could
      be applicable for understanding the characteristics of Z. mobilis with rapid
      catabolism and inefficient energy conversion. In this study, a charge balanced
      genome-scale metabolic model (iEM439) of Z. mobilis ATCC 10988 (ZM1) including
      439 genes, 692 metabolic reactions and 658 metabolites was reconstructed based on
      genome annotation and previously published information. The model presents a much
      better prediction for biomass and ethanol concentrations in a batch culture by
      using dynamic flux balance analysis compared with the two previous genome-scale
      metabolic models. Furthermore, intracellular flux distribution obtained from the
      model was consistent with the fluxes for glucose fermentation determined by (13)C
      NMR. The model predicts that there is no difference in growth rates of Z. mobilis
      under aerobic and anaerobic conditions whereas ethanol production is decreased
      and production of other metabolites including acetate and acetoin is increased
      under aerobic conditions. Experimental data confirm the predicted differences
      between the aerobic and anaerobic growth of Z. mobilis. Finally, the model was
      used to study the energy-uncoupled growth of Z. mobilis and to predict its effect
      on flux distribution in the central metabolism. Flux distribution obtained from
      the model indicates that coupling growth and energy reduces ethanol secretion and
      changes the flux distribution to produce more biomass. This coupling is also
      associated with a significant increase in the proton uptake rate based on the
      prediction of the charge balanced model. Hence, resistance to intracellular pH
      reduction could be the main reason for uncoupled growth and Z. mobilis uses
      ATPase to pump out the proton. Experimental observations are in accordance with
      the predicted relationship between growth, ATP dissipation and proton exchange. 

PMID- 26883121
TI  - Inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profiles are associated with patient outcome
      and the hyperadrenergic state following acute brain injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) elicits intense sympathetic nervous
      system (SNS) activation with profuse catecholamine secretion. The resultant
      hyperadrenergic state is linked to immunomodulation both within the brain and
      systemically. Dysregulated inflammation post-TBI exacerbates secondary brain
      injury and contributes to unfavorable patient outcomes including death. The aim
      of this study was to characterize the early dynamic profile of circulating
      inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in patients admitted for moderate-to-severe
      TBI, to examine interrelationships between these mediators and catecholamines, as
      well as clinical indices of injury severity and neurological outcome. METHODS:
      Blood was sampled from 166 isolated TBI patients (aged 45 +/- 20.3 years; 74.7 %
      male) on admission, 6-, 12-, and 24-h post-injury and from healthy controls (N =
      21). Plasma cytokine [interleukin (IL)-1beta, -2, -4, -5, -10, -12p70, -13, tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma] and chemokine [IL-8,
      eotaxin, eotaxin-3, IFN-gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant
      protein (MCP)-1, -4, macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), macrophage inflammatory
      protein (MIP)-1beta, thymus activation regulated chemokine (TARC)] concentrations
      were analyzed using high-sensitivity electrochemiluminescence multiplex
      immunoassays. Plasma catecholamines [epinephrine (Epi), norepinephrine (NE)] were
      measured by immunoassay. Neurological outcome at 6 months was assessed using the
      extended Glasgow outcome scale (GOSE) dichotomized as good (>4) or poor (<=4)
      outcomes. RESULTS: Patients showed altered levels of IL-10 and all chemokines
      assayed relative to controls. Significant differences in a number of markers were
      evident between moderate and severe TBI cohorts. Elevated IL-8, IL-10, and TNF
      alpha, as well as alterations in 8 of 9 chemokines, were associated with poor
      outcome at 6 months. Notably, a positive association was found between Epi and IL
      1beta, IL-10, Eotaxin, IL-8, and MCP-1. NE was positively associated with IL
      1beta, IL-10, TNF-alpha, eotaxin, IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results provide further evidence that exaggerated SNS activation acutely after
      isolated TBI in humans may contribute to harmful peripheral inflammatory
      cytokine/chemokine dysregulation. These findings are consistent with a
      potentially beneficial role for therapies aimed at modulating the inflammatory
      response and hyperadrenergic state acutely post-injury.

PMID- 26883126
TI  - Am I My Brother's Keeper? Moral Dimensions of Informal Caregiving in a Neoliberal
      Society.
AB  - Within the current Dutch policy context the role of informal care is revalued.
      Formal care activities are reduced and family and friends are expected to fill
      this gap. Yet, there is little research on the moral ambivalences that informal
      care for loved ones who have severe and ongoing mental health problems entails,
      especially against the backdrop of neoliberal policies. Giving priority to one's
      own life project or caring for a loved one with severe problems is not reconciled
      easily. Using a case study we illustrate the moral ambivalences that persons may
      experience when they try to shape their involvement and commitment when a
      relative is in need. The case comes from a research project which explores
      whether it is possible to reduce coercive measures in psychiatry by organizing a
      Family Group Conference. The purpose of the article is to explore what
      theoretical concepts such as 'communities of fate', 'communities of choice' and
      'personal communities' add in understanding how persons shape their involvement
      and commitment when a family member experiences recurrent psychiatric crises.

PMID- 26883125
TI  - Associations of food consumption, serum vitamins and metabolic syndrome risk with
      physical activity level in middle-aged adults: the National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of food consumption, serum vitamins and
      metabolic syndrome risk with physical activity level in middle-aged adults.
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: National Health and Nutrition Examination
      Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006. SUBJECTS: Adults aged 40-70 years were divided into
      three groups by tertile of accelerometer-determined steps/d (in men and women,
      respectively): tertile 1 (sedentary), <6802, <5785; tertile 2 (intermediate),
      6802-10698, 5785-9225; tertile 3 (active), >=10699, >=9226. RESULTS: The active
      men consumed more grain products, fruits and vegetables, whereas the active women
      consumed more legumes and vegetables, compared with the sedentary group. Serum
      vitamin concentrations were associated with daily steps in both men and women.
      Vitamin C, alpha-carotene, trans-beta-carotene, cis-beta-carotene, beta
      cryptoxanthin, lutein+zeaxanthin, lycopene, gamma-tocopherol and vitamin D were
      significantly associated with daily steps. OR (P<0.05) for the sedentary group
      were 1.52 and 1.61 for low HDL cholesterol, 1.66 and 3.97 for
      hypertriacylglycerolaemia, 1.02 and 2.73 for abdominal obesity, 1.79 and 1.77 for
      hyperglycaemia, 1.59 and 1.60 for hypertension, and 1.85 and 2.47 for metabolic
      syndrome in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Those with the highest
      steps taken showed a more healthful eating profile and a better serum vitamin
      profile compared with less active adults. Those with the lowest steps taken had
      greater odds of having metabolic syndrome and its risk components. Probably,
      daily walking is a marker of a healthful eating profile and increasing daily
      walking is one of the healthful ways to decrease the metabolic syndrome and its
      risk components.

PMID- 26883128
TI  - Heterotrophic Bioleaching of Sulfur, Iron, and Silicon Impurities from Coal by
      Fusarium oxysporum FE and Exophiala spinifera FM with Growing and Resting Cells.
AB  - Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel containing sulfur and other elements which
      promote environmental pollution after burning. Also the silicon impurities make
      the transportation of coal expensive. In this research, two isolated fungi from
      oil contaminated soil with accessory number KF554100 (Fusarium oxysporum FE) and
      KC925672 (Exophiala spinifera FM) were used for heterotrophic biological leaching
      of coal. The leaching were detected by FTIR, CHNS, XRF analyzer and compared with
      iron and sulfate released in the supernatant. The results showed that E.
      spinifera FM produced more acidic metabolites in growing cells, promoting the
      iron and sulfate ions removal while resting cells of F. oxysporum FE enhanced the
      removal of aromatic sulfur. XRF analysis showed that the resting cells of E.
      spinifera FM proceeded maximum leaching for iron and silicon (48.8, 43.2 %,
      respectively). CHNS analysis demonstrated that 34.21 % of sulfur leaching was due
      to the activities of resting cells of F. oxysporum FE. Also F. oxysporum FE
      removed organic sulfur more than E. spinifera FM in both growing and resting
      cells. FTIR data showed that both fungi had the ability to remove pyrite and
      quartz from coal. These data indicated that inoculations of these fungi to the
      coal are cheap and impurity removals were faster than autotrophic bacteria. Also
      due to the removal of dibenzothiophene, pyrite, and quartz, we speculated that
      they are excellent candidates for bioleaching of coal, oil, and gas. 

PMID- 26883127
TI  - High-Efficiency, Two-Step Scarless-Markerless Genome Genetic Modification in
      Salmonella enterica.
AB  - We present a two-step method for scarless-markerless genome genetic modification
      in Salmonella enterica based on the improved suicide plasmid pGMB152. The whole
      LacZYA gene can provide a lacZ-based blue/white screening strategy for fast
      selection of double-crossover mutants by allelic exchange. The high efficiency of
      this genetic engineering strategy permits the study of gene function by gene
      knockin, site-directed mutagenesis, and gene knockout to construct live
      attenuated vaccines. 

PMID- 26883129
TI  - Promoting Early, Safe Return to Work in Injured Employees: A Randomized Trial of
      a Supervisor Training Intervention in a Healthcare Setting.
AB  - Purpose Supervisors in the healthcare sector have the potential to contribute to
      disability prevention in injured employees. Published data on the evaluation of
      return to work (RTW) interventions aimed at direct supervisors are scarce. We
      sought to determine the effect of a brief audiovisual supervisor training module
      on supervisor RTW attitudes and knowledge. Methods A parallel-group study, using
      equal randomization, comparing the training module intervention to usual practice
      in healthcare supervisors at a quaternary care hospital was conducted.
      Differences between groups in changes in RTW attitude and knowledge survey
      question scores between baseline and 3 months were assessed using the Mann
      Whitney U test. The Benjamini-Hochberg-Yekutieli procedure was used to control
      for false discovery rate and generate adjusted p values. Results Forty
      supervisors were allocated to the intervention group and 41 to the usual practice
      group. Attitude and knowledge scores for most questions improved between baseline
      and immediately after intervention administration. Comparing intervention (n =
      33) and usual practice groups (n = 37), there was a trend toward greater increase
      between baseline and 3 months follow-up in agreement that the supervisor can
      manage the RTW process (U = 515, adjusted p value = 0.074) and in confidence that
      the supervisor can answer employees' questions (U = 514, adjusted p value =
      0.074) in the intervention group, although these findings were not statistically
      significant. Conclusions The training intervention may have provided the initial
      tools for supervisors to navigate the RTW process in collaboration with others in
      the RTW community of practice. A larger study with longer follow-up is needed to
      confirm results.

PMID- 26883130
TI  - Erratum to: Numerical Equilibrium Analysis for Structured Consumer Resource
      Models.

PMID- 26883131
TI  - Biogeographic Patterns Between Bacterial Phyllosphere Communities of the Southern
      Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) in a Small Forest.
AB  - The phyllosphere presents a unique system of discrete and easily replicable
      surfaces colonized primarily by bacteria. However, the biogeography of bacteria
      in the phyllosphere is little understood, especially at small to intermediate
      scales. Bacterial communities on the leaves of 91 southern magnolia (Magnolia
      grandiflora) trees 1-452 m apart in a small forest plot were analyzed and
      fragments of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequenced using the Illumina
      platform. Assemblages were dominated by members of the Alphaproteobacteria,
      Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria. Patterns in community composition were measured
      by both relative abundance (theta) and presence-absence (Jaccard) dissimilarity
      metrics. Distance-based Moran's eigenvector map analyses of the distance-decay
      relationship found a significant, positive relationship between each
      dissimilarity metric and significant eigenfunctions derived from geographic
      distance between trees, indicating trees that were closer together had more
      similar bacterial phyllosphere communities. Indirect gradient analyses revealed
      that several environmental parameters (canopy cover, tree elevation, and the
      slope and aspect of the ground beneath trees) were significantly related to
      multivariate ordination scores based on relative bacterial sequence abundances;
      however, these relationships were not significant when looking at the incidence
      of bacterial taxa. This suggests that bacterial growth and abundance in the
      phyllosphere is shaped by different assembly mechanisms than bacterial presence
      or absence. More broadly, this study demonstrates that the distance-decay
      relationship applies to phyllosphere communities at local scales, and that
      environmental parameters as well as neutral forces may both influence spatial
      patterns in the phyllosphere. 

PMID- 26883133
TI  - Value of Comorbidity Scales for Predicting Survival After Radiochemotherapy of
      Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - The Charlson Comorbidity Index plus three comorbidity scales were evaluated for
      survival after radiochemotherapy of limited stage SCLC. For the Charlson
      Comorbidity Index, 2-4 points were compared to 5-8 points. For the Age
      Comorbidity Score, 2-6 points were compared to 7-10 points. For the Medical
      Research Council (MRC) Breathlessness Scale, grades 0-2 were compared to grades 3
      5. For the Simplified Comorbidity Score, 0-5 points were compared to 6-11 and 12
      17 points. Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.022) and MRC Breathlessness Scale (p
      < 0.001) showed significant associations with survival, the Age-Comorbidity Score
      a trend (p = 0.06). For the Simplified Comorbidity Score, no significant
      correlation was found (p = 0.54). Absolute differences in survival >=20 % were
      observed for the MRC Breathlessness Scale at 1, 2, and 3 years, for the Charlson
      Comorbidity Index at 1 year, and for the Age-Comorbidity Score at 2 years. Thus,
      particularly the MRC Breathlessness Scale can contribute to personalization of
      the treatment of SCLC. 

PMID- 26883132
TI  - Cost Effectiveness of Paliperidone Long-Acting Injectable Versus Other
      Antipsychotics for the Maintenance Treatment of Schizophrenia in France.
AB  - BACKGROUND: French clinical recommendations suggest prescribing long-acting
      injectable (LAI) antipsychotics to patients with a maintenance treatment
      indication in schizophrenia. Despite this, and due to their relatively high
      acquisition and administration costs, LAIs are still underused in clinical
      practice in France, thus highlighting the need for pharmacoeconomic evaluations.
      OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to estimate the cost effectiveness of paliperidone
      LAI (or paliperidone palmitate), a once-monthly second-generation LAI
      antipsychotic, compared with the most common antipsychotic medications for the
      maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in France. METHODS: A Markov model was
      developed to simulate the progression of a cohort of schizophrenic patients
      through four health states (stable treated, stable non-treated, relapse and
      death) and to consider up to three lines of treatment to account for changes in
      treatment management. Paliperidone LAI was compared with risperidone LAI,
      aripiprazole LAI, olanzapine LAI, haloperidol LAI (or haloperidol decanoate) and
      oral olanzapine. Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and number of
      relapses were assessed over 5 years based on 3-month cycles with a discount rate
      of 4% and from a French health insurance perspective. Patients were considered to
      be stabilised after a schizophrenic episode and would enter the model at an
      initiation phase, followed by a prevention of relapse phase if successful. Data
      (e.g. relapse or discontinuation rates) for the initiation phase came from
      randomised clinical trials, whereas relapse rates in the prevention phase were
      derived from hospitalisation risks based on real-life French data to capture
      adherence effects. Safety and utility data were derived from international
      publications. Additionally, costs were retrieved from French health insurance
      databases and publications. Finally, expert opinion was used for validation
      purposes or in case of gaps in data. The robustness of results was assessed
      through deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: All LAI
      antipsychotics were found to have similar costs over 5 years: approximatively
      ?55,000, except for paliperidone LAI which had a discounted cost of ?50,880. Oral
      olanzapine was less costly than LAIs (i.e. ?50,379 after 5 years) but was
      associated with fewer QALYs gained and relapses avoided. Paliperidone LAI
      dominated aripiprazole LAI, olanzapine LAI and haloperidol LAI in terms of costs
      per QALY, and it was associated with slightly fewer QALYs when compared with
      risperidone LAI (i.e. 3.763 vs 3.764). This resulted in a high incremental cost
      effectiveness ratio (ICER) (i.e. ?4,770,018 per QALY gained) for risperidone LAI
      compared with paliperidone LAI. Paliperidone LAI was more costly than olanzapine
      oral but associated with more QALYs (i.e. ICER of ?2411 per QALY gained for
      paliperidone LAI compared with oral olanzapine). Paliperidone LAI had a
      probability of being the optimal strategy in more than 50% of cases for a
      willingness-to-pay threshold of ?8000 per QALY gained. CONCLUSION: This analysis,
      to the best of our knowledge, is the first of its kind to assess the cost
      effectiveness of antipsychotics based on French observational data. Paliperidone
      LAI appeared to be a cost-effective option in the treatment of schizophrenia from
      the French health insurance perspective.

PMID- 26883134
TI  - Association Between Chronic Aspiration and Chronic Airway Infection with
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Other Gram-Negative Bacteria in Children with Cerebral
      Palsy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at an increased risk for
      aspiration, and subsequent pneumonia or pneumonitis. Pneumonia is a common cause
      of hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death in patients
      with CP, and may disproportionately contribute to mortality. The role of
      respiratory microflora is unknown. This study examined the relationship between
      respiratory infections with Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), particularly
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the frequency/severity of pneumonia hospitalization.
      METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 69 patients with CP and hospitalization
      for pneumonia. Eligible patients required hospitalization for bacterial
      pneumonia, at least one respiratory culture, and fulfillment of Bax definition of
      CP. Group assignment was based on respiratory culture. Charts were analyzed for
      comorbid illness, hospitalization demographics, and disease severity. RESULTS:
      Children with isolation of P. aeruginosa or other GNB had increased frequency of
      ICU admission (77.4, 65.1, vs. 26.9 %, respectively, p < 0.01), intubation (45.2,
      39.5 vs. 11.5 %, p = 0.02, p = 0.03 respectively), and large pleural effusions
      (37.5, vs. 0 %) than children without GNB. Children with isolation of GNB had
      more prolonged hospitalizations and were more likely to have multiple
      hospitalizations than those without GNB. CONCLUSION: Colonization with P.
      aeruginosa and other Gram-negative organisms in children with CP is associated
      with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and severity of pneumonia
      including need for PICU admission and intervention. Further research is required
      to determine causality, the role of antimicrobials active against Gram negative
      in pneumonia treatment, and the role of GNB eradication therapy in children with
      CP.

PMID- 26883135
TI  - Evidence-Based mHealth Chronic Disease Mobile App Intervention Design:
      Development of a Framework.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mobile technology offers new capabilities that can help to drive
      important aspects of chronic disease management at both an individual and
      population level, including the ability to deliver real-time interventions that
      can be connected to a health care team. A framework that supports both
      development and evaluation is needed to understand the aspects of mHealth that
      work for specific diseases, populations, and in the achievement of specific
      outcomes in real-world settings. This framework should incorporate design
      structure and process, which are important to translate clinical and behavioral
      evidence, user interface, experience design and technical capabilities into
      scalable, replicable, and evidence-based mobile health (mHealth) solutions to
      drive outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the
      identification and development of an app intervention design framework, and its
      subsequent refinement through development of various types of mHealth apps for
      chronic disease. METHODS: The process of developing the framework was conducted
      between June 2012 and June 2014. Informed by clinical guidelines, standards of
      care, clinical practice recommendations, evidence-based research, best practices,
      and translated by subject matter experts, a framework for mobile app design was
      developed and the refinement of the framework across seven chronic disease states
      and three different product types is described. RESULTS: The result was the
      development of the Chronic Disease mHealth App Intervention Design Framework.
      This framework allowed for the integration of clinical and behavioral evidence
      for intervention and feature design. The application to different diseases and
      implementation models guided the design of mHealth solutions for varying levels
      of chronic disease management. CONCLUSIONS: The framework and its design elements
      enable replicable product development for mHealth apps and may provide a
      foundation for the digital health industry to systematically expand mobile health
      interventions and validate their effectiveness across multiple implementation
      settings and chronic diseases.

PMID- 26883136
TI  - Old and outdated radiology equipment in Croatia-radiation safety and economic
      consequences.

PMID- 26883137
TI  - Imaging findings of splenic emergencies: a pictorial review.
AB  - Although traumatic injuries are the cause of common splenic emergencies in the
      emergency room, various nontraumatic conditions may also affect the spleen with
      possible life-threatening results. In this pictorial review, we present imaging
      findings of usual and unusual splenic emergencies. It is essential to be familiar
      with key imaging findings and advantages of different modalities to reach a
      definitive diagnosis. TEACHING POINTS: * Delayed splenic rupture is commonly
      related to subcapsular hematoma. * Subtle haemorrhage is commonly restricted to
      the site of injury "sentinel clot sign". * The whorled appearance is the key
      imaging feature of splenic torsion.

PMID- 26883138
TI  - How to diagnose acute appendicitis: ultrasound first.
AB  - Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common abdominal emergency with a lifetime
      prevalence of about 7 %. As the clinical diagnosis of AA remains a challenge to
      emergency physicians and surgeons, imaging modalities have gained major
      importance in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected AA in order to
      keep both the negative appendectomy rate and the perforation rate low. Introduced
      in 1986, graded-compression ultrasound (US) has well-established direct and
      indirect signs for diagnosing AA. In our opinion, US should be the first-line
      imaging modality, as graded-compression US has excellent specificity both in the
      paediatric and adult patient populations. As US sensitivity is limited, and non
      diagnostic US examinations with non-visualization of the appendix are more a rule
      than an exception, diagnostic strategies and algorithms after non-diagnostic US
      should focus on clinical reassessment and complementary imaging with MRI/CT if
      indicated. Accordingly, both ionizing radiation to our patients and cost of pre
      therapeutic diagnosis of AA will be low, with low negative appendectomy and
      perforation rates. Main Messages * Ultrasound (US) should be the first imaging
      modality for diagnosing acute appendicitis (AA). * Primary US for AA diagnosis
      will decrease ionizing radiation and cost. * Sensitivity of US to diagnose AA is
      lower than of CT/MRI. * Non-visualization of the appendix should lead to clinical
      reassessment. * Complementary MRI or CT may be performed if diagnosis remains
      unclear. 

PMID- 26883139
TI  - Reporting knee meniscal tears: technical aspects, typical pitfalls and how to
      avoid them.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate imaging technique in the
      diagnosis of meniscal lesions and represents a standard tool in knee evaluation.
      MRI plays a critical role in influencing the treatment decision and enables
      information that would obviate unnecessary surgery including diagnostic
      arthroscopy. An accurate interpretation of the knee depends on several factors,
      starting with technical aspects including radiofrequency coils, imaging protocol
      and magnetic field strength. The use of dedicated high-resolution orthopaedic
      coils with a different number of integrated elements is mandatory in order to
      ensure high homogeneity of the signal and high-resolution images. The clinical
      imaging protocol of the knee includes different MRI sequences with high-spatial
      resolution in all orientations: sagittal, coronal, and axial. Usually, the slice
      thickness is 3 mm or less, even with standard two-dimensional fast spin echo
      sequences. A common potential reason for pitfalls and errors of interpretation is
      the unawareness of the normal tibial attachments and capsular attachment of the
      menisci. Complete description of meniscal tears implies that the radiologist
      should be aware of the patterns and the complex classification of the lesions.
      TEACHING POINTS: * Technical factors may influence MRI interpretation. *
      Unawareness of the normal meniscal anatomy may lead to errors of interpretation.
      * Description of meniscal tears implies the knowledge of meniscal tear
      classification.

PMID- 26883140
TI  - Phenotypic and genotypic approach to characterize Arcanobacterium pluranimalium
      isolated from bovine milk samples.
AB  - In the present study, three Arcanobacterium pluranimalium strains isolated from
      bovine milk samples of three cows of three farms (two cows with subclinical
      mastitis) could successfully be identified by phenotypical investigations, by
      matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry
      (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis and genotypically by sequencing the molecular targets 16S
      rDNA, 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR), the beta subunit of bacterial
      RNA polymerase encoding gene rpoB, the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase
      encoding gene gap, the elongation factor tu encoding gene tuf, and the
      pluranimaliumlysin encoding gene pla. The latter could also be identified by a
      loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. The presented phenotypic and
      genotypic approaches might support the identification of A. pluranimalium in
      future and might help to understand the role this species plays in bovine
      mastitis. 

PMID- 26883141
TI  - A phase II study of postoperative concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel combined
      with intensity-modulated pelvic radiotherapy followed by consolidation
      chemotherapy in surgically treated cervical cancer patients with positive pelvic
      lymph nodes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity
      of carboplatin plus paclitaxel (TC)-based postoperative concurrent
      chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by TC-based consolidation chemotherapy in
      surgically-treated early-stage cervical cancer patients. METHODS: Women with
      surgically-treated early-stage cervical cancer with positive pelvic lymph nodes
      were eligible for this study. The patients were postoperatively treated with
      pelvic intensity modulated radiotherapy (50.4Gy) and concurrent weekly
      carboplatin (AUC: 2) and paclitaxel (35mg/m(2)) (TC-based CCRT). Three cycles of
      consolidation chemotherapy involving carboplatin (AUC: 5) and paclitaxel
      (175mg/m(2)) were administered after TC-based CCRT. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients
      were enrolled and treated. Overall, the treatment was well tolerated, and 26
      patients (83.9%) completed the planned TC-based CCRT. The most frequently
      observed acute grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were leukopenia and
      neutropenia, and diarrhea was the most common acute grade 3/4 non-hematological
      toxicity. After a median follow-up period of 36.5months, 2 patients (6.5%) had
      developed recurrent disease. The patients' estimated 3-year progression-free
      survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 88.5% and 93.8%,
      respectively. In comparisons with historical control groups, TC-based CCRT
      followed by TC-based consolidation chemotherapy was found to be significantly
      superior to CCRT involving a single platinum agent in terms of PFS (p=0.026) and
      significantly superior to extended-field radiotherapy in terms of both PFS
      (p=0.0004) and OS (p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: In women with surgically treated early
      stage cervical cancer, pelvic TC-based CCRT followed by TC-based consolidation
      chemotherapy is feasible and highly effective. Future randomized trials are
      needed to verify the efficacy of this regimen.

PMID- 26883142
TI  - Differences in the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities
      promoted by different propagule forms from a Mediterranean shrubland.
AB  - As it is well known, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization can be initiated
      from the following three types of fungal propagules: spores, extraradical
      mycelium (ERM), and mycorrhizal root fragments harboring intraradical fungal
      structures. It has been shown that biomass allocation of AM fungi (AMF) among
      these three propagule types varies between fungal taxa, as also differs the
      ability of the different AMF propagule fractions to initiate new colonizations.
      In this study, the composition of the AMF community in the roots of rosemary
      (Rosmarinus officinalis L., a characteristic Mediterranean shrub), inoculated
      with the three different propagule types, was analyzed. Accordingly, cuttings
      from this species were inoculated with either AMF spores, ERM, or colonized roots
      extracted from a natural soil. The AMF diversity within the rosemary roots was
      characterized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of
      the small subunit (SSU) rDNA region. The AMF community established in the
      rosemary plants was significantly different according to the type of propagule
      used as inoculum. AMF taxa differed in their ability to initiate new
      colonizations from each propagule type. Results suggest different colonization
      strategies for the different AMF families involved, Glomeraceae and
      Claroideoglomeraceae colonizing mainly from colonized roots whereas Pacisporaceae
      and Diversisporaceae from spores and ERM. This supports that AMF taxa show
      contrasting life-history strategies in terms of their ability to initiate new
      colonizations from the different propagule types. Further research to fully
      understand the colonization and dispersal abilities of AMF is essential for their
      rational use in ecosystem restoration programs. 

PMID- 26883145
TI  - The explosion of percutaneous mitral valve therapies.

PMID- 26883146
TI  - Oxidative stress during bacterial growth characterized through microdialysis
      sampling coupled with HPLC/fluorescence detection of malondialdehyde.
AB  - Organisms that grow aerobically are routinely exposed to oxidative stress in the
      form of reactive oxygen species. Monitoring the dynamic variations of oxidative
      stress allows us to understand its role in basic cellular function and determine
      mechanisms of antioxidation. In this study, microdialysis (MD) sampling was
      employed for continuous monitoring of the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a
      bacterium-inoculated culture broth. To test the practicality of this approach,
      oxidative stress was induced by cadmium and then a 60-min interval was selected
      to collect sufficient amounts of dialysate for high-performance liquid
      chromatography with fluorescence (HPLC-FL) detection. After optimization of this
      simple-to-operate, simultaneous, and continuous method for dynamic monitoring of
      MDA during periods of bacterial growth, a retrodialysis technique and a no-net
      flux method were used to assess the probe recovery and analytical performance of
      the proposed system. The mean probe recovery of MDA was 78.6 +/- 0.9%, with intra
      and interday precisions of 2.7-6.1 and 3.5-7.6%, respectively. To evaluate the
      practicality of this method, the dynamic variations in the concentrations of MDA
      in standardized bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC((r)) 29213TM) were
      monitored continuously for 24h. The analytical results confirmed that this MD
      sampling technique combined with HPLC-FL detection can be used to accurately and
      continuously monitor the levels of MDA in microbially inoculated culture broths.

PMID- 26883144
TI  - Hematopoietic stem cells: multiparameter regulation.
AB  - Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are capable to self-renew with multi-potency
      which generated much excitement in clinical therapy. However, the main obstacle
      of HSCs in clinical application was insufficient number of HSCs which were
      derived from either bone marrow, peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood. This
      review briefly discusses the indispensable utility of growth factors and
      cytokines, stromal cells, extracellular matrix, bionic scaffold and
      microenvironment aiming to control the hematopoiesis in all directions and
      provide a better and comprehensive understanding for in vitro expansion of
      hematopoietic stem cells. 

PMID- 26883143
TI  - Functional near-infrared spectroscopy for neuroimaging in cochlear implant
      recipients.
AB  - Functional neuroimaging can provide insight into the neurobiological factors that
      contribute to the variations in individual hearing outcomes following cochlear
      implantation. To date, measuring neural activity within the auditory cortex of
      cochlear implant (CI) recipients has been challenging, primarily because the use
      of traditional neuroimaging techniques is limited in people with CIs. Functional
      near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging technology that offers benefits
      in this population because it is non-invasive, compatible with CI devices, and
      not subject to electrical artifacts. However, there are important considerations
      to be made when using fNIRS to maximize the signal to noise ratio and to best
      identify meaningful cortical responses. This review considers these issues, the
      current data, and future directions for using fNIRS as a clinical application in
      individuals with CIs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Annual
      Reviews 2016>.

PMID- 26883148
TI  - Neuroprotective oleanane triterpenes from the roots of Bupleurum chinense.
AB  - The discovery of new natural compounds with pharmacological properties is an
      increasingly important field, and a continuous phytochemical investigation of the
      roots of Bupleurum chinense D.C. has led to the isolation of 17 triterpenoids,
      including three new oleanane triterpenes (1-3) together with 14 known ones. Their
      structures were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HR
      ESI-MS data. The cytotoxicities of all compounds against five selected human
      cancer cell lines were assayed. Only compounds 9 and 14 exhibited moderate
      activities. Recently, a number of investigations have focused on the
      neuroprotective properties of triterpenoids in B. chinense. In order to expand
      our knowledge about this herb, the neuroprotective effects of compounds 1-17
      against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neuronal cell damage in human
      neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated. Compounds 1-3, 6-7 showed significant
      neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y cell death. Preliminary
      structure-activity relationships (SARs) between neuroprotective effects and the
      isolates were also discussed. 

PMID- 26883147
TI  - Captopril analogues as metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors.
AB  - A number of captopril analogues were synthesised and tested as inhibitors of the
      metallo-beta-lactamase IMP-1. Structure-activity studies showed that the methyl
      group was unimportant for activity, and that the potencies of these inhibitors
      could be best improved by shortening the length of the mercaptoalkanoyl side
      chain. Replacing the thiol group with a carboxylic acid led to complete loss of
      activity, and extending the length of the carboxylate group led to decreased
      potency. Good activity could be maintained by substituting the proline ring with
      pipecolic acid. 

PMID- 26883149
TI  - Identification of human telomerase inhibitors having the core of N-acyl-4,5
      dihydropyrazole with anticancer effects.
AB  - Eight human telomerase inhibitors (5a-5h) having the core of N-acyl-4,5
      dihydropyrazole with anticancer effects were identified in this study. Biological
      results revealed that a few compounds had potent anticancer activities against
      three common tumor cell lines (SGC-7901, HepG2 and MGC-803). Among them, compound
      5c, with a molecular weight of only 272.2 Da, had antiproliferative activities
      against SGC-7901 and MGC-803 with EC50 values of 2.06 +/- 0.17 and 2.89 +/- 0.62
      MUM, respectively, better than 5-Fluorouracil. Compound 5c inhibited the enzyme
      of telomerase with an IC50 value of 1.86 +/- 0.51 MUM, surpassing the control
      compound, ethidium bromide. Modeling study showed that this compound can reside
      in the binding pocket of the telomerase/TNA:DNA hairpin complex. When the moiety
      of N-acyl was changed to N-sulfonyl, the gotten compounds (8a-8i) had
      deteriorative activities against both these three cancer cell lines and the
      enzyme of telomerase.

PMID- 26883150
TI  - Isatin derivatives with activity against apoptosis-resistant cancer cells.
AB  - In a search of small molecules active against apoptosis-resistant cancer cells, a
      series of isatin-based heterocyclic compounds were synthesized and found to
      inhibit proliferation of cancer cell lines resistant to apoptosis. The synthesis
      of these compounds involved a condensation of commercially available, active
      methylene heterocycles with isatin proceeding in moderate to excellent yields.
      The heterocyclic scaffolds prepared in the current investigation appear to be a
      useful starting point for the development of agents to fight cancers with
      apoptosis resistance, and thus, associated with dismal prognoses. 

PMID- 26883151
TI  - Renal Tumors in 26-Week Tg.Rash2 Mice Carcinogenicity Studies.
AB  - We report renal tubular adenomas and a carcinoma in 26-week Tg.rasH2 mouse
      carcinogenicity studies, which have not been reported to date either at our
      facility or in other published data. However, during the year 2014, renal tubular
      tumors were present in 4 studies conducted at our facility. Because of their
      morphological similarity to the amphophilic-vacuolar (AV) phenotypic variant of
      renal tubule tumors noted in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 rats, which are
      thought to be familial, as well as the genetic homogeneity of Tg.rasH2 mice, we
      tracked the parents of these mice with tumors in each study. The origin of these
      tumors could not be traced back to any of the parents or even an animal barrier,
      and these tumors were not attributed to the vehicle or test article. Although the
      exact mechanism of tumorigenesis was not known, based on the available
      information, the development of renal tumors in these mice was considered random
      and spontaneous.

PMID- 26883152
TI  - Tissue Sampling Guides for Porcine Biomedical Models.
AB  - This article provides guidelines for organ and tissue sampling adapted to porcine
      animal models in translational medical research. Detailed protocols for the
      determination of sampling locations and numbers as well as recommendations on the
      orientation, size, and trimming direction of samples from ~50 different porcine
      organs and tissues are provided in the Supplementary Material. The proposed
      sampling protocols include the generation of samples suitable for subsequent
      qualitative and quantitative analyses, including cryohistology, paraffin, and
      plastic histology; immunohistochemistry;in situhybridization; electron
      microscopy; and quantitative stereology as well as molecular analyses of DNA,
      RNA, proteins, metabolites, and electrolytes. With regard to the planned extent
      of sampling efforts, time, and personnel expenses, and dependent upon the
      scheduled analyses, different protocols are provided. These protocols are
      adjusted for (I) routine screenings, as used in general toxicity studies or in
      analyses of gene expression patterns or histopathological organ alterations, (II)
      advanced analyses of single organs/tissues, and (III) large-scale sampling
      procedures to be applied in biobank projects. Providing a robust reference for
      studies of porcine models, the described protocols will ensure the efficiency of
      sampling, the systematic recovery of high-quality samples representing the entire
      organ or tissue as well as the intra-/interstudy comparability and
      reproducibility of results. 

PMID- 26883153
TI  - Swine in Translational Research and Drug Development.

PMID- 26883154
TI  - Sexual Maturation in the Female Gottingen Minipig.
AB  - In the literature, experimental data on sexual maturation of female Gottingen
      minipigs are lacking. This may impede a reliable evaluation of reproductive
      functioning, particularly in the young (immature) sow used in toxicity studies.
      To find suitable method(s) to detect ovulation during in-life, a pilot study was
      performed with 3 adult sows (approximately 10-11 months), followed by a study
      with 14 immature females (approximately 3-4 months). From the tested parameters,
      progesterone analysis was the most reliable predictor. First progesterone peaks
      were observed in 13 sows at 3.7-4.2 or 5.5-6.5 months with a cycle length of 17
      22 days. One sow did not show progesterone release until necropsy at 7 months of
      age. Histopathology of the reproductive organs confirmed sexual maturity for all
      sows, except the one without progesterone peak. In conclusion, the age range of
      sexual maturity of female Gottingen minipigs (3.7-6.5 months) is much wider than
      previously thought, and in-life progesterone analysis is a useful tool to
      determine sexual maturity of individual animals. 

PMID- 26883155
TI  - A Translational Model for Diet-related Atherosclerosis: Effect of Statins on
      Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis in a Minipig.
AB  - Models of atherosclerosis are used in preclinical studies but often fail to
      translate to humans. A model that better reflects human atherosclerosis is
      necessary. We recently engineered the ExeGenTM low-density lipoprotein receptor
      (LDLR) miniswine, in which the LDL receptor gene is modified to drive
      hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, and showed diet-related exacerbation of
      these phenotypes. Five groups of animals, either wild type (+/+) or heterozygous
      (+/-), were fed either a normal or high-fat diet for 6 months. One group of
      heterozygous pigs fed a high-fat diet was also administered atorvastatin at 3
      mg/kg/day. Clinical chemistry and anatomic pathology parameters were measured
      biweekly and at termination. The high-fat diet resulted in increased adiposity
      and interspersion of adipocytes within the salivary glands. The heterozygous pigs
      on the high-fat diet gained more weight and had significant increases in total
      cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and LDL compared to wild-type animals or
      heterozygous animals fed a normal diet. Atorvastatin attenuated these parameters,
      indicating the statin had a beneficial effect, even in a high-fat diet scenario.
      Atorvastatin treatment also reduced the intensity of Oil Red O staining in pigs
      on high-fat diet. Atorvastatin-related amelioration of several indices of
      cardiovascular pathophysiology in this model underscores its utility for drug
      discovery. 

PMID- 26883156
TI  - In Reply: Tranexamic Acid Benefits Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients Regardless
      of Preoperative Hemoglobin Value.

PMID- 26883157
TI  - Radiation Exposure During Fluoro-Assisted Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Utilization of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip
      arthroplasty (THA) has increased in the last decade with fluoroscopy often used
      to confirm implant position, leg length, and offset. Radiation exposure
      thresholds around 800 mGy are published for the risk of cataracts. We
      hypothesized that surgeon eye exposure during fluoro-assisted DAA total hip
      arthroplasty would be well below these published thresholds. METHODS: Three
      experienced orthopedic surgeons performed 30 consecutive fluoro-assisted DAA
      THAs. During each procedure, the surgeon wore a helmet-mounted dosimeter. After
      30 consecutive cases, the dosimeters were analyzed. A chart review was then
      completed to obtain fluoroscopic data saved for each individual case including
      fluoroscopic time, total radiation dose, and radiation tech experience. RESULTS:
      Fluoroscopic data were available for 89 of 90 cases (98.8%). Surgeon 1 had an
      average fluoroscopic time of 18.51 seconds, radiation dose of 2.396 mGy, and tech
      experience of 13.06 years. Surgeon 2 had an average fluoroscopic time of 15.63
      seconds, radiation dose of 2.139 mGy, and tech experience of 23.69 years. Surgeon
      3 had an average fluoroscopic time of 11.06 seconds, radiation dose of 1.462 mGy,
      and tech experience of 16.03 years. The dosimeter results were 8, 5, and <1 mrem,
      respectively, for each surgeon. The mean total radiation dose per case for all
      surgeons was 2.00 mGy (+/-1.31), and there was no correlation between radiation
      dose and radiologic tech experience (0.089, P > .05) or radiation dose and
      patients' body mass index (0.260, P = .014). CONCLUSIONS: Each surgeon would need
      to perform >300,000 DAA THAs to exceed the 800-mGy cataract threshold dose. The
      decision to wear protective glasses should be at the surgeon's discretion;
      however, the findings in this study show a very low radiation dose to the
      surgeon's eye regardless of radiologic tech experience or patient's body mass
      index.

PMID- 26883158
TI  - Conversion of a Surgically Arthrodesed Knee to a Total Knee Arthroplasty-Is it
      Worth it? A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Conversion of a surgically arthrodesed knee to total knee
      arthroplasty (TKA) is an option for a select group of patients who are not
      satisfied with their results. However, there is a paucity of literature on this
      topic. A systematic review of literature was performed to (1) describe the
      overall demographic characteristics; (2) evaluate the clinical outcomes; (3)
      determine the overall rate of complications; and (4) evaluate the overall
      satisfaction of patients who underwent conversion of an arthrodesed knee to TKA.
      METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was systematically performed to
      evaluate all studies included in the literature until July 2015. The specific
      search terms used were "fusion knee" and "arthrodesis knee," which revealed a
      total of 2206 studies. A review and selection of these abstracts were then
      performed based on inclusion and/or exclusion criteria; a total of 10 articles
      were used for final review. RESULTS: There were a total of 98 surgically
      arthrodesed knees that subsequently underwent TKA. Patients had a mean age of 55
      years and were followed up for a mean of 5 years. Using a random effects model,
      there was an overall complication rate of 47%, an overall revision rate of 25%,
      and an overall failure rate of 11%. However, most patients were overall satisfied
      with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Fusion takedown is a challenging procedure that
      should only be performed by experienced surgeons after extensive discussion with
      the patients. The clinical outcomes are good with overall patient satisfaction,
      but complication rates are high including risk of repeat fusion or amputation.

PMID- 26883159
TI  - Interaction of EGFR to delta-catenin leads to delta-catenin phosphorylation and
      enhances EGFR signaling.
AB  - Expression of delta-catenin reportedly increases during late stage prostate
      cancer. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that expression of EGFR is enhanced
      in hormone refractory prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the
      possible correlation between EGFR and delta-catenin in prostate cancer cells. We
      found that EGFR interacted with delta-catenin and the interaction decreased in
      the presence of EGF. We also demonstrated that, on one hand, EGFR phosphorylated
      delta-catenin in a Src independent manner in the presence of EGF and on the other
      hand, delta-catenin enhanced protein stability of EGFR and strengthened the
      EGFR/Erk1/2 signaling pathway. Our findings added a new perspective to the
      interaction of EGFR to the E-cadherin complex. They also provided novel insights
      to the roles of delta-catenin in prostate cancer cells. 

PMID- 26883160
TI  - Top-down control of arousal and sleep: Fundamentals and clinical implications.
AB  - Mammalian sleep emerges from attenuated activity in the ascending reticular
      arousal system (ARAS), the main arousal network of the brain. This system
      originates in the brainstem and activates the thalamus and cortex during
      wakefulness via a well-characterized 'bottom-up' pathway. Recent studies propose
      that a less investigated cortico-thalamic 'top-down' pathway also regulates
      sleep. The present work integrates the current evidence on sleep regulation with
      a focus on the 'top-down' pathway and explores the potential to translate this
      information into clinically relevant interventions. Specifically, we elaborate
      the concept that arousal and sleep continuity in humans can be modulated by non
      invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques that increase or decrease cortical
      excitability. Based on preclinical studies, the modulatory effects of the
      stimulation are thought to extend to subcortical arousal networks. Further
      exploration of the 'top-down' regulation of sleep and its modulation through non
      invasive brain stimulation techniques may contribute to the development of novel
      treatments for clinical conditions of disrupted arousal and sleep, which are
      among the major health problems worldwide.

PMID- 26883162
TI  - Surgicopathologic correlations regarding lymphatics in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

PMID- 26883161
TI  - Sleep propensity in psychiatric hypersomnolence: A systematic review and meta
      analysis of multiple sleep latency test findings.
AB  - Hypersomnolence plays a sizeable role in the course and morbidity of psychiatric
      disorders. Current sleep medicine nosology is reliant on the multiple sleep
      latency test (MSLT) to segregate hypersomnolence associated with psychiatric
      disorders from other central nervous system causes. However, the evidence base
      regarding sleep propensity in psychiatric hypersomnolence as measured by the MSLT
      has not been systematically evaluated, which is vital to clarify the utility and
      validity of current nosological schema. In this review, the use of sleep
      propensity assessed by the MSLT in patients with psychiatric hypersomnolence is
      systematically evaluated, using both qualitative and quantitative assessment.
      Findings demonstrate high heterogeneity and potential for bias among studies,
      with a pooled estimate of sleep propensity among patients with psychiatric
      hypersomnolence similar to normative values. Additionally, approximately 25% of
      patients with psychiatric hypersomnolence demonstrate a mean sleep latency below
      8 min, the current cutpoint to define pathologic sleepiness. These data
      underscore the limitations of the MSLT in segregating psychiatric hypersomnolence
      from other central nervous system hypersomnias. Further research is warranted to
      evaluate novel measures and biomarkers of excessive sleepiness to advance
      clinical practice, as well as dimensional approaches to classification of
      hypersomnolence disorders.

PMID- 26883163
TI  - Perioperative mortality: Analysis of 3 years of operative data across 7 general
      surgical projects of Medecins Sans Frontieres in Democratic Republic of Congo,
      Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The African continent has the greatest burden of surgical disability
      adjusted life years, yet the least is known about operative care here. This
      analysis describes the surgical patients admitted to 7 hospitals supported by the
      Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) over 3 years in 3 conflict-affected countries
      Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
      METHODS: A standardized operative data collection tool was used for routine
      collection of operative inpatient data between 2011 and 2013 at 7 MSF surgical
      facilities. Surgical records of 14,482 patients were analyzed to describe
      surgical epidemiology, major procedures, and perioperative mortality. The
      perioperative mortality rate (POMR) was calculated within 2 days of admission
      (POMR2) and within 30 days from admission (POMR30). The POMR is used as a marker
      of quality of operative care. RESULTS: Caesarean delivery was the most common
      major procedure performed and had a POMR30 of 5.28 per 1,000 admissions. The
      overall inpatient mortality was 19.67 per 1,000 admissions. Children had greater
      POMR than adults for the same procedure types (47.97 vs 15.89 deaths per 1,000
      admissions, P < .001); 85.1% of all major procedures were emergency procedures
      and between 3 and 30% of admissions were related to violence. After adjustment,
      perioperative death was associated with emergency surgery, violence, and age
      younger than 15 years. CONCLUSION: POMRs varied by age group and type of major
      procedure performed. Collecting surgical data is achievable and can inform future
      planning and support for national surgical programs. More information is needed
      on operative outcomes in adults and children in low-resource settings to improve
      quality and access to care.

PMID- 26883164
TI  - Luminescent platinum(II) complexes with functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene or
      diphosphine selectively probe mismatched and abasic DNA.
AB  - The selective targeting of mismatched DNA overexpressed in cancer cells is an
      appealing strategy in designing cancer diagnosis and therapy protocols. Few
      luminescent probes that specifically detect intracellular mismatched DNA have
      been reported. Here we used Pt(II) complexes with luminescence sensitive to
      subtle changes in the local environment and report several Pt(II) complexes that
      selectively bind to and identify DNA mismatches. We evaluated the complexes' DNA
      binding characteristics by ultraviolet/visible absorption titration, isothermal
      titration calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance and quantum mechanics/molecular
      mechanics calculations. These Pt(II) complexes show up to 15-fold higher emission
      intensities upon binding to mismatched DNA over matched DNA and can be utilized
      for both detecting DNA abasic sites and identifying cancer cells and human tissue
      samples with different levels of mismatch repair. Our work highlights the
      potential of luminescent Pt(II) complexes to differentiate between normal cells
      and cancer cells which generally possess more aberrant DNA structures. 

PMID- 26883166
TI  - Reference values for time- and frequency-domain heart rate variability measures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has become an
      established procedure in recent decades. Because there are no appropriate
      reference values available, HRV findings can still only be compared within a
      group or in individuals in longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the
      present study were to examine a group of healthy subjects of different ages and
      sexes and to identify reference values for common HRV parameters. METHODS: Long
      term 24-hour electrocardiograms of 695 voluntary subjects were recorded by using
      a 2-channel Holter system over a period of 24 hours during daily activities.
      RESULTS: Reference values for men and women in 10-year age groups were calculated
      for standard deviation of NN intervals, root mean square of successive
      differences of NN intervals, standard deviation of the average of all consecutive
      5-minute NN intervals, percentage of consecutive NN intervals that deviate from
      one another by more than 50 ms, low-frequency power normalized unit, high
      frequency power normalized unit, low frequency/high frequency ratio, SD1, and
      SD2. The 5th and 95th percentiles were given for each sex and for the age groups
      20-30, 30-40, 40-50, and 50-60 years. We observed a consistent decrease in HRV
      measures with increasing age as well as a sex dependency of HRV findings.
      CONCLUSION: We studied a large group of healthy subjects and identified reference
      values for commonly used HRV measures for 24-hour ECG measurements. The reference
      values differed considerably from the values published in 1996 in the Guidelines
      of the Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American
      Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. In the future, steps should be taken to
      expand the database and define reference values for the age groups under 20 and
      over 60 years. It would be desirable to obtain reference values for short-term
      recordings (eg, 5-minute recordings) as well.

PMID- 26883168
TI  - Frailty Assessment in Advanced Heart Failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have recently demonstrated the value of frailty
      assessment in a general heart failure (HF) population; however, it is unknown
      whether these findings are also applicable in advanced HF. We investigated the
      utility of frailty assessment and its prognostic value in elderly patients with
      advanced HF. METHODS: Forty consecutive elderly subjects aged >=65 years, with
      left ventricular ejection fraction <=35%, New York Heart Association class III or
      IV, and a 6-minute walk test <300 m were enrolled from the HF clinic at
      Montefiore Medical Center between October 2012 and July 2013. Subjects were
      assessed for frailty with the Fried Frailty Index, consisting of 5 components:
      hand grip strength, 15-foot walk time, weight loss, physical activity, and
      exhaustion. All subjects were prospectively followed for death or
      hospitalization. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age of the cohort was 74.9 +/-
      6.5 years, 58% female, left ventricular ejection fraction 25.6 +/- 6.4%, 6-minute
      walk test 195.8 +/- 74.3 m and length of follow-up 454 +/- 186 days. Thirty-five
      percent were prefrail and 65% were frail. Frailty status was associated with the
      combined primary endpoint of mortality and all-cause hospitalization (hazard
      ratio [HR] 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-3.25, P = .013). On individual
      analysis, frailty was associated with all-cause hospitalizations (HR 1.92, 95% CI
      1.12-3.27, P = .017) and non-HF hospitalizations (HR 3.31, 95% CI 1.14- 9.6, P =
      .028), but was not associated with HF hospitalizations alone (HR 1.31, 95% CI
      0.68-2.49, P = .380). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty assessment in patients with advanced
      HF is feasible and provides prognostic value. These findings warrant validation
      in a larger cohort.

PMID- 26883167
TI  - Insufficiency of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase is risk for lean
      non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
AB  - Although obesity is undoubtedly major risk for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
      (NASH), the presence of lean NASH patients with normal body mass index has been
      recognized. Here, we report that the insufficiency of phosphatidylethanolamine N
      methyltransferase (PEMT) is a risk for the lean NASH. The Pemt-/- mice fed high
      fat-high sucrose (HFHS) diet were protected from diet-induced obesity and
      diabetes, while they demonstrated prominent steatohepatitis and developed
      multiple liver tumors. Pemt exerted inhibitory effects on p53-driven
      transcription by forming the complex with clathrin heavy chain and p53, and Pemt
      /- mice fed HFHS diet demonstrated prominent apoptosis of hepatocytes.
      Furthermore, hypermethylation and suppressed mRNA expression of F-box protein 31
      and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha resulted in the prominent activation of
      cyclin D1. PEMT mRNA expression in liver tissues of NASH patients was
      significantly lower than those with simple steatosis and we postulated the
      distinct clinical entity of lean NASH with insufficiency of PEMT activities.

PMID- 26883169
TI  - SPECT/CT Imaging of Pluronic Nanocarriers with Varying Poly(ethylene oxide) Block
      Length and Aggregation State.
AB  - Optimal biodistribution and prolonged circulation of nanocarriers improve
      diagnostic and therapeutic effects of enhanced permeability and retention-based
      nanomedicines. Despite extensive use of Pluronics in polymer-based
      pharmaceuticals, the influence of different poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block
      length and aggregation state on the biodistribution of the carriers is rather
      unexplored. In this work, we studied these effects by evaluating the
      biodistribution of Pluronic unimers and cross-linked micelles with different PEO
      block size. In vivo biodistribution of (111)In-radiolabeled Pluronic nanocarriers
      was investigated in healthy mice using single photon emission computed
      tomography. All carriers show fast uptake in the organs from the
      reticuloendothelial system followed by a steady elimination through the
      hepatobiliary tract and renal filtration. The PEO block length affects the
      initial renal clearance of the compounds and the overall liver uptake. The
      aggregation state influences the long-term accumulation of the nanocarriers in
      the liver. We showed that the circulation time and elimination pathways can be
      tuned by varying the physicochemical properties of Pluronic copolymers. Our
      results can be beneficial for the design of future Pluronic-based nanomedicines.

PMID- 26883170
TI  - Self-organization of network dynamics into local quantized states.
AB  - Self-organization and pattern formation in network-organized systems emerges from
      the collective activation and interaction of many interconnected units. A
      striking feature of these non-equilibrium structures is that they are often
      localized and robust: only a small subset of the nodes, or cell assembly, is
      activated. Understanding the role of cell assemblies as basic functional units in
      neural networks and socio-technical systems emerges as a fundamental challenge in
      network theory. A key open question is how these elementary building blocks
      emerge, and how they operate, linking structure and function in complex networks.
      Here we show that a network analogue of the Swift-Hohenberg continuum model-a
      minimal-ingredients model of nodal activation and interaction within a complex
      network-is able to produce a complex suite of localized patterns. Hence, the
      spontaneous formation of robust operational cell assemblies in complex networks
      can be explained as the result of self-organization, even in the absence of
      synaptic reinforcements. 

PMID- 26883165
TI  - Mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in neurodegenerative diseases through
      nitroxidative stress.
AB  - Mitochondria are important for providing cellular energy ATP through the
      oxidative phosphorylation pathway. They are also critical in regulating many
      cellular functions including the fatty acid oxidation, the metabolism of
      glutamate and urea, the anti-oxidant defense, and the apoptosis pathway.
      Mitochondria are an important source of reactive oxygen species leaked from the
      electron transport chain while they are susceptible to oxidative damage, leading
      to mitochondrial dysfunction and tissue injury. In fact, impaired mitochondrial
      function is commonly observed in many types of neurodegenerative diseases,
      including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease,
      alcoholic dementia, brain ischemia-reperfusion related injury, and others,
      although many of these neurological disorders have unique etiological factors.
      Mitochondrial dysfunction under many pathological conditions is likely to be
      promoted by increased nitroxidative stress, which can stimulate post
      translational modifications (PTMs) of mitochondrial proteins and/or oxidative
      damage to mitochondrial DNA and lipids. Furthermore, recent studies have
      demonstrated that various antioxidants, including naturally occurring flavonoids
      and polyphenols as well as synthetic compounds, can block the formation of
      reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species, and thus ultimately prevent the PTMs of
      many proteins with improved disease conditions. Therefore, the present review is
      aimed to describe the recent research developments in the molecular mechanisms
      for mitochondrial dysfunction and tissue injury in neurodegenerative diseases and
      discuss translational research opportunities.

PMID- 26883171
TI  - Structural analysis of disease-related TDP-43 D169G mutation: linking enhanced
      stability and caspase cleavage efficiency to protein accumulation.
AB  - The RNA-binding protein TDP-43 forms intracellular inclusions in amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis (ALS). While TDP-43 mutations have been identified in ALS
      patients, how these mutations are linked to ALS remains unclear. Here we examined
      the biophysical properties of six ALS-linked TDP-43 mutants and found that one of
      the mutants, D169G, had higher thermal stability than wild-type TDP-43 and that
      it was cleaved by caspase 3 more efficiently, producing increased levels of the C
      terminal 35 kD fragments (TDP-35) in vitro and in neuroblastoma cells. The
      crystal structure of the TDP-43 RRM1 domain containing the D169G mutation in
      complex with DNA along with molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the D169G
      mutation induces a local conformational change in a beta turn and increases the
      hydrophobic interactions in the RRM1 core, thus enhancing the thermal stability
      of the RRM1 domain. Our results provide the first crystal structure of TDP-43
      containing a disease-linked D169G mutation and a disease-related mechanism
      showing that D169G mutant is more susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by caspase
      3 into the pathogenic C-terminal 35-kD fragments due to its increased stability
      in the RRM1 domain. Modulation of TDP-43 stability and caspase cleavage
      efficiency could present an avenue for prevention and treatment of TDP-43-linked
      neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26883172
TI  - Correction to Sargaquinoic Acid Inhibits TNF-alpha-Induced NF-kappaB Signaling,
      Thereby Contributing to Decreased Monocyte Adhesion to Human Umbilical Vein
      Endothelial Cells (HUVECs).

PMID- 26883173
TI  - Reduced Graphene Oxide Thin Film on Conductive Substrates by Bipolar
      Electrochemistry.
AB  - Recent years have shown an increased interest in developing manufacturing
      processes for graphene and its derivatives that consider the environmental impact
      and large scale cost-effectiveness. However, today's most commonly used synthesis
      routes still suffer from their excessive use of harsh chemicals and/or the
      complexity and financial cost of the process. Furthermore, the subsequent
      transfer of the material onto a substrate makes the overall process even more
      intricate and time-consuming. Here we describe a single-step, single-cell
      preparation procedure of metal-supported reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using the
      principle of bipolar electrochemistry of graphite in deionized water. Under the
      effect of an electric field between two stainless steel feeder electrodes,
      grapheme layers at the anodic pole of the wireless graphite were oxidized into
      colloidal dispersion of GO, which migrated electrophoretically towards the anodic
      side of the cell, and deposited in the form of rGO (d(002) = 0.395 nm) by van der
      Waals forces. For substrates chemically more susceptible to the high anodic
      voltage, we show that the electrochemical setup can be adapted by placing the
      latter between the wireless graphite and the stainless steel feeder anode. This
      method is straightforward, inexpensive, environmentally-friendly, and could be
      easily scaled up for high yield and large area production of rGO thin films.

PMID- 26883174
TI  - Surface Diffusion Directed Growth of Anisotropic Graphene Domains on Different
      Copper Lattices.
AB  - Anisotropic graphene domains are of significant interest since the electronic
      properties of pristine graphene strongly depend on its size, shape, and edge
      structures. In this work, considering that the growth of graphene domains is
      governable by the dynamics of the graphene-substrate interface during growth, we
      investigated the shape and defects of graphene domains grown on copper lattices
      with different indices by chemical vapor deposition of methane at either low
      pressure or atmospheric pressure. Computational modeling identified that the
      crystallographic orientation of copper strongly influences the shape of the
      graphene at low pressure, yet does not play a critical role at atmospheric
      pressure. Moreover, the defects that have been previously observed in the center
      of four-lobed graphene domains grown under low pressure conditions were
      demonstrated for the first time to be caused by a lattice mismatch between
      graphene and the copper substrate.

PMID- 26883176
TI  - Electronic Effects of Aluminum Complexes in the Copolymerization of Propylene
      Oxide with Tricyclic Anhydrides: Access to Well-Defined, Functionalizable
      Aliphatic Polyesters.
AB  - The synthesis of well-defined and functionalizable aliphatic polyesters remains a
      key challenge in the advancement of emerging drug delivery and self-assembly
      technologies. Herein, we investigate the factors that influence the rates of
      undesirable transesterification and epimerization side reactions at high
      conversion in the copolymerization of tricyclic anhydrides with excess propylene
      oxide using aluminum salen catalysts. The structure of the tricyclic anhydride,
      the molar ratio of the aluminum catalyst to the nucleophilic cocatalyst, and the
      Lewis acidity of the aluminum catalyst all influence the rates of these side
      reactions. Optimal catalytic activity and selectivity against these side
      reactions requires a careful balance of all these factors. Effective suppression
      of undesirable transesterification and epimerization was achieved even with
      sterically unhindered monomers using a fluorinated aluminum salph complex with a
      substoichiometric amount of a nucleophilic cocatalyst. This process can be used
      to synthesize well-defined block copolymers via a sequential addition strategy. 

PMID- 26883175
TI  - Synergistic interactions of blood-borne immune cells, fibroblasts and
      extracellular matrix drive repair in an in vitro peri-implant wound healing
      model.
AB  - Low correlations of cell culture data with clinical outcomes pose major medical
      challenges with costly consequences. While the majority of biomaterials are
      tested using in vitro cell monocultures, the importance of synergistic
      interactions between different cell types on paracrine signalling has recently
      been highlighted. In this proof-of-concept study, we asked whether the first
      contact of surfaces with whole human blood could steer the tissue healing
      response. This hypothesis was tested using alkali-treatment of rough titanium
      (Ti) surfaces since they have clinically been shown to improve early implant
      integration and stability, yet blood-free in vitro cell cultures poorly
      correlated with in vivo tissue healing. We show that alkali-treatment, compared
      to native Ti surfaces, increased blood clot thickness, including platelet
      adhesion. Strikingly, blood clots with entrapped blood cells in synergistic
      interactions with fibroblasts, but not fibroblasts alone, upregulated the
      secretion of major factors associated with fast healing. This includes matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMPs) to break down extracellular matrix and the growth
      factor VEGF, known for its angiogenic potential. Consequently, in vitro test
      platforms, which consider whole blood-implant interactions, might be superior in
      predicting wound healing in response to biomaterial properties. 

PMID- 26883177
TI  - Second-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: evaluation of prognostic
      factors and review of current literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: FOLFIRINOX is a standard first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic
      cancer (aPC) and no accepted second-line regimen exists. MATERIAL & METHODS: We
      enrolled 71 aPC patients progressed to modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) treated
      with second-line chemotherapy. RESULTS: Five partial responses (7.1%) and 19
      (27.1%) disease stabilizations were reported. After a median follow-up of 20.1
      months, median progression-free survival was 2.5 months (95% CI: 2.1-2.9 months)
      and median overall survival was 6.2 months (95% CI: 5.3-7.1 months). At
      multivariate analysis, CA19.9 level >= 59 upper normal limit resulted associated
      with worse survival (hazard ratio: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.12-4.78; p = 0.023).
      CONCLUSION: Salvage chemotherapy could be useful for a subgroup of aPC patients.
      Prognostic factors might be helpful to identify patients with greater benefit.

PMID- 26883178
TI  - In situ Raman spectroscopy of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 anode material in Li-ion
      batteries - investigation of SEI growth.
AB  - The (de)lithiation process of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 has been investigated by in
      situ Raman spectroscopy. Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) products were
      detected. Their detection may result from a temporary surface enhancement Raman
      effect from Zn nanoparticles formed in the conversion reaction at a potential
      that coincides with SEI formation. 

PMID- 26883179
TI  - High-Performance Flexible Solid-State Carbon Cloth Supercapacitors Based on
      Highly Processible N-Graphene Doped Polyacrylic Acid/Polyaniline Composites.
AB  - Improving the solubility of conductive polymers to facilitate processing usually
      decreases their conductivity, and they suffer from poor cycling stability due to
      swelling-shrinking during charging cycles. We circumvent these problems with a
      novel preparation method for nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) enhanced polyacrylic
      acid/polyaniline (NG-PAA/PANI) composites, ensuring excellent processibility for
      scalable production. The content of PANI is maximized under the constraint of
      still allowing defect-free coatings on filaments of carbon cloth (CC). The NG
      content is then adjusted to optimize specific capacitance. The optimal CC
      electrodes have 32 wt.% PANI and 1.3 wt.% NG, thus achieving a high capacitance
      of 521 F/g at 0.5 F/g. A symmetric supercapacitor made from 20 wt.% PANI CC
      electrodes has more than four times the capacitance (68 F/g at 1 A/g) of
      previously reported flexible capacitors based on PANI-carbon nanotube composites,
      and it retains the full capacitance under large bending angles. The capacitor
      exhibits high energy and power densities (5.8 Wh/kg at 1.1 kW/kg), a superior
      rate capability (still 81% of the 1 A/g capacitance at 10 A/g), and long-term
      electrochemical stability (83.2% retention after 2000 cycles).

PMID- 26883180
TI  - Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Epigenetic changes as well as genetic changes are mechanisms of tumorigenesis. We
      aimed to identify novel genes that are silenced by DNA hypermethylation in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We screened for genes with promoter DNA
      hypermethylation using a genome-wide methylation microarray analysis in primary
      HCC (the discovery set). The microarray analysis revealed that there were 2,670
      CpG sites that significantly differed in regards to the methylation level between
      the tumor and non-tumor liver tissues; 875 were significantly hypermethylated and
      1,795 were significantly hypomethylated in the HCC tumors compared to the non
      tumor tissues. Further analyses using methylation-specific PCR, combined with
      expression analysis, in the validation set of primary HCC showed that, in
      addition to three known tumor-suppressor genes (APC, CDKN2A, and GSTP1), eight
      genes (AKR1B1, GRASP, MAP9, NXPE3, RSPH9, SPINT2, STEAP4, and ZNF154) were
      significantly hypermethylated and downregulated in the HCC tumors compared to the
      non-tumor liver tissues. Our results suggest that epigenetic silencing of these
      genes may be associated with HCC.

PMID- 26883181
TI  - Global Health Governance and Global Power: A Critical Commentary on the Lancet
      University of Oslo Commission Report.
AB  - The Lancet-University of Oslo Commission Report on Global Governance for Health
      provides an insightful analysis of the global health inequalities that result
      from transnational activities consequent on what the authors call contemporary
      "global social norms." Our critique is that the analysis and suggested reforms to
      prevailing institutions and practices are confined within the perspective of the
      dominant-although unsustainable and inequitable-market-oriented, neoliberal
      development model of global capitalism. Consequently, the report both elides
      critical discussion of many key forms of material and political power under
      conditions of neoliberal development and governance that shape the nature and
      priorities of the global governance for health, and fails to point to the extent
      of changes required to sustainably improve global health. We propose that an
      alternative concept of progress-one grounded in history, political economy, and
      ecologically responsible health ethics-is sorely needed to better address
      challenges of global health governance in the new millennium. This might be
      premised on global solidarity and the "development of sustainability." We argue
      that the prevailing market civilization model that lies at the heart of global
      capitalism is being, and will further need to be, contested to avoid
      contradictions and dislocations associated with the commodification and
      privatization of health. 

PMID- 26883182
TI  - The devil is in the details: the effect of population structure on demographic
      inference.

PMID- 26883183
TI  - Pleistocene divergence across a mountain range and the influence of selection on
      mitogenome evolution in threatened Australian freshwater cod species.
AB  - Climatic differences across a taxon's range may be associated with specific
      bioenergetic demands and may result in genetics-based metabolic adaptation,
      particularly in aquatic ectothermic organisms that rely on heat exchange with the
      environment to regulate key physiological processes. Extending down the east
      coast of Australia, the Great Dividing Range (GDR) has a strong influence on
      climate and the evolutionary history of freshwater fish species. Despite the GDR
      acting as a strong contemporary barrier to fish movement, many species, and
      species with shared ancestries, are found on both sides of the GDR, indicative of
      historical dispersal events. We sequenced complete mitogenomes from the four
      extant species of the freshwater cod genus Maccullochella, two of which occur on
      the semi-arid, inland side of the GDR, and two on the mesic coastal side. We
      constructed a dated phylogeny and explored the relative influences of purifying
      and positive selection in the evolution of mitogenome divergence among species.
      Results supported mid- to late-Pleistocene divergence of Maccullochella across
      the GDR (220-710 thousand years ago), bringing forward previously reported dates.
      Against a background of pervasive purifying selection, we detected potentially
      functionally relevant fixed amino acid differences across the GDR. Although many
      amino acid differences between inland and coastal species may have become fixed
      under relaxed purifying selection in coastal environments rather than positive
      selection, there was evidence of episodic positive selection acting on specific
      codons in the Mary River coastal lineage, which has consistently experienced the
      warmest and least extreme climate in the genus.

PMID- 26883184
TI  - Spatial patterns of AFLP diversity in Bulbophyllum occultum (Orchidaceae)
      indicate long-term refugial isolation in Madagascar and long-distance
      colonization effects in La Reunion.
AB  - Bulbophyllum occultum, an epiphytic orchid mainly distributed in the rainforests
      of (north)eastern Madagascar and La Reunion, represents an interesting model case
      for testing the effects of anthropogenic vs historical (e.g., climate induced)
      habitat isolation and long-distance colonization on the genetic structure of
      plant species with disjunct distributions in the Madagascan region. To this aim,
      we surveyed amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) across 13 populations
      in Madagascar and nine in La Reunion (206 individuals in total). We found overall
      high levels of population subdivision (Phi(PT)=0.387) and low within-population
      diversity (H(E), range: 0.026-0.124), indicating non-equilibrium conditions in a
      mainly selfing species. There was no impact of recent deforestation (Madagascar)
      or habitat disturbance (La Reunion) detectable on AFLP diversity. K-means
      clustering and BARRIER analyses identified multiple gene pools and several
      genetic breaks, both within and among islands. Inter-island levels of population
      genetic diversity and subdivision were similar, whereby inter-individual
      divergence in flower colour explained a significant part of gene pool divergence
      in La Reunion. Our results suggest that (i) B. occultum persisted across multiple
      isolated ('refugial') regions along the eastern rainforest corridor of Madagascar
      over recent climatic cycles and (ii) populations in La Reunion arose from either
      single or few independent introductions from Madagascar. High selfing rates and
      sufficient time for genetic drift likely promoted unexpectedly high population
      genetic and phenotypic (flower colour) differentiation in La Reunion. Overall,
      this study highlights a strong imprint of history on the genetic structure of a
      low-gene-dispersing epiphytic orchid from the Madagascan region.

PMID- 26883185
TI  - 61Ni synchrotron radiation-based Mossbauer spectroscopy of nickel-based
      nanoparticles with hexagonal structure.
AB  - We measured the synchrotron-radiation (SR)-based Mossbauer spectra of Ni-based
      nanoparticles with a hexagonal structure that were synthesised by chemical
      reduction. To obtain Mossbauer spectra of the nanoparticles without (61)Ni
      enrichment, we developed a measurement system for (61)Ni SR-based Mossbauer
      absorption spectroscopy without X-ray windows between the (61)Ni84V16 standard
      energy alloy and detector. The counting rate of the (61)Ni nuclear resonant
      scattering in the system was enhanced by the detection of internal conversion
      electrons and the close proximity between the energy standard and the detector.
      The spectrum measured at 4 K revealed the internal magnetic field of the
      nanoparticles was 3.4 +/- 0.9 T, corresponding to a Ni atomic magnetic moment of
      0.3 Bohr magneton. This differs from the value of Ni3C and the theoretically
      predicted value of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp)-Ni and suggested the nanoparticle
      possessed intermediate carbon content between hcp-Ni and Ni3C of approximately 10
      atomic % of Ni. The improved (61)Ni Mossbauer absorption measurement system is
      also applicable to various Ni materials without (61)Ni enrichment, such as Ni
      hydride nanoparticles.

PMID- 26883186
TI  - Quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS: a cross-country comparison study
      of Finland and Portugal.
AB  - The premises underlying the development of the World Health Organization Quality
      of Life (WHOQOL) instruments provide a convincing rationale for comparing quality
      of life (QoL) across countries. The aim of the present study was to compare the
      QoL of patients living with HIV infection in Finland and in Portugal, and to
      examine the contribution of the QoL domains to the overall QoL in these two
      countries. The sample comprised 453 patients from Finland (76.3% male; mean age =
      46.50) and 975 from Portugal (69.2% male; mean age = 40.98), all living with HIV.
      QoL data were collected by use of the WHOQOL-HIV-Bref questionnaire. Significant
      country differences were found in QoL domains and specific facets. Patients from
      Finland reported markedly higher scores on all six QoL domains and general facet,
      than did their Portuguese counterparts. Regarding the specific facets of the
      WHOQOL-HIV-Bref, patients from Finland also reported significantly higher scores
      on 24 out of 29. The exceptions were dependence on medications and treatment,
      positive feelings, personal relationships, sexual activity, and on spirituality,
      religion and personal beliefs. Regression analyses showed that physical,
      psychological, and independence domains contributed to overall QoL among the
      Finnish patients (R(2) = 0.63), whereas among the Portuguese, the domains
      significantly associated with overall QoL were physical, psychological,
      independence, and environment (R(2) = 0.48). Country differences in QoL domains
      and specific facets may reflect sociocultural differences between southern and
      northern Europe.

PMID- 26883187
TI  - Does size matter? Examining the effect of obesity on inpatient amputation
      rehabilitation outcomes.
AB  - Purpose This study investigated whether obesity impacted clinical outcomes of
      patients at discharge from inpatient amputation rehabilitation. Method This was a
      retrospective chart review examining admissions for lower extremity amputation
      rehabilitation at a Canadian Regional Amputee Rehabilitation Programme between
      December 2011 and June 2014. Discharge outcomes were predefined as the two-minute
      walk test (2MWT), the L-test of functional mobility and the SIGAM score. These
      were compared between each body mass index (BMI) group (underweight   < 18.4
      kg/m2, normal between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2, overweight between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2
      and obese greater or equal to 30 kg/m2) as a whole and within transtibial,
      transfemoral and bilateral amputation groups. Results Of the 289 admissions
      meeting inclusion criteria, only underweight patients walked significantly less
      distance on the 2MWT than normal weight patients. There were group differences in
      the L-test, but post hoc testing was unable to qualify the differences. No
      significant difference was found in the SIGAM score. There were no significant
      differences found in the 2MWT, L-test or SIGAM when patients were grouped by
      amputation level. Conclusions Obesity does not appear to significantly impact
      inpatient amputation rehabilitation outcomes such as the 2MWT, L-test or SIGAM
      score. As such, obesity should not be a deciding factor as to whether a patient
      is offered rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Obesity is increasing
      in prevalence and is comorbid with peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, the
      leading causes of lower extremity amputation. Function is compromised in the
      obese general population when compared to non-obese individuals. Obesity does not
      seem to confer a disadvantage with regards to validated outcomes, such as the 2
      min walk test, L-test or SIGAM score at discharge after inpatient amputation
      rehabilitation. Obesity should not be a barrier to offering inpatient
      rehabilitation to amputation patients.

PMID- 26883188
TI  - Benefits of training India's quacks.

PMID- 26883189
TI  - The efficacy of blueberry and grape seed extract combination on triple therapy
      for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for gastritis, gastric ulcers and
      gastric cancer. Traditional therapy with proton pump inhibitor and antibiotics is
      regarded as optimal for H. pylori eradication whereas, the eradication rate is
      unsatisfactory. Studies have reported that cranberry may inhibit H. pylori
      adhesion to the human gastric mucus but lack of other berry extracts have been
      evaluated in clinical study. Thus, a 9-week add-on randomised controlled trial
      was conducted to explore the impact of blueberry and grape seed extract (BGE)
      combinations traditional therapy for H. pylori eradication. In results, we found
      that there was no significant difference of eradication rate between the berry
      extract group and placebo group in the intention-to-treat analysis and in the per
      protocol analysis (94.64% versus 84.62%, p = 0.085). Diarrhoea, constipation and
      epigastric pain were observed increasing during ingestion of the berry extract in
      some cases. In conclusion, this study indicated that no significant difference
      existed between the BGE extract group and placebo group in eradication rate under
      triple therapy. 

PMID- 26883190
TI  - Role of MIF/CD74 signaling pathway in the development of pleural mesothelioma.
AB  - Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine
      implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. MIF is overexpressed in
      various tumors. It displays a number of functions that provide a direct link
      between the process of inflammation and tumor growth. Our group recently
      identified the MIF-receptor CD74 as an independent prognostic factor for overall
      survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.In the present study, we
      compared the levels of expression of MIF and CD74 in different human mesothelioma
      cell lines and investigated their physiopathological functions in vitro and in
      vivo.Human mesothelioma cells expressed more CD74 and secreted less MIF than non
      tumoral MeT5A cells, suggesting a higher sensitivity to MIF. In mesothelioma
      cells, high MIF levels were associated with a high multiplication rate of cells.
      In vitro, reduction of MIF or CD74 levels in both mesothelioma cell lines showed
      that the MIF/CD74 signaling pathway promoted tumor cell proliferation and
      protected MPM cells from apoptosis. Finally, mesothelioma cell lines expressing
      high CD74 levels had a low tumorigenic potential after xenogeneic implantation in
      athymic nude mice.All these data highlight the complexity of the MIF/CD74
      signaling pathway in the development of mesothelioma. 

PMID- 26883191
TI  - CCL-34, a synthetic toll-like receptor 4 activator, modulates differentiation and
      maturation of myeloid dendritic cells.
AB  - CCL-34, a synthetic alpha-galactosylceramide analog, has been reported as an
      activator of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in macrophages. TLR4 is highly expressed
      in dendritic cell (DC) and several TLR4 agonists are known to trigger DC
      maturation. We herein evaluated the effect of CCL-34 on DC maturation. Human
      CD14+ monocyte-derived immature DC were treated with CCL-34, its inactive
      structural analog CCL-44, or LPS to assess the DC maturation. CCL-34 induced DC
      maturation according to their characteristically dendrite-forming morphology,
      CD83 expression and IL-12p70 production. The allostimulatory activity of DC on
      proliferation of naive CD4+CD45+RA+ T cells and their secretion of interferon
      gamma was increased by CCL-34. Phagocytosis, an important function of immature
      DC, was reduced after CCL-34 treatment. All these effects related to DC
      maturation were evidently induced by positive control LPS but not by CCL-44
      treatment. TLR4 neutralization impaired human DC maturation triggered by CCL-34.
      The induction of IL-12, a hallmark of DC maturation, by CCL-34 and LPS was only
      evident in TLR4-competent C3H/HeN, but not in TLR4-defective C3H/HeJ mice. CCL-34
      could further elicit the antigen presentation capability in mice inoculated with
      doxorubicin-treated colorectal cancer cells. In summary, CCL-34 triggers DC
      maturation via a TLR4-dependent manner, which supports its potential application
      as an immunostimulator. 

PMID- 26883192
TI  - Global proteomic profiling in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis and identification
      of PARP1 as a novel molecular marker in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The more accurate biomarkers have long been desired for hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC). Here, we characterized global large-scale proteomics of multistep
      hepatocarcinogenesis in an attempt to identify novel biomarkers for HCC.
      Quantitative data of 37874 sequences and 3017 proteins during
      hepatocarcinogenesis were obtained in cohort 1 of 75 samples (5 pooled groups:
      normal livers, hepatitis livers, cirrhotic livers, peritumoral livers, and HCC
      tissues) by iTRAQ 2D LC-MS/MS. The diagnostic performance of the top six most
      upregulated proteins in HCC group and HSP70 as reference were subsequently
      validated in cohort 2 of 114 samples (hepatocarcinogenesis from normal livers to
      HCC) using immunohistochemistry. Of seven candidate protein markers, PARP1, GS
      and NDRG1 showed the optimal diagnostic performance for HCC. PARP1, as a novel
      marker, showed comparable diagnostic performance to that of classic markers GS
      and NDRG1 in HCC (AUCs = 0.872, 0.856 and 0.792, respectively). A significant
      higher AUC of 0.945 was achieved when three markers combined. For diagnosis of
      HCC, the sensitivity and specificity were 88.2% and 81.0% when at least two of
      the markers were positive. Similar diagnostic values of PARP1, GS and NDRG1 were
      confirmed by immunohistochemistry in cohort 3 of 180 HCC patients. Further
      analysis indicated that PARP1 and NDRG1 were associated with some
      clinicopathological features, and the independent prognostic factors for HCC
      patients. Overall, global large-scale proteomics on spectrum of multistep
      hepatocarcinogenesis are obtained. PARP1 is a novel promising
      diagnostic/prognostic marker for HCC, and the three-marker panel (PARP1, GS and
      NDRG1) with excellent diagnostic performance for HCC was established. 

PMID- 26883193
TI  - Identification of novel pathways linking epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
      with resistance to HER2-targeted therapy.
AB  - Resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapies
      in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer is a major clinical problem. To
      identify pathways linked to resistance, we generated HER2-positive breast cancer
      cell lines which are resistant to either lapatinib or AZD8931, two pan-HER family
      kinase inhibitors. Resistance was HER2 independent and was associated with
      epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), resulting in increased proliferation
      and migration of the resistant cells. Using a global proteomics approach, we
      identified a novel set of EMT-associated proteins linked to HER2-independent
      resistance. We demonstrate that a subset of these EMT-associated genes is
      predictive of prognosis within the ERBB2 subtype of human breast cancers.
      Furthermore, targeting the EMT-associated kinases Src and Axl potently inhibited
      proliferation of the resistant cells, and inhibitors to these kinases may provide
      additional options for the treatment of HER2-independent resistance in tumors. 

PMID- 26883194
TI  - Integrated genomic approaches identify upregulation of SCRN1 as a novel mechanism
      associated with acquired resistance to erlotinib in PC9 cells harboring oncogenic
      EGFR mutation.
AB  - Therapies targeting the tyrosine kinase activity of Epidermal Growth Factor
      Receptor (EGFR) have been proven to be effective in treating a subset of non
      small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring activating EGFR mutations.
      Inevitably these patients develop resistance to the EGFR-targeted tyrosine kinase
      inhibitors (TKIs). Here, we performed integrated genomic analyses using an in
      vitro system to uncover alternative genomic mechanisms responsible for acquired
      resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Specifically, we identified 80 genes whose expression is
      significantly increased in the erlotinib-resistant clones. RNAi-based systematic
      synthetic lethal screening of these candidate genes revealed that suppression of
      one upregulated transcript, SCRN1, a secernin family member, restores sensitivity
      to erlotinib by enhancing inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore,
      immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased levels of SCRN1 in 5 of 11 lung
      tumor specimens from EGFR-TKIs resistant patients. Taken together, we propose
      that upregulation of SCRN1 is an additional mechanism associated with acquired
      resistance to EGFR-TKIs and that its suppression serves as a novel therapeutic
      strategy to overcome drug resistance in these patients. 

PMID- 26883195
TI  - Osteoactivin (GPNMB) ectodomain protein promotes growth and invasive behavior of
      human lung cancer cells.
AB  - The potential application of GPNMB/OA as a therapeutic target for lung cancer
      will require a greater understanding of the impact of GPNMB/OA ectodomain (ECD)
      protein shedding into tumor tissues. Thus, in this work we characterized GPNMB/OA
      expression and extent of shedding of its ECD protein while evaluating the impact
      on lung cancer progression using three non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell
      lines: A549, SK-MES-1 and calu-6. We observed a direct correlation (R2 = 0.89)
      between GPNMB/OA expression on NSCLC cells and the extent of GPNMB/OA ECD protein
      shedding. Meanwhile, siRNA-mediated knockdown of GPNMB/OA in cancer cells
      significantly reduced GPNMB/OA ECD protein shedding, migration, invasion and
      adhesion to extracellular matrix materials. Also, exogenous treatment of cancer
      cells (expressing low GPNMB/OA) with recombinant GPNMB/OA protein (rOA)
      significantly facilitated cell invasion and migration, but the effects of rOA was
      negated by inclusion of a selective RGD peptide. Further studies in athymic
      (nu/nu) mice-bearing calu-6 showed that intratumoral supplementation with rOA
      effectively facilitated in vivo tumor growth as characterized by a high number of
      proliferating cells (Ki67 staining) coupled with a low number of apoptotic cells.
      Taken together, our results accentuate the relevance of GPNMB/OA ECD protein
      shedding to progression of lung cancer. Thus, strategies that suppress GPNMB/OA
      expression on lung cancer cells as well as negate shedding of GPNMB/OA ECD
      protein are worthy of consideration in lung cancer therapeutics. 

PMID- 26883196
TI  - Wip1 phosphatase: between p53 and MAPK kinases pathways.
AB  - Cells undergoing oncogenic transformation frequently inactivate tumor suppressor
      pathways that could prevent their uncontrolled growth. Among those pathways p53
      and p38MAPK pathways play a critical role in regulation of cell cycle, senescence
      and cell death in response to activation of oncogenes, stress and DNA damage.
      Consequently, these two pathways are important in determining the sensitivity of
      tumor cells to anti-cancer treatment. Wild type p53-induced phosphatase, Wip1, is
      involved in governance of both pathways. Recently, strategies directed to
      manipulation with Wip1 activity proposed to advance current day anticancer
      treatment and novel chemical compounds synthesized to improve specificity of
      manipulation with Wip1 activity. Here we reviewed the history of Wip1 studies in
      vitro and in vivo, in genetically modified animal models that support Wip1 role
      in tumorigenesis through regulation of p53 and p38MAPK pathways. Based on our
      knowledge we propose several recommendations for future more accurate studies of
      Wip1 interactions with other pathways involved in tumorigenesis using recently
      developed tools and for adoption of Wip1 manipulation strategies in anti-cancer
      therapy. 

PMID- 26883197
TI  - Induction of cancer testis antigen expression in circulating acute myeloid
      leukemia blasts following hypomethylating agent monotherapy.
AB  - Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are promising cancer associated antigens in solid
      tumors, but in acute myeloid leukemia, dense promoter methylation silences their
      expression. Leukemia cell lines exposed to HMAs induce expression of CTAs. We
      hypothesized that AML patients treated with standard of care decitabine (20mg/m2
      per day for 10 days) would demonstrate induced expression of CTAs. Peripheral
      blood blasts serially isolated from AML patients treated with decitabine were
      evaluated for CTA gene expression and demethylation. Induction of NY-ESO-1 and
      MAGEA3/A6, were observed following decitabine. Re-expression of NY-ESO-1 and
      MAGEA3/A6 was associated with both promoter specific and global (LINE-1)
      hypomethylation. NY-ESO-1 and MAGEA3/A6 mRNA levels were increased irrespective
      of clinical response, suggesting that these antigens might be applicable even in
      patients who are not responsive to HMA therapy. Circulating blasts harvested
      after decitabine demonstrate induced NY-ESO-1 expression sufficient to activate
      NY-ESO-1 specific CD8+ T-cells. Induction of CTA expression sufficient for
      recognition by T-cells occurs in AML patients receiving decitabine. Vaccination
      against NY-ESO-1 in this patient population is feasible. 

PMID- 26883198
TI  - CRP2, a new invadopodia actin bundling factor critically promotes breast cancer
      cell invasion and metastasis.
AB  - A critical process underlying cancer metastasis is the acquisition by tumor cells
      of an invasive phenotype. At the subcellular level, invasion is facilitated by
      actin-rich protrusions termed invadopodia, which direct extracellular matrix
      (ECM) degradation. Here, we report the identification of a new cytoskeletal
      component of breast cancer cell invadopodia, namely cysteine-rich protein 2
      (CRP2). We found that CRP2 was not or only weakly expressed in epithelial breast
      cancer cells whereas it was up-regulated in mesenchymal/invasive breast cancer
      cells. In addition, high expression of the CRP2 encoding gene CSRP2 was
      associated with significantly increased risk of metastasis in basal-like breast
      cancer patients. CRP2 knockdown significantly reduced the invasive potential of
      aggressive breast cancer cells, whereas it did not impair 2D cell migration. In
      keeping with this, CRP2-depleted breast cancer cells exhibited a reduced capacity
      to promote ECM degradation, and to secrete and express MMP-9, a matrix
      metalloproteinase repeatedly associated with cancer progression and metastasis.
      In turn, ectopic expression of CRP2 in weakly invasive cells was sufficient to
      stimulate cell invasion. Both GFP-fused and endogenous CRP2 localized to the
      extended actin core of invadopodia, a structure primarily made of actin bundles.
      Purified recombinant CRP2 autonomously crosslinked actin filaments into thick
      bundles, suggesting that CRP2 contributes to the formation/maintenance of the
      actin core. Finally, CRP2 depletion significantly reduced the incidence of lung
      metastatic lesions in two xenograft mouse models of breast cancer. Collectively,
      our data identify CRP2 as a new cytoskeletal component of invadopodia that
      critically promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis. 

PMID- 26883199
TI  - Improved cell metabolism prolongs photoreceptor survival upon retinal-pigmented
      epithelium loss in the sodium iodate induced model of geographic atrophy.
AB  - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by malfunction and loss
      of retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells. Because the RPE transfers nutrients
      from the choriocapillaris to photoreceptor (PR), PRs are affected as well.
      Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of AMD characterized by severe vision
      impairment due to RPE loss over large areas. Currently there is no treatment to
      delay the degeneration of nutrient deprived PRs once RPE cells die. Here we show
      that cell-autonomous activation of the key regulator of cell metabolism, the
      kinase mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), delays PR death in the
      sodium iodate induced model of RPE atrophy. Consistent with this finding loss of
      mTORC1 in cones accelerates cone death as cones fail to balance demand with
      supply. Interestingly, promoting rod survival does not promote cone survival in
      this model of RPE atrophy as both, rods and cones suffer from a sick and dying
      RPE. The findings suggest that activation of metabolic genes downstream of mTORC1
      can serve as a strategy to prolong PR survival when RPE cells malfunction or die.

PMID- 26883200
TI  - SREBP-2 promotes stem cell-like properties and metastasis by transcriptional
      activation of c-Myc in prostate cancer.
AB  - Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) transcription factor mainly
      controls cholesterol biosynthesis and homeostasis in normal cells. The role of
      SREBP-2 in lethal prostate cancer (PCa) progression remains to be elucidated.
      Here, we showed that expression of SREBP-2 was elevated in advanced pathologic
      grade and metastatic PCa and significantly associated with poor clinical
      outcomes. Biofunctional analyses demonstrated that SREBP-2 induced PCa cell
      proliferation, invasion and migration. Furthermore, overexpression of SREBP-2
      increased the PCa stem cell population, prostasphere-forming ability and tumor
      initiating capability, whereas genetic silencing of SREBP-2 inhibited PCa cell
      growth, stemness, and xenograft tumor growth and metastasis. Clinical and
      mechanistic data showed that SREBP-2 was positively correlated with c-Myc and
      induced c-Myc activation by directly interacting with an SREBP-2-binding element
      in the 5'-flanking c-Myc promoter region to drive stemness and metastasis.
      Collectively, these clinical and experimental results reveal a novel role of
      SREBP-2 in the induction of a stem cell-like phenotype and PCa metastasis, which
      sheds light on translational potential by targeting SREBP-2 as a promising
      therapeutic approach in PCa. 

PMID- 26883201
TI  - Decision aid on breast cancer screening reduces attendance rate: results of a
      large-scale, randomized, controlled study by the DECIDEO group.
AB  - Controversies regarding the benefits of breast cancer screening programs have led
      to the promotion of new strategies taking into account individual preferences,
      such as decision aid. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a
      decision aid leaflet on the participation of women invited to participate in a
      national breast cancer screening program. This Randomized, multicentre,
      controlled trial. Women aged 50 to 74 years, were randomly assigned to receive
      either a decision aid or the usual invitation letter. Primary outcome was the
      participation rate 12 months after the invitation. 16 000 women were randomized
      and 15 844 included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The
      participation rate in the intervention group was 40.25% (3174/7885 women)
      compared with 42.13% (3353/7959) in the control group (p = 0.02). Previous
      attendance for screening (RR = 6.24; [95%IC: 5.75-6.77]; p < 0.0001) and medium
      household income (RR = 1.05; [95%IC: 1.01-1.09]; p = 0.0074) were independently
      associated with attendance for screening. This large-scale study demonstrates
      that the decision aid reduced the participation rate. The decision aid activate
      the decision making process of women toward non-attendance to screening. These
      results show the importance of promoting informed patient choices, especially
      when those choices cannot be anticipated. 

PMID- 26883202
TI  - A novel small molecule STAT3 inhibitor, LY5, inhibits cell viability, colony
      formation, and migration of colon and liver cancer cells.
AB  - Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) is persistently
      activated in human liver and colon cancer cells and is required for cancer cell
      viability, survival and migration. Therefore, inhibition of STAT3 signaling may
      be a viable therapeutic approach for these two cancers. We recently designed a
      non-peptide small molecule STAT3 inhibitor, LY5, using in silico site-directed
      Fragment-based drug design (FBDD). The inhibitory effect on STAT3
      phosphorylation, cell viability, migration and colony forming ability by LY5 were
      examined in human liver and colon cancer cells. We demonstrated that LY5
      inhibited constitutive Interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced STAT3 phosphorylation, STAT3
      nuclear translocation, decreased STAT3 downstream targeted gene expression and
      induced apoptosis in liver and colon cancer cells. LY5 had little effect on STAT1
      phosphorylation mediated by IFN-gamma. Inhibition of persistent STAT3
      phosphorylation by LY5 also inhibited colony formation, cell migration, and
      decreased the viability of liver cancer and colon cancer cells. Furthermore, LY5
      inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and suppressed colon tumor growth in a mouse
      model in vivo. Our results suggest that LY5 is a potent STAT3 inhibitor and may
      be a potential drug candidate for liver and colon cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26883203
TI  - Serum metabolomic profiling facilitates the non-invasive identification of
      metabolic biomarkers associated with the onset and progression of non-small cell
      lung cancer.
AB  - Lung cancer (LC) is responsible for most cancer deaths. One of the main factors
      contributing to the lethality of this disease is the fact that a large proportion
      of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when a clinical intervention is
      unlikely to succeed. In this study, we evaluated the potential of metabolomics by
      1H-NMR to facilitate the identification of accurate and reliable biomarkers to
      support the early diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC).We found that the metabolic profile of NSCLC patients, compared with
      healthy individuals, is characterized by statistically significant changes in the
      concentration of 18 metabolites representing different amino acids, organic acids
      and alcohols, as well as different lipids and molecules involved in lipid
      metabolism. Furthermore, the analysis of the differences between the metabolic
      profiles of NSCLC patients at different stages of the disease revealed the
      existence of 17 metabolites involved in metabolic changes associated with disease
      progression.Our results underscore the potential of metabolomics profiling to
      uncover pathophysiological mechanisms that could be useful to objectively
      discriminate NSCLC patients from healthy individuals, as well as between
      different stages of the disease. 

PMID- 26883204
TI  - Altools: a user friendly NGS data analyser.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genotyping by re-sequencing has become a standard approach to
      estimate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity, haplotype structure and
      the biodiversity and has been defined as an efficient approach to address
      geographical population genomics of several model species. To access core SNPs
      and insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indels), and to infer the phyletic patterns
      of speciation, most such approaches map short reads to the reference genome.
      Variant calling is important to establish patterns of genome-wide association
      studies (GWAS) for quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and to determine the
      population and haplotype structure based on SNPs, thus allowing content-dependent
      trait and evolutionary analysis. Several tools have been developed to investigate
      such polymorphisms as well as more complex genomic rearrangements such as copy
      number variations, presence/absence variations and large deletions. The programs
      available for this purpose have different strengths (e.g. accuracy, sensitivity
      and specificity) and weaknesses (e.g. low computation speed, complex installation
      procedure and absence of a user-friendly interface). Here we introduce Altools, a
      software package that is easy to install and use, which allows the precise
      detection of polymorphisms and structural variations. RESULTS: Altools uses the
      BWA/SAMtools/VarScan pipeline to call SNPs and indels, and the dnaCopy algorithm
      to achieve genome segmentation according to local coverage differences in order
      to identify copy number variations. It also uses insert size information from the
      alignment of paired-end reads and detects potential large deletions. A double
      mapping approach (BWA/BLASTn) identifies precise breakpoints while ensuring rapid
      elaboration. Finally, Altools implements several processes that yield deeper
      insight into the genes affected by the detected polymorphisms. Altools was used
      to analyse both simulated and real next-generation sequencing (NGS) data and
      performed satisfactorily in terms of positive predictive values, sensitivity, the
      identification of large deletion breakpoints and copy number detection.
      CONCLUSIONS: Altools is fast, reliable and easy to use for the mining of NGS
      data. The software package also attempts to link identified polymorphisms and
      structural variants to their biological functions thus providing more valuable
      information than similar tools.

PMID- 26883206
TI  - Multi-platform mass spectrometry analysis of the CSF and plasma metabolomes of
      rigorously matched amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and control
      subjects.
AB  - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are protein
      aggregation diseases that lack clear molecular etiologies. Biomarkers could aid
      in diagnosis, prognosis, planning of care, drug target identification and
      stratification of patients into clinical trials. We sought to characterize shared
      and unique metabolite perturbations between ALS and PD and matched controls
      selected from patients with other diagnoses, including differential diagnoses to
      ALS or PD that visited our clinic for a lumbar puncture. Cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF) and plasma from rigorously age-, sex- and sampling-date matched patients
      were analyzed on multiple platforms using gas chromatography (GC) and liquid
      chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS). We applied constrained randomization
      of run orders and orthogonal partial least squares projection to latent structure
      effect projections (OPLS-EP) to capitalize upon the study design. The combined
      platforms identified 144 CSF and 196 plasma metabolites with diverse molecular
      properties. Creatine was found to be increased and creatinine decreased in CSF of
      ALS patients compared to matched controls. Glucose was increased in CSF of ALS
      patients and alpha-hydroxybutyrate was increased in CSF and plasma of ALS
      patients compared to matched controls. Leucine, isoleucine and ketoleucine were
      increased in CSF of both ALS and PD. Together, these studies, in conjunction with
      earlier studies, suggest alterations in energy utilization pathways and have
      identified and further validated perturbed metabolites to be used in panels of
      biomarkers for the diagnosis of ALS and PD. 

PMID- 26883207
TI  - Pregnancy-induced adaptations of the central circadian clock and maternal
      glucocorticoids.
AB  - Maternal physiological adaptations, such as changes to the hypothalamic-pituitary
      adrenal (HPA) axis, are central to pregnancy success. Circadian variation of the
      HPA axis is dependent on clock gene rhythms in the hypothalamus, but it is not
      known whether pregnancy-induced changes in maternal glucocorticoid levels are
      mediated via this central clock. We hypothesized that hypothalamic expression of
      clock genes changes across mouse pregnancy and this is linked to altered HPA
      activity. The anterior hypothalamus and maternal plasma were collected from
      C57Bl/6J mice prior to pregnancy and on days 6, 10, 14 and 18 of gestation
      (term=d19), across a 24-h period (0800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 0000, 0400 h).
      Hypothalamic expression of clock genes and Crh was determined by qPCR, plasma
      ACTH concentration measured by Milliplex assay and plasma corticosterone
      concentration by LC-MS/MS. Expression of all clock genes varied markedly across
      gestation, most notably at mid-gestation when levels of each gene were elevated.
      The pregnancy-induced increase in maternal corticosterone levels (by up to 14
      fold on day 14) was not accompanied by a parallel shift in plasma ACTH (28% lower
      on day 14 compared with non-pregnant levels). Moreover, while circadian
      rhythmicity in corticosterone was maintained up to day 14 of gestation, this was
      effectively lost by day 18. Overall, our data show that the central circadian
      clock undergoes marked adaptations throughout mouse pregnancy, changes that are
      likely to contribute to maternal physiological adaptations. Importantly, however,
      neither hypothalamic clock genes nor plasma ACTH levels appear to drive the
      marked increase in maternal corticosterone after mid-gestation. 

PMID- 26883209
TI  - Phthalocyanine-cRGD conjugate: synthesis, photophysical properties and in vitro
      biological activity for targeting photodynamic therapy.
AB  - An unsymmetrical phthalocyanine conjugated with an RGDyK moiety (6) was
      synthesized and characterized. Its photophysical properties, including electronic
      absorption, fluorescence emission (PhiF = 0.20), singlet oxygen quantum yield
      (PhiDelta = 0.63) and two-photon absorption cross section (TPACS) at different
      wavelengths were studied. The in vitro cell study data demonstrate that this Pc
      conjugate possesses significantly high cellular uptake toward the alphanubeta3
      positive DU145 prostate cancer cells along with an efficient photocytotoxicity
      (IC50 = 0.04 MUM), showing this compound is one of the most promising
      photosensitizers for targeting photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer.

PMID- 26883208
TI  - Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Recovery Attitudes
      Questionnaire (RAQ) among mental health providers: a questionnaire survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: "Recovery" is a central concept in mental health, particularly for
      mental health services and policy-makers. The present study examined the
      factorial and concurrent validity, internal consistency reliability, and test
      retest reliability of the Japanese version of the 7-item Recovery Attitudes
      Questionnaire (RAQ) among mental health service providers in community and
      inpatient settings in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional
      questionnaire with a number of eligible professional groups, including
      psychiatrists, registered/assistant nurses, public health nurses, clinical
      psychologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and social workers.
      Participants were drawn from two psychiatric hospitals and 56 psychiatric clinics
      or community service agencies. In total, 331 participants completed the
      questionnaire. After excluding those with missing RAQ values, 307 participants
      were included in the analysis; the participants' mean age was 40.2 years and 29.6
      % were men. The questionnaire comprised the Japanese version of the 7-item RAQ
      developed by the present authors, the revised scale of the positive attitudes of
      staff toward persons with mental disorder (the positive attitudes scale), and the
      Japanese-language version of the Social Distance Scale (SDSJ). Confirmatory
      factor analyses were used to examine factorial validity of a two-factor structure
      reported in a previous study (Borkin et al., 2000) as well as a single-factor
      structure. Concurrent validity was determined by calculating correlations between
      RAQ and the other two scales. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with
      Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations. Test-retest
      reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with a
      weighted kappa in a subsample of participants (n = 13). RESULTS: The two-factor
      structure showed acceptable factorial validity. RAQ scores were significantly and
      positively correlated with the positive attitudes scale, and there was a
      significant inverse correlation with the SDSJ (p < 0.01). The RAQ had an overall
      Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.64. Four inter-item correlations were not
      significant. The ICC and weighted kappa values indicated unsatisfactory test
      retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The Japanese RAQ showed acceptable factorial
      validity, reasonable concurrent validity, and unsatisfactory reliability in
      community and inpatient mental health settings in Japan. Further large-scale
      research is required to ensure robust verification.

PMID- 26883210
TI  - Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of physicians in low and middle-income countries
      regarding interacting with pharmaceutical companies: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the perceptions and attitudes of physicians is
      important. This knowledge assists in the efforts to reduce the impact of their
      interactions with the pharmaceutical industry on clinical practice. It appears
      that most studies on such perceptions and attitudes have been conducted in high
      income countries. The objective was to systematically review the knowledge,
      beliefs and attitudes of physicians in low and middle-income countries regarding
      interactions with pharmaceutical companies. METHODS: Eligible studies addressed
      any type of interaction between physicians and pharmaceutical companies. The
      outcomes of interest included knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of practicing
      physicians. The search strategy covered MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Two
      reviewers completed in duplicate and independently study selection, data
      abstraction, and assessment of methodological features. The data synthesis
      consisted of a narrative summary of the findings stratified by knowledge, beliefs
      and attitudes. RESULTS: We included ten reports from nine eligible studies, each
      of which had a number of methodological limitations. Four studies found that the
      top perceived benefits of this interaction were receiving information and
      rewards. In five out of eight studies assessing the perception regarding the
      impact of the interaction on the behavior of physician prescription, the majority
      of participants believed it to be minor. In one of these studies, participants
      perceived that impact to be lesser when asked about their own behavior. The
      attitudes of physicians towards information and rewards provided by
      pharmaceutical company representatives (PCRs) (assessed in 5 and 2 studies
      respectively) varied across studies. In the only study assessing their attitudes
      towards pharmaceutical-sponsored Continuing Medical Education, physicians
      considered local conferences to have higher impact. Their attitudes towards
      developing policies restricting physicians' interactions with PCRs were positive
      in two studies. In one study, the majority of participants did not mind the
      public knowing that physicians were receiving gifts and awards from drug
      companies. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified few studies conducted in low and
      middle-income countries. While physicians generally perceived the impact of
      interactions on their behavior to be minor, their attitudes toward receiving
      information and rewards varied across studies.

PMID- 26883211
TI  - Medical savings accounts: assessing their impact on efficiency, equity and
      financial protection in health care.
AB  - Medical savings accounts (MSAs) allow enrolees to withdraw money from earmarked
      funds to pay for health care. The accounts are usually accompanied by out-of
      pocket payments and a high-deductible insurance plan. This article reviews the
      association of MSAs with efficiency, equity, and financial protection. We draw on
      evidence from four countries where MSAs play a significant role in the financing
      of health care: China, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States of America.
      The available evidence suggests that MSA schemes have generally been inefficient
      and inequitable and have not provided adequate financial protection. The impact
      of these schemes on long-term health-care costs is unclear. Policymakers and
      others proposing the expansion of MSAs should make explicit what they seek to
      achieve given the shortcomings of the accounts. 

PMID- 26883212
TI  - Agromyces insulae sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a soil sample.
AB  - A novel Gram-reaction-positive, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated CFH
      S0483T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Catba island in Halong
      Bay, Vietnam. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain is a member
      of the genus Agromyces and has highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with
      Agromyces humatus DSM 16389T (97.3 %) and Agromyces ramosus DSM 43045T (97.1 %),
      and similarities  < 97.0 % with type strains of other species of the genus
      Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T was able to grow at 10-37  degrees C, at pH 7.0-9.0
      and tolerated NaCl up to 2.0 % (w/v). The whole-cell sugars were mannose,
      galactose, glucose and ribose. The isolate contained l-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, d
      alanine, d-glutamic acid and glycine in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Strain CFH
      S0483T exhibited a menaquinone system with MK-12, and the major fatty acids were
      anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of
      strain CFH S0483T was 71.6 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic
      analysis, and low DNA-DNA hybridization values, strain CFH S0483T could not be
      classified into any recognized species of the genus Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T
      is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for
      which the name Agromyces insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH
      S0483T ( = KCTC 39117T = CCTCC AB 2014301T). 

PMID- 26883213
TI  - Mild versus moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease: three-year outcomes in a
      routine clinical setting of cholinesterase inhibitor therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in cognitive and functional outcomes
      in the respective stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in novel therapies
      particularly for the milder phases of AD. Our aim was to describe and compare
      various aspects of disease progression in patients with mild versus moderate AD
      in routine clinical practice of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) therapy. METHODS:
      This 3-year, prospective, observational, multicentre study included 1021
      participants. Of these, 734 had mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
      score, 20-26) and 287 had moderate AD (MMSE score, 10-19) at the start of ChEI
      treatment. At baseline and every 6 months, patients were assessed using
      cognitive, global, instrumental and basic activities of daily living (ADL)
      scales. Potential predictors of deterioration in moderate AD were analysed using
      mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The change from baseline between participants with
      mild and moderate stages of AD after 3 years of ChEI therapy differed
      significantly on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale
      (ADAS-cog) and basic ADL, but not using the MMSE and instrumental ADL scales.
      Protective independent factors for better cognitive long-term outcome in the
      group with moderate AD were older age, higher instrumental ADL ability, no
      antipsychotics, usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/acetylsalicylic
      acid, living with family member, lower education and a higher mean dose of ChEI.
      Apolipoprotein E genotype did not influence the rates of disease progression or
      the longitudinal outcomes. Prediction models were provided for moderate AD.
      CONCLUSIONS: More sensitive cognitive measures, such as the ADAS-cog scale, are
      required to detect a possibly faster deterioration among the participants with
      moderate AD. This study highlighted the clinical importance of instrumental ADL
      evaluations in patients at a mild stage of AD, and the importance of optimizing
      the ChEI dose even for individuals with moderate AD. Solitary living was a risk
      factor for faster cognitive decline, and probably expanded the need for formal
      care in the group with moderate AD. The patients with more advanced AD and
      presumably more pronounced neuroinflammation might have additional cognitive
      benefits from longer-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs.

PMID- 26883215
TI  - Applicable or non-applicable: investigations of clinical heterogeneity in
      systematic reviews.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical heterogeneity can be defined as differences in participant
      characteristics, types or timing of outcome measurements and intervention
      characteristics. Clinical heterogeneity in systematic reviews has the possibility
      to significantly affect statistical heterogeneity leading to inaccurate
      conclusions and misled decision making. The aim of this study is to identify to
      what extent investigators are assessing clinical heterogeneity in both Cochrane
      and non-Cochrane systematic reviews. METHODS: The most recent 100 systematic
      reviews from the top five journals in medicine-JAMA, Archives of Internal
      Medicine, British Medical Journal, The Lancet, and PLOS Medicine-and the 100 most
      recently published and/or updated systematic reviews from Cochrane were
      collected. Various defined items of clinical heterogeneity were extracted from
      the included reviews. Investigators used chi-squared tests, logarithmic modeling
      and linear regressions to determine if the presence of such items served as a
      predictor for clinical heterogeneity when comparing Cochrane to non-Cochrane
      reviews. Extracted variables include number of studies, number of participants,
      presence of quantitative synthesis, exploration of clinical heterogeneity,
      heterogeneous characteristics explored, basis and methods used for investigating
      clinical heterogeneity, plotting/visual aids, author contact, inferences from
      clinical heterogeneity investigation, reporting assessment, and the presence of a
      priori or post-hoc analysis. RESULTS: A total of 317 systematic reviews were
      considered, of which 199 were in the final analysis. A total of 81% of Cochrane
      reviews and 90% of non-Cochrane reviews explored characteristics that are
      considered aspects of clinical heterogeneity and also described the methods they
      planned to use to investigate the influence of those characteristics. Only 1% of
      non-Cochrane reviews and 8% of Cochrane reviews explored the clinical
      characteristics they initially chose as potential for clinical heterogeneity.
      Very few studies mentioned clinician training, compliance, brand, co
      interventions, dose route, ethnicity, prognostic markers and psychosocial
      variables as covariates to investigate as potentially clinically heterogeneous.
      Addressing aspects of clinical heterogeneity was not different between Cochrane
      and non-Cochrane reviews. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to quantify and compare the
      clinical differences of trials within a meta-analysis is crucial to determining
      its applicability and use in clinical practice. Despite Cochrane Collaboration
      emphasis on methodology, the proportion of reviews that assess clinical
      heterogeneity is less than those of non-Cochrane reviews. Our assessment reveals
      that there is room for improvement in assessing clinical heterogeneity in both
      Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews.

PMID- 26883214
TI  - Hyperammonemia induces glial activation, neuroinflammation and alters
      neurotransmitter receptors in hippocampus, impairing spatial learning: reversal
      by sulforaphane.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with liver cirrhosis and minimal hepatic encephalopathy
      (MHE) show mild cognitive impairment and spatial learning dysfunction.
      Hyperammonemia acts synergistically with inflammation to induce cognitive
      impairment in MHE. Hyperammonemia-induced neuroinflammation in hippocampus could
      contribute to spatial learning impairment in MHE. Two main aims of this work
      were: (1) to assess whether chronic hyperammonemia increases inflammatory factors
      in the hippocampus and if this is associated with microglia and/or astrocytes
      activation and (2) to assess whether hyperammonemia-induced neuroinflammation in
      the hippocampus is associated with altered membrane expression of glutamate and
      GABA receptors and spatial learning impairment. There are no specific treatments
      for cognitive alterations in patients with MHE. A third aim was to assess whether
      treatment with sulforaphane enhances endogenous the anti-inflammatory system,
      reduces neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of hyperammonemic rats, and restores
      spatial learning and if normalization of receptor membrane expression is
      associated with learning improvement. METHODS: We analyzed the following in
      control and hyperammonemic rats, treated or not with sulforaphane: (1) microglia
      and astrocytes activation by immunohistochemistry, (2) markers of pro
      inflammatory (M1) (IL-1beta, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (M2) microglia (Arg1, YM
      1) by Western blot, (3) membrane expression of GABA, AMPA, and NMDA receptors
      using the BS3 cross-linker, and (4) spatial learning using the radial maze.
      RESULTS: The results reported show that hyperammonemia induces astrocytes and
      microglia activation in the hippocampus, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines IL
      1beta and IL-6. This is associated with altered membrane expression of AMPA,
      NMDA, and GABA receptors which would be responsible for altered neurotransmission
      and impairment of spatial learning in the radial maze. Treatment with
      sulforaphane promotes microglia differentiation from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti
      inflammatory M2 phenotype and reduces activation of astrocytes in hyperammonemic
      rats. This reduces neuroinflammation, normalizes membrane expression of glutamate
      and GABA receptors, and restores spatial learning in hyperammonemic rats.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hyperammonemia-induced neuroinflammation impairs glutamatergic and
      GABAergic neurotransmission by altering membrane expression of glutamate and GABA
      receptors, resulting in impaired spatial learning. Sulforaphane reverses all
      these effects. Treatment with sulforaphane could be useful to improve cognitive
      function in cirrhotic patients with minimal or clinical hepatic encephalopathy.

PMID- 26883216
TI  - Aesthetic Patient-Centric Approach to a Unilateral Zygomaticomaxillary Fracture:
      Computer-Guided Osteotomy of the Non-Injured Side.

PMID- 26883217
TI  - Objective Sensory Changes Following Subfascial Breast Augmentation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sensory changes occur following breast augmentation, and describing
      the incidence, pattern, and course of deficit is important for informed consent.
      OBJECTIVES: To examine sensory changes following subfascial breast augmentation,
      and the influence of change in breast volume caused by an implant. METHODS: One
      hundred and sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing subfascial breast
      augmentation were assessed for sensory changes using a Semmes Weinstein
      monofilament test before surgery, 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively.
      Morphometric measurements allowed a breast volume to be calculated and the
      percentage change in volume produced by the implant. RESULTS: Most women (92.5%)
      regained preoperative levels of sensation in all areas of the breast, excepting
      the lower-outer quadrants (16.15%) by 12 weeks following surgery. Four percent of
      nipple-areolar complexes (NAC) failed return to preoperative levels of
      sensitivity by 12 weeks after surgery. Younger patients or those who have a high
      BMI and a measurably thicker soft tissue envelope were more likely to experience
      sensory deficits. Breast augmentation in this series produced calculated volume
      changes by an implant of between 12.1% and 102.7%. Within these limits there is
      no association between percentage increase in breast volume and sensory deficits.
      CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that for calculated volume increases of up to
      102% of the initial breast volume, sensory loss at 12 weeks after surgery is 4%
      at the NAC. The commonest area of diminished sensitivity is the lower-outer
      quadrant (16.15%), relating to the use of the inframammary crease incision. It
      provides a useful adjunct in monitoring patient recovery following subfascial
      breast augmentation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4: Therapeutic.

PMID- 26883218
TI  - Response to "Commentary on: Microbiologic Safety of the Transareolar Approach in
      Breast Augmentation".

PMID- 26883219
TI  - Modeling correlates of low bone mineral density in patients with phenylalanine
      hydroxylase deficiency.
AB  - Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency is an inherited metabolic disorder
      requiring life-long restriction of dietary protein and phenylalanine-free medical
      food. Low bone mineral density (BMD) is reported, but factors associated with BMD
      Z-score (standard deviations from normal) are unknown. We examined associations
      between clinical and dietary parameters and total BMD Z-score in PAH deficiency
      patients, and developed models to predict Z-score. Data collected from patients
      >4 years of age (n = 88; mean age = 18.8 y; 61 % female) included demographic,
      clinical, laboratory, and dietary intakes. Adjusted Spearman's correlation
      coefficients were calculated between parameters and TBMD Z-score, measured by
      dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Parameters approaching significance (p
      value < 0.10) were candidate predictors for four linear regression models
      predicting TBMD Z-score. To validate, model-predicted Z-scores were compared to
      DXA Z-scores. Mean TBMD Z-score was -0.326; 18 (20.4 %) had Z-score < -1. Z
      scores were positively correlated with dietary vitamin D, calcium, and medical
      food intake and compliance with prescription, and negatively with dietary
      carbohydrate, sugar, caffeine intake, glycemic load, and prescribed medical food
      (grams protein/day; p-value < 0.05). The best model included medical food
      compliance, medical food intake, caffeine intake, and bone-specific alkaline
      phosphatase (r-square = 0.364). This model predicted Z-score category [normal or
      low (<-1)] with sensitivity = 66.7 %, likelihood ratio = 14.7, and AUC = 0.83
      compared to DXA Z-score. No subjects had low BMD for chronological age (Z-score
      <= -2). Compliance with medical food prescription was the strongest predictor of
      TBMD Z-score. One model, if validated in a separate sample of patients with more
      cases of low BMD, showed potential to estimate TBMD Z-score using routine
      clinical patient parameters.

PMID- 26883220
TI  - The impact of the immune system on the safety and efficiency of enzyme
      replacement therapy in lysosomal storage disorders.
AB  - In the light of clinical experience in infantile onset Pompe patients, the
      immunological impact on the tolerability and long-term efficacy of enzyme
      replacement therapy (ERT) for lysosomal storage disorders has come under renewed
      scrutiny. This article details the currently proposed immunological mechanisms
      involved in the development of anti-drug antibodies and the current therapies
      used in their treatment. Given the current understanding of the adaptive immune
      response, it focuses particularly on T cell dependent mechanisms and the paradigm
      of using lymphocytic negative selection as a predictor of antibody formation.
      This concept originally postulated in the 1970s, stipulated that the
      genotypically determined lack of production or production of a variant protein
      determines an individual's lymphocytic repertoire. This in turn is the key factor
      in determining the potential severity of an individual's immunological response
      to ERT. It also highlights the need for immunological assay standardization
      particularly those looking at describing the degree of functional impact, robust
      biochemical or clinical endpoints and detailed patient subgroup identification if
      the true evaluations of impact are to be realised.

PMID- 26883221
TI  - Unreduced gamete formation in wheat * Aegilops spp. hybrids is genotype specific
      and prevented by shared homologous subgenomes.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: The presence of homologous subgenomes inhibited unreduced gamete
      formation in wheat * Aegilops interspecific hybrids. Unreduced gamete rates were
      under the control of the wheat nuclear genome. Production of unreduced gametes is
      common among interspecific hybrids, and may be affected by parental genotypes and
      genomic similarity. In the present study, five cultivars of Triticum aestivum and
      two tetraploid Aegilops species (i.e. Ae. triuncialis and Ae. cylindrica) were
      reciprocally crossed to produce 20 interspecific hybrid combinations. These
      hybrids comprised two different types: T. aestivum * Aegilops triuncialis; 2n =
      ABDU(t)C(t) (which lack a common subgenome) and T. aestivum * Ae. cylindrica; 2n
      = ABDD(c)C(c) (which share a common subgenome). The frequency of unreduced
      gametes in F1 hybrids was estimated in sporads from the frequency of dyads, and
      the frequency of viable pollen, germinated pollen and seed set were recorded.
      Different meiotic abnormalities recorded in the hybrids included precocious
      chromosome migration to the poles at metaphase I and II, laggards in anaphase I
      and II, micronuclei and chromosome stickiness, failure in cell wall formation,
      premature cytokinesis and microspore fusion. The mean frequency of restitution
      meiosis was 10.1 %, and the mean frequency of unreduced viable pollen was 4.84 %
      in T. aestivum * Ae. triuncialis hybrids. By contrast, in T. aestivum * Ae.
      cylindrica hybrids no meiotic restitution was observed, and a low rate of viable
      gametes (0.3 %) was recorded. This study present evidence that high levels of
      homologous pairing between the D and D(c) subgenomes may interfere with meiotic
      restitution and the formation of unreduced gametes. Variation in unreduced gamete
      production was also observed between T. aestivum * Ae. triuncialis hybrid plants,
      suggesting genetic control of this trait.

PMID- 26883222
TI  - Regulation of plant reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stress responses: learning
      from AtRBOHD.
AB  - Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced in plants, as the metabolic
      by-products or as the signaling components in stress responses. High levels of
      ROS are harmful to plants. In contrast, ROS play important roles in plant
      physiology, including abiotic and biotic tolerance, development, and cellular
      signaling. Therefore, ROS production needs to be tightly regulated to balance
      their function. Respiratory burst oxidase homologue (RBOH) proteins, also known
      as plant nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases, are well studied
      enzymatic ROS-generating systems in plants. The regulatory mechanisms of RBOH
      dependent ROS production in stress responses have been intensively studied. This
      has greatly advanced our knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate plant ROS
      production. This review attempts to integrate the regulatory mechanisms of RBOHD
      dependent ROS production by discussing the recent advance. AtRBOHD-dependent ROS
      production could provide a valuable reference for studying ROS production in
      plant stress responses. 

PMID- 26883223
TI  - Assessment of ptxD gene as an alternative selectable marker for Agrobacterium
      mediated maize transformation.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Bacterial phosphite oxidoreductase gene and chemical phosphite can
      be used as a selection system for Agrobacterium -mediated maize transformation.
      Application of phosphite (Phi) on plants can interfere the plant metabolic system
      leading to stunted growth and lethality. On the other hand, ectopic expression of
      the ptxD gene in tobacco and Arabidopsis allowed plants to grow in media with Phi
      as the sole phosphorous source. The phosphite oxidoreductase (PTXD) enzyme
      catalyzes the conversion of Phi into phosphate (Pi) that can then be metabolized
      by plants and utilized as their essential phosphorous source. Here we assess an
      alternative selectable marker based on a bacterial ptxD gene for Agrobacterium
      mediated maize transformation. We compared the transformation frequencies of
      maize using either the ptxD/Phi selection system or a standard herbicide
      bar/bialaphos selection system. Two maize genotypes, a transformation amenable
      hybrid Hi II and an inbred B104, were tested. Transgene presence, insertion copy
      numbers, and ptxD transcript levels were analyzed and compared. This work
      demonstrates that the ptxD/Phi selection system can be used for Agrobacterium
      mediated maize transformation of both type I and type II callus culture and
      achieve a comparable frequency as that of the herbicide bar/bialaphos selection
      system.

PMID- 26883224
TI  - A mutation of casein kinase 2 alpha4 subunit affects multiple developmental
      processes in Arabidopsis.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Arabidopsis CK2 alpha4 subunit regulates the primary root and
      hypocotyl elongation, lateral root formation, cotyledon expansion, rosette leaf
      initiation and growth, flowering, and anthocyanin biosynthesis. Casein kinase 2
      (CK2) is a conserved tetrameric kinase composed of two alpha and two beta
      subunits. The inhibition of CK2 activity usually results in severe developmental
      deficiency. Four genes (CKA1-CKA4) encode CK2 alpha subunit in Arabidopsis.
      Single mutations of CKA1, CKA2, and CKA3 do not affect the normal growth of
      Arabidopsis, while the cka1 cka2 cka3 triple mutants are defective in cotyledon
      and hypocotyl growth, lateral root development, and flowering. The inhibition of
      CKA4 expression in cka1 cka2 cka3 background further reduces the number of
      lateral roots and delays the flowering time. Here, we report the characterization
      of a novel knockout mutant of CKA4, which exhibits various developmental defects
      including reduced primary root and hypocotyl elongation, increased lateral root
      density, delayed cotyledon expansion, retarded rosette leaf initiation and
      growth, and late flowering. The examination of the cellular basis for abnormal
      root development of this mutant revealed reduced root meristem cells with
      enhanced RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED (RBR) expression that promotes cell
      differentiation in root meristem. Moreover, this cka4-2 mutant accumulates higher
      anthocyanin in the aerial part and shows an increased expression of anthocyanin
      biosynthetic genes, suggesting a novel role of CK2 in modulating anthocyanin
      biosynthesis. In addition, the complementation test using primary root elongation
      assay as a sample confirms that the changed phenotypes of this cka4-2 mutant are
      due to the lack of CKA4. Taken together, this study reveals an essential role of
      CK2 alpha4 subunit in multiple developmental processes in Arabidopsis.

PMID- 26883225
TI  - Physiological controls of chrysanthemum DgD27 gene expression in regulation of
      shoot branching.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: DgD27 was cloned from D. grandiflorum for the first time and played
      an important role in shoot branching of chrysanthemum. Shoot branching plays an
      important role in determining plant architecture. D27 was previously proven to be
      involved in the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway in rice, Arabidopsis, and
      Medicago. To investigate the role of D27 in shoot branching of chrysanthemum, we
      isolated the D27 homolog DgD27. Functional analysis showed that DgD27 was a
      plastid-localized protein that restored the phenotype of Arabidopsis d27-1. Gene
      expression analysis revealed that DgD27 was expressed at the highest levels in
      stem, and was up-regulated by exogenous auxin. Decapitation could down-regulate
      DgD27 expression, but this effect could be restored by exogenous auxin. DgD27
      expression was significantly down-regulated by dark treatment in axillary buds.
      In addition, DgD27 transcripts produced rapid responses in shoots and roots under
      conditions of phosphate absence, but only mild variation in responses in buds,
      stems, and roots with low nitrogen treatment. DgBRC1 transcripts also showed the
      same response in buds under low nitrogen conditions. Under phosphate deficiency,
      indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels increased, zeatin riboside levels decreased,
      and abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased in the shoot, while both IAA and ABA
      levels increased in the shoot under low nitrogen treatments. Gibberellin acid
      levels were unaffected by phosphate deficiency and low nitrogen treatments. Taken
      together, these results demonstrated the diverse roles of DgD27 in response to
      physiological controls in chrysanthemum shoot branching.

PMID- 26883226
TI  - Magnaporthe oryzae effectors MoHEG13 and MoHEG16 interfere with host infection
      and MoHEG13 counteracts cell death caused by Magnaporthe-NLPs in tobacco.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Adapted pathogens are able to modulate cell responses of their hosts
      most likely due to the activity of secreted effector molecules thereby enabling
      colonisation by ostensible nonhost pathogens. It is postulated that host and
      nonhost pathogens of a given plant species differ in their repertoire of secreted
      effector molecules that are able to suppress plant resistance. We pursued the
      strategy of identifying novel effectors of Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent
      of blast disease, by comparing the infection process of closely related host vs.
      nonhost Magnaporthe species on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). When both types of
      pathogen simultaneously attacked the same cell, the nonhost isolate became a
      successful pathogen possibly due to potent effectors secreted by the host
      isolate. Microarray studies led to a set of M. oryzae Hypothetical Effector Genes
      (MoHEGs) which were classified as Early- and LateMoHEGs according to the maximal
      transcript abundance during colonization of barley. Interestingly, orthologs of
      these MoHEGs from a nonhost pathogen were similarly regulated when investigated
      in a host situation, suggesting evolutionary conserved functions. Knockout
      mutants of MoHEG16 from the group of EarlyMoHEGs were less virulent on barley and
      microscopic studies revealed an attenuated transition from epidermal to mesophyll
      colonization. MoHEG13, a LateMoHEG, was shown to antagonize cell death induced by
      M. oryzae Necrosis-and ethylene-inducing-protein-1 (Nep1)-like proteins in
      Nicotiana benthamiana. MoHEG13 has a virulence function as a knockout mutant
      showed attenuated disease progression when inoculated on barley.

PMID- 26883227
TI  - mRNA biogenesis-related helicase eIF4AIII from Arabidopsis thaliana is an
      important factor for abiotic stress adaptation.
AB  - Similar to other plant species, Arabidopsis has a huge repertoire of predicted
      helicases, including the eIF4AIII factor, a putative component of the exon
      junction complex related to mRNA biogenesis. In this article, we integrated
      evolutionary and functional approaches to have a better understanding of eIF4AIII
      function in plants. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the mRNA biogenesis-related
      helicase eIF4AIII is the ortholog of the stress-related helicases PDH45 from
      Pisum sativum and MH1 from Medicago sativa, suggesting evolutionary and probably
      functional equivalences between mRNA biogenesis and stress-related plant
      helicases. Molecular and genetic analyses confirmed the relevance of eIF4AIII
      during abiotic stress adaptation in Arabidopsis. Therefore, in addition to its
      function in mRNA biogenesis, eIF4AIII can play a role in abiotic stress
      adaptation. 

PMID- 26883228
TI  - Seasonal-based temporal changes fluctuate expression patterns of TXS, DBAT, BAPT
      and DBTNBT genes alongside production of associated taxanes in Taxus baccata.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Environmental cues have synergistic or antagonistic regulatory roles
      on transcription activity and taxanes accumulation in yew, though DBAT activity
      is less influenced, could be accordingly a rate-limiting enzyme. The current work
      was undertaken to elucidate the consequences of some environmental cues (i.e.,
      day length, temperature, sunlight and relative humidity) on the expression
      patterns of TXS, DBAT, BAPT and DBTNBT genes contributed to the taxol
      biosynthetic pathway along with the accumulation of some taxanes in needles and
      stems of Taxus baccata over year 2013-2014. In both tissues, light intensity and
      temperature correlated with the production of 10-DAB III and total taxanes, and
      TXS activity, while a lack of significant association was deduced for day length
      and relative humidity. Furthermore, in both tissues, a weak correlation was
      observed between BAC III and light intensity, temperature, day length and
      relative humidity, and the corresponding gene, DBAT. Surprisingly, DBAT activity
      was not co-induced with TXS in both tissues, and remained expressed at basal
      levels over year, supporting that the conversion of 10-DAB III into BAC III could
      presumably be a rate limiting step in the taxol biosynthetic pathway. Similar to
      BAC III, no strong correlation was detected between production of taxol in both
      tissues and all the meteorological data, while the corresponding genes BAPT and
      DBTNBT, in some cases, exhibited significant correlated results. Notably, despite
      higher activities of BAPT and DBTNBT in both tissues over year, taxol production
      was still in small quantities, probably owing to the low amounts of its
      precursors rather than low volumes of BAPT and DBTNBT transcripts. The results,
      altogether, could provide us new insights towards the potential regulatory roles
      of environmental cues on the production of taxanes in yew trees.

PMID- 26883229
TI  - "Wake Up! HIV is at Your Door": African American Faith Leaders in the Rural South
      and HIV Perceptions: A Qualitative Analysis.
AB  - In Alabama, 70 % of new HIV cases are among African Americans. Because the Black
      Church plays an important role for many African Americans in the south, we
      conducted qualitative interviews with 10 African American pastors recruited for
      an HIV intervention study in rural Alabama. Two main themes emerged: (1) HIV
      stigma is prevalent and (2) the role of the Black Church in addressing HIV in the
      African American community. Our data suggest that pastors in rural Alabama are
      willing to be engaged in HIV prevention solutions; more formalized training is
      needed to decrease stigma, strengthen HIV prevention and support persons living
      with HIV/AIDS. 

PMID- 26883230
TI  - Potential causes for obtaining non-diagnostic results from fine needle aspiration
      biopsy of thyroid nodules.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate factors that could
      affect the diagnostic result success ratio of fine needle aspiration biopsy of
      thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 664 patients and 696 nodules were
      included in this study. Demographic features of age and gender and nodule
      features of macrocalcification (MC) and internal content (cystic or solid
      predominance) were evaluated. All biopsies were performed from 1 cm or larger
      nodules. Three different size needles were used for comparison (22, 23 and 25 G).
      The patients in each group had a similar number of nodules with MC, and cystic
      predominance to obtain comparable results. All procedures were performed by the
      same radiologist, who had 4 years of experience. Histologically adequate material
      criteria were identified. All pathological specimens were evaluated as diagnostic
      or non-diagnostic by the same pathology technician. Chi-square, student's t test
      and univariate analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were
      no statistically significant differences in demographic features and nodule
      properties from diagnostic results of fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid
      nodules. On the other hand, 23 G needles offered a better potential for obtaining
      adequate samples with a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION:
      Obtaining adequate material in fine needle aspiration biopsy from thyroid nodules
      is a challenging issue and the results are controversial. Since we obtained the
      best ratio with 23 G needles, we recommend interventional radiologists to use 23
      G needles as far as possible and not to consider needles thicker needles than 22
      G or thinner than 25 G. Nodule features and demographic features did not have an
      effect on obtaining adequate cytological material.

PMID- 26883231
TI  - ePTFE stent graft in non-steno-occlusive arterial disease: 2 centers
      retrospective study.
AB  - PURPOSE: We report our experience regarding use of Fluency stent graft (Bard,
      Murray Hill, NJ, USA) for the treatment of peripheral aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms,
      arteriovenous fistulae, dissections and arterial ruptures, lacerations or
      perforations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This two-center study included 59 patients
      (40 M, 19 F) with a mean age of 64.37 years (range 20-91 years). In total 61
      lesions were treated, so subdivided: 10 true aneurysms, 26 pseudoaneurysms, 5
      iatrogenic arteriovenous fistulae, 20 arterial ruptures, lacerations or
      perforations. RESULTS: Immediate technical success was obtained in 60 of 61
      lesions (98.3 %); in 1 case (pseudoaneurysm of hepatic artery) additional
      embolization of the gastroduodenal artery with microcoils was needed. Follow-up
      was available for 57 patients and 59 lesions; mean period was 23.52 months (range
      1-60 months). At 1-year primary patency was 89.47 %, whereas secondary patency
      was 96.4 %. CONCLUSION: Endovascular application of Fluency stent graft seems to
      offer an effective, and durable less invasive alternative to standard surgical
      techniques for the treatment of peripheral aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, iatrogenic
      arteriovenous fistulae and arterial ruptures, or penetrating injuries.

PMID- 26883232
TI  - Percutaneous alcohol injection under sonographic guidance in Morton's neuroma:
      follow-up in 220 treated lesions.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous treatment of
      Civinini-Morton's syndrome due to solitary Morton's neuroma and analyze the
      effect of clinico-demographic factors on outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alcohol
      injection was performed under sonographic guidance in 220 consecutive patients.
      Pain intensity using a numerical rating scale (NRS), pain features, limitation of
      everyday activities and comorbidity with other forefoot conditions were evaluated
      at presentation. Patients were reassessed for symptoms and the need of rescue
      therapy with neurectomy after a mean follow-up of 19.0 months (range 15-24).
      RESULTS: We treated 220 patients (33 males, mean age 55.8 years). Neuromas were
      located in the III intermetatarsal space in 85.5 %, with a mean size of 5.4 mm.
      When considering a reduction of pain intensity of >=50 % of NRS or a complete
      disappearance of the neuropathic features as a satisfactory clinical response, a
      72.3 % (p < 0.001) responder rate was obtained, and only three patients relapsed
      (1.2 %). An improvement in limitation of everyday activities was observed in 88.6
      % (p < 0.001). No influence of clinico-demographic variables on outcome was
      found. No major complications occurred. Patients with unsatisfactory response had
      an overload-related comorbid condition in 20/61 (32.8 %). Surgery was later
      performed in 14 non-responder patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided
      alcoholization demonstrated a safe profile, relieved neuropathic symptoms in a
      majority of patients and improved their quality of life. Rescue therapy with
      surgery is feasible in patients with unsatisfactory response. However, a thorough
      evaluation for forefoot comorbidities should be obtained, as they may act as
      confounding factors.

PMID- 26883233
TI  - Good-quality social care for people with Parkinson's disease: a qualitative
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study examines the meaning of good-quality social care for people
      with Parkinson's disease and their carers. It identifies, from their perspective,
      the impact of good-quality social care on health and well-being. DESIGN:
      Qualitative case study methodology, interview and framework analysis techniques
      were used. SETTING: community locations in the north and midlands of England.
      PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from 43 participants including individual
      interviews with people with Parkinson's disease (n=4), formal and informal social
      care providers (n=13), 2 focus groups, 1 with people with Parkinson's disease and
      their carers (n=17), and 1 with professionals (n=8), plus a telephone interview
      with a former commissioner. FINDINGS: Good-quality social care, delivered in a
      timely fashion, was reported to have a positive impact on health. Furthermore,
      there is an indication that good-quality social care can prevent untoward events,
      such as infections, symptom deterioration and deterioration in mental health. The
      concept of the 'Impact Gap' developed from the findings, illustrates how the
      costs of care may be reduced by delivering good-quality social care. Control,
      choice and maintaining independence emerged as indicators of good-quality social
      care, irrespective of clinical condition. Participants identified characteristics
      indicative of good-quality social care specific to Parkinson's disease, including
      understanding Parkinson's disease, appropriate administration of medication,
      timing of care and reassessment. 'Parkinson's aware' social care was seen to
      generate psychological, physical and social benefits that were inter-related.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate how maximising quality in social care delivery
      for people with Parkinson's disease can impact on health and well-being. Long
      term or short-term benefits may result in prevented events and reductions in
      health and social care resource. Health professionals can be instrumental in
      early detection of and signposting to social care.

PMID- 26883234
TI  - Surgical complications and their impact on patients' psychosocial well-being: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Surgical complications may affect patients psychologically due to
      challenges such as prolonged recovery or long-lasting disability. Psychological
      distress could further delay patients' recovery as stress delays wound healing
      and compromises immunity. This review investigates whether surgical complications
      adversely affect patients' postoperative well-being and the duration of this
      impact. METHODS: The primary data sources were 'PsychINFO', 'EMBASE' and
      'MEDLINE' through OvidSP (year 2000 to May 2012). The reference lists of eligible
      articles were also reviewed. Studies were eligible if they measured the
      association of complications after major surgery from 4 surgical specialties (ie,
      cardiac, thoracic, gastrointestinal and vascular) with adult patients'
      postoperative psychosocial outcomes using validated tools or psychological
      assessment. 13,605 articles were identified. 2 researchers independently
      extracted information from the included articles on study aims, participants'
      characteristics, study design, surgical procedures, surgical complications,
      psychosocial outcomes and findings. The studies were synthesised narratively (ie,
      using text). Supplementary meta-analyses of the impact of surgical complications
      on psychosocial outcomes were also conducted. RESULTS: 50 studies were included
      in the narrative synthesis. Two-thirds of the studies found that patients who
      suffered surgical complications had significantly worse postoperative
      psychosocial outcomes even after controlling for preoperative psychosocial
      outcomes, clinical and demographic factors. Half of the studies with significant
      findings reported significant adverse effects of complications on patient
      psychosocial outcomes at 12 months (or more) postsurgery. 3 supplementary meta
      analyses were completed, 1 on anxiety (including 2 studies) and 2 on physical and
      mental quality of life (including 3 studies). The latter indicated statistically
      significantly lower physical and mental quality of life (p<0.001) for patients
      who suffered surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical complications appear
      to be a significant and often long-term predictor of patient postoperative
      psychosocial outcomes. The results highlight the importance of attending to
      patients' psychological needs in the aftermath of surgical complications.

PMID- 26883235
TI  - Using kernel density estimation to understand the influence of neighbourhood
      destinations on BMI.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Little is known about how the distribution of destinations in the
      local neighbourhood is related to body mass index (BMI). Kernel density
      estimation (KDE) is a spatial analysis technique that accounts for the location
      of features relative to each other. Using KDE, this study investigated whether
      individuals living near destinations (shops and service facilities) that are more
      intensely distributed rather than dispersed, have lower BMIs. STUDY DESIGN AND
      SETTING: A cross-sectional study of 2349 residents of 50 urban areas in
      metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: Destinations were geocoded, and
      kernel density estimates of destination intensity were created using kernels of
      400, 800 and 1200 m. Using multilevel linear regression, the association between
      destination intensity (classified in quintiles Q1(least)-Q5(most)) and BMI was
      estimated in models that adjusted for the following confounders: age, sex,
      country of birth, education, dominant household occupation, household type,
      disability/injury and area disadvantage. Separate models included a physical
      activity variable. RESULTS: For kernels of 800 and 1200 m, there was an inverse
      relationship between BMI and more intensely distributed destinations (compared to
      areas with least destination intensity). Effects were significant at 1200 m: Q4,
      beta -0.86, 95% CI -1.58 to -0.13, p=0.022; Q5, beta -1.03 95% CI -1.65 to -0.41,
      p=0.001. Inclusion of physical activity in the models attenuated effects,
      although effects remained marginally significant for Q5 at 1200 m: beta -0.77 95%
      CI -1.52, -0.02, p=0.045. CONCLUSIONS: This study conducted within urban
      Melbourne, Australia, found that participants living in areas of greater
      destination intensity within 1200 m of home had lower BMIs. Effects were partly
      explained by physical activity. The results suggest that increasing the intensity
      of destination distribution could reduce BMI levels by encouraging higher levels
      of physical activity.

PMID- 26883236
TI  - Thigh length versus knee length antiembolism stockings for the prevention of deep
      vein thrombosis in postoperative surgical patients; a systematic review and
      network meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical effectiveness of thigh length versus knee
      length antiembolism stockings for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in
      surgical patients. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis using direct
      methods and network meta-analysis. METHODS: Previous systematic reviews and
      electronic databases were searched to February 2014 for randomised controlled
      trials (RCTs) of thigh length or knee length antiembolism stockings in surgical
      patients. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The
      primary outcome was incidence of DVT. Analysis of the DVT data was performed
      using ORs along with 95% CIs. The I(2) statistic was used to quantify statistical
      heterogeneity. RESULTS: 23 RCTs were included; there was substantial variation
      between the trials and many were poorly reported with an unclear risk of bias.
      Five RCTs directly comparing thigh length versus knee length stockings were
      pooled and the summary estimate of effect favouring thigh length stockings was
      not statistically significant (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.80 to 2.73). 13 RCTs were
      included in the network meta-analysis; thigh length stockings with
      pharmacological prophylaxis were more effective than knee length stockings with
      pharmacological prophylaxis, but again results were not statistically significant
      (OR 1.76, 95% credible intervals 0.82 to 3.53). CONCLUSIONS: Thigh length
      stockings may be more effective than knee length stockings, but results did not
      reach statistical significance and the evidence base is weak. Further research to
      confirm this finding is unlikely to be worthwhile. While thigh length stockings
      appear to have superior efficacy, practical issues such as patient acceptability
      may prevent their wide use in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
      NUMBER: CRD42014007202.

PMID- 26883237
TI  - Seasonal influenza vaccination delivery through community pharmacists in England:
      evaluation of the London pilot.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost of the pan-London pharmacy
      initiative, a programme that allows administration of seasonal influenza
      vaccination to eligible patients at pharmacies. DESIGN: We analysed 2013-2015
      data on vaccination uptake in pharmacies via the Sonar reporting system, and the
      total vaccination uptake via 2011-2015 ImmForm general practitioner (GP)
      reporting system data. We conducted an online survey of London pharmacists who
      participate in the programme to assess time use data, vaccine choice, investment
      costs and opinions about the programme. We conducted an online survey of London
      GPs to assess vaccine choice of vaccine and opinions about the pharmacy vaccine
      delivery programme. SETTING: All London boroughs. PARTICIPANTS: London-based GPs,
      and pharmacies that currently offer seasonal flu vaccination. INTERVENTIONS: Not
      applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of annual vaccine uptake in London
      across risk groups from years before pharmacy vaccination introduction to after
      pharmacy vaccination introduction. Completeness of vaccine uptake reporting data.
      Cost to the National Health Service (NHS) of flu vaccine delivery at pharmacies
      with that at GPs. Cost to pharmacists of flu delivery. Opinions of pharmacists
      and GPs regarding the flu vaccine pharmacy initiative. RESULTS: No significant
      change in the uptake of seasonal vaccination in any of the risk groups as a
      result of the pharmacy initiative. While on average a pharmacy-administered flu
      vaccine dose costs the NHS up to L2.35 less than a dose administered at a GP, a
      comparison of the 2 recording systems suggests there is substantial loss of data.
      CONCLUSIONS: Flu vaccine delivery through pharmacies shows potential for
      improving convenience for vaccine recipients. However, there is no evidence that
      vaccination uptake increases and the use of 2 separate recording systems leads to
      time-consuming data entry and missing vaccine record data.

PMID- 26883238
TI  - Rates of self-harm presenting to general hospitals: a comparison of data from the
      Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England and Hospital Episode Statistics.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Rates of hospital presentation for self-harm in England were compared
      using different national and local data sources. DESIGN: The study was
      descriptive and compared bespoke data collection methods for recording self-harm
      presentations to hospital with routinely collected hospital data. SETTING: Local
      area data on self-harm from the 3 centres of the Multicentre Study of Self-harm
      in England (Oxford, Manchester and Derby) were used along with national and local
      routinely collected data on self-harm admissions and emergency department
      attendances from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Rate ratios
      were calculated to compare rates of self-harm generated using different data
      sources nationally and locally (between 2010 and 2012) and rates of hospital
      presentations for self-harm were plotted over time (between 2003 and 2012), based
      on different data sources. RESULTS: The total number of self-harm episodes
      between 2010 and 2012 was 13,547 based on Multicentre Study data, 9600 based on
      HES emergency department data and 8096 based on HES admission data. Nationally,
      routine HES data underestimated overall rates of self-harm by approximately 60%
      compared with rates based on Multicentre Study data (rate ratio for HES emergency
      department data, 0.41 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.49); rate ratio for HES admission data,
      0.42 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.49)). Direct local area comparisons confirmed an overall
      underascertainment in the HES data, although the difference varied between
      centres. There was a general increase in self-harm over time according to HES
      data which contrasted with a fall and then a rise in the Multicentre Study data.
      CONCLUSIONS: There was a consistent underestimation of presentations for self
      harm recorded by HES emergency department data, and fluctuations in year-on-year
      figures. HES admission data appeared more reliable but missed non-admitted
      episodes. Routinely collected data may miss important trends in self-harm and
      cannot be used in isolation as the basis for a robust national indicator of self
      harm.

PMID- 26883239
TI  - Social group memberships in retirement are associated with reduced risk of
      premature death: evidence from a longitudinal cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Retirement constitutes a major life transition that poses significant
      challenges to health, with many retirees experiencing a precipitous decline in
      health status following retirement. We examine the extent to which membership in
      social groups following retirement determines quality of life and mortality.
      DESIGN: The longitudinal impact of the number of social group memberships before
      and after the transition to retirement was assessed on retirees' quality of life
      and risk of death 6 years later. SETTING: Nationally representative cohort study
      of older adults living in England. PARTICIPANTS: Adults who underwent the
      transition to retirement (N=424). A matched control group (N=424) of participants
      who had comparable demographic and health characteristics at baseline but did not
      undergo the transition to retirement were also examined. OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Analyses examined participants' quality of life and mortality during a period of
      6 years. RESULTS: Retirees who had two group memberships prior to retirement had
      a 2% risk of death in the first 6 years of retirement if they maintained
      membership in two groups, a 5% risk if they lost one group and a 12% risk if they
      lost both groups. Furthermore, for every group membership that participants lost
      in the year following retirement, their experienced quality of life 6 years later
      was approximately 10% lower. These relationships are robust when controlling for
      key sociodemographic variables (age, gender, relationship status and
      socioeconomic status prior to retirement). A comparison with a matched control
      group confirmed that these effects were specific to those undergoing the
      transition to retirement. The effect of social group memberships on mortality was
      comparable to that of physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Theoretical implications
      for our understanding of the determinants of retiree quality of life and health,
      and practical implications for the support of people transitioning from a life of
      work to retirement are discussed.

PMID- 26883240
TI  - Impact of visual acuity on developing literacy at age 4-5 years: a cohort-nested
      cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of poor vision in children aged 4-5 years
      and determine the impact of visual acuity on literacy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      study linking clinical, epidemiological and education data. SETTING: Schools
      located in the city of Bradford, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Prevalence was determined for
      11,186 children participating in the Bradford school vision screening programme.
      Data linkage was undertaken for 5836 Born in Bradford (BiB) birth cohort study
      children participating both in the Bradford vision screening programme and the
      BiB Starting Schools Programme. 2025 children had complete data and were included
      in the multivariable analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity was measured
      using a logMAR Crowded Test (higher scores=poorer visual acuity). Literacy
      measured by Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Revised (WRMT-R) subtest: letter
      identification (standardised). RESULTS: The mean (SD) presenting visual acuity
      was 0.14 (0.09) logMAR (range 0.0-1.0). 9% of children had a presenting visual
      acuity worse than 0.2logMAR (failed vision screening), 4% worse than 0.3logMAR
      (poor visual acuity) and 2% worse than 0.4logMAR (visually impaired). Unadjusted
      analysis showed that the literacy score was associated with presenting visual
      acuity, reducing by 2.4 points for every 1 line (0.10logMAR) reduction in vision
      (95% CI -3.0 to -1.9). The association of presenting visual acuity with the
      literacy score remained significant after adjustment for demographic and
      socioeconomic factors reducing by 1.7 points (95% CI -2.2 to -1.1) for every 1
      line reduction in vision. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of decreased visual acuity was
      high compared with other population-based studies. Decreased visual acuity at
      school entry is associated with reduced literacy. This may have important
      implications for the children's future educational, health and social outcomes.

PMID- 26883241
TI  - Impact of conflict on medical education: a cross-sectional survey of students and
      institutions in Iraq.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study surveyed all Iraqi medical schools and a cross-section of
      Iraqi medical students regarding their institutional and student experiences of
      medical education amidst ongoing conflict. The objective was to better understand
      the current resources and challenges facing medical schools, and the impacts of
      conflict on the training landscape and student experience, to provide evidence
      for further research and policy development. SETTING: Deans of all Iraqi medical
      schools registered in the World Directory of Medical Schools were invited to
      participate in a survey electronically. Medical students from three Iraqi medical
      schools were invited to participate in a survey electronically. OUTCOMES:
      Primary: Student enrolment and graduation statistics; human resources of medical
      schools; dean perspectives on impact of conflict. Secondary: Medical student
      perspectives on quality of teaching, welfare and future career intentions.
      FINDINGS: Of 24 medical schools listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools,
      15 replied to an initial email sent to confirm their contact details, and 8
      medical schools responded to our survey, giving a response rate from contactable
      medical schools of 53% and overall of 33%. Five (63%) medical schools reported
      medical student educational attainment being impaired or significantly impaired;
      4 (50%) felt the quality of training medical schools could offer had been
      impaired or significantly impaired due to conflict. A total of 197 medical
      students responded, 62% of whom felt their safety had been threatened due to
      violent insecurity. The majority (56%) of medical students intended to leave Iraq
      after graduating. CONCLUSIONS: Medical schools are facing challenges in staff
      recruitment and adequate resource provision; the majority believe quality of
      training has suffered as a result. Medical students are experiencing added
      psychological stress and lower quality of teaching; the majority intend to leave
      Iraq after graduation.

PMID- 26883242
TI  - The Aldosterone Renin Ratio (ARR) APP as Tool to Enhance the Detection Rate of
      Primary Aldosteronism.
AB  - Primary aldosteronism is one of the most common forms of secondary hypertension,
      but it is often under diagnosed, which leads to the development of cardiovascular
      damage, and excess costs for long-term drug treatment and management of
      complications. The aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) is a key step for early
      detection of primary aldosteronism, but unfortunately is not easily estimated.
      This is because plasma aldosterone and renin are measured with different assays,
      which provide results in different units of measure, with ensuing difficulty of
      obtaining the calculation of the ARR in the proper units and impossibility of
      interpreting results with reference to established cut off values. Therefore,
      doctors are often unable to draw unambiguous conclusions to be used for the
      clinical decision-making. To the aim of making the diagnostic work-up easier, we
      have developed an Application that provide a swift calculation of the ARR
      regardless of the units of measure used for plasma aldosterone and renin values.
      If the concomitant serum potassium level is available the App also provides the
      patient's probability of having an aldosterone-producing adenoma based on a
      validated logistic discriminant analysis. 

PMID- 26883243
TI  - Effect of hypovolemia on efficacy of reflex maintenance of blood pressure on
      orthostatic challenge.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Blood volume is an important determinant of the efficacy of the
      negative feedback mechanisms that maintain blood pressure. However, its effect on
      time profile and magnitude of the responses remain unstudied. AIM: To study the
      effect of mild hypovolemia on time profiles and magnitude of changes in blood
      pressure and heart rate in healthy subjects before and after blood donation.
      METHODS: Fifty six healthy volunteer donors who signed up for blood donation were
      recruited (age 35 +/- 7 years; weight 75 +/- 9 Kg). Baseline beat to beat blood
      pressure and Lead II ECG was recorded for 5 min followed by orthostatic challenge
      for 3 min before and after blood donation. RESULTS: The donation of 450 ml of
      blood did not lead to any changes in the resting systolic, diastolic or mean
      blood pressure. However, there was a significant decrease in pulse pressure after
      blood donation along with an increase in the heart rate. During orthostatic
      challenge, after blood donation there was a greater fall in systolic, diastolic,
      mean and pulse pressure along with a greater increase in heart rate as compared
      to before the blood donation. The latency to response and the total time to
      recovery of blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly after blood
      donation. CONCLUSION: Maintenance of blood pressure after orthostatic challenge
      is not compromised after mild hypovolemia produced by donation of 450 ml of
      blood. However, mild hypovolemia results in increase in latency of response and
      is accompanied with larger magnitude of fall in blood pressure during orthostatic
      challenge.

PMID- 26883244
TI  - Is it important to consider the sex of the patient when using lithium or
      valproate to treat the bipolar disorder?

PMID- 26883245
TI  - The atomistic origin of interface confinement and enhanced conversion efficiency
      in Si nanowire solar cells.
AB  - The photoelectric properties of Si nanowires (SiNWs) under interface confinement
      are investigated based on the atomic-bond-relaxation consideration and the
      detailed balance principle. An analytical model is developed to elucidate the
      interface confinement and power conversion efficiency (PCE). It is found that the
      band curvature and surface barrier height decrease with decreasing size. The
      interface recombination rate and PCE can be determined by the size, shell
      thickness and local interface conditions. Our theoretical results show evident
      improvement in the PCE of SiNWs under interface confinement compared to that of a
      bare nanowire, highlighting the feasibility of the epitaxial layer as a booster
      for highly efficient SiNW solar cells. 

PMID- 26883246
TI  - Ethnopharmacological survey about medicinal plants utilized by herbalists and
      traditional practitioner healers for treatments of diarrhea in the West
      Bank/Palestine.
AB  - ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Folk herbal medicine knowledge and its
      utilization by aboriginal cultures are not only useful for conservation of
      cultural traditions and biodiversity, but also useful for community healthcare
      and drug discovery in the present and in the future. AIM OF THE STUDY: Using a
      semi-structured questionnaire, an ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants
      used for treatment of diarrhea in the West Bank/Palestine was investigated.
      RESULTS: Information about fifty medicinal plants used for treatment of diarrhea,
      including the names of plants, parts used, mode and methods of preparation was
      obtained from 100 traditional healers and herbalists. This research is the first
      scientific work in the Middle East to collect data about plants used by
      traditional healers for treatments of diarrhea and their evidence based effects
      against this disease. The fidelity levels were 97% for Salvia fruticosa, Teucrium
      polium and Musa paradisiaca, 95% for Camellia sinensis and Aegle marmelos, 79%
      for Oryza sativa and Solanum tuberosum, 77% for Quercus boissieri, 66% for
      Psidium guajava, 56% for Anthemis palestina, 54% for Solanum nigrum and 52% for
      Juglans regia while the highest use and choice values were for S. fruticosa, T.
      polium and M. paradisiaca as well as the factor of informant's consensus for
      medicinal plants used for treatment of diarrhea was 0.505.The leaves were the
      most commonly used parts, followed by fruits, roots and rhizomes, while
      decoctions and infusions are the preferred methods of preparation. CONCLUSIONS:
      The Palestinian traditional medicine is rich with herbal remedies for treatment
      of diarrhea in comparison with other countries, but most of these herbal remedies
      lack standard in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations to establish their antidiarrheal
      effects. Therefore, the information obtained can serve as a basis for further
      phytochemical and pharmacological studies to determine their efficacy and safety
      which might contribute to a better integration of Palestinian traditional
      medicine into the national health system in the future.

PMID- 26883247
TI  - Risk to fragmented DNA in dry, wet, and frozen states from computed tomography: a
      comparative theoretical study.
AB  - Computed tomography represents the gold standard in forensic and
      palaeopathological diagnosis. However, the X-rays used may affect the DNA quality
      through fragmentation and loss of genetic information. Previous work showed that
      the effects of ionizing radiation on dry DNA are non-significant with P < 10(-8),
      which cannot be detected by means of polymerase chain reaction methods. In the
      present paper, complete analytical model that characterizes radiation effects on
      fragmented DNA in dry, wet, and frozen states is described. Simulation of
      radiation tracks in water phantom cells was performed using the Geant4-DNA
      toolkit. Cell hits by electrons with energies between 5 and 20 keV were
      simulated, and the formation of radiolytic products was assessed at a temperature
      of 298 K. The diffusion coefficient and the mean square displacement of reactive
      species were calculated by Stokes-Einstein-Smoluchowski relations at 273 K.
      Finally, DNA fragment damage was estimated using the density distribution of
      fragments calculated from atomic force microscopy images. The lowest probability
      of radiation-induced DNA damage was observed for dry state, with a range from 2.5
      * 10(-9) to 7.8 * 10(-12) at 298 K, followed by that for frozen state, with a
      range from 0.9 to 4 * 10(-7) at 273 K. The highest probability of radiation
      induced DNA damage was demonstrated for fragmented DNA in wet state with a range
      from 2 to 9 * 10(-7) at 298 K. These results significantly improve the
      interpretation of CT imaging in future studies in forensic and palaeopathological
      science.

PMID- 26883248
TI  - Identifying Mechanisms Behind the Tullio Phenomenon: a Computational Study Based
      on First Principles.
AB  - Patients with superior canal dehiscence (SCD) suffer from events of dizziness and
      vertigo in response to sound, also known as Tullio phenomenon (TP). The present
      work seeks to explain the fluid-dynamical mechanisms behind TP. In accordance
      with the so-called third window theory, we developed a computational model for
      the vestibular signal pathway between stapes and SCD. It is based on first
      principles and accounts for fluid-structure interactions arising between
      endolymph, perilymph, and membranous labyrinth. The simulation results reveal a
      wave propagation phenomenon in the membranous canal, leading to two flow
      phenomena within the endolymph which are in close interaction. First, the
      periodic deformation of the membranous labyrinth causes oscillating endolymph
      flow which forces the cupula to oscillate in phase with the sound stimulus.
      Second, these primary oscillations of the endolymph induce a steady flow
      component by a phenomenon known as steady streaming. We find that this steady
      flow of the endolymph is typically in ampullofugal direction. This flow leads to
      a quasi-steady deflection of the cupula which increases until the driving forces
      of the steady streaming are balanced by the elastic reaction forces of the
      cupula, such that the cupula attains a constant deflection amplitude which lasts
      as long as the sound stimulus. Both response types have been observed in the
      literature. In a sensitivity study, we obtain an analytical fit which very well
      matches our simulation results in a relevant parameter range. Finally, we
      correlate the corresponding eye response (vestibulo-ocular reflex) with the fluid
      dynamics by a simplified model of lumped system constants. The results reveal a
      "sweet spot" for TP within the audible sound spectrum. We find that the
      underlying mechanisms which lead to TP originate primarily from Reynolds stresses
      in the fluid, which are weaker at lower sound frequencies. 

PMID- 26883249
TI  - Carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy: updated meta-analysis,
      metaregression and trial sequential analysis of short-term and intermediate-to
      long-term outcomes of randomized trials.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To compare carotid artery stenting (CAS) versus carotid
      endarterectomy (CEA) in the treatment of carotid stenosis, including two recently
      published, prospective, randomized trials of these therapies. EVIDENCE
      ACQUISITION: A multiple electronic health database search on all randomized
      trials describing CAS compared with CEA in patients with symptomatic or
      asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis was performed. Primary outcomes were death,
      stroke, and myocardial infarction. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Carotid artery stenting as
      compared with CEA was associated with a 61% increase in the risk of
      periprocedural death or stroke (Peto OR, 1.609; 95% confidence interval [CI]:
      1.193-2.170; P=0.002). The trial sequential monitoring boundary was crossed by
      the cumulative Z-curve, suggesting firm evidence for at least a 20% relative risk
      increase of periprocedural death or stroke and any stroke compared with CEA.
      Carotid artery stenting as compared with CEA was associated with a 42% increase
      in the risk for the composite of periprocedural stroke or death plus ipsilateral
      stroke thereafter (Peto OR, 1.417; 95% CI: 1.074-1.870; P=0.0014). CONCLUSIONS:
      In this largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis to date using outcomes that
      are standard in contemporary studies, CAS was associated with an increased risk
      of both periprocedural and intermediate- to long-term outcomes.

PMID- 26883250
TI  - Long noncoding RNA ENST00000434223 suppressed tumor progression in non-small cell
      lung cancer.
AB  - In spite of the fact that the great progress has been made in the treatment of
      non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the prognosis of NSCLC remains comparatively
      dismal. Therefore, it is of great value to identify novel effective diagnostic
      biomarkers and therapeutic targets of NSCLC. Emerging evidence has demonstrated
      the vital roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development.
      ENST00000434223 was recently identified as a lncRNA that is downregulated in
      early stage lung adenocarcinoma in a profiling study. However, little is known
      about its role in the development of NSCLC. In the present study, we found that
      ENST00000434223 was greatly downregulated in cancer tissues compared to adjacent
      normal tissues. ENST00000434223 overexpression suppressed the proliferation and
      migration in NSCLC cell lines in vitro. Moreover, ENST00000434223 overexpression
      reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in NSCLC cell line. Our study
      suggests that ENST00000434223 may be a potential biomarker and a therapeutic
      target of NSCLC. 

PMID- 26883251
TI  - Linc-ROR induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and contributes to drug
      resistance and invasion of breast cancer cells.
AB  - We aimed to investigate the role of large intergenic noncoding RNA regulator of
      reprogramming (linc-ROR) in the chemotherapy resistance of human breast cancer
      (BC) cells and its mechanism. A total of 142 patients diagnosed with BC in the
      First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University between January 2012 and January
      2014 were enrolled in our study. The BC tissues and the adjacent normal tissues
      (5 cm away from tumor tissue) of the enrolled patients were selected, and human
      BC cell lines (MCF10A, SK-BR-3, MCF-7, Bcap-37, MDA-MB-231, and T47D) were also
      selected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western
      blot, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)
      2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay, and Transwell were applied in our study.
      Expression level of linc-ROR messenger RNA (mRNA) in BC tissues was clearly
      higher than that in adjacent normal tissues, and significant difference was found
      between expression level of linc-ROR mRNA and lymph node metastasis (all P <
      0.05). Linc-ROR was highly expressed in others BC cell lines compared with that
      in immortalized mammary epithelial cells (MECs) MCF10A (both P < 0.05), while MDA
      MB231 cell presented the higher expression (P < 0.001). Under different
      concentrations of 5-FU and paclitaxel in MDA-MB231 cell, E-cadherin mRNA and
      protein expressions increased gradually with the increase of concentrations, and
      Vimentin and N-cadherin mRNA and protein expressions decreased gradually with the
      decrease of concentrations (all P < 0.05). Compared with shCtrl group, MDA-MB231
      cell in shROR group presented higher sensibility of 5-FU and paclitaxel with
      increased E-cadherin expression, decreased Vimentin and N-cadherin expression and
      invasion ability (all P < 0.05). Compared with vector cell, overexpressed linc
      ROR cell presented decreased sensibility of 5-FU and paclitaxel with decreased E
      cadherin expression, increased Vimentin, N-cadherin expression, and invasion
      ability (all P < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that linc-ROR is an important
      marker for multidrug resistance of BC, and its up-regulation is important for
      chemotherapy tolerance and invasion of BC. 

PMID- 26883252
TI  - Long noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell
      proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
AB  - The biology of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains poorly
      understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are found to be dysregulated in a
      variety of cancers, including ESCC. SPRY4-IT1 has been recently revealed as
      oncogenic regulator or tumor suppressors in different cancers; however, whether
      SPRY4-IT1 is involved in ESCC remains poorly understood. To investigate the role
      of SPRY4-IT1 in ESCC, we evaluated the SPRY4-IT1 expression levels in a series of
      ESCC patients and a panel of ESCC cell line using qRT-PCR. CCK8 and colony
      formation assay were performed to assess the effect of SPRY4-IT1siRNA on cell
      proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cell lines. SPRY4-IT1 expression
      was upregulated in ESCC tissues and the higher expression of SPRY4-IT1 was
      significantly correlated with tumor grade, depth of invasion, and lymph node
      metastasis. Moreover, silencing of SPRY4-IT1 expression inhibited ESCC cell
      proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Therefore, our study
      indicates that SPRY4-IT1 promotes proliferation and migration of ESCC cells and
      is a potential oncogene of ESCC. 

PMID- 26883253
TI  - Telomere length in peripheral leukocytes is associated with immune cell tumor
      infiltration and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.
AB  - Telomeres are protective structures at the end of chromosomes, essential for
      chromosomal integrity. A large number of studies have investigated leukocyte
      telomere length as a possible risk marker for various cancers, colorectal cancer
      (CRC) included. In contrast, studies investigating leukocyte telomere length in
      relation to CRC survival are lacking. We previously reported that relative
      telomere length (RTL) of leukocytes collected at diagnosis predicted survival in
      patients with breast and kidney cancer. We suggested that these findings might
      reflect various immunological mechanisms, affected by the presence of a tumor. In
      the present study, leukocyte RTL was examined in relation to immune cell tumor
      infiltration and prognosis in 130 patients with CRC diagnosis. RTL was measured
      with a well-established qPCR method. We found that patients with the highest
      degree of lymphocyte tumor infiltration had shorter leukocyte RTL. Consistent
      with our previous findings, short RTL was a favorable prognostic marker in
      univariate survival analysis. In the current study, RTL did not remain as an
      independent predictor in multivariate survival analysis, when including
      metastatic status in the model. However, a non-significant trend towards a
      similar telomere-associated survival pattern was observed in patients with
      limited disease. In contrast, for patients who died of other causes than CRC,
      short RTL was associated with significantly shorter survival time. To our
      knowledge, this is the first study to investigate an association between
      leukocyte RTL, immune cell tumor infiltration, and cancer-specific survival in
      CRC patients. Larger studies are warranted to verify these findings. 

PMID- 26883254
TI  - Decreased expression of Siglec-8 associates with poor prognosis in patients with
      gastric cancer after surgical resection.
AB  - The expression of sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin (Siglec) family has been
      detected in many malignant tumors and correlated with patient outcomes. The
      present study aims to investigate the prognostic value of Siglec-8 expression and
      refine current risk stratification system in patients with gastric cancer. Two
      independent sets of patients (n = 78; n = 356, respectively) with gastric cancer
      from Zhongshan Hospital were enrolled into this study. The expression of Siglec-8
      was detected by immunohistochemistry. Cox regression analysis was used to assess
      the prognostic value of Siglec-8 expression and clinical outcomes. A novel
      molecular prognostic stratification system combining intratumoral Siglec-8
      expression with TNM stage was determined by means of receiver operating
      characteristic analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that
      intratumoral Siglec-8 low expression was an independent prognostic factor for
      dismal overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Incorporating
      intratumoral Siglec-8 expression into the current TNM staging system showed more
      accuracy for predicting prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Our study
      suggested that intratumoral Siglec-8 expression was an independent prognostic
      factor for overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Incorporating Siglec
      8 expression level into current TNM staging system might add more comprehensive
      prognostic information for patients with gastric cancer and lead to a more
      precise risk stratification system for predicting clinical outcomes. 

PMID- 26883255
TI  - Steroids are part of rescue therapy in ARDS patients with refractory hypoxemia:
      we are not sure.

PMID- 26883256
TI  - Steroids are part of rescue therapy in ARDS patients with refractory hypoxemia:
      no.

PMID- 26883257
TI  - Steroids are part of rescue therapy in ARDS patients with refractory hypoxemia:
      yes.

PMID- 26883258
TI  - Efficiency and safety of apnea test process under extracorporeal membrane
      oxygenation: the most effective method remains questionable.

PMID- 26883259
TI  - Twin Screw Extruders as Continuous Mixers for Thermal Processing: a Technical and
      Historical Perspective.
AB  - Developed approximately 100 years ago for natural rubber/plastics applications,
      processes via twin screw extrusion (TSE) now generate some of the most cutting
      edge drug delivery systems available. After 25 or so years of usage in
      pharmaceutical environments, it has become evident why TSE processing offers
      significant advantages as compared to other manufacturing techniques. The well
      characterized nature of the TSE process lends itself to ease of scale-up and
      process optimization while also affording the benefits of continuous
      manufacturing. Interestingly, the evolution of twin screw extrusion for
      pharmaceutical products has followed a similar path as previously trodden by
      plastics processing pioneers. Almost every plastic has been processed at some
      stage in the manufacturing train on a twin screw extruder, which is utilized to
      mix materials together to impart desired properties into a final part. The
      evolution of processing via TSEs since the early/mid 1900s is recounted for
      plastics and also for pharmaceuticals from the late 1980s until today. The
      similarities are apparent. The basic theory and development of continuous mixing
      via corotating and counterrotating TSEs for plastics and drug is also described.
      The similarities between plastics and pharmaceutical applications are striking.
      The superior mixing characteristics inherent with a TSE have allowed this device
      to dominate other continuous mixers and spurred intensive development efforts and
      experimentation that spawned highly engineered formulations for the commodity and
      high-tech plastic products we use every day. Today, twin screw extrusion is a
      battle hardened, well-proven, manufacturing process that has been validated in 24
      h/day industrial settings. The same thing is happening today with new extrusion
      technologies being applied to advanced drug delivery systems to facilitate
      commodity, targeted, and alternative delivery systems. It seems that the
      "extrusion evolution" will continue for wide-ranging pharmaceutical products. 

PMID- 26883260
TI  - Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of the Complexes of Posaconazole with
      beta- and 2,6-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
AB  - Posaconazole is a triazole antifungal drug that with extremely poor aqueous
      solubility. Up to now, this drug can be administered via intravenous injection
      and oral suspension. However, its oral bioavailability is greatly limited by the
      dissolution rate of the drug. This study aimed to improve water solubility and
      dissolution of posaconazole through characterizing the inclusion complexes of
      posaconazole with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and 2,6-di-O-methyl-beta
      cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CD). Phase solubility studies were performed to calculate
      the stability constants in solution. The results of FT-IR, PXRD, 1H and ROESY 2D
      NMR, and DSC all verified the formation of the complexes in solid state. The
      complexes showed remarkably improved water solubility and dissolution rate than
      pure posaconazole. Especially, the aqueous solubility of the DM-beta-CD complex
      is nine times higher than that of the beta-CD complex. Preliminary in vitro
      antifungal susceptibility tests showed that the two inclusion complexes
      maintained high antifungal activities. These results indicated that the DM-beta
      CD complexes have great potential for application in the delivery of poorly water
      soluble antifungal agents, such as posaconazole.

PMID- 26883261
TI  - Structural and Surface Compatibility Study of Modified Electrospun Poly(epsilon
      caprolactone) (PCL) Composites for Skin Tissue Engineering.
AB  - In this study, biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers (PCL
      NF), collagen-coated PCL nanofibers (Col-c-PCL), and titanium dioxide
      incorporated PCL (TiO2-i-PCL) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning
      technique to study the surface and structural compatibility of these scaffolds
      for skin tisuue engineering. Collagen coating over the PCL nanofibers was done by
      electrospinning process. Morphology of PCL nanofibers in electrospinning was
      investigated at different voltages and at different concentrations of PCL. The
      morphology, interaction between different materials, surface property, and
      presence of TiO2 were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier
      transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurement, energy dispersion X
      ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). MTT assay and
      cell adhesion study were done to check biocompatibilty of these scaffolds. SEM
      study confirmed the formation of nanofibers without beads. FTIR proved presence
      of collagen on PCL scaffold, and contact angle study showed increment of
      hydrophilicity of Col-c-PCL and TiO2-i-PCL due to collagen coating and
      incorporation of TiO2, respectively. EDX and XPS studies revealed distribution of
      entrapped TiO2 at molecular level. MTT assay and cell adhesion study using L929
      fibroblast cell line proved viability of cells with attachment of fibroblasts
      over the scaffold. Thus, in a nutshell, we can conclude from the outcomes of our
      investigational works that such composite can be considered as a tissue
      engineered construct for skin wound healing.

PMID- 26883262
TI  - Design and In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation of Ultra-Thin Mucoadhesive Buccal Film
      Containing Fluticasone Propionate.
AB  - Fluticasone propionate is a synthetic corticosteroid drug distinguished by its
      potent anti-inflammatory action with low systemic side effects in comparison to
      other corticosteroids making it a potential drug for local buccal delivery. The
      aim of the present study was to design mucoadhesive buccal film containing
      fluticasone that is aesthetically acceptable and could maintain local drug
      release for a sustained period to manage the sign and symptoms of severe erosive
      mouth lesions. Solvent casting technique was used in film preparation. Different
      polymeric blends were used either alone or in combination with mucoadhesive
      polymers, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC), or Carbopol 971P at different
      concentrations. The physicochemical properties, in vitro mucoadhesion time as
      well as the drug release properties for all prepared formulations were
      determined. Selected formulations with adequate properties were further examined
      by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
      subjected to in vivo evaluation. Films containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
      (HPMC)/ethyl cellulose (EC) showed acceptable physicochemical properties,
      homogenous drug distribution, convenient mucoadhesion time, moderate swelling as
      well as sustained drug release up to 12 h. The biological performance of these
      formulations was assessed on healthy human volunteers and compared with a
      prepared mouthwash which showed enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters for the
      selected films in comparison to the mouthwash. The results revealed that the
      optimized formulation containing HPMC/EC and 10% SCMC could successfully achieve
      sustained drug release for 10 h which is considered promising for local treatment
      of severe mouth lesions.

PMID- 26883263
TI  - Design and Evaluation of Hydrophilic Matrix System Containing Polyethylene Oxides
      for the Zero-Order Controlled Delivery of Water-Insoluble Drugs.
AB  - The aim of this study was to design a polyethylene oxide (PEO) binary hydrophilic
      matrix controlled system and investigate the most important influence(s) on the
      in vitro water-insoluble drug release behavior of this controlled system. Direct
      compressed PEO binary matrix tablets were obtained from a variety of low
      viscosity hydrophilic materials as a sustained agent, using anhydrous drugs as a
      model drug. Water uptake rate, swelling rate, and erosion rate of matrices were
      investigated for the evaluation of the PEO hydrophilic matrix systems. The effect
      of the dose, the solubility of water-insoluble drug, and the rheology of polymers
      on in vitro release were also discussed. Based on the in vitro release kinetics
      study, three optimized PEO binary matrices were selected for further research.
      And, these PEO binary matrices had shown the similar release behavior that had
      been evaluated by the similarity factor f 2. Further study indicated that they
      had identical hydration, swelling, and erosion rate. Moreover, rheology study
      exhibited the similar rheological equation of Herschel-Bulkley and their
      viscosity was also within the same magnitude. Therefore, viscosity plays the most
      important role to control drug release compared to other factors in PEO binary
      matrix system. This research provides fundamental understanding of in vitro drug
      release of PEO binary hydrophilic matrix tablets and helps pharmaceutical workers
      to develop a hydrophilic controlled system, which will effectively shorten the
      process of formulation development by reducing trial-and-error.

PMID- 26883264
TI  - Recurrent episodes of myoglobinuria, mental retardation and seizures but no
      hemolysis in two brothers with phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency.
AB  - We report two brothers with mild intellectual deficiency, exercise intolerance,
      rhabdomyolysis, seizures and no hemolysis. Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) activity
      was strongly decreased in their red blood cells. Subsequent molecular analysis of
      PGK1 revealed hemizygosity for a novel mutation c.756 + 3A > G, in intron 7.
      Analysis of the effect of this mutation on pre-mRNA processing demonstrated
      markedly decreased levels of normal PGK1 mRNA. In addition, the c.756 + 3A > G
      change resulted in abnormally spliced transcripts. If translated, these
      transcripts mostly encode for C-terminally truncated proteins. The consequences
      of the c.756 + 3A > G mutation is discussed, as well as the genotype-to-phenotype
      correlation with regard to previously described mutations (PGK Fukuroi and PGK
      Antwerp), which also result in C-terminal truncated proteins.

PMID- 26883265
TI  - The effect of total hip arthroplasty on sagittal spinal-pelvic-leg alignment and
      low back pain in patients with severe hip osteoarthritis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Sagittal spinopelvic malalignment has been reported in spinal disorders
      such as low back pain (LBP), and restoration of normal alignment is targeted when
      treating these disorders. Abnormal sagittal spinal-pelvic-leg alignment has been
      reported in patients with severe hip osteoarthritis (OA), who have a high
      prevalence of associated LBP. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to
      investigate changes in sagittal spinal-pelvic-leg alignment after total hip
      arthroplasty (THA) in patients with severe hip OA, and whether these changes
      contribute to LBP relief. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary THA due to severe
      unilateral hip OA were recruited. Physical examination and X-ray films were taken
      to rule out any spinal disorder. Sagittal alignment of pelvis, hip, and spine was
      analyzed on lateral radiographs taken before (baseline) and 1 year after (follow
      up) THA. Functional instruments were completed by patients including: visual
      analog scale (VAS) for LBP, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and
      Harris Hip Score (HHS). Comparisons were carried out at baseline and follow-up,
      and between patients with and without LBP. RESULTS: The recruited 69 patients
      showed significantly reduced hip flexion and improved global spinal balance at
      follow-up compared with baseline. LBP was reported by 39 patients (56.5 %) before
      surgery; at follow-up, 17 reported complete resolution, while 22 reported
      significant relief. Significant decreases in VAS and RMDQ scores in lumbar spine
      and increase in hip HHS were observed. CONCLUSIONS: THA in patients with severe
      hip OA could help correct abnormal sagittal spinal-pelvic-leg alignment and
      relieve comorbid LBP. Improvements in hip flexion and global spinal balance might
      be involved in the mechanism of LBP relief.

PMID- 26883266
TI  - Overcorrection of lumbar lordosis for adult spinal deformity with sagittal
      imbalance: comparison of radiographic outcomes between overcorrection and
      undercorrection.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the correlation of the difference between postoperative
      lumbar lordosis (LL) and ideal LL with the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) at the
      final follow-up in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). METHODS: Fifty-one
      patients with degenerative lumbar kyphosis (DLK) (mean age 66.5 years) who
      underwent surgical correction with a minimum 2-year follow-up were evaluated.
      Based on the difference between postoperative LL and ideal LL using the Korean
      version of Legaye's formula, we divided the 51 patients into two groups:
      overcorrection (degree of postoperative LL > ideal LL) and undercorrection
      (degree of postoperative LL < ideal LL). RESULTS: Our clinical series of patients
      comprised 24 in the overcorrection and 27 in the undercorrection group. No
      significant differences were found in preoperative pelvic incidence (PI 52.6
      degrees  vs. 57.3 degrees ), sacral slope (SS 23.3 degrees  vs. 18.3 degrees ),
      LL (-6.9 degrees  vs. -2.3 degrees ), thoracic kyphosis (TK 4.7 degrees  vs. 4.9
      degrees ) and SVA (140 vs. 139 mm) except pelvic tilt (PT 29.4 degrees  vs. 39.0
      degrees ), between the two groups. All the patients in the overcorrection group
      and 16 in the undercorrection group achieved postoperative optimal sagittal
      balance based on SVA <= 50 mm. In addition, significant differences in PT (10.5
      degrees  vs. 26.7 degrees ), SS (42.1 degrees  vs. 30.6 degrees ), LL (-64.3
      degrees  vs. -37.1 degrees ), TK (22.6 degrees  vs. 15.8 degrees ), and SVA (-1
      vs. 41 mm) between the two groups were observed postoperatively. Furthermore,
      four patients (16.7 %) in the overcorrection group and eight (50 %) in the
      undercorrection group had sagittal decompensation at the final follow-up. Our
      results showed that the difference between postoperative LL and ideal LL had a
      significant correlation with postoperative and final follow-up SVA in our
      clinical series. CONCLUSION: Overcorrection of LL is an effective treatment
      modality to maintain optimal sagittal alignment in patients with DLK; this
      suggests that it should be considered in preoperative planning for patients with
      ASD with sagittal imbalance.

PMID- 26883267
TI  - Collaboration to Understand Complex Diseases: Preeclampsia and Adverse Pregnancy
      Outcomes.

PMID- 26883268
TI  - Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 Induces Salt-Sensitive Hypertension in
      Nitric Oxide Synthase 1alpha Knockout and Wild-Type Mice.
AB  - We recently showed that alpha, beta, and gamma splice variants of neuronal nitric
      oxide synthase (NOS1) expressed in the macula densa and NOS1beta accounts for
      most of the NO generation. We have also demonstrated that the mice with deletion
      of NOS1 specifically from the macula densa developed salt-sensitive hypertension.
      However, the global NOS1 knockout (NOS1KO) strain is neither hypertensive nor
      salt sensitive. This global NOS1KO strain is actually an NOS1alphaKO model.
      Consequently, we hypothesized that inhibition of NOS1beta in NOS1alphaKO mice
      induces salt-sensitive hypertension. NOS1alphaKO and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice
      were implanted with telemetry transmitters and divided into 7-nitroindazole (10
      mg/kg/d)-treated and nontreated groups. All of the mice were fed a normal salt
      (0.4% NaCl) diet for 5 days, followed by a high-salt diet (4% NaCl). NO
      generation by the macula densa was inhibited by >90% in WT and NOS1alphaKO mice
      treated with 7-nitroindazole. Glomerular filtration rate in conscious mice was
      increased by ~ 40% after a high-salt diet in both NOS1alphaKO and WT mice. In
      response to acute volume expansion, glomerular filtration rate, diuretic and
      natriuretic response were significantly blunted in the WT and knockout mice
      treated with 7-nitroindazole. Mean arterial pressure had no significant changes
      in mice fed a high-salt diet, but increased ~ 15 mm Hg similarly in NOS1alphaKO
      and WT mice treated with 7-nitroindazole. We conclude that NOS1beta, but not
      NOS1alpha, plays an important role in control of sodium excretion and
      hemodynamics in response to either an acute or a chronic salt loading.

PMID- 26883269
TI  - Unique Expression of Angiotensin Type-2 Receptor in Sex-Specific Distribution of
      Myelinated Ah-Type Baroreceptor Neuron Contributing to Sex-Dimorphic Neurocontrol
      of Circulation.
AB  - This study aims to understand the special expression patterns of angiotensin-II
      receptor (AT1R and AT2R) in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus solitary of
      baroreflex afferent pathway and their contribution in sex difference of
      neurocontrol of blood pressure regulation. In this regard, action potentials were
      recorded in baroreceptor neurons (BRNs) using whole-cell patch techniques; mRNA
      and protein expression of AT1R and AT2R in nodose ganglia and nucleus of tractus
      solitary were evaluated using real time-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot,
      and immunohistochemistry at both tissue and single-cell levels. The in vivo
      effects of 17beta-estradiol on blood pressure and AT2R expression were also
      tested. The data showed that AT2R, rather than AT1R, expression was higher in
      female than age-matched male rats. Moreover, AT2R was downregulated in
      ovariectomized rats, which was restored by the administration of 17beta
      estradiol. Single-cell real time-polymerase chain reaction data indicated that
      AT2R was uniquely expressed in Ah-type BRNs. Functional study showed that long
      term administration of 17beta-estradiol significantly alleviated the blood
      pressure increase in ovariectomized rats. Electrophysiological recordings showed
      that angiotensin-II treatment increased the neuroexcitability more in Ah- than C
      type BRNs, whereas no such effect was observed in A-types. In addition,
      angiotensin-II treatment prolonged action potential duration, which was not
      further changed by iberiotoxin. The density of angiotensin-II-sensitive K(+)
      currents recorded in Ah-types was equivalent with iberiotoxin-sensitive
      component. In summary, the unique, sex- and afferent-specific expression of AT2R
      was identified in Ah-type BRNs, and AT2R-mediated KCa1.1 inhibition in Ah-type
      BRNs may exert great impacts on baroreflex afferent function and blood pressure
      regulation in females. 

PMID- 26883270
TI  - New Quality Measure Core Sets Provide Continuity for Measuring Quality
      Improvement: Concerns Raised About Conflicting Blood Pressure Measures.

PMID- 26883271
TI  - ABCG2 and ABCB1 Limit the Efficacy of Dasatinib in a PDGF-B-Driven Brainstem
      Glioma Model.
AB  - Dasatinib is a multikinase inhibitor in clinical trials for glioma, and thus far
      has failed to demonstrate significant efficacy. We investigated whether the ABC
      efflux transporters ABCG2 and ABCB1 expressed in the blood-brain barrier (BBB),
      are limiting the efficacy of dasatinib in the treatment of glioma using genetic
      and pharmacologic approaches. We utilized a genetic brainstem glioma mouse model
      driven by platelet-derived growth factor-B and p53 loss using abcg2/abcb1 wild
      type (ABC WT) or abcg2/abcb1 knockout mice (ABC KO). First, we observed that
      brainstem glioma tumor latency is significantly prolonged in ABC KO versus ABC WT
      mice (median survival of 47 vs. 34 days). Dasatinib treatment nearly doubles the
      survival of brainstem glioma-bearing ABC KO mice (44 vs. 80 days). Elacridar, an
      ABCG2 and ABCB1 inhibitor, significantly increases the efficacy of dasatinib in
      brainstem glioma-bearing ABC WT mice (42 vs. 59 days). Pharmacokinetic analysis
      demonstrates that dasatinib delivery into the normal brain, but not into the
      tumor core, is significantly increased in ABC KO mice compared with ABC WT mice.
      Surprisingly, elacridar did not significantly increase dasatinib delivery into
      the normal brain or the tumor core of ABC WT mice. Next, we demonstrate that the
      tight junctions of the BBB of this model are compromised as assessed by tissue
      permeability to Texas Red dextran. Finally, elacridar increases the cytotoxicity
      of dasatinib independent of ABCG2 and ABCB1 expression in vitro In conclusion,
      elacridar improves the efficacy of dasatinib in a brainstem glioma model without
      significantly increasing its delivery to the tumor core. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5);
      819-29. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26883272
TI  - Targeting Adenine Nucleotide Translocase-2 (ANT2) to Overcome Resistance to
      Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in Non-Small Cell Lung
      Cancer.
AB  - EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy has achieved favorable clinical
      outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations.
      However, patients eventually develop resistance to EGFR-TKIs by several
      mechanisms. Adenine nucleotide translocase-2 (ANT2) is an oncogenic mitochondrial
      membrane-associated protein. We investigated the therapeutic potential of ANT2
      inhibition to EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC using gefitinib-sensitive (PC9 and
      HCC827) and gefitinib-resistant (H1975 and HCC827/GR) NSCLC cell lines. ANT2 was
      inhibited by transfecting cells with an ANT2-specific shRNA. ANT2 expression was
      elevated in the H1975 and HCC827/GR cells compared with the PC9 and HCC827 cells.
      ANT2 upregulation in gefitinib-resistant cells was associated with increased SP1
      binding to the ANT2 promoter. ANT2-specific shRNA decreased NSCLC cell viability.
      Moreover, ANT2-specific shRNA sensitized the H1975 and HCC827/GR cells to
      gefitinib, accompanied by HSP90 and EGFR downregulation. ANT2-specific shRNA also
      inactivated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the H1975 and HCC827/GR cells,
      which was mediated by the suppression of miR-221/222 levels and by the subsequent
      restoration of PTEN. In EGFR-TKI-treated NSCLC patients, ANT2 expression was
      higher in patients exhibiting poor responses compared with patients showing
      excellent responses. Furthermore, ANT2 expression increased in tumor tissues
      biopsied after acquiring gefitinib resistance compared with tissues before
      gefitinib treatment. These findings suggest that ANT2 overexpression contributes
      to EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC and that ANT2 targeting may be considered a novel
      strategy for overcoming this resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(6); 1387-96. (c)2016
      AACR.

PMID- 26883273
TI  - Identification of a Small Molecule That Overcomes HdmX-Mediated Suppression of
      p53.
AB  - Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor by mutation or overexpression of
      negative regulators occurs frequently in cancer. As p53 plays a key role in
      regulating proliferation or apoptosis in response to DNA-damaging chemotherapies,
      strategies aimed at reactivating p53 are increasingly being sought. Strategies to
      reactivate wild-type p53 include the use of small molecules capable of releasing
      wild-type p53 from key, cellular negative regulators, such as Hdm2 and HdmX.
      Derivatives of the Hdm2 antagonist Nutlin-3 are in clinical trials. However,
      Nutlin-3 specifically disrupts Hdm2-p53, leaving tumors harboring high levels of
      HdmX resistant to Nutlin-3 treatment. Here, we identify CTX1, a novel small
      molecule that overcomes HdmX-mediated p53 repression. CTX1 binds directly to HdmX
      to prevent p53-HdmX complex formation, resulting in the rapid induction of p53 in
      a DNA damage-independent manner. Treatment of a panel of cancer cells with CTX1
      induced apoptosis or suppressed proliferation and, importantly, CTX1 demonstrates
      promising activity as a single agent in a mouse model of circulating primary
      human leukemia. CTX1 is a small molecule HdmX inhibitor that demonstrates promise
      as a cancer therapeutic candidate. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(4); 574-82. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26883274
TI  - MR Studies of Glioblastoma Models Treated with Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor and
      Temozolomide:Metabolic Changes Are Associated with Enhanced Survival.
AB  - The current standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM) is surgical resection,
      radiotherapy, and treatment with temozolomide (TMZ). However, resistance to
      current therapies and recurrence are common. To improve survival, agents that
      target the PI3K signaling pathway, which is activated in approximately 88% of
      GBM, are currently in clinical trials. A challenge with such therapies is that
      tumor shrinkage is not always observed. New imaging methods are therefore needed
      to monitor response to therapy and predict survival. The goal of this study was
      to determine whether hyperpolarized (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic
      imaging (MRSI) and (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be used to
      monitor response to the second-generation dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor voxtalisib
      (XL765, SAR245409), alone or in combination with TMZ. We investigated GS-2 and
      U87-MG GBM orthotopic tumors in mice, and used MRI, hyperpolarized (13)C MRSI,
      and (1)H MRS to monitor the effects of treatment. In our study, (1)H MRS could
      not predict tumor response to therapy. However, in both our models, we observed a
      significantly lower hyperpolarized lactate-to-pyruvate ratio in animals treated
      with voxtalisib, TMZ, or combination therapy, when compared with controls. This
      metabolic alteration was observed prior to MRI-detectable changes in tumor size,
      was consistent with drug action, and was associated with enhanced animal
      survival. Our findings confirm the potential translational value of the
      hyperpolarized lactate-to-pyruvate ratio as a biomarker for noninvasively
      assessing the effects of emerging therapies for patients with GBM. Mol Cancer
      Ther; 15(5); 1113-22. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26883275
TI  - The predictive performance of the SAPS II and SAPS 3 scoring systems: A
      retrospective analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose was to analyze and compare the performance of Simplified
      Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and SAPS 3 (North Europe Logit) in an intensive
      care unit (ICU) for internal disorders at a German university hospital. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at a single-center 12-bed ICU
      sector for Internal Medicine in Essen, Germany, within an 18-month period. Data
      for adult ICU patients (N = 548) were evaluated. SAPS II and SAPS 3 scores were
      assessed along with the predicted mortality rates. Discrimination was evaluated
      by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and
      calibration was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit C-test. The
      ratios of observed-to-expected deaths (standardized mortality ratio, SMR) were
      calculated along with the 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: The in
      hospital mortality rate was 22.6%, which provided an SMR of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.77
      0.99) for SAPS II and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.52-0.71) for SAPS 3. Both SAPS II and SAPS
      3 exhibited acceptable discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89) and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.67-0.79),
      respectively. However, SAPS II demonstrated superior SMR-based discrimination,
      which was closer to the observed mortality rate, compared with SAPS 3.
      Calibration curves exhibited similar performance based on the Hosmer-Lemeshow
      goodness-of-fit C-test results: chi(2) = 7.10 with P = .525 for SAPS II and
      chi(2) = 3.10 with P = .876 for SAPS 3. Interestingly, both scores overpredicted
      mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, SAPS 3 overestimated mortality and
      therefore appears less suitable for risk evaluation in comparison to SAPS II.

PMID- 26883276
TI  - Growth factors, aging and age-related diseases.
AB  - Simple organisms including yeast and flies with mutations in the IGF-1 and Tor
      S6K pathways are dwarfs, are highly protected from toxins, and survive up to 3
      times longer. Similarly, dwarf mice with deficiencies in the growth hormone-IGF-I
      axis are also long lived and protected from diseases. We recently reported that
      humans with Growth Hormone Receptor Deficiency (GHRD) rarely develop cancer or
      diabetes. These findings are in agreement with the effect of defects in the Tor
      S6K pathways in causing dwarfism and protection of DNA. Because protein
      restriction reduces both GHR-IGF-1 axis and Tor-S6K activity, we examined links
      between protein intake, disease, and mortality in over 6000 US subjects in the
      NHANES CDC database. Respondents aged 50-65 reporting a high protein intake
      displayed an increase in IGF-I levels, a 75% increased risk of overall mortality
      and a 3-4 fold increased risk of cancer mortality in agreement with findings in
      mouse experiments. These studies point to a conserved link between proteins and
      amino acids, GHR-IGF-1/insulin, Tor-S6k signaling, aging, and diseases.

PMID- 26883278
TI  - Deciphering the origin of giant magnetic anisotropy and fast quantum tunnelling
      in Rhenium(IV) single-molecule magnets.
AB  - Single-molecule magnets represent a promising route to achieve potential
      applications such as high-density information storage and spintronics devices.
      Among others, 4d/5d elements such as Re(IV) ion are found to exhibit very large
      magnetic anisotropy, and inclusion of this ion-aggregated clusters yields several
      attractive molecular magnets. Here, using ab intio calculations, we unravel the
      source of giant magnetic anisotropy associated with the Re(IV) ions by studying a
      series of mononuclear Re(IV) six coordinate complexes. The low-lying doublet
      states are found to be responsible for large magnetic anisotropy and the sign of
      the axial zero-field splitting parameter (D) can be categorically predicted based
      on the position of the ligand coordination. Large transverse anisotropy along
      with large hyperfine interactions opens up multiple relaxation channels leading
      to a fast quantum tunnelling of the magnetization (QTM) process. Enhancing the Re
      ligand covalency is found to significantly quench the QTM process. 

PMID- 26883277
TI  - Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure on Expression Profiles of In Vitro Produced
      Vitrified Bovine Blastocysts.
AB  - High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) has been used to pre-condition embryos before
      essential, yet potentially detrimental procedures such as cryopreservation.
      However, the mechanisms for HHP are poorly understood. We treated bovine
      blastocysts with three different HHP (40, 60 and 80 MPa) in combination with
      three recovery periods (0, 1 h, 2 h post HHP). Re-expansion rates were
      significantly higher at 40 and 60 but lower at 80 MPa after vitrification-warming
      in the treated groups than controls. Microarray analysis revealed 399
      differentially expressed transcripts, representing 254 unique genes, among
      different groups. Gene ontology analysis indicated that HHP at 40 and 60 MPa
      promoted embryo competence through down-regulation of genes in cell death and
      apoptosis, and up-regulation of genes in RNA processing, cellular growth and
      proliferation. In contrast, 80 MPa up-regulated genes in apoptosis, and down
      regulated protein folding and cell cycle-related genes. Moreover, gene expression
      was also influenced by the length of the recovery time after HHP. The
      significantly over-represented categories were apoptosis and cell death in the 1
      h group, and protein folding, response to unfolded protein and cell cycle in the
      2 h group compared to 0 h. Taken together, HHP promotes competence of vitrified
      bovine blastocysts through modest transcriptional changes.

PMID- 26883279
TI  - Accurate and molecular-size-tolerant NMR quantitation of diverse components in
      solution.
AB  - Determining the amount of each component of interest in a mixture is a
      fundamental first step in characterizing the nature of the solution and to
      develop possible means of utilization of its components. Similarly, determining
      the composition of units in complex polymers, or polymer mixtures, is crucial.
      Although NMR is recognized as one of the most powerful methods to achieve this
      and is widely used in many fields, variation in the molecular sizes or the
      relative mobilities of components skews quantitation due to the size-dependent
      decay of magnetization. Here, a method to accurately determine the amount of each
      component by NMR was developed. This method was validated using a solution that
      contains biomass-related components in which the molecular sizes greatly differ.
      The method is also tolerant of other factors that skew quantitation such as
      variation in the one-bond C-H coupling constant. The developed method is the
      first and only way to reliably overcome the skewed quantitation caused by several
      different factors to provide basic information on the correct amount of each
      component in a solution. 

PMID- 26883280
TI  - Understanding the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease of
      unknown etiology. It is characterized by the presence of rheumatoid factor and
      anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies. Initial phase of RA involves the
      activation of both T and B cells. Cytokines have a crucial role in the
      pathophysiology of RA as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFalpha, IL-1, IL-17
      stimulates inflammation and degradation of bone and cartilage. There occurs an
      imbalance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine activities which leads
      to multisystem immune complications. There occurs a decline in the number of Treg
      cells which may also play an important role in pathophysiology of the disease. In
      RA patients, serum or plasma level of cytokines may indicate the severity of
      disease. Cytokine gene polymorphism could be used as markers of susceptibility
      and severity of RA. Anti-cytokine agents seem to emerge as potent drug molecules
      to treat RA. Many clinical trials are ongoing and several positive results have
      been obtained. There is a need to develop potential anti-cytokine agents that
      target numerous pathways involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This review article
      describes the effector functions of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the
      role of cytokine gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of RA. Anti-cytokine
      agents that are currently available and those that are still in clinical trials
      have also been summarized. 

PMID- 26883281
TI  - Effects of a long-term exercise programme on functional ability in people with
      dementia living in nursing homes: Research protocol of the LEDEN study, a cluster
      randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exercise may lead to improvements on functional ability, physical
      function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (particularly depression) in people with
      dementia (PWD). However, high-quality randomised controlled trial (RCT),
      controlling for the socialisation aspect of group-based exercise interventions,
      and designed to delay the declines on the functional ability of PWD in the
      nursing home (NH) setting is almost inexistent. This article describes the
      protocol of the LEDEN study, an exercise RCT for PWD living in NHs.
      METHODS/DESIGN: LEDEN is a cluster-randomised controlled pilot trial composed of
      two research arms: exercise training (experimental group) and social/recreational
      activity (control group). Both interventions will be provided twice a week, for
      60 min, during the 6-month intervention. The total duration of the study is 12
      months, being six months of intervention plus six months of observational follow
      up. Eight French NHs volunteered to participate in LEDEN; they have been
      randomised to either exercise intervention or social/recreational intervention in
      a 1:1 ratio. RESULTS: The primary objective is to investigate the effects of
      exercise, compared to a social/recreational intervention, on the ability of PWD
      living in NHs to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Secondary objectives
      are related with the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, and the effects of
      the interventions on patients' physical function, neuropsychiatric symptoms,
      pain, nutritional status, and the incidence of falls and fractures. DISCUSSION:
      LEDEN will provide the preliminary evidence needed to inform the development of
      larger and more complex interventions using exercise or non-exercise social
      interventions.

PMID- 26883283
TI  - Early intervention for depression and anxiety in 16-18-year-olds: Protocol for a
      feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of open-access psychological
      workshops in schools (DISCOVER).
AB  - Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of mental health problems.
      The DISCOVER intervention aims to provide accessible, acceptable and cost
      effective psychological support for stressed adolescents in inner-city secondary
      schools. The intervention uses age-appropriate cognitive-behavioural therapy
      (CBT) methods and materials, delivered in an interactive 1-day workshop with
      additional telephone support. An open-access entry route allows students to self
      refer. This protocol describes a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial
      (RCT) comparing DISCOVER with a waitlist control condition. The study will run
      across 10 clusters (secondary schools) in the inner London Boroughs of Southwark
      and Lambeth. Participants are students aged over 16years who are seeking help
      with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Key feasibility parameters relate to the
      proportion of students willing to participate in the research following publicity
      events; the proportion of students who complete the intervention; and response
      rates for outcome measures. Outcome variance estimates and intra-cluster
      correlations will be obtained for future power calculations. Qualitative methods
      will be used to explore the acceptability of the intervention and research
      procedures for students and school staff. The feasibility of an economic
      evaluation will also be examined. The results will (i) determine the
      appropriateness of proceeding to a definitive full-scale trial; and (ii) inform
      the development of an optimised version of the DISCOVER intervention that can be
      tested within feasible parameters.

PMID- 26883282
TI  - Distance learning strategies for weight management utilizing social media: A
      comparison of phone conference call versus social media platform. Rationale and
      design for a randomized study.
AB  - Management of obesity in the context of the primary care physician visit is of
      limited efficacy in part because of limited ability to engage participants in
      sustained behavior change between physician visits. Therefore, healthcare systems
      must find methods to address obesity that reach beyond the walls of clinics and
      hospitals and address the issues of lifestyle modification in a cost-conscious
      way. The dramatic increase in technology and online social networks may present
      healthcare providers with innovative ways to deliver weight management programs
      that could have an impact on health care at the population level. A randomized
      study will be conducted on 70 obese adults (BMI 30.0-45.0 kg/m(2)) to determine
      if weight loss (6 months) is equivalent between weight management interventions
      utilizing behavioral strategies by either a conference call or social media
      approach. The primary outcome, body weight, will be assessed at baseline and 6
      months. Secondary outcomes including waist circumference, energy and
      macronutrient intake, and physical activity will be assessed on the same
      schedule. In addition, a cost analysis and process evaluation will be completed.

PMID- 26883284
TI  - In Memoriam: Paul I. Terasaki-September 10, 1929 to January 25, 2016.

PMID- 26883285
TI  - Design and Synthesis of Triangulated DNA Origami Trusses.
AB  - DNA nanotechnology offers unique control over matter on the nanoscale. Here, we
      extend the DNA origami method to cover a range of wireframe truss structures
      composed of equilateral triangles, which use less material per volume than
      standard multiple-helix bundles. From a flat truss design, we folded tetrahedral,
      octahedral, or irregular dodecahedral trusses by exchanging few connector
      strands. Other than standard origami designs, the trusses can be folded in low
      salt buffers that make them compatible with cell culture buffers. The structures
      also have defined cavities that may in the future be used to precisely position
      functional elements such as metallic nanoparticles or enzymes. Our graph routing
      program and a simple design pipeline will enable other laboratories to make use
      of this valuable and potent new construction principle for DNA-based
      nanoengineering. 

PMID- 26883286
TI  - Discovery of candidate tumor biomarkers for treatment with intraperitoneal
      chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
AB  - Tumor mRNA expression was used to discover genes associated with worse survival
      or no survival benefit after intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. Data for high
      grade serous ovarian cancer patients treated with IP (n = 90) or IV-only (n = 
      398) chemotherapy was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Progression free
      survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between IP and IV groups
      using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression. Validations were performed by
      analyses of microarray and RNA-Seq mRNA expression data. PFS and OS were compared
      between IP and IV groups by permutation testing stratified by gene expression. P
      values are two-tailed. IP chemotherapy increased PFS (26.7 vs 16.0 months, HR
      0.43 (0.28-0.66), p = 0.0001) and OS (49.6 vs 38.2 months, HR 0.46 (0.25-0.83), p
      = 0.01). Increased expression of NCAM2 and TSHR and decreased expression of GCNT1
      was associated with decreased PFS and OS after IV chemotherapy (p < 0.05). High
      tumor expression of LMAN2, FZD4, FZD5, or STT3A was associated with no
      significant PFS increase after IP compared to IV chemotherapy. Low expression of
      APC2 and high expression of FUT9 was associated with 5.5 and 7.2 months,
      respectively, decreased OS after IP compared to IV chemotherapy (p <= 0.007).

PMID- 26883287
TI  - Outcomes of 27 Gauge Microincision Vitrectomy Surgery for Posterior Segment
      Disease.

PMID- 26883288
TI  - Molecular phylogeny, pathogenicity and toxigenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
      lycopersici.
AB  - The present study aimed at the molecular characterization of pathogenic and non
      pathogenic F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici strains isolated from tomato. The
      causal agent isolated from symptomatic plants and soil samples was identified
      based on morphological and molecular analyses. Pathogenicity testing of 69
      strains on five susceptible tomato varieties showed 45% of the strains were
      highly virulent and 30% were moderately virulent. Molecular analysis based on the
      fingerprints obtained through ISSR indicated the presence of wide genetic
      diversity among the strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences showed
      the presence of at least four evolutionary lineages of the pathogen. The
      clustering of F. oxysporum with non pathogenic isolates and with the members of
      other formae speciales indicated polyphyletic origin of F. oxysporum f. sp.
      lycopersici. Further analysis revealed intraspecies variability and nucleotide
      insertions or deletions in the ITS region among the strains in the study and the
      observed variations were found to be clade specific. The high genetic diversity
      in the pathogen population demands for development of effective resistance
      breeding programs in tomato. Among the pathogenic strains tested, toxigenic
      strains harbored the Fum1 gene clearly indicating that the strains infecting
      tomato crops have the potential to produce Fumonisin.

PMID- 26883289
TI  - Gas Sensing with Bare and Graphene-covered Optical Nano-Antenna Structures.
AB  - The motivation behind this work is to study the gas phase chemical sensing
      characteristics of optical (plasmonic) nano-antennas (ONA) and graphene/graphene
      oxide-covered versions of these structures. ONA are devices that have their
      resonating frequency in the visible range. The basic principle governing the
      detection mechanism for ONA is refractive index sensing. The change in the
      concentration of the analyte results in a differing amount of adsorbate and
      correlated shifts in the resonance wavelength of the device. In this work, bare
      and graphene or graphene oxide covered ONA have been evaluated for gas sensing
      performance. Four different analytes (ethanol, acetone, nitrogen dioxide and
      toluene) were used in testing. ONA response behavior to different analytes was
      modified by adsorption within the graphene and graphene oxide overlayers. This
      work is a preliminary study to understand resonance wavelength shift caused by
      different analytes. Results imply that the combination of well-structured ONA
      functionalized by graphene-based adsorbers can give sensitive and selective
      sensors but baseline drift effects identified in this work must be addressed for
      applied measurements. 

PMID- 26883290
TI  - Knockdown of chemokine receptor CXCR4 gene by RNA interference: Effects on the
      B16-F10 melanoma growth.
AB  - The incidence of malignant melanoma has increased greatly in recent decades
      presenting a high mortality rate despite intensive efforts in this area of
      research. Recent studies indicate that the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays a
      critical role in cancer. Thus, it has been reported that CXCL12 binding to CXCR4
      initiates various downstream signaling pathways that result in a plethora of
      responses involved in cell proliferation and metastasis. Recently, we
      demonstrated that CXCR4 silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly
      reduced the number of pulmonary metastatic nodules. In the present study, we
      examined the effect of the intratumoral injection of CXCR4 short hairpin (shRNA)
      expressing plasmids on the growth of B16-F10 melanoma in mice. In vitro
      transfection of these tumor cells with CXCR4 shRNA expressing plasmid (CXCR4
      shRNA) significantly reduced the levels of CXCR4 mRNA (85%) and CXCR4 protein
      (70%) compared with the control. We showed that the tumor growth was
      significantly reduced (66%) in mice inoculated with transfected B16-F10 melanoma
      cells when compared with the control group. We also found that the intratumoral
      injection of CXCR4 shRNA expressing plasmids results in a significant inhibition
      (70%) of B16-F10 melanoma growth. This finding supports the hypothesis that a
      direct administration of RNAi-based therapeutics into the target tumor is a
      promising approach for overcoming the hurdles of systemic delivery. The present
      study is the first demonstration that CXCR4 plays a critical role in B16-F10
      melanoma growth. Currently there is great interest in the development of
      antagonists for therapeutic targeting CXCR4 expression. Considering our results
      and the fact that CXCR4 is highly conserved between human and mouse, this
      experimental model of cancer may be useful for the discovery of new CXCR4
      antagonists with clinical implications.

PMID- 26883291
TI  - Numerical study of wall shear stress-based descriptors in the human left coronary
      artery.
AB  - The present work is about the application of wall shear stress descriptors - time
      averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillating shear index (OSI) and relative
      residence time (RRT) - to the study of blood flow in the left coronary artery
      (LCA). These descriptors aid the prediction of disturbed flow conditions in the
      vessels and play a significant role in the detection of potential zones of
      atherosclerosis development. Hemodynamic descriptors data were obtained,
      numerically, through ANSYS(r) software, for the LCA of a patient-specific
      geometry and for a 3D idealized model. Comparing both cases, the results are
      coherent, in terms of location and magnitude. Low TAWSS, high OSI and high RRT
      values are observed in the bifurcation - potential zone of atherosclerosis
      appearance. The dissimilarities observed in the TAWSS values, considering blood
      as a Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluid, releases the importance of the correct
      blood rheologic caracterization. Moreover, for a higher Reynolds number, the
      TAWSS values decrease in the bifurcation and along the LAD branch, increasing the
      probability of plaques deposition. Furthermore, for a stenotic LCA model, very
      low TAWSS and high RRT values in front and behind the stenosis are observed,
      indicating the probable extension, in the flow direction, of the lesion. 

PMID- 26883292
TI  - Growth of Continuous Monolayer Graphene with Millimeter-sized Domains Using
      Industrially Safe Conditions.
AB  - We demonstrate the growth of continuous monolayer graphene films with millimeter
      sized domains on Cu foils under intrinsically safe, atmospheric pressure growth
      conditions, suitable for application in roll-to-roll reactors. Previous attempts
      to grow large domains in graphene have been limited to isolated graphene single
      crystals rather than as part of an industrially useable continuous film. With
      both appropriate pre-treatment of the Cu and optimization of the CH4 supply, we
      show that it is possible to grow continuous films of monolayer graphene with
      millimeter scale domains within 80 min by chemical vapour deposition. The films
      are grown under industrially safe conditions, i.e., the flammable gases (H2 and
      CH4) are diluted to well below their lower explosive limit. The high quality,
      spatial uniformity, and low density of domain boundaries are demonstrated by
      charge carrier mobility measurements, scanning electron microscope, electron
      diffraction study, and Raman mapping. The hole mobility reaches as high as
      ~5,7002 m(2) V(-1) s(-1) in ambient conditions. The growth process of such high
      quality graphene with a low H2 concentration and short growth times widens the
      possibility of industrial mass production.

PMID- 26883293
TI  - Activation of EGFR by small compounds through coupling the generation of hydrogen
      peroxide to stable dimerization of Cu/Zn SOD1.
AB  - Activation of cell signaling by reactive chemicals and pollutants is an important
      issue for human health. It has been shown that lipophilic nitro-benzoxadiazole
      (NBD) compounds rapidly move across the plasma membrane and enhance Epidermal
      Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine phosphorylation in cancer cells. Unlike
      ligand-dependent activation, the mechanism of this induction relies on the
      generation of hydrogen peroxide, which is involved in the activation of the
      catalytic site of the receptor and the inactivation of protein tyrosine
      phosphatase PTP-1B. Production of H2O2 during redox transformation of NBD
      compounds is associated with the transition of a monomeric form of Cu/Zn
      superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) to stable dimers. The highly stable and
      functionally active SOD1 dimer, in the absence of adequate activities in
      downstream reactions, promotes the disproportionate production and accumulation
      of intracellular hydrogen peroxide shortly after exposure to NBD compounds. The
      intrinsic fluorescence of small compounds was used to demonstrate their binding
      to SOD1. Our data indicate that H2O2 and concomitantly generated electrophilic
      intermediates behave as independent entities, but all contribute to the
      biological reactivity of NBD compounds. This study opens a promising path to
      identify new biomarkers of oxidative/electrophilic stress in the progression of
      cancer and other diseases. 

PMID- 26883294
TI  - Brain regulation of food craving: relationships with weight status and eating
      behavior.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Food craving is a driving force for overeating and obesity. However,
      the relationship between brain mechanisms involved in its regulation and weight
      status is still an open issue. Gaps in the studied body mass index (BMI)
      distributions and focusing on linear analyses might have contributed to this lack
      of knowledge. Here, we investigated brain mechanisms of craving regulation using
      functional magnetic resonance imaging in a balanced sample including normal
      weight, overweight and obese participants. We investigated associations between
      characteristics of obesity, eating behavior and regulatory brain function
      focusing on nonlinear relationships. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Forty-three hungry female
      volunteers (BMI: 19.4-38.8 kg m(-2), mean: 27.5+/-5.3 s.d.) were presented with
      visual food stimuli individually pre-rated according to tastiness and
      healthiness. The participants were instructed to either admit to the upcoming
      craving or regulate it. We analyzed the relationships between regulatory brain
      activity as well as functional connectivity and BMI or eating behavior (Three
      Factor Eating Questionnaire, scales: Cognitive Restraint, Disinhibition).
      RESULTS: During regulation, BMI correlated with brain activity in the left
      putamen, amygdala and insula in an inverted U-shaped manner. Functional
      connectivity between the putamen and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)
      correlated positively with BMI, whereas that of amygdala with pallidum and
      lingual gyrus was nonlinearly (U-shaped) associated with BMI. Disinhibition
      correlated negatively with the strength of functional connectivity between
      amygdala and dorsomedial prefrontal (dmPFC) cortex as well as caudate.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to reveal quadratic relationships of food
      related brain processes and BMI. Reported nonlinear associations indicate inverse
      relationships between regulation-related motivational processing in the range of
      normal weight/overweight compared with the obese range. Connectivity analyses
      suggest that the need for top-down (dlPFC) adjustment of striatal value
      representations increases with BMI, whereas the interplay of self-monitoring
      (dmPFC) or eating-related strategic action planning (caudate) and salience
      processing (amygdala) might be hampered with high Disinhibition.

PMID- 26883296
TI  - Simulations and Social Empathy: Domestic Violence Education in the New
      Millennium.
AB  - When teaching about domestic violence, we hope that our students will be moved to
      act and organize against it within a social justice framework. We argue that
      instructional simulations can be used to inspire students to do so. Instructional
      simulations and gaming tools have been part of higher education pedagogical tool
      kits since at least the 1960s. Yet it is only recently that a domestic violence
      resource exists that reflects the interdisciplinary, interactive, and empathy
      building orientation of feminist pedagogy. Drawing on the concept of "social
      empathy," we analyze the potential of the instructional simulation "In Her
      Shoes," developed by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to
      help students gain knowledge of and empathy for the constrained choices facing
      battered women, understand the frequent disjuncture between leaving and safety,
      and close the gap between cultural perceptions and lived realities.

PMID- 26883297
TI  - It's Her Fault: Student Acceptance of Rape Myths On Two College Campuses.
AB  - The present study examined factors that are associated with an individual's
      adherence to rape myths at two colleges located in the same town. Particularly,
      we examined sex, race, and participants' drinking behavior in relation to rape
      myth acceptance. We found that males and heavy drinkers are more likely than
      females and non/low drinkers to adhere to rape myths. An interaction between
      males and drinking was also found indicating a moderated effect of gender on rape
      myth acceptance. In addition, the college with sexual assault programming did not
      experience a lowered acceptance of rape myths compared with the college with no
      programming.

PMID- 26883295
TI  - A collagen-binding EGFR antibody fragment targeting tumors with a collagen-rich
      extracellular matrix.
AB  - Many tumors over-express collagen, which constitutes the physical scaffold of
      tumor microenvironment. Collagen has been considered to be a target for cancer
      therapy. The collagen-binding domain (CBD) is a short peptide, which could bind
      to collagen and achieve the sustained release of CBD-fused proteins in collagen
      scaffold. Here, a collagen-binding EGFR antibody fragment was designed and
      expressed for targeting the collagen-rich extracellular matrix in tumors. The
      antibody fragment (Fab) of cetuximab was fused with CBD (CBD-Fab) and expressed
      in Pichia pastoris. CBD-Fab maintained antigen binding and anti-tumor activity of
      cetuximab and obtained a collagen-binding ability in vitro. The results also
      showed CBD-Fab was mainly enriched in tumors and had longer retention time in
      tumors in A431 s.c. xenografts. Furthermore, CBD-Fab showed a similar therapeutic
      efficacy as cetuximab in A431 xenografts. Although CBD-Fab hasn't showed better
      therapeutic effects than cetuximab, its smaller molecular and special target may
      be applicable as antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) or immunotoxins. 

PMID- 26883298
TI  - Time course and factors predicting arterial stiffness reversal in patients with
      aldosterone-producing adenoma after adrenalectomy: prospective study of 102
      patients.
AB  - Primary aldosteronism not only results in hypertension but also stiffer arteries.
      The time course and factors predicting the reversal of arterial stiffness after
      treatment are unclear. We prospectively enrolled 102 patients with aldosterone
      producing adenoma (APA) from March 2006 to January 2012. We measured the pulse
      wave velocity (PWV) between brachial-ankle (baPWV) and heart-ankle (haPWV)
      before, 6 and 12 months after their adrenalectomy. After treatment, the PWV
      decreased significantly during the first 6 months (both p < 0.001), but no
      further reduction in the following 6 months. The determinant factors for baseline
      baPWV were age, duration of hypertension, and baseline systolic blood pressure
      (SBP) in multivariate linear regression analysis, similar with baseline haPWV
      (determinants: age, duration of hypertension, baseline SBP and diastolic blood
      pressure (DBP)). In multivariate linear regression analysis, the decrease in DBP
      at 6 months (DeltaDBP0-6mo) and baseline baPWV were significantly associated with
      the decrease in baPWV at 6 months (DeltabaPWV0-6mo). The associated factors of
      the change in haPWV at 6 months (DeltahaPWV0-6mo) were baseline haPWV, DeltaDBP0
      6mo and change in log-transformed plasma renin activity. Our result suggested
      that reversal of arterial stiffness in APA patients occurred early after
      adrenalectomy and determined by baseline vascular condition, hemodynamic factors,
      and humoral factors.

PMID- 26883299
TI  - Prevalence and predictors of pediatric disclosure among HIV-infected Nigerian
      children on treatment.
AB  - This cross-sectional, facility-based study aimed to determine the prevalence,
      age, and main agent of disclosure among Nigerian children on antiretroviral
      therapy. It also sought to elicit barriers to, and facilitators of disclosure;
      and any association between disclosure and health outcomes. A semi-structured
      questionnaire was administered to 110 parents/caregivers of children >=6 years.
      CD4 count, viral load, opportunistic infections and adherence information were
      also extracted from medical records for all 110 children. The mean age of the
      children in the study was 10.15 years (SD = 2.97), with a median (range) of 9.50
      (6-18) years. According to parents/caregivers' accounts, 34 (30.9%) children knew
      that they were living with HIV, while 74 (67.3%) did not know. Mean age at
      disclosure was 10.47 years (SD = 2.62), with a median (range) of 10.00 (6-17)
      years. Most children (79.4%) were disclosed at home by their parent(s)/caregiver.
      The rest were disclosed at the hospital: five were disclosed by a healthcare
      provider, while two were accidentally disclosed. The most common reasons for
      disclosure were related to adherence issues - either to help prepare the children
      to take their medicines or that the child had refused to take his/her medicines
      (39.4%). This was followed by the child asking a lot of questions related to
      his/her health, frequent visits to the hospital, or why s/he was taking a lot of
      medicines even though s/he did not feel ill (27.3%). Most parents/caregivers did
      not disclose because the child was considered too young (84.0%) or will not be
      able to keep their HIV status a secret (10.7%). Multivariate logistic regression
      showed that only child's age was a statistically significant predictor of status
      disclosure (OR 1.69, p = .002; 95% CI 1.21-2.34). There was no association
      between disclosure and self-reported adherence (p = .615).

PMID- 26883300
TI  - Doctor of physical therapy students' attitudes towards people with disabilities:
      a descriptive study.
AB  - Purpose To describe attitudes of doctoral physical therapy (DPT) students towards
      people with disability and examine predictive ability of demographic variables on
      those attitudes. Methods Two established surveys, Attitudes Towards Disabled
      Persons-Form O (ATDP-O) and Disability Attitudes in Health Care (DAHC) were
      completed by first (Y1) and third year (Y3) students in a DPT programme.
      Demographics and information about students' contact experience with people with
      disabilities were collected through a brief questionnaire. Multiple linear
      regression models were constructed from predictor variables. Results Scores on
      the ATDP-O and the DAHC were not significantly different between the Y1 and Y3
      DPT students. There was a modest correlation (r = 0.342, p < 0.001) between the
      ATDP-O and the DAHC. Being female and having work contact with people with
      disabilities both explained about 9% of the variance in the DAHC; while having a
      close family member explains about 4% of the variance in the ATDP-O. Conclusion
      Attitudes of DPT students over the course of their education did not change. The
      DAHC is a more recently developed tool and should continue to be investigated for
      its usefulness in healthcare professional students. Faculty should consider
      measuring attitudes and developing specific educational strategies to improve
      attitudes with the goal to improve patient care. Implications for Rehabilitation
      Attitudes towards people with disability can impact their health care. Physical
      therapy students, in general, express positive attitudes towards people with
      disabilities and no differences in attitudes were determined in a group of Year 1
      and Year 3 doctoral physical therapy students. Opportunities exist to
      intentionally thread educational strategies throughout a professional curriculum
      to facilitate further development of positive attitudes in doctoral physical
      therapy students.

PMID- 26883301
TI  - Differentiation with elaidate tends to impair insulin-dependent glucose uptake
      and GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
AB  - Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance is associated with
      a quality of dietary fatty acids such as saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
      Dietary fatty acids also include transform of unsaturated fatty acids and intake
      of transform of oleate (elaidate) is associated with cardiovascular disease.
      However, little is known about the roles of elaidate in insulin responsiveness.
      We show here that elaidate impairs insulin-dependent glucose uptake in
      adipocytes. Differentiation with 10 MUM elaidate, which is close to physiological
      plasma concentration, reduces insulin-dependent glucose uptake. Furthermore,
      insulin-dependent GLUT4 translocation is disturbed in adipocytes differentiated
      with elaidate. In addition, analysis of lipolysis and gene expression shows that
      deteriorative effects of elaidate on insulin responsiveness are limited but not
      general. Thus, our findings reveal that differentiation with elaidate tends to
      affect insulin-dependent glucose uptake through alternation of GLUT4
      translocation from cytosol to the plasma membrane. 

PMID- 26883302
TI  - Hip and knee net joint moments that correlate with success in lateral load
      transfers over a low friction surface.
AB  - We previously described two different preferred strategies used to perform a
      lateral load transfer. The wide stance strategy was not used successfully on a
      low-friction surface, while the narrow stance strategy was successful. Here, we
      retrospectively examined lower extremity net joint moments between successful and
      unsuccessful strategies to determine if there is a kinetic benefit consideration
      that may go into choosing the preferred strategy. Success vs. failure over a
      novel slippery surface was used to dichotomise 35 healthy working-age individuals
      into the two groups (successful and unsuccessful). Participants performed lateral
      load transfers over three sequential surface conditions: high friction, novel low
      friction and practised low friction. The unsuccessful strategy required larger
      start torques, but lower dynamic moments during transfer compared to the
      successful strategy. These results indicate that the periodically unsuccessful
      strategy may be preferred because it requires less muscle recruitment and lower
      stresses on lower extremity soft tissues. Practitioner Summary: The reason for
      this paper is to retrospectively examine the joint moment in two different load
      transfer strategies that are used in a lateral load transfer. We found that
      periodically unsuccessful strategies that we previously reported may be a
      beneficial toward reduced lower extremity joint stresses.

PMID- 26883303
TI  - Utilizing intentional internal resonance to achieve multi-harmonic atomic force
      microscopy.
AB  - During dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM), the deflection of a scanning
      cantilever generates multiple frequency terms due to the nonlinear nature of AFM
      tip-sample interactions. Even though each frequency term is reasonably expected
      to encode information about the sample, only the fundamental frequency term is
      typically decoded to provide topographic mapping of the measured surface. One of
      main reasons for discarding higher harmonic signals is their low signal-to-noise
      ratio. Here, we introduce a new design concept for multi-harmonic AFM, exploiting
      intentional nonlinear internal resonance for the enhancement of higher harmonics.
      The nonlinear internal resonance, triggered by the non-smooth tip-sample dynamic
      interactions, results in nonlinear energy transfers from the directly excited
      fundamental bending mode to the higher-frequency mode and, hence, enhancement of
      the higher harmonic of the measured response. It is verified through detailed
      theoretical and experimental study that this AFM design can robustly incorporate
      the required internal resonance and enable high-frequency AFM measurements.
      Measurements on an inhomogeneous polymer specimen demonstrate the efficacy of the
      proposed design, namely that the higher harmonic of the measured response is
      capable of enhanced simultaneous topography imaging and compositional mapping,
      exhibiting less crosstalk with an abrupt height change. 

PMID- 26883304
TI  - Transfer of useful variability of high grain iron and zinc from Aegilops kotschyi
      into wheat through seed irradiation approach.
AB  - PURPOSE: To transfer the 2S chromosomal fragment(s) of Aegilops kotschyi (2S(k))
      into the bread wheat genome which could lead to the biofortification of wheat
      with high grain iron and zinc content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wheat-Ae. kotschyi
      2A/2S(k) substitution lines with high grain iron and zinc content were used to
      transfer the gene/loci for high grain Fe and Zn content into wheat using seed
      irradiation approach. RESULTS: Bread wheat plants derived from 40 krad-irradiated
      seeds showed the presence of univalents and multivalents during meiotic metaphase
      I. Genomic in situ hybridization analysis of seed irradiation hybrid F2 seedlings
      showed several terminal and interstitial signals indicated the introgression of
      Ae. kotschyi chromosome segments. This proves the efficacy of seed radiation
      hybrid approach in gene transfer experiments. All the radiation-treated hybrid
      plants with high grain Fe and Zn content were analyzed with wheat group 2
      chromosome-specific polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers to identify the
      introgression of small alien chromosome fragment(s). CONCLUSION: Radiation
      induced hybrids showed more than 65% increase in grain iron and 54% increase in
      Zn contents with better harvest index than the elite wheat cultivar WL711
      indicating effective and compensating translocations of 2S(k) fragments into
      wheat genome.

PMID- 26883305
TI  - Cannabis use in people with severe mental illness: The association with physical
      and mental health--a cohort study. A Pharmacotherapy Monitoring and Outcome
      Survey study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In the general population cannabis use is associated with better
      cardiometabolic outcomes. Patients with severe mental illness frequently use
      cannabis, but also present increased cardiometabolic risk factors. We explore the
      association between cannabis use and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients
      with severe mental illness. METHOD: A total of 3169 patients with severe mental
      illness from a Dutch cohort were included in the study. The association of
      cannabis use with body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure,
      cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin and Positive and
      Negative Syndrome Scale was examined with separate univariate AN(C)OVA. Changes
      in metabolic risk factors and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were examined
      after a follow-up interval of 9-24 months, for patients who continued,
      discontinued, started or were never using cannabis between the two assessments.
      RESULTS: Cannabis users at baseline had lower body mass index, smaller waist
      circumference, lower diastolic blood pressure, and more severe psychotic symptoms
      than non-users. Patients who discontinued their cannabis use after the first
      assessment had a greater increase in body mass index, waist circumference,
      diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride concentrations than other patients, and
      the severity of their psychotic symptoms had decreased more compared to continued
      users and non-users. CONCLUSION: Extra attention should be paid to the monitoring
      and treatment of metabolic parameters in patients who discontinue their cannabis
      use.

PMID- 26883307
TI  - Evaluating the effectiveness of selected community-level interventions on key
      maternal, child health, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
      outcomes in three countries (the ACCLAIM Project): a study protocol for a
      randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Efforts to scale up and improve programs for prevention of mother-to
      child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) have focused primarily at the health facility
      level, and limited attention has been paid to defining an effective set of
      community interventions to improve demand and uptake of services and retention.
      Many barriers to PMTCT are also barriers to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal
      care faced by mothers regardless of HIV status. Demand for maternal and child
      health (MCH) and PMTCT services can be limited by critical social, cultural, and
      structural barriers. Yet, rigorous evaluation has shown limited evidence of
      effectiveness of multilevel community-wide interventions aimed at improving MCH
      and HIV outcomes for pregnant women living with HIV. We propose to assess the
      effect of a package of multilevel community interventions: a social learning and
      action component, community dialogues, and peer-led discussion groups, on the
      demand for, uptake of, and retention of HIV positive pregnant/postpartum women in
      MCH/PMTCT services. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will undertake a three-arm
      randomized trial in Swaziland, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Districts/regions (n = 9)
      with 45 PMTCT-implementing health facilities and their catchment areas
      (populations 7,300-27,500) will be randomly allocated to three intervention arms:
      1) community leader engagement, 2) community leader engagement with community
      days, or 3) community leader engagement with community days and male and female
      community peer groups. The primary study outcome is HIV exposed infants (HEIs)
      returning to the health facility within 2 months for early infant diagnosis (EID)
      of HIV. Secondary study outcomes include gestational age of women attending for
      first antenatal care, male partners tested for HIV, and HEIs receiving nevirapine
      prophylaxis at birth. Changes in community knowledge, attitudes, practices, and
      beliefs on MCH/PMTCT will be assessed through household surveys. DISCUSSION:
      Implementation of the protocol necessitated changes in the original study design.
      We purposively selected facilities in the districts/regions though originally the
      study clusters were to be randomly selected. Lifelong antiretroviral therapy for
      all HIV positive pregnant and lactating women, Option B+, was implemented in the
      three countries during the study period, with the potential for a differential
      impact by study arm. Implementation however, was rapidly done across the
      districts/regions, so that there is unlikely be this potential confounding. We
      developed a system of monitoring and documentation of potential confounding
      activities or actions, and these data will be incorporated into analyses at the
      conclusion of the project. Strengthens of the study are that it tests multilevel
      interventions, utilizes program as well as study specific and individual data,
      and it is conducted under "real conditions" leading to more robust findings.
      Limitations of the protocol include the lack of a true control arm and inadequate
      control for the potential effect of Option B+, such as the intensification of
      messages as the importance of early ANC and male partner testing. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (study ID: NCT01971710) Protocol version 5, 30
      July 2013, registered 13 August 2013.

PMID- 26883308
TI  - A ban on smoking in psychiatric hospitals would reduce self burn injuries.

PMID- 26883309
TI  - Assembly of nothing: equilibrium fluids with designed structured porosity.
AB  - Controlled micro- to meso-scale porosity is a common materials design goal with
      possible applications ranging from molecular gas adsorption to particle size
      selective permeability or solubility. Here, we use inverse methods of statistical
      mechanics to design an isotropic pair interaction that, in the absence of an
      external field, assembles particles into an inhomogeneous fluid matrix
      surrounding pores of prescribed size ordered in a lattice morphology. The pore
      size can be tuned via modification of temperature or particle concentration.
      Moreover, modulating density reveals a rich series of microphase-separated
      morphologies including pore- or particle-based lattices, pore- or particle-based
      columns, and bicontinuous or lamellar structures. Sensitivity of pore assembly to
      the form of the designed interaction potential is explored. 

PMID- 26883310
TI  - Cationic sulfonium functionalization renders Znsalens with high fluorescence,
      good water solubility and tunable cell-permeability.
AB  - In this study, we report for the first time that incorporation of cationic
      sulfonium to the Znsalens skeleton achieves water soluble fluorescent metal
      complex probes for living cell imaging. To circumvent Znsalen aggregation arising
      from intermolecular ZnO interactions (found between Zn and the phenoxyl group of
      another Znsalen molecule), we synthesized a series of sulfonium Znsalens based on
      alkylation of the 3-thioether or 3,5-dithioether moieties of salicylaldehydes.
      Such functionalization not only provides positive charge(s) to enhance
      electrostatic repulsion, but also increases steric hindrance, which renders the
      Znsalen complex water soluble as a monomeric species in aqueous media as revealed
      by diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY). More interestingly, these sulfonium
      Znsalens display "switched on" fluorescence when compared to thioether analogues,
      which was attributed to the electron-withdrawing sulfonium moiety that perturbs
      the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process as suggested by computational
      calculations based on time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Most
      interestingly, live cell imaging experiments showed that modulation of the
      sulfonium moieties, such as the number or alkyl substituents, significantly tunes
      the cell-permeability of the fluorescent Znsalens. Thus, this study has
      demonstrated the importance of sulfonium functionalization on dissociating the
      intermolecular metal-ligand interactions and thus, modulating water solubility,
      photophysical properties and even cell-permeability of the fluorophores, which
      provides a new approach to the design of functional metal complexes for
      biological studies. 

PMID- 26883311
TI  - Drug-resistant tuberculosis plagues India.

PMID- 26883312
TI  - Bullying still rife in medical training.

PMID- 26883313
TI  - Winter road safety is no accident.

PMID- 26883314
TI  - Online tools improve mental health in primary care.

PMID- 26883315
TI  - Spontaneous migration of an implanted central venous access device into the
      ipsilateral jugular vein.

PMID- 26883316
TI  - Routinely collected data and comparative effectiveness evidence: promises and
      limitations.

PMID- 26883317
TI  - Guiding the reporting of studies that use routinely collected health data.

PMID- 26883318
TI  - National and Regional Representativeness of Hospital Emergency Department Visit
      Data in the National Syndromic Surveillance Program, United States, 2014.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the representativeness of the nonfederal hospital
      emergency department (ED) visit data in the National Syndromic Surveillance
      Program (NSSP). METHODS: We used the 2012 American Hospital Association Annual
      Survey Database, other databases, and information from state and local health
      departments participating in the NSSP about which hospitals submitted data to the
      NSSP in October 2014. We compared ED visits for hospitals submitting data with
      all ED visits in all 50 states and Washington, DC. RESULTS: Approximately 60.4
      million of 134.6 million ED visits nationwide (~45%) were reported to have been
      submitted to the NSSP. ED visits in 5 of 10 regions and the majority of the
      states were substantially underrepresented in the NSSP. The NSSP ED visits were
      similar to national ED visits in terms of many of the characteristics of
      hospitals and their service areas. However, visits in hospitals with the fewest
      annual ED visits, in rural trauma centers, and in hospitals serving populations
      with high percentages of Hispanics and Asians were underrepresented. CONCLUSIONS:
      NSSP nonfederal hospital ED visit data were representative for many hospital
      characteristics and in some geographic areas but were not very representative
      nationally and in many locations. Representativeness could be improved by
      increasing participation in more states and among specific types of hospitals.
      (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:562-569).

PMID- 26883319
TI  - Proactive response inhibition abnormalities in the sensorimotor cortex of
      patients with schizophrenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies of response inhibition in patients with
      schizophrenia have focused on reactive inhibition tasks (e.g., stop-signal, go/no
      go), primarily observing lateral prefrontal cortex abnormalities. However, recent
      studies suggest that purposeful and sustained (i.e., proactive) inhibition may
      also be affected in these patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic schizophrenia
      and healthy controls underwent fMRI while inhibiting motor responses during
      multisensory (audiovisual) stimulation. Resting state data were also collected.
      RESULTS: We included 37 patients with schizophrenia and 37 healthy controls in
      our study. Both controls and patients with schizophrenia successfully inhibited
      the majority of overt motor responses. Functional results indicated basic
      inhibitory failure in the lateral premotor and sensorimotor cortex, with opposing
      patterns of positive (schizophrenia) versus negative (control) activation.
      Abnormal activity was associated with independently assessed signs of psychomotor
      retardation. Patients with schizophrenia also exhibited unique activation of the
      pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA)/SMA and precuneus relative to baseline as
      well as a failure to deactivate anterior nodes of the default mode network.
      Independent resting-state connectivity analysis indicated reduced connectivity
      between anterior (task results) and posterior regions of the sensorimotor cortex
      for patients as well as abnormal connectivity between other regions (cerebellum,
      thalamus, posterior cingulate gyrus and visual cortex). LIMITATIONS: Aside from
      rates of false-positive responses, true proactive response inhibition tasks do
      not provide behavioural metrics that can be independently used to quantify task
      performance. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that basic cortico-cortico and
      intracortical connections between the sensorimotor cortex and adjoining regions
      are impaired in patients with schizophrenia and that these impaired connections
      contribute to inhibitory failures (i.e., a positive rather than negative
      hemodynamic response).

PMID- 26883320
TI  - Collaborating with a social housing provider supports a large cohort study of the
      health effects of housing conditions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of adequate, un-crowded housing as a
      prerequisite for good health, few large cohort studies have explored the health
      effects of housing conditions. The Social Housing Outcomes Worth (SHOW) Study was
      established to assess the relationship between housing conditions and health,
      particularly between household crowding and infectious diseases. This paper
      reports on the methods and feasibility of using a large administrative housing
      database for epidemiological research and the characteristics of the social
      housing population. METHODS: This prospective open cohort study was established
      in 2003 in collaboration with Housing New Zealand Corporation which provides
      housing for approximately 5% of the population. The Study measures health
      outcomes using linked anonymised hospitalisation and mortality records provided
      by the New Zealand Ministry of Health. RESULTS: It was possible to match the
      majority (96%) of applicant and tenant household members with their National
      Health Index (NHI) number allowing linkage to anonymised coded data on their
      hospitalisations and mortality. By December 2011, the study population consisted
      of 11,196 applicants and 196,612 tenants. Half were less than 21 years of age.
      About two-thirds identified as Maori or Pacific ethnicity. Household incomes were
      low. Of tenant households, 44% containing one or more smokers compared with 33%
      for New Zealand as a whole. Exposure to household crowding, as measured by a
      deficit of one or more bedrooms, was common for applicants (52%) and tenants
      (38%) compared with New Zealanders as whole (10%). CONCLUSIONS: This project has
      shown that an administrative housing database can be used to form a large cohort
      population and successfully link cohort members to their health records in a way
      that meets confidentiality and ethical requirements. This study also confirms
      that social housing tenants are a highly deprived population with relatively low
      incomes and high levels of exposure to household crowding and environmental
      tobacco smoke.

PMID- 26883321
TI  - Parenthood in transition - Somali-born parents' experiences of and needs for
      parenting support programmes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pre- and post-migration trauma due to forced migration may impact
      negatively on parents' ability to care for their children. Little qualitative
      work has examined Somali-born refugees' experiences. The aim of this study is to
      explore Somali-born refugees' experiences and challenges of being parents in
      Sweden, and the support they need in their parenting. METHODS: A qualitative
      descriptive study was undertaken. Data were collected from four focus group
      discussions (FGDs) among 23 Somali-born mothers and fathers living in a county in
      central Sweden. Qualitative content analysis has been applied. RESULTS: A main
      category, Parenthood in Transition, emerged as a description of a process of
      parenthood in transition. Two generic categories were identified: Challenges, and
      Improved parenting. Challenges emerged from leaving the home country and being
      new and feeling alienated in the new country. In Improved parenting, an awareness
      of opportunities in the new country and ways to improve their parenting was
      described, which includes how to improve their communication and relationship
      with their children. The parents described a need for information on how to
      culturally adapt their parenting and obtain support from the authorities.
      CONCLUSIONS: Parents experienced a process of parenthood in transition. They were
      looking to the future and for ways to improve their parenting. Schools and social
      services can overcome barriers that prevent lack of knowledge about the new
      country's systems related to parenthood. Leaving the home country often means
      separation from the family and losing the social network. We suggest that staff
      in schools and social services offer parent training classes for these parents
      throughout their children's childhood, with benefits for the child and family.

PMID- 26883322
TI  - Reprogramming of blood cells into induced pluripotent stem cells as a new cell
      source for cartilage repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An attempt was made to reprogram peripheral blood cells into human
      induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs) as a new cell source for cartilage repair.
      METHODS: We generated chondrogenic lineage from human peripheral blood via hiPSCs
      using an integration-free method. Peripheral blood cells were either obtained
      from a human blood bank or freshly collected from volunteers. After transforming
      peripheral blood cells into iPSCs, the newly derived iPSCs were further
      characterized through karyotype analysis, pluripotency gene expression and cell
      differentiation ability. iPSCs were differentiated through multiple steps,
      including embryoid body formation, hiPSC-mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cell
      expansion, and chondrogenic induction for 21 days. Chondrocyte phenotype was then
      assessed by morphological, histological and biochemical analysis, as well as the
      chondrogenic expression. RESULTS: hiPSCs derived from peripheral blood cells were
      successfully generated, and were characterized by fluorescent immunostaining of
      pluripotent markers and teratoma formation in vivo. Flow cytometric analysis
      showed that MSC markers CD73 and CD105 were present in monolayer cultured hiPSC
      MSC-like cells. Both alcian blue and toluidine blue staining of hiPSC-MSC
      chondrogenic pellets showed as positive. Immunohistochemistry of collagen II and
      X staining of the pellets were also positive. The sulfated glycosaminoglycan
      content was significantly increased, and the expression levels of the
      chondrogenic markers COL2, COL10, COL9 and AGGRECAN were significantly higher in
      chondrogenic pellets than in undifferentiated cells. These results indicated that
      peripheral blood cells could be a potential source for differentiation into
      chondrogenic lineage in vitro via generation of mesenchymal progenitor cells.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the potential applications of utilizing
      peripheral blood cells in generating seed cells for cartilage regenerative
      medicine in a patient-specific and cost-effective approach.

PMID- 26883323
TI  - Spatiotemporal hierarchy in antibody recognition against transmitted HIV-1
      envelope glycoprotein during natural infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Majority of HIV-1 infection is established by one transmitted/founder
      virus and understanding how the neutralizing antibodies develop against this
      virus is critical for our rational design an HIV-1 vaccine. RESULTS: We report
      here antibody profiling of sequential plasma samples against transmitted/founder
      HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein in an epidemiologically linked transmission pair
      using our previously reported antigen library approach. We have decomposed the
      antibody recognition into three major subdomains on the envelope and showed their
      development in vivo followed a spatiotemporal hierarchy: starting with the
      ectodomain of gp41 at membrane proximal region, then the V3C3V4 and the V1V2 of
      gp120 at the membrane distal region. While antibodies to these subdomains
      appeared to undergo avidity maturation, the early anti-gp41 antibodies failed to
      translate into detectable autologous neutralization. Instead, it was the much
      delayed anti-V3C3V4 and anti-V1V2 antibodies constituted the major neutralizing
      activities. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the initial antibody response
      was severely misguided by the transmitted/founder virus and future vaccine design
      would need to avoid the ectodomain of gp41 and focus on the neutralizing targets
      in the V3C3V4 and V1V2 subdomains of gp120.

PMID- 26883325
TI  - Erratum to: Inhibition of BRCT(BRCA1)-phosphoprotein interaction enhances the
      cytotoxic effect of olaparib in breast cancer cells: a proof of concept study for
      synthetic lethal therapeutic option.

PMID- 26883324
TI  - Small scale homelike special care units and traditional special care units:
      effects on cognition in dementia; a longitudinal controlled intervention study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that living in small scale homelike Special Care Units
      (SCU) has positive effects on behavioural and psychological symptoms of patients
      with dementia. Effects on cognitive functioning in relation to care facilities,
      however, are scarcely investigated. The purpose of this study is to gain more
      insight into the effects of living in small scale homelike Special Care Units,
      compared to regular SCU's, on the course of cognitive functioning in dementia.
      METHODS: A group of 67 patients with dementia who moved from a regular SCU to a
      small scale homelike SCU and a group of 48 patients with dementia who stayed in a
      regular SCU participated in the study. Cognitive and behavioural functioning was
      assessed by means of a neuropsychological test battery and observation scales one
      month before (baseline), as well as 3 (post) and 6 months (follow-up) after
      relocation. RESULTS: Comparing the post and follow-up measurement with the
      baseline measurement, no significant differences on separate measures of
      cognitive functioning between both groups were found. Additional analyses,
      however, on 'domain clusters' revealed that global cognitive functioning of the
      small scale homelike SCU group showed significantly less cognitive decline three
      months after the transfer (p < 0.05). Effect sizes (95% CI) show a tendency for
      better aspects of cognition in favour of the homelike small scaled SCU group,
      i.e., visual memory, picture recognition, cognitive decline as observed by
      representatives and the clustered domains episodic memory and global cognitive
      functioning. CONCLUSIONS: While there is no significant longitudinal effect on
      the progression of cognitive decline comparing small scaled homelike SCU's with
      regular SCU's for patients with dementia, analyses on the domain clusters and
      effect sizes cautiously suggest differences in favour of the small scaled
      homelike SCU for different aspects of cognition.

PMID- 26883326
TI  - An analysis of human microbe-disease associations.
AB  - The microbiota living in the human body has critical impacts on our health and
      disease, but a systems understanding of its relationships with disease remains
      limited. Here, we use a large-scale text mining-based manually curated microbe
      disease association data set to construct a microbe-based human disease network
      and investigate the relationships between microbes and disease genes, symptoms,
      chemical fragments and drugs. We reveal that microbe-based disease loops are
      significantly coherent. Microbe-based disease connections have strong overlaps
      with those constructed by disease genes, symptoms, chemical fragments and drugs.
      Moreover, we confirm that the microbe-based disease analysis is able to predict
      novel connections and mechanisms for disease, microbes, genes and drugs. The
      presented network, methods and findings can be a resource helpful for addressing
      some issues in medicine, for example, the discovery of bench knowledge and
      bedside clinical solutions for disease mechanism understanding, diagnosis and
      therapy.

PMID- 26883328
TI  - Quantification of deep medullary veins at 7 T brain MRI.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Deep medullary veins support the venous drainage of the brain and may
      display abnormalities in the context of different cerebrovascular diseases. We
      present and evaluate a method to automatically detect and quantify deep medullary
      veins at 7 T. METHODS: Five participants were scanned twice, to assess the
      robustness and reproducibility of manual and automated vein detection.
      Additionally, the method was evaluated on 24 participants to demonstrate its
      application. Deep medullary veins were assessed within an automatically created
      region-of-interest around the lateral ventricles, defined such that all veins
      must intersect it. A combination of vesselness, tubular tracking, and hysteresis
      thresholding located individual veins, which were quantified by counting and
      computing (3-D) density maps. RESULTS: Visual assessment was time-consuming (2
      h/scan), with an intra-/inter-observer agreement on absolute vein count of ICC =
      0.76 and 0.60, respectively. The automated vein detection showed excellent inter
      scan reproducibility before (ICC = 0.79) and after (ICC = 0.88) visually
      censoring false positives. It had a positive predictive value of 71.6 %.
      CONCLUSION: Imaging at 7 T allows visualization and quantification of deep
      medullary veins. The presented method offers fast and reliable automated
      assessment of deep medullary veins. KEY POINTS: * Deep medullary veins support
      the venous drainage of the brain * Abnormalities of these veins may indicate
      cerebrovascular disease and quantification is needed * Automated methods can
      achieve this and support human observers * The presented method provides robust
      and reproducible detection of veins * Intuitive quantification is provided via
      count and venous density maps.

PMID- 26883327
TI  - A meta-analysis of diffusion-weighted and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging for
      the detection of liver metastases.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To obtain the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) and
      gadoxetic-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of liver
      metastases. METHODS: A comprehensive search (EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane) was
      performed to identify relevant articles up to June 2015. Inclusion criteria were:
      liver metastases, DW-MR imaging and/or gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging, and
      per-lesion statistics. The reference standard was histopathology, intraoperative
      observation and/or follow-up. Sources of bias were assessed using the QUADAS-2
      tool. A linear mixed-effect regression model was used to obtain sensitivity
      estimates. RESULTS: Thirty-nine articles were included (1,989 patients, 3,854
      metastases). Sensitivity estimates for DW-MR imaging, gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR
      imaging and the combined sequence for detecting liver metastases on a per-lesion
      basis was 87.1 %, 90.6 % and 95.5 %, respectively. Sensitivity estimates by
      gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging and the combined sequence were significantly
      better than DW-MR imaging (p = 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), and the
      combined MR sequence was significantly more sensitive than gadoxetic acid
      enhanced MR imaging (p < 0.0001). Similar results were observed in articles that
      compared the three techniques simultaneously, with only colorectal liver
      metastases and in liver metastases smaller than 1 cm. CONCLUSIONS: In patients
      with liver metastases, combined DW-MR and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging has
      the highest sensitivity for detecting liver metastases on a per-lesion basis. KEY
      POINTS: * DW-MRI is less sensitive than gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for detecting
      liver metastases * DW-MRI and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI is the best combination
      * Same results are observed in colorectal liver metastases * Same results are
      observed in liver metastases smaller than 1 cm * Same results are observed when
      histopathology alone is the reference standard.

PMID- 26883329
TI  - Restaging oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy with (18)F-FDG PET-CT:
      identifying interval metastases and predicting incurable disease at surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: It is unknown whether restaging oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant
      therapy with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is more
      sensitive than contrast-enhanced CT for disease progression. We aimed to
      determine this and stratify risk. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of
      patients staged before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) by (18)F-FDG PET-CT and
      restaged with CT or PET-CT in a single centre (2006-2014). RESULTS: Three hundred
      and eighty-three patients were restaged (103 CT, 280 PET-CT). Incurable disease
      was detected by CT in 3 (2.91 %) and PET-CT in 17 (6.07 %). Despite restaging
      unsuspected incurable disease was encountered at surgery in 34/336 patients (10.1
      %). PET-CT was more sensitive than CT (p = 0.005, McNemar's test). A new
      classification of FDG-avid nodal stage (mN) before NAC (plus tumour FDG-avid
      length) predicted subsequent progression, independent of conventional nodal
      stage. The presence of FDG-avid nodes after NAC and an impassable tumour
      stratified risk of incurable disease at surgery into high (75.0 %; both risk
      factors), medium (22.4 %; either), and low risk (3.87 %; neither) groups (p <
      0.001). Decision theory supported restaging PET-CT. CONCLUSIONS: PET-CT is more
      sensitive than CT for detecting interval progression; however, it is insufficient
      in at least higher risk patients. mN stage and response (mNR) plus primary tumour
      characteristics can stratify this risk simply. KEY POINTS: * Restaging (18) F-FDG
      PET-CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy identifies metastases in 6 % of patients *
      Restaging (18) F-FDG-PET-CT is more sensitive than CT for detecting interval
      progression * Despite this, at surgery 10 % of patients had unsuspected incurable
      disease * New concepts (FDG-avid nodal stage and response) plus tumour
      impassability stratify risk * Higher risk (if not all) patients may benefit from
      additional restaging modalities.

PMID- 26883330
TI  - Single-phase DECT with VNCT compared with three-phase CTU in patients with
      haematuria.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of single-phase
      dual-energy CT (DECT) with virtual non-contrast CT (VNCT) compared with three
      phase CT urography (CTU) in patients with haematuria. METHODS: A total of 296
      patients underwent three-phase CTU (NCT at 120 kVp; nephrographic phase and
      excretory phase DECTs at 140 kVp and 80 kVp) owing to haematuria. Diagnostic
      performances of CT scans were compared for detecting urothelial tumours and
      urinary stones. Dose-length product (DLP) was compared in relation to single
      phase DECT and three-phase CTU Dose-length product (DLP) was compared in relation
      to single-phase DECT and three-phase CTU. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity
      for tumour were 95 % (19/20) and 98.9 % (273/276) on CTU, 95 % (19/20) and 98.2 %
      (271/276) on nephrographic phase DECT, and 90 % (18/20) and 98.2 % (271/276) on
      excretory phase DECT (P > 0.1). Of the 148 stones detected on NCT, 108 (73 %) and
      100 (67.6 %) were detected on nephrographic phase and excretory phase VNCTs,
      respectively. The mean size of stones undetected on nephrographic and excretory
      VNCTs was measured as 1.5 +/- 0.5 mm and 1.6 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively. The mean
      DLPs of three-phase CTU, nephrographic phase DECT and excretory phase DECT were
      1076 +/- 248 mGy . cm, 410 +/- 98 mGy . cm, and 360 +/- 87 mGy . cm, respectively
      (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Single-phase DECT has a potential to replace three
      phase CTU for detecting tumours with a lower radiation dose. KEY POINTS: * Single
      phase DECT with virtual NCT may replace three-phase CTU for detecting tumours. *
      Virtual NCT cannot replace NCT for detecting small urinary stones. * Single-phase
      DECT may reduce the radiation dose by 62-67 % compared to three-phase CTU. *
      Nephrographic phase DECT is superior to excretory phase DECT for assessing
      haematuria.

PMID- 26883331
TI  - Prognostic value of total lesion glycolysis on preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in
      patients with uterine carcinosarcoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between functional tumour parameters
      measured during preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical outcomes in patients
      with uterine carcinosarcoma. METHODS: For patients with pathologically proven
      uterine carcinosarcoma, we determined the maximal and average standardized uptake
      values, cumulative total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and sum of all metabolic tumour
      volumes (MTVs). Their predictive value for recurrence and the effects of
      pretreatment functional tumour activity on patient survival were compared.
      RESULTS: Clinicopathological data from 28 eligible patients were reviewed. The
      median duration of progression-free survival was 18.6 months (range 6.1-84.5
      months), and 10 (35.7 %) patients experienced recurrences. Univariate analyses
      showed significant associations between recurrence and tumour size, lymph node
      metastasis, high TLG and MTV values, and ovarian invasion. Multivariate analysis
      identified high TLG value as an independent risk factor for recurrence (p =
      0.048, hazard ratio 115.261, 95 % confidence interval 1.041-12,765.483). Kaplan
      Meier survival curves showed that progression-free survival significantly
      differed in groups categorized according to TLG (p = 0.007, log-rank test).
      CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative TLG measured with 18F-FDG PET/CT was statistically
      significantly associated with uterine carcinosarcoma recurrence. Metabolic
      parameters can provide useful quantitative criteria for disease prognostication
      in patients with uterine carcinosarcoma before treatment. KEY POINTS: *
      Preoperative TLG was an independent risk factor for recurrence in uterine
      carcinosarcoma. * Progression-free survival significantly differed in groups
      categorized by TLG. * Metabolic parameters can provide useful quantitative
      criteria for disease prognostication.

PMID- 26883332
TI  - Preoperative staging of non-small cell lung cancer: prospective comparison of
      PET/MR and PET/CT.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To prospectively compare the accuracies of PET/MR and PET/CT in the
      preoperative staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS:
      Institutional review board approval and patients' informed consents were
      obtained. 45 patients with proven or radiologically suspected lung cancer which
      appeared to be resectable on CT were enrolled. PET/MR was performed for the
      preoperative staging of NSCLC followed by PET/CT without contrast enhancement on
      the same day. Dedicated MR images including diffusion weighted images were
      obtained. Readers assessed PET/MR and PET/CT with contrast-enhanced CT.
      Accuracies of PET/MR and PET/CT for NSCLC staging were compared. RESULTS: Primary
      tumour stages (n = 40) were correctly diagnosed in 32 patients (80.0 %) on PET/MR
      and in 32 patients (80.0 %) on PET/CT (P = 1.0). Node stages (n = 42) were
      correctly determined in 24 patients (57.1 %) on PET/MR and in 22 patients (52.4
      %) on PET/CT (P = 0.683). Metastatic lesions in the brain, bone, liver, and
      pleura were detected in 6 patients (13.3 %). PET/MR missed one patient with
      pleural metastasis while PET/CT missed one patient with solitary brain metastasis
      and two patients with pleural metastases (P = 0.480). CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrated that PET/MR in combination with contrast-enhanced CT was comparable
      to PET/CT in the preoperative staging of NSCLC while reducing radiation exposure.
      KEY POINTS: * PET/MR can be comparable to PET/CT for preoperative NSCLC staging.
      * PET/MR and PET/CT show excellent correlation in measuring SUVmax of primary
      lesions. * Using PET/MR, estimated radiation dose can decrease by 31.1 % compared
      with PET/CT.

PMID- 26883333
TI  - Added value of amide proton transfer imaging to conventional and perfusion MR
      imaging for evaluating the treatment response of newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the added value of amide proton transfer (APT) imaging
      to conventional and perfusion MRI for differentiating tumour progression (TP)
      from the treatment-related effect (TE) in patients with post-treatment
      glioblastomas. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients with enlarging contrast
      enhancing lesions following concurrent chemoradiotherapy were assessed using
      contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI (CE-T1WI), 90th percentile histogram parameters
      of normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV90) and APT asymmetry value (APT90).
      Diagnostic performance was determined using the area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve (AUC) and cross validations. RESULTS: There were
      statistically significant differences in the mean APT90 between the TP and the TE
      groups (3.87-4.01 % vs. 1.38-1.41 %; P < .001). Compared with CE-T1WI alone, the
      addition of APT90 to CE-T1WI significantly improved cross-validated AUC from 0.58
      0.74 to 0.89-0.91 for differentiating TP from TE. The combination of CE-T1WI,
      nCBV90 and APT90 resulted in greater diagnostic accuracy for differentiating TP
      from TE than the combination of CE-T1WI and nCBV90 (cross-validated AUC, 0.95
      0.97 vs. 0.84-0.91). The inter-reader agreement between the expert and trainee
      was excellent for the measurements of APT90 (intraclass correlation coefficient,
      0.94). CONCLUSION: Adding APT imaging to conventional and perfusion MRI improves
      the diagnostic performance for differentiating TP from TE. KEY POINTS: * APT
      imaging could provide a reliable distinction between TP and TE * Adding APT
      imaging to CE-T1WI improved the diagnostic accuracy versus CE-T1WI alone *
      Multimodal imaging using CE-T1WI, perfusion and APT imaging led to accurate
      diagnosis * The inter-reader agreement of APT histogram parameters was excellent.

PMID- 26883335
TI  - Acute coronary syndrome: evaluation of detection capability using non
      electrocardiogram-gated parenchymal phase CT imaging.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the capability to detect acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by
      using non-electrocardiogram-gated parenchymal phase CT imaging. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Of 962 consecutive patients who underwent emergent coronary angiography
      for suspected ACS, 32 with ACS who underwent CT <=24 h before angiography and 15
      without ACS who underwent CT <=24 h before or after angiography were included.
      Parenchymal phase was acquired at 100-s scan delay. The presence of a myocardial
      perfusion defect (MPD) on the left ventricle (a decrease of >20 HU) and its
      capability to detect ACS were evaluated. Results were compared with laboratory
      findings. RESULTS: MPD was detected in 29 of 32 ACSs. The sensitivity,
      specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 91 % (29/32), 93 %
      (14/15), 97 % (29/30), and 82 % (14/17), respectively. The sensitivities of ST-
      and non-ST-elevation ACSs were 89 % (16/18) and 93 % (13/14), respectively,
      without significant difference (P > 0.99). Of the CT-detectable ACS, non-ST
      elevation on the electrocardiogram and a normal creatine kinase-myocardial band
      were observed in 41 % (12/29) and 24 % (7/29), respectively. CONCLUSION: ACS is
      highly detectable even using conventional parenchymal phase CT imaging.
      Therefore, even when CT is non-gating, radiologists should carefully evaluate the
      heart to avoid overlooking ACS.

PMID- 26883334
TI  - Risk Stratification in Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - There are many prognostic variables in multiple myeloma and the difficulty is in
      deciding which is truly significant. The widely used International Staging System
      (ISS) does not incorporate genetics, age, and other important variables in its
      risk stratification. Although it has its own limitations, the recently published
      Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) that was built upon the framework of
      ISS, is a more comprehensive and predictive tool for multiple myeloma patients
      and should be henceforth utilised. We will review the current prognostic
      variables and their significance in this paper. 

PMID- 26883336
TI  - Ideology versus evidence: Investigating the claim that the literature on e
      cigarettes is undermined by material conflict of interest.
AB  - A review of the health effects of e-cigarettes (EC) by Pisinger and Dossing
      concluded that any reassuring the evidence on the contents of e-cigarettes cannot
      be trusted because 'A substantial number of studies were funded or otherwise
      supported by manufacturers of ECs' and the relevant literature is influenced by
      'severe conflicts of interest' (A). The review also asserts that 'Conflict of
      interest seems to influence the conclusions of these papers' (BC). These claims
      have been embraced and magnified by EC opponents. The Pisinger and Dossing review
      included 76 studies and considered 26 (34%) to be 'funded or otherwise supported'
      by the industry. As the review identifies the 'conflicted' studies, such a claim
      can be checked. In summary, only 10 (13%) of articles covered by the review were
      sponsored by the industry and only 5 are published studies. Claim 'A' is
      misleading. Regarding claim 'B', it appears to have been conceived independent of
      any empirical support. Recently, anti-EC activists and media started to use
      conflict of interest accusations to disparage the validity of empirical evidence
      showing that vaping is much safer than smoking. Evidence needs to be considered
      on its merits rather than from the perspective of preconceived ideological
      positions. 

PMID- 26883337
TI  - Occurrence of fibronectin-fibrin complexes in plasma of patients with
      multimorbidity due to the inflamm-aging phenomenon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is the co-occurrence of chronic diseases associated
      with low-grade chronic inflammation of connective tissue. AIM OF STUDY: Frequency
      of occurrence and relative amounts of fibronectin (FN) complexes with fibrin (FN
      fibrin) and FN monomer were analyzed in 130 plasma samples of 18 to 94-year-old
      multimorbid patients in relation to concentrations of FN and extra domain A (EDA)
      FN, and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as to age, number of coexisting chronic
      diseases and presence of specified diseases. RESULTS: Immunoblotting revealed,
      besides FN dimer, the presence of FN monomer, and 750-, 1000-, and 1300-kDa FN
      fibrin complexes in the multimorbid plasmas. The FN-fibrin complexes appeared
      more frequently and in higher relative amounts, but FN monomer less frequently
      and in a lower relative amount in the groups of elderly multimorbid patients,
      with a higher number of coexisting diseases and with dominance of cardiovascular
      diseases and osteoarthrosis, and with CRP concentration of 3-5mg/l. In contrast,
      the normal plasma contained only the FN-fibrin complex of 750 kDa in a lower
      relative amount, but with an increasing amount with normal aging. Moreover, FN
      concentration increased and EDA-FN decreased with the number of co-existing
      diseases and aging of patients, although both concentration values were lower
      than in the age-matched normal groups. FN concentration was the lowest in the
      exacerbation of a chronic disease and EDA-FN in the stable chronic disease
      groups. CONCLUSION: The alterations in plasma FN molecular status were associated
      with micro-inflammation and micro-coagulation, as well as multimorbidity of
      subjects and their physiological aging.

PMID- 26883338
TI  - Cytomegalovirus persistence and T-cell immunosenescence in people aged fifty and
      older: A systematic review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Immunosenescence is the age-related deterioration of
      immunocompetence which is reflected in a poorer response to new antigens. This
      process is characterized by decreases in naive T cells and increases in memory T
      cells. The highly prevalent beta-herpesvirus cytomegalovirus (CMV) is thought to
      enhance T-cell immunosenescence. The aim of this study was to perform a
      systematic review on the current evidence regarding the relation between CMV
      infection and immunosenescence in Western people aged fifty years and older.
      METHODS: Studies that investigated the relation between CMV infection and immune
      parameters in Western people aged 50 years and older were eligible for inclusion.
      No restrictions were placed on study type. This article focuses on the relation
      between CMV infections as measured by serology and T cell subsets. A narrative
      approach to data synthesis was applied. RESULTS: In the majority of included
      studies higher levels of Effector Memory (EM) and TEMRA (Effector Memory T cells
      re-expressing CD45RA) cells were found in the CD4+ and the CD8+ T cell pools in
      CMV-seropositive elderly compared to CMV-seronegative elderly. No clear evidence
      was found for lower levels of naive T cells in CMV-seropositive elderly compared
      to CMV-seronegative elderly. The total CD8+ T cell pool appeared to be larger in
      CMV-seropositive elderly in three out of four studies, while the total CD4+ T
      cell pool appeared to be smaller in CMV-seropositive elderly in two out of four
      studies. DISCUSSION: CMV seems to enhance immunosenescence based on the high
      levels of the highly differentiated EM and TEMRA cells in the CD8+ and CD4+ T
      cell pools. The relation of the shifts within the T cell compartments in CMV
      seropositive elderly in relation to susceptibility to infectious diseases remains
      to be investigated.

PMID- 26883339
TI  - Gene expression differences in relation to age and social environment in queen
      and worker bumble bees.
AB  - Eusocial insects provide special insights into the genetic pathways influencing
      aging because of their long-lived queens and flexible aging schedules. Using qRT
      PCR in the primitively eusocial bumble bee Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus), we
      investigated expression levels of four candidate genes associated with
      taxonomically widespread age-related pathways (coenzyme Q biosynthesis protein 7,
      COQ7; DNA methyltransferase 3, Dnmt3; foraging, for; and vitellogenin, vg). In
      Experiment 1, we tested how expression changes with queen relative age and
      productivity. We found a significant age-related increase in COQ7 expression in
      queen ovary. In brain, all four genes showed higher expression with increasing
      female (queen plus worker) production, with this relationship strengthening as
      queen age increased, suggesting a link with the positive association of fecundity
      and longevity found in eusocial insect queens. In Experiment 2, we tested effects
      of relative age and social environment (worker removal) in foundress queens and
      effects of age and reproductive status in workers. In this experiment, workerless
      queens showed significantly higher for expression in brain, as predicted if
      downregulation of for is associated with the cessation of foraging by foundress
      queens following worker emergence. Workers showed a significant age-related
      increase in Dnmt3 expression in fat body, suggesting a novel association between
      aging and methylation in B. terrestris. Ovary activation was associated with
      significantly higher vg expression in fat body and, in younger workers, in brain,
      consistent with vitellogenin's ancestral role in regulating egg production.
      Overall, our findings reveal a mixture of novel and conserved features in age
      related genetic pathways under primitive eusociality. 

PMID- 26883340
TI  - Multiple sclerosis patients' experiences in relation to the impact of the kinect
      virtual home-exercise programme: a qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurorehabilitation programs are among the most popular therapies
      aimed at reducing the disabilities that result from multiple sclerosis. Video
      games have recently gained importance in the rehabilitation of patients with
      motor neurological dysfunctions. Currently, the studies describing the
      perspective of patients with multiple sclerosis who have participated in
      rehabilitation programmes via home-based video games are almost inexistent. AIM:
      The aim of this paper was to explore the experiences of multiple sclerosis
      patients who performed a virtual home-exercise programme using Kinect. DESIGN: A
      qualitative research enquiry was conducted as part of a study that examined
      postural control and balance after a 10-week Kinect home-exercise programme in
      adults with multiple sclerosis. SETTING: Patients were recruited from a Neurology
      Unit of a University Hospital. POPULATION: The inclusion criteria were: subjects
      aged between 20 and 60 years, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for over 2 years
      based on the McDonald Criteria; with an EDSS score ranging from 3 to 5. METHODS:
      Purposeful sampling method was implemented. The data collection consisted of
      unstructured interviews, using open questions, and thematic analysis was
      conducted. Guidelines for conducting qualitative studies established by the
      Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research were followed. RESULTS:
      Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 36.69 were included. Four main themes
      emerged from the data: 1) regaining previous capacity and abilities. The patients
      described how, after the treatment with Kinect they felt more independent; 2)
      sharing the disease. The patients sharing the experience of living with MS with
      their family, thanks to the use of Kinect; 3) adapting to the new treatment. This
      refers to how the use of the videogame console incorporated novelties to their
      rehabilitation programme; and 4) comparing oneself. This refers to the appearance
      of factors that motivate the patient during KVHEP. CONCLUSIONS: The patients'
      experiences gathered in this study highlight perceptions of unexpected
      improvement, an eagerness to improve, and the positive opportunity of sharing
      treatment with their social entourage thanks to the games. CLINICAL
      REHABILITATION IMPACT: These results can be applied to future research using
      video consoles, by individualizing and adapting the games to the patient's
      abilities, and by developing a new field in rehabilitation.

PMID- 26883341
TI  - Effects of a "test in-train out" walking program versus supervised standard
      rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients: a feasibility and pilot randomized
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The loss of normal ambulatory function after stroke, besides causing
      disability, leads to progressive deconditioning and exposes patients to increased
      risk of cardiovascular diseases and recurrent stroke. Conventional rehabilitation
      is mainly limited to the subacute period after stroke. Effective, safe and
      sustainable interventions for patients and healthcare system, including the long
      term, should be identified. AIM: To verify the feasibility, safety and
      preliminary efficacy of an original home-based rehabilitation model compared to a
      standard supervised program in chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors. DESIGN:
      Pilot, two-arm, parallel group, randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING:
      Community-dwelling poststroke patient/Hospital. POPULATION: Twelve chronic
      hemiplegic stroke patients (age=66.5+/-11.9 years, males, N.=9). METHODS:
      Participants were randomly assigned for a 10-week period to a structured home
      based exercise program (N.=6) and a standard supervised group-setting program
      (N.=6). The feasibility outcomes included adherence to interventions, retention
      rate and safety. Satisfaction was also evaluated by the Client Satisfaction
      Questionnaire. Efficacy was assessed by the 6-minute walk test, Timed Up and Go
      and Stair Climb tests. The impact on Quality-of-life was estimated using the
      physical activity domain of the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Operators' time
      consuming was also calculated. RESULTS: Adherence was 91% in the home-based
      exercise group and 92% in the standard supervised group. The retention rate was
      100%, with no adverse events reported and high satisfaction scores for both
      interventions. 6-minute walk test and physical activity domain significantly
      increased in both groups (P=0.03). Timed Up and Go improved in both groups,
      significantly for the home-based exercise group (P=0.03) while Stair Climb
      remained stable. Time required to operators to implement the home-based exercise
      program was 15 hours vs. 30 hours for the standard supervised one. CONCLUSIONS:
      In a sample of hemiplegic chronic stroke patients, a structured home-based
      exercise program was feasible, safe and capable of inducing improvements in
      functional capacity and Quality-of-life comparable to a conventional supervised
      rehabilitation program A future larger randomized controlled trial will be needed
      to confirm such results. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: With the limitation of a
      small sample size, the study suggested that a home-based program for chronic
      stroke might be an effective alternative to traditional supervised programs with
      the peculiarity of being sustainable for patients and healthcare system.

PMID- 26883342
TI  - Electrochemically induced sol-gel deposition of ZnO films on Pt-nanoparticle
      modified FTO surfaces for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic energy conversion.
AB  - The low conductivity of transparent conductive oxides such as fluorine-doped tin
      oxides (FTO) has a high impact on the electrochemically induced deposition of
      semiconductor films for photoelectrocatalytic investigations. Furthermore, the
      often high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs influences
      the photoelectrochemical performance of semiconductor films. In order to improve
      the semiconductor deposition process as well as to decrease electron-hole pair
      recombination, we propose modification of FTO by electrochemically induced
      deposition of Pt nanoparticles. The deposited Pt nanoparticles improve on the one
      hand the conductivity of the FTO and on the other hand they create nuclei at
      which the sol-gel semiconductor deposition starts. We use ZnO as a well
      characterised material to evaluate the effect of the influencing parameters
      during electrochemically induced sol-gel deposition with respect to the incident
      photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) derived from wavelength dependent
      photocurrent spectroscopy. Using optimised deposition parameters a substantially
      decreased recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers is demonstrated,
      if Pt-nanoparticles are first deposited on the FTO surface. By improving the
      diffusion of photogenerated electrons to the Pt nanoparticles and hence to the
      back contact the photoelectrochemical performance of the deposited ZnO films is
      substantially increased. 

PMID- 26883343
TI  - Commentary to: Effect of continuous ozone injection on performance and biomass
      accumulation of biofilters treating gaseous toluene.

PMID- 26883344
TI  - Ursolic acid-loaded chitosan nanoparticles induce potent anti-angiogenesis in
      tumor.
AB  - Angiogenesis provides necessary nutrients and oxygen for tumor growth and
      metastasis; thus, every stage of angiogenesis process is the potential target for
      cancer therapies. Ursolic acid (UA) is reported to decrease tumor burden through
      anti-angiogenesis pathway, but its poor water solubility greatly limits its
      efficiency and clinical application. Here, a simple method for preparing UA
      loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CH-UA-NPs) with anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor
      activity was demonstrated. In vitro, CH-UA-NPs could significantly inhibit the
      proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vascular
      endothelial cells (HUVECs). After uptake by HUVECs, CH-UA-NPs were mainly
      localized in lysosomes and mitochondria, but not nuclei. CH-UA-NPs induced the
      destruction of lysosome membrane integrity, collapse of mitochondrial membrane
      potential, and reorganization of cell cytoskeleton. All these changes led to the
      apoptosis or necrosis in HUVECs. In vivo, CH-UA-NPs could inhibit the
      angiogenesis in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and H22 xenograft
      model. Notably, comparing with free UA, such synthesized CH-UA-NPs could save
      about tenfold of UA doses, implying that this could significantly decrease the
      side effects induced by high doses of UA in biological organism. Our data showed
      that CH-UA-NPs and this nanoparticle-based drug delivery system could be as a
      potential drug candidate for anti-angiogenesis treatment. 

PMID- 26883345
TI  - Diammonium phosphate stimulates transcription of L-lactate dehydrogenase leading
      to increased L-lactate production in the thermotolerant Bacillus coagulans
      strain.
AB  - Exploration of cost-effective fermentation substrates for efficient lactate
      production is an important economic objective. Although some organic nitrogen
      sources are also cheaper, inorganic nitrogen salts for lactate fermentation have
      additional advantages in facilitating downstream procedures and significantly
      improving the commercial competitiveness of lactate production. In this study, we
      first established an application of diammonium phosphate to replace yeast extract
      with a reduced 90 % nitrogen cost for a thermotolerant Bacillus coagulans strain.
      In vivo enzymatic and transcriptional analyses demonstrated that diammonium
      phosphate stimulates the gene expression of L-lactate dehydrogenase, thus
      providing higher specific enzyme activity in vivo and increasing L-lactic acid
      production. This new information provides a foundation for establishing a cost
      effective process for polymer-grade L-lactic acid production in an industrial
      setting. 

PMID- 26883346
TI  - Improving monoterpene geraniol production through geranyl diphosphate synthesis
      regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Monoterpenes have wide applications in the food, cosmetics, and medicine
      industries and have recently received increased attention as advanced biofuels.
      However, compared with sesquiterpenes, monoterpene production is still lagging in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, geraniol, a valuable acyclic monoterpene
      alcohol, was synthesized in S. cerevisiae. We evaluated three geraniol synthases
      in S. cerevisiae, and the geraniol synthase Valeriana officinalis (tVoGES), which
      lacked a plastid-targeting peptide, yielded the highest geraniol production. To
      improve geraniol production, synthesis of the precursor geranyl diphosphate (GPP)
      was regulated by comparing three specific GPP synthase genes derived from
      different plants and the endogenous farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene variants
      ERG20 (G) (ERG20 (K197G) ) and ERG20 (WW) (ERG20 (F96W-N127W) ), and controlling
      endogenous ERG20 expression, coupled with increasing the expression of the
      mevalonate pathway by co-overexpressing IDI1, tHMG1, and UPC2-1. The results
      showed that overexpressing ERG20 (WW) and strengthening the mevalonate pathway
      significantly improved geraniol production, while expressing heterologous GPP
      synthase genes or down-regulating endogenous ERG20 expression did not show
      positive effect. In addition, we constructed an Erg20p(F96W-N127W)-tVoGES fusion
      protein, and geraniol production reached 66.2 mg/L after optimizing the amino
      acid linker and the order of the proteins. The best strain yielded 293 mg/L
      geraniol in a fed-batch cultivation, a sevenfold improvement over the highest
      titer previously reported in an engineered S. cerevisiae strain. Finally, we
      showed that the toxicity of geraniol limited its production. The platform
      developed here can be readily used to synthesize other monoterpenes. 

PMID- 26883347
TI  - Cyanobacterial chassis engineering for enhancing production of biofuels and
      chemicals.
AB  - To reduce dependence on fossil fuels and curb greenhouse effect, cyanobacteria
      have emerged as an important chassis candidate for producing biofuels and
      chemicals due to their capability to directly utilize sunlight and CO2 as the
      sole energy and carbon sources, respectively. Recent progresses in developing and
      applying various synthetic biology tools have led to the successful constructions
      of novel pathways of several dozen green fuels and chemicals utilizing
      cyanobacterial chassis. Meanwhile, it is increasingly recognized that in order to
      enhance productivity of the synthetic cyanobacterial systems, optimizing and
      engineering more robust and high-efficient cyanobacterial chassis should not be
      omitted. In recent years, numerous research studies have been conducted to
      enhance production of green fuels and chemicals through cyanobacterial chassis
      modifications involving photosynthesis, CO2 uptake and fixation, products
      exporting, tolerance, and cellular regulation. In this article, we critically
      reviewed recent progresses and universal strategies in cyanobacterial chassis
      engineering to make it more robust and effective for bio-chemicals production. 

PMID- 26883348
TI  - Screening of bacteria for self-healing of concrete cracks and optimization of the
      microbial calcium precipitation process.
AB  - A novel high-throughput strategy was developed to determine the calcium
      precipitation activity (CPA) of mineralization bacteria used for self-healing of
      concrete cracks. A bacterial strain designated as H4 with the highest CPA of 94.8
      % was screened and identified as a Bacillus species based on 16S rDNA sequence
      and phylogenetic tree analysis. Furthermore, the effects of certain influential
      factors on the microbial calcium precipitation process of H4 were evaluated. The
      results showed that lactate and nitrate are the best carbon and nitrogen sources,
      with optimal concentrations of approximately 25 and 18 mM, respectively. The H4
      strain is able to maintain a high CPA in the pH range of 9.5-11.0, and a suitable
      initial spore concentration is 4.0 * 10(7) spores/ml. Moreover, an ambient Ca(2+)
      concentration greater than 60 mM resulted in a serious adverse impact not only on
      the CPA but also on the growth of H4, suggesting that the maintenance of the
      Ca(2+) concentration at a low level is necessary for microbial self-healing of
      concrete cracks. 

PMID- 26883350
TI  - Focused ultrasound to transiently disrupt the blood brain barrier.

PMID- 26883349
TI  - Effect of cooperation of chaperones and gene dosage on the expression of porcine
      PGLYRP-1 in Pichia pastoris.
AB  - Mammalian peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGLYRPs) are highly conserved
      pattern-recognition molecules of the innate immune system with considerable
      bactericidal activity, which manifest their potential values for the application
      to food and pharmaceutical industry. However, the effective expression of porcine
      PGLYRP-1 in Pichia pastoris has not been reported so far. In this study,
      expression in P. pastoris was explored as an efficient way to produce functional
      porcine PGLYRP-1. Cooperation of chaperones co-expression and gene dosage
      (including protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)/binding protein (BiP) and pglyrp-1)
      were used to enhance functional expression of antimicrobial protein in P.
      pastoris. Overexpression of PDI was certainly able to increase secretion level of
      PGLYRP-1 protein because the increase in secreted PGLYRP-1 secretion was
      correlated with the copy numbers of PDI in high copy pglyrp-1 clones. However, co
      expression of BiP was proved to be detrimental to PGLYRP-1 secretion. In
      addition, we also found that excessive expression of PDI and/or BiP could
      decrease the mRNA expression of pglyrp-1 gene. This showed that PDI and BiP as
      the target genes of unfolded protein response (UPR) might regulate the
      transcription of the target protein. These data demonstrated for the first time
      that the combination of chaperones and gene dosages could improve the yield of
      PGLYRP-1, which could facilitate the application to food and pharmaceutical
      industry. 

PMID- 26883351
TI  - Pupil-sparing third nerve palsies and hemiataxia: Claude's and reverse Claude's
      syndrome.
AB  - We report two patients with midbrain infarction with pupil-sparing third nerve
      palsies and hemiataxia: one with contralateral ataxia (Claude's syndrome) and one
      with ipsilateral ataxia (which we refer to as reverse Claude's syndrome). We
      highlight the importance of a thorough neurologic evaluation with partial
      oculomotor palsies and describe, to our knowledge, the fourth account in the
      literature of a pupil-sparing third nerve palsy with ipsilateral cerebellar
      ataxia. 

PMID- 26883352
TI  - Endocytosis and transcytosis of gliadin peptides.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is a frequent inflammatory intestinal disease,
      with a genetic background, caused by gliadin-containing food. Some gliadin
      peptides are not digested by intestinal proteases and can have different
      biological effects. Gliadin peptides can induce innate and adaptive T cell
      mediated immune responses. The major mediator of the stress and innate immune
      response to gliadin peptides (i.e., peptides 31-43 and 31-55) is the cytokine
      interleukin-15 (IL-15). Other peptides such as the 33 mer containing the P57-68
      sequence, after tissue transglutaminase deamidation, are well presented to T cell
      in the intestine and can induce an adaptive immune response. FINDINGS: In this
      paper, we review the recent studies on the digestion of gliadin and the peptides
      released by the digestion process. We will also discuss the mechanisms
      responsible for the internalization and transcytosis of indigested gliadin
      peptides in the intestinal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Gliadin is not completely
      digested by the intestinal proteases producing bioactive peptides that have
      different biological effects. These peptides are internalized in the cells by an
      active process of endocytosis and can traverse the intestinal mucosa with
      different kinetics and immunological effects. In vivo findings will also be
      discussed.

PMID- 26883353
TI  - Diverse roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors in bacterial infection.
AB  - Bacterial infection often leads to cellular damage, primarily marked by loss of
      cellular integrity and cell death. However, in recent years, it is being
      increasingly recognized that, in individual cells, there are graded responses
      collectively termed cell-autonomous defense mechanisms that induce cellular
      processes designed to limit cell damage, enable repair, and eliminate bacteria.
      Many of these responses are triggered not by detection of a particular bacterial
      effector or ligand but rather by their effects on key cellular processes and
      changes in homeostasis induced by microbial effectors when recognized. These in
      turn lead to a decrease in essential cellular functions such as protein
      translation or mitochondrial respiration and the induction of innate immune
      responses that may be specific to the cellular deficit induced. These processes
      are often associated with specific cell compartments, e.g., the endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER). Under non-infection conditions, these systems are generally
      involved in sensing cellular stress and in inducing and orchestrating the
      subsequent cellular response. Thus, perturbations of ER homeostasis result in
      accumulation of unfolded proteins which are detected by ER stress sensors in
      order to restore the normal condition. The ER is also important during bacterial
      infection, and bacterial effectors that activate the ER stress sensors have been
      discovered. Increasing evidence now indicate that bacteria have evolved
      strategies to differentially activate different arms of ER stress sensors
      resulting in specific host cell response. In this review, we will describe the
      mechanisms used by bacteria to activate the ER stress sensors and discuss their
      role during infection. 

PMID- 26883354
TI  - Fructose malabsorption.
AB  - Incomplete intestinal absorption of fructose might lead to abdominal complaints
      such as pain, flatulence and diarrhoea. Whether defect fructose transporters such
      as GLUT5 or GLUT2 are involved in the pathogenesis of fructose malabsorption is a
      matter of debate. The hydrogen production by colonic bacteria is used for
      diagnosis with the hydrogen breath test. However, the appropriate fructose test
      dose for correct diagnosis is unclear. Subjects with fructose malabsorption show
      increased breath hydrogen levels and abdominal symptoms after fructose
      administration but do not report any symptoms when fructose is given together
      with glucose. This beneficial effect of glucose, however, cannot be explained yet
      but might be used for clinical care of these subjects. 

PMID- 26883355
TI  - Underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms in childhood irritable bowel
      syndrome.
AB  - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects a large number of children throughout the
      world. The symptom expression of IBS is heterogeneous, and several factors which
      may be interrelated within the IBS biopsychosocial model play a role. These
      factors include visceral hyperalgesia, intestinal permeability, gut microbiota,
      psychosocial distress, gut inflammation, bile acids, food intolerance, colonic
      bacterial fermentation, and genetics. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of
      these factors are being actively investigated. In this mini-review, we present
      updates of these mechanisms and, where possible, relate the findings to childhood
      IBS. Mechanistic elucidation may lead to the identification of biomarkers as well
      as personalized childhood IBS therapies. 

PMID- 26883356
TI  - Comparison of frequency doubling and flicker defined form perimetry in early
      glaucoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare perimetric data based on the second-generation frequency
      doubling technology (FDT) and on flicker defined form (FDF) stimulation in early
      glaucoma patients. METHODS: Seventy-two experienced glaucoma patients and 50
      healthy subjects of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry participated in the study. The
      definition of glaucoma was solely based on optic disc appearance. All patients
      underwent FDF perimetry (HEP), FDT perimetry (Matrix), standard automated
      perimetry (SAP, Octopus), and peripapillar measurements of the RNFL thickness
      (Spectralis OCT). Exclusion criteria were: mean defect (MD) in SAP > 6 dB, eye
      diseases other than glaucoma, or non-reliable FDF or FDT measurements.
      Statistical analyses included comparison of the standard indices and correlations
      between methods. Venn-diagrams show the number of patients with abnormal results
      in HEP, Matrix, SAP, and mean RNFL thickness. RESULTS: Mean defect data from FDT
      and FDF perimetry were strongly correlated (R = -0.85, P <0.001). In this cohort
      of early glaucoma patients, the MD values were 6.1 +/- 5.0 dB (FDF) and 4.5 +/-
      4.1 dB (FDT). Sensitivity in this patient group was 65 % for FDF-MD, 60 % for FDT
      MD, and 60 % for RNFL-thickness, all at a specificity of 95 %. The correlation
      analysis between local RNFL thickness and corresponding visual defects revealed
      significant Spearman correlation coefficients for the arcuate bundles of the
      visual field (FDF-inferior: R = -0.65, FDF-superior: R = -0.74, FDT-inferior: R =
      -0.55, FDT-superior: R = -0.72). CONCLUSION: FDF and FDT stimulations can be used
      to detect patients with early glaucoma. Combined consideration of RNFL thickness
      and results from one of these perimetric tests can increase the total number of
      detected patients.

PMID- 26883358
TI  - Muscleblind-like 1 suppresses breast cancer metastatic colonization and
      stabilizes metastasis suppressor transcripts.
AB  - Post-transcriptional deregulation is a defining feature of metastatic cancer.
      While many microRNAs have been implicated as regulators of metastatic
      progression, less is known about the roles and mechanisms of RNA-binding proteins
      in this process. We identified muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), a gene implicated in
      myotonic dystrophy, as a robust suppressor of multiorgan breast cancer
      metastasis. MBNL1 binds the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of DBNL (drebrin-like
      protein) and TACC1 (transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 1)-two
      genes that we implicate as metastasis suppressors. By enhancing the stability of
      these genes' transcripts, MBNL1 suppresses cell invasiveness. Consistent with
      these findings, elevated MBNL1 expression in human breast tumors is associated
      with reduced metastatic relapse likelihood. Our findings delineate a post
      transcriptional network that governs breast cancer metastasis through RNA-binding
      protein-mediated transcript stabilization. 

PMID- 26883359
TI  - Atg7 cooperates with Pten loss to drive prostate cancer tumor growth.
AB  - Understanding new therapeutic paradigms for both castrate-sensitive and more
      aggressive castrate-resistant prostate cancer is essential to improve clinical
      outcomes. As a critically important cellular process, autophagy promotes stress
      tolerance by recycling intracellular components to sustain metabolism important
      for tumor survival. To assess the importance of autophagy in prostate cancer, we
      generated a new autochthonous genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) with
      inducible prostate-specific deficiency in the Pten tumor suppressor and autophagy
      related-7 (Atg7) genes. Atg7 deficiency produced an autophagy-deficient phenotype
      and delayed Pten-deficient prostate tumor progression in both castrate-naive and
      castrate-resistant cancers. Atg7-deficient tumors display evidence of endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) stress, suggesting that autophagy may promote prostate
      tumorigenesis through management of protein homeostasis. Taken together, these
      data support the importance of autophagy for both castrate-naive and castrate
      resistant growth in a newly developed GEMM, suggesting a new paradigm and model
      to study approaches to inhibit autophagy in combination with known and new
      therapies for advanced prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26883360
TI  - Mutation of cancer driver MLL2 results in transcription stress and genome
      instability.
AB  - Genome instability is a recurring feature of tumorigenesis. Mutation in MLL2,
      encoding a histone methyltransferase, is a driver in numerous different cancer
      types, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we present evidence that MLL2 mutation
      results in genome instability. Mouse cells in which MLL2 gene deletion can be
      induced display elevated levels of sister chromatid exchange, gross chromosomal
      aberrations, 53BP1 foci, and micronuclei. Human MLL2 knockout cells are
      characterized by genome instability as well. Interestingly, MLL2 interacts with
      RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and RECQL5, and, although MLL2 mutated cells have
      normal overall H3K4me levels in genes, nucleosomes in the immediate vicinity of
      RNAPII are hypomethylated. Importantly, MLL2 mutated cells display signs of
      substantial transcription stress, and the most affected genes overlap with early
      replicating fragile sites, show elevated levels of gammaH2AX, and suffer frequent
      mutation. The requirement for MLL2 in the maintenance of genome stability in
      genes helps explain its widespread role in cancer and points to transcription
      stress as a strong driver in tumorigenesis. 

PMID- 26883361
TI  - Initiation of stem cell differentiation involves cell cycle-dependent regulation
      of developmental genes by Cyclin D.
AB  - Coordination of differentiation and cell cycle progression represents an
      essential process for embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. These
      mechanisms ultimately determine the quantities of specific cell types that are
      generated. Despite their importance, the precise molecular interplays between
      cell cycle machinery and master regulators of cell fate choice remain to be fully
      uncovered. Here, we demonstrate that cell cycle regulators Cyclin D1-3 control
      cell fate decisions in human pluripotent stem cells by recruiting transcriptional
      corepressors and coactivator complexes onto neuroectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
      genes. This activity results in blocking the core transcriptional network
      necessary for endoderm specification while promoting neuroectoderm factors. The
      genomic location of Cyclin Ds is determined by their interactions with the
      transcription factors SP1 and E2Fs, which result in the assembly of cell cycle
      controlled transcriptional complexes. These results reveal how the cell cycle
      orchestrates transcriptional networks and epigenetic modifiers to instruct cell
      fate decisions. 

PMID- 26883362
TI  - A MED13-dependent skeletal muscle gene program controls systemic glucose
      homeostasis and hepatic metabolism.
AB  - The Mediator complex governs gene expression by linking upstream signaling
      pathways with the basal transcriptional machinery. However, how individual
      Mediator subunits may function in different tissues remains to be investigated.
      Through skeletal muscle-specific deletion of the Mediator subunit MED13 in mice,
      we discovered a gene regulatory mechanism by which skeletal muscle modulates the
      response of the liver to a high-fat diet. Skeletal muscle-specific deletion of
      MED13 in mice conferred resistance to hepatic steatosis by activating a metabolic
      gene program that enhances muscle glucose uptake and storage as glycogen. The
      consequent insulin-sensitizing effect within skeletal muscle lowered systemic
      glucose and insulin levels independently of weight gain and adiposity and
      prevented hepatic lipid accumulation. MED13 suppressed the expression of genes
      involved in glucose uptake and metabolism in skeletal muscle by inhibiting the
      nuclear receptor NURR1 and the MEF2 transcription factor. These findings reveal a
      fundamental molecular mechanism for the governance of glucose metabolism and the
      control of hepatic lipid accumulation by skeletal muscle. Intriguingly, MED13
      exerts opposing metabolic actions in skeletal muscle and the heart, highlighting
      the customized, tissue-specific functions of the Mediator complex. 

PMID- 26883364
TI  - Moral equality and success of common-pool water governance in Namibia.
AB  - In the course of decentralization, pastoral communities in Namibia have had to
      find new ways to share their most salient resource, water, and the costs involved
      in providing it. Using data from sixty communities, we examine (1) whether and to
      what extent different sharing rules emerge, (2) how variations can be explained,
      (3) how rules are perceived and influence success, and (4) what economic
      consequences they have. Our results reveal that either all members pay the same
      (numerical equality) or payment is according to usage (proportional equality). We
      find that although proportional equality provides more success, the rule can only
      pertain where the state maintains an active role. Simulations show that where it
      does not prevail, wealth inequality is likely to grow. These findings have
      political implications and suggest that, in the context of the widespread
      decentralization policies, the state should not withdraw if it aims to ensure the
      success of common-pool resource management and to fight poverty. 

PMID- 26883363
TI  - Targeted cell elimination reveals an auxin-guided biphasic mode of lateral root
      initiation.
AB  - To sustain a lifelong ability to initiate organs, plants retain pools of
      undifferentiated cells with a preserved proliferation capacity. The root
      pericycle represents a unique tissue with conditional meristematic activity, and
      its tight control determines initiation of lateral organs. Here we show that the
      meristematic activity of the pericycle is constrained by the interaction with the
      adjacent endodermis. Release of these restraints by elimination of endodermal
      cells by single-cell ablation triggers the pericycle to re-enter the cell cycle.
      We found that endodermis removal substitutes for the phytohormone auxin-dependent
      initiation of the pericycle meristematic activity. However, auxin is
      indispensable to steer the cell division plane orientation of new organ-defining
      divisions. We propose a dual, spatiotemporally distinct role for auxin during
      lateral root initiation. In the endodermis, auxin releases constraints arising
      from cell-to-cell interactions that compromise the pericycle meristematic
      activity, whereas, in the pericycle, auxin defines the orientation of the cell
      division plane to initiate lateral roots. 

PMID- 26883366
TI  - German translation and validation of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence
      Sexual Questionnaire-IUGA revised (PISQ-IR).
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Condition-specific sexual questionnaires are
      essential for clinical trials and important patient-reported outcome measures.
      The aim of the study was to translate the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence
      Sexual Questionnaire-International Urogynecology Association Revised (PISQ-IR)
      into German and to clinically validate it in a German-speaking population.
      METHODS: The translated PISQ-IR was linguistically validated in two rounds of
      cognitive interviews. The final instrument was psychometrically validated in
      women presenting to urogynecological clinics with pelvic floor dysfunction. For
      analysis of criterion validity, three related self-reported measures were
      administered: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Kings Health
      Questionnaire (KHQ), and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). For
      external validity, PISQ-IR subscales were compared to the clinical-measures
      Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q) stage, pelvic floor muscle
      tone, and Oxford Grading Scale. Descriptive statistics, floor and ceiling
      effects, internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and Pearson
      correlations were calculated for all PISQ-IR subscales. RESULTS: The PISQ-IR was
      completed by 197 women, out of whom 66 (33.5 %) considered themselves not
      sexually active (NSA) and 131 (66.5 %) as sexually active (SA). Participants'
      mean age was 57 +/- 12 years; 50 % were diagnosed with symptomatic POP, 74 % with
      urinary incontinence (UI) and 4 % with anal incontinence (AI). The PISQ-IR
      subscales were analyzed separately for SA and NSA women with Cronbach's alpha
      coefficients ranging from 0.64 to 0.94. Moderate to high correlations were
      observed between PISQ-IR subscales and related quality of life (QoL) scales and
      corresponding FSFI scales. CONCLUSION: Initial testing of the German PISQ-IR
      suggests it is an internally consistent and valid tool for use in clinical
      practice and research.

PMID- 26883365
TI  - Oxidative stress and DNA damage in patients with migraine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine, but
      no published studies have examined both oxidative stress levels and oxidative DNA
      damage on the same patient group. METHODS: In this study, total oxidant status
      (TOS); total antioxidant status (TAS); oxidative stress index (OSI); and 8
      hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which is an indicator of oxidative DNA
      damage, were measured in the plasma samples of 50 prophylactic unmediated
      migraineurs (11 with aura and 39 without aura) and 30 matched healthy volunteers.
      RESULTS: No significant differences in TAS, TOS, and OSI values were observed
      between patients and controls. However, plasma 8-OHdG levels were found to be
      significantly higher in migraine patients than in the control group (p = 0.001);
      this increase in plasma 8-OHdG levels was more prominent in cases with migraine
      without aura than with aura (p = 0.001). Our results suggested an evidence of
      oxidative stress-related DNA damage in migraine. CONCLUSION: DNA damage reflected
      by plasma 8-OHdG did not studied in migraine before. Therefore, further research
      on oxidative stress-related DNA damage and the extent of its clinical
      manifestations in migraine may provide additional data to our current knowledge.

PMID- 26883367
TI  - Role of diet in fecal incontinence: a systematic review of the literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to perform a systematic review of
      the literature to examine original research on the role of diet in fecal
      incontinence (FI) with a dual focus on dietary differences in FI and dietary
      treatments for FI. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for any
      peer-reviewed original research in English on the role of diet in FI. RESULTS: We
      identified 172 unique citations. After title review and exclusion of articles not
      reporting original research, 9 publications were included in the final review: 4
      focused on dietary differences and 5 focused on dietary treatments for FI.
      Limited evidence indicates that macro- and micronutrient intake does not differ
      significantly in those with and without FI. However, certain foods were perceived
      to improve or exacerbate FI symptoms and these varied and were adjusted as part
      of self-care practices. A high-fiber diet may reduce incontinence frequency.
      CONCLUSIONS: Data on the pathogenesis of FI from a dietary perspective are scant.
      Based on the limited data, dietary differences between those with and without FI
      provide little insight with the exception of fiber. Further studies are needed to
      elucidate treatments for FI using fiber and dietary modifications.

PMID- 26883357
TI  - Genetics and biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
AB  - With 5-year survival rates remaining constant at 6% and rising incidences
      associated with an epidemic in obesity and metabolic syndrome, pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is on track to become the second most common cause of
      cancer-related deaths by 2030. The high mortality rate of PDAC stems primarily
      from the lack of early diagnosis and ineffective treatment for advanced tumors.
      During the past decade, the comprehensive atlas of genomic alterations, the
      prominence of specific pathways, the preclinical validation of such emerging
      targets, sophisticated preclinical model systems, and the molecular
      classification of PDAC into specific disease subtypes have all converged to
      illuminate drug discovery programs with clearer clinical path hypotheses. A
      deeper understanding of cancer cell biology, particularly altered cancer cell
      metabolism and impaired DNA repair processes, is providing novel therapeutic
      strategies that show strong preclinical activity. Elucidation of tumor biology
      principles, most notably a deeper understanding of the complexity of immune
      regulation in the tumor microenvironment, has provided an exciting framework to
      reawaken the immune system to attack PDAC cancer cells. While the long road of
      translation lies ahead, the path to meaningful clinical progress has never been
      clearer to improve PDAC patient survival. 

PMID- 26883369
TI  - Spot-scanned pancreatic stereotactic body proton therapy: A dosimetric
      feasibility and robustness study.
AB  - PURPOSE: We explored the dosimetric potential of spot-scanned stereotactic body
      proton therapy (SBPT) for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We compared SBPT to
      stereotactic body intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SB-IMRT) in 10 patients. We
      evaluated 3 variables in SBPT planning: (1) 4 and 6 mm spot size; (2) single vs.
      multi-field optimization (SFO vs. MFO); and (3) optimization target volume (OTV)
      expansion. Robustness analysis was performed with unidirectional isocenter shifts
      of +/-3 mm in x, y, and z and +/-3% stopping power uncertainties. RESULTS: SBPT
      plans had lower V10Gy for the stomach and small and large bowels. Under static
      robustness, a 5 mm OTV and SFO-6 mm spot size represented the best compromise
      between target and normal structure. A 4-mm spot-size and 3 mm OTV resulted in
      significant target underdosing with deformable dose accumulation analysis.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a critical basis for clinical translation of
      spot size, optimization technique, and OTV expansion for pancreatic SBPT.

PMID- 26883368
TI  - Clinical Outcome of Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease Not
      Treated According to Current Recommendations.
AB  - We evaluated the clinical outcome of patients with moderate/severe aortic
      stenosis and significant coronary disease not treated according to guidelines,
      recommending combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass
      grafting (CABG). From 2002 to 2010, we assessed death up to 5 years in 650
      patients with moderate/severe aortic stenosis and at least one coronary lesion
      (>50 %): 23 % were treated conservatively (MT), 17 % with percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI), 11 % with AVR, and 49 % with combined CABG and AVR. At a
      median follow-up of 58 months, overall death decreased over the groups (MT, 68 %
      vs. PCI, 44 % vs. AVR, 34 % vs. CABG and AVR, 23 %, p < 0.01). Compared to the MT
      group, Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders showed
      significantly reduced mortality in the PCI, AVR, and CABG and AVR groups. When
      combined CABG and AVR is not feasible, PCI or AVR alone still improves
      significantly long-term survival as compared with MT alone.

PMID- 26883370
TI  - Awake thoracic surgery versus chemical pleurodesis for intractable secondary
      spontaneous pneumothorax.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes and efficacy of awake video-assisted thoracic
      surgery (VATS) with those of chemical pleurodesis for intractable secondary
      spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). METHODS: We analyzed, retrospectively, 60
      consecutive patients who underwent awake VATS (n = 22) or chemical pleurodesis (n
      = 38) for SSP. Using propensity score matching, we identified comparable patient
      groups (n = 12 each): the awake VATS group and the chemical pleurodesis group. We
      compared hematologic data on postoperative day 1, postoperative complications
      including respiratory complications, and the maximum score on the verbal rating
      scale (VRS) between the groups. Next, we identified comparable patient groups (n
      = 8 each) for those with controlled air leak after treatment, but not for those
      with a prolonged air leak. We analyzed data about the day of air leak control,
      intra-thoracic drainage, and hospital stay to compare awake VATS vs. chemical
      pleurodesis. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, the rates of recurrent
      pneumothorax and prolonged air leaks after conservative or surgical treatment
      were not significantly different. The C-reactive protein level and the VRS score
      were significantly lower in the awake VATS group. The duration of prolonged air
      leak, and drainage after treatment were significantly shorter in the awake VATS
      group. The postoperative hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative
      complications did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We advocate that
      awake VATS, performed by a skilled thoracic surgeon, is a more feasible surgical
      option than chemical pleurodesis for patients with intractable SSP.

PMID- 26883371
TI  - Data-driven Critical Zone science: A new paradigm.
AB  - This paper uses examples from Australia to argue for a new approach to
      integrative research in the Earth's near surface environment where the
      pedosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere interact, the so-called
      'Critical Zone'. In Australia, for around 25years, environmental data layers
      presented through Geographical Information Systems software have been combined
      with field-based measurements and observations to produce spatially explicit
      predictive models for digitally mapping soils and soil properties. The
      availability of spatially extensive datasets representing different factors of
      landscape evolution and their exploration with machine learning and rule
      induction techniques also allow the evaluation of emergent patterns against
      existing domain knowledge, which in turn can lead to new insights and can
      facilitate their extrapolation over large areas. Thus the data-driven approach is
      complementary to the hypothesis-driven scientific inquiry in Critical Zone
      observatories. 

PMID- 26883373
TI  - Erratum: Cross-modal and modality-specific expectancy effects between pain and
      disgust.

PMID- 26883374
TI  - Detection of preperimetric glaucoma using Bruch membrane opening, neural canal
      and posterior pole asymmetry analysis of optical coherence tomography.
AB  - We analysed retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defects in eyes with normal
      circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness using posterior pole asymmetry analysis
      (PPAA) and investigated the parameters of Bruch membrane opening (BMO) and neural
      canals using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography
      (EDI-SDOCT). A total of 112 preperimetric glaucomatous eyes of 92 patients were
      examined to obtain cpRNFL thickness using SD-OCT. Posterior pole asymmetry
      analysis (PPAA) and central cross-sectional images of the optic nerve head (ONH)
      were obtained using EDI-SDOCT. Minimal and horizontal distances between the BMO
      and ONH surfaces (BMOM, BMOH) and the terminal of retinal pigment epithelium
      (RPE) and ONH surfaces (RPEM, RPEH) were measured. The distribution of the
      absolute black cells in PPAA was more concentrated in eyes with "U"-shaped neural
      canals (p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve
      of the ratio of RPEM to RPEH (RPE-R, 0.771 +/- 0.08) was significantly larger
      than the ratio of BMOM to BMOH (BMO-R, 0.719 +/- 0.009) for PPAA results. A U
      shaped neural canal, lower ratio of RPEM to RPEH, and lower ratio of BMOM to BMOH
      were considered early indicators of RNFL defects in preperimetric glaucomatous
      eyes with normal cpRNFL.

PMID- 26883372
TI  - Obesity Among Young Adults in Developing Countries: A Systematic Overview.
AB  - This article discusses the overweight/obesity situation among young adults in
      developing countries. For this target population, obesity prevalence ranges from
      2.3 to 12 %, and overweight is 28.8 %, mostly affecting females. Weight is now
      increasing during this life stage of transition at a higher rate, 1 kg/year, than
      in developed countries. Maternal factors and early childhood socioeconomic status
      are associated with BMI in young adults along with changing environmental and
      behavioural factors in some low and middle income countries, brought about by
      demographic and socioeconomic transitions. Young adults with 'normal weight'
      obesity need identification using other convenient low cost measures (skin folds
      or waist circumference) along with BMI. Obesity prevention or management
      interventions were not identified, but clearly needed to help stem the obesity
      pandemic. Young people generally give little priority to their future health, so
      such interventions need to be conducted at some optimal age, be innovative,
      country specific and culturally acceptable.

PMID- 26883375
TI  - A single generation of domestication heritably alters the expression of hundreds
      of genes.
AB  - The genetic underpinnings associated with the earliest stages of plant and animal
      domestication have remained elusive. Because a genome-wide response to selection
      can take many generations, the earliest detectable changes associated with
      domestication may first manifest as heritable changes to global patterns of gene
      expression. Here, to test this hypothesis, we measured differential gene
      expression in the offspring of wild and first-generation hatchery steelhead trout
      (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in a common environment. Remarkably, we find that
      there were 723 genes differentially expressed between the two groups of
      offspring. Reciprocal crosses reveal that the differentially expressed genes
      could not be explained by maternal effects or by chance differences in the
      background levels of gene expression among unrelated families. Gene-enrichment
      analyses reveal that adaptation to the novel hatchery environment involved
      responses in wound healing, immunity and metabolism. These findings suggest that
      the earliest stages of domestication may involve adaptation to highly crowded
      conditions. 

PMID- 26883376
TI  - Effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) in canine sperm cryopreservation: In vitro
      and in vivo evaluation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro and in vivo efficiency of
      different concentrations (0, 10 and 20 mM) of reduced glutathione supplemented to
      the extender for canine semen cryopreservation. Six normospermic dogs were used
      and each ejaculate was divided in 3 experimental groups, according to GSH
      concentration (GSH-0, GSH-10 and GSH-20 Groups). After thawing, samples were
      evaluated by sperm motility by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), flow
      cytometric evaluation of plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondrial
      membrane potential and activity, chromatin susceptibility to acid-induced
      denaturation, and measurement of spontaneous and induced production of
      thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In vivo tests were carried out
      with GSH-0 and GSH-10 groups, for which six bitches were inseminated with semen
      cryopreserved in extender without GSH or containing 10 mM GSH. Intrauterine
      insemination was performed by cervical catheterization on the 5th and 6th days
      after the LH surge, detected by serum progesterone and LH assays. In the CASA
      evaluation, GSH-20 group had the lowest total and progressive motility and lower
      percentage of sperm with rapid and slow speed. Groups treated with glutathione
      showed lower percentage of acrosome damage, but higher percentage of plasma
      membrane injury. GSH-20 group had higher percentage of sperm with low
      mitochondrial activity and higher concentration of induced TBARS. Both groups
      (GSH-0 and GSH-10) had positive pregnancies. In conclusion, 20 mM GSH
      supplementation to canine cryopreservation extender promoted sperm damage,
      especially to mitochondrial activity. However, addition of 10 mM GSH resulted in
      acrosome protection, preserving fertility rate. 

PMID- 26883377
TI  - Detection and genome analysis of a novel (dima)rhabdovirus (Riverside virus) from
      Ochlerotatus sp. mosquitoes in Central Europe.
AB  - During an investigation for potential arboviruses present in mosquitoes in
      Hungary (Central Europe) three highly similar virus strains of a novel
      rhabdovirus (family Rhabdoviridae) called Riverside virus (RISV, KU248085
      KU248087) were detected and genetically characterized from Ochlerotatus sp.
      mosquito pools collected from 3 geographical locations using viral metagenomic
      and RT-PCR methods. The ssRNA(-) genome of RISVs follows the general genome
      layout of rhabdoviruses (3'-N-P-M-G-L-5') with two alternatives, small ORFs in
      the P and G genes (Px and Gx). The genome of RISVs contains some unusual features
      such as the large P proteins, the short M proteins with the absence of N-terminal
      region together with the undetectable "Late budding" motif and the overlap of P
      and M genes. The unusually long 3' UTRs of the M genes of RISVs probably contain
      a remnant transcription termination signal which is suggesting the presence of an
      ancestral gene. The phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparisons show that the
      closest known relative of RISVs is the recently identified partially sequenced
      mosquito-borne rhabdovirus, North Creek virus (NOCRV), from Australia. The RISVs
      and NOCRV form a distinct, basally rooted lineage in the dimarhabdovirus
      supergroup. The host species range of RISVs is currently unknown, although the
      presence of these viruses especially in Ochlerotatus sp. mosquitoes which are
      known to be fierce biting pests of humans and warm-blooded animals and abundant
      and widespread in Hungary could hold some potential medical and/or veterinary
      risks. 

PMID- 26883378
TI  - S1 gene-based phylogeny of infectious bronchitis virus: An attempt to harmonize
      virus classification.
AB  - Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of a highly contagious
      disease that results in severe economic losses to the global poultry industry.
      The virus exists in a wide variety of genetically distinct viral types, and both
      phylogenetic analysis and measures of pairwise similarity among nucleotide or
      amino acid sequences have been used to classify IBV strains. However, there is
      currently no consensus on the method by which IBV sequences should be compared,
      and heterogeneous genetic group designations that are inconsistent with
      phylogenetic history have been adopted, leading to the confusing coexistence of
      multiple genotyping schemes. Herein, we propose a simple and repeatable phylogeny
      based classification system combined with an unambiguous and rationale lineage
      nomenclature for the assignment of IBV strains. By using complete nucleotide
      sequences of the S1 gene we determined the phylogenetic structure of IBV, which
      in turn allowed us to define 6 genotypes that together comprise 32 distinct viral
      lineages and a number of inter-lineage recombinants. Because of extensive rate
      variation among IBVs, we suggest that the inference of phylogenetic relationships
      alone represents a more appropriate criterion for sequence classification than
      pairwise sequence comparisons. The adoption of an internationally accepted viral
      nomenclature is crucial for future studies of IBV epidemiology and evolution, and
      the classification scheme presented here can be updated and revised novel S1
      sequences should become available. 

PMID- 26883379
TI  - Antibiotic cross-resistance in the lab and resistance co-occurrence in the
      clinic: Discrepancies and implications in E.coli.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance is an important public health issue, and vast
      resources are invested in researching new ways to fight it. Recent experimental
      works have shown that resistance to some antibiotics can result in increased
      susceptibility to others, namely induce cross-sensitivity. This phenomenon could
      be utilized to increase efficiency of antibiotic treatment strategies that
      minimize resistance. However, as conditions in experimental settings and in the
      clinic may differ substantially, the implications of cross-sensitivity for
      clinical settings are not guaranteed and should be examined. METHODS: In this
      work we analyzed data of Escherichia coli isolates from patients' blood, sampled
      in Rabin Medical Center, Israel, to examine co-occurrence of resistance to
      antibiotics in the clinic. We compared the co-occurrence patterns with cross
      sensitivity patterns observed in the lab. RESULTS: Our data showed only
      positively associated occurrence of resistance, even with antibiotics that were
      shown to induce cross-sensitivity in laboratory conditions. We used a
      mathematical model to examine the potential effects of cross-sensitivity versus
      co-occurrence on the spread of drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
      resistance frequencies in the clinic can have a substantial effect on the success
      of treatment strategies, and should be considered alongside experimental evidence
      of cross-sensitivity.

PMID- 26883380
TI  - Ultrasound Strain Elastography in Assessment of Muscle Stiffness in Acute
      Levodopa Challenge Test: A Feasibility Study.
AB  - To evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound strain elastography in assessing the
      response of muscle stiffness to the acute levodopa test, we prospectively
      performed strain elastography on the biceps brachii muscle (BBM) of 18 patients
      to diagnose Parkinson's disease. BBM and subcutaneous tissue strains
      (deformations) were produced by external compression with an ultrasound
      transducer and estimated using 2-D speckle tracking. We used the strain ratio (SR
      = BBM strain/reference strain) to assess BBM stiffness. The rate of increase in
      SR [rate = (SR after levodopa-SR before levodopa)/SR before levodopa] was used to
      assess the muscle stiffness response to levodopa. SR significantly increased
      after levodopa administration in 11 patients with Parkinson's disease (p = 0.02),
      whereas it did not in 7 patients with parkinsonian syndrome (from non-Parkinson's
      causes) (p = 0.14). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve
      for the rate of increase in SR in determining Parkinson's disease was 0.96. The
      rate of increase in SR seems to be feasible in evaluating the effect of levodopa
      on muscle stiffness in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26883381
TI  - Molecular characterization and mRNA expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 and
      cognate inhibiting factor in Macrobrachium nipponense in response to hypoxia.
AB  - Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are considered to be the master switches of
      oxygen-dependent gene expression in mammalian species. Currently, very little is
      known about the function of this important pathway or the molecular structures of
      key players in the hypoxia-sensitive Oriental River Prawn Macrobrachium
      nipponense. In this study, HIFs-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), -1beta (HIF-1beta) and HIF 1
      alpha inhibitor (FIH-1) from M. nipponense were cloned. The 4903-bp cDNA of M.
      nipponense HIF-1alpha (MnHIF-1alpha) encodes a protein of 1088 aa, M. nipponense
      HIF-1beta (MnHIF-1beta) spans 2042bp encoding 663 aa and the 1163bp M. nipponense
      FIH-1 (MnFIH-1) specifies a polypeptide of 345 aa. MnHIF-1 and MnFIH-1 homologs
      exhibit significant sequence similarity and share key functional domains with
      previously described vertebrate and invertebrate isoforms. Phylogenetic analysis
      identifies that genetic diversification of HIF-1 and FIH-1 occurred within the
      invertebrate lineage, indicating functional specialization of the oxygen sensing
      pathways in this group. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that MnHIF-1
      and MnFIH-1 mRNA are expressed in different tissues and exhibit transcriptional
      responses to severe hypoxia in gill and muscle tissue, consistent with their
      putative role in oxygen sensing and the adaptive response to hypoxia. The role of
      HIF-1alpha in response to hypoxia was further investigated in the gills and
      muscles of prawns using in situ hybridization. These results suggested that HIF
      1alpha plays an important role in oxygen sensing and homeostasis in M.
      nipponense. 

PMID- 26883382
TI  - Cu-Catalyzed C-H Trifluoromethylation of 3-Arylprop-1-ynes for the Selective
      Construction of Allenic Csp(2)-CF3 and Propargyl Csp(3)-CF3 Bonds.
AB  - A new method has been developed for the Cu-catalyzed C-H trifluoromethylation of
      3-arylprop-1-ynes for the selective construction of allenic Csp(2)-CF3 and
      propargyl Csp(3)-CF3 bonds. The selective formation of allenic Csp(2)-CF3 and
      propargyl Csp(3)-CF3 bonds can be controlled by modifying the reaction
      conditions. 

PMID- 26883383
TI  - Determinants of RNA metabolism in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome.
AB  - To decrypt the regulatory code of the genome, sequence elements must be defined
      that determine the kinetics of RNA metabolism and thus gene expression. Here, we
      attempt such decryption in an eukaryotic model organism, the fission yeast S.
      pombe. We first derive an improved genome annotation that redefines borders of
      36% of expressed mRNAs and adds 487 non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). We then combine RNA
      labeling in vivo with mathematical modeling to obtain rates of RNA synthesis and
      degradation for 5,484 expressed RNAs and splicing rates for 4,958 introns. We
      identify functional sequence elements in DNA and RNA that control RNA metabolic
      rates and quantify the contributions of individual nucleotides to RNA synthesis,
      splicing, and degradation. Our approach reveals distinct kinetics of mRNA and
      ncRNA metabolism, separates antisense regulation by transcription interference
      from RNA interference, and provides a general tool for studying the regulatory
      code of genomes. 

PMID- 26883386
TI  - Symmetry-Supported Magnetic Blocking at 20 K in Pentagonal Bipyramidal Dy(III)
      Single-Ion Magnets.
AB  - Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) that can be trapped in one of the bistable
      magnetic states separated by an energy barrier are among the most promising
      candidates for high-density information storage, quantum processing, and
      spintronics. To date, a considerable series of achievements have been made.
      However, the presence of fast quantum tunnelling of magnetization (QTM) in most
      SMMs, especially in single-ion magnets (SIMs), provides a rapid relaxation route
      and often sets up a limit for the relaxation time. Here, we pursue the pentagonal
      bipyramidal symmetry to suppress the QTM and present pentagonal bipyramidal
      Dy(III) SIMs [Dy(Cy3PO)2(H2O)5]Cl3.(Cy3PO).H2O.EtOH (1) and
      [Dy(Cy3PO)2(H2O)5]Br3.2(Cy3PO).2H2O.2EtOH (2), (Cy3PO = tricyclohexyl phosphine
      oxide). Magnetic characterizations reveal their fascinating SMM properties with
      high energy barriers as 472(7) K for 1 and 543(2) K for 2, along with a record
      magnetic hysteresis temperature up to 20 K for 2. These results, combined with
      the ab initio calculations, offer an illuminating insight into the vast
      possibility and potential of what the symmetry rules can achieve in molecular
      magnetism. 

PMID- 26883385
TI  - A human beta-III-spectrin spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 mutation causes high
      affinity F-actin binding.
AB  - Spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5) is a human neurodegenerative disease that
      stems from mutations in the SPTBN2 gene encoding the protein beta-III-spectrin.
      Here we investigated the molecular consequence of a SCA5 missense mutation that
      results in a L253P substitution in the actin-binding domain (ABD) of beta-III
      spectrin. We report that the L253P substitution in the isolated beta-III-spectrin
      ABD causes strikingly high F-actin binding affinity (Kd = 75.5 nM) compared to
      the weak F-actin binding affinity of the wild-type ABD (Kd = 75.8 MUM). The
      mutation also causes decreased thermal stability (Tm = 44.6  degrees C vs 59.5 
      degrees C). Structural analyses indicate that leucine 253 is in a loop at the
      interface of the tandem calponin homology (CH) domains comprising the ABD.
      Leucine 253 is predicted to form hydrophobic contacts that bridge the CH domains.
      The decreased stability of the mutant indicates that these bridging interactions
      are probably disrupted, suggesting that the high F-actin binding affinity of the
      mutant is due to opening of the CH domain interface. These results support a
      fundamental role for leucine 253 in regulating opening of the CH domain interface
      and binding of the ABD to F-actin. This study indicates that high-affinity actin
      binding of L253P beta-III-spectrin is a likely driver of neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26883384
TI  - Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas axis activates Akt
      signaling to ameliorate hepatic steatosis.
AB  - The classical axis of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin (Ang)
      converting enzyme (ACE)/Ang II/AT1, contributes to the development of non
      alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the role of bypass axis of RAS
      (Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/Ang-(1-7)/Mas) in hepatic steatosis is
      still unclear. Here we showed that deletion of ACE2 aggravates liver steatosis,
      which is correlated with the increased expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and
      the decreased expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes in the liver of
      ACE2 knockout (ACE2(-/y)) mice. Meanwhile, oxidative stress and inflammation were
      also aggravated in ACE2(-/y) mice. On the contrary, overexpression of ACE2
      improved fatty liver in db/db mice, and the mRNA levels of fatty acid oxidation
      related genes were up-regulated. In vitro, Ang-(1-7)/ACE2 ameliorated hepatic
      steatosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in free fatty acid (FFA)-induced
      HepG2 cells, and what's more, Akt inhibitors reduced ACE2-mediated lipid
      metabolism. Furthermore, ACE2-mediated Akt activation could be attenuated by
      blockade of ATP/P2 receptor/Calmodulin (CaM) pathway. These results indicated
      that Ang-(1-7)/ACE2/Mas axis may reduce liver lipid accumulation partly by
      regulating lipid-metabolizing genes through ATP/P2 receptor/CaM signaling
      pathway. Our findings support the potential role of ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in
      prevention and treatment of hepatic lipid metabolism. 

PMID- 26883387
TI  - Early Failures Benefit Subsequent Task Performance.
AB  - Animals navigate using cognitive maps. However, how they adaptively exploit these
      maps in changing environments is not fully understood. In this study, we
      investigated the problem-solving behaviors of mice in a complicated maze in which
      multiple routes with different intersections were available (Test 1). Although
      all mice eventually settled on the shortest route, mice that initially exhibited
      more trial-and-error exploration solved the maze more rapidly. We then introduced
      one or two barriers that obstructed learned routes such that mice had to
      establish novel roundabout detours (Tests 2/3). Solutions varied among mice but
      were predictable based on individual early trial-and-error patterns observed in
      Test 1: mice that had initially explored more extensively found better solutions.
      Finally, when the barriers were removed (Test 4), all mice reverted to the best
      solution after active exploration. Thus, early active exploration helps mice to
      develop optimal strategies. 

PMID- 26883389
TI  - 'Spontaneity is a meticulously prepared art' (Oscar Wilde): Commentary on Taber
      et al. (2016), Associations of spontaneous self-affirmation with health care
      experiences and health information seeking in a national survey of US adults.

PMID- 26883388
TI  - Genomic profiling of a combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the
      submandibular gland.
AB  - A 69-year-old female with no previous medical history presented with a rapidly
      growing submandibular mass. Fine needle aspiration cytology suggested a small
      cell carcinoma and PET-CT showed increased 18-FDG uptake in the submandibular
      mass as well as in a lung mass. Submandibular resection and selective neck
      dissection was performed and histopathologic examination revealed a combined
      large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) with a squamous component and without
      lymph node metastases. Resection of the lung tumor revealed a papillary
      adenocarcinoma that was morphologically distinctly different from the LCNEC. The
      patient died of her lung cancer after 19 months without evidence of recurrence of
      the LCNEC. Genomic profiling of the salivary gland LCNEC revealed a hypodiploid
      genome predominated by losses of whole chromosomes or chromosome arms involving
      chromosomes 3p, 4, 7q, 10, 11, 13, 16q and gains of 3q and 16p. In addition,
      there was a segmental gain of 9p23-p22.3 including the NFIB oncogene. Continued
      studies of salivary gland LCNEC may provide new knowledge concerning potential
      diagnostic biomarkers and may ultimately also lead to the identification of new
      treatment targets for patients with these aggressive carcinomas.

PMID- 26883390
TI  - A simple method for the production of large volume 3D macroporous hydrogels for
      advanced biotechnological, medical and environmental applications.
AB  - The development of bulk, three-dimensional (3D), macroporous polymers with high
      permeability, large surface area and large volume is highly desirable for a range
      of applications in the biomedical, biotechnological and environmental areas. The
      experimental techniques currently used are limited to the production of small
      size and volume cryogel material. In this work we propose a novel, versatile,
      simple and reproducible method for the synthesis of large volume porous polymer
      hydrogels by cryogelation. By controlling the freezing process of the
      reagent/polymer solution, large-scale 3D macroporous gels with wide
      interconnected pores (up to 200 MUm in diameter) and large accessible surface
      area have been synthesized. For the first time, macroporous gels (of up to 400 ml
      bulk volume) with controlled porous structure were manufactured, with potential
      for scale up to much larger gel dimensions. This method can be used for
      production of novel 3D multi-component macroporous composite materials with a
      uniform distribution of embedded particles. The proposed method provides better
      control of freezing conditions and thus overcomes existing drawbacks limiting
      production of large gel-based devices and matrices. The proposed method could
      serve as a new design concept for functional 3D macroporous gels and composites
      preparation for biomedical, biotechnological and environmental applications.

PMID- 26883391
TI  - Laser capture microdissection of intestinal tissue from sea bass larvae using an
      optimized RNA integrity assay and validated reference genes.
AB  - The increasing demand for a sustainable larviculture has promoted research
      regarding environmental parameters, diseases and nutrition, intersecting at the
      mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract of fish larvae. The combination of
      laser capture microdissection (LCM) and gene expression experiments allows cell
      specific expression profiling. This study aimed at optimizing an LCM protocol for
      intestinal tissue of sea bass larvae. Furthermore, a 3'/5' integrity assay was
      developed for LCM samples of fish tissue, comprising low RNA concentrations.
      Furthermore, reliable reference genes for performing qPCR in larval sea bass gene
      expression studies were identified, as data normalization is critical in gene
      expression experiments using RT-qPCR. We demonstrate that a careful optimization
      of the LCM procedure allows recovery of high quality mRNA from defined cell
      populations in complex intestinal tissues. According to the geNorm and Normfinder
      algorithms, ef1a, rpl13a, rps18 and faua were the most stable genes to be
      implemented as reference genes for an appropriate normalization of intestinal
      tissue from sea bass across a range of experimental settings. The methodology
      developed here, offers a rapid and valuable approach to characterize
      cells/tissues in the intestinal tissue of fish larvae and their changes following
      pathogen exposure, nutritional/environmental changes, probiotic supplementation
      or a combination thereof.

PMID- 26883392
TI  - Antimicrobial potency of single and combined mupirocin and monoterpenes, thymol,
      menthol and 1,8-cineole against Staphylococcus aureus planktonic and biofilm
      growth.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most commonly isolated microbes in chronic
      rhinosinusitis (CRS) that can be complicated due to the formation of a
      staphylococcal biofilm. In this study, we investigated antimicrobial efficacy of
      single mupirocin and three types of monoterpenes (thymol, menthol and 1,8
      cineole) as well as mupirocin-monoterpene combinations against S. aureus ATCC
      29213 and 5 methicilin-resistant S. aureus strains (MRSA) grown in planktonic and
      biofilm form. MIC against planktonic bacteria as well as minimum biofilm
      eliminating concentrations (MBECs) and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations
      (MBICs) were determined by TTC and MTT reduction assay, respectively. The MICs of
      mupirocin (0.125-0.156 MUg ml(-1)) were three orders of magnitude lower than the
      MICs of monoterpenes, which were as follows: thymol (0.250-0.375 mg ml(-1)) >
      menthol (1 mg ml(-1)) > 1,8-cineole (4-8 mg ml(-1)). Mupirocin-monoterpene
      combinations showed indifferent effect as compared with MICs of single
      substances. Mupirocin (0.016-2 mg ml(-1)) failed to destroy the biofilm. The
      MBECs of thymol and menthol were two- to sixfold higher than their MICs, while
      1,8-cineole exerted a weak antibiofilm effect with MBECs 16- to 64-fold higher
      than MICs. Mixture of mupirocin and 1,8 cineole exerted a potentiated biofilm
      eliminating effect, mupirocin-menthol showed antagonism, while effect of thymol
      mupirocin mixture was inconclusive. MBICs of antimicrobials were close to their
      MICs, except 1,8-cineole, MBIC was about three- to fivefold higher. Dominant
      synergy was observed for mixtures of mupirocin and menthol or thymol, whereas
      mupirocin-1,8-cineol exerted an indifferent or additive biofilm inhibitory
      effect. Particular combinations of mupirocin and the monoterpenes could be
      applied in CRS therapy in order to eliminate or prevent bacterial biofilm growth.

PMID- 26883393
TI  - Total syntheses of codonopsinine and 4-epi-codonopsinine via gold-mediated tandem
      catalyzed pyrrole synthesis.
AB  - The total syntheses of codonopsinine (1) and 4-epi-codonopsinine (2) were
      accomplished. The key substituted pyrrole intermediate was constructed via gold
      catalyzed addition-cyclization cascade of an aminoacetaldehyde acetal derivative
      and a terminal alkyne. After diastereoselective reduction of the pyrrole
      intermediate to the corresponding 3-pyrroline derivative with zinc dust and
      sulfonic acid, the total synthesis of 4-epi-codonopsinine (2) was achieved via
      stereoselective construction of the diol by dihydroxylation. In addition, the
      total synthesis of codonopsinine (1) was completed through stereochemical
      inversion of the hydroxyl group via epoxide and subsequent ring cleavage under
      the acidic aqueous condition.

PMID- 26883394
TI  - Genome-based survey of nonribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase
      gene clusters in type strains of the genus Microtetraspora.

PMID- 26883395
TI  - Stereoselective access to tubuphenylalanine and tubuvaline: improved Mn-mediated
      radical additions and assembly of a tubulysin tetrapeptide analog.
AB  - Synthesis of tubuphenylalanine and tubuvaline (Tuv), alpha-substituted gamma
      amino acid building blocks for tubulysin family of antimitotic compounds, has
      been improved using a radical addition reaction in the presence of unprotected
      hydroxyl functionality. The key carbon-carbon bond construction entails
      stereoselective Mn-mediated photolytic additions of alkyl iodides to the C=N bond
      of chiral N-acylhydrazones, and generates the chiral amines in high yield with
      complete stereocontrol. Reductive N-N bond cleavage and alcohol oxidation
      converted these amino alcohols into the corresponding gamma-amino acids. The
      route to Tuv proceeded via peptide coupling with serine methyl ester, followed by
      a high-yielding sequence to convert the serine amide to a thiazole. Finally,
      peptide bond construction established the tubulysin framework in the form of a C
      terminal alcohol analog. Attempted oxidation to the C-terminal carboxylate was
      unsuccessful; control experiments with dipeptide 18 showed a cyclization
      interfered with the desired oxidation process.

PMID- 26883396
TI  - The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is activated in human interstitial
      cystitis (IC) and rat protamine sulfate induced cystitis.
AB  - The pathogenesis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is
      currently unclear. However, inflammation has been suggested to play an important
      role in BPS/IC. JNK downstream signaling plays an important role in numerous
      chronic inflammatory diseases. However, studies of the JNK pathway in BPS/IC are
      limited. In this study, we investigated the role of the JNK pathway in human
      BPS/IC and rat protamine sulfate (PS)-induced cystitis and examined the effect of
      the selective JNK inhibitor SP600125 on rat bladder cystitis. In our study, we
      demonstrated that the JNK signaling pathway was activated (the expression of JNK,
      c-Jun, p-JNK, p-c-Jun, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly increasing in BPS/IC
      compared to the non-BPS/IC patients) and resulted in inflammation in human
      BPS/IC. Further animal models showed that the JNK pathway played an important
      role in the pathogenesis of cystitis. JNK inhibitors, SP600125, effectively
      inhibited the expression of p-JNK, p-c-Jun, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. The inhibition of
      these pathways had a protective effect on PS-induced rat cystitis by
      significantly decreasing histological score and mast cell count and improving
      bladder micturition function (micturition frequency significantly decreasing and
      bladder capacity significantly increasing). Therefore, JNK inhibition could be
      used as a potential treatment for BPS/IC. 

PMID- 26883397
TI  - Quantitative Analyses of Core Promoters Enable Precise Engineering of Regulated
      Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells.
AB  - Inducible transcription systems play a crucial role in a wide array of synthetic
      biology circuits. However, the majority of inducible promoters are constructed
      from a limited set of tried-and-true promoter parts, which are susceptible to
      common shortcomings such as high basal expression levels (i.e., leakiness). To
      expand the toolbox for regulated mammalian gene expression and facilitate the
      construction of mammalian genetic circuits with precise functionality, we
      quantitatively characterized a panel of eight core promoters, including sequences
      with mammalian, viral, and synthetic origins. We demonstrate that this selection
      of core promoters can provide a wide range of basal gene expression levels and
      achieve a gradient of fold-inductions spanning 2 orders of magnitude.
      Furthermore, commonly used parts such as minimal CMV and minimal SV40 promoters
      were shown to achieve robust gene expression upon induction, but also suffer from
      high levels of leakiness. In contrast, a synthetic promoter, YB_TATA, was shown
      to combine low basal expression with high transcription rate in the induced state
      to achieve significantly higher fold-induction ratios compared to all other
      promoters tested. These behaviors remain consistent when the promoters are
      coupled to different genetic outputs and different response elements, as well as
      across different host-cell types and DNA copy numbers. We apply this quantitative
      understanding of core promoter properties to the successful engineering of human
      T cells that respond to antigen stimulation via chimeric antigen receptor
      signaling specifically under hypoxic environments. Results presented in this
      study can facilitate the design and calibration of future mammalian synthetic
      biology systems capable of precisely programmed functionality.

PMID- 26883398
TI  - Controlling herding in minority game systems.
AB  - Resource allocation takes place in various types of real-world complex systems
      such as urban traffic, social services institutions, economical and ecosystems.
      Mathematically, the dynamical process of resource allocation can be modeled as
      minority games. Spontaneous evolution of the resource allocation dynamics,
      however, often leads to a harmful herding behavior accompanied by strong
      fluctuations in which a large majority of agents crowd temporarily for a few
      resources, leaving many others unused. Developing effective control methods to
      suppress and eliminate herding is an important but open problem. Here we develop
      a pinning control method, that the fluctuations of the system consist of
      intrinsic and systematic components allows us to design a control scheme with
      separated control variables. A striking finding is the universal existence of an
      optimal pinning fraction to minimize the variance of the system, regardless of
      the pinning patterns and the network topology. We carry out a generally
      applicable theory to explain the emergence of optimal pinning and to predict the
      dependence of the optimal pinning fraction on the network topology. Our work
      represents a general framework to deal with the broader problem of controlling
      collective dynamics in complex systems with potential applications in social,
      economical and political systems. 

PMID- 26883399
TI  - Psychosocial coping profiles after pain rehabilitation: associations with
      occupational performance and patient characteristics.
AB  - Purpose The aims of the present study were to assess: (i) changes in coping by
      use of Multidimensional Pain Inventory profiles from baseline to follow-up, (ii)
      associations between Adaptive Coper (AC) profiles at follow-up and improvements
      in occupational performance (by Canadian Occupational Performance Measure COPM)
      and (iii) ability to predict AC profiles at follow-up by participants' baseline
      characteristics. Method Data at baseline, discharge and follow-up from 525
      participants in a pain rehabilitation program were analyzed with multivariate
      statistics. Results AC profiles increased and Dysfunctional (DYS) profiles
      decreased at follow-up. Clinically relevant improvements on COPM were associated
      with having an AC profile at follow-up. Being Nordic born, having longer
      education, an AC profile and higher baseline scores on satisfaction with
      performance predicted an AC profile at follow-up. Conclusions Pain rehabilitation
      seems to result in sustainable and favourable coping strategies at follow-up, and
      improved occupational performance is associated with favourable coping at follow
      up. Outcomes need to be measured independently of improved coping strategies and
      improvements of participant's individual goals such as difficulties to perform
      their most meaningful occupations. Patients at risk for unfavourable coping
      strategies may need modified interventions. Implications for Rehabilitation More
      participants reported a beneficial coping, MPI profile, in a long-term
      perspective after a pain rehabilitation program. Improvements on occupational
      performance prioritized as meaningful by each of the participants are related to
      adequate coping strategies at follow-up. The associations between improved
      occupational performance and beneficial coping profiles need to be better
      understood. Patients with worse initial occupational performance may need
      modified pain rehabilitation interventions to improve their coping strategies.

PMID- 26883401
TI  - Changes in iodine status among US adults, 2001-2012.
AB  - Urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) in the US have been reported to be stable
      since 1988-1994, although those in selected subgroups remained low. We aimed to
      investigate iodine status among adults (>=20 years) by two different criteria of
      assessing iodine deficiency in population. Utilizing National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Surveys 2001-2012, we conducted linear logistic regressions
      adjusting for covariates. The prevalence of <50 MUg/L UIC was higher in women
      than in men; increased from 11.6% (2001-2004) to 13.2% (2009-2012) at the
      national level and in young adults, non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) and non-users of
      iodine-containing supplements (all, p <0.05); the adjusted odds ratios (95%CI) in
      young adults (1.54 [1.11-2.15], p = 0.0007) and NHBs (1.70 [1.15-2.52], p =
      0.0078). Median UICs confirm women and NHBs being in borderline iodine status.
      Recognizing the critical consequence of iodine deficiency particularly in women
      and NHBs, regular monitoring of iodine status is important for public health in
      the US.

PMID- 26883402
TI  - Arsenic, cadmium and lead in sclerotia of Wolfiporia extensa of Yunnan, China.
AB  - Considering the environmental pollution, edible mushroom safety is of great
      concern to consumers. This study aimed at providing and evaluating data on As, Cd
      and Pb content of sclerotia of Wolfiporia extensa collected across Yunnan in
      China. For the presented survey As, Cd, and Pb concentration in sclerotia of wild
      and cultivated W. extensa was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass
      spectrometry. The results showed that As, Cd, and Pb content were below the limit
      promulgated by WHO, with the ranges 5.27-161, 1.51-42.1 and < 1-634 ng g(-1) dry
      matter. Calculated hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were used to
      evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risk from individual and combined metals via
      daily consumption of 50 g sclerotia. Both HQ and HI through consumption of
      sclerotia were below 1, indicating that weekly consumption of sclerotia at the
      indicated doses poses no significant health risk to an adult consumer. 

PMID- 26883404
TI  - Implementation of a Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator Enhances Patient Care and
      Delivery of Systemic Therapy at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver.
AB  - PURPOSE: A nurse navigator (NN) pilot project for patients with lung cancer was
      implemented in British Columbia, a publicly funded health-care system. The
      purpose was to improve referral practices, timelines, and availability of
      molecular testing for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
      METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC referred to the BC Cancer Agency,
      Vancouver, in 2011 and 2014, pre- and post-implementation of an NN, were
      included. Referral patterns, systemic therapy, radiotherapy (XRT) timelines, and
      molecular testing practices were compared. RESULTS: The study included 408
      patients: 212 in 2011 and 196 in 2014. Medical oncology (MO) end points comparing
      2011 data with 2014 findings revealed that referral rates remained stable, and
      the proportion of patients who received systemic therapy increased from 57% to
      69% (P = .05). Time from referral to MO consult was 18 days in 2011 versus 15.5
      days in 2014 (P = .11); referral to systemic treatment was reduced from 48 to 38
      days (P = .016). Comparison of molecular testing showed time between referral and
      the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) result was reduced from 34 days in 2011 to 20
      days in 2014 (P < .001); rates of testing increased from 62% to 91%, respectively
      (P < .001); and EGFR mutation-positive rates were 19% versus 26%, respectively (P
      = .26). The radiation oncology (RO) end point results were as follows: 87% of
      patients were referred for RO consults in 2011 versus 80% in 2014 (P = .05), and
      the same proportion of patients received XRT (91% v 87%, respectively). Time from
      referral to RO consult decreased from 10 days in 2011 to 8 days in 2014 (P =
      .005); and referral to XRT in 2011 and 2014 was 18 days versus 11.5 days,
      respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Implementation of an NN was associated with
      reduced wait times and increased molecular testing, improving appropriate
      delivery of first-line targeted therapy. NN involvement facilitates correct
      allocation of physician and clinical resources.

PMID- 26883406
TI  - Implementation of a Breast/Reconstruction Surgery Coordinator to Reduce
      Preoperative Delays for Patients Undergoing Mastectomy With Immediate
      Reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (MIR) requires coordination
      between breast and reconstructive surgical teams, leading to increased
      preoperative delays that may adversely impact patient outcomes and satisfaction.
      Our cancer center established a target of 28 days from initial consultation with
      the breast surgeon to MIR. We sought to determine if a centralized
      breast/reconstructive surgical coordinator (BRC) could reduce care delays.
      METHODS: A 60-day pilot to evaluate the impact of a BRC on timeliness of care was
      initiated at our cancer center. All reconstructive surgery candidates were
      referred to the BRC, who had access to surgical clinic and operating room
      schedules. The BRC worked with both surgical services to identify the earliest
      surgery dates and facilitated operative bookings. The median time to MIR and the
      proportion of MIR cases that met the time-to-treatment goal was determined. These
      results were compared with a baseline cohort of patients undergoing MIR during
      the same time period (January to March) in 2013 and 2014. RESULTS: A total of 99
      patients were referred to the BRC (62% cancer, 21% neoadjuvant, 17% prophylactic)
      during the pilot period. Focusing exclusively on patients with a cancer
      diagnosis, an 18.5% increase in the percentage of cases meeting the target (P =
      .04) and a 7-day reduction to MIR (P = .02) were observed. CONCLUSION: A
      significant reduction in time to MIR was achieved through the implementation of
      the BRC. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and assess the
      impact the BRC has on operational efficiency and workflows.

PMID- 26883400
TI  - Uptake of PrEP and condom and sexual risk behavior among MSM during the ANRS
      IPERGAY trial.
AB  - The double-blind phase of the randomized ANRS IPERGAY trial, evaluating sexual
      activity-based oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), was conducted among high
      risk men who have sex with men (MSM). Results showed an 86% (95% CI: 40-98)
      relative reduction in HIV incidence among participants with tenofovir disoproxil
      fumarate-emtricitabine vs. placebo. The present pooled analysis aimed to analyze
      (i) participants' adherence to the prescribed treatment and/or condom use during
      sexual intercourse and (ii) sexual behavior during the double-blind phase of the
      study. Four hundred MSM were enrolled in the trial. Every 2 months they completed
      online questionnaires collecting sexual behavior and PrEP adherence data
      regarding their most recent sexual intercourse. A total of 2232 questionnaires
      (M0-M24) were analyzed. Changes over time were evaluated using a mixed model
      accounting for multiple measures. Irrespective of sexual partner and practice
      type, on average, 42.6% (min: 32.1-max: 45.8%) reported PrEP use only during
      their most recent episode of sexual intercourse; 29% (22.9-35.6%) reported both
      PrEP and condom use; 11.7% (7.2-18.9%) reported condom-use only, and 16.7% (10.8
      29.6%) reported no PrEP or condom use with no significant change during the
      study. Scheduled (i.e., correct) PrEP use was reported on average by 59.0% (47.2
      68.5%) of those reporting PrEP use during their most recent sexual intercourse.
      Overall, 70.3% (65.3-79.4%) and 69.3% (58.3-75.4%) of participants reported,
      respectively, condomless anal and condomless receptive anal intercourse during
      their most recent sexual encounter without significant change during follow-up.
      Overall, on average 83.3% (min: 70.4-max: 89.2%) of participants protected
      themselves by PrEP intake or condom use or both during the trial, and no increase
      in at-risk sexual practices was observed. None of these indicators showed
      significant trend during the follow-up, although we found a tendency toward
      decrease (p = .19) of the median number of sexual partners strengthening the
      absence of behavioral disinhibition. On-demand PrEP within a comprehensive HIV
      prevention package could improve prevention in MSM.

PMID- 26883407
TI  - Physician Experience and Attitudes Toward Addressing the Cost of Cancer Care.
AB  - PURPOSE: We surveyed US cancer doctors to examine current attitudes toward cost
      discussions and how they influence decision making and practice management.
      METHODS: We conducted a self-administered, anonymous, electronic survey of
      randomly selected physician ASCO members to evaluate the frequency and nature of
      cost discussions reported by physicians, attitudes toward discussions of cost in
      clinics, and potential barriers. RESULTS: A total of 333 of 2,290 physicians
      responded (response rate [RR], 15%; adjusted RR after omitting nonpracticing
      physician ASCO members, 25%), Respondent practice settings were 45% academic and
      55% community/private practice. Overall, 60% reported addressing costs
      frequently/always in clinic, whereas 40% addressed costs rarely/never. The
      largest reported barrier was lack of resources to guide discussions. Those who
      reported frequent discussions were significantly more likely to prioritize
      treatments in terms of cost and believed doctors should explain patient and
      societal costs. A total of 36%did not believe that doctors should discuss costs
      with patients. Academic practitioners were significantly less likely to discuss
      costs (odds ratio [OR], 0.41; P = .001) and felt less prepared for such
      discussions (OR, 0.492; P = .005) but were more likely to consider costs to the
      patient (OR, 2.68; P = .02) and society (OR, 1.822; P = .02). CONCLUSION:
      Although the majority of respondents believe it is important to consider out-of
      pocket costs to patients, a substantial proportion do not discuss or consider
      costs of cancer care. Lack of consensus on the importance of such discussions and
      uncertainty regarding the optimal timing and content appear to be barriers to
      addressing costs of care with patients.

PMID- 26883409
TI  - Au nanoparticle decorated graphene nanosheets for electrochemical immunosensing
      of p53 antibodies for cancer prognosis.
AB  - The accurate quantification of the level of p53 antibodies in serum is crucial
      for cancer prognosis. We report a novel and sensitive label-free immunosensor
      based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) self-assembled onto electrochemically
      reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) for the detection of p53 antibodies. An
      electrografted p-aminophenol organic layer was used to immobilize graphene oxide
      (GO) onto the surface of screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). The Au NP/ERGO
      hybrid interface provides a large surface area for the effective immobilization
      of p53 antigens, as well as it ascertains the bioactivity and stability of
      immobilized p53 antigens. Scanning electron microscope, Raman and X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopies were used to monitor the sensor fabrication and
      cyclic voltammetry was used to quantify the extent of Au NPs' surface coverage by
      p53 antigens. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) of a [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) couple was
      employed to investigate the immunosensor fabrication and to monitor the binding
      events between p53 antigens and p53 antibodies. Under optimized experimental
      conditions, the biosensor displayed good sensitivity and specificity. The p53
      antibodies were detected in a concentration as low as 0.088 pg mL(-1) with a
      linear range from 0.1 pg mL(-1) to 10 ng mL(-1). The high sensitivity of the
      immunosensor may derive from the high loading of p53 antibodies on Au NPs which
      increases the number of binding events.

PMID- 26883408
TI  - Molecular modeling studies to characterize N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine selectivity
      for CDK2 and CDK4 through 3D-QSAR and molecular dynamics simulations.
AB  - CDK2 is a promising target for the development of anti-cancer agents. It is not
      an easy task to design CDK2-selective inhibitors which do not exhibit activity
      for other CDK family members, particularly CDK4, due to a high degree of
      structural homology among CDK family members. In this study, 4-substituted N
      phenylpyrimidin-2-amine derivatives as CDK2 inhibitors were examined to
      understand the selectivity mechanism against CDK4 using a combined approach of 3D
      QSAR, molecular docking, MESP, MD simulations, and binding free energy
      calculations. 3D-QSAR models were developed to propose structural determinants
      for CDK2 and CDK4 inhibition. High q(2) and r(2) values for CoMFA and CoMSIA
      models based on both internal and external validations suggested that the
      generated 3D-QSAR models may exhibit good capability to predict bioactivities of
      inhibitors against CDK2 or CDK4. Electrostatic potentials on the molecular
      surface have been discussed in detail for determining the binding affinity of
      studied inhibitors by combining molecular docking with MESP and Mulliken charge
      analyses. Binding free energy calculations suggested that the residues Gln85,
      Asp86, and Lys89 of CDK2 would play a critical role in selective CDK2 inhibition.
      The electrostatic interactions of an inhibitor with Glu144 and Asn145 of CDK4 may
      predominately drive CDK4 inhibition. These findings may provide a better
      structural understanding of the mechanism of CDK2 selective inhibition. The
      results obtained in the current study may provide valuable guidelines for
      developing novel potent and selective CDK2 inhibitors. 

PMID- 26883410
TI  - A multifunctional upconverting nanoparticle incorporated polycationic hydrogel
      for near-infrared triggered and synergistic treatment of drug-resistant bacteria.
AB  - Recently, antibiotic drug-resistant therapies have become very important due to
      the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. The development of novel
      antibacterial materials has received significant attention. Here, quaternized
      chitosan hydrogels incorporated with NaYF4:Er/Yb/Mn@photosensitizer-doped silica
      (UCNPs/MB) were synthesized for effective killing of both gram-positive oxacillin
      resistant S. aureus (DR-S. aureus) and gram-negative kanamyclin-resistant E. coli
      (DR-E. coli) bacteria upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. In this system,
      the cationic macroporous nature of the hydrogel acts as a molecular 'anion
      sponge', which sucks the outer part of the anionic microbe membrane into the gel
      interior voids and causes microbe membrane disruption. By incorporating UCNPs/MB
      doped silica into the hydrogel, we have combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) with
      quaternized chitosan to obtain a high therapeutic index via a synergistic effect.
      In vitro experiments have demonstrated that our system had excellent
      antibacterial efficiency to both DR-S. aureus and DR-E. coli bacteria. More
      importantly, our new synergistic treatment modality provided an excellent therapy
      platform for drug-resistant bacteria, which could improve antimicrobial
      efficiency. 

PMID- 26883411
TI  - Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Skin Diseases Among Army Personnel and Flood
      Victims During the 2011 Floods in Thailand.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for
      skin problems among flood victims and army personnel during the 2011 floods in
      Thailand. METHODS: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for skin
      symptoms, standardized questionnaires were used to collect demographic data,
      current skin symptoms, history of water exposure, and sanitary behaviors. A
      certified dermatologist evaluated those who presented with skin problems and
      provided diagnoses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess
      independent risk factors for skin symptoms. RESULTS: The most prevalent skin
      disease was irritant contact dermatitis. Flood victims showed a higher prevalence
      of skin symptoms compared with army personnel. Development of skin symptoms after
      exposure to floodwater was also observed earlier among flood victims. Having a
      history of skin diseases and delayed skin cleaning after exposure were also
      significant risk factors for the development of skin symptoms. CONCLUSION: This
      information might be used as guidelines for protecting military personnel and to
      educate the general public regarding flood disaster management. (Disaster Med
      Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:570-575).

PMID- 26883412
TI  - Sharing Clinical Trial Data.

PMID- 26883413
TI  - Forensic Age Estimation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Forensic age estimation is requested by courts and other government
      authorities so that immigrants whose real age is unknown should not suffer unfair
      disadvantages because of their supposed age, and so that all legal procedures to
      which an individual's age is relevant can be properly followed. 157 age
      estimations were requested in Berlin in 2014, more than twice as many as in 2004.
      METHODS: This review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective
      search in the PubMed and MEDPILOT databases, supplemented by relevant
      recommendations and by the findings of the authors' own research. RESULTS: The
      essential components of age estimation are the history, physical examination, X
      rays of the hands, panorama films of the jaws, and, if indicated, a thin-slice CT
      of the medial clavicular epiphyses, provided that there is a legal basis for X
      ray examinations without a medical indication. Multiple methods are always used
      in combination, for optimal accuracy. Depending on the legal issues at hand, the
      examiner may be asked to estimate the individual's minimum age and/or his or her
      most probable age. The minimum-age concept can be used in determinations whether
      an individual has reached the age of legal majority. It is designed to ensure
      that practically all persons classified as adults have, in fact, attained legal
      majority, even though some other persons will be incorrectly classified as
      minors. CONCLUSION: Forensic age estimation lets courts and other government
      authorities determine the official age of persons whose actual age is unknown-in
      most cases, unaccompanied refugees who may be minors. The goal is to carry out
      age-dependent legal procedures appropriately in accordance with the rule of law.
      The minimum-age concept is designed to prevent the erroneous classification of
      minors as legal adults.

PMID- 26883414
TI  - Chronic Abdominal Wall Pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal wall pain is a poorly recognized clinical problem
      despite being an important element in the differential diagnosis of abdominal
      pain. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent articles that were retrieved by
      a selective search in PubMed and EMBASE employing the terms "abdominal wall pain"
      and "cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome," as well as on the authors' clinical
      experience. RESULTS: In 2% to 3% of patients with chronic abdominal pain, the
      pain arises from the abdominal wall; in patients with previously diagnosed
      chronic abdominal pain who have no demonstrable pathological abnormality, this
      likelihood can rise as high as 30% . There have only been a small number of
      clinical trials of treatment for this condition. The diagnosis is made on
      clinical grounds, with the aid of Carnett's test. The characteristic clinical
      feature is strictly localized pain in the anterior abdominal wall, which is often
      mischaracterized as a "functional" complaint. In one study, injection of local
      anesthesia combined with steroids into the painful area was found to relieve pain
      for 4 weeks in 95% of patients. The injection of lidocaine alone brought about
      improvement in 83-91% of patients. Long-term pain relief ensued after a single
      lidocaine injection in 20-30% of patients, after repeated injections in 40-50% ,
      and after combined lidocaine and steroid injections in up to 80% . Pain that
      persists despite these treatments can be treated with surgery (neurectomy).
      CONCLUSION: Chronic abdominal wall pain is easily diagnosed on physical
      examination and can often be rapidly treated. Any physician treating patients
      with abdominal pain should be aware of this condition. Further comparative
      treatment trials will be needed before a validated treatment algorithm can be
      established.

PMID- 26883415
TI  - Atlanto-Occipital Joint Blockage not Mentioned.

PMID- 26883416
TI  - Degenerative Changes of the Vestibular Receptors as Underlying Mechanism.

PMID- 26883417
TI  - Hyponatremia Should Be Added.

PMID- 26883418
TI  - Not Trivial.

PMID- 26883419
TI  - In Reply.

PMID- 26883421
TI  - Decision on folic acid fortification in Europe must consider both risks and
      benefits.

PMID- 26883420
TI  - One-stage or two-stage revision surgery for prosthetic hip joint infection--the
      INFORM trial: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) affects approximately 1% of
      patients following total hip replacement (THR) and often results in severe
      physical and emotional suffering. Current surgical treatment options are
      debridement, antibiotics and implant retention; revision THR; excision of the
      joint and amputation. Revision surgery can be done as either a one-stage or two
      stage operation. Both types of surgery are well-established practice in the NHS
      and result in similar rates of re-infection, but little is known about the impact
      of these treatments from the patient's perspective. The main aim of this
      randomised controlled trial is to determine whether there is a difference in
      patient-reported outcome measures 18 months after randomisation for one-stage or
      two-stage revision surgery. METHODS/DESIGN: INFORM (INFection ORthopaedic
      Management) is an open, two-arm, multi-centre, randomised, superiority trial. We
      aim to randomise 148 patients with eligible PJI of the hip from approximately
      seven secondary care NHS orthopaedic units from across England and Wales.
      Patients will be randomised via a web-based system to receive either a one-stage
      revision or a two-stage revision THR. Blinding is not possible due to the nature
      of the intervention. All patients will be followed up for 18 months. The primary
      outcome is the WOMAC Index, which assesses hip pain, function and stiffness,
      collected by questionnaire at 18 months. Secondary outcomes include the
      following: cost-effectiveness, complications, re-infection rates, objective hip
      function assessment and quality of life. A nested qualitative study will explore
      patients' and surgeons' experiences, including their views about trial
      participation and randomisation. DISCUSSION: INFORM is the first ever randomised
      trial to compare two widely accepted surgical interventions for the treatment of
      PJI: one-stage and two-stage revision THR. The results of the trial will benefit
      patients in the future as the main focus is on patient-reported outcomes: pain,
      function and wellbeing in the long term. Patients state that these outcomes are
      more important than those that are clinically derived (such as re-infection) and
      have been commonly used in previous non-randomised studies. Results from the
      INFORM trial will also benefit clinicians and NHS managers by enabling the
      comparison of these key interventions in terms of patients' complication rates,
      health and social resource use and their overall cost-effectiveness. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials ISRCTN10956306 (registered on 29 January
      2015); UKCRN ID 18159.

PMID- 26883422
TI  - Erratum to: 'Characteristics associated with the consumption of malted drinks
      among Malaysian primary school children: findings from the MyBreakfast study'.

PMID- 26883423
TI  - Systematic manipulation of glutathione metabolism in Escherichia coli for
      improved glutathione production.
AB  - BACKGROUND: L-glutathione (GSH) is a non-protein thiol compound with important
      biological properties and is widely used in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and
      health products. The cellular GSH is determined by the activity and
      characteristic of GSH-synthesizing enzymes, energy and precursor supply, and
      degradation of formed GSH. RESULTS: In this study, genes encoding enzymes related
      to the precursor amino acid degradation and glycogen formation as well as GSH
      degradation were systematically manipulated in Escherichia coli strains over
      expressing gshF from Actinobacillus succinogenes. The manipulation included
      disrupting the precursor degradation pathways (tnaA and sdaA), eliminating L
      glutathione degradation (ggt and pepT), and manipulating the intracellular ATP
      level (disruption of glgB). However the constructed mutants showed lower levels
      of GshF expression. 2-D electrophoresis was performed to elucidate the reasons
      for this discrepancy, and the results indicated obvious changes in central
      metabolism and amino acid metabolism in the penta-mutant. Fed-batch culture of
      the penta-mutant ZJ12345 was performed where the GshF expression level was
      enhanced, and both the GSH production (19.10 mM) and the yield based on added L
      cysteine (0.76 mmol/mmol) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: By
      interrupting the degradation pathways of L-cysteine, serine and GSH and blocking
      glycogen formation, the GSH production efficiency was significantly improved.

PMID- 26883424
TI  - Repurposing of antiparasitic drugs: the hydroxy-naphthoquinone buparvaquone
      inhibits vertical transmission in the pregnant neosporosis mouse model.
AB  - The three anti-malarial drugs artemiside, artemisone, and mefloquine, and the
      naphthoquinone buparvaquone known to be active against theileriosis in cattle and
      Leishmania infections in rodents, were assessed for activity against Neospora
      caninum infection. All four compounds inhibited the proliferation of N. caninum
      tachyzoites in vitro with IC50 in the sub-micromolar range, but artemisone and
      buparvaquone were most effective (IC50 = 3 and 4.9 nM, respectively). However, in
      a neosporosis mouse model for cerebral infection comprising Balb/c mice
      experimentally infected with the virulent isolate Nc-Spain7, the three anti
      malarial compounds failed to exhibit any activity, since treatment did not reduce
      the parasite burden in brains and lungs compared to untreated controls. Thus,
      these compounds were not further evaluated in pregnant mice. On the other hand,
      buparvaquone, shown earlier to be effective in reducing the parasite load in the
      lungs in an acute neosporosis disease model, was further assessed in the pregnant
      mouse model. Buparvaquone efficiently inhibited vertical transmission in Balb/c
      mice experimentally infected at day 7 of pregnancy, reduced clinical signs in the
      pups, but had no effect on cerebral infection in the dams. This demonstrates
      proof-of-concept that drug repurposing may lead to the discovery of an effective
      compound against neosporosis that can protect offspring from vertical
      transmission and disease.

PMID- 26883425
TI  - The neonatal mortality and its determinants in rural communities of Eastern
      Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Uganda, neonatal mortality rate (NMR) remains high at 27 deaths
      per 1000 live births. There is paucity of data on factors associated with NMR in
      rural communities in Uganda. The objective of this study was to determine NMR as
      well as factors associated with neonatal mortality in the rural communities of
      three districts from eastern Uganda. METHODS: Data from a baseline survey of a
      maternal and newborn intervention in the districts of Pallisa, Kibuku and Kamuli,
      Eastern Uganda was analyzed. A total of 2237 women who had delivered in the last
      12 months irrespective of birth outcome were interviewed in the survey. The
      primary outcome for this paper was neonatal mortality. The risk ratio (RR) was
      used to determine the factors associated with neonatal mortality using log
      binomial model. RESULTS: The neonatal mortality was found to be 34 per 1000 live
      births (95% CI = 27.1-42.8); Kamuli 31.9, Pallisa 36.5 and Kibuku 30.8. Factors
      associated with increased neonatal deaths were parity of 5+ (adj. RR =2.53, 95%
      CI =1.14-5.65) relative to parity of 4 and below, newborn low birth weight (adj.
      RR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.47-6.56) and presence of newborn danger signs (adj. RR =
      2.42, 95% CI = 1.04-5.62). Factors associated with lower risk of neonatal death
      were, home visits by community health workers' (CHW) (adj. RR =0.13, 95% CI =
      0.02-0.91), and attendance of at least 4 antenatal visits (adj. RR = 0.65, 95% CI
      = 0.43-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal mortality in rural communities is higher than
      the national average. The use of CHW's to mobilize and sensitize households on
      appropriate maternal and newborn care practices could play a key role in reducing
      neonatal mortality.

PMID- 26883426
TI  - Identification and functional characterization of an uncharacterized
      antimicrobial peptide from a ciliate Paramecium caudatum.
AB  - The global ever-growing concerns about multi-drug resistant (MDR) microbes leads
      to urgent demands for exploration of new antibiotics including antimicrobial
      peptides (AMPs). Here we demonstrated that a cDNA from Ciliata Paramecium
      caudatum, designated Pcamp1, coded for a protein with features characteristic of
      AMPs, which is not homologous to any AMPs currently known. Both the C-terminal 91
      amino acid residues of PcAMP1, cPcAMP1, expressed in Escherichia coli and the C
      terminal 26 amino acid residues (predicted mature AMP), cPcAMP1/26, synthesized,
      underwent a coil-to-helix transition in the presence of TFE, SDS or DPC.
      Functional assays revealed that cPcAMP1 and cPcAMP1/26 were both able to kill
      Aeromonas hydrophila and Staphylococcus aureus. ELISA showed that cPcAMP1 and
      cPcAMP1/26 were able to bind to microbe-associated molecular pattern molecules
      LPS and LTA, which was further corroborated by the observations that cPcAMP1
      could deposit onto the bacterial membranes. Importantly, both cPcAMP1 and
      cPcAMP1/26 were able to induce bacterial membrane permeabilization and
      depolarization, and to increase intracellular ROS levels. Additionally, cPcAMP1
      and cPcAMP1/26 were not cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Taken together, our results
      show that PcAMP1 is a potential AMP with a membrane selectivity towards bacterial
      cells, which renders it a promising template for the design of novel peptide
      antibiotics against MDR microbes. It also shows that use of signal conserved
      sequence of AMPs can be an effective tool to identify potential AMPs across
      different animal classes. 

PMID- 26883427
TI  - Prevalence and mortality of cancer among HIV-infected inpatients in Beijing,
      China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer is responsible for elevated HIV-related morbidity and
      mortality. Research on HIV-infected patients with concurrent cancer is rare in
      China. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and risk
      factors associated with cancer among HIV-infected inpatients in Beijing, and to
      investigate the mortality and risk factors among HIV-infected inpatients with
      cancer. METHODS: Hospital records from a total of 1946 HIV-infected patients were
      collected from the Beijing Ditan Hospital. The data, from 2008 to 2013, were
      collected retrospectively. The cancer diagnoses included AIDS-defining cancers
      (ADC) and non-AIDS defining cancers (NADC). Logistic regression was used to
      identify risk factors predicting the concurrence of cancer with HIV. Mortality
      was examined using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models.
      RESULTS: 7.7 % (149 cases) of all HIV-infected inpatients had concurrent cancer
      at their first hospital admission; of those, 33.6 % (50 cases) had ADCs, and 66.4
      % (99 cases) had NADCs. The most prevalent NADCs were Hodgkin's lymphoma,
      gastrointestinal cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Patients who did not
      accept antiretroviral therapy (ART) were more likely to suffer from cancer [AOR =
      2.07 (1.42-3.01), p = 0.001]. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that the survival
      probability of HIV-positive cancer patients was significantly lower than that of
      HIV-positive cancer-free patients (log-rank test, p < 0.001). For patients
      diagnosed with cancer, the mortality was also higher among those who did not
      receive ART [AHR = 2.19 (1.84-2.61), p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of
      cancer concurrence among hospitalized HIV-infected patients was 7.7 %. Concurrent
      cancer also increased mortality among HIV-infected patients. ART was protective
      against concurrent cancer as well as mortality among HIV-infected cancer
      patients. These results highlight the importance of promoting cancer screening
      and early ART initiation among HIV-infected patients.

PMID- 26883428
TI  - [Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the eye].
AB  - A lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the conjunctiva was excised in an 80-year-old
      female patient. The otorhinolaryngeal (ENT) examination did not show any
      abnormalities and nasopharyngeal or systemic metastases were absent. A strictly
      controlled clinical follow-up of the excision site was scheduled. A
      lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the eye is very rare and it is classified under the
      nasopharyngeal carcinomas. The diagnostics and therapy are an interdisciplinary
      task involving ENT, radiology, pathology and oncology and if the tumor cannot be
      completely excised, radiotherapy is also included.

PMID- 26883430
TI  - Atorvastatin ameliorates cognitive impairment, Abeta1-42 production and Tau
      hyperphosphorylation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.
AB  - Amyloid-beta (Abeta) interacts with the serine/threonine protein kinase AKT (also
      known as protein kinase B)/glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) pathway and
      deactivates GSK3beta signaling, which result in microtubule protein tau
      phosphorylation. Atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been proven to
      improve learning and memory performance, reduce Abeta and phosphorylated tau
      levels in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it still remains
      unclear whether atorvastatin is responsible for regulation of AKT/GSK3beta
      signaling and contributes to subsequent down-regulation of Abeta1-42 and
      phosphorylated tau in APP/PS1 transgenic (Tg APP/PS1) mice. Herein, we aimed to
      investigate the possible impacts of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) on the memory
      deficit by behavioral tests and changes of AKT/GSK3beta signaling in hippocampus
      and prefrontal cortex by western blot test in Tg APP/PS1 mice. The results showed
      that treatment with atorvastatin significantly reversed the memory deficit in the
      Tg APP/PS1 mice in a novel object recognition and the Morris water maze tests.
      Moreover, atorvastatin significantly attenuated Abeta1-42 accumulation and
      phosphorylation of tau (Ser396) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of Tg
      APP/PS1 mice. In addition, atorvastatin treatment also increased phosphorylation
      of AKT, inhibited GSK3beta activity by increasing phosphorylation of GSK3beta
      (Ser9) and decreasing the beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression.
      These results indicated that the memory ameliorating effect of atorvastatin may
      be, in part, by regulation the AKT/GSK3beta signaling which may contribute to
      down-regulation of Abeta1-42 and tau hyperphosphorylation.

PMID- 26883431
TI  - Neuroprotection Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity
      worldwide. Current treatment of acute TBI includes surgical intervention when
      needed, followed by supportive critical care such as optimizing cerebral
      perfusion, preventing pyrexia, and treating raised intracranial pressure. While
      effective in managing the primary injury to the brain and skull, these treatment
      modalities do not address the complex secondary cascades that occur at a cellular
      level following initial injury and greatly affect the ultimate neurologic
      outcome. These secondary processes involve changes in ionic flux, disruption of
      cellular function, derangement of blood flow and the blood-brain barrier, and
      elevated levels of free radicals. Over the past few decades, numerous
      pharmacologic agents and modalities have been investigated in an attempt to
      interrupt these secondary processes. No neuroprotective agents currently exist
      that have been proven to improve neurologic outcome following TBI. However, these
      trials have contributed significantly to the understanding of the clinical
      sequelae of TBI and to improvements in the quality of care for TBI. With the
      experience and insights that have been accrued with the trials to date, we will
      be able to optimize future trial designs and refine established neurologic
      endpoints to better identify new therapeutic agents and further improve
      neurologic outcomes from this often devastating condition. 

PMID- 26883432
TI  - Long-term follow-up of renal arteries after radio-frequency catheter-based
      denervation using optical coherence tomography and angiography.
AB  - Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging at the time of renal denervation (RDN)
      showed that procedure might cause spasm, intimal injury or thrombus formation. In
      the present study, we assessed the healing of renal arteries after RDN using OCT
      and renal angiography in long-term follow-up. OCT and renal angiography were
      performed in 12 patients (22 arteries) 18.41 +/- 5.83 months after RNS. There
      were no adverse events or complications during the long-term follow-up. In ten
      patients (83 %), significant reductions of blood pressure was achieved without a
      change of the antihypertensive medications. We demonstrated the presence of 26
      areas of focal intimal thickening identified by OCT in 10 (83 %) patients and in
      14 (63 %) arteries. The mean area of focal intimal thickening was 0.054 +/- 0.033
      mm(2). No vessel dissection, thrombus, intimal tear or acute vasospasm were
      observed during the OCT analysis. Also, the quantitative angiography analysis
      revealed a significant reduction of the minimal and proximal lumen diameters at
      follow-up as compared to measurements obtained before RDN. Renal arteries have a
      favorable "long-term" vessel healing response after RDN. Focal intimal thickening
      and a modest reduction of the minimal lumen diameter may be observed after RF
      denervation. Further studies are needed to determine whether intravascular
      imaging may be helpful in evaluating the vessel healing of RF RDN. 

PMID- 26883429
TI  - The rise and fall of insulin signaling in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - The prevalence of both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are reaching
      epidemic proportions worldwide. Alarmingly, diabetes is also a risk factor for
      Alzheimer's disease. The AD brain is characterised by the accumulation of
      peptides called Abeta as plaques in the neuropil and hyperphosphorylated tau
      protein in the form of neurofibrillary tangles within neurons. How diabetes
      confers risk is unknown but a simple linear relationship has been proposed
      whereby the hyperinsulinemia associated with type 2 diabetes leads to decreased
      insulin signaling in the brain, with downregulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling
      pathway and its inhibition of the major tau kinase, glycogen synthase kinase
      3beta. The earliest studies of post mortem AD brain tissue largely confirmed this
      cascade of events but subsequent studies have generally found either an
      upregulation of AKT activity, or that the relationship between insulin signaling
      and AD is independent of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta altogether. Given the
      lack of success of beta-amyloid-reducing therapies in clinical trials, there is
      intense interest in finding alternative or adjunctive therapeutic targets for AD.
      Insulin signaling is a neuroprotective pathway and represents an attractive
      therapeutic option. However, this incredibly complex signaling pathway is not
      fully understood in the human brain and particularly in the context of AD. Here,
      we review the ups and downs of the research efforts aimed at understanding how
      diabetes modifies AD risk.

PMID- 26883433
TI  - Three dimensional fusion of electromechanical mapping and magnetic resonance
      imaging for real-time navigation of intramyocardial cell injections in a porcine
      model of chronic myocardial infarction.
AB  - For cardiac regenerative therapy intramyocardial catheter guided cell
      transplantations are targeted to the infarct border zone (IBZ) i.e. the closest
      region of viable myocardium in the vicinity of the infarct area. For optimal
      therapeutic effect this area should be accurately identified. However late
      gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) is the gold standard
      technique to determine the infarct size and location, electromechanical mapping
      (EMM) is used to guide percutaneous intramyocardial injections to the IBZ. Since
      EMM has a low spatial resolution, we aim to develop a practical and accurate
      technique to fuse EMM with LGE-MRI to guide intramyocardial injections. LGE-MRI
      and EMM were obtained in 17 pigs with chronic myocardial infarction created by
      balloon occlusion of LCX and LAD coronary arteries. LGE-MRI and EMM datasets were
      registered using our in-house developed 3D CartBox image registration software
      toolbox to assess: (1) the feasibility of the 3D CartBox toolbox, (2) the EMM
      values measured in the areas with a distinct infarct transmurality (IT), and (3)
      the highest sensitivity and specificity of the EMM to assess IT and define the
      IBZ. Registration of LGE-MRI and EMM resulted in a mean error of 3.01 +/- 1.94 mm
      between the LGE-MRI mesh and EMM points. The highest sensitivity and specificity
      were found for UV <9.4 mV and bipolar voltage <1.2 mV to respectively identify IT
      of >=5 and >=97.5 %. The 3D CartBox image registration toolbox enables
      registration of EMM data on pre-acquired MRI during the EMM guided procedure and
      allows physicians to easily guide injections to the most optimal injection
      location for cardiac regenerative therapy and harness the full therapeutic effect
      of the therapy. 

PMID- 26883435
TI  - Internal and External Validation of a multivariable Model to Define Hospital
      Acquired Pneumonia After Esophagectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is an important complication following esophagectomy;
      however, a wide range of pneumonia incidence is reported. The lack of one
      generally accepted definition prevents valid inter-study comparisons. We aimed to
      simplify and validate an existing scoring model to define pneumonia following
      esophagectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Utrecht Pneumonia Score, comprising of
      pulmonary radiography findings, leucocyte count, and temperature, was simplified
      and internally validated using bootstrapping in the dataset (n = 185) in which it
      was developed. Subsequently, the intercept and (shrunk) coefficients of the
      developed multivariable logistic regression model were applied to an external
      dataset (n = 201) RESULTS: In the revised Uniform Pneumonia Score, points are
      assigned based on the temperature, the leucocyte, and the findings of pulmonary
      radiography. The model discrimination was excellent in the internal validation
      set and in the external validation set (C-statistics 0.93 and 0.91,
      respectively); furthermore, the model calibrated well in both cohorts.
      CONCLUSION: The revised Uniform Pneumonia Score (rUPS) can serve as a means to
      define post-esophagectomy pneumonia. Utilization of a uniform definition for
      pneumonia will improve inter-study comparability and improve the evaluations of
      new therapeutic strategies to reduce the pneumonia incidence.

PMID- 26883436
TI  - Area-Level Socioeconomic Factors Are Associated With Noncompletion of Pediatric
      Preventive Services.
AB  - We examined 4872 infants born consecutively, 2011-2012, and seen at 3 primary
      care centers to determine whether area-based socioeconomic measures were
      associated with noncompletion of common preventive services within the first 15
      months. Addresses were geocoded and linked to census tract poverty, adult
      educational attainment, and household vehicle ownership rates. The quartile of
      patients in the highest poverty (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.25; 95% confidence
      interval [CI] 1.01-1.54) and lowest vehicle ownership tracts (aOR 1.32; 95% CI
      1.07-1.63) had significantly increased odds of service noncompletion. There were
      significant spatial clusters of low completion in Cincinnati's urban core. These
      findings have implications for preventive service delivery.

PMID- 26883437
TI  - Clinician-Reported Barriers to Group Visit Implementation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Group visits have been shown to improve disease-oriented outcomes and
      satisfaction, yet many clinicians have not incorporated them into practice. We
      aimed to identify clinician-reported barriers that preclude clinicians from
      implementing group visits. METHODS: Primary care physicians from one practice
      based research network were surveyed regarding their experience with and barriers
      to group visits. The survey, developed for this study, was mailed to 246
      clinicians. RESULTS: Of 107 respondents (44% response rate), those in practice
      <10 years were significantly more likely to have had group visit experience than
      those with >10 years of experience. For those without prior group visit
      experience, training was named as the top barrier to incorporating group visits.
      Those with group visit experience named staffing concerns and recruitment as the
      top barriers to group visit implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care clinicians
      without prior group visit experience were less likely to endorse group visits.
      Addressing the modifiable barriers may enhance the incorporation of group visits
      into practice.

PMID- 26883438
TI  - Absolute Bioavailability of Ponesimod, a Selective S1P1 Receptor Modulator, in
      Healthy Male Subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pharmacokinetic profile of ponesimod, a
      sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 modulator, is characterized by a rapid
      absorption [time to maximum concentration (t max) of 2-4 h] and a terminal half
      life (t 1/2) of 32 h after single-dose administration. The aim of this study was
      to assess additional pharmacokinetic parameters [absolute bioavailability, total
      clearance (CL), and volume of distribution (V ss)] in healthy male subjects.
      METHODS: After ensuring in a pilot phase the full pharmacokinetic profile,
      safety, and tolerability of a 5-mg intravenous infusion of ponesimod over 3 h
      (treatment A), the study proceeded to the randomized, two-way crossover, single
      dose (treatment A; treatment B: 10 mg oral) main phase. RESULTS: The absolute
      bioavailability of ponesimod was 83.8 % [90 % confidence interval (CI): 80.2
      87.5]. CL and V ss (95 % CI) were 3.8 L/h (3.3-4.3) and 160 L (146.1-174.2),
      respectively. C max (95 % CI) was 48.5 ng/mL (43.9-53.6) and 61.4 ng/mL (55.3
      68.3) after intravenous infusion and oral administration, respectively. The t 1/2
      (95 % CI) following intravenous infusion was 32.9 h (28.5-38.1) and 31.7 h (27.9
      36.0) following oral administration. Ponesimod administered by both routes of
      administration was well tolerated and resulted in transient decreases in
      lymphocyte count and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates high absolute
      bioavailability, low CL, and moderate V ss of ponesimod.

PMID- 26883434
TI  - The fibrosis-cell death axis in heart failure.
AB  - Cardiac stress can induce morphological, structural and functional changes of the
      heart, referred to as cardiac remodeling. Myocardial infarction or sustained
      overload as a result of pathological causes such as hypertension or valve
      insufficiency may result in progressive remodeling and finally lead to heart
      failure (HF). Whereas pathological and physiological (exercise, pregnancy)
      overload both stimulate cardiomyocyte growth (hypertrophy), only pathological
      remodeling is characterized by increased deposition of extracellular matrix
      proteins, termed fibrosis, and loss of cardiomyocytes by necrosis, apoptosis
      and/or phagocytosis. HF is strongly associated with age, and cardiomyocyte loss
      and fibrosis are typical signs of the aging heart. Fibrosis results in stiffening
      of the heart, conductivity problems and reduced oxygen diffusion, and is
      associated with diminished ventricular function and arrhythmias. As a
      consequence, the workload of cardiomyocytes in the fibrotic heart is further
      augmented, whereas the physiological environment is becoming less favorable. This
      causes additional cardiomyocyte death and replacement of lost cardiomyocytes by
      fibrotic material, generating a vicious cycle of further decline of cardiac
      function. Breaking this fibrosis-cell death axis could halt further pathological
      and age-related cardiac regression and potentially reverse remodeling. In this
      review, we will describe the interaction between cardiac fibrosis, cardiomyocyte
      hypertrophy and cell death, and discuss potential strategies for tackling
      progressive cardiac remodeling and HF. 

PMID- 26883440
TI  - The impact of deep vein thrombosis on the risk of subsequent cardiovascular
      events: a 14-year follow-up study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The association between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and
      atherosclerosis is still controversial. METHODS: We examined the rate of
      subsequent symptomatic atherosclerosis in patients with unprovoked as compared to
      secondary DVT with a retrospectively follow-up of a cohort of patients who 14
      years earlier had developed an episode of DVT not preceded by arterial
      cardiovascular events. We collected information on the development of coronary
      heart disease, ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease or sudden otherwise
      unexplained death. RESULTS: We retrieved information from 138 patients with
      unprovoked and 123 with secondary DVT. The cumulative incidence of symptomatic
      atherosclerosis was 17.6% (95% CI, 8.3 to 26.0) in patients with unprovoked DVT,
      and 5.1% (95% CI: 0.0 to 10.7) in those with secondary DVT. After adjusting for
      age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, the hazard ratio (HR)
      for development of symptomatic atherosclerosis among patients with unprovoked DVT
      as compared to those with secondary DVT was 2.89 (95% CI, 1.06 to 7.88; P=0.038).
      CONCLUSIONS: The risk of subsequent symptomatic atherosclerosis among patients
      with unprovoked DVT is approximately three times as high as that of patients with
      secondary events.

PMID- 26883439
TI  - Steinmann pin augmentation versus locking plate constructs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aggressive bone neoplasms, such as giant cell tumors, often affect
      the proximal tibia warranting bony resection via curettage leaving behind massive
      defects that require extensive reconstruction. Reconstruction is usually
      accomplished with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) packing supplemented with an
      internal fixation construct. The purpose of this study is to compare Steinmann
      pin augmentation to locking plate constructs to determine which offers the
      stiffer reconstruction option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Large defects were created
      below the lateral condyle of fresh frozen tibias. The defects extended for an
      average of 35 mm beneath the lateral plateau in the frontal plane, and from the
      anterior to posterior cortex in the sagittal plane. Distally the defect extended
      for an average of 35 mm to the metadiaphyseal junction. In the Pin group, the
      tibias were reconstructed with three 4-mm diameter Steinmann pins placed in the
      medullary canal and PMMA packing. In the Plate group, the tibias were
      reconstructed with a 6-hole 3.5-mm LCP Proximal locking plate fixed to the
      proximal-lateral tibia utilizing seven 3.5-mm screws and PMMA packing. The tibias
      were tested for stiffness on a MTS machine by applying up to 400 N to the tibial
      plateau in force control at 5 N/s. Fatigue properties were tested by applying a
      haversine loading waveform between 200 N and 1,200 N at 3 Hz simulating walking
      upstairs/downstairs. RESULTS: Locking plate constructs (801.8 +/- 78 N/mm) had
      greater (p = 0.041) stiffness than tibial constructs fixed with Steinmann pins
      (646.5 +/- 206.3 N/mm). CONCLUSIONS: Permanent deformation was similar between
      the Pin and Plate group; however, two tibia from the Pin group exhibited
      displacements >5 mm which we considered failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: n/a.

PMID- 26883441
TI  - UEMS training requirements for angiology and vascular medicine: european
      standards of postgraduate medical specialist training (ETR Document).

PMID- 26883442
TI  - Impaired SIRT1 promotes the migration of vascular smooth muscle cell-derived foam
      cells.
AB  - The formation of fat-laden foam cells, contributing to the fatty streaks of the
      plaques of atheroma, is the critical early process in atherosclerosis. The
      previous study demonstrated that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contain a
      much larger burden of the excess cholesterol in comparison with monocyte-derived
      macrophages in human coronary atherosclerosis, as the main origin of foam cells.
      It is noteworthy that VSMC-derived foam cells are deposited in subintima but not
      media, where VSMCs normally deposit in. Therefore, migration from media to intima
      is an indispensable step for a VSMC to accrue neutral lipids and form foam cell.
      Whether this migration occurs paralleled with or prior to the formation of foam
      cell is still unclear. Herein, the present study was designed to test the VSMC
      migratory capability in the process of foam cell formation induced by oxidized
      low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). In conclusion, we provide evidence that oxLDL
      induces the VSMC-derived foam cells formation with increased migration ability
      and MMP-9 expression, which were partly attributed to the impaired SIRT1 and
      enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity. As activation of transient
      receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) has been reported to have anti
      atherosclerotic effects, we investigated its role in oxLDL-treated VSMC
      migration. It is found that activating TRPV1 by capsaicin inhibits VSMC foam cell
      formation and the accompanied migration through rescuing the SIRT1 and
      suppressing NF-kappaB signaling. The present study provides evidence that SIRT1
      may be a promising intervention target of atherosclerosis, and raises the
      prospect of TRPV1 in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26883443
TI  - Mechanisms of nuclear lamina growth in interphase.
AB  - The nuclear lamina represents a multifunctional platform involved in such diverse
      yet interconnected processes as spatial organization of the genome, maintenance
      of mechanical stability of the nucleus, regulation of transcription and
      replication. Most of lamina activities are exerted through tethering of lamina
      associated chromatin domains (LADs) to the nuclear periphery. Yet, the lamina is
      a dynamic structure demonstrating considerable expansion during the cell cycle to
      accommodate increased number of LADs formed during DNA replication. We analyzed
      dynamics of nuclear growth during interphase and changes in lamina structure as a
      function of cell cycle progression. The nuclear lamina demonstrates steady growth
      from G1 till G2, while quantitative analysis of lamina meshwork by super
      resolution microscopy revealed that microdomain organization of the lamina is
      maintained, with lamin A and lamin B microdomain periodicity and interdomain gap
      sizes unchanged. FRAP analysis, in contrast, demonstrated differences in lamin A
      and B1 exchange rates; the latter showing higher recovery rate in S-phase cells.
      In order to further analyze the mechanism of lamina growth in interphase, we
      generated a lamina-free nuclear envelope in living interphase cells by reversible
      hypotonic shock. The nuclear envelope in nuclear buds formed after such a
      treatment initially lacked lamins, and analysis of lamina formation revealed
      striking difference in lamin A and B1 assembly: lamin A reassembled within 30 min
      post-treatment, whereas lamin B1 did not incorporate into the newly formed lamina
      at all. We suggest that in somatic cells lamin B1 meshwork growth is coordinated
      with replication of LADs, and lamin A meshwork assembly seems to be chromatin
      independent process. 

PMID- 26883444
TI  - Association of bone mineral density and diabetic retinopathy in diabetic
      subjects: the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
AB  - Because diabetic retinopathy increases fracture risk, we studied the association
      between bone mineral density (BMD) and diabetic retinopathy in a nationally
      representative sample. A significant association between the presence of diabetic
      retinopathy and low BMD was observed. Therefore, diabetic retinopathy might be
      considered as a marker of low BMD. INTRODUCTION: Several diabetic complications,
      including nephropathy, retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy, are associated
      with a higher fracture risk in diabetic subjects. However, in contrast to
      diabetic nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy, which are associated with low
      bone mineral density (BMD), little is known about the association between BMD and
      diabetic retinopathy. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the
      prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is associated with BMD. METHODS: This cross
      sectional study included a nationally representative sample consisting of 4357
      men aged 50 years and older and 4392 postmenopausal women who participated in the
      Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 to
      2011 and underwent BMD measurement by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and
      diabetic retinopathy assessments using seven standard gradable photographs.
      RESULTS: The diabetic women with retinopathy had lower mean BMD at all measured
      sites than those without retinopathy, although the BMD difference between the two
      groups was small (3-5 %). In addition, the diabetic women with retinopathy were
      2.27 times more likely to have osteoporosis following adjustments for all
      clinically relevant covariates. However, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM)
      or diabetic retinopathy was not associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis in
      men. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that the presence of diabetic retinopathy
      is significantly associated with a reduced BMD and increased prevalence of
      osteoporosis in diabetic women.

PMID- 26883445
TI  - The Site Frequency Spectrum for General Coalescents.
AB  - General genealogical processes such as Lambda- and Xi-coalescents, which
      respectively model multiple and simultaneous mergers, have important applications
      in studying marine species, strong positive selection, recurrent selective
      sweeps, strong bottlenecks, large sample sizes, and so on. Recently, there has
      been significant progress in developing useful inference tools for such general
      models. In particular, inference methods based on the site frequency spectrum
      (SFS) have received noticeable attention. Here, we derive a new formula for the
      expected SFS for general Lambda- and Xi-coalescents, which leads to an efficient
      algorithm. For time-homogeneous coalescents, the runtime of our algorithm for
      computing the expected SFS is O(n2) where n is the sample size. This is a factor
      of[Formula: see text]faster than the state-of-the-art method. Furthermore, in
      contrast to existing methods, our method generalizes to time-inhomogeneous Lambda
      and Xi-coalescents with measures that factorize as[Formula: see text] and
      [Formula: see text]respectively, where zeta denotes a strictly positive function
      of time. The runtime of our algorithm in this setting is[Formula: see text]We
      also obtain general theoretical results for the identifiability of the Lambda
      measure when zeta is a constant function, as well as for the identifiability of
      the function zeta under a fixed Xi measure.

PMID- 26883446
TI  - Insulinotropic compounds decrease endothelial cell survival.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia induces damage of vascular endothelial cells leading to
      diabetic complications. We investigated the effects of insulinotropic compounds
      and elevated glucose on endothelial cells in the absence or presence of vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RESULTS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells
      (HUVECs) were treated with glibenclamide, repaglinide and insulinotropic
      imidazolines at high glucose concentration in the presence or absence of VEGF and
      viability, proliferation and nitric oxide production were measured. Hyperglycemia
      inhibited pro-survival effects of VEGF on endothelial cells. Glibenclamide and
      repaglinide decreased HUVEC viability at elevated glucose concentration in the
      absence but not in the presence of VEGF, without affecting HUVEC proliferation.
      Repaglinide also had some positive influence on HUVEC function elevating NO
      production in the presence of VEGF. Imidazolines showed different activities on
      endothelial cell survival. Efaroxan diminished HUVEC viability at elevated
      glucose concentration in the presence, however not in the absence of VEGF, while
      RX871024 decreased HUVEC survival regardless of the presence of VEGF.
      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Our data demonstrate an important interplay between
      the actual insulinotropic compounds, VEGF and ambient glucose concentration
      affecting the survival of the vascular endothelial cells. Consequently, this
      interplay needs to be taken into consideration when designing novel oral
      antidiabetic compounds.

PMID- 26883447
TI  - Ants in the Hospital Environment: Ecological Parameters as Support for Future
      Management Strategies.
AB  - Urban ants cause many losses to human society, and they represent a potential
      threat to public health in hospital environments due to their ability to
      transport pathogenic organisms. We evaluated several ecological parameters
      (richness, abundance, constancy, and evenness), their fluctuation during the
      seasons, and identified species that occur outside the natural range of the ant
      fauna of a hospital environment, as support for future management strategies. Ant
      sampling was held every 2 months by using attractive bait traps in the morning
      and evening, leading to the sampling of 10,342 individuals belonging to six
      subfamilies and 26 species. Myrmicinae showed higher richness (n = 12) and
      abundance (n = 7336), with Pheidole susannae Forel being the most abundant
      species. The most constant species (100%) were P. susannae and Tetramorium
      simillimum (Smith). Among the most abundant species, Monomorium floricola
      (Jerdon) and Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) are considered as species that
      occur outside the natural range. No difference was observed between species
      richness and abundance. The Shannon (2.247), dominance (0.1395) and evenness
      indices (0.6897) indicated a stability of the community throughout the year with
      high diversity and low dominance of species. The sampled data constitute a new
      series of information on a long-term ecological approach to support future
      management strategies in hospital environments and allow for more efficient pest
      control. 

PMID- 26883448
TI  - A shape-anisotropic reflective polarizer in a stomatopod crustacean.
AB  - Many biophotonic structures have their spectral properties of reflection 'tuned'
      using the (zeroth-order) Bragg criteria for phase constructive interference. This
      is associated with a periodicity, or distribution of periodicities, parallel to
      the direction of illumination. The polarization properties of these reflections
      are, however, typically constrained by the dimensional symmetry and intrinsic
      dielectric properties of the biological materials. Here we report a linearly
      polarizing reflector in a stomatopod crustacean that consists of 6-8 layers of
      hollow, ovoid vesicles with principal axes of ~550 nm, ~250 nm and ~150 nm. The
      reflection of unpolarized normally incident light is blue/green in colour with
      maximum reflectance wavelength of 520 nm and a degree of polarization greater
      than 0.6 over most of the visible spectrum. We demonstrate that the polarizing
      reflection can be explained by a resonant coupling with the first-order, in
      plane, Bragg harmonics. These harmonics are associated with a distribution of
      periodicities perpendicular to the direction of illumination, and, due to the
      shape-anisotropy of the vesicles, are different for each linear polarization
      mode. This control and tuning of the polarization of the reflection using shape
      anisotropic hollow scatterers is unlike any optical structure previously
      described and could provide a new design pathway for polarization-tunability in
      man-made photonic devices.

PMID- 26883449
TI  - Reconstructing the plinian and co-ignimbrite sources of large volcanic eruptions:
      A novel approach for the Campanian Ignimbrite.
AB  - The 39 ka Campanian Ignimbrite (CI) super-eruption was the largest volcanic
      eruption of the past 200 ka in Europe. Tephra deposits indicate two distinct
      plume forming phases, Plinian and co-ignimbrite, characteristic of many caldera
      forming eruptions. Previous numerical studies have characterized the eruption as
      a single-phase event, potentially leading to inaccurate assessment of eruption
      dynamics. To reconstruct the volume, intensity, and duration of the tephra
      dispersal, we applied a computational inversion method that explicitly accounts
      for the Plinian and co-ignimbrite phases and for gravitational spreading of the
      umbrella cloud. To verify the consistency of our results, we performed an
      additional single-phase inversion using an independent thickness dataset. Our
      better-fitting two-phase model suggests a higher mass eruption rate than previous
      studies, and estimates that 3/4 of the total fallout volume is co-ignimbrite in
      origin. Gravitational spreading of the umbrella cloud dominates tephra transport
      only within the first hundred kilometres due to strong stratospheric winds in our
      best-fit wind model. Finally, tephra fallout impacts would have interrupted the
      westward migration of modern hominid groups in Europe, possibly supporting the
      hypothesis of prolonged Neanderthal survival in South-Western Europe during the
      Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition.

PMID- 26883450
TI  - Intraoperative intravital microscopy permits the study of human tumour vessels.
AB  - Tumour vessels have been studied extensively as they are critical sites for drug
      delivery, anti-angiogenic therapies and immunotherapy. As a preclinical tool,
      intravital microscopy (IVM) allows for in vivo real-time direct observation of
      vessels at the cellular level. However, to date there are no reports of
      intravital high-resolution imaging of human tumours in the clinical setting. Here
      we report the feasibility of IVM examinations of human malignant disease with an
      emphasis on tumour vasculature as the major site of tumour-host interactions.
      Consistent with preclinical observations, we show that patient tumour vessels are
      disorganized, tortuous and ~50% do not support blood flow. Human tumour vessel
      diameters are larger than predicted from immunohistochemistry or preclinical IVM,
      and thereby have lower wall shear stress, which influences delivery of drugs and
      cellular immunotherapies. Thus, real-time clinical imaging of living human
      tumours is feasible and allows for detection of characteristics within the tumour
      microenvironment. 

PMID- 26883452
TI  - A der(11)t(4;11)(q21;p15) in a T-ALL/LBL patient.
AB  - Translocation t(4;11)(q21;p15) is a rare recurrent change associated to T-cell
      acute leukemia. In most cases, this alteration appears as the only abnormality or
      as part of a simple karyotype. In this report, we present the first case of T
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) with the unbalanced
      translocation der(11)t(4;11)(q21;p15) as part of a very complex karyotype with
      multiple chromosome abnormalities, most of them not previously described in the
      literature. FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) and spectral karyotype
      (HiSKY) analysis confirmed the presence of complex alterations. The patient, a 16
      year-old male, showed poor response to treatment and short survival (11 months).
      A detailed review of previously reported cases with t(4;11)(q21;p15) is also
      provided. The description of this type of alterations may contribute to the
      identification of new molecular mechanism associated to neoplastic development. 

PMID- 26883451
TI  - Overview of recurrent chromosomal losses in retinoblastoma detected by low
      coverage next generation sequencing.
AB  - Genes are frequently lost or gained in malignant tumors and the analysis of these
      changes can be informative about the underlying tumor biology. Retinoblastoma is
      a pediatric intraocular malignancy, and since deletions in chromosome 13 have
      been described in this tumor, we performed genome wide sequencing with the
      Illumina platform to test whether recurrent losses could be detected in low
      coverage data from DNA pools of Rb cases. An in silico reference profile for each
      pool was created from the human genome sequence GRCh37p5; a chromosome integrity
      score and a graphics 40 Kb window analysis approach, allowed us to identify with
      high resolution previously reported non random recurrent losses in all
      chromosomes of these tumors. We also found a pattern of gains and losses
      associated to clear and dark cytogenetic bands respectively. We further analyze a
      pool of medulloblastoma and found a more stable genomic profile and previously
      reported losses in this tumor. This approach facilitates identification of
      recurrent deletions from many patients that may be biological relevant for tumor
      development.

PMID- 26883453
TI  - Oxaliplatin administration increases expression of the voltage-dependent calcium
      channel alpha2delta-1 subunit in the rat spinal cord.
AB  - Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is effective against various types
      of cancer including colorectal cancer. Acute cold hyperalgesia is a serious side
      effect of oxaliplatin treatment. Although the therapeutic drug pregabalin is
      beneficial for preventing peripheral neuropathic pain by targeting the voltage
      dependent calcium channel alpha2delta-1 (Cavalpha2delta-1) subunit, the effect of
      oxaliplatin-induced acute cold hypersensitivity is uncertain. To analyze the
      contribution of the Cavalpha2delta-1 subunit to the development of oxaliplatin
      induced acute cold hypersensitivity, Cavalpha2delta-1 subunit expression in the
      rat spinal cord was analyzed after oxaliplatin treatment. Behavioral assessment
      using the acetone spray test showed that 6 mg/kg oxaliplatin-induced cold
      hypersensitivity 2 and 4 days later. Oxaliplatin-induced acute cold
      hypersensitivity 4 days after treatment was significantly inhibited by pregabalin
      (50 mg/kg, p.o.). Oxaliplatin (6 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment increased the expression
      level of Cavalpha2delta-1 subunit mRNA and protein in the spinal cord 2 and 4
      days after treatment. Immunohistochemistry showed that oxaliplatin increased
      Cavalpha2delta-1 subunit protein expression in superficial layers of the spinal
      dorsal horn 2 and 4 days after treatment. These results suggest that oxaliplatin
      treatment increases Cavalpha2delta-1 subunit expression in the superficial layers
      of the spinal cord and may contribute to functional peripheral acute cold
      hypersensitivity. 

PMID- 26883454
TI  - Intrajejunal infusion of 2-monoacylglycerol reduced food intake without inducing
      diarrhea in rats.
AB  - Some nutrients, such as carbohydrate, fat and protein, are known to stimulate
      satiety. However, the effect of sn-2-monoacylglycerol (2-MG), one of the
      digestive products of triglycerides, on food intake is still unclear. In the
      present study, the effects of 2-MG on food intake and diarrhea were evaluated and
      compared with long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) in rats by intrajejunal infusion.
      Intrajejunal infusion of 2-MG reduced food intake. In addition, 2-MG did not
      induce diarrhea at the condition that it comparably reduced food intake as
      compared with LCFA. These results suggest that 2-MG stimulates satiety without
      inducing diarrhea, different from LCFA. 

PMID- 26883455
TI  - P-glycoprotein inhibitors improve effective dose and time of pregabalin to
      inhibit intermittent cold stress-induced central pain.
AB  - Pregabalin (PGB) is a valuable therapeutic drug against chronic pain. Here we
      attempted to perform the combinatorial drug therapy with P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
      inhibitors to lower therapeutic dosage of PGB in the intermittent cold stress
      induced fibromyalgia-like pain model. Single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) PGB
      injection exerted long-lasting anti-hyperalgesic effects for 72 h, while the
      effect of PGB given intraperitoneally (i.p.) disappeared within 3 h. Importantly,
      the pretreatment with P-gp inhibitors markedly prolonged the PGB (i.p.) effects,
      which lasted for 72 h. These results suggest that the combinatorial treatment
      with P-gp inhibitor enables the prolongation of dose-interval for PGB. 

PMID- 26883456
TI  - Peripheral HMGB1-induced hyperalgesia in mice: Redox state-dependent distinct
      roles of RAGE and TLR4.
AB  - Nuclear HMGB1 that contains 3 cysteine residues is acetylated and secreted to the
      extracellular space, promoting inflammation via multiple molecules such as RAGE
      and TLR4. We thus evaluated and characterized the redox state-dependent effects
      of peripheral HMGB1 on nociception. Intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of bovine
      thymus-derived HMGB1 (bt-HMGB1), all-thiol HMGB1 (at-HMGB1) or disulfide HMGB1
      (ds-HMGB1) caused long-lasting mechanical hyperalgesia in mice. The hyperalgesia
      following i.pl. bt-HMGB1 or at-HMGB1 was attenuated by RAGE inhibitors, while the
      ds-HMGB1-induced hyperalgesia was abolished by a TLR4 antagonist. Thus,
      nociceptive processing by peripheral HMGB1 is considered dependent on its redox
      states. 

PMID- 26883457
TI  - Levodopa acts centrally to induce an antinociceptive action against colonic
      distension through activation of D2 dopamine receptors and the orexinergic system
      in the brain in conscious rats.
AB  - Levodopa possesses antinociceptive actions against several somatic pain
      conditions. However, we do not know at this moment whether levodopa is also
      effective to visceral pain. The present study was therefore performed to clarify
      whether levodopa is effective to visceral pain and its mechanisms. Visceral
      sensation was evaluated by colonic distension-induced abdominal withdrawal reflex
      (AWR) in conscious rats. Subcutaneously (80 mg/rat) or intracisternally (2.5
      MUg/rat) administered levodopa significantly increased the threshold of colonic
      distension-induced AWR in conscious rats. The dose difference to induce the
      antinociceptive action suggests levodopa acts centrally to exert its
      antinociceptive action against colonic distension. While neither sulpiride, a D2
      dopamine receptor antagonist, nor SCH23390, a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist by
      itself changed the threshold of colonic distension-induced AWR, the
      intracisternally injected levodopa-induced antinociceptive action was
      significantly blocked by pretreatment with subcutaneously administered sulpiride
      but not SCH23390. Treatment with intracisternal SB334867, an orexin 1 receptor
      antagonist, significantly blocked the subcutaneously administered levodopa
      induced antinociceptive action. These results suggest that levodopa acts
      centrally to induce an antinociceptive action against colonic distension through
      activation of D2 dopamine receptors and the orexinergic system in the brain. 

PMID- 26883458
TI  - Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQ2/DQ8 prevalence in recurrent pregnancy loss
      women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Over the last few years, medical scholars have reported the
      significant association between recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and celiac disease
      (CD). Various pathogenic mechanisms underlying the pregnancy failure in CD have
      been suggested: among them the ability of anti-transglutaminase antibodies to
      impair the trophoblast invasiveness and endometrial endothelial cells
      differentiation and disrupt early placentation. CD shows a complex non-Mendelian
      pattern of inheritance, involving major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes.
      The strongest effects are mapped to the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA)
      DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 genes. Specifically, the common haplotypes DQ2.5, DQ2.2, and
      DQ8 have been shown to increase CD risk by six-fold on average. MHC region
      contains genes with immunological functions and is responsible for the strongest
      association signals observed in most immune-mediated diseases. The aim of our
      study was to investigate the prevalence of the HLA-DQ2/DQ8 haplotypes in RPL,
      outside of CD. METHODS: The study population included women with history of RPL
      (>=3 spontaneous pregnancy losses) and women with at least two previous
      uncomplicated term pregnancies (control group, CTR). All women gave their
      informed consent to use their data for research purposes. RESULTS: 97 RPL women
      and 55 CTR were considered in the study. Mean age of the RPL sample was 37.7
      (standard deviation, SD, 3.0; min 27; max 39). Mean age of the control group was
      35.6 (SD 3.0; min 26years; m, max 38). A significantly increased prevalence of
      HLA-DQ2/DQ8 haplotype positivity was found in RPL population compared to control
      women (52.6% vs 23.6%; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our observations show for the first
      time a higher proportion of individuals HLA DQ2/DQ8 positive in women with RPL as
      compared to controls (and to general population estimates). Further studies are
      needed to better understand (i) the possible pathogenic mechanism to this
      observation; (ii) the clinical and therapeutic implications of our observation in
      order to provide a new approach to RPL couples.

PMID- 26883459
TI  - Biotherapies in large vessel vasculitis.
AB  - Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TA) are large vessel
      vasculitis (LVV) and aortic involvement is not uncommon in Behcet's disease (BD)
      and relapsing polychondritis (RP). Glucocorticosteroids are the mainstay of
      therapy in LVV. However, a significant proportion of patients have glucocorticoid
      dependance, serious side effects or refractory disease to steroids and other
      immunosuppressive treatments such as cyclophosphamide, azathioprine,
      mycophenolate mofetil and methotrexate. Recent advances in the understanding of
      the pathogenesis have resulted in the use of biological agents in patients with
      LVV. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha drugs seem effective in patients with
      refractory Takayasu arteritis and vascular BD but have failed to do so in giant
      cell arteritis. Preliminary reports on the use of the anti-IL6-receptor antibody
      (tocilizumab), in LVV have been encouraging. The development of new biologic
      targeted therapies will probably open a promising future for patients with LVV. 

PMID- 26883460
TI  - Autoantibody pain.
AB  - As autoantibodies bind to target tissues, Fc-region dependent inflammation can
      induce pain via mediators exciting nociceptors. But recently another possibility
      has emerged, where autoantibody binding to nociceptors can directly cause pain,
      without inflammation. This is thought to occur as a result of Fab-region mediated
      modification of nerve transduction, transmission, or neuropeptide release. In
      three conditions, complex regional pain syndrome, anti-voltage gated potassium
      channel complex autoimmunity, and chronic fatigue syndrome, all associated with
      no or only little inflammation, initial laboratory-, and clinical trial-results
      have suggested a potential role for autoantibody-mediated mechanisms. More
      research assessing the pathogenic roles of autoantibodies in these and other
      chronic pain conditions is required. The concept of autoantibody-mediated pain
      offers hope for the development of novel therapies for currently intractable
      pains. 

PMID- 26883461
TI  - Obesity and rhinitis in a nationwide study of children and adults in the United
      States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with higher risk of asthma and asthma
      severity both in children and adults. However, studies evaluating the relation
      between obesity and rhinitis have yielded conflicting results. METHODS: We
      performed a cross-sectional study of obesity indicators and rhinitis using data
      from 8165 participants in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination
      Survey. Allergic rhinitis was defined as physician-diagnosed hay fever or
      allergy, the presence of symptoms in the past 12 months, and at least 1 positive
      allergen-specific IgE level. Nonallergic rhinitis was defined as a physician's
      diagnosis and symptoms but no positive allergen-specific IgE levels. Multivariate
      regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity and rhinitis in
      children and adults. RESULTS: In adults, overweight or obesity was associated
      with increased odds of nonallergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI,
      1.06-1.93; P = .02). Similarly, central obesity was associated with increased
      odds of nonallergic rhinitis in adults (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.20
      2.16; P < .01). In an analysis stratified by sex, the observed associations were
      attenuated and became nonstatistically significant in female adults but remained
      significant in male adults. Overweight, obesity, or central obesity were not
      associated with allergic rhinitis in adults. In children, central obesity was
      associated with reduced odds of allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.35; 95%
      CI, 0.19-0.64; P < .01). After stratification by sex, this association was
      similar in female and male children. CONCLUSIONS: In adults, obesity is
      associated with increased odds of nonallergic rhinitis, particularly in male
      subjects. In children, central obesity is associated with reduced odds of
      allergic rhinitis, regardless of sex.

PMID- 26883462
TI  - RNA sequencing reveals the consequences of a novel insertion in dedicator of
      cytokinesis-8.

PMID- 26883463
TI  - Chemokine release from human rhinovirus-infected airway epithelial cells promotes
      fibroblast migration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thickening of the lamina reticularis, a feature of remodeling in the
      asthmatic airways, is now known to be present in young children who wheeze. Human
      rhinovirus (HRV) infection is a common trigger for childhood wheezing, which is a
      risk factor for subsequent asthma development. We hypothesized that HRV-infected
      epithelial cells release chemoattractants to recruit fibroblasts that could
      potentially contribute to thickening of the lamina reticularis. OBJECTIVE: We
      sought to investigate whether conditioned medium from HRV-infected epithelial
      cells can trigger directed migration of fibroblasts. METHODS: Human bronchial
      epithelial cells were exposed to medium alone or infected with HRV-16.
      Conditioned medium from both conditions were tested as chemoattractants for human
      bronchial fibroblasts in the xCELLigence cell migration apparatus. RESULTS: HRV
      conditioned medium was chemotactic for fibroblasts. Treatment of fibroblasts with
      pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Galphai-coupled receptors, prevented their
      migration. Production of epithelial chemoattractants required HRV replication.
      Multiplex analysis of epithelial supernatants identified CXCL10, CXCL8, and CCL5
      as Galphai-coupled receptor agonists of potential interest. Subsequent analysis
      confirmed that fibroblasts express CXCR3 and CXCR1 receptors and that CXCL10 and,
      to a lesser extent, CXCL8, but not CCL5, are major contributors to fibroblast
      migration caused by HRV-conditioned medium. CONCLUSION: CXCL10 and CXCL8 produced
      from HRV-infected epithelial cells are chemotactic for fibroblasts. This raises
      the possibility that repeated HRV infections in childhood could contribute to the
      initiation and progression of airway remodeling in asthmatic patients by
      recruiting fibroblasts that produce matrix proteins and thicken the lamina
      reticularis.

PMID- 26883465
TI  - Meeting Organocatalysis with Drug Discovery: Asymmetric Synthesis of 3,3'
      Spirooxindoles Fused with Tetrahydrothiopyrans as Novel p53-MDM2 Inhibitors.
AB  - An organocatalytic enantioselective Michael-Michael cascade reaction is developed
      for the synthesis of chiral spirotetrahydrothiopyrans. This highly functionalized
      scaffold was assembled in moderate to good yield (55-74%) and excellent diastereo
      and enantioselectivities (>30:1 dr, >= 99% ee) with the creation of four
      consecutive stereogenic centers. The novel spiro-oxindole scaffold is validated
      as a new class of p53-MDM2 protein-protein interaction inhibitors with good
      antitumor activity. 

PMID- 26883464
TI  - T-cell epitope conservation across allergen species is a major determinant of
      immunogenicity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with pollen allergies are frequently polysensitized. Pollens
      contain epitopes that are conserved across multiple species. OBJECTIVE: We sought
      to demonstrate that cross-reactive T cells that recognize conserved epitopes show
      higher levels of expansion than T cells recognizing monospecific epitopes because
      of more frequent stimulation. METHOD: RNA was sequenced from 9 pollens, and the
      reads were assembled de novo into more than 50,000 transcripts. T-cell epitopes
      from timothy grass (Phleum pratense) were examined for conservation in these
      transcripts, and this was correlated to their ability to induce T-cell responses.
      T cells were expanded in vitro with P pratense-derived peptides and tested for
      cross-reactivity to pollen extracts in ELISpot assays. RESULTS: We found that
      antigenic proteins are more conserved than nonimmunogenic proteins in P pratense
      pollen. Additionally, P pratense epitopes that were highly conserved across
      pollens elicited more T-cell responses in donors with grass allergy than less
      conserved epitopes. Moreover, conservation of a P pratense peptide at the
      transcriptomic level correlated with the ability of that peptide to trigger T
      cells that were cross-reactive with other non-P pratense pollen extracts.
      CONCLUSION: We found a correlation between conservation of peptides in plant
      pollens and their T-cell immunogenicity within P pratense, as well as their
      ability to induce cross-reactive T-cell responses. T cells recognizing conserved
      epitopes might be more prominent because they can be stimulated by a broader
      range of pollens and thereby drive polysensitization in allergic donors. We
      propose that conserved peptides could potentially be used in diagnostic or
      immunomodulatory approaches that address the issue of polysensitization and
      target multiple pollen allergies.

PMID- 26883466
TI  - The mitochondrial genome and ribosomal operon of Brachycladium goliath (Digenea:
      Brachycladiidae) recovered from a stranded minke whale.
AB  - Members of the Brachycladiidae are known to cause pathologies implicated in
      cetacean strandings and it is important to develop accurate diagnostic markers to
      differentiate these and other helminths found in cetaceans. Brachycladium goliath
      (van Beneden, 1858) is a large trematode found, as adults, usually in the hepatic
      (bile) and pancreatic ducts of various cetaceans. Complete sequences were
      determined for the entire mitochondrial genome, and phylogenetically informative
      nuclear genes contained within the ribosomal operon, from a small piece of an
      individual worm taken from a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
      Lacepede, 1804. Genomic DNA was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. The
      mtDNA is 15,229 bp in length consisting of 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA
      genes, 2 rRNA genes and 2 non-coding regions of which the larger is comprised of
      4 tandemly repeated units (260 bp each). The ribosomal RNA operon is 9297 bp
      long. These data provide a rich resource of molecular markers for diagnostics,
      phylogenetics and population genetics in order to better understand the role, and
      associated pathology of helminth infections in cetaceans.

PMID- 26883467
TI  - Carbon storage in Chinese grassland ecosystems: Influence of different
      integrative methods.
AB  - The accurate estimate of grassland carbon (C) is affected by many factors at the
      large scale. Here, we used six methods (three spatial interpolation methods and
      three grassland classification methods) to estimate C storage of Chinese
      grasslands based on published data from 2004 to 2014, and assessed the
      uncertainty resulting from different integrative methods. The uncertainty
      (coefficient of variation, CV, %) of grassland C storage was approximately 4.8%
      for the six methods tested, which was mainly determined by soil C storage. C
      density and C storage to the soil layer depth of 100 cm were estimated to be 8.46
      +/- 0.41 kg C m(-2) and 30.98 +/- 1.25 Pg C, respectively. Ecosystem C storage
      was composed of 0.23 +/- 0.01 (0.7%) above-ground biomass, 1.38 +/- 0.14 (4.5%)
      below-ground biomass, and 29.37 +/- 1.2 (94.8%) Pg C in the 0-100 cm soil layer.
      Carbon storage calculated by the grassland classification methods (18 grassland
      types) was closer to the mean value than those calculated by the spatial
      interpolation methods. Differences in integrative methods may partially explain
      the high uncertainty in C storage estimates in different studies. This first
      evaluation demonstrates the importance of multi-methodological approaches to
      accurately estimate C storage in large-scale terrestrial ecosystems.

PMID- 26883468
TI  - Autophagy protects podocytes from sublytic complement induced injury.
AB  - Podocyte injury induced by sublytic complement attack is the main feature of
      membranous nephropathy (MN). This study aimed at investigating the impact of
      sublytic complement attack-related autophagy on podocyte injury in vitro. Here,
      we show that sublytic complement attack enhances MPC5 podocyte autophagy in
      vitro. Inhibition of autophagy by treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA)
      significantly increased sublytic complement attack-induced changes in the injury
      related morphology, stress fiber, and podocyte apoptosis, but decreased the
      survival and adhesion of MPC5 podocytes. In contrast, promotion of autophagy by
      treatment with rapamycin mitigated sublytic complement attack-induced changes in
      the injury-related morphology, stress fiber, and podocyte apoptosis, but
      increased the survival and adhesion of MPC5 podocytes. These data suggest that
      autophagy may protect podocytes from sublytic complement attack-induced injury in
      vitro. 

PMID- 26883470
TI  - A Grand Challenge: Unbiased Phenotypic Function of Metabolites from Jaspis
      splendens against Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - A grand challenge in natural product chemistry is to determine the biological
      effects of all natural products. A phenotypic approach is frequently used for
      determining the activity of a compound and its potential impact on a disease
      state. Chemical investigation of a specimen of Jaspis splendens collected from
      the Great Barrier Reef resulted in the isolation of a new pterin derivative,
      jaspterin (1), a new bisindole alkaloid, splendamide (2), and a new imidazole
      alkaloid, jaspnin A (3) TFA salt. Jaspamycin (8) and 6-bromo-1H-indole-3
      carboximidamide (16) are reported for the first time as naturally occurring
      metabolites. Known nucleosides (4-7, 9, 10), aglycones (11-13), indole alkaloids
      (14, 15, 17), and jaspamide peptides (18-22) were also isolated. The structures
      of the three new compounds 1-3 were unambiguously elucidated based on NMR and
      mass spectroscopic data. Jaspnin A (3) contained a rare thiomethylated
      imidazolinium unit. Coupling an unbiased phenotypic assay using a human olfactory
      neurosphere-derived cell model of Parkinson's disease to all of the natural
      products from the species J. splendens allowed the phenotypic profiles of the
      metabolites to be investigated. 

PMID- 26883469
TI  - Ubiquitin-specific protease 4 controls metastatic potential through beta-catenin
      stabilization in brain metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Brain metastasis is the most common type of intracranial cancer and is the main
      cause of cancer-associated mortality. Brain metastasis mainly originates from
      lung cancer. Using a previously established in vitro brain metastatic model, we
      found that brain metastatic PC14PE6/LvBr4 cells exhibited higher expression of
      beta-catenin and increased migratory activity than parental PC14PE6 cells.
      Knockdown of beta-catenin dramatically suppressed the motility and invasiveness
      of PC14PE6/LvBr4 cells, indicating beta-catenin is involved in controlling
      metastatic potential. Since beta-catenin protein was increased without a
      significant change in its mRNA levels, the mechanism underlying increased beta
      catenin stability was investigated. We found that ubiquitin-specific protease 4
      (USP4), recently identified as a beta-catenin-specific deubiquitinylating enzyme,
      was highly expressed in PC14PE6/LvBr4 cells and involved in the increased
      stability of beta-catenin protein. Similar to beta-catenin knockdown, USP4
      silenced PC14PE6/LvBr4 cells showed decreased migratory and invasive abilities.
      Moreover, knockdown of both USP4 and beta-catenin inhibited clonogenicity and
      induced mesenchymal-epithelial transition by downregulating ZEB1 in PC14PE6/LvBr4
      cells. Using bioluminescence imaging, we found that knockdown of USP4 suppressed
      brain metastasis in vivo and significantly increased overall survival and brain
      metastasis-free survival. Taken together, our results indicate that USP4 is a
      promising therapeutic target for brain metastasis in patients with lung
      adenocarcinoma. 

PMID- 26883471
TI  - ZIF-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbons for Xe Adsorption and Separation.
AB  - Currently, finding high capacity adsorbents with large selectivity to capture Xe
      is still a great challenge. In this work, nitrogen-doped porous carbons were
      prepared by programmable temperature carbonization of zeolitic imidazolate
      framework-8 (ZIF-8) and ZIF-8/xylitol composite precursors and the resultant
      samples are marked as Carbon-Z and Carbon-ZX, respectively. Further adsorption
      measurements indicate that ZIF-derived nitrogen-doped Carbon-ZX exhibits
      extremely high Xe capacity of 4.42 mmol g(-1) at 298 K and 1 bar, which is higher
      than almost all other pristine MOFs such as CuBTC, Ni/DOBDC, MOF-5 and Al-MIL-53,
      and even more than three times of the matrix ZIF-8 at similar conditions.
      Moreover, Carbon-ZX also shows the highest Xe/N2 selectivity about ~120, which is
      much larger than all other reported MOFs. These remarkable features illustrate
      that ZIF-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon is an excellent adsorbent for Xe
      adsorption and separation at room temperature.

PMID- 26883472
TI  - Evidence-based or arrogance-based medicine?

PMID- 26883473
TI  - Mda-7/IL-24 enhances sensitivity of B cell lymphoma to chemotherapy drugs.
AB  - Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is a cytokine encoded by a tumor suppressor gene of the IL
      10 family, also known as the melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (Mda-7)
      and first discovered in human melanoma cells. Mda-7/IL-24 has been shown to
      inhibit the proliferation of various human tumor cell lines, but its effect on
      the sensitivity of B cell lymphoma to chemotherapy agents is not yet clear. The
      present study investigated the effects of Mda-7/IL-24 overexpression on the
      sensitivity of human B cell lymphoma cells to chemotherapy, as well as its
      mechanism of action. The sensitivity of stable Mda-7/IL-24 overexpressing Raji
      and Daudi cells to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP), epirubicin and
      vinblastine (VCR) were assessed by the MTS method, and the IC50 value calculated.
      Cell apoptosis and the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine-123 were assayed
      by flow cytometry. The expression of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), B-cell
      specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (BMI1), topoisomerase II
      (Topo II) and multidrug resistance-related protein 1 (MRP1) mRNA and protein were
      analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT
      qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. In addition, western blot analysis was
      also used to investigate the effect of Mda-7/IL-24 on activity of GTP-RhoA-ERK
      signaling pathway in Raji and Daudi cells. Growth inhibition and apoptosis rates
      of Mda-7/IL-24 overexpressing Raji and Daudi cells were higher than those of non
      transfected cells and cells transfected with vector alone when treated with CDDP,
      epirubicin and VCR. The IC50 values of CDDP, epirubicin and VCR were lower for
      Mda-7/IL-24-overexpressing Raji and Daudi cells than for non-transfected cells
      and cells transfected with empty vector. Intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine
      123 and the expression of Topo II were higher, while the levels of MDR1, BMI and
      MRP1 mRNA and protein were lower, in Mda-7/IL-24 overexpressing Raji and Daudi
      cells. Furthermore, the activities of GTP-RhoA-ERK signaling pathway in Raji and
      Daudi cells were suppressed. These results indicated that Mda-7/IL-24 enhanced
      the sensitivity of B lymphoma cells to chemotherapy agents by altering the
      expression of multidrug-resistance genes via downregulating GTP-RhoA-ERK
      signaling pathway, suggesting that treatment of B cell lymphomas with Mda-7/IL-24
      could avoid MDR.

PMID- 26883474
TI  - Engineering long shelf life multi-layer biologically active surfaces on
      microfluidic devices for point of care applications.
AB  - Although materials and engineered surfaces are broadly utilized in creating
      assays and devices with wide applications in diagnostics, preservation of these
      immuno-functionalized surfaces on microfluidic devices remains a significant
      challenge to create reliable repeatable assays that would facilitate patient care
      in resource-constrained settings at the point-of-care (POC), where reliable
      electricity and refrigeration are lacking. To address this challenge, we present
      an innovative approach to stabilize surfaces on-chip with multiple layers of
      immunochemistry. The functionality of microfluidic devices using the presented
      method is evaluated at room temperature for up to 6-month shelf life. We
      integrated the preserved microfluidic devices with a lensless complementary metal
      oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging platform to count CD4(+) T cells from a drop
      of unprocessed whole blood targeting applications at the POC such as HIV
      management and monitoring. The developed immunochemistry stabilization method can
      potentially be applied broadly to other diagnostic immuno-assays such as viral
      load measurements, chemotherapy monitoring, and biomarker detection for cancer
      patients at the POC. 

PMID- 26883475
TI  - Astrocyte-derived phosphatidic acid promotes dendritic branching.
AB  - Astrocytes play critical roles in neural circuit formation and function. Recent
      studies have revealed several secreted and contact-mediated signals from
      astrocytes which are essential for neurite outgrowth and synapse formation.
      However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of dendritic branching by
      astrocytes remain elusive. Phospholipase D1 (PLD1), which catalyzes the
      hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to generate phosphatidic acid (PA) and
      choline, has been implicated in the regulation of neurite outgrowth. Here we
      showed that knockdown of PLD1 selectively in astrocytes reduced dendritic
      branching of neurons in neuron-glia mixed culture. Further studies from sandwich
      like cocultures and astrocyte conditioned medium suggested that astrocyte PLD1
      regulated dendritic branching through secreted signals. We later demonstrated
      that PA was the key mediator for astrocyte PLD1 to regulate dendritic branching.
      Moreover, PA itself was sufficient to promote dendritic branching of neurons.
      Lastly, we showed that PA could activate protein kinase A (PKA) in neurons and
      promote dendritic branching through PKA signaling. Taken together, our results
      demonstrate that astrocyte PLD1 and its lipid product PA are essential regulators
      of dendritic branching in neurons. These results may provide new insight into
      mechanisms underlying how astrocytes regulate dendrite growth of neurons. 

PMID- 26883476
TI  - Considerations for estimating microbial environmental data concentrations
      collected from a field setting.
AB  - In the event of an indoor release of an environmentally persistent microbial
      pathogen such as Bacillus anthracis, the potential for human exposure will be
      considered when remedial decisions are made. Microbial site characterization and
      clearance sampling data collected in the field might be used to estimate
      exposure. However, there are many challenges associated with estimating
      environmental concentrations of B. anthracis or other spore-forming organisms
      after such an event before being able to estimate exposure. These challenges
      include: (1) collecting environmental field samples that are adequate for the
      intended purpose, (2) conducting laboratory analyses and selecting the reporting
      format needed for the laboratory data, and (3) analyzing and interpreting the
      data using appropriate statistical techniques. This paper summarizes some key
      challenges faced in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting microbial field data
      from a contaminated site. Although the paper was written with considerations for
      B. anthracis contamination, it may also be applicable to other bacterial agents.
      It explores the implications and limitations of using field data for determining
      environmental concentrations both before and after decontamination. Several
      findings were of interest. First, to date, the only validated surface/sampling
      device combinations are swabs and sponge-sticks on stainless steel surfaces, thus
      limiting availability of quantitative analytical results which could be used for
      statistical analysis. Second, agreement needs to be reached with the analytical
      laboratory on the definition of the countable range and on reporting of data
      below the limit of quantitation. Finally, the distribution of the microbial field
      data and statistical methods needed for a particular data set could vary
      depending on these data that were collected, and guidance is needed on
      appropriate statistical software for handling microbial data. Further, research
      is needed to develop better methods to estimate human exposure from pathogens
      using environmental data collected from a field setting.

PMID- 26883477
TI  - Maternal exposure to air pollutant PM2.5 and PM10 during pregnancy and risk of
      congenital heart defects.
AB  - Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution has increasingly been linked to
      congenital heart defects (CHDs). The objective of this study was to evaluate
      whether high levels of maternal exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 are related to
      increased risk of CHDs in Wuhan, China. We conducted a cohort study with a total
      of 105,988 live-born infants, stillbirths, and fetal deaths. The study included
      mothers living in the urban district of Wuhan during pregnancy over the 2-year
      period from 10 June 2011 to 9 June 2013. For each study participant, we assigned
      1-month and 1-week averages of PM10 and PM2.5 exposure based on measurements
      obtained from the nearest exposure monitor to the living residence of mothers
      during their early pregnancy period. Logistic regression analyses were conducted
      to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)
      for the association between exposure to these ambient air pollutants during early
      pregnancy and CHDs. We observed an increased risk of CHDs, particularly
      ventricular septal defect (VSD), with increasing PM2.5 exposure. Using 1-week
      averages, we also observed significant monotonically increasing associations
      between PM2.5 exposure during weeks 7-10 of pregnancy and risk of VSD, with aORs
      ranging from 1.11 to 1.17 (95% CI: 1.02-1.20, 1.03-1.22, 1.05-1.24, and 1.08-1.26
      separately) per a 10 MUg/m(3) change in PM2.5 concentration. Our study
      contributes to the small body of knowledge regarding the association between in
      utero exposure to air pollution and CHDs, but confirmation of these associations
      will be needed in future studies.

PMID- 26883479
TI  - Thermal equation of state of Molybdenum determined from in situ synchrotron X-ray
      diffraction with laser-heated diamond anvil cells.
AB  - Here we report that the equation of state (EOS) of Mo is obtained by an
      integrated technique of laser-heated DAC and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The
      cold compression and thermal expansion of Mo have been measured up to 80 GPa at
      300 K, and 92 GPa at 3470 K, respectively. The P-V-T data have been treated with
      both thermodynamic and Mie-Gruneisen-Debye methods for the thermal EOS inversion.
      The results are self-consistent and in agreement with the static multi-anvil
      compression data of Litasov et al. (J. Appl. Phys. 113, 093507 (2013)) and the
      theoretical data of Zeng et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 114, 298 (2010)). These high
      pressure and high temperature (HPHT) data with high precision firstly complement
      and close the gap between the resistive heating and the shock compression
      experiment.

PMID- 26883478
TI  - Lactose-Functionalized Gold Nanorods for Sensitive and Rapid Serological
      Diagnosis of Cancer.
AB  - Timely and accurate diagnosis of cancer is crucial to cancer treatment. However,
      serological diagnosis of cancer still faces great challenge because the
      conventional methodology based on the enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA)
      is costly, time-consuming, and complicated, involving multiple steps. Herein,
      lactose-functionalized gold nanorods (Lac-GNRs) are fabricated as efficient
      biosensors to detect cancerous conditions based on the unique surface plasmon
      resonance properties of GNRs and high specificity of lactose to the galectin-1
      cancer biomarker. A trace concentration of galectin-1 as small as 10(-13) M can
      be detected by Lac-GNRs. The comparative study among BSA, galectin-3, and
      galectin-1 demonstrates the good specificity of Lac-GNRs to galectin-1 either in
      aqueous solutions or in the complex and heterogeneous serum specimens. Clinical
      tests show that the Lac-GNRs biosensors can readily distinguish the serums of
      cancer patients from those of healthy persons simply by using a microplate reader
      or even direct visual observation. The Lac-GNRs biosensing platform is highly
      efficient and easy to use and have great potential in rapid screening of cancer
      patients. 

PMID- 26883480
TI  - More Chemistry Is Needed for Molecular Imaging.

PMID- 26883482
TI  - How kinematic disturbance in the deformed rheumatoid thumb impacts on hand
      function: a biomechanical and functional perspective.
AB  - Purpose This study investigates the effects of kinematic disturbances in
      rheumatoid thumb on patient's hand functions via objective and patient-perceived
      measurements. Method Twenty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 21
      healthy age- and gender-matched individuals were recruited to receive the
      objective evaluations, including the Purdue Pegboard Test, Jamar dynamometer,
      pinch-meter, Permanent Impairment Scale and self-administrated measurements,
      including the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Manual Ability Measure-36
      (MAM-36). An electromagnetic tracking system was used to measure thumb
      kinematics. The differences in the measures between the RA and control groups and
      the dominant and non-dominant hands of the RA group were examined. The
      relationships between the thumb kinematics and hand functional capabilities, as
      well as impairment levels, were also explored. Results The RA group showed
      significantly smaller thumb movement capabilities and hand strength, as well as
      worse scores in hand dexterity, MAM-36 and HAQ than healthy controls. The
      movement workspace of the RA thumb showed moderate correlations with the factors
      of hand strength, dexterity, impairment scale, MAM-36 and HAQ scores. Conclusions
      The findings indicate deficits related to the movement capability of the RA thumb
      may negatively influence hand dexterity and functional hand performance, as well
      as life quality, for the patients with RA. Implications for Rehabilitation A
      deformed rheumatoid thumb might limit the movement workspace of the thumb and
      consequently impair the hand performance as well as the life quality. The
      dominant thumb of the RA patients might have greater structural and functional
      deterioration than the non-dominant side. Suitable joint protection strategies,
      exercises and orthotics should be early applied to the RA patients for preserving
      hand functions.

PMID- 26883481
TI  - The TRPM1 channel in ON-bipolar cells is gated by both the alpha and the
      betagamma subunits of the G-protein Go.
AB  - Transmission from photoreceptors to ON bipolar cells in mammalian retina is
      mediated by a sign-inverting cascade. Upon binding glutamate, the metabotropic
      glutamate receptor mGluR6 activates the heterotrimeric G-protein
      Galphaobeta3gamma13, and this leads to closure of the TRPM1 channel (melastatin).
      TRPM1 is thought to be constitutively open, but the mechanism that leads to its
      closure is unclear. We investigated this question in mouse rod bipolar cells by
      dialyzing reagents that modify the activity of either Galphao or Gbetagamma and
      then observing their effects on the basal holding current. After opening the
      TRPM1 channels with light, a constitutively active mutant of Galphao closed the
      channel, but wild-type Galphao did not. After closing the channels by dark
      adaptation, phosducin or inactive Galphao (both sequester Gbetagamma) opened the
      channel while the active mutant of Galphao did not. Co-immunoprecipitation showed
      that TRPM1 interacts with Gbeta3 and with the active and inactive forms of
      Galphao. Furthermore, bioluminescent energy transfer assays indicated that while
      Galphao interacts with both the N- and the C- termini of TRPM1, Gbetagamma
      interacts only with the N-terminus. Our physiological and biochemical results
      suggest that both Galphao and Gbetagamma bind TRPM1 channels and cooperate to
      close them. 

PMID- 26883483
TI  - Structural modifications of the salivary conditioning film upon exposure to
      sodium bicarbonate: implications for oral lubrication and mouthfeel.
AB  - The salivary conditioning film (SCF) that forms on all surfaces in the mouth
      plays a key role in lubricating the oral cavity. As this film acts as an
      interface between tongue, enamel and oral mucosa, it is likely that any
      perturbations to its structure could potentially lead to a change in mouthfeel
      perception. This is often experienced after exposure to oral hygiene products.
      For example, consumers that use dentifrice that contain a high concentration of
      sodium bicarbonate (SB) often report a clean mouth feel after use; an attribute
      that is clearly desirable for oral hygiene products. However, the mechanisms by
      which SB interacts with the SCF to alter lubrication in the mouth is unknown.
      Therefore, saliva and the SCF was exposed to high ionic strength and alkaline
      solutions to elucidate whether the interactions observed were a direct result of
      SB, its high alkalinity or its ionic strength. Characteristics including bulk
      viscosity of saliva and the viscoelasticity of the interfacial salivary films
      that form at both the air/saliva and hydroxyapatite/saliva interfaces were
      tested. It was hypothesised that SB interacts with the SCF in two ways. Firstly,
      the ionic strength of SB shields electrostatic charges of salivary proteins, thus
      preventing protein crosslinking within the film and secondly; the alkaline pH
      (~8.3) of SB reduces the gel-like structure of mucins present in the pellicle by
      disrupting disulphide bridging of the mucins via the ionization of their
      cysteine's thiol group, which has an isoelectric point of ~8.3. 

PMID- 26883485
TI  - Aflatoxins in composite spices collected from local markets of Karachi, Pakistan.
AB  - This survey was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of total aflatoxins (AFs;
      B1+B2+G1+G2) in unpacked composite spices. A total of 75 samples of composite
      spices such as biryani, karhai, tikka, nihari and korma masalas were collected
      from local markets of Karachi, Pakistan, and analysed using HPLC technique. The
      results indicated that AFs were detected in 77% (n = 58) samples ranging from
      0.68 to 25.74 ug kg(-1) with a mean of 4.63 +/- 0.95 ug kg(-1). In 88% (n = 66)
      samples, AFs level was below the maximum limits (ML = 10 ug kg(-1)) as imposed by
      EU. Furthermore, 61% (n = 46) tested samples contained AFs level between 1 and 10
      ug kg(-1), 9% (n = 7) exhibited AFs contamination ranged 10-20 ug kg(-1) and only
      3% (n = 2) of the investigated samples contained AFs levels higher than the ML of
      20 ug kg(-1) for total aflatoxins as set by the USA. It was concluded that there
      is need to establish a strict and continuous national monitoring plan to improve
      safety and quality of spices in Pakistan. 

PMID- 26883484
TI  - Stigma, marginalization and psychosocial well-being of orphans in Rwanda:
      exploring the mediation role of social support.
AB  - Stigma and marginalization are one of the major challenges orphans face in their
      daily lives, particularly in developing countries, but little is known about
      their impacts on mental health. This study examines how orphan-related
      characteristics, stigma and marginalization are associated with psychosocial well
      being. It further analyses the role of social support in mediating between stigma
      and marginalization and mental health, indicated by emotional well-being and
      mental distress. The participants in this study were 430 Rwandan orphans who were
      10-25 years of age, and of whom 179 were females and 251 were males. Results
      showed that high levels of stigma and marginalization were associated with a
      lower level of emotional well-being and higher levels of mental distress. A
      mediation analysis indicated that low level of social support due to stigma and
      marginalization contributed significantly to low level of emotional well-being.
      Once stigma, marginalization and social support were fully accounted for, AIDS
      orphans exhibited higher levels of mental distress than those who were orphaned
      by genocide or other causes. Future interventions designed to reduce stigma and
      marginalization for orphans and actions that facilitate social support can
      significantly improve emotional well-being and reduce mental distress among
      orphans. 

PMID- 26883486
TI  - Beyond accuracy: creating interoperable and scalable text-mining web services.
AB  - The biomedical literature is a knowledge-rich resource and an important
      foundation for future research. With over 24 million articles in PubMed and an
      increasing growth rate, research in automated text processing is becoming
      increasingly important. We report here our recently developed web-based text
      mining services for biomedical concept recognition and normalization. Unlike most
      text-mining software tools, our web services integrate several state-of-the-art
      entity tagging systems (DNorm, GNormPlus, SR4GN, tmChem and tmVar) and offer a
      batch-processing mode able to process arbitrary text input (e.g. scholarly
      publications, patents and medical records) in multiple formats (e.g. BioC). We
      support multiple standards to make our service interoperable and allow simpler
      integration with other text-processing pipelines. To maximize scalability, we
      have preprocessed all PubMed articles, and use a computer cluster for processing
      large requests of arbitrary text. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Our text
      mining web service is freely available at
      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Lu/Demo/tmTools/#curl CONTACT: :
      Zhiyong.Lu@nih.gov.

PMID- 26883488
TI  - Identification of Novel Virulence-Associated Proteins Secreted to Xylem by
      Verticillium nonalfalfae During Colonization of Hop Plants.
AB  - Plant pathogens employ various secreted proteins to suppress host immunity for
      their successful host colonization. Identification and characterization of
      pathogen-secreted proteins can contribute to an understanding of the
      pathogenicity mechanism and help in disease control. We used proteomics to search
      for proteins secreted to xylem by the vascular pathogen Verticillium nonalfalfae
      during colonization of hop plants. Three highly abundant fungal proteins were
      identified: two enzymes, alpha-N-arabinofuranosidase (VnaAbf4.216) and peroxidase
      (VnaPRX1.1277), and one small secreted hypothetical protein (VnaSSP4.2). These
      are the first secreted proteins so far identified in xylem sap following
      infection with Verticillium spp. VnaPRX1.1277, classified as a heme-containing
      peroxidase from Class II, similar to other Verticillium spp. lignin-degrading
      peroxidases, and VnaSSP4.2, a 14-kDa cysteine-containing protein with unknown
      function and with a close homolog in related V. alfalfae strains, were further
      examined. The in planta expression of VnaPRX1.1277 and VnaSSP4.2 genes increased
      with the progression of colonization, implicating their role in fungal virulence.
      Indeed, V. nonalfalfae deletion mutants of both genes exhibited attenuated
      virulence on hop plants, which returned to the level of the wild-type
      pathogenicity in the knockout complementation lines, supporting VnaPRX1.1277 and
      VnaSSP4.2 as virulence factors required to promote V. nonalfalfae colonization of
      hop plants.

PMID- 26883487
TI  - Computationally expanding infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array data to
      reveal distinct DNA methylation patterns of rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - MOTIVATION: DNA methylation signatures in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been
      identified in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) with Illumina
      HumanMethylation450 array. Since <2% of CpG sites are covered by the Illumina
      450K array and whole genome bisulfite sequencing is still too expensive for many
      samples, computationally predicting DNA methylation levels based on 450K data
      would be valuable to discover more RA-related genes. RESULTS: We developed a
      computational model that is trained on 14 tissues with both whole genome
      bisulfite sequencing and 450K array data. This model integrates information
      derived from the similarity of local methylation pattern between tissues, the
      methylation information of flanking CpG sites and the methylation tendency of
      flanking DNA sequences. The predicted and measured methylation values were highly
      correlated with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.9 in leave-one-tissue-out
      cross-validations. Importantly, the majority (76%) of the top 10% differentially
      methylated loci among the 14 tissues was correctly detected using the predicted
      methylation values. Applying this model to 450K data of RA, osteoarthritis and
      normal FLS, we successfully expanded the coverage of CpG sites 18.5-fold and
      accounts for about 30% of all the CpGs in the human genome. By integrative omics
      study, we identified genes and pathways tightly related to RA pathogenesis, among
      which 12 genes were supported by triple evidences, including 6 genes already
      known to perform specific roles in RA and 6 genes as new potential therapeutic
      targets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The source code, required data for
      prediction, and demo data for test are freely available at:
      http://wanglab.ucsd.edu/star/LR450K/ CONTACT: wei-wang@ucsd.edu or
      gfirestein@ucsd.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available
      at Bioinformatics online.

PMID- 26883489
TI  - Phytopathogen Genome Announcement: Draft Genome Sequences of 62 Pseudomonas
      syringae Type and Pathotype Strains.
AB  - Pseudomonas syringae is a diverse species-complex that includes many important
      crop pathogens. Here, we report the draft genomes of 62 type and pathotype
      strains, which provide a genomic reference for the diversity of this species
      complex and will contribute to the elucidation of the genomic basis of
      pathogenicity and host specificity. 

PMID- 26883490
TI  - MucR Is Required for Transcriptional Activation of Conserved Ion Transporters to
      Support Nitrogen Fixation of Sinorhizobium fredii in Soybean Nodules.
AB  - To achieve effective symbiosis with legume, rhizobia should fine-tune their
      background regulation network in addition to activating key genes involved in
      nodulation (nod) and nitrogen fixation (nif). Here, we report that an ancestral
      zinc finger regulator, MucR1, other than its paralog, MucR2, carrying a
      frameshift mutation, is essential for supporting nitrogen fixation of
      Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 within soybean nodules. In contrast to the
      chromosomal mucR1, mucR2 is located on symbiosis plasmid, indicating its
      horizontal transfer potential. A MucR2 homolog lacking the frameshift mutation,
      such as the one from S. fredii NGR234, can complement phenotypic defects of the
      mucR1 mutant of CCBAU45436. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the MucR1 regulon of
      CCBAU45436 within nodules exhibits significant difference compared with that of
      free-living cells. MucR1 is required for active expression of transporters for
      phosphate, zinc, and elements essential for nitrogenase activity (iron,
      molybdenum, and sulfur) in nodules but is dispensable for transcription of key
      genes (nif/fix) involved in nitrogen fixation. Further reverse genetics suggests
      that S. fredii uses high-affinity transporters to meet the demand for zinc and
      phosphate within nodules. These findings, together with the horizontal transfer
      potential of the mucR homolog, imply an intriguing evolutionary role of this
      ancestral regulator in supporting nitrogen fixation.

PMID- 26883492
TI  - Identification of immunoglobulins using Chou's pseudo amino acid composition with
      feature selection technique.
AB  - Immunoglobulins, also called antibodies, are a group of cell surface proteins
      which are produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign
      substance (called antigen). They play key roles in many medical, diagnostic and
      biotechnological applications. Correct identification of immunoglobulins is
      crucial to the comprehension of humoral immune function. With the avalanche of
      protein sequences identified in postgenomic age, it is highly desirable to
      develop computational methods to timely identify immunoglobulins. In view of
      this, we designed a predictor called "IGPred" by formulating protein sequences
      with the pseudo amino acid composition into which nine physiochemical properties
      of amino acids were incorporated. Jackknife cross-validated results showed that
      96.3% of immunoglobulins and 97.5% of non-immunoglobulins can be correctly
      predicted, indicating that IGPred holds very high potential to become a useful
      tool for antibody analysis. For the convenience of most experimental scientists,
      a web-server for IGPred was established at http://lin.uestc.edu.cn/server/IGPred.
      We believe that the web-server will become a powerful tool to study
      immunoglobulins and to guide related experimental validations. 

PMID- 26883494
TI  - Unusual temperature dependence of elastic constants of an ambient-temperature
      discotic nematic liquid crystal.
AB  - We report the first experimental studies on the temperature dependence of
      viscoelastic properties of a room temperature discotic nematic liquid crystal.
      The splay elastic constant is greater than the bend elastic constant and both
      show unusual temperature and order parameter dependence. The rotational viscosity
      is remarkably larger than conventional calamitic liquid crystals. We provide a
      simple physical explanation based on the columnar short-range order to account
      for the the unusual temperature dependence of the elastic constants. 

PMID- 26883493
TI  - Recent progress in chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensors for hypochlorous
      acid.
AB  - Due to the biological and industrial importance of hypochlorous acid, the
      development of optical probes for HOCl has been an active research area.
      Hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite can oxidize electron-rich analytes with
      accompanying changes in molecular sensor spectroscopic profiles. Probes for such
      processes may monitor HOCl levels in the environment or in an organism and via
      bio-labeling or bioimaging techniques. This review summarizes recent developments
      in the area of chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensors for HOCl. 

PMID- 26883495
TI  - Tuning the work function of randomly oriented ZnO nanostructures by capping with
      faceted Au nanostructure and oxygen defects: enhanced field emission experiments
      and DFT studies.
AB  - The lowering of the work function (Phi) can lead to a better field emission (FE)
      behavior at lower threshold fields. We report on enhanced FE from randomly
      oriented and faceted Au-capped ZnO hetero-nanostructures (HNs) having more oxygen
      defects. Large-area arrays of non-aligned, faceted Au-capped ZnO HNs, such as
      nanowires (NWs) and triangular nanoflakes (TNFs) are grown using the chemical
      vapor deposition (CVD) method. Enhanced FE properties from the TNF sample
      resulted in a turn-on field as low as 0.52 V MUm(-1) at a current density of 0.1
      mA cm(-2) and a field enhancement factor (beta) as high as ~5.16 * 10(5). Under
      similar experimental conditions, drawing the same current density from an NW
      specimen needs a higher turn-on field (0.86 V MUm(-1)) and to exhibit nearly four
      times less field enhancement factor compared to the TNFs samples. X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirm
      the presence of more oxygen defects in the TNF samples compared to the NW
      samples. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements show the average local
      work function to be 4.70 +/- 0.1 eV for the TNF sample, which is ~ 0.34 eV lower
      than the NW sample. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the
      estimated Phi values are found to be 4.98 eV for ZnO(0001), 4.17 eV for
      Au(001)/ZnO(0001) and 3.91 eV for Au(001)/Ovac-ZnO(0001) surfaces. The DFT
      results are qualitatively in agreement with our experimental results. The
      presence of Au nanostructures on top of O-deficient and sharp-tipped TNFs results
      in enhanced FE performance following their reduced tunneling barrier via pinning
      of effective Phi. 

PMID- 26883497
TI  - Molecular Neuroimaging in Vascular Cognitive Impairment.

PMID- 26883496
TI  - MiRNA-128 regulates the proliferation and neurogenesis of neural precursors by
      targeting PCM1 in the developing cortex.
AB  - During the development, tight regulation of the expansion of neural progenitor
      cells (NPCs) and their differentiation into neurons is crucial for normal
      cortical formation and function. In this study, we demonstrate that microRNA
      (miR)-128 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs by repressing
      pericentriolar material 1 (PCM1). Specifically, overexpression of miR-128 reduced
      NPC proliferation but promoted NPC differentiation into neurons both in vivo and
      in vitro. In contrast, the reduction of endogenous miR-128 elicited the opposite
      effects. Overexpression of miR-128 suppressed the translation of PCM1, and
      knockdown of endogenous PCM1 phenocopied the observed effects of miR-128
      overexpression. Furthermore, concomitant overexpression of PCM1 and miR-128 in
      NPCs rescued the phenotype associated with miR-128 overexpression, enhancing
      neurogenesis but inhibiting proliferation, both in vitro and in utero. Taken
      together, these results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which miR-128 regulates
      the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs in the developing neocortex. 

PMID- 26883498
TI  - Time-Varying Effects of Prasugrel Versus Clopidogrel on the Long-Term Risks of
      Stroke After Acute Coronary Syndromes: Results From the TRILOGY ACS Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of more intense, sustained platelet inhibition
      in preventing stroke after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unclear. We observed
      a signal for reduced stroke risk in the Targeted Platelet Inhibition to Clarify
      the Optimal Strategy to Medically Manage Acute Coronary Syndromes (TRILOGY ACS)
      trial after 12 months of treatment with prasugrel versus clopidogrel in medically
      managed patients with ACS. METHODS: We examined 7243 patients with ACS, aged <75
      years and without prior stroke, analyzing differences in baseline characteristics
      between patients with and without a stroke event through 30 months with a Cox
      proportional hazards model. We also assessed the effect of prasugrel versus
      clopidogrel (plus aspirin) on risk of all stroke events and ischemic stroke over
      time with an extended Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Stroke events were
      infrequent through 30 months (ischemic stroke=62; hemorrhagic stroke=15).
      Patients with stroke were older, had more comorbidities, and had a higher Global
      Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score. There was a trend for a
      lower unadjusted frequency of all stroke events through 30 months for prasugrel
      versus clopidogrel: 31 (1.5%) versus 46 (2.2%); P=0.08. There was a significant
      treatment-by-time interaction for those with ischemic stroke (P=0.03), consistent
      with the 12-month landmarked Kaplan-Meier log-rank test showing a reduced hazard
      of ischemic stroke after 12 months with prasugrel (P=0.04). No significant
      interactions between treatment effect of prasugrel versus clopidogrel and time
      were observed for all stroke events. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a potential late
      treatment effect for prasugrel versus clopidogrel for a reduced risk of ischemic
      stroke in medically managed patients with ACS aged <75 years. These hypothesis
      generating findings suggest that longer duration and more potent platelet
      inhibition with prasugrel may be associated with lower risk of ischemic stroke
      after 12 months. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.
      Unique identifier: NCT00699998.

PMID- 26883499
TI  - Effect of Anticoagulation on Hospitalization Costs After Intracranial Hemorrhage
      in Atrial Fibrillation: A Registry Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is the most feared adverse
      event with oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. The
      health economic aspects of resuming oral anticoagulant therapy after ICH are
      unknown. The aim was to estimate hospitalization costs of thromboembolism and
      hemorrhage subsequent to ICH in 2 patient groups with atrial fibrillation
      surviving the first 90 days post ICH: (1) patients resuming warfarin therapy
      within 90 days post ICH and (2) patients discontinuing therapy. METHODS:
      Retrospective data from Danish national registries were linked to identify
      patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an ICH between January 1, 1997,
      and April 1, 2011. Study start was 90 days after incident ICH. Mortality was
      evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate. Occurrence of hospitalization
      requiring thromboembolism and hemorrhage was used to estimate hospitalization
      costs by linkage of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision,
      codes to Danish Diagnosis-Related Group tariffs. The effect of resuming warfarin
      therapy on average 3-year hospitalization costs was estimated by regression
      analysis adjusted for between-group differences in baseline characteristics.
      RESULTS: In the inclusion period, 2162 patients had an ICH; 1098 survived the
      first 90 days and were included for analysis, and of those, 267 resumed warfarin
      therapy. Therapy resumption reduced the mean 3-year hospitalization cost of
      hospitalized patients significantly by US$ 1588 (95% confidence interval, -2925
      to -251) and was significantly correlated with fewer hospitalization days per
      hospitalized patient (-4.6 [95% confidence interval, -7.6 to -1.6]). The marginal
      effect of therapy resumption on hospitalization costs per patient was US$ -407
      (95% confidence interval, -815 to 2). CONCLUSIONS: Resuming warfarin therapy
      within 90 days after ICH in patients with atrial fibrillation is associated with
      a decrease in average hospitalization costs.

PMID- 26883500
TI  - Anxiety and the Risk of Stroke: The Rotterdam Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is unclear whether anxiety is a risk factor for
      stroke. We assessed the association between anxiety and the risk of incident
      stroke. METHODS: This population-based cohort study was based on 2 rounds of the
      Rotterdam Study. Each round was taken separately as baseline. In 1993 to 1995,
      anxiety symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
      Anxiety (HADS-A). In 2002 to 2004, anxiety disorders were assessed using the
      Munich version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Participants
      were followed up for incident stroke until January 2012. RESULTS: In the sample
      undergoing HADS-A (N=2625; mean age at baseline, 68.4 years), 332 strokes
      occurred during 32 720 years of follow-up. HADS-A score was not associated with
      the risk of stroke during complete follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.02; 95%
      confidence interval, 0.74-1.43; for HADS-A>=8 compared with HADS-A <8), although
      we did find an increased risk after a shorter follow-up of 3 years (adjusted
      hazard ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-5.41). In the sample undergoing
      the Munich version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (N=8662;
      mean age at baseline, 66.1 years), 340 strokes occurred during 48 703 years of
      follow-up. Participants with any anxiety disorder had no higher risk of stroke
      than participants without anxiety disorder (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.95; 95%
      confidence interval, 0.64-1.43). We also did not observe an increased risk of
      stroke for the different subtypes of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety disorders were
      not associated with stroke in our general population study. Anxiety symptoms were
      only related to stroke in the short term, which needs further exploration.

PMID- 26883502
TI  - Commentary: Adolescent Marijuana Use and Mental Health Amidst a Changing Legal
      Climate.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this commentary was to briefly summarize the literature
      on the relationship between adolescent marijuana use and mental health and how
      policy changes surrounding marijuana decriminalization and legalization might
      impact this relationship.  METHODS:  A comprehensive literature search on
      adolescent marijuana use, mental health, and the impact of decriminalization and
      legalization was conducted. Findings are briefly summarized and discussed. 
      RESULTS:  Although there is a great deal of ambiguity regarding the causal
      direction of marijuana use and mental health problems, what can safely be gleaned
      from this body of research is that early and frequent use of marijuana during
      adolescence is associated with the development of more psychiatric-related
      problems than occasional use or nonuse.  CONCLUSIONS:  Until there is greater
      clarity in this domain, clinicians should continue to screen adolescent patients
      for marijuana use as well as mental health difficulties, but may need to be more
      thoughtful about screening among early adolescents, if in fact a shift in the age
      of marijuana uptake occurs amidst policy changes.

PMID- 26883501
TI  - Vascular Cell Senescence Contributes to Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Age-related changes in the cerebrovasculature, including
      blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, are emerging as potential risks for diverse
      neurological conditions. Because the accumulation of senescent cells in tissues
      is increasingly recognized as a critical step leading to age-related organ
      dysfunction, we evaluated whether senescent vascular cells are associated with
      compromised BBB integrity. METHODS: Effects of vascular cell senescence on tight
      junction and barrier integrity were studied using an in vitro BBB model, composed
      of endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes. In addition, tight junction
      coverage in microvessels and BBB integrity in BubR1 hypomorphic (BubR1(H/H))
      mice, which display senescence cell-dependent phenotypes, were examined. RESULTS:
      When an in vitro BBB model was constructed with senescent endothelial cells and
      pericytes, tight junction structure and barrier integrity (evaluated by
      transendothelial electric resistance and tracer efflux assay using sodium
      fluorescein and Evans blue-albumin were significantly impaired. Endothelial cells
      and pericytes from BubR1(H/H) mice had increased senescent-associated beta
      galactosidase activity and p16(INK4a) expression, demonstrating an exacerbation
      of senescence. The coverage by tight junction proteins in the cortical
      microvessels were reduced in BubR1(H/H) mice, consistent with a compromised BBB
      integrity from permeability assays. Importantly, the coverage of microvessels by
      end-feet of aquaporin 4-immunoreactive astrocytes was not altered in the cortex
      of the BubR1(H/H) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that accumulation of
      senescent vascular cells is associated with compromised BBB integrity, providing
      insights into the mechanism of BBB disruption related to biological aging.

PMID- 26883503
TI  - Natural products-prompted chemical biology: phenotypic screening and a new
      platform for target identification.
AB  - Covering: 1993 to 2016The exploitation of small molecules from natural sources,
      such as microbial metabolites, has contributed to the discovery of not only new
      drugs but also new research tools for chemical biology. My research team has
      discovered several novel bioactive small molecules using in vivo cell-based
      phenotypic screening, and has investigated their modes of action using chemical
      genetics and chemical genomics. This highlight focuses on our recent discoveries
      and chemical genetics approaches for bioactive microbial metabolites that target
      cancer cells, the cancer microenvironment and cell membrane signalling. In
      addition, the development of two new platforms, 5-sulfonyl tetrazole-based and
      thiourea-modified amphiphilic lipid-based probe technologies, to identify the
      cellular targets of these molecules is also discussed.

PMID- 26883504
TI  - Physical therapy aimed at self-management versus usual care physical therapy
      after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: study protocol for a
      randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement has been recognized as a common cause of
      hip pain and dysfunction, especially in athletes. Femoroacetabular impingement
      can now be better treated by hip arthroscopy but it is unclear what postoperative
      rehabilitation of hip arthroscopy should look like. Several rehabilitation
      protocols have been described, but none presented clinical outcome data. These
      protocols also differ in frequency, duration and level of supervision. We
      developed a rehabilitation protocol with supervised physical therapy which showed
      good clinical results and is considered usual care in our treatment center.
      However, it is unknown whether, due to the relatively young age and low
      complication rate of hip arthroscopy patients, rehabilitation based on self
      management might lead to similar results. The aims of this pilot study are (1) to
      determine feasibility and acceptability of the self-management intervention, (2)
      to obtain a preliminary estimate of the difference in effect between physical
      therapy aimed at self-management versus usual care physical therapy in patients
      who undergo hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement. METHODS/DESIGN:
      Thirty participants (aged 18-50 years) scheduled for hip arthroscopy will be
      included and randomized (after surgery) to either self-management or usual care
      physical therapy in this assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. After
      surgery, the self-management group will perform a home-based exercise program
      three times a week and will receive physical therapy treatment once every 2 weeks
      for 14 weeks. The usual care group will receive physical therapy treatment twice
      a week for 14 weeks and will perform an additional home-based exercise program
      once a week. Assessment will occur preoperatively and at 6, 14, 26 and 52 weeks
      after surgery. Primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability and preliminary
      effectiveness. Feasibility and acceptability will be determined by the
      willingness to enroll, recruitment rate, adherence to treatment, patient
      satisfaction, drop-out rate and adverse events. Preliminary effectiveness will be
      determined using the following outcomes: the International Hip Outcome Tool 33
      and hip functional performance as measured with the Single Leg Squat Test 14
      weeks after surgery. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will be used to help
      decide on the need, feasibility and acceptability of a large-scale randomized
      controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This protocol was registered with the Dutch
      Trial Registry (NTR5168) on 8 May 2015.

PMID- 26883505
TI  - Protective effects of retinoid x receptors on retina pigment epithelium cells.
AB  - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is among the main pathologies leading to
      blindness in adults and has currently no cure or effective treatment. Selective
      apoptosis of retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cells results in the progressive
      loss of photoreceptor neurons, with the consequent gradual vision loss. Oxidative
      stress plays an important role in this process. We have previously determined
      that activation of RXRs protects rat photoreceptor neurons from oxidative stress
      induced apoptosis. In this study we investigated whether RXR ligands prevented
      apoptosis in an RPE cell line, D407 cells, exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
      H2O2 induced apoptosis of D407 cells, promoting p65NFkappaB nuclear
      translocation, increasing Bax mRNA expression, activating caspase-3 and altering
      cell morphology. We show, for the first time, that HX630, a RXR pan-agonist,
      protected D407 cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis, preventing p65NFkappaB nuclear
      translocation, increasing Bclxl and PPARgamma mRNA levels and simultaneously
      decreasing Bax mRNA levels and caspase-3 activation. Pretreatment with a RXR
      antagonist blocked HX630 protection. LG100754, which binds RXRs but only
      activates heterodimers and is an antagonist of RXR homodimers, also had a
      protective effect. In addition, only agonists known to bind to RXR/PPARgamma were
      protective. As a whole, our results suggest that RXR activation protects RPE
      cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and this protection might involve
      signaling through a heterodimeric receptor, such as RXR/PPARgamma. These data
      also imply that RXR agonists might provide potential pharmacological tools for
      treating retina degenerative diseases. 

PMID- 26883507
TI  - Survey of Plasmodium in the golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus
      chrysomelas) living in urban Atlantic forest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Communicating the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens such as
      Plasmodium spp. in wild animals is important for developing both animal and human
      health policies. METHODS: The translocation of an exotic and invasive population
      of Leontopithecus chrysomelas (golden-headed lion tamarins) required the
      screening of these animals for specific pathogens. This studies objective was to
      investigate Plasmodium spp. infection in the L. chrysomelas, both to know its
      prevalence in these animals in the local area and to minimize the risk of
      pathogens being translocated to the destination site. To investigate Plasmodium
      spp. infection, blood samples from 268 animals were assessed for the presence of
      Plasmodium spp. by genus-specific PCR and stained thick and thin blood smears
      were examined by light microscopy. Data of human malaria infection in the studied
      region was also assembled from SINAN (Diseases Information System Notification
      Ministry of Health of Brazil). RESULTS: Results from the PCR and microscopy were
      all negative and suggested that no L. chrysomelas was infected with Plasmodium
      spp. Analysis of SINAN data showed that malaria transmission is present among the
      human population in the studied region. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to
      provide information on Plasmodium spp. infection in L. chrysomelas. Plasmodium
      spp. infection of this species is rare or absent though malaria parasites
      circulate in the region. In addition, there is minimal risk of translocating
      Plasmodium spp. infected animals to the destination site.

PMID- 26883506
TI  - Patterns of treatment-seeking behaviors among caregivers of febrile young
      children: a Ugandan multiple case study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The vast majority of malaria deaths in Uganda occur in children five
      and under and in rural areas. This study's exploratory case study approach
      captured unique situations to illustrate special attributes and aspects of
      treatment-seeking during a malaria episode. METHODS: During August 2010, a
      qualitative exploratory study was conducted in seven of Butaleja District's 12
      sub-counties. Multiple case study methodology consisting of loosely-structured
      interviews were carried out with eight caregivers of children five and under in
      the local dialect. Caregivers were geographically distant and not known to each
      other. Interviews were translated into English and transcribed the same day. Data
      were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Of the eight cases, children
      recovered fully in three instances, survived but with deficits in three, and died
      in two. Common to all outcomes were (1) triggers to illness recognition, (2)
      similar treatment sequences and practices, (3) factors which influenced
      caregivers' treatment-seeking decisions, (4) challenges encountered while seeking
      care at public health facilities, (5) cost burdens associated with managing
      malaria, (6) life burdens resulting from negative outcomes from malaria, (7)
      variations in caregiver knowledge about artemisinin combination therapy, and (8)
      varying perspectives how malaria management could be improved. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite the reality that caregivers in Butaleja District generally share similar
      practices, experiences and challenges, very few children ever receive treatment
      in accordance with the Uganda's national guidelines. To bring national practice
      into conformance with policy, three advances must occur: (1) All key stakeholders
      (those affiliated with the formal health system--public facilities and licensed
      private outlets, unlicensed drug vendors, and caregivers of young children) must
      concur on the need and the means to improve malaria management, (2) all health
      providers (formal and unlicensed) need to be engaged in training and
      certification to improve timely access to affordable treatment irrespective of a
      region's remoteness or low population density, and (3) future public health
      interventions need to improve caregivers' capacity to take the necessary actions
      to best manage malaria in young children.

PMID- 26883508
TI  - Authors' reply to Makiyama and colleagues.

PMID- 26883511
TI  - Near-infrared operating lamp for intraoperative molecular imaging of a
      mediastinal tumor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Near-Infrared (NIR) intraoperative molecular imaging is a new
      diagnostic modality utilized during cancer surgery for the identification of
      tumors, metastases and lymph nodes. Surgeons typically use headlamps during an
      operation to increase visible light; however, these light sources are not adapted
      to function simultaneously with NIR molecular imaging technology. Here, we design
      a NIR cancelling headlamp and utilize it during surgery to assess whether
      intraoperative molecular imaging of mediastinal tumors is possible. METHODS: A
      NIR cancelling headlamp was designed and tested using NIR spectroscopy
      preoperatively. Next, a 46 year-old-female was referred to the thoracic surgery
      clinic for a 5.8 cm mediastinal mass noted on chest x-ray. Prior to surgery, she
      was given intravenous indocyanine green (ICG). Then, the prototype headlamp was
      used in conjunction with our intraoperative molecular imaging device. The tumor
      was imaged both in vivo and following resection prior to pathological
      examination. RESULTS: NIR spectroscopy confirmed NIR light excitation of the
      unfiltered headlamp and the absence of NIR emitted light after addition of the
      filter. Next, in vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence of the tumor, but also
      demonstrated a significant amount of NIR background fluorescence emanating from
      the unfiltered headlamp. During imaging with the filtered headlamp, we again
      demonstrated a markedly fluorescent tumor but with a reduced false positive NIR
      signal. Final pathology was well-differentiated thymoma with negative surgical
      margins. CONCLUSIONS: NIR intraoperative molecular imaging using a systemic
      injection of intravenous ICG was successful in localizing a thymoma.
      Additionally, a simple design and implementation of a NIR cancelling headlamp
      reduces false positive NIR fluorescence.

PMID- 26883512
TI  - Epidemiology of Superficial Fungal Infections in Guangdong, Southern China: A
      Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2014.
AB  - Superficial fungal infections are common worldwide; however, the distribution of
      pathogenic species varies among geographical areas and changes over time. This
      study aimed to determine the epidemiologic profile of superficial fungal
      infections during 2004-2014 in Guangzhou, Southern China. Data regarding the
      superficial mycoses from outpatients and inpatients in our hospital were recorded
      and analyzed. From the 3367 patients that were enrolled in the study, 3385
      samples were collected from skin, hair and nail lesions. Of the 697 positive
      cultures, dermatophytes were the most prevalent isolates (84.36 %), followed by
      yeasts (14.92 %) and non-dermatophyte molds (0.72 %). Trichophyton rubrum (56.24
      %) was the most common dermatophyte isolated from cases of tinea unguium (83.92
      %), tinea pedis (71.19 %), tinea cruris (91.66 %), tinea corporis (91.81 %) and
      tinea manuum (65.00 %). Trichophyton mentagrophytes (13.35 %) and Microsporum
      canis (10.19 %) were the predominant species associated with cases of tinea
      faciei (54.55 %) and tinea capitis (54.13 %), respectively. Yeasts and molds were
      identified primarily from other cases of superficial fungal infections. In
      conclusion, when compared to previous studies in the same area, the epidemiology
      of superficial mycoses in Guangdong did not significantly change from 2004 to
      2014. The prevalence of causative agents and the spectrum of superficial fungal
      infections, particularly tinea caused by dermatophyte infection, are similar to
      reports from several specific regions in China and Europe, whereas increasing
      incidences of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis occurred in
      Guangdong, China. 

PMID- 26883513
TI  - Detection of Multiple Budding Yeast Cells and a Partial Sequence of 43-kDa
      Glycoprotein Coding Gene of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from a Case of
      Lacaziosis in a Female Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens).
AB  - Lacaziosis, formerly called as lobomycosis, is a zoonotic mycosis, caused by
      Lacazia loboi, found in humans and dolphins, and is endemic in the countries on
      the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean of Japanese coast. Susceptible
      Cetacean species include the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Indian
      Ocean bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus), and the estuarine dolphin (Sotalia
      guianensis); however, no cases have been recorded in other Cetacean species. We
      diagnosed a case of Lacaziosis in a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus
      obliquidens) nursing in an aquarium in Japan. The dolphin was a female estimated
      to be more than 14 years old at the end of June 2015 and was captured in a coast
      of Japan Sea in 2001. Multiple, lobose, and solid granulomatous lesions with or
      without ulcers appeared on her jaw, back, flipper and fluke skin, in July 2014.
      The granulomatous skin lesions from the present case were similar to those of our
      previous cases. Multiple budding and chains of round yeast cells were detected in
      the biopsied samples. The partial sequence of 43-kDa glycoprotein coding gene
      confirmed by a nested PCR and sequencing, which revealed a different genotype
      from both Amazonian and Japanese lacaziosis in bottlenose dolphins, and was 99 %
      identical to those derived from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; a sister fungal
      species to L. loboi. This is the first case of lacaziosis in Pacific white-sided
      dolphin. 

PMID- 26883515
TI  - Clinical application of FDG-PET/CT in metastatic infections.
AB  - FDG-PET/CT has proven its clinical value and cost-effectiveness in diagnosing
      metastatic infections in patients with Gram-positive bacteremia. In
      identification of metastatic foci, FDG-PET/CT is useful as a screening method
      when localizing symptoms are absent because it provides whole-body coverage. FDG
      PET/CT detects early metabolic activity rather than the late anatomical changes
      as visualized by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. FDG-PET/CT
      allows more precise localization of infection within a shorter time span between
      injection and diagnosis as compared to conventional nuclear imaging. This review
      focuses on the clinical application of imaging of metastatic infectious diseases,
      with an emphasis on FDG-PET/CT putting it in perspective with other imaging
      modalities.

PMID- 26883514
TI  - Superficial Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Aureobasidium melanogenum Mimicking Tinea
      Nigra in an Immunocompetent Patient and Review of Published Reports.
AB  - Aureobasidium pullulans is a ubiquitous black yeast-like fungus belonging to
      order Dothideales. It was regarded as a contaminant, but is now considered a
      pathogen causing a wide range of human infections. We report a case of
      superficial phaeohyphomycosis in an immunocompetent patient with clinical
      presentations mimicking tinea nigra. On microscopic examination of lesion scales,
      multiple thick-walled, pigmented oval spores with septa were noted. A fungus with
      black mucoid colonies was repeatedly isolated from the lesions during the
      treatment course. This fungus was identified as A. melanogenum on the basis of
      morphological characteristics and subsequently confirmed by sequencing internal
      transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA. The clinical presentations and microscopic
      findings of lesion scales were considerably similar to those of tinea nigra.
      However, fungal culturing proved that the causative pathogen was A. melanogenum
      rather than Hortaea werneckii. The patient might have acquired this infection
      during gardening activities. We also reviewed reported cases of cutaneous A.
      pullulans infection. 

PMID- 26883516
TI  - Half-time bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Developments in image reconstruction techniques for planar imaging,
      also known as enhanced planar processing (EPP), enable the possibility to
      reconstruct planar scintigraphic images with low count statistics, providing the
      opportunity to reduce image acquisition time. In this study, the performance of
      EPP for oncologic half-time bone scintigraphy images was evaluated. METHODS: The
      EPP software was evaluated for different imaging conditions using standardized
      phantom experiments. Additionally, 51 patients with prostate and breast cancer
      were prospectively included and underwent bone scintigraphy using a standard and
      half-time protocol. Independent reading was performed on three image types
      (standard, half-time non-processed, and half-time EPP) by three observers,
      scoring the number and anatomical location of lesions, image quality, and
      diagnostic confidence by which the definitive diagnosis was made. RESULTS: EPP
      images had improved contrast and lower noise levels compared to the non-processed
      half-time images. It was determined that EPP images acquired at double scan speed
      had similar image quality to the standard non-processed images. There was
      substantial agreement with respect to diagnosis and diagnostic confidence based
      on all three image types between the observers. Image quality in the EPP images
      was higher with respect to the non-processed half-time images, and was comparable
      to the standard images. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic confidence was not affected by
      reduction in image acquisition time. There was substantial agreement between all
      three observers with respect to the diagnosis provided in all three image types.
      Subjective and objective image quality improved when half-time images were
      processed with EPP software.

PMID- 26883517
TI  - Morphine Suppresses T helper Lymphocyte Differentiation to Th1 Type Through
      PI3K/AKT Pathway.
AB  - To investigate the effect of morphine on T helper lymphocyte differentiation and
      PI3K/AKT pathway mechanism, CD4+ lymphocytes were treated by phorbol-myristate
      acetate (25 ng/ml) (PMA) plus ionomycin (1 MUg/ml) in the presence of various
      concentrations of morphine (25, 50, 100, 200 ng/ml) for 4 h. Th1 and Th2 subsets,
      supernatant cytokines, and PI3K, AKT, and protein kinase C-theta (PKC-theta)
      levels were detected. The Th1 cell percentage, Th1-derived cytokines, and ratio
      of Th1/Th2 decreased in the presence of morphine in a concentration-dependent
      manner. However, Th2 cell percentage kept stable after morphine treatment. The
      phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT decreased, but the phosphorylation of PKC-theta
      did not change in the presence of morphine. The decreased percentage of Th1 cells
      and ratio of Th1/Th2 was recovered by naloxone concentration-dependently.
      Morphine can inhibit the differentiation of Th1 lymphocytes and decrease the
      ratio of Th1/Th2 via the pathway of PI3K/AKT. The effect can be inhibited by
      naloxone. 

PMID- 26883518
TI  - Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Improves Myelination and
      Attenuates Tissue Damage of Spinal Cord Injury.
AB  - Preventing demyelination and promoting remyelination of denuded axons are
      promising therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI). Epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition was reported to benefit the neural functional
      recovery and the axon regeneration after SCI. However, its role in de- and
      remyelination of axons in injured spinal cord is unclear. In the present study,
      we evaluated the effects of EGFR inhibitor, PD168393 (PD), on the myelination in
      mouse contusive SCI model. We found that expression of myelin basic protein (MBP)
      in the injured spinal cords of PD treated mice was remarkably elevated. The
      density of glial precursor cells and oligodendrocytes (OLs) was increased and the
      cell apoptosis in lesions was attenuated after PD168393 treatment. Moreover,
      PD168393 treatment reduced both the numbers of OX42 + microglial cells and glial
      fibrillary acidic protein + astrocytes in damaged area of spinal cords. We thus
      conclude that the therapeutic effects of EGFR inhibition after SCI involves
      facilitating remyelination of the injured spinal cord, increasing of
      oligodendrocyte precursor cells and OLs, as well as suppressing the activation of
      astrocytes and microglia/macrophages. 

PMID- 26883519
TI  - The AMPAR Antagonist Perampanel Attenuates Traumatic Brain Injury Through Anti
      Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Activity.
AB  - Perampanel is a novel alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate
      receptor (AMPAR) antagonist, approved in over 35 countries as an adjunctive
      therapy for the treatment of seizures. Recently, it was found to exert protective
      effects against ischemic neuronal injury in vitro. In the present study, we
      investigated the potential protective effects of perampanel in a traumatic brain
      injury (TBI) model in rats. Oral administration with perampanel at a dose of 5
      mg/kg exerted no major organ-related toxicities. We found that perampanel
      significantly attenuated TBI-induced brain edema, brain contusion volume, and
      gross motor dysfunction. The results of Morris water maze test demonstrated that
      perampanel treatment also improved cognitive function after TBI. These
      neuroprotective effects were accompanied by reduced neuronal apoptosis, as
      evidenced by decreased TUNEL-positive cells in brain sections. Moreover,
      perampanel markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation and obviously preserved the
      endogenous antioxidant system after TBI. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (ELISA) was performed at 4 and 24 h after TBI to evaluate the expression of
      inflammatory cytokines. The results showed that perampanel suppressed the
      expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, whereas
      increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-beta1. These
      data show that the orally active AMPAR antagonist perampanel affords protection
      against TBI-induced neuronal damage and neurological dysfunction through anti
      oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.

PMID- 26883520
TI  - CX3CR1 ablation ameliorates motor and respiratory dysfunctions and improves
      survival of a Rett syndrome mouse model.
AB  - Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function
      mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2, an epigenetic modulator that binds the
      methyl CpG dinucleotide in target genes to regulate transcription. Previously we
      and others reported a role of microglia in the pathophysiology of RTT. Because
      microglia in the Mecp2 knockout (Mecp2KO) mouse model of RTT over-produce
      neurotoxic mediators glutamate and reactive oxygen species, we hypothesize that
      blocking neuron-microglia interaction by ablation of CX3CR1, a chemokine receptor
      expressed in microglia/myeloid cells mediating such interaction by pairing with
      its neuronal ligand CX3CL1, would ameliorate the RTT-like phenotype in Mecp2KO
      mice. Here we report that CX3CR1 ablation prolonged the lifespan of Mecp2KO mice
      from a median survival of 54.5-74days, and significantly improved the body weight
      gain, symptomatic scores, major respiratory parameters, and motor coordination
      and performance. CX3CR1 ablation rectified previously identified histological
      abnormalities in the Mecp2KO brain such as neuronal soma size in hippocampal CA2,
      and the number, soma size, and process complexity of microglia. Moreover, CX3CR1
      ablation enhanced the neurotrophic action of microglia in Mecp2KO mice by
      producing higher amount of insulin-like growth factor 1. Our data support a role
      of myeloid cells/microglia in RTT and suggest a novel therapeutic approach for
      RTT by targeting CX3CR1 with specific antagonists or genetic downregulation.

PMID- 26883521
TI  - Subtypes of depressive symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers: An exploratory study
      on a sample of HIV-positive patients.
AB  - Depressive symptoms cause major impairment and may accelerate HIV progression
      despite the use of antiretroviral medication. The somatic symptoms criteria for
      HIV infection and depression partially overlap, which can make differential
      diagnosis challenging. Because of chronic inflammation caused by HIV infection,
      HIV-positive patients may develop somatic and affective-cognitive symptoms of
      depression. Inflammation-related depression is primarily characterized with
      severe somatic symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbance. This study sought
      to explore the patterns of somatic and cognitive-affective depressive symptoms
      that characterize HIV-positive patients. Our specific aims were (1) to identify
      subtypes of depressive symptoms in a sample of HIV-positive patients; and (2) to
      test the subtypes' difference on inflammatory and HIV disease progression
      biomarkers. HIV-positive men and women (N=102) with and without depressive
      symptoms were randomly selected from an Italian HIV clinic. Depressive symptoms
      (PHQ-9), viral load (VL), CD4+, Il-6, TNF-alpha, and monocytes were assessed. The
      three subtypes formed using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) identified patients with
      (1) severe cognitive-affective and somatic depressive symptoms; (2)
      severe/moderate somatic symptoms; and (3) absent or low depressive symptoms. The
      subtype with severe/moderate somatic symptoms was characterized with elevated
      levels of Il-6 and monocytes. No difference on HIV progression biomarkers was
      found. The subtypes of depressive symptoms might help differentiating depressive
      symptoms from HIV- and inflammatory-related somatic symptoms. When present,
      cognitive-affective and/or somatic symptoms cause significant impairment to
      patients' lives and thus warrant further assessment and treatment. 

PMID- 26883522
TI  - Automatic Errors: A Case Series on the Errors Inherent in Electronic Prescribing.
AB  - The adoption of electronic prescribing is on the rise, as it reduces medication
      errors compared to handwritten orders. The inadvertent dispensing of discontinued
      medications is a type of medication error that is less well described, but one
      that can lead to adverse events. Software for electronic prescriptions transmits
      orders for refills or new prescriptions, but not discontinuations, to the
      pharmacy. Medications that have been stopped are displayed only at the
      prescribing facility's electronic medical record (EMR). This report describes
      five cases in which the pharmacy dispensed electronically discontinued
      medications, two of which contributed to adverse outcomes.

PMID- 26883523
TI  - Creating the Business Case for Achieving Health Equity.
AB  - Health care organizations have increasingly acknowledged the presence of health
      care disparities across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, but
      significantly fewer have made health equity for diverse patients a true priority.
      Lack of financial incentives is a major barrier to achieving health equity. To
      create a business case for equity, governmental and private payors can: 1)
      Require health care organizations to report clinical performance data stratified
      by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. 2) Incentivize preventive care and
      primary care. Implement more aggressive shared savings plans, update physician
      relative value unit fee schedules, and encourage partnerships across clinical and
      non-clinical sectors. 3) Incentivize the reduction of health disparities with
      equity accountability measures in payment programs. 4) Align equity
      accountability measures across public and private payors. 5) Assist safety-net
      organizations. Provide adequate Medicaid reimbursement, risk-adjust clinical
      performance scores for sociodemographic characteristics of patients, provide
      support for quality improvement efforts, and calibrate cuts to Disproportionate
      Share Hospital (DSH) payments to the pace of health insurance expansion. 6)
      Conduct demonstration projects to test payment and delivery system reform
      interventions to reduce disparities. Commitment to social justice is essential to
      achieve health equity, but insufficient without a strong business case that makes
      interventions financially feasible.

PMID- 26883525
TI  - Capsule Commentary on Gaither et al., The Association Between Receipt of
      Guideline-Concordant Long-Term Opioid Therapy and All-Cause Mortality.

PMID- 26883524
TI  - Variations in Patients' Perceptions and Use of Generic Drugs: Results of a
      National Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over 84 % of all prescriptions in the US are filled as generic drugs,
      though in prior surveys, patients reported concerns about their quality.
      OBJECTIVE: We aimed to survey patients' perceptions and use of generic drugs.
      DESIGN: Our survey (administered August 2014) assessed patients' skepticism about
      generic drug safety and effectiveness and how often they requested brand-name
      drugs. Chi-square tests and two-sample t-tests assessed associations between
      patient demographics and the outcomes. PARTICIPANTS: Our sample frame was the CVS
      Advisor Panel, a national database of 124,621 CVS customers. We randomly selected
      1450 patients with self-reported chronic conditions who filled at least one
      prescription in the prior 3 months. MAIN MEASURES: We assessed how often patients
      reported asking their physicians to prescribe a brand-name over a generic drug in
      the last year, and "generic skepticism," defined as not believing generic drugs
      were as safe, effective, had the same side effects, and contained the same active
      ingredients as brand-name drugs. KEY RESULTS: Of the 1,442 patients with valid
      addresses, 933 responded (65 % response rate) and 753 took the full survey. A
      vast majority (83 %) agreed that physicians should prescribe generic drugs when
      available, and 54 % said they had not asked their physicians to prescribe a brand
      name drug over a generic in the past year. Most respondents considered generic
      drugs to be as effective (87 %) and safe (88 %) as their brand-name counterparts,
      and to have the same side effects (80 %) and active ingredients (84 %). Non
      Caucasians were more likely than Caucasians to request a brand-name drug over a
      generic (56 % vs. 43 %, p < 0.01), and were also more skeptical of generic drugs'
      clinical equivalence (43 % vs. 29 %, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found a
      substantial shift towards more patients having positive views of generic drugs,
      but lingering negative perceptions will have to be overcome to ensure continued
      cost-savings and improved patient outcomes from generic drugs.

PMID- 26883527
TI  - Superstorm Sandy: How the New York University Psychiatry Residency Training
      Program Weathered the Storm.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The teaching hospitals of the New York University psychiatry residency
      program were evacuated and then closed for a minimum of 3 months in the aftermath
      of Superstorm Sandy. Faculty and residents were deployed to alternate clinical
      sites. The authors examine the consequences of Superstorm Sandy and its
      implications for the New York University psychiatry residency training program.
      METHODS: A survey was administered to faculty and residents. RESULTS: The authors
      tabulated 98 surveys, for which 24 % of faculty and 84 % of residents responded.
      Among respondents, 61 % believed that being involved in the evacuation of the
      hospitals was a positive experience. During deployment, most (85 %) found being
      placed with peers and supervisors to be beneficial, but there were significant
      disruptions. CONCLUSION: Despite facing multiple challenges including closed
      facilities, deployment to nonaffiliated hospitals, and exhausted personal
      resources, the training program continued to provide accredited clinical
      experiences, a core curriculum, and supervision for psychiatry residents during
      and after Superstorm Sandy.

PMID- 26883526
TI  - Effect of Pharmacist Counseling Intervention on Health Care Utilization Following
      Hospital Discharge: A Randomized Control Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reduction in 30-day readmission rates following hospitalization for
      acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a
      national goal. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a
      tailored, pharmacist-delivered, health literacy intervention on unplanned health
      care utilization, including hospital readmission or emergency room (ER) visit,
      following discharge. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with concealed
      allocation and blinded outcome assessors SETTING: Two tertiary care academic
      medical centers PARTICIPANTS: Adults hospitalized with a diagnosis of ACS and/or
      ADHF. INTERVENTION: Pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient
      pharmacist counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and individualized telephone
      follow-up after discharge MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was time to first
      unplanned health care event, defined as hospital readmission or an ER visit
      within 30 days of discharge. Pre-specified analyses were conducted to evaluate
      the effects of the intervention by academic site, health literacy status
      (inadequate versus adequate), and cognition (impaired versus not impaired).
      Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. KEY
      RESULTS: A total of 851 participants enrolled in the study at Vanderbilt
      University Hospital (VUH) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). The primary
      analysis showed no statistically significant effect on time to first unplanned
      hospital readmission or ER visit among patients who received interventions
      compared to controls (aHR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.78-1.39). There was an interaction of
      treatment effect by site (p = 0.04 for interaction); VUH aHR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.51
      1.15; BWH aHR = 1.44 (95% CI 0.95-2.12). The intervention reduced early unplanned
      health care utilization among patients with inadequate health literacy (aHR 0.41,
      95% CI 0.17-1.00). There was no difference in treatment effect by patient
      cognition. CONCLUSION: A tailored, pharmacist-delivered health literacy-sensitive
      intervention did not reduce post-discharge unplanned health care utilization
      overall. The intervention was effective among patients with inadequate health
      literacy, suggesting that targeted practice of pharmacist intervention in this
      population may be advantageous.

PMID- 26883528
TI  - Attitudes of Brazilian Medical Students Towards Psychiatric Patients and Mental
      Illness: A Quantitative Study Before and After Completing the Psychiatric
      Clerkship.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated whether a psychiatric clerkship reduces
      stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental illness among medical students.
      METHODS: A 56-item questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes of medical
      students towards patients with mental illness and their beliefs about its causes
      before and after their participation in their psychiatric clerkship at a major
      medical school in Rio de Janeiro. Exploratory factor analysis identified four
      factors, reflecting "social acceptance of people with mental illness,"
      "normalizing roles for people with mental illness in society," "non-belief in
      supernatural causes for mental illness," and "belief in bio-psychosocial causes
      for mental illness." Analysis of variance was used to evaluate changes in these
      factors before and after the clerkship. RESULTS: One significant difference was
      identified with a higher score on the factor representing social acceptance after
      as compared to before the clerkship (p = 0.0074). No significant differences were
      observed on the other factors. CONCLUSION: Participation in a psychiatric
      clerkship was associated with greater social acceptance but not with improvement
      on other attitudinal factors. This may reflect ceiling effects in responses
      before the clerkship concerning supernatural and bio-psychosocial beliefs about
      causes of mental illness that left little room for change.

PMID- 26883529
TI  - A Randomized Controlled Trial of Team-Based Learning Versus Lectures with Break
      Out Groups on Knowledge Retention.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of team-based
      learning (TBL) on knowledge retention compared to traditional lectures with small
      break-out group discussion (teaching as usual (TAU)) using a randomized
      controlled trial. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted during
      a daylong conference for psychiatric educators on attention-deficit hyperactivity
      disorder and the research literacy topic of efficacy versus effectiveness trials.
      Learners (n = 115) were randomized with concealed allocation to either TBL or
      TAU. Knowledge was measured prior to the intervention, immediately afterward, and
      2 months later via multiple-choice tests. Participants were necessarily
      unblinded. Data enterers, data analysts, and investigators were blinded to group
      assignment in data analysis. Per-protocol analyses of test scores were performed
      using change in knowledge from baseline. The primary endpoint was test scores at
      2 months. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no statistically significant
      differences between groups in pre-test knowledge. At immediate post-test, both
      TBL and TAU groups showed improved knowledge scores compared with their baseline
      scores. The TBL group performed better statistically on the immediate post-test
      than the TAU group (Cohen's d = 0.73; p < 0.001), although the differences in
      knowledge scores were not educationally meaningful, averaging just one additional
      test question correct (out of 15). On the 2-month remote post-test, there were no
      group differences in knowledge retention among the 42 % of participants who
      returned the 2-month test. CONCLUSIONS: Both TBL and TAU learners acquired new
      knowledge at the end of the intervention and retained knowledge over 2 months. At
      the end of the intervention day and after 2 months, knowledge test scores were
      not meaningfully different between TBL and TAU completers. In conclusion, this
      study failed to demonstrate the superiority of TBL over TAU on the primary
      outcome of knowledge retention at 2 months post-intervention.

PMID- 26883530
TI  - Proteolytic Digestion and TiO2 Phosphopeptide Enrichment Microreactor for Fast MS
      Identification of Proteins.
AB  - The characterization of phosphorylation state(s) of a protein is best
      accomplished by using isolated or enriched phosphoprotein samples or their
      corresponding phosphopeptides. The process is typically time-consuming as, often,
      a combination of analytical approaches must be used. To facilitate throughput in
      the study of phosphoproteins, a microreactor that enables a novel strategy for
      performing fast proteolytic digestion and selective phosphopeptide enrichment was
      developed. The microreactor was fabricated using 100 MUm i.d. fused-silica
      capillaries packed with 1-2 mm beds of C18 and/or TiO2 particles. Proteolytic
      digestion-only, phosphopeptide enrichment-only, and sequential proteolytic
      digestion/phosphopeptide enrichment microreactors were developed and tested with
      standard protein mixtures. The protein samples were adsorbed on the C18
      particles, quickly digested with a proteolytic enzyme infused over the adsorbed
      proteins, and further eluted onto the TiO2 microreactor for enrichment in
      phosphopeptides. A number of parameters were optimized to speed up the digestion
      and enrichments processes, including microreactor dimensions, sample
      concentrations, digestion time, flow rates, buffer compositions, and pH. The
      effective time for the steps of proteolytic digestion and enrichment was less
      than 5 min. For simple samples, such as standard protein mixtures, this approach
      provided equivalent or better results than conventional bench-top methods, in
      terms of both enzymatic digestion and selectivity. Analysis times and reagent
      costs were reduced ~10- to 15-fold. Preliminary analysis of cell extracts and
      recombinant proteins indicated the feasibility of integration of these
      microreactors in more advanced workflows amenable for handling real-world
      biological samples. Graphical Abstract ?. 

PMID- 26883531
TI  - Multimodal Vacuum-Assisted Plasma Ion (VaPI) Source with Transmission Mode and
      Laser Ablation Sampling Capabilities.
AB  - We have developed a multimodal ion source design that can be configured on the
      fly for various analysis modes, designed for more efficient and reproducible
      sampling at the mass spectrometer atmospheric pressure (AP) interface in a number
      of different applications. This vacuum-assisted plasma ionization (VaPI) source
      features interchangeable transmission mode and laser ablation sampling
      geometries. Operating in both AC and DC power regimes with similar results, the
      ion source was optimized for parameters including helium flow rate and gas
      temperature using transmission mode to analyze volatile standards and drug
      tablets. Using laser ablation, matrix effects were studied, and the source was
      used to monitor the products of model prebiotic synthetic reactions.

PMID- 26883532
TI  - Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Materials Depth Profiling Using Low Energy Cesium Ions.
AB  - The structures developed in organic electronics, such as organic light emitting
      diodes (OLEDs) or organic photovoltaics (OPVs) devices always involve hybrid
      interfaces, joining metal or oxide layers with organic layers. No satisfactory
      method to probe these hybrid interfaces physical chemistry currently exists. One
      promising way to analyze such interfaces is to use in situ ion beam etching, but
      this requires ion beams able to depth profile both inorganic and organic layers.
      Mono- or diatomic ion beams commonly used to depth profile inorganic materials
      usually perform badly on organics, while cluster ion beams perform excellently on
      organics but yield poor results when organics and inorganics are mixed.
      Conversely, low energy Cs(+) beams (<500 eV) allow organic and inorganic
      materials depth profiling with comparable erosion rates. This paper shows a
      successful depth profiling of a model hybrid system made of metallic (Au, Cr) and
      organic (tyrosine) layers, sputtered with 500 eV Cs(+) ions. Tyrosine layers
      capped with metallic overlayers are depth profiled easily, with high intensities
      for the characteristic molecular ions and other specific fragments. Metallic Au
      or Cr atoms are recoiled into the organic layer where they cause some damage near
      the hybrid interface as well as changes in the erosion rate. However, these
      recoil implanted metallic atoms do not appear to severely degrade the depth
      profile overall quality. This first successful hybrid depth profiling report
      opens new possibilities for the study of OLEDs, organic solar cells, or other
      hybrid devices.

PMID- 26883534
TI  - The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guideline for radiation
      treatment of breast cancer, 2015 edition.

PMID- 26883535
TI  - Multidisciplinary studies of the diversity and evolution in river-weeds.
AB  - The moss-like river-weeds or Podostemaceae offer a special opportunity to study
      the diversity and evolution of plants that are adapted to extreme environments.
      This paper reviews multidisciplinary studies on this subject. Based on field work
      in the four continents, we discovered many species and several genera that are
      new components of biodiversity, and revealed the Podostemaceae floras of East
      Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The historical biogeography of the family,
      i.e., the change in distribution in space and time, is characterized by a few
      dispersals between continents, followed by diversification within each continent.
      Local species may be derived from parts of separated populations of parental
      species, which consequently are paraphyletic. The remarkable morphological
      adaptations of Podostemaceae include the development of the horizontal axis in
      plant body, with which the plants adhere to rock surfaces under violent current.
      The vertical axis is reduced or lost and the horizontal axis develops in the
      embryo and seedling. We also found saltational organ-level variation, such as
      presence or absence of shoot, shoot apical meristem, root, and root cap; the form
      of shoot and root; the mode of root branching and leaf production; and the number
      of cotyledons. Morphological evolution may not be always adaptive to the
      habitats, which are rocks periodically submerged across the distribution range.
      Analyses of shoot regulatory gene expression found that, in contrast to the
      expression pattern in primitive species with ordinary shoots, which is comparable
      with Arabidopsis, the unique pattern in derived species may result in 'fuzzy'
      morphology of the shoot and leaf. Finally, problems for future study are pointed
      out. 

PMID- 26883533
TI  - Pitfalls of haplotype phasing from amplicon-based long-read sequencing.
AB  - The long-read sequencers from Pacific Bioscience (PacBio) and Oxford Nanopore
      Technologies (ONT) offer the opportunity to phase mutations multiple kilobases
      apart directly from sequencing reads. In this study, we used long-range PCR with
      ONT and PacBio sequencing to phase two variants 9 kb apart in the RET gene. We
      also re-analysed data from a recent paper which had apparently successfully used
      ONT to phase clinically important haplotypes at the CYP2D6 and HLA loci. From
      these analyses, we demonstrate PCR-chimera formation during PCR amplification and
      reference alignment bias are pitfalls that need to be considered when attempting
      to phase variants using amplicon-based long-read sequencing technologies. These
      methodological pitfalls need to be avoided if the opportunities provided by long
      read sequencers are to be fully exploited.

PMID- 26883536
TI  - Ultra-fast photo-carrier relaxation in Mott insulators with short-range spin
      correlations.
AB  - Ultra-fast spectroscopy can reveal the interplay of charges with low energy
      degrees of freedom, which underlies the rich physics of correlated materials. As
      a potential glue for superconductivity, spin fluctuations in Mott insulators are
      of particular interest. A theoretical description of the coupled spin and charge
      degrees of freedom is challenging, because magnetic order is often only short
      lived and short-ranged. In this work we theoretically investigate how the spin
      charge interactions influence the relaxation of a two-dimensional Mott-Hubbard
      insulator after photo-excitation. We use a nonequilibrium variant of the
      dynamical cluster approximation, which, in contrast to single-site dynamical mean
      field theory, captures the effect of short-range correlations. The relaxation
      time is found to scale with the strength of the nearest-neighbor spin
      correlations, and can be 10-20 fs in the cuprates. Increasing the temperature or
      excitation density decreases the spin correlations and thus implies longer
      relaxation times. This may help to distinguish the effect of spin-fluctuations on
      the charge relaxation from the influence of other bosonic modes in the solid.

PMID- 26883538
TI  - PpsA-mediated alternative pathway to complement RNase E essentiality in
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - Escherichia coli cells require RNase E, encoded by the essential gene rne, to
      propagate. The growth properties on different carbon sources of E. coli cells
      undergoing suppression of RNase E production suggested that reduction in RNase E
      is associated with decreased expression of phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase (PpsA),
      which converts pyruvate to phosphoenolpyruvate during gluconeogenesis. Western
      blotting and genetic complementation confirmed the role of RNase E in PpsA
      expression. Adventitious ppsA overexpression from a multicopy plasmid was
      sufficient to restore colony formation of ?rne E. coli on minimal media
      containing glycerol or succinate as the sole carbon source. Complementation of
      ?rne by ppsA overproduction was observed during growth on solid media but was
      only partial, and bacteria showed slowed cell division and grew as filamentous
      chains. We found that restoration of colony-forming ability by ppsA
      complementation occurred independent of the presence of endogenous RNase G or
      second-site suppressors of RNase E essentiality. Our investigations demonstrate
      the role of phosphoryl transfer catalyzable by PpsA as a determinant of RNase E
      essentiality in E. coli. 

PMID- 26883537
TI  - Neuropathic osteoarthropathy with and without superimposed osteomyelitis in
      patients with a diabetic foot.
AB  - Soft tissue and bone infection involving the foot is one of the most common long
      term complications of diabetes mellitus, implying a serious impairment in quality
      of life for patients in the advanced stages of the disease. Neuropathic
      osteoarthropathy often coexists and differentiating between these two entities is
      commonly challenging, but crucial, as the management may differ substantially.
      The importance of correct diagnosis cannot be understated and effective
      management requires a multidisciplinary approach owing to the complicated nature
      of therapy in such patients. A missed diagnosis has a high likelihood of major
      morbidity for the patient, including limb amputation, and over-diagnosis results
      in a great socioeconomic challenge for healthcare systems, the over-utilization
      of healthcare resources, and the unwise use of antibiotics. Diagnosis is largely
      based on clinical signs supplemented by various imaging modalities such as
      radiography, MR imaging, and hybrid imaging techniques such as F-18
      fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. In the interests of the
      management of diabetic foot complications, this review article is aimed on the
      one hand at providing radiologists with important clinical knowledge, and on the
      other hand to equip clinicians with relevant radiological semiotics. 

PMID- 26883539
TI  - Intracorporeal reconstruction after laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy
      for middle-third early gastric cancer: a hybrid technique using linear stapler
      and manual suturing.
AB  - PURPOSE: Laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy has been
      increasingly reported as a treatment for early gastric cancer located in the
      middle third of the stomach because of its low invasiveness and preservation of
      pyloric function. Advantages of a totally laparoscopic approach to distal
      gastrectomy, including small wound size, minimal invasiveness, and safe
      anastomosis, have been recently reported. Here, we introduce a new procedure for
      intracorporeal gastro-gastrostomy combined with totally laparoscopic pylorus
      preserving gastrectomy (TLPPG). METHODS: The stomach is transected after
      sufficient lymphadenectomy with preservation of infrapyloric vessels and vagal
      nerves. The proximal stomach is first transected near the Demel line, and the
      distal side is transected 4 to 5 cm from the pyloric ring. To create end-to-end
      gastro-gastrostomy, the posterior wall of the anastomosis is stapled with a
      linear stapler and the anterior wall is made by manual suturing intracorporeally.
      We retrospectively assessed the postoperative surgical outcomes via medical
      records. The primary endpoint in the present study is safety. RESULTS: Sixteen
      patients underwent TLPPG with intracorporeal reconstruction. All procedures were
      successfully performed without any intraoperative complications. The mean
      operative time was 275 min, with mean blood loss of 21 g. With the exception of
      one patient who had gastric stasis, 15 patients were discharged uneventfully
      between postoperative days 8 and 11. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel hybrid technique for
      totally intracorporeal end-to-end anastomosis was performed safely without mini
      laparotomy. This technique requires prospective validation.

PMID- 26883540
TI  - Enteroviruses in X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia: Update on Epidemiology and Therapy.
AB  - X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) has been associated with a broad range of
      infections, but enteroviral disease represents one of the most damaging
      infections. The risk of enteroviral infection in XLA is lower now than in the
      setting of intramuscular immunoglobulin or in patients without immunoglobulin
      replacement, but the rate of infection has not declined significantly in the era
      of intravenous immunoglobulin replacement. Enteroviruses can cause inflammation
      of nearly every organ, but in XLA, infections often manifest as dermatomyositis
      or chronic meningoencephalitis. Difficulty and delay in recognizing symptoms and
      lack of specific therapy contribute to the poor outcomes. Furthermore,
      cerebrospinal fluid detection of enteroviruses is not very sensitive. Reluctance
      to perform brain biopsies can lead to significant delays. The other feature
      compromising outcomes is the lack of specific therapy. High-dose peripheral and
      intraventricular immunoglobulin have been used, but failure is still common. New
      antienteroviral drugs are in development and show promise for immunodeficient
      patients with life-threatening infections with enterovirus.

PMID- 26883541
TI  - Melphalan desensitization following immediate hypersensitivity in a patient
      undergoing conditioning for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation.

PMID- 26883542
TI  - Environmental challenge: An effective approach for diagnosis and remediation of
      exacerbations of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

PMID- 26883543
TI  - Asthma Control and Airway Inflammation in Patients with Eosinophilic
      Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic
      necrotizing vasculitis that occurs in patients with asthma, nasal disease, blood
      and tissue eosinophilia, and extrapulmonary manifestations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of
      our study was to assess the clinical, functional, and inflammatory status of
      upper and lower airways in 37 patients with EGPA, examined 6.4 +/- 4.7 years
      after diagnosis, when they were in partial or complete remission from systemic
      involvement while on treatment with low-dose oral corticosteroids as maintenance
      therapy. METHODS: All patients performed spirometry and were assessed for
      bronchial hyperreactivity, sputum eosinophilia, and fractional exhaled nitric
      oxide; asthma control was evaluated according to the Global Initiative for Asthma
      (GINA) guidelines and the Asthma Control Test. Markers of systemic disease were
      compared with the data available at diagnosis. Nasal involvement was evaluated by
      using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, nasal endoscopy, and nasal cytology. The
      impact on the quality of life was evaluated by using generic (36-item short form
      health survey) and organ-specific questionnaires. RESULTS: At the time of the
      study visit, almost all patients were receiving low-dose oral corticosteroids and
      immunomodulating drugs, but only 50% were being treated with inhaled
      corticosteroids. Although low systemic disease activity was documented in the
      large majority of patients, poorly controlled asthma and rhinosinusitis with
      eosinophilic airway inflammation were demonstrated in almost all patients. A
      significant correlation was found between sputum and blood eosinophilia and
      between fractional exhaled nitric oxide and asthma control. The 36-item short
      form health survey questionnaire results significantly correlated with the Sino
      Nasal Outcome Test but not with the Asthma Control Test. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic
      treatment controls systemic involvement in EGPA, but not asthma and nasal
      diseases, which negatively affects patients' quality of life.

PMID- 26883544
TI  - B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma associated with extremely high total IgE and
      cutaneous vasculitis.

PMID- 26883545
TI  - A case of pharyngeal diphtheria in Germany, June 2015.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In June 2015, a 45-year-old man suffering from acute necrotic
      tonsillitis and throat phlegmon was hospitalized in Nuremberg, Germany. After
      emergency surgery the patient was initially treated with antibiotics. RESULTS: A
      throat swab grew a toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae biovar mitis strain. The
      patient's vaccination status was not documented and the patient was tested
      serologically for anti-diphtheria antibodies showing no protective immunity.
      Extensive control investigations were performed by the local health department
      showing no likely source of his infection. CONCLUSION: No secondary cases were
      found and the patient completely recovered.

PMID- 26883547
TI  - Ultrasonic treatment of glassy carbon for nanoparticle preparation.
AB  - Glassy carbon particles (millimetric or micrometric sizes) dispersions in water
      were treated by ultrasound at 20kHz, either in a cylindrical reactor, or in a
      "Rosette" type reactor, for various time lengths ranging from 3h to 10h. Further
      separations sedimentation allowed obtaining few nanoparticles of glassy carbon in
      the supernatant (diameter <200nm). Thought the yield of nanoparticle increased
      together with the sonication time at high power, it tended to be nil after
      sonication in the cylindrical reactor. The sonication of glassy carbon
      micrometric particles in water using "Rosette" instead of cylindrical reactor,
      allowed preparing at highest yield (1-2wt%), stable suspensions of carbon
      nanoparticles, easily separated from the sedimented particles. Both sediment and
      supernatant separated by decantation of the sonicated dispersions were
      characterized by laser granulometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray
      microanalysis, and Raman and infrared spectroscopies. Their multiscale
      organization was investigated by transmission electron microscopy as a function
      of the sonication time. For sonication longer than 10h, these nanoparticles from
      supernatant (diameter <50nm) are aggregated. Their structures are more disordered
      than the sediment particles showing typical nanometer-sized aromatic layer
      arrangement of glassy carbon, with closed mesopores (diameter ~3nm). Sonication
      time longer than 5h has induced not only a strong amorphization (subnanometric
      and disoriented aromatic layer) but also a loss of the mesoporous network
      nanostructure. These multi-scale organizational changes took place because of
      both cavitation and shocks between particles, mainly at the particle surface. The
      sonication in water has induced also chemical effects, leading to an increase in
      the oxygen content of the irradiated material together with the sonication time.

PMID- 26883546
TI  - Great ape Y Chromosome and mitochondrial DNA phylogenies reflect subspecies
      structure and patterns of mating and dispersal.
AB  - The distribution of genetic diversity in great ape species is likely to have been
      affected by patterns of dispersal and mating. This has previously been
      investigated by sequencing autosomal and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but large
      scale sequence analysis of the male-specific region of the Y Chromosome (MSY) has
      not yet been undertaken. Here, we use the human MSY reference sequence as a basis
      for sequence capture and read mapping in 19 great ape males, combining the data
      with sequences extracted from the published whole genomes of 24 additional males
      to yield a total sample of 19 chimpanzees, four bonobos, 14 gorillas, and six
      orangutans, in which interpretable MSY sequence ranges from 2.61 to 3.80 Mb. This
      analysis reveals thousands of novel MSY variants and defines unbiased
      phylogenies. We compare these with mtDNA-based trees in the same individuals,
      estimating time-to-most-recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for key nodes in both
      cases. The two loci show high topological concordance and are consistent with
      accepted (sub)species definitions, but time depths differ enormously between loci
      and (sub)species, likely reflecting different dispersal and mating patterns.
      Gorillas and chimpanzees/bonobos present generally low and high MSY diversity,
      respectively, reflecting polygyny versus multimale-multifemale mating. However,
      particularly marked differences exist among chimpanzee subspecies: The western
      chimpanzee MSY phylogeny has a TMRCA of only 13.2 (10.8-15.8) thousand years, but
      that for central chimpanzees exceeds 1 million years. Cross-species comparison
      within a single MSY phylogeny emphasizes the low human diversity, and reveals
      species-specific branch length variation that may reflect differences in long
      term generation times. 

PMID- 26883548
TI  - Deciphering the importance of the palindromic architecture of the immunoglobulin
      heavy-chain 3' regulatory region.
AB  - The IgH 3' regulatory region (3'RR) controls class switch recombination (CSR) and
      somatic hypermutation (SHM) in B cells. The mouse 3'RR contains four enhancer
      elements with hs1,2 flanked by inverted repeated sequences and the centre of a 25
      kb palindrome bounded by two hs3 enhancer inverted copies (hs3a and hs3b). hs4
      lies downstream of the palindrome. In mammals, evolution maintained this unique
      palindromic arrangement, suggesting that it is functionally significant. Here we
      report that deconstructing the palindromic IgH 3'RR strongly affects its function
      even when enhancers are preserved. CSR and IgH transcription appear to be poorly
      dependent on the 3'RR architecture and it is more or less preserved, provided
      3'RR enhancers are present. By contrast, a 'palindromic effect' significantly
      lowers VH germline transcription, AID recruitment and SHM. In conclusion, this
      work indicates that the IgH 3'RR does not simply pile up enhancer units but also
      optimally exposes them into a functional architecture of crucial importance. 

PMID- 26883549
TI  - Intraoperative 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS): a prospective study of 50
      patients with brain tumours.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reliable intraoperative resection control during surgery of malignant
      brain tumours is associated with the longer overall survival of patients. B-mode
      ultrasound (BUS) is a familiar intraoperative imaging application in
      neurosurgical procedures and supplies excellent image quality. However, due to
      resection-induced artefacts, its ability to distinguish between tumour borders,
      oedema, surrounding tissue and tumour remnants is sometimes limited. In
      experienced hands, this "bright rim effect" could be reduced. However, it should
      be determined, if contrast-enhanced ultrasound can improve this situation by
      providing high-quality imaging during the resection. The aim of this clinical
      study was to examine contrast-enhanced and three-dimensional reconstructed
      ultrasound (3D CEUS) in brain tumour surgery regarding the uptake of contrast
      agent pre- and post-tumour resection, imaging quality and in comparison with
      postoperative magnetic resonance imaging in different tumour entities. METHODS:
      Fifty patients, suffering from various brain tumours intra-axial and extra-axial,
      who had all undergone surgery with the support of neuronavigation in our
      neurosurgical department, were included in the study. Their median age was 56
      years (range, 28-79). Ultrasound imaging was performed before the Dura was opened
      and for resection control at the end of tumour resection as defined by the
      neurosurgeon. A high-end ultrasound (US) device (Toshiba Aplio XG(r)) with linear
      and sector probes for B-mode and CEUS was used. Navigation and 3D reconstruction
      were performed with a LOCALITE SonoNavigator(r) and the images were transferred
      digitally (DVI) to the navigation system. The contrast agent consists of echoic
      micro-bubbles showing tumour vascularisation. The ultrasound images were compared
      with the corresponding postoperative MR data in order to determine the accuracy
      and imaging quality of the tumours and tumour remnants after resection. RESULTS:
      Different types of tumours were investigated. High, dynamic contrast agent uptake
      was observed in 19 of 21 patients (90 %) suffering from glioblastoma, while in 2
      patients uptake was low and insufficient. In 52.4 % of glioblastoma and grade III
      astrocytoma patients CEUS led to an improved delineation in comparison to BUS and
      showed a high-resolution imaging quality of the tumour margins and tumour
      boarders. Grade II and grade III astrocytoma (n = 6) as well as metastasis (n =
      18) also showed high contrast agent uptake, which led in 50 % to an improved
      imaging quality. In 5 of these 17 patients, intraoperative CEUS for resection
      control showed tumour remnants, leading to further tumour resection. Patients
      treated with CEUS showed no increased neurological deficits after tumour
      resection. No pharmacological side-effects occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Three
      dimensional CEUS is a reliable intraoperative imaging modality and could improve
      imaging quality. Ninety percent of the high-grade gliomas (HGG, glioblastoma and
      astrocytoma grade III) showed high contrast uptake with an improved imaging
      quality in more than 50 %. Gross total resection and incomplete resection of
      glioblastoma were adequately highlighted by 3D CEUS intraoperatively. The
      application of US contrast agent could be a helpful imaging tool, especially for
      resection control in glioblastoma surgery.

PMID- 26883550
TI  - Retrospective analysis of 620 cases of brain abscess in Chinese patients in a
      single center over a 62-year period.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite advances in laboratory diagnostics, antibiotic regimens, and
      neurosurgical techniques, brain abscess (BA) remains a potentially fatal
      infectious disease. This study analyzed clinical and epidemiological aspects of
      BA in Chinese patients treated at a single center during a 62-year period.
      METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed 620 BA patients treated at Tianjin Medical
      University General Hospital, Tianjin, PR China from 1952 to 2014. Because of the
      initiation of imaging technology use in 1992, and other specific changes, we
      analyzed data over three study periods: 1952-1972, 1980-1991, and 2002-2014.
      Information including incidence, sex, age, community distribution, BA size and
      location, therapeutic method, prognosis and outcome of BA patients was collected
      and evaluated. RESULTS: Our study included 620 BA patients. The percentage
      mortality significantly decreased from 22.8 % in 1952 to 6.3 % in 2014 (p <
      0.001). Although the incidence of BA was higher in males than females, there was
      no significant change in the male/female incidence ratio over time: 2.5 in 1952
      1972, 2.6 in 1980-1991, and 2.2 in 2002-2014. The cryptogenic infection incidence
      significantly increased over time (p < 0.001). The number of positive bacterial
      cultures significantly decreased over the three study periods (p < 0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with BA has gradually improved over the
      past 62 years in Tianjin, China. This may be because improvements in
      neurosurgical techniques, cranial imaging, and antimicrobial regimens have
      facilitated less invasive and more precise neurosurgical procedures.

PMID- 26883551
TI  - Transaqueductal trans-Magendie fenestration of arachnoid cyst in the posterior
      fossa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neuroendoscopy is currently recommended as the first choice to treat
      posterior fossa arachnoid cysts. It has proven to be effective, providing
      improved outcome, and safe, having a low complication rate. Compared to
      craniotomy and shunt placement, it has lower surgical morbidity, minimizing or
      avoiding risks of subdural fluid collections, shunt infection, malfunction,
      overdrainage, and dependence. Usually, rigid scopes maneuvered through a
      suboccipital approach are used. When symptomatic obstructive hydrocephalus
      develops, CSF diversion is the first aim of surgery. METHODS: In these patients,
      a flexible scope introduced through a frontal burr hole allows not only immediate
      and efficient management of hydrocephalus with endoscopic third-ventriculostomy,
      but in selected cases also direct cyst inspection and fenestration. Navigation of
      an enlarged cerebral aqueduct is actually safe when performed by experienced
      neurosurgeons. RESULTS: We describe the cystocisternostomy of a cisterna magna
      arachnoid cyst using a transaqueductal trans-Magendie approach. CONCLUSIONS: This
      minimally invasive technique gives the possibility of performing both endoscopic
      third-ventriculostomy and cyst fenestration, which alone may not be enough to
      efficiently treat hydrocephalus.

PMID- 26883552
TI  - Effect of Cast Modification on Linear Dimensional Change of Acrylic Tooth
      Position Following Maxillary Complete Denture Processing.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of different cast modifications on the
      vertical and horizontal tooth position following maxillary complete denture
      processing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 maxillary master casts were
      prepared and arranged in six groups (n = 10). Variation in modifications between
      study groups 1 through 6 were as follows: no modification, butterfly post palatal
      seal preparation only, butterfly post palatal seal preparation with 10 mm wide/4
      mm deep box, butterfly post palatal seal preparation with 10 mm wide/4 mm deep
      box and four round holes, butterfly post palatal seal preparation with 20 mm
      wide/4 mm deep box, butterfly post dam preparation with 20 mm wide/4 mm deep box
      and four round holes, respectively. The boxes in the respective groups were
      prepared on the mid-heel area of the cast. The first group was included in the
      study as control. The initial master cast was indexed to standardize the
      measurement technique on all specimens before duplication. Maxillary denture
      tooth set-up was completed and indexed using laboratory putty to ensure a similar
      set-up on all specimens. Vertical and horizontal tooth positions were measured
      for the maxillary left central incisor, right and left first molars in waxed
      complete dentures, and following processing. The measurements were done using a
      digital vernier caliper with manufacturing accuracy of up to 0.01 mm. The study
      data were entered in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was done
      using a paired Student t-test, ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc test set at 5% level of
      significance. RESULTS: The paired t-test (within groups) showed significant
      change in all linear tooth positions for groups 1 and 2. Groups 3 through 6 had
      significant change in vertical dimension only. One-way ANOVA indicated that no
      significant difference was seen in the vertical tooth movements between the
      groups; however, statistically significant reduction was seen in the horizontal
      tooth movements at the maxillary left central incisor, right and left first
      molars for groups 3 through 6 when compared to others without significant
      difference between them. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the study, it was
      concluded that the movement of the teeth horizontally could be reduced with
      master cast modification (box alone or box and round holes) whereas the vertical
      movement of the teeth was not affected by the cast modifications made across all
      groups.

PMID- 26883553
TI  - Intraoperative 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic diagnosis of
      gallbladder cancer: A case report.

PMID- 26883554
TI  - Effects of dietary supplementation of pioglitazone on metabolism, milk yield, and
      reproductive performance in transition dairy cows.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary
      supplementation of pioglitazone (PGT), a specific ligand for PPARgamma, on
      metabolic dynamics, milk production, and reproductive performance of transition
      dairy cows. Eighty multiparous Holstein cows in their second or more lactations
      were blocked by the calving date and parity and assigned randomly to four dietary
      groups (n = 20 cow/treatment) including control (no PGT-/-), supplemented with
      PGT (6-mg PGT/kg body weight) from Day -14 to +21 relative to parturition
      (PGT+/+) or only during prepartum (PGT+/-) or postpartum periods (PGT-/+).
      Postpartum body condition score and body weight loss decreased (P < 0.05) in all
      PGT-supplemented groups. Milk yield was not affected by PGT supplementation (P >
      0.05). Percentage of milk fat decreased (P < 0.05) in all PGT-treated groups;
      however, milk fat yield was lower (P < 0.05) in PGT (+/+) and PGT (+/-) groups
      compared with PGT (-/-). Peripartum (Day -7 to +7) concentrations of plasma
      nonesterified fatty acids and beta-Hydroxybutyrate decreased in PGT (+/+) but not
      in the PGT (-/-) group (P < 0.05). During the postpartum period, PGT reduced (P >
      0.05) plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids in all PGT-treated
      groups but did not affect beta-Hydroxybutyrate level. Plasma concentrations of
      triglycerides decreased in all PGT-supplemented groups. Supplementation of PGT
      increased the peripartum concentrations of plasma glucose in PGT (+/+) and PGT
      (+/-) groups compared with control. Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth
      factor 1 were higher in PGT (+/+) compared with the control group during both the
      peripartum and postpartum periods. Plasma concentrations of growth hormone and
      insulin were not affected by PGT treatment (P > 0.05). Mean days to ovulation
      were lower in PGT (+/+) and PGT (-/+), and the proportion of cows ovulating by
      Day 14 postpartum was higher in PGT (+/+) compared with control. Days open were
      shorter in PGT (+/+), PGT (+/-), and PGT (-/+) groups compared with control.
      However, the proportion of pregnant cows at 120 days in milk were higher in all
      PGT-supplemented groups. The results showed positive effects of dietary
      supplementation of PGT, especially supplementation during both the prepartum and
      postpartum periods, on metabolic dynamics, ovarian function, and reproductive
      performance in transition dairy cows. 

PMID- 26883555
TI  - Asymmetric Synthesis of Monofluorinated 1-Amino-1,2-dihydronaphthalene and 1,3
      Amino Alcohol Derivatives.
AB  - Enantioenriched 1-amino-4-fluoro-1,2-dihydronaphthalene derivatives are accessed
      via two complementary synthetic strategies. The careful optimization of the
      reaction conditions required for the elimination step in one route has allowed
      both the identification of an anchimerically assisted reaction pathway and, more
      importantly, access to a divergent reaction pathway toward fluorinated 1,3-amino
      alcohols from a common intermediate just by adjusting the number of equivalents
      of base used. 

PMID- 26883556
TI  - Crystallized phenol application and modified Limberg flap procedure in treatment
      of pilonidal sinus disease: A comparative retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Pilonidal sinus treatment includes various surgical and
      minimally invasive procedures, but there is still no standard treatment. Flap
      reconstructions and minimally invasive treatment options such as crystallized
      phenol application have recently been in the center of interest. The aim of this
      study is to compare crystallized phenol application as a minimally invasive
      treatment with modified Limberg flap reconstruction from many aspects. METHODS:
      Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with pilonidal sinus and treated with modified
      Limberg flap reconstruction, and 44 patients treated with crystallized phenol
      application were evaluated retrospectively in terms of age, sex, length of stay
      in hospital postoperatively, wound complications, and the cause and rate of
      recurrence. RESULTS: Length of hospital stay was decreased and no postoperative
      incision problems were found in the group treated with crystallized phenol
      application (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). The difference between the
      groups in terms of recurrence rate was not statistically significant (p = 0.173).
      Although the recurrence rate was found to be higher in the patient group treated
      once with crystallized phenol application, the success rate following multiple
      applications of crystallized phenol was found to be 94.5%. Higher body mass index
      (> 24.9 kg/m(2)) and surgical site infection were strongly correlated with
      recurrence rate (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Crystallized phenol application is a
      good alternative to the modified Limberg flap procedure and other surgical
      procedures, because it has several advantages such as being a minimally invasive
      procedure performed under local anesthesia with higher success rate after
      multiple applications, decreased length of stay in hospital, and minimal scar
      tissue formation.

PMID- 26883557
TI  - Stress-induced neutral lipid biosynthesis in microalgae - Molecular, cellular and
      physiological insights.
AB  - Photosynthetic microalgae have promise as biofuel feedstock. Under certain
      conditions, they produce substantial amounts of neutral lipids, mainly in the
      form of triacylglycerols (TAGs), which can be converted to fuels. Much of our
      current knowledge on the genetic and molecular basis of algal neutral lipid
      metabolism derives mainly from studies of plants, i.e. seed tissues, and to a
      lesser extent from direct studies of algal lipid metabolism. Thus, the knowledge
      of TAG synthesis and the cellular trafficking of TAG precursors in algal cells is
      to a large extent based on genome predictions, and most aspects of TAG metabolism
      have yet to be experimentally verified. The biofuel prospects of microalgae have
      raised the interest in mechanistic studies of algal TAG biosynthesis in recent
      years and resulted in an increasing number of publications on lipid metabolism in
      microalgae. In this review we summarize the current findings on genetic,
      molecular and physiological studies of TAG accumulation in microalgae. Special
      emphasis is on the functional analysis of key genes involved in TAG synthesis,
      molecular mechanisms of regulation of TAG biosynthesis, as well as on possible
      mechanisms of lipid droplet formation in microalgal cells. This article is part
      of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Lipid Biology edited by Kent D. Chapman and
      Ivo Feussner.

PMID- 26883558
TI  - Dispensing of high concentration Ag nano-particles ink for ultra-low resistivity
      paper-based writing electronics.
AB  - Paper-based writing electronics has received a lot of interest recently due to
      its potential applications in flexible electronics. To obtain ultra-low
      resistivity paper-based writing electronics, we developed a kind of ink with high
      concentration of Ag Nano-particles (up to 80 wt%), as well as a related
      dispensing writing system consisting an air compressor machine and a dispenser.
      Additionally, we also demonstrated the writability and practical application of
      our proposed ink and writing system. Based on the study on the effect of
      sintering time and pressure, we found the optimal sintering time and pressure to
      obtain high quality Ag NPs wires. The electrical conductivity of nano-silver
      paper-based electronics has been tested using the calculated resistivity. After
      hot-pressure sintering at 120  degrees C, 25 MPa pressure for 20 minutes, the
      resistivity of silver NPs conductive tracks was 3.92 * 10(-8) (Omegam), only 2.45
      times of bulk silver. The mechanical flexibility of nano-silver paper-based
      electronics also has been tested. After 1000 bending cycles, the resistivity
      slightly increased from the initial 4.01 * 10(-8) to 5.08 * 10(-8) (Omegam). With
      this proposed ink preparation and writing system, a kind of paper-based writing
      electronics with ultra-low resistivity and good mechanical flexibility was
      achieved.

PMID- 26883559
TI  - Improving Tumor Treating Fields Treatment Efficacy in Patients With Glioblastoma
      Using Personalized Array Layouts.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate tumors of different size, shape, and location and the
      effect of varying transducer layouts on Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
      distribution in an anisotropic model. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A realistic human
      head model was generated from MR images of 1 healthy subject. Four different
      virtual tumors were placed at separate locations. The transducer arrays were
      modeled to mimic the TTFields-delivering commercial device. For each tumor
      location, varying array layouts were tested. The finite element method was used
      to calculate the electric field distribution, taking into account tissue
      heterogeneity and anisotropy. RESULTS: In all tumors, the average electric field
      induced by either of the 2 perpendicular array layouts exceeded the 1-V/cm
      therapeutic threshold value for TTFields effectiveness. Field strength within a
      tumor did not correlate with its size and shape but was higher in more
      superficial tumors. Additionally, it always increased when the array was adapted
      to the tumor's location. Compared with a default layout, the largest increase in
      field strength was 184%, and the highest average field strength induced in a
      tumor was 2.21 V/cm. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adapting array
      layouts to specific tumor locations can significantly increase field strength
      within the tumor. Our findings support the idea of personalized treatment
      planning to increase TTFields efficacy for patients with GBM.

PMID- 26883560
TI  - Proton Therapy as Salvage Treatment for Local Relapse of Prostate Cancer
      Following Cryosurgery or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
AB  - PURPOSE: Local recurrence of prostate cancer after cryosurgery (CS) and high
      intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging problem for which optimal
      management is unknown. Proton therapy (PT) may offer advantages over other local
      therapeutic options. This article reviews a single institution's experience using
      PT for salvage of local recurrent disease after HIFU or CS. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: We reviewed the medical records of 21 consecutive patients treated
      with salvage PT following a local recurrence of prostate cancer after CS (n=12)
      or HIFU (n=9) between January 2007 and July 2014. Patients were treated to a
      median dose of 74 Gy(relative biological effectiveness [RBE]; range: 74-82
      Gy[RBE]) and 8 patients received androgen deprivation therapy with radiation
      therapy. Patients were evaluated for quality of life (QOL) by using the Expanded
      Prostate Index Composite questionnaire and toxicity by using Common Terminology
      Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0, weekly during treatment, every 6 months
      for 2 years after treatment, and then annually. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 37
      months (range: 6-95 months). The 3-year biochemical progression-free survival
      (bPFS) rate was 77%. The 3-year grade 3 toxicity rate was 17%; however, 2 of
      these patients had pre-existing grade 3 GU toxicities from their HIFU/CRYO prior
      to PT. At 1 year, bowel summary, urinary incontinence, and urinary obstructive
      QOL scores declined, but only the bowel QOL score at 12 months met the minimally
      important difference threshold. CONCLUSIONS: PT achieved a high rate of bPFS with
      acceptable toxicity and minimal changes in QOL scores compared with baseline pre
      PT functions. Although most patients have done fairly well, the study size is
      small, follow-up is short, and early results suggest that outcomes with PT for
      salvage after HIFU or CS failure are inferior to outcomes with PT given in the de
      novo setting with respect to disease control, toxicity, and QOL.

PMID- 26883562
TI  - Evaluation of Health Economics in Radiation Oncology: A Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE: Despite the rising costs in radiation oncology, the impact of health
      economics research on radiation therapy practice analysis patterns is unclear. We
      performed a systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) and cost
      utility analyses (CUAs) to identify trends in reporting quality in the radiation
      oncology literature over time. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A systematic review of
      radiation oncology economic evaluations up to 2014 was performed, using MEDLINE
      and EMBASE databases. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting
      Standards guideline informed data abstraction variables including study
      demographics, economic parameters, and methodological details. Tufts Medical
      Center CEA registry quality scores provided a basis for qualitative assessment of
      included studies. Studies were stratified by 3 time periods (1995-2004, 2005
      2009, and 2010-2014). The Cochran-Armitage trend test and linear trend test were
      used to identify trends over time. RESULTS: In total, 102 articles were selected
      for final review. Most studies were in the context of a model (61%) or clinical
      trial (28%). Many studies lacked a conflict of interest (COI) statement (67%), a
      sponsorship statement (48%), a reported study time horizon (35%), and the use of
      discounting (29%). There was a significant increase over time in the reporting of
      a COI statement (P<.001), health care payer perspective (P=.019), sensitivity
      analyses using multivariate (P=.043) or probabilistic methods (P=.011),
      incremental cost-effectiveness threshold (P<.001), secondary source utility
      weights (P=.010), and cost effectiveness acceptability curves (P=.049). There was
      a trend toward improvement in Tuft scores over time (P=.065). CONCLUSIONS: Recent
      reports demonstrate improved reporting rates in economic evaluations; however,
      there remains significant room for improvement as reporting rates are still
      suboptimal. As fiscal pressures rise, we will rely on economic assessments to
      guide our practice decisions and policies. We recommend improved adherence to
      published guidelines and further research to determine the clinical implications
      of our findings.

PMID- 26883561
TI  - Truncated Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Protein Protects From Pulmonary
      Fibrosis Mediated by Irradiation in a Murine Model.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine whether the delivery of recombinant truncated plasminogen
      activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) protein (rPAI-1(23)) would protect from the
      development of radiation-induced lung injury. METHODS AND MATERIALS: C57Bl/6 mice
      received intraperitoneal injections of rPAI-1(23) (5.4 MUg/kg/d) or vehicle for
      18 weeks, beginning 2 days before irradiation (IR) (5 daily fractions of 6 Gy).
      Cohorts of mice were followed for survival (n=8 per treatment) and tissue
      collection (n=3 per treatment and time point). Fibrosis in lung was assessed with
      Masson-Trichrome staining and measurement of hydroxyproline content. Senescence
      was assessed with staining for beta-galactosidase activity in lung and primary
      pneumocytes. RESULTS: Hydroxyproline content in irradiated lung was significantly
      reduced in mice that received rPAI-1(23) compared with mice that received vehicle
      (IR+vehicle: 84.97 MUg/lung; IR+rPAI-1(23): 56.2 MUg/lung, P=.001). C57Bl/6 mice
      exposed to IR+vehicle had dense foci of subpleural fibrosis at 19 weeks, whereas
      the lungs of mice exposed to IR+rPAI-1(23) were largely devoid of fibrotic foci.
      Cellular senescence was significantly decreased by rPAI-1(23) treatment in
      primary pneumocyte cultures and in lung at multiple time points after IR.
      CONCLUSIONS: These studies identify that rPAI-1(23) is capable of preventing
      radiation-induced fibrosis in murine lungs. These antifibrotic effects are
      associated with increased fibrin metabolism, enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-3
      expression, and reduced senescence in type 2 pneumocytes. Thus, rPAI-1(23) is a
      novel therapeutic option for radiation-induced fibrosis.

PMID- 26883563
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of Adjuvant Proton Therapy Combined With Surgery for
      Chondrosarcoma of the Skull Base: A Retrospective, Population-Based Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Chondrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of the cartilage affecting
      young adults. Surgery, followed by charged-particle irradiation, is considered
      the reference standard for the treatment of patients with grade I to II skull
      base chondrosarcoma. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of the
      quality of surgery and radiation therapy parameters on local control (LC) and
      overall survival (OS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1996 to 2013, 159 patients
      (median age 40 years, range 12-83) were treated with either protons alone or a
      combination of protons and photons. The median total dose delivered was 70.2 Gy
      (relative biologic effectiveness [RBE]; range 67-71). Debulking and biopsy were
      performed in 133 and 13 patients, respectively. RESULTS: With a median follow-up
      of 77 months (range 2-214), 5 tumors relapsed based on the initial gross tumor
      volume. The 5- and 10-year LC rates were 96.4% and 93.5%, respectively, and the 5
      and 10-year OS rates were 94.9% and 87%, respectively. A total of 16 patients
      died (13 of intercurrent disease, 3 of disease progression). On multivariate
      analysis, age <40 years and primary disease status were independent favorable
      prognostic factors for progression-free survival and OS, and local tumor control
      was an independent favorable predictor of OS. In contrast, the extent of surgery,
      dosimetric parameters, and adjacent organs at risk were not prognostic factors
      for LC or OS. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic high-dose postoperative proton therapy for
      skull base chondrosarcoma can achieve a high LC rate with a low toxicity profile.
      Maximal safe surgery, followed by high-dose conformal proton therapy, is
      therefore recommended.

PMID- 26883564
TI  - Vaginal Dose Is Associated With Toxicity in Image Guided Tandem Ring or Ovoid
      Based Brachytherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: To calculate vaginal doses during image guided brachytherapy with volume
      based metrics and correlate with long-term vaginal toxicity. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: In this institutional review board-approved study, institutional
      databases were searched to identify women undergoing computed tomography and/or
      magnetic resonance-guided brachytherapy at the Duke Cancer Center from 2009 to
      2015. All insertions were contoured to include the vagina as a 3-dimensional
      structure. All contouring was performed on computed tomography or magnetic
      resonance imaging and used a 0.4-cm fixed brush to outline the applicator and/or
      packing, expanded to include any grossly visible vagina. The surface of the
      cervix was specifically excluded from the contour. High-dose-rate (HDR) and low
      dose-rate (LDR) doses were converted to the equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions
      using an alpha/beta of 3 for late effects. The parameters D0.1cc, D1cc, and D2cc
      were calculated for all insertions and summed with prior external beam therapy.
      Late and subacute toxicity to the vagina were determined by the Common
      Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 and compared by the median
      and 4th quartile doses, via the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate hazard
      ratios were calculated via Cox regression. RESULTS: A total of 258 insertions in
      62 women who underwent definitive radiation therapy including brachytherapy for
      cervical (n=48) and uterine cancer (n=14) were identified. Twenty HDR tandem and
      ovoid, 32 HDR tandem and ring, and 10 LDR tandem and ovoid insertions were
      contoured. The median values (interquartile ranges) for vaginal D0.1cc, D1cc, and
      D2cc were 157.9 (134.4-196.53) Gy, 112.6 (96.7-124.6) Gy, and 100.5 (86.8-108.4)
      Gy, respectively. At the 4th quartile cutoff of 108 Gy for D2cc, the rate of late
      grade 1 toxicity at 2 years was 61.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 43.0%-79.4%)
      below 108 Gy and 83.9% (63.9%-100%) above (P=.018); grade 2 or greater toxicity
      was 36.2% (95% CI 15.8%-56.6%) below 108 Gy and 70.7% (95% CI 45.2%-96.2%) above
      (P=.004); and grade 3 or worse toxicity was 9.9% (95% CI 0.0%-23.6%) below 108 Gy
      and 30.0% (95% CI 4.7%-55.3%) above (P=.025). This association was maintained on
      multivariate analysis, independent of covariates such as applicator type, age,
      and dose rate. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal dose was associated with all grades of
      vaginal toxicity. Confirmation at other sites using this methodology will be
      necessary to establish reproducibility; however, the integration of routine
      calculation of vaginal dose may be warranted.

PMID- 26883565
TI  - Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy With Concurrent Gemcitabine for Patients With
      Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine, in the setting of locally advanced pancreatic cancer, the
      maximum tolerated dose of carbon ion radiation therapy (C-ion RT) and gemcitabine
      dose delivered concurrently and to estimate local effect and survival. METHODS
      AND MATERIALS: Eligibility included pathologic confirmation of pancreatic
      invasive ductal carcinomas and radiographically unresectable disease without
      metastasis. Concurrent gemcitabine was administered on days 1, 8, and 15, and the
      dose levels were escalated from 400 to 1000 mg/m(2) under the starting dose level
      (43.2 GyE) of C-ion RT. The dose levels of C-ion RT were escalated from 43.2 to
      55.2 GyE at 12 fractions under the fixed recommended gemcitabine dose determined.
      RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were enrolled. Among the 72 treated patients, dose
      limiting toxicity was observed in 3 patients: grade 3 infection in 1 patient and
      grade 4 neutropenia in 2 patients. Only 1 patient experienced a late grade 3
      gastric ulcer and bleeding 10 months after C-ion RT. The recommended dose of
      gemcitabine with C-ion RT was found to be 1000 mg/m(2). The dose of C-ion RT with
      the full dose of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) was safely increased to 55.2 GyE. The
      freedom from local progression rate was 83% at 2 years using the Response
      Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The 2-year overall survival rates in all
      patients and in the high-dose group with stage III (>=45.6 GyE) were 35% and 48%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Carbon ion RT with concurrent full-dose gemcitabine
      was well tolerated and effective in patients with unresectable locally advanced
      pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26883566
TI  - Nerve growth factor alters microtubule targeting agent-induced neurotransmitter
      release but not MTA-induced neurite retraction in sensory neurons.
AB  - Peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect of anticancer treatment with
      the microtubule-targeted agents (MTAs), paclitaxel and epothilone B (EpoB);
      however, the mechanisms by which the MTAs alter neuronal function and morphology
      are unknown. We previously demonstrated that paclitaxel alters neuronal
      sensitivity, in vitro, in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF). Evidence in
      the literature suggests that NGF may modulate the neurotoxic effects of
      paclitaxel. Here, we examine whether NGF modulates changes in neuronal
      sensitivity and morphology induced by paclitaxel and EpoB. Neuronal sensitivity
      was assessed using the stimulated release of calcitonin gene-related peptide
      (CGRP), whereas morphology of established neurites was evaluated using a high
      content screening system. Dorsal root ganglion cultures, maintained in the
      absence or presence of NGF, were treated from day 7 to day 12 in culture with
      paclitaxel (300nM) or EpoB (30nM). Following treatment, the release of CGRP was
      stimulated using capsaicin or high extracellular potassium. In the presence of
      NGF, EpoB mimicked the effects of paclitaxel: capsaicin-stimulated release was
      attenuated, potassium-stimulated release was slightly enhanced and the total
      peptide content was unchanged. In the absence of NGF, both paclitaxel and EpoB
      decreased capsaicin- and potassium-stimulated release and the total peptide
      content, suggesting that NGF may reverse MTA-induced hyposensitivity. Paclitaxel
      and EpoB both decreased neurite length and branching, and this attenuation was
      unaffected by NGF in the growth media. These differential effects of NGF on
      neuronal sensitivity and morphology suggest that neurite retraction is not a
      causative factor to alter neuronal sensitivity.

PMID- 26883567
TI  - Tissue-based multiphoton analysis of actomyosin and structural responses in human
      trabecular meshwork.
AB  - The contractile trabecular meshwork (TM) modulates aqueous humor outflow
      resistance and intraocular pressure. The primary goal was to visualize and
      quantify human TM contractile state by analyzing actin polymerization (F-actin)
      by 2-photon excitation fluorescence imaging (TPEF) in situ. A secondary goal was
      to ascertain if structural extracellular matrix (ECM) configuration changed with
      contractility. Viable ex vivo human TM was incubated with latrunculin-A (Lat-A)
      or vehicle prior to Alexa-568-phalloidin labeling and TPEF. Quantitative image
      analysis was applied to 2-dimensional (2D) optical sections and 3D image
      reconstructions. After Lat-A exposure, (a) the F-actin network reorganized as
      aggregates; (b) F-actin-associated fluorescence intensity was reduced by 48.6%
      (mean; p = 0.007; n = 8); (c) F-actin 3D distribution was reduced by 68.9% (p =
      0.040); (d) ECM pore cross-sectional area and volume were larger by 36% (p =
      0.032) and 65% (p = 0.059) respectively and pores appeared more interconnected;
      (e) expression of type I collagen and elastin, key TM structural ECM proteins,
      were unaltered (p = 0.54); and (f) tissue viability was unchanged (p = 0.39)
      relative to vehicle controls. Thus Lat-A-induced reduction of actomyosin
      contractility was associated with TM porous expansion without evidence of reduced
      structural ECM protein expression or cellular viability. These important
      subcellular-level dynamics could be visualized and quantified within human tissue
      by TPEF.

PMID- 26883569
TI  - Linking between genetic structure and geographical distance: Study of the
      maternal gene pool in the Ethiopian population.
AB  - Background The correlation between genetics and geographical distance has already
      been examined through the study of the dispersion of human populations,
      especially in terms of uniparental genetic markers. Aim The present work
      characterises, at the level of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), two new samples of
      Amhara and Oromo populations from Ethiopia to evaluate the possible pattern of
      distribution for mtDNA variation and to test the hypothesis of the Isolation-by
      Distance (IBD) model among African, European and Middle-Eastern populations.
      Subjects and methods This study analysed 173 individuals belonging to two ethnic
      groups of Ethiopia, Amhara and Oromo, by assaying HVS-I and HVS-II of mtDNA D
      loop and informative coding region SNPs of mtDNA. Results The analysis suggests a
      relationship between genetic and geographic distances, affirming that the mtDNA
      pool of Africa, Europe and the Middle East might be coherent with the IBD model.
      Moreover, the mtDNA gene pools of the Sub-Saharan African and Mediterranean
      populations were very different. Conclusion In this study the pattern of mtDNA
      distribution, beginning with the Ethiopian plateau, was tested in the IBD model.
      It could be affirmed that, on a continent scale, the mtDNA pool of Africa, Europe
      and the Middle East might fall under the IBD model.

PMID- 26883568
TI  - Fire blight disease reactome: RNA-seq transcriptional profile of apple host plant
      defense responses to Erwinia amylovora pathogen infection.
AB  - The molecular basis of resistance and susceptibility of host plants to fire
      blight, a major disease threat to pome fruit production globally, is largely
      unknown. RNA-sequencing data from challenged and mock-inoculated flowers were
      analyzed to assess the susceptible response of apple to the fire blight pathogen
      Erwinia amylovora. In presence of the pathogen 1,080 transcripts were
      differentially expressed at 48 h post inoculation. These included putative
      disease resistance, stress, pathogen related, general metabolic, and phytohormone
      related genes. Reads, mapped to regions on the apple genome where no genes were
      assigned, were used to identify potential novel genes and open reading frames. To
      identify transcripts specifically expressed in response to E. amylovora, RT-PCRs
      were conducted and compared to the expression patterns of the fire blight
      biocontrol agent Pantoea vagans strain C9-1, another apple pathogen Pseudomonas
      syringae pv. papulans, and mock inoculated apple flowers. This led to the
      identification of a peroxidase superfamily gene that was lower expressed in
      response to E. amylovora suggesting a potential role in the susceptibility
      response. Overall, this study provides the first transcriptional profile by RNA
      seq of the host plant during fire blight disease and insights into the response
      of susceptible apple plants to E. amylovora.

PMID- 26883570
TI  - Surface-based brain morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging in schizoaffective
      disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The profile of grey matter abnormalities and related white-matter
      pathology in schizoaffective disorder has only been studied to a limited extent.
      The aim of this study was to identify grey- and white-matter abnormalities in
      patients with schizoaffective disorder using complementary structural imaging
      techniques. METHODS: Forty-five patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical
      Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition criteria and Research Diagnostic
      Criteria for schizoaffective disorder and 45 matched healthy controls underwent
      structural-T1 and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to enable surface-based
      brain morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging analyses. Analyses were conducted
      to determine group differences in cortical volume, cortical thickness and surface
      area, as well as in fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. RESULTS: At a
      threshold of p = 0.05 corrected, all measures revealed significant differences
      between patients and controls at the group level. Spatial overlap of
      abnormalities was observed across the various structural neuroimaging measures.
      In grey matter, patients with schizoaffective disorder showed abnormalities in
      the frontal and temporal lobes, striatum, fusiform, cuneus, precuneus, lingual
      and limbic regions. White-matter abnormalities were identified in tracts
      connecting these areas, including the corpus callosum, superior and inferior
      longitudinal fasciculi, anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus and
      cingulum bundle. CONCLUSION: The spatial overlap of abnormalities across the
      different imaging techniques suggests widespread and consistent brain pathology
      in schizoaffective disorder. The abnormalities were mainly detected in areas that
      have commonly been reported to be abnormal in schizophrenia, and to some extent
      in bipolar disorder, which may explain the clinical and aetiological overlap in
      these disorders.

PMID- 26883571
TI  - Pancreatitis associated with metformin used for management of clozapine-related
      weight gain.

PMID- 26883572
TI  - Attachment style and interpersonal trauma in refugees.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Refugees can suffer many experiences that threaten their trust in
      others. Although models of refugee mental health have postulated that attachment
      securities may be damaged by refugee experiences, this has yet to be empirically
      tested. This study aimed to understand the relationship between the nature of
      traumatic experiences sustained by refugees and attachment styles. METHOD: In a
      cross-sectional study, treatment-seeking refugees (N = 134) were assessed for
      traumatic exposure using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Posttraumatic
      Diagnostic Scale. Attachment style was assessed using the Experiences in Close
      Relationship Scale. RESULTS: Whereas gender and severity of interpersonal
      traumatic events predicted avoidant attachment style (accounting for 11% of the
      variance), neither these factors nor non-interpersonal trauma predicted anxious
      attachment. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to interpersonal traumatic events, including
      torture, is associated with enduring avoidant attachment tendencies in refugees.
      This finding accords with attachment theories that prior adverse interpersonal
      experiences can undermine secure attachment systems, and may promote avoidance of
      attachment seeking. This finding may point to an important process maintaining
      poor psychological health in refugees affected by interpersonal trauma.

PMID- 26883573
TI  - Cigarette smoke extract induces the proliferation of normal human urothelial
      cells through the NF-kappaB pathway.
AB  - Bladder cancer is a common genitourinary malignant disease worldwide. Convincing
      evidence shows that cigarette smoke (CS) is a crucial risk factor for bladder
      cancer, yet the role of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway in the development of CS
      associated bladder cancer has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we
      found that exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induced proliferation and
      triggered the transition of normal human urothelial cells from G1 to S phase.
      Moreover, CSE exposure enhanced the expression of cyclin D1 and proliferating
      cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and decreased the expression of p21 in SV-HUC-1
      cells. Furthermore, the levels of nuclear NF-kappaB p65/p50 were significantly
      elevated by CSE. Pre-treatment with the NF-kappaB inhibitor (PDTC) reversed CSE
      triggered cell proliferation. Taken together, our study revealed that CSE induced
      proliferation of normal human urothelial cells through the NF-kappaB pathway, and
      these data enhance our understanding of the CSE-related carcinogenesis of bladder
      cancer.

PMID- 26883575
TI  - Gateable Skyrmion Transport via Field-induced Potential Barrier Modulation.
AB  - We report on the influence of pinning potentials on current-driven skyrmion
      dynamics and demonstrate that skyrmions can be gated via either magnetic or
      electric fields. When encountering pinning potentials, skyrmions are well known
      to simply skirt around them. However, we show that skyrmions can be depinned much
      more easily when their driving force is oriented against the pinning site rather
      that the intuitive option of being oriented away. This observation can be
      exploited together with the normally undesirable Magnus force for the creation of
      a skyrmion diode. The phenomenon is explained by the increased skyrmion
      compression resulting from the spin transfer torque opposing the repulsive
      potential. The smaller skyrmion size then experiences a reduced pinning
      potential. For practical low-power device applications, we show that the same
      skyrmion compression can be recreated by applying either a magnetic or electric
      field. Our analysis provides an insight on the skyrmion dynamics and manipulation
      that is critical for the realization of skyrmion-based transistors and low-power
      memory. 

PMID- 26883576
TI  - Distribution of soil selenium in China is potentially controlled by deposition
      and volatilization?
AB  - Elucidating the environmental drivers of selenium (Se) spatial distribution in
      soils at a continental scale is essential to better understand it's
      biogeochemical cycling to improve Se transfer into diets. Through modelling Se
      biogeochemistry in China we found that deposition and volatilization are key
      factors controlling distribution in surface soil, rather than bedrock-derived Se
      (<0.1 mg/kg). Wet deposition associated with the East Asian summer monsoon, and
      dry deposition associated with the East Asian winter monsoon, are responsible for
      dominant Se inputs into northwest and southeast China, respectively. In Central
      China the rate of soil Se volatilization is similar to that of Se deposition,
      suggesting that Se volatilization offsets it's deposition, resulting in
      negligible net Se input in soil. Selenium in surface soil at Central China is
      roughly equal to low petrogenic Se, which is the main reason for the presence of
      the Se poor belt. We suggest that both deposition and volatilization of Se could
      play a key role in Se balance in other terrestrial environments worldwide.

PMID- 26883574
TI  - Oxidative stress contributes to the tamoxifen-induced killing of breast cancer
      cells: implications for tamoxifen therapy and resistance.
AB  - Tamoxifen is the accepted therapy for patients with estrogen receptor-alpha
      (ERalpha)-positive breast cancer. However, clinical resistance to tamoxifen, as
      demonstrated by recurrence or progression on therapy, is frequent and precedes
      death from metastases. To improve breast cancer treatment it is vital to
      understand the mechanisms that result in tamoxifen resistance. This study shows
      that concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites, which accumulate in tumors
      of patients, killed both ERalpha-positive and ERalpha-negative breast cancer
      cells. This depended on oxidative damage and anti-oxidants rescued the cancer
      cells from tamoxifen-induced apoptosis. Breast cancer cells responded to
      tamoxifen-induced oxidation by increasing Nrf2 expression and subsequent
      activation of the anti-oxidant response element (ARE). This increased the
      transcription of anti-oxidant genes and multidrug resistance transporters. As a
      result, breast cancer cells are able to destroy or export toxic oxidation
      products leading to increased survival from tamoxifen-induced oxidative damage.
      These responses in cancer cells also occur in breast tumors of tamoxifen-treated
      mice. Additionally, high levels of expression of Nrf2, ABCC1, ABCC3 plus NAD(P)H
      dehydrogenase quinone-1 in breast tumors of patients at the time of diagnosis
      were prognostic of poor survival after tamoxifen therapy. Therefore, overcoming
      tamoxifen-induced activation of the ARE could increase the efficacy of tamoxifen
      in treating breast cancer. 

PMID- 26883578
TI  - Ultrasensitive Bisphenol A Field-Effect Transistor Sensor Using an Aptamer
      Modified Multichannel Carbon Nanofiber Transducer.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC) that has a
      structure similar to that of the hormone estrogen. Even low concentrations of BPA
      are able to bind estrogen receptors, thereby inducing severe diseases such as
      reproductive disorders, chronic diseases, and various types of cancer. Despite
      such serious effects, the use of BPA remains widespread. Therefore, monitoring of
      both dietary and nondietary exposure to BPA is important for human healthcare.
      Herein, we present a field-effect transistor (FET) sensor using aptamer-modified
      multichannel carbon nanofibers (MCNFs) to detect BPA. The MCNFs are fabricated
      via single-nozzle electrospinning of two immiscible polymer solutions followed by
      thermal treatment in an inert atmosphere. The MCNFs are then oxidized using a
      solution of HNO3 and H2SO4 to introduce carboxyl groups on the surface of the
      fibers. The carboxyl-functionalized MCNFs (CMCNFs) are immobilized on an amine
      functionalized electrode substrate by forming a covalent bond, and amine
      functionalized BPA-binding aptamers are modified in the same manner on the
      CMCNFs. The resulting FET sensors exhibit a high sensitivity, as well as
      specificity toward BPA at an unprecedentedly low concentration of 1 fM.
      Furthermore, these sensors are stable and could be reused for repeated assays. 

PMID- 26883577
TI  - Intrathecal delivery of frataxin mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles to
      dorsal root ganglia as a potential therapeutic for Friedreich's ataxia.
AB  - In Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) patients, diminished frataxin (FXN) in sensory
      neurons is thought to yield the predominant pathology associated with disease. In
      this study, we demonstrate successful usage of RNA transcript therapy (RTT) as an
      exogenous human FXN supplementation strategy in vitro and in vivo, specifically
      to dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Initially, 293 T cells were transfected with codon
      optimized human FXN mRNA, which was translated to yield FXN protein. Importantly,
      FXN was rapidly processed into the mature functional form of FXN (mFXN). Next,
      FXN mRNA, in the form of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), was administered
      intravenously in adult mice. Examination of liver homogenates demonstrated
      efficient FXN LNP uptake in hepatocytes and revealed that the mitochondrial
      maturation machinery had efficiently processed all FXN protein to mFXN in ~24 h
      in vivo. Remarkably, greater than 50% mFXN protein derived from LNPs was detected
      seven days after intravenous administration of FXN LNPs, suggesting that the half
      life of mFXN in vivo exceeds one week. Moreover, when FXN LNPs were delivered by
      intrathecal administration, we detected recombinant human FXN protein in DRG.
      These observations provide the first demonstration that RTT can be used for the
      delivery of therapeutic mRNA to DRG.

PMID- 26883579
TI  - Thrombopoietin receptor is required for the oncogenic function of CALR mutants.

PMID- 26883580
TI  - Aflatoxins in dairy cow feed, raw milk and milk products from Turkey.
AB  - This study aims to detect aflatoxins (AFs) in dairy cow feed, milk and milk
      products using a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence
      detection (HPLC-FLD) method. All the validation parameters met the method
      performance criteria of the European Union. The samples comprised 76 dairy cow
      feeds and 205 milk and milk products (including yoghurt and yoghurt-based
      beverage, ayran). AFs were present in 26.3% of the feed samples. Two feed samples
      exceeded the maximum limit (ML) of 5 ug kg(-1) for AFB1 as established by the EU.
      Nineteen milk samples (21.1%) contained aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of which three
      exceeded the EU ML of 0.05 ug l(-1). In addition, only two yoghurt samples and
      one ayran sample contained AFM1, but the levels were lower than the EU ML. 

PMID- 26883581
TI  - Same-sex sexual attraction, behavior, and practices of Jewish men in Israel and
      the association with HIV prevalence.
AB  - In order to efficiently direct efforts and resources required for the prevention
      of HIV and other sexually transmitted infection among men who have sex with men
      (MSM) in Israel, it is necessary to define their particular behaviors, estimate
      their size, and asses the HIV-burden. This cross-sectional study included a sub
      sample from a random representative National study performed in Israel, which
      included Jewish males aged 18-44 who completed online anonymous questionnaires
      regarding their sexual attraction and practices, commercial sex-work, as well as
      condom and substances' use. Additionally, participants were asked to identify
      themselves as gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. National estimates regarding
      prevalence of risk-behaviors and HIV-infection among MSM were based on the
      Statistical Abstract of Israel and the National HIV Registry, respectively. Of
      the total sample of 997 men, 11.9% reported lifetime male sex encounters, while
      4.5% and 3.7% self-identified as gay or bisexual, respectively. The estimated
      population of self-identified Jewish gays/bisexuals aged 18-44 in Israel was
      94,176, and in Tel-Aviv 33,839. HIV prevalence among MSM was estimated at 0.7% in
      Israel and 1.0% in Tel-Aviv. MSM were more likely to live in Tel-Aviv, had higher
      levels of education, and were scored higher on several determinants of sexual
      risk in comparison to those attracted to women, including early sexual debut,
      greater number of sexual partners, ever paid/been paid for sex, sexually coerced,
      and substance use. In conclusion, MSM were involved in greater risk behaviors
      than those who only had female sex partners. Most MSM were living in Tel-Aviv and
      their estimated HIV prevalence was 1.0%.

PMID- 26883584
TI  - Neuroprotection by combination of resveratrol and enriched environment against
      ischemic brain injury in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Both resveratrol (RV) and enriched environment (EE) exert beneficial
      effects on neurological functional recovery after an ischemic brain injury.
      METHODS: The neuroprotective effect of combined treatment of RV and EE was
      examined in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), aiming to
      further promote neurological functional recovery. RESULTS: The combined therapy
      of RV and EE clearly improved locomotor activity and behaviour examination,
      compared to the monotherapy of RV or EE alone. Stroke severity was also markedly
      ameliorated by the co-treatment. Mechanistic study revealed that the combined
      treatment reduced oxidative stress. Moreover, the detrimental ERK1/2 signalling
      upregulated by MCAO injury was markedly suppressed by the co-treatment, compared
      to RV or EE monotherapy. DISCUSSION: Altogether, the combined therapy of RV and
      EE showed a clearly enhanced neuroprotective effect, compared to RV or EE
      monotherapy, which might be a new strategy for the treatment of ischemic brain
      injury.

PMID- 26883582
TI  - Supervisors' perceptions of organizational policies are associated with their
      likelihood to accommodate back-injured workers.
AB  - Background Low back pain (LBP) is a major concern among North American workplaces
      and little is known regarding a supervisor's decision to support job
      accommodation for workers with LBP. The extent to which supervisors are included
      in a company's effort to institute disability management policies and practices
      and workplace safety climate are two factors that may influence a supervisor's
      decision to accommodate workers with LBP. Objective Determine the association
      between supervisors' perceptions of disability management policies, corporate
      safety culture and their likelihood of supporting job accommodations for workers
      with LBP. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of supervisors (N=796)
      recruited from a non-random, convenience sample of 19 Canadian and US employers.
      The outcome was supervisors' likeliness to support job accommodation and the
      exposure was global work safety culture and disability management policies and
      practices. A multivariable generalized linear modelling strategy was used and
      final models for each exposure were obtained after assessing potential effect
      modifiers and confounders. Results In the study, 796 eligible supervisors from 19
      employers participated. Disability management policies and practices were
      positively associated with supervisors' likeliness to accommodate (beta=0.19; 95%
      CI: 0.13; 0.24) while no significant association was found between corporate
      safety culture (beta= -0.084; 95% CI: -0.19; 0.027) and supervisors' likeliness
      to accommodate. Conclusions Employers should ensure that proactive disability
      management policies and practices are clearly communicated to supervisors in
      order to improve job modification and return to work efforts. Implications for
      Rehabilitation Low back pain (LBP) is a major workplace concern and little is
      known regarding what factors are associated with a supervisor's likelihood to
      support job accommodation for workers with LBP. The objective of this article was
      to determine the association between supervisors' perceptions of disability
      management policies and practices, corporate safety culture and their likelihood
      of support job accommodations for workers with LBP. Results suggest that
      disability management policies and practices are positively associated with
      supervisors' likelihood to accommodate while corporate safety culture is not.
      These results are important for employers as it suggests that employers should
      ensure that their disability management policies and practices are clearly
      communicated to supervisors in order to improve job accommodation and return to
      work efforts.

PMID- 26883583
TI  - Digital PCR for quantification of recurrent and potentially actionable somatic
      mutations in circulating free DNA from patients with diffuse large B-cell
      lymphoma.
AB  - Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive and heterogeneous
      malignancy harboring frequent targetable activating somatic mutations. Emerging
      evidence suggests that circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can be used to detect
      somatic variants in DLBCL using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) experiments. In
      this proof-of-concept study, we chose to develop simple and valuable digital PCR
      (dPCR) assays for the detection of recurrent exportin-1 (XPO1) E571K, EZH2 Y641N,
      and MYD88 L265P mutations in DLBCL patients, thereby identifying patients most
      likely to potentially benefit from targeted therapies. We demonstrated that our
      dPCR assays were sufficiently sensitive to detect rare XPO1, EZH2, and MYD88
      mutations in plasma cfDNA, with a sensitivity of 0.05%. cfDNA somatic mutation
      detection by dPCR seems to be a promising technique in the management of DLBCL,
      in addition to NGS experiments.

PMID- 26883585
TI  - Serological Conservation of Parasite-Infected Erythrocytes Predicts Plasmodium
      falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 Gene Expression but Not Severity of
      Childhood Malaria.
AB  - Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), expressed on P.
      falciparum-infected erythrocytes, is a major family of clonally variant targets
      of naturally acquired immunity to malaria. Previous studies have demonstrated
      that in areas where malaria is endemic, antibodies to infected erythrocytes from
      children with severe malaria tend to be more seroprevalent than antibodies to
      infected erythrocytes from children with nonsevere malaria. These data have led
      to a working hypothesis that PfEMP1 variants associated with parasite virulence
      are relatively conserved in structure. However, the longevity of such
      serologically conserved variants in the parasite population is unknown. Here,
      using infected erythrocytes from recently sampled clinical P. falciparum samples,
      we measured serological conservation using pools of antibodies in sera that had
      been sampled 10 to 12 years earlier. The serological conservation of infected
      erythrocytes strongly correlated with the expression of specific PfEMP1 subsets
      previously found to be associated with severe malaria. However, we found no
      association between serological conservation per se and disease severity within
      these data. This contrasts with the simple hypothesis that P. falciparum isolates
      with a serologically conserved group of PfEMP1 variants cause severe malaria. The
      data are instead consistent with periodic turnover of the immunodominant epitopes
      of PfEMP1 associated with severe malaria.

PMID- 26883587
TI  - Towards Rational Design of a Toxoid Vaccine against the Heat-Stable Toxin of
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC) is an important cause of diarrheal disease
      and death in children <5 years old. ETEC strains that express the heat-stable
      toxin (ST), with or without the heat-labile toxin, are among the four most
      important diarrhea-causing pathogens. This makes ST an attractive target for an
      ETEC vaccine. An ST vaccine should be nontoxic and elicit an immune response that
      neutralizes native ST without cross-reacting with the human endogenous guanylate
      cyclase C receptor ligands. To identify variants of ST with no or low toxicity,
      we screened a library of all 361 possible single-amino-acid mutant forms of ST by
      using the T84 cell assay. Moreover, we identified mutant variants with intact
      epitopes by screening for the ability to bind neutralizing anti-ST antibodies. ST
      mutant forms with no or low toxicity and intact epitopes are termed toxoid
      candidates, and the top 30 candidates all had mutations of residues A14, N12, and
      L9. The identification of nontoxic variants of L9 strongly suggests that it is a
      novel receptor-interacting residue, in addition to the previously identified N12,
      P13, and A14 residues. The screens also allowed us to map the epitopes of three
      neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, one of which cross-reacts with the human
      ligand uroguanylin. The common dominant epitope residue for all non-cross
      reacting antibodies was Y19. Our results suggest that it should be possible to
      rationally design ST toxoids that elicit neutralizing immune responses against ST
      with minimal risk of immunological cross-reactivity.

PMID- 26883586
TI  - Protective Effect of Chronic Schistosomiasis in Baboons Coinfected with
      Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium knowlesi.
AB  - Malaria and schistosomiasis coinfections are common, and chronic schistosomiasis
      has been implicated in affecting the severity of acute malaria. However, whether
      it enhances or attenuates malaria has been controversial due the lack of
      appropriately controlled human studies and relevant animal models. To examine
      this interaction, we conducted a randomized controlled study using the baboon
      (Papio anubis) to analyze the effect of chronic schistosomiasis on severe
      malaria. Two groups of baboons (n = 8 each) and a schistosomiasis control group
      (n = 3) were infected with 500 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. At 14 and 15 weeks
      postinfection, one group was given praziquantel to treat schistosomiasis
      infection. Four weeks later, the two groups plus a new malaria control group (n =
      8) were intravenously inoculated with 10(5) Plasmodium knowlesi parasites and
      monitored daily for development of severe malaria. A total of 81% of baboons
      exposed to chronic S. mansoni infection with or without praziquantel treatment
      survived malaria, compared to only 25% of animals infected with P. knowlesi only
      (P = 0.01). Schistosome-infected animals also had significantly lower parasite
      burdens (P = 0.004) than the baboons in the P. knowlesi-only group and were
      protected from severe anemia. Coinfection was associated with increased
      spontaneous production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), suggesting an enhanced innate
      immune response, whereas animals infected with P. knowlesi alone failed to
      develop mitogen-driven tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-10, indicating the
      inability to generate adequate protective and balancing immunoregulatory
      responses. These results indicate that chronic S. mansoni attenuates the severity
      of P. knowlesi coinfection in baboons by mechanisms that may enhance innate
      immunity to malaria.

PMID- 26883588
TI  - A Plasmodium yoelii Mei2-Like RNA Binding Protein Is Essential for Completion of
      Liver Stage Schizogony.
AB  - Plasmodium parasites employ posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms as their
      life cycle transitions between host cell invasion and replication within both the
      mosquito vector and mammalian host. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) provide one
      mechanism for modulation of RNA function. To explore the role of Plasmodium RBPs
      during parasite replication, we searched for RBPs that might play a role during
      liver stage development, the parasite stage that exhibits the most extensive
      growth and replication. We identified a parasite ortholog of the Mei2 (Meiosis
      inhibited 2) RBP that is conserved among Plasmodium species (PlasMei2) and
      exclusively transcribed in liver stage parasites. Epitope-tagged Plasmodium
      yoelii PlasMei2 was expressed only during liver stage schizogony and showed an
      apparent granular cytoplasmic location. Knockout of PlasMei2 (plasmei2(-)) in P.
      yoelii only affected late liver stage development. The P. yoelii plasmei2(-)
      liver stage size increased progressively until late in development, similar to
      wild-type parasite development. However, P. yoelii plasmei2(-) liver stage
      schizonts exhibited an abnormal DNA segregation phenotype and failed to form
      exoerythrocytic merozoites. Consequently the cellular integrity of P. yoelii
      plasmei2(-) liver stages became increasingly compromised late in development and
      the majority of P. yoelii plasmei2(-) underwent cell death by the time wild-type
      liver stages mature and release merozoites. This resulted in a complete block of
      P. yoelii plasmei2(-) transition from liver stage to blood stage infection in
      mice. Our results show for the first time the importance of a Plasmodium RBP in
      the coordinated progression of late liver stage schizogony and maturation of new
      invasive forms.

PMID- 26883589
TI  - The Campylobacter jejuni Ferric Uptake Regulator Promotes Acid Survival and Cross
      Protection against Oxidative Stress.
AB  - Campylobacter jejuni is a prevalent cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans
      worldwide. The mechanisms by which C. jejuni survives stomach acidity remain
      undefined. In the present study, we demonstrated that the C. jejuni ferric uptake
      regulator (Fur) plays an important role in C. jejuni acid survival and acid
      induced cross-protection against oxidative stress. A C. jejuni Deltafur mutant
      was more sensitive to acid than the wild-type strain. Profiling of the acid
      stimulon of the C. jejuni Deltafur mutant allowed us to uncover Fur-regulated
      genes under acidic conditions. In particular, Fur was found to upregulate genes
      involved in flagellar and cell envelope biogenesis upon acid stress, and mutants
      with deletions of these genes were found to be defective in surviving acid
      stress. Interestingly, prior acid exposure of C. jejuni cross-protected against
      oxidative stress in a catalase (KatA)- and Fur-dependent manner. Western blotting
      and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR revealed increased expression of KatA
      upon acid stress. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrated that
      the binding affinity between Fur and the katA promoter is reduced in vitro under
      conditions of low pH, rationalizing the higher levels of expression of katA under
      acidic conditions. Strikingly, the Deltafur mutant exhibited reduced virulence in
      both human epithelial cells and the Galleria mellonella infection model.
      Altogether, this is the first study showing that, in addition to its role in iron
      metabolism, Fur is an important regulator of C. jejuni acid responses and this
      function cross-protects against oxidative stress. Moreover, our results clearly
      demonstrate Fur's important role in C. jejuni pathogenesis.

PMID- 26883590
TI  - The Yersiniabactin-Associated ATP Binding Cassette Proteins YbtP and YbtQ Enhance
      Escherichia coli Fitness during High-Titer Cystitis.
AB  - The Yersinia high-pathogenicity island (HPI) is common to multiple virulence
      strategies used by Escherichia coli strains associated with urinary tract
      infection (UTI). Among the genes in this island are ybtP and ybtQ, encoding
      distinctive ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins associated with iron(III)
      yersiniabactin import in Yersinia pestis In this study, we compared the impact of
      ybtPQ on a model E. coli cystitis strain during in vitro culture and experimental
      murine infections. A ybtPQ-null mutant exhibited no growth defect under standard
      culture conditions, consistent with nonessentiality in this background. A growth
      defect phenotype was observed and genetically complemented in vitro during
      iron(III)-yersiniabactin-dependent growth. Following inoculation into the
      bladders of C3H/HEN and C3H/HeOuJ mice, this strain exhibited a profound, 10(6)
      fold competitive infection defect in the subgroup of mice that progressed to high
      titer bladder infections. These results identify a virulence role for YbtPQ in
      the highly inflammatory microenvironment characteristic of high-titer cystitis.
      The profound competitive defect may relate to the apparent selection of Yersinia
      HPI-positive E. coli in uncomplicated clinical UTIs.

PMID- 26883591
TI  - Effects of B Cell Depletion on Early Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in
      Cynomolgus Macaques.
AB  - Although recent studies in mice have shown that components of B cell and humoral
      immunity can modulate the immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
      the roles of these components in human and nonhuman primate infections are
      unknown. The cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) model of M. tuberculosis
      infection closely mirrors the infection outcomes and pathology in human
      tuberculosis (TB). The present study used rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, to
      deplete B cells in M. tuberculosis-infected macaques to examine the contribution
      of B cells and humoral immunity to the control of TB in nonhuman primates during
      the acute phase of infection. While there was no difference in the overall
      pathology, disease profession, and clinical outcome between the rituximab-treated
      and untreated macaques in acute infection, analyzing individual granulomas
      revealed that B cell depletion resulted in altered local T cell and cytokine
      responses, increased bacterial burden, and lower levels of inflammation. There
      were elevated frequencies of T cells producing interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-10, and
      IL-17 and decreased IL-6 and IL-10 levels within granulomas from B cell-depleted
      animals. The effects of B cell depletion varied among granulomas in an individual
      animal, as well as among animals, underscoring the previously reported
      heterogeneity of local immunologic characteristics of tuberculous granulomas in
      nonhuman primates. Taken together, our data clearly showed that B cells can
      modulate the local granulomatous response in M. tuberculosis-infected macaques
      during acute infection. The impact of these alterations on disease progression
      and outcome in the chronic phase remains to be determined.

PMID- 26883592
TI  - Experimental Models of Vaginal Candidiasis and Their Relevance to Human
      Candidiasis.
AB  - Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a high-incidence disease seriously affecting
      the quality of life of women worldwide, particularly in its chronic, recurrent
      forms (RVVC), and with no definitive cure or preventive measure. Experimental
      studies in currently used rat and mouse models of vaginal candidiasis have
      generated a large mass of data on pathogenicity determinants and inflammation and
      immune responses of potential importance for the control of human pathology.
      However, reflection is necessary about the relevance of these rodent models to
      RVVC. Here we examine the chemical, biochemical, and biological factors that
      determine or contrast the forms of the disease in rodent models and in women and
      highlight the differences between them. We also appeal for approaches to improve
      or replace the current models in order to enhance their relevance to human
      infection.

PMID- 26883593
TI  - Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of the Bacterial Arginine Glycosyltransferase
      Effector NleB1 from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.
AB  - Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) interferes with host cell signaling by
      injecting virulence effector proteins into enterocytes via a type III secretion
      system (T3SS). NleB1 is a novel T3SS glycosyltransferase effector from EPEC that
      transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety in an N-glycosidic linkage
      to Arg(117) of the Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD). GlcNAcylation of
      FADD prevents the assembly of the canonical death-inducing signaling complex and
      inhibits Fas ligand (FasL)-induced cell death. Apart from the DXD catalytic motif
      of NleB1, little is known about other functional sites in the enzyme. In the
      present study, members of a library of 22 random transposon-based, in-frame,
      linker insertion mutants of NleB1 were tested for their ability to block caspase
      8 activation in response to FasL during EPEC infection. Immunoblot analysis of
      caspase-8 cleavage showed that 17 mutant derivatives of NleB1, including the
      catalytic DXD mutant, did not inhibit caspase-8 activation. Regions of interest
      around the insertion sites with multiple or single amino acid substitutions were
      examined further. Coimmunoprecipitation studies of 34 site-directed mutants
      showed that the NleB1 derivatives with the E253A, Y219A, and PILN(63-66)AAAA (in
      which the PILN motif from residues 63 to 66 was changed to AAAA) mutations bound
      to but did not GlcNAcylate FADD. A further mutant derivative, the PDG(236-238)AAA
      mutant, did not bind to or GlcNAcylate FADD. Infection of mice with the EPEC-like
      mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium expressing NleBE253A and NleBY219A showed
      that these strains were attenuated, indicating the importance of residues E253
      and Y219 in NleB1 virulence in vivo In summary, we identified new amino acid
      residues critical for NleB1 activity and confirmed that these are required for
      the virulence function of NleB1.

PMID- 26883594
TI  - Susceptibility to Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes Is Not Affected in Mice
      Coinfected with Nematodes.
AB  - Small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, such as the
      spirochetes causing Lyme disease. Whether natural coinfections with other
      macroparasites alter the success of tick feeding, antitick immunity, and the
      host's reservoir competence for tick-borne pathogens remains to be determined. In
      a parasitological survey of wild mice in Berlin, Germany, approximately 40% of
      Ixodes ricinus-infested animals simultaneously harbored a nematode of the genus
      Heligmosomoides We therefore aimed to analyze the immunological impact of the
      nematode/tick coinfection as well as its effect on the tick-borne pathogen
      Borrelia afzelii Hosts experimentally coinfected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus
      and larval/nymphal I. ricinus ticks developed substantially stronger systemic
      type 2 T helper cell (Th2) responses, on the basis of the levels of GATA-3 and
      interleukin-13 expression, than mice infected with a single pathogen. During
      repeated larval infestations, however, anti-tick Th2 reactivity and an observed
      partial immunity to tick feeding were unaffected by concurrent nematode
      infections. Importantly, the strong systemic Th2 immune response in coinfected
      mice did not affect susceptibility to tick-borne B. afzelii An observed trend for
      decreased local and systemic Th1 reactivity against B. afzelii in coinfected mice
      did not result in a higher spirochete burden, nor did it facilitate bacterial
      dissemination or induce signs of immunopathology. Hence, this study indicates
      that strong systemic Th2 responses in nematode/tick-coinfected house mice do not
      affect the success of tick feeding and the control of the causative agent of Lyme
      disease.

PMID- 26883598
TI  - Can the mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes enhance
      their electroanalytical response?
AB  - The mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is
      explored and shown to exhibit an improved voltammetric response (in specific
      cases) when polished with either commonly available alumina slurry or diamond
      spray. Proof-of-concept is demonstrated for the electrochemical sensing of
      nitrite where an increase in the voltammetric current is found using both
      polishing protocols, exhibiting an improved limit of detection (3sigma) and a two
      fold increase in the electroanalytical sensitivity compared to the respective un
      polished counterpart. It is found that mechanical activation/polishing increases
      the C/O ratio which significantly affects inner-sphere electrochemical probes
      only (whereas outer-sphere systems remain unaffected). Mechanical
      activation/polishing has the potential to be a simple pre-treatment technique
      that can be extended and routinely applied towards other analytes for an
      observable improvement in the electroanalytical response.

PMID- 26883595
TI  - The RNA-Binding Chaperone Hfq Is an Important Global Regulator of Gene Expression
      in Pasteurella multocida and Plays a Crucial Role in Production of a Number of
      Virulence Factors, Including Hyaluronic Acid Capsule.
AB  - The Gram-negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a
      number of economically important animal diseases, including avian fowl cholera.
      Numerous P. multocida virulence factors have been identified, including capsule,
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and filamentous hemagglutinin, but little is known
      about how the expression of these virulence factors is regulated. Hfq is an RNA
      binding protein that facilitates riboregulation via interaction with small
      noncoding RNA (sRNA) molecules and their mRNA targets. Here, we show that a P.
      multocida hfq mutant produces significantly less hyaluronic acid capsule during
      all growth phases and displays reduced in vivo fitness. Transcriptional and
      proteomic analyses of the hfq mutant during mid-exponential-phase growth revealed
      altered transcript levels for 128 genes and altered protein levels for 78
      proteins. Further proteomic analyses of the hfq mutant during the early
      exponential growth phase identified 106 proteins that were produced at altered
      levels. Both the transcript and protein levels for genes/proteins involved in
      capsule biosynthesis were reduced in the hfq mutant, as were the levels of the
      filamentous hemagglutinin protein PfhB2 and its secretion partner LspB2. In
      contrast, there were increased expression levels of three LPS biosynthesis genes,
      encoding proteins involved in phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine addition to
      LPS, suggesting that these genes are negatively regulated by Hfq-dependent
      mechanisms. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence that Hfq plays
      a crucial role in regulating the global expression of P. multocida genes,
      including the regulation of key P. multocida virulence factors, capsule, LPS, and
      filamentous hemagglutinin.

PMID- 26883599
TI  - Insights into the properties of the two enantiomers of trans-delta-viniferin, a
      resveratrol derivative: antioxidant activity, biochemical and molecular modeling
      studies of its interactions with hemoglobin.
AB  - Resveratrol is widely known as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule. The
      present study first reports the effects of trans-delta-viniferin (TVN), a dimer
      of resveratrol, on human erythrocytes. The antioxidant activity of TVN was tested
      using in vitro model systems such as hydroxy radical scavenging, DPPH and lipid
      peroxidation. In addition we have examined the influence of the 15R,22R- and
      15S,22S-enantiomers (abbreviated R,R-TVN, and S,S-TVN, respectively) on anion
      transport, ATP release, caspase 3 activation. Given that hemoglobin (Hb) redox
      reactions are the major source of RBC oxidative stress, we also explored the
      effects of TVN on hemoglobin function. TVN showed moderate antioxidant properties
      and good protective activity from hemoglobin oxidation. Potential binding sites
      of R,R-TVN and S,S-TVN with oxy- and deoxy-Hb were also investigated through an
      extensive in silico docking approach and molecular dynamics calculations. The
      whole molecular modeling studies indicate that binding of R,R-TVN and S,S-TVN to
      Hb lacks of specific ligand-target interactions. This is the first report on the
      biological activity of the individual enantiomers of a resveratrol-related dimer.

PMID- 26883596
TI  - Identification of Antigenic Glycans from Schistosoma mansoni by Using a Shotgun
      Egg Glycan Microarray.
AB  - Infection of mammals by the parasitic helminth Schistosoma mansoni induces
      antibodies to glycan antigens in worms and eggs, but the differential nature of
      the immune response among infected mammals is poorly understood. To better define
      these responses, we used a shotgun glycomics approach in which N-glycans from
      schistosome egg glycoproteins were prepared, derivatized, separated, and used to
      generate an egg shotgun glycan microarray. This array was interrogated with sera
      from infected mice, rhesus monkeys, and humans and with glycan-binding proteins
      and antibodies to gather information about the structures of antigenic glycans,
      which also were analyzed by mass spectrometry. A major glycan antigen targeted by
      IgG from different infected species is the FLDNF epitope
      [Fucalpha3GalNAcbeta4(Fucalpha3)GlcNAc-R], which is also recognized by the IgG
      monoclonal antibody F2D2. The FLDNF antigen is expressed by all life stages of
      the parasite in mammalian hosts, and F2D2 can kill schistosomula in vitro in a
      complement-dependent manner. Different antisera also recognized other glycan
      determinants, including core beta-xylose and highly fucosylated glycans. Thus,
      the natural shotgun glycan microarray of schistosome eggs is useful in
      identifying antigenic glycans and in developing new anti-glycan reagents that may
      have diagnostic applications and contribute to developing new vaccines against
      schistosomiasis.

PMID- 26883602
TI  - Luminescent nanoparticle trapping with far-field optical fiber-tip tweezers.
AB  - We report stable and reproducible trapping of luminescent dielectric YAG:Ce(3+)
      nanoparticles with sizes down to 60 nm using far-field dual fiber tip optical
      tweezers. The particles are synthesized by a specific glycothermal route followed
      by an original protected annealing step, resulting in significantly enhanced
      photostability. The tweezers properties are analyzed by studying the trapped
      particles residual Brownian motion using video or reflected signal records. The
      trapping potential is harmonic in the transverse direction to the fiber axis, but
      reveals interference fringes in the axial direction. Large trapping stiffness of
      35 and 2 pN MUm(-1) W(-1) is measured for a fiber tip-to-tip distance of 3 MUm
      and 300 nm and 60 nm particles, respectively. The forces acting on the
      nanoparticles are discussed within the dipolar approximation (gradient and
      scattering force contributions) or exact calculations using the Maxwell Stress
      Tensor formalism. Prospects for trapping even smaller particles are discussed. 

PMID- 26883601
TI  - Bicoid gradient formation and function in the Drosophila pre-syncytial
      blastoderm.
AB  - Bicoid (Bcd) protein distributes in a concentration gradient that organizes the
      anterior/posterior axis of the Drosophila embryo. It has been understood that bcd
      RNA is sequestered at the anterior pole during oogenesis, is not translated until
      fertilization, and produces a protein gradient that functions in the syncytial
      blastoderm after 9-10 nuclear divisions. However, technical issues limited the
      sensitivity of analysis of pre-syncytial blastoderm embryos and precluded studies
      of oocytes after stage 13. We developed methods to analyze stage 14 oocytes and
      pre-syncytial blastoderm embryos, and found that stage 14 oocytes make Bcd
      protein, that bcd RNA and Bcd protein distribute in matching concentration
      gradients in the interior of nuclear cycle 2-6 embryos, and that Bcd regulation
      of target gene expression is apparent at nuclear cycle 7, two cycles prior to
      syncytial blastoderm. We discuss the implications for the generation and function
      of the Bcd gradient. 

PMID- 26883603
TI  - Listening to Parents: A Qualitative Look at the Dental and Oral Care Experiences
      of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
AB  - PURPOSE: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience various barriers
      to optimal dental and oral care. The purpose of this study was to conduct focus
      groups of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and subsequent
      qualitative analysis of the interviews in order to better understand problems in
      dental and oral care encountered by children with ASD. METHODS: Four focus
      groups, comprised of parents of children with ASD, ranging in age from three to
      17 years old, were assembled. We took a semi-structured approach, facilitating
      discussion about home oral hygiene and professional dental care. Audiotapes were
      transcribed and independently coded by four investigators who then jointly
      identified themes. RESULTS: There were three overarching, interrelated themes:
      (1) There is variability between children with ASD in how they tolerate dental
      and oral care and in what facilitates such care. (2) Parents want more extensive
      dental care for their children with ASD. (3) Each child's dental and oral care
      should be individualized based on parents' input about the unique characteristics
      and needs of their child. CONCLUSIONS: There is no "one size fits all" approach
      to dental and oral care for children with autism spectrum disorder. Parents are
      valuable partners in informing the unique dental and oral care needs of their
      child with ASD.

PMID- 26883604
TI  - Characteristics of Mesiodens and Its Related Complications.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mesiodens on
      adjacent permanent anterior teeth according to mesiodens characteristics.
      METHODS: To evaluate complications associated with mesiodens, according to its
      characteristics, a total of 107 children were studied who had a chief complaint
      of mesiodens. The number, morphology, direction of eruption, position of
      mesiodens, root developmental stage and complications related to adjacent
      permanent maxillary central incisors (APMCIs) were evaluated by radiographic
      imaging. RESULTS: The final sample was 107 children and total number of mesiodens
      was 153. Among these patients, 67 percent showed clinical complications. The
      primary morphologic type was conical (96.1 percent) and the most common direction
      of eruption was inverted (56.2 percent). Most mesiodens (80.4 percent) were
      located on the palatal side of the APMCIs. CONCLUSIONS: The direction of
      mesiodens and the eruption period of adjacent permanent incisors affected the
      complication rate. The positional relationship between mesiodens and adjacent
      permanent central incisors had the strongest influence on both eruption
      disturbance and displacement of permanent central incisors.

PMID- 26883605
TI  - Existing Paradigms and Current Challenges in Adolescent Oral Health Research: A
      Call for Health Promotion Research Focusing on Low-income Adolescents.

PMID- 26883606
TI  - State-based Distribution of U.S. Pediatric Dentists in Private Practice.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine state-based and regional ratios of U.S. pediatric dentists
      to children in 2010 and determine changes since 2000. METHODS: State-based
      enumeration of pediatric dentists in private practice (PDP) was determined from
      the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's 2010 Membership Directory. Number
      of children in each state was obtained from U.S. Census 2010 data. PDP ratio for
      each state was computed per 100,000 children. Changes in state-based PDP number
      and ratio to children were compared with 2000 data. RESULTS: There were 4,453
      pediatric dentists in private practice across the United States, with a ratio of
      6.00 per 100,000 children. California (583), Texas (378), New York (310), and
      Florida (231) had the largest PDP numbers. The Southern region (1,609) had the
      largest PDP number, while the Midwest (706) had the lowest number. PDP ratio to
      children was highest in the Northeast (7.61) and lowest in the Midwest (4.38).
      With the exceptions of Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming, the PDP number and its ratio
      to children increased in all states between 2000 and 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a
      generalized increase in practitioner number since 2000, noticeable differences
      persisted in 2010 among states in their pediatric dentist to children ratios.

PMID- 26883607
TI  - Variables Affecting General Anesthesia Time for Pediatric Dental Cases.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify variables affecting procedural
      times for dental treatments performed in the operating room (OR) under general
      anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 2,264 OR cases at Boston Children's Hospital were
      included in the study. A series of patient, provider, and operational variables
      were studied, including: patient age, gender, American Society of
      Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, need for intraoperative radiographs, intubation
      type, provider type, referring provider type, referral date, waiting time between
      referral and OR, and symmetry of caries pattern. Analysis of variance, z test, t
      test, Pearson correlations, and regression modeling were used. RESULTS: Provider
      inexperience, need for obtaining radiographs, older age, higher ASA class, and
      oral intubation significantly increased surgical case times. Using the current OR
      case estimation resulted in an overestimation of 14.6 hours per month.
      Application of our regression model improved the accuracy of case time estimation
      by 7.9 hours per month. CONCLUSIONS: Overestimation of pediatric dental operating
      room cases exists, and identification of variables associated with these
      inaccuracies can aid providers in recapturing underutilized operating room times.

PMID- 26883608
TI  - Epidemiologic Study of Molar-incisor Hypomineralization in Schoolchildren in
      North-eastern Brazil.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in
      children and possible factors associated with this disorder. METHODS: This was a
      cross-sectional observational study of 594 11- to 14-year-olds from Teresina,
      Piaui, Brazil. The diagnosis of MIH was made based on criteria set by the
      European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. To investigate possible associated
      factors, mothers completed a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis of the data,
      chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher tests and Poisson regression (PR) were
      performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH was 18.4 percent (95 percent confidence
      interval [CI] equals 15.20 to 21.50). The maxillary molars were the teeth most
      affected by MIH (36.1 percent). MIH patients showed a higher number of mean DMF-T
      (PR equals 2.18; 95 percent CI equals 1.46 to 2.85) than those not affected by
      the condition. There was an association between MIH and preterm birth (PR equals
      1.76; 95 percent CI equals 1.22 to 2.12) and between MIH and respiratory distress
      at birth (PR equals 1.83; 95 percent CI equals 1.25 to 2.18). CONCLUSIONS: The
      prevalence of MIH in schoolchildren was 18.4 percent. Those with MIH had a
      greater mean DMF-T than those without MIH. Preterm birth and respiratory distress
      were associated with MIH.

PMID- 26883609
TI  - Comparison of Anesthetic Efficacy of Articaine and Lidocaine During Primary
      Maxillary Molar Extractions in Children.
AB  - PURPOSE: Recent evidence has shown that buccal infiltration with articaine alone
      can be used to anesthetize dental tissues for various dental procedures. The
      purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of articaine compared to
      lidocaine for extraction of primary maxillary molars and assess whether palatal
      anesthesia could be achieved with buccal infiltration injection but without the
      need for palatal infiltration. METHODS: One hundred and two children requiring
      primary maxillary molar extraction were randomly selected to receive buccal
      infiltration using either articaine or lidocaine. During extraction, The Wong
      Baker Facial Pain Scale (FPS) was employed for subjective evaluation and Modified
      Behavior Pain Scale (MBPS) values, heart rate, and blood pressure were recorded
      for objective evaluation. Effectiveness of anesthesia was checked using
      subjective symptoms and probing. RESULTS: Palatal anesthesia with buccal
      infiltration could not be obtained in any of the groups. Statistically
      significantly higher MBPS pain scale values were seen with lidocaine as compared
      to articaine. FPS, heart rate, and blood pressure values presented no
      statistically significant difference in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although
      buccal infiltration with articaine failed to provide adequate palatal anesthesia,
      it can still be considered a good alternative to lidocaine for local anesthesia
      in children.

PMID- 26883610
TI  - Pilot Study of the Canary System Use in the Diagnosis of Approximal Carious
      Lesions in Primary Molars.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study assessed the feasibility and ease of use of the Canary System
      in approximal carious lesion detection in primary molars. METHODS: Forty healthy
      five- to 12-year-olds, who presented to the Center for Pediatric Dentistry in
      Seattle, Wash., U.S.A., for initial or recall exams, were enrolled. Participants
      had one to two primary molars, with or without approximal radiographic
      radiolucencies. Four Canary System scans were performed at the approximal area of
      each study tooth. The maximum Canary number of the four scans was compared to
      bitewing radiographs. RESULTS: Seventy-five teeth were included in the final
      analysis. All study patients easily tolerated being scanned with the Canary
      System. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Canary System, when
      compared to bitewing radiographs, was 81 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
      Among teeth without radiographic radiolucencies, the Canary System identified 65
      percent (31 of 48) of study teeth as having carious lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The
      Canary System is a safe approximal caries detection device in five- to 12-year
      olds. When compared to bitewing radiographs, the specificity of the Canary System
      for approximal carious lesion detection in primary molars was low. However, this
      could indicate that the Canary System is detecting lesions earlier than
      radiographs.

PMID- 26883611
TI  - Retrospective Study of Retention of Stainless Steel Crowns and Pre-veneered
      Crowns on Primary Anterior Teeth.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective chart review was to explore the
      retention of anterior pre-veneered stainless steel crowns (NuSmile) and
      conventional stainless steel crowns (3M ESPE) placed on primary anterior teeth.
      METHODS: Records for children were reviewed over four years using the electronic
      record system axiUm. Data collected included child's age at time of crown
      placement, date of placement, tooth number, type of crown, patient behavior,
      treatment environment, provider type, crown presence, absence, and cementation
      success or failure at subsequent recall visits. RESULTS: A total of 637 anterior
      crowns in children treated with either or both crown types met this study's
      inclusion criteria. Of these crowns, 483 were NuSmile Signature crowns and 154
      were stainless steel crowns. There was a nine percent failure rate for the
      NuSmile Signature crowns and a seven percent failure rate for the stainless steel
      crowns. There was no statistically significant difference in crown retention
      rates between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A full-coverage restoration
      that can follow the lifespan of the primary anterior dentition in high-risk
      children is needed. The results from this study indicate good crown retention
      rates for both crown types with no statistically significant difference between
      them (P<0.05).

PMID- 26883612
TI  - Sodium Hypochlorite Versus Formocresol and Ferric Sulfate Pulpotomies in Primary
      Molars: 18-month Follow-up.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to compare the clinical and radiographic
      success rates of 5.25 percent Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) pulpotomies to
      Formocresol (FC) and Ferric Sulfate (FS) in decayed primary molars. METHODS:
      Eighty-one primary molars, randomly divided into three groups, were treated with
      one of three different pulpotomy materials; NaOCl, FC and FS. The outcomes of the
      different groups were assessed clinically and radiographically every six months
      over 18 months. Chi-square test was used to detect differences in outcome
      measures in all groups. RESULTS: At six months, clinical and radiographic success
      rates were 100 percent for each group (27/27). At 12 months, clinical success was
      100 percent (24/24), 96 percent (24/25), and 95.7 percent (22/23) for NaOCl, FC,
      and FS respectively. The radiographic success was 95.8 percent (23/24) for NaOCl
      group, and 100 percent for FC (25/25), and FS (23/23). At 18 months, the clinical
      success was 83.3 percent (20/24), 96 percent (24/25), and 87 percent (20/23) for
      NaOCL, FC, and FS respectively. The 18 month radiographic success was 91.7
      percent (22/24), 100 percent (25/25), and 95.7 percent (22/23) for NaOCl, FC, and
      FS respectively. No significant differences were found in clinical or
      radiographic outcomes between the three groups at six, 12 and 18 months.
      CONCLUSION: The three pulpotomy medicaments yielded similar outcomes.

PMID- 26883613
TI  - Prevalence of Antral Pseudocysts in the Pediatric Population.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to determine the previously unreported
      prevalence of antral pseudocysts in an exclusively pediatric dental population,
      characterize their presentation, and investigate potential correlates to the
      presence of these lesions. METHODS: A tripartite chart review was conducted of
      2,000 five- to 21-year-old pediatric dental patients at Yale-New Haven Hospital
      for the presence of antral pseudocysts identifiable on panoramic radiographs.
      Demographic, medical, and dental variables potentially influencing their
      pathogenesis were analyzed via descriptive statistics, odds ratios, and Fisher's
      exact test. RESULTS: Thirty-six antral pseudocysts were identified in the study
      sample (1.8 percent). They presented as asymptomatic solitary lesions with a
      slight male predominance and occurring with greater frequency in individuals with
      reported allergies. No significant relationship was found between maxillary
      extractions, orthodontics, obstructive sleep apnea, or history of orofacial
      trauma and the presence of antral pseudocysts. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of
      antral pseudocysts in the pediatric dental population falls among the lower end
      of ranges previously reported in the literature and may reflect their development
      over time in response to environmental exposures.

PMID- 26883614
TI  - Pediatric Oral Pathology: A Retrospective Survey of 4,554 Biopsies.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to: (1) report patient age, gender, and
      anatomical information on a large number of pediatric oral biopsies in the United
      States; and (2) highlight differences in recent pediatric oral lesions compared
      to past pediatric studies and an adult population. METHODS: A total of 4,554
      pediatric biopsies received over the past 13 years (2001-2015) were surveyed.
      Patient's age, gender, anatomical site of biopsy, and diagnosis were described
      under 10 diagnostic categories: (1) malignant neoplasm; (2) benign neoplasm; (3)
      infectious; (4) reactive; (5) precancerous; (6) developmental; (7) healthy
      tissue; (8) immune dysfunction; (9) physical trauma; and (10) other. RESULTS: A
      gradual increase in the number of biopsies with age was noted. The most common
      diagnosis observed was mucocele, consisting of 28 percent of all biopsies.
      Biopsies across pathological categories were most commonly obtained from the
      mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsies received from a pediatric population are largely
      reactive in nature. Compared to an adult population, the pediatric population has
      a significantly lower rate of malignant and precancerous lesions but a higher
      rate of developmental diagnosis. A diverse array of pathoses was seen in the
      gingiva and mandible, whereas palatal mucosa and the floor of the mouth exhibited
      more variation.

PMID- 26883615
TI  - Management of Red Teeth in an International Patient with X-Linked
      Adrenoleukodystrophy.
AB  - Childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is a progressive, central
      nervous system, and endocrine disorder that typically leads to total neurologic
      disability and, eventually, death without appropriate, timely medical therapy.
      Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been found effective in slowing
      cerebral deterioration and improving long-term survival. The purpose of this case
      report was to describe the multidisciplinary management of red, discolored,
      pulpally treated primary molars identified in a nine-year-old Russian boy with
      childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy preparing for myeloablative
      conditioning chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 

PMID- 26883617
TI  - Erratum to: 'Home-based palliative approach for people with severe multiple
      sclerosis and their carers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial'.

PMID- 26883618
TI  - Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Gram-Negative Pathogens Causing
      Intra-abdominal Infections in Pediatric Patients in Europe-SMART 2011-2014.
AB  - Background: The most common type of intra-abdominal infection (IAI) is
      appendicitis, which occurs most frequently in children and young adults. Yet, few
      studies on the microbiology of pediatric IAI are available, which is problematic
      because antimicrobial therapy for IAI usually needs to be initiated before
      microbiological culture results are available. With this study, we aimed to
      assess whether resistance patterns in pediatric IAI in Europe that would help
      clinicians select empiric therapy can be identified. Methods: Gram-negative
      pathogens (n = 1259) were collected from pediatric patients as part of the Study
      for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) in 16 European countries
      from 2011 to 2014. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and extended-spectrum
      beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotype were determined by broth microdilution according
      to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, and susceptibility was
      interpreted according to European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility
      Testing guidelines. An IAI was defined as hospital- or community-associated if
      cultured >=48 or <48 hours after admission, respectively. Results: Overall, only
      imipenem and amikacin exceeded 90% susceptibility when all Gram-negative
      pathogens were combined, and ertapenem, cefepime, ceftazidime, piperacillin
      tazobactam, and levofloxacin reached at least 85%. However, resistance, ESBL
      positive, and multidrug-resistance (MDR) rates were substantially higher in
      isolates from patients with hospital-associated IAI than from those with
      community-associated IAI (eg, 14.1% vs 5.1% MDR isolates, respectively, among all
      Gram-negative pathogens), higher in isolates from intensive care units than in
      those from general wards, and higher in isolates from infants than in those from
      children >=1 year of age. In addition, MDR rates varied markedly within Europe.
      Conclusions: These results indicate that empiric therapy of pediatric IAI in
      Europe should reflect not only regional and local resistance patterns but also
      higher resistance rates in hospital-associated infections, intensive care units,
      and infants.

PMID- 26883620
TI  - Suppression subtractive hybridisation and real-time PCR for strain-specific
      quantification of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis BAN in broiler feed.
AB  - To ensure quality management during the production processes of probiotics and
      for efficacy testing in vivo, accurate tools are needed for the identification
      and quantification of probiotic strains. In this study, a strain-specific qPCR
      assay based on Suppression Subtractive Hybridisation (SSH) for identifying unique
      sequences, was developed to quantify the strain Bifidobacterium animalis BAN in
      broiler feed. Seventy potential BAN specific sequences were obtained after SSH of
      the BAN genome, with a pool of closely related strain genomes and subsequent
      differential screening by dot blot hybridisation. Primers were designed for 30
      sequences which showed no match with any sequence database entry, using BLAST and
      FASTA. Primer specificity was assessed by qPCR using 45 non-target strains and
      species in a stepwise approach. Primer T39_S2 was the only primer pair without
      any unspecific binding properties and it showed a PCR efficiency of 80% with a Cq
      value of 17.32 for 20 ng BAN DNA. Optimised feed-matrix dependent calibration
      curve for the quantification of BAN was generated, ranging from 6.28 * 10(3)cfu
      g(-1) to 1.61 * 10(6)cfu g(-1). Limit of detection of the qPCR assay was 2 *
      10(1)cfu g(-1) BAN. Applicability of the strain-specific qPCR assay was confirmed
      in a spiking experiment which added BAN to the feed in two concentrations, 2 *
      10(6)cfu g(-1) and 2 * 10(4)cfu g(-1). Results showed BAN mean recovery rates in
      feed of 1.44 * 10(6) +/- 4.39 * 10(5)cfu g(-1) and 1.59 * 10(4) +/- 1.69 *
      10(4)cfu g(-1), respectively. The presented BAN-specific qPCR assay can be
      applied in animal feeding trials, in order to control the correct inclusion rates
      of the probiotic to the feed, and it could further be adapted, to monitor the
      uptake of the probiotic into the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens.

PMID- 26883621
TI  - The first mile: community experience of outbreak control during an Ebola outbreak
      in Luwero District, Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A major challenge to outbreak control lies in early detection of
      viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) in local community contexts during the critical
      initial stages of an epidemic, when risk of spreading is its highest ("the first
      mile"). In this paper we document how a major Ebola outbreak control effort in
      central Uganda in 2012 was experienced from the perspective of the community. We
      ask to what extent the community became a resource for early detection, and
      identify problems encountered with community health worker and social
      mobilization strategies. METHODS: Analysis is based on first-hand ethnographic
      data from the center of a small Ebola outbreak in Luwero Country, Uganda, in
      2012. Three of this paper's authors were engaged in an 18 month period of
      fieldwork on community health resources when the outbreak occurred. In total, 13
      respondents from the outbreak site were interviewed, along with 21 key informants
      and 61 focus group respondents from nearby Kaguugo Parish. All informants were
      chosen through non-probability sampling sampling. RESULTS: Our data illustrate
      the lack of credibility, from an emic perspective, of biomedical explanations
      which ignore local understandings. These explanations were undermined by an
      insensitivity to local culture, a mismatch between information circulated and the
      local interpretative framework, and the inability of the emergency response team
      to take the time needed to listen and empathize with community needs.
      Stigmatization of the local community--in particular its belief in amayembe
      spirits--fuelled historical distrust of the external health system and engendered
      community-level resistance to early detection. CONCLUSIONS: Given the available
      anthropological knowledge of a previous outbreak in Northern Uganda, it is
      surprising that so little serious effort was made this time round to take local
      sensibilities and culture into account. The "first mile" problem is not only a
      question of using local resources for early detection, but also of making use of
      the contextual cultural knowledge that has already been collected and is readily
      available. Despite remarkable technological innovations, outbreak control remains
      contingent upon human interaction and openness to cultural difference.

PMID- 26883622
TI  - Study protocol - efficacy of an attachment-based working alliance in the
      multimodal pain treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The concept of attachment is relevant for the onset and development
      of chronic pain. Insecure attachment styles negatively affect therapeutic
      outcome. Insecurely attached patients seem to be less able to sustain positive
      effects of a multimodal treatment program. However, it has never been tested
      before if an attachment-oriented approach can improve treatment results of
      insecurely attached patients in a multimodal outpatient setting. To test this
      assumption, we compare the short- and long-term outcomes for pain patients who
      will receive multidisciplinary, attachment-oriented treatment with the outcomes
      for patients in a control group, who will receive the multidisciplinary state-of
      the-art treatment. METHODS: Two patient groups (baseline, attachment
      intervention) are assessed before treatment, after treatment, and at a 6 month
      follow-up. The study is conducted in a block design: After data collection of the
      first block (controls) and before as well as during data collection for the
      second block (treatment group), the health care personnel of the outpatient pain
      clinic receives training on attachment theory and its use in the therapeutic
      context. Pain intensity as measured with visual analogue scales and physical
      functioning will serve as the primary outcome measures. DISCUSSION: The design of
      our study allows for a continuous exchange of experienced team members, which may
      help bring about concrete attachment related guidelines for the enhancement of
      therapeutic outcome. This would be the first attempt at an attachment-oriented
      improvement of multimodal pain programs. CONCLUSION: An attachment-based approach
      may be a promising way to enhance long-term treatment outcomes for insecurely
      attached pain patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS00008715 (registered on the 3(rd)
      of June 2015).

PMID- 26883624
TI  - Non-invasive ventilation and survival rates: the more, the better. A plea against
      its underuse.

PMID- 26883623
TI  - Time-dependent and independent neurophysiological indicators of prognosis in post
      anoxic coma subjects treated by therapeutic hypothermia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evaluation of prognostic value of electroencephalography (EEG) and
      somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) according to different recording times.
      METHODS: A retrospective cohort study performed at the medical ICU of the AOU
      Careggi Teaching Hospital (Florence, Italy) of comatose adults (>18 years) after
      cardiac arrest (CA) and treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We evaluated
      the Glasgow Coma Scale, EEG, and SEP performed at 12, 24, and 72 hrs after CA.
      Outcome was determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months after CA.
      RESULTS: We analyzed 167 patients. All patients with grade 1 EEG ("continuous")
      within 12 hours of CA recovered consciousness (false positive rate: 0.0%). Grade
      2 EEG ("non-continuous") at 72 hours predicted a poor outcome with FPR=0.0%.
      Bilateral absent SEP at any time after CA predicted a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS:
      EEG is a reliable time-dependent predictor of a good outcome (within 12 hours)
      and a poor outcome (after 72 hours). SEP is a time-independent predictor of a
      poor outcome.

PMID- 26883625
TI  - Pitfalls of brain monitoring using NIRS device.

PMID- 26883627
TI  - Does migratory distance affect fuelling in a medium-distance passerine migrant?:
      results from direct and step-wise simulated magnetic displacements.
AB  - In birds, fat accumulation before and during migration has been shown to be
      endogenously controlled and tuned by, among other factors, the Earth's magnetic
      field. However, our knowledge about the influence of the geomagnetic field on the
      fuelling in migrating birds is still limited to just a few nocturnally migrating
      passerine species. In order to study if variations of the magnetic field can also
      influence the fuelling of both day- and night-migrating passerines, we caught
      first-year dunnocks (Prunella modularis) and subjected them to three magnetic
      field conditions simulated by a system of magnetic coils: (1) local geomagnetic
      field of southern Sweden, (2) magnetic field corresponding to the centre of the
      expected wintering area, and (3) magnetic field met at the northern limit of the
      species' breeding distribution. We did not find a difference in mass increase
      between the birds kept in a local magnetic field and a field resembling their
      wintering area, irrespectively of the mode of magnetic displacement, i.e. direct
      or step-wise. However, the dunnocks magnetically displaced north showed a lower
      rate of fuelling in comparison to the control group, probably due to elevated
      activity. Compared with previous studies, our results suggest that the fuelling
      response to magnetic displacements during the migration period is specific to the
      eco-physiological situation. Future studies need to address if there is an effect
      of magnetic field manipulation on the level of migratory activity in dunnocks and
      how widespread the influence of local geomagnetic field parameters is on fuelling
      decisions in different bird species, which have different migratory strategies,
      distances and migration history. 

PMID- 26883626
TI  - Prickle1 mutation causes planar cell polarity and directional cell migration
      defects associated with cardiac outflow tract anomalies and other structural
      birth defects.
AB  - Planar cell polarity (PCP) is controlled by a conserved pathway that regulates
      directional cell behavior. Here, we show that mutant mice harboring a newly
      described mutation termed Beetlejuice (Bj) in Prickle1 (Pk1), a PCP component,
      exhibit developmental phenotypes involving cell polarity defects, including
      skeletal, cochlear and congenital cardiac anomalies. Bj mutants die neonatally
      with cardiac outflow tract (OFT) malalignment. This is associated with OFT
      shortening due to loss of polarized cell orientation and failure of second heart
      field cell intercalation mediating OFT lengthening. OFT myocardialization was
      disrupted with cardiomyocytes failing to align with the direction of cell
      invasion into the outflow cushions. The expression of genes mediating Wnt
      signaling was altered. Also noted were shortened but widened bile ducts and
      disruption in canonical Wnt signaling. Using an in vitro wound closure assay, we
      showed Bj mutant fibroblasts cannot establish polarized cell morphology or engage
      in directional cell migration, and their actin cytoskeleton failed to align with
      the direction of wound closure. Unexpectedly, Pk1 mutants exhibited primary and
      motile cilia defects. Given Bj mutant phenotypes are reminiscent of ciliopathies,
      these findings suggest Pk1 may also regulate ciliogenesis. Together these
      findings show Pk1 plays an essential role in regulating cell polarity and
      directional cell migration during development. 

PMID- 26883628
TI  - The intrinsic mechanics of B-DNA in solution characterized by NMR.
AB  - Experimental characterization of the structural couplings in free B-DNA in
      solution has been elusive, because of subtle effects that are challenging to
      tackle. Here, the exploitation of the NMR measurements collected on four
      dodecamers containing a substantial set of dinucleotide sequences provides new,
      consistent correlations revealing the DNA intrinsic mechanics. The difference
      between two successive residual dipolar couplings (DeltaRDCs) involving C6/8
      H6/8, C3'-H3' and C4'-H4' vectors are correlated to the(31)P chemical shifts
      (deltaP), which reflect the populations of the BI and BII backbone states. The
      deltaPs are also correlated to the internucleotide distances (Dinter) involving
      H6/8, H2' and H2" protons. Calculations of NMR quantities on high resolution X
      ray structures and controlled models of DNA enable to interpret these couplings:
      the studied DeltaRDCs depend mostly on roll, while Dinterare mainly sensitive to
      twist or slide. Overall, these relations demonstrate how deltaP measurements
      inform on key inter base parameters, in addition to probe the BI<->BII backbone
      equilibrium, and shed new light into coordinated motions of phosphate groups and
      bases in free B-DNA in solution. Inspection of the 5' and 3' ends of the
      dodecamers also supplies new information on the fraying events, otherwise
      neglected. 

PMID- 26883629
TI  - Rad18 confers hematopoietic progenitor cell DNA damage tolerance independently of
      the Fanconi Anemia pathway in vivo.
AB  - In cultured cancer cells the E3 ubiquitin ligase Rad18 activates Trans-Lesion
      Synthesis (TLS) and the Fanconi Anemia (FA) pathway. However, physiological roles
      of Rad18 in DNA damage tolerance and carcinogenesis are unknown and were
      investigated here. Primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) co
      expressed RAD18 and FANCD2 proteins, potentially consistent with a role for Rad18
      in FA pathway function during hematopoiesis. However, hematopoietic defects
      typically associated with fanc-deficiency (decreased HSPC numbers, reduced
      engraftment potential of HSPC, and Mitomycin C (MMC) -sensitive hematopoiesis),
      were absent in Rad18(-/-) mice. Moreover, primary Rad18(-/-) mouse embryonic
      fibroblasts (MEF) retained robust Fancd2 mono-ubiquitination following MMC
      treatment. Therefore, Rad18 is dispensable for FA pathway activation in
      untransformed cells and the Rad18 and FA pathways are separable in hematopoietic
      cells. In contrast with responses to crosslinking agents, Rad18(-/-) HSPC were
      sensitive to in vivo treatment with the myelosuppressive agent 7,12
      Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Rad18-deficient fibroblasts aberrantly
      accumulated DNA damage markers after DMBA treatment. Moreover, in vivo DMBA
      treatment led to increased incidence of B cell malignancy in Rad18(-/-) mice.
      These results identify novel hematopoietic functions for Rad18 and provide the
      first demonstration that Rad18 confers DNA damage tolerance and tumor-suppression
      in a physiological setting.

PMID- 26883630
TI  - Alu retrotransposons promote differentiation of human carcinoma cells through the
      aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
AB  - Cell differentiation is a central process in development and in cancer growth and
      dissemination. OCT4 (POU5F1) and NANOG are essential for cell stemness and
      pluripotency; yet, the mechanisms that regulate their expression remain largely
      unknown. Repetitive elements account for almost half of the Human Genome; still,
      their role in gene regulation is poorly understood. Here, we show that the dioxin
      receptor (AHR) leads to differentiation of human carcinoma cells through the
      transcriptional upregulation of Alu retrotransposons, whose RNA transcripts can
      repress pluripotency genes. Despite the genome-wide presence of Alu elements, we
      provide evidences that those located at the NANOG and OCT4 promoters bind AHR,
      are transcribed by RNA polymerase-III and repress NANOG and OCT4 in
      differentiated cells. OCT4 and NANOG repression likely involves processing of Alu
      derived transcripts through the miRNA machinery involving the Microprocessor and
      RISC. Consistently, stable AHR knockdown led to basal undifferentiation, impaired
      Alus transcription and blockade of OCT4 and NANOG repression. We suggest that
      transcripts produced from AHR-regulated Alu retrotransposons may control the
      expression of stemness genes OCT4 and NANOG during differentiation of carcinoma
      cells. The control of discrete Alu elements by specific transcription factors may
      have a dynamic role in genome regulation under physiological and diseased
      conditions.

PMID- 26883632
TI  - The landscape of somatic mutations in protein coding genes in apparently benign
      human tissues carries signatures of relaxed purifying selection.
AB  - Mutations acquired during development and aging lead to inter- and intra-tissue
      genetic variations. Evidence linking such mutations to complex traits and
      diseases is rising. We detected somatic mutations in protein-coding regions in
      140 benign tissue samples representing nine tissue-types (bladder, breast, liver,
      lung, prostate, stomach, thyroid, head and neck) and paired blood from 70 donors.
      A total of 80% of the samples had 2-39 mutations detectable at tissue-level
      resolution. Factors such as age and smoking were associated with increased burden
      of detectable mutations, and tissues carried signatures of distinct mutagenic
      processes such as oxidative DNA damage and transcription-coupled repair. Using
      mutational signatures, we predicted that majority of the mutations in blood
      originated in hematopoietic stem and early progenitor cells. Missense to silent
      mutations ratio and the persistence of potentially damaging mutations in
      expressed genes carried signatures of relaxed purifying selection. Our findings
      have relevance for etiology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases including
      cancer. 

PMID- 26883631
TI  - Polymerases epsilon and ? repair dysfunctional telomeres facilitated by salt.
AB  - Damaged DNA can be repaired by removal and re-synthesis of up to 30 nucleotides
      during base or nucleotide excision repair. An important question is what happens
      when many more nucleotides are removed, resulting in long single-stranded DNA
      (ssDNA) lesions. Such lesions appear on chromosomes during telomere damage,
      double strand break repair or after the UV damage of stationary phase cells.
      Here, we show that long single-stranded lesions, formed at dysfunctional
      telomeres in budding yeast, are re-synthesized when cells are removed from the
      telomere-damaging environment. This process requires Pol32, an accessory factor
      of Polymerase delta. However, re-synthesis takes place even when the telomere
      damaging conditions persist, in which case the accessory factors of both
      polymerases delta and epsilon are required, and surprisingly, salt. Salt added to
      the medium facilitates the DNA synthesis, independently of the osmotic stress
      responses. These results provide unexpected insights into the DNA metabolism and
      challenge the current view on cellular responses to telomere dysfunction.

PMID- 26883633
TI  - Mapping of internal monophosphate 5' ends of Bacillus subtilis messenger RNAs and
      ribosomal RNAs in wild-type and ribonuclease-mutant strains.
AB  - The recent findings that the narrow-specificity endoribonuclease RNase III and
      the 5' exonuclease RNase J1 are not essential in the Gram-positive model
      organism,Bacillus subtilis, facilitated a global analysis of internal 5' ends
      that are generated or acted upon by these enzymes. An RNA-Seq protocol known as
      PARE (Parallel Analysis of RNA Ends) was used to capture 5' monophosphorylated
      RNA ends in ribonuclease wild-type and mutant strains. Comparison of PARE peaks
      in strains with RNase III present or absent showed that, in addition to its well
      known role in ribosomal (rRNA) processing, many coding sequences and intergenic
      regions appeared to be direct targets of RNase III. These target sites were, in
      most cases, not associated with a known antisense RNA. The PARE analysis also
      revealed an accumulation of 3'-proximal peaks that correlated with the absence of
      RNase J1, confirming the importance of RNase J1 in degrading RNA fragments that
      contain the transcription terminator structure. A significant result from the
      PARE analysis was the discovery of an endonuclease cleavage just 2 nts downstream
      of the 16S rRNA 3' end. This latter observation begins to answer, at least for B.
      subtilis, a long-standing question on the exonucleolytic versus endonucleolytic
      nature of 16S rRNA maturation.

PMID- 26883634
TI  - RUNX super-enhancer control through the Notch pathway by Epstein-Barr virus
      transcription factors regulates B cell growth.
AB  - In B cells infected by the cancer-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), RUNX3 and
      RUNX1 transcription is manipulated to control cell growth. The EBV-encoded EBNA2
      transcription factor (TF) activates RUNX3 transcription leading to RUNX3-mediated
      repression of the RUNX1 promoter and the relief of RUNX1-directed growth
      repression. We show that EBNA2 activates RUNX3 through a specific element within
      a -97 kb super-enhancer in a manner dependent on the expression of the Notch DNA
      binding partner RBP-J. We also reveal that the EBV TFs EBNA3B and EBNA3C
      contribute to RUNX3 activation in EBV-infected cells by targeting the same
      element. Uncovering a counter-regulatory feed-forward step, we demonstrate EBNA2
      activation of a RUNX1 super-enhancer (-139 to -250 kb) that results in low-level
      RUNX1 expression in cells refractory to RUNX1-mediated growth inhibition. EBNA2
      activation of the RUNX1 super-enhancer is also dependent on RBP-J. Consistent
      with the context-dependent roles of EBNA3B and EBNA3C as activators or
      repressors, we find that these proteins negatively regulate the RUNX1 super
      enhancer, curbing EBNA2 activation. Taken together our results reveal cell-type
      specific exploitation of RUNX gene super-enhancers by multiple EBV TFs via the
      Notch pathway to fine tune RUNX3 and RUNX1 expression and manipulate B-cell
      growth.

PMID- 26883635
TI  - The structure and intermolecular forces of DNA condensates.
AB  - Spontaneous assembly of DNA molecules into compact structures is ubiquitous in
      biological systems. Experiment has shown that polycations can turn electrostatic
      self-repulsion of DNA into attraction, yet the physical mechanism of DNA
      condensation has remained elusive. Here, we report the results of atomistic
      molecular dynamics simulations that elucidated the microscopic structure of dense
      DNA assemblies and the physics of interactions that makes such assemblies
      possible. Reproducing the setup of the DNA condensation experiments, we measured
      the internal pressure of DNA arrays as a function of the DNA-DNA distance,
      showing a quantitative agreement between the results of our simulations and the
      experimental data. Analysis of the MD trajectories determined the DNA-DNA force
      in a DNA condensate to be pairwise, the DNA condensation to be driven by
      electrostatics of polycations and not hydration, and the concentration of
      bridging cations, not adsorbed cations, to determine the magnitude and the sign
      of the DNA-DNA force. Finally, our simulations quantitatively characterized the
      orientational correlations of DNA in DNA arrays as well as diffusive motion of
      DNA and cations. 

PMID- 26883637
TI  - Generating and using evidence: reflections from the perspective of
      implementation.

PMID- 26883638
TI  - Knowledge synthesis approaches-spoilt for choice?

PMID- 26883639
TI  - Paper on suicidality and aggression during antidepressant treatment was flawed
      and the press release was misleading.

PMID- 26883636
TI  - G-quadruplexes and helicases.
AB  - Guanine-rich DNA strands can fold in vitro into non-canonical DNA structures
      called G-quadruplexes. These structures may be very stable under physiological
      conditions. Evidence suggests that G-quadruplex structures may act as 'knots'
      within genomic DNA, and it has been hypothesized that proteins may have evolved
      to remove these structures. The first indication of how G-quadruplex structures
      could be unfolded enzymatically came in the late 1990s with reports that some
      well-known duplex DNA helicases resolved these structures in vitro. Since then,
      the number of studies reporting G-quadruplex DNA unfolding by helicase enzymes
      has rapidly increased. The present review aims to present a general overview of
      the helicase/G-quadruplex field. 

PMID- 26883641
TI  - Basal ganglia germinoma presenting as a growing intratumoral hematoma in a 12
      year-old boy.

PMID- 26883640
TI  - Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the prognosis in patients
      with metastatic prostate cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple marker of the
      systemic inflammatory response in critical care patients, has been suggested as
      an independent prognostic factor for several solid malignancies. We investigated
      the utility of pretreatment NLR as a prognosticator in patients who presented
      with metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: We first investigated the correlation
      between NLR and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in 1464 men who had both
      tests and were found to have prostate cancer on their biopsies at our institution
      from 1999 to 2015. We then assessed the relationship between pretreatment NLR and
      the prognosis in 48 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer metastasized
      to the lymph node and/or bone. RESULTS: The NLR value was significantly elevated
      in men with higher PSA than in those with lower PSA (p < 0.001). In patients with
      metastatic prostate cancer, NLR (cut-off point of 3.37 determined by the AUROC
      curve) was correlated with both cancer-specific (p = 0.018) and overall (p =
      0.008) survivals. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment NLR may function as a new biomarker
      that precisely predicts the prognosis in patients with metastatic prostate
      cancer.

PMID- 26883643
TI  - Ecological-network models link diversity, structure and function in the plankton
      food-web.
AB  - A planktonic food-web model including sixty-three functional nodes (representing
      auto- mixo- and heterotrophs) was developed to integrate most trophic diversity
      present in the plankton. The model was implemented in two variants - which we
      named 'green' and 'blue' - characterized by opposite amounts of phytoplankton
      biomass and representing, respectively, bloom and non-bloom states of the system.
      Taxonomically disaggregated food-webs described herein allowed to shed light on
      how components of the plankton community changed their trophic behavior in the
      two different conditions, and modified the overall functioning of the plankton
      food web. The green and blue food-webs showed distinct organizations in terms of
      trophic roles of the nodes and carbon fluxes between them. Such re-organization
      stemmed from switches in selective grazing by both metazoan and protozoan
      consumers. Switches in food-web structure resulted in relatively small
      differences in the efficiency of material transfer towards higher trophic levels.
      For instance, from green to blue states, a seven-fold decrease in phytoplankton
      biomass translated into only a two-fold decrease in potential planktivorous fish
      biomass. By linking diversity, structure and function in the plankton food-web,
      we discuss the role of internal mechanisms, relying on species-specific
      functionalities, in driving the 'adaptive' responses of plankton communities to
      perturbations. 

PMID- 26883644
TI  - Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploration of
      Demands and Resources.
AB  - We applied the ABCX model of stress and coping to assess the association between
      child and family demands, school-based resources (i.e., parent-teacher alliance
      and COMPASS, a consultation intervention), and two measures of parent stress:
      perceptions of the demands of raising a child (Child domain) and reactions to
      those demands (Parent domain). Data were analyzed from seventy-nine parents of
      children ages 3-9 with ASD participating in two randomized controlled trials of
      COMPASS. Stronger parent-teacher alliance correlated with decreased Parent domain
      stress and participation in COMPASS correlated with decreased Child domain stress
      after controlling for baseline stress. The study indicates that school-based
      resources can help reduce parent stress.

PMID- 26883646
TI  - Brief Report: Early Lexical Comprehension in Young Children with ASD: Comparing
      Eye-Gaze Methodology and Parent Report.
AB  - Lexical comprehension is commonly measured by parent report, but it may be
      difficult for parents of children with ASD to accurately judge their child's
      comprehension. We compared parent report to an eye-gaze measure of lexical
      comprehension in which participants observed pairs of images on a screen, along
      with accompanying speech that named one of the two images. Twenty-two toddlers
      with ASD participated. Trials were included if the target word was reported as
      unknown. Children spent significantly more time looking at the target after it
      was named than before (d = 0.66). These results provide evidence that eye-gaze
      measures can reveal emerging lexical knowledge in young children with ASD that
      may otherwise be overlooked.

PMID- 26883642
TI  - Proof-of Concept that an Acute Trophic Factors Intervention After Spinal Cord
      Injury Provides an Adequate Niche for Neuroprotection, Recruitment of Nestin
      Expressing Progenitors and Regeneration.
AB  - Trophic factor treatment has been shown to improve the recovery of brain and
      spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we examined the effects of TSC1 (a
      combination of insulin-like growth factor 1 and transferrin) 4 and 8 h after SCI
      at the thoracic segment level (T12) in nestin-GFP transgenic mice. TSC1 treatment
      for 4 and 8 h increased the number of nestin-expressing cells around the lesion
      site and prevented Wallerian degeneration. Treatment with TSC1 for 4 h
      significantly increased heat shock protein (HSP)-32 and HSP-70 expression 1 and 2
      mm from lesion site (both, caudal and rostral). Conversely, the number of HSP-32
      positive cells decreased after an 8-h TSC1 treatment, although it was still
      higher than in both, non-treated SCI and intact spinal cord animals. Furthermore,
      TSC1 increased NG2 expressing cell numbers and preserved most axons intact,
      facilitating remyelination and repair. These results support our hypothesis that
      TSC1 is an effective treatment for cell and tissue neuroprotection after SCI. An
      early intervention is crucial to prevent secondary damage of the injured SC and,
      in particular, to prevent Wallerian degeneration.

PMID- 26883645
TI  - Do Adults with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome Differ in Empathy and
      Emotion Recognition?
AB  - The present study examined whether adults with high functioning autism (HFA)
      showed greater difficulties in (1) their self-reported ability to empathise with
      others and/or (2) their ability to read mental states in others' eyes than adults
      with Asperger syndrome (AS). The Empathy Quotient (EQ) and 'Reading the Mind in
      the Eyes' Test (Eyes Test) were compared in 43 adults with AS and 43 adults with
      HFA. No significant difference was observed on EQ score between groups, while
      adults with AS performed significantly better on the Eyes Test than those with
      HFA. This suggests that adults with HFA may need more support, particularly in
      mentalizing and complex emotion recognition, and raises questions about the
      existence of subgroups within autism spectrum conditions.

PMID- 26883647
TI  - Life Satisfaction Among Mothers of Individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
AB  - Mothers of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) often experience numerous
      stressors, even when compared to mothers of children with other intellectual and
      developmental disabilities. Despite this, these mothers show great variability in
      self-reported life satisfaction. Using data from a longitudinal study of
      individuals with PWS and their families, the present study analyzed factors
      related to maternal life satisfaction, both cross-sectionally and over time.
      Results show that both child factors (e.g., behavior problems, hyperphagia) and
      maternal factors (e.g., stress, coping style) were significantly related to
      maternal life satisfaction. However, none of the tested variables predicted
      change in life satisfaction over time. Research and practice implications are
      discussed.

PMID- 26883648
TI  - History and First Descriptions of Autism: Asperger Versus Kanner Revisited.
AB  - When reading Michael Fitzgerald's chapter entitled 'Autism: Asperger's Syndrome
      History and First Descriptions' in 'Asperger's Disorder' edited by Rausch,
      Johnson and Casanova, a while ago, one of us was struck by his contention that
      Kanner was guilty of plagiarism as well as non-attribution of Asperger's 1938
      paper 'Das psychisch abnorme kind' (Fitzgerald in Asperger's disorder. Informa
      Healthcare, New York, 2008) published in a Vienna weekly. Steve Silberman has
      discovered evidence that Kanner rescued Asperger's chief diagnostician from the
      Nazis in 1944 so must have been aware of Asperger's work and conclusions.
      Fitzgerald was on the right track but it appears that Kanner may have plagiarised
      Asperger's ideas rather than his 1938 paper.

PMID- 26883650
TI  - CORR Insights((r)): Greater Tuberosity Fractures: Does Fracture Assessment and
      Treatment Recommendation Vary Based on Imaging Modality?

PMID- 26883649
TI  - Collinearity of homoeologous group 3 chromosomes in the genus Hordeum and Secale
      cereale as revealed by 3H-derived FISH analysis.
AB  - Crop wild relatives are considered as important genetic resources of allelic
      diversity for domesticated crop species. Their utilization in breeding programs,
      however, is often limited due to crossing barriers and genome incompatibilities.
      Wild relatives of barley possess attractive properties and hence allelic
      diversity for adapting barley better to changing environmental conditions.
      Therefore, gaining a better knowledge about genomic synteny between cultivated
      barley and wild relatives of the same genus is an important task. To visualize
      genomic collinearity in related species, 22 genomic single-copy and 14
      complementary DNA (cDNA) chromosome 3H-specific probes were mapped to the
      chromosomes of Hordeum bulbosum, Hordeum marinum, Hordeum pubiflorum, Hordeum
      murinum, and Secale cereale by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Most
      probes showed reliable signals confirming homoeology between cultivated barley
      and related species. Differences in order and position of FISH markers
      demonstrated sequence movements or small-scale chromosomal rearrangements within
      genus Hordeum and confirmed interchromosomal rearrangements between barley and
      rye. Comparison between repeat-free genomic and cDNA probes showed that gene
      containing single-copy genomic DNA (gDNA) probes are performing more reliably for
      FISH-based analysis of synteny.

PMID- 26883651
TI  - Is Needle Biopsy Clinically Useful in Preoperative Grading of Central
      Chondrosarcoma of the Pelvis and Long Bones?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Central chondrosarcoma of bone is graded on a scale of 1 to 3
      according to histological criteria. Clinically, these tumors can be divided into
      low-grade (Grade 1) and high-grade (Grade 2, Grade 3, and dedifferentiated)
      chondrosarcomas. Although en bloc resection has been the most widely used
      treatment, it has become generally accepted that in selected patients with low
      grade chondrosarcomas of long bones, curettage is safe and effective. This
      approach requires an accurate preoperative estimation of grade to avoid under- or
      overtreatment, but prior reports have indicated that both imaging and biopsy do
      not always give an accurate prediction of grade. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is
      the concordance of image-guided needle preoperative biopsy and postoperative
      grading in central (intramedullary) chondrosarcomas of long bones, and how does
      this compare with the concordance of image-guided needle preoperative biopsy and
      postoperative grading in central pelvic chondrosarcomas? (2) What is the
      concordance of preoperative image-guided needle biopsy and postoperative findings
      in differentiating low-grade from high-grade central chondrosarcomas of long
      bones, and how does this compare with the concordance in central pelvic
      chondrosarcomas? METHODS: Between 1997 and 2014, in our institution, we treated
      126 patients for central chondrosarcomas located in long bones and the pelvis. Of
      these 126 cases, 41 were located in the pelvis and the remaining 85 cases were
      located in long bones. This study considers 39 (95%) and 40 (47%) of them,
      respectively. We included all cases in which histological information was
      complete regarding preoperative and postoperative tumor grading. We excluded all
      cases with incomplete data sets or nondiagnostic preoperative biopsies. To
      evaluate the needle biopsy accuracy, we compared the histological tumor grade,
      obtained from the preoperative biopsy, with the final histological grade obtained
      from the postoperative surgical specimen. The weighted and nonweighted kappa
      statistics were used to evaluate the agreement. RESULTS: Concordance between the
      preoperative biopsy and the final pathological analysis in terms of histological
      grade was much higher in long-bone chondrosarcoma than in pelvic chondrosarcoma
      (83% [33 of 40] versus 36% [14 of 39]; odds ratio, 8, 48). Likewise, the weighted
      kappa coefficients were higher in long-bone chondrosarcoma than in pelvic
      chondrosarcoma for the determination of histological grade (0.63; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.34-0.91 versus 0.12; -0.32 to 0.57; p < 0.001). When
      categorizing the lesions as low grade or high grade, concordance between the
      preoperative biopsy and the final pathological analysis was much higher in long
      bone chondrosarcoma than in pelvic chondrosarcoma (90% [36 of 40] versus 67% [26
      of 39]; odds ratio, 4, 5). Likewise, the weighted kappa coefficients were higher
      in long-bone chondrosarcoma than in pelvic chondrosarcoma (0.73; 95% CI, 0.51
      0.94 versus 0.26; 0.04-0.48; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Image-guided needle biopsy,
      when performed by a specialist radiologist and evaluated by an experienced bone
      pathologist, is a useful tool in determining the histological grade of long-bone
      chondrosarcomas allowing identification of true low-grade tumors. The
      histological grade should be correlated with imaging and the clinical
      presentation, but under these circumstances, experienced tumor surgeons may use
      this information in planning surgical treatment. The same appears not to be true
      for pelvic lesions, in which histological grade established by needle biopsy
      should be interpreted with caution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic
      study.

PMID- 26883652
TI  - Pain Control and Functional Milestones in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Liposomal
      Bupivacaine versus Femoral Nerve Block.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) affects
      rehabilitation, length of stay, and functional outcomes, pain management for
      patients undergoing TKA has yet to be standardized. Femoral nerve blocks (FNBs)
      are commonly used as an adjunct; however, these can result in transient
      quadriceps weakness and have been associated with in-hospital falls.
      Periarticular infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine has been recently introduced
      as a long-acting analgesic that can be administered without affecting motor
      function. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does periarticular liposomal bupivacaine
      compared with FNB result in improved pain control as measured by pain scores and
      narcotic consumption? (2) How do liposomal bupivacaine and FNB compare in terms
      of gait and stairclimbing milestones and the proportion of patients who
      experienced a fall in the hospital? METHODS: Between September 2013 and October
      2014, a retrospective analysis was conducted involving 24 surgeons who performed
      a total of 1373 unilateral, primary TKAs. From September 2013 to April 2014, the
      routine approach to TKA pain management pathway consisted of preoperative
      administration of oral analgesics, intraoperative anesthesia (preferred spinal or
      general), an ultrasound-guided FNB, intraoperative analgesic cocktail injection,
      patient-controlled analgesia, and oral and IV narcotics for pain as needed. A
      total of 583 patients were included in this study group. Starting May 2014, FNBs
      were discouraged and there was department-wide adoption of liposomal bupivacaine.
      Liposomal bupivacaine became routinely used in all patients undergoing TKA with
      no other changes made to the multimodal analgesia protocol at that time, and 527
      patients in this study group were compared with the FNB cohort. Chart review on a
      total of 1110 patients was conducted by a research assistant who was not
      participating in patient care. During the inpatient stay, pain scores during 8
      hour intervals, narcotic use, and physical therapy milestones were compared.
      RESULTS: With the numbers available, we detected no clinically important
      difference in pain scores throughout the hospital stay; however, patients treated
      with liposomal bupivacaine consumed very slightly less narcotics overall (96 +/-
      62 versus 84 +/- 73 eq mg of morphine; [95% confidence interval, 11-13 mg]; p =
      0.004) through postoperative Day 2 of inpatient hospitalization. Seventy-seven
      percent (406 of 527) of patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine achieved their
      gait milestones of clearing 100 feet of ambulation versus 60% (349 of 583) of
      patients receiving FNB (p < 0.001) before discharge. Likewise, 94% (497 of 527)
      of patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine completed stairs compared with 73%
      (427 of 583) of patients receiving FNB (p < 0.001). Patients who received
      liposomal bupivacaine were less likely to experience a fall during the hospital
      stay than were patients treated with FNB (3 of 527 [0.6%] versus 12 of 583 [2%];
      p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of strong data supporting FNB over
      liposomal bupivacaine, we have modified our TKA pain management protocols by
      adopting liposomal bupivacaine in lieu of FNBs, facilitating rapid rehabilitation
      while providing adequate pain control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic
      study.

PMID- 26883653
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Does Combined Intra- and Extraarticular ACL Reconstruction
      Improve Function and Stability? A Meta-analysis.

PMID- 26883654
TI  - Do Patients After Chondrosarcoma Treatment Have Age-appropriate Bone Mineral
      Density in the Long Term?
AB  - BACKGROUND: In long-term survivors of osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma treated with
      the addition of radio- and chemotherapy, low bone mineral density (BMD) and
      fractures have been observed, presumably resulting from these adjuvants. Because
      patients with chondrosarcoma usually are not treated with conventional adjuvant
      treatment, observation of low BMD in patients with chondrosarcoma presumably
      would be the result of other mechanisms. However, BMD in patients with a history
      of chondrosarcoma has not been well characterized. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The aim of
      our study was to address the following questions: (1) Do long-term survivors of
      chondrosarcoma have normal BMD and, if not, which factors contribute to low BMD?
      (2) Is there a greater risk of fracture and does the Fracture Risk Assessment
      Tool (FRAX((r))) score reflect fracture likelihood? METHODS: All known patients
      with a history of chondrosarcoma treated at our institution before 2006 were
      identified. Of 127 patients believed to be alive at the time of this study, 30
      agreed to participate in this study (11 females, 19 males; mean age at surgery,
      39 +/- 12 years; mean followup, 12 +/- 5 years). With the data available, the 30
      participants were not different from the 97 nonparticipants in terms of age, sex,
      BMI, tumor grade, tumor location (axial versus appendicular, lower extremity
      versus elsewhere), and use of any treatment known to influence osteopenia
      (chemotherapy, lower extremity surgery). BMD was measured and history of
      fractures was assessed using a questionnaire. The patients' BMD measurements in
      this study were sex- and age-matched with a normative sex- and age-categorized
      reference population reported by Kudlacek et al. Associations were tested by
      univariate regressions and ANOVAs of all measures of BMD and eligible oncologic
      and demographic factors. RESULTS: Eighteen of 30 (60%) patients had a pathologic
      BMD according to the WHO dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry definition, 15 (50%)
      had osteopenia, and three (10%) had osteoporosis. T-scores in the study cohort
      were lower than reference values for the femur neck (mean difference, 0.64; 95%
      CI, 0.27-1.01; p < 0.0015), but not for the spine (mean difference, 0.39; 95% CI,
      -0.06 to 0.84; p = 0.09). Thirteen patients (45%) reported a history of fractures
      not distinguishing between low and high impact. The incidence of fractures was
      2.8 greater than expected from a comparison with a published microcensus survey
      of the Austrian population. No effect of the FRAX((r)) score on fracture risk
      could be identified (p = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survivors of
      chondrosarcoma appear to be at greater risk for having low BMD develop than the
      healthy population. Although these results are preliminary and based on a very
      small sampling of patients, if they can be confirmed in larger studies, BMD
      assessment by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry might be considered as these
      patients are followed posttreatment by sarcoma care units. The reasons for low
      BMD still must be elucidated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic study.

PMID- 26883655
TI  - Reply to the Letter to the Editor: Does Combined Intra- and Extraarticular ACL
      Reconstruction Improve Function and Stability? A Meta-analysis.

PMID- 26883656
TI  - Reconstruction After Hemipelvectomy With the Ice-Cream Cone Prosthesis: What Are
      the Short-term Clinical Results?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reconstruction after internal hemipelvectomy resection likely
      provides better function than hindquarter amputation. However, many
      reconstruction methods have been used, complications with these approaches are
      common, and function often is poor; because of these issues, it seems important
      to investigate alternative implants and surgical techniques. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES:
      The purposes of this study were (1) to identify the frequency of surgical site
      complications and infection associated with the use of the Ice-Cream Cone
      prosthesis for reconstruction after hemipelvectomy for oncological indications;
      (2) to evaluate the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) outcomes scores in a
      small group of patients treated with this implant in the short term; and (3) to
      quantify the surgical margins and frequency of local recurrence in the short term
      in this group of patients. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2013, one center performed a
      total of 27 internal hemipelvectomies for oncological indications. Of those, 23
      (85%) were treated with reconstruction. Our general indications for
      reconstruction were patients whose pelvic stability was affected by the resection
      and whose general condition was sufficiently strong to tolerate the
      reconstructive procedure. Of those patients undergoing reconstruction, 14 (61%)
      were treated with an Ice-Cream Cone-style implant (Coned(r); Stanmore Worldwide
      Ltd, Elstree, UK; and Socincer(r) custom-made implant for the pelvis, Gijon,
      Spain), whereas nine others were treated with other implants or allografts. The
      indications during this time for using the Ice-Cream Cone implant were pelvic
      tumors affecting the periacetabular area without iliac wing involvement. Of those
      14, 10 were available for followup at a minimum of 2 years (median, 3 years;
      range, 2-5 years) unless a study endpoint (wound complication, infection, or
      local recurrence) was observed earlier. Study endpoints were ascertained by chart
      review performed by one of the authors. RESULTS: Surgical site complications
      occurred in five patients. Of those, two developed superficial infections with
      necrosis,two developed deep infections, and one patient developed wound necrosis
      without apparent infection. No prostheseswere removed as a result of these
      complications [corrected]. Median MSTS score was 19 out of 30 when 0 is the worst
      possible result and 30 a perfect function and emotional status. Five of seven
      primary tumors had wide margin surgery and three of seven developed local
      recurrences by the end of the followup. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic reconstruction with
      the Ice-Cream Cone prosthesis yielded fair functional results at short-term
      followup. Longer term surveillance is called for to see whether this implant will
      represent an improvement over available reconstructive alternatives such as
      allograft, custom-made implants, and saddle prostheses. We are cautiously
      optimistic and continue to use this implant when we need to reconstruct the
      periacetabular area in patients without Enneking Zone 1 involvement. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

PMID- 26883657
TI  - CORR Insights((r)): Is there an Increase in Valgus Deviation in Tibial
      Distraction Using the Lengthening Over Nail Technique?

PMID- 26883658
TI  - CORR Insights((r)): Cathodic Voltage-controlled Electrical Stimulation Plus
      Prolonged Vancomycin Reduce Bacterial Burden of a Titanium Implant-associated
      Infection in a Rodent Model.

PMID- 26883659
TI  - The Ethical Imperative to Move to a Seven-Day Care Model.
AB  - Whilst the nature of human illness is not determined by time of day or day of
      week, we currently structure health service delivery around a five-day delivery
      model. At least one country is endeavouring to develop a systems-based approach
      to planning a transition from five- to seven-day healthcare delivery models, and
      some services are independently instituting program reorganization to achieve
      these ends as research, amongst other things, highlights increased mortality and
      morbidity for weekend and after-hours admissions to hospitals. In this article,
      we argue that this issue does not merely raise instrumental concerns but also
      opens up a normative ethical dimension, recognizing that clinical ethical
      dilemmas are impacted on and created by systems of care. Using health policy
      ethics, we critically examine whether our health services, as currently
      structured, are at odds with ethical obligations for patient care and broader
      collective goals associated with the provision of publicly funded health
      services. We conclude by arguing that a critical health policy ethics perspective
      applying relevant ethical values and principles needs to be included when
      considering whether and how to transition from five-day to seven-day models for
      health delivery. 

PMID- 26883660
TI  - Photoacoustic monitoring of tumor and normal tissue response to radiation.
AB  - Hypoxia is a recognized characteristic of tumors that influences efficacy of
      radiotherapy (RT). Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a relatively new imaging
      technique that exploits the optical characteristics of hemoglobin to provide
      information on tissue oxygenation. In the present study, PAI based measures of
      tumor oxygen saturation (%sO2) were compared to oxygen-enhanced magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 = 1/T1)
      and ex-vivo histology in patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of head and neck
      cancer. PAI was utilized to assess early changes (24 h) in %sO2 following RT and
      chemoRT (CRT) and to assess changes in salivary gland hemodynamics following
      radiation. A significant increase in tumor %sO2 and R1 was observed following
      oxygen inhalation. Good spatial correlation was observed between PAI, MRI and
      histology. An early increase in %sO2 after RT and CRT detected by PAI was
      associated with significant tumor growth inhibition. Twenty four hours after RT,
      PAI also detected loss of hemodynamic response to gustatory stimulation in murine
      salivary gland tissue suggestive of radiation-induced vascular damage. Our
      observations illustrate the utility of PAI in detecting tumor and normal tissue
      hemodynamic response to radiation in head and neck cancers.

PMID- 26883661
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of Aclidinium/Formoterol versus Tiotropium in COPD: Results
      of an Indirect Treatment Comparison.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to estimate the relative efficacy
      and safety of fixed-dose combination aclidinium/formoterol 400/12 MUg twice daily
      compared to tiotropium 18 MUg once daily in adult patients with moderate-to
      severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A systematic
      literature review performed in March 2014, using a predefined search strategy in
      MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, identified 17 randomized placebo-controlled
      trials, (tiotropium n = 15; aclidinium/formoterol n = 2). Outcomes of interest
      were: bronchodilation (peak and trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)),
      COPD symptoms [Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) focal score and % of responders (>1
      unit improvement)] and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) [St. George's
      Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score and % responders (>4 unit
      improvement)], % of patients with >=1 exacerbations, adverse events (AE), serious
      adverse events (SAE), hospitalization and mortality, all at 24 weeks. In the
      absence of head-to-head trials between aclidinium/formoterol and tiotropium, a
      Bayesian indirect treatment comparison (ITC) was used with placebo as common
      control. RESULTS: Regarding bronchodilation, aclidinium/formoterol was found to
      be more efficacious than tiotropium at peak FEV1, with mean difference in change
      from baseline (DCFB) 143 mL [95% credible interval (CrI): 112, 174] and at trough
      FEV1 [DCFB 26 mL (95% CrI -2, 55)]. Aclidinium/formoterol is expected to be more
      efficacious than tiotropium in improving dyspnea symptoms measured by TDI [DCFB
      0.54 points (95% CrI 0.09, 0.99); odds ratio (OR) of responders 1.51 (95% CrI
      1.11, 2.06)]. SGRQ results are comparable for aclidinium/formoterol versus
      tiotropium [DCFB -0.52 (95% CrI -2.21, 1.17); OR of responders 1.16 (95% CrI
      0.47, 2.87)]. The ITC results suggest similar safety profiles regarding AEs, SAEs
      and hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Based on the ITC, aclidinium/formoterol is
      expected to be more efficacious than tiotropium in terms of lung function and
      symptom control while providing comparable HRQoL results and safety profile.
      FUNDING: AstraZeneca.

PMID- 26883663
TI  - Postural sensory correlates of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To elucidate the unique patterns of postural sensory deficits
      contributing to freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)
      and to identify postural sensory modalities that correlate with FOG severity.
      METHODS: Twenty-five PD patients with FOG, 22 PD patients without FOG, and 26 age
      matched controls were evaluated using a sensory organization test and clinical
      measures including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score,
      Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Frontal Assessment Battery, Activities-specific
      Balance Confidence, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Berg
      Balance Scale. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed for
      posturographic parameters and possible confounders to determine postural sensory
      contributors to FOG. We also correlated FOG severity, measured using a New
      Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, with posturographic parameters. RESULTS: PD
      patients with FOG showed worse postural sensory processing compared with those
      without FOG. In particular, the inability to use the vestibular information (odds
      ratio [OR] 1.447; 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.120, 1.869) and poor control
      over the perturbed somatosensory inputs (OR 2.904; 95% CI: 1.028, 8.202)
      significantly contributed to FOG. Among PD patients with FOG, FOG severity was
      correlated with higher reliance on visual information (rho = -0.432, p = 0.039).
      CONCLUSIONS: Postural sensory deficits involving specific sensory modalities are
      strongly associated with FOG. Quantitative measurement of postural sensory
      deficits in PD patients with FOG may provide a better understanding of
      pathomechanisms of FOG and increase the efficacy of sensory cueing strategies for
      alleviating FOG, by more accurately identifying suitable patients for
      rehabilitative therapies.

PMID- 26883662
TI  - Enhanced cellulase production by Trichoderma harzianum by cultivation on glycerol
      followed by induction on cellulosic substrates.
AB  - The use of glycerol obtained as an intermediate of the biodiesel manufacturing
      process as carbon source for microbial growth is a potential alternative strategy
      for the production of enzymes and other high-value bioproducts. This work
      evaluates the production of cellulase enzymes using glycerol for high cell
      density growth of Trichoderma harzianum followed by induction with a cellulosic
      material. Firstly, the influence of the carbon source used in the pre-culture
      step was investigated in terms of total protein secretion and fungal morphology.
      Enzymatic productivity was then determined for cultivation strategies using
      different types and concentrations of carbon source, as well as different feeding
      procedures (batch and fed-batch). The best strategy for cellulase production was
      then further studied on a larger scale using a stirred tank bioreactor. The
      proposed strategy for cellulase production, using glycerol to achieve high cell
      density growth followed by induction with pretreated sugarcane bagasse, achieved
      enzymatic activities up to 2.27 +/- 0.37 FPU/mL, 106.40 +/- 8.87 IU/mL, and 9.04
      +/- 0.39 IU/mL of cellulase, xylanase, and beta-glucosidase, respectively. These
      values were 2 times higher when compared to the control experiments using glucose
      instead of glycerol. This novel strategy proved to be a promising approach for
      improving cellulolytic enzymes production, and could potentially contribute to
      adding value to biomass within the biofuels sector.

PMID- 26883665
TI  - Two distinctive energy migration pathways of monolayer molecules on metal
      nanoparticle surfaces.
AB  - Energy migrations at metal nanomaterial surfaces are fundamentally important to
      heterogeneous reactions. Here we report two distinctive energy migration pathways
      of monolayer adsorbate molecules on differently sized metal nanoparticle surfaces
      investigated with ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. On a 5 nm platinum
      particle, within a few picoseconds the vibrational energy of a carbon monoxide
      adsorbate rapidly dissipates into the particle through electron/hole pair
      excitations, generating heat that quickly migrates on surface. In contrast, the
      lack of vibration-electron coupling on approximately 1 nm particles results in
      vibrational energy migration among adsorbates that occurs on a twenty times
      slower timescale. Further investigations reveal that the rapid carbon monoxide
      energy relaxation is also affected by the adsorption sites and the nature of the
      metal but to a lesser extent. These findings reflect the dependence of
      electron/vibration coupling on the metallic nature, size and surface site of
      nanoparticles and its significance in mediating energy relaxations and migrations
      on nanoparticle surfaces.

PMID- 26883664
TI  - Metabolomic profiles of arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase knockout
      mice: effect of sex and arsenic exposure.
AB  - Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (As3mt) is the key enzyme in the
      pathway for methylation of inorganic arsenic (iAs). Altered As3mt expression and
      AS3MT polymorphism have been linked to changes in iAs metabolism and in
      susceptibility to iAs toxicity in laboratory models and in humans. As3mt-knockout
      mice have been used to study the association between iAs metabolism and adverse
      effects of iAs exposure. However, little is known about systemic changes in
      metabolism of these mice and how these changes lead to their increased
      susceptibility to iAs toxicity. Here, we compared plasma and urinary metabolomes
      of male and female wild-type (WT) and As3mt-KO (KO) C57BL/6 mice and examined
      metabolomic shifts associated with iAs exposure in drinking water. Surprisingly,
      exposure to 1 ppm As elicited only small changes in the metabolite profiles of
      either WT or KO mice. In contrast, comparisons of KO mice with WT mice revealed
      significant differences in plasma and urinary metabolites associated with lipid
      (phosphatidylcholines, cytidine, acyl-carnitine), amino acid (hippuric acid,
      acetylglycine, urea), and carbohydrate (L-sorbose, galactonic acid, gluconic
      acid) metabolism. Notably, most of these differences were sex specific. Sex
      specific differences were also found between WT and KO mice in plasma
      triglyceride and lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Some of the differentially
      changed metabolites (phosphatidylcholines, carnosine, and sarcosine) are
      substrates or products of reactions catalyzed by other methyltransferases. These
      results suggest that As3mt KO alters major metabolic pathways in a sex-specific
      manner, independent of iAs treatment, and that As3mt may be involved in other
      cellular processes beyond iAs methylation.

PMID- 26883666
TI  - Why the European Association of Nuclear Medicine has declined to endorse the 2015
      American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with
      thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.

PMID- 26883667
TI  - Metabolic and molecular relative percentage coreduction in patients with locally
      advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), epidermal
      growth factor receptor-1 (EGFR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) stimulate key
      processes involved in tumour progression and are important targets for cancer
      therapeutics. (18)F-FDG maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on PET/CT is a
      marker of tumour metabolic activity. The purpose of this study was to measure
      percentage reductions in SUVmax (?SUVmax%), VEGFR-2 (?VEGFR-2%), EGFR (?EGFR%)
      and COX-2 (?COX-2%) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after
      preoperative treatment, and to correlate the changes in these markers of response
      with pathological response in terms of tumour regression grade (TRG) using
      Rodel's scale and long-term clinical outcome. METHODS: VEGFR-2, EGFR and COX-2
      were measured using a quantitative and qualitative compound immunohistochemistry
      analysis (immunoreactive score) of the pretreatment endoscopic biopsy and
      definitive surgical specimens. Composite indexes using ?SUVmax% and the three
      molecules were developed to differentiate patients with metabolic and molecular
      responses from nonresponders. Cox proportional hazards model was used to explore
      associations between the tumour markers, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall
      survival (OS). RESULTS: The analysis included 38 patients with a median follow-up
      of 86 months (range 5 - 113 months). The ?VEGFR-2%/?SUVmax% index correctly
      identified 13 of 19 pathological responders (TRG 3 and 4) and 17 of 19
      nonresponders (TRG 0 - 2) (sensitivity 68 %, specificity 89 %, accuracy 79 %,
      positive predictive value 87 %, negative predictive value 74 %). In multivariate
      analysis, only the ?VEGFR-2%/?SUVmax% index was associated with DFS (HR 0.11, p =
      0.001) and OS (HR 0.15, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients with LARC the ?VEGFR
      2%/?SUVmax% response index is associated with outcome. Determination of the
      optimal diagnostic cut-off level for this novel biomarker association should be
      explored. Evaluation in a clinical trial is required to determine whether
      selected patients could benefit from treatment with a VEGFR-targeted therapeutic
      agent.

PMID- 26883668
TI  - Characterization of wheat-Secale africanum chromosome 5R(a) derivatives carrying
      Secale specific genes for grain hardness.
AB  - MAIN CONCLUSION: New wheat- Secale africanum chromosome 5R (a) substitution and
      translocation lines were developed and identified by fluorescence in situ
      hybridization and molecular markers, and chromosome 5R (a) specific genes
      responsible for grain hardness were isolated. The wild species, Secale africanum
      Stapf. (genome R(a)R(a)), serves as a valuable germplasm resource for increasing
      the diversity of cultivated rye (S. cereale L., genome RR) and providing novel
      genes for wheat improvement. In the current study, fluorescence in situ
      hybridization (FISH) and molecular markers were applied to characterize new wheat
      S. africanum chromosome 5R(a) derivatives. Labeled rye genomic DNA (GISH) and the
      Oligo-probes pSc119.2 and pTa535 (FISH) were used to study a wheat-S. africanum
      amphiploid and a disomic 5R(a) (5D) substitution, and to identify a T5DL.5R(a)S
      translocation line and 5R(a)S and 5R(a)L isotelosome lines. Twenty-one molecular
      markers were mapped to chromosome 5R(a) arms which will facilitate future rapid
      identification of 5R(a) introgressions in wheat backgrounds. Comparative analysis
      of the molecular markers mapped on 5R(a) with homoeologous regions in wheat
      confirmed a deletion on the chromosome T5DL.5R(a)S, which suggests that the wheat
      S. africanum Robertsonian translocation involving homologous group 5 may not be
      fully compensating. Complete coding sequences at the paralogous puroindoline-a
      (Pina) and grain softness protein gene (Gsp-1) loci from S. africanum were cloned
      and localized onto the short arm of chromosome 5R(a). The S. africanum chromosome
      5R(a) substitution and translocation lines showed a reduction in the hardness
      index, which may be associated with the S. africanum- specific Pina and Gsp-1
      gene sequences. The present study reports the production of novel wheat-S.
      africanum chromosome 5R(a) stripe rust resistant derivatives and new rye-specific
      molecular markers, which may find application in future use of wild Secale genome
      resources for grain quality studies and disease resistance breeding.

PMID- 26883669
TI  - Key Aspects of a Sustainable Health Insurance System in Germany.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The main goals of health-care systems are to improve the health of
      the population they serve, respond to people's legitimate expectations, and offer
      fair financing. As a result, the health system in Germany is subject to
      continuous adaption as well as public and political discussions about its design.
      OBJECTIVE: This paper analyzes the key challenges for the German health-care
      system and the underlying factors driving these challenges. We aim to identify
      possible solutions to put the German health-care system in a better position to
      face these challenges. METHODS: We utilize a broad array of methods to answer
      these questions, including a review of the published and grey literature on
      health-care planning in Germany, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in
      the system, and an online questionnaire. RESULTS: We find that the most urgent
      (and manageable) aspects that merit attention are holistic hospital planning,
      initiatives to increase (administrative) innovation in the health-care system,
      incentives to increase prevention, and approaches to increase analytical quality
      assurance. CONCLUSION: We found that hospital planning, innovation, quality
      control, and prevention, are considered to be the topics most in need of
      attention in the German health system.

PMID- 26883670
TI  - Systemic T Cells and Monocyte Characteristics in Patients with Denture
      Stomatitis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Chronic inflammatory disorders of the oral cavity, such as
      periodontitis, were recently linked to systemic immune activation. Since fungal
      oral infections have not yet been studied in this respect, the aim of our study
      is to determine whether the local inflammation caused by oral fungal infection of
      the palatal tissue (denture stomatitis-DS) is associated with the systemic
      inflammatory response. This question is becoming essential as the population
      ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood of DS patients (n = 20) and control
      patients (n = 24) was assessed with flow cytometry to determine lymphocyte and
      monocyte profiles. Intracellular cytometric analysis was carried out to establish
      cytokine production by T cells. DS was diagnosed based on clinical symptoms of DS
      such as swelling and redness of oral mucosa, confirmed by microbiological swabs
      for fungal colonization with Candida species. The control group was recruited
      from denture users without clinical and microbiological signs of oral infections.
      RESULTS: Percentages of peripheral lymphocytes, T cells, monocytes, and their
      subpopulations were similar in both studied groups. The exception was median
      percentages of CD25+ T cell subsets, which were significantly lower in DS
      patients than in control subjects. This reduction was observed in both CD4 T cell
      subset (16.7% and 28.1%; p = 0.0006) and CD8 T cell subset (4.6% and 7.0%; p =
      0.007) CONCLUSIONS: While DS and associated local fungal infection do not overtly
      affect activation of monocytes or lymphocytes, the number of CD 25+ T cells is
      significantly lower in the DS patients, possibly indicating limited potential for
      the infection clearance in denture-using aging patients.

PMID- 26883672
TI  - Precision Medicine: What Do We Expect in the Scope of Basic Biomedical Sciences?

PMID- 26883673
TI  - A risk stratification tool for exacerbations of COPD: time to switch to DECAF.

PMID- 26883675
TI  - The restrictive-obstructive continuum and the failing heart.

PMID- 26883671
TI  - Roles, Functions, and Mechanisms of Long Non-coding RNAs in Cancer.
AB  - Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in cancer. They are involved
      in chromatin remodeling, as well as transcriptional and post-transcriptional
      regulation, through a variety of chromatin-based mechanisms and via cross-talk
      with other RNA species. lncRNAs can function as decoys, scaffolds, and enhancer
      RNAs. This review summarizes the characteristics of lncRNAs, including their
      roles, functions, and working mechanisms, describes methods for identifying and
      annotating lncRNAs, and discusses future opportunities for lncRNA-based therapies
      using antisense oligonucleotides. 

PMID- 26883674
TI  - Distinct severity stages of obstructive sleep apnoea are correlated with unique
      dyslipidaemia: large-scale observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia is an intermediary exacerbation factor for various
      diseases but the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on dyslipidaemia
      remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 3582 subjects with suspected OSA
      consecutively admitted to our hospital sleep centre were screened and 2983 (2422
      with OSA) were included in the Shanghai Sleep Health Study. OSA severity was
      quantified using the apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI), the oxygen desaturation index
      and the arousal index. Biochemical indicators and anthropometric data were also
      collected. The relationship between OSA severity and the risk of dyslipidaemia
      was evaluated via ordinal logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS)
      analysis and multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS: The RCS mapped a nonlinear
      dose-effect relationship between the risk of dyslipidaemia and OSA severity, and
      yielded knots of the AHI (9.4, 28.2, 54.4 and 80.2). After integrating the
      clinical definition and RCS-selected knots, all subjects were regrouped into four
      AHI severity stages. Following segmented multivariate linear modelling of each
      stage, distinguishable sets of OSA risk factors were quantified: low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein E and high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-C); body mass index and/or waist to hip ratio; and HDL-C, LDL-C
      and triglycerides were specifically associated with stage I, stages II and III,
      and stages II-IV with different OSA indices. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the
      multistage and non-monotonic relationships between OSA and dyslipidaemia and
      quantified the relationships between OSA severity indexes and distinct risk
      factors for specific OSA severity stages. Our study suggests that a new
      interpretive and predictive strategy for dynamic assessment of the risk
      progression over the clinical course of OSA should be adopted.

PMID- 26883676
TI  - Observation of the seleno bis-(S-glutathionyl) arsinium anion in rat bile.
AB  - Certain arsenic and selenium compounds show a remarkable mutual cancelation of
      toxicities, where a lethal dose of one can be voided by an equimolar and
      otherwise lethal dose of the other. It is now well established that the molecular
      basis of this antagonism is the formation and biliary excretion of seleno bis-(S
      glutathionyl) arsinium anion [(GS)2AsSe](-). Previous work has definitively
      demonstrated the presence of [(GS)2AsSe](-) in rabbit bile, but only in the
      presence of other arsenic and selenium species. Rabbits have a gall bladder,
      which concentrates bile and lowers its pH; it seems likely that this may be
      responsible for the breakdown of biliary [(GS)2AsSe](-). Since rats have no gall
      bladder, the bile proceeds directly through the bile duct from the hepatobiliary
      tree. In the present work we have shown that the primary product of biliary co
      excretion of arsenic and selenium in rats is [(GS)2AsSe](-), with essentially
      100% of the arsenic and selenium present as this species. The chemical
      plausibility of the X-ray absorption spectroscopy-derived structural conclusions
      of this novel arsenic and selenium co-excretion product is supported by density
      functional theory calculations. These results establish the biomolecular basis to
      further explore the use of selenium dietary supplements as a possible palliative
      for chronic low-level arsenic poisoning of human populations.

PMID- 26883677
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed Annulation: A Method for the Systematic Synthesis of
      Phenanthridinium Bromide.
AB  - A novel procedure for the Cu-catalyzed systematic synthesis of phenanthridinium
      bromide is reported. This transformation was achieved with direct construction of
      central pyridinium core by using an in situ formed biaryl imine as a substrate.
      Tolerance of a very wide variety of N-substituents is indicated; this has never
      previously been disclosed by other reports. Application of this method to
      synthesis of the natural alkaloid bicolorine, and its derivatives, was also
      carried out in only three synthetic steps from commercially available compounds. 

PMID- 26883678
TI  - Interleukin-17 acts as double-edged sword in anti-tumor immunity and
      tumorigenesis.
AB  - Interleukin-17 (IL-17), a proinflammatory cytokine, mainly produced by Th17
      cells, participates in both innate and adaptive immune responses and is involved
      in various diseases, including infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders and
      cancer. Emerging evidence indicates that IL-17 not only has an oncogenic role in
      tumorigenesis by regulating tumor angiogenesis and enhancing tumor immune evasion
      but also exerts anti-tumor functions by enhancing natural killer (NK) cells and
      cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) activation and through the recruitment of
      neutrophils, NK cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to tumor tissue. In this review,
      we provide an overview on the basic biology of IL-17 and recent findings
      regarding its enigmatic double-edged features in tumorigenesis, with special
      attention to the roles of IL-17 produced by tumor cells interacting with other
      factors in the tumor microenvironment.

PMID- 26883680
TI  - Natural killer cell adoptive immunotherapy: Coming of age.
AB  - Cell therapy is a promising alternative to harsh chemotherapy and radiation
      therapy for cancer. Natural killer (NK) cells in particular have great potential
      for direct use in adoptive immunotherapy (AI) for cancer and to improve the graft
      vs-leukemia (GVL) effect of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs). NK cell
      number and function are associated with a strong GVL effect without inducing
      graft-versus-host disease in most settings. Clinical trials demonstrating the
      therapeutic role of NK cells in HSCT recipients or testing the safety and
      efficacy of AI with NK cells have been primarily directed at treating acute
      myeloid leukemia, although investigators have used NK cells for treatment of
      other hematological diseases, sarcomas, carcinomas, and brain tumors. Major
      challenges must be overcome in making NK cell-based therapy cost-effective, the
      most important being the need to collect or generate an adequate number of
      effector cells. In this review, we discuss protocols for isolation, expansion,
      and in vitro propagation of large quantities of functional NK cells that meet the
      criteria for clinical applications. Among the methods described are the use of
      bioreactors for scaling up production and expansion of NK cells in the presence
      of interleukins and feeder cells. We also discuss novel methodologies that
      optimize the generation of clinical grade NK-cell products for AI.

PMID- 26883679
TI  - Hip Fracture Surgery and Survival in Centenarians.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hip fracture (HF) is increasingly frequent with advancing age.
      Studies describing the HF incidence rate and survival after surgery in
      centenarians are scanty. To fill this gap, we performed a large population-based
      investigation on Lombardy centenarians (Italy). METHODS: Retrospective
      observational cohort study based on information from the Healthcare Utilization
      Database. Among the cohort of 7,830 residents that reached 100 years of age
      between 2004 and 2011, incidence rate of HF was calculated. Two hundred fifty
      nine patients were discharged alive from a hospital after HF and surgical repair
      (HF cohort). For each HF cohort member, a control was randomly selected from the
      initial cohort to be matched for gender and date of birth, and who did not
      experience HF from the date of their hundredth birthday until the date of
      hospital discharge of the corresponding HF cohort member. The survival curves and
      the hazard functions of HF and control cohort were calculated within 2 years.
      RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 1.85 years, HF incidence rate was 23.1 per
      1,000 centenarians per year. Survival probability was significantly lower in HF
      cohort than in control cohort (31.5 vs 48.1%, p < .001). Hazard functions showed
      an increased risk of death in HF cohort than in control cohort, especially in the
      3 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Survival analysis exhibited an excess
      mortality in the first 3 months among HF cohort members, but not beyond this
      period. Every effort to counteract HF is warranted, including prevention of falls
      and high quality of care, especially in the early postsurgical time.

PMID- 26883681
TI  - Increased soluble CD72 in systemic lupus erythematosus is in association with
      disease activity and lupus nephritis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: B cell receptor (BCR) -mediated signals are enhanced when CD72
      expression is deficient on B cells in autoimmune diseases. The significance of
      soluble CD72 (sCD72) has not been elucidated. METHODS: Soluble CD72 was analyzed
      in the serum of 159 SLE patients, 40 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and 100
      healthy individuals. Correlations between sCD72 and SLE disease activity (SLEDAI)
      were assessed. RESULTS: Soluble CD72 was found increased in SLE patients, when
      compared to both RA patients and healthy individuals (20.2 +/- 1.2 ng/ml; 10.6 +/
      4.6 ng/ml and 7.2 +/- 3.3 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Soluble CD72 level was
      significantly higher in SLE patients with renal involvement than in patients
      without (31.8 +/- 2.3 ng/ml vs 13.9 +/- 0.9 ng/ml; p < 0.001) and also with the
      presence of auto-antibodies. CONCLUSION: Soluble CD72 is significantly increased
      in SLE patients mainly in those with renal involvement. Increased sCD72 may
      become a potential biomarker for renal involvement in SLE.

PMID- 26883683
TI  - Copper(II) binding properties of hepcidin.
AB  - Hepcidin is a peptide hormone that regulates the homeostasis of iron metabolism.
      The N-terminal domain of hepcidin is conserved amongst a range of species and is
      capable of binding Cu(II) and Ni(II) through the amino terminal copper-nickel
      binding motif (ATCUN). It has been suggested that the binding of copper to
      hepcidin may have biological relevance. In this study we have investigated the
      binding of Cu(II) with model peptides containing the ATCUN motif, fluorescently
      labelled hepcidin and hepcidin using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. As with
      albumin, it was found that tetrapeptide models of hepcidin possessed a higher
      affinity for Cu(II) than that of native hepcidin. The log K 1 value of hepcidin
      for Cu(II) was determined as 7.7. Cu(II) binds to albumin more tightly than
      hepcidin (log K 1 = 12) and in view of the serum concentration difference of
      albumin and hepcidin, the bulk of kinetically labile Cu(II) present in blood will
      be bound to albumin. It is estimated that the concentration of Cu(II)-hepcidin
      will be less than one femtomolar in normal serum and thus the binding of copper
      to hepcidin is unlikely to play a role in iron homeostasis. As with albumin,
      small tri and tetra peptides are poor models for the metal binding properties of
      hepcidin.

PMID- 26883682
TI  - A novel gene delivery composite system based on biodegradable folate-poly (ester
      amine) polymer and thermosensitive hydrogel for sustained gene release.
AB  - Local anti-oncogene delivery providing high local concentration of gene,
      increasing antitumor effect and decreasing systemic side effects is currently
      attracting interest in cancer therapy. In this paper, a novel local sustained
      anti-oncogene delivery system, PECE thermoresponsive hydrogel containing folate
      poly (ester amine) (FA-PEA) polymer/DNA (tumor suppressor) complexes, is
      demonstrated. First, a tumor-targeted biodegradable folate-poly (ester amine) (FA
      PEA) polymer based on low-molecular-weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) was
      synthesized and characterized, and the application for targeted gene delivery was
      investigated. The polymer had slight cytotoxicity and high transfection
      efficiency in vitro compared with PEI 25k, which indicated that FA-PEA was a
      potential vector for targeted gene delivery. Meanwhile, we successfully prepared
      a thermoresponsive PECE hydrogel composite containing FA-PEA/DNA complexes which
      could contain the genes and slowly release the genes into cells. We concluded the
      folate-poly (ester amine) (FA-PEA) polymer would be useful for targeted gene
      delivery, and the novel gene delivery composite based on biodegradable folate
      poly (ester amine) polymer and thermosensitive PECE hydrogel showed potential for
      sustained gene release. 

PMID- 26883684
TI  - The impact of violence on sex risk and drug use behaviors among women engaged in
      sex work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Violence, substance use, and HIV disproportionately impact female
      entertainment and sex workers (FESW), but causal pathways remain unclear.
      METHODS: We examined data from an observational cohort of FESW age 15-29 in Phnom
      Penh, Cambodia for associations between violence exposure and sexual risk and
      drug use. Validated measures of physical and sexual violence were assessed at
      baseline. Self-reported outcomes measured quarterly over the next 12-months
      included past month sexual partners, consistent condom use by partner type, sex
      while high, and amphetamine type stimulant (ATS) use. Biomarkers measured
      quarterly included prostate specific antigen (PSA) and urine toxicology.
      Generalized estimating equations were fit adjusting for age, education, marital
      status and sex work venue. RESULTS: Of 220 women, 48% reported physical or sexual
      violence in the preceding 12-months. Physical violence was associated with
      increased number of sex partners (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.33; 95%
      CI: 1.04-1.71), greater odds of sex while high (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.42;
      95% CI: 1.10-5.33), increased days of ATS use (aIRR 2.74; 95% CI: 1.29-5.84) and
      increased odds of an ATS+ urine screen (aOR 2.80, 95%CI: 1.38-5.66). Sexual
      violence predicted decreased odds of consistent condom use with non-paying
      partners (aOR 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10-0.59) and greater odds of a PSA+ vaginal swab
      (aOR 1.83; 95% CI: 1.13-2.93). CONCLUSIONS: Physical and sexual violence are
      prevalent among Cambodian FESW and associated with subsequent sexual risk and
      drug use behaviors. Clinical research examining interventions targeting
      structural and interpersonal factors impacting violence is needed to optimize
      HIV/AIDS prevention among FESW.

PMID- 26883686
TI  - Production of recombinant insulin-like androgenic gland hormones from three
      decapod species: In vitro testicular phosphorylation and activation of a newly
      identified tyrosine kinase receptor from the Eastern spiny lobster, Sagmariasus
      verreauxi.
AB  - In crustaceans the insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) is responsible for
      male sexual differentiation. To date, the biochemical pathways through which IAG
      exerts its effects are poorly understood and could be elucidated through the
      production of a functional recombinant IAG (rIAG). We have successfully expressed
      glycosylated, biologically active IAG using the Pichia pastoris yeast expression
      system. We co-expressed recombinant single-chain precursor molecules consisting
      of the B and A chains (the mature hormone) tethered by a flexible linker,
      producing rIAGs of the following commercially important species: Eastern spiny
      lobster Sagmariasus verreauxi (Sv), redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Cq)
      and giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Mr). We then tested the
      biological activity of each, through the ability to increase phosphorylation in
      the testis; both Sv and Cq rIAGs significantly elevated phosphorylation specific
      to their species, and in a dose-dependent manner. Mr rIAG was tested on
      Macrobrachium australiense (Ma), eliciting a similar response. Moreover, using
      bioinformatics analyses of the de novo assembled spiny lobster transcriptome, we
      identified a spiny lobster tyrosine kinase insulin receptor (Sv-TKIR). We
      validated this discovery with a receptor activation assay in COS-7 cells
      expressing Sv-TKIR, using a reporter SRE-LUC system designed for RTKs, with each
      of the rIAG proteins acting as the activation ligand. Using recombinant proteins,
      we aim to develop specific tools to control sexual development through the
      administration of IAG within the critical sexual differentiation time window. The
      biologically active rIAGs generated might facilitate commercially feasible
      solutions for the long sought techniques for sex-change induction and monosex
      population culture in crustaceans and shed new light on the physiological mode of
      action of IAG in crustaceans.

PMID- 26883687
TI  - Time-course changes in muscle protein degradation in heat-stressed chickens:
      Possible involvement of corticosterone and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species
      generation in induction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
AB  - Heat stress (HS) induces muscle protein degradation as well as production of
      mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study, to improve our
      understanding of how protein degradation is induced by HS treatment in birds, a
      time course analysis of changes in the circulating levels of glucocorticoid and
      N(tau)-methylhistidine, muscle proteolysis-related gene expression, and
      mitochondrial ROS generation, was conducted. At 25 days of age, chickens were
      exposed to HS conditions (33  degrees C) for 0, 0.5, 1 or 3 days. While no
      alteration in plasma N(tau)-methylhistidine concentration relative to that of the
      control group was observed in the 0.5 day HS group, the concentration was
      significantly higher in the 3-d HS treatment group. Plasma corticosterone
      concentrations increased in response to 0.5-d HS treatment, but subsequently
      returned to near-normal values. HS treatment for 0.5 days did not change the
      levels of MU-calpain, cathepsin B, or proteasome C2 subunit mRNA, but increased
      the levels of mRNA encoding atrogin-1 (P<0.05) and its transcription factor,
      forkhead box O3 (P=0.09). Under these hyperthermic conditions, mitochondrial
      superoxide production was significantly increased than that of thermoneutral
      control. Here, we show that HS-induced muscle protein degradation may be due to
      the activation of ubiquitination by atrogin-1, and that this process may involve
      mitochondrial ROS production as well as corticosterone secretion.

PMID- 26883685
TI  - Detection of "bath salts" and other novel psychoactive substances in hair samples
      of ecstasy/MDMA/"Molly" users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ecstasy (MDMA) in the US is commonly adulterated with other drugs,
      but research has not focused on purity of ecstasy since the phenomenon of "Molly"
      (ecstasy marketed as pure MDMA) arose in the US. METHODS: We piloted a rapid
      electronic survey in 2015 to assess use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS)
      and other drugs among 679 nightclub/festival-attending young adults (age 18-25)
      in New York City. A quarter (26.1%) of the sample provided a hair sample to be
      analyzed for the presence of select synthetic cathinones ("bath salts") and some
      other NPS. Samples were analyzed using fully validated UHPLC-MS/MS methods. To
      examine consistency of self-report, analyses focused on the 48 participants with
      an analyzable hair sample who reported lifetime ecstasy/MDMA/Molly use. RESULTS:
      Half (50.0%) of the hair samples contained MDMA, 47.9% contained butylone, and
      10.4% contained methylone. Of those who reported no lifetime use of "bath salts",
      stimulant NPS, or unknown pills or powders, about four out of ten (41.2%) tested
      positive for butylone, methylone, alpha-PVP, 5/6-APB, or 4-FA. Racial minorities
      were more likely to test positive for butylone or test positive for NPS after
      reporting no lifetime use. Frequent nightclub/festival attendance was the
      strongest predictor of testing positive for MDMA, butylone, or methylone.
      DISCUSSION: Results suggest that many ecstasy-using nightclub/festival attendees
      may be unintentionally using "bath salts" or other NPS. Prevention and harm
      reduction education is needed for this population and "drug checking" (e.g., pill
      testing) may be beneficial for those rejecting abstinence.

PMID- 26883688
TI  - The concomitant use of fesoterodine and topical vaginal estrogen in the
      management of overactive bladder and sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the combination effect
      of anti-muscarinic medication and topical vaginal estrogen in the treatment of
      overactive bladder (OAB) and female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.
      STUDY DESIGN: After IRB approval, 23 female subjects who met the entry criteria
      were randomized into two groups: (1) fesoterodine (Toviaz(r), Pfizer, NY) with
      topical vaginal estrogen (Premarin(r), Pfizer, NY) once daily or (2) fesoterodine
      once daily alone. If 4 mg fesoterodine was tolerated at 1-week, the dose was
      increased to 8 mg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary endpoints were improvement in
      OAB symptom severity (Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, OAB-Q SF), improvement in
      OAB health-related quality of life (HRQL) (OAB-Q SF), and sexual function (Sexual
      Quality of Life-Female, SQOL-F) after 12 weeks. Secondary endpoint was change in
      total number of micturitions. RESULTS: After 12-weeks, the combination group had
      a significant improvement in OAB symptom severity (p = 0.006), HRQL (p = 0.029),
      and SQOL-F (0.0003). The fesoterodine alone group also had significant
      improvement in OAB symptom severity (p < 0.0001), HRQL (p = 0.0002), and SQOL-F
      (p = 0.02). When compared directly to the fesoterodine alone group, the
      combination group after 12-weeks had a reduced OAB symptom severity (10 versus
      23.3; p = 0.35), higher HRQL (96.9 versus 84.6; p = 0.75), and higher SQOL-F (99
      versus 81; p = 0.098). The total number of micturitions over 3 d was
      significantly reduced in the combination group (45-26, p = 0.03) between baseline
      and 12-weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The combined effect of fesoterodine and topical
      vaginal estrogen improved OAB symptoms and sexual function in postmenopausal
      women.

PMID- 26883689
TI  - Oxytocin improves cytological and histological profiles of vaginal atrophy in
      postmenopausal women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate if topical oxytocin can reverse vaginal atrophy, as
      assessed by cytological and histological examination of the vaginal mucosal
      epithelium, in postmenopausal women after 12 weeks of treatment as compared to
      placebo. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with vaginal
      atrophy were randomized for this multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled
      trial. Thirty-three women received 600 IU vagitocin, an oxytocin containing gel,
      and 35 women received a placebo gel intravaginally. The dose was 600 IU daily for
      the first two weeks and thereafter 600 IU twice a week for 10 weeks. All
      participant women underwent four visits and a subgroup of 20 women had a further
      fifth visit. Vaginal smears for cytological evaluation were collected at all
      visits. Vaginal biopsies were taken in 20 women before and after 12 weeks of
      treatment for histological analysis. In these women a vaginal smear was also
      collected after 14 weeks. RESULTS: The increase in the percentage of superficial
      cells between 0 and 2 weeks was significantly greater after treatment with
      vagitocin in comparison with placebo (p = 0.04). The difference in the maturation
      value between 0 and 12 weeks was significantly higher in the vagitocin than in
      the placebo group (p = 0.01). The reduction in the scores of atrophy was
      according to the histological investigation significantly greater in the
      vagitocin group than in the placebo group at 12 weeks (p < 0.04). CONCLUSION:
      Daily intravaginal treatment with vagitocin 600 IU improves expressions of
      vaginal atrophy as recorded by cytological investigation of vaginal smears and
      histological analysis of vaginal biopsies. Treatment twice weekly seems to be
      less effective regarding the increase in superficial cells.

PMID- 26883690
TI  - Direct Difluoromethylation of Aryl Halides via Base Metal Catalysis at Room
      Temperature.
AB  - A stable and isolable difluoromethyl zinc reagent has been prepared through the
      reaction of ICF2H with diethyl zinc and DMPU. This new zinc reagent is a free
      flowing solid and can be used in combination with a nickel catalyst to
      difluoromethylate aryl iodides, bromides, and triflates at room temperature. Such
      mild conditions for the catalytic difluoromethylation of these substrates are
      unprecedented. 

PMID- 26883692
TI  - Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic and geochronologic results from the Tethyan
      Himalaya: Insights into the Neotethyan paleogeography and the India-Asia
      collision.
AB  - To better understand the Neotethyan paleogeography, a paleomagnetic and
      geochronological study has been performed on the Early Cretaceous Sangxiu
      Formation lava flows, which were dated from ~135.1 Ma to ~124.4 Ma, in the
      Tethyan Himalaya. The tilt-corrected site-mean characteristic remanent
      magnetization (ChRM) direction for 26 sites is Ds = 296.1 degrees , Is = -65.7
      degrees , ks = 51.7, alpha95 = 4.0 degrees , corresponding to a paleopole at 5.9
      degrees S, 308.0 degrees E with A95 = 6.1 degrees . Positive fold and reversal
      tests prove that the ChRM directions are prefolding primary magnetizations. These
      results, together with reliable Cretaceous-Paleocene paleomagnetic data observed
      from the Tethyan Himalaya and the Lhasa terrane, as well as the paleolatitude
      evolution indicated by the apparent polar wander paths (APWPs) of India, reveal
      that the Tethyan Himalaya was a part of Greater India during the Early Cretaceous
      (135.1-124.4 Ma) when the Neotethyan Ocean was up to ~6900 km, it rifted from
      India sometime after ~130 Ma, and that the India-Asia collision should be a dual
      collision process including the first Tethyan Himalaya-Lhasa terrane collision at
      ~54.9 Ma and the final India-Tethyan Himalaya collision at ~36.7 Ma.

PMID- 26883691
TI  - Serum Metabolic Profiling Reveals Altered Metabolic Pathways in Patients with
      Post-traumatic Cognitive Impairments.
AB  - Cognitive impairment, the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related
      disability, adversely affects the quality of life of TBI patients, and exacts a
      personal and economic cost that is difficult to quantify. The underlying
      pathophysiological mechanism is currently unknown, and an effective treatment of
      the disease has not yet been identified. This study aimed to advance our
      understanding of the mechanism of disease pathogenesis; thus, metabolomics based
      on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), coupled with multivariate and
      univariate statistical methods were used to identify potential biomarkers and the
      associated metabolic pathways of post-TBI cognitive impairment. A biomarker panel
      consisting of nine serum metabolites (serine, pyroglutamic acid, phenylalanine,
      galactose, palmitic acid, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, citric acid, and 2,3,4
      trihydroxybutyrate) was identified to be able to discriminate between TBI
      patients with cognitive impairment, TBI patients without cognitive impairment and
      healthy controls. Furthermore, associations between these metabolite markers and
      the metabolism of amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates were identified. In
      conclusion, our study is the first to identify several serum metabolite markers
      and investigate the altered metabolic pathway that is associated with post-TBI
      cognitive impairment. These markers appear to be suitable for further
      investigation of the disease mechanisms of post-TBI cognitive impairment. 

PMID- 26883693
TI  - Solithromycin Pharmacokinetics in Plasma and Dried Blood Spots and Safety in
      Adolescents.
AB  - We assessed the pharmacokinetics and safety of solithromycin, a fluoroketolide
      antibiotic, in a phase 1, open-label, multicenter study of 13 adolescents with
      suspected or confirmed bacterial infections. On days 3 to 5, the mean (standard
      deviation) maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration versus
      time curve from 0 to 24 h were 0.74 MUg/ml (0.61 MUg/ml) and 9.28 MUg . h/ml
      (6.30 MUg . h/ml), respectively. The exposure and safety in this small cohort of
      adolescents were comparable to those for adults. (This study has been registered
      at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01966055.). 

PMID- 26883694
TI  - Clinical and Epidemiological Significance of Carbapenem Resistance in
      Acinetobacter baumannii Infections.
AB  - Carbapenems are considered the treatment of choice for Acinetobacter baumannii
      infections. Many facilities implement preventive measures toward only carbapenem
      resistant A. baumannii (CRAB). However, the independent role of the carbapenem
      resistance determinant on patient outcomes remains controversial. In a 6-year
      analysis of adults with A. baumannii bloodstream infection (BSI), the outcomes of
      149 CRAB isolates were compared to those of 91 patients with carbapenem
      susceptible A. baumannii In bivariable analyses, CRAB BSIs were significantly
      associated with worse outcomes and with a delay in the initiation of appropriate
      antimicrobial therapy (DAAT). However, in multivariable analyses, carbapenem
      resistance status was no longer associated with poor outcomes, while DAAT
      remained an independent predictor. The epidemiological significance of A.
      baumannii should not be determined by its resistance to carbapenems.

PMID- 26883696
TI  - Occurrence of the Plasmid-Borne mcr-1 Colistin Resistance Gene in Extended
      Spectrum-beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in River Water and Imported
      Vegetable Samples in Switzerland.

PMID- 26883697
TI  - Tigecycline Potentiates Clarithromycin Activity against Mycobacterium avium In
      Vitro.
AB  - Thein vitroactivities of clarithromycin and tigecycline alone and in combination
      againstMycobacterium aviumwere assessed. The activity of clarithromycin was time
      dependent, highly variable, and often resulted in clarithromycin resistance.
      Tigecycline showed concentration-dependent activity, and mycobacterial killing
      could only be achieved at high concentrations. Tigecycline enhanced
      clarithromycin activity againstM. aviumand prevented clarithromycin resistance.
      Whether there is clinical usefulness of tigecycline in the treatment ofM.
      aviuminfections needs further study. 

PMID- 26883695
TI  - Phenotypically Adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis Populations from Sputum Are
      Tolerant to First-Line Drugs.
AB  - Tuberculous sputum contains multipleMycobacterium tuberculosispopulations with
      different requirements for isolationin vitro These include cells that form
      colonies on solid media (plateableM. tuberculosis), cells requiring standard
      liquid medium for growth (nonplateableM. tuberculosis), and cells requiring
      supplementation of liquid medium with culture supernatant (SN) for growth (SN
      dependentM. tuberculosis). Here, we describe protocols for the cryopreservation
      and direct assessment of antimicrobial tolerance of theseM.
      tuberculosispopulations within sputum. Our results show that first-line drugs
      achieved only modest bactericidal effects on all three populations over 7 days (1
      to 2.5 log10reductions), and SN-dependentM. tuberculosiswas more tolerant to
      streptomycin and isoniazid than the plateable and nonplateableM.
      tuberculosisstrains. Susceptibility of plateableM. tuberculosisto bactericidal
      drugs was significantly increased after passagein vitro; thus, tolerance observed
      in the sputum samples from the population groups was likely associated with
      mycobacterial adaptation to the host environment at some time prior to
      expectoration. Our findings support the use of a simpleex vivosystem for testing
      drug efficacies against mycobacteria that have phenotypically adapted during
      tuberculosis infection. 

PMID- 26883698
TI  - Benznidazole Extended-Release Tablets for Improved Treatment of Chagas Disease:
      Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Study.
AB  - Benznidazole (BNZ) is the first-line drug for the treatment of Chagas disease.
      The drug is available in the form of immediate-release tablets for 100-mg (adult)
      and 12.5-mg (pediatric) doses. The drug is administered two or three times daily
      for 60 days. The high frequency of daily administrations and the long period of
      treatment are factors that significantly contribute to the abandonment of
      therapy, affecting therapeutic success. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate
      the preclinical pharmacokinetics of BNZ administered as extended-release tablets
      (200-mg dose) formulated with different types of polymers (hydroxypropyl
      methylcellulose K4M and K100M), compared to the tablets currently available. The
      studies were conducted with rabbits, and BNZ quantification was performed in
      plasma and urine by ultraperformance liquid chromatography methods previously
      validated. The bioavailability of BNZ was adequate in the administration of
      extended-release tablets; however, with the administration of the pediatric
      tablet, the bioavailability was lower than with other tablets, which showed that
      the clinical use of this formulation should be monitored. The pharmacokinetic
      parameters demonstrated that the extended-release tablets prolonged drug release
      from the pharmaceutical matrix and provided an increase in the maintenance of the
      drug concentrationin vivo, which would allow the frequency of administration to
      be reduced. Thus, a relative bioavailability study in humans will be planned for
      implementation of a new product for the treatment of Chagas disease. 

PMID- 26883699
TI  - Identification of Synthetic and Natural Host Defense Peptides with Leishmanicidal
      Activity.
AB  - Leishmaniaparasites are a major public health problem worldwide. Effective
      treatment of leishmaniasis is hampered by the high incidence of adverse effects
      to traditional drug therapy and the emergence of resistance to current
      therapeutics. A vaccine is currently not available. Host defense peptides have
      been investigated as novel therapeutic agents against a wide range of pathogens.
      Here we demonstrate that the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and the three synthetic
      peptides E6, L-1018, and RI-1018 exhibit leishmanicidal activity against
      promastigotes and intramacrophage amastigotes ofLeishmania donovaniandLeishmania
      major We also report that theLeishmaniaprotease/virulence factor GP63 confers
      protection toLeishmaniafrom the cytolytic properties of alll-form peptides (E6, L
      1018, and LL-37) but not thed-form peptide RI-1018. The results suggest that RI
      1018, E6, and LL-37 are promising peptides to develop further into components for
      antileishmanial therapy. 

PMID- 26883700
TI  - Preventing Implant-Associated Infections by Silver Coating.
AB  - Implant-associated infections (IAIs) are a dreaded complication mainly caused by
      biofilm-forming staphylococci. Implant surfaces preventing microbial colonization
      would be desirable. We examined the preventive effect of a silver-coated titanium
      aluminum-niobium (TiAlNb) alloy. The surface elicited a strong, inoculum
      dependent activity againstStaphylococcus epidermidisandStaphylococcus aureusin an
      agar inhibition assay. Gamma sterilization and alcohol disinfection did not alter
      the effect. In a tissue cage mouse model, silver coating of TiAlNb cages
      prevented perioperative infections in an inoculum-dependent manner and led to a
      100% prevention rate after challenge with 2 * 10(6)CFU ofS. epidermidisper cage.
      InS. aureusinfections, silver coating had only limited effect. Similarly,
      daptomycin or vancomycin prophylaxis alone did not preventS. aureusinfections.
      However, silver coating combined with daptomycin or vancomycin prophylaxis
      thwarted methicillin-resistantS. aureusinfections at a prevention rate of 100% or
      33%, respectively. Moreover, silver release from the surface was independent of
      infection and occurred rapidly after implantation. On day 2, a peak of 82 MUg
      Ag/ml was reached in the cage fluid, corresponding to almost 6* the MIC of the
      staphylococci. Cytotoxicity toward leukocytes in the cage was low and temporary.
      Surrounding tissue did not reveal histological signs of silver toxicity.In vitro,
      no emergence of silver resistance was observed in several clinical strains of
      staphylococci upon serial subinhibitory silver exposures. In conclusion, our data
      demonstrate that silver-coated TiAlNb is potent for prevention of IAIs and thus
      can be considered for clinical application. 

PMID- 26883701
TI  - Comparative Study of Activities of a Diverse Set of Antimycobacterial Agents
      against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium ulcerans.
AB  - A library of compounds covering a broad chemical space was selected from a
      tuberculosis drug development program and was screened in a whole-cell assay
      against Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of the necrotizing skin
      disease Buruli ulcer. While a number of potent antitubercular agents were only
      weakly active or inactive against M. ulcerans, five compounds showed high
      activity (90% inhibitory concentration [IC90], <=1 MUM), making screening of
      focused antitubercular libraries a good starting point for lead generation
      against M. ulcerans.

PMID- 26883703
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and Concentration-Dependent Efficacy of Isavuconazole for
      Treatment of Experimental Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
AB  - We studied the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of the broad-spectrum triazole
      isavuconazole for the treatment of experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
      (IPA) in persistently neutropenic rabbits. Treatment started 24 h after
      endotracheal administration of Aspergillus fumigatus inoculum; study subjects
      included rabbits receiving orally administered prodrug isavuconazonium sulfate
      (BAL8557) equivalent to active moiety isavuconazole (ISA; BAL4815) at 20 (ISA20),
      40 (ISA40), and 60 (ISA60) mg/kg (of body weight)/day, with an initial loading
      dose of 90 mg/kg (ISA90), and untreated rabbits (UC). There were significant
      concentration-dependent reductions of residual fungal burden (log CFU/gram) and
      of organism-mediated pulmonary injury, lung weights, and pulmonary infarct scores
      in ISA40- and ISA60-treated rabbits in comparison to those of UC (P < 0.001).
      ISA20-treated (P < 0.05), ISA40-treated, and ISA60-treated (P < 0.001) rabbits
      demonstrated significantly prolonged survival in comparison to that of UC. ISA40-
      and ISA60-treated animals demonstrated a significant decline of serum (1->3)-beta
      d-glucan levels (P < 0.05) and galactomannan indices (GMIs) during therapy
      following day 4 in comparison to progressive GMIs of UC (P < 0.01). There also
      were significantly lower concentration-dependent GMIs in bronchoalveolar lavage
      (BAL) fluid from ISA40- and ISA60-treated rabbits (P < 0.001). There was a direct
      correlation between isavuconazole plasma area under the concentration-time curve
      from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) and residual fungal burdens in lung tissues, pulmonary
      infarct scores, and total lung weights. In summary, rabbits treated with
      isavuconazole at 40 and 60 mg/kg/day demonstrated significant dose-dependent
      reduction of residual fungal burden, decreased pulmonary injury, prolonged
      survival, lower GMIs in serum and BAL fluid, and lower serum (1->3)-beta-d-glucan
      levels.

PMID- 26883704
TI  - Susceptibility of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Urine Isolates to Oral
      Antibiotics.
AB  - Increasing resistance among Gram-negative uropathogens limits treatment options,
      and susceptibility data for multidrug-resistant isolates are limited. We assessed
      the activity of five oral agents against 91 multidrug-resistant Gram-negative
      urine isolates that were collected from emergency department/hospitalized
      patients. Fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin were most active (>75% susceptibility).
      Susceptibilities to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin
      were <=40%; empirical use of these agents likely provides inadequate coverage in
      areas with a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogens.

PMID- 26883702
TI  - Successful Therapy of Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis with Astrakurkurone, a
      Triterpene Isolated from the Mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus, Involves the
      Induction of Protective Cell-Mediated Immunity and TLR9.
AB  - In our previous report, we showed that astrakurkurone, a triterpene isolated from
      the Indian mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, induced reactive
      oxygen species, leading to apoptosis in Leishmania donovani promastigotes, and
      also was effective in inhibiting intracellular amastigotes at the 50% inhibitory
      concentration of 2.5 MUg/ml. The aim of the present study is to characterize the
      associated immunomodulatory potentials and cellular activation provided by
      astrakurkurone, leading to effective antileishmanial activity in vitro and in
      vivo Astrakurkurone-mediated antileishmanial activity was evaluated by real-time
      PCR and flow cytometry. The involvement of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) was
      studied by in vitro assay in the presence of a TLR9 agonist and antagonist and by
      in silico modeling of a three-dimensional structure of the ectodomain of TLR9 and
      its interaction with astrakurkurone. Astrakurkurone caused a significant increase
      in TLR9 expression of L. donovani-infected macrophages along with the activation
      of proinflammatory responses. The involvement of TLR9 in astrakurkurone-mediated
      amastigote killing has been evidenced from the fact that a TLR9 agonist (CpG, ODN
      1826) in combination with astrakurkurone enhanced the amastigote killing, while a
      TLR9 antagonist (bafilomycin A1) alone or in combination with astrakurkurone
      curbed the amastigote killing, which could be further justified by in silico
      evidence of docking between mouse TLR9 and astrakurkurone. Astrakurkurone was
      found to reduce the parasite burden in vivo by inducing protective cytokines,
      gamma interferon and interleukin 17. Moreover, astrakurkurone was nontoxic toward
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells of immunocompromised patients with visceral
      leishmaniasis. Astrakurkurone, a nontoxic antileishmanial, enhances the immune
      efficiency of host cells, leading to parasite clearance in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 26883705
TI  - Carbapenem- and Colistin-Resistant Enterobacter cloacae from Delta, Colorado, in
      2015.
AB  - Resistance to carbapenems in Enterobacteriaceae is a clinical problem of growing
      significance. Difficulty in treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms
      with conventional antibiotics has led to a renewed and increasing use of
      polymyxin compounds, such as colistin. Here, we report the isolation of
      carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae from a polymicrobial
      lower extremity wound in an ambulatory patient. Whole-genome sequencing
      demonstrated the presence of chromosomal blaIMI-1 and blaAmpC, as well as
      numerous efflux pump genes.

PMID- 26883706
TI  - Network Analysis of Sequence-Function Relationships and Exploration of Sequence
      Space of TEM beta-Lactamases.
AB  - The Lactamase Engineering Database (www.LacED.uni-stuttgart.de) was developed to
      facilitate the classification and analysis of TEM beta-lactamases. The current
      version contains 474 TEM variants. Two hundred fifty-nine variants form a large
      scale-free network of highly connected point mutants. The network was divided
      into three subnetworks which were enriched by single phenotypes: one network with
      predominantly 2be and two networks with 2br phenotypes. Fifteen positions were
      found to be highly variable, contributing to the majority of the observed
      variants. Since it is expected that a considerable fraction of the theoretical
      sequence space is functional, the currently sequenced 474 variants represent only
      the tip of the iceberg of functional TEM beta-lactamase variants which form a
      huge natural reservoir of highly interconnected variants. Almost 50% of the
      variants are part of a quartet. Thus, two single mutations that result in
      functional enzymes can be combined into a functional protein. Most of these
      quartets consist of the same phenotype, or the mutations are additive with
      respect to the phenotype. By predicting quartets from triplets, 3,916 unknown
      variants were constructed. Eighty-seven variants complement multiple quartets and
      therefore have a high probability of being functional. The construction of a TEM
      beta-lactamase network and subsequent analyses by clustering and quartet
      prediction are valuable tools to gain new insights into the viable sequence space
      of TEM beta-lactamases and to predict their phenotype. The highly connected
      sequence space of TEM beta-lactamases is ideally suited to network analysis and
      demonstrates the strengths of network analysis over tree reconstruction methods.

PMID- 26883707
TI  - Longitudinal Analysis of the Effect of Inflammation on Voriconazole Trough
      Concentrations.
AB  - Voriconazole (VCZ) exhibits great inter- and intrapatient variability. The latter
      variation cannot exclusively be explained by concomitant medications, liver
      disease or dysfunction, and genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 2C19
      (CYP2C19). We hypothesized that inflammatory response in patients under VCZ
      medication might also influence this fluctuation in concentrations. In this
      study, we explored the association between inflammation, reflected by the C
      reactive protein (CRP) concentration, and VCZ trough concentrations over time. A
      retrospective analysis of data was performed for patients with more than one
      steady-state VCZ trough concentration and a CRP concentration measured on the
      same day. A longitudinal analysis was used for series of observations obtained
      from many study participants over time. The approach involved inclusion of random
      effects and autocorrelation in linear models to reflect within-person cross-time
      correlation. A total of 50 patients were eligible for the study, resulting in 139
      observations (paired VCZ and CRP concentrations) for the analysis, ranging from 2
      to 6 observations per study participant. Inflammation, marked by the CRP
      concentration, had a significant association with VCZ trough concentrations (P <
      0.001). Covariates such as age and interacting comedication ([es]omeprazole),
      also showed a significant correlation between VCZ and CRP concentrations (P <
      0.05). The intrapatient variation of trough concentrations of VCZ was 1.401
      (confidence interval [CI], 0.881 to 2.567), and the interpatient variation was
      1.756 (CI, 0.934 to 4.440). The autocorrelation between VCZ trough concentrations
      at two sequential time points was calculated at 0.71 (CI, 0.51 to 0.92). The
      inflammatory response appears to play a significant role in the largely
      unpredictable pharmacokinetics of VCZ, especially in patients with high
      inflammatory response, as reflected by high CRP concentrations.

PMID- 26883708
TI  - Kinetic Studies on CphA Mutants Reveal the Role of the P158-P172 Loop in Activity
      versus Carbapenems.
AB  - Site-directed mutagenesis of CphA indicated that prolines in the P158-P172 loop
      are essential for the stability and the catalytic activity of subclass B2 metallo
      beta-lactamases against carbapenems. The sequential substitution of proline led
      to a decrease of the catalytic efficiency of the variant compared to the wild
      type (WT) enzyme but also to a higher affinity for the binding of the second zinc
      ion.

PMID- 26883710
TI  - First Description of IncX3 Plasmids Carrying blaOXA-181 in Escherichia coli
      Clinical Isolates in Burkina Faso.

PMID- 26883709
TI  - Increasing Experience with Primary Oral Medical Therapy for Mycobacterium
      ulcerans Disease in an Australian Cohort.
AB  - Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing infection of subcutaneous tissue that is
      caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans and is responsible for disfiguring skin lesions.
      The disease is endemic to specific geographic regions in the state of Victoria in
      southeastern Australia. Growing evidence of the effectiveness of antibiotic
      therapy for M. ulcerans disease has evolved our practice to the use of primarily
      oral medical therapy. An observational cohort study was performed on all
      confirmed M. ulcerans cases treated with primary rifampin-based medical therapy
      at Barwon Health between October 2010 and December 2014 and receiving 12 months
      of follow-up. One hundred thirty-two patients were managed with primary medical
      therapy. The median age of patients was 49 years, and nearly 10% had diabetes
      mellitus. Lesions were ulcerative in 83.3% of patients and at WHO stage 1 in
      78.8% of patients. The median duration of therapy was 56 days, with 22 patients
      (16.7%) completing fewer than 56 days of antimicrobial treatment. Antibiotic
      associated complications requiring cessation of one or more antibiotics occurred
      in 21 (15.9%) patients. Limited surgical debridement was performed on 30 of these
      medically managed patients (22.7%). Cure was achieved, with healing within 12
      months, in 131 of 132 patients (99.2%), and cosmetic outcomes were excellent.
      Primary rifampin-based oral medical therapy for M. ulcerans disease, combined
      with either clarithromycin or a fluoroquinolone, has an excellent rate of cure
      and an acceptable toxicity profile in Australian patients. We advocate for
      further research to determine the optimal and safest minimum duration of medical
      therapy for BU.

PMID- 26883711
TI  - A New Antileishmanial Preparation of Combined Solamargine and Solasonine Heals
      Cutaneous Leishmaniasis through Different Immunochemical Pathways.
AB  - Little has been done during the past 100 years to develop new antileishmanial
      drugs. Most infected individuals live in poor countries and have a low cash
      income to be attractive targets to pharmaceutical corporations. Two heterosidic
      steroids, solamargine and solasonine, initially identified as major components of
      the Brazilian plant Solanum lycocarpum, were tested for leishmanicidal activity.
      Both alkaloids killed intracellular and extracellular Leishmania mexicana
      parasites more efficiently than the reference drug sodium stibogluconate. A total
      of 10 MUM each individual alkaloid significantly reduced parasite counts in
      infected macrophages and dendritic cells. In vivo treatment of C57BL/6 mice with
      a standardized topical preparation containing solamargine (45.1%) and solasonine
      (44.4%) gave significant reductions in lesion sizes and parasite counts recovered
      from lesions. Alkaloids present different immunochemical pathways in macrophages
      and dendritic cells. We conclude that this topical preparation is effective and a
      potential new and inexpensive treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

PMID- 26883712
TI  - Daptomycin Tolerance in the Staphylococcus aureus pitA6 Mutant Is Due to
      Upregulation of the dlt Operon.
AB  - Understanding the mechanisms of how bacteria become tolerant toward antibiotics
      during clinical therapy is a very important object. In a previous study, we
      showed that increased daptomycin (DAP) tolerance of Staphylococcus aureus was due
      to a point mutation in pitA (inorganic phosphate transporter) that led to
      intracellular accumulation of both inorganic phosphate (Pi) and polyphosphate
      (polyP). DAP tolerance in the pitA6 mutant differs from classical resistance
      mechanisms since there is no increase in the MIC. In this follow-up study, we
      demonstrate that DAP tolerance in the pitA6 mutant is not triggered by the
      accumulation of polyP. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 234 genes were at
      least 2.0-fold differentially expressed in the mutant. Particularly, genes
      involved in protein biosynthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and
      replication and maintenance of DNA were downregulated. However, the most
      important change was the upregulation of the dlt operon, which is induced by the
      accumulation of intracellular Pi The GraXRS system, known as an activator of the
      dlt operon (d-alanylation of teichoic acids) and of the mprF gene (multiple
      peptide resistance factor), is not involved in DAP tolerance of the pitA6 mutant.
      In conclusion, DAP tolerance of the pitA6 mutant is due to an upregulation of the
      dlt operon, triggered directly or indirectly by the accumulation of Pi.

PMID- 26883713
TI  - Clofazimine Inhibits the Growth of Babesia and Theileria Parasites In Vitro and
      In Vivo.
AB  - The present study evaluated the growth-inhibitory effects of clofazimine,
      currently used for treating leprosy, against Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B.
      caballi, and Theileria equi in in vitro culture and against Babesia microti in
      mice. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of clofazimine against the in
      vitro growth of B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and T. equi were 4.5, 3, 4.3,
      and 0.29 MUM, respectively. In mice infected with B. microti, treatment with 20
      mg/kg of body weight of clofazimine administered orally resulted in a
      significantly lower peak parasitemia (5.3%) than that in the control group
      (45.9%), which was comparable to the subcutaneous administration of 25 mg/kg
      diminazene aceturate, the most widely used treatment for animal piroplasmosis.
      Although slight anemia was observed in both clofazimine- and diminazene aceturate
      treated infected mice, the level and duration of anemia were lower and shorter,
      respectively, than those in untreated infected mice. Using blood transfusions and
      PCR, we also examined whether clofazimine completely killed B. microti On day 40
      postinfection, when blood analysis was performed, parasites were not found in
      blood smears; however, the DNA of B. microti was detected in the blood of
      clofazimine-treated animals and in several tissues of clofazimine- and diminazene
      aceturate-treated mice by PCR. The growth of parasites was observed in mice after
      blood transfusions from clofazimine-treated mice. In conclusion, clofazimine
      showed excellent inhibitory effects against Babesia and Theileria in vitro and in
      vivo, and further study on clofazimine is required for the future development of
      a novel chemotherapy with high efficacy and safety against animal piroplasmosis
      and, possibly, human babesiosis.

PMID- 26883714
TI  - Antibiotic Resistance among Urinary Isolates from Female Outpatients in the
      United States in 2003 and 2012.
AB  - A retrospective analysis was performed using The Surveillance Network, USA, to
      examine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among urine isolates from U.S.
      female outpatients in 2012 and assessed trends in antibiotic resistance comparing
      data from 2003 and 2012. The most common pathogen identified in 2012 (n =
      285,325) was Escherichia coli (64.9% of isolates). In 2012, E. coli resistance to
      nitrofurantoin was low (<3%) across all age groups. E. coli resistance to
      ciprofloxacin was high among adults (11.8%) and elderly outpatients (29.1%). When
      comparing the 2003 and 2012 data from isolates from adults, E. coli resistance to
      nitrofurantoin changed only slightly (from 0.7% to 0.9%), whereas increases in
      resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.6% to 11.8%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
      (17.2% to 22.2%) changed substantially. In the United States, E. coli has become
      increasingly resistant to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP
      SMX) in adult female outpatients. Nitrofurantoin retains high levels of
      antibiotic activity against urinary E. coli.

PMID- 26883715
TI  - Metabolomics in diabetes, a review.
AB  - Metabolomics is a promising approach for the identification of chemical compounds
      that serve for early detection, diagnosis, prediction of therapeutic response and
      prognosis of disease. Moreover, metabolomics has shown to increase the diagnostic
      threshold and prediction of type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggests that branched
      chain amino acids, acylcarnitines and aromatic amino acids may play an early role
      on insulin resistance, exposing defects on amino acid metabolism, beta-oxidation,
      and tricarboxylic acid cycle. This review aims to provide a panoramic view of the
      metabolic shifts that antecede or follow type 2 diabetes. Key messages BCAAs,
      AAAs and acylcarnitines are strongly associated with early insulin resistance.
      Diabetes risk prediction has been improved when adding metabolomic markers of
      dysglycemia to standard clinical and biochemical factors. 

PMID- 26883716
TI  - MiR-204 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of renal cell carcinoma by
      inhibiting RAB22A expression.
AB  - While miR-204 expression may be linked to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression,
      the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated
      that miR-204 was differentially expressed in RCC tissues when compared with
      surrounding normal kidney tissues. Ectopic overexpression of miR-204 in human RCC
      cells suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism
      dissection revealed that miR-204 may function through RAB22A signals to inhibit
      RCC proliferation and invasion. Overexpression of RAB22A by oe-RAB22A was able to
      partially reverse the miR-204-mediated suppression of RCC tumor progression.
      Together, these results revealed that miR-204 suppressed RCC proliferation and
      invasion by directly targeting the RAB22A gene. Targeting newly identified RAB22A
      with miR-204 may aid in the suppression of RCC proliferation and invasion.

PMID- 26883717
TI  - Inversion of Spin Signal and Spin Filtering in Ferromagnet|Hexagonal Boron
      Nitride-Graphene van der Waals Heterostructures.
AB  - Two dimensional atomically thin crystals of graphene and its insulating isomorph
      hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are promising materials for spintronic
      applications. While graphene is an ideal medium for long distance spin transport,
      h-BN is an insulating tunnel barrier that has potential for efficient spin
      polarized tunneling from ferromagnets. Here, we demonstrate the spin filtering
      effect in cobalt|few layer h-BN|graphene junctions leading to a large negative
      spin polarization in graphene at room temperature. Through nonlocal pure spin
      transport and Hanle precession measurements performed on devices with different
      interface barrier conditions, we associate the negative spin polarization with
      high resistance few layer h-BN|ferromagnet contacts. Detailed bias and gate
      dependent measurements reinforce the robustness of the effect in our devices.
      These spintronic effects in two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures hold
      promise for future spin based logic and memory applications. 

PMID- 26883718
TI  - Enrichment and isolation of Flavobacterium strains with tolerance to high
      concentrations of cesium ion.
AB  - Interest in the interaction of microorganisms with cesium ions (Cs(+)) has
      arisen, especially in terms of their potent ability for radiocesium
      bioaccumulation and their important roles in biogeochemical cycling. Although
      high concentrations of Cs(+) display toxic effects on microorganisms, there have
      been only limited reports for Cs(+)-tolerant microorganisms. Here we report
      enrichment and isolation of Cs(+)-tolerant microorganisms from soil microbiota.
      Microbial community analysis revealed that bacteria within the phylum
      Bacteroidetes, especially Flavobacterium spp., dominated in enrichment cultures
      in the medium supplemented with 50 or 200 mM Cs(+), while Gammaproteobacteria was
      dominant in the control enrichment cultures (in the presence of 50 and 200 mM
      K(+) instead of Cs(+)). The dominant Flavobacterium sp. was successfully isolated
      from the enrichment culture and was closely related to Flavobacterium
      chungbukense with 99.5% identity. Growth experiments clearly demonstrated that
      the isolate has significantly higher tolerance to Cs(+) compared to its close
      relatives, suggesting the Cs(+)-tolerance is a specific trait of this strain, but
      not a universal trait in the genus Flavobacterium. Measurement of intracellular
      K(+) and Cs(+) concentrations of the Cs(+)-tolerant isolate and its close
      relatives suggested that the ability to maintain low intracellular Cs(+)
      concentration confers the tolerance against high concentrations of external
      Cs(+).

PMID- 26883719
TI  - Critical dependence of magnetostructural coupling and magnetocaloric effect on
      particle size in Mn-Fe-Ni-Ge compounds.
AB  - Magnetostructural coupling, which is the coincidence of crystallographic and
      magnetic transition, has obtained intense attention for its abundant
      magnetoresponse effects and promising technological applications, such as solid
      state refrigeration, magnetic actuators and sensors. The hexagonal Ni2In-type
      compounds have attracted much attraction due to the strong magnetostructural
      coupling and the resulted giant negative thermal expansion and magnetocaloric
      effect. However, the as-prepared samples are quite brittle and naturally collapse
      into powders. Here, we report the effect of particle size on the
      magnetostructural coupling and magnetocaloric effect in the Ni2In-type Mn-Fe-Ni
      Ge compound, which undergoes a large lattice change across the transformation
      from paramagnetic austenite to ferromagnetic martensite. The disappearance of
      martensitic transformation in a large amount of austenitic phase with reducing
      particle size, to our best knowledge, has not been reported up to now. The ratio
      can be as high as 40.6% when the MnNi0.8Fe0.2Ge bulk was broken into particles in
      the size range of 5~15 MUm. Meanwhile, the remained magnetostructural transition
      gets wider and the magnetic hysteresis becomes smaller. As a result, the entropy
      change drops, but the effective cooling power RCeffe increases and attains to the
      maximum at particles in the range of 20~40 MUm. These observations provide
      constructive information and highly benefit practical applications for this class
      of novel magnetoresponse materials.

PMID- 26883722
TI  - Preface: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces in China Forum.

PMID- 26883720
TI  - A minimal conformational switching-dependent model for amyloid self-assembly.
AB  - Amyloid formation is associated with various pathophysiological conditions like
      Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases as well as many useful functions. The
      hallmark of amyloid assemblies is a conformational transition of the constituent
      proteins into a beta - sheet rich filament. Accounting for this conformational
      transition in amyloidogenic proteins, we develop an analytically solvable model
      that can probe the dynamics of an ensemble of single filaments. Using the theory
      and Monte Carlo simulations, we show the presence of two kinetic regimes for the
      growth of a self-assembling filament - switching-dependent and -independent
      growth regimes. We observe a saturation in fibril elongation velocities at higher
      concentrations in the first regime, providing a novel explanation to the
      concentration-independence of growth velocities observed experimentally. We also
      compute the length fluctuation of the filaments to characterize aggregate
      heterogeneity. From the early velocities and length fluctuation, we propose a
      novel way of estimating the conformational switching rate. Our theory predicts a
      kinetic phase diagram that has three distinct phases - short oligomers/monomers,
      disordered aggregates and beta-rich filaments. The model also predicts the force
      generation potential and the intermittent growth of amyloid fibrils evident from
      single molecular experiments. Our model could contribute significantly to the
      physical understanding of amyloid aggregation.

PMID- 26883721
TI  - DNA Hypomethylation Contributes to Genomic Instability and Intestinal Cancer
      Initiation.
AB  - Intestinal cancer is a heterogeneous disease driven by genetic mutations and
      epigenetic changes. Approximately 80% of sporadic colorectal cancers are
      initiated by mutation and inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)
      gene, which results in unrestrained intestinal epithelial growth and formation of
      adenomas. Aberrant DNA methylation promotes cancer progression by the
      inactivation of tumor suppressor genes via promoter methylation. In addition,
      global DNA hypomethylation is often seen before the formation of adenomas,
      suggesting that it contributes to neoplastic transformation. Previous studies
      employed mice with a hypomorphic mutation in DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1),
      which exhibited constitutive global DNA hypomethylation and decreased
      tumorigenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model of intestinal cancer. However, the
      consequences of intestinal epithelial-specific acute hypomethylation during
      Apc(Min/+) tumor initiation have not been reported. Using temporally controlled
      intestinal epithelial-specific gene ablation, we show that total loss of Dnmt1 in
      the Apc(Min/+) mouse model of intestinal cancer causes accelerated adenoma
      initiation. Deletion of Dnmt1 precipitates an acute response characterized by
      hypomethylation of repetitive elements and genomic instability, which
      surprisingly is followed by remethylation with time. Two months post-Dnmt1
      ablation, mice display increased macroadenoma load, consistent with a role for
      Dnmt1 and DNA methylation in maintaining genomic stability. These data suggest
      that DNA hypomethylation plays a previously unappreciated role in intestinal
      adenoma initiation. Cancer Prev Res; 9(7); 534-46. (c)2016 AACRSee related
      article by Lee and Laird, p. 509. 

PMID- 26883723
TI  - Highly Sensitive Thin-Film Field-Effect Transistor Sensor for Ammonia with the
      DPP-Bithiophene Conjugated Polymer Entailing Thermally Cleavable tert-Butoxy
      Groups in the Side Chains.
AB  - The sensing and detection of ammonia have received increasing attention in recent
      years because of the growing emphasis on environmental and health issues. In this
      paper, we report a thin-film field-effect transistor (FET)-based sensor for
      ammonia and other amines with remarkable high sensitivity and satisfactory
      selectivity by employing the DPP-bithiophene conjugated polymer pDPPBu-BT in
      which tert-butoxycarboxyl groups are incorporated in the side chains. This
      polymer thin film shows p-type semiconducting property. On the basis of TGA and
      FT-IR analysis, tert-butoxycarboxyl groups can be transformed into the -COOH ones
      by eliminating gaseous isobutylene after thermal annealing of pDPPBu-BT thin film
      at 240  degrees C. The FET with the thermally treated thin film of pDPPBu-BT
      displays remarkably sensitive and selective response toward ammonia and volatile
      amines. This can be attributed to the fact that the elimination of gaseous
      isobutylene accompanies the formation of nanopores with the thin film, which will
      facilitate the diffusion and interaction of ammonia and other amines with the
      semiconducting layer, leading to high sensitivity and fast response for this FET
      sensor. This FET sensor can detect ammonia down to 10 ppb and the interferences
      from other volatile analytes except amines can be negligible. 

PMID- 26883724
TI  - IL-4-producing ILC2s are required for the differentiation of TH2 cells following
      Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection.
AB  - Immunity to many human and murine gastrointestinal helminth parasites requires
      interleukin-4 (IL-4)-directed type 2 helper (TH2) differentiation of CD4+ T cells
      to elicit type-2 immunity. Despite a good understanding of the inflammatory
      cascade elicited following helminth infection, the initial source of IL-4 is
      unclear. Previous studies using the rat helminth parasite Nippostronglyus
      brasiliensis, identified an important role for basophil-derived IL-4 for TH2
      differentiation. However, basophils are redundant for TH2 differentiation
      following infection with the natural helminth parasite of mice Heligmosomoides
      polygyrus, indicating that other sources of IL-4 are required. In this study
      using H. polygyrus, which is controlled by IL-4-dependent immunity, we identified
      that group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) produced significant amounts of IL-4
      and IL-2 following H. polygyrus infection. Leukotriene D4 was sufficient to
      stimulate IL-4 secretion by ILC2s, and the supernatant from activated ILC2s could
      potently drive TH2 differentiation in vitro in an IL-4-dependent manner.
      Furthermore, specific deletion of IL-4 from ILC2s compromised TH2 differentiation
      in vivo. Overall, this study highlights a previously unrecognized and important
      role for ILC2-derived IL-4 for TH2 differentiation in a natural TH2-dependent
      model of human helminthiasis.

PMID- 26883725
TI  - T-bet expression by Th cells promotes type 1 inflammation but is dispensable for
      colitis.
AB  - The transcription factor T-bet is highly expressed by Th cells isolated from the
      inflamed intestine of Crohn's disease patients, and has been regarded a critical
      driver of murine T cell-induced colitis. However, we show here that T-bet
      expression by Th cells is not required for the manifestation of T-cell-induced
      colitis in the presence of segmented filamentous bacteria and Helicobacter
      hepaticus. T-bet expression by Th cells controls their survival and localization,
      their repertoire of chemokine and chemokine receptor expression, the accumulation
      of monocytes and macrophages in the inflamed colon, and their differentiation to
      the M1 type, i.e., type 1 inflammation. Nevertheless, T-bet-deficient Th cells
      efficiently induce colitis, as reflected by weight loss, diarrhea, and colon
      histopathology. T-bet-deficient Th cells differentiate into Th1/17 cells, able to
      express IFN-gamma and IL-17A upon restimulation. While neutralization of IL-17A
      exacerbated colitis induced by wild-type or T-bet-deficient Th cells,
      neutralization of IFN-gamma completely abolished colitis.

PMID- 26883726
TI  - The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol facilitates allergic sensitization to whey in mice.
AB  - Intestinal epithelial stress or damage may contribute to allergic sensitization
      against certain food antigens. Hence, the present study investigated whether
      impairment of intestinal barrier integrity by the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON)
      contributes to the development of whey-induced food allergy in a murine model.
      C3H/HeOuJ mice, orally exposed to DON plus whey once a week for 5 consecutive
      weeks, showed whey-specific IgG1 and IgE in serum and an acute allergic skin
      response upon intradermal whey challenge, although early initiating mechanisms of
      sensitization in the intestine appeared to be different compared with the widely
      used mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). Notably, DON exposure modulated tight
      junction mRNA and protein levels, and caused an early increase in IL-33, whereas
      CT exposure affected intestinal gammadelta T cells. On the other hand, both DON-
      and CT-sensitized mice induced a time-dependent increase in the soluble IL-33
      receptor ST2 (IL-1R1) in serum, and enhanced local innate lymphoid cells type 2
      cell numbers. Together, these results demonstrate that DON facilitates allergic
      sensitization to food proteins and that development of sensitization can be
      induced by different molecular mechanisms and local immune responses. Our data
      illustrate the possible contribution of food contaminants in allergic
      sensitization in humans.

PMID- 26883727
TI  - CCR6(-) regulatory T cells blunt the restoration of gut Th17 cells along the CCR6
      CCL20 axis in treated HIV-1-infected individuals.
AB  - The gut CD4(+) T cells, particularly the T helper type 17 (Th17) subset, are not
      completely restored in most HIV-1-infected individuals despite combined
      antiretroviral therapy, when initiated at the chronic phase of infection. We show
      here that the CCR6-CCL20 chemotactic axis is altered, with reduced CCL20
      production by small intestine epithelial cells in treated HIV-1-infected
      individuals. This leads to impaired CCR6(+)CD4(+) T-cell homing, particularly
      Th17 cells, to the small intestine mucosa. In contrast, the frequency of gut
      FoxP3(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells, specifically the CCR6(-) subset, was
      increased. The resulting imbalance in the Th17/CCR6(-) Treg ratio and the
      associated shift from interleukin (IL)-17 to IL-10 and transforming growth factor
      beta (TGF-beta) blunts CCL20 production by enterocytes, perpetuating a negative
      feedback for the recruitment of CCR6(+)CD4(+) T cells to the small intestine in
      treated HIV-1-infected individuals.

PMID- 26883729
TI  - Migration of phospholipid vesicles in response to OH(-) stimuli.
AB  - We demonstrate migration of phospholipid vesicles in response to a pH gradient.
      Upon simple micro-injection of a NaOH solution, the vesicles linearly moved to
      the tip of the micro-pipette and the migration velocity was proportional to the
      gradient of OH(-) concentration. Vesicle migration was characteristic of OH(-)
      ions and no migration was observed for monovalent salts or nonionic sucrose
      solutions. The migration of vesicles is quantitatively described by the surface
      tension gradient model where the hydrolysis of the phospholipids by NaOH solution
      decreases the surface tension of the vesicle. The vesicles move toward a
      direction where the surface energy decreases. Thus the chemical modification of
      lipids produces a mechanical force to drive vesicles. 

PMID- 26883730
TI  - Bathhouse distribution of HIV self-testing kits reaches diverse, high-risk
      population.
AB  - We distributed free OraQuick In-home HIV Test(r) kits to men at a gay bathhouse.
      Men were systematically selected to receive a coupon, which could be redeemed
      that night for an HIV self-testing kit. Those offered the coupon were asked to
      take an 11-item survey. About 181 men received coupons, of whom 92 (51%) accepted
      the coupon, and 61 (66%) men redeemed the coupon. Those who redeemed test kits
      and completed a survey (n = 53) were more ethnically diverse (chi(2) = 100.69, p
      < .01) than those receiving the coupon. More than half had not tested in the past
      6 months (50%) or never tested (7%). Importantly, men who had never tested or who
      last tested more than 6 months ago were among those most likely to take the free
      test kit. We found bathhouse distribution could reach a population of men who
      have sex with men most in need of improved access to HIV testing. Future studies
      should consider means of improved follow-up and linkage to care for those who
      test positive.

PMID- 26883731
TI  - Ultraviolet Stand-off Raman Measurements Using a Gated Spatial Heterodyne Raman
      Spectrometer.
AB  - A spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometer (SHRS) is evaluated for stand-off Raman
      measurements in ambient light conditions using both ultraviolet (UV) and visible
      pulsed lasers with a gated ICCD detector. The wide acceptance angle of the SHRS
      simplifies optical coupling of the spectrometer to the telescope and does not
      require precise laser focusing or positioning of the laser on the sample. If the
      laser beam wanders or loses focus on the sample, as long as it is in the field of
      view of the SHRS, the Raman signal will still be collected. The SHRS is not
      overly susceptible to vibrations, and a vibration isolated optical table was not
      necessary for these measurements. The system performance was assessed by
      measuring stand-off UV and visible Raman spectra of a wide variety of materials
      at distances up to 18 m, using 266 nm and 532 nm pulsed lasers, with 12.4 in. and
      3.8 in. aperture telescopes, respectively. 

PMID- 26883732
TI  - "Is there an emerging need for new antifungals?".

PMID- 26883728
TI  - Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis in tissues as a potent mechanism for preventive
      and therapeutic HIV vaccine strategies.
AB  - Although the development of a fully protective HIV vaccine is the ultimate goal
      of HIV research, to date only one HIV vaccine trial, the RV144, has successfully
      induced a weakly protective response. The 31% protection from infection achieved
      in the RV144 trial was linked to the induction of nonneutralizing antibodies,
      able to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), suggestive
      of an important role of Fc-mediated functions in protection. Similarly, Fc
      mediated antiviral activity was recently shown to play a critical role in
      actively suppressing the viral reservoir, but the Fc effector mechanisms within
      tissues that provide protection from or after infection are largely unknown. Here
      we aimed to define the landscape of effector cells and Fc receptors present
      within vulnerable tissues. We found negligible Fc receptor-expressing natural
      killer cells in the female reproductive and gastrointestinal mucosa. Conversely,
      Fc receptor-expressing macrophages were highly enriched in most tissues, but
      neutrophils mediated superior antibody-mediated phagocytosis. Modifications in Fc
      domain of VRC01 antibody increased phagocytic responses in both phagocytes. These
      data suggest that non-ADCC-mediated mechanisms, such as phagocytosis and
      neutrophil activation, are more likely to play a role in preventative vaccine or
      reservoir-eliminating therapeutic approaches.

PMID- 26883733
TI  - Pressure sensitive microparticle adhesion through biomimicry of the pollen-stigma
      interaction.
AB  - Many soft biomimetic synthetic adhesives, optimized to support macroscopic masses
      (~kg), have been inspired by geckos, insects and other animals. Far less work has
      investigated bioinspired adhesion that is tuned to micro- and nano-scale sizes
      and forces. However, such adhesive forces are extremely important in the adhesion
      of micro- and nanoparticles to surfaces, relevant to a wide range of industrial
      and biological systems. Pollens, whose adhesion is critical to plant
      reproduction, are an evolutionary-optimized system for biomimicry to engineer
      tunable adhesion between particles and micro-patterned soft matter surfaces. In
      addition, the adhesion of pollen particles is relevant to topics as varied as
      pollinator ecology, transport of allergens, and atmospheric phenomena. We report
      the first observation of structurally-derived pressure-sensitive adhesion of a
      microparticle by using the sunflower pollen and stigma surfaces as a model. This
      strong, pressure-sensitive adhesion results from interlocking between the
      pollen's conical spines and the stigma's receptive papillae. Inspired by this
      behavior, we fabricated synthetic polymeric patterned surfaces that mimic the
      stigma surface's receptivity to pollen. These soft mimics allow the magnitude of
      the pressure-sensitive response to be tuned by adjusting the size and spacing of
      surface features. These results provide an important new insight for soft
      material adhesion based on bio-inspired principles, namely that ornamented
      microparticles and micro-patterned surfaces can be designed with complementarity
      that enable a tunable, pressure-sensitive adhesion on the microparticle size and
      length scale. 

PMID- 26883734
TI  - Functional hydroxyapatite bioceramics with excellent osteoconductivity and stern
      interface induced antibacterial ability.
AB  - The biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp)
      bioceramics are crucial in medical applications. However, it is still a challenge
      to control HAp with antibacterial ability while maintaining other biological
      properties in the development of bioactive bone implants. Herein, we report
      functional silver ion substituted HAp bioceramics with excellent
      osteoconductivity and efficient antibacterial activity and propose a stern
      interface induced antibacterial mechanism of such bioactive ceramics. In this
      antibacterial process, the concentration of Ag(+) at the stern-interface of
      Ag/HAp bioceramics is nearly 5 times higher than that in the bulk solution due to
      the trace dopant Ag(+) enrichment in the stern layer of the electric double layer
      at the negatively charged surface of Ag/HAp bioceramics. Trace Ag-doping in HAp
      induces a positive shift of zeta potential and increase of hydrophilicity, which
      may help inhibit bacterial proliferation. The positive osteoblast adhesion,
      proliferation and differentiation of ultra-trace doped Ag/HAp are also
      demonstrated through actin cytoskeleton staining, MTT and alkaline phosphatase
      (ALP) activity assays. This work may enlighten us on the artificial design of
      novel smart anti-infective bone grafts using ultra-trace functional elements and
      also suggest its potential applications in orthopedic surgery and bone
      osseointegration. 

PMID- 26883735
TI  - Correction: Strain effects on oxygen migration in perovskites.
AB  - Correction for 'Strain effects on oxygen migration in perovskites' by Tam
      Mayeshiba et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 2715-2721. 

PMID- 26883737
TI  - Associations between diabetes self-management and microvascular complications in
      patients with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a major public health problem that is approaching
      epidemic proportions globally. Diabetes self-management can reduce complications
      and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to
      examine associations between diabetes self-management and microvascular
      complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional
      study, 562 Iranian patients older than 30 years of age with type 2 diabetes who
      received treatment at the Diabetes Research Center of the Endocrinology and
      Metabolism Research Institute of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences were
      identified. The participants were enrolled and completed questionnaires between
      January and April 2014. Patients' diabetes self-management was assessed as an
      independent variable by using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire
      translated into Persian. The outcomes were the microvascular complications of
      diabetes (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy), identified from the clinical
      records of each patient. A multiple logistic regression model was used to
      estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between diabetes
      self-management and the microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes, adjusting
      for potential confounders. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, a
      significant association was found between the diabetes self-management sum scale
      and neuropathy (adjusted OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.92, p=0.01). Additionally,
      weak evidence was found of an association between the sum scale score of diabetes
      self-management and nephropathy (adjusted OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.05,
      p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes, a lower diabetes self
      management score was associated with higher rates of nephropathy and neuropathy.

PMID- 26883739
TI  - The interaction between morphine and propranolol in chemical and electrical
      seizure models of mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Morphine and propranolol have different effects on seizure. Several
      studies have shown interaction between adrenergic and opioid systems in different
      models. In this study, interaction between morphine and propranolol in different
      seizure models was examined in mice. METHODS: In this study, three seizure
      models, including intravenous pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), intraperitoneal PTZ and
      electroshock, were examined in mice. Animals were injected with different doses
      of morphine or propranolol in the 60th and 45th min, before seizure induction,
      respectively. RESULTS: Acute administration of propranolol or lower doses of
      morphine induced an anticonvulsant effect in intravenous PTZ, intraperitoneal PTZ
      and electroshock-induced seizure models; on the contrary, higher doses of
      morphine exert proconvulsant effects in all three models. Also additive
      anticonvulsant effect of propranolol and lower doses of morphine was observed in
      all examined models. The additive anti-seizure effect of propranolol and lower
      doses of morphine was blocked by naltrexone in intraperitoneal PTZ model.
      Moreover, the anticonvulsant effect of propranolol was inhibited by naltrexone in
      intraperitoneal PTZ seizure model of mice. Propranolol restrained the
      proconvulsant effects in higher doses of morphine in clonic seizures of
      intravenous and intraperitoneal PTZ models. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, we believe
      that this is the first study that has indicated the interaction of propranolol
      and lower doses of morphine in the anticonvulsant effects in three seizure models
      of intravenous PTZ, intraperitoneal PTZ and electroshock. The involvement of MU
      opioid receptor in this interaction was also demonstrated. Simultaneously, we
      showed the interaction between propranolol and higher doses of morphine in
      proconvulsant effects.

PMID- 26883738
TI  - Application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short
      Form (WHOQOL-BREF) to patients with cataract.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cataract is a prevalent disease in the elderly, and negatively
      influences patients' quality of life. This study was conducted to study the
      application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short
      Form (WHOQOL-BREF) to patients with cataract. METHODS: In this cross-sectional
      study, 300 patients with cataract were studied in Neyshabur, Iran from July to
      October 2014. The Iranian version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to
      measure their quality of life. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson's
      correlation coefficient, the paired t-test, the independent t-test, and a linear
      regression model were used to analyze the data in SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc.,
      Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 68.11+/-11.98
      years, and most were female (53%). The overall observed Cronbach's alpha
      coefficient for the WHOQOL-BREF was 0.889, ranging from 0.714 to 0.810 in its
      four domains. The total mean score of the respondents on the WHOQOL-BREF was
      13.19. The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in the social
      relationship domain (14.11) and the physical health domain (12.29), respectively.
      A backward multiple linear regression model found that duration of disease and
      marital status were associated with total WHOQOL scores, while age, duration of
      disease, marital status, and income level were associated with domains one
      through four, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reliability analysis
      conducted in this study indicated that the WHOQOL-BREF scale exhibited an
      acceptable degree of internal consistency in the measurement of the quality of
      life of patients with cataract. It was also found that the patients with cataract
      who were surveyed reported a relatively moderate quality of life.

PMID- 26883740
TI  - Regression of moyamoya-associated weak spots on the distal anterior choroidal
      artery following surgical revascularization.
AB  - A 20-year-old female with moyamoya disease presented with acute intraventricular
      hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography demonstrated that the anterior choroidal artery
      (AChA) was responsible for the bleeding, but the precise point of rupture was
      unpredictable, because multiple angiographic weak spots were found on the artery.
      As direct targeting of the rupture point was unfeasible, we performed encephalo
      duro-arterio-synangiosis to decrease the hemodynamic overload on the AChA. This
      revascularization procedure alone successfully induced the regression of all weak
      points. In this report, we demonstrated that, when direct targeting of weak
      points was not feasible, a revascularization procedure was an acceptable
      alternative. 

PMID- 26883741
TI  - Tibial component rotation in total knee arthroplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both the range of motion (ROM) technique and the tibial tubercle
      landmark (TTL) technique are frequently used to align the tibial component into
      proper rotational position during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of the
      study was to assess the intra-operative differences in tibial rotation position
      during computer-navigated primary TKA using either the TTL or ROM techniques. The
      ROM technique was hypothesized to be a repeatable method and to produce different
      tibial rotation positions compared to the TTL technique. METHODS: A prospective,
      observational study was performed to evaluate the antero-posterior axis of the
      cut proximal tibia using both the ROM and the TTL technique during primary TKA
      without postoperative clinical assessment. Computer navigation was used to
      measure this difference in 20 consecutive knees of 20 patients who underwent a
      posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty with a fixed-bearing polyethylene
      insert and a patella resurfacing. RESULTS: The ROM technique is a repeatable
      method with an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC2) of 0.84 (p < 0.001). The
      trial tibial baseplate was on average 4.56 degrees externally rotated compared to
      the tubercle landmark. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.028).
      The amount of maximum intra-operative flexion and the pre-operative mechanical
      axis were positively correlated with the magnitude of difference between the two
      methods. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for the orthopaedic surgeon to realise that
      there is a significant difference between the TTL technique and ROM technique
      when positioning the tibial component in a rotational position. This difference
      is correlated with high maximum flexion and mechanical axis deviations.

PMID- 26883742
TI  - Trends in equity in use of maternal health services in urban and rural
      Bangladesh.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Maternal healthcare utilization is a major determinant of maternal
      mortality. Bangladesh is experiencing a rapid pace of urbanization with all
      future growth in population expected to be in urban areas. Health care
      infrastructure is different in urban and rural areas thus warranting an
      examination of equity in use rates of maternal healthcare. This paper addresses
      whether the urban-rural and rich-poor gaps in use of selected maternal healthcare
      indicators have narrowed or widened over the last decade. The paper also explores
      changes in the service provider environment in urban and rural domains. METHODS:
      The 2001 and 2010 Bangladesh Maternal Mortality and Health Care Survey data were
      used to examine trends in use of antenatal care from medically trained providers
      and in deliveries taking place at health facilities. Separate wealth quintiles
      were constructed for urban and rural areas. The concentration index was
      calculated for urban and rural areas to measure equity in distribution of
      antenatal care (ANC) and facility deliveries across wealth quintiles in urban and
      rural domains. RESULTS: The gap in use of ANC provided by medically trained
      personnel narrowed in urban and rural areas between 2001 and 2010 while that in
      facility deliveries widened. The difference in use of ANC by the rich and the
      poor was not as pronounced as that in utilization of facilities for deliveries.
      Over the last decade, equity in utilization of health facilities for deliveries
      has improved at a faster rate in urban areas. Private sector has surpassed the
      public sector and appears to be the dominant provider of maternal healthcare in
      both domains with the share of NGOs increasing in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: The
      faster pace of improvement in equity in maternal healthcare utilization in urban
      areas is reflective of the changing service environment in urban and rural areas,
      among other factors.

PMID- 26883743
TI  - Graphene-based large area dye-sensitized solar cell modules.
AB  - We demonstrate spray coating of graphene ink as a viable method for large-area
      fabrication of graphene-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) modules. A
      graphene-based ink produced by liquid phase exfoliation of graphite is spray
      coated onto a transparent conductive oxide substrate to realize a large area (>90
      cm(2)) semi-transparent (transmittance 44%) counter-electrode (CE) replacing
      platinum, the standard CE material. The graphene-based CE is successfully
      integrated in a large-area (43.2 cm(2) active area) DSSC module achieving a power
      conversion efficiency of 3.5%. The approach demonstrated here paves the way to
      all-printed, flexible, and transparent graphene-based large-area and cost
      effective photovoltaic devices on arbitrary substrates. 

PMID- 26883744
TI  - A cross-sectional study on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in
      Mbita district, western Kenya using different copromicroscopic techniques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identification of populations to be targeted for individual treatment
      and broad-spectrum therapy in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, assessment of
      therapy efficacy, morbidity, and evaluation of control strategies need to be
      based on reliable diagnostic tools. Kato-Katz is routinely used and remains the
      standard diagnostic technique for schistosomiasis, despite its many challenges.
      This study was conducted in Nyamanga village, Mbita, western Kenya, and evaluated
      the diagnostic performance of Kato-Katz, Mini-Parasep and modified Mini-FLOTAC
      techniques in detection of Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths
      (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm) ova. METHODS: Stool
      samples from 132 individuals were screened for eggs of S. mansoni by the 3
      techniques. Mini-Parasep faecal parasite concentrator (Apacor Ltd, England), a
      single-use diagnostic device with a built-in filter for faecal concentration of
      helminth eggs by sedimentation was employed on stool samples fixed in 10%
      formalin. A modified Mini-FLOTAC (University of Naples, Italy) was based on
      floatation of helminths eggs with two different solutions (FS2 and FS7) using a
      closed system (Fill-FLOTAC) with 5% formalin. Kato-Katz was performed following
      WHO recommendation. Prevalence of S. mansoni and STH, sensitivity and degree of
      agreement among the 3 techniques were determined. RESULTS: Prevalence of S.
      mansoni was 47.0%, 34.1% and 20.5% by Mini-Parasep, Kato-Katz and modified Mini
      FLOTAC FS7 techniques, respectively. Prevalence of any STH infection was 6.1%,
      3.0%, 6.1% and 6.8% by Mini-Parasep, Kato-Katz, modified Mini-FLOTAC FS2 and
      modified Mini-FLOTAC FS7 techniques, respectively. Considering the pooled results
      of the three methods (Mini-Parasep, Kato-Katz and modified Mini-FLOTAC FS7) as
      diagnostic 'gold' standard, the sensitivity of Mini-Parasep, Kato-Katz and
      modified Mini-FLOTAC FS7 for S. mansoni was 77.5%, 56.1%, and 33.8%,
      respectively. Mini-Parasep and modified Mini-FLOTAC FS7 techniques had moderate
      (kappa = 0.46) and fairly good (kappa = 0.25) agreements with Kato-Katz for S.
      mansoni, respectively. Mini-Parasep detected a higher proportion of light
      intensity S. mansoni infections compared to Kato-Katz, which detected high
      proportions of heavy infections. Mini-Parasep detected a similar mean number of
      S. mansoni eggs per gram (EPG) of stool compared to the standard Kato-Katz (62.9
      vs 97.3; t (131) = -0.49, P = 0.6265) and significantly higher EPG compared to
      the modified Mini-FLOTAC FS7 (62.9 vs 34.6; t (131) = 5.39, P < 0.0001).
      CONCLUSIONS: The high sensitivity of Mini-Parasep suggests its promising
      potential as an alternative tool in enhancing diagnosis and in monitoring
      schistosomiasis transmission and determining endpoint of intervention programs,
      especially in low endemicity areas. Mini-Parasep is also easy to operate, safe
      and also permits work with fresh stool.

PMID- 26883747
TI  - How to improve communication quality with patients and relatives in the ICU.
AB  - The experience of intensive care for patients and their families is known to be
      very stressful and may result in both acute and chronic psychological problems
      that include sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress
      disorder. While some non-modifiable risk factors for psychological harm are
      known, there are also a several modifiable risk factors that may be addressed
      using strategically planned interventions such as optimal communication
      techniques. Effective communication is increasingly being recognized as an
      essential non-technical skills for all intensive care clinicians. One situation
      which is central to communication in the ICU is the family meeting. Similar to
      other procedures in the ICU, training, practice, preparation and reflective
      review may improve performance when conducting family meetings and lead to better
      outcomes for patients and families.

PMID- 26883746
TI  - Lymph node micrometastases are associated with disease recurrence and poor
      survival for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients: a meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We performed a meta-analysis to clarify whether the molecular
      detection of tumor cells or micrometastases in the lymph node (LN) indicates a
      high risk of disease recurrence and poor survival in negative pathologic lymph
      node status non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A literature search was
      performed using relevant keywords. We searched relevant studies from PubMed,
      Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Direct and indirect meta-estimates were
      generated using Review Manager software with fixed effects for the study. Study
      to-study heterogeneity was summarized using I (2) statistics and predictive
      intervals (PIs). RESULTS: Our analysis of eight eligible studies revealed that
      patients with lymph node micrometastases (LNMM) were associated with poor overall
      survival (OS) (HR, 1.98; 95 % CI, 1.50 to 2.62; p < 0.00001) and disease-free
      survival (DFS) (HR, 2.34; 95 % CI, 1.67-3.27; p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: LNMM is
      associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence and poor survival in
      patients with negative pathologic node negative NSCLC. Thus, these patients need
      to be carefully followed up after the initial pulmonary resection.

PMID- 26883745
TI  - Functional imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma using diffusion-weighted MRI and
      (18)F-FDG PET/CT in patients on waiting-list for liver transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on diffusion
      weighted imaging (DWI) with the standardized uptake values (SUV) measured by(18)F
      FDG-PET/CT in naive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules, and to determine
      whether these markers are associated with tumours at high-risk of aggressiveness.
      METHODS: From 2007 to 2010, all patients with HCC on the waiting list for liver
      transplantation and who underwent both FDG-PET/CT and 1.5-T DWI-MRI (b values: 0,
      200, 400, and 800 s/mm(2)) were included in this institutional review board
      approved retrospective study. Tumour size, tumour ADC, tumour-to-liver ADC ratio
      (ADCT/L), maximal tumour SUV and tumour-to-liver SUV ratio (SUVT/L) were measured
      and compared to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, tumour size and
      differentiation grade on explanted specimens. RESULTS: A total of 37 HCC nodules
      in 28 patients were available for correlation between MRI and PET/CT, 7 of which
      (in 7 patients) showed a SUVT/L > 1.15. We did not find any correlation between
      tumour ADC or ADCT/L and tumour SUV or SUVT/L. To note, SUVT/L was positively
      correlated with AFP levels (R = 0.95, P <= 0.0001), while ADCT/L was not (P =
      0.73). Twenty-four patients (with 32 nodules) underwent liver transplantation. In
      this subgroup, an increased SUVT/L ratio was associated with larger tumours
      (average size, 32 +/- 14 mm; range, 18-60 mm; P < 0.0001) and with poor
      differentiation on pathology (grades 3 and 4; P = 0.04), while ADCT/L was neither
      associated with tumour size or differentiation grade. CONCLUSIONS: ADC and SUV
      measures in HCC nodules are not correlated. SUVT/L ratio correlates with AFP
      levels, tumour size and poor differentiation, and should probably be integrated
      as a co-variable in a predictive outcome model of patients on the waiting-list
      for liver transplantation.

PMID- 26883748
TI  - Patient-controlled analgesia: past, present and future.

PMID- 26883749
TI  - A zwitterionic 1D/2D polymer co-crystal and its polymorphic sub-components: a
      highly selective sensing platform for HIV ds-DNA sequences.
AB  - Polymorphic compounds {[Cu(dcbb)2(H2O)2].10H2O}n (2, 1D chain), [Cu(dcbb)2]n (3,
      2D layer) and their co-crystal {[Cu(dcbb)2(H2O)][Cu(dcbb)2]2}n (4) have been
      prepared from the coordination reaction of a 2D polymer [Na(dcbb)(H2O)]n (1,
      H2dcbbBr = 1-(3,5-dicarboxybenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium bromide) with Cu(NO3)2.3H2O
      at different temperatures in water. Compounds 2-4 have an identical metal-to
      ligand stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 2, but absolutely differ in structure.
      Compound 3 features a 2D layer structure with aromatic rings, positively charged
      pyridinium and free carboxylates on its surface, promoting electrostatic, pi
      stacking and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions with the carboxyfluorescein (FAM)
      labeled probe single-stranded DNA (probe ss-DNA, delineates as P-DNA). The
      resultant P-DNA@3 system facilitated fluorescence quenching of FAM via a
      photoinduced electron transfer process. The P-DNA@3 system functions as an
      efficient fluorescent sensor selective for HIV double-stranded DNA (HIV ds-DNA)
      due to the formation of a rigid triplex structure with the recovery of FAM
      fluorescence. The system reported herein also distinguishes complementary HIV ds
      DNA from mismatched target DNA sequences with the detection limit of 1.42 nM.

PMID- 26883750
TI  - "It Looks Like an Adult Sweetie Shop": Point-of-Sale Tobacco Display Exposure and
      Brand Awareness in Scottish Secondary School Students.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: As further restrictions have been placed on tobacco advertising and
      promotions, point-of-sale (PoS) displays of cigarettes in shops have become an
      increasingly important source of young people's exposure to tobacco products.
      This study explored the relationship between PoS displays of cigarettes and brand
      awareness among secondary school students in Scotland. METHODS: Cross-sectional
      school surveys (n = 1406) and focus groups (n = 86) were conducted with S2 (13-14
      years) and S4 (15-16 years) students in four schools of differing socioeconomic
      status in 2013, prior to the PoS display ban in large shops. Adjusted negative
      binomial regression analysis examined associations between brand awareness and
      exposure variables (visiting tobacco retailers, noticing displays of tobacco
      products). RESULTS: Students visiting small shops more frequently (relative rate
      ratio [RRR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.41) and those who noticed
      cigarette displays in small shops (RRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.51) and large
      supermarkets (RRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.30) had higher brand awareness. The focus
      groups supported these findings. Participants described PoS tobacco displays as
      being eye-catching, colorful and potentially attractive to young people.
      CONCLUSIONS: This mixed-methods study showed that higher cigarette brand
      awareness was significantly associated with regularly visiting small shops and
      noticing PoS displays in small and large shops, even when students' smoking
      status, smoking in their social networks, leisure activities, and demographics
      were included as confounding variables. This highlights the importance of PoS
      displays of tobacco products in increasing brand awareness, which is known to
      increase youth smoking susceptibility, and thus the importance of implementing
      PoS display bans in all shops. IMPLICATIONS: As increasing restrictions have been
      placed on tobacco promotion in many countries, PoS displays of cigarettes in
      shops have become an important source of young people's exposure to tobacco
      products and marketing. This mixed-methods study showed that prior to the PoS
      display ban in Scotland, and controlling for other factors, 13- and 15-year olds
      who regularly visited small shops and those who noticed PoS displays in small and
      large shops, had a higher awareness of cigarette brands. This highlights the
      importance of PoS displays in increasing youth brand awareness, which increases
      smoking susceptibility, and thus the need for comprehensive bans on PoS displays
      which cover all shops.

PMID- 26883752
TI  - Erratum to: Rice GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase OsVTC1-1 and OsVTC1-3 play
      different roles in ascorbic acid synthesis.

PMID- 26883751
TI  - The combination of blue dye and radioisotope versus radioisotope alone during
      sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The combination of blue dye and radioisotope is most widely used to
      identify sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer. However,
      some individual studies suggested that dual tracers did not have an advantage
      over radioisotope alone in detecting SLNs. We performed a systematic review to
      investigate the added value of blue dye in addition to radioisotope. METHODS: We
      searched Pubmed and Embase. Prospective studies that compared the combination of
      radioisotope and blue dye with radioisotope alone were selected. The
      identification rate of SLNs and the false-negative rate were the main outcomes of
      interest. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) were
      calculated by using random-effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were
      included. The combination of radioisotope and blue dye showed higher
      identification rate than radioisotope alone (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.53-2.69, P <
      0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was revealed for patients
      after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 0.82-3.27, P > 0.05), or for
      studies with high proportion of patients with positive lymphoscintigraphy (OR =
      1.41, 95% CI 0.83-2.39, P > 0.05). Dual tracers did not significantly lower the
      false-negative rate compared with radioisotope alone (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.44
      1.29, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the combination of blue dye and
      radioisotope outperformed radioisotope alone in SLN detection, the superiority
      for dual tracers may be limited for patients with positive lymphoscintigraphy or
      for those after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Besides, the combined modality did not
      help lower the false-negative rate.

PMID- 26883753
TI  - Transcending epithelial and intracellular biological barriers; a prototype DNA
      delivery device.
AB  - Microneedle technology provides the opportunity for the delivery of DNA
      therapeutics by a non-invasive, patient acceptable route. To deliver DNA
      successfully requires consideration of both extra and intracellular biological
      barriers. In this study we present a novel two tier platform; i) a peptide
      delivery system, termed RALA, that is able to wrap the DNA into nanoparticles,
      protect the DNA from degradation, enter cells, disrupt endosomes and deliver the
      DNA to the nucleus of cells ii) a microneedle (MN) patch that will house the
      nanoparticles within the polymer matrix, breach the skin's stratum corneum
      barrier and dissolve upon contact with skin interstitial fluid thus releasing the
      nanoparticles into the skin. Our data demonstrates that the RALA is essential for
      preventing DNA degradation within the poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) polymer
      matrix. In fact the RALA/DNA nanoparticles (NPs) retained functionality when in
      the MN arrays after 28days and over a range of temperatures. Furthermore the
      physical strength and structure of the MNs was not compromised when loaded with
      the NPs. Finally we demonstrated the effectiveness of our MN-NP platform in vitro
      and in vivo, with systemic gene expression in highly vascularised regions. Taken
      together this 'smart-system' technology could be applied to a wide range of
      genetic therapies. 

PMID- 26883754
TI  - Propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes as a novel drug delivery carrier
      for vaginal fibrauretine delivery applications.
AB  - The purpose of this work was to develop and characterize the fibrauretine (FN)
      loaded propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes (FDL), and evaluate the
      pharmacokinetic behavior and safety of FDL for vaginal drug delivery
      applications. FDL was characterized for structure, particle size, zeta potential,
      deformability and encapsulation efficiency; the ability of FDL to deliver FN
      across vagina tissue in vitro and the distribution behavior of FN in rat by
      vaginal drug delivery were investigated, the safety of FDL to the vagina of
      rabbits and rats as well as human vaginal epithelial cells (VK2/E6E7) were also
      evaluated. Results revealed that: (i) the FDL have a closed spherical shape and
      lamellar structure with a homogeneous size of 185+/-19nm, and exhibited a
      negative charge of -53+/-2.7mV, FDL also have a good flexibility with a
      deformability of 92+/-5.6 (%phospholipids/min); (ii) the dissolving capacity of
      inner water phase and hydrophilicity of phospholipid bilayers of deformable
      liposomes were increased by the presence of propylene glycol, this may be
      elucidated by the fluorescent probes both lipophilic Nile red and hydrophilic
      calcein that were filled up the entire volume of the FDL uniformly, so the FDL
      with a high entrapment capacity (were calculated as percentages of total drug)
      for FN was 78+/-2.14%; (iii) the permeability of FN through vaginal mucosa was
      obviously improved by propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes, no matter
      whether the FN loaded in liposomes or not, although FN loaded in liposomes caused
      the highest permeability and drug reservoir in vagina; (iv) the FN mainly
      aggregated in the vagina and uterus, then the blood, spleen, liver, kidney, heart
      and lungs for vaginal drug delivery, this indicating vaginal delivery of FDL have
      a better 'vaginal local targeting effect'; and (v) the results of safety
      evaluation illustrate that the FDL is non-irritant and well tolerated in vivo,
      thereby establishing its vaginal drug delivery potential. These results indicate
      that the propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes may be a promising drug
      delivery carrier for vaginal delivery of fibrauretine. 

PMID- 26883756
TI  - Long-Term Fluctuations in Traumatic Symptoms of High School Girls Who Survived
      from the 2011 Japan Tsunami: Series of Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional
      Surveys.
AB  - On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami. The
      tsunami caused tremendous damage and traumatized children. We aimed to evaluate
      and compare the changes in the traumatic symptoms of high school girls 8, 20, 30,
      and 42 months after the 2011 tsunami. The Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms for
      Children 15 items (PTSSC-15), a self-rating questionnaire on traumatic symptoms,
      was administered to 811 high school girls at the above-mentioned intervals. We
      calculated the total score, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subscale, and
      depression subscale of PTSSC-15. The total score was correlated with house
      damage, evacuation experience, and bereavement experience. The PTSSC-15 total
      scores of high school girls with traumatic experience were significantly higher
      than the scores of children without these experiences (all p < 0.0001). The PTSSC
      15 total score did not decrease significantly over time. Furthermore, the PTSD
      subscale of the PTSSC-15 did not significantly improved over the study duration.
      However, the depression subscale of the PTSSC-15 significantly improved at 30
      months, but significantly worsened at 42 months (both p < 0.0001). This study
      demonstrates that the traumatic symptoms of high school girls who survived the
      massive tsunami fluctuated unpredictably with time. Nonetheless, high school
      girls continued to suffer depressive symptoms (insomnia, withdrawal, appetite
      loss, inattention, and physical symptoms) after 42 months.

PMID- 26883757
TI  - Investigation of the Reuse of Immobilized Lipases in Biodiesel Synthesis:
      Influence of Different Solvents in Lipase Activity.
AB  - Biodiesel production catalyzed by immobilized lipases offers the possibility of
      easy reuse of the catalyst, which is very important to minimize costs and to make
      this process economically feasible. In this study, the reuse of three commercial
      immobilized lipases (Novozym 435, Lipozyme RM IM, and Lipozyme TL IM) was
      investigated in ethanolysis of soybean oil. The effect of the use of solvents
      (ethanol, butanol, and hexane) to wash the immobilized lipases before the enzyme
      reuse was evaluated, as well as the lipase reuse without solvent washing. The
      washing with butanol and ethanol led to the lowest decrease in ester yield after
      the first batch and allowed the highest glycerol removal (>85 %) from
      biocatalysts. The biocatalysts were incubated at 50  degrees C for 2 h in these
      three solvents. Esterification activities of the enzyme preparations, scanning
      electron microscopy (SEM) analyses of the beads, and protein content in organic
      phase were evaluated before and after incubation in the solvent. SEM analysis
      showed a significant change in beads morphology of Novozym 435 after contact with
      hexane. For Lipozyme TL IM lipase, this effect was visualized with ethanol. 

PMID- 26883755
TI  - Mice Homozygous for a Deletion in the Glaucoma Susceptibility Locus INK4 Show
      Increased Vulnerability of Retinal Ganglion Cells to Elevated Intraocular
      Pressure.
AB  - A genomic region located on chromosome 9p21 is associated with primary open-angle
      glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma in genome-wide association studies. The
      genomic region contains the gene for a long noncoding RNA called CDKN2B-AS, two
      genes that code for cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors 2A and 2B
      (CDKN2A/p16(INK4A) and CDKN2B/p15(INK4B)) and an additional protein (p14(ARF)).
      We used a transgenic mouse model in which 70 kb of murine chromosome 4, syntenic
      to human chromosome 9p21, are deleted to study whether this deletion leads to a
      discernible phenotype in ocular structures implicated in glaucoma. Homozygous
      mice of this strain were previously reported to show persistent hyperplastic
      primary vitreous. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography confirmed
      that finding but showed no abnormalities for heterozygous mice. Optokinetic
      response, eletroretinogram, and histology indicated that the heterozygous and
      mutant retinas were normal functionally and morphologically, whereas glial cells
      were activated in the retina and optic nerve head of mutant eyes. In quantitative
      PCR, CDKN2B expression was reduced by approximately 50% in the heterozygous mice
      and by 90% in the homozygous mice, which suggested that the CDKN2B knock down had
      no deleterious consequences for the retina under normal conditions. However,
      compared with wild-type and heterozygous animals, the homozygous mice are more
      vulnerable to retinal ganglion cell loss in response to elevated intraocular
      pressure. 

PMID- 26883758
TI  - Disrupted brain connectivity networks in acute ischemic stroke patients.
AB  - Neuroimaging studies have shown that local brain lesions could result in abnormal
      information transfer far from the lesion site in acute ischemic stroke (AIS)
      patients; yet, little is known about alternations of the topological organization
      of whole-brain networks in AIS. By using resting state functional magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) and graph theory analysis, we systematically investigated
      the topological properties of the functional brain networks of 28 healthy
      controls (HC, age: 56.9 +/- 0.45 years) and 29 AIS (age: 57.6 +/- 0.21 years)
      with proximal anterior circulation occlusion within 12 h of symptom onset. In our
      results, both the AIS and HC groups exhibited small-world network organization,
      suggesting a functional balance between local specialization and global
      integration. However, compared with the HC, the AIS patients had a lower shortest
      path length and higher global efficiency, indicating a tendency of randomization
      in patients' functional brain networks. The AIS patients had an increased nodal
      degree in the precuneus (PCUN), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), medial part of the
      superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed), orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus, and
      the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus, and increased nodal efficiency
      in the PUCN, MFG, SFGmed, and the angular gyrus. The decreased nodal degree in
      AIS was found in the heschl gyrus (HES), and no significant decreased nodal
      efficiency was observed. The dysfunctional connections were mainly concentrated
      in the HES and prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, the altered nodal centrality of
      the MFG and abnormal functional connectivity in AIS were associated with
      patients' Mini-Mental State Examination scores. These results suggested that
      interrupted functional connectivity in language system organization after focal
      brain lesions could also result in disruptions in the topological organization of
      other brain circuits, and this may contribute to disturbances in cognition in AIS
      patients.

PMID- 26883759
TI  - Small-molecule inhibitors of FGFR, integrins and FAK selectively decrease L1CAM
      stimulated glioblastoma cell motility and proliferation.
AB  - PURPOSE: The cell adhesion/recognition protein L1CAM (L1; CD171) has previously
      been shown to act through integrin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and fibroblast
      growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathways to increase the motility and
      proliferation of glioblastoma cells in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Here, we
      investigated the effects of clinically relevant small-molecule inhibitors of the
      integrin, FAK and FGFR signaling pathways on glioblastoma-derived cells to
      determine their effectiveness and selectivity for diminishing L1-mediated
      stimulation. METHODS: The effects of the FGFR inhibitor PD173074, the FAK
      inhibitors PF431396 and Y15 and the alphavbeta3/alphavbeta5 integrin inhibitor
      cilengitide were assessed in L1-positive and L1-negative variants of the human
      glioblastoma-derived cell lines T98G and U-118 MG. Their motility and
      proliferation were quantified using time-lapse microscopy and DNA content/cell
      cycle analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The application of all four inhibitors
      resulted in reductions in L1-mediated motility and proliferation rates of L1
      positive glioblastoma-derived cells, down to the level of L1-negative cells when
      used at nanomolar concentrations, whereas no or much smaller reductions in these
      rates were obtained in L1-negative cells. In addition, we found that single
      inhibitor treatment resulted in maximum effects (i.e., combinations of FAK or
      integrin inhibitors with the FGFR inhibitor were rarely more effective). These
      results suggest that FAK may act as a point of convergence between the integrin
      and FGFR signaling pathways stimulated by L1 in these cells. CONCLUSIONS: We here
      show for the first time that small-molecule inhibitors of FGFR, integrins and FAK
      effectively and selectively abolish L1-stimulated migration and proliferation of
      glioblastoma-derived cells. Our results suggest that these inhibitors have the
      potential to reduce the aggressiveness of high-grade gliomas expressing L1.

PMID- 26883760
TI  - Optimization of the process variables of tilianin-loaded composite phospholipid
      liposomes based on response surface-central composite design and pharmacokinetic
      study.
AB  - Tilianin is attracting considerable attention because of its antihypertensive,
      anti-atherogenic and anticonvulsive efficacy. However, tilianin has poor oral
      bioavailability. Thus, to improve the oral bioavailability of tilianin, composite
      phospholipid liposomes were adopted in this work as a novel nanoformulation. The
      aim was to develop and formulate tilianin composite phospholipid liposomes
      (TCPLs) through ethanol injection and to apply the response surface-central
      composite design to optimize the tilianin composite phospholipid liposome
      formulation. The independent variables were the amount of phospholipids (X1),
      amount of cholesterol (X2) and weight ratio of phospholipid to drug (X3); the
      depended variables were particle size (Y1) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) (Y2)
      of TCPLs. Results indicated that the optimum preparation conditions were as
      follows: phospholipid amount, 500 mg, cholesterol amount, 50mg and
      phospholipid/drug ratio, 25. These variables were also the major contributing
      variables for particle size (101.4 +/- 6.1 nm), higher EE (90.28% +/- 1.36%),
      zeta potential (-18.3 +/- 2.6 mV) and PDI (0.122 +/- 0.027). Subsequently,
      differential scanning calorimetry techniques were used to investigate the
      molecular interaction in TCPLs, and the in vitro drug release of tilianin and
      TCPLs was investigated by the second method of dissolution in the Chinese
      Pharmacopoeia (Edition 2015). Furthermore, pharmacokinetics in Sprague Dawley
      rats was evaluated using a rat jugular vein intubation tube. Results demonstrated
      that the Cmax of TCPLs became 5.7 times higher than that of tilianin solution and
      that the area under the curve of TCPLs became about 4.6-fold higher than that of
      tilianin solution. Overall, our results suggested that the prepared tilianin
      composite phospholipid liposome formulations could be used to improve the
      bioavailability of tilianin after oral administration.

PMID- 26883761
TI  - Enhanced in vitro angiogenic behaviour of human umbilical vein endothelial cells
      on thermally oxidized TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces.
AB  - One of the major challenges in bone grafting is the lack of sufficient bone
      vascularization. A rapid and stable bone vascularization at an early stage of
      implantation is essential for optimal functioning of the bone graft. To address
      this, the ability of in situ TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces fabricated via thermal
      oxidation method to enhance the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated. The cellular responses of HUVECs on
      TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces were studied through cell adhesion, cell proliferation,
      capillary-like tube formation, growth factors secretion (VEGF and BFGF), and
      angiogenic-endogenic-associated gene (VEGF, VEGFR2, BFGF, PGF, HGF, Ang-1, VWF,
      PECAM-1 and ENOS) expression analysis after 2 weeks of cell seeding. Our results
      show that TiO2 nanofibrous surfaces significantly enhanced adhesion,
      proliferation, formation of capillary-like tube networks and growth factors
      secretion of HUVECs, as well as leading to higher expression level of all
      angiogenic-endogenic-associated genes, in comparison to unmodified control
      surfaces. These beneficial effects suggest the potential use of such surface
      nanostructures to be utilized as an advantageous interface for bone grafts as
      they can promote angiogenesis, which improves bone vascularization. 

PMID- 26883763
TI  - Late-onset panhypopituitarism in a 72-year-old male patient treated with
      ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma: a case report.

PMID- 26883762
TI  - The CodY regulator is essential for virulence in Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
AB  - The main role of CodY, a global regulatory protein in most low G + C gram
      positive bacteria, is in transcriptional repression. To study the functions of
      CodY in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2), a mutant codY clone named
      ?codY was constructed to explore the phenotypic variation between ?codY and the
      wild-type strain. The result showed that the codY mutation significantly
      inhibited cell growth, adherence and invasion ability of S. suis 2 to HEp-2
      cells. The codY mutation led to decreased binding of the pathogen to the host
      cells, easier clearance by RAW264.7 macrophages and decreased growth ability in
      fresh blood of Cavia porcellus. The codY mutation also attenuated the virulence
      of S. suis 2 in BALB/c mice. Morphological analysis revealed that the codY
      mutation decreased the thickness of the capsule of S. suis 2 and changed the
      surface structures analylized by SDS-PAGE. Finally, the codY mutation altered the
      expressions of many virulence related genes, including sialic acid synthesis
      genes, leading to a decreased sialic acid content in capsule. Overall, mutation
      of codY modulated bacterial virulence by affecting the growth and colonization of
      S. suis 2, and at least via regulating sialic acid synthesis and capsule
      thickness.

PMID- 26883765
TI  - David Oliver: Senior nurses should stand up for nursing.

PMID- 26883766
TI  - Erratum: Inhibition of stationary phase respiration impairs persister formation
      in E. coli.

PMID- 26883764
TI  - Neuropsychological Test Performance in Cognitively Normal Spanish-speaking
      Nonagenarians with Little Education.
AB  - To find associations of age, sex, and education with neuropsychological test
      performance in cognitively normal Spanish-speaking Costa Rican nonagenarians with
      little education; to provide norms; and to compare their performance with similar
      Puerto Ricans. For 95 Costa Ricans (90-102 years old, 0-6 years of education),
      multiple regression assessed associations with demographics of performance on six
      neuropsychological tests. Analyses of covariance compared them with 23 Puerto
      Ricans (90-99 years old). Younger age and being female-but not education-were
      associated with better performance on some neuropsychological tests, in
      particular episodic memory. The Puerto Ricans performed better on learning and
      memory tasks. In cognitively intact Spanish-speaking nonagenarians with little or
      no education, education did not affect test performance. Additional studies of
      the effect of education on cognitive performance are warranted in other samples
      with extremely low education or old age. National differences in performance
      highlight the importance of group-specific norms. 

PMID- 26883767
TI  - The Protective Effect of Transplanting Liver Cells Into the Mesentery on the
      Rescue of Acute Liver Failure After Massive Hepatectomy.
AB  - Postoperative liver failure is one of the most critical complications following
      extensive hepatectomy. Although transplantation of allogeneic hepatocytes is an
      attractive therapy for posthepatectomy liver failure, transplanting cells via the
      portal veins typically causes portal vein embolization. The embolization by
      transplanted cells would be lethal in patients who have undergone massive
      hepatectomy. Thus, transplant surgeons need to select extrahepatic sites as
      transplant sites to prevent portal vein embolization. We aimed to investigate the
      mechanism of how liver cells transplanted into the mesentery protect recipient
      rats from acute liver failure after massive hepatectomy. We induced
      posthepatectomy liver failure by 90% hepatectomy in rats. Liver cells harvested
      from rat livers were transplanted into the mesenteries of hepatectomized rats.
      Twenty percent of the harvested cells, which consisted of hepatocytes and
      nonparenchymal cells, were transplanted into each recipient. The survival rate
      improved significantly in the liver cell transplantation group compared to the
      control group 7 days after hepatectomy (69 vs. 7%). Histological findings of the
      transplantation site, in vivo imaging system study findings, quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction assays of the transplanted cells, and serum albumin
      measurements of transplanted Nagase analbuminemic rats showed rapid deterioration
      of viable transplanted cells. Although viable transplanted cells deteriorated in
      the transplanted site, histological findings and an adenosine-5'-triphosphate
      (ATP) assay showed that the transplanted cells had a protective effect on the
      remaining livers. These results indicated that the paracrine effects of
      transplanted liver cells had therapeutic effects. The same protective effects
      were observed in the hepatocyte transplantation group, but not in the liver
      nonparenchymal cell transplantation group. Therefore, this effect on the remnant
      liver was mainly due to the hepatocytes among the transplanted liver cells. We
      demonstrated that transplanted liver cells protect the remnant liver from severe
      damage after massive hepatectomy.

PMID- 26883768
TI  - Repeatability of infrared ocular thermography in assessing healthy and dry eyes.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the inter-image, inter-occasion and inter-examiner
      repeatability of NEC infrared thermo-tracer TH 9260 in assessing healthy and dry
      eyes. METHODS: Ocular surface temperature (OST) was recorded using NEC infrared
      thermo-tracer TH 9260 on 21 healthy and 15 dry eyes. Data from the right eyes
      were analyzed. Marking of the ocular surface and OST acquisition was performed
      using a new 'diamond' demarcation method. Twelve OST indices were obtained at
      three different time points following a blink: 0s, 5s and 10s. Inter-image, inter
      occasion and inter-examiner repeatability of the infrared ocular thermography was
      evaluated by calculating coefficients of repeatability (COR). RESULTS: Ten out of
      the twelve tested OST indices had good repeatability with small inter-image
      variability (%COR: 0.2-0.9), inter-occasion variability (%COR: 2.1-3.7) and inter
      examiner variability (%COR: 1.5-3.7) for the three studied time points. Two of
      the OST indices (temperature standard deviation of the region of interest and
      radial temperature difference) had poor repeatability with much larger inter
      image variability (%COR: 8.9-140.7), inter-occasion variability (%COR: 47.5
      153.5) and inter-examiner variability (%COR: 54.7-142.0) for the three studied
      time points. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the metrics adopted in this assessment can be
      considered to be highly repeatable.

PMID- 26883769
TI  - Wise therapeutic decisions for older patients.

PMID- 26883770
TI  - [Obesity: stigmatization, discrimination, body image].
AB  - Obesity is a heterogeneous condition with multifactorial genesis (genetic
      predisposition, life-style, psychosocial situation), but there is a relatively
      homogeneous negative stereotype of obese individuals, because overweight and
      obesity are seen as self-inflicted disorders caused by physical inactivity and
      disorderd eating behavior. Obese individuals are confronted with far-reaching
      stigmatization and discrimination. Typical stereotypes are laziness,
      unattractiveness, work refusal. This negative image by the environment
      contributes to negative self-awareness and self-stigmatization, accompanied by a
      poor self-esteem and feelings of poor self-control and reduced self-efficacy,
      resulting in poor constructive coping strategies for overweight reduction. In
      addition, a disturbed body image combined with deep dissatisfaction with their
      own body is often found in many obese individuals. There is not always a close
      connection between body weight and body dissatisfaction. Young women and
      individuals with a binge eating disorder often show an increased body
      dissatisfaction as well. 

PMID- 26883771
TI  - [Overtreatment: Initiatives to identify ineffective and inappropriate medical
      interventions].
AB  - A growing number of international initiatives rise to the challenge of reduction
      of medical overuse. Increasingly, these activities are promoted by physicians and
      clinicians, and aim to identify and avoid inappropriate health interventions.
      This article places the Choosing Wisely initiative within the context of less
      well-known activities, 13 all together, and briefly describes their
      characteristics; in addition, similarities and differences regarding their
      methods are elaborated. 

PMID- 26883772
TI  - Evaluating and comparing biomarkers with respect to the area under the receiver
      operating characteristics curve in two-phase case-control studies.
AB  - Two-phase sampling design, where biomarkers are subsampled from a phase-one
      cohort sample representative of the target population, has become the gold
      standard in biomarker evaluation. Many two-phase case-control studies involve
      biased sampling of cases and/or controls in the second phase. For example,
      controls are often frequency-matched to cases with respect to other covariates.
      Ignoring biased sampling of cases and/or controls can lead to biased inference
      regarding biomarkers' classification accuracy. Considering the problems of
      estimating and comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristics
      curve (AUC) for a binary disease outcome, the impact of biased sampling of cases
      and/or controls on inference and the strategy to efficiently account for the
      sampling scheme have not been well studied. In this project, we investigate the
      inverse-probability-weighted method to adjust for biased sampling in estimating
      and comparing AUC. Asymptotic properties of the estimator and its inference
      procedure are developed for both Bernoulli sampling and finite-population
      stratified sampling. In simulation studies, the weighted estimators provide valid
      inference for estimation and hypothesis testing, while the standard empirical
      estimators can generate invalid inference. We demonstrate the use of the
      analytical variance formula for optimizing sampling schemes in biomarker study
      design and the application of the proposed AUC estimators to examples in HIV
      vaccine research and prostate cancer research.

PMID- 26883773
TI  - Mimicking nature: Self-strengthening properties in a dental adhesive.
AB  - Chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis provoke a cascade of events that undermine
      methacrylate-based adhesives and the bond formed at the tooth/composite
      interface. Infiltration of noxious agents, e.g. enzymes, bacteria, and so forth,
      into the spaces created by the defective bond will ultimately lead to failure of
      the composite restoration. This paper reports a novel, synthetic resin that
      provides enhanced hydrolytic stability as a result of intrinsic reinforcement of
      the polymer network. The behavior of this novel resin, which contains gamma
      methacryloxyproyl trimethoxysilane (MPS) as its Si-based compound, is reminiscent
      of self-strengthening properties found in nature. The efforts in this paper are
      focused on two essential aspects: the visible-light irradiation induced
      (photoacid-induced) sol-gel reaction and the mechanism leading to intrinsic self
      strengthening. The FTIR band at 2840cm(-1) corresponding to CH3 symmetric stretch
      in -Si-O-CH3 was used to evaluate the sol-gel reaction. Results from the real
      time FTIR indicated that the newly developed resin showed a limited sol-gel
      reaction (<5%) during visible-light irradiation, but after 48h dark storage, the
      reaction was over 65%. The condensation of methoxysilane mainly occurred under
      wet conditions. The storage moduli and glass transition temperature of the
      copolymers increased in wet conditions with the increasing MPS content. The
      cumulative amounts of leached species decreased significantly when the MPS
      containing adhesive was used. The results suggest that the polymethacrylate-based
      network, which formed first as a result of free radical initiated polymerization,
      retarded the photoacid-induced sol-gel reaction. The sol-gel reaction provided a
      persistent, intrinsic reinforcement of the polymer network in both neutral and
      acidic conditions. This behavior led to enhanced mechanical properties of the
      dental adhesives under conditions that simulate the wet, oral environment.
      STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A self-strengthening dental adhesive system was
      developed through a dual curing process, which involves the free radical
      photopolymerization followed by slow hydrolysis and condensation (photoacid
      induced sol-gel reaction) of alkoxylsilane groups. The concept of "living"
      photoacid-induced sol-gel reaction with visible-light irradiation was confirmed
      in the polymer. The sol-gel reaction was retarded by the polymethacrylate
      network, which was generated first; the network extended the life and retained
      the activity of silanol groups. The self-strengthening behavior was evaluated by
      monitoring the mechanical properties of the hybrid copolymers under wet
      conditions. The present research demonstrates the sol-gel reaction in highly
      crosslinked network as a potentially powerful strategy to prolong the functional
      lifetime of engineered biomaterials in wet environments.

PMID- 26883774
TI  - Wide-range stiffness gradient PVA/HA hydrogel to investigate stem cell
      differentiation behavior.
AB  - Although stiffness-controllable substrates have been developed to investigate the
      effect of stiffness on cell behavior and function, the use of separate substrates
      with different degrees of stiffness, substrates with a narrow range stiffness
      gradient, toxicity of residues, different surface composition, complex
      fabrication procedures/devices, and low cell adhesion are still considered as
      hurdles of conventional techniques. In this study, a cylindrical polyvinyl
      alcohol (PVA)/hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with a wide-range stiffness gradient
      (between ~20kPa and ~200kPa) and cell adhesiveness was prepared by a liquid
      nitrogen (LN2)-contacting gradual freezing-thawing method that does not use any
      additives or specific devices to produce the stiffness gradient hydrogel. From an
      in vitro cell culture using the stiffness gradient PVA/HA hydrogel, it was
      observed that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have favorable stiffness
      ranges for induction of differentiation into specific cell types (~20kPa for
      nerve cell, ~40kPa for muscle cell, ~80kPa for chondrocyte, and ~190kPa for
      osteoblast). The PVA/HA hydrogel with a wide range of stiffness spectrum can be a
      useful tool for basic studies related with the stem cell differentiation, cell
      reprogramming, cell migration, and tissue regeneration in terms of substrate
      stiffness. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: It is postulated that the stiffness of the
      extracellular matrix influences cell behavior. To prove this concept, various
      techniques to prepare substrates with a stiffness gradient have been developed.
      However, the narrow ranges of stiffness gradient and complex fabrication
      procedures/devices are still remained as limitations. Herein, we develop a
      substrate (hydrogel) with a wide-range stiffness gradient using a gradual
      freezing-thawing method which does not need specific devices to produce a
      stiffness gradient hydrogel. From cell culture experiments using the hydrogel, it
      is observed that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have favorable
      stiffness ranges for induction of differentiation into specific cell types
      (~20kPa for nerve, ~40kPa for muscle, ~80kPa for cartilage, and ~190kPa for bone
      in our hydrogel system).

PMID- 26883775
TI  - Extracellular matrix microarrays to study inductive signaling for endoderm
      specification.
AB  - During tissue development, stem and progenitor cells are faced with fate
      decisions coordinated by microenvironmental cues. Although insights have been
      gained from in vitro and in vivo studies, the role of the microenvironment
      remains poorly understood due to the inability to systematically explore
      combinations of stimuli at a large scale. To overcome such restrictions, we
      implemented an extracellular matrix (ECM) array platform that facilitates the
      study of 741 distinct combinations of 38 different ECM components in a
      systematic, unbiased and high-throughput manner. Using embryonic stem cells as a
      model system, we derived definitive endoderm progenitors and applied them to the
      array platform to study the influence of ECM, including the interactions of ECM
      with growth factor signaling, on the specification of definitive endoderm cells
      towards the liver and pancreas fates. We identified ECM combinations that
      influence endoderm fate decisions towards these lineages, and demonstrated the
      utility of this platform for studying ECM-mediated modifications to signal
      activation during liver specification. In particular, defined combinations of
      fibronectin and laminin isoforms, as well as combinations of distinct collagen
      subtypes, were shown to influence SMAD pathway activation and the degree of
      hepatic differentiation. Overall, our systematic high-throughput approach
      suggests that ECM components of the microenvironment have modulatory effects on
      endoderm differentiation, including effects on lineage fate choice and cell
      adhesion and survival during the differentiation process. This platform
      represents a robust tool for analyzing effects of ECM composition towards the
      continued improvement of stem cell differentiation protocols and further
      elucidation of tissue development processes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cellular
      microarrays can provide the capability to perform high-throughput investigations
      into the role of microenvironmental signals in a variety of cell functions. This
      study demonstrates the utility of a high-throughput cellular microarray approach
      for analyzing the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver and pancreas
      differentiation of endoderm progenitor cells. Despite an appreciation that ECM is
      likely involved in these processes, the influence of ECM, particularly
      combinations of matrix proteins, had not been systematically explored. In
      addition to the identification of relevant ECM compositions, this study
      illustrates the capability of the cellular microarray platform to be integrated
      with a diverse range of cell fate measurements, which could be broadly applied
      towards the investigation of cell fate regulation in other tissue development and
      disease contexts.

PMID- 26883777
TI  - Caffeine intake and myocardial perfusion imaging.

PMID- 26883776
TI  - Caffeine reduces the sensitivity of vasodilator MPI for the detection of
      myocardial ischaemia: Pro.
AB  - Caffeine is a non-selective antagonist at the adenosine receptors, which is
      expected to reverse both the intended (coronary vasodilation) and unintended
      (hypotension, flushing) effects of exogenously administered adenosine and
      adenosine-related compounds. In the past, several studies were conducted to
      characterize the effect of caffeine on vasodilator myocardial perfusion imaging
      (MPI) with conflicting results. However, new evidence supports earlier
      observations and shows that recent caffeine intake attenuates vasodilator-induced
      myocardial hyperaemia and may therefore reduce the sensitivity of radionuclide
      MPI for the detection of inducible perfusion abnormality in patients with
      coronary artery disease. Although the magnitude of this effect and hence its
      clinical significance are dose dependent, the acute response to equivalent doses
      of caffeine varies largely among individuals, and this might be explained by
      differences in caffeine exposure and genetically determined variations in
      caffeine metabolism. Abstinence from caffeinated foods and beverages for a
      minimum of 12 hours before vasodilator stress is therefore recommended although
      longer abstention might be required in order to prevent the potentially blocking
      effect of residual caffeine on vasodilator-mediated actions.

PMID- 26883778
TI  - The judgement of the eye.

PMID- 26883779
TI  - Erratum to: Not black or white, but brown: A common finding explained!

PMID- 26883780
TI  - Erratum to: Moving ahead with CZT technology.

PMID- 26883781
TI  - Myocardial perfusion SPECT just keeps getting better and better.

PMID- 26883782
TI  - Lewis Acid Triggered Regioselective Magnesiation and Zincation of Uracils,
      Uridines, and Cytidines.
AB  - The Lewis acid MgCl2 allows control of the metalation regioselectivity of uracils
      and uridines. In the absence of the Lewis acid, metalation of uracil and uridine
      derivatives with TMPMgCl.LiCl occurs at the position C(5). In the presence of
      MgCl2, zincation using TMP2Zn.2LiCl.2MgCl2 occurs at the position C(6). This
      metalation method provides easy access to functionalized uracils and uridines.
      Using TMP2Zn.2LiCl.2MgCl2 also allows to functionalize cytidine derivatives at
      the position C(6). 

PMID- 26883783
TI  - Percutaneous biopsy in the abdomen and pelvis: a step-by-step approach.
AB  - Percutaneous abdominal biopsies provide referring physicians with valuable
      diagnostic and prognostic information that guides patient care. All biopsy
      procedures follow a similar process that begins with the preprocedure evaluation
      of the patient and ends with the postprocedure management of the patient. In this
      review, a step-by-step approach to both routine and challenging abdominal
      biopsies is covered with an emphasis on the differences in biopsy devices and
      imaging guidance modalities. Adjunctive techniques that may facilitate accessing
      a lesion in a difficult location or reduce procedure risk are described. An
      understanding of these concepts will help maintain the favorable safety profile
      and high diagnostic yield associated with percutaneous biopsies.

PMID- 26883784
TI  - Managing risks in drug discovery: reproducibility of published findings.
AB  - In spite of tremendous advances in biopharmaceutical science and technology, the
      productivity of pharmaceutical research and development has been steadily
      declining over the last decades. The reasons for this decline are manifold and
      range from improved standard of care that is more and more difficult to top to
      inappropriate management of technical and translational risks along the R&D value
      chain. In this short review, major types of risks in biopharmaceutical R&D and
      means to address them will be described. A special focus will be on a risk, i.e.,
      the lack of reproducibility of published information, that has so far not been
      fully appreciated and systematically analyzed. Measures to improve
      reproducibility and trust in published information will be discussed. 

PMID- 26883785
TI  - Absence of bilateral C2 pars in a child with osteogenesis imperfecta.

PMID- 26883786
TI  - Healthcare Provider Type and Switch to Biologics in Psoriasis: Evidence from Real
      World Practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates an uneven uptake of biologics in patients
      with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in Sweden. Therefore, it is essential to
      scrutinise variations in treatment patterns. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was
      to evaluate the extent to which the uptake of biologics for psoriasis differs
      between types of healthcare provider. METHODS: Three types of provider were
      identified within 52 units participating in the Swedish National Registry for
      Systemic Psoriasis Treatment (PsoReg): university hospitals, non-university
      hospitals and individual practices. Biologics-naive patients (n = 3165) were
      included in analyses to investigate the probability of switch to biologics. The
      numbers of patients fulfilling the criteria for moderate-to-severe psoriasis
      [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) >=10 and Dermatology Life Quality Index
      (DLQI) >=10] among patients who switched to biologics and patients who did not
      switch were reported. A logistic regression model was used to calculate how
      healthcare provider type influenced the probability of switch to biologics whilst
      adjusting for patient characteristics and disease severity. RESULTS: During
      registration, 16% of patients switched to biologics while 84% remained on
      conventional systemic treatment. In 7% of patients, the criteria PASI >=10 and
      DLQI >=10 was fulfilled at their last visit without switching to biologics,
      whereas in 10% of patients the criteria was not fulfilled prior to switch. After
      controlling for patient characteristics and disease severity, small or no
      difference in the probability of switch was observed between provider types.
      CONCLUSIONS: Disease severity does not explain the decision to switch or not to
      switch to biologics for a disproportionate number of patients. There seems to be
      an uneven uptake of biologics in Swedish clinical practice, but the type of
      healthcare provider cannot explain this variation. More research is needed on
      what factors influence the prescription of biologics.

PMID- 26883787
TI  - Rolling stones and turbulent eddies: why the bigger live longer and travel
      farther.
AB  - Here we report the discovery that even the simplest, oldest and most prevalent
      forms of evolutionary movement--rolling bodies and whirls of turbulence--exhibit
      the same body-size effect on life time and life travel as the evolutionary
      movement united by the body-size effect so far: animals, rivers, vehicles, jets
      and plumes. In short, the bigger should last longer and travel farther. For
      rolling bodies, the life span (t) and the life travel (L) should increase with
      the body mass (M) raised to the powers 1/6 and 1/3, respectively. The number of
      rolls during this movement is constant, independent of body size. For an eddy of
      turbulence, t should increase with the eddy mass (M) raised to the power 2/3,
      while L should increase with M(2/3) times the bulk speed of the turbulent stream
      that carries the eddy. The number of rolls during the eddy life span is a
      constant independent of eddy size.

PMID- 26883789
TI  - In Situ Visualization of Lithium Ion Intercalation into MoS2 Single Crystals
      using Differential Optical Microscopy with Atomic Layer Resolution.
AB  - Atomic-level visualization of the intercalation of layered materials, such as
      metal chalcogenides, is of paramount importance in the development of high
      performance batteries. In situ images of the dynamic intercalation of Li ions
      into MoS2 single-crystal electrodes were acquired for the first time, under
      potential control, with the use of a technique combining laser confocal
      microscopy with differential interference microscopy. Intercalation proceeded via
      a distinct phase separation of lithiated and delithiated regions. The process
      started at the atomic steps of the first layer beneath the selvedge and
      progressed in a layer-by-layer fashion. The intercalated regions consisted of Li
      ion channels into which the newly inserted Li ions were pushed atom-by-atom.
      Interlayer diffusion of Li ions was not observed. Deintercalation was also
      clearly imaged and was found to transpire in a layer-by-layer mode. The
      intercalation and deintercalation processes were chemically reversible and can be
      repeated many times within a few atomic layers. Extensive intercalation of Li
      ions disrupted the atomically flat surface of MoS2 because of the formation of
      small lithiated domains that peeled off from the surface of the crystal. The
      current-potential curves of the intercalation and deintercalation processes were
      independent of the scan rate, thereby suggesting that the rate-determining step
      was not governed by Butler-Volmer kinetics. 

PMID- 26883788
TI  - Regulation of scleraxis transcriptional activity by serine phosphorylation.
AB  - Cardiac fibroblasts are the major extracellular matrix producing cells in the
      heart. Our laboratory was the first to demonstrate that the transcription factor
      scleraxis induces collagen 1alpha2 expression in both cardiac fibroblasts and
      myofibroblasts. Here we identify a novel post-translational mechanism by which
      scleraxis activity is regulated and determine its effect on transcription of
      genes targeted by scleraxis. Putative serine phosphorylation sites on scleraxis
      were revealed by in silico analysis using motif prediction software. Mutation of
      key serine residues to alanine, which cannot be phosphorylated, significantly
      attenuated the expression of fibrillar type I collagen and myofibroblast marker
      genes that are normally induced by scleraxis. Down-regulation of collagen 1alpha2
      expression was due to reduced binding of the non-phosphorylated scleraxis mutant
      to specific E-box DNA-binding sites within the promoter as determined by
      chromatin immunoprecipitation in human cardiac myofibroblast cells and by
      electrophoretic mobility shift assay. This is the first evidence suggesting that
      scleraxis is phosphorylated under basal conditions. The phosphorylation sequence
      matched that targeted by Casein Kinase 2, and inhibition of this kinase activity
      disrupted the ability of scleraxis to modulate the expression of its target genes
      while also attenuating TGFbeta-induced expression of type I collagen and
      myofibroblast phenotype conversion marker genes. These results demonstrate a
      novel mechanism for regulation of scleraxis activity, which may prove to be
      tractable for pharmacologic manipulation. 

PMID- 26883790
TI  - In-plane Isotropic Microwave Performance of CoZr Trilayer in GHz Range.
AB  - In this paper, we investigate the high frequency performance of
      Co90Zr10/SiO2/Co90Zr10 trilayers. It is demonstrated that the in-plane isotropic
      microwave performance is theoretically derived from the solution of the Landau
      Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and experimentally achieved in that sandwich structured
      film. The valuable isotropic behavior comes from the superposition of two
      uncouple ferromagnetic layers in which the uniaxial magnetic anisotropic fields
      are equivalent but mutually orthogonal. Moreover, the isotropic microwave
      performance can be tuned to higher resonance frequency up to 5.3 GHz by employing
      the oblique deposition technique. It offers a convenient and effective way to
      achieve an unusual in-plane isotropic microwave performance with high
      permeability in GHz, holding promising applications for the magnetic devices in
      the high frequency information technology.

PMID- 26883791
TI  - Controlled Immobilization Strategies to Probe Short Hyaluronan-Protein
      Interactions.
AB  - Well-controlled grafting of small hyaluronan oligosaccharides (sHA) enables novel
      approaches to investigate biological processes such as angiogenesis, immune
      reactions and cancer metastasis. We develop two strategies for covalent
      attachment of sHA, a fast high-density adsorption and a two-layer system that
      allows tuning the density and mode of immobilization. We monitored the sHA
      adlayer formation and subsequent macromolecular interactions by label-free quartz
      crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The modified surfaces are inert to
      unspecific protein adsorption, and yet retain the specific binding capacity of
      sHA. Thus they are an ideal tool to study the interactions of hyaluronan-binding
      proteins and short hyaluronan molecules as demonstrated by the specific
      recognition of LYVE-1 and aggrecan. Both hyaladherins recognize sHA and the
      binding is independent to the presence of the reducing end. 

PMID- 26883792
TI  - Experimental and Theoretical Studies of the Reactivity and Thermochemistry of
      Dicyanamide: N(CN)(2)(-).
AB  - Dicyanamide [N(CN)2(-)] is a common anionic component of ionic liquids, several
      of which have shown hypergolic reactivity upon mixing with white-fuming nitric
      acid. In this study, we explore the thermochemistry of dicyanamide and its
      reactivity with nitric acid and other molecules to gain insight into the initial
      stages of the hypergolic phenomenon. We have developed and utilized an
      electrospray ion source for our selected ion flow tube (SIFT) to generate the
      dicyanamide anion. We have explored the general reactivity of this ion with
      several neutral molecules and atoms. Dicyanamide does not show reactivity with
      O2, H2SO4, H2O2, DBr, HCl, NH3, N2O, SO2, COS, CO2, CH3OH, H2O, CH4, N2, CF4, or
      SF6 (k < 1 * 10(-12) cm(3)/s); moreover, dicyanamide does not react with N atom,
      O atom, or electronically excited molecular oxygen (k < 5 * 10(-12) cm(3)/s), and
      our previous studies showed no reactivity with H atom. However, at 0.45 Torr
      helium, we observe the adduct of dicyanamide with nitric acid with an effective
      bimolecular rate constant of 2.7 * 10(-10) cm(3)/s. Intrinsically, dicyanamide is
      a very stable anion in the gas phase, as illustrated by its lack of reactivity,
      high electron-binding energy, and low proton affinity. The lack of reactivity of
      dicyanamide with H2SO4 gives an upper limit for the gas-phase deprotonation
      enthalpy of the parent compound (HNCNCN; <310 +/- 3 kcal/mol). This limit is in
      agreement with theoretical calculations at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory,
      finding that DeltaH298 K(HNCNCN) = 308.5 kcal/mol. Dicyanamide has two different
      proton acceptor sites. Experimental and computational results indicate that it is
      lower in energy to protonate the terminal nitrile nitrogen than the central
      nitrogen. Although proton transfer to dicyanamide was not observed for any of the
      acidic molecules investigated here, the calculations on dicyanamide with one to
      three nitric acid molecules reveal that higher-order solvation can favor
      exothermic proton transfer. Furthermore, the formation of 1,5-dinitrobiuret,
      proposed to be the key intermediate during the hypergolic ignition of dicyanamide
      ionic liquids with nitric acid, is investigated by calculation of the reaction
      coordinate. Our results suggest that solvation dynamics of dicyanamide with
      nitric acid play an important role in hypergolic ignition and the interactions at
      the droplet/condensed-phase surface between the two hypergolic liquids are very
      important. Moreover, dicyanamide exists in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon,
      Titan; the intrinsic stability of dicyanamide strongly suggests that it may exist
      in molecular clouds of the interstellar medium, especially in regions where other
      stable carbon-nitrogen anions have been detected. 

PMID- 26883794
TI  - Review: changing (shared) heritability of ASD and ADHD across the lifespan.

PMID- 26883793
TI  - Effects of a worksite tobacco control intervention in India: the Mumbai worksite
      tobacco control study, a cluster-randomised trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We assessed a worksite intervention designed to promote tobacco
      control among workers in the manufacturing sector in Greater Mumbai, India.
      METHODS: We used a cluster-randomised design to test an integrated health
      promotion/health protection intervention, the Healthy, Safe, and Tobacco-free
      Worksites programme. Between July 2012 and July 2013, we recruited 20 worksites
      on a rolling basis and randomly assigned them to intervention or delayed
      intervention control conditions. The follow-up survey was conducted between
      December 2013 and November 2014. RESULTS: The difference in 30-day quit rates
      between intervention and control conditions was statistically significant for
      production workers (OR=2.25, p=0.03), although not for the overall sample
      (OR=1.70; p=0.12). The intervention resulted in a doubling of the 6-month
      cessation rates among workers in the intervention worksites compared to those in
      the control, for production workers (OR=2.29; p=0.07) and for the overall sample
      (OR=1.81; p=0.13), but the difference did not reach statistical significance.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the potential impact of a tobacco control
      intervention that combined tobacco control and health protection programming
      within Indian manufacturing worksites. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01841879.

PMID- 26883795
TI  - Blue Light Modulates Murine Microglial Gene Expression in the Absence of
      Optogenetic Protein Expression.
AB  - Neural optogenetic applications over the past decade have steadily increased;
      however the effects of commonly used blue light paradigms on surrounding, non
      optogenetic protein-expressing CNS cells are rarely considered, despite their
      simultaneous exposure. Here we report that blue light (450 nm) repetitively
      delivered in both long-duration boluses and rapid optogenetic bursts gene
      specifically altered basal expression of inflammatory and neurotrophic genes in
      immortalized and primary murine wild type microglial cultures. In addition, blue
      light reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression in microglia activated with
      lipopolysaccharide. These results demonstrate previously unreported, off-target
      effects of blue light in cells not expressing optogenetic constructs. The
      unexpected gene modulatory effects of blue light on wild type CNS resident immune
      cells have novel and important implications for the neuro-optogenetic field.
      Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and potential
      therapeutic utility of blue light modulation of the wild type CNS.

PMID- 26883798
TI  - Sperm motility and viability extracted from penile tract of corpses: A
      preliminary study.
AB  - Posthumous sperm retrieval is a procedure in which spermatozoa are extracted from
      a man after he has been pronounced legally brain dead. Sperm retrieval from the
      penis has not been studied previously to the best of our knowledge. Our purpose
      was to determine the motility and viability of sperm from the penis with
      increasing time intervals from death. There was a progressive decrease in sperm
      motility with increasing post-mortem intervals, with a progressive increase in
      non-motility. Similarly, the sperm viability also showed a decreasing pattern
      with the increasing post-mortem interval. The sperm were found to be viable up to
      24 h after death. Penile tract sperm retrieval has not been previously studied as
      far as we know. 

PMID- 26883796
TI  - Disparities in suicide mortality trends between United States of America and 25
      European countries: retrospective analysis of WHO mortality database.
AB  - The objective was to examine changes in temporal trends in suicide mortality in
      26 Western countries by retrospective trend analysis of the WHO mortality
      database on causes of deaths. From 1990 to 2010, there was a median reduction in
      suicide mortality of 22.7%, ranging from a 46% reduction in Estonia to a 26.2%
      increase in Romania. Suicide mortality decreased by >= 20% in 15 countries, and
      the reduction tended to be greater in countries with higher mortality in 1990. In
      most of the central European countries mortality strongly declined. The median
      changes in the age groups were -25.3% (range -62.9% to 72.6%) in people aged 15
      24 years, -36.9% (-60.5% to 32.4%) in 25-34 years, -3.6% (-57.1% to 92%) in 35-54
      years, -12.2% (-37% to 65,7%) in 55-74 years and -16.1% (-54.5% to 166.7%) in >=
      75 years. Suicide prevention programs in youths and in the elderly seem to be
      effective (at least in females for the elderly) and efforts should be pursued in
      this way. However, suicide mortality of the people aged 35-54 years has increased
      in half of the studied countries between 1990 and 2010. Public policies should
      further orientate their efforts toward this population.

PMID- 26883797
TI  - Extraembryonic but not embryonic SUMO-specific protease 2 is required for heart
      development.
AB  - SUMO-specific protease 2 (SENP2) activities to remove SUMO from its substrates is
      essential for development of trophoblast stem cells, niches and lineages. Global
      deletion of SENP2 leads to midgestation lethality, and causes severe defects in
      the placenta which is accompanied by embryonic brain and heart abnormalities.
      Because of the placental deficiencies, the role of SENP2 in development of the
      embryonic tissues has not been properly determined. The brain and heart
      abnormalities may be secondary to placental insufficiency. Here we have created a
      new mouse strain permitting conditional inactivation of SENP2. Mice homozygous
      for germline deletion of the conditional allele exhibit trophoblast defects and
      embryonic abnormalities resembling the global SENP2 knockout. However, tissue
      specific disruptions of SENP2 demonstrate its dispensable role in embryogenesis.
      Placental expression of SENP2 is necessary and sufficient for embryonic heart and
      brain development. Using a protease deficient model, we further demonstrate the
      requirement of SENP2-dependent SUMO modification in development of all major
      trophoblast lineages. SENP2 regulates sumoylation of Mdm2 which controls p53
      activities critical for G-S transition of mitotic division and endoreduplication
      in trophoblast proliferation and differentiation, respectively. The
      differentiation of trophoblasts is also dependent on SENP2-mediated activation of
      p57(Kip2), a CDK-specific inhibitor required for endoreduplication. 

PMID- 26883799
TI  - The coevolution of overconfidence and bluffing in the resource competition game.
AB  - Resources are often limited, therefore it is essential how convincingly
      competitors present their claims for them. Beside a player's natural capacity,
      here overconfidence and bluffing may also play a decisive role and influence how
      to share a restricted reward. While bluff provides clear, but risky advantage,
      overconfidence, as a form of self-deception, could be harmful to its user. Still,
      it is a long-standing puzzle why these potentially damaging biases are maintained
      and evolving to a high level in the human society. Within the framework of
      evolutionary game theory, we present a simple version of resource competition
      game in which the coevolution of overconfidence and bluffing is fundamental,
      which is capable to explain their prevalence in structured populations.
      Interestingly, bluffing seems apt to evolve to higher level than corresponding
      overconfidence and in general the former is less resistant to punishment than the
      latter. Moreover, topological feature of the social network plays an intricate
      role in the spreading of overconfidence and bluffing. While the heterogeneity of
      interactions facilitates bluffing, it also increases efficiency of adequate
      punishment against overconfident behavior. Furthermore, increasing the degree of
      homogeneous networks can trigger similar effect. We also observed that having
      high real capability may accommodate both bluffing ability and overconfidence
      simultaneously. 

PMID- 26883800
TI  - Kaempferol inhibits the growth and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and
      in vivo.
AB  - Kaempferol is a flavonoid that has been reported to exhibit antitumor activity in
      various malignant tumors. However, the role of kaempferol on cholangiocarcinoma
      (CCA) is largely unknown. In this article, we found that kaempferol inhibited
      proliferation, reduced colony formation ability, and induced apoptosis in
      HCCC9810 and QBC939 cells in vitro. Results from transwell assay and wound
      healing assay demonstrated that kaempferol significantly suppressed the migration
      and invasion abilities of HCCC9810 and QBC939 cells in vitro. Kaempferol was
      found to decrease the expression of Bcl-2 and increase the expressions of Bax,
      Fas, cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 8, cleaved-caspase 9, and cleaved-PARP.
      In addition, kaempferol also downregulated the levels of phosphorylated AKT,
      TIMP2, and MMP2. In vivo, it was found that the volume of subcutaneous xenograft
      (0.15 cm(3)) in the kaempferol-treated group was smaller than that (0.6 cm(3)) in
      the control group. Kaempferol also suppressed the number and volume of metastasis
      foci in the lung metastasis model, with no marked effects on body weight of mice.
      Immunohistochemistry assay showed that the number of Ki-67-positive cells was
      lower in the kaempferol-treated group than that in the control group. We further
      confirmed that the changes of apoptosis- and invasion-related proteins after
      kaempferol treatment in vivo were similar to the results in vitro. These data
      suggest that kaempferol may be a promising candidate agent for the treatment of
      CCA. 

PMID- 26883802
TI  - UDP-sugar substrates of HAS3 regulate its O-GlcNAcylation, intracellular traffic,
      extracellular shedding and correlate with melanoma progression.
AB  - Hyaluronan content is a powerful prognostic factor in many cancer types, but the
      molecular basis of its synthesis in cancer still remains unclear. Hyaluronan
      synthesis requires the transport of hyaluronan synthases (HAS1-3) from Golgi to
      plasma membrane (PM), where the enzymes are activated. For the very first time,
      the present study demonstrated a rapid recycling of HAS3 between PM and
      endosomes, controlled by the cytosolic levels of the HAS substrates UDP-GlcUA and
      UDP-GlcNAc. Depletion of UDP-GlcNAc or UDP-GlcUA shifted the balance towards HAS3
      endocytosis, and inhibition of hyaluronan synthesis. In contrast, UDP-GlcNAc
      surplus suppressed endocytosis and lysosomal decay of HAS3, favoring its
      retention in PM, stimulating hyaluronan synthesis, and HAS3 shedding in
      extracellular vesicles. The concentration of UDP-GlcNAc also controlled the level
      of O-GlcNAc modification of HAS3. Increasing O-GlcNAcylation reproduced the
      effects of UDP-GlcNAc surplus on HAS3 trafficking, while its suppression showed
      the opposite effects, indicating that O-GlcNAc signaling is associated to UDP
      GlcNAc supply. Importantly, a similar correlation existed between the expression
      of GFAT1 (the rate limiting enzyme in UDP-GlcNAc synthesis) and hyaluronan
      content in early and deep human melanomas, suggesting the association of UDP
      sugar metabolism in initiation of melanomagenesis. In general, changes in glucose
      metabolism, realized through UDP-sugar contents and O-GlcNAc signaling, are
      important in HAS3 trafficking, hyaluronan synthesis, and correlates with melanoma
      progression.

PMID- 26883801
TI  - Chop Deficiency Protects Mice Against Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by
      Attenuating M2 Macrophage Production.
AB  - C/EBP homologous protein (Chop) has been shown to have altered expression in
      patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but its exact role in IPF
      pathoaetiology has not been fully addressed. Studies conducted in patients with
      IPF and Chop(-/-) mice have dissected the role of Chop and endoplasmic reticulum
      (ER) stress in pulmonary fibrosis pathogenesis. The effect of Chop deficiency on
      macrophage polarization and related signalling pathways were investigated to
      identify the underlying mechanisms. Patients with IPF and mice with bleomycin
      (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis were affected by the altered Chop expression and
      ER stress. In particular, Chop deficiency protected mice against BLM-induced lung
      injury and fibrosis. Loss of Chop significantly attenuated transforming growth
      factor beta (TGF-beta) production and reduced M2 macrophage infiltration in the
      lung following BLM induction. Mechanistic studies showed that Chop deficiency
      repressed the M2 program in macrophages, which then attenuated TGF-beta
      secretion. Specifically, loss of Chop promoted the expression of suppressors of
      cytokine signaling 1 and suppressors of cytokine signaling 3, and through which
      Chop deficiency repressed signal transducer and activator of transcription
      6/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma signaling, the essential
      pathway for the M2 program in macrophages. Together, our data support the idea
      that Chop and ER stress are implicated in IPF pathoaetiology, involving at least
      the induction and differentiation of M2 macrophages.

PMID- 26883803
TI  - Maintaining memory of silencing at imprinted differentially methylated regions.
AB  - Imprinted genes are an exceptional cluster of genes which are expressed in a
      parent-of-origin dependent fashion. This allele-specific expression is dependent
      on differential DNA methylation which is established in the parental germlines in
      a sex-specific manner. The DNA methylation imprint is accompanied by
      heterochromatin modifications which must be continuously maintained through
      development. This review summarises the factors which are important for
      protecting the epigenetic modifications at imprinted differentially methylated
      regions (DMRs), including PGC7, ZFP57 and the ATRX/Daxx/H3.3 complex. We discuss
      how these factors maintain heterochromatin silencing, not only at imprinted DMRs,
      but also other heterochromatic regions in the genome.

PMID- 26883805
TI  - What Do We Mean by Accumulation? Advancing Conceptual Precision for a Core Idea
      in Gerontology.
AB  - In recent decades, the concept of accumulation has gained prominence in research
      on aging, health, and social stratification. Accumulation is now studied in
      multiple disciplines, revealing that cumulative processes are crucial to
      understanding patterns of differentiation over the life course. Although this
      research has demonstrated the empirical value of studying accumulation, the
      concept has taken on different and sometimes inconsistent meanings. To address
      these inconsistencies, we propose an interdisciplinary conceptual framework of
      accumulation that focuses on objects, timing, thresholds, de-accumulation, and
      the levels and consequences of accumulation. Providing a coherent framework of
      accumulation will aid conceptual precision, guide future research, and inform
      public policies related to aging and the life course.

PMID- 26883804
TI  - Neurotrophin signaling in cancer stem cells.
AB  - Cancer stem cells (CSCs), are thought to be at the origin of tumor development
      and resistance to therapies. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular
      mechanisms involved in the control of CSC stemness is essential to the design of
      more effective therapies for cancer patients. Cancer cell stemness and the
      subsequent expansion of CSCs are regulated by micro-environmental signals
      including neurotrophins. Over the years, the roles of neurotrophins in tumor
      development have been well established and regularly reviewed. Especially, nerve
      growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are reported to
      stimulate tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration and/or invasion, and
      favors tumor angiogenesis. More recently, neurotrophins have been reported to
      regulate CSCs. This review briefly presents neurotrophins and their receptors,
      summarizes their roles in different cancers, and discusses the emerging evidence
      of neurotrophins-induced enrichment of CSCs as well as the involved signaling
      pathways.

PMID- 26883806
TI  - Association of Hearing Impairment and Emotional Vitality in Older Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To better understand the potential impact of hearing impairment (HI)
      and hearing aid use on emotional vitality and mental health in older adults.
      METHOD: We investigated the cross-sectional association of HI with emotional
      vitality in 1,903 adults aged 76-85 years in the Health ABC study adjusted for
      demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Hearing was defined by the speech
      frequency pure tone average (no impairment < 25 dB, mild impairment 25-40 dB, and
      moderate or greater impairment > 40 dB). Emotional vitality was defined as having
      a high sense of personal mastery, happiness, low depressive symptomatology, and
      low anxiety. RESULTS: Compared with individuals with no HI, participants with
      moderate or greater HI had a 23% lower odds of emotional vitality (odds ratio
      [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.99). Hearing aid use was not
      associated with better emotional vitality (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.81-1.20).
      DISCUSSION: HI is associated with lower odds of emotional vitality in older
      adults. Further studies are needed to examine the longitudinal impact of HI on
      mental health and well-being.

PMID- 26883807
TI  - The COBATEST network: a platform to perform monitoring and evaluation of HIV
      community-based testing practices in Europe and conduct operational research.
AB  - The European project "HIV community-based testing practices in Europe" (HIV
      COBATEST) has contributed to the establishment of a network of community-based
      voluntary counselling and testing services (CBVCTs) that monitors and evaluates
      HIV testing activity in the communities. The objective of this paper is to
      describe the data that have been collected during 2014 by the COBATEST network in
      order to provide an insight into testing activity of CBVCTs in Europe. Members of
      the CBVCT network share common instruments for data collection and data entry.
      The network has a common database that allows global data analysis and comparison
      between different centres. In 2014, 40 CBVCTs of 18 European countries were
      participating in the network, and, from those, 20 CBVCTs were using the common
      COBATEST data collection tools. In these 20 CBVCTs, a total of 9266 HIV screening
      tests were performed on 8554 people, of which 1.58% (135/8554) were reactive and
      51.1% (69/135) confirmed positive. Five cases were false positives, and 84.1%
      (58/69) of the confirmed positive cases were linked to care. Most of the tested
      individuals were men (70.8%), between 21 and 35 years of age (57.6%) and natives
      (67.1%). A higher proportion of men who had sex with men (MSM) (38.8%; 3267/8554)
      were tested compared to heterosexual men (27.7%) and women (23.5%). Rapid blood
      test was used in 78.5% of the cases and mostly performed in CBVCT offices
      (88.3%). Among sex workers (SWs), the percentage of reactive screening tests was
      particularly high (4.0%), especially among male SWs (7.7%) as compared to other
      risk groups, such as MSM (3.1%). The COBATEST network contributes to the
      availability of standardized information about the activity and impact of CBVCT
      centres in Europe. This information and standardized tools can help improve these
      services and inform decision-makers to better contextualize these interventions
      within their national HIV-prevention programmes.

PMID- 26883809
TI  - Palladium Recovery in a H2-Based Membrane Biofilm Reactor: Formation of Pd(0)
      Nanoparticles through Enzymatic and Autocatalytic Reductions.
AB  - Recovering palladium (Pd) from waste streams opens up the possibility of
      augmenting the supply of this important catalyst. We evaluated Pd reduction and
      recovery as a novel application of a H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). At
      steady states, over 99% of the input soluble Pd(II) was reduced through
      concomitant enzymatic and autocatalytic processes at acidic or near neutral pHs.
      Nanoparticulate Pd(0), at an average crystallite size of 10 nm, was recovered
      with minimal leaching and heterogeneously associated with microbial cells and
      extracellular polymeric substances in the biofilm. The dominant phylotypes
      potentially responsible for Pd(II) reduction at circumneutral pH were
      denitrifying beta-proteobacteria mainly consisting of the family Rhodocyclaceae.
      Though greatly shifted by acidic pH, the biofilm microbial community largely
      bounced back when the pH was returned to 7 within 2 weeks. These discoveries
      infer that the biofilm was capable of rapid adaptive evolution to stressed
      environmental change, and facilitated Pd recovery in versatile ways. This study
      demonstrates the promise of effective microbially driven Pd recovery in a single
      MBfR system that could be applied for the treatment of the waste streams, and it
      documents the role of biofilms in this reduction and recovery process. 

PMID- 26883808
TI  - Comparison of Low Back Pain Recovery and Persistence: A Descriptive Study of
      Characteristics at Pain Onset.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Persistent low back pain is a significant problem worldwide. Early
      identification and treatment of individuals at high risk for persistent low back
      pain have been suggested as strategies to decrease the rate of disability
      associated with this condition. PURPOSE: To examine and compare demographic, pain
      related, psychological, and somatosensory characteristics in a cohort of
      participants with acute low back pain who later went on to experience persistent
      low back pain or whose pain resolved within the first 6 weeks after initial
      onset. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted among men and women 18-50 years
      of age who had an acute episode of low back pain. Study questionnaires were
      administered to collect demographic information and measures of pain, coping,
      reactivity, mood, work history and satisfaction, and disability. A standardized
      protocol of quantitative sensory testing was performed on each participant at the
      painful area of their low back and at a remote site on their arm. RESULTS: The
      sample consisted of 48 participants, of whom 19 went on to develop persistent low
      back pain and 29 resolved. Compared to the resolved group, the persistent low
      back pain group was significantly older and had a lower level of educational
      attainment, a higher body mass index, and higher mean "least" pain score on the
      Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form. Significantly higher thermal detection
      thresholds at the painful and remote sites as well as signs of central
      sensitivity differentiated the persistent pain group from the resolved group
      during the acute stage of low back pain.

PMID- 26883810
TI  - Varying levels of difficulty index of skills-test items randomly selected by
      examinees on the Korean emergency medical technician licensing examination.
AB  - PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to characterize the difficulty index of the
      items in the skills test components of the class I and II Korean emergency
      medical technician licensing examination (KEMTLE), which requires examinees to
      select items randomly. METHODS: The results of 1,309 class I KEMTLE examinations
      and 1,801 class II KEMTLE examinations in 2013 were subjected to analysis. Items
      from the basic and advanced skills test sections of the KEMTLE were compared to
      determine whether some were significantly more difficult than others. RESULTS: In
      the class I KEMTLE, all 4 of the items on the basic skills test showed
      significant variation in difficulty index (P<0.01), as well as 4 of the 5 items
      on the advanced skills test (P<0.05). In the class II KEMTLE, 4 of the 5 items on
      the basic skills test showed significantly different difficulty index (P<0.01),
      as well as all 3 of the advanced skills test items (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the
      skills test components of the class I and II KEMTLE, the procedure in which
      examinees randomly select questions should be revised to require examinees to
      respond to a set of fixed items in order to improve the reliability of the
      national licensing examination.

PMID- 26883811
TI  - Calibrating the Medical Council of Canada's Qualifying Examination Part I using
      an integrated item response theory framework: a comparison of models and designs.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to compare different methods of calibrating
      multiple choice question (MCQ) and clinical decision making (CDM) components for
      the Medical Council of Canada's Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQEI) based on
      item response theory. METHODS: Our data consisted of test results from 8,213
      first time applicants to MCCQEI in spring and fall 2010 and 2011 test
      administrations. The data set contained several thousand multiple choice items
      and several hundred CDM cases. Four dichotomous calibrations were run using BILOG
      MG 3.0. All 3 mixed item format (dichotomous MCQ responses and polytomous CDM
      case scores) calibrations were conducted using PARSCALE 4. RESULTS: The 2-PL
      model had identical numbers of items with chi-square values at or below a Type I
      error rate of 0.01 (83/3,499 or 0.02). In all 3 polytomous models, whether the
      MCQs were either anchored or concurrently run with the CDM cases, results suggest
      very poor fit. All IRT abilities estimated from dichotomous calibration designs
      correlated very highly with each other. IRT-based pass-fail rates were extremely
      similar, not only across calibration designs and methods, but also with regard to
      the actual reported decision to candidates. The largest difference noted in pass
      rates was 4.78%, which occurred between the mixed format concurrent 2-PL graded
      response model (pass rate= 80.43%) and the dichotomous anchored 1-PL calibrations
      (pass rate= 85.21%). CONCLUSION: Simpler calibration designs with dichotomized
      items should be implemented. The dichotomous calibrations provided better fit of
      the item response matrix than more complex, polytomous calibrations.

PMID- 26883812
TI  - Organic nanophotonic materials: the relationship between excited-state processes
      and photonic performances.
AB  - Nanophotonics have recently captured broad attention because of their great
      potential in information processing and communication, which may allow rates and
      bandwidth beyond what is feasible in the realm of electronics. Organic materials
      could be well suitable for such applications due to their ability to generate,
      transmit, modulate and detect light in their lightweight and flexible
      nanoarchitectures. Their distinct nanophotonic properties strongly depend on
      their extrinsic morphologies and intrinsic molecular excited-state processes. In
      this feature article, we mainly focus on a comprehensive understanding of the
      relationship between molecular excited-state processes and the advanced photonic
      functionalities of organic micro/nano-crystals in recent organic nanophotonic
      research, and then expect to provide enlightenment for the design and development
      of tiny photonic devices with broadband tunable properties by tailoring the
      excited-state processes of organic microcrystals. 

PMID- 26883813
TI  - Novel fusion proteins for the antigen-specific staining and elimination of B cell
      receptor-positive cell populations demonstrated by a tetanus toxoid fragment C
      (TTC) model antigen.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In an earlier study we developed a unique strategy allowing us to
      specifically eliminate antigen-specific murine B cells via their distinct B cell
      receptors using a new class of fusion proteins. In the present work we elaborated
      our idea to demonstrate the feasibility of specifically addressing and
      eliminating human memory B cells. RESULTS: The present study reveals efficient
      adaptation of the general approach to selectively target and eradicate human
      memory B cells. In order to demonstrate the feasibility we engineered a fusion
      protein following the principle of recombinant immunotoxins by combining a model
      antigen (tetanus toxoid fragment C, TTC) for B cell receptor targeting and a
      truncated version of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA') to induce apoptosis
      after cellular uptake. The TTC-ETA' fusion protein not only selectively bound to
      a TTC-reactive murine B cell hybridoma cell line in vitro but also to freshly
      isolated human memory B cells from immunized donors ex vivo. Specific toxicity
      was confirmed on an antigen-specific population of human CD27(+) memory B cells.
      CONCLUSIONS: This protein engineering strategy can be used as a generalized
      platform approach for the construction of therapeutic fusion proteins with
      disease-relevant antigens as B cell receptor-binding domains, offering a
      promising approach for the specific depletion of autoreactive B-lymphocytes in B
      cell-driven autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 26883814
TI  - Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with
      exposures: a consensus statement.
AB  - The broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate (common trade name "Roundup") was first
      sold to farmers in 1974. Since the late 1970s, the volume of glyphosate-based
      herbicides (GBHs) applied has increased approximately 100-fold. Further increases
      in the volume applied are likely due to more and higher rates of application in
      response to the widespread emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds and new, pre
      harvest, dessicant use patterns. GBHs were developed to replace or reduce
      reliance on herbicides causing well-documented problems associated with drift and
      crop damage, slipping efficacy, and human health risks. Initial industry toxicity
      testing suggested that GBHs posed relatively low risks to non-target species,
      including mammals, leading regulatory authorities worldwide to set high
      acceptable exposure limits. To accommodate changes in GBH use patterns associated
      with genetically engineered, herbicide-tolerant crops, regulators have
      dramatically increased tolerance levels in maize, oilseed (soybeans and canola),
      and alfalfa crops and related livestock feeds. Animal and epidemiology studies
      published in the last decade, however, point to the need for a fresh look at
      glyphosate toxicity. Furthermore, the World Health Organization's International
      Agency for Research on Cancer recently concluded that glyphosate is "probably
      carcinogenic to humans." In response to changing GBH use patterns and advances in
      scientific understanding of their potential hazards, we have produced a Statement
      of Concern drawing on emerging science relevant to the safety of GBHs. Our
      Statement of Concern considers current published literature describing GBH uses,
      mechanisms of action, toxicity in laboratory animals, and epidemiological
      studies. It also examines the derivation of current human safety standards. We
      conclude that: (1) GBHs are the most heavily applied herbicide in the world and
      usage continues to rise; (2) Worldwide, GBHs often contaminate drinking water
      sources, precipitation, and air, especially in agricultural regions; (3) The half
      life of glyphosate in water and soil is longer than previously recognized; (4)
      Glyphosate and its metabolites are widely present in the global soybean supply;
      (5) Human exposures to GBHs are rising; (6) Glyphosate is now authoritatively
      classified as a probable human carcinogen; (7) Regulatory estimates of tolerable
      daily intakes for glyphosate in the United States and European Union are based on
      outdated science. We offer a series of recommendations related to the need for
      new investments in epidemiological studies, biomonitoring, and toxicology studies
      that draw on the principles of endocrinology to determine whether the effects of
      GBHs are due to endocrine disrupting activities. We suggest that common
      commercial formulations of GBHs should be prioritized for inclusion in government
      led toxicology testing programs such as the U.S. National Toxicology Program, as
      well as for biomonitoring as conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
      and Prevention. 

PMID- 26883815
TI  - Characterising timing and pattern of relapse following surgery for localised
      oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (OGA) has a poor prognosis, even for
      patients with operable disease. However, the optimal surveillance strategy
      following surgery is unknown. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all
      patients with OGA who had undergone surgery with radical intent at the Royal
      Marsden between January 2001 and December 2010. RESULTS: Of the 360 patients with
      OGA who underwent potentially curative surgery, 100/214 patients (47%) with
      oesophageal/gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) adenocarcinoma and 47/146 patients
      (32%) with gastric adenocarcinoma developed recurrent disease. 51, 79 and 92% of
      relapses occurred within 1, 2 and 3 years respectively and the majority of
      patients relapsed at distant sites. Of the patients who relapsed, 67% (67/100)
      with oesophageal/GOJ adenocarcinoma and 72% of patients with gastric cancer
      (34/47) were symptomatic at the time of relapse. The majority of asymptomatic
      relapses were first detected by a rise in tumour markers. There was no difference
      in disease-free survival between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, but
      asymptomatic patients were more likely to receive further treatment and had a
      longer survival beyond relapse. CONCLUSION: The majority of relapses occur within
      the first 3 years and at distant sites. Monitoring of tumour markers should be
      considered as part of a surveillance program.

PMID- 26883816
TI  - Factors associated with depressive symptoms in young long-term breast cancer
      survivors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Long-term breast cancer survivors frequently report distress (i.e.,
      depressive symptoms) that impacts their quality of life. Previous studies have
      found that negative social interactions ("social constraints") from partners
      contribute to long-term, unresolved cycling of intrusive thoughts and cognitive
      avoidance, resulting in psychological distress. However, these relationships have
      not been tested in long-term breast cancer survivors. Furthermore, the effect of
      partners' depressive symptoms on the survivors' depressive symptoms has not been
      tested within the context of these relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this
      study was to test relationships between breast cancer survivors' depressive
      symptoms and (1) social constraints, cognitive avoidance, and intrusive thoughts,
      and (2) partners' depressive symptoms. METHODS: Data were from a cross-sectional
      descriptive study of breast cancer survivors (N = 222) 3-8 years post-diagnosis
      and their partners, who completed surveys assessing demographic characteristics,
      social constraints, intrusive thoughts, cognitive avoidance, and depressive
      symptoms. Structural equation modeling confirmatory path analyses were conducted
      to determine significant relationships between survivors' depressive symptoms and
      all other variables. RESULTS: Our model fits the data well. Breast cancer
      survivors' depressive symptoms were predicted by social constraints and intrusive
      thoughts. The relationship between survivors' depressive symptoms and partners'
      depressive symptoms was close but not significant. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized,
      depressive symptoms were predicted by social constraints and intrusive thoughts.
      Further research is needed to understand the possible relationship between
      survivors' long-term depressive symptoms and cognitive avoidance and partners'
      depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the negative impact of social
      constraints from partners on psychological outcomes in long-term breast cancer
      survivors.

PMID- 26883818
TI  - Home but still engaged: participation in social activities among the homebound.
AB  - PURPOSE: Participation in social and community activities that require leaving
      one's home is important to older adults; however, many older adults have
      difficulty or are unable to leave their dwellings, and little is known from
      national samples about issues related to remaining active outside the home or the
      barriers faced by these older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used the National
      Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative study of older adults
      (n = 7197), to understand the following: (1) the importance that homebound and
      semi-homebound adults place on involvement in social or community activities, (2)
      their current level of involvement, and (3) reported barriers to participation.
      RESULTS: Despite the heavy burden of functional limitations, depression, pain,
      and falls, homebound adults reported that activities outside the home were
      important to them ranging from 25.2 % (attend clubs) to 70.0 % (visit family).
      Similarly, semi-homebound older adults had a strong interest in such
      participation, including visiting friends and family (81.8 %), attending
      religious services (72.6 %), and going out for enjoyment (72.5 %). Many homebound
      adults reported health (42.9-64.1 % depending on the activity) and transportation
      (12.2-18.2 %) as barriers to participation. Semi-homebound adults also identified
      health (23.8-41.0 %) and transportation (6.5-10.2 %) as participation barriers.
      IMPLICATIONS: This information can be useful in designing community programs that
      will foster meaningful social and community engagement for older adults, which
      may improve their quality of life.

PMID- 26883817
TI  - Development of the Cardiac Surgery Patient Expectations Questionnaire (C-SPEQ).
AB  - PURPOSE: Some variability in recovery and outcomes after cardiac surgery may be
      influenced by psychosocial aspects not routinely captured. Preliminary evidence
      suggests patient expectations impact health status, but there is no specific
      measure of expectations for cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to
      adapt an expectations scale to cardiac surgery and assess the psychometric
      properties of the scale. METHODS: Before surgery, 93 patients awaiting non
      emergent cardiac surgery completed questionnaires, including the adapted Cardiac
      Surgery Patient Expectations Questionnaire (C-SPEQ). At 1 year after surgery, 68
      patients completed questionnaires. RESULTS: Mean C-SPEQ score was 39.4 +/- 9.02,
      and scores were normally distributed (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). Higher score
      indicated negative expectations. Higher presurgery C-SPEQ score was correlated
      with greater depression (r = 0.32, p = 0.01) and perceived stress (r = 0.36, p =
      0.003), but not state anxiety (r = 0.18, p = 0.14), at one-year post-surgery.
      Higher C-SPEQ was associated with longer recovery time (B = 0.14, p = 0.006) and
      lower physical HRQL after surgery (B = -0.31, p = 0.005). Higher C-SPEQ was not
      related to greater odds for perioperative complications (OR 1.01, p = 0.68) or
      readmissions <30 days (OR 1.05, p = 0.31). C-SPEQ score was not related to
      survival. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of an expectations questionnaire to cardiac
      surgery patients was successful with acceptable reliability and validity.
      Negative expectations had a detrimental impact on recovery and HRQL following
      cardiac surgery but were not related to clinical outcomes. Although focus is
      mainly on improving clinical outcomes, there are opportunities to improve non
      clinical aspects of the patient experience. Presurgical education might better
      prepare patients, reduce negative expectations, and improve psychosocial outcomes
      after cardiac surgery.

PMID- 26883819
TI  - Association between interleukin-6 (G174C and C572G) promoter gene polymorphisms
      and risk of ischemic stroke in North Indian population: a case-control study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of G174C and C572G in the interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter
      gene can affect both transcription and secretion of IL-6 and may be involved in
      inflammation related to and pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). Whether these
      IL-6 gene polymorphisms are risk factors for IS or not, remains controversial.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association between IL-6
      G174C and C572G gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to ischemic stroke in North
      Indian Population. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty IS patients and 250 age- and
      sex-matched controls were studied. Genotyping was performed using SNaPshot
      method. Stroke was classified using Trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment
      classification. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate
      the strength of association between IL-6 (G174C and C572G) polymorphisms and risk
      of IS. RESULTS: Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, alcohol, smoking, family
      history of stroke, sedentary life style and low socioeconomic status were found
      to be associated with the risk of IS. Conditional logistic regression analysis
      showed a significant association of IL-6 G174C with the risk of IS under dominant
      model (OR, 1.61; 95%CI, 1.0-2.4; P value 0.02) and allelic model (OR, 1.5; 95%CI,
      1.0-2.1; P value 0.02). For IL-6 C572G, multivariate adjusted analysis showed a
      significant association with the risk of IS under dominant model for overall IS
      (OR, 1.81; 95%CI, 1.04-3.15; P value 0.03) and small vessel disease subtype of IS
      (OR, 2.8; 95%CI, 1.3-6.0; P value 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IL
      6 (G174C) polymorphism is significantly associated with the risk of IS in North
      Indian population. However, IL-6 (C572G) polymorphism is found significantly
      associated with the risk of IS after adjusting the demographic and risk factors
      variables. Prospective studies with large sample size are required for
      independent validation. Our findings could be helpful in identifying individuals
      at increased risk for developing IS.

PMID- 26883820
TI  - CD22 and CD72 are inhibitory receptors dominantly expressed in B lymphocytes and
      regulate systemic autoimmune diseases : English version.

PMID- 26883821
TI  - Reinterpreting Long-Term Evolution Experiments: Is Delayed Adaptation an Example
      of Historical Contingency or a Consequence of Intermittent Selection?
AB  - Van Hofwegen et al. demonstrated that Escherichia coli rapidly evolves the
      ability to use citrate when long selective periods are provided (D. J. Van
      Hofwegen, C. J. Hovde, and S. A. Minnich, J Bacteriol 198:1022-1034, 2016,
      http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JB.00831-15). This contrasts with the extreme delay (15
      years of daily transfers) seen in the long-term evolution experiments of Lenski
      and coworkers. Their idea of "historical contingency" may require
      reinterpretation. Rapid evolution seems to involve selection for duplications of
      the whole cit locus that are too unstable to contribute when selection is
      provided in short pulses. 

PMID- 26883822
TI  - Functional Dissection of the CroRS Two-Component System Required for Resistance
      to Cell Wall Stressors in Enterococcus faecalis.
AB  - Bacteria use two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs) to sense and
      respond to environmental changes via a conserved phosphorelay between a sensor
      histidine kinase and its cognate response regulator. The opportunistic pathogen
      Enterococcus faecalis utilizes a TCS comprised of the histidine kinase CroS and
      the response regulator CroR to mediate resistance to cell wall stresses such as
      cephalosporin antibiotics, but the molecular details by which CroRS promotes
      cephalosporin resistance have not been elucidated. Here, we analyzed mutants of
      E. faecalis carrying substitutions in CroR and CroS to demonstrate that
      phosphorylated CroR drives resistance to cephalosporins, and that CroS exhibits
      kinase and phosphatase activities to control the level of CroR phosphorylation in
      vivo. Deletion of croS in various lineages of E. faecalis revealed a CroS
      independent mechanism for CroR phosphorylation and led to the identification of a
      noncognate histidine kinase capable of influencing CroR (encoded by OG1RF_12162;
      here called cisS). Further analysis of this TCS network revealed that both
      systems respond to cell wall stress. IMPORTANCE: TCSs allow bacteria to sense and
      respond to many different environmental conditions. The opportunistic pathogen
      Enterococcus faecalis utilizes the CroRS TCS to mediate resistance to cell wall
      stresses, including clinically relevant antibiotics such as cephalosporins and
      glycopeptides. In this study, we use genetic and biochemical means to investigate
      the relationship between CroRS signaling and cephalosporin resistance in E.
      faecalis cells. Through this, we uncovered a signaling network formed between the
      CroRS TCS and a previously uncharacterized TCS that also responds to cell wall
      stress. This study provides mechanistic insights into CroRS signaling and
      cephalosporin resistance in E. faecalis.

PMID- 26883823
TI  - Formate Metabolism in Shewanella oneidensis Generates Proton Motive Force and
      Prevents Growth without an Electron Acceptor.
AB  - Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 is a facultative anaerobe that thrives in redox
      stratified environments due to its ability to utilize a wide array of terminal
      electron acceptors. Conversely, the electron donors utilized by S. oneidensis are
      more limited and include products of primary fermentation such as lactate,
      pyruvate, formate, and hydrogen. Lactate, pyruvate, and hydrogen metabolisms inS.
      oneidensis have been described previously, but little is known about the role of
      formate oxidation in the ecophysiology of these bacteria. Formate is produced by
      S. oneidensis through pyruvate formate lyase during anaerobic growth on carbon
      sources that enter metabolism at or above the level of pyruvate, and the genome
      contains three gene clusters predicted to encode three complete formate
      dehydrogenase complexes. To determine the contribution of each complex to formate
      metabolism, strains lacking one, two, or all three annotated formate
      dehydrogenase gene clusters were generated and examined for growth rates and
      yields on a variety of carbon sources. Here, we report that formate oxidation
      contributes to both the growth rate and yield of S. oneidensis through the
      generation of proton motive force. Exogenous formate also greatly accelerated
      growth on N-acetylglucosamine, a carbon source normally utilized very slowly by
      S. oneidensis under anaerobic conditions. Surprisingly, deletion of all three
      formate dehydrogenase gene clusters enabled growth of S. oneidensis using
      pyruvate in the absence of a terminal electron acceptor, a mode of growth never
      before observed in these bacteria. Our results demonstrate that formate oxidation
      is a fundamental strategy under anaerobic conditions for energy conservation inS.
      oneidensis. IMPORTANCE: Shewanella species have garnered interest in
      biotechnology applications for their ability to respire extracellular terminal
      electron acceptors, such as insoluble iron oxides and electrodes. While much
      effort has gone into studying the proteins for extracellular electron transport,
      how electrons generated through the oxidation of organic carbon sources enter
      this pathway remains understudied. Here, we quantify the role of formate
      oxidation in the anaerobic physiology of Shewanella oneidensis Formate oxidation
      contributes to both the growth rate and yield on a variety of carbon sources
      through the generation of proton motive force. Advances in our understanding of
      the anaerobic metabolism of S. oneidensis are important for our ability to
      utilize and engineer this organism for applications in bioenergy, biocatalysis,
      and bioremediation.

PMID- 26883825
TI  - Contributions of Sinorhizobium meliloti Transcriptional Regulator DksA to
      Bacterial Growth and Efficient Symbiosis with Medicago sativa.
AB  - The stringent response, mediated by the (p)ppGpp synthetase RelA and the RNA
      polymerase-binding protein DksA, is triggered by limiting nutrient conditions.
      For some bacteria, it is involved in regulation of virulence. We investigated the
      role of two DksA-like proteins from the Gram-negative nitrogen-fixing symbiont
      Sinorhizobium meliloti in free-living culture and in interaction with its host
      plant Medicago sativa The two paralogs, encoded by the genes SMc00469 and
      SMc00049, differ in the constitution of two major domains required for function
      in canonical DksA: the DXXDXA motif at the tip of a coiled-coil domain and a zinc
      finger domain. Using mutant analyses of single, double, and triple deletions for
      SMc00469(designated dksA),SMc00049, and relA, we found that the DeltadksA mutant
      but not the DeltaSMc00049 mutant showed impaired growth on minimal medium,
      reduced nodulation on the host plant, and lower nitrogen fixation activity in
      early nodules, while its nod gene expression was normal. The DeltarelA mutant
      showed severe pleiotropic phenotypes under all conditions tested. Only S.
      meliloti dksA complemented the metabolic defects of an Escherichia coli dksA
      mutant. Modifications of the DXXDXA motif in SMc00049 failed to establish DksA
      function. Our results imply a role for transcriptional regulator DksA in the S.
      meliloti-M. sativa symbiosis. IMPORTANCE: The stringent response is a bacterial
      transcription regulation process triggered upon nutritional stress.Sinorhizobium
      meliloti, a soil bacterium establishing agriculturally important root nodule
      symbioses with legume plants, undergoes constant molecular adjustment during host
      interaction. Analyzing the components of the stringent response in this
      alphaproteobacterium helps understand molecular control regarding the development
      of plant interaction. Using mutant analyses, we describe how the lack of DksA
      influences symbiosis with Medicago sativa and show that a second paralogous S.
      meliloti protein cannot substitute for this missing function. This work
      contributes to the field by showing the similarities and differences of S.
      meliloti DksA-like proteins to orthologs from other species, adding information
      to the diversity of the stringent response regulatory system.

PMID- 26883824
TI  - Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transcription Machinery: Ready To Respond to Host
      Attacks.
AB  - Regulating responses to stress is critical for all bacteria, whether they are
      environmental, commensal, or pathogenic species. For pathogenic bacteria,
      successful colonization and survival in the host are dependent on adaptation to
      diverse conditions imposed by the host tissue architecture and the immune
      response. Once the bacterium senses a hostile environment, it must enact a change
      in physiology that contributes to the organism's survival strategy. Inappropriate
      responses have consequences; hence, the execution of the appropriate response is
      essential for survival of the bacterium in its niche. Stress responses are most
      often regulated at the level of gene expression and, more specifically,
      transcription. This minireview focuses on mechanisms of regulating transcription
      initiation that are required by Mycobacterium tuberculosis to respond to the
      arsenal of defenses imposed by the host during infection. In particular, we
      highlight how certain features of M. tuberculosis physiology allow this pathogen
      to respond swiftly and effectively to host defenses. By enacting highly
      integrated and coordinated gene expression changes in response to stress,M.
      tuberculosis is prepared for battle against the host defense and able to persist
      within the human population.

PMID- 26883826
TI  - A Functional Core of IncA Is Required for Chlamydia trachomatis Inclusion Fusion.
AB  - Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular pathogen that is the
      etiological agent of a variety of human diseases, including blinding trachoma and
      sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydiae replicate within a membrane-bound
      compartment, termed an inclusion, which they extensively modify by the insertion
      of type III secreted proteins called Inc proteins. IncA is an inclusion membrane
      protein that encodes two coiled-coil domains that are homologous to eukaryotic
      SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor) motifs.
      Recent biochemical evidence suggests that a functional core, composed of SNARE
      like domain 1 (SLD-1) and part of SNARE-like domain 2 (SLD-2), is required for
      the characteristic homotypic fusion of C. trachomatis inclusions in multiply
      infected cells. To verify the importance of IncA in homotypic fusion in
      Chlamydia, we generated an incA::bla mutant. Insertional inactivation of incA
      resulted in the formation of nonfusogenic inclusions, a phenotype that was
      completely rescued by complementation with full-length IncA. Rescue of homotypic
      inclusion fusion was dependent on the presence of the functional core consisting
      of SLD-1 and part of SLD-2. Collectively, these results confirm in vitro membrane
      fusion assays identifying functional domains of IncA and expand the genetic tools
      available for identification of chlamydia with a method for complementation of
      site-specific mutants. IMPORTANCE: Chlamydia trachomatis replicates within a
      parasitophorous vacuole termed an inclusion. The chlamydial inclusions are
      nonfusogenic with vesicles in the endocytic pathway but, in multiply infected
      cells, fuse with each other to form a single large inclusion. This homotypic
      fusion is dependent upon the presence of a chlamydial inclusion membrane
      localized protein, IncA. Specificity of membrane fusion in eukaryotic cells is
      regulated by SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment
      receptor) proteins on the cytosolic face of vesicles and target membranes. IncA
      contains two SNARE-like domains. Newly developed genetic tools for the
      complementation of targeted mutants in C. trachomatis are used to confirm the
      minimal requirement of SNARE-like motifs necessary to promote the homotypic
      fusion of inclusions.

PMID- 26883828
TI  - Infracommunity crowding as an individual measure of interactive-isolationist
      degree of parasite communities: disclosing the effects of extrinsic and host
      factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interactions between parasite species within a host play a
      fundamental role in shaping parasite communities that have been classified within
      a continuum between interactive and isolationist. Interactive communities are
      principally structured by interactions between parasite species, while
      isolationist communities are structured by processes independent of the presence
      of other parasite species. Assessing whether, and to what extent, parasite
      communities exist along this continuum has been challenging due to a lack of an
      index that quantifies the degree of interactivity. Moreover, the absence of an
      index at the individual host level has made it unfeasible to identify host and
      extrinsic factors that may influence the degree of interactivity of a parasite
      community. METHODS: Here we propose an infracommunity crowding index that can
      reflect the degree of interactivity of a parasite community within each
      individual. This index quantifies the mean number of parasites that the average
      parasite within a community is exposed to, including the different aspects of
      parasite communities important in determining the level of interactivity, i.e.
      total abundance, species richness and evenness. We applied this analytical
      approach to the abomasal parasite communities of three alpine ruminant species
      that are traditionally viewed as isolationist. RESULTS: The application of our
      index to abomasal parasite communities shows that the majority of parasites live
      in highly crowded communities, suggesting that these host species harbour
      interactive parasite communities. In addition, the infracommunity crowding was
      highly variable and influenced by the host species, as well as by the timing of
      sampling and host age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing evidence on the
      influence of interactions between parasite species in shaping infections, an
      analytical measure to quantify the degree of interactivity of parasite
      communities is lacking. Here we present a new analytical approach which, when
      applied to parasite communities, appears to be sensitive to both extrinsic and
      host factors, highlighting that the degree of interactivity is not a static and
      specific feature of host species, but rather a dynamical process that keeps
      evolving during host's life. The new index provides opportunities for further
      investigations aimed at revealing the determinants of parasite interactivity.

PMID- 26883827
TI  - Bacterial Cysteine-Inducible Cysteine Resistance Systems.
AB  - Cysteine donates sulfur to macromolecules and occurs naturally in many proteins.
      Because low concentrations of cysteine are cytotoxic, its intracellular
      concentration is stringently controlled. In bacteria, cysteine biosynthesis is
      regulated by feedback inhibition of the activities of serine acetyltransferase
      (SAT) and 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3-PGDH) and is also regulated at the
      transcriptional level by inducing the cysteine regulon using the master regulator
      CysB. Here, we describe two novel cysteine-inducible systems that regulate the
      cysteine resistance of Pantoea ananatis, a member of the family
      Enterobacteriaceae that shows great potential for producing substances useful for
      biotechnological, medical, and industrial purposes. One locus, designated
      ccdA(formerly PAJ_0331), encodes a novel cysteine-inducible cysteine
      desulfhydrase (CD) that degrades cysteine, and its expression is controlled by
      the transcriptional regulator encoded byccdR(formerly PAJ_0332 orybaO), located
      just upstream of ccdA The other locus, designated cefA (formerly PAJ_3026),
      encodes a novel cysteine-inducible cysteine efflux pump that is controlled by the
      transcriptional regulator cefR(formerly PAJ_3027), located just upstream of cefA
      To our knowledge, this is the first example where the expression of CD and an
      efflux pump is regulated in response to cysteine and is directly involved in
      imparting resistance to excess levels of cysteine. We propose that ccdA and cefA
      function as safety valves that maintain homeostasis when the intra- or
      extracellular cysteine concentration fluctuates. Our findings contribute
      important insights into optimizing the production of cysteine and related
      biomaterials by P. ananatis IMPORTANCE: Because of its toxicity, the bacterial
      intracellular cysteine level is stringently regulated at biosynthesis. This work
      describes the identification and characterization of two novel cysteine-inducible
      systems that regulate, through degradation and efflux, the cysteine resistance of
      Pantoea ananatis, a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae that shows great
      potential for producing substances useful for industrial purposes. We propose
      that this novel mechanism for sensing and regulating cysteine levels is a safety
      valve enabling adaptation to sudden changes in intra- or extracellular cysteine
      levels in bacteria. Our findings provide important insights into optimizing the
      production of cysteine and related biomaterials by P. ananatis and also a deep
      understanding of sulfur/cysteine metabolism and regulation in this plant pathogen
      and related bacteria.

PMID- 26883830
TI  - Correction: Photon upconversion: from two-photon absorption (TPA) to triplet
      triplet annihilation (TTA).
AB  - Correction for 'Photon upconversion: from two-photon absorption (TPA) to triplet
      triplet annihilation (TTA)' by Changqing Ye et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.,
      2016, DOI: . 

PMID- 26883829
TI  - Patient Factors Associated with Extended Length of Stay in the Psychiatric
      Inpatient Units of a Large Urban County Hospital.
AB  - This case-control study identified patient-specific factors associated with the
      longest psychiatric inpatient lengths of stay (LOS) at a large urban county
      hospital. Subjects with LOS >= 60 days comprised the extended LOS (ELOS) case
      cohort. An equally-sized control cohort consisted of a random sample of
      inpatients with LOS <= 30 days. Chi square tests and t tests were conducted to
      determine differences between groups. Factors associated with ELOS included older
      age, cognitive impairment, higher number of medical conditions requiring
      medication, and violence during hospital stay. Initiatives focused on community
      placement of patients with these characteristics may reduce prolonged LOS at
      safety-net hospitals.

PMID- 26883832
TI  - Highly efficient electrochemiluminescence based on pyrazolecarboxylic metal
      organic framework.
AB  - A series of transition metal complexes with the ligands 3-pyrazoledicarboxylic
      acid (H2L(1)) and ethyl 1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (epzc)
      have been synthesized. The epzc generated 1-(carboxymethyl)-1H-pyrazole-3
      carboxylic acid (H2L(2)) by an in situ hydrothermal hydrolysis reaction, using a
      one-pot method. Simple mononuclear [Co(HL(1))2(H2O)2] (1) and [Ni(L(2))(H2O)4]
      (4), dinuclear [Ni2(L(1))2(H2O)6].H2O (2) and [Cu2(L(2))2(H2O)4] (5) and 2D
      frameworks [Cu2(L(1))2]n (3), [Co2(L(2))2(H2O)4]n (6) have been isolated. The
      structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and the
      complexes characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PRXD, UV-Vis
      spectroscopy, and fluorescent spectroscopy. 1, 2, 4 and 4 were further assembled
      to form a supramolecular structure by hydrogen-bonding interactions and/or
      pi...pi stacking. 3 and 6 both possess a 2D network structure that is further
      interlinked via intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. Most importantly,
      the complexes demonstrated highly intense electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in DMF
      solution.

PMID- 26883836
TI  - Effects of Sodium Fluoride on Lipid Peroxidation and PARP, XBP-1 Expression in
      PC12 Cell.
AB  - This study aims to clarify the molecular mechanism of fluorine exposure that
      leads to nerve injury. PC12 cells were treated with fluorine at different
      concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mM). Cytoactivity was detected at
      different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h). After 2 h, DCF was used to
      detect and mark the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells. After 24
      h, cellular metamorphosis was observed using an inverted microscope. After 2 h,
      Hoechst-33342 was used to detect apoptosis. After 24 h, Western blot analysis was
      performed to detect apoptosis-related poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)
      protein, p-elF, and expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related X-box
      binding protein 1 (XBP-1). The results showed that Fluorine exposure resulted in
      a reduction of cell viability, which was negatively correlated with fluorine
      dose. Within certain fluorine exposure duration, the ROS level within the cell
      and the apoptotic level are linearly related to fluorine exposure level. XBP-1
      and PARP protein are sensitive to variations in fluorine concentration, which
      indicates that oxidative stress from fluorine exposure can lead to apoptosis. XBP
      1 and PARP may be the key proteins during the entire process. These results
      provide a valid basis for fluorine-induced free radical injury theory. 

PMID- 26883837
TI  - Oxidative Stress and Cell Apoptosis in Caprine Liver Induced by Molybdenum and
      Cadmium in Combination.
AB  - To investigate the effects of co-exposure to molybdenum (Mo) and cadmium (Cd) on
      oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in caprine livers, 36 Boer goats were
      randomly divided into four groups with nine goats in each group. Three groups
      were randomly assigned with one of three oral treatments of CdCl2 (0.5 mg Cd kg(
      1).BW) and [(NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O] (15 mg Mo kg(-1).BW, 30 mg Mo kg(-1).BW, 45 mg Mo
      kg(-1).BW), while the control group received deionized water. Liver tissues on
      days 0, 25, and 50 were subjected to determine antioxidant activity indexes and
      the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of ceruloplasmin (CP), cysteinyl
      aspartate-specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3), second mitochondria-derived
      activator of caspases (Smac), and cytochrome-C (Cyt-C) genes. The results showed
      that significant reductions were observed in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)
      and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities (P < 0.05), while activities or
      contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and nitric oxide synthase
      (NOS) were increased (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of CP, caspase-3,
      Smac, and Cyt-C genes were upregulated (P < 0.05). In addition, histopathological
      lesions showed different degrees of vacuolar degeneration and edematous and
      mitochondrial swelling. The results suggest that co-exposure to Mo and Cd could
      induce oxidative stress and cell apoptosis possibly associated with mitochondrial
      intrinsic pathway in goat liver and show possible synergistic effects between the
      two elements. 

PMID- 26883838
TI  - Sub-second carbon-nanotube-mediated microwave sintering for high-conductivity
      silver patterns on plastic substrates.
AB  - A method of microwave sintering that is mediated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has
      been developed to obtain high-conductivity Ag patterns on the top of heat
      sensitive plastic substrates within a short time. The Ag patterns are printed on
      CNTs formed on plastic substrates and rapidly heated to a great extent by the
      heat transferred from the microwave-heated CNTs. The conductivity of the
      microwave-sintered Ag patterns reaches ~39% that of bulk Ag within 1 s without
      substrate deformation. Furthermore, microwave sintering enhances the adhesion of
      Ag patterns to the thermoplastic substrates because the sintering causes
      interfacial fusion between the Ag patterns and the substrates, and CNTs
      physically connect the patterns with the substrates. 

PMID- 26883839
TI  - Visual object individuation occurs over object wholes, parts, and even holes.
AB  - Segmentation of the world into meaningful units has typically been described as
      object individuation, emphasizing the spatially disconnected quality that comes
      as a result of objecthood. This segmentation can occur rapidly, even in parallel
      for multiple objects. It remains unclear whether objecthood is a necessary
      requirement for parallel individuation, or whether target features in distinct
      locations, such as object parts, may also be individuated in parallel. In a
      series of six experiments, we used a rapid enumeration task to test whether
      subitizing, a phenomenon believed to result from parallel individuation, occurs
      over object parts. We found that subitizing and individuation occur over
      connected object parts as well as physically separate objects of varied shapes
      and sizes. We also observed subitizing when target items are indents, features
      intrinsic to the shape of the object, and when cues for occlusion were removed.
      The results of these studies suggest that parallel individuation is not bound to
      objecthood, and can occur over object parts existing in separate locations.

PMID- 26883841
TI  - [Cardiovascular disease risks in people with an intellectual disability: causes
      and interventions].
AB  - Cardiovascular disease occurs as frequently in older people with intellectual
      disabilities as in the same aged general population. However, there are
      indications for underdiagnosis of myocardial infarction due to atypical or absent
      complaints. Obesity, diabetes and peripheral arterial disease are more common in
      this group than in the general population. Hypertension, metabolic syndrome and
      kidney disease occur as frequently as in the general population while
      hypercholesterolemia occurs less often. Cardiovascular disease risk factors are
      underdiagnosed in people with intellectual disabilities. This could be reduced by
      educating supporting staff and caregivers and systematic screening for
      cardiovascular risk factors by the general practitioner. The customary guidelines
      should be followed in the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors and
      cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle interventions and treatment of specific causal
      factors, such as the use of psychotropic drugs and chronic circadian rhythm
      disorders, require a specialised approach.

PMID- 26883840
TI  - Perception of temporal order during the attentional blink: Using stimulus
      salience to modulate prior entry.
AB  - When multiple targets are presented in rapid sequence, observers frequently
      confuse the order in which they were presented. The probability of order
      reversals is known to vary throughout the period of the attentional blink (AB),
      which refers to impairment in the perception of the second of two targets when it
      is presented within approximately 500 ms from the first. Our objective was to
      examine the principle of prior entry (in which perception of temporal order is
      said to be affected by the relative latency at which each target is processed) as
      a determinant of the perception of temporal order throughout the AB. In two
      experiments, three letter targets (T1, T2, T3) were inserted in a stream of digit
      distractors, with T3 always presented directly after T2. The T1-T2 lag was varied
      to assess the perception of T2-T3 temporal order throughout the period of the AB.
      Processing latency was manipulated by means of salience. In Experiment 1,
      salience of T2 and T3 was manipulated exogenously by coloring the salient target
      red with all other stimuli being green. In Experiment 2, salience was modulated
      endogenously by manipulating which of the two targets matched the contents of
      working memory. Consistent with the principle of prior entry, perception of
      temporal order in both experiments was enhanced throughout the period of the AB
      when T2 was salient, and impaired when T3 was salient. Simulations based on the
      Episodic Simultaneous Type, Serial Token (eSTST) model that incorporates prior
      entry, matched the empirical results.

PMID- 26883842
TI  - [A man with a painful index finger].
AB  - A 52-year-old man presented with pain in his right index finger. No history of
      trauma was reported. His finger nails were dystrophic and the X-ray of the finger
      showed typical osteolysis of the distal phalanx of his right index finger. This
      was caused by acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau. We administered naproxen,
      methotrexate and folic acid as a systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. 

PMID- 26883843
TI  - [A woman with palpitations, dyspnoea and a heart murmur].
AB  - A 35-year-old female came to the ER with palpations, dyspnoea and some thoracic
      chest pain. During physical examination we heard a diastolic murmur. Using
      transoesophageal echocardiography and MRI we made the diagnosis of congenital
      quadricuspid aortic valve (type A) with moderate aortic regurgitation. 

PMID- 26883845
TI  - [A dyspnoeic boy with two round masses on his chest X-ray].
AB  - A 5-year-old boy presented with vomiting and dyspnoea. His chest X-ray showed two
      round consolidations in his right lung, one of them with air bronchograms, which
      were caused by round pneumonia. Round pneumonia presents with multiple lesions in
      only 2% of cases. 

PMID- 26883844
TI  - [Catatonic syndrome after single low dose of droperidol].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients find postoperative nausea and vomiting extremely unpleasant.
      If nausea persists despite initial treatment, droperidol, a butyrophenone with
      anti-dopaminergic activity, can be very effective. Side-effects, albeit rare, can
      occur and are potentially serious. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old postoperative
      patient was given a single low dose of droperidol to treat persistent nausea.
      Subsequently, the patient developed catatonic syndrome. The psychiatrist treated
      the patient with benzodiazepine and electroconvulsive therapy. Within four weeks
      the patient had completely recovered. CONCLUSION: Catatonic syndrome is a serious
      condition; morbidity and mortality are mainly influenced by disease duration and
      early initiation of appropriate treatment. Physicians are not familiar with this
      syndrome. Since other syndromes and diseases may display similar symptoms, the
      condition is difficult to diagnose. Even after a single, low dose of droperidol,
      patients can be at risk of developing catatonic syndrome.

PMID- 26883846
TI  - Nanotwin-governed toughening mechanism in hierarchically structured biological
      materials.
AB  - As a natural biocomposite, Strombus gigas, commonly known as the giant pink queen
      conch shell, exhibits outstanding mechanical properties, especially a high
      fracture toughness. It is known that the basic building block of conch shell
      contains a high density of growth twins with average thickness of several
      nanometres, but their effects on the mechanical properties of the shell remain
      mysterious. Here we reveal a toughening mechanism governed by nanoscale twins in
      the conch shell. A combination of in situ fracture experiments inside a
      transmission electron microscope, large-scale atomistic simulations and finite
      element modelling show that the twin boundaries can effectively block crack
      propagation by inducing phase transformation and delocalization of deformation
      around the crack tip. This mechanism leads to an increase in fracture energy of
      the basic building block by one order of magnitude, and contributes significantly
      to that of the overall structure via structural hierarchy. 

PMID- 26883848
TI  - Restoration of bactericidal activity of neutrophils by myeloperoxidase release: A
      new perspective for preventing infection in alcoholic cirrhosis.

PMID- 26883847
TI  - Hyporesponsiveness to the anti-inflammatory action of interleukin-10 in type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - Chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to the pathology and complications of
      type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interleukin-10 (IL10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, is
      suggested to play a protective role in T2D. However, the impact of T2D on IL10
      function has not been previously assessed. We examined the ability of IL10 to
      inhibit inflammation in human T2D immune cells and explored underlying mechanisms
      using macrophage models. IL10 was less effective at inhibiting tumour necrosis
      factor (TNF)-alpha secretion in T2D whole blood cultures, which was not explained
      by altered IL10 receptor surface expression. These findings were observed in
      macrophages exposed to high glucose, which demonstrated similar IL10 resistance
      or hyporesponsiveness. These findings were also not explained by changes in IL10
      receptor protein or other downstream signaling proteins. High glucose was also
      shown to impair the ability of IL10 to activate STAT3, a downstream signaling
      protein of IL10. Treatment with the SHIP1 agonist, AQX-MN100, reversed IL10
      hyporesponsiveness in macrophages cultured in high glucose and showed equal
      effectiveness at different glucose conditions. This data supports the idea that
      IL10 hyporesponsiveness may contribute to chronic inflammation in T2D. These
      novel findings suggest that strategies aimed to overcome IL10 hyporesponsiveness
      may hold therapeutic potential for reducing inflammation in T2D.

PMID- 26883849
TI  - Management of large hepatocellular carcinoma by sequential transarterial
      chemoembolization and portal vein embolization: a systematic review of the
      literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Currently, the treatment of HCC is multidisciplinary. Surgery
      remains the gold standard although the management of large hepatocellular
      carcinoma remains challenging. Hepatic resection is increasingly performed with
      ever-expanding indications. However, postoperative liver failure remains a major
      cause of death after major hepatic resections. The purpose of this review is to
      report the results of large hepatocellular carcinoma (>5 cm or more nodules in
      the same lobe) management using sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
      and portal vein embolization (PVE) before major liver resections. EVIDENCE
      ACQUISITION: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of
      Science (WoS) from cited English publications. The search was last conducted in
      December 2014. Search phrases included "hepatocellular carcinoma", "liver
      resection", "transarterial chemoembolization", and "portal vein embolization".
      Clinical and survival parameters were extracted. When there was more than one
      publication from the same surgical team and/or authors, only the last publication
      in chronological order was considered for the study. Case reports, abstracts,
      letters, editorials, and expert opinions were not considered for the drafting of
      the study. After application of selective criteria, only 4 original studies were
      analyzed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: No meta-analyses were found in the search. Among
      the 4 selected publications, 3 originated from Asia and 1 from Europe. The total
      number of patients treated with the method considered was 171 (range: 18-71). The
      mean size of the tumor was >5 cm. The gain of volume of the future remnant liver
      (FRL) was higher in the group with TACE+PVE as compared to the group with PVE
      alone (12% vs. 8%). A major hepatectomy was carried out in 166 patients (97%).
      Mortality rate ranged between 0% and 11%. The 5-year overall survival was between
      43% and 72% and the 5-year recurrence-free survival was between 37% and 61%.
      CONCLUSIONS: Sequential TACE+PVE prior to a major hepatectomy for HCC was
      feasible, safe, and with excellent 5-year overall survival rates reported to be
      between 43% and 72%.

PMID- 26883850
TI  - A multi-trait meta-analysis with imputed sequence variants reveals twelve QTL for
      mammary gland morphology in Fleckvieh cattle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The availability of whole-genome sequence data from key ancestors in
      bovine populations provides an exhaustive catalogue of polymorphic sites that
      segregate within and across cattle breeds. Sequence variants identified from the
      sequenced genome of key ancestors can be imputed into animals that have been
      genotyped using medium- and high-density genotyping arrays. Association analysis
      with imputed sequences, particularly when applied to multiple traits
      simultaneously, is a very powerful approach to detect candidate causal variants
      that underlie complex phenotypes. RESULTS: We used whole-genome sequence data
      from 157 key ancestors of the German Fleckvieh cattle population to impute
      20,561,798 sequence variants into 10,363 animals that had (partly imputed)
      genotypes based on 634,109 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Rare variants
      were more frequent among the sequence-derived than the array-derived genotypes.
      Association studies with imputed sequence variants were performed using seven
      correlated udder conformation traits as response variables. The calculation of an
      approximate multi-trait test statistic enabled us to detect 12 quantitative trait
      loci (QTL) (P < 2.97 * 10(-9)) that affect different morphological features of
      the mammary gland. Among the tested variants, the most significant associations
      were found for imputed sequence variants at 11 QTL, whereas the top association
      signal was observed for an array-derived variant at a QTL on bovine chromosome
      14. Seven QTL were associated with multiple phenotypes. Most QTL were located in
      non-coding regions of the genome but in close proximity of candidate genes that
      could be involved in mammary gland morphology (SP5, GC, NPFFR2, CRIM1, RXFP2,
      TBX5, RBM19 and ADAM12). CONCLUSIONS: Using imputed sequence variants in
      association analyses allows the detection of QTL at maximum resolution. Multi
      trait approaches can reveal QTL that are not detected in single-trait association
      studies. Most QTL for udder conformation traits were located in non-coding
      regions of the genome, which suggests that mutations in regulatory sequences are
      the major determinants of variation in mammary gland morphology in cattle.

PMID- 26883851
TI  - The relationship between erectile dysfunction and paroxysmal lone atrial
      fibrillation.
AB  - PURPOSE: Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in erectile dysfunction (ED).
      Atrial fibrillation (AF), regardless of subtype, is associated with a
      prothrombotic state, which is related to endothelial dysfunction. In this study,
      we aimed to determine whether AF is an independent risk factor for ED. METHODS: A
      total of 50 patients diagnosed with paroxysmal lone AF and 80 age-, gender-, and
      body mass index-matched controls without AF who admitted to outpatient clinics at
      a tertiary center were enrolled. Diagnosis of ED was performed by using Sexual
      Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire. Patients with a SHIM score <=21
      were defined as having ED. RESULTS: Mean age of patients were 51.8 +/- 7.7 and
      all of the study population were male. Twenty-nine of 50 patients in lone AF
      group and 25 of 80 patients in control group were diagnosed with ED (58 vs 31.2
      %, p = 0.002). Mean SHIM score was significantly lower in lone AF group compared
      with controls (20.74 +/- 2.67 vs 22.39 +/- 2.21, p < 0.001). The multivariate
      stepwise logistic regression analyses showed that lone AF (OR 1.94 (1.44-2.46), p
      < 0.001), smoking (OR 1.92 (1.35-2.44), p = 0.003), fasting blood glucose (OR
      1.51 (1.10-1.85), p = 0.012), and uric acid levels (OR 1.56 (1.13-1.92), p =
      0.009) were independent predictors of ED. CONCLUSIONS: Beat-to-beat variation may
      lead to ED in patients with paroxysmal lone AF and questioning erectile function
      in patients with lone AF may be recommended.

PMID- 26883852
TI  - Loss of potential reward is best motivator in workers' wellness programme, study
      finds.

PMID- 26883853
TI  - A practical approach for the scale-up of roller compaction process.
AB  - An alternative approach for the scale-up of ribbon formation during roller
      compaction was investigated, which required only one batch at the commercial
      scale to set the operational conditions. The scale-up of ribbon formation was
      based on a probability method. It was sufficient in describing the mechanism of
      ribbon formation at both scales. In this method, a statistical relationship
      between roller compaction parameters and ribbon attributes (thickness and
      density) was first defined with DoE using a pilot Alexanderwerk WP120 roller
      compactor. While the milling speed was included in the design, it has no
      practical effect on granule properties within the study range despite its
      statistical significance. The statistical relationship was then adapted to a
      commercial Alexanderwerk WP200 roller compactor with one experimental run. The
      experimental run served as a calibration of the statistical model parameters. The
      proposed transfer method was then confirmed by conducting a mapping study on the
      Alexanderwerk WP200 using a factorial DoE, which showed a match between the
      predictions and the verification experiments. The study demonstrates the
      applicability of the roller compaction transfer method using the statistical
      model from the development scale calibrated with one experiment point at the
      commercial scale. 

PMID- 26883854
TI  - Econazole imprinted textiles with antifungal activity.
AB  - In this work, we propose pharmaceutical textiles imprinted with lipid
      microparticles of Econazole nitrate (ECN) as a mean to improve patient compliance
      while maintaining drug activity. Lipid microparticles were prepared and
      characterized by laser diffraction (3.5+/-0.1 MUm). Using an optimized screen
      printing method, microparticles were deposited on textiles, as observed by
      scanning electron microscopy. The drug content of textiles (97+/-3 MUg/cm(2)) was
      reproducible and stable up to 4 months storage at 25  degrees C/65% Relative
      Humidity. Imprinted textiles exhibited a thermosensitive behavior, as witnessed
      by a fusion temperature of 34.8  degrees C, which enabled a larger drug release
      at 32  degrees C (temperature of the skin) than at room temperature. In vitro
      antifungal activity of ECN textiles was compared to commercial 1% (wt/wt) ECN
      cream Pevaryl(r). ECN textiles maintained their antifungal activity against a
      broad range of Candida species as well as major dermatophyte species. In vivo,
      ECN textiles also preserved the antifungal efficacy of ECN on cutaneous
      candidiasis infection in mice. Ex vivo percutaneous absorption studies
      demonstrated that ECN released from pharmaceutical textiles concentrated more in
      the upper skin layers, where the fungal infections develop, as compared to dermal
      absorption of Pevaryl(r). Overall, these results showed that this technology is
      promising to develop pharmaceutical garments textiles for the treatment of
      superficial fungal infections.

PMID- 26883856
TI  - Recall criteria for ultrasound breast cancer screening.

PMID- 26883855
TI  - Foot-and-mouth disease virus non-structural protein 3A inhibits the interferon
      beta signaling pathway.
AB  - Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the etiological agent of FMD, which
      affects cloven-hoofed animals. The pathophysiology of FMDV has not been fully
      understood and the evasion of host innate immune system is still unclear. Here,
      the FMDV non-structural protein 3A was identified as a negative regulator of
      virus-triggered IFN-beta signaling pathway. Overexpression of the FMDV 3A
      inhibited Sendai virus-triggered activation of IRF3 and the expressions of RIG
      I/MDA5. Transient transfection and co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggested
      that FMDV 3A interacts with RIG-I, MDA5 and VISA, which is dependent on the N
      terminal 51 amino acids of 3A. Furthermore, 3A also inhibited the expressions of
      RIG-I, MDA5, and VISA by disrupting their mRNA levels. These results demonstrated
      that 3A inhibits the RLR-mediated IFN-beta induction and uncovered a novel
      mechanism by which the FMDV 3A protein evades the host innate immune system. 

PMID- 26883857
TI  - Lobular Carcinoma in Situ with Atypical Mass Presentation: a Case Report.
AB  - Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is associated with an increased risk of breast
      cancer and accounts for 1 to 2% of all breast cancers. LCIS diagnosis currently
      remains one of the major identifiable risk factors for subsequent breast cancer
      development. Imaging methods are becoming increasingly sensitive, and the
      consequent detection of small lesions and subtle abnormalities increases the
      chance of detection of in situ and invasive carcinomas, leading to a reduction in
      mortality. This report describes a case of a palpable complaint with abnormal
      imaging findings, including a solid LCIS mass. 

PMID- 26883858
TI  - Expression of the Immunohistochemical Markers p16 and Ki-67 and Their Usefulness
      in the Diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the expression of the
      immunohistochemical markers p16 and Ki-67 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasms
      and their influence on the level of agreement among different observers and for
      the same observer. METHODS: The study included 184 patients with cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasms previously confirmed through biopsies performed between
      2005 and 2006. Three pathologists reviewed the biopsies by using hematoxylin
      eosin staining to reach a consensus on the diagnosis. Subsequently, an
      immunohistochemical study analyzed the expression of p16 and Ki-67 in such cases.
      RESULTS: The comparison among the reviewing pathologists revealed only moderate
      agreement (kappa = 0.44). The agreement improved when the differentiation of high
      grade lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasm - CIN - 3) was analyzed (kappa =
      0.59). p16 staining exhibited a high negative predictive value and sensitivity;
      however, the specificity was low. Overall, both qualitative and quantitative
      analyses of p16 and a quantitative analysis Ki-67 exhibited low accuracy. The
      agreement among diagnoses before immunohistochemistry was 0.47. The use of
      immunohistochemistry increased the agreement to 0.68. CONCLUSION: Our study
      showed that the agreement among observers using traditional diagnostic criteria
      of cervical intraepithelial lesions can improve with the use of
      immunohistochemistry.

PMID- 26883859
TI  - Urine Pregnancy Test before Rubella Vaccination among Reproductive Age Females:
      An Observation.

PMID- 26883861
TI  - The Potential of Cesarean Section as a Causative Factor of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

PMID- 26883860
TI  - Loss of Ovarian Function Results in Increased Loss of Skeletal Muscle in
      Arthritic Rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of loss of ovarian function (ovariectomy) on
      muscle mass of gastrocnemius and the mRNA levels of IGF-1, atrogin-1, MuRF-1, and
      myostatin in an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis in rats. METHODS: We
      randomly allocated 24 female Wistar rats (9 weeks, 195.3 +/- 17.4 grams) into
      four groups: control (CT-Sham; n = 6); rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 6);
      ovariectomy without rheumatoid arthritis (OV; n = 6); ovariectomy with rheumatoid
      arthritis (RAOV; n = 6). We performed the ovariectomy (OV and RAOV) or Sham (CT
      Sham or RA) procedures at the same time, fifteen days before the rheumatoid
      arthritis induction. The RA and RAOV groups were immunized and then were injected
      with Met-BSA in the tibiotarsal joint. After 15 days of intra-articular
      injections the animals were euthanized. We evaluated the external manifestations
      of rheumatoid arthritis (perimeter joint) as well as animal weight, and food
      intake throughout the study. We also analyzed the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of
      gastrocnemius muscle fibers in 200 fibers (H&E method). In the gastrocnemius
      muscle, we analyzed mRNA expression by quantitative real time PCR followed by the
      Livak method (DeltaDeltaCT). RESULTS: The rheumatoid arthritis induced reduction
      in CSA of gastrocnemius muscle fibers. The RAOV group showed a lower CSA of
      gastrocnemius muscle fibers compared to RA and CT-Sham groups. Skeletal muscle
      IGF-1 mRNA increased in arthritics and ovariectomized rats. The increased IGF-1
      mRNA was higher in OV groups than in the RA and RAOV groups. Antrogin-1 mRNA also
      increased in the gastrocnemius muscle of arthritic and ovariectomized rats.
      However, the increased atrogin-1 mRNA was higher in RAOV groups than in the RA
      and OV groups. Gastrocnemius muscle MuRF-1 mRNA increased in the OV and RAOV
      groups, but not in the RA and Sham groups. However, the RAOV group showed higher
      MuRF-1 mRNA than the OV group. The myostatin gene expression was similar in all
      groups. CONCLUSION: Loss of ovarian function results in increased loss of
      skeletal muscle-related ubiquitin ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 in arthritic rats.

PMID- 26883863
TI  - Quality Indicators of Cervical Cytopathology Tests in the Public Service in Minas
      Gerais, Brazil.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the performance of
      cytopathology laboratories providing services to the Brazilian Unified Health
      System (Sistema Unico de Saude - SUS) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
      METHODS: This descriptive study uses data obtained from the Cervical Cancer
      Information System from January to December 2012. Three quality indicators were
      analyzed to assess the quality of cervical cytopathology tests: positivity index,
      percentage of atypical squamous cells (ASCs) in abnormal tests, and percentage of
      tests compatible with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs).
      Laboratories were classified according to their production scale in tests per
      year <= 5,000; from 5,001 to 10,000; from 10,001 to 15,000; and >= 15,001. Based
      on the collection of variables and the classification of laboratories according
      to production scale, we created and analyzed a database using Microsoft Office
      Excel 97-2003. RESULTS: In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, 146 laboratories
      provided services to the SUS in 2012 by performing a total of 1,277,018 cervical
      cytopathology tests. Half of these laboratories had production scales <= 5,000
      tests/year and accounted for 13.1% of all tests performed in the entire state; in
      turn, 13.7% of these laboratories presented production scales of > 15,001
      tests/year and accounted for 49.2% of the total of tests performed in the entire
      state. The positivity indexes of most laboratories providing services to the SUS
      in 2012, regardless of production scale, were below or well below recommended
      limits. Of the 20 laboratories that performed more than 15,001 tests per year,
      only three presented percentages of tests compatible with HSILs above the lower
      limit recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. CONCLUSION: The majority
      of laboratories providing services to the SUS in Minas Gerais presented quality
      indicators outside the range recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

PMID- 26883862
TI  - Impact of Sacrospinous Colpopexy Associated with Anterior Colporrhaphy for the
      Treatment of Dome Prolapse on all Three Vaginal Compartments.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of sacrospinous colpopexy surgery associated
      with anterior colporrhaphy for the treatment of women with post-hysterectomy
      vaginal vault prolapse. METHODS: This prospective study included 20 women with
      vault prolapse, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) stage >= 2,
      treated between January 2003 and February 2006, and evaluated in a follow-up
      review (more than one year later). Genital prolapse was evaluated qualitatively
      in stages and quantitatively in centimeters. Prolapse stage < 2 was considered to
      be the cure criterion. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test
      (paired samples) to compare the points and stages of prolapse before and after
      surgery. RESULTS: Evaluation of the vaginal vault after one year revealed that
      95% of subjects were in stage zero and that 5% were in stage 1. For cystocele,
      50% were in stage 1, 10% were in stage 0 (cured) and 40% were in stage 2. For
      rectocele, three women were in stage 1 (15%), one was in stage 2 (5%) and 16 had
      no further prolapse. The most frequent complication was pain in the right
      buttock, with remission of symptoms in all three cases three months after
      surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, the surgical correction of
      vault prolapse using a sacrospinous ligament fixation technique associated with
      anterior colporrhaphy proved effective in resolving genital prolapse. Despite the
      low complication rates, there was a high rate of cystocele, which may be caused
      by posterior vaginal shifting due to either the technique or an overvaluation by
      the POP-Q system.

PMID- 26883864
TI  - Conservative Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review with
      Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
      trials that studied the conservative management of stress urinary incontinence
      (SUI). There were 1058 results after the initial searches, from which 37 studies
      were eligible according to previously determined inclusion criteria. For the
      primary outcomes, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was more efficacious than
      no treatment in improving incontinence-specific quality of life (QoL) scales (SMD
      = -1.24SDs; CI 95% = -1.77 to -0.71SDs). However, its effect on pad tests was
      imprecise. Combining biofeedback with PFMT had an uncertain effect on QoL (MD = 
      4.4 points; CI 95% = -16.69 to 7.89 points), but better results on the pad test,
      although with elevated heterogeneity (MD = 0.9g; 95%CI = 0.71 to 1,10g); group
      PFMT was not less efficacious than individual treatment, and home PFMT was not
      consistently worse than supervised PFMT. Both intravaginal and superficial
      electrical stimulation (IES and SES) were better than no treatment for QoL and
      pad test. Vaginal cones had mixed results. The association of IES with PFMT may
      improve the efficacy of the latter for QoL and pad test, but the results of
      individual studies were not consistent. Thus, there is evidence of the use of
      PFMT on the treatment of SUI, with and without biofeedback. 

PMID- 26883865
TI  - Wide distribution and altitude correlation of an archaic high-altitude-adaptive
      EPAS1 haplotype in the Himalayas.
AB  - High-altitude adaptation in Tibetans is influenced by introgression of a 32.7-kb
      haplotype from the Denisovans, an extinct branch of archaic humans, lying within
      the endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1), and has also been reported in
      Sherpa. We genotyped 19 variants in this genomic region in 1507 Eurasian
      individuals, including 1188 from Bhutan and Nepal residing at altitudes between
      86 and 4550 m above sea level. Derived alleles for five SNPs characterizing the
      core Denisovan haplotype (AGGAA) were present at high frequency not only in
      Tibetans and Sherpa, but also among many populations from the Himalayas, showing
      a significant correlation with altitude (Spearman's correlation coefficient =
      0.75, p value 3.9 * 10(-11)). Seven East- and South-Asian 1000 Genomes Project
      individuals shared the Denisovan haplotype extending beyond the 32-kb region,
      enabling us to refine the haplotype structure and identify a candidate regulatory
      variant (rs370299814) that might be interacting in an additive manner with the
      derived G allele of rs150877473, the variant previously associated with high
      altitude adaptation in Tibetans. Denisovan-derived alleles were also observed at
      frequencies of 3-14% in the 1000 Genomes Project African samples. The closest
      African haplotype is, however, separated from the Asian high-altitude haplotype
      by 22 mutations whereas only three mutations, including rs150877473, separate the
      Asians from the Denisovan, consistent with distant shared ancestry for African
      and Asian haplotypes and Denisovan adaptive introgression.

PMID- 26883866
TI  - Blood group antigen loci demonstrate multivariate genetic associations with
      circulating cellular adhesion protein levels in the Multi-Ethnic Study of
      Atherosclerosis.
AB  - The cellular adhesion pathway is critical in the pathophysiology of
      atherosclerosis, and genetic factors contributing to regulation of circulating
      levels of related proteins may be relevant to risk prediction of cardiovascular
      disease. In contrast to conducting separate genome-wide protein quantitative
      trait loci (pQTL) mapping analyses of each individual protein, joint genetic
      association analyses of multiple quantitative traits can leverage cross-trait co
      variation and identify simultaneous regulatory effects on protein levels across
      the pathway. We conducted a multi-pQTL (mpQTL) analysis of 15 proteins related to
      cellular adhesion assayed on 2313 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of
      Atherosclerosis (MESA). We applied the MQFAM multivariate association analysis
      method in PLINK on normalized protein level residuals derived from univariate
      linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, and principal components of ancestry.
      Race/ethnicity-stratified analyses identified nine genome-wide significant (P <
      5e-08) loci associated with co-variation of protein levels. Although the majority
      of these SNPs were in proximity to structural genes of the assayed proteins, we
      discovered multiple loci demonstrating co-association with the circulation of at
      least two proteins. Of these, two significant loci specific to non-Hispanic white
      participants, rs17074898 at ALOX5AP (P = 1.78E-08) and rs7521237 at KIAA1614 (P =
      2.2E-08), would not have met statistical significance using univariate analyses.
      Moreover, common patterns of multi-protein associations were discovered at the
      ABO locus across race/ethnicity. These results indicate the biological relevance
      of blood group antigens on regulation of circulating cellular adhesion pathway
      proteins while also demonstrating race/ethnicity-specific co-regulatory effects.

PMID- 26883867
TI  - New molecular insights into modulation of platelet reactivity in aspirin-treated
      patients using a network-based approach.
AB  - Platelet reactivity (PR) is variable between individuals and modulates clinical
      outcome in cardiovascular (CV) patients treated with antiplatelet drugs. Although
      several data point to a genetic control of platelet reactivity, the genes
      contributing to the modulation of this phenotype are not clearly identified.
      Integration of data derived from high-throughput technologies may yield novel
      insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern platelet reactivity. The aim
      of this study is to identify candidate genes modulating platelet reactivity in
      aspirin-treated CV patients using an integrative network-based approach. Patients
      with extreme high (n = 6) or low PR (n = 6) were selected and data derived from
      quantitative proteomic of platelets and platelet sub-cellular fractions, as well
      as from transcriptomic analysis were integrated with a network biology approach.
      Two modules within the network containing 123 and 182 genes were identified. We
      then specifically assessed the level of miRNAs in these two groups of patients.
      Among the 12 miRNAs differentially expressed, 2 (miR-135a-5p and miR-204-5p)
      correlated with PR. The predicted targets of these miRNAs were mapped onto the
      network, allowing the identification of seven overlapping genes (THBS1, CDC42,
      CORO1C, SPTBN1, TPM3, GTPBP2, and MAPRE2), suggesting a synergistic effect of
      these two miRNAs on these predicted targets. Integration of several omics data
      sets allowed the identification of 2 candidate miRNAs and 7 candidate genes
      regulating platelet reactivity in aspirin-treated CV patients.

PMID- 26883868
TI  - Uveo-scleral outflow pathways after ultrasonic cyclocoagulation in refractory
      glaucoma: an anterior segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal
      study.
AB  - AIMS: To evaluate, using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT)
      and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), the uveo-scleral aqueous humour (AH)
      outflow pathways after ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation (UCCC). METHODS:
      Forty-four patients with refractory glaucoma underwent 4 or 6 s UCCC (group 1, 24
      eyes; group 2, 20 eyes). UCCC was successful when the preoperative intraocular
      pressure (IOP) reduced by one-third. AS-OCT and IVCM were performed at baseline
      and at month 1 to evaluate the sclera and conjunctiva. The main outcomes were
      mean intra-scleral hyporeflective spaces area (MIHSA: mm2) at AS-OCT, mean
      density and area of conjunctival microcysts (MMD: cysts/mm2; MMA: um2) at IVCM.
      The relations between MIHSA, MMA and MMD with IOP were analysed. RESULTS: Mean
      baseline IOP was 26.9+/-2.8 mm Hg in group 1 and 27.5+/-4.0 in group 2. Intra
      scleral hyporeflective spaces and microcysts were observed in both groups,
      without significant differences in MIHSA, MMA and MMD. At month 1, UCCC was
      successful in 63.6% of patients (41.6% in group 1, 80% in group 2), and IOP
      reduced to 18.8+/-3.2 (30.1%) and 17.1+/-2.7 mm Hg (38.7%), respectively
      (p<0.001). MIHSA showed a twofold and threefold increase in group 1 and 2
      (p<0.05), with a significant difference between groups (p<0.05). MMA and MMD
      increased in both groups (p<0.05), with values higher in group 2 (p<0.05).
      Significant relations were found between MIHSA and IOP in both groups (p<0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: UCCC induced anatomical modifications of sclera and conjunctiva,
      which suggested that the trans-scleral AH outflow enhancement is one of the
      possible mechanisms exploited by ultrasounds to reduce IOP.

PMID- 26883869
TI  - Socioeconomic Differences in Parenting Strategies to Prevent Adolescent Smoking:
      A Case Study from the Netherlands.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify possible socioeconomic differences in the
      use of anti-smoking parenting strategies. METHODS: In 2012, survey data of
      adolescents (N = 225) aged 13 to 17 years and their mothers (N = 122) and fathers
      (N = 105) were collected in Haarlem, the Netherlands. Questions on smoking
      behaviour and eleven anti-smoking parenting strategies were answered by
      adolescents, mothers and fathers. School tracks of adolescents and educational
      level of parents were measured as indicators of socioeconomic position. Linear
      multilevel regression analyses were applied to study the association between
      socioeconomic position (SEP) and standardised scores of anti-smoking strategies.
      Analyses were controlled for age, sex and smoking by parents and adolescents.
      RESULTS: We found no consistent socioeconomic differences in the use of anti
      smoking parenting strategies. There were no statistically significant differences
      in relation to parental educational level or when using adolescent reports on
      parenting practices. However, when using parental reports, a few strategies
      varied significantly according to adolescent educational track. Adolescents in
      higher educational tracks were more likely to have no-smoking rules in the home
      (standardised regression coefficient (beta) = 0.20, 95 % confidence interval
      (CI): 0.03; 0.37, p = 0.022) and more likely to have a no-smoking agreement (beta
      = 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.00; 0.34, p = 0.048). However, they were less likely to
      frequently communicate about smoking with their parents (beta = -0.25, 95 % CI: 
      0.41; -0.08, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In this specific population, there was no
      consistent support for the hypothesis that anti-smoking parenting strategies
      contribute to socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent smoking. Parental factors
      that are more likely to contribute to these inequalities include parental smoking
      and parenting styles.

PMID- 26883870
TI  - Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp dietary intake improves cellular antioxidant
      enzymes and biomarkers of serum in healthy women.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acai pulp
      (Euterpe oleracea Martius) intake on the prevention of oxidative damage by
      measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes and biomarkers of protein oxidation
      in women. METHODS: A nutritional intervention study was conducted with thirty
      five healthy women who were asked to consume 200 g/d of acai pulp for 4 wk. Blood
      samples were collected, and blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were
      measured before and after the experimental period. Antioxidant enzymes,
      superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, production of reactive oxygen
      species, and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in polymorphonuclear
      cells. Serum concentration of protein carbonyl and sulfhydryl groups were also
      determined. RESULTS: The acai intake increased catalase activity, total
      antioxidant capacity, and reduced the production of reactive oxygen species.
      Furthermore, it reduced serum concentration of protein carbonyl and increased
      total serum sulfhydryl groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results show the antioxidant
      benefit of dietary acai for the healthy women included in the present study, and
      may increase understanding of the beneficial health properties of this fruit.

PMID- 26883871
TI  - Correction to "Divergent Reactivity of Amino Acid Alkyl Ester Hydrochlorides with
      2-Oxoaldehydes: Role of Selenium Dioxide To Promote Regioselective Synthesis of
      Imidazoles".

PMID- 26883872
TI  - 3-D imaging mass spectrometry of protein distributions in mouse Neurofibromatosis
      1 (NF1)-associated optic glioma.
AB  - : Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common neurogenetic disorder, in which
      affected individuals develop tumors of the nervous system. Children with NF1 are
      particularly prone to brain tumors (gliomas) involving the optic pathway that can
      result in impaired vision. Since tumor formation and expansion requires a
      cooperative tumor microenvironment, it is important to identify the cellular and
      acellular components associated with glioma development and growth. In this
      study, we used 3-D matrix assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass
      spectrometry (MALDI IMS) to measure the distributions of multiple molecular
      species throughout optic nerve tissue in mice with and without glioma, and to
      explore their spatial relationships within the 3-D volume of the optic nerve and
      chiasm. 3-D IMS studies often involve extensive workflows due to the high volume
      of sections required to generate high quality 3-D images. Herein, we present a
      workflow for 3-D data acquisition and volume reconstruction using mouse optic
      nerve tissue. The resulting 3-D IMS data yield both molecular similarities and
      differences between glioma-bearing and wild-type (WT) tissues, including protein
      distributions localizing to different anatomical subregions. BIOLOGICAL
      SIGNIFICANCE: The current work addresses a number of challenges in 3-D MALDI IMS,
      driven by the small size of the mouse optic nerve and the need to maintain
      consistency across multiple 2-D IMS experiments. The 3-D IMS data yield both
      molecular similarities and differences between glioma-bearing and wild-type (WT)
      tissues, including protein distributions localizing to different anatomical
      subregions, which could then be targeted for identification and related back to
      the biology observed in gliomas of the optic nerve.

PMID- 26883873
TI  - Integrative characterization of the venom of the coral snake Micrurus dumerilii
      (Elapidae) from Colombia: Proteome, toxicity, and cross-neutralization by
      antivenom.
AB  - In Colombia, nearly 2.8% of the 4200 snakebite accidents recorded annually are
      inflicted by coral snakes (genus Micrurus). Micrurus dumerilii has a broad
      distribution in this country, especially in densely populated areas. The
      proteomic profile of its venom was here studied by a bottom-up approach combining
      RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF. Venom proteins were assigned to eleven
      families, the most abundant being phospholipases A2 (PLA2; 52.0%) and three
      finger toxins (3FTx; 28.1%). This compositional profile shows that M. dumerilii
      venom belongs to the 'PLA2-rich' phenotype, in the recently proposed dichotomy
      for Micrurus venoms. Enzymatic and toxic venom activities correlated with protein
      family abundances. Whole venom induced a conspicuous myotoxic, cytotoxic and
      anticoagulant effect, and was mildly edematogenic and proteolytic, whereas it
      lacked hemorrhagic activity. Some 3FTxs and PLA2s reproduced the lethal effect of
      venom. A coral snake antivenom to Micrurus nigrocinctus demonstrated significant
      cross-recognition of M. dumerilii venom proteins, and accordingly, ability to
      neutralize its lethal effect. The combined compositional, functional, and
      immunological data here reported for M. dumerilii venom may contribute to a
      better understanding of these envenomings, and support the possible use of anti
      M. nigrocinctus coral snake antivenom in their treatment. BIOLOGICAL
      SIGNIFICANCE: Coral snakes represent a highly diversified group of elapids in the
      New World, with nearly 70 species within the genus Micrurus. Owing to their
      scarce yields, the biochemical composition and toxic activities of coral snake
      venoms have been less well characterized than those of viperid species. In this
      work, an integrative view of the venom of M. dumerilii, a medically relevant
      coral snake from Colombia, was obtained by a combined proteomic, functional, and
      immunological approach. The venom contains proteins from at least eleven
      families, with a predominance of phospholipases A2 (PLA2), followed by three
      finger toxins (3FTx). According to its compositional profile, M. dumerilii venom
      can be grouped with those of several Micrurus species from North and Central
      America that present a PLA2-predominant phenotype, to date it is the most
      southerly coral snake species to do so. Other coral snake species that a 'PLA2
      rich' venom, M. dumerilii venom contains both components that form MitTx, a pain
      inducing heterodimeric complex recently characterized from the venom of Micrurus
      tener, also present in Micrurus mosquitensis and M. nigrocinctus venoms. In
      addition to a lethal three-finger toxin, PLA2s participate in the toxicity of M.
      dumerilii venom, some of them displaying ability to induce cytolysis, muscle
      necrosis, and lethality to mice. An antivenom to M. nigrocinctus demonstrated
      significant cross-recognition of M. dumerilii venom proteins, and accordingly,
      ability to neutralize its lethal effect, being of potential therapeutic
      usefulness in these envenomings.

PMID- 26883874
TI  - Concentration, population, and context-dependent effects of AM251 in zebrafish.
AB  - RATIONALE: The function of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1-R) is poorly
      understood in zebrafish, and numerous inconsistent effects have been reported on
      it in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to
      determine whether differences in the reported effects of CB1-R antagonism on
      anxiety-like behavioural responses, dopaminergic and serotonergic responses are
      due to concentration, context-dependent and/or population (genotype-related)
      effects. METHOD: Two genetically distinct populations of zebrafish (AB and short
      fin (SF)) were treated with different concentrations of AM251 (0, 0.1, 1mg/L),
      and behavioural responses were quantified under two different contexts: one,
      following habituation and two, subsequently in a novel environment. The levels of
      dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyindole acetic acid (DOPAC)
      and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were quantified from whole-brain tissue.
      RESULTS: We demonstrate that a 60-min exposure to AM251 (0, 0.1, 1mg/L) does not
      alter behavioural performance following habituation in either populations.
      However, when subsequently transferred to a novel environment, zebrafish that
      were pre-treated with the highest dose of AM251 (1mg/L) exhibited increased
      anxiety-like behavioural responses including elevated absolute turn angle,
      freezing and bottom dwelling. We found that exposure to the highest dose of AM251
      (1mg/L) for 60min increased serotonin in fish of both populations tested. In
      contrast, exposure to 0.1mg/L AM251 decreased, whereas to 1mg/L AM251 increased
      dopamine, DOPAC and 5-HIAA in fish of both populations. CONCLUSION: Our results
      demonstrate a genotype-independent effect of AM251 but imply that the
      inconsistent findings obtained after pharmacological blockade of CB1-Rs in
      zebrafish may be due to a combination of concentration- and environmental context
      dependent effects.

PMID- 26883875
TI  - 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol attenuates depressive-like behavior through GABAA
      receptor activation/nitrergic pathway blockade in ovariectomized mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the antidepressant-like
      effect of 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice and the
      possible role of nitrergic and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic pathways in
      this paradigm. METHODS: Bilateral ovariectomy was performed in female mice, and
      different doses of EE2 were intraperitoneally injected either alone or combined
      with GABAA agonist, diazepam, GABAA antagonist, flumazenil, non-specific nitric
      oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME),
      specific nNOS inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, L
      arginine, and selective PDE5I, sildenafil. After locomotion assessment,
      immobility times were recorded in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail
      suspension test (TST). Moreover, hippocampal nitrite concentrations were measured
      in the examined groups. RESULTS: Ten days after ovariectomy, a significant
      prolonged immobility times were observed. EE2 (0.3 and 1MUg/kg and 0.03, 0.1, and
      1mg/kg) caused antidepressant-like activity in OVX mice in FST and TST. Diazepam
      (1 and 5mg/kg), L-NAME (30mg/kg), and 7-NI (100mg/kg) significantly reduced the
      immobility times. Co-administration of minimal and sub-effective doses of EE2 and
      diazepam (0.3MUg/kg and 0.5mg/kg, respectively) exerted a significant
      antidepressant-like effect. The same effect was observed in combination of
      minimal and sub-effective doses of EE2 and either L-NAME or 7-NI. Moreover,
      combination of minimal and sub-effective doses of EE2, diazepam either L-NAME, or
      7-NI emphasized the significant robust antidepressant-like activity. CONCLUSIONS:
      The study has demonstrated that lowest dose of EE2 exerts a significant
      antidepressant-like behavior. It is suggested that suppression of NO system, as
      well as GABAA activation, may be responsible for antidepressant-like activity of
      EE2 in OVX mice. Moreover, GABAA activation may inhibit nitrergic pathway.

PMID- 26883876
TI  - Enhancement of tumor cell susceptibility to natural killer cell activity through
      inhibition of the PI3K signaling pathway.
AB  - Natural killer (NK) cells are the primary effectors of the innate immune response
      against virus-infected cells or cells that have undergone malignant
      transformation. NK cells recognize their targets through a complex array of
      activating and inhibitory receptors, which regulate the intensity of the effector
      response against individual target cells. However, many studies have shown that
      tumor cells can escape immune cell recognition through a variety of mechanisms,
      developing resistance to NK cell killing. Using a lentiviral shRNA library, we
      previously demonstrated that several common signaling pathways modulate
      susceptibility of tumor cells to NK cell activity. In this study, we focused on
      one of the genes (PI3KCB), identified in this genetic screen. The PI3KCB gene
      encodes an isoform of the catalytic subunit of PI3K called P110beta. The PI3K
      pathway has been linked to diverse cellular functions, but has never been
      associated with susceptibility to NK cell activity. Gene silencing of PI3KCB
      resulted in increased susceptibility of several tumor cell lines to NK cell lytic
      activity and induced increased IFN-gamma secretion by NK cells. Treatment of
      primary tumor cells with two different PI3K inhibitors also increased target cell
      susceptibility to NK cell activity. These effects are due, at least in part, to
      modulation of several activating and inhibitory ligands and appear to be
      correlated with PI3K signaling pathway inhibition. These findings identify a new
      and important role of PI3KCB in modulating tumor cell susceptibility to NK cells
      and open the way to future combined target immunotherapies. 

PMID- 26883877
TI  - Analysis of ISO/IEEE 11073 built-in security and its potential IHE-based
      extensibility.
AB  - The ISO/IEEE 11073 standard for Personal Health Devices (X73PHD) aims to ensure
      interoperability between Personal Health Devices and aggregators-e.g. health
      appliances, routers-in ambulatory setups. The Integrating the Healthcare
      Enterprise (IHE) initiative promotes the coordinated use of different standards
      in healthcare systems (e.g. Personal/Electronic Health Records, alert managers,
      Clinical Decision Support Systems) by defining profiles intended for medical use
      cases. X73PHD provides a robust syntactic model and a comprehensive terminology,
      but it places limited emphasis on security and on interoperability with IHE
      compliant systems and frameworks. However, the implementation of eHealth/mHealth
      applications in environments such as health and fitness monitoring, independent
      living and disease management (i.e. the X73PHD domains) increasingly requires
      features such as secure connections to mobile aggregators-e.g. smartphones,
      tablets-, the sharing of devices among different users with privacy, and
      interoperability with certain IHE-compliant healthcare systems. This work
      proposes a comprehensive IHE-based X73PHD extension consisting of additive layers
      adapted to different eHealth/mHealth applications, after having analyzed the
      features of X73PHD (especially its built-in security), IHE profiles related with
      these applications and other research works. Both the new features proposed for
      each layer and the procedures to support them have been carefully chosen to
      minimize the impact on X73PHD, on its architecture (in terms of delays and
      overhead) and on its framework. Such implications are thoroughly analyzed in this
      paper. As a result, an extended model of X73PHD is proposed, preserving its
      essential features while extending them with added value. 

PMID- 26883878
TI  - Erratum to: Impact of New Genomic Technologies on Understanding Adverse Drug
      Reactions.

PMID- 26883879
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of Cannabis in Cancer Cachexia-Anorexia Syndrome.
AB  - Anorexia can affect up to 90 % of people with advanced cancer. It is a complex
      symptom associated with changes in taste, lack of hunger at mealtimes and lack of
      food enjoyment. Associated weight loss is part of the physical decline that
      occurs as cancer worsens. Weight loss can also occur from cachexia, the increased
      metabolism of energy due to raised inflammatory cytokines, liver metastases and
      other factors seen in several advanced cancers. Independent of anorexia, although
      frequently associated (where it is referred to as the cachexia-anorexia
      syndrome), it accounts for a significant amount of morbidity and deaths in people
      with cancer. In particular, quality of life for the patient and the family is
      significantly affected with this syndrome as it causes anxiety and distress.
      Therefore, it is important that research into therapies is undertaken,
      particularly focusing on an understanding of the pharmacokinetic properties of
      compounds in this cachexic population. Cannabinoids are one such group of
      therapies that have received a large amount of media focus recently. However,
      there appears to be a lack on rigorous pharmacokinetic data of these complex and
      varied compounds in the cachexic population. Similarly, there is a lack of
      pharmacokinetic data in any population group for the non- tetrahydrocannabinol
      (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) cannabinoids (often due to the lack of analytical
      standards for quantification). This review will thus examine the pharmacokinetics
      of major cannabinoids i.e. THC and CBD in a cancer population. Overall, based on
      the current literature, evidence for the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of
      cancer-related cachexia-anorexia syndrome remains equivocal. A high-quality,
      rigorous, phase I/II study to elicit pharmacokinetic dose-concentration and
      concentration-response data, with a clinically acceptable mode of delivery to
      reduce intrapatient variability and enable more consistent bioavailability is
      needed in this population.

PMID- 26883880
TI  - Effects of dietary protein intake on body composition changes after weight loss
      in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: The impact of dietary protein on body composition changes after older
      adults purposefully lose weight requires systematic evaluation OBJECTIVE: : This
      systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of protein intake (< 25%
      vs >= 25% of energy intake or 1.0 g/kg/d) on energy restriction-induced changes
      in body mass, lean mass, and fat mass in adults older than 50 years. DATA
      SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using the
      keywords "dietary proteins," "body composition," "skeletal muscle," and "muscle
      strength." STUDY SELECTION: Two researchers independently screened 1542
      abstracts. DATA EXTRACTION: Information was extracted from 24 articles. DATA
      SYNTHESIS: Twenty randomized control trials met the inclusion criteria.
      CONCLUSION: Older adults retained more lean mass and lost more fat mass during
      weight loss when consuming higher protein diets.

PMID- 26883883
TI  - One-way helical electromagnetic wave propagation supported by magnetized plasma.
AB  - In this paper we reveal the presence of photonic one-way helical surface states
      in a simple natural system- magnetized plasma. The application of an external
      magnetic field to a bulk plasma body not only breaks time-reversal-symmetry but
      also leads to separation of Equi-Frequency Contour surfaces (EFCs) to form
      topologically nontrivial gaps in k space. Interestingly, these EFCs support
      topologically protected surface states. We numerically investigate an interface
      between magnetized plasma, using a realistic model for parameter dispersion, and
      vacuum, to confirm the existence of one-way scatter-immune helical surface
      states. Unlike previous proposals for achieving photonic one-way propagation, our
      scheme does not require the use of artificial structures and should therefore be
      simple to implement experimentally. 

PMID- 26883881
TI  - Role of maternal vitamins in programming health and chronic disease.
AB  - Vitamin consumption prior to and during pregnancy has increased as a result of
      proactive recommendations by health professionals, wide availability of vitamin
      supplements, and liberal food-fortification policies. Folic acid, alone or in
      combination with other B vitamins, is the most recommended vitamin consumed
      during pregnancy because deficiency of this vitamin leads to birth defects in the
      infant. Folic acid and other B vitamins are also integral components of
      biochemical processes that are essential to the development of regulatory systems
      that control the ability of the offspring to adapt to the external environment.
      Although few human studies have investigated the lasting effects of high vitamin
      intakes during pregnancy, animal models have shown that excess vitamin
      supplementation during gestation is associated with negative metabolic effects in
      both the mothers and their offspring. This research from animal models, combined
      with the recognition that epigenetic regulation of gene expression is plastic,
      provides evidence for further examination of these relationships in the later
      life of pregnant women and their children. 

PMID- 26883884
TI  - Using the general-purpose reactivity indicator: challenging examples.
AB  - We elucidate the regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack on substituted
      benzenesulfonates, quinolines, and pyridines using a general-purpose reactivity
      indicator (GPRI) for electrophiles. We observe that the GPRI is most accurate
      when the incoming nucleophile resembles a point charge. We further observe that
      the GPRI often chooses reactive "dead ends" as the most reactive sites as well as
      sterically hindered reactive sites. This means that care must be taken to remove
      sites that are inherently unreactive. Generally, among sites where reactions
      actually occur, the GPRI identifies the sites in the molecule that lead to the
      kinetically favored product(s). Furthermore, the GPRI can discern which sites
      react with hard reagents and which sites react with soft reagents. Because it is
      currently impossible to use the mathematical framework of conceptual DFT to
      identify sterically inaccessible sites and reactive dead ends, the GPRI is
      primarily useful as an interpretative, not a predictive, tool. 

PMID- 26883885
TI  - Quantification of platelets and platelet derived growth factors from platelet
      rich-plasma (PRP) prepared at different centrifugal force (g) and time.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Platelet derived biomaterials represent a key source of cytokines
      and growth factors extensively used for tissue regeneration; wound healing and
      tissue repair. Our study was to quantify platelets and growth factors released by
      PRP when prepared at different centrifugal force (g) and time. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: Our study was approved by the institutional ethical committee. One
      hundred millilitres of whole blood (WB) was collected in bag with CPDA as the
      anticoagulant(AC); (14 mL for 100 mL WB ratio). Nine aliquots of 10 mL each were
      made from the bag and set of three aliquots were made a group. PRP was prepared
      at varying centrifugal force (group A: -110 g, group B: -208 g & group C: -440 g)
      & time (1: -5 min, 2: -10 min & 3: -20 min). Contents of each PRP prepared were
      analysed. Commercial sandwich ELISA kits were used to quantify the concentrations
      of CD62P (Diaclone SAS; France), Platelet derived growth factors-AB (Qayee-Bio;
      China), transforming growth factor-beta1 (DRG; Germany) and vascular endothelial
      growth factor (Boster Immuno Leader; USA) released in each PRP prepared. RESULTS:
      Eight volunteers were enrolled in the study (24-30 years). The baseline blood
      counts of all the volunteers were comparable (p >= 0.05). Mean +/- SD of platelet
      yield of all nine groups ranged from 17.2 +/- 4.2% to 78.7 +/- 5.7%. Each PRP was
      activated with calcified thromboplastin to quantify the growth factors released
      by them. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) transforming growth factor-beta1 and
      vascular endothelial growth factor were released compared to the baseline.
      CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the variation in both force (g) and time results
      in changes at cellular level and growth factor concentrations.

PMID- 26883882
TI  - Gut epithelial inducible heat-shock proteins and their modulation by diet and the
      microbiota.
AB  - The epidemic of metabolic diseases has raised questions about the interplay
      between the human diet and the gut and its microbiota. The gut has two vital
      roles: nutrient absorption and intestinal barrier function. Gut barrier defects
      are involved in many diseases. Excess energy intake disturbs the gut microbiota
      and favors body entry of microbial compounds that stimulate chronic metabolic
      inflammation. In this context, the natural defense mechanisms of gut epithelial
      cells and the potential to boost them nutritionally warrant further study. One
      such important defense system is the activation of inducible heat-shock proteins
      (iHSPs) which protect the gut epithelium against oxidative stress and
      inflammation. Importantly, various microbial components can induce the expression
      of iHSPs. This review examines gut epithelial iHSPs as the main targets of
      microbial signals and nutrients and presents data on diseases involving
      disturbances of gut epithelial iHSPs. In addition, a broad literature analysis of
      dietary modulation of gut epithelial iHSPs is provided. Future research aims
      should include the identification of gut microbes that can optimize gut
      protective iHSPs and the evaluation of iHSP-mediated health benefits of nutrients
      and food components.

PMID- 26883888
TI  - Physicians don't follow guidelines: What are we to do?

PMID- 26883886
TI  - Age, Dehydration, Respiratory Failure, Orientation Disturbance, and Blood
      Pressure Score Predicts In-hospital Mortality in HIV-negative Non-multidrug
      resistant Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Japan.
AB  - The A-DROP scoring system was originally designed to assess clinical severity of
      community acquired pneumonia using the following parameters: advanced Age,
      Dehydration, Respiratory failure, Orientation disturbance (confusion); and, low
      blood Pressure. Total A-DROP score ranges zero to five assigning one point for
      each component, wherein five indicates the poorest prognosis. The purpose of this
      single-center retrospective study was to determine whether A-DROP could predict
      the risk for death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. We reviewed
      consecutive HIV-negative, non-multidrug-resistant smear-positive adult pulmonary
      tuberculosis patients. The cohort consisted of 134 men (38.8%), 211 women
      (61.2%), 272 who discharged alive (28.8%), and 73 who died in-hospital (21.2%)
      with a median age of 72 (IQR: 54-82) years. A one-point increase in the A-DROP
      score was associated with a higher risk for in-hospital mortality with odds ratio
      of 3.8 (95% confidence interval 2.8-5.2, P < 0.001). The area under receiver
      operating characteristics curve was 0.86. The total score cutoff of 1.5 provided
      the best Youden Index of 0.61. Using this criteria, total score >1.5, sensitivity
      was 85% and specificity was 76%. Kaplan-Meier curve clearly indicated that in
      hospital mortality increased with higher A-DROP scores (Log-rank test <0.001). In
      conclusion, A-DROP score clearly indicate pulmonary tuberculosis in-hospital
      mortality.

PMID- 26883889
TI  - Aspergillosis spores and medical marijuana.

PMID- 26883890
TI  - Psychedelic and nonpsychedelic LSD and psilocybin for cluster headache.

PMID- 26883891
TI  - Hexadecameric structure of an invertebrate gap junction channel.
AB  - Innexins are invertebrate-specific gap junction proteins with four transmembrane
      helices. These proteins oligomerize to constitute intercellular channels that
      allow for the passage of small signaling molecules associated with neural and
      muscular electrical activity. In contrast to the large number of structural and
      functional studies of connexin gap junction channels, few structural studies of
      recombinant innexin channels are reported. Here we show the three-dimensional
      structure of two-dimensionally crystallized Caenorhabditis elegans innexin-6 (INX
      6) gap junction channels. The N-terminal deleted INX-6 proteins are crystallized
      in lipid bilayers. The three-dimensional reconstruction determined by cryo
      electron crystallography reveals that a single INX-6 gap junction channel
      comprises 16 subunits, a hexadecamer, in contrast to chordate connexin channels,
      which comprise 12 subunits. The channel pore diameters at the cytoplasmic
      entrance and extracellular gap region are larger than those of connexin26. Two
      bulb densities are observed in each hemichannel, one in the pore and the other at
      the cytoplasmic side of the hemichannel in the channel pore pathway. These
      findings imply a structural diversity of gap junction channels among
      multicellular organisms.

PMID- 26883892
TI  - Combined Use of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Sheet Transplantation and Local
      Injection of SDF-1 for Bone Repair in a Rat Nonunion Model.
AB  - Bone nonunion treatments pose a challenge in orthopedics. This study investigated
      the joint effects of using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sheets with local
      injection of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) on bone formation. In vitro,
      we found that migration of MSCs was mediated by SDF-1 in a dose-dependent manner.
      Moreover, stimulation with SDF-1 had no direct effect on the proliferation or
      osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Furthermore, the results indicated elevated
      expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2, alkaline phosphatase,
      osteocalcin, and vascular endothelial growth factor in MSC sheets compared with
      MSCs cultured in medium. New bone formation in fractures was evaluated by X-ray,
      micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining,
      Safranin-O staining, and immunohistochemistry in vivo. In the rat bone fracture
      model, the MSC sheets transplanted into the injured site along with injection of
      SDF-1 showed significantly more new bone formation within the gap. Moreover, at 8
      weeks, complete bone union was obtained in this group. In contrast, the control
      group showed nonunion of the bone. Our study suggests a new strategy involving
      the use of MSC sheets with a local injection of SDF-1 for hard tissue
      reconstruction, such as the healing of nonunions and bone defects.

PMID- 26883893
TI  - Tunable short-wavelength spin wave excitation from pinned magnetic domain walls.
AB  - Miniaturization of magnonic devices for wave-like computing requires emission of
      short-wavelength spin waves, a key feature that cannot be achieved with microwave
      antennas. In this paper, we propose a tunable source of short-wavelength spin
      waves based on highly localized and strongly pinned magnetic domain walls in
      ferroelectric-ferromagnetic bilayers. When driven into oscillation by a microwave
      spin-polarized current, the magnetic domain walls emit spin waves with the same
      frequency as the excitation current. The amplitude of the emitted spin waves and
      the range of attainable excitation frequencies depend on the availability of
      domain wall resonance modes. In this respect, pinned domain walls in magnetic
      nanowires are particularly attractive. In this geometry, spin wave confinement
      perpendicular to the nanowire axis produces a multitude of domain wall resonances
      enabling efficient spin wave emission at frequencies up to 100 GHz and
      wavelengths down to 20 nm. At high frequency, the emission of spin waves in
      magnetic nanowires becomes monochromatic. Moreover, pinning of magnetic domain
      wall oscillators onto the same ferroelectric domain boundary in parallel
      nanowires guarantees good coherency between spin wave sources, which opens
      perspectives towards the realization of Mach-Zehnder type logic devices and
      sensors.

PMID- 26883895
TI  - Coexistence of multiple metastable polytypes in rhombohedral bismuth.
AB  - Derivative structural polytypes coexisting with the rhombohedral A7 structure of
      elemental bismuth (Bi) have been discovered at ambient condition, based on
      microstructure analyses of pure Bi samples treated under high pressure and high
      temperature conditions. Three structures with atomic positions close to those of
      the A7 structure have been identified through first-principles calculations,
      showing these polytypes energetically comparable to the A7 structure under
      ambient condition. Simulated diffraction data are in excellent agreement with the
      experimental observations. We argue that previously reported some variations of
      physical properties (e.g., density, electrical conductivity, and magnetism) in
      bismuth could be due to the formation of these polytypes. The coexistence of
      metastable derivative structural polytypes may be a widely occurring phenomenon
      in other elemental materials. 

PMID- 26883896
TI  - Copper-catalyzed borylative coupling of vinylazaarenes and N-Boc imines.
AB  - Cu-catalyzed three-component couplings of vinylazaarenes, B2(pin)2, and N-Boc
      imines are described. Oxidation of the initially formed boronate gives azaarene
      containing, Boc-protected amino alcohols with reasonable to good
      diastereoselectivities. 

PMID- 26883894
TI  - ECM microenvironment unlocks brown adipogenic potential of adult human bone
      marrow-derived MSCs.
AB  - Key to realizing the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of human brown/brite
      adipocytes is the identification of a renewable, easily accessible and safe
      tissue source of progenitor cells, and an efficacious in vitro differentiation
      protocol. We show that macromolecular crowding (MMC) facilitates brown adipocyte
      differentiation in adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs), as
      evidenced by substantially upregulating uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and uncoupled
      respiration. Moreover, MMC also induced 'browning' in bmMSC-derived white
      adipocytes. Mechanistically, MMC creates a 3D extracellular matrix architecture
      enshrouding maturing adipocytes in a collagen IV cocoon that is engaged by
      paxillin-positive focal adhesions also at the apical side of cells, without
      contact to the stiff support structure. This leads to an enhanced matrix-cell
      signaling, reflected by increased phosphorylation of ATF2, a key transcription
      factor in UCP1 regulation. Thus, tuning the dimensionality of the
      microenvironment in vitro can unlock a strong brown potential dormant in bone
      marrow. 

PMID- 26883897
TI  - Sunlight-Triggered Nanoparticle Synergy: Teamwork of Reactive Oxygen Species and
      Nitric Oxide Released from Mesoporous Organosilica with Advanced Antibacterial
      Activity.
AB  - Colonization of surfaces by microorganisms is an urging problem. In combination
      with the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria, severe
      infections are reported more frequently in medical settings. Therefore, there is
      a large demand to explore innovative surface coatings that provide intrinsic and
      highly effective antibacterial activity. Materials containing silver
      nanoparticles have been developed in the past for this purpose, but this solution
      has come into criticism due to various disadvantages like notable toxicity
      against higher organisms, the high price, and low abundance of silver. Here, we
      introduce a new, sunlight-mediated organosilica nanoparticle (NP) system based on
      silver-free antibacterial activity. The simultaneous release of nitric oxide (NO)
      in combination with singlet oxygen and superoxide radicals (O2(*-)) as reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) leads to the emergence of highly reactive peroxynitrite
      molecules with significantly enhanced biocidal activity. This special cooperative
      effect can only be realized, if the ROS-producing moieties and the functional
      entities releasing NO are spatially separated from each other. In one type of
      particle, Rose Bengal as an efficient singlet oxygen ((1)O2) producer was
      covalently bound to SH functionalities applying thiol-ene click chemistry.
      "Charging" the second type of particles with NO was realized by quantitatively
      transferring the thiol groups into S-nitrosothiol functionalities. We probed the
      oxidation power of ROS-NP alone and in combination with NO-NP using sunlight as a
      trigger. The high antibacterial efficiency of dual-action nanoparticles was
      demonstrated using disinfection assays with the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa. 

PMID- 26883898
TI  - LV mechanical dispersion as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia in patients
      with advanced systolic heart failure : A pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Myocardial mechanical dyssynchrony induced by the presence of
      postinfarction scar and/or conduction abnormalities in patients with a left
      ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of < 35 % may be associated with a greater
      propensity toward inducing serious ventricular arrhythmia [(ventricular
      tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF)] and sudden cardiac death. The
      assessment of regional myocardial function using tissue Doppler echocardiography
      (TDE) allows for noninvasive analysis of regional mechanical dysfunction (LV
      mechanical dispersion). AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the TDE-based
      mechanical dispersion as a potential echocardiographic predictor of VT/VF.
      METHODS: The study group consisted of 47 consecutive ambulatory patients with
      implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) devices who
      were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 29) comprised patients with recorded
      episodes of VT/VF, in whom baseline TDE data were available, and group 2 (n = 18)
      comprised patients without registered VT/VF in the device memory within 4 years
      after implantation. LV mechanical dispersion was defined as the standard
      deviation of the time measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the peak
      longitudinal strain in apical four-chamber and two-chamber views. A retrospective
      quantitative assessment of LV regional deformation was based on the color tissue
      velocity recordings. RESULTS: The average time to event after implantation was
      345 days. Patients with electrical events demonstrated greater mechanical
      dispersion: 99.14 +/- 33.60 vs. 72.98 +/- 19.70, p=0.002. CONCLUSION: During the
      4-year follow-up, patients with documented VT/VF were characterized by
      significantly higher LV mechanical dispersion as compared with patients without
      electrical events. Measurement of LV mechanical dispersion might be helpful in
      determining the risk of sudden cardiac death.

PMID- 26883899
TI  - Single-catheter approach to pulmonary vein reisolation in selected patients :
      Data from a prospective registry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In addition to different types of single-tip ablation catheters for
      pulmonary vein (PV) reisolation, a newly developed circular mapping and ablation
      catheter (nMARQ(r)) has been available since 2013 and is currently used only in
      initial PV isolation procedures. In this prospective registry we present
      feasibility and efficacy data for PV reisolation procedures with a single
      catheter approach (nMARQ(r)) compared with a standard approach using a single-tip
      ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter. METHODS: We included 35
      carefully selected patients in this prospective registry and assigned them in a
      2:1 ratio to undergo either PV reisolation with a single-tip ablation catheter
      together with a steerable circular mapping catheter (group 1) or with the
      nMARQ(r)catheter only (group 2). The recurrence rate was calculated for atrial
      tachyarrhythmias with a duration of > 30 s during a mean follow-up of 12.7
      months. RESULTS: Reisolation of all PVs was achieved in all patients of both
      groups. In group 2, all gaps could be correctly identified with the nMARQ(r)
      catheter. PV isolation was clearly visible on the nMARQ(r) catheter in all
      targeted veins. With the nMARQ(r) catheter the ablation time decreased
      significantly (6.3 +/- 3.0 vs. 18.6 +/- 13.9 min, p < 0.05). The recurrence rate
      of atrial fibrillation did not differ significantly between the two groups (37.5
      vs. 45.5 %, p = 0.66). CONCLUSION: In selected patients, a complete PV
      reisolation procedure is feasible with a singular circular mapping and ablation
      catheter. The 12-months success rate is comparable to a classic approach with a
      combination of a single-tip ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter.

PMID- 26883900
TI  - [Impact of guideline adherence on mortality in treatment of left heart failure].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The German national guidelines on chronic heart failure provide
      treatment recommendations to physicians and reflect the current level of
      evidence; however, it is questionable to what extent these recommendations are
      applied in the routine practice and what the effect of guideline adherence on
      mortality is. METHODS: In this study the claims data of a major German health
      insurance fund collected over a period of 4 years were analyzed. Using binary
      logistic regression and Cox regression analyses the influence of drug
      prescriptions, diagnostic measures, influenza vaccination, the New York Heart
      Association (NYHA) status, the age and gender on mortality were examined.
      RESULTS: The study population consisted of 85,465 heart failure patients.
      Approximately 60 % of the drugs were prescribed according to the guidelines.
      There was a positive correlation between a higher NYHA status and mortality with
      an odds ratio (OR) of 3.264. Especially pharmacotherapy with angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers according to the guidelines
      was associated with a lower mortality rate (OR 0.448 resp. 0.444). Also patients
      diagnosed using echocardiography at regular intervals showed a lower risk of
      dying (OR 0.314). CONCLUSION: The results of this large sample could confirm the
      results of clinical trials that a therapy according to the guidelines has a
      significant impact on mortality. By analyzing the claims data evidence was found
      that in the treatment of heart failure patients the medical results could be
      improved by adherence to guideline recommendations.

PMID- 26883901
TI  - A genome-wide association study identifies a genomic region for the polycerate
      phenotype in sheep (Ovis aries).
AB  - Horns are a cranial appendage found exclusively in Bovidae, and play important
      roles in accessing resources and mates. In sheep (Ovies aries), horns vary from
      polled to six-horned, and human have been selecting polled animals in farming and
      breeding. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study on 24 two-horned
      versus 22 four-horned phenotypes in a native Chinese breed of Sishui Fur sheep.
      Together with linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses and haplotype-based
      association tests, we identified a genomic region comprising 132.0-133.1 Mb on
      chromosome 2 that contained the top 10 SNPs (including 4 significant SNPs) and 5
      most significant haplotypes associated with the polycerate phenotype. In humans
      and mice, this genomic region contains the HOXD gene cluster and adjacent
      functional genes EVX2 and KIAA1715, which have a close association with the
      formation of limbs and genital buds. Our results provide new insights into the
      genetic basis underlying variable numbers of horns and represent a new resource
      for use in sheep genetics and breeding.

PMID- 26883902
TI  - A four-coordinate cobalt(II) single-ion magnet with coercivity and a very high
      energy barrier.
AB  - Single-molecule magnets display magnetic bistability of molecular origin, which
      may one day be exploited in magnetic data storage devices. Recently it was
      realised that increasing the magnetic moment of polynuclear molecules does not
      automatically lead to a substantial increase in magnetic bistability. Attention
      has thus increasingly focussed on ions with large magnetic anisotropies,
      especially lanthanides. In spite of large effective energy barriers towards
      relaxation of the magnetic moment, this has so far not led to a big increase in
      magnetic bistability. Here we present a comprehensive study of a mononuclear,
      tetrahedrally coordinated cobalt(II) single-molecule magnet, which has a very
      high effective energy barrier and displays pronounced magnetic bistability. The
      combined experimental-theoretical approach enables an in-depth understanding of
      the origin of these favourable properties, which are shown to arise from a strong
      ligand field in combination with axial distortion. Our findings allow formulation
      of clear design principles for improved materials. 

PMID- 26883904
TI  - Stress alters asenapine-induced Fos expression in the Meynert's nucleus: response
      of adjacent hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in rat.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Asenapine (ASE), an atypical antipsychotic drug used in the treatment
      of schizophrenia, induces Fos expression in forebrain. Effect of ASE on activity
      of basal nucleus of Meynert (NBM) cells, a part of the striatal-cortical
      circuits, was studied. We were also interested to reveal whether a chronic
      unpredictable variable mild stress (CMS) preconditioning might affect the ASE
      impact. METHODS: Rats were divided into as follows: controls-vehicle, controls
      ASE, stressed-vehicle and stressed-ASE groups. CMS included restrain, social
      isolation, crowding, swimming and cold applied for 21 days. On the 22nd day, rats
      were subcutaneously injected with ASE (0.3 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline 300
      MUl/rat), 90 min prior euthanizing. After transcardial fixation, brains were cut
      into 30 MUm thick coronal sections. Fos protein presence, as indicator of cell
      activity, was detected by ABC immunohistochemistry. Hypocretin (Hcrt) and melanin
      concentrating hormone (MCH) containing cells were visualized with fluorescent
      dyes. RESULTS: ASE induced significant increase in Fos expression in NBM in both
      controls and CMS preconditioned rats in comparison with the related vehicle
      treated controls. CMS preconditioning, however, significantly lowered the Fos
      response to ASE in NBM. From Hrct and MCH cells, only Hcrt ones displayed Fos
      presence in response to ASE. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates for the first
      time that ASE may target a special group of cells occupying NBM, which effect can
      be modulated by CMS preconditioning. This finding extends a view that ASE impact
      may extend beyond the classical forebrain target areas common for the action of
      all antipsychotics and might be helpful in the identification of sites and side
      effects of its therapeutic actions.

PMID- 26883903
TI  - A comprehensive review of the barriers and promoters health workers experience in
      delivering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services in sub-Saharan
      Africa.
AB  - Despite significant biomedical and policy advances, 199,000 infants and young
      children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) became infected with HIV in 2013, indicating
      challenges to implementation of these advances. To understand the nature of these
      challenges, we sought to (1) characterize the barriers and facilitators that
      health workers encountered delivering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV
      (PVT) services in SSA and (2) evaluate the use of theory to guide PVT service
      delivery. The PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched using keywords barriers,
      facilitators, HIV, prevention of vertical transmission of HIV, health workers,
      and their synonyms to identify relevant studies. Barriers and facilitators were
      coded at ecological levels according to the Determinants of Performance
      framework. Factors in this framework were then classified as affecting
      motivation, opportunity, or ability, per the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA)
      framework in order to evaluate domains of health worker performance within each
      ecological level. We found that the most frequently reported challenges occurred
      within the health facility level and spanned all three MOA domains. Barriers
      reported in 30% or more of studies from most proximal to distal included those
      affecting health worker motivation (stress, burnout, depression), patient
      opportunity (stigma), work opportunity (poor referral systems), health facility
      opportunity (overburdened workload, lack of supplies), and health facility
      ability (inadequate PVT training, inconsistent breastfeeding messages).
      Facilitators were reported in lower frequencies than barriers and tended to be
      resolutions to challenges (e.g., quality supervision, consistent supplies) or
      responses to an intervention (e.g., record systems and infrastructure
      improvements). The majority of studies did not use theory to guide study design
      or implementation. Interventions addressing health workers' multiple ecological
      levels of interactions, particularly the health facility, hold promise for far
      reaching impact as distal factors influence more proximal factors. Incorporating
      theory that considers factors beyond the health worker will strengthen endeavors
      to mitigate barriers to PVT service delivery. 

PMID- 26883905
TI  - Health-Related Quality of Life Trajectories over the First Year after Stroke in
      Colombia, South America.
AB  - BACKGROUND Stroke is the second most common cause of death around the world, and
      little is known about long-term HRQOL outcomes for Latino American individuals
      after stroke. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to compare HRQOL trajectories
      in stroke survivors to a group of healthy controls from Colombia first year post
      stroke. METHODS Forty individuals diagnosed with stroke and 50 controls were
      recruited from the Psychological Attention Center of Antonio Narino University.
      RESULTS Hierarchical linear models suggested that trajectories of all eight
      indices of HRQOL were lower over time in stroke individuals compared to controls.
      Stroke patients showed gains in the HRQOL domains of physical functioning, role
      limitations - physical, role limitations - emotional, pain, and social
      functioning, although only pain in stroke individuals approached that of controls
      at 12 months. Despite these improvements, seven of the eight indices of HRQOL in
      stroke individuals remained very low over time, suggesting that the vast majority
      of rehabilitation gains in HRQOL, even when present, were extremely limited.
      CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest a need in Latin America for mental
      health services after stroke, as well as other interventions designed to increase
      social and family support, which may thereby improve mental health.

PMID- 26883907
TI  - Histone Deacetylase-3/CAGE Axis Targets EGFR Signaling and Regulates the Response
      to Anti-Cancer Drugs.
AB  - We have previously reported the role of miR-326-HDAC3 loop in anti-cancer drug
      resistance. CAGE, a cancer/testis antigen, regulates the response to anti-cancer
      drug-resistance by forming a negative feedback loop with miR-200b. Studies
      investigating the relationship between CAGE and HDAC3 revealed that HDAC3
      negatively regulated the expression of CAGE. ChIP assays demonstrated the binding
      of HDAC3 to the promoter sequences of CAGE. However, CAGE did not affect the
      expression of HDAC3. We also found that EGFR signaling regulated the expressions
      of HDAC3 and CAGE. Anti-cancer drug-resistant cancer cell lines show an increased
      expression of pEGFR(Y845). HDAC3 was found to negatively regulate the expression
      of pEGFR(Y845). CAGE showed an interaction and co-localization with EGFR. It was
      seen that miR-326, a negative regulator of HDAC3, regulated the expression of
      CAGE, pEGFR(Y845), and the interaction between CAGE and EGFR. miR-326 inhibitor
      induced the binding of HDAC3 to the promoter sequences in anti-cancer drug
      resistant Malme3M(R) cells, decreasing the tumorigenic potential of Malme3M(R)
      cells in a manner associated with its effect on the expression of HDAC3, CAGE and
      pEGFR(Y845). The down-regulation of HDAC3 enhanced the tumorigenic, angiogenic
      and invasion potential of the anti-cancer drug-sensitive Malme3M cells in CAGE
      dependent manner. Studies revealed that PKCdelta was responsible for the
      increased expression of pEGFR(Y845) and CAGE in Malme3M(R) cells. CAGE showed an
      interaction with PKCdelta in Malme3M(R) cells. Our results show that HDAC3-CAGE
      axis can be employed as a target for overcoming resistance to EGFR inhibitors. 

PMID- 26883908
TI  - Structural Analysis of the Streptomyces avermitilis CYP107W1-Oligomycin A Complex
      and Role of the Tryptophan 178 Residue.
AB  - CYP107W1 from Streptomyces avermitilis is a cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in
      the biosynthesis of macrolide oligomycin A. A previous study reported that
      CYP107W1 regioselectively hydroxylated C12 of oligomycin C to produce oligomycin
      A, and the crystal structure of ligand free CYP107W1 was determined. Here, we
      analyzed the structural properties of the CYP107W1-oligomycin A complex and
      characterized the functional role of the Trp178 residue in CYP107W1. The crystal
      structure of the CYP107W1 complex with oligomycin A was determined at a
      resolution of 2.6 A. Oligomycin A is bound in the substrate access channel on the
      upper side of the prosthetic heme mainly by hydrophobic interactions. In
      particular, the Trp178 residue in the active site intercalates into the large
      macrolide ring, thereby guiding the substrate into the correct binding
      orientation for a productive P450 reaction. A Trp178 to Gly mutation resulted in
      the distortion of binding titration spectra with oligomycin A, whereas binding
      spectra with azoles were not affected. The Gly178 mutant's catalytic turnover
      number for the 12-hydroxylation reaction of oligomycin C was highly reduced.
      These results indicate that Trp178, located in the open pocket of the active
      site, may be a critical residue for the productive binding conformation of large
      macrolide substrates. 

PMID- 26883909
TI  - Injury surveillance and associations with socioeconomic status indicators among
      youth/young workers in New Jersey secondary schools.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Injuries involving career-technical-vocational education (CTE) are
      reported to the New Jersey Safe Schools Program online reporting system, the only
      U.S. State law-based surveillance data for young workers (ages twenty-one and
      younger), a susceptible, vulnerable adolescent sub-population. METHODS: We
      examined potential associations between socioeconomic status (SES) indicators and
      high school student injuries reported between 12/1998-12/2013, excluding injuries
      acquired by staff members. Associations between DFG score-a proxy for
      school/district SES-and variables relating to reported injuries, including
      severity, injury type, injury cause, body parts injured, injury treatment setting
      and demographics were examined with chi square test (X(2)) for independence and
      logistic regression. To assess potential associations between SES and personal
      protective equipment (PPE), data were stratified by 2003-2008 and 2008-2013,
      given mandated payment by employers of PPE for employees. RESULTS: Statistically
      significant associations were found between SES and injury cause [X(2) = (7,
      14.74), p = 0.04] and SES and injury treatment setting [X(2) = (1, 4.76), p =
      0.03]. Adjusted odds ratio suggested students from low SES schools were at a
      higher odds of being treated at a hospital emergency department (ED) than
      students from high SES schools (95 % CI 1.3-4.3, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings indicated low SES schools/districts have increased odds of being treated
      at ED, after controlling for injury severity. Future research should focus on
      implications such associations have on health care access and insurance for young
      workers and their families. With small sample sizes representing lower DFG
      scoring (SES) schools/districts, additional efforts should be enacted to increase
      injury reporting in these schools/districts.

PMID- 26883906
TI  - N-Terminal Acetylation-Targeted N-End Rule Proteolytic System: The Ac/N-End Rule
      Pathway.
AB  - Although Nalpha-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation) is a pervasive protein
      modification in eukaryotes, its general functions in a majority of proteins are
      poorly understood. In 2010, it was discovered that Nt-acetylation creates a
      specific protein degradation signal that is targeted by a new class of the N-end
      rule proteolytic system, called the Ac/N-end rule pathway. Here, we review recent
      advances in our understanding of the mechanism and biological functions of the
      Ac/N-end rule pathway, and its crosstalk with the Arg/N-end rule pathway (the
      classical N-end rule pathway). 

PMID- 26883912
TI  - Program and Abstracts of the 13th Transgenic Technology Meeting (TT2016): Clarion
      Congress Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic, 20-23 March 2016.

PMID- 26883910
TI  - Death receptor-based enrichment of Cas9-expressing cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system has greatly facilitated and
      expanded our capacity to engineer mammalian genomes, including targeted gene
      knock-outs. However, the phenotyping of the knock-out effect requires a high DNA
      editing efficiency. RESULTS: Here, we report a user-friendly strategy based on
      the extrinsic apoptosis pathway that allows enrichment of a polyclonal gene
      edited cell population, by selecting Cas9-transfected cells that co-express
      dominant-negative mutants of death receptors. The extrinsic apoptosis pathway can
      be triggered in many mammalian cell types, and ligands are easy to produce, do
      not require purification and kill much faster than the state-of-the-art selection
      drug puromycin. Stringent assessment of our advanced selection strategy via
      Sanger sequencing, T7 endonuclease I (T7E1) assay and direct phenotyping
      confirmed a strong and rapid enrichment of Cas9-expressing cell populations, in
      some cases reaching up to 100 % within one hour. Notably, the efficiency of
      target DNA cleavage in these enriched cells reached high levels that exceeded the
      reliable range of the T7E1 assay, a conclusion that can be generalized for
      editing efficiencies above 30 %. Moreover, our data emphasize that the insertion
      and deletion pattern induced by a specific gRNA is reproducible across different
      cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The workflow and the findings reported here should
      streamline a wide array of future low- or high-throughput gene knock-out screens,
      and should largely improve data interpretation from CRISPR experiments.

PMID- 26883911
TI  - MiRNA-146b-5p upregulates migration and invasion of different Papillary Thyroid
      Carcinoma cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tumor invasiveness is directly related to the ability of tumor cells
      to migrate and invade surrounding tissues, usually degrading extracellular
      matrix. Despite significant progress in the knowledge about migration and
      invasion, there is much more to elucidate about their regulatory mechanisms,
      especially in cancer cells. MicroRNAs (miRs) were recently described as important
      regulators of migration. Differential expression of miRs in cancer is frequently
      associated with progression, invasion and metastasis. In papillary thyroid
      carcinoma (PTC), miR-146b-5p is highly expressed and positively correlated to the
      degree of malignancy. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the role of miR
      146b-5p on the migratory and invasive behaviors of thyroid cells, using a non
      tumor rat thyroid follicular cell line (PCCl3) transfected with the miR-146b-5p
      genomic region, and two PTC cell lines (TPC-1 and BCPAP, bearing distinct
      oncogenic backgrounds), which express high levels of miR-146b-5p, after miR-146b
      inhibition by antagomiR and miR-146b overexpression by mimics-miR. Migration and
      invasion were studied by time-lapse and transwell assays (with and without
      Matrigel(r)). Gelatin degradation assays were also employed, as well as F-actin
      staining. RESULTS: Migration and invasion of PCCl3 were increased 2-3x after miR
      146b-5p overexpression (10X) and large lamellipodia were evident in those cells.
      After miR-146b-5p inhibition, TPC-1 and BCPAP migration and invasion were
      significantly reduced, with cells showing several simultaneous processes and low
      polarity. Gelatin degradation was inhibited in TPC-1 cells after inhibition of
      miR-146b-5p, but was unaffected in BCPAP cells, which did not degrade gelatin.
      The inhibition of miR-146b-5p in PCCl3 also inhibited migration and invasion, and
      additional (exogenous) overexpression of this miR in TPC-1 and BCPAP cells
      increased migration and invasion, without effects on cell morphology or gelatin
      degradation. The overexpression of SMAD4 in BCPAP cells, a validated target of
      miR-146b-5p and key protein in the TGF-beta signaling pathway, inhibited
      migration similarly to the effects observed with the antagomiR 146b-5p.
      CONCLUSIONS: miR-146b-5p positively regulates migration and invasion of thyroid
      normal and tumor follicular cells (independently from their original mutation,
      either BRAF or RET/PTC), through a mechanism that involves the actin cytoskeleton
      but not an increased capacity of matrix degradation.

PMID- 26883913
TI  - Complex shaped ZnO nano- and microstructure based polymer composites:
      mechanically stable and environmentally friendly coatings for potential
      antifouling applications.
AB  - Since the prohibition of tributyltin (TBT)-based antifouling paints in 2008, the
      development of environmentally compatible and commercially realizable
      alternatives is a crucial issue. Cost effective fabrication of antifouling paints
      with desired physical and biocompatible features is simultaneously required and
      recent developments in the direction of inorganic nanomaterials could play a
      major role. In the present work, a solvent free polymer/particle-composite
      coating based on two component polythiourethane (PTU) and tetrapodal shaped ZnO
      (t-ZnO) nano- and microstructures has been synthesized and studied with respect
      to mechanical, chemical and biocompatibility properties. Furthermore, antifouling
      tests have been carried out in artificial seawater tanks. Four different PTU/t
      ZnO composites with various t-ZnO filling fractions (0 wt%, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%)
      were prepared and the corresponding tensile, hardness, and pull-off test results
      revealed that the composite filled with 5 wt% t-ZnO exhibits the strongest
      mechanical properties. Surface free energy (SFE) studies using contact angle
      measurements showed that the SFE value decreases with an increase in t-ZnO filler
      amounts. The influence of t-ZnO on the polymerization reaction was confirmed by
      Fourier transform infrared-spectroscopy measurements and thermogravimetric
      analysis. The immersion tests demonstrated that fouling behavior of the PTU/t-ZnO
      composite with a 1 wt% t-ZnO filler has been decreased in comparison to pure PTU.
      The composite with a 5 wt% t-ZnO filler showed almost no biofouling. 

PMID- 26883914
TI  - Raman spectroscopy identifies radiation response in human non-small cell lung
      cancer xenografts.
AB  - External beam radiation therapy is a standard form of treatment for numerous
      cancers. Despite this, there are no approved methods to account for patient
      specific radiation sensitivity. In this report, Raman spectroscopy (RS) was used
      to identify radiation-induced biochemical changes in human non-small cell lung
      cancer xenografts. Chemometric analysis revealed unique radiation-related Raman
      signatures that were specific to nucleic acid, lipid, protein and carbohydrate
      spectral features. Among these changes was a dramatic shift in the accumulation
      of glycogen spectral bands for doses of 5 or 15 Gy when compared to unirradiated
      tumours. When spatial mapping was applied in this analysis there was considerable
      variability as we found substantial intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity in the
      distribution of glycogen and other RS spectral features. Collectively, these data
      provide unique insight into the biochemical response of tumours, irradiated in
      vivo, and demonstrate the utility of RS for detecting distinct radiobiological
      responses in human tumour xenografts.

PMID- 26883915
TI  - SpoTyping: fast and accurate in silico Mycobacterium spoligotyping from sequence
      reads.
AB  - SpoTyping is a fast and accurate program for in silico spoligotyping of
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from next-generation sequencing reads. This
      novel method achieves high accuracy for reads of both uniform and varying
      lengths, and is about 20 to 40 times faster than SpolPred. SpoTyping also
      integrates the function of producing a report summarizing associated
      epidemiological data from a global database of all isolates having the same
      spoligotype. SpoTyping is freely available at:
      https://github.com/xiaeryu/SpoTyping-v2.0 . 

PMID- 26883917
TI  - Prothrombotic Risk Factors and Preventive Strategies in Adolescent Venous
      Thromboembolism.
AB  - Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adolescents is a serious condition that requires
      prompt recognition and optimal management to prevent mortality and long-term
      morbidity. Adolescents account for a large proportion of cases of VTE in
      children. As teenagers transition from childhood to adulthood, they are at risk
      of developing medical conditions and exposure to risky habits that predispose
      them to VTE. This review focuses on the variety of risk factors and comorbidities
      seen in adolescent VTE and takes a quick look into risk-based preventive
      strategies for primary and secondary prevention. 

PMID- 26883916
TI  - A review of iron studies in overweight and obese children and adolescents: a
      double burden in the young?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The connection between iron and excessive adiposity has received
      much research interest. Although children and adolescents have unique
      developmental phases and nutritional demands, to date, reviews of iron in the
      overweight (OW) and obese (OB) have combined studies of children and adults or
      have focussed on adults. PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to critically
      evaluate studies of the relationship between iron and OW and obesity in children
      and adolescents, with emphasis on iron status, oral iron response, dietary intake
      and systemic inflammatory markers. METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted to
      identify relevant articles published up to December 2015. Combinations of the
      following keywords were used: iron, OW, OB, children, adolescents, diet,
      hepcidin, inflammation, fortification, supplementation, weight loss, trace
      elements, obesity, iron deficiency (ID), minerals. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A
      higher prevalence of ID, or risk of ID, among OW and OB children and adolescents
      has been consistently observed. Chronic inflammation caused by excessive
      adiposity offers a plausible explanation for this finding, rather than dietary
      factors. However, future studies must employ screening for the presence of both
      acute and chronic infections and inflammatory conditions and report other factors
      such as pubertal status. Intervention studies, although few, indicate that OW and
      OB children and adolescents have reduced response to oral iron. Further trials
      are needed to explore the connection between body fat mass, inflammatory proteins
      and iron absorption, together with the effect of weight loss on iron status in
      iron-deficient OW and OB children and adolescents.

PMID- 26883918
TI  - Bovine male germline stem-like cells cultured in serum- and feeder-free medium.
AB  - Male germline stem cells (mGSCs) presented in male testis are responsible for
      spermatogenesis during their whole life. However, little information can be found
      on the culture of bovine mGSCs, and the current culture system needs to be
      improved. In this study, we compared the effects of several commercial serum-free
      media and different extra-cellular matrix on the enrichment and cultivation of
      mGSCs. To find out the best culture condition, the biological characteristics of
      the cultured cells were evaluated by morphological observation, RT-PCR and
      immunofluorescent staining. According to the cells' condition in different
      experiment groups, we found out an efficient cultivation system for bovine mGSCs
      derived from neonate testis. In this serum- and feeder-free medium, the cultured
      cells maintained the typical morphology, and expressed specific surface markers
      of both pluripotent ES cells and mGSCs, including SSEA-1, CD49f, C-MYC, PLZF,
      GFRalpha1, LIN28, NANOG, Oct4 and SOX2 in commercial human ESCs medium PeproGrow
      hESC + BIO (6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime). Embryoid bodies, derived from the bovine
      mGSCs, and were formed by ganging drop culture. The retinoic acid induced bovine
      mGSCs were positive for Stra8, SCP3, DZAL, EMA1 and VASA, and resembled spermatid
      cells morphologically. Thus, we found an efficient bovine mGSCs-cultivation
      system, which is lack in serum and feeder. 

PMID- 26883919
TI  - Establishment and characterization of a new feline mammary cancer cell line,
      FkMTp.
AB  - Studies on tumours in domestic animals are believed to greatly contribute to a
      better understanding of similar diseases in humans. Comparative studies have
      shown that feline mammary carcinomas share important features with human breast
      cancers, including a similar biological behaviour and histological appearance. In
      the present study we have established and characterized at different cellular
      levels one feline mammary cancer cell line, FkMTp, derived from a cat mammary
      carcinoma. The FkMTp cell line revealed to be a promising resource and tool to
      study tumour microevolution and all the mechanisms and processes involved in
      carcinogenesis from the tumour (primary culture) to the immortalized cell line.
      Several assays were conducted to assess the growth behaviour, differentiated
      morphology, anchorage independent growth in soft agar, wound-healing invasion and
      migration of the cell line across time (from the primary culture until the 160th
      passage). FkMTp revealed increased levels of anchorage independence, migration
      and invasion according to the course of time as well as different numbers of
      ploidy. These results demonstrate and validate the in vitro tumorigenicity of the
      FkMTp cell line. During the cell line establishment, it was cryopreserved
      approximately every six passages, including the tumour primary culture, allowing
      now the possibility to access almost any specific momento of the tumour
      progression. 

PMID- 26883921
TI  - Hospital and 4-Year Mortality Predictors in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Edema
      With and Without Coronary Artery Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long-term prognosis of acute pulmonary edema (APE) remains ill
      defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated demographic, echocardiographic, and
      angiographic data of 806 consecutive patients with APE with (CAD) and without
      coronary artery disease (non-CAD) admitted from 2000 to 2010. Differences between
      hospital and long-term mortality and its predictors were also assessed. CAD
      patients (n=638) were older and had higher incidence of diabetes and peripheral
      vascular disease than non-CAD (n=168), and lower ejection fraction. Hospital
      mortality was similar in both groups (26.5% vs 31.5%; P=0.169) but APE recurrence
      was higher in CAD patients (17.3% vs 6.5%; P<0.001). Age, admission systolic
      blood pressure, recurrence of APE, and need for inotropics or endotracheal
      intubation were the main independent predictors of hospital mortality. In
      contrast, overall mortality (70.0% vs 57.1%; P=0.002) and readmission for
      nonfatal heart failure after a 45-month follow-up (10-140; 17.3% vs 7.6%;
      P=0.009) were higher in CAD than in non-CAD patients. Age, peripheral vascular
      disease, and peak creatine kinase MB during index hospitalization, but not
      ejection fraction, were the main independent predictors of overall mortality,
      whereas coronary revascularization or valvular surgery were protective. These
      interventions were mostly performed during hospitalization index (294 of 307;
      96%) and not intervened patients showed a higher risk profile. CONCLUSIONS: Long
      term mortality in APE is high and higher in CAD than in non-CAD patients.
      Considering the different in-hospital and long-term mortality predictors herein
      described, which do not necessarily involve systolic function, it is conceivable
      that a more aggressive interventional program might improve survival in high-risk
      patients.

PMID- 26883922
TI  - Neighborhood and Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality as Related to the Driving
      Time to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Capable Hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Driving time to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable
      hospital is important in timely treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
      Our objective was to determine whether driving time from one's residence to a PCI
      capable hospital contributes to AMI deaths. We conducted a cross-sectional study
      of age- and sex-adjusted mortality in census block groups to evaluate this
      question. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied all (14 027) AMI deaths that occurred
      during 2008-2012 in Arkansas to assess the relationship between driving time from
      the population center of a block group (neighborhood) to the nearest PCI-capable
      hospital. We estimated standardized mortality ratios in block groups that were
      adjusted for education (population over 25 years of age who did not graduate from
      high school), poverty (population living below federal poverty level), population
      density (population per square mile), mobility (population residing at the same
      address as 1 year ago), black (population that is black), rurality (rural
      households), geodesic distance, and driving time. The median geodesic distance
      and driving time were 12.8 miles (interquartile range 3.6-30.1) and 28.3 minutes
      (interquartile range 9.6-58.7), respectively. Risks in neighborhoods with long
      driving times (90th percentile) were 26% greater than risks in neighborhoods with
      short driving times (10th percentile), even after adjusting for education,
      poverty, population density, rurality, and black race (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:
      AMI mortality increases with increasing driving time to the nearest PCI-capable
      hospital. Improving the healthcare system by reducing time to arrive at a PCI
      capable hospital could reduce AMI deaths.

PMID- 26883923
TI  - CNS infection caused by Pseudallescheria boydii in a near-drowning traveller from
      a traffic accident.

PMID- 26883924
TI  - The tolerability of a combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine in children aged 2
      16 years: an observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines have been widely used
      globally and proven to be safe, well tolerated and efficacious in adults. The
      combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine (Vivaxim) available in Australia is
      licenced for use from age 16 years but the monovalent components are approved for
      use from age 2 years. Advantages of a single injection have led to widespread
      'off-label' use of Vivaxim in children. This study aimed to investigate the
      tolerability of Vivaxim in children aged 2-16 years. METHODS: A prospective
      observational study was conducted at Travel Medicine Alliance clinics across
      Australia. Children who required vaccination for both hepatitis A and typhoid
      were offered the option of receiving Vivaxim. Parents were contacted 3 days post
      vaccination and asked to respond to a questionnaire on adverse events following
      immunization (AEFIs). Reactions to Vivaxim were compared with reported reactions
      to the monovalent vaccines. RESULTS: Our study included 425 children who received
      Vivaxim, including 189 (44.5%) who received other vaccines on the same day. No
      serious AEFIs were reported, and 26.8% did not experience any side effects. In
      children who did not receive other vaccines in the same arm as Vivaxim (n = 325),
      most common local reactions were sore arm (70.5%), redness (16.0%) and swelling
      (11.1%). Reports of local AEFIs in our subjects was significantly more common
      than those reported for the individual monovalent vaccines. In children who did
      not receive other vaccines on the same day (n = 236), the most common systemic
      reactions were tiredness/lethargy/malaise (5.9%), headache (4.2%), fever (3.4%)
      and sore muscles and joints (3.4%). Fever was more common in children aged <6
      years. Less than 5% of children reported missing school, sport or other regular
      activities. CONCLUSIONS: Vivaxim was well tolerated in children aged 2-16 years.
      Parents should be advised about AEFIs to Vivaxim so that they can make informed
      decisions about vaccination options.

PMID- 26883925
TI  - Response: Malaria chemoprophylaxis and self-reported impact on ability to work.

PMID- 26883926
TI  - Hypertonic saline in the treatment of corneal jellyfish stings.
AB  - A 20-year-old male soldier was hit by the jellyfish. The ophthalmic examination
      revealed that epithelial keratitis and corneal oedema in the right eye. We
      prescribed 3% NaCl eyedrops and 0.3% Norfloxacin eyedrops in the treatment of the
      corneal jellyfish stings. Two weeks later, the cornea in the right eye healed. In
      this case report, 3% NaCl eyedrops was effective in the treatment of acute phase
      of jellyfish stings of the cornea. 

PMID- 26883927
TI  - International travelers and unintentional fatal drowning in Australia--a 10 year
      review 2002-12.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: . Drowning deaths of travelers are commonly reported in the media,
      creating a perception that they are at a higher risk of drowning than residents.
      This may be true, due in part to unfamiliarity with the risks posed by the
      hazard, however there is limited information about drowning deaths of travelers
      in Australia. This study aims to identify the incidence of drowning among
      international travelers in Australia and examine the risk factors to inform
      prevention strategies. METHODS: . Data on unintentional fatal drowning in
      Australian waterways of victims with a residential postcode from outside
      Australia were extracted from the Royal Life Saving Society-Australia National
      Fatal Drowning Database. RESULTS: . Between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2012 drowning
      deaths among people known to be international travelers accounted for 4.3% (N =
      123) of the 2870 drowning deaths reported in Australian waterways. Key locations
      for drowning deaths included beaches (39.0%), ocean/harbour (22.0%) and swimming
      pools (12.2%). Leading activities prior to drowning included swimming (52.0%),
      diving (17.9%) and watercraft incidents (13.0%). DISCUSSION: . International
      travelers pose a unique challenge from a drowning prevention perspective. The
      ability to exchange information on water safety is complicated due to potential
      language barriers, possible differences in swimming ability, different attitudes
      to safety in the traveler's home country and culture, a lack of opportunities to
      discuss safety, a relaxed attitude to safety which may result in an increase in
      risk taking behaviour and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: . Prevention is vital
      both to reduce loss of life in the aquatic environment and promote Australia as a
      safe and enjoyable holiday destination for international travelers.

PMID- 26883928
TI  - Doxorubicin-conjugated CuS nanoparticles for efficient synergistic therapy
      triggered by near-infrared light.
AB  - To integrate photothermal therapy (PTT) with chemotherapy for improving
      anticancer efficiency, we developed a novel and multifunctional doxorubicin (DOX)
      conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticle (CuS-DOX NP) drug delivery system using
      hydrazone bonds to conjugate carboxyl-functionalized copper sulfide nanoparticles
      (CuS NPs) and DOX. On the other hand, the hydrazone bonds could be used for
      improving the DOX release rate (88.0%) by cleavage in a mildly acidic environment
      irradiated by 808 nm laser light, which could greatly promote chemo-therapeutic
      efficacy. Simultaneously, CuS NPs which can absorb near infrared (NIR) light
      produce a clear thermal effect, giving rise to a synergistic therapeutic effect
      combined with enhanced chemo-therapy. The DOX-conjugated CuS NPs display an
      evident in vitro cytotoxicity to HeLa cancer cells under 808 nm light
      irradiation. High tumor inhibition efficacy has been achieved after 14 day in
      vivo treatment, performed with intravenous administration of CuS-DOX NPs with 808
      nm laser irradiation on H22 tumor-bearing mice. The multifunctional system which
      was achieved by a facile route should be a potential candidate in the anti-cancer
      field due to the synergistic therapeutic effect, which is superior to any single
      approach. 

PMID- 26883930
TI  - Erratum to: Intermittent Obstructive Jaundice Following Gastric Band Placement.

PMID- 26883931
TI  - Laparoscopic Transgastric Enucleation of a Gastric Leiomyoma near the
      Esophagogastric Junction and Concomitant Sleeve Gastrectomy: Video Report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity and bariatric surgery (BS) are increasing worldwide and can
      potentially lead to incidental diagnosis of benign gastric tumor including
      gastric leiomyoma (GL). When indicated, local tumor enucleation, completed
      through laparoscopic minimal-invasive approaches, has proven to be safe and
      effective especially when located near the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) with
      limited morbidity as compared to partial or total gastrectomies. Little is known
      regarding the most appropriate strategy concerning the management of GL
      regardless of the location in patients' candidate for BS. METHODS: We present the
      case of a 67-year-old morbidly obese woman. She presented with an incidental 3-cm
      GL developed near the EGJ and antral histologic abnormalities mandating a gastric
      follow-up. Therefore, we performed both laparoscopic transgastric enucleation and
      sleeve gastrectomy simultaneously. RESULTS: After identification of the lesion,
      the gastrocolic ligament was divided and a gastrotomy was performed along the
      greater curvature to expose the tumor. Once the submucosal plan was identified,
      the lesion was enucleated from the submucosamuscle junction. After closure of the
      mucosal defect and ensuring the absence of gastric wall perforation, a
      conventional laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed. No adverse outcomes
      occurred during the post-operative period. The final pathologic diagnosis showed
      a completely resected and benign leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: Herein, we report the
      first laparoscopic transgastric enucleation of a GL localized close to the EGJ
      performed concomitant with a sleeve gastrectomy. This combined approach appeared
      feasible, safe, and do not compromise the access to the GI tract as well as
      potential future curative treatments on the gastric sleeve.

PMID- 26883929
TI  - Indications and Operative Outcomes of Gastric Bypass Reversal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the best-known and most
      commonly performed bariatric procedures. However, this procedure carries
      infrequent but serious long-term complications, which may require revisional
      procedures. This study reports the indications and outcomes of gastric bypass
      reversal that have not been described well in the literature. METHODS: A
      multicenter retrospective study of 50 patients who underwent reversal of RYGB
      conducted between 2006 and 2015 was reviewed to describe the usual indications
      and outcomes of gastric bypass reversal surgeries. RESULTS: Of 50 patients, 7 (14
      %) were males and 43 (86 %) were females. The mean age of the patient population
      was 40.4 +/- 11.6 years (range 19-66). Reasons for reversal included anastomotic
      ulcers (n = 27), anastomotic complications (n = 9), malnutrition (n = 2), and
      functional disorder (n = 12). The mean BMI before the reversal was 29 +/- 9.4
      kg/m(2) (range 16-60). The mean time between the primary procedure and reversal
      was 60 +/- 65.5 months (range 2-300). Fourteen of the reversals were done via
      laparotomy. Mean hospital stay was 8.4 +/- 7.3 days (range 3-34 days). There was
      no peri-operative death 30 days after reversal. Following gastric bypass
      reversal, 92.6 % (n = 25) of the patient population had resolution from ulcers,
      77.8 % (n = 7) of the patient population had resolution from anatomic
      complications, 100 % (n = 2) of the patient population had resolution from
      malnutrition, and 66.7 % (n = 8) of the patient population had resolution from
      functional disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric bypass reversal is a reasonable and
      safe treatment for complications arising from the GBP surgery. A laparoscopic
      approach is feasible in select patients.

PMID- 26883933
TI  - Perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions with a synthetic storage or reference
      layer: A new route towards Pt- and Pd-free junctions.
AB  - We report here the development of Pt and Pd-free perpendicular magnetic tunnel
      junctions (p-MTJ) for STT-MRAM applications. We start by studying a p-MTJ
      consisting of a bottom synthetic Co/Pt reference layer and a synthetic
      FeCoB/Ru/FeCoB storage layer covered with an MgO layer. We first investigate the
      evolution of RKKY coupling with Ru spacer thickness in such a storage layer. The
      coupling becomes antiferromagnetic above 0.5 nm and its strength decreases
      monotonously with increasing Ru thickness. This contrasts with the behavior of Co
      based systems for which a maximum in interlayer coupling is generally observed
      around 0.8 nm. A thin Ta insertion below the Ru spacer considerably decreases the
      coupling energy, without basically changing its variation with Ru thickness.
      After optimization of the non-magnetic and magnetic layer thicknesses, it appears
      that such a FeCoB/Ru/FeCoB synthetic storage layer sandwiched between MgO
      barriers can be made stable enough to actually be used as hard reference layer in
      single or double magnetic tunnel junctions, the storage layer being now a single
      soft FeCoB layer. Finally, we realize Pt- or Pd-free robust perpendicular
      magnetic tunnel junctions, still keeping the advantage of a synthetic reference
      layer in terms of reduction of stray fields at small pillar sizes.

PMID- 26883934
TI  - Comparison of toxicity profile and tolerability between two standard of care
      paclitaxel-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in breast cancer.
AB  - In breast cancer, there are two widely used paclitaxel-based adjuvant
      chemotherapies, either dose dense paclitaxel (ddP) or weekly paclitaxel (wP). To
      our knowledge, the comparisons of toxicity and tolerability between the two
      regimens have never been reported in the literature. This is a retrospective
      single-institution charts review of breast cancer patients who were treated with
      paclitaxel-based chemotherapy either ddP or wP. In total, 76 and 45 patients with
      breast cancer received adjuvant standard ddP and wP, respectively. Patient
      characteristics in both groups were comparable. Our results showed no statistical
      significant difference in toxicity profile and tolerability between the two
      regimens. Particularly, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) was
      equally observed in both schedules. Furthermore, grade 3 and 4 CIPN was observed
      in 17 and 18 %, respectively (p = 0.93). In terms of tolerability, both regimens
      resulted in similar rates of hospitalization and treatment discontinuation. Our
      data analysis indicates no significant difference in toxicity profile between the
      two standard paclitaxel regimens in breast cancer. However, this is a small
      sample-sized retrospective study and further prospective trial with a larger
      sample size is warranted. 

PMID- 26883936
TI  - Fast hepatic biotransformation of p-synephrine and p-octopamine and implications
      for their oral intake.
AB  - Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) extracts have been used in products for weight
      management and sports performance. These extracts contain large amounts of p
      synephrine and much smaller amounts of p-octopamine. Both protoalkaloids exert
      lipolytic and glycogenolytic activities at similar concentrations. The
      biotransformation of p-synephrine and p-octopamine is not as well-known as those
      of other adrenergic amines. For this reason transformation of these amines was
      investigated in the isolated perfused liver. Special attention was devoted to the
      single pass extraction of each compound as well as to the kinetics of uptake. The
      assay of the amines in the outflowing perfusate was done by means of high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The single pass extraction of p
      synephrine was higher than 90% at a portal concentration of 10 MUM. It declined
      with the concentration, but was still around 30% at the concentration of 500 MUM.
      At low concentrations (10-50 MUM) the decreasing sequence of single pass
      extractions was p-synephrine > p-octopamine ~ epinephrine > norepinephrine. Rates
      of uptake versus p-synephrine concentration resulted in a Michaelis-Menten type
      of relationship, with a KM value of 290.7 +/- 32.1 MUM and a Vmax of 0.762 +/-
      0.042 MUmol min(-1) g(-1). The rates of uptake of p-octopamine did not present
      clear saturation and could be approximated by a linear relationship with a first
      order rate constant of 1.5 min(-1). The rapid hepatic transformation of p
      synephrine and p-octopamine means that their concentration in the portal vein
      exceeds that in the systemic circulation during absorption. Their metabolic
      effects will, thus, be exerted predominantly in the liver. 

PMID- 26883935
TI  - Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies in resectable pancreatic cancer: a systematic
      review of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - The timing of surgery and antineoplastic therapies in patients with resectable
      non-metastatic pancreatic cancer is still a controversial matter of debate, with
      special regard to neoadjuvant approaches. Following the criteria of the PRISMA
      statement, a literature search was conducted looking for RCTs focusing on
      adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies in resectable pancreatic cancer. The quality
      of the available evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool
      for assessing risk of bias. Data extraction was carried out by two independent
      investigators. The search led to the identification of 2830 papers of which 14
      RCTs focusing on adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of resectable pancreatic
      cancer eligible for the systematic review. Risk of bias was estimated "unclear"
      in 3 studies and "high" in 5 studies. Median age ranged between 53 and 66.
      Overall survival in the surgery-only arms ranged between 11 and 20.2 months; in
      the adjuvant treatment arms 12.5-29.8 months; and in the neoadjuvant setting 9.9
      19.4 months. Neoadjuvant protocols should be offered only in randomized clinical
      trials comparing the standard of care (surgery followed by adjuvant treatments)
      to a neoadjuvant approach followed by surgery and adjuvant treatment. 

PMID- 26883937
TI  - Is late-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism a specific age-dependent disease, or
      merely an epiphenomenon caused by accumulating disease-burden?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to summarize the available evidence
      supporting the link between late onset hypogonadism (LOH) and associated common
      clinical illnesses, focusing on metabolic diseases. The possible benefits or
      risks related to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in these conditions will
      also be analyzed. METHODS: An extensive Medline search was performed. RESULTS:
      LOH is closely associated with a worse metabolic profile and a higher
      cardiovascular risk. The relationship between hypogonadism obesity and insulin
      resistance is complex and bidirectional. Emerging evidence suggests a positive
      role of TRT in improving body composition and metabolic outcomes in subjects with
      LOH. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the aforementioned data, it is not completely known
      whether reduced testosterone levels in elderly males might play a direct
      pathogenetic role in these conditions or whether low T and associated morbidities
      are concomitant conditions, both associated with the aging process. Further and
      longer studies are advisable to confirm the preliminary results.

PMID- 26883938
TI  - Large-area perovskite nanowire arrays fabricated by large-scale roll-to-roll
      micro-gravure printing and doctor blading.
AB  - Organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite nanowires (PNWs) show great potential
      applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, field
      effect transistors and photodetectors. It is very meaningful to fabricate
      ordered, large-area PNW arrays and greatly accelerate their applications and
      commercialization in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Herein, highly
      oriented and ultra-long methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) PNW array thin
      films were fabricated by large-scale roll-to-roll (R2R) micro-gravure printing
      and doctor blading in ambient environments (humility ~45%, temperature ~28 
      degrees C), which produced PNW lengths as long as 15 mm. Furthermore,
      photodetectors based on these PNWs were successfully fabricated on both silicon
      oxide (SiO2) and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates and showed
      moderate performance. This study provides low-cost, large-scale techniques to
      fabricate large-area PNW arrays with great potential applications in flexible
      electronic and optoelectronic devices. 

PMID- 26883939
TI  - Non-invasive detection of iron deficiency by fluorescence measurement of
      erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin in the lip.
AB  - Worldwide, more individuals have iron deficiency than any other health problem.
      Most of those affected are unaware of their lack of iron, in part because
      detection of iron deficiency has required a blood sample. Here we report a non
      invasive method to optically measure an established indicator of iron status, red
      blood cell zinc protoporphyrin, in the microcirculation of the lower lip. An
      optical fibre probe is used to illuminate the lip and acquire fluorescence
      emission spectra in ~1 min. Dual-wavelength excitation with spectral fitting is
      used to distinguish the faint zinc protoporphyrin fluorescence from the much
      greater tissue background fluorescence, providing immediate results. In 56 women,
      35 of whom were iron-deficient, the sensitivity and specificity of optical non
      invasive detection of iron deficiency were 97% and 90%, respectively. This
      fluorescence method potentially provides a rapid, easy to use means for point-of
      care screening for iron deficiency in resource-limited settings lacking
      laboratory infrastructure. 

PMID- 26883940
TI  - Conflicting demands of abstract and specific visual object processing resolved by
      frontoparietal networks.
AB  - Object categorization and exemplar identification place conflicting demands on
      the visual system, yet humans easily perform these fundamentally contradictory
      tasks. Previous studies suggest the existence of dissociable visual processing
      subsystems to accomplish the two abilities-an abstract category (AC) subsystem
      that operates effectively in the left hemisphere and a specific exemplar (SE)
      subsystem that operates effectively in the right hemisphere. This multiple
      subsystems theory explains a range of visual abilities, but previous studies have
      not explored what mechanisms exist for coordinating the function of multiple
      subsystems and/or resolving the conflicts that would arise between them. We
      collected functional MRI data while participants performed two variants of a cue
      probe working memory task that required AC or SE processing. During the
      maintenance phase of the task, the bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS) exhibited
      hemispheric asymmetries in functional connectivity consistent with exerting
      proactive control over the two visual subsystems: greater connectivity to the
      left hemisphere during the AC task, and greater connectivity to the right
      hemisphere during the SE task. Moreover, probe-evoked activation revealed
      activity in a broad frontoparietal network (containing IPS) associated with
      reactive control when the two visual subsystems were in conflict, and variations
      in this conflict signal across trials was related to the visual similarity of the
      cue-probe stimulus pairs. Although many studies have confirmed the existence of
      multiple visual processing subsystems, this study is the first to identify the
      mechanisms responsible for coordinating their operations.

PMID- 26883941
TI  - Association of HLA-G 3' untranslated region variants with type 1 diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Besides the well recognized association of HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles with type 1
      diabetes mellitus (T1D), linkage studies have identified a gene region close to
      the non-classical class I HLA-G gene as an independent susceptibility marker. HLA
      G is constitutively expressed in the endocrine compartment of the human pancreas
      and may play a role in controlling autoimmune responses. We evaluated the genetic
      diversity of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of HLA-G, which have been
      associated with HLA-G mRNA post-transcriptional regulation, in 120 Brazilian T1D
      patients and in 120 healthy controls. We found the +3001 T allele was observed
      only in T1D patients. Notably, the +3001 T allele was in linkage disequilibrium
      with polymorphic sites associated with low production of HLA-G mRNA or soluble
      HLA-G levels. Moreover, T1D patients showed a low frequency of the HLA-G 3'UTR-17
      (14bpINS/+3001T/+3003T/+3010C/+3027C/+3035T/+3142G/+3187A/+3196C). The +3010 CC
      genotype and the UTR-3 haplotype
      (14bpDEL/+3001C/+3003T/+3010C/+3027C/+3035C/+3142G/+3187A/+3196C), associated
      with low and moderate soluble HLA-G expression, respectively, were
      underrepresented in patients. The decreased expression of HLA-G at the pancreas
      level should be detrimental in individuals genetically prone to produce less HLA
      G.

PMID- 26883942
TI  - CHANGES IN THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF A VALLEY IN THE PYRENEES (CATALONIA, SPAIN).
AB  - In some situations the use of isonymy is the best strategy for studying the
      genetic structure of a population and its biological history. In this study
      different population parameters were calculated for one of the most isolated
      valleys in the Pyrenees - the region of the Alta Ribagorca in Catalonia, Spain.
      Surnames from marriage records covering the continuous period from 1638 to 1988
      were used. From 1950 onwards this region underwent important social, economic and
      biological changes related to the introduction of hydroelectric and mining
      industries, and the change from livestock farming to a society based on services.
      Two periods were analysed (1638-1950 and 1951-1988) allowing population changes
      that occurred in the region to be determined. The study focused on calculating
      the number of surnames by gender, diversity index (H), population sub-structure
      (RP-RPr)/RPr and inbreeding coefficient (F t) and detection of possible genetic
      barriers. The results demonstrate the importance that geography initially had in
      shaping the genetic structure of the population and how this was gradually
      replaced by other parameters such as roads or the social and economic importance
      of towns. An interesting phenomenon is that inbreeding has traditionally been
      associated with rural life, isolation and endogamy. However, for the Alta
      Ribagorca it was observed that in the second period, 1951-1988, inbreeding mainly
      depended on the composition of migrant groups and the reaction of the native
      population to the arrival of migrants from outside the region.

PMID- 26883944
TI  - Reporting treatment outcomes in observational data: A fine balance.
AB  - Analyses of observational data have been gaining momentum in the evaluation of
      ever increasing spectrum of disease modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis.
      While high cost-effectiveness and generalisability represent their main
      advantages, these studies are also burdened with high risk of bias that may lead
      to erroneous conclusions. In this viewpoint, we highlight the key role of
      rigorous and transparent statistical methodology in the studies of observational
      data and encourage its thorough editorial scrutiny.

PMID- 26883943
TI  - A serial 10-year follow-up study of brain atrophy and disability progression in
      RRMS patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We explored the evolution of brain atrophy in relation to development
      of confirmed disability progression (CDP) on serial 1.5T magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) scans over a 10-year period in 181 patients with early relapsing
      remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: At 10-year follow-up, they were
      divided into those with (100) or without (76) CDP (confirmed after 48 weeks).
      Changes in whole brain (WB), cortical, gray matter (GM), white matter, and
      ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (vCSF) volumes were calculated on three
      dimensional T1-weighted (3D-T1) scans between all available time points. RESULTS:
      In multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with CDP compared to those without, the
      greatest effect size percentage volume change from baseline to follow-up was
      detected for WB (d = 0.55, -7.5% vs -5.2%, p < 0.001), followed by vCSF (d =
      0.51, +41.1% vs +25.7%, p < 0.001), cortical (d = 0.49, -7.7% vs -6.2%, p =
      0.001), and GM (d = 0.40, -7.1% vs -5.8%, p = 0.006) volumes. Mixed-effects model
      analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and treatment change, showed significant
      interactions between CDP status and percentage changes for WB and vCSF (p <
      0.001), cortical (p = 0.02), and GM (p = 0.04) volumes. CONCLUSIONS: WB and
      cortical atrophy, and enlargement of vCSF spaces are associated with development
      of CDP on serial yearly MRI assessments over a period of 10 years.

PMID- 26883945
TI  - Abnormal galactosylation of immunoglobulin G in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple
      sclerosis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glycosylation alterations have been associated with the development
      of several human diseases and their animal models, including multiple sclerosis.
      OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether immunoglobulin G galactosylation might
      be changed in multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Immunoglobulin G was isolated from
      serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis or viral
      meningitis and control patients without history of inflammatory or autoimmune
      disease. A lectin-based assay was used to investigate potential galactosylation
      modifications of immunoglobulin G. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Galactosylation of
      immunoglobulin G isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of control patients was found
      to be age- and gender-dependent. In addition, immunoglobulin G galactosylation
      was significantly altered in cerebrospinal fluid but not in serum of multiple
      sclerosis patients. Furthermore, this modification was correlated with an active
      progression of multiple sclerosis. Finally, the loss of galactosyl moieties was
      not simply associated with inflammation as no such change was detected in viral
      meningitis patients characterized by brain inflammation.

PMID- 26883947
TI  - Thermal plasticity in farmed, wild and hybrid Atlantic salmon during early
      development: has domestication caused divergence in low temperature tolerance?
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the past three decades, millions of domesticated Atlantic salmon
      Salmo salar L. have escaped from farms into the wild. Their offspring display
      reduced survival in the natural environment, which demonstrates that gene-flow is
      likely to have a negative effect on wild populations. However, inter-population
      differences in introgression of farmed salmon have been observed, and the
      underlying ecological mechanisms remain enigmatic. We hypothesised that
      domestication-driven divergence in tolerance to low temperatures during early
      development may contribute to lower survival of farmed salmon offspring in the
      wild, which in turn, may influence patterns of introgression among populations
      exposed to different temperature regimes. We reared the offspring of 35 families
      of wild, farmed and hybrid origin at three temperatures (3.9, 5.6 and 12 degrees
      C) from the onset of exogenous feeding and throughout their first summer. Thermal
      reaction norms for growth and survival were investigated along the gradient.
      RESULTS: The main results of this study, which is based upon the analysis of
      juvenile salmon from five wild strains, two farmed strains and two hybrid
      strains, can be summarised as; (i) salmon of all origins were able to
      successfully initiate feeding at all temperatures and similar survival reaction
      norms were detected in all strains across the temperature gradient; (ii)
      deviating growth reaction norms were detected between strains, although this
      result was most likely due to an overall lack of growth in the lower temperature
      treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed no evidence of domesticated-driven
      divergence in low temperature tolerance in Atlantic salmon during early
      development. Although the potential interaction between low temperature and other
      river-specific factors cannot be excluded, our results indicate that the reduced
      survival of farmed offspring in the wild is not explained by farmed salmon
      displaying impaired abilities to initiate feeding at low temperatures. We
      therefore suggest that the observed inter-population patterns of introgression
      are not low-temperature driven and that other ecological or biological factors
      may explain why detection of farmed salmon in wild rivers is not synonymous with
      introgression. In general, our results support the literature indicating that
      phenotypic plasticity instead of thermal adaption has been selected for in
      Atlantic salmon.

PMID- 26883948
TI  - Biocompatibility of artificial bone based on vancomycin loaded mesoporous silica
      nanoparticles and calcium sulfate composites.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility
      of artificial bone based on vancomycin loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles and
      calcium sulfate composites. In vitro cytotoxicity tests by cholecystokinin
      octapeptide (CCK-8) assay showed that the 5%Van-MSN-CaSO4 and Van-CaSO4 bone
      cements were cytocompatible for mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. The
      microscopic observation confirmed that MC3T3-E1cells incubated with Van-CaSO4
      group and 5%Van-MSN-CaSO4 group exhibited clear spindle-shaped changes, volume
      increase and maturation, showing that these cements supported adhesion of
      osteoblastic cells on their surfaces. In addition, the measurement of alkaline
      phosphatase activity revealed the osteoconductive property of these biomaterials.
      In order to assess in vivo biocompatibility, synthesized cements were implanted
      into the distal femur of twelve adult male and female New Zealand rabbits. After
      implantation in artificial defects of the distal femur, 5%Van-MSN-CaSO4 and Van
      CaSO4 bone cements did not damage the function of main organs of rabbits. In
      addition, the Van-MSN-CaSO4 composite allowed complete repair of bone defects
      with new bone formation 3 months after implantation. These results show potential
      application of Van-MSN-CaSO4 composites as bone graft materials for the treatment
      of open fracture in human due to its mechanical, osteoconductive and potential
      sustained drug release characteristics and the absence of adverse effects on the
      body.

PMID- 26883946
TI  - Phosphate induces formation of matrix vesicles during odontoblast-initiated
      mineralization in vitro.
AB  - Mineralization is a process of deposition of calcium phosphate crystals within a
      fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM). In mineralizing tissues, such as dentin, bone
      and hypertrophic cartilage, this process is initiated by a specific population of
      extracellular vesicles (EV), called matrix vesicles (MV). Although it has been
      proposed that MV are formed by shedding of the plasma membrane, the cellular and
      molecular mechanisms regulating formation of mineralization-competent MV are not
      fully elucidated. In these studies, 17IIA11, ST2, and MC3T3-E1 osteogenic cell
      lines were used to determine how formation of MV is regulated during initiation
      of the mineralization process. In addition, the molecular composition of MV
      secreted by 17IIA11 cells and exosomes from blood and B16-F10 melanoma cell line
      was compared to identify the molecular characteristics distinguishing MV from
      other EV. Western blot analyses demonstrated that MV released from 17IIA11 cells
      are characterized by high levels of proteins engaged in calcium and phosphate
      regulation, but do not express the exosomal markers CD81 and HSP70. Furthermore,
      we uncovered that the molecular composition of MV released by 17IIA11 cells
      changes upon exposure to the classical inducers of osteogenic differentiation,
      namely ascorbic acid and phosphate. Specifically, lysosomal proteins Lamp1 and
      Lamp2a were only detected in MV secreted by cells stimulated with osteogenic
      factors. Quantitative nanoparticle tracking analyses of MV secreted by osteogenic
      cells determined that standard osteogenic factors stimulate MV secretion and that
      phosphate is the main driver of their secretion. On the molecular level,
      phosphate-induced MV secretion is mediated through activation of extracellular
      signal-regulated kinases Erk1/2 and is accompanied by re-organization of
      filamentous actin. In summary, we determined that mineralization-competent MV are
      distinct from exosomes, and we identified a new role of phosphate in the process
      of ECM mineralization. These data provide novel insights into the mechanisms of
      MV formation during initiation of the mineralization process.

PMID- 26883951
TI  - Formal [4 + 1] Cycloadditions of beta,beta-Diaryl-Substituted ortho
      (Alkynyl)styrenes through Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reactions.
AB  - Gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of beta,beta-diaryl-o-(alkynyl)styrenes at
      80  degrees C selectively yields dihydroindeno[2,1-a]indenes in a transformation
      that encompasses a formal [4 + 1] cycloaddition and takes place through a cascade
      5-endo-cyclization-diene activation-iso-Nazarov cyclization. In addition, by
      performing the reaction at 0  degrees C, the same substrates exclusively give
      rise to benzofulvene derivatives, which have also been shown to be intermediates
      in the formation of the tetracyclics. 

PMID- 26883949
TI  - Development of three-dimensional tissue engineered bone-oral mucosal composite
      models.
AB  - Tissue engineering of bone and oral mucosa have been extensively studied
      independently. The aim of this study was to develop and investigate a novel
      combination of bone and oral mucosa in a single 3D in vitro composite tissue
      mimicking the natural structure of alveolar bone with an overlying oral mucosa.
      Rat osteosarcoma (ROS) cells were seeded into a hydroxyapatite/tri-calcium
      phosphate scaffold and bone constructs were cultured in a spinner bioreactor for
      3 months. An engineered oral mucosa was fabricated by air/liquid interface
      culture of immortalized OKF6/TERET-2 oral keratinocytes on collagen gel-embedded
      fibroblasts. EOM was incorporated into the engineered bone using a tissue
      adhesive and further cultured prior to qualitative and quantitative assessments.
      Presto Blue assay revealed that ROS cells remained vital throughout the
      experiment. The histological and scanning electron microscope examinations showed
      that the cells proliferated and densely populated the scaffold construct. Micro
      computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning revealed an increase in closed porosity
      and a decrease in open and total porosity at the end of the culture period.
      Histological examination of bone-oral mucosa model showed a relatively
      differentiated parakeratinized epithelium, evenly distributed fibroblasts in the
      connective tissue layer and widely spread ROS cells within the bone scaffold. The
      feasibility of fabricating a novel bone-oral mucosa model using cell lines is
      demonstrated. Generating human 'normal' cell-based models with further
      characterization is required to optimize the model for in vitro and in vivo
      applications.

PMID- 26883950
TI  - Do we need oxytocin to treat schizophrenia? A randomized clinical trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a disabling complex mental disorder and despite all
      available treatment, many patients unfortunately remain partial- or non
      responders. A large body of research has shown that oxytocin is an important
      prosocial peptide and there is initial evidence that the central oxytocin system
      is altered in several mental disorders. The aim of this study was to test the
      efficacy of oxytocin, as augmentation therapy, in a sample of patients with
      schizophrenia. METHODS: We conducted an 8-month randomized, double-blind,
      controlled trial with a crossover design. We wanted to test the hypothesis that
      intranasal oxytocin could reduce symptoms in 32 patients with schizophrenia aged
      18-45 with short-medium illness duration (<11 years). Patients were randomly
      assigned to either 40 International Units oxytocin once daily or a vehicle
      placebo group, in addition to their pre-study antipsychotic medication regimen.
      We subsequently conducted a multi-dimensional assessment including
      psychopathological, psychosocial and neuropsychological aspects. RESULTS:
      Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores showed no significant differences in
      treatment effects between the experimental group and controls. Furthermore, no
      treatment effects were shown in any of the rating scales used in this study.
      However, a statistically significant period effect was shown in most outcome
      measurements. CONCLUSIONS: In our trial, oxytocin did not add any significant
      beneficial effects to anti-psychotic treatment in terms of clinical symptoms or
      psychosocial functioning. Further research should focus on different ways to
      administer oxytocin, or investigate predictors (such as past traumas, or
      biomarkers), which could identify subgroups of patients with different treatment
      responses to oxytocin. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01699997. ID number: RF
      2010-2311148. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01699997.

PMID- 26883952
TI  - Application of Recombinant Proteins for Serodiagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis
      in Humans and Dogs.
AB  - Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania species.
      Dogs are considered to be the main reservoir of VL. A number of methods and
      antigen-based assays are used for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. However,
      currently available methods are mainly based on direct examination of tissues for
      the presence of parasites, which is highly invasive. A variety of serological
      tests are commonly applied for VL diagnosis, including indirect fluorescence
      antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot-ELISA, direct
      agglutination test, Western-blotting, and immunochromatographic test. However,
      when soluble antigens are used, serological tests are less specific due to cross
      reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Several studies have attempted to
      replace soluble antigens with recombinant proteins to improve the sensitivity and
      the specificity of the immunodiagnostic tests. Major technological advances in
      recombinant antigens as reagents for the serological diagnosis of VL have led to
      high sensitivity and specificity of these serological tests. A great number of
      recombinant proteins have been shown to be effective for the diagnosis of
      leishmania infection in dogs, the major reservoir of L. infantum. Although few
      recombinant proteins with high efficacy provide reasonable results for the
      diagnosis of human and canine VL, more optimization is still needed for the
      appropriate antigens to provide high-throughput performance. This review aims to
      explore the application of different recombinant proteins for the serodiagnosis
      of VL in humans and dogs. 

PMID- 26883954
TI  - Erythropoietin stimulating agents do not significantly improve quality of life in
      chronic kidney disease, study finds.

PMID- 26883953
TI  - A SUMO-acetyl switch in PXR biology.
AB  - Post-translational modification (PTM) of nuclear receptor superfamily members
      regulates various aspects of their biology to include sub-cellular localization,
      the repertoire of protein-binding partners, as well as their stability and mode
      of degradation. The nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a master
      regulator of the drug-inducible gene expression in liver and intestine. The PXR
      mediated gene activation program is primarily recognized to increase drug
      metabolism, drug transport, and drug efflux pathways in these tissues. The
      activation of PXR also has important implications in significant human diseases
      including inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Our recent investigations reveal
      that PXR is modified by multiple PTMs to include phosphorylation, SUMOylation,
      and ubiquitination. Using both primary cultures of hepatocytes and cell-based
      assays, we show here that PXR is modified through acetylation on lysine residues.
      Further, we show that increased acetylation of PXR stimulates its increased SUMO
      modification to support active transcriptional suppression. Pharmacologic
      inhibition of lysine de-acetylation using trichostatin A (TSA) alters the sub
      cellular localization of PXR in cultured hepatocytes, and also has a profound
      impact upon PXR transactivation capacity. Both the acetylation and SUMOylation
      status of the PXR protein is affected by its ability to associate with the lysine
      de-acetylating enzyme histone de-acetylase (HDAC)3 in a complex with silencing
      mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT). Taken together,
      our data support a model in which a SUMO-acetyl 'switch' occurs such that
      acetylation of PXR likely stimulates SUMO-modification of PXR to promote the
      active repression of PXR-target gene expression. This article is part of a
      Special Issue entitled: Xenobiotic nuclear receptors: New Tricks for An Old Dog,
      edited by Dr. Wen Xie.

PMID- 26883955
TI  - Design of pH-Responsive Biomaterials to Enable the Oral Route of Hematological
      Factor IX.
AB  - The oral administration of hematological factor IX (FIX) can offer a convenient
      prophylactic treatment for hemophilia B patients. pH-Responsive hydrogels based
      on poly(methacrylic acid)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (P(MAA-g-EG)) have been
      engineered as delivery vehicles for FIX. In oral delivery, such hydrogel carriers
      protected FIX from the gastric environment and released it under intestinal
      conditions as demonstrated by evaluation of the loading and release of FIX.
      Tailoring of the hydrogel networks improved the loading of FIX within the
      microcarriers, which is critical for minimizing protein degradation. Optimizing
      the loading conditions by increasing the incubation time and using a reduced
      ionic strength buffer further improved the delivery potential of the
      microcarriers. The presence of the microcarriers significantly enhanced the oral
      absorption of FIX in vitro. As shown in this work, P(MAA-g-EG) microcarriers are
      promising candidates for the oral delivery of FIX.

PMID- 26883956
TI  - Viscoelastic Response of the Human Lower Back to Passive Flexion: The Effects of
      Age.
AB  - Low back pain is a leading cause of disability in the elderly. The potential role
      of spinal instability in increasing risk of low back pain with aging was
      indirectly investigated via assessment of age-related differences in viscoelastic
      response of lower back to passive deformation. The passive deformation tests were
      conducted in upright standing posture to account for the effects of gravity load
      and corresponding internal tissues responses on the lower back viscoelastic
      response. Average bending stiffness, viscoelastic relaxation, and dissipated
      energy were quantified to characterize viscoelastic response of the lower back.
      Larger average bending stiffness, viscoelastic relaxation and dissipated energy
      were observed among older vs. younger participants. Furthermore, average bending
      stiffness of the lower back was found to be the highest around the neutral
      standing posture and to decrease with increasing the lower back flexion angle.
      Larger bending stiffness of the lower back at flexion angles where passive
      contribution of lower back tissues to its bending stiffness was minimal (i.e.,
      around neutral standing posture) highlighted the important role of active vs.
      passive contribution of tissues to lower back bending stiffness and spinal
      stability. As a whole our results suggested that a diminishing contribution of
      passive and volitional active subsystems to spinal stability may not be a reason
      for higher severity of low back pain in older population. The role of other
      contributing elements to spinal stability (e.g., active reflexive) as well as
      equilibrium-based parameters (e.g., compression and shear forces under various
      activities) in increasing severity of low back pain with aging should be
      investigated in future.

PMID- 26883958
TI  - Disruption of brain zinc homeostasis promotes the pathophysiological progress of
      Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Zinc is abundant in the brain, where it plays an important role in synaptic
      plasticity and in learning; however, excessive zinc is toxic to neuronal cells,
      and dyshomeostasis of zinc in the brain is a contributing factor for Alzheimer's
      disease (AD). Deposition of zinc has been detected in senile plaques in the form
      of zinc-Abeta (beta-amyloid) complexes. Recent studies have demonstrated that
      zinc exposure to the brain enhances beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP)
      expression, amyloidogenic APP cleavage and plaque burden. Furthermore,
      alterations in zinc transporters, which are responsible for zinc homeostasis,
      occur in AD human brain and transgenic mouse models. These suggest that abnormal
      brain zinc homeostasis is involved in the pathophysiological progress of AD. 

PMID- 26883957
TI  - Pregnancy and delivery under the MELAS mutation.

PMID- 26883960
TI  - Effects of light and nutrients on periphyton and the fatty acid composition and
      somatic growth of invertebrate grazers in subtropical streams.
AB  - Algal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential for somatic growth and
      reproduction of aquatic animals, are influenced by ambient environmental
      conditions, including light and nutrients. Few studies have addressed the extent
      to which changes in algal PUFA can influence stream herbivore PUFA profiles and
      the implications for stream food webs. We manipulated subtropical stream
      periphyton by applying two light levels (open and shaded canopy) and two nutrient
      regimes (ambient and enriched) to investigate the response of PUFA and somatic
      growth in stream herbivores. After 6 weeks, the relative content of periphyton
      PUFA (%) changed distinctly and differed among treatments. Periphyton in the
      control treatment with open canopy showed a decline in eicosapentaenoic acid
      (EPA) relative to initial conditions, whereas shading increased EPA and total
      highly unsaturated FA (HUFA), but decreased alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic
      acid and total C18 PUFA. The interaction of open canopy and added nutrients
      increased periphyton ALA compared with initial conditions, while the combined
      effects of shading and added nutrients led to greater total HUFA. FA similarity
      between stream grazers (the mayfly Austrophlebioides and caddisfly Helicopsyche)
      and periphyton increased with periphyton HUFA content. In addition, the growth of
      large instars of both grazers also increased in response to increased periphyton
      HUFA %. Our findings show that environmental changes, associated with riparian
      canopy and nutrients, can lead to changes in periphyton PUFA composition that in
      turn affect growth and PUFA composition in stream grazers.

PMID- 26883959
TI  - Tracking the immunopathological response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa during
      respiratory infections.
AB  - Repeated cycles of infections, caused mainly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, combined
      with a robust host immune response and tissue injury, determine the course and
      outcome of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. As the disease progresses, P.
      aeruginosa adapts to the host modifying dramatically its phenotype; however, it
      remains unclear whether and how bacterial adaptive variants and their persistence
      influence the pathogenesis and disease development. Using in vitro and murine
      models of infection, we showed that P. aeruginosa CF-adaptive variants shaped the
      innate immune response favoring their persistence. Next, we refined a murine
      model of chronic pneumonia extending P. aeruginosa infection up to three months.
      In this model, including CFTR-deficient mice, we unveil that the P. aeruginosa
      persistence lead to CF hallmarks of airway remodelling and fibrosis, including
      epithelial hyperplasia and structure degeneration, goblet cell metaplasia,
      collagen deposition, elastin degradation and several additional markers of tissue
      damage. This murine model of P. aeruginosa chronic infection, reproducing CF lung
      pathology, will be instrumental to identify novel molecular targets and test
      newly tailored molecules inhibiting chronic inflammation and tissue damage
      processes in pre-clinical studies. 

PMID- 26883961
TI  - Amniotic fluid embolism complicating medical termination of pregnancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Amniotic fluid embolism is always a severe complication and generally
      occurs during labour or immediately after childbirth. CLINICAL FEATURES: We
      report the case of a patient falling victim to amniotic fluid embolism after the
      medical termination of her pregnancy at 24 weeks of amenorrhea following the
      discovery of a teratoma-carrying foetus. The amniotic fluid embolism diagnosis
      was strongly suspected in the face of the sudden onset of severe arterial
      hypotension, hypoxic respiratory distress, a coma state and disseminated
      intravascular coagulopathy immediately after the delivery. Additional tests were
      conducted to support the diagnosis: cytological testing of a peripheral venous
      sample and maternal broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, dosing of tryptase and alpha
      fetoprotein levels as well as screening for insulin-like growth factor binding
      protein 1. CONCLUSION: Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare and difficult diagnosis,
      especially in unconventional settings, yet it can be facilitated by screening for
      amniotic markers and tryptase.

PMID- 26883962
TI  - The "William Tell" sign: difficult airway resulting from cranial transfixion by
      an arrow.

PMID- 26883963
TI  - Dosing and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation for pediatric
      transthoracic echocardiography: a retrospective study.
AB  - PURPOSE: We designed this retrospective observational study on the use of alpha2
      agonist dexmedetomidine to determine the optimum intranasal dose to achieve
      sedation for pediatric transthoracic echocardiography and to identify any dose
      related adverse effects. METHODS: Outpatient children aged three months to three
      years with diverse diagnoses of congenital heart disease, including cyanotic
      cardiac defects, underwent transthoracic echocardiography under dexmedetomidine
      sedation. Aerosolized intranasal dexmedetomidine was administered with initial
      doses ranging from 1-3 ug.kg(-1). A rescue dose of 1 ug.kg(-1) was administered
      if adequate sedation was not achieved within 45 min following the first dose. The
      primary study outcome was the achievement of adequate sedation to allow
      transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) scanning, including subxiphoid and
      suprasternal probe manipulation. RESULTS: Sedation with intranasal
      dexmedetomidine for transthoracic echocardiography was successful in 62 of the 63
      (98%) patients studied, with an intranasal rescue dose required in 13 (21%)
      patients. Intranasal doses of dexmedetomidine 2.5-3.0 ug.kg(-1) were required for
      tolerating TTE probe placement, including subxiphoid and suprasternal
      manipulation, with minimal response and a 90% success rate. Excluding patients
      who required a second dose of dexmedetomidine, the mean (standard deviation) time
      from administration to achieving such sedation (onset time) was 26 (8) min for
      low-dose (1-2 ug.kg(-1)) dexmedetomidine and 28 (8) min for moderate-dose (2.5
      3.0 ug.kg(-1)) dexmedetomidine (P = 0.33). Time from administration of low-dose
      dexmedetomidine to discharge, including TTE scan time, was 80 (14) min, and it
      increased with moderate-dose dexmedetomidine to 91 (22) min (P = 0.05). Mild to
      moderate bradycardia and hypotension were observed, but no interventions were
      required. CONCLUSION: We found that aerosolized intranasal dexmedetomidine offers
      satisfactory conditions for TTE in children three months to three years of age
      with an optimal dose of 2.5-3.0 ug.kg(-1)administered under the supervision of a
      pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist.

PMID- 26883964
TI  - Changes in group treatment procedures of Danish finishers and its influence on
      the amount of administered antimicrobials.
AB  - When treating groups of pigs orally, antimicrobials can be administered through
      either feed or water. During the last decade, the group treatment procedure for
      finishers has shifted from feed to water administration. We hypothesized that
      farms implementing this change in treatment procedure would increase their total
      amount of administered antimicrobials. Based on Danish national register data, we
      performed a retrospective cohort study with three groups. The cohort of primary
      interest (Cohort Change) consisted of 50 finisher farms which changed their group
      treatment procedure from feed administration to water administration between 2008
      and 2009. In addition, we identified 221 farms where treatment was administered
      through feed (Cohort Feed), and another 553 farms where treatment was
      administered through water (Cohort Water). Both of these groups retained their
      original treatment procedure throughout the study period. Cohort Change
      experienced a significant increase in the total amount of prescribed
      antimicrobials between the years. This increase might be caused by the treatment
      of more pigs, since antimicrobials administered through the feed are mainly
      administered at the pen level, while antimicrobials administered in water are
      mainly administered at the section level. However, we cannot exclude that a
      change in clinical disease has influenced the amount of prescribed
      antimicrobials. No change was observed in the other two cohorts. Furthermore, the
      difference in the amount of prescribed antimicrobials between the years was
      significantly different in Cohort Change when compared to both Cohort Water and
      Cohort Feed. Results from this study demonstrate that farms changing their
      procedure of group treatment from feed administration to water administration may
      increase their overall use of antimicrobials. 

PMID- 26883966
TI  - Optimizing Nutrition Education in WIC: Findings From Focus Groups With Arizona
      Clients and Staff.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To understand staff and clients' experiences with delivering and
      receiving nutrition education in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
      Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). METHODS: Focus groups involving WIC staff,
      clients, and former clients in Arizona. Client and staff perceptions of WIC
      nutrition education, preferences, and suggestions for improvement were examined.
      Transcripts were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach to identify
      emerging themes. RESULTS: Findings from 10 focus groups with 25 WIC staff and 29
      clients suggested that existing materials were time-consuming and unresponsive to
      client needs, and additional resources were needed to engage children while
      parents were in session; new delivery formats for nutrition education, including
      videos and interactive demonstrations focused on child-friendly preparations of
      WIC foods, were preferred. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Collaboration among
      existing nutrition education programs, including Supplemental Nutrition
      Assistance Program-Education, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program,
      community gardens, and Head Start, can complement and enhance WIC nutrition
      educations in this region.

PMID- 26883965
TI  - Using social network analysis to inform disease control interventions.
AB  - Contact patterns between individuals are an important determinant for the spread
      of infectious diseases in populations. Social network analysis (SNA) describes
      contact patterns and thus indicates how infectious pathogens may be transmitted.
      Here we explore network characteristics that may inform the development of
      disease control programes. This study applies SNA methods to describe a livestock
      movement network of 180 farms in New Zealand from 2006 to 2010. We found that the
      number of contacts was overall consistent from year to year, while the choice of
      trading partners tended to vary. This livestock movement network illustrated how
      a small number of farms central to the network could play a potentially dominant
      role for the spread of infection in this population. However, fragmentation of
      the network could easily be achieved by "removing" a small proportion of farms
      serving as bridges between otherwise isolated clusters, thus decreasing the
      probability of large epidemics. This is the first example of a comprehensive
      analysis of pastoral livestock movements in New Zealand. We conclude that, for
      our system, recording and exploiting livestock movements can contribute towards
      risk-based control strategies to prevent and monitor the introduction and the
      spread of infectious diseases in animal populations. 

PMID- 26883967
TI  - Increased risk of muscle tears below physiological temperature ranges.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Temperature is known to influence muscle physiology, with the
      velocity of shortening, relaxation and propagation all increasing with
      temperature. Scant data are available, however, regarding thermal influences on
      energy required to induce muscle damage. METHODS: Gastrocnemius and soleus
      muscles were harvested from 36 male rat limbs and exposed to increasing impact
      energy in a mechanical test rig. Muscle temperature was varied in 5 degrees C
      increments, from 17 degrees C to 42 degrees C (to encompass the in vivo range).
      The energy causing non-recoverable deformation was recorded for each temperature.
      A measure of tissue elasticity was determined via accelerometer data, smoothed by
      low-pass fifth order Butterworth filter (10 kHz). Data were analysed using one
      way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significance was accepted at p = 0.05.
      RESULTS: The energy required to induce muscle failure was significantly lower at
      muscle temperatures of 17 degrees C to 32 degrees C compared with muscle at core
      temperature, i.e., 37 degrees C (p < 0.01). During low-energy impacts there were
      no differences in muscle elasticity between cold and warm muscles (p = 0.18).
      Differences in elasticity were, however, seen at higher impact energies (p <
      0.02). CONCLUSION: Our findings are of particular clinical relevance, as when
      muscle temperature drops below 32 degrees C, less energy is required to cause
      muscle tears. Muscle temperatures of 32 degrees C are reported in ambient
      conditions, suggesting that it would be beneficial, particularly in colder
      environments, to ensure that peripheral muscle temperature is raised close to
      core levels prior to high-velocity exercise. Thus, this work stresses the
      importance of not only ensuring that the muscle groups are well stretched, but
      also that all muscle groups are warmed to core temperature in pre-exercise
      routines.Cite this article: Professor A. H. R. W. Simpson. Increased risk of
      muscle tears below physiological temperature ranges. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:61-65.
      doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000484.

PMID- 26883968
TI  - Comparative metabolite profiling and fingerprinting of genus Passiflora leaves
      using a multiplex approach of UPLC-MS and NMR analyzed by chemometric tools.
AB  - Passiflora incarnata as well as some other Passiflora species are reported to
      possess anxiolytic and sedative activity and to treat various CNS disorders. The
      medicinal use of only a few Passiflora species has been scientifically verified.
      There are over 400 species in the Passiflora genus worldwide, most of which have
      been little characterized in terms of phytochemical or pharmacological
      properties. Herein, large-scale multi-targeted metabolic profiling and
      fingerprinting techniques were utilized to help gain a broader insight into
      Passiflora species leaves' chemical composition. Nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectra of extracted components
      derived from 17 Passiflora accessions and from different geographical origins
      were analyzed using multivariate data analyses. A total of 78 metabolites were
      tentatively identified, that is, 20 C-flavonoids, 8 O-flavonoids, 21 C, O
      flavonoids, 2 cyanogenic glycosides, and 23 fatty acid conjugates, of which
      several flavonoid conjugates are for the first time to be reported in Passiflora
      spp. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the most complete map for
      secondary metabolite distribution within that genus. Major signals in (1)H-NMR
      and MS spectra contributing to species discrimination were assigned to those of C
      flavonoids including isovitexin-2"-O-xyloside, luteolin-C-deoxyhexoside-O
      hexoside, schaftoside, isovitexin, and isoorientin. P. incarnata was found most
      enriched in C-flavonoids, justifying its use as an official drug within that
      genus. Compared to NMR, LC-MS was found more effective in sample classification
      based on genetic and/ or geographical origin as revealed from derived
      multivariate data analyses. Novel insight on metabolite candidates to mediate for
      Passiflora CNS sedative effects is also presented.

PMID- 26883969
TI  - Molecular formula assignment for dissolved organic matter (DOM) using high-field
      FT-ICR-MS: chemical perspective and validation of sulphur-rich organic components
      (CHOS) in pit lake samples.
AB  - Molecular formula assignment is one of the key challenges in processing high
      field Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric (FT-ICR-MS)
      datasets. The number of potential solutions for an elemental formula increases
      exponentially with increasing molecular mass, especially when non-oxygen
      heteroatoms like N, S or P are included. A method was developed from the chemical
      perspective and validated using a Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA) dataset which
      is dominated by components consisting exclusively of C, H and O (78 % CHO). In
      order to get information on the application range and robustness of this method,
      we investigated a FT-ICR-MS dataset which was merged from 18 mine pit lake pore
      waters and 3 river floodplain soil waters. This dataset contained 50 % CHO and 18
      % CHOS on average, whereas the former SRFA dataset contained only 1.5 % CHOS. The
      mass calculator was configured to allow up to five nitrogen atoms and up to one
      sulphur atom in assigning formulas to mass peaks. More than 50 % multiple-formula
      assignments were found for peaks with masses > 650 Da. Based on DBE - O frequency
      diagrams, many CHO, CHOS1, CHON1 and CHON1S1 molecular series were ultimately
      assigned to many m/z and considered to be reliable solutions. The unequivocal
      data pool could thus be enlarged by 523 (6.8 %) CHOS1 components. In contrast to
      the method validation with CHO-rich SRFA, validation with sulphur-rich pit lake
      samples showed that formulas with a higher number of non-oxygen heteroatoms can
      be more reliable assignments in many cases. As an example: CHOS molecular series
      were reliable and the CHO classes were unreliable amongst other molecular classes
      in many multiple-formula assignments from the sulphur-rich pit lake samples.
      Graphical abstract An exemplary frequency versus DBE - O diagram. CHOS components
      but not CHO (and not CHON2 or CHON2S) components were considered here reliable. 

PMID- 26883970
TI  - Art and Plastic Surgery.
AB  - The roots of science and art of plastic surgery are very antique. Anatomy,
      drawing, painting, and sculpting have been very important to the surgery and
      medicine development over the centuries. Artistic skills besides shape, volume,
      and lines perception can be a practical aid to the plastic surgeons' daily work.
      An overview about the interactions between art and plastic surgery is presented,
      with a few applications to rhinoplasty, cleft lip, and other reconstructive
      plastic surgeries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign
      a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence
      Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online
      Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26883971
TI  - Plastic Surgery Statistics in the US: Evidence and Implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes yearly procedural
      statistics, collected through questionnaires and online via tracking operations
      and outcomes for plastic surgeons (TOPS). The statistics, disaggregated by U.S.
      region, leave two important factors unaccounted for: (1) the underlying base
      population and (2) the number of surgeons performing the procedures. The
      presented analysis puts the regional distribution of surgeries into perspective
      and contributes to fulfilling the TOPS legislation objectives. METHODS: ASPS
      statistics from 2005 to 2013 were analyzed by geographic region in the U.S. Using
      population estimates from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, procedures were calculated
      per 100,000 population. Then, based on the ASPS member roster, the rate of
      surgeries per surgeon by region was calculated and the interaction of these two
      variables was related to each other. RESULTS: In 2013, 1668,420 esthetic
      surgeries were performed in the U.S., resulting in the following ASPS ranking:
      1st Mountain/Pacific (Region 5; 502,094 procedures, 30 % share), 2nd New
      England/Middle Atlantic (Region 1; 319,515, 19 %), 3rd South Atlantic (Region 3;
      310,441, 19 %), 4th East/West South Central (Region 4; 274,282, 16 %), and 5th
      East/West North Central (Region 2; 262,088, 16 %). However, considering
      underlying populations, distribution and ranking appear to be different,
      displaying a smaller variance in surgical demand. Further, the number of surgeons
      and rate of procedures show great regional variation. CONCLUSIONS: Demand for
      plastic surgery is influenced by patients' geographic background and varies among
      U.S. regions. While ASPS data provide important information, additional insight
      regarding the demand for surgical procedures can be gained by taking certain
      demographic factors into consideration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal
      requires that the authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full
      description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table
      of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26883972
TI  - An in-situ synthesis of Ag/AgCl/TiO2/hierarchical porous magnesian material and
      its photocatalytic performance.
AB  - The absorption ability and photocatalytic activity of photocatalytic materials
      play important roles in improving the pollutants removal effects. Herein, we
      reported a new kind of photocatalytic material, which was synthesized by
      simultaneously designing hierarchical porous magnesian (PM) substrate and TiO2
      catalyst modification. Particularly, PM substrate could be facilely prepared by
      controlling its crystal phase (Phase 5, Mg3Cl(OH)5 . 4H2O), while Ag/AgCl
      particles modification of TiO2 could be achieved by in situ ion exchange between
      Ag(+) and above crystal Phase. Physiochemical analysis shows that Ag/AgCl/TiO2/PM
      material has higher visible and ultraviolet light absorption response, and
      excellent gas absorption performance compared to other controls. These suggested
      that Ag/AgCl/TiO2/PM material could produce more efficient photocatalytic
      effects. Its photocatalytic reaction rate was 5.21 and 30.57 times higher than
      that of TiO2/PM and TiO2/imporous magnesian substrate, respectively. Thus, this
      material and its intergration synthesis method could provide a novel strategy for
      high-efficiency application and modification of TiO2 photocatalyst in engineering
      filed.

PMID- 26883973
TI  - beta-caryophyllene, a dietary cannabinoid, complexed with beta-cyclodextrin
      produced anti-hyperalgesic effect involving the inhibition of Fos expression in
      superficial dorsal horn.
AB  - AIMS: Evaluate the anti-hyperalgesic effect of the complex containing beta
      caryophyllene (betaCP) and beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) in a non-inflammatory
      chronic muscle pain mice model and investigated its action on superficial dorsal
      horn of the lumbar spinal cord. MAIN METHODS: The betaCP-betaCD complex were
      prepared and characterized through the DSC, TG/DTG, FTIR, XRD and SEM. The model
      of chronic muscle pain was induced by two injections of pH4.0 saline (20MUL) into
      left gastrocnemius 5days apart. After confirming hyperalgesia, male mice were
      treated with betaCP-betaCD (10 or 20mg/kg; p.o.) or vehicle (saline 0.9%, p.o.)
      daily for 9days. 1h after, the mechanical hyperalgesia, muscle withdrawal
      thresholds and motor performance were evaluated. To evaluate the betaCP-betaCD
      action on spinal cord, animals induced with chronic muscle pain were treated with
      betaCP-betaCD (20mg/kg; p.o.) or vehicle (saline 0.9%, p.o.) and 90min. after,
      were perfused, the lumbar spinal cord collected, crioprotected, cut and submitted
      in an immunofluorescence protocol for Fos protein. KEY FINDINGS: The
      characterization tests indicated that betaCP were efficiently incorporated into
      betaCD. The oral treatment with betaCP-betaCD, at all doses tested, produced a
      significant (p<0.05) reduction on mechanical hyperalgesia and a significant
      (p<0.05) increase in muscle withdrawal thresholds, without produce any alteration
      in force. In addition, betaCP-betaCD was able to significantly (p<0.05) decrease
      Fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn. SIGNIFICANCE: Thus, betaCP-betaCD
      attenuates the non-inflammatory chronic muscle pain in mice and inhibits the Fos
      expression in the lumbar spinal cord.

PMID- 26883974
TI  - Relationship of endothelin-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in HT22
      hippocampal cells in diabetes.
AB  - Diabetes increases the risk and worsens the progression of cognitive decline.
      Diabetic rats treated with the dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan, have
      been shown to improve hippocampal-based cognitive deficits. The NLRP3
      inflammasome has been implicated in vascular complications of diabetes. We
      hypothesized that diabetes-mediated increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1) in
      hippocampal cells causes NLRP3 activation and inflammation. An in vitro model was
      employed by exposing HT22 hippocampal cells to normal (25mM), low (5.5mM) and
      high (50mM) glucose conditions with and without palmitate (200MUM) in the
      presence and absence of 10MUM bosentan for 24h. NLRP3 activity was measured by
      western blotting for cryopyrin and caspase-1. ET-1 and IL-1beta expression was
      determined by ELISA. HT22 cells synthesize high levels of ET-1 in normal
      conditions, which was reduced with palmitate and bosentan as well as low and high
      glucose conditions. Decreased ET-1 levels were associated with greater activation
      of NLRP3 and IL-1beta in normal glucose. High glucose increased NLRP3 markers and
      activation compared to normal and low glucose. These data suggest that ET-1 may
      be protective to neurons. Although endothelin antagonism may be beneficial in
      improving vascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment, its impact on
      hippocampal neurons should be further explored. 

PMID- 26883975
TI  - Biocompatible arsenic trioxide nanoparticles induce cell cycle arrest by
      p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression via epigenetic remodeling in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines.
AB  - AIMS: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is a well-known anticancer drug and is approved by
      the FDA for its use in acute promyelocytic leukemia. In this study, anticancer
      and antiproliferative mechanism of biocompatible As2O3 nanoparticles was
      determined on human prostate cancer cell lines. MAIN METHODS: In vitro anticancer
      efficacy of biopolymer coated As2O3 NPs was investigated in LNCaP and PC-3 cell
      lines, by assessing DNA damage, changes in epigenetic modulations, expression
      level of apoptotic markers and cell cycle analysis following treatment with As2O3
      NPs. KEY FINDINGS: Our results demonstrate that the nanoparticulate formulation
      of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and chitosan coated As2O3 is capable of
      inducing morphological changes, DNA damage and caspase-dependent apoptosis along
      with the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 by upregulation of
      Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins. The expression of cyclin
      dependent kinase inhibitor - p21 was found to be triggered by changes in
      epigenetic modifications at histone tails. SIGNIFICANCE: Biopolymer coated As2O3
      nanoparticles induced reversal of mono, di and tri-methylation of histone H3 at
      lysine 9 residue. Acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 14 residue and
      phosphorylation of H3 at serine 10 residue synergistically activated
      p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene thereby leading to apoptosis in the LNCaP and PC-3 cells.
      Treatment with As2O3 nanoparticles arrested the cells in G0-G1 and G2-M phase of
      cell cycle in LNCaP and PC-3 cells respectively. Thus, biocompatible As2O3
      nanoparticles with reduced toxicity to normal cells but the antiproliferative
      effect on prostate cancer cell lines follow similar death pathway as that of bare
      As2O3 nanoparticles.

PMID- 26883977
TI  - Systematic understanding of acute effects of intravenous guanfacine on rat
      carotid sinus baroreflex-mediated sympathetic arterial pressure regulation.
AB  - AIMS: To assess the acute effects of intravenous guanfacine, an alpha2A
      adrenergic agonist, on sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system and on
      sympathetic arterial pressure (AP) response. MAIN METHODS: In anesthetized Wistar
      Kyoto rats, carotid sinus baroreceptor regions were isolated. Changes in
      electrical sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and AP in response to a baroreceptor
      pressure input were examined before and after an intravenous administration of a
      high dose (100MUg/kg, n=7) or a low dose (20MUg/kg, n=5) of guanfacine. KEY
      FINDINGS: The higher dose of guanfacine significantly narrowed the range of the
      AP response (86.8+/-6.4 to 38.4+/-12.9mmHg, P<0.01) but increased the minimum AP
      (79.3+/-7.5 to 93.2+/-8.7mmHg, P<0.05). In the neural arc, guanfacine reduced
      both the response range (90.4+/-2.3 to 33.4+/-10.7%, P<0.01) and the minimum SNA
      (11.4+/-1.9 to 2.6+/-1.5%, P<0.01). In the peripheral arc, guanfacine increased
      the intercept (67.6+/-7.1 to 92.8+/-8.5mmHg, P<0.01) without a significant effect
      on the slope. The lower dose of guanfacine weakened the effects on both the
      neural and peripheral arcs. SIGNIFICANCE: Guanfacine suppressed SNA without a
      significant reduction of AP, which may be attributable to the peripheral
      vasoconstrictive effect. Reducing the dose of acutely administered intravenous
      guanfacine does not aid in separating the central sympathoinhibitory effect from
      the peripheral vasoconstrictive effect on AP in anesthetized rats in vivo.

PMID- 26883976
TI  - Antinociceptive effect and mechanism of action of isatin, N-methyl isatin and
      oxopropyl isatin in mice.
AB  - AIMS: There has been growing interest in the synthesis of new derivatives from
      isatin, found in Isatis genus. Our objectives were to characterize the
      antinociceptive mechanism of action of isatin, N-methyl-isatin (MI) and N-methyl
      3-(2-oxopropyl)-3-hydroxy-2-oxindole (MOI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Substances
      (0.1-10mg/kg, p.o.) were studied in chemical (paw licking induced by formalin,
      capsaicin or glutamate) or thermal (hot plate) models of nociception. The
      involvement of several systems was evaluated using different receptor
      antagonists. KEY FINDINGS: All three substances inhibit both phases of formalin
      induced licking, increase the area under the curve and MI and MOI have a higher
      effect than that of morphine (in hot plate). Capsaicin and glutamate-induced
      licking were also reduced by all three substances. In the hot plate model, the
      antinociceptive effect of isatin was reduced by naloxone and atropine; naloxone,
      atropine and L-NAME reduced MI effect while naloxone, atropine, L-NAME,
      mecamylamine and ondansetron reduced MOI effect. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results
      suggest that isatin, MI and MOI: 1) present activity in models of nociception; 2)
      capsaicin and glutamate receptors seems to participate in the mechanism of
      action; 3) opioid, cholinergic, serotoninergic, nitrergic and adrenergic systems
      may be involved, at least in part, in the mechanism of action of some of these
      substances.

PMID- 26883978
TI  - Anti-diabetes effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia through improving
      liver insulin resistance in diabetic rats.
AB  - AIM: Cumulating evidence demonstrated that chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia
      (CIHH) had beneficial effects on the body. The present study was to investigate
      the anti-diabetes effect of CIHH in type-2 diabetic rats for the first time. MAIN
      METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group
      (CON), diabetes mellitus group (DM, induced by high-fat diet combined with low
      dose streptozotocin), CIHH treatment group (CIHH, simulated 5000-m altitude, 6h
      per day for 28 days), and diabetes mellitus plus CIHH treatment group (DM+CIHH).
      Histopathology of liver, systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), blood
      biochemicals, glucose and insulin tolerance were determined. The expression of
      proteins associated with insulin signaling pathway as well as hypoxia induced
      factors were assayed. KEY FINDINGS: Diabetic rats showed impaired glucose
      tolerance, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis and hepatic insulin resistance in
      addition to increased SAP. However, SAP, serum triglyceride and cholesterol were
      decreased, and hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance were improved in DM+CIHH
      rats. Furthermore, the protein expression of glucokinase (GCK), insulin receptor
      substrates (IRS-1 and IRS-2), and HIF1alpha were increased, while the expression
      of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), was markedly reduced in DM+CIHH
      rats. SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that CIHH treatment has anti-diabetes effects
      through ameliorating insulin resistance via hepatic HIF-insulin signaling pathway
      in type-2 diabetic rats.

PMID- 26883979
TI  - Gastroprotective effects of several H2RAs on ibuprofen-induced gastric ulcer in
      rats.
AB  - Ibuprofen is the first line of treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis. The
      main side effects of ibuprofen especially in long-term treatment include gastric
      ulcer, duodenal ulcer and indigestion etc. Therefore, screening drugs with
      effective gastric protective effects and low toxicity for combination therapy
      with ibuprofen is necessary. The mechanism of gastric damage induced by ibuprofen
      is still unclear, however, cell damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is
      considered as the main reason. Preliminary screening of literature with the
      criteria of low toxicity led to four histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs):
      nizatidine, famotidine, lafutidine, and roxatidine acetate, which were selected
      for further investigation. These drugs were evaluated systemically by examining
      the gastric ulcer index, lipid peroxidation (LPO), membrane permeability,
      toxicity to main organs, and the influence on the activity of antioxidant
      enzymes, and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Nizatidine was found to be the best gastric
      protective agent. It exhibited excellent protective effect by increasing
      antioxidant enzyme activity, decreasing MPO activity, reducing LPO, and membrane
      permeability. Combination treatment with nizatidine and ibuprofen did not show
      any significant toxicity. Nizatidine was considered as a good option for
      combination therapy with ibuprofen especially for diseases that require long-term
      treatment such as arthritis and osteoarthritis. 

PMID- 26883980
TI  - Gossypol ameliorates liver fibrosis in diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and
      streptozocin.
AB  - 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11beta-HSD1) inhibitors have been shown to
      treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). Since gossypol is an 11beta-HSD1 inhibitor, the
      objective of the present study was to treat T2D and T2D-related liver fibrosis in
      rat model using low-dose gossypol. T2D was induced by feeding with high fat diet
      plus injection of streptozocin (30mg/kg). Diabetic rats were treated with either
      vehicle control or racemic gossypol with a dose of 15mg/kg/day for 4weeks
      followed by 15mg/kg/week for additional 8weeks. Blood glucose, cholesterol, LDL,
      and triglycerides were measured. Messenger mRNA levels of glucocorticoid receptor
      (Nr3c1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck1), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6pc),
      collagen I (Col1a1), collagen III (Col3a1), fibronectin (Fn1), tissue inhibitor
      of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), and 2 (Timp2) were measured. T2D rats had higher
      serum glucose, cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels compared to control.
      Liver Nr3c1, Col1a1, Col3a1, Fn1, Timp1, and Timp2 were increased in T2D rats.
      T2D liver showed significant fibrosis with the increases of alpha-smooth muscle
      actin and fibronectin. After gossypol treatment, serum glucose level was lowered
      by 64%. Liver fibrosis was significantly ameliorated. Nr3c1, Col1a1, Col3a1, Fn1,
      Timp1, Timp2, Pck1 as well as G6pc levels were significantly reduced. In
      conclusion, low dose gossypol is effective for the treatment of T2D and T2D
      related fibrosis. 

PMID- 26883981
TI  - The best of two worlds: a new innovative laparoscopic Rives-Stoppa technique for
      ventral/incisional hernias--"the Brazilian technique": Invited commentary to:
      Transabdominal midline reconstruction by minimally invasive surgery: technique
      and results. Costa TN, Abdalla RZ, Santo MA, Tavares RRFM, Abdalla BMZ,
      Cecconello I.

PMID- 26883982
TI  - Quantitative analysis of high plasma lactate concentration in ED patients after
      alcohol intake.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Plasma lactate concentration is known to increase after alcohol
      intake. However, this increase has rarely been analyzed quantitatively in
      emergency department (ED) settings. Evaluating plasma lactate elevation in ED
      patients after alcohol intake is important because it can affect patients'
      evaluation based on the plasma lactate level. METHODS: This study analyzed venous
      lactate concentrations of 196 continuous patients presented to our ED after
      alcohol intake. The control group comprised 219 successive ED patients without
      alcohol intake. Patients who had conditions that might induce lactate elevation
      were excluded from both groups. RESULTS: Venous lactate concentration was
      significantly higher in the alcohol intake group (2.83 mmol/L; 95% confidence
      interval, 2.69-2.96 mmol/L) than in the control group (1.65 mmol/L; 95%
      confidence interval, 1.53-1.77 mmol/L; P<.05). Lactate concentrations exceeding 3
      mmol/L and exceeding 4 mmol/L were found, respectively, in 41.8% and 12.2% of the
      alcohol intake group compared with in 8.7% and 2.3% of the control group (P<.05).
      Lactate concentrations do not correlate with patients' level of consciousness.
      Therefore, a higher plasma ethanol level is apparently unrelated to elevated
      lactate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Analyses show that plasma lactate
      concentration is significantly higher in ED patients after alcohol intake and to
      a greater degree than previously reported, even in patients without previously
      known alcohol-related diseases. Emergency department physicians must be careful
      when interpreting the lactate level of the patients with alcohol intake.

PMID- 26883983
TI  - Tidal pumping facilitates dissimilatory nitrate reduction in intertidal marshes.
AB  - Intertidal marshes are alternately exposed and submerged due to periodic ebb and
      flood tides. The tidal cycle is important in controlling the biogeochemical
      processes of these ecosystems. Intertidal sediments are important hotspots of
      dissimilatory nitrate reduction and interacting nitrogen cycling microorganisms,
      but the effect of tides on dissimilatory nitrate reduction, including
      denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation and dissimilatory nitrate reduction
      to ammonium, remains unexplored in these habitats. Here, we use isotope-tracing
      and molecular approaches simultaneously to show that both nitrate-reduction
      activities and associated functional bacterial abundances are enhanced at the
      sediment-tidal water interface and at the tide-induced groundwater fluctuating
      layer. This pattern suggests that tidal pumping may sustain dissimilatory nitrate
      reduction in intertidal zones. The tidal effect is supported further by nutrient
      profiles, fluctuations in nitrogen components over flood-ebb tidal cycles, and
      tidal simulation experiments. This study demonstrates the importance of tides in
      regulating the dynamics of dissimilatory nitrate-reducing pathways and thus
      provides new insights into the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and other
      elements in intertidal marshes. 

PMID- 26883984
TI  - Breaking the Blood-Brain Barrier With Mannitol to Aid Stem Cell Therapeutics in
      the Chronic Stroke Brain.
AB  - Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeabilizers, such as mannitol, can facilitate
      peripherally delivered stem cells to exert therapeutic benefits on the stroke
      brain. Although this BBB permeation-aided stem cell therapy has been demonstrated
      in the acute stage of stroke, such BBB permeation in the chronic stage of the
      disease remains to be examined. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats initially received sham
      surgery or experimental stroke via the 1-h middle cerebral artery occlusion
      (MCAo) model. At 1 month after the MCAo surgery, stroke animals were randomly
      assigned to receive human umbilical cord stem cells only (2 million viable
      cells), mannitol only (1.1 mol/L mannitol at 4 degrees C), combined human
      umbilical cord stem cells (200,000 viable cells) and mannitol (1.1 mol/L mannitol
      at 4 degrees C), and vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) only. Stroke animals
      that received human umbilical cord blood cells alone or combined human umbilical
      cord stem cells and mannitol exhibited significantly improved motor performance
      and significantly better brain cell survival in the peri-infarct area compared to
      stroke animals that received vehicle or mannitol alone, with mannitol treatment
      reducing the stem cell dose necessary to afford functional outcomes. Enhanced
      neurogenesis in the subventricular zone accompanied the combined treatment of
      human umbilical cord stem cells and mannitol. We showed that BBB permeation
      facilitates the therapeutic effects of a low dose of peripherally transplanted
      stem cells to effectively cause functional improvement and increase neurogenesis
      in chronic stroke.

PMID- 26883987
TI  - Correction: Water on Au sputtered films.

PMID- 26883986
TI  - The physico-chemical properties and structural characteristics of artificial soil
      for cut slope restoration in Southwestern China.
AB  - Cut slopes are frequently generated by construction work in hilly areas, and
      artificial soil is often sprayed onto them to promote ecological rehabilitation.
      The artificial soil properties are very important for effective management of the
      slopes. This paper uses fractal and moment methods to characterize soil particle
      size distribution (PSD) and aggregates composition. The fractal dimension (D)
      showed linear relationships between clay, silt, and sand contents, with
      coefficients of determination from 0.843 to 0.875, suggesting that using of D to
      evaluate the PSD of artificial soils is reasonable. The bias (CS) and peak convex
      (CE) coefficients showed significant correlations with structure failure rate,
      moisture content, and total porosity, which validated the moment method to
      quantitatively describe soil structure. Railway slope (RS) soil has lower organic
      carbon and soil moisture, and higher pH than natural slope soil. Overall, RS
      exhibited poor soil structure and physicochemical properties, increasing the risk
      of soil erosion. Hence, more effective management measures should be adopted to
      promote the restoration of cut slopes. 

PMID- 26883985
TI  - Integrated GlycoProteome Analyzer (I-GPA) for Automated Identification and
      Quantitation of Site-Specific N-Glycosylation.
AB  - Human glycoproteins exhibit enormous heterogeneity at each N-glycosite, but few
      studies have attempted to globally characterize the site-specific structural
      features. We have developed Integrated GlycoProteome Analyzer (I-GPA) including
      mapping system for complex N-glycoproteomes, which combines methods for tandem
      mass spectrometry with a database search and algorithmic suite. Using an N
      glycopeptide database that we constructed, we created novel scoring algorithms
      with decoy glycopeptides, where 95 N-glycopeptides from standard alpha1-acid
      glycoprotein were identified with 0% false positives, giving the same results as
      manual validation. Additionally automated label-free quantitation method was
      first developed that utilizes the combined intensity of top three isotope peaks
      at three highest MS spectral points. The efficiency of I-GPA was demonstrated by
      automatically identifying 619 site-specific N-glycopeptides with FDR <= 1%, and
      simultaneously quantifying 598 N-glycopeptides, from human plasma samples that
      are known to contain highly glycosylated proteins. Thus, I-GPA platform could
      make a major breakthrough in high-throughput mapping of complex N-glycoproteomes,
      which can be applied to biomarker discovery and ongoing global human proteome
      project.

PMID- 26883988
TI  - Photophysics of Hybrid Lead Halide Perovskites: The Role of Microstructure.
AB  - Since the first reports on high efficiency, solution processed solar cells based
      on hybrid lead halide perovskites, there has been an explosion of activities on
      these materials. Researchers with interests spanning the full range from
      conventional inorganic to emerging organic and hybrid optoelectronic technologies
      have been contributing to the prolific research output. This has led to solar
      cell power conversion efficiencies now exceeding 20% and the demonstration of
      proofs of concept for electroluminescent and lasing devices. Hybrid perovskites
      can be self-assembled by a simple chemical deposition of the constituent units,
      with the possibility of integrating the useful properties of organic and
      inorganic compounds at the molecular scale within a single crystalline material,
      thus enabling a fine-tuning of the electronic properties. Tellingly, the
      fundamental properties of these materials may make us think of a new, solution
      processable, GaAs-like semiconductor. While this can be true to a first
      approximation, hybrid perovskites are intrinsically complex materials, where the
      presence of various types of interactions and structural disorder may strongly
      affect their properties. In particular, a clear understanding and control of the
      relative interactions between the organic and inorganic moieties is of paramount
      importance to properly disentangle their innate physics. In this Account we
      review our recent studies which aim to clarify the relationship between
      structural and electronic properties from a molecular to mesoscopic level. First
      we identify the markers for local disorder at the molecular level by using Raman
      spectroscopy as a probe. Then, we exploit such a tool to explore the role of
      microstructure on the absorption and luminescence properties of the
      semiconductor. Finally we address the controversy surrounding electron-hole
      interactions and excitonic effects. We show that in hybrid lead-halide
      perovskites dielectric screening also depends on the local microstructure of the
      hybrid crystals and not only on its chemical composition. This leads to the
      possibility of band gap engineering and the consequent control of the elementary
      photoexcitation dynamics that determine the perovskites' performances in
      different optoelectronic devices. 

PMID- 26883991
TI  - [Triage: ESI or Manchester Triage?].

PMID- 26883992
TI  - Ion-shaping of embedded gold hollow nanoshells into vertically aligned prolate
      morphologies.
AB  - Ion beam shaping is a novel technique with which one can shape nano-structures
      that are embedded in a matrix, while simultaneously imposing their orientation in
      space. In this work, we demonstrate that the ion-shaping technique can be
      implemented successfully to engineer the morphology of hollow metallic spherical
      particles embedded within a silica matrix. The outer diameter of these particles
      ranges between 20 and 60 nm and their shell thickness between 3 and 14 nm.
      Samples have been irradiated with 74 MeV Kr ions at room temperature and for
      increasing fluences up to 3.8 * 10(14) cm(-2). In parallel, the experimental
      results have been theoretically simulated by using a three-dimensional code based
      on the thermal-spike model. These calculations show that the particles undergo a
      partial melting during the ion impact, and that the amount of molten phase is
      maximal when the impact is off-center, hitting only one hemisphere of the hollow
      nano-particle. We suggest a deformation scenario which differs from the one that
      is generally proposed for solid nano-particles. Finally, these functional
      materials can be seen as building blocks for the fabrication of nanodevices with
      really three-dimensional architecture.

PMID- 26883990
TI  - Adaptive resistance to therapeutic PD-1 blockade is associated with upregulation
      of alternative immune checkpoints.
AB  - Despite compelling antitumour activity of antibodies targeting the programmed
      death 1 (PD-1): programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint in lung
      cancer, resistance to these therapies has increasingly been observed. In this
      study, to elucidate mechanisms of adaptive resistance, we analyse the tumour
      immune microenvironment in the context of anti-PD-1 therapy in two fully
      immunocompetent mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma. In tumours progressing
      following response to anti-PD-1 therapy, we observe upregulation of alternative
      immune checkpoints, notably T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3), in PD-1
      antibody bound T cells and demonstrate a survival advantage with addition of a
      TIM-3 blocking antibody following failure of PD-1 blockade. Two patients who
      developed adaptive resistance to anti-PD-1 treatment also show a similar TIM-3
      upregulation in blocking antibody-bound T cells at treatment failure. These data
      suggest that upregulation of TIM-3 and other immune checkpoints may be targetable
      biomarkers associated with adaptive resistance to PD-1 blockade. 

PMID- 26883994
TI  - New law on staffing levels will save lives.
AB  - Good news about nurse staffing levels can be hard to find, so how fantastic that
      a protracted campaign in Wales finally paid off last week with the passage of
      legislation to ensure hospital wards are staffed safely. Next month, the Queen
      will give royal assent to the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill, which will
      save lives, produce better outcomes and enhance the patient experience of care. 

PMID- 26883995
TI  - Treatment of junior doctors is the thin end of the wedge, warn unions.
AB  - Nurse unions fear the decision to force junior doctors to accept a new contract
      could lead to their members experiencing a similar fate. 

PMID- 26883993
TI  - Reliability and validity of the Swedish Fatigue Assessment Scale when self
      administrered by persons with mild to moderate stroke.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine internal consistency, test-retest reliability,
      floor/ceiling effects and construct validity of the Fatigue Assessment Scale
      (FAS), when self-administrated by persons with mild to moderate stroke. METHOD:
      The FAS was translated into Swedish and tested for psychometric properties when
      self-administrated by persons with mild to moderate stroke. Participants,
      consequently selected from the stroke unit admission register received a letter
      with three questionnaires: the FAS, Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) subscale for
      vitality and Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-15. Within two weeks, a second
      letter with FAS was sent for re-test. RESULT: Seventy-tree persons with mild to
      moderate stroke participated in the study. Internal consistency was good
      (Cronbach's alpha 0.82). The test and retest reliability of individual items
      showed that five items out of 10 items were good (weighted kappa > 0.60), four
      were moderate (0.40-0.60), and one was fair (0.22). The relative reliability
      between total scores was good (ICC 3.1 = 0.73) and the absolute reliability was
      nine points, meaning that a change of at least nine points in total score implies
      a real change of fatigue level. Correlation analysis showed that the Swedish FAS
      correlated with the SF-36 subscale for vitality (rs = - 0.73) and GDS-15 (rs =
      0.62), suggesting convergent construct validity. There were no floor or ceiling
      effects. CONCLUSION: The Swedish translation of the FAS used as a self
      administrated questionnaire is reliable and valid for measuring fatigue in
      persons with mild to moderate stroke.

PMID- 26883996
TI  - Student voices heard in a week of protests.
AB  - Protests by nursing students about the potential loss of the NHS bursary have
      been hailed a success despite poor turnout for some events. 

PMID- 26883997
TI  - Attitude survey shows growing public disquiet at NHS staffing and wait times.
AB  - Staff shortages are the second most common reason for dissatisfaction with the
      NHS, a survey found. 

PMID- 26883998
TI  - Welsh lead the way with approval of staffing levels bill.
AB  - Wales is to become the first country in the UK to mandate nurse staffing in its
      hospitals. 

PMID- 26883999
TI  - Nurse shortage linked to higher neonatal mortality.
AB  - A fall in one-to-one nursing care of sick and premature babies is being linked to
      increased death rates. 

PMID- 26884000
TI  - Gay 'cure', a sobering lesson for all.
AB  - The ways that mental health nurses used to administer 'cures' for homosexuality
      have been outlined at an RCN lecture. 

PMID- 26884001
TI  - Death rates show patients pay the price for over-reliance on HCSWs.
AB  - Hospitals with higher nurse to patient ratios have lower death rates, according
      to a study led by the University of Southampton and King's College London. 

PMID- 26884002
TI  - Mental health task force says investment in nurses is vital.
AB  - A group of experts set up to advise on an overhaul of mental health services say
      nurse training and staffing levels must improve. 

PMID- 26884003
TI  - Psychological help vital for myeloma.
AB  - Patients with myeloma should be offered psychological assessment and support at
      various stages in their treatment, according to guidance from the National
      Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 

PMID- 26884005
TI  - NICE says infection control should be the responsibility of all staff.
AB  - Nurses could be set objectives to ensure all staff entering their ward follow
      infection control procedures, a nurse consultant has suggested. 

PMID- 26884006
TI  - Staff vow to help patients marry in style.
AB  - A ward sister and her colleagues want to create 'wedding boxes' for patients
      getting married at short notice. 

PMID- 26884013
TI  - Colorectal cancer.
AB  - Essential facts Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK,
      after breast, lung and prostate cancer, with around 41,600 people in the UK
      diagnosed each year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the
      UK. According to the charity Bowel Cancer UK, 98% of people diagnosed at the
      earliest stage will survive, while less than 10% of those diagnosed at the latest
      stage will survive more than five years. 

PMID- 26884007
TI  - Lord Carter's model hospitals aim to save the NHS L5 billion a year.
AB  - A lack of standardised procedures in the use of resources across acute hospitals
      is costing the NHS billions, according to Labour peer Lord Carter of Coles. 

PMID- 26884014
TI  - Break down the barriers.

PMID- 26884015
TI  - Vanguards: support for care home staff.

PMID- 26884027
TI  - The best of the week's health-related TV and radio.

PMID- 26884016
TI  - The safety net with too many holes in it.

PMID- 26884028
TI  - Clinic Finder app.
AB  - Refugees seeking medical care can access information on primary healthcare and
      medical services across Europe with the Clinic Finder app. 

PMID- 26884029
TI  - Creating the nursing associate role is a waste of time and money.
AB  - There has been a lot of talk about the new 'nursing associate' role Health
      Education England (HEE) is looking to create. 

PMID- 26884030
TI  - New job title blurs boundaries and will confuse the public.
AB  - In response to the consultation on the introduction of a nursing associate role
      (News, February 3), I believe it is ill-advised to include the word 'nurse' in
      the title, because this necessitates the involvement of the nursing regulator,
      and will therefore incur costs. 

PMID- 26884032
TI  - Be part of a book on the 1950s and 1960s and share royalties.
AB  - I've been asked by a major UK publisher to write a book based on the life of a
      nurse who worked - perhaps as a district nurse - for some or all of the 1950s and
      1960s. I have written similar books, including The Maid's Tale. 

PMID- 26884031
TI  - Voice of support needs to be heard over the voice of abuse.
AB  - I would like to respond to comments on the difficulties associated with
      disclosing domestic abuse (Letters, February 3). Domestic abuse is one of the
      most complex relationships a person can find themselves in. Its effects
      infiltrate every sector of life like a disease with no barriers, leaving the
      person increasingly weak and broken. It also leaves scars years after the bruises
      have gone and broken bones have healed. 

PMID- 26884034
TI  - Correction.
AB  - In the On the Move column in our February 10 issue we said that Abigail Masterson
      has been appointed chief executive of the Florence Nightingale Foundation. In
      fact she is deputy chief executive. We also described her as a former nurse, but
      Ms Masterson remains on the professional register. We apologise for the error. 

PMID- 26884035
TI  - Mental health nursing is stretched to breaking point.
AB  - The report on mental health nurse shortages (News, February 3) shows just how
      much pressure staff are under. 

PMID- 26884036
TI  - Bring back the pool! In the long run, it will save the NHS money.
AB  - I was interested to read Donato Tallo's comments about ways of avoiding
      dependence on expensive nursing agencies (Letters, February 10). 

PMID- 26884040
TI  - The importance of spirituality for people living with dementia.
AB  - Spiritual care is an essential aspect of caring for people with dementia. It can
      improve their quality of life and give them the strength to cope with living with
      their condition. However, spirituality is a poorly understood concept and
      healthcare practitioners often lack confidence in assessing and meeting spiritual
      needs. Therefore, the spiritual needs of people with dementia are often
      overlooked, which can result in spiritual distress. This article provides an
      overview of spirituality and spiritual needs. It discusses the potential causes
      of spiritual distress in people with dementia and provides examples of spiritual
      care strategies. 

PMID- 26884039
TI  - How to repair an episiotomy.
AB  - Rationale and key points Skilful repair of an episiotomy is an important aspect
      of maternal health care. It is essential that midwives and doctors have the
      knowledge and skills to undertake this procedure in a safe and effective manner.
      ? An episiotomy should be repaired promptly to reduce blood loss and prevent
      infection. ? Repair of an episiotomy is undertaken in three stages: repair of the
      vaginal mucosa, repair of the muscle layer and repair of the skin layer. ?
      Adequate pain relief should be provided before suturing. Reflective activity
      Clinical skills articles can help update your practice and ensure it remains
      evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short
      account of: 1. Why a rectal examination is recommended before and following
      repair of an episiotomy. 2. What you would do to improve your suturing skills. 3.
      The factors that may prevent or delay an episiotomy from healing. Subscribers can
      upload their reflective accounts at rcni.com/portfolio . 

PMID- 26884041
TI  - Infusion-related risks associated with chemotherapy.
AB  - This article provides a comprehensive overview of the risks associated with the
      administration of chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and targeted or biological
      therapies in the management of solid tumours. The main physiological actions of
      these agents are discussed, with reference to the immediate infusion-related side
      effects and complications that may arise from an extravasation injury. The
      article focuses on the identification and early recognition of these risk factors
      to implement preventive measures and appropriate management strategies. 

PMID- 26884042
TI  - Preventing amputation.
AB  - Many adults with diabetes experience complications as a result of sub-optimal
      management of the disease. One of the complications is foot ulceration, which can
      lead to amputation if left untreated. 

PMID- 26884043
TI  - Networking benefits.
AB  - Making time for networking should be an essential part of every nurse's career.
      As well as helping you get ahead professionally, it enables you to share
      expertise and best practice with colleagues and provide emotional support for one
      other. 

PMID- 26884045
TI  - Rewarding work in sexual health.
AB  - As part of her day-to-day job, Robyn Connelly is a nurse, counsellor, women's
      advocate, safeguarder, social worker and dispenser of many tissues. 

PMID- 26884046
TI  - Student life - Powerful at every level.
AB  - Working with a group of nursing students one day, I discussed with them
      communication skills when caring for people with cognitive impairment, dementia
      and delirium. 

PMID- 26884047
TI  - Appropriate assessment of ethnic differences in adolescent use of psychotropic
      medication: multilevel analysis of discriminatory accuracy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we used a multilevel approach to investigate the
      role of maternal country of birth (MCOB) in predicting adolescent use of
      psychotropic medication in Sweden. DESIGN: Using the Swedish Medical Birth
      Register we identified all 428,314 adolescents born between 1987 and 1990 and who
      were residing in Sweden in the year they turned 18. We applied multilevel
      logistic regression analysis with adolescents (level 1) nested within MCOBs
      (level 2). Measures of association (odds ratio) and measures of variance (intra
      class correlation (ICC)) were calculated, as well as the discriminatory accuracy
      by calculating the area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic (AU-ROC)
      curve. RESULTS: In comparison with adolescents with Swedish-born mothers,
      adolescents with mothers born in upper-middle, lower-middle and low-income
      countries were less likely to use psychotropic medication. However, the variance
      between MCOBs was small (ICC = 2.5 in the final model) relative to the variation
      within MCOBs. This was confirmed by an AU-ROC value of 0.598. CONCLUSIONS: Even
      though we found associations between MCOB and adolescent use of psychotropic
      medication, the small ICC and AU-ROC indicate that MCOB appears to be an
      inaccurate context for discriminating adolescent use of psychotropic medication
      in Sweden.

PMID- 26884050
TI  - Setting new standards for epidemiological research on mesothelioma.

PMID- 26884049
TI  - Self-guided internet-based and mobile-based stress management for employees:
      results of a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the efficacy
      of a self-guided internet-based stress management intervention (iSMI) for
      employees compared to a 6-month wait-list control group (WLC) with full access
      for both groups to treatment as usual. METHOD: A sample of 264 employees with
      elevated symptoms of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-10 >=22) was
      randomly assigned to either the iSMI or to the WLC. The iSMI consisted of seven
      sessions and one booster session including problem-solving and emotion regulation
      techniques. Self-report data were assessed at baseline, at 7 weeks and at 6
      months following randomisation. The primary outcome was perceived stress (PSS
      10). The secondary outcomes included other relevant mental-related and work
      related health outcomes. Data were analysed based on intention-to-treat
      principles. RESULTS: The iSMI participants showed a significantly higher
      reduction in perceived stress from baseline to post-treatment at 7 weeks (d=0.96,
      95% CI 0.70 to 1.21) and to the 6-month follow-up (d=0.65, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.89)
      compared to the WLC. Significant differences with small to moderate effect sizes
      were also found for depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, sleeping problems,
      worrying, mental health-related quality of life, psychological detachment,
      emotion regulation skills and presenteeism, in favour of the experimental group.
      At the 6 -month follow-up, all outcomes remained significantly better for the
      experimental group with the exception of work engagement, physical health-related
      quality of life and absenteeism, which were not found to significantly differ
      between the iSMI and WLC groups. CONCLUSIONS: The iSMI investigated in this study
      was found to be effective in reducing typical mental-related and work-related
      health symptoms of stressed employees. Internet-based self-guided interventions
      could be an acceptable, effective and potentially cost-effective approach to
      reduce the negative consequences associated with work-related stress.

PMID- 26884048
TI  - Associations of short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution with
      cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions in London, UK.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There is evidence of adverse associations between short-term exposure
      to traffic-related pollution and health, but little is known about the relative
      contribution of the various sources and particulate constituents. METHODS: For
      each day for 2011-2012 in London, UK over 100 air pollutant metrics were
      assembled using monitors, modelling and chemical analyses. We selected a priori
      metrics indicative of traffic sources: general traffic, petrol exhaust, diesel
      exhaust and non-exhaust (mineral dust, brake and tyre wear). Using Poisson
      regression models, controlling for time-varying confounders, we derived effect
      estimates for cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions at prespecified
      lags and evaluated the sensitivity of estimates to multipollutant modelling and
      effect modification by season. RESULTS: For single day exposure, we found
      consistent associations between adult (15-64 years) cardiovascular and paediatric
      (0-14 years) respiratory admissions with elemental and black carbon (EC/BC),
      ranging from 0.56% to 1.65% increase per IQR change, and to a lesser degree with
      carbon monoxide (CO) and aluminium (Al). The average of past 7 days EC/BC
      exposure was associated with elderly (65+ years) cardiovascular admissions.
      Indicated associations were higher during the warm period of the year. Although
      effect estimates were sensitive to the adjustment for other pollutants they
      remained consistent in direction, indicating independence of associations from
      different sources, especially between diesel and petrol engines, as well as
      mineral dust. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exhaust related pollutants
      are associated with increased numbers of adult cardiovascular and paediatric
      respiratory hospitalisations. More extensive monitoring in urban centres is
      required to further elucidate the associations.

PMID- 26884051
TI  - 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

PMID- 26884053
TI  - What are patients' expectations of orthodontic treatment: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: What patients expect to happen during treatment or benefit from the
      treatment might influence the subsequent factors such as treatment outcome,
      patient satisfaction, patient's cooperation as well as compliance. The aim of
      this systematic review is to assess the role of patients' expectations from
      orthodontic treatment. METHODS: A systematic literature search of four databases
      Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science and PsychINFO was conducted following PRISMA
      guidelines. Studies reporting expectations regarding orthodontic treatment were
      selected and a narrative review was conducted. The quality of study was rated
      according to STROBE statements and the methodology as well as key findings were
      summarized. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (14 papers) were finally included for
      analysis. Among them, only one was a randomized control trial, while the rest
      included one cohort study, two questionnaire-developments and ten cross-sectional
      studies. The STROBE quality of reporting scores of the studies ranged from 12 to
      18. Seven papers described expectations of the treatment experiences, along with
      seven talking about benefit expectations from the treatment. Dental appearance
      and function improvement were most expected in studies relate to the treatment
      benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontics appears to have adopted various standardized
      questionnaires. However, most of them are poor in the quality of methodology and
      results analyses, which prohibit synthesizing sufficient evidence to help
      identify which factors influence patient expectations. The evidence of
      "expectations" affecting treatment outcomes is not found in current research.
      Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of "expectation" on the
      treatment both theoretically and experimentally.

PMID- 26884052
TI  - The relationship between atmospheric lead emissions and aggressive crime: an
      ecological study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many populations have been exposed to environmental lead from paint,
      petrol, and mining and smelting operations. Lead is toxic to humans and there is
      emerging evidence linking childhood exposure with later life antisocial
      behaviors, including delinquency and crime. This study tested the hypothesis that
      childhood lead exposure in select Australian populations is related to subsequent
      aggressive criminal behaviors. METHODS: We conducted regression analyses at
      suburb, state and national levels using multiple analytic methods and data
      sources. At the suburb-level, we examined assault rates as a function of air lead
      concentrations 15-24 years earlier, reflecting the ubiquitous age-related peak in
      criminal activity. Mixed model analyses were conducted with and without socio
      demographic covariates. The incidence of fraud was compared for discriminant
      validity. State and national analyses were conducted for convergent validity,
      utilizing deaths by assault as a function of petrol lead emissions. RESULTS:
      Suburb-level mixed model analyses showed air lead concentrations accounted for
      29.8 % of the variance in assault rates 21 years later, after adjusting for socio
      demographic covariates. State level analyses produced comparable results. Lead
      petrol emissions in the two most populous states accounted for 34.6 and 32.6 % of
      the variance in death by assault rates 18 years later. CONCLUSIONS: The strong
      positive relationship between childhood lead exposure and subsequent rates of
      aggressive crime has important implications for public health globally. Measures
      need to be taken to ameliorate exposure to lead and other environmental
      contaminants with known neurodevelopmental consequences.

PMID- 26884054
TI  - Novel Vertical 3D Structure of TaOx-based RRAM with Self-localized Switching
      Region by Sidewall Electrode Oxidation.
AB  - A novel vertical 3D RRAM structure with greatly improved reliability behavior is
      proposed and experimentally demonstrated through basically compatible process
      featuring self-localized switching region by sidewall electrode oxidation.
      Compared with the conventional structure, due to the effective confinement of the
      switching region, the newly-proposed structure shows about two orders higher
      endurance (>10(8) without verification operation) and better retention (>180h@150
      degrees C), as well as high uniformity. Corresponding model is put forward, on
      the base of which thorough theoretical analysis and calculations are conducted as
      well, demonstrating that, resulting from the physically-isolated switching from
      neighboring cells, the proposed structure exhibits dramatically improved
      reliability due to effective suppression of thermal effects and oxygen vacancies
      diffusion interference, indicating that this novel structure is very promising
      for future high density 3D RRAM application.

PMID- 26884055
TI  - Predictive and prognostic value of PET/CT imaging post-chemoradiotherapy and
      clinical decision-making consequences in locally advanced head & neck squamous
      cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The accuracy of (18)F-fluorodeoxygluocose positron emission
      tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in predicting immediate failure after
      radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for HNSCC is poorly characterized at present. The
      purpose of this study was to examine PET/CT as a predictive and prognostic gauge
      of immediate failure after CRT and determine the impact of these studies on
      clinical decision making in terms of salvage surgery. METHODS: Medical records of
      78 consecutive patients receiving radical CRT for locally advanced HNSCC were
      reviewed, analyzing PET/CTs done before and 3 months after CRT. Immediate failure
      was defined as residual disease or locoregional and/or systemic relapse within 6
      months after CRT. RESULTS: Maximum standard uptake value (SUV) of post CRT PET/CT
      (postSUVmax) was found optimal for predicting immediate failure at a cutpoint of
      4.4. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive
      predictive value (PPV) were 90.0%, 83.8%, 98.3%, and 45.0%, respectively. Of 78
      patients studied, postSUVmax >= 4.4 prevailed in 20 (25.6%), with postSUVmax <4.4
      in 58 (74.4%). At postSUVmax >= 4.4 (vs. postSUVmax <4.4) OS was poorer by
      comparison (3-year OS: 56.9 vs. 87.7%; P = 0.005), as was progression-free
      survival (3-year PFS: 42.9 vs. 81.1%; P < 0.001). At postSUVmax >= 4.4, OS with
      and without immediate salvage surgery did not differ significantly (3-year OS:
      60.0 vs. 55.6%; Log-rank P = 0.913). CONCLUSION: Post CRT PET/CT imaging has
      prognostic value in terms of OS and PFS and is useful in predicting immediate
      therapeutic failure, given its high NPV. However, OS was not significantly
      altered by early salvage surgery done on the basis of post CRT PET/CT findings.

PMID- 26884056
TI  - Cellular Uptake and Intra-Organ Biodistribution of Functionalized Silica-Coated
      Gold Nanorods.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop a new nanobiosystem based on folate-functionalized silica
      coated gold nanorods and to investigate its cellular uptake and intra-organ
      biodistribution in vitro and in vivo. PROCEDURES: Ellipsoidal silica-coated gold
      nanorods (GNRs@SIO2) were prepared by seeded growth method using silicon dioxide
      (SIO2) as the shell material. Rhodamine-labeled GNRs@SiO2-folic acid (FA) were
      obtained by reacting the amino group located on GNRs@SiO2-FA with rhodamine
      isothiocyanate. The characteristics of the prepared GNRs@SiO2-FA were studied
      using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV spectra. The 3-[4, 5
      dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric method
      was used to assess the biocompatibility of GNRs@SiO2-FA, and their uptake into
      cells was observed using TEM. In vivo experiments of cellular uptake and study of
      the intra-organ biodistribution of GNRs@SiO2-FA were detected using intrinsic two
      photon luminescence. RESULTS: Analysis of UV spectra confirmed the successfu1
      preparation of GNRs@SiO2-FA. Results of the MTT assay demonstrated that surface
      modification of GNRs@SiO2-FA resulted in excellent biocompatibility. TEM
      examination revealed that GNRs@SiO2-FA entered the cells via endocytosis, which
      could connect to cancer cells with high folic acid expression. We found that GNRs
      exhibit bright luminescence and could be visualized in vivo by direct imaging of
      these particles within the tissue. Additionally, GNRs@SiO2-FA could specifically
      bind to tumor cells. GNRs@SiO2-FA entered tumor cells within 24 h and had a
      heterogeneous distribution with higher accumulation at the tumor cytoplasm.
      CONCLUSION: GNRs@SiO2-FA can bind to cells and were found to be internalized by
      targeted folate receptor-expressing cells via a ligand-receptor-mediated
      endocytosis pathway, which is very useful in diagnosing diseases as well as in
      treating neoplasm with I-125 particles.

PMID- 26884057
TI  - Evaluation of Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers in the DSS Colitis Model.
AB  - PURPOSE: In humans, colonoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of
      inflammatory changes of the colon wall. Aim of this study was the identification
      of less invasive imaging biomarkers in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis
      model to provide additional information on transmural changes of the colon wall.
      PROCEDURES: Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of 2, 3, and 4
      % DSS over a period of 5 days. Colon wall thickness was measured using magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and x-ray computed tomography (CT), gut
      inflammation by positron emission tomography/CT, and mucosal changes of the colon
      wall by colonoscopy. Colon samples were examined histologically. RESULTS: MRI,
      CT, US, and histological data revealed increased colon wall thickness in DSS
      treated mice compared to healthy controls. Elevated 2-deoxy-2[(18)F]fluoro-D
      glucose uptake and colonoscopy confirmed high inflammatory load in the guts of
      colitis mice. CONCLUSIONS: The established quantitative imaging readouts offer
      promising perspectives to develop new compounds and to translate these methods
      into the clinical setting.

PMID- 26884058
TI  - Improvements in PET Image Quality in Time of Flight (TOF) Simultaneous PET/MRI.
AB  - PURPOSE: An integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) scanner with time of flight (TOF) technology is now available for
      clinical use. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of TOF PET in
      PET/MRI to reduce artifacts in PET images when compared to non-TOF PET/MRI, TOF
      PET/X-ray computed tomography (CT), and non-TOF PET/CT. PROCEDURES: All patients
      underwent a single 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ([(18)F]FDG) injection,
      followed first by PET/CT, and subsequently by PET/MRI. PET/CT exams were
      requested as standard-of-care for oncological indications. Using the PET
      acquisitions datasets, 4 series of images (TOF PET/CT, non-TOF PET/CT, TOF
      PET/MRI, and non-TOF PET/MRI) were reconstructed. These image series were
      visually evaluated for: (1) dental metal artifacts, (2) breathing artifacts, and
      (3) pelvic artifacts due to scatter correction errors from high bladder
      [(18)F]FDG concentration. PET image quality was assessed by a 3-point scale (1
      clinically significant artifact, 2-non clinically significant artifact, and 3-no
      artifact). RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (mean +/- SD age: 56 +/- 13 years old;
      female: 10, male: 15) were enrolled. TOF PET/MRI, non-TOF PET/MRI, TOF PET/CT,
      and non-TOF PET/CT scores 2.8, 2.5, 2.4, and 2.3, respectively for the presence
      of dental artifacts, 2.8, 2.5, 2.2, and 1.9, respectively, for the presence of
      breathing artifacts, and 2.7, 1.7, 2.0, and 1.3, respectively, for the presence
      of pelvic artifacts TOF PET/MRI images showed the highest image quality scores
      among the 4 datasets of PET images. CONCLUSION: The superior timing resolution
      and resulting TOF capability of the new PET/MRI scanner improved PET image
      quality in this cohort by reducing artifacts compared to non-TOF PET/MRI, TOF
      PET/CT, and non-TOF PET/CT.

PMID- 26884060
TI  - Tiered High-Throughput Screening Approach to Identify Thyroperoxidase Inhibitors
      Within the ToxCast Phase I and II Chemical Libraries.
AB  - High-throughput screening for potential thyroid-disrupting chemicals requires a
      system of assays to capture multiple molecular-initiating events (MIEs) that
      converge on perturbed thyroid hormone (TH) homeostasis. Screening for MIEs
      specific to TH-disrupting pathways is limited in the U.S. Environmental
      Protection Agency ToxCast screening assay portfolio. To fill 1 critical screening
      gap, the Amplex UltraRed-thyroperoxidase (AUR-TPO) assay was developed to
      identify chemicals that inhibit TPO, as decreased TPO activity reduces TH
      synthesis. The ToxCast phase I and II chemical libraries, comprised of 1074
      unique chemicals, were initially screened using a single, high concentration to
      identify potential TPO inhibitors. Chemicals positive in the single-concentration
      screen were retested in concentration-response. Due to high false-positive rates
      typically observed with loss-of-signal assays such as AUR-TPO, we also employed 2
      additional assays in parallel to identify possible sources of nonspecific assay
      signal loss, enabling stratification of roughly 300 putative TPO inhibitors based
      upon selective AUR-TPO activity. A cell-free luciferase inhibition assay was used
      to identify nonspecific enzyme inhibition among the putative TPO inhibitors, and
      a cytotoxicity assay using a human cell line was used to estimate the cellular
      tolerance limit. Additionally, the TPO inhibition activities of 150 chemicals
      were compared between the AUR-TPO and an orthogonal peroxidase oxidation assay
      using guaiacol as a substrate to confirm the activity profiles of putative TPO
      inhibitors. This effort represents the most extensive TPO inhibition screening
      campaign to date and illustrates a tiered screening approach that focuses
      resources, maximizes assay throughput, and reduces animal use.

PMID- 26884061
TI  - Measuring Work Engagement, Psychological Empowerment, and Organizational
      Citizenship Behavior Among Health Care Aides.
AB  - PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Health care aides (HCAs) provide most direct care in long
      term care (LTC) and home and community care (HCC) settings but are understudied.
      We validate three key work attitude measures to better understand HCAs' work
      experiences: work engagement (WEng), psychological empowerment (PE), and
      organizational citizenship behavior (OCB-O). DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were
      collected from 306 HCAs working in LTC and HCC, using survey items for WEng, PE,
      and OCB-O adapted for HCAs. Psychometric evaluation involved confirmatory factor
      analysis (CFA). Predictive validity (correlations with measures of job
      satisfaction and turnover intention) and internal consistency reliability were
      examined. RESULTS: CFA supported a one-factor model of WEng, a four-factor model
      of PE, and a one-factor model of OCB-O. HCC workers scored higher than LTC
      workers on Self-determination (PE) and lower on Impact, demonstrating concurrent
      validity. WEng and PE correlated with worker outcomes (job satisfaction, turnover
      intention, and OCB-O), demonstrating predictive validity. Reliability and
      validity analyses indicated sound psychometric properties overall. IMPLICATIONS:
      Study results support psychometric properties of measures of WEng, PE, and OCB-O
      for HCAs. Knowledge of HCAs' work attitudes and behaviors can inform recruitment
      programs, incentive systems, and retention/training strategies for this vital
      group of care providers.

PMID- 26884059
TI  - Cardiac-Specific Deletion of the Pdha1 Gene Sensitizes Heart to Toxicological
      Actions of Ischemic Stress.
AB  - Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) plays a key role in aerobic energy metabolism and
      occupies a central crossroad between glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
      We generated inducible cardiac-specific PDH E1alpha knockout (CreER(T2)
      PDH(flox/flox)) mice that demonstrated a high mortality rate. It was hypothesized
      that PDH modulating cardiac glucose metabolism is crucial for heart functions
      under normal physiological and/or stress conditions. The myocardial infarction
      was conducted by a ligation of the left anterior descending coronary arteries.
      Cardiac PDH E1alpha deficiency caused large myocardial infarcts size and
      macrophage infiltration in the hearts (P < .01 vs wild-type [WT]). Wheat germ
      agglutinin and Masson trichrome staining revealed significantly increased
      hypertrophy and fibrosis in PDH E1alpha-deficient hearts (P < .05 vs WT).
      Measurements of heart substrate metabolism in an ex vivo working heart perfusion
      system demonstrated a significant impairment of glucose oxidation in PDH E1alpha
      deficient hearts during ischemia/reperfusion (P < .05 vs WT). Dichloroacetate, a
      PDH activator, increased glucose oxidation in WT hearts during
      ischemia/reperfusion and reduced myocardial infarct size in WT, but not in PDH
      E1alpha-deficient hearts. Immunoblotting results demonstrated that cardiac PDH
      E1alpha deficiency leads to an impaired ischemic AMP-activated protein kinase
      activation through Sestrin2-liver kinase B1 interaction which is responsible for
      an increased susceptibility of PDH E1alpha-deficient heart to ischemic insults.
      Thus, cardiac PDH E1alpha deficiency impairs ischemic AMP-activated protein
      kinase signaling and sensitizes hearts to the toxicological actions of ischemic
      stress.

PMID- 26884062
TI  - Development and Validation of A Scheduled Shifts Staffing (ASSiST) Measure of
      Unit-Level Staffing in Nursing Homes.
AB  - Purpose of the study: To (a) describe A Scheduled Shifts Staffing measure
      (ASSiST) to derive care aide worked hours per resident day (HCA WHRD) at facility
      and unit levels in nursing homes, (b) report reliability through comparisons to
      administrative staffing data; (c) report validity by examining associations
      between HCA WHRD, staff outcomes (job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion), and
      resident quality indicators (QIs) (e.g. falls, delirium, stage 2+ pressure
      ulcers), and (d) explore intrafacility variation in staffing intensity levels
      related to unit-level variation in resident and staff outcomes. Design and
      Methods: We used data from 40 care units in 12 Canadian nursing homes between
      2007 and 2012. Descriptive statistics and tests of association and difference
      described relationships of two measures of staffing with resident and staff
      outcomes. Results: Annualized rates of HCA WHRD from both data sources compared
      well at the facility level (Pearson Product Correlation; R = 0.847, p < .001),
      and were correlated similarly to staff work life and many QIs. Using ASSiST data,
      we show that staffing levels can vary by up to 40% at the unit-level within
      nursing homes. Implications: ASSiST is easy to collect, more timely to retrieve
      than administrative data, has good criterion and construct validity, and reflects
      intrafacility variation in health care aide staffing levels.

PMID- 26884063
TI  - Meaningful Activity for Long-Term Care Residents With Dementia: A Comparison of
      Activities and Raters.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: Engagement in meaningful activities is associated with
      positive outcomes for persons with dementia, yet studies demonstrating
      quantitative evidence for which activities can be considered meaningful are
      lacking. We investigated MemPicsTM, a program designed to promote meaningful
      activity for individuals with dementia through engagement and cognitive
      stimulation. It was compared with other recreation activities offered in U.S.
      long-term care facilities to determine whether MemPicsTM was rated as having more
      meaningful activity from both the perspectives of participants and recreation
      staff. Design and Methods: Long-term care residents with mild to moderate
      dementia that met eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to an activity
      group (treatment, control). Participants completed 2 sessions of either the
      experimental or control group activity with facility recreation staff. Both
      participants and staff rated each activity in terms of meaningfulness following
      each session. Results: Of the enrolled participants (N = 126), study analyses
      were based on the 94 participants (n = 48 treatment and n = 46 control; M age =
      82.98+/-9.63) who completed the activity sessions. Compared to the control group
      activities, MemPicsTM had significantly higher participant and staff ratings of
      meaningfulness. Scores between the 2 rater types were significantly different,
      with staff reporting higher meaningful activity than participants. Further
      support for MemPicsTM was found in exit survey responses from participating
      staff. Implications: We discuss the merits and shortcoming of this study, the
      utility of MemPicsTM for providing meaningful engagement in long-term care
      residents with mild to moderate dementia, and ideas for future research.

PMID- 26884065
TI  - Aging in Russia.
AB  - Russia has always been at an intersection of Western and Eastern cultures, with
      its dozens of ethnic groups and different religions. The federal structure of the
      country also encompasses a variety of differences in socioeconomic status across
      its regions. This diversity yields complexity in aging research; aging people in
      Russia differ in terms of nationality, religion, political beliefs, social and
      economic status, access to health care, income, living conditions, etc. Thus, it
      is difficult to control for all these factors or to draw a picture of an
      "average" Russian older adult. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of research on
      aging in Russia, mainly focusing on biomedical and social aspects of aging. Most
      such research is based in the Central and Western regions, whereas the Siberian
      and Far East regions are underrepresented. There is also a lack of secondary
      databases and representative nationwide studies. Social policy and legislation
      address the needs of older adults by providing social services, support, and
      protection. The retirement system in Russia enables adults to retire at
      relatively young ages-55 and 60 years for women and men, respectively-but also to
      maintain the option of continuing their professional career or re-establishing a
      career after a "vocation" period. Though in recent years the government has faced
      a range of political issues, affecting the country's economy in general, budget
      funds for support of aging people have been maintained.

PMID- 26884064
TI  - Media Portrayal of the Nursing Homes Sector: A Longitudinal Analysis of 51 U.S.
      Newspapers.
AB  - Purpose: Most Americans' low opinion of the nursing home (NH) sector could
      derive, in part, from the way in which it is portrayed in the media. This study
      furthers understanding of media portrayal of the NH sector by identifying how NHs
      were depicted in 51U.S. newspapers from 1999 to 2008. Design and methods: Keyword
      searches of the LexisNexis database were performed to identify 16,280 NH-related
      articles. Article content was analyzed, and tone, themes, prominence, and central
      actor were assessed. Basic frequencies and descriptive statistics were used to
      examine article content across regions, market type, and over time. Results:
      Findings reveal considerably less NH coverage in the Western United States and a
      steady decline in NH coverage nationally over time. Most articles were news
      stories; more than one third were located on the front page of the newspaper or
      section. Most articles focused on NH industry and government interests, very few
      on residents/family and community concerns. Most articles were neutral or
      negative in tone; very few were positive or mixed. Common themes included
      quality, financing, and legal concerns. Tone, themes, and other article
      attributes varied across region, market type, and over time. Implications:
      Overall, findings reveal changes in how newspapers framed NH coverage, not only
      with respect to tone but also with respect to what dimensions of this complex
      issue have been emphasized during the time period analyzed. Variation in media
      coverage may contribute to differences in government and public views toward the
      NH sector across regions and over time.

PMID- 26884066
TI  - Well-being of Sibling Caregivers: Effects of Kinship Relationship and Race.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: This study examined whether caregiving has a differential
      effect on the well-being of sibling caregivers relative to other caregiving
      groups and whether race moderates this effect. Design and Methods: Using the
      National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, 631 family
      caregivers (including 61 sibling caregivers) and 4,944 noncaregivers were
      identified. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to estimate the
      effect of the caregiver-care recipient relationship and its interaction with race
      on caregivers' well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms, self-rated health, life
      satisfaction, and perceived control over life). Results: Caregivers in general
      reported poorer well-being than noncaregivers, but sibling caregivers were less
      affected by caregiving than parent or spouse caregivers. Among sibling
      caregivers, caregiving took a significantly greater toll on non-Hispanic White
      caregivers than those from minority groups with respect to depressive symptoms
      and life satisfaction. Implication: The findings suggest that the experience of
      sibling caregivers is significantly shaped by their cultural background.

PMID- 26884070
TI  - Capillary haemangioma on the palate: a diagnostic conundrum.
AB  - Haemangiomas are benign tumours of blood vessel origin and are classified as
      capillary, cavernous or central. They appear as flat or raised reddish-blue
      lesions and are generally solitary, affecting women in younger age groups. The
      tumour may be slowly progressive, involving extensive portions of the superficial
      and deep blood vessels, and affect function, depending on location. They are
      common in the head and neck region but rarely in the oral cavity. Oral lesions
      generally appear on the lips, buccal mucosa and tongue, but rarely on the palate.
      As the lesion can be confused with pyogenic granuloma, histopathological
      examination is important for a final diagnosis. The case presented here signifies
      a rare location of a capillary haemangioma on the palate in a middle aged man.
      The lesion was diagnosed by histopathology after surgical excision. 

PMID- 26884071
TI  - Spontaneous pituitary apoplexy during the second trimester of pregnancy, with
      sensory loss.
AB  - A 32-year-old Hispanic woman at 23 weeks gestation presented with right-sided
      headache, associated with photophobia and right-sided numbness. She denied visual
      problems, menstrual irregularities and galactorrhoea. Examination revealed visual
      acuity 20/40 bilaterally with some blurriness on the left side, decreased right
      V1-V2 facial sensation and preserved 5/5 power, but decreased sensation over the
      entire right upper extremity (RUE) and right lower extremity (RLE) to touch and
      pinprick. Laboratories suggested normal pituitary function, but MRI of the brain
      revealed enlargement of the pituitary (1.7 cm), with layering haemorrhage
      posteriorly and mild compression of the optic nerve. The patient underwent
      emergent evacuation of a pituitary haematoma, and histology revealed minute
      fragments of adenohypophysis with haemorrhage and fibrosis.

PMID- 26884069
TI  - UHRF1 overexpression is involved in cell proliferation and biochemical recurrence
      in prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biochemical recurrence (BCR) is widely used to define the treatment
      success and to make decisions on if or how to initiate a secondary therapy, but
      uniform criteria to define BCR after radical prostatectomy (RP) is not yet
      completely assessed. UHRF1 has a unique function in regulating the epigenome by
      linking DNA methylation with histone marks. The clinical value of UHRF1 in PCa
      has not been well done. Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic significance of
      UHRF1. METHOD: UHRF1 expression in PCa cells was monitored by qRT-PCR and Western
      blot analyses. UHRF1 expression was knocked down using specific siRNAs, and the
      effects of knockdown on the proliferation, migration, cell cycle, and apoptosis
      of PCa cell lines were investigated. UHRF1 protein expression was evaluated in
      225 PCa specimens using immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays. Correlations
      between UHRF1 expression and the clinical features of PCa were assessed. RESULTS:
      The results showed that UHRF1 was overexpressed in almost all of the PCa cell
      lines. In PCa cells, UHRF1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration,
      and induced apoptosis. UHRF1 expression levels were correlated with some clinical
      features of PCa. Multivariate analysis showed that UHRF1 expression was an
      independent prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence-free survival.
      CONCLUSIONS: UHRF1 functions as an oncogene in prostate cancer and appears to be
      capable of predicting the risk of biochemical recurrence in PCa patients after
      radical prostatectomy, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for PCa.

PMID- 26884072
TI  - Rivaroxaban and retropharyngeal haemorrhage.
AB  - Haemorrhage is a well-known and accepted complication of anticoagulation. A
      retropharyngeal haemorrhage (RH) is a rare condition that without prompt
      recognition and management may result in fatal complications. We report a case of
      RH in a 67-year-old man anticoagulated with rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation.
      The patient presented to the emergency department, with a two-day history of
      atraumatic right-sided neck swelling and associated progressive odynophagia,
      dysphagia and dysphonia. Rivaroxaban is a potent new oral anticoagulant that has
      been approved for use by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
      but still has no approved reversal agent. Despite its rarity, an RH is a
      potentially life threatening complication of anticoagulation that must be
      carefully considered. This is especially true for a drug that cannot be easily
      reversed. We present a discussion of this case presentation with possible
      differential diagnoses and a review of the literature, and recommend the use of
      Capp's triad as a diagnostic criterion. 

PMID- 26884068
TI  - The role of APOE in cerebrovascular dysfunction.
AB  - The epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE4) is associated with
      cognitive decline during aging, is the greatest genetic risk factor for
      Alzheimer's disease and has links to other neurodegenerative conditions that
      affect cognition. Increasing evidence indicates that APOE genotypes
      differentially modulate the function of the cerebrovasculature (CV), with apoE
      and its receptors expressed by different cell types at the CV interface
      (astrocytes, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, brain endothelial cells). However,
      research on the role of apoE in CV dysfunction has not advanced as quickly as
      other apoE-modulated pathways. This review will assess what aspects of the CV are
      modulated by APOE genotypes during aging and under disease states, discuss
      potential mechanisms, and summarize the therapeutic significance of the topic. We
      propose that APOE4 induces CV dysfunction through direct signaling at the CV, and
      indirectly via modulation of peripheral and central pathways. Further, that APOE4
      predisposes the CV to damage by, and exacerbates the effects of, additional risk
      factors (such as sex, hypertension, and diabetes). ApoE4-induced detrimental CV
      changes include reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF), modified neuron-CBF coupling,
      increased blood-brain barrier leakiness, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hemorrhages
      and disrupted transport of nutrients and toxins. The apoE4-induced detrimental
      changes may be linked to pericyte migration/activation, astrocyte activation,
      smooth muscle cell damage, basement membrane degradation and alterations in brain
      endothelial cells. 

PMID- 26884067
TI  - Sub-clinical detection of gut microbial biomarkers of obesity and type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are linked both with host genetics
      and with environmental factors, including dysbioses of the gut microbiota.
      However, it is unclear whether these microbial changes precede disease onset.
      Twin cohorts present a unique genetically-controlled opportunity to study the
      relationships between lifestyle factors and the microbiome. In particular, we
      hypothesized that family-independent changes in microbial composition and
      metabolic function during the sub-clinical state of T2D could be either causal or
      early biomarkers of progression. METHODS: We collected fecal samples and clinical
      metadata from 20 monozygotic Korean twins at up to two time points, resulting in
      36 stool shotgun metagenomes. While the participants were neither obese nor
      diabetic, they spanned the entire range of healthy to near-clinical values and
      thus enabled the study of microbial associations during sub-clinical disease
      while accounting for genetic background. RESULTS: We found changes both in
      composition and in function of the sub-clinical gut microbiome, including a
      decrease in Akkermansia muciniphila suggesting a role prior to the onset of
      disease, and functional changes reflecting a response to oxidative stress
      comparable to that previously observed in chronic T2D and inflammatory bowel
      diseases. Finally, our unique study design allowed us to examine the strain
      similarity between twins, and we found that twins demonstrate strain-level
      differences in composition despite species-level similarities. CONCLUSIONS: These
      changes in the microbiome might be used for the early diagnosis of an inflamed
      gut and T2D prior to clinical onset of the disease and will help to advance
      toward microbial interventions.

PMID- 26884073
TI  - Subarachnoid haemorrhage from the rupture of two intracranial aneurysms in the
      same day: a rare occurrence, not a myth.
AB  - The incidence of intracranial aneurysms is approximately 6% throughout the world,
      although it can be more prevalent in some populations than others. Subarachnoid
      haemorrhage from a single aneurysm rupture can be devastating, with approximately
      35% of patients not regaining consciousness after the initial bleed. In some
      cases, patients will have two or more aneurysms at presentation, and only one of
      them will have bled. Having two or more aneurysms that have bled within a few
      minutes or few hours of one another, is almost unheard of. Our case report is
      based on a patient who presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage from two ruptured
      aneurysms, confirmed intraoperatively and corroborated by the available,
      preoperative, standard head CT scan, which can be performed in any hospital with
      CT scanning facilities, and CT angiogram. 

PMID- 26884074
TI  - Pregnancy tumour of the external auditory canal: treatment in clinic.
AB  - We present the case of a 29-year-old woman with a symptomatic lobular capillary
      haemangioma (pregnancy tumour) arising from the external ear canal. A literature
      review shows this to be an uncommon lesion in a rare location. The lesion was
      successfully diagnosed and treated in clinic with complete resolution and no
      recurrence. 

PMID- 26884075
TI  - Dilated cardiomyopathy with cardiogenic shock in a child with Kearns-Sayre
      syndrome.
AB  - Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) is a mitochondrial myopathy resulting from
      mitochondrial DNA deletion. This syndrome primarily involves the central nervous
      system, eyes, skeletal muscles and the heart. The most well-known cardiac
      complications involve the conduction system; however, there have been case
      reports describing cardiomyopathy. We describe a case of a child with KSS who
      presented with decompensated cardiac failure from dilated cardiomyopathy
      representing cardiomyocyte involvement of KSS. Our patient had a rapidly
      progressing course, despite maximal medical management, requiring emergent
      institution of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and transition to a
      ventricular assist device. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest
      patient in the literature to have dilated cardiomyopathy in KSS. 

PMID- 26884076
TI  - Primary high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma emerging from an adenomatous polyp in
      the setting of familial adenomatous polyposis.
AB  - Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare inherited syndrome that is
      characterised by innumerable adenomas of the colon and rectum, a high risk of
      colorectal cancer and a variety of extracolonic manifestations. FAP presents as
      hundreds to thousands of colonic adenomas beginning in adolescence. The syndrome
      is associated with less than 1% of all colorectal cancer cases, but there is a
      nearly 100% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with FAP. This case
      demonstrates a 60-year-old man with FAP who developed high-grade neuroendocrine
      carcinoma with glandular and squamous differentiation, and regional lymph node
      and liver metastases. Early diagnosis of FAP is of the utmost importance to start
      screening colonoscopies to assess disease burden, perform polypectomies and to
      make management decisions. Neuroendocrine carcinomas rarely occur in patients
      with FAP, and awareness of this association among general medical physicians and
      pathologists is essential for the diagnosis and care of these patients. 

PMID- 26884078
TI  - Multimodality imaging and management of an asymptomatic saccular LAD aneurysm.

PMID- 26884079
TI  - Long-standing meningomyelocele can be a predictor of difficult airway and
      postoperative hypoventilation: challenge to the anaesthesiologist.
AB  - A 15-year-old female patient presented with severe pain in the abdomen and
      obstructive uropathy. She underwent Yang-Monti ileovesicostomy under general
      anaesthesia. She is a known case of long-standing meningomyelocele (MMC) and
      presented with its potential complications such as difficult airway and
      restrictive lung disease. We describe the successful anaesthetic management of a
      case of anticipated difficult airway and postoperative hypoventilation as a
      sequel of kyphosis due to MMC. Her airway was secured with fibre optic-guided
      intubation in a semirecumbent position. Postoperative hypoventilation,
      hypercarbia and respiratory acidosis were managed conservatively, followed by
      staged weaning in the intensive care unit. Obstruction of the catheterisable
      continent channel of the neurogenic bladder itself may present with uropathy and
      urosepsis, which were also taken care of preoperatively. 

PMID- 26884077
TI  - Hypokalaemia and drinking green tea: a literature review and report of 2 cases.
AB  - We report the association between excessive consumption of green tea and
      hypokalaemia in an Oriental couple. Both patients were asymptomatic and the
      abnormal electrolyte level was only detected on routine blood tests. When they
      were advised to reduce the consumption of green tea, the abnormally low potassium
      level was reversed. We have not found such an association reported in the medical
      literature. The health benefits of green tea consumption are well publicised but
      the potential side-effects of overconsumption are less well known. We would like
      to report this association to alert clinicians about this potentially serious
      complication. This is especially relevant for those who are also taking
      prescribed medications that can lower potassium levels and/or sensitise patients
      to potential harm from hypokalaemia. 

PMID- 26884080
TI  - Atypical presentation of a Meckel's diverticulum.

PMID- 26884083
TI  - Copper-induced ammonia N-H functionalization.
AB  - The activation of ammonia has been achieved with the aid of the Tp(Ms)Cu core
      (Tp(Ms) = hydrotris(3-mesityl-pyrazolyl)borate). Complexes of the general
      composition Tp(Ms)Cu(amine) (1-4) including the ammonia adduct Tp(Ms)Cu(NH3) (1)
      have been synthesized and fully spectroscopical- and structurally characterized.
      Coordinated ammonia in 1 has been reacted with Ph3CPF6 yielding Tp(Ms)Cu(NH2CPh3)
      (5) as a result of N-H cleavage and N-C bond formation. In a parallel manner the
      catalytic functionalization of ammonia with ethyl diazoacetate leading to
      glycinate derivatives has been developed with Tp(Ms)Cu(THF) as the catalyst, in
      the first example of this transformation with ammonia and a copper-based system. 

PMID- 26884082
TI  - Immediate and mid-term result of restrictive mitral annuloplasty using a small
      semi-rigid ring.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Though annuloplasty using a properly sized ring has been advocated in
      degenerative mitral regurgitation, restrictive annuloplasty using a down-sized
      ring is widely used in ischemic mitral regurgitation. We investigated the outcome
      of restrictive annuloplasty using a small (24- or 26-mm) ring in mitral
      regurgitation irrespective of the etiology. METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent
      a restrictive annuloplasty using a 24-mm (n = 8) or 26-mm (n = 11) semi-rigid
      ring. The etiology included degenerative in 13 patients, ischemic in 3,
      endocarditis in 2, and congenital in 1. Body surface area of the patients
      implanted with the 24-mm ring was 1.40 +/- 0.16 and 1.60 +/- 0.18 m(2) for the 26
      mm ring. Fifteen patients had 3+ or 4+ mitral regurgitation preoperatively.
      RESULTS: Two patients were converted to valve replacement for residual mitral
      regurgitation during the operation. One operative mortality associated with
      infection was observed. Echocardiogram at 29.4 +/- 14.2 months postoperatively
      demonstrated mitral valve area of 2.0 +/- 0.6 cm(2) for 24-mm ring and 2.2 +/-
      0.5 cm(2) for 26-mm ring with indexed mitral valve area of 1.4 +/- 0.4 cm(2)/m(2)
      for both groups, and no mitral regurgitation more than 2+. Transmitral mean
      pressure gradient on rest was 4.7 +/- 2.1 mmHg at last follow up. New York Heart
      Association class improved from 2.2 +/- 0.7 to 1.2 +/- 0.2 after the operation.
      No late death or reoperation was observed during the follow-up of 31.0 +/- 15.0
      months. CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive mitral annuloplasty using a small ring provided
      acceptable early and midterm results in patients with body surface area around
      1.5 cm(2) without Barlow pathology. Restrictive annuloplasty may be another
      technical aspect to avoid valve replacement.

PMID- 26884081
TI  - High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is associated with cognitive decline in older
      adults at high cardiovascular risk.
AB  - AIMS: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), measured with a high-sensitivity (hs) assay, is
      associated with cognitive decline, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. We
      investigated the association of hs-cTnT with cognitive function and decline, and
      studied whether this association was independent of cardiovascular diseases or
      risk factors, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). METHODS
      AND RESULTS: We studied 5407 participants (mean age 75.31 years) from the
      PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), who all had
      cardiovascular diseases or risk factors thereof. Participants with pre-existent
      advanced clinical heart failure were excluded. Hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP obtained
      after 6 months of follow-up were related with cognitive function, tested
      repeatedly during a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. Participants with higher hs-cTnT
      performed worse at baseline on Stroop test (mean baseline score (standard error
      (SE)) lowest vs highest third 65.91 (1.16) vs 69.40 (1.10) seconds, p < 0.001),
      Letter-Digit Coding test (23.35 (0.32) vs 22.40 (0.31) digits coded, p < 0.001),
      immediate Picture-Word Learning test (9.45 (0.09) vs 9.31 (0.08) pictures
      remembered, p = 0.002) and delayed Picture-Word Learning test (10.33 (0.12) vs
      10.10 (0.12) pictures remembered, p = 0.013). Furthermore, participants with
      higher hs-cTnT had steeper decline on Stroop test (mean annual change (SE) lowest
      vs highest third 0.34 (0.12) vs 1.06 (0.12) seconds, p = 0.013), Letter-Digit
      Coding test (-0.29 (0.03) vs -0.46 (0.03) digits coded, p < 0.001), immediate
      Picture-Word Learning test (0.01 (0.01) vs -0.06 (0.01) pictures remembered, p <
      0.001) and delayed Picture-Word Learning test (-0.03 (0.01) vs -0.12 (0.02)
      pictures remembered, p = 0.001). Associations were independent of cardiovascular
      diseases risk factors or Apolipoprotein E genotype. Further adjusting for NT
      proBNP levels revealed the same results. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of hs-cTnT
      associate with worse cognitive function and steeper cognitive decline in older
      adults independent of cardiovascular diseases, risk factors and NT-proBNP.

PMID- 26884085
TI  - 3D nanostructures fabricated by advanced stencil lithography.
AB  - This letter reports on a novel fabrication method for 3D metal nanostructures
      using high-throughput nanostencil lithography. Aperture clogging, which occurs on
      the stencil membranes during physical vapor deposition, is leveraged to create
      complex topographies on the nanoscale. The precision of the 3D nanofabrication
      method is studied in terms of geometric parameters and material types. The
      versatility of the technique is demonstrated by various symmetric and chiral
      patterns made of Al and Au. 

PMID- 26884084
TI  - Estrogen promotes fat mass and obesity-associated protein nuclear localization
      and enhances endometrial cancer cell proliferation via the mTOR signaling
      pathway.
AB  - Extensive exposure to estrogen is generally acknowledged as a risk factor for
      endometrial cancer. Given that the accumulation of adipocytes also contributes to
      the increased production of estrogen, in the present study, we evaluated the
      expression of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene in endometrial tumor
      tissues and further explored the mechanism of how estrogen facilitates FTO
      nuclear localization and promotes endometrial cancer cell proliferation.
      Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining assay was used to detect the FTO expression in
      endometrial tumor samples. Western blotting was performed to investigate the
      mechanism of estrogen-induced FTO nuclear localization. siRNA was used to knock
      down ERalpha and further explore its role in FTO nuclear localization. MTT assay
      was carried out to determine cell proliferation. We found that FTO was
      overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues and served as a poor prognostic
      marker. Additionally, estrogen induced FTO nuclear accumulation via the mTOR
      signaling pathway and the nuclear localization was ERalpha-dependent, which
      contributed to enhanced proliferative activity. Therefore, the present study
      provides new insight into the mechanisms of estrogen-induced proliferation,
      implying the possibility of using FTO as a potential therapeutic target for the
      treatment of endometrial cancer.

PMID- 26884086
TI  - Co-morbid immunopathological affections in outpatients with inflammatory bowel
      disease: a prospective study.

PMID- 26884087
TI  - Memory blindness: Altered memory reports lead to distortion in eyewitness memory.
AB  - Choice blindness refers to the finding that people can often be misled about
      their own self-reported choices. However, little research has investigated the
      more long-term effects of choice blindness. We examined whether people would
      detect alterations to their own memory reports, and whether such alterations
      could influence participants' memories. Participants viewed slideshows depicting
      crimes, and then either reported their memories for episodic details of the event
      (Exp. 1) or identified a suspect from a lineup (Exp. 2). Then we exposed
      participants to manipulated versions of their memory reports, and later tested
      their memories a second time. The results indicated that the majority of
      participants failed to detect the misinformation, and that exposing witnesses to
      misleading versions of their own memory reports caused their memories to change
      to be consistent with those reports. These experiments have implications for
      eyewitness memory.

PMID- 26884088
TI  - Taking the easy way out? Increasing implementation effort reduces probability
      maximizing under cognitive load.
AB  - Cognitive load has previously been found to have a positive effect on strategy
      selection in repeated risky choice. Specifically, whereas inferior probability
      matching often prevails under single-task conditions, optimal probability
      maximizing sometimes dominates when a concurrent task competes for cognitive
      resources. We examined the extent to which this seemingly beneficial effect of
      increased task demands hinges on the effort required to implement each of the
      choice strategies. Probability maximizing typically involves a simple repeated
      response to a single option, whereas probability matching requires choice
      proportions to be tracked carefully throughout a sequential choice task. Here, we
      flipped this pattern by introducing a manipulation that made the implementation
      of maximizing more taxing and, at the same time, allowed decision makers to
      probability match via a simple repeated response to a single option. The results
      from two experiments showed that increasing the implementation effort of
      probability maximizing resulted in decreased adoption rates of this strategy.
      This was the case both when decision makers simultaneously learned about the
      outcome probabilities and responded to a dual task (Exp. 1) and when these two
      aspects were procedurally separated in two distinct stages (Exp. 2). We conclude
      that the effort involved in implementing a choice strategy is a key factor in
      shaping repeated choice under uncertainty. Moreover, highlighting the importance
      of implementation effort casts new light on the sometimes surprising and
      inconsistent effects of cognitive load that have previously been reported in the
      literature.

PMID- 26884089
TI  - The Footprint of the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation in Indian Ocean Sea
      Surface Temperatures.
AB  - Superimposed on a pronounced warming trend, the Indian Ocean (IO) sea surface
      temperatures (SSTs) also show considerable decadal variations that can cause
      regional climate oscillations around the IO. However, the mechanisms of the IO
      decadal variability remain unclear. Here we perform numerical experiments using a
      state-of-the-art, fully coupled climate model in which the external forcings with
      or without the observed SSTs in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (TEP) are
      applied for 1871-2012. Both the observed timing and magnitude of the IO decadal
      variations are well reproduced in those experiments with the TEP SSTs prescribed
      to observations. Although the external forcings account for most of the warming
      trend, the decadal variability in IO SSTs is dominated by internal variability
      that is induced by the TEP SSTs, especially the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation
      (IPO). The IPO weakens (enhances) the warming of the external forcings by about
      50% over the IO during IPO's cold (warm) phase, which contributes about 10% to
      the recent global warming hiatus since 1999. The decadal variability in IO SSTs
      is modulated by the IPO-induced atmospheric adjustment through changing surface
      heat fluxes, sea surface height and thermocline depth. 

PMID- 26884090
TI  - CSAHi study: Validation of multi-electrode array systems (MEA60/2100) for
      prediction of drug-induced proarrhythmia using human iPS cell-derived
      cardiomyocytes -assessment of inter-facility and cells lot-to-lot-variability.
AB  - In vitro screening of hERG channels are recommended under ICH S7B guidelines to
      predict drug-induced QT prolongation and Torsade de Pointes (TdP), whereas
      proarrhythmia is known to be evoked by blockage of other ion channels involved in
      cardiac contraction and compensation mechanisms. A consortium for drug safety
      assessment using human iPS cells-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs), CSAHi, has
      been organized to establish a novel in vitro test system that would enable better
      prediction of drug-induced proarrhythmia and QT prolongation. Here we report the
      inter-facility and cells lot-to-lot variability evaluated with FPDc (corrected
      field potential duration), FPDc10 (10% FPDc change concentration), beat rate and
      incidence of arrhythmia-like waveform or arrest on hiPS-CMs in a multi-electrode
      array system. Arrhythmia-like waveforms were evident for all test compounds,
      other than chromanol 293B, that evoked FPDc prolongation in this system and are
      reported to induce TdP in clinical practice. There was no apparent cells lot-to
      lot variability, while inter-facility variabilities were limited within ranges
      from 3.9- to 20-folds for FPDc10 and about 10-folds for the minimum concentration
      inducing arrhythmia-like waveform or arrests. In conclusion, the new assay model
      reported here would enable accurate prediction of a drug potential for
      proarrhythmia. 

PMID- 26884092
TI  - Ocular pathological changes in hamsters experimentally infected with Schistosoma
      mansoni.
AB  - Ocular lesions have been reported in patients with schistosomiasis; however, the
      problem with studying schistosomal infection of the human eye is that biopsies
      are almost impossible to take, and histopathological examination of suspicious
      lesions can only be undertaken post-mortem or after enucleation. This work aimed
      to study the possible effects and pathogenesis of schistosomiasis on the eye.
      This study involved 55 hamsters; five hamsters remained non-infected and the
      remaining 50 hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Infected
      hamsters were sacrificed on weeks 8, 12, 16 and 20 post-infection (pi). Eye
      sections were prepared and stained for histopathological and immunohistochemical
      studies. Histopathological changes detected in hamsters infected after 16 and 20
      weeks included looseness and oedema of the innermost retinal layers together with
      hyperplastic polypoid growth. Neither eggs nor granulomata were detected in eye
      sections throughout the experimental period. Deposition of S. mansoni antigen was
      revealed in 35% of infected hamsters. Later, on weeks 16 and 20 pi, moderate
      subepithelial conjuctival deposits and marked subchoroidal and scleral deposition
      were detected. In conclusion, the deposition of schistosomal antigen and immune
      complexes may play a pivotal role in the ocular changes that occur in
      schistosomiasis, even in the absence of detectable Schistosoma eggs.
      Schistosomiasis should be suspected in cases with unexplained ophthalmological
      findings, especially in endemic areas.

PMID- 26884093
TI  - Postprandial Hypotension and Coma Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Patient
      with Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - A 79-year-old woman with a history of Parkinson's disease was admitted to our
      hospital because of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. She underwent clipping the next
      day. On postoperative days 7-9, she exhibited hypotension and disturbance of
      consciousness after each meal. The administration of midodrine relieved the
      hypotension, and postprandial coma was no longer observed. In this case, the
      autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and impairment of cerebral
      autoregulation during cerebral vasospasm may have been involved in the
      postprandial hypotension (PPH) and coma. PPH occurs not only in patients with
      Parkinson's disease but also in elderly patients, particularly those with
      diabetes or hypertension. Therefore, PPH must be considered in the management of
      cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PMID- 26884091
TI  - Subthalamic local field potentials in Parkinson's disease and isolated dystonia:
      An evaluation of potential biomarkers.
AB  - Local field potentials (LFP) recorded from the subthalamic nucleus in patients
      with Parkinson's disease (PD) demonstrate prominent oscillations in the beta (13
      30 Hz) frequency range, and reduction of beta band spectral power by levodopa and
      deep brain stimulation (DBS) is correlated with motor symptom improvement.
      Several features of beta activity have been theorized to be specific biomarkers
      of the parkinsonian state, though these have rarely been studied in non
      parkinsonian conditions. To compare resting state LFP features in PD and isolated
      dystonia and evaluate disease-specific biomarkers, we recorded subthalamic LFPs
      from 28 akinetic-rigid PD and 12 isolated dystonia patients during awake DBS
      implantation. Spectral power and phase-amplitude coupling characteristics were
      analyzed. In 26/28 PD and 11/12 isolated dystonia patients, the LFP power
      spectrum had a peak in the beta frequency range, with similar amplitudes between
      groups. Resting state power did not differ between groups in the theta (5-8 Hz),
      alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (13-30 Hz), broadband gamma (50-200 Hz), or high frequency
      oscillation (HFO, 250-350 Hz) bands. Analysis of phase-amplitude coupling between
      low frequency phase and HFO amplitude revealed significant interactions in 19/28
      PD and 6/12 dystonia recordings without significant differences in maximal
      coupling or preferred phase. Two features of subthalamic LFPs that have been
      proposed as specific parkinsonian biomarkers, beta power and coupling of beta
      phase to HFO amplitude, were also present in isolated dystonia, including focal
      dystonias. This casts doubt on the utility of these metrics as disease-specific
      diagnostic biomarkers.

PMID- 26884094
TI  - DHPLC technology for high-throughput detection of mutations in a durum wheat
      TILLING population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) is a cereal crop widely grown in
      the Mediterranean regions; the amber grain is mainly used for the production of
      pasta, couscous and typical breads. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
      detection technologies and high-throughput mutation induction represent a new
      challenge in wheat breeding to identify allelic variation in large populations.
      The TILLING strategy makes use of traditional chemical mutagenesis followed by
      screening for single base mismatches to identify novel mutant loci. Although
      TILLING has been combined to several sensitive pre-screening methods for SNP
      analysis, most rely on expensive equipment. Recently, a new low cost and time
      saving DHPLC protocol has been used in molecular human diagnostic to detect
      unknown mutations. RESULTS: In this work, we developed a new durum wheat TILLING
      population (cv. Marco Aurelio) using 0.70-0.85% ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). To
      investigate the efficiency of the mutagenic treatments, a pilot screening was
      carried out on 1,140 mutant lines focusing on two target genes (Lycopene epsilon
      cyclase, epsilon-LCY, and Lycopene beta-cyclase, beta-LCY) involved in carotenoid
      metabolism in wheat grains. We simplify the heteroduplex detection by two low
      cost methods: the enzymatic cleavage (CelI)/agarose gel technique and the
      denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). The CelI/agarose gel
      approach allowed us to identify 31 mutations, whereas the DHPLC procedure
      detected a total of 46 mutations for both genes. All detected mutations were
      confirmed by direct sequencing. The estimated overall mutation frequency for the
      pilot assay by the DHPLC methodology resulted to be of 1/77 kb, representing a
      high probability to detect interesting mutations in the target genes. CONCLUSION:
      We demonstrated the applicability and efficiency of a new strategy for the
      detection of induced variability. We produced and characterized a new durum wheat
      TILLING population useful for a better understanding of key gene functions. The
      availability of this tool together with TILLING technique will expand the
      polymorphisms in candidate genes of agronomically important traits in wheat.

PMID- 26884096
TI  - Structure determination of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 * 2) surface using total
      reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD).
AB  - The exact structure of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 * 2) surface, which had been under
      debate over the past 30 years, was investigated using the newly developed
      technique of total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD), which is
      a positron counterpart of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED).
      The rocking-curves for the 00-spot obtained from the experimental diffraction
      patterns were compared to the curves for various models calculated with a full
      dynamical theory. It was found that the rocking-curves matched those for a
      surface consisting of a Ti2O3 configuration, originally suggested by Onishi and
      Iwasawa [H. Onishi and Y. Iwasawa, Surf. Sci., 1994, 313, L783], but with a
      further modification of atomic positions close to the ones proposed by Wang et
      al. [Q. Wang, A. R. Oganov, Q. Zhu and X. F. Zhou, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 113,
      266101]. This result demonstrates that TRHEPD can distinguish between the
      existence and absence of the oxygen atoms on the topmost surface, and between the
      Ti atoms residing in positions at the interstitial-vertical sites and those at
      interstitial-horizontal sites. 

PMID- 26884095
TI  - A two-step patterning process increases the robustness of periodic patterning in
      the fly eye.
AB  - Complex periodic patterns can self-organize through dynamic interactions between
      diffusible activators and inhibitors. In the biological context, self-organized
      patterning is challenged by spatial heterogeneities ('noise') inherent to
      biological systems. How spatial variability impacts the periodic patterning
      mechanism and how it can be buffered to ensure precise patterning is not well
      understood. We examine the effect of spatial heterogeneity on the periodic
      patterning of the fruit fly eye, an organ composed of ~800 miniature eye units
      (ommatidia) whose periodic arrangement along a hexagonal lattice self-organizes
      during early stages of fly development. The patterning follows a two-step
      process, with an initial formation of evenly spaced clusters of ~10 cells
      followed by a subsequent refinement of each cluster into a single selected cell.
      Using a probabilistic approach, we calculate the rate of patterning errors
      resulting from spatial heterogeneities in cell size, position and biosynthetic
      capacity. Notably, error rates were largely independent of the desired cluster
      size but followed the distributions of signaling speeds. Pre-formation of large
      clusters therefore greatly increases the reproducibility of the overall periodic
      arrangement, suggesting that the two-stage patterning process functions to guard
      the pattern against errors caused by spatial heterogeneities. Our results
      emphasize the constraints imposed on self-organized patterning mechanisms by the
      need to buffer stochastic effects. Author summary Complex periodic patterns are
      common in nature and are observed in physical, chemical and biological systems.
      Understanding how these patterns are generated in a precise manner is a key
      challenge. Biological patterns are especially intriguing, as they are generated
      in a noisy environment; cell position and cell size, for example, are subject to
      stochastic variations, as are the strengths of the chemical signals mediating
      cell-to-cell communication. The need to generate a precise and robust pattern in
      this 'noisy' environment restricts the space of patterning mechanisms that can
      function in the biological setting. Mathematical modeling is useful in comparing
      the sensitivity of different mechanisms to such variations, thereby highlighting
      key aspects of their design.We use mathematical modeling to study the periodic
      patterning of the fruit fly eye. In this system, a highly ordered lattice of
      differentiated cells is generated in a two-dimensional cell epithelium. The
      pattern is first observed by the appearance of evenly spaced clusters of ~10
      cells that express specific genes. Each cluster is subsequently refined into a
      single cell, which initiates the formation and differentiation of a miniature eye
      unit, the ommatidium. We formulate a mathematical model based on the known
      molecular properties of the patterning mechanism, and use a probabilistic
      approach to calculate the errors in cluster formation and refinement resulting
      from stochastic cell-to-cell variations ('noise') in different quantitative
      parameters. This enables us to define the parameters most influencing noise
      sensitivity. Notably, we find that this error is roughly independent of the
      desired cluster size, suggesting that large clusters are beneficial for ensuring
      the overall reproducibility of the periodic cluster arrangement. For the stage of
      cluster refinement, we find that rapid communication between cells is critical
      for reducing error. Our work provides new insights into the constraints imposed
      on mechanisms generating periodic patterning in a realistic, noisy environment,
      and in particular, discusses the different considerations in achieving optimal
      design of the patterning network.

PMID- 26884097
TI  - Where Were You?

PMID- 26884098
TI  - Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in the Adiponectin Gene and Cardiovascular
      Disease.
AB  - Dear Editor, The recent article by Mohammadzadeh et al.[1] on the latest issue of
      this Journal showed that the T allele +276G/T SNP of ADIPOQ gene is more
      associated with the increasing risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects
      with type 2 diabetes. Adipocytes were described in myocardial tissue of CAD
      patients and their role recently discussed[2,3]. Susceptibility to CAD by
      polymorphism in the Q gene of adiponectin has been reported for 3'-UTR, which
      harbours some genetic loci associated with metabolic risks and
      atherosclerosis[4]. Actually, previous studies have shown that the haplotype SNP
      +276G>T was associated with a decreased risk of CAD, after adjustment for
      potential confounding factors, therefore some controversial opinion still
      exists[5]. This evidence should be associated with the role exerted by adipocytes
      and adiponectin in heart physiology. In particular, in hypertensive disorder
      complicating pregnancy (HDCP), by investigating the population frequency of
      alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs),
      namely +45T>G (rs2241766) and +276G>T (rs1501299), some authors found that the
      SNP +276 TT genotype was significantly associated with protection against HDCP,
      when compared to the pooled G genotypes[6]. Moreover, the same +276G/T SNP
      haplotype was strongly associated with biliary atresia, an intractable neonatal
      inflammatory and obliterative cholangiopathy, leading to progressive fibrosis and
      cirrhosis[7]. CAD is closely related to adiponectin biology. The same isoforms of
      adiponectin seem to be not associated to CAD severity but to glucose metabolism
      and its impairment[8]. In the paper by Mohammadzadeh et al.[1], T allele in
      +276G/T SNP haplotype is highly associated with CAD in subjects with type 2
      diabetes, but this linkage should be reappraised if related much more to diabetes
      rather than CAD. Association of T allele in the indicated SNP with CAD may be an
      indirect consequence of type 2 diabetes, as reported by others[9] or a direct
      marker for CAD affected patients[10]. The paper by Mohammadzadeh et al.[1]
      assesses data coming elsewhere from literature but raises important concerns
      about the suitability of ADIPOQ SNPs in diagnosing susceptibility to CAD and the
      relationship with plasma adiponectin level. In normal, non diabetic,
      normoglycemic subject, this relationship does not seem to work. Therefore the
      question is how much predictive this SNP haplotype may be to foresee metabolic
      syndrome and CAD onset risk in young health subjects? Maybe, the role of
      adiponectin in cardiovascular physiology depends on its ability to target
      adiponectin receptors and to negatively regulate obesity. Some authors reported
      in healthy volunteers an absence of correlation between circulating adiponectin
      levels and biochemical markers, particularly lipoproteins and suggested that SNP
      +276G>T was related to an independent effect on adiponectin levels and on
      lipoprotein metabolism[11]. On the contrary, adiponectin genetic variants and SNP
      +276G>T was associated with increasing susceptibility of type 2 diabetes and
      plasma glucose impairment[12]. The interesting study by Mohammadzadeh et al.[1]
      suggests that SNP of ADIPOQ +276G>T should be related to susceptibility to
      glucose metabolism, while indirectly to lipid metabolism and fat-related
      cardiovascular damage. 

PMID- 26884099
TI  - Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) inhibition by tienilic acid produces hepatic injury:
      Antioxidant protection by fennel extract and whey protein concentrate.
AB  - This study evaluated the effect of whey protein concentrate (WPC) or fennel seed
      extract (FSE) on paraoxonase-1 activity (PON1) and oxidative stress in liver of
      tienilic acid (TA) treated rats. Six groups of rats were treated for six weeks as
      follows: control; WPC (0.5g/kg/day); FSE (200mg/ kg/day); TA (1g/kg/twice a
      week); TA (1g/kg/twice a week) plus WPC (0.5g/kg/day); TA (1g/kg/twice a week)
      plus FSE (200mg/kg/day). TA administration significantly increased ALT and AST
      besides to total- and direct bilirubin levels. Also, serum tumor necrosis factor
      alpha and nitric oxide levels were significantly increased. Furthermore, serum
      PON1, and hepatic reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase and Na(+)/K(+)
      ATPase values were diminished matched with a significant rise in the level of
      hepatic lipid peroxidation. Also, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol
      levels were significantly elevated while HDL-cholesterol was unchanged. The
      administration of either WPC or FSE to TA-treated animals significantly protected
      the liver against the injurious effects of tienilic acid. This appeared from the
      improvement of hepatic functions, atherogenic markers, Na(+)/K(+) ATPase
      activity, endogenous antioxidants and hepatic lipid peroxidation level; where WPC
      showed the strongest protection effect. In conclusion, the present study
      indicated that WPC and FSE improve PON1 activity and attenuate liver dysfunction
      induced by TA. This may be attributed to the high content of antioxidant
      compounds in WPC and fennel extract. 

PMID- 26884100
TI  - Polyarteritis nodosa: A contemporary overview.
AB  - Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly
      targeting medium-sized arteries. PAN is a rare form of vasculitis, and the
      precise frequency of this disease is difficult to determine. The major
      environmental factor associated with PAN is HBV infection. The pathogenesis of
      "idiopathic PAN" remains enigmatic, although the clinical responses to
      immunosuppressive therapy support the concept that immunological mechanisms play
      an active pathogenic role. The spectrum of disease ranges from involving a single
      organ to polyvisceral failure. Any organ might be affected; however, for reasons
      that are not understood, PAN does not affect the lungs. In addition to the
      systemic idiopathic form, called "idiopathic generalized PAN," there are 2
      clinical variants of this disease: "cutaneous PAN" and "hepatitis B virus (HBV)
      associated PAN". Diagnosis requires the integration of clinical, angiographic,
      and biopsy findings. The overall prognosis of this disease has been improved in
      recent decades, primarily reflecting early diagnosis and more effective
      treatments. Idiopathic generalized PAN should be treated with a combination of
      glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. The treatment of HBV-associated PAN
      involves a different approach, centered on the use of an antiviral agent to
      control the infection. The therapy for cutaneous PAN requires a less aggressive
      approach based on the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      over short periods of time. 

PMID- 26884101
TI  - Chromosome Aberrations and Fertility Disorders in Domestic Animals.
AB  - The association between chromosomal abnormalities and reduced fertility in
      domestic animals is well recorded and has been studied for decades. Chromosome
      aberrations directly affect meiosis, gametogenesis, and the viability of zygotes
      and embryos. In some instances, balanced structural rearrangements can be
      transmitted, causing fertility problems in subsequent generations. Here, we aim
      to give a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of
      clinical cytogenetics of animal reproduction by focusing on the advances in
      molecular cytogenetics during the genomics era. We describe how advancing
      knowledge about animal genomes has improved our understanding of connections
      between gross structural or molecular chromosome variations and reproductive
      disorders. Further, we expand on a key area of reproduction genetics:
      cytogenetics of animal gametes and embryos. Finally, we describe how traditional
      cytogenetics is interfacing with advanced genomics approaches, such as array
      technologies and next-generation sequencing, and speculate about the future
      prospects. 

PMID- 26884102
TI  - Perspectives from the Avian Phylogenomics Project: Questions that Can Be Answered
      with Sequencing All Genomes of a Vertebrate Class.
AB  - The rapid pace of advances in genome technology, with concomitant reductions in
      cost, makes it feasible that one day in our lifetime we will have available
      extant genomes of entire classes of species, including vertebrates. I recently
      helped cocoordinate the large-scale Avian Phylogenomics Project, which collected
      and sequenced genomes of 48 bird species representing most currently classified
      orders to address a range of questions in phylogenomics and comparative genomics.
      The consortium was able to answer questions not previously possible with just a
      few genomes. This success spurred on the creation of a project to sequence the
      genomes of at least one individual of all extant ~10,500 bird species. The
      initiation of this project has led us to consider what questions now impossible
      to answer could be answered with all genomes, and could drive new questions now
      unimaginable. These include the generation of a highly resolved family tree of
      extant species, genome-wide association studies across species to identify
      genetic substrates of many complex traits, redefinition of species and the
      species concept, reconstruction of the genomes of common ancestors, and
      generation of new computational tools to address these questions. Here I present
      visions for the future by posing and answering questions regarding what
      scientists could potentially do with available genomes of an entire vertebrate
      class. 

PMID- 26884103
TI  - Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle: Vaccines, DIVA Tests, and Host Biomarker
      Discovery.
AB  - Bovine tuberculosis remains a major economic and animal welfare concern
      worldwide. Cattle vaccination is being considered as part of control strategies.
      This approach, used alongside conventional control policies, also requires the
      development of vaccine-compatible diagnostic assays to distinguish vaccinated
      from infected animals (DIVA). We discuss progress made on optimizing the only
      potentially available vaccine, bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), and on strategies
      to improve BCG efficacy. We also describe recent advances in DIVA development
      based on the detection of host cellular immune responses by blood-testing or skin
      testing approaches. Finally, to accelerate vaccine development, definition of
      host biomarkers that provide meaningful stage-gating criteria to select vaccine
      candidates for further testing is highly desirable. Some progress has also been
      made in this area of research, and we summarize studies that defined either
      markers predicting vaccine success or markers that correlate with disease stage
      or severity. 

PMID- 26884104
TI  - Innovations in Canine and Feline Nutrition: Technologies for Food and Nutrition
      Assessment.
AB  - Pet owners have increasing concerns about the nutrition of their pets, and they
      desire foods and treats that are safe, traceable, and of high nutritive value. To
      meet these high expectations, detailed chemical composition characterization of
      ingredients well beyond that provided by proximate analysis will be required, as
      will information about host physiology and metabolism. Use of faster and more
      precise analytical methodology and novel technologies that have the potential to
      improve pet food safety and quality will be implemented. In vitro and in vivo
      assays will continue to be used as screening tools to evaluate nutrient quality
      and adequacy in novel ingredients prior to their use in animal diets. The use of
      molecular and high-throughput technologies allows implementation of noninvasive
      studies in dogs and cats to investigate the impact of dietary interventions by
      using systems biology approaches. These approaches may further improve the health
      and longevity of pets. 

PMID- 26884105
TI  - Introduction.

PMID- 26884106
TI  - "Prince Charles Is Living With Me": When This Is (Not) a Delusion.

PMID- 26884107
TI  - Utility of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Hong Kong Version) in the Diagnosis of
      Mild Neurocognitive Disorders (NCD): NCD due to Alzheimer Disease (NCD-AD) and
      NCD due to Vascular Disease (NCD-Vascular).

PMID- 26884108
TI  - "Post-Acute Care 2.0" Regarding Burke RE, Whitfield EA, Hittle D, et al. Hospital
      Readmission From Post-Acute Care Facilities: Risk Factors, Timing, and Outcomes.

PMID- 26884109
TI  - Ongoing risk stratification for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) - stimulated
      serum thyroglobulin (Tg) before radioiodine (RAI) ablation, the most potent risk
      factor of cancer recurrence in M0 patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Adequate postoperative risk assessment currently constitutes the
      principle of DTC treatment and further management. The aim of the study - a
      retrospective assessment of risk factors influencing DTC relapse. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The study group consisted of 510 DTC staged pT1b-T4N0-N1M0, in whom
      total thyroidectomy and complementary radioiodine (RAI) treatment were carried
      out. In 71% papillary thyroid cancer was diagnosed, whereas in the remaining 29% 
      follicular thyroid carcinoma. Based on TNM classification from 1997, T1 feature
      was diagnosed in 11.6%, T2 in 35.1%, T3 in 8.4%, T4 in 9,4%, while in 35.5% - Tx.
      Lymph node metastases were present in 24.7% of cases. Median follow-up was 12.1
      years (1.5-15.2). RESULTS: Age at DTC diagnosis, tumour diameter (T), lymph node
      metastases (N1), stimulated thyroglobulin, and RAI uptake in thyroid bed at
      qualification for RAI ablation significantly influenced freedom from progression
      time (FFP) in a multivariate analysis. When postoperative stimulated Tg was > 30
      ng/mL the risk of relapse increased nearly six-fold, whereas the presence of N1
      feature - four-fold. The total risk of relapse in the whole group was 12.55%
      while median FFP was 154.8 months. Five-year and 10-year FFP was 90.1% and 87.5%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin level was the
      most potent, independent risk factor influencing FFP in DTC patients. Age above
      60 years, an initial DTC stage (T and N features), and low RAI uptake in thyroid
      bed ( < 1%) were related to a higher risk of DTC relapse, whereas the
      investigated histopathological features were insignificant.

PMID- 26884110
TI  - Clinical importance of follicular lesion of undetermined significance (diagnostic
      category III according to Bethesda System) diagnosed from Fine-Needle Aspiration
      Biopsy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance (FLUS) belongs to
      the most controversial category of the Bethesda System. The aim of the study was
      to specify the risk of malignancy in patients with FLUS diagnosis in the material
      from the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice. This is the first Polish study
      specifying the risk of malignant neoplasm presence when Fine-Needle Aspiration
      Biopsy (FNAB) results in a report of diagnostic category III (DC III). MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-five primary DC III diagnoses from FNABs of
      the thyroid gland performed from 2010 to 2015 were analysed. Correspondence of DC
      III with diagnoses from repeated FNABs and histopathology reports was evaluated.
      RESULTS: From 395 DC III patients, 27 were treated surgically for clinical
      indications, receiving six diagnoses of cancer. Repeat FNAB was performed in 180
      cases, and primary diagnosis was confirmed in 41 cases. In the second FNAB there
      was one diagnosis of "Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma" and one "Suspicious for
      Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma". From eight patients treated surgically in these
      series prior cytological cancer diagnosis was confirmed in two cases. Forty-six
      patients were subjected to third and subsequent FNABs; in one case the diagnosis
      was "Suspicious for Malignancy". In the analysed material the risk of cancer in
      patients with FLUS is 2.78%. Taking into account all 56 subsequent FNABs in which
      the primary diagnosis was confirmed, the risk decreases to 2.43%. CONCLUSIONS:
      The diagnosis of FLUS in the absence of clinical indications is not a basis for
      surgical treatment.

PMID- 26884111
TI  - Suspicious for follicular neoplasm or follicular neoplasm? The dilemma of a
      pathologist and a surgeon.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cytological material obtained from Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
      (FNAB) does not permit us to distinguish between follicular carcinomas, adenomas,
      and hyperplastic nodules. The limitations of the method are: lack of possibility
      to assess the presence of tumour capsule, eventual capsular invasion, and
      angioinvasion. An unequivocal conclusion of whether what we have to deal with is
      a neoplastic or benign lesion is possible only after histopathological
      examination. The aim of the study was to confirm justification for using the term
      "Suspicious for Follicular Neoplasm" (SFN) in cytological diagnostics of thyroid
      carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-two primary SFN FNAB
      diagnoses (diagnostic category IV [DC IV] - according to Bethesda System)
      obtained from 2010 to 2015 in the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice were analysed,
      and their correlation with histopathological diagnoses was verified. RESULTS: In
      the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice, 352 primary SFN diagnoses (diagnostic
      category IV [DC IV] - according to Bethesda System) were established. Surgical
      treatment was undertaken after first FNAB in six cases, giving confirmation of a
      neoplasm in five cases, one of which was a follicular carcinoma. Second FNAB
      performed in 90 patients confirmed DC IV diagnosis in 53 cases. Third FNAB
      concerned 26 patients, providing another 14 diagnoses of DC IV. 26 out of 352
      patients were subjected to surgery, and then histopathological examination
      confirmed a neoplasm in 19 cases (which comprises 73%), five of which were
      carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: High positive predictive value PPV = 73% of SFN
      diagnosis justifies undertaking surgical treatment in any case of this diagnosis.

PMID- 26884112
TI  - Analysis of clinical significance of equivocal thyroid cytology with a special
      consideration for FLUS category - five years of new classification of FNA
      results.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The diagnostic category of follicular lesion of undetermined
      significance (FLUS) was intended to allow selection of cases with low risk of
      malignancy from all smears with indeterminate, suspicious cytology (ISC), which
      can potentially take advantage from repeat fine-needle aspiration (rFNA). Aim of
      the study was a comparison of the risk of malignancy related to FLUS nodules and
      other nodules with ISC: suspected follicular neoplasm (SFN) and suspected
      malignancy (SM), as well as analysis of the usefulness of assessing
      ultrasonographic malignancy risk features (UMRF) in nodules with ISC. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: We analysed UMRF, rFNA, and results of histopathological examination
      (H) in 441 FLUS, 135 SFN, and 72 SM nodules. RESULTS: The frequency of exposing
      cancer in H in FLUS nodules was 5.9%, and when cytological follow up was also
      included it was 2.9%. rFNAs made the diagnosis more precise in 72.7% of FLUS, and
      in 5.2% it was diagnosis/suspicion of cancer. The incidence of cancer in SFN
      nodules was 8.2%, in SM nodules with suspicion of papillary cancer - 61.1%, and
      in nodules with suspicion of other or unspecified malignancy - 53.8% (p < 0.0001
      FLUS vs. both groups). The presence of calcifications is the only independent
      UMRF for nodules with ISC (OR 4.7). Features of importance are also
      microcalcifications (OR 3.8), especially in the SM group, and taller-than-wide
      shape (OR 2.2). FLUS and SFN nodules are characterised by particularly low value
      of assessing suspicious margins; analysis of hypoechogenicity is of low value in
      SFN nodules, like suspected vascularisation in SFN and SM nodules. CONCLUSIONS:
      The risk of cancer in FLUS and SFN nodules is lower than in SM nodules. rFNAs of
      FLUS nodules make the diagnosis more precise in more than 70% of cases and are
      effective in revealing cancers. UMRFs present variable diagnostic value depending
      on the subcategory of ISC.

PMID- 26884113
TI  - The value of the repeated examination of BRAF V600E mutation status in
      diagnostics of papillary thyroid cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Nodular thyroid disease is one of the most frequently diagnosed
      pathologies of the adult population in iodine-deficient regions. Approximately
      30% of thyroid aspirates are classified as nondiagnostic/unsatisfactory or
      indeterminate. However, patients with indeterminate cytology still undergo
      surgery. The object of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of re
      examining the BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients underwent ultrasound guided fine-needle
      aspiration of a thyroid nodule. They were assigned to one of the four groups
      (indeterminate or positive for malignant cells) of the Bethesda System for
      Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Genetic investigation of the BRAF V600E mutation
      was performed for all of the fine-needle aspiration cytology specimens. All of
      the patients underwent surgery. Subsequently, histological investigation of the
      removed tissues was performed. Additional analysis of the BRAF V600E mutation
      from the histology specimen was then performed for the initially BRAF-negative
      cases. RESULTS: Two hundred and fourteen patients were involved in the study. One
      hundred and six (49.53%) patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Of these
      106 patients, 95 (89.62%) patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.
      The BRAF V600E mutation was positive in 62 (65.26%) and negative in 33 (34.74%)
      histologically confirmed papillary thyroid cancer cases. After the genetic
      investigation, a total of 74 (77.89%) papillary thyroid cancer cases were
      positive for the BRAF V600E mutation and 21 (22.11%) were negative. CONCLUSIONS:
      Repeated examination of the BRAF V600E mutation status in the fine-needle
      aspiration may potentially increase the sensitivity of papillary thyroid cancer
      diagnostics.

PMID- 26884114
TI  - The usefulness of determining the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in fine-needle
      aspiration cytology in indeterminate cytological results.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is regarded as the gold
      standard method for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but it has its limitations.
      Additional methods that would improve sensitivity and specificity in the
      diagnosis of thyroid cancer (TC), especially in indeterminate lesions. Molecular
      tests seem to be such a tool. BRAF V600E mutation (the most common in TC) can be
      detected in FNAB and can be potentially a very useful ancillary marker for FNAB
      practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of the detection of
      the BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC in the early diagnosis of TC in patients with
      indeterminate cytology. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 2290 FNAB were performed and 147
      indeterminate results (group 3, 4, and 5 of the Bethesda system) were obtained.
      Material from these groups was submitted for molecular tests for the occurrence
      of BRAF V600E mutation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value,
      negative predictive value, and accuracy of the tests were calculated. RESULTS:
      Determining the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC material in groups 3 and
      4 together and in group 5 is associated with sensitivity of TC diagnosis of 37.5%
      and 81.8%, respectively. In all cases the detection of BRAF V600E mutation was
      associated with histopathologically proving the presence of TC (specificity of
      the test - 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC
      material is always associated with the presence of TC. The usefulness of
      determining the presence of BRAF V600E in FNAC in cytological groups 3 and 4 is
      associated with low sensitivity in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Due to its
      high specificity BRAF V600E study may be useful in determining the scope of
      surgery in patients in cytological group 5.

PMID- 26884115
TI  - Impact of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, TSH levels, and anti-thyroid antibody
      positivity on differentiated thyroid carcinoma incidence.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and thyroid
      cancer (TC) is controversial. While most surgical studies report a high incidence
      of malignancy among patients with HT, cytological studies do not. The role of
      autoantibodies in the incidence of malignancy is unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A
      single-centre retrospective observational study was conducted in patients
      evaluated for thyroid nodules by US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)
      and, if indicated, by surgery. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
      and anti-thyroid antibodies were measured at the time of FNAC. RESULTS: Of 4947
      patients, 599 (12.1%) were diagnosed with HT. A malignant/suspicious cytological
      result was found in 14.2% of the patients with HT and in 15.2% of the others. The
      odds ratio (OR) for malignancy in HT was 0.921 (0.716-1.183, p = 0.51). Of 1603
      patients who underwent surgery, differentiated thyroid carcinoma was found in
      29.5% of the HT patients and in 15.2% of the others (OR 2.33, 95% confidence
      interval CI, 1.403-3.854, p < 0,001). Low TSH (< 0.4 mIU/L) decreased the
      malignancy rate in the entire patient population, both when considering the
      cytological results and the surgical results. This was not confirmed in the
      subgroup diagnosed with HT. No relationship was observed between autoantibodies
      against thyroid peroxidase (ATP) or thyroglobulin (ATG) and malignancy rate.
      CONCLUSIONS: No association between HT and thyroid cancer was observed
      cytologically; a positive relationship in histological series was caused by
      selection bias. Low TSH levels decreased the risk of TC in patients with nodular
      goitre, but this has not been proven in patients with HT.

PMID- 26884116
TI  - Occurrence of phaeochromocytoma tumours in RET mutation carriers - a single
      centre study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) is an autosomal
      dominant genetic syndrome caused by germline mutation in RET proto-oncogene. The
      most common mutations are in a cysteine rich domain. Phaeochromocytoma will
      develop in approximately 50% of RET proto-oncogene carriers. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The studied population consisted of 228 RET proto-oncogene mutation
      carriers. Monitoring for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma was carried out in
      all patients with established genetic status. Mean time of follow up was 138
      months. Surveillance consisted of periodically performed clinical evaluation, 24
      hour urinary determinations of total metanephrines complementary with imaging
      (CT, MR, MIBG scintigraphy). RESULTS: Phaeochromocytoma developed in 41 patients
      (18% of all RET proto-oncogene mutations carriers). The mean age of diagnosis for
      the whole cohort was 43 years. In eight cases phaeochromocytoma was the first
      manifestation of the MEN 2 syndrome. Only eight (20%) patients were symptomatic
      at diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma. The mean size of the tumour was 4.3 cm. There
      was no extra-adrenal localisation. We observed one case of malignant
      phaeochromocytoma. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MEN 2 syndrome
      phaeochromocytomas are usually benign adrenal tumours with high risk of bilateral
      development. Taking to account the latter risk and non-specific clinical
      manifestation of the neoplasm it is mandatory to screen all RET proto-oncogene
      mutations carriers for phaeochromocytoma.

PMID- 26884117
TI  - Well-differentiated thyroid cancer - are you overtreating your patients?
AB  - Over the last 50 years there has been a move towards more aggressive therapy for
      well-differentiated thyroid cancer. In recent times, however, international
      guidelines have shown some trend back towards a more conservative approach to
      treating low-risk patients. This review explores how the state of the art in well
      differentiated thyroid cancer research has evolved in tandem with improvements in
      risk-stratification. A focus on the surgical approach to the primary thyroid
      tumour and the regional lymphatics in addition to the interplay between surgical
      decision making and the use of radioactive iodine are presented to allow the
      reader to determine whether they are now overtreating patients with well
      differentiated thyroid cancer.

PMID- 26884118
TI  - Medullary thyroid carcinoma - PET/CT imaging with 68Ga-labelled gastrin and
      somatostatin analogues.
AB  - CASE PRESENTATION: a 75-year-old man with a 10-year history of nodular goitre was
      referred for clinical evaluation. The ultrasound scan revealed enlarged thyroid
      right lobe almost fully filled with a heterogeneous nodule with numerous
      calcifications. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy suggested medullary thyroid
      carcinoma (MTC). Before the surgery the patient was referred to the nuclear
      medicine department and somatostatin receptor imaging (SRS; 68Ga-DOTATATE) with
      PET/CT was performed. The scan demonstrated an increased uptake within the right
      thyroid mass. Subsequent PET/CT with 68Ga-gastrin analogue (MG48) revealed the
      same indications as the SRS: an increased alveolar uptake in the right thyroid
      mass without the signs of lymph node metastases. The patient underwent total
      thyroidectomy and central lymph nodes dissection. Histopathology examination
      confirmed the presence of MTC with vascular invasion, but without lymph node
      metastases (pT3NoMx according to the 7th edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging
      Manual). Immunohistochemical staining revealed positive reaction to calcitonin
      and CD56, whereas the reaction to thyroglobulin remained negative. The Ki-67 was
      1%. Staining for SSTR2 and CCK2 showed high cytoplasmic expression in both cases.
      Knowledge of the presence of CCK2 receptor in MTC patients may be an important
      indication for the choice of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The presence
      of both the receptor types, cholecystokinin-2/gastrin and somatostatin, is
      possibly an interesting combination as far as the therapeutic target is
      concerned.

PMID- 26884119
TI  - Diagnostics and Treatment of Thyroid Carcinoma.
AB  - Revised Guidelines of Polish National Societies Prepared on the initiative of the
      Polish Group for Endocrine Tumours approved in their final version between
      November 16th and 28th, 2015 by the Scientific Committee of the V Conference
      "Thyroid Cancer and other malignancies of endocrine glands" organised between
      November 14th and 17th, 2015 in Wisla, Poland; called by the following Societies:
      Polish Endocrine Society, Polish Society of Oncology, Polish Thyroid Association,
      Polish Society of Pathologists, Society of Polish Surgeons, Polish Society of
      Surgical Oncology, Polish Society of Clinical Oncology, Polish Society of
      Radiation Oncology, Polish Society of Nuclear Medicine, Polish Society of
      Paediatric Endocrinology, Polish Society of Paediatric Surgeons, Polish Society
      of Ultrasonography Gliwice-Wisla, 2015 DECLARATION: These recommendations are
      created by the group of delegates of the National Societies, which declare their
      willingness to participate in the preparation of the revised version of the
      Polish Guidelines. The members of the Working Group have been chosen from the
      specialists involved in medical care of patients with thyroid carcinoma. Directly
      before the preparation of the Polish national recommendations the American
      Thyroid Association (ATA) published its own guidelines together with a wide
      comment fulfilling evidence-based medicine (EBM) criteria. ATA Guidelines are
      consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Recommendation.
      According to the members of the Working Group, it is necessary to adapt them to
      both the specific Polish epidemiological situation as well as to the rules
      referring to the Polish health system. Therefore, the Polish recommendations
      constitute a consensus of the experts' group, based on ATA information. The
      experts analysed previous Polish Guidelines, published in 2010, and other
      available data, and after discussion summed up the results in the form of these
      guidelines. It should be added that Part II, which constitutes a pathological
      part, has been available at the website of the Polish Society of Pathologists for
      acceptance of the members of the Society, and no essential comments have been
      proposed. The Members of the Group decided that a subgroup elected from among
      them would update the Guidelines, according to EBM rules, every year. The Revised
      Guidelines should help physicians to make reasonable choices in their daily
      practice; however, the final decision concerning an individual patient should be
      made by the caring physician responsible for treatment, or optimally by a
      therapeutic tumour board together with the patient, and should take into
      consideration the patient's health condition. It should be emphasised that the
      recommendations may not constitute a strict standard of clinical management
      imposed on medical staff. The data from clinical trials concerning numerous
      clinical situations are scarce. In such moments the opinion of the management may
      differ from the recommendations after considering possible benefits and
      disadvantages for the patient. 

PMID- 26884120
TI  - World Kidney Day 2016: Averting the legacy of kidney disease-focus on childhood.
AB  - World Kidney Day 2016 focuses on kidney disease in childhood and the antecedents
      of adult kidney disease that can begin in earliest childhood. Chronic kidney
      disease (CKD) in childhood differs from that in adults, as the largest diagnostic
      group among children includes congenital anomalies and inherited disorders, with
      glomerulopathies and kidney disease in the setting of diabetes being relatively
      uncommon. In addition, many children with acute kidney injury will ultimately
      develop sequelae that may lead to hypertension and CKD in later childhood or in
      adult life. Children born early, or who are small-for-date newborns, have a
      relatively increased risk for the development of CKD later in life. Persons with
      a high-risk birth and early childhood history should be watched closely in order
      to help detect early signs of kidney disease in time to provide effective
      prevention or treatment. Successful therapy is feasible for advanced CKD in
      childhood; there is evidence that children fare better than adults if they
      receive kidney replacement therapy including dialysis and transplantation, while
      only a minority of children may require this ultimate intervention. Because there
      are disparities in access to care, effort is needed so that those children with
      kidney disease, wherever they live, may be treated effectively, irrespective of
      their geographic or economic circumstances. Our hope is that World Kidney Day
      will inform the general public, policy-makers, and caregivers about the needs and
      possibilities surrounding kidney disease in childhood. 

PMID- 26884121
TI  - Assessment of anxiety in open field and elevated plus maze using infrared
      thermography.
AB  - Due to their direct inaccessibility, affective states are classically assessed by
      gathering concomitant physiological and behavioral measures. Although such a dual
      approach to assess emotional states is frequently used in different species
      including humans, the invasiveness of procedures for physiological recordings
      particularly in smaller-sized animals strongly restricts their application. We
      used infrared thermography, a non-invasive method, to assess physiological
      arousal during open field and elevated plus maze tests in mice. By measuring
      changes in surface temperature indicative of the animals' emotional response, we
      aimed to improve the inherently limited and still controversial information
      provided by behavioral parameters commonly used in these tests. Our results
      showed significant and consistent thermal responses during both tests, in
      accordance with classical physiological responses occurring in stressful
      situations. Besides, we found correlations between these thermal responses and
      the occurrence of anxiety-related behaviors. Furthermore, initial temperatures
      measured at the start of each procedure (open field, elevated plus maze), which
      can be interpreted as a measure of the animals' initial physiological arousal,
      predicted the levels of activity and of anxiety-related behaviors displayed
      during the tests. Our results stress the strong link between physiological
      correlates of emotions and behaviors expressed during unconditioned fear tests. 

PMID- 26884122
TI  - A dual-process approach to exploring the role of delay discounting in obesity.
AB  - Delay discounting of financial rewards has been related to overeating and
      obesity. Neuropsychological evidence supports a dual-system account of both
      discounting and overeating behaviour where the degree of impulsive decision
      making is determined by the relative strength of reward desire and executive
      control. A dual-parameter model of discounting behaviour is consistent with this
      theory. In this study, the fit of the commonly used one-parameter model was
      compared to a new dual-parameter model for the first time in a sample of adults
      with wide ranging BMI. Delay discounting data from 79 males and females
      (males=26) across a wide age (M=28.44years (SD=8.81)) and BMI range (M=25.42
      (SD=5.16)) was analysed. A dual-parameter model (saturating-hyperbolic; Doya,
      [Doya (2008) ]) was applied to the data and compared on model fit indices to the
      single-parameter model. Discounting was significantly greater in the
      overweight/obese participants using both models, however, the two parameter model
      showed a superior fit to data (p<0.0001). The two parameters were shown to be
      related yet distinct measures consistent with a dual-system account of inter
      temporal choice behaviour. The dual-parameter model showed superior fit to data
      and the two parameters were shown to be related yet distinct indices sensitive to
      differences between weight groups. Findings are discussed in terms of the
      impulsive reward and executive control systems that contribute to unhealthy food
      choice and within the context of obesity related research.

PMID- 26884123
TI  - A theoretical prediction of super high-performance thermoelectric materials based
      on MoS2/WS2 hybrid nanoribbons.
AB  - Modern society is hungry for electrical power. To improve the efficiency of
      energy harvesting from heat, extensive efforts seek high-performance
      thermoelectric materials that possess large differences between electronic and
      thermal conductance. Here we report a super high-performance material of
      consisting of MoS2/WS2 hybrid nanoribbons discovered from a theoretical
      investigation using nonequilibrium Green's function methods combined with first
      principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The hybrid
      nanoribbons show higher efficiency of energy conversion than the MoS2 and WS2
      nanoribbons due to the fact that the MoS2/WS2 interface reduces lattice thermal
      conductivity more than the electron transport. By tuning the number of the
      MoS2/WS2 interfaces, a figure of merit ZT as high as 5.5 is achieved at a
      temperature of 600 K. Our results imply that the MoS2/WS2 hybrid nanoribbons have
      promising applications in thermal energy harvesting.

PMID- 26884124
TI  - Treating hypertension in patients with medical comorbidities.

PMID- 26884125
TI  - Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients in Nile Delta.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) in
      cirrhotic patients occurs mainly from esophageal and gastric varices; however,
      quite a large number of cirrhotic patients bleed from other sources as well. The
      aim of the present work is to determine the prevalence of non-variceal UGIB as
      well as its different causes among the cirrhotic portal hypertensive patients in
      Nile Delta. METHODS: Emergency upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy for AUGIB
      was done in 650 patients. Out of these patients, 550 (84.6%) patients who were
      proved to have cirrhosis were the subject of the present study. RESULTS: From all
      cirrhotic portal hypertensive patients, 415 (75.5%) bled from variceal sources
      (esophageal and gastric) while 135 (24.5%) of them bled from non-variceal
      sources. Among variceal sources of bleeding, esophageal varices were much more
      common than gastric varices. Peptic ulcer was the most common non-variceal source
      of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Non-variceal bleeding in cirrhosis was not frequent,
      and sources included peptic ulcer, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and erosive
      disease of the stomach and duodenum.

PMID- 26884126
TI  - Two Defibrillators and Two Cases are Better than One.

PMID- 26884127
TI  - Pelvic Free Fluid in Asymptomatic Pediatric Blunt Abdominal Trauma Patients: A
      Case Series and Review of the Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examinations
      being performed more commonly on pediatric trauma patients, emergency providers
      will encounter a positive FAST examination in patients with benign abdominal
      examinations. This poses a diagnostic dilemma for the provider when deciding
      whether to obtain a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen/pelvis, observe
      the patient, or admit the patient. CASE REPORT: We report a series of pediatric
      patients involved in blunt abdominal trauma who had small pelvic free fluid on
      FAST but a benign abdominal examination. Three patients were managed without CT
      scan and 2 with CT scan. All patients did well and were discharged home. WHY
      SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Free intra-abdominal fluid may
      be physiologic in both male and female pediatric patients. Clinical examination
      and hemodynamic stability should be taken into account when deciding to order a
      CT scan. We review the literature and highlight new protocols that may decrease
      CT utilization and ionizing radiation exposure, though further studies in this
      specific population are needed.

PMID- 26884129
TI  - Contribution of Dielectric Screening to the Total Capacitance of Few-Layer
      Graphene Electrodes.
AB  - We apply joint density functional theory (JDFT), which treats the
      electrode/electrolyte interface self-consistently, to an electric double-layer
      capacitor (EDLC) based on few-layer graphene electrodes. The JDFT approach allows
      us to quantify a third contribution to the total capacitance beyond quantum
      capacitance (CQ) and EDL capacitance (CEDL). This contribution arises from the
      dielectric screening of the electric field by the surface of the few-layer
      graphene electrode, and we therefore term it the dielectric capacitance
      (CDielec). We find that CDielec becomes significant in affecting the total
      capacitance when the number of graphene layers in the electrode is more than
      three. Our investigation sheds new light on the significance of the electrode
      dielectric screening on the capacitance of few-layer graphene electrodes. 

PMID- 26884128
TI  - Rapid multiplex detection of 10 foodborne pathogens with an up-converting
      phosphor technology-based 10-channel lateral flow assay.
AB  - The rapid high-throughput detection of foodborne pathogens is essential in
      controlling food safety. In this study, a 10-channel up-converting phosphor
      technology-based lateral flow (TC-UPT-LF) assay was established for the rapid and
      simultaneous detection of 10 epidemic foodborne pathogens. Ten different single
      target UPT-LF strips were developed and integrated into one TC-UPT-LF disc with
      optimization. Without enrichment the TC-UPT-LF assay had a detection sensitivity
      of 10(4) CFU mL(-1) or 10(5) CFU mL(-1) for each pathogen, and after sample
      enrichment it was 10 CFU/0.6 mg. The assay also showed good linearity, allowing
      quantitative detection, with a linear fitting coefficient of determination (R(2))
      of 0.916-0.998. The 10 detection channels did not cross-react, so multiple
      targets could be specifically detected. When 279 real food samples were tested,
      the assay was highly consistent (100%) with culture-based methods. The results
      for 110 food samples artificially contaminated with single or multiple targets
      showed a high detection rate (>= 80%) for most target bacteria. Overall, the TC
      UPT-LF assay allows the rapid, quantitative, and simultaneous detection of 10
      kinds of foodborne pathogens within 20 min, and is especially suitable for the
      rapid detection and surveillance of foodborne pathogens in food and water.

PMID- 26884130
TI  - When audiovisual correspondence disturbs visual processing.
AB  - Multisensory integration is known to create a more robust and reliable perceptual
      representation of one's environment. Specifically, a congruent auditory input can
      make a visual stimulus more salient, consequently enhancing the visibility and
      detection of the visual target. However, it remains largely unknown whether a
      congruent auditory input can also impair visual processing. In the current study,
      we demonstrate that temporally congruent auditory input disrupts visual
      processing, consequently slowing down visual target detection. More importantly,
      this cross-modal inhibition occurs only when the contrast of visual targets is
      high. When the contrast of visual targets is low, enhancement of visual target
      detection is observed, consistent with the prediction based on the principle of
      inverse effectiveness (PIE) in cross-modal integration. The switch of the
      behavioral effect of audiovisual interaction from benefit to cost further extends
      the PIE to encompass the suppressive cross-modal interaction. 

PMID- 26884131
TI  - Viewing the body modulates both pain sensations and pain responses.
AB  - Viewing the body can influence pain perception, even when vision is non
      informative about the noxious stimulus. Prior studies used either continuous pain
      rating scales or pain detection thresholds, which cannot distinguish whether
      viewing the body changes the discriminability of noxious heat intensities or
      merely shifts reported pain levels. In Experiment 1, participants discriminated
      two intensities of heat-pain stimulation. Noxious stimuli were delivered to the
      hand in darkness immediately after participants viewed either their own hand or a
      non-body object appearing in the same location. The visual condition varied
      randomly between trials. Discriminability of the noxious heat intensities (d')
      was lower after viewing the hand than after viewing the object, indicating that
      viewing the hand reduced the information about stimulus intensity available
      within the nociceptive system. In Experiment 2, the hand and the object were
      presented in separate blocks of trials. Viewing the hand shifted perceived pain
      levels irrespective of actual stimulus intensity, biasing responses toward 'high
      pain' judgments. In Experiment 3, participants saw the noxious stimulus as it
      approached and touched their hand or the object. Seeing the pain-inducing event
      counteracted the reduction in discriminability found when viewing the hand alone.
      These findings show that viewing the body can affect both perceptual processing
      of pain and responses to pain, depending on the visual context. Many factors
      modulate pain; our study highlights the importance of distinguishing modulations
      of perceptual processing from modulations of response bias.

PMID- 26884133
TI  - Prognostic Value of C-Reactive Protein in Resistant Hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of systemic low-grade
      inflammation and a cardiovascular risk predictor in several clinical conditions.
      However, its prognostic value has never been examined in patients with resistant
      hypertension. METHODS: In a prospective study, 476 patients with resistant
      hypertension had CRP levels measured at baseline, together with other clinical
      laboratory variables, including ambulatory blood pressures (BPs). Primary end
      points were a composite of major fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events, all
      cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Multiple Cox regression assessed
      the associations between CRP levels and end points. RESULTS: Median CRP was
      3.8mg/l (interquartile range: 2.0-7.2mg/l). After a median follow-up of 9 years,
      103 major cardiovascular events occurred, and 120 patients died, 62 from
      cardiovascular causes. Patients with CRP levels above the median value had a
      doubled excess risk of major cardiovascular events (95% confidence interval: 1.29
      3.06; P = 0.002) and an 86% higher risk of cardiovascular death (95% confidence
      interval: 1.07-3.25; P = 0.029), after adjustments for potential confounders
      including traditional cardiovascular risk factors and ambulatory BP and dipping
      pattern. A high CRP equally predicted coronary (hazard ratio: 2.04; 95%
      confidence interval: 1.10-3.76; P = 0.023) and cerebrovascular events (hazard
      ratio: 2.72; 95% confidence interval: 1.30-5.67; P = 0.007). In interaction and
      sensitivity analyses, CRP levels were stronger predictors of worse cardiovascular
      outcomes in younger and obese patients, and in those with uncontrolled ambulatory
      BPs and with the nondipping pattern. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with resistant
      hypertension, elevated serum CRP levels is predictive of worse cardiovascular
      prognosis above and beyond other cardiovascular risk factors, including
      ambulatory BP levels and dipping patterns.

PMID- 26884132
TI  - Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal
      cortex enhances working memory.
AB  - Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies have unequivocally identified the
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a crucial structure for top-down
      control of working memory (WM) processes. By modulating the excitability of
      neurons in a targeted cortical area, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
      offers a unique way to modulate DLPFC function, opening the possibility of WM
      facilitation. Even though TMS neuromodulation effects over the left DLPFC have
      successfully improved WM performance in patients with depression and
      schizophrenia in a multitude of studies, raising the potential of TMS as a safe
      efficacious treatment for WM deficits, TMS interventions in healthy individuals
      have produced mixed and inconclusive results. Here, we stimulated the left DLPFC
      of healthy individuals using a high-frequency repetitive TMS protocol and
      evaluated behavioral performance in a battery of cognitive tasks. We found that
      TMS treatment enhanced WM performance in a verbal digit span and a visuospatial 2
      back task.

PMID- 26884134
TI  - Does Age Matter? Association Between Usual Source of Care and Hypertension
      Control in the US Population: Data From NHANES 2007-2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The positive role of having a usual source of care (USOC) on the
      receipt of preventative services is known. However, associations between USOC and
      hypertension control and the differential association across age groups is
      unknown in the US population. METHODS: We used data from the National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2012. Multivariable logistic
      regression was used to evaluate the association between having a USOC and
      hypertension control. The differential effect of USOC on hypertension control by
      age was assessed using predicted marginal effects across age groups in the
      multivariable logistic model. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, those with a USOC
      had higher odds of hypertension control (odds ratio = 3.89, 95% confidence
      interval (CI): 2.15-6.98). The marginal effect of having a USOC is associated
      with a 30 percentage point higher probability of controlled blood pressure
      compared to those without a USOC (marginal probability = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.19
      0.41). The marginal effect of USOC on hypertension control varied by age groups,
      with a statistically significantly lower marginal effect of USOC on hypertension
      seen among those older than 74 years of age (marginal probability = 0.27, 95% CI:
      0.18-0.36) and younger than 35 years of age (marginal probability = 0.23, 95% CI:
      0.14-0.33). CONCLUSION: Having a USOC is significantly associated with improved
      hypertension control in the US population. The variation in the association
      across age groups has important implications in targeting age-specific
      antihypertensive strategies to reduce the burden of hypertension in the US
      population.

PMID- 26884135
TI  - The Burden of Hypertension in an Oil- and Gas-Polluted Environment: A Comparative
      Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Evidence of positive association between traffic-related air
      pollution and elevated blood pressure has been published widely. However, the
      risk of hypertension and prolonged exposure to crude oil pollution and gas flares
      remains unexplored. METHODS: We recruited 2,028 residents (aged 18-80) in a cross
      sectional survey of both oil/gas polluted and nonpolluted communities in the
      Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Prevalence and risk of hypertension,
      anthropometric indices, lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, and
      cardiovascular comorbidities were examined and compared between the 2 groups.
      Hypertension was defined as blood pressure >=140/90mm Hg or on antihypertensive
      medication. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used
      to examine factors associated with hypertension. Model fits statistics were used
      to assess the parsimonious model and predictive power. RESULTS: More than one
      third of participants were hypertensive (37.4%). Half of the participants were
      from oil-polluted areas (51%). Only 15% of participants reported family history
      of hypertension. In the adjusted model, participants living in oil-polluted areas
      were almost 5 times as likely to have developed hypertension (adjusted odds ratio
      (aOR) = 4.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.84-12.82) compared to participants
      in unpolluted areas. Age modifies the association between pollution status and
      risk of hypertension. For every 10 years increase in the age of the participants,
      the odds of developing hypertension increased by 108% (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.77
      2.43). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that exposure to oil/gas pollution may
      be associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Our findings need to be
      further investigated in longitudinal studies.

PMID- 26884136
TI  - Prediction of ground motion and dynamic stress change in Baekdusan (Changbaishan)
      volcano caused by a North Korean nuclear explosion.
AB  - Strong ground motions induce large dynamic stress changes that may disturb the
      magma chamber of a volcano, thus accelerating the volcanic activity. An
      underground nuclear explosion test near an active volcano constitutes a direct
      treat to the volcano. This study examined the dynamic stress changes of the magma
      chamber of Baekdusan (Changbaishan) that can be induced by hypothetical North
      Korean nuclear explosions. Seismic waveforms for hypothetical underground nuclear
      explosions at North Korean test site were calculated by using an empirical
      Green's function approach based on a source-spectral model of a nuclear
      explosion; such a technique is efficient for regions containing poorly
      constrained velocity structures. The peak ground motions around the volcano were
      estimated from empirical strong-motion attenuation curves. A hypothetical M7.0
      North Korean underground nuclear explosion may produce peak ground accelerations
      of 0.1684 m/s(2) in the horizontal direction and 0.0917 m/s(2) in the vertical
      direction around the volcano, inducing peak dynamic stress change of 67 kPa on
      the volcano surface and ~120 kPa in the spherical magma chamber. North Korean
      underground nuclear explosions with magnitudes of 5.0-7.6 may induce overpressure
      in the magma chamber of several tens to hundreds of kilopascals.

PMID- 26884137
TI  - Ion exchange at the critical point of solution.
AB  - A mixture of isobutyric acid (IBA)+water has an upper critical point of solution
      at 26.7 degrees C and an IBA concentration of 4.40M. We have determined the
      Langmuir isotherms for the hydroxide form of Amberlite IRN-78 resin in contact
      with mixtures of IBA+water at temperatures, 27.0, 29.0, 31.0 and 38.0 degrees C,
      respectively. The Langmuir plot at 38.0 degrees C forms a straight line. At the
      three lower temperatures, however, a peak in the Langmuir plot is observed for
      IBA concentrations in the vicinity of 4.40M. We regard this peak to be a critical
      effect not only because it is located close to 4.40M, but also because its height
      becomes more pronounced as the temperature of the isotherm approaches the
      critical temperature. For concentrations in the vicinity of the peak, the data
      indicate that the larger isobutyrate ion is rejected by the resin in favor of the
      smaller hydroxide ion. This reversal of the expected ion exchange reaction might
      be used to separate ions according to size. Using the Donnan theory of ion
      exchange equilibrium, we link the swelling pressure to the osmotic pressure. We
      show that the peak in the Langmuir plot is associated with a maximum in the
      "osmotic" energy. This maximum has its origin in the concentration derivative of
      the osmotic pressure, which goes to zero as the critical point is approached. 

PMID- 26884138
TI  - Multiresidue analysis of endocrine-disrupting compounds and perfluorinated
      sulfates and carboxylic acids in sediments by ultra-high-performance liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - A multiresidue analytical method for the determination of 11 perfluorinated
      compounds and 22 endocrine-disrupting compounds (ECDs) including 13 natural and
      synthetic estrogens (free and conjugated forms), 2 alkylphenols, 1 plasticiser, 2
      UV-filters, 1 antimicrobial, and 2 organophosphorus compounds in sediments has
      been developed. Ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by solid phase extraction
      (SPE) with graphitized carbon black (GCB) cartridge as clean-up step were used.
      The extraction process yield was optimized in terms of solvent composition. Then,
      a 3(2) experimental design was used to optimize solvent volume and sonication
      time by response surface methodology, which simplifies the optimization
      procedure. The final extract was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid
      chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The optimized sample
      preparation method is simple and robust, and allows recovery of ECDs belonging to
      different classes in a complex matrix such as sediment. The use of GCB for SPE
      allowed to obtain with a single clean-up procedure excellent recoveries ranging
      between 75 and 110% (relative standard deviation <16%). The developed methodology
      has been successfully applied to the analysis of ECDs in sediments from different
      rivers and lakes of the Lazio Region (Italy). These analyses have shown the
      ubiquitous presence of chloro-substituted organophosphorus flame retardants and
      bisphenol A, while other analyzed compounds were occasionally found at
      concentration between the limit of detection and quantification. 

PMID- 26884139
TI  - Structure-response relationship in electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry of
      sartans by artificial neural networks.
AB  - Quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) methods are based on the
      hypothesis that changes in the molecular structure are reflected in changes in
      the observed property of the molecule. Artificial neural network is a technique
      of data analysis, which sets out to emulate the human brain's way of working. For
      the first time a quantitative structure-response relationship in electrospray
      ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) by means of artificial neural networks
      (ANN) on the group of angiotensin II receptor antagonists--sartans has been
      established. The investigated descriptors correspond to different properties of
      the analytes: polarity (logP), ionizability (pKa), surface area (solvent excluded
      volume) and number of proton acceptors. The influence of the instrumental
      parameters: methanol content in mobile phase, mobile phase pH and flow rate was
      also examined. Best performance showed a multilayer perceptron network with the
      architecture 6-3-3-1, trained with backpropagation algorithm. It showed high
      prediction ability on the previously unseen (test) data set with a coefficient of
      determination of 0.994. High prediction ability of the model would enable
      prediction of ESI-MS responsiveness under different conditions. This is
      particularly important in the method development phase. Also, prediction of
      responsiveness can be important in case of gradient-elution LC-MS and LC-MS/MS
      methods in which instrumental conditions are varied during time. Polarity,
      chargeability and surface area all appeared to be crucial for electrospray
      ionization whereby signal intensity appeared to be the result of a simultaneous
      influence of the molecular descriptors and their interactions. Percentage of
      organic phase in the mobile phase showed a positive, while flow rate showed a
      negative impact on signal intensity.

PMID- 26884140
TI  - Magnetic graphitic carbon nitride anion exchanger for specific enrichment of
      phosphopeptides.
AB  - Anion-exchange chromatography (AEX) is one of the chromatography-based methods
      effectively being used for phosphopeptide enrichment. However, the development of
      AEX materials with high specificity toward phosphopeptides is still less explored
      as compared to immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) or metal oxide
      affinity chromatography (MOAC). In this work, magnetic graphitic carbon nitride
      (MCN) was successfully prepared and introduced as a promising AEX candidate for
      phosphopeptide enrichment. Due to the extremely abundant content of nitrogen with
      basic functionality on the surface, this material kept excellent retention for
      phosphopeptides at pH as low as 1.8. Benefiting from the large binding capacity
      at such low pH, MCN showed remarkable specificity to capture phosphopeptides from
      tryptic digests of standard protein mixtures as well as nonfat milk and human
      serum. In addition, MCN was also applied to selective enrichment of
      phosphopeptides from the tryptic digests of rat brain lysate and 2576 unique
      phosphopeptides were successfully identified. 

PMID- 26884141
TI  - Creating Conditions for Policy Change in National Parks: Contrasting Cases in
      Yellowstone and Yosemite.
AB  - Public agencies face significant political obstacles when they try to change long
      standing policies. This paper examines efforts by the U.S. National Park Service
      to change long-term policies in Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks. We argue
      that, to be successful, the agency and pro-change allies must expand the sphere
      of conflict to engage the support of the broader American public through positive
      framing, supportive science, compelling economic arguments, consistent goals, and
      the commitment of other institutional actors. We show that the agency is capable
      of creating these conditions, as in the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone,
      but we argue that this is not always the outcome, as in reducing automobile
      congestion in Yosemite Valley. 

PMID- 26884142
TI  - Exploring the Capacity of Water Framework Directive Indices to Assess Ecosystem
      Services in Fluvial and Riparian Systems: Towards a Second Implementation Phase.
AB  - We explored the capacity of the biological and hydromorphological indices used in
      the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to assess ecosystem services by evaluating
      the ecological status of Spanish River Basins. This analysis relies on an
      exhaustive bibliography review which showed scientific evidence of the
      interlinkages between some ecosystem services and different hydromorphological
      and biological elements which have been used as indices in the WFD. Our findings
      indicate that, of a total of 38 ecosystem services analyzed, biological and
      hydromorphological indices can fully evaluate four ecosystem services. In
      addition, 18 ecosystem services can be partly evaluated by some of the analyzed
      indices, while 11 are not related with the indices. While Riparian Forest Quality
      was the index that was able to assess the largest number of ecosystem services (N
      = 12), the two indices of macrophytes offered very poor guarantees. Finally,
      biological indices related to diatoms and aquatic invertebrates and the Fluvial
      Habitat Index can be related with 7, 6, and 6 ecosystem services, respectively.
      Because the WFD indices currently used in Spain are not able to assess most of
      the ecosystem services analyzed, we suggest that there is potential to develop
      the second phase of the WFD implementation taking this approach into
      consideration. The incorporation of the ecosystem services approach into the WFD
      could provide the framework for assess the impacts of human activities on the
      quality of fluvial ecosystems and could give insights for water and watershed
      management in order to guarantee the delivery of multiple ecosystem services.

PMID- 26884143
TI  - Wildland Arson as Clandestine Resource Management: A Space-Time Permutation
      Analysis and Classification of Informal Fire Management Regimes in Georgia, USA.
AB  - Forest managers are increasingly recognizing the value of disturbance-based land
      management techniques such as prescribed burning. Unauthorized, "arson" fires are
      common in the southeastern United States where a legacy of agrarian cultural
      heritage persists amidst an increasingly forest-dominated landscape. This paper
      reexamines unauthorized fire-setting in the state of Georgia, USA from a
      historical ecology perspective that aims to contribute to historically informed,
      disturbance-based land management. A space-time permutation analysis is employed
      to discriminate systematic, management-oriented unauthorized fires from more
      arbitrary or socially deviant fire-setting behaviors. This paper argues that
      statistically significant space-time clusters of unauthorized fire occurrence
      represent informal management regimes linked to the legacy of traditional land
      management practices. Recent scholarship has pointed out that traditional
      management has actively promoted sustainable resource use and, in some cases,
      enhanced biodiversity often through the use of fire. Despite broad-scale
      displacement of traditional management during the 20th century, informal
      management practices may locally circumvent more formal and regionally dominant
      management regimes. Space-time permutation analysis identified 29 statistically
      significant fire regimes for the state of Georgia. The identified regimes are
      classified by region and land cover type and their implications for historically
      informed disturbance-based resource management are discussed. 

PMID- 26884144
TI  - Worldwide Differences in Regulations of Clozapine Use.
AB  - Clozapine remains the drug of choice for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. As a
      consequence of its long history and complex pharmacology, we suspected wide
      variation in the regulations of clozapine use across different countries. The
      summaries of product characteristics (SPCs) from clozapine manufacturers, as well
      as local and national guidelines in the following selected countries, were
      reviewed: China, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania,
      the UK and the US. Clozapine is available as tablets in all countries, as an oral
      suspension in all included countries, with the exception of Japan and Romania, as
      orally disintegrating tablets in the US and China, and as an injectable in The
      Netherlands. General practitioner prescribing is only available in The
      Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and the US, although with some restrictions in
      some of the countries. In Ireland and China, clozapine is only dispensed through
      hospital pharmacies. Hematological monitoring is mandatory in all countries but
      varies substantially in frequency, e.g. in Denmark hematologic monitoring is
      mandatory weekly for 18 weeks, followed by monthly monitoring, compared with
      Japan where blood work is required weekly for 26 weeks, followed by biweekly
      hematologic monitoring thereafter. In most included countries, with the exception
      of Denmark, Romania and The Netherlands, the manufacturer provides a mandatory
      hematological monitoring database, and dispensing of clozapine is not permissible
      without acceptable white blood count and absolute neutrophil count results. Local
      guidelines in New Zealand recommend echocardiography and routine troponin during
      the initial phases of treatment with clozapine. Regulations of clozapine vary
      widely with regard to rules of prescribing and monitoring. A worldwide update and
      harmonization of these regulations is recommended.

PMID- 26884146
TI  - Insights into the Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Chlorofluoroethenes Studied by
      Density-Functional and Coupled-Cluster Theories.
AB  - The first two ionic states of chlorofluoroethenes were studied by using both time
      independent and time-dependent density-functional theories. We calculated the
      equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of 1,1-, cis-, and
      trans-C2H2FCl and their cations by using the B3LYP and B3PW91 functionals
      together with the cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. Franck-Condon factors were
      computed by the method developed in our group, in which the Duschinsky effect was
      treated explicitly. A new technique, named alignment transformation, followed by
      Euler transformations was developed to achieve the Eckart conditions. The
      adiabatic ionization energies were calculated by the CCSD(T) method extrapolated
      to the complete basis set limit. Insights into the simulated photoelectron
      spectra of C2H2FCl indicate that the resolutions of recent threshold
      photoelectron experiments are not high enough to detect individual transitions.
      The high-resolution photoelectron spectra of C2H2FCl are predicted for future
      reference. The computed adiabatic ionization energies of the three isomers of
      C2H2FCl are in accord with the experiments with the absolute deviations ranging
      from 0.004 to 0.021 eV. We suggest that the agreement between experimental and
      theoretical spectra should be a key criterion to judge whether a spectral
      assignment is reasonable. 

PMID- 26884145
TI  - Impact of Pharmacotherapy on Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple
      Sclerosis.
AB  - Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), adversely
      impacting many spheres of daily functioning. Yet the effectiveness of
      pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment in MS is unclear.
      Clinicians and patients alike would benefit from formal guidelines regarding
      effective management of cognitive symptoms. We reviewed the background on the
      measurement, pathophysiology and risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in MS,
      and then examined the published clinical trials of pharmacotherapy, including
      both disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and symptom-management therapies (SMTs).
      Our review of DMTs revealed only a single well-designed, randomized, controlled
      trial where intramuscular interferon (IFN)-beta1a, administered once weekly, was
      compared with placebo. The results showed significant benefits in terms of
      cognitive processing speed and memory. Less convincing but promising data have
      shown the potential benefits of IFN-beta1b and natalizumab. The literature on
      SMTs is replete with placebo-controlled, single-centre studies, with a failure to
      replicate initially promising results. The results for SMTs such as
      acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and psychostimulants are mixed. Some encouraging
      data show promise but not to a threshold of indication for standard clinical use.
      Numerous methodological factors hamper research in this area. Acknowledging the
      lack of firm conclusions, we argue that all DMTs are likely to benefit cognition
      and that, if otherwise safe, SMTs with some empirical support may be attempted at
      the discretion of the treating clinician. We offer some guidance on the
      assessment and monitoring of cognitive function to inform off-license treatment
      of cognitive impairment in MS patients. 

PMID- 26884148
TI  - Fluorescence microscopy image noise reduction using a stochastically-connected
      random field model.
AB  - Fluorescence microscopy is an essential part of a biologist's toolkit, allowing
      assaying of many parameters like subcellular localization of proteins, changes in
      cytoskeletal dynamics, protein-protein interactions, and the concentration of
      specific cellular ions. A fundamental challenge with using fluorescence
      microscopy is the presence of noise. This study introduces a novel approach to
      reducing noise in fluorescence microscopy images. The noise reduction problem is
      posed as a Maximum A Posteriori estimation problem, and solved using a novel
      random field model called stochastically-connected random field (SRF), which
      combines random graph and field theory. Experimental results using synthetic and
      real fluorescence microscopy data show the proposed approach achieving strong
      noise reduction performance when compared to several other noise reduction
      algorithms, using quantitative metrics. The proposed SRF approach was able to
      achieve strong performance in terms of signal-to-noise ratio in the synthetic
      results, high signal to noise ratio and contrast to noise ratio in the real
      fluorescence microscopy data results, and was able to maintain cell structure and
      subtle details while reducing background and intra-cellular noise. 

PMID- 26884147
TI  - The role of extracellular-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 in glioma peritumoural brain
      edema.
AB  - During pathological conditions, extracellular-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 can protect
      neurons by reducing the permeability of the blood brain barrier. In recent years,
      it has been demonstrated that CD73 can negatively contribute to the growth of
      gliomas; however, the function of CD73 in glioma blood vessels is not clear. We
      analysed the expression of CD73 in 72 glioma patients using immunohistochemistry
      and correspondingly compared the results with the Edema index (EI). We
      established an in vitro model of the blood-tumour barrier and analysed the
      expression of CD73 in vascular endothelial cells. Lastly, CD73 expression was
      inhibited in endothelial cells, and the effects of this inhibition on tight
      junction structure and transendothelial resistance were observed. Compared to
      normal brains, the expression of CD73 in blood vessels of glioma patients was
      significantly decreased, and the amount was lower in the centre of the tumour
      than the periphery. The proportion of CD73-positive blood vessels had a positive
      correlation with the EI. The expression of CD73 in the in vitro endothelial cell
      blood-tumour barrier model was decreased. Lastly, inhibiting CD73 was found to
      decrease the expression of tight junction related proteins in endothelial cells
      and to decrease the value of transendothelial electric resistance. The expression
      of CD73 in glioma blood vessels was significantly decreased, which may play a
      multi-functional role in decreasing the expression of tight junction related
      proteins of brain microvascular endothelial cells and may also increase blood
      tumour barrier permeability and accelerate the formation of PTBE. 

PMID- 26884149
TI  - The roles and impacts of human hunter-gatherers in North Pacific marine food
      webs.
AB  - There is a nearly 10,000-year history of human presence in the western Gulf of
      Alaska, but little understanding of how human foragers integrated into and
      impacted ecosystems through their roles as hunter-gatherers. We present two
      highly resolved intertidal and nearshore food webs for the Sanak Archipelago in
      the eastern Aleutian Islands and use them to compare trophic roles of prehistoric
      humans to other species. We find that the native Aleut people played distinctive
      roles as super-generalist and highly-omnivorous consumers closely connected to
      other species. Although the human population was positioned to have strong
      effects, arrival and presence of Aleut people in the Sanak Archipelago does not
      appear associated with long-term extinctions. We simulated food web dynamics to
      explore to what degree introducing a species with trophic roles like those of an
      Aleut forager, and allowing for variable strong feeding to reflect use of hunting
      technology, is likely to trigger extinctions. Potential extinctions decreased
      when an invading omnivorous super-generalist consumer focused strong feeding on
      decreasing fractions of its possible resources. This study presents the first
      assessment of the structural roles of humans as consumers within complex
      ecological networks, and potential impacts of those roles and feeding behavior on
      associated extinctions. 

PMID- 26884150
TI  - Effects of chronic shoulder pain on quality of life and occupational engagement
      in the population with chronic spinal cord injury: preparing for the best
      outcomes with occupational therapy.
AB  - Purpose To examine the implications of chronic shoulder pain on quality of life
      and occupational engagement in spinal cord injury (SCI). The Ecology of Human
      Performance Model and Self-Efficacy Theory will be used to further examine the
      interplay of shoulder pain, quality of life and engagement in this population.
      Method Analysis of literature. Results Persons with SCI have a high prevalence of
      shoulder pain and injury, affecting 37-84% of analysed studies; chronic pain
      limits occupational engagement and decreases quality of life. Remediation of pain
      provides improved occupational engagement, functional independence and quality of
      life in those with high self-efficacy and low depression. Conclusion Shoulder
      pain is a serious complication following SCI and the Ecology of Human Performance
      Model and Self-Efficacy Theory can be utilized in conjunction for a framework to
      evaluate, treat and prevent shoulder pain and its devastating effects on
      occupational engagement and quality of life in the spinal cord injured
      population. Thereafter, rehabilitation professionals will have a greater
      understanding of these interactions to serve as a guide for evaluation and
      intervention planning to promote optimal occupational engagement through limiting
      the experiences of occupational injustices for those with SCI and shoulder pain.
      Implications for Rehabilitation Musculoskeletal pain at the shoulder joint and
      depression are common complications following spinal cord injury that limit
      occupational engagement and decrease quality of life. To increase engagement and
      quality of life in this population, treatments need to address all factors
      including the under-lying psychosocial instead of task and environment
      modification alone. The Ecology of Human Performance Model and Self-efficacy
      Theory are effective frameworks that can be used for evaluation, treatment
      planning and outcome measurement to maximize occupational engagement and quality
      of life.

PMID- 26884151
TI  - Electron-lattice interactions strongly renormalize the charge-transfer energy in
      the spin-chain cuprate Li2CuO2.
AB  - Strongly correlated insulators are broadly divided into two classes: Mott-Hubbard
      insulators, where the insulating gap is driven by the Coulomb repulsion U on the
      transition-metal cation, and charge-transfer insulators, where the gap is driven
      by the charge-transfer energy Delta between the cation and the ligand anions. The
      relative magnitudes of U and Delta determine which class a material belongs to,
      and subsequently the nature of its low-energy excitations. These energy scales
      are typically understood through the local chemistry of the active ions. Here we
      show that the situation is more complex in the low-dimensional charge-transfer
      insulator Li2CuO2, where Delta has a large non-electronic component. Combining
      resonant inelastic X-ray scattering with detailed modelling, we determine how the
      elementary lattice, charge, spin and orbital excitations are entangled in this
      material. This results in a large lattice-driven renormalization of Delta, which
      significantly reshapes the fundamental electronic properties of Li2CuO2. 

PMID- 26884152
TI  - Midbrain auditory selectivity to natural sounds.
AB  - This study investigated auditory stimulus selectivity in the midbrain superior
      colliculus (SC) of the echolocating bat, an animal that relies on hearing to
      guide its orienting behaviors. Multichannel, single-unit recordings were taken
      across laminae of the midbrain SC of the awake, passively listening big brown
      bat, Eptesicus fuscus. Species-specific frequency-modulated (FM) echolocation
      sound sequences with dynamic spectrotemporal features served as acoustic stimuli
      along with artificial sound sequences matched in bandwidth, amplitude, and
      duration but differing in spectrotemporal structure. Neurons in dorsal sensory
      regions of the bat SC responded selectively to elements within the FM sound
      sequences, whereas neurons in ventral sensorimotor regions showed broad response
      profiles to natural and artificial stimuli. Moreover, a generalized linear model
      (GLM) constructed on responses in the dorsal SC to artificial linear FM stimuli
      failed to predict responses to natural sounds and vice versa, but the GLM
      produced accurate response predictions in ventral SC neurons. This result
      suggests that auditory selectivity in the dorsal extent of the bat SC arises
      through nonlinear mechanisms, which extract species-specific sensory information.
      Importantly, auditory selectivity appeared only in responses to stimuli
      containing the natural statistics of acoustic signals used by the bat for spatial
      orientation-sonar vocalizations-offering support for the hypothesis that sensory
      selectivity enables rapid species-specific orienting behaviors. The results of
      this study are the first, to our knowledge, to show auditory spectrotemporal
      selectivity to natural stimuli in SC neurons and serve to inform a more general
      understanding of mechanisms guiding sensory selectivity for natural, goal
      directed orienting behaviors. 

PMID- 26884153
TI  - Tailoring nanoparticle designs to target cancer based on tumor pathophysiology.
AB  - Nanoparticles can provide significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment
      of cancer. How nanoparticle size, shape, and surface chemistry can affect their
      accumulation, retention, and penetration in tumors remains heavily investigated,
      because such findings provide guiding principles for engineering optimal
      nanosystems for tumor targeting. Currently, the experimental focus has been on
      particle design and not the biological system. Here, we varied tumor volume to
      determine whether cancer pathophysiology can influence tumor accumulation and
      penetration of different sized nanoparticles. Monte Carlo simulations were also
      used to model the process of nanoparticle accumulation. We discovered that
      changes in pathophysiology associated with tumor volume can selectively change
      tumor uptake of nanoparticles of varying size. We further determine that
      nanoparticle retention within tumors depends on the frequency of interaction of
      particles with the perivascular extracellular matrix for smaller nanoparticles,
      whereas transport of larger nanomaterials is dominated by Brownian motion. These
      results reveal that nanoparticles can potentially be personalized according to a
      patient's disease state to achieve optimal diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. 

PMID- 26884154
TI  - The archaeal Ced system imports DNA.
AB  - The intercellular transfer of DNA is a phenomenon that occurs in all domains of
      life and is a major driving force of evolution. Upon UV-light treatment, cells of
      the crenarchaeal genus Sulfolobus express Ups pili, which initiate cell aggregate
      formation. Within these aggregates, chromosomal DNA, which is used for the repair
      of DNA double-strand breaks, is exchanged. Because so far no clear homologs of
      bacterial DNA transporters have been identified among the genomes of Archaea, the
      mechanisms of archaeal DNA transport have remained a puzzling and
      underinvestigated topic. Here we identify saci_0568 and saci_0748, two genes from
      Sulfolobus acidocaldarius that are highly induced upon UV treatment, encoding a
      transmembrane protein and a membrane-bound VirB4/HerA homolog, respectively. DNA
      transfer assays showed that both proteins are essential for DNA transfer between
      Sulfolobus cells and act downstream of the Ups pili system. Our results moreover
      revealed that the system is involved in the import of DNA rather than the export.
      We therefore propose that both Saci_0568 and Saci_0748 are part of a previously
      unidentified DNA importer. Given the fact that we found this transporter system
      to be widely spread among the Crenarchaeota, we propose to name it the
      Crenarchaeal system for exchange of DNA (Ced). In this study we have for the
      first time to our knowledge described an archaeal DNA transporter. 

PMID- 26884155
TI  - Marine anoxia and delayed Earth system recovery after the end-Permian extinction.
AB  - Delayed Earth system recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction is often
      attributed to severe ocean anoxia. However, the extent and duration of Early
      Triassic anoxia remains poorly constrained. Here we use paired records of uranium
      concentrations ([U]) and (238)U/(235)U isotopic compositions (delta(238)U) of
      Upper Permian-Upper Triassic marine limestones from China and Turkey to quantify
      variations in global seafloor redox conditions. We observe abrupt decreases in
      [U] and delta(238)U across the end-Permian extinction horizon, from ~3 ppm and 
      0.150/00 to ~0.3 ppm and -0.770/00, followed by a gradual return to preextinction
      values over the subsequent 5 million years. These trends imply a factor of 100
      increase in the extent of seafloor anoxia and suggest the presence of a shallow
      oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) that inhibited the recovery of benthic animal diversity
      and marine ecosystem function. We hypothesize that in the Early Triassic oceans
      characterized by prolonged shallow anoxia that may have impinged onto continental
      shelves-global biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystem structure became more
      sensitive to variation in the position of the OMZ. Under this hypothesis, the
      Middle Triassic decline in bottom water anoxia, stabilization of biogeochemical
      cycles, and diversification of marine animals together reflect the development of
      a deeper and less extensive OMZ, which regulated Earth system recovery following
      the end-Permian catastrophe. 

PMID- 26884156
TI  - Single-molecule imaging reveals the mechanism of Exo1 regulation by single
      stranded DNA binding proteins.
AB  - Exonuclease 1 (Exo1) is a 5'->3' exonuclease and 5'-flap endonuclease that plays
      a critical role in multiple eukaryotic DNA repair pathways. Exo1 processing at
      DNA nicks and double-strand breaks creates long stretches of single-stranded DNA,
      which are rapidly bound by replication protein A (RPA) and other single-stranded
      DNA binding proteins (SSBs). Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence imaging
      and quantitative cell biology approaches to reveal the interplay between Exo1 and
      SSBs. Both human and yeast Exo1 are processive nucleases on their own. RPA
      rapidly strips Exo1 from DNA, and this activity is dependent on at least three
      RPA-encoded single-stranded DNA binding domains. Furthermore, we show that
      ablation of RPA in human cells increases Exo1 recruitment to damage sites. In
      contrast, the sensor of single-stranded DNA complex 1-a recently identified human
      SSB that promotes DNA resection during homologous recombination-supports
      processive resection by Exo1. Although RPA rapidly turns over Exo1, multiple
      cycles of nuclease rebinding at the same DNA site can still support limited DNA
      processing. These results reveal the role of single-stranded DNA binding proteins
      in controlling Exo1-catalyzed resection with implications for how Exo1 is
      regulated during DNA repair in eukaryotic cells. 

PMID- 26884157
TI  - A highly precise and portable genome engineering method allows comparison of
      mutational effects across bacterial species.
AB  - Currently available tools for multiplex bacterial genome engineering are
      optimized for a few laboratory model strains, demand extensive prior modification
      of the host strain, and lead to the accumulation of numerous off-target
      modifications. Building on prior development of multiplex automated genome
      engineering (MAGE), our work addresses these problems in a single framework.
      Using a dominant-negative mutant protein of the methyl-directed mismatch repair
      (MMR) system, we achieved a transient suppression of DNA repair in Escherichia
      coli, which is necessary for efficient oligonucleotide integration. By
      integrating all necessary components into a broad-host vector, we developed a new
      workflow we term pORTMAGE. It allows efficient modification of multiple loci,
      without any observable off-target mutagenesis and prior modification of the host
      genome. Because of the conserved nature of the bacterial MMR system, pORTMAGE
      simultaneously allows genome editing and mutant library generation in other
      biotechnologically and clinically relevant bacterial species. Finally, we applied
      pORTMAGE to study a set of antibiotic resistance-conferring mutations in
      Salmonella enterica and E. coli. Despite over 100 million y of divergence between
      the two species, mutational effects remained generally conserved. In sum, a
      single transformation of a pORTMAGE plasmid allows bacterial species of interest
      to become an efficient host for genome engineering. These advances pave the way
      toward biotechnological and therapeutic applications. Finally, pORTMAGE allows
      systematic comparison of mutational effects and epistasis across a wide range of
      bacterial species. 

PMID- 26884158
TI  - Conserved rates and patterns of transcription errors across bacterial growth
      states and lifestyles.
AB  - Errors that occur during transcription have received much less attention than the
      mutations that occur in DNA because transcription errors are not heritable and
      usually result in a very limited number of altered proteins. However,
      transcription error rates are typically several orders of magnitude higher than
      the mutation rate. Also, individual transcripts can be translated multiple times,
      so a single error can have substantial effects on the pool of proteins.
      Transcription errors can also contribute to cellular noise, thereby influencing
      cell survival under stressful conditions, such as starvation or antibiotic
      stress. Implementing a method that captures transcription errors genome-wide, we
      measured the rates and spectra of transcription errors in Escherichia coli and in
      endosymbionts for which mutation and/or substitution rates are greatly elevated
      over those of E. coli Under all tested conditions, across all species, and even
      for different categories of RNA sequences (mRNA and rRNAs), there were no
      significant differences in rates of transcription errors, which ranged from 2.3 *
      10(-5) per nucleotide in mRNA of the endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola to 5.2 *
      10(-5) per nucleotide in rRNA of the endosymbiont Carsonella ruddii The
      similarity of transcription error rates in these bacterial endosymbionts to that
      in E. coli (4.63 * 10(-5) per nucleotide) is all the more surprising given that
      genomic erosion has resulted in the loss of transcription fidelity factors in
      both Buchnera and Carsonella.

PMID- 26884159
TI  - Consumption of palatable food primes food approach behavior by rapidly increasing
      synaptic density in the VTA.
AB  - In an environment with easy access to highly palatable and energy-dense food,
      food-related cues drive food-seeking regardless of satiety, an effect that can
      lead to obesity. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its mesolimbic projections
      are critical structures involved in the learning of environmental cues used to
      predict motivationally relevant outcomes. Priming effects of food-related
      advertising and consumption of palatable food can drive food intake. However, the
      mechanism by which this effect occurs, and whether these priming effects last
      days after consumption, is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that short-term
      consumption of palatable food can prime future food approach behaviors and food
      intake. This effect is mediated by the strengthening of excitatory synaptic
      transmission onto dopamine neurons that is initially offset by a transient
      increase in endocannabinoid tone, but lasts days after an initial 24-h exposure
      to sweetened high-fat food (SHF). This enhanced synaptic strength is mediated by
      a long-lasting increase in excitatory synaptic density onto VTA dopamine neurons.
      Administration of insulin into the VTA, which suppresses excitatory synaptic
      transmission onto dopamine neurons, can abolish food approach behaviors and food
      intake observed days after 24-h access to SHF. These results suggest that even a
      short-term exposure to palatable foods can drive future feeding behavior by
      "rewiring" mesolimbic dopamine neurons. 

PMID- 26884160
TI  - Membrane-bound MinDE complex acts as a toggle switch that drives Min oscillation
      coupled to cytoplasmic depletion of MinD.
AB  - The Escherichia coli Min system self-organizes into a cell-pole to cell-pole
      oscillator on the membrane to prevent divisions at the cell poles. Reconstituting
      the Min system on a lipid bilayer has contributed to elucidating the oscillatory
      mechanism. However, previous in vitro patterns were attained with protein
      densities on the bilayer far in excess of those in vivo and failed to
      recapitulate the standing wave oscillations observed in vivo. Here we studied Min
      protein patterning at limiting MinD concentrations reflecting the in vivo
      conditions. We identified "burst" patterns--radially expanding and imploding
      binding zones of MinD, accompanied by a peripheral ring of MinE. Bursts share
      several features with the in vivo dynamics of the Min system including standing
      wave oscillations. Our data support a patterning mechanism whereby the MinD-to
      MinE ratio on the membrane acts as a toggle switch: recruiting and stabilizing
      MinD on the membrane when the ratio is high and releasing MinD from the membrane
      when the ratio is low. Coupling this toggle switch behavior with MinD depletion
      from the cytoplasm drives a self-organized standing wave oscillator.

PMID- 26884161
TI  - A virus of hyperthermophilic archaea with a unique architecture among DNA
      viruses.
AB  - Viruses package their genetic material in diverse ways. Most known strategies
      include encapsulation of nucleic acids into spherical or filamentous virions with
      icosahedral or helical symmetry, respectively. Filamentous viruses with dsDNA
      genomes are currently associated exclusively with Archaea. Here, we describe a
      filamentous hyperthermophilic archaeal virus, Pyrobaculum filamentous virus 1
      (PFV1), with a type of virion organization not previously observed in DNA
      viruses. The PFV1 virion, 400 +/- 20 * 32 +/- 3 nm, contains an envelope and an
      inner core consisting of two structural units: a rod-shaped helical nucleocapsid
      formed of two 14-kDa major virion proteins and a nucleocapsid-encompassing
      protein sheath composed of a single major virion protein of 18 kDa. The virion
      organization of PFV1 is superficially similar to that of negative-sense RNA
      viruses of the family Filoviridae, including Ebola virus and Marburg virus. The
      linear dsDNA of PFV1 carries 17,714 bp, including 60-bp-long terminal inverted
      repeats, and contains 39 predicted ORFs, most of which do not show similarities
      to sequences in public databases. PFV1 is a lytic virus that completely disrupts
      the host cell membrane at the end of the infection cycle. 

PMID- 26884162
TI  - The light chains of kinesin-1 are autoinhibited.
AB  - The light chains (KLCs) of the microtubule motor kinesin-1 bind cargoes and
      regulate its activity. Through their tetratricopeptide repeat domain (KLC(TPR)),
      they can recognize short linear peptide motifs found in many cargo proteins
      characterized by a central tryptophan flanked by aspartic/glutamic acid residues
      (W-acidic). Using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer biosensor in
      combination with X-ray crystallographic, biochemical, and biophysical approaches,
      we describe how an intramolecular interaction between the KLC2(TPR) domain and a
      conserved peptide motif within an unstructured region of the molecule, partly
      occludes the W-acidic binding site on the TPR domain. Cargo binding displaces
      this interaction, effecting a global conformational change in KLCs resulting in a
      more extended conformation. Thus, like the motor-bearing kinesin heavy chains,
      KLCs exist in a dynamic conformational state that is regulated by self
      interaction and cargo binding. We propose a model by which, via this molecular
      switch, W-acidic cargo binding regulates the activity of the holoenzyme. 

PMID- 26884163
TI  - How structural adaptability exists alongside HLA-A2 bias in the human alphabeta
      TCR repertoire.
AB  - How T-cell receptors (TCRs) can be intrinsically biased toward MHC proteins while
      simultaneously display the structural adaptability required to engage diverse
      ligands remains a controversial puzzle. We addressed this by examining alphabeta
      TCR sequences and structures for evidence of physicochemical compatibility with
      MHC proteins. We found that human TCRs are enriched in the capacity to engage a
      polymorphic, positively charged "hot-spot" region that is almost exclusive to the
      alpha1-helix of the common human class I MHC protein, HLA-A*0201 (HLA-A2). TCR
      binding necessitates hot-spot burial, yielding high energetic penalties that must
      be offset via complementary electrostatic interactions. Enrichment of negative
      charges in TCR binding loops, particularly the germ-line loops encoded by the TCR
      Valpha and Vbeta genes, provides this capacity and is correlated with restricted
      positioning of TCRs over HLA-A2. Notably, this enrichment is absent from antibody
      genes. The data suggest a built-in TCR compatibility with HLA-A2 that biases
      receptors toward, but does not compel, particular binding modes. Our findings
      provide an instructional example for how structurally pliant MHC biases can be
      encoded within TCRs. 

PMID- 26884164
TI  - Probiotics modulated gut microbiota suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth in
      mice.
AB  - The beneficial roles of probiotics in lowering the gastrointestinal inflammation
      and preventing colorectal cancer have been frequently demonstrated, but their
      immunomodulatory effects and mechanism in suppressing the growth of
      extraintestinal tumors remain unexplored. Here, we adopted a mouse model and
      metagenome sequencing to investigate the efficacy of probiotic feeding in
      controlling s.c. hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism
      suppressing the tumor progression. Our result demonstrated that Prohep, a novel
      probiotic mixture, slows down the tumor growth significantly and reduces the
      tumor size and weight by 40% compared with the control. From a mechanistic point
      of view the down-regulated IL-17 cytokine and its major producer Th17 cells,
      whose levels decreased drastically, played critical roles in tumor reduction upon
      probiotics feeding. Cell staining illustrated that the reduced Th17 cells in the
      tumor of the probiotic-treated group is mainly caused by the reduced frequency of
      migratory Th17 cells from the intestine and peripheral blood. In addition,
      shotgun-metagenome sequencing revealed the crosstalk between gut microbial
      metabolites and the HCC development. Probiotics shifted the gut microbial
      community toward certain beneficial bacteria, including Prevotella and
      Oscillibacter, that are known producers of antiinflammatory metabolites, which
      subsequently reduced the Th17 polarization and promoted the differentiation of
      antiinflammatory Treg/Tr1 cells in the gut. Overall, our study offers novel
      insights into the mechanism by which probiotic treatment modulates the microbiota
      and influences the regulation of the T-cell differentiation in the gut, which in
      turn alters the level of the proinflammatory cytokines in the extraintestinal
      tumor microenvironment. 

PMID- 26884165
TI  - Crossover from metal to insulator in dense lithium-rich compound CLi4.
AB  - At room environment, all materials can be classified as insulators or metals or
      in-between semiconductors, by judging whether they are capable of conducting the
      flow of electrons. One can expect an insulator to convert into a metal and to
      remain in this state upon further compression, i.e., pressure-induced
      metallization. Some exceptions were reported recently in elementary metals such
      as all of the alkali metals and heavy alkaline earth metals (Ca, Sr, and Ba).
      Here we show that a compound of CLi4 becomes progressively less conductive and
      eventually insulating upon compression based on ab initio density-functional
      theory calculations. An unusual path with pressure is found for the phase
      transition from metal to semimetal, to semiconductor, and eventually to
      insulator. The Fermi surface filling parameter is used to describe such an
      antimetallization process. 

PMID- 26884166
TI  - New tools for studying microglia in the mouse and human CNS.
AB  - The specific function of microglia, the tissue resident macrophages of the brain
      and spinal cord, has been difficult to ascertain because of a lack of tools to
      distinguish microglia from other immune cells, thereby limiting specific
      immunostaining, purification, and manipulation. Because of their unique
      developmental origins and predicted functions, the distinction of microglia from
      other myeloid cells is critically important for understanding brain development
      and disease; better tools would greatly facilitate studies of microglia function
      in the developing, adult, and injured CNS. Here, we identify transmembrane
      protein 119 (Tmem119), a cell-surface protein of unknown function, as a highly
      expressed microglia-specific marker in both mouse and human. We developed
      monoclonal antibodies to its intracellular and extracellular domains that enable
      the immunostaining of microglia in histological sections in healthy and diseased
      brains, as well as isolation of pure nonactivated microglia by FACS. Using our
      antibodies, we provide, to our knowledge, the first RNAseq profiles of highly
      pure mouse microglia during development and after an immune challenge. We used
      these to demonstrate that mouse microglia mature by the second postnatal week and
      to predict novel microglial functions. Together, we anticipate these resources
      will be valuable for the future study and understanding of microglia in health
      and disease. 

PMID- 26884167
TI  - The adaptive immune system restrains Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by
      modulating microglial function.
AB  - The innate immune system is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). In contrast, the role of adaptive immunity in AD
      remains largely unknown. However, numerous clinical trials are testing
      vaccination strategies for AD, suggesting that T and B cells play a pivotal role
      in this disease. To test the hypothesis that adaptive immunity influences AD
      pathogenesis, we generated an immune-deficient AD mouse model that lacks T, B,
      and natural killer (NK) cells. The resulting "Rag-5xfAD" mice exhibit a greater
      than twofold increase in beta-amyloid (Abeta) pathology. Gene expression analysis
      of the brain implicates altered innate and adaptive immune pathways, including
      changes in cytokine/chemokine signaling and decreased Ig-mediated processes.
      Neuroinflammation is also greatly exacerbated in Rag-5xfAD mice as indicated by a
      shift in microglial phenotype, increased cytokine production, and reduced
      phagocytic capacity. In contrast, immune-intact 5xfAD mice exhibit elevated
      levels of nonamyloid reactive IgGs in association with microglia, and treatment
      of Rag-5xfAD mice or microglial cells with preimmune IgG enhances Abeta
      clearance. Last, we performed bone marrow transplantation studies in Rag-5xfAD
      mice, revealing that replacement of these missing adaptive immune populations can
      dramatically reduce AD pathology. Taken together, these data strongly suggest
      that adaptive immune cell populations play an important role in restraining AD
      pathology. In contrast, depletion of B cells and their appropriate activation by
      T cells leads to a loss of adaptive-innate immunity cross talk and accelerated
      disease progression. 

PMID- 26884168
TI  - Selection favors incompatible signaling in bacteria.

PMID- 26884169
TI  - Social wasps promote social behavior in Saccharomyces spp.

PMID- 26884171
TI  - MEKK2 mediates an alternative beta-catenin pathway that promotes bone formation.
AB  - Proper tuning of beta-catenin activity in osteoblasts is required for bone
      homeostasis, because both increased and decreased beta-catenin activity have
      pathologic consequences. In the classical pathway for beta-catenin activation,
      stimulation with WNT ligands suppresses constitutive phosphorylation of beta
      catenin by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, preventing beta-catenin ubiquitination
      and proteasomal degradation. Here, we have found that mitogen-activated protein
      kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2 or MEKK2) mediates an alternative pathway for beta
      catenin activation in osteoblasts that is distinct from the canonical WNT
      pathway. FGF2 activates MEKK2 to phosphorylate beta-catenin at serine 675,
      promoting recruitment of the deubiquitinating enzyme, ubiquitin-specific
      peptidase 15 (USP15). USP15 in turn prevents the basal turnover of beta-catenin
      by inhibiting its ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation, thereby enhancing
      WNT signaling. Analysis of MEKK2-deficient mice and genetic interaction studies
      between Mekk2- and beta-catenin-null alleles confirm that this pathway is an
      important physiologic regulator of bone mass in vivo. Thus, an FGF2/MEKK2 pathway
      mediates an alternative nonclassical pathway for beta-catenin activation, and
      this pathway is a key regulator of bone formation by osteoblasts. 

PMID- 26884170
TI  - Gene control of tyrosine kinase TIE2 and vascular manifestations of infections.
AB  - Ligands of the endothelial-enriched tunica interna endothelial cell kinase 2
      (Tie2) are markedly imbalanced in severe infections associated with vascular
      leakage, yet regulation of the receptor itself has been understudied in this
      context. Here, we show that TIE2 gene expression may constitute a novel vascular
      barrier control mechanism in diverse infections. Tie2 expression declined rapidly
      in wide-ranging models of leak-associated infections, including anthrax,
      influenza, malaria, and sepsis. Forced Tie2 suppression sufficed to attenuate
      barrier function and sensitize endothelium to permeability mediators. Rapid
      reduction of pulmonary Tie2 in otherwise healthy animals attenuated downstream
      kinase signaling to the barrier effector vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and
      induced vascular leakage. Compared with wild-type littermates, mice possessing
      one allele of Tie2 suffered more severe vascular leakage and higher mortality in
      two different sepsis models. Common genetic variants that influence TIE2
      expression were then sought in the HapMap3 cohort. Remarkably, each of the three
      strongest predicted cis-acting SNPs in HapMap3 was also associated with the risk
      of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in an intensive care unit cohort of
      1,614 subjects. The haplotype associated with the highest TIE2 expression
      conferred a 28% reduction in the risk of ARDS independent of other major clinical
      variables, including disease severity. In contrast, the most common haplotype was
      associated with both the lowest TIE2 expression and 31% higher ARDS risk.
      Together, the results implicate common genetic variation at the TIE2 locus as a
      determinant of vascular leak-related clinical outcomes from common infections,
      suggesting new tools to identify individuals at unusual risk for deleterious
      complications of infection. 

PMID- 26884172
TI  - A protein constructed de novo enables cell growth by altering gene regulation.
AB  - Recent advances in protein design rely on rational and computational approaches
      to create novel sequences that fold and function. In contrast, natural systems
      selected functional proteins without any design a priori. In an attempt to mimic
      nature, we used large libraries of novel sequences and selected for functional
      proteins that rescue Escherichia coli cells in which a conditionally essential
      gene has been deleted. In this way, the de novo protein SynSerB3 was selected as
      a rescuer of cells in which serB, which encodes phosphoserine phosphatase, an
      enzyme essential for serine biosynthesis, was deleted. However, SynSerB3 does not
      rescue the deleted activity by catalyzing hydrolysis of phosphoserine. Instead,
      SynSerB3 up-regulates hisB, a gene encoding histidinol phosphate phosphatase.
      This endogenous E. coli phosphatase has promiscuous activity that, when
      overexpressed, compensates for the deletion of phosphoserine phosphatase. Thus,
      the de novo protein SynSerB3 rescues the deletion of serB by altering the natural
      regulation of the His operon. 

PMID- 26884173
TI  - CnaA domains in bacterial pili are efficient dissipaters of large mechanical
      shocks.
AB  - Pathogenic bacteria adhere despite severe mechanical perturbations induced by the
      host, such as coughing. In Gram-positive bacteria, extracellular protein
      appendages termed pili are necessary for adherence under mechanical stress.
      However, little is known about the behavior of Gram-positive pili under force.
      Here, we demonstrate a mechanism by which Gram-positive pili are able to
      dissipate mechanical energy through mechanical unfolding and refolding of
      isopeptide bond-delimited polypeptide loops present in Ig-type CnaA domains.
      Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we find that these loops of the pilus
      subunit SpaA of the SpaA-type pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae and FimA of
      the type 2 pilus from Actinomyces oris unfold and extend at forces that are the
      highest yet reported for globular proteins. Loop refolding is limited by the
      hydrophobic collapse of the polypeptide and occurs in milliseconds. Remarkably,
      both SpaA and FimA initially refold to mechanically weaker intermediates that
      recover strength with time or ligand binding. Based on the high force
      extensibility, CnaA-containing pili can dissipate ~28-fold as much energy
      compared with their inextensible counterparts before reaching forces sufficient
      to cleave covalent bonds. We propose that efficient mechanical energy dissipation
      is key for sustained bacterial attachment against mechanical perturbations. 

PMID- 26884174
TI  - A Late Paleozoic climate window of opportunity.

PMID- 26884175
TI  - Arabidopsis type B cytokinin response regulators ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12
      negatively regulate plant responses to drought.
AB  - In this study, we used a loss-of-function approach to elucidate the functions of
      three Arabidopsis type B response regulators (ARRs)--namely ARR1, ARR10, and
      ARR12--in regulating the Arabidopsis plant responses to drought. The arr1,10,12
      triple mutant showed a significant increase in drought tolerance versus WT
      plants, as indicated by its higher relative water content and survival rate on
      drying soil. This enhanced drought tolerance of arr1,10,12 plants can be
      attributed to enhanced cell membrane integrity, increased anthocyanin
      biosynthesis, abscisic acid (ABA) hypersensitivity, and reduced stomatal
      aperture, but not to altered stomatal density. Further drought-tolerance tests of
      lower-order double and single mutants indicated that ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12
      negatively and redundantly control plant responses to drought, with ARR1
      appearing to bear the most critical function among the three proteins. In
      agreement with these findings, a comparative genome-wide analysis of the leaves
      of arr1,10,12 and WT plants under both normal and dehydration conditions
      suggested a cytokinin (CK) signaling-mediated network controlling plant
      adaptation to drought via many dehydration/drought- and/or ABA-responsive genes
      that can provide osmotic adjustment and protection to cellular and membrane
      structures. Expression of all three ARR genes was repressed by dehydration and
      ABA treatments, inferring that plants down-regulate these genes as an adaptive
      mechanism to survive drought. Collectively, our results demonstrate that
      repression of CK response, and thus CK signaling, is one of the strategies plants
      use to cope with water deficit, providing novel insight for the design of drought
      tolerant plants by genetic engineering.

PMID- 26884176
TI  - Dispelling the effects of a sorceress in enzyme catalysis.

PMID- 26884177
TI  - Illuminating structural proteins in viral "dark matter" with metaproteomics.
AB  - Viruses are ecologically important, yet environmental virology is limited by
      dominance of unannotated genomic sequences representing taxonomic and functional
      "viral dark matter." Although recent analytical advances are rapidly improving
      taxonomic annotations, identifying functional dark matter remains problematic.
      Here, we apply paired metaproteomics and dsDNA-targeted metagenomics to identify
      1,875 virion-associated proteins from the ocean. Over one-half of these proteins
      were newly functionally annotated and represent abundant and widespread viral
      metagenome-derived protein clusters (PCs). One primarily unannotated PC dominated
      the dataset, but structural modeling and genomic context identified this PC as a
      previously unidentified capsid protein from multiple uncultivated tailed virus
      families. Furthermore, four of the five most abundant PCs in the metaproteome
      represent capsid proteins containing the HK97-like protein fold previously found
      in many viruses that infect all three domains of life. The dominance of these
      proteins within our dataset, as well as their global distribution throughout the
      world's oceans and seas, supports prior hypotheses that this HK97-like protein
      fold is the most abundant biological structure on Earth. Together, these culture
      independent analyses improve virion-associated protein annotations, facilitate
      the investigation of proteins within natural viral communities, and offer a high
      throughput means of illuminating functional viral dark matter. 

PMID- 26884179
TI  - Correction for Upadhyay et al., Intracranial microcapsule chemotherapy delivery
      for the localized treatment of rodent metastatic breast adenocarcinoma in the
      brain.

PMID- 26884178
TI  - Deep phenotyping of 89 xeroderma pigmentosum patients reveals unexpected
      heterogeneity dependent on the precise molecular defect.
AB  - Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare DNA repair disorder characterized by
      increased susceptibility to UV radiation (UVR)-induced skin pigmentation, skin
      cancers, ocular surface disease, and, in some patients, sunburn and neurological
      degeneration. Genetically, it is assigned to eight complementation groups (XP-A
      to -G and variant). For the last 5 y, the UK national multidisciplinary XP
      service has provided follow-up for 89 XP patients, representing most of the XP
      patients in the United Kingdom. Causative mutations, DNA repair levels, and more
      than 60 clinical variables relating to dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology
      have been measured, using scoring systems to categorize disease severity. This
      deep phenotyping has revealed unanticipated heterogeneity of clinical features,
      between and within complementation groups. Skin cancer is most common in XP-C, XP
      E, and XP-V patients, previously considered to be the milder groups based on
      cellular analyses. These patients have normal sunburn reactions and are therefore
      diagnosed later and are less likely to adhere to UVR protection. XP-C patients
      are specifically hypersensitive to ocular damage, and XP-F and XP-G patients
      appear to be much less susceptible to skin cancer than other XP groups. Within XP
      groups, different mutations confer susceptibility or resistance to neurological
      damage. Our findings on this large cohort of XP patients under long-term follow
      up reveal that XP is more heterogeneous than has previously been appreciated. Our
      data now enable provision of personalized prognostic information and management
      advice for each XP patient, as well as providing new insights into the functions
      of the XP proteins. 

PMID- 26884180
TI  - Differential regulation of type III secretion and virulence genes in Bordetella
      pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica by a secreted anti-sigma factor.
AB  - The BvgAS phosphorelay regulates ~10% of the annotated genomes of Bordetella
      pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica and controls their infectious cycles. The
      hierarchical organization of the regulatory network allows the integration of
      contextual signals to control all or specific subsets of BvgAS-regulated genes.
      Here, we characterize a regulatory node involving a type III secretion system
      (T3SS)-exported protein, BtrA, and demonstrate its role in determining
      fundamental differences in T3SS phenotypes among Bordetella species. We show that
      BtrA binds and antagonizes BtrS, a BvgAS-regulated extracytoplasmic function
      (ECF) sigma factor, to couple the secretory activity of the T3SS apparatus to
      gene expression. In B. bronchiseptica, a remarkable spectrum of expression states
      can be resolved by manipulating btrA, encompassing over 80 BtrA-activated loci
      that include genes encoding toxins, adhesins, and other cell surface proteins,
      and over 200 BtrA-repressed genes that encode T3SS apparatus components,
      secretion substrates, the BteA effector, and numerous additional factors. In B.
      pertussis, BtrA retains activity as a BtrS antagonist and exerts tight negative
      control over T3SS genes. Most importantly, deletion of btrA in B. pertussis
      revealed T3SS-mediated, BteA-dependent cytotoxicity, which had previously eluded
      detection. This effect was observed in laboratory strains and in clinical
      isolates from a recent California pertussis epidemic. We propose that the BtrA
      BtrS regulatory node determines subspecies-specific differences in T3SS
      expression among Bordetella species and that B. pertussis is capable of
      expressing a full range of T3SS-dependent phenotypes in the presence of
      appropriate contextual cues. 

PMID- 26884181
TI  - Phagocytosis genes nonautonomously promote developmental cell death in the
      Drosophila ovary.
AB  - Programmed cell death (PCD) is usually considered a cell-autonomous suicide
      program, synonymous with apoptosis. Recent research has revealed that PCD is
      complex, with at least a dozen cell death modalities. Here, we demonstrate that
      the large-scale nonapoptotic developmental PCD in the Drosophila ovary occurs by
      an alternative cell death program where the surrounding follicle cells
      nonautonomously promote death of the germ line. The phagocytic machinery of the
      follicle cells, including Draper, cell death abnormality (Ced)-12, and c-Jun N
      terminal kinase (JNK), is essential for the death and removal of germ-line
      derived nurse cells during late oogenesis. Cell death events including
      acidification, nuclear envelope permeabilization, and DNA fragmentation of the
      nurse cells are impaired when phagocytosis is inhibited. Moreover, elimination of
      a small subset of follicle cells prevents nurse cell death and cytoplasmic
      dumping. Developmental PCD in the Drosophila ovary is an intriguing example of
      nonapoptotic, nonautonomous PCD, providing insight on the diversity of cell death
      mechanisms. 

PMID- 26884182
TI  - First structure of full-length mammalian phenylalanine hydroxylase reveals the
      architecture of an autoinhibited tetramer.
AB  - Improved understanding of the relationship among structure, dynamics, and
      function for the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) can lead to needed new
      therapies for phenylketonuria, the most common inborn error of amino acid
      metabolism. PAH is a multidomain homo-multimeric protein whose conformation and
      multimerization properties respond to allosteric activation by the substrate
      phenylalanine (Phe); the allosteric regulation is necessary to maintain Phe below
      neurotoxic levels. A recently introduced model for allosteric regulation of PAH
      involves major domain motions and architecturally distinct PAH tetramers [Jaffe
      EK, Stith L, Lawrence SH, Andrake M, Dunbrack RL, Jr (2013) Arch Biochem Biophys
      530(2):73-82]. Herein, we present, to our knowledge, the first X-ray crystal
      structure for a full-length mammalian (rat) PAH in an autoinhibited conformation.
      Chromatographic isolation of a monodisperse tetrameric PAH, in the absence of
      Phe, facilitated determination of the 2.9 A crystal structure. The structure of
      full-length PAH supersedes a composite homology model that had been used
      extensively to rationalize phenylketonuria genotype-phenotype relationships.
      Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) confirms that this tetramer, which dominates
      in the absence of Phe, is different from a Phe-stabilized allosterically
      activated PAH tetramer. The lack of structural detail for activated PAH remains a
      barrier to complete understanding of phenylketonuria genotype-phenotype
      relationships. Nevertheless, the use of SAXS and X-ray crystallography together
      to inspect PAH structure provides, to our knowledge, the first complete view of
      the enzyme in a tetrameric form that was not possible with prior partial crystal
      structures, and facilitates interpretation of a wealth of biochemical and
      structural data that was hitherto impossible to evaluate. 

PMID- 26884183
TI  - Cognitive fatigue influences students' performance on standardized tests.
AB  - Using test data for all children attending Danish public schools between school
      years 2009/10 and 2012/13, we examine how the time of the test affects
      performance. Test time is determined by the weekly class schedule and computer
      availability at the school. We find that, for every hour later in the day, test
      performance decreases by 0.9% of an SD (95% CI, 0.7-1.0%). However, a 20- to 30
      minute break improves average test performance by 1.7% of an SD (95% CI, 1.2
      2.2%). These findings have two important policy implications: First, cognitive
      fatigue should be taken into consideration when deciding on the length of the
      school day and the frequency and duration of breaks throughout the day. Second,
      school accountability systems should control for the influence of external
      factors on test scores. 

PMID- 26884184
TI  - Load-dependent destabilization of the gamma-rotor shaft in FOF1 ATP synthase
      revealed by hydrogen/deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry.
AB  - FoF1 is a membrane-bound molecular motor that uses proton-motive force (PMF) to
      drive the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi. Reverse operation generates PMF via
      ATP hydrolysis. Catalysis in either direction involves rotation of the
      gammaepsilon shaft that connects the alpha3beta3 head and the membrane-anchored
      cn ring. X-ray crystallography and other techniques have provided insights into
      the structure and function of FoF1 subcomplexes. However, interrogating the
      conformational dynamics of intact membrane-bound FoF1 during rotational catalysis
      has proven to be difficult. Here, we use hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass
      spectrometry to probe the inner workings of FoF1 in its natural membrane-bound
      state. A pronounced destabilization of the gamma C-terminal helix during
      hydrolysis-driven rotation was observed. This behavior is attributed to torsional
      stress in gamma, arising from gamma???alpha3beta3 interactions that cause
      resistance during gamma rotation within the apical bearing. Intriguingly, we find
      that destabilization of gamma occurs only when FoF1 operates against a PMF
      induced torque; the effect disappears when PMF is eliminated by an uncoupler.
      This behavior resembles the properties of automotive engines, where bearings
      inflict greater forces on the crankshaft when operated under load than during
      idling. 

PMID- 26884185
TI  - Truncating PREX2 mutations activate its GEF activity and alter gene expression
      regulation in NRAS-mutant melanoma.
AB  - PREX2 (phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate-dependent Rac-exchange factor 2)
      is a PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) binding
      protein that is significantly mutated in cutaneous melanoma and pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma. Here, genetic and biochemical analyses were conducted to
      elucidate the nature and mechanistic basis of PREX2 mutation in melanoma
      development. By generating an inducible transgenic mouse model we showed an
      oncogenic role for a truncating PREX2 mutation (PREX2(E824)*) in vivo in the
      context of mutant NRAS. Using integrative cross-species gene expression analysis,
      we identified deregulated cell cycle and cytoskeleton organization as
      significantly perturbed biological pathways in PREX2 mutant tumors.
      Mechanistically, truncation of PREX2 activated its Rac1 guanine nucleotide
      exchange factor activity, abolished binding to PTEN and activated the PI3K
      (phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase)/Akt signaling pathway. We further showed that
      PREX2 truncating mutations or PTEN deletion induces down-regulation of the tumor
      suppressor and cell cycle regulator CDKN1C (also known as p57(KIP2)). This down
      regulation occurs, at least partially, through DNA hypomethylation of a
      differentially methylated region in chromosome 11 that is a known regulatory
      region for expression of the CDKN1C gene. Together, these findings identify PREX2
      as a mediator of NRAS-mutant melanoma development that acts through the
      PI3K/PTEN/Akt pathway to regulate gene expression of a cell cycle regulator. 

PMID- 26884186
TI  - Reply to Martincorena et al.: Evidence for constrained positive selection of
      cancer mutations in normal skin is lacking.

PMID- 26884187
TI  - Constrained positive selection on cancer mutations in normal skin.

PMID- 26884188
TI  - The effect of rights-based fisheries management on risk taking and fishing
      safety.
AB  - Commercial fishing is a dangerous occupation despite decades of regulatory
      initiatives aimed at making it safer. We posit that rights-based fisheries
      management (the individual allocation of fishing quota to vessels or fishing
      entities, also called catch shares) can improve safety by solving many of the
      problems associated with the competitive race to fish experienced in fisheries
      around the world. The competitive nature of such fisheries results in risky
      behavior such as fishing in poor weather, overloading vessels with fishing gear,
      and neglecting maintenance. Although not necessarily intended to address safety
      issues, catch shares eliminate many of the economic incentives to fish as rapidly
      as possible. We develop a dataset and methods to empirically evaluate the effects
      of the adoption of catch shares management on a particularly risky type of
      behavior: the propensity to fish in stormy weather. After catch shares was
      implemented in an economically important US West Coast fishery, a fisherman's
      probability of taking a fishing trip in high wind conditions decreased by 82%
      compared with only 31% in the former race to fish fishery. Overall, catch shares
      caused the average annual rate of fishing on high wind days to decrease by 79%.
      These results are evidence that institutional changes can significantly reduce
      individual, voluntary risk exposure and result in safer fisheries. 

PMID- 26884189
TI  - Correction for Riedl et al., Metabolic connectivity mapping reveals effective
      connectivity in the resting human brain.

PMID- 26884190
TI  - Correction for Lai et al., Sequence, structure, and cooperativity in folding of
      elementary protein structural motifs.

PMID- 26884191
TI  - Mechanism of a cytosolic O-glycosyltransferase essential for the synthesis of a
      bacterial adhesion protein.
AB  - O-glycosylation of Ser and Thr residues is an important process in all organisms,
      which is only poorly understood. Such modification is required for the export and
      function of adhesin proteins that mediate the attachment of pathogenic Gram
      positive bacteria to host cells. Here, we have analyzed the mechanism by which
      the cytosolic O-glycosyltransferase GtfA/B of Streptococcus gordonii modifies the
      Ser/Thr-rich repeats of adhesin. The enzyme is a tetramer containing two
      molecules each of GtfA and GtfB. The two subunits have the same fold, but only
      GtfA contains an active site, whereas GtfB provides the primary binding site for
      adhesin. During a first phase of glycosylation, the conformation of GtfB is
      restrained by GtfA to bind substrate with unmodified Ser/Thr residues. In a slow
      second phase, GtfB recognizes residues that are already modified with N
      acetylglucosamine, likely by converting into a relaxed conformation in which one
      interface with GtfA is broken. These results explain how the glycosyltransferase
      modifies a progressively changing substrate molecule. 

PMID- 26884192
TI  - Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.
AB  - The substrate specificity of enzymes from natural products' metabolism is a topic
      of considerable interest, with potential biotechnological use implicit in the
      discovery of promiscuous enzymes. However, such studies are often limited by the
      availability of substrates and authentic standards for identification of the
      resulting products. Here, a modular metabolic engineering system is used in a
      combinatorial biosynthetic approach toward alleviating this restriction. In
      particular, for studies of the multiply reactive cytochrome P450, ent-kaurene
      oxidase (KO), which is involved in production of the diterpenoid plant hormone
      gibberellin. Many, but not all, plants make a variety of related diterpenes,
      whose structural similarity to ent-kaurene makes them potential substrates for
      KO. Use of combinatorial biosynthesis enabled analysis of more than 20 such
      potential substrates, as well as structural characterization of 12 resulting
      unknown products, providing some insight into the underlying structure-function
      relationships. These results highlight the utility of this approach for
      investigating the substrate specificity of enzymes from complex natural products'
      biosynthesis. 

PMID- 26884193
TI  - Proteomics of HCV virions reveals an essential role for the nucleoporin Nup98 in
      virus morphogenesis.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a unique enveloped virus that assembles as a hybrid
      lipoviral particle by tightly interacting with host lipoproteins. As a result,
      HCV virions display a characteristic low buoyant density and a deceiving coat,
      with host-derived apolipoproteins masking viral epitopes. We previously described
      methods to produce high-titer preparations of HCV particles with tagged envelope
      glycoproteins that enabled ultrastructural analysis of affinity-purified virions.
      Here, we performed proteomics studies of HCV isolated from culture media of
      infected hepatoma cells to define viral and host-encoded proteins associated with
      mature virions. Using two different affinity purification protocols, we detected
      four viral and 46 human cellular proteins specifically copurifying with
      extracellular HCV virions. We determined the C terminus of the mature capsid
      protein and reproducibly detected low levels of the viral nonstructural protein,
      NS3. Functional characterization of virion-associated host factors by RNAi
      identified cellular proteins with either proviral or antiviral roles. In
      particular, we discovered a novel interaction between HCV capsid protein and the
      nucleoporin Nup98 at cytosolic lipid droplets that is important for HCV
      propagation. These results provide the first comprehensive view to our knowledge
      of the protein composition of HCV and new insights into the complex virus-host
      interactions underlying HCV infection. 

PMID- 26884194
TI  - Host immunity shapes the impact of climate changes on the dynamics of parasite
      infections.
AB  - Global climate change is predicted to alter the distribution and dynamics of soil
      transmitted helminth infections, and yet host immunity can also influence the
      impact of warming on host-parasite interactions and mitigate the long-term
      effects. We used time-series data from two helminth species of a natural
      herbivore and investigated the contribution of climate change and immunity on the
      long-term and seasonal dynamics of infection. We provide evidence that climate
      warming increases the availability of infective stages of both helminth species
      and the proportional increase in the intensity of infection for the helminth not
      regulated by immunity. In contrast, there is no significant long-term positive
      trend in the intensity for the immune-controlled helminth, as immunity reduces
      the net outcome of climate on parasite dynamics. Even so, hosts experienced
      higher infections of this helminth at an earlier age during critical months in
      the warmer years. Immunity can alleviate the expected long-term effect of climate
      on parasite infections but can also shift the seasonal peak of infection toward
      the younger individuals. 

PMID- 26884196
TI  - Correction for Strickland et al., Event representations constrain the structure
      of language: Sign language as a window into universally accessible linguistic
      biases.

PMID- 26884195
TI  - Kinetic model of the aggregation of alpha-synuclein provides insights into prion
      like spreading.
AB  - The protein alpha-synuclein (alphaS) self-assembles into small oligomeric species
      and subsequently into amyloid fibrils that accumulate and proliferate during the
      development of Parkinson's disease. However, the quantitative characterization of
      the aggregation and spreading of alphaS remains challenging to achieve.
      Previously, we identified a conformational conversion step leading from the
      initially formed oligomers to more compact oligomers preceding fibril formation.
      Here, by a combination of single-molecule fluorescence measurements and kinetic
      analysis, we find that the reaction in solution involves two unimolecular
      structural conversion steps, from the disordered to more compact oligomers and
      then to fibrils, which can elongate by further monomer addition. We have obtained
      individual rate constants for these key microscopic steps by applying a global
      kinetic analysis to both the decrease in the concentration of monomeric protein
      molecules and the increase in oligomer concentrations over a 0.5-140-uM range of
      alphaS. The resulting explicit kinetic model of alphaS aggregation has been used
      to quantitatively explore seeding the reaction by either the compact oligomers or
      fibrils. Our predictions reveal that, although fibrils are more effective at
      seeding than oligomers, very high numbers of seeds of either type, of the order
      of 10(4), are required to achieve efficient seeding and bypass the slow
      generation of aggregates through primary nucleation. Complementary cellular
      experiments demonstrated that two orders of magnitude lower numbers of oligomers
      were sufficient to generate high levels of reactive oxygen species, suggesting
      that effective templated seeding is likely to require both the presence of
      template aggregates and conditions of cellular stress. 

PMID- 26884198
TI  - Giant magneto-optical Raman effect in a layered transition metal compound.
AB  - We report a dramatic change in the intensity of a Raman mode with applied
      magnetic field, displaying a gigantic magneto-optical effect. Using the
      nonmagnetic layered material MoS2 as a prototype system, we demonstrate that the
      application of a magnetic field perpendicular to the layers produces a dramatic
      change in intensity for the out-of-plane vibrations of S atoms, but no change for
      the in-plane breathing mode. The distinct intensity variation between these two
      modes results from the effect of field-induced broken symmetry on Raman
      scattering cross-section. A quantitative analysis on the field-dependent
      integrated Raman intensity provides a unique method to precisely determine
      optical mobility. Our analysis is symmetry-based and material-independent, and
      thus the observations should be general and inspire a new branch of inelastic
      light scattering and magneto-optical applications. 

PMID- 26884197
TI  - Conserved properties of individual Ca2+-binding sites in calmodulin.
AB  - Calmodulin (CaM) is a Ca(2+)-sensing protein that is highly conserved and
      ubiquitous in eukaryotes. In humans it is a locus of life-threatening
      cardiomyopathies. The primary function of CaM is to transduce Ca(2+)
      concentration into cellular signals by binding to a wide range of target proteins
      in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. We do not fully understand how CaM performs its
      role as a high-fidelity signal transducer for more than 300 target proteins, but
      diversity among its four Ca(2+)-binding sites, called EF-hands, may contribute to
      CaM's functional versatility. We therefore looked at the conservation of CaM
      sequences over deep evolutionary time, focusing primarily on the four EF-hand
      motifs. Expanding on previous work, we found that CaM evolves slowly but that its
      evolutionary rate is substantially faster in fungi. We also found that the four
      EF-hands have distinguishing biophysical and structural properties that span
      eukaryotes. These results suggest that all eukaryotes require CaM to decode
      Ca(2+) signals using four specialized EF-hands, each with specific, conserved
      traits. In addition, we provide an extensive map of sites associated with target
      proteins and with human disease and correlate these with evolutionary sequence
      diversity. Our comprehensive evolutionary analysis provides a basis for
      understanding the sequence space associated with CaM function and should help
      guide future work on the relationship between structure, function, and disease. 

PMID- 26884199
TI  - Infants use relative numerical group size to infer social dominance.
AB  - Detecting dominance relationships, within and across species, provides a clear
      fitness advantage because this ability helps individuals assess their potential
      risk of injury before engaging in a competition. Previous research has
      demonstrated that 10- to 13-mo-old infants can represent the dominance
      relationship between two agents in terms of their physical size (larger agent =
      more dominant), whereas younger infants fail to do so. It is unclear whether
      infants younger than 10 mo fail to represent dominance relationships in general,
      or whether they lack sensitivity to physical size as a cue to dominance. Two
      studies explored whether infants, like many species across the animal kingdom,
      use numerical group size to assess dominance relationships and whether this
      capacity emerges before their sensitivity to physical size. A third study ruled
      out an alternative explanation for our findings. Across these studies, we report
      that infants 6-12 mo of age use numerical group size to infer dominance
      relationships. Specifically, preverbal infants expect an agent from a numerically
      larger group to win in a right-of-way competition against an agent from a
      numerically smaller group. In addition, this is, to our knowledge, the first
      study to demonstrate that infants 6-9 mo of age are capable of understanding
      social dominance relations. These results demonstrate that infants' understanding
      of social dominance relations may be based on evolutionarily relevant cues and
      reveal infants' early sensitivity to an important adaptive function of social
      groups. 

PMID- 26884200
TI  - Atoms of recognition in human and computer vision.
AB  - Discovering the visual features and representations used by the brain to
      recognize objects is a central problem in the study of vision. Recently, neural
      network models of visual object recognition, including biological and deep
      network models, have shown remarkable progress and have begun to rival human
      performance in some challenging tasks. These models are trained on image examples
      and learn to extract features and representations and to use them for
      categorization. It remains unclear, however, whether the representations and
      learning processes discovered by current models are similar to those used by the
      human visual system. Here we show, by introducing and using minimal recognizable
      images, that the human visual system uses features and processes that are not
      used by current models and that are critical for recognition. We found by
      psychophysical studies that at the level of minimal recognizable images a minute
      change in the image can have a drastic effect on recognition, thus identifying
      features that are critical for the task. Simulations then showed that current
      models cannot explain this sensitivity to precise feature configurations and,
      more generally, do not learn to recognize minimal images at a human level. The
      role of the features shown here is revealed uniquely at the minimal level, where
      the contribution of each feature is essential. A full understanding of the
      learning and use of such features will extend our understanding of visual
      recognition and its cortical mechanisms and will enhance the capacity of
      computational models to learn from visual experience and to deal with recognition
      and detailed image interpretation. 

PMID- 26884201
TI  - Widespread collapse of the Ross Ice Shelf during the late Holocene.
AB  - The stability of modern ice shelves is threatened by atmospheric and oceanic
      warming. The geologic record of formerly glaciated continental shelves provides a
      window into the past of how ice shelves responded to a warming climate. Fields of
      deep (-560 m), linear iceberg furrows on the outer, western Ross Sea continental
      shelf record an early post-Last Glacial Maximum episode of ice-shelf collapse
      that was followed by continuous retreat of the grounding line for ~200 km.
      Runaway grounding line conditions culminated once the ice became pinned on
      shallow banks in the western Ross Sea. This early episode of ice-shelf collapse
      is not observed in the eastern Ross Sea, where more episodic grounding line
      retreat took place. More widespread (~280,000 km(2)) retreat of the ancestral
      Ross Ice Shelf occurred during the late Holocene. This event is recorded in
      sediment cores by a shift from terrigenous glacimarine mud to diatomaceous open
      marine sediment as well as an increase in radiogenic beryllium ((10)Be)
      concentrations. The timing of ice-shelf breakup is constrained by compound
      specific radiocarbon ages, the first application of this technique systematically
      applied to Antarctic marine sediments. Breakup initiated around 5 ka, with the
      ice shelf reaching its current configuration ~1.5 ka. In the eastern Ross Sea,
      the ice shelf retreated up to 100 km in about a thousand years. Three-dimensional
      thermodynamic ice-shelf/ocean modeling results and comparison with ice-core
      records indicate that ice-shelf breakup resulted from combined atmospheric
      warming and warm ocean currents impinging onto the continental shelf. 

PMID- 26884202
TI  - Reply to Solow: Sense and nonsense in the choice of extinction priors.

PMID- 26884204
TI  - Correction for Kumar et al., Natural history-driven, plant-mediated RNAi-based
      study reveals CYP6B46's role in a nicotine-mediated antipredator herbivore
      defense.

PMID- 26884203
TI  - On Bayesian inference about extinction.

PMID- 26884205
TI  - Competition between anthocyanin and flavonol biosynthesis produces spatial
      pattern variation of floral pigments between Mimulus species.
AB  - Flower color patterns have long served as a model for developmental genetics
      because pigment phenotypes are visually striking, yet generally not required for
      plant viability, facilitating the genetic analysis of color and pattern mutants.
      The evolution of novel flower colors and patterns has played a key role in the
      adaptive radiation of flowering plants via their specialized interactions with
      different pollinator guilds (e.g., bees, butterflies, birds), motivating the
      search for allelic differences affecting flower color pattern in closely related
      plant species with different pollinators. We have identified LIGHT AREAS1 (LAR1),
      encoding an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, as the causal gene underlying the
      spatial pattern variation of floral anthocyanin pigmentation between two sister
      species of monkeyflower: the bumblebee-pollinated Mimulus lewisii and the
      hummingbird-pollinated Mimulus cardinalis. We demonstrated that LAR1 positively
      regulates FLAVONOL SYNTHASE (FLS), essentially eliminating anthocyanin
      biosynthesis in the white region (i.e., light areas) around the corolla throat of
      M. lewisii flowers by diverting dihydroflavonol into flavonol biosynthesis from
      the anthocyanin pigment pathway. FLS is preferentially expressed in the light
      areas of the M. lewisii flower, thus prepatterning the corolla. LAR1 expression
      in M. cardinalis flowers is much lower than in M. lewisii, explaining the
      unpatterned phenotype and recessive inheritance of the M. cardinalis allele.
      Furthermore, our gene-expression analysis and genetic mapping results suggest
      that cis-regulatory change at the LAR1 gene played a critical role in the
      evolution of different pigmentation patterns between the two species. 

PMID- 26884206
TI  - Sex-specific regulation of Lgr3 in Drosophila neurons.
AB  - The development of sexually dimorphic morphology and the potential for sexually
      dimorphic behavior in Drosophila are regulated by the Fruitless (Fru) and
      Doublesex (Dsx) transcription factors. Several direct targets of Dsx have been
      identified, but direct Fru targets have not been definitively identified. We show
      that Drosophila leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 3 (Lgr3) is
      regulated by Fru and Dsx in separate populations of neurons. Lgr3 is a member of
      the relaxin-receptor family and a receptor for Dilp8, necessary for control of
      organ growth. Lgr3 expression in the anterior central brain of males is inhibited
      by the B isoform of Fru, whose DNA binding domain interacts with a short region
      of an Lgr3 intron. Fru A and C isoform mutants had no observed effect on Lgr3
      expression. The female form of Dsx (Dsx(F)) separately up- and down-regulates
      Lgr3 expression in distinct neurons in the abdominal ganglion through female- and
      male-specific Lgr3 enhancers. Excitation of neural activity in the Dsx(F)-up
      regulated abdominal ganglion neurons inhibits female receptivity, indicating the
      importance of these neurons for sexual behavior. Coordinated regulation of Lgr3
      by Fru and Dsx marks a point of convergence of the two branches of the sex
      determination hierarchy. 

PMID- 26884207
TI  - Cholesteryl esters stabilize human CD1c conformations for recognition by self
      reactive T cells.
AB  - Cluster of differentiation 1c (CD1c)-dependent self-reactive T cells are abundant
      in human blood, but self-antigens presented by CD1c to the T-cell receptors of
      these cells are poorly understood. Here we present a crystal structure of CD1c
      determined at 2.4 A revealing an extended ligand binding potential of the antigen
      groove and a substantially different conformation compared with known CD1c
      structures. Computational simulations exploring different occupancy states of the
      groove reenacted these different CD1c conformations and suggested cholesteryl
      esters (CE) and acylated steryl glycosides (ASG) as new ligand classes for CD1c.
      Confirming this, we show that binding of CE and ASG to CD1c enables the binding
      of human CD1c self-reactive T-cell receptors. Hence, human CD1c adopts different
      conformations dependent on ligand occupancy of its groove, with CE and ASG
      stabilizing CD1c conformations that provide a footprint for binding of CD1c self
      reactive T-cell receptors. 

PMID- 26884208
TI  - Invisible metallic mesh.
AB  - A solid material possessing identical electromagnetic properties as air has yet
      to be found in nature. Such a medium of arbitrary shape would neither reflect nor
      refract light at any angle of incidence in free space. Here, we introduce
      nonscattering corrugated metallic wires to construct such a medium. This was
      accomplished by aligning the dark-state frequencies in multiple scattering
      channels of a single wire. Analytical solutions, full-wave simulations, and
      microwave measurement results on 3D printed samples show omnidirectional
      invisibility in any configuration. This invisible metallic mesh can improve
      mechanical stability, electrical conduction, and heat dissipation of a system,
      without disturbing the electromagnetic design. Our approach is simple, robust,
      and scalable to higher frequencies. 

PMID- 26884209
TI  - AAVP displaying octreotide for ligand-directed therapeutic transgene delivery in
      neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.
AB  - Patients with inoperable or unresectable pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)
      have limited treatment options. These rare human tumors often express
      somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and thus are clinically responsive to certain
      relatively stable somatostatin analogs, such as octreotide. Unfortunately,
      however, this tumor response is generally short-lived. Here we designed a hybrid
      adeno-associated virus and phage (AAVP) vector displaying biologically active
      octreotide on the viral surface for ligand-directed delivery, cell
      internalization, and transduction of an apoptosis-promoting tumor necrosis factor
      (TNF) transgene specifically to NETs. These functional attributes of AAVP-TNF
      particles displaying the octreotide peptide motif (termed Oct-AAVP-TNF) were
      confirmed in vitro, in SSTR type 2-expressing NET cells, and in vivo using
      cohorts of pancreatic NET-bearing Men1 tumor-suppressor gene KO mice, a
      transgenic model of functioning (i.e., insulin-secreting) tumors that genetically
      and clinically recapitulates the human disease. Finally, preclinical imaging and
      therapeutic experiments with pancreatic NET-bearing mice demonstrated that Oct
      AAVP-TNF lowered tumor metabolism and insulin secretion, reduced tumor size, and
      improved mouse survival. Taken together, these proof-of-concept results establish
      Oct-AAVP-TNF as a strong therapeutic candidate for patients with NETs of the
      pancreas. More broadly, the demonstration that a known, short, biologically
      active motif can direct tumor targeting and receptor-mediated internalization of
      AAVP particles may streamline the potential utility of myriad other short peptide
      motifs and provide a blueprint for therapeutic applications in a variety of
      cancers and perhaps many nonmalignant diseases as well. 

PMID- 26884210
TI  - Bioactive cell-like hybrids coassembled from (glyco)dendrimersomes with bacterial
      membranes.
AB  - A library of amphiphilic Janus dendrimers including two that are fluorescent and
      one glycodendrimer presenting lactose were used to construct giant dendrimersomes
      and glycodendrimersomes. Coassembly with the components of bacterial membrane
      vesicles by a dehydration-rehydration process generated giant cell-like hybrid
      vesicles, whereas the injection of their ethanol solution into PBS produced
      monodisperse nanometer size assemblies. These hybrid vesicles contain
      transmembrane proteins including a small membrane protein, MgrB, tagged with a
      red fluorescent protein, lipopolysaccharides, and glycoproteins from the
      bacterium Escherichia coli. Incorporation of two colored fluorescent probes in
      each of the components allowed fluorescence microscopy to visualize and
      demonstrate coassembly and the incorporation of functional membrane channels.
      Importantly, the hybrid vesicles bind a human galectin, consistent with the
      display of sugar moieties from lipopolysaccharides or possibly glycosylated
      membrane proteins. The present coassembly method is likely to create cell-like
      hybrids from any biological membrane including human cells and thus may enable
      practical application in nanomedicine. 

PMID- 26884211
TI  - Autotransplantation of Monkey Ear Perichondrium-Derived Progenitor Cells for
      Cartilage Reconstruction.
AB  - We recently developed a promising regenerative method based on the
      xenotransplantation of human cartilage progenitor cells, demonstrating self
      renewing elastic cartilage reconstruction with expected long-term tissue
      restoration. However, it remains unclear whether autotransplantation of cartilage
      progenitors may work by a similar principle in immunocompetent individuals. We
      used a nonhuman primate (monkey) model to assess the safety and efficacy of our
      regenerative approach because the model shares characteristics with humans in
      terms of biological functions, including anatomical features. First, we
      identified the expandable and multipotent progenitor population from monkey ear
      perichondrium and succeeded in inducing chondrocyte differentiation in vitro.
      Second, in vivo transplanted progenitor cells were capable of reconstructing
      elastic cartilage by xenotransplantation into an immunodeficient mouse. Finally,
      the autologous monkey progenitor cells were transplanted into the subcutaneous
      region of a craniofacial section and developed mature elastic cartilage of their
      own 3 months after transplantation. Furthermore, we attempted to develop a
      clinically relevant, noninvasive monitoring method using magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI). Collectively, this report shows that the autologous
      transplantation of cartilage progenitors is potentially effective for
      reconstructing elastic cartilage. This principle will be invaluable for repairing
      craniofacial injuries and abnormalities in the context of plastic and
      reconstructive surgery.

PMID- 26884213
TI  - [Editorial].

PMID- 26884212
TI  - Endogenous hydrogen peroxide increases biofilm formation by inducing
      exopolysaccharide production in Acinetobacter oleivorans DR1.
AB  - In this study, we investigated differentially expressed proteins in Acinetobacter
      oleivorans cells during planktonic and biofilm growth by using 2-dimensional gel
      electrophoresis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight
      mass spectrometry. We focused on the role of oxidative stress resistance during
      biofilm formation using mutants defective in alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC)
      because its production in aged biofilms was enhanced compared to that in
      planktonic cells. Results obtained using an ahpC promoter-gfp reporter vector
      showed that aged biofilms expressed higher ahpC levels than planktonic cells at
      48 h. However, at 24 h, ahpC expression was higher in planktonic cells than in
      biofilms. Deletion of ahpC led to a severe growth defect in rich media that was
      not observed in minimal media and promoted early biofilm formation through
      increased production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) and EPS gene expression.
      Increased endogenous H2O2 production in the ahpC mutant in rich media enhanced
      biofilm formation, and this enhancement was not observed in the presence of
      antioxidants. Exogenous addition of H2O2 promoted biofilm formation in wild type
      cells, which suggested that biofilm development is linked to defense against
      H2O2. Collectively, our data showed that EPS production caused by H2O2 stress
      enhances biofilm formation in A. oleivorans.

PMID- 26884214
TI  - [Diagnosis of ILD].
AB  - The diagnosis of ILD is complex and needs a close collaboration between the
      pulmologist, the radiologist and the pathologist. However, and most importantly,
      the general practitioner needs to think about the possibility of ILD if a patient
      presents with increasing shortness of breath, dry cough and bilateral, basal
      crackles on lung auscultation. Further work-up by the pulmonologist may confirm
      and classify the ILD by a detailled patient history, lung function tests, CT
      scans and bronchoscopy, or even surgical lung biospies, if needed. A
      multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) is becoming the gold standard in diagnosing
      ILD and deciding about appropriate treatment, in particular regarding the novel
      antifibrotic therapies for IPF.

PMID- 26884215
TI  - [Interstitial pneumonias--Histopathological and radiological correlation].
AB  - Interstitial pneumonias comprise a group of lung diseases with overlapping
      clinical, radiological and pathological presentations. Because of the frequently
      non-discriminating clinical manifestation, correlation between radiology and
      pathology plays an important role. Multidisciplinary discussion is of utmost
      importance for establishing a valid diagnosis, and is considered a gold standard
      in the current 2002/2013 classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In
      the present work, we concisely review and illustrate the typical radiological and
      pathological pictures diagnostic for the most common (idiopathic) interstitial
      pneumonias.

PMID- 26884216
TI  - [Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--Pathogenesis and therapeutic concepts].
AB  - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common form of idiopathic
      interstitial pneumonias (IIP). It is characterized by progressive destruction of
      the normal lung architecture, finally leading to death. The pathogenesis of IPF
      is not completely understood but a complex interplay between environmental
      factors, such as smoking or viral infections, and genetic predisposition seems to
      be an important precondition. Repetitive micro-injuries to alveolar epithelial
      cells and dysregulated wound repair with impaired re-epithelialization are
      regarded as the initial process of IPF. This alveolar damage is followed by an
      uncontrolled proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition of fibroblasts,
      ultimately leading to distortion of the lung parenchyma. According to this "non
      inflammatory" pathogenic hypothesis, therapeutic approaches currently focus on
      anti-fibrotic compounds, which prevent or inhibit fibroblast proliferation and
      extracellular matrix deposition, or antagonize the effect of pro-fibrotic growth
      factors.

PMID- 26884217
TI  - [Anti-fibrotics as novel therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].
AB  - Recent studies have shown efficacy to slow the decrease of forced vital capacity
      in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This summary refers to recent
      anti-fibrotic medications and describes current studies, indication for treatment
      and side effects, as well as discusses open questions of treatment.

PMID- 26884218
TI  - [Sarcoidosis--a multisystem disorder with variable prognosis].
AB  - Sarcoidosis is a pneumotropic granulomatous inflammatory multisystem disorder of
      unknown origin and heterogeneous outcome. In most cases the disease is self
      limited, others progress or die from organ involvement, which is often associated
      with extensive pulmonary scarring or relevant extrapulmonary organ involvement.
      Therefore, patients with sarcoidosis must be staged for multiorgan involvement.
      Modern treatment strategies appraise a critical awareness for the effect to side
      effect-ratio of long-term immunosuppressive medication.

PMID- 26884219
TI  - [Interstitial lung disease and connective tissue diseases].
AB  - Lung involvement in rheumatologic diseases has a broad spectrum of clinical and
      radiological presentations, from acute inflammatory to chronic, fibrosing
      predominance. For prognostic and therapeutic considerations a detailled work-up
      'and optimally multidisciplinary evalution is needed, also to rule out other
      reasons for pulmonary deterioration such as infection (under immunosuppressive
      treatment) or pulmonary hypertension. For treatment guidance, several aspects
      need to be taken into consideration, such as disease severity, disease activity,
      clinical and radiological presentation, prognostic markers and comorbidities.
      Immunosuppressive treatment differs based on the type of rheumatologic diagnosis,
      although evidence for optimal therapy is rare in ILD associated with
      rheumatologic diseases.

PMID- 26884220
TI  - [Lung transplantation in patients with interstitial lung disease/idiopathic
      pulmonary fibrosis].
AB  - Lung transplantation is an established therapy for advanced lung disease. Among
      the common disease indications for lung transplantation, patients with
      interstitial lung disease, in particular, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),
      have the worst prognosis. Thus referral to a transplant center should ideally be
      realised at the time of diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP),
      regardless of lung function, in order to carry out a through initial assessment
      and evaluation.

PMID- 26884221
TI  - Reasoning in psychosis: risky but not necessarily hasty.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A liberal acceptance (LA) threshold for hypotheses has been put
      forward to explain the well-replicated "jumping to conclusions" (JTC) bias in
      psychosis, particularly in patients with paranoid symptoms. According to this
      account, schizophrenia patients rest their decisions on lower subjective
      probability estimates. The initial formulation of the LA account also predicts an
      absence of the JTC bias under high task ambiguity (i.e., if more than one
      response option surpasses the subjective acceptance threshold). METHODS:
      Schizophrenia patients (n = 62) with current or former delusions and healthy
      controls (n = 30) were compared on six scenarios of a variant of the beads task
      paradigm. Decision-making was assessed under low and high task ambiguity. Along
      with decision judgments (optional), participants were required to provide
      probability estimates for each option in order to determine decision thresholds
      (i.e., the probability the individual deems sufficient for a decision). RESULTS:
      In line with the LA account, schizophrenia patients showed a lowered decision
      threshold compared to controls (82% vs. 93%) which predicted both more errors and
      less draws to decisions. Group differences on thresholds were comparable across
      conditions. At the same time, patients did not show hasty decision-making,
      reflecting overall lowered probability estimates in patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Results confirm core predictions derived from the LA account. Our results may
      (partly) explain why hasty decision-making is sometimes aggravated and sometimes
      abolished in psychosis. The proneness to make risky decisions may contribute to
      the pathogenesis of psychosis. A revised LA account is put forward.

PMID- 26884222
TI  - Bruxism in craniocervical dystonia: a prospective study.
AB  - AIMS: Bruxism pathophysiology remains unclear, and its occurrence has been poorly
      investigated in movement disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the
      frequency of bruxism in patients with craniocervical dystonia vs. normal controls
      and to determine its associated clinical features. METHOD: This is a prospective
      control study. A total of 114 dystonic subjects (45 facial dystonia, 69 cervical
      dystonia) and 182 controls were included. Bruxism was diagnosed using a hetero
      questionnaire and a clinical examination performed by trained dentists.
      Occurrence of bruxism was compared between the different study populations. A
      binomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine which clinical
      features influenced bruxism occurrence in each population. RESULTS: The frequency
      of bruxism was significantly higher in the dystonic group than in normal controls
      but there was no difference between facial and cervical dystonia. It was also
      higher in women than in men. Bruxism features were similar between normal
      controls and dystonic patients except for a higher score of temporomandibular jaw
      pain in the dystonic group. DISCUSSION: The higher frequency of bruxism in
      dystonic patients suggests that bruxism is increased in patients with basal
      ganglia dysfunction but that its nature does not differ from that seen in bruxers
      from the normal population.

PMID- 26884223
TI  - Running retraining to treat lower limb injuries: a mixed-methods study of current
      evidence synthesised with expert opinion.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Running-related injuries are highly prevalent. OBJECTIVE: Synthesise
      published evidence with international expert opinion on the use of running
      retraining when treating lower limb injuries. DESIGN: Mixed methods. METHODS: A
      systematic review of clinical and biomechanical findings related to running
      retraining interventions were synthesised and combined with semistructured
      interviews with 16 international experts covering clinical reasoning related to
      the implementation of running retraining. RESULTS: Limited evidence supports the
      effectiveness of transition from rearfoot to forefoot or midfoot strike and
      increase step rate or altering proximal mechanics in individuals with anterior
      exertional lower leg pain; and visual and verbal feedback to reduce hip adduction
      in females with patellofemoral pain. Despite the paucity of clinical evidence,
      experts recommended running retraining for: iliotibial band syndrome; plantar
      fasciopathy (fasciitis); Achilles, patellar, proximal hamstring and gluteal
      tendinopathy; calf pain; and medial tibial stress syndrome. Tailoring approaches
      to each injury and individual was recommended to optimise outcomes. Substantial
      evidence exists for the immediate biomechanical effects of running retraining
      interventions (46 studies), including evaluation of step rate and strike pattern
      manipulation, strategies to alter proximal kinematics and cues to reduce impact
      loading variables. SUMMARY AND RELEVANCE: Our synthesis of published evidence
      related to clinical outcomes and biomechanical effects with expert opinion
      indicates running retraining warrants consideration in the treatment of lower
      limb injuries in clinical practice.

PMID- 26884224
TI  - Sports injuries and illnesses during the 2015 Winter European Youth Olympic
      Festival.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prevention of injury and illness remains an important issue among
      young elite athletes. Systematic surveillance of injuries and illnesses during
      multi-sport events might provide a valuable basis to develop preventive measures,
      focusing especially on adequate information for youth athletes. AIM: To analyse
      the frequencies and characteristics of injuries and illnesses during the 2015
      Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (W-EYOF). METHODS: All National Olympic
      Committees were asked to report daily the occurrence or non-occurrence of newly
      sustained injuries and illnesses on a standardised reporting form. RESULTS: Among
      the 899 registered athletes (37% female) with a mean age of 17.1+/-0.8 years, a
      total of 38 injuries and 34 illnesses during the 5 competition days of the W-EYOF
      were reported, resulting in an incidence of 42.3 injuries and 37.8 illnesses per
      1000 athletes, respectively. Injury frequency was highest in snowboard cross
      (11%), Nordic combined (9%), alpine skiing (6%), and ice hockey (6%), taking into
      account the respective number of registered athletes. In snowboard cross, females
      showed a significant higher injury frequency compared to males (22% vs 4%,
      p=0.033). The lower back (16%), the pelvis (13%), the knee (11%), and the face
      (11%) were the most common injury locations. About 58% of injuries occurred in
      competition and about 42% in training. In total, 42% of injuries resulted in an
      absence of training or competition. The prevalence of illness was highest in
      figure skating (10%) and Nordic combined (9%), and the respiratory system was
      affected most often (53%). CONCLUSIONS: Four per cent of the athletes suffered
      from an injury and 4% from illnesses during the 2015 W-EYOF, which is about
      twofold lower compared to the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012.

PMID- 26884225
TI  - Electro-thermal control of aluminum-doped zinc oxide/vanadium dioxide
      multilayered thin films for smart-device applications.
AB  - We demonstrate the electro-thermal control of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (Al:ZnO)
      /vanadium dioxide (VO2) multilayered thin films, where the application of a small
      electric field enables precise control of the applied heat to the VO2 thin film
      to induce its semiconductor-metal transition (SMT). The transparent conducting
      oxide nature of the top Al:ZnO film can be tuned to facilitate the fine control
      of the SMT of the VO2 thin film and its associated properties. In addition, the
      Al:ZnO film provides a capping layer to the VO2 thin film, which inhibits
      oxidation to a more energetically favorable and stable V2O5 phase. It also
      decreases the SMT of the VO2 thin film by approximately 5-10  degrees C because
      of an additional stress induced on the VO2 thin film and/or an alteration of the
      oxygen vacancy concentration in the VO2 thin film. These results have significant
      impacts on technological applications for both passive and active devices by
      exploiting this near-room-temperature SMT. 

PMID- 26884227
TI  - The amygdalo-nigrostriatal network is critical for an optimal temporal
      performance.
AB  - The amygdalo-nigrostriatal (ANS) network plays an essential role in enhanced
      attention to significant events. Interval timing requires attention to temporal
      cues. We assessed rats having a disconnected ANS network, due to contralateral
      lesions of the medial central nucleus of the amygdala (CEm) and dopaminergic
      afferents to the lateral striatum, as compared to controls (sham and ipsilateral
      lesions of CEm and dopaminergic afferents to LS) in a temporal bisection task.
      ANS disconnection induced poorer temporal precision and increased response
      latencies to a short duration. The present results reveal a role of the ANS
      network in temporal processing. 

PMID- 26884226
TI  - Symptomatic radiation-induced cardiac disease in long-term survivors of
      esophageal cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical and dosimetric factors retrospectively affecting
      the risk of symptomatic cardiac disease (SCD) in esophageal cancer patients
      treated with radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 343 patients with
      newly diagnosed esophageal cancer were managed with concurrent chemoradiotherapy
      or radiotherapy alone. Of these, 58 patients were followed at our hospital for at
      least 4 years. Median clinical follow-up was 79 months. Cardiac toxicity was
      determined by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v. 4.0. The
      maximum and mean doses to the heart and percentage of the volume were calculated
      from the dose-volume histograms. RESULTS: SCD manifested in 11 patients. The
      heart diseases included three pericardial effusions, one pericardial effusion
      with valvular disease and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, three atrial
      fibrillations, one sinus tachycardia, one coronary artery disease, one chest pain
      with strongly suspected coronary artery disease, and one congestive heart
      failure. The actual incidence of SCD was 13.8 % at 5 years. Univariate and
      multivariate analyses of continuous variables revealed that the risk of
      developing an SCD depended on the volume of the heart receiving a dose greater
      than 45 Gy (V45), 50 Gy (V50), and 55 Gy (V55). No other clinical factors were
      found to influence the risk of SCD. For V45, V50, and V55, the lowest significant
      cutoff values were 15, 10, and 5 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: High-dose and large
      volume irradiation of the heart increased the risk of SCD in long-term survivors.
      Using modern radiotherapy techniques, it is important to minimize the heart dose
      volume parameters without reducing the tumor dose.

PMID- 26884229
TI  - An appetitive conditioned stimulus enhances fear acquisition and impairs fear
      extinction.
AB  - Four experiments used between- and within-subject designs to examine appetitive
      aversive interactions in rats. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effect of an
      excitatory appetitive conditioned stimulus (CS) on acquisition and extinction of
      conditioned fear. In Experiment 1, a CS shocked in a compound with an appetitive
      excitor (i.e., a stimulus previously paired with sucrose) underwent greater fear
      conditioning than a CS shocked in a compound with a neutral stimulus. Conversely,
      in Experiment 2, a CS extinguished in a compound with an appetitive excitor
      underwent less extinction than a CS extinguished in a compound with a neutral
      stimulus. Experiments 3 and 4 compared the amount of fear conditioning to an
      appetitive excitor and a familiar but neutral target CS when the compound of
      these stimuli was paired with shock. In each experiment, more fear accrued to the
      appetitive excitor than to the neutral CS. These results show that an appetitive
      excitor influences acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear to a neutral CS
      and itself undergoes a greater associative change than the neutral CS across
      compound conditioning. They are discussed with respect to the role of
      motivational information in regulating an associative change in appetitive
      aversive interactions. 

PMID- 26884228
TI  - Chunking improves symbolic sequence processing and relies on working memory
      gating mechanisms.
AB  - Chunking, namely the grouping of sequence elements in clusters, is ubiquitous
      during sequence processing, but its impact on performance remains debated. Here,
      we found that participants who adopted a consistent chunking strategy during
      symbolic sequence learning showed a greater improvement of their performance and
      a larger decrease in cognitive workload over time. Stronger reliance on chunking
      was also associated with higher scores in a WM updating task, suggesting the
      contribution of WM gating mechanisms to sequence chunking. Altogether, these
      results indicate that chunking is a cost-saving strategy that enhances
      effectiveness of symbolic sequence learning. 

PMID- 26884230
TI  - What-where-when memory and encoding strategies in healthy aging.
AB  - Older adults exhibit disproportionate impairments in memory for item
      associations. These impairments may stem from an inability to self-initiate deep
      encoding strategies. The present study investigates this using the "treasure-hunt
      task"; a what-where-when style episodic memory test that requires individuals to
      "hide" items around complex scenes. This task separately assesses memory for
      item, location, and temporal order, as well as bound what-where-when information.
      The results suggest that older adults are able to ameliorate integration memory
      deficits by using self-initiated encoding strategies when these are externally
      located and therefore place reduced demands on working memory and attentional
      resources. 

PMID- 26884232
TI  - Endovascular embolectomy of the superior mesenteric artery using the Rotarex(r)
      system for the treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia.

PMID- 26884231
TI  - Effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios on boar
      reproduction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: N-3 and N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are widely used in
      reproduction, yet few studies have addressed the effects of dietary n-6/n-3
      ratios on boar reproduction. The present study aimed to determine the effects of
      different dietary n-6/n-3 ratios on the reproductive performance of breeding
      boars. Thirty-two boars with body weights of 15.0 +/- 1.4 kg were divided into
      four treatments (C, T1, T2, T3) and fed diets with different n-6/n-3 fatty acid
      ratios (29.06:1, 20.07:1, 1:1, 1:17.96, respectively) for 174 days. RESULTS: The
      highest testis index was observed for treatment T2. Sperm density and total sperm
      number per ejaculate in the T2 treatment were significantly higher than those in
      all other treatments, whereas the sperm deformity rate was the lowest.
      Interestingly, the fatty acid compositions and ratios of sperm were consistent
      with dietary treatments. Acid phosphatase and fructose concentration of seminal
      plasma, and the total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase of sperm in
      T2 were higher than those in other treatments. The concentration of testosterone
      and prostaglandin E2 increased in boars fed on diets supplemented with fatty
      acids as compared with boars subjected to the C group treatment, reaching a peak
      at n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios of 1:1. Furthermore, higher expression of Delta(6)
      fatty acid desaturase and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha in
      spermatozoa of the T2 treatment were observed, indicating more vigorous
      metabolism and intensive hormonal regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that
      the ideal n-6/n-3 ratio in the diet of breeding boars is 1:1, and proper
      balancing of n-6/n-3 fatty acids plays an important role in male reproduction.

PMID- 26884233
TI  - Uterine fibroid characteristics and sonographic pattern among Ghanaian females
      undergoing pelvic ultrasound scan: a study at 3-major centres.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours affecting
      premenopausal women and are often associated with considerable hospitalization
      and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to identify the uterine fibroid
      characteristics and sonographic patterns of uterine fibroids among Ghanaian women
      undergoing abdomino-pelvic or pelvic ultrasound scan at three major diagnostic
      centres. The outcome is expected to help in appropriate policy formulation in
      women care in Ghana. METHOD: A total of two hundred and forty four (244) women
      were evaluated between November 2011-February 2012, using identical 2-5 MHz
      curvilinear probe of Philips HD3 ultrasound machines at three major diagnostic
      centers in Ghana, using a trans-abdominal pelvic approach. RESULTS: The range,
      mean and standard deviation (SD) of the patients' ages were 14-54 years, 31.89
      years and +/- 7.92 respectively. The majority, 57.8% of the fibroids were
      intramural with only 4.4% noted as sub-mucosal. Most (55.6%) of the fibroids were
      located in more than one part of the uterus. The most popular (55.6%) echo
      pattern of the various fibroid nodules was mixed echogenicity. CONCLUSION: The
      sonographic patterns of uterine fibroids among Ghanaian women have been assessed
      at three major diagnostic centres. The study shows that most Ghanaian women who
      have fibroids have degenerative fibroid nodules as these nodules demonstrate
      mixed echo patterns on ultrasound. The findings may aid in appropriate diagnosis
      and interventions in the country.

PMID- 26884234
TI  - Prognostic value of the distance between the primary tumor and brainstem in the
      patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brainstem dose limitations influence radiation dose reaching to tumor
      in the patients with locally-advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). METHODS: A
      retrospective analysis of the prognostic value of the distance between the
      primary tumor and brainstem (Dbs) in 358 patients with locally-advanced NPC after
      intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Receiver operating characteristic
      (ROC) curves were used to identify the cut-off value to analyze the impact of Dbs
      on tumor dose coverage and prognosis. RESULTS: The three-year overall survival
      (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival
      (DMFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were 88.8 vs. 78.4% (P = 0.007), 96.5 vs.
      91.1% (P = 0.018), 87.8 vs. 79.3% (P = 0.067), and 84.1 vs. 69.6% (P = 0.002) for
      the patients with the Dbs > 4.7 vs. <= 4.7 mm, respectively. ROC curves revealed
      Dbs (4.7 mm) combined with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T
      classification had a significantly better prognostic value for OS (P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Dbs (<= 4.7 mm) is an independent negative prognostic factor for
      OS/LRFS/DFS and enhances the prognostic value of T classification in the patients
      with locally-advanced NPC.

PMID- 26884236
TI  - Erratum to: Serum concentrations of PCBs and OCPs among prepubertal Korean
      children.

PMID- 26884235
TI  - Diamondoid naphthenic acids cause in vivo genetic damage in gills and haemocytes
      of marine mussels.
AB  - Diamondoids are polycyclic saturated hydrocarbons that possess a cage-like carbon
      skeleton approaching that of diamond. These 'nano-diamonds' are used in a range
      of industries including nanotechnologies and biomedicine. Diamondoids were
      thought to be highly resistant to degradation, but their presumed degradation
      acid products have now been found in oil sands process-affected waters (OSPW) and
      numerous crude oils. Recently, a diamondoid-related structure, 3-noradamantane
      carboxylic acid, was reported to cause genetic damage in trout hepatocytes under
      in vitro conditions. This particular compound has never been reported in the
      environment but led us to hypothesise that other more environmentally relevant
      diamondoid acids could also be genotoxic. We carried out in vivo exposures (3
      days, semi-static) of marine mussels to two environmentally relevant diamondoid
      acids, 1-adamantane carboxylic acid and 3,5-dimethyladamantane carboxylic acid
      plus 3-noradamantane carboxylic acid with genotoxic damage assessed using the
      Comet assay. An initial screening test confirmed that these acids displayed
      varying degrees of genotoxicity to haemocytes (increased DNA damage above that of
      controls) when exposed in vivo to a concentration of 30 MUmol L(-1). In a further
      test focused on 1-adamantane carboxylic acid with varying concentrations (0.6, 6
      and 30 MUmol L(-1)), significant (P < 0.05%) DNA damage was observed in different
      target cells (viz. gills and haemocytes) at 0.6 MUmol L(-1). Such a level of
      induced genetic damage was similar to that observed following exposure to a known
      genotoxin, benzo(a)pyrene (exposure concentration, 0.8 MUmol L(-1)). These
      findings may have implications for a range of worldwide industries including oil
      extraction, nanotechnology and biomedicine.

PMID- 26884237
TI  - Effect of sugarcane vinasse and EDTA on cadmium phytoextraction by two saltbush
      plants.
AB  - Although the use of saltbush plants in metal phytoremediation is well known,
      there is little information about the impact of sugarcane vinasse (SCV) and EDTA
      on metal uptake. Heavily cadmium-polluted soil (38 mg kg(-1) Cd) was used in pot
      and incubation experiments to investigate the Cd phytoextraction potential of
      wavy saltbush (Atriplex undulata) and quail saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis). EDTA
      at rates of 3, 6, and 10 mM kg(-1) soil and SCV at rates of 7, 15, and 30 mL kg(
      1) soil were added to the polluted soil. The application of EDTA significantly (P
      = 0.002) reduced the growth of saltbush plants; on the other hand, SCV improved
      the growth. Both EDTA and SCV increased the availability and root-to-shoot
      transfer of Cd. The plants of A. lentiformis grown on the soil amended with the
      highest rate of SCV were able to remove 20.4 % of the total soil Cd during a
      period of 9 months. Based on the obtained results, it may be concluded that A.
      lentiformis and sugarcane vinasse could be more effective in the phytoextraction
      of Cd from the polluted soils. 

PMID- 26884238
TI  - Comparison of PARAFAC components of fluorescent dissolved and particular organic
      matter from two urbanized rivers.
AB  - Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel
      factor analysis (PARAFAC) and multivariable analysis were employed to compare
      components of dissolved (DOM) and particulate (POM) organic matter and to reveal
      their correlations with water quality in Baitapuhe River and Xihe River in
      Shenyang City of northeast China. Eighteen water samples in Baitapuhe River and
      16 water samples in Xihe River were collected along a human impact gradient. The
      DOM concentrations in Baitapuhe River were lower than those in Xihe River, so
      were the POM concentrations. The DOM in Baitapuhe River mainly derived from
      livestock wastewater and domestic sewage, which had strong biodegradability.
      However, the DOM in Xihe River mainly originated from industrial wastewater,
      which exhibited weak biodegradability. Four PARAFAC components (C1 to C4) were
      extracted from the DOM and POM. C1 was defined as fulvic-like component, and C2
      was assigned as microbial humic component. C3 and C4 were ubiquitous protein-like
      component, which were referred as tryptophan-like and tyrosine-like components,
      respectively. The C3 was representative for the DOM in Baitapuhe River. The C3
      and C4 were the main fractions of the DOM in Xihe River across the centralized
      wastewater-discharge region, whereas the C2 was the major component across the
      dispersed wastewater-discharge region. POM was dominated by the C4 in both
      rivers. Latent factors of water quality included the DOM, DO, Chl a, NO3-N, and
      NH4-N in Baitapuhe River, but the latent factors contained DOM, DO, BOD5, and COD
      in Xihe River. Baitapuhe River was under the aerobic condition, but Xihe River
      was under the anaerobic condition. 

PMID- 26884239
TI  - Profiling the biological effects of wastewater samples via bioluminescent
      bacterial biosensors combined with estrogenic assays.
AB  - Various water samples were successfully evaluated using a panel of different
      recombinant bioluminescent bacteria and estrogenic activity analysis. The
      bioluminescent bacteria strains induced by oxidative (superoxide radical or
      hydroxyl radical), protein damage, cell membrane damage, or cellular toxicity
      were used. Estrogenic activities were examined by using the yeast strain BY4741,
      which carries the beta-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of the
      estrogen-responsive element (ERE). A total of 14 samples from three wastewater
      treatment plants, one textile factory, and seawater locations in Tunisia were
      analyzed. A wide range of bio-responses were described. Site/sample heterogeneity
      was prevalent, in combination with generally high relative bioluminescence scores
      for oxidative stress (OH*). Estrogenic activity was detected at all sites and was
      particularly elevated at certain sites. Our perspectives include the future
      exploration of the variation detected in relation to treatment plant operations
      and environmental impacts. In conclusion, this new multi-experimental method can
      be used for rapid bio-response profile monitoring and the evaluation of
      environmental samples spanning a wide range of domains. This study confirms that
      bio-reactive wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are discharged into
      seawater, where they may impact coastal populations.

PMID- 26884240
TI  - Exogenous IAA treatment enhances phytoremediation of soil contaminated with
      phenanthrene by promoting soil enzyme activity and increasing microbial biomass.
AB  - In this study, we aimed to confirm that indole-3-acetic acid promotes plant
      uptake of phenanthrene (PHE), stimulates the activity of soil enzymes or
      microflora, and thereby accelerates the dissipation of PHE in soil. Four
      treatments were evaluated: PHE-contaminated soil planted with (1) ryegrass (T0),
      (2) ryegrass and supplemented with 1 mg kg(-1) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (T1),
      (3) ryegrass and supplemented with 5 mg kg(-1) IAA (T5), and (4) ryegrass and
      supplemented with 10 mg kg(-1) IAA (T10). After 30 days, PHE concentrations were
      lower for all treatments and the removal rate was 70.19, 89.17, 91.26, and 97.07
      % for T0, T1, T5, and T10, respectively. PHE was only detected in the roots and
      not in the shoots. IAA facilitated the accumulation of PHE in the roots, and
      plants subjected to the T10 treatment had the highest levels. Exogenous IAA
      stimulated soil peroxidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas soil
      polyphenoloxidase activity was not significantly increased, except in T10. Soil
      microbial biomass also increased in response to IAA treatment, particularly in
      T10. Furthermore, phospholipid fatty acid analysis showed that IAA treatment
      increased microbial biomass and alleviated environmental stress. Gram-positive
      bacteria are largely responsible for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation,
      and we found that the ratio of gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria in the
      soil significantly increased as the IAA concentrations increased (P < 0.05).
      Correlation analysis indicated that the increase in soil microbial biomass,
      enzyme activity, and plant uptake of PHE promotes removal of PHE from the soil. 

PMID- 26884241
TI  - Are participants in markets for water rights more efficient in the use of water
      than non-participants? A case study for Limari Valley (Chile).
AB  - The need to increase water productivity in agriculture has been stressed as one
      of the most important factors to achieve greater agricultural productivity and
      sustainability. The main aim of this paper is to investigate whether there are
      differences in water use efficiency (WUE) between farmers who participate in
      water markets and farmers who do not participate in them. Moreover, the use of a
      non-radial data envelopment analysis model allows to compute global efficiency
      (GE), WUE as well the efficiency in the use of other inputs such as fertilizers,
      pesticides, energy, and labor. In a second stage, external factors that may
      affect GE and WUE are explored. The empirical application focuses on a sample of
      farmers located in Limari Valley (Chile) where regulated permanent water rights
      (WR) markets for surface water have a long tradition. Results illustrate that WR
      sellers are the most efficient in the use of water while non-traders are the
      farmers that present the lowest WUE. From a policy perspective, significant
      conclusions are drawn from the assessment of agricultural water productivity in
      the framework of water markets. 

PMID- 26884242
TI  - On the bioavailability of trace metals in surface sediments: a combined
      geochemical and biological approach.
AB  - The bioavailability of metals was estimated in three river sediments (Sensee,
      Scarpe, and Deule Rivers) impacted by different levels of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn
      (Northern France). For that, a combination of geochemistry and biological
      responses (bacteria and chironomids) was used. The results obtained illustrate
      the complexity of the notion of "bioavailability." Indeed, geochemical indexes
      suggested a low toxicity, even in surface sediments with high concentrations of
      total metals and a predicted severe effect levels for the organisms. This was
      also suggested by the abundance of total bacteria as determined by DAPI counts,
      with high bacterial cell numbers even in contaminated areas. However, a fraction
      of metals may be bioavailable as it was shown for chironomid larvae which were
      able to accumulate an important quantity of metals in surface sediments within
      just a few days.We concluded that (1) the best approach to estimate
      bioavailability in the selected sediments is a combination of geochemical and
      biological approaches and that (2) the sediments in the Deule and Scarpe Rivers
      are highly contaminated and may impact bacterial populations but also benthic
      invertebrates. 

PMID- 26884243
TI  - Phytoextraction of Cd and Zn as single or mixed pollutants from soil by rape
      (Brassica napus).
AB  - This paper analyses the capacity of the rape (Brassica napus) to extract Cd and
      Zn from the soil and the effect of these metals on the morphometric parameters of
      the plant (length, weight, surface area, fractal dimension of leaves). Rape
      plants were mostly affected by the combined toxicity of the Cd and Zn mixture
      that caused a significant reduction in the rate of seed germination, the plant
      biomass quantity and the fractal dimension. In the case of Cd soil pollution, the
      bioaccumulation factor (BAF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) as well as the
      heavy metal root-to-stalk translocation factor (TF) were determined. The results
      showed that B. napus had a great potential as a cadmium hyperaccumulator but not
      as an accumulator of Zn or Cd + Zn mixture. The efficiency of phytoextraction
      rape was 0.8-1.22 % for a soil heavily polluted with cadmium. 

PMID- 26884245
TI  - Mustard plant ash: a source of micronutrient and an adsorbent for removal of 2,4
      dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
AB  - The work highlights the utilization of an agricultural waste mustard plant ash
      (MPA) as a soil additive and an adsorbent. MPA was characterized by X-ray
      fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), proximate
      analysis, CHNS analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, zeta
      potential measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron
      microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRF analysis
      confirmed the presence of CaO (31.35 %), K2O (18.55 %), and P2O5 (6.99 %), all of
      which act as micronutrients to plants. EDX also confirms high amount of elemental
      O, Ca, K, and P. The adsorptive ability of MPA was investigated using a commonly
      used herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), as a representative
      chemical. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to study the effect of
      different operational parameters such as adsorbent dose, initial 2,4-D
      concentration, contact time, and temperature on the adsorption process. Data from
      experiments were fitted to various kinetic and isothermal models. The pseudo
      second-order kinetic model was found to show the best fit (R 2 > 0.99), with the
      highest k 2 value of the order 105. Based on the study results, dosage of
      MPA/hectare for different crops has been recommended for effective removal of 2,4
      D. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which MPA has been characterized
      in detail and investigated for dual applications (as an adsorbent and as a soil
      additive).

PMID- 26884244
TI  - Airborne polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p
      dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in concentrated vehicle
      parking areas.
AB  - This study investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated
      dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in air around three
      concentrated vehicle parking areas (underground, indoor, and outdoor) in a
      metropolitan of South China. The parking areas showed higher concentrations of
      PBDEs, PBDD/Fs, and DP than their adjacent urban area or distinct congener/isomer
      profiles, which indicate their local emission sources. The highest PBDE and DP
      concentrations were found in the outdoor parking lot, which might be related to
      the heating effect of direct sunlight exposure. Multi-linear regression analysis
      results suggest that deca-BDEs without noticeable transformation contributed most
      to airborne PBDEs in all studied areas, followed by penta-BDEs. The statistically
      lower anti-DP fractions in the urban area than that of commercial product
      signified its degradation/transformation during transportation. Neither PBDEs nor
      vehicle exhaust contributed much to airborne PBDD/Fs in the parking areas. There
      were 68.1-100 % of PBDEs, PBDD/Fs, and DP associated with particles. Logarithms
      of gas-particle distribution coefficients (K ps) of PBDEs were significantly
      linear-correlated with those of their sub-cooled vapor pressures (p Ls) and
      octanol-air partition coefficients (K OAs) in all studied areas. The daily
      inhalation doses of PBDEs, DP, and PBDD/Fs were individually estimated as 89.7
      10,741, 2.05-39.4, and 0.12-4.17 pg kg(-1) day(-1) for employees in the parking
      areas via Monte Carlo simulation. 

PMID- 26884247
TI  - Incidence, location and classification of glenoid labrum meniscoid folds.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to arthroscopically
      investigate the incidence and location of labral meniscoid folds of the shoulder
      joint, as well as to classify them into types and detect any possible correlation
      with gender, side and age of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The shoulder joint
      of 59 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for different reasons was
      examined for meniscoid folds. We classified all meniscoid folds into slim or
      thick and large or small. The location and area of labral folds were assessed
      according to o'clock position and were defined by the center of the fold.
      RESULTS: The incidence of labral meniscoid folds in shoulder joint was 62.7 %.
      Meniscoid folds were more frequently found at 2-o'clock position in right
      shoulders and at 10-o'clock position in left shoulders. Most of them were located
      in anterior and superior rim of labrum. Statistically significant difference (p =
      0.018) was only detected between location of meniscoid folds and gender. In male
      patients meniscoid folds were mostly located in a more anterior position than
      women, whose meniscoid folds were found more superiorly. Older patients presented
      a higher rate of meniscoid folds. CONCLUSION: Meniscoid folds are quite common in
      shoulder joint. Labral meniscoid folds are located more often at an
      anterosuperior position of shoulder joints and their incidence tends to be higher
      in older patients, while in male ones they are located in a more anterior
      position in comparison to female patients where they are located more superiorly.

PMID- 26884248
TI  - Controlled synthesis and photocatalysis of sea urchin-like Fe3O4@TiO2@Ag
      nanocomposites.
AB  - Based on the synergistic photocatalytic activities of nano-sized TiO2 and Ag, as
      well as the magnetic properties of Fe3O4, a sea urchin-like Fe3O4@TiO2@Ag
      nanocomposite (Fe3O4@TiO2@Ag NCs) is controllably synthesized with tunable cavity
      size, adjustable shell layer of TiO2 nanofiber, higher structural stability and
      larger specific surface area. Here, Fe3O4@TiO2@Ag NCs are obtained with Fe3O4 as
      the core and nanofiber TiO2/Fe3O4/Ag nanoheterojunctions as the shell; and Ag
      nanoparticles with diameter of approximately 4 nm are loaded both on TiO2
      nanofibers and inside the cavities of sea urchin-like Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites
      uniformly. Ag nanoparticles lead to the production of more photogenerated charges
      in the TiO2/Fe3O4/Ag heterojunction via LSPR absorption, and enhance the band-gap
      absorption of TiO2, while the Fe3O4 cocatalyst provides the active sites for
      oxygen reduction by the effective transfer of photogenerated electrons to oxygen.
      So the photocatalytic performance is improved due to the synergistic effect of
      TiO2/Fe3O4/Ag nanoheterojunctions. As photocatalysts under UV and visible
      irradiation, the as-synthesized nanocomposites display enhanced photocatalytic
      and recycling properties for the degradation of ampicillin. Moreover, they
      present better broad-spectrum antibiosis under visible irradiation. The enhanced
      photocatalytic activity and excellent chemical stability, in combination with the
      magnetic recyclability, makes this multifunctional nanostructure a promising
      candidate for antibiosis and remediation in aquatic environmental contamination
      in the future. 

PMID- 26884246
TI  - Reclassification of genetic-based risk predictions as GWAS data accumulate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Disease risk assessments based on common genetic variation have
      gained widespread attention and use in recent years. The clinical utility of
      genetic risk profiles depends on the number and effect size of identified loci,
      and how stable the predicted risks are as additional loci are discovered. Changes
      in risk classification for individuals over time would undermine the validity of
      common genetic variation for risk prediction. In this analysis, we quantified
      reclassification of genetic risk based on past and anticipated future GWAS data.
      METHODS: We identified disease-associated SNPs via the NHGRI GWAS catalog and
      recent large scale genome-wide association study (GWAS). We calculated the
      genomic risk for a simulated cohort of 100,000 individuals based on a
      multiplicative odds ratio model using cumulative GWAS-identified SNPs at four
      time points: 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013. Individuals were classified as Higher
      Risk (population adjusted odds >2), Average Risk (between 0.5 and 2), and Lower
      Risk (<0.5) for each time point and we compared classifications between time
      points for breast cancer (BrCa), prostate cancer (PrCa), diabetes mellitus type 2
      (T2D), and cardiovascular heart disease (CHD). We estimated future
      reclassification using the anticipated number of undiscovered SNPs. RESULTS: Risk
      reclassification occurred for all four phenotypes from 2007 to 2013. During the
      most recent interval (2011-2013), the degree of risk reclassification ranged from
      16.3 % for CHD to 24.4 % for PrCa. Many individuals classified as Higher Risk at
      earlier time points were subsequently reclassified into a lower risk category.
      From 2011 to 2013, the degree of such downward risk reclassification ranged from
      24.9% for T2D to 55% for CHD. The percent of individuals classified as Higher
      Risk increased as more SNPs were discovered, ranging from an increase of 5% for
      CHD to 9% for PrCa from 2007 to 2013. Reclassification continued to occur when we
      modeled the discovery of anticipated SNPs based on doubling current sample size.
      CONCLUSION: Risk estimates from common genetic variation show large
      reclassification rates. Identifying disease-associated SNPs facilitates the
      clinically relevant task of identifying higher-risk individuals. However, the
      large amount of reclassification that we demonstrated in individuals initially
      classified as Higher Risk but later as Average Risk or Lower Risk, suggests that
      caution is currently warranted in basing clinical decisions on common genetic
      variation for many complex diseases.

PMID- 26884249
TI  - Effects of BP-14, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, on anaplastic
      thyroid cancer cells.
AB  - Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an extremely aggressive human malignancy
      characterized by a marked degree of invasiveness, absense of features of thyroid
      differentiation and resistance to current medical treatment. It is well known
      that ATCs are characterized by deregulation of genes related to cell cycle
      regulation, i.e., cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and endogenous cyclin-dependent
      kinase inhibitors (CDKIs). Therefore, in the present study, the effect of a novel
      exogenous cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, BP-14, was investigated in three
      human ATC cell lines. The ATC-derived cell lines FRO, SW1736 and 8505C were
      treated with BP-14 alone or in combination with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus. In
      all ATC cell lines, treatment with BP-14 decreased cell viability and, in two of
      them, BP-14 modified expression of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition. Thus, our data indicate that BP-14 is a potential new compound
      effective against ATC. Combined treatment with BP-14 and the mTOR inhibitor
      everolimus had a strong synergistic effect on cell viability in all three cell
      lines, suggesting that the combined used of CDK and mTOR inhibitors may be a
      useful strategy for ATC treatment.

PMID- 26884251
TI  - Ulinastatin administration is associated with a lower incidence of acute kidney
      injury after cardiac surgery: a propensity score matched study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation is involved in the development of acute kidney
      injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
      Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), possesses a variety of anti
      inflammatory effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that the administration of
      ulinastatin would reduce the occurrence of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac
      surgery with CPB. METHODS: A retrospective propensity score matched analysis was
      used to evaluate the effect of ulinastatin on the development of AKI in patients
      undergoing first documented cardiac surgery with CPB between January 2008 and
      December 2012 in our hospital. Multiple logistic regression models were also
      employed to identify the association between UTI administration and development
      of AKI. RESULTS: A total of 2072 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB
      met the inclusion criteria. Before propensity score matching, variables such as
      age, baseline creatinine, CPB duration, red blood cells transfused, and
      hematocrit were statistically different between the ulinastatin (UTI) group and
      the control group. On the basis of propensity scores, 409 UTI patients were
      successfully matched to the 409 patients from among those 1663 patients without
      UTI administration. After propensity score matching, no statistically significant
      differences in the baseline characteristics were found between the UTI group and
      the control group. The propensity score matched cohort analysis revealed that AKI
      and the need for renal replacement therapy occurred more frequently in the
      control group than in the UTI group (40.83% vs. 30.32%, P = 0.002; 2.44% vs.
      0.49%, P = 0.02, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in
      mortality, length of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay
      between the UTI group and the control group. Using multivariate logistic
      regression analysis, we found ulinastatin played a protective role in the
      development of AKI after cardiac surgery (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence
      interval 0.56-0.90, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that ulinastatin
      was associated with a lower incidence of AKI after cardiac surgery, suggesting
      that the administration of ulinastatin may be favorable for those patients
      undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

PMID- 26884252
TI  - Traumatic dental injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the incidence
      of traumatic dental injury and consequential dental impairment following road
      traffic accidents and to examine the factors that can affect the monetary value
      of compensation for bodily injury payable pursuant to current insurance
      regulations. METHODS: From 2004 to 2014, 7233 persons involved in road traffic
      accidents in the province of Messina, eastern Sicily, were examined by insurance
      physicians to assess bodily injury damage. Data were collected from cases of
      traumatic dental injury causing malocclusion and temporomandibular joint
      dysfunction, either alone or concomitant with injuries to other parts of the
      body. Injury characteristics and consequential bodily injury damage were
      classified and the incidence calculated using Microsoft Excel software. RESULTS:
      The incidence of traumatic dental injuries was 3% of the total population (195
      subjects - 127 males and 68 females); the majority of cases (56%) involved riders
      of two-wheeled vehicles. A high percentage of riders received injury to one or
      more teeth, i.e. fractures and dislocations, more frequently to the anterior
      teeth (68%) than the posterior teeth because of their position in the dental
      arch. Temporomandibular joint injuries were far fewer (8%) and resulted from
      either direct or indirect trauma associated with severe head and/or neck injury.
      The incidence of permanent bodily damage consequential to these injuries was
      fairly low. CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of dental trauma following road
      traffic accidents is low, the monetary compensation for consequential dental
      impairment based on current insurance regulatory law is far from negligible.

PMID- 26884254
TI  - Patterns of healing: a comparison of two proximal tibial osteotomy techniques.
AB  - Several low-energy osteotomy techniques are described in the literature, but
      there is limited evidence comparing them. Our study evaluates the patterns of
      regenerate formation using two different osteotomy techniques. Two cohorts of
      patients underwent osteotomy of the tibia using a Gigli saw (n = 15) or De
      Bastiani corticotomy (n = 12) technique. The patient radiographs were assessed by
      the two senior authors who were blinded to the osteotomy type. Regenerate quality
      was assessed along the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral cortices, graded 1
      5 from absent to full consolidation over time. The time to 3 cortices
      healed/regenerate length was calculated. The time to consolidation of the
      anterior, posterior, medial and lateral cortices was compared. The mean 3
      cortices index in the Gigli group was 2.0 months/cm and in the De Bastiani group
      1.8 months/cm. This was not a significant difference. In both groups, anterior
      bone formation was slower, and anterior cortical deficiency with a scalloped
      appearance was seen in 25 % of cases overall with no statistically significant
      difference between the two groups. Both Gigli saw and De Bastiani corticotomy
      techniques result in good bone formation following distraction osteogenesis. The
      anterior tibial cortex consolidates more slowly than the other cortices in both
      groups. This is likely due to deficient soft tissue cover and direct periosteal
      damage at time of osteotomy. 

PMID- 26884253
TI  - Three-dimensional spherical spatial boundary conditions differentially regulate
      osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells.
AB  - The spatial boundary condition (SBC) arising from the surrounding
      microenvironment imposes specific geometry and spatial constraints that affect
      organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)
      sensitively respond to alterations of mechanical cues generated from the SBC.
      However, mechanical cues provided by a three-dimensional (3D) environment are
      deprived in a reductionist 2D culture system. This study investigates how SBC
      affects osteogenic differentiation of MSCs using 3D scaffolds with monodispersed
      pores and homogenous spherical geometries. MSCs cultured under SBCs with
      diameters of 100 and 150 MUm possessed the greatest capability of osteogenic
      differentiation. This phenomenon was strongly correlated with MSC morphology,
      organization of actin cytoskeleton, and distribution of focal adhesion involving
      alpha2 and alpha5 integrins. Further silencing either alpha2 or alpha5 integrin
      significantly reduced the above mentioned mechanosensitivity, indicating that the
      alpha2 and alpha5 integrins as mechano-sensitive molecules mediate MSCs' ability
      to provide enhanced osteogenic differentiation in response to different spherical
      SBCs. Taken together, the findings provide new insights regarding how MSCs
      respond to mechanical cues from the surrounding microenvironment in a spherical
      SBC, and such biophysical stimuli should be taken into consideration in tissue
      engineering and regenerative medicine in conjunction with biochemical cues. 

PMID- 26884255
TI  - Infravalvular type of Gerbode defect: a rare cardiac anomaly.

PMID- 26884256
TI  - Connexin 43, breast cancer tumor suppressor: Missed connections?
AB  - Connexins are a family of transmembrane proteins that are characterized by their
      capacity to form intercellular channels called gap junctions that directly link
      the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. The formation of gap junctions by connexin
      proteins facilitates intercellular communication between neighboring cells by
      allowing for the transfer of ions and small signaling molecules. Communication
      through gap junctions is key to cellular equilibrium, where connexins, and the
      gap junction intercellular communication that connexins propagate, have roles in
      cellular processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis.
      Due to their importance in maintaining cellular functions, the disruption of
      connexin expression and function underlies the etiology and progression of
      numerous pathologies, including cancer. Over the past half a century, the role of
      connexins and gap junction intercellular communication have been highlighted as
      critical areas of research in cellular malignancies, and much research effort has
      been geared toward understanding their dysfunction in human cancers. Although
      ample evidence supports the role of connexins in a variety of human cancers,
      detailed examination in specific cancers, such as breast cancer, is still
      lacking. This review highlights the most abundant gap junction connexin isoform
      in higher vertebrate organisms, Connexin 43, and its role in breast cancer. 

PMID- 26884257
TI  - 17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 predicts survival of patients with
      colorectal cancer and affects mitochondrial DNA content.
AB  - Mitochondrial energy production is reduced in tumor cells, and altered
      mitochondrial respiration contributes to tumor progression. Synthesis of proteins
      coded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) requires the correct processing of long
      polycistronic precursor RNA molecules. Mitochondrial RNase P, composed of three
      different proteins (MRPP1, HSD10, and MRPP3), is necessary for correct RNA
      processing. Here we analyzed the role of RNase P proteins in colorectal cancer.
      High HSD10 expression was found in 28%; high MRPP1 expression in 40% of
      colorectal cancers, respectively. Expression of both proteins was not
      significantly associated with clinicopathological parameters. Survival analysis
      revealed that loss of HSD10 expression is associated with poor prognosis. Cox
      regression demonstrated that patients with high HSD10 tumors are at lower risk.
      High HSD10 expression was significantly associated with high mtDNA content in
      tumor tissue. A causal effect of HSD10 overexpression or knock down with
      increased or reduced mtDNA levels, respectively, was confirmed in tumor cell
      lines. Our data suggest that HSD10 plays a role in alterations of energy
      metabolism by regulating mtDNA content in colorectal carcinomas, and HSD10
      protein analysis may be of prognostic value. 

PMID- 26884259
TI  - Robustness is the kind of coherence that matters: a  comment on Kendler (2015)--a
      reply.

PMID- 26884258
TI  - Transcriptional induction of protein kinase C delta by p53 tumor suppressor in
      the apoptotic response to DNA damage.
AB  - Genetic alterations and aberrant gene expression trigger malignant tumors. Tumor
      suppressor p53 is the most altered gene in human cancers. p53 induces apoptosis
      by promoting pro-apoptotic genes in response to DNA damage. Protein kinase C
      delta (PKCdelta) also induces apoptosis via various mechanisms including
      modification of p53. The PKCdelta-dependent apoptotic mechanism has been
      extensively studied; however, the transcriptional regulation of PKCdelta remains
      obscure. The current study demonstrates the transcriptional regulation of
      PKCdelta by p53 upon genotoxic stress. The p53-binding site in the promoter
      region of PKCdelta was detected by the ChIP-sequencing assay. Notably, the
      expression of PKCdelta was increased upon DNA damage, which is required for the
      stabilization of p53. More importantly, targeting single guide RNA-driven dead
      Cas9 to the p53-binding site of PKCdelta disturbed p53-promoted PKCdelta
      expression and suppressed apoptosis following DNA damage. Thus, our findings
      suggest that the transcriptional regulation of PKCdelta is controlled by p53 in a
      positive feedback mechanism to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage. 

PMID- 26884260
TI  - One-pot modification of 5'-capped RNA based on methionine analogs.
AB  - This paper outlines chemically and enzymatically synthesized S-adenosylmethionine
      (AdoMet) analogs and their use in the site-specific modification of RNA by
      methyltransferases, enabling the facile attachment of clickable moieties to the
      nucleic acid. We then focus on methodological aspects of setting up a
      methyltransferase-based enzymatic cascade reaction starting from methionine
      analogs. This strategy is applied to the one-pot modification of the mRNA cap
      which is subsequently derivatized in copper-free and copper-catalyzed click
      reactions. We show that high transfer efficiencies to the cap are obtained using
      Se-propargyl-, hexenynyl- and azido-bearing methionine analogs. By switching to
      other methyltransferases our one-pot modification approach should be directly
      applicable to the regiospecific modification of other target molecules including
      nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules.

PMID- 26884262
TI  - Inherent Strength of the osteo-WEDGE(TM) Bone Plate Locking System for
      Arthrodesis of the First Metatarsocuneiform Joint: A Biomechanical Study.
AB  - First metatarsocuneiform joint arthrodesis with a locking bone plate and screw
      system has been effectively used to correct metatarsus primus varus and
      instability of the first ray. The goal of the present cadaveric biomechanical
      study was to quantify and compare the inherent strength of the first
      metatarsocuneiform joint and surrounding bones fixated with the osteo-WEDGE(TM)
      bone plate locking system (OW) with that of intact specimens. Fourteen fresh
      frozen adult human cadaveric foot specimens consisting of the first metatarsal
      and medial cuneiform bones with intact joint capsules and ligaments were used.
      The OW was implanted in 7 of these specimens at the first metatarsal cuneiform
      joint (MCJ), and the remaining 7 specimens were left intact. Each of the
      specimens was then subjected to axial force to simulate dorsiflexion of the first
      metatarsal using a cantilever bending test setup. Load was applied on the plantar
      aspect of the first metatarsal head until failure of the construct. The mean load
      and bending moment on the first MCJ at failure for the implanted specimens were
      119.98 +/- 56.76 N and 5.57 +/- 2.71 Nm, respectively. For the intact specimens,
      the mean load and bending moment on the first MCJ at failure were 107.93 +/-
      60.90 N and 6.07 +/- 3.18 Nm, respectively. None of the specimens showed
      catastrophic failure within the physiologic loading limits. These results imply
      that the mechanical strength of the OW is comparable to that of intact specimens.
      Thus, the first MCJ and surrounding bones fixated with an OW should be able to
      effectively withstand the vertical ground reaction forces the same as intact
      specimens. 

PMID- 26884263
TI  - Anterior Approach Total Ankle Arthroplasty: Superficial Peroneal Nerve Branches
      at Risk.
AB  - In ankle arthroplasty, little attention has been given to intraoperative nerve
      injury and its postoperative sequelae. The aim of the present anatomic study was
      to determine the relationship of the superficial peroneal nerve to the standard
      anterior approach for total ankle arthroplasty. The superficial peroneal nerve
      was dissected in 10 below-the-knee cadaver specimens. The medial and intermediate
      dorsal cutaneous branches were identified. A needle was placed at the ankle
      joint. The following measurements were recorded: bifurcation into the medial and
      intermediate dorsal cutaneous branches, reference needle to the branches of the
      medial and intermediate superficial peroneal nerve, and the crossing branches of
      the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve. Two specimens (20%) had a medial dorsal
      cutaneous branch cross from medially to laterally. Eight specimens (80%) had a
      crossing branch of the medial dorsal cutaneous branch within 5 cm of the
      incision. No intermediate dorsal cutaneous branches were within the incision. The
      results from the present cadaver study suggest that during an anterior ankle
      approach, aberrant branches of the superficial peroneal nerve could require
      transection in 20% of patients at the joint level and <=80% of patients with
      distal extension >35 mm from the ankle joint. The risk of injury to branches of
      the superficial peroneal nerve is substantial. The risk of nerve injury can be
      decreased with meticulous operative technique, smaller incisions, and the
      avoidance of aggressive retraction. 

PMID- 26884261
TI  - Continuous changes in structure mapped by manifold embedding of single-particle
      data in cryo-EM.
AB  - Cryo-electron microscopy, when combined with single-particle reconstruction, is a
      powerful method for studying macromolecular structure. Recent developments in
      detector technology have pushed the resolution into a range comparable to that of
      X-ray crystallography. However, cryo-EM is able to separate and thus recover the
      structure of each of several discrete structures present in the sample. For the
      more general case involving continuous structural changes, a novel technique
      employing manifold embedding has been recently demonstrated. Potentially, the
      entire work-cycle of a molecular machine may be observed as it passes through a
      continuum of states, and its free-energy landscape may be mapped out. This
      technique will be outlined and discussed in the context of its application to a
      large single-particle dataset of yeast ribosomes.

PMID- 26884264
TI  - Salvage of Failed Total Ankle Replacement Using a Custom Titanium Truss.
AB  - Subsidence of the talar component results in significant morbidity after total
      ankle replacement. When recognized, prompt revision could be needed to preserve
      the function of the implant; however, this is not always the case. In situations
      in which the implant cannot be revised, tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis might be
      necessary to salvage the extremity. The purpose of the present report is to
      describe the use of a custom titanium alloy truss to fill a bony void created by
      explantation of the implant components. Total ankle replacement was performed as
      the initial surgery to address end-stage osteoarthritis. Two years after the
      index procedure, the patient underwent revision of the polyethylene and talar
      components with subtalar arthrodesis secondary to progressive subtalar
      osteoarthritis and talar subsidence. The implant subsequently became infected and
      was removed. The patient underwent re-implantation after the infection had
      resolved, but significant talar subsidence required conversion to a
      tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with a custom titanium alloy truss and retrograde
      intramedullary nail. At the most recent follow-up appointment, the patient was
      weightbearing on a stable extremity and pain free. Radiographic examination
      confirmed appropriate implant alignment and evidence of bone formation throughout
      the titanium truss. Although our results are restricted to a single case with
      initial, limited follow-up data, combining sound structural mechanics with an
      open architecture and unique texture, the custom titanium truss appears to
      maintain the limb length and promote healing across a large void. 

PMID- 26884265
TI  - CD105 Over-expression Is Associated with Higher WHO Grades for Gliomas.
AB  - CD105 is an ancillary receptor of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta),
      which has been suggested as a suitable biomarker for cancer-related angiogenesis
      and neovascularization (Nassiri et al. in Anticancer Res 31:2283-2290, 2011).
      However, the clinical significance of CD105 in WHO grade was rarely reported and
      the effects of CD105 signal transduction pathway on gliomas remain controversial
      and unclear. To get a convincing conclusion, performing a meta-analysis is
      essential. Relevant literature studies were included via careful evaluation, and
      standard mean difference (SMD) and hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence
      intervals (95 % CIs) was calculated. We also made funnel plots to test the
      heterogeneity. In the present meta-analysis, a total of 11 eligible literatures
      involving 796 patients were incorporated. They were all conducted in China,
      revealing that CD105 overexpression in glioma tissues was strongly linked to high
      WHO grading (III+IV) (SMD -1.785, 95 % CI -2.133, -1.437; p = 0.000). No
      significant associations between CD105 and age (SMD -0.505, 95 % CI -1.054,
      0.043; p = 0. 071), CD105 and gender (SMD 0.101, 95 % CI -0.103, 0.305; p =
      0.333), and CD105 and tumor size (SMD -0.433, 95 % CI -1.326, 0.459; p = 0. 341)
      were detected. Besides, CD105 expression was closely associated with glioma
      patients' 3-year overall survival (OS; n = 2; HR = 4.357, 95 % CI 1.412, 7.303; p
      = 0.004). On the basis of Begg's and Egger's test or funnel plot, no publication
      bias was detected. In a nutshell, this meta-analysis demonstrated that CD105
      overexpression correlates to higher WHO grade and poor survival and could be
      indicated as a helpful prognostic and diagnostic marker, or a useful therapy
      target.

PMID- 26884266
TI  - Transduction Profile of the Marmoset Central Nervous System Using Adeno
      Associated Virus Serotype 9 Vectors.
AB  - The common marmoset is a small New World primate that has attracted remarkable
      attention as a potential experimental animal link between rodents and humans.
      Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated expression of a disease-causing gene
      or a potential therapeutic gene in the brain may allow the construction of a
      marmoset model of a brain disorder or an exploration of the possibility of gene
      therapy. To gain more insights into AAV vector-mediated transduction profiles in
      the marmoset central nervous system (CNS), we delivered AAV serotype 9 (AAV9)
      vectors expressing GFP to the cisterna magna or the cerebellar cortex.
      Intracisternally injected AAV9 vectors expanded in the CNS according to the
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, by retrograde transport through neuronal axons or
      via intermediary transcytosis, resulting in diffuse and global transduction
      within the CNS. In contrast, cerebellar parenchymal injection intensely
      transduced a more limited area, including the cerebellar cortex and cerebellar
      afferents, such as neurons of the pontine nuclei, vestibular nucleus and inferior
      olivary nucleus. In the spinal cord, both administration routes resulted in
      labeling of the dorsal column and spinocerebellar tracts, presumably by
      retrograde transport from the medulla oblongata and cerebellum, respectively.
      Motor neurons and dorsal root ganglia were also transduced, possibly by diffusion
      of the vector down the subarachnoid space along the cord. Thus, these two
      administration routes led to distinct transduction patterns in the marmoset CNS,
      which could be utilized to generate different disease animal models and to
      deliver therapeutic genes for the treatment of diseases affecting distinct brain
      areas.

PMID- 26884268
TI  - Red vs. green: Does the exam booklet color matter in higher education summative
      evaluations? Not likely.
AB  - We examined the so-called "red effect" in the context of higher education
      summative exams under the premise that unlike the conditions or situations where
      this effect typically has been obtained, the totality of factors, such as higher
      motivation, familiarity with exam material, and more reliance on domain knowledge
      that characterize high-stakes testing such as those in operational educational
      settings, are likely to mitigate any color effects. Using three naturally
      occurring archival data sets in which students took exams on either red or green
      exam booklets, the results indicated that booklet color (red vs. green) did not
      affect exam performance. From a scientific perspective, the results suggest that
      color effects may be attenuated by factors that characterize high-stakes
      assessments, and from an applied perspective, they suggest that the choice of red
      vs. green exam booklets in higher education summative evaluations is likely not a
      concern.

PMID- 26884269
TI  - Analysis of the (1)A' S1 <- (1)A' S0 and (2)A' D0 <- (1)A' S1 band systems in 1,2
      dichloro-4-fluorobenzene by means of resonance-enhanced-multi-photon-ionization
      (REMPI) and mass-analyzed-threshold-ionization (MATI) spectroscopy.
AB  - Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and mass analyzed threshold
      ionization (MATI) spectroscopy have been applied in order to investigate the
      vibrational structure of 1,2-dichloro-4-fluorobenzene (1,2,4-DCFB) in its first
      excited state (S1) and the cationic ground state (D0). The selection of the state
      prior to ionization resulted in MATI spectra with different intensity
      distributions thus giving access to many vibrational levels. To support the
      experimental findings, geometry optimizations and frequency analyses at DFT
      (density functional) and TDDFT (time-dependent density functional) levels of
      theory have been applied. Additionally, a multidimensional Franck-Condon approach
      has been used to calculate the vibrational intensities from the DFT calculations.
      An excellent agreement between simulated and measured REMPI and MATI spectra
      allowed for a confident assignment of vibrational levels and mechanisms active
      during excitation and ionization. In order to avoid any ambiguity regarding the
      assignment of the vibrational bands to normal modes, Duschinsky normal mode
      analysis has been performed to correlate the ground state (S0) normal modes of
      1,2,4-DCFB with the benzene derived Wilson nomenclature. From the REMPI spectra
      the electronic excitation energy (EE) of 1,2-dichloro-4-fluorobenzene could be
      determined to be 35 714 +/- 2 cm(-1) while the MATI spectra yielded the adiabatic
      ionization energy (IE) of 1,2-dichloro-4-fluorobenzene which could be determined
      to be 73 332 +/- 7 cm(-1). 

PMID- 26884270
TI  - Cancer of the uterus and treatment of stress incontinence: a pilot study.

PMID- 26884271
TI  - Restrictive bariatric procedures improve pregnancy outcomes compared with
      malabsorptive procedures.

PMID- 26884267
TI  - Posttranslational Modifications Regulate the Postsynaptic Localization of PSD-95.
AB  - The postsynaptic density (PSD) consists of a lattice-like array of interacting
      proteins that organizes and stabilizes synaptic receptors, ion channels,
      structural proteins, and signaling molecules required for normal synaptic
      transmission and synaptic function. The scaffolding and hub protein postsynaptic
      density protein-95 (PSD-95) is a major element of central chemical synapses and
      interacts with glutamate receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and cytoskeletal
      elements. In fact, PSD-95 can regulate basal synaptic stability as well as the
      activity-dependent structural plasticity of the PSD and, therefore, of the
      excitatory chemical synapse. Several studies have shown that PSD-95 is highly
      enriched at excitatory synapses and have identified multiple protein structural
      domains and protein-protein interactions that mediate PSD-95 function and
      trafficking to the postsynaptic region. PSD-95 is also a target of several
      signaling pathways that induce posttranslational modifications, including
      palmitoylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, nitrosylation, and neddylation;
      these modifications determine the synaptic stability and function of PSD-95 and
      thus regulate the fates of individual dendritic spines in the nervous system. In
      the present work, we review the posttranslational modifications that regulate the
      synaptic localization of PSD-95 and describe their functional consequences. We
      also explore the signaling pathways that induce such changes.

PMID- 26884272
TI  - Trainee participation and perioperative complications in benign hysterectomy: the
      effect of route of surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intraoperative trainee involvement in hysterectomy is common.
      However, the effect of intraoperative trainee involvement on perioperative
      complications depending on surgical approach is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To estimate
      the effect of intraoperative trainee involvement on perioperative complication
      after vaginal, laparoscopic, and abdominal hysterectomy for benign disease.
      METHODS: Patients undergoing laparoscopic, vaginal, or abdominal hysterectomy for
      benign disease from 2010 to 2012 were identified from the American College of
      Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients with
      and without trainee involvement were compared with regard to perioperative
      complications. Complications that occurred from the start of surgery to 30-days
      postoperatively were included. Perioperative complications were defined via the
      use of the validated Clavien-Dindo scale with >=grade 3 complications defined as
      major and <=grade 2 complications defined as minor. Major complications included
      myocardial infarction, pneumonia, venous thromboembolism, deep or organ space
      surgical-site infection, stroke, fascial dehiscence, unplanned return to the
      operating room, renal failure, cardiopulmonary arrest, sepsis, intubation greater
      than 48 hours, and death. Minor complications included urinary tract infection,
      blood transfusion, and superficial wound infection. To estimate the effect of
      trainee involvement depending on route of surgery, a stratified analysis was
      performed. Bivariable analysis and adjusted multivariable logistic regression
      were used. RESULTS: We identified 22,499 patients, of whom 42.1% had trainee
      participation. Surgical approaches were vaginal (22.7%), abdominal (47.1%), and
      laparoscopic (30.2%). The rate of major complication was 3.2%, and minor
      complication was 7.2%. In bivariable analysis, trainee involvement was associated
      with major complications in vaginal hysterectomy (3.3% vs 2.3%, P = .03), but not
      laparoscopic (3.0% vs 2.9%, P = .78) or abdominal hysterectomy (4.4% vs 3.6%, P =
      .07). Trainee involvement was also associated with minor complication in vaginal
      (7.3% vs 5.4%, P = .007), laparoscopic (5.9% vs 4.3%, P < .001), and abdominal
      hysterectomy (14.1% vs 9.2%, P < .001). In a multivariable analysis in which we
      adjusted for age, body mass index, medical comorbidity, American Society of
      Anesthesiologists score, and surgical complexity, the association between trainee
      involvement in vaginal hysterectomy and major complication persisted (adjusted
      odds ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.04); however, when operative time
      was added to the model, there was no longer an association between trainee
      involvement and major complication (adjusted odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence
      interval 0.89-1.80). CONCLUSION: Surgical approach influences the relationship
      between trainee involvement and perioperative complication. Operative time is a
      key mediator of the relationship between trainee involvement and complication,
      and may be a modifiable risk factor.

PMID- 26884273
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26884274
TI  - Sources of variation in hair cortisol in wild and captive non-human primates.
AB  - Hair cortisol analysis is a potentially powerful tool for evaluating adrenal
      function and chronic stress. However, the technique has only recently been
      applied widely to studies of wildlife, including primates, and there are numerous
      practical and technical factors that should be considered to ensure good quality
      data and the validity of results and conclusions. Here we report on various
      intrinsic and extrinsic sources of variation in hair cortisol measurements in
      wild and captive primates. Hair samples from both wild and captive primates
      revealed that age and sex can affect hair cortisol concentrations; these effects
      need to be controlled for when making comparisons between individual animals or
      populations. Hair growth rates also showed considerable inter-specific variation
      among a number of primate species. We describe technical limitations of hair
      analyses and variation in cortisol concentrations as a function of asynchronous
      hair growth, anatomical site of collection, and the amount and numbers of hair/s
      used for cortisol extraction. We discuss these sources of variation and their
      implications for proper study design and interpretation of results. 

PMID- 26884276
TI  - Glial progenitor cell migration promotes CNS axon growth on functionalized
      electroconducting microfibers.
AB  - Electroactive systems that promote directional axonal growth and migration of
      glial progenitor cells (GPC) are needed for the treatment of neurological
      injuries. We report the functionalization of electroconducting microfibers with
      multiple biomolecules that synergistically stimulate the proliferation and
      migration of GPC, which in turn induce axonal elongation from embryonic cerebral
      cortex neurons. PEDOT doped with poly[(4-styrenesulfonic acid)-co-(maleic acid)]
      was synthesized on carbon microfibers and used for covalent attachment of
      molecules to the electroactive surface. The molecular complexes that promoted GPC
      proliferation and migration, followed by axonal extension, were composed of
      polylysine, heparin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and matricellular
      proteins; the combination of bFGF with vitronectin or fibronectin being
      indispensable for sustained glial and axonal growth. The rate of glial-induced
      axonal elongation was about threefold that of axons growing directly on
      microfibers functionalized with polylysine alone. Electrical stimuli applied
      through the microfibers released bFGF and fibronectin from the polymer surface,
      consequently reducing GPC proliferation and promoting their differentiation into
      astrocytes, without causing cell detachment or toxicity. These results suggest
      that functionalized electroactive microfibers may provide a multifunctional tool
      for controlling neuron-glia interactions and enhancing neural repair. STATEMENT
      OF SIGNIFICANCE: We report a multiple surface functionalization strategy for
      electroconducting microfibers (MFs), in order to promote proliferation and guided
      migration of glial precursor cells (GPC) and consequently create a permissive
      substrate for elongation of central nervous system (CNS) axons. GPC divided and
      migrated extensively on the functionalized MFs, leading to fast elongation of
      embryonic cerebral cortex axons. The application of electric pulses thorough the
      MFs controlled glial cell division and differentiation. The functionalized MFs
      provide an advanced tool for neural tissue engineering and for controlling neuron
      glial interactions. CNS axonal growth associated to migratory glial precursors,
      together with the possibility of directing glial differentiation by electrical
      stimuli applied through the MFs, open a new research avenue to explore for CNS
      repair.

PMID- 26884275
TI  - Genome-wide mosaicism within Mycobacterium abscessus: evolutionary and
      epidemiological implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In mycobacteria, conjugation differs from the canonical Hfr model,
      but is still poorly understood. Here, we quantified this evolutionary processe in
      a natural mycobacterial population, taking advantage of a large clinical strain
      collection of the emerging pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB). RESULTS:
      Multilocus sequence typing confirmed the existence of three M. abscessus
      subspecies, and unravelled extensive allelic exchange between them. Furthermore,
      an asymmetrical gene flow occurring between these main lineages was detected,
      resulting in highly admixed strains. Intriguingly, these mosaic strains were
      significantly associated with cystic fibrosis patients with lung infections or
      chronic colonization. Genome sequencing of those hybrid strains confirmed that
      half of their genomic content was remodelled in large genomic blocks, leading to
      original tri-modal 'patchwork' architecture. One of these hybrid strains acquired
      a locus conferring inducible macrolide resistance, and a large genomic insertion
      from a slowly growing pathogenic mycobacteria, suggesting an adaptive gene
      transfer. This atypical genomic architecture of the highly recombinogenic strains
      is consistent with the distributive conjugal transfer (DCT) observed in M.
      smegmatis. Intriguingly, no known DCT function was found in M. abscessus
      chromosome, however, a p-RAW-like genetic element was detected in one of the
      highly admixed strains. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results strongly suggest
      that MAB evolution is sporadically punctuated by dramatic genome wide remodelling
      events. These findings might have far reaching epidemiological consequences for
      emerging mycobacterial pathogens survey in the context of increasing numbers of
      rapidly growing mycobacteria and M. tuberculosis co-infections.

PMID- 26884277
TI  - Elucidating the role of free polycations in gene knockdown by siRNA polyplexes.
AB  - Future improvements of non-viral vectors for siRNA delivery require better
      understanding of intracellular processing and vector interactions with target
      cells. Here, we have compared the siRNA delivery properties of a lipid derivative
      of bPEI 1.8kDa (DOPE-PEI) with branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI) with average
      molecular weights of 1.8kDa (bPEI 1.8kDa) and 25kDa (bPEI 25kDa). We find
      mechanistic differences between the DOPE-PEI conjugate and bPEI regarding siRNA
      condensation and intracellular processing. bPEI 1.8kDa and bPEI 25kDa have
      similar properties with respect to condensation capability, but are very
      different regarding siRNA decondensation, cellular internalization and induction
      of reporter gene knockdown. Lipid conjugation of bPEI 1.8kDa improves the siRNA
      delivery properties, but with markedly different formulation requirements and
      mechanisms of action compared to conventional PEIs. Interestingly, strong
      knockdown using bPEI 25kDa is dependent on the presence of a free vector fraction
      which does not increase siRNA uptake. Finally, we have investigated the effect on
      lysosomal pH induced by these vectors to elucidate the differences in the proton
      sponge effect between lipid conjugated PEI and conventional PEI: Neither DOPE-PEI
      nor bPEI 25kDa affected lysosomal pH as a function of time, underlining that the
      possible proton sponge effect is not associated with changes in lysosomal pH.
      STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Gene silencing therapy has the potential to treat
      diseases which are beyond the reach of current small molecule-based medicines.
      However, delivery of the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) remains a bottleneck to
      clinical implementation, and the development of safe and efficient delivery
      systems would be one of the most important achievements in medicine today. A
      major reason for the lack of progress is insufficient understanding of cell
      polyplex interaction. We investigate siRNA delivery using polyethyleneimine (PEI)
      based vectors and examine how crucial formulation parameters determine the
      challenges associated with PEI as a delivery vector. We further evaluate how
      lipid conjugation of PEI influences formulation, cytotoxicity and polymer
      interaction with cells and cargo as well as the proton sponge capabilities of the
      vectors.

PMID- 26884278
TI  - Hierarchical self-assembly of magnetic nanoclusters for theranostics: Tunable
      size, enhanced magnetic resonance imagability, and controlled and targeted drug
      delivery.
AB  - Nanoparticle-based imaging and therapy are of interest for theranostic
      nanomedicine. In particular, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles
      (NPs) have attracted much attention in cancer imaging, diagnostics, and treatment
      because of their superior imagability and biocompatibility (approved by the Food
      and Drug Administration). Here, we developed SPIO nanoparticles (NPs) that self
      assembled into magnetic nanoclusters (SAMNs) in aqueous environments as a
      theranostic nano-system. To generate multi-functional SPIO NPs, we covalently
      conjugated beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) to SPIO NPs using metal-adhesive dopamine
      groups. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and paclitaxel (PTX) were hosted in the beta-CD
      cavity through high affinity complexation. The core-shell structure of the
      magnetic nanoclusters was elucidated based on the condensed SPIO core and a PEG
      shell using electron microscopy and the composition was analyzed by
      thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Our results indicate that nanocluster size
      could be readily controlled by changing the SPIO/PEG ratio in the assemblies.
      Interestingly, we observed a significant enhancement in magnetic resonance
      contrast due to the large cluster size and dense iron oxide core. In addition,
      tethering a tumor-targeting peptide to the SAMNs enhanced their uptake into tumor
      cells. PTX was efficiently loaded into beta-CDs and released in a controlled
      manner when exposed to competitive guest molecules. These results strongly
      indicate that the SAMNs developed in this study possess great potential for
      application in image-guided cancer chemotherapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In
      this study, we developed multi-functional SPIO NPs that self-assembled into
      magnetic nanoclusters (SAMNs) in aqueous conditions as a theranostic nano-system.
      The beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was immobilized on the surfaces of SPIO NPs and
      RGD-conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG) and paclitaxel (PTX) were hosted in the
      beta-CD cavity through high affinity complexation. We found that nanocluster size
      could be readily controlled by varying the SPIO/PEG ratio in the assemblies, and
      also demonstrated significant improvement of the functional nanoparticles for
      theranostic systems; enhanced magnetic resonance, improved cellular uptake, and
      efficient PTX loading and sustained release at the desired time point. These
      results strongly indicate that the SAMNs developed in this study possess great
      potential for application in image-guided cancer chemotherapy.

PMID- 26884279
TI  - High throughput approaches for controlled stem cell differentiation.
AB  - Stem cells have unique ability to undergo self-renewal indefinitely in culture
      and potential to differentiate into almost all cell types in the human body.
      However, the developing a method for efficiently differentiating or manipulating
      these stem cells for therapeutic purposes remains a challenging problem.
      Pluripotent stem cells, as well as adult stem cells, require biological cues for
      their proliferation and differentiation. These cues are largely controlled by
      cell-cell, cell-insoluble factors (such as extracellular matrix), and cell
      soluble factors (such as cytokine or growth factors) interactions. In this
      review, we describe a state of research on various stem cell-based tissue
      engineering applications and high throughput strategies for developing synthetic
      or biosynthetic microenvironments to allow efficient commitments in stem cells.
      STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Nowadays, pluripotency of stem cells have received
      much attention to use therapeutic purpose. However, a major difficulty with stem
      cell therapy is to control its differentiation through desired cells or tissues.
      In other words, various microenvironment factors are involved during stem cell
      differentiation, including dimensionality, growth factors, cell junctions,
      nutritional status, matrix stiffness, matrix composition, mechanical stress, and
      cell-matrix adhesion. Therefore, researchers have engineered a variety of
      platforms to enable controlling and monitoring bioactive factors to induce stem
      cell commitment. In this review, we report on recent advancements in a novel
      technology based on high-throughput strategies for stem cell-based tissue
      engineering applications.

PMID- 26884280
TI  - 2016 CIS Annual Meeting: Immune Deficiency & Dysregulation North American
      Conference.

PMID- 26884281
TI  - Bioanalytical techniques in discrimination between therapeutic and abusive use of
      drugs in sport.
AB  - The discrimination between therapeutic and abusive use of drugs in sports is
      performed using threshold concentrations or reporting levels, and the detection
      of the substances in a sample is only reported as an adverse analytical finding
      when the concentration exceeds the threshold or the reporting level. In this
      paper, the strategies of discrimination and the analytical methods used for the
      main groups of substances where the distinction is needed (beta-2 agonists,
      ephedrines, glucocorticoids and morphine) will be reviewed. Nowadays, LC-MS is
      the method of choice for the analysis of these substances and, in most of the
      cases, a simple dilution of the urine sample is performed before the
      chromatographic analysis. 

PMID- 26884283
TI  - Subtotal parathyroidectomy versus total parathyroidectomy  with autotransplant in
      secondary hyperparathyroidism  - a single-centre prospective cohort of 43
      patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The need for parathyroidectomy remains high in the group of
      patients on long-term dialysis with medically refractory secondary
      hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). We aim to compare the results after subtotal
      parathyroidectomies (sPtx) and total parathyroidectomies with autotransplant
      (tPtx + AT) performed for sHPT at a single referral centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      This prospective study comparatively analysed sPtx and tPtx + AT performed in our
      department between February 2010 and December 2014. We followed-up both surgical
      techniques, with respect to the main clinical symptoms, laboratory data,
      mortality, and recurrent disease. RESULTS: Forty-three patients on whom we
      performed 26 sPtx and 19 tPtx + AT were entered in the study. There were no
      statistically significant differences between groups as far as demographic and
      preoperative clinical data are concerned. We did not encounter postoperative
      mortality in either of the groups. The follow-up period was significantly longer
      for the sPtx group (p = 0.04). The immediate postoperative serum calcium levels
      were significantly lower in the tPtx + AT group (p = 0.009). Definitive
      hypoparathyroidism was encountered in two patients in the sPtx group (8.3%) and
      in one from the tPtx + AT group (5.26%). Four patients from the sPtx group
      (16.6%) and three from the tPtx + AT group (15.78%) died during the follow-up due
      to causes unrelated to parathyroidectomy. Overall we had two recurrences in the
      sPtx group and none in the tPtx + AT group (p = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: In our
      opinion both techniques have comparable results concerning the clinical and
      laboratory outcomes and rates of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, at least in
      short- and medium-term follow-up.

PMID- 26884282
TI  - Increased Risk of Depression Recurrence After Initiation of Prescription Opioids
      in Noncancer Pain Patients.
AB  - Several studies have shown that chronic opioid analgesic use is associated with
      increased risk of new-onset depression. It is not known if patients with remitted
      depression are at increased risk of relapse after exposure to opioid analgesics.
      A retrospective cohort design using patient data from the Veterans Health
      Administration (VHA; n = 5,400), and Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH; n = 842)
      was performed with an observation period in the VHA from 2002 to 2012 and in the
      BSWH from 2003 to 2012. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of depression at
      baseline and experienced a period of remission. Risk of depression recurrence was
      modeled in patients that either started taking an opioid or continued without
      opioid prescriptions before or during remission. Cox proportional hazard models
      were used to measure the association between opioid use and depression recurrence
      controlling for pain, and other confounders. Patients exposed to an opioid
      compared with those unexposed had a significantly greater risk of depression
      recurrence in both patient populations (VHA: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.17, 95%
      confidence interval [CI], 2.01-2.34; BSWH: HR = 1.77; 95% CI, 1.42-2.21). These
      results suggest opioid use doubles the risk of depression recurrence even after
      controlling for pain, psychiatric disorders, and opioid misuse. Further work is
      needed to determine if risk increases with duration of use. Repeated screening
      for depression after opioid initiation may be warranted. PERSPECTIVE: In 2 large
      patient cohorts with large differences in demographic characteristics and
      comorbidity, patients with remitted depression who were exposed to opioid
      analgesics were 77% to 117% more likely to experience a recurrence of depression
      than those who remained opioid -free. Routine, not just at initiation of
      treatment, screening for depression is warranted.

PMID- 26884284
TI  - Assessment of OPG, RANKL, bone turnover markers serum levels and BMD after
      treatment with strontium ranelate and ibandronate in patients with postmenopausal
      osteoporosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitative changes in OPG
      and RANKL proteins after treatment with strontium ranelate (SR) and ibandronate
      in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 89
      women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO), aged 51-85 years, patients of the
      Outpatient Clinic of Osteoporosis of the Military Teaching Hospital in Lodz, were
      enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to different
      therapies: ibandronate and (SR). Patients of the control group received only
      calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. The patients' visits were repeated after
      three and six months. Measurements of beta-CTX (C-terminal Telopeptide of type 1
      collagen), osteocalcin, RANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), alkaline phosphatase
      concentrations in serum, as well as of total 24-hour calcium and phosphate levels
      in serum and urine, were carried out in material collected at baseline and after
      three and six months of therapy. Left hip and lumbar spine densitometry was done
      twice (at baseline visit and after six months). RESULTS: In all three groups
      there were no significant differences noted in the concentrations of OPG and
      RANKL serum protein levels during the study period. Both negative and positive
      correlations or tendencies of correlations were found between OPG serum
      concentrations and BMD changes in the SR group. CONCLUSIONS: Both ibandronate and
      SR do not seem to cause any significant changes in OPG and RANKL protein serum
      levels during the first six months of treatment. OPG may play a role in
      osteoclast activity suppression in the course of treatment with ibandronate in
      patients with PO. OPG may play an important role in the mechanism of SR therapy
      and may be viewed as a potentially valuable parameter for monitoring and
      predicting the course of treatment with SR in PO.

PMID- 26884285
TI  - Falls in RAC-OST-POL Study: epidemiological study in postmenopausal women aged
      over 55 years.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Falls are often noted in elderly women. They may have serious
      clinical consequences. The aim of the study is the presentation of
      epidemiological data on falls in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A
      total of 978 women in mean age 65.9 +/- 7.6 years from the population of Raciborz
      district were included. In a questionnaire the following data were gathered:
      falls in last 12 months, place of stay, kind of job, marital status, education,
      smoking, underlying diseases, and used medications. RESULTS: Falls occurred in
      328 women (33.5%). The number of falls correlated positively with increasing age,
      (r = 0.13, p < 0.0001). The falls rate was not related to weight and height, but
      weak, significant correlation with body mass index was noted (r = 0.076, p<
      0.05). Among 286 women with prior osteoporotic fracture falls were present in
      40.9%, which was significantly more than the 30.4% seen in women without fracture
      (Chi-square test; 10.05; df = 1; p < 0.01). Falls were fewer often among women
      from the city of Raciborz (29.8%) than in women from the rural population
      (39.7%). After adjustment for age, rural stay, diabetes type 1, renal failure,
      rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, and depression revealed influence on
      falls occurrence. As was shown by logistic regression, age, rural stay, prior
      fracture, diabetes type 1, bronchial asthma, and depression increased the risk of
      fall. The cumulative number of these risk factors correlated with the number of
      falls (r = 0.22, p < 0.000001). CONCLUSIONS: Falls are common among
      postmenopausal women, and their occurrence is modified by several factors
      including age, place of stay, and some co-morbidities.

PMID- 26884287
TI  - Endocrine autoimmunity in patients  with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults
      (LADA)  - association with HLA genotype.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slow-developing
      form of autoimmune diabetes, characterised by the presence of type 1 diabetes
      associated autoantibody and presentation at diagnosis similar to patients with
      type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of auto
      antibodies related to endocrine autoimmune diseases in patients with LADA and to
      assess their association with HLA genotype. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated
      the presence of anti-thyroglobulin (ATG), anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO), anti
      tissue transglutaminase IgA (ATTA), and anti 21 hydroxylase (A21H) in 70 patients
      with LADA, 69 with Type 2 diabetes, and in 50 healthy controls HLA genotype was
      assed in subpopulation of sluclied subjects. RESULTS: The presence of ATPO (28.6
      vs. 10%); ATG (28.6 vs. 14%) was higher in patients with LADA in comparison to
      healthy controls and ATPO in comparison to patients with type 2 diabetes (38.6
      vs. 17.4 %). In patients with LADA the presence of autoimmune thyroid
      autoantibodies was associated with newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism;
      almost 7% of patients presented with high TSH. The presence of A21H (2.86 vs. 5.8
      vs. 6.1%) and ATTA (2.86 vs. 4.3 vs. 6.0%) was not different between groups.
      Patients with high TSH level were positive for DQA1*0301 and DRB1*04 HLA
      genotype: DQB1*0201 and DQB1*02 were higher in patients positive for ATTA.
      CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LADA have higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmune
      diseases. In patients with LADA similarly to type 1 genotype DQA1*0301 seems to
      CONFER susceptibility to thyroid autoimmunity, and DQB1*0201 to celiac disease.

PMID- 26884286
TI  - Fibroblast growth factor 21 and its relationship with insulin sensitivity in
      first-degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF 21) has been suggested as a
      predictor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: We aimed to determine FGF 21 levels in normoglycaemic (Group 1) and
      prediabetic (Group 2) first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with T2DM in
      comparison with normoglycaemic subjects without a history of T2DM in their FDR
      (Group 3). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between Group 1, 2, and 3
      with respect to plasma FGF 21 concentrations (143.3 +/- 93.8, 221.9 +/- +/- 171.7
      and 121.2 +/- 119.8 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.01). FGF 21 levels were
      significantly increased in prediabetic FDR of patients with T2DM compared to
      normoglycaemic subjects without a history of T2DM in their FDR (p = 0.02). FGF 21
      levels did not differ between normoglycaemic FDR of patients with T2DM and
      normoglycaemic subjects without a history of T2DM in their FDR (p > 0.05). In the
      whole group, FGF 21 correlated positively with age (r = 0.31, p = 0.003), BMI (r
      = 0.38, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.38, p = 0.001), diastolic
      blood pressure (r = 0.26, p = 0.02), fasting blood glucose (r = 0.24, p = 0.02),
      HOMA-IR (r = 0.23, p = 0.03), AUC glucose (r = 0.35, p = 0.001), and AUC insulin
      (r = 0.32, p = 0.003) and negatively with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.24, p = 0.02)
      and Matsuda ISI (r = -0.33, p = 0.002). In the regression analysis, BMI was the
      most predictive factor for FGF 21 levels (beta = 0.41, r2 = 0.17, p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: We showed that FGF 21 concentrations are increased in prediabetic
      FDR of patients with T2DM and that there is a significant association between FGF
      21 and obesity and insulin sensitivity. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 260-264).

PMID- 26884288
TI  - Complete recovery of visual acuity as the main goal of treatment in patients with
      dysthyroid optic neuropathy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effectiveness of methylprednisolone (MP) and
      surgical treatment in achieving complete reversal of dysthyroid optic neuropathy
      (DON) and predictive factors of this therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The group
      consisted of 10 patients (18 eyes) with DON. The diagnosis of DON was based on at
      least two criteria from the following: (i) deterioration of visual acuity (VA<
      1.0), (ii) loss of colour vision, (iii) optic disc swelling, and/or (iv) signs of
      DON in magnetic resonance imaging (presence of apical crowding and/or optic nerve
      stretching). A complete recovery of DON was defined as the normalisation of VA
      (VA = 1.0), normal colour vision, and reversal of optic disc swelling. A
      significant improvement was defined as improvement of VA of at least 0.2. The
      consecutive steps of treatment of DON consisted of: (i) first-line treatment -
      intravenous MP pulse therapy (3 * 1 g); (ii) second-line treatment - endoscopic
      intranasal orbital decompression of medial wall; (iii) additional treatment -
      additional MP therapy and/or surgical decompression. RESULTS: A significant
      improvement in VA could be achieved in the majority of patients; a complete
      recovery was noted in 22.2%, 33.3%, and 66.7% of eyes after first-line, second
      line, and additional treatment, respectively. Positive predictive factors were:
      younger age (p = 0.049), shorter duration of DON (p = 0.035), and a higher
      Graves' orbitopathy clinical activity score (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: By using
      combination therapy (intravenous MP pulse therapy and surgical decompression), a
      complete recovery can be achieved in the majority of patients with DON.

PMID- 26884289
TI  - Age may determine the effect of hypolipidemic agents on plasma adipokine levels
      in patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Lipid-lowering agents affect adipose tissue function. No study has
      investigated the role of age in the effects of hypolipidaemic agents on plasma
      adipokines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective analysis of data
      of 65 hypercholesterolaemic patients treated for 90 days with simvastatin,
      ezetimibe, or simvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy. Circulating levels of
      leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), as
      well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were assessed separately for
      patients aged between 35 and 50 years and between 51 and 65 years, at the
      beginning and at the end of treatment. RESULTS: Patients in the age between 51
      and 65 years had higher plasma levels of TNF-alpha and hsCRP, and lower plasma
      levels of adiponectin than patients aged between 35 and 50 years. In both age
      groups, simvastatin reduced plasma levels of hsCRP, leptin, visfatin, and TNF
      alpha and increased circulating levels of adiponectin. This effect was
      particularly pronounced if simvastatin was administered in combination with
      ezetimibe. Ezetimibe alone increased plasma adiponectin and reduced plasma levels
      of leptin and hsCRP only in older adults. Irrespectively of age, ezetimibe
      administered alone did not affect visfatin and TNF-alpha. The effect of
      simvastatin on plasma hsCRP and the investigated adipokines did not differ
      between both groups. In turn, the effect of ezetimibe and simvastatin/ezetimibe
      combination therapy on leptin, adiponectin, and hsCRP was stronger in older than
      in younger adults. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that age may partially determine
      the effect of ezetimibe, but not of simvastatin, on adipose tissue function.
      (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 271-276).

PMID- 26884290
TI  - The effect of hypolipidemic treatment on monocyte cytokine release in different
      age groups of patients with type 2 diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidemia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Although both statins and fibrates have been found to reduce
      monocyte cytokine release, no study has investigated whether the effect of
      hypolipidaemic agents depends on age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study
      retrospectively analysed the results of 65 patients with type 2 diabetes and
      atherogenic dyslipidaemia, complying with lifestyle intervention, and receiving
      metformin. These patients were then treated with simvastatin (40 mg daily),
      micronized fenofibrate (200 mg daily), or simvastatin plus fenofibrate. Tumour
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), inteleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and monocyte
      chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) release, as well as circulating levels of high
      sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were determined separately for patients
      aged between 20 and 50 years and between 51 and 75 years before the study and
      after 12 weeks of hypolipidaemic treatment. RESULTS: Older adults were
      characterised by higher monocyte release of TNF-alpha and interleukin-6, as well
      as higher circulating levels of hsCRP, than the younger subjects. The decrease in
      monocyte release of all investigated cytokines and in plasma hsCRP was similar in
      both age groups. In turn, the effect of fenofibrate, alone or in combination with
      simvastatin, on TNF-alpha, interleukin-6, and hsCRP, but not on interleukin-1beta
      and MCP-1, was stronger in patients aged between 50 and 75 years, and correlated
      with an improvement in insulin sensitivity only in this age group. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results suggest that age may partially determine monocyte-suppressing and
      systemic anti-inflammatory effects of fenofibrate.

PMID- 26884291
TI  - Evaluation of lipid profiles in patients with metabolic syndrome according to
      cardiovascular risk calculated on the basis of the SCORE chart.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome predicts the development of CVD. Lipid
      abnormalities probably have an important influence on the increase of
      cardiovascular death risk. The SCORE chart includes only total cholesterol level,
      which may be inadequate. The aim of our study was to evaluate the lipid profile
      in patients with metabolic syndrome according to the cardiovascular risk
      calculated on the basis of the SCORE chart. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study
      participants comprised 974 patients with metabolic syndrome. The 10-year death
      risk of cardiovascular disease was calculated on the basis of SCORE chart in all
      patients. The study group was divided in three subgroups depending on the risk
      level calculated by SCORE scale. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher level
      of LDL-C fraction in the subgroup of very high CV risk in comparison to the group
      of medium and high CV risk. The level of non-HDL-C was also significantly higher
      in the group with SCORE >= 10 compared to the remaining subgroups of medium and
      high CV risk. CONCLUSIONS: Increased CV risk in this group of patients may be
      associated not only with higher TC level, but also the other lipid fractions. The
      assessment of the CV risk on the basis of the SCORE chart, which includes only TC
      level, may be inadequate. A modification of the SCORE chart for the European
      population should be considered (inclusion of LDL-C level, or in selected cases
      non-HDL-C level instead of TC level). (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 265-270).

PMID- 26884292
TI  - The effects of fat distribution and some adipokines on insulin resistance.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The risk of developing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome is
      particularly high in central obesity. In this study we evaluated the effects of
      fat distribution and some adipokines on insulin resistance in prediabetic
      patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-seven age- and sex-matched patients were
      divided into three groups according to their 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test
      results as follows: impaired fasting glucose group, impaired glucose tolerance
      group, and normal glucose tolerance group. Fasting insulin levels were measured.
      Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated. Body fat mass
      measurements were assessed by bioelectric impedance analyser and abdominal fat
      thicknesses (subcutaneous, visceral, and preperitoneal) by ultrasonography. The
      fasting serum levels of several adipokines [adiponectin, leptin, resistin,
      vaspin, visfatin, retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), tumour necrosis factor-alpha
      (TNF-alpha)] were measured by ELISA method. RESULTS: The mean body mass index,
      fat mass measurements, and abdominal fat thicknesses of the groups were similar.
      There were no differences between groups in terms of the mean fasting insulin,
      vaspin, RBP-4, leptin, resistin, and TNF-alpha. In comparison of the prediabetic
      and normal groups, the levels of adiponectin (p < 0.001) and visfatin (p < 0.001)
      were lower in the prediabetic group. Furthermore, we found that high body mass
      index (p < 0.01) and fat mass (p < 0.01) and low adiponectin (p < 0.05) levels
      have roles in the development of insulin resistance in the prediabetic group.
      CONCLUSIONS: We suggested that in the prediabetic period not only obesity but
      also decreased adiponectin levels play some role in the pathogenesis of insulin
      resistance. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 277-282).

PMID- 26884293
TI  - Molecular classification of pituitary adenomas: in search for criteria useful for
      high-throughput studies.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The mechanism of pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas is still
      unknown, and it shows differences in pituitary cells of different origin. The aim
      of our study was to analyse the gene expression profile of pituitary hormones and
      their precursor genes: PRL, GH, POMC, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA by QPCR in
      particular types of pituitary adenomas, and to evaluate the results in the
      context of sample selection for microarray studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      Analysis of the gene expression profile was performed in 84 samples of pituitary
      adenomas, by real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR). RESULTS: As expected, expression
      of GH gene was significantly higher in somatotropinomas than in prolactinomas (p
      < 0.05). For POMC gene we noticed lower expression in all pituitary adenomas,
      except adrenocorticotropinomas (p < 0.05). In the case of PRL gene, the highest
      expression was observed; PRL+ adenomas were in third place. LHb and FSHb genes
      showed the highest expression, respectively, in LH-producing and FSH-producing
      pituitary adenomas; however, our analysis did not show statistically significant
      differences between LH-producing and FSH-producing adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      study showed that GH is a characteristic gene for somatotropinomas. We drew a
      similar conclusion for POMC gene and adrenocorticotropinomas. However, the
      results that we obtained for PRL, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA genes indicate that
      evaluation of gene expression is not sufficient for classification of particular
      subtypes of pituitary adenomas.

PMID- 26884294
TI  - Treatment of severe thyroid function disorders and changes in body composition.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hyper- and hypothyroidism are accompanied by altered metabolic
      rate, thermogenesis, and body weight. The aim of this study was to estimate the
      relation between treatment-induced changes in thyroid function, and the
      accompanying body composition in patients with either severe hypo- or
      hyperthyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Body composition analysis and hormonal
      assessment were measured at the initial diagnosis of thyroid disorder, after
      three-month treatment, and finally after complete recovery from hyperthyroidism
      (n = 18) or hypothyroidism (n = 27). Nonparametric Spearman correlation was used
      to analyse the relation between thyroid hormones and body composition as well as
      their respective changes. RESULTS: In hypothyroid patients applied treatment
      significantly reduced (p < 0.05) total body weight, mainly due to a decrease in
      fat mass, whereas in hyperthyroid patients it caused a weight gain, with a
      simultaneous increase in muscle, water and fat mass. Total body weight and fat
      mass were significantly correlated with thyroid hormones' concentrations in all
      patients. Changes of fat, water, or muscle mass were strongly correlated with the
      changes in the patients' hormonal status. CONCLUSIONS: Body composition is
      related to the concentration of thyroid hormones in thyroid dysfunction.
      Treatment-induced changes in thyroid hormones concentrations are correlated with
      the magnitude of the change of body weight, including muscle, water, and fat
      amount. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (4): 359-366).

PMID- 26884295
TI  - Differentiation of thyroid nodules in multinodular goiter with the application of
      technical ultrasound advances - initial results.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the relative value of technical ultrasound advances in
      differentiation of thyroid nodules in multinodular goitre. MATERIAL AND METHODS:
      The study included patients with multinodular goitre, who were referred for
      thyroidectomy. Ultrasound evaluation of suspicious nodules was performed with:
      improved B-mode (spatial compound imaging and differential tissue harmonics),
      dedicated mapping of microcalcifications, mapping of the nodule vessels, and
      strain elastography evaluated qualitatively and semi quantitatively. RESULTS: A
      total of 163 nodules in 124 patients with multinodular goitre were evaluated (147
      benign and 16 cancers). Improved B-mode imaging was: 76.76% sensitive and 62.5%
      specific with AUC 0.740. Differentiating B-mode features were: shape - taller
      than wide OR 15.8, markedly hypoechoic OR 14.7, absence of cystic areas OR 6.6,
      absence of halo OR 5.0, and blurred/microlobulated margins OR 3.7. Addition of
      MicroPure imaging was 80.28% sensitive and 68.75% specific with AUC 0.771.
      MicroPure alone, power Doppler, and strain elastography were not statistically
      significant. CONCLUSIONS: Among singular modes of ultrasound imaging, only
      improved B-mode imaging proved to have a significant role in differentiation of
      thyroid nodules in multinodular goitre. Additional gain was seen with the
      addition to B-mode of the mapping of microcalcifications with MicroPure imaging.
      Power Doppler and strain elastography did not prove to be useful techniques in
      multinodular goitre.

PMID- 26884296
TI  - Paraoxonase 1 polymorphisms (L55M and Q192R) as a genetic marker of diabetic
      nephropathy in youth with type 1 diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms have been largely involved in
      diabetes complications. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of PON1
      polymorphisms (L55M and Q192R) on diabetic nephropathy (DN). MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The study involved 116 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
      (T1D) and 91 healthy subjects. Albumin excretion rate (AER) was determined by
      immunoturbidimetry. PON1 activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method,
      and genotyping of PON1 gene was assessed by multiplex PCR followed by RFLP.
      RESULTS: PON1 activity was inversely correlated to AER (r = -0.245, p = 0.008). A
      significant decrease (p = 0.037) in PON1 activity was shown between patients with
      nephropathy and those without (162 [57-618] vs. 316 [37-788] IU/L, respectively).
      The distribution of AER was, for L55M polymorphism MM > LM > LL (p = 0.002), and
      for Q192R polymorphism QQ > QR > RR (p < 0.001). The opposite distribution was
      noted for PON 1 activity (p < 0.001). LMQQ and MMQQ haplotypes seem to increase
      AER (p = 0.004, p = 0.003, respectively) and to reduce PON1 activity (p = 0.011,
      p = 0.052, respectively) in youths with T1D. However, LLRR haplotype seems to
      have the opposite effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that PON1
      polymorphisms L55M and Q192R seem to be genetic markers involved in the
      development of DN in T1D. (Endokrynol Pol 2017; 68 (1): 35-41).

PMID- 26884297
TI  - The diagnostic value of late-night salivary cortisol for diagnosis of subclinical
      Cushing's syndrome.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Late-night salivary cortisol is a frequently used and easily
      implemented diagnostically valuable test for the diagnosis of overt Cushing's
      syndrome. The use of late-night salivary cortisol in the diagnosis of subclinical
      Cushing's syndrome is somewhat controversial. In this study, we aimed to
      determine the diagnostic value of late-night salivary cortisol in diagnosing
      subclinical Cushing's syndrome and compare it with 24-hour urinary free cortisol
      levels (UFC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of 33 cases of
      subclinical Cushing's syndrome, 59 cases of non-functioning adrenal adenoma, and
      41 control subjects. Late-night salivary cortisol and UFC were measured in all
      the cases. The diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome was based on combined
      results of 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test > 1.8 MUg/dL and ACTH < 10 pg/mL.
      RESULTS: Mean late-night salivary cortisol levels in subjects with subclinical
      Cushing's syndrome were significantly higher than in subjects with non
      functioning adrenal adenoma and the control group (p < 0.001). Using a cut-off
      value of 0.18 MUg/dL, the sensitivity and specificity of late-night salivary
      cortisol for diagnosing subclinical Cushing's syndrome were determined as 82% and
      60%, respectively. Using a cut-off value of 137 MUg/day, the sensitivity and
      specificity of UFC was determined as 18% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      Because the sensitivity of late-night salivary cortisol for the diagnosis of
      subclinical Cushing's syndrome is limited, using it as the sole screening test
      for subclinical Cushing's syndrome may lead to false negative results. However,
      using it as an adjunct test to other tests may be beneficial in the diagnosis of
      subclinical Cushing's syndrome. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 487-492).

PMID- 26884298
TI  - The effect of sleeve gastrectomy on serum irisin levels in patients with morbid
      obesity.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Irisin, a recently identified myokine, is associated with increased
      energy expenditure and has a potential role in obesity. Therefore, we
      investigated circulating irisin levels in morbidly obese patients undergoing
      sleeve gastrectomy (SG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty morbidly obese patients
      undergoing SG and 30 healthy subjects were included. All participants were
      evaluated at baseline and again at three months post-SG. Body weight and height,
      the lipid profile, and plasma glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and irisin levels were
      measured at each visit. RESULTS: The two groups had similar mean age and sex
      distribution. Serum irisin was significantly lower in the morbidly obese subjects
      compared with the controls (p = 0.003) and negatively correlated with BMI, body
      weight, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR (p = 0.006, p = 0.011, p = 0.046, p = 0.048,
      respectively). When the morbidly obese patients were re-evaluated three months
      post-SG, their weight and BMI had significantly decreased (both p = 0.001).
      Similarly, the insulin, HbA1c, HDL-cholesterol, and HOMA-IR values significantly
      decreased (p = 0.001, p = 0.028, p = 0.006, and p = 0.001, respectively).
      However, irisin levels remained unchanged (p = 0,267). CONCLUSION: Although the
      irisin levels were significantly lower in the morbidly obese subjects, they did
      not change after SG-induced weight loss. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 481-486).

PMID- 26884300
TI  - The impact of diabetes mellitus on the survival of patients with acromegaly.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: An increased risk of mortality in patients with uncontrolled
      acromegaly has been reported in several studies. We aimed to assess the impact of
      co-morbidities on the survival of patients with acromegaly after long-term
      treatment and follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was
      performed for 285 patients with active acromegaly, who were admitted to the Chang
      Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan between 1978 and 2012. Of these patients, 106
      (37.2%) were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM). During the follow-up period,
      21 cases of histological proved malignant in acromegalic patients, and DM with
      acromegaly had a higher incidence of malignancy (13.2% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.01). The 5
      , 10-, and 20-year survival rates were 93.1%, 86.9%, and 84.7% for the DM group,
      respectively, and 96.5%, 96.5%, and 96.5% for the non-DM group, respectively.
      After a mean follow-up of 15.1 +/- 0.6 years, age, DM, coronary heart disease,
      and malignancy were found to be significant factors of mortality. Control of
      growth hormone and IGF-1 levels also conferred a marginal survival benefit.
      CONCLUSIONS: DM and malignancy significantly influence the survival of patients
      with acromegaly; thus, these patients need close follow-up and appropriate
      therapy. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 501-506).

PMID- 26884299
TI  - Time-dependent irisin concentration changes in patients affected by overt
      hypothyroidism.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Irisin, a cleaved and secreted part of the transmembrane protein
      FNDC5, is a recently discovered adipo-myokine that is said to have a significant
      influence on body metabolism. Changes in thyrometabolic state may also alter the
      serum irisin level. Since already reported data are not fully consistent, the aim
      of the present research is to evaluate the time-dependent changes in serum irisin
      level in patients affected by overt hypothyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The
      study involved 36 subjects - two groups of 12 patients with long-lasting (AITD)
      and short-term (TC) overt hypothyroidism, and a control group (CG) of 12
      subjects, matched for age and gender. Serum irisin level, thyrometabolic state,
      creatine kinase (CK - muscle damage marker), glucose, and insulin concentration
      were assessed and compared between groups. RESULTS: The irisin level was
      significantly lower in AITD than in TC and CG (p = 0.02; p < 0.01; respectively)
      patients, with no statistical difference between TC and CG (p > 0.05). There was
      no significant difference between free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels
      in AITD and TC patients (p > 0.05). CK concentration was significantly higher in
      AITD than in CG patients (p < 0.01) with no difference between AITD and TC
      patients (p > 0.05) as well as TC and CG patients (p > 0.05). Additionally, the
      CK level negatively correlated with the irisin level (r = -0.58; p < 0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the irisin concentration changes during thyroid
      function impairment may be time-dependent. Patients with prolonged hypothyroidism
      have lower irisin levels that those with short-term disorder. (Endokrynol Pol
      2016; 67 (5): 476-480).

PMID- 26884301
TI  - The pituitary-gonadal-thyroid and lactotroph axes in critically ill patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The normal circadian rhythm of hormones in critical patients
      becomes chaotic causing some hormones to increase and others to decrease
      abnormally. The goal of this study is to evaluate hormonal changes in severely
      ill patients and to investigate the relationship between hormonal changes and
      mortality and morbidity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 20 patients (10 F/10
      M). Blood samples were collected on day 0, day 5, and day 10. If a patient was
      discharged before these defined days, a sample was drawn on that day. Twenty
      healthy controls were included. RESULTS: Female patients had lower LH, FSH, and
      fT3 and higher PRL and cortisol levels than controls on admission to the
      intensive care unit (ICU) (pLH = 0.021, pFSH:0.001, pfT3 = 0.021, pPRL = 0.042,
      pCortisol <0.001, respectively). Men had significantly low testosterone and fT3,
      and high PRL and cortisol levels on ICU admission (pT = 0.01, pfT3 = 0.043, pPRL
      = 0.005, pCortisol < 0.001, respectively). The lowest levels of gonadotropins in
      both genders and testosterone in men were measured on day 5. Cortisol levels
      decreased in the patients discharged from the ICU (p = 0.01). FSH levels
      increased in recovered women (pFSH = 0.043). The mortality rate was 30%. There
      were correlations between admission TSH and NIMV duration (p = 0.006), fT3 and
      APACHE II (p = 0.001), and PRL and mortality (p = 0.044). Positive correlations
      between E2 and APACHE II (p = 0.003) in females, and PRL and APACHE II (p =
      0.022) in males were also displayed. CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients develop
      significant changes in neuroendocrine axes. Alterations in hormones correlate
      with the disease severity and mortality. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 305-312).

PMID- 26884302
TI  - The role of circulating sTWEAK in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis - a
      pilot study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the role of sTWEAK in the pathogenesis of
      Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients were included in the study, 60 of
      whom were newly diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (20 patients in each of
      the euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, and overt hypothyroid subgroups), and 20
      of whom were healthy volunteers. Thyroid function tests and autoantibodies were
      measured using the electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay method, and sTWEAK, IL
      17A, IL-12, and TGF-beta1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      method. RESULTS: The Hashimoto's Thyroiditis group had lower levels of sTWEAK and
      TGF-beta1, but had higher levels of IL-12 and IL-17A as compared to the control
      group. Of these, only the difference between IL-17A levels reached statistical
      significance (2.1 pg/mL vs. 1.8 pg/mL, respectively; p < 0.001). While the levels
      of sTWEAK were similar in the control, euthyroid, and subclinical groups, the
      overt hypothyroidism group had lower level of sTWEAK than that of subclinical
      hypothyroidism (687.6 +/- 153.3 pg/mL vs. 888.2 +/- 374.4 pg/mL, respectively; p
      = 0.03). A negative correlation was determined between sTWEAK level and anti-TPO
      (r = -0.533, p = 0.028) and IL-17A (r = -0.600, p = 0.005) levels in the overt
      hypothyroidism group. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced levels of sTWEAK with progression
      of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and the significant correlation between the sTWEAK
      levels and anti-TPO found in this study suggest that sTWEAK plays an active role
      in chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and in the
      progression of autoimmunity. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 562-566).

PMID- 26884303
TI  - Cushing's disease: Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels fail to normalize despite early
      postoperative remission - a prospective, controlled study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Effective transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing's disease (CD)
      normalizes cortisol levels and reduces complications of hypercortisolism.
      However, there is evidence of increased cardiovascular morbidity even after
      successful surgery. OBJECTIVE: A prospective, controlled study on the dynamics of
      fibrinogen and D-dimer levels with a six-month follow-up after an effective TSS
      for CD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients with CD and forty healthy age- and
      sex-matched subjects were included. We assessed ACTH, urinary and serum cortisol,
      and fibrinogen and D-dimer levels before TSS and during follow-up. RESULTS:
      Baseline BMI (P < 0.001), fibrinogen (P = 0.002), and D-dimer (P = 0.001) levels
      in CD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. High
      fibrinogen levels in the CD group were independent of BMI, and were positively
      associated with hsCRP (rS = 0.61, P < 0.001) and arterial hypertension (P =
      0.029). After the six-month follow-up we confirmed a sustained difference between
      the remission group and controls in fibrinogen and D-dimer levels (P = 0.001 and
      P = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Despite early biochemical remission of CD
      the levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer failed to decrease. This probably
      contributes to the high risk of thrombotic events and indicates the need for a
      close follow-up for signs of thromboembolic and cardiovascular complications in
      patients with early CD remission. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 283-291).

PMID- 26884304
TI  - The role of melatonin membrane receptors in melatonin-dependent oxytocin
      secretion from the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system - an in vitro and in
      vivo approach.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Melatonin exerts its biological role acting mainly via G protein
      coupled membrane MT1 and MT2 receptors. To determine whether a response of
      oxytocinergic neurons to different concentrations of melatonin is mediated
      through membrane MT1 and/or MT2 receptors, the effect of melatonin receptors
      antagonists, i.e. luzindole (a non-selective antagonist of both MT1 and MT2
      receptors) and 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin (4-P-PDOT - a selective antagonist
      of MT2 receptor), on melatonin-dependent oxytocin (OT) secretion from the rat
      hypothalamo-neurohypophysial (H-N) system, has been studied both in vitro and in
      vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For in vitro experiment, male rats served as donors
      of the H-N explants, which were placed in 1 ml of normal Krebs-Ringer fluid
      (nKRF) heated to 37oC. The H-N explants were incubated successively in nKRF
      {fluid B1} and incubation fluid as B1 enriched with appropriate concentration of
      melatonin, i.e. 10-9 M, 10-7 M, or 10-3 M and luzindole or 4-P-PDOT, or their
      vehicles (0.1% ethanol or DMSO) {fluid B2}. After 20 minutes of incubation in
      fluid B1 and then B2, the media were collected and immediately frozen before OT
      estimation by the RIA. The OT secretion was determined by using the B2/B1 ratio
      for each H-N explant. During in vivo experiment, rats were given an
      intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of 5 mL luzindole or 4-P-PDOT, or their
      solvent (0.1% DMSO) and 10 minutes later the next i.c.v. infusion of 5 mL of
      either melatonin solution (10-7 M) or its vehicle (0.1 % ethanol in 0.9% sodium
      chloride). RESULTS: Melatonin at a concentration of 10-3 M significantly
      stimulated, while at a concentration of 10-9 M had no effect on, oxytocin
      secretion from the rat H-N system in vitro, also when luzindole or 4-P-PDOT was
      present in a medium. On the other hand, melatonin at a concentration of 10-7 M
      diminished this neurohormone output from an isolated H-N system and into the
      blood. Luzindole significantly suppressed such melatonin action, while 4-P-PDOT
      did not change the inhibitory influence of 10-7 M melatonin on oxytocin release,
      both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that an
      inhibitory effect of 10-7 M melatonin on oxytocin secretion from the rat H-N
      system is mediated through a subtype MT1 membrane receptor and its action is
      independent of subtype MT2 receptor. However, for the stimulatory effect of
      pharmacological concentration (10-3 M) of the pineal hormone on oxytocin release,
      probably mechanisms other than membrane MT1/MT2 receptor(s)-dependent are
      involved. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 507-514).

PMID- 26884305
TI  - Is galectin-3 associated with urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The relationship between galectin-3 and diabetes mellitus or renal
      function has recently been investigated. In this study, we tried to evaluate the
      association of galectin-3 in urinary albumin excretion levels in type 2 diabetic
      patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a group of 137 type 2 diabetes patients, the
      mean of the last three urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratios and galectin-3
      levels were evaluated. The patient group was divided into three subgroups
      according to their level of albuminuria calculated with urine
      microalbumin/creatinine ratio. RESULTS: There was no significant difference
      between the galectin values of the three subgroups. Significant differences were
      observed between GFR results of group 1 vs. 3 (p < 0.0001) and group 2 vs. 3 (p =
      0.0006), and serum creatinine results of group 1 vs. 3 (p = 0.0003) and group 2
      vs. 3 (p < 0.0001). The three subgroups did not reveal any significant difference
      concerning the age, BMI, duration of DM, FPG, and HbA1c levels. CONCLUSIONS: We
      concluded that serum galectin-3 values are not affected by the levels of urinary
      albumin excretion in DM patients. We could not find any relation between galectin
      3 and the parameters of DM such as FPG, HbA1c, and duration of the disease.
      (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 580-584).

PMID- 26884306
TI  - ROHHAD in a 9-year-old boy - clinical case.
AB  - ROHHAD syndrome (Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic Dysfunction,
      Hypoventilation, and Autonomic Dysregulation) is characterized by rapid-onset
      obesity in young children, hypoventilation, and hypothalamic and autonomic
      dysfunction. The exact aetiology of the disease remains unknown, and the number
      of reported cases seems to be underestimated. We present the case of a nine-year
      old male patient suspected of ROHHAD due to weight gain since early childhood,
      decreased height velocity, hypoventilation, hypodipsia, excessive perspiration,
      and pyrexial episodes. The presented symptoms, and laboratory and imaging
      findings met the criteria of ROHHAD syndrome. ROHHAD should be considered in
      differential diagnosis for obesity in children. Early identification of the
      disease prevents potential complications specific for the syndrome, in particular
      a life-threatening cardio-pulmonary arrest. Patients with ROHHAD require regular
      follow-up by a multidisciplinary team.

PMID- 26884307
TI  - Late liver metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer with low calcitonin levels -
      successfully cured by radiofrequency.
AB  - A 28-year-old female consulted in 1994 for a left thyroid nodule known for two
      years with documented progression. Left lobe resection was performed initially
      followed by total thyroidectomy without lymph node dissection in September 1994.
      Pathological examination concluded on unilateral 10 * 40 mm medullary thyroid
      carcinoma (MTC). RET mutation was negative. Basal and pentagastrin-stimulated CT
      levels had been normal from 1994 to 2008 when her CT level was found to be
      elevated at 33 ng/L and increased subsequently to 111 ng/L in 2010. In accordance
      with guidelines, cervical ultrasound was performed repeatedly with negative
      results. After discussion in a multidisciplinary meeting and with patient's
      consent, an F-Dopa PET scan was proposed in disagreement with guidelines. This
      scan showed unique uptake in liver segment VI, which was confirmed by MRI. CT
      levels reached to 253 ng/L when she finally accepted treatment. In February 2013
      we performed radiofrequency ablation of the lesion, which allowed normalisation
      of CT levels. This observation highlights the possibility of late recurrence of
      MTC. We could propose that for MTC patients with low-calcitonin levels
      recurrences F-DOPA-PET/CT is a good diagnostic tool to use in case of repeatedly
      negative US neck studies. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 326-329). 

PMID- 26884308
TI  - Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in patients with liver metastases from
      follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC).
AB  - Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is the second most common type of thyroid
      cancer (TC) and accounts for approximately 10% of all TC cases. Liver metastases
      are a rare presentation in 0.5-1% of follicular thyroid cancers, usually
      occurring in the setting of widely disseminated FTC disease, and their presence
      is associated with poor prognosis. Until now, there have been only 30 cases of
      FTC liver metastases described in the literature. Herein, we review publications
      and describe diagnostic tools that may be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of
      FTC metastases to the liver, including biopsy and imaging techniques like US, CT,
      MRI, SPECT, PET, and radioiodine scintigraphy. We also present and discuss
      current methods of treatment, e.g. TSH suppressive therapy with levothyroxine,
      surgery, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transarterial embolisation (TAE), liver
      transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), chemotherapy with cisplatin and
      doxorubicin, treatment with Indium- 111-octreotide (or its analogues), and
      tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, sunitinib). At the end we describe the
      course, results of diagnostics, and treatment in a patient with large multiple
      FTC metastases to the liver. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 332-347). 

PMID- 26884309
TI  - Recent HIV Testing Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Bangkok and Chiang
      Mai: HIV Testing and Prevention Strategies Must Be Enhanced in Thailand.
AB  - HIV infection among men who have sex with men, particularly in Thai urban
      settings and among younger cohorts, is escalating. HIV testing and counseling
      (HTC) are important for prevention and obtaining treatment and care. We examine
      data from a 2013 survey of males, 15-24 years, reporting past-year sex with a
      male and living in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Almost three quarters of young MSM
      (YMSM) in Bangkok and only 27 % in Chiang Mai had an HIV test in the previous
      year. Associations for HIV testing varied between cities, although having
      employment increased the odds of HIV testing for both cities. In Bangkok, family
      knowledge of same sex attraction and talking to parents/guardians about HIV/AIDS
      had higher odds of HIV testing. Expanded HTC coverage is needed for YMSM in
      Chiang Mai. All health centers providing HTC, including those targeting MSM, need
      to address the specific needs of younger cohorts.

PMID- 26884311
TI  - Psychosocial Factors Associated with Resilience in a National Community-Based
      Cohort of Australian Gay Men Living with HIV.
AB  - HIV-positive gay men may experience multiple sources of adversity and stress,
      related both to their HIV diagnosis and sexual identity. Most of these men,
      however, do not experience mental health problems. Little is known about factors
      that help them achieve resilience in the face of life challenges. This study
      examined psychosocial factors associated with resilience in a national community
      based sample of 357 Australian HIV-positive gay men. Resilience was measured
      using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Higher levels of resilience were
      linked with experiencing low or no internalized HIV-related stigma, having no
      previous history of mental health problems, and a number of socioeconomic
      indicators. In addition to providing a more complete picture of the mental health
      of HIV-positive gay men, findings from this study can be used to inform strength
      based approaches to mental health prevention and support.

PMID- 26884310
TI  - Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness Among Gay and Other Men who have Sex with Men
      in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
AB  - Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for approximately half of Canada's new
      HIV infections. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a recently established and
      effective HIV prevention tool for MSM is currently not approved nor publicly
      funded. We recruited MSM via respondent-driven sampling to complete a self
      administered computer-based interview. Stratified by HIV status, multivariable
      logistic regression identified factors associated with PrEP awareness. Of 673
      participants, 102/500 (20.9 %) HIV-negative and 63/173 (26.5 %) HIV-positive men
      were aware of PrEP, but none had used it. One third of PrEP-aware MSM spoke about
      it with friends or sex partners. Self-declared knowledge was limited. Factors
      associated with PrEP awareness varied by HIV status, but included greater HAART
      optimism for HIV-negative MSM. Among HIV-negative MSM, being PrEP unaware was
      associated with younger age, not always having condoms, and preferring receptive
      versus insertive anal sex. Future longitudinal research should identify early
      adopters of PrEP and its associated impacts.

PMID- 26884313
TI  - Roles of the ER-alpha36-EGFR/HER2 positive regulatory loops in tamoxifen
      resistance.
AB  - Tamoxifen provided a successful treatment for ER-positive breast cancer for the
      past four decades. However, most breast tumors are eventually resistant to
      tamoxifen therapy. Extensive researches were conducted to understand the
      molecular mechanisms involved in tamoxifen resistance, and have revealed that
      multiple signaling molecules and pathways such as EGFR and HER2 are involved in
      tamoxifen resistance. Currently, the mechanisms by which tamoxifen sensitive
      breast cancer cells acquire these signaling pathways and develop tamoxifen
      resistance have not been elucidated. The identification of ER-alpha36, a variant
      of ER-alpha, that is able to mediate agonist activity of tamoxifen provided great
      insights into the underlying mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance. In this review,
      we will discuss the biological function and the possible underlying mechanisms of
      ER-alpha36 in tamoxifen resistance and specifically illustrate a novel cross-talk
      mechanism; positive regulatory loops between the ER-alpha36 and EGFR/HER2 in
      tamoxifen resistance. The function and the underlying mechanisms of ER-alpha36 in
      tamoxifen resistance of the breast cancer stem/progenitor cells will also be
      discussed. Finally, we will postulate a novel approach to restore tamoxifen
      sensitivity in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells.

PMID- 26884312
TI  - MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 - pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines with
      neuroendocrine differentiation and somatostatin receptors.
AB  - Studies using cell lines should always characterize these cells to ensure that
      the results are not distorted by unexpected morphological or genetic changes
      possibly due to culture time or passage number. Thus, the aim of this study was
      to describe those MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell line phenotype and genotype
      characteristics that may play a crucial role in pancreatic cancer therapeutic
      assays, namely neuroendocrine chemotherapy and peptide receptor radionuclide
      therapy. Epithelial, mesenchymal, endocrine and stem cell marker characterization
      was performed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, and genotyping by PCR,
      gene sequencing and capillary electrophoresis. MIA PaCa-2 (polymorphism)
      expresses CK5.6, AE1/AE3, E-cadherin, vimentin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin,
      SSTR2 and NTR1 but not CD56. PANC-1 (pleomorphism) expresses CK5.6, MNF-116,
      vimentin, chromogranin A, CD56 and SSTR2 but not E-cadherin, synaptophysin or
      NTR1. MIA PaCA-1 is CD24(-), CD44(+/++), CD326(-/+) and CD133/1(-), while PANC-1
      is CD24(-/+), CD44(+), CD326(-/+) and CD133/1(-). Both cell lines have KRAS and
      TP53 mutations and homozygous deletions including the first 3 exons of
      CDKN2A/p16(INK4A), but no SMAD4/DPC4 mutations or microsatellite instability.
      Both have neuroendocrine differentiation and SSTR2 receptors, precisely the
      features making them suitable for the therapies we propose to assay in future
      studies. 

PMID- 26884314
TI  - Imbalance of Th17/Tregs in rats with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury.
AB  - T helper (Th) 17 cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells are supposed
      to be critically involved in regulating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The
      aim of this study was to investigate the Th17/Treg pattern in rats with gunpowder
      smog-induced acute lung injury. Wistar rats were equally randomized to three
      groups: normal control group, ALI 6 h group (smoke inhalation for 6 h) and ALI 24
      h group (smoke inhalation for 24 h). We observed changes in cell counting in
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), alveolar-capillary membrane permeability and
      lung tissue pathology. Moreover, rats in ALI 6 h and ALI 24 h group showed
      increased expression of Th17 cell and related cytokines (IL-17 A, IL-6, TGF-beta
      and IL-23). Meanwhile, Treg prevalence and related cytokines (IL-10, IL-2 and IL
      35) were decreased. Consequently, the ratio of Th17/Treg was higher after smoke
      inhalation. Additionally, Th1 cell decreased while Th2 cell increased at 6 h and
      24 h after smoke inhalation. In conclusion, Th17/Treg imbalance exists in rats
      with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury, suggesting its potential role in
      the pathogenesis of this disease.

PMID- 26884315
TI  - Communication training improves patient-centered provider behavior and screening
      for soldiers' mental health concerns.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of patient-centered communication
      training for military providers who conduct post-deployment health screening. The
      half-day interactive workshop included simulated Soldier patients using video
      technology. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, all health care providers
      at four military treatment facilities were recruited for data collection during a
      four- to nine-day site visit (23 trained providers, 28 providers in the control
      group, and one provider declined to participate). All Soldiers were eligible to
      participate and were blinded to provider training status. Immediately after
      screening encounters, providers reported on their identification of mental health
      concerns and Soldiers reported on provider communication behaviors resulting in
      1,400 matched pairs. Electronic health records were also available for 26,005
      Soldiers. RESULTS: The workshop was found to increase (1) providers' patient
      centered communication behaviors as evaluated by Soldiers; (2) provider
      identification of Soldier mental health concerns; and (3), related health
      outcomes including provision of education and referral to a confidential
      counseling resource. CONCLUSION: Results are promising, but with small effect
      sizes and study limitations, further research is warranted. PRACTICE
      IMPLICATIONS: A brief intensive workshop on patient-centered communication
      tailored to the military screening context is feasible and may improve key
      outcomes.

PMID- 26884317
TI  - An open letter to The BMJ editors on qualitative research.

PMID- 26884316
TI  - Combination Protocol of Low-Frequency rTMS and Intensive Occupational Therapy for
      Post-stroke Upper Limb Hemiparesis: a 6-year Experience of More Than 1700
      Japanese Patients.
AB  - Several years ago, we proposed a combination protocol of repetitive transcranial
      magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) for upper
      limb hemiparesis after stroke. Subsequently, the number of patients treated with
      the protocol has increased in Japan. We aimed to present the latest data on our
      proposed combination protocol for post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis as a result
      of a multi-institutional study. After confirming that a patient met the inclusion
      criteria for the protocol, they were scheduled to receive the 15-day inpatient
      protocol. In the protocol, two sessions of 20-min rTMS and 120-min occupational
      therapy were provided daily, except for Sundays and the days of
      admission/discharge. Motor function of the affected upper limb was evaluated by
      the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Wolf motor function test (WMFT) at
      admission/discharge and at 4 weeks after discharge if possible. A total of 1725
      post-stroke patients were studied (mean age at admission 61.4 +/- 13.0 years).
      The scheduled 15-day protocol was completed by all patients. At discharge, the
      increase in FMA score, shortening in performance time of WMFT, and increase in
      functional ability scale (FAS) score of WMFT were significant (FMA score 46.8 +/-
      12.2 to 50.9 +/- 11.4 points, p < 0.001; performance time of WMFT 2.57 +/- 1.32
      to 2.21 +/- 1.33, p < 0.001; FAS score of WMFT 47.4 +/- 14. to 51.4 +/- 14.3
      points, p < 0.001). Our proposed combination protocol can be a potentially safe
      and useful therapeutic intervention for upper limb hemiparesis after stroke,
      although its efficacy should be confirmed in a randomized controlled study.

PMID- 26884318
TI  - Substrate-Sensitive Graphene Oxidation.
AB  - The inertness of graphene toward reaction with ambient molecules is essential for
      realizing durable devices with stable performance. Many device applications
      require graphene to contact with substrates, but whose impact on the chemical
      property of graphene has been largely overlooked. Here, we combine comprehensive
      first-principles analyses with experiments to show that graphene oxidation is
      highly sensitive to substrates. Graphene remains inert on SiO2 and hexagonal
      boron nitride but becomes increasingly weak against oxidation on metal substrates
      because of enhanced charge transfer and chemical interaction between them. In
      particular, Ni and Co substrates lead to spontaneous oxidation of graphene, while
      a Cu substrate maximally promotes the oxygen diffusion on graphene, with an
      estimated diffusivity 13 orders of magnitude higher than that on freestanding
      graphene. Bilayer graphene is revealed to have high oxidation resistance
      independent of substrate and thus is a better choice for high-performance
      nanoelectronics. Our findings should be extendable to a wide spectrum of chemical
      functionalizations of two-dimensional materials mediated by substrates. 

PMID- 26884319
TI  - Dose- and time-dependent effects of actomyosin inhibition on live mouse outflow
      resistance and aqueous drainage tissues.
AB  - Actomyosin contractility modulates outflow resistance of the aqueous drainage
      tissues and intraocular pressure, a key pathogenic factor of glaucoma. We
      established methodology to reliably analyze the effect of latrunculin-B (Lat-B)
      induced actin depolymerization on outflow physiology in live mice. A voltage
      controlled microperfusion system for delivering drugs and simultaneously
      analyzing outflow resistance was tested in live C57BL/6 mice. Flow rate and
      perfusion pressure were reproducible within a coefficient of variation of 2%.
      Outflow facility for phosphate-buffered saline (0.0027 +/- 0.00036 MUL/min/mmHg;
      mean +/- SD) and 0.02% ethanol perfusions (Lat-B vehicle; 0.0023 +/- 0.0005
      MUL/min/mmHg) were similar and stable over 2 hours (p > 0.1 for change),
      indicating absence of a 'washout' artifact seen in larger mammals. Outflow
      resistance changed in graded fashion, decreasing dose- and time-dependently over
      2 hours for Lat-B doses of 2.5 MUM (p = 0.29), 5 MUM (p = 0.039) and 10 MUM (p =
      0.001). Resulting outflow resistance was about 10 times lower with 10 MUM Lat-B
      than vehicle control. The filamentous actin network was decreased and
      structurally altered in the ciliary muscle (46 +/- 5.6%) and trabecular meshwork
      (37 +/- 8.3%) of treated eyes relative to vehicle controls (p < 0.005; 5 MUM Lat
      B). Mouse actomyosin contractile mechanisms are important to modulating aqueous
      outflow resistance, mirroring mechanisms in primates. We describe approaches to
      reliably probe these mechanisms in vivo.

PMID- 26884320
TI  - Hospital re-admission associated with adverse drug reactions in patients over the
      age of 65 years.
AB  - CONTEXT: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are responsible for 5 % of hospital
      admissions, but hospital re-admission induced by ADRs remains poorly documented.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of hospital re
      admission and the factors associated with re-admission in the patients over the
      age of 65 years. Secondary, we described the characteristics of cases of ADRs
      leading to re-admission for drugs other than chemotherapy agents. METHODS: Data
      were extracted from hospital discharge summaries provided by the Department of
      Medical Information of Toulouse University Hospital. All patients over the age of
      65 years admitted to the hospital in 2010 for an ADR, identified from ICD-10
      codes, were selected. All subsequent admissions of members of this cohort within
      1 year of discharge following the index admission were reviewed retrospectively.
      The risk factors associated with hospital re-admission for ADRs were analyzed.
      Medical records were used for descriptive analysis of re-admission due to drugs
      other than chemotherapy agents. RESULTS: We found that 553 of the 1000 patients
      admitted for ADRs in 2010 were re-admitted to hospital within 1 year. Among them,
      87 cases were re-admitted for ADRs (estimated rate of 87/1000 re-admission for an
      ADR within 1 year). A comparison of the patients re-admitted for ADRs (n = 87)
      with those of patients re-admitted for other causes (n = 410) suggested that only
      cancer increased the risk of re-admission for ADRs (OR = 7.69 [4.59-12.88] 95 %
      CI). ADRs due to the same drug combination were the suspected cause of repeat
      admission in half the cases (other than chemotherapy). Hospital re-admission was
      considered avoidable in four cases (22 %). CONCLUSION: This study shows an
      estimated rate of re-admission for an ADR around 87/1000 within 1 year, and the
      same drug combination were the suspected cause of repeat admission in half the
      cases. At least, 11 % of cases were avoidable.

PMID- 26884321
TI  - Poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) Homo and Block Copolymers
      Complexation with DNA.
AB  - In this work we focus on the use of novel homo and block copolymers based on
      poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) as gene delivery vectors. The
      homopolymers and block copolymers were synthesized by RAFT polymerization schemes
      and molecularly characterized. DNA/polymer complexes (polyplexes) in a wide range
      of N/P (amino-to-phosphate groups) ratios were prepared. The ability of the novel
      polymers to form complexes with linear DNA was investigated by light scattering,
      zeta potential, and ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching measurements. The
      resulting polyplexes were in the size range of 80-300 nm and their surface
      potential changed from negative to positive depending on the N/P ratio. The
      stability of polyplexes was monitored by changes in their hydrodynamic parameters
      in the presence of salt. The novel vector systems were visualized by transmission
      electron microscopy. The influence of factors such as molar mass, content, and
      chemical structure of the polycationic moieties as well as presence of a
      hydrophilic poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] block on the structure and
      stability of the polyplexes, kinetics of their formation, and effectiveness of
      the (co)polymers to shrink and pack DNA was discussed. 

PMID- 26884323
TI  - Systematic microRNAome profiling reveals the roles of microRNAs in milk protein
      metabolism and quality: insights on low-quality forage utilization.
AB  - In this study, we investigated the molecular regulatory mechanisms of milk
      protein production in dairy cows by studying the miRNAomes of five key metabolic
      tissues involved in protein synthesis and metabolism from dairy cows fed high-
      and low-quality diets. In total, 340, 338, 337, 330, and 328 miRNAs were
      expressed in the rumen, duodenum, jejunum, liver, and mammary gland tissues,
      respectively. Some miRNAs were highly correlated with feed and nitrogen
      efficiency, with target genes involved in transportation and phosphorylation of
      amino acid (AA). Additionally, low-quality forage diets (corn stover and rice
      straw) influenced the expression of feed and nitrogen efficiency-associated
      miRNAs such as miR-99b in rumen, miR-2336 in duodenum, miR-652 in jejunum, miR-1
      in liver, and miR-181a in mammary gland. Ruminal miR-21-3p and liver miR-2285f
      were predicted to regulate AA transportation by targeting ATP1A2 and SLC7A8,
      respectively. Furthermore, bovine-specific miRNAs regulated the proliferation and
      morphology of rumen epithelium, as well as the metabolism of liver lipids and
      branched-chain AAs, revealing bovine-specific mechanisms. Our results suggest
      that miRNAs expressed in these five tissues play roles in regulating
      transportation of AA for downstream milk production, which is an important
      mechanism that may be associated with low milk protein under low-quality forage
      feed. 

PMID- 26884324
TI  - Authors' Reply to Montastruc et al.: "Drug-Induced Hyperglycaemia and Diabetes".

PMID- 26884322
TI  - Endocytic recycling protein EHD1 regulates primary cilia morphogenesis and SHH
      signaling during neural tube development.
AB  - Members of the four-member C-terminal EPS15-Homology Domain-containing (EHD)
      protein family play crucial roles in endocytic recycling of cell surface
      receptors from endosomes to the plasma membrane. In this study, we show that Ehd1
      gene knockout in mice on a predominantly B6 background is embryonic lethal. Ehd1
      null embryos die at mid-gestation with a failure to complete key developmental
      processes including neural tube closure, axial turning and patterning of the
      neural tube. We found that Ehd1-null embryos display short and stubby cilia on
      the developing neuroepithelium at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5). Loss of EHD1 also
      deregulates the ciliary SHH signaling with Ehd1-null embryos displaying features
      indicative of increased SHH signaling, including a significant downregulation in
      the formation of the GLI3 repressor and increase in the ventral neuronal markers
      specified by SHH. Using Ehd1-null MEFS we found that EHD1 protein co-localizes
      with the SHH receptor Smoothened in the primary cilia upon ligand stimulation.
      Under the same conditions, EHD1 was shown to co-traffic with Smoothened into the
      developing primary cilia and we identify EHD1 as a direct binding partner of
      Smoothened. Overall, our studies identify the endocytic recycling regulator EHD1
      as a novel regulator of the primary cilium-associated trafficking of Smoothened
      and Hedgehog signaling.

PMID- 26884325
TI  - Comment on: "Drug-Induced Hyperglycaemia and Diabetes".

PMID- 26884326
TI  - The Safety of Prochlorperazine in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta
      Analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Prochlorperazine is recommended for adults with breakthrough or
      refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The objective of this
      review was to describe its safety in children when given for any indication to
      help define its role for CINV control in children. METHODS: Electronic searches
      of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials were performed as of 9 March 2015. All studies in English reporting
      adverse effects (AEs) associated with prochlorperazine in children (<=18 years)
      were included. AEs were synthesized for prospective studies. RESULTS: Forty-nine
      (15 prospective) studies evaluating the use of prochlorperazine in 758 children
      were included. The most commonly reported AEs in prospective studies of
      prochlorperazine in children were sedation (multiple-dose studies: 10 %, 95 % CI
      5-21) and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) (single-dose studies: 9 %, 95 % CI 3-29;
      multiple-dose studies: 4 %, 95 % CI 1-11). Serious AEs (seizure, neuroleptic
      malignant syndrome, autonomic collapse, tardive dyskinesia) were rarely
      associated with prochlorperazine use in children. Five fatalities were reported
      in children receiving prochlorperazine. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of this
      systematic review and meta-analysis were that the AEs reported in the included
      studies were heterogeneous, the prospective use of systematic clinical tools to
      identify AEs was rare, and the risk of bias in most prospective studies was
      moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The most common AEs reported with the pediatric use of
      prochlorperazine are EPS and sedation. Fatalities, life-threatening, and
      persistent AEs have also been reported.

PMID- 26884328
TI  - Percutaneous Management of Accidentally Retained Foreign Bodies During Image
      Guided Non-vascular Procedures: Novel Technique Using a Large-Bore Biopsy System.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel percutaneous image-guided technique using a large
      bore biopsy system to retrieve foreign bodies (FBs) accidentally retained during
      non-vascular interventional procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2013
      and October 2015, five patients underwent percutaneous retrieval of five
      iatrogenic FBs, including a biopsy needle tip in the femoral head following
      osteoblastoma biopsy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA); a co-axial needle shaft
      within a giant desmoid tumour following cryoablation; and three post
      vertebroplasty cement tails within paraspinal muscles. All FBs were retrieved
      immediately following original procedures under local or general anaesthesia,
      using combined computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopic guidance. The basic
      technique involved positioning a 6G trocar sleeve around the FB long axis and co
      axially advancing an 8G biopsy needle to retrieve the FB within the biopsy core.
      Retrospective chart review facilitated analysis of procedures, FBs, technical
      success, and complications. RESULTS: Mean FB size was 23 mm (range 8-74 mm). Four
      FBs were located within 10 mm of non-vascular significant anatomic structures.
      The basic technique was successful in 3 cases; 2 cases required technical
      modifications including using a stiff guide-wire to facilitate retrieval in the
      case of the post-cryoablation FB; and using the central mandrin of the 6G trocar
      to push a cement tract back into an augmented vertebra when initial retrieval
      failed. Overall technical success (FB retrieval or removal to non-hazardous
      location) was 100 %, with no complications. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous image-guided
      retrieval of iatrogenic FBs using a large-bore biopsy system is a feasible, safe,
      effective, and versatile technique, with potential advantages over existing
      methods.

PMID- 26884329
TI  - The Role of Embryonic Stem Cell-expressed RAS (ERAS) in the Maintenance of
      Quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells.
AB  - Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were recently identified as liver-resident
      mesenchymal stem cells. HSCs are activated after liver injury and involved in
      pivotal processes, such as liver development, immunoregulation, regeneration, and
      also fibrogenesis. To date, several studies have reported candidate pathways that
      regulate the plasticity of HSCs during physiological and pathophysiological
      processes. Here we analyzed the expression changes and activity of the RAS family
      GTPases and thereby investigated the signaling networks of quiescent HSCs versus
      activated HSCs. For the first time, we report that embryonic stem cell-expressed
      RAS (ERAS) is specifically expressed in quiescent HSCs and down-regulated during
      HSC activation via promoter DNA methylation. Notably, in quiescent HSCs, the high
      level of ERAS protein correlates with the activation of AKT, STAT3, mTORC2, and
      HIPPO signaling pathways and inactivation of FOXO1 and YAP. Our data strongly
      indicate that in quiescent HSCs, ERAS targets AKT via two distinct pathways
      driven by PI3Kalpha/delta and mTORC2, whereas in activated HSCs, RAS signaling
      shifts to RAF-MEK-ERK. Thus, in contrast to the reported role of ERAS in tumor
      cells associated with cell proliferation, our findings indicate that ERAS is
      important to maintain quiescence in HSCs. 

PMID- 26884330
TI  - Manipulation of Interleukin-1beta and Interleukin-18 Production by Yersinia
      pestis Effectors YopJ and YopM and Redundant Impact on Virulence.
AB  - Innate immunity plays a central role in resolving infections by pathogens. Host
      survival during plague, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis, is
      favored by a robust early innate immune response initiated by IL-1beta and IL-18.
      These cytokines are produced by a two-step mechanism involving NF-kappaB-mediated
      pro-cytokine production and inflammasome-driven maturation into bioactive
      inflammatory mediators. Because of the anti-microbial effects induced by IL
      1beta/IL-18, it may be desirable for pathogens to manipulate their production. Y.
      pestis type III secretion system effectors YopJ and YopM can interfere with
      different parts of this process. Both effectors have been reported to influence
      inflammasome caspase-1 activity; YopJ promotes caspase-8-dependent cell death and
      caspase-1 cleavage, whereas YopM inhibits caspase-1 activity via an incompletely
      understood mechanism. However, neither effector appears essential for full
      virulence in vivo Here we report that the sum of influences by YopJ and YopM on
      IL-1beta/IL-18 release is suppressive. In the absence of YopM, YopJ minimally
      affects caspase-1 cleavage but suppresses IL-1beta, IL-18, and other cytokines
      and chemokines. Importantly, we find that Y. pestis containing combined deletions
      of YopJ and YopM induces elevated levels of IL-1beta/IL-18 in vitro and in vivo
      and is significantly attenuated in a mouse model of bubonic plague. The reduced
      virulence of the YopJ-YopM mutant is dependent on the presence of IL-1beta, IL
      18, and caspase-1. Thus, we conclude that Y. pestis YopJ and YopM can both exert
      a tight control of host IL-1beta/IL-18 production to benefit the bacteria,
      resulting in a redundant impact on virulence. 

PMID- 26884331
TI  - Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Identification of Peptides Associated with Cephalic
      Ganglia Regeneration in Schmidtea mediterranea.
AB  - Tissue regeneration is a complex process that involves a mosaic of molecules that
      vary spatially and temporally. Insights into the chemical signaling underlying
      this process can be achieved with a multiplex and untargeted chemical imaging
      method such as mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), which can enablede novostudies of
      nervous system regeneration. A combination of MSI and multivariate statistics was
      used to differentiate peptide dynamics in the freshwater planarian
      flatwormSchmidtea mediterraneaat different time points during cephalic ganglia
      regeneration. A protocol was developed to makeS. mediterraneatissues amenable for
      MSI. MS ion images of planarian tissue sections allow changes in peptides and
      unknown compounds to be followed as a function of cephalic ganglia regeneration.
      In conjunction with fluorescence imaging, our results suggest that even though
      the cephalic ganglia structure is visible after 6 days of regeneration, the
      original chemical composition of these regenerated structures is regained only
      after 12 days. Differences were observed in many peptides, such as those derived
      from secreted peptide 4 and EYE53-1. Peptidomic analysis further identified
      multiple peptides from various known prohormones, histone proteins, and DNA- and
      RNA-binding proteins as being associated with the regeneration process. Mass
      spectrometry data also facilitated the identification of a new prohormone, which
      we have named secreted peptide prohormone 20 (SPP-20), and is up-regulated during
      regeneration in planarians. 

PMID- 26884332
TI  - DNA and Protein Requirements for Substrate Conformational Changes Necessary for
      Human Flap Endonuclease-1-catalyzed Reaction.
AB  - Human flap endonuclease-1 (hFEN1) catalyzes the essential removal of single
      stranded flaps arising at DNA junctions during replication and repair processes.
      hFEN1 biological function must be precisely controlled, and consequently, the
      protein relies on a combination of protein and substrate conformational changes
      as a prerequisite for reaction. These include substrate bending at the duplex
      duplex junction and transfer of unpaired reacting duplex end into the active
      site. When present, 5'-flaps are thought to thread under the helical cap,
      limiting reaction to flaps with free 5'-terminiin vivo Here we monitored DNA
      bending by FRET and DNA unpairing using 2-aminopurine exciton pair CD to
      determine the DNA and protein requirements for these substrate conformational
      changes. Binding of DNA to hFEN1 in a bent conformation occurred independently of
      5'-flap accommodation and did not require active site metal ions or the presence
      of conserved active site residues. More stringent requirements exist for transfer
      of the substrate to the active site. Placement of the scissile phosphate diester
      in the active site required the presence of divalent metal ions, a free 5'-flap
      (if present), a Watson-Crick base pair at the terminus of the reacting duplex,
      and the intact secondary structure of the enzyme helical cap. Optimal positioning
      of the scissile phosphate additionally required active site conserved residues
      Tyr(40), Asp(181), and Arg(100)and a reacting duplex 5'-phosphate. These studies
      suggest a FEN1 reaction mechanism where junctions are bound and 5'-flaps are
      threaded (when present), and finally the substrate is transferred onto active
      site metals initiating cleavage. 

PMID- 26884333
TI  - Identification of a Substrate Recognition Domain in the Replication Stress
      Response Protein Zinc Finger Ran-binding Domain-containing Protein 3 (ZRANB3).
AB  - DNA damage and other forms of replication stress can cause replication forks to
      stall. Replication stress response proteins stabilize and resolve stalled forks
      by mechanisms that include fork remodeling to facilitate repair or bypass of
      damaged templates. Several enzymes including SMARCAL1, HLTF, and ZRANB3 catalyze
      these reactions. SMARCAL1 and HLTF utilize structurally distinct accessory
      domains attached to an ATPase motor domain to facilitate DNA binding and
      catalysis of fork remodeling reactions. Here we describe a substrate recognition
      domain within ZRANB3 that is needed for it to recognize forked DNA structures,
      hydrolyze ATP, catalyze fork remodeling, and act as a structure-specific
      endonuclease. Thus, substrate recognition domains are a common feature of fork
      remodeling, SNF2-family, DNA-dependent ATPases, and our study provides further
      mechanistic understanding of how these enzymes maintain genome integrity during
      DNA replication. 

PMID- 26884334
TI  - Intramolecular Interactions and Regulation of Cofactor Binding by the Four
      Repressive Elements in the Caspase Recruitment Domain-containing Protein 11
      (CARD11) Inhibitory Domain.
AB  - The CARD11 signaling scaffold transmits signaling between antigen receptors on B
      and T lymphocytes and the transcription factor NF-kappaB during the adaptive
      immune response. CARD11 activity is controlled by an inhibitory domain (ID),
      which participates in intramolecular interactions and prevents cofactor binding
      prior to receptor triggering. Oncogenic CARD11 mutations associated with the
      activated B cell-like subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma somehow perturb ID
      mediated autoinhibition to confer CARD11 with the dysregulated spontaneous
      signaling to NF-kappaB that is required for the proliferation and survival of the
      lymphoma. Here, we investigate how the four repressive elements (REs) we have
      discovered in the CARD11 ID function to inhibit CARD11 activity with
      cooperativity and redundancy. We find that each RE contributes to the maintenance
      of the closed inactive state of CARD11 that predominates in the absence of
      receptor engagement. Each RE also contributes to the prevention of Bcl10 binding
      in the basal unstimulated state. RE1, RE2, and RE3 participate in intramolecular
      interactions with other CARD11 domains and share domain targets for binding.
      Remarkably, diffuse large B cell lymphoma-associated gain-of-function mutations
      in the caspase recruitment domain, LATCH, or coiled coil can perturb
      intramolecular interactions mediated by multiple REs, suggesting how single amino
      acid oncogenic CARD11 mutations can perturb or bypass the action of redundant
      inhibitory REs to achieve the level of hyperactive CARD11 signaling required to
      support lymphoma growth. 

PMID- 26884335
TI  - Cooperative Control of Caspase Recruitment Domain-containing Protein 11 (CARD11)
      Signaling by an Unusual Array of Redundant Repressive Elements.
AB  - Several classes of signaling proteins contain autoinhibitory domains that prevent
      unwarranted signaling and coordinate the induction of activity in response to
      external cues. CARD11, a scaffold protein critical for antigen receptor signaling
      to NF-kappaB, undergoes autoregulation by a poorly understood inhibitory domain
      (ID), which keeps CARD11 inactive in the absence of receptor triggering through
      inhibitory intramolecular interactions. This autoinhibitory strategy makes CARD11
      highly susceptible to gain-of-function mutations that are frequently observed in
      diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and that disrupt ID-mediated
      autoinhibition, leading to constitutive NF-kappaB activity, which can promote
      lymphoma proliferation. Although DLBCL-associated CARD11 mutations in the caspase
      recruitment domain (CARD), LATCH domain, and coiled coil have been shown to
      disrupt intramolecular ID binding, surprisingly, no gain-of-function mutations in
      the ID itself have been reported and validated. In this study, we solve this
      paradox and report that the CARD11 ID contains an unusual array of four
      repressive elements that function cooperatively with redundancy to prevent
      spontaneous NF-kappaB activation. Our quantitative analysis suggests that potent
      oncogenic CARD11 mutations must perturb autoinhibition by at least three
      repressive elements. Our results explain the lack of ID mutations in DLBCL and
      reveal an unusual autoinhibitory domain structure and strategy for preventing
      unwarranted scaffold signaling to NF-kappaB. 

PMID- 26884336
TI  - Neutrophilic Cathepsin C Is Maturated by a Multistep Proteolytic Process and
      Secreted by Activated Cells during Inflammatory Lung Diseases.
AB  - The cysteine protease cathepsin C (CatC) activates granule-associated
      proinflammatory serine proteases in hematopoietic precursor cells. Its early
      inhibition in the bone marrow is regarded as a new therapeutic strategy for
      treating proteolysis-driven chronic inflammatory diseases, but its complete
      inhibition is elusive in vivo Controlling the activity of CatC may be achieved by
      directly inhibiting its activity with a specific inhibitor or/and by preventing
      its maturation. We have investigated immunochemically and kinetically the
      occurrence of CatC and its proform in human hematopoietic precursor cells and in
      differentiated mature immune cells in lung secretions. The maturation of proCatC
      obeys a multistep mechanism that can be entirely managed by CatS in neutrophilic
      precursor cells. CatS inhibition by a cell-permeable inhibitor abrogated the
      release of the heavy and light chains from proCatC and blocked ~80% of CatC
      activity. Under these conditions the activity of neutrophil serine proteases,
      however, was not abolished in precursor cell cultures. In patients with
      neutrophilic lung inflammation, mature CatC is found in large amounts in sputa.
      It is secreted by activated neutrophils as confirmed through lipopolysaccharide
      administration in a nonhuman primate model. CatS inhibitors currently in clinical
      trials are expected to decrease the activity of neutrophilic CatC without
      affecting those of elastase-like serine proteases. 

PMID- 26884338
TI  - Identification of an Extracellular Gate for the Proton-coupled Folate Transporter
      (PCFT-SLC46A1) by Cysteine Cross-linking.
AB  - The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT, SLC46A1) is required for intestinal
      folate absorption and folate homeostasis in humans. A homology model of PCFT,
      based upon theEscherichia coliglycerol 3-phosphate transporter structure,
      predicted that PCFT transmembrane domains (TMDs) 1, 2, 7, and 11 form an
      extracellular gate in the inward-open conformation. To assess this model, five
      residues (Gln(45)-TMD1, Asn(90)-TMD2, Leu(290)-TMD7, Ser(407)-TMD11 and Asn(411)
      TMD11) in the predicted gate were substituted with Cys to generate single and
      nine double mutants. Transport function of the mutants was assayed in transient
      transfectants by measurement of [(3)H]substrate influx as was accessibility of
      the Cys residues to biotinylation. Pairs of Cys residues were assessed for
      spontaneous formation of a disulfide bond, induction of a disulfide bond by
      oxidization with dichloro(1,10-phenanthroline)copper (II) (CuPh), or the
      formation of a Cd(2+)complex. The data were consistent with the formation of a
      spontaneous disulfide bond between the N90C/S407C pair and a CuPh- and Cd(2+)
      induced disulfide bond and complex, respectively, for the Q45C/L290C and
      L290C/N411C pairs. The decrease in activity induced by cross-linkage of the Cys
      residue pairs was due to a decrease in the influxVmaxconsistent with restriction
      in the mobility of the transporter. The presence of folate substrate decreased
      the CuPh-induced inhibition of transport. Hence, the data support the glycerol 3
      phosphate transporter-based homology model of PCFT and the presence of an
      extracellular gate formed by TMDs 1, 2, 7, and 11. 

PMID- 26884337
TI  - Subunit-selective N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Signaling through
      Brefeldin A-resistant Arf Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors BRAG1 and BRAG2
      during Synapse Maturation.
AB  - The maturation of glutamatergic synapses in the CNS is regulated by NMDA
      receptors (NMDARs) that gradually change from a GluN2B- to a GluN2A-dominated
      subunit composition during postnatal development. Here we show that NMDARs
      control the activity of the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) by
      consecutively recruiting two related brefeldin A-resistant Arf guanine nucleotide
      exchange factors, BRAG1 and BRAG2, in a GluN2 subunit-dependent manner. In young
      cortical cultures, GluN2B and BRAG1 tonically activated Arf6. In mature cultures,
      Arf6 was activated through GluN2A and BRAG2 upon NMDA treatment, whereas the
      tonic Arf6 activation was not detectable any longer. This shift in Arf6
      regulation and the associated drop in Arf6 activity were reversed by a knockdown
      of BRAG2. Given their sequential recruitment during development, we examined
      whether BRAG1 and BRAG2 influence synaptic currents in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal
      neurons using patch clamp recordings in acute slices from mice at different ages.
      The number of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) miniature events was reduced by depletion of
      BRAG1 but not by depletion of BRAG2 during the first 2 weeks after birth. In
      contrast, depletion of BRAG2 during postnatal weeks 4 and 5 reduced the number of
      AMPAR miniature events and compromised the quantal sizes of both AMPAR and NMDAR
      currents evoked at Schaffer collateral synapses. We conclude that both Arf6
      activation through GluN2B-BRAG1 during early development and the transition from
      BRAG1- to BRAG2-dependent Arf6 signaling induced by the GluN2 subunit switch are
      critical for the development of mature glutamatergic synapses. 

PMID- 26884339
TI  - Clusterin Binds to Abeta1-42 Oligomers with High Affinity and Interferes with
      Peptide Aggregation by Inhibiting Primary and Secondary Nucleation.
AB  - The aggregation of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) is a fundamental pathogenic
      mechanism leading to the neuronal damage present in Alzheimer disease, and
      soluble Abeta oligomers are thought to be a major toxic culprit. Thus, better
      knowledge and specific targeting of the pathways that lead to these noxious
      species may result in valuable therapeutic strategies. We characterized some
      effects of the molecular chaperone clusterin, providing new and more detailed
      evidence of its potential neuroprotective effects. Using a classical thioflavin T
      assay, we observed a dose-dependent inhibition of the aggregation process. The
      global analysis of time courses under different conditions demonstrated that
      clusterin has no effect on the elongation rate but mainly interferes with the
      nucleation processes (both primary and secondary), reducing the number of nuclei
      available for further fibril growth. Then, using a recently developed immunoassay
      based on surface plasmon resonance, we obtained direct evidence of a high
      affinity (KD= 1 nm) interaction of clusterin with biologically relevant Abeta1
      42oligomers, selectively captured on the sensor chip. Moreover, with the same
      technology, we observed that substoichiometric concentrations of clusterin
      prevent oligomer interaction with the antibody 4G8, suggesting that the chaperone
      shields hydrophobic residues exposed on the oligomeric assemblies. Finally, we
      found that preincubation with clusterin antagonizes the toxic effects of Abeta1
      42oligomers, as evaluated in a recently developedin vivomodel inCaenorhabditis
      elegans.These data substantiate the interaction of clusterin with biologically
      active regions exposed on nuclei/oligomers of Abeta1-42, providing a molecular
      basis for the neuroprotective effects of the chaperone. 

PMID- 26884340
TI  - Activation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Receptor 2 Mediates
      Endothelial Permeability Caused by Cyclic Stretch.
AB  - High tidal volume mechanical ventilation and the resultant excessive mechanical
      forces experienced by lung vascular endothelium are known to lead to increased
      vascular endothelial leak, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain
      incompletely understood. One reported mechanotransduction pathway of increased
      endothelial cell (EC) permeability caused by high magnitude cyclic stretch (18%
      CS) involves CS-induced activation of the focal adhesion associated signalosome,
      which triggers Rho GTPase signaling. This study identified an alternative pathway
      of CS-induced EC permeability. We show here that high magnitude cyclic stretch
      (18% CS) rapidly activates VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling by dissociating
      VEGFR2 from VE-cadherin at the cell junctions. This results in VEGFR2 activation,
      Src-dependent VE-cadherin tyrosine phosphorylation, and internalization leading
      to increased endothelial permeability. This process is also accompanied by CS
      induced phosphorylation and internalization of PECAM1. Importantly, CS-induced
      endothelial barrier disruption was attenuated by VEGFR2 inhibition. 18% CS
      induced EC permeability was linked to dissociation of cell junction scaffold
      afadin from the adherens junctions. Forced expression of recombinant afadin in
      pulmonary endothelium attenuated CS-induced VEGFR2 and VE-cadherin
      phosphorylation, preserved adherens junction integrity and VEGFR2.VE-cadherin
      complex, and suppressed CS-induced EC permeability. This study shows for the
      first time a mechanism whereby VEGFR2 activation mediates EC permeability induced
      by pathologically relevant cyclic stretch. In this mechanism, CS induces
      dissociation of the VE-cadherin.VEGFR2 complex localized at the adherens
      juctions, causing activation of VEGFR2, VEGFR2-mediated Src-dependent
      phosphorylation of VE-cadherin, disassembly of adherens junctions, and EC barrier
      failure. 

PMID- 26884341
TI  - Calcium Promotes the Formation of Syntaxin 1 Mesoscale Domains through
      Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate.
AB  - Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is a minor component of total
      plasma membrane lipids, but it has a substantial role in the regulation of many
      cellular functions, including exo- and endocytosis. Recently, it was shown that
      PI(4,5)P2and syntaxin 1, a SNARE protein that catalyzes regulated exocytosis,
      form domains in the plasma membrane that constitute recognition sites for vesicle
      docking. Also, calcium was shown to promote syntaxin 1 clustering in the plasma
      membrane, but the molecular mechanism was unknown. Here, using a combination of
      superresolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy, FRET, and atomic force
      microscopy, we show that Ca(2+)acts as a charge bridge that specifically and
      reversibly connects multiple syntaxin 1/PI(4,5)P2complexes into larger mesoscale
      domains. This transient reorganization of the plasma membrane by physiological
      Ca(2+)concentrations is likely to be important for Ca(2+)-regulated secretion. 

PMID- 26884342
TI  - Sequence Requirements for Neuropilin-2 Recognition by ST8SiaIV and
      Polysialylation of Its O-Glycans.
AB  - Polysialic acid is an oncofetal glycopolymer, added to the glycans of a small
      group of substrates, that controls cell adhesion and signaling. One of these
      substrates, neuropilin-2, is a VEGF and semaphorin co-receptor that is
      polysialylated on its O-glycans in mature dendritic cells and macrophages by the
      polysialyltransferase ST8SiaIV. To understand the biochemical basis of neuropilin
      2 polysialylation, we created a series of domain swap chimeras with sequences
      from neuropilin-1, a protein for which polysialylation had not been previously
      reported. To our surprise, we found that membrane-associated neuropilin-1 is
      polysialylated at ~50% of the level of neuropilin-2 but not polysialylated when
      it lacks its cytoplasmic tail and transmembrane region and is secreted from the
      cell. This was not the case for neuropilin-2, which is polysialylated when either
      membrane-associated or soluble. Evaluation of the soluble chimeric proteins
      demonstrated that the meprin A5 antigen-MU tyrosine phosphatase (MAM) domain and
      the O-glycan-containing linker region of neuropilin-2 are necessary and
      sufficient for its polysialylation and serve as better recognition and acceptor
      sites in the polysialylation process than those regions of neuropilin-1. In
      addition, specific acidic residues on the surface of the MAM domain are critical
      for neuropilin-2 polysialylation. Based on these data and pull-down experiments,
      we propose a model where ST8SiaIV recognizes and docks on an acidic surface of
      the neuropilin-2 MAM domain to polysialylate O-glycans on the adjacent linker
      region. These results together with those related to neural cell adhesion
      molecule polysialylation establish a paradigm for the process of protein-specific
      polysialylation. 

PMID- 26884343
TI  - Relationship between socioeconomic status and accessibility for endoscopic
      resection among gastric cancer patients: using National Health Insurance Cohort
      in Korea: poverty and endoscopic resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among
      patients in Korea. We measured the inequity in accessibility to endoscopic
      mucosal/submucosal resection (EMR) for early and curable gastric cancer treatment
      among different income classes in patients diagnosed from late 2011 to 2013.
      METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Cooperation Claim
      Data from patients diagnosed from late 2011 until the end of 2013, to provide a
      total of 1,671 patients with newly diagnosed carcinoma in situ of gastric and
      gastric cancer among 1,025,340 enrollees. Multiple logistic regression analysis
      was conducted to investigate the associations between independent variables and
      the rate of treatment with EMR. RESULTS: Among 1671 gastric cancer patients, 317
      (19.0 %) subjects were treated with EMR. The 'lowest' income group was associated
      with a statistically significant lower rate of EMR treatment [odds ratio (OR) =
      0.55, 95 % confidence index (CI) 0.34-0.89] compared to the 'highest' income
      group. The ORs for the 'low-middle' and 'middle-high' income groups were both
      higher than for the reference group, although these were not significantly
      different. According to the subgroup analysis by gender, rate of EMR treatment of
      'lowest' income group (OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.18-0.74) was significantly lower only
      among men. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we suggest that although universal health
      insurance in Korea has covered EMR treatment since August 2011, patients from the
      lowest income group are less likely to receive this treatment. Thus, we need to
      detect more eligible early-stage gastric cancer and treatment for individuals of
      low socioeconomic status.

PMID- 26884345
TI  - PNA lectin for purifying mouse acinar cells from the inflamed pancreas.
AB  - Better methods for purifying human or mouse acinar cells without the need for
      genetic modification are needed. Such techniques would be advantageous for the
      specific study of certain mechanisms, such as acinar-to-beta-cell reprogramming
      and pancreatitis. Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA-I) lectin has been used to
      label and isolate acinar cells from the pancreas. However, the purity of the UEA
      I-positive cell fraction has not been fully evaluated. Here, we screened 20
      widely used lectins for their binding specificity for major pancreatic cell
      types, and found that UEA-I and Peanut agglutinin (PNA) have a specific affinity
      for acinar cells in the mouse pancreas, with minimal affinity for other major
      pancreatic cell types including endocrine cells, duct cells and endothelial
      cells. Moreover, PNA-purified acinar cells were less contaminated with
      mesenchymal and inflammatory cells, compared to UEA-I purified acinar cells.
      Thus, UEA-I and PNA appear to be excellent lectins for pancreatic acinar cell
      purification. PNA may be a better choice in situations where mesenchymal cells or
      inflammatory cells are significantly increased in the pancreas, such as type 1
      diabetes, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26884344
TI  - Impact of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and amphiregulin expression on
      survival in patients with stage II/III gastric cancer enrolled in the Adjuvant
      Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Gastric Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exploratory biomarker analysis was conducted to identify factors
      related to the outcomes of patients with stage II/III gastric cancer using data
      from the Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Gastric Cancer, which was a
      randomized controlled study comparing the administration of an orally active
      combination of tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil with surgery alone. METHODS:
      Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens from 829 patients were
      retrospectively examined, and 63 genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time RT
      PCR after TaqMan assay-based pre-amplification. Gene expression was normalized to
      the geometric mean of GAPDH, ACTB, and RPLP0 as reference genes, and categorized
      into low and high values based on the median. The impact of gene expression on
      survival was analyzed using 5-year survival data. The Benjamini and Hochberg
      procedure was used to control the false discovery rate. RESULTS: IGF1R and AREG
      were most strongly correlated with overall survival, which was significantly
      worse in high IGF1R patients than low IGF1R patients, but better in high AREG
      patients than low AREG patients. The hazard ratio for death in the analysis of
      overall survival (S-1 vs. surgery alone) was reduced in the high IGF1R group
      compared with the low IGF1R group and in the low AREG group compared with the
      high AREG group. There were no significant interaction effects. CONCLUSION: IGF1R
      gene expression was associated with poor outcomes after curative resection of
      stage II/III gastric cancer, whereas AREG gene expression was associated with
      good outcomes. No significant interaction effect on survival was evident between
      S-1 treatment and gene expression.

PMID- 26884346
TI  - Muse Cells Provide the Pluripotency of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Direct
      Contribution of Muse Cells to Tissue Regeneration.
AB  - While mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are easily accessible from mesenchymal
      tissues, such as bone marrow and adipose tissue, they are heterogeneous, and
      their entire composition is not fully identified. MSCs are not only able to
      differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, which belong to the
      same mesodermal lineage, but they are also able to cross boundaries between
      mesodermal, ectodermal, and endodermal lineages, and differentiate into neuronal-
      and hepatocyte-like cells. However, the ratio of such differentiation is not very
      high, suggesting that only a subpopulation of the MSCs participates in this cross
      lineage differentiation phenomenon. We have identified unique cells that we named
      multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells that may explain the
      pluripotent-like properties of MSCs. Muse cells comprise a small percentage of
      MSCs, are able to generate cells representative of all three germ layers from a
      single cell, and are nontumorigenic and self-renewable. Importantly, cells other
      than Muse cells in MSCs do not have these pluripotent-like properties. Muse cells
      are particularly unique compared with other stem cells in that they efficiently
      migrate and integrate into damaged tissue when supplied into the bloodstream, and
      spontaneously differentiate into cells compatible with the homing tissue. Such a
      repairing action of Muse cells via intravenous injection is recognized in various
      tissues including the brain, liver, and skin. Therefore, unlike ESCs/iPSCs, Muse
      cells render induction into the target cell type prior to transplantation
      unnecessary. They can repair tissues in two simple steps: collection from
      mesenchymal tissues, such as the bone marrow, and intravenous injection. The
      impressive regenerative performance of these cells provides a simple, feasible
      strategy for treating a variety of diseases. This review details the unique
      characteristics of Muse cells and describes their future application for
      regenerative medicine.

PMID- 26884347
TI  - Identification of Mouse Mesenteric and Subcutaneous in vitro Adipogenic Cells.
AB  - Fat accumulation and the dysfunction of visceral white adipose tissue (WAT), but
      not subcutaneous WAT, cause abnormalities in whole body metabolic homeostasis.
      However, no current drugs specifically target visceral WAT. The primary reason
      for this is that a practical in vitro culture system for mesenteric adipocytes
      has not been established. To resolve this issue, we sought to identify in vitro
      adipogenic cells in mesenteric and subcutaneous WATs. First, we examined the
      expression pattern of surface antigens in stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) cells
      from mouse mesenteric and subcutaneous WATs, and found the expression of 30 stem
      cell-related surface antigens. Then, to evaluate the adipogenic ability of each
      fraction, we performed in vitro screening, and identified five candidate markers
      for mesenteric adipogenic cells and one candidate marker for subcutaneous
      adipogenic cells. To investigate whether in vitro adipogenic ability accurately
      reflects the conditions in vivo, we performed transplantation experiments, and
      identified CD9(-) CD201(+) Sca-1(-) cells and CD90(+) cells as mesenteric and
      subcutaneous in vitro adipogenic cells, respectively. Furthermore, mature
      adipocytes derived from mesenteric and subcutaneous adipogenic cells maintained
      each characteristic phenotype in vitro. Thus, our study should contribute to the
      development of a useful culture system for visceral adipocytes. 

PMID- 26884350
TI  - Women show a higher level of anxiety during IVF treatment than men and hold
      different concerns: a cohort study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine levels of anxiety during
      the course of IVF treatment and gender differences in treatment anxiety. METHODS:
      This was a prospective cohort study set in a university affiliated, tertiary care
      IVF program. 119 women and 82 men entering the clinic to undergo IVF treatment
      filled out questionnaires containing the Spielberger state-trait-anxiety
      inventory (STAI) as well as further items on specific stress triggers. RESULTS:
      Women and men undergoing IVF have higher levels of anxiety than the average
      population in Germany. Overall, female patients show significantly higher values
      (mean +/- SD) for state and trait anxiety (47.4 +/- 11.0 and 40.1 +/- 9.85) than
      their male partners (41.4 +/- 9.66 and 35.3 +/- 8.57, p < 0.01). Over the course
      of several IVF cycles, average STAI scores increased for both genders. When asked
      about specific stress factors on a 4-point scale from 'not at all' to 'very much
      so', women report as their main anxiety the failure to achieve a successful
      pregnancy, scoring significantly higher on questions like 'obtaining a negative
      pregnancy test' (3.24 +/- 0.82, p < 0.01) and 'disclosure of infertility' (3.02
      +/- 1.10, p < 0.001). Their male partners are more concerned about the health
      risks the women have to take such as 'side effects of ovarian stimulation' (2.55
      +/- 0.77, p = 0.002) and 'bleeding or infection after the oocyte aspiration'
      (2.58 +/- 0.84, p = 0.007). Both genders indicated to be very little worried
      about multiple pregnancies after IVF. CONCLUSIONS: Women show a higher level of
      anxiety during IVF treatment and hold different concerns. Neither of the sexes
      appears to be familiar with the risks associated with multiple pregnancies, a
      matter that should better be addressed.

PMID- 26884348
TI  - Tripartite motif 32 prevents pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
AB  - TRIM32 (tripartite motif 32) is widely accepted to be an E3 ligase that interacts
      with and eventually ubiquitylates multiple substrates. TRIM32 mutants have been
      associated with LGMD-2H (limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2H). However, whether
      TRIM32 is involved in cardiac hypertrophy induced by biomechanical stresses and
      neurohumoral mediators remains unclear. We generated mice and isolated NRCMs
      (neonatal rat cardiomyocytes) that overexpressed or were deficient in TRIM32 to
      investigate the effect of TRIM32 on AB (aortic banding) or AngII (angiotensin II)
      mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiography and both pathological and
      molecular analyses were used to determine the extent of cardiac hypertrophy and
      subsequent fibrosis. Our results showed that overexpression of TRIM32 in the
      heart significantly alleviated the hypertrophic response induced by pressure
      overload, whereas TRIM32 deficiency dramatically aggravated pathological cardiac
      remodelling. Similar results were also found in cultured NRCMs incubated with
      AngII. Mechanistically, the present study suggests that TRIM32 exerts
      cardioprotective action by interruption of Akt- but not MAPK (mitogen-dependent
      protein kinase)-dependent signalling pathways. Additionally, inactivation of Akt
      by LY294002 offset the exacerbated hypertrophic response induced by AB in TRIM32
      deficient mice. In conclusion, the present study indicates that TRIM32 plays a
      protective role in AB-induced pathological cardiac remodelling by blocking Akt
      dependent signalling. Therefore TRIM32 could be a novel therapeutic target for
      the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

PMID- 26884351
TI  - Termination of pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida: a German
      perspective.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze fetal cases with spina bifida undergoing termination of
      pregnancy according to chromosomal analysis and further diagnosed sonographic
      findings. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of cases with spina bifida leading to
      termination of pregnancy in a tertiary referral center from 2002 to 2011.
      RESULTS: In the study period, 246 cases of spina bifida were diagnosed in our
      center and 157 parents chose termination of pregnancy. The time of diagnosis was
      on average 2 days before the first presentation at our department (22 + 3, range:
      12 + 3 - 33 + 3 weeks of gestation). Among 157 pregnancies with spina bifida and
      termination of pregnancy, further malformations could be detected in 46 (29.3 %)
      cases. An abnormal karyotype could be found in 13 (18.1 %). Severe
      ventriculomegaly or mild/moderate ventriculomegaly was present in 109 (69.4 %)
      and 29 (18.5 %) of the cases, respectively, while banana sign was detectable in
      153 cases (97.5 %). In the majority, the upper lesion level was lumbar (71.3 %).
      In 67 cases (42.7 %), termination of pregnancy took place in or after the 24th
      week of gestation. CONCLUSION: Direct and indirect signs of spina bifida were
      detectable in nearly all cases independent of the gestational age. Therefore, the
      diagnosis could have been made in all cases with late termination. Implementation
      of a uniform prenatal care including first-trimester scan with potential signs
      for open spina bifida and second-trimester anomaly scan with indirect
      intracranial findings and direct detection of spinal lesion could lead to an
      earlier diagnosis and help to reduce late termination of pregnancy in neural tube
      defects.

PMID- 26884349
TI  - Promoter methylation of ITF2, but not APC, is associated with microsatellite
      instability in two populations of colorectal cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aberrant Wnt signaling activation occurs commonly in colorectal
      carcinogenesis, leading to upregulation of many target genes. APC (adenomatous
      polyposis coli) is an important component of the beta-catenin destruction
      complex, which regulates Wnt signaling, and is often mutated in colorectal cancer
      (CRC). In addition to mutational events, epigenetic changes arise frequently in
      CRC, specifically, promoter hypermethylation which silences tumor suppressor
      genes. APC and the Wnt signaling target gene ITF2 (immunoglobulin transcription
      factor 2) incur hypermethylation in various cancers, however, methylation
      dependent regulation of these genes in CRC has not been studied in large, well
      characterized patient cohorts. The microsatellite instability (MSI) subtype of
      CRC, featuring DNA mismatch repair deficiency and often promoter hypermethylation
      of MutL homolog 1 (MLH1), has a favorable outcome and is characterized by
      different chemotherapeutic responses than microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors.
      Other epigenetic events distinguishing these subtypes have not yet been fully
      elucidated. METHODS: Here, we quantify promoter methylation of ITF2 and APC by
      MethyLight in two case-case studies nested in population-based CRC cohorts from
      the Ontario Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry (n = 330) and the Newfoundland
      Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry (n = 102) comparing MSI status groups.
      RESULTS: ITF2 and APC methylation are significantly associated with tumor versus
      normal state (both P < 1.0 * 10(-6)). ITF2 is methylated in 45.8% of MSI cases
      and 26.9% of MSS cases and is significantly associated with MSI in Ontario (P =
      0.002) and Newfoundland (P = 0.005) as well as the MSI-associated feature of MLH1
      promoter hypermethylation (P = 6.72 * 10(-4)). APC methylation, although tumor
      specific, does not show a significant association with tumor subtype, age,
      gender, or stage, indicating it is a general tumor-specific CRC biomarker.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates, for the first time, MSI-associated ITF2
      methylation, and further reveals the subtype-specific epigenetic events
      modulating Wnt signaling in CRC.

PMID- 26884352
TI  - Comparison of the symptomatic response in Indian menopausal women with different
      estrogen preparations for the treatment of menopausal symptoms: a randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare symptomatic response in Indian women using different estrogen
      preparations for treatment of menopausal symptoms. METHODOLOGY: A randomized,
      single blind, four arm, parallel assignment study was conducted in VMMC and SJH,
      New Delhi, India. 200 Indian menopausal women were recruited and assigned into
      four treatment groups viz., estradiol valerate (E2V), conjugated equine estrogen
      (CEE), isoflavones and Placebo group. The statistical significance of categorical
      variables was determined by Chi-square, Fisher's exact test. In case of
      quantitative variable parametric test Student's t test was used. In case of
      quantitative variables where data are not normally distributed, Kruskal-wallis
      test and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test were used. Symptomatic response in
      vasomotor/vaginal symptoms was assessed in all groups. RESULTS: Both E2V and CEE
      groups were effective in reducing severity and frequency of hot flashes. 91.9 %
      decrease was observed in mean hot flash score in the E2V group after 24 weeks of
      treatment, 89.2 % in the CEE group, 60.42 % decrease in the isoflavones group.
      While placebo led to 47.9 % decrease in mean hot flash score. After 24 weeks of
      therapy there was significant increase in vaginal health index in the E2V and CEE
      and the isoflavones group. No serious side effect was reported in any of the
      groups. CONCLUSION: Low doses of both CEE and E2V were equally effective for
      management of vasomotor/vaginal symptoms when administered over 24 weeks.
      However, it seems more reasonable to replenish with less costly and bio-identical
      hormone, i.e. micronized estradiol valerate which is equally effective. TRIAL
      REGISTRY: The trial was registered under Clinical trial registry of India
      prospectively (number: CTRI/2012/04/002566).

PMID- 26884353
TI  - Assessing biochar ecotoxicology for soil amendment by root phytotoxicity
      bioassays.
AB  - Soil amendment with biochar has been proposed as effective in improving
      agricultural land fertility and carbon sequestration, although the
      characterisation and certification of biochar quality are still crucial for
      widespread acceptance for agronomic purposes. We describe here the effects of
      four biochars (conifer and poplar wood, grape marc, wheat straw) at increasing
      application rates (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50% w/w) on both germination and root
      elongation of Cucumis sativus L., Lepidium sativum L. and Sorghum saccharatum
      Moench. The tested biochars varied in chemical properties, depending on the type
      and quality of the initial feedstock batch, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
      (PAHs) being high in conifer and wheat straw, Cd in poplar and Cu in grape marc.
      We demonstrate that electrical conductivity and Cu negatively affected both
      germination and root elongation at >=5% rate biochar, together with Zn at >=10%
      and elevated pH at >=20%. In all species, germination was less sensitive than
      root elongation, strongly decreasing at very high rates of chars from grape marc
      (>10%) and wheat straw (>50%), whereas root length was already affected at 0.5%
      of conifer and poplar in cucumber and sorghum, with marked impairment in all
      chars at >5%. As a general interpretation, we propose here logarithmic model for
      robust root phytotoxicity in sorghum, based on biochar Zn content, which explains
      66% of variability over the whole dosage range tested. We conclude that metal
      contamination is a crucial quality parameter for biochar safety, and that root
      elongation represents a stable test for assessing phytotoxicity at recommended in
      field amendment rates (<1-2%).

PMID- 26884354
TI  - Characterization of the indoor particles and their sources in an Antarctic
      research station.
AB  - Many studies have been carried out on the environmental impact of the research
      stations on the Antarctic continent. However, the assessment of indoor air
      quality in these confined environments has been neglected. The main objectives of
      this study are to investigate the granulometric distribution of the indoor
      particles in the different compartments of the Brazilian Antarctic Station, to
      examine the number and mass concentration of the indoor particles, to conduct
      chemical and morphological analyses of the indoor PM2.5, and to identify the
      possible sources of the PM. The results showed that Na, K, Cl, Fe, Zn, S and Si
      were the main elements detected. High levels of black carbon were recorded in the
      workshop, which may be associated with the use of diesel vehicles. To identify
      the human activities related to the indoor particle emission in the station, the
      size distribution of the particles in the living room was monitored for seven
      consecutive days, during normal station operation. It was possible to identify
      the influence of individual processes, such as incineration, cooking and the
      movement of people, upon the particle size number concentration. The
      indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio for the total suspended particles (TSP), PM10, PM2.5
      and PM1 measured was significantly larger than those reported for urban
      buildings. In general, the I/O ratio distribution for all the compartments shows
      peak values between 2.5 and 10 MUm, which is often related to human activity,
      such as cleaning, personnel circulation or clothing surfaces. The maximum I/O
      ratio at this range varied from 12 to 60. In addition, the compartments affected
      by combustion processes tend to present a significant number of submicron
      particles. 

PMID- 26884355
TI  - Dissipation dynamics and final residues of cloransulam-methyl in soybean and
      soil.
AB  - This work is the first report on the dissipation and final residue of cloransulam
      methyl on soybean plant at field conditions. A fast, simple, and reliable residue
      analytical method for determination of cloransulam-methyl in soybean matrices and
      soil was developed based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe
      (QuEChERS) sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
      (LC-MS/MS) detection. The average recoveries of cloransulam-methyl in soybean
      matrices and soil ranged from 80 to 105%, with RSDs between 3-11%. The limit of
      detection (LOD) was 0.001 mg kg(-1) for soybean grain, plant, and soil and was
      0.005 mg kg(-1) for soybean straw. This method was then used to characterize
      dissipation of cloransulam-methyl in soybeans and soil from three locations in
      China for the first time. Cloransulam-methyl dissipated quickly in soybean plant
      with half-lives (T1/2) of 0.21-0.56 days. The dissipation dynamic in soil was
      characterized using both first-order kinetics model and two-compartment model,
      and the half-lives were similar, ranging from 0.44 to 5.53 days at three
      experimental sites in 2012 and 2013. The final residue data showed a very low
      level of cloransulam-methyl in soil (<=0.026 mg kg(-1)), soybean grain (<=0.001
      mg kg(-1)), and straw (<=0.005 mg kg(-1)) samples at harvest time. With the
      faster and simple analytical method on soybean and soil, rapid dissipation of
      cloransulam-methyl was observed at three geospatial locations in China, and the
      terminal residue levels were negligible, so mammalian ingestion exposure is
      minimal.

PMID- 26884356
TI  - Performance assessment of geospatial simulation models of land-use change--a
      landscape metric-based approach.
AB  - Performance evaluation is a critical step when developing land-use and cover
      change (LUCC) models. The present study proposes a spatially explicit model
      performance evaluation method, adopting a landscape metric-based approach. To
      quantify GEOMOD model performance, a set of composition- and configuration-based
      landscape metrics including number of patches, edge density, mean Euclidean
      nearest neighbor distance, largest patch index, class area, landscape shape
      index, and splitting index were employed. The model takes advantage of three
      decision rules including neighborhood effect, persistence of change direction,
      and urbanization suitability values. According to the results, while class area,
      largest patch index, and splitting indices demonstrated insignificant differences
      between spatial pattern of ground truth and simulated layers, there was a
      considerable inconsistency between simulation results and real dataset in terms
      of the remaining metrics. Specifically, simulation outputs were simplistic and
      the model tended to underestimate number of developed patches by producing a more
      compact landscape. Landscape-metric-based performance evaluation produces more
      detailed information (compared to conventional indices such as the Kappa index
      and overall accuracy) on the model's behavior in replicating spatial
      heterogeneity features of a landscape such as frequency, fragmentation,
      isolation, and density. Finally, as the main characteristic of the proposed
      method, landscape metrics employ the maximum potential of observed and simulated
      layers for a performance evaluation procedure, provide a basis for more robust
      interpretation of a calibration process, and also deepen modeler insight into the
      main strengths and pitfalls of a specific land-use change model when simulating a
      spatiotemporal phenomenon. 

PMID- 26884357
TI  - Effects of field storage method on E. coli concentrations measured in storm water
      runoff.
AB  - Storm water runoff is increasingly assessed for fecal indicator organisms (e.g.,
      Escherichia coli, E. coli) and its impact on contact recreation. Concurrently,
      use of autosamplers along with logistic, economic, technical, and personnel
      barriers is challenging conventional protocols for sample holding times and
      storage conditions in the field. A common holding time limit for E. coli is 8 h
      with a 10  degrees C storage temperature, but several research studies support
      longer hold time thresholds. The use of autosamplers to collect E. coli water
      samples has received little field research attention; thus, this study was
      implemented to compare refrigerated and unrefrigerated autosamplers and evaluate
      potential E. coli concentration differences due to field storage temperature
      (storms with holding times <=24 h) and due to field storage time and temperature
      (storms >24 h). Data from 85 runoff events on four diverse watersheds showed that
      field storage times and temperatures had minor effects on mean and median E. coli
      concentrations. Graphs and error values did, however, indicate a weak tendency
      for higher concentrations in the refrigerated samplers, but it is unknown to what
      extent differing die-off and/or regrowth rates, heterogeneity in concentrations
      within samples, and laboratory analysis uncertainty contributed to the results.
      The minimal differences in measured E. coli concentrations cast doubt on the need
      for utilizing the rigid conventional protocols for field holding time and storage
      temperature. This is not to say that proper quality assurance and quality control
      is not important but to emphasize the need to consider the balance between data
      quality and practical constraints related to logistics, funding, travel time, and
      autosampler use in storm water studies. 

PMID- 26884358
TI  - Antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiling of Vibrio spp. in tropical waters of
      Peninsular Malaysia.
AB  - Vibrio species isolated from four different sampling stations in the west coast
      of Peninsular Malaysia were screened for their antimicrobial resistance and
      plasmid profiles. A total of 138 isolates belonging to 15 different species were
      identified. Vibrio campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus, V. harveyi, and V. tubiashii
      were found to predominance species at all stations. High incidence of
      erythromycin, ampicillin, and mecillinam resistance was observed among the Vibrio
      isolates. In contrast, resistance against aztreonam, cefepime, streptomycin,
      sulfamethoxazole, and sulfonamides was low. All the Vibrio isolates in this study
      were found to be susceptible to imipenem, norfloxacin, ofloxacin,
      chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and oxytetracycline. Ninety-five
      percent of the Vibrio isolates were resistant to one or more different classes of
      antibiotic, and 20 different resistance antibiograms were identified. Thirty-two
      distinct plasmid profiles with molecular weight ranging from 2.2 to 24.8 kb were
      detected among the resistance isolates. This study showed that multidrug
      resistant Vibrio spp. were common in the aquatic environments of west coast of
      Peninsular Malaysia. 

PMID- 26884360
TI  - What can Neighbourhood Density effects tell us about word learning? Insights from
      a connectionist model of vocabulary development.
AB  - In this paper, we investigate the effect of neighbourhood density (ND) on
      vocabulary size in a computational model of vocabulary development. A word has a
      high ND if there are many words phonologically similar to it. High ND words are
      more easily learned by infants of all abilities (e.g. Storkel, 2009; Stokes,
      2014). We present a neural network model that learns general phonotactic patterns
      in the exposure language, as well as specific word forms and, crucially, mappings
      between word meanings and word forms. The network is faster at learning frequent
      words, and words containing high-probability phoneme sequences, as human word
      learners are, but, independently of this, the network is also faster at learning
      words with high ND, and, when its capacity is reduced, it learns high ND words in
      preference to other words, similarly to late talkers. We analyze the model and
      propose a novel explanation of the ND effect, in which word meanings play an
      important role in generating word-specific biases on general phonological
      trajectories. This explanation leads to a new prediction about the origin of the
      ND effect in infants.

PMID- 26884361
TI  - An Analysis of Adverse Event Reporting in Balloon Sinus Procedures.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: (1) Become familiar with reported adverse events related to balloon
      dilation of the paranasal sinus ostia. (2) Understand the sequelae occurring with
      these events. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database.
      SETTING: OpenFDA database. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The OpenFDA program website of
      the Food and Drug Administration was queried with the Application Program
      Interface query system for medical device adverse events involving balloon
      devices for the dilation of paranasal sinus ostia from January 2006 through
      December 2014. The raw data were then tabulated, with adverse events codified by
      event type, sinus involved, injury type, device malfunction, surgeon error, and
      qualitative data. Sequelae were also quantified. RESULTS: In sum, 114 adverse
      events were identified. Patient injury was the most frequently reported adverse
      event (n = 72), followed by 36 device malfunctions, 4 deaths, and 2 unclassified.
      The most common injury involved orbital complications, including 23 (20.2%)
      orbital wall fractures and 22 (19.3%) postseptal and 22 (19.3%) preseptal orbital
      injuries. In addition, there were 17 (14.9%) skull base injuries and 7 (6.1%)
      cases of severe epistaxis observed; 11 (9.6%) cases mentioned surgeon error.
      Cerebrospinal fluid leak was significantly associated with frontal surgery (P =
      .002) and sphenoid surgery (P = .001), whereas post- and preseptal orbital injury
      was associated with maxillary surgery (P = .017 and P = .002). Epistaxis was
      associated with sphenoid surgery (P = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the number of
      balloon sinus procedures performed, Food and Drug Administration-reported adverse
      events are uncommon, although a select portion can be severe. Surgeons should be
      aware of different complications reported with specific sinuses addressed with
      balloon techniques.

PMID- 26884362
TI  - Implementation of a Pediatric Posttonsillectomy Pain Protocol in a Large Group
      Practice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In response to the increased risk of respiratory failure and death
      after tonsillectomy related to codeine use, Kaiser Permanente Northwest
      restricted use of opioids in patients <7 years old via electronic health record
      (EHR). However, opioids could be prescribed at physician discretion by overriding
      the EHR. This study aims to examine protocol compliance in a large group practice
      using EHR order sets and complication rates as compared with historical data.
      STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Ambulatory care within a
      health maintenance organization. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Procedural codes were used
      to identify children <7 years old who underwent tonsillectomy or
      adenotonsillectomy approximately 1.5 years before and after implementation of EHR
      protocol (n = 437). Primary outcome was opioid pain prescriptions received by
      patients. Secondary outcomes were emergency or urgent care utilization,
      postoperative bleeding, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, death, and reasons for
      prescribing opioid pain medication after EHR protocol implementation. Chi-square
      analysis and Fischer's exact testing were used to compare differences in event
      rates. RESULTS: Implementation of an age-based narcotic protocol significantly
      decreased physician narcotic prescribing from 82.2% to 15.4% (P < .0001). The
      most common reason for narcotic prescription after the intervention was the
      report of inadequate pain control by phone call (35%). There was no significant
      difference in rate of emergency or urgent care utilization between pre- and
      postimplementation groups (4% vs 6%, P = .29). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an
      age-based narcotic restriction for posttonsillectomy patients using an EHR order
      set is an effective and safe way to influence physician prescription practices.

PMID- 26884363
TI  - Systematic Review on Surgical Outcomes and Hearing Preservation for Cochlear
      Implantation in Children and Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The mastoidectomy with facial recess approach (MFRA) is considered the
      reference standard for cochlear implantation. The suprameatal approach (SMA) was
      developed more recently and does not require mastoidectomy, which could influence
      postoperative outcomes. We aim to identify the optimal operative approach for
      cochlear implantation based on postoperative complications and hearing
      preservation in children and adults. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and
      Google Scholar. REVIEW METHODS: Studies comparing MFRA and SMA in children and
      adults were eligible for inclusion. Original reports with moderate relevance and
      validity were included. Relevance and validity were assessed with a self-modified
      critical appraisal tool. This review was reported in accordance to PRISMA
      guidelines. RESULTS: We retrieved 294 citations. Only retrospective nonrandomized
      studies were identified (level III evidence). Six articles were selected for full
      text inclusion and 4 articles for data extraction. No article found a significant
      difference between MFRA and SMA with respect to postoperative complications in
      children and adults. One study found a significantly (P < .023) higher pediatric
      MFRA mastoiditis rate; however, meta-analysis did not indicate an overall effect.
      Hearing preservation was reported only in adults, and outcomes between techniques
      did not differ. CONCLUSION: No evidence was noted for lower complication rates or
      improved hearing preservation between the MFRA and SMA for cochlear implantation
      in children and adults. Pediatric data were available for children implanted
      above the age of 24 months only. Level I evidence is needed to resolve the
      uncertainty regarding differences in postoperative outcomes of pediatric and
      adult MFRA and SMA.

PMID- 26884364
TI  - 2015 Equilibrium Committee Amendment to the 1995 AAO-HNS Guidelines for the
      Definition of Meniere's Disease.
AB  - Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes attacks of vertigo
      and hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness in the involved ear. Over the past 4
      decades, the Equilibrium Committee of the AAO-HNS has issued guidelines for
      diagnostic criteria, with the latest version being published in 1995. These
      criteria were reviewed in 2015 by the Equilibrium Committee, and revisions were
      approved at the recent meeting of the committee at the 2015 AAO-HNSF Annual
      Meeting. The following commentary outlines the amended and approved criteria.

PMID- 26884366
TI  - Extracapsular Dissection with Facial Nerve Dissection for Benign Parotid Tumors.

PMID- 26884365
TI  - Occult Nodal Disease Prevalence and Distribution in Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer
      Requiring Salvage Laryngectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The indications for neck dissection concurrent with salvage
      laryngectomy in the clinically N0 setting remain unclear. Our goals were to
      determine the prevalence of occult nodal disease, analyze nodal disease
      distribution patterns, and identify predictors of occult nodal disease in a
      salvage laryngectomy cohort. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with planned data
      collection. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. SUBJECTS: Patients with persistent
      or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) after
      radiation/chemoradiation failure undergoing salvage laryngectomy with neck
      dissection. METHODS: We analyzed a single-institution retrospective case series
      of patients between 1997 and 2014 and identified those who had clinically N0
      (cN0) necks (n = 203). Clinical and pathologic data, including nodal prevalence
      and distribution, were collected and statistical analyses performed. RESULTS:
      Overall, cN0 necks had histologically positive occult nodes in 17% (n = 35) of
      cases. Univariate predictors of occult nodal positivity included recurrent T4
      stage (34% T4 vs 12% non-T4; P = .0003) and supraglottic subsite (28%
      supraglottic vs 10% nonsupraglottic; P = .0006). Histologically positive nodes
      associated with supraglottic primaries were most frequently positive in
      ipsilateral levels II and III (17% and 16%). Positive nodes for glottic LSCC were
      most frequently positive in the ipsilateral and contralateral paratracheal nodes
      (11% and 9%). CONCLUSION: Histologically positive occult nodes are identified in
      17% of cN0 patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection. Occult
      nodal disease varies in frequency and distribution based on tumor subsite.
      Predictors of high (>20%) occult nodal positivity include T4 tumors and
      supraglottic subsite. In glottic LSCC, the most frequent sites of occult nodal
      disease are the paratracheal nodal basins.

PMID- 26884367
TI  - Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis: A 15-Year Experience with 41 Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe a 15-year single-institution experience of 41 cases of
      acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFRS), identify clinical indicators predictive
      of AIFRS, and discuss our approach to these high-acuity patients. STUDY DESIGN:
      Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center; The
      Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A
      retrospective review was performed for AIFRS consultations between September 1999
      and March 2014. Variables reviewed included underlying condition, presenting
      symptoms, absolute neutrophil count, disease extent on examination, radiographic
      findings, medical treatment, biopsy results, surgical treatment, and outcomes.
      Univariate analysis was performed to determine variables significantly associated
      with AIFRS. Outcome measures were assessed and patient assessment algorithm
      developed. RESULTS: Of 131 patients evaluated, 41 were diagnosed with AIFRS;
      92.7% had an underlying hematologic malignancy. Disease predictive variables
      included absolute neutrophil count <500/MUL (P < .0001; sensitivity = 78%),
      mucosal abnormalities of middle turbinate (P < .0001; specificity = 88%) and
      septum (P < .0001; specificity = 97%), and specifically, necrosis of the middle
      turbinate (P < .0001; specificity = 97%). Twenty-five AIFRS patients (61%)
      survived until discharge; 25% (n = 10) expired secondary to AIFRS infection
      explicitly. CONCLUSION: This series represents one of the largest single
      institution experiences of AIFRS published to date. Timely diagnosis is necessary
      to improve patient outcomes and limit morbidity. Maintaining a high index of
      suspicion in at-risk patient populations, followed by prompt evaluation and
      management, is crucial in suspected AIFRS. The presence or absence of certain
      findings appear to correlate with biopsy results and may aid in appropriately
      gauging clinical suspicion for the presence of AIFRS.

PMID- 26884368
TI  - Utility of Surgery/Radiotherapy in Distant Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell
      Carcinoma: A Population-Based Approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the survival benefits of surgery
      and/or radiation therapy over no therapy in patients with metastatic (M1)
      squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (HN-SCC). STUDY DESIGN:
      Retrospective administrative database analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for M1 HN
      SCC cases from 1988 to 2012 (6663 patients). Patient demographics, initial
      treatment, and survival outcomes were analyzed. Survival was analyzed with the
      Kaplan-Meier model. RESULTS: Of the 6663 patients identified with M1 HN-SCC in
      the SEER database, 1669 patients received no therapy; 2459 patients,
      radiotherapy; 570 patients, surgery; and 1100 patients, surgery with adjuvant
      radiotherapy. The mean survival was 8.44 months for patients who did not undergo
      any therapy. In comparison, patients who underwent radiotherapy alone, surgery
      alone, or surgery with radiotherapy had mean survivals of 18.03 (P < .0001),
      31.07 (P < .0001), and 39.93 (P < .0001) months, respectively. The 5-year disease
      specific survival rates were 6.35% for no therapy, 17.51% for radiotherapy alone,
      30.50% for surgery alone, and 33.75% for surgery with radiotherapy (P < .0001).
      Site-specific analysis revealed that surgery and/or radiation provides disease
      specific survival benefit as compared with no therapy at all subsites within the
      head and neck region. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery and/or radiation-which has been shown
      to improve quality of life in patients with advanced cancer-is associated with an
      increased survival when utilized in patients with distant metastatic disease.

PMID- 26884369
TI  - Tracheostomy Complications in Institutionalized Children with Long-term
      Tracheostomy and Ventilator Dependence.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify tracheostomy complications in institutionalized
      children with chronic tracheostomy. (2) To determine factors that predispose to
      development of tracheostomy complications in institutionalized children with
      chronic tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review over 10 years.
      SETTING: Tertiary children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children were
      included if they underwent tracheostomy before 21 years of age and resided at a
      pediatric nursing facility. Most children were ventilator dependent and had
      severe comorbid medical conditions, including developmental delay and cerebral
      palsy. The number of tracheostomy complications and unplanned hospital admissions
      were recorded. Interventions for tracheostomy complications were also reviewed.
      RESULTS: Thirty-two institutionalized children with chronic tracheostomy were
      included. The mean age at time of tracheostomy was 5.4 years, with a mean
      duration of institutionalization of 9.1 years. Twenty-seven children (84%)
      experienced tracheostomy complications. The total number of complications was 79.
      The most common tracheostomy complications identified were peristomal granulation
      (n = 13) and suprastomal granulation (n = 12). Age at time of tracheostomy,
      duration of institutionalization, and ventilator dependence did not predict the
      likelihood of developing a complication. Of 32 patients, 20 were evaluated in the
      emergency room during the study, and there were 48 unplanned admissions for
      tracheostomy-related complications during the study. Forty-five urgent direct
      laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures were performed in a total of 20 children
      with tracheostomy complications. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy complications are
      common in institutionalized children with chronic tracheostomy and are
      challenging to manage. Further research is necessary to determine novel ways to
      reduce tracheostomy complications in this population.

PMID- 26884359
TI  - Genetic predisposition to ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive form of breast
      cancer. It is often associated with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and is
      considered to be a non-obligate precursor of IDC. It is not clear to what extent
      these two forms of cancer share low-risk susceptibility loci, or whether there
      are differences in the strength of association for shared loci. METHODS: To
      identify genetic polymorphisms that predispose to DCIS, we pooled data from 38
      studies comprising 5,067 cases of DCIS, 24,584 cases of IDC and 37,467 controls,
      all genotyped using the iCOGS chip. RESULTS: Most (67 %) of the 76 known breast
      cancer predisposition loci showed an association with DCIS in the same direction
      as previously reported for invasive breast cancer. Case-only analysis showed no
      evidence for differences between associations for IDC and DCIS after considering
      multiple testing. Analysis by estrogen receptor (ER) status confirmed that loci
      associated with ER positive IDC were also associated with ER positive DCIS.
      Analysis of DCIS by grade suggested that two independent SNPs at 11q13.3 near
      CCND1 were specific to low/intermediate grade DCIS (rs75915166, rs554219). These
      associations with grade remained after adjusting for ER status and were also
      found in IDC. We found no novel DCIS-specific loci at a genome wide significance
      level of P < 5.0x10(-8). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study provides the
      strongest evidence to date of a shared genetic susceptibility for IDC and DCIS.
      Studies with larger numbers of DCIS are needed to determine if IDC or DCIS
      specific loci exist.

PMID- 26884370
TI  - Radiologic Evidence of Cochlear Implant Bone Bed Formation Following the
      Subperiosteal Temporal Pocket Technique.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the thicknesses of bone beneath the internal receiver
      stimulator (IRS) with the symmetric contralateral unimplanted side in
      postoperative temporal high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and/or cranial CT
      of the patients for whom cochlear implants were secured by the subperiosteal
      temporal pocket technique. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING:
      Tertiary care hospital, cochlear implant referral center. SUBJECTS: Cochlear
      implanted pediatric patients with postoperative temporal high-resolution CT
      and/or cranial CT were reviewed. The study group included 10 patients with
      Clarion devices (Advanced Bionics, Valencia, California). METHODS: Thicknesses of
      bone were recorded independently by 2 radiologists in the standardized
      coordinates of proximal, middle, and distal segments of both the IRS bed and the
      contralateral unimplanted side in each patient. Bone thickness differences in the
      proximal, middle, and distal segments of IRS were investigated. Any correlation
      between bone thickness differences and patient age at implantation or duration of
      implantation was also investigated. RESULTS: Mean values of bone thicknesses
      obtained from the IRS side and contralateral unimplanted side were, respectively,
      as follows: 2.40 +/- 0.80 mm and 4.17 +/- 1.10 mm in the proximal segment (P =
      .0001); 1.48 +/- 0.33 mm and 3.02 +/- 0.85 mm in the middle segment (P = .0001);
      and 2.13 +/- 0.41 mm and 3.40 +/- 0.61 mm in the distal segment (P = .006).
      Significant positive correlation was found between patient age at implantation
      and decrement values in the distal segments (r = 0.681, P = .03). CONCLUSION: The
      subperiosteally secured IRS eventually creates its own well on the skull vault.
      This new radiologic evidence shows that device migration risk decreases over
      time, and it supports the findings of other clinical series showing device
      stability using the subperiosteal pocket technique.

PMID- 26884371
TI  - A Pediatric Decannulation Protocol: Outcomes of a 10-Year Experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: (1) Describe an institutional protocol that focuses on the essential
      steps for decannulation of pediatric patients with long-term tracheostomies. (2)
      Discuss the preliminary observations of the safety of this protocol in regard to
      decannulation failures and successes in a selected patient population. STUDY
      DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: A tertiary pediatric hospital.
      SUBJECTS: Subjects were pediatric patients with chronic tracheostomies undergoing
      decannulation. Ages ranged from 1 to 17 years old. Indications for initial
      tracheostomy included chronic lung disease, airway obstruction, and trauma.
      METHODS: Subjects underwent decannulation attempt following a specific protocol.
      The protocol consisted of operative laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. If the airway
      was deemed adequate for decannulation at that time, the tracheotomy tube was
      removed, and the child was monitored overnight; the patient was considered for
      discharge the following day if no complications arose. No routine capping,
      downsizing, or polysomnography was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients fit
      the criteria and were decannulated within 24 hours of endoscopy. Successful
      decannulation served as the primary outcome. Of the 35 decannulated patients, 54%
      (n = 19) were discharged the day following decannulation and another 37% (n = 13)
      on postdecannulation day 2. There were no acute failures or readmissions. Average
      inpatient stay for those decannulated was 1.8 days. CONCLUSION: This study
      describes the preliminary observations of a decannulation protocol in a small
      subset of patients. The protocol resulted in no acute failures and offers a
      conservative approach to resource utilization, making it unique when compared
      with other published protocols.

PMID- 26884372
TI  - Ovarian cancer survivors' quality of life: a systematic review.
AB  - PURPOSE: The assessment of quality of life (QOL) among ovarian cancer (OC)
      patients has mainly focused on the acute phase of treatment. This systematic
      review examines studies measuring QOL in patients who survived OC after treatment
      and synthesizes results in order to assess QOL and patient-reported outcome (PRO)
      data at long-term follow-up. METHODS: Articles published in English between 1990
      to November 2014 were identified with the databases MEDLINE and PubMed, using the
      specific keywords "OC survivors" combined with the terms, "QOL," "health-related
      QOL," and "PROs." Data were reviewed for design, time since end of treatment,
      measurement tools, and outcomes (categorized in three topics: global QOL compared
      to controls, treatment sequelae, and intervention strategies). RESULTS: The
      initial search strategy provided 148 articles of which 31 were considered
      eligible. Most studies focused on epithelial OC, and only a few studies
      investigated survivors of ovarian germ cell tumor. More than 60 instruments of
      QOL measures were used in the corpus. Despite the persistence of psychological
      and physical symptoms, treatment sequelae, sexual problems, and fear of
      recurrence in some survivors, most studies demonstrated that OC survivors
      generally have good QOL compared to healthy women. Studies proposing
      interventions are lacking. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVOR: OC
      survivors experience a wide range of sequelae that may persist for a long time
      and negatively impact QOL. Further large-scale research is needed to fully
      understand problems that have significant effects on QOL, in order to develop
      interventions and treatments suitable for women at need.

PMID- 26884373
TI  - Antibodies from donor B cells perpetuate cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host
      disease in mice.
AB  - Cutaneous sclerosis is one of the most common clinical manifestations of chronic
      graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Donor CD4(+) T and B cells play important
      roles in cGVHD pathogenesis, but the role of antibodies from donor B cells
      remains unclear. In the current studies, we generated immunoglobulin
      (Ig)H(ugamma1) DBA/2 mice whose B cells have normal antigen-presentation and
      regulatory functions but cannot secrete antibodies. With a murine cGVHD model
      using DBA/2 donors and BALB/c recipients, we have shown that wild-type (WT)
      grafts induce persistent cGVHD with damage in the thymus, peripheral lymphoid
      organs, and skin, as well as cutaneous T helper 17 cell (Th17) infiltration. In
      contrast, IgH(ugamma1) grafts induced only transient cGVHD with little damage in
      the thymus or peripheral lymph organs or with little cutaneous Th17 infiltration.
      Injections of IgG-containing sera from cGVHD recipients given WT grafts but not
      IgG-deficient sera from recipients given IgH(ugamma1) grafts led to deposition of
      IgG in the thymus and skin, with resulting damage in the thymus and peripheral
      lymph organs, cutaneous Th17 infiltration, and perpetuation of cGVHD in
      recipients given IgH(ugamma1) grafts. These results indicate that donor B-cell
      antibodies augment cutaneous cGVHD in part by damaging the thymus and increasing
      tissue infiltration of pathogenic Th17 cells.

PMID- 26884375
TI  - Spatially divergent clonal evolution in multiple myeloma: overcoming resistance
      to BRAF inhibition.

PMID- 26884374
TI  - Early cytomegalovirus reactivation remains associated with increased transplant
      related mortality in the current era: a CIBMTR analysis.
AB  - Single-center studies have reported an association between early (before day 100)
      cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and decreased incidence of relapse for acute
      myeloid leukemia (AML) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.
      To substantiate these preliminary findings, the Center for International Blood
      and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) Database was interrogated to analyze the
      impact of CMV reactivation on hematologic disease relapse in the current era.
      Data from 9469 patients transplanted with bone marrow or peripheral blood between
      2003 and 2010 were analyzed according to 4 disease categories: AML (n = 5310);
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 1883); chronic myeloid leukemia (CML, n =
      1079); and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, n = 1197). Median time to initial CMV
      reactivation was 41 days (range, 1-362 days). CMV reactivation had no preventive
      effect on hematologic disease relapse irrespective of diagnosis. Moreover, CMV
      reactivation was associated with higher nonrelapse mortality [relative risk [RR]
      among disease categories ranged from 1.61 to 1.95 and P values from .0002 to
      <.0001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.61). As a result, CMV reactivation
      was associated with lower overall survival for AML (RR = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.17-1.38;
      P <.0001), ALL (RR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.25-1.71; P <.0001), CML (RR = 1.49; 95% CI,
      1.19-1.88; P = .0005), and MDS (RR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.57; P = .003). In
      conclusion, CMV reactivation continues to remain a risk factor for poor
      posttransplant outcomes and does not seem to confer protection against
      hematologic disease relapse.

PMID- 26884376
TI  - Cardiac changes in pediatric liver transplant recipients: are they truly
      irreversible?

PMID- 26884377
TI  - Later-borns Don't Give Up: The Temporary Effects of Birth Order on European
      Earnings.
AB  - The existing empirical evidence on the effects of birth order on wages does not
      distinguish between temporary and permanent effects. Using data from 11 European
      countries for males born between 1935 and 1956, we show that firstborns enjoy on
      average a 13.7% premium in their entry wage compared with later-borns. This
      advantage, however, is short-lived and disappears 10 years after labor market
      entry. Although firstborns start with a better job, partially because of their
      higher education, later-borns quickly catch up by switching earlier and more
      frequently to better-paying jobs. We argue that a key factor driving our findings
      is that later-borns have lower risk aversion than firstborns.

PMID- 26884378
TI  - Agreement in hemodynamic monitoring during orthotopic liver transplantation: a
      comparison of FloTrac/Vigileo at two monitoring sites with pulmonary artery
      catheter thermodilution.
AB  - To study agreement in cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index
      (Systemic VRI) and stroke volume variation (SV variation) between the
      FloTrac/Vigileo at radial and femoral arterial cannulation sites, and pulmonary
      artery catheter (PAC) thermodilution, in patients undergoing orthotopic liver
      transplantation. A prospective observational study of 25 adult patients with
      liver failure. Radial and femoral arteries were cannulated with standardised
      FloTrac/Vigileo arterial transducer kits and a PAC was inserted. CI, SV variation
      and Systemic VRI were measured four times (30 min after induction of anesthesia,
      30 min after portal vein clamping, 30 min after graft reperfusion, 30 min after
      commencement of bile duct anastomosis). The bias, precision, limits of agreement
      (LOA) and percentage errors were calculated using Bland-Altman statistics to
      compare measurements from radial and femoral arterial cannulation sites and PAC
      thermodilution. Neither radial nor femoral CI achieved acceptable agreement with
      PAC CI [radial to PAC bias (SD) 1.17 (1.49) L/min/m2, percentage error 64.40 %],
      [femoral to PAC bias (SD) -0.71 (1.81) L/min/m2, percentage error 74.20 %].
      Agreement between radial and femoral sites for CI [mean difference (SD) -0.43
      (1.51) L/min/m2, percentage error 70.40 %] and Systemic VRI [mean difference (SD)
      0.03 (4.17) LOA +/-8.17 mmHg min m2/L] were also unacceptable. Agreement in SV
      variation between radial and femoral measurement sites approached a clinically
      acceptable threshold [mean difference (SD) 0.68 (2.44) %), LOA +/-4.78 %].
      FloTrac/Vigileo CI cannot substitute for PAC thermodilution CI, regardless of
      measurement site. SV variation measurements may be interchangeable between radial
      and femoral sites for determining fluid responsiveness.

PMID- 26884379
TI  - Rehabilitation following carpal tunnel release.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Various rehabilitation treatments may be offered following carpal
      tunnel syndrome (CTS) surgery. The effectiveness of these interventions remains
      unclear. This is the first update of a review first published in 2013.
      OBJECTIVES: To review the effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation
      interventions following CTS surgery compared with no treatment, placebo, or
      another intervention. SEARCH METHODS: On 29 September 2015, we searched the
      Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, the Cochrane Register of Controlled
      Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, AMED, LILACS, and PsycINFO. We
      also searched PEDro (3 December 2015) and clinical trials registers (3 December
      2015). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised clinical trials that
      compared any postoperative rehabilitation intervention with either no
      intervention, placebo, or another postoperative rehabilitation intervention in
      individuals who had undergone CTS surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two
      review authors independently selected trials for inclusion, extracted data,
      assessed risk of bias, and assessed the quality of the body of evidence for
      primary outcomes using the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment,
      Development and Evaluation) approach according to standard Cochrane methodology.
      MAIN RESULTS: In this review we included 22 trials with a total of 1521
      participants. Two of the trials were newly identified at this update. We studied
      different rehabilitation treatments including immobilisation using a wrist
      orthosis, dressings, exercise, controlled cold therapy, ice therapy, multi-modal
      hand rehabilitation, laser therapy, electrical modalities, scar desensitisation,
      and arnica. Three trials compared a rehabilitation treatment to a placebo, four
      compared rehabilitation to a no treatment control, three compared rehabilitation
      to standard care, and 15 compared various rehabilitation treatments to one
      another.Overall, the included studies were very low in quality. Thirteen trials
      explicitly reported random sequence generation; of these, five adequately
      concealed the allocation sequence. Four trials achieved blinding of both
      participants and outcome assessors. Five were at high risk of bias from
      incompleteness of outcome data at one or more time intervals, and eight had high
      risk of selective reporting bias.These trials were heterogeneous in terms of
      treatments provided, duration of interventions, the nature and timing of outcomes
      measured, and setting. Therefore, we were not able to pool results across
      trials.Four trials reported our primary outcome, change in self reported
      functional ability at three months or more. Of these, three trials provided
      sufficient outcome data for inclusion in this review. One small high-quality
      trial studied a desensitisation programme compared with standard treatment and
      revealed no statistically significant functional benefit based on the Boston
      Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) (mean difference (MD) -0.03, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) -0.39 to 0.33). One low-quality trial assessed participants six
      months post surgery using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
      questionnaire and found no significant difference between a no formal therapy
      group and a group given a two-week course of multi-modal therapy commenced at
      five to seven days post surgery (MD 1.00, 95% CI -4.44 to 6.44). One very low
      quality quasi-randomised trial found no statistically significant difference in
      function on the BCTQ at three months post surgery with early immobilisation
      (plaster wrist orthosis worn until suture removal) compared with a splint and
      late mobilisation (MD 0.39, 95% CI -0.45 to 1.23).Differences between treatments
      for secondary outcome measures (change in self reported functional ability
      measured at less than three months; change in CTS symptoms; change in CTS-related
      impairment measures; presence of iatrogenic symptoms from surgery; return to work
      or occupation; and change in neurophysiological parameters) were generally small
      and not statistically significant. Few studies reported adverse events. AUTHORS'
      CONCLUSIONS: There is limited and, in general, low quality evidence for the
      benefit of the reviewed interventions. People who have undergone CTS surgery
      should be informed about the limited evidence of effectiveness of postoperative
      rehabilitation interventions. Until researchers provide results of more high
      quality trials that assess the effectiveness and safety of various rehabilitation
      treatments, the decision to provide rehabilitation following CTS surgery should
      be based on the clinician's expertise, the patient's preferences and the context
      of the rehabilitation environment. It is important for researchers to identify
      patients who respond to a particular treatment and those who do not, and to
      undertake high-quality studies that evaluate the severity of iatrogenic symptoms
      from surgery, measure function and return-to-work rates, and control for
      confounding variables.

PMID- 26884380
TI  - Multidimensional Predictors of Treatment Outcome in Usual Care for Adolescent
      Conduct Problems and Substance Use.
AB  - This study investigated baseline client characteristics that predicted long-term
      treatment outcomes among adolescents referred from school and community sources
      and enrolled in usual care for conduct and substance use problems. Predictor
      effects for multiple demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity), clinical (baseline
      symptom severity, comorbidity, family discord), and developmental psychopathology
      (behavioral dysregulation, depression, peer delinquency) characteristics were
      examined. Participants were 205 adolescents (52 % male; mean age 15.7 years) from
      diverse backgrounds (59 % Hispanic American, 21 % African American, 15 %
      multiracial, 6 % other) residing in a large inner-city area. As expected,
      characteristics from all three predictor categories were related to various
      aspects of change in externalizing problems, delinquent acts, and substance use
      at one-year follow-up. The strongest predictive effect was found for baseline
      symptom severity: Youth with greater severity showed greater clinical gains.
      Higher levels of co-occurring developmental psychopathology characteristics
      likewise predicted better outcomes. Exploratory analyses showed that change over
      time in developmental psychopathology characteristics (peer delinquency,
      depression) was related to change in delinquent acts and substance use.
      Implications for serving multiproblem adolescents and tailoring treatment plans
      in routine care are discussed.

PMID- 26884382
TI  - Macrophage infiltration into obese adipose tissues suppresses the induction of
      UCP1 level in mice.
AB  - Emergence of thermogenic adipocytes such as brown and beige adipocytes is
      critical for whole body energy metabolism. Promoting the emergence of these
      adipocytes, which increase energy expenditure, could be a viable strategy in
      treating obesity and its related diseases. However, little is known regarding the
      mechanisms that regulate the emergence of these adipocytes in obese adipose
      tissue. Here, we demonstrated that classically activated macrophages (M1 Mphi)
      suppress the induction of thermogenic adipocytes in obese adipose tissues of
      mice. Cold exposure significantly induced the expression levels of uncoupling
      protein-1 (UCP1), which is a mitochondrial protein unique in thermogenic
      adipocytes, in C57BL/6 mice fed a normal diet. However, UCP1 induction was
      significantly suppressed in adipose tissues of C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet,
      into which M1 Mphi infiltrated. Depletion of M1 Mphi using clodronate liposomes
      eliminated the suppressive effect and markedly reduced the mRNA level of tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in the adipose tissues. Importantly, consistent
      with the observed changes in the expression levels of marker genes for
      thermogenic adipocytes, combination treatment of clodronate liposome and cold
      exposure resulted in metabolic benefits such as lowered body weight and blood
      glucose level in obese mice. Moreover, intraperitoneal injection of recombinant
      TNFalpha protein suppressed UCP1 induction in lean adipose tissues of mice.
      Collectively, our data indicate that infiltrated M1 Mphi suppress the induction
      of thermogenic adipocytes in obese adipose tissues via TNFalpha. This report
      suggests that inflammation induced by infiltrated Mphi could cause not only
      insulin resistance but also reduction of energy expenditure in adipose tissues.

PMID- 26884381
TI  - Risk stratification and predictive risk-scoring model for lymph node metastasis
      in early gastric cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We are increasingly experiencing difficulty in deciding whether to
      perform gastrectomy after noncurative endoscopic resection of early gastric
      cancer (EGC) for patients at high risk for surgery. If the differences in risk
      for lymph node metastasis (LNM) on the basis of noncurative status are
      understood, the decision becomes easier. The present study aimed to stratify the
      LNM risk and develop and validate a risk-scoring model for predicting LNM.
      METHODS: By retrospectively reviewing 3131 patients with solitary EGC who
      underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy at our institution between July 1997
      and May 2013, LNM risk was stratified and a risk-scoring model was developed on
      the basis of the identified independent risk factors for LNM. The scoring was
      validated using 352 other surgically resected EGC cases. The discriminatory
      accuracy of the scoring was measured by area under receiver operating
      characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS: LNM was detected in 386 of 3131 cases. LNM
      risk in each subgroup, stratified by the identified independent risk factors,
      such as tumor size, depth, histological type, ulcerative findings, and
      lymphovascular involvement, considerably varied from 0 % to >50 % even among the
      current guidelines' noncurative subgroups. An 11-point scoring model was built,
      and AUROCs were 0.84 (95 % confidence interval, 0.82-0.86) and 0.82 (0.75-0.88)
      in the development and validation sets, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present
      study revealed detailed LNM risk stratification data, and developed and validated
      an 11-point scoring model.

PMID- 26884383
TI  - Direct regulation of IGF-binding protein 1 promoter by interleukin-1beta via an
      insulin- and FoxO-1-independent mechanism.
AB  - The level of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1), a liver
      produced serum protein that regulates insulin-like growth factor-I bioactivity,
      glucose homeostasis, and tissue regeneration, increases during inflammation. This
      manuscript describes a novel pathway for the regulation of hepatic IGFBP1 mRNA
      and protein levels by interleukin (IL)-1beta. Experiments with the luciferase
      reporter system show that IL-1beta stimulates transcriptional activity from the 1
      kb promoter region of IGFBP1. Although IL-1beta stimulation suppresses the
      insulin activation of protein kinase B, the major upstream regulator of IGFBP1
      mRNA transcription, the induction of IGFBP1 by IL-1beta did not require an intact
      insulin response element. Furthermore, neither overexpression nor silencing of
      FoxO-1 had any effect on the IL-1beta-induced increase in IGFBP1 mRNA levels and
      promoter activity. However, inhibition of the ERK MAP kinases effectively
      prevented the IL-1beta effects. Inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase, a key
      player in the IL-1beta signaling cascade that acts upstream of ERK, also
      suppressed the IL-1beta effects, while increasing the ceramide, through the
      addition of C2-ceramide or via treatment with exogenous sphingomyelinase, was
      sufficient to induce IGFBP1 promoter-driven luciferase activity. Studies in
      primary rat hepatocytes where the levels of neutral sphingomyelinase were either
      elevated or suppressed using adenoviral constructs affirmed the key role of
      neutral sphingomyelinase and ceramide (exerted likely through ERK activation) in
      the IL-1beta-induced IGFBP1 production. Finally, the IL-1beta effects on IGFBP1
      mRNA production and protein secretion could be abolished by the addition of
      insulin, either at very late time points or at very high doses.

PMID- 26884384
TI  - Long-term oral administration of osteocalcin induces insulin resistance in male
      mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet.
AB  - Uncarboxylated osteocalcin (GluOC), a bone-derived hormone, regulates energy
      metabolism by stimulating insulin secretion, pancreatic beta-cell proliferation,
      and adiponectin expression in adipocytes. Previously, we showed that long-term
      intermittent or daily oral administration of GluOC reduced the fasting blood
      glucose level, improved glucose tolerance, and increased the fasting serum
      insulin concentration as well as pancreatic beta-cell area in female mice fed a
      normal or high-fat, high-sucrose diet. We have now performed similar experiments
      with male mice and found that such GluOC administration induced glucose
      intolerance, insulin resistance, and adipocyte hypertrophy in those fed a high
      fat, high-sucrose diet. In addition, GluOC increased the circulating
      concentration of testosterone and reduced that of adiponectin in such mice. These
      phenotypes were not observed in male mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet after
      orchidectomy, but they were apparent in orchidectomized male mice or intact
      female mice that were fed such a diet and subjected to continuous testosterone
      supplementation. Our results thus reveal a sex difference in the effects of GluOC
      on glucose homeostasis. Given that oral administration of GluOC has been
      considered a potentially safe and convenient option for the treatment or
      prevention of metabolic disorders, this sex difference will need to be taken into
      account in further investigations.

PMID- 26884385
TI  - Regulation of cardiomyocyte autophagy by calcium.
AB  - Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in a multitude of events within the
      cardiomyocyte, including cell cycle control, growth, apoptosis, and autophagy.
      With respect to calcium-dependent regulation of autophagy, ion channels and
      exchangers, receptors, and intracellular mediators play fundamental roles. In
      this review, we discuss calcium-dependent regulation of cardiomyocyte autophagy,
      a lysosomal mechanism that is often cytoprotective, serving to defend against
      disease-related stress and nutrient insufficiency. We also highlight the
      importance of the subcellular distribution of calcium and related proteins,
      interorganelle communication, and other key signaling events that govern
      cardiomyocyte autophagy.

PMID- 26884388
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26884387
TI  - Disruption of the sugar-sensing receptor T1R2 attenuates metabolic derangements
      associated with diet-induced obesity.
AB  - Sweet taste receptors (STRs) on the tongue mediate gustatory sweet sensing, but
      their expression in the gut, pancreas, and adipose tissue suggests a
      physiological contribution to whole body nutrient sensing and metabolism.
      However, little is known about the function and contribution of these sugar
      sensors during metabolic stress induced by overnutrition and subsequent obesity.
      Here, we investigated the effects of high-fat/low-carbohydrate (HF/LC) diet on
      glucose homeostasis and energy balance in mice with global disruption of the
      sweet taste receptor protein T1R2. We assessed body composition, energy balance,
      glucose homeostasis, and tissue-specific nutrient metabolism in T1R2 knockout
      (T1R2-KO) mice fed a HF/LC diet for 12 wk. HF/LC diet-fed T1R2-KO mice gained a
      similar amount of body mass as did WT mice, but had reduced fat mass and
      increased lean mass relative to WT mice. T1R2-KO mice were also hyperphagic and
      hyperactive. Ablation of the T1R2 sugar sensor protected mice from HF/LC diet
      induced hyperinsulinemia and altered substrate utilization, including increased
      rates of glucose oxidation and decreased liver triglyceride (TG) accumulation,
      despite normal intestinal fat absorption. Finally, STRs (T1r2/T1r3) were
      upregulated in the adipose tissue of WT mice in response to HF/LC diet, and their
      expression positively correlated with fat mass and glucose intolerance. The
      chemosensory receptor T1R2, plays an important role in glucose homeostasis during
      diet-induced obesity through the regulation of yet to be identified molecular
      mechanisms that alter energy disposal and utilization in peripheral tissues.

PMID- 26884386
TI  - Pulsatile delivery of a leucine supplement during long-term continuous enteral
      feeding enhances lean growth in term neonatal pigs.
AB  - Neonatal pigs are used as a model to study and optimize the clinical treatment of
      infants who are unable to maintain oral feeding. Using this model, we have shown
      previously that pulsatile administration of leucine during continuous feeding
      over 24 h via orogastric tube enhanced protein synthesis in skeletal muscle
      compared with continuous feeding alone. To determine the long-term effects of
      leucine pulses, neonatal piglets (n = 11-12/group) were continuously fed formula
      via orogastric tube for 21 days, with an additional parenteral infusion of either
      leucine (CON + LEU; 800 MUmol.kg-1.h-1) or alanine (CON + ALA) for 1 h every 4 h.
      The results show that body and muscle weights and lean gain were ~25% greater,
      and fat gain was 48% lower in CON + LEU than CON + ALA; weights of other tissues
      were unaffected by treatment. Fractional protein synthesis rates in longissimus
      dorsi, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles were ~30% higher in CON + LEU compared
      with CON + ALA and were associated with decreased Deptor abundance and increased
      mTORC1, mTORC2, 4E-BP1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, SNAT2 abundance, and
      association of eIF4E with eIF4G and RagC with mTOR. There were no treatment
      effects on PKB, eIF2alpha, eEF2, or PRAS40 phosphorylation, Rheb, SLC38A9, v
      ATPase, LAMTOR1, LAMTOR2, RagA, RagC, and LAT1 abundance, the proportion of
      polysomes to nonpolysomes, or the proportion of mRNAs encoding rpS4 or rpS8
      associated with polysomes. Our results demonstrate that pulsatile delivery of a
      leucine supplement during 21 days of continuous enteral feeding enhances lean
      growth by stimulating the mTORC1-dependent translation initiation pathway,
      leading to protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of neonates.

PMID- 26884389
TI  - In Situ Investigation of Peptide-Lipid Interaction Between PAP248-286 and Model
      Cell Membranes.
AB  - Sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG) was utilized to
      investigate the interaction between PAP248-286 and the two lipid bilayer systems.
      The present study also provides spectroscopic evidence to confirm that, although
      PAP248-286 is unable to penetrate into the hydrophobic core of the lipid
      bilayers, it is capable of interacting more intimately with the fluid-phase
      POPG/POPC than with the gel-phase DPPG/DPPC lipid bilayer. The helical structure
      content of lipid-bound PAP248-286 was also observed to be high, in contrast to
      the results previously reported using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
      Collectively, our SFG data suggest that lipid-bound PAP248-286 actually resembles
      its structure in 50 % 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol better than the structure when the
      peptide binds to SDS micelles. This present study questions the use of SDS
      micelles as the model membrane for NMR studies of PAP248-286 due to its protein
      denaturing activity.

PMID- 26884390
TI  - Estimating the Time to Benefit for Preventive Drugs with the Statistical Process
      Control Method: An Example with Alendronate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: For physicians dealing with patients with a limited life expectancy,
      knowing the time to benefit (TTB) of preventive medication is essential to
      support treatment decisions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate
      the usefulness of statistical process control (SPC) for determining the TTB in
      relation to fracture risk with alendronate versus placebo in postmenopausal
      women. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of the Fracture Intervention
      Trial (FIT), a randomized, controlled trial that investigated the effect of
      alendronate versus placebo on fracture risk in postmenopausal women. We used SPC,
      a statistical method used for monitoring processes for quality control, to
      determine if and when the intervention group benefited significantly more than
      the control group. SPC discriminated between the normal variations over time in
      the numbers of fractures in both groups and the variations that were attributable
      to alendronate. The TTB was defined as the time point from which the cumulative
      difference in the number of clinical fractures remained greater than the upper
      control limit on the SPC chart. RESULTS: For the total group, the TTB was defined
      as 11 months. For patients aged >=70 years, the TTB was 8 months [absolute risk
      reduction (ARR) = 1.4%]; for patients aged <70 years, it was 19 months (ARR =
      0.7%). CONCLUSION: SPC is a clear and understandable graphical method to
      determine the TTB. Its main advantage is that there is no need to define a
      prespecified time point, as is the case in traditional survival analyses.
      Prescribing alendronate to patients who are aged >=70 years is useful because the
      TTB shows that they will benefit after 8 months. Investigators should report the
      TTB to simplify clinical decision making.

PMID- 26884391
TI  - Development of Clinical Pharmacy in Switzerland: Involvement of Community
      Pharmacists in Care for Older Patients.
AB  - The role of the community pharmacist in primary care has been undergoing change
      in Switzerland in parallel to international developments: it has become more
      clinically and patient oriented. Special services of community pharmacists to
      older patients taking long-term or multiple medications, discharged from
      hospitals or experiencing cognitive impairment or disability have been developed.
      These services require more clinical knowledge and skills from community
      pharmacists and are based on, for example, 'simple or intermediate medication
      reviews' focused primarily to improve medication adherence and rational drug use
      by a patient. Reflecting the new role of community pharmacies, this article
      describes the current services provided by community pharmacies in Switzerland,
      e.g., 'polymedication check', 'weekly pill organizer', and 'services for chronic
      patients', as well as new Swiss educational and reimbursement systems supporting
      development of these services. In the international context, involvement of
      community pharmacists in patient-oriented care is growing. This review summarizes
      positive and negative experiences from implementation of community pharmacy
      services in Switzerland and provides examples for the development of such
      services in other countries. 

PMID- 26884393
TI  - The Notch meeting: an odyssey from structure to function.
AB  - The Notch signaling pathway plays fundamental roles in diverse developmental
      processes. Studies of the basic biology of Notch function have provided insights
      into how its dysfunction contributes to multi-systemic diseases and cancer. In
      addition, our understanding of Notch signaling in maintaining stem/progenitor
      cell populations is revealing new avenues for rekindling regeneration. The Notch
      IX meeting, which was held in Athens, Greece in October 2015, brought together
      scientists working on different model systems and studying Notch signaling in
      various contexts. Here, we provide a summary of the key points that were
      presented at the meeting. Although we focus on the molecular mechanisms that
      determine Notch signaling and its role in development, we also cover talks
      describing roles for Notch in adulthood. Together, the talks revealed how
      interactions between adjacent cells mediated by Notch regulate development and
      physiology at multiple levels. 

PMID- 26884392
TI  - Optimization of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: Role of Multifaceted Cooperation in
      the Hospital Setting.
AB  - Because older patients are more vulnerable to adverse drug-related events, there
      is a need to ensure appropriate pharmacotherapy in these patients. This narrative
      review describes approaches to improve pharmacotherapy in older people in the
      hospital setting. Screening to identify older patients at risk of drug-related
      problems and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is the first critical step within a
      multistep approach to geriatric pharmacotherapy. Two methods that have been
      developed are the GerontoNet ADR risk score and the Brighton Adverse Drug
      Reactions Risk (BADRI) model, which take into account a number of factors, the
      most important of which is the number of medicines. In order to reduce
      potentially inappropriate prescribing in older patients, different types of
      interventions exist, such as pharmacist-led medication reviews, educational
      interventions, computerized decision support systems, and comprehensive geriatric
      assessment. The effects of these interventions have been studied, sometimes in a
      multifaceted approach, by combining different techniques. None of the existing
      interventions shows a clear beneficial effect on patients' health outcomes if
      applied in isolation; however, when these interventions are combined within the
      context of a multidisciplinary team, positive effects on patients' health
      outcomes can be expected. Appropriate geriatric pharmacotherapy, global
      assessment of patients' clinical and functional parameters, and integration of
      skills from different healthcare professionals are needed to address medical
      complexity of older adults. 

PMID- 26884395
TI  - Endothelial cell-derived semaphorin 3A inhibits filopodia formation by blood
      vascular tip cells.
AB  - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is a well-known major chemoattractant
      driver of angiogenesis--the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing
      ones. However, the repellent factors that fine-tune this angiogenic process
      remain poorly characterized. We investigated the expression and functional role
      of endothelial cell-derived semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in retinal angiogenesis, using
      genetic mouse models. We found Sema3a mRNA expression in the ganglion cell layer
      and the presence of Sema3A protein on larger blood vessels and at the growing
      front of blood vessels in neonatal retinas. The Sema3A receptors neuropilin-1 and
      plexin-A1 were expressed by retinal blood vessels. To study the endothelial cell
      specific role of Sema3A, we generated endothelial cell-specific Sema3A knockout
      mouse strains by constitutive or inducible vascular endothelial cadherin-Cre
      mediated gene disruption. We found that in neonatal retinas of these mice, both
      the number and the length of tip cell filopodia were significantly increased and
      the leading edge growth pattern was irregular. Retinal explant experiments showed
      that recombinant Sema3A significantly decreased VEGF-A-induced filopodia
      formation. Endothelial cell-specific knockout of Sema3A had no impact on blood
      vessel density or skin vascular leakage in adult mice. These findings indicate
      that endothelial cell-derived Sema3A exerts repelling functions on VEGF-A-induced
      tip cell filopodia and that a lack of this signaling cannot be rescued by
      paracrine sources of Sema3A.

PMID- 26884394
TI  - Stomach development, stem cells and disease.
AB  - The stomach, an organ derived from foregut endoderm, secretes acid and enzymes
      and plays a key role in digestion. During development, mesenchymal-epithelial
      interactions drive stomach specification, patterning, differentiation and growth
      through selected signaling pathways and transcription factors. After birth, the
      gastric epithelium is maintained by the activity of stem cells. Developmental
      signals are aberrantly activated and stem cell functions are disrupted in gastric
      cancer and other disorders. Therefore, a better understanding of stomach
      development and stem cells can inform approaches to treating these conditions.
      This Review highlights the molecular mechanisms of stomach development and
      discusses recent findings regarding stomach stem cells and organoid cultures, and
      their roles in investigating disease mechanisms. 

PMID- 26884398
TI  - Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-dependent Ca2+ signaling mediates delayed
      myogenesis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy fetal muscle.
AB  - Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder
      characterized by muscle wasting and premature death. The defective gene is
      dystrophin, a structural protein, absence of which causes membrane fragility and
      myofiber necrosis. Several lines of evidence showed that in adult DMD patients
      dystrophin is involved in signaling pathways that regulate calcium homeostasis
      and differentiation programs. However, secondary aspects of the disease, such as
      inflammation and fibrosis development, might represent a bias in the analysis.
      Because fetal muscle is not influenced by gravity and does not suffer from
      mechanical load and/or inflammation, we investigated 12-week-old fetal DMD
      skeletal muscles, highlighting for the first time early alterations in signaling
      pathways mediated by the absence of dystrophin itself. We found that
      PLC/IP3/IP3R/Ryr1/Ca(2+) signaling is widely active in fetal DMD skeletal muscles
      and, through the calcium-dependent PKCalpha protein, exerts a fundamental
      regulatory role in delaying myogenesis and in myofiber commitment. These data
      provide new insights into the origin of DMD pathology during muscle development. 

PMID- 26884397
TI  - Cannabinoid receptor signaling regulates liver development and metabolism.
AB  - Endocannabinoid (EC) signaling mediates psychotropic effects and regulates
      appetite. By contrast, potential roles in organ development and embryonic energy
      consumption remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that genetic or chemical
      inhibition of cannabinoid receptor (Cnr) activity disrupts liver development and
      metabolic function in zebrafish (Danio rerio), impacting hepatic differentiation,
      but not endodermal specification: loss of cannabinoid receptor 1 (cnr1) and cnr2
      activity leads to smaller livers with fewer hepatocytes, reduced liver-specific
      gene expression and proliferation. Functional assays reveal abnormal biliary
      anatomy and lipid handling. Adult cnr2 mutants are susceptible to hepatic
      steatosis. Metabolomic analysis reveals reduced methionine content in Cnr
      mutants. Methionine supplementation rescues developmental and metabolic defects
      in Cnr mutant livers, suggesting a causal relationship between EC signaling,
      methionine deficiency and impaired liver development. The effect of Cnr on
      methionine metabolism is regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding
      transcription factors (Srebfs), as their overexpression rescues Cnr mutant liver
      phenotypes in a methionine-dependent manner. Our work describes a novel
      developmental role for EC signaling, whereby Cnr-mediated regulation of Srebfs
      and methionine metabolism impacts liver development and function. 

PMID- 26884396
TI  - Differential regulation of mouse and human nephron progenitors by the Six family
      of transcriptional regulators.
AB  - Nephron endowment is determined by the self-renewal and induction of a nephron
      progenitor pool established at the onset of kidney development. In the mouse, the
      related transcriptional regulators Six1 and Six2 play non-overlapping roles in
      nephron progenitors. Transient Six1 activity prefigures, and is essential for,
      active nephrogenesis. By contrast, Six2 maintains later progenitor self-renewal
      from the onset of nephrogenesis. We compared the regulatory actions of Six2 in
      mouse and human nephron progenitors by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by
      DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq). Surprisingly, SIX1 was identified as a SIX2 target
      unique to the human nephron progenitors. Furthermore, RNA-seq and immunostaining
      revealed overlapping SIX1 and SIX2 activity in 16 week human fetal nephron
      progenitors. Comparative bioinformatic analysis of human SIX1 and SIX2 ChIP-seq
      showed each factor targeted a similar set of cis-regulatory modules binding an
      identical target recognition motif. In contrast to the mouse where Six2 binds its
      own enhancers but does not interact with DNA around Six1, both human SIX1 and
      SIX2 bind homologous SIX2 enhancers and putative enhancers positioned around
      SIX1. Transgenic analysis of a putative human SIX1 enhancer in the mouse revealed
      a transient, mouse-like, pre-nephrogenic, Six1 regulatory pattern. Together,
      these data demonstrate a divergence in SIX-factor regulation between mouse and
      human nephron progenitors. In the human, an auto/cross-regulatory loop drives
      continued SIX1 and SIX2 expression during active nephrogenesis. By contrast, the
      mouse establishes only an auto-regulatory Six2 loop. These data suggest
      differential SIX-factor regulation might have contributed to species differences
      in nephron progenitor programs such as the duration of nephrogenesis and the
      final nephron count. 

PMID- 26884400
TI  - The classification of frontal sinus pneumatization patterns by CT-based
      volumetry.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aimed to define the classification of frontal sinus pneumatization
      patterns according to three-dimensional volume measurements. METHODS: Datasets of
      148 sides of 74 dry skulls were generated by the computerized tomography-based
      volumetry to measure frontal sinus volumes. The cutoff points for frontal sinus
      hypoplasia and hyperplasia were tested by ROC curve analysis and the validity of
      the diagnostic points was measured. RESULTS: The overall frequencies were 4.1,
      14.2, 37.2 and 44.5 % for frontal sinus aplasia, hypoplasia, medium size and
      hyperplasia, respectively. The aplasia was bilateral in all three skulls.
      Hypoplasia was seen 76 % at the right side and hyperplasia was seen 56 % at the
      left side. The cutoff points for diagnosing frontal sinus hypoplasia and
      hyperplasia were '1131.25 mm(3)' (95.2 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity) and
      '3328.50 mm(3)' (88 % sensitivity and 86 % specificity), respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings provided in the present study, which define frontal
      sinus pneumatization patterns by CT-based volumetry, proved that two opposite
      sides of the frontal sinuses are asymmetric and three-dimensional classification
      should be developed by CT-based volumetry, because two-dimensional evaluations
      lack depth measurement.

PMID- 26884399
TI  - Molecular model for force production and transmission during vertebrate
      gastrulation.
AB  - Vertebrate embryos undergo dramatic shape changes at gastrulation that require
      locally produced and anisotropically applied forces, yet how these forces are
      produced and transmitted across tissues remains unclear. We show that depletion
      of myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) levels in the embryo blocks force
      generation at gastrulation through two distinct mechanisms: destabilizing the
      myosin II (MII) hexameric complex and inhibiting MII contractility. Molecular
      dissection of these two mechanisms demonstrates that normal convergence force
      generation requires MII contractility and we identify a set of molecular
      phenotypes correlated with both this failure of convergence force generation in
      explants and of blastopore closure in whole embryos. These include reduced rates
      of actin movement, alterations in C-cadherin dynamics and a reduction in the
      number of polarized lamellipodia on intercalating cells. By examining the spatial
      relationship between C-cadherin and actomyosin we also find evidence for
      formation of transcellular linear arrays incorporating these proteins that could
      transmit mediolaterally oriented tensional forces. These data combine to suggest
      a multistep model to explain how cell intercalation can occur against a force
      gradient to generate axial extension forces. First, polarized lamellipodia extend
      mediolaterally and make new C-cadherin-based contacts with neighboring mesodermal
      cell bodies. Second, lamellipodial flow of actin coalesces into a tension
      bearing, MII-contractility-dependent node-and-cable actin network in the cell
      body cortex. And third, this actomyosin network contracts to generate
      mediolateral convergence forces in the context of these transcellular arrays. 

PMID- 26884401
TI  - Nucleating emergency radiology specialization in India.
AB  - Emergency radiology is being recognized as an important and distinct specialty of
      radiology which merits utmost attention of educators, radiology program curricula
      committees, and radiology practices in India. Providing an accurate but timely
      diagnosis requires a skilled judgement and a strong process framework,
      particularly in acute trauma setting or a life-threatening acute illness.
      However, due to a shortage of radiologists in India and lack of awareness and
      suitable opportunities, there has been no concerted movement towards emergency
      radiology subspecialty training or dedicated emergency radiology positions. It
      was with these gaps in mind that the Society for Emergency Radiology was
      envisioned in 2012 and formulated in 2013. The proposed role of the Society for
      Emergency Radiology is to identify deficiencies in the field, namely, lack of
      adequate exposure, lack of mentorship by experienced emergency radiologists, lack
      of suitable opportunities for emergency radiologists; establish standards of
      practice; and promote education and implementation research to bridge the gaps.
      Through collaboration with other societies and partnership with the journal
      Emergency Radiology, the Society for Emergency Radiology hopes to promote a free
      exchange of ideas, protocols, and multi-institutional trials across continents. 

PMID- 26884402
TI  - Core curriculum illustration: necrotizing pneumonia and empyema.
AB  - This is the 18th installment of a series that will highlight one case per
      publication issue from the bank of cases available online as part of the American
      Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) educational resources. Our goal is to
      generate more interest in and use of our online materials. To view more cases
      online please visit the ASER Core Curriculum and Recommendations for Study online
      at: http://www.erad.org/?page=CCIP_TOC . 

PMID- 26884403
TI  - Highlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER
      2015 annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course.
AB  - The American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting
      and Postgraduate Course offered dedicated learning sessions, oral presentations,
      and digital exhibits on a broad spectrum of topics in emergency radiology,
      including traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies, quality, communication,
      education, technological innovations, and the evolving identity of the emergency
      radiology subspecialty. This article highlights the scientific and educational
      abstracts presented at the meeting. 

PMID- 26884404
TI  - Subregional Expression of Hippocampal Glutamatergic and GABAergic Genes in F344
      Rats with Social Isolation after Weaning.
AB  - Many studies have shown that postweaning social isolation (pwSI) alters various
      behavioral phenotypes, including hippocampusdependent tasks. Here, we report the
      comprehensive analysis of the expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic
      neurotransmissionrelated genes in the distinct hippocampal subregions of pwSI
      rats. Male F344 rats (age, 4 wk) experienced either pwSI or group housing
      (controls). At 7 wk of age, the hippocampus of each rat was removed and laser
      microdissected into the CA1 and CA3 layers of pyramidal cells and the granule
      cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Subsequently, the expression of glutamatergic-
      and GABAergic- related genes was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. In the CA1 and
      CA3 pyramidal cell layers, 18 of 24 glutamate receptor subunit genes were at
      least 1.5-fold increased in expression after pwSI. In particular, the expression
      of several N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate receptors (for example, Grin2a in
      CA1, Grik4 in CA3) was significantly increased after pwSI. In contrast, pwSI
      tended to decrease the expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes, and Gabra1,
      Gabra2, Gabra4, Gabra5, Gabrb2, Gabrg1, and Gabrg2 were all significantly
      decreased in expression compared with the levels in the group-housed rats. These
      results indicate a subregion- specific increase of glutamate receptors and
      reduction of GABAA receptors, suggesting that the hippocampal circuits of pwSI
      rats may be in more excitable states than those of group-housed rats. 

PMID- 26884406
TI  - Collagenoma in an African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis).
AB  - A 3-y-old female Xenopus laevis was reported for a gray mass on the abdomen. The
      frog was used for egg collection and was otherwise experimentally naive. On
      physical exam, the frog was bright and active and had a firm, gray, lobulated
      mass (1.5 cm * 0.5 cm * 0.5 cm) in the cutaneous tissue of the left lateral
      abdomen. An excisional biopsy was performed under anesthesia, and the entire mass
      was removed and processed for histopathology. Microscopically, the dermis was
      greatly expanded by connective tissue with a marked decrease in the number of
      glands, and occasional degenerative glands were present. When stained with Masson
      trichrome, the excessive connective tissue stained blue, indicating that it was
      composed of collagen. With Verhoeff-van Gieson staining, the connective tissue
      stained bright red with an absence of black-staining material, demonstrating the
      presence of collagen and ruling out elastic fibers. In light of the morphology of
      the mass and the results of the special stains, the mass was diagnosed as a
      collagenoma. To our knowledge, this report is the first description of a
      collagenoma in X. laevis. 

PMID- 26884405
TI  - Renal Function and Hematology in Rats with Congenital Renal Hypoplasia.
AB  - Renal hypoplasia due to a congenitally reduced number of nephrons progresses to
      chronic kidney disease and may cause renal anemia, given that the kidneys are a
      major source of erythropoietin in adults. Hypoplastic kidney (HPK) rats have only
      about 20% of the normal number of nephrons and develop CKD. This study assessed
      the renal function and hematologic changes in HPK rats from 70 to 210 d of age.
      HPK rats demonstrated deterioration of renal excretory function, slightly
      macrocytic erythropenia at all days examined, age-related increases in splenic
      hemosiderosis accompanied by a tendency toward increased hemolysis, normal plasma
      erythropoietin levels associated with increased hepatic and decreased renal
      erythropoietin production, and maintenance of the response for erythropoietin
      production to hypoxic conditions, with increased interstitial fibrosis at 140 d
      of age. These results indicate that increases in splenic hemosiderosis and the
      membrane fragility of RBC might be associated with erythropenia and that hepatic
      production of erythropoietin might contribute to maintaining the blood Hgb
      concentration in HPK rats. 

PMID- 26884407
TI  - Effect of Gonadectomy on the Androgen-Dependent Behavior of Ganglion Cell-Like
      Cells in Djungarian Hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).
AB  - Ganglion cell-like (GL) cells reside in the dermis of the ventral skin of mature
      male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sugorus) and express androgen receptor (AR).
      To assess whether GL cells have androgen-dependent behavior, we evaluated the
      histologic changes of GL cells after gonadectomy. Five male and 5 female hamsters
      were gonadectomized at the age of 4 wk and necropsied 14 wk later. The number,
      distribution, and proliferative activity of GL cells in the thoracoabdominal and
      dorsal skins were evaluated histologically and compared with those of
      corresponding intact animals. GL cells were more numerous, were distributed
      throughout the skin more widely, and had higher proliferative activity in the
      intact male hamsters than in their gonadectomized counterparts. Similar trends
      regarding these 3 parameters were seen in ovariectomized compared with intact
      female hamsters and between intact male and intact female hamsters. These results
      suggest that the GL cells of Djungarian hamsters demonstrate sex-associated
      differences in their distribution and proliferative activity and that androgen
      may be involved in the development of these cells. 

PMID- 26884408
TI  - Analysis of Gene Expression and Ultrastructure of Stifle Menisci from Juvenile
      and Adult Pigs.
AB  - The origin of the age-associated degenerative processes in meniscal tissue is
      poorly understood and may be related to an imbalance of anabolic and catabolic
      metabolism. The aim of the current study was to compare medial menisci isolated
      from juvenile pigs and degenerated medial menisci from adult pigs in terms of
      gene expression profile and ultrastructure. Medial menisci were isolated from the
      knee joints of juvenile and adult pigs (n = 8 for each group). Degeneration was
      determined histologically according to a scoring system. In addition, the gene
      expression profiles of 14 genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins, catabolic
      matrix metalloproteinases and mediators of inflammation were analyzed. Changes in
      the ultrastructure of the collagen network of the meniscal tissue were analyzed
      by using transmission electron microscopy. The histologic analysis of menisci
      showed significantly higher grade of degeneration in tissue isolated from adult
      porcine knee joints compared with menisci isolated from juvenile knee joints. In
      particular, destruction of the collagen network was greater in adult menisci than
      in juvenile menisci. Degenerated menisci showed significantly decreased gene
      expression of COL1A1 and increased expression of MMP2, MMP13, and IL8. The
      menisci from adult porcine knee joints can serve as a model for meniscal
      degeneration. Degenerative changes were manifested as differences in
      histopathology, gene expression and ultrastructure of collagen network. 

PMID- 26884409
TI  - Natural Progression of Canine Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIa.
AB  - Glycogen storage disease type IIIa (GSD IIIa) is caused by a deficiency of
      glycogen debranching enzyme activity. Hepatomegaly, muscle degeneration, and
      hypoglycemia occur in human patients at an early age. Long-term complications
      include liver cirrhosis, hepatic adenomas, and generalized myopathy. A naturally
      occurring canine model of GSD IIIa that mimics the human disease has been
      described, with progressive liver disease and skeletal muscle damage likely due
      to excess glycogen deposition. In the current study, long-term follow-up of
      previously described GSD IIIa dogs until 32 mo of age (n = 4) and of family-owned
      GSD IIIa dogs until 11 to 12 y of age (n = 2) revealed that elevated
      concentrations of liver and muscle enzyme (AST, ALT, ALP, and creatine
      phosphokinase) decreased over time, consistent with hepatic cirrhosis and muscle
      fibrosis. Glycogen deposition in many skeletal muscles; the tongue, diaphragm,
      and heart; and the phrenic and sciatic nerves occurred also. Furthermore, the
      urinary biomarker Glc4, which has been described in many types of GSD, was first
      elevated and then decreased later in life. This urinary biomarker demonstrated a
      similar trend as AST and ALT in GSD IIIa dogs, indicating that Glc4 might be a
      less invasive biomarker of hepatocellular disease. Finally, the current study
      further demonstrates that the canine GSD IIIa model adheres to the clinical
      course in human patients with this disorder and is an appropriate model for
      developing novel therapies. 

PMID- 26884410
TI  - Use of an Implantable Loop Recorder in a Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) to Monitor
      Cardiac Arrhythmias and Assess the Effects of Acupuncture and Laser Therapy.
AB  - Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in captive chimpanzees and is
      often associated with myocardial fibrosis, which increases the risk of cardiac
      arrhythmias. In this case report, we present a 36-y-old male chimpanzee (Pan
      troglodytes) diagnosed with frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPC). We
      placed a subcutaneous implantable loop recorder for continual ECG monitoring to
      assess his arrhythmias without the confounding effects of anesthetics. During his
      initial treatment with the antiarrhythmia medication amiodarone, he developed
      thrombocytopenia, and the drug was discontinued. After reviewing other potential
      therapies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, we elected to try acupuncture
      and laser therapy in view of the positive results and the lack of adverse side
      effects reported in humans. We used 2 well-known cardiac acupuncture sites on the
      wrist, PC6 (pericardium 6) and HT7 (heart 7), and evaluated the results of the
      therapy by using the ECG recordings from the implantable loop recorder. Although
      periodic increases in the animal's excitement level introduced confounding
      variables that caused some variation in the data, acupuncture and laser therapy
      appeared to decrease the mean number of VPC/min in this chimpanzee. 

PMID- 26884411
TI  - Granuloma Due to Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose in an Aged Rhesus Macaque (Macaca
      mulatta).
AB  - Bioabsorbable hemostatic agents such as oxidized regenerated cellulose are widely
      used to control intraoperative diffuse capillary bleeding. Compared with
      electrocautery or ligation, oxidized regenerated cellulose has the advantage of
      controlling bleeding without occluding the vessel lumen or causing thermal
      injuries to adjacent tissue. Although the manufacturer recommends removal of the
      material once hemostasis is achieved, oxidized regenerated cellulose is a
      bioabsorbable hemostatic agent and is often left in the surgical bed to prevent
      subsequent bleeding after surgical closure. However, noninvasive imaging
      techniques have revealed granulomatous foreign-body reactions that mimic
      infection or tumor recurrence. We present a case report of sterile peritonitis
      and granuloma formation secondary to the presence of oxidized regenerated
      cellulose after intestinal resection to excise a colonic adenocarcinoma in an
      aged rhesus macaque. 

PMID- 26884412
TI  - Spontaneous Cholelithiasis in a Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus).
AB  - A mature female squirrel monkey was noted during routine semiannual examinations
      to have moderate progressive weight loss. Serum chemistry panels revealed marked
      increases in hepatic enzyme, bilirubin, and bile salt concentrations and
      hypoalbuminemia. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed echogenic, shadowing debris
      in the gallbladder, consistent with cholelithiasis. At necropsy, marked
      thickening and distension of the gallbladder, cystic duct, and common bile duct
      was noted, and more than 50 irregularly shaped, black gallstones were removed
      from the biliary tract. Gallbladder tissue, bile, and gallstones cultured
      positive for Escherichia coli and Proteus spp., suggesting a brown-pigment
      gallstone type secondary to a bacterial nidus. Histopathology revealed severe
      chronic-active diffuse cholecystitis and severe chronic-active hepatic
      degeneration and necrosis with severe cholestasis. To our knowledge, this report
      is the first description of spontaneous choleilthiasis in a squirrel monkey. 

PMID- 26884413
TI  - Asthma in an Adult Female Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus).
AB  - A 9-y-old, colony-bred, female vervet monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) presented with
      a 6-y history of open-mouth breathing, tachypnea, and sibilant wheezing. These
      symptoms did not significantly affect her activity or quality of life. Thoracic
      radiographs and results of bronchoalveolar lavage supported the diagnosis of
      asthma. Treatment comprising intramuscular prednisolone (tapered over 2 mo from
      twice daily to every other day), inhaled salmeterol-fluticasone (25 MUg-250 MUg
      per actuation twice daily) by mask, and a metered dose inhaler was successful in
      restoring a normal respiratory pattern. Despite the availability of several
      primate models of human asthma, this case represents the first report of
      spontaneous asthma in a NHP. 

PMID- 26884417
TI  - Hypopigmentation of newborn skin.

PMID- 26884414
TI  - The role of respiratory viruses in the etiology of bacterial pneumonia: An
      ecological perspective.
AB  - Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children less than 5 years old
      worldwide. A wide range of viral, bacterial and fungal agents can cause
      pneumonia: although viruses are the most common etiologic agent, the severity of
      clinical symptoms associated with bacterial pneumonia and increasing antibiotic
      resistance makes bacterial pneumonia a major public health concern. Bacterial
      pneumonia can follow upper respiratory viral infection and complicate lower
      respiratory viral infection. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a major cause of
      influenza-related deaths. In this review, we evaluate the following hypotheses:
      (i) respiratory viruses influence the etiology of pneumonia by altering bacterial
      community structure in the upper respiratory tract (URT) and (ii) respiratory
      viruses promote or inhibit colonization of the lower respiratory tract (LRT) by
      certain bacterial species residing in the URT. We conducted a systematic review
      of the literature to examine temporal associations between respiratory viruses
      and bacteria and a targeted review to identify potential mechanisms of
      interactions. We conclude that viruses both alter the bacterial community in the
      URT and promote bacterial colonization of the LRT. However, it is uncertain
      whether changes in the URT bacterial community play a substantial role in
      pneumonia etiology. The exception is Streptococcus pneumoniae where a strong link
      between viral co-infection, increased carriage and pneumococcal pneumonia has
      been established. 

PMID- 26884415
TI  - Predicting global variation in infectious disease severity: A bottom-up approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Understanding the underlying causes for the variation
      in case-fatality-ratios (CFR) is important for assessing the mechanism governing
      global disparity in the burden of infectious diseases. Variation in CFR is likely
      to be driven by factors such as population genetics, demography, transmission
      patterns and general health status. We present data here that support the
      hypothsis that changes in CFRs for specific diseases may be the result of serial
      passage through different hosts. For example passage through adults may lead to
      lower CFR, whereas passage through children may have the opposite effect.
      Accordingly changes in CFR may occur in parallel with demographic transitions.
      METHODOLOGY: We explored the predictability of CFR using data obtained from the
      World Health Organization (WHO) disease databases for four human diseases: mumps,
      malaria, tuberculosis and leptospirosis and assessed these for association with a
      range of population characteristics, such as crude birth and death rates, median
      age of the population, mean body mass index, proportion living in urban areas and
      tuberculosis vaccine coverage. We then tested this predictive model on Danish
      historical demographic and population data. RESULTS: Birth rates were the best
      predictor for mumps and malaria CFR. For tuberculosis CFR death rates were the
      best predictor and for leptospirosis population density was a significant
      predictor. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: CFR predictors differed among diseases
      according to their biology. We suggest that the overall result reflects an
      interaction between the forces driving demographic change and the virulence of
      human-to-human transmitted diseases.

PMID- 26884416
TI  - Explaining the sex difference in depression with a unified bargaining model of
      anger and depression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Women are twice as likely as men to be depressed, a bias that is
      poorly understood. One evolutionary model proposes that depression is a
      bargaining strategy to compel reluctant social partners to provide more help in
      the wake of adversity. An evolutionary model of anger proposes that high upper
      body strength predisposes individuals to angrily threaten social partners who
      offer too few benefits or impose too many costs. Here, we propose that when
      social partners provide too few benefits or impose too many costs, the physically
      strong become overtly angry and the physically weak become depressed. The sexual
      dimorphism in upper body strength means that men will be more likely to bargain
      with anger and physical threats and women with depression. METHODOLOGY: We tested
      this idea using the 2011-12 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
      (NHANES), a large nationally representative sample of US households that included
      measures of depression and upper body strength. RESULTS: A 2 SD increase in grip
      strength decreased the odds of depression by more than half ([Formula: see
      text],[Formula: see text]), which did not appear to be a consequence of confounds
      with anthropometric, hormonal or socioeconomic variables, but was partially
      explained by a confound with physical disability. Nevertheless, upper body
      strength mediated 63% of the effect of sex on depression, but the mediation
      effect was unexpectedly moderated by age. CONCLUSIONS: Low upper body strength is
      a risk factor for depression, especially in older adults, and the sex difference
      in body strength appears to explain much of the perplexing sex difference in
      depression.

PMID- 26884418
TI  - The role of anti-phospholipid antibodies in autoimmune reproductive failure.
AB  - Anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) are autoantibodies that are associated with
      thrombosis and a range of pregnancy complications including recurrent pregnancy
      loss and pre-eclampsia. The three clinically relevant, well-characterized aPL are
      anti-cardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I
      (beta2GPI) antibodies. aPL do not bind directly to phospholipids but instead bind
      to a plasma-binding 'cofactor'. The most extensively studied cofactor is
      beta2GPI, whose role in pregnancy is not fully elucidated. Although the
      pathogenicity of aPL in recurrent pregnancy loss is well established in humans
      and animal models, the association of aPL with infertility does not appear to be
      causative. aPL may exert their detrimental effects during pregnancy by directly
      binding trophoblast cells of the placenta, altering trophoblast signalling,
      proliferation, invasion and secretion of hormones and cytokines, and by
      increasing apoptosis. Heparin is commonly used to treat pregnant women with aPL;
      however, as thrombotic events do not occur in the placentae of all women with
      aPL, it may exert a protective effect by preventing the binding of aPL to
      beta2GPI or by acting through non-thrombotic pathways. The aim of this review is
      to present evidence summarizing the current understanding of this field. 

PMID- 26884419
TI  - On the origin of sperm epigenetic heterogeneity.
AB  - The influence of epigenetic modifications on reproduction and on the function of
      male germ cells has been thoroughly demonstrated. In particular, aberrant DNA
      methylation levels in sperm have been associated with abnormal sperm parameters,
      lower fertilization rates and impaired embryo development. Recent reports have
      indicated that human sperm might be epigenetically heterogeneous and that
      abnormal DNA methylation levels found in the sperm of infertile men could be due
      to the presence of sperm populations with different epigenetic quality. However,
      the origin and the contribution of different germ cell types to this suspected
      heterogeneity remain unclear. In this review, we focus on sperm epigenetics at
      the DNA methylation level and its importance in reproduction. We take into
      account the latest developments and hypotheses concerning the functional
      significance of epigenetic heterogeneity coming from the field of stem cell and
      cancer biology and discuss the potential importance and consequences of sperm
      epigenetic heterogeneity for reproduction, male (in)fertility and assisted
      reproductive technologies (ART). Based on the current information, we propose a
      model in which spermatogonial stem cell variability, either intrinsic or due to
      external factors (such as endocrine action and environmental stimuli), can lead
      to epigenetic sperm heterogeneity, sperm epimutations and male infertility. The
      elucidation of the precise causes for epimutations, the conception of adequate
      therapeutic options and the development of sperm selection technologies based on
      epigenetic quality should be regarded as crucial to the improvement of ART
      outcome in the near future. 

PMID- 26884420
TI  - Concerns about study on maternal H1N1 influenza vaccination and offspring
      mortality.

PMID- 26884421
TI  - Sleep bruxism in adolescents: a systematic literature review of related risk
      factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multiple risk factors have been associated to sleep bruxism (SB).
      Nevertheless, there are still many unsolved issues concerning the etiology of SB
      that have consequences on the clinical management strategies. OBJECTIVE:
      Systematically review the literature to assess the relationship between risk
      factors and SB symptoms in adolescents (age 11-19 years). SEARCH METHODS AND
      SELECTION CRITERIA: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trial
      Register and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, LILACs, and
      SciELO were searched to identify all peer-reviewed articles potentially relevant
      to the review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The risk of bias was assessed
      according to the guidelines from the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of
      interventions, with reporting in agreement to the preferred reporting items for
      systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. RESULTS: Four out of the 4546
      initially identified articles were selected. According to the grading of
      recommendations assessment, development and evaluation assessment (GRADE), the
      magnitude of agreement was almost perfect for all checklist items. Sleep
      disturbances, and snoring in particular, headache, jaw muscle fatigue, and tooth
      wear seem to be associated to SB in adolescents from 11 to 19 years old.
      LIMITATIONS: Despite the large interest of the scientific community in the field
      of oral parafunctions, only four articles met the eligibility criteria.
      Furthermore only associations and not definite cause-effect relationships were
      highlighted in the selected articles. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbances presented
      the strongest association with SB while very few occlusal features had a moderate
      association. As a common sense the investigation of sleep respiratory disorders
      could be of great help in the management of SB in adolescents.

PMID- 26884422
TI  - Unblinded CGM Should Replace Blinded CGM in the Clinical Management of Diabetes.
AB  - The original continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) were limited to 3-day, blinded
      observation periods where glucose data was hidden from patients and later
      retrospectively analyzed by a provider to help guide the management of diabetes.
      Unblinded CGM, released several years later, allows patients to view their
      glucose data in real-time amidst their daily routines, enabling them to better
      understand how variables such as activity, nutrition, and medications affect
      glucose levels. Research studies consistently demonstrate improved glycemic
      control and reduced hypoglycemia in children and adults with type 1 and type 2
      diabetes while using unblinded CGM.(1-4) As such, we believe that all CGM usage
      in clinical practice should be in real-time, unblinded mode for short-term and
      long-term wear periods.

PMID- 26884423
TI  - Authors' reply to Amitai and Koren.

PMID- 26884424
TI  - Digging deeper into the intronic sequences of the SPINK1 gene.

PMID- 26884425
TI  - Autophagy mediates epithelial cytoprotection in eosinophilic oesophagitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The influence of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE)-associated
      inflammation upon oesophageal epithelial biology remains poorly understood. We
      investigated the functional role of autophagy in oesophageal epithelial cells
      (keratinocytes) exposed to the inflammatory EoE milieu. DESIGN: Functional
      consequences of genetic or pharmacological autophagy inhibition were assessed in
      endoscopic oesophageal biopsies, human oesophageal keratinocytes, single cell
      derived ex vivo murine oesophageal organoids as well as a murine model
      recapitulating EoE-like inflammation and basal cell hyperplasia. Gene expression,
      morphological and functional characterisation of autophagy and oxidative stress
      were performed by transmission electron microscopy, immunostaining,
      immunoblotting, live cell imaging and flow cytometry. RESULTS: EoE-relevant
      inflammatory conditions promoted autophagy and basal cell hyperplasia in three
      independent murine EoE models and oesophageal organoids. Inhibition of autophagic
      flux via chloroquine treatment augmented basal cell hyperplasia in these model
      systems. Oesophageal keratinocytes stimulated with EoE-relevant cytokines,
      including tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-13 exhibited activation of
      autophagic flux in a reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. Autophagy
      inhibition via chloroquine treatment or depletion of Beclin-1 or ATG-7, augmented
      oxidative stress induced by EoE-relevant stimuli in murine EoE, oesophageal
      organoids and human oesophageal keratinocytes. Oesophageal epithelia of
      paediatric EoE patients with active inflammation displayed increased autophagic
      vesicle content compared with normal and EoE remission subjects. Functional flow
      cytometric analysis revealed autophagic flux in human oesophageal biopsies.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal for the first time that autophagy may function
      as a cytoprotective mechanism to maintain epithelial redox balance and
      homeostasis under EoE inflammation-associated stress, providing mechanistic
      insights into the role of autophagy in EoE pathogenesis.

PMID- 26884426
TI  - Quantitative evaluation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells rescuing fulminant
      hepatic failure in pigs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Stem cell transplantation provides a promising alternative for the
      treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). However, it lacks fundamental
      understanding of stem cells' activities. Our objective was to clarify stem cell
      recipient interactions for overcoming barriers to clinical application. DESIGN:
      We used an in-house large-animal (pig) model of FHF rescue by human bone marrow
      mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and profiled the cells' activities. The control
      and transplantation groups of pigs (n=15 per group) both received a D
      galactosamine (D-Gal) injection (1.5 g/kg). The transplantation group received
      hBMSCs via intraportal vein infusion (3*106 cells/kg) immediately after D-Gal
      administration. The stem cell-recipient interactions were quantitatively
      evaluated by biochemical function, cytokine array, metabolite profiling,
      transcriptome sequencing and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: All pigs in the
      control group died within an average of 3.22 days, whereas 13/15 pigs in the
      transplantation group lived >14 days. The cytokine array and metabolite profiling
      analyses revealed that hBMSC transplantation suppressed D-Gal-induced life
      threatening cytokine storms and stabilised FHF within 7 days, while human-derived
      hepatocytes constituted only ~4.5% of the pig hepatocytes. The functional synergy
      analysis of the observed profile changes indicated that the implanted hBMSCs
      altered the pigs' cytokine responses to damage through paracrine effects. Delta
      like ligand 4 was validated to assist liver restoration in both pig and rat FHF
      models. CONCLUSIONS: Our results delineated an integrated model of the
      multifaceted interactions between stem cells and recipients, which may open a new
      avenue to the discovery of single molecule-based therapeutics that simulate stem
      cell actions.

PMID- 26884427
TI  - Intestinal Long-Chain Fatty Acids Act as a Direct Signal To Modulate Expression
      of the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 Type III Secretion System.
AB  - Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium uses the Salmonella pathogenicity island
      1 (SPI1) type III secretion system (T3SS) to induce inflammatory diarrhea and
      bacterial uptake into intestinal epithelial cells. The expression of hilA,
      encoding the transcriptional activator of the T3SS structural genes, is directly
      controlled by three AraC-like regulators, HilD, HilC, and RtsA, each of which can
      activate hilD, hilC, rtsA, and hilA genes, forming a complex feed-forward
      regulatory loop. Expression of the SPI1 genes is tightly controlled by numerous
      regulatory inputs to ensure proper timing in production of the T3SS apparatus.
      Loss of FadD, an acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetase required for degradation
      of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), was known to decrease hilA expression. We show
      that free external LCFAs repress expression of hilA independently of FadD and the
      LCFA degradation pathway. Genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that LCFAs
      act directly to block primarily HilD activity. Further analyses show that in the
      absence of FadD, hilA expression is downregulated due to endogenous production of
      free LCFAs, which are excreted into the culture medium via TolC and then
      transported back into the bacterial cell via FadL. A fadL mutant is more virulent
      than the wild-type strain in mouse oral competition assays independently of LCFA
      degradation, showing that, in the host, dietary LCFAs serve as a signal for
      proper regulation of SPI1 expression, rather than an energy source. IMPORTANCE:
      To cause disease, Salmonella must respond to diverse environmental cues to
      express its invasion machinery at the appropriate location in the host intestine.
      We show that host intestinal free long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) affect
      Salmonella invasion by reducing expression of the SPI1 type III secretion system,
      acting primarily via the AraC-like activator HilD. Degradation of LCFAs is not
      required for this regulation, showing that free LCFAs serve as a cue to proper
      intestinal localization to invade host epithelial cells and not as a nutrient
      source.

PMID- 26884429
TI  - Hidden Staphylococcus aureus Carriage: Overrated or Underappreciated?
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus is a persistent companion bacterial species in one-third of
      humankind. Reservoirs include the nasal and nasopharyngeal cavities, skin, and
      gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Despite earlier claims that colonization of
      individuals is caused by clonal organisms, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has
      revealed that resident type heterogeneity is not exceptional. Carriage, whether
      overt or hidden, is correlated with a risk of autoinfection. In a recent article
      in mBio, it was shown that, based on staphylococcal genome sequencing, low-level
      GI persistence may cause long-term nosocomial outbreaks [L. Senn et al.,
      7(1):e02039-15, 2016, doi:10.1128/mBio.02039-15]. Institutional endemicity with
      methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) sequence type 228 (ST228) is shown to
      originate not from high-level nasal carriage or poor compliance with infection
      control practice but from low-grade asymptomatic GI colonization. This shows the
      power of NGS in elucidating staphylococcal epidemiology and, even more important,
      demonstrates that (drug-resistant) microorganisms may possess stealthy means of
      persistence. Identifying these persistence mechanisms is key to successful
      infection control. 

PMID- 26884428
TI  - Demography and Intercontinental Spread of the USA300 Community-Acquired
      Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Lineage.
AB  - Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was
      recognized worldwide during the 1990s; in less than a decade, several genetically
      distinct CA-MRSA lineages carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes have emerged
      on every continent. Most notably, in the United States, the sequence type 18-IV
      (ST8-IV) clone known as USA300 has become highly prevalent, outcompeting
      methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and other MRSA strains in both community
      and hospital settings. CA-MRSA bacteria are much less prevalent in Europe, where
      the European ST80-IV European CA-MRSA clone, USA300 CA-MRSA strains, and other
      lineages, such as ST22-IV, coexist. The question that arises is whether the
      USA300 CA-MRSA present in Europe (i) was imported once or on very few occasions,
      followed by a broad geographic spread, anticipating an increased prevalence in
      the future, or (ii) derived from multiple importations with limited spreading
      success. In the present study, we applied whole-genome sequencing to a collection
      of French USA300 CA-MRSA strains responsible for sporadic cases and micro
      outbreaks over the past decade and United States ST8 MSSA and MRSA isolates.
      Genome-wide phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the population structure of
      the French isolates is the product of multiple introductions dating back to the
      onset of the USA300 CA-MRSA clone in North America. Coalescent-based demography
      of the USA300 lineage shows that a strong expansion occurred during the 1990s
      concomitant with the acquisition of the arginine catabolic mobile element and
      antibiotic resistance, followed by a sharp decline initiated around 2008,
      reminiscent of the rise-and-fall pattern previously observed in the ST80 lineage.
      A future expansion of the USA300 lineage in Europe is therefore very unlikely.
      IMPORTANCE: To trace the origin, evolution, and dissemination pattern of the
      USA300 CA-MRSA clone in France, we sequenced a collection of strains of this
      lineage from cases reported in France in the last decade and compared them with
      431 ST8 strains from the United States. We determined that the French CA-MRSA
      USA300 sporadic and micro-outbreak isolates resulted from multiple independent
      introductions of the USA300 North American lineage. At a global level, in the
      transition from an MSSA lineage to a successful CA-MRSA clone, it first became
      resistant to multiple antibiotics and acquired the arginine catabolic mobile
      element and subsequently acquired resistance to fluoroquinolones, and these two
      steps were associated with a dramatic demographic expansion. This expansion was
      followed by the current stabilization and expected decline of this lineage. These
      findings highlight the significance of horizontal gene acquisitions and point
      mutations in the success of such disseminated clones and illustrate their cyclic
      and sporadic life cycle.

PMID- 26884430
TI  - Chromatin Modulation of Herpesvirus Lytic Gene Expression: Managing Nucleosome
      Density and Heterochromatic Histone Modifications.
AB  - Like their cellular hosts, herpesviruses are subject to the regulatory impacts of
      chromatin assembled on their genomes. Upon infection, these viruses are assembled
      into domains of chromatin with heterochromatic signatures that suppress viral
      gene expression or euchromatic characteristics that promote gene expression. The
      organization and modulation of these chromatin domains appear to be intimately
      linked to the coordinated expression of the different classes of viral genes and
      thus ultimately play an important role in the progression of productive infection
      or the establishment and maintenance of viral latency. A recent report from the
      Knipe laboratory (J. S. Lee, P. Raja, and D. M. Knipe, mBio 7:e02007-15, 2016)
      contributes to the understanding of the dynamic modulation of chromatin assembled
      on the herpes simplex virus genome by monitoring the levels of characteristic
      heterochromatic histone modifications (histone H3 lysine 9 and 27 methylation)
      associated with a model viral early gene during the progression of lytic
      infection. Additionally, this study builds upon previous observations that the
      viral immediate-early protein ICP0 plays a role in reducing the levels of
      heterochromatin associated with the early genes. 

PMID- 26884431
TI  - Activated Neutrophils Are Associated with Pediatric Cerebral Malaria Vasculopathy
      in Malawian Children.
AB  - Most patients with cerebral malaria (CM) sustain cerebral microvascular
      sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs). Although
      many young children are infected with P. falciparum, CM remains a rare outcome;
      thus, we hypothesized that specific host conditions facilitate iRBC cerebral
      sequestration. To identify these host factors, we compared the peripheral whole
      blood transcriptomes of Malawian children with iRBC cerebral sequestration,
      identified as malarial-retinopathy-positive CM (Ret+CM), to the transcriptomes of
      children with CM and no cerebral iRBC sequestration, defined as malarial
      retinopathy-negative CM (Ret-CM). Ret+CM was associated with upregulation of 103
      gene set pathways, including cytokine, blood coagulation, and extracellular
      matrix (ECM) pathways (P < 0.01; false-discovery rate [FDR] of <0.05). Neutrophil
      transcripts were the most highly upregulated individual transcripts in Ret+CM
      patients. Activated neutrophils can modulate diverse host processes, including
      the ECM, inflammation, and platelet biology to potentially facilitate parasite
      sequestration. Therefore, we compared plasma neutrophil proteins and neutrophil
      chemotaxis between Ret+CM and Ret-CM patients. Plasma levels of human neutrophil
      elastase, myeloperoxidase, and proteinase 3, but not lactoferrin or lipocalin,
      were elevated in Ret+CM patients, and neutrophil chemotaxis was impaired,
      possibly related to increased plasma heme. Neutrophils were rarely seen in CM
      brain microvasculature autopsy samples, and no neutrophil extracellular traps
      were found, suggesting that a putative neutrophil effect on endothelial cell
      biology results from neutrophil soluble factors rather than direct neutrophil
      cellular tissue effects. Meanwhile, children with Ret-CM had lower levels of
      inflammation, higher levels of alpha interferon, and upregulation of Toll-like
      receptor pathways and other host transcriptional pathways, which may represent
      responses that do not favor cerebral iRBC sequestration. IMPORTANCE: There were
      approximately 198 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2013, with an estimated
      584,000 deaths occurring mostly in sub-Saharan African children. CM is a severe
      and rare form of Plasmodium falciparum infection and is associated with high
      rates of mortality and neurological morbidity, despite antimalarial treatment. A
      greater understanding of the pathophysiology of CM would allow the development of
      adjunctive therapies to improve clinical outcomes. A hallmark of CM is cerebral
      microvasculature sequestration of P. falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs),
      which results in vasculopathy in some patients. Our data provide a global
      analysis of the host pathways associated with CM and newly identify an
      association of activated neutrophils with brain iRBC sequestration. Products of
      activated neutrophils could alter endothelial cell receptors and coagulation to
      facilitate iRBC adherence. Future studies can now examine the role of neutrophils
      in CM pathogenesis to improve health outcomes.

PMID- 26884432
TI  - Immune Homeostatic Macrophages Programmed by the Bacterial Surface Protein NhhA
      Potentiate Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis.
AB  - Neisseria meningitidis colonizes the nasopharyngeal mucosa of healthy populations
      asymptomatically, although the bacterial surface is rich in motifs that activate
      the host innate immunity. What determines the tolerant host response to this
      bacterium in asymptomatic carriers is poorly understood. We demonstrated that the
      conserved meningococcal surface protein NhhA orchestrates monocyte (Mo)
      differentiation specifically into macrophage-like cells with a CD200R(hi)
      phenotype (NhhA-Mphi). In response to meningococcal stimulation, NhhA-Mphi failed
      to produce proinflammatory mediators. Instead, they upregulated interleukin-10
      (IL-10) and Th2/regulatory T cell (Treg)-attracting chemokines, such as CCL17,
      CCL18, and CCL22. Moreover, NhhA-Mphi were highly efficient in eliminating
      bacteria. The in vivo validity of these findings was corroborated using a murine
      model challenged with N. meningitidis systematically or intranasally. The NhhA
      modulated immune response protected mice from septic shock; Mo/Mphi depletion
      abolished this protective effect. Intranasal administration of NhhA induced an
      anti-inflammatory response, which was associated with N. meningitidis persistence
      at the nasopharynx. In vitro studies demonstrated that NhhA-triggered Mo
      differentiation occurred upon engaged Toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1)/TLR2 signaling
      and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Jun N-terminal protein kinase
      (JNK) activation and required endogenously produced IL-10 and tumor necrosis
      factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Our findings reveal a strategy that might be adopted by
      N. meningitidis to maintain asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization. IMPORTANCE:
      Neisseria meningitidis is an opportunistic human-specific pathogen that colonizes
      the nasopharyngeal mucosa asymptomatically in approximately 10% of individuals.
      Very little is known about how this bacterium evades immune activation during the
      carriage stage. Here, we observed that N. meningitidis, via the conserved surface
      protein NhhA, skewed monocyte differentiation into macrophages with a CD200R(hi)
      phenotype. Both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrated that these macrophages,
      upon meningococcal infection, played an important role in forming a homeostatic
      immune microenvironment through their capacity to eliminate invading bacteria and
      to generate anti-inflammatory mediators. This work provides novel insight into
      the mechanisms underlying the commensal persistence of N. meningitidis.

PMID- 26884433
TI  - Dynamic Remodeling of the Magnetosome Membrane Is Triggered by the Initiation of
      Biomineralization.
AB  - Magnetotactic bacteria produce chains of membrane-bound organelles that direct
      the biomineralization of magnetic nanoparticles. These magnetosome compartments
      are a model for studying the biogenesis and subcellular organization of bacterial
      organelles. Previous studies have suggested that discrete gene products build and
      assemble magnetosomes in a stepwise fashion. Here, using an inducible system, we
      show that the stages of magnetosome formation are highly dynamic and
      interconnected. During de novo formation, magnetosomes first organize into
      discontinuous chain fragments that are subsequently connected by the bacterial
      actin-like protein MamK. We also find that magnetosome membranes are not uniform
      in size and can grow in a biomineralization-dependent manner. In the absence of
      biomineralization, magnetosome membranes stall at a diameter of ~50 nm. Those
      that have initiated biomineralization then expand to significantly larger sizes
      and accommodate mature magnetic particles. We speculate that such a
      biomineralization-dependent checkpoint for membrane growth establishes the
      appropriate conditions within the magnetosome to ensure successful nucleation and
      growth of magnetic particles. IMPORTANCE: Magnetotactic bacteria make magnetic
      nanoparticles inside membrane-bound organelles called magnetosomes; however, it
      is unclear how the magnetosome membrane controls the biomineralization that
      occurs within this bacterial organelle. We placed magnetosome formation under
      inducible control in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and used electron cryo
      tomography to capture magnetosomes in their near-native state as they form de
      novo. An inducible system provided the key evidence that magnetosome membranes
      grow continuously unless they have not properly initiated biomineralization. Our
      finding that the size of a bacterial organelle impacts its biochemical function
      is a fundamental advance that impacts our perception of organelle formation and
      can inform future attempts aimed at creating designer magnetic particles.

PMID- 26884436
TI  - Author's reply to Dubicka and colleagues and Stone.

PMID- 26884435
TI  - Identification and Validation of Loa loa Microfilaria-Specific Biomarkers: a
      Rational Design Approach Using Proteomics and Novel Immunoassays.
AB  - Immunoassays are currently needed to quantify Loa loa microfilariae (mf). To
      address this need, we have conducted proteomic and bioinformatic analyses of
      proteins present in the urine of a Loa mf-infected patient and used this
      information to identify putative biomarkers produced by L. loa mf. In total, 70
      of the 15,444 described putative L. loa proteins were identified. Of these 70, 18
      were L. loa mf specific, and 2 of these 18 (LOAG_16297 and LOAG_17808) were
      biologically immunogenic. We developed novel reverse luciferase
      immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) immunoassays to quantify these 2 proteins in
      individual plasma samples. Levels of these 2 proteins in microfilaremic L. loa
      infected patients were positively correlated to mf densities in the corresponding
      blood samples (r = 0.71 and P < 0.0001 for LOAG_16297 and r = 0.61 and P = 0.0002
      for LOAG_17808). For LOAG_16297, the levels in plasma were significantly higher
      in Loa-infected (geometric mean [GM], 0.045 ug/ml) than in uninfected (P <
      0.0001), Wuchereria bancrofti-infected (P = 0.0005), and Onchocerca volvulus
      infected (P < 0.0001) individuals, whereas for LOAG_17808 protein, they were not
      significantly different between Loa-infected (GM, 0.123 ug/ml) and uninfected (P
      = 0.06) and W. bancrofti-infected (P = 0.32) individuals. Moreover, only
      LOAG_16297 showed clear discriminative ability between L. loa and the other
      potentially coendemic filariae. Indeed, the specificity of the LOAG_16297 reverse
      LIPS assay was 96% (with a sensitivity of 77%). Thus, LOAG_16297 is a very
      promising biomarker that will be exploited in a quantitative point-of-care
      immunoassay for determination of L. loa mf densities. IMPORTANCE: Loa loa, the
      causative agent of loiasis, is a parasitic nematode transmitted to humans by the
      tabanid Chrysops fly. Some individuals infected with L. loa microfilariae (mf) in
      high densities are known to experience post-ivermectin severe adverse events
      (SAEs [encephalopathy, coma, or death]). Thus, ivermectin-based mass drug
      administration (MDA) programs for onchocerciasis and for lymphatic filariasis
      control have been interrupted in parts of Africa where these filarial infections
      coexist with L. loa. To allow for implementation of MDA for onchocerciasis and
      lymphatic filariasis, tools that can accurately identify people at risk of
      developing post-ivermectin SAEs are needed. Our study, using host-based
      proteomics in combination with novel immunoassays, identified a single Loa
      specific antigen (LOAG_16297) that can be used as a biomarker for the prediction
      of L. loa mf levels in the blood of infected patients. Therefore, the use of such
      biomarker could be important in the point-of-care assessment of L. loa mf
      densities.

PMID- 26884434
TI  - Salmonella Suppresses the TRIF-Dependent Type I Interferon Response in
      Macrophages.
AB  - Salmonella enterica is an intracellular pathogen that causes diseases ranging
      from gastroenteritis to typhoid fever. Salmonella bacteria trigger an autophagic
      response in host cells upon infection but have evolved mechanisms for suppressing
      this response, thereby enhancing intracellular survival. We recently reported
      that S. enterica serovar Typhimurium actively recruits the host tyrosine kinase
      focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to the surface of the Salmonella-containing vacuole
      (SCV) (K. A. Owen et al., PLoS Pathog 10:e1004159, 2014). FAK then suppresses
      autophagy through activation of the Akt/mTORC1 signaling pathway. In FAK(-/-)
      macrophages, bacteria are captured in autophagosomes and intracellular survival
      is attenuated. Here we show that the cell-autonomous bacterial suppression of
      autophagy also suppresses the broader innate immune response by inhibiting
      production of beta interferon (IFN-beta). Induction of bacterial autophagy
      (xenophagy), but not autophagy alone, triggers IFN-beta production through a
      pathway involving the adapter TRIF and endosomal Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and
      TLR4. Selective FAK knockout in macrophages resulted in rapid bacterial clearance
      from mucosal tissues after oral infection. Clearance correlated with increased
      IFN-beta production by intestinal macrophages and with IFN-beta-dependent
      induction of IFN-gamma by intestinal NK cells. Blockade of either IFN-beta or IFN
      gamma increased host susceptibility to infection, whereas experimental induction
      of IFN-beta was protective. Thus, bacterial suppression of autophagy not only
      enhances cell-autonomous survival but also suppresses more-systemic innate immune
      responses by limiting type I and type II interferons. IMPORTANCE: Salmonella
      enterica serovar Typhimurium represents one of the most commonly identified
      bacterial causes of foodborne illness worldwide. S. Typhimurium has developed
      numerous strategies to evade detection by the host immune system. Autophagy is a
      cellular process that involves the recognition and degradation of defective
      proteins and organelles. More recently, autophagy has been described as an
      important means by which host cells recognize and eliminate invading
      intracellular pathogens and plays a key role in the production of cytokines.
      Previously, we determined that Salmonella bacteria are able to suppress their own
      autophagic capture and elimination by macrophages. Building on that study, we
      show here that the inhibition of autophagy by Salmonella also prevents the
      induction of a protective cytokine response mediated by beta interferon (IFN
      beta) and IFN-gamma. Together, these findings identify a novel virulence strategy
      whereby Salmonella bacteria prevent cell autonomous elimination via autophagy and
      suppress the activation of innate immune responses.

PMID- 26884437
TI  - Speech Auditory Alerts Promote Memory for Alerted Events in a Video-Simulated
      Self-Driving Car Ride.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Auditory displays could be essential to helping drivers maintain
      situation awareness in autonomous vehicles, but to date, few or no studies have
      examined the effectiveness of different types of auditory displays for this
      application scenario. BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the development of
      autonomous vehicles (i.e., self-driving cars) have suggested that widespread
      automation of driving may be tenable in the near future. Drivers may be required
      to monitor the status of automation programs and vehicle conditions as they
      engage in secondary leisure or work tasks (entertainment, communication, etc.) in
      autonomous vehicles. METHOD: An experiment compared memory for alerted events-a
      component of Level 1 situation awareness-using speech alerts, auditory icons, and
      a visual control condition during a video-simulated self-driving car ride with a
      visual secondary task. The alerts gave information about the vehicle's operating
      status and the driving scenario. RESULTS: Speech alerts resulted in better memory
      for alerted events. Both auditory display types resulted in less perceived effort
      devoted toward the study tasks but also greater perceived annoyance with the
      alerts. CONCLUSION: Speech auditory displays promoted Level 1 situation awareness
      during a simulation of a ride in a self-driving vehicle under routine conditions,
      but annoyance remains a concern with auditory displays. APPLICATION: Speech
      auditory displays showed promise as a means of increasing Level 1 situation
      awareness of routine scenarios during an autonomous vehicle ride with an
      unrelated secondary task.

PMID- 26884438
TI  - Adipose Cell Size and Regional Fat Deposition as Predictors of Metabolic Response
      to Overfeeding in Insulin-Resistant and Insulin-Sensitive Humans.
AB  - Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, but significant variability exists
      between similarly obese individuals, pointing to qualitative characteristics of
      body fat as potential mediators. To test the hypothesis that obese, insulin
      sensitive (IS) individuals possess adaptive adipose cell/tissue responses, we
      measured subcutaneous adipose cell size, insulin suppression of lipolysis, and
      regional fat responses to short-term overfeeding in BMI-matched overweight/obese
      individuals classified as IS or insulin resistant (IR). At baseline, IR subjects
      exhibited significantly greater visceral adipose tissue (VAT), intrahepatic lipid
      (IHL), plasma free fatty acids, adipose cell diameter, and percentage of small
      adipose cells. With weight gain (3.1 +/- 1.4 kg), IR subjects demonstrated no
      significant change in adipose cell size, VAT, or insulin suppression of lipolysis
      and only 8% worsening of insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU). Alternatively,
      IS subjects demonstrated significant adipose cell enlargement; decrease in the
      percentage of small adipose cells; increase in VAT, IHL, and lipolysis; 45%
      worsening of IMGU; and decreased expression of lipid metabolism genes. Smaller
      baseline adipose cell size and greater enlargement with weight gain predicted
      decline in IMGU, as did increase in IHL and VAT and decrease in insulin
      suppression of lipolysis. Weight gain in IS humans causes maladaptive changes in
      adipose cells, regional fat distribution, and insulin resistance. The correlation
      between development of insulin resistance and changes in adipose cell size, VAT,
      IHL, and insulin suppression of lipolysis highlight these factors as potential
      mediators between obesity and insulin resistance.

PMID- 26884439
TI  - Combined Insulin Deficiency and Endotoxin Exposure Stimulate Lipid Mobilization
      and Alter Adipose Tissue Signaling in an Experimental Model of Ketoacidosis in
      Subjects With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.
AB  - Most often, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adults results from insufficient
      insulin administration and acute infection. DKA is assumed to release
      proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones that stimulate lipolysis and
      ketogenesis. We tested whether this perception of DKA can be reproduced in an
      experimental human model by using combined insulin deficiency and acute
      inflammation and tested which intracellular mediators of lipolysis are affected
      in adipose tissue. Nine subjects with type 1 diabetes were studied twice: 1)
      insulin-controlled euglycemia and 2) insulin deprivation and endotoxin
      administration (KET). During KET, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cortisol,
      glucagon, and growth hormone levels increased, and free fatty acids and 3
      hydroxybutyrate concentrations and the rate of lipolysis rose markedly. Serum
      bicarbonate and pH decreased. Adipose tissue mRNA contents of comparative gene
      identification-58 (CGI-58) increased and G0/G1 switch 2 gene (G0S2) mRNA
      decreased robustly. Neither protein levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL)
      nor phosphorylations of hormone-sensitive lipase were altered. The clinical
      picture of incipient DKA in adults can be reproduced by combined insulin
      deficiency and endotoxin-induced acute inflammation. The precipitating steps
      involve the release of proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones, increased
      lipolysis, and decreased G0S2 and increased CGI-58 mRNA contents in adipose
      tissue, compatible with latent ATGL stimulation.

PMID- 26884440
TI  - Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease and Factors
      Associated with Coronary Artery Abnormalities in East China: Nine Years
      Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because of the different genetic backgrounds, living environments and
      economic conditions, the epidemiologic, clinical characteristics and risk factors
      for coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in the Chinese population may differ
      among different parts of China. METHODS: We did a retrospective study to explore
      the clinical characteristics and risk factors for CAAs in east China between 2006
      and 2014. RESULTS: There were 1016 patients during the study period. Of the 1004
      patients who completed echocardiographic studies, 23.9% had CAAs. Sex, serum
      albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)
      infection, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) started after the 10th day of
      illness and IVIG non-responders were independent risk factors associated with
      CAA. CONCLUSIONS: East China has a lower incidence of CAAs compared with
      southwest and northeast China, while similar to north China. Male gender, serum
      albumin, ESR, MP infection, IVIG started after the 10th day of illness and IVIG
      non-responders were predictive of CAA.

PMID- 26884441
TI  - The Burden of Child Maltreatment Leading to Hospitalization in a Provincial
      Setting in Papua New Guinea.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Child maltreatment is prevalent globally. In Papua New Guinea
      (PNG), child maltreatment remains an under-reported problem. METHODS: As part of
      a 10 month prospective observational study conducted at Modilon Hospital in PNG,
      we investigated the burden of child maltreatment in the form of sexual abuse,
      physical abuse and neglect, leading to hospitalization in children <=14 years.
      RESULTS: Of 1061 screened admissions, 107 (10%) fulfilled the definition of child
      maltreatment. The in-hospital admission prevalence of sexual abuse was 5.7% [60
      of 1061; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.4-7.3]. Neglect accounted for 3.4% (36
      of 1061; 95% CI: 2.4-4.7) of admissions, while physical abuse accounted for 1.0%
      (11 of 1061; 95% CI: 0.6-1.9). Mortality was highest in the neglected group, with
      severe acute malnutrition accounting for 89% of deaths. CONCLUSION: Improved
      awareness, establishment of appropriate channels for addressing child
      maltreatment and enforcement of child protection laws in PNG and other
      epidemiologically similar settings are urgently needed.

PMID- 26884442
TI  - Clinical Severity and Rotavirus Vaccination among Children Hospitalized for Acute
      Gastroenteritis in Belem, Northern Brazil.
AB  - In March 2006, Brazil introduced the monovalent rotavirus (RV) vaccine
      (RotarixTM) into the public sector. This study assessed the severity of rotavirus
      gastroenteritis (RVGE) according to the vaccination status among hospitalized
      children. We identified 1023 RVGE episodes among not vaccinated (n = 252),
      partially vaccinated (n = 156) and fully vaccinated (n = 615) children. Very
      severe gastroenteritis (scored >= 15) was reported in 16.7, 17.9 and 13.5% of not
      vaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated children, respectively.
      There was a trend for a shorter duration of RV diarrhoea among vaccinated
      children than in not vaccinated children (p = 0.07). A protective effect of
      vaccination was noted when mean duration of symptoms and hospital stay are
      analysed, comparing unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated
      children (p < 0.05). We showed a vaccination dose effect trend, with fully
      vaccinated children having less-severe RVGE than not vaccinated and partially
      vaccinated children.

PMID- 26884443
TI  - Seroprevalence of CMV, HSV-2 and HBV among HIV-Infected Malawian Children: A
      Cross-sectional Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about viral co-infections in African human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. We examined the prevalence of
      seromarkers for cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and
      hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections among HIV-infected, antiretroviral treatment
      (ART)-naive children in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: Ninety-one serum samples were
      tested for IgG and IgM antibodies to CMV, and IgG antibodies to HSV-2 and
      hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Baseline demographic, clinical and
      laboratory data were abstracted from electronic records. RESULTS: CMV IgG was the
      most common positive result in all age groups (in 73% of children <1 year, and
      100% in all other groups). Three patients were CMV IgM positive (3.3%),
      suggesting acute infection. HSV-2 IgG was positive in four patients (4.4%), and
      HBsAg in two (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: CMV infection occurred early in life, and few
      children had specific signs of CMV infection at the time of ART initiation.
      Unrecognized HBV infection represents opportunities for testing and treatment of
      HIV/HBV co-infected children.

PMID- 26884444
TI  - Risk factors for respiratory infections among children attending day care
      centres.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract
      infection (LRTI) and acute otitis media (AOM) are common in children attending
      day care centres. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the risk factors
      of URTI, LRTI and AOM in children attending day care. METHODS: A cross-sectional
      study was conducted in children aged up to 3 years (n = 152) of six day care
      centres in Porto. Logistic regression was used on independent variables: mother
      related, household-related, child-related and day care-related risk factors as
      predictors of the dependent variables: URTI, LRTI and AOM. RESULTS: The risk of
      URTI increased as the number of children decreased [odds ratio (OR) = 0.620, 95%
      CI = 0.411-0.935], as the area per child decreased (OR = 0.434, 95% CI = 0.206
      0.914) and as the disinfection of WC/diapers-change increased (OR = 2.56, 95% CI
      = 1.089-6.017). There was a higher risk of URTI if nasal aspirators (OR = 6.763,
      95% CI = 1.022-44.753), rather than physiologic serum (OR = 5.296, 95% CI = 1.097
      25.559), were used at day care centres. The risk of LRTI increased as the
      household size decreased (OR = 0.213, 95% CI = 0.048-0.937) and it was higher if
      the child had no siblings (OR = 7.831, 95% CI = 1.065-57.578). The risk of LRTI
      was higher if the child was not exclusively breastfed (OR = 24.612, 95% CI =
      1.108-546.530) and the risk increased as the duration of exclusive breastfeeding
      decreased (OR = 0.396, 95% CI = 0.170-0.920). The risk of AOM increased as the
      birth body mass index (OR = 2.247, 95% CI = 1.011-4.992) and weight (OR = 1.607,
      95% CI = 1.014-2.545) increased and if nasal aspirators were used (OR = 6.763,
      95% CI = 1.022-44.753). CONCLUSION: URTI were related with day care centres' risk
      factors, LRTI were associated with mother-related and household-related risk
      factors and AOM was connected with child-related risk factors.

PMID- 26884445
TI  - Relationship between depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and antiretroviral therapy
      adherence among HIV-infected, clinic-attending patients in South Africa.
AB  - Despite the prevalence of depression and alcohol use among HIV-infected
      individuals, few studies have examined their association together in relation to
      nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined
      depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and other psychosocial factors (stigma,
      demographic characteristics) in relation to nonadherence to antiretroviral
      therapy among clinic-attending, HIV-infected individuals in South Africa ( n =
      101). Nonadherence was assessed using event-level measurement (missed doses over
      the past weekend). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that only
      alcohol use, over and above depressive symptoms and education level, was
      associated with antiretroviral therapy nonadherence(AOR = 1.15; 95%CI = 1.02
      1.29; p < .05). Findings point to the independent association of alcohol use and
      nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy above and beyond depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26884446
TI  - The Ratio of Inspiratory Pressure Over Electrical Activity of the Diaphragm
      Remains Stable During ICU Stay and is not Related to Clinical Outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We previously described an index, defined as the ratio between the
      inspiratory muscle pressure (Pmus) and the electrical activity of the diaphragm
      (EA(di)) (Pmus/EA(di) index). In the present work, we describe the trend of
      Pmus/EA(di) index over time, investigating whether it could be an indicator of
      muscular efficiency associated with risk factors for diaphragmatic injury and/or
      clinical outcomes. METHODS: This work is a retrospective analysis of subjects
      with measurements of Pmus/EA(di) index obtained, on different days, during
      assisted ventilation. Effects of Pmus/EA(di) index absolute value on clinical
      outcomes were investigated dividing subjects into those with Pmus/EA(di) index
      higher or lower than the median. Effects of Pmus/EA(di) index trend over time
      were analyzed, distinguishing between subjects with Pmus/EA(di) index increasing
      or decreasing. RESULTS: Mean Pmus/EA(di) index was 1.04 +/- 0.67, and the median
      (interquartile range) was 1.00 (0.59-1.34), without a systematic trend over the
      days. Demographic, ventilator, or outcome data did not significantly differ
      between subjects with Pmus/EA(di) index higher or lower than the median.
      Similarly, we did not find relevant differences in subjects with Pmus/EA(di)
      index increasing or decreasing over time. CONCLUSIONS: The Pmus/EA(di) index
      value remained constant in each subject over time, although the inter-individual
      variability was high. Neither the Pmus/EA(di) index nor its trends appeared to be
      associated with ventilatory variables or clinical outcome.

PMID- 26884447
TI  - Clinical Utility of Additional Measurement of Total Lung Capacity in Diagnosing
      Obstructive Lung Disease in Subjects With Restrictive Pattern of Spirometry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total lung capacity (TLC), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75%
      (FEF25-75%), peak expiratory flow (PEF), or post-bronchodilator volume response
      is recommended to detect obstructive abnormalities in the lung. The present study
      was performed to evaluate the usefulness of these pulmonary function test (PFT)
      parameters to diagnose obstructive lung disease in subjects with a restrictive
      pattern of spirometry. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 64
      subjects with a restrictive pattern of spirometry (normal FEV1/FVC and low FVC)
      out of 3,030 patients who underwent all pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry
      and lung volume measurement between April 2008 and December 2010. After subjects
      were clinically classified into those with obstructive lung disease, restrictive
      lung disease, and mixed lung disease, the agreements between the clinical
      diagnosis and PFT classification according to TLC, FEF(25-75%), PEF, and post
      bronchodilator response criteria were compared. RESULTS: Of 64 subjects, 18
      (28.1%) were classified with obstructive lung disease, 39 (60.9%) had restrictive
      lung disease, 1 (1.6%) had mixed lung disease, and 6 (9.4%) had no clinical lung
      disease. Among the 58 subjects with clinical lung disease, 22 (37.9%), 37
      (63.8%), 33 (56.9%), and 3 (5.2%) were classified as having obstructive pattern
      based on TLC, FEF25-75%, PEF, and post-bronchodilator response criteria,
      respectively. The kappa coefficients for the agreement between the clinical
      classification and PFT classification using TLC, FEF25-75%, PEF, and post
      bronchodilator response criteria in 58 subjects were 0.59, 0.18, 0.17, and <
      0.01, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The additional measurement of TLC is more useful
      than FEF25-75%, PEF, and post-bronchodilator response for diagnosis of
      obstructive lung disease in subjects with a restrictive pattern of spirometry,
      when obstructive lung disease is clinically suspected.

PMID- 26884448
TI  - Migration of a Needle From the Chest Wall Into the Right Ventricle in a 10-Year
      Old Child.
AB  - Cardiac foreign bodies are rare in children and the nature or timing of the
      injury may be hard to ascertain. We report a case of a 10-year-old boy who
      presented with a 28-mm solid core needle in the left chest wall that advanced
      into his right ventricle, possibly from soft tissue manipulation. Computed
      tomography, intraoperative fluoroscopy, and echocardiography were necessary to
      locate the needle and successfully remove it surgically.

PMID- 26884449
TI  - Isolated Left Subclavian Artery From the Pulmonary Artery Masked by Pulmonary
      Hypertension.
AB  - Isolated subclavian artery arising from the pulmonary artery is exceedingly rare.
      Most cases are associated with other forms of congenital heart disease and
      typically present with subclavian or pulmonary steal syndromes. We report the
      case of a patient with pulmonary hypertension which masked the isolated
      subclavian artery, allowing it to masquerade as another common congenital heart
      lesion.

PMID- 26884450
TI  - A Case of Giant Right Atrial Aneurysm in a Child.
AB  - Giant right atrial aneurysm is a rare entity in infants and children. It needs to
      be distinguished from an atrial diverticulum, which can have similar
      presentation. Generally, an incidental finding in children, it can present with
      varied symptoms. We report a case of a giant right atrial aneurysm in an
      asymptomatic child with a large clot in the dilated right atrium, who underwent
      successful resection of the atrial aneurysm. 

PMID- 26884451
TI  - Desmoid Tumor After a Minimally Invasive Atrial Septal Defect Closure in an
      Adolescent.
AB  - The surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is frequently
      performed. The minimally invasive approach, currently adopted by many centers as
      a way to preserve aesthetic appearance, particularly in female patients, seems to
      be safe. We describe the case of an adolescent who developed a desmoid tumor soon
      after a minimally invasive operation for surgical closure of a secundum ASD. 

PMID- 26884452
TI  - Large Right Ventricular Clot in Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum:
      In Defense of Biventricular Approach.
AB  - Thrombus formation within the right ventricle (RV) in the setting of pulmonary
      atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) is not a very common occurrence
      and can be catastrophic. We present the case of a seven-month-old child with
      PAIVS and RV clot who successfully underwent biventricular repair. We discuss the
      interesting case and the rationale for management by means of biventricular
      repair over single ventricle repair when feasible in such a setting. 

PMID- 26884453
TI  - Left Isomerism of the Atrial Appendages With Sinus Venosus Defect and Anomalous
      Systemic Venous Drainage.
AB  - We present a case with left isomerism, interruption of the inferior caval vein,
      anomalous systemic venous drainage with partially anomalous pulmonary venous
      drainage, and a sinus venosus type of atrial septal defect in the absence of a
      right superior caval vein. This report is of interest because of a rare
      combination of these anomalies, which was accurately diagnosed and successfully
      repaired. 

PMID- 26884455
TI  - Zika Virus Infection Presenting with Postauricular Lymphadenopathy.

PMID- 26884454
TI  - The matricellular protein CCN1 enhances TGF-beta1/SMAD3-dependent profibrotic
      signaling in fibroblasts and contributes to fibrogenic responses to lung injury.
AB  - Matricellular proteins mediate pleiotropic effects during tissue injury and
      repair. CCN1 is a matricellular protein that has been implicated in angiogenesis,
      inflammation, and wound repair. In this study, we identified CCN1 as a gene that
      is differentially up-regulated in alveolar mesenchymal cells of human subjects
      with rapidly progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Elevated levels of
      CCN1 mRNA were confirmed in lung tissues of IPF subjects undergoing lung
      transplantation, and CCN1 protein was predominantly localized to fibroblastic
      foci. CCN1 expression in ex vivo IPF lung fibroblasts correlated with gene
      expression of the extracellular matrix proteins, collagen (Col)1a1, Col1a2, and
      fibronectin as well as the myofibroblast marker, alpha-smooth muscle actin. RNA
      interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of CCN1 down-regulated the constitutive
      expression of these profibrotic genes in IPF fibroblasts. TGF-beta1, a known
      mediator of tissue fibrogenesis, induces gene and protein expression of CCN1 via
      a mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3)-dependent mechanism.
      Importantly, endogenous CCN1 potentiates TGF-beta1-induced SMAD3 activation and
      induction of profibrotic genes, supporting a positive feedback loop leading to
      myofibroblast activation. In vivo RNAi-mediated silencing of CCN1 attenuates
      fibrogenic responses to bleomycin-induced lung injury. These studies support
      previously unrecognized, cooperative interaction between the CCN1 matricellular
      protein and canonical TGF-beta1/SMAD3 signaling that promotes lung fibrosis.
      Kurundkar, A. R., Kurundkar, D., Rangarajan, S., Locy, M. L., Zhou, Y., Liu, R.
      M., Zmijewski, J., Thannickal, V. J. The matricellular protein CCN1 enhances TGF
      beta1/SMAD3-dependent profibrotic signaling in fibroblasts and contributes to
      fibrogenic responses to lung injury.

PMID- 26884456
TI  - Ex vivo effects of naphthoquinones on allergen-sensitized mononuclear cells in
      mice.
AB  - Naphthoquinone (NQ), one of the extractable chemical compounds of diesel exhaust
      particles, enhances allergic asthma traits in mice. However, it remains unknown
      whether: (1) several types of NQs have the same potential to facilitate
      allergies; and (2) NQs synergistically disrupt the functional phenotypes of
      immune cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two
      types (1,2- and 1,4-) of NQs on sensitized mononuclear cells using an ex vivo
      assay. Male BALB/c mice were repeatedly and intraperitoneally administered
      ovalbumin (OVA: 20 ug) plus alum with or without two different doses of each NQ.
      After the final administration, splenocytes (mononuclear cells) were isolated
      from these mice and cultured in the presence of OVA. Helper T-related cytokines
      in the culture supernatants and downstream molecules were then evaluated. Protein
      levels of interferon-gamma were higher in the supernatants from 1,2-NQ and 1,4-NQ
      at low dose + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells following the OVA stimulation than in
      those from OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. Interleukin (IL)-13 levels were higher
      in the supernatants from low dose NQs + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. IL-17
      levels were significantly higher in the supernatants from low dose 1,2-NQ + OVA
      exposed mononuclear cells. The quantity of phosphorylated STAT6 in the nuclei of
      these cells was significantly greater in the low dose NQ + OVA groups than in the
      OVA group. These findings suggest NQs differently enhance allergen sensitization
      in the context of the Th response against mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes. 

PMID- 26884458
TI  - Challenges and management issues in adults with cyanotic congenital heart
      disease.

PMID- 26884457
TI  - Targeted Adenoviral Vector Demonstrates Enhanced Efficacy for In Vivo Gene
      Therapy of Uterine Leiomyoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gene therapy is a potentially effective non-surgical approach for the
      treatment of uterine leiomyoma. We demonstrated that targeted adenovirus vector,
      Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK/GCV, was highly effective in selectively inducing apoptosis and
      inhibiting proliferation of human leiomyoma cells in vitro while sparing normal
      myometrial cells. STUDY DESIGN: An in-vivo study, to compare efficacy and safety
      of modified adenovirus vector Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK/GCV versus untargeted vector for
      treatment of leiomyoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female nude mice were implanted
      with rat leiomyoma cells subcutaneously. Then mice were randomized into three
      groups. Group 1 received Ad-LacZ (marker gene), Group 2 received untargeted Ad
      TK, and Group 3 received the targeted Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK. Tumors were measured weekly
      for 4 weeks. Then mice were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected.
      Evaluation of markers of apoptosis, proliferation, extracellular matrix, and
      angiogenesis was performed using Western Blot & Immunohistochemistry. Statistical
      analysis was done using ANOVA. Dissemination of adenovirus was assessed by PCR.
      RESULTS: In comparison with the untargeted vector, the targeted adenoviral vector
      significantly shrank leiomyoma size (P < 0.05), reduced expression of
      proliferation marker (PCNA) (P < 0.05), induced expression of apoptotic protein,
      c-PARP-1, (P < 0.05) and inhibited expression of extracellular matrix-related
      genes (TGF beta 3) and angiogenesis-related genes (VEGF & IGF-1) (P < 0.01).
      There were no detectable adenovirus in tested tissues other than leiomyoma
      lesions with both targeted and untargeted adenovirus. CONCLUSION: Targeted
      adenovirus, effectively reduces tumor size in leiomyoma without dissemination to
      other organs. Further evaluation of this localized targeted strategy for gene
      therapy is needed in appropriate preclinical humanoid animal models in
      preparation for a future pilot human trial.

PMID- 26884459
TI  - Gene expression profiling of the effects of organic dust in lung epithelial and
      THP-1 cells reveals inductive effects on inflammatory and immune response genes.
AB  - The intensification and concentration of animal production operations expose
      workers to high levels of organic dusts in the work environment. Exposure to
      organic dusts is a risk factor for the development of acute and chronic
      respiratory symptoms and diseases. Lung epithelium plays important roles in the
      control of immune and inflammatory responses to environmental agents to maintain
      lung health. To better understand the effects of organic dust on lung
      inflammatory responses, we characterized the gene expression profiles of A549
      alveolar and Beas2B bronchial epithelial and THP-1 monocytic cells influenced by
      exposure to poultry dust extract by DNA microarray analysis using Illumina Human
      HT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip. We found that A549 alveolar and Beas2B bronchial
      epithelial and THP-1 cells responded with unique changes in the gene expression
      profiles with regulation of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines, chemokines,
      and other inflammatory proteins being common to all the three cells.
      Significantly induced genes included IL-8, IL-6, IL-1beta, ICAM-1, CCL2, CCL5,
      TLR4, and PTGS2. Validation by real-time qRT-PCR, ELISA, Western immunoblotting,
      and immunohistochemical staining of lung sections from mice exposed to dust
      extract validated DNA microarray results. Pathway analysis indicated that dust
      extract induced changes in gene expression influenced functions related to
      cellular growth and proliferation, cell death and survival, and cellular
      development. These data show that a broad range of inflammatory mediators
      produced in response to poultry dust exposure can modulate lung immune and
      inflammatory responses. This is the first report on organic dust induced changes
      in expression profiles in lung epithelial and THP-1 monocytic cells. 

PMID- 26884460
TI  - Dynamic macrophage polarization-specific miRNA patterns reveal increased soluble
      VEGF receptor 1 by miR-125a-5p inhibition.
AB  - Dynamic, epigenetic mechanisms can regulate macrophage phenotypes following
      exposure to different stimulating conditions and environments. However, temporal
      patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) across multiple macrophage polarization
      phenotypes have not been defined. We determined miRNA expression in bone marrow
      derived murine macrophages over multiple time points (0.5, 1, 3, 24 h) following
      exposure to cytokines and/or LPS. We hypothesized that dynamic changes in miRNAs
      regulate macrophage phenotypes. Changes in macrophage polarization markers were
      detected as early as 0.5 and as late as 24 h; however, robust responses for most
      markers occurred within 3 h. In parallel, many polarization-specific miRNAs were
      also changed by 3 h and expressed divergent patterns between M1 and M2a
      conditions, with increased expression in M1 (miR-155, 199a-3p, 214-3p, 455-3p,
      and 125a) or M2a (miR-511 and 449a). Specifically, miR-125a-5p exhibited
      divergent patterns: increased at 12-24 h in M1 macrophages and decreasing trend
      in M2a. VEGF in the culture media of macrophages was dependent upon the
      polarization state, with greatly diminished VEGF in M2a compared with M1
      macrophage culture media despite similar VEGF in cell lysates. Inhibition of miR
      125a-5p in media-only controls (MO) and M1 macrophages greatly increased
      expression and secretion of soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR1) leading to
      diminished VEGF in the culture media, partially converting MO and M1 into an M2a
      phenotype. Thus, the divergent expression patterns of polarization-specific
      miRNAs led to the identification and demonstrated the regulation of a specific
      macrophage polarization phenotype, sVEGFR1 by inhibition of miR-125a-5p.

PMID- 26884461
TI  - Age-dependent differences in microglial responses to systemic inflammation are
      evident as early as middle age.
AB  - Whereas age increases microglial inflammatory activities and impairs their
      ability to effectively regulate their immune response, it is unclear at what age
      these exaggerated responses begin. We tested the hypotheses that augmented
      microglial responses to inflammatory challenge are present as early as middle age
      and that repeated stimulation of primed microglia in vivo would reveal microglial
      senescence. Microglial gene expression was investigated in a mouse model of
      repeated systemic inflammation induced by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following LPS, microglia from middle-aged mice (9-10
      mo) displayed larger increases in Tnfalpha, Il-6, and Il-1beta gene expression
      compared with young adults (2 mo). Similar results were observed in the spleens
      of middle-aged mice, indicating that exaggeration of both central and peripheral
      immune responses are already evident at early middle age. Interestingly, despite
      greater proinflammatory responses to the first LPS challenge in the aged mice,
      there were no age-dependent differences in either microglia or spleen following a
      subsequent LPS dose, suggesting that animals at this age retain the ability to
      effectively control their immune response following repeated challenge. The
      exacerbated microglial immune response to systemic inflammation at early middle
      age suggests that the CNS may be vulnerable to age-dependent alterations earlier
      than previously appreciated.

PMID- 26884463
TI  - A Remodeled Hsp90 Molecular Chaperone Ensemble with the Novel Cochaperone Aarsd1
      Is Required for Muscle Differentiation.
AB  - Hsp90 is the ATP-consuming core component of a very abundant molecular chaperone
      machine that handles a substantial portion of the cytosolic proteome. Rather than
      one machine, it is in fact an ensemble of molecular machines, since most
      mammalian cells express two cytosolic isoforms of Hsp90 and a subset of up to 40
      to 50 cochaperones and regulate their interactions and functions by a variety of
      posttranslational modifications. We demonstrate that the Hsp90 ensemble is
      fundamentally remodeled during muscle differentiation and that this remodeling is
      not just a consequence of muscle differentiation but possibly one of the drivers
      to accompany and to match the vast proteomic changes associated with this
      process. As myoblasts differentiate into myotubes, Hsp90alpha disappears and only
      Hsp90beta remains, which is the only isoform capable of interacting with the
      novel muscle-specific Hsp90 cochaperone Aarsd1L. Artificially maintaining
      Hsp90alpha or knocking down Aarsd1L expression interferes with the
      differentiation of C2C12 myotubes. During muscle differentiation, Aarsd1L
      replaces the more ubiquitous cochaperone p23 and in doing so dampens the activity
      of the glucocorticoid receptor, one of the Hsp90 clients relevant to muscle
      functions. This cochaperone switch protects muscle cells against the inhibitory
      effects of glucocorticoids and may contribute to preventing muscle wasting
      induced by excess glucocorticoids. 

PMID- 26884462
TI  - Histone Chaperone Nap1 Is a Major Regulator of Histone H2A-H2B Dynamics at the
      Inducible GAL Locus.
AB  - Histone chaperones, like nucleosome assembly protein 1 (Nap1), play a critical
      role in the maintenance of chromatin architecture. Here, we use the GAL locus in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the influence of Nap1 on chromatin
      structure and histone dynamics during distinct transcriptional states. When the
      GAL locus is not expressed, cells lacking Nap1 show an accumulation of histone
      H2A-H2B but not histone H3-H4 at this locus. Excess H2A-H2B interacts with the
      linker DNA between nucleosomes, and the interaction is independent of the
      inherent DNA-binding affinity of H2A-H2B for these particular sequences as
      measured in vitro When the GAL locus is transcribed, excess H2A-H2B is reversed,
      and levels of all chromatin-bound histones are depleted in cells lacking Nap1. We
      developed an in vivo system to measure histone exchange at the GAL locus and
      observed considerable variability in the rate of exchange across the locus in
      wild-type cells. We recapitulate this variability with in vitro nucleosome
      reconstitutions, which suggests a contribution of DNA sequence to histone
      dynamics. We also find that Nap1 is required for transcription-dependent H2A-H2B
      exchange. Altogether, these results indicate that Nap1 is essential for
      maintaining proper chromatin composition and modulating the exchange of H2A-H2B
      in vivo.

PMID- 26884464
TI  - Gtf2ird1-Dependent Mohawk Expression Regulates Mechanosensing Properties of the
      Tendon.
AB  - Mechanoforces experienced by an organ are translated into biological information
      for cellular sensing and response. In mammals, the tendon connective tissue
      experiences and resists physical forces, with tendon-specific mesenchymal cells
      called tenocytes orchestrating extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. We show that
      Mohawk (Mkx), a tendon-specific transcription factor, is essential in
      mechanoresponsive tenogenesis through regulation of its downstream ECM genes such
      as type I collagens and proteoglycans such as fibromodulin both in vivo and in
      vitro Wild-type (WT) mice demonstrated an increase in collagen fiber diameter and
      density in response to physical treadmill exercise, whereas in Mkx(-/-) mice,
      tendons failed to respond to the same mechanical stimulation. Furthermore,
      functional screening of the Mkx promoter region identified several upstream
      transcription factors that regulate Mkx In particular, general transcription
      factor II-I repeat domain-containing protein 1 (Gtf2ird1) that is expressed in
      the cytoplasm of unstressed tenocytes translocated into the nucleus upon
      mechanical stretching to activate the Mkx promoter through chromatin regulation.
      Here, we demonstrate that Gtf2ird1 is essential for Mkx transcription, while also
      linking mechanical forces to Mkx-mediated tendon homeostasis and regeneration.

PMID- 26884466
TI  - The genome of the Antarctic polyextremophile Nesterenkonia sp. AN1 reveals
      adaptive strategies for survival under multiple stress conditions.
AB  - Nesterenkonia sp. AN1 is a polyextremophile isolated from Antarctic desert soil.
      Genomic analyses and genome comparisons with three mesophilic Nesterenkonia
      strains indicated that the unique genome fraction of Nesterenkonia sp. AN1
      contains adaptive features implicated in the response to cold stress including
      modulation of membrane fluidity as well as response to cold-associated osmotic
      and oxidative stress. The core genome also encodes a number of putative cold
      stress response proteins. RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analyses of Nesterenkonia
      sp. AN1 grown at 5oC and 21 degrees C showed that there was significant induction
      of transcripts that code for antioxidants at 5oC, demonstrated by the
      upregulation of sodA, bcp and bpoA2. There was also overexpression of universal
      stress protein genes related to uspA, along with genes encoding other
      characterized cold stress features. Genes encoding the two key enzymes of the
      glyoxylate cycle, isocitrate lyase (ICL) and malate synthase (AceB) were induced
      at 5oC, suggesting possible adaptation strategies for energy metabolism in cold
      habitats. These genomic features may contribute to the survival of Nesterenkonia
      sp. AN1 in arid Antarctic soils. 

PMID- 26884465
TI  - H19 Long Noncoding RNA Regulates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function via
      MicroRNA 675 by Interacting with RNA-Binding Protein HuR.
AB  - The disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier function occurs commonly in
      various pathologies, but the exact mechanisms responsible are unclear. The H19
      long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulates the expression of different genes and has
      been implicated in human genetic disorders and cancer. Here, we report that H19
      plays an important role in controlling the intestinal epithelial barrier function
      by serving as a precursor for microRNA 675 (miR-675). H19 overexpression
      increased the cellular abundance of miR-675, which in turn destabilized and
      repressed the translation of mRNAs encoding tight junction protein ZO-1 and
      adherens junction E-cadherin, resulting in the dysfunction of the epithelial
      barrier. Increasing the level of the RNA-binding protein HuR in cells
      overexpressing H19 prevented the stimulation of miR-675 processing from H19,
      promoted ZO-1 and E-cadherin expression, and restored the epithelial barrier
      function to a nearly normal level. In contrast, the targeted deletion of HuR in
      intestinal epithelial cells enhanced miR-675 production in the mucosa and delayed
      the recovery of the gut barrier function after exposure to mesenteric
      ischemia/reperfusion. These results indicate that H19 interacts with HuR and
      regulates the intestinal epithelial barrier function via the H19-encoded miR-675
      by altering ZO-1 and E-cadherin expression posttranscriptionally.

PMID- 26884468
TI  - The Use of Crime Scene and Demographic Information in the Identification of Non
      Serial Sexual Homicide.
AB  - As with other sexual offenders, sexual homicide perpetrators can be reluctant to
      talk about their criminal behavior. Therefore, in homicide cases, forensic
      practitioners frequently rely on crime scene information to identify any sexual
      behavior associated with the offense. This study aims to identify objective and
      readily available crime scene information, alongside information about victims
      and perpetrators, based on 65 cases from England and Wales in the United Kingdom
      of men convicted of homicide who had committed a non-serial sexual homicide and
      64 cases of men convicted of homicide where the available evidence indicated that
      it was a non-serial non-sexual homicide. Chi-square tests and logistic regression
      were used to analyze the data. There were few differences in terms of demographic
      information and criminal histories between the two perpetrator groups. There were
      crime scene indicators supporting the use of Ressler et al.'s definition of
      sexual homicide. The victims of sexual homicide were generally found in their
      home with the lower half of the body exposed and with evidence of vaginal sex.
      Furthermore, extreme injuries and strangulation were more frequent in sexual
      homicides. Use of weapon was associated with a non-sexual homicide. Victims of
      sexual homicide were as likely to know the perpetrator as not. Potential benefits
      of the characteristics reported to investigators and forensic practitioners
      tasked with identifying sexual homicides are discussed and areas for further
      research suggested.

PMID- 26884467
TI  - Ecophysiology, secondary pigments and ultrastructure of Chlainomonas sp.
      (Chlorophyta) from the European Alps compared with Chlamydomonas nivalis forming
      red snow.
AB  - Red snow is a well-known phenomenon caused by microalgae thriving in alpine and
      polar regions during the melting season. The ecology and biodiversity of these
      organisms, which are adapted to low temperatures, high irradiance and freeze-thaw
      events, are still poorly understood. We compared two different snow habitats
      containing two different green algal genera in the European Alps, namely algae
      blooming in seasonal rock-based snowfields (Chlamydomonas nivalis) and algae
      dominating waterlogged snow bedded over ice (Chlainomonassp.). Despite the
      morphological similarity of the red spores found at the snow surface, we found
      differences in intracellular organization investigated by light and transmission
      electron microscopy and in secondary pigments investigated by chromatographic
      analysis in combination with mass spectrometry. Spores ofChlainomonassp. show
      clear differences fromChlamydomonas nivalisin cell wall arrangement and plastid
      organization. Active photosynthesis at ambient temperatures indicates a high
      physiological activity, despite no cell division being present. Lipid bodies
      containing the carotenoid astaxanthin, which produces the red color, dominate
      cells of both species, but are modified differently. While inChlainomonassp.
      astaxanthin is mainly esterified with two fatty acids and is more apolar,
      inChamydomonas nivalis, in contrast, less apolar monoesters prevail. 

PMID- 26884469
TI  - Public views on the role of government in funding and delivering health services.
AB  - AIMS: Public surveys in socialized health systems indicate strong support for the
      role of government in health care, although different views can be detected. The
      study considers the public's views on public versus private funding and delivery
      of health services. METHODS: The study is based on a representative national
      sample of 1532 Icelandic adults, aged 18 and older, who participated in a
      national public issues survey. Respondents were asked about government spending
      on health care and whether the government or private parties should deliver
      health services. RESULTS: The great majority of respondents thought that the
      government should spend more on health care, and should be the primary provider
      of care. Lower age, female gender, countryside residence, and expected high use
      of health care were related to greater support for governmental funding.
      Furthermore, countryside residence, less education, lower income, not being a
      governmental health worker, expected high health care use, and left-wing
      political ideology were all related to greater support for governmental delivery
      of health care. CONCLUSIONS DESPITE SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS, THE STUDY FINDS
      STRONG OVERALL SUPPORT FOR THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN FUNDING AND DELIVERING
      HEALTH CARE PREVIOUS PERSPECTIVES AND HYPOTHESES OF WELFARE STATE ENDORSEMENT
      RECEIVED MIXED SUPPORT, SUGGESTING THAT FURTHER THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL WORK IS
      NEEDED TO BETTER ACCOUNT FOR PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN HEALTH
      CARE.

PMID- 26884470
TI  - Activins in reproductive biology and beyond.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Activins are members of the pleiotrophic family of the transforming
      growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of cytokines, initially isolated for
      their capacity to induce the release of FSH from pituitary extracts. Subsequent
      research has demonstrated that activins are involved in multiple biological
      functions including the control of inflammation, fibrosis, developmental biology
      and tumourigenesis. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the roles of
      activin in reproductive and developmental biology. It also discusses interesting
      advances in the field of modulating the bioactivity of activins as a therapeutic
      target, which would undoubtedly be beneficial for patients with reproductive
      pathology. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was carried out using
      PUBMED and Google Scholar databases to identify studies in the English language
      which have contributed to the advancement of the field of activin biology, since
      its initial isolation in 1987 until July 2015. 'Activin', 'testis', 'ovary',
      'embryonic development' and 'therapeutic targets' were used as the keywords in
      combination with other search phrases relevant to the topic of activin biology.
      RESULTS: Activins, which are dimers of inhibin beta subunits, act via a classical
      TGF-beta signalling pathway. The bioactivity of activin is regulated by two
      endogenous inhibitors, inhibin and follistatin. Activin is a major regulator of
      testicular and ovarian development. In the ovary, activin A promotes oocyte
      maturation and regulates granulosa cell steroidogenesis. It is also essential in
      endometrial repair following menstruation, decidualization and maintaining
      pregnancy. Dysregulation of the activin-follistatin-inhibin system leads to
      disorders of female reproduction and pregnancy, including polycystic ovary
      syndrome, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, gestational
      diabetes, pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth. Moreover, a rise in serum activin A,
      accompanied by elevated FSH, is characteristic of female reproductive aging. In
      the male, activin A is an autocrine and paracrine modulator of germ cell
      development and Sertoli cell proliferation. Disruption of normal activin
      signalling is characteristic of many tumours affecting reproductive organs,
      including endometrial carcinoma, cervical cancer, testicular and ovarian cancer
      as well as prostate cancer. While activin A and B aid the progression of many
      tumours of the reproductive organs, activin C acts as a tumour suppressor.
      Activins are important in embryonic induction, morphogenesis of branched
      glandular organs, development of limbs and nervous system, craniofacial and
      dental development and morphogenesis of the Wolffian duct. CONCLUSIONS: The field
      of activin biology has advanced considerably since its initial discovery as an
      FSH stimulating agent. Now, activin is well known as a growth factor and cytokine
      that regulates many aspects of reproductive biology, developmental biology and
      also inflammation and immunological mechanisms. Current research provides
      evidence for novel roles of activins in maintaining the structure and function of
      reproductive and other organ systems. The fact that activin A is elevated both
      locally as well as systemically in major disorders of the reproductive system
      makes it an important biomarker. Given the established role of activin A as a pro
      inflammatory and pro-fibrotic agent, studies of its involvement in disorders of
      reproduction resulting from these processes should be examined. Follistatin, as a
      key regulator of the biological actions of activin, should be evaluated as a
      therapeutic agent in conditions where activin A overexpression is established as
      a contributing factor.

PMID- 26884471
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity in
      cerebral small vessel disease: A systematic review.
AB  - Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) pathophysiology is poorly understood.
      Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) impairment may play a role, but evidence to date
      is mainly indirect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows investigation of CVR
      directly in the tissues affected by SVD. We systematically reviewed the use of
      MRI to measure CVR in subjects with SVD. Five studies (total n = 155 SVD
      subjects, 84 controls) provided relevant data. The studies included different
      types of patients. Each study used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI to
      assess CVR but a different vasoactive stimulus and method of calculating CVR. CVR
      decreased with increasing white matter hyperintensities in two studies (n = 17,
      11%) and in the presence of microbleeds in another. Three studies (n = 138, 89%)
      found no association of CVR with white matter hyperintensities. No studies
      provided tissue-specific CVR values. CVR decreased with age in three studies, and
      with female gender and increasing diastolic blood pressure in one study. Safety
      and tolerability data were limited. Larger studies using CVR appear to be
      feasible and are needed, preferably with more standardized methods, to determine
      if specific clinical or radiological features of SVD are more or less associated
      with impaired CVR.

PMID- 26884473
TI  - Long-Acting C-Peptide and Neuropathy in Type 1 Diabetes: A 12-Month Clinical
      Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Lack of C-peptide in type 1 diabetes may be an important contributing
      factor in the development of microvascular complications. Replacement of native C
      peptide has been shown to exert a beneficial influence on peripheral nerve
      function in type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy
      and safety of a long-acting C-peptide in subjects with type 1 diabetes and mild
      to moderate peripheral neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 250
      patients with type 1 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy received long-acting
      (pegylated) C-peptide in weekly dosages of 0.8 mg (n = 71) or 2.4 mg (n = 73) or
      placebo (n = 106) for 52 weeks. Bilateral sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV)
      and vibration perception threshold (VPT) on the great toe were measured on two
      occasions at baseline, at 26 weeks, and at 52 weeks. The modified Toronto
      Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS) was used to grade the peripheral neuropathy.
      RESULTS: Plasma C-peptide rose during the study to 1.8-2.2 nmol/L (low dose) and
      to 5.6-6.8 nmol/L (high dose). After 52 weeks, SNCV had increased by 1.0 +/- 0.24
      m/s (P < 0.001 within group) in patients receiving C-peptide (combined groups),
      but the corresponding value for the placebo group was 1.2 +/- 0.29 m/s. Compared
      with basal, VPT had improved by 25% after 52 weeks of C-peptide therapy (Delta
      for combined C-peptide groups: -4.5 +/- 1.0 MUm, placebo group: -0.1 +/- 0.9 MUm;
      P < 0.001). mTCNS was unchanged during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Once-weekly
      subcutaneous administration of long-acting C-peptide for 52 weeks did not improve
      SNCV, other electrophysiological variables, or mTCNS but resulted in marked
      improvement of VPT compared with placebo.

PMID- 26884472
TI  - Glucagon Nasal Powder: A Promising Alternative to Intramuscular Glucagon in Youth
      With Type 1 Diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Treatment of severe hypoglycemia outside of the hospital setting is
      limited to intramuscular glucagon requiring reconstitution prior to injection.
      The current study examined the safety and dose-response relationships of a needle
      free intranasal glucagon preparation in youth aged 4 to <17 years. RESEARCH
      DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 48 youth with type 1 diabetes completed the study
      at seven clinical centers. Participants in the two youngest cohorts (4 to <8 and
      8 to <12 years old) were randomly assigned to receive either 2 or 3 mg intranasal
      glucagon in two separate sessions or to receive a single, weight-based dose of
      intramuscular glucagon. Participants aged 12 to <17 years received 1 mg
      intramuscular glucagon in one session and 3 mg intranasal glucagon in the other
      session. Glucagon was given after glucose was lowered to <80 mg/dL (mean nadir
      ranged between 67 and 75 mg/dL). RESULTS: All 24 intramuscular and 58 of the 59
      intranasal doses produced a >=25 mg/dL rise in glucose from nadir within 20 min
      of dosing. Times to peak plasma glucose and glucagon levels were similar under
      both intramuscular and intranasal conditions. Transient nausea occurred in 67% of
      intramuscular sessions versus 42% of intranasal sessions (P = 0.05); the efficacy
      and safety of the 2- and 3-mg intranasal doses were similar in the youngest
      cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this phase 1, pharmacokinetic, and
      pharmacodynamic study support the potential efficacy of a needle-free glucagon
      nasal powder delivery system for treatment of hypoglycemia in youth with type 1
      diabetes. Given the similar frequency and transient nature of adverse effects of
      the 2- and 3-mg intranasal doses in the two youngest cohorts, a single 3-mg
      intranasal dose appears to be appropriate for use across the entire 4- to <17
      year age range.

PMID- 26884474
TI  - Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Predisposition, Obesity, and All-Cause Mortality Risk in
      the U.S.: A Multiethnic Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased mortality in
      ethnically diverse populations, although the extent to which this association is
      genetically determined is unknown. We sought to determine whether T2D-related
      genetic variants predicted all-cause mortality, even after accounting for BMI, in
      the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
      METHODS: We modeled mortality risk using a genetic risk score (GRS) from a
      weighted sum of risk alleles at 38 T2D-related single nucleotide polymorphisms.
      In age-, sex-, and BMI-adjusted logistic regression models, accounting for the
      complex survey design, we tested the association with mortality in 6,501
      participants. We repeated the analysis within ethnicities (2,528 non-Hispanic
      white [NHW], 1,979 non-Hispanic black [NHB], and 1,994 Mexican American [MA]) and
      within BMI categories (<25, 25-30, and >=30 kg/m(2)). Significance was set at P <
      0.05. RESULTS: Over 17 years, 1,556 participants died. GRS was associated with
      mortality risk (OR 1.04 [95% CI 1.00-1.07] per T2D-associated risk allele, P =
      0.05). Within ethnicities, GRS was positively associated with mortality risk in
      NHW and NHB, but not in MA (0.95 [0.90-1.01], P = 0.07). The negative trend in MA
      was largely driven by those with BMI <25 kg/m(2) (0.91 [0.82-1.00]). In NHW, the
      positive association was strongest among those with BMI >=30 kg/m(2) (1.07 [1.02
      1.12]). CONCLUSIONS: In the U.S., a higher T2D genetic risk was associated with
      increased mortality risk, especially among obese NHW. The underlying genetic
      basis for mortality likely involves complex interactions with factors related to
      ethnicity, T2D, and body weight.

PMID- 26884475
TI  - The D-amino acid transport by the invertebrate SLC6 transporters KAAT1 and
      CAATCH1 from Manduca sexta.
AB  - The ability of the SLC6 family members, the insect neutral amino acid
      cotransporter KAAT1(K(+)-coupled amino acid transporter 1) and its homologous
      CAATCH1(cation anion activated amino acid transporter/channel), to transport D
      amino acids has been investigated through heterologous expression in Xenopus
      laevis oocytes and electrophysiological techniques. In the presence of D-isomers
      of leucine, serine, and proline, the msKAAT1 generates inward, transport
      associated, currents with variable relative potencies, depending on the driving
      ion Na(+) or K(+). Higher concentrations of D-leucine (>=1 mmol/L) give rise to
      an anomalous response that suggests the existence of a second binding site with
      inhibitory action on the transport process. msCAATCH1 is also able to transport
      the D-amino acids tested, including D-leucine, whereas L-leucine acts as a
      blocker. A similar behavior is exhibited by the KAAT1 mutant S308T, confirming
      the relevance of the residue in this position in L-leucine binding and the
      different interaction of D-leucine with residues involved in transport mechanism.
      D-leucine and D-serine on various vertebrate orthologs B(0)AT1 (SLC6A19) elicited
      only a very small current and singular behavior was not observed, indicating that
      it is specific of the insect neutral amino acid transporters. These findings
      highlight the relevance of D-amino acid absorption in the insect nutrition and
      metabolism and may provide new evidences in the molecular transport mechanism of
      SLC6 family. 

PMID- 26884476
TI  - Angiotensin II stimulates superoxide production by nitric oxide synthase in thick
      ascending limbs.
AB  - Angiotensin II (Ang II) causes nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to become a source of
      superoxide (O2 (-)) via a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent process in endothelial
      cells. Ang II stimulates both NO and O2 (-) production in thick ascending limbs.
      We hypothesized that Ang II causes O2 (-) production by NOS in thick ascending
      limbs via a PKC-dependent mechanism. NO production was measured in isolated rat
      thick ascending limbs using DAF-FM, whereas O2 (-) was measured in thick
      ascending limb suspensions using the lucigenin assay. Consistent stimulation of
      NO was observed with 1 nmol/L Ang II (P < 0.001; n = 9). This concentration of
      Ang II-stimulated O2 (-) production by 50% (1.77 +/- 0.26 vs. 2.62 +/- 0.36
      relative lights units (RLU)/s/MUg protein; P < 0.04; n = 5). In the presence of
      the NOS inhibitor L-NAME, Ang II-stimulated O2 (-) decreased from 2.02 +/- 0.29
      to 1.10 +/- 0.11 RLU/s/MUg protein (P < 0.01; n = 8). L-arginine alone did not
      change Ang II-stimulated O2 (-) (2.34 +/- 0.22 vs. 2.29 +/- 0.29 RLU/s/MUg
      protein; n = 5). In the presence of Ang II plus the PKC alpha/beta1 inhibitor Go
      6976, L-NAME had no effect on O2 (-) production (0.78 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.11
      RLU/s/MUg protein; n = 7). In the presence of Ang II plus apocynin, a NADPH
      oxidase inhibitor, L-NAME did not change O2 (-) (0.59 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.61 +/- *0.08
      RLU/s/MUg protein; n = 5). We conclude that: (1) Ang II causes NOS to produce O2
      (-) in thick ascending limbs via a PKC- and NADPH oxidase-dependent process; and
      (2) the effect of Ang II is not due to limited substrate. 

PMID- 26884477
TI  - Variability in integration of mechanisms associated with high tolerance to
      progressive reductions in central blood volume: the compensatory reserve.
AB  - High tolerance to progressive reductions in central blood volume has been
      associated with higher heart rate (HR), peripheral vascular resistance (PVR),
      sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), and vagally mediated cardiac baroreflex
      sensitivity (BRS). Using a database of 116 subjects classified as high tolerance
      to presyncopal-limited lower body negative pressure (LBNP), we tested the
      hypothesis that subjects with greater cardiac baroreflex withdrawal (i.e., BRS >
      1.0) would demonstrate greater LBNP tolerance associated with higher HR, PVR, and
      SNA. Subjects underwent LBNP to presyncope. Mean and diastolic arterial pressure
      (MAP; DAP) was measured by finger photoplethysmography and BRS (down sequence)
      was autocalculated (WinCPRS) as ?R-R Interval/?DAP. DownBRS : ms/mmHg) was used
      to dichotomize subjects into two groups (Group 1 = DownBRS > 1.0, N = 49, and
      Group 2 = DownBRS < 1.0, N = 67) at the time of presyncope. Muscle SNA was
      measured directly from the peroneal nerve via microneurography (N = 19) in
      subjects from Groups 1 (n = 9) and 2 (n = 10). Group 1 (DownBRS > 1.0) had lower
      HR (107 +/- 19 vs. 131 +/- 20 bpm), higher stroke volume (45 +/- 15 vs. 36 +/- 15
      mL), less SNA (45 +/- 13 vs. 53 +/- 7 bursts/min), and less increase in PVR (4.1
      +/- 1.3 vs. 4.5 +/- 2.6) compared to Group 2 (DownBRS < 1.0). Both groups had
      similar tolerance times (1849 +/- 260 vs. 1839 +/- 253 sec), MAP (78 +/- 11 vs.
      79 +/- 12 mmHg), compensatory reserve index (CRI) (0.10 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.09 +/-
      0.01), and cardiac output (4.5 +/- 1.2 vs. 4.7 +/- 1.1 L/min) at presyncope.
      Contrary to our hypothesis, higher HR, PVR, SNA, and BRS were not associated with
      greater tolerance to reduced central blood volume. These data are the first to
      demonstrate the variability and uniqueness of individual human physiological
      strategies designed to compensate for progressive reductions in central blood
      volume. The sum total of these integrated strategies is accurately reflected by
      the measurement of the compensatory reserve. 

PMID- 26884478
TI  - Contrasting effects of afferent and efferent vagal nerve stimulation on insulin
      secretion and blood glucose regulation.
AB  - Parasympathetic activation reduces hepatic glucose release and increases
      pancreatic insulin secretion in hyperglycemic conditions. Thus, vagal nerve
      stimulation (VNS) may potentially be effective in treating type II diabetes. To
      investigate this possibility, we hypothesized that VNS reduces blood glucose
      concentration [Glu] via insulin secretion. [Glu] together with insulin and
      glucagon serum concentrations were determined in anesthetized rats during
      baseline conditions and 120 min of cervical VNS with the nerve left intact for
      combined afferent and efferent VNS (n = 9) or the nerve sectioned proximal or
      distal from the stimulation electrode for selective efferent (n = 8) or afferent
      (n = 7) VNS, respectively. Afferent VNS caused a strong and sustained increase in
      [Glu] (+108.9 +/- 20.9% or +77.6 +/- 15.4%, after 120 min of combined afferent
      and efferent VNS or selective afferent VNS) that was not accompanied by an
      increase in serum insulin concentration. However, serum insulin levels increased
      significantly with selective efferent VNS (+71.2 +/- 27.0% after 120 min of VNS)
      that increased [Glu] only temporarily (+28.8 +/- 11.7% at 30 min of VNS).
      Efferent VNS initially increased serum glucagon concentration which remained
      elevated for 120 min when efferent VNS was combined with afferent VNS, but
      returned to baseline with selective efferent VNS. These findings demonstrate that
      afferent VNS causes a marked and sustained increase in [Glu] that is partly
      mediated by suppression of pancreatic insulin secretion. In contrast, efferent
      VNS stimulates pancreatic glucagon secretion that appears to be antagonized by
      insulin secretion in the case of selective efferent VNS. Selective efferent VNS
      may potentially be effective in treating type II diabetes. 

PMID- 26884480
TI  - Photorhabdus luminescens LN2 requires rpoS for nematicidal activity and nematode
      development.
AB  - Photorhabdus (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria are pathogenic to insects and
      mutualistic with entomopathogenic Heterorhabditis nematodes. Photorhabdus
      luminescens subsp. akhurstii LN2, associated with Heterorhabditis indica LN2,
      shows nematicidal activity against H. bacteriophora H06 infective juveniles
      (IJs). In the present study, an rpoS mutant of P. luminescens LN2 was generated
      through allelic exchange to examine the effects of rpoS deletion on the
      nematicidal activity and nematode development. The results showed that P.
      luminescens LN2 required rpoS for nematicidal activity against H06 nematodes,
      normal IJ recovery and development of H. indica LN2, however, not for the
      bacterial colonization in LN2 and H06 IJs. This provides cues for further
      understanding the role of rpoS in the mutualistic association between
      entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbionts. 

PMID- 26884481
TI  - Exposure of Metarhizium acridum mycelium to light induces tolerance to UV-B
      radiation.
AB  - Metarhizium acridum is an entomopathogenic fungus commonly used as a
      bioinsecticide. The conidium is the fungal stage normally employed as field
      inoculum in biological control programs and must survive under field conditions
      such as high ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure. Light, which is an important stimulus
      for many fungi, has been shown to induce the production of M. robertsii conidia
      with increased stress tolerance. Here we show that a two-hour exposure to white
      or blue/UV-A light of fast-growing mycelium induces tolerance to subsequent UV-B
      irradiation. Red light, however, does not have the same effect. In addition, we
      established that this induction can take place with as little as 1 min of white
      light exposure. This brief illumination scheme could be relevant in future
      studies of M. acridum photobiology and for the production of UV-B resistant
      mycelium used in mycelium-based formulations for biological control. 

PMID- 26884479
TI  - Altered cardiorespiratory response to exercise in overweight and obese women with
      polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), cardiovascular risk is increased. Peak O2
      uptake (VO2peak) predicts the cardiovascular risk. We were the first to examine
      the contribution of systemic O2 delivery and arteriovenous O2 difference to
      VO2peak in overweight and obese women with PCOS. Fifteen overweight or obese PCOS
      women and 15 age-, anthropometry-, and physical activity-matched control women
      performed a maximal incremental cycling exercise test. Alveolar gas exchange
      (volume turbine and mass spectrometry), arterial O2 saturation (pulse oximetry),
      and cardiac output (CO) (impedance cardiography) were monitored. Hb concentration
      was determined. Arterial O2 content and arteriovenous O2 difference (C(a-v)O2)
      (Fick equation) were calculated. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis
      model assessment (HOMA-IR). PCOS women had lower VO2peak than controls (40 +/- 6
      vs. 46 +/- 5 mL/min/kg fat-free mass [FFM], P = 0.011). Arterial O2 content was
      similarly maintained in the groups throughout the exercise test (P > 0.05).
      Linear regression analysis revealed a pronounced response of CO to increasing VO2
      in PCOS women during the exercise test: A ?CO/?VO2 slope was steeper in PCOS
      women than in controls (beta = 5.84 vs. beta = 5.21, P = 0.004). Eventually, the
      groups attained similar peak CO and peak CO scaled to FFM (P > 0.05). Instead,
      C(a-v)O2 at peak exercise was lower in PCOS women than in controls (13.2 +/- 1.6
      vs. 14.8 +/- 2.4 mL O2/100 mL blood, P = 0.044). HOMA-IR was similar in the
      groups (P > 0.05). The altered cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in
      overweight and obese PCOS women indicate that PCOS per se is associated with
      alterations in peripheral adjustments to exercise rather than with limitations of
      systemic O2 delivery. 

PMID- 26884482
TI  - Melatonin Supports CYP2D-Mediated Serotonin Synthesis in the Brain.
AB  - Melatonin is used in the therapy of sleep and mood disorders and as a
      neuroprotective agent. The aim of our study was to demonstrate that melatonin
      supported (via its deacetylation to 5-methoxytryptamine) CYP2D-mediated synthesis
      of serotonin from 5-methoxytryptamine. We measured serotonin tissue content in
      some brain regions (the cortex, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, striatum,
      thalamus, hypothalamus, brain stem, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum) (model A),
      as well as its extracellular concentration in the striatum using an in vivo
      microdialysis (model B) after melatonin injection (100 mg/kg i.p.) to male Wistar
      rats. Melatonin increased the tissue concentration of serotonin in the brain
      structures studied of naive, sham-operated, or serotonergic neurotoxin (5,7
      dihydroxytryptamine)-lesioned rats (model A). Intracerebroventricular quinine (a
      CYP2D inhibitor) prevented the melatonin-induced increase in serotonin
      concentration. In the presence of pargyline (a monoaminoxidase inhibitor), the
      effect of melatonin was not visible in the majority of the brain structures
      studied but could be seen in all of them in 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-lesioned
      animals when serotonin storage and synthesis via a classic tryptophan pathway was
      diminished. Melatonin alone did not significantly increase extracellular
      serotonin concentration in the striatum of naive rats but raised its content in
      pargyline-pretreated animals (model B). The CYP2D inhibitor propafenone given
      intrastructurally prevented the melatonin-induced increase in striatal serotonin
      in those animals. The obtained results indicate that melatonin supports CYP2D
      catalyzed serotonin synthesis from 5-methoxytryptamine in the brain in vivo,
      which closes the serotonin-melatonin-serotonin biochemical cycle. The metabolism
      of exogenous melatonin to the neurotransmitter serotonin may be regarded as a
      newly recognized additional component of its pharmacological action. 

PMID- 26884483
TI  - AtPDCD5 Plays a Role in Programmed Cell Death after UV-B Exposure in Arabidopsis.
AB  - DNA damage responses have evolved to sense and react to DNA damage; the induction
      of DNA repair mechanisms can lead to genomic restoration or, if the damaged DNA
      cannot be adequately repaired, to the execution of a cell death program. In this
      work, we investigated the role of an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) protein,
      AtPDCD5, which is highly similar to the human PDCD5 protein; it is induced by
      ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation and participates in programmed cell death in the UV
      B DNA damage response. Transgenic plants expressing AtPDCD5 fused to GREEN
      FLUORESCENT PROTEIN indicate that AtPDCD5 is localized both in the nucleus and
      the cytosol. By use of pdcd5 mutants, we here demonstrate that these plants have
      an altered antioxidant metabolism and accumulate higher levels of DNA damage
      after UV-B exposure, similar to levels in ham1ham2 RNA interference transgenic
      lines with decreased expression of acetyltransferases from the MYST family. By
      coimmunoprecipitation and pull-down assays, we provide evidence that AtPDCD5
      interacts with HAM proteins, suggesting that both proteins participate in the
      same pathway of DNA damage responses. Plants overexpressing AtPDCD5 show less DNA
      damage but more cell death in root tips upon UV-B exposure. Finally, we here show
      that AtPDCD5 also participates in age-induced programmed cell death. Together,
      the data presented here demonstrate that AtPDCD5 plays an important role during
      DNA damage responses induced by UV-B radiation in Arabidopsis and also
      participates in programmed cell death programs.

PMID- 26884485
TI  - Posttranslational Control of ALA Synthesis Includes GluTR Degradation by Clp
      Protease and Stabilization by GluTR-Binding Protein.
AB  - 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the first committed substrate of tetrapyrrole
      biosynthesis and is formed from glutamyl-tRNA by two enzymatic steps. Glutamyl
      tRNA reductase (GluTR) as the first enzyme of ALA synthesis is encoded by HEMA
      genes and tightly regulated at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels.
      Here, we show that the caseinolytic protease (Clp) substrate adaptor ClpS1 and
      the ClpC1 chaperone as well as the GluTR-binding protein (GBP) interact with the
      N terminus of GluTR Loss-of function mutants of ClpR2 and ClpC1 proteins show
      increased GluTR stability, whereas absence of GBP results in decreased GluTR
      stability. Thus, the Clp protease system and GBP contribute to GluTR accumulation
      levels, and thereby the rate-limiting ALA synthesis. These findings are supported
      with Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) hema1 mutants expressing a truncated
      GluTR lacking the 29 N-terminal amino acid residues of the mature protein.
      Accumulation of this truncated GluTR is higher in dark periods, resulting in
      increased protochlorophyllide content. It is proposed that the proteolytic
      activity of Clp protease counteracts GBP binding to assure the appropriate
      content of GluTR and the adequate ALA synthesis for chlorophyll and heme in
      higher plants.

PMID- 26884484
TI  - Suppression of Chloroplastic Alkenal/One Oxidoreductase Represses the Carbon
      Catabolic Pathway in Arabidopsis Leaves during Night.
AB  - Lipid-derived reactive carbonyl species (RCS) possess electrophilic moieties and
      cause oxidative stress by reacting with cellular components. Arabidopsis
      (Arabidopsis thaliana) has a chloroplast-localized alkenal/one oxidoreductase
      (AtAOR) for the detoxification of lipid-derived RCS, especially alpha,beta
      unsaturated carbonyls. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the physiological
      importance of AtAOR and analyzed AtAOR (aor) mutants, including a transfer DNA
      knockout, aor (T-DNA), and RNA interference knockdown, aor (RNAi), lines. We
      found that both aor mutants showed smaller plant sizes than wild-type plants when
      they were grown under day/night cycle conditions. To elucidate the cause of the
      aor mutant phenotype, we analyzed the photosynthetic rate and the respiration
      rate by gas-exchange analysis. Subsequently, we found that both wild-type and aor
      (RNAi) plants showed similar CO2 assimilation rates; however, the respiration
      rate was lower in aor (RNAi) than in wild-type plants. Furthermore, we revealed
      that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity decreased and starch degradation
      during the night was suppressed in aor (RNAi). In contrast, the phenotype of aor
      (RNAi) was rescued when aor (RNAi) plants were grown under constant light
      conditions. These results indicate that the smaller plant sizes observed in aor
      mutants grown under day/night cycle conditions were attributable to the decrease
      in carbon utilization during the night. Here, we propose that the detoxification
      of lipid-derived RCS by AtAOR in chloroplasts contributes to the protection of
      dark respiration and supports plant growth during the night.

PMID- 26884486
TI  - A Medicago truncatula Cystathionine-beta-Synthase-like Domain-Containing Protein
      Is Required for Rhizobial Infection and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.
AB  - The symbiosis between leguminous plants and soil rhizobia culminates in the
      formation of nitrogen-fixing organs called nodules that support plant growth. Two
      Medicago truncatula Tnt1-insertion mutants were identified that produced small
      nodules, which were unable to fix nitrogen effectively due to ineffective
      rhizobial colonization. The gene underlying this phenotype was found to encode a
      protein containing a putative membrane-localized domain of unknown function
      (DUF21) and a cystathionine-beta-synthase domain. The cbs1 mutants had defective
      infection threads that were sometimes devoid of rhizobia and formed small nodules
      with greatly reduced numbers of symbiosomes. We studied the expression of the
      gene, designated M truncatula Cystathionine-beta-Synthase-like1 (MtCBS1), using a
      promoter-beta-glucuronidase gene fusion, which revealed expression in infected
      root hair cells, developing nodules, and in the invasion zone of mature nodules.
      An MtCBS1-GFP fusion protein localized itself to the infection thread and
      symbiosomes. Nodulation factor-induced Ca(2+) responses were observed in the cbs1
      mutant, indicating that MtCBS1 acts downstream of nodulation factor signaling.
      MtCBS1 expression occurred exclusively during Medicago-rhizobium symbiosis.
      Induction of MtCBS1 expression during symbiosis was found to be dependent on
      Nodule Inception (NIN), a key transcription factor that controls both rhizobial
      infection and nodule organogenesis. Interestingly, the closest homolog of MtCBS1,
      MtCBS2, was specifically induced in mycorrhizal roots, suggesting common
      infection mechanisms in nodulation and mycorrhization. Related proteins in
      Arabidopsis have been implicated in cell wall maturation, suggesting a potential
      role for CBS1 in the formation of the infection thread wall.

PMID- 26884487
TI  - Singlet Oxygen-Induced Membrane Disruption and Serpin-Protease Balance in
      Vacuolar-Driven Cell Death.
AB  - Singlet oxygen plays a role in cellular stress either by providing direct
      toxicity or through signaling to initiate death programs. It was therefore of
      interest to examine cell death, as occurs in Arabidopsis, due to differentially
      localized singlet oxygen photosensitizers. The photosensitizers rose bengal (RB)
      and acridine orange (AO) were localized to the plasmalemma and vacuole,
      respectively. Their photoactivation led to cell death as measured by ion leakage.
      Cell death could be inhibited by the singlet oxygen scavenger histidine in
      treatments with AO but not with RB In the case of AO treatment, the vacuolar
      membrane was observed to disintegrate. Concomitantly, a complex was formed
      between a vacuolar cell-death protease, RESPONSIVE TO DESSICATION-21 and its
      cognate cytoplasmic protease inhibitor ATSERPIN1. In the case of RB treatment,
      the tonoplast remained intact and no complex was formed. Over-expression of
      AtSerpin1 repressed cell death, only under AO photodynamic treatment.
      Interestingly, acute water stress showed accumulation of singlet oxygen as
      determined by fluorescence of Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green, by electron
      paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and the induction of singlet oxygen marker
      genes. Cell death by acute water stress was inhibited by the singlet oxygen
      scavenger histidine and was accompanied by vacuolar collapse and the appearance
      of serpin-protease complex. Over-expression of AtSerpin1 also attenuated cell
      death under this mode of cell stress. Thus, acute water stress damage shows
      parallels to vacuole-mediated cell death where the generation of singlet oxygen
      may play a role.

PMID- 26884489
TI  - Implementing the End TB Strategy and the intersection with the Sustainable
      Development Goals, 2016-2030.

PMID- 26884490
TI  - The WHO's new End TB Strategy in the post-2015 era of the Sustainable Development
      Goals.
AB  - The WHO's new End TB Strategy 2016-2035 has evolved from previous global
      strategies to respond to old and new challenges and take advantage of new
      opportunities. It frames the global fight against TB as a development, social
      justice and human rights issue, while re-emphasizing the public health and
      clinical fundaments of TB care and prevention. In this commentary, we outline how
      TB prevention, care and control will both benefit from and contribute to the
      achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals that were recently adopted
      at the United Nations. 

PMID- 26884488
TI  - Arabidopsis MYC Transcription Factors Are the Target of Hormonal Salicylic
      Acid/Jasmonic Acid Cross Talk in Response to Pieris brassicae Egg Extract.
AB  - Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants recognize insect eggs and activate the
      salicylic acid (SA) pathway. As a consequence, expression of defense genes
      regulated by the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway is suppressed and larval performance
      is enhanced. Cross talk between defense signaling pathways is common in plant
      pathogen interactions, but the molecular mechanism mediating this phenomenon is
      poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that egg-induced SA/JA antagonism works
      independently of the APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription
      factor ORA59, which controls the ERF branch of the JA pathway. In addition,
      treatment with egg extract did not enhance expression or stability of JASMONATE
      ZIM-domain transcriptional repressors, and SA/JA cross talk did not involve
      JASMONATE ASSOCIATED MYC2-LIKEs, which are negative regulators of the JA pathway.
      Investigating the stability of MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4, three basic helix-loop-helix
      transcription factors that additively control jasmonate-related defense
      responses, we found that egg extract treatment strongly diminished MYC protein
      levels in an SA-dependent manner. Furthermore, we identified WRKY75 as a novel
      and essential factor controlling SA/JA cross talk. These data indicate that
      insect eggs target the MYC branch of the JA pathway and uncover an unexpected
      modulation of SA/JA antagonism depending on the biological context in which the
      SA pathway is activated.

PMID- 26884491
TI  - A world of cities and the end of TB.
AB  - The WHO's End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB deaths by 95% and incidence by 90%
      between 2015 and 2035. As the world rapidly urbanizes, more people could have
      access to better infrastructure and services to help combat poverty and
      infectious diseases, including TB. And yet large numbers of people now live in
      overcrowded slums, with poor access to urban health services, amplifying the
      burden of TB. An alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health
      and for urban development provides an opportunity to accelerate the overall
      decline in infection and disease, and to create cities free of TB. 

PMID- 26884492
TI  - Investing to end epidemics: the role of the Global Fund to control TB by 2030.
AB  - The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria provides over three
      quarters of all international financing towards TB programs with US$4.7 billion
      disbursed, supporting provision of treatment for 13.2 million patients with smear
      positive TB and 210 000 patients with multidrug-resistant TB in over 100
      countries since 2002. In 2013, the Global Fund launched a new funding model that,
      among others, is advancing strategic investments to maximize impact, addressing
      'missing' TB cases, enhancing a synergistic response to TB/HIV dual epidemics,
      and building resilient and sustainable systems for health. A new Global Fund
      Strategy is under development through consultation with various stakeholders,
      with which the Global Fund will work to play a more catalytic role and foster
      innovations to end the TB epidemic. 

PMID- 26884493
TI  - Childhood TB: can the End TB Strategy deliver?
AB  - The accelerated reductions in global TB incidence required to achieve the End TB
      Strategy goal will result in reductions in the burden of childhood TB. Contact
      screening and preventive therapy have emerged as important components of TB
      burden reduction, and family-centered approaches could be an effective route in
      delivering these activities. Lack of accurate diagnostics for children remains a
      critical barrier and a need remains for better collaborative and supportive links
      between the child health and TB control sectors. Irrespective of whether the
      ambitious targets can be achieved, the unprecedented opportunities provided by
      the End TB Strategy must be embraced. 

PMID- 26884494
TI  - TB control: challenges and opportunities for India.
AB  - India's TB control programme has treated over 19 million patients, but the
      incidence of TB continues to be high. TB is a major killer and drug-resistant TB
      is a growing threat. There are several likely reasons, including social
      conditions and co-morbidities that fuel the TB epidemic: under-investment by the
      government, weak programme implementation and management, suboptimal quality of
      care in the private sector, and insufficient advocacy around TB. Fortunately,
      India possesses the technical know-how, competence and resources to address these
      challenges. The End TB Strategy by WHO offers India an excellent blueprint to
      advance the agenda of TB control. 

PMID- 26884495
TI  - Can China achieve the WHO global targets for TB control by 2035?
AB  - To reach the ambitious WHO TB global targets by 2035, it is likely that China
      will need a comprehensive strategy that builds on its existing high-quality
      directly observed treatment, short-course program. This will require optimizing
      the use of existing tools within a changing health system landscape. In addition,
      new tools are needed to identify and treat TB in high-risk groups and in older
      people, who are a growing driver of disease incidence. Lastly, strategies are
      needed to address the proximate risk factors and social determinants that
      underlie trends in TB burden. 

PMID- 26884496
TI  - Management of multidrug-resistant TB: novel treatments and their expansion to low
      resource settings.
AB  - Despite overall progress in global TB control, the rising burden of multidrug
      resistant TB (MDR-TB) threatens to undermine efforts to end the worldwide
      epidemic. Of the 27 countries classified as high burden for MDR-TB, 17 are in
      'low' or 'low-middle' income countries. Shorter, all oral and less toxic
      multidrug combinations are required to improve treatment outcomes in these
      settings. Suitability for safe co-administration with HIV drugs is also
      desirable. A range of strategies and several new drugs (including bedaquiline,
      delamanid and linezolid) are currently undergoing advanced clinical evaluations
      to define their roles in achieving these aims. However, several clinical
      questions and logistical challenges need to be overcome before these new MDR-TB
      treatments fulfil their potential. 

PMID- 26884497
TI  - Addressing diabetes mellitus as part of the strategy for ending TB.
AB  - As we enter the new era of Sustainable Development Goals, the international
      community has committed to ending the TB epidemic by 2030 through implementation
      of an ambitious strategy to reduce TB-incidence and TB-related mortality and
      avoiding catastrophic costs for TB-affected families. Diabetes mellitus (DM)
      triples the risk of TB and increases the probability of adverse TB treatment
      outcomes such as failure, death and recurrent TB. The rapidly escalating global
      epidemic of DM means that DM needs to be addressed if TB-related milestones and
      targets are to be achieved. WHO and the International Union Against Tuberculosis
      and Lung Disease's Collaborative Framework for Care and Control of Tuberculosis
      and Diabetes, launched in 2011, provides a template to guide policy makers and
      implementers to combat the epidemics of both diseases. However, more evidence is
      required to answer important questions about bi-directional screening, optimal
      ways of delivering treatment, integration of DM and TB services, and infection
      control. This should in turn contribute to better and earlier TB case detection,
      and improved TB treatment outcomes and prevention. DM and TB collaborative care
      can also help guide the development of a more effective and integrated public
      health approach for managing non-communicable diseases. 

PMID- 26884498
TI  - Detection of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in urine is indicative of disseminated TB
      with renal involvement in patients living with HIV and advanced immunodeficiency:
      evidence and implications.
AB  - TB is the leading cause of HIV/AIDS-related deaths globally. New diagnostic tools
      are urgently needed to avert deaths from undiagnosed HIV-associated TB. Although
      simple assays that detect lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in urine have been commercially
      available for years, their specific role and utility were initially
      misunderstood, such that they have been slower to emerge from the diagnostics
      pipeline than otherwise might have been expected. In this article, we review and
      explain how urine-LAM assays should be understood as diagnostics for disseminated
      TB in HIV-positive patients with advanced immunodeficiency, in whom haematogenous
      TB dissemination to the kidneys serves as the primary mechanism by which LAM
      enters the urine. These insights are critical for the appropriate design of
      studies to evaluate these assays and to understand how they might be most
      usefully implemented. This understanding also supports the 2015 WHO
      recommendations on the restricted use of these assays in sick HIV-positive
      patients with advanced immunodeficiency. 

PMID- 26884499
TI  - Drug-resistant TB: deadly, costly and in need of a vaccine.
AB  - TB is an underappreciated public health threat in developed nations. In 2014, an
      estimated 9.6 million TB cases and 1.5 million deaths occurred worldwide; 3.3% of
      these cases resulted from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and
      extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) strains. These figures
      underestimate the economic burden associated with MDR-TB and XDR-TB, as the cost
      of treating disease caused by these strains can be 9-25 times higher than
      treating drug-susceptible TB. Developing new drugs, improved diagnostics and new
      TB vaccines are critical components of a strategy to combat TB in general, and
      drug-resistant TB in particular. Because Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has
      demonstrated a capacity to develop resistance to drugs developed to combat it, it
      is unlikely that drug-resistant MTB would be 'resistant' to vaccines capable of
      preventing disease or established infection with drug-sensitive MTB strains.
      Accordingly, the development of TB vaccines represents an important long-term
      investment in preventing the spread of drug-resistant TB and achieving WHO's goal
      of ending the global TB epidemic by 2035. Our current understanding of the
      epidemiology of drug-resistant TB and the interventions needed to limit its
      spread, reviewed in this article, illustrates the need for increased financial
      support for developing new TB drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to meet the WHO
      goal of TB elimination by 2035. 

PMID- 26884500
TI  - Alternative medicine: an ethnographic study of how practitioners of Indian
      medical systems manage TB in Mumbai.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mumbai is a hot spot for drug-resistant TB, and private practitioners
      trained in AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, yoga, Unani, Siddha and homeopathy) are major
      healthcare providers. It is important to understand how AYUSH practitioners
      manage patients with TB or presumptive TB. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured
      interviews of 175 Mumbai slum-based practitioners holding degrees in Ayurveda,
      homeopathy and Unani. Most providers gave multiple interviews. We observed 10
      providers in clinical interactions, documenting: clinical examinations, symptoms,
      history taking, prescriptions and diagnostic tests. RESULTS: No practitioners
      exclusively used his or her system of training. The practice of biomedicine is
      frequent, with practitioners often using biomedical disease categories and
      diagnostics. The use of homeopathy was rare (only 4% of consultations with
      homeopaths resulted in homeopathic remedies) and Ayurveda rarer (3% of
      consultations). For TB, all mentioned chest x-ray while 31 (17.7%) mentioned
      sputum smear as a TB test. One hundred and sixty-four practitioners (93.7%)
      reported referring TB patients to a public hospital or chest physician. Eleven
      practitioners (6.3%) reported treating patients with TB. Nine (5.1%) reported
      treating patients with drug-susceptible TB with at least one second-line drug.
      CONCLUSIONS: Important sources of health care in Mumbai's slums, AYUSH physicians
      frequently use biomedical therapies and most refer patients with TB to chest
      physicians or the public sector. They are integral to TB care and control.

PMID- 26884501
TI  - Effectiveness of a conditional cash transfer programme on TB cure rate: a
      retrospective cohort study in Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the efforts of the National Tuberculosis Programme, TB cure
      rates in Brazil are sub-optimal. The End TB Strategy for post-2015 identifies
      conditional cash transfer interventions as powerful tools to improve TB control
      indicators, including TB cure rate. This study aims to inform the new policy by
      evaluating the role of the Bolsa Familia Programme (BFP), one of the largest
      conditional cash transfer programmes in the world, on TB cure rates in Brazil.
      METHODS: We undertook a retrospective cohort study, based on an unprecedented
      record linkage of socioeconomic and health data, to compare cases of patients
      newly diagnosed with TB in 2010 receiving BFP cash benefits (n=5788) with those
      who did not (n=1467) during TB treatment. We used Poisson regression with robust
      variance to estimate the relative risks for TB cure adjusted for known
      confounders. RESULTS: The cure rate among patients exposed to BFP during TB
      treatment was 82.1% (4752/5788), 5.2% higher than among those not exposed. This
      was confirmed after controlling for TB type, diabetes mellitus, HIV status and
      other relevant clinical and socioeconomic covariates (RR=1.07, 95% CI 1.04 to
      1.11 for cure rates among BFP beneficiaries). This association seemed higher for
      patients not under directly observed treatment (RR=1.11; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.16).
      CONCLUSIONS: Although further research is needed, this study suggests that
      conditional cash transfer programmes can contribute to improve TB cure rate in
      Brazil.

PMID- 26884505
TI  - THE ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF LEAD-FREE GARMENTS FOR USE IN RADIATION PROTECTION.
AB  - In this study, the absorption capability and the weight of various radiation
      shielding materials were evaluated, for applications as alternatives to lead
      garments. Toxicity, atomic number, density, K-edge absorption energy and
      availability of elements that can serve as an alternative to lead, including tin,
      antimony, bismuth and tungsten, were considered. The attenuation coefficients of
      these elements were determined using the XCOM software package, and these metals
      were mixed with polymers at 50, 70, 80 and 85 % mass ratios. It can be concluded
      that all of the new shielding materials used in the study can be used for a
      diagnostic range of X-rays. However, they were compared with the commercial lead
      garments in terms of weight and attenuation coefficient; the 85 % samples were
      lighter than a 0.5-mm lead garment and provided superior radiation protection,
      which demonstrates its potential for commercial applications.

PMID- 26884503
TI  - Child Physical Activity Associations With Cardiovascular Risk Factors Differ by
      Race.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to characterize the relationship between
      objectively-measured physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular risk factors in 7
      year-old children and test the hypothesis that it differs by race. METHODS: Cross
      sectional study of 308 7-year-old children drawn from a major US metropolitan
      community. PA (moderate-to-vigorous, MVPA; light, LPA; and inactivity, IA) was
      measured by accelerometry (RT3). Cardiovascular risk factors included BMI, blood
      pressure, and serum lipids, glucose and insulin concentrations. General linear
      modeling was used to evaluate the independent associations between PA measures
      and cardiovascular risk factors and interactions by race. RESULTS: In black
      children, greater time spent in PA was independently associated with lower levels
      of triglycerides (MVPA and LPA, both p < .01), glucose (MVPA, p < .05), and
      insulin (MVPA, p < .01); these associations were not evident in white children.
      Across races, greater inactivity was independently associated with greater low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol in overweight participants (p < .01) but not in
      normal weight participants. No PA measure was associated with BMI, systolic blood
      pressure, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of
      7-year-old children, the relationship between PA and some cardiovascular risk
      factors differed by race. These findings may have implications for targeting of
      PA promotion efforts in children.

PMID- 26884506
TI  - Influence of Exercise and Training on Critical Stages of Bone Growth and
      Development.
AB  - Although osteoporosis is considered a geriatric disease, factors affecting bone
      strength are most influential during child growth and development. This article
      reviews what is known and still unclear in terms of bone growth, development and
      adaptation relative to physical activity before and during puberty. Bone is
      responsive to certain exercise protocols early in puberty and less so in
      postpubertal years, where bone strength, rather than bone mass, being the outcome
      of interest. Mechanical loading and high impact exercise promote bone strength.
      Intense training before and during puberty, however, may negatively affect bone
      development. Future research should focus on increasing our mechanistic
      understanding of the manner by which diverse physical stressors alter the
      integrity of bone. Longitudinal studies that examine the extent to which muscle
      and bone are comodulated by growth in children are also recommended.

PMID- 26884502
TI  - Macrophage polarization in response to oral commensals and pathogens.
AB  - Macrophages have been identified in the periodontium. Data have phenotypically
      described these cells, demonstrated changes with progressing periodontal disease,
      and identified their ability to function in antigen-presentation critical for
      adaptive immune responses to individual oral bacterium. Recent evidence has
      emphasized an important role for the plasticity of macrophage phenotypes, not
      only in the resulting function of these cells in various tissues, but also clear
      differences in the stimulatory signals that result in M1 (classical activation,
      inflammatory) and M2 (alternative activation/deactivated, immunomodulatory)
      cells. This investigation hypothesized that the oral pathogens, Porphyromonas
      gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans induce M1-type cells, while
      oral commensal bacteria primarily elicit macrophage functions consistent with an
      M2 phenotype. However, we observed that the M1 output from P. gingivalis
      challenge, showed exaggerated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, with a much
      lower production of chemokines related to T-cell recruitment. This contrasted
      with A. actinomycetemcomitans infection that increased both the pro-inflammatory
      cytokines and T-cell chemokines. Thus, it appears that P. gingivalis, as an oral
      pathogen, may have a unique capacity to alter the programming of the M1
      macrophage resulting in a hyperinflammatory environment and minimizing the
      ability for T-cell immunomodulatory influx into the lesions. 

PMID- 26884507
TI  - Deubiquitylation of Protein Cargo Is Not an Essential Step in Exosome Formation.
AB  - Exosomes, derived from multivesicular bodies (MVBs), contain proteins and genetic
      materials from their cell of origin and are secreted from various cells types,
      including kidney epithelial cells. In general, it is thought that protein cargo
      is ubiquitylated but that ubiquitin is cleaved by specific deubiquitylases during
      the process of cargo incorporation into MVBs. Here, we provide direct evidence
      that, in vivo, deubiquitylation is not essential. Ubiquitin was detected within
      human MVBs and urinary exosomes by electron microscopy. Of the >6000 proteins
      identified in human urinary exosomes was mass spectrometry, 15% were
      ubiquitylated with various topologies (Lys63>Lys48>
      Lys11>Lys6>Lys29>Lys33>Lys27). A significant preference for basic amino acids
      upstream of ubiquitylation sites suggests specific ubiquitylation motifs. The
      current studies demonstrate that, in vivo, deubiquitylation of proteins is not
      necessary for their incorporation into MVBs and highlight that urinary exosomes
      are an enriched source for studying ubiquitin modifications in physiological or
      disease states.

PMID- 26884509
TI  - Alcohol Consumption in Vietnam, and the Use of 'Standard Drinks' to Measure
      Alcohol Intake.
AB  - AIMS: To provide nationally representative data on alcohol consumption in Vietnam
      and to assess whether reported numbers of 'standard drinks' consumed have
      evidence of validity (particularly in rural areas where home-made alcohol is
      consumed from cups of varying size). METHODS: A nationally representative
      population-based survey of 14,706 participants (46.5% males, response proportion
      64.1%) aged 25-64 years in Vietnam. Measurements were made in accordance with WHO
      STEPS protocols. Data were analysed using complex survey methods. RESULTS: Among
      men, 80% reported drinking alcohol during the last year, and 40% were
      hazardous/harmful drinkers. Approximately 60% of men and <5% of women had
      consumed alcohol during the last week, with one-in-four of the men reporting
      having consumed at least five standard drinks on at least one occasion. Numbers
      of standard drinks reported by men were associated with blood
      pressure/hypertension, particularly in rural areas (P < 0.001 for trend). Most of
      the calibration and discrimination possible from self-reported information on
      alcohol consumption was provided by binary responses to questions on whether or
      not alcohol had been consumed during the reference period. CONCLUSION: Alcohol
      use and harmful consumption were common among Vietnamese men but less pronounced
      than in Western nations. Self-reports of quantity of alcohol consumed in terms of
      standard drinks had predictive validity for blood pressure and hypertension even
      in rural areas. However, using detailed measures of consumption resulted in only
      minor improvements in prediction compared to simple measures.

PMID- 26884508
TI  - Harms to Adults from Others' Heavy Drinking in Five Indian States.
AB  - AIMS: The aims of this study were to assess a wide range of alcohol-related harms
      from known heavy drinkers in Indian respondents' lives, and to assess
      respondents' characteristics and drinking patterns associated with reporting
      these harms. METHODS: Household interviews were administered in five Indian
      states from October 2011 to May 2012. For the secondary data analyses in this
      study, participants were Indians, ages 15-70, who self-reported having a heavy
      drinker in their lives (n = 5,375). We assessed the proportion of respondents
      reporting seventeen types of alcohol-related harms from a heavy drinker. RESULTS:
      Approximately 83% of respondents reported at least one alcohol-related harm from
      a heavy drinker in their lives. Twenty-five percent of respondents reported
      physical harm, 6% reported sexual harm and 50% reported emotional harm or
      neglect. Controlling for other factors, being in the upper income quartiles was
      associated with reporting >=5 harm types. Among females, being age 25-39 and
      married/cohabitating predicted reporting >=5 harm types, while among males, being
      age 25-39 or age 40-70 and living in a rural area increased the odds. Among
      females, binge drinkers had 46% lower odds of reporting >=5 harm types than
      abstainers; among males, binge drinkers had 54% greater odds. CONCLUSION:
      Regardless of respondents' own drinking pattern, a substantial proportion of
      respondents reported experiencing a range of harms from a known heavy drinker;
      interventions are needed to reduce these harms.

PMID- 26884510
TI  - The expert patient.

PMID- 26884513
TI  - If you had to choose 1 article to read this month ....

PMID- 26884511
TI  - Global Protein Oxidation Profiling Suggests Efficient Mitochondrial Proteome
      Homeostasis During Aging.
AB  - The free radical theory of aging is based on the idea that reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) may lead to the accumulation of age-related protein oxidation.
      Because themajority of cellular ROS is generated at the respiratory electron
      transport chain, this study focuses on the mitochondrial proteome of the aging
      model Podospora anserina as target for ROS-induced damage. To ensure the
      detection of even low abundant modified peptides, separation by long gradient nLC
      ESI-MS/MS and an appropriate statistical workflow for iTRAQ quantification was
      developed. Artificial protein oxidation was minimized by establishing gel-free
      sample preparation in the presence of reducing and iron-chelating agents. This
      first large scale, oxidative modification-centric study for P. anserina allowed
      the comprehensive quantification of 22 different oxidative amino acid
      modifications, and notably the quantitative comparison of oxidized and
      nonoxidized protein species. In total 2341 proteins were quantified. For 746 both
      protein species (unmodified and oxidatively modified) were detected and the
      modification sites determined. The data revealed that methionine residues are
      preferably oxidized. Further prominent identified modifications in decreasing
      order of occurrence were carbonylation as well as formation of N-formylkynurenine
      and pyrrolidinone. Interestingly, for the majority of proteins a positive
      correlation of changes in protein amount and oxidative damage were noticed, and a
      general decrease in protein amounts at late age. However, it was discovered that
      few proteins changed in oxidative damage in accordance with former reports. Our
      data suggest that P. anserina is efficiently capable to counteract ROS-induced
      protein damage during aging as long as protein de novo synthesis is functioning,
      ultimately leading to an overall constant relationship between damaged and
      undamaged protein species. These findings contradict a massive increase in
      protein oxidation during aging and rather suggest a protein damage homeostasis
      mechanism even at late age.

PMID- 26884515
TI  - Do informal social connections among patients in a practice contribute to
      effective care?

PMID- 26884512
TI  - The role of pollinators in the evolution of corolla shape variation, disparity
      and integration in a highly diversified plant family with a conserved floral
      bauplan.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Brassicaceae is one of the most diversified families in the
      angiosperms. However, most species from this family exhibit a very similar floral
      bauplan. In this study, we explore the Brassicaceae floral morphospace, examining
      how corolla shape variation (an estimation of developmental robustness),
      integration and disparity vary among phylogenetically related species. Our aim is
      to check whether these floral attributes have evolved in this family despite its
      apparent morphological conservation, and to test the role of pollinators in
      driving this evolution. METHODS: Using geometric morphometric tools, we
      calculated the phenotypic variation, disparity and integration of the corolla
      shape of 111 Brassicaceae taxa. We subsequently inferred the phylogenetic
      relationships of these taxa and explored the evolutionary lability of corolla
      shape. Finally, we sampled the pollinator assemblages of every taxon included in
      this study, and determined their pollination niches using a modularity algorithm.
      We explore the relationship between pollination niche and the attributes of
      corolla shape. KEY RESULTS: Phylogenetic signal was weak for all corolla shape
      attributes. All taxa had generalized pollination systems. Nevertheless, they
      belong to different pollination niches. There were significant differences in
      corolla shape among pollination niches even after controlling for the
      phylogenetic relationship of the plant taxa. Corolla shape variation and
      disparity was significantly higher in those taxa visited mostly by nocturnal
      moths, indicating that this pollination niche is associated with a lack of
      developmental robustness. Corolla integration was higher in those taxa visited
      mostly by hovering long-tongued flies and long-tongued large bees. CONCLUSIONS:
      Corolla variation, integration and disparity were evolutionarily labile and
      evolved very recently in the evolutionary history of the Brassicaceae. These
      floral attributes were strongly related to the pollination niche. Even in a plant
      clade having a very generalized pollination system and exhibiting a conserved
      floral bauplan, pollinators can drive the evolution of important developmental
      attributes of corolla shape.

PMID- 26884517
TI  - Physician-assisted suicide from a patient's perspective.

PMID- 26884516
TI  - Rationale and model for integrating the pharmacist into the outpatient referral
      consultation process.

PMID- 26884518
TI  - Improving primary care: Continuity is about relationships.

PMID- 26884519
TI  - Dangerous ideas: Top 4 proposals presented at Family Medicine Forum.

PMID- 26884521
TI  - Where is family medicine heading?

PMID- 26884522
TI  - Be responsive to needs of patients and communities.

PMID- 26884523
TI  - Is family medicine ready to look where it is heading?

PMID- 26884524
TI  - Responsibility and professionalism in family medicine.

PMID- 26884526
TI  - Update on age-appropriate preventive measures and screening for Canadian primary
      care providers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the best available age-appropriate, evidence-based
      guidelines for prevention and screening in Canadian adults. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE:
      The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommendations are the primary
      source of information, supplemented by relevant US Preventive Services Task Force
      recommendations when a Canadian task force guideline was unavailable or outdated.
      Leading national disease-specific or specialty-specific organizations' guidelines
      were also reviewed to ensure the most up-to-date evidence was included. MAIN
      MESSAGE: Recommended screening maneuvers by age and sex are presented in a
      summary table highlighting the quality of evidence supporting these
      recommendations. An example of a template for use with electronic medical records
      or paper-based charts is presented. CONCLUSION: Whether primary care providers
      use a dedicated preventive health visit or opportunistic preventive counseling
      and screening in their patient encounters, this summary of evidence-based
      recommendations can help maximize efficiency and prevent important omissions and
      unnecessary screening.

PMID- 26884527
TI  - Two cases of methemoglobinemia: In a military community hospital.

PMID- 26884529
TI  - Unfortunate synergy between HIV and genital herpes.

PMID- 26884528
TI  - Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
AB  - Clinical questionCan ginger treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy?Bottom lineIn
      the first trimester ginger might improve nausea and vomiting by about 4 points on
      a 40-point scale or stop vomiting for 1 in 3 women at 6 days. The largest study
      suggests no increase in fetal malformations or stillbirths, but smaller studies
      suggest otherwise. 

PMID- 26884530
TI  - Real-life research: 6for6 and rural family practice.

PMID- 26884531
TI  - The Bellelli Family: Degas and family medicine.

PMID- 26884532
TI  - Assessment of professionalism in family medicine residents: Turning the mirror
      around.

PMID- 26884535
TI  - Rural taskforce update.

PMID- 26884543
TI  - Neural basis of processing threatening voices in a crowded auditory world.
AB  - In real world situations, we typically listen to voice prosody against a
      background crowded with auditory stimuli. Voices and background can both contain
      behaviorally relevant features and both can be selectively in the focus of
      attention. Adequate responses to threat-related voices under such conditions
      require that the brain unmixes reciprocally masked features depending on variable
      cognitive resources. It is unknown which brain systems instantiate the extraction
      of behaviorally relevant prosodic features under varying combinations of prosody
      valence, auditory background complexity and attentional focus. Here, we used
      event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of
      high background sound complexity and attentional focus on brain activation to
      angry and neutral prosody in humans. Results show that prosody effects in mid
      superior temporal cortex were gated by background complexity but not attention,
      while prosody effects in the amygdala and anterior superior temporal cortex were
      gated by attention but not background complexity, suggesting distinct emotional
      prosody processing limitations in different regions. Crucially, if attention was
      focused on the highly complex background, the differential processing of
      emotional prosody was prevented in all brain regions, suggesting that in a
      distracting, complex auditory world even threatening voices may go unnoticed.

PMID- 26884544
TI  - Are batterers different from other criminals? An fMRI study.
AB  - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and global phenomenon that requires
      a multi-perspective analysis. Nevertheless, the number of neuroscientific studies
      conducted on this issue is scarce as compared with studies of other types of
      violence, and no neuroimaging studies comparing batterers to other criminals have
      been conducted. Thus, the main aim of this study was to compare the brain
      functioning of batterers to that of other criminals when they are exposed to IPV
      or general violence pictures. An fMRI study was conducted in 21 batterers and 20
      other criminals while they observed IPV images (IPVI), general violence images
      (GVI) and neutral images (NI). Results demonstrated that batterers, compared with
      other criminals, exhibited a higher activation in the anterior and posterior
      cingulate cortex and in the middle prefrontal cortex and a decreased activation
      in the superior prefrontal cortex to IPVI compared to NI. The paired t-test
      comparison between IPVI and GVI for each group showed engagement of the medial
      prefrontal cortex, the posterior cingulate and the left angular cortices to IPVI
      in the batterer group only. These results could have important implications for a
      better understanding of the IPV phenomenon.

PMID- 26884545
TI  - Habenula responses to potential and actual loss in major depression: preliminary
      evidence for lateralized dysfunction.
AB  - The habenula has been implicated in predicting negative events and in responding
      to unexpected negative outcomes. Animal models of depression have supported the
      hypothesis that perturbations in habenula activity contribute to the
      pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), a psychiatric illness
      characterized by abnormalities in responding to negative feedback and by
      pessimism in evaluating the likelihood of future events. No research to date,
      however, has examined human habenula responses to potential and experienced
      negative outcomes in MDD. In this study, depressed and healthy control
      participants performed a probabilistic guessing task for monetary rewards and
      penalties during high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging of the
      habenula. In healthy adults, we observed a pattern of habenula activation
      consistent with its hypothesized role in predicting future losses and responding
      to suboptimal outcomes. In contrast, in depressed participants the left habenula
      was not activated significantly during the prediction or experience of monetary
      penalty. Complementing this group difference, attenuated habenula activation to
      negative feedback in control participants was associated with levels of shame and
      rumination. The results of this study suggest that depressed individuals are
      characterized by dysfunction in a neural system involved in generating
      expectations and comparing expectations with objective outcomes.

PMID- 26884546
TI  - Probabilistic Reversal Learning in Schizophrenia: Stability of Deficits and
      Potential Causal Mechanisms.
AB  - Although individuals with schizophrenia show impaired feedback-driven learning on
      probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) tasks, the specific factors that contribute
      to these deficits remain unknown. Recent work has suggested several potential
      causes including neurocognitive impairments, clinical symptoms, and specific
      types of feedback-related errors. To examine this issue, we administered a PRL
      task to 126 stable schizophrenia outpatients and 72 matched controls, and
      patients were retested 4 weeks later. The task involved an initial probabilistic
      discrimination learning phase and subsequent reversal phases in which subjects
      had to adjust their responses to sudden shifts in the reinforcement
      contingencies. Patients showed poorer performance than controls for both the
      initial discrimination and reversal learning phases of the task, and performance
      overall showed good test-retest reliability among patients. A subgroup analysis
      of patients (n = 64) and controls (n = 49) with good initial discrimination
      learning revealed no between-group differences in reversal learning, indicating
      that the patients who were able to achieve all of the initial probabilistic
      discriminations were not impaired in reversal learning. Regarding potential
      contributors to impaired discrimination learning, several factors were associated
      with poor PRL, including higher levels of neurocognitive impairment, poor
      learning from both positive and negative feedback, and higher levels of
      indiscriminate response shifting. The results suggest that poor PRL performance
      in schizophrenia can be the product of multiple mechanisms.

PMID- 26884547
TI  - Meta-analysis of the Association Between the Level of Cannabis Use and Risk of
      Psychosis.
AB  - Cannabis use has been reported to induce long-lasting psychotic disorders and a
      dose-response relationship has been observed. We performed a systematic review of
      studies that investigate the association between the degree of cannabis
      consumption and psychosis and a meta-analysis to quantify the magnitude of
      effect. Published studies were identified through search of electronic databases,
      supplemented by manual searches of bibliographies. Studies were considered if
      they provided data on cannabis consumption prior to the onset of psychosis using
      a dose criterion (frequency/amount used) and reported psychosis-related outcomes.
      We performed random effects meta-analysis of individual data points generated
      with a simulation method from the summary data of the original studies. From 571
      references, 18 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria for the systematic review and
      10 were inserted in the meta-analysis, enrolling a total of 66 816 individuals.
      Higher levels of cannabis use were associated with increased risk for psychosis
      in all the included studies. A logistic regression model gave an OR of 3.90 (95%
      CI 2.84 to 5.34) for the risk of schizophrenia and other psychosis-related
      outcomes among the heaviest cannabis users compared to the nonusers. Current
      evidence shows that high levels of cannabis use increase the risk of psychotic
      outcomes and confirms a dose-response relationship between the level of use and
      the risk for psychosis. Although a causal link cannot be unequivocally
      established, there is sufficient evidence to justify harm reduction prevention
      programs.

PMID- 26884549
TI  - The Similarity and Appropriate Usage of Three Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
      Datasets for Longitudinal Studies.
AB  - Honey bee (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies have experienced
      profound fluctuations, especially declines, in the past few decades. Long-term
      datasets on honey bees are needed to identify the most important environmental
      and cultural factors associated with these changes. While a few such datasets
      exist, scientists have been hesitant to use some of these due to perceived
      shortcomings in the data. We compared data and trends for three datasets. Two
      come from the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics
      Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board: one is the annual survey of honey
      producing colonies from the Annual Bee and Honey program (ABH), and the other is
      colony counts from the Census of Agriculture conducted every five years. The
      third dataset we developed from the number of colonies registered annually by
      some states. We compared the long-term patterns of change in colony numbers among
      the datasets on a state-by-state basis. The three datasets often showed similar
      hive numbers and trends varied by state, with differences between datasets being
      greatest for those states receiving a large number of migratory colonies. Dataset
      comparisons provide a method to estimate the number of colonies in a state used
      for pollination versus honey production. Some states also had separate data for
      local and migratory colonies, allowing one to determine whether the migratory
      colonies were typically used for pollination or honey production. The Census of
      Agriculture should provide the most accurate long-term data on colony numbers,
      but only every five years. 

PMID- 26884548
TI  - Paranoid Ideation and Violence: Meta-analysis of Individual Subject Data of 7
      Population Surveys.
AB  - There is controversy whether associations between psychosis and violence are due
      to coexisting substance misuse and factors increasing risk in nonpsychotic
      persons. Recent studies in clinical samples have implicated independent effects
      of paranoid delusions. Research findings suggest that individual psychotic-like
      experiences on the psychosis continuum in the general population are associated
      with violence; it remains unclear whether this association is due to psychiatric
      comorbidity. We pooled data from 7 UK general population surveys (n = 23 444) and
      conducted a meta-analysis of individual subject data. Further meta-analyses were
      performed to identify heterogeneity. Main exposure variables: 5 psychotic-like
      experiences and a categorical measure of psychosis. Comorbidity was established
      through standardized self-report instruments. Information was collected on
      violence, severity, victims. Paranoid ideation was associated with violence (AOR
      2.26, 95% CI 1.75-2.91), severity and frequency, even when controlling for
      effects of other psychotic-like-experiences. Associations were not explained by
      comorbid conditions, including substance dependence. Psychotic disorder was
      associated with violence and injury to the perpetrator but associations were
      explained by paranoid ideation. Individual associations between hypomania,
      thought insertion, hallucinations, and violence were nonsignificant after
      adjustments, and significantly associated only when comorbid with antisocial
      personality disorder. Strange experiences were only associated with intimate
      partner violence. Paranoid ideation on a psychosis-continuum in the general
      population was associated with violence. All other associations were explained by
      comorbidity. Further investigation should determine whether paranoid ideation
      among persons in the community require preventive interventions, similar to those
      presenting to mental health services. Nevertheless, risks are considerably
      increased for psychotic-like-experiences with co-occurring antisocial personality
      disorder.

PMID- 26884550
TI  - Adolescent sexual health: time to invest in a healthy future generation.

PMID- 26884551
TI  - Potential value of EUS in pancreatic surveillance of VHL patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease are prone to develop
      pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). However, the best imaging technique for
      early detection of pNETs in VHL is currently unknown. In a head-to-head
      comparison, we evaluated endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and (11)C-5
      hydroxytryptophan positron emission tomography ((11)C-5-HTP PET) compared with
      conventional screening techniques for early detection of pancreatic solid lesions
      in VHL patients. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, prospective study in 22
      patients at a tertiary care university medical center. Patients with VHL mutation
      or with one VHL manifestation and a mutation carrier as first-degree family
      member, with recent screening by abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), were
      eligible. Patients underwent EUS by linear Pentax echoendoscope and Hitachi EUB
      525, and (11)C-5-HTP PET. Patient-based and lesion-based positivity for
      pancreatic solid lesions were calculated for all imaging techniques with a
      composite reference standard. RESULTS: In 10 of the 22 patients, 20 pancreatic
      solid lesions were detected: 17 with EUS (P < 0.05 vs CT/MRI+ SRS), 3 with (11)C
      5-HTP PET, 3 with SRS, 9 with CT/MRI, and 9 with CT/MRI + SRS. EUS evaluations
      showed solid lesions with a median size of 9.7 mm (range 2.9-55 mm) and most of
      them were homogeneous, hypoechoic, isoelastic, and hypervascular. Moreover, EUS
      detected multiple pancreatic cysts in 18 patients with a median of 4 cysts (range
      1-30). CONCLUSIONS: EUS is superior to CT/MRI + SRS for detecting pancreatic
      solid lesions in VHL disease.(11)C-5-HTP PET has no value as a screening method
      in this setting. EUS performs well in early detection of pNETs, but its role in
      VHL surveillance is unclear.

PMID- 26884553
TI  - Proposed Staging System for Patients With HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Based
      on Nasopharyngeal Cancer N Categories.
AB  - PURPOSE: Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer
      (OPC) generally present with more advanced disease but have better survival than
      patients with HPV-unrelated OPC. The current American Joint Commission on Cancer
      (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM staging system for OPC
      was developed for HPV-unrelated OPC. A new staging system is needed to adequately
      predict outcomes of patients with HPV-related OPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients
      with newly diagnosed HPV-positive OPC (by p16 immunohistochemistry or in situ
      hybridization) treated at our institution from January 2003 through December 2012
      were included. By using recursive partitioning analysis (RPA), we developed new
      stage groupings with both traditional OPC regional lymph node (N) categories and
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) N categories. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan
      Meier method, and the relationship between stage and survival was examined by
      using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 661
      patients with HPV-positive OPC met the inclusion criteria. With the traditional
      TNM staging system, there was no difference in survival between stages (P =
      .141). RPA with NPC N categories resulted in more balanced stage groups and
      better separation between groups for 5-year survival than RPA with traditional
      OPC N categories. With the stage groupings that were based in part on NPC N
      categories, the risk of death increased with increasing stage (P for trend <
      .001), and patients with stage III disease had five times the risk of death
      versus patients with stage IA disease. CONCLUSION: New stage groupings that are
      based on primary tumor (T) categories and NPC N categories better separate
      patients with HPV-positive OPC with respect to survival than does the current
      AJCC/UICC TNM staging system. Although confirmation of our findings in other
      patient populations is needed, we propose consideration of NPC N categories as an
      alternative to the traditional OPC N categories in the new AJCC/UICC TNM staging
      system that is currently being developed.

PMID- 26884552
TI  - Mechanisms of oestrogen receptor (ER) gene regulation in breast cancer.
AB  - Most breast cancers are driven by a transcription factor called oestrogen
      receptor (ER). Understanding the mechanisms of ER activity in breast cancer has
      been a major research interest and recent genomic advances have revealed
      extraordinary insights into how ER mediates gene transcription and what occurs
      during endocrine resistance. This review discusses our current understanding on
      ER activity, with an emphasis on several evolving, but important areas of ER
      biology. 

PMID- 26884554
TI  - Incidence and Predictive Factors for Recovery of Ovarian Function in Amenorrheic
      Women in Their 40s Treated With Letrozole.
AB  - PURPOSE: This prospective study assessed the impact of 2 years of aromatase
      inhibitor (AI) therapy on the incidence of ovarian function recovery (OFR) in
      women age 40 to 49 with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who were
      premenopausal at diagnosis and who underwent chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea
      during adjuvant treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women age 40 to 49 with estrogen
      receptor-positive breast cancer who had ceased menstruating with adjuvant
      cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy, had postmenopausal serum estradiol (E2), and
      had received tamoxifen for >= 1 year were treated with letrozole (2.5 mg) daily
      for >= 2 years. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and E2 were measured at
      baseline and over 2 years. A general linear model was used to assess serial FSH
      by OFR. Logistic regression was used to assess baseline predictors and OFR.
      RESULTS: The study enrolled 177 women (145 women age 45 to 49 years and 32 women
      age 40 to 44 years). Of 173 evaluable patients, 67 (39%; 95% CI, 31% to 46%)
      regained ovarian function; 11 of these patients (6%; 95% CI, 3% to 10%) resumed
      menses, and 56 of these patients (32%; 95% CI, 25% to 39%) developed
      premenopausal E2 without menses. Among AI-naive patients, serial FSH
      significantly increased over time (P < .001), did not vary significantly by OFR
      status (P = .55), but showed mild evidence of a decrease after month 12 for those
      who resumed menses (P = .0989). Age less than 45 years and inhibin B were
      significant multivariable baseline predictors of OFR. CONCLUSION: These results
      emphasize the challenge in determining definitive menopause in women with
      chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea. The risk of OFR during treatment with AIs in
      amenorrheic women in their 40s is high, and AI therapy should be avoided in these
      patients.

PMID- 26884555
TI  - Phase I Study of the Aurora A Kinase Inhibitor Alisertib in Combination With
      Irinotecan and Temozolomide for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory
      Neuroblastoma: A NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy) Trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: Alisertib is an oral Aurora A kinase inhibitor with preclinical activity
      in neuroblastoma. Irinotecan and temozolomide have activity in patients with
      advanced neuroblastoma. The goal of this phase I study was to determine the
      maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of alisertib with irinotecan and temozolomide in
      this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients age 1 to 30 years with relapsed
      or refractory neuroblastoma were eligible. Patients received alisertib tablets at
      dose levels of 45, 60, and 80 mg/m(2) per day on days 1 to 7 along with
      irinotecan 50 mg/m(2) intravenously and temozolomide 100 mg/m(2) orally on days 1
      to 5. Dose escalation of alisertib followed the rolling six design. Samples for
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic testing were obtained. RESULTS: Twenty-three
      patients enrolled, and 22 were eligible and evaluable for dose escalation. A
      total of 244 courses were administered. The MTD for alisertib was 60 mg/m(2),
      with mandatory myeloid growth factor support and cephalosporin prophylaxis for
      diarrhea. Thrombocytopenia and neutropenia of any grade were seen in the majority
      of courses (84% and 69%, respectively). Diarrhea in 55% of courses and nausea in
      54% of courses were the most common nonhematologic toxicities. The overall
      response rate was 31.8%, with a 50% response rate observed at the MTD. The median
      number of courses per patient was eight (range, two to 32). Progression-free
      survival rate at 2 years was 52.4%. Pharmacokinetic testing did not show evidence
      of drug-drug interaction between irinotecan and alisertib. CONCLUSION: Alisertib
      60 mg/m(2) per dose for 7 days is tolerable with a standard irinotecan and
      temozolomide backbone and has promising response and progression-free survival
      rates. A phase II trial of this regimen is ongoing.

PMID- 26884556
TI  - "It Is What It Is".

PMID- 26884557
TI  - Use of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for the Management of Elderly
      Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The Phase III Randomized
      ESOGIA-GFPC-GECP 08-02 Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended to assess the
      vulnerability of elderly patients, but its integration in cancer treatment
      decision making has never been prospectively evaluated. Here, in elderly patients
      with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we compared a standard strategy
      of chemotherapy allocation on the basis of performance status (PS) and age with
      an experimental strategy on the basis of CGA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a
      multicenter, open-label, phase III trial, elderly patients >= 70 years old with a
      PS of 0 to 2 and stage IV NSCLC were randomly assigned between chemotherapy
      allocation on the basis of PS and age (standard arm: carboplatin-based doublet if
      PS <= 1 and age <= 75 years; docetaxel if PS = 2 or age > 75 years) and treatment
      allocation on the basis of CGA (CGA arm: carboplatin-based doublet for fit
      patients, docetaxel for vulnerable patients, and best supportive care for frail
      patients). The primary end point was treatment failure free survival (TFFS).
      Secondary end points were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival,
      tolerability, and quality of life. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-four patients
      were randomly assigned (standard arm, n = 251; CGA arm, n = 243). Median age was
      77 years. In the standard and CGA arms, 35.1% and 45.7% of patients received a
      carboplatin-based doublet, 64.9% and 31.3% received docetaxel, and 0% and 23.0%
      received best supportive care, respectively. In the standard and CGA arms, median
      TFFS times were 3.2 and 3.1 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI,
      0.76 to 1.1), and median OS times were 6.4 and 6.1 months, respectively (hazard
      ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.1). Patients in the CGA arm, compared with
      standard arm patients, experienced significantly less all grade toxicity (85.6% v
      93.4%, respectively P = .015) and fewer treatment failures as a result of
      toxicity (4.8% v 11.8%, respectively; P = .007). CONCLUSION: In elderly patients
      with advanced NSCLC, treatment allocation on the basis of CGA failed to improve
      the TFFS or OS but slightly reduced treatment toxicity.

PMID- 26884558
TI  - Accuracy of Adverse Event Ascertainment in Clinical Trials for Pediatric Acute
      Myeloid Leukemia.
AB  - PURPOSE: Reporting of adverse events (AEs) in clinical trials is critical to
      understanding treatment safety, but data on AE accuracy are limited. This study
      sought to determine the accuracy of AE reporting for pediatric acute myeloid
      leukemia clinical trials and to test whether an external electronic data source
      can improve reporting. METHODS: Reported AEs were evaluated on two trials,
      Children's Oncology Group AAML03P1 and AAML0531 arm B, with identical
      chemotherapy regimens but with different toxicity reporting requirements. Chart
      review for 12 AEs for patients enrolled in AAML0531 at 14 hospitals was the gold
      standard. The sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPV) of the AAML0531 AE
      report and AEs detected by review of Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS)
      billing and microbiology data were compared with chart data. RESULTS: Select AE
      rates from AAML03P1 and AAML0531 arm B differed significantly and correlated with
      the targeted toxicities of each trial. Chart abstraction was performed on 204
      patients (758 courses) on AAML0531. AE report sensitivity was < 50% for eight
      AEs, but PPV was > 75% for six AEs. AE reports for viridans group streptococcal
      bacteremia, a targeted toxicity on AAML0531, had a sensitivity of 78.3% and PPV
      of 98.1%. PHIS billing data had higher sensitivity (> 50% for nine AEs), but
      lower PPV (< 75% for 10 AEs). Viridans group streptococcal detection using PHIS
      microbiology data had high sensitivity (92.3%) and PPV (97.3%). CONCLUSION: The
      current system of AE reporting for cooperative oncology group clinical trials in
      pediatric acute myeloid leukemia underestimates AE rates. The high sensitivity
      and PPV of PHIS microbiology data suggest that using external data sources may
      improve the accuracy of AE reporting.

PMID- 26884559
TI  - Interim Positron Emission Tomography Response-Adapted Therapy in Advanced-Stage
      Hodgkin Lymphoma: Final Results of the Phase II Part of the HD0801 Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The clinical impact of positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation
      performed early during first-line therapy in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin
      lymphoma, in terms of providing a rationale to shift patients who respond poorly
      onto a more intensive regimen (PET response-adapted therapy), remains to be
      confirmed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The phase II part of the multicenter HD0801
      study involved 519 patients with advanced-stage de novo Hodgkin lymphoma who
      received an initial treatment with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and
      dacarbazine (ABVD) and who underwent an early ifosfamide-containing salvage
      treatment followed by stem-cell transplantation if they showed a positive PET
      evaluation after two cycles of chemotherapy (PET2). The primary end point was 2
      year progression-free survival calculated for both PET2-negative patients (who
      completed a full six cycles of ABVD treatment) and PET2-positive patients.
      Overall survival was a secondary end point. RESULTS: In all, 103 of the 512
      evaluable patients were PET2 positive. Among them, 81 received the scheduled
      salvage regimen with transplantation, 15 remained on ABVD (physician's decision,
      mostly because of minimally positive PET2), five received an alternative
      treatment, and two were excluded because of diagnostic error. On intention-to
      treat analysis, the 2-year progression-free survival was 76% for PET2-positive
      patients (regardless of the salvage treatment they received) and 81% for PET2
      negative patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma for
      whom treatment was at high risk of failing appear to benefit from early treatment
      intensification with autologous transplantation, as indicated by the possibility
      of successful salvage treatment in more than 70% of PET2-positive patients
      through obtaining the same 2-year progression-free survival as the PET2-negative
      subgroup.

PMID- 26884561
TI  - White Knuckling.

PMID- 26884560
TI  - Trends in Health-Related Quality of Life After a Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In
      Situ.
AB  - PURPOSE: Studies of quality of life (QoL) are scarce among survivors of ductal
      carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The objective of this study was to assess long-term QoL
      in DCIS survivors in relation to age at diagnosis, time since diagnosis, and
      treatments received. METHODS: We assessed physical and mental measures of health
      related QoL in 1,604 patients with DCIS diagnosed in 1997 to 2006 with up to four
      follow-up interviews. We further compared baseline QoL to 1,055 control patients
      without DCIS. QoL was measured using the validated Medical Outcomes Study Short
      Form 36 Health Status Survey questionnaire. Among patients with DCIS, we examined
      trends in QoL over time since diagnosis using generalized linear regression
      models, adjusting for confounders. We tested for effect modification by surgical
      treatment choice, post-treatment endocrine therapy use, and age at diagnosis.
      RESULTS: Both physical and mental measures of QoL among DCIS survivors at fewer
      than 2 years after diagnosis were comparable to controls. Mental measures of QoL
      among patients with DCIS declined at >= 10 years after diagnosis and were
      significantly lower than at less than 2 years after diagnosis (47.4 v 52.0; P <
      .01). In the first 5 years after a DCIS diagnosis, mental QoL was significantly
      higher among women diagnosed at ages 50 to 74 years compared with those diagnosed
      at ages 28 to 49 years, although this difference was not sustained in later time
      periods. CONCLUSION: QoL after a DCIS diagnosis was generally comparable to that
      of women of similar age without a personal history of DCIS. Our findings suggest
      that DCIS survivors, and particularly those diagnosed at a younger age, may
      benefit from support for mental QoL.

PMID- 26884563
TI  - Toward Minimizing Overtreatment and Undertreatment of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in
      the United States.

PMID- 26884562
TI  - Increased Risk for Other Cancers in Addition to Breast Cancer for CHEK2*1100delC
      Heterozygotes Estimated From the Copenhagen General Population Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: CHEK2 is a cell cycle checkpoint regulator, and the CHEK2*1100delC
      germline mutation leads to loss of function and increased breast cancer risk. It
      seems plausible that this mutation could also predispose to other cancers.
      Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity is
      associated with increased risk for other cancers in addition to breast cancer in
      the general population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 86,975 individuals from
      the Copenhagen General Population Study, recruited from 2003 through 2010. The
      participants completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle, were examined
      physically, had blood drawn for DNA extraction, were tested for presence of
      CHEK2*1100delC using Taqman assays and sequencing, and were linked over 1943
      through 2011 to the Danish Cancer Registry. Incidences and risks of individual
      cancer types, including breast cancer, were calculated using Kaplan-Meier
      estimates, Fine and Gray competing-risks regressions, and stratified analyses
      with interaction tests. RESULTS: Among 86,975 individuals, 670 (0.8%) were
      CHEK2*1100delC heterozygous, 2,442 developed breast cancer, and 6,635 developed
      other cancers. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for CHEK2*1100delC
      heterozygotes compared with noncarriers was 2.08 (95% CI, 1.51 to 2.85) for
      breast cancer and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.15 to 1.82) for other cancers. When stratifying
      for sex, the age-adjusted hazard ratios for other cancers were 1.54 (95% CI, 1.08
      to 2.18) for women and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.85) for men (sex difference: P =
      .63). For CHEK2*1100delC heterozygotes compared with noncarriers, the age- and
      sex-adjusted hazard ratios were 5.76 (95% CI, 2.12 to 15.6) for stomach cancer,
      3.61 (95% CI, 1.33 to 9.79) for kidney cancer, 3.45 (95% CI, 1.09 to 10.9) for
      sarcoma, and 1.60 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.56) for prostate cancer. CONCLUSION:
      CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity is associated with 15% to 82% increased risk for at
      least some cancers in addition to breast cancer. This information may be useful
      in clinical counseling of patients with this loss-of-function mutation.

PMID- 26884564
TI  - Brachytherapy: Where Has It Gone...Again?

PMID- 26884566
TI  - Reply to A.J. Olszewski et al.

PMID- 26884565
TI  - Identification of Patients Who Benefit From Bevacizumab in High-Grade Glioma-An
      Easy Question Turned Difficult: Treat the Scan or the Patient?

PMID- 26884567
TI  - Multiple Dimensions of Value: Evaluative Frameworks for New Cancer Therapies.

PMID- 26884568
TI  - Reply to M.C. Scholz et al.

PMID- 26884569
TI  - Cetuximab in Human Papillomavirus-Positive Oropharynx Carcinoma.

PMID- 26884570
TI  - Reply to M.C. Scholz et al.

PMID- 26884571
TI  - Targeting the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gastric Cancer: A Hit
      or a Miss?

PMID- 26884572
TI  - Using a Population-Based Analysis to Determine the Management and Treatment of
      Early-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

PMID- 26884573
TI  - Big Data, Small Effects.

PMID- 26884574
TI  - Survival Claims From Observational Data on Cancer Therapy.

PMID- 26884575
TI  - Reply to T.J. Kruser et al.

PMID- 26884576
TI  - Query About the Frequency of Biopsy Complications.

PMID- 26884577
TI  - Pointed Progress in Second-Line Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The Rapidly
      Evolving Field of Checkpoint Inhibition.
AB  - PURPOSE: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is globally prevalent and associated
      with high rates of mortality. Immune checkpoint pathways are often exploited by
      tumors to evade immunity-mediated destruction, and checkpoint inhibitors can
      reactivate tumor-related immune responses. This review considers available
      clinical evidence for the use of checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of second
      line advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Our systematic search revealed 20 clinical trials
      evaluating checkpoint inhibitors in the second-line setting, three of which were
      randomized trials comparing programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed death
      ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors to docetaxel, the current standard of care in this
      setting. RESULTS: A randomized phase II trial comparing the PD-L1 inhibitor
      atezolizumab to docetaxel did not demonstrate improved survival for atezolizumab
      in patients overall, although a trend toward improved survival with increased PD
      L1 expression was apparent. Twin phase III trials showed significantly improved
      survival for the programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor nivolumab compared
      with docetaxel in patients with both squamous and nonsquamous disease. PD-L1
      expression correlated with improved survival in patients with nonsquamous
      disease, and patients with low levels of PD-L1 expression (< 10%) and those with
      EGFR mutations are unlikely to benefit. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is generally
      well tolerated and associated with low rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events
      compared with standard care. CONCLUSION: Level 1 evidence exists to support the
      use of nivolumab as second-line treatment of patients with squamous advanced
      NSCLC, as well as in select patients with nonsquamous disease. Benefits remain
      unknown in patients with targetable driver mutations, and use of PD-L1 expression
      to guide therapy remains controversial. Results from ongoing randomized trials
      evaluating biomarkers and other checkpoint inhibitors will further our
      understanding of this rapidly evolving area of oncology.

PMID- 26884578
TI  - Burden of Geriatric Events Among Older Adults Undergoing Major Cancer Surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: Most malignancies are diagnosed in older adults who are potentially
      susceptible to aging-related health conditions; however, the manifestation of
      geriatric syndromes during surgical cancer treatment is not well quantified.
      Accordingly, we sought to assess the prevalence and ramifications of geriatric
      events during major surgery for cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using Nationwide
      Inpatient Sample data from 2009 to 2011, we examined hospital admissions for
      major cancer surgery among elderly patients (ie, age >= 65 years) and a referent
      group age 55 to 64 years. From these observations, we identified geriatric events
      that included delirium, dehydration, falls and fractures, failure to thrive, and
      pressure ulcers. We then estimated the collective prevalence of these events
      according to age, comorbidity, and cancer site and further explored their
      relationship with other hospital-based outcomes. RESULTS: Within a weighted
      sample of 939,150 patients, we identified at least one event in 9.2% of patients.
      Geriatric events were most common among patients age >= 75 years, with a Charlson
      comorbidity score >= 2, and who were undergoing surgery for cancer of the
      bladder, ovary, colon and/or rectum, pancreas, or stomach (P < .001). Adjusting
      for patient and hospital characteristics, those patients who experienced a
      geriatric event had a greater likelihood of concurrent complications (odds ratio
      [OR], 3.73; 95% CI, 3.55 to 3.92), prolonged hospitalization (OR, 5.47; 95% CI,
      5.16 to 5.80), incurring high cost (OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 4.58 to 5.39), inpatient
      mortality (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 2.94 to 3.53), and a discharge disposition other
      than home (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 3.46 to 3.84). CONCLUSION: Many older patients who
      receive cancer-directed surgery experience a geriatric event, particularly those
      who undergo major abdominal surgery. These events are linked to operative
      morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and more expensive health care. As our
      population ages, efforts focused on addressing conditions and complications that
      are more common in older adults will be essential to delivering high-quality
      cancer care.

PMID- 26884580
TI  - Active Surveillance for the Management of Localized Prostate Cancer (Cancer Care
      Ontario Guideline): American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice
      Guideline Endorsement.
AB  - PURPOSE: To endorse Cancer Care Ontario's guideline on Active Surveillance for
      the Management of Localized Prostate Cancer. The American Society of Clinical
      Oncology (ASCO) has a policy and set of procedures for endorsing clinical
      practice guidelines developed by other professional organizations. METHODS: The
      Active Surveillance for the Management of Localized Prostate Cancer guideline was
      reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists. The ASCO Endorsement Panel
      then reviewed the content and the recommendations. RESULTS: The ASCO Endorsement
      Panel determined that the recommendations from the Active Surveillance for the
      Management of Localized Prostate Cancer guideline, published in May 2015, are
      clear, thorough, and based upon the most relevant scientific evidence. ASCO
      endorsed the Active Surveillance for the Management of Localized Prostate Cancer
      guideline with added qualifying statements. The Cancer Care Ontario
      recommendation regarding 5-alpha reductase inhibitors was not endorsed by the
      ASCO panel. RECOMMENDATIONS: For most patients with low-risk (Gleason score <= 6)
      localized prostate cancer, active surveillance is the recommended disease
      management strategy. Factors including younger age, prostate cancer volume,
      patient preference, and ethnicity should be taken into account when making
      management decisions. Select patients with low-volume, intermediate-risk (Gleason
      3 + 4 = 7) prostate cancer may be offered active surveillance. Active
      surveillance protocols should include prostate-specific antigen testing, digital
      rectal examinations, and serial prostate biopsies. Ancillary radiologic and
      genomic tests are investigational but may have a role in patients with discordant
      clinical and/or pathologic findings. Patients who are reclassified to a higher
      risk category (Gleason score >= 7) or who have significant increases in tumor
      volume on subsequent biopsies should be offered active therapy.

PMID- 26884579
TI  - Improved Method to Stratify Elderly Patients With Cancer at Risk for Competing
      Events.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare a novel generalized competing event (GCE) model versus the
      standard Cox proportional hazards regression model for stratifying elderly
      patients with cancer who are at risk for competing events. METHODS: We identified
      84,319 patients with nonmetastatic prostate, head and neck, and breast cancers
      from the SEER-Medicare database. Using demographic, tumor, and clinical
      characteristics, we trained risk scores on the basis of GCE versus Cox models for
      cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. In test sets, we examined the
      predictive ability of the risk scores on the different causes of death, including
      second cancer mortality, noncancer mortality, and cause-specific mortality, using
      Fine-Gray regression and area under the curve. We compared how well models
      stratified subpopulations according to the ratio of the cumulative cause-specific
      hazard for cancer mortality to the cumulative hazard for overall mortality
      (omega) using the Akaike Information Criterion. RESULTS: In each sample,
      increasing GCE risk scores were associated with increased cancer-specific
      mortality and decreased competing mortality, whereas risk scores from Cox models
      were associated with both increased cancer-specific mortality and competing
      mortality. GCE models created greater separation in the area under the curve for
      cancer-specific mortality versus noncancer mortality (P < .001), indicating
      better discriminatory ability between these events. Comparing the GCE model to
      Cox models of cause-specific mortality or all-cause mortality, the respective
      Akaike Information Criterion scores were superior (lower) in each sample:
      prostate cancer, 28.6 versus 35.5 versus 39.4; head and neck cancer, 21.1 versus
      29.4 versus 40.2; and breast cancer, 24.6 versus 32.3 versus 50.8. CONCLUSION:
      Compared with standard modeling approaches, GCE models improve stratification of
      elderly patients with cancer according to their risk of dying from cancer
      relative to overall mortality.

PMID- 26884581
TI  - Default Options: Opportunities to Improve Quality and Value in Oncology.

PMID- 26884583
TI  - Bispecific T-Cell Engagers (BiTEs) as Treatment of B-Cell Lymphoma.

PMID- 26884582
TI  - Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) Antibody Construct Blinatumomab for the
      Treatment of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Final
      Results From a Phase I Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3 BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) antibody
      construct for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute B
      lymphoblastic leukemia. We evaluated blinatumomab in relapsed/refractory B-cell
      non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This 3 + 3 design, phase I dose
      escalation study determined adverse events and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)
      of continuous intravenous infusion blinatumomab in patients with
      relapsed/refractory NHL. Blinatumomab was administered over 4 or 8 weeks at seven
      different dose levels (0.5 to 90 MUg/m(2)/day). End points were incidence of
      adverse events, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and overall response rate.
      RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2011, 76 heavily pretreated patients with
      relapsed/refractory NHL, who included 14 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, were
      enrolled; 42 received treatment in the formal dose-escalation phase. Neurologic
      events were dose limiting, and 60 MUg/m(2)/day was established as the MTD. Thirty
      four additional patients were recruited to evaluate antilymphoma activity and
      strategies for mitigating neurologic events at a prespecified MTD. Stepwise
      dosing (5 to 60 MUg/m(2)/day) plus pentosan polysulfate SP54 (n = 3) resulted in
      no treatment discontinuations; single-step (n = 5) and double-step (n = 24)
      dosing entailed two and seven treatment discontinuations due to neurologic
      events, respectively. Grade 3 neurologic events occurred in 22% of patients (no
      grade 4/5). Among patients treated at 60 MUg/m(2)/day (target dose; n = 35), the
      overall response rate was 69% across NHL subtypes and 55% for diffuse large B
      cell lymphoma (n = 11); median response duration was 404 days (95% CI, 207 to
      1,129 days). CONCLUSION: In this phase I study of relapsed/refractory NHL,
      continuous infusion with CD19-targeted immunotherapy blinatumomab at various
      doses and schedules was feasible, with an MTD of 60 MUg/m(2)/day. Single-agent
      blinatumomab showed antilymphoma activity.

PMID- 26884584
TI  - Comparison of Treatment Effects Measured by the Hazard Ratio and by the Ratio of
      Restricted Mean Survival Times in Oncology Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aimed to compare empirically the treatment effects measured by the
      hazard ratio (HR) and by the difference (and ratio) of restricted mean survival
      times (RMST) in oncology randomized trials. METHODS: We selected oncology
      randomized controlled trials from five leading journals during the last 6 months
      of 2014. We reconstructed individual patient data for one time-to-event outcome
      from each trial, preferably the primary outcome. We reanalyzed each trial and
      compared the treatment effect estimated by the HR with that by the difference
      (and ratio) of RMST. We estimated an average ratio of the HR to the ratio of
      RMST; an average ratio less than one indicates more optimistic assessments with
      HRs. RESULTS: We analyzed 54 randomized controlled trials totaling 33,212
      patients. The selected outcome was overall survival in 21 (39%) trials. There was
      evidence of nonproportionality of hazards in 13 (24%) trials. The HR and RMST
      based measures were in agreement regarding the statistical significance of the
      effect, except in one case. The median HR was 0.84 (Q1 to Q3 range, 0.67 to 0.97)
      and the median difference in RMST was 1.12 months (range, 0.22 to 2.75 months).
      The average ratio of the HR to the ratio of RMST was 1.11 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.15),
      with substantial between-trial variability (I(2) = 86%). Results were consistent
      by outcome type (overall survival v other outcomes) and whether the proportional
      hazard assumption held or not. CONCLUSION: On average, the HR provided
      significantly larger treatment effect estimates than the ratio of RMST. The HR
      may seem large when the absolute effect is small. RMST-based measures should be
      routinely reported in randomized trials with time-to-event outcomes.

PMID- 26884586
TI  - Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast
      Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update
      on Ovarian Suppression.
AB  - PURPOSE: To update the ASCO adjuvant endocrine therapy guideline based on
      emerging data concerning the benefits and risks of ovarian suppression in
      addition to standard adjuvant therapy in premenopausal women with estrogen
      receptor-positive breast cancer. METHODS: ASCO convened an Update Panel and
      conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials investigating ovarian
      suppression. RESULTS: Two trials investigating the addition of ovarian
      suppression to tamoxifen did not show an overall clinical benefit for ovarian
      suppression. Nonetheless, the addition of ovarian suppression to standard
      adjuvant therapy with tamoxifen or with an aromatase inhibitor improved disease
      free survival and improved freedom from breast cancer and distant recurrence
      compared with tamoxifen alone among the subset of patients who were at sufficient
      risk for recurrence such that adjuvant chemotherapy was warranted. Compared with
      tamoxifen alone, ovarian suppression was associated with a substantial increase
      in menopausal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and diminished quality of life.
      RECOMMENDATIONS: The Panel recommends that higher-risk patients should receive
      ovarian suppression in addition to adjuvant endocrine therapy, whereas lower-risk
      patients should not. Women with stage II or III breast cancers who would
      ordinarily be advised to receive adjuvant chemotherapy should receive ovarian
      suppression with endocrine therapy. The panel recommends that some women with
      stage I or II breast cancers at higher risk of recurrence who might consider
      chemotherapy may also be offered ovarian suppression with endocrine therapy.
      Women with stage I breast cancers not warranting chemotherapy should not receive
      ovarian suppression, nor should women with node-negative cancers 1 cm or less.
      Ovarian suppression may be administered with either tamoxifen or an aromatase
      inhibitor. Additional information is available at
      www.asco.org/guidelines/endocrinebreast and www.asco.org/guidelineswiki.

PMID- 26884585
TI  - Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Apatinib in
      Patients With Chemotherapy-Refractory Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of
      the Stomach or Gastroesophageal Junction.
AB  - PURPOSE: There is currently no standard treatment strategy for patients with
      advanced metastatic gastric cancer experiencing progression after two or more
      lines of chemotherapy. We assessed the efficacy and safety of apatinib, a novel
      vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in
      patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma for
      whom at least two lines of prior chemotherapy had failed. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial. Patients
      from 32 centers in China with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction
      adenocarcinoma, for whom two or more prior lines of chemotherapy had failed, were
      enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to oral apatinib 850 mg or placebo once
      daily. The primary end points were overall (OS) and progression-free survival
      (PFS). RESULTS: Between January 2011 and November 2012, 267 patients were
      enrolled. Median OS was significantly improved in the apatinib group compared
      with the placebo group (6.5 months; 95% CI, 4.8 to 7.6 v 4.7 months; 95% CI, 3.6
      to 5.4; P = .0149; hazard ratio, 0.709; 95% CI, 0.537 to 0.937; P = .0156).
      Similarly, apatinib significantly prolonged median PFS compared with placebo (2.6
      months; 95% CI, 2.0 to 2.9 v 1.8 months; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.9; P < .001; hazard
      ratio, 0.444; 95% CI, 0.331 to 0.595; P < .001). The most common grade 3 to 4
      nonhematologic adverse events were hand-foot syndrome, proteinuria, and
      hypertension. CONCLUSION: These data show that apatinib treatment significantly
      improved OS and PFS with an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced
      gastric cancer refractory to two or more lines of prior chemotherapy.

PMID- 26884587
TI  - Neutralization of pro-inflammatory monocytes by targeting TLR2 dimerization
      ameliorates colitis.
AB  - Monocytes have emerged as critical driving force of acute inflammation. Here, we
      show that inhibition of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) dimerization by a TLR2
      transmembrane peptide (TLR2-p) ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by interfering
      specifically with the activation of Ly6C(+) monocytes without affecting their
      recruitment to the colon. We report that TLR2-p directly interacts with TLR2
      within the membrane, leading to inhibition of TLR2-TLR6/1 assembly induced by
      natural ligands. This was associated with decreased levels of extracellular
      signal-regulated kinases (ERK) signaling and reduced secretion of pro
      inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-23, IL-12, and IL-1beta.
      Altogether, our study provides insights into the essential role of TLR2
      dimerization in the activation of pathogenic pro-inflammatory Ly6C(hi) monocytes
      and suggests that inhibition of this aggregation by TLR2-p might have therapeutic
      potential in the treatment of acute gut inflammation. 

PMID- 26884588
TI  - Response-adapted volume de-escalation (RAVD) in locally advanced head and neck
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Efforts to reduce the late toxicity associated with chemoradiation
      (CRT) for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (LA-HNSCC) have
      focused on radiotherapy (RT) dose de-escalation. In this phase I/II protocol
      investigating the addition of everolimus to induction chemotherapy (IC), we
      incorporated a novel response-adapted volume de-escalation (RAVD) approach using
      IC response to guide the extent of RT volume reduction. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Patients with measurable LA-HNSCC received two cycles of IC (cisplatin,
      paclitaxel, cetuximab +/- everolimus). Patients with >=50% reduction in the sum
      of tumor diameters [good response (GR)] received TFHX (paclitaxel, fluorouracil,
      hydroxyurea, and 1.5 Gy twice daily RT every other week) to a dose of 75 Gy with
      the single planning target volume (PTV1) encompassing exclusively gross disease.
      Patients with <50% response [non-response (NR)] were treated with TFHX
      encompassing PTV1 and the next nodal station at risk (PTV2) to a dose of 45 Gy
      followed by a sequential boost to PTV1 to a dose of 75 Gy. RESULTS: Ninety-four
      patients were enrolled. Randomization to everolimus was discontinued on interim
      analysis after 50 patients due to futility. IC response was evaluable in 89
      patients. Thirty-seven patients (41.6%) had GR and 52 (58.4%) had NR. There was a
      trend for improved progression-free (P = 0.086) but not overall survival (P =
      0.94) for GR versus NR. The 2-year PFS and OS were 86.0% and 83.5% for GR and
      68.7% and 85.4% for NR, respectively. NR were significantly more likely to
      undergo G-tube placement during treatment (50.0% GR versus 73.5% NR, P = 0.040)
      and be G-tube dependent at 6-month follow-up (5.7% GR versus 32.6% NR, P =
      0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of everolimus to IC was not beneficial. The
      elimination of elective nodal coverage in patients with GR to IC did not appear
      to compromise outcomes and resulted in significantly decreased late toxicity.
      Further investigation of RAVD is warranted. CLINICALTRIALSGOV: NCT01133678.

PMID- 26884589
TI  - Spectrum of clinical and genetic features of patients with inherited platelet
      disorder with suspected predisposition to hematological malignancies: a
      nationwide survey in Japan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inherited thrombocytopenia (IT) contains several forms of familial
      thrombocytopenia and some of them have propensity to hematological malignancies.
      The etiological and genetic features of this heterogeneous syndrome have not yet
      been elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey to
      collect clinical information and samples from patients with familial
      thrombocytopenia and/or hematological malignancies in order to obtain a
      comprehensive understanding of IT. RESULTS: Among the 43 pedigrees with clinical
      samples, RUNX1 mutations were identified in 8 pedigrees (18.6%). While MYH9 and
      ANKRD26 mutations were identified in 2 and 1 pedigrees, respectively, no gene
      mutations were detected in the remaining 32 pedigrees from a panel of previously
      reported pathogenetic mutations. Clinical data were comparable between FPD/AML
      and non-FPD/AML probands. CONCLUSIONS: Our study clarified that it is
      unexpectedly difficult to diagnose FPD/AML based on clinical information alone,
      and thus, genetic testing is strongly recommended. Our survey also identified
      some pedigrees with a strong family history of myelodysplastic syndromes of
      unknown origin. Additionally, there were 14 pedigrees in which three or more
      members were affected by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and a computer-aided
      simulation suggested that such a distribution almost never happens by
      coincidence, which implicates a genetic predisposition to ITP.

PMID- 26884590
TI  - Sorafenib with or without everolimus in patients with advanced hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC): a randomized multicenter, multinational phase II trial (SAKK
      77/08 and SASL 29).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sorafenib (S), a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the
      standard of care for first-line systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC). Everolimus (E) is a potent inhibitor of mTOR, a pathway
      frequently activated in HCC. Preclinical data suggest that the combination S + E
      has additive effects compared with single-agent S. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients
      with unresectable or metastatic HCC and Child-Pugh <=7 liver dysfunction were
      randomized to receive daily S 800 mg alone or with E 5 mg until progression or
      unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was progression-free survival at 12
      weeks (PFS12). The secondary end points included response rate, PFS, time to
      progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), duration of disease stabilization
      (DDS), safety, and quality-of-life (QoL) assessments. RESULTS: A total of 106
      patients were randomized: 46 patients received S and 60 patients received S + E.
      Ninety-three patients were assessable for the primary end point and 105 patients
      for the safety analysis. The PFS12 rate was 70% [95% confidence interval (CI) 54
      83] and 68% (95% CI 53-81) in patients randomized to S and S + E, respectively.
      The RECIST (mRECIST) response rate was 0% (23%) in the S arm and 10% (35%) in the
      S + E arm. Median PFS (6.6 versus 5.7 months), TTP (7.6 versus 6.3 months), DDS
      (6.7 versus 6.7 months), and OS (10 versus 12 months) were similar in the S and S
      + E arms, respectively. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 72% and 86% of
      patients in arm S and arm S + E, respectively. Patients had similar QoL scores
      over time, except for a greater worsening in physical well-being and mood in the
      arm S + E. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found that S + E improves the efficacy
      compared with S alone. Combining 5 mg E with full-dose S is feasible, but more
      toxic than S alone. Further testing of this drug combination in molecularly
      unselected HCCs appears unwarranted. CLINICALTRIALSGOV: NCT01005199.

PMID- 26884593
TI  - Another surprising role for exosomes? Improving next-generation sequencing-based
      cancer diagnostics in liquid biopsies.

PMID- 26884591
TI  - What hides behind the MASC: clinical response and acquired resistance to
      entrectinib after ETV6-NTRK3 identification in a mammary analogue secretory
      carcinoma (MASC).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a recently described
      pathologic entity. We report the case of a patient with an initial diagnosis of
      salivary acinic cell carcinoma later reclassified as MASC after next-generation
      sequencing revealed an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This alteration
      was targeted with the pan-Trk inhibitor entrectinib (Ignyta), which possesses
      potent in vitro activity against cell lines containing various NTRK1/2/3 fusions.
      RESULTS: A dramatic and durable response was achieved with entrectinib in this
      patient, followed by acquired resistance that correlated with the appearance of a
      novel NTRK3 G623R mutation. Structural modeling predicts that this alteration
      sterically interferes with drug binding, correlating to decreased sensitivity to
      drug inhibition observed in cell-based assays. CONCLUSIONS: This first report of
      clinical activity with TrkC inhibition and the development of acquired resistance
      in an NTRK3-rearranged cancer emphasize the utility of comprehensive molecular
      profiling and targeted therapy for rare malignancies (NCT02097810).

PMID- 26884594
TI  - Cancer mortality in cohorts of workers in the European rubber manufacturing
      industry first employed since 1975.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increased cancer risk has been reported among workers in the rubber
      manufacturing industry employed before the 1960s. It is unclear whether risk
      remains increased among workers hired subsequently. The present study focused on
      risk of cancer mortality for rubber workers first employed since 1975 in 64
      factories. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anonymized data from cohorts of rubber workers
      employed for at least 1 year from Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the UK were
      pooled. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), based on country-specific death
      rates, were reported for bladder and lung cancer (primary outcomes of interest),
      for other selected cancer sites, and for cancer sites with a minimum of 10 deaths
      in men or women. Analyses stratified by type of industry, period, and duration of
      employment were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 38 457 individuals (29 768 men;
      8689 women) contributed to 949 370 person-years. No increased risk of bladder
      cancer was observed [SMR = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46; 1.38]. The
      risk of lung cancer death was reduced (SMR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.70; 0.94). No
      statistically significant increased risk was observed for any other cause of
      death. A reduced risk was evident for total cancer mortality (SMR = 0.81, 95% CI
      0.76; 0.87). Risks were lower for workers in the tyre industry compared with
      workers in the general rubber goods sector. Analysis by employment duration
      showed a negative trend with SMRs decreasing with increasing duration of
      employment. In an analysis of secondary end points, when stratified by type of
      industry and period of first employment, excess risks of myeloma and gastric
      cancer were observed each due, essentially, to results from one centre.
      CONCLUSION: No consistent increased risk of cancer death was observed among
      rubber workers first employed since 1975, no overall analysis of the pooled
      cohort produced significantly increased risk. Continued surveillance of the
      present cohorts is required to confirm the absence of long-term risk.

PMID- 26884595
TI  - Population-level trends in the distribution of body mass index in England, 1992
      2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Changes over time of mean body weight or prevalence of overweight and
      obesity have been well documented. Less consideration has been given to
      describing the distribution to these changes particularly by socioeconomic status
      and sex. METHODS: We use data from the Health Survey for England for the years
      1992-2013 to calculate the median, 5th and 95th centiles, and SD of body mass
      index (BMI). We tested differences using analysis of variance and quantile
      regression. Analyses were stratified by sex and level of education. RESULTS:
      There have been increases in the SD of BMI values over the period. While median
      BMI has increased, there has been a larger increase of the 95th centile. These
      trends were consistent by sex and level of education, although significant
      differences were observed in values. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that
      changes in median BMI over time do not reflect changes in the distribution of
      BMI. Failing to understand the distribution of body weight in the population will
      hamper our projections of future patterns, as well as our ability to design
      effective public health strategies.

PMID- 26884596
TI  - Transmission Rates of 'Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus' by Asian Citrus Psyllid Are
      Enhanced by the Presence and Developmental Stage of Citrus Flush.
AB  - Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) transmits a bacterium
      'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) putatively responsible for a
      devastating citrus disease known as Asiatic huanglongbing (HLB) (citrus greening
      disease). The psyllid and disease have invaded many citrus-growing regions
      including the United States, where the disease is seriously jeopardizing the
      Florida citrus industry. We recently concluded research that showed CLas
      transmission rates are increased when citrus flush is present. Flush is any new
      leaf growth ranging in development from first emergence up until the leaves are
      fully expanded yet still tender. In an experiment with seedlings of a rootstock
      cultivar 'US-942', a 1-wk infestation of 20 Asian citrus psyllids from an
      infected colony resulted in 53-60% of seedlings becoming infected when flush was
      present compared with only 7% when no flush was present. In a second experiment
      with 'US-942', 77-97% of seedlings became infected when flush was present
      compared with 40% when no flush was present. A similar experiment with 'Valencia'
      sweet orange resulted in 23, 80, and 3% seedlings becoming infected when young,
      older, or no flush was present, respectively. Young plants are therefore more
      likely to contract HLB if flush is present, with older flush promoting higher
      infection rates under the conditions of this study. Based on this finding,
      healthy citrus should be protected from Asian citrus psyllid infestations
      throughout a flush. To evaluate germplasm for CLas resistance, inoculations using
      infected Asian citrus psyllid would best be achieved if flush is present.

PMID- 26884597
TI  - Focus Issue: Cell biology meets cancer therapy.
AB  - Cells are the targets of anticancer therapy, whether the therapy is directed at
      the tumor cells themselves or the cells of the immune system. Articles in this
      issue and in the 2015 Science Signaling archives provide insights into what makes
      a cell responsive to therapy and how understanding the cellular processes
      affected by the drugs (including endosomal trafficking and response to
      proteotoxic stress) can lead to personalized cancer therapies, thereby minimizing
      side effects and ineffective treatment strategies. 

PMID- 26884592
TI  - Long-course oxaliplatin-based preoperative chemoradiation versus 5 * 5 Gy and
      consolidation chemotherapy for cT4 or fixed cT3 rectal cancer: results of a
      randomized phase III study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Improvements in local control are required when using preoperative
      chemoradiation for cT4 or advanced cT3 rectal cancer. There is therefore a need
      to explore more effective schedules. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with fixed
      cT3 or cT4 cancer were randomized either to 5 * 5 Gy and three cycles of FOLFOX4
      (group A) or to 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions combined with two 5-day cycles of bolus 5
      Fu 325 mg/m(2)/day and leucovorin 20 mg/m(2)/day during the first and fifth week
      of irradiation along with five infusions of oxaliplatin 50 mg/m(2) once weekly
      (group B). The protocol was amended in 2012 to allow oxaliplatin to be then
      foregone in both groups. RESULTS: Of 541 entered patients, 515 were eligible for
      analysis; 261 in group A and 254 in group B. Preoperative treatment acute
      toxicity was lower in group A than group B, P = 0.006; any toxicity being,
      respectively, 75% versus 83%, grade III-IV 23% versus 21% and toxic deaths 1%
      versus 3%. R0 resection rates (primary end point) and pathological complete
      response rates in groups A and B were, respectively, 77% versus 71%, P = 0.07,
      and 16% versus 12%, P = 0.17. The median follow-up was 35 months. At 3 years, the
      rates of overall survival and disease-free survival in groups A and B were,
      respectively, 73% versus 65%, P = 0.046, and 53% versus 52%, P = 0.85, together
      with the cumulative incidence of local failure and distant metastases being,
      respectively, 22% versus 21%, P = 0.82, and 30% versus 27%, P = 0.26.
      Postoperative and late complications rates in group A and group B were,
      respectively, 29% versus 25%, P = 0.18, and 20% versus 22%, P = 0.54.
      CONCLUSIONS: No differences were observed in local efficacy between 5 * 5 Gy with
      consolidation chemotherapy and long-course chemoradiation. Nevertheless, an
      improved overall survival and lower acute toxicity favours the 5 * 5 Gy schedule
      with consolidation chemotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: The trial is registered
      as ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00833131.

PMID- 26884598
TI  - ONC201: Stressing tumors to death.
AB  - The small molecule ONC201 was identified in a screen for compounds that would
      induce expression of the gene encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis
      inducing ligand (TRAIL) in tumors and thus cause an autocrine- or paracrine
      induced death in tumor cells. Two Research Articles in this issue of Science
      Signaling by Ishizawa et al. and Kline et al. describe how ONC201 can also
      trigger cytotoxicity by inducing a stress response. The mechanisms of the stress
      response induced differ between hematological malignancies and solid tumors,
      highlighting the complexity of ONC201-induced toxicity and raising intriguing
      issues of tissue-specific pathways activated by the drug. 

PMID- 26884599
TI  - ATF4 induction through an atypical integrated stress response to ONC201 triggers
      p53-independent apoptosis in hematological malignancies.
AB  - The clinical challenge posed by p53 abnormalities in hematological malignancies
      requires therapeutic strategies other than standard genotoxic chemotherapies.
      ONC201 is a first-in-class small molecule that activates p53-independent
      apoptosis, has a benign safety profile, and is in early clinical trials. We found
      that ONC201 caused p53-independent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cell lines
      and in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples from
      patients; these included samples from patients with genetic abnormalities
      associated with poor prognosis or cells that had developed resistance to the
      nongenotoxic agents ibrutinib and bortezomib. Moreover, ONC201 caused apoptosis
      in stem and progenitor AML cells and abrogated the engraftment of leukemic stem
      cells in mice while sparing normal bone marrow cells. ONC201 caused changes in
      gene expression similar to those caused by the unfolded protein response (UPR)
      and integrated stress responses (ISRs), which increase the translation of the
      transcription factor ATF4 through an increase in the phosphorylation of the
      translation initiation factor eIF2alpha. However, unlike the UPR and ISR, the
      increase in ATF4 abundance in ONC201-treated hematopoietic cells promoted
      apoptosis and did not depend on increased phosphorylation of eIF2alpha. ONC201
      also inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, likely
      through ATF4-mediated induction of the mTORC1 inhibitor DDIT4. Overexpression of
      BCL-2 protected against ONC201-induced apoptosis, and the combination of ONC201
      and the BCL-2 antagonist ABT-199 synergistically increased apoptosis. Thus, our
      results suggest that by inducing an atypical ISR and p53-independent apoptosis,
      ONC201 has clinical potential in hematological malignancies. 

PMID- 26884600
TI  - ONC201 kills solid tumor cells by triggering an integrated stress response
      dependent on ATF4 activation by specific eIF2alpha kinases.
AB  - ONC201 (also called TIC10) is a small molecule that inactivates the cell
      proliferation- and cell survival-promoting kinases Akt and ERK and induces cell
      death through the proapoptotic protein TRAIL. ONC201 is currently in early-phase
      clinical testing for various malignancies. We found through gene expression and
      protein analyses that ONC201 triggered an increase in TRAIL abundance and cell
      death through an integrated stress response (ISR) involving the transcription
      factor ATF4, the transactivator CHOP, and the TRAIL receptor DR5. ATF4 was not
      activated in ONC201-resistant cancer cells, and in ONC201-sensitive cells,
      knockdown of ATF4 or CHOP partially abrogated ONC201-induced cytotoxicity and
      diminished the ONC201-stimulated increase in DR5 abundance. The activation of
      ATF4 in response to ONC201 required the kinases HRI and PKR, which phosphorylate
      and activate the translation initiation factor eIF2alpha. ONC201 rapidly
      triggered cell cycle arrest, which was associated with decreased abundance of
      cyclin D1, decreased activity of the kinase complex mTORC1, and dephosphorylation
      of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. The abundance of X-linked inhibitor of
      apoptosis protein (XIAP) negatively correlated with the extent of apoptosis in
      response to ONC201. These effects of ONC201 were independent of whether cancer
      cells had normal or mutant p53. Thus, ONC201 induces cell death through the
      coordinated induction of TRAIL by an ISR pathway. 

PMID- 26884601
TI  - TGF-beta inhibits the activation and functions of NK cells by repressing the mTOR
      pathway.
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a major immunosuppressive cytokine
      that maintains immune homeostasis and prevents autoimmunity through its
      antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties in various immune cell types.
      We provide genetic, pharmacologic, and biochemical evidence that a critical
      target of TGF-beta signaling in mouse and human natural killer (NK) cells is the
      serine and threonine kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). Treatment of
      mouse or human NK cells with TGF-beta in vitro blocked interleukin-15 (IL-15)
      induced activation of mTOR. TGF-beta and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin both
      reduced the metabolic activity and proliferation of NK cells and reduced the
      abundances of various NK cell receptors and the cytotoxic activity of NK cells.
      In vivo, constitutive TGF-beta signaling or depletion of mTOR arrested NK cell
      development, whereas deletion of the TGF-beta receptor subunit TGF-betaRII
      enhanced mTOR activity and the cytotoxic activity of the NK cells in response to
      IL-15. Suppression of TGF-beta signaling in NK cells did not affect either NK
      cell development or homeostasis; however, it enhanced the ability of NK cells to
      limit metastases in two different tumor models in mice. Together, these results
      suggest that the kinase mTOR is a crucial signaling integrator of pro- and anti
      inflammatory cytokines in NK cells. Moreover, we propose that boosting the
      metabolic activity of antitumor lymphocytes could be an effective strategy to
      promote immune-mediated tumor suppression. 

PMID- 26884602
TI  - Functional diversification of the potato R2R3 MYB anthocyanin activators AN1,
      MYBA1, and MYB113 and their interaction with basic helix-loop-helix cofactors.
AB  - In potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), R2R3 MYBs are involved in the regulation of
      anthocyanin biosynthesis. We examined sequences of these MYBs in cultivated
      potatoes, which are more complex than diploid potato due to ploidy and
      heterozygosity. We found amino acid variants in the C-terminus of the MYB StAN1,
      termed R0, R1, and R3, due to the presence of a repeated 10-amino acid motif.
      These variant MYBs showed some expression in both white and pigmented tubers. We
      found several new alleles or gene family members of R2R3 MYBs,StMYBA1 and
      StMYB113, which were also expressed in white potato tubers. From functional
      analysis in tobacco, we showed that the presence of a C-terminal 10-amino acid
      motif is optimal for activating anthocyanin accumulation. Engineering a motif
      back into a MYB lacking this sequence enhanced its activating ability. Versions
      of StMYBA1 and StMYB113 can also activate anthocyanin accumulation in tobacco
      leaves, with the exception of StMYB113-3, which has a partial R2R3 domain. We
      isolated five family members of potato StbHLH1, and one StJAF13, to test their
      ability to interact with MYB variants. The results showed that two alleles of
      StbHLH1 from white skin and red skin are non-functional, while three other
      StbHLH1s have different co-regulating abilities, and need to be activated by
      StJAF13. Combined with expression analysis in potato tuber, results suggest that
      StbHLH1 and StJAF13a re key co-regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis, while the
      transcripts of MYB variants StAN1,StMYBA1, and StMYB113 are well expressed, even
      in the absence of pigmentation.

PMID- 26884603
TI  - Cell wall-associated ROOT HAIR SPECIFIC 10, a proline-rich receptor-like kinase,
      is a negative modulator of Arabidopsis root hair growth.
AB  - Plant cell growth is restricted by the cell wall, and cell wall dynamics act as
      signals for the cytoplasmic and nuclear events of cell growth. Among various
      receptor kinases, ROOT HAIR SPECIFIC 10 (RHS10) belongs to a poorly known
      receptor kinase subfamily with a proline-rich extracellular domain. Here, we
      report that RHS10 defines the root hair length of Arabidopsis thaliana by
      negatively regulating hair growth. RHS10 modulates the duration of root hair
      growth rather than the growth rate. As poplar and rice RHS10 orthologs also
      showed a root hair-inhibitory function, this receptor kinase-mediated function
      appears to be conserved in angiosperms. RHS10 showed a strong association with
      the cell wall, most probably through its extracellular proline-rich domain (ECD).
      Deletion analysis of the ECD demonstrated that a minimal extracellular part,
      which includes a few proline residues, is required for RHS10-mediated root hair
      inhibition. RHS10 suppressed the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in
      the root, which are necessary for root hair growth. A yeast two-hybrid screening
      identified an RNase (RNS2) as a putative downstream target of RHS10. Accordingly,
      RHS10 overexpression decreased and RHS10 loss increased RNA levels in the hair
      growing root region. Our results suggest that RHS10 mediates cell wall-associated
      signals to maintain proper root hair length, at least in part by regulating RNA
      catabolism and ROS accumulation.

PMID- 26884607
TI  - Do Genes Determine Our Health? Implications for Designing Lifestyle Interventions
      and Drug Trials.

PMID- 26884605
TI  - The MC1R and ASIP Coat Color Loci May Impact Behavior in the Horse.
AB  - Shared signaling pathways utilized by melanocytes and neurons result in
      pleiotropic traits of coat color and behavior in many mammalian species. For
      example, in humans polymorphisms at MC1R cause red hair, increased heat
      sensitivity, and lower pain tolerance. In deer mice, rats, and foxes, ASIP
      polymorphisms causing black coat color lead to more docile demeanors and reduced
      activity. Horse (Equus caballus) base coat color is primarily determined by
      polymorphisms at the Melanocortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein
      (ASIP) loci, creating a black, bay, or chestnut coat. Our goal was to investigate
      correlations between genetic loci for coat color and temperament traits in the
      horse. We genotyped a total of 215 North American Tennessee Walking Horses for
      the 2 most common alleles at the MC1R (E/e) and ASIP (A/a) loci using previously
      published PCR and RFLP methods. The horses had a mean age of 10.5 years and
      comprised 83 geldings, 25 stallions, and 107 mares. To assess behavior, we
      adapted a previously published survey for handlers to score horses from 1 to 9 on
      20 questions related to specific aspects of temperament. We utilized principle
      component analysis to combine the individual survey scores into 4 factors of
      variation in temperament phenotype. A factor component detailing self-reliance
      correlated with genotypes at the ASIP locus; black mares (aa) were more
      independent than bay mares (A_) (P = 0.0063). These findings illuminate a
      promising and novel animal model for future study of neuroendocrine mechanisms in
      complex behavioral phenotypes.

PMID- 26884604
TI  - Formation of beta-glucogallin, the precursor of ellagic acid in strawberry and
      raspberry.
AB  - Ellagic acid/ellagitannins are plant polyphenolic antioxidants that are
      synthesized from gallic acid and have been associated with a reduced risk of
      cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Here, we report the identification and
      characterization of five glycosyltransferases (GTs) from two genera of the
      Rosaceae family (Fragaria and Rubus; F. * ananassa FaGT2*, FaGT2, FaGT5, F. vesca
      FvGT2, and R. idaeus RiGT2) that catalyze the formation of 1-O-galloyl-beta-D
      glucopyranose (beta-glucogallin) the precursor of ellagitannin biosynthesis. The
      enzymes showed substrate promiscuity as they formed glucose esters of a variety
      of (hydroxyl)benzoic and (hydroxyl)cinnamic acids. Determination of kinetic
      values and site-directed mutagenesis revealed amino acids that affected substrate
      preference and catalytic activity. Green immature strawberry fruits were
      identified as the main source of gallic acid, beta-glucogallin, and ellagic acid
      in accordance with the highest GT2 gene expression levels. Injection of
      isotopically labeled gallic acid into green fruits of stable transgenic antisense
      FaGT2 strawberry plants clearly confirmed the in planta function. Our results
      indicate that GT2 enzymes might contribute to the production of ellagic
      acid/ellagitannins in strawberry and raspberry, and are useful to develop
      strawberry fruit with additional health benefits and for the biotechnological
      production of bioactive polyphenols.

PMID- 26884608
TI  - Unraveling De Novo Copy Number Variants in Congenital Heart Defects: The Bottom
      of the Iceberg Is Under Attack.

PMID- 26884609
TI  - Complexities of Genetic Testing in Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26884610
TI  - Methods for measuring myeloperoxidase activity toward assessing inhibitor
      efficacy in living systems.
AB  - Myeloperoxidase aids in clearance of microbes by generation of peroxidase
      mediated oxidants that kill leukocyte-engulfed pathogens. In this review, we will
      examine 1) strategies for in vitro evaluation of myeloperoxidase function and its
      inhibition, 2) ways to monitor generation of certain oxidant species during
      inflammation, and 3) how these methods can be used to approximate the total
      polymorphonuclear neutrophil chemotaxis following insult. Several optical imaging
      probes are designed to target reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during
      polymorphonuclear neutrophil inflammatory burst following injury. Here, we review
      the following 1) the broad effect of myeloperoxidase on normal physiology, 2) the
      difference between myeloperoxidase and other peroxidases, 3) the current optical
      probes available for use as surrogates for direct measures of myeloperoxidase
      derived oxidants, and 4) the range of preclinical options for imaging
      myeloperoxidase accumulation at sites of inflammation in mice. We also stress the
      advantages and drawbacks of each of these methods, the pharmacokinetic
      considerations that may limit probe use to strictly cell cultures for some
      reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, rather than in vivo utility as indicators
      of myeloperoxidase function. Taken together, our review should shed light on the
      fundamental rational behind these techniques for measuring myeloperoxidase
      activity and polymorphonuclear neutrophil response after injury toward developing
      safe myeloperoxidase inhibitors as potential therapy for chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis. 

PMID- 26884611
TI  - CCR2 signaling contributes to the differentiation of protective inflammatory
      dendritic cells in Leishmania braziliensis infection.
AB  - In vertebrate hosts, Leishmania braziliensis parasites infect mainly mononuclear
      phagocytic system cells, which when activated by T helper cell type 1 cytokines
      produce nitric oxide and kill the pathogens. Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 is
      a chemokine receptor that binds primarily chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 and has
      an important role in the recruitment of monocytic phagocytes. Although it has
      been reported that Leishmania braziliensis infection induces CCR2 expression in
      the lesions, the role of CCR2 during Leishmania braziliensis infection remains
      unknown. Here, we showed that CCR2 has a role in mediating protection against
      Leishmania braziliensis infection in mice. The absence of CCR2 resulted in
      increased susceptibility to infection and was associated with low amounts of
      Ly6C(+) inflammatory dendritic cells in the lesions, which we found to be the
      major sources of tumor necrosis factor production and induced nitric oxide
      synthase expression in C57BL/6 mice lesions. Consequently, CCR2(-/-) mice showed
      decreased tumor necrosis factor production and induced nitric oxide synthase
      expression, resulting in impaired parasite elimination. We also demonstrated that
      CCR2 has a role in directly mediating the differentiation of monocytes into
      inflammatory dendritic cells at the infection sites, contributing to the
      accumulation of inflammatory dendritic cells in Leishmania braziliensis lesions
      and subsequent control of parasite replication. Therefore, these data provide new
      information on the role of chemokines during the immune response to infections
      and identify a potential target for therapeutic interventions in cutaneous
      leishmaniasis.

PMID- 26884613
TI  - Through Thick and Thin: What Are the Septal Thickness Limits for Alcohol Septal
      Ablation?

PMID- 26884612
TI  - Predictors of Outcome After Alcohol Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Obstructive
      Cardiomyopathy: An Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is used for treatment of medically
      refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients with severe left
      ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. The current recommendations
      restrict the procedure to adults with favorable anatomy and no other coexisting
      surgically amenable disease. Some patients remain symptomatic with residual LVOT
      obstruction, thus better patient selection is required. METHODS AND RESULTS: One
      hundred and two consecutive subjects with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
      who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, transthoracic
      echocardiography, and ASA were enrolled in this study. Successful ASA was defined
      as reduction of LVOT gradient >=50% of baseline by echocardiographic follow-up 6
      months post ASA. The relationships between segmental thickness assessed by
      cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography and outcomes of
      ASA were compared between the 2 groups. The survival rate after ablation was 100%
      at 6-month follow-up. The LVOT gradient decreased >=50% of baseline in 72%
      (73/102) patients. There were good correlations between the reduction of
      postoperative LVOT gradient and the thickness of basal anterior segment (r=0.371;
      P<0.001), basal anteroseptal segment (r=0.527; P<0.001), and total thickness of
      the above 2 segments (r=0.672; P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating
      curves were 0.68, 0.79 and 0.89 for predictive analysis (all P<0.001). The cutoff
      thickness of the segment 1+2 was 50.9 mm, which yielded a sensitivity of 86% and
      specificity of 77%. CONCLUSIONS: Both echocardiography and cardiovascular
      magnetic resonance imaging can be used effectively as noninvasive tools for
      patient selection for ASA procedure. A significantly thickened septum among
      hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients may be associated with a poor
      outcome after ASA.

PMID- 26884614
TI  - Tetracyclines increase lipid phosphate phosphatase expression on plasma membranes
      and turnover of plasma lysophosphatidate.
AB  - Extracellular lysophosphatidate and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are important
      bioactive lipids, which signal through G-protein-coupled receptors to stimulate
      cell growth and survival. The lysophosphatidate and S1P signals are terminated
      partly by degradation through three broad-specificity lipid phosphate
      phosphatases (LPPs) on the cell surface. Significantly, the expression of LPP1
      and LPP3 is decreased in many cancers, and this increases the impact of
      lysophosphatidate and S1P signaling. However, relatively little is known about
      the physiological or pharmacological regulation of the expression of the
      different LPPs. We now show that treating several malignant and nonmalignant cell
      lines with 1 MUg/ml tetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline significantly
      increased the extracellular degradation of lysophosphatidate. S1P degradation was
      also increased in cells that expressed high LPP3 activity. These results depended
      on an increase in the stabilities of the three LPPs and increased expression on
      the plasma membrane. We tested the physiological significance of these results
      and showed that treating rats with doxycycline accelerated the clearance of
      lysophosphatidate, but not S1P, from the circulation. However, administering 100
      mg/kg/day doxycycline to mice decreased plasma concentrations of
      lysophosphatidate and S1P. This study demonstrates a completely new property of
      tetracyclines in increasing the plasma membrane expression of the LPPs. 

PMID- 26884615
TI  - Decade-Long Trends (2001-2011) in the Incidence and Hospital Death Rates
      Associated with the In-Hospital Development of Cardiogenic Shock after Acute
      Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited information is available about relatively contemporary trends
      in the incidence and hospital case-fatality rates of cardiogenic shock in
      patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this
      population-based study was to describe decade long trends (2001-2011) in the
      incidence and hospital case-fatality rates for patients who developed cardiogenic
      shock during hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: The study population consisted of 5686 residents of central
      Massachusetts hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction at all 11 medical
      centers in the Worcester, MA, metropolitan area during 6 biennial periods between
      2001 and 2011, who did not have cardiogenic shock at the time of hospital
      presentation. On average, 3.7% of these patients developed cardiogenic shock
      during their acute hospitalization with nonsignificant and inconsistent trends
      noted over time in both crude (3.7% in 2001/2003; 4.5% in 2005/2007; 2.7% in
      2009/2011; P=0.19) and multivariable adjusted analyses. The overall in-hospital
      case-fatality rate for patients who developed cardiogenic shock was 41.4%. The
      crude and multivariable adjusted odds of dying after cardiogenic shock declined
      during the most recent study years (47.1% dying in 2001/2003, 42.0% dying in
      2005/2007, and 28.6% dying in 2009/2011). Increases in the use of evidence-based
      cardiac medications, and interventional procedures paralleled the increasing
      hospital survival trends. CONCLUSIONS: We found suggestions of a decline in the
      death, but not incidence, rates of cardiogenic shock over time. These encouraging
      trends in hospital survival are likely because of advances in the early
      recognition and aggressive management of patients who develop cardiogenic shock.

PMID- 26884617
TI  - Morphological and chemical analysis of bainite in Cu-17Al-11Mn (at.%) alloys by
      using orthogonal FIB-SEM and double-EDS STEM.
AB  - In this study, new microscopy techniques were developed for understanding the
      mechanism for the bainitic transformation in a Cu-17Al-11Mn (at%) alloy. An
      orthogonally arranged focused ion beam and a scanning electron microscope were
      employed to observe three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the bainite phase, in
      addition to compositional analysis by using a scanning transmission electron
      microscope equipped with a double-detector energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer
      system. The 3D morphology of these samples was observed at different aging times
      and aging temperatures; the results obtained indicated that with increasing aging
      time and/or aging temperature, the bainite phase at the initial stage of
      formation exhibits a plate-like shape, which changes to a lenticular form. A
      habit plane was uniquely determined as ~{9 3 2} by the combination of 3D image
      reconstruction and an electron back-scattered diffraction technique. The
      compositional analysis revealed the spatial distribution of the compositional
      variation between the bainite and matrix phases in the initial stages of the
      transformation. In the bainite phase, the Cu concentration was higher, while the
      concentrations of Al and Mn were lower than those in the surrounding matrix,
      indicative of the diffusion of the constituent elements with the growth of the
      bainite phase.

PMID- 26884618
TI  - Higher-order assemblies of BAR domain proteins for shaping membranes.
AB  - Most cellular organelles contain lipid bilayer membranes. The earliest
      characterization of cellular organelles was performed by electron microscopy
      observation of such membranes. However, the precise mechanisms for shaping the
      membrane in particular subcellular organelles is poorly understood. Classically,
      the overall cellular shape, i.e. the shape of the plasma membrane, was thought to
      be governed by the reorganization of cytoskeletal components such as actin and
      microtubules. The plasma membrane contains various submicron structures such as
      clathrin-coated pits, caveolae, filopodia and lamellipodia. These subcellular
      structures are either invaginations or protrusions and are associated with the
      cytoskeleton. Therefore, it could be hypothesized that there are membrane-binding
      proteins that cooperates with cytoskeleton in shaping of plasma membrane
      organelles. Proteins with the Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs (BAR) domain connect a variety
      of membrane shapes to actin filaments. The BAR domains themselves bend the
      membranes by their rigidity and then mold the membranes into tubules through
      their assembly as spiral polymers, which are thought to be involved in the
      various submicron structures. Membrane tubulation by polymeric assembly of the
      BAR domains is supposed to be regulated by binding proteins, binding lipids and
      the mechanical properties of the membrane. This review gives an overview of BAR
      protein assembly, describes the significance of the assembly and discusses how to
      study the assembly in the context of membrane and cellular morphology. The
      technical problems encountered in microscopic observation of BAR domain assembly
      are also discussed.

PMID- 26884616
TI  - Prognostic Value of Lymphocyte G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-2 Protein Levels
      in Patients With Heart Failure.
AB  - RATIONALE: Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity is associated with poor
      prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF), yet routine assessment of
      sympathetic nervous system activation is not recommended for clinical practice.
      Myocardial G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) is upregulated in HF
      patients, causing dysfunctional beta-adrenergic receptor signaling. Importantly,
      myocardial GRK2 levels correlate with levels found in peripheral lymphocytes of
      HF patients. OBJECTIVE: The independent prognostic value of blood GRK2
      measurements in HF patients has never been investigated; thus, the purpose of
      this study was to evaluate whether lymphocyte GRK2 levels predict clinical
      outcome in HF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 257 HF
      patients with mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 31.4+/-8.5%. At the time
      of enrollment, plasma norepinephrine, serum NT-proBNP, and lymphocyte GRK2
      levels, as well as clinical and instrumental variables were measured. The
      prognostic value of GRK2 to predict cardiovascular (CV) death and all-cause
      mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard model including
      demographic, clinical, instrumental, and laboratory data. Over a mean follow-up
      period of 37.5+/-20.2 months (range, 3-60 months), there were 102 CV deaths. Age,
      left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, N-terminal-pro brain
      natriuretic peptide, and lymphocyte GRK2 protein levels were independent
      predictors of CV mortality in HF patients. GRK2 levels showed an additional
      prognostic and clinical value over demographic and clinical variables. The
      independent prognostic value of lymphocyte GRK2 levels was also confirmed for all
      cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocyte GRK2 protein levels can independently
      predict prognosis in patients with HF.

PMID- 26884619
TI  - Resuscitation outcomes of reproductive-age females who experienced out-of
      hospital cardiac arrest.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although some studies have shown that women in their reproductive
      years have better resuscitation outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
      (OHCA), conflicting results and methodological problems have also been noted.
      Thus, we evaluated the resuscitation outcomes of OHCA of females by age. METHODS:
      This was a prospective observational study using registry data from all OHCA
      cases between 2005 and 2012 in Japan. The subjects were females aged 18-110 years
      who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Logistic regression analyses were
      performed using total and propensity-matched patients. RESULTS: There were
      381,123 OHCA cases that met the inclusion criteria. Among propensity-matched
      patients, females aged 18-49 and 50-60 years of age had similar rates of return
      of spontaneous circulation before hospital arrival and 1-month survival (all
      p>0.60). In contrast, females aged 18-49 years of age had significantly lower
      rates of 1-month survival with minimal neurological impairment than did females
      aged 50-60 years of age (after adjusting for selected variables: Cerebral
      Performance Category scale 1 or 2 (CPC (1, 2)), OR=0.45, p=0.020; Overall
      Performance Category scale 1 or 2 (OPC (1, 2)): OR=0.42, p= 0.014; after
      adjustment for all variables: CPC (1, 2), OR=0.27, p= 0.008; OPC (1, 2), OR=0.29,
      p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Women of reproductive age did not show improved
      resuscitation outcomes in OHCA. Additionally, women in their reproductive years
      showed worse neurological outcomes one month after the event, which may be
      explained by the negative effects of estrogen. These findings need to be verified
      in further studies.

PMID- 26884620
TI  - Intravenous nicorandil for treatment of the urgent phase acute heart failure
      syndromes: A randomized, controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, have long been first-line
      treatments for acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS). Nicorandil is a vasodilator
      with dual potassium channel opening and nitrate properties. However, there are no
      randomized controlled studies of intravenous nicorandil safety and efficacy in
      the urgent phase AHFS. We examined the symptomatic, hemodynamic, and
      echocardiographic effects and safety, and 60-day clinical outcomes of intravenous
      nicorandil, in addition to standard therapy, in patients with AHFS in the urgent
      phase. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 106 AHFS
      patients were randomized within one hour of arrival to receive either standard
      therapy (control group, n=56) or standard therapy plus simultaneous intravenous
      nicorandil (0.2 mg/kg bolus followed by 0.2 mg/kg/h for 24 h; nicorandil group,
      n=50). Outcomes were assessed at 60 days. RESULTS: Patients in the nicorandil
      group exhibited greater improvement of dyspnea as measured by change in a five
      point Likert scale compared to those in the control group (after 1 h infusion:
      p=0.006, 6 h; p<0.001). The nicorandil group also showed significantly improved
      E/e', an estimate of left ventricular filling pressure, at 1 and 24 h ( p=0.001
      and p=0.004, respectively). In addition, intravenous nicorandil therapy was safe
      and did not cause side effects such as excessive hypotension or reflex
      tachycardia. However, it did not reduce all-cause mortality and readmission rates
      at 60 days. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of intravenous nicorandil to standard therapy
      for urgent phase AHFS improved dyspnea and left ventricular diastolic function
      but not 60-day outcome.

PMID- 26884621
TI  - Legal and Policy Interventions to Improve Patient Safety.

PMID- 26884622
TI  - Management of a Patient With Electrical Storm: Role of Epicardial Catheter
      Ablation.

PMID- 26884624
TI  - Rapid Reversal of Focal Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Systolic Dysfunction
      Resulting From Myocardial Infiltration by Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

PMID- 26884625
TI  - Aortic Dissection With Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

PMID- 26884626
TI  - Letter by Durmaz et al Regarding Article, "Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic
      Stress Disorder Symptoms Predict Onset of Cardiovascular Events in Women".

PMID- 26884628
TI  - Letter by Murakami et al Regarding Article, "Segmental Aortic Stiffness in
      Children and Young Adults With Connective Tissue Disorders: Relationships With
      Age, Aortic Size, Rate of Dilation, and Surgical Root Replacement".

PMID- 26884627
TI  - Response to Letter Regarding Article, "Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress
      Disorder Symptoms Predict Onset of Cardiovascular Events in Women".

PMID- 26884629
TI  - Letter by Weismann and Hager Regarding Article, "Segmental Aortic Stiffness in
      Children and Young Adults With Connective Tissue Disorders: Relationships With
      Age, Aortic Size, Rate of Dilation, and Surgical Root Replacement".

PMID- 26884630
TI  - Response to Letters Regarding Article "Segmental Aortic Stiffness in Children and
      Young Adults With Connective Tissue Disorders: Relationships With Age, Aortic
      Size, Rate of Dilation, and Surgical Root Replacement".

PMID- 26884631
TI  - Letter by Garg et al Regarding Article, "Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at
      Centers With and Without On-Site Surgical Backup: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 23
      Studies".

PMID- 26884633
TI  - 'Classic papers' in this issue of Acta Radiologica.

PMID- 26884632
TI  - Response to Letter Regarding Article, "Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at
      Centers With and Without On-Site Surgical Backup: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 23
      Studies".

PMID- 26884634
TI  - A Case of Fracture of the Cranium with Accumulation of Air in the Cranial Cavity
      1921.

PMID- 26884635
TI  - A Plateholder for Precise Roentgenography in Connection with Fluoroscopy 1921.

PMID- 26884636
TI  - Diffusion-weighted imaging in hemorrhagic ovarian cysts.

PMID- 26884637
TI  - Skimming the surface of underwater landslides.

PMID- 26884640
TI  - Lead and Arsenic Uptake by Leafy Vegetables Grown on Contaminated Soils: Effects
      of Mineral and Organic Amendments.
AB  - To assess strategies for mitigating Pb and As transfer into leafy vegetables from
      contaminated garden soils, we conducted greenhouse experiments using two field
      contaminated soils amended with materials expected to reduce metal
      phytoavailability. Lettuce and mustard greens grown on these soils were analysed
      by ICP-MS, showing that some Pb and As transfer into the vegetables occurred from
      both soils tested, but plant Pb concentrations were highly variable among
      treatment replicates. Soil-to-plant transfer was more efficient for As than for
      Pb. Contamination of the leaves by soil particles probably accounted for most of
      the vegetable Pb, since plant Pb concentrations were correlated to plant tissue
      concentrations of the immobile soil elements Al and Fe. This correlation was not
      observed for vegetable As concentrations, evidence that most of the soil-to-plant
      transfer for this toxic metal occurred by root uptake and translocation into the
      above-ground tissues. A follow-up greenhouse experiment with lettuce on one of
      the two contaminated soils revealed a lower and less variable foliar Pb
      concentration than observed in the first experiment, with evidence of less soil
      particle contamination of the crop. This reduced transfer of Pb to the crop
      appeared to be a physical effect attributable to the greater biomass causing
      reduced overall exposure of the above-ground tissues to the soil surface.
      Attempts to reduce soil Pb and As solubility and plant uptake by amendment at
      practical rates with stabilizing materials including composts, peat, Ca
      phosphate, gypsum and Fe oxide, were generally unsuccessful. Only Fe oxide
      reduced soluble As in the soil, but this effect did not persist. Phosphate
      amendment rapidly increased soil As solubility but had no measurable effect on
      either soil Pb solubility or concentrations of Pb or As in the leafy vegetables.
      The ineffectiveness of these amendments in reducing Pb transfer into leafy
      vegetables is attributed in this study to the low initial Pb solubility of the
      studied soils and the fact that the primary mechanism of Pb transfer is physical
      contamination.

PMID- 26884641
TI  - In Vitro Evaluation of a Device for Intra-Pulmonary Aerosol Generation and
      Delivery.
AB  - For infants born with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), liquid bolus delivery
      of surfactant administered through an endotracheal tube is common practice. While
      this method is generally effective, complications such as transient hypoxia,
      hypercapnia, and altered cerebral blood flow may occur. Aerosolized surfactant
      therapy has been explored as an alternative. Unfortunately, past efforts have led
      to disappointing results as aerosols were generated outside the lungs with
      significant pharyngeal deposition and minimal intrapulmonary instillation. A
      novel aerosol generator (MicrojetTM) is evaluated herein for intrapulmonary
      aerosol generation within an endotracheal tube and tested with Curosurf and
      Infasurf surfactants. Compared with other aerosol delivery devices, this process
      utilizes low air flow (range 0.01-0.2 L/min) that is ideal for limiting potential
      barotrauma to the premature newborn lung. The mass mean diameter (MMD) of the
      particles for both tested surfactants was less than 4 MUm, which is ideal for
      both uniform and distal lung delivery. As an indicator of phospholipid function,
      surfactant surface tension was measured before and after aerosol formation; with
      no significant difference. Moreover, this device has an outside diameter of <1mm,
      which permits insertion into an endotracheal tube (of even 2.0 mm). In the
      premature infant where intravenous access is either technically challenging or
      difficult, aerosol drug delivery may provide an alternative route in patient
      resuscitation, stabilization and care. Other potential applications of this type
      of device include the delivery of nutrients, antibiotics, and analgesics via the
      pulmonary route.

PMID- 26884642
TI  - The Role of Eugenol in the Prevention of Acute Pancreatitis-Induced Acute Kidney
      Injury: Experimental Study.
AB  - Aim. Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory intra-abdominal disease, which takes a
      severe form in 15-20% of patients and can result in high mortality especially
      when complicated by acute renal failure. The aim of this study is to assess the
      possible reduction in the extent of acute kidney injury after administration of
      eugenol in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis. Materials and Methods.
      106 male Wistar rats weighing 220-350 g were divided into 3 groups: (1) Sham,
      with sham surgery; (2) Control, with induction of acute pancreatitis, through
      ligation of the biliopancreatic duct; and (3) Eugenol, with induction of acute
      pancreatitis and eugenol administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Serum urea and
      creatinine, histopathological changes, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and MPO activity in the
      kidneys were evaluated at predetermined time intervals. Results. The group that
      was administered eugenol showed milder histopathological changes than the Control
      group, TNF-alpha activity was milder in the Eugenol group, and there was no
      difference in activity for MPO and IL-6. Serum urea and creatinine levels were
      lower in the Eugenol group than in the Control group. Conclusions. Eugenol
      administration was protective for the kidneys in an experimental model of acute
      pancreatitis in rats. 

PMID- 26884639
TI  - Emerging trends in nutraceutical applications of whey protein and its
      derivatives.
AB  - The looming food insecurity demands the utilization of nutrient-rich residues
      from food industries as value-added products. Whey, a dairy industry waste has
      been characterized to be excellent nourishment with an array of bioactive
      components. Whey protein comprises 20 % of total milk protein and it is rich in
      branched and essential amino acids, functional peptides, antioxidants and
      immunoglobulins. It confers benefits against a wide range of metabolic diseases
      such as cardiovascular complications, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer and
      phenylketonuria. The protein has been validated to boost recovery from resistance
      exercise-injuries, stimulate gut physiology and protect skin against detrimental
      radiations. Apart from health invigoration, whey protein has proved its
      suitability as fat replacer and emulsifier. Further, its edible and antimicrobial
      packaging potential renders its highly desirable in food as well as
      pharmaceutical sectors. Considering the enormous nutraceutical worth of whey
      protein, this review emphasizes on its established and emerging biological roles.
      Present and future scopes in food processing and dietary supplement formulation
      are discussed. Associated hurdles are identified and how technical advancement
      might augment its applications are explored. This review is expected to provide
      valuable insight on whey protein-fortified functional foods, associated technical
      hurdles and scopes of improvement. 

PMID- 26884643
TI  - Sphingosine-1-Phosphate/Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 2 Axis Can Promote Mouse
      and Human Primary Mast Cell Angiogenic Potential through Upregulation of Vascular
      Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2.
AB  - Mast cells (MC) are present in most vascularized tissues around the vasculature
      likely exerting immunomodulatory functions. Endowed with diverse mediators,
      resident MC represent first-line fine-tuners of local microenvironment.
      Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) functions as a pluripotent signaling sphingolipid
      metabolite in health and disease. S1P formation occurs at low levels in resting
      MC and is upregulated upon activation. Its export can result in type 2 S1P
      receptor- (S1PR2-) mediated stimulation of MC, further fueling inflammation.
      However, the role of S1PR2 ligation in proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth
      factor- (VEGF-) A and matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 2 release from MC is
      unknown. Using a preclinical MC-dependent model of acute allergic responses and
      in vitro stimulated primary mouse bone marrow-derived MC (BMMC) or human primary
      skin MC, we report that S1P signaling resulted in substantial amount of VEGF-A
      release. Similar experiments using S1pr2-deficient mice or BMMC or selective S1P
      receptor agonists or antagonists demonstrated that S1P/S1PR2 ligation on MC is
      important for VEGF-A secretion. Further, we show that S1P stimulation triggered
      transcriptional upregulation of VEGF-A and MMP-2 mRNA in human but not in mouse
      MC. S1P exposure also triggered MMP-2 secretion from human MC. These studies
      identify a novel proangiogenic axis encompassing MC/S1P/S1PR2 likely relevant to
      inflammation. 

PMID- 26884644
TI  - Blood Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profiles of HER2 Negative Breast Cancers
      Patients.
AB  - Tumors act systemically to sustain cancer progression, affecting the
      physiological processes in the host and triggering responses in the blood
      circulating cells. In this study, we explored blood transcriptional patterns of
      patients with two subtypes of HER2 negative breast cancers, with different
      prognosis and therapeutic outcome. Peripheral blood samples from seven healthy
      female donors and 29 women with breast cancer including 14 triple-negative breast
      cancers and 15 hormone-dependent breast cancers were evaluated by microarray. We
      also evaluated the stroma in primary tumors. Transcriptional analysis revealed
      distinct molecular signatures in the blood of HER2- breast cancer patients
      according to ER/PR status. Our data showed the implication of immune signaling in
      both breast cancer subtypes with an enrichment of these processes in the blood of
      TNBC patients. We observed a significant alteration of "chemokine signaling," "IL
      8 signaling," and "communication between innate and adaptive immune cells"
      pathways in the blood of TNBC patients correlated with an increased inflammation
      and necrosis in their primary tumors. Overall, our data indicate that the
      presence of triple-negative breast cancer is associated with an enrichment of
      altered systemic immune-related pathways, suggesting that immunotherapy could
      possibly be synergistic to the chemotherapy, to improve the clinical outcome of
      these patients. 

PMID- 26884645
TI  - Increased IL-21 Expression Induces Granzyme B in Peripheral CD5(+) B Cells as a
      Potential Counter-Regulatory Effect in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome.
AB  - Recently, we reported elevated proportions of circulating follicular T helper
      cells and higher levels of interleukin- (IL-) 21 in primary Sjogren's syndrome
      (pSS). Interaction of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells with B cells and
      granzyme B (GrB) production may be also important in pSS. Thirty-two pSS patients
      and 24 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. We investigated the
      expression of intracellular GrB and IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) of CD19(+)CD5(+) and
      CD19(+)CD5(-) B cells; furthermore, we determined the IL-21 expression of iNKT
      cells as well. We also assessed the proportion of transitional
      (CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high)), mature (CD19(+)CD24(int)CD38(int)) and primarily
      memory (CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(-)) B cells. CD5(+) but not CD5(-) B cells showed
      elevated GrB and IL-21R expression in pSS; additionally IL-21 expression of iNKT
      cells was also elevated. The ratios of transitional and mature B cells were
      elevated in pSS, while primarily memory B cell percentages were decreased, which
      correlated with GrB and IL-21R expression of CD19(+) B cells. Our results suggest
      that enhanced IL-21R expression of CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells and production of IL-21
      by iNKT cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pSS by regulating
      CD19(+)CD5(+) B cell functions and increasing GrB production, presumably leading
      to a counter-regulatory effect in the disease. 

PMID- 26884647
TI  - Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Mediates Nicotine-Induced Anti-Inflammation in N9
      Microglial Cells Exposed to beta Amyloid via Protein Kinase C.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reducing beta amyloid- (Abeta-) induced microglial activation is
      considered to be effective in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nicotine
      attenuates Abeta-induced microglial activation; the mechanism, however, is still
      elusive. Microglia could be activated into classic activated state (M1 state) or
      alternative activated state (M2 state); the former is cytotoxic and the latter is
      neurotrophic. In this investigation, we hypothesized that nicotine attenuates
      Abeta-induced microglial activation by shifting microglial M1 to M2 state, and
      cannabinoid CB2 receptor and protein kinase C mediate the process. METHODS: We
      used Abeta1-42 to activate N9 microglial cells and observed nicotine-induced
      effects on microglial M1 and M2 biomarkers by using western blot,
      immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: We
      found that nicotine reduced the levels of M1 state markers, including inducible
      nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha) and interleukin- (IL-) 6 releases; meanwhile, it increased the levels of
      M2 state markers, including arginase-1 (Arg-1) expression and brain-derived
      neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release, in the Abeta-stimulated microglia.
      Coadministration of cannabinoid CB2 receptor antagonist or protein kinase C (PKC)
      inhibitor partially abolished the nicotine-induced effects. CONCLUSION: These
      findings indicated that cannabinoid CB2 receptor mediates nicotine-induced anti
      inflammation in microglia exposed to Abeta via PKC.

PMID- 26884646
TI  - Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland
      Development and Breast Cancer.
AB  - Macrophages are critical mediators of inflammation and important regulators of
      developmental processes. As a key phagocytic cell type, macrophages evolved as
      part of the innate immune system to engulf and process cell debris and pathogens.
      Macrophages produce factors that act directly on their microenvironment and also
      bridge innate immune responses to the adaptive immune system. Resident
      macrophages are important for acting as sensors for tissue damage and maintaining
      tissue homeostasis. It is now well-established that macrophages are an integral
      component of the breast tumor microenvironment, where they contribute to tumor
      growth and progression, likely through many of the mechanisms that are utilized
      during normal wound healing responses. Because macrophages contribute to normal
      mammary gland development and breast cancer growth and progression, this review
      will discuss both resident mammary gland macrophages and tumor-associated
      macrophages with an emphasis on describing how macrophages interact with their
      surrounding environment during normal development and in the context of cancer. 

PMID- 26884649
TI  - Manipulation of P2X Receptor Activities by Light Stimulation.
AB  - P2X receptors are involved in amplification of inflammatory responses in
      peripheral nociceptive fibers and in mediating pain-related signals to the CNS.
      Control of P2X activation has significant importance in managing unwanted
      hypersensitive neuron responses. To overcome the limitations of chemical ligand
      treatment, optical stimulation methods of optogenetics and photoswitching achieve
      efficient control of P2X activation while allowing specificity at the target site
      and convenient stimulation by light illumination. There are many potential
      applications for photosensitive elements, such as improved uncaging methods,
      photoisomerizable ligands, photoswitches, and gold nanoparticles. Each technique
      has both advantages and downsides, and techniques are selected according to the
      purpose of the application. Technical advances not only provide novel approaches
      to manage inflammation or pain mediated by P2X receptors but also suggest a
      similar approach for controlling other ion channels. 

PMID- 26884651
TI  - Clinical Signs in Surgery: Are They Still Relevant?

PMID- 26884648
TI  - Therapeutic Strategies for Neuropathic Pain: Potential Application of
      Pharmacosynthetics and Optogenetics.
AB  - Chronic pain originating from neuronal damage remains an incurable symptom
      debilitating patients. Proposed molecular modalities in neuropathic pain include
      ion channel expressions, immune reactions, and inflammatory substrate diffusions.
      Recent advances in RNA sequence analysis have discovered specific ion channel
      expressions in nociceptors such as transient receptor potential (TRP) channels,
      voltage-gated potassium, and sodium channels. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
      also play an important role in triggering surrounding immune cells. The multiple
      protein expressions complicate therapeutic development for neuropathic pain.
      Recent progress in optogenetics and pharmacogenetics may herald the development
      of novel therapeutics for the incurable pain. Designer Receptors Exclusively
      Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) facilitate the artificial manipulation of
      intracellular signaling through excitatory or inhibitory G protein subunits
      activated by biologically inert synthetic ligands. Expression of excitatory
      channelrhodopsins and inhibitory halorhodopsins on injured neurons or surrounding
      cells can attenuate neuropathic pain precisely controlled by light stimulation.
      To achieve the discrete treatment of injured neurons, we can exploit the
      transcriptome database obtained by RNA sequence analysis in specific
      neuropathies. This can recommend the suitable promoter information to target the
      injury sites circumventing intact neurons. Therefore, novel strategies benefiting
      from pharmacogenetics, optogenetics, and RNA sequencing might be promising for
      neuropathic pain treatment in future. 

PMID- 26884652
TI  - Minimally Invasive Anal Fistula Treatment-a True Minimal Invasive Surgical
      Procedure.

PMID- 26884650
TI  - ET-1 Promotes Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells into Osteoblasts
      through ETR, MAPK, and Wnt/beta-Catenin Signaling Pathways under Inflammatory
      Microenvironment.
AB  - Periodontitis is a kind of chronic inflammatory disease that affects the tooth
      supporting tissues. ET-1 is related to periodontitis and involved in the
      regulation of cytokines, but the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study
      is to investigate how ET-1 affects proinflammatory cytokine expression and
      differentiation in human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). PDLSCs were
      isolated from the periodontal ligament tissues of periodontitis patients and then
      treated with ET-1 (1, 10, or 100 nM) for 12 h, 24 h, or 72 h. The osteogenic
      potential of PDLSCs was tested using ALP staining. TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6
      levels were evaluated by ELISA and western blot. Runx2, OCN, and COL1 mRNA and
      western levels were detected by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. To examine
      the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in ET-1-mediated
      cytokine expression and osteogenic differentiation, ETR pathway, MAPKs pathway,
      Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, and Wnt/Ca(2+) pathway were detected by RT-PCR and
      western blot, respectively. ET-1 promoted differentiation of PDLSCs into
      osteoblasts by increasing secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in a dose-
      and time-dependent manner. ET-1 also increased expression of Runx2, OCN, and
      COL1. ET-1 promotes differentiation of PDLSCs into osteoblasts through ETR, MAPK,
      and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathways under inflammatory microenvironment. 

PMID- 26884653
TI  - Influence of Heparanase and VEGF-C mRNA Expressions in Lung Cancer.
AB  - The objective of this study is to investigate relationship between the
      expressions of heparanase and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) mRNA
      and tumorigenesis, progression in human lung cancer. The expressions of
      heparanase and VEGF-C mRNA in 65 cases of lung cancer (31 cases of squamous cell
      carcinoma, 25 adenocarcinoma, 3 large cell carcinoma, and 6 small cell
      carcinoma), adjacent tissues of cancer, and normal tissues were tested by reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and analyzed by clinico
      pathological characteristics and prognosis of lung cancer. The rate of
      expressions of heparanase and VEGF-C mRNA in tumor tissues (55.4, 61.5 %) was
      significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues of cancer (12.3, 15.4 %) and
      normal tissues (3.1, 4.6 %) (P < 0.05). It was shown that heparanase and VEGF-C
      mRNA expressions did not correlate with the pathological type and grade of the
      tumor (P > 0.05), but they correlated with the clinical stage and survival time
      of the patients (P < 0.05). Overexpression of heparanase and VEGF-C mRNA in lung
      cancer tissues perhaps participates in regulation of tumorigenesis and
      progression. The expressions of heparanase and VEGF-C mRNA should be used as a
      useful marker of the biological behavior of lung cancer and as an independent
      prognosis factor for the patient's survival. 

PMID- 26884654
TI  - The Post-Surgical Long-Term Behaviour of Lung Carcinoid Tumours.
AB  - Here, we report a retrospective evaluation of long-term behaviour of lung
      carcinoids after surgery. A total of 23 patients (17 with typical pulmonary
      carcinoids and 6 with atypical pulmonary carcinoids) were enrolled in our
      hospital from April 1994 to July 2009. All patients underwent intervention at the
      Unit of Surgery and then were followed at the Unit of Oncology. The standard
      protocol for patient monitoring consisted of follow-up at 3 months after surgery,
      6 months after first control and annually for 5 years. The follow-up evaluations
      consisted in blood tests, imaging of chest and abdomen, bone scintigraphy, and
      brain computed tomography. In case of disease recurrence, patients underwent
      chemotherapy (etoposide, carboplatin) and radiotherapy. All patients were
      followed for a mean of follow-up period of 100 months, ranging between 20 and 203
      months. In the group of typical carcinoid, the observed recurrence rate at 5
      years was zero, at 10 years was 5.8 %, whereas the observed mortality rate at 5
      and 10 years was zero. In the group of atypical carcinoid, both the recurrence
      rate and the mortality rate at 5 and 10 years were 16.6 %. A statistical
      significant difference (p = 0.002) in the recurrence rate between stage I and
      stage II was observed. The overall prognosis of pulmonary carcinoids was
      favourable, and the typical carcinoids presented a better prognosis than the
      atypical ones. The stage at time of diagnosis could be considered as a predictive
      prognostic factor. 

PMID- 26884655
TI  - An Analysis of the Origins, Subjects, and Awards Received for Presentations at
      the Annual IASG Conferences (2009-2013).
AB  - s presented at scientific meetings are important for making ongoing research more
      widely known and may also reflect the quality of the parent institution's
      standard of patient care. We analyzed the abstracts presented at the annual
      meetings of IASG for the past 5 years for (i) medium of presentation
      (oral/poster/videos), (ii) subjects discussed, (iii) institution of origin, (iv)
      whether a prospective/ retrospective study or a case report, (v) changing trends,
      and (vi) awards received. Of the 1340 abstracts analyzed, there were 18.5 % oral,
      74.9 % posters, and 6.5 % videos presented from 205 in 2009 to 388 in 2012. The
      main organs discussed were the liver (19.3 %) pancreas (18.8 %), and biliary
      system (14.4 %). Sixty percent was from the private sector with Sir Ganga Ram,
      SGRH (95) and the Apollo Hospital, New Delhi (60), being the most prolific. From
      public institutes, the abstracts were predominantly from PGIMER, Chandigarh (39)
      and GB Pant Hospital (37). Thirty-three percent was from DNB and 25 % from M.Ch
      GI Surgery centres and 42 % was from others (most of these were as posters).
      There were 1016 (75.8 %) prospective/retrospective studies and 324 (24.2 %) case
      reports. Presentations, especially those related to liver transplantation, showed
      an increase. The main awards were won by SGRH (8); AIIMS, New Delhi (7); and
      JIPMER, Puducherry (6). Over the last 5 years, abstracts presented at the IASG
      have increased in number especially those dealing with the hepato-pancreatico
      biliary system and liver transplantation. Most presentations were from "academic"
      departments, and similar analyses may inform us where we are heading and
      stimulate healthy competition. 

PMID- 26884656
TI  - The Effect of Helicobacter pylori on Gastric Cancer Treated with Adjuvant
      Chemotherapy After Curative Resection.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori has been associated with diverse pathologies of varying
      severity. We investigated the H. pylori infection status and its association with
      the pathologic features and clinical outcomes in stage III gastric cancer
      patients treated with adjuvant therapy after curative resection. Between 2004 and
      2009, the records of 76 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. H.
      pylori infection was confirmed by examination of pathological specimen. The
      relationship between H. pylori and the clinicopathological features was analyzed
      by Fisher exact test, Student's t test, and Kaplan-Meier method. Of the 76
      patients, 16 patients (21.1 %) were confirmed for H. pylori infection. The median
      age was 59 years. Twenty-three patients received chemotherapy and remainder
      received chemoradiotherapy. H. pylori status did not correlate with the
      clinicopathologic features. It was greater in non-neoplastic tissue than the
      tumor tissue (21.1 vs 7.9 %). Median follow-up was 21 months. During this period,
      88.2 % patients had experienced tumor recurrence, and 85.5 % patients had died.
      Recurrence was observed in 87.5 % patients and in 88.3 % patients in H. pylori
      positive and H. pylori-negative patients, respectively (P = 0.92). Disease-free
      survival was 28.4 +/- 7.9 months and overall survival was 31.5 +/- 7.4 months in
      H. pylori-positive patients compared with 28.3 +/- 3.7 and 33.2 +/- 3.4 months,
      respectively, in H. pylori-negative patients. H. pylori infection status did not
      have effect on the overall or disease-free survival (p = 0.85 and P = 0.86),
      respectively. H. pylori status might not be useful as a prognostic and predictive
      factor for clinical outcomes. 

PMID- 26884657
TI  - Role of Combined Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Axillary Node Sampling in
      Clinically Node-Negative Breast Cancer.
AB  - Axillary lymph node status is a prognostic marker in breast cancer management,
      and axillary surgery plays an important role in staging and local control. This
      study aims to assess whether a combination of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)
      using patent blue dye and axillary node sampling (ANS) offers equivalent
      identification rate to dual tracer technique. Furthermore, we aim to investigate
      whether there are any potential benefits to this combined technique.
      Retrospective study of 230 clinically node-negative patients undergoing breast
      conserving surgery for single T1-T3 tumours between 2006 and 2011. Axillae were
      staged using a combined blue dye SLNB/ANS technique. SLNs were localized in
      226/230 (identification rate 98.3 %). Three of one hundred ninety-two patients
      with a negative SLN were found to have positive ANS nodes and 1/4 failed SLNB
      patients had positive ANS nodes. Thirty-four of two hundred twenty-six patients
      had SLN metastases and 11/34 (32.4 %) also had a positive non-sentinel lymph node
      on ANS. Twenty-one of twenty-four (87.5 %) node-positive T1 tumours had single
      node involvement. Nine of thirty-eight node-positive patients progressed to
      completion axillary clearance (cALND), and the rest were treated with axillary
      radiotherapy. Axillary recurrence was nil at median 5 year follow-up.
      Complementing SLNB with axillary node sampling (ANS) decreases the unavoidable
      false-negative rate associated with SLNB. Appropriate operator experience and
      technique can result in an SLN localization rate of 98 %, rivalling a dual tracer
      technique. The additional insight offered by ANS into the status of non-sentinel
      nodes has potential applications in an era of less frequent cALND. 

PMID- 26884658
TI  - Effect of Curcumin in Experimental Peritonitis.
AB  - Despite medical advancements, the inflammatory cascade and oxidative stress
      worsen the prognosis in most cases of peritonitis. Curcumin has emerged as a
      potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in few of the acute
      inflammatory and infective conditions. We examined the effect of intraperitoneal
      injection of curcumin in endotoxin-induced peritonitis in rats. The blood and
      peritoneal fluid samples were collected at 3 and 24 h following the induction of
      peritonitis. Animals were sacrificed at 24 h and the organs preserved. The
      histopathological report of lung, liver, and intestines in the curcumin-treated
      rats showed maintenance of tissue architecture to a large extent compared to the
      control group which showed massive congestion, hemorrhage, and necrosis. The
      blood and peritoneal fluid total count and differential neutrophil counts were
      significantly higher at 24 h of induction of peritonitis. Serum amyloid assay and
      lipid peroxidation were significantly lower, and myeloperoxidase assay was higher
      in the curcumin-treated group at the end of 24 h; thus, curcumin probably
      demonstrated a neutrophil-mediated immunopotentiation and anti-inflammatory
      action thereby protecting the animal from endotoxemia-induced multi-organ damage.

PMID- 26884659
TI  - High-Pressure Water Swelling Sealant Injection Injury to the Hand: a Case Report
      and Review of the Literature.
AB  - High-pressure injection injuries (HPII) caused by water swelling sealant are rare
      at present. The patient generally has small-sized skin lesions, and the
      misleadingly benign presentation may cause delayed treatment at the early stage
      of management. In addition, radiographic examination may be underestimated.
      Subsequently, the inadequate surgical intervention may cause tissue necrosis and
      poor prognosis. Furthermore, the early recognition of water swelling sealant
      injected into tissue and emergent surgical intervention are the key to successful
      management for the patient with HPII caused by injecting water swelling sealant
      to tissue. 

PMID- 26884660
TI  - Application of Ultrasound-Guided Ilioinguinal/Iliohypogastric Nerve Block in
      Pediatric Same-Day Surgery.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound
      guided ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve block (IINB) in pediatric patients
      undergoing same-day inguinal region surgery. Ninety patients aged 4-6 years, ASA
      levels I-II, were randomly divided into three groups: U, T, or C (n = 30 each).
      After basic anesthesia, patients in group U underwent ultrasound-guided IINB,
      those in group T underwent traditional Schulte-Steinberg IINB, and those in group
      C (controls) received intravenous anesthesia (ketamine-propofol) only. Patients
      who remained sensitive to intraoperative stimuli received additional intravenous
      doses of 1 mg/kg ketamine. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and
      oxygen saturation (SPO2) were recorded upon entering the operating room (T0), at
      skin incision (T1), while pulling the hernia sac (T2), during skin closing (T3),
      and upon awakening (T4) at recovery. HR and MAP at T1, T2, and T4 were higher in
      group C than those in the other two groups, and recovery time in group C was
      significantly prolonged (P < 0.05). Group U required significantly lower
      quantities and frequency of ketamine injection, and pain scores in group U during
      awakening were lower than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Ultrasound
      guided IINB provided an improved nerve block effect and postoperative analgesia,
      reduced the amount of local anesthetic required, facilitated more rapid
      postoperative recovery, and was a safe and effective method of anesthesia. 

PMID- 26884662
TI  - Malrotation of the Intestine in Adult and Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - Malrotation of the gut is a congenital anomaly and usually presents in childhood.
      Rarely, it may present in adults. Patients may be asymptomatic, and malrotation
      is detected during investigations, operation or autopsy. It can cause
      longstanding abdominal symptoms like pain, dyspepsia or acute abdomen due to
      volvulus. In adults, malrotation is found with different gastrointestinal
      malignancies like gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic and, in particular,
      colorectal neoplasms. We are reporting a case of 60-year-old female presented
      with carcinoma caecum along with malrotation of the gut. It is the first case
      report from India. We also reviewed documented cases of malrotation associated
      with colorectal malignancies. A large number of cases have been reported in Japan
      as compared to rest of the world. Malrotation in adults is probably associated
      with gastrointestinal malignancies. Possible causes of this association can be
      genetic factors or gut changes like chronic inflammation. These associations need
      further study to consider intestinal malrotation as premalignant lesion which may
      be very important in follow-up of children with malrotation. 

PMID- 26884663
TI  - Spontaneous Disappearance of a Large Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Pleasant
      Surprise.
AB  - We report an extremely rare case of spontaneous complete disappearance of a large
      chronic subdural hematoma in a 78-year aged man with a significant mass effect
      and a large midline shift which was diagnosed around 6 weeks before admission.
      Repeat NCCT of the head in our department to everyone's surprise revealed almost
      complete spontaneous resolution. Spontaneous resolution of a large chronic
      subdural hematoma is extremely rare, and the scarce literature whatsoever is
      available is especially in cases of immune thrombocytopenic purpura where
      steroids may play a role in the stabilization of neomembranes. Our interest is in
      this case because of the benign clinical course despite a large size causing
      severe mass effect and large midline shift. Chronic subdural hematoma is a common
      entity in the elderly generally seen weeks following minor trauma. Surgical
      evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma remains the gold standard treatment,
      but controversy exists regarding the best surgical option. Spontaneous resolution
      of a chronic subdural hematoma has also been reported rarely, but mainly in
      patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. 

PMID- 26884664
TI  - Stab Wound in the Skull Treated with a Medial Supraorbital Craniotomy Through an
      Incision in the Eyebrow-a Minimally Invasive Approach.
AB  - The eyebrow incision associated with medial supraorbital craniotomy is a
      minimally invasive alternative approach to the lesions located in the medial
      anterior cranial fossa. The main advantages of the medial supraorbital craniotomy
      regarding frontolateral supraorbital craniotomy are the absence of manipulation
      of the temporal muscle, less risk of injury to the frontotemporal branch of the
      facial nerve and a more medial view of the anterior structures such as frontal
      sinus, olfatory groove and frontal lobe. We report a unique case of cranial stab
      wound in which a piece of the knife stayed in the frontal sinus and removal was
      performed using the medial supraorbital approach. There were no complications
      during surgery, the patient reported mild hypoesthesia in the left frontal region
      and was discharged on the 7th postoperative day. During follow-up after 2 months,
      good cosmetic result of the surgical wound and preserved sensitivity of the left
      frontal region were noted. 

PMID- 26884661
TI  - Pancreatic Tuberculosis.
AB  - Tuberculosis of the pancreas is extremely rare and in most of the cases mimics
      pancreatic carcinoma. There are a number of case reports on pancreatic
      tuberculosis with various different presentations, but only a few case series
      have been published, and most of our knowledge about this disease comes from
      individual case reports. Patients of pancreatic tuberculosis may remain
      asymptomatic initially and manifest as an abscess or a mass involving local lymph
      nodes and usually present with non-specific features. Pancreatic tuberculosis may
      present with a wide range of imaging findings. It is difficult to diagnose
      tuberculosis of pancreas on imaging studies as they may present with masses,
      cystic lesions or abscesses and mass lesions in most of the cases mimic
      pancreatic carcinoma. As it is a rare entity, it cannot be recommended but
      suggested that pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered in cases with a large
      space occupying lesions associated with necrotic peripancreatic lymph nodes and
      constitutional symptoms. Ultrasonography/computed tomography/endosonography
      guided biopsy is the recommended diagnostic technique. Most patients achieve
      complete cure with standard antituberculous therapy. The aims of this study are
      to review clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, and management of pancreatic
      tuberculosis and to present our experience of 5 cases of pancreatic tuberculosis.

PMID- 26884665
TI  - Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Arising in the Pancreatic Head: a Rare Case
      Report.
AB  - Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplastic lesion with
      tendency toward local aggressive behavior and recurrence. It is primarily a
      visceral and soft tissue tumor; however, involvement of pancreas is extremely
      unusual. A localization in the pancreas needs differentiation from other tumors
      and chronic pancreatitis. We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor
      arising in pancreatic head in a 32-year-old female who underwent Whipple's
      procedure. 

PMID- 26884667
TI  - Esophageal Cancer with a Synchronous Multiple Carcinoid of the Duodenal Bulb.
AB  - Carcinoid tumors of the duodenum are relatively rare. Although they were
      considered benign lesions, they are now classified malignant, occasionally with
      poor prognosis. We report a case of esophageal cancer with a synchronous multiple
      carcinoid of the duodenal bulb. An upper endoscopy visualized with esophageal
      scan disclosed a stenotic lesion in the lower esophagus and revealed multiple 4-
      5-mm-diameter masses which were on the fore wall of the duodenal bulb. The
      postoperative pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal squamous
      cancer and duodenal bulb carcinoid. 

PMID- 26884666
TI  - Thymectomy Cures Diabetes Mellitus and Ameliorates Myasthenia Gravis in a Patient
      with Thymus Hyperplasia and Hyperthyroidism: Report of a Case.
AB  - Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a devastating autoimmune disease that involves the
      acetylcholine receptor (AchR) in the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular
      junction. It is not uncommon for MG to accompany with other autoimmune diseases
      and complicate with multiple organ dysfunction. Here, we report on an 18-year-old
      female patient with a rare case of MG concomitant with thymus hyperplasia,
      diabetes mellitus, and hyperthyroidism. After full excision of the hyperplastic
      thymus gland, the patient's muscle weakness was greatly improved and her blood
      glucose level was restored to normal at the 6-month follow-up. 

PMID- 26884668
TI  - Gastric Cancer and Paraneoplastic Pemphigus.
AB  - Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a relatively rare but significant acquired autoimmune
      mucocutaneous disorder that is characterised by diffuse erythema, painful
      blistering and sores of the skin and mucus membranes. The underlying pathogenesis
      is believed to be triggered by altered immune system in response to underlying
      neoplasm. The manifestations can predate, occur at the same time or after the
      diagnosis of cancer. Associations with gastric cancer have only been reported
      twice. A 78-year-old lady presented with a month's history of extensive skin
      lesions that started off as bullous lesions and biopsy revealed bullous
      pemphigus. Endoscopy for anemia revealed gastric cancer. This case reinforced the
      need to consider underlying malignancy in elderly patient with new onset
      dermatological presentation. 

PMID- 26884669
TI  - Clinicoradiological Images of a Rare Type of Lumbar Hernia.
AB  - A surgeon will rarely see a case of lumbar hernia in his lifetime. They are
      usually divided into superior and inferior types, but in cases of huge hernias
      where anatomical delineation is not possible, they are called as diffuse. Further
      classification into primary and secondary types (on the basis of etiology) and
      congenital and acquired types is done. Evisceration in a lumbar hernia can be
      present due to secondary causes but never spontaneously. This is therefore
      probably the first reported case of a primary eviscerated diffuse lumbar hernia. 

PMID- 26884670
TI  - An Accessory Renal Artery Originating from the Testicular Artery, a Rare Variant.
AB  - Renal artery variations including their source, number, and course are very
      common. Accessory renal arteries were discovered frequently on the left side;
      these arteries entered the upper or lower poles of the kidney. The present
      cadaver showed a testicular artery origin of the accessory renal artery, which
      was seldomly described previously. 

PMID- 26884671
TI  - Random Cheek Skin Flap: a Simple Alternative for Intraoral Defects.
AB  - Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is one of the common cancers in India. The
      lesion usually presents as an ulcer and sometimes as a nodule. A variety of
      premalignant lesions and submucous fibrosis are common. The mucosal defect after
      resection needs to be covered. We present a new and simpler way of reconstruction
      of the oral cavity lining by using extra cheek skin. 

PMID- 26884672
TI  - Innovative Approach to a Frozen Calot's Triangle During Laparoscopic
      Cholecystectomy.
AB  - The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the "gold standard." In around 2 % of
      cases, there is a need to convert because of the difficult dissection encountered
      in the Calot's Triangle, a "frozen Calot's triangle." There is no consensus among
      surgeons about how to tackle this situation. To lower the conversion rate, there
      is a continuous attempt made to innovate. The authors present their rationale and
      experience in 100 difficult cases by creating a retro-gallbladder tunnel and
      encircling the gallbladder by a gauze for maneuvering. 

PMID- 26884673
TI  - Using Pork Skin as a Practice Medium for Learning Hair Transplantation
      Techniques.
AB  - A simple technique using pork skin and excess hair and epidermis harvested from
      anti-wrinkle surgeries was used to practice hair transplantation techniques. This
      allows inexperienced physicians to practice and perform the traditional steps of
      hair transplantation without involving an actual patient in the early stages of
      perfecting technique. The technique uses pork skin during the procedure, while
      performing real-time hair transplantation simulation. The surgical result of the
      procedure can then be visualized, and the training process can be repeated at
      will; peer evaluation is performed after completion. Results showed that
      residents that practiced this technique scored consistently better than those
      without the same training background. Every score increased with practice, and
      the length of time needed to complete the hair transplantation process decreased.
      A simple technique using pork skin for practicing hair transplantation technique
      is a valuable training tool, and gives residents a way to practice sound
      techniques along with more precise anatomical familiarity for hair
      transplantation surgery, without the risks associated with training on live
      patients. 

PMID- 26884674
TI  - Crystallized or Liquid Phenol Application in Pilonidal Sinus Treatment.

PMID- 26884675
TI  - Gangrenous Jejunogastric Intussusception: Is Reduction advisable?

PMID- 26884676
TI  - Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair in 221 Patients: Outcomes and Experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hiatal hernia is a common condition often associated
      with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The objectives of this
      study were to examine the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic hiatal hernia
      repair (LHHR) with biologic mesh to reduce and/or alleviate GERD symptoms and
      associated hiatal hernia recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed
      consecutive LHHR procedures with biologic mesh performed by a single surgeon from
      July 2009 to October 2014. The primary efficacy outcome measures were relief from
      GERD symptoms, as measured according to the GERD-health-related quality-of-life
      (GERD-HRQL) scale and hiatal hernia recurrence. A secondary outcome measure was
      overall safety of the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients underwent LHHR
      with biologic mesh during the study period, and pre- and postoperative GERD-HRQL
      studies were available for 172 of them. At baseline (preoperative), the mean GERD
      HRQL score for all procedures was 18.5 +/- 14.4. At follow-up (mean, 14.5 +/-
      11.0 months [range, 2.0-56.0]), the score showed a statistically significant
      decline to a mean of 4.4 +/- 7.5 (P < .0001). To date, 8 patients (3.6%, 8/221)
      have had a documented anatomic hiatal hernia recurrence. However, a secondary
      hiatal hernia repair reoperation was necessary in only 1 patient. Most
      complications were minor (dysphagia, nausea and vomiting). However, there was 1
      death caused by a hemorrhage that occurred 1 week after surgery. CONCLUSIONS:
      Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair using biologic mesh, both with and without a
      simultaneous bariatric or antireflux procedure, is an efficacious and safe
      therapeutic option for management of hiatal hernia, prevention of recurrence, and
      relief of symptomatic GERD.

PMID- 26884677
TI  - Phi Class of Glutathione S-transferase Gene Superfamily Widely Exists in Nonplant
      Taxonomic Groups.
AB  - Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute a superfamily of enzymes involved in
      detoxification of noxious compounds and protection against oxidative damage. GST
      class Phi (GSTF), one of the important classes of plant GSTs, has long been
      considered as plant specific but was recently found in basidiomycete fungi.
      However, the range of nonplant taxonomic groups containing GSTFs remains unknown.
      In this study, the distribution and phylogenetic relationships of nonplant GSTFs
      were investigated. We identified GSTFs in ascomycete fungi, myxobacteria, and
      protists Naegleria gruberi and Aureococcus anophagefferens. GSTF occurrence in
      these bacteria and protists correlated with their genome sizes and habitats.
      While this link was missing across ascomycetes, the distribution and abundance of
      GSTFs among ascomycete genomes could be associated with their lifestyles to some
      extent. Sequence comparison, gene structure, and phylogenetic analyses indicated
      divergence among nonplant GSTFs, suggesting polyphyletic origins during
      evolution. Furthermore, in silico prediction of functional partners suggested
      functional diversification among nonplant GSTFs. 

PMID- 26884679
TI  - Toward Signaling-Driven Biomarkers Immune to Normal Tissue Contamination.
AB  - The goal of this study was to discover a minimally invasive pathway-specific
      biomarker that is immune to normal cell mRNA contamination for diagnosing head
      and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Using Elsevier's MedScan natural
      language processing component of the Pathway Studio software and the TRANSFAC
      database, we produced a curated set of genes regulated by the signaling networks
      driving the development of HNSCC. The network and its gene targets provided prior
      probabilities for gene expression, which guided our CoGAPS matrix factorization
      algorithm to isolate patterns related to HNSCC signaling activity from a
      microarray-based study. Using patterns that distinguished normal from tumor
      samples, we identified a reduced set of genes to analyze with Top Scoring Pair in
      order to produce a potential biomarker for HNSCC. Our proposed biomarker
      comprises targets of the transcription factor (TF) HIF1A and the FOXO family of
      TFs coupled with genes that show remarkable stability across all normal tissues.
      Based on validation with novel data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), measured
      by RNAseq, and bootstrap sampling, the biomarker for normal vs. tumor has an
      accuracy of 0.77, a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.54, and an area under
      the curve (AUC) of 0.82. 

PMID- 26884678
TI  - HTSFinder: Powerful Pipeline of DNA Signature Discovery by Parallel and
      Distributed Computing.
AB  - Comprehensive effort for low-cost sequencing in the past few years has led to the
      growth of complete genome databases. In parallel with this effort, a strong need,
      fast and cost-effective methods and applications have been developed to
      accelerate sequence analysis. Identification is the very first step of this task.
      Due to the difficulties, high costs, and computational challenges of alignment
      based approaches, an alternative universal identification method is highly
      required. Like an alignment-free approach, DNA signatures have provided new
      opportunities for the rapid identification of species. In this paper, we present
      an effective pipeline HTSFinder (high-throughput signature finder) with a
      corresponding k-mer generator GkmerG (genome k-mers generator). Using this
      pipeline, we determine the frequency of k-mers from the available complete genome
      databases for the detection of extensive DNA signatures in a reasonably short
      time. Our application can detect both unique and common signatures in the
      arbitrarily selected target and nontarget databases. Hadoop and MapReduce as
      parallel and distributed computing tools with commodity hardware are used in this
      pipeline. This approach brings the power of high-performance computing into the
      ordinary desktop personal computers for discovering DNA signatures in large
      databases such as bacterial genome. A considerable number of detected unique and
      common DNA signatures of the target database bring the opportunities to improve
      the identification process not only for polymerase chain reaction and microarray
      assays but also for more complex scenarios such as metagenomics and next
      generation sequencing analysis. 

PMID- 26884681
TI  - Harm Experienced from the Heavy Drinking of Family and Friends in the General
      Population: A Comparative Study of Six Northern European Countries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological research on alcohol-related harm has long given
      priority to studies on harm to the drinker. A limitation with this perspective is
      that it neglects the harm drinking causes to people around the drinker, and thus,
      it fails to give a full picture of alcohol-related harm in society. AIM: The aim
      was to compare the prevalence and correlates of experiencing harm from the heavy
      drinking by family and friends across the Nordic countries and Scotland and to
      discuss whether potential differences match levels of drinking, prevalence of
      binge drinking, and alcohol-related mortality. DATA AND METHOD: Data from recent
      national general population surveys with similar questions on experiences of
      harms from the drinking of family and friends were collected from Sweden,
      Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Scotland. RESULTS: National estimates of
      the overall population prevalence of harm from the drinking of family and friends
      ranged from 14% to 28% across these countries, with the highest prevalence in
      Finland, Iceland, and Norway and lower estimates for Denmark, Sweden, and
      Scotland. Across all countries, the prevalence of harm from heavy drinking by
      family and friends was significantly higher among women and young respondents.
      CONCLUSION: This study revealed large differences in the prevalence of harm
      across the study countries, as well as by gender and age, but the differences do
      not match the variation in population drinking and other indicators of harm. The
      implications of the findings for future research are discussed.

PMID- 26884680
TI  - Visualization of Genome Diversity in German Shepherd Dogs.
AB  - A loss of genetic diversity may lead to increased disease risks in subpopulations
      of dogs. The canine breed structure has contributed to relatively small effective
      population size in many breeds and can limit the options for selective breeding
      strategies to maintain diversity. With the completion of the canine genome
      sequencing project, and the subsequent reduction in the cost of genotyping on a
      genomic scale, evaluating diversity in dogs has become much more accurate and
      accessible. This provides a potential tool for advising dog breeders and
      developing breeding programs within a breed. A challenge in doing this is to
      present complex relationship data in a form that can be readily utilized. Here,
      we demonstrate the use of a pipeline, known as NetView, to visualize the network
      of relationships in a subpopulation of German Shepherd Dogs. 

PMID- 26884682
TI  - Potential Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Myogenic Program of Satellite Cells.
AB  - Skeletal muscle loss is associated with aging as well as pathological conditions.
      Satellite cells (SCs) play an important role in muscle regeneration. Omega-3
      fatty acids are widely studied in a variety of muscle wasting diseases; however,
      little is known about their impact on skeletal muscle regeneration. The aim of
      this review is to evaluate studies examining the effect of omega-3 fatty acids,
      alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid on the
      regulation of SC proliferation and differentiation. This review highlights
      mechanisms by which omega-3 fatty acids may modulate the myogenic program of the
      stem cell population within skeletal muscles and identifies considerations for
      future studies. It is proposed that minimally three myogenic transcriptional
      regulatory factors, paired box 7 (Pax7), myogenic differentiation 1 protein, and
      myogenin, should be measured to confirm the stage of SCs within the myogenic
      program affected by omega-3 fatty acids. 

PMID- 26884684
TI  - Ochronotic Arthropathy: Two Case Reports from a Developing Country.
AB  - Alkaptonuria is a rare inborn error of metabolism, which is classified as an
      orphan disease. It is due to the lack of an enzyme homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase,
      which results in an accumulation of homogentisic acid in different areas of the
      body, including sclera, skin, cardiac valves, articular cartilage of the large
      joints and intervertebral disks. We present two cases of alkaptonuria resulting
      in ochronotic arthropathy with advanced secondary generalized osteoarthritis,
      intervertebral disk calcifications, skin and scleral pigmentation. In these case
      reports, both patients had symptoms for >10 years before being diagnosed.
      Conservative management in the form of high-dose ascorbic acid, exercises, and
      gait aids was offered to both of them, which resulted in some symptomatic
      improvement in the first case, while the second case was lost to follow-up.
      Alkaptonuria is a rare disease, and although it does not clearly impact
      mortality, early diagnosis may improve the quality of life. 

PMID- 26884683
TI  - Glial Tau Pathology in Tauopathies: Functional Consequences.
AB  - Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the
      presence of hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau pathology in neuronal and
      glial cells. Though the ratio of neuronal and glial tau aggregates varies across
      diseases, glial tau aggregates can populate the same degenerating brain regions
      as neuronal tau aggregates. While much is known about the deleterious
      consequences of tau pathology in neurons, the relative contribution of glial tau
      pathology to these diseases is less clear. Recent studies using a number of model
      systems implicate glial tau pathology in contributing to tauopathy pathogenesis.
      This review aims to highlight the functional consequences of tau overexpression
      in glial cells and explore the potential contribution of glial tau pathology in
      the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative tauopathies. 

PMID- 26884686
TI  - Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with a Prosthetic Mechanical Heart
      Valve.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is associated with several cardiocirculatory changes that
      can significantly impact underlying cardiac disease. These changes include an
      increase in cardiac output, sodium, and water retention leading to blood volume
      expansion, and reductions in systemic vascular resistance and systemic blood
      pressure. In addition, pregnancy results in a hypercoagulable state that
      increases the risk of thromboembolic complications. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this
      study is to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women with
      mechanical prosthetic heart valves (PHVs). METHODS: This is a prospective
      observational study that included 100 pregnant patients with cardiac mechanical
      valve prostheses on anticoagulant therapy. The main maternal outcomes included
      thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications, prosthetic valve thrombosis, and
      acute decompensated heart failure. Fetal outcomes included miscarriage, fetal
      death, live birth, small-for-gestational age, and warfarin embryopathy. The
      relationship between the following were observed: - Maternal and fetal
      complications and the site of the replaced valve (mitral, aortic, or double)-
      Maternal and fetal complications and warfarin dosage (<=5 mg, >5 mg)- Maternal
      and fetal complications and the type of anticoagulation administered during the
      first trimester. RESULTS: This study included 60 patients (60%) with mitral valve
      replacement (MVR), 22 patients (22%) with aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 18
      patients (18%) with double valve replacement (DVR). A total of 65 patients (65%)
      received >5 mg of oral anticoagulant (warfarin), 33 patients (33%) received <=5
      mg of warfarin, and 2 patients (2%) received low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH;
      enoxaparin sodium) throughout the pregnancy. A total of 17 patients (17%)
      received oral anticoagulant (warfarin) during the first trimester: 9 patients
      received a daily warfarin dose of >5 mg while the remaining 8 patients received a
      daily dose of <=5 mg. Twenty-eight patients (28%) received subcutaneous (SC)
      heparin calcium and 53 patients (53%) received SC LMWH (enoxaparin sodium).
      Prosthetic valve thrombosis occurred more frequently in patients with MVR (P =
      0.008). Postpartum hemorrhage was more common in patients with aortic valve
      prostheses than in patients with mitral valve prostheses (P = 0.005). The
      incidence of perinatal death was higher in patients with AVR (P = 0.014). The
      incidence of live birth was higher in patients with DVR (P = 0.012). The
      incidence of postpartum hemorrhage was higher in patients who received a daily
      dose of >5 mg of warfarin than in patients who received <=5 mg of warfarin (P =
      0.05). The incidence of spontaneous abortion was also higher in patients
      receiving >5 mg of warfarin (P <= 0.001), while the incidence of live births was
      higher in patients receiving <=5 mg of warfarin (P = 0.008). There was a
      statistically significant difference between the anticoagulant received during
      the first trimester and cardiac outcomes. Specifically, patients on heparin
      developed more heart failure (P = 0.008), arrhythmias (P = 0.008), and
      endocarditis (P = 0.016). There was a statistically significant relationship
      between heparin shifts during the first trimester and spontaneous abortion (P =
      0.003). CONCLUSION: Warfarin use during the first trimester is safer for the
      mother but is associated with more fetal loss, especially in doses that exceed 5
      mg. The incidence of maternal complications is greater in women who receive LMWH
      or unfractionated heparin during the first trimester, especially prosthetic valve
      thrombosis, although the fetal outcome is better because heparin does not cross
      the placenta.

PMID- 26884685
TI  - Acute Coronary Syndromes in Women: Recent Treatment Trends and Outcomes.
AB  - In the USA and internationally, women experience farranging differences with
      respect to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and myocardial infarction (MI). Women
      suffer from more comorbidities than men, such as smoking, obesity, hypertension,
      diabetes, and poor mental health. They some-times exhibit atypical MI
      presentation symptoms and are overall less likely to present with chest pain.
      Women are more likely than men to encounter delays between the onset of symptoms
      and arrival at the hospital or to guideline treatment. The use of various
      surgical and pharmacological treatments, including revascularization approaches,
      also differs. Women, on average, have worse outcomes than men following MI, with
      more complications, higher mortality rates, and poorer recovery. Internationally,
      outcomes are similar despite various differences in health care and culture in
      non-US countries. In this review, we detail differences regarding ACS and MI in
      women, describing their complex correlations and discussing their possible
      causes. Educational approaches that are tailored to women might help to reduce
      the incidence of ACS and MI, as well as outcomes following hospitalization.
      Although outcomes following acute MI have been improving over the years, women
      may require special consideration in order to see continued improvement. 

PMID- 26884687
TI  - Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of In-Hospital Major Adverse Cardiac
      Events, New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation, and No-Reflow Phenomenon in Patients with
      ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio represents the balance between
      neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in the body and can be utilized as an index for
      systemic inflammatory status. The no-reflow phenomenon is defined as inadequate
      myocardial perfusion through a given segment of the coronary circulation without
      angiographic evidence of mechanical vessel obstruction. Systemic inflammatory
      status has been associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) as well as
      no-reflow. AIM: To evaluate the predictive value of N/L ratio for in-hospital
      major adverse events, NOAF, and no-reflow in patients with ST elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI). PATIENTS: Two hundred consecutive patients with
      STEMI presenting to Alexandria Main University Hospital and International Cardiac
      Center Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, from April 2013 to October 2013 were included
      in this study. METHODS: Laboratory investigation upon admission included complete
      blood count with mean platelet volume (MPV) and N/L ratio, and random plasma
      glucose (RPG) level. The results of coronary angiography indicating the infarct
      related artery (IRA), initial thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow
      in the IRA, and the TIMI flow after stenting were recorded. The patients were
      studied according to the presence of various clinical and laboratory variables,
      such as age, gender, pain-to-balloon time, location of the infarction, RPG level
      and complete blood count including N/L ratio and MPV on admission, and initial
      TIMI flow in the IRA. They were also evaluated for the final TIMI flow after the
      primary percutaneous coronary intervention, incidence of NOAF, and the incidence
      of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: The incidence rate
      of no-reflow, NOAF, and in-hospital MACE was 13.2%, 8%, and 5%, respectively,
      with cardiac death as the predominant form of in-hospital MACE. The group of no
      reflow, NOAF, and/or MACE showed significantly older age (62.29 +/- 7.90 vs 56.30
      +/- 10.34, P = 0.014), longer pain-to-balloon time (15.90 +/- 7.87 vs 6.08 +/-
      3.82 hours, P < 0.001), higher levels of RPG, N/L ratio (8.19 +/- 3.05 vs 5.44 +/
      3.53, P, 0.001), and MPV (11.90 +/- 2.09 vs 8.58 +/- 1.84 fL, P < 0.001) on
      admission. After adjustment of confounding factors, the independent predictors of
      NOAF, no-reflow, and in-hospital MACE were higher N/L ratio (odds ratio [OR] =
      3.5, P = 0.02) and older age (OR = 3.1, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Older patient
      age, longer pain-to-balloon time, hyperglycemia, higher N/L ratio, and MPV on
      admission are useful predictive factors for the occurrence of no-reflow
      postprimary percutaneous coronary intervention, NOAF, and/or in-hospital MACE.
      N/L ratio is a new strong independent predictor of no-reflow, NOAF, and/or in
      hospital MACE in patients with STEMI. The use of this simple routine biomarker
      may have a potential therapeutic implication in preventing NOAF and improving
      prognosis in STEMI revascularized patients.

PMID- 26884689
TI  - Evaluation of macrophage activation syndrome associated with systemic juvenile
      idiopathic arthritis: single center experience over a one-year period.
AB  - AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory
      properties of patients with macrophage activation syndrome and treatment
      outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of the patients who were diagnosed with
      macrophage activation syndrome secondary to systemic juvenile idiopathic
      arthritis between June 2013-May 2014 were evaluated by screening patient records.
      RESULTS: Ten patients with macrophage activation syndrome were followed up in one
      year. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was found to be 7.6+/-4.5 years. The
      most common clinical finding at presentation (80%) was increased body
      temperature. Hepatosplenomegaly was found in half of the patients. The most
      common hematological finding (90%) was anemia. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation
      rate was found to be 71.8+/-36.2 mm/h, whereas it was measured to be lower
      (31.2+/-25.2 mm/h) at the time of the diagnosis of macrophage activation
      syndrome. Increased ferritin level was found in all of our patients (the mean
      ferritin level was found to be 23 957+/-15 525 ng/mL). Hypertriglyceridemia was
      found in nine patients (90%). The mean triglyceride level was found to be 397+/
      332 mg/dL. Systemic steroid treatment was administered to all patients.
      Cyclosporine A was given to eight patients (80%), canakinumab was given to four
      patients (40%) and anakinra was given to five patients (50%). Plasmapheresis was
      performed in two patients. Improvement was found in all patients except for one
      patient. The patient in whom no improvement was observed showed a chronic course.
      CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome should be considered
      in presence of sudden disturbance in general condition, resistant high fever and
      systemic inflammation findings in children with active rheumatic disease.
      Complete recovery can be provided with early and efficient treatment in
      macrophage activation syndrome which develops secondary to systemic juvenil
      idiopathic arthritis.

PMID- 26884688
TI  - Diagnostic approach and current treatment options in childhood vasculitis.
AB  - All inflammatory changes in the vessel wall are defined as vasculitis. Pediatric
      vasculitis may present with different clinical findings. Although Henoch
      Schonlein purpura which is the most common pediatric vasculitis generally
      recovers spontaneously, it should be monitorized closely because of the risk of
      renal failure. Although Kawasaki disease is easy to diagnose with its classical
      findings, the diagnosis may be delayed in case of incomplete Kawasaki disease.
      Kawasaki disease should be considered especially in infants in case of prolonged
      fever even if the criteria are not fully met and intravenous immunoglobulin
      treatment should be administered without delay in order to prevent development of
      coronary artery aneurism. Reaction at the site of administration of Bacillus
      Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine may be observed as commonly as cervical
      lymphadenopathy in Kawasaki disease and may be used as a valuable finding in
      suspicious cases. Although anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated
      vasculitides are rare in children, renal involvement is more common and
      progression is more severe compared to adults. Hence, efficient and aggressive
      treatment is required. Takayasu's arteritis is observed commonly in young adult
      women and rarely in adolescent girls. Therefore, a careful physical examination
      and blood pressure measurement should be performed in addition to a detailed
      history in daily practice. In children with unexplained neurological findings,
      cerebral vasculitis should be considered in the absence of other systemic
      vasculitides and necessary radiological investigations should be performed in
      this regard. This review will provide an insight into the understanding of
      pediatric vasculitis, current diagnostic approaches and prognosis by the aid of
      new studies. 

PMID- 26884690
TI  - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children: a single center experience.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic data and complication
      rates in children who had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a
      three-year period in our Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and to
      interrogate parental satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The demographic data,
      complications and follow-up findings of the patients who had undergone
      percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy between March 2011 and March 2014 were
      examined retrospectively using medical files. RESULTS: Forty seven percutaneous
      endoscopic gastrostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy related procedures
      were performed in 34 children during a three-year period. The median age of the
      patients was 2.25 years (3 months-16 years, first and third quartiles=1.0-6.0)
      and the mean body weight was 13.07+/-8.6 kg (3 kg-47 kg). Before percutaneous
      endoscopic gastrostomy procedure, the mean weight z score was -2.26+/-1.2 (-5-0)
      and the mean height z score was -2.25+/-0.96 (-3.85-0.98). The follow-up mean
      height and weight Z scores at the 12(th) month after the percutaneous endoscopic
      gastrostomy procedure could be reached in 24 patients. A significant increase in
      the mean weight Z score from -2.41 to -1,07 (p=0.000) and in the mean height Z
      score from -2.29 to -1.99 (p=0.000) was found one year after percutaneous
      endoscopic gastrostomy catheter was placed in these 24 patients. Patients with
      neurological and metabolic diseases constituted the majority (64.7% and 26.5%
      respectively). Peritoneal leakage of food was detected in one patient and local
      stoma infections were detected in three patients after the procedure. During the
      follow up period, "Buried bumper syndrome" was observed in one patient. Following
      percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, the number of patients using anti-reflux
      medication increased from 16 (47.1%) to 18 (52.9%) (p=0.62). One patient with
      cerebral palsy who had aspiration pneumonia after percutaneous endoscopic
      gastrostomy insertion had undergone Nissen fundoplication. Percutaneous
      endoscopic gastrostomy tube was removed in a patient. The parents had positive
      views related with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy after the procedure.
      CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a substantially successful
      and reliable method in infants as well as in children and adolescents. The
      parents had positive views related with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy after
      the procedure.

PMID- 26884691
TI  - Evaluation of epidemiological and clinical features of influenza and other
      respiratory viruses.
AB  - AIM: In our study, we aimed to clinically and epidemiologically evaluate
      respiratory tract infections the viral agents of which were detected by molecular
      methods and to compare influenza and other respiratory tract viruses in this
      context. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of 178 patients aged above 2 years who
      presented to pediatric emergency outpatient clinic with fever and respiratory
      tract infection findings between December 2013 and April 2014 were examined
      retrospectively. RESULTS: At least one respiratory tract pathogen was detected by
      polymerase chain reaction in 78.6% (n=140) of the patients: influenza A 33.5%,
      influenza B 16.4%, respiratory syncytial virus 9.2%, adenovirus 7.8%, rhinovirus
      7.1%, coronavirus 7.1%, human metapneumovirus 5.7%, human bocavirus 5.7%,
      parainfluenza virus 3.5%, coinfection 2.8%. The mean age of the patients was
      6.3+/-3.6 years. Sixty-nine patients (49.2%) were aged between 2 and 5 years.
      Seventy-one patients (50.7%) were aged 5 years and above. Upper respiratory tract
      infection was found with a rate of 65.7% and lower respiratory tract infection
      was found with a rate of 34.2%. It was observed that the distribution of
      respiratory tract viruses showed variance by age groups. Influenza A infection
      was observed with the highest rate in both age groups. Influenza B was the second
      leading agent (p=0.008) above the age of 5 years and respiratory syncytial virus
      was the second leading agent in the 2-5 year age group (p=0.003). Influenza
      viruses were detected in 55.9% of 118 patients who were found to be compatible
      with the definition of "influenza-like illness" specified in the Center for
      Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and other viral agenst were detected in
      44%. No difference could be found between the clinical pictures and radiological
      findings caused by influenza and other respiratory tract viruses. CONCLUSIONS: In
      this study, it was concluded that influenza and other respiratory viruses can not
      be differentiated definitely by clinical and radiological findings, though there
      are some differences.

PMID- 26884692
TI  - Comparison of the efficiencies of esophageal manometry, vector volume analysis
      and esophagus pH monitoring in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux.
AB  - AIM: In this study, we aimed to compare the superiorities of esophageal
      manometry, vector volume analysis and 24-hour pH meter studies in showing
      gastroesophageal reflux disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The files of the patients
      who presented to pediatric surgery and pediatric gastroenterology outpatient
      clinics of our hospital with suspicious gastroesophageal reflux disease between
      2011 and 2012 and who were investigated were examined and 21 patients whose
      investigations had been completed were included in the study. The patients were
      evaluated by treatment method and were divided into three groups as Group 1 who
      were followed up with medical treatment, Group 2 in whom surgical intervention
      was performed and Group 3 who were not treated. Chi-square test was used in
      evaluation of the categorical variables, Kruskal Wallis test was used in
      comparison of the mean values between the groups and Dunn test was used in
      subgroup analyses when Kruskal Wallis test was found to be significant. A p value
      of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Thirteen of 21
      patients included in the study were female and eight were male. The mean age of
      the patients was 5.71 years (one-16 years). In the 24-hour pH monitoring study,
      the mean reflux index was found to be 48.7% in Group 1, 42.4% in Group 2 and
      28.3% in Group 3. In esophageal manometry studies, the pressure difference at
      lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was found to be 13,4 cm H2O in Group 1, 31.8 cm
      H2O in Group 2 and 4.3 cmH2O in Group 3. In vector volume analyses, the mean
      vector volume was calculated to be 96.01 cm(3) in Group 1, 2 398.9 cm(3) in Group
      2 and 196.3 cm(3) in Group 3. In the 24-hour pH monitoring study, a statistically
      significant difference (p<0.05) was found in terms of showing reflux, whereas
      statistical significance could not be shown in terms of need for surgical
      treatment or need for medical treatment in any other method (p>0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring was found to be efficient in making a
      diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, whereas esophageal manometry and
      vector volume analyses were not found to be efficient.

PMID- 26884694
TI  - Our patients followed up with a diagnosis of neurogenic pulmonary edema.
AB  - Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a clinical situation which developes as a result of
      central nervous system injury. It is rare in the childhood. Neurogenic pulmonary
      edema is a clinical diagnosis. Although the pathogenesis is not elucidated well,
      there is increase in pulmonary interstitial and alveolar fluid. The main
      principle in treatment of neurogenic pulmonary edema is supportive treatment and
      decreasing intracranial pressure as in acute respiratory distress syndrome. In
      this article, clinical properties of our two patients diagnosed with neurogenic
      pulmonary edema developed as a result of central nervous system injury are
      presented. 

PMID- 26884693
TI  - Foreign body ingestion in children.
AB  - AIM: Foreign bodies ingested by the oral route enter into the gastrointestinal
      tract and are considered a significant health problem in the childhood. In this
      study, we evaluated the pediatric patients who presented to our hospital with the
      complaint of ingestion of foreign body. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The hospital
      records of all children who presented to our clinic because of ingestion of
      foreign body between January 2008 and January 2015 were examined retrospectively.
      The complaints at admission, the types of foreign bodies ingested, the
      localization of the foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract and the approaches
      and treatment methods used were examined. RESULTS: Thirty-six (56%) of 64
      patients included in the study were male and 28 (44%) were female and the mean
      age was 5.7+/-4.6 years (10 months-17 years). Thirty eight (59%) of 64 children
      who were included in the assessment were below the age of five years. The most
      common complaint at presentation was parental recognition of the ingested object
      and dysphagia. The most commonly ingested foreign bodies included coins, sewing
      pins, safety pins and hairclips. Nail clipper detected in the stomach, sewing pin
      which penetrated through the duodenal wall and stuck to hepatic parenchyma were
      the first pediatric cases in the literature. Upper esophagus was the most common
      location for foreign bodies. Endoscopic examinations were performed in 55 of 64
      children. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and treatment of ingested foreign bodies
      in the upper gastrointestinal system is important in terms of preventing possible
      complications. In our study, the most frequent foreign bodies detected in the
      upper digestive tract were coins and they were most frequently detected in the
      upper esophagus. Most of our patients were below the age of five years. Flexible
      endoscopic method was used commonly for treatment.

PMID- 26884695
TI  - Hair-thread tourniquet syndrome in a preterm baby.
AB  - Hair-thread tourniquet syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the
      encircling of an appendage by a hair or thread. It usually occurs in children
      under the age of one year. The tourniquet syndrome may occur in different parts
      of the body, particularly in toes, fingers, penis, clitoris, labia, neck and
      uvula. It is an emergency condition that induces progressive edema, ischaemia and
      tissue necrosis and can lead to autoamputation of digits or other strangulated
      structures. Emergency treatment is careful removal of the constricting fiber. We
      report a preterm newborn with hair-thread tourniquet syndrome affecting multiple
      toes born at the 28th gestational week with the aim of preventing potential
      complications by increasesing awareness of the condition. 

PMID- 26884696
TI  - Seizures due to high dose camphor ingestion.
AB  - Camphor is a cyclic ketone of the hydro aromatic terpene group. Today it is
      frequently used as a prescription or non-prescription topical antitussive,
      analgesic, anesthetic and antipruritic agent. Camphor which is considered an
      innocent drug by parents and physicians is a common household item which can lead
      to severe poisoning in children even when taken in small amounts. Neurotoxicity
      in the form of seizures can ocur soon after ingestion. A two-year old female
      patient who presented with a complaint of generalized tonic-clonic seizures after
      oral ingestion of camphor is presented. 

PMID- 26884697
TI  - West syndrome due to vitamin B12 deficiency.
AB  - Vitamin B12 is one of the essential vitamins affecting various systems of the
      body. Vitamin B12 deficiency in infants often produces haematological and
      neurological deficits including macrocyticanaemia, neurodevelopmental delay or
      regression, irritability, weakness, hypotonia, ataxia, apathy, tremor
      andseizures. In this article, we report the case of a six-month-old male patient
      diagnosed with West syndrome associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Although the
      patient had no evidence of macrocytic anemia in complete blood count, we measured
      the level of vitamin B12 because the patient had hypotonicity and found it to be
      low. No other problem was found in the other investigations directed to the
      etiology of West syndrome. He was being exclusively breast-fed and vitamin B12
      deficiency was related with nutritional inadequacy of his mother. Vitamin B12
      deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients
      presenting with different neurological findings. In addition, vitamin B12
      deficiency should be considered as a rare cause in West syndrome which has a
      heterogeneous etiology. 

PMID- 26884698
TI  - Renal involvement in tuberous sclerosis complex.

PMID- 26884699
TI  - Manual for proposing a Part of the List of Available Names (LAN) in Zoology.

PMID- 26884700
TI  - Horst Aspock, encyclopedist and entomologist extraordinaire - a personal
      appreciation.
AB  - The paper provides an overview of the life and work of Prof. Dr. Horst Aspock,
      the doyen of neuropterology, on the occasion of his 75(th) birthday. It
      particularly emphasizes his outstanding contributions to the development of
      neuropterology since the 1960s. 

PMID- 26884701
TI  - One new species and two new records of the genus Aeolothrips from Iran (Insecta,
      Thysanoptera, Aeolothripidae).
AB  - Aeolothrips gundeliae sp. n. is described, and two bicolored species of the same
      genus, Aeolothrips ericae Bagnall and Aeolothrips albithorax Pelikan are newly
      reported from northeast of Iran. Diagnostic characters are provided for each
      species as well as illustrations to distinguish these species. 

PMID- 26884702
TI  - The Taxonomic Significance of ducts in the corolla lobes of Vernonia (Vernonieae:
      Asteraceae).
AB  - The multiple longitudinal ducts in the corolla lobes found in the closely related
      genera Vernonia, Vernonanthura and Trepadonia are microscopically studied and
      illustrated. The lack of such ducts in the two South American species that have
      until now been retained in Vernonia indicates that they should probably be
      excluded from the genus. 

PMID- 26884703
TI  - Marrubium eriocephalum (Lamiaceae); a species new to the flora of Turkey, with
      contributions to its taxonomy.
AB  - Marrubium eriocephalum (Lamiaceae) is described as a new record for the Flora of
      Turkey (B9 Van). A detailed morphological description, photographs, distribution
      map, and pollen and nutlet morphology of this new record are given. 

PMID- 26884704
TI  - Floristic survey of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic and palustrine angiosperms
      of Virua National Park, Roraima, Brazil.
AB  - We provide and discuss a floristic survey of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic
      and palustrine angiosperms of Virua National Park (VNP). The VNP is located in
      the northern Amazon basin and displays phytophysiognomies distributed in a mosaic
      where these plants occur, as flooded forests, hydromorphic white-sand savannas,
      "buritizais" and waterbodies. After expeditions between February/2010 and
      January/2015 and the analysis of specimens from regional herbaria, we list 207
      species of herbaceous and subshrubby aquatic and palustrine angiosperms for the
      VNP, distributed in 85 genera in 37 families. We recorded six new occurrences for
      Brazil, two for the northern Brazilian region and 21 for Roraima state. These new
      occurrences, added to the other species listed here, highlight the floristic
      similarity between the study site and the Guiana Shield, an adjacent
      phytogeographical unit and geologically related to the origin of white-sand
      savannas. 

PMID- 26884705
TI  - A revision of the genus Osmoxylon (Araliaceae) in Palau, including two new
      species.
AB  - Osmoxylon Miq. (Araliaceae) is revised for Palau, Micronesia including
      descriptions of two new taxa Osmoxylon leidichii Costion, sp. nov. and Osmoxylon
      ngardokense Costion, sp. nov. Full descriptions are provided for all four Palau
      species, along with diagnostic field keys. 

PMID- 26884706
TI  - A comprehensive checklist of vascular epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest reveals
      outstanding endemic rates.
AB  - Knowledge of the geographic distribution of plants is essential to underpin the
      understanding of global biodiversity patterns. Vascular epiphytes are important
      components of diversity and functionality of Neotropical forests but, unlike
      their terrestrial counterparts, they are under-represented in large-scale
      diversity and biogeographic analyses. This is the case for the Atlantic Forest -
      one of the most diverse and threatened biomes worldwide. We provide the first
      comprehensive species list of Atlantic Forest vascular epiphytes; their endemism
      patterns and threatened species occurrence have also been analyzed. A list with
      2,256 species of (hemi-)epiphytes - distributed in 240 genera and 33 families -
      is presented based on the updated Brazilian Flora Checklist. This represents more
      than 15% of the total vascular plant richness in the Atlantic Forest. Moreover,
      256 species are included on the Brazilian Red List. More than 93% of the overall
      richness is concentrated in ten families, with 73% represented by Orchidaceae and
      Bromeliaceae species alone. A total of 78% of epiphytic species are endemic to
      the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to overall vascular plant endemism in this biome
      estimated at 57%. Among the non-endemics, 13% of epiphytic species also occur
      either in the Amazon or in the Cerrado - the other two largest biomes of Brazil -
      and only 8% are found in two or more Brazilian biomes. This pattern of endemism,
      in addition to available dated phylogenies of some genera, indicate the dominance
      of recent radiations of epiphytic groups in the Atlantic Forest, showing that the
      majority of divergences dating from the Pliocene onwards are similar to those
      that were recently reported for other Neotropical plants. 

PMID- 26884707
TI  - On the identity of Blanco's Cissus frutescens and its correct name in Melicope
      (Rutaceae) with neotypification of Cissus arborea Blanco.
AB  - The names Cissus frutescens and Cissus arborea have a long history of confusion.
      Cissus frutescens Blanco belongs to the genus Melicope (Rutaceae) and we herein
      correct a nomenclatural mistake made by T.G. Hartley in the revision of Melicope.
      The name Melicope confusa (Merr.) P.S. Liu was accepted for this taxon by
      Hartley. However, Cissus frutescens Blanco represents the earliest name for this
      entity and a new combination, Melicope frutescens (Blanco) Appelhans & J.Wen is
      herein proposed. Neotypification of Cissus arborea Blanco is also provided. 

PMID- 26884708
TI  - Encyclia inopinata (Orchidaceae, Laeliinae) a new species from Mexico.
AB  - A new species of Encyclia from Mexico, Encyclia inopinata, is described and
      illustrated. This species is similar to Encyclia diota but it can be
      distinguished by its usually more robust plants with 2-3 leaves per pseudobulb
      and its flowers with longer and narrower sepals (1.8+/-0.1 * 0.63+/-0.03 cm in
      Encyclia inopinata versus 1.48 +/-0.14 * 0.65+/-0.06 cm in Encyclia diota) and
      petals (1.7+/-0.05 * 0.59+/-0.05 cm in Encyclia inopinata vs. 1.36 +/-0.19 *
      0.81+/-0.13 cm in Encyclia diota), and the labellum with narrower lateral lobes
      (0.18+/-0.02 cm in Encyclia inopinata vs. 0.41+/-0.10 cm in Encyclia diota).
      Other characters that differentiate these two species are the coriaceous sepals,
      pink callus, and white anther of Encyclia inopinata (versus fleshy-leathery
      sepals, white callus, and yellow anther of Encyclia diota). The new species can
      be found in deciduous forests along the Pacific slope of Oaxaca state, near of
      the border with Guerrero state, at about 1200 m. It blooms between March and
      July. 

PMID- 26884709
TI  - Homalium glandulosum (Salicaceae), a new species from Vu Quang National Park,
      North Central Vietnam.
AB  - Homalium glandulosum Tagane & V. H. Nguyen, from Vu Quang National Park in
      northern Vietnam, is newly described. This species is characterized by distinct
      glands, often stalked, at the base of the lamina and along the margin of the
      stipules and bracteoles. Illustrations, DNA barcodes of the two regions of rbcL
      and matK, and a key to the species of Homalium in Vietnam are also provided. 

PMID- 26884710
TI  - Two new species of Siphocampylus (Campanulaceae, Lobelioideae) from the Central
      Andes.
AB  - Two species of Siphocampylus (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) from the Central Andes
      of Peru and Bolivia are described, illustrated, and discussed with reference to
      related species. One species, Siphocampylus antonellii, is endemic to high
      elevation grasslands of Calca, Peru, while the second, Siphocampylus siberiensis,
      is endemic to cloud forests of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Both species are robust
      shrubs that produce tubular pink flowers that are likely pollinated by
      hummingbirds. 

PMID- 26884711
TI  - Typification of Zapalowicz's names in Aconitum section Aconitum.
AB  - Hugo Zapalowicz described and named 27 taxa in Aconitum sect. Aconitum. Their
      names are typified here. Two of them (Aconitum berdaui, Aconitum bucovinense) are
      deemed correct for currently accepted species of the Carpathians, 24 are reduced
      to synonymy under five taxa, and for one no original material has been located.
      The correct place and exact date of their publication, which differs from those
      usually assumed, have been ascertained by bibliographic verification and the
      study of archival documents. 

PMID- 26884712
TI  - "DNA Binding Region" of BRCA1 Affects Genetic Stability through modulating the
      Intra-S-Phase Checkpoint.
AB  - The breast cancer associated gene 1 (BRCA1) contains 3 domains: an N-terminal
      RING domain with ubiquitin E3 ligase activity, C-terminal BRCT protein
      interaction domain and a central region. RING and BRCT domains are well
      characterized, yet the function of the central region remains unclear. In this
      study, we identified an essential DNA binding region (DBR: 421-701 amino acids)
      within the central region of human BRCA1, and found that BRCA1 brings DNA
      together and preferably binds to splayed-arm DNA in a sequence-independent
      manner. To investigate the biological role of the DBR, we generated mouse ES
      cells, which lack the DBR (DeltaDBR) by using the TALEN method. The DeltaDBR
      cells exhibited decreased survival as compared to the wild type (WT) cells
      treated with a PARP inhibitor, however they have an intact ability to conduct DNA
      repair mediated by homologous recombination (HR). The DeltaDBR cells continued to
      incorporate more EdU in the presence of hydroxyurea (HU), which causes
      replication stress and exhibited reduced viability than the WT cells. Moreover,
      phosphorylation of CHK1, which regulates the intra-S phase checkpoint, was
      moderately decreased in DeltaDBR cells. These data suggest that DNA binding by
      BRCA1 affects the stability of DNA replication folks, resulting in weakened intra
      S-phase checkpoint control in the DeltaDBR cells. The DeltaDBR cells also
      exhibited an increased number of abnormal chromosome structures as compared with
      WT cells, indicating that the DeltaDBR cells have increased genetic instability.
      Thus, we demonstrated that the DBR of BRCA1 modulates genetic stability through
      the intra-S-phase checkpoint activated by replication stress. 

PMID- 26884713
TI  - Nucleophosmin Mutants Promote Adhesion, Migration and Invasion of Human Leukemia
      THP-1 Cells through MMPs Up-regulation via Ras/ERK MAPK Signaling.
AB  - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutated nucleophosmin (NPM1) has been defined
      as a unique subgroup in the new classification of myeloid neoplasm, and the AML
      patients with mutated NPM1 frequently present extramedullary infiltration, but
      how NPM1 mutants regulate this process remains elusive. In this study, we found
      that overexpression of type A NPM1 gene mutation (NPM1-mA) enhanced the adhesive,
      migratory and invasive potential in THP-1 AML cells lacking mutated NPM1. NPM1-mA
      had up-regulated expression and gelatinolytic matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP
      2)/MMP-9 activity, as assessed by real-time PCR, western blotting and gelatin
      zymography. Following immunoprecipitation analysis to identify the interaction of
      NPM1-mA with K-Ras, we focused on the effect of NPM1-mA overexpression on the
      Ras/Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling axis and showed that NPM1
      mA increased the MEK and ERK phosphorylation levels, as evaluated by western
      blotting. Notably, a specific inhibitor of the ERK/MAPK pathway (PD98059), but
      not p38/MAPK, JNK/MAPK or PI3-K/AKT inhibitors, markedly decreased the cell
      invasion numbers in a transwell assay. Further experiments demonstrated that
      blocking the ERK/MAPK pathway by PD98059 resulted in reduced MMP-2/9 protein
      levels and MMP-9 activity. Additionally, NPM1-mA overexpression had down
      regulated gene expression and protein production of tissue inhibitor of MMP-2
      (TIMP-2) in THP-1 cells. Furthermore, evaluation of gene expression data from The
      Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset revealed that MMP-2 was overexpressed in AML
      patient samples with NPM1 mutated and high MMP-2 expression associated with
      leukemic skin infiltration. Taken together, our results reveal that NPM1
      mutations contribute to the invasive potential of AML cells through MMPs up
      regulation via Ras/ERK MAPK signaling pathway activation and offer novel insights
      into the potential role of NPM1 mutations in leukemogenesis. 

PMID- 26884714
TI  - Recent Developments in Using Advanced Sequencing Technologies for the Genomic
      Studies of Lignin and Cellulose Degrading Microorganisms.
AB  - Lignin is a complex polyphenyl aromatic compound which exists in tight
      associations with cellulose and hemicellulose to form plant primary and secondary
      cell wall. Lignocellulose is an abundant renewable biomaterial present on the
      earth. It has gained much attention in the scientific community in recent years
      because of its potential applications in bio-based industries. Microbial
      degradation of lignocellulose polymers was well studied in wood decaying fungi.
      Based on the plant materials they degrade these fungi were classified as white
      rot, brown rot and soft rot. However, some groups of bacteria belonging to the
      actinomycetes, alpha-proteobacteria and beta-proteobacteria were also found to be
      efficient in degrading lignocellulosic biomass but not well understood unlike the
      fungi. In this review we focus on recent advancements deployed for finding and
      understanding the lignocellulose degradation by microorganisms. Conventional
      molecular methods like sequencing 16s rRNA and Inter Transcribed Spacer (ITS)
      regions were used for identification and classification of microbes. Recent
      progression in genomics mainly next generation sequencing technologies made the
      whole genome sequencing of microbes possible in a great ease. The whole genome
      sequence studies reveals high quality information about genes and canonical
      pathways involved in the lignin and other cell wall components degradation. 

PMID- 26884715
TI  - Caspase-3/7-mediated Cleavage of beta2-spectrin is Required for Acetaminophen
      induced Liver Damage.
AB  - The ubiquitously expressed beta2-spectrin (beta2SP, SPTBN1) is the most common
      non-erythrocytic member of the beta-spectrin gene family. Loss of beta2-spectrin
      leads to defects in liver development, and its haploinsufficiency spontaneously
      leads to chronic liver disease and the eventual development of hepatocellular
      cancer. However, the specific role of beta2-spectrin in liver homeostasis remains
      to be elucidated. Here, we reported that beta2-spectrin was cleaved by caspase
      3/7 upon treatment with acetaminophen which is the main cause of acute liver
      injury. Blockage of beta2-spectrin cleavage robustly attenuated beta2-spectrin
      specific functions, including regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and
      transcription. Cleaved fragments of beta2-spectrin were physiologically active,
      and the N- and C-terminal fragments retained discrete interaction partners and
      activity in transcriptional regulation and apoptosis, respectively. Cleavage of
      beta2-spectrin facilitated the redistribution of the resulting fragments under
      conditions of liver damage induced by acetaminophen. In contrast, downregulation
      of beta2-spectrin led to resistance to acetaminophen-induced cytotoxicity, and
      its insufficiency in the liver promoted suppression of acetaminophen-induced
      liver damage and enhancement of liver regeneration. CONCLUSIONS: beta2-Spectrin,
      a TGF-beta mediator and signaling molecule, is cleaved and activated by caspase
      3/7, consequently enhancing apoptosis and transcriptional control to determine
      cell fate upon liver damage. These findings have extended our knowledge on the
      spectrum of beta2-spectrin functions from a scaffolding protein to a target and
      transmitter of TGF-beta in liver damage.

PMID- 26884716
TI  - Lysozyme Mutants Accumulate in Cells while Associated at their N-terminal Alpha
      domain with the Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone GRP78/BiP.
AB  - Amyloidogenic human lysozyme variants deposit in cells and cause systemic
      amyloidosis. We recently observed that such lysozymes accumulate in the
      endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with the ER chaperone GRP78/BiP, accompanying the ER
      stress response. Here we investigated the region of lysozyme that is critical to
      its association with GRP78/BiP. In addition to the above-mentioned variants of
      lysozyme, we constructed lysozyme truncation or substitution mutants. These were
      co-expressed with GRP78/BiP (tagged with FLAG) in cultured human embryonic kidney
      cells, which were analyzed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry using anti
      lysozyme and anti-FLAG antibodies. The amyloidogenic variants were confirmed to
      be strongly associated with GRP78/BiP as revealed by the co-immunoprecipitation
      assay, whereas N-terminal mutants pruned of 1-41 or 1-51 residues were found not
      to be associated with the chaperone. Single amino acid substitutions for the
      leucine array along the alpha-helices in the N-terminal region resulted in wild
      type lysozyme remaining attached to GRP78/BiP. These mutations also tended to
      show lowered secretion ability. We conclude that the N-terminal alpha-helices
      region of the lysozyme is pivotal for its strong adhesion to GRP78/BiP. We
      suspect that wild-type lysozyme interacts with the GRP at this region as a step
      in the proper folding monitored by the ER chaperone. 

PMID- 26884717
TI  - Cyclosporine A Suppressed Glucose Oxidase Induced P53 Mitochondrial Translocation
      and Hepatic Cell Apoptosis through Blocking Mitochondrial Permeability
      Transition.
AB  - P53 is known as a transcription factor to control apoptotic cell death through
      regulating a series of target genes in nucleus. There is accumulating evidences
      show that p53 can directly induce cell apoptosis through transcription
      independent way at mitochondria. However, the mechanism by which p53
      translocation into mitochondria in response to oxidative stress remains unclear.
      Here, glucose oxidase (GOX) was used to induce ROS generation in HepG2 cells and
      liver tissues of mice. The results showed that p53 was stabilized and
      translocated to mitochondria in a time and dose dependent manner after GOX
      exposure. Interestingly, as an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability
      transition, cyclosporine A (CsA) was able to effectively reduce GOX mediated
      mitochondrial p53 distribution without influencing on the expression of p53
      target genes including Bcl-2 and Bax. These indicated that CsA could just block
      p53 entering into mitochondria, but not affect p53-dependent transcription.
      Meanwhile, CsA failed to inhibit the ROS generation induced by GOX, which
      indicated that CsA had no antioxidant function. Moreover, GOX induced typical
      apoptosis characteristics including, mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of
      Bax and release of cytochrome C in mitochondria, accompanied with activation of
      caspase-9 and caspase-3. These processions were suppressed after pretreatment
      with CsA and pifithrin-MU (PFT-MU, a specific inhibitor of p53 mitochondrial
      translocation). In vivo, CsA was able to attenuate p53 mitochondrial distribution
      and protect mice liver against from GOX mediated apoptotic cell death. Taken
      together, these suggested that CsA could suppress ROS-mediated p53 mitochondrial
      distribution and cell apoptosis depended on its inhibition effect to
      mitochondrial permeability transition. It might be used to rescue the hepatic
      cell apoptosis in the patients with acute liver injury. 

PMID- 26884718
TI  - Diabetes Induced Changes in Podocyte Morphology and Gene Expression Evaluated
      Using GFP Transgenic Podocytes.
AB  - The effect of diabetes in vivo has not been examined on isolated podocytes. To
      achieve this, GFP was expressed constitutively in podocytes of PGFP transgenic
      mice which were bred to OVE mice to produce diabetic OVE-GFP mice. Viewing GFP
      fluorescence, foot processes of OVE-GFP podocytes were visually and measurably
      effaced, which did not occur with less severe STZ diabetes. Over 300,000
      podocytes were purified from each PGFP mouse but only 49,000 podocytes per
      diabetic OVE-GFP mouse. The low yield from OVE-GFP mice appeared to be due to
      more fragile state of most OVE-GFP diabetic podocytes which did not survive the
      isolation process. Diabetic podocytes that were isolated had high levels of the
      lipid peroxidation product 4-HNE and they were more sensitive to death due to
      oxidative stress. Gene array analysis of OVE-GFP podocytes showed strong diabetes
      induction of genes involved in inflammation. Four CXC chemokines were induced at
      least 3-fold and the chemokine CXCL1 was shown for the first time to be
      specifically induced in podocytes by OVE, dbdb and STZ diabetes. 

PMID- 26884719
TI  - Long-term Stress with Hyperglucocorticoidemia-induced Hepatic Steatosis with VLDL
      Overproduction Is Dependent on both 5-HT2 Receptor and 5-HT Synthesis in Liver.
AB  - Hepatic triglycerides production and adipose lipolysis are pivotal for long-term
      stress (LTS) or hyperglucocorticoidemia-induced insulin resistance. 5
      hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been demonstrated to induce hepatic lipid metabolic
      abnormality by activating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In present study,
      we explored whether 5-HT is involved in LTS effects in liver using restraint
      stress-exposed rats and cultured primary rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. LTS
      with hyperglucocorticoidemia induced hepatic 5-HT synthetic increase with
      tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) up-regulation, and 5-HT2 receptor (5-HT2R,
      including 5-HT2A, 2B receptor) up-regulation in liver and visceral adipose, as
      well as hepatic mTOR activation with triglycerides and VLDL overproduction with
      steatosis, and visceral adipose lipolytic increase with high blood free fatty
      acids (FFAs) level. 5-HT exposure exhibited LTS-like effects in both tissues, and
      both LTS and 5-HT effects could be abolished significantly by blocking 5-HT2R. In
      HepG2 cells dexamethasone or palmitate-induced mTOR activation with triglycerides
      and VLDL overproduction were accompanied by up-regulations of 5-HT synthesis and
      5-HT2R, which were significantly abolished by gene silencing Tph1 or 5-HT2R and
      were almost fully abolished by co-silencing of both, especially on VLDL
      overproduction. Chemical inhibition of Tph1 or/and 5-HT2R in both hepatocytes
      exhibited similar abolishment with genetic inhibition on dexamethason-induced
      effects. 5-HT-stimulated effects in both hepatocytes were fully abolished by
      blocking 5-HT2R, while 5-HT itself also up-regulated 5-HT2R. In conclusion, up
      regulated hepatic 5-HT synthesis and 5-HT2R induced by both glucocorticoid and
      FFAs are crucial for LTS-induced hepatic steatosis with VLDL overproduction,
      while 5-HT by acting on 5-HT2R mediates mTOR activation in liver. 

PMID- 26884720
TI  - Selective Regulation of MAPK Signaling Mediates RANKL-dependent Osteoclast
      Differentiation.
AB  - Different stimuli often activate the same intracellular signaling molecules but
      trigger distinct cell responses. We explored whether or not MAPK signaling
      induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), which is responsible for
      osteoclast proliferation, differs from that induced by receptor activator of NF
      kappaB ligand (RANKL), which is essential for inducing osteoclast
      differentiation. The activation of MAPKs by M-CSF or RANKL differed in terms of
      the extent and duration of ERK, p38, and JNK phosphorylation as well as the
      isoform specificity of JNK phosphorylation. In particular, RANKL induced a second
      wave of MAPK activation coincident with the onset of osteoclast differentiation,
      whereas M-CSF triggered only a monophasic response. M-CSF was also able to
      trigger a full MAPK response on restimulation of cells earlier than was RANKL,
      representing that MAPK resensitization by M-CSF differs from that by RANKL.
      Furthermore, the adapter protein TRAF6 recruitment to the cytoplasmic tail of
      RANK in a submembrane compartment is specifically required for RANKL-induced
      activation of p38 MAPK, expression of osteoclastogenic transcription factors, and
      osteoclast differentiation, indicating that the switch from proliferation to
      differentiation in osteoclast precursors is dependent on p38 activation via the
      RANKL-RANK-TRAF6 axis. Our results suggest that selective control of MAPK
      signaling induced by M-CSF and by RANKL mediates the proliferation versus
      differentiation decision in osteoclast precursors. 

PMID- 26884721
TI  - A Group of Novel Serum Diagnostic Biomarkers for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
      by iTRAQ-2D LC-MS/MS and Solexa Sequencing.
AB  - The epidemic of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), especially multidrug-resistance
      tuberculosis (MDR-TB) presented a major challenge for TB treatment today. We
      performed iTRAQ labeling coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography
      tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) and Solexa sequencing among MDR-TB
      patients, drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB) patients, and healthy controls. A
      total of 50 differentially expressed proteins and 43 differentially expressed
      miRNAs (fold change >1.50 or <0.60, P<0.05) were identified in the MDR-TB
      patients compared to both DS-TB patients and healthy controls. We found that
      22.00% of differentially expressed proteins and 32.56% of differentially
      expressed miRNAs were related, and could construct a network mainly in complement
      and coagulation cascades. Significant differences in CD44 antigen (CD44),
      coagulation factor XI (F11), kininogen-1 (KNG1), miR-4433b-5p, miR-424-5p, and
      miR-199b-5p were found among MDR-TB patients, DS-TB patients and healthy controls
      (P<0.05) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and SYBR green qRT-PCR
      validation. A strong negative correlation, consistent with the target gene
      prediction, was found between miR-199b-5p and KNG1 (r=-0.232, P=0.017). Moreover,
      we established the MDR-TB diagnostic model based on five biomarkers (CD44, KNG1,
      miR-4433b-5p, miR-424-5p, and miR-199b-5p). Our study proposes potential
      biomarkers for MDR-TB diagnosis, and also provides a new experimental basis to
      understand the pathogenesis of MDR-TB. 

PMID- 26884722
TI  - Wheat Transcription Factor TaAREB3 Participates in Drought and Freezing
      Tolerances in Arabidopsis.
AB  - AREB (ABA response element binding) proteins in plants play direct regulatory
      roles in response to multiple stresses, but their functions in wheat (Triticum
      aestivum L.) are not clear. In the present study, TaAREB3, a new member of the
      AREB transcription factor family, was isolated from wheat. Sequence analysis
      showed that the TaAREB3 protein is composed of three parts, a conserved N
      terminal, a variable M region, and a conserved C-terminal with a bZIP domain. It
      belongs to the group A subfamily of bZIP transcription factors. TaAREB3 was
      constitutively expressed in stems, leaves, florets, anthers, pistils, seeds, and
      most highly, in roots. TaAREB3 gene expression was induced with abscisic acid
      (ABA) and low temperature stress, and its protein was localized in the nucleus
      when transiently expressed in tobacco epidermal cells and stably expressed in
      transgenic Arabidopsis. TaAREB3 protein has transcriptional activation activity,
      and can bind to the ABRE cis-element in vitro. Overexpression of TaAREB3 in
      Arabidopsis not only enhanced ABA sensitivity, but also strengthened drought and
      freezing tolerances. TaAREB3 also activated RD29A, RD29B, COR15A, and COR47 by
      binding to their promoter regions in transgenic Arabidopsis. These results
      demonstrated that TaAREB3 plays an important role in drought and freezing
      tolerances in Arabidopsis. 

PMID- 26884723
TI  - The Vertical Distribution of Sediment Archaeal Community in the "Black Bloom"
      Disturbing Zhushan Bay of Lake Taihu.
AB  - Using the Illumina sequencing technology, we investigated the vertical
      distribution of archaeal community in the sediment of Zhushan Bay of Lake Taihu,
      where the black bloom frequently occurred in summer. Overall, the Miscellaneous
      Crenarchaeotal Group (MCG), Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vent Group 6 (DHVEG-6), and
      Methanobacterium dominated the archaeal community. However, we observed
      significant difference in composition of archaeal community among different
      depths of the sediment. DHVEG-6 dominated in the surface layer (0-3 cm) sediment.
      Methanobacterium was the dominating archaeal taxa in the L2 (3-6 cm) and L3 (6
      10) sediment. MCG was most abundant in the L4 (10-15 cm) and L5 (15-20 cm)
      sediment. Besides, DHVEG-6 was significantly affected by the concentration of
      total phosphorus (TP). And loss on ignition (LOI) was an important environmental
      factor for Methanobacterium. As the typical archaeal taxa in the surface layer
      sediment, DHVEG-6 and Methanobacterium might be more adapted to abundant
      substrate supply from cyanobacterial blooms and take active part in the biomass
      transformation. We propose that DHVEG-6 and Methanobacterium could be the key
      archaeal taxa correlated with the "black bloom" formation in Zhushan Bay. 

PMID- 26884724
TI  - ELF5 and DOK7 regulation in anti-estrogen treated cells and tumors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most women with primary breast cancers that express estrogen receptor
      alpha (ER or ESR1) are treated with endocrine therapies including the anti
      estrogen tamoxifen, but resistance to these anti-endocrine therapies often
      develops. This study characterizes the expression of hormone receptors, and the
      mRNA and DNA methylation levels of docking protein 7 (DOK7), and E74-like factor
      5 (ELF5), in 21 novel tamoxifen-resistant cell lines and extends the findings to
      primary and recurrent human breast tumors. METHODS: Twenty-one tamoxifen-selected
      cell lines were developed through cloning by limiting dilution of an MCF-7 cell
      culture treated with 1 MUM tamoxifen for 6 months. The parent (MCF-7) and
      tamoxifen-selected cell lines were characterized for protein expression of ER,
      progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
      using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The mRNA levels of ER, DOK7, and ELF5 were
      assessed using quantitative RT-PCR. Promoter methylation levels of DOK7 and ELF5
      were determined by pyrosequencing of bisulfite-modified DNA. The relationship
      between hormone receptor status and promoter methylation of DOK7 and ELF5 was
      further examined using available methylation array data (Illumina HM450) from a
      set of paired primary and second breast tumors from 24 women. RESULTS: All 21 of
      the novel tamoxifen-selected cell lines are ER-positive, and HER2-negative, and
      18 of the cell lines are PR-negative while the MCF-7 cells were scored as ER
      positive, modestly PR-positive and HER2 negative. Expression of DOK7 and ELF5 is
      significantly up-regulated in half of the tamoxifen-selected cell lines as
      compared to the parental MCF-7. In contrast, the previously established ER
      negative TMX2-28 cell line has decreased expression of both DOK7 and ELF5 and
      increased DNA methylation in the transcriptional start site region of these
      genes. ELF5 methylation was lower in second versus primary tumors in women who
      received anti-estrogen treatment, in PR-negative versus PR-positive tumors, and
      in the subset of PR-positive first tumors from the group of women who had second
      PR-negative tumors as compared to those who had second PR-positive tumors.
      CONCLUSIONS: The distinct ELF5 methylation of PR-positive primary tumors from
      women who had a PR-negative recurrence indicates the possibility of
      stratification of women for tailored treatment in the early stages of disease.

PMID- 26884725
TI  - Inhibition of glycolytic enzyme hexokinase II (HK2) suppresses lung tumor growth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The most common genetic changes identified in human NSCLC are Kras
      mutations (10-30 %) and p53 mutation or loss (50-70 %). Moreover, NSCLC with
      mutations in Kras and p53 poorly respond to current therapies, so we are trying
      to find a new target for the treatment strategies. METHODS: Flow cytometry,
      crystal violet staining and immunoblotting were used to assess cell cycle arrest,
      proliferation and apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines after 2-DG treatment and
      lentivirus infection by shRNA knock down. IHC and western blotting were carried
      for NSG xenograft model with 2-DG treatment and lentivirus infection by shRNA
      knock down. RESULTS: Knocking down Kras down-regulated the glycolytic enzyme
      hexokinase II (HK2) in KP2 (mouse lung cancer cell line with Kras mutation and
      p53 deletion) and H23 (human lung cancer cell line with Kras mutation and p53
      mutation) cell lines. Genetic studies revealed that HK2 was required for the
      human and mouse lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Our pharmacological
      studies confirmed that 2-DG, an inhibitor of HK2, inhibited human and mouse lung
      cancer cell growth through inducing cell apoptosis and autophagy. CONCLUSIONS:
      HK2 is a promising treatment target for NSCLC with Kras activating and p53
      function loss.

PMID- 26884727
TI  - A new start for 'Intestinal Research' as an official journal of AOCC.

PMID- 26884726
TI  - Paclitaxel and the dietary flavonoid fisetin: a synergistic combination that
      induces mitotic catastrophe and autophagic cell death in A549 non-small cell lung
      cancer cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of the dietary polyphenols as chemosensitizing agents to
      enhance the efficacy of conventional cytostatic drugs has recently gained the
      attention of scientists and clinicians as a plausible approach for overcoming the
      limitations of chemotherapy (e.g. drug resistance and cytotoxicity). The aim of
      this study was to investigate whether a naturally occurring diet-based flavonoid,
      fisetin, at physiologically attainable concentrations, could act synergistically
      with clinically achievable doses of paclitaxel to produce growth inhibitory
      and/or pro-death effects on A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells, and if it
      does, what mechanisms might be involved. METHODS: The drug-drug interactions were
      analyzed based on the combination index method of Chou and Talalay and the data
      from MTT assays. To provide some insights into the mechanism underlying the
      synergistic action of fisetin and paclitaxel, selected morphological, biochemical
      and molecular parameters were examined, including the morphology of cell nuclei
      and mitotic spindles, the pattern of LC3-II immunostaining, the formation of
      autophagic vacuoles at the electron and fluorescence microscopic level, the
      disruption of cell membrane asymmetry/integrity, cell cycle progression and the
      expression level of LC3-II, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 mRNA. RESULTS: Here, we
      reported the first experimental evidence for the existence of synergism between
      fisetin and paclitaxel in the in vitro model of non-small cell lung cancer. This
      synergism was, at least partially, ascribed to the induction of mitotic
      catastrophe. The switch from the cytoprotective autophagy to the autophagic cell
      death was also implicated in the mechanism of the synergistic action of fisetin
      and paclitaxel in the A549 cells. In addition, we revealed that the synergism
      between fisetin and paclitaxel was cell line-specific as well as that fisetin
      synergizes with arsenic trioxide, but not with mitoxantrone and methotrexate in
      the A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide rationale for further testing of
      fisetin in the combination with paclitaxel or arsenic trioxide to obtain detailed
      insights into the mechanism of their synergistic action as well as to evaluate
      their toxicity towards normal cells in an animal model in vivo. We conclude that
      this study is potentially interesting for the development of novel
      chemotherapeutic approach to non-small cell lung cancer.

PMID- 26884728
TI  - Are there interregional differences in the epidemiology and clinical
      characteristics of Crohn's disease in the Asia-Pacific region?

PMID- 26884729
TI  - Fecal immunochemical test as a biomarker for inflammatory bowel diseases: can it
      rival fecal calprotectin?
AB  - Accurate evaluation of disease activity is essential for choosing an appropriate
      treatment and follow-up plan for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
      Endoscopy is required for accurately evaluating disease activity, but the
      procedures are sometimes invasive and burdensome to patients. Therefore,
      alternative non-invasive methods for evaluating or predicting disease activity
      including mucosal status are desirable. Fecal calprotectin (Fcal) is the most
      widely used fecal marker for IBD, and many articles have described the
      performance of the marker in predicting disease activity, mucosal healing (MH),
      treatment efficacy, and risk of relapse. Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) can
      quantify the concentration of hemoglobin in stool and was originally used for the
      screening of colorectal cancer. We recently reported that FIT is also a useful
      biomarker for IBD. A direct comparison between the use of Fcal and FIT showed
      that both methods predicted MH in ulcerative colitis equally well. However, in
      the case of Crohn's disease, FIT was less sensitive to lesions in the small
      intestine, compared to Fcal. FIT holds several advantages over Fcal in regards to
      user-friendliness, including a lower cost, easy and clean handling, and the
      ability to make rapid measurements by using an automated measurement system.
      However, there is insufficient data to support the application of FIT in IBD.
      Further studies into the use of FIT for evaluating the inflammatory status of IBD
      are warranted. 

PMID- 26884730
TI  - Current status of biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
AB  - Introduction of biological therapies have led to dramatic changes in the
      management of debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
      including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. However, the long term use of
      these agents may be very expensive, placing a significant burden on National
      Healthcare Systems. The development of first biosimilar to infliximab, CT-P13
      (Remsima; Celltrion Inc., Incheon, Korea and Inflextra; Hospiral, Lake Forest,
      Illinois, USA) has become another way to decrease the medical care cost and
      increase patient treatment option, but, actual equivalence of efficacy and safety
      of CT-P13 was investigated in rheumatic diseases only. The extrapolation of
      outcome from rheumatic trials to IBD and the interchangeability of CT-P13 with
      infliximab have come to be a matter of concern. Two recent retrospective studies
      reported the similarity of CT-P13 in terms of efficacy and safety. Infliximab
      biosimilars may be promising new treatment options for IBD patients, however,
      well-designed, prospective randomized non-inferiority trials should be needed to
      confidently integrate infliximab biosimilars into IBD treatment. 

PMID- 26884731
TI  - Current status and future perspectives of capsule endoscopy.
AB  - Small bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) was first introduced 15 years ago, and a large
      amount of literature has since been produced, focused on its indication,
      diagnostic yields, and safety. Guidelines that have made CE the primary
      diagnostic tool for small bowel disease have been created. Since its initial use
      in the small bowel, CE has been used for the esophagus, stomach, and colon. The
      primary indications for small bowel CE are obscure gastrointestinal bleeding,
      unexplained iron deficiency anemia, suspected Crohn's disease, small bowel
      tumors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug enteropathy, portal hypertensive
      enteropathy, celiac disease, etc. Colon CE provides an alternative to
      conventional colonoscopy, with possible use in colorectal cancer screening.
      Guidelines for optimal bowel preparation of CE have been suggested. The main
      challenges in CE are the development of new devices with the ability to provide
      therapy, air inflation for better visualization of the small bowel, biopsy
      sampling systems attached to the capsule, and the possibility of guiding and
      moving the capsule by an external motion controller. We review the current status
      and future directions of CE, and address all aspects of clinical practice,
      including the role of CE and long-term clinical outcomes. 

PMID- 26884732
TI  - Clinical features of Crohn's disease in Korean patients residing in Busan and
      Gyeongnam.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease
      that presents with variable features and repeated disease aggravation. The
      incidence of CD is increasing in Korea. We evaluated the clinical features of CD
      in a study population in Busan and Gyeongnam, Korea. METHODS: A hospital-based
      analysis included 619 patients diagnosed with CD between March 1986 and February
      2013 from seven tertiary care hospitals in Busan and Gyeongnam. Individual case
      records were reviewed with regard to age at diagnosis, sex, disease location,
      disease behavior, and medical and surgical treatments received during the follow
      up period. RESULTS: The cumulative frequency of patients diagnosed with CD
      revealed a continued increase in the number of cases reported yearly. The male-to
      female ratio was 2.5:1 and the median age at diagnosis was 24 years. At
      diagnosis, 114 (18.4%) had isolated small bowel disease, 144 (23.3%) had isolated
      colonic disease, and 358 patients (57.8%) presented with disease in the small
      bowel and colon. The number of patients presenting with stricturing or
      penetrating disease behavior was 291 (47%) at the final evaluation. In total, 111
      (17.9%) patients underwent intestinal resections. CONCLUSIONS: A continued
      increase in the number of patients diagnosed with CD was found in Busan and
      Gyeongnam as observed in other regions. We report results similar to that of
      other Korean studies in terms of sex distribution, age, and location of disease.

PMID- 26884733
TI  - The predictive variable regarding relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis
      after achieving endoscopic mucosal healing.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mucosal healing (MH) is a proposed therapeutic goal for patients
      with ulcerative colitis (UC). Whether MH is the final goal for UC, however,
      remains under debate. Therefore, to elucidate clinical variables predicting
      relapse after MH in UC could be useful for establishing further therapeutic
      strategy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive variables for
      relapse in UC-patients after achieving MH. METHODS: From April 2010 to February
      2015, 298 UC-patients treated at Kitano Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.
      MH was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1. The cumulative relapse free
      rate after achieving MH was evaluated. Predictive variables for relapse in UC
      patients were assessed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 298 UC-patients,
      88 (29.5%) achieved MH. Of the 88 UC patients who achieved MH, 21 (23.9%)
      experienced UC-relapse. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative relapse
      free rate at 1, 3, and 5 years after achieving MH was 87.9%, 70.2%, and 63.8%,
      respectively. The cumulative relapse free rate tended to be higher in the Mayo-0
      group (76.9%) than in the Mayo-1 group (54.1%) at 5 years, although the
      difference was not statistically significant (P=0.313). Cox regression analysis
      indicated that the use of an immunomodulator was a predictive variable for
      relapse in UC-patients after achieving MH (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Our data
      demonstrated that the prognosis of UC patients after achieving endoscopic MH
      could be based on UC refractoriness requiring an immunomodulator.

PMID- 26884734
TI  - The prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia in Korean patients with
      inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quality of life is closely related to anemia in patients with
      inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several studies have reported on anemia in
      patients with IBD in Western countries. This study investigated the prevalence
      and clinical characteristics of anemia in Korean patients with IBD. METHODS: We
      reviewed the medical records of 92 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 76
      patients with Crohn's disease (CD) who were followed regularly at a single
      tertiary medical center in Korea between January 2003 and December 2012.
      Hemoglobin (Hb) thresholds used to define anemia were <13.0 g/dL in men and <12.0
      g/dL in women according to the World Health Organization criteria. We chose the
      lowest Hb level in each year as a representative value because Hb levels changed
      at each examination and anemia was associated with disease deterioration. The
      relationship between clinical variables and lowest Hb level was assessed.
      RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 36.3% in patients with UC and 41.6% in
      patients with CD. Anemia in patients with CD was associated with hospital
      admission, 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) and infliximab treatment in men. Anemia in
      patients with UC was associated with hospital admission, oral steroid use,
      thiopurine and infliximab treatment in men. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anemia
      in Korean patients with IBD was comparable to that of patients in Western
      countries. Anemia was associated with male patients with CD who were admitted to
      the hospital and received medications including 5-ASA and infliximab, and men
      with UC who were admitted to the hospital and received medications including oral
      steroids, thiopurine and infliximab.

PMID- 26884735
TI  - Efficacy and safety of two pH-dependent-release mesalamine doses in moderately
      active ulcerative colitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel
      group study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: The therapeutic effect of mesalamine is considered to be dose
      dependent; however, no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal doses for
      individual patients. This study aimed to provide new insight for dose
      optimization using two doses of pH-dependent release mesalamine for induction of
      remission of moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: In a
      multicenter, double-blind, randomized study, 110 patients with moderately active
      UC were assigned to two groups after treatment with a constant dose of
      mesalamine. Fifty-five patients were treated with a pH-dependent release
      formulation of 3.6 or 4.8 g/day for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was a decrease
      in the UC disease activity index (UCDAI) adjusted by covariates. RESULTS: In the
      full analysis set (n=110), the mean decrease in UCDAI was 3.1 in the 3.6 g/day
      group and 3.4 in the 4.8 g/day group (P>0.05). In a subgroup analysis, the
      effectiveness of the 4.8 g/day dose was greater in particular populations, such
      as those who had been previously treated with a lower dose of mesalamine and
      those with more severe disease. The safety was comparable between the two groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that treatment with pH-dependent release
      mesalamine at either 3.6 or 4.8 g/day was effective and safe for the induction of
      remission in patients with moderately active UC. However, the patients receiving
      mesalamine at 2.4 g/day but in whom the therapeutic effect is not sufficient and
      having more severe symptoms (UCDAI 9-10), benefit from higher doses of mesalamine
      compared to others.

PMID- 26884737
TI  - The role of capsule endoscopy in etiological diagnosis and management of obscure
      gastrointestinal bleeding.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the various etiologies, yields, and effects of
      capsule endoscopy (CE) on management and complications, along with follow up of
      patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. METHODS: The study group of
      patients included those having obscure, overt, or occult GI bleeding. The
      findings were categorized as (A) obvious/definitive, (B) equivocal, or (C)
      negative. Any significant alteration in patient management post CE in the form of
      drug or surgical intervention was noted. RESULTS: Total patients included in the
      study were 68 (48 males and 20 females). The ratio of male:female was 2.4:1. The
      age ranged between 16 years to 77 years. Mean age for males was 62+/-14 years,
      for females 58+/-16 years. The total yield of CE with definitive lesions was in
      44/68 (65.0%) of patients. In descending order (A) angiodysplasia 16/68 (23.53%),
      (B) Crohn's disease 10/68 (14.70%), (C) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
      enteropathy 8/68 (11.76%), (D) small bowel ulcers 4/68 (5.88%), (E) jejunal and
      ileal polyps 2/68 (2.94%), (F) intestinal lymphangiectasis 2/68 (2.94%), and (G)
      ileal hemangiomas 2/68 (2.94%) were followed. Equivocal findings 12/68 (17.65%)
      and negative study 12/68 (17.65%) was found. Complications in the form of capsule
      retention in the distal ileum were noted in 2/68 (2.94%) subjects. Statistically,
      there was a higher probability of finding the etiology if the CE was done during
      an episode of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: CE plays an important role in diagnosing
      etiologies of obscure GI bleeding. Its role in influencing the management outcome
      is vital.

PMID- 26884738
TI  - Spectrum of chronic small bowel diarrhea with malabsorption in Indian
      subcontinent: is the trend really changing?
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to document the recent etiological spectrum of
      chronic diarrhea with malabsorption and also to compare features that
      differentiate tropical sprue from parasitic infections, the two most common
      etiologies of malabsorption in the tropics. METHODS: We analyzed 203 consecutive
      patients with malabsorption. The etiological spectrum and factors that
      differentiated tropical sprue from parasitic infections were analyzed. RESULTS:
      The most common etiology was tropical sprue (n=98, 48.3%) followed by parasitic
      infections (n=25, 12.3%) and tuberculosis (n=22, 10.8%). Other causes were
      immunodeficiency (n=15, 7.3%; 12 with human immunodeficiency virus and 3 with
      hypogammaglobulinemia), celiac disease (n=11, 5.4%), Crohn's disease (n=11,
      5.4%), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (n=11, 5.4%), hyperthyroidism (n=4,
      1.9%), diabetic diarrhea (n=4, 1.9%), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=3, 1.4%),
      metastatic carcinoid (n=1, 0.5%) and Burkitt's lymphoma (n=1, 0.5%). On
      multivariate analysis, features that best differentiated tropical sprue from
      parasitic infections were larger stool volume (P=0.009), severe weight loss
      (P=0.02), knuckle hyperpigmentation (P=0.008), low serum B12 levels (P=0.05),
      high mean corpuscular volume (P=0.003), reduced height or scalloping of the
      duodenal folds on endoscopy (P=0.003) and villous atrophy on histology (P=0.04).
      Presence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like bloating, nausea and
      vomiting predicted parasitic infections (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tropical sprue and
      parasitic infections still dominate the spectrum of malabsorption in India.
      Severe symptoms and florid malabsorption indicate tropical sprue while the
      presence of upper GI symptoms indicates parasitic infections.

PMID- 26884736
TI  - Gastric lesions in patients with Crohn's disease in Korea: a multicenter study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric pathology and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
      among Asian patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are still unclear. We evaluated
      gastric histologic features and frequency of H. pylori infection in Korean
      patients with CD. METHODS: Among 492 patients with CD receiving upper
      gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic evaluation in 19 Korean hospitals, we evaluated
      the endoscopic findings and gastric histopathologic features of 47 patients for
      our study. Histopathologic classification was performed using gastric biopsy
      tissues, and H. pylori infection was determined using the rapid urease test and
      histology. RESULTS: There were 36 men (76.6%), and the median age of patients at
      the time of upper GI endoscopy was 23.8 years (range, 14.2-60.5). For CD
      phenotype, ileocolonic disease was observed in 38 patients (80.9%), and non
      stricturing, non-penetrating disease in 31 patients (66.0%). Twenty-eight
      patients (59.6%) complained of upper GI symptoms. Erosive gastritis was the most
      common gross gastric feature (66.0%). Histopathologically, H. pylori-negative
      chronic active gastritis (38.3%) was the most frequent finding. H. pylori testing
      was positive in 11 patients (23.4%), and gastric noncaseating granulomata were
      detected in 4 patients (8.5%). Gastric noncaseating granuloma showed a
      statistically significant association with perianal abscess/fistula (P=0.0496).
      CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori-negative chronic active gastritis appears to be frequent
      among Korean patients with CD. The frequency of H. pylori infection was
      comparable with previous studies. An association with perianal complications
      suggests a prognostic value for gastric noncaseating granuloma in patients with
      CD.

PMID- 26884739
TI  - Refractory pseudomembranous colitis that was treated successfully with
      colonoscopic fecal microbial transplantation.
AB  - Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is a nosocomial and opportunistic infection caused
      by Clostridium difficile. PMC is related to the use of antibiotics leading to
      intestinal dysbiosis and an overgrowth of C. difficile. Metronidazole or
      vancomycin is considered to be the standard therapy for the management of PMC.
      However, PMC has a 15%-30% recurrence rate and can be refractory to standard
      treatments, resulting in morbidity and mortality. Here we describe a patient who
      experienced refractory PMC who was treated with fecal microbiota transplantation.
      A 69-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with consistent abdominal pain
      and diarrhea, which had been present for 5 months. She was diagnosed with PMC by
      colonoscopy and tested positive for C. difficile toxin. Even though she took
      metronidazole for 10 days, followed by vancomycin for 4 weeks, her symptoms did
      not improve. Because of her recurrent and refractory symptoms, we decided to
      perform fecal microbiota transplantation. Fifty grams of fresh feces from a donor
      were obtained on the day of the procedure, mixed with 500 mL of normal saline,
      and then filtered. The filtered solution was administered to the patient's colon
      using a colonoscope. After the procedure, her symptoms rapidly improved and a
      follow-up colonoscopy showed that the PMC had resolved without recurrence. 

PMID- 26884740
TI  - Ischemic enteritis with intestinal stenosis.
AB  - A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with sudden onset of vomiting and
      abdominal distension. The patient was taking medication for arrhythmia. Computed
      tomography showed stenosis of the ileum and a small bowel dilatation on the oral
      side from the region of stenosis. A transnasal ileus tube was placed.
      Enteroclysis using contrast medium revealed an approximately 6-cm afferent
      tubular stenosis 10 cm from the terminal ileum and thumbprinting in the proximal
      bowel. Transanal double-balloon enteroscopy showed a circumferential shallow
      ulcer with a smooth margin and edema of the surrounding mucosa. The stenosis was
      so extensive that we could not perform endoscopic balloon dilation therapy.
      During hospitalization, the patient's nutritional status deteriorated. In
      response, we surgically resected the region of stenosis. Histologic examination
      revealed disappearance of the mucosal layer and transmural ulceration with marked
      fibrosis, especially in the submucosal layer. Hemosiderin staining revealed
      sideroferous cells in the submucosal layers. Based on the pathologic findings,
      the patient was diagnosed with ischemic enteritis. The patient's postoperative
      course was uneventful. 

PMID- 26884741
TI  - Cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with Crohn's disease.
AB  - Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an elevated risk of venous
      thromboembolism compared with the general population. The most common sites of
      venous thromboembolism in IBD patients are the deep veins of the legs, the
      pulmonary system, and portal and mesenteric veins. However, cerebral venous
      thrombosis is rarely associated with IBD. This report describes a case of
      cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with Crohn's disease. A 17-year-old girl,
      diagnosed 4 years earlier with Crohn's disease, presented with headache and
      vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with venography showed venous
      thrombosis in the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse
      sinus, and right internal jugular vein. The patient immediately started
      anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin infusion followed by daily oral
      rivaroxaban 10 mg. Follow-up imaging after 2 weeks showed resolution of the
      thrombosis, with recanalization of the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus,
      right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. She continued
      rivaroxaban therapy for 6 months, and remained well, without neurologic sequelae.
      A high level of concern for cerebral venous thrombosis may be important when
      treating active IBD patients, because anticoagulation treatment can prevent fatal
      complications. 

PMID- 26884742
TI  - Cutaneous lesions in colorectal carcinoma: a rare presentation.

PMID- 26884743
TI  - A large symptomatic jejunal subepithelial tumor treated with endoloop-assisted
      polypectomy using spiral enteroscopy.

PMID- 26884744
TI  - Anticancer properties of phospholipase A2 from Daboia siamensis venom on human
      skin melanoma cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a major component of the Daboia siamensis
      venom, which is able to hydrolyse the membrane of various cells. For this reason,
      the activity of PLA2 was investigated regarding its pharmaceutical properties.
      This study was conducted to explore the pharmacological properties of a PLA2 from
      Daboia siamensis (dssPLA2) venom on human skin melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28).
      METHODS: dssPLA2 was isolated by ion exchange and gel filtration columns. Various
      concentrations of dssPLA2 were investigated for cytotoxic activity and inhibition
      of migration on SK-MEL-28 cells. Cell death analysis, mRNA expression levels of
      Notch I-III and BRAF V600E genes were also determined. RESULTS: dssPLA2 exhibited
      cytotoxicity on SK-MEL-28 for 24 and 72 h as compared with untreated cells.
      However, it had no toxic effects on CCD-1064sk cells under the same conditions.
      dssPLA2 (0.25 and 0.5 MUg/mL) induced 17.16 and 30.60 % of apoptosis, while
      activated 6.53 and 7.05 % of necrotic cells. dssPLA2 at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 MUg/mL
      could inhibit migration on SK-MEL-28 cells for 24 h by 31.06, 41.66, 50 and 68.75
      %, respectively. The action of dssPLA2 significantly reduced the levels of Notch
      I and BRAF V600E genes expression on SK-MEL-28 cells compared with untreated
      cells at 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that dssPLA2 had potential
      effects of apoptosis, necrosis, cytotoxicity and inhibition of migration on SK
      MEL-28 cells. dssPLA2 could possibly be a selective agent that targets cancer
      cells without affecting normal cells.

PMID- 26884745
TI  - Layout Design of Human-Machine Interaction Interface of Cabin Based on Cognitive
      Ergonomics and GA-ACA.
AB  - In order to consider the psychological cognitive characteristics affecting
      operating comfort and realize the automatic layout design, cognitive ergonomics
      and GA-ACA (genetic algorithm and ant colony algorithm) were introduced into the
      layout design of human-machine interaction interface. First, from the perspective
      of cognitive psychology, according to the information processing process, the
      cognitive model of human-machine interaction interface was established. Then, the
      human cognitive characteristics were analyzed, and the layout principles of human
      machine interaction interface were summarized as the constraints in layout
      design. Again, the expression form of fitness function, pheromone, and heuristic
      information for the layout optimization of cabin was studied. The layout design
      model of human-machine interaction interface was established based on GA-ACA. At
      last, a layout design system was developed based on this model. For validation,
      the human-machine interaction interface layout design of drilling rig control
      room was taken as an example, and the optimization result showed the feasibility
      and effectiveness of the proposed method. 

PMID- 26884746
TI  - How Many Is Enough? Effect of Sample Size in Inter-Subject Correlation Analysis
      of fMRI.
AB  - Inter-subject correlation (ISC) is a widely used method for analyzing functional
      magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired during naturalistic stimuli. A
      challenge in ISC analysis is to define the required sample size in the way that
      the results are reliable. We studied the effect of the sample size on the
      reliability of ISC analysis and additionally addressed the following question:
      How many subjects are needed for the ISC statistics to converge to the ISC
      statistics obtained using a large sample? The study was realized using a large
      block design data set of 130 subjects. We performed a split-half resampling based
      analysis repeatedly sampling two nonoverlapping subsets of 10-65 subjects and
      comparing the ISC maps between the independent subject sets. Our findings
      suggested that with 20 subjects, on average, the ISC statistics had converged
      close to a large sample ISC statistic with 130 subjects. However, the split-half
      reliability of unthresholded and thresholded ISC maps improved notably when the
      number of subjects was increased from 20 to 30 or more. 

PMID- 26884747
TI  - Motivation Classification and Grade Prediction for MOOCs Learners.
AB  - While MOOCs offer educational data on a new scale, many educators find great
      potential of the big data including detailed activity records of every learner. A
      learner's behavior such as if a learner will drop out from the course can be
      predicted. How to provide an effective, economical, and scalable method to detect
      cheating on tests such as surrogate exam-taker is a challenging problem. In this
      paper, we present a grade predicting method that uses student activity features
      to predict whether a learner may get a certification if he/she takes a test. The
      method consists of two-step classifications: motivation classification (MC) and
      grade classification (GC). The MC divides all learners into three groups
      including certification earning, video watching, and course sampling. The GC then
      predicts a certification earning learner may or may not obtain a certification.
      Our experiment shows that the proposed method can fit the classification model at
      a fine scale and it is possible to find a surrogate exam-taker. 

PMID- 26884748
TI  - An Effective Color Quantization Method Using Octree-Based Self-Organizing Maps.
AB  - Color quantization is an essential technique in color image processing, which has
      been continuously researched. It is often used, in particular, as preprocessing
      for many applications. Self-Organizing Map (SOM) color quantization is one of the
      most effective methods. However, it is inefficient for obtaining accurate results
      when it performs quantization with too few colors. In this paper, we present a
      more effective color quantization algorithm that reduces the number of colors to
      a small number by using octree quantization. This generates more natural results
      with less difference from the original image. The proposed method is evaluated by
      comparing it with well-known quantization methods. The experimental results show
      that the proposed method is more effective than other methods when using a small
      number of colors to quantize the colors. Also, it takes only 71.73% of the
      processing time of the conventional SOM method. 

PMID- 26884749
TI  - Retreatment Predictions in Odontology by means of CBR Systems.
AB  - The field of odontology requires an appropriate adjustment of treatments
      according to the circumstances of each patient. A follow-up treatment for a
      patient experiencing problems from a previous procedure such as endodontic
      therapy, for example, may not necessarily preclude the possibility of extraction.
      It is therefore necessary to investigate new solutions aimed at analyzing data
      and, with regard to the given values, determine whether dental retreatment is
      required. In this work, we present a decision support system which applies the
      case-based reasoning (CBR) paradigm, specifically designed to predict the
      practicality of performing or not performing a retreatment. Thus, the system uses
      previous experiences to provide new predictions, which is completely innovative
      in the field of odontology. The proposed prediction technique includes an
      innovative combination of methods that minimizes false negatives to the greatest
      possible extent. False negatives refer to a prediction favoring a retreatment
      when in fact it would be ineffective. The combination of methods is performed by
      applying an optimization problem to reduce incorrect classifications and takes
      into account different parameters, such as precision, recall, and statistical
      probabilities. The proposed system was tested in a real environment and the
      results obtained are promising. 

PMID- 26884750
TI  - Learning-Based Visual Saliency Model for Detecting Diabetic Macular Edema in
      Retinal Image.
AB  - This paper brings forth a learning-based visual saliency model method for
      detecting diagnostic diabetic macular edema (DME) regions of interest (RoIs) in
      retinal image. The method introduces the cognitive process of visual selection of
      relevant regions that arises during an ophthalmologist's image examination. To
      record the process, we collected eye-tracking data of 10 ophthalmologists on 100
      images and used this database as training and testing examples. Based on
      analysis, two properties (Feature Property and Position Property) can be derived
      and combined by a simple intersection operation to obtain a saliency map. The
      Feature Property is implemented by support vector machine (SVM) technique using
      the diagnosis as supervisor; Position Property is implemented by statistical
      analysis of training samples. This technique is able to learn the preferences of
      ophthalmologist visual behavior while simultaneously considering feature
      uniqueness. The method was evaluated using three popular saliency model
      evaluation scores (AUC, EMD, and SS) and three quality measurements (classical
      sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's J statistic). The proposed method
      outperforms 8 state-of-the-art saliency models and 3 salient region detection
      approaches devised for natural images. Furthermore, our model successfully
      detects the DME RoIs in retinal image without sophisticated image processing such
      as region segmentation. 

PMID- 26884751
TI  - Constipation and Laxative Use among Nursing Home Patients: Prevalence and
      Associations Derived from the Residents Assessment Instrument for Long-Term Care
      Facilities (interRAI LTCF).
AB  - Introduction. Constipation is a common, bothersome, and potentially dangerous
      condition among nursing home (NH) patients. Between 50 and 74% of NH patients use
      laxatives. Objective. To study prevalence and associations of laxative use and
      constipation using the comprehensive Norwegian version of the Resident Assessment
      Instrument for Long-Term Care Facilities. Methods. Cross-sectional study.
      Patients from 20 NH units were included. Logistic regression was used to analyze
      the results. Data collected in NHs might be clustered. Consequently, the
      multivariable models were tested against a mixed effects regression model to
      investigate variance both on the level of patients and on the level of NH units.
      Results. In all, 261 patients were included. The prevalence of constipation was
      23.4%, and 67.1% used laxatives regularly. Balance problems, urinary
      incontinence, hypothyroidism, and Parkinson's disease were associated with
      constipation. Reduced ability to communicate and number of drugs were associated
      with laxative use. Antidementia-drugs and being involved in activities 1/3 to 2/3
      of daytime were protective factors for laxative use. Mixed effects analyses
      identified variance on the level of NH units as nonsignificant. Conclusion.
      Constipation and laxative use are common. Variance is mainly explained by
      different patient characteristics/health deficiencies. Hence, patients might
      benefit from individualized care to compensate for deficiencies. 

PMID- 26884752
TI  - Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms as Prognostic and Predictive Factors of Adjuvant
      Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer of Stages I and II.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous disease regarding the stage at
      time of diagnosis and there is special attention regarding adjuvant chemotherapy
      in unselected patients with stage I and stage II. The clinicohistologically based
      TNM staging system with emphasis on histological evaluation of primary tumor and
      resected regional lymph nodes remains the standard of staging, but it has
      restricted sensitivity resulting in false downward stage migration. Molecular
      characteristics might predispose tumors to a worse prognosis and identification
      of those enables identifying patients with high risk of disease recurrence.
      Suitable predictive markers also enable choosing the most appropriate therapy.
      The current challenge facing adjuvant chemotherapy in stages I and II CRC is
      choosing patients with the highest risk of disease recurrence who are going to
      derive most benefit without facing unnecessary adverse effects. Single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) are one of the potential molecular markers that might help
      us identify patients with unfavorable prognostic factors regarding disease
      initiation and recurrence and could determine selection of an appropriate
      chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. In this paper, we
      discuss SNPs of genes involved in the multistep processes of cancerogenesis,
      metastasis, and the metabolism of chemotherapy that might prove clinically
      significant. 

PMID- 26884753
TI  - Early Gastric Cancer: Current Advances of Endoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment.
AB  - Endoscopy is a major method for early gastric cancer screening because of its
      high detection rate, but its diagnostic accuracy depends heavily on the
      availability of endoscopic instruments. Many novel endoscopic techniques have
      been shown to increase the diagnostic yield of early gastric cancer. With the
      improved detection rate of EGC, the endoscopic treatment has become widespread
      due to advances in the instruments available and endoscopist's experience. The
      aim of this review is to summarize frequently-used endoscopic diagnosis and
      treatment in early gastric cancer (EGC). 

PMID- 26884755
TI  - Anti-Parkinson Activity of Petroleum Ether Extract of Ficus religiosa (L.)
      Leaves.
AB  - In the present study, we evaluated anti-Parkinson's activity of petroleum ether
      extract of Ficus religiosa (PEFRE) leaves in haloperidol and 6 hydroxydopamine (6
      OHDA) induced experimental animal models. In this study, effects of Ficus
      religiosa (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were studied using in vivo behavioral
      parameters like catalepsy, muscle rigidity, and locomotor activity and its
      effects on neurochemical parameters (MDA, CAT, SOD, and GSH) in rats. The
      experiment was designed by giving haloperidol to induce catalepsy and 6-OHDA to
      induce Parkinson's disease-like symptoms. The increased cataleptic scores
      (induced by haloperidol) were significantly (p < 0.001) found to be reduced, with
      the PEFRE at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg (p.o.). 6-OHDA significantly induced
      motor dysfunction (muscle rigidity and hypolocomotion). 6-OHDA administration
      showed significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and depleted superoxide
      dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione level. Daily administration of PEFRE
      (400 mg/kg) significantly improved motor performance and also significantly
      attenuated oxidative damage. Thus, the study proved that Ficus religiosa
      treatment significantly attenuated the motor defects and also protected the brain
      from oxidative stress. 

PMID- 26884757
TI  - Tablet PC Enabled Body Sensor System for Rural Telehealth Applications.
AB  - Telehealth systems benefit from the rapid growth of mobile communication
      technology for measuring physiological signals. Development and validation of a
      tablet PC enabled noninvasive body sensor system for rural telehealth application
      are discussed in this paper. This system includes real time continuous collection
      of physiological parameters (blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature) and
      fall detection of a patient with the help of a body sensor unit and wireless
      transmission of the acquired information to a tablet PC handled by the medical
      staff in a Primary Health Center (PHC). Abnormal conditions are automatically
      identified and alert messages are given to the medical officer in real time.
      Clinical validation is performed in a real environment and found to be
      successful. Bland-Altman analysis is carried out to validate the wrist blood
      pressure sensor used. The system works well for all measurements. 

PMID- 26884756
TI  - Pathological Characteristics of Primary Bladder Carcinoma Treated at a Tertiary
      Care Hospital and Changing Demographics of Bladder Cancer in Sri Lanka.
AB  - Objectives. The aim was to compare demographics and pathological features of
      bladder carcinoma treated in a urology unit with findings of previous studies
      done in Sri Lanka. Materials and Methods. Data of newly diagnosed patients with
      bladder cancer in a tertiary referral centre from 2011 to 2014 were analysed.
      Data on bladder cancers diagnosed from 1993 to 2014 were obtained from previous
      publications and Sri Lanka Cancer Registry. Results. There were 148 patients and
      mean age was 65 years. Male to female ratio was 4.1 : 1. Urothelial carcinoma
      (UC) was found in 89.2% of patients. Muscle invasion was noted in 35% of patients
      compared to 48.4% two decades ago. In patients with UC, 16.5% were found to have
      pT1 high grade tumour. It was 5.3% from 1993 to 2000. Pure squamous cell
      carcinoma was found in 8.1% of patients while primary or de novo carcinoma in
      situ (not associated with high grade pT1 tumours) was seen in one patient only.
      Conclusions. The percentage of squamous carcinoma is higher among Sri Lankan
      patients while primary carcinoma in situ is a rarity. The percentage of muscle
      invasive disease has decreased while the percentage of pT1 high grade tumours has
      increased during the last two decades in Sri Lanka. 

PMID- 26884754
TI  - Integrating TRPV1 Receptor Function with Capsaicin Psychophysics.
AB  - Capsaicin is a naturally occurring vanilloid that causes a hot, pungent sensation
      in the human oral cavity. This trigeminal stimulus activates TRPV1 receptors and
      stimulates an influx of cations into sensory cells. TRPV1 receptors function as
      homotetramers that also respond to heat, proinflammatory substances, lipoxygenase
      products, resiniferatoxin, endocannabinoids, protons, and peptide toxins. Kinase
      mediated phosphorylation of TRPV1 leads to increased sensitivity to both chemical
      and thermal stimuli. In contrast, desensitization occurs via a calcium-dependent
      mechanism that results in receptor dephosphorylation. Human psychophysical
      studies have shown that capsaicin is detected at nanomole amounts and causes
      desensitization in the oral cavity. Psychophysical studies further indicate that
      desensitization can be temporarily reversed in the oral cavity if stimulation
      with capsaicin is resumed at short interstimulus intervals. Pretreatment of
      lingual epithelium with capsaicin modulates the perception of several primary
      taste qualities. Also, sweet taste stimuli may decrease the intensity of
      capsaicin perception in the oral cavity. In addition, capsaicin perception and
      hedonic responses may be modified by diet. Psychophysical studies with capsaicin
      are consistent with recent findings that have identified TRPV1 channel modulation
      by phosphorylation and interactions with membrane inositol phospholipids. Future
      studies will further clarify the importance of capsaicin and its receptor in
      human health and nutrition. 

PMID- 26884758
TI  - Investigating Therapeutic Potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. as Our
      Defense Mechanism against Several Human Diseases.
AB  - Current lifestyle, stress, and pollution have dramatically enhanced the
      progression of several diseases in human. Globally, scientists are looking for
      therapeutic agents that can either cure or delay the onset of diseases. Medicinal
      plants from time immemorial have been used frequently in therapeutics. Of many
      such plants, fenugreek is one of the oldest herbs which have been identified as
      an important medicinal plant by the researchers around the world. It is
      potentially beneficial in a number of diseases such as diabetes,
      hypercholesterolemia, and inflammation and probably in several kinds of cancers.
      It has industrial applications such as synthesis of steroidal hormones. Its
      medicinal properties and their role in clinical domain can be attributed to its
      chemical constituents. The 3 major chemical constituents which have been
      identified as responsible for principle health effects are galactomannan, 4-OH
      isoleucine, and steroidal saponin. Numerous experiments have been carried out in
      vivo and in vitro for beneficial effects of both the crude chemical and of its
      active constituent. Due to its role in health care, the functional food industry
      has referred to it as a potential nutraceutical. This paper is about various
      medicinal benefits of fenugreek and its potential application as therapeutic
      agent against several diseases. 

PMID- 26884759
TI  - Effects of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in
      Pregnant Women in an Iodine-Sufficient Area in China.
AB  - Purposes. To evaluate the effects of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) on
      maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women. Methods. 208 pregnant
      women at 24-28 weeks were divided into two groups, TPOAb-positive and TPOAb
      negative groups. Thyroid function and TPOAb were determined in all subjects until
      12 months postpartum. Levothyroxine was supplemented to maintain euthyroid with
      periodical checking of thyroid functions. The prevalence of postpartum
      thyroiditis (PPT), placenta previa, placental abruption, premature rupture of
      membrane, postpartum haemorrhage, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, preterm birth,
      low birth weight, congenital hypothyroidism, and neonatal diseases were observed
      in two groups. Results. Of all women, 11.54% had a PPT. The prevalence of PPT was
      significantly higher in TPOAb-positive than TPOAb-negative group (42.31% versus
      7.14%, P < 0.001), with 45.46% and 53.85% of PPT happening at 6 weeks postpartum
      in TPOAb-positive and TPOAb-negative groups. The incidence of polyhydramnios was
      significantly higher in TPOAb-positive than TPOAb-negative group (15.38% versus
      2.74%, P = 0.02). Conclusion. Pregnant women with TPOAb-positive had increased
      risk of PPT, predominantly happening at 6 weeks postpartum. TPOAb was associated
      with increased incidence of polyhydramnios and the underlying mechanisms required
      further investigation. Earlier screening of thyroid function during pregnancy and
      postpartum was warranted in our region. 

PMID- 26884760
TI  - Differences in Ventilatory Threshold for Exercise Prescription in Outpatient
      Diabetic and Sarcopenic Obese Subjects.
AB  - Aim of the study was to examine cardiorespiratory parameters at individual
      ventilatory threshold (IVT) and peak exercise capacity ([Formula: see text]) in
      outpatient diabetic and sarcopenic obese subjects. Seventeen obese subjects (BMI:
      36.6 +/- 4.1 kg.m(-1)) and sixteen SO subjects (BMI: 37.0 +/- 7.3 kg.m(-1)) were
      compared with sixteen T2DM subjects (BMI: 37.7 +/- 5.6 kg.m(-1)). All groups
      performed an incremental exercise test on a treadmill according to their physical
      ability. [Formula: see text], %HRmax, and maximal metabolic equivalent (METmax)
      were evaluated at maximal effort. Moreover, [Formula: see text], %[Formula: see
      text], %HRmax, %HRR, DeltaHR, and METivt were assessed at IVT. No significant
      differences were found in any physiological parameters at maximal effort
      ([Formula: see text], %HRmax, and METmax) in all groups. On the contrary,
      [Formula: see text], %[Formula: see text], %HRmax, %HRR, DeltaHR, and METivt were
      significantly lower in T2DM subjects as compared to OB and SO subjects at IVT (p
      < 0.05). Our results show that while at maximal effort there are no differences
      among groups, at IVT the physiological parameters are lower in T2DM subjects than
      in OB and SO subjects. Therefore, due to the differences observed in the groups,
      we suggest usng the IVT as a useful parameter to prescribe aerobic exercise in
      obese with sarcopenia or diabetes mellitus conditions. 

PMID- 26884761
TI  - Circulating Visfatin in Hypothyroidism Is Associated with Free Thyroid Hormones
      and Antithyroperoxidase Antibodies.
AB  - We hypothesized that regulation of visfatin in hypothyroidism might be altered by
      coexisting chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is a prospective case-control
      study of 118 subjects. The autoimmune study group (AIT) consisted of 39 patients
      newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism in a course of chronic autoimmune
      thyroiditis. The nonautoimmune study group (TT) consisted of 40 patients
      thyroidectomized due to the differentiated thyroid cancer staged pT1. The control
      group comprised 39 healthy volunteers adjusted for age, sex, and BMI with normal
      thyroid function and negative thyroid antibodies. Exclusion criteria consisted of
      other autoimmune diseases, active neoplastic disease, diabetes mellitus, and
      infection, which were reported to alter visfatin level. Fasting blood samples
      were taken for visfatin, TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3),
      antithyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb), antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb),
      glucose, and insulin levels. The highest visfatin serum concentration was in AIT
      group, and healthy controls had visfatin level higher than TT (p = 0.0001).
      Simple linear regression analysis revealed that visfatin serum concentration was
      significantly associated with autoimmunity (beta = 0.1014; p = 0.003), FT4 (beta
      = 0.05412; p = 0.048), FT3 (beta = 0.05242; p = 0.038), and TPOAb (beta = 0.0002;
      p = 0.0025), and the relationships were further confirmed in the multivariate
      regression analysis. 

PMID- 26884762
TI  - The Association of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor delta and
      Additional Gene-Gene Interaction with C-Reactive Protein in Chinese Population.
AB  - Aims. To examine the association between 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
      of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors delta (PPARdelta) polymorphisms
      and C-reactive protein (CRP) level and additional gene-gene interaction. Methods.
      Line regression analysis was performed to verify polymorphism association between
      SNP and CRP levels. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was
      employed to analyze the interaction. Results. A total of 1028 subjects (538 men,
      490 women) were selected. The carriers of the C allele (TC or CC) of rs2016520
      were associated with a significant decreased level of CRP, regression
      coefficients was -0.338, and standard error was 0.104 (p = 0.001). The carriers
      of the G allele (CG or GG) of rs9794 were also significantly associated with
      decreased level of CRP, regression coefficients was -0.219, and standard error
      was 0.114 (p = 0.012). We also found a potential gene-gene interaction between
      rs2016520 and rs9794. Subjects with rs2016520-TC or CC, rs9794-CG or GG genotypes
      have lowest CRP level, difference (95% CI) = -0.50 (-0.69 to -0.21) (p < 0.001),
      compared to subjects with rs2016520-TT and rs9794-CC genotypes. Conclusions.
      rs2016520 and rs9794 minor allele of PPARdelta and combined effect between the
      two SNP were associated with decreased CRP level. 

PMID- 26884763
TI  - Antibacterial Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Punica granatum Linn. Petal on
      Common Oral Microorganisms.
AB  - Objectives. This study aimed to assess the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of
      Punica granatum Linn. (P. granatum) petal on Streptococcus sanguinis,
      Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, and
      Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods. In this in vitro study, P. granatum
      extract was prepared using powdered petals and water-ethanol solvent.
      Antibacterial effect of the extract, chlorhexidine (CHX), and ampicillin was
      evaluated on brain heart infusion agar (BHIA) using the cup-plate method. By
      assessing the diameter of the growth inhibition zone, the minimum inhibitory
      concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract
      were determined for the above-mentioned bacteria. Results. Hydroalcoholic extract
      of P. granatum petal had inhibitory effects on the proliferation of all five
      bacterial strains with maximum effect on S. mutans with MIC and MBC of 3.9 mg/mL.
      The largest growth inhibition zone diameter belonged to S. sanguinis and the
      smallest to E. faecalis. Ampicillin and CHX had the greatest inhibitory effect on
      S. sanguinis. Conclusions. Hydroalcoholic extract of P. granatum had a
      significant antibacterial effect on common oral bacterial pathogens with maximum
      effect on S. mutans, which is the main microorganism responsible for dental
      plaque and caries. 

PMID- 26884764
TI  - Preparation and Evaluation of Gelatin-Chitosan-Nanobioglass 3D Porous Scaffold
      for Bone Tissue Engineering.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to prepare and characterize bioglass-natural
      biopolymer based composite scaffold and evaluate its bone regeneration ability.
      Bioactive glass nanoparticles (58S) in the size range of 20-30 nm were
      synthesized using sol-gel method. Porous scaffolds with varying bioglass
      composition from 10 to 30 wt% in chitosan, gelatin matrix were fabricated using
      the method of freeze drying of its slurry at 40 wt% solids loading. Samples were
      cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to obtain interconnected porous 3D
      microstructure with improved mechanical strength. The prepared scaffolds
      exhibited >80% porosity with a mean pore size range between 100 and 300 microns.
      Scaffold containing 30 wt% bioglass (GCB 30) showed a maximum compressive
      strength of 2.2 +/- 0.1 MPa. Swelling and degradation studies showed that the
      scaffold had excellent properties of hydrophilicity and biodegradability. GCB 30
      scaffold was shown to be noncytotoxic and supported mesenchymal stem cell
      attachment, proliferation, and differentiation as indicated by MTT assay and RUNX
      2 expression. Higher cellular activity was observed in GCB 30 scaffold as
      compared to GCB 0 scaffold suggesting the fact that 58S bioglass nanoparticles
      addition into the scaffold promoted better cell adhesion, proliferation, and
      differentiation. Thus, the study showed that the developed composite scaffolds
      are potential candidates for regenerating damaged bone tissue. 

PMID- 26884765
TI  - Eucalyptus Tree: A Potential Source of Cryptococcus neoformans in Egyptian
      Environment.
AB  - In Egypt, the River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is a well-known tree and
      is highly appreciated by the rural and urban dwellers. The role of Eucalyptus
      trees in the ecology of Cryptococcus neoformans is documented worldwide. The aim
      of this survey was to show the prevalence of C. neoformans during the flowering
      season of E. camaldulensis at the Delta region in Egypt. Three hundred and eleven
      samples out of two hundred Eucalyptus trees, including leaves, flowers, and woody
      trunks, were collected from four governorates in the Delta region. Thirteen
      isolates of C. neoformans were recovered from Eucalyptus tree samples (4.2%).
      Molecular identification of C. neoformans was done by capsular gene specific
      primer CAP64 and serotype identification was done depending on LAC1 gene. This
      study represents an update on the ecology of C. neoformans associated with
      Eucalyptus tree in Egyptian environment. 

PMID- 26884766
TI  - Nonthrombotic Pulmonary Embolism: A Potential Complication of Polyacrylamide
      Hydrogel Cosmetic Injection.
AB  - Context. Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) has gained importance as a synthetic soft
      tissue filling agent. It has been commonly employed by physicians in Europe for
      facial contouring and soft tissue augmentation. Previously, PAAG is considered
      nontoxic and well tolerated with a few mild procedural complications. Case
      Presentation. A 26-year-old female was hospitalized for dry cough, worsening
      dyspnea, and chest discomfort after 3 hours of multiple PAAG injections in
      buttocks. The patient's condition deteriorated and rapidly advanced to acute
      respiratory failure. Therein, the diagnosis of nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism
      (NTPE) was established on standard set of investigations. She was intubated;
      corticosteroid and empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated resulting in
      improvement of her condition. Subsequently, extubation was done, and she was
      discharged from the hospital after an uneventful recovery. On 1-month follow-up,
      the patient had no previous symptoms. Conclusion. This report implicates
      clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for NTPE in patients presenting
      with respiratory symptoms following PAAG usage. 

PMID- 26884767
TI  - Probable Levofloxacin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in a Patient Previously on
      Ciprofloxacin: A Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a poorly understood, yet common phenomenon
      widely encountered in clinical practice. We present a case of suspected
      levofloxacin-induced thrombocytopenia, a rare side effect of a ubiquitous
      antibiotic, in a patient without similar effect to ciprofloxacin. This report
      builds upon other isolated case reports of fluoroquinolone-induced
      thrombocytopenia and demonstrates our algorithmic approach to the issue as well
      as a literature review pertaining to fluoroquinolone-induced thrombocytopenia. 

PMID- 26884768
TI  - Interventricular Septal Hematoma after Retrograde Intervention for a Chronic
      Total Occlusion of a Right Coronary Artery: Echocardiographic and Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging-Diagnosis and Follow-Up.
AB  - The reverse CART technique provides the potential to modify the retrograde
      procedure by improving the controlled movement of the retrograde wire and improve
      the success rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total
      occlusion (CTO). Development of interventricular hematoma is a rare complication
      of CTO PCI. A 63-year-old man with effort angina with a right coronary artery CTO
      lesion underwent PCI by retrograde approach from the LAD to a septal branch. A
      contrast "stain" was demonstrated surrounding the septal collateral channel used
      for the retrograde approach at the end of the procedure without symptom.
      Echocardiography indicated an increased interventricular septum thickness with
      low echo signals region and decreased contractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance
      (CMR) imaging using gadolinium showed a diffusely thickened septum with a low
      signal fusiform neocavitation delimited by an enhanced-signal ring suggesting
      intraventricular septal dissecting hematoma. After conservative treatment, follow
      up echocardiogram and CMR showed the resolution of the hematoma without clinical
      events. This case highlights the potentially lethal complication of septal
      perforator dissection and hematoma that may cause severe myocardial injury caused
      by retrograde approach for CTO PCI. 

PMID- 26884769
TI  - Tissue-Derived Stem Cell Research.

PMID- 26884771
TI  - Is It Time to Review Guidelines for ETT Positioning in the NICU? SCEPTIC-Survey
      of Challenges Encountered in Placement of Endotracheal Tubes in Canadian NICUs.
AB  - Objectives. To examine current opinions and practices regarding endotracheal tube
      placement across several Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Design. Clinical
      directors from Canadian Neonatal Network affiliated NICUs and Neonatal-Perinatal
      Programs across Canada were invited via email to participate in and disseminate
      the online survey to staff neonatologists, neonatal fellows, respiratory
      therapists, and nurse practitioners. Result. There is wide variability in the
      beliefs and practices related to ETT placement. The majority use "weight +6"
      formula and "aim to black line" on ETT at vocal cords to estimate the depth of an
      oral ETT and reported estimation as challenging in ELBW infants. The majority
      agreed that mid-trachea is an ideal ETT tip position; however their preferred
      position on chest X-ray varied. Many believe that ETT positioning could be
      improved with more precise ETT markings. Conclusion. Further research should
      focus on developing more effective guidelines for ETT tip placement in the ELBW
      infants. 

PMID- 26884772
TI  - Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Distal Abutment Stresses of
      Removable Partial Dentures with Different Retainer Designs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This finite element method study aimed to compare the amount of
      stress on an isolated mandibular second premolar in two conventional reciprocal
      parallel interface designs of removable partial dentures (RPDs) and the same RPD
      abutment tooth (not isolated). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Kennedy Class 1,
      modification 1 RPD framework was simulated on a 3D model of mandible with three
      different designs: an isolated tooth with a mesial rest, an isolated tooth with
      mesial and distal rests and an abutment with a mesial rest (which was not
      isolated); 26 N occlusal forces were exerted bilaterally on the first molar
      sites. Stress on the abutment teeth was analyzed using Cosmos Works 2009
      Software. RESULTS: In all designs, the abutment tooth stress concentration was
      located in the buccal alveolar crest. In the first model, the von Mises stress
      distribution in the contact area of I-bar clasp and cervical portion of the tooth
      was 19 MPa and the maximum stress was 30 MPa. In the second model, the maximum
      von Mises stress distribution was 15 MPa in the cervical of the tooth. In the
      third model, the maximum von Mises stress was located in the cervical of the
      tooth and the distal proximal plate. CONCLUSION: We recommend using both mesial
      and distal rests on the distal abutment teeth of distal extension RPDs. The
      abutment of an extension base RPD, which is not isolated in presence of its
      neighboring more anterior tooth, may have a better biomechanical prognosis.

PMID- 26884770
TI  - Community-Acquired Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Compared with Adenovirus and
      Norovirus Gastroenteritis in Italian Children: A Pedianet Study.
AB  - Background. Rotavirus (RV) is the commonest pathogen in the hospital and primary
      care settings, followed by Adenovirus (AV) and Norovirus (NV). Only few studies
      that assess the burden of RV gastroenteritis at the community level have been
      carried out. Objectives. To estimate incidence, disease characteristics, seasonal
      distribution, and working days lost by parents of RV, AV, and NV gastroenteritis
      leading to a family pediatrician (FP) visit among children < 5 years. Methods. 12
      month, observational, prospective, FP-based study has been carried out using
      Pedianet database. Results. RVGE incidence was 1.04 per 100 person-years with the
      highest incidence in the first 2 years of life. Incidences of AVGEs (1.74) and
      NVGEs (1.51) were slightly higher with similar characteristics regarding age
      distribution and symptoms. Risk of hospitalisation, access to emergency room
      (ER), and workdays lost from parents were not significantly different in RVGEs
      compared to the other viral infections. Conclusions. Features of RVGE in terms of
      hospitalisation length and indirect cost are lower than those reported in
      previous studies. Results of the present study reflect the large variability of
      data present in the literature. This observation underlines the utility of
      primary care networks for AGE surveillance and further studies on community
      acquired gastroenteritis in children. 

PMID- 26884773
TI  - Effect of Topical Fluoride on Surface of Cast Titanium and Nickel-Chromium: An In
      Vitro Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the effect of topical
      fluoride on surface of cast titanium and nickel-chromium. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Thirty-nine rectangular specimens of titanium (grade 2) and 39 rectangular
      specimens of nickel-chromium were cast in equal dimensions and divided into three
      groups of 13 samples each. Group one specimens of titanium and nickel-chromium
      were placed in 2% neutral sodium fluoride (NaF) solution for 16 minutes. Group
      two specimens of titanium and nickel-chromium were immersed in 1.23% acidulated
      phosphate fluoride (APF) gel for eight minutes. Group three specimens of titanium
      and nickel-chromium were immersed in distilled water for 16 minutes. The surface
      roughness of the specimens was evaluated and the data were analyzed using two-way
      ANOVA and post-hoc comparison test with the level of significance set at 5% (P<
      0.05). The surface of the specimens was further analyzed using a scanning
      electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). RESULTS:
      Group two titanium specimens showed a statistically significant increase in
      surface roughness (P<0.05); but no statistically significant increase was noted
      in the surface roughness of nickel-chromium specimens in groups one, two and
      three (P>0.05). Qualitative SEM and EDS analyses further revealed the surface
      corrosion of titanium (group two) and localized mild corrosive pitting of nickel
      chromium specimens (group two). CONCLUSION: Topical fluoride with acidic pH
      affects the surface roughness of titanium and to a certain extent, nickel
      chromium. Neutral NaF solutions cause no significant change in corrosion
      resistance of titanium or nickel-chromium.

PMID- 26884774
TI  - Effect of Dietary Vitamin C on Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Bone remodeling occurs during orthodontic treatment; this process
      enables tooth movement. Many factors can affect bone remodeling at the cellular
      level, such as nutritional supplements that can affect tooth movement. The
      present study was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary vitamin C on
      orthodontic tooth movement in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried
      out on 36 six-week male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 225+/-32 g, which were
      randomly allocated to two equal groups. Rats in the case group received 1wt%
      vitamin C in their daily water. Opening springs were placed on the incisor teeth
      of both case and control groups. After 17 days, rats were sacrificed; the
      distance between the mesio-incisal angles of these teeth was measured with a
      digital caliper. Histological sections were made containing incisor teeth and
      alveolar bone and stained by hematoxylin-eosin. The number of resorption lacunae
      was evaluated using light microscopy. RESULTS: Our findings showed that the
      amount of tooth movement in the vitamin C group was significantly higher than
      that in the control group (P<0.001). The osteoclast counts were significantly
      higher in vitamin C group (P=0.036). CONCLUSION: Oral vitamin C can increase
      orthodontic tooth movement in rats with more osteoclast lacunae around root in
      the pressure area.

PMID- 26884775
TI  - Effect of Coloring-by-Dipping on Microtensile Bond Strength of Zirconia to Resin
      Cement.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Studies on the effect of coloring procedures on the bond strength of
      zirconia to resin cement are lacking in the literature. This study evaluated the
      effect of dipping of zirconia ceramic in different liquid color shades on the
      microtensile bond strength (MTBS) of zirconia ceramic to resin cement. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: This in vitro study was conducted on 100 microbar specimens divided
      into five groups of B2, C1, D4, A3 and control (not colored). To prepare the
      microbars, 20 white zirconia ceramic blocks, measuring 5*11*11 mm, were dipped in
      A3, B2, C1 or D4 liquid color shades for 10 seconds (five blocks for each color
      shade) and five blocks were not colored as controls. All the zirconia blocks were
      sintered in a sintering furnace. Composite blocks of similar dimensions were
      fabricated and bonded to zirconia ceramic blocks using Panavia F 2.0 resin
      cement. Zirconia-cement-composite blocks were sectioned into microbars measuring
      1*1*10 mm. The MTBS of microbars was measured by a testing machine. Data were
      analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. All tests were carried out at 0.05
      level of significance. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found
      among the groups in MTBS (P<0.001). The D4 group had the highest MTBS value
      (39.16 +/- 6.52 MPa). CONCLUSION: Dipping affected the MTBS of zirconia ceramic
      to Panavia F 2.0 resin cement; however, a similar pattern of change was not seen
      due to the different liquid color shades.

PMID- 26884776
TI  - Morphology and Differentiation of MG63 Osteoblast Cells on Saliva Contaminated
      Implant Surfaces.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Osteoblasts are the most important cells in the osseointegration
      process. Despite years of study on dental Implants, limited studies have
      discussed the effect of saliva on the adhesion process of osteoblasts to implant
      surfaces. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of saliva on
      morphology and differentiation of osteoblasts attached to implant surfaces.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve Axiom dental implants were divided into two groups.
      Implants of the case group were placed in containers, containing saliva, for 40
      minutes. Then, all the implants were separately stored in a medium containing
      MG63 human osteoblasts for a week. Cell morphology and differentiation were
      assessed using a scanning electron microscope and their alkaline phosphatase
      (ALP) activity was determined. The t-test was used to compare the two groups.
      RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopic observation of osteoblasts revealed round
      or square cells with fewer and shorter cellular processes in saliva contaminated
      samples, whereas elongated, fusiform and well-defined cell processes were seen in
      the control group. ALP level was significantly lower in case compared to control
      group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Saliva contamination alters osteoblast morphology and
      differentiation and may subsequently interfere with successful osseointegration.
      Thus, saliva contamination of bone and implant must be prevented or minimized.

PMID- 26884777
TI  - Marginal Microleakage of Conventional Fissure Sealants and Self-Adhering Flowable
      Composite as Fissure Sealant in Permanent Teeth.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Application of sealants is a safe and effective way to prevent
      occlusal caries in the posterior teeth. A successful sealant therapy depends on
      good isolation. Decreased steps of adhesive application may enable proper
      isolation and use of self-adhering flowable composites for sealant therapy. This
      study sought to compare the marginal microleakage of fissure sealants and self
      adhering flowable composites in permanent teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in
      vitro, experimental study was conducted on 60 extracted human premolar teeth. The
      teeth were divided randomly into two groups of 30. In the first group, fissure
      sealant (Clinpro, 3M ESPE, USA) was placed on the teeth. In the second group,
      self-adhering flowable composite (Vertise Flow, Kerr, USA) was applied as the
      sealant. Then, both groups were immersed in 0.5% fuchsin dye solution for 24
      hours. Sectioned samples were observed with a stereomicroscope for the extent of
      dye penetration. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 and the Mann-Whitney test
      (P<0.05). RESULTS: Microleakage in the fissure sealant group was significantly
      higher than that in the self-adhering flowable composite group (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSION: Microleakage was less using self-adhering flowable composite compared
      to conventional fissure sealant; therefore, self-adhering flowable composite can
      be used as a suitable fissure sealant in permanent teeth.

PMID- 26884778
TI  - Effect of Enamel Preparation and Light Curing Methods on Microleakage under
      Orthodontic Brackets.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the microleakage beneath metallic
      brackets following two different methods of enamel preparation and light curing.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 bovine deciduous lower incisors were
      randomly divided into four groups of 30 teeth. The preparations were as follows:
      Group I: Acid etching + Transbond XT primer + direct illumination, group II: acid
      etching + Transbond XT primer + transillumination, group III: Transbond XT self
      etching primer + direct illumination and Group IV: Transbond XT self-etching
      primer + transillumination. Dye penetration was used as the method of
      microleakage evaluation. Sections made at the enamel-adhesive and adhesive
      bracket interfaces were evaluated under a stereomicroscope. The Kruskal-Wallis
      and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of
      significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: All groups showed greater microleakage
      at the gingival in comparison to the incisal margin and the differences were
      significant among groups with transillumination (P<0.001). No significant
      differences were observed in the microleakage scores at the gingival and incisal
      margins in any of the interfaces (P>0.05). Mesiodistal margins of the self
      etching group with direct illumination showed significantly lower scores in
      comparison with acid etched group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of self-etching
      primers for bonding of orthodontic brackets yields acceptable results if all
      bracket margins are cured directly.

PMID- 26884779
TI  - Designing and Implementation of a Course on Successful Dental Practice for
      Dentists.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aimed to design, implement and evaluate the efficacy of a
      comprehensive course on non-clinical competencies that dentists must possess for
      a successful dental practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this interventional
      before-after study an expert panel of five academic staff members and five
      general practitioners derived the topics for a course on successful dental
      practice, and aggregated them in the form of a two-day course. It was held for 46
      randomly selected dentists in January 2010, at the School of Dentistry, Tehran
      University of Medical Sciences. The participants completed an anonymous
      questionnaire asking about their self-perceived need to receive training in each
      of the proposed topics and their self-assessed knowledge about each topic before
      and after attending the course. RESULTS: Participants gave a higher priority to
      the necessity of training on "ergonomics and professional health" and
      communication skills in post-test compared to pre-test (P<0.05). The self
      assessed knowledge of dentists improved significantly after attending the course
      in seven domains: ergonomics and occupational health, workplace design,
      documentation principles and IT applications in dentistry, national rules and
      regulations of dental practice, medical emergencies, dental ethics and
      communication skills (P<0.05). More than 70% of the participants were completely
      satisfied or satisfied with practical implication of the course, conformity of
      the contents with the title and course settings. CONCLUSION: The designed course
      seemed to be successful in revealing the need of participants for further
      education. Considering the high satisfaction rate of the attendants, this course
      can serve as a model for continuing education purposes.

PMID- 26884780
TI  - Oral Myiasis: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Myiasis is a rare disease caused by infestation of tissue by larvae of flies.
      Oral myiasis is still "rare" and "unique" owing to the fact that oral cavity
      rarely provides the necessary habitat for a larval lifecycle. Herein, we present
      a case of extensive gingival myiasis in a 12-year-old mentally retarded,
      epileptic child as well as a literature review. 

PMID- 26884781
TI  - Regenerative Endodontic Treatment: Report of Two Cases with Different Clinical
      Management and Outcomes.
AB  - Endodontic intervention in necrotic immature permanent teeth is usually a
      clinical challenge. With appropriate case selection, regenerative treatment can
      be effective, providing a desirable outcome. However, there is still no consensus
      on the optimal disinfection protocol or the method to achieve predictable
      clinical outcome. This article presents two cases of regenerative treatment in
      necrotic immature teeth, using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and
      Biodentine(TM) as coronal barriers and different irrigants, which led to
      different clinical outcomes. 

PMID- 26884782
TI  - A Comparative Study of Group Behavioral Activation and Cognitive Therapy in
      Reducing Subsyndromal Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effectiveness of two group treatments,
      behavioral activation (BA) and cognitive therapy (CT), in reducing subsyndromal
      anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of Iranian university students.
      METHOD: Twenty-seven Iranian university students who scored 18 or higher on the
      depression subscale and 16 or higher on the anxiety subscale of the Depression,
      Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42) were randomly assigned into treatment groups.
      One group received 8 sessions of BA (n = 14), and the other received 8 sessions
      of group CT (n = 13). RESULT: Analysis of covariance revealed that the BA group
      had a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than the CT group.
      However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the
      levels of anxiety, stress symptoms or functional impairment after treatment.
      CONCLUSION: This study found evidence for the effectiveness of BA in reducing
      anxiety, depressive and stress symptoms and functional impairment compared to CT.
      BA was more effective than CT in improving depressive symptoms and was as
      effective as CT in decreasing anxiety, stress and functional impairment. BA is
      also a cost-effective intervention, particularly in group formats.

PMID- 26884783
TI  - The Role of Defense Mechanisms, Personality and Demographical Factors on
      Complicated Grief following Death of a loved one by Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Identification of the risk factors and psychological correlates of
      prolonged grief disorder is vital for health promotions in relatives of persons
      who died of cancer. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of
      defense mechanisms, character dimension of personality and demographic factors on
      complicated grief following a loss of a family member to cancer. METHOD: A number
      of 226 persons who had lost a family member to cancer in a cancer institute at
      Tehran University of Medical Science were selected through compliance sampling
      and completed the Inventory of complicated Grief-Revised (ICG-R), the Defense
      Styles Questionnaire (DSQ), the Character dimension of Temperament and Character
      Inventory (TCI), and the Demographical questionnaire. Data were analyzed by
      stepwise multiple regression analysis, using the PASW version 18. RESULTS:
      Findings revealed that neurotic defense style had a significant positive
      predictive role in the complicated grief; and cooperativeness, age of the
      deceased person, self-transcendence and mature defense style had a significant
      negative predictive role in complicated grief (p<0.001). R2 was 0.73 for the
      final model (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results revealed that two character
      dimensions (low cooperativeness and self-transcendence), high neurotic defense
      style and young age of the deceased person were involved in the
      psychopathological course of the complicated and prolonged grief. It was
      concluded that personality characteristics of the grieving persons and
      demographics of the deceased person should be addressed in designing tailored
      interventions for complicated grief.

PMID- 26884784
TI  - Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Quality of Life of Mothers of
      Children with Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The findings demonstrated that parents of children with cerebral palsy
      experience elevated levels of distress, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress
      symptom and subjective symptom of stress and low quality of life. Effective
      interventions targeting relapse have the potential to dramatically reduce the
      point prevalence of this condition. Many studies have shown that Mindfulness
      Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an intervention that has shown efficacy in
      improving quality of life. In this study, the effect of Mindfulness -Based
      Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on increasing quality of life in mothers of children
      with cerebral palsy has been examined. METHOD: Three mothers of CP children with
      low scores on quality of life in WHOQOL-BREF inventory participated in this
      single- case study. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the MBCT program elevated
      quality of life of the participants. The improvement quotient for quality of life
      of each participant was good . CONCLUSION: The results have implication for
      efficacy of mindfulness for improvement of psychosocial life of families of
      children with cerebral palsy.

PMID- 26884785
TI  - Evaluation of Cerebral Cortex Function in Clients with Bipolar Mood Disorder I
      (BMD I) Compared With BMD II Using QEEG Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis of type I and type II bipolar mood disorder is very
      challenging particularly in adolescence. Hence, we aimed to investigate the
      cerebral cortex function in these patients, using quantitative
      electroencephalography analysis to obtain significant differences between them.
      METHODS: Thirty- eight adolescents (18 patients with bipolar disorder I and 20
      with BMD II) participated in this study. We recorded the electroencephalogram
      signals based on 10-20 international system by 21 electrodes in eyes open and
      eyes closed condition resting conditions. Forty seconds segments were selected
      from each recorded signals with minimal noise and artifacts. Periodogram Welch
      was used to estimate power spectrum density from each segment. Analysis was
      performed in five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma), and we
      assessed power, mean, entropy, variance and skewness of the spectrums, as well as
      mean of the thresholded spectrum and thresholded spectrogram. We only used focal
      montage for comparison. Eventually, data were analyzed by independent Mann
      Whitney test and independent t test. RESULTS: We observed significant differences
      in some brain regions and in all frequency bands. There were significant
      differences in prefrontal lobe, central lobe, left parietal lobe, occipital lobe
      and temporal lobe between BMD I and BMD II (P < 0.05). In patients with BMD I,
      spectral entropy was compared to patients with BMD II. The most significant
      difference was observed in the gamma frequency band. Also, the power and entropy
      of delta frequency band was larger in the left parietal lobe in the BMD I
      patients compared to BMD II patients (P < 0.05). In the temporal lobe,
      significant differences were observed in the spectrum distribution of beta and
      gamma frequency bands (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The QEEG and entropy measure are
      simple and available tools to help detect cerebral cortex deficits and
      distinguish BMD I from BMD II.

PMID- 26884786
TI  - Long Term Effects of Mindfulness on Quality of life in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of mindfulness
      based therapy on improving life quality of patients with irritable bowel
      syndrome. METHOD: This was an experimental study including 24 patients (12 from
      each group) with IBS syndrome were selected based on the ROMEIII criteria and
      were randomly placed in the test and control groups. In both groups, the scales
      of the IBS-QOL34 Questionnaire were applied as assessment tool. Experiment group
      was subjected to the MFT (mindfulness-based therapy), while the control group
      received no intervention. After the two-month follow up, both groups were once
      again evaluated through the IBS-QOL34 scales. RESULTS: There is not significant
      difference between trial and control group in starting of the study in
      demographic and quality of life status. The findings of covariance analysis
      revealed that the difference between the experiment and the control groups at
      follow-up was significant (p = 0.01). The results showed that the MFT has long
      term effects on the life quality of patients suffering from IBS. CONCLUSION: The
      MFT could be considered as a new, effective and stable method in psychotherapy,
      particularly in psychosomatic disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

PMID- 26884787
TI  - Memantine versus Methylphenidate in Children and Adolescents with Attention
      Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the efficacy
      of memantine versus methylphenidate in the treatment of children with attention
      deficit hyperactivity disorder. METHOD: Forty participants (34 boys and 6 girls)
      aged 6-11 who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder based
      on (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were selected for this study. The participants were
      randomly assigned to two groups: group one (n = 22) received memantine and the
      other group (n = 18) received methylphenidate for six weeks. Treatment outcomes
      were assessed using the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Rating Scale and Clinical
      Global Impression- Severity Scale administered at baseline and at weeks 3 and 6
      following the treatment. Also, a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance
      (time- treatment interaction) was used. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, methylphenidate
      produced a significantly better outcome on the Parent Rating Scale scores and
      Clinical Global Impression- Severity than memantine. Side effects were observed
      more often in the memantine group. However, with respect to the frequency of side
      effects, the difference between the memantine and methylphenidate groups was not
      significant. The most common side effects associated with memantine are appetite
      suppression, headache, vomiting, nausea and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The results of
      this study revealed that although memantine was less effective than
      methylphenidate in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it
      may be considered as an alternative treatment.

PMID- 26884788
TI  - Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Difficulties in Emotion
      Regulation Scale) DERS-6 & DERS-5- Revised (in an Iranian Clinical Sample.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity and
      reliability of the two forms of the Persian version of the Difficulties in
      Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-6 & DERS-5-revised) in a clinical sample. METHODS:
      The clinical sample consisted of 181 patients diagnosed with Functional GI
      Disorders (FGID) who referred to the digestive psychosomatic clinic in Isfahan in
      2012. They were selected by census method (In a given period of time). The
      Persian version of the DERS, the short form of the DASS, and the TAS-20 were used
      to collect data. RESULTS: The results of the factor structure or construct
      validity using principal components analysis with varimax rotation recognized 7
      factors for the DERS-6 (Goals, Awarness, Impalse, Non Acceptance, Strategy,
      Clarity, Recognition), and 6 factors for the DERS-5- revised (Non Acceptance,
      Goals, Impalse, Strategy, Clarity, Recognition) in the clinical sample. They
      showed the common variance of 59.51% and 59.15%, respectively. Also, the results
      showed that the concurrent validity of both forms of the DERS and most of their
      factors, and their reliability in terms of Cronbach-Alpha were favorable.
      DISCUSSION: Considering the factor structure and favorable psychometric
      properties of the two scales of DERS-6 & DERS-5-revised, the scales can be used
      in clinical samples.

PMID- 26884789
TI  - Identifying Some Risk Factors of Time to Relapses in Schizophrenic Patients using
      Bayesian Approach with Event-Dependent Frailty Model.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia patients often experience relapses once and even more
      with no limit on number of relapses. The time among relapses are rarely
      considered in studies. The aim of this study was to identify some risk factors of
      time to elapses in schizophrenic patients with recurrent events model in survival
      analysis. METHODS: In a retrospective longitudinal study, the medical records of
      159 schizophrenic patients who referred to Razi hospital in Tehran from 2003 to
      2005 were conveniently sampled, investigated and followed until the end of 2009.
      The time to recurrent relapses were considered in weeks. The patients with at
      least one relapse in this duration were included in the study. Event-dependent
      frailty model, using Bayesian approach, was applied to fit the data and identify
      the risk factors of time to relapses. RESULTS: In this recurrent failure time
      model, the effects of age of onset (95% CI = (0.058, 0.086)), gender (95% CI =
      (0.146, 0.686)), marital status (95% CI = (0.475, 0.965)) and family history (95%
      CI = (0.115, 0.543)) were significant on the hazard time to relapses. According
      to the credible interval of frailty variance, elapsed time to relapse is
      dependent on patients' characteristics (95% CI = (0.084, 0.369)). Subsequent
      relapses are likely to be influenced by the occurrence of the first relapse, too
      (95% CI = (2.504, 3.079)), with decreasing hazard of time to relapse.
      CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent relapses are likely dependent on the first and previous
      relapses. Age of onset, gender, marital status and family history are important
      risk factors influencing hazard of time to relapses. More studies are required to
      clear out the effect of other covariates with this model.

PMID- 26884790
TI  - Severity of Anxiety Disorders in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
      Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic physical diseases sometimes show increased loss
      of function; such patients need more care. Anxiety is a well-known symptom that
      is prevalent among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients that can
      prolong and increase the risk of hospitalization. The purpose of this study was
      to evaluate the severity of anxiety in the mentioned patients and to examine the
      presence of symptoms and appropriate treatment strategies to understand the role
      of psychological functions in physical patients. Methods : This was a cross
      sectional study conducted in Masih Daneshvari Hospital. One hundred forty- three
      patients entered into the project by accessible method and signed the informed
      consent; they filled demographic information and Hamilton anxiety and depression
      questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS-16. Results : Of the participants, 68%
      were above 60 years of age; 78% were male; 89% were married; and 38% were self
      employed. Also, among the participants, 51% were illiterate; 72% had history of
      smoking; 46% had history of substance abuse; and 49% had moderate to severe
      anxiety disorder. Moreover, of the patients with severe anxiety, 41.3% had severe
      muscle spasms; and severe sleeplessness was found in 38.5% of those with severe
      anxiety disorder. Severe anxiety related symptoms were found in 20.3% of the
      patients with severe anxiety disorder. Depressed mood was found in 27.3% of the
      patients with severe anxiety disorder. Severe physical and muscular signs were
      found in 35.7% of those with severe anxiety disorder. Conclusion : According to
      our findings, many chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      may contain anxiety and depression which result in vulnerability. Therefore,
      evaluation of anxiety in such patients is of importance for alleviating the
      disease.

PMID- 26884791
TI  - Priapism Followed by Discontinuation of Methadone: A rare Case Report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Priapism is defined by persistent, painful penile erection which
      occurs without sexual stimulation. Methadone is used as an analgesic and is also
      used in detoxification and maintenance protocol for opioid dependence treatment.
      Here we will report a case of a male with priapism after rapid discontinuation
      doses of methadone. CASE PRESENTATION: The case was a young married male who
      referred to a psychiatry clinic due to long-time spontaneous erections. The
      patient had no history of mental disorders, trauma or sickle cell anemia. He used
      to smoke opium for five years and used methadone for four years at a dose of 17
      cc daily, which he abruptly discontinued. Then he often experienced spontaneous
      and painful erections without physical or mental stimulation that caused him
      shame and embarrassment. CONCLUSION: In this case, chronology indicates that
      rapid discontinuation of methadone was possibly responsible for the occurrence of
      priapism. This may have happened due to a compensatory reaction to methadone side
      effect of erectile dysfunction, followed by its rapid withdrawal.

PMID- 26884792
TI  - Herbal Formulation C168 Attenuates Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in HCT 116
      Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells: Role of Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage.
AB  - The use of herbal formulations has gained scientific interest, particularly in
      cancer treatment. In this study, the herbal formulation of interest, denoted as
      C168, is a mixture of eight genera of plants. This study aims to investigate the
      antiproliferative effect of C168 methanol extract (CME) on various cancer cells
      and its underlying mechanism of action on the most responsive cell line, namely,
      HCT 116 cells. CME exerted antiproliferative activities on HCT 116 colorectal
      carcinoma cells and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells but not on CCD-841-CoN
      normal colon epithelial cells, Jurkat E6.1 lymphoblastic leukemic cells, and V79
      4 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts. Further investigation on HCT 116 cells showed
      that CME induced G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Treatment of CME induced
      oxidative stress in HCT 116 cells by increasing the superoxide anion level and
      decreasing the intracellular glutathione. CME also increased tail moment value
      and H2AX phosphorylation in HCT 116 cells, suggesting DNA damage as an early
      signal of CME induced apoptosis. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in CME
      treated cells also indicated the involvement of mitochondria in CME induced
      apoptosis. This study indicated the selectivity of CME toward colon cancer cells
      with the involvement of oxidative damage as its possible mechanism of action. 

PMID- 26884793
TI  - The Protective Effects of Buzui on Acute Alcoholism in Mice.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the role of a traditional buzui recipe in
      anti-inebriation treatment. Buzui consists of Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis,
      Fructus Chebulae, Fructus Mume, Fructus Crataegi, Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae
      Galli, and Excrementum Bombycis. The buzui mixture was delivered by gavage, and
      ethanol was delivered subsequent to the final treatment. The effects of buzui on
      the righting reflex, inebriation rates, and the survival curve are depicted.
      Blood alcohol concentrations, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, aspartate
      aminotransferase (AST) levels, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were
      recorded. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase
      (ALDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as malonaldehyde (MDA) levels,
      were also measured. Our results demonstrated that a traditional buzui recipe
      showed significant effects on promoting wakefulness and the prevention of acute
      alcohol intoxication, accelerating the metabolism of alcohol in the liver and
      reducing the oxidative damage caused by acute alcoholism. 

PMID- 26884794
TI  - A New Rehabilitation Tool in Fibromyalgia: The Effects of Perceptive
      Rehabilitation on Pain and Function in a Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - Introduction/Objective. Fibromyalgia might benefit from a specific tactile and
      proprioceptive rehabilitation approach. The aim of this study was to perform a
      randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of perceptual surfaces (PS)
      and physical exercises with regard to chronic pain and physical function in
      fibromyalgia compared with a control group. Methods. Data from 54 females (18-60
      years old) with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and scoring >5 on the visual analog
      scale were divided into 3 groups and analyzed: group treated with perceptual
      surfaces (PS-group), physical exercises group (PE-group), and control group (CG).
      The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire
      (HAQ), and Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS) were administered at baseline
      (T0), at the end of the treatment (T1) (after 10 rehabilitation sessions over a 5
      week period), and at the 12-week follow-up (T2). Results. The PS-group
      experienced a statistically significant improvement versus the CG in FAS and HAQ
      scores. Good efficacy with respect to pain and function in the PE-group compared
      with the CG in terms of FAS, HAQ, and FIQ scores was observed. The adherence
      ratio was 86% for the PE-group and CG and 90% for the PS-group. Conclusions.
      According to the results, the PS are as promising as the physical exercises,
      since results were similar. 

PMID- 26884795
TI  - A 70% Ethanol Extract of Mistletoe Rich in Betulin, Betulinic Acid, and Oleanolic
      Acid Potentiated beta-Cell Function and Mass and Enhanced Hepatic Insulin
      Sensitivity.
AB  - We investigated that the long-term consumption of the water (KME-W) and 70%
      ethanol (KME-E) mistletoe extracts had antidiabetic activities in partial
      pancreatectomized (Px) rats. Px rats were provided with a high-fat diet
      containing 0.6% KME-E, 0.6% KME-W, and 0.6% dextrin (control) for 8 weeks. As
      normal-control, Sham-operated rats were provided with 0.6% dextrin. In cell-based
      studies, the effects of its main terpenoids (betulin, betulinic acid, and
      oleanolic acid) on glucose metabolism were measured. Both KME-W and KME-E
      decreased epididymal fat mass by increasing fat oxidation in diabetic rats. KME-E
      but not KME-W exhibited greater potentiation of first-phase insulin secretion
      than the Px-control in a hyperglycemic clamp. KME-E also made beta-cell mass
      greater than the control by increasing beta-cell proliferation and decreasing its
      apoptosis. In a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, whole-body glucose infusion
      rate and hepatic glucose output increased with potentiating hepatic insulin
      signaling in the following order: Px-control, KME-W, KME-E, and normal-control.
      Betulin potentiated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake via increased PPAR-gamma
      activity and insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, whereas oleanolic acid
      enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and cell proliferation in
      insulinoma cells. In conclusion, KME-E prevented the deterioration of glucose
      metabolism in diabetic rats more effectively than KME-W and KME-E can be a better
      therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes than KME-W. 

PMID- 26884796
TI  - Effect of Huai Qi Huang on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Renal Tubular
      Epithelial Cells through miR-200a.
AB  - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells is a
      vital mechanism of renal fibrosis. Mounting evidence suggests that miR-200a
      expression decreases in tubular epithelial cells in unilateral ureteral
      obstruction (UUO) rats. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that Huai Qi Huang
      (HQH) can ameliorate tubulointerstitial damage in adriamycin nephrosis and delay
      kidney dysfunction in primary glomerular disease. However, the effect of HQH on
      EMT of tubular epithelial cells in UUO rats and its molecular mechanism is
      unclear. In order to explore the effect of HQH on EMT and its molecular mechanism
      in renal fibrosis, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed in our study.
      Our results showed that HQH increased miR-200a expression in UUO rats and in TGF
      beta1 stimulated NRK-52E cells. Meanwhile, HQH decreased ZEB1 and ZEB2 (the
      transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin), alpha-SMA expression in renal tubular
      epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that HQH protected
      kidney from fibrosis in UUO rats. The results demonstrated that HQH regulated miR
      200a/ZEBs pathway and inhibited EMT process, which may be a mechanism of
      protecting effect on tubular cells in renal fibrosis. 

PMID- 26884797
TI  - Perceived Benefits of Yoga among Urban School Students: A Qualitative Analysis.
AB  - This study reports on the findings of a qualitative evaluation of a yoga
      intervention program for urban middle and high school youth in New York City
      public and charter schools. Six focus groups were conducted with students who
      participated in a year-long yoga program to determine their perceptions of mental
      and physical benefits as well as barriers and challenges. Results show that
      students perceived the benefits of yoga as increased self-regulation,
      mindfulness, self-esteem, physical conditioning, academic performance, and stress
      reduction. Barriers and challenges for a yoga practice include lack of time and
      space. The extent to which the benefits experienced are interrelated to one
      another is discussed. Suggestions for future research and school-based
      programming are also offered. 

PMID- 26884798
TI  - The Function of Naringin in Inducing Secretion of Osteoprotegerin and Inhibiting
      Formation of Osteoclasts.
AB  - Osteoporosis has become one of the most prevalent and costly diseases in the
      world. It is a metabolic disease characterized by reduction in bone mass due to
      an imbalance between bone formation and resorption. Osteoporosis causes
      fractures, prolongs bone healing, and impedes osseointegration of dental
      implants. Its pathological features include osteopenia, degradation of bone
      tissue microstructure, and increase of bone fragility. In traditional Chinese
      medicine, the herb Rhizoma Drynariae has been commonly used to treat osteoporosis
      and bone nonunion. However, the precise underlying mechanism is as yet unclear.
      Osteoprotegerin is a cytokine receptor shown to play an important role in
      osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Hence, activators and ligands of
      osteoprotegerin are promising drug targets and have been the focus of studies on
      the development of therapeutics against osteoporosis. In the current study, we
      found that naringin could synergistically enhance the action of 1alpha,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D3 in promoting the secretion of osteoprotegerin by osteoblasts
      in vitro. In addition, naringin can also influence the generation of osteoclasts
      and subsequently bone loss during organ culture. In conclusion, this study
      provides evidence that natural compounds such as naringin have the potential to
      be used as alternative medicines for the prevention and treatment of osteolysis. 

PMID- 26884799
TI  - The Clinical Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Reducing Pain for the Cancer
      Patients: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - Purpose. Aromatherapy massage is an alternative treatment in reducing the pain of
      the cancer patients. This study was to investigate whether aromatherapy massage
      could improve the pain of the cancer patients. Methods. We searched PubMed and
      Cochrane Library for relevant randomized controlled trials without language
      limitations between 1 January 1990 and 31 July 2015 with a priori defined
      inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search terms included aromatherapy,
      essential oil, pain, ache, cancer, tumor, and carcinoma. There were 7 studies
      which met the selection criteria and 3 studies were eventually included among 63
      eligible publications. Results. This meta-analysis included three randomized
      controlled trials with a total of 278 participants (135 participants in the
      massage with essential oil group and 143 participants in the control (usual care)
      group). Compared with the control group, the massage with essential oil group had
      nonsignificant effect on reducing the pain (standardized mean difference = 0.01;
      95% CI [-0.23,0.24]). Conclusion. Aromatherapy massage does not appear to reduce
      pain of the cancer patients. Further rigorous studies should be conducted with
      more objective measures. 

PMID- 26884800
TI  - Higher plasma levels of complement C3a, C4a and C5a increase the risk of
      subretinal fibrosis in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Complement
      activation in AMD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of
      complement C3a, C4a, and C5a in different types of neovascular age-related
      macular degeneration (nAMD) and whether the levels were related to patients'
      responsiveness to anti-VEGF therapy. RESULTS: Ninety-six nAMD patients (including
      61 with choroidal neovascularisation (CNV), 17 with retinal angiomatous
      proliferation (RAP), 14 with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 4
      unclassified patients) and 43 controls were recruited to this case-control study.
      Subretinal fibrosis was observed in 45 nAMD patients and was absent in 51 nAMD
      patients. In addition, the responsiveness to anti-VEGF (Lucentis) therapy was
      also evaluated in nAMD patients. Forty-four patients were complete responders, 48
      were partially responders, and only 4 patients did not respond to the therapy.
      The plasma levels of C3a, C4a and C5a were significantly higher in nAMD patients
      compared to controls. Further analysis of nAMD subgroups showed that the levels
      of C3a, C4a and C5a were significantly increased in patients with CNV but not RAP
      and PCV. Significantly increased levels of C3a, C4a and C5a were also observed in
      nAMD patients with subretinal fibrosis but not in those without subretinal
      fibrosis. Higher levels of C3a were observed in nAMD patients who responded
      partially to anti-VEGF therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest increased
      systemic complement activation in nAMD patients with CNV but not RAP and PCV. Our
      results also suggest that higher levels of systemic complement activation may
      increase the risk of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD patients.

PMID- 26884801
TI  - Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kidney: Diagnosis by fine
      needle aspiration and review of the literature.
AB  - Renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) was recently described
      as a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the 2004 World Health
      Organization classification of kidney tumors. MTSCC is a rare low grade
      malignancy with < 100 cases reported in the literature. To the best of our
      knowledge, there are 5 case reports with a total of 6 patients describing its
      diagnosis by fine needle aspiration (FNA). All of these cases were diagnosed as
      conventional RCC on FNA. Subsequent excisions proved them to be MTSCC. We herein
      report a case in a 67-year-old male. He presented with abdominal pain and was
      found to have a new colon adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the liver and lungs.
      The extent of disease made the patient ineligible for surgical excision, and he
      received chemotherapy. Work-up also revealed a kidney mass which was later
      biopsied by FNA and core biopsy. The tumor was composed of epithelial and
      spindled cell components embedded in a myxoid background. It was positive for
      CK7, AMCAR, vimentin, and epithelial membrane antigen. The tumor was diagnosed as
      MTSCC. One year later the kidney mass remained stable. However, the patient
      developed new metastasis to the liver from colonic primary. The kidney mass was
      not resected. Although rarely encountered in FNA cytology of the kidney, we
      believe the cytologic features of this tumor are distinctive and are different
      from conventional and other subtypes of RCC. Therefore, its accurate diagnosis on
      FNA is possible once pathologists are aware that MTSCC should be considered in
      the differential diagnosis of kidney tumors. 

PMID- 26884802
TI  - Accuracy of diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas on fine
      needle aspiration: A multi-institution experience of ten cases.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) is a neoplasm of
      uncertain origin and indolent biologic behavior with distinctive morphological
      features occurring predominantly in young women. This tumor has an excellent
      prognosis compared to neuroendocrine and acinar cell carcinoma, which are close
      differential diagnoses based on morphology, hence making it crucial to diagnose
      SPTP correctly. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the cytomorphological features of 10 cases
      of SPTP reported in two institutions and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of
      endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in
      establishing the diagnosis of SPTP. METHODS: Ten diagnosed cases of SPTP were
      retrieved from the computerized endoscopy and pathology databases of our two
      tertiary care institutions. Nine patients had subsequent histological follow-up
      available. Eight patients underwent EUS-FNA while one patient each had ultrasound
      and computed tomography-guided FNA. The rapid on-site evaluation was carried out
      in all 10 cases, and additional material was retained for cell block preparation.
      Immunohistochemical (IHC) stains ranging from synaptophysin, progesterone
      receptor, chromogranin, beta-catenin, CD10, and NSE were applied on cell blocks.
      Histological sections of all resected specimens were reviewed, and findings were
      correlated with those obtained by FNA. RESULTS: Adequate material was obtained in
      all ten cases. IHC stains helped to confirm the cytological impression of SPTP.
      Histological examination of resection specimens, available in 9/10 cases,
      confirmed the cytological diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: FNA particularly that obtained
      with EUS guidance is an effective tool in the accurate diagnosis of SPTP.

PMID- 26884803
TI  - Metabolism and bioavailability of newly developed dietary fiber materials,
      resistant glucan and hydrogenated resistant glucan, in rats and humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Resistant glucan (RG) and hydrogenated resistant glucan (HRG) are new
      dietary fiber materials developed to decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome and
      lifestyle-related diseases. We investigated the metabolism and bioavailability of
      RG and HRG using rats and humans. METHODS: Purified RG and HRG were used as test
      substances. After 25 Wistar male rats (270 g) were fed with an experimental diet
      (AIN93M diet with the cellulose replaced by beta-corn starch) ad libitum for 1
      week, they were used for the experiment involving blood collection and
      circulating air collection. Ten participants (5 males, 22.5 y, BMI 20.4 kg/m(2);
      5 females, 25.8 y, BMI 20.9 kg/m(2)) voluntarily participated in this study. The
      study was carried out using a within-subject, repeated measures design. Effects
      of RG and HRG on the response for blood glucose and insulin and hydrogen
      excretion were compared with those of glucose and a typical nondigestible and
      fermentable fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in rats and humans. Available energy was
      evaluated using the fermentability based on breath hydrogen excretion. RESULTS:
      When purified RG or HRG (400 mg) was administered orally to rats, blood glucose
      and insulin increased slightly, but less than when glucose was administration (P
      < 0.05). Hydrogen started to be excreted 120 min after administration of RG with
      negligibly small peak at 180 min, thereafter excreted scarcely until 1440 min.
      Hydrogen excretion after HRG administration showed a larger peak than RG at 180
      min, but was markedly less than FOS. RG and HRG were excreted in feces, but not
      urine. When purified RG or HRG (30 g) were ingested by healthy humans, blood
      glucose and insulin levels increased scarcely. Breath hydrogen excretion
      increased slightly, but remarkably less than FOS. Ingestion of purified RG or HRG
      (5 g) to evaluate available energy, increased scarcely glucose and insulin levels
      and breath hydrogen excretion. Available energy was evaluated as 0 kcal/g for
      purified RG and 1 kcal/g for HRG. CONCLUSION: The bioavailability was very low in
      both humans and rats, because oligosaccharide of minor component in purified RG
      and HRG was metabolized via intestinal microbes but major components with higher
      molecular weight were metabolized scarcely. Moreover, the ingestion of 30 g of RG
      or HRG did not induce apparent acute side effects in healthy adults. RG and HRG
      might potentially be used as new dietary fiber materials with low energy.

PMID- 26884804
TI  - Erratum to: Vaccination against hepatitis b virus: are Italian medical students
      sufficiently protected after the public vaccination programme?
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12995-015-0083-4.]. 

PMID- 26884805
TI  - Consequences of tuberculosis among asylum seekers for health care workers in
      Germany.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immigrants have been contributing to the incidence of tuberculosis
      (TB) in Germany for many years. The current wave of migration of asylum seekers
      to Germany may increase that figure. Healthcare workers (HCW) who look after
      refugees not only in hospitals and medical practices but also in aid projects may
      be exposed to cases of TB. METHODS: The incremental TB cases arising from
      imported TB as well as from TB cases that developed later in refugees were
      calculated in a Markov model over a period of 5 years. Infectious and non
      infectious susceptible TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases were
      determined separately. In addition, the total amount of latent TB in contact
      persons and the risk of infection by HCW were estimated. Due to uncertainty of
      future refugee flows to Europe, different scenarios were considered in univariate
      and multivariate sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Assuming a decrease in
      immigration by half each year to the bottom line of 2014, and in light of the
      current number of 800,000 asylum seekers, we calculated an additional 10,090 TB
      cases by the end of the fifth year (5976 cases of infectious pulmonary TB and 143
      cases of pulmonary MDR-TB). In case of an unchanging influx of asylum seekers
      over the 5-year period, 19,031 TB cases would arise, 377 of which infectious MDR
      TB. Eighty -seven ensuing TB cases would develop in HCW in the same period, 3 of
      which MDR-TB cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although the total number of TB cases in HCW
      expected to ensue from the current influx of asylum seekers is rather small, the
      3 MDR-TB cases we calculated have to be taken seriously. We consider it essential
      to increase awareness of protective measures such as respiratory masks and, in
      the event of documented exposure, of supply-oriented occupational health
      screening.

PMID- 26884806
TI  - Phenomics for photosynthesis, growth and reflectance in Arabidopsis thaliana
      reveals circadian and long-term fluctuations in heritability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies have shifted the
      research bottleneck in plant sciences from genotyping to phenotyping. This shift
      has driven the development of phenomics, high-throughput non-invasive phenotyping
      technologies. RESULTS: We describe an automated high-throughput phenotyping
      platform, the Phenovator, capable of screening 1440 Arabidopsis plants multiple
      times per day for photosynthesis, growth and spectral reflectance at eight
      wavelengths. Using this unprecedented phenotyping capacity, we have been able to
      detect significant genetic differences between Arabidopsis accessions for all
      traits measured, across both temporal and environmental scales. The high
      frequency of measurement allowed us to observe that heritability was not only
      trait specific, but for some traits was also time specific. CONCLUSIONS: Such
      continuous real-time non-destructive phenotyping will allow detailed genetic and
      physiological investigations of the kinetics of plant homeostasis and
      development. The success and ultimate outcome of a breeding program will depend
      greatly on the genetic variance which is sampled. Our observation of temporal
      fluctuations in trait heritability shows that the moment of measurement can have
      lasting consequences. Ultimately such phenomic level technologies will provide
      more dynamic insights into plant physiology, and the necessary data for the omics
      revolution to reach its full potential.

PMID- 26884807
TI  - LEAFDATA: a literature-curated database for Arabidopsis leaf development.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the post-genomic era, biological databases provide an easy access
      to a wide variety of scientific data. The vast quantity of literature calls for
      curated databases where existing knowledge is carefully organized in order to aid
      novel discoveries. Leaves, the main photosynthetic organs are not only vital for
      plant growth but also essential for maintaining the global ecosystem by producing
      oxygen and food. Therefore, studying and understanding leaf formation and growth
      are key objectives in biology. Arabidopsis thaliana to this date remains the
      prime experimental model organism in plant science. DESCRIPTION: LEAFDATA was
      created as an easily accessible and searchable web tool to assemble a relevant
      collection of Arabidopsis leaf literature. LEAFDATA currently contains 13,553
      categorized statements from 380 processed publications. LEAFDATA can be searched
      for genes of interest using Arabidopsis Genome Initiative identifiers, for
      selected papers by means of PubMed IDs, authors and specific keywords. The
      results page contains details of the original publications, text fragments from
      the curated literature grouped according to information types and direct links to
      PubMed pages of the original papers. CONCLUSIONS: The LEAFDATA database offers
      access to searchable entries curated from a large number of scientific
      publications. Due to the unprecedented details of annotations and the fact that
      LEAFDATA already provides records about approximately 1600 individual loci, this
      database is useful for the entire plant research community.

PMID- 26884808
TI  - Rescaled Local Interaction Simulation Approach for Shear Wave Propagation
      Modelling in Magnetic Resonance Elastography.
AB  - Properties of soft biological tissues are increasingly used in medical diagnosis
      to detect various abnormalities, for example, in liver fibrosis or breast tumors.
      It is well known that mechanical stiffness of human organs can be obtained from
      organ responses to shear stress waves through Magnetic Resonance Elastography.
      The Local Interaction Simulation Approach is proposed for effective modelling of
      shear wave propagation in soft tissues. The results are validated using
      experimental data from Magnetic Resonance Elastography. These results show the
      potential of the method for shear wave propagation modelling in soft tissues. The
      major advantage of the proposed approach is a significant reduction of
      computational effort. 

PMID- 26884809
TI  - Implementation of the Rank-Weighted Co-localization (RWC) algorithm in multiple
      image analysis platforms for quantitative analysis of microscopy images.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Quantitative co-localization studies strengthen the analysis of
      fluorescence microscopy-based assays and are essential for illustrating and
      understanding many cellular processes and interactions. In our earlier study, we
      presented a rank-based intensity weighting scheme for the quantification of co
      localization between structures in fluorescence microscopy images. This method,
      which uses a combined pixel co-occurrence and intensity correlation approach, is
      superior to conventional algorithms and provides a more accurate quantification
      of co-localization. FINDINGS: In this brief report we provide the source code and
      implementation of the rank-weighted co-localization (RWC) algorithm in three (two
      open source and one proprietary) image analysis platforms. The RWC algorithm has
      been implemented as a plugin for ImageJ, a module for CellProfiler and an
      Acapella script for Columbus image analysis software tools. CONCLUSIONS: We have
      provided with a web resource from which users can download plugins and modules
      implementing the RWC algorithm in various commonly used image analysis platforms.
      The implementations have been designed for easy incorporation into existing tools
      in a 'ready-for-use' format. The resources can be accessed through the following
      web link: http://simpsonlab.pbworks.com/w/page/48541482/Bioinformatic_Tools.

PMID- 26884810
TI  - Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based anxiety prevention
      programme for children: a preliminary quasi-experimental study in Japan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As children's mental health problems become more complex, more
      effective prevention is needed. Though various anxiety and depression prevention
      programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were developed and
      evaluated in Europe, North America, and Australia recently, there are no
      programmes in Japan. This study developed a CBT programme for Japanese children
      and tried to verify its effectiveness in reducing anxiety. METHODS: A CBT-based
      anxiety prevention programme, 'Journey of the Brave', was developed to prevent
      anxiety disorders for Japanese children. Children from 4th through 6th grades (9
      12 years old) in Japanese elementary schools and their parents (13 sample pairs)
      were the intervention group. For comparison purposes, 16 pairs were the control
      group. Ten weekly programme sessions and two follow-ups were conducted.
      Children's anxiety levels in both groups were evaluated by child and parent self
      reports using the spence children anxiety scale (SCAS) three times: pre-programme
      (baseline), post-programme, and 3 months following the end of the programme.
      RESULTS: At 3-month follow-up, no significant difference was shown between the
      intervention and control groups on children's SCAS scores in changes from
      baseline by using mixed-effects model for repeated measures analysis (SCAS-C: 
      8.92 (95 % CI = -14.12 to -3.72) and -3.17 (95 % CI = -8.02 to 1.66)
      respectively; the between group difference was 5.747 (95 % CI = -1.355 to -12.85,
      p = 0.062). On the other hand, significant reduction was shown in the
      intervention group on parents' SCAS (SCAS-P) scores in change from baseline 
      9.554 (95 % CI = -12.91 to -6.19) and 0.154 (95 % CI = -2.88 to 3.19)
      respectively; the between group difference was 9.709 (95 % CI = 5.179 to 14.23, p
      = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest this anxiety prevention
      programme for Japanese children was partially effective from parents'
      evaluations. However, it is important to note that this study was conducted on a
      small sample with unbalanced groups at pre-intervention with no randomization.
      The positive results may require discounting due to the research limitations. A
      larger-scale study of the programme in elementary school classes to verify its
      effectiveness with a more rigorous research design is necessary. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR UMIN000009021.

PMID- 26884811
TI  - Erratum to: SorGSD: a sorghum genome SNP database.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0415-8.]. 

PMID- 26884812
TI  - Effects of the surface physico-chemical properties and the surface textures on
      the initial colonization and the attached growth in algal biofilm.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Algal biofilm reactors represent a promising cultivation system that
      can economically produce biomass without the need for expensive harvesting
      operations. A critical component of algal biofilm systems is the material used
      for attachment. This research reports a comprehensive study of the effects of
      material surface physico-chemical properties, the surface texture, and their
      interactions on the initial colonization and the long-term attached growth in
      algal biofilm systems. A total of 28 materials with a smooth surface were tested
      for initial cell colonization and it was found that the tetradecane contact angle
      of the materials had a good correlation with cell attachment. The effects of
      surface texture were evaluated using mesh materials (nylon, polypropylene, high
      density polyethylene, polyester, aluminum, and stainless steel) with openings
      ranging from 0.05 to 6.40 mm. RESULTS: The mesh materials with an opening of 0.5
      mm resulted in the highest attachment. The interaction of surface physico
      chemical properties and surface texture, and their co-effects on the cell
      attachment, was quantitatively described using a second-order polynomial
      regression. The long-term algal attached growth for the different materials
      showed a trend similar to that found in initial colonization. CONCLUSIONS:
      Collectively, nylon and polypropylene mesh with 0.50-1.25 mm openings resulted in
      the best initial colonization and long-term attached growth, with a 28-30 g m(-2)
      biomass yield and 4.0-4.3 g m(-2) day biomass productivity being achieved on a
      pilot-scale revolving algal biofilm system.

PMID- 26884813
TI  - Echinomycin did not affect the safety of fracture healing: an experimental pilot
      study on a murine femur fracture model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a need for effective drugs in the prevention and treatment
      of heterotopic ossifications (HO) after fractures. Echinomycin has been shown to
      prevent formation of HO in an animal model. However, before it may be considered
      as an option against HO, it needs to be studied whether it prevents fracture
      healing similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Therefore, the
      hypothesis was that echinomycin prevents fracture healing and callus formation.
      METHODS: In an experimental murine pilot study, standard blunt femur fractures
      were induced and retrograde intramedullary compression fixation of the femur was
      performed. The treatment group (n = 8) received echinomycin (0.3 mg/kg body
      weight) and the control group (n = 8) did not receive echinomycin. The fractures
      and implant positions were verified by conventional X-rays immediately
      postoperatively. As the primary outcome variable, fracture healing (osseous
      consolidation) was evaluated by conventional X-rays and micro-computed tomography
      (CT) scans after ten weeks and graded as healed, partial or complete
      pseudarthrosis. The secondary outcome, callus formation, was graded semi
      quantitatively from 0 (mostly absent) to 3 (maximum). RESULTS: Fracture healing
      was present in all living cases after ten weeks concerning the treatment group.
      Partial pseudarthrosis was seen in two cases, one in the treatment and another
      one in the control group. Complete pseudarthrosis was seen in one case of the
      control group after an open fracture. Callus formation was similar in both groups
      with a mean grade of 1.5 within each group. Two cases of the treatment group
      died. CONCLUSION: As a novel finding, echinomycin did not inhibit fracture
      healing or callus formation in this in vivo murine standard femur fracture model
      pilot study. Further studies involving a larger number of cases, quantitative
      assessment with CT scans and histopathological analysis are needed before
      generalizing the results of this pilot study.

PMID- 26884814
TI  - Copy number variations in 119 Chinese children with idiopathic short stature
      identified by the custom genome-wide microarray.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Idiopathic short stature (ISS) refers to short stature with no
      evident etiologies. The custom genome-wide microarray specifically designed to
      cover height-related genes may be helpful to detect copy number variations (CNVs)
      in ISS patients, which may be missed by the general microarray. The aim of the
      study was to validate the applicability of the custom microarray and to analyze
      CNVs in Chinese ISS children. RESULTS: Sixty non-polymorphic CNVs were identified
      in 119 ISS patients. There were 13 small CNVs with a size below 50 kb, accounting
      for 21.7 % of all the CNVs (13/60). Five pathogenic or possibly pathogenic CNVs
      were detected in five patients, including deletions at 22q11.21, duplications at
      4q11-q13.1, 4q12 and Yp11.32-p11.2. Taking only the pathogenic variants into
      account, the diagnostic yield was 2.5 % (3/119). The TMEM165, POLR2B and PDGFRA
      genes were analyzed as candidate genes. A 15 kb deletion in the RASA2 gene was of
      interest for further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the
      custom microarray is applicable to detect CNVs in patients with short stature.
      Candidate genes and CNVs detected in ISS patients may be helpful for CNV analysis
      of short stature, especially in East Asian population.

PMID- 26884815
TI  - Neck circumference as a risk factor of screen-detected diabetes mellitus:
      community-based study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Whereas an increase of neck circumference (NC) had been recently
      identified as a new independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic
      syndrome risk factor, similar assessments concerning screen-detected diabetes
      mellitus (SDDM) have not been made. Thyroid gland volume (ThV) can potentially
      affect NC however the significance of this influence concerning the risk of NC
      related disease is unknown. METHODS: We performed a ThV-adjusted evaluation of NC
      within a population-based investigation of SDDM and impaired glucose regulation
      (IGR) prevalence. This study contains fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 75 g 2-h
      glucose tolerance test results (2-hPG) of 196 residents of Kyiv region, Ukraine,
      randomly selected from the rural population older than 44 y.o. who were not
      registered as diabetes mellitus patients. Standard anthropometric (height;
      weight; blood pressure; waist, hip circumferences), NC and ultrasonography ThV
      measurements were performed, hypotensive medication, CVD events and early life
      nutrition history considered. HbA1c was measured, if FPG/2-hPG reached 7.0/11.1
      mmol/l respectively; HbA1c level 6.5 % was considered to be SDDM diagnostic; IGR
      if FPG/2-hPG reached 6.1/7.8 but less than 7.0/11.1 mmol/l respectively. RESULTS:
      Neck circumference among women with normal FPG/2-hPG was 35 (33-36) cm, IGR 36
      (34.5-38) cm, SDDM HbA1c < 6.5 % 42 (40-43) cm, HbA1c > 6.5 % 42.5 (40-44) cm, p
      < 0.001, and for men from the same groups 38.5 (36.5-41.5) cm; 39 (37-42) cm; 42
      (40-43) cm; 42.5 (40-44) cm, p = 0.063; medians (QI-QIII). Gender-adjusted
      logistic regression OR for SDDM HbA1c > 6.5 % vs. normal FPG/2-hPG category
      depending of NC as a continued variable, equaled to 1.60 (95 % CI 1.27-2.02) per
      cm. Additional adjusting by ThV, body mass or waist/hip index, high blood
      pressure, acute CVD events, or starvation history did not significantly influence
      this risk. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference is a new risk factor of SDDM that is
      independent from other indicators of adipose tissue distribution as well as from
      the ThV.

PMID- 26884816
TI  - Magnetic Nanoparticles with High Specific Absorption Rate at Low Alternating
      Magnetic Field.
AB  - This paper describes the synthesis and properties of a new type of magnetic
      nanoparticle (MNP) for use in the hyperthermia treatment of tumors. These
      particles consist of 2-4 nm crystals of gamma-Fe2O3 gathered in 20-40 nm
      aggregates with a coating of carboxymethyl-dextran, producing a zetasize of 110
      120 nm. Despite their very low saturation magnetization (1.5-6.5 emu/g), the
      specific absorption rate (SAR) of the nanoparticles is 22-200 W/g at applied
      alternating magnetic field (AMF) with strengths of 100-500 Oe at a frequency of
      160 kHz.

PMID- 26884819
TI  - When is a mutation not a mutation: the case of the c.594-2A>C splice variant in a
      woman harbouring another BRCA1 mutation in trans.
AB  - Since the identification of BRCA1 there has only ever been described two bi
      allelic mutation carriers, one of whom was subsequently shown to be a mono
      allelic carrier. The second patient diagnosed with two BRCA1 mutations appears to
      be accurate but there remain some questions about the missense variant identified
      in that patient. In this report we have identified a woman who is a bi-allelic
      mutation carrier of BRCA1 and provide an explanation as to why this patient has a
      phenotype very similar to that of any mono-allelic mutation carrier. The splice
      variant identified in this patient appears to be associated with the up
      regulation of a BRCA1 splice variant that rescues the lethality of being a double
      mutant. The consequences of the findings of this report may have implications for
      mutation interpretation and that could serve as a model for not only BRCA1 but
      also for other autosomal dominant disorders that are considered as being
      embryonically lethal. 

PMID- 26884818
TI  - DNA methylation and hormone receptor status in breast cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We examined whether differences in tumor DNA methylation were
      associated with more aggressive hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in an
      ethnically diverse group of patients in the Breast Cancer Care in Chicago (BCCC)
      study and using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). RESULTS: DNA was
      extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples on 75 patients (21
      White, 31 African-American, and 23 Hispanic) (training dataset) enrolled in the
      BCCC. Hormone receptor status was defined as negative if tumors were negative for
      both estrogen and progesterone (ER/PR) receptors (N = 22/75). DNA methylation was
      analyzed at 1505 CpG sites within 807 gene promoters using the Illumina
      GoldenGate assay. Differential DNA methylation as a predictor of hormone receptor
      status was tested while controlling for false discovery rate and assigned to the
      gene closest to the respective CpG site. Next, those genes that predicted ER/PR
      status were validated using TCGA data with respect to DNA methylation (validation
      dataset), and correlations between CpG methylation and gene expression were
      examined. In the training dataset, 5.7 % of promoter mean methylation values
      (46/807) were associated with receptor status at P < 0.05; for 88 % of these
      (38/46), hypermethylation was associated with receptor-positive disease.
      Hypermethylation for FZD9, MME, BCAP31, HDAC9, PAX6, SCGB3A1, PDGFRA, IGFBP3, and
      PTGS2 genes most strongly predicted receptor-positive disease. Twenty-one of 24
      predictor genes from the training dataset were confirmed in the validation
      dataset. The level of DNA methylation at 19 out 22 genes, for which gene
      expression data were available, was associated with gene activity. CONCLUSIONS:
      Higher levels of promoter methylation strongly correlate with hormone receptor
      positive status of breast tumors. For most of the genes identified in our
      training dataset as ER/PR receptor status predictors, DNA methylation correlated
      with stable gene expression level. The predictors performed well when evaluated
      on independent set of samples, with different racioethnic distribution, thus
      providing evidence that this set of DNA methylation biomarkers will likely
      generalize to prospective patient samples.

PMID- 26884817
TI  - FluoroNanogold: an important probe for correlative microscopy.
AB  - Correlative microscopy is a powerful imaging approach that refers to observing
      the same exact structures within a specimen by two or more imaging modalities. In
      biological samples, this typically means examining the same sub-cellular feature
      with different imaging methods. Correlative microscopy is not restricted to the
      domains of fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy; however, currently,
      most correlative microscopy studies combine these two methods, and in this
      review, we will focus on the use of fluorescence and electron microscopy.
      Successful correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy requires probes, or
      reporter systems, from which useful information can be obtained with each of the
      imaging modalities employed. The bi-functional immunolabeling reagent,
      FluoroNanogold, is one such probe that provides robust signals in both
      fluorescence and electron microscopy. It consists of a gold cluster compound that
      is visualized by electron microscopy and a covalently attached fluorophore that
      is visualized by fluorescence microscopy. FluoroNanogold has been an extremely
      useful labeling reagent in correlative microscopy studies. In this report, we
      present an overview of research using this unique probe. 

PMID- 26884820
TI  - Effect of different doses of monosodium glutamate on the thyroid follicular cells
      of adult male albino rats: a histological study.
AB  - Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a major flavor enhancer used as a food additive.
      The present study investigates the effects of different doses of MSG on the
      morphometric and histological changes of the thyroid gland. 28 male albino rats
      were used. The rats were divided into four groups: group I control, group II, III
      and IV treated with MSG (0.25 g/kg, 3 g/kg, 6 g/kg daily for one month)
      respectively. The thyroid glands were dissected out and prepared for light and
      electron microscopic examination. Light microscopic examination of thyroid gland
      of group II revealed increase in follicular epithelial height. Groups III & IV
      showed decrease in the follicular diameter and irregularity in the shape of some
      follicles with discontinuity of basement membrane. Follicular hyperplasia was
      detected in some follicles with appearance of multiple pyknotic nuclei in
      follicular and interfollicular cells and multiple exfoliated cells in the
      colloid. In addition, areas of loss of follicular pattern were appeared in group
      IV. Immunohistochemical examination of BCL2 immunoexpression of the thyroid
      glands of groups III & IV reveals weak positive reaction in the follicular cells
      cytoplasm. Ultrathin sections examination of groups III & IV revealed follicular
      cells with irregular hyperchromatic nuclei, marked dilatation of rER and
      increased lysosomes with areas of short or lost apical microvilli. In addition,
      vacuolation of mitochondria was detected in group IV. The results displayed that
      MSG even at low doses is capable of producing alterations in the body weights and
      thyroid tissue function and histology. 

PMID- 26884821
TI  - Biological effects of RNAi targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on
      cholangiocarcinoma cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of Tiam1 gene expression in human
      cholangiocarcinoma tissues and benign bile duct tissues, and to analyze the
      correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the degree of tumor
      differentiation, invasive and metastatic abilities. To explore the effect of
      targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on proliferation and migration activity
      of human cholangiocarcinoma cells. METHODS: Expression of Tiam1 in 83 cases of
      cholangiocarcinoma tissues and 25 cases of benign bile tissues was detected using
      immunohistochemistry. The clinical data of patients with cholangiocarcinoma were
      collected. The correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the
      clinicopathologic features in patients with cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed. The
      human cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells were divided into 3 groups. Cells in
      experimental group and control group were respectively transfected with Tiam1
      shRNA lentiviral vectors and negative shRNA lentiviral control vectors. Cells in
      blank group received no treatment. Real-time PCR endogenesis was used to verify
      Tiam1 gene expression. Cell cycle experiments and MTT assay were used to measure
      cell proliferation activity. Transwell test was used to detect cell migration
      activity. RESULTS: The negative rate Tiam1 protein expression in
      cholangiocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in benign bile
      tissues (P<0.001). Tiam1 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues had
      correlations with cholangiocarcinoma differentiation degree, TNM stage and lymph
      node metastasis (P<0.05), and had no significant correlations with gender, age
      and distant metastasis (P>0.05). Real-time PCR detection indicated that Tiam1
      expression of experimental group was significantly lower than that in control
      group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that Tiam1 shRNA was effective on
      Tiam1 gene silencing in RBE cells. Cell cycle experiment showed that the
      percentage of S phase in cell cycle in experimental group was lower than that in
      control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that after the down
      regulation of Tiam1 gene expression, the speed of cell proliferation was
      inhibited. MTT assay results showed that the total growth speed in experimental
      group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group
      (P<0.05), indicating that the proliferation activity of cholangiocarcinoma cells
      was inhibited after targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression. Transwell
      detection results showed that the metastasis rate in experimental group was
      significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05),
      demonstrating that targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression could
      significantly inhibit migration ability of RBE cells. CONCLUSION: Tiam1
      expression significantly increased in cholangiocarcinoma tissues, and increased
      along with the degree of malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma. Targeted silencing
      Tiam1 expression could inhibit proliferation and migration activity of
      cholangiocarcinoma cells.

PMID- 26884822
TI  - MiR-30a regulates the atrial fibrillation-induced myocardial fibrosis by
      targeting snail 1.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our study aims at assessing the association between miR-30a along with
      its target gene snail 1 and atrial fibrillation (AF)-induced myocardial fibrosis.
      METHODS: Ang II was used to up-regulate cardiac fibroblasts fibrosis in vitro,
      and then the cardiac fibroblasts were divided into the mimics group (mimics miR
      30a), inhibitors group (inhibitors miR-30a), NC group (transfected miR-30a,
      negative control) and blank control group (non-transfected cells). Two-group
      (sham operated group and rapid pacing group) AF rabbit models were constructed
      according to whether rapid pacing was presented in the subject. Then the
      establishment of rabbit models was examined using histopathology after Masson
      staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of snail 1 and periostin in
      cardiac fibroblasts and myocardial tissues were detected using the method of RT
      PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In vitro, our experiment showed that
      overexpression of miR-30a in cardiac fibroblasts contribute to a significant
      decrease in the average expression level of snail 1 and periostin (P < 0.05)
      whereas inhibition of miR-30a significantly increased the average expression
      level of snail 1 and periostin (P < 0.05). In vivo, the average expression level
      of miR-30a significantly decreased in myocardial tissues with an increased degree
      of myocardial fibrosis, while the snail 1 and periostin expression level
      significantly increased during a certain period of time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Our results suggest that miR-30a target snail 1 protein may be related to AF
      induced myocardial fibrosis. The average expression levels of snail 1 increased
      significantly in both myocardial cells and tissues, while miR-30a could inhibit
      the expression of snail 1. Thus, we speculate that miR-30a and snail 1 may be
      potential therapeutic targets for curing AF-induced myocardial fibrosis.

PMID- 26884823
TI  - Exogenous spermine ameliorates high glucose-induced cardiomyocytic apoptosis via
      decreasing reactive oxygen species accumulation through inhibiting p38/JNK and
      JAK2 pathways.
AB  - Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has been suggested to play a vital role
      in the initiation and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy, a major
      complication of diabetes mellitus. Recent studies reveal that spermine possesses
      proliferative, antiaging and antioxidative properties. Thus, we hypothesized that
      spermine could decrease apoptosis via suppressing ROS accumulation induced by
      high glucose (HG) in cardiomyocytes. Cultured neonatal rat ventricle
      cardiomyocytes were treated with normal glucose (NG) (5 mM) or HG (25 mM) in the
      presence or absence of spermine for 48 h. The cell activity, apoptosis, ROS
      production, T-SOD and GSH activities, MDA content and GSSG level were assessed.
      The results showed that HG induced lipid peroxidation and the increase of
      intracellular ROS formation and apoptosis in primary cardiomyocytes. Spermine
      could obviously improve the above-mentioned changes. Western blot analysis
      revealed that spermine markedly inhibited HG-induced the phosphorylation of
      p38/JNK MAPKs and JAK2. Moreover, spermine had better antioxidative and anti
      apoptotic effects than N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Taken together, the present
      data suggested that spermine could suppress ROS accumulation to decrease
      cardiomyocytes apoptosis in HG condition, which may be attributed to the
      inhibition of p38/JNK and JAK2 activation and its natural antioxidative property.
      Our findings may highlight a new therapeutic intervention for the prevention of
      diabetic cardiomyopathy. 

PMID- 26884824
TI  - Relationship between the gene polymorphisms of kallikrein-kinin system and
      Alzheimer's disease in a Hunan Han Chinese population.
AB  - This study aimed to determine the connection between polymorphisms of kallikrein
      kinin system including KLK1 (rs5516), KNG1 (rs710446, rs2304456) and ACE (rs4291,
      rs4309, rs4343) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). The research was
      conducted as a case-control study, comprising 201 AD patients in the AD group,
      and 257 healthy subjects as the control group. PCR amplification and matrix
      assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF
      MS) were used to detect the six polymorphisms (rs5516 in KLK1; rs710446,
      rs2304456 in KNG1; rs4291, rs4309, rs4343 in ACE) from both groups. No
      statistically significant difference was found between the genotype and
      allelotype distributions of rs5516, rs710446, rs2304456, rs4291 and rs4343
      (P>0.05). The differences between the genotype and allelotype distributions of
      the rs4309 were statistically significant (P<0.05). Haplotype analysis confirmed
      the existence of three haplotypes (AG, AT, GT) composed of rs710446/rs2304456,
      and six haplotypes (ATA, ACA, TCA, TCG, TTA, TTG) composed of
      rs4291/rs4309/rs4343, among which the distribution of ATA, ACA, TCA between the
      two groups was statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Our study showed
      that the polymorphisms of rs5516, rs710446, rs2304456, rs4291 and rs4343 is not
      related to the incidence of LOAD. The polymorphisms of rs4309 may be related to
      LOAD, as well as ATA, ACA, and TCA haplotype composed of rs4291/rs4309/rs4343. 

PMID- 26884825
TI  - Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in human gingival fibroblasts.
AB  - In the process of bleaching vital, discolored teeth, low concentrations of
      hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are effective alternatives to heat-activated 30% H2O2.
      However, interest has been expressed in the assessment of pathological effects of
      long-term exposure to bleaching agents such as irritation and ulceration of the
      gingival or other soft tissues. The aim of the present study was to determine the
      effect of hydrogen peroxide on apoptosis in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).
      Cytochrome c, Bcl-2, Bax, Bid and caspase-3 protein expression were detected by
      Western blotting. HGF cell apoptosis induced by H2O2 was both dose and time
      dependent. The addition of H2O2 resulted in the release of cytochrome c to the
      cytosol, and an increase of Caspase-3 cleavage. Data suggest that oxidative
      stress-induced apoptosis in HGF is intrinsic pathway involved the release of
      apoptotic signal from mitochondria. 

PMID- 26884826
TI  - Changes in focal adhesion kinase expression in rats with collagen-induced
      arthritis and efficacy of intervention with disease modifying anti-rheumatic
      drugs alone or in combination.
AB  - Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to promote the proliferation, migration and
      survival of synovial cells and plays an important role in the occurrence,
      development and pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the
      present study was to observe FAK changes in synovial cells of rats with collagen
      induced arthritis (CIA) and after intervention with disease modifying anti
      rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) alone or in combination in a CIA female SD rat model
      induced by collagen type II. The rats were randomized to 8 groups: normal control
      group, CIA model control group, methotrexate (MTX, 0.9 mg/kg/w) group,
      cyclophosphamide (CTX, 24 mg/kg/3 w) group, leflunomide (LEF, 1.2 mg/kg/d) group,
      MTX + CTX group, LEF + CTX group, and MTX + LEF group. They were intervened with
      DMARDs alone or in combination for six weeks. The experiment lasted a total of 9
      weeks in vivo. Articular inflammation was measured during the process of drug
      intervention in terms of the degree of swelling degree in the right hind foot
      using a venire caliper. All animals were sacrificed by breaking the neck after 9
      weeks. Then, the ankle was fixed, decalcified, embedded, and HE stained, and
      prepared into slices to observe pathological changes in the synovial tissue. FAK
      expression in synovial cells was assayed by immunohistochemistry and the mean
      optical density (OD) value was measured using the HPIAS-2000 image analysis
      system. It was found that FAK expression was negative in normal control group,
      positive in CIA model control group, and decreased in the three DMARD combination
      treatment groups significantly as compared with that in the three single-drug
      groups (P < 0.05). FAK expression in LEF + CTX group or MTX + CTX group decreased
      more significantly than that in MTX + LEF group (P < 0.05), and there was no
      statistically significant difference between LEF + CTX and MTX + CTX groups. The
      arthritis index and pathological change in the synovial tissue in LEF + CTX group
      or MTX + CTX group were improved more significantly than those in MTX + LEF group
      or single-drug groups. Our results showed that FAK expression was positive in CIA
      rats, indicating that it played an important role in the pathogenesis of RA, and
      that intervention with DMARDs could reduce the FAK expression in synovial cells
      of CIA rats. We hope these findings would contribute to the treatment of RA and
      other rheumatic diseases by reducing adhesion, proliferation and migration of
      synovial cells and inhibiting the over-expression of FAK. 

PMID- 26884828
TI  - Molecular mechanism of Hoxd13-mediated congenital malformations in rat embryos.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism of Hoxd13-mediated congenital
      malformations in rat embryos. METHODS: SD female rats were mated with male rats
      in a 1:1 mating scheme. Thirty pregnant female rats were randomly divided into
      three groups: the control group receiving a normal diet, the model group
      receiving a vitamin A-deficient diet, and the treatment group receiving a vitamin
      A-deficient diet supplemented with pcDNA-Hoxd13. The expression of Hoxd13 mRNA
      and protein in normal embryonic tissue and congenital malformations was
      determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. At day 20, rats were dissected,
      and the fetal weight, body and tail length, and the number of live births,
      absorbed fetus, and stillbirth in each group were recorded. Wnt and Slim1
      expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. beta-catenin and c
      myc expression was also quantified by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The
      expression of Hoxd13 mRNA and protein in congenital malformations was
      significantly lower compared with normal embryonic tissue (P<0.01). The
      administration of exogenous Hoxd13 in the treatment group markedly increased the
      fetal weight, body and tail length (P<0.05), improved the embryonic survival
      rate, and reduced the embryonic resorption rate and stillbirth rate (P<0.05).
      Exogenous Hoxd13 markedly promoted the expression of Wnt2, Wnt5a, Wnt7b and Slim1
      protein and mRNA (P<0.01), and the expression of beta-catenin and c-myc protein
      in congenital malformations (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Hoxd13 expression was decreased
      in rat embryos with congenital malformations. The administration of exogenous
      Hoxd13 alleviated fetal malformation probably through stimulation of Slim1
      expression and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

PMID- 26884827
TI  - Deguelin inhibits the migration and invasion of lung cancer A549 and H460 cells
      via regulating actin cytoskeleton rearrangement.
AB  - Deguelin, the main components from Mundulea sericea, was reported to suppress the
      growth of various cancer cells. However, the effect of Deguelin on tumor cell
      invasion and metastasis and its mechanism still unclear so far. In this study, we
      investigated the effects of Deguelin on the cell invasion in human lung cancer
      A549 and H460 cells. Our results demonstrate that Deguelin can significantly
      inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration and cell invasion. Moreover,
      Deguelin could also affected reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and
      decreased filopodia and lamellipodia formation. Furthermore, deguelin-treated
      tumors showed decreased the tumor metastasis related genes such as CD44, MMP2 and
      MMP9 at protein and mRNA levels and the content of CEA, SCC, NSE, CYFAR21-1. In
      addition, Deguelin down-regulated protein expression of Rac1 and Rock1, which are
      impotent in actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and cell motility. Together, our
      results suggest that Deguelin inhibit tumor growth and metastasis of lung cancer
      cells and might be a candidate compound for curing lung cancer. 

PMID- 26884829
TI  - IGFBP-3 may trigger osteoarthritis by inducing apoptosis of chondrocytes through
      Nur77 translocation.
AB  - Osteoarthritis is not an uncommon disease worldwide and it is characterized by
      chondrocytes apoptosis in articular cartilages. Previous researches had
      discovered that insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was
      abundant inside the osteoarthritic cartilages and the more IGFBP-3, the worse of
      osteoarthritis. However, there is still little knowledge of the association
      between the onset of osteoarthritis and the yield of IGFBP-3 in cartilages. In
      consideration of the apoptotic effect of IGFBP-3 on other types of cells, we had
      hypothesized that IGFBP-3 may induce the chondrocytes apoptosis, which was highly
      considered as the origin of the osteoarthritis. Exposing the cultured
      chondrocytes to exogenous recombinant IGFBP-3, we were able to observed the
      apoptotic chondrocytes under microscope and figured out an increased proportion
      (P<0.05) of them by both CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Under laser confocal
      microscope, we also found that the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by IGFBP-3
      were committed to the nucleus-mitochondria translocation of Nur77, which is
      nuclear protein, and this phenomena was similar as the one described in malignant
      cells only. In conclusion, our work suggested that IGFBP-3 may trigger
      osteoarthritis by inducing the chondrocytes apoptotic through nucleus
      mitochondria translocation of Nur77. 

PMID- 26884830
TI  - microRNA-451 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion through
      regulation of MIF in renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - The expression and functions of microRNA-451 have been studied in many human
      cancers. However, up to date, there is no study of microRNA-451 in renal cell
      carcinoma. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression,
      biological functions and molecular mechanisms of microRNA-451 in renal cell
      carcinoma. microRNA-451 expression level in renal cell carcinoma tissues and cell
      lines was measured using quantitative Real-time PCR. By using CCK8 assay, cell
      migration and invasion assay, we explored the functions of microRNA-451 in renal
      cell carcinoma. Dual-Luciferase report assay, quantitative Real-time PCR and
      western blot were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of microRNA-451
      functions in renal cell carcinoma. Functional assays were also performed to
      explore the effects of endogenous MIF in renal cell carcinoma. In this study, we
      showed for the first time that microRNA-451 was significantly down-regulated in
      renal cell carcinomas tissues and cell lines. microRNA-451 expression level was
      correlated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis. In addition,
      microRNA-451 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cell
      carcinomas cells. Moreover, MIF was identified as a target of microRNA-451, and
      down-regulation of MIF could mimic the suppressive functions of microRNA-451 in
      renal cell carcinomas, suggesting that microRNA-451 might be a novel therapeutic
      strategy for the treatment of renal cell carcinomas. 

PMID- 26884831
TI  - Lysosomal integral membrane protein Sidt2 plays a vital role in insulin
      secretion.
AB  - Abnormal insulin secretion results in impaired glucose tolerance and is one of
      the causal factors in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sidt2, a
      lysosomal integral membrane protein, plays a critical role in insulin secretion.
      Here, we further investigate its regulation in insulin secretion. We show that
      Sidt2(-/-) mice exhibit weight loss, decreased postnatal survival rate with
      aging, increased fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. After loading
      high levels of glucose in their diet, Sidt2(-/-) mice produce notably lower
      insulin levels at the first-phase secretion compared with Sidt2(+/+) mice.
      Consistent with the in vivo study, INS-1 cells treated with Sidt2 siRNA produced
      less insulin when loaded with 16.7 mM of glucose. Only 2 of the 13 genes, synap1
      and synap3 which encode soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment
      receptor (SNARE) proteins, showed significantly decreased expression in Sidt2(-/
      ) mice. In conclusion, Sdit2 may play a vital role in the regulation of insulin
      secretion via two SNARE proteins synap1 and syanp3. 

PMID- 26884833
TI  - Expression of CD11a in lymphocyte subpopulation in immune thrombocytopenia.
AB  - Recent research demonstrates that the underlying mechanism in immune
      thrombocytopenia (ITP) is very complex. Lymphocyte function associated antigen-1
      (LFA-1) plays important roles in autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study
      was to investigate the expression of CD11a on lymphocytes and explore its
      possible role in ITP. The expression of CD11a on lymphocyte subpopulations
      (CD3(+) T cells, CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells, CD3(+)CD4(-) T cells, CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T
      regulatory cells and CD19(+) B cells) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Specific
      anti-platelet GPIIb/IIIa and/or GPIb/IX autoantibodies were assayed by modified
      monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of platelet antigens (MAIPA). The
      mean fluorescence intensity of CD11a on CD3(+) T, CD3(+)CD4(-) T and CD19(+) B
      lymphocytes were increased in ITP patients compared to healthy controls. No
      significant difference of CD11a expression on CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells or
      CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T regulatory cells was found between ITP patients and controls.
      Our data indicates the possible role of CD11a in the pathogenesis of ITP. 

PMID- 26884834
TI  - Withaferin A activates stress signalling proteins in high risk acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - Withaferin A, the principal bio-active component isolated from the
      Withaniasomnifera, has shown promising anti-leukemic activity in addition to anti
      invasive and anti-metastatic activity. The present study demonstrates the effect
      of withaferin A on the cell cycle status and the phosphorylation/activation of
      proteins involved in signal transduction in t(4;11) and non-t(4;11) acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines after treatment with withaferin A. The
      cells after treatment with the vehicle or 25 MUM withaferin A for 1, 2, 4 and 8 h
      were examined using flow cytometric analysis. The results revealed that
      withaferin A treatment induced cell growth arrest at the S to G2/M phase
      transition of the cell cycle. Withaferin A treatment also induced the
      phosphorylation of stress signalling proteins, including the p38 mitogen
      activated protein kinase, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, the heat shock
      protein 27 and protein kinase B within 0 to 16 h. These results were observed
      using multiplex technology and Western blotting analysis. Thus withaferin A
      induces stress response leading to cell death. Therefore, withaferin A can be a
      potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of high risk ALL with chromosomal
      translocation t(4;11). 

PMID- 26884832
TI  - MiR-30a-5p suppresses cell growth and enhances apoptosis of hepatocellular
      carcinoma cells via targeting AEG-1.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MiR-30a-5p has been reported to play vital roles in the
      carcinogenesis and progression of various malignancies via different molecular
      mechanisms. However, the role and target genes of miR-30a-5p in hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) remain still unclear. In silico analysis finds that there are
      complementary sequences between the 3'-untrasnlated region of astrocyte elevated
      gene 1 (AEG-1) and miR-30a-5p. Herein, we investigated the biological function of
      miR-30a-5p, as well as the potential molecular mechanism via targeting AEG-1 in
      HCC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MiR-30a-5p inhibitor, miR-30a-5p mimic, AEG-1
      siRNAs, as well as their negative controls were transfected into HCC cell lines
      HepG2, SMMC-7221, HepB3 and SNU449. Then, the in vitro influence and mechanism of
      miR-30a-5p on cell viability, proliferation, caspase-3/7 activity and apoptosis
      were studied, as assessed by different methods, including spectrophotometry,
      fluorimetry, fluorescence microscopy of Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double
      chromatin staining, western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay,
      respectively. RESULTS: MiR-30a-5p mimic markedly inhibited cell growth, also
      induced caspase-3/7 activity and apoptosis in all four HCC cell lines tested. The
      strongest effect was observed in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. However, this effect
      was slightly weaker than that of AEG-1 siRNAs. Transfection of miR-30a-5p mimic
      led to a markedly reduced AEG-1 protein level and further dual luciferase
      reporter assay confirmed that AEG-1 was one of the target genes of miR-30a-5p in
      HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-30a-5p may play an essential role in the cell growth
      and apoptosis of HCC cells, partially via targeting AEG-1.

PMID- 26884835
TI  - siRNA-TMEM98 inhibits the invasion and migration of lung cancer cells.
AB  - Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common human malignancies,
      which threatens people's life heavily. Recently, TMEM98 is supposed to be of
      great value for the discoveries of anti-tumor drugs. We attempt to explore the
      biological role of TMEM98 in the human lung carcinoma. Clinical lung cancer
      tissue and normal tissue were collected, and the mRNA expression of TMEM98 in
      cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in normal tissue. By real-time
      PCR and Western blot analysis of TMEM98 expression, human A549 and H460 cells
      were determined to carry out further investigations. By CCK8, it is found that
      siRNA-TMEM98 treatment effectively suppressed the proliferation of A549 and H460
      cells. In addition, the invasion and migration of A549 and H460 cells were also
      inhibited by siRNA-TMEM98. We then studied the invasion and migration related
      proteins level by Western blot. From our result, the protein expression of MMP-2,
      MMP-9, RhoC and MTA1 were all regulated dramatically in siRNA-TMEM98 groups
      compared with the control and mock group. To conclude, our results indicated that
      siRNA-TMEM98 inhibited the invasion and migration of lung cancer cells, which can
      be considered as a novel target for NSCLC treatment. 

PMID- 26884836
TI  - Losartan attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury by suppression of
      lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Recent study has shown that renin-angiotensin system plays an
      important role in the development of acute lung injury (ALI) with high level of
      angiotensin II (AngII) generated form AngI catalyzed by angiotensin-converting
      enzyme. AngII plays a major effect mainly through AT1 receptor. Therefore, we
      speculate inhibition of AT1 receptor may possibly attenuate the lung injury.
      Losartan, an antagonist of AT1 receptor for angiotensin II, attenuated lung
      injury by alleviation of the inflammation response in ALI, but the mechanism of
      losartan in ALI still remains unclear. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats
      were randomly divided into Control group, ALI group (LPS), and Losartan group
      (LPS + Losartan). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were
      obtained for analysis. The expressions of lectin-like oxidized low-density
      lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and
      caspase-3 were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT
      PCR) and western blotting. RESULTS: In ALI group, TNF-alpha and protein level in
      BALF, MPO activity in lung tissue, pulmonary edema and lung injury were
      significantly increased. Losartan significantly reduced LPS-induced increase in
      TNF-alpha and protein level in BALF, MPO activity, pulmonary edema and lung
      injury in LPS-induced lung injury. The mRNA and protein expression levels of LOX
      1 were significantly decreased with the administration of losartan in LPS-induced
      lung injury. Also, losartan blocked the protein levels of caspase-3 and ICAM-1
      mediated by LOX-1 in LPS-induced lung injury. CONCLUSIONS: Losartan attenuated
      lung injury by alleviation of the inflammation and cell apoptosis by inhibition
      of LOX-1 in LPS-induced lung injury.

PMID- 26884837
TI  - MiR-15b mediates liver cancer cells proliferation through targeting BCL-2.
AB  - The incidence and mortality of liver cancer increased year by year. Our country
      presents high incidence of liver cancer. MicroRNAs have tissue sensitivity as
      tumor biomarkers that play a role by promoting tumor growth as oncogenes or
      inhibit malignant cell growth as tumor suppressor genes. Studies showed that miR
      15b abnormal expression in the tumor and can be treated as one of the tumor
      molecular markers. However, miR-15b expression and role in the liver cancer cells
      have not been elucidated. This study intended to explore the mechanism of miR-15b
      effect on liver cancer occurrence and development. Liver cancer cell line HepG2
      was transfected with miR-15b mimic or inhibitor. Real-time PCR was applied to
      detect miR-15b expression. MTT was used to test cell proliferation. Transwell
      assay was performed to determine cell invasive ability. Real-time PCR and Western
      blot were used to detect BCL2 expression. MiR-15b mimic transfection promoted miR
      15b overexpression and inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation significantly (P <
      0.05). MiR-15b overexpression downregulated BCL2 mRNA and protein expression
      obviously (P < 0.05). On the contrary, miR-15b inhibitor transfection markedly
      reduced miR-15b expression in liver cancer cells (P < 0.05), promoted tumor cell
      proliferation, and increased BCL2 mRNA and protein expression. MiR-15b expression
      changes did not affect cell invasion (P > 0.05). MiR-15b can inhibit HepG2 cell
      proliferation and down-regulate BCL2 mRNA and protein expression. 

PMID- 26884838
TI  - Curcumin improves bone microarchitecture in glucocorticoid-induced secondary
      osteoporosis mice through the activation of microRNA-365 via regulating MMP-9.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate bone microarchitecture of the proximal
      tibia in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) mice, and the underlying
      molecular mechanisms of curcumin in DXM-induced osteoporosis were performed. DXM
      treated facilitated to induce hypercalciuria in mice, and curcumin-treated showed
      a decrease in urine calcium. Curcumin reversed DXM-induced bone resorption,
      including an increase in serum OCN and a decrease in bone resorption markers CTX
      and TRAP-5b. H&E staining showed the increased disconnections and separation in
      trabecular bone network as well as the reduction of trabecular thickness
      throughout the proximal metaphysis of tibia in GIOP group. Importantly, curcumin
      reversed DXM-induced trabecular deleterious effects and stimulated bone
      remodeling. The further evidence showed that curcumin supplement significantly
      decreased the TRAP-positive stained area and inhibited the activity of
      OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling in the GIOP mice. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis
      suggested that miR-365 was a regulator of MMP9. The levels of miR-365 were
      markedly suppressed; however, curcumin treatment could reverse the downregulation
      of miR-365 in the tibia of GIOP mice. Simultaneously, the results demonstrated
      that the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9 were significantly increased in
      GIOP mice compared with that of the control group. Curcumin treatment could
      suppress the expression of MMP-9 in the tibia of GIOP mice. The present study
      demonstrated the protective effects of curcumin against bone deteriorations in
      the experimentally DIOP mice, and the underlying mechanism was mediated, at least
      partially, through the activation of microRNA-365 via suppressing MMP9. 

PMID- 26884839
TI  - Simvastatin ameliorates renal lipidosis through the suppression of renal CXCL16
      expression in mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the roles of CXCL16 and ox-LDL in adriamycin (ADR)-induced
      nephropathy mice and to explore the mechanism of simvastatin on the renal
      protective effects of ADR nephropathy. METHODS: Fifteen male Balb/c mice were
      randomly divided into normal control (NC), ADR nephropathy and simvastatin
      treated ADR nephropathy (ADR-SIM) groups. ADR nephropathy was induced by a single
      intravenous injection of ADR into the tail vein. All mice were sacrificed at the
      end of the 7th week, with the blood, 24-h urine and kidneys collected. The levels
      of ox-LDL and total cholesterol in the serum, the serum CXCL16, ox-LDL and NF
      kappaB expression were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the levels
      of serum total cholesterol and ox-LDL in the ADR and ADR-SIM groups were
      significantly higher, the level of serum albumin was significantly lower and the
      expression of CXCL16, ox-LDL and NF-kappaB in the renal tissue of ADR and ADR-SIM
      groups was significantly increased. Compared with the ADR group, the expressions
      of renal CXCL16, ox-LDL and NF-kappaB in the ADR-SIM group were significantly
      decreased. Levels of serum total cholesterol and ox-LDL were not significantly
      different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin exerts a protective
      effect on renal function and structure in mice with ADR nephropathy. The
      beneficial effects of simvastatin might be related to the decreasing expression
      of CXCL16 in glomerular podocytes followed by the decreasing endocytosis of ox
      LDL in podocytes and inhibition of NF-kappaB pathway activation.

PMID- 26884840
TI  - Kissing molars: report of three cases and new prospective on aetiopathogenetic
      theories.
AB  - Kissing molars (KMs) is an extremely rare condition of impacted third molars,
      pointed in the opposite direction in a single follicular space; it consists
      exactly in a full impacted of permanent molars which occurs only in the lower
      jaw. Actually, about less than thirty cases have been reported in scientific
      literatures. The aetiology and pathogenesis of this pathological double dental
      inclusion remain unknown; above all events that lead two molars to appear, as KMs
      remain mysterious. The association to metabolic connective diseases such as
      mucopolysaccharidosis was emphasized. KMs considered as an isolated event, may be
      associated to an abnormal position of the tooth-bud from lower permanent molars,
      or fourth supernumerary tooth (distomolar). Recently, hyperplastic dental
      follicle (HDF), with a down regulation of matrix metal-proteinases and up
      regulation of several genes of collagens, has been mentioned in association with
      KMs. In this paper, after having analyzed three new cases of KMs that have been
      treated, we report a new hypothesis. This last is based on the failure in the
      dental follicle's ability to initiate or continue properly resorption of the
      overlying alveolar bone, by many exogenous factors which may act on eruptive
      phase that would lead to its rotation with its contents coming out a pathological
      situation of KMs. The therapy of choice is related to the surgical removal of KMs
      through a double odontectomy with transalveolar method. Other treatments can be,
      eventually, orthodontic therapy of the impacted teeth and a radiological follow
      up without surgery. 

PMID- 26884842
TI  - CCL21/CCR7 up-regulate vascular endothelial growth factor-D expression via ERK
      pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer cells.
AB  - Lymphangiogenesis has received considerable attention and become a new research
      hotspot of tumor metastasis. Recently, C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) is known
      to promote metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells into lymph
      nodes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between CCL21/CCR7 and the
      lymphangiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D in human lung
      cancer cells and its impact on patients' prognosis. We found that CCL21/CCR7
      increase the expression of VEGF-D in NSCLC Cell Lines through induced ERK1/2 and
      Akt phosphorylation. In addition, our study found that the expression levels of
      CCR7 and CCL21 were correlated with VEGF-D, lymphatic vessels density (LVD),
      clinical stages, lymph node metastasis, and patient Survival in 90 human non
      small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens. Taken together, our results provide
      evidence that CCL21/CCR7 induce VEGF-D up-regulation and promote
      lymphangiogenesis via ERK/Akt pathway in lung cancer. 

PMID- 26884841
TI  - Exosomes mediated pentose phosphate pathway in ovarian cancer metastasis: a
      proteomics analysis.
AB  - Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancies for
      readily metastasis. Exosomes have played an influential role in carcinogenicity
      and cancer progression. Our aim is to discover exosome-related mechanisms in
      ovarian cancer progress and explore potential diagnostic biomarkers and
      therapeutic targets of ovarian cancer. We initially presented the proteomic
      profiles of exosomes derived from two late-stage ovarian cell lines, OVCA429 and
      HO8910PM. A total of 2940 exosomal proteins were recorded by MS. FunRich
      appropriately processed these exosomal proteins, manifesting some superiority in
      contrast to Blast2go. Moreover, we demonstrated the pentose phosphate pathway was
      a dominant mechanism in exosome mediated intracellular communication. Glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase and transaldolase 1, three key enzymes
      regulated pentose phosphate pathway, were all marked in the same exosomal parts
      of proteins between two ovarian cell lines. Moreover, these key proteins might
      become diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of ovarian
      cancer. 

PMID- 26884843
TI  - Protective effects of adipose-derived stem cells secretome on human dermal
      fibroblasts from ageing damages.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Combined effects of intrinsic and extrinsic ageing factors on skin
      tissue and the therapies have been rarely studied before. ADSCs have gained
      popularity in anti-ageing field, which may provide promising methods to fight
      against skin ageing. OBJECTIVE: To find out the fate of HDFs exposed to intrinsic
      or extrinsic ageing factors or both of them and further examine the impacts of
      ADSC-CM on the damaged HDFs. METHODS: We irradiated HDFs with UVB at different
      senescent levels, and then treated them with ADSC-CM. After 48 h, we detected
      cellular proliferative activity, morphology, SA-beta-Gal expression, apoptosis,
      mRNA expression of collagen I, collagen III and elastin. RESULTS: Intrinsic
      ageing factors inhibited cellular proliferation, increased senescent ratio and
      reduced mRNA expression of collagen I, collagen III and elastin, so did UVB,
      except for its induction of elastin mRNA expression. Furthermore, ADSC-CM
      treatment can slightly or significantly improve cellular proliferative activity
      and restore functions both in irradiated and non-irradiated HDFs. Besides, ADSC
      CM treatment decreased cellular apoptosis and senescence induced by UVB but had
      no obvious effect on cellular senescence induced by intrinsic ageing factors. The
      results were similar in three generations of HDFs, yet in different degrees.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ADSCs secretome protect HDFs from ageing
      damages but with some limitations.

PMID- 26884845
TI  - Role of Bcl-2 and its associated miRNAs in vasculogenic mimicry of hepatocellular
      carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: An investigation of the role of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and
      its associated miRNAs in vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in hepatocellular carcinoma.
      METHODS: The Bcl-2 expression plasmid was constructed for transfection into the
      hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. Changes in the expression profiles of
      the miRNAs induced by Bcl-2 overexpression and their relationships with
      vasculogenic mimicry were analysed. Real-time PCR was performed in frozen tissue
      specimens from 42 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma to analyse the relationship
      between Bcl-2 and miR-27a; Immunohistochemical staining was performed in paraffin
      embedded tissue samples from 97 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma to analyse the
      relationship between Bcl-2 expression and the expression of vasculogenic mimicry
      (VM) related molecules VEGF and HIF1A, which were target genes of the Bcl-2
      related miRNAs. RESULTS: Overexpression of Bcl-2 results in a significant change
      in the expression of a wide range of miRNAs, and the target genes of these miRNAs
      are composed of various vasculogenic mimicry related genes; Bcl-2 expression was
      positively correlated with the expression of the miRNA target genes VEGF and
      HIF1A. The expression of VEGF and HIF1A was significantly and positively
      correlated with VM and poor prognosis of patients. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 may play a
      role in vasculogenic mimicry through miRNAs by targeting angiogenesis associated
      genes.

PMID- 26884844
TI  - Elevation of AQP4 and selective cytokines in experimental autoimmune encephalitis
      mice provides some potential biomarkers in optic neuritis and demyelinating
      diseases.
AB  - Idiopathic optic neuritis (ION) is an inflammation of the optic nerve that may
      result in a complete or partial loss of vision. ION is usually due to the immune
      attack of the myelin sheath covering the optic nerve. ION acts frequently as the
      first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or
      other inflammatory demyelinating disorders. The pathogenic progression of ION
      remains unclear. Experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) is a commonly used
      model of idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorders (IIDDs); the optic nerve
      is affected in EAE as well. The specific mediators of demyelination in optic
      neuritis are unknown. Recent studies have indicated what T-cell activation in
      peripheral blood is associated with optic neuritis pathogenesis. The object of
      the present study was to determine whether certain cytokines (IL-6, IL-17A, and
      IL-23) and AQP4 contribute to the demyelinating process using EAE model. We have
      found that IL-6R, AQP4 and IL-23R are significantly increased in mRNA and protein
      levels in optic nerves in EAE mice compared to control mice; serum AQP4, IL-6, IL
      17A, IL-23 are increased whereas transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is
      decreased in EAE mice. These results suggest that AQP4 and selective cytokines in
      serum are associated with ION pathogenesis in the animal model, and these results
      shine light for future clinical diagnosis as potential biomarkers in ION
      patients. 

PMID- 26884846
TI  - Neuroprotective effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on spinal
      cord injury in rats.
AB  - Traumatic injuries to the brain and spinal cord affect a large percentage of the
      world's population. However, there are currently no effective treatments for
      these central nervous system (CNS) injuries. In our study, we evaluated the
      neuroprotective role of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
      carrying brain derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF), nogo-66 receptor (NgR) and Ras
      homolog gene family member A (RhoA) in spinal cord injury (SCI). Our results
      showed that transfection into rat cortical neurons with BDNF-DNA significantly
      elevated the expression of BDNF both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile,
      transfection with NgR-siRNA and RhoA-siRNA resulted in an obvious down-regulation
      of NgR and RhoA in neuron cells and in injured spinal cords. In addition, the
      functionalized MWCNTs carrying BDNF-DNA, NgR-siRNA and RhoA-siRNA exhibited
      remarkable therapeutic effects on injured spinal cord. Taken together, our study
      demonstrates that functionalized MWCNTs have a potential therapeutic application
      on repair and regeneration of the CNS. 

PMID- 26884847
TI  - Mechanism of bile acid-regulated glucose and lipid metabolism in duodenal-jejunal
      bypass.
AB  - Bile acid plays an important role in regulating blood glucose, lipid and energy
      metabolism. The present study was implemented to determine the effect of duodenal
      jejunal bypass (DJB) on FXR, TGR-5expression in terminal ileum and its bile acid
      related mechanism on glucose and lipid metabolism. Immunohistochemistry was used
      to detect relative gene or protein expression in liver and intestine. Firstly, we
      found that expression of FXR in liver and terminal ileum of DJB group was
      significantly higher than that in S-DJB group (P<0.05). In addition, DJB
      dramatically increased the activation of TGR-5 in the liver of rats. Furthermore,
      PEPCK, G6Pase, FBPase 1 and GLP-1 were up-regulated by DJB. In conclusion, these
      results showed that bile acid ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism through
      bile acid-FXR and bile acid- TGR-5 signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26884849
TI  - Effects of CASP5 gene overexpression on angiogenesis of HMEC-1 cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of gene overexpression of CASP5, a caspase family
      member, in angiogenesis in vitro and its mechanisms were clarified. METHODS:
      Human full-length CASP5 gene was delivered into human microvascular endothelial
      HMEC-1 cells by recombinant lentivirus. The infection was estimated by green
      fluorescent protein. MTT method was used to analyze the efficacy of gene
      overexpression in cell proliferation ability, and Matrigel was used to estimate
      its effects in angiogenesis ability of cells. Meanwhile, Western blot was used to
      analyze the effects of CASP5 gene overexpression on the expression levels of
      angpt-1, angpt-2, Tie2 and VEGF-1 in the cells, which were signaling pathway
      factors related to angiogenesis. RESULTS: Recombinant lentivirus containing human
      full-length CASP5 gene was packed and purified successfully, with virus titer of
      1*10(8) TU/ml. The recombinant lentivirus was used to infect HMEC-1 cells with
      MOI of 1, leading to a cell infection rate of 100%. There were no significant
      effects of CASP5 gene overexpression on both cell proliferation ability and the
      expression level of angpt-1. Meanwhile, expressions of angpt-2 and VEGF-1 were
      both enhanced, while Tie2 expression was inhibited. Results indicated that CASP5
      gene overexpression promoted angiogenesis of HMEC-1 cells. CONCLUSION: CASP5 gene
      overexpression significantly promoted angiogenesis ability of HMEC-1 cells, which
      was probably achieved by inhibiting angpt-1/Tie2 and promoting VEGF-1 signal
      pathway.

PMID- 26884848
TI  - Full-length spleen tyrosine kinase inhibits the invasion and metastasis of human
      laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate correlation between full-length spleen
      tyrosine kinase [SYK (L)] expression and clinical characteristics of laryngeal
      squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and explore effects of SYK (L) on invasion and
      metastasis of LSCC. METHODS: The human laryngeal cancer Hep-2 cells with low SYK
      (L) expression were transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-SYK (L) vector and empty vector
      pIRES2-EGFP to generate Hep-2-SYK (L) cells and Hep-2-neo cells. The cell
      invasion and migration abilities were determined. RESULTS: The SYK (L) positive
      expression rate in LSCC tissues was significantly lower than in vocal cord
      dysplasia tissues and normal laryngeal tissues (P < 0.05). There was a
      significant correlation between SYK (L) expression and LSCC T stage,
      histopathological grade and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). mRNA expression of
      SYK (L) in Hep-2-SYK (L) cells was significantly higher than in Hep-2-neo cells
      and Hep-2 cells (P < 0.01). The protein expression of SYK (L) in Hep-2-SYK (L)
      cells was markedly higher than in Hep-2-neo cells and Hep-2 cells (P < 0.01). The
      number of invasive cells was significantly lower in Hep-2-SYK (L) group than in
      Hep-2-neo group and Hep-2 group (P < 0.01). The average number of migrating cells
      in Hep-2-SYK (L) group also markedly reduced as compared to Hep-2-neo group and
      Hep-2 group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The SYK (L) expression was down-regulated in
      LSCC, which was closely correlated with cancer growth and lymph node metastasis.
      SYK (L) up-regulation was able to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of LSCC,
      therefore suppressing tumor development. Thus, SYK (L) may be a potential target
      for the LSCC treatment.

PMID- 26884850
TI  - Expression of TAK1/TAB1 expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma and adjacent
      normal tissues and their clinical significance.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming
      growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and its activation ligand, TAK1
      binding protein 1 (TAB1), in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and adjacent
      normal tissues and to analyze the relevance between TAK1 and TAB1 protein
      expression and the pathological features of NSCLC patients. Surgical resection
      NSCLC specimens were collected from 74 patients undergoing surgery in our
      hospital from September 2003 to July 2008; tumor-adjacent normal tissue specimens
      were collected as controls. All cases were pathologically confirmed after
      surgery, and pathological data were complete for all patients. The expression of
      TAK1/TAB1 proteins in NSCLC and adjacent cancer tissues was detected by
      immunohistochemical analysis. The correlation between TAK1/TAB1 protein
      expression and the clinicopathological features and outcome of NSCLC was
      assessed. The positive expression ratio of TAK1 in NSCLC tissue was 63.5%, which
      was significantly higher than that in tumor-adjacent normal tissue (31.1%). The
      positive expression ratio of TAB1 in NSCLC tissue was 51.4%, which was
      significantly higher than that in tumor-adjacent normal tissue (24.3%). Further
      analysis showed that positive protein expression of TAK1 and TAB1 was unrelated
      to patient gender, age, tumor size, degree of differentiation, and history of
      smoking (P>0.05) but was significantly related to clinical stage and lymph node
      metastasis (P<0.05). Additionally, the expression of TAK1 as well as TAB1 was
      negatively related to NSCLC patient prognosis, and patients with positive protein
      expression had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate than those with
      negative protein expression (P<0.05). TAK1/TAB1 expression in NSCLC tissue is
      significantly increased and closely associated with patient clinical prognosis.
      These two proteins are likely to become new therapeutic targets for the treatment
      of NSCLC. 

PMID- 26884851
TI  - Regulator role of HPV E7 protein on miR-21 expression in cervical carcinoma cells
      and its functional implication.
AB  - Cervical cancer is the second leading malignant tumor in women. Human
      papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) is one risk factor for cervical cancer, with its
      expressed E7 protein can facilitate the transformation of cervical epithelial
      cells. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is one important tumor growth regulatory factor
      involving in angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. This study thus aimed
      to investigate the role of high-risk HPV16 E7 protein in regulating miR-21
      expression in cervical carcinoma and its related functions. Hela cells were
      transfected with pcDNA-HPV16 E7 expressing vectors. The expression level of E7
      was determined by Western blotting, while miR-21 level was quantified by real
      time PCR. The alternation of tumor cell proliferation is determined by
      transfecting miR-21 inhibitor into E7-overexpressing Hela cells. Cell apoptosis
      was studied by caspase-3 assay, while cell invasion was illustrated in Transwell
      chamber. The overexpression of HPV E7 protein facilitated the expression of miR
      21, which potentiated Hela cell proliferation and invasion. The inhibition of miR
      21 in E7-overexpressin Hela cells can inhibit both proliferation and invasion,
      but without significant effects on caspase-3 activity. HPV16 E7 protein can up
      regulate host miR-21 expression, thus elevating cervical carcinoma cell growth,
      proliferation and invasion. Therefore, E7 protein is one critical factor in
      occurrence and progression of cervical carcinoma. 

PMID- 26884852
TI  - Low cytoplasmic and nuclear KPNA2 expression in radiotherapy-treated head and
      neck squamous cell cancer is associated with an adverse outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: KPNA2 has effects on carcinogenesis, cell differentiation and
      transcriptional regulation. KPNA2 has been linked to DNA damage repair by its
      role to import the DNA double strand break repair complex MRN into the nucleus.
      The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of KPNA2 expression in
      both cytoplasmic and nuclear location in patients with HNSCC treated with
      radio(chemo)therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 225 patients with HNSCC treated with
      neoadjuvant, definitive or adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy were included.
      Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue micro arrays to evaluate
      nuclear and cytoplasmic KPNA2 expression. RESULTS: The median fraction of tumor
      cells with nuclear KPNA2 expression was 15%. 47% of tumor samples showed positive
      cytoplasmic staining. Patients with low nuclear as well as negative cytoplasmic
      expression tended to have an unfavorable prognosis. There was no correlation
      between nuclear and cytoplasmic KPNA2 expression. Low nuclear combined with
      negative cytoplasmic KPNA2 had a clearly unfavorable prognostic effect in local
      failure-free survival (P=0.014), metastasis-free survival (P=0.001) and no
      evidence of disease (P=0.008). A combination of low nuclear/negative cytoplasmic
      with high nuclear/high cytoplasmic KPNA2 expression was prognostically
      unfavorable with regard to tumor specific survival (P=0.021) and to a lower
      extent to overall survival (P=0.18). In multivariate analysis low
      nuclear/negative cytoplasmic versus any high KPNA2 (P=0.008) and T-category
      (P=0.002) proved as independent prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: The combination
      of nuclear and cytoplasmic KPNA2 expression is a potential excellent prognostic
      parameter in HNSCC treated with radio(chemo)therapy.

PMID- 26884854
TI  - Quantitative proteomic analysis identifies new effectors of FOXM1 involved in
      breast cancer cell migration.
AB  - The Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor plays important roles in
      tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis in multiple human carcinomas. However, the
      underlying mechanisms for FOXM1 function remain to be classified. In the present
      study, we employed quantitative proteomic approach to search new downstream
      targets of FOXM1 in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. A total of 4125 proteins were
      identified and quantified by label-free quantitation, of which 318 proteins were
      significantly changed (with P-value <0.05) between FOXM1 knockdown cells and
      control cells. Among them, three proteins ACSL4, CGGBP1 and PGRMC2 were
      significantly downregulated with FOXM1 reduction by western blot analysis.
      Further functional assays revealed that knockdown of the three proteins in MDA-MB
      231 cells attenuated the ability of cell migration, consistent with the phenotype
      of FOXM1 knockdown. These results suggest that new potential downstream effectors
      of FOXM1 were identified by proteomic approach, and may provide new potential
      therapeutic targets in breast cancer. 

PMID- 26884853
TI  - Prevalence and clinicopathologic features of CD30-positive de novo diffuse large
      B-cell lymphoma in Chinese patients: a retrospective study of 232 cases.
AB  - Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease that great
      efforts had been made in to build up molecular and immunophenotypic subgroups
      that could relatively accurate indicate prognosis and give clue to therapy.
      Recently, CD30 was reported as a useful predictor with favorable clinical
      outcome. However, CD30 expression patterns and the clinicopathologic features of
      CD30 positive DLBCL are not well described thus far, especially in Asian
      patients. Here, we studied 232 cases of de novo DLBCL in East China to
      investigate the prevalence and clinicopathological features of CD30-positive
      DLBCL using a panel of immunohistochemical markers. Applying a >0% threshold,
      CD30 was expressed in approximately 12% patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
      negative DLBCL, affecting younger people and showing a lower frequency of BCL2
      expression and MYC/BCL2 co-expression. Patients with CD30-positive DLBCLs showed
      better progression-free survival and overall survival compared with patients with
      CD30-negative DLBCLs, although the superior outcome of CD30 positivity had
      minimal effects on BCL2+ DLBCL or DLBCL with MYC/BCL2 co-expression. Moreover,
      CD30 could express in CD5+ DLBCL. We concluded that CD30 may be useful as a
      prognostic marker in rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and
      prednisone (R-CHOP) treated DLBCLs, indicating favorable outcomes in a Chinese
      population. Further studies with larger samples should be performed to
      investigate the function of CD30 expression in BCL2+ DLBCLs, DLBCLs with MYC/BCL2
      co-expression, and CD5+ DLBCLs, and to evaluate the feasibility of anti-CD30
      targeted treatment in DLBCL therapy. 

PMID- 26884855
TI  - 14-3-3zeta up-regulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in hepatocellular
      carcinoma via activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-kB signal transduction pathway.
AB  - 14-3-3zeta protein, a member of 14-3-3 family, plays important roles in multiple
      cellular processes. Our previous study showed that 14-3-3zeta could bind to
      regulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), which is
      induced by hypoxia and a crucial factor for induction of tumor metastasis.
      Moreover, we also have confirmed the response of 14-3-3zeta to hypoxia in our
      unpublished data as well. Thus, in the present study, we attempted to reveal that
      whether the regulation effect of 14-3-3zeta on HIF-1alpha functioned in a similar
      pattern as hypoxia. Stable regulation of 14-3-3zeta in human HCC cell line SMMC
      772 and HCC-LM3 was achieved. The regulation of 14-3-3zeta on HIF-1alpha mRNA
      transcription was evaluated by luciferase activity assay and quantitative real
      time PCR (qPCR). The effect of 14-3-3zeta on the production of HIF-1alpha and
      pathways determining HIF-1alpha's response to hypoxia was assessed using western
      blotting assay. Our results showed that regulation of 14-3-3zeta expression
      influenced the activity of HIF-1alpha, phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K),
      Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and nuclear factor kappa
      B (NF-kB). Blocking of these pathways using indicated inhibitors revealed that 14
      3-3zeta enhanced the production of HIF-1alpha via the activation of PI3K/Akt/NF
      kB pathway, which was identical to hypoxia induced HIF-1alpha expression. For the
      first time, our study described the key role of 14-3-3zeta in the HIF-1alpha
      production in HCC cells. And the molecule exerted its function on HIF-1alpha both
      by directly binding to it and via PI3K/Akt/NF-kB signal transduction pathway. 

PMID- 26884856
TI  - Transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via different routes in
      rats with acute liver failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of
      transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) in
      different routes in acute hepatic failure (ALF) in rats. METHODS: hUCMSCs were
      isolated and identified by detection of surface antigens via flow cytometry. In T
      group and H group, ALF rats received hUCMSC transplantation through the tail vein
      and intrahepatic injection, respectively. In hUCMSC group, healthy rats received
      hUCMSCs transplantation via the tail vein. In ALF group, rats received injection
      of normal saline through the tail vein. RESULTS: The TBil and ALT in ALF rats
      with and without transplantation were significantly higher than in healthy rats
      (P<0.05). HE staining of the liver showed obvious hepatocyte regeneration and
      reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells, and liver pathology was improved in T
      group and H group as compared to ALF group. At 3 d after transplantation, CK18
      expression was detectable in both H group and T group. At 1 w and 2 w, the mRNA
      expressions of CK8, CK18 and AFP in H group and T group were significantly
      different from those in ALF group (P<0.05). The liver function and
      differentiation of stem cells were comparable between H group and T group
      (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: hUCMSCs transplantation can improve the liver function and
      promote the liver repair following ALF. hUCMSCs transplantation via tail vein has
      similar therapeutic efficacy to that through intrahepatic injection.

PMID- 26884857
TI  - Effect of halofuginone on the inhibition of proliferation and invasion of
      hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line.
AB  - Primary liver cancer is a common cancer and the mortality of liver cancer ranks
      the second of all malignancy-related deaths in China. The most common primary
      liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, accounting for approximately 90% of the
      total. Because liver is the largest parenchymatous organ in the body undertaking
      all kinds of important metabolic functions, liver cancer inevitably causes
      greater harms and its treatment is extremely difficult. Currently, there are
      still no effective drugs for the treatment of patients with advanced inoperable
      liver cancer. We observed the strong inhibitory activity of halofuginone on HepG2
      cell growth and the cell cycle and apoptosis assays showed that halofuginone
      arrested the cell cycle and inhibited the induction. And we found that
      halofuginone inhibits tumor cell cycle possibly by up-regulating p15 and p21 of
      expression. Then, we found that the proportion of cleaved PARP, caspase-3, 8 and
      9 in HepG2 cells increased after halofuginone treatment. And the results showed
      that halofuginone down-regulated Mcl-1 and c-IAP1 expression. Finally, our
      results showed halofuginone regulated the activities of JNK and MEK/ERK signaling
      pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In summary, this study shows that
      halofuginone can inhibit the in vitro growth, arrest the cell cycle and induce
      the apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Its mechanisms of action may be related to the
      regulation of associated protein expression, up-regulation of JNK, and inhibition
      of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26884858
TI  - Neuroprotective effects and impact on caspase-12 expression of
      tauroursodeoxycholic acid after acute spinal cord injury in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on nerve
      function after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, observe its effect on
      neuronal apoptosis and caspase-12 expression levels, and investigate the
      underlying mechanism. METHODS: We used a modified Allen's weight-drop trauma
      method to establish a rat acute SCI model. The rats were randomly divided into
      three groups: group A (sham surgery group), group B (DMSO control group) and
      group C (TUDCA treatment group), with 36 rats in each group. At one minute and at
      24 hours after successfully establishing the model, rats in group C received an
      intraperitoneal injection of TUDCA (200 mg/kg), while rats in group B received an
      equal amount of DMSO at the same time points. At 24 hours, three days, and five
      days after injury, a modified Tarlov scoring method and Rivlin's oblique plate
      test were used to evaluate rat spinal cord nerve function recovery. Animals were
      sacrificed at 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury. Specimens were
      obtained from the center of the injury sites; the pathological changes in spinal
      cord tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; apoptosis was
      detected using the TUNEL method, and the expression of caspase-12 was measured at
      the protein level using immunohistochemistry and Western blots. RESULTS: Group C
      differed significantly from group B in Tarlov scores and the oblique table test
      as early as 24 hours after the injury (P < 0.05). The TUNEL assay test results
      showed that neurons underwent apoptosis after SCI, which peaked at 24 hours. The
      ratios of apoptotic cells in group C were significantly lower than those in group
      B at 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury (P < 0.01). The
      immunohistochemistry and Western blot results showed that the caspase-12
      expression levels of group C were lower than those of group B at 24 hours, three
      days, and five days after injury (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TUDCA can inhibit the
      expression of caspase-12 in rat neurons after SCI, reduce cell apoptosis, and
      exert neuroprotective effects on rat secondary nerve injuries after SCI.

PMID- 26884859
TI  - IVIG inhibits TNF-alpha-induced MMP9 expression and activity in monocytes by
      suppressing NF-kappaB and P38 MAPK activation.
AB  - Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) has been involved in inflammatory and
      pathologic processes of coronary artery lesions (CAL) in Kawasaki disease (KD).
      Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a traditional treatment for Kawasaki disease,
      could decrease the expressions of MMP9. The purpose of this study was to
      investigate the protective effect of IVIG in chemotactic migration of monocyte
      and the regulation of MMP9 induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in
      U937s. Studies were carried out with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT
      PCR), zymographic, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. U937s' migration was
      enhanced by TNF-alpha stimulation, while was inhibited by IVIG pretreatment. MMP9
      expression and activity in U937s were also significantly enhanced by TNF-alpha
      and inhibited by IVIVG pretreatment. During inflammatory stimulus, nuclear factor
      kappa B (NF-kappaB) and P38 Mitogenactivated protein kinase (P38 MAPK) pathways
      play a significant role in regulating MMP9 gene expression. TNF-alpha induced
      nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and P38 MAPK activation in U937s were
      inhibited significantly by IVIG. Furthermore, we clarified that nuclear NF-kappaB
      and P38 MAPK pathways play pivotal roles in regulating U937s' migration and MMP9
      expressions using PDTC and SB203580, which were specific inhibitors of NF-kappaB
      and p38 MAPK pathways. IVIG displays striking biological effects, notably
      promoting monocyte migration. These effects involve the NF-kappaB and p38
      pathways, and increased MMP9 activity. It might be a crucial mechanism of IVIG
      reducing the occurrence of CAL that IVIG inhibited monocytes expressing MMP9 and
      decreased chemotactic migration of monocyte. 

PMID- 26884860
TI  - Elevated nuclear CCND1 expression confers an unfavorable prognosis for early
      stage lung adenocarcinoma patients.
AB  - PURPOSES: To examine the expression pattern of CCND1 and analyze the correlation
      of its nuclear expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis in lung
      adenocarcinoma. METHODS: CCND1 mRNA and protein levels in lung adenocarcinoma
      tissues were examined. The relationship between nuclear CCND1 protein expression
      and clinical features including survival prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: CCND1
      mRNA levels were markedly increased in lung adenocarcinoma (P=0.0019). Western
      blot analysis confirmed increased nuclear CCND1 protein expression in lung
      adenocarcinoma specimens. Immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that CCND1
      protein was predominantly nuclear localized in lung adenocarcinoma cells and
      significantly elevated relative to normal lung tissues (P<0.001). Furthermore,
      high levels of nuclear CCND1 were positively correlated with clinical stage
      (P=0.026). Patients with nuclear CCND1 expression had a significantly shorter
      overall survival time than did patients with low expression. Interestingly,
      nuclear CCND1 expression in clinical stage I+II, but not clinical stage III, was
      shown associated with poor prognosis and shorter overall survival time for lung
      adenocarcinoma patients by strata analysis. Finally, nuclear CCND1 expression
      tended to be an independent prognostic indicator (P=0.087) for lung
      adenocarcinoma patient survival. CONCLUSION: Increased nuclear CCND1 is a
      potential unfavorable prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma patients,
      especially those with clinical early stage (stage I+II).

PMID- 26884861
TI  - Overexpression of PAK-1 is an independent predictor of disease recurrence in
      colorectal carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a significant cause of major morbidity
      and mortality. PAK-1 is a protein that regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and cell
      motility. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship
      between PAK-1 immunoexpression and CRC progression and its validity as an
      independent prognostic factor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paraffin blocks of 103
      primary CRCs and 37 nodal metastases were retrieved and tissue microarrays were
      constructed. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-PAK-1 antibody.
      Immunostaining was scored and results were analysed in relation to
      clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: PAK-1 was overexpressed in primary CRC
      (P<0.001). No difference between low and high expression in nodal metastasis
      (P=0.139). There was no difference between PAK-1 immunoexpression in primary and
      nodal metastasis (P=0.275). High PAK-1 immunoexpression was associated with
      disease recurrence (P=0.03). However, there was no association with most
      clinicopathological parameters. PAK-1 overexpression was detected as an
      independent predictor of disease recurrence (P=0.05). No association was found
      between PAK-1 immunoexpression and disease free survival (log-rank =1.287,
      P=0.257). CONCLUSION: PAK-1 overexpression may be involved in CRC progression and
      could be considered an independent predictor of disease recurrence. Further in
      vivo and in vitro molecular studies are needed to investigate the role of PAK-1
      in colorectal carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26884863
TI  - 17beta-estradiol activates mTOR in chondrocytes by AKT-dependent and AKT
      independent signaling pathways.
AB  - To confirm whether 17beta-estradiol (E2) activates mammalian target of rapamycin
      (mTOR) signaling pathway in chondrocytes and in what way activates mTOR. Human
      immortalized chondrocytes cell lines TC28a2 and C28/I2 were subjected to incubate
      with or without E2, LY294002 (the inhibitor of PI3K), rapamycin (the inhibitor of
      mTOR), or E2 in combination with LY294002 or rapamycin. Thereafter, protein
      levels of S6K1, p-S6K1, protein kinase B (AKT), and p-AKT were determined by
      Western blot analysis. Matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) 3 or MMP13 mRNA levels were
      evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Co-immunoprecipitation and
      Western blot analysis were performed to verify the interaction between ERalpha
      and mTOR. Both p-S6K1 and p-AKT protein levels in TC28a2 and C28/I2E2 cells were
      significantly increased by incubation with E2 (0.5 h and 1 h) (P < 0.05).
      Rapamycin did not affect the levels of p-AKT, but were significantly reduced by
      LY294002 or E2 in combination with LY294002. The levels of p-S6K1 were
      significantly decreased by incubation with LY294002, but the effect could be
      reversed by E2 in combination with LY294002. Rabbit anti-mTOR antibody was able
      to immunoprecipitate ERalpha after incubation with E2. Moreover, E2 inhibited the
      mRNA levels of MMP3 and MMP13 by mTOR pathway. E2 actives mTOR in chondrocytes
      through AKT-dependent and independent ways. 

PMID- 26884862
TI  - MALAT1 is an oncogenic long non-coding RNA associated with tumor invasion in non
      small cell lung cancer regulated by DNA methylation.
AB  - MALAT1 is an important long noncoding RNA in tumor progression. Here we showed
      that the expression of MALAT1 was upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer cells
      (NSCLCs) or tissues as compared with the normal lung cell or tissues. Thus, the
      knockdown of MALAT1 led to decreased cell migration and invasion. Next we also
      found that CXCL5 as a downstream gene of MALAT1 regulated cell migration and
      invasion. However the regulation of MALAT1 expression was rarely known. Here we
      found that the treatment with SAM suppressed of MALAT1 expression. Finally, we
      showed that the methylated forms of MALAT1 promoter in lung cancer cells or
      tissues decreased compared with normal lung cells or tissues. These demonstrated
      that the expression of MALAT1 was dependent on the methylation. Overall, our
      findings illuminate the oncogenic function of MALAT1 which is regulated by DNA
      methylation that might provide potential clinical application in NSCLC. 

PMID- 26884864
TI  - PAI-1 and TNF-alpha profiles of adipose tissue in obese cardiovascular disease
      patients.
AB  - Obesity as a leading preventable cause of death worldwide is closely linked to
      cardiovascular disease (CVD). Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, a
      potent inhibitor of plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis, is increased in many
      clinical situations associated with high incidence of CVD. In the obesity-linked
      elevation of PAI-1, evidence points to TNF-alpha as an important regulator of PAI
      1 expression in adipose tissue. BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate
      mediastinal PAI-1 and TNF-alpha mRNA levels in adipose tissues (AT) and compare
      serum levels in obesity with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Obese patients with (n=37) and without CAD (n=20) were included in
      the study. RESULTS: The serum levels of PAI-1 and TNF-alpha were significantly
      higher in obese patients with CAD compared to obese patients without CAD. PAI-1
      mRNA expression was significantly increased in mediastinal adipose tissue (MAT)
      of obese patients with CAD compared to those without CAD, TNF-alpha mRNA
      expressions were found to be higher in EAT (epicardial AT), MAT and SAT
      (subcutaneous AT) of obese patients with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated
      a close direct relationship between TNF-alpha and PAI-1. PAI-1 mRNA expression
      strongly correlated positively with serum TNF-alpha in MAT, and TNF-alpha
      expressions with PAI-1 serum levels.

PMID- 26884865
TI  - Anacardic acid sensitizes prostate cancer cells to radiation therapy by
      regulating H2AX expression.
AB  - Anacardic acid (6-pentadecylsalicylic acid, AA), a natural compound isolated from
      the traditional medicine Amphipterygiumadstringens, has been reported as
      potential antitumor agents in various cancers including prostate cancer (PC).
      However, the effects and mechanism of AA on the radiosensitivity of prostate
      cancer remains unknown. The results indicated that AA exhibited strong antitumor
      activity in PC cell lines, either as a single agentor in combination with
      radiation. AA significantly induced the downregulation of H2AX and p-H2AX
      expression, increase of cell apoptosis and decreasing of cell invasion, which
      were reversed by overexpressed H2AX. These results suggest that AA sensitize
      prostate cancer cells to radiation therapy by repressing H2AX expression. 

PMID- 26884867
TI  - HMGB1 silence could promote MCF-7 cell apoptosis and inhibit invasion and
      metastasis.
AB  - High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a non-histone nuclear protein, was associated
      with a variety of biological important processes, such as transcription,
      differentiation, extracellular signaling. As a cytokine or inflammatory mediator,
      more and more data showed that HMGB1 was involved in inflammatory diseases,
      cancers or autoimmune disease. However, few data focused on nucleic or
      cytoplasmic function of HMGB1. Therefore, the present study focused on cancer
      cells biological characteristics following HMGB1 silence. HMGB1 siRNAs were
      designed and chemically synthesized, and then transfected into the breast cancer
      cell line MCF-7 with lipofectamine 2000. The transcription and translation level
      of HMGB1 expression, proliferation, apoptosis, migration of MCF-7 were
      determined. The results demonstrated that HMGB1 silence inhibit invasion and
      migration and promote apoptosis of human breast cells; which indicated that HMGB1
      silence might be a potential therapy targets. 

PMID- 26884868
TI  - MAPK1 up-regulates the expression of MALAT1 to promote the proliferation of
      cardiomyocytes through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
AB  - The previous studies identify mammalian heart is terminal differentiation organs
      without regenerative capacity. Recently, there is some evidence point that
      cardiomyocytes are not terminally differentiated cells and cell proliferation may
      be stimulated in the pathologic heart. The aim of this study is to discover the
      possible mechanism which involved in cardiomyocytes proliferation process. In
      this study, the proliferation assay and cell cycle assay showed the proliferation
      of cardiomyocytes was inhibited when the cells treated with MAPK1 inhibitor.
      Moreover, the bioinformatics analysis revealed MAPK1 was positively correlated
      with MALAT1. Meanwhile, the expression of MALAT1 in H9C2 cells with the treatment
      of MAPK1 siRNA was obvious lower than scramble siRNA treated group. Finally
      further study suggested H9C2 cells treated with Wortmannin in combination with
      LY294002 (PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor), the expression of MALAT1 was
      dramatically decreased. These results indicated that MAPK1 was able to increase
      the proliferation of cardiomyocytes via up-regulating the expression of MALAT1
      through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26884866
TI  - Yes associated protein is a poor prognostic factor in well-differentiated lung
      adenocarcinoma.
AB  - The Hippo pathway is a highly conserved potent regulator of cell growth and
      apoptosis including large tumor suppressor (LATS) and Yes-associated protein
      (YAP). LATS has been regarded as a tumor suppressor gene and YAP as either of a
      tumor suppressor gene or an oncogene. We investigated their expression in lung
      adenocarcinoma. YAP and LATS protein expression was assessed in 167 surgically
      resected lung adenocarcinomas and compared with clinicopathologic factors.
      Disease free survival and overall survival were also evaluated. YAP expression
      was noted in cytoplasm (48 cases; 28.7%), nuclear (34; 20.4%) and both locations
      (4; 2.4%). The nuclear expression was typically observed in well differentiated
      adenocarcinoma. LATS was expressed in cytoplasm when its signal is weak.
      Perinuclear expression of LATS was observed when it is strongly expressed. While
      cytoplasmic and nuclear YAP expressions were inversely related. In well
      differentiated adenocarcinoma patients, YAP nuclear expression was related with
      more frequent relapse. Both of nuclear YAP and LATS expression were more
      frequently observed in well differentiated adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, YAP
      expression exhibited more frequent relapse in well differentiated adenocarcinoma
      group. We suggest that YAP may act as an oncogene and predict poorer prognosis in
      well differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. 

PMID- 26884869
TI  - Inhibition of acute lung injury by rubriflordilactone in LPS-induced rat model
      through suppression of inflammatory factor expression.
AB  - The present study demonstrates the effect of rubriflordilactone on
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury in rats and MLE-15 cells.
      LPS administration in rats resulted in formation of edema which was inhibited by
      pretreatment with rubriflordilactone. The pulmonary tissues of LPS administered
      rats and MLE-15 cells showed a significant increase in the expression of matrix
      metalloproteinase-9, interleukin-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. However,
      rubriflordilactone treatment prior to LPS administration caused a significant
      reduction in the expression of these factors at a concentration of 10 nm/kg.
      Analysis of the Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) expression revealed significant (P=0.002)
      reduction on exposure to LPS in MLE-15 cells. However, rubriflordilactone
      treatment at 10 nm/ml concentration before LPS exposure caused inhibition of LPS
      induced reduction in Sirt1 expression. Silencing of Sirt1 by siRNA in MLE-15
      cells led to inhibition of increased Sirt1 expression by rubriflordilactone in
      LPS administered rats. These findings suggest that rubriflordilactone inhibits
      LPS induced acute lung injury in rats and MLE-15 cells through promotion of Sirt1
      expression. 

PMID- 26884870
TI  - Differences in extension patterns between adenoid cystic carcinoma of the
      nasopharynx and nasopharyngeal carcinoma on MRI.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to map differences in extension patterns between
      adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the nasopharynxandnasopharyngeal carcinomaon
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and provide more information for treatments.
      METHODS: MRI examinations and clinical records were reviewed in 18 patients with
      ACC of the nasopharynx and 182 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). All
      patients had biopsy to confirm diagnosis. Differences between NPC and ACC in
      terms of extension patterns were identified by the retrospective analysis of
      images from patients undergoing MRI. RESULTS: Patients with ACC of the
      nasopharynx obtained a higher rate of staging T4 (14.3% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.007) and
      paralyzed cranial nerves (6.0% vs. 38.9%, P < 0.001). Epstein-Barr (EB) virus
      infection was not correlated with ACC incidence. No significant difference was
      observed in invasion to skull base between ACC of the nasopharynx and NPC (53.3%
      vs. 66.7%, P = 0.277). Involvement of cranial nerve canal (32.4% vs. 55.6%, P =
      0.049) and cavernous sinus (13.7% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.028) was more frequently
      detected by MRI on patients with ACC of the nasopharynx. Lymph node metastasis
      was infrequently diagnosed in patients with ACC of the nasopharynx. CONCLUSION:
      As seen on MRI images, ACC of the nasopharynx is characterized by a high
      incidence of perineural invasion, frequent and aggressive local infiltration, and
      infrequently, lymph node metastasis.

PMID- 26884871
TI  - Clinico-pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of gastrointestinal
      stromal tumors among a Chinese population.
AB  - Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common primary mesenchymal
      tumors of the digestive tract. GISTs include a group of heterogeneous tumors with
      different morphology, biologic behavior, and genetic characteristics, so their
      epidemiology, clinico-pathological features and prognosis is distinct in
      different countries. The objective of this study is to analyze clinico
      pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of GISTs among Chinese
      population. We investigated 112 GIST patients were diagnosed between July 2008
      and January 2013 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.
      Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry analysis was performed on paraffin
      embedded tissue from the 112 GISTs. Overall survival analysis was carried out
      using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was
      performed according to Cox's proportional hazards model. Three and 5-year OS
      rates were 71.4 and 58.6% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the
      following factors were significant in predicting OS: tumor site, tumor size,
      metastasis, resection margin status, cell type, invasion of adjacent organ,
      invasion of smooth muscle, mitotic rate, P53 and adjuvant therapy with imatinib
      (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, metastasis, resection
      margin status, mitotic rate, P53 and adjuvant therapy with imatinib were
      independent prognostic factors associated with OS. This may aid in the prediction
      of clinical evolution and guide treatments in patients with GIST in China. 

PMID- 26884872
TI  - Superficial leiomyomas of the gastrointestinal tract with interstitial cells of
      Cajal.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Some authors suggest common origin of gastrointestinal stromal tumors
      from stem cells, which may show diverse differentiation. There are reports in
      which cells morphologically identical to the interstitial cells of Cajal are
      found in deep leiomyomas. The aim of this study was to demonstrate CD117 positive
      cells in superficial gastrointestinal (GI) leiomyomas and to find other cells
      that would suggest diverse differentiation in histologically typical leiomyoma.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 8 cases of superficial leiomyomas and one deep
      leiomyoma, received in our institutions as endoscopically or surgically obtained
      material. The tumor sections were immunohistochemicaly stained with CD117, CD34,
      NF, S100, alphaSMA, desmin, caldesmon and mast cell antigen. RESULTS: All
      leiomyomas showed diffuse positivity for alphaSMA, caldesmon and desmin. All of
      them had CD117 and CD34 positive cells morphologically identical to the
      interstitial cells of Cajal between smooth muscle fibers, 5 had S-100 and NF
      positive cells and 2 showed positivity for GFAP. The cells were found in
      different quantity; they were usually diffusely scattered through the tumors
      without predilection site, forming small groups in some areas. CONCLUSION: CD177,
      CD34, S-100 and NF positive cells are present in superficial leiomyomas and they
      may suggest common origin of GI stromal tumors.

PMID- 26884873
TI  - Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on the serum and
      liver HMGB1 expression in rats with acute liver failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal
      stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on the expression of high mobility group box 1
      protein (HMGB1) in the serum and liver of rats with acute liver failure (ALF).
      METHODS: Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, ALF group
      and BMSCs group. ALF was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 900 mg/kg D-GalN
      and 10 MUg/kg LPS. In BMSCs group, rats received BMSCs (1.0*10(7))
      transplantation via the tail vein at 2 h after ALF induction. RESULTS:
      Intraperitoneal injection of 900 mg/kg D-GalN and 10 MUg/kg LPS was able to
      induce ALF in rats. In ALF group, serum ALT and AST increased gradually over
      time. At 72 h, the serum ALT and AST in BMSCs group were significantly different
      from those in ALF group. HMGB1 expression in the serum and liver remained at a
      low level at any time point in control group, but increased significantly in ALF
      group and BMSCs group. The serum and liver HMGB1 expression increased
      progressively in ALF group, but reduced gradually in BMSCs group. Significant
      difference in serum and liver HMGB1 expression was observed between ALF group and
      BMSCs group at 24 h and 72 h. In addition, there was marked difference in the
      survival rate among three groups at 24 h (chi (2) =21.098, P<0.01). CONCLUSION:
      BMSCs transplantation is able to improve the liver function and liver pathology
      in ALF rats and decrease the serum and liver HMGB1.

PMID- 26884874
TI  - Effect of immobilization stress on the appetite and stomach ghrelin expression in
      maternal mice.
AB  - Maternal stress exerts long-lasting postnatal growth on offspring, which persist
      into adulthood. However, the effect of maternal stress on appetizing system has
      not been widely reported. In this study, we found that maternal immobilization
      stress (IS) during lactation resulted in low body weight and food intake.
      Immunohistochemistry showed an increase in stomach ghrelin protein expression.
      The central regulation of body weight and food intake occurs in the hypothalamus,
      which contains multiple neuronal systems that play important roles in the
      regulation of energy homeostasis. These systems including multiple neuropeptides
      involve in the ghrelin pathway of appetite regulation. Therefore, real time
      reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the
      change of mRNA expression of ghrelin pathway related hormones in order to explore
      the mechanisms involved in the appetite regulation. Expression levels of the
      hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine 2c receptor (5-HT2cR) and 5-HT2bR, which are
      essential for the development and function of ghrelin and leptin, were decreased,
      as well as those of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and pro
      opiomelanocortin (POMC). While the expression of growth hormone secretagogue
      receptor (GHSR), neuropeptide-Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) showed an
      increase with significant difference. These results suggest that stress in a
      postpartum mother has persistent effects on the body weight of their offspring.
      Increased ghrelin and decreased leptin expression in the stomach may play a role
      in these effects. 

PMID- 26884875
TI  - Serum Interleukin-33 level in Saudi children with inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a cytokine that belongs to the interleukin-1 family and
      has been shown to be associated with mucosal inflammation. The aim of this study
      was to determine the serum level of IL-33 in children with ulcerative colitis
      (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) and to correlate the level with the disease
      progression. In this cross sectional prospective study, we enrolled 50 children
      with IBD from KAUH, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and 34 healthy control subjects between
      June 2012 and December 2012. Serum IL-33 was assessed by ELISA and CRP by
      immunonephelometric assay. Results from our study showed 32 CD and 18 UC patients
      included. The median age was 13.5 years for CD patients, 11.9 years for UC
      patients and 11.2 years for controls. Females constituted 53%, 66.7% and 59% of
      CD, UC and control subjects respectively. The median serum IL-33 in UC patients
      of 55.5 pg/mL was significantly higher than the median IL-33 level of 41 pg/mL in
      the healthy control (P=0.04) but no significant difference was found between the
      median IL-33 level in the sera of CD and the control group (P=0.7). A higher
      median IL-33 level was also found in active disease (P=0.03). In our cohort, the
      serum level of IL-33 was positively correlated with hs-CRP (r=0.48, P < 0.001).
      To conclude, our results support that serum IL-33 level is increased in children
      with UC as compared with control. Serum level is correlated with the disease
      activity; therefore it could be used as a potential biomarker for monitoring the
      severity of the disease in children with UC. 

PMID- 26884876
TI  - Prognostic significance of INF-induced transmembrane protein 1 in colorectal
      cancer.
AB  - Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) has recently been implicated
      in tumorigenesis. However, the prognostic value of IFITM1 in colorectal cancer
      remains unknown. The present study aimed to examine the expression and prognostic
      significance of IFITM1 in human colorectal cancer. IFITM1 expression was analyzed
      in 144 archived, paraffin-embedded colorectal cancer tissues and corresponding
      normal colorectal mucosa by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of IFITM1 with
      clinic-pathological features and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients
      was evaluated. IFITM1 was overexpressed in colonic cancer tissues but not in
      rectal cancer tissues, compared to control normal tissues. The expression of
      IFITM1 was significantly higher in patients with poor differentiation (P=0.031).
      The patients with higher IFITM1 expression had worse overall survival outcomes
      than those with lower IFITM1 expression in rectal cancer (P=0.037). Univariate
      Cox regression suggested that older age and poorly differentiation status predict
      shorter overall survival in colorectal cancer (P<0.05). However, IFITM1
      expression was not a significant prognostic factor for survival by univariate or
      multivariate analyses. In conclusion, high expression of IFITM1 is associated
      with poor prognosis of rectal cancer. IFITM1 may serve as an independent
      prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer. 

PMID- 26884877
TI  - Circulating miR-122-5p as a potential novel biomarker for diagnosis of acute
      myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in cardiac development, and the
      expression of miRNAs is altered in the diseased heart. The aim of this study was
      to explore the value of circulating microRNA-122-5p (miR-122-5p) as a potential
      biomarker for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Plasma samples from 50
      patients with AMI and 39 healthy adults (non-AMI controls) were collected. The
      abundance of circulating miR-122-5p was measured using quantitative real-time PCR
      (qRT-PCR). The cTnI concentrations of these samples were analyzed by ELISA.
      RESULTS: Our findings revealed that circulating miR-122-5p expression were
      increased in AMI patients at 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, and 24 h by contrast to those non
      AMI controls and displayed similar trends to that of cTnI concentrations in AMI
      patients. Further study showed that there is a high correlation between
      circulating miR-122-5p and cTnI concentrations. At last, the receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curve was performed and showed that circulating miR-122-5p
      had considerable diagnostic accuracy for AMI with an area under curve (AUC) of
      0.855. CONCLUSIONS: Our results implied that circulating miR-122-5p could be a
      potential biomarker for AMI.

PMID- 26884878
TI  - Decreased expression of hsa_circ_001988 in colorectal cancer and its clinical
      significances.
AB  - Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of RNAs which, unlike the better known linear
      RNA, forms a covalently closed continuous loop. They have emerged recently as a
      new player in governing fundamental biological processes. However it remains
      elusive about the correlation of hsa_circ_001988 abundance with colorectal
      cancer. To investigate the circular RNA expression in colorectal cancer, the
      targeted hsa_circ_001988 was selected from next generation sequence data base
      generated in house and then designed divergent primers to amplify hsa_circ_001988
      and sequenced it for validation. The expression of hsa_circ_001988 in 31 matched
      colorectal cancer tissue and normal colon mucosa was analyzed by quantitative
      real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We used DeltaCt method and
      investigated the differences between tumor tissues and normal colon mucosa by
      paired t-test. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze the
      relationship between hsa_circ_001988 expression level and clinic pathological
      factors of patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was built by
      SPSS to evaluate the diagnostic values. The expression of hsa_circ_001988 was
      significantly correlated with differentiation (P<0.05) and perineural invasion
      (P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of hsa_circ_001988 was 0.788 (P<0.05). Those
      results indicate that hsa_circ_001988 may become a novel potential biomarker in
      the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and a potential novel target for the treatment
      of colorectal cancer. 

PMID- 26884879
TI  - Expression of PI3Kp110alpha and PI3Kp110beta in the colorectal conventional
      adenoma, serrated lesions and adenoma with canceration and their significance.
AB  - AIMS: To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of PI3Kp110alpha and
      PI3Kp110beta in colorectal conventional adenoma, serrated lesions and adenoma
      with canceration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot
      analysis were conducted to detect the expression of p110alpha and p110beta in
      normal colorectal tissues, conventional adenoma, serrated lesions and adenoma
      canceration. Results revealed that the expression of P110alpha and P110beta in
      the adenoma canceration was significantly higher than that in normal tissues,
      tubular adenoma (low grade) and tubular-villous adenoma (low grade) of
      conventional adenoma, hyperplastic polyps of serrated lesions (P<0.05). But there
      was no significant difference between the adenoma canceration and the high grade
      adenoma of conventional adenoma, all grade of villous adenoma and serrated
      adenoma (P>0.05). The expression of p110alpha and p110beta was correlated with
      different clinicopathologic factors in conventional adenoma, serrated adenoma and
      adenoma canceration (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: p110alpha and p110beta were highly
      expressed in villous adenoma, serrated adenoma and adenoma with canceration. Its
      high expression may be the risk factor of the progress of adenoma to
      adenocarcinoma, and may be an important cause of what canceration rate of villous
      adenoma and serrated adenoma was higher than that of other adenomas. Combined
      detection of p110alpha and p110beta is helpful to determine the canceration
      potential of colorectal villous adenoma and serrated adenoma.

PMID- 26884880
TI  - Senile cataract and genetic polymorphisms of APE1, XRCC1 and OGG1.
AB  - Polymorphisms of DNA repair enzymes which may influence their repair efficiency
      lead to diseases, for example, senile cataract. In this study, we aimed to
      analyze the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in AP endonuclease-1
      (APE1), 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1) and X-ray repair cross-complementing-1
      (XRCC1) genes with the risk of age-related cataract in a Chinese population.
      Genotyping was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing on
      402 cataract patients and 813 controls in this study. Differences in the
      frequencies were estimated by the chi-square test, and risk was estimated using
      unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for age and gender. Our results
      demonstrated there was a significant difference between the case and control
      groups in the APE1-141 G/G genotype (P=0.002). This difference still existed
      after adjusting for age and gender (P*=0.003). The APE1-141 T/T genotype and T
      allele frequencies were significantly higher in cataract patients, while the G/G
      genotype and G allele frequencies in patients were significantly lower than in
      controls (P < 0.05). The APE1-141 G/G genotype (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.77)
      seems to have a protective role against cataract, and the T allele seems to have
      a deleterious role in the development of cataract. In OGG1 Ser326Cys and XRCC1
      Arg399Gln polymorphisms, there were no significant differences in frequencies of
      the variant homozygous in patients compared with controls. 

PMID- 26884882
TI  - Genetic polymorphisms of C-reactive protein increase susceptibility to HBV
      related hepatocellular carcinoma in a Guangxi male population.
AB  - C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of inflammation and the production has
      been shown to be influenced by genetic variation in CRP gene. HBV-related
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-related disease occurs
      mainly in men. The present study was designed to investigate the association
      between CRP polymorphisms and HBV-related HCC risk in a Chinese male population.
      The CRP rs2794521 and rs3093059 SNPs were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction
      restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP) in 158 HBV patients
      with HCC, 207 HBV patients without HCC, and 150 unrelated healthy controls. A
      significant increased HCC risk in HBV patients were observed for the rs3093059
      SNP comparing with those without HCC (C allele vs. T allele: adjusted OR=1.56,
      95% CI, 1.07-2.29, P=0.021; TC vs. TT: adjusted OR=1.77, 95% CI, 1.13-2.76,
      P=0.012; TC/CC vs. TT: adjusted OR=1.76, 95% CI, 1.14-2.71, P=0.011). However, we
      did not observe any significant association of rs3093059 polymorphism with HCC
      when compared with healthy controls. With respect to rs2794521 polymorphism, no
      significant associations of this polymorphism with HCC risk were found in this
      population. In haplotype analysis between HBV patients with HCC and HBV patients
      without HCC, the TC haplotype was found correlated with a significant increased
      HCC risk (OR=1.803, 95% CI, 1.237-2.335, P<0.001). We concluded that the CRP
      rs3093059 polymorphism may play a significant role in the development of HBV
      related HCC in the Guangxi male population. 

PMID- 26884881
TI  - Latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein-1 in circulating plasma as
      a novel biomarker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of the latent transforming growth
      factor-beta binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) in distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma
      (HCC) from patients with hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. The protein levels of LTBP
      1 or AFP in circulating plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      (ELISA) or chemiluminescence in four cohorts: HCC (n = 167), liver cirrhosis (n =
      50), chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n = 50), and healthy individuals (n = 104).
      Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and area under the curves (AUC)
      of the proteins were calculated. Results showed that plasma levels of LTBP-1 were
      significantly higher in HCC patients than those in other three groups. LTBP-1
      showed a better diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.80) in
      distinguishing HCC from the CHB or cirrhosis patients, compared to AFP (AUC =
      0.59, 95% CI: 0.52-0.65). In the early-stage HCCs investigated, diagnostic
      performance of LTBP-1 (AUC = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70-0.84) remained better than that
      of AFP (AUC = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.52-0.69). Combination of LTBP-1 and AFP showed
      increased diagnostic efficiency than any of the two proteins performed alone, for
      both all HCC (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.72-0.83) and early-stage HCC (AUC = 0.80, 95%
      CI: 0.74-0.87). These findings proposed that LTBP-1 may be a promising biomarker
      for distinguishing HCC from the CHB or liver cirrhosis patients, especially for
      the early-stage HCC. 

PMID- 26884883
TI  - (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2 SPECT to monitor early response to bevacizumab therapy in
      patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - The present study assessed the predictive value of (99m)Tc-3(poly-(ethylene
      glycol), PEG) 4-arginine-glycine-aspartic ((99m)Tc-3P-RGD2) single photon
      emission computed tomography (SPECT) for the early identification of response to
      antiangiogenic treatment with bevacizumab in patients with advanced non-small
      cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with advanced NSCLC treated with bevacizumab
      were prospectively studied with (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2 SPECT before and after 2 weeks
      from start of treatment. The tumor response was evaluated with RECIST criteria
      and related to observed change in the tumor to non-tumor (T/N) ratio for the
      largest known lesion. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was
      used to determine T/N ratio changes with regard to predicting response to
      bevacizumab therapy. Change in T/N ratio was also related to progression-free
      survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Twenty-six patients were included, and
      23 were finally assessable for metabolic response evaluation with (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2
      SPECT. The cut-off value of T/N ratio change defined by ROC analysis was 24.4%.
      The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2
      SPECT for predicting tumor response were 81.8%, 91.7%, and 84.6%, respectively.
      Using the cut-off value defined by ROC analysis on (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2 SPECT,
      metabolic non-progressive disease patients (mNP) showed prolonged PFS (5.6 months
      versus 3.4 months; P < 0.001) and OS (17.1 months versus 8.6 months; P < 0.001)
      than metabolic progressive disease patients (mP). (99m)Tc-3P-RGD2 SPECT scan is a
      promising test to predict tumor response in patients with advanced non-small cell
      lung cancer early in the course of bevacizumab therapy. 

PMID- 26884884
TI  - High expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 5 pseudogene 1 (DUSP5P1) is
      associated with poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression status of Dual
      Specificity Phosphatase 5 Pseudogene 1 (DUSP5P1) and its clinical relevance in
      patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR)
      was performed to detect the status of DUSP5P1 expression in 89 patients with de
      novo AML and 24 normal controls. The level of DUSP5P1 expression was
      significantly up-regulated in AML compared to controls (P=0.031). The patients
      with high expression of DUSP5P1 had higher percentage of blasts in bone marrow
      (BM) than those without high expression (P=0.027). The occurrence rate of DUSP5P1
      high expression was significantly higher in M1 (2/8, 25%) and M2 subtypes (9/33,
      27%) than in M3 subtype (0/17, 0%) (P=0.034). At the same time, the frequency of
      DUSP5P1 high expression in patients with intermediate (13/53, 24%) and poor
      karyotypes (5/11, 45%) was significantly higher than that in patients with
      favorable karyotype (0/21, 0%) (P=0.003). Meanwhile, DUSP5P1 high-expressed
      patients had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those with low
      expression (median 4.5 vs. 10.5 months, respectively, P=0.038). Our findings
      indicated that high expression of DUSP5P1 may identify high-risk AML patients and
      is associated with poor prognosis in AML. 

PMID- 26884885
TI  - A three gene-based risk score predicts prognosis of resected non-small-cell lung
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To study the prognosis-predicting value of a risk score based on
      phosphorylated At (p-Akt), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Nin one
      binding (NOB1) expression in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC). METHODS: A prospective cohort among 98 consecutive patients with
      resected NSCLC was conducted in 2009 to 2010. Immunohistochemistry was used in
      the detection of p-Akt, VEGF, and NOB1 expression. Any of three genes with
      positive expression was allocated a score of 1, otherwise scored 0. The risk
      score ranged from 0-3. Prognosis outcomes included overall survival (OS) and
      progression-free survival (PFS). Log-rank test and Cox hazard model were used to
      investigate the prognosis predicting value for the risk score. RESULTS: In the 98
      NSCLC tissue specimens, p-Akt, VEGF and NOB1 positive Expression rates were
      42.9%, 66.3%, and 60.2%, respectively. The median for OS was 44 month, with 95%
      CI 35-51 months, and the median for PFS was 36 months, with 95% CI 25-49 months.
      Log-rank test showed OS and PFS related with TMN stage, lymph node metastasis, p
      Akt expression, VEGF expression, NOB1 expression, and gene-based risk score
      (P<0.05). Multivariate COX analysis showed pTMN stage, lymph node metastasis, p
      Akt expression, VEGF expression, and gene-based risk score were independent
      prognosis factors for OS and PFS. The adjusted HR for gene-based risk score with
      every one score increase was 1.21 [1.04-1.56] for OS and 1.19 [1.02-1.79] for
      PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the risk scores based on p-Akt, VEGF, NOB1
      expression can predict postoperative survival in patients with resected NSCLC.

PMID- 26884886
TI  - Evaluation of the management of Hr-HPV+/PapTest- women: results at 1-year recall.
AB  - With cervical cancer screening the choice of 1-year as a period of follow-up in
      positive high-risk HPV women without cytological lesions is still under
      discussion. We evaluated the management of these women and the role of HPV
      genotyping test. We did a cervical cancer screening study of women aged 35-64
      with primary high-risk HPV test. Women positive for high-risk HPV with negative
      cytology were followed-up after 1 year. In this study we selected women with high
      risk HPV+/PapTest- resulted high-risk HPV+ at recall and performed the PapTest
      and HPV genotyping test. The detection rate of squamous high grade (CIN2+)
      relative to the total screened cohort was 2.10/00, and it was 0.20/00 at the 1
      year recall. The colposcopy performed in women referred at the 1-year recall
      accounted for 48.8% of the total (baseline + 1-year recall), and 84.3% of these
      women had no cytological lesions. The most frequent hr-HPV genotype detected was
      HPV16 and 66.7% of co-infections were due to HPV16 and HPV18. 54.5% of women
      presented a persistent infection at 1-year recall with the same HPV subtype, 50%
      of persistent infections was due to HPV16 and 16.7% of these were determined to
      be CIN2+ histological lesions. Our data show that it may be useful to extend the
      period of follow-up for women hr-HPV+/PapTest- so as to reduce the number of
      unnecessary colposcopies due to the transitory infections and that the genotyping
      test could help to identify the persistent infections in which HPV16 is involved.

PMID- 26884887
TI  - RASSF7 expression and its regulatory roles on apoptosis in human intervertebral
      disc degeneration.
AB  - Apoptosis plays an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).
      Overwhelming evidence indicates that RASSF7 is essential for cell growth and
      apoptosis. Recently, it has been noted that the JNK signaling can be negatively
      regulated by suppressing phosphorylated-MKK7 activation during pro-apoptosis. We
      aimed to investigate the RASSF7 expression level in human degenerative nucleus
      pulposus (NP) cells and non-degenerative NP cells and the link between RASSF7-JNK
      with NP cells apoptosis. We harvested NP tissues from 20 IDD patients as disease
      group and 8 cadaveric donors as normal controls. We detected RASSF7 expression by
      Real-time-PCR and western blotting. Consequently, we found that the expression of
      RASSF7 was higher in non-degenerative group than in degenerative group (P<0.05).
      Overexpression of RASSF7 in degenerative NP cells led to decreased apoptosis rate
      than that in scramble group (P<0.05). Collectively, our findings suggest that
      RASSF7 plays an important role in human IDD and RASSF7 might be potentially
      developed as a curative agent. 

PMID- 26884888
TI  - Expression of EBV antibody EA-IgA, Rta-IgG and VCA-IgA and SA in serum and the
      implication of combined assay in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis.
AB  - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an important non-invasive index for nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma. Serum sialic acid (SA) level was known to be related with tumor
      progression. Rta protein antibody IgG (Rta-IgG), early antigen antibody (EA-IgA)
      and viral capsid antibody (VCA-IgA) levels in serum can also be used to
      effectively monitor the progression of cancer. This study investigated serum
      level of SA, Rta-IgG, EA-IgA and VCA-IgA in nasopharyngeal cancer patients and
      the diagnostic value of combined assay. A total of 64 nasopharyngeal cancer
      patients were recruited, in parallel with 60 benign rhinitis and 60 healthy
      individuals. Serum SA, EA-IgA, Rta-IgG and VCA-IgA levels were measured by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The diagnostic value of these indexes was
      further evaluated by ROC curve analysis. Logistic regression model was used to
      analyze the diagnostic implication of combined assay. The expression levels of
      SA, EA-IgA, Rta-IgG, and VCA-IgA were highest in nasopharyngeal cancer patients.
      Those indexes were also increased with advanced TNM stage of cancer. The overall
      diagnostic efficacy was ranked as: VCA-IgA, Rta-IgA, EA-IgA and SA. The combined
      diagnosis increased the sensitivity to 98.44% and the negative predictive value
      to 99.03%, without compromising specificity. SA, EA-IgA, Rta-IgG and VCA-IgA
      expression levels were elevated in nasopharyngeal patients. The combined
      diagnosis of those serum indexes may improve the diagnostic efficacy of
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 

PMID- 26884889
TI  - CT features and pathologic characteristics of IgG4-related systemic disease of
      submandibular gland.
AB  - The submandibular gland is one of the most frequently affected salivary gland in
      IgG4-related systemic disease, usually demonstrate homogeneous attenuation on CT
      imaging as reported, but without much pathological comparison of many cases. This
      article is to investigate and analyze the typical CT findings and pathologic
      characteristics of IgG4-related systemic disease (IgG4-RSD) of submandibular
      gland. A retrospective analysis of the preoperative CT findings in patients with
      IgG4-RSD of submandibular glands who underwent surgical resection between January
      2010 and February 2014 was performed. Twenty patients (16 women) were identified,
      with a mean age of 58.1+/-10.2 years. All patients presented with painless
      submandibular gland swelling. Diffuse gland enlargement, with clear margins and
      homogeneous density, was found on non-enhanced CT scans in all cases. There were
      no calcifications or stones within the involved glands. Based on contrast
      enhanced CT appearance the patients could be divided into two groups: 11 cases
      showed homogeneous gland enhancement; and multiple hyperenhancing foci, with a
      crazy-paving pattern, were detected in 9 cases, which were in consistent with the
      pathologic findings. The maximum submandibular gland diameter on transverse
      images was significantly larger (P=0.008) in patients with crazy-paving
      appearance (32+/-4 mm) compared to patients with homogeneous enhancement (28+/-3
      mm). It is concluded that the submandibular glands with IgG4-RSD can be
      characterized by either homogenous appearance or crazy-paving pattern on contrast
      enhanced CT imaging. 

PMID- 26884890
TI  - Systematic review and meta-analysis of patient-controlled sedation versus
      intravenous sedation for colonoscopy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient-controlled sedation (PCS) has been suggested as an
      alternative method for sedative colonoscopy. However, as any new techniques, PCS
      introduction as a potential alternative to traditional intravenous sedation (IVS)
      has brought about challenges. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
      between PCS and IVS more comprehensively, we conducted a systematic review and
      meta-analysis of the published literature. METHODS: Several databases were
      searched from inception to 1 April, 2015, for trials comparing PCS with IVS for
      colonoscopy. The outcomes of interest included time for cecal intubation, rate of
      complete colonoscopy, dose of sedative drugs used, pain scores, recovery time,
      complications. Inconsistency was quantified using I (2) statistics. RESULTS: In
      all, 12 trials were finally selected (1091 patients, with 545 in the PCS group,
      and 546 in the IVS group). The total propofol used, time for cecal intubation,
      rate of complete colonoscopy and pain score had no statistical difference between
      the two groups. However, PCS showed a reduction in the recovery time, incidence
      of oxygen desaturation and hypotension. The rates of other complications and
      patients' willingness to repeat the same sedation had no statistical difference
      between the two groups. CONCLUSION: PCS is as feasible and effective as
      traditional IVS for colonoscopy, and there is a tendency that PCS shows its
      superiority in recovery time, incidence for oxygen saturation and hypotension.

PMID- 26884891
TI  - The origin and onset of acute venous thrombus.
AB  - Under the condition of immune cell balancing function collapse, acute venous
      thrombosis originates from intravenous immune adhesive inflammations triggered by
      cells which are infected by foreign pathogenic microorganism and malignant cells.
      With the condition of immune cell balancing function collapse, the human body
      lost the function of clearing intravenous foreign pathogenic microorganism and
      malignant cells timely and effectively. Thus, integrins beta2 and beta3 on the
      membrane of white blood cells and platelets are activated to combine with the
      ligand fibrinogen into a reversible mesh-like structure, which is like the
      intravenous biological filter and acts as physical defense of the human body to
      prevent the cells which are infected by foreign pathogenic microorganism and
      malignant cells in the distal veins from flowing back to the whole body.
      Meanwhile, blood cells mainly red blood cells stagnate and fulfill the filter,
      which blocks the blood flow in the local veins and thus results in venous
      thrombotic diseases. People with collapsed immune cell balancing functions are
      the certain groups of people who will develop venous thromboembolism. Anyone who
      had venous thromboembolism indicates alloantigen cells in the veins, which are
      mainly pathogenic microorganism infected cells and malignant cells and trigger
      the onset of venous thromboembolism. Only under the condition of immune cell
      balancing function collapse, the risk factors, such as advanced age, infection,
      trauma, surgery, autoimmune disease, pregnancy as well as long trip syndrome,
      could cause venous thromboembolism. 

PMID- 26884893
TI  - Effectiveness of different surgical modalities in the management of
      temporomandibular joint ankylosis: a meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of three
      surgical modalities-gap arthroplasty (GA), interpositional gap arthroplasty (IPG)
      and joint reconstruction (AR)-in treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
      ankylosis. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using the PUBMED, EMBASE
      and OVID search engines in February 2015 to identify cohort studies with no
      restrictions, with the aim of evaluating the three surgical modalities. The
      outcome was the change between the pre- and postoperative maximal incisal opening
      (MIO). Analyses of category, heterogeneity, sensitivity and publication bias were
      performed. A fixed-effects model was used to compute the pooled weighted mean
      difference in the MIO among the different groups. RESULT: Seventeen studies with
      740 participants were included in the final analysis. The IPG therapy showed a
      significantly greater MIO when compared to GA (WMD=1.16 mm; 95% CI, 0.15-2.16)
      and AR (WMD=0.99 mm; 95% CI, 0.05-1.92) therapies. The weighted mean difference
      between the AR and GA modalities was 2.94 mm (95% CI, 0.12-5.75). The pooled odds
      ratios (ORs) of the recurrence rate for IPG, GA and AR were 0.01 (95% CI, 0.00
      0.03), 0.03 (95% CI, 0.00-0.07) and 0.06 (95% CI, 0.04-0.09), respectively.
      CONCLUSION: The analysis showed that IPG was more effective and displayed a lower
      recurrence rate, followed by AR and GA, in treating TMJ ankylosis. Thus, this
      analysis provides strong evidence supporting IPG as a first-line therapy for TMJ
      ankylosis.

PMID- 26884892
TI  - The influence of inpatient comprehensive geriatric care on elderly patients with
      hip fractures: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of in-patient comprehensive geriatric care
      for elderly patients with hip fracture. METHODS: Relevant literatures were
      searched using the following databases including PubMed, OVID, Web of science,
      Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trails until August 1, 2015. Eligible studies were restricted to randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs). The available data was extracted by two independent
      authors and pooled through using Review manager version 5.2. For data deemed not
      appropriate for synthesis, a narrative overview was conducted. RESULTS: 15 trials
      evaluating 3458 participants were identified in our meta-analysis. Our findings
      indicated patients who underwent comprehensive geriatric cares showed no
      significant greater improvement than control in in-patient mortality (Odds risk
      (OR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 to 1.05, P=0.09), 3-(OR 0.96, 95% CI
      0.51 to 1.81, P=0.90), 6-(OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.45, P=0.86) and 12-months
      mortality (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.12, P=0.30). The proportion of patients who
      were discharged from hospital to the same place of residence as before the
      fracture was higher in intervention group than control (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.80 to
      3.37, P=0.0003). In addition, the pooled results showed that the number of
      patients in intervention group who had regained the same level of activities of
      daily living (ADL) (43.9% vs 30.2%, 46.0% vs 29.1%) and walking ability (71.3% vs
      53.2%, 68.9% vs 56.3%) as before the fracture was higher than control at 3 and 12
      months after discharge, respectively. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive geriatric care
      promoted the functional improvement for elderly patients with hip fracture.
      Meanwhile, the proportion of patients who were discharged from hospital to the
      same place as before fracture in intervention group was higher as compared to
      control. However, our finding showed no significant difference on in-patients
      mortality, follow-up mortality and length of stay between both groups.

PMID- 26884894
TI  - Leptin and its receptor in hematologic malignancies.
AB  - Leptin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine coded by the obese gene, not only
      regulates metabolism, but also participates in hematopoiesis. Aberrant leptin
      levels in patients with hematologic malignancies were observed and associates
      with clinical characters, such as body mass index (BMI), gender, blast cell
      percentage. Leptin concentrations alter while diseases progress or remission.
      Leptin receptor is expressed in hematopoietic CD34+ stem cells, erythrocytes,
      lymphocytes, blast cells and samples in leukemia and lymphoma patients. The
      adipokine stimulates cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and protects
      malignant cells from apoptosis through Janus kinase-signal transducer and
      activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase and
      extracellular signal activated kinase 1/2 (MAPK/ERK1/2), or 3 kinase (PI3K)
      signaling pathways. These findings indicate leptin signaling possibility take
      part in occurrence, progression and prognosis of hematologic malignancies. This
      article reviews leptin/leptin receptor expression and the correlations with
      clinical characters, treatment and prognosis in myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms. 

PMID- 26884895
TI  - Clinical modalities for management of gastric cancer hepatic metastasis.
AB  - The best treatment for gastric cancer hepatic metastasis is still widely debated.
      Gastric cancer hepatic metastases has long been justified the indication of
      palliative chemotherapy. Inspired by the good results of the management of
      colorectal cancer hepatic metastases, surgeons have focused on the curative or
      palliative treatment of gastric cancer hepatic metastases. The current clinical
      modalities used for treatment of gastric cancer hepatic metastasis include liver
      resection, systemic chemotherapy, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), hepatic arterial
      infusion (HAI), and palliative gastrectomy. This article presents a review of the
      literature on hepatic resection, RFA, HAI, palliative gastrectomy, and systemic
      chemotherapy for the treatment of liver metastases in gastric carcinoma, and
      discusses the indications and long-term results. 

PMID- 26884897
TI  - Cytoprotective role of heme oxygenase-1 in liver ischemia reperfusion injury.
AB  - Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main cause of graft dysfunction and
      failure in vascular occlusion both during liver surgery and during liver
      transplantation. The pathophysiology of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion includes a
      number of mechanisms including oxidant stress that contribute to various degrees
      to the overall organ damage. Heme oxygenases (HO) are essential enzymes which
      degrade heme into biliverdin-IXalpha, free divalent iron, and carbon monoxide
      (CO). Due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and, as recently described,
      anti-viral properties. The inducible HO isoform HO-1 is an important molecule
      which could find its way into therapy of acute and chronic liver injuries
      including acute liver failure, alcoholic or viral hepatitis, chronic
      inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are life
      threatening diseases and as a consequence might result in the necessity of liver
      transplantation. Liver transplantation is limited by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)
      injury, which is characterized by hypoxia and nutrient deficiency resulting in
      oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune activation. Induction of HO-1 and
      application predominantly of CO have been shown to interfere with liver I/R
      injury and to improve recipient and graft survival. HO-1 and its reaction
      products of heme degradation has been linked to cytoprotection, and as an
      inducible form of HO, serves a vital metabolic function as the rate-limiting step
      in the heme degradation pathway, and affords protection in models of liver I/R
      injury. HO-1 system is an important player in liver I/R injury condition, and may
      offer new targets for the management of this condition. This review aims to
      summarize cytoprotective role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and its products within
      the liver. 

PMID- 26884896
TI  - Physical exercise-induced protection on ischemic cardiovascular and
      cerebrovascular diseases.
AB  - Physical exercise is any bodily activity to enhance or maintain physical fitness
      and overall health and wellness. A series of associated studies have demonstrated
      that physical exercise could alleviate the infarct volume, increase the
      collateral circulation, promote endothelial progenitor cells, improve cerebral
      blood flow after cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this review, we
      summed up the protective effects of physical exercise on cerebral blood flow
      (CBF), vascular endothelium, vascular vasodilation, endothelial progenitor cells
      and collateral circulation. An awareness of the exercise intervention benefits
      for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases may encourage more patients with
      cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction and people with high risk factors
      to accept exercise interventions for the prevention and treatment of
      cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. 

PMID- 26884898
TI  - Tibetan medicine "RNSP" in treatment of Alzheimer disease.
AB  - Alzheimer disease (Alzheimer Disease, AD) is one of the most common type in
      senile dementia. Its main pathological features were that a large number of
      senile plaques gathered in brain extracellular and tangles fibrosis appeared in
      nerve cells. Currently, the pathogenesis of AD is still uncertain, and scale
      investigation and combined brain CT, MRI data were analyzed mainly for clinical
      diagnosis. Mitigation and improvement of the nervous system activity to interfere
      with the subsequent behavior of the patients are the main methods for treatment.
      In clinical no drug can really prevent and cure AD. From the view point of
      Tibetan medicine studies, Tibetan medicine RNSP has effect on improving memory
      and repairing the neurons in the brain. In this study, we combined the
      characteristics of AD pathology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment methods to
      explore the feasibility of Tibetan medicine RNSP for the treatment of AD to
      provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. 

PMID- 26884899
TI  - Development of prognostic models for patients with traumatic brain injury: a
      systematic review.
AB  - Outcome prediction following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a widely
      investigated field of research. Several outcome prediction models have been
      developed for prognosis after TBI. There are two main prognostic models:
      International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury
      (IMPACT) prognosis calculator and the Corticosteroid Randomization after
      Significant Head Injury (CRASH) prognosis calculator. The prognosis model has
      three or four levels: (1) model A included age, motor GCS, and pupil reactivity;
      (2) model B included predictors from model A with CT characteristics; and (3)
      model C included predictors from model B with laboratory parameters. In
      consideration of the fact that interventions after admission, such as ICP
      management also have prognostic value for outcome predictions and may improve the
      models' performance, Yuan F et al developed another prediction model (model D)
      which includes ICP. With the development of molecular biology, a handful of brain
      injury biomarkers were reported that may improve the predictive power of
      prognostic models, including neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acid
      protein (GFAP), S-100beta protein, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
      interleukin-6 (IL-6), myelin basic protein (MBP), cleaved tau protein (C-tau),
      spectrin breakdown products (SBDPs), and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH
      L1), and sex hormones. A total of 40 manuscripts reporting 11 biomarkers were
      identified in the literature. Many substances have been implicated as potential
      biomarkers for TBI; however, no single biomarker has shown the necessary
      sensitivity and specificity for predicting outcome. The limited number of
      publications in this field underscores the need for further investigation.
      Through fluid biomarker analysis, the advent of multi-analyte profiling
      technology has enabled substantial advances in the diagnosis and treatment of a
      variety of conditions. Application of this technology to create a bio-signature
      for TBI using multiple biomarkers in combination will hopefully facilitate much
      needed advances. We believe that further investigations about brain injury
      biomarkers may improve the predictive power of the contemporary outcome
      calculators and prognostic models, and eventually improve the care of patients
      with TBI. 

PMID- 26884901
TI  - Sorafenib in combination with low-dose-homoharringtonine as a salvage therapy in
      primary refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML: a case report and review of literature.
AB  - The presence of internal tandem duplications (ITD) in the Fms-related tyrosine
      kinase 3 receptor (FLT3) has been associated with a poor prognosis in acute
      myeloid leukemia (AML). Over the past decade, FLT3 is a promising target in FLT3
      ITD-positive AML. Sorafenib which is one of the commonly focused FLT3 inhibitors
      may improve outcome, but only few patients display long-term responses in
      previously reported cases, prompting the search for underlying resistance
      mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to overcome them. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first case report about sorafenib in combination with low
      dose-homoharringtonine as a salvage therapy successfully administrated and got
      complete remission (CR) in primary refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML. Our result
      demonstrates the combination of this two drugs may be a good choice for the
      primary refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML patient, although cooperative studies of
      large numbers of these patients are needed to evaluate and optimize this
      combination. 

PMID- 26884900
TI  - Propranolol treatment of subglottic hemangiomas: a review of the literature.
AB  - Subglottic hemangiomas (SGH), which are rare benign tumors of the airway, are
      potentially life-threatening conditions that may require intervention.
      Propranolol appears to be an effective treatment for these tumors and should
      therefore be a first-line treatment for SGH that require intervention. This
      review presents the clinical presentation and diagnosis of SGH and discusses
      current knowledge regarding the use of propranolol for the treatment of SGH. 

PMID- 26884902
TI  - Temporal and spatial expression of caudal-type homeobox proteins in the midgut of
      human embryos.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal expression of caudal
      type homeobox genes (CDX1, CDX2 and CDX4) during development of the midgut in
      human embryos and to explore the possible roles of CDX genes during the
      morphogenesis of human midgut. Human embryos (n=28) were sectioned serially and
      sagittally and CDX1, CDX2 and CDX4 proteins were detected on the midline from the
      5th to 9th weeks of gestation by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: CDX1,
      CDX2 and CDX4 proteins were weakly expressed in epithelium and mesenchyme of the
      midgut in the 6th and 7th weeks of gestation and reached estimated optimal level
      on the 8th and 9th weeks of gestation. In the 9th week of gestation,
      immunoreactivities specific to CDX1, CDX2 and CDX4 were restricted in epithelium
      of the midgut. CONCLUSIONS: CDX1, CDX2 and CDX4 proteins began to express in
      human midgut in the 6th week of gestation. From the 6th to 9th week of gastation,
      the expression of CDX1, CDX2 and CDX4 proteins gradually increase and exhibited
      overlapping expression patterns, suggesting that CDX genes may be involved in
      early development of the epithelium of human midgut. Cross-regulatory
      interactions may exist among CDX genes with respect to human midgut development.

PMID- 26884903
TI  - Determination of mandibular border and functional movement protocols using an
      electromagnetic articulograph (EMA).
AB  - The electromagnetic articulograph (EMA) is a device that can collect movement
      data by positioning sensors at multiple points, measuring displacements of the
      structure in real time, as well as the acoustics and mechanics of speech using a
      microphone connected to the measurement system. The aim of this study is to
      describe protocols for the generation, measurement and visualization of
      mandibular border and functional movements in the three spatial planes (frontal,
      sagittal and horizontal) using the EMA. The EMA has transmitter coils that
      determine magnetic fields to collect information about movements from sensors
      located on different structures (tongue, palate, mouth, incisors, skin, etc.) and
      in every direction in an area of 300 mm. After measurement with the EMA, the
      information is transferred to a computer and read with the Visartico software to
      visualize the recording of the mandibular movements registered by the EMA. The
      sensors placed in the space between the three axes XYZ are observed, and then the
      plots created from the mandibular movements included in the corresponding
      protocol can be visualized, enabling interpretation of these data. Four protocols
      for the obtaining of images of the opening and closing mandibular movements were
      defined and developed, as well as border movements in the frontal, sagittal and
      horizontal planes, managing to accurately reproduce Posselt's diagram and Gothic
      arch on the latter two axes. Measurements with the EMA will allow more exact data
      to be collected in relation to the mandibular clinical physiology and morphology,
      which will permit more accurate diagnoses and application of more precise and
      adjusted treatments in the future. 

PMID- 26884904
TI  - The risk of bradykinin B2 receptor-58T/C gene polymorphism on hypertension: a
      meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The risk of bradykinin B2 receptor (BDKRB2) -58T/C gene polymorphism
      on hypertension remains controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Cochrane
      Library, Chinese Biomedical Database, EBSCO, Embase, ISI, MEDLINE, and PubMed
      were retrieved, and relevant articles were selected. RESULTS: The significant
      association between BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism and risk of hypertension were
      found under C-allele comparison [odds ratio (OR): 1.22, 95% confidential
      intervals (CI): 1.05-1.42, recessive model (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07-1.64),
      dominant model (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.94), homozygote model (OR: 1.66, 95% CI:
      1.11-2.47) and heterozygote model (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.06-1.43). The magnitude of
      the association between the BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism and risk of
      hypertension was substantiated in Asians under C-allele comparison (OR: 1.24, 95%
      CI: 1.04-1.49), recessive model (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.04-1.86), dominant model
      (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.56-0.93), homozygote model (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.09-2.90) and
      heterozygote model (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07-1.49). No publication bias was found
      in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis suggested -58C allele and 
      58CC genotype increase the risk of hypertension. Inversely, -58TT genotype
      decreases the risk of hypertension.

PMID- 26884905
TI  - Role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating
      malignancies from benign ovarian tumors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the diagnostic values of
      computed tomography (CT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW
      MRI) in differentiating malignancies from benign ovarian tumors and a meta
      analysis to further confirm our results on DW-MRI. METHODS: Totally 64 patients
      pathologically confirmed as ovarian cancer were included in this study. CT scan
      and DWI-MRI were performed and analyzed to get compared with pathological
      results, thereby assessing their accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Meta
      analysis was conducted by database searching and strict eligibility criteria,
      using STATA 12.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) software. RESULTS: The
      accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative
      predictive value for diagnosis of ovarian cancer in CT were 81.82%, 84.48%,
      76.67%, 87.50% and 71.88%, respectively; those in DW-MRI were 89.77%, 93.10%,
      83.33%, 91.53% and 86.21%, respectively. The Kappa coefficient of DW-MRI (K =
      0.771) compared with pathological results was higher than CT (K = 0.602). The
      average apparent diffusion coefficient values of DW-MRI in diagnosis of benign
      and malignant ovarian tumors suggested statistically significant difference
      (1.325 +/- 0.269*10(-3) mm(2)/s vs. 0.878 +/- 0.246*10(-3) mm(2)/s, P < 0.001).
      Meta-analysis results showed that the combined sensitivity, specificity, positive
      likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio of DW-MRI
      in discriminating benign versus malignant ovarian tumors were 0.93, 0.88, 7.70,
      0.08 and 101.24, respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating
      characteristic curve was 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: Both CT and DW-MRI were of great
      diagnostic value in differentiating malignancies from benign ovarian tumors,
      while DW-MRI was superior to CT with higher accuracy, sensitivity and
      specificity.

PMID- 26884906
TI  - Protective effects of ginsenoside Rg2 against H2O2-induced injury and apoptosis
      in H9c2 cells.
AB  - Ginsenoside Rg2 is one of the major active components of ginseng and has many
      biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of
      ginsenoside Rg2 against H2O2-induced injury and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. The
      results showed that pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg2 not only increased cell
      viability, but also decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Ginsenoside
      Rg2 inhibited the decrease of SOD, GSH-PX activities and the increase of MDA
      content induced by H2O2. Meanwhile, the levels of ROS generation and
      cardiomyocyte apoptosis in ginsenoside Rg2 group significantly reduced when
      compared with the model group. Western blot analyses demonstrated that
      ginsenoside Rg2 up-regulate level of Bcl-2 expression and down-regulate levels of
      Bax, Caspase-3, -9 expression. These findings indicated that ginsenoside Rg2
      could protect H9c2 cells against H2O2-induced injury through its actions of anti
      oxidant and anti-apoptosis. 

PMID- 26884907
TI  - Laparoscopic treatment for retroperitoneal hyaline-vascular type localized
      Castleman's disease (LCD) in the iliac vessel region.
AB  - To improve the understanding, diagnostic levels, and therapeutic levels of
      retroperitoneal hyaline vascular type LCD in the iliac vessel region. Diagnostic
      and therapeutic processes of 4 patients with retroperitoneal LCD in the iliac
      vessel region were retrospectively analyzed. The median ages of the research
      patients was 31.3 years old, Pelvic vascular dual-source computed tomography (CT)
      indicated an abnormal pelvic irregular cloddy intensity shadow with heterogeneous
      densities and punctate calcified lesions. The enhanced scanning showed
      significantly enhanced lesions and multiple tortuous vascular images inside and
      around the lesions. Patients' preoperative diagnoses were all "pelvic mass with
      unknown characteristics", and retroperitoneal masses were successfully stripped
      off after the laparoscopic surgery. Intra operative findings indicated 1 mass
      located at the left obturator nerve, 1 at the left internal iliac artery, and 2
      at the right external iliac artery. The postoperative pathological reports
      suggest a diagnosis of Castleman's disease. Retroperitoneal LCD in the iliac
      vessel region is generally asymptomatic. Preoperative imaging data may help with
      the diagnosis, but a confirmed diagnosis depends on the results of the
      pathological examination. Iliac artery embolization is performed prior to
      laparoscopic mass stripping if the masses have abundant blood supply, while
      lymphadenectomy is also applied to those with enlarged lymph nodes. 

PMID- 26884908
TI  - Hypoxia/lncRNA-AK123072/EGFR pathway induced metastasis and invasion in gastric
      cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hypoxia
      induced gastric cancer (GC) metastasis and invasion. METHODS: We investigated the
      differentially expressed lncRNAs resulting from hypoxia-induced GC and normoxia
      conditions using microarrays and validated our results through real-time
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The role of the targeting lncRNA was
      further detected by in vivo and in vitro assays. RESULTS: We found an lncRNA,
      AK123072, which was up-regulated by hypoxia. AK123072 was frequently up-regulated
      in GC samples and promoted GC migration and invasion in vivo and in vitro.
      Furthermore, AK123072 could mediate the metastasis of hypoxia-induced GC cells.
      Next, we identified EGFR, which was a metastasis-related gene regulated by
      AK123072. In addition, we found that the expression of EGFR was positively
      correlated with that of AK123072 in the clinical GC samples used in our study.
      Furthermore, we found that the EGFR gene CpG island methylation was significantly
      increased in GC cells depleted of AK123072. Intriguingly, EGFR expression was
      also increased by hypoxia, and EGFR up-regulation by AK123072 mediated hypoxia
      induced GC cell metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our results identified hypoxia/lncRNA
      AK123072/EGFR pathway in gastric cancer pathogenesis and this might help in the
      development of new therapeutics in clinics.

PMID- 26884909
TI  - Experimental study on apoptosis of TNFR1 receptor pro-endothelial progenitor
      cells activated by high glucose induced oxidative stress.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether high glucose in vitro activating TNFR1 and
      further promote rat marrow endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) apoptosis.
      METHODS: Rat morrow endothelial progenitor cells were cultured and identified by
      Confocal Microscopy; then were treated with high glucose (5.5, 15, 30, 60
      mmol/L), mannitol (15, 30, 60, 90 mmol/L), high glucose + Tempol and high
      glucose+ MAB430. Apoptosis rate of the above cells were detected by flow
      cytometry. ROS and MDA level and anti-O2- were detected by colorimetric
      technique; the expression level of TNFR1 induced signal pathway related proteins
      were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: High glucose can induce endothelial
      progenitor cells apoptosis, which is mostly in the later stage (72 h-96 h)
      instead of the earlier stage (24 h-48 h); high glucose can also induce oxidative
      stress reaction and the produces ROS and MDA increase significantly in the later
      stage (after 72 h), but anti-O2- decrease significantly. TNF apoptosis signal
      pathway related protein expression level not increase in the earlier stage
      (before 24 h) but increase significantly in the later stage (after 72 h). Tempol
      and MAB430 down-regulate TNF apoptosis signal pathway related protein expression
      and reduce EPCs apoptosis. CONCLUSION: High glucose activates the TNFR1 of TPCs
      through oxidative stress reaction and further induces cell apoptosis.

PMID- 26884910
TI  - Gene gun transferring-bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) gene enhanced bone
      fracture healing in rabbits.
AB  - PURPOSE: Transferring the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) genes into the
      tissues or cells can improve the bone healing of the fracture has been widely
      accepted. We evaluated the efficiency of using gene gun to transfer the BMP-2
      gene thereby affected the healing of a fractured bone. METHODS: The vector coding
      for BMP-2 was constructed by a non-replicating encephalo-myocarditis virus (ECMV)
      based vector. The segmental bone defect (1.5 cm) model was created by a wire-saw
      at the middle part of the radius bone of the New Zealand white rabbits. Then
      either BMP-2 gene or control vector without BMP-2 gene was injected into the
      tissues around the fracture site. Healing of the defects was monitored
      radiographically for 9 weeks, bone consolidation was determined by the Lane
      Sandhu score pre- and post-operatively, which can evaluated bone formation, bone
      connect and bone plasticity. RESULTS: The radiographic score and bone
      consolidation rates were significantly higher in animals injected with BMP-2 gene
      group as compared with control vector-injected animals (P<0.05). The control
      group still showed no radiological signs of stable healing. Western-blot and RT
      PCR showed BMP-2 expression was significant increase in the tissues around the
      site of osseous lesions in comparison with the control vector-injected animals
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that BMP-2 gene transferred by gene
      gun could increase the expression of BMP-2 protein and improved the bone callus
      formation therefore shortened the time of bone defect healing.

PMID- 26884911
TI  - Effects of microRNA-139 on myocardial cell injury induced by oxidative stress.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the effects of miR-139 on myocardial cell
      injury induced by oxidative stress and its mechanisms. METHODS: H9c2 cells were
      used in this study. They were divided into control group, H2O2 group, H2O2+miR
      139-5-p NC group and H2O2+miR-139-5-p mimics group. Cell activity was detected by
      MTT method. ROS level was detected by DCFH-DA probe method. MDA and SOD levels
      and Caspase 3 activity were detected by spectrophotometry. The cell apoptosis was
      detected by Hoechst 33342 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining methods. The expression
      levels of AKT, GSK-3beta, Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blotting
      methods. RESULTS: It showed that the activity of H9c2 cells decreased with the
      increase of the dose of H2O2. The activity of miR-139-5-p in H9c2 cells decreased
      after treatment of H2O2 for 6 h (P<0.01). Compared with control group, cell
      activity in H2O2 group and H2O2+miR-139-5-p NC group decreased (P<0.01), ROS
      fluorescence intensity increased (P<0.01), MDA content increased (P<0.01), SOD
      content decreased (P<0.01), apoptosis degree, Caspase 3 activity and Bax levels
      increased (P<0.01), Bcl-2, AKT and GSK-3beta decreased (P<0.01). However, they
      were opposite in H2O2+miR-139-5-p mimics compared with H2O2 group and H2O2+miR
      139-5-p NC group. CONCLUSIONS: miR-139-5-p expressed low in oxidative stress of
      H9c2 cells induced by H2O2 and the oxidative stress injury could be inhibited
      after increasing the expression of miR-139-5-p, which could be related with the
      elimination of intracellular oxidative stress products and the resistance to
      apoptosis through AKT/GSK-3beta signaling pathway.

PMID- 26884912
TI  - Effects of alpha-zearalanol on spermatogenesis and sex hormone levels of male
      mice.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the mechanisms of alpha-zearalanol (Zeranol)-induced male
      reproductive toxicity, the effects of Zeranol on spermatogenesis and sex hormone
      levels of male mice were studied. METHODS: Forty healthy sexually mature male
      Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups. The mice were mock-treated
      or treated with Zeranol 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg via oral gavage for 35 days. The
      epididymal sperms were counted and their morphology and motility were analyzed.
      The testicles were examined by light and electron microscopy. The levels of
      serum/testicular testosterone (T), serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and
      serum luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:
      Zeranol decreased the epididymal sperm count and sperm motility in a dose depend
      manner. While there were not significant differences in the sperm malformation
      rates between the Zeranol treated groups and the control group. Furthermore,
      Zeranol could decrease the weight and the organ coefficient of the seminal
      vesicles and the testicles and lead to significant pathological changes of the
      testicles. Zeranol could also decrease the levels of serum T, FSH, LH as well as
      the levels of testicular T of male mice. CONCLUSIONS: Zeranol induced
      reproductive toxicity in adult male mice. It could damage spermatogenesis via its
      direct effects on the testicles and interfere with sex hormone levels of male
      mice through its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

PMID- 26884913
TI  - Overexpression of STAT3/pSTAT3 was associated with poor prognosis in gastric
      cancer: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phospho-STAT3
      (pSTAT3) play important roles in the development of gastric cancer. STAT3 is
      often associated with cell survival, proliferation, and transformation. The
      prognostic value of STAT3/pSTAT3 in patients with gastric cancer remains
      controversial in numerous published studies. The aim of this study was to
      summarize recent findings relevant to the prognostic role of STAT3 and pSTAT3 in
      patients with gastric cancer. A meta-analysis was performed by searching Web of
      Knowledge, EMBASE, and PubMed to identify studies on the prognostic impact of
      STAT3/pSTAT3 in gastric cancers in August 2014. In all, 10 studies were included
      in the analysis. Data were collected for comparing survival rates in patients
      with high STAT3 levels compared to those with low levels. Pooled hazard ratios
      (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Sensitivity analysis
      was conducted, and publication bias was evaluated. Eventually, 1667 cases of
      gastric cancer were subjected to the final analysis. Among patients with gastric
      cancer, poor survival was predicted by higher expressions of STAT3 (HR=2.30; 95%
      CI=1.13-4.68; P=0.02) and pSTAT3 (HR=1.75; 95% CI=1.17-2.61; P=0.006). Moreover,
      overexpression of STAT3 was associated with poor tumor stage. Additionally, our
      analysis did not show any statistically significant effect of publication bias
      regarding STAT3 or pSTAT3. The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that
      overexpression of STAT3 and pSTAT3 was associated with poor prognosis in gastric
      cancer. 

PMID- 26884915
TI  - Bisphenol a influences blastocyst implantation via regulating integrin beta3 and
      trophinin expression levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the
      blastocyst implantation in endometrium. METHODS: Pregnant mice were orally
      administered with BPA. Implantation sites were examined, and serum estrogen level
      was assayed with ELISA. Protein expression levels were detected with
      immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: High doses (400
      and 600 mg/kg/day) of BPA remarkably reduced the implantation sites in the
      pregnant mice. No significant differences were observed in the serum estrogen
      level across the groups. Moreover, high doses (400 and 600 mg/kg/day) of BPA
      significantly declined the expression level of endometrial estrogen receptor
      alpha (ERalpha) in the pregnant mice. In addition, high doses (400 and 600
      mg/kg/day) of BPA significantly declined the expression levels of integrin beta3
      and trophinin in the endometrium and blastocysts. CONCLUSION: BPA declines
      ERalpha expression in endometrium, and inhibits adhesion protein expression in
      endometrium and blastocysts, causing the adhesion failure of blastocyst
      implantation.

PMID- 26884916
TI  - T1 finite element model of Kummell's disease shows changes in the vertebral
      stress distribution.
AB  - The aims of this study were to develop a finite element model of delayed post
      traumatic vertebral osteonecrosis, analyze its effect on the vertebral stress
      distribution, and provide experimental evidence for osteonecrosis as a risk
      factor for loss of the vertebral corrective angle. Three-dimensional
      reconstruction was performed on CT data of the lumbar vertebrae from a 29-year
      old male without spinal lesions to develop a normal L1-L3 vertebral model and a
      model with post-traumatic vertebral osteonecrosis at level L2. Vertebral flexion,
      extension, and lateral bending were simulated using computer software to
      determine the stress distribution in the cortical and cancellous bone in the two
      models and the changes in the vertebral stress distribution with the size and
      location of the cavity. Simulation of a vertebral cavity tended to increase the
      Von Mises equivalent stress in the vertebral cancellous bone and reduce the
      equivalent stress in the cortical bone, while the vertebral equivalent stress
      displayed a reverse distribution. The equivalent stress was increased in both the
      cancellous and cortical bones with increasing cavity volume, and the equivalent
      stress in the cortical bone was always smaller than that in the normal vertebrae.
      Placing the cavity close to the endplate of the vertebrae tended to cause stress
      concentrations in the cancellous bone around the endplate. The cancellous bone
      with post-traumatic osteonecrosis tended to experience greater Von Mises
      equivalent stress than the normal vertebrae. Differences in the cavity volume and
      location may result in a more severe abnormal stress distribution. 

PMID- 26884914
TI  - Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine on sepsis: a systematic review and Meta
      Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for treatment of
      sepsis in China, but results still remain equivocal. To evaluate the safety and
      efficacy of TCM for sepsis, we conducted this Meta-analysis. METHODS: Databases
      searched included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, Embase
      and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (up to December
      2014). The studies included used routine therapy treating sepsis in the control
      group and TCM was added on that basis in the experimental group. Methodological
      quality was assessed by Cochrane criteria for risk of bias. RESULTS: Ten RCTs
      with 691 participants were identified and analyzed. In the meta-analysis, TCM
      plus routine therapy reduced the 28-day mortality compared to routine therapy
      alone, [RR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.51~0.87; P = 0.002]; The decrease in length of ICU
      stay [MD = -1.82; 95% CI: -2.60~-1.04; P<0.00001]; Acute physiology and chronic
      health evaluation system (APACHE II) score [MD = -2.95; 95% CI: -3.99~-1.91;
      P<0.00001]; Serum inflammatory factors concentration after treatment [SMD = 
      0.50; 95% CI:-0.68~-0.33; P<0.00001], including TNF-alpha [SMD = -0.61; 95% CI: 
      0.85~-0.38; P<0.00001] and IL-6 [SMD = -0.40; 95% CI: -0.75~-0.04; P = 0.03] in
      subgroup analysis all had statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Addition of TCM
      has better effects in participants with sepsis, while more high-quality studies
      are needed to draw firm conclusion.

PMID- 26884917
TI  - Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and ultrasonography scores in
      rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic value of ultrasonography scores (US) and
      contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in evaluating rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      activity. METHODS: 39 patients with RA were included and the metacarpophalangeal,
      proximal interphalangeal, wrist, elbow and knee joints of them were examined by
      high frequency ultrasound. The severe joints and the related indexes (synovial
      thickness, synovial blood flow, joint effusion and bone erosion) were exposed.
      Then scores (0~3) were obtained and the sum was calculated. For 12 patients of
      the 39, 2.4 ml SonoVue was intravenously injected with observation of synovial
      enhancing. ROIs time-intensity curve (TIC) was obtained and the parameters
      including area under curve (AUC), peak intensity (PI) and time to peak (TTP) were
      analyzed. For 39 patients, the relationships among each parameters,
      ultrasonography scores, DAS28 scores and biochemical examinations (ESR, CRP, RF,
      anti-CCP) were analyzed. RESULTS: The US were significantly correlated with DAS28
      Scores (r=0.823, P<0.01=. The correlation between US and CRP was better than that
      between DAS28 scores and CRP (rUS =0.692, rDAS28=0.526, P<0.01). The synovial
      thickness in US were correlated with DAS28 Scores and biochemical examinations
      (ESR, CRP) (rDAS28=0.852, rESR=0.779, rCRP=0.587, P<0.01. The AUC and PI in CEUS
      were significantly correlated with US (rAUC=0.832, rPI=0.809, P<0.01=. The
      correlations among AUC, PI and ESR were better than that between US and ESR
      (rAUC=0.907, rPI=0.851, rUS=0.836, P<0.01=. The correlations among AUC, PI and
      CRP were better than that between US and CRP (rAUC=0.855, rPI=0.854, rUS=0.692,
      P<0.01. CONCLUSIONS: US was almost identical with DAS28 Scores and biochemical
      examinations (ESR, CRP) in diagnosis of RA activity, while CEUS was almost
      identical with DAS28 Scores and biochemical examinations (ESR, CRP). In diagnosis
      of RA, US may be better than DAS28 Scores, while CEUS better than US. Both of
      them were useful for evaluation of RA activity.

PMID- 26884918
TI  - Establishment of a cell model for screening antibody drugs against rheumatoid
      arthritis with ADCC and CDC.
AB  - TNFalpha played a dominant role in the development and progression of rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). Clinical trials proved the efficacies of anti-TNFalpha agents for
      curing RA. However, most researchers were concentrating on their abilities of
      neutralizing TNFalpha, the potencies of different anti-TNFalpha agents varied a
      lot due to the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement
      dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). For better understanding and differentiating the
      potentiality of various candidate anti-TNF reagents at the stage of new drug
      research and development, present study established a cell model expressing the
      transmembrane TNFalpha for usage in in vitro ADCC or CDC assay, meanwhile, the
      assay protocol described here could provide guidelines for screening
      macromolecular antibody drugs. A stable cell subline bearing transmembrane
      TNFalpha was first established by conventional transfection method, the
      expression of transmembrane TNFalpha was approved by flow cytometer, and the
      performance of the stable subline in ADCC and CDC assay was evaluated, using
      human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as effector cells, and Adalimumab as the
      anti-TNFalpha reagent. The stable cell subline demonstrated high level of surface
      expression of transmembrane TNFalpha, and Adalimumab exerted both ADCC and CDC
      effects on this cell model. In conclusion, the stable cell line we established in
      present research could be used in ADCC or CDC assay for screening antibody drugs,
      which would provide in-depth understanding of the potencies of candidate antibody
      drugs in addition to the traditional TNFalpha neutralizing assay. 

PMID- 26884919
TI  - Live and heat-killed probiotic: effects on chronic experimental colitis induced
      by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats.
AB  - Although a series of studies have shown that VSL#3 (L plantarum, L Bulgaricus, L
      casei and L. acidophilus, B breve, B longum and B infantis and S salivarius
      subspecies thermophilus) can exert therapeutic effects on colitis, whether heat
      killed VSL#3 also can exert similar effects has never been tested. The aim of the
      study was to investigate whether heat-killed VSL#3 exert therapeutic effects in
      chronic experimental colitis by inhibiting STAT3 pathway. Chronic experimental
      colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. Rats underwent
      gavage once daily for seven days with heat-killed VSL#3 (0.6 g/kg/day). The
      disease activity index (DAI), histological score, colon length and
      myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was observed. Expression of inflammatory related
      mediators (STAT3, P-STAT3) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-23) in colonic tissue were
      detected. The results showed that live and heat-killed VSL#3 have identical anti
      inflammatory effects by the assessed DAI, colon length, histological score and
      MPO activity. Live and heat-killed VSL#3 results in reduced IL-6, IL-23, STAT3
      and P-STAT3 expression in colonic tissue. Heat-killed VSL#3 have showed
      significant anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing STAT3 pathway. 

PMID- 26884920
TI  - Nicotinamide improves sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment through
      suppression of inflammation and anti-apoptosis in rat.
AB  - Nicotinamide is amide form of vitamin B3, participate in oxidation-reduction
      reaction, and it plays an important role in the maintenance of normal life
      activities in cells; it has broad application prospects in the treatment of heart
      blood-vessel disease, respiratory disease, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory
      autoimmune diseases. Thus the present study aimed to identify whether the
      nicotinamide improves sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment and its potential
      mechanisms in rat. Firstly, Male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced by 2.1%
      sevoflurane for 6 h. Protective function of nicotinamide on cognitive impairment
      was evaluated using Morris water maze test in the rats. Next, NF-kappaB and
      caspase-3 activities, and p53, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression was executed
      using commercial kits and Western blot analysis, respectively. Preconditioning
      with nicotinamide could improve cognitive impairment in the rats. Administrate of
      nicotinamide suppressed the activation of NF-kappaB and caspase-3, reduced the
      protein expression of Bax, and promoted Bcl-2 protein expression in rats. The
      present results suggested nicotinamide improves sevoflurane-induced cognitive
      impairment and has an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect against
      sevoflrane-induced damages. 

PMID- 26884921
TI  - Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray of micro lesions of the
      cartilage of the femoral head in rabbits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To observe micro lesions on the cartilage of the rabbit femoral head
      using phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray and to prove that this
      method can be useful in the study of the degeneration of cartilage. METHODS: New
      Zealand white rabbits were used in a micro lesion model of rabbit femoral head
      cartilage. Bilateral femoral heads were excised from rabbits, and micro lesions
      were made on one side with a specially made knife with a blade 20 MUm in width.
      The other femur was left intact to serve as the control. Phase-contrast imaging
      with synchrotron hard X-ray and conventional X-ray imaging were used to observe
      the cartilage. Histological changes were investigated using modified Golden tri
      color staining. RESULTS: Phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray
      clearly showed the 20 MUm lesions on the cartilage on the heads of rabbit femurs.
      These lesions were not visible with conventional X-ray imaging. Histological
      observation confirmed the presence of the microscopic lesions. CONCLUSION: Phase
      contrast imaging with synchrotron hard X-ray can detect microscopic lesions on
      cartilage that cannot be detected by conventional absorption-contrast X-ray. This
      provides an unequivocal, non-invasive alternative to histological examination in
      the diagnosis of joint disease. It should be considered a new tool in
      osteoarthritis and cartilage research.

PMID- 26884922
TI  - Clinical research of percutaneous bilateral splanchnic nerve lesion for pain
      relief in patients with pancreatic cancer under X-ray guidance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to observe the therapeutic effects of percutaneous bilateral
      splanchnic nerves block in patients with intractable pain due to pancreatic
      cancer. METHODS: twenty-fourpatients (advanced pancreatic cancer) with
      intractable pain were enrolled in the research. Through approach of the edge of
      T11 vertebral body with double-needle technique, the researchers carried out the
      bilateral lesion of the greater and the lesser splanchnic nerve with absolute
      ethyl alcohol under X-ray guidance. Follow-up was six months. Numerical rating
      scale (NRS) and quality of life (QOL) were all assessed pre- and post-procedure
      (1 d, 1 w, 2 w, 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, 5 m, 6 m). The daily morphine consumption was
      recorded. RESULTS: NRS and daily morphine consumption decreased when compared to
      pre-procedure while QOL increased. These differences were found to be
      statistically significant (P<0.05). 9 patients suffered from diarrhea temporally
      and recoveredin one week. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous bilateral splanchnic nerves
      lesion under X-ray guidancecan treat intractable pain caused by pancreatic cancer
      and improve patients'life quality with minor complication.

PMID- 26884923
TI  - A rat model of concurrent combined injuries (polytrauma).
AB  - Polytrauma, a combination of injuries to more than one body part or organ system,
      is common in modern warfare and in automobile and industrial accidents. The
      combination of injuries can include burn injury, fracture, hemorrhage, trauma to
      the extremities, and trauma to specific organ systems. To investigate the effects
      of combined injuries, we have developed a new and highly reproducible model of
      polytrauma. This model combines burn injury with soft tissue and gastrointestinal
      (GI) tract trauma. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to a 15-20% total body
      surface area scald burn, or a single puncture of the cecum with a G30 needle, or
      the combination of both injuries (polytrauma). Unlike many 'double hit' models,
      the injuries in our model were performed simultaneously. We asked whether
      multiple minor injuries, when combined, would result in a distinct phenotype,
      different from single minor injuries or a more severe single injury. There were
      differences between the single injuries and polytrauma in the maintenance of
      blood glucose, body temperature, body weight, hepatic mRNA and circulating levels
      of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, and hepatic ER-stress. It has been suggested
      that models utilizing combinatorial injuries may be needed to more accurately
      model the human condition. We believe our model is ideal for studying the complex
      sequelae of polytrauma, which differs from single injuries. Insights gained from
      this model may suggest better treatment options to improve patient outcomes. 

PMID- 26884924
TI  - Comparison of the efficacy of tenofovir monotherapy versus tenofovir-based
      combination therapy in adefovir-experienced chronic hepatitis B patients: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public
      health problem worldwide. Tenofovir monotherapy or tenofovir-based combination
      therapy have achieved promising results in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
      patients who failed adefovir therapy. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to
      assess the efficacy of tenofovir monotherapy compared with tenofovir-based
      combination therapy for treatment of adefovir-experienced chronic hepatitis B
      (CHB) patients. METHODS: randomized and non-randomized control trials directly
      comparing tenofovir monotherapy and tenofovir-based combination therapy were
      searched in PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE database up to April 30, 2015. The data were
      analyzed with Review Manager (v.5.3). RESULTS: Seven articles (total of 478
      patients) met entry criteria. The results found that the rates of undetectable
      hepatitis B virus DNA levels (64.7% vs. 68.5%, P = 0.58 for 24 weeks; 71.4% vs.
      71.7%, P = 0.76 for 48 weeks; 71.6% vs. 73.0%, P = 0.92 for 96 weeks), alanine
      aminotransferase (ALT) normalization (72.6% vs. 69.2%, P = 0.46 for 48 weeks;
      72.8% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.74 for 96 weeks) and hepatitis Be antigen loss (5.0% vs.
      0, P = 0.43 for 48 weeks; 16.5% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.43 for 96 weeks) were not
      significantly different between the TDF alone and the TDF-based group. Moreover,
      the rate of adverse reactions was also not significantly different between the 2
      groups (P = 0.06 for 96 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: TDF monotherapy and TDF-based
      combination therapy are similarly effective and safe in adefovir-experienced CHB
      patients after 48 weeks and 96 weeks of antiviral therapy. Nevertheless, large
      scale randomized control trials should be carried out to elucidate the long-term
      outcome of TDF treatment.

PMID- 26884926
TI  - MiR-98 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of non-small cell carcinoma lung
      cancer by targeting PAK1.
AB  - A family of small non-coding RNAs, ~22 nt in length, known as microRNAs (miRNAs),
      regulating ~30% of all human gene expression, have been reported to be involved
      in the pathogenesis of a number of types of cancers, including non-small cell
      carcinoma lung cancer (NSCLC). P21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1) is a
      clinical biomarker of Non-small carcinoma lung cancer. Here, we found that miR-98
      is down-regulated, whereas PAK1 is highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells.
      We demonstrated that miR-98 directly targets the 3'UTR of PAK1 and down-regulates
      its expression at the mRNA and protein level. Also, miR-98 inhibited and PAK1
      stimulated proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. In
      agreement, PAK1 over-expression counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-98.
      This current study suggests that exogenous miR-98 may serve as novel potential
      maker for NSCLC therapy. 

PMID- 26884925
TI  - Macroscopic serosal classification of colorectal cancer and its clinical
      significance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macroscopic serosal classification of gastric cancer has been
      reported in previous studies, but rarely reported about it of colorectal cancer.
      The purpose of this study was to propose a macroscopic serosal classification of
      colorectal cancer and to investigate clinical significance of this
      classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphologic features of colorectal cancer
      were analyzed according to the macroscopic serosal appearance and
      clinicopathologic characteristics of these patients were retrospectively
      reviewed. Microscopic serosal structure was compared between different types
      under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Macroscopic
      serosal classification was divided into normal type, reactive type, nodular type
      and colloid type according to the macroscopic serosal appearance and microscopic
      structure. There were significant differences in tumor size, tumor gross type,
      histological type, histological grade, tumor necrosis, pT stage, number of nodes
      metastasis, lymph node metastasis ratio, pN stage, M stage and peritoneal
      metastasis between patients with different serosal types. Univariate analysis of
      prognosis revealed macroscopic serosal classification as one of factors
      significantly correlated with patient survival. However, multivariate analysis
      only revealed TNM stage significantly correlated with patient survival, while
      macroscopic serosal classification did not, maybe due to insufficient samples.
      CONCLUSIONS: Macroscopic serosal classification of colorectal cancer is
      preliminarily defined and divided into four types. Different macroscopic serosal
      types indicate different clinicopathologic features and correlate with prognosis
      of patients with colorectal cancer, but still cannot be proven as an independent
      factor.

PMID- 26884927
TI  - MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms are associated with breast cancer risk among
      Chinese population: evidence based on an updated cumulative meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Published studies on the association between
      methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C polymorphisms and breast
      cancer risk among Chinese population have yielded conflicting results. The
      purpose of this study was to clarify the association between MTHFR gene A1298C
      polymorphisms and breast cancer risk among Chinese population. METHODS:
      Systematic searches were performed through the database of Medline/PubMed,
      Science Direct, Elsevier, CNKI and Wanfang Medical Online. RESULTS: Overall, a
      significantly increased risk of breast cancer was observed among the subjects
      carrying MTHFR gene A1298C AC+CC genotype (odds ratio [OR]=1.05 with 95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.10) as compared to those carrying AA genotype
      among total Chinese population. We did not observe any significant association
      between MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms and the risk of breast cancer under the
      additional genetic models of AC vs. AA, CC vs. AA and C-allele vs. A-allele
      (OR=1.00 with 95% CI: 0.97-1.02, OR=1.01 with 95% CI: 1.00-1.02 and OR=1.00 with
      95% CI: 0.99-1.02, respectively). The cumulative meta-analysis showed similar
      results. In subgroup analysis, we observed subjects carrying AC+CC genotype had
      an increased breast cancer risk compared with those carrying AA genotype among
      the studies of sample size less than 1000. We did not observe any significant
      association between MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in
      additional subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MTHFR gene
      A1298C AC+CC genotype may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer
      among Chinese population. Well-designed studies with a large sample size are
      needed to further confirm our findings.

PMID- 26884928
TI  - microRNA-363 plays a tumor suppressive role in osteosarcoma by directly targeting
      MAP2K4.
AB  - Abnormal expression of microRNAs plays important functions in osteosarcoma. The
      aim of this study was to investigate expression, functions and molecular
      mechanisms of microRNA-363 in osteosarcoma. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used
      to detect the expression level of microRNA-363 in osteosarcoma tissue samples and
      cell lines. After transfection, CCK8 assay, cell migration and invasion assay,
      western blot and Dual-Luciferase report assay were performed in human
      osteosarcoma cells. According to the results, we found that microRNA-363 was down
      regulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. In addition, low expression
      level of microRNA-363 was associated with tumor size, clinical stage and distant
      metastasis. Moreover, microRNA-363 targeted MAP2K4 to inhibit osteosarcoma cell
      growth, migration and invasion. In conclusion, microRNA-363 played a tumor
      suppressive role in osteosarcoma by directly targeting MAP2K4. These findings
      indicated that microRNA-363 may have therapeutic value in treating osteosarcoma. 

PMID- 26884929
TI  - Pharmacokinetics in rats and tissue distribution in mouse of magnoflorine by
      ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - Magnoflorine is one of the most widespread aporphine alkaloids. In this work, a
      sensitive and selective ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
      spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of magnoflorine in rat
      plasma and mouse tissue have been developed and validated. After addition of
      nuciferine as an internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile
      methanol (9:1, v/v) was used for samples treatment. Chromatographic separation
      was achieved on a UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm*100 mm, 1.7 MUm) with 0.1% formic
      acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray
      ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple
      reactions monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantification using target fragment
      ions m/z 342.8->298.2 for magnoflorine and m/z 296.0->265.1 for IS. Calibration
      plots were linear throughout the range 2-2000 ng/mL for magnoflorine in rat
      plasma and tissue. Mean recoveries of magnoflorine in rat plasma were better than
      83.0%. RSD of intra-day and inter-day precision were both less than 9%. The
      accuracy of the method was between 95.5% and 107.5%. The method was successfully
      applied to pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of magnoflorine. The
      absolute bioavailability of magnoflorine was reported as 22.6%. The magnoflorine
      underwent a rapid and wide distribution to tissues; the level of magnoflorine in
      liver is highest, then followed by heart, spleen and lung. Based on tissue
      distribution data, a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) method
      was developed and it could be used to predict the concentrations of magnoflorine
      in tissues. 

PMID- 26884930
TI  - Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor c agonist bovine adrenal medulla 8-22
      attenuates bone cancer pain in mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Mas-related G
      protein-coupled receptor C (MrgC) agonist bovine adrenal medulla 8-22 (BAM8-22)
      on bone cancer pain and mirror-image pain. METHODS: Bone cancer pain was induced
      by intramedullary injection of NC2472 fibrosarcoma cells in the mice. BAM8-22
      and/or anti-MrgC antibody were injected intrathecally at day 14 after bone cancer
      induction and their effects on pain behaviors were detected. The pain behaviours
      were assessed by the number of spontaneous foot lifts and paw withdrawal
      mechanical threshold (PWMT) tests. MrgC expression was detected using western
      blot analysis and immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: There were increased bone
      cancer pain and mirror-image pain in the tumor-bearing mice while not in the sham
      treated mice. BAM8-22 attenuated bone cancer pain in mice dose dependently with
      the highest effects at 2 hr after BAM8-22 administration, and anti-MrgC antibody
      reversed the effects of BAM8-22. However, intrathecal administration of BAM8-22
      did not affect the mirror-image pain. Furthermore, BAM8-22 stimulated the
      expression of MrgC in the spinal dorsal horn. CONCLUSIONS: MrgC agonist BAM8-22
      could attenuate bone cancer pain in mice. This study may provide a novel strategy
      for the treatment of bone cancer pain.

PMID- 26884931
TI  - Icariin has synergistic effects with methylprednisolone to ameliorate EAE via
      modulating HPA function, promoting anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High-dose methylprednisolone (MP) is a clinically recommended
      therapeutic regimen for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), whereas some dreadful
      complications induced by it remain inevitable. Studies implied that estrogens
      might play neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory roles in EAE and MS and promote
      glucocorticoid efficacy. Icariin (ICA), a primary active component of Epimedium
      extracts, also possesses neuroprotective and estrogen-like effects with less
      adverse complication than estrogen. However, rare study focuses ICA's effects on
      MS or EAE. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to determine whether ICA has synergistic
      effects with MP in treating EAE and explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS:
      C57BL/6 EAE mice were received different dose of ICA combined with MP and single
      MP treatment. Then, the clinical scores and serum Interleukin-17 (IL-17),
      Corticosterone (CORT), Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) concentrations were
      analyzed. Western blot and Flow Cytometry were used to investigate the expression
      of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and cell apoptosis. RESULTS: ICA has cooperative
      effects with MP in decreasing serum IL-17 and CORT concentrations, up-regulating
      the expression of GR in cerebral white matter and attenuating the cell apoptosis
      in spinal cord, especially high-dose ICA combined with MP. CONCLUSION: ICA has
      synergistic effects with MP to ameliorate EAE via modulating hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function, promoting anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic
      effects. ICA could be considered as a promising therapeutic option for MS.

PMID- 26884932
TI  - Levofloxacin increases apoptosis of rat annulus fibrosus cells via the mechanism
      of upregulating MMP-2 and MMP-13.
AB  - Levofloxacin was previously reported to induce apoptosis of rat annulus fibrosus
      (AF) cells by upregulating active caspase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3
      expression in vitro. However, the effects of levofloxacin on rat AF cells, as
      well as the related mechanism, have not been revealed completely. The purpose of
      this study was to further explore the changes in extracellular matrix and MMPs of
      rat AF cells based on levofloxacin-induced apoptosis. AF cells isolated from rat
      AF regions were cultured in monolayers and treated with levofloxacin in a dose-
      and time-dependent manner. To determine the cytotoxic effects of levofloxacin,
      inverted phase-contrast microscopy was used to perform morphological observation
      of apoptotic cells. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-2, -9 and -13 were
      quantified by reverse transcription and real-time quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-qPCR). Protein level of MMP-2 and MMP-13 were determined by western
      blot. The results showed that levofloxacin induced marked AF cell apoptosis,
      which was observed by inverted phase-contrast microscopy, and indicated by the
      increased expression of active caspase-3. Both RT-qPCR and western blot revealed
      that MMP-2 and MMP-13 expression were upregulated by levofloxacin treatment in a
      time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, cellular binding to type I collagen
      was found to be decreased by levofloxacin. In conclusion, the results above
      suggest that the possible cytotoxic effects of levofloxacin on AF cells in vitro
      may be attributed to the decreased cell binding to type I collagen and up
      regulated expression of MMP-2 and MMP-13. 

PMID- 26884933
TI  - Lentiviral vector PLV-PI3KCG gene transfer inhibits hypoxic cardiomyocytes
      apoptosis.
AB  - The PI3K/Akt signal pathway was suggested to be associated with apoptosis.
      However, it was still unclear whether activated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway could
      inhibit hypoxic cardiomyocytes apoptosis. In this research, the recombinant
      PI3KCG lentiviral vector plasmid (PLV-PI3KCG) was constructed and transfected
      into neonatal rat hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury cardiomyocytes models which
      were randomly divided into five groups as the normal control group, H/R group, HR
      empty plasmid group (HRE group), HR PLV-PI3KCG transfection preconditioning group
      (HRP group), and HR PLV-PI3KCG transfection + LY294002 group (HRPL group).
      Compared with the H/R, HRE and HRPL groups, the cardiomyocytes beat frequency and
      survival rate in the HRP group were significantly increased (P<0.05) and the
      released LDH were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The Bcl-2/Bax ratio was
      significantly lower in H/R, HRE and HRPL groups than that in HRP group (P<0.05).
      Activated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway could play a protection role in the
      cardiomyocytes H/R injury process which could be inhibited by LY294002. 

PMID- 26884934
TI  - Biomechanical properties of the sciatic nerve following repair: effects of
      topical application of hyaluronic acid or tacrolimus.
AB  - Recovery following nerve repair can be evaluated based on electrophysiological
      and morphological assessments of biomechanical properties. This study compared
      the effects of topical hyaluronic acid (HA), tacrolimus (FK-506) or saline
      administration on the biomechanical properties of the sciatic nerve at 12 weeks
      after nerve repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen male European rabbits
      (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (weight from 2.5 to 3 kg) were randomly assigned to one
      of the following experimental groups (six animals per group): Saline, HA, or FK
      506. The non-transected left leg was used as a control group (eighteen sciatic
      nerves). Biomechanical assays were performed and statistically analyzed. RESULTS:
      The average maximal load, elastic limit load, maximal stress, and elastic limit
      strain of the control group were significantly different (P<0.001) from those of
      all three experimental groups. Moreover, the other examined parameters (i.e.,
      maximal displacement, elastic limit stress, and maximal strain) were
      significantly different between the control group and all three experimental
      groups (P<0.0001). However, no significant differences in any of the
      biomechanical parameters were observed between the experimental groups (P>0.05).
      At 12 weeks after nerve repair, Saline, HA, and FK-506 groups displayed average
      maximal stress values that were 72.6%, 77.38%, and 73.8% of those in the control
      group (100%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical properties of the HA
      and FK-506 groups were similar to those of the saline group at 12 weeks after
      nerve repair.

PMID- 26884935
TI  - Expression and significance of Nodal in human cancers: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Cancer is a global and growing problem. Nodal, which has been showed to be
      involved in occurrence and development of cancers, is an important embryonic
      morphogen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of Nodal
      expression in human cancers based on the published related articles. Online
      databases were searched to retrieve relevant articles published between 2000 and
      2015. The odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confident intervals (CI) were employed to
      calculate the strength of significance. Finally, a total of 11 articles were
      screened out, including 801 cancer patients and 372 healthy controls. Nine kinds
      of cancers were contained, and Nodal was detected in 56.7% of all participants
      (665/1173). Overall, our result found that Nodal was highly expressed in cancer
      patients than that in healthy controls, indicating that Nodal expression was
      significantly associated with cancers progression (OR=21.72, 95% CI=9.94-47.46,
      P<0.00001). Subgroup analysis showed that Nodal expression was significantly
      corrected with high WHO grade of human cancers (III+IV versus I+II: OR=2.46, 95%
      CI=1.63-3.71, P<0.00001). This significant relationship was also found in tumor
      size, differentiation degree, not observed in gender, age and lymphatic
      metastasis status of patients with all studied cancers in this meta-analysis. In
      conclusion, our results demonstrated that Nodal might be implicated in cancer
      progression, suggesting that it was a potential biomarker and therapeutic target
      for cancers. 

PMID- 26884936
TI  - The association between rs9642880 gene polymorphism and bladder cancer risk: a
      meta-analysis.
AB  - Previous studies had researched the relationship between rs9642880 gene
      polymorphism and bladder cancer risk, but the results remained unclear. The
      comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to clarify this possible association.
      Relevant articles were searched from Pubmed, Embase and web of science. Odds
      ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to
      assess the strength of the association. The assessment of publication bias was
      conducted by Begg's funnel plots and Egger's regression test. A total of 7
      casecontrol studies involving 4072 cases and 4898 controls were included in our
      study. Overall, an obvious relationship between rs9642880 polymorphism and
      increased risk of bladder cancer were detected in all models. Besides, the
      positive results were observed among both Caucasians and Asians when stratified
      by ethnicity. Moreover, when stratified by genotyping method, the significant
      results were detected in all genotyping methods except Sequenom. In addition, in
      the subgroup analysis by source of control, significant results were detected in
      both population and hospital based controls. This present meta-analysis with
      accurate and reliable results indicated that the T allele of SNP rs9642880
      confers susceptibility to bladder cancer in both Asian and Caucasian populations.

PMID- 26884937
TI  - Ascorbic acid ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in dextran sulfate
      sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice.
AB  - Ascorbic acid (AA) has been shown to exert beneficial effects, including
      mitigating oxidative stress and inhibiting inflammation. However, the
      preventative effect of vitamin C in chronic inflammatory diseases such as
      inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. In our study, we investigated
      the anti-inflammatory effects of AA and possible mechanism involved in inhibiting
      dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Male C57BL/6
      mice were randomly divided to three groups: control group, DSS group, and DSS
      plus ascorbic acid treated group. Several clinical and inflammatory parameters as
      well as oxidative stress were evaluated. The results demonstrated that ascorbic
      acid significantly reduced clinical signs, inflammatory cytokines,
      myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malonaldehyde (MDA) activities, whereas the activities
      of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
      were increased in DSS-induced mice. In addition, ascorbic acid was capable of
      inhibiting NF-kappaB, COX-2 and iNOS expression in the colonic. Taken together,
      these findings suggest that ascorbic acid contributes to the reduction of
      oxidative stress and inflammatory response in DSS-induced colitis and exerts the
      potential to prevent and clinical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. 

PMID- 26884939
TI  - miRNA-101 inhibits ovarian cancer cells proliferation and invasion by down
      regulating expression of SOCS-2.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of miRNA-101 in normal and malignant
      ovarian tissues and cells as well as its impact on the proliferation and invasion
      of human ovarian cancer H08910 and SKOV3 cell lines. METHODS: Real time
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the miR-101 and SOCS-2
      expression in 20 separate ovarian cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues,
      human ovarian cancer cells (H08910 and SKOV3) and normal human ovarian epithelial
      cells (HUM-CELL-0088). After H08910 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were
      respectively transfected with miR-NC (H08910/NC and SKOV3/NC) and miR-101
      (H08910/miR-101 and SKOV3/miR-101), Western Blot was employed to detect the SOCS
      2 expression in transfected cells. CCK-8 and clone formation and Transwell assays
      were employed to determine the proliferation and invasion ability of wild type
      and transfected ovarian cancer cells. RESULTS: The expression of miR-101 in
      ovarian cancer tissues and cells was significantly lower than that in para
      carcinoma tissues (t=19.12, P=0.002) and normal human ovarian epithelial cells
      (HUM-CELL-0088) (F=14.37, P=0.000), respectively. In contrast, the SOCS-2
      expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cells was significantly higher than that
      in para-carcinoma tissues (t=25.03, P=0.000) and HUM-CELL-0088 cells (F=14.9,
      P=0.000) by Western Blotting analysis, respectively. Compared with wild type and
      empty vector transfected cells, the expression of SOCS-2 was significantly
      decreased in miR-101 transfected H08910 (t=10.9, P=0.001) and SKOV3 cells
      (t=21.03, P=0.000). The results of CCK-8, clone formation and Transwell assays
      revealed that the proliferation and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells was
      markedly inhibited by the transfection of miR-101. CONCLUSION: MiR-101 was
      validated to be reduced and SOCS-2 expression increased in ovarian cancer tissues
      and cells. The over expression of miR-101 can remarkably reduce the in vitro
      proliferation and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells through the down
      regulation of SOCS-2.

PMID- 26884938
TI  - Safflower extract inhibiting apoptosis by inducing autophagy in myocardium
      derived H9C2 cell.
AB  - The Heart failure (HF) is considered as the end-stage of various heart disease
      and associated with high mortality globally. Progressive loss of cardiac myocytes
      via apoptosis is considered as the most important factor for HF pathology. In
      this study, we demonstrated that Safflower extract was able to inhibitthe
      apoptosis inducted by Angiotensin II (AngII) in a ratmyocardium derived cell line
      H9C2. Further examination of LC-3II conversion and autophagosome formation
      suggested Safflower extract induced autophagy in treated cell. Inhibition of
      Safflower extract induced autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3MA) abolished anti
      apoptotic function of Safflower extract, while application of autophagy
      stimulator Rapamycin in H9C2 inhibited apoptosis as well. Moreover, treatment of
      H9C2 cell with Safflower extract also inhibited expression of pro-apoptotic genes
      BAD and Bax. In conclusion, our data indicated that Safflower extract inhibit
      apoptosis via inducing autophagy in myocardium cell and demonstrated the
      potential as novel therapeutic drug for Heart failure. 

PMID- 26884940
TI  - Subconjunctival injection of in vitro transforming growth factor-beta-induced
      regulatory T cells prolongs allogeneic corneal graft survival in mice.
AB  - This study is to investigate the effect of subconjunctival injection of in vitro
      induced regulatory T cells (iTregs) on the survival of corneal allografts. iTregs
      were expanded by culturing CD4(+)T cells with TGF-beta in vitro. Foxp3, LAP and
      GARP were analyzed and the suppression ability of iTregs was assayed by co
      culturing with effective T cells. Allogeneic transplantations in mice were
      modeled and randomly classified into PBS control, iTregs and TA groups. The
      allografts were observed for 60 days. CD25, Foxp3, LAP and GARP in CD4(+)T cells
      were analyzed on day 21 after the surgery. Inflammatory cells infiltrated in
      allografts were detected by flow cytometry and histopathological examination.
      Expressions of Foxp3, GARP and LAP in iTregs were high. iTregs suppressed the
      proliferation of effective T cells in vitro. The corneal allograft survival time
      for PBS, iTregs and TA groups was (18 +/- 1.73) days, (38.6 +/- 1.14) days and
      (60 +/- 0) days, respectively. The corneal allograft survival time in iTregs
      group was significantly prolonged compared with PBS group (P < 0.05), but shorter
      than that in TA group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in
      expressions of CD25, Foxp3, LAP or GARP in CD4(+)T cells (P > 0.05). Finally,
      CD3(+)CD4(+)T cell infiltration and fewer inflammatory cells were reduced in
      allografts in iTregs and TA groups compared with PBS group. The survival time of
      allografts were prolonged in mice after subconjunctival injection of iTregs.
      Local immune modulation might be involved in the mechanism. 

PMID- 26884941
TI  - The protective effects of total phenols in magnolia officinalix rehd. et wils on
      gastrointestinal tract dysmotility is mainly based on its influence on
      interstitial cells of cajal.
AB  - Magnolia officinalix Rehd. et Wils is a kind of herb which is widely used for
      gastrointestinal tract mobility disorder in Asian countries. In this study, we
      investigated whether the total phenols of Magnolia officinalix Rehd. et Wils
      (TPM) treatment improves gastrointestinal tract dysmobility induced by
      intraperitoneal injection of atropine (5 mg/kg) in rats. Rats were randomly
      grouped into three units: TPM-pretreated/atropine-treated group, atropinetreated
      group and control group. TPM were administrated for 7 days. Gastric residual rate
      and intestinal transit were measured 20 min after atropine injected, and
      gastrointestinal hormones (including: gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), somatostatin
      (SS) and p substance (PS) levels in serum were also measured by ELISA kits. The
      number and distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in stomach were
      detected by immunohistochemistry analysis, while c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF)
      expressions in stomach were also measured by western blotting. We found that TPM
      pretreatment significantly improved atropine-induced gastric residual rate
      increase, while had no significantly effects on intestinal transit; it also
      significantly normalized GAS, MTL and PS serum levels. Atropine-induced ICCs
      numbers decreased in both sinuses ventriculi and body of stomach, which is
      improved by TPM pretreatment. Western blotting results showed the expressions of
      c-kit and SCF were down-regulated after atropine injection, which can be reversed
      with TPM pretreatment. These results above indicates that TPM treatment can
      significantly protected atropine-induced gastric dysmoblility, which may owed to
      its regulation on c-kit/SCF signing pathway. 

PMID- 26884942
TI  - Lower MGMT expression predicts better prognosis in proneural-like glioblastoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of MGMT in different
      molecular subtypes of glioblastoma (GBM), and to evaluate the important role of
      MGMT and P53 in predicting the prognosis of GBM patients. METHODS: MGMT
      expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining in 72 cases of GBM which
      had been classified as three molecular subtypes. The relationship between MGMT
      and P53, an important molecule for identification of proneural-like GBM, were
      further analyzed. The association between MGMT and patients' prognosis was
      analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method, which was further validated by the data from
      513 cases of GBM in the TCGA database. RESULTS: MGMT expression was lower in
      proneural-like subtype in 72 GBM cases (p < 0.001), and was negatively correlated
      with P53 (r=-0. 6203, p < 0.001). This results was also verified by a validation
      group of 87 GBM cases (r=-0. 2950, p < 0.001). Interestingly, low expression of
      MGMT predicted a better outcome in proneurallike subtype or P53 high-expression
      group (p < 0.05) but not in non-proneural-like subtype and P53 low-expression
      group. All of these results were verified by the data from TCGA database.
      CONCLUSION: MGMT can be used as an independent prognostic factor and plays an
      important role in molecular typing and diagnosis of GBM by combination with
      proneural-like subtype marker P53.

PMID- 26884943
TI  - A comparison of general versus regional anesthesia for hip fracture surgery: a
      meta-analysis.
AB  - In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of general versus regional
      anesthesia on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgical repair of
      hip fracture. Randomized controlled trials, prospective studies and retrospective
      observational studies were searched in PubMed, Medline and Embase database
      published between January 2005 and March 2014. The overall outcome was measured
      by odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) with their corresponding 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 7 trials, involving 36448 patients
      received general anesthesia and 33952 patients received regional anesthesia, were
      included in present meta-analysis. We found that the 30-day mortality rate was
      lower in general anesthesia cases than that in regional cases (5.3% vs. 6.3%).
      Overall, our results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in 30
      day mortality between two types of anesthesia in patients with hip fracture
      surgery (RR=0.98, 95% CI=0.92-1.04, P=0.48), indicating that types of anesthesia
      might not be a risk factor for hip fracture surgery. No statistically significant
      difference was observed in other outcome measures (P>0.05). In conclusion, our
      results suggested that the choice of anesthesia (general or regional) should be
      made by the anesthesiologist on an individual basis and based on the patient's
      medical conditions. Further research is still needed to evaluate the effect of
      these two anesthesia methods. 

PMID- 26884944
TI  - Interventional effects of da-cheng-qi decoction on enteric nerve system in a rat
      model of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
AB  - In this study, we investigate the morphologic changes of enteric nerve system
      (ENS) and the expression of neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh), substance P
      (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), in
      small bowel of rats undergoing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
      Undergoing MODS, fluorescence integral optical density (IOD) value of enteric
      nerve fibers were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the network structure of
      ENS was destroyed. The expression of ACh, SP, VIP and NOS was inhibited, IOD
      value of the four neurotransmitters was significantly decreased (P<0.05). After
      intervention of DCQD, the fluorescence IOD value of enteric nerves were
      significantly increased (P<0.05), and the network structure of ENS was repaired.
      The expression of ACh, SP, VIP and NOS was recovered, fluorescence IOD value of
      the four neurotransmitters was significantly increased (P<0.05). In conclusion,
      the gastrointestinal motility disorders undergoing MODS may be closely related to
      the morphology destroy of ENS and down regulation of neurotransmitters (ACh, SP,
      VIP and NOS) expression. DCQD could promote gastrointestinal motility through
      protecting the morphology of ENS and up regulation of neurotransmitters (ACh, SP,
      VIP and NOS) expression. 

PMID- 26884945
TI  - Experimental study of super paramagnetic iron oxide labeled synovial mesenchymal
      stem cells.
AB  - To investigate the feasibility and changes of biological characteristics before
      and after synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) labelled by super paramagnetic
      iron oxide (SPIO). The rabbit SMSCs were isolated, cultured, purified and
      identified in vitro. After adding the different concentrations of SPIO-labelled
      liquid, the cells were incubated 24 h in 37 degrees C carbon dioxide incubator.
      The labeled-cell samples were observed by Prussian blue staining, transmission
      electron microscope (TEM) and the cell biology before and after the labeling was
      compared. The blue stained particles could be seen in the cytoplasm; the SPIO
      label was positive in 95% SMSC cells. With the concentration of the label liquid
      increasing, the blue-stained cytoplasm became darker. A large number of high
      electron density particles could be seen in the cytoplasm and in the pinocytosis
      vesicles by TEM, which suggested SPIO label positive. When the SPIO concentration
      was (12.5~50) MUg/mL, the differences in cell proliferation and cell viability
      between the SMSCs after labelling and the SMSCs before labelling were not
      significant; when the concentration was over 100 MUg/mL, the cell proliferation
      and cell viability were inhibited. A certain concentration range of SPIO can
      safely label the rabbit SMSC according to this study, which is important for
      solving the problem of tracing SMSCs in the joints. 

PMID- 26884946
TI  - Antitumor effects of crocin on human breast cancer cells.
AB  - Crocin is a chemical extracted from saffron and it is the most important kind of
      pigment of saffron. It has been proposed as a promising candidate for cancer
      prevention. In this study, we investigate the growth inhibition and the apoptosis
      of MCF-7 cells induced by Crocin, and explore the underlying molecular mechanism.
      We found that Crocin can significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells,
      and induce their apoptosis through mitochondrial signaling pathways including the
      activation of Caspase-8, upregulation of Bax, the disruption of mitochondrial
      membrane potential (MMP), and the release of cytochrome c. The studies showed
      that Crocin induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells partially through caspase-8 mediated
      mitochondrial pathway. Therefore, we postulate that Crocin might have cancer
      preventive and cancer-therapeutic benefit for human breast cancer. 

PMID- 26884947
TI  - Diosgenin attenuates hepatic stellate cell activation through transforming growth
      factor-beta/Smad signaling pathway.
AB  - Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) plays a pivotal role in the
      development of hepatic fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is
      considered to be the main stimuli factor responsible for the activation of HSC.
      Diosgenin is a steroidal saponin found in several plants including Solanum and
      Dioscorea species, and it inhibited high glucose-induced renal tubular fibrosis.
      However, the effects of diosgenin against hepatic fibrosis remain elusive.
      Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of diosgenin on TGF-beta1
      induced HSCs and elucidate the possible mechanism of its anti-fibrotic effect.
      Our results demonstrated that diosgenin inhibited TGF-beta1-induced HSC
      proliferation, reduced the expression of collagen I and alpha-smooth muscle actin
      (alpha-SMA), as well as the expression of TGF-beta receptor I (TGF-beta RI) and
      II. Moreover, diosgenin suppressed TGF-beta1-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 in
      HSCs. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that diosgenin inhibited HSC-T6 cell
      proliferation and activation, at least in part, via the TGF-beta1/Smad signaling
      pathway. These results provide that diosgenin may have potential to treat liver
      fibrosis. 

PMID- 26884949
TI  - Relation between osteonecrosis of the femoral head and PAI-1 4G/5G gene
      polymorphism: a meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of
      plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G gene polymorphism and
      osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). METHODS: The pooled relative risk ratio
      (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using the the RevMan
      5.0 software. RESULTS: The present study included 969 patients with ONFH and 419
      healthy controls. The Meta analysis results showed: There is association between
      PAI-1 gene 4G/5G polymorphism and the increasing risk of ONFH (allele model: RR =
      1.24, 95% CI = 1.16 ~ 1.33; dominant genetic model: RR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05 ~
      1.18). It was found that the association between PAI-1 gene 4 G/5 G polymorphism
      and the susceptibility of ONFH (P < 0.05) through the comparison of Caucasian
      population and Asian people according to the analysis of different races.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is association between PAI-1 gene 4 G/5 G polymorphism and the
      increasing of the susceptibility of ONFH.

PMID- 26884948
TI  - KLF15 suppresses cell proliferation and extracellular matrix expression in
      mesangial cells under high glucose.
AB  - Excess mesangial extracellular matrix (ECM) and mesangial cell (MC) proliferation
      is the major pathologic feature of diabetic nephropathy. Kruppel-like factor 15
      (KLF15) is a member of the KLF transcription factor family that plays a critical
      role in regulating renal fibrosis. However, the role of KLF15 in diabetic
      nephropathy remains poorly understood. This study was conducted to explore the
      role of KLF15 in the development and progress of diabetic nephropathy in high
      glucose (HG)-stimulated human MCs. Here, we found down-regulated expression of
      KLF15 in MCs induced by HG. Overexpression of KLF15 significantly inhibited MCs
      proliferation and ECM production induced by HG. Moreover, overexpression of KLF15
      inhibited HG-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in MCs. In summary, our data
      demonstrate that KLF15 can suppress HG-induced cell proliferation and ECM protein
      fibronectin expression in human MCs via ERK1/2 MAPK signaling. The results
      provide evidence that KLF15 might be a potential molecular target for the
      treatment of diabetic nephropathy. 

PMID- 26884950
TI  - Correlation between PON1 gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk: a Meta
      analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A number of studies have investigated the relationship between the
      PON1 gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk, but the conclusions are not
      consistent. In this paper, a meta-analysis was conducted to explore the possible
      reasons for these inconsistencies, expecting to further clarify the correlation
      between PON1 gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. METHODS: After searches
      in the database such as MEDLINE, EBSCO, ProQuest, Google Scholar, High-Wire, SID
      (Scientific Information Database) and PubMed, 7 literatures were collected.
      RevMan 5.2 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. Random-effects or
      fixed-effects model was used to analyze the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence
      intervals. RESULTS: The analysis of L55M single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
      showed that M allele frequency was positively correlated with the incidence risk
      of breast cancer (OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.03-1.74). While we did not found Q192R
      polymorphism associated with the risk of breast cancer (OR=1.0, 95% CI: 0.71
      1.42). CONCLUSION: For PON1 gene, the frequencies of M allele were associated
      with the incidence risk of breast cancer.

PMID- 26884951
TI  - Role of sphingosine 1-phosphate in human pancreatic cancer cells proliferation
      and migration.
AB  - Deregulation of production or degradation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a
      bioactive lipid, involves in tumor progression, metastasis and chemoresistance.
      Since the tumor progression effects of S1P and its mechanism in human pancreatic
      cancer is not fully understood, we investigated the role of S1P in Capan-1 and
      Panc-1 cells proliferation and migration. The effects of S1P on proliferation,
      invasion and migration were studied using MTT and transwell assay, respectively.
      The concentrations of MMP2 and MMP9 were detected by ELISA assay. Role of S1P on
      the expressions of tyrosine kinase and cell proliferation related proteins were
      assessed by western blot. Our results showed that cell proliferation and
      migration were mediated by low concentration of S1P treatment in both cell lines.
      In addition, we also investigated another survival mechanism of S1P in cell
      survival and tumor progression, Src signaling pathway. These results indicated
      that roles of S1P in tumor progression were S1P receptor-dependent through
      interaction with Src signaling pathway. In conclude, our data demonstrated the
      importance of this molecule as a target to design novel anticancer drugs in
      future through S1P receptors and Src signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26884952
TI  - The association of TGFB1 genetic polymorphisms with high myopia: a systematic
      review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The TGFB1 gene is among the most studied genes in high myopia due to
      its role in scleral remodeling. But reported findings of association on TGFB1 and
      high myopia are inconsistent. This present study is to evaluate the association
      of TGFB1 polymorphisms and high myopia. METHODS: A comprehensive literature
      search was conducted on studies published up to April 5, 2015. Summary odds
      ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. Heterogeneity across
      studies was evaluated by Cochran Q statistic test and the I(2) index. Sensitivity
      analyses were conducted by the approach of one-study remove to assess the
      influence of single study on the combined effect. RESULTS: Eight studies were
      included in this study for meta-analysis. Rs1982073 was associated with high
      myopia in dominant model (OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.04~2.58; P<0.05), heterozygous model
      (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.02~2.33; P<0.05), homozygous model (OR=1.90; 95% CI=1.01~3.55;
      P=0.05) and allelic model (OR=1.36; 95% CI=1.01~1.84; P=0.05). However, there was
      no statistical significance when Bonferroni correction was considered. Rs4803455
      was associated with high myopia in recessive model (OR=0.40; 95% CI=0.25~0.64;
      P<0.01) and homozygous model (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.26~0.68; P<0.01). Rs1800469 was
      associated with high myopia in allelic model (OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.64~0.96; P<0.05).
      And the associations can withstand Bonferroni correction in models mentioned
      above when referring to rs4803455 (P<0.01) and rs1800469 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      Meta-analysis of existing data revealed a suggestive association of TGFB1
      rs1982073 and rs4803455 with high myopia.

PMID- 26884953
TI  - Chlamydial plasmid-encoded protein pORF5 induces production of IL-1beta and IL-18
      via NALP3 inflammasome activation and p38 MAPK pathway.
AB  - The pathogenesis of Chlamydia-induced inflammation is poorly understood. pORF5 is
      the only secreted protein encoded by Chlamydial plasmid. This study aims to
      investigate the effects of pORF5 on the production of interleukin-1beta (IL
      1beta) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) and the underlying mechanisms of these effects.
      THP-1 (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) cells were stimulated by pORF5
      with or without pretreatment with Natch domain, Leucine-rich repeat and PYD
      containing protein 3 (NALP3) siRNA, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein
      containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) siRNA, cysteine aspartate-specific
      protease-1 (caspase-1) specific inhibitor and p38 mitogen-activated protein
      kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor. IL-1beta, IL-18 and caspase-1 expression was
      detected through both ELISA and qRT-PCR. NALP3 and ASC expression was detected by
      qRT-PCR. The expression of caspase-1 and phosphorylated-p38 MAPK was detected by
      western blot analysis. pORF5 induced IL-1beta, IL-18, caspase-1 and NALP3
      inflammasome expression in THP-1 cells. Caspase-1 inhibitor significantly reduced
      pORF5-induced IL-1beta and IL-18 expression. The siRNAs for NALP3 inflammasome
      significantly reduced pORF5-induced IL-1beta, IL-18 and caspase-1 expression.
      Furthermore, p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced pORF5-induced IL-1beta, IL
      18, caspase-1 and NALP3 inflammasome expression. pORF5 could induce production of
      IL-1beta and IL-18 via NALP3 inflammasome activation and p38MAPK pathway. pORF5
      protein might play an important role in Chlamydia pathogenesis. This study
      provides a new insight into the molecular pathogenesis of Chlamydial diseases. 

PMID- 26884954
TI  - Sulfated modification promotes the immunomodulatory bioactivities of
      Lyciumbarbarum polysaccharides in vitro.
AB  - Three kinds of purified Lyciumbarbarum polysaccharides (LBPSs), LBPS30, LBPS70
      and total LBPS (LBPSt), were modified using chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method
      based on the previous experiment, forming three sulfated LBPS (sLBPS), sLBPSt,
      sLBPS30 and sLBPS70 respectively. They were characterized by ultrasonic-acidic
      barium chromate spectrophotometry, infrared (FT-IR) and high performance gel
      permeation chromatography (HPGPC). The immunomodulatory activity of each kind of
      LBPSs and sLBPSs was further examined to determine the relationship between the
      structure and bioactivity, and the sLBPS with the highest activity was selected.
      The results showed that sulfate contents were 390.67, 542.75 and 291.71 mg/g
      respectively, with different molecular masses. The appearance of two new
      characteristic absorption bands at near 1230 and 855, 853 or 808 cm(-1) in FT-IR
      spectra revealed the success of sulfation. sLBPSt with high molecular weight and
      moderate sulfate content exhibited the best immunomodulatory activity by
      promoting lymphopoiesis and T lymphocyte differentiation as well as increasing IL
      2, IL-6, IFN-gamma and TFN-alpha production in vitro compared with the
      inartificial polysaccharides. These results indicated that sulfated modification
      could be considered as an effective way to enhance immune activity of LBPSs.
      Furthermore, sLBPSt showed the best performances and would be expected as a new
      source of immunopotentiator. 

PMID- 26884955
TI  - Correlations of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 gene polymorphisms with the risk and prognosis
      of gastric cancer.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the correlations of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 polymorphisms with the
      risk and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: With an incorporation of 254
      GC patients in the case group and 250 healthy subjects enrolled as the control
      group, this experiment was conducted. Denaturing high performance liquid
      chromatography method was adopted to detect all genotypes under partial
      denaturation, haloptype analysis was completed with the Shesis software. Serum
      MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were determined by the immunohistochemical semi
      quantitative analysis. The follow-up examination was conducted after the patients
      had completed systemic therapy and discharged. RESULTS: The distribution
      frequencies of MMP-2-735C/T locus genotypes between groups were compared (P >
      0.05). However, the distributions of alleles and genotype frequencies of MMP-2
      1306C/T, TIMP-2-303G/A and -418G/C all exhibited statistical difference (all P <
      0.05). The gene polymorphism of MMP-2-1306C/T was statistically correlated with
      the expression of MMP-2 protein (P < 0.05); the same result was also found
      regarding TIMP-2-303G/A (P < 0.05). The haplotype analysis revealed that the CGC
      frequency of the case group was apparently higher than that of the control group
      (P < 0.05), the positive survival rate of CGC was apparently lower than the
      negative one. CONCLUSION: MMP-2-1306C/T, TIMP-2-303G/A and -418G/C variants might
      be correlated with GC susceptibility. Serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 protein levels might
      be associated with GC susceptibility; Additionally, CGC haplotype might be the
      risk factor of GC.

PMID- 26884956
TI  - Evaluation on the immunotherapy efficacies of synthetic peptide vaccines in
      asthmatic mice with group I and II allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
AB  - To assess the immunotherapy efficacies of recombinant vaccines containing T-cell
      epitopes derived from group I and allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
      (Der p1, Der p2). Forty female BALB/c mice were randomized into groups of
      negative control (PBS group), positive controls (Asthma group), immunotherapy
      with rDer p1 and rDer p2 protein suspension (rDer p1/rDer p2 group) and specific
      immunotherapy with fusion peptide T1-8 (T1-8 group). Asthmatic mouse models were
      initially established with the crude extract from house dust mites (HDM), and PBS
      models were solely treated with PBS buffer. The two treatment groups were managed
      with corresponding protein via subcutaneous injection at the back 30 minutes
      before inhalation sensitization from day 25 to 27. Twenty-four hour following the
      final inhalation challenge, sera, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the
      supernatant of splenocyte cultures (SSCC) were collected in each group of mice.
      ELISA was used to assay the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17 in the
      BALF and SSCC, as well as serum levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a. The lung
      tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for pathological
      examination. ELISA detection revealed reduced levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the
      BALF and SSCC, yet increased levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10, and decreased
      specific serum IgE and IgG1, yet increased serum IgG2a in T1-8 group and rDer
      p1/rDer p2 group than asthma group (P<0.05). T1-8 group had lower IL-4 and IL-17
      level and higher IFN-gamma and IL-10 level in the BALF and SSCC as well as
      reduced specific serum IgE and IgG1, yet elevated IgG2a level compared to rDer
      p1/rDer p2 group (P<0.05). Examination on the lung sections indicated
      significantly abated pulmonary inflammation, less inflammatory cell infiltration
      and better remodeled airway epithelia in T1-8 group and rDer p1/rDer p2 group
      than asthma group. However, the airway epithelium structure T1-8 group and rDer
      p1/rDer p2 group remained similar to that of PBS group. In Conclusion, The
      recombinant protein T1-8, has effectively alleviated the allergic inflammation of
      airways and lungs in the experimental mice, suggesting that this synthetic
      peptide may be used as candidate vaccines for asthma on allergen-specific
      immunotherapy basis. 

PMID- 26884957
TI  - The clinical performance evaluation of novel protein chips for eleven biomarkers
      detection and the diagnostic model study.
AB  - We aimed to develop and validate two novel protein chips, which are based on
      microarray chemiluminescence immunoassay and can simultaneously detected 11
      biomarkers, and then to evaluate their clinical diagnostic value by comparing
      with the traditional methods. Protein chips were evaluated for limit of
      detection, specificity, common interferences, linearity, precision and accuracy.
      11 biomarkers were simultaneously detected by traditional methods and protein
      chips in 3683 samples, which included 1723 cancer patients, 1798 benign diseases
      patients and 162 healthy controls. After assay validation, protein chips
      demonstrated high sensitivity, high specificity, good linearity, low imprecision
      and were free of common interferences. Compared with the traditional methods,
      protein chips have good correlation in the detection of all the 13 kinds of
      biomarkers (r>=0.935, P<0.001). For specific cancer detection, there were no
      statistically significant differences between the traditional method and novel
      protein chips, except that male protein chip showed significantly better
      diagnostic value on NSE detection (P=0.004) but significantly worse value on pro
      GRP detection (P=0.012), female chip showed significantly better diagnostic value
      on pro-GRP detection (P=0.005). Furthermore, both male and female multivariate
      diagnostic models had significantly better diagnostic value than single detection
      of PGI, PG II, pro-GRP, NSE and CA125 (P<0.05). In addition, male models had
      significantly better diagnostic value than single CA199 and free-PSA (P<0.05),
      while female models observed significantly better diagnostic value than single
      CA724 and beta-HCG (P<0.05). For total disease or cancer detection, the AUC of
      multivariate logistic regression for the male and female disease detection was
      0.981 (95% CI: 0.975-0.987) and 0.836 (95% CI: 0.798-0.874), respectively. While,
      that for total cancer detection was 0.691 (95% CI: 0.666-0.717) and 0.753 (95%
      CI: 0.731-0.775), respectively. The new designed protein chips are simple,
      multiplex and reliable clinical assays and the multi-parameter diagnostic models
      based on them could significantly improve their clinical performance. 

PMID- 26884959
TI  - IRAK4 deficiency promotes cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interluekin1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK4) plays an essential
      role in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the
      role of IRAK4 in cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload and elucidate
      the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: In vivo studies were performed using IRAK4
      heterozygous knockout (HET) mice and wild type (WT) mice. Models of cardiac
      remodeling were induced by aortic banding (AB). Cardiac remodeling was evaluated
      by Echocardiography and histological analysis. RESULTS: IRAK4 was upregulated in
      hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and also pressure overload
      induced mice hearts. IRAK4 HET mice exhibited exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy,
      dysfunction and fibrosis after 4 weeks of AB compared with that in WT mice.
      Furthermore, enhanced activation of the MEK-ERK1/2, p38 and NFkappaB pathways was
      found in IRAK4 HET mice compared to WT mice. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that
      IRAK4 may play a crucial role in the development of cardiac remodeling via
      negative regulation of multiple signaling pathways.

PMID- 26884958
TI  - Cytokine profiles in peritoneal dialysis effluent predicts the peritoneal solute
      transport rate in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.
AB  - Cytokine profiles in peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) vary among patients of
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), which may indicate the
      therapeutic efficiency of CAPD. We examined the cytokine profiles of PDE with
      stable CAPD and analyzed their relation with the peritoneal solute transport rate
      (PSTR). The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed to evaluate
      peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) by calculating dialysate/plasma
      creatinine (D/P Cr). Patients were then divided into either low and low-average
      transport (L/A), or high and high average transport (H/A) groups according PET
      results. Overnight PDE were collected from 30 CAPD patients and various cytokines
      and growth factors were detected using the Luminex Flex Map 3D system. The
      concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1
      and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in dialysate were 66.4+/-59.8, 221+/-96.1
      and 1.79+/-0.34 pg/mL respectively while IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 or IL-23
      could not be detected. Higher IL-6 levels were found in the H/A group as compared
      with the L/A group (P<0.05); however MCP-1, TNF-alpha, transforming growth factor
      (TGF)-beta1 and VEGF levels were not significantly different between these two
      groups (P>0.05). We found that IL-6, MCP-1, vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) and TGF-beta1 levels were closely correlated with each other and all
      significantly associated with D/P Cr. Multivariate analysis showed that D/P Cr
      was independently correlated with IL-6 and negatively correlated with serum
      albumin (r=-0.369, P=0.045). In conclusion, our study indicates that systemic
      analysis of cytokine profiles in PDE reveals the transport characteristics of
      CAPD patients. Long-term follow-up study should be necessary to further confirm
      the value of cytokine detection in evaluation of PD therapeutic efficiency. 

PMID- 26884960
TI  - VKORC1 and CD-14 genetic polymorphisms associate with susceptibility to
      cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of VKORC1 rs2359612 and rs9923231 and
      CD-14 rs2569190 with susceptibility to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
      diseases (CCVD). METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with 614 cases of
      CCVD patients selected at our hospital between January 2011 and June 2012 as case
      group and 590 healthy individuals participating physical examination during the
      same period as control group. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment
      length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to detect genotypes of VKORC1 and
      CD-14 genetic polymorphisms. SHEsis software was used to conduct haplotype
      analysis and logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for
      CCVD. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies of VKORC1 rs2359612 and
      rs9923231 and CD-14 rs2569190 between the case and control groups were
      statistically different (all P<0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that the
      frequencies of CAT and TAT haplotypes were significantly higher while the
      frequencies of TAC and TGC haplotypes were significantly lower in the case group
      than those in the control group (P = 0.013, 0.029, 0.019 and 0.042,
      respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, systolic pressure,
      smoking history and VKORC1 rs2359612 maybe risk factors for CCVD; and body mass
      index (BMI), diastolic pressure and VKORC1 rs9923231 may be protective factors
      for CCVD (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VKORC1 rs2359612 and rs9923231, and CD-14
      rs2569190 might associate with susceptibility to CCVD. CAT and TAT haplotypes may
      be risk factors while TAC and TGC haplotype may be protective factors for CCVD.

PMID- 26884961
TI  - Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) rs20417 polymorphism and prostate
      cancer risk: a meta analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genetic variation of SNPs in the PTGS2 gene is reported to be capable
      of creating tissue milieu favoring tumorigenesis. Some studies have implicated
      the common SNP rs20417 has association with PCa risk, while others showed reverse
      results. The study was performed with an aim to reconcile the existing
      controversy by performing a meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched databases of
      Embase and PubMed and identified 8 publications fulfilling the specified
      inclusion criteria. X(2)-based Q-test and I(2) statistic were quantified to
      measure the heterogeneity across studies. The pooled ORs and 95% CIs were
      calculated to estimate the association between SNP rs20417 and PCa risk. RESULTS:
      Based on an enlarged sample size by combining the data from published meta
      analyses and those missed in them, the results of the present meta-analysis
      revealed the association of SNP rs20417 and overall PCa risk was not significant.
      Subgroup analyses according to ethnicity and source of controls did not show any
      significant results, either. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis suggests that the
      presence of SNP rs20417 is unlikely to be associated with PCa risk. Our
      understanding of the genetic risk for PCa should be further expanded and refined
      through future research in a much larger number of participants.

PMID- 26884962
TI  - Zinc mediated hepatic stellate cell collagen synthesis reduction through TGF-beta
      signaling pathway inhibition.
AB  - This study is to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of Zinc (Zn) on
      hepatic stellate cell collagen synthesis. The proliferation and collagen
      synthesis ability of LX-2 cells were detected after adding Zn. The collagen
      synthesis related proteins of MMP-13 and TIMP1 along with TGF-beta signaling
      pathway related proteins were detected by Western blot. The role of TGF-beta
      signaling pathway in collagen synthesis inhibition was identified by TGF-beta RI
      siRNA silencing. Compared with control group, LX-2 cell proliferation ability was
      significantly inhibited at all Zn concentrations (50 MUM, 100 MUM and 200 MUM).
      Zn at 50 MUM did not affect the protein content of alphaSMA and type I collagen
      while 100 MUM and 200 MUM Zn could significantly inhibit alphaSMA expression.
      Compared with control group, gene expression and protein content of MMP-13 in 200
      MUM Zn group was significantly increased while no difference in gene expression
      and protein content of TIMP1 was found. TGF-beta RI content in 200 MUM Zn group
      was significantly decreased and the protein content of TGF-beta RII was not
      affected. MMP-13 expression was significantly increased after TGF-beta RI siRNA
      silencing. Further results showed that in LX-2 cells those TGF-beta RI expression
      was inhibited, LX-2 cell proliferation ability and the expression of synthesis
      collagen related proteins of alphaSMA and type I collagen were greatly decreased.
      Zn could significantly inhibit the expression of alphaSMA and type I collagen by
      inhibiting TGF-beta RI expression and promoting MMP-13 expression. 

PMID- 26884963
TI  - Increased activation of toll-like receptors-7 and -8 of peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells and upregulated serum cytokines in patients with pediatric
      systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - Autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with
      increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferons (IFNs) and
      specific interleukins (ILs), which are induced by toll-like receptors (TLRs). The
      present study aimed to examine the serum levels of cytokines, the activation of
      TLR-7 and TLR-8 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pediatric SLE
      patients, and to investigate the response of those PBMCs to viral RNA via the TLR
      7 and TLR-8 signaling. Results demonstrated that pediatric SLE patients had
      increased serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and
      IFN-alpha, and promoted activation of TLR-7 and TLR-8, compared to control
      subjects. Moreover, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pediatric
      SLE patients were more sensitive to the stimulation by the transfection with
      viral RNA from influenza virus, with a promoted activation of TLR-7 and TLR-8
      signaling. In conclusion, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1beta, IL-6, IL
      8, IL-10, and IFN-alpha were promoted in pediatric SLE patients, with an
      increased activation of TLR-7 and TLR-8 to the stimuli, such as virus infection.
      It implies the TLR-7 and TLR-8 activation by virus infection might play an
      important role in the pathogenesis of pediatric SLE. 

PMID- 26884964
TI  - Lower expression of PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1)
      association with poor prognosis of gastric cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of PH domain
      leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) in gastric cancer (GC), and
      its potential influence on the prognosis of GC patients. METHODS: At present
      study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of PHLPP1 on tissue
      microarrays (TMAs) containing 135 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues and 135 matched
      adjacent non-tumor tissues. In addition, both semi-quantitative reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting analysis
      (WB) were adopted to detect of the expression of PHLPP1 in the GC cell lines
      (AGS, SUN-1, KATO-III, BGC-823, MGC-803, SGC-7901, and HGC-27) and the normal
      gastric cell line GES-1. Survival analysis was used to investigate the efficiency
      of the prognostic evaluation of PHLPP1 expression in GC patients. RESULTS:
      Positive expression rate of PHLPP1 in the primary GC tissues was significantly
      lower than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues (55.6% vs. 87.4%, P<0.001). Both
      gene transcription (mRNA) and Protein expression of PHLPP1 in the GC cell lines
      were significantly lower than those in the GES-1 cell line, respectively. The
      Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients presented PHLPP1 negative expression
      in the GC tissues had significantly lower overall survival rate than those
      presented PHLPP1 positive expression in the GC tissues (P=0.008). With the
      multivariate survival analysis (Cox regression), PHLPP1 expression in the GC
      tissue was identified as an independent predictor of the survival of patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that aberrant PHLPP1 expression was observed in
      GC tissues, which was significantly associated with the poor prognostic outcomes
      of GC patients.

PMID- 26884965
TI  - Association of susceptibility to septic shock with platelet endothelial cell
      adhesion molecule-1 gene Leu125Val polymorphism and serum sPECAM-1 levels in
      sepsis patients.
AB  - Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection and includes severe
      sepsis, septic shock and death. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1
      (PECAM-1) is one cell adhesion molecule expressed on platelets and leukocytes. It
      regulates platelet activation and mediates transendothelial migration of
      leukocytes, thus maintaining the integrity of the vasculature. There are some
      animal experiments associated with the protective role of PECAM-1 against septic
      shock. However few host genetic risk factors have been identified for sepsis
      severity and susceptibility to septic shock. A case-control study was conducted,
      which included 217 patients with sepsis and 90 control subjects recruited from
      our hospital. One single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of PECAM-1 gene Leu125Val
      (C373G) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length
      polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Serum soluble PECAM-1 (sPECAM-1) levels were
      determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that
      the CG and GG genotypes of SNP in Leu125Val of PECAM-1 (rs668: C>G) was
      significantly associated with increased susceptibility to septic shock compared
      with CC genotype in sepsis patients (CG genotype, OR: 2.493, 95% CI: 1.175~5.287,
      P = 0.016; GG genotype: OR: 3.328, 95% CI: 1.445~7.666, P = 0.004). The serum
      levels of sPECAM-1 in the sepsis patients (47.1 +/- 17.5 ng/ml) were
      significantly higher than those in the healthy controls (61.3 +/- 20.9 ng/ml,
      P<0.01). Among sepsis patients, the serum levels of sPECAM-1 were significantly
      higher in CG and GG genotype than in CC genotype. In septic shock patients,
      nonsurvivors (83.7 +/- 12.6 ng/ml, n = 69) had a significantly higher serum
      sPECAM-1 level than the survivors (76.9 +/- 12.7 ng/ml, n = 53) (P<0.01). In
      conclusion, PECAM-1 Leu125Val polymorphism and its sPECAM-1 levels are associated
      with sepsis severity and susceptibility to septic shock. 

PMID- 26884966
TI  - Examining the association of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D with kidney cancer
      risk: a meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between circulating 25-hydroxy-vitamin D
      (25 (OH) D) and risk of kidney cancer. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and
      Web of Science databases through August 31, 2015 for eligible studies. Pooled ORs
      with 95% confidence interval were calculated using fixed effect models. All data
      analyses were performed with STATA version 12.0. RESULTS: The final analysis
      included 2 prospective cohort studies and 7 nested case-control studies, with a
      total of 130, 609 participants and 1, 815 cases of kidney cancer. No obvious
      heterogeneity was observed between individual studies. The results of this study
      revealed that higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with
      lower risk of kidney cancer (OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.69-0.91; P value for
      heterogeneity: 0.61, I(2)=0%). After stratified by geographical region, the
      similar association was detected in European studies (OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.94;
      P value for heterogeneity: 0.38, I(2)=0%), though no significant association was
      observed in the USA studies (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.51-1.04; P value for
      heterogeneity: 0.44, I(2)=0%). CONCLUSION: Our present findings suggest that
      higher levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D could reduce the risk of kidney
      cancer by 21%. Further well-designed large-scaled prospective studies and
      randomized controlled trials are warranted to provide more conclusive evidence.

PMID- 26884967
TI  - Low doses of single or combined agrichemicals induces alpha-synuclein aggregation
      in nigrostriatal system of mice through inhibition of proteasomal and autophagic
      pathways.
AB  - Alpha synuclein (SNCA) genes and environmental factors are important risk factors
      of Parkinson's disease (PD). The agrichemicals paraquat, maneb and chlorpyrifos
      selectively target dopaminergic neurons, leading to parkinsonism, through ill
      defined mechanisms. We analyzed the ability of low dose paraquat, maneb and
      chlorpyrifos, separately or combined together, to induce synucleinopathy in wild
      type mice. Paraquat and maneb applied together did not increase alpha-Synuclein
      (alpha-Syn) levels. By contrast, paraquat and chlorpyrifos together resulted in
      robust accumulation of alpha-Syn in striata in mice. Therefore, co-treatment with
      chlorpyrifos enhanced the effects of paraquat. Paraquat, and its co-treatment
      with maneb or chlorpyrifos, inhibited all soluble proteasomal expression of 26S
      proteasome subunits. Both paraquat and chlorpyrifos treatments increased levels
      of the autophagy inhibitor, mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR, suggesting
      impaired axonal autophagy, despite increases in certain autophagic proteins, such
      as beclin 1 and Atg 12. Autophagic flux was also impaired, as ratios of LC3 II to
      LC3 I were reduced in all the treated animals. These results suggest that a
      combination of paraquat and chlorpyrifos is much more toxic than paraquat alone
      or combined with maneb. These effects are likely via inhibitory effects of these
      toxins on proteasomes and autophagy, which lead to accumulation of alpha-Syn. Our
      study provides a novel insight into the mechanisms of action of these
      agrichemicals. 

PMID- 26884968
TI  - In vitro effects of mitomycin C on the proliferation of the non-small-cell lung
      cancer line A549.
AB  - Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death from cancer in
      the United States. Chemotherapy prolongs survival among patients with advanced
      disease, but at the cost of clinically significant adverse effects. As a novel
      promising oncotherapy method, induced differentiation by mitomycin C has been
      applied for NSCLC therapy at recent year. In this study, the molecular mechanism
      of differentiation interruption by mitomycin C in the NSCLC line A549 was
      investigated. High dosage of mitomycin C (300 uM) could significantly inhibit
      cell proliferation (P < 0.05) by 48.39 +/- 3.32% (P < 0.05), under which cell
      shrinkage and disruption were observed. Flow cytometry assay showed that the
      proportion of G1/G0 cells significantly increased, while that of S and G2/M cells
      significantly decreased after treatment of mitomycin C (10 or 300 uM) for 24 h.
      These results indicated that cell arrest by mitomycin C appeared. Additionally,
      up-regulation of retinoblastoma (Rb) gene by low concentration of mitomycin C (10
      uM) was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot assay,
      indicating a role in the regulation of cell cycle inhibition of this cell line. 

PMID- 26884969
TI  - Intracranial aspergillus fumigatus infection complicated with cavernous
      hemangioma: case report and literature review.
AB  - The aim of this study was to report a rare case of Aspergillus fumigatus
      infection complicated with cavernous hemangioma in the central nervous system of
      a patient with normal immune function and to investigate its causes. A 60-year
      old male patient was admitted three years ago due to meningioma-induced
      convulsions. In addition to meningioma, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results
      also suggested the presence of cystic and solid lesions in the left temporal
      lobe, which was considered to be a brain abscess due to the infection. After
      antibiotic treatment, the patient underwent meningioma resection, after which no
      more convulsions occurred. It was recommended that the patient receive treatment
      on the abscess in the left temporal lobe, but the patient did not consent. He was
      discharged with follow-up. Recently, the patient returned for treatment due to
      intermittent headaches with weakness in the right lower extremity for 10 days.
      MRI results revealed that the lesion in the left temporal lobe had expanded and
      was associated with abnormality in the midline. Surgical lumpectomy was
      performed, and the postoperative pathological examination confirmed the brain
      abscess to be an Aspergillus fumigatus infection complicated with cavernous
      hemangioma, which indirectly confirmed that the lesion in the temporal lobe three
      years ago was from the Aspergillus fumigatus infection. On the 7th postoperative
      day, the patient died due to severe pneumonia. Because the intracranial
      Aspergillus fumigatus infection in the patient had lasted for three years, with
      no cavernous hemangioma present at the first assessment but with a lesion evident
      three years later, the hemangioma is considered to be related to the Aspergillus
      fumigatus infection. 

PMID- 26884970
TI  - Baicalin inhibits PDGF-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth
      muscle cells.
AB  - Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation and migration play important roles
      in airway remodeling in asthma. In vitro platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
      induced ASM cell proliferation and migration. Baicalin is one of flavonoid
      extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis, which has an anti-asthma effect. However,
      little is known about its role in PDGF-induced proliferation and migration in rat
      ASM (RASM) cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin
      on PDGF-induced RASM cell proliferation and migration. We also identified the
      signaling pathway by which baicalin influences RASM cell proliferation and
      migration. In the current study, we demonstrated that baicalin suppressed PDGF
      induced RASM cell proliferation, arrested PDGF-induced cell-cycle progression. It
      also suppressed PDGF-induced RASM cell migration. Furthermore, baicalin
      suppressed PDGF-induced expression of phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2 and JNK in RASM
      cells. In summary, our study is the first to show that baicalin pretreatment can
      significantly inhibit PDGF-induced RASM cell proliferation and migration by
      suppressing the MAPK signaling pathway, and baicalin may be a useful
      chemotherapeutic agent for asthma. 

PMID- 26884971
TI  - The association between elevated cystatin C levels with myocardial infarction: a
      meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cystatin C is a well established marker of kidney function. There is
      evidence that cystatin C concentrations are also associated with myocardial
      infarction. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the link between
      cystatin C with myocardial infarction using a meta-analysis approach. METHODS: We
      searched articles indexed in the Pubmed and Sciencedirect published as of August
      2015 that met our predefined criteria. A meta-analysis was used to pool estimates
      of the multivariate adjusted relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval
      (CI), of the association between cystatin C and subsequent risk of myocardial
      infarction. RESULTS: Four eligible articles with 10491 subjects from 5 cohort
      studies were considered in the analysis. Overall, the random-effects meta
      analysis results indicated that the highest cystatin C category versus lowest was
      associated with greater risk of myocardial infarction (RR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.27 to
      2.49; P=0.001). No evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This
      meta-analysis showed that cystatin C is strongly and independently associated
      with subsequent risk of myocardial infarction. Further investigation is warranted
      to clarify whether measurement of cystatin C can usefully reduce the myocardial
      infarction beyond established predictors already in clinical use.

PMID- 26884972
TI  - DYNA CT arteriographic evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma for treatment by
      trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to determine whether using C-arm CT (DYNA CT)
      during hepatic arteriography imaging assists in TACE treatment. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: 138 patients with HCC, 69 patients (Group A) underwent DYNA CT and
      routine digital subtraction angiography (DSA), while another 69 patients (Group
      B) underwent only DSA, were prospectively studied at a single facility between
      May 2011 and September 2012. Liver vessels and tumors were displayed by DYNA CT.
      The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the celiac artery shape and branch
      anatomy were visualized. The number of tumors and arteries which feed these was
      compared. RESULTS: In Group A, DYNA CT showed that the hepatic artery originated
      from the celiac artery in 60 patients, while the right hepatic artery originated
      from the SMA and the left hepatic artery originated from the common hepatic
      artery in 9 patients. In 10 patients, the phrenic artery provided blood to the
      tumor. DYNA CT detected 258 lesions, while routine DSA found 178 lesions
      (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: DYNA CT has substantial advantages over routine DSA in
      demonstrating the shape and branches of the target hepatic vessels and the number
      of tumors. DYNA CT provides important guidance for TACE which simplifies
      selective catheterization and improves the treatment and quality of TACE.

PMID- 26884973
TI  - Association between human cytomegalovirus and onset of epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and
      epilepsy. METHODS: Epilepsy patients (n = 112) in neurology clinic of our
      hospital during January 2012 and December 2014 were allocated to the case groups,
      including intractable epilepsy group (n = 96) and non-intractable epilepsy group
      (n = 16). Healthy individual (n = 120) who received physical examination during
      the same period were allocated to the control group. The expression of serum HCMV
      late gene pp67-RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-PCR). The expressions of serum HCMV immunoglobulin G (IgG),
      immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was
      detected by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry. The electroencephalogram (EEG) of
      refractory epilepsy group, non-refractory epilepsy group and control group were
      recorded. RESULTS: The expression of pp67-mRNA was significantly higher in
      intractable epilepsy group than non-intractable epilepsy group (P < 0.05) and
      control group (P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgG positive rate and HCMV-IgM positive rate
      were significantly higher in intractable epilepsy group than control group (both
      P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgM positive rate was significantly higher in intractable
      epilepsy group than non-intractable epilepsy group (P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgM
      positive rate was significantly higher in non-intractable epilepsy group than
      control group (P < 0.001). The hs-CRP and IL-6 levels presented descending trends
      respectively in intractable epilepsy group, non-intractable epilepsy group and
      control group (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HCMV was prominently expressed in
      epilepsy and might contribute to the development of epilepsy.

PMID- 26884974
TI  - Overexpression of long non-coding RNA PVT1 in ovarian cancer cells promotes
      cisplatin resistance by regulating apoptotic pathways.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Cisplatin is a very
      effective cancer chemotherapy drug, but cisplatin resistance is a crucial problem
      of therapy failure. Overexpression of PVT1 has been demonstrated in ovarian
      cancer. The mRNA level of PVT1 in ovarian cancer tissues of cisplatin-resistant
      patients and cisplatin-sensitive patients, cisplatin-resistant cells SKOV-3/DDP
      and A2780/DDP, cisplatin-sensitive cells SKOV-3 and A2780 were determined by qRT
      PCR. The influence of the knockdown or overexpression of PVT1 on cisplatin
      resistance was measured by measuring the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and the
      apoptotic rate of ovarian cancer cells was detected by CCK-8 assay and flow
      cytometry, respectively. The mRNA levels and protein expression of TGF-beta1,
      Smad4, p-Smad4 and Caspase-3 in apoptotic pathways were determined. The mRNA
      level of PVT1 was significantly higher in ovarian cancer tissues of cisplatin
      resistant patients and cisplatin-resistant cells. SKOV-3/DDP and A2780/DDP cell
      viability and the percentage of apoptotic cells after transfection with PVT-1
      siRNA and treated with cisplatin was markedly lower and higher than the control,
      respectively. Moreover, the overexpression of PVT1 exhibited the anti-apoptotic
      property in SKOV-3 and A2780 cells after transfection with LV-PVT1-GFP and
      treated with cisplatin. The mRNA levels and protein expression of TGF-beta1, p
      Smad4 and Caspase-3 were much higher in cisplatin-resistant cells transfected
      with siPVT1. Overexpression of LncRNA PVT1 in ovarian cancer promotes cisplatin
      resistance by regulating apoptotic pathways. 

PMID- 26884975
TI  - Allicin inhibits human renal clear cell carcinoma progression via suppressing HIF
      pathway.
AB  - Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha) protects hypoxic cells from
      apoptosis or necrosis under ischemic and anoxic conditions. Allicin is
      characterized by the anti-cancer characteristics. This study aims to explore
      whether allicin is involved in renal clear cell carcinoma progression through HIF
      1alpha. A total of 40 RCC tissues and 39 normal renal tissues were collected H&E
      and immunohistochemistry were applied to study morphology changes. MTT assay and
      flow cytometry (FCM) were used to analyze cell viability and apoptosis. In vitro
      colony formation assay and wound healing assay were conducted to explore cell
      migration. The protein levels of Bcl-2, VEGF and HIF-1alpha were increased in RCC
      tissues. More importantly, treatment with allicin significantly decreased HIF
      1alpha protein level, thereby reducing Bcl-2 and VEGF expression. In addition,
      allicin also obviously enhanced apoptotic cells. And colony formation capacity
      and cell migration rate were reduced in RCC-9863 cells treated with allicin.
      Further study revealed that overexpression of HIF-1alpha could partially repress
      allicin-induced downstream effects. To conclude, allicin inhibits human renal
      clear cell carcinoma progression partially by suppressing HIF pathway. 

PMID- 26884976
TI  - Efficacy of hepatic resection for huge (>= 10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma: good
      prognosis associated with the uninodular subtype.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The value of hepatic resection (HR) for huge hepatocellular
      carcinomas (HCC) (>= 10 cm in diameter) remains controversial. The aim of this
      study is to evaluate the efficacy of hepatic resection (HR) for patients with
      huge HCC. METHODS: A total of 739 patients with huge HCC (>= 10 cm in diameter)
      (huge HCC group, n = 244) or small HCC (< 10 cm in diameter) (small HCC group, n
      = 495) who received initial HR were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival
      (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method
      and compared by Log-Rank test. Prognostic factors of huge HCC were identified
      based on Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The hospital mortality of these two
      groups were similar (P = 0.252). The 5-year OS of huge HCC group and small HCC
      group were 30.3% and 51.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Uninodular huge HCC had a
      significant higher 5-year OS (50.6%) than mutinodular huge HCC (26.9%) (P =
      0.016). Multivariate analysis revealed that uninodular huge HCC and absence of
      PVTT independently predicted better OS for huge HCC patients. CONCLUSION: HR is a
      safe and effective approach for the treatment of huge HCC, especially for the
      uninodular subtype.

PMID- 26884977
TI  - Meta-analysis of the effect of postoperative radiotherapy on prognosis of
      prostatic cancer following radical prostatectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A systematic evaluation was carried out over the effectiveness and
      safety of postoperative radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy. METHOD: The
      randomized controlled trials that were concerned with postoperative radiotherapy
      for prostatic cancer and published before June 2014 were searched in PubMed,
      EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI and VIP databases. Two researchers conducted
      quality evaluation and data extraction independently for all included literature.
      Rev Man 5.2 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Finally 5
      randomized control trials involving 2290 cases were included. Meta-analysis
      showed that the approaches of radical prostatectomy with or without postoperative
      radiotherapy did not differ significantly in terms of overall survival (HR=1.09,
      95% C1: 0.75-1.60, P=0.65). However, significant difference was found in
      biochemical progression-free survival (HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.42-0.69, P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSION: Evidences show that postoperative radiotherapy following radical
      prostatectomy can increase biochemical progression-free survival but not overall
      survival.

PMID- 26884978
TI  - IGF-I CA19 repeat polymorphisms and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
AB  - IGF-I CA repeat polymorphisms, especially the allele containing CA19 repeats,
      have been reported to be associated with the risk for various types of cancers.
      However, the results still remain controversial and ambiguous. This meta-analysis
      was performed to evaluate the association between IGF-I CA19 repeat polymorphisms
      and the risk of cancer. Total 18 studies with IGF-I CA19 repeat genotyping on
      9,873 patients and 15,607 controls were analyzed. We used random-effects model
      with a pooled OR of 0.69 (95% CI = 0.60-0.79) for the recessive genetic model,
      0.97 (95% CI = 0.86-1.10) for the dominant genetic model, 0.99 (95% CI = 0.86
      1.14) for the homozygote comparison and 1.06 (95% CI = 0.91-1.23) for the
      heterozygote comparison. In the subgroup analysis of recessive model, OR (95% CI)
      was 0.65 (0.52-0.80) in breast cancer, 0.68 (0.53-0.86) in prostate cancer, and
      0.71 (0.52-0.96) in Caucasian. In conclusion, IGF-1 CA19 repeat polymorphisms are
      unlikely to be a major determinant of susceptibility to cancer. However, the
      subgroup analysis of recessive model indicates that IGF-I CA19 repeat
      polymorphisms may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer or in a specific
      population. 

PMID- 26884979
TI  - Reduced metallothionein expression induced by Zinc deficiency results in
      apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell line LX-2.
AB  - The present study is to investigate the molecular mechanism by which Zinc (Zn)
      deficiency induces apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells. LX-2 cells were incubated
      with N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (TPEN; 5 MUM, 10 MUM
      and 25 MUM) for 24 h. MTT assay was used to test the proliferation ability of LX
      2 cells. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis. Western blotting
      assay was employed to determine the expression of metallothionein (MT). Atomic
      absorption spectroscopy was performed to measure intracellular reactive oxygen
      species content. To test the activity of mitochondria, respiratory control rate
      was tested. To investigate the activation of apoptotic signaling pathway,
      cytochrome C oxidase activity was determined. TPEN effectively decreased the
      content of Zn in LX-2 cells. Zn deficiency led to the inhibition of proliferation
      and enhancement of apoptosis of LX-2 cells. Zn deficiency induced the inhibition
      of MT expression in LX-2 cells. Inhibition of MT expression induced by Zn
      deficiency resulted in enhanced reactive oxygen species content, impaired
      mitochondrial function and inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase activity.
      Intracellular MT content in LX-2 cells is reduced by Zn deficiency. Reduction in
      MT expression further increases intracellular ROS content, enhances oxidative
      stress, inhibits cytochrome C oxidase activity, impairs mitochondrial function,
      and finally leads to cell apoptosis. 

PMID- 26884980
TI  - MicroRNA profiling identifies miR-129-5p as a regulator of EMT in tubular
      epithelial cells.
AB  - The importance of microRNAs in various diseases has been demonstrated, but their
      potential role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis needs to further research.
      We have profiled changes in microRNA levels in human kidney proximal tubular cell
      line HK-2 with TGF-beta treatment and identified significantly altered miRNAs.
      miR-129-5p, was one of the significant down-regulated miRNAs in experimental
      models. PDPK1 was a potential target gene of miR-129-5p and luciferase assay
      analysis identified PDPK1 as a new direct target gene of miR-129-5p. Further
      research indicated that miR-129-5p suppressed PDPK1 mRNA and protein levels in HK
      2 cells. miR-129-5p inhibited EMT via PDPK1 in HK-2 cells. In a conclusion, our
      findings suggested that miR-129-5p may function as a suppressor in renal fibrosis
      by targeting PDPK1. 

PMID- 26884981
TI  - Role of microRNA-134 in the neuroprotective effects of propofol against oxygen
      glucose deprivation and related mechanisms.
AB  - This study is to investigate the effects of propofol on primary hippocampal
      neurons under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) condition and related mechanisms.
      The apoptotic process was detected with flow cytometry, and the cell viability
      was assessed with CCK-8 assay. The expression levels of microRNA (miRNA)-134 were
      detected with quantitative real-time PCR. Protein expression levels were detected
      by Western blot analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was also performed to
      confirm the prediction of the target genes of miRNA-134. Our results from flow
      cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate was significantly increased in the
      primary hippocampal neurons under OGD condition. However, the treatments of
      propofol (25, 50, 100, and 150 umol/L) suppressed the apoptotic process.
      Moreover, propofol restored the declined cell viability in the primary
      hippocampal neurons under OGD condition. In addition, compared with the OGD model
      group, the Bcl-2/Bax ratios were significantly elevated in the propofol-treated
      groups, indicating the protective effects of propofol against cellular apoptosis.
      Quantitative real-time PCR showed that propofol reduced the expression levels of
      miRNA-134 in the primary hippocampal neurons under OGD condition. Bioinformatics
      analysis revealed that BDNF might be a target of miRNA-134. The treatment of
      antago-miRNA-134 significantly down-regulated the expression level of BDNF. In
      line with this, dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested that miRNA-134 targeted
      BDNF in the 3'-TUR. Under OGD condition, propofol could down-regulate miRNA-134,
      and subsequently modulate the expression of BDNF, to exert neuroprotective
      effects. 

PMID- 26884982
TI  - Role of ornithine decarboxylase/polyamine pathway in focal cerebral ischemia
      reperfusion injury and its mechanism in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)/polyamine pathway
      in focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and to explore its mechanism in
      rats. METHODS: This study was randomly divided into 3 groups including sham
      operation (sham) group, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group and alpha
      difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) group (each group with 80 rats). In DFMO group,
      300 mg/kg of DFMO was injected by tail vein 24 h before reperfusion. According to
      different time points (3 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h) after reperfusion, each
      group was divided into 5 subgroups (each subgroup with 16 rats). RESULTS: In I/R
      group, apoptosis began increasing 3 h after reperfusion, reached a peak 24 h
      after perfusion and began decreasing 48 h after perfusion. Compared with sham
      group, apoptosis significantly increased in I/R and DFMO groups (P<0.05).
      However, apoptosis was significantly lower in DFMO group than in I/R group at
      each time point (P<0.05). In I/R group, CHOP expression began increasing 3 h
      after reperfusion, reached a peak 24 h after perfusion and began decreasing 48 h
      after perfusion. CHOP expression was significantly lower in DFMO group than in
      I/R group at each time point (P<0.05). The level of polyamines was significantly
      higher in I/R and DFMO groups than in sham group, and in I/R group than in DFMO
      group 12 h, 24 h and 48 h, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of
      ODC/polyamine pathway may inhibit CHOP-mediated apoptosis caused by endoplasmic
      reticulum stress and plays a protective role in cerebral I/R injury.

PMID- 26884983
TI  - Immuno-enhancement effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. polysaccharide on
      cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice.
AB  - Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is commonly used in traditional Tibetan medicine, and the
      fruits of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. contain an immunologically active pectin which
      improves immune function against chronic diseases. The present study was
      performed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr.
      polysaccharide 3 (LRGP3) in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mice.
      Mice were injected intraperitoneally once daily with low-dose (25 mg/kg),
      intermediate-dose (50 mg/kg), high-dose (100 mg/kg) of LRGP3 for 10 consecutive
      days, respectively. Compared with Cy group, LRGP3 accelerated recovery of spleen
      and thymus indices, enhanced T cell and B cell proliferation responses, as well
      as peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis. In addition, LRGP3 treatment restored the
      levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
      in the serum of Cy-treated mice. These results indicate that LRGP3 plays an
      important role in the protection against immunosuppression in Cy-treated mice and
      could be a potential immunomodulatory agent. 

PMID- 26884984
TI  - Effects of glucose administered with lidocaine solution on spinal neurotoxicity
      in rats.
AB  - To investigate whether intrathecal administration of 10% glucose increases
      functional impairment and histologic damage in rats when mixed with 5% lidocaine.
      After implanted intrathecal catheter, 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly
      assigned to one of four groups: lidocaine group (Group L, n=8) received 5%
      lidocaine 20 uL, lidocaine with glucose group (Group LG, n=8) received 5%
      lidocaine with 10% glucose 20 uL, glucose group (Group G, n=8) received 10%
      glucose 20 uL and normal saline group received normal saline 20 uL (Group NS,
      n=8). Four days after intrathecal injection, sensory impairments of rats in the
      four groups were evaluated by using the tail-flick test. The histologic changes
      of spinal cord and nerve roots were observed by electron microscopy and light
      microscopy. There was no significant difference in baseline tail-flick latencies
      between the four groups (P=0.284). On the 4th day after intrathecal injection,
      the assessment result of sensory function was similar to baseline (P=0.217) in
      saline-treated animals. Sensory impairment occurred after intrathecal
      administration of 5% lidocaine, and 10% glucose with 5% lidocaine worsen this
      satiation (P=0.0001); histologic changes in 10% glucose with 5% lidocaine-treated
      group has differ significantly from lidocaine-treated group (P=0.001). Sensory
      function after intrathecal administration of 10% glucose was similar to baseline
      and did not differ from the saline group (P=0.995); histologic changes in 10%
      glucose-treated rats did not differ significantly from saline controls (P=0.535).
      These results suggest that 5% lidocaine can induce spinal neurotoxicity and 10%
      glucose with 5% lidocaine could worsen spinal neurotoxicity. 

PMID- 26884985
TI  - Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta attenuates experimental autoimmune
      encephalomyelitis in mice.
AB  - The phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kdelta) has been implicated in multiple
      signaling pathways involved in autoimmune diseases. We here aimed to test the
      hypothesis that selective inhibition of PI3Kdelta may promote anti-inflammatory
      effects by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells. We investigated the therapeutic
      efficacy of a selective PI3Kdelta inhibitor IC87114 in experimental autoimmune
      encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The efficacy
      was evaluated based on clinical scores, histopathology, serum cytokines and
      inflammatory infiltrations in the central nervous system (CNS). Treatment of EAE
      mice with IC87114 reduced the clinical symptoms, histopathology and cellular
      infiltration into the CNS. And treatment of EAE with IC87114 suppressed the Th1
      and Th17 cell ratios. Consistently, the serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-17 and
      INF-gamma were markedly reduced by IC87114. Taken together, our studies
      demonstrate that inhibition of PI3Kdelta may serve as novel therapy to suppress
      neuroinflammation seen during EAE. 

PMID- 26884986
TI  - Analysis on the sequence of the whole genome of an isolated enterovirus 71
      strain.
AB  - An enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain Query was isolated from a patient specimen in
      2015. In order to known about its genetic evolution, this study amplified gene
      fragment of the isolated stain by RT-PCT and carried out sequencing of the total
      genome. The homology and genetic evolution of the gene sequence of the virus
      strain in the study were analyzed. The results showed that the isolated EV71
      strain in this study had higher homology of nucleotide sequence and amino acid
      sequence with other virus strains, which was 80%-97% and 88% to 92%,
      respectively, but it had lower homology with Cox.A16 (homology of nucleotide
      sequence and amino acid sequence of Cox.A16 was 81% and 79%, respectively).
      Compare of homologous sequence at the encoding region VP1 demonstrated that the
      experimental isolated strain EV71 had higher homology of amino acid sequence at
      VP1 region with other virus strains. Genetic evolution of nucleotide sequence at
      VP1 region of the identified strain and other EV71 strains was analyzed, and the
      results demonstrated gene sequence at VP1 region and 5'UTR region of the isolated
      strain and SDLY017 strain was at the same branch, both of which belonged to C4a,
      a subtype of type C4. 

PMID- 26884987
TI  - beta-asarone prevents Abeta25-35-induced inflammatory responses and autophagy in
      SH-SY5Y cells: down expression Beclin-1, LC3B and up expression Bcl-2.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
      Inflammatory responses and autophagy have been implicated in the amyloid-beta
      (Abeta) aggregation in Alzheimer's disease. Although major evidence indicates
      that macro autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of AD, its exact role is
      still unclear. beta-asarone, a major component of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, has
      various neuroprotective effects. However, little is known about the protection of
      beta-asarone against inflammation response and autophagy. In the present study,
      we investigated the neuroprotective effects of beta-asarone on Abeta25-35 induced
      inflammatory responses and autophagy, and the possible mechanism. Our results
      showed that beta-asarone attenuated inflammatory cytokines including tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6
      production. Meanwhile, beta-asarone could significantly reduce Beclin-1, LC3B and
      increase anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level. These results showed that beta
      asarone protected cells from Abeta25-35 induced inflammation and attenuated
      autophagy via Bcl-2/Beclin-1 pathway. Our findings suggested that beta-asarone
      might be a potential preventive drug for AD. 

PMID- 26884988
TI  - Polyphyllin I (PPI) increased the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2
      cells to chemotherapy.
AB  - In this study the antitumor effects of polyphyllin I (PPI) were investigated in
      hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Our data showed that PPI treatment exerted
      dose-dependent cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells as previously reported. Furthermore,
      PPI could sensitize HepG2 cells to cisplastin treatment in concentration
      dependent manner. The molecular mechanisms of PPI actions involved nuclear factor
      kappaB (NF-kappaB) and its downstream gene products. PPI treatment dose
      dependently could decrease the constitutive phosphorylation of NF-kappaB subunit
      p65 protein and its downstream target genes expression, such as Bcl-2, c-Myc and
      VEGF. PPI could also inhibit cisplatin-evoked increase of p65 protein
      phosphorylation and its downstream genes expression, which could be further
      decreased by combination with NF-kappaB specific inhibitor, PDTC. The
      cytotoxicity and chemosensitization effects of PPI on HepG2 cells were greatly
      potentiated by concomitant treatment with PDTC. Taken together, our data
      confirmed the cytotoxicity of PPI on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and
      provided new findings about PPI sensitizing HepG2 cells to chemotherapy.
      Moreover, our data also indicated the involvement of NF-kappaB signaling pathway
      in PPIactions for the first time. 

PMID- 26884989
TI  - Outcome of radiofrequency ablation over partial nephrectomy for small renal mass
      (<4 cm): a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was undertaken to provide evidence-based clinical
      trials comparing radiofrequency ablation with partial nephrectomy for small renal
      mass. METHODS: We searched through the major medical databases such as Pub Med,
      EMBASE, Medline, Science Citation Index, Web of Science and CNKI (Chinese
      National Knowledge Infrastructure Database) and Wangfang (Database of Chinese
      Ministry of Science & Technology) for all published studies without any limit on
      language from May 2007 until May 2015. The following search terms wereused:
      partial nephrectomy, radiofrequency ablation, renal cell carcinoma, small renal
      tumor or mass. Furthermore, additional related studies were manually searched in
      the reference lists of all published reviews and retrieved articles. RESULTS: We
      found there were no statistical differences between groups in 5y-DFS, recurrence
      rates, complications, but a less percentage decease rate of GFR than PN, and RFA
      may be a better application for SRM (<4 cm).

PMID- 26884990
TI  - Acute promyelocytic leukemia transformation in a patient with aplastic anemia: a
      case report with literature review.
AB  - Aplastic anemia (AA) is a hematological disorder presenting with pancytopenia in
      peripheral blood and hypocellularity in bone marrow. AA patients with
      immunosuppressive therapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment
      have a risk of development of acute leukemia including acute myeloid leukemia
      (M0, M1, M2, M4, M5, M6) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, AA with
      transformation to acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has never been reported.
      Here, we reported a patient initially diagnosed with AA. while 19 years later,
      PML/RAR alphafusion gene were detected and the patient was eventually diagnosed
      as APL. The diagnosis and management of this interesting case are discussed. 

PMID- 26884992
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism contributes to pulmonary
      tuberculosis susceptibility: evidence from a meta-analysis.
AB  - This study is to estimate the association between polymorphisms in the tumor
      necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) gene and pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility
      (pTB). Studies were identified by searching PubMed and ISI web of Knowledge. The
      strength of association between the TNF-alpha gene and pTB susceptibility was
      assessed by odds ratios. Totals of 18 studies including 2, 735 cases and 3, 177
      controls were identified referring to four single-nucleotide polymorphisms: 
      308G>A, -863C>A, -857C>T and -238G>A. The significantly associations were found
      between -308G>A (Dominant model: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.81, P=0.004; Homozygote
      model: OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.78, P=0.002), -238G>A (Dominant model: OR 0.33, 95%
      CI 0.18-0.57, P<0.001) and pTB susceptibility. The results showed that the
      variant genotype of TNF-alpha -308G>A was protective in pooled groups of patients
      with pTB in the dominant genetic model (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.06-0.39, P<0.001), the
      homozygote comparison (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.36, P<0.001) in African, while that
      was with -238G>A in the dominant genetic model (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.56,
      P<0.001) in Asian. Our meta-analysis suggest TNF-alpha -308G>A and -238G>A
      polymorphisms increases the risk of pTB susceptibility regardless of ethnicity
      and HIV statue. In Asian population, the significantly association with pTB is
      TNF-alpha -238G>A, while TNF-alpha -308G>A is in African population. 

PMID- 26884991
TI  - The safety and efficacy of laparoscopic and open hepatectomy in hepatocellular
      carcinoma patients with liver cirrhosis: a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Compared with open hepatectomy (OH), laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH)
      had better short-term outcomes in normal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.
      Since liver cirrhosis is the major risk of HCC, serve postoperative complications
      can be observed after LH in HCC patients with cirrhosis. We conducted this
      systematic review to analysis the safety and the efficiency of LH in HCC patients
      with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese
      National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and clinical trial registries were
      searched through March 2015. Risk ratios (RRs), weigh mean difference (WMD) and
      95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The analysis included 7
      retrospective trials, altogether involving 828 patients. Patients in LH group had
      wider tumor margin (WMD = 0.12, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.21, P = 0.003), less blood loss
      (WMD = -157.25, 95% CI -295.05 to -19.45, P = 0.03), less blood transfusion (RR =
      0.41, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.74, P = 0.004), less postoperative mobility (RR = 0.48,
      95% CI 0.35 to 0.66, P<0.001) and less hospital stay (WMD = -4.11, 95% CI -6.23
      to -1.98, P<0.001). Overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were
      similar between 2 groups, except LH had a better 5-year survival rate (RR = 1.28,
      95% CI 1.01 to 1.62, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In HCC patients with liver cirrhosis,
      LH have short-term outcomes advantages of tumor margin, blood loss, blood
      transfusion, postoperative mobility, and hospital stay. OS and DFS were similar
      between LH and OH. LH is safe in HCC patients with liver cirrhosis.

PMID- 26884993
TI  - The relationship between promoter methylation of p16 gene and bladder cancer
      risk: a meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Many scientific evidences suggested that the methylation of p16INK4a
      (p16) was associated with bladder cancer, but some existing studies have yielded
      inconclusive results about the relationship between p16 promoter methylation and
      pathological features or the tumor grade of bladder cancer. This meta-analysis of
      studies aims to evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of p16
      methylation in bladder carcinogenesis. METHODS: Studies were systemically
      searched via PubMed and Google Scholar in English up to Sept 2015 and a total of
      ten appropriate studies (693 cases and 290 controls) with an average NOS score of
      6.8 were included. The quality of the appropriate studies was measured by the
      Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessment. RESULTS: The meta-analysis results
      revealed that the methylation state of p16 was statistically significantly
      associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer (OR=6.71, 95% CI=3.79-11.87)
      compared to control, and there is no statistically significantly association
      between the p16 methylation and the tumor pTNM staging (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.22
      1.60) or the tumor grade (OR=1.01, 95% CI=0.52-1.94) in p16 methylated patients
      compared to unmethylated patients. CONCLUSIONS: our meta-analysis indicates that
      p16 promoter methylation may be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of
      bladder cancer and the inactivation of p16 may be an early event in bladder
      carcinogenesis. More studies with larger numbers of participants worldwide are
      needed to further identify the obvious association above.

PMID- 26884994
TI  - Liver dysfunction as an important predicting risk factor in patients undergoing
      cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Liver function is not considered as a risk factor by current risk scores, such as
      EUROSCORE II or STS-Score for cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to
      review the role of liver dysfunction, classified by the Child-Turcotte-Pugh
      classification or model for end-stage liver disease scores, as a risk factor for
      mortality and morbidity of patients following cardiac surgery. The Pubmed
      referencing library was searched. The rates of mortality and morbidity were
      calculated using SPSS software. The mortality rates in patients of Child class A,
      Child class B, and Child class C were pairwise compared respectively. A total of
      22 reports including 939 patients from eight countries were reviewed. The
      mortality rate of patients increased in accordance with increased CTP
      classification. The lowest mortality rate was recorded in Child class A patients,
      followed by Child class B patients and the highest mortality rate was observed in
      Child class C patients. The mean complication rate ranged from 3.82% to 22.15%.
      Child class C patients should be considered unacceptable for cardiovascular
      surgery. As two studies revealed, patients with a higher MELD score had
      significantly higher mortality rates. Liver function should be viewed as an
      important risk factor for cardiovascular surgery, based on its strong association
      with mortality and morbidity. 

PMID- 26884995
TI  - Glutamine synthetase predicts adjuvant TACE response in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is
      associated with better outcome and reduced tumor recurrence in hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship
      between glutamine synthetase (GS) expression and survival of HCC patients after
      postoperative adjuvant TACE. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 554 HCC
      patients in two independent cohorts who underwent curative resection.
      Immunohistochemistry assay was used to investigate the expression of GS protein
      and evaluate the association with survival and the response to adjuvant TACE.
      RESULTS: In training cohort, patients with low GS expression who received
      postoperative adjuvant TACE showed a better overall survival (OS) (P<0.001) and
      less early phase recurrence (P=0.016). Adjuvant TACE was an independent
      prognostic factor for 5-year OS (HR=0.408, 95% CI 0.261-0.639, P<0.001) and early
      phase recurrence (HR=0.592, 95% CI 0.376-0.931, P=0.023). The same result was
      confirmed in validation cohort. Patients with high GS expression in both cohorts
      did not have a significant response to adjuvant TACE in OS and early phase
      recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: GS status in tumor might be a useful tool in the
      selection of HCC patients who would be likely to benefit from postoperative
      adjuvant TACE.

PMID- 26884996
TI  - Effects of Wenyangzhenshuai Granule on ERK1/2 and ERK5 activity in the myocardial
      tissue in a rabbit model of adriamycin-induced chronic heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effects of Wenyangzhenshuai granule on expression of
      extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and 5 (ERK5) in the myocardial
      tissue using a rabbit model of adriamycin-induced chronic heart failure.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbits were divided into heart failure positive control,
      adriamycin injection, and adriamycin injection with Wenyangzhenshuai treatment
      (low, medium and high dose) groups. Cardiac function and cardiac hypotrophy were
      measured in all groups. Besides, myocardial expression of ERK1/2 and ERK5
      phosphorylation were evaluated by Western blotting and ERK1/2 and ERK5 mRNA
      levels by RT-PCR. The cardiac structure and cardiac function were also compared
      using histology staining and electron microscope. RESULTS: Adriamycin injection
      led to cardiac failure reflected by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction
      (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), E/A ratio, and increased
      cardiac hypertrophy, both of which have been improved by Wenyangzhenshuai granule
      treatment (all P<0.05). Mechanistically, increased P-ERK1/2 and decreased P-ERK5
      levels were observed in myocardial tissues of mice treated with Adriamycin for 8
      weeks. However, such signaling change could be partially corrected by
      Wenyangzhenshuai treatment. In addition, no significant difference was detected
      in the expression of ERK1/2 and ERK5 mRNA levels between adriamycin injection
      groups and Wenyangzhenshuai treatment groups (P>0.05), indicating an alteration
      in the activity/phosphorylation levels of these proteins instead of the
      transcription levels. CONCLUSION: we found a beneficial effect of
      Wenyangzhenshuai treatment in partially decelerating the progression of CHF. Such
      effect was probably through the role of Wenyangzhenchuan in diminishing p-ERK1/2
      and raising p-ERK5 level in myocardial tissue.

PMID- 26884997
TI  - FAD-linked Presenilin-1 V97L mutation impede tranport regulation and
      intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis under ER stress.
AB  - We report a PS1 gene mutation (Val 97Leu) in a Chinese familial Alzheimer's
      disease (FAD) pedigree and a cell model of FAD built by transfecting PS1 v97L
      mutants into human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. To test our hypothesis that the
      PS1 v97L mutation is pathogenic, we investigated possible alterations in
      transport regulation and intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis in endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER). Grp78 is an ER-resident chaperone mediating the unfolded protein
      response (UPR) and is a key regulator of ER stress transducers. KDEL is a 4-amino
      acid retention sequence made of Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu-COO. KDEL is a "resident"
      sequence as protein residence in ER is consistently associated with KDEL at the C
      extremity. Our group used KDEL recognizing anti-Grp78 monoclonal antibody to
      detect the level of Grp78. We found increased KDEL level in all the transfected
      cells including cells transfected with PS1 V97L genes, wild-type and the mock.
      However cells with PS1 V97L mutation expressed a relatively lower KDEL compared
      with the wild-type and the mock, and a significantly lower Grp78 level compared
      with the wild-type, the mock and control. These results suggest that PS1 V97L
      mutation impedes intracellular transport regulation in ER. PS1 V97L mutation
      mediates increased ER Ca(2+) content in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The
      increased intracellular Ca(2+) release is due to depleted Ca(2+) storing content
      of ER but not due to extracellular environment as capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE)
      is invariant. PS1 V97L mutation interferes with intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis.
      Abnormal transport regulation and Ca(2+) homeostasis attributed to PS1 V97L
      mutation may be associated with the pathology of Chinese familial FAD. 

PMID- 26884998
TI  - Automated stroke volume and pulse pressure variations predict fluid
      responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with obstructive jaundice.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke volume variation (SVV) and the pulse pressure
      variation (PPV) have been found to be effective in prediction fluid
      responsiveness especially in high risk operations. The objective of this study is
      to validate the ability of SVV obtained by FloTrac/Vigileo system and PPV
      obtained by IntelliVue MP System to predict fluid responsiveness in patients with
      obstructive jaundice during mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Twentyfive patients
      with obstructive jaundice (mean serum total bilirubin 175.0 +/- 120.8 MUmol/L),
      who accepted volume expansion and were hemodynamically stable after induction of
      anesthesia, were included in the study. SVV and PPV were recorded simultaneously
      before and after an intravascular volume expansion. Patients with a stroke volume
      index (SVI) increase of more than 10% after volume expansion were considered as
      responders. RESULTS: The agreement (mean bias +/- SD) between SVV and PPV was 
      0.2% +/- 1.56%. Before volume expansion, SVV and PPV were significantly higher in
      responders compared to non-responders (P<0.001, P<0.001). Significant correlation
      was observed between the baseline value of SVV and PPV and the percent change in
      SVI after fluid expansion (r=0.654, P<0.001; r=0.592, P=0.002). Area under the
      receiver operating characteristic curves of SVV (0.955) and PPV (0.875) were
      comparable (P=0.09). The optimal threshold values in predicting fluid
      responsiveness were 10% for SVV and 8% for PPV. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SVV
      obtained by FloTrac/Vigileo system and PPV obtained by IntelliVue MP System was
      able to predict fluid responsiveness in patients with obstructive jaundice.

PMID- 26884999
TI  - Prognostic value of caveolin-1 in genitourinary cancer: a meta-analysis.
AB  - We aimed to obtain the most comprehensive picture to date of the prognostic value
      of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in genitourinary carcinoma by meta-analyzing all eligible
      studies in PubMed and EMBASE. Data on patient clinical characteristics, cancer
      specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were extracted. The
      meta-analysis included 6 articles on prostate cancer, 5 on renal cancer, 1 on
      bladder cancer and 1 on transition cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Two
      studies examining the association of ELISA-measured Cav-1 levels in serum with
      RFS in 621 patients with prostate cancer gave a combined hazard ratio (HR) of
      1.25 (95% CI 0.36 to 4.36). The other 4 studies on prostate cancer examined the
      association of immunohistochemically determined Cav-1 levels in cancerous tissue
      with RFS and gave a combined HR of 1.83 (95% CI 1.36 to 2.47). Three studies on
      renal cancer examining the association of Cav-1 levels with CSS gave a
      multivariate HR of 1.98 (95% CI 1.35 to 2.90). The single studies on bladder
      carcinoma and upper urinary tract carcinoma gave, respectively, a multivariate HR
      of 2.28 (95% CI 1.09 to 4.74) for the relationship of Cav-1 levels to DFS, and a
      multivariate HR of 5.08 (95% CI 1.799 to 14.342) for the relationship of Cav-1
      levels to CSS. This meta-analysis of available evidence suggests that elevated
      Cav-1 levels in serum can predict poor survival in patients with genitourinary
      cancer, which may help identify high-risk patients earlier and guide clinical
      decision-making. 

PMID- 26885000
TI  - Gastric emptying scan after distal subtotal gastrectomy: Differences between
      Billroth I and II and predicting the presence of food residue at endoscopy.
AB  - PURPOSE: We investigated whether gastric emptying scans (GESs) showed different
      emptying patterns between patients after different types of laparoscopic distal
      subtotal gastrectomies. We also investigated whether the presence of food residue
      via endoscopy can be predicted by GESs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively
      enrolled patients who had GESs within postoperative week 1 after a Billroth I or
      Billroth II operation. Diabetic patients were excluded. GESs were done with a
      solid test meal. Percent emptying at each scan time was analyzed. The presence of
      food residue in the stomach and gastrointestinal symptoms at the outpatient
      clinic were also analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 46 patients were enrolled (Billroth
      I: Billroth II = 21:25). Sixteen patients underwent a second GES (postoperative 3
      6 months). Both groups showed delayed gastric emptying at the postoperative 1
      week scan, but group I showed much slower emptying. However, this difference
      disappeared by the second scan. Based on endoscopies conducted 6 months after the
      operation, 73.2% of patients had significant amounts of food residue, which
      hindered an accurate evaluation. The proportion of patients with food residues
      did not differ between the groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve
      analysis revealed that a cut-off value of <= 30% emptying at 100 min and 120 min
      in postoperative 3-6 month scans was both highly sensitive and specific for
      predicting the presence of food residue (90.91% and 75% for 100 min and 91.67%
      and 75% for 120 min, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: GESs within a week after distal
      subtotal gastrectomy show slower emptying of Billroth I than II. At a <= 30%
      emptying threshold, a GES can predict subtotal gastrectomy patients who might
      have a significant amount of food residue in their stomach even after following
      typical fasting instructions to prepare endoscopy.

PMID- 26885001
TI  - Recepteur d'Origine nantais (RON) tyrosine kinase splicing variants lacking exons
      18 and 19 occur ubiquitously in lung cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aberrant expression of RON, a MET family receptor tyrosine kinase,
      has been correlated to tumor growth and metastasis. Intense research efforts are
      on to target RON using small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors or specific
      antibodies. However, progress towards specific targeting of RON is hampered by a
      lack of understanding of the nature and number of isoforms of RON expressed by
      tumors. We hypothesize that formation of different isoforms via alternative
      splicing may be fundamental to the tumor promoting functions associated with
      aberrantly expressed RON in cancers. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed the
      transcript sequence variations caused by alternative splicing in the C-terminal
      region of RON cDNA by PCR amplification and sequencing of five small cell lung
      carcinoma (SCLC) and seven non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines.
      RESULTS: Results revealed the presence of two alternatively spliced variants,
      each caused by unique exon(s) deletion: a previously known transcript variant
      lacking exon 19 and a novel one lacking exons 18+19. The two alternatively
      spliced variants together with the wild-type transcript were detected in each of
      the 12 lung cancer cell lines analyzed. Combined loss of exons 18+19 results in
      an in-frame deletion of 303 nucleotides corresponding to 101 amino acids of the
      tyrosine kinase domain. Translation products of transcript variants lacking exons
      18 and 19 are expected to dominant negatively inhibit ligand stimulated RON
      signaling. CONCLUSIONS: The ubiquitous presence of alternatively spliced
      transcripts and their translation products may affect quantitative expression
      analysis, either by immunological or PCR methods, by interfering with estimation
      of normal RON, leading to exaggerated values. Besides, RON isoforms with dominant
      negative activities may interfere with siRNA based functional analysis of wild
      type RON.

PMID- 26885002
TI  - Ventriculoscopic surgery for arachnoid cysts in the lateral ventricle: a
      comparative study of 21 consecutive cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neuronavigation-guided ventriculoscopic technique in the
      treatment of arachnoid cysts in the lateral ventricle. METHODS: Between January
      2008 to November 2011, twenty-one neuronavigationguided ventriculoscopic surgery
      were performed for the treatment of symptomatic arachnoid cysts in 21 patients
      (14 male and 7 female patients, mean age 24.1 years [ranged 1.5-61 years])
      Clinical presentations varied from headache, vomiting, hemiparesis and seizure.
      The trajectory of ventriculoscopy was dynamically monitored and guided in real
      time by neuronavigation system. Cysts fenestrations were performed in fourteen
      cases, and cysts resection in seven cases, respectively. All patients were
      prospectively had a regular follow-up. RESULTS: After operation, all patients
      achieved symptom resolution without surgical mortality and morbidity. Aseptic
      meningitis was noted in four cases with cyst resection, and all recovered quickly
      without advanced treatments. However, a later ependymal adhesion, occurred in one
      case during follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The combination of ventriculoscopy and
      neuronavigation is an accurate, effective and safe approach for the treatment of
      the patients with arachnoid cysts in the lateral ventricle, especially, for
      overcoming the topographic variation caused by intraventricular pathologies.
      Cystoventriculostomy is the best choice.

PMID- 26885003
TI  - Association between alpha-1 antichymotrypsin gene A/T polymorphism and primary
      intracerebral hemorrhage: a meta-analysis.
AB  - The present study is to use meta-analysis to explain the association between
      alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT) gene A/T polymorphism and the risk of primary
      intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH). Relevant studies before 1 June 2015 were
      identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane database and Science Citation Index
      Expanded (SCIE), and the references of retrieved articles. Pooled odds ratios
      (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess
      the strength of the association. Five independent publications, with 774 PICH
      cases and 940 controls, were included. There was no statistical evidence of
      association between ACT polymorphism and PICH risk under all genetic models in
      overall estimates (allele model: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.80-1.28; heterozygote
      model: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.60-1.45; homozygote model: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.59
      1.80; dominant model: OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.65-1.46; recessive model: OR = 1.06,
      95% CI = 0.72-1.57). No association was found in subgroup analysis based on
      ethnicity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, location of hematoma and blood pressure.
      Sensitivity analysis suggested that the combined results were stable and
      reliable. No significant publication bias was found by Begg's test and Egger's
      regression test. The results of our meta-analysis indicate that ACT polymorphism
      is unlikely to contribute to PICH susceptibility. 

PMID- 26885004
TI  - Fast pinless external fixation for open tibial fractures: preliminary report of a
      prospective study.
AB  - A major drawback of conventional fixator system is the penetration of fixator
      pins into the medullary canal. The pins create a direct link between the
      medullary cavity and outer environment, leading to higher infection rates on
      conversion to intramedullary nailing. This study was designed to prospectively
      evaluate the role of new rapid pinless external fixators in primary stabilization
      of open tibial shaft fractures. In our study, a prospective study of 96
      consecutive patients of open tibial shaft fractures treated with new rapid
      pinless external fixator and reamed intramedullary nail was carried out. The bone
      healing status, ability to maintain alignment were examined for radiologic
      outcome, whereas initial management, length of hospital stay, associated
      morbidity, range of knee and ankle motion, time to partial and full weight
      bearing, employment status and perioperative and postoperative complications were
      used for clinical evaluation. We followed up for over two years for the patients
      underwent clinical and radiologic after the surgery. The mean hospital stay was
      15 days (ranges, 8-68). Bone healing was achieved for all cases except 3 patients
      who were lost to follow-up study. No patient suffered compartment syndromes.
      There was no statistically significance in range of motion among the knees of
      injury and uninjured limbs at final follow-up (P > 0.05). To the last follow-up,
      there were no cases of deep infection or implant-related fractures. Seventy-one
      patients who were employed before the injury returned to work after the
      operation, 16 had changed to less strenuous work. We concluded that better
      results can be achieved on clinical and radiologic evaluation of primary
      stabilization with rapid pinless external fixator and early exchange reamed
      intramedullary nail for suitable patients with open tibial shaft fractures. The
      incident rate of relative complications is low. The rapid pinless external
      fixator can be combined favorably with the reamed intramedullary nail and is a
      valuable addition to the conventional external fixator systems. 

PMID- 26885005
TI  - Comparison on the efficacy of everolimus-eluting stent and zotarolimus-eluting
      stents in coronary heart disease between diabetic and non-diabetic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the efficacy of
      everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) in coronary
      heart disease in diabetic or non-diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 666
      patients needed for percutaneous coronary intervention were randomly selected
      from June 2008 to June 2013 in our hospital and were divided into two groups: (i)
      coronary heart disease with diabetes group and (ii) non-diabetes group. Patients
      in each group were further assigned to receive treatment of either EES or ZES.
      Then we observed the major adverse cardiac events, including mortality, nonfatal
      myocardial infarction and non-fatal cerebrovascular events over the period of 15
      months after initial stent implantation. RESULTS: Compared to the non-diabetic
      group, more patients in diabetic group had received anti-hypotensive treatment
      (72% vs. 49%, P < 0.0001) and hypolipemic treatment (80% vs. 67%, P < 0.0001)
      before the percutaneous coronary intervention. In both diabetic group and non
      diabetic group, patients received ZES treatment had a much greater incidence rate
      of major adverse cardiac events compared to the patients received EES treatment
      (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, target lesion revascularization rate in the ZES group was
      also significantly higher than that in the EES group. The data showed big
      differences between ZES and EES groups with important statistical significance (P
      < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes have a
      higher risk of major adverse cardiac events after stent implantation. EES
      treatment is safer with higher efficacy in our study, being a more effective
      stent for the patients merged with diabetes.

PMID- 26885006
TI  - Puerarin accelerate scardiac angiogenesis and improves cardiac function of
      myocardial infarction by upregulating VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 in rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The traditional Chinese medicinal puerarin, has long been used to
      treat cardiovascular diseases, however, the mechanism underlying its effects
      remain unclear. Here, this study would to investigate the role of puerarin on
      cardiac angiogenesis and myocardial function induced by myocardial infarction.
      METHODS: Puerarin was treated in rats after left anterior descending coronary
      artery (LAD) ligation and maintained for 4 weeks (diets containing about 50
      mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day). After treatment, cardiac function was evaluated by
      echocardiography and markers of heart failure. Paraffin sections of the heart
      tissues were used for isolect in GS-IB4 staining. The Mrna and protein expression
      levels of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 were detected by real-time polymerase chain
      reaction and western blot. RESULTS: Significantly damaged angiogenesis and
      slightly increase of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2 were showed after LAD ligation.
      Impaired angiogenesis and cardiac function were remarkably improved in puerarin
      treatment rats with great increase of VEGFA, Ang-1 and Ang-2. CONCLUSION: The
      above results demonstrated that puerarin could accelerate cardiac angiogenesis
      and improve cardiac function of myocardial infarction rats by upregulating VEGFA,
      Ang-1 and Ang-2.

PMID- 26885007
TI  - Pathological observation of acute myocardial infarction in Chinese miniswine.
AB  - The acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model in Chinese miniswine was built by
      percutaneous coronary artery occlusion. Pathological observation of AMI was
      performed, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the
      infarct sites was detected at different days after modeling in Chinese miniswine.
      The experimental findings may be used as the basis for blood flow reconstruction
      and intervention after AMI. Seven experimental Chinese miniswine were subjected
      to general anesthesia and Seldinger right femoral artery puncture. After coronary
      angiography, the gelfoam was injected via the microtube to occlude the obtuse
      marginal branch (OM branch). At 1 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d and 17 d after
      modeling, hetatoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the
      pathological changes and to detect the expression of TNF-alpha in the myocardial
      tissues. Cytoplasmic acidophilia of the necrotic myocardial tissues at 1 d after
      modeling was enhanced, and cytoplasmic granules were formed; at 3 d, the margins
      of the necrotic myocardial tissues were infiltrated by a large number of
      inflammatory cells; at 5 d, the nuclei of the necrotic myocardial cells were
      fragmented; at 7 d, extensive granulation tissues were formed at the margin of
      the necrotic myocardial tissues; at 10 d, part of the granulation tissues were
      replaced by fibrous scar tissues; at 14-17 d, all granulation tissues were
      replaced by fibrous scar tissues. Immunohistochemical detection indicated that no
      TNF-alpha expression in normal myocardial tissues. The TNF-alpha expression was
      first detected at 3 d in the necrotic myocardial tissues and then increased at 5
      d and 7 d. After reaching the peak at 10 d, the expression began to decrease at
      14 d and the decrease continued at 17 d. Coronary angiography showed the
      disappearance of blood flow at the distal end of OM branch occluded by gelfoam,
      indicating that AMI model was constructed successfully. The repair of the
      infarcted myocardium began at 10-17 d after modeling with safe blood flow
      reconstruction. TNF-alpha expression in the infarcted myocardium was the highest
      at 10 d, which can be explained by inflammation and repair of the infarcted
      myocardium. 

PMID- 26885008
TI  - Levels of CEA, CA153, CA199, CA724 and AFP in nipple discharge of breast cancer
      patients.
AB  - The distinction between breast cancer and benign breast diseases with nipple
      discharge remains an important diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study
      was to predict the potential usefulness of tumor markers in nipple discharge and
      to investigate the relationship of tumor markers and clinical characteristics
      with breast cancer.One hundred and eleven patients with nipple discharge received
      breast surgery from November 2013 to December 2014 were included in the study. We
      evaluated levels of five tumor markers (CEA, CA153, CA199, CA724 and AFP) prior
      to treatment. Patients were divided into two groups according to postoperative
      pathological results: 30 cases in breast cancer group and 81 cases in benign
      group. The relationships of clinical characteristics with breast cancer were
      investigated by multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model.It showed
      significant differences in levels of nipple discharge CEA (P < 0.001) and CA153
      (P = 0.014), but not CA199 (P = 0.856), CA724 (P = 0.171), AFP (P = 0.834) among
      two groups. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated complaint, age, menopause,
      abnormal palpable mass, CEA and CA153 were associated with breast cancer. In
      summary, measurements of CA199, CA724 and AFP in nipple discharge are not of
      great clinical value. Detecting CEA and CA153 in nipple dischargecould
      potentially be used for the early detection of breast cancer with in high-risk
      populations. 

PMID- 26885009
TI  - Antioxidant and antitumor effects of ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate the antioxidant and antitumor effects of
      the extract fractions of the Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen. METHODS: Four
      different fractions of the Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen were obtained by the
      extraction with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol,
      respectively, which were used to treat the HCT116, Caco-2, HepG2, and MFC cells.
      Free radical scavenging effects of the ferula fractions were deteced with the
      DPPH assay. Effects of the ferula fractions on the peroliferatoin of the tumor
      cells were assessed with the SRB assay. Apoptosis was detected with flow
      cytometry. RESULTS: The DPPH assay showed that the petroleum ether fraction
      hardly showed any antioxidant activity, while the ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and
      methanol fractions exhibited free radical-scavenging capacities, in a dose
      dependent manner. The SRB assay showed that, the proliferation of the tumor cells
      could be inhibited by the ferula fractions, in a dose dependent manner. However,
      differential effects were observed for the different fractions in different model
      cells. Particularly, the ethyl acetate fraction exerted the most efficient
      inhibiting effects on the tumor cell proliferation. In addition, the flow
      cytometry showed that, all the ferula fractions significantly enhanced the
      apoptotic process in the tumor cells, with differential enhancing capacities in
      different model cells. CONCLUSION: Extract fractions of the Ferula sinkiangensis
      K. M. Shen could exert antioxidant, proliferation-inhibiting, and apoptosis
      enhancing effects in tumor cells. Particularly, the ethyl acetate fraction
      exhibits the most potent antioxidant and antitumor effects.

PMID- 26885010
TI  - The effect of sevoflurane on the cognitive function of rats and its association
      with the inhibition of synaptic transmission.
AB  - To observe the effects of different concentrations of sevoflurane on
      synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) expression, synaptic long term depression (LTD), and
      paired pulse depression (PPD) in the rat hippocampus as well as to investigate
      the association between these effects and the cognitive function of rats. A total
      of 24 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected and randomly divided into 3
      groups: the control group (group A), which inhaled air; group B, which inhaled
      0.65 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) sevoflurane for 2 h; and group C, which
      inhaled 1.30 MAC sevoflurane for 2 h. The subsequent experiments were performed
      after one day. (1) Y maze tests were performed, and the expression of Syt1 in
      hippocampal tissues was detected using western blot. (2) The changes in LTD and
      PPD in rat hippocampal slices were examined using electrophysiological
      techniques. Compared to the control group, the cognitive function was decreased
      and Syt1 expression in the hippocampus was significantly decreased in rats in the
      1.30 MAC sevoflurane inhalation group. After 60 min of low frequency stimulation,
      the amplitudes of population spike (PS) potentials in rat hippocampal slices were
      significantly decreased. After induction of PPD, the P2/P1 ratio was
      significantly increased. No indicators in the 0.65 MAC sevoflurane inhalation
      group showed any significant changes. Inhalation of high concentrations of
      sevoflurane significantly reduced Syt1 protein levels in the rat hippocampus,
      significantly inhibited the release of presynaptic neurotransmitters, and reduced
      the efficiency of synaptic transmission, thus causing memory impairment. 

PMID- 26885011
TI  - The clinical application and efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty via unilateral
      pedicular approach guided by CT image measurement.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the clinical application and efficacy of
      percutaneous kyphoplasty via unilateral pedicular approach with the reference of
      preoperative CT image data. 73 cases (a total of 112 vertebrae) with thoracic and
      lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) received in our
      department were collected in this study and underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty
      via unilateral pedicular approach directed by CT image measurement with the
      operative time and fluoroscopic times recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and
      Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to assess the pain status and
      functional activity before and after operation and at the last follow-up, while X
      ray and CT image were used to measure the height of the injured spinal middle
      column and kyphotic Cobb angle before and after operation. 73 cases (112
      vertebrae) underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty successfully. Cement leakage
      occurred in 7 cases without obvious neurological symptoms, and they were followed
      up for 10 to 60 months with the average of 23 months; adjacent vertebral
      refractures occurred in 3 cases during the follow-up, and their symptoms were
      relieved after the second surgery. There was significant difference in the height
      of the injured spinal middle column and kyphotic Cobb angle before and after
      operation (P<0.05); there was significant difference in preoperative and
      postoperative VAS score and ODI values (P<0.05). Postoperative CT image data
      showed that puncture paths of the 110 vertebrae were consistent with preoperative
      ones sketched using the CT image, and the consistent rate of preoperative and
      postoperative measurement data was 98%. All patients could ambulate with brace
      within 2 days after operation without serious complications. In conclusion,
      percutaneous kyphoplasty via unilateral pedicular approach guided by preoperative
      CT image data is effective in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression
      fractures, and it is convenient and safe with high puncture accuracy, shorter
      operative time and less radiation exposure for patients and operators. 

PMID- 26885012
TI  - Comparison of the treatment of hydrocolloid and saline gauze for pressure ulcer:
      a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the hydrocolloid dressing versus saline gauze for the
      treatment of pressure ulcer. METHODS: Pubmed and Web of Knowledge were searched
      for randomized controlled trials for the treatment of hydrocolloid and saline
      gauze for pressure ulcer. The random effect model was used. Sensitivity analysis
      and publication bias were conducted. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials
      involving a total of 329 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The
      combined results suggested that significant association in complete healing were
      detected among hydrocolloid dressings and saline gauze [Summary RR=2.20, 95%
      CI=1.21-4.02, I(2)=48.5%]. The associations were also significant when we only
      combine the results for ulcers healed and the treatment duration of 8-12 weeks.
      No publication bias was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggested that the
      use of hydrocolloid dressing increased the likelihood of complete healing by more
      than two-fold compared with saline gauze dressing.

PMID- 26885014
TI  - Erbium: YAG laser (2,940 nm) treatment stimulates hair growth through
      upregulating Wnt 10b and beta-catenin expression in C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the role of 2,940 nm erbium: YAG laser in hair growth in C57BL/6
      mice. METHODS: Anagen was experimentally induced by depilation. Healthy C57BL/6
      mice (n=22) were randomly divided into four groups, with treatment of laser or
      minoxidil, or with combined laser and minoxidil treatments. The skin color of
      each mouse was observed each day. The time from telogen (pink skin color) to
      anagen (black coloration) phase and from anagen (black coloration) to catagen
      (all hairs grew out of the depilated skin) have been recorded. Hematoxylin and
      eosin (H&E) assay was done at fifteen days after the first treatment for each
      group to observe hair follicles and hair cycle score. Western blot analysis was
      utilized to detect the expression levels of Wnt 10-b and beta-catenin. RESULTS:
      Black pigmentation started significantly earlier both in the laser and
      combination group than in the control group. Moreover, the time from anagen to
      catagen in the laser, minoxidil and combination groups were all significantly
      shorter from the control group. Histopathology with H&E staining showed an
      obvious increase in the number of hair follicles in the anagen phase caused by
      the treatment of 2,940 nm erbium: YAG laser and minoxidil. Similarly, the
      percentage of hair follicles in anagen VI accounted for 19.5%, 37.5%, 41.5% and
      44% in control, laser, minoxidil, and combination group, respectively. Western
      blot analysis showed that both the levels of Wnt 10b and beta-catenin were
      significantly increased by the treatment of 2,940 nm erbium: YAG laser.
      CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that 2,940-nm Er: YAG laser could promote hair
      growth by inducing hair cycle transition from telogen to anagen phases in C57BL/6
      mice through up regulating Wnt 10b and beta-catenin. These results suggest that
      2,940-nm Er: YAG laser may be a potential therapy for hair loss.

PMID- 26885013
TI  - FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR),
      aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based
      on the 4 factor (FIB-4), and their combinations in the assessment of liver
      fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of FibroScan,
      aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate
      aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the 4
      factor (FIB-4) and their combinations on liver fibrosis in patients with
      hepatitis B. METHODS: 406 hospitalized patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)
      and cirrhosis in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively and collected
      patients clinical indicators, including liver stiffness (LS), AAR, APRI and FIB
      4, and then compared the differences of these indicators between CHB group and
      hepatitis B with cirrhosis group. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to
      evaluate the differentiating capacity of these indicators on CHB and liver
      cirrhosis. RESULTS: Four indicators related to liver cirrhosis had a statistical
      significance between two groups (P < 0.01); the under ROC curve areas of LS, AAR,
      APRI and FIB-4 for differential diagnosis of CHB and liver cirrhosis were 0.866,
      0.772, 0.632 and 0.885, respectively. The under ROC curve areas of LS, AAR, APRI
      and FIB-4 for differential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis at compensatory stage and
      de-compensatory stage were 0.627, 0.666, 0.795 and 0.820, respectively.
      CONCLUSION: LS, AAR, APRI and FIB-4 were good indicators as clinical diagnosis
      and differential diagnosis on hepatitis B related cirrhosis.

PMID- 26885015
TI  - Stage I posterior osteotomy and instrumentation and stage II anterior debridement
      and bone grafting for lumbar spinal tuberculosis with severe kyphosis.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of stage I posterior
      osteotomy and instrumentation followed by stage II anterior debridement and bone
      grafting in patients with lumbar spinal tuberculosis (TB) with severe kyphosis.
      The records of patients with lumbar spinal TB and severe kyphosis treated with 2
      stage surgery at our hospital from 2005 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.
      Outcome measures were kyphosis correction rate, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain
      scores, and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) spinal cord injury and
      sensation function scores. A total of 53 patients (34 male, 19 female; mean age
      32 years) were included. The number of involved kyphosis segments ranged from 7
      to 14, and the average preoperative kyphosis angle was 107.3 +/- 18.1 degrees .
      All procedures were performed without serious complications. The average follow
      up time was 42 months. Bone fusion occurred at a range of 6 to 9 months after
      surgery, and none of the patients had internal fixation failure, position change,
      or pseudoarthrosis. The mean postoperative kyphosis angle was 29.4 +/- 12.4
      degrees , with a mean improvement of 77.9 degrees , and the correction rate was
      72.6% (P < 0.001). At final follow-up, average correction loss was 1.35 degrees .
      The mean postoperative VAS pain score was 2.4 +/- 0.8, and the change from the
      preoperative value was significant (P < 0.001). ASIA spinal injury scores were
      increased postoperatively. Stage I posterior osteotomy and instrumentation
      followed by stage II anterior debridement and bone grafting can achieve good
      results in patients with lumbar TB and severe kyphosis. 

PMID- 26885016
TI  - Association between HTR2A T102C polymorphism and major depressive disorder: a
      meta-analysis in the Chinese population.
AB  - Although a number of studies have been conducted on the association between HTR2A
      T102C polymorphism and major depressive disorder (MDD) in Chinese, this
      association remains elusive and controversial. To clarify the effects of HTR2A
      T102C polymorphism on the risk of MDD, a meta-analysis was performed in the
      Chinese population. Related studies were identified from PubMed, Springer Link,
      Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese National Knowledge
      Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) till 5 May 2015. The
      odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate
      the strength of the associations. Statistical analyses were conducted with
      Version 10.0 STATA statistical software. A total of 12 case-control studies
      including 1444 MDD cases and 1445 controls were involved in this meta-analysis.
      Overall, no significant association with MDD risk was provided in the Chinese
      population (C vs. T: OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.81-1.17, 95%; CC vs. TT: OR=0.95, 95% CI:
      0.65-1.37; CC+TC vs. TT: OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.75-1.12; CC vs. TT+TC: OR=0.94, 95%
      CI: 0.78-1.12). In subgroup analyses stratified by geographic area and source of
      controls, no significant association was found in any of the subgroups. In
      conclusion, this meta-analysis indicate that the HTR2A T102C polymorphism is not
      associated with susceptibility to MDD in Chinese population. 

PMID- 26885017
TI  - Expression of HAX1 and Ki-67 in breast cancer and its correlations with patient's
      clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the HS-1-associated protein X-1 (HAX1)
      and Ki-67 expression in the breast cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS:
      Breast cancer tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues were collected from 81 patients,
      and immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect the HAX1 and Ki-67 expression.
      The correlations of HAX1 expression with demographics, clinicopathological
      characteristics and prognosis were evaluated. RESULTS: HAX1 was highly expressed
      in the breast cancer, and its expression was related to the degree of breast
      cancer differentiation (P=0.002), lymph nodes metastasis (P=0.008) and
      progesterone receptor (PR) (P=0.021), but not with the age, tumor size,
      histological type, estrogen receptor (ER), HER2 and p53. HAX1 expression was
      positively related to Ki-67 expression in the breast cancer (r(2)=0.394,
      P=0.019). In addition, a higher HAX-1 expression was related to a lower 10-year
      survival rate. CONCLUSION: HAX1 is a new protein related to the breast cancer and
      probably plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.
      Thus, HAX1 may be used as a potential target for the therapy of breast cancer.

PMID- 26885018
TI  - Association of osteopontin polymorphism with cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
AB  - To investigate the association of osteopontin gene -443 C>T, -156 G>GG, and -1748
      A>G polymorphisms with cancer risk. The Medline, PubMed, PUBMED, EMBASE and Web
      of Science databases were searched. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.2
      software. After searching and evaluating the included papers, total 10 documents
      involved in -443 C>T, 8 papers involved in four articles involved in -156 G>GG
      and -1748 A>G were included into this meta analysis. There were no significant
      differences in genotype osteopontin -443 C>T distribution between cancer cases
      and control (OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.68-1.40, P=0.90; OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.60-1.35,
      P=0.62; OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.59-1.64, P=0.94; OR=0.87, 95% CI=0.60-1.25, P=0.44,
      respectively). Meanwhile, no association between osteopontin -1748 A>G
      polymorphism and tumors under all genetic models. (OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.54-1.00,
      P=0.05; OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.82-1.10, P=0.48; OR=1.31, 95% CI=0.95-1.81, P=0.10;
      OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.77-1.06, P=0.20, respectively). However, osteopontin -156 G>GG
      polymorphism is only partly related to the tumor risk. (GGGG+GGG vs GG model,
      OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.01-1.46, P=0.04; GGG vs GG model: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35,
      P=0.008, respectively) osteopontin gene polymorphisms, -443 C>T and -1748 A>G was
      not associated with cancer risk, but partly associated to tumor risk for -156
      G>GG gene polymorphism. 

PMID- 26885019
TI  - Predictive potential role of GSTs gene polymorphisms in the treatment outcome of
      advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the possible association between GSTP1, GSTM1,
      and GSTT1 polymorphisms and treatment outcome of advanced NSCLC. Between October
      2009 and October 2011, a total of 308 patients of NSCLC on stage IIIA, IIIB or
      IV, treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy were included. Polymerase chain
      reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to genotype the GSTP1
      and GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms. We found that the IIe/Val and Val/Val
      genotypes of GSTP1 showed more CR+PR to chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC when
      compared with IIe/IIe genotype, and the Ors (95% CI) were 0.37 (0.18-0.71) and
      0.15 (0.07-0.38). The IIe/Val and Val/Val genotypes of GSTP1 were associated with
      longer overall survival of advanced NSCLC when compared with the IIe/IIe genotype
      (For IIe/Val vs IIe/IIe, 37.63 +/- 2.01 months vs 30.25 +/- 2.06 months; for
      Val/Val vs IIe/IIe, 39.84 +/- 3.36 months vs 30.25 +/- 2.06 months). In the Cox
      proportional hazards model, the IIe/Val and Val/Val genotypes significantly
      decreased risk of death from all causes in patients with advanced NSCLC, and the
      HRs (95% CIs) were 0.51 (0.28-0.94) and 0.35 (0.16-0.78), respectively. We found
      that the GSTP1 polymorphisms might affect the clinical outcome of patients with
      advanced NSCLC, and our results could help us to facilitate therapeutic decision
      for individualized therapy. 

PMID- 26885020
TI  - Effects of down-regulation of clusterin by small interference RNA on human acute
      myeloid leukemia cells.
AB  - AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Up-regulation of clusterin is associated with the survival
      and progression of various malignancies, and down-regulation of clusterin
      promotes apoptosis and inhibits invasion. The aim of this study was to explore
      the effect of clusterin small interference RNA (siRNA) on the proliferation,
      apoptosis and invasion of HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. METHODS:
      siRNA transfection was performed using LipofectamineTM2000 reagent. Relative
      protein expressions were quantified by Western blot. Trypan blue assay was
      performed to assess tumor cell proliferation after siRNA transfection. The
      cytotoxic effect of clusterin siRNA on leukemic cells was measured using MTT
      assay. Apoptosis was detected using fluorescence microscopy assay. Migration and
      invasion was detected after clusterin was silenced. RESULTS: Clusterin siRNA
      clearly lowered clusterin protein levels in a time- dependent manner, leading to
      marked inhibition of cell survival, proliferation and invasion. Furthermore,
      clusterin down-regulation significantly enhanced the extent of HL-60 apoptotic
      cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the down-regulation of clusterin by
      siRNA can effectively trigger apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation and
      invasion of leukemic cells. Therefore, clusterin siRNA may be a potent adjuvant
      in AML therapy.

PMID- 26885021
TI  - Experimental studies on islets isolation, purification and function in rats.
AB  - To develop a simple and effective method of islet isolation and purification in
      rats. Collagenase P was injected into pancreatic duct followed by incubation in
      water bath to digest the pancreas and isolate islet, then discontinuous gravity
      gradient purification was used to purify the islet. The purified islets were
      identified by dithizone staining. The viability of islets was assessed by
      fluorescence staining of acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI). The
      function of purified islets was determined by glucose-stimulated insulin release
      test and transplantation of rat with streptozocin-induced diabetes. 738+/-193
      islets were recovered after purification. The average purity was 77+/-13%, the
      viability of islets was more than 95%. When inspected by glucose stimulation, the
      secreted insulin concentration was 24.31+/-5.47 mIU/L when stimulated by low
      concentration glucose and 37.62+/-4.29 mIU/L by high concentration glucose. There
      was significant difference between the two phases (P<0.05). The blood sugar
      concentration recovered to normal level after two days in the animals with islet
      transplantation. In conclusion, islets can be procured with good function and
      shape by using the method of injecting collagenase into pancreatic duct followed
      by incubation in water bath and purification using discontinuous gravity
      gradient. 

PMID- 26885022
TI  - Association between sodium intakes with the risk of chronic kidney disease:
      evidence from a meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Inconsistent results regarding the association between sodium intake
      and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been reported. Thus, we
      conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence from epidemiological studies
      of sodium with the risk of CKD. METHODS: Pertinent studies were identified by
      searching of PubMed and Web of Science. The random effect model was used to
      combine the results. Meta-regression and subgroups analyses were used to explore
      potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was estimated
      using Egger's regression asymmetry test. RESULTS: Finally, 9 articles involving
      5638 CKD cases were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results suggested that
      highest sodium intake level versus lowest level was significantly associated with
      the risk of CKD [summary relative risk (RR) = 1.088, 95% CI = 1.009-1.193, I(2) =
      78.1%], especially among Europe [summary RR = 1.097, 95% CI = 1.009-1.205], but
      not in the America. The association was also found in the prospective studies
      [summary RR = 1.096, 95% CI = 1.007-1.192], but not in the cross-sectional
      studies. No evidence of significant publication bias was found. CONCLUSIONS:
      Higher sodium intake might increase the risk of CKD.

PMID- 26885023
TI  - Remote ischemic precondition prevents radial artery endothelial dysfunction
      induced by ischemia and reperfusion based on a cyclooxygenase-2-dependent
      mechanism.
AB  - Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and remote ischemic precondition (RIPC) are
      resistance to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. They have common protective
      mechanism. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 participate in the mechanism of IPC. So, the
      purpose of this study was to determine whether RIPC protects endothelial function
      of radial artery in human against IR and whether COX-2 involves in this effect.
      Endothelial IR injury was induced by arm ischemia (20 min) and reperfusion. Flow
      mediated dilation (FMD) of the radial artery was measured before and after IR.
      RIPC (three 5-min cycles of ischemia of the contralateral arm) was applied
      immediately and 24 h before IR. All volunteers received the COX-2 inhibitor
      celecoxib (200 mg orally twice daily) for 5 days. On day 6, all subjects
      experienced the same studies as described. FMD was reduced by IR without
      administration of RIPC (P<0.0001). RIPC prevent this impairment of FMD
      immediately (P=NS) and at 24 h (P=NS). Nevertheless, the COX-2 inhibiter
      abolished protective effect of RIPC at 24 h (P=NS), but not immediately
      (P=0.001). After administration of the COX-2 inhibiter, post-IR FMD after RIPC
      performed immediately had significant increase than after RIPC performed at 24 h
      (P=0.001) and without administration of RIPC (P=0.003). The COX-2 inhibiter made
      post-IR FMD evidently decrease after RIPC performed at 24 h (P=0.002). RIPC
      prevents radial artery endothelial dysfunction induced by IR. This protective
      effect of RIPC in the late phase is mediated by a COX-2-dependent mechanism. 

PMID- 26885024
TI  - The extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and virulence genes of intestinal
      enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in healthy elderly individuals.
AB  - AIM: to analyze the detection rate of intestinal enteroaggregative Escherichia
      coli (EAEC) in healthy elderly (>=60 years) individuals in the Hangzhou area of
      China, and to investigate the extended spectrum beta-lactamases and virulence
      genes of EAEC. METHODS: Stool specimens provided by healthy elderly individuals
      were cultured on blood agar, SS, and MAC plates. The bacterial strains were
      identified using Vitek-2 Compact automatic microorganism identification system
      and mass spectrometry. The resistance phenotypes of the bacteria were determined
      using the double-disk synergy method. The resistance genes and the EAEC virulence
      gene, astA and aggR, were amplified by PCR and compared to the sequences
      available in Gen Bank. RESULTS: Among the 1050 healthy volunteers, the majority
      of bacteria were E. coli, accounting for 960 strains, with an ESBL-positive rate
      of 36.3% (348/960). The EAEC detection rate was 10% (96/960); among them, 84
      strains were astA, the detection rate of which was 8.75%; 12 strains were aggR,
      the detection rate of which was 1.25%. The ESBL-positive rate of EAEC strains
      were 56.25% (54/96), all of which carried the CTX-M type, with the CTX-M-14
      predominating at 66.7% (36/54). CONCLUSIONS: The ESBL-positive rate of intestinal
      E. coli in healthy elderly individuals in the Hangzhou area of China was higher
      than the rate detected in other regions of china; and there was a high rate of
      antibiotic resistance among the intestinal EAEC in healthy elderly individuals.
      The results of this study suggest that EAEC is not only a pathogenic bacteria
      detected in diarrhea patients, but can also be present in healthy individuals,
      and high-resistance clinical strains have spread to the healthy population in the
      Hangzhou area. So vigilance is critical.

PMID- 26885025
TI  - Direct measurement of reactive oxygen species in leukocytes during hemodialysis
      therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hemodialysis (HD) are reported
      to elevate oxidative stress. Available evidence for oxidative stress is indirect
      measurement of oxidative stress as accumulation of byproducts by reactive oxygen
      species (ROS). We aimed to examine the effect of CKD and HD on ROS levels in
      circulating leukocytes and to compare those with conventional oxidative stress
      marker, F2-isoprostane, in HD patients. METHODS: Using flowcytometry techniques,
      ROS levels in circulating leukocytes can be directly measured in 16 HD patients
      and 12 healthy volunteers. We also measured circulating F2-isoprostanes levels in
      both groups. RESULTS: HD patients demonstrated a significant increase in serum
      levels of F2-isoprostanes. The direct measurement of ROS levels in leukocytes
      showed increase in HD patients compared to the control; 1.91-fold in
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), 1.06-fold in lymphocytes, and 1.35-fold in
      monocytes. Significant difference between the two groups could be observed only
      in PMN. The ROS levels in all three fractions of leukocytes showed negative
      correlations with serum F2-isoprostane levels but the ROS levels only in PMN
      showed significant correlation (r(2) = 0.774, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results indicate that direct measurement of the ROS levels in circulating
      leukocytes by flowcytometry is a useful method to examine oxidative stress during
      HD procedure. The ROS levels in circulating leukocytes showed negative
      correlation with serum F2-isoprostane levels.

PMID- 26885026
TI  - Deregulation of decorin and FHL1 are associated with esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma progression and poor prognosis.
AB  - To investigate the expression of FHL1 and Decorin in esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma (ESCC) and its clinical significance. 82 ESCC tissues were evaluated by
      immunohistochemistry for the expression of FHL1 and Decorin. The role of the
      expression of FHL1 and Decorin in ESCC were statistically analyzed. The
      expression level of FHL1 and Decorin were reduced in malignant tissue samples in
      comparison to normal matched tissue (P < 0.05). It was also proved that the
      positive expressions of FHL1 and Decorin were associated with ESCC histological
      grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage and clinical stage (P < 0.05). In
      addition, the Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that the positive expressions
      of FHL1 and Decorin were associated with favorable prognosis in ESCC patients.
      Multivariate analysis showed that the positive expressions of FHL1 and Decorin
      were independent prognostic markers of overall survival of ESCC patients,
      respectively. The positive expressions of FHL1 and Decorin were associated with
      ESCC progression and good prognosis. Our results indicate that the positive
      expressions of FHL1 and Decorin were independent prognostic factors for patients
      with esophageal cancer, which might be potential valuable biomarkers for ESCC. 

PMID- 26885027
TI  - Prognostic significance of tissue miR-345 downregulation in non-small cell lung
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MiRNAs might function as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in the
      tumorigenesis process. Dysregulation of miR-345 is a frequent event in many types
      of human cancers. However, the tissue miR-345 expression level in non-small cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC) and its potential clinical significance remains unknown.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR was conducted to evaluate the expression
      level of miR-345 in NSCLC tissues as well as cell lines. Then the association
      between tissue miR-345 expression level and clinical outcome was investigated.
      RESULTS: The expression level of miR-345 was significantly decreased in NSCLC
      tissues and cell lines compared with the controls (P<0.05; P<0.01). Tissue miR
      345 expression level was associated with various clinicopathological parameters
      including LN metastasis (P=0.012), distant metastasis (P=0.007), TNM stage
      (P=0.008) and grade (P=0.030). In addition, the NSCLC patients in thelow tissue
      miR-345 expression group had significantly shorter 5-year overall survival time
      than those in the high tissue miR-345expression group (P=0.016). Multivariate
      analysis showed that tissue miR-345 was an independent risk factor for NSCLC
      (HR=3.921, 95% CI: 2.285-10.540; P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of
      miR-345 was reduced in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Low tissue miR-345
      expression was associated with progression and poor prognosis of NSCLC,
      indicating that tissue miR-345 may serve as a novel prognostic marker in NSCLC.

PMID- 26885028
TI  - Ginkgo biloba extract induce cell apoptosis and G0/G1 cycle arrest in gastric
      cancer cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that the Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761)
      can be used to anti-cancer. However, the mechanism by which EGb761 mediate this
      effect is still unclear. In the present study, EGb761 inhibited cell
      proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in gastric cancer cell was explored.
      METHODS: The cell viability was detected by the CCK8 assay. The cell cycle and
      apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The protein expression of caspase-3,
      p53 and Bcl-2 were analyzed by western blot. RESULTS: Treatment of human gastric
      cancer cells with EGb761 induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner by using
      CCK8 assay. Consistent with the CCK8 assay, the flow cytometry results showed
      that gastric cancer cells were accumulated in G0/G1 phase when exposed to EGb761.
      Furthermore, the proportion of apoptosis cells was increased after EGb761
      treatment as compared to untreated group. In addition, our results showed that
      the treatment of AGS cells with EGb761 significantly increased the expression of
      caspase3 and p53, and decreased the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 level. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results demonstrated that EGb761 could inhibit gastric cancer proliferation
      through adjusting cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis.

PMID- 26885029
TI  - Hirudin inhibits cell growth via ERK/MAPK signaling in human glioma.
AB  - Glioma is one of the most common intracranial tumors, and the prognosis is poor
      though more and more treatments are employed. ERK/MAPK signaling has been
      reported to be associated with glioma. In the present study, we aimed to
      investigate hirudin as an antineoplastic drug inhibits ERK/MAPK signaling in
      glioma growth in vitro. The cell proliferation and apoptosis rate were detected
      using MTS and Annexin V staining assay, cell cycle distribution was detected
      using flowcytometry assay. Furthermore, the relevant molecules of ERK/MAPK
      signaling were examined using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence
      staining assay. We provide the first evidence that hirudin increase inactivation
      state of ERK1/2, down-regulate the expression of canonical ERK/MAPK signaling
      pathway and establish an important role for hirudin in the treatment of glioma
      cells. 

PMID- 26885030
TI  - Immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability analysis in molecular
      subtyping of colorectal carcinoma based on mismatch repair competency.
AB  - Mismatch repair defective (MMRd) colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a distinct
      molecular phenotype of colorectal cancer, including 12% of sporadic CRC and 3% of
      Lynch Syndrome. In order to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics
      of MMRd colorectal carcinoma, and to find the most effective method for
      preliminary screening, 296 CRC fulfilled revised Bethesda Guideline (RB) were
      selected from 1450 CRCs to perform both IHC staining for MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2
      and MSI analysis. Sixty-eight tumors were classified as MSI-H by MSI test.
      Colorectal carcinomas with MSI-H were prone to be proximal located, poorly
      differentiated, and relatively early staged, with infrequent metastasis to lymph
      node as well as to distant organs, compared with MSS ones. All of the 68 MMRd
      CRCs presented abnormal expression of at least one mismatch repair protein
      (MMRP), with 48 concurrent negative of MLH1 and PMS2, 14 concurrent negative of
      MSH2 and MSH6, 4 isolated negative of MSH6, 1 isolated negative of PMS2, and 1
      concurrent negative of 4 MMRPs. All of the MLH1 negative tumors also showed
      abnormal expression of PMS2. All of the MSH2 negative cases also presented
      negative expression of MSH6. The sensitivity and specificity of the 2-antibody
      IHC test contained only PMS2 and MSH6 for screening for MMRd CRC were 100% and
      98.2% respectively, exactly the same as that of the 4-antibody IHC test with all
      of the 4 MMRPs. The diagnostic accordance rate of the 2-antibody approach and MSI
      analysis was 98.6%. In conclusion, MMRd CRC has characteristic
      clinicopathological features different from MSS CRCs. The 2-antibody IHC approach
      containing MSH6 and PMS2 is the most easy and effective way to detecting MMR
      deficiency in CRC. 

PMID- 26885031
TI  - Association of 8q23-24 region (8q23.3 loci and 8q24.21 loci) with susceptibility
      to colorectal cancer: a systematic and updated meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs16892766 in the
      8q23.3 region and rs6983267, rs10505477, rs7014346 and rs7837328 in the 8q24.21
      region, have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and a
      number of case-control studies to be closely associated with risk of colorectal
      cancer (CRC). In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to confirm if
      these loci are risk factors for susceptibility to CRC, taking heterogeneity of
      population into consideration. METHODS: The whole literature search was conducted
      via database of MEDLINE and Embase, through which 33 articles with 49 studies
      (141,899 cases and 157,536 controls) were finally included in this meta-analysis
      to evaluate the association between the 5 polymorphisms and risk of CRC under
      allelic model. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of the pooled data showed that the G
      allele of rs6983267, the A allele of rs7014346, the T allele of rs10505477, the C
      allele of rs16892766 and the A allele of rs7837328 were associated with
      significantly increased risk of CRC under allelic model. Additionally, subgroup
      analyses of four SNPs (rs7837328 excluded) by ethnicity witnessed a notable
      association between the G allele of rs6983267 and increased risk of CRC among
      Caucasians, Asians and Africans. Furthermore, the C allele of rs16892766 was
      strongly linked with elevated risk of CRC among Caucasians and Africans. However,
      the A allele of rs7014346 and T allele of rs10505477 only heightened risk for CRC
      among Caucasians and showed no effects among Asians. CONCLUSION: In summary,
      rs6983267 is a risk factor for CRC among Caucasians, Asians and Africans;
      rs7014346 and rs10505477 are risky genetic polymorphisms only among Caucasians;
      rs16892766 is a hazardous element among populations with Caucasian and African
      ancestry; and rs7837328 could elevate the susceptibility to CRC in a
      multinational group. However, more potential factors related with CRC risk should
      be investigated in further studies.

PMID- 26885032
TI  - A cross-sectional study to estimate associations between education level and
      osteoporosis in a Chinese postmenopausal women sample.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our research aims to investigate the associations between education
      level and osteoporosis (OP) in Chinese postmenopausal women. METHODS: A large
      scale, community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the
      associations between education level and OP. A self-reported questionnaire was
      used to access the demographical information and medical history of the
      participants. A total of 1905 postmenopausal women were available for data
      analysis in this study. Multiple regression models controlling for confounding
      factors to include education level were performed to investigate the relationship
      with OP. RESULTS: The prevalence of OP was 28.29% in our study sample.
      Multivariate linear regression analyses adjusted for relevant potential
      confounding factors detected significant associations between education level and
      T-score (beta = 0.025, P-value = 0.095, 95% CI: -0.004-0.055 for model 1; and
      beta = 0.092, P-value = 0.032, 95% CI: 0.008-0.175 for model 2). Multivariate
      logistic regression analyses detected significant associations between education
      level and OP in model 1 (P-value = 0.070 for model 1, Table 5), while no
      significant associations was reported in model 2 (P value = 0.131). In
      participants with high education levels, the OR for OP was 0.914 (95% CI: 0.830
      1.007). CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that education level was independently
      and significantly associated with OP. The prevalence of OP was more frequent in
      Chinese postmenopausal women with low educational status.

PMID- 26885033
TI  - Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) polymorphisms in Chinese Li population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The frequencies of Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genotypes were
      various between populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the
      frequencies of the major variants of the CYP2C9 in Chinese Li minority
      populations. METHODS: The promoter, exons and surrounding introns, and 3'
      untranslated region of the CYP2C9 gene was detected by DNA sequencing to
      investigate in 100 unrelated healthy Chinese Li subjects. The protein function
      prediction was used the online tools: Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) and
      Phenotyping Version 2 (PolyPhen-2). The comparison of CYP2C9 allele frequencies
      in different populations were analyzed by Chi-square (chi(2)) test. Linkage
      disequilibrium (LD) analysis was performed using Haploview software. RESULTS: We
      identified 17 different CYP2C9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Li
      population, including two missense mutations (3549 G > A and 42614 A > C) and two
      silent mutations (3514 T > Cand 50298A > T). The protein function prediction
      revealed the two missense mutations result in protein damaging. In addition, we
      detected the allele frequencies of CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*42 were 98%, 1%,
      and 1%, respectively. Finally, we compared three major allelic frequency
      (CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*3) between Li and other populations. We found
      that our results were similar to East Asians and Africans.

PMID- 26885034
TI  - (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in
      patients with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a nine-case series in China.
AB  - This study observed the image characteristics and clinico-imaging relationships
      of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography
      ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in the patients with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD). Nine
      consecutive patients with histologically proven KFD who underwent (18)F-FDG
      PET/CT were recruited. The (18)F-FDG uptakes of bone marrow (BM), spleen and
      lymph nodes (LNs) were systematically evaluated and maximum standardized uptake
      values (SUVmax) were measured. The number, locations and size factors of LNs were
      also assessed. The correlations were calculated between (18)F-FDG uptake and
      laboratory data and size factors of LNs, and the findings of LNs were compared
      between subgroups with different clinical features. (18)F-FDG uptakes were
      positive in the BM (SUVmax, 3.2 +/- 1.2), spleen (SUVmax, 2.8 +/- 0.7) and 122
      affected LNs (SUVmax, 4.2 +/- 2.2) for all patients. The affected LNs presented a
      systemically (region, 4 +/- 1), multiple (number, 14 +/- 5) and small-sized (long
      axis diameter, 11.4 +/- 2.7 mm; short axis diameter, 8.0 +/- 2.1 mm; area, 81.1
      +/- 44.6 mm(2)) pattern. The SUVmax of BM correlated to neutrophil count, and the
      SUVmax of affected LNs correlated to size factors and was lower in patients with
      long imaging interval and positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) (P < 0.05). We
      conclude that (18)F-FDG PET/CT can be characterized by the generalized
      distribution of relatively small-sized LNs and involvement of BM and spleen with
      high (18)F-FDG avidity in patients with KFD. The imaging interval, neutrophil
      count and ANA level should be synthetically considered during imaging evaluation.

PMID- 26885035
TI  - Combined portal vein resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgery is the only curative therapy for patients with hilar
      cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). Combined portal vein resection (PVR) could achieve
      negative resection margins in HCCA patients with portal vein invasion. This
      systematic review aimed to analysis the efficiency of combined PVR for HCCA.
      METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese National Knowledge
      Infrastructure database, and clinical trial registries were searched through
      April 2015. Risk ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were
      calculated. RESULTS: The analysis included 21 retrospective studies, altogether
      involving 2403 patients (patients with PVR, n=637; patients without PVR, n=1766).
      Patients with PVR were likely to have more advanced HCCA (lymphatic invasion:
      RR=1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.28; perineural invasion: RR=1.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.63)
      and suffered less curative resections (RR=0.89, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.99).
      Postoperative morbidity was similar between patients with or without PVR
      (RR=1.06, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.02). Patients with PVR suffered higher mortality rate
      (RR=1.52, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.18), and worse 5-year survival rate (RR=0.67, 95% CI
      0.49 to 0.91). CONCLUSION: Combined PVR for HCCA patients would not increase
      postoperative morbidity rate. However, ascribed to PVR group concluded more
      advanced HCCA patients; patients with PVR had increased postoperative mortality
      rate and worse survival rate. The results still need further high quality trails
      for validation.

PMID- 26885036
TI  - Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in prone position in patients with spinal
      deformities.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The feasibility, safety and efficacy of percutaneous
      nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with spinal deformities were evaluated and the
      results of a single centre experience were reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Between July 1999 and December 2014, 16 patients with spinal deformities
      underwent PCNL. The anomalies included 5 cases with kyphoscoliosis, 4 with post
      polio syndrome, 3 with osteogenesis imperfecta, 3 with myotonic dystrophy, and 1
      with ankylosing spondylitis. All patients were preoperatively evaluated by an
      intravenous urogram and computerized tomography to assess the anatomy and
      appropriate access. The operative details, stone clearance rates, and
      complications were retrospectivelyanalyzed. RESULTS: A total of 16 standard PCNL
      procedures were performed on 16 renal-units. The mean age of the patients was
      30.7 +/- 17.2 (5-62) years, and the mean stone burden was 609.6 +/- 526.9 (100
      1800) mm(2). The mean operative and fluoroscopy times were 76.6 +/- 35.1 (35-150)
      minutes and 12.5 +/- 8.5 (3-34) minutes, respectively. At the end of the surgery,
      13 (81.2%) of the patients were stone free. The overall success rate was 93.7%
      with the inclusion of 2 patients with clinically insignificant residual fragments
      (<3 mm). Complications (31.2%) included haemorrhage requiring a transfusion in 2
      patients, prolonged urine leakage requiring double J catheter insertion in 1,
      infection in 1, and nephrectomy due to bleeding in 1. Mean hospitalization time
      was 4.6 +/- 2.4 (3-13) days. CONCLUSION: PCNL is an effective, safe and minimally
      invasive procedure for the treatment of kidney stones in patients with spinal
      deformities, and it can be performed with low morbidity and high success rates.
      To achieve better results and minimizing the risk factors, systematic and
      anatomic evaluations for anaesthesia and operative planning are crucial before
      surgery.

PMID- 26885037
TI  - Optimized combination therapies with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine,
      telbivudine, or entecavir may be effective for chronic hepatitis B patients with
      a suboptimal response to ADV monotherapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify high risk factors in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients
      for suboptimal response to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) monotherapy, and to assess
      the efficacy of optimized therapy combining ADV with lamivudine (LAM),
      telbivudine (LdT), or entecavir (ETV) in patients with a suboptimal response to
      ADV alone. METHODS: Suboptimal response to ADV monotherapy was defined as having
      a decline in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level of more than 1 log compared
      to baseline, but with viremia still detectable (HBV DNA >= 100 IU/mL), after 48
      weeks of therapy. All patients who received ADV monotherapy in our clinic were
      analyzed retrospectively. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression
      models were applied for risk factor analysis. Patients who showed suboptimal
      response completed at least 12 months of optimized combination therapy consisting
      of ADV plus LAM, ADV plus LdT, ADV plus ETV, or continuous ADV monotherapy. The
      primary outcome measurement was complete viral suppression, indicated by a
      reduction of HBV DNA to undetectable levels (CVS, with HBV DNA < 100 IU/mL).
      Secondary outcome measures were HBeAg seroconversion for HBeAg-positive patients,
      HBsAg loss, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and virological
      breakthrough rates. RESULTS: Of 521 patients who received ADV monotherapy, 170
      showed a suboptimal response. These were grouped for continued therapy as
      follows: 34 in group A (continuous ADV monotherapy), 55 in group B (ADV plus
      LAM), 38 in group C (ADV plus LdT), and 43 in group D (ADV plus ETV). Using a
      logistic model, five conditions were identified as high risk factors for
      suboptimal response: presence of the tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate
      (YMDD) HBV DNA polymerase mutation; being HBeAg positive; having a high baseline
      level of HBV DNA; having a primary virological non-response to ADV; and [initial
      virological response] to ADV. After 48 weeks of ADV monotherapy, there were no
      withdrawn patients who had experienced side effects. The median HBV DNA levels
      were (4.4+/-1.3) log, (4.6+/-1.3) log, (4.7+/-1.4) log, and (4.5+/-1.5) log in
      groups A, B, C, D, respectively (F = 0.228, P = 0.876). After 48-weeks of
      continued ADV monotherapy or optimized combination therapy, the CVS rates were
      23.5% (8/34), 60% (33/55), 52.6% (20/38), and 58.1% (25/43), respectively (chi(2)
      = 12.952, P = 0.005). The median HBV DNA declines were (0.5+/-1.7) log, (2.0+/
      1.3) log, (1.8+/-1.6) log, and (1.8+/-1.5) log, respectively (F = 6.775, P <
      0.001). Virologic breakthrough rates were 26.5% (9/34), 7.3% (4/55), 10.5%
      (4/38), and 9.3% (4/43), respectively (chi(2) = 8.057, P = 0.045). CONCLUSION:
      Optimized combination therapies consisting of ADV plus LAM, LdT, or ETV may be
      reasonable choices for hepatitis B patients with a suboptimal response to ADV
      monotherapy.

PMID- 26885038
TI  - Elevated expressions of serum miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-17-5p are associated with
      acute ischemic stroke.
AB  - Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the leading causes of death and disability
      worldwide. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as potential
      biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple human diseases including
      AIS. In this study, serum expression levels of miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-17-5p
      were detected in AIS patients (n = 106) and healthy controls (n = 120) using
      quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Statistical analyses
      were performed to investigate the associations between miRNA levels and AIS risk.
      The serum expression levels of miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-17-5p increased by 8.3
      fold (P = 0.0104), 42 fold (P < 0.0001), and 9.9 fold (P = 0.0002) in AIS
      patients compared to controls, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression
      demonstrated that serum miR-17-5p level was a significant and independent
      predictor for determining the presence of AIS. Receiver operating characteristic
      (ROC) analysis revealed areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0.698 (95% confidence
      interval [CI]: 0.559-0.837, P = 0.01), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.71-0.931, P < 0.001), and
      0.784 (95% CI: 0.666-0.903, P < 0.001) for miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-17-5p,
      respectively, while the AUC increased to 0.845 (95% CI: 0.74-0.949, P < 0.001)
      for the combination of these three micoRNAs. Our findings indicate that elevated
      serum expression of miR-15a, miR-16, and miR-17-5p is strongly associated with
      AIS and that the combination of these three microRNAs may be a promising serum
      biomarker for AIS. 

PMID- 26885039
TI  - Characteristics of bacterial vaginosis infection in cervical lesions with high
      risk human papillomavirus infection.
AB  - High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major cause of cervical
      cancer. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is considered as the most prevalent vaginal
      imbalance affecting women of reproductive age. However, the relationship between
      HPV and BV infection is unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of
      human papillomavirus (HPV) infection combined with bacterial vaginosis (BV)
      infection in Shanghai suburbs and evaluate associations between bacterial
      vaginosis with HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and
      cervical cancer. METHODS: From October 1, 2009 to October 31, 2013, a total
      number of 3502 women who visited Fengxian Hospital, Southern Medical University
      were enrolled in this study. All participants gave informed consent and agreed to
      HPV, BV, chlamydia, mycoplasma and thinprepcytologic test (TCT). In addition, all
      women took histopathologic examination under colposcopy. Statistical analyses
      were done using SPSS 17.0 for windows (IBM). In present study the overall BV
      positive rate was 9.25%. The top three high risk HPV types were listed as follows
      (in descending order): HPV16, 52, 58. Moreover, our data showed BV infection
      tended to occur in the HPV positive women, HPV infection also tended to occur in
      the BV positive women. Most of the women who present HPV with BV infection were
      younger than 30 years old. We also found that CIN and cervical cancer occurred
      mainly in HPV/BV positive and HPV with BV positive group. BV infection and HPV
      infection may haveconsistency or synergies. HPV with BV infection may increase
      the incidence of CIN and cervical cancer.

PMID- 26885040
TI  - Higher plasma level of STIM1, OPG are correlated with stent restenosis after PCI.
AB  - OBJECT: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is one of the most effective
      treatments for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), but the high rate of In Stent
      Restenosis (ISR) has plagued clinicians after PCI. We aim to investigate the
      correlation of plasma Stromal Interaction Molecular 1 (STIM1) and Osteoprotegerin
      (OPG) level with stent restenosis after PCI. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive
      patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) received PCI procedure were recruited.
      Coronary angiography was performed 8 months after their PCI. Then patients were
      divided into 2 groups: observation group was composed by patients who existing
      postoperative stenosis after intervention; Control group was composed by patients
      with no postoperative stenosis. The plasma levels of STIM, OPG in all patients
      were tested before and after intervention. Pearson correlation and multiple
      linear regression analysis were performed to analysis the correlation between
      STIM, OPG level and postoperative stenosis. RESULTS: 35 cases were divided into
      observation group and other 65 were divided into control group. The plasma levels
      of STIM, OPG have no statistical difference before their PCI procedure, but we
      observed higher level of High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) existed in
      observation group. We observed higher level of plasma STIM, OPG in observation
      group when compared with control group after PCI procedure (P < 0.05). Regression
      analysis demonstrated that Hs-CRP, STIM1, OPG are independent risk factors for
      ISR. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of plasma STIM1, OPG are independent risk
      factors for ISR in patients received PCI, which could provide useful information
      for the restenosis control after PCI.

PMID- 26885041
TI  - Expression of Beclin1 in the colonic mucosa tissues of patients with ulcerative
      colitis.
AB  - To investigate the expression of Beclin1 in the colonic mucosa tissue of patients
      with ulcerative colitis (UC), which acts as a regulator of autophagy and might
      play a part in the disease progression potentially. A total of 112 patients were
      selected from September 2013 to November 2014, and their colonic mucosal tissues
      were collected as the subject of study. Among them, 75 cases were diagnosed with
      ulcerative colitis (UC), 37 cases were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome
      (IRS) during the same time, which was set as the control group. The mucosal
      tissues were processed with ELISA and IHCA to measure the expression level of
      Beclin1, and correlation analysis was performed to demonstrate its role in the
      disease progression. The expression level pf Beclin1 was significantly higher in
      the UC patients compared with the control group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, it's
      positively correlated with the severity of disease, the endoscopic classification
      and the pathologic staging results, which has statistical significance (P<0.05).
      Beclin1 was expressed at a higher level in UC patients, and correlated with the
      severity of the disease, indicating the abnormal regulation of autophagy in the
      disease progression. 

PMID- 26885043
TI  - On clipping of anterior communicating artery aneurysm via eyebrow-lateral keyhole
      approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of eyebrow-lateral keyhole approach in
      clipping of anterior communicating artery aneurysm (ACAA) through observing the
      therapeutic effect of eyebrow-lateral keyhole approach on ACAA. METHODS: In 37
      patients with ACAA, cisterns were exposed via the eyebrow-lateral keyhole
      approach to reveal ACAA complex followed by clipping of ACAA. Of the 37 patients,
      external ventricular drainage was performed on 5 patients before microsurgery.
      All patients underwent head CT angiography on the second day after operation.
      RESULTS: Clipping of ACAA was successful in all patients at the first time. In 3
      patients, ruptured aneurysm occurred during operation. Three patients underwent
      ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of postoperative hydrocephalus. Two patients
      had one-sided anterior cerebral artery infarction after operation. No patient
      died during operation. Follow-up after the operation indicated that 26 patients
      returned to normal life and work, 6 patients were able to look after themselves,
      4 patients required care in their daily life and one patient died. CONCLUSION:
      The eyebrow-lateral keyhole approach is a preferred choice for surgical treatment
      of ACAA because it can cope with brain swelling and intraoperative ruptured
      aneurysm. However, it has a certain range of application, so we must strictly
      follow its indications.

PMID- 26885042
TI  - Dynamic changes of circulating T-helper cell subsets following severe thoracic
      trauma.
AB  - Major trauma induces profound immune dysfunction, which subsequently results in
      sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS). The functionally
      conducive immune cells are of paramount important in the early recovery and
      development of the post-traumatic organ failure. In this study, we investigated
      the immune deregulation after severe trauma by means of detecting the
      differentiation of CD4(+) T cells. Seven male patients with thoracic trauma (aged
      29.8 +/- 7.6 years) hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) in our
      hospital were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood was collected from all the
      patients on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st day of admission, respectively. Flow
      cytometry was carried out to determine the percentage of CD4(+) T cells
      differentiated into Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg subsets, based on which the ratios of
      Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg were also calculated. Twenty-five healthy male individuals
      (aged 34 +/- 7 years) in the hospital in the same period of time served as
      controls. The frequencies of all the four subsets in the traumatic patients
      showed significant dynamic changes compared with those of the controls at the
      defined time points. The ratios of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg showed significant
      decrease at the study interval. Notably, the value of Th1/Th2 was significantly
      higher (P=0.004) in the trauma group than that of control group on the 1st day
      after admission, which was reversed on the 14th day (P=0.014). The imbalance of
      Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg at the present study all reflected the immune dysfunction
      of CD4 T cells followed by the severe thoracic trauma. 

PMID- 26885044
TI  - The association between serum uric acid and metabolic syndrome among adolescents
      in northeast China.
AB  - PURPOSE: Data about the association between serum uric acid and metabolic
      syndrome in healthy adolescents are sparse. This study examined this association
      and determined the optimal cutoffs for serum uric acid to predict metabolic
      syndrome among healthy adolescents. METHODS: During 2010-2011, we conducted a
      cross-sectional study of 927 adolescents (53.0% boys) aged 11-16 years from
      junior and senior high schools in northeast China. All participants received a
      physical examination and gave venous blood samples. RESULTS: Serum uric acid was
      positively associated with abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension in
      boys and with abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia in girls. For those with
      hyperurecemia, the odds ratios (95% CI) for metabolic syndrome were 7.67 (95% CI,
      2.58~22.78) for boys and 4.77 (95% CI, 1.01~22.60) for girls. SUA was a better
      predictor of metabolic syndrome than fasting glucose, though not as good as waist
      circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Among adolescents in China, serum uric acid level may
      be a useful predictor of metabolic syndrome.

PMID- 26885045
TI  - The relationship of frequency of meat consumption and osteoporosis in Chinese
      postmenopausal women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at evaluating the associations between frequency
      of meat food intake and osteoporosis (OP) in general Chinese postmenopausal
      women. METHODS: We conducted a large-scale, community-based, cross-sectional
      study to investigate the associations by using self-report questionnaire to
      access frequency of meat food intake. The total of 1905 participants was
      available to data analysis in this study. Multiple regression models controlling
      for confounding factors to include frequency of meat food intake variable were
      performed to investigate the relationships for OP. RESULTS: Positive correlations
      between frequency of meat food intake and T-score were reported (beta = 0.12, P
      value < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that the frequency of meat
      food intake was significantly associated with OP (P < 0.1 for model 1 and model
      2). The postmenopausal women with high frequency of meat food intake had a lower
      prevalence of OP. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that frequency of meat food
      intake was independently and significantly associated with OP. The prevalence of
      OP was less frequent in Chinese postmenopausal women preferring meat food habits.

PMID- 26885046
TI  - Microsatellite instability of gastric cancer and precancerous lesions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether microsatellite instability (MSI) of gastric
      cancer and precancerous lesions were existed and its effect. METHODS: Laser
      microdissection was used. Gastric, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and normal
      mucosa were collected respectively. Five microsatellite loci were selected and
      MSI was detected by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS:
      In the five microsatellite loci REF-positive phenotype, intestinal metaplasia MSI
      was 20.7%. Dysplasia MSI was 22.4%. Gastric MSI was 47.9%, and there was no MSI
      in normal gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: MSI gradually increased from precancerous
      lesions to gastric cancer. The early detection of MSI may be a potential early
      warning indicator for early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

PMID- 26885047
TI  - Genetic association between hOGG1 C8069G polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk.
AB  - BACKGROUND: hOGG1 C8069G polymorphism has been extensively investigated in single
      studies as well as meta-analyses in terms of the association with colorectal
      cancer (CRC). But the results remain contradictory. This study was undertaken to
      comprehensively evaluate the association of the commonly studied hOGG1 C8069G
      polymorphism and the susceptibility to CRC. METHODS: By searching the electronic
      databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of science, 16 available publications
      consisting of 4,866 cases and 7,363 controls were finally included in our meta
      analysis. Stratified analyses by ethnicity and source of control were also
      carried out to further assess the association between hOGG1 C8069G polymorphism
      and CRC risk. RESULTS: hOGG1 C8069G polymorphism was not observed to have
      statistical significance with the susceptibility to CRC (ORCC vs. GG = 0.97, 95%
      CI = 0.91-1.05; P = 0.995; ORCC + CG vs. GG = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.93-1.04; P =
      0.993; ORCC vs. CG + GG = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.90-1.02; P = 0.339; ORallele C vs.
      allele G = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.94-1.02; P = 0.912; ORCG vs. GG = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.88
      1.03; P = 0.526). Similarly, no association was found in the subgroup analysis by
      ethnicity or the source of control. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our meta-analysis
      did not demonstrate any evidence for significant association between hOGG1 C8069G
      polymorphism and CRC risk. Future large-scale studies are expected to be
      conducted to further confirm our findings.

PMID- 26885048
TI  - Hand-assisted laparoscopic versus open radical resection of gastric remnant
      cancer: a clinical comparison.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative clinical data between hand-assisted
      laparoscopic and open radical resection of gastric remnant cancer, and analyze
      the feasibility and advantages of hand-assisted laparoscopic resection of gastric
      remnant cancer. METHODS: The clinical data of 18 patients with gastric remnant
      cancer who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic (n=9) or open surgery (n=9) were
      retrospectively analyzed to compare the perioperative outcomes and recovery
      between December 2007 and October 2014. RESULTS: All 18 patients underwent
      surgery without post-operative complications. In the hand-assisted laparoscopy
      group, none required conversion to open surgery, and no intraoperative auxiliary
      injury occurred. The incision length was (8.78+/-0.62) cm in the hand-assisted
      laparoscopy group, and (14.06+/-0.81) cm in the open surgery group (t=15.565,
      P=0.000). The duration of the operation averaged (221.11+/-19.48) min in the hand
      assisted laparoscopy group, and (212.89+/-14.30) min in the open surgery group
      (t=-1.021, P=0.323). The intraoperative blood loss was (105.56+/-35.04) ml in the
      hand-assisted laparoscopy group, and (147.78+/-41.92) ml in the open surgery
      group (t=2.319, P=0.034). The number of lymph nodes scavenged was (16.22+/-2.99)
      and 16.67+/-3.28 in the hand-assisted laparoscopy group and in the open surgery
      group, respectively (t=-.300, P=0.768). The postoperative time to passage of gas
      by anus was (68.67+/-10.00) hr in the hand-assisted laparoscopy group, and
      (79.78+/-9.16) hr in the open surgery group (t=2.458, P=0.026). Mild
      postoperative hemorrhage occurred at the anastomotic site in one patient in each
      surgery group. These complications resolved after treatment. And no serious
      perioperative complications, such as anastomotic site fistula, massive hemorrhage
      in the peritoneal cavity or digestive tract or death occurred in either group.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hand-assisted laparoscopic radical resection of gastric remnant
      cancer is feasible, is of comparable efficacy to open surgery, and offers several
      advantages including small incisions, mild intraoperative hemorrhage, rapid
      postoperative recovery, and few postoperative complications.

PMID- 26885049
TI  - Gemcitabine plus S-1 versus cetuximab as a third-line therapy in metastatic
      colorectal cancer: an observational trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: After failure of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and 5-fluorouracil
      (5-FU), there is no effective and low-cost therapy for metastatic colorectal
      cancer (mCRC). The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of
      gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) versus cetuximab as a third-line chemotherapy for mCRC
      patients. METHODS: Patients with previous failure of oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and
      irinotecan chemotherapy were included. The patients received GS or cetuximab
      until disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred. The regimen that was
      selected by the patient depended on their economic ability. RESULTS: In all, 38
      patients were enrolled between October 2009 and October 2012, and the patients
      were divided into 2 groups of 19 patients each. The median overall survival (OS)
      was 10 months for the GS group and 6.9 months for the cetuximab group (P =
      0.047). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 79 days and 78 days (P =
      0.344), respectively. The disease control rate (DCR) was 42.11% and 47.37%,
      respectively (P = 0.985). The overall response rate was 0% and 10.52%,
      respectively (P = 0.169). Adverse events related to chemotherapy were mild to
      moderate. Only grade 3-4 neutropenia was found in the GS group at a rate of
      21.1%. In the cetuximab group, the rash incidence rate was 89.6%, with 1 patient
      reaching grade 3. CONCLUSIONS: GS has benefits in OS compared with cetuximab, and
      is a promising and safe regimen as a third-line chemotherapy for oxaliplatin- and
      irinotecan-refractory mCRC with good performance status for mCRC patients.

PMID- 26885051
TI  - Functional exercise in combination with auricular plaster therapy is more
      conducive to rehabilitation of menopausal women patients with anxiety disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Observe the effect of functional exercise in combination with
      auricular plaster therapy on menopausal women patients with anxiety disorder.
      METHOD: Select 45 menopausal women patients with anxiety disorder and then adopt
      random digital table to divide them into a functional exercise group, an
      auricular plaster therapy group and a combination group. Each group consists of
      15 patients. The patients in the functional exercise group do yoga exercise twice
      a day; those in the auricular plaster therapy group are provided with the
      auricular plaster therapy twice a day; those in the combination group do yoga
      exercise and then they are provided with the auricular plaster therapy twice a
      day. Before the treatment and after 12 weeks' treatment, respectively detect and
      compare the selected patients in the three groups in respect HAMA score, physical
      function score and mental function score; And the cured patients are followed up
      for 3 months to compare recurrence rate of each group. RESULTS: After 12 weeks'
      treatment, HAMA score, physical function score and mental function score of the
      combination group are obviously better than those of another two groups (P<0.05);
      Of the cure rate and the recurrence rate within 3 months, the cure rate of the
      combination group is higher and the recurrence rate is low. CONCLUSION: Through
      the functional rehabilitation exercise in combination with the auricular plaster,
      the combined curative effect is obviously better than that of single treatment
      and the clinical recurrence rate is significantly lower than that of single
      treatment. It shows that the combined treatment method presents obvious
      synergistic effect and the synergistic treatment is more beneficial to improve
      the curative effect.

PMID- 26885050
TI  - Effect of dexmedetomidine on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.
AB  - Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with a marked systemic inflammatory
      response. Although dexmedetomidine (Dex) is routinely used in cardiac surgery,
      the effect in reducing the inflammatory response in coronary artery bypass graft
      surgery (CABG) with CPB remains unclear. In this study, Dex was administered at a
      loading dose of 0.5 MUg/kg for 10 min, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5
      MUg/kg per hour until the completion of CABG with CPB. The levels of inflammatory
      cytokines in the serum, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha),
      interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10, were measured to explore the inflammatory
      regulating function of Dex. In addition, troponin-I (cTnI) and creatine kinase
      (CK-MB) levels were studied to explore the myocardial protection provided by Dex.
      In this study, we showed Dex inhibited the increase in cTnI and CK-MB, attenuated
      the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8, and
      promoted anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production. These findings demonstrate
      that Dex regulates anti-inflammatory as well as myocardial protection potential
      in CABG with CPB. 

PMID- 26885052
TI  - Metabolomics analysis in rats after administration of Datura stramonium.
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Datura stramonium on rats by examining
      the differences in urine and serum metabolites between Datura stramonium groups
      and control group. SIMCA-P+12.0.1.0 software was used for partial least-squares
      discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to screen for the differential metabolites.
      Fifteen metabolites in urine including malonic acid, pentanedioic acid, D-xylose,
      D-ribose, xylulose, azelaic acid, threitol, glycine, butanoic acid, D-mannose, D
      gluconic acid, galactonic acid, myo-inositol, octadecanoic acid, pseudouridine
      and ten metabolites in serum including alanine, butanedioic acid, L-methionine,
      propanedioic acid, hexadecanoic acid, D-fructose, tetradecanoic acid, D-glucose,
      D-galactose, oleic acid were selected as the characteristic metabolites. The PLS
      DA scores plot indicated that serum and urine metabolites have a variety of
      changes among low dose group, high dose group and control group. These
      metabolites were related with amino metabolism, lipid metabolism and energy
      metabolism. The result reflected the relationship between metabolites in rat
      fluid and Datura stramonium spectra. Potential differences in metabolites and
      metabolic pathway analysis showed that the establishment of urine and serum
      metabolomics methods for further evaluating drug has great significance. 

PMID- 26885053
TI  - Efficacy of transvaginal debridement and repair surgery for cesarean scar
      pregnancy: a cohort study compared with uterine artery embolism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Compared with uterine artery embolism (UAE), we aimed to investigate
      the efficacy and safety of transvaginal debridement and repair surgery (TDRS) and
      analyze the association between postoperative recovery and individual related
      factors. METHODS: A total of 128 patients diagnosed with cesarean scar pregnancy
      (CSP) from January 2006 to June 2014 were divided into 2 groups. Group A: 38
      cases were treated with UAE. Group B: 90 cases were treated with TDRS, of whom 41
      received preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: The failure rate in Group A was 5.3%
      (2/38) and the 2 cases of secondary vaginal hemorrhage after UAE were cured by
      hysterectomy and TDRS respectively. All patients were successfully treated in
      Group B and the postoperative outcomes of the patients who received preoperative
      chemotherapy showed no statistically differences compared with those who didn't.
      The hospital stays, serumbeta-hCG and menstruation recovery in Group B were
      significantly shorter than those in Group A (P<0.001). In Group B, there was no
      significant correlation between serumbeta-hCG recovery, menstruation recovery and
      individual related factors including serumbeta-hCG, gestational age and maximum
      diameter of gestational sac at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Compared with UAE, TDRS is
      safer, more effective and with a rapider recovery. As an alternative therapeutic
      option, its prognosis isn't associated with some individual related factors.
      Furthermore, preoperative chemotherapy is unnecessary.

PMID- 26885054
TI  - A cross-sectional study to evaluate the associations between hypertension and
      osteoporosis in Chinese postmenopausal women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This relationship between hypertension (HTN) and osteoporosis (OP) is
      not well documented among the population in China. The study sought to study the
      relationship between HTN and OP in Chinese postmenopausal women. METHODS: This
      cross-sectional study involved 1878 Chinese postmenopausal women with an average
      age of 62.38 years. OP was diagnosed by standardized quantitative ultrasound at
      the calcaneus and HTN was defined by blood pressure data and/or the use of
      antihypertensive medication. The relationship for OP and HTN were calculated
      using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of
      OP was 28.17% in the postmenopausal women, and there was a significant difference
      in the prevalence of OP between the two groups according to HTN (P value =
      0.003). Univariate analysis demonstrates a positive correlation between HTN and
      OP. After adjustment for relevant potential confounding factors, multivariate
      logistic regression analyses detected significant associations between HTN and OP
      (P value = 0.096). In participants with HTN, the OR for OP was 1.209 (95% CI:
      0.967-1.513). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of OP was more frequent in Chinese
      postmenopausal women with HTN, and HTN was independently and significantly
      associated with OP.

PMID- 26885055
TI  - Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), novel biomarker for assessing atrial
      fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation and rheumatic heart disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been identified as a
      strong biomarker of cardiovascular diseases; however, no evidence are available
      concerning the relationship of GDF-15 and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial
      fibrillation (AF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). METHODS: Twenty patients
      with rheumatic heart disease were divided into two groups, 10 cases with AF and
      10 cases with sinus rhythm (SR). Clinical data and blood samples were collected;
      left atrial appendage was taken by the surgeon in the process of valve
      replacement. Masson stained sections and mRNA levels of cardiac fibrosis
      biomarkers were used to determine the level of cardiac fibrosis, the expression
      level of GDF-15 was evaluated via immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
      RESULTS: Compared with SR group, more collagen deposited in the atrial tissue of
      AF group. The distribution of GDF-15 in the AF group was significantly higher
      than SR group (P<0.05). In addition, plasma GDF-15 level and mRNA level of GDF-15
      in atrial tissue of AF showed the same trend as the result of
      immunohistochemistry. After linear correlation analysis, the expression level of
      GDF-15 was found to be positively related to the degree of cardiac fibrosis.
      CONCLUSION: GDF-15 might involve in the development and maintenance of atrial
      fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation and rheumatic heart disease, and
      GDF-15 could be used as a novel biomarker to evaluate myocardial fibrosis in the
      future.

PMID- 26885056
TI  - Variable lung protective mechanical ventilation decreases incidence of
      postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction during open abdominal surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a subtle impairment of
      cognitive abilities and can manifest on different neuropsychological features in
      the early postoperative period. It has been proved that the use of mechanical
      ventilation (MV) increased the development of delirium and POCD. However, the
      impact of variable and conventional lung protective mechanical ventilation on the
      incidence of POCD still remains unknown, which was the aim of this study.
      METHODS: 162 patients scheduled to undergo elective gastrointestinal tumor
      resection via laparotomy in Ningbo No. 2 hospital with expected duration >2 h
      from June, 2013 to June, 2015 were enrolled in this study. Patients included were
      divided into two groups according to the scheme of lung protective MV, variable
      ventilation group (VV group, n=79) and conventional ventilation group (CV group,
      n=83) by randomization performed by random block randomization. The plasma levels
      of inflammatory cytokines, characteristics of the surgical procedure, incidence
      of delirium and POCD were collected and compared. RESULTS: Postoperative delirium
      was detected in 36 of 162 patients (22.2%) and 12 patients of these (16.5%)
      belonged to the VV group while 24 patients (28.9%) were in the CV group
      (P=0.036). POCD on the seventh postoperative day in CV group (26/83, 31.3%) was
      increased in comparison with the VV group (14/79, 17.7%) with significant
      statistical difference (P=0.045). The levels of inflammatory cytokines were all
      significantly higher in CV group than those in VV group on the 1st postoperative
      day (P<0.05). On 7th postoperative day, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in CV
      group remained much higher compared with VV group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Variable
      vs conventional lung protective MV decreased the incidence of postoperative
      delirium and POCD by reducing the systemic proinflammatory response.

PMID- 26885057
TI  - The independent association of platelet parameters with overall survival in
      pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Platelets are involved in multiple links of the process of thrombus
      formation and development. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of
      pretreatment platelet parameters, such as plateletcrit (PCT), platelet mean
      distribution width (MDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in a cohort of patients
      with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with a combination of
      chemotherapy and radiation therapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was
      conducted of 163 locally advanced unresectable consecutive pancreatic
      adenocarcinoma patients who received chemoradiotherapy in Zhejiang cancer
      hospital from January 2009 to December 2011. The effects of platelet parameters
      on overall survival (OS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Independent
      prognostic factors were identified in the multivariate Cox analysis. RESULTS: The
      median of the PC, PCT, MDW, MPV and CRP were 175*10(9), 20.0%, 14.0%, 10.8 fl and
      7.0 mg/L, respectively. MDW was positively correlated with PC (r=0.156, P=0.047)
      and CRP (r=0.591, P<0.001). The median survival time of high MDW group was
      significantly worse than that of low MDW group (14.0 m Vs 11.0 m, P=0.008).
      Patients with high PCT were found to have shorter overall survival time (15.0 m
      Vs 11.0 m, P=0.018). Multivariate analysis indicated that MDW and N stage were
      two independent prognostic factors for overall survival (P<0.05). Patients with
      higher MDW had a 1.48-fold increased risk of death compared to those with low
      MDW. CONCLUSIONS: MDW is an independent negative prognostic factor for overall
      survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

PMID- 26885059
TI  - Expression and clinical significance of Tiam1 gene in esophageal carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between Tiam1 gene expression and the
      invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer. METHODS: By RT-PCR technique, Tiam1
      mRNA expression levels in 49 cases of esophageal cancer tissues and normal
      esophageal tissues were detected. RESULTS: Average Tiam1 mRNA expression level in
      49 cases of esophageal cancer tissues (1.83 +/- 0.73) was significantly higher
      than that in normal esophageal tissues (0.87 +/- 0.45) (P < 0.01); High Tiam1
      mRNA expression rate in esophageal cancer tissues was positively correlated with
      clinical stage and T stage; Tiam1 mRNA expression rate was 59.38% (19/32) in
      patients with lymph node metastasis, and in patients without lymph node
      metastasis it was 23.53% (4/17), with statistically significant differences (P <
      0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiam1 gene expression in esophageal cancer tissues was
      significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissues, and its
      overexpression was positively correlated with invasion and metastasis of
      esophageal cancer.

PMID- 26885058
TI  - The expression of AEG-1 and Cyclin D1 in human bladder urothelial carcinoma and
      their clinicopathological significance.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) and Cyclin D1 is associated with
      tumorigenesis and progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the
      expression of AEG-1 and Cyclin D1 in human bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) and
      explore their clinical and pathological significance. METHODS: The expression of
      AEG-1 and Cyclin D1 protein were detected in 85 cases of human BUC and 16 cases
      of tumor-adjacent tissues by the immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The
      positive expression level of AEG-1 was 61.2% in human BUC which was higher than
      that in tumor-adjacent tissues (18.8%), P=0.002. The high expression of AEG-1
      protein was correlated with the recurrence group (P=0.004). The positive rate of
      AEG-1 protein in superficial carcinoma group was lower than that of invasive
      cancer group (P=0.014). The positive expression level of Cyclin D1 was 56.5% in
      BUC, which was higher than that in tumor-adjacent tissues (12.5%). P=0.001. The
      high expression of Cyclin D1 protein was correlated with the recurrence group
      (P=0.024). The positive rate of Cyclin D1 protein in low grade group was lower
      than that of high grade group (P=0.001). The positive rate of Cyclin D1 protein
      in superficial carcinoma group was lower than that of invasive carcinoma group,
      (P=0.012). AEG-1 protein was positively correlated with Cyclin D1 protein
      (r=0.567, P<0.001). The log-rank test statistical analysis suggested that
      patients with higher AEG-1 or Cyclin D1 expression had shorter overall survival
      time, while patients with lower AEG-1 or Cyclin D1 expression had better
      survival. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of AEG-1 and Cyclin D1 are markedly
      correlated with TNM stage and recurrence of BUC. Cyclin D1 are markedly
      correlated with grade of BUC. Detection of AEG-1 and Cyclin D1 may be helpful to
      evaluate prognosis and infiltrative capability of BUC.

PMID- 26885060
TI  - The optimum dose of intranasal remifentanil for laryngeal mask airway insertion
      during sevoflurane induction in children: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum dose of
      intranasal remifentanil required to produce satisfactory laryngeal mask airway
      (LMA) insertion conditions during inhalation induction of anesthesia using 5%
      sevoflurane in children. METHODS: Seven-five American Society of
      Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA) I subjects, aged 2-5 years, scheduled for
      minor elective surgery were randomly allocated to receive one of five doses of
      intranasal remifentanil (nil, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 MUg.kg(-1)) during 5%
      sevoflurane induction. Laryngeal mask insertion was attempted 120 s after
      intranasal remifentanil administration and the response of subjects was
      classified as either 'Failure' or 'Success'. "Success" was defined as a relaxed
      mandible without coughing, gapping, swallowing, laryngospasm or gross purposeful
      movement. Secondary outcomes included the duration of apnea, hemodynamic changes
      and complications. RESULTS: For each groups (nil, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 MUg.kg(
      1) remifentanil), the incidence of satisfactory LMA insertion conditions was 0,
      33.3%, 60%, 86.7% and 100% respectively. None of subjects suffered from any
      serious complications such as laryngospasm,or hypotension and bradycardia.
      CONCLUSION: The ED50 and ED95 of intranasal remifentanil for successful LMA
      insertion in children were estimated to be 0.36 and 0.998 MUg.kg(-1) during 5%
      sevoflurane inhalation induction for 3 min.

PMID- 26885062
TI  - Imaging study on the optic canal using sixty four-slice spiral computed
      tomography.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rapid advances in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) technology
      facilitate accurate clinical imaging. The newly developed 64-slice CT increases
      temporal and spatial resolution efficiently. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study
      is to evaluate the application of 64 slice spiral computed tomography (CT) on the
      imaging of the normal optics canal. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 100 healthy adults
      were investigated using 64 slice spiral CT. The optics canal was scanned,
      reconstructed and examined. RESULTS: Among the four walls of the optic canal, the
      medial wall is the longest one. The upper wall and outer wall are inferior to the
      medial wall while the inferior wall is the shortest one. All the data
      accomplished by the 64 slice CT was consistent with the results of previous
      reports using other methods. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the 64 slice
      spiral CT could be a valuable and accurate method for measuring the length of
      optics canal walls.

PMID- 26885061
TI  - MicroRNA-155 expression as a prognostic factor in patients with gallbladder
      carcinoma after surgical resection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is over-expressed in both hematopoietic
      malignancies and solid tumors. In the present study, we investigated the clinical
      significance of miR-155 in gallbladder carcinoma among Chinese population.
      METHODS: Tissue specimens were collected from 133 patients who had undergone
      surgical resection at Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University between
      May 2008 and April 2014. We profiled miR- 155 expression in the gallbladder
      carcinoma tissues and normal gallbladder tissues by qRT-PCR. The Kaplan-Meier
      method was used to analyze the 5-year survival rate. RESULTS: The expression
      levels of miR-155 were significantly higher in gallbladder carcinoma tissues than
      that in normal gallbladder tissues (P<0.001). High miR-155 expression was
      significantly associated with TNM stage (P=0.003), lymph node status (P=0.042),
      liver metastasis (P=0.010), and differentiated degree (P<0.001). We found that
      gallbladder carcinoma patients with high miR-155 expression level had distinctly
      shorter overall survival than patients with low miR-155 expression level
      (P=0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that miR-155 expression level was
      independent prognostic factors for overall survival (HR=2.394, 95% CI: 1.568
      10.034; P=0.009). CONCLUSION: High miR-155 expression is a prognostic indicator
      for poor prognosis of patients with gallbladder carcinoma among Chinese
      population.

PMID- 26885063
TI  - From angiomyolipoma to malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney, a case
      report with a history of eight years.
AB  - Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) is a rare subtype of angiomyolipoma (AML) with
      potential has malign tendency. UP to now, the biological association between EMAL
      and typical AML is not well known. In the present study, we reported a case of
      EMAL arose in AML seven years post AML operation. A 34-year-old man with
      bilateral kidney AML was operated with an open cytoreductive surgery of both
      sides. After seven years, the left nephrectomy was performed due to a new
      neoplasm was found in the left kidney. The pathology diagnosis and
      inmmunohistochemical staining suggested the new neoplasm was EAML. Finally the
      patient developed metastases to liver and retroperitoneum and died 19 months post
      the last operation. After reviewing the history of the patient, we thought that
      the EAML might be developed from a little amount of EMAL accompany with AML in
      the small lesson that was missed by the CT scan. The results revealed that a
      carefully screening for the epithelioid cells in the typical AML specimen should
      be made to avoid missing the important EAML. 

PMID- 26885064
TI  - CXCR7 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues correlates with disease
      severity.
AB  - The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, are important
      contributors to the pathogenesis of multiple types of tumors. CXCL12/CXCR4 was
      previously demonstrated to be upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
      tissues, but the status of CXCR7 in NPC remains unknown. Here, 62 nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma specimens were obtained from patients who received rhinitis biopsy in
      our hospital in 2012 and 2013. Another 30 samples were collected from patients
      with nasopharyngitis who did not have NPC, to serve as a control group.
      Expression of CXCR7 protein and mRNA in NPC and normal tissues was detected by
      immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,
      respectively. CXCR7 protein was detected in just 7.1% (2/30) of normal
      nasopharyngeal samples, but 61.3% (38/62) of tumor tissues (P<0.05). The staining
      patterns (proportion of stained cells/sample as well as staining intensity) were
      correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, and disease severity
      (P<0.01). Thus, CXCR7 may promote disease progression in nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma, and may be useful as a predictor of metastasis and prognosis. 

PMID- 26885065
TI  - Penis keratoacanthoma transforming into squamous cell carcinoma: a rare case.
AB  - Keratoacanthoma is variously regarded as a benign epithelial tumor, characterized
      by a rapid-growing and solitary flesh-colored nodule with a central keratin plug
      on the sun-exposed skin. Under certain circumstances, it can transform into
      squamous cell carcinoma. In this paper, we present a case of a 50-year-old man
      with a 2.5 * 3 * 2.2 cm mass on his penis stub-end. The patient was treat with a
      partial penectomy after further expert discussions and histopathology the lesion
      demonstrated penis keratoacanthoma. He received a partial penectomy again and the
      pathological result revealed squamous cell carcinoma this time. This case
      indicates that undergoing a partial penectomy on initial diagnosis of a penile
      tumor secondary to penile keratoacanthoma should be considered because of its
      high malignant potency. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to
      describe the malignant conversion of penis keratoacanthoma. 

PMID- 26885066
TI  - Cost of general anesthesia during radical gastrectomy using different
      specifications of propofol: cost-minimization analyses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, the economic cost of anesthesiahas attracted attention. To
      compare the costs of three methods of general anesthesia (GA), a retrospective 1
      year study was designed for patients undergoing radical resection for gastric
      carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 398 patients were originally included in the
      study. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the mode of
      anesthesia: balanced anesthesia (BAL; n=258), total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA;
      n=36), and inhalational anesthesia (INH; n=104). RESULTS: When patients were
      undergoing elective radical resection for gastric carcinoma, the duration of
      anesthesia, age, duration of surgery, and postoperative analgesia were positively
      correlated with the total cost of anesthesia (including wastage of propofol 200
      mg:20 mL). Duration of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were positively
      correlated with the total cost of anesthesia (including wastage of propofol 500
      mg:50 mL). However, the anesthesia group was negatively correlated with the total
      cost of anesthesia (including drug wastage). When propofol 500 mg:50 mL was used,
      the total cost of anesthesia and total cost of anesthesia per hour in the BAL
      group was higher than in the INH group. However, when excluding drug wastage
      (propofol 200 mg:20 mL), the BAL group was more expensive than the other two
      groups. CONCLUSION: Use of propofol 200 mg:20 mL as a GA would save money.

PMID- 26885067
TI  - Risk factors, management, and prognosis for liver abscess after radical resection
      of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a rare but potentially lethal
      infectious complication after radical surgical resection of hilar
      cholangiocarcinoma (HC), this study is aimed to identify the risk factors,
      management and prognosis of PLA after curative surgical resection of HC. METHODS:
      Between January 2003 and October 2013, 95 patients who underwent surgical
      resection of HC at a tertiary center were included in this study. The risk
      factors pertaining to PLA formation were identified by exact logistic regression.
      RESULTS: PLA developed in 8 of 95 patients. The median duration of PLA formation
      following surgical procedure was 145 days (range, 16-295 days) and the most
      commonly isolated microorganism was Escherichia coli (4/8). Though most patients
      who developed PLA after surgery were successfully managed with antibiotics and
      invasive therapy, the overall survival was statistically poorer than those
      without PLA formation (median, 16.9 vs. 34.2 months, P=0.048). Univariate
      analysis revealed that coexisting biliary disorders (37.5% vs. 8.0%, P=0.036),
      vascular reconstruction (37.5% vs. 9.2%, P=0.041) and margin status (62.5% vs.
      21.8%, P=0.023) were associated with PLA formation, whereas only vascular
      reconstruction (odds ratio (OR), 10.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03
      142.73; P=0.047) and margin status (OR, 8.45; 95% CI, 1.13-109.38; P=0.035) were
      identified as independent risk factors by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS:
      Intraoperative vascular reconstruction and positive margin status pose greater
      risks for PLA formation after radical resection of HC. For patients with high
      risk factors, careful follow-up is needed for early detection and management of
      this infrequent complication.

PMID- 26885068
TI  - Effect of infliximab on acute hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of
      infliximab (IFX) against liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. A total
      of 30 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: sham, I/R, and
      I/R+IFX. IFX was given at a dose of 3 mg/kg for three days before I/R. Rat livers
      were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 90 h of reperfusion. Aspartate
      aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF-alpha,
      malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were measured
      in the serum. The liver was removed to evaluate the histopathologic changes. The
      I/R group had a significant increase in AST, ALT, MDA, and TNF-alpha levels, and
      a decrease in GSH-Px activity compared with the sham group. The use of IFX
      significantly reduced the ALT, AST, MDA and TNF-alpha levels and significantly
      increased GSH-Px activity. IFX attenuated the histopathologic changes. IFX has a
      protective effect on liver I/R injury. This liver protective effect may be
      related to antioxidant and anti-TNF-alpha effects. We propose that, for the
      relief of liver injury subsequent to transplantation, liver resection, trauma,
      and shock, tentative treatments can be incorporated with IFX, which is already
      approved for clinical use. 

PMID- 26885069
TI  - The relation between erectile dysfunction and extent of coronary artery disease
      in the patients with stable coronary artery disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are
      closely related as a result of endothelial dysfunction leading to the restriction
      of blood flow. ED is a potential independent risk factor of CAD. We investigated
      the prevalence and severity of ED, the extent of CAD and the time interval
      between the symptoms of ED and CAD in the stable coronary artery patients.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: 161 patients applied coronary angiography were divided
      into two groups according to SYNTAX score as group 1 (n=81) SYNTAX score <=22,
      and group 2 (n=80) SYNTAX score >22. The prevalence and severity of ED was
      determined by using The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). RESULTS:
      The prevalence of ED was 43.2% in group 1 and 61.3% in group 2 (P=0.022). The
      score of IIEF was 23.1 (15-29) in group 1, 19.3 (6-29) in group 2; there was a
      significant difference (P=0.000). In the multivariate logistic regression
      analysis carried out in order to determine the independent predictors on Syntax
      score, it was found that LDL (odds ratio: 1.032, 95% confidence interval: 1.009
      1.055, P=0.007) and IIEF score (odds ratio: 0.825, 95% confidence interval: 0.733
      0.928, P=0.001) were the independent predictors. The time between the symptoms of
      ED and CAD 30.1 +/- 4.8 months in group 1, and 40.5 +/- 4.3 months in group 2
      (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The severity of ED is an independent factor predicting the
      extent of CAD. The early detection of ED enables to make a cardiovascular
      evaluation. Therefore, taking the cardiovascular risk factors under an aggressive
      treatment may contribute to prevent the cardiovascular cases which may develop in
      the future.

PMID- 26885070
TI  - Discrepant clinicopathologic characteristics and HE4 performance in type I and
      type II epithelial ovarian cancer.
AB  - Recent studies have demonstrated that epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are factual
      several different diseases. A two-tier system divides EOC into type I and type II
      EOC. HE4 has been used as a complementary biomarker for diagnosing EOC. This
      study aimed to evaluate the different clinicopathologic characteristics and HE4
      expression levels in types I and II EOCs. This retrospective study included 127
      EOC patients. Data related to patient demographics, cancer stages, grades,
      histology, operation procedures, residual disease, adjuvant chemotherapy,
      recurrence, and survival were collected. A total of 134 ovarian carcinoma tissue
      specimens and 40 matching borderline ovarian tumor specimens were chosen from the
      pathology department archives. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess HE4
      expression in EOC and borderline ovarian tumor tissue specimens. Of the 127
      patients, there were 42 type I EOC patients (7 low grade serous carcinomas, 8
      mucinous carcinomas, 12 low grade endometrioid carcinomas and 15 clear cell
      carcinomas) and 85 type II EOC patients (83 high grade serous carcinomas and 2
      high grade endometrioid carcinomas). The median followed--up time was 18.3
      months. There were significant differences between the two types of EOC in terms
      of the menopausal state, FIGO stage and pathological differentiation, but there
      were no differences in the residual tumor and chemotherapy treatment. In type I
      EOC, the median follow--up time was 31 months and the median progression--free
      survival was 72 months (95% CI: 40.34-103.66). There were 15 (35.7%) relapsed or
      progressive patients. In type II EOC, the median follow-up time was 17 months (0
      60 m), and the median progression--free survival was 27 months (95% CI: 17.83
      36.17). There were 47 (55.3%) relapsed or progressive patients. There was a
      significant difference between the two types of EOCs in terms of progression-
      free survival (P<0.001). Among the 44 type I specimens, 25 demonstrated positive
      expression of HE4 (56.8%). In contrast, 78 (86.7%) type II EOC demonstrated
      positive expression levels. There was a significant difference between type I and
      type II EOCs in terms of HE4 expression. Additionally, there was a significant
      difference between high grade serous carcinoma and borderline serous tumor, but
      no difference was observed between low grade serous carcinoma and borderline
      serous tumor or other types of EOC and corresponding borderline tumors. The
      different clinicopathologic characteristics between type I and type II EOC
      indicate that the two--tier EOC system reasonable and reliable. HE4 would be a
      powerful biomarker to distinguish type II EOC from borderline tumors but it is
      less useful in type I EOC. Type I EOC is generated from the corresponding
      borderline tumor. 

PMID- 26885071
TI  - The association and interaction analysis of hypertension and diabetes mellitus on
      diastolic heart failure in a high-risk population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which
      hypertension (HT) interacts with diabetes mellitus (DM) to affect diastolic heart
      failure (DHF) in a high-risk population. METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based
      case-control study to investigate the relationship between HT or DM and DHF in
      251 patients (case: 133 patients with DHF; control: 118 patients without DHF).
      Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. The
      association between HT or DM and DHF was assessed by multivariate logistic
      regression (MLR) analysis controlling for confounders. The effect of the
      interaction between HT and DM on DHF was assessed in MLR models. Interaction on
      an additive scale can be calculated by using the relative excess risk due to
      interaction (RERI), the proportion attributable to interaction (AP), and the
      synergy index (S). RESULTS: The MLR analyses showed that HT and DM were
      independent predictors of DHF after adjustment for potential confounders (OR =
      2.35-3.14, P<0.05 for all models). DHF was affected by the interaction between HT
      and DM (ORInt = 3.11-4.31, P Int<0.1, RETI = 2.13-2.69, AP = 0.38-0.49 and S =
      4.11-6.80). CONCLUSION: The findings provide evidence that HT and DM are
      independent predictors of DHF and that both risk factors act synergistically to
      influence DHF in a Chinese high-risk population.

PMID- 26885072
TI  - Microendoscopy-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
      for lumbar degenerative disease: short-term and medium-term outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term and medium-term outcomes of microendoscopy
      assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and
      open TLIF for lumbar degenerative disease. METHODS: In this prospective,
      randomized control study, 50 cases received microendoscopy-assisted MIS-TLIF (MIS
      group), while another well-matched 50 cases accepted open TLIF (open group).
      Parameters between both groups, including surgical duration, intraoperative blood
      loss and radiologic exposure, postoperative analgesic usage and ambulatory time,
      visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg, functional scores, self-evaluation
      of surgical outcome (modified MacNab criteria), interbody fusion rate, adjacent
      segment degeneration (ASD) rate, as well as complication incidence were compared
      at 1 month and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Intraoperative blood loss and
      postoperative analgesic usage were significantly reduced in MIS group (P<0.05).
      Patients undergoing microendoscopy-assisted MIS-TLIF were able to ambulate
      earlier postoperatively than those receiving open TLIF (P<0.05). However, it
      showed prolonged surgical duration and enhanced radiologic exposure in MIS group
      (P<0.05). At 1 month postoperatively, MIS group was associated with more
      improvement of VAS and functional scores compared with open group (P<0.05). While
      at 24 months postoperatively, both groups revealed similar VAS and functional
      scores (P>0.05). Excellent and perfect scale rating by modified MacNab criteria,
      interbody fusion rate, ASD rate and complication incidence between both groups
      were nearly the same (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Microendoscopy-assisted MIS-TLIF owns
      advantages of less iatrogenic injury, decreased blood loss, reduced analgesic
      usage and earlier rehabilitation, while it has drawbacks of more surgical
      duration and radiologic exposure. It is superior than open TLIF in terms of short
      term clinical outcomes and has similar medium-term clinical outcomes.

PMID- 26885074
TI  - Cabbage compression early breast care on breast engorgement in primiparous women
      after cesarean birth: a controlled clinical trial.
AB  - This study aimed to compare the effects of cabbage compression early breast care
      (CCEBC) and early breast care (EBC) on breast pain, breast hardness with general
      nursing breast care (GNBC) in primiparous women after cesarean birth. Sixty
      participants were divided to three groups including CCEBC, EBC and GNBC. Each
      group was treated with its intervention respectively more than 10 minutes before
      breast feeding from day two to day four after delivery. The primary outcomes were
      breast pain and breast hardness. Both CCEBC and EBC showed significantly lower
      pain level than GNBC at day 4 after delivery. There are significant differences
      of breast hardness among three groups. CCEBC group showed significantly lower
      breast hardness compared with EBC and GNBC. Neither core body temperature nor
      breast skin temperature was significantly different among the three groups. In
      conclusion, CCEBC may effective in relieving breast pain and breast hardness
      compared with EBC alone and GNBC in primiparous women after a cesarean birth. 

PMID- 26885073
TI  - Clinical significance of preoperative detection of serum p53 antibodies and
      BRAF(V600E) mutation in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
AB  - The goal of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and diagnostic value
      of both serum p53-antibodies (Abs) and preoperative fine needle aspiration
      cytology (FNAC) for BRAF mutation in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma
      (PTC). A total of 312 patients, including thyroid adenoma (85) and PTC (227) were
      enrolled in this study. Two types of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA),
      phage-ELISA and p53-ELISA, were used to measure serum p53-Ab levels. Sanger
      sequencing was used to determine BRAF gene mutation in FNA samples. Phage-ELISA
      was more efficient than conventional p53-ELISA in measuring serum p53-Abs in PTC
      patients. BRAF mutation analysis with FNAC significantly improved PTC diagnostic
      sensitivity from 80.18% to 93.83% (P=0.001) and accuracy from 82.31% to 92.37%
      (P=0.005). Bothp53-Abs and BRAF mutation were positively associated with
      lymphatic metastasis and advanced TNM stages. Particularly, serum p53-Abs
      positively associated with multifocality (P=0.02), while BRAF mutation associated
      with extrathyoidal extension (P=0.01). Furthermore, PTC patients with both
      elevated serum p53-Abs and BRAF mutation had a higher prevalence of extrathyoidal
      extension (P=0.003), lymphnode metastasis (P=0.00), multifocality (P=0.04), and
      advanced TNM stages (P=0.004). Our results indicate that serum p53-Abs alone
      might not be a reliable biomarker for PTC diagnosis, but the combined analysis of
      serum p53-Abs and BRAF mutation in FNAC may be useful for optimizing surgical
      treatment and prognostic prediction of unfavorable clinicopathologic outcomes. 

PMID- 26885075
TI  - A tagging ALOX5AP polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke in a northeastern
      Chinese Han population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein gene (ALOX5AP) has been recognized
      as a susceptibility gene for stroke. In this work, we explored the association of
      6 ALOX5AP SNPs with cerebral infarction (CI) in a northeastern Chinese Han
      population, using a case-control design. METHODS: A group of patients with
      cerebral infarction were randomly chosen as case group in northeastern Chinese
      Han population. Another comparative group of individuals without stroke were
      chosen as the control group. By utilizing TaqMan probe based real-time
      fluorescent PCR and DNA sequencing method, this study focused on 6 SNPs of
      ALOX5AP gene and analyzed the association with the hereditary susceptibility of
      cerebral infarction. RESULTS: We found that, the rs9579646 G allele frequency was
      significantly associated with higher ischemic cerebral infarction. There was no
      significant difference of rs9551963, rs9315050, rs4769874, rs10507391 and
      rs4147064 genotype frequencies between the case and control group. Haplotype
      based association analysis of the block involving rs9579646 and rs10507391
      revealed that the increased risk of stroke was significantly associated with
      haplotype GT and GA. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the genetic
      variants in ALOX5AP might be related to the risk of stroke in northeastern
      Chinese Han population. The SNP rs9579646 may be a diagnostic index of cerebral
      infarction.

PMID- 26885076
TI  - Ischemic and hemorrhagic moyamoya disease in adults: CT findings.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the findings of adult moyamoya disease (MD) of
      different types on plain CT, brain perfusion CT (CTP) and brain CT angiography
      (CTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients with ischemic MD and
      hemorrhagic MD were recruited into present study, and findings were collected
      from plain CT, CTP and CTA. RESULTS: The incidence of watershed or cortex stroke
      in ischemic MD (55.6% and 38.9%) was higher than in hemorrhagic MD (0%). The
      incidence of ventricle or basal ganglia stroke in hemorrhagic MD (40.0%, 43.3%)
      was higher than in ischemic MD (0%, 5.6%). CTP showed hypoperfusion in 11
      patients, hyperperfusion in 12 and normal perfusion in 25. Ischemic MD patients
      were more likely to present hypoperfusion (61.1%; normal perfusion: 22.2%;
      hyperperfusion: 16.7%). Hemorrhagic MD patients were more likely to present
      normal perfusion (70%; hyperperfusion: 30%; hypoperfusion: 0%). The incidence of
      grade II MD in ischemic MD (27.8%) was higher than in hemorrhagic MD (6.7%). The
      incidences of grade IV and V MD in hemorrhagic MD (33.3% and 16.7%) were higher
      than in ischemic MD (16.7% and 11.0%). CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic MD is dominant in
      adults with MD and stroke of these patients mainly occurs at the intraventricular
      space and basal ganglia. Ischemic MD in adults is characterized by hypoperfusion
      and hemorrhagic MD by normal perfusion on CTP. MD in adults is usually classified
      as grade II, III or IV on CTA.

PMID- 26885077
TI  - Risk factors associated with splenic hilar lymph node metastasis in patients with
      advanced gastric cancer in northwest China.
AB  - There are plenty of risk factors associated with splenic hilar lymph node
      metastasis (SHLNM) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Whereas, their
      main influencing factors have not reached a consensus yet. The aim of the study
      is to investigate the related clinicopathological factors influencing SHLNM in
      AGC. A retrospective study was performed to investigate 150 patients who
      underwent D2 curative partial or total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma from
      January 2007 to November 2012. Clinicopathological factors were analyzed by
      univariate and multivariate analysis. A total of 10.7% (16/150) of the patients
      had SHLNM. The overall ratio of metastatic lymph node (positive lymph nodes/lymph
      nodes harvested) in the splenic hilum was 17.5% (38/217). Univariate analysis
      results showed SHLNM was related with depth of invasion, tumor grade, tumor size,
      tumor location and Bormann type, with significant difference (P<0.05);
      Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SHLNM was related with depth of invasion
      and tumor size, with significant difference (P<0.05). Consequently, depth of
      invasion, tumor grade, tumor size, tumor location and Bormann type were
      associated with SHLNM in AGC, meanwhile depth of invasion and tumor size are
      independent risk factors. Preoperative predicting risk factors of SHLNM greatly
      benefits making more rational surgical scheme of treating AGC. 

PMID- 26885078
TI  - Effect of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis on activity of CYP450 isoforms in rats.
AB  - Kushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) is the dried roots of Sophora Flavescens
      Ait, alkaloids and flavonoids are the main active constituents of Radix Sophorae
      Flavescentis. The influence of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis on the activities of
      CYP450 isoforms CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 were evaluated
      by cocktail method. The rats were randomly divided into Radix Sophorae
      Flavescentis group and control group. The Radix Sophorae Flavescentis group rats
      were given 5 g/kg Radix Sophorae Flavescentis decoction by intragastric
      administration. The six probe drugs (bupropion, omeprazole, phenacetin,
      tolbutamide, midazolam and metroprolol) were given to rats through intragastric
      administration, and the plasma concentration were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The
      result of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis group compared to control group, there were
      statistical pharmacokinetics difference for omeprazole, phenacetin, tolbutamide
      and metroprolol. It indicated that the Radix Sophorae Flavescentis may induce the
      activities of CYP2D6, and inhibit of CYP2C19, CYP1A2 and CYP2C9 of rats. As other
      drugs are always used after Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, interactions between
      other drugs and Radix Sophorae Flavescentis undertake the risk of either
      diminished efficacy or adverse effects. This may give advising for reasonable
      drug use after Radix Sophorae Flavescentis. 

PMID- 26885079
TI  - Concurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor and digestive tract carcinoma: a single
      institution experience in China.
AB  - The aim of this study was to review the clinicopathological characteristics and
      survival outcomes of patients with concurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor
      (GIST) and digestive tract carcinoma. Among 585 patients diagnosed with GIST from
      January 2005 to July 2014, 32 (5.5%) had synchronous digestive tract carcinoma,
      including 19 (59.4%) men and 13 (40.6%) women. The median age was 64 years
      (range, 43-84). GIST was located in the stomach (n=24), small intestine (n=6),
      duodenum (n=1) and retroperitoneum (n=1). GISTs were intra- or postoperatively
      discovered (n=28) or preoperatively identified (n=4). The tumor size was less
      than 10 mm (microGIST) in 23 (71.9%) GIST patients. The preoperatively identified
      GIST subgroup showed a significantly larger tumor size, more mitotic figures and
      a higher risk grade than the intra- or postoperatively identified GIST subgroup.
      Concurrent digestive tract carcinomas were most frequently located in the stomach
      (24 cases, 75%). The other involved sites were the esophagus (n=5), duodenum
      (n=2) and colon (n=1). With a median follow-up of 32 months (range, 9-80), 24
      patients were alive without evidence of disease, 6 patients had died of carcinoma
      progression, 1 patient had died from an accident, and 1 patient experienced GIST
      metastasis to the liver. In summary, we discovered that 5.5% of GIST patients
      also developed a concurrent digestive tract carcinoma in a series of 585 GIST
      cases. The majority of GISTs are incidentally identified microGISTs. The
      concurrent carcinoma seems to have a greater unfavorable effect on prognosis than
      the GIST. However, for a GIST that is identified preoperatively with a high risk
      of progression, adjuvant therapy is warranted. 

PMID- 26885081
TI  - Curative effect of Tai Chi exercise in combination with auricular plaster therapy
      on improving obesity patient with secondary hyperlipidemia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Observe the effect of Tai Chi in combination with auricular plaster
      therapy on treating obesity patient with secondary hyperlipidemia. METHOD: Select
      45 patients who suffer from simple obesity and secondary hyperlipidemia and then
      adopt random digital table to divide them into a Tai Chi group, an auricular
      plaster therapy group and a combination group. Each group consists of 15
      patients. The patients in Tai Chi group are trained with Tai Chi twice a day,
      while those in auricular plaster therapy are treated with auricular plaster
      therapy 3-5 times a day and those in the combination group are trained with Tai
      Chi and auricular plaster therapy twice a day. BMI, body fat percentage and blood
      lipid indexes are respectively detected for the selected patients in the three
      groups before treatment and after 180 days' treatment. RESULTS: After 180 days'
      treatment, BMI index and body fat percentage of Tai Chi group are significantly
      improved in comparison with those before treatment (P<0.05) and the blood lipid
      index also presents the improvement trend, but the overall effect is not obvious;
      body fat percentage and BMI index of the auricular plaster therapy group are not
      improved obviously in comparison with those before the treatment (P>0.05) but the
      blood lipid index is improved significantly (P<0.05); each index of the
      combination group is improved significantly compared with those before treatment
      (P<0.05). By comparing the improvement effect after treatment with that of the
      other two groups, P<0.05, the difference shows the statistical significance and
      the treatment effect is more obvious. CONCLUSION: As for the patient suffering
      from simple obesity and secondary hyperlipidemia, Tai Chi exercise in combination
      with auricular plaster therapy can show the obvious synergistic therapeutic
      effect and thus the combined curative effect is obviously superior to that of the
      single therapy method.

PMID- 26885082
TI  - Biological mechanisms of premature ovarian failure caused by psychological stress
      based on support vector regression.
AB  - Psychological stress has become a common and important cause of premature ovarian
      failure (POF). Therefore, it is very important to explore the mechanisms of POF
      resulting from psychological stress. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into
      control and model groups. Biomolecules associated with POF (beta-EP, IL-1, NOS,
      NO, GnRH, CRH, FSH, LH, E2, P, ACTH, and CORT) were measured in the control and
      psychologically stressed rats. The regulation relationships of the biomolecules
      were explored in the psychologically stressed state using support vector
      regression (SVR). The values of beta-EP, IL-1, NOS, and GnRH in the hypothalamus
      decreased significantly, and the value of NO changed slightly, when the values of
      3 biomolecules in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis decreased. The values
      of E2 and P in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis decreased significantly,
      while the values of FSH and LH changed slightly, when the values of the
      biomolecules in the hypothalamus decreased. The values of FSH and LH in the
      pituitary layer of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis changed slightly when
      the values of E2 and P in the target gland layer of the hypothalamic-pituitary
      ovarian axis decreased. An Imbalance in the neuroendocrine-immune bimolecular
      network, particularly the failure of the feedback action of the target gland
      layer to pituitary layer in the pituitary-ovarian axis, is possibly one of the
      pathogenic mechanisms of POF. 

PMID- 26885083
TI  - Change in pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage 0
      patients.
AB  - This study aims to elucidate the change in pulmonary function in stage 0 COPD
      patients. A total of 48 stage 0 COPD patients and 46 healthy adults were included
      in the study. The status of their pulmonary function was determined by an impulse
      oscillometry (IOS) system, and the spirometric indexes such as forced vital
      capacity, maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve, total respiratory
      impedance (Zrs) and respiratory resistance (Rrs) between the two groups were
      compared. Significant decreases in the values of forced expiratory flow (FEF) at
      both 75% and 50% of the vital capacity of the predicted value (EF75/pre and
      FEF50/pre) were detected in stage 0 COPD patients compared with those in the
      control (P < 0.05). Significant increases were found in the resonant frequency
      (Fres) (14.37+/-3.63 VS 11.26+/-2.61), total respiratory impedance (Z5) compared
      with the prediction (Z5/pre) (135.65+/-19.37 VS 104.69+/-20.64), total airway
      resistance at 5 Hz (R5) compared with prediction (R5/pre) (128.46+/-20.14 VS
      100.60+/-20.98) and peripheral airway resistance (R5-R20) compared with
      prediction (R5-R20/pre) (282.34+/-192.83 VS 109.31+/-80.05) in the study group
      compared with those in the control(all P < 0.05). The reactance at 5 Hz (X5) (
      0.14+/-0.05 VS -0.08+/-0.05) in the stage 0 COPD group was markedly lower than
      that in the healthy group (P < 0.05). Disturbance in the small airway may be
      detected by the MEFV curve and IOS, and these indexes would be valuable in
      diagnosing stage 0 COPD. 

PMID- 26885080
TI  - Dysregulation of hedgehog signaling pathway related components in the evolution
      of colonic carcinogenesis.
AB  - Previous studies report controversial role of Hedgehog (HH) signaling in the
      progression of colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expressions of
      smoothened (SMO) and downstream glioma-associated oncogene homology-1 (GLI1) in
      colon cancer, colonic adenoma and normal tissues. Colon cancer and normal tissue
      samples were collected from 49 patients with colon cancer while colonic adenoma
      tissue samples were obtained from 34 patients with colonic adenoma. Then the
      expressions of SMO and GLI1 were investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC).
      For the detection of SMO and GLI1 expression, IHC staining results indicated that
      SMO was mainly expressed on the membrane while GLI1 was mainly expressed in the
      cytoplasm. The positive rates of SMO and GLI1 protein expressions were
      significantly increased in colon cancer tissue and colonic adenoma tissue when
      compared with normal colon tissue. In contrast, the significant difference was
      not found in the positive rates of SMO and GLI1 protein expressions between colon
      cancer tissue and colonic adenoma tissue. More importantly, it was found that SMO
      and GLI1 expressions possibly increased gradually from the normal colon to
      colonic adenoma to the colon cancer. Furthermore, no distinct correlations were
      detected between the expression levels of SMO and GLI1 and clinicopathological
      parameters, including age, gender, differentiation and Dukes stage. The present
      results provided some new information to the possible role of HH signaling in
      colon cancer progression. SMO and GLI1 maybe suggested asbiomarkers to identify
      colon cancerous, precancerous and normal tissues as well astherapeutic targets
      for colon cancer treatment. 

PMID- 26885084
TI  - Genetic association of G-607C Located at wnt10b promoter with bi-sup type among
      Korean cerebral infarction patients.
AB  - Obesity is a disease threatening health and is known one of risk factors causing
      chronic disease. In Traditional Korean Medicine, bi-sup is casus of obesity.
      Wnt10b has been indicated as a potential regulator of adipogenesis in vivo and in
      vitro models of obesity. To analyze the distribution of wnt10b polymorphism
      between bi-sup group and non-bi-sup group in Korean elder subjects with cerebral
      infarction (CI). The study group was composed of patients with CIwho were
      admitted to one of the thirteen Korean oriental medical hospitals participating
      in this study from 2009 to 2010. A total of 670 CI patients, including 416 with
      bi-sup group and 254 with non-bi-sup group, participated in this study. Genotype
      of G-607C was conducted by primer extension using TaqManprobe and five percent of
      subjects were re-genotyped by direct sequencing to confirm the accuracy of the
      genotyping. The association of the SNP with the bi-sup group versus non-bi-sup
      group was performed by multiple logistic regression. Frequency of C allele in bi
      sup was 45.75% which was significantly lower than 56.69% in non-bi-sup (P=0.0043,
      OR=0.628 [0.453-0.864]). Subjects with GC or CC type in bi-sup was also 72.36%,
      that was also small compared with 78.35% in non-bi-sup (P=0.0467, OR=0.675 [0.458
      0.994]). These results suggest that G-607C might be used as a diagnostic genetic
      marker for bi-sup in stroke patients and in the development of personalized
      medical care. 

PMID- 26885085
TI  - Kimura's disease: risk factors of recurrence and prognosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for recurrence and
      prognosis of Kimura's disease. METHODS: In this study, 32 patients received
      surgery alone, surgery followed by steroids orally and surgery followed by
      radiotherapy respectively from 2003 to 2015 (male/female: 27/5, ages: 6-64
      years). Retrieval of clinical data and follow-ups have been done. The clinical
      features used as variables include age, gender, location, multiplicity,
      laterality, size, duration, primary outbreak, smoking, eosinophils, systemic
      disease and remedies. Statistical analysis including Kaplan-Meier method,
      Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Cox
      proportional hazard regression model were performed with the SPSS 17.0. The
      threshold of statistical significance was set at P=0.05. RESULTS: Median
      recurrence time was 29 months (2.42 years) after discharged and 56.3% patients
      relapsed. High recurrence rate was significantly associated with smoking habit
      (P=0.036). Patients who were diagnosed systemic disease (P=0.027) and were
      treated with surgery alone (P=0.025) or surgery followed by steroids orally
      (P=0.025) had short disease-free time. Furthermore, smoking habit (HR=3.383, 95%
      CI: 1.213-9.433, P=0.02), systemic disease (HR=4.462, 95% CI: 1.443-13.794,
      P=0.009), surgery alone (HR=4.668, 95% CI: 1.506-14.470, P=0.008) and surgery
      followed by steroids orally (HR=6.053, 95% CI: 1.330-27.556, P=0.02) were
      identified as risk factors for the prognosis of Kimura's disease. CONCLUSIONS:
      Smoking habit, systemic diseases, surgery alone and surgery followed by steroids
      orally were associated with poor prognosis of Kimura's disease, and they might be
      prognostic markers of Kimura's disease.

PMID- 26885086
TI  - Surgical options for posterior tibial plateau fracture.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate surgical methods and clinical effectiveness of
      posteromedial and posterolateral approaches for the posterior tibial plateau
      fracture. METHOD: 21 cases who received surgery through posterior approaches for
      the treatment of posterior tibial plateau fractures (PTPFs) were included.
      RESULTS: 21 cases were subject to follow-up for 12-24 months (an average of 16.2
      months). No cases developed incision inflammation, neurovascular injury, internal
      fixation loosening and breakage. All fractures were healed. No cases developed
      knee varus and valgus deformity and fracture dislocation. After surgery,
      Rasmussen score for knee joint functions was 13-30 points (a mean of 24.2). The
      results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 7 cases and fair in 2 cases. The
      percentage of excellent and good results was 90.5%. Rasmussen radiology score was
      10-18 points (a mean of 15.6 points). The results were excellent in 13 cases,
      good in 7 cases and fair in 1 cases. The percentage of excellent and good results
      was 95.2%. 1 case had significant limited range of knee flexion and extension,
      which was improved after phase II release under arthroscopy combined with
      function exercise. 2 cases developed traumatic arthritis, which was relieved
      after intra-articular injection with sodium hyaluronate and oral nonsteroidal
      anti-inflammatory drug. CONCLUSION: The posteromedial and posterolateral
      approaches for PTPF is good for reduction and fixation of PTPF. The approaches
      have benefits such as clear exposure, convenient placement of internal fixation,
      less trauma and good clinical outcome.

PMID- 26885087
TI  - Prostate cancer: a comparison of the diagnostic performance of transrectal
      ultrasound versus contrast enhanced transrectal ultrasound in different clinical
      characteristics.
AB  - To determine whether contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound (CE-TRUS) is
      superior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) on diagnosis of prostate cancer, 317
      patients were processed TRUS examination with or without SonoVue, then biopsy was
      performed. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV)
      and negative predictive value (NPV) of two techniques were compared in multiple
      subgroups of PSA level, Digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate volume on
      biopsy results. In PSA 4-10 ng/ml and DRE negative groups, CE-TRUS had greater
      sensitivity and accuracy compared with TRUS by patient (P = .004 and .003; .013
      and .005 respectively) and greater sensitivity, accuracy, PPV and NPV by core.
      When prostate volume was 45-65 ml, CE-TRUS had greater specificity and accuracy
      by patient and all diagnostic performances were statistically significant by
      core. CE-TRUS is superior to TRUS on diagnosis of prostate cancer in a designed
      patient population with lower PSA level, DRE negative findings and modest
      prostate volume. 

PMID- 26885088
TI  - Serum osteocalcin levels are inversely associated with the presence of
      nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - Osteocalcin plays roles in energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Consequently,
      the relationship between osteocalcin level and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
      (NAFLD) is of interest. The present study explored the possible correlation
      between serum osteocalcin levels and NAFLD in patients with CAD. The study
      enrolled 174 inpatients diagnosed with CAD by coronary angiography (CAG). The
      presence of fatty liver disease was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. NAFLD
      was diagnosed using the working definition of the revised guidelines for the
      management of NAFLD published by the Chinese Liver Disease Association. Serum
      osteocalcin levels were determined using electrochemiluminescent immunoassays.
      Patients with NAFLD had lower serum osteocalcin levels than those without NAFLD
      [16.2 (14.2-23.8) vs. 20.7 (15.6-26.2) ng/mL, P<0.05]. After adjustment for
      gender and age, serum osteocalcin levels correlated with the presence of NAFLD
      (r=-0.260, P=0.010), fasting plasma glucose level (r=-0.230, P=0.023) and
      glycated hemoglobin A1c level (r=-0.229, P=0.023). Osteocalcin was an independent
      factor for the presence of NAFLD (beta=-0.097, P=0.025). These data suggested
      that serum osteocalcin levels were negatively associated with the presence of
      NAFLD in patients with CAD. 

PMID- 26885089
TI  - Detection of microsatellite instability in gastric cancer and dysplasia tissues.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between gastric cancer and
      microsatellite instability (MSI) in the present study. METHOD: Phenol-chloroform
      method was employed for DNA extraction from the cancer tissues of 65gastric
      cancer patients and the dysplasia tissues and normal control tissues of 32 non
      gastric cancer patients. The microsatellite loci Bat25, Bat26, D2S123, D5S346 and
      D17S250 were detected by using PCR-SSCP silver staining technique, and the MSI of
      the gastric cancer tissues and the precancerous tissues was analyzed. RESULTS: Of
      65 gastric cancer cases, MSI was detected in 43 cases, with the detection rate of
      66.2%. There were 13 cases showing MSI-H and 30 cases showing MSI-L, accounting
      for 30.2% and 69.8%, respectively. Among 32 cases of dysplasia tissues, MSI was
      detected in 10 cases, with the detection rate of 31.3%. Two cases of dysplasia
      tissues showed MSI-H and 8 cases showed MSI-L, accounting for 20.0% and 80.0%,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer patients had a high detection rate of
      MSI. It is speculated that MSI is another molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis
      and may serve as a sensitive diagnostic indicator of gastric cancer.

PMID- 26885090
TI  - Composite tissue flap at perforating branches of saphenous artery: a new design
      for repairing composite tissue defects in anterior knee.
AB  - So far it has been difficult to repair and reconstruct the composite tissue
      defects in knee. Saphenous artery flap has been widely used to repair complex
      wounds, but the design and clinical application of composite tissue flap at
      perforating branches of saphenous artery were not reported. In this research, we
      design a new composite tissue flap by carrying fascial flap in the medial
      gastrocnemius muscle with perforators flap in saphenous artery to repair and
      reconstruct the composite tissue defects in knee. By anatomic observation and
      analysis, we find that there exists blood-supply in netty form among saphenous
      arteries, medial artery below the knee, intermuscular branch in high-order
      position of posterior tibial artery and perforating branch in medial artery of
      calf. We chose saphenous artery as blood-supplying artery; utilized the netty
      blood-supplying mode in middle-up and medial part of shank; cut the composite
      tissue flap at perforating branches of saphenous artery with fascial flap carried
      in the medial gastrocnemius muscle; reconstructed the ligamentum patellae using
      medial head of gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles's tendon; and covered the wounds
      at front side of knee with flap. Composite tissues were survived completely, free
      from infection at wounds and exosmosis of joint fluid. Motion function of knee
      joint proved satisfactory, and ambulatory function was recovered. There was no
      complication in donor site. Composite tissue flap at perforating branches of
      saphenous artery with fascial flap carried in the medial gastrocnemius muscle is
      one of the most ideal solutions for repairing the composite tissue defects at
      front side of knee joint. 

PMID- 26885091
TI  - Does estrogen receptor determination affect prognosis in early stage breast
      cancers?
AB  - ER+ and ER- tumors exhibit different histopathological and clinical properties.
      Receptor determination exists as a marker with predictive value rather than
      prognostic importance. Patients with invasive breast cancer (n=2849) were
      investigated retrospectively between 1981 and 2013. Patients were separated to
      four subgroups, as follows: ER+; non-luminal HER2+; ER-/PR-/HER2-; ER-PR+. We
      investigated the effects of ER positivity on long-term survival in breast
      cancers, by considering their pathological properties, surgical method
      applications, chemotherapy preferences, and combined hormonal treatments with
      regard to ER, PR and HER2 status. ER+ cases were premenopausal, and they existed
      with low-grade, small-sized and early stage tumors (P<0.05). One thousand three
      hundred and eighty five cases (68.6%) were administered chemotherapy, which was
      followed by hormone therapy. Non-luminal HER2+ tumors were found to exhibit
      longer survival, when compared to triple negative and ER- tumors (P=0.010).
      Triple negative cases had the shortest survival rates; survival values determined
      in the HER2+ and ER-/PR+ cases were found to be between the survivals of ER+ and
      TN tumors. ER, PR and HER2 positivity was not concomitant with a risk of
      recurrence (P>0.05). Furthermore, recurrence risk rose significantly when age,
      tumor stage and tumor grade increased (P<0.05). ER+ tumors are observed in women
      of advanced age, but have a good clinical response. Currently, receptor
      determination is still generally preferred as a practical application. ER
      analysis in the early stage breast cancers for women of advanced ages must be
      considered as an indicator of anti-estrogenic therapy administration, rather than
      prognostic importance. 

PMID- 26885092
TI  - Prophylaxis on gout flares after the initiation of urate-lowering therapy: a
      retrospective research.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety associated
      with treatment available to prevent an acute attack of gout when initiating a
      urate-lowering therapy (ULT). We retrospectively reviewed patients who were
      diagnosed with gout and treated with ULT during the period from January 2000 to
      January 2014. They were divided into three groups, 75 patients without
      prophylaxis treatment, 103 patients treated with etoricoxib, and 129 patients
      with colchicine treatment. Both demographic and clinical characteristics
      associated with gout were analyzed. At baseline, demographic and clinical
      characteristics were generally similar in three groups. SU target level was
      achieved in 49.3% of the patients without prophylaxis treatment, 66.4% in the
      etoricoxib group and 65.1% in colchicine group, respectively. During the first 16
      weeks, patients without prophylaxis treatment exhibited higher flare rates than
      patients in other two groups. However, no statistically significant difference
      was observed between patients in etoricoxib group and colchicine group. In the 16
      24 weeks, the proportion of patients who reported flares were all decreased
      similarly in three groups. The mean number of acute gout flares per patient and
      gout flare days per patient was significantly higher in patients without
      prophylaxis treatment than patients in other groups. The mean number of acute
      gout flares was lower (4.2+/-2.3 vs 3.2+/-1.8) in patients with etoricoxib
      treatment than that in patients with colchicine treatment. Gout flare days per
      patient were significantly higher in patients without prophylaxis treatment.
      Compared to colchicine group, gout flare days per patient in etoricoxib were
      lower (1.2+/-0.5 vs 2.6+/-0.6). In term of AEs, patients receiving colchicine had
      higher rates of gastrointestinal AEs than those who received etoricoxib. In
      summary, our survey revealed that etoricoxib was more effective and safe than
      colchicine in preventing acute attack during ULT. 

PMID- 26885094
TI  - Correlation between body mass index of Chinese males and assisted reproductive
      technology outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between male's body mass index (BMI)
      and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In this retrospective
      study, we analyzed the data from 729 cycles of female patients aged 38 years or
      less, with normal BMI and who received IVF treatments between January, 2013 and
      June, 2014. The patients were divided into normal weight (n = 358), overweight (n
      = 267), and obese (n = 104) groups according to the BMI of their male partners.
      Embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes in these three groups were compared.
      RESULTS: With increasing BMI, fertilization rates decreased proportionately (P <
      0.05); but embryonic cleavage rates and effective embryo rates were not
      significantly affected (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in
      implantation rates, pregnancy rates, or early miscarriage rates (P > 0.05) among
      the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: High male BMI affects fertilization rate with ART;
      and we recommend that men of reproductive age adjust their lifestyles accordingly
      and make efforts to control their weight.

PMID- 26885093
TI  - Consistency analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT in
      diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - To compare the consistency of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast
      enhance CT (CECT) in diagnosis of 1~2 cm and 2.1~3 cm small hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate the value of CEUS in diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: A
      total of 74 patients (89 lesions) with small HCC and cirrhosis background were
      retrospectively analyzed. All of the eighty-nine lesions were confirmed by
      histopathological examination of surgical samples or needle biopsy. All the cases
      were divided into 1~2 cm group and 2.1~3 cm group. The CEUS and CECT enhanced
      pattern and diagnosis results of the two groups were compared and the consistency
      between the two imaging methods were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the
      diagnosis of 1.0-2.0 cm HCC, CEUS and CECT had a moderate consistency in arterial
      phase, CEUS showed a tolerable consistency with CECT in portal venous and
      delayphase. The two imaging methods have a better consistency for the diagnosis
      in 2.1-3.0 cm HCC. CONCLUSION: CEUS can be used as a supplement to provide
      important diagnostic information in clinical practice when positive results or
      definite diagnoses cannot obtain.

PMID- 26885095
TI  - One center experience in China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with
      coronary artery disease and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF<=40%)
      undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting OPCAB). METHODS: From 2001 to
      2004, 71 patients with low EF undergoing OPCABG in our hospital, the mean age is
      65.0+/-9.0 years (from 37 to 81), 49 males and 16 females, the mean EF was 33.8+/
      5.0%. Regular follow-up evaluation was completed. Draw the Kaplan-Meier survival
      curves, Use the log-rank test and Cox regression model to find out the factors
      that affect the long-term result. RESULTS: 71 low LVEF patients, 6 patients died
      perioperative, 63 patients discharged successfully, the follow-up time was 64.9+/
      30.4 months. 6 patients lost of follow up, 19 patients died during follow-up
      including 10 patients (15.9%) who had cardiac-related death. The survival rate at
      1, 3, 5 and 8 years was 95.1%, 93.3%, 86.3%, 77.7%, respectively. Univariate
      analysis shows EF<=30% and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days are risk
      factors for the long-term survival (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that
      EF<=30% (RR=6.446, P<0.05) and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days
      (RR=5.993, P<0.05) are two independent risk factors for the cardiac-related death
      after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with low eject fraction ventricular
      have satisfactory outcomes after OPCAB. LVEF<=30% and acute myocardial infarction
      within 30 days are two independent risk factors that affect the long-term
      outcome.

PMID- 26885096
TI  - Low expression of GNAI3 predicts poor prognosis in patients with HCC.
AB  - PURPOSES: This study was performed with an aim to explain the underlying role of
      GNAI3 on the prognosis of patients with HCC. METHODS: The expression of GNAI3 at
      protein level was detected with the utilization of Immunohistochemistry (IHC).
      Chi-square test was conducted to assay the relationship between GNAI3 expression
      and clinical parameters of HCC patients. The correlation between expression level
      of GNAI3 and survival time after surgeries of HCC patients was evaluated by
      Kaplan-Meier method. Finally, the Cox regression was established to evaluate the
      relationship between GNAI3 expression and the prognosis of patients with HCC.
      RESULTS: In this study, the negative rate of GNAI3 expression in HCC samples was
      about 76.6%, which was significantly higher than that in paired normal specimens
      (12.5%). Result showed that there was no correlation between GNAI3 expression and
      age, gender, liver cirrhosis and vein invasion (P>0.05), but tight relationship
      between GNAI3 expression and TNM stage and tumor size was found (P<0.05). The
      following Kaplan-Meier analysis result illustrated that negative expression of
      GNAI3 induced high mortality of HCC patients. Cox regression result revealed that
      GNAI3 might be a biomarker for prognosis of patients with HCC (HR: 0.218,
      P=0.016, 95% CI 0.063-0.750). CONCLUSION: Generally, results of this study
      demonstrated that expression of GNAI3 shared a tight relationship with the
      prognosis of patients with HCC. Therefore, GNAI3 could be considered as a novel
      index for prognosis of patients with HCC.

PMID- 26885097
TI  - Association between genetic polymorphism in NFKB1 and NFKBIA and coronary artery
      disease in a Chinese Han population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Prior studies have demonstrated NF-kappaB plays an important role in
      the development and progression of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study
      was to investigate whether promoter polymorphisms in NFKB1 and NFKBIA gene are
      associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese Han population.
      METHODS: A total of 1140 Han CAD patients and 1156 Han control subjects were
      genotyped for 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of
      NFKBIA gene (rs3138053, rs2233406, rs2233409) and NFKB1 gene (-94 ins/del ATTG,
      rs28362491) by using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assays, and then NFKBIA haplotype
      blocks were reconstructed according to our genotyping data. RESULTS: For total,
      men, and women, the distribution of genotypes, alleles of rs3138053, rs2233406,
      rs2233409 and haplotype polymorphisms showed no significant difference between
      CAD cases and controls. None of the studied NFKBIA SNPs were associated with CAD.
      For total, men, and women, there was significant difference in the distribution
      of the genotypes (P=0.001, P=0.024, P= 0.022) and alleles (P=0.001, P=0.012,
      P=0.031) of rs28362491 in CAD cases and controls. For total, men, and women, the
      rs28362491 was associated with increased risk of CAD in a recessive model after
      adjustment for covariates (OR=1.505, 95% CI 1.190 to 1.903, P=0.001; OR=1.469,
      95% CI 1.082-1.993, P=0.014; OR=1.622, 95% CI 1.118 to 2.352, P=0.011,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in
      NFKB1 promoter is associated with CAD susceptibility in Chinese Han population,
      providing a new insight into the genetics of CAD in Chinese Han population.

PMID- 26885098
TI  - Comparison of complete and incomplete excision of deep infiltrating
      endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of complete and incomplete excision
      of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). METHODS: Ninety-three women who
      underwent complete excision (n=55) or incomplete surgery of DIE (n=38) between
      January 2011 and December 2013 were included in this retrospective cohort study.
      Surgical data, and follow-up information of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS:
      Eighty-five women (91.4%) returned for their follow-up after the operation. The
      mean follow-up time was 18.3+/-8.7 months. The complete excision group had a
      significantly higher complication rate than the incomplete excision group (9.1%
      VS 0%, P<0.001). The decrease of visual analog scale (VAS) scores were more
      significant (5.6+/-3.9 VS 2.9+/-3.3, P=0.001), and the postoperative recurrence
      rate is significantly lower (3.9% VS 35.3%, P=0.000) in the complete excision
      group than that in the in-complete surgery group. The palliative incomplete
      excision had a comparable pregnancy rate and comparable quality of life in most
      aspects, except psychological score. And in the in-complete excision patients,
      administration of post-operative GnRH agonist had a post-treatment improvement of
      VAS score similar with the complete excision patient (4.5+/-3.2 versus 5.6+/-3.9,
      P=0.272). However, the recurrence rate were still significantly higher (29.4% VS
      3.9%, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing with incomplete excision, the complete
      excision of DIE significantly decreased the post-operative pain and the
      recurrence rate. Although incomplete excision with post-operative GnRHa is
      efficient with respect to pain, the side effects of the drugs and the recurrence
      rate after cessation of the drugs must be considered. So complete excision of DIE
      is the first surgical treatment of choice.

PMID- 26885099
TI  - Risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy onset and progression in
      diabetes patients: a Taiwanese cohort study.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) and the leading cause of adult blindness. This study aimed to clarify the
      risk factors associated with DR onset and progression in patients with T2DM in
      Taiwan. This retrospective analysis enrolled 743 T2DM patients, including 170
      with DR and 573 without DR at baseline who were enrolled in the Diabetes Shared
      Care Program. The average follow-up period was 2.9 years. Variables, including
      demographic characteristics, DM duration, anthropometric data and clinical
      laboratory results, were compared between patients with DR at baseline, those
      with new-onset DR, and patients without DR using a chi-squared test and one-way
      ANOVA. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was performed to identify
      risk factors associated with progression of preexisting DR or new-onset DR.
      During the follow-up period, 38 (22.4%) patients with preexisting DR experienced
      disease progression, and 91 (15.9%) patients had new-onset DR. Multivariate
      analysis revealed that the presence of neuropathy (HR: 3.96, 95% CI: 1.84, 8.53)
      and diastolic blood pressure (HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.08) were associated with
      increased risk of DR progression (both P < 0.001). Factors associated with new
      onset DR included neuropathy, systolic BP, cholesterol, and updated mean of HbA1c
      (all P <= 0.001). The risk factors associated with DR onset and progression in
      Taiwanese patients with T2DM are different. Neuropathy and blood pressure
      increased the risk of both DR onset and progression; however, the risk of DR
      onset was also increased with updated mean of HbA1c and cholesterol. 

PMID- 26885100
TI  - Comparative evaluation of CT-based and PET/4DCT-based planning target volumes in
      the radiation of primary esophageal cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare planning target volume (PTV) defined by PET combined with
      4DCT to 3DCT and 4DCT. METHODS: Eighteen (18/30) esophageal cancer patients who
      underwent 3DCT, 4DCT and (18)F-FDG PET-CT thoracic simulation with SUVmax>=2.0 of
      the primary volume were enrolled. CTV3D was formed on 3DCT by adding a margin of
      30 mm in cranial-caudal direction and 5 mm in transversal direction. PTV3D was
      defined using a 10 mm margin to CTV3D and CTV4D was obtained by fusion of CTV
      from ten phases of 4DCT. A 5 mm margin for setup errors to CTV4D was to form
      PTV4D. BTVPET was generated with the assumption that motion was captured in PET
      images using a thresholding methods: 20% SUVmax. CTV(PET) 4DCT was calculated by
      the union of BTVPET and CTV4D, and a 5 mm margin to CTV(PET) 4DCT was used to
      form PTV(PET) 4DCT. The geometrical differences of the targets were evaluated.
      RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed among CTV3D, CTV4D
      and CTV(PET) 4DCT (CTV(PET) 4DCT>CTV4D>CTV3D, P=0.000-0.038). PTV3D, PTV4D, and
      PTV(PET) 4DCT also differed significantly from each other (PTV(PET)
      4DCT>PTV4D>PTV3D, P=0.000-0.048). The DI of PTV3D in PTV(PET) 4DCT was
      significantly larger than that of PTV3D in PTV 4D (P=0.042). There were no
      significant differences between the DI of PTV4D in PTV3D and PTV(PET) 4DCT in
      PTV3D (P=0.118). CONCLUSIONS: As demonstrated by the assessment of the
      geometrical differences in PET/4DCT-based and 3DCT-based PTV, PET/4DCT could
      affect not only the volume of PTV but also its shape.

PMID- 26885101
TI  - All about ketamine premedication for children undergoing ophtalmic surgery.
AB  - Ketamine is a non-barbiturate cyclohexamine derivative which produces a state of
      sedation, immobility, analgesia, amnesia, and dissociation from the environment.
      One of the most important advantages of ketamine premedication is production of
      balanced sedation with less respiratory depression and less changes in blood
      pressure or heart rate. As its effects on intracranial pressure, the possible
      effect of ketamine on intraocular pressure has been controversial overtime. In
      this study, we aimed to demostrate all the advantages and possible side effects
      of ketamine premedication in 100 children with retinablastoma undergoing
      ophthalmic surgery. All the children were premedicated with ketamine 5 mg kg(-1)
      15 minutes before the examination orally and peroperative complications, reaction
      to intravenous catheter insertion, need for additive dose and intraocular
      pressures of children were recorded. We showed that ketamine administration
      orally is a safe and effective way of premedication for oncologic patients
      undergoing examination under general anaesthesia. The incidence of agitation,
      anxiety at parental separation and reaction to insertion of intravenous catheter
      was very low while adverse side effects were seen rarely. Intraocular pressure
      which is very important for most of the ophthalmic surgery patients remained in
      normal ranges. 

PMID- 26885102
TI  - Relationship between manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSODAla-9Val) and
      glutathione peroxidase (GPx1 Pro 197 Leu) gene polymorphisms and alopecia areata.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The role of the oxidative stress in alopecia areata (AA) has been
      studied by several researchers in a few studies with conflicting results. These
      results suggested that lipid peroxidation and alterations in the oxidant
      antioxidant enzymatic system may play a role in the pathogenesis of AA.
      Therefore, we aimed to examine the possible associations between the MnSOD Ala
      9Val and GPx1 Pro 198 Leu polymorphisms and AA susceptibility and disease
      progression in Turkish population. METHODS: The study group consisted of 119
      unrelated patients with AA and 104 unrelated healthy controls with no scalp
      lesions in their personal history or on clinical examination. Genotyping was
      performed to identify MnSOD Ala-9Val and GPx1 Pro 198 Leu polymorphisms by a
      method based on PCR amplification and detection of polymorphisms with
      hybridization probes labeled with fluorescent dyes. Genotype and allele
      frequencies were compared between patients with AA and healthy control subjects.
      RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the MnSOD Ala-9Val SNP
      genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the AA patients and the control
      group (P=0.168 and P=0.820, respectively). There was not any association between
      clinical and demographical features of the study patients with AA and MnSOD Ala
      9Val and GPx1 Pro 198 Leu polymorphism genotypes except gender. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study is unique since an investigation to reveal the possible associations
      between the MnSOD Ala-9Val and GPx1 Pro 198 Leu polymorphisms and AA
      susceptibility and in Turkish population.

PMID- 26885103
TI  - Changes in sleep architecture and quality in minimal hepatic encephalopathy
      patients and relationship to psychological dysfunction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We examined changes in sleep quality and architecture in patients
      with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and the impacts of sleep disruption on
      patient physical and psychological health. METHODS: Ninety-eight MHE patients
      were examined by polysomnography (PSG) and the Pittsburg sleep quality inventory
      (PSQI). In addition, patients completed the SAS, SDS, and SCL-90 to examine the
      relationship between sleep quality and psychological health. RESULTS: Mean
      relative durations of Stage 1 and Stage 2, sleep latency, microarousal frequency,
      and total sleep time (TST) were all lower in MHE patients compared to healthy
      controls (P<0.05 for all). Similarly, SWS and REM stage durations, REM latency,
      sleep maintenance rate, and sleep efficiency were lower than controls (P<0.01 for
      all). Mean PSQI scores were lower in MHE patients. Total SAS, SDS, and SCL-90
      scores, as well as all SCL-90 subscores, were significantly higher in the MHE
      group (P<0.05), indicating significant psychological dysfunction. Longer SWS,
      longer REM, and lower microarousal frequency were associated with improved sleep
      quality (P<0.05), while shorter SWS and REM led to dyssomnia and daytime
      functional disturbance (P<0.05, P<0.01). Longer REM latency and higher
      microarousal frequency were associated with higher PSQI scores (P<0.05, P<0.01),
      while longer SWS, longer REM, and higher sleep maintenance rate were associated
      with lower PSQI scores (P<0.05, P<0.01). Finally, total PSQI score and sleep
      efficiency subscore were positively correlated with total SCL-90 and most SCL-90
      subscores (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MHE patients suffer from multiple subjective
      dyssomnias and changes in sleep architecture that are strongly correlated with
      psychological dysfunction.

PMID- 26885104
TI  - A comparison of the outcome of CPR according to AHA 2005 ACLS and AHA 2010 ACLS
      guidelines in cardiac arrest: multicenter study.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference in the return
      of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival with sequel-free recovery rates
      between the patients who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according
      to 2005 and 2010 guidelines. This study was conducted in the Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi
      Konuk and Kartal Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital between dates of
      October 2010 and 28 February 2011 after approval of Ethics Committee. In the
      first months of the study, CPR was performed according to AHA 2005 ACLS
      guidelines (Group-1), while CPR was performed according to AHA 2010 ACLS
      guidelines after November 2010 (Group-2). Patients were assessed for neurological
      deficit with Cerebral Performance Categories Scale. Mean age was found as 69.01+/
      13.05 (minimum: 21, maximum: 92) in 86 patients included. Of the 33 patients
      underwent CPR in the Group 1, ROSC was achieved in 51.5%; and 6.1% of these
      patients were discharged. Of the 53 patients underwent CPR in the Group 2, ROSC
      was achieved in 37.7%; and 9.4% of these patients were discharged. Although the
      number of living patients in Group 2 was higher than Group 1, the difference was
      not found statistically significant (5 versus 2), (P>0.05). But, neurological
      outcomes were found better with 2010 compared to 2005 guidelines (3/7 versus 0/2
      good cerebral performance). It was found that the 2005 CPR guidelines practices
      in ED were more successful than the 2010 CPR guidelines practices in ROSC, but
      less successful in the rate of discharge from hospital and neurological sequel
      free discharge rate. 

PMID- 26885105
TI  - Effect of transsphenoidal surgery and standard care on fertility related
      indicators of patients with prolactinomas during child-bearing period.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical therapeutic effects in the endocrine and
      reproductive system of women with prolactinoma at child-bearing age, and to
      investigate the potential influencing factors for therapeutic outcome. METHODS:
      This retrospective study was performed using the medical records of 99 cases of
      female patients with pituitary PRL adenomas at child-bearing age, who underwent
      transsphenoidal surgery and took standard perioperative care from January, 2013
      to June, 2013 in Huashan hospital, in which micro adenoma (<=1 cm) of 68 cases,
      large adenomas (> 1 cm) of 31 cases, 88 cases were total resection, 9 cases were
      subtotal resection, and 2 cases were massive resection. Retrospective study on
      the preoperative serum level of PRL, menstruation, galactorrhea and reproductive
      function, etc. Patients were followed up in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation
      for endocrine indicators, the situation of menstruation and pregnancy. RESULTS:
      Overall, 88.9%, 9.1%, and 2% patients underwent total, subtotal, and massive
      resection of prolactinoma in 99 cases of patients. Before accepting
      transsphenoidal surgery and standard care, all 99 cases with serum PRL level
      higher than normal 25 ng/ml, 71.7% (71 cases, all total resection) patients had
      their serum PRL < 25 ng/ml on the first day after surgery, and micro adenomas
      remission rate of 80.9% (55 cases) was significantly higher than 51.6% of large
      adenomas (16 cases) (P < 0.05); the postoperative PRL of 11 cases of total or
      massive resection in patients were not back to normal, Chi-square test results
      showed that the PRL remission rate after total resection were significantly
      higher than that of subtotal or massive resection (P < 0.01). 67.3% (66/98)
      irregular menstruation patients had menstruation recovery after surgery, in
      addition, total resection of the tumor, micro- adenoma, preoperative PRL < 200
      ng/ml and first day of postoperative PRL <=25 ng/ml were favorable factors for
      menstrual improvement (P < 0.05). 83.6% (51/61) of patients with galactorrhea
      symptoms got alliviated after surgery, but had no association to the types of
      tumor (P > 0.05). 14 patients out of 17 infertility patients got pregnant after
      surgery. CONCLUSION: Transsphenoidal operation combining standardized nursing
      measures is an effective way to treat pituitary PRL adenoma, and it has high cure
      rate on abnormal menstruation caused by pituitary PRL adenoma which can recover
      the fertility of female patients. The preoperative serum level of prolactin could
      be used as an indicator for postoperative improvement in the endocrine system.
      The serum level of prolactin on the first day after operation could accurately
      reflect prognosis, so be regarded as one of the assessment factors for surgical
      therapeutic effect.

PMID- 26885107
TI  - Efficacy and safety of cyclophosphamide combined with mycophenolate mofetil for
      induction treatment of class IV lupus nephritis.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination of
      cyclophosphamide (CTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as induction treatment in
      Chinese patients with class IV lupus nephritis (LN). 82 patients were randomly
      divided into control (CTX, n=40) and test (CTX+MMF, n=42) groups, and they
      received monthly dose of 0.75 g/m(2) of body surface area of CTX and monthly dose
      of 0.4 g/m(2) CTX plus 1.0 g/d MMF, respectively. Patients were followed up for
      six months after treatment; and their efficacy rates, complete remission rates,
      adverse events, and certain indices in blood were compared between the two
      groups. Compared with the baseline levels, significant differences in the levels
      of hemoglobin, urinary proteins, albumin, serum creatinine, erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate, complement C3 and anti-dsDNA were observed after treatment in
      both groups (P<0.05). While the two groups did not differ significantly after
      treatment (P>0.05). There was a trend toward higher complete remission (54.8%)
      and efficacy rates (88.1%) after treatment in the test group without statistical
      significance. However, the incidence rate of gastrointestinal reactions (7.1%)
      and infections (11.9%) in the test group were significantly lower than the
      control group (P<0.05). The efficacy of lower dose of CTX combined with MMF as
      induction therapy for LN was not lower than the traditional treatment with CTX.
      Moreover, the low dose of CTX in combination with MMF could result in lesser
      adverse events and improved safety. 

PMID- 26885106
TI  - Effect of rosuvastatin dose-loading on serum sLox-1, hs-CRP, and postoperative
      prognosis in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing selected
      percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rosuvastatin dose-loading on serum levels
      of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (Lox-1) and high
      sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and postoperative prognosis in patients
      with diabetes and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS)
      undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of
      72 patients with diabetes and NSTEACS were randomized to either the group treated
      with 20 mg rosuvastatin 12 hours prior to PCI with a second dose administered
      just before PCI (n = 33), or a control group treated with standard method
      according guideline (n = 39). Serum levels of sLox-1, hs-CRP, CK-MB, and cTnI
      were measured prior to PCI, and at 24 hours and 30 days after PCI. The 30-day
      incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was recorded in both groups.
      RESULTS: Compared to pre-PCI, serum levels of sLox-1 and hs-CRP of the two groups
      were increased at 24 hours after PCI (P < 0.05); the levels of CK-MB and cTnI
      were also improved (P < 0.01); however, the ascended values of sLox-1, hs-CRP, CK
      MB, and cTnI were significantly lower in the loading-dose rosuvastatin-treated
      group than in the control-treated group. Serum levels of sLox-1 and hs-CRP were
      higher in the loading-dose rosuvastatin-treated group than in the control-treated
      group at 30 days after PCI (P < 0.05); compared to pre-PCI, the levels of TC and
      LDL-C were not changed at 24 hours after PCI (P > 0.05) until 30 days after PCI
      (P < 0.05), but there were no difference between the two groups. The levels of
      ALT and Scr had no significant difference between the two groups before and after
      PCI; the 30-day incidence of MACE occurred in 6.06% of patients in the loading
      dose rosuvastatin-treated group and in 23.08% of patients in the control-treated
      group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapy of dose-loading rosuvastatin for
      patients with diabetes and non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes
      undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention can attenuate the increase
      of serum levels of sLox-1, reduce myocardial injury and inflammatory reaction
      caused by PCI, and also reduce the occurrence of MACE 30 days after PCI.

PMID- 26885108
TI  - Dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability based on 4DCT scan for
      external-beam partial breast irradiation.
AB  - This study sought to evaluate the dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation
      variability (based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma) during external
      beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) planned utilizing four-dimensional
      computed tomography (4DCT) scans. 4DCT scans of 20 patients with a seroma clarity
      score (SCS) 3~5 and >=5 surgical clips were included in this study. The combined
      volume of the tumor bed formed using clips, seroma, or both clips and seroma on
      the 10 phases of 4DCT was defined as the internal gross target volume (termed
      IGTVC, IGTVS and IGTVC+S, respectively). A 1.5-cm margin was added by defining
      the planning target volume (termed PTVC, PTVS and PTVC+S, respectively). Three
      treatment plans were established using the 4DCT images (termed EB-PBIC, EB-PBIS,
      EB-PBIC+S, respectively). The results showed that the volume of IGTVC+S was
      significantly larger than that of IGTVCand IGTVS. Similarly, the volume of PTVC+S
      was markedly larger than that of PTVC and PTVS. However, the PTV coverage for EB
      PBIC+S was similar to that of EB-PBIC and EB-PBIS, and there were no significant
      differences in the homogeneity index or conformity index between the three
      treatment plans (P=0.878, 0.086). The EB-PBIS plan resulted in the lowest
      ipsilateral normal breast and ipsilateral lung doses compared with the EB-PBIC
      and EB-PBIC+S plans. To conclude, the volume variability delineated based on
      clips, seroma or both clips and seroma resulted in dosimetric variability for
      organs at risk, but did not show a marked influence on the dosimetric
      distribution. 

PMID- 26885109
TI  - Comparison of serum procalcitonin in respiratory infections and bloodstream
      infections.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study observed the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) and
      results of sputum culture, the relationship between PCT and results of blood
      culture to evaluate and compare the value of PCT in respiratory and bloodstream
      infections. METHODS: We analyzed 1616 patients in which PCT and sputum culture
      were concurrently ordered and analyzed, and 1096 patients in which PCT and blood
      culture were concurrently ordered and analyzed from January 2014 to May 2015. PCT
      concentrations were measured by on a Roche Cobas E601 ECL analyzer. RESULTS: The
      average values of PCT from patients with sputum culture positive and negative
      were 0.42 (0.17-2.16) and 0.12 (0.06-0.57) ng/ml respectively, and the average
      values of PCT from patients with blood culture positive and negative were 9.54
      (2.10-48.47) and 0.28 (0.10-1.23) ng/ml respectively. In sputum culture, positive
      rate of PCT in cases with growth of pathogens was 47.1%. In blood culture,
      positive rate of PCT in cases with growth of pathogens was 89.2%. CONCLUSIONS:
      PCT is useful in early diagnosis of respiratory infections and bloodstream
      infections, but the specificity of PCT in diagnosing respiratory infections is
      not as high as it is in bloodstream infections.

PMID- 26885110
TI  - Conventional in vitro fertilization maybe yields more available embryos than
      intracytoplasmic sperm injection for patients with no indications for ICSI.
AB  - Many physicians suggest that performing ICSI instead of IVF for all cases just
      because they thought that ICSI yields more available embryos than IVF. However,
      we found that IVF results in better fertilization per retrieved oocyte (72.12 +/-
      19.60% versus 59.54 +/- 21.38%, P < 0.01) and day 3 available embryo per
      retrieved oocyte rates (54.89 +/- 23.53% versus 50.54 +/- 22.68%, P < 0.05) than
      ICSI after analysis of 218 cycles using sibling oocytes in combined IVF/ICSI for
      patients with no indications for ICSI. We also found a positive correlation
      between the degeneration rate after ICSI, oocyte immaturity rate, and rate of 2
      pn per retrieved oocyte obtained from IVF compared to ICSI, as well as the day 3
      available embryo rate between IVF and ICSI. It is possible that outcome may be
      due to more in vitro-matured oocytes achieved in IVF fertilization compared with
      ICSI fertilization, and a considerable portion of the mature oocytes were
      degenerated after ICSI. Therefore, it is suggested that ICSI should not be
      performed in all cases of in vitro conception. IVF is preferable to ICSI for
      cases in which a relatively low possible fertilization failure occurs in
      conventional IVF. 

PMID- 26885111
TI  - Paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase activities in patients with colorectal cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and
      arylesterase (ARE) activities and oxidative stress status in patients with
      colorectal carcinomas (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients (20
      male, 13 female) with CRC and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.
      Blood samples were obtained from the CRC patients before adjuvant therapy. Serum
      samples from CRC patients and healthy controls were analyzed for PON1 and ARE
      activities. RESULTS: The PON1 and ARE activities of the patients with CRC were
      significantly higher compared to those of the control group (PON1 activity is
      125.35+/-20.07 U/L for CRC patients and 1.22+/-0.48 U/L for control group,
      P<0.001; ARE activity is 160.76+/-10.79 U/L for CRC patients). ARE levels showed
      a positive correlation with smoking status (P=0.04). PON1 activity was higher in
      colon carcinoma patients (135.95+/-19.3 U/L) rather than rectal carcinoma
      patients (97.08+/-5.24 U/L) but it was not statistically significant (P=0.72).
      CONCLUSION: Serum PON1 activity is increased in patients with CRC, and serum ARE
      levels showed a positive correlation with smoking status. PON1 activity was
      higher in colon carcinoma patients. There is no other study in literature
      investigating these activities for CRC patients. It should be reevaluated by
      larger clinical trials.

PMID- 26885112
TI  - Vitrified/warmed single blastocyst transfer in preimplantation genetic
      diagnosis/preimplantation genetic screening cycles.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the single blastocyst transfer in preimplantation
      genetic diagnosis (PGD)/preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) cycles. METHODS:
      80 PGD/PGS cycles undergoing blastocyst biopsy were studied. There were 88
      warming cycles during the study period. Only one warmed blastocyst was
      transferred per cycle. The outcomes were followed up to the infants were born.
      RESULTS: The embryo implantation rate was 54.55% (48/88). The clinical pregnancy
      rate was 54.55% (48/88) per transfer cycle and 60% (48/80) per initial PGD/PGS
      cycle. There was no multi-pregnant in this study. The live birth rate was 42.05%
      (37/88) per transfer cycle and 46.25% (37/80) per initial PGD/PGS cycle.
      CONCLUSION: In PGD/PGS cycles, single blastocyst transfer reduces the multiple
      pregnancy rate without affecting the clinical outcomes.

PMID- 26885113
TI  - Prospective randomized trial of mesh fixation with absorbable versus
      nonabsorbable tacker in laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair.
AB  - The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare 2 main fixation
      devices in regard to pain and recurrence in laparoscopic ventral incisional
      hernia repair (LVIHR). A total of 51 patients were evaluated in this study (n =
      25, nonabsorbable tack (NAT) and n = 26, absorbable tack (AT) groups). A visual
      analogue scale (VAS) was performed on both groups preoperatively and on the
      postoperative (PO) first day, second week, and sixth month. All patients were
      followed for recurrence by clinical examination, ultrasonography, and/or
      abdominal computed tomography. The median follow-up time was 31 months (15-45).
      The mean age and the mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients were 53.1 +/- 11
      years and 34 +/- 5 kg/m(2), respectively. The median defect size was 60 cm(2) (35
      150) and median operation time was 110 minutes (40-360). In 2 patients from AT
      group and 2 from NAT group (7.8%), recurrence occurred. The 2 groups had similar
      features regarding demographics, operation time, postoperative hospital stay,
      morbidity, and VAS scores. The 2 fixation methods were found similar for PO pain
      and recurrence. In our opinion, the choice of either of these fixation methods
      during surgery should not be based on the concerns of pain or recurrence. AT may
      be the preferable option in LVIHR due to the lower cost. 

PMID- 26885114
TI  - Delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2 polymorphism is associated with maximal oxygen
      uptake after Living-high exercise-high training-low in a male Chinese population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Each individual shows great variations to hypoxic training, which may
      be due to individual differences in genotype or gene polymorphism. delta
      aminolevulinic acid synthase 2 (ALAS2 ) polymorphism is used as a marker for X
      linked sideroblastic anemia. This study assessed the ALAS2 polymorphism for an
      association with response to Living-high exercise-high training-low (HiHiLo)
      training in Han Chinese males. METHODS: A total of 244 healthy young male
      subjects of Han nationality were recruited from Northern China for detection of
      the ALAS2 polymorphism, 72 of whom were then selected for undergoing a four-week
      HiHiLo training program (i.e., subject to 10 h of hypoxia training daily at 14.5
      14.8% O2 exposure, three occurrences of hypoxic training every week at 15.4% O2
      level, and normal training at sea level). GeneScan and DNA sequencing were used
      to analyze ALAS2 polymorphism. Before and after training, the maximal oxygen
      uptake (VO2 max) in each individual was recorded. RESULTS: A successive cut-point
      analysis showed that the initial hemoglobin value in individuals with
      dinucleotide repeats <= 166 bp was significantly higher than in individuals with
      dinucleotide repeats > 166-bp (P = 0.05). The ?VO2 max and ?rVO2 max after HiHiLo
      training were significantly higher in individuals with dinucleotide repeats <=
      166 bp than in individuals with dinucleotide repeats > 166 bp (P < 0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: The compound dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in ALAS2 intron 7
      correlated with response to HiHiLo training. Further study will evaluate this
      ALAS2 SNP as a genetic marker to predict responses to HiHiLo training.

PMID- 26885115
TI  - Serum cholesterol levels in middle-aged euthyroid subjects with positive thyroid
      peroxidase antibodies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate serum cholesterol levels in
      middle-aged euthyroid subjects with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies
      (TPOAbs). METHODS: We screened 1607 euthyroid subjects aged 35-65 years old. All
      the subjects were divided into 2 groups (i.e., TPOAb-positive group, n=205; TPOAb
      negative group, n=1402) according to the level of TPOAb. The subjects were then
      subgrouped according to serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels; those
      with a TSH level of 0.3-0.99 mIU/L, 1.0-1.89 mIU/L, and 1.9-4.80 mIU/L were
      classified into the low-normal, mid-range, and high-normal TSH subgroups,
      respectively). Each TSH group further subdivided into TPOAb-positive and TPOAb
      negative subgroup. Data regarding the subjects' height, body weight, blood
      pressure, and levels of serum TSH, TPOAb, fasting plasma glucose, total
      cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),
      and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were collected. RESULTS:
      Compared with TPOAb-negative subjects, TPOAb-positive patients had higher levels
      of TSH, TC, and HDL-C (P=0.001, P=0.012, and P=0.049 respectively) with a
      tendency for increased LDL-C levels (P=0.053). In the low-normal TSH subgroup,
      subjects with and without TPOAb had similar levels of TSH, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C
      (P>0.05). In mid-range TSH subgroup, TPOAb-positive patients had higher HDL-C
      levels compared to TPOAb-negative subjects (P=0.008) and a tendency for increased
      TC levels (P=0.121). In the high-normal TSH subgroup, TPOAb-positive patients had
      higher TSH and TC levels compared to TPOAb-negative subjects (P<0.001 and P=0.046
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: High TPOAb levels above the normal range appears in
      euthyroid population, dyslipidemia have begun.

PMID- 26885116
TI  - Association of genetic polymorphisms in PTEN and additional interaction with
      alcohol consumption and smoking on colorectal cancer in Chinese population.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the association of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted
      on chromosome ten (PTEN) gene rs3830675, and additional interaction with drinking
      and smoking on colorectal cancer (CRC), based on a hospital based Chinese case
      control study. METHODS: A total of 850 subjects (413 males and 437 females) were
      studied, including 422 colorectal cancer cases and 428 controls. Rs3830675 was
      selected for genotyping in the case-control study. Logistic regression model was
      used to examine the association between rs3830675 and colorectal cancer, and
      additional interaction with alcohol consumption and smoking. RESULTS: The
      frequencies for rs3830675 (-) alleles was higher in cases than that in controls,
      (-) allele of rs3830675 was 24.4% in controls and 29.4% in CRC subjects
      (p=0.005). Logistic analysis showed that the carriers of (-) allele of rs3830675
      revealed increased CRC risk than those with (+/+) genotype, adjusted OR (95% CI)
      was 1.35(1.12-1.98). We found a significant interaction between alcohol
      consumption and rs3830675, drinkers with (-/-) or (-/+) of rs3830675 genotype
      have highest colorectal cancer risk, compared to never drinking subjects with
      (+/+) genotype, OR (95% CI) was 2.57 (1.66-3.33), after covariates adjustment. In
      addition, we also found that smokers with (-/-) or (-/+) of rs3830675 genotype
      have highest colorectal cancer risk, compared to never smokers with (+/+)
      genotype, OR (95% CI) was 3.01 (1.58-6.05). CONCLUSIONS: The (-) allele of
      rs3830675 was positively with colorectal cancer risk. There was a significant
      role of interaction of rs3830675 with alcohol consumption and smoking on
      colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26885117
TI  - Atorvastatin up-regulates TRIB3 independent of ATF4-CHOP pathway in
      atherosclerotic patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macrophage apoptosis triggered by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress
      contributes much to atherosclerosis, especially plaque vulnerability. Activating
      transcription factor 4 (ATF4)-CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous
      protein (CHOP)-Tribbles 3 (TRIB3) pathway is closely related to the ER stress.
      This study aimed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the ATF4-CHOP-TRIB3
      pathway. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were randomized into 80-mg and 20-mg
      atorvastatin group. Follow-up was performed at weeks 6 and 12, and complete blood
      chemistry, lipid assay and detection of 5 target genes (tumor protein 53, ATF4,
      C/EBP, CHOP and TRIB3) in monocytes/macrophages were conducted. Furthermore, the
      interaction between dosage and duration of therapy was evaluated. RESULTS: After
      12-week therapy, patients in both groups experienced significant reductions in
      ATF4 (P=0.038) and C/EBP (P=0.003) expressions. Tumor protein 53 (P=0.015) and
      TRIB3 (P=0.045) expressions increased markedly in 80-mg atorvastatin group.
      However, there was no significant difference in CHOP expression at three time
      points and between atorvastatin groups. Moreover, there was no interaction
      between dosage and duration of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin has an effect
      on ER stress through ATF4-CHOP pathway. Atorvastatin at a high dose is more
      likely to increase TRIB3 expression, but this warrants further investigation.

PMID- 26885119
TI  - Interaction between peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma
      polymorphism and overweight on diabetic retinopathy in a Chinese case-control
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR gamma) and
      overweight were both associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR), so the aim of
      this study was to investigate the association of four single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) of PPAR gamma with DR and additional role of gene-BMI
      interaction. METHODS: A total of 500 patients with T2DM (236 men, 264 women),
      with a mean age of 54.3 +/- 15.8 years old, were selected, including 247 diabetic
      retinopathy patients and 253 controls. Four SNPs were selected for genotyping in
      the case-control study: rs1805192, rs709158, rs3856806, rs4684847. Logistic
      regression model was used to examine the interaction between SNP and overweight
      on DR, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confident interval (95% CI) were calculated.
      RESULTS: The carriers of C allele of the rs1805192 polymorphism revealed
      decreased DR risk than those with Pro/Pro variants (Pro/Ala+Ala/Ala versus
      Pro/Pro, adjusted OR (95% CI)=0.86 (0.65-0.96), P=0.012), after adjusting for
      covariates. We also found that obese subjects with Pro/Ala or Ala/Ala variants
      genotype have lowest DR risk, compared to obese subjects with Pro/Pro genotype or
      non- obese subjects with Pro/Ala or Ala/Ala (OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.32-0.63), after
      covariates adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support an important association
      between rs1805192 minor allele (Ala allele) of PPAR gamma and DR, the interaction
      analysis shown a combined effect of Ala- BMI interaction on DR.

PMID- 26885118
TI  - Correlation between mimecan expression and coronary artery stenosis in patients
      with coronary heart disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between coronary
      artery stenosis and Mimecan expression in patients with coronary heart disease
      (CHD). METHODS: Seventy eight patients with CHD and 80 controls without vascular
      lesions were recruited into present study. CHD patients were divided into one
      vessel CHD subgroup, 2-vessel CHD subgroup and multivessel CHD subgroup. ELISA
      was performed to detect the expressions of serum Mimecan and nuclear factor
      kappaB (NF-kappaB). RESULTS: When compared with control group, the expressions of
      serum mimecan gene and NF-kappaB significantly increased in CHD groups (P <
      0.05); When compared with one-vessel and two-vessel CHD subgroups, the
      expressions of serum mimecan and NF-kappaB significantly increased in multivessel
      CHD subgroup (P < 0.05), significant difference was observed among three
      subgroups (P < 0.05). The expressions of serum mimecan and NF-kappaB were
      positively related to the severity of coronary lesions (rmimecan=0.79, rNF
      kappaB=0.83, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased expressions of serum mimecan and NF
      kappaB in CHD patients are related to cardiac insufficiency, which may be
      ascribed to the binding of NF-kappaB to mimecan gene.

PMID- 26885120
TI  - Safety of uneventful cesarean section in terms of hemorrhage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hemorrhage still continues to be reported as one of the leading causes
      of maternal mortality and morbidity. Intraoperative estimation of the blood loss
      seems to be complex and misleading as it is impaired by the amount of amniotic
      fluid and blood from the placenta. The present study was aimed to investigate the
      safety of intraoperative deciding on an uneventful cesarean section in a low risk
      patient population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients free from
      hemorrhage risks and experienced an uneventful elective cesarean section, were
      included to the study. The decline in hemoglobin and hematocrit values,
      calculated blood loss, transfusion rate and presence of hemorrhage related
      symptoms and signs were accepted as the main outcomes of the study. RESULTS: The
      average preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin values were detected as 12.09+/
      0.18 g/dl and 10.72+/-1.39 g/dl, respectively. The average decrease in hemoglobin
      was 1.36+/-1.06 g/dl. The observed decrease in hemoglobin values were less than
      10% in 34.4% of the patients. The average blood loss was calculated to be
      517.06+/-417.55 ml. There were no patients with signs and symptoms of hemorrhage.
      Cross match transfusion ratio, transfusion probability and transfusion index was
      calculated as zero. CONCLUSION: The decision of uneventful cesarean section
      provides obstetricians a safe postoperative and postpartum period after following
      standardized surgical procedures in terms of hemorrhage and related
      complications.

PMID- 26885121
TI  - Cardiac urticaria caused by eucleid allergen.
AB  - Urticaria is a common allergic diseases, which involve respiratory and digestive
      system being suffered in some population. Yet, relatively little research has
      been done on the adverse effect on the heart. We did this research to examine the
      correlation between the abnormality of ECG in the patients with acute allergic
      urticaria and the antigen of eucleid. The antigen (allergen of eucleid and other
      allergens) was used to test the patients with acute allergic urticaria by skin
      prick test and electrocardiogram was employed to examine the patients with strong
      positive (moth & caterpillar) eucleid antigen. Strong positive eucleid antigen
      was identified in 84 cases with abnormal electrocardiographic pattern of
      diversity. So, the acute allergic skin urticaria caused by eucleid allergen may
      impose strong effect on the heart and thus lead to allergic cardiac urticaria. 

PMID- 26885122
TI  - Medium-term follow-up of clinically insignificant residual fragments after
      minimal invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy: prognostic features and risk
      factors.
AB  - Minimal invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) has been commonly used in
      removing urinary stones. However, the detrimental effects of clinically
      insignificant residual fragments (CIRF) after MPCNL have not been entirely
      clarified. This study is aimed at investigating the clinical outcomes of CIRF
      after MPCNL. From July 2004 to June 2010, 1862 cases of urolithiasis underwent
      MPCNL. 185 cases of CIRF were subsequently diagnosed using CT scanning and
      followed up. During follow-ups, medical history, physical examination, routine
      blood and urine tests, subjective symptoms were recorded. A multiple-variable Cox
      regression was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of different
      factors for CIRF after MPCNL. Of 185 cases of CIRF followed up for 31.4 months on
      average, 58 cases (31.4%) suffered symptomatic episodes, including 30 cases of
      hematuresis, 21 cases of low urinary tract symptoms and 7 cases of hematuresis
      complicated with renal colic. The results of Cox regression showed that past
      history of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), CIRF size, hypercalcuria
      and CIRF located in ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) are independent risk factors for
      medium-term symptomatic episodes of CIRF after MPCNL. We suggest that regular
      follow-ups should be considered for patients with CIRFs after MPCNL for timely
      treatments, especially for those who are hypercalcuria-complicated, have history
      of ESWL, or suffer relatively large CIRFs located in the UPJ. 

PMID- 26885123
TI  - Relation between the testicular sperm assay and sex hormone level in patients
      with azoospermia induced by mumps.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the relation between the testicular sperm assay
      (TESA) and sex hormone level or testicular volume in patients with azoospermia
      induced by mumps. Samples from 52 patients with mumps-induced azoospermia were
      subjected to TESA, and then the sperm activity was observed microscopically. The
      sex hormone level was detected with an electrochemical assay, and ultrasound was
      used to calculate the testicular volume. Of the 52 azoospermia patients, 38 were
      found to have active sperms through testicular sperm extraction from the opened
      testis; furthermore, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing
      hormone levels were obviously higher in the non-sperm group than in the sperm
      group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the testicular volume was smaller in the non-sperm
      group than in the sperm group; however, there was no significant difference
      between the two groups (P > 0.05). With the FSH value as a standard, the quantity
      of sperms was found to be within two times of, or more than two-fold of the
      normal range. With the testicular volume as a standard, sperms were found in
      testes with a volume of > 6 mL or < 6 mL. The FSH value and the testicular volume
      were indicators of the ability of the TESA to obtain sperms. To allow the
      performance of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, all patients need to undergo
      TESA. 

PMID- 26885125
TI  - Correlation of polymorphism of APOE and LRP genes to cognitive impairment and
      behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer's disease and
      vascular dementia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the correlation of polymorphism of APOE and LRP genes to
      cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
      in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). METHOD: AD cases, VD
      cases and healthy control cases totaling 237, 255 and 234 were recruited,
      respectively. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was performed to evaluate
      cognitive impairment. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton
      Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were adopted to evaluate BPSD. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and
      Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein gene (LRP) genotyping was
      carried out using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length
      polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: (1) Frequencies of APOEepsilon4 allele in AD
      group and VD group were significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05);
      (2) MMSE scores of APOEepsilon4 carriers in AD group and VD group were lower than
      that of non-APOEepsilon4 carriers in the same group (P<0.05); (3) The proportion
      of APOEepsilon4 carriers presenting with BPSD in AD group was considerably higher
      that of non-APOEepsilon4 carriers (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: APOEepsilon4 may be the
      common risk factor for cognitive impairment in AD and VD and the risk factor for
      BPSD in AD.

PMID- 26885124
TI  - Prevalence of p.V37I variant of GJB2 among Chinese infants with mild or moderate
      hearing loss.
AB  - GJB2 accounts for more than 80% of recessive forms of hereditary hearing loss
      (HL); however, the correlation between the p.V37I variant of GJB2 and hearing
      phenotype is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and
      epidemiological characteristics of the p.V37I variant in sensorineural hearing
      loss in Chinese infants (0-3 months). Hearing and gene tests were conducted in
      300 infants (aged 0-3 months) with sensorineural hearing impairment and 484
      normal infants (aged 0-3 months). Among the 300 hearing-impaired infants, 16
      (5.33%) exhibited homozygous p.V37I variation and 7 (2.34%) showed a compound
      heterozygous p.V37I variation, whereas no homozygous p.V37I (0%) or compound
      heterozygous p.V37I (0%) condition was found among the 484 normal infants. The
      hearing impairment ranged from mild to profound in all patients exhibiting the
      homozygous p.V37I or the compound-heterozygous p.V37I condition, although most
      patients (61.54%) exhibit mild or moderate HL. Our results indicated that the
      p.V37I variation of GJB2 mutation is mainly associated with mild or moderate
      hearing impairment. Therefore, otolaryngologists should also screen the p.V37I
      variant of GJB2 in patients with mild or moderate HL. 

PMID- 26885126
TI  - Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes of azoospermia with different
      causes: 107 cases report.
AB  - This retrospective analysis compared the outcomes of fertilization and pregnancy
      rates of 107 azoospermia patients treating with intracytoplasmic sperm injection
      (ICSI). Sperms were obtained by testicular biopsy surgery, with which we used in
      ICSI subsequently. The outcomes were compared by different kinds of causes
      leading to azoospermia in the 107 cases. 69 cases of obstructive azoospermia and
      38 cases non-obstructive, the fertilization rates were 61.94% and 53.47%
      respectively, and pregnancy rates were 67.65% and 52.63%. 78 cases with normal
      volume testes and 29 cases with small testes, the fertilization rates were 70.93%
      and 48.80% respectively, and pregnancy rates were 66.25% and 50.00%. There was
      significant difference in fertilization rates between obstructive, non
      obstructive and normal volume testes, small testes (P < 0.05), but no significant
      difference in pregnancy rates (P > 0.05). The pregnancy rate was significant
      difference between female age < 32 and >= 32 whatever the cause of azoospermia
      was (P < 0.05). Our study reveals that obstructive azoospermia and normal volume
      testes have higher fertilization rates in ICSI, but the pregnancy rates are only
      related to female age. 

PMID- 26885127
TI  - Proton pump inhibitors use in hemodialysis patients and serum magnesium levels.
AB  - Hypomagnesemia is reported in patients who use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). We
      investigated the effect of PPIs use on serum magnesium levels in hemodialysis
      patients. Our study was conducted in a hemodialysis center including 75 end stage
      renal disease patients. PPI use and duration were investigated. All patients were
      dialyzed using a dialysate magnesium level of 0.5-0.75 mmol/L. After at least one
      month of hemodialysis with the mentioned dialysate, laboratory tests were
      performed. Fifty-four patients (72%) used PPIs while 21 (28%) did not. The mean
      duration of PPI use was 42.5 +/- 35 months. There was no significant difference
      between serum magnesium levels of patients who used and did not use PPIs (2.73 +/
      0.3 vs. 2.88 +/- 0.3 mg/dL, P = ns). There were 15 patients (20%) with a
      dialysate magnesium level of 0.5 mmol/l and 60 patients (80%) with a dialysate
      magnesium level of 0.75 mmol/L. The mean serum magnesium levels of patients with
      a dialysate magnesium level of 0.5 mmol/L was 2.45 +/- 0.3 mg/dL while that of
      patients with a dialysate magnesium level of 0.75 mmol/L was 2.85 +/- 0.3 mg/dL
      (P<0.0001). In hemodialysis patients, PPI use did not affect serum magnesium
      levels. The most important factor affecting the serum magnesium levels in
      hemodialysis patients is the dialysate magnesium concentration. 

PMID- 26885128
TI  - Cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese women with a history of gestational
      diabetes mellitus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at increased
      risk of developing cardiovascular diseases compared with normal women. This study
      aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese women with GDM.
      METHODS: 453 women with GDM (cases) and 1,180 healthy women (controls) were
      included in this study. The post-partum examinations included 2 h 75 g oral
      glucose tolerance tests, lipid profiles, anthropometric measurements (blood
      pressure, height, weight) and documentation of medical history, diet, and
      lifestyle. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the risks of abnormal glucose
      metabolism, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome in women with a history of
      GDM were 4.61, 1.30, 1.57 and 3.52, respectively. Fasting blood glucose,
      progestational body mass index (pBMI) and antenatal insulin resistance at
      antenatal visit were predictors for abnormal glucose metabolism. pBMI and
      antenatal diastolic blood pressure were predictors for hypertension. pBMI and
      weight gain during pregnancy were predictors for obesity/overweight. pBMI,
      antenatal systolic blood pressure and antenatal triglyceride were predictors for
      metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Women with a history of GDM have increased rates
      of cardiovascular disease risk factors including abnormal glucose metabolism,
      obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome. pBMI is the common independent
      predictors of cardiometabolic disease in the post-partum.

PMID- 26885129
TI  - Prognostic value of three pro-nuclei (3PN) incidence in elective single
      blastocyst-stage embryo transfer.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether 3PN incidence could lead to a worse pregnancy
      outcome of elective single blastocyst stage embryo transfer (eSBET). METHODS:
      This study included 706 eSBET cycles from January 2013 to March 2015. The
      patients were divided into two groups as follows: group 1 included 286 patients
      with no 3PN zygotes and group 2 included 420 patients with 3PN zygotes. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURE: female age, endometrial thickness, infertility duration, type of
      infertility, main etiology of infertility, clinical pregnancy and abortion rate.
      RESULTS: We observed that there was no significant difference in female age,
      endometrial thickness, infertility duration and abortion rate between two groups.
      It's worth noting that the clinical pregnancy rate in 3PN > 0% group was
      significantly lower than 3PN = 0 group (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: 3PN incidence
      might make anegative effect on pregnancy outcomes in elective single blastocyst
      stage embryo transfer.

PMID- 26885130
TI  - Clinical analyses of endometriosis after conservative surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the remission rate and outcome of pregnancy of patients who
      had moderate and severe ovarian endometriosis after conservative surgery. We also
      wished to analyze the associated factors of recurrence. METHODS: Weconducted
      retrospective analyses of 199 cases with stage II-IV ovarian endometriosis who
      had preserved fertility under laparoscopic surgical treatment. Postoperatively,
      the 199 patients were divided into three groups: 43 cases underwent surgical
      treatment alone (group A); 47 were given a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
      (GnRH-alpha) (group B), and 109 were given mifepristone (group C). Ten cases in
      group A were infertile, 26 cases in group B, and 38 cases in group C. All
      patients were followed up for 3 years. This study was approved by the Ethics
      Committee of Yangpu District Central Hospital. RESULTS: In groups A, B and C, the
      remission rate was 58.13%, 70.21% and 60.55% and the difference not significant
      (P=0.384); Recurrence rates were 27.90%, 12.76% and 24.77%, and the difference
      between them significant (P<0.05). The recurrence rate in group B was the lowest.
      The natural pregnancy rate after surgery in the three study groups (untreated,
      GnRH-alpha and mifepristone) was 30%, 34.61% and 28.94% but this difference was
      not significant. CONCLUSION: Surgery can improve the symptom remission rate and
      fertility of patients. Postoperative drug therapy does not improve the chance of
      pregnancy.

PMID- 26885131
TI  - Twin pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in woman aged 49 using
      autologous oocytes by mild ovarian stimulation: a case report.
AB  - There were few reports about infertile women aged 45 and above undergoing
      IVF/ICSI. We are reporting the case of an aged 49 woman who delivered the twins
      after ICSI using autologous oocytes by mild ovarian stimulation. The patient who
      presented with 26-year primary infertility was caused by double fallopian tubes
      obstruction and man oligoasthenozoospermia. We gave her the treatment with mild
      ovarian stimulation cycle of clomiphene citrate (CC) and follicle stimulating
      hormone (FSH) undergoing ICSI, and transferred two fertilization-blastocysts. The
      outcome measured was the live birth. The twins were delivered by cesarean section
      operation at 37 pregnancy weeks for the moderate pregnancy-induced hypertension.
      Our study showed that the successof advanced agewomen undergoing ART was feasible
      to some extent, while, the accompanied risk of pregnancy complications and other
      issues need to be further evaluated. 

PMID- 26885132
TI  - Duodenal duplication manifested by abdominal pain and bowl obstruction in an
      adolescent: a case report.
AB  - Duodenal duplication (DD) is a rare congenital anomaly reported mainly in infancy
      and childhood, but seldom in adolescent and adults. Symptoms, such as abdominal
      pain, nausea, vomiting or dyspepsia may present depending on the location and
      type of the lesion. DD can result in several complications, including
      pancreatitis, bowl obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation and
      jaundice. Surgery is still the optimal method for treatment, although endoscopic
      fenestration has been described recently. Here, we report a case of a DD on the
      second portion of the duodenum in a 17-year-old adolescent complaining of
      transient epigastric pain and vomiting after meal. We suspected the diagnosis of
      DD by abdominal computerized tomography and endoscopic ultrasonography. We
      treated her by subtotal excision and internal derivation. Eventually, we
      confirmed our diagnosis with histopathological result. 

PMID- 26885133
TI  - Myricitrin inhibits PDGF-BB-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation
      and migration through suppressing PDGFRbeta/Akt/Erk signaling.
AB  - Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and
      the stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB play major
      pathological processes involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases. As
      a result, the use of anti-proliferative and anti-migratory agents for VSMCs
      offers promise for the treatment of vascular disorders. Myricitrin is a naturally
      occurring phenolic compound which possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
      activity. In this study, we investigate the inhibitory effect of myricitrin on
      PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs proliferation and migration. In accordance with these
      findings, myricitrin induced the arrest of cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase.
      Myricitrin also decreased the expressions of G0/G1 specific regulatory proteins
      including cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4, cyclin E and CDK2, as well
      as increased the expression of p21 in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs. Moreover, myricitrin
      inhibited PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of PDGFRbeta, Akt and Erk1/2. These
      results suggest that myricitrin plays an important role in prevention of VSMCs
      proliferation and migration through the G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by PDGF signaling
      pathway. Thus, myricitrin is effective in reducing atherosclerotic process by
      blocking proliferation of VSMCs. 

PMID- 26885134
TI  - Extensive epidural extension growth of a glioblastoma: a case report and
      literature review.
AB  - It is extremely rare for a glioblastoma to mainly have epidural growth after its
      invasion of the dura. The present paper reports such a rare case. The patient was
      a 37-year-old male. After the onset of headache, computed tomography (CT)
      examination revealed an extradural convex-shaped lesion on the frontal region
      that was mainly epidural. During the first surgery, the extradural lesion mainly
      consisted of bloody viscous liquid; therefore, it was misdiagnosed as simple
      epidural bleeding, and the best diagnosis and treatment opportunity were missed.
      One month later, a relapse of the disease occurred, with a symptom of
      exophthalmos. Imaging examination revealed extensive extradural growth of the
      lesion along the forehead and invasion downwards into the frontal sinus,
      sphenoidal sinus, ethmoidal sinus and orbit. The second surgery could not
      completely remove the lesion, and pathological diagnosis of the lesion was a
      glioblastoma. One month later, the glioblastoma continued to grow, the third
      operation was performed, this time most of tumor was removed, the treatment was
      assisted with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the tumor was controlled
      effectively, and the patient did well after six months. While reporting this rare
      case, we also review the cases of glioblastoma invasion of the dura and their
      growth and the classification of dura invasions, aiming at improving our
      understanding in cases of glioblastoma invasion of the dura so that we can make
      timely, accurate diagnoses. 

PMID- 26885135
TI  - Malignant infiltrating intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with internal
      fistula: one case report and clinical practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a rare tumor that
      originates in the pancreatic duct. The diagnosis of benign, borderline or
      malignant to IPMN is significant in terms of making an appropriate treatment plan
      and prognosis. This article summarizes our clinical experience of a case report
      and discussion by literature review. Methods and case report: A 73 year old male
      patient was admitted for an occupying lesion of the pancreas. The magnetic
      resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) scan considered IPMN, endoscopic
      retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) also confirmed diagnosis of IPMN. Both
      the biliary and pancreatic duct stents were replaced, but we did not obtain any
      evidence by cytological evaluation. One month later, ERCP and intraductal
      ultrasonography (IDUS) showed infiltrating growth of the tumor. Endoscopic
      ultrasonography guided fine-needle aspiration was performed at the same time, and
      pathological diagnosis was suggested as borderline IPMN. RESULTS: In the absence
      of pathological support, the patient presented with the clinical diagnosis of
      infiltrating intraductal papillary mucinous adenocarcinoma (IPMC) and was
      recommended for surgery. However, the patient and his family refused surgery, and
      were discharged. Subsequently, the patient died 6.5 months (197 days) following
      first diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the definition and classification of
      IPMN is done by specification, although there remain some difficulties in
      diagnosing its subtypes. For diagnostic purposes, CT, MRCP, ERCP, IDUS, EUS and
      EUS-FNA can all be applied. Cytological negative pathology might not completely
      rule out malignancy, and would still require further examination and follow-up.

PMID- 26885136
TI  - Treating patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm with endovascular repair and the
      crossover chimney technique in the internal iliac artery to protect the
      unilateral internal iliac artery.
AB  - This study aims to explore the treatment methods for patients with abdominal
      aortic aneurysms (AAAs) that required occlusion of the openings of the bilateral
      internal iliac arteries (IIAs) in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and to
      evaluate the efficacy of these treatments. Four patients with AAA were treated
      with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the crossover chimney technique in
      the bilateral internal iliac arteries (IIAs). We inserted and released the
      abdominal aortic stent as usual and implanted the bypass stent graft
      simultaneously. The intraoperative immediate angiography showed complete
      isolation of the AAA and patency of the bypass. One month after surgery, it
      showed contrast engorgement in the bypass stent in three patients. The IIA on the
      bypass side and its branches had good developing. Another case in which we
      utilized a COOK stent, occlusion started at the opening of the bypass stent, with
      no occurrence of other complications. For patients in whom AAAs involve bilateral
      iliac arteries and the openings of the bilateral IIAs need to be occluded, EVAR
      and a crossover chimney technique can protect the unilateral IIA. 

PMID- 26885137
TI  - Genetic characteristics of the couple with non-syndromic sensorineural hearing
      loss and fertility guidance.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aim to report a genetic testing and fertility guidance for the deaf
      through analyzing pedigree and molecular genetic characteristics of the couple
      who have non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NSHL). METHODS: One of
      hospitalized congenial deaf couple and family members were included in this
      study. The wife was twin pregnant woman and her gestational age was 31(+5)
      pregnant weeks. The DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and umbilical vein
      blood, respectively. Mutation screening of common deafness genes was performed in
      pregnant women and other family members. Nine common mutations in four major
      deafness genes, GJB2 (35delG, 176del16, 235delC, 299delAT), GjB3 (C538T), SLC26A4
      (IVS7-2A>G, A2168G) and Mitochondrial 12S rRNA (A1555G, C1494T), were detected
      simultaneously with a microarray based method. SLC26A4 whole genome sequencing
      was carried out for the results of the DNA microarray. According to the test
      results, the couple chose abortion termination of pregnancy twins, and after one
      year obtained singleton pregnancy by artificial insemination by donor (AID). In
      week 16 of pregnancy, amniocentesis had been done to collect fetal somatic cell
      and extract DNA, and then the above tests had been repeated. RESULTS: The couple
      had SLC26A4 combined heterozygous mutation. Both parents had SLC26A4 single
      heterozygous mutation. Twin fetuses had SLC26A4 combined heterozygous mutation.
      The probability of naturally being pregnant and bearing deaf children for the
      pregnant women was 100%. Fetus obtained by AID had SLC26A4 single heterozygous
      mutation. After the birth of the baby, her hearing has been normal. CONCLUSIONS:
      To reduce children with congenital deafness, screening high mutation sites by
      microarray, combined with pedigree analysis and gene sequencing is effective, and
      should be used as a routine inspection item for the deaf before marriage and
      pregnancy. On the basis of genetic testing for the couple with hearing loss,
      human assisted reproductive technology is a viable option to avoid the birth of
      infant with hereditary deafness.

PMID- 26885138
TI  - Central venous catheter malposition in the azygos vein and difficult endotracheal
      intubation in severe ankylosing spondylitis: a case report.
AB  - Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can be challenging for anesthesiologists because
      central venous access can be difficult, and the airway can be blocked due to the
      fixed flexion deformity of the spine. In this case, we attempted central access
      via the right subclavian vein, but the catheter was repeatedly inserted into the
      azygos vein, which was confirmed by radiology. After several attempts, the
      catheter position was corrected at the superior vena cava-atrial junction.
      Although several useful devices have been developed to address difficult
      intubation, in this case, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was the only applicable safe
      alternative because of the patient's extremely severe chin on chest deformity and
      temporomandibular joint disease. We report a successful awake fiberoptic
      bronchoscopic intubation in a patient with extremely severe AS and recommend that
      the catheter placement should be confirmed with radiology to ensure proper
      positioning for severe AS patients. 

PMID- 26885140
TI  - Breast metastasis of salivary duct carcinoma in a patient: a case report.
AB  - Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare and highly aggressive cancer with a worse
      prognosis that has been demonstrated to exhibit invasive growth with early
      regional and distant metastasis. Breast metastasis of salivary duct carcinoma
      rarely occurs. Here, we reported a case of submandibular gland SDC metastasis to
      breast in a 64-year-old female patient who underwent a complete removal of a
      right submandibular gland and radical neck dissection in 2010 and undergo
      adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Two years later, MRI identified mass in
      multiple regions, including bilateral cervical, bilateral breast, supraclavicular
      fossa, thyroid gland and the fourth thoracic vertebra. A fine-needle aspiration
      biopsy of the right breast was performed. SDC was confirmed by IHC analysis of
      the breast aspiration specimen. 

PMID- 26885139
TI  - Nonsurgical treatment of 8 cases with esophageal perforations caused by ESD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Esophageal perforation is a serious, but rare complication of high
      mortality following the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure. The aim
      of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nonsurgical treatment of
      esophageal perforations caused by ESD based on our clinical experience. METHODS:
      From January 2009 to November 2013, 8 patients were diagnosed with endoscopic
      perforation of the esophagus caused by ESD in our center. All cases were treated
      with nonsurgical measures, such as metallic clips, conservative treatment alone
      and therapeutic drainage. RESULTS: The places of perforation were closured by
      metallic clips immediately in 4 patients. Two patients were cured with
      conservative treatment alone. Therapeutic drainage with large-bore tube
      thoracostomy was applied in another 2 patients who had empyema following
      esophageal perforation. All of the patients were treated nonsurgically, and
      recovered well. CONCLUSION: Esophageal perforation caused by ESD can be detected
      and treated timely, and nonsurgical treatment seems to be a feasible and
      effective option for clinicians.

PMID- 26885141
TI  - Highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma arising from a suprapubic
      cystostomy tract in a patient with transplanted kidney.
AB  - Squamous cell carcinoma arising from a suprapubic cystostomy tract (SCC-SCT) is a
      relatively rare bladder malignancy. We present a case of highly differentiated
      SCC-SCT involving the bladder in a 61-year-old patient with transplanted kidney.
      Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed an anomalous mass (8 cm * 6 cm * 5
      cm) surrounding the suprapubic cystostomy and a space-occupying lesion in the
      bladder. The pathology report revealed highly differentiated SCC. The patient
      received radiation therapy after he refused aggressive surgical management in
      2012. There was no evidence of metastasis at his latest follow-up in early 2015. 

PMID- 26885142
TI  - Pre-operative TNM staging of primary colorectal cancer by (18)F-FDG PET-CT or
      PET: a meta-analysis including 2283 patients.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis to assess the
      diagnostic value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET-CT/PET in the
      pre-operative evaluation of TNM staging in patients with primary colorectal
      cancer (CRC). The Medline, Embase and Web of Knowledge were searched for studies
      assessing the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT/PET in the pre-operative
      evaluation of TNM staging in CRC patients. We pooled the sensitivity,
      specificity, positive and negative Likelihood ratio (LR+ and LR-) and Diagnostic
      Odds Ratio (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic
      curves. A total of 28 studies including 2283 CRC patients were analyzed. The pre
      operative tumor detecting rate of PET-CT was 95.35%, which was superior to CT (P
      < 0.05). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of pre-operative T staging by PET
      CT/PET was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65-0.81) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99), which the AUC
      and Q* were 0.96 and 0.91, respectively. Concerning pre-operative N staging, the
      pooled sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT/PET were 0.62 and 0.70, which the
      AUC and Q* were 0.76 and 0.70, respectively. As for M staging, the pooled
      sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT/PET were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80-0.96) and 0.95
      (95% CI: 0.91-0.98), which the AUC and Q* were 0.96 and 0.91, respectively. (18)F
      FDG PET-CT/PET had good performance in the pre-operative tumor detecting rate, T
      staging and M staging in patients with primary CRC, which might alter the
      therapeutic strategy. However, the diagnostic value of (18)F-FDG PET-CT/PET in
      pre-operative N staging in CRC patients was not ideal. 

PMID- 26885144
TI  - Repair of acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle by suture
      anchors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical curative
      effect of stage I repair of acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the
      ankle by the application of suture anchors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed
      18 cases of III degree acute injuries of the lateral ligament complex of the
      ankle. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in preoperative
      and last follow-up VAS pain scores and AOFAS ankle hind-foot function scores. The
      X-ray talus displacement values in the anterior drawer test and pressure
      anteroposterior X-ray talar tilt in the ankle talar tilt test also showed
      statistically significant differences. Complications occurred in 2 patients,
      incision surface infection in one, and postoperative lateral dorsal skin numbness
      in one. All these cases were cured after symptomatic treatment. At the last
      follow-up all patients' ankle joint activity recovered to their preinjury
      function levels. CONCLUSION: The application of suture anchors for small incision
      stage I repair of the lateral collateral ligament of ankle joint degree III
      injury, can effectively restored the stability of ankle joint, and prevent the
      occurrence of chronic ankle instability complications. It is effective and
      feasible for the treatment of ankle joint lateral collateral ligament injuries.

PMID- 26885143
TI  - Direct clipping of a blister-like aneurysm in the supraclinoid segment of the
      internal carotid artery: a clinical analysis of nine cases.
AB  - To investigate the method and outcome from direct clipping of a blister-like
      aneurysm (BBA) of the internal carotid artery supraclinoid segment. This study
      featured nine BBA patients, including eight females and one male. The patients
      presented subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) as the initial symptom and were diagnosed
      with BBA in the supraclinoid segment through a vascular exam and imaging. During
      the exam, the internal carotid artery was pressed to block the blood flow, and a
      transcranial Doppler (TCD) was performed to examine the blood flow in the (BBA)
      ipsilateral middle cerebral artery. The results showed that the blood flow was
      reduced by less than 40% in all nine patients. During surgery, a pterional
      craniotomy was used to fully expose the aneurysm for clipping. While clipping the
      aneurysm, the arterial wall at the root of the aneurysm was also clipped to
      improve stability. Intraoperative ultrasonography was performed before and after
      clipping to examine the blood flow in the parent artery, middle cerebral artery
      and anterior cerebral artery. Moreover, a TCD was performed within one week after
      surgery to monitor intracranial blood flow. During BBA clipping, four patients
      exhibited stenosis of the parent artery, but intraoperative ultrasonography
      showed adequate blood flow in the anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral
      artery. TCD was performed within one week after surgery to examine the blood flow
      in the middle cerebral artery on the operative side; the TCD showed adequate
      blood flow. The patients recovered well after surgery and were discharged.
      Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA)
      was performed six to 12 months after the surgery and showed no aneurysm relapse.
      Moreover, six patients exhibited no stenosis of the parent artery, 20% stenosis
      was observed in one patient, 30% stenosis was observed in one patient, and 50%
      stenosis was observed in one patient; none of the patients showed clinical
      symptoms, and all patients exhibited good collateral circulation. Therefore, if a
      pre-operative TCD shows adequate compensatory contralateral blood flow in the
      (BBA) ipsilateral middle cerebral artery after the internal carotid artery is
      pressed to block the blood flow, then direct clipping of the BBA is a simple and
      feasible treatment strategy. However, when the aneurysm is clipped, the artery
      wall at the root of the aneurysm must also be clipped to improve stability. With
      adequate compensation, partial stenosis of the parent artery is acceptable. 

PMID- 26885145
TI  - Intrahepatic biliary papillomatosis associated with malignant transformation:
      report of two cases and review of the literature.
AB  - Biliary papillomatosis (BP) is a rare disease characterized by multiple numerous
      papillary adenomas in both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tree. Due to
      its high recurrence rate and frequent transformation to malignancy, BP should not
      be considered a benign disease, and a radical resection with an adequate
      resection margin is advocated in cases of localized intrahepatic biliary
      papillomatosis. Since BP is a rare disease and its clinical features and outcomes
      are not well known, it's really difficult to diagnose the disease before
      operation. We encountered two cases diagnosed as intrahepatic biliary
      papillomatosis postoperatively, and herein present the diagnostic difficulties
      and therapeutic options for this rare disease. 

PMID- 26885146
TI  - Severe hydrocephalus complicated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: one
      case report.
AB  - In this study, we reported one female patient diagnosed with severe hydrocephalus
      who presented with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). She presented
      with progressive headache and dizziness prior to hospitalization as chief
      complaints. She received Diagnostic Dix-Hallpike and Roll tests to make a
      definite diagnosis. The patient was cured after Gufoni maneuver and did not recur
      after 6-month follow-up. The diagnostic procedures of this female case prompted
      that prior to formal treatment, patients developing severe hydrocephalus
      complicated with BPPV should receive provocative test for positional dizziness,
      performed by experienced physicians from the Department of neurology and
      otolaryngology. 

PMID- 26885147
TI  - Tumors and pseudotumors at the temporomandibular joint region in pediatric
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestations and types of, and our surgical
      experience with, neoplasms in the region of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in
      pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1997 to December 2013,
      a total of 18 patients with neoplasms in the region of the TMJ were treated at
      our department. They all underwent open surgeries. The clinical manifestations
      and radiological aspects of all the patients were reviewed. The average follow-up
      period was 61.8 months with a range of 12-221 months. We reviewed the history,
      physical examination, images, and related radiological examinations. RESULTS: Of
      the 18 patients, 14 had benign tumors or pseudotumors, and four had malignant
      tumors. The ratio of pseudotumor to benign tumor to malignant tumor was 2.5:1:1.
      Limitations of mouth opening were more likely to occur with malignant tumors, and
      facial deformity had a higher incidence in benign tumors. Local resection was the
      first choice for patients with benign tumors or pseudotumors. All patients with
      malignant tumors underwent whole-tumor resection along the boundary, including
      the joint capsule, disc, and part of the temporal bone and mandible. During the
      follow-up period, no tumor reformation or new deformity was detected.
      CONCLUSIONS: In the diagnosis of masses in the TMJ region, CT and MRI play an
      important role. Surgical removal of the mass with/without joint attachment was
      sufficient to treat benign and malignant tumors.

PMID- 26885148
TI  - Stent-assisted mechanical recanalization for symptomatic subacute or chronic
      middle cerebral artery occlusion.
AB  - To assess the feasibility and short-term effects of treating patients with
      subacute or chronic middle cerebral artery (M1) occlusion by stent-assisted
      mechanical recanalization. Six patients with cerebral arteries occlusion
      underwent surgery. Six cerebral arteries occlusion in 5 patients were
      successfully recanalized. On postoperative day 1, four patients' symptoms were
      relieved and two patients' symptoms were exacerbated, of which one was
      significantly improved after 3 days, the other one's symptoms were recovered to
      preoperative levels in 2 weeks. No patients died after surgery. No stroke or
      transient ischemic attack occurred. The average follow-up of was 4.2 months, no
      worsening of condition, recurrence or death occurred. The results indicate that
      for patients with subacute or chronic middle cerebral artery (M1) occlusion,
      mechanical recanalization was technically feasible under the premise of strict
      case screening. Mechanical recanalization is able to improve ischemic symptoms
      and promote dysfunction restoration. But its long-term effect remains to be
      evaluated by further large samples, long-term follow-up studies. 

PMID- 26885149
TI  - Pulmonary sequestration: a case report and literature review.
AB  - PURPOSE: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital lung malformation. It
      is characterized by an abnormal mass of dysplastic lung tissue supplied by an
      anomalous systemic artery and separated from normal bronchopulmonary tree.
      Misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment can lead to recurrent pneumonia and fatal
      hemoptysis. METHODS: We report a 45 years female was diagnosed PS, and performed
      a brief review about the clinical features, diagnostic strategies, and management
      options of the PS. RESULTS: Her remarkable symptoms were cough and hemoptysis,
      the contrast- enhanced computed tomography of the chest revealed a multiloculated
      cystic solid mass filled with low density lesions and a feeding artery from the
      descending abdominal aorta to the cystic solid mass was visualized, then the
      patient suffered a right lower- lobe resection, and the surgery and pathological
      examination all supported the diagnosis of intralobar sequestration. CONCLUSIONS:
      Symptomatic patients of the pulmonary sequestration should be treated by surgery
      to avoid the risk of death due to massive hemoptysis.

PMID- 26885150
TI  - Parathyroid adenoma causing a spontaneous cervical and mediastinal massive
      hematoma.
AB  - Cervical and mediastinal hemorrhaging caused by a spontaneous rupture of a
      parathyroid adenoma has been rarely reported. Herein, we report a case of a 52
      year-old woman who experienced a sudden onset of cervical and mediastinal
      bleeding related to a parathyroid adenoma. The patient had a history of trauma to
      the left thorax with a fracture of two ribs. Ultrasonography and computer
      tomography revealed a nodule in the retrotracheal space and hematoma of the
      bilateral trachea and thorax. Laboratory examinations revealed significant
      hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and a high level of intact parathyroid hormone.
      Surgery was performed and a dark-red, soft tumor was found behind the trachea,
      which adhered to the surrounding tissues. The pathological diagnosis was a
      parathyroid adenoma with hemosiderin deposition and fibrosis. 

PMID- 26885151
TI  - Prostatic melioidosis rarely reported in China: two cases report and literatures
      review.
AB  - Melioidosis is a fatal, endemic disease caused by Burkholderiapseudomallei which
      is a gram-negative bacillus. Melioidosis present diversely that ranging from
      chronic disease to fulminant sepsis, and may affect almost any organ in the body.
      And in China, melioidosis presenting primarily as prostatic abscesses has rarely
      been reported. Rapid and accurate diagnostics are needed for melioidosis as the
      clinical presentation is nonspecific and treatment requires specific antibiotics.
      Here, we report the clinic features of two cases of prostatic melioidosis that we
      had cured during 1995 to 2015 and discuss its diagnosis and specific treatment. 

PMID- 26885152
TI  - Post-neurosurgical meningitis caused by acinetobacter baumannii: case series and
      review of the literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), a gram-negative bacterium,
      has now become an important hospital pathogen, which causes various serious
      nosocomial infections worldwide. Bacterial meningitis is a common complication
      after neurosurgical operation, and the percentage of A. baumannii meningitis is
      growing, especially the one resisting multiple drugs. METHOD: We retrospectively
      reviewed the cases with postoperative A. baumannii meningitis (PABM) in the First
      Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2013 to October
      2014. And we retrieved the PubMed for cases with PABM and reviewed them. RESULT:
      Five cases were included in our retrospective study. Two cases with sensitive A.
      baumannii and one with multidrug-resistant acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) were
      cured, and other two with MRAB died. CONCLUSION: Intraventricular or intrathecal
      colistin could be a treatment to the MRAB.

PMID- 26885153
TI  - Astragalus polysaccharide improves cardiac function in doxorubicin-induced
      cardiomyopathy through ROS-p38 signaling.
AB  - Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used as an antitumor agent, but it is significantly
      challenged by clinical workers due to the severe and acute cardiotoxitity.
      Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is characterized by an anti-inflammation and anti
      oxidant features. In the current study, we explored the effects and specific
      mechanisms of APS on DOX-induced-cardiomyopathy in mouse primary myocardial
      cells. To explore the effect of DOX on ROS production, DHE staining and flow
      cytometry analysis were used in primary cardiomyocytes treated with 1 MUM DOX for
      24 h. MTT assay was applied to determine the effect of DOX on cell viability. The
      effects of DOX on rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis by Hoechst staining and annexin V
      PI staining, while caspase3 activity was determined using an assay kit. Two
      dimensional echocardiography of rats was performed to determine left ventricular
      fraction and relative wall thickness. Activation of p38 and Akt was analyzed
      using western blot. ROS production was significantly enhanced by DOX stimulation
      in primary cardiomyocytes. DOX reduced rat cardiomyocytes viability in a time-
      and dose-dependent manner. DOX induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes via
      activation of caspase-3. Cardiac function was significantly impaired by enhanced
      p38 activation. APS treatment reduced DOX-induced rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis by
      decreasing ROS production. To conclude, APS reduced DOX-induced cell apoptosis
      and ROS production by reduced activation of p38 signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26885154
TI  - Effects of two kinds of radio frequency ablations on morphology and function of
      left atrium in patients with atrial fibrillation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to observe the effects of circumferential pulmonary
      vein ablation (CPVA) and CPVA combined with complex fractionated atrial electro
      gram (CPVA+CFAE) on morphology and function of left atrium in patients with
      atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: To evaluate the effects of CPVA and CPVA+CFAE
      on morphology and function of left atrium, the left atrial volume and late
      diastolic velocity peak (Va) were determined by tissue Doppler imaging before and
      after CPVA and CPVA+CFAE, respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical
      difference in the left atrial volume before and after CPVA. However, Va was
      significantly higher after CPVA (P=0.001). There was no statistical difference in
      both the left atrial volume and Va before and after CPVA+CFAE. Va after ablation
      was significantly higher in CPVA group than in CPVA+CFAE group (P=0.031).
      CONCLUSION: The left atrial function was significantly improved after CPVA, but
      CPVA+CFAE failed to markedly improve the left atrial function. This suggests that
      excessive atrial substrate ablation may damage the left atrial function.

PMID- 26885155
TI  - Clinical significance of urothelial carcinoma associated 1 in colon cancer.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of urothelial carcinoma
      associated 1 (UCA1) in cancer tissues and plasma of colon cancer patients, and
      evaluate its clinical significance. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to
      determine the expression levels of UCA1 in 80 pairs of colon cancer and adjacent
      normal tissues, plasma samples from 20 healthy controls, 20 colon cancer patients
      before and after tumor removal. The relationships between UCA1 expression and
      clinical features and overall survival were analyzed. Compared with adjacent
      normal tissues, UCA1 was significantly upregulated in colon cancer tissues,
      especially in cases with LNM and advanced TNM stages (P < 0.05). High UCA1
      expression was associated with LMN, higher pT category, and advanced TNM stages
      (P < 0.05). Patients with high UCA1 expression had worse survival time than those
      with low UCA1 expression (adjusted HR = 2.002, 95% CI 1.007-3.981, P = 0.048).
      Furthermore, plasma levels of UCA1 in colon cancer patients were significantly
      higher than those of controls (P = 0.016). There was significant difference in
      plasma level of UCA1 between samples taken before and after surgery (P = 0.048).
      In conclusion, tissue expression of UCA1 is related to prognosis in colon cancer.
      Plasma UCA1 may serve as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and disease
      monitoring of colon cancer patients. 

PMID- 26885156
TI  - The anti-ulcerative colitis effects of Annona squamosa Linn. leaf aqueous extract
      in experimental animal model.
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Annona squamosa (A.
      squamosa) leaf aqueous extract against acetic acid induced colitis in rats with a
      trial to explore its use for the treatment of colon inflammation. Sprague Dawley
      rats weighing 180-200 g were used in this study. Treatment with A. squamosa
      extract at dose 300 mg/kg for 4 weeks counteracted acetic acid induced ulcerative
      colitis by a significant decrease (P<0.05) of colonic tissue of malondialdehyde
      (MDA) and significant increases of catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and
      glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) compared to ulcerative colitis control group.
      Furthermore, induction of oxidative stress was observed in the colonic tissue
      through the levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) which significant
      increase in colonic tissue DNA by acetic acid. Moreover AA induced significant
      increase in serum interleukin-10 (IL10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
      transforming growth factor (TGF 1beta), and C reactive protein (CRP) as compared
      to the control group. On the contrary, our results showed AA induced significant
      decrease of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thyroid hormones
      triiodothyronin and thyroxin (T3 & T4) in installed group with AA as compared to
      control which significantly improved after treatment with A. squamosa leaf
      extract. Histopathological observation in our study confirmed the biochemical
      study. Thus, therapeutic method offer a sign to analyze further the effectiveness
      of A. squamosa as a unique agent for alleviating colitis. 

PMID- 26885157
TI  - Is there any difference in survivorship of total hip arthroplasty with different
      bearing surfaces? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although many total hip bearing implants are widely used all over the
      world, simultaneous comparisons across the numerous available bearing surfaces
      are rare. The purpose of this study was to compare the survivorship of total hip
      arthroplasty (THA) with six available bearing implants. METHODS: We conducted a
      systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting survivorship
      or revision of ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), ceramic-on-conventional polyethylene
      (CoPc), ceramic-on-highly-crosslinked polyethylene (CoPxl), metal-on-conventional
      polyethylene (MoPc), metal-on-highly-crosslinked polyethylene (MoPxl), or metal
      on-metal (MoM) bearing implants. The synthesis of present evidence was performed
      by both the traditional direct-comparison meta-analysis and network meta
      analysis. RESULTS: In total, 40 RCTs involving a total of 5321 THAs were
      identified. The pooled data of network meta-analysis showed no difference in
      relative risk (RR) of revision across CoC, CoPc, CoPxl and MoPxl bearings.
      However, the MoM bearing was demonstrated with a significant higher risk of
      revision compared with CoC (RR 5.10; 95% CI=1.62 to 16.81), CoPc (RR 4.80; 95%
      CI=1.29 to 17.09), or MoPxl (RR 3.85; 95% CI=1.16 to 14.29), and the MoPc bearing
      was indicated with a higher risk of revision compared with CoC (RR 2.83; 95%
      CI=1.20 to 6.63). The ranking probabilities of the effective interventions also
      revealed the inferiority of the MoM and MoPc implants in survivorship (both 0%,
      95% CI=0% to 0%) compared with CoC (39%, 95% CI=0% to 100%), CoPc (33%, 95% CI=0%
      to 100%), CoPxl (7%, 95% CI=0% to 100%) or MoPxl (21%, 95% CI=0% to 100%).
      CONCLUSIONS: The present evidence indicated the similar performance in
      survivorship among CoC, CoPc, CoPxl and MoPxl bearing implants, and that all
      likely have superiority compared with the MoM and MoPc bearing implants in THA
      procedures. Long-term RCT data are required to confirm these conclusions and
      better inform clinical decisions.

PMID- 26885158
TI  - Association of transforming growth factor-beta1 polymorphisms with the risk of
      diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The association between transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)
      polymorphisms with the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) remains elusive. We aimed
      to evaluate the relationship between TGF-beta1 polymorphisms and DM risk. We
      searched the association studies according to a predefined criteria using
      electronic databases. The strength of association between TGF-beta1 codon 10/25
      polymorphisms and the risk of DM was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) with the
      corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Six case-control studies were
      identified for the analysis of the association between TGF-beta1 codon 10/25
      polymorphism and the risk of DM. CC genotype at the codon 10 polymorphism was
      associated with the risk of type 2 DM (T2DM) (P = 0.026, OR = 1.397, 95% CI =
      1.041-1.874). No marked association was observed between codon 25 polymorphism
      and the risk of DM. No evidence of marked publication bias was observed. CC
      genotype at the TGF-beta1 codon 10 site may be an indicator for the risk of T2DM.
      However, further larger studies should be performed in the future. 

PMID- 26885159
TI  - Tooth loss and risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma in Chinese Han population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Association between tooth loss and oral cancer risk was investigated
      primary studies and meta-analyses, however, the results remain inconsistent. This
      study is to test the association between tooth loss and oral squamous cell
      carcinoma (OSCC) in Chinese Han population. METHODS: Case-control study including
      histologically confirmed OSCC cases and healthy controls individually matched to
      the cases for age, sex, and district of residence between May 1, 2010, and Match
      31, 2014. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to
      calculate odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
      using the STATA 12.0 software. RESULTS: Finally included 150 OSCC patients and
      167 healthy controls. Cases had a significantly higher mean (SD) number of lost
      teeth than controls (10.03+/-6.62 vs. 8.69+/-5.20; P = 0.045). The results of
      univariate analysis and adjustment for smoking and alcohol showed a non
      significant association between tooth loss and OSCC. After adjustment for age at
      diagnosis, gender, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, and history of diabetes
      mellitus, those in the upper tertiles of lost tooth were significantly more
      likely to have OSCC (OR = 3.64, 95% CI = 1.15-11.53, P = 0.03; P for trend =
      0.11) than in the lower tertiles. The unadjusted and adjusted results of per
      teeth also revealed non-significant association. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss may be
      not associated with risk of oral cancer in this case-control study. The relevant
      large-scale studies in Chinese are suggested to perform.

PMID- 26885160
TI  - Application of flash dual-source CT at low radiation dose and low contrast medium
      dose in triple-rule-out (tro) examination.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical imaging capacity of FLASH dual-source CT at
      low radiation dose and low contrast medium dose in thoracic aorta, pulmonary
      artery & vein and coronary artery. METHOD: One hundred and eight patients of
      thoracalgia were randomly divided into two groups; 60 cases (group A) received
      dual-source CT scan in flash model at 100 KV and contrast medium dose of 74 ml
      combined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination; 48 cases (group
      B) received retrospectively. ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition at 120
      KV and contrast medium dose of 101 ml. Several image reconstruction techniques
      were adopted for coronary artery, pulmonary artery and aorta. The imaging quality
      and the diagnostic value of this technique were evaluated. Coronary artery
      stenosis of group A was compared against the results of DSA examination. RESULTS:
      The scan time in group A was obviously shorter than that of group B, i.e.,
      t=0.7+/-0.1 s in group A and t=7.7+/-1.7 s in group A. The image reconstruction
      phase of coronary artery was 70.4+/-15.6% in group A, and the systolic phase
      accounted for 13.3% of the optimal reconstruction phase. Compared with group B,
      the radiation dose of group A decreased obviously, i.e. ED=2.7+/-0.7 mSv for
      group A and ED=21.6+/-6.0 mSv for group B. Moreover, less contrast agent was
      consumed in group A than in group B, which was 74 ml in group A and 101 ml in
      group B. The image quality of aorta and pulmonary artery & vein was grade 1 for
      all cases in group A, which was the same as with group B. The coronary artery
      images of group A had better quality, with score of 2.9+/-0.1. Of 780 segments,
      only 2 segments could be effectively diagnosed, showing no statistically
      significant differences from group B (P>0.05). The coronary artery stenosis
      revealed by dual-source CT for group A was not significantly different from that
      by DSA (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: FLASH dual-source CT scan at reduced radiation dose
      and reduced contrast medium dose used for triple-rule-out (TRO) examination
      achieved good image quality and clear visualization of blood vessels. Moreover,
      this CT scan technique is fast and rapid in diagnosis and suitable for extensive
      clinical settings.

PMID- 26885161
TI  - Clinical features and pathophysiology of belching disorders.
AB  - The symptomatic characteristics and psychosocial factors of belching were
      analyzed through questionnaire, and the pathophysiology of belch was studied with
      the combined methods of high-resolution manometry and impedance (HRM-IMP). 21
      consecutively-enrolled patients with repeated belching, were conducted a
      questionnaire survey, and the data were analyzed with Pearson correlation
      analysis and exact propability method. 10 patients were performed HRM-IMP. 20
      patients met the diagnostic criteria of belch, among who 17 cases had overlapped
      symptoms, and the functional dyspepsia was the most common, followed by
      gastroesophageal reflux disease; 16 patients experienced mental stimulation or
      negative events; 12 cases existed anxiety and (or) depression; 8 cases had
      neurotic personality. The number of the overlapped symptoms was associated with
      the anxiety status, while the belch severity had nothing to do with the
      anxiety/depression status. Among the 10 patients who accepted HRM-IMP, 9 existed
      the esophageal motility dysfunction, and 9 had supra-gastric belching. Belch had
      a variety of clinical manifestations, related to the mood changes and the
      environmental stress, and normally was combined with the abnormalities of
      psychology and personality traits. The belch patients normally experienced the
      esophageal motility disorders, among which the typical pattern was supra-gastric
      belching. 

PMID- 26885162
TI  - Analysis of the risk factors for the short-term prognosis of acute ischemic
      stroke.
AB  - This study investigated the risk factors for the short-term prognosis of acute
      ischemic stroke to provide a scientific evidence for improving prevention and
      treatment. A total of 2557 cases of acute ischemic stroke were included in the
      study. We collected the data on demographic characteristics, life style-related
      risk factors, clinical feature, and other clinical characteristics for all the
      participants. The outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRs) on
      day 14 or at discharge. According to the mRs score, the subjects were divided
      into three groups, namely, the control group (0<= mRs <=2), the disability group
      (3<= mRs <=5), and the death group (mRs = 6). The general conditions of these
      three groups were compared. An mRs score of 3<= mRs <=6 belonged to the composite
      outcome group. Logistic regression was also applied to analyze the risk factors
      of short-term prognosis. Monovariant logistic regression showed that age, on-set
      admission, hospital stays, temperature, heart rate, stroke subtype, hypertension,
      hyperglycemia, history of heart disease, history of atrial fibrillation, history
      of cerebral stroke, drinking, count of WBC, count of mononuclear leucocyte, and
      rate of neutrophile granulocyte were statically significant. To further control
      the confounding factors, multivariant logistic regression analysis was carried
      out. The result showed that age, on-set admission, hospital stays, temperature,
      heart rate, hyperglycemia, history of atrial fibrillation, and cerebral stroke
      history were related to the short-term prognosis. Age, on-set admission, hospital
      stays, temperature, heart rate, hyperglycemia, history of atrial fibrillation,
      and cerebral stroke history were the risk factors of the short-term prognosis of
      acute ischemic stroke. 

PMID- 26885163
TI  - Therapeutic effects of cytoprotective agent on breast reconstruction after breast
      cancer surgery.
AB  - Most patients will choose breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery,
      while radiotherapy will damage skin and soft tissue so that will have adverse
      effect on reconstruction. In this study, we assume that the usage of Amifostine
      can reduce the incidence of complications after breast reconstruction so that
      provides more choices of reconstruction operation. Dividing SD rats into surgical
      placement expansion material group (include 15 ml normal saline) and simple
      operation group. Then further divide the former into non intervention group ,
      radiation group and Radiation therapy combined with Amie amifostine treatment
      group. The decubation is 45 days after operation. Macroscopic evaluate the
      complications of skin and soft tissue by ImageJ. There is no obvious
      complications of skin and soft tissue for control group, radiotherapy alone group
      and radiotherapy with application of Amifostine group by macroscopic evaluation.
      The animals that are in expanded object group, damage probability of skin and
      soft tissue when use Amifostine is lower than that of radiotherapy alone group
      (30% vs. 69%, P=0.041). ImageJ shows the necrosis probability of skin and soft
      tissue when use Amifostine is obvious lower than radiotherapy alone group (6.96%
      vs. 12.94%, P=0.019). In conclusion, prevention and treatment of Amifostine can
      significantly reduce the complications of skin and soft tissue which is helpful
      to breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. 

PMID- 26885164
TI  - Carotid atherosclerosis is associated with hypertension in a hospital-based
      retrospective cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate the association between carotid artery plaque
      and blood pressure variation, as well as other cardiovascular risk factors.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of inpatients
      with high blood pressure treated in the Department of Hypertension from April
      2009 to June 2010. Results from carotid ultrasonography, demographic
      characteristics, and other clinical data were obtained from 408 patients.
      RESULTS: (1) The rate of positive plaque in carotid artery was 55.1%, and there
      was no difference between men and women. However, this rate was positively
      correlated with the age of the patients. (2) The rate of positive plaque in
      carotid artery was associated with the duration of the disease, fasting blood
      glucose levels, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL
      C). (3) The prevalence of carotid artery plaque increased in accordance with the
      coefficient of systolic pressure variation (X(2) = 15.83, P = 0.001), whereas no
      correlation existed between prevalence of carotid artery plaque and coefficient
      of diastolic pressure variation and the plaque prevalence (X(2) = 0.24, P =
      0.97). Mean systolic blood pressure (MSBP) was positively correlated with
      prevalence of carotid artery plaque (X(2) = 10.47, P = 0.005). (4) Multivariate
      regression analysis indicated that carotid plaque was associated with the age,
      duration of hypertension, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, 24
      h MSBP, and coefficient of systolic pressure variation, whereas no associations
      were found with the coefficient of diastolic pressure variation, 24 h average
      diastolic blood pressure (AvDP), and 24 h mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P >
      0.05). CONCLUSION: Carotid atherosclerosis was independently associated with
      variation of blood pressure, especially with coefficient of systolic blood
      pressure variation.

PMID- 26885165
TI  - Selectively predictive calcium supplementation using NCCN risk stratification
      system after thyroidectomy with differentiated thyroid cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia is a common complication following thyroidectomy. To
      explore reasonable and simple methods for predicting postoperative hypocalcemia
      and identify the optimal strategies for selective calcium supplement are
      meaningful for surgeon. METHODS: Based on the NCCN risk stratification system,
      patients were divided into 4 groups (A-D): low-risk group A, who only underwent
      limited thyroidectomy (LT) and high-risk groups B, C and D, who had received
      total thyroidectomy (TT) and selective central and/or lateral neck dissection
      (SND). After surgery, group C patients were orally given calcium gluconate and
      group D patients were intravenously given calcium 2 g/day for 7 days, while group
      B patients did not receive any calcium supplement. Serum calcium and parathyroid
      hormone (PTH) levels were collected before and after surgery. The incidence of
      asymptomatic and symptomatic hypocalcemia in each group was recorded. RESULTS: A
      total of 132 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) were included
      who received surgical treatment. No a significant change was observed in serum
      calcium and PTH levels in group A, while significant decreases in serum calcium
      and PTH levels were seen in group B (P < 0.05). Intravenous calcium supplement in
      group D resulted in a more rapid recovery in serum calcium levels (P < 0.05). The
      incidences of symptomatic hypocalcemia and asymptomatic hypocalcemia were
      significantly lower in group A and group D respectively compared to the other
      groups (All P values < 0.05). In group B, a highest asymptomatic and symptomatic
      hypocalcemia incidence was detected. CONCLUSION: Selective calcium
      supplementation for DTC based on NCCN risk stratification system could be
      recommended for the high-risk patients.

PMID- 26885166
TI  - Effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-pretreated neuron stem cell
      transplantation on Alzheimer's disease model mice.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common case of dementia and its possible therapies,
      such as neuron stem cell (NSC) transplantation therapy, have been studied for
      years. In order to improve NSC transplantation effects, we were inspired to
      pretreat NSC using brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) before
      transplantation. The AD mouse model was constructed and effects of BDNF+NSC
      transplant group and traditional NSC transplant group were compared using the
      four indicators: conditions of learning and memory ability recovery tested by
      Morris Water Maze (MWM), number of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons,
      expression of synaptophysin, and number of acetylcholinesterase (ACHE)-positive
      fibers detected by chemical staining. Results showed all the four indicators were
      significantly lower in the AD model group than the control group (P < 0.05).
      Traditional NSC transplantation could improve these indicators to some extent but
      still possessed significant differences from the control group (P < 0.05).
      Especially, the BDNF+NSC transplant group showed significant improvements in the
      four indicators when compared with the AD model group (P < 0.05). Taken these
      data together, BDNF pretreatment improved the NSC transplantation effects,
      showing advantages over the traditional NSC transplantation. Our study could
      facilitate the application of stem cell transplantation therapy to AD treatment. 

PMID- 26885167
TI  - Up-regulation of ICAM-1mRNA and IL-1betamRNA in lung tissues of a rat model of
      COPD.
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease
      characterized by airflow obstruction that is usually progressive and not fully
      reversible. It is accompanied by the abnormal inflammatory response of lung to
      toxic particles or gas. Studies indicate that chronic inflammatory injuries of
      airway, pulmonary parenchyma and pulmonary vessels are the characteristic changes
      of COPD. Adhesion of inflammatory cells is the important link of pulmonary
      infection. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a glycoprotein involved
      in binding with mediated cells or with the extracellular matrix in the process
      called cell adhesion. IL-1beta is an important inflammatory mediator as well as
      the promoter and critical inducer of cytokine cascade reaction. In this study,
      the rat model of COPD was established by smoking + intratracheal instillation of
      LPS (the experimental group). PaO2 and PaCO2 were measured. ICAM-1mRNA and IL
      1betamRNA level in lung homogenate were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT
      PCR and were compared with those of the rats treated by smoke exposure (the
      control group) and the healthy rats (the blank group) in order to investigate the
      effect of ICAM-1 and IL-1beta in lung injury of COPD. This study showed that the
      respiratory function of rats with COPD was decreased. PaO2 of rats in the
      experimental group, the control group and the blank group decreased successively,
      and the comparison between any two groups had significant difference. PaCO2
      increased successively, and the comparison between any two groups had significant
      difference. Immunohistochemistry results showed that protein expression of ICAM-1
      and IL-1beta in lung tissues of rats in the experimental group was higher than
      that in the control group and the blank group, and the comparison between any two
      groups had significant difference. RT-PCR results showed that ICAM-1mRNA and IL
      1betamRNA level of rats in the experimental group was higher than that in the
      control group and the blank group, and the comparison between any two groups had
      significant difference. This study indicated that the decreased respiratory
      function of rats with COPD was associated with the imbalance of inflammatory
      cascade and the up-regulation of ICAM-1mRNA and IL-1betamRNA in lung tissues and
      cells caused inflammatory injury and decreased respiratory function. 

PMID- 26885168
TI  - Roles of mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 in the development of renal injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the role of mycobacterium
      tuberculosis early secretory antigen target-6 (MtbESAT-6) in the development of
      renal injury. METHODS: PET42a (+) ESAT6 prokaryotic expression plasmid was
      constructed and the purified ESAT6 protein without endotoxin was obtained. Sixty
      healthy, clean, male Kunming mice were randomly divided into two groups: the
      experimental group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30). Each mouse in the
      experimental group were injected with 0.5 ml ESAT-6 protein, and each mouse in
      the control group were injected with 0.5 ml sterile saline on the tail vein.
      Blood, urine and kidney tissues were collected. Serum creatinine (Scr), blood
      urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary creatinine (Cr) were determined by HITACHI 7150
      automatic biochemical analyzer and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) was
      calculated. Renal tissues were conducted for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and
      pathological scores of renal injury were recorded under the light microscope.
      RESULTS: Using MTB H37Ra strains genome DNA as template, the ESAT6 gene amplified
      by Hieff Pfu DNA Polymerase using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was
      consistent with the expected size. PET42a (+) ESAT6 vector plasmid was
      successfully obtained and ESAT6 recombinant protein was successfully expressed
      with the protein concentration of 1.69 mg/ml. BUN and Scr in the experimental
      group were gradually increased, Ccr was gradually decreased, and the pathological
      score of renal injury increased gradually, and all of which were significantly
      higher than that in the control group after the experiment of 12 h, 24 h and 48 h
      (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MtbESAT-6 might contribute to the development of
      renal injury.

PMID- 26885169
TI  - Snare sheath versus evolution sheath in transvenous lead extraction.
AB  - Lead extraction remains a challenging procedure with significant success. Owing
      to the increasing use of cardiac implantable electronic devices, there is a
      growing need for effective techniques management, to avoid the occurrence of
      device-related complications and lead dysfunction. We made a comparison of
      Evolution sheath and Needles Eye Snare sheath (abbreviated to Snare sheath) by
      analyzed the results using two kind of the methods in the Cardiology Center of
      Peking University People's Hospital. In the retrospective study we evaluated
      patients who underwent lead extraction from July 2013 to July 2014. Those who
      underwent lead removal without using evolution or snare were excluded. Primary
      endpoints included total exposure time, operation time, and complications. Data
      on clinical characteristics, indications, and outcomes were prospectively
      collected and analyzed. A total of 76 patients were included in the study (65.8%
      male; aged 68.1+/-14.34 years old). Snare and Evolution were used in 59 and 17
      patients, respectively. A total of 134 leads were removed with 103 leads (76.87%)
      extracted using the Snare sheath. Lead age was 10.8+/-7.0 years. Complete
      extraction was observed in 67 patients of 124 leads. Evolution sheath was
      associated with significantly lower complication even after adjustment of the
      number of leads, type of leads, and lead age, compared to the Snare group
      (P<0.05). In the Snare sheath group, mortality rate was 1.69% and minor
      complication rate was 3.39%. When compared to the Snare sheath, lead extraction
      with the Evolution sheath has less X-ray exposure time and less operation time
      (P<0.05), while with a higher success rate (P<0.05). Besides, the Evolution group
      has fewer major and minor complications. 

PMID- 26885170
TI  - Immunohistochemical characterisation of molecular subtypes in endometrial cancer.
AB  - Four molecular subtypes have lately been established in endometrial cancer basing
      on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status:
      ER+/PR+/HER2+, ER+/PR+/HER2-, ER-/PR-/HER2+ and ER-/PR-/HER2-. The subtypes have
      shown diversity in terms of prognosis, clinicopathological and molecular
      characteristics, with ER+/PR+/HER2- and ER-/PR-/HER2+ group exhibiting
      exceptionally benign and aggressive behavior, respectively. We have further
      characterized the subtypes in the context of pathways known to drive endometrial
      carcinogenesis: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway (ERBB/PI3K
      pathway), TP53 system, and the mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism. Analysis of tumor
      heterogeneity was also included. ER+/PR+/HER2+ was characterized by active
      ERBB/PI3K pathway occurring in 58% of cases. Subtype ER-/PR-/HER2+ was
      characterized by the most frequent TP53 mutations (83% of cases). Triple negative
      phenotype utterly lacked active ERBB/PI3K pathway. Analyzed major pathways rarely
      correlated with clinicopathologial data but mutated TP53 and retained MMR did
      correlate with shorter overall survival (both P<0.01). The presence of tumor
      heterogeneity was most frequent in ER-/PR-/HER2+ subtype (53% of all cases). The
      presented results further emphasize that the molecular subtype distinction, along
      with MMR and TP53 status, could be a useful diagnostic tool in guiding
      individualized therapy. 

PMID- 26885171
TI  - Cognitive impairments associated with corpus callosum infarction: a ten cases
      study.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine whether the cognitive impairment is
      associated with corpus callosum infarctions. Ten corpus callosum infarction
      patients were enrolled in this study. Their emotions, cognitive and language
      abilities, memory, comprehensive perception were assessed using the Chinese
      version of following measures: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal
      Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), World Health Organization-University of California
      Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT), Wechsler Adult
      Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Digit Span subtest and so on. The same measurements
      were performed on healthy control participants as contrast for analysis.
      Infarction most frequently occurred in the body and/or splenium of the corpus
      callosum. The scores of the most cognitive tests in the corpus callosum
      infarction patients were significantly worse than those of the control
      participants (P<0.05). Except for the naming ability, the patients showed
      significantly poorer performance at the overall level of MMSE than the controls
      did (P<0.05). Consistently, the results of MoCA suggested a significant reduction
      in visuospatial abilities of execution, orientation, attention, calculation,
      delayed memory, language, and repetition capabilities in the patients with
      respect to the control (P<0.05). In addition, the scores in the case group were
      significantly worse than those in the control group in the auditory word learning
      test, digital span and Rey complex figure test (P<0.05). Corpus callosum
      infarction can cause cognitive dysfunction, which poses obstacles to memory in
      the acute phase, accompanied by different degrees of decline in visuospatial
      abilities, attention and calculating abilities. 

PMID- 26885173
TI  - TLR2 expression doesn't change in ox-LDL mediated inflammation in Human umbilical
      vein endothelial cells under high glucose culture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inflammatory responses induced by ox-LDL play important roles in
      atherogenesis, and could be promoted in diabetic patients. Toll-like receptor
      (TLR)2 is an innate inflammatory receptor, and is enhanced in human umbilical
      vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under high glucose conditions. Ox-LDL-TLR2
      pathway activation and further inflammation in monocytes are involved in the
      atherosclerosis formation. OBJECTIVE: What role of TLR2 plays on ox-LDL-induced
      inflammation in HUVECs remains unclear, especially in high glucose conditions.
      The purpose of this study is to explore the effect and role of ox-LDL-TLR2
      pathway on the inflammatory responses in HUVECs. METHODS: 1 hour prior to the
      treatment, HUVECs were treated with or without neutralizing anti-TLR2 antibody.
      After that, HUVECs were treated with ox-LDL (20, or 40 MUg/ml) or LPS (200 ng/ml)
      under normal and high glucose conditions. The expressions of ICAM-1 and TLR2
      protein were analyzed by immunoblotting, and IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by
      ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with those in normal glucose condition, IL-6 and IL-8
      expression were increased in high glucose condition. The stimulation of ox-LDL
      and LPS both increased the expression of ICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8, but did not
      change TLR2 protein expression in both normal and high glucose conditions.
      Additionally, the expression of ICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8 was not changed when TLR2
      was knocked out under these two conditions. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory
      responses induced by Ox-LDL were not changed with or without TLR2 under both
      normal and high glucose conditions in HUVECs. Our study indicates TLR2 is not
      involved in the ox-LDL mediated endothelial injury under high glucose conditions,
      which is an important step of atherosclerosis formation in diabetes.

PMID- 26885172
TI  - A case of kidney transplantation using donation after circulatory death with
      renal calculi.
AB  - Donation after circulatory death (DCD) supplies a big percentage of the organ
      source pool. Compared to living-related donations, donor kidneys from DCD are
      commonly with lower quality since they inevitably suffer from hypoxia,
      hypotension, and inadequate organ perfusion during the progression to circulatory
      arrest. The current case presents a 44-year-old male donor with wide range
      subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple skull fracture from a car accident. Multiple
      stones were detected in his right kidney. We performed a modified ex vivo
      pyelolithotomy and ureteroscopy on the bench to render a stone-free allograft. We
      also improved the donor kidney with hypothermic/perfusion preservation machine
      before renal transplantation. The recipient showed no complications during the
      first two-month post-operational follow-up. Such a donor kidney with stones may
      probably be discarded by conventional perspective. Yet, the combination of the ex
      vivo bench-surgery technique and hypothermic oxygenation/perfusion makes it a
      qualified donor kidney. Thus we have demonstrated a promising way of saving
      borderline qualified DCD donor kidneys. 

PMID- 26885174
TI  - Intrapleural administration of DNase alone for pleural empyema.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pleural empyema is a severe complication of various diseases. The
      essential is the inserting a drain into the pleural cavity and evacuation of the
      pus. Sometimes the pus is very thick and its evacuation and re-expansion of the
      lung is very difficult. METHODS: We report a group of 10 patients with
      intrapleural administration of Pulmozyme (dornase alpha) in dosages of either 2.5
      mg once or on two separate occasions. All of the patients had a chest tube
      inserted into the pleural cavity. Measurement of viscosity was done before and
      after the instillation of the dornase alpha. RESULTS: In six patients dornase
      alfa was introduced into the pleural cavity once. Three of them received this on
      the 4th whilst the rest were treated with the agent on the 6th day. Four patients
      received the dornase alpha twice because of the small amount of drainage fluid
      after the previous instillation. Five patients were discharged from hospital with
      complete re-expansion of their lungs. Two patients were qualified for a surgical
      operation since the lung was trapped and did not re-expand. Three patients had to
      be discharged with a drain as a result of incomplete re-expansion of the lung. In
      all the patients the density of the pus after administering the dornase alpha
      decreased and the amount of the pus drainage increased. CONCLUSIONS: Dornase
      alpha may be used in some patients with pleural empyema with good results.

PMID- 26885175
TI  - The causes of lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis in the children with cranial
      diseases.
AB  - In order to investigate the prevalence of lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis
      (DVT) and to explore its possible reasons in children patients who received
      neurosurgery operation. Clinical data of 4958 cases children patients with lower
      extremity DVT and without the thrombosis after the neurosurgery operation from
      2010 January to 2014 December in department of neurosurgery of Tian Tan hospital
      were collected and analyzed. 18 cases children were diagnosed with lower
      extremity DVT. All of them had invasive operation of lower-extremity deep venous
      catheterization. The mainly primary diseases of thrombosis children were
      craniopharyngioma. They have longer operation time compared with those without
      thrombosis (P<0.05). Therefore, the causes of DVT in neurosurgical children
      involve not only deep venous catheter-related but also neurological primary
      disease and operation time. 

PMID- 26885177
TI  - Better plans and more powerful evidence are needed in the research and treatment
      of chronic hepatitis B in China.
AB  - China has the first largest global pool of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection.
      With the implementation of comprehensive intervention of neonatal vaccination
      based on national strategy, some achievements have been made in control of
      hepatitis B in China. However, some problems remain unresolved in the research
      field as well as management of CHB. Currently, empirical therapy, poor study
      design, inefficient management, low compliance rate of patients, lack of public
      awareness and economic factor hampers the research and treatment of CHB in China.
      We propose that China should take more effective measures to improve the study
      quality, social management, the relief of economic burden for the needed
      patients, public awareness, evidence-based policies and medicine, supervision for
      clinical practice, diagnostics ability and laboratory quality, the compliance of
      patients, and the quality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the management
      of CHB infection in the future. 

PMID- 26885178
TI  - Endometrial stem cells: clinical application and pathological roles.
AB  - Adult stem cells occur in human endometrium. Menstrual-blood derived stem cells
      (MenSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells that can be obtained in a non-invasive
      manner. Due to their rapid proliferation rate, low immunogenicity, and low
      tumorigenicity, MenSCs are used extensively in tissue engineering. They can be
      induced into multiple cell lineages under certain conditions. MenSCs contribute
      to tissue repair via several different mechanisms, highlighting their great
      promise in clinical applications. Endometrial stem cells may also be used to shed
      light on the pathogenesis of endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma. This review
      will cover recent progress in this field. 

PMID- 26885179
TI  - On the preparation of transferrin modified artesunate nanoliposomes and their
      glioma-targeting treatment in-vitro and in-vivo.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To prepare transferrin modified artesunate nanoliposomes (Tf-ART-LPs)
      and study their glioma U87 cells-targeting treatment in-vitro and in-vivo.
      METHODS: Ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradient method was used to prepare Tf
      ART-LPs, whose size and stability was detected by a Nanosizer. Besides, the
      encapsulation efficiency and release rate of artesunate (ART) were tested by a
      ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Further, isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to label
      nanoliposomes and the cell-targeting property of Tf-ART-LP in-vitro was observed
      under a fluorescence microscope. In addition, CCK-8 method was used to detect the
      effect of single nanoliposomes and Tf-ART-LPs on the viability of glioma U87
      cells. At last, a subcutaneously implanted tumor model in nude mouse was
      established for studying the in-vivo anti-tumor effect of Tf-ART-LPs by caudal
      vein injection. The tumor volume and mice weight were monitored and pathological
      sections of their major organs were analyzed. RESULTS: Tf-ART-LPs were spherical
      with an average diameter of 94.2 nm. They showed no aggregation after being
      stored in a refrigerator for 14 days at 4 degrees C. The encapsulation efficiency
      and highest releasing rate (48 hours after being placed in normal saline under 37
      degrees C) of ART was 85.9% and 58.7+/-2.9%, respectively. The uptake rate of U87
      cells was 59.8+/-3.8% for Tf-ART-LPs and only 18.7+/-4.5% for ART-LPs. While
      single liposomes almost showed no toxicity, Tf-ART-LP had a concentration
      dependent killing effect on U87 cells. Within 32 days of treatment, the growth of
      U87 cells was well inhibited by Tf-ART-LPs without significant toxicity.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, transferrin modified artesunate liposomes we prepared
      have a good targeting property to glioma U87 cells and good effect on glioma both
      in-vitro and in-vivo.

PMID- 26885176
TI  - Role of autophagy in chronic kidney diseases.
AB  - Chronic kidney diseases (CKD), a common pathway of various glomerular diseases,
      which carries great morbidity and mortality to people. CKD is characterized by
      progressive kidney fibrosis and remodeling. CKD is also associated with the
      depletion of glomerular and tubular cells. Autophagy is a highly conserved
      process that degrades cellular long-lived proteins and organelles. It plays an
      important role in both normal and disease states, including immunity,
      inflammation, and adaptation to stress. Evidence has indicated that impaired
      autophagic activity is involved in the development of CKD. Here, we review the
      progress in our understanding of the role of autophagy in the development and
      progression of CKD. Targeting the autophagic signaling pathways may be a
      therapeutic strategy for CKD. 

PMID- 26885180
TI  - Construction and identification of multiple genes Co silence of plasmid shRNA.
AB  - Objective To construct and identify the eukaryotic vector expressing shRNA
      (Plasmid-1), which expressed the VEGF, C-myc, Survivin and hTERT gene at the same
      time. To detect its interference effects on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell
      line (CNE-2Z) compared with single gene plasmid VEFG (Plasmid-2). Methods
      According to the sequence of VEGF, C-myc, Survivin and hTERT gene, we designed 2
      oligonucleotide sequences and synthesized a complementary DNA chain, then
      inserted it into the eukaryotic vector expressing pGenesil 1. The cell
      proliferation activity was detected by MTT method. The interference efficacy on
      human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (CNE-2Z) in the level of mRNA and
      protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western-bolt. The inhibitory effect of
      plasmid on tumor in nude mice was also observed in vivo. Results The restriction
      enzyme digestion and sequencing technologies confirmed the construction of
      recombinant eukaryotic vector expressing was correct. The plasmid was transfected
      into CNE-2Z cells, green fluorescence can be seen clearly in the single gene and
      multi gene transfected cells under fluorescent microscope. MTT showed that the
      proliferation of cell was inhibited, the invasive ability was decreased in vitro,
      and the inhibition effects of single gene plasmid on the growth and proliferation
      of cells were lower than multi gene. Real-time-PCR and Western-bolt confirmed
      that the expression of target gene was decreased in the level of mRNA and
      protein, and the interference effect of multi gene was better than the single
      gene. The nude mice experiment showed that the interference effect of shRNA
      plasmid on the growth of tumor cell was better than single gene plasmid
      Conclusion We constructed a shRNA plasmid encoded four different genes
      successfully. After transfected with nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, it can
      interfere the expression of VEGF, C-myc, Survivin and hTERT gene at the same
      time. And the interference effect was better than silence VEGF alone. Out results
      may provide experimental basis for multi gene therapy in the treatment of
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 

PMID- 26885181
TI  - Baicalin ameliorates isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction through
      iNOS, inflammation, oxidative stress and P38MAPK pathway in rat.
AB  - Baicalin is one of the active ingredients in the skullcap, with a variety of
      pharmacological effects, such as blood pressure reduction, sedation, liver
      protection, gallbladder-protection, anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, etc. The
      aim of this study was to investigate the potential cardioprotective effects of
      baicalin ameliorates isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
      through inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inflammation, oxidative stress
      and P38MAPK passageway in rat. Rat model of AMI was induced by isoproterenol (100
      mg/kg) and then treated baicalin (various does of baicalin: 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and
      100 mg/kg, respectively) for 24 h. Infarct size, the heart weight to body weight
      ratio and creatine kinase (CK), the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB),
      lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) of rats with AMI
      induced by isoproterenol were used to evaluate curative effect of baicalin on
      AMI. Meanwhile, iNOS and phosphorylation-p38 MAPK (p-p38) protein expressions,
      inflammatory factor and oxidative stress were inspected using western blot and
      commercial kits, respectively. In the present study, pre-treatment with baicalin
      (10 or 100 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated infarct size, the heart weight to
      body weight ratio and CK, CK-MB, LDH and cTnT levels in rats with AMI induced by
      isoproterenol. iNOS protein expression, the serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, MDA and SOD
      levels and p-38 protein expressions were significantly suppressed by treatment
      with baicalin (10 or 100 mg/kg). These results suggest that acute treatment with
      baicalin ameliorates AMI, iNOS, inflammation, oxidative stress and P38MAPK
      pathway in rat with AMI induced by isoproterenol. 

PMID- 26885182
TI  - Clinical and prognostic significance of HIF-1alpha in glioma patients: a meta
      analysis.
AB  - Gliomas are the most common brain tumors, leading to significant cancer-related
      mortality worldwide. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha) was shown to
      be involved in the pathophysiology and management of glioma, and might offer a
      therapeutic target. However, the results remain inconclusive. The purpose of this
      study was to systematically investigate the clinical and prognostic significance
      of HIF-1alpha expression in patients with glioma. Relevant studies published
      between 2000 and 2015 were searched in the electronic databases. The odds ratio
      (OR), risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with their 95% confidence
      intervals (CI) were employed to calculate the strength of significance. Finally,
      a total of 24 articles were retrieved, including 1422 glioma patients. No
      significant heterogeneity was presented between studies (I(2)<50%, P>0.01).
      Overall, our results showed that HIF-1alpha expression was significantly
      associated with high WHO grade (III+IV) of glioma (OR=8.59, 95% CI=6.56-11.24,
      P<0.00001). This significant relationship was also found between HIF-1alpha
      expression and microvascular density (MD=26.32, 95% CI=14.48-38.16, P<0.0001),
      overall survival (OS) (3-year OS: RR=0.48, 95% CI=0.35-0.66, P<0.00001; 2-year
      OS: RR=0.53, 95% CI=0.38-0.73, P<0.0001; 1-year OS: RR=0.79, 95% CI=0.66-0.95,
      P=0.01), and the cumulative survival time. However, HIF-1alpha expression was not
      associated with age and gender of glioma patients (P>0.05). In conclusions, our
      results suggested that HIF-1alpha expression was associated with high grade of
      glioma and OS, indicating that HIF-1alpha could predict prognosis and provide
      clinical insights into the therapeutic strategy for patients with glioma. More
      studies concerning other populations are also needed in the future research. 

PMID- 26885184
TI  - Anti-arrhythmic effects of atrial ganglionated plexi stimulation is accompanied
      by preservation of connexin43 protein in ischemia-reperfusion canine model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to provide a protective
      effect against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-related arrhythmias by preventing the
      loss of Connexin43 (Cx43). Our previous studies showed that atrial epicardial
      ganglionated plexus stimulation (GPS) might exert a VNS-like effect on
      ventricular electrophysiology. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether GPS could
      preserve Cx43 and reduce I/R induced ventricular arrhythmia. METHODS: Sixteen
      dogs were randomly divided into GPS group (N = 8, receiving GPS) and Sham group
      (N = 8, receiving sham GPS). Ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and
      heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at baseline and 1 h after GPS.
      Myocardial I/R was then performed. Ventricular arrhythmia occurred during the
      first hour after reperfusion was measured and myocardial tissue from the peri
      infarct zone was excised for immunohistological analysis. In another 4 dogs
      (Control group, receiving sham GPS and sham I/R), myocardial tissue from the
      corresponding area was also excised. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, GPS
      caused a significant increase in ventricular ERP and HRV, and a significant
      decrease in I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Western blotting revealed a
      marked reduction in the amount of phosphorylated Cx43 and total Cx43 in the Sham
      group, whereas no significant change was observed in the GPS group compared with
      the Control group. Immunohistochemistry results confirmed that the myocardial I/R
      induced loss of phosphorylated Cx43 from the intercellular junctions was
      prevented by GPS. CONCLUSION: GPS protects against I/R induced ventricular
      arrhythmias, accompanied by preserving Cx43.

PMID- 26885183
TI  - The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation improves the
      detection of hyperfiltration in Chinese diabetic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Hyperfiltration confers an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy.
      Early detection can ensure timely intervention and improved treatment outcomes.
      Because GFR is known to be affected by hyperglycemia, the aim of this study was
      to compare the influence of hyperglycemia on GFR estimations calculated by the
      CKD-EPI equation, the CG equation, and the MDRD equations in estimating
      hyperfiltration in Chinese diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      performance of the equations, compared with the measured (99)mTc-DTPA glomerular
      filtration rate was analyzed in 3492 diabetic patients. Bias, precision, and
      accuracies were compared with respect to HbA1c status. The Bland-Altman method
      was used to evaluate the agreement among the equations with respect to the mGFR,
      and the receiver-operating characteristic curve method was used to evaluate
      diagnostic value of the three equations with respect to the detection of moderate
      renal failure and hyperfiltration. RESULTS: The mean absolute bias was the
      smallest for the CKD-EPI equation in the HbA1c < 7.2% cohort, and the highest
      accuracy within +/- 15% and +/- 30% was also reached with the CKD-EPI equation in
      both cohorts. For the detection of hyperfiltration, the CKD-EPI equation
      exhibited the best performance with the greatest combination of sensitivity and
      specificity. The biases of the three equations were significantly higher in the
      HbA1c >= 10.5% subgroup compared with the HbA1c < 7.2% cohort. CONCLUSION: The
      CKD-EPI equation can be used as a screening tool for hyperfiltration and appears
      to be a more generalizable and accurate equation for estimating GFR in Chinese
      diabetic patients.

PMID- 26885185
TI  - Association of rs2228570 polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene with
      degenerative disc disease: a meta-analysis involving 2947 subjects.
AB  - This study aimed to explore the association between the rs2228570 polymorphism in
      the vitamin D receptor gene and degenerative disc disease (IDD), especially in
      European. We perform a meta-analysis to analyze the association after searching
      the relevant studies through China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI),
      PubMed, Medline and EMBASE databases. And odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association. A
      total of 10 studies involving 1,465 cases and 1,482 controls were included in the
      meta-analysis. Overall, there was not significant risk between rs2228570
      polymorphism and degenerative disc disease in any genetic models. In addition,
      stratified analyses by ethnicity revealed similar results. However, stratified
      analyses by others indicates an association between IDD and the FF genotype
      (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.43- 0.90, P=0.486) in age =40, and the F allele (OR=0.84, 95%
      CI=0.73-0.96, P=0.992), FF genotype (OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.65-0.93, P=0.853) in
      sample size > 300, and ff genotype (OR=0.91, 95% CI=1.11-3.29, P=0.783), FF
      genotype (OR=0.70, 95% CI=0.51-0.96, P=0.258) in Northern European. This meta
      analysis suggested that the rs2228570 polymorphism may not be associated with
      degenerative disc disease. However, there existed some diversities, especially in
      age < 40, sample size > 300, countries in Northern Europe, suggesting that
      carrying the VDR FokI F allele may be a protective factor against IDD
      development. But a large number of well-designed studies are still required to
      assess this polymorphism and degenerative disc disease. 

PMID- 26885186
TI  - Arginine vasopressin antagonist tolvaptan in the treatment of heart failure: a
      meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tolvaptan can promote water clearance without a deterioration of
      serum electrolytes in HF patients, but its efficacy and safety were unclear. We
      performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate
      the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in the treatment of patients hospitalized
      for heart failure (HF). METHODS: In Oct 2014, a literature search was started and
      found all studies conducted from 2000 to 2014. We systematically searched the
      literature through the MEDLINE database and EMBASE database. Quality assessments
      were evaluated with Jadad quality scale. Data were extracted considering the
      characteristics of efficacy and safety designs. RESULT: Eight RCTs enrolling
      13453 participants satisfying the inclusion criteria were finally analyzed. There
      were significant decreases of body weight (MD=-0.87, 95% CI=-0.94 to -0.80,
      P<0.001) among all subgroups. Significant increase of serum sodium was found
      between tolvaptan and placebo groups at day 1 (MD=2.93, 95% CI=2.70 to 3.16,
      P<0.001) and at day 7 or discharge (MD=3.10, 95% CI=2.78 to 3.42, P<0.001). There
      were significant differences between the day 1 subgroup and day 7 or discharge
      subgroup (MD=2.99, 95% CI=2.80 to 3.18, P<0.001). A statistical significant
      improve in dyspnea (RR=1.10, 95% CI=1.07 to 1.13, P<0.001) and edema (RR=1.05,
      95% CI=1.02 to 1.08, P<0.001) occurred, whereas there was no difference in rales
      (RR=2.38, 95% CI=0.89 to 6.38, P=0.08) and pulmonary congestion (RR=1.02, 95%
      CI=0.71 to 1.45, P=0.93). Pooled effect measure in the outcome of common adverse
      event (RR=1.08, 95% CI=0.99 to 1.18, P=0.08) and serious adverse (RR=0.96, 95%
      CI=0.88 to 1.04, P=0.29) event both show no significant occurrence. CONCLUSION:
      Tolvaptan decreases body weight, increases serum sodium, and improves congestion
      without significant increasing adverse events in HF patients.

PMID- 26885187
TI  - Baicaleininhibits VSMCs proliferation via regulating LncRNAAK021954 gene
      expression.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is responsible for the global medical burden of cardiovascular
      diseases, of which the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)
      plays a key role in the development. Recent evidences demonstrated that baicalein
      could attenuate the proliferation of VSMCs and had no influence on VSMCs
      migration. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of baicalein inhibiting the
      proliferation of VSMCs were not clear. In this study, we investigated the
      viability and apoptosis behaviour of VSMCs and its downstream molecular changes
      with exposed to different dose of baicalein. Firstly, we observed significant
      reducing in the VSMCs proliferation and decreasing of FGF18 expression in a dose
      dependent manner after addition of baicalein for 24 h and 72 h. Moreover, the
      mRNA expression profile of VSMCs after treatments was evaluated by microarray
      analysis. Microarray analysis showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AK021954
      gene expression was significantly increased in the baicalein treated group
      compared with the control group. Inversely, the VSMCs proliferation showed a
      notable increase after small silent RNA of lncRNAAK021954 treatment. These
      results indicated that lncRNAAK021954 gene and FGF18 involved in baicalein
      inhibiting the proliferation of VSMCs. It may provide a promising method in
      treatment of atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26885189
TI  - Roles of miR-186 and PTTG1 in colorectal neuroendocrine tumors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This work aims to investigate the expression of miRNA-186 in patients
      with colorectal cancer tissues, blood and feces and its roles in regulating the
      infiltration and invasion in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Totally 39 patients with
      surgical resection were included from August 2012 to February 2015 in Jilin
      Province People's Hospital as the Colorectal Neuroendocrine tumor (CNET).
      Peripheral blood, stool, and resected tumor tissues with adjacent normal of each
      patient was collected. In the same period, the blood and stool from 25 patients
      with hemorrhoids or other non-neoplastic diseases were collected and these
      samples used as clinical control group. MiR-186 expression and PTTG1 (pituitary
      tumor-transforming 1) expression were detected by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT
      PCR). The PTTG1 protein expression in tumor samples were detected by Western
      Blot, while its expression in blood and stool were detected by Elisa. RESULTS:
      Compared with the control group, the expression of PTTG1 mRNA and protein was
      significantly up-regulated in tumor samples, blood, and stool of patients with
      CNET, while the expression of miR-186 was down-regulated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      PTTG1 expression was significantly up-regulated in patients with CNET, which was
      induced by the down-regulated miR-186. MiR-186 may participate in the regulation
      of infiltration and invasion in CNET patients through targeting PTTG1 expression.

PMID- 26885188
TI  - Targeting SLUG sensitizes leukemia cells to ADR-induced apoptosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Slug is an E-cadherin repressor and a suppressor of PUMA
      (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) and it has recently been demonstrated
      that Slug plays an important role in controlling apoptosis. In this study, we
      examined whether Slug's ability to silence expression suppresses the growth of
      leukemia HL-60 cells and/or sensitizes leukemia HL-60 cells to adriamycin (ADR)
      through induction of apoptosis. METHODS: SLUG siRNA was transfected into the HL
      60 and HL-60(ADR) cell lines (an adriamycin resistant cell line). The stably SLUG
      siRNA transfected HL-60 and HL-60(ADR) cells was transiently transfected with
      PUMA siRNA. The mRNA and protein expression of SLUG and PUMA were determined by
      Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blot assay. The effects of SLUG siRNA
      alone or combined with ADR or PUMA siRNA on growth and apoptosis in HL-60 and HL
      60(ADR) cells was detected by MTT, ELISA and terminal deoxynucleotidyl
      transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: The results showed
      that SLUG was less expressed in the HL-60 cells, and high expressed in the HL
      60(ADR) cells. Obvious down-regulation of SLUG mRNA and protein levels and up
      regulation of PUMA mRNA and protein levels after SLUG siRNA transfection was
      showed in the HL-60(ADR) cells. Treatment with ADR induced SLUG mRNA and protein
      in the HL-60 cells. Significant positive correlation was observed between basal
      SLUG mRNA and protein and ADR sensitivity. SLUG gene silencing by SLUG siRNA
      transfection inhibited growth and induced apoptosis, and increased ADR killing of
      the HL-60 and HL-60(ADR) cell lines. After the SLUG siRNA transfected HL-60 and
      HL-60(ADR) cells was transiently transfected with PUMA siRNA, did not increase
      ADR killing of the HL-60 and HL-60(ADR) cell lines. CONCLUSION: SLUG level
      positively correlated with sensitivity to ADR. SLUG siRNA could effectively
      reduce SLUG expression and induce PUMA expression and restore the drug
      sensitivity of resistant leukemic cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

PMID- 26885190
TI  - Effects of Ukrain on intestinal apoptosis caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury
      in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate the antiapoptotic effect of Ukrain on intestinal
      lesion induced by mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Male
      Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: laparotomy (L), I/R, and
      Ukrain and I/R (U + I/R). In the U + I/R group, Ukrain (7 mg/kg) was given by
      intraperitoneal at the beginning of the study. 1 h after ukrain application,
      ischemia was induced for 30 minutes, and reperfusion was subsequently allowed for
      120 minutes in the I/R and U + I/R groups. Rats were sacrificed at the end of
      reperfusion and intestinal tissues were collected for biochemical and molecular
      examination. Intestinal tissues caspase 3 protein were assayed. Serum Bcl-xL and
      iNOS were measured. The expression level of caspase-3, Bcl-xL and iNOS in
      intestinal tissue of rats were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Levels of serum iNOS and mRNA expression were
      increased in the I/R and decreased in the U + I/R group. In addition, levels of
      the proapoptotic gene caspase-3 protein and mRNA expression were increased in the
      I/R and decreased in the U + I/R group. Levels of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-xL
      serum and mRNA expression were increased in the U + I/R group. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ukrain can reduce the ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intestinal tissue by
      inhibiting the cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be correlated with increased Bcl
      xL mRNA expressions and decreased mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and iNOS.

PMID- 26885191
TI  - Association of risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with hepatitis B virus infection: a
      meta-analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was carried out to systematically evaluate the
      correlation between hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B virus, HBV) infection and risk
      of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL). METHODS: We searched
      Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature
      Database, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, Chinese scientific journals full
      text databases and collected information about HBV infection and risk of NHL
      associated case-control studies. Two reviewers extracted useful information which
      were included in the study independently, and Revman 5.2 was used for meta
      analysis. RESULTS: A total of 24 studies were included in this research. Meta
      analysis showed that among all of the included studies the heterogeneity were
      existed (I(2) = 76%, P<0.05). With random effects model the OR was 2.39 (95% CI,
      1.93-3.96), indicating infection rate in NHL patients with HBV was higher than
      that in the control group. Subgroup analysis according to ethnicity suggested
      that HBV infection were associated with NHL risk both in Asian (OR = 2.46, 95%
      CI: 2.01, 3.00, P<0.001) and Caucasian (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.37, 3.37, P<0.001)
      population. CONCLUSION: HBV infection may increase the risk of NHL, but it still
      need a large number of experiments and epidemiological studies to verify.

PMID- 26885192
TI  - Therapeutic effects of OP-1 on metal wear particle induced osteoblasts injury in
      vitro.
AB  - Aseptic lossening is a main reason for the revision of total joint arthroplasty.
      Metal-wear particles induced deregulation of bone resorption or formation has
      been considered as the major process of aseptic lossening. Osteogenic protein-1
      (OP-1) can be used to improve bone formation. However, such effect is not clearly
      understood after the metal-wear particles injury. Here, we investigated the
      molecular mechanisms by which OP-1 regulates the activity of bone formation and
      anti-inflammatory after injury. Results showed that OP-1 increased cell viability
      and bone formation ability of impaired osteoblast cells at 72 hours after being
      injured by cobalt particles. Pathway analyses revealed that both mRNA and protein
      levels of Smad1 and Smad5 were significantly increased upon the treatment of OP-1
      in the cell injury model. Similarly, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2)
      was also significantly upregulated in the OP-1 treated cells. Moreover, treatment
      with OP-1 inhibited the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor
      alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-18 in cobalt impaired cells. Collectively, these
      results suggest that OP-1 could inhibit cobalt particles induced cell injury by
      activating Smad1, Smad5, and Runx2, and such procedure is accompanied by anti
      inflammatory reaction. 

PMID- 26885193
TI  - RKIP suppresses the proliferation and invasion ofchoriocarcinoma cells through
      inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway.
AB  - Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), an inhibitor of Raf-mediated activation of
      mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK), has
      been identified as a metastasis suppressor gene. However, the role of RKIP in
      human choriocarcinoma remains undetermined. Therefore, in the present study, we
      investigated the expression of RKIP in human choriocarcinoma cells and evaluated
      the effects of RKIP on choriocarcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. Our
      results indicated that RKIP was lowly expressed in human choriocarcinoma cells.
      Overexpression of RKIP inhibits choriocarcinoma cell proliferation, migration and
      invasion, promotes the apoptosis of choriocarcinoma cells. Furthermore,
      overexpression of RKIP significantly inhibited the expression of MEK and ERK
      phosphorylation in choriocarcinoma cells. Taken together, these data suggest that
      RKIP suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in choriocarcinoma cells through
      inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, implying that RKIP may serve as a
      potential molecular target for the treatment of human choriocarcinoma. 

PMID- 26885194
TI  - Eupatilin protects against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated inflammation
      inhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells.
AB  - Inflammatory responses in the blood vessel play a pivotal role in the
      pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Eupatilin, a flavone derived from Artemisia
      princepsPampanini, has various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant,
      anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory capacities. However, there has been no research
      examining the function of eupatilin on vascular inflammation. Therefore, the aim
      of this study was to investigate the effects of eupatilin on tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF)-alpha-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
      activation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our findings showed that
      eupatilin reduced U937 cells adhesion to TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVECs and
      attenuated TNF-alpha-induced the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1
      (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in HUVECs, as well as the
      production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover,
      eupatilininhibits TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of NF-kB p65 and MAPKs in
      HUVECs. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that eupatilin
      inhibited inflammatory reaction through suppressing the ROS/MAPK-NF-KB pathway in
      HUVECs. Thus, eupatilin is proposed as an effective new anti-inflammatory agent
      to suppress vascular inflammation, and further prevent atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26885195
TI  - Clinicopathological significance of NGX6 expression in breast cancer and its
      relationship to angiogenesis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to explore clinicopathological significance of
      Nasopharyngeal carcinoma-associated gene 6 (NGX6) expression in breast cancer and
      its relationship to angiogenesis. METHODS: Clinicopathological feature of 168
      patients with breast cancer were analyzed. NGX6 expression and microvessel
      density (MVD) in tumor tissue were measured using immunohistochemistry methods.
      The association of NGX6 expression with MVD and clinicopathological features was
      assessed. RESULTS: Among 168 cases of breast cancer, NGX6 positive expression
      were found in 92 (54.8%) cases and NGX6 negative expression were found in 76
      (45.2%) cases. Incidence rate of large size tumor, high tumor node metastasis
      (TNM) stage and lymph node metastasis in NGX6 negative expression group were
      higher than NGX6 positive expression group in breast cancer (P=0.003, 0.007, and
      0.003, respectively). MVD in NGX6 negative expression group is 22.5+/-4.8, MVD in
      NGX6 positive expression group is 15.2+/-4.2. MVD in the NGX6 negative expression
      group was significantly higher than the NGX6 positive expression group (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: The expression of NGX6 was closely associated with tumor size, TNM
      stage, lymph node metastasis and MVD. NGX6 is involved in metastasis and
      angiogenesis activity of breast cancer. The study may provide a theoretical basis
      for anti-angiogenic therapy of breast cancer.

PMID- 26885196
TI  - Cytoplasmic EpCAM over-expression is associated with favorable clinical outcomes
      in pancreatic cancer patients with Hepatitis B virus negative infection.
AB  - The identification of reliable prognostic markers that distinguish patients'
      status and predict therapeutic response can improve the clinical outcomes of
      pancreatic cancer patients. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is
      known to be highly expressed in cancers and serves as a prognosis factor.
      Generally, membranous EpCAM expression in cancer cells and its clinical
      significance are evaluated. However, there is also an evidence of cytoplasmic
      EpCAM distribution in cancer cells. Hence, we investigated which kind of the
      immunostaining pattern in pancreatic cancer patients was, and whether membranous
      or cytoplasmic immunostaining had clinical significance. We determined the
      cytoplasmic or membranous EpCAM expression by a well-established
      immunohistochemical staining protocol in 157 pairs of carcinoma and paired
      adjacent non-tumor pancreatic tissue samples using the EpCAM-specific antibody.
      Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between tumoral EpCAM expression of
      resected specimens and patient's overall survival as well as other biological
      variables like clinical prognosis by Kaplan-Meier method and chi(2) test. We
      found that pancreatic cancer patients had expressed higher level of cytoplasmic
      EpCAM but lower level of membranous EpCAM, and their expressions were
      significantly correlated. Cytoplasmic EpCAM acted as a favorable prognosis factor
      on survival time in patients with HBV negative infection. Pancreatic cancer
      patients with cytoplasmic EpCAM over-expression and negative Hepatitis B virus
      infection might benefit further from post-surgery chemotherapy. These data
      suggested a potential role of cytoplasmic EpCAM in predicting patient's prognosis
      and determining therapeutic strategy. 

PMID- 26885197
TI  - Erythromycin enhances the anti-inflammatory activity of budesonide in COPD rat
      model.
AB  - Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely applied to treat patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But the effect of GCs was not ideal. This
      study was to observe whether erythromycin could enhance the anti-inflammatory
      activity of budesonide in COPD model rats and to explore the mechanism involved.
      In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: healthy
      control group (H group), COPD model group (C group), erythromycin group (E
      group), budesonide group (B group) and erythromycin + budesonide group (E+B
      group). The rats in groups of C, E, B and E+B were developed into COPD models.
      Different groups were given different drug interventions. The levels of 8-iso
      PGF2alpha, IL-8, and TNF-alpha in BALF and serum were measured with ELISA. The
      protein expression levels of HDAC2, PI3K, and p-AKT in lung tissue were measured
      with Western-blot and immunohistochemistry. The levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha, IL-8,
      and TNF-alpha in BALF and serum were lower in E+B group than those in B group and
      C group (all P<0.001).The protein expression level of HDAC2 was higher and PI3K
      and p-AKT were lower in E+B group than those in B group and C group (all
      P<0.001). Moreover, the expression levels of HDAC2 were negatively correlated
      with the levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha, IL-8 and TNF-alpha both in serum and BALF and
      the expression levels of PI3K and p-AKT among the five groups, with all P<0.001.
      We conclude that erythromycin can enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of
      budesonide in COPD model rats, possibly through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway
      and enhancing the activity of HDAC2. 

PMID- 26885198
TI  - Evaluation of miR-29c, miR-124, miR-135a and miR-148a in predicting lymph node
      metastasis and tumor stage of gastric cancer.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA that have diverse functions in
      different biological process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      predictive ability of miR-29c, miR-124, miR-135a and miR-148a for lymph node
      metastasis (LNM) and tumor stage in gastric cancer. The expression of these
      miRNAs was detected and quantitated in gastric cancer tissues and in adjacent
      normal tissues from 60 patients by quantitative real-time reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction. CT imaging and clinicopathologic characteristics of
      these patients were performed. The result of this study was that these miRNAs
      were down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues; The low expression of miR-124 and
      miR-135a in LNM group and tumor III-IV stages (P < 0.01) presented the potential
      correlation with LNM and tumor stage; The two miRNAs were highly correlated with
      r = 0.730. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that miR-124
      had better predictive ability to identify LNM and tumor stage. It could
      discriminate non-LNM from LNM with 80.0% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity and
      discriminate tumor Iota-II stages from tumor III-IV stages with 71.9% sensitivity
      and 75.0% specificity at the best cut-off value of 0.0125. Compared with CT
      imaging, miR-124 had similar specificity (0.800 versus 0.900, P = 0.508) but
      higher sensitivity (0.800 versus 0.500, P = 0.022) for lymph node assessment;
      Combined of miR-124 and CT imaging, The sensitivity and specificity of assessing
      LNM were raised to 83.3% and 90.0% respectively. Taken together, miR-124 may be a
      predictor for LNM and tumor stage in gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26885199
TI  - Comparison of pullout strength of the thoracic pedicle screw between
      intrapedicular and extrapedicular technique: a meta-analysis and literature
      review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intrapedicular fixation in thoracic spine is often limited, because
      of high risk of complication, especially in scoliosis patients. Extrapedicular
      screws fixation techniques provide an alternate solution for extremely small or
      abnormal thoracic pedicles deformity. However, the pullout resistance of
      extrapedicular screws has not been clearly defined. The aim of our study was to
      systematically review the existing evidence regarding the pullout resistance of
      thoracic extrapedicular screws compared with intrapedicular screws. METHODS: A
      systematic search of all studies published through Nov 2014 was performed using
      Medline, EMBASE, OVID and other databases. All studies that compared the pullout
      resistance of thoracic extrapedicular screws with intrapedicular screws were
      selected. The data from the included studies were extracted and analyzed
      regarding pullout resistance force. Forest plots were constructed to summarize
      the data and compare the biomechanical stability achieved. RESULTS: Five studies
      were included, with a total of 27 cadaveric specimens and 313 screws. The
      vertebral levels of the cadavers potted were T1-T8, T2-T12, T7-T9, T6-T11 and T4
      T12 respectively. Overall, the results demonstrated that there was no significant
      difference in ultimate pullout strength between intrapedicular screws and
      extrapedicular screws (95% CI=-63.73 to 27.74; P=0.44); extrapedicular screws
      significantly increased the length of placements by a mean of 6.24 mm (95%
      CI=5.38 to 7.10; P<0.001); while the stiffness in intrapedicular screws was
      significantly stronger by a mean of 45.82 N/mm compared with extrapedicular
      screws (95% CI=-70.09 to -21.56; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analysis of the
      existing literature showed that thoracic extrapedicular screws provided
      comparable but slightly lower pullout strength compared with intrapedicular
      screws, extrapedicular screws placement is much safer than intrapedicular screws.
      So thoracic extrapedicular screws offer a good alternative when it is hard to
      insert by intrapedicular approach, especially in scoliosis patients with severe
      vertebral deformities.

PMID- 26885200
TI  - The BRAF V600E mutation predicts poor survival outcome in patients with papillary
      thyroid carcinoma: a meta analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There have been contradictory data on whether or not BRAF V600E
      mutation should be regard as a poor prognosis predictor of papillary thyroid
      carcinoma (PTC). To settle down the conflict, this metaanalysis is prepared to
      clarify the present prognostic role of BRAF V600E mutation in patients with PTC.
      METHODS AND MATERIALS: The relevant published researches were incorporated
      according to the defined inclusion/exclusion criteria from PubMed. The effect
      sizes of outcome parameters were estimated by hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: The
      current meta-analysis included 19 researches with a total of 6087 patients. We
      have found that patients with BRAF V600E mutation have a poor overall survival
      (the pooled HR=2.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-6.29). Furthermore,
      subgroup analysis of the recurrence-free survival (RFS) of PTC patients by races
      indicated that BRAF V600E mutation predicts poor RFS of patients (the pooled
      HR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.37-1.93), both Caucasian (the pooled HR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.30
      1.90) and Asian (the pooled HR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.28-2.87). CONCLUSIONS: The poor
      prognosis predicted role of BRAF V600E mutation in PTC was certified from the
      current meta-analysis. The BRAF V600E mutation may be used as a prognostic
      predictor of patients with PTC.

PMID- 26885201
TI  - Application of carbon nanoparticles for parathyroid protection in reoperation of
      thyroid diseases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore a new identification and protection method of the
      parathyroid gland in reoperation for thyroid diseases. METHOD: 54 patients
      receiving reoperation for thyroid diseases were selected. The experiment group
      intraoperatively adopted carbon nanoparticles suspension for negative development
      of the parathyroid gland, whereas the control group did not use carbon
      nanoparticles suspension. RESULTS: At 48 h after surgery, the parathyroid hormone
      level was lower than the normal state in 9 patients (33.30%) of the control group
      and 1 patient (3.70%) of the experiment group; meanwhile, 6 months after surgery,
      8 patients of the control group (29.63%) and 1 patient of the experiment group
      (3.70%) showed a lower level than the normal state with statistical differences.
      The serum calcium level in 10 patients of the control group (37.04%) and 2
      patients of the experiment group (7.41%) was lower than the normal state at 48 h
      after surgery, while a lower level than the normal state was also shown in 8
      patients of the control group (29.63%) and 1 patient of the experiment group
      (3.70%) 6 months after surgery with statistically significant between the two
      groups. A total of 10 (37.04%) and 1 parathyroid gland (3.70%) were detected with
      a statistical difference in both groups. CONCLUSION: By adopting carbon
      nanoparticles in reoperation for the thyroid diseases and negative development of
      the parathyroid gland for identification and protection of the parathyroid gland,
      the incidence of hypoparathyroidism is reduced effectively, thus improving the
      postoperative quality of life of the patients.

PMID- 26885202
TI  - The development and application of electronic information system for safety
      administration of newborns in the rooming-in care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To independently research and develop an electronic information system
      for safety administration of newborns in the rooming-in care, and to investigate
      the effects of its clinical application. METHODS: By VS 2010 SQL SERVER 2005
      database and adopting Microsoft visual programming tool, an interactive mobile
      information system was established, with integrating data, information and
      knowledge with using information structures, information processes and
      information technology. From July 2011 to July 2012, totally 210 newborns from
      the rooming-in care of the Obstetrics Department of the Second Affiliated
      Hospital of Nantong University were chosen and randomly divided into two groups:
      the information system monitoring group (110 cases) and the regular monitoring
      group (100 cases). Incidence of abnormal events and degree of satisfaction were
      recorded and calculated. RESULTS: 1 The wireless electronic information system
      has four main functions including risk scaling display, identity recognition
      display, nursing round notes board and health education board; 2 statistically
      significant differences were found between the two groups both on the active or
      passive discovery rate of abnormal events occurred in the newborns (P<0.05) and
      the satisfaction degree of the mothers and their families (P<0.05); 3 the system
      was sensitive and reliable, and the wireless transmission of information was
      correct and safety. CONCLUSIONS: The system is with high practicability in the
      clinic and can ensure the safety for the newborns with improved satisfactions.

PMID- 26885203
TI  - Interleukin-17F 7488T/C polymorphism is associated with protection against
      asthma: a meta-analysis.
AB  - The association between interleukin-17F (IL-17F) 7488T/C polymorphism and asthma
      risk is conflicting. This study conducted a meta-analysis by pooling all
      available data to make a more precise estimation of the association. Electronic
      databases PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were
      searched to identify all eligible studies assessing the association between IL
      17F 7488T/C polymorphism and asthma risk. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with
      corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. A total of five
      case-control studies with 1445 cases and 1608 controls were included. Overall,
      the pooled ORs showed that the IL-17F 7488T/C polymorphism was inversely
      associated with risk of asthma (OR=0.29, 95% CI=[0.12, 0.70]) using recessive
      genetic model. Furthermore, this association was found to be exclusive to Asians
      (OR=0.31, 95% CI= [0.12, 0.84]). Sensitivity analysis by omission of single study
      in turn showed similar results. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis
      suggested that homozygote of IL-17F 7488T/C variant could protect against asthma
      in Asians. However, more studies conducted in different ethnic groups with large
      sample size are warranted to validate the precise association. 

PMID- 26885204
TI  - Programmed death-1 (PD-1) rs2227981 C > T polymorphism is associated with cancer
      susceptibility: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Several studies have focused on the correlation between the programmed death-1
      (PD-1) rs2227981 C > T polymorphism and the risk of cancer; however, the results
      of such studies remain conflicting. To address this gap, we performed this meta
      analysis to identify the potential association. Search strategies were performed
      in PubMed and EMBASE using appropriate terms. In total, 2,977 cancer cases and
      2,642 controls from seven publications were recruited in our study. According to
      the seven eligible publications, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) on the risk of cancer for the TT vs. CC and TT vs. CT+CC
      genotypes were 0.67 and 0.50-0.91 and 0.65 and 0.47-0.90, respectively. In a
      subgroup analysis by cancer type, PD-1 rs2227981 C > T polymorphism was
      associated with a significantly decreased risk of breast cancer (OR, 0.82; 95%
      CI, 0.71-0.95; P = 0.009 for T vs. C and OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.92; P = 0.005
      for TT+CT vs. CC) and of other cancer (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.92; P = 0.004 for
      TT vs. CT+CC). In a subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a significant decreased
      cancer risk was identified among Asians (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86; P < 0.001
      for T vs. C and OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.87; P = 0.001 for TT+CT vs. CC) and
      among Caucasians (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-0.99; P = 0.047 for TT vs. CT+CC). These
      findings highlight the fact that the T allele of PD-1 rs2227981 C > T
      polymorphism modestly decreases the susceptibility of cancer. Nevertheless,
      further large and well-designed studies are needed to enrich the evidence of this
      association. 

PMID- 26885206
TI  - The association between serum ferritin with colorectal cancer.
AB  - There are conflicting reports on the correlation between serum levels of ferritin
      with colorectal cancer. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the
      association between serum ferritin with colorectal cancer using a meta-analysis
      approach. We searched articles indexed in Pubmed published as of July 2015 that
      met our predefined criteria. Six eligible articles involving 927 subjects were
      identified. Overall, pooled analysis indicated that subjects with colorectal
      cancer had lower serum level of ferritin than the healthy controls (SMD=-1.569,
      95% CI=[-2.718, -0.420], P= 0.007). Further subgroup analysis found lower serum
      level of ferritin among patients with colorectal cancer in eastern country (SMD=
      1.956, 95% CI=[-3.750, -0.162], P=0.033), but not in western country (SMD=-1.285,
      95% CI=[-2.778, 0.207], P=0.091). In conclusion, this meta-analysis supports a
      significant association between serum ferritin with colorectal cancer. However,
      the subgroup analysis found that there was significant effect modification of
      ferritin level by ethnic. Thus this finding needs further confirmation by trans
      regional multicenter, long-term observation in a cohort design to obtain better
      understanding of causal relationships between serum ferrintin levels and
      colorectal cancer, through measuring ferritin at baseline to investigate whether
      the highest ferritin category versus lowest is associated with colorectal cancer
      risk. 

PMID- 26885205
TI  - Clinical anatomy and mechanical tensile properties of the rectus femoris tendon.
AB  - PURPOSE: We aimed to provide anatomical data and mechanical tensile properties
      for the rectus femoris tendon to determine if it is a feasible substitute for the
      anterior cruciate ligament during knee joint reconstruction. METHODS: The length
      and width of the quadriceps femoris tendon were measured from ten adult cadavers
      (20 knees; age =48+/-2 years). The anatomic features of the patellar insertion on
      the quadriceps femoris tendon were also documented. The rectus femoris tendon and
      anterior cruciate ligament were harvested from an additional five fresh specimens
      (10 knees; age =41+/-3 years). To minimize dehydration, each specimen was wrapped
      in saline-moistened paper towels and stored at -10 degrees C. We imposed tensile
      stresses on a total of twenty samples in a sample-driven machine at 10 mm/min
      until the specimens failed. RESULTS: The inserted and discrete widths of the
      rectus femoris tendon were 3.20+/-0.33 and 1.28+/-0.25 cm, respectively. The
      length of the tendon tissue was 6.96+/-0.80 cm and the length of mixing zone was
      3.81+/-0.53 cm. The average thickness of the upper pole of the patella was 2.22+/
      0.14 cm. In mechanical tensile properties, the unit modulus and unit maximum load
      of the rectus femoris tendon were both 63% of the anterior cruciate ligament.
      CONCLUSIONS: Based on its anatomical and mechanical tensile properties, the
      rectus femoris tendon is a feasible donor site to reconstitute the anterior
      cruciate ligament.

PMID- 26885207
TI  - Assessment and prognostic analysis of EGFR mutations or/and HER2 overexpression
      in Uygur's Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - AIM: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and human epidermal
      growth factor receptor HER-2/neu (HER2) have been established roles in the signal
      transduction pathways leading to cell growth and differentiation. The present
      study focus on the significance of EGFR mutations combined with HER2
      overexpression on survival outcomes in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer patients in
      Uygur population. METHODS: A total of 111 consecutive Uygurods: A total of 111
      consecutive Cell Lung Cancer under went lung Cell Lung biopsy or surgery at the
      Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xin Jiang Medical University between March 2009 and
      January 2013 were included in this retrospective study. All the patients included
      had received gefitinib 250 mg once daily. The HER2 expression were evaluated by
      immunohistochemical staining with score of membranous staining being 0 = none, 1
      = weak, 2 = 10-30% cells, 3>=30% cells stained, and Real-time PCR techniques were
      conducted to detect mutations of EGFR through 21 kinds of human EGFR gene
      mutation detection kits. A retrospective review of the medical records was
      analyzed to determine the correlation between the presence of EGFR mutations
      combined with HER2 overexpression and clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: The
      overall rate of EGFR mutation was 10.81% (n = 12), which mainly involved exons 19
      (83.33%, n = 10), 21 (16.67%, n = 2). The overall rate of HER2 overexpression was
      21.62% (n = 24). EGFR mutation combined with HER2 overexpression analysis was
      performed in 111 patients, with an overall rate of 5.41% (n = 6). Median
      progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly longer in the
      EGFR mutations group than in the wild type group (PFS: 10.0+/-1.5 versus 3.8+/
      1.4 months, P = 0.000; OS: 27.3+/-2.9 versus 19.1+/-4.7 months, P = 0.000). The
      ORR in patients with HER2 overexpression was 29.17%, and 13.80% in those patients
      with HER2 negative, but no significant difference (P = 0.121). The median PFS and
      OS in HER2 positive group showed no significant difference compared with HER2
      negative group (PFS: 4.7+/-1.2 months versus 3.9+/-1.6 months, P = 0.085; OS:
      20.5+/-2.4 versus 19.2+/-2.6 months, P = 0.094). As regarding to ORR, PFS and OS,
      EGFR mutations combined with HER2 overexpression patients showed no superior
      efficacy to gefitinib treatment compared with EGFR mutations combined with HER2
      negative. CONCLUSION: In Uygur population, progression-free survivals were
      improved in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR mutations. HER2 overexpression
      provided a poor prognostic factor in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

PMID- 26885208
TI  - Evaluation of the impact of Flos Daturae on rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes
      by cocktail probe drugs.
AB  - Flos Daturae, known as "baimantuoluo" or "yangjinhua" in China, has been used for
      centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of asthma,
      convulsions, pain, and rheumatism. To investigate the influences of Flos Daturae
      on the activities of rat CYP450 enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2B6, CYP2D6
      and CYP3A4) using cocktail probe drugs in vivo. A cocktail solution at a dose of
      5 mL/kg, which contained phenacetin (10 mg/kg), tolbutamide (1 mg/kg), omeprazole
      (10 mg/kg), bupropion (10 mg/kg), metoprolol (10 mg/kg) and testosterone (10
      mg/kg), was intragastric administered to rats treated with a single low or high
      dose of Flos Daturae decotion for 7days. Blood samples collected at a series of
      time-points in plasma were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The corresponding
      pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the software of DAS 3.0. The
      results from the present in vivo study showed that Flos Daturae induce the
      activity of CYP2D6 enzyme with the decreased Cmax, AUC(0-infinity) (P < 0.05) and
      the increased CL (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences of
      other probe drugs in plasma concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters. There
      were no significant effects on rat CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 by
      Flos Daturae. Therefore, the resulting data suggested that caution was needed
      when Flos Daturae was co-administered with CYP2D6 substrates, which may result in
      treatment failure and herb-drug interactions. 

PMID- 26885210
TI  - Extraction and antioxidant activity of flavonoids of Morus nigra.
AB  - Morus nigra has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine, but the
      study on it is limited, the flavonoids are one of the main biological active
      substances. In this study, the Morus nigra flavonoids were extracted by
      ultrasonic and antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo were measured.
      The results showed that hydroxyl radicals clearance rate and superoxide radical
      anion clearance rate in vitro increased with the concentration of the total
      flavonoids in the range of 0-1.05 mg/mL and the maximum clearance rate was 80.33%
      and 87.69%, respectively. After mice were treated with flavonoids, the content of
      malonaldehyde (MDA) in serum and liver decreased; the activities of superoxide
      dismutase (SOD) in serum and liver, catalase (CAT) in liver and glutathione
      peroxidase (GSH-PX) in blood and liver increased; Langhans cells increased in
      spleen. These results revealed that the Morus nigra flavonoids possessed strong
      antioxidant activity. 

PMID- 26885209
TI  - Do tumor volume, percent tumor volume predict biochemical recurrence after
      radical prostatectomy? A meta-analysis.
AB  - The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the effects of tumor volume (TV) and
      percent tumor volume (PTV) on biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical
      prostatectomy (RP). An electronic search of Medline, Embase and CENTRAL was
      performed for relevant studies. Studies evaluated the effects of TV and/or PTV on
      BCR after RP and provided detailed results of multivariate analyses were
      included. Combined hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects models. A
      total of 15 studies with 16 datasets were included in the meta-analysis. Our
      study showed that both TV (HR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.07; P=0.03) and PTV (HR 1.01,
      95% CI: 1.00-1.02; P=0.02) were predictors of BCR after RP. The subgroup analyses
      revealed that TV predicted BCR in studies from Asia, PTV was significantly
      correlative with BCR in studies in which PTV was measured by computer planimetry,
      and both TV and PTV predicted BCR in studies with small sample sizes (<1000). In
      conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrated that both TV and PTV were
      significantly associated with BCR after RP. Therefore, TV and PTV should be
      considered when assessing the risk of BCR in RP specimens. 

PMID- 26885211
TI  - CRMPs colocalize and interact with cytoskeleton in hippocampal neurons.
AB  - CRMP family proteins (CRMPs) are widely expressed in the developing neurons,
      mediating a variety of fundamental functions such as growth cone guidance,
      neuronal polarity and axon elongation. However, whether all the CRMP proteins
      interact with cytoskeleton remains unknown. In this study, we found that in
      cultured hippocampal neurons, CRMPs mainly colocalized with tubulin and actin
      network in neurites. In growth cones, CRMPs colocalized with tubulinmainly in the
      central (C-) domain and transition zone (T-zone), less in the peripheral (P-)
      domain and colocalized with actin in all the C-domain, T-zone and P-domain. The
      correlation efficiency of CRMPs between actin was significantly higher than that
      between tubulin, especially in growth cones. We successfully constructed GST
      CRMPs plasmids, expressed and purified the GST-CRMP proteins. By GST-pulldown
      assay, all the CRMP family proteins were found to beinteracted with cytoskeleton
      proteins. Taken together, we revealed that CRMPs were colocalized with
      cytoskeleton in hippocampal neurons, especially in growth cones. CRMPs can
      interact with both tubulin and actin, thus mediating neuronal development. 

PMID- 26885212
TI  - Radiological analysis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis in relation to pelvic
      incidence.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of pelvic
      incidence (PI) on spinopelvic parameters in patients with degenerative lumbar
      scoliosis (DLS) and compare them with those of a normal population. METHODS:
      There were two groups in this study. One group was composed by 136 patients with
      DLS and another was composed by 120 participants free of spinal disease. In each
      group there were three subgroups according to PI, which were low (PI less than 45
      degrees ), middle (PI between 45 degrees  and 60 degrees ) and high PI group (PI
      more than 60 degrees ). Sagittal spinopelvic parameters were compared between the
      DLS patients and asymptomatic participants in each PI group. RESULTS: The number
      of DLS patients with low, middle, and high PI were 38 (27.9%), 50 (36.8%), and 48
      (35.3%), respectively. In the control group, the number of low, middle, and high
      PI participants were 52 (43.3%), 41 (34.2%), and 27 (22.5%), respectively. There
      were significant difference in PT, SS, LL, SVA and TLJ between the three
      subgroups in the DLS patients. Patients with high PI showed large TLJ, LL, PT, SS
      and small SVA. In the Control group and DLS group, PI determined pelvic
      orientation (PT, SS) and sagittal spinal parameters (LL, TLJ). In terms of
      correlation between SS and LL, between SS and TLJ, both DLS and Control groups
      showed significant correlations. In terms of correlation between PT and SVA,
      between PT and TLJ, only the DLS group showed a significant correlation. Compared
      with the asymptomatic participants, DLS patients showed a high PT and low SS as
      well as kyphotic TLJ, lumbar hypolordosis and thoracic hypokyphosis in all PI
      groups. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in spinopelvic parameters and pelvic
      compensatory mechanisms differ according to PI in patients with DLS, restoration
      of LL based on individual PI could help in accomplishing a balanced spinopelvic
      alignment.

PMID- 26885213
TI  - Application of back-propagation artificial neural network and curve estimation in
      pharmacokinetics of losartan in rabbit.
AB  - In order to develop pharmacokinetic model, a well-known multilayer feed-forward
      algorithm back-propagation artificial neural networks (BP-ANN) was applied to the
      pharmacokinetics of losartan in rabbit. The plasma concentrations of losartan in
      twelve rabbits, which were divided into two groups and given losartan 2 mg/kg by
      intravenous (Iv) and intragastrical (Ig) administration, were determined by LC
      MS. The BP-ANN model included one input layer, hidden layers, and one output
      layer was constructed and compared with curve estimation based on the time
      concentration data of losartan. The results showed the BP-ANN model had high
      goodness of fit index and good coherence (R > 0.99) between forecasted
      concentration and measured concentration both in Iv and Ig administration. The
      residuals of each concentrations generated by BP-ANN model were all smaller than
      Curve estimation. The pharmacokinetic result showed there was no significant
      difference between measured and simulated pharmacokinetic parameters including
      AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), MRT(0-t), MRT(0-infinity), T1/2 V and Cmax (P > 0.05).
      In conclusion, the BP-ANN model has remarkably accurate predictions ability,
      which better than Curve estimation, and can be used as a utility tool in
      pharmacokinetic experiment. 

PMID- 26885214
TI  - Application experience of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroidectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to summarize the experience of intraoperative
      neuromonitoring system for monitoring and protection of recurrent laryngeal nerve
      during thyroid surgery. METHODS: There were 220 cases in this study, male 53,
      female 167, mean age 38.2 years old. 85 cases in the study had thyroid cancer, 19
      cases had thyroid benign tumor, 90 cases had thyroid goiter, 3 cases had
      Hashimoto's diseases, and 23 cases had hyperthyroidism. The tumor diameters were
      over than 5 cm in 113 cases. In the procedure, two recording needle electrodes
      were put into cricothyroid muscle; one stimulator electrodes was explored in
      tracheo-asophageal groove, if recurrent laryngeal nerves were right there or
      near, doctors could see the electromyogram and hear the toot honk. With careful
      dissection, recurrent laryngeal nerve could be found out till explored into the
      larynx site. RESULTS: 207 cases (278 sizes) of 220 were finished, electromyogram
      was not drawn out in 13 cases; 9 cases were false-negative because of system and
      anesthesia questions; needle electrodes cannot be put in properly in 4 cases
      because of cricothyroid muscle cancer invasion. No permanent recurrent laryngeal
      nerve paralysis occurred, 2 cases with transient nerve paralysis recovered in one
      month. CONCLUSION: The intraoperative neuromonitoring system can avoid damage of
      the recurrent laryngeal nerves when exposing the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the
      whole operation, therefore, with less medical complications.

PMID- 26885215
TI  - RAD51 Gene 135G/C polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Previous studies suggest that the RAD51 gene 135G/C polymorphism could be
      potentially associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. However, results from
      observational studies are conflicting rather than conclusive. We performed a meta
      analysis of the literature aiming to clarify the relationship between the
      polymorphism of RAD51 gene 135G/C polymorphism and the risk of ovarian cancer.
      Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.
      We identified five eligible articles, 2336 ovarian cancer cases and 3548
      controls. Meta-analysis results showed no significant association between 135G/C
      polymorphism in the RAD51 gene and ovarian cancer risk (GG vs CC: OR=0.42, 95% CI
      0.16-1.06; GC vs CC: OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.12-1.16; Dominant model: OR=0.38, 95% CI
      0.13-1.06; Recessive model: OR=1.20, 95% CI 0.91-1.58). No publication bias was
      found in the present study. This meta-analysis suggests that the RAD51 gene
      135G/C polymorphism was not associated with risk of ovarian cancer. Further large
      and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion. 

PMID- 26885216
TI  - Comparison between myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus damage caused
      angiogenesis or energy metabolism.
AB  - This study aims to compare and analyze lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinic
      dehydrogenase (SDH) and differences in capillary density level in the model of
      myocardial damage which caused by rats diabetes. The Wistar rats were divided
      into 4 groups, including control, diabetic, myocardial infarction and two
      diseases combined group. Ligate descending branch of left coronary artery on 1/3
      position or inject streptozotocin into abdominal cavity to establish two kinds of
      disease models. After 6 w, obtain the myocardial tissues to do the vascular
      density analysis of tissue sections which are stained and cell tissue enzyme.
      Explore change of relevant index and differences among groups. Results indicated
      that degree of LDH and SDH decrease in two kinds of disease model. Compared with
      control group, level of myocardial vascular of myocardial injury group is higher,
      and diabetic group is higher than non diabetic group. Quantitative result of FFA
      in mitochondrial suspension of single disease group is higher than that of
      control group and two diseases combined group. Level of FFA and LDH of two
      diseases combined group is consistent with control group. In conclusion, after
      myocardial damage, which is caused by diabetes mellitus or myocardial infarction,
      degree of local vascularization increases, diabetes mellitus is more obvious.
      After myocardial damage, process of myocardial mitochondrial glycolysis and
      oxidative phosphorylation has some obstacles. But these two kinds of diseases all
      have cardiac muscle cell which can keep generated procedure of aerobic and
      anaerobic energy to instead the normal function of cardiac muscle. 

PMID- 26885217
TI  - Remove orthopedic fracture implant with minimal invasive surgery is good for the
      patient's early rehabilitation.
AB  - To explore the fact that minimal invasive osteosynthesis surgery could promote
      patient rehabilitate quickly. Patients needed to remove fracture fixation plates
      and screws in clavicle/femur/tibia and fibular bones were totally divided into
      two groups (conventional surgery group and minimal invasive surgery group). The
      operation time, intra-operative blood loose, post-operation 48 hours analgesic
      need, VAS score of 24-hours and 72-hours post-operation, post operation incision
      healing conditions, incision infection, patients' satisfaction about incision
      scar, and resting days were measured. Patients in the minimal invasive surgery
      group were satisfied with their scar condition than the conventional surgery
      group. There were no much difference between conventional surgery group and
      minimal invasive surgery group in operation time (46.3+/-10.2 minutes Vs 48.0+/
      11.8 minutes) (P>0.05) and the blood lose in these two groups were 4 ml Vs 47.4+/
      20.1 ml (P>0.05), respectively. There were no screws broken in both groups and
      all the implants were removed out successfully. Remove four limb fracture
      fixation implant with minimal invasive surgery is good for patients' early
      rehabilitation. 

PMID- 26885218
TI  - Clinicopathological significance of Sox2 expression in patients with breast
      cancer: a meta-analysis.
AB  - Sex-determining region Y-box protein 2 (Sox2), an embryonic transcription factor
      located at chromosome 3q26.33, has been frequently demonstrated to be an
      important prognostic marker for various tumors, including breast cancer. However,
      its clinicopathological role in breast cancer has not been fully elucidated. To
      derive a more precise evaluation, we here performed a meta-analysis focusing on
      the association between Sox2 expression and various clinicopathological
      characteristics of breast cancer. Relevant publications were identified and
      retrieved using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese
      National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical databases. Ten studies
      with a total of 1713 patients with breast cancer were included in our meta
      analysis. Reported odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence
      intervals (95% CI) were pooled to assess the strengths of the analyzed
      associations. Our results revealed significant positive associations between Sox2
      expression and increased tumor size (pooled OR=2.61, 95% CI=1.91-3.58),
      histological grade (pooled OR=2.28, 95% CI=1.72-3.03), lymph node metastasis
      (pooled OR=4.17, 95% CI=1.20-14.45), and the highly aggressive triple-negative
      phenotype (pooled OR=2.64, 95% CI=1.11-6.29). However, no associations were
      observed for TNM stage and estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human
      epidermal growth factor receptor 2 statuses. Overall, the results of this meta
      analysis indicate that Sox2 may be considered as a prognostic marker for breast
      cancer. More well-designed studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to
      clarify the prognostic significance of Sox2 in breast cancer. 

PMID- 26885219
TI  - Association between Interleukin-8-251A/T polymorphism and gastric cancer
      susceptibility: a meta-analysis based on 5286 cases and 8000 controls.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Published data on the association between Interleukin-8-251A/T
      polymorphism and gastric cancer (GC) risk are inconclusive. Thus, we conducted a
      meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between cyclin D1 G870A polymorphism
      and GC risk. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science and the Cochrane
      Library up to July 12, 2015 for relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of associations.
      RESULTS: Twenty-six studies published from 2004 to 2015, with a total of 5286
      cases and 8000 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results
      showed that there was significant association between Interleukin-8-251A/T
      polymorphism and GC risk in any genetic model. In the subgroup analysis by
      ethnicity, the effects remained in Asians. However, no genetic models reached
      statistical association in Europeans. The subgroup analysis stratified by Source
      of controls showed an increased breast cancer risk in hospital-based (HB) studies
      in any genetic model except recessive model. However, there was no association in
      any genetic model in population based (PB) studies. When stratifying by
      Genotyping method, we found statistical association in Non-RFLP (restriction
      fragment length polymorphism) in any genetic model except heterozygote
      comparison, the effect was remain in PCR-RFLP in dominant model and heterozygote
      comparison. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that Interleukin-8-251A/T
      polymorphism is a risk factor for susceptibility to GC in overall population,
      especially in Asians, in hospital populations and in Non-RFLP. While, there was
      no association in Europeans and in general population. Further large scale
      multicenter epidemiological studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

PMID- 26885220
TI  - Differences of prevalence of dyslipidemia and risk factors related to LDL-c in
      the patients with abnormal fasting glucose between Uygur and Han in Xinjiang.
AB  - AIMS: To evaluate the incidence of dyslipidemia among Uygur and Han patients with
      impaired fasting glucose (IFG). To investigate the influence factors on LDL-c in
      this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a total of 4709
      participants, consisting of Uygurs patients (n=2053) and Han patients (n=2656)
      from Xinjiang province, who were screened for diabetes mellitus. A stratified
      multistage sampling design was used to collect the participants. The influence
      factors on LDL-c were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among
      the IFG patients (n=1757), Uighur IFG group had a higher prevalence of
      dyslipidemia than that of Han IFG group, 99.8% vs. 63.7%, P<0.05. Similar trends
      were existed in the prevalence of hypercholesteremia, hypertriglyceridemia, high
      LDL-c and low HDL-c (all P<0.05). Among the Uighur groups, IFG group had higher
      dyslipidemia rate than that of euglycemia group (74%). However, there was no such
      difference in the Han groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that risk
      factors associated with LDL-c were age, total cholesterol and 2 h postprandial
      blood glucose for the Uighur IFG patients. However, gender and total cholesterol
      were risk factors for Han IFG patients. CONCLUSIONS: Uighur IFG patients had
      higher incidence of dyslipidemia than that of Han IFG patients. For Uyghur IFG
      patients, closing follow-up of total cholesterol and 2 h postprandial blood
      glucose were necessary. As to the Han IFG patients, we should pay more attention
      to male and total cholesterol in order to lower LDL-c levels. So, appropriately
      preventive and therapeutic measures should be chosen based on the characteristics
      of abnormal lipid profiles in different nationality.

PMID- 26885222
TI  - Value of high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound
      examination for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A total of 63 wrists from 45
      patients diagnosed with CTS were selected as the study group, and 43 asymptomatic
      wrists of 40 cases were included as the normal control group. Parameters such as
      the transverse diameter, vertical diameter, cross-sectional area (CSA), and
      flattening rate (FR) of the carpal tunnel radioulnar joint, postular bone, and
      median nerve in the hamate bone hook plane were measured, and the differences
      between the two groups were compared. The median nerve CSA in the postular bone
      plate was significantly greater in the study group than in the normal control
      group (0.17+/-0.05 vs. 0.09+/-0.02, P<0.01), and the FR at the hook of the hamate
      was significantly higher in the study group (3.52+/-0.86 vs. 3.21+/-0.26,
      P<0.01). Our results suggest that ultrasonography can effectively provide dynamic
      real-time images of the wrist in addition to being painless, non-invasive, and
      associated with relatively low costs. Based on our findings, we believe that
      ultrasonography is an effective examination method for CTS. When the threshold of
      the median nerve CSA in the postular bone plate was set as 10 mm(2), the
      diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 86%, respectively. Therefore,
      the median nerve CSA may represent a good clinical indicator of CTS. 

PMID- 26885221
TI  - Experimental and clinical analysis of a posterolateral lumbar appendicular bone
      graft fusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the animal experimental and clinical
      results of the bone graft fusion of a posterolateral lumbar appendicular bone.
      METHODS: 1. Sixty rabbits were randomly divided into experimental and control
      groups. Posterolateral lumbar bone graft with the appendicular bone and iliac
      bones, respectively, was then performed on these two groups. A lumbar spine X-ray
      was performed on the postoperative 4(th), 8(th) and 16(th) weeks, and the gray
      value changes of the bone graft fusion area were measured to calculate fusion
      rates. Histology analysis was also performed to observe and count osteoblasts. 2.
      The appendicular bones of 106 patients who suffered from lumbar disorders were
      cut during lumbar surgery, and a posterolateral lumbar bone graft was performed.
      The postoperative follow-up used the Steffee criteria to evaluate clinical
      efficacy and the White criteria to evaluate fusion conditions. RESULTS: No
      significant difference was observed in the relative gray values of X-ray bone
      density, bone graft fusion rates, and osteoblast counts in the bone graft regions
      between the two groups (P > 0.05). The follow-up duration of the 106 patients
      were 4-8 years (6.12 years), the clinical efficacy rate was 85.85%, and the
      fusion rate was 83.02%. CONCLUSIONS: The animal experimental and clinical results
      of posterolateral lumbar bone graft fusion with autologous iliac and appendicular
      bones were similar.

PMID- 26885223
TI  - Two different surgery approaches for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pedicle screw fixation
      for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture via Wiltse paraspinal approach. METHODS:
      From June 2009 to June 2012, we enrolled into our study 53 cases of thoracolumbar
      fractures (single segment compressive or burst fractures) without neurologic
      injury, among whom 28 were treated by mini-open operation via Wiltse approach
      (group A) and 25 by conventional posterior open surgery (group B). We recorded
      and compared the intraoperative and postoperative performance between the two
      groups. RESULTS: There was no serious complications occurring during our study,
      such as infection, blood vessel injury, spinal cord or nerve root injury. We did
      not find any statistically difference between the two groups in corrected rate of
      Cobb's angle or vertebral body height (P>0.05). However, the mini-open method had
      apparent advantages over the conventional open method in operative time,
      intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, and postoperative improvement
      on visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 3 days, 1 month, and 6 months after
      operation (P<0.05). After 9-24-month follow-up, the number of patients with low
      back pain in group A was less than that in group B. CONCLUSION: In the premise of
      strict controlling surgery indications, pedicle screw fixation via Wiltse
      paraspinal approach has the advantages of simple operation and less trauma in
      treatment of single-segment thoracolumbar fracture without neurologic injury.

PMID- 26885224
TI  - Extramedullary relapse in lumbar spine of patient with acute promyelocytic
      leukemia after remission for 16 years: a case report and literature review.
AB  - Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a common myeloid leukemia. At the newly
      diagnosed stage, it can be fatal because of the serious complication-disseminated
      intravascular coagulation. With the advent and early application of all-trans
      retinoic acid, most APL patients can achieve a long-term survival, and only a
      minority of patients will develop extramedullary relapse after remission. The
      most common site of extramedullary relapse is central nervous system, while other
      sites are relatively rare. Here, we report a particularly rare APL patient who
      experienced extramedullary relapse with lumbar spine as the isolated site after a
      rather long time of remission for 16 years. At the time of relapse, the main
      clinical manifestations of the patient are obvious low back pain, weakness in
      lower limbs and limitation of activity. After treatment of local radiotherapy
      combined with ATRA and arsenic trioxide, the patient achieved and maintained a
      second complete remission by now. 

PMID- 26885225
TI  - Human pituitary homeobox-3 gene in congenital cataract in a Chinese family.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Congenital cataract is the common cause of world blindness. It is
      generally inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and has various phenotypes.
      This study aimed to explore the gene responsible for autosomal recessive
      congenital cataract in a Chinese family, and to investigate the functional and
      cellular consequences of the mutation. METHODS: A four-generation Chinese family
      with autosomal recessive congenital cataract was included in the study. A genome
      wide scan and linkage analysis were performed in the chromosomal region of
      Pituitary homeobox 3 (PITX3) to identify the linked region of the genome. And
      sequence analysis of PITX3 gene was also investigated using BigDye Terminator mix
      3.0 and SeqScape Software 2.5. RESULTS: The genome wide scan and linkage analysis
      identified a disease-haplotype interva. The maximum logarithm of odds LOD score
      was (Zmax) 3.11 at marker D10S1693 (thetamax=0.00), flanked by D10S1680 and
      D10S467, which included the PITX3 gene. Sequencing revealed a splice site
      mutation, G->A, at D10S1680 and D10S467, which co-segregated with all the
      affected members of this family. CONCLUSIONS: The 543delG is a novel mutation in
      PITX3 causing an autosomal recessive congenital cataract.

PMID- 26885226
TI  - A pilot study of prognostic value of non-invasive cardiac parameters for major
      adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with
      percutaneous coronary intervention.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the combination of left ventricular
      ejection fraction (LVEF) and individual electrocardiographic parameters related
      to abnormal depolarization/repolarization or baroreceptor sensitivity that had
      the best predictive value for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients
      with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients with ACS who underwent coronary
      angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in this
      prospective study. Ventricular late potential (VLP), heart rate turbulence (HRT),
      heart rate variability (HRV), and T wave alternans (TWA) parameters were measured
      using 24 h Holter monitoring 2-4 weeks after onset of ACS. Initial and follow-up
      LVEF was measured by ultrasound. Patients were followed for at least 6 months to
      record the occurrence of MACE. Models using combinations of the individual
      independent prognostic factors found by multivariate analysis were then
      constructed to use for estimation of risk of MACE. In multivariate analysis, VLP
      measured as QRS duration, HRV measured as standard deviation of normal RR
      intervals, and followup LVEF, but none of the other parameters studied, were
      independent risk factors for MACE. Areas under ROC curve (AUCs) for combinations
      of 2 or all 3 factors ranged from 0.73 to 0.76. Combinations of any of the three
      independent risk factors for MACE in ACS patients with PCI improved prediction
      and, because these risk factors were obtained non-invasively, may have future
      clinical usefulness. 

PMID- 26885227
TI  - Influencing factors on use of standard precautions against occupational exposures
      to blood and body fluids among nurses in China.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate how specific factors, including knowledge, attitude, use of
      protective devices, safety climate, workload, and nurses' behaviors can influence
      standard precautions in China through structural equation modeling techniques.
      BACKGROUND: Although a number of empirical studies have been conducted, an
      investigation of how multiple variables influence behaviors of standard
      precautions among the nurses is still needed. METHODS: The study was conducted by
      selecting registered nurses from 25 public hospitals that operate approximately
      500 beds located in different areas of Guizhou Province in China. An anonymous,
      self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1000 nurses, and 964 (96.4%)
      completed questionnaires were returned. exploratory factor analysis was employed
      to examine associations of attitudes, protective devices, safety climate,
      workload, and nurses' behaviors with standard precautions. The identified factors
      were integrated in the proposed structural equation model. FINDINGS: Protective
      devices had a positive and major influence on nurses' use of standard
      precautions. Knowledge had a positive impact on the use of standard precautions
      through attitude mediation, and the safety climate had a positive impact on the
      use of standard precautions. In contrast, increasing workload had a negative
      effect on the use of standard precautions. The factors affecting the use of
      standard precautions among nurses in order of decreasing effect size were:
      protective devices, knowledge, attitude, safety climate, and workload.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study offer valuable information for healthcare management
      regarding the use of standard precautions to reduce occupational exposure among
      nurses.

PMID- 26885228
TI  - Combined usage with intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine reduces pain
      severity after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
AB  - Postoperative pain is the main obstacle for safely rapid recovery of patients
      undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). In this study, we systemically
      evaluated the analgesic efficacy of intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine
      injected at the end of the LC. A total of 160 patients, scheduled for elective
      LC, were allocated into four groups. Group Sham received intraperitoneal and
      incisional normal saline (NS). Group IC received incisional ropivacaine and
      intraperitoneal NS. Group IP received incisional NS and intraperitoneal
      ropivacaine. Group ICP received intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine. At
      the end of the surgery, ropivacaine was injected into the surgical bed through
      the right subcostal port and infiltrated at the four ports. Dynamic pain by a
      visual analogue scale (VAS) and cumulative morphine consumption at 2 h, 6 h, 24
      h, and 48 h postoperatively, as well as incidence of side-effects over 48 h after
      LC was recorded. Compared with those in group Sham, the time of post-anesthesia
      care unit (PACU) stay, dynamic VAS score (VAS-D) 2 h and 6 h postoperatively,
      cumulative morphine consumption 6 h and 24 h postoperatively, and incidence of
      nausea and vomiting 48 h after LC in group IC and ICP were less (P<0.05).
      Furthermore, intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine exerts more powerful
      analgesic effect than single usage with intraperitoneal or incisional ropivacaine
      (P<0.05). No patients exhibited signs of local anesthetic toxicity. In
      conclusion, intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine might facilitate PACU
      transfer and effectively and safely reduce pain intensity after LC. 

PMID- 26885229
TI  - Inhibition of adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats by herbs based kangshenoral
      solution.
AB  - The Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the progressive loss in
      renal function over a period. The progression of CKD will finally result the End
      Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Symptoms which needs permanent renal replacement
      therapies. Therefore, control the progression of CKD is necessary. In this study,
      based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Traditional Chinese
      Herbology, we developed the Kangshen Oral Solution based ona combination of
      different herbs for extraction. By utilizing adriamycin (ARD)-induced chronic
      renal failure in rats as the CKD model, our results demonstrated
      thatadministration of the Kangshen Oral Solution reduced the kidney disease
      induced weight loss in rats. The Kangshen Oral Solution could also relieve the
      proteinuria and kidney index induced by ARD which indicated the partially
      restoration of the kidney function. The improved kidney function was further
      supported by biochemical tests for blood total protein level, albumin level as
      well as cholesterol, triglycerides and Creatinine. Moreover, the histology
      examination also confirmed the ARD induced pathological changes in kidney was
      relieved by Kangshen Oral Solution. Taken together, these findings suggested
      Kangshen Oral solution could reduce ARD-induced nephropathy in rats model and may
      be employed as an alternative treatment for CKD patients. 

PMID- 26885230
TI  - Preclinical analysis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usefulness for the
      simultaneous prevention of steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia.
AB  - Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is currently one of the primary liver
      diseases. Recent studies have shown a clinical relation between NASH and
      atherosclerosis. There is much interest in these two diseases because they are
      both associated with great morbidity and mortality. Inflammation and the
      overexpression of COX-2 participate in the pathophysiology of the two diseases,
      and therefore simultaneous treatment is feasible. The role of the four NSAIDs,
      meclofenamate, mefenamate, flufenamate, and aspirin, was analyzed in a mouse
      model of NASH, as well as preclinical atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet
      (HFD). Six mouse groups were formed. Five of the groups were fed a high-fat diet
      for 6 months and one group was fed a standard diet, acting as the normality
      reference. Of the five groups fed a high-fat diet, four received a NSAID, each of
      them identified by the specific drug administered. One group received no
      treatment. Serum markers (cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT, and AST) and
      histologic changes in the aorta and liver were analyzed for the study. Aspirin
      significantly reduced the hepaticsteatosis. All the drugs significantly reduced
      the hepatic inflammatory infiltrate. In relation to atherosclerosis, there were
      significant reductions in all the study variables with the use of aspirin and
      flufenamate. The four medications were able to stop steatosis from progressing
      into steatohepatitis by reducing inflammation. However, aspirin was the most
      beneficial, simultaneously reducing steatosis, atherosclerosis, and serum
      cholesterol levels. 

PMID- 26885231
TI  - Association study between growth differentiation factor 5 polymorphism and non
      contact anterior cruciate ligament rupture in Chinese Han population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is the most common
      ligamentous injury for active adolescents and young adults each year. However,
      the precise etiologies of ACL injury are not fully understood. The present study
      was to investigate +104T/C polymorphism of growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5)
      gene in patients with ACL rupture, and evaluate the effects of polymorphism on
      GDF5 mRNA levels in ligament of patients with ACL rupture in central China.
      METHODS: A total of 286 Chinese patients with ACL rupture and 500healthy controls
      were enrolled in this study. The +104T/C polymorphism in GDF5 gene were genotyped
      by DNA sequencing. GDF5 mRNA expressions levels in ligament were determined by
      quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The frequency of the TT genotype tended to be higher
      in ACL rupture group than in control group (62.6% vs. 48.0%, P< 0.001, OR = 1.81,
      95% CI: 1.35-2.44). T allele of the GDF5 +104T/C polymorphism was more common in
      ACL rupture group than in control group (P< 0.001). Patients carrying TT genotype
      expressed lower levels of GDF5 mRNA than C carriers (P = 0.005) among ACL
      rupture. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that GDF5 +104T/C polymorphism was
      associated with ACL rupture patients in central China. This is likely from
      decreased expressions of GDF5 mRNA. Further studies are necessary to explore the
      functional implication of the GDF5 +104T/C polymorphism in Chinese ACL rupture
      patients.

PMID- 26885232
TI  - Sexual dysfunction in dialysis patients: does vitamin D deficiency have a role?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction and vitamin D deficiency are highly prevalent in
      dialysis patients. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to many diseases. To
      the best of our knowledge, the relationship between vitamin D and sexual
      dysfunction in dialysis patients has not been previously reported in the
      literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cholecalciferol, 50,000 IU/week, was orally
      administered to 37 dialysis patients with vitamin D insufficiency for 3 months
      followed by dosage of 10,000 IU every other week for 3 months. The Arizona Sexual
      Experiences Scale (ASEX), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Pittsburgh
      Sleep Quality Index questionnaires were filled out by all patients at baseline
      and at the sixth month of the study. RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction, poor sleep
      quality, anxiety and depression rates were 83.7%, 45.9%, 18.9% and 48.6%,
      respectively in all patients. ASEX total score was found to be positively
      correlated with age and was negatively correlated with serum 25(OH)D level and
      serum albumin level. After cholecalciferol treatment, 25(OH)D levels increased
      significantly, however no significant change was observed in any of the
      parameters. In multivariate linear regression analysis, age and 25(OH)D level
      were found to be independent predictors of ASEX total score. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin
      D deficiency seems to contribute to sexual dysfunction in dialysis patients.
      However, it was observed in this study that; cholecalciferol replacement given to
      dialysis patients with vitamin D insufficiency did not result in any significant
      changes in sexual functions.

PMID- 26885233
TI  - Replacement of conventional doxorubicin by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in
      standard RCHOP chemotherapy for elderly diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma: a
      retrospective study in China.
AB  - Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent type of non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma (NHL) in adults, and approximately 50% of cases of DLBCL occur in
      patients above the age of 60. Although RCHOP regimen was established as the
      standard therapy for DLBCL patients, there are still a large number of DLBCL
      patients who can't bear the toxicity of doxorubicin, especially in elderly
      patients. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) offers a new strategy for elderly
      DLBCL patients. In our study, we reviewed 103 newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL
      aged between 60 years to 75 years old who were treated with RCHOP (62 cases) or
      DRCOP (41 cases) regimen. All the patients completed a mean follow-up period of
      28 months (range, 2 to 48 months). There was no statistical difference of OS
      between the DRCOP (78.0%) and RCHOP (72.6%) groups (P = 0.787). And there were
      less grade 3-4 cardiotoxicity in patients treated with DRCOP (9.8%) than RCHOP
      regimen (27.4%, P = 0.029). Our findings in this study indicate that the DRCOP
      regimen offers similar oncologic efficacy when weighed against the standard RCHOP
      regimen in elderly DLBCL patients, and it might be a more secure treatment for
      elderly DLBCL patients who have additional risk factors for cardiac diseases. 

PMID- 26885234
TI  - Association study of BUD13-ZNF259 gene rs964184 polymorphism and hemorrhagic
      stroke risk.
AB  - We aimed to evaluate the association of rs964184 of BUD13-ZNF259 gene with the
      risk of hemorrhagic stroke (HS). A total of 138 HS cases and 587 controls were
      recruited for the association of rs964184 of BUD13-ZNF259 gene with the risk of
      HS. Tm shift PCR was used for genotyping. We were unable to find the association
      of rs964184 of BUD13-ZNF259 gene with the risk of HS (P>0.05). Significant
      difference was found in the TG level among the three genotypes (CC: 1.51+/-1.02;
      CG: 1.68+/-1.10; GG: 1.90+/-1.11, P=0.036). The TG level showed strong
      correlation with rs964184 genotypes (P=0.010, correlation=0.101). Significantly
      higher TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were observed in the case group. And no
      difference was found in the TG, ApoA-I, ApoB. Our case-control study supported
      the significant association between rs964184 genotype and the blood TG
      concentration, although we were unable to find association between BUD13-ZNF259
      rs964184 and the risk of HS in Han Chinese. 

PMID- 26885235
TI  - Expressions and clinical significance of factors related to giant cell tumor of
      bone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a relatively rare tumor of bone,
      characterized by numerous multinucleated cells, severe osteolysis, and local
      recurrence. PURPOSE: To explore the role of S-phase kinase-interacting protein 2
      (Skp2), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, and the transcription factor E2F-1
      expression in the development of GCTB, and the relationship of expression of
      these proteins with tumor recurrence. METHODS: Forty-four patients with GCTB were
      selected and demographic and clinical data were collected. The levels of Skp2,
      p27, and E2F-1 protein expression were immunohistochemically assessed in surgical
      specimens. RESULTS: Skp2, p27, and E2F-1 proteins were detected in the nuclei of
      mononuclear stromal cells. Positive Skp2 expression was observed in 66% (29/44)
      of GCTB patient samples, and positive p27 expression was found in 39% (17/44) of
      samples. Within almost all GCTB patients, there was an inverse correlation
      between Skp2- and p27-positive tumor cells. Positive expression of E2F-1 was
      present in 28 of 44 (64%) patients. In addition, expression of skp2 and p27,
      infiltration of soft tissues, and surgical operation were significantly
      associated with recurrence in patients with GCTB. CONCLUSION: The
      immunohistochemical assessment of Skp2, p27 and E2F-1 may be useful in the
      diagnosis of GCTB and prediction of its prognosis.

PMID- 26885236
TI  - Clinicopathological associations of acquired erythroblastopenia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Acquired erythroblastopenia (AE) is a rare clinical situation. It
      is characterized by the reduction of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow
      together with the low reticulocyte counts in the peripheral blood. BACKGROUND:
      Main secondary causes of AE are drugs, Parvovirus B19 and other infectious
      reasons, lymphoid and myeloid neoplasia, autoimmune diseases, thymoma and
      pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the frequencies and clinical
      associations of AE via analyzing 12340 bone marrow samples in a retrospective
      manner. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Bone marrow aspirations which were obtained from
      patients who applied to Hacettepe University Hematology Clinic between 2002 and
      2013, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty four erythroblastopenia
      cases were found. Patients ranged in age from 16 to 80 years with a median of 38
      years. Fifteen patients were men (44%) and nineteen were women (56%). In these
      patients, detected causes of erythroblastopenia were MDS, idiopathic pure red
      cell aplasia (PRCA), parvovirus infection, post chemotherapy aplasia, plasma
      proliferative diseases, copper deficiency due to secondary amyloidosis, fever of
      unknown origin, hemophagocytic syndrome, enteric fever and legionella pneumonia.
      We found that between those reasons the most common causes of erythroblastopenia
      are MDS (17.7%) and idiopathic PRCA (17.7%). DISCUSSION: As a result,
      erythroblastopenia in the bone marrow may be an early sign of MDS. In those AE
      cases possibility of being MDS must be kept in mind as it can be mistaken for
      PRCA. CONCLUSION: To conclude, in adults MDS without excess blast is one of the
      most common causes of erythroblastopenia in clinical practice and in case of
      erythroblastopenia the presence of MDS should be investigated.

PMID- 26885237
TI  - Levels of interleukin-16 in peripheral blood of 52 patients with multiple myeloma
      and its clinical significance.
AB  - PURPOSE: To explore the role of serum interleukin-16 (IL-16) in the occurrence of
      multiple myeloma (MM) and after the success chemotherapy and its clinical
      significance. METHODS: 52 cases of MM patients, 30 cases of AML patients and 30
      healthy volunteers from Jan. 2011 to Jan. 2015 were collected in this study.
      There was 39 MM patients received chemotherapy. Among those, 24 patients received
      VAD regimen chemotherapy and 15 patients received BD regimen chemotherapy. Serum
      IL-16, cystatin C (Cys-C), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and levels of beta2
      microglobulin (beta2-MG) were detected before and after the therapy of MM
      patients. And those results were compared to that of patients with acute
      myelogenous leukemia (AML) and normal people respectively. RESULTS: The levels of
      serum IL-16, Cys-C, LDH and beta2-MG in MM group were remarkably higher than that
      of normal control. It was of statistical significance of this difference
      (P<0.05). Levels of serum IL-16, Cys-C and LDH of MM patients who received
      therapy were all lower than that of patients before therapy. The serum IL-16 and
      beta2-MG of 52 patients by preliminary diagnosis were analyzed through Pearson
      correlation analysis before they received therapy. The results showed that there
      was positive correlation between levels of IL-16 and beta2-MG (r=0.782, P<0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: A high serum IL-16 level detected in newly diagnosed MM patients and
      its correlation with known factors of disease activity as well as the decrease of
      IL-16 after chemotherapy suggest that IL-16 may be implicated and a potential
      therapeutic target for MM.

PMID- 26885238
TI  - Correlation between the BRAF(v600E) gene mutation and factors influencing the
      prognosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between BRAF mutation and factors
      influencing the prognosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS:
      Clinical data from patients with PTMC were subjected to retrospective analysis. A
      total of 86 patients were included, and the BRAF(V600E) mutation was identified
      in surgically dissected tissues. RESULTS: The incidence of BRAF mutation in
      patients with PTMC was 65.1% (56/86). Both univariate and multivariate analyses
      indicated a correlation between BRAF mutation and lymph node metastasis (P =
      0.057). For patients with tumors <= 10 mm in diameter, BRAF mutation had no
      effect on lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). No lymph node metastasis was found in
      patients with tumors <= 5 mm in diameter. CONCLUSION: BRAF gene mutation is an
      independent predictive risk factor for central lymph node metastasis in patients
      with PTMC. For patients with preoperative BRAF mutation positivity, it is
      important to perform central lymph node dissection (CLND) and lymphatic and
      adipose tissues should be routinely removed. However, in patients without BRAF
      mutation and tumors <= 5 mm in diameter, the necessity of prophylactic CLND
      should be reevaluated.

PMID- 26885240
TI  - Role of serum high density lipoprotein levels and functions in calcific aortic
      valve stenosis progression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical and epidemiological data well defines the role of
      atherosclerotic risk factors in pathogenesis of aortic stenosis. Especially
      dyslipidemia with elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels exerts certain
      histopathological changes on calcified valve tissue. Exact role of HDL in this
      process is not known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the lipid profiles of patients with
      mild aortic valve stenosis with special focus on HDL; HDL subspecies, serum apoA1
      levels, HDL related PON1 and PAF-AH enzyme activities and to correlate this with
      disease progression rates. METHOD: 42 patients (26 female; 16 male), with
      calcific aortic valve stenosis were enrolled in the study. Serum fasting lipid
      parameters, HDL subspecies (HDL2, HDL3), serum apoA1 levels and HDL related PON1
      and PAF-AH enzyme activities were determined. All participants underwent detailed
      follow-up transthoracic echocardiography examination. RESULTS: Among 42 study
      participants mean serum total cholesterol level was 195 +/- 27.3 mg/dl, LDL-c
      level was 123 +/- 19.1 mg/dl, HDL-c level was 44 +/- 10.3 mg/dl and total
      cholesterol/HDL-c ratio was 4.64 +/- 1.13. Basal peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax2)
      was 2.67 +/- 0.39 m/sec, mean pressure gradient (Pmean2) was 15.6 +/- 5.5 mmhg.
      Annual progression rate in peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) was 0.23 +/- 0.17
      m/sec, in mean pressure gradient (Pmean) was 3 +/- 2.1 mmhg. Annual progression
      rate in Pmean was most strongly correlated with serum HDL-c level and total/HDL-c
      ratio (r=-0.528 and 0.505; <0.001 and 0.001 respectively). Progression in Vmax
      values was positively correlated with serum LDL-c level and total/HDL-c ratio
      while negatively correlated with serum HDL-c levels (r=0.328, 0.499 and -0.464;
      P=0.034, 0.001 and 0.002 respectively). Among HDL subspecies HDL2 was the
      predominant type. HDL2 levels were found to be positively correlated with
      progression rates. There was no significant correlation between apolipoprotein A1
      level and annual progression rate. Serum PON1 activity level was determined to be
      negatively correlated to doppler echocardiographic progression parameters while
      HDL related PAF-AH activity was independent of disease progression. CONCLUSION:
      Present study demonstrated a positive correlation between disease progression and
      serum total cholesterol/HDL-c ratio. Serum HDL-c level was inversely correlated
      with hemodynamic progression. The majority of HDL was HDL2 subtype. Among HDL
      related enzymes PON1 enzyme activity exhibited an inverse correlation with
      disease progression.

PMID- 26885241
TI  - Effects of dexmedetomidine versus propofol on SPO2 in children with tetralogy of
      fallot during anesthesia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of DEX versus propofol on saturation of pulse
      oximetry (SPO2) in children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) during anesthesia.
      METHODS: 54 children with TOF who planned to receive corrected operation were
      randomly assigned to two groups: group DEX and group Propofol. Indicators were
      compared at T0 (immediate induction of anesthesia), T1 (tracheal
      catheterization), T2 (skin incision), T3 (sternal exposure) and T4 (aortic
      catheterization). RESULTS: In group DEX, the hear rate (HR) and partial pressure
      difference between alveolar air and arteries [P(A-a)O2] at T1 were lower than
      those at T0, while systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP),
      mean blood pressure (MBP) and SPO2 at T1 were higher than those at T0, with
      statistically significant differences (P<0.05, respectively). In the group
      Propofol, SBP, DBP, MBP and SPO2 at T1 were lower than those at T0, while P(A
      a)O2 at T1 was higher than that at T0, with statistically significant differences
      (P<0.05, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in all
      indicators at T1 between two groups (P<0.05, respectively). The group DEX had
      lower HR and P(A-a)O2, and higher SBP, DBP, MBP and SPO2 than group Propofol.
      There were no statistically significant differences in all indicators (except for
      lower HR) at other points between two groups. CONCLUSION: During induction of
      anesthesia, DEX was better than propofol to improve alveolar oxygenation, reduce
      myocardial oxygen consumption, increase arterial oxygen content and induce stable
      induction in patients with TOF, though they were comparable during maintenance of
      anesthesia.

PMID- 26885242
TI  - The evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness and mean platelet volume values
      and correlation with cardiac functions in obese children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with many risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia,
      hyperinsulinemia, hypertension and leads to early atherosclerosis. The aim of
      this study was to investigate the relation of the mean platelet volume (MPV) and
      the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) on cardiac functions among obese
      children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty obese children, with body mass index
      percentile were >95% and forty eight healthy controls were enrolled in the study.
      Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
      aminotransferase (AST), thyroid function tests, hemoglobin, white blood cell, MPV
      and insulin resistance were evaluated. CIMT was measured by using high-resolution
      ultrasound and echocardiography was performed to all individuals. RESULTS: MPV
      and CIMT values were found significantly higher in obese children than controls.
      There was positive correlation between CIMT and age, body surface area (BSA),
      systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular meridional end-systolic
      wall stress (ESWSm), myocardial fiber stress (MFS), stroke volume (SV) and
      insulin and negative correlation with left ventricle end-systolic elastance by
      single beat technique (Ees(sb)) and arterial elastance (Ea). There was no
      correlation between LVM, cardiac risk profiles and CIMT. Multiple stepwise
      regression analyses revealed that ESWSm (beta=0.337, P=0.049) was only
      independent factor on CIMT. MPV values showed negative correlation with ALT, AST,
      Free T4, thyroid stimulating hormone and positive correlation with age and BSA.
      CONCLUSION: Current study showed that obesity has an independent impact on CIMT
      and MPV values in children. Increased CIMT in obese children leads significant
      increase in ESWSm and decrease in Ea and Ees(sb).

PMID- 26885243
TI  - The factors affecting early death after the initial therapy of acute myeloid
      leukemia.
AB  - There are some improvements in management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
      However, induction-induced deaths still remain as a major problem. The aim of
      this study is to assess clinical parameters affecting early death in patients
      with AML. 199 AML patients, who were treated with intensive, non-intensive or
      supportive treatment between 2002 and 2014 in Hacettepe Hematology Department,
      were analyzed retrospectively. In our study early death rate for elderly was
      found to be lower than previous reports whereas it was similar for those who were
      under age of 60. Better ECOG performance (ECOG performance score 0 and 1) and non
      intensive treatment associated with lower early death rates, however APL-type
      disease associated with higher early death rates. ECOG performance score at
      diagnosis was found to be the most related independent factor with higher rate of
      early death in 15 days after treatment (P<0.001). Therefore we decided to
      understand the factors which were related with ECOG. WBC count at diagnosis was
      found to be the only related parameter with ECOG performance score. Leucocyte
      count at diagnosis appears like to have an indirect effect on early death in AML
      patients. It maybe suggested that in recent years there is an improvement in
      early death rates of elderly AML patients. The currently reported findings
      require prospective validation and would encourage the incorporation of other
      next generation genomics for the prediction of early death and overall risk
      status of AML. 

PMID- 26885239
TI  - The epidemiology and risk factors of inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - This review aimed to summarize the epidemiology (incidence, prevalence and
      morality) and risk factors of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a chronic,
      relapsing, inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and includes
      Crohn's Disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD has increasing incidence
      and prevalence in most of countries and becomes a global emerging disease. A
      westernized lifestyle or habits and some environmental factors have been found to
      contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD. The relevant risk factors include Smoking,
      hygiene hypothesis, microorganisms, appendectomy, medication, nutrition, and
      stress have all been found to be associated with the modality of IBD, but results
      are inconsistent on this issue in available studies. Therefore, more studies are
      required to identify and understand the environmental determinants of IBD. 

PMID- 26885245
TI  - Association of apneic oxygenation with decreased desaturation rates during rapid
      sequence intubation by a Chinese emergency medicine service [Retraction].
AB  - [This retracts the article on p. 11428 in vol. 8, PMID: 26379959.]. 

PMID- 26885244
TI  - Pilot feasibility research of Chinese version of kidney transplant questionnaire
      in recipients of living donor kidney transplantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of the Chinese version of Kidney Transplant
      Questionnaire (KTQ) by evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in
      Chinese recipients of living donor kidney transplantation. METHODS: The English
      version of KTQ was translated into Chinese and underwent cultural adaptation to
      obtain the Chinese version of KTQ. HRQoL of 136 Chinese recipients of living
      donor kidney transplantation that met the inclusion criteria were evaluated to
      assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred
      and thirty-six recipients (98 males and 38 females) of living donor kidney
      transplantation were included. The mean age of the recipients was 43.91 years.
      For each dimension of the questionnaire, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.7
      0.9, test-retest reliability coefficient >=0.7, goodness of fit index (GFI) >0.9,
      and comparative fitness index (CFI) >0.9. CONCLUSION: The validity and
      reliability of the Chinese version of KTQ is similar to the English version,
      suggesting that the Chinese version of KTQ could be applied as a disease-specific
      questionnaire to evaluate the HRQoL of the recipients of living donor kidney
      transplantation in China.

PMID- 26885246
TI  - Validation of a Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for
      the Simultaneous Analysis of Cysteine and Reduced Glutathione in Mouse Organs.
AB  - A depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) has been observed in pathological
      conditions and in aging. Measuring GSH in tissues using mouse models is an
      excellent way to assess GSH depletion and the potential therapeutic efficacy of
      drugs used to maintain and/or restore cellular redox potential. A high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous
      determination of GSH and cysteine (Cys) in mouse organs was validated according
      to USA and European standards. The method was based on separation coupled with
      ultraviolet detection and precolumn derivatization with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2
      nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). The required validation parameters, that are,
      selectivity, linearity, lower limit of quantification, precision, accuracy,
      recovery, and stability, were studied for spleen, lymph nodes, pancreas, and
      brain. The results showed that the lower limits of quantification were 0.313 MUM
      and 1.25 MUM for Cys and GSH, respectively. Intraday and interday precisions were
      less than 11% and 14%, respectively, for both compounds. The mean extraction
      recoveries of Cys and GSH from all organs were more than 93% and 86%,
      respectively. Moreover, the stability of both analytes during sample preparation
      and storage was demonstrated. The method was accurate, reliable, consistent, and
      reproducible and it was useful to determine Cys and GSH in the organs of
      different mouse strains.

PMID- 26885247
TI  - The Impact of Chronic Tobacco Smoking on Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Greek
      Population.
AB  - Aim. To investigate the effect of more than 25-year cigarette smoking on
      choroidal and retinal thickness, using spectral domain optical coherence
      tomography (SD-OCT). Methods. Thirty-one smokers and 25 age- and sex-matched
      nonsmokers, serving as control group, were submitted to slit-lamp biomicroscopy
      and dilated fundoscopy, SD-OCT, measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP),
      central corneal thickness (CCT), and axial length (AL). Heidelberg Spectralis was
      used to calculate choroidal thickness (CT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), outer
      retina layers (ORL), and macular thicknesses (MT). Results. The smokers' group
      consisted of 17 males and 14 females with mean age of 57.8 +/- 4.5 years, while
      the controls' group consisted of 14 males and 11 females with mean age of 68.0 +/
      4.1 years. CT and GCC thicknesses were significantly reduced in smokers compared
      to control group. The differences in thicknesses of ORL were marginally
      significant between two groups. The measurements of MT, IOP, CCT, and AL had the
      same distributions between smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusions. Tobacco smoking
      seems to result in thinner choroid and retina compared to nonsmokers. This is the
      first study in literature that investigates the anatomical effect of smoking for
      more than 25 years on the choroid and retina. 

PMID- 26885248
TI  - Oxidative Stress Markers in Sputum.
AB  - Although oxidative stress is thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis
      of inflammatory airway diseases, its assessment in clinical practice remains
      elusive. In recent years, it has been conceptualized that oxidative stress
      markers in sputum should be employed to monitor oxidative processes in patients
      with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cystic fibrosis
      (CF). In this review, the use of sputum-based oxidative markers was explored and
      potential clinical applications were considered. Among lipid peroxidation-derived
      products, 8-isoprostane and malondialdehyde have been the most frequently
      investigated, while nitrosothiols and nitrotyrosine may serve as markers of
      nitrosative stress. Several studies have showed higher levels of these products
      in patients with asthma, COPD, or CF compared to healthy subjects. Marker
      concentrations could be further increased during exacerbations and decreased
      along with recovery of these diseases. Measurement of oxidized guanine species
      and antioxidant enzymes in the sputum could be other approaches for assessing
      oxidative stress in pulmonary patients. Collectively, even though there are
      promising findings in this field, further clinical studies using more established
      detection techniques are needed to clearly show the benefit of these measurements
      in the follow-up of patients with inflammatory airway diseases. 

PMID- 26885249
TI  - Changes in Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Streptozotocin
      Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Rats: Role of Alhagi maurorum Extracts.
AB  - Alhagi maurorum (camel thorn plant) is a promising medicinal plant due to the
      presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds as major contents of its
      constituents. No previous study has been conducted before on A. maurorum extracts
      as an antioxidative stress and/or antidiabetic herb in STZ-induced DM in rats.
      Therefore, four groups of rats were allocated as control (C), STZ-induced DM (D),
      and STZ-induced DM supplemented with 300 mg/kg BW of either aqueous extract (WE)
      or ethanolic extract (EE) of A. maurorum. The plasma levels of glucose, TG, TC,
      LDL-C and VLDL-C, MDA, and bilirubin and the activities of transaminases and GR
      were significantly increased in the diabetic group. Also, diabetic rats showed
      severe glucose intolerance and histopathological changes in their livers. In
      addition, levels of insulin, total proteins, GSH, and HDL-C and the activities of
      SOD, GPx, and GST were significantly decreased in the diabetic rats compared to
      those of the control group. The ingestion of A. maurorum extracts lowered the
      blood glucose levels during the OGTT compared to the diabetic rats and restored
      all tested parameters to their normal levels with the exception of insulin level
      that could not be restored. It is concluded that A. maurorum extracts decreased
      elevated blood glucose levels and hyperlipidemia and suppressed oxidative stress
      caused by diabetes mellitus in rats. 

PMID- 26885251
TI  - Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Children with
      Chronic Kidney Disease.
AB  - Cardiovascular diseases remain the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality
      in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the study was to assess
      the association between oxidative stress biomarkers and cardiovascular risk
      factors and left ventricular hypertrophy in children with CKD. Material and
      Methods. The studied group consisted of 65 patients aged 1.4-18.6 (mean 11.2)
      years with stages 1 to 5 CKD. Serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL),
      protein carbonyl group, creatinine, cystatin C, albumin, lipids, high-sensitivity
      C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, insulin, plasma renin
      activity, and aldosterone levels were measured. Patients were divided into groups
      depending on CKD stage. Anthropometric measurements, ambulatory blood pressure
      (BP) measurements, and echocardiography with left ventricular mass (LVM)
      calculation were performed. Results. Serum oxLDL strongly correlated with
      creatinine (R = 0.246; p = 0.048), cystatin C (R = 0.346; p = 0.006), total
      cholesterol (R = 0.500; p < 0.001), triglycerides (R = 0.524; p < 0.001), low
      density lipoprotein concentrations (R = 0.456; p < 0.001), and 24 hour BP values
      of systolic (R = 0.492; p = 0.002), diastolic (R = 0.515; p < 0.001), and mean
      arterial pressure (R = 0.537; p < 0.001). A significant correlation between oxLDL
      levels and LVM z-scores (R = 0.299; p = 0.016) was found. Conclusions.
      Hypertension and dyslipidemia correlated with lipid oxidation in children with
      CKD. oxLDLs seem to be valuable markers of oxidative stress in CKD patients,
      correlating with left ventricular hypertrophy. 

PMID- 26885252
TI  - Effect of Carnosine in Experimental Arthritis and on Primary Culture
      Chondrocytes.
AB  - Carnosine's (CARN) anti-inflammatory potential in autoimmune diseases has been
      but scarcely investigated as yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      therapeutic potential of CARN in rat adjuvant arthritis, in the model of
      carrageenan induced hind paw edema (CARA), and also in primary culture of
      chondrocytes under H2O2 injury. The experiments were done on healthy animals,
      arthritic animals, and arthritic animals with oral administration of CARN in a
      daily dose of 150 mg/kg b.w. during 28 days as well as animals with CARA treated
      by a single administration of CARN in the same dose. CARN beneficially affected
      hind paw volume and changes in body weight on day 14 and reduced hind paw
      swelling in CARA. Markers of oxidative stress in plasma and brain
      (malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, protein carbonyls, and lag time of lipid
      peroxidation) and also activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase were significantly
      corrected by CARN. CARN also reduced IL-1alpha in plasma. Suppression of
      intracellular oxidant levels was also observed in chondrocytes pretreated with
      CARN. Our results obtained on two animal models showed that CARN has systemic
      anti-inflammatory activity and protected rat brain and chondrocytes from
      oxidative stress. This finding suggests that CARN might be beneficial for
      treatment of arthritic diseases. 

PMID- 26885250
TI  - Relationship between Oxidative Stress, Circadian Rhythms, and AMD.
AB  - This work reviews concepts regarding oxidative stress and the mechanisms by which
      endogenous and exogenous factors produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). It also
      surveys the relationships between oxidative stress, circadian rhythms, and
      retinal damage in humans, particularly those related to light and photodamage. In
      the first section, the production of ROS by different cell organelles and
      biomolecules and the antioxidant mechanisms that antagonize this damage are
      reviewed. The second section includes a brief review of circadian clocks and
      their relationship with the cellular redox state. In the third part of this work,
      the relationship between retinal damage and ROS is described. The last part of
      this work focuses on retinal degenerative pathology, age-related macular
      degeneration, and the relationships between this pathology, ROS, and light.
      Finally, the possible interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE),
      circadian rhythms, and this pathology are discussed. 

PMID- 26885253
TI  - Morphological and Biochemical Effects on the Skeletal Muscle of Ovariectomized
      Old Female Rats Submitted to the Intake of Diets with Vegetable or Animal Protein
      and Resistance Training.
AB  - Introduction. Sarcopenia is a process characterized by reduction in protein mass
      and muscle strength with increasing age, especially in the postmenopausal period,
      resulting in functional limitations and with great impact on the physical
      autonomy of the elderly. Objective. To evaluate the effects of diets with
      vegetable proteins (VP) or animal proteins (AP) associated with resistance
      training (RT) on the structural and biochemical parameters of the medial
      gastrocnemius muscle in Wistar rats with sarcopenia. Methods. An experimental
      model with ovariectomized rats was used to induce sarcopenia and resistance
      training. The histochemical technique was used for the typing of muscle fibers,
      the cross-sectional area of myocytes, and volume densities of myocytes and
      interstitium; the technique of Picrosirius stain was used to highlight the
      collagen fibers. Results. The VP diet was not able to minimize the effects of
      sarcopenia in the medial gastrocnemius of sedentary animals and when associated
      with RT, it promoted maintenance of the CSA, attenuating the atrophy of type IIB
      fibers in the medial gastrocnemius. The AP diet in sedentary animals protected
      the type I fibers. When combined with RT, the AP promoted muscle remodeling, with
      reduction in volume density of type I and IIA fibers, and increase of IIB fibers,
      together with an increase in collagen volume density. Conclusion. The data
      suggest a tendency to better results of hypertrophy in animal groups that
      consumed the AP diet, even the sedentary animals, although more evident in those
      trained. 

PMID- 26885255
TI  - New insights into MicroRNAs involves in drug resistance in diffuse large B cell
      lymphoma.
AB  - Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounts for nearly 40% of non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma cases. The combined chemotherapy of rituximab, cyclophosphamide,
      Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) is considered as the standard
      therapy for DLBCL; however, nearly half of the patients become refractory to the
      R-CHOP regimen. Early identification of drug resistance and therapeutic failures
      are crucial for the identification of high-risk patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are
      a group of small and non-coding RNAs negatively regulating gene expression
      through binding to their target mRNAs. Recent studies demonstrated that miRNAs
      are involved in chemotherapeutic drug resistance in tumor. In our review, we
      summarize the current evidence on the role of miRNAs in the prediction and
      modulation of cellular response to rituximab, cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin,
      vincristine, and prednisone in DLBCL. 

PMID- 26885254
TI  - Potential mechanisms underlying the Runx2 induced osteogenesis of bone marrow
      mesenchymal stem cells.
AB  - Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) belong a type of pluripotent
      stem cells and can be induced to differentiate into osteoblasts (OB). Runt
      related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is an osteogenesis specific transcription
      factor and plays an important role in osteogenesis of BM-MSCs. It can promote the
      expression of osteogenesis related genes, regulate cell cycle progression,
      improve bone microenvironment and affect functions of chondrocytes and
      osteoclasts, which have involvement of a large amount of signal molecules
      including TGF-beta, BMP, Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, FGF and microRNA. In this paper,
      we summarize the mechanisms underlying the Runx2 induced osteogenesis of BM-MSCs.

PMID- 26885256
TI  - Extracorporeal shock wave therapy effectively prevented diabetic neuropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW)
      therapy can effectively protect sciatic nerve (SN) from diabetes mellitus (DM)
      induced neuropathy in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Eighteen-week C57BL/6 mice (n=8) served as age-matched controls (group 1) and
      ob/ob mice (n=16) were categorized into DM (group 2) and DM + ECSW (0.12 mJ/mm(2)
      for 4 times of 200 impulses at 3-week intervals) (group 3). The animals were
      sacrificed two weeks post-ECSW. In vitro results showed that the protein
      expressions of oxidative stress (NOX-1, NOX-2, oxidized protein), inflammation
      (MMP-9, TNF-alpha, iNOS), apoptosis (Bax, cleaved caspase-3, & PARP), and DNA
      damage marker (gamma-H2AX) were significantly higher in RT4-D6P2T (schwannoma
      cell line) treated by menadione (25 uM) compared with control group and were
      significantly reversed after ECSW (0.12 mJ/mm(2), 200 impulses) (all p<0.001).
      mRNA expressions of inflammation (MMP-9, TNF-alpha, iNOS), oxidative stress (NOX
      1, NOX-2) and apoptosis (Bax, caspase-3) in SN were significantly higher in group
      2 than in group 1 and were significantly reversed in group 3, whereas the mRNA
      expressions of anti-oxidants (HO-1, NQO1) progressively increased from group 1 to
      group 3 (all p<0.001). Cellular expressions of F4/80+, CD14+, gamma-H2AX+ cells,
      and number of vacuolar formation in SN showed a pattern identical to that of
      inflammation markers among all groups (all p<0.001). Microscopic findings of
      Schwann cells and myelin-sheath scores, and number of eNOS+ cells in SN showed a
      reversed pattern compared to that of inflammation among all groups (all p<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: ECSW therapy protected SN against DM-induced neuropathy.

PMID- 26885257
TI  - Sustained release poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres of bone
      morphogenetic protein 2 plasmid/calcium phosphate to promote in vitro bone
      formation and in vivo ectopic osteogenesis.
AB  - Bone regeneration often requires continuous stimulation to promote local bone
      formation. In the present study, calcium phosphate (CaPi) was used to promote
      transfection of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) cDNA plasmid, and poly
      (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was used to prepare microspheres of pBMP-2/CaPi
      (i.e., PLGA@pBMP-2/CaPi) using W/O/W double emulsion solvent evaporation method.
      We showed that PLGA@pBMP-2/CaPi microspheres were spherical with smooth surface,
      and the particle size ranged from 0.5 to 35 MUm. Encapsulation efficiency was up
      to 30~50%. The release of BMP-2 cDNA from microspheres continued more than 30
      days and constituted, less than 7.5% of total plasmid amount within the first 24
      h. Real-time PCR results showed that co-culturing of PLGA@pBMP-2/CaPi with bone
      marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) increased calcium deposition and
      gene expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor
      2 (RUNX2), SP7, and collagen type I (COLL I) in a time-dependent manner. Finally,
      X-ray analysis demonstrated that in vivo delivery of PLGA@pBMP-2/CaPi
      microspheres into the tibialis anterior muscles of rats promoted the generation
      of osteoblasts, bone tissue, and bone structure. The findings suggested that
      PLGA@pBMP-2/CaPi microspheres can promote ectopic osteogenesis in non-bone
      tissues, with strong prospects in promoting bone regeneration. 

PMID- 26885258
TI  - Dioclea violacea lectin ameliorates oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in an
      experimental model of acute kidney injury.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid and potentially reversible
      decline in renal function; however, the current management for AKI is nonspecific
      and associated with limited supportive care. Considering the need for more novel
      therapeutic approaches, we believe that lectins from Dioclea violacea (Dvl),
      based on their anti-inflammatory properties, could be beneficial for the
      treatment of AKI induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Dvl (1 mg/kg, i.v.)
      or vehicle (100 uL) was administered to Wistar rats prior to the induction of
      bilateral renal ischemia (45 min). Following 24 hours of reperfusion, inulin and
      para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearances were performed to determine glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), renal blood flow (RBF) and renal
      vascular resistance (RVR). Renal inflammation was assessed using myeloperoxidase
      (MPO) activity. Kidney sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate
      morphological changes. Intracellular superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide,
      peroxynitrite, nitric oxide and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. IR
      resulted in diminished GFR, RPF, RBF, and increased RVR; however, these changes
      were ameliorated in rats receiving Dvl. AKI-induced histomorphological changes,
      such as tubular dilation, tubular necrosis and proteinaceous casts, were
      attenuated by Dvl administration. Treatment with Dvl resulted in diminished renal
      MPO activity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats submitted to IR. Our data
      reveal that Dvl has a protective effect in the kidney, improving renal function
      after IR injury, probably by reducing neutrophil recruitment and oxidative
      stress. These results indicate that Dvl can be considered a new therapeutic
      approach for AKI-induced kidney injury. 

PMID- 26885259
TI  - The non-Geldanamycin Hsp90 inhibitors enhanced the antifungal activity of
      fluconazole.
AB  - The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is highly conserved in
      eukaryotes and facilitates the correct folding, productive assembly and
      maturation of a diverse cellular proteins. In fungi, especially the most
      prevalent human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, Hsp90 influences development
      and modulates drug resistance. Here, we mainly explore the effect of non
      Geldanamycin Hsp90 inhibitor HSP990 on the activity of fluconazole (FLC) against
      Candida albicans and investigate the underlying mechanism. We demonstrate that
      HSP990 has potent synergistic antifungal activity with FLC against FLC-resistant
      C. albicans through the checkerboard microdilution assay,agar diffusion tests and
      time-kill curves, and shows low cytotoxicity to human umbilical vein endothelial
      cells. Further study shows that the activity of FLC against C. albicans biofilm
      formation in vitro is significantly enhanced when used in combination with
      HSP990. In a murine model of disseminated candidiasis, the therapeutic efficacy
      of FLC is also enhanced by the pharmacological inhibition of C. albicans Hsp90
      function with HSP990. Thus, the combined use of small molecule compound and
      existing antifungal drugs may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for fungal
      infectious disease. 

PMID- 26885260
TI  - Later phase cardioprotection of ischemic post-conditioning against
      ischemia/reperfusion injury depends on iNOS and PI3K-Akt pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cardioprotection of ischemic post-conditioning (IPO) has been
      well demonstrated after a short period of reperfusion. However, little is known
      about the long-term effects of IPO. This study aimed to investigate the long term
      cardioprotection of IPO in a rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model and to
      explore the potential mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rats were either sham
      operated (Sham group) or underwent 30-min left anterior descending coronary
      artery ischemia followed by immediate reperfusion (I/R group) or post
      conditioning with 5 cycles of 10-s ischemia and 10-s reperfusion (IPO group). At
      24 h after reperfusion, infarct size reduced from 34.7+/-1.1% in I/R group to
      24.9+/-1.3% in IPO group (P<0.05) and the iNOS expression in IPO group was 4.7
      fold higher than in I/R group. iNOS inhibitor 1400 W (1 mg/kg, 5 min before
      postconditioning or reperfusion) prevented the increase in iNOS expression and
      abolished IPO-induced protection (34.4+/-1.0%, P>0.05 vs. I/R group). When rats
      were treated with PI3K inhibitor LY294002 5 min before reperfusion (0.3 mg/kg), p
      Akt expression at R 3 h and iNOS expression at R 24 h were significantly
      inhibited. Moreover, the delayed infarct-sparing effect of IPO was absent in the
      presence of LY294002. CONCLUSION: IPO has prolonged cardioprotective effects and
      iNOS as an important downstream effector of PI3K-Akt pathway contributes to the
      delayed phase cardioprotection of IPO.

PMID- 26885261
TI  - A novel method in preparation of acellularporcine corneal stroma tissue for
      lamellar keratoplasty.
AB  - Our objective was to develop a novel lamellar cornealbiomaterial for corneal
      reconstruction.Theporcine acellular corneal stroma discs (ACSDs) were prepared
      from de-epithelized fresh porcine corneas (DFPCs) by incubation with 100% fresh
      human serum and additional electrophoresis at 4 degrees C. Such manipulation
      removed theanterior corneal stromal cells without residual of DNA content and
      alpha-Galantigen. Human serum decellularizing activity on porcineanterior corneal
      stroma cells is through apoptosis, and associated with the presence of alpha-Gal
      epitopes in anterior stroma. ACSDs displayed similar optical, biomechanical
      properties and ultrastructure to DFPCs, and showed good histocompatibility in
      rabbit corneal stromal pockets and anterior chamber. Rabbit corneallamellar
      keratoplasty (LKP) using ACSDs showed no rejection and high transparency of
      cornea at 2 months after surgery. In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy and
      immunostaining analysis showed complete re-epithelization and stromal cell in
      growth of ACSDs without inflammatory cell infiltration, new blood vessel ingrowth
      and excessive wound healing. In conclusion, this novel decellularization method
      may be valuable for preparation of xenogenic corneal tissue for clinical
      application, ACSDs resulted from this method may be served as a matrix equivalent
      for LKP in corneal xenotransplantation. 

PMID- 26885262
TI  - The role of 1,25-dyhydroxyvitamin D3 in mouse liver ischemia reperfusion injury:
      regulation of autophagy through activation of MEK/ERK signaling and
      PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 signaling.
AB  - Autophagy is an important mechanism for cellular homeostasis and survival during
      pathologic stress conditions in the liver, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury.
      In this study, we hypothesized a protective role of vitamin Din hepatic IR model.
      The administration of vitamin D displayed significantly preserved liver function
      as characterized by less histological damage and reduced serum enzymes level. We
      found that the protective effect was associated with ameliorated oxidative stress
      as manifested by the increase of antioxidant capacity and decrease of lipid
      peroxidation. Further, increased autophagic flux after vitamin D administration
      was demonstrated by the increase of protein light chain 3 (LC3) conversion both
      in vivo and in vitro. MEK/ERK and PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR were both found critically
      involved in vitamin D-induced autophagy. By employing intracellular ROS and cell
      viability assay, we further confirmed this hypothesis with the observation that
      inhibition either of the MEK/ERK or PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway partly abolished
      the protective effect of vitamin D-induced autophagy, while inhibiting initiation
      of autophagy signaling pathway by knockdown of Beclin-1 completely reversed the
      protection provided by vitamin D. Collectively, the present results indicate that
      the protective role of vitamin D in murine hepatic IR injury is autophagy
      dependent, which is regulated by both MEK/ERK and PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. 

PMID- 26885263
TI  - B7-H3 expression associates with tumor invasion and patient's poor survival in
      human esophageal cancer.
AB  - B7-H3, a member from B7-family co-stimulatory ligands, plays an important role in
      adaptive immune responses. In addition, recent studies also demonstrated that B7
      H3 could be highly expressed in various types of human cancers, and its
      expression level was significantly associated with cancer patients'
      clinicopathological parameters and postoperative prognoses. As of now, the exact
      role of B7-H3 expression in human esophageal cancer still remains elusive. In the
      present study, we characterized the B7-H3 expression in the human esophageal
      cancer cell line Eca-109 and TE-1, and in 174 cases of human esophageal cancer
      tissues, and to analyze its clinical implications and its correlation to T cell
      infiltration. By using the RNA interference method to down-regulate the B7-H3
      expression in human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109, we further studied the
      contribution of high B7-H3 expression to the biological features of this
      malignancy. Our results showed that B7-H3 was highly expressed in the cell line
      Eca-109 and TE-1, the high expression level of B7-H3 in esophageal cancer tissues
      was significantly associated with tumor invasion and patient's poor survival.
      Moreover, the higher B7-H3 expression was significantly and inversely correlated
      to the CD3(+)T cells infiltration in tumor nest of esophageal cancer tissues. We
      successfully constructed the recombinant lentivirus of siRNA targeting B7-H3, and
      the cellular studies showed that the down regulation of B7-H3 expression could
      suppress the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in Eca-109
      cells, which was consistent with the finding from the clinical sample cohort
      study. Collectively, the high B7-H3 expression was involved in the cancer
      progression of human esophageal cancer, and might contributed to the negative
      regulation of T-cell mediated antitumor response in tumor microenvironment, and
      the proliferation and mobility of esophageal cancer cells. The detailed mechanism
      and the potential value of clinical use targeting B7-H3 against human esophageal
      cancer merit further investigation. 

PMID- 26885264
TI  - Up-regulation of microRNA-135a protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion
      injury by decreasing TXNIP expression in diabetic mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The heart in diabetic state is sensitive to myocardial
      ischemia reperfusion (mI/R) injury. In the present study, we investigated the
      potential mechanisms of modulating mI/R injury in diabetic state. METHODS:
      Diabetic db/db mice and control non-diabetic mice were administrated with mI/R
      injury or sham operation. Mouse atrial-derived cardiac cell line HL-1 subjected
      to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) was used as in vitro model of I/R injury to the
      heart. RESULTS: Compared with normal mice, mI/R elevated the levels of myocardial
      infarct size, apoptosis and TXNIP expression (in mRNA and protein) in diabetic
      mice. Myocardial miR-135a expression level was reduced in diabetic mice
      regardless of mI/R treatment or not. MiR-135a overexpression protected myocardial
      cells from mI/R injury in diabetic mice. In vitro, high glucose incubation
      contributed to a significant down-regulation of miR-135a and up-regulation of
      TXNIP in cells with or without H/R treatment. Luciferase reporter assay showed
      that TXNIP was a target gene of miR-135a. MiR-135a overexpression protected HL-1
      cells from H/R injury in high glucose condition, while this effect was reversed
      by up-regulated TXNIP. CONCLUSION: miR-135a protects against mI/R injury by
      decreasing TXNIP expression in diabetic state.

PMID- 26885265
TI  - Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of oxysophoridine on
      lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice.
AB  - Oxysophoridine (OSR) is an alkaloid with multiple pharmacological activities.
      This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms
      of OSR on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Here,
      we found that OSR treatment markedly mitigated LPS-induced body weight loss and
      significant lung injury characterized by the deterioration of histopathology,
      histologic scores, wet-to-dry ratio, exduate volume, and protein leakage. OSR
      dramatically attenuated LPS-induced lung inflammation, as evidenced by the
      reduced levels of total cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages and pro
      inflammatory cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)
      1beta, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage
      fluid and of their mRNA expression in lung tissues. OSR also inhibited LPS
      induced expression and activation of nuclear factor-kappaB p65 in pulmonary
      tissue. Additionally, OSR administration markedly prevented LPS-induced pulmonary
      cell apoptosis in mice, as reflected by the decrease in expression of procaspase
      8, procaspase-3, cleaved caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl-2-associated
      X/B-cell lymphoma 2 ratio. These results indicate that OSR is a potential
      therapeutic drug for treating LPS-induced ALI. 

PMID- 26885266
TI  - Acceleration of diabetic wound healing by a cryopreserved living dermal
      substitute created by micronized amnion seeded with fibroblasts.
AB  - Bioengineered dermal substitutes have been used for the treatment of diabetic
      ulcers in clinics and achieved satisfactory results. However, constructing
      traditional tissue engineered dermal substitutes with two-step method is high
      cost, time-consuming and greatly decreases fibroblast proliferative activity
      because of repeated trypsinization. Inthisstudy, we created a 3D micronized
      amniotic membrane (mAM) and used it as a natural microcarrier for ex vivo culture
      and amplification of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) combined with the rotary cell
      culture system (RCCS). This one-step mAM-RCCS method couldamplify HDF quickly and
      construct a dermal substitute HDF-mAM simultaneously. To facilitate the clinical
      application of mAM-RCCS, anoptimized storage method was used.Post-thawing HDF-mAM
      retained high cell viability, intact cell morphology and active peptide
      secretion. When transplanted to the wounds of db/db mice, cryopreserved HDF-mAM
      promoted vascularization and diabetic wound healing significantly. These results
      demonstrate the potential application of cryopreserved HDF-mAM as a living dermal
      substitutefor treating diabetic ulcers and other chronic wounds in clinics. 

PMID- 26885267
TI  - Adipocytes exert lipotoxic effects on osteoblast through activating hypoxia
      signaling pathway in vitro.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the effect of adipocytes on osteoblastic bone
      formation in vitro. The differentiated and undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells were co
      cultured with primary calvarial osteoblasts. At 48 h, proliferated osteoblasts
      decreased significantly after co-culture with differentiated preadipocytes as
      compared to those co-cultured with undifferentiated preadipocytes; at 7 days, the
      expressions of bone formation-related genes decreased in osteoblasts co-cultured
      with differentiated preadipocytes; at 14 days, osteoblasts mineralization also
      decreased significantly after co-culture with differentiated preadipocytes. To
      further determine whether the decreased proliferation and mineralization were
      related to the hypoxia signaling pathway, the expressions of hypoxia related
      genes were detected. Results showed the expressions of these genes significantly
      increased after co-culture with differentiated preadipocytes. NF-kappaB and IL-6
      expressions were also up-regulated in osteoblasts co-cultured with differentiated
      preadipocytes. Osteoblasts from Hif1alpha(f/f) mice showed increased
      proliferation and mineralization after co-culture with adipocytes transfected
      with adenoviral-cre, accompanied by up-regulated expressions of bone formation
      related genes and down-regulated expressions of NF-kappaB and IL-6. These results
      demonstrated that adipocytes exert a negative effect on the proliferation and
      mineralization of osteoblasts via up-regulating the expressions of hypoxia
      related genes, and NF-kappaB and IL-6 may impair the osteoblastic bone formation.

PMID- 26885268
TI  - Protective effect of carnosine after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion possibly
      through suppressing astrocyte activation.
AB  - AIM: Subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD) induced by chronic
      hypoperfusion is a common cause of vascular dementia. The aim of this study was
      to determine whether the protective effect of carnosine on white matter lesion
      after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through suppressing astrocyte activation.
      METHODS: Adult male mice (C57BL/6 strain) were subjected to permanent occlusion
      of the right unilateral common carotid arteries (rUCCAO) and treated with
      carnosine or histidine. Open field test, freezing test, Kluver-Barrera staining,
      immunohistochemical analyses and western blot were performed after rUCCAO.
      RESULTS: We found that carnosine ameliorated white matter lesion and cognitive
      impairment after rUCCAO. Carnosine suppressed the activation of astrocyte in both
      wide type mice and histidine decarboxylase knockout mice. However, administration
      of histidine did not show the same effect. We found that there were no
      differences between rUCCAO group and sham group for the expression of glutamate
      transporter-1 (GLT-1) and glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST). Furthermore,
      carnosine significantly attenuated the increase of inflammatory cytokine
      interferon gama. CONCLUSION: These data suggest carnosine induced neuroprotection
      during SIVD in mice is not dependent on the histaminergic pathway or the
      regulation of the expression of GLT-1 and GLAST, but may be due to a suppression
      of astrocyte activation and inflammatory cytokine release.

PMID- 26885269
TI  - Overexpression of miR-506 inhibits growth of osteosarcoma through Snail2.
AB  - Osteosarcoma (OS) is a prevalent primary bone malignancy and its distal
      metastasis accounts for the majority of OS-related death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play
      critical roles during cancer metastasis. Thus, elucidation of the involvement of
      specific miRNAs in the metastasis of OS may provide novel therapeutic targets for
      OS treatment. Here, we showed that in the OS specimens from patients, the levels
      of miR-506 were significantly decreased and the levels of Snail2 were
      significantly increased, compared to the paired normal bone tissue. MiR-506 and
      Snail2 inversely correlated in patients' specimen. Bioinformatics analyses
      predicted that miR-506 may target the 3'-UTR of Snail2 mRNA to inhibit its
      translation, which was confirmed by luciferase-reporter assay. Moreover, miR-506
      overexpression inhibited Snail2-mediated cell invasiveness, while miR-506
      depletion increased Snail2-mediated cell invasiveness in OS cells. Together, our
      data suggest that miR-506 suppression in OS cells may promote Snail2-mediated
      cancer metastasis. 

PMID- 26885271
TI  - Cardiosphere-derived cell sheet primed with hypoxia improves left ventricular
      function of chronically infarcted heart.
AB  - Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) isolated from postnatal heart tissue are a
      convenient and efficientresource for the treatment of myocardial infarction.
      However, poor retention of CDCs in infarcted hearts often causes less than ideal
      therapeutic outcomes. Cell sheet technology has been developed as a means of
      permitting longer retention of graft cells, and this therapeutic strategy has
      opened new avenues of cell-based therapy for severe ischemic diseases. However,
      there is still scope for improvement before this treatment can be routinely
      applied in clinical settings. In this study, we investigated whether hypoxic
      preconditioning enhances the therapeutic efficacy of CDC monolayer sheets. To
      induce hypoxia priming, CDC monolayer sheets were placed in an incubator adjusted
      to 2% oxygen for 24 hours, and then preconditioned mouse CDC sheets were
      implanted into the infarcted heart of old myocardial infarction mouse models.
      Hypoxic preconditioning of CDC sheets remarkably increased the expression of
      vascular endothelial growth factor through the PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.
      Implantation of preconditioned CDC sheets improved left ventricular function
      inchronically infarcted hearts and reduced fibrosis. The therapeutic efficacy of
      preconditioned CDC sheets was higher than the CDC sheets that were cultured under
      normaxia condition. These results suggest that hypoxic preconditioning augments
      the therapeutic angiogenic and anti-fibrotic activity of CDC sheets. A
      combination of cell sheets and hypoxic preconditioning offers an attractive
      therapeutic protocol for CDC transplantation into chronically infarcted hearts. 

PMID- 26885270
TI  - Over-expression of HSPA12B protects mice against myocardium ischemic/reperfusion
      injury through a PPARgamma-dependent PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.
AB  - Acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MIR) injury leads to severe arrhythmias
      and a high lethality. We aim to determine the effect of heat shock protein A12B
      (HSPA12B), a newly discovered member of the Hsp70 family, on heart injury
      parameters following MIR surgery. We used HSPA12B transgenic mice to determine
      its effects on heart function parameters, infarct size and cellular apoptosis
      following MIR surgery. Proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative products and anti
      oxidative enzymes in the myocardium were measured to evaluate the anti
      inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of HSPA12B over-expression. The role of
      PPARs/eNOS/PI3k/Akt pathway was investigated using their inhibitors. The
      alteration of hemodynamic parameters, histopathological, apoptotic and infarct
      size caused by MIR was greatly attenuated in HSPA12B over-expressed mice. HSPA12B
      also greatly mitigated the inflammatory response, demonstrated by the decrease in
      the levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-a and MPO. Anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD,
      Catalase and GPx) were restored by HSPA12B; oxidative products (8-OHdG, MDA and
      protein carbonyl) were decreased. HSPA12B activated the PPARgamma-dependent
      eNOS/PI3k/Akt pathway, and the influence of HSPA12B on cardiac function was
      reversed by the inhibitors of eNOS, PPARgamma, Akt and PI3K. Our results present
      a novel signaling mechanism that HSPA12B protects MIR injury through a PPARgamma
      dependent PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. 

PMID- 26885272
TI  - c9, t11- conjugated linoleic acid induces HCC cell apoptosis and correlation with
      PPAR-gamma signaling pathway.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cis9, trans11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9, t11-CLA.) is one of the
      most important isomers of conjugated linoleic acid, which have a strong anti
      tumor effects. Based on previous studies, we further explored the molecular
      mechanism of inducing cells apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line
      HepG2 and Hep3B. METHODS: Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay was used to
      investigate the effects of c9, t11-CLA on cell viability and cell proliferation
      ability; The effects of c9, t11-CLA on cell apoptosis was analyzed by DNA ladder
      assay, immuno-fluorescence and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptotic related
      gene (Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bcl-w, Mcl-1, Bax, Bak, Bad, Bid and Bim), PPAR family
      member (PPAR-alpha, PPAR-beta and PPAR-gamma), and Cox2 mRNA and protein
      expression were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blotting. ELISA assay was used to
      detect the content of Caspase-3. RESULTS: Our data were confirmed that c9, t11
      CLA could inhibit the HCC cells proliferation ability and decrease the cells
      viability. RT-PCR and western blotting assay verified that c9, t11-CLA obviously
      increased the transcription and protein expression levels of PPAR-gamma. The
      synchronism and correlation between PPAR-gamma and apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bax
      and Caspase-3 were found with a dose- and time-dependent manner. PPAR-gamma
      inhibitor GW9662 and activator Rosilitazone were further verified that there was
      cooperative relation between them. CONCLUSION: In our study, we first report that
      c9, t11-CLA induces apoptosis in HCC cells by activation of PPARgamma-Bcl-2
      Caspase-3 signal pathway. These results indicated that c9, t11-CLA will be useful
      for clinic therapy of anti-tumor and as a new regulator of PPAR-gamma in the
      future.

PMID- 26885273
TI  - TGF-beta1 induces human aortic vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switch
      through PI3K/AKT/ID2 signaling.
AB  - The vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switch is considered to be the
      key pathophysiological change in various cardiovascular diseases, such as aortic
      dissection, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. The results in this study showed
      that TGF-beta1 promotes the proliferation, migration and morphological changes of
      VSMC.TGF-beta1 promoted the expressions of PI3K, P-PI3K, AKT, P-AKT, ID2, and OPN
      protein and suppressed the expressions of alpha-SMA and SM22alpha protein; the
      opposite results were observed for TGF-beta1 inhibitor group, AKT inhibitor group
      and Combined inhibitors group. After the stimulation of TGF-beta1 signaling, the
      mRNA levels of PI3K, AKT, ID2, and OPN were the highest, while the mRNA levels of
      alpha-SMA and SM22alpha were the lowest; the opposite results were found in the
      same groups above. These results suggested the PI3K/AKT/ID2 signaling pathway is
      involved in TGF-beta1-mediated human aortic VSMC phenotypic switching, that is
      from a contractile to synthetic phenotype, and Combined inhibitors was more
      effective in inhibiting the phenotypic switch than a single inhibitor. The
      Combined inhibitors experiments may provide new avenues for the prevention and
      treatment of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) that are based on the pathological
      effects of phenotypic switching. 

PMID- 26885274
TI  - miR-451 regulates FoxO3 nuclear accumulation through Ywhaz in human colorectal
      cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our previous studies reported that miR-451 could
      protect against erythroid oxidant stress target gene-Ywhaz (14-3-3zeta) via
      inhibiting FoxO3 in the erythropoiesis. This study aimed to investigate the
      potential mechanism underlying the regulatory effect of miR-451 on human
      colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. METHODS: In this study, expressions of miR-451 and
      Ywhaz in CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected by quantitative
      real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry respectively. Human colon cancer
      cell lines were transfected with miR-451-MSCV-PIG retroviral vector to restore
      miR-451 expression. Ywhaz-3'UTR luciferase reporter assay confirmed Ywhaz as a
      direct target gene of miR-451. HCT116 cells and H29 cells were transfected with 
      shRNA-Ywhaz (pSGU6-Ywahz-shRNA-GFP) and the protein level of FoxO3 in the nucleus
      and cytoplasm was detected via Western blot assay. The anti-tumor effects of miR
      451 were further verified in nude mice. RESULTS: miR-451 was significantly down
      regulated in human colon cancer tissues and cell lines (HCT116 and HT29), and
      inversely correlated with Dukes stage of colon cancer. Ywhaz was a candidate
      target gene of miR-451 and able to stimulate tumor growth via binding to FoxO3,
      inhibiting the FoxO3 nuclear accumulation. CONCLUSION: miR-451 may inhibit the
      colon cancer growth in vitro and in vivo, likely through directly targeting Ywhaz
      and indirectly regulating the nuclear accumulation of FoxO3.

PMID- 26885275
TI  - Decrement of miR-199a-5p contributes to the tumorigenesis of bladder urothelial
      carcinoma by regulating MLK3/NF-kappaB pathway.
AB  - Aberrant miRNA expression is implicated in tumorigenesis. However, the role of
      miRNAs in bladder urothelial carcinoma still remains largely unknown. In this
      study, miR-199a-5p was validated to be significantly down-regulated in bladder
      urothelial carcinoma. In addition, restoring expression of miR-199a-5p inhibited
      the tumorigenesis of bladder urothelial carcinoma in vitro and in vivo by
      inducing the apoptosis and suppressing the proliferation of bladder cancerous
      cells. Further investigation reported that MLK3 was a direct target of miR-199a
      5p. Moreover, the expression level of miR-199a-5p was conversely correlated with
      MLK3 in bladder cancerous cells. In addition, reintroduction of MLK3 was
      identified to promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptotic rate of cells,
      which have been altered by miR-199a-5p through activating the NF-kappaB pathway.
      All together, decrement of miR-199a-5p contributes to the tumorigenesis of
      bladder cancer by directly regulating MLK3/NF-kappaB pathway and miR-199a-5p
      might be developed as a therapeutic target for treatment of the bladder
      urothelial carcinoma. 

PMID- 26885276
TI  - Neurochemical abnormalities in anterior cingulate cortex on betel quid
      dependence: a 2D (1)H MRS investigation.
AB  - The effects of betel quid dependence (BQD) on biochemical changes remain largely
      unknown. Individuals with impaired cognitive control of behavior often reveal
      altered neurochemicals in Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging (MRSI) and
      those changes are usually earlier than structural alteration. Here, we examined
      BQD individuals (n = 33) and age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy control
      participants (n = 32) in an 2D (1)H-MRS study to observe brain biochemical
      alterations in the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) associated with the severity
      of BQD and duration of BQD. In the bilateral ACC, our study found NAA/Cr were
      lower in BQD individuals compared to the healthy controls, Cho/Cr and Glx/Cr were
      higher in individuals with BQD compared to the healthy group, but increase was
      noted for mI/Cr in BQD individuals only in the left ACC. NAA/Cr ratios of the
      right ACC negatively correlated with BQDS and duration, NAA/Cr ratios of the left
      ACC negatively correlated with duration, Glx/Cr ratios of the right ACC
      positively correlated with BQDS. The findings of the study support previous
      analyses of a role for ACC area in the mediation of BQ addiction and
      mechanistically explain past observations of reduced ACC grey matter in BQD
      patients. These data jointly point to state related abnormalities of BQ effect
      and provide a novel strategy of therapeutic intervention designed to normalize
      Glu transmission and function during treating BQ addiction. 

PMID- 26885277
TI  - BAG3 regulates ECM accumulation in renal proximal tubular cells induced by TGF
      beta1.
AB  - Previously we have demonstrated that Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is
      increased in renal fibrosis using a rat unilateral ureteral obstruction model.
      The current study investigated the role of BAG3 in renal fibrosis using
      transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-treated human proximal tubular epithelial
      (HK-2) cells. An upregulation of BAG3 in vitro models was observed, which
      correlated with the increased synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins
      and expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1. Blockade
      of BAG3 induction by shorting hairpin RNA suppressed the expression of ECM
      proteins but had no effect on PAI-1 expression induced by TGF-beta1. Forced
      overexpression of BAG3 selectively increased collagens. TGF-beta1-induced BAG3
      expression in HK-2 cells was attenuated by ERK1/2 and JNK MAPK inhibitors. In
      addition, forced BAG3 overexpression blocked attenuation of collagens expression
      by ERK1/2 and JNK inhibitors. These data suggest that ERK1/2 and JNK signaling
      events are involved in modulating the expression of BAG3, which would ultimately
      contribute to renal fibrosis by enhancing the synthesis and deposition of ECM
      proteins. 

PMID- 26885278
TI  - Characterization of arginine kinase, anovel allergen of dermatophagoides farinae
      (Der f 20).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To characterize a novel allergen, the Dermatophagoides farinae-derived
      arginine kinase (Der f 20). METHODS: The protein of Der f 20 was synthesized by
      genetic engineering approaches. The allergenicity of Der f 20 was tested by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an airway allergy mouse model. RESULTS: The
      Der f 20 gene was cloned andpresented in the Gene Bank with an accession number
      of AAP57094. The Der f 20 is an arginine kinase (AK), whichshowed a close
      relationship with D. pteronyssinus AK and Aleuroglyphusovatus AK. Western-blot
      and ELISA studies showed the IgE binding capacity of Der f 20 was 66.7% in the
      sera from 6 dust mite allergic patients. Immune inhibition assayresults showed
      the IgE cross-reactivity between Der f 20 and DME (Dust mite extract). Positive
      responses to Der f 20 were 41.2% as shown by skin prick tests in 17 DME-allergic
      patients. In vitro experimental results showed that Der f 20 induced Th2 cell
      differentiation and the expression of T cell Ig mucin domain molecule-4 (TIM4) in
      DCs. Conclusions; The Der f 20 protein is a novel subtype of thedust mite
      allergen.

PMID- 26885279
TI  - Chronic Subdural Hematoma in the Aged, Trauma or Degeneration?
AB  - Chronic subdural hematomas (CSHs) are generally regarded to be a traumatic
      lesion. It was regarded as a stroke in 17th century, an inflammatory disease in
      19th century. From 20th century, it became a traumatic lesion. CSH frequently
      occur after a trauma, however, it cannot occur when there is no enough subdural
      space even after a severe head injury. CSH may occur without trauma, when there
      is sufficient subdural space. The author tried to investigate trends in the
      causation of CSH. By a review of literature, the author suggested a different
      view on the causation of CSH. CSH usually originated from either a subdural
      hygroma or an acute subdural hematoma. Development of CSH starts from the
      separation of the dural border cell (DBC) layer, which induces proliferation of
      DBCs with production of neomembrane. Capillaries will follow along the
      neomembrane. Hemorrhage would occur into the subdural fluid either by tearing of
      bridge veins or repeated microhemorrhage from the neomembrane. That is the
      mechanism of hematoma enlargement. Trauma or bleeding tendency may precipitate
      development of CSH, however, it cannot lead CSH, if there is no sufficient
      subdural space. The key determinant for development of CSH is a sufficient
      subdural space, in other words, brain atrophy. The most common and universal
      cause of brain atrophy is the aging. Modifying Virchow's description, CSH is
      sometimes traumatic, but most often caused by degeneration of the brain. Now, it
      is reasonable that degeneration of brain might play pivotal role in development
      of CSH in the aged persons. 

PMID- 26885280
TI  - Predictor and Prognosis of Procedural Rupture during Coil Embolization for
      Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study was to determine the incidence and
      outcomes of procedural rupture (PR) during coil embolization of unruptured
      intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and to explore potential risk factors. METHODS: This
      retrospective study evaluated 1038 patients treated with coil embolization
      between January 2001 and May 2013 in a single tertiary medical institute. PR was
      defined as evidence of rupture during coil embolization or post procedural
      imaging. The patient's medical records were reviewed including procedure
      description, image findings and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twelve of 1038 (1.1%)
      patients showed PR. Points and time of rupture were parent artery rupture during
      stent delivery (n=2), aneurysm rupture during filling stage (n=9) and unknown
      (n=1). Two parent artery rupture and one aneurysm neck rupture showed poor
      clinical outcomes [modified Rankin Scale (mRs) >2] Nine aneurysm dome rupture
      cases showed favorable outcomes (mRS <=2). Location (anterior cerebral artery) of
      aneurysm was associated with high procedural rupture rate (p<0.05). CONCLUSION:
      The clinical course of a patientwith procedural aneurysm rupture during filling
      stage seemed benign. Parent artery and aneurysm neck rupture seemed relatively
      urgent, serious and life threatening. Although the permanent morbidity rate was
      low, clinicians should pay attention to prevent PR, especially when confronting
      the anterior cerebral artery aneurysm.

PMID- 26885282
TI  - Endovascular Treatment of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: Single Center Experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) remains
      a challenge. However, after introduction of Onyx, transarterial approach is the
      preferred treatment option in many centers. We report our experience of dAVFs
      embolization with special emphasis on transarterial approach. METHODS: Seventeen
      embolization procedures were performed in 13 patients with dAVFs between Jan 2009
      and Oct 2014. Clinical symptoms, location and type of fistulas, embolization
      methods, complications, radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated using
      charts and PACS images. RESULTS: All 13 patients had symptomatic lesions. The
      locations of fistulas were transverse-sigmoid sinus in 6, middle fossa dura in 4,
      cavernous sinus in 2, and superior sagittal sinus in 1 patient. Cognard types
      were as follows : I in 4, IIa in 2, IIa+IIb in 5, and IV in 2. Embolization
      procedures were performed >=2 times in 3 patients. Nine patients were treated
      with transarterial Onyx embolization alone. One of these required direct surgical
      puncture of middle meningeal artery. Complete obliteration of fistulas was
      achieved in 11/13 (85%) patients. There were no complications except for 1 case
      of Onyx migration in cavernous dAVF. Modified Rankin scale score at post
      operative 3 months were 0 in 11, and 3 in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Transarterial
      Onyx embolization can be a first line therapeutic option in patients with dAVFs.
      However, transvenous approach should be tried first in cavernous sinus dAVF
      because of the risk of intracranial migration of liquid embolic materials.
      Furthermore, combined surgical endovascular approach can be considered as a
      useful option in inaccessible route.

PMID- 26885281
TI  - Natural History of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms : A Retrospective Single
      Center Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to elucidate the natural
      course of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) at a single institution.
      METHODS: Data from patients diagnosed with UIA from March 2000 to May 2008 at our
      hospital were subjected to a retrospective analysis. The cumulative and annual
      aneurysm rupture rates were calculated. Additionally, risk factors associated
      with aneurysmal rupture were identified. RESULTS: A total of 1339 aneurysms in
      1006 patients met the inclusion criteria. During the follow-up period, 685
      aneurysms were treated before rupture via either an open surgical or endovascular
      procedure. Six hundred fifty-four UIAs were identified and not repaired during
      the follow-up period. The mean UIA size was 4.5+/-3.2 mm, and 86.5% of the total
      UIAs had a largest dimension <7 mm. Among these UIAs, 18 ruptured at a median of
      1.6 years (range : 27 days to 9.8 years) after day 0. The annual rupture risk
      during a 9-year follow-up was 1.00%. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards
      analysis revealed that the aneurysm size and a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage
      (SAH) were statistically significant risk factors for rupture. For an aneurysms
      smaller than 7 mm in the absence of a history of SAH, the annual rupture risk was
      0.79%. CONCLUSION: In our study, the annual rupture risk for UIAs smaller than 7
      mm in the absence of a history of SAH was higher than that of Western populations
      but similar to that of the Japanese population.

PMID- 26885283
TI  - Prognostic Role of Methylation Status of the MGMT Promoter Determined
      Quantitatively by Pyrosequencing in Glioblastoma Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether pyrosequencing can be used to
      determine the methylation status of the MGMT promoter as a clinical biomarker
      using relatively old archival tissue samples of glioblastoma. We also examined
      other prognostic factors for survival of glioblastoma patients. METHODS: The
      available study set included formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from
      104 patients at two institutes from 1997 to 2012, all of which were diagnosed
      histopathologically as glioblastoma. Clinicopathologic data were collected by
      review of medical records. For pyrosequencing analysis, the PyroMark Q96 CpG MGMT
      kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) was used to detect the level of methylation at exon
      1 positions 17-39 of the MGMT gene, which contains 5 CpGs. RESULTS: Methylation
      of the MGMT promoter was detected in 43 (41.3%) of 104 samples. The average
      percentage methylation was 14.0+/-16.8% overall and 39.0+/-14.7% for methylated
      cases. There was no significant pattern of linear increase or decrease according
      to the age of the FFPE block (p=0.687). In multivariate analysis, age,
      performance status, extent of surgery, method of adjuvant therapy, and
      methylation status estimated by pyrosequencing were independently associated with
      overall survival. Additionally, patients with a high level of methylation
      survived longer than those with low methylation (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: In this
      study, the status and extent of methylation of the MGMT promoter analyzed by
      pyrosequencing were associated with overall survival in glioblastoma patients.
      Pyrosequencing is a quantitative method that overcomes the problems of MSP and a
      simple technique for accurate analysis of DNA sequences.

PMID- 26885284
TI  - Radiosurgery Compared with External Radiation Therapy as a Primary Treatment in
      Spine Metastasis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma : A Multicenter, Matched-Pair
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multicenter, matched-pair study was to compare the
      outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and conventional external radiation
      therapy (RT) when used as a primary treatment in spine metastasis from
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From 2005 to 2012, 28 patients underwent
      SRS as the primary treatment in spine metastasis from HCC. Based on sex, age,
      number of spine metastasis, Child-Pugh classification, interval from original
      tumor to spine metastasis, and year of treatment, 28 patients who underwent RT
      were paired. Outcomes of interest were pain relief, progression free survival,
      toxicities, and further treatment. RESULTS: The perioperative visual analog scale
      (VAS) decrease was larger in SRS group than in RT group, but the difference was
      not significant (3.7 vs. 2.8, p=0.13). When pain medication was adjusted, the
      number of patients with complete (n=6 vs.3) or partial (n=12 vs.13) relief was
      larger in SRS group than in RT group; however, the difference was not significant
      (p=0.83). There was no significant difference in progression free survival
      (p=0.48). In SRS group, 32.1% of patients had 1 or more toxicities whereas the
      percentage in RT group was 63.0%, a significant difference (p=0.04). Six SRS
      patients and 7 RT patients received further intervention at the treated segment.
      CONCLUSION: Clinical and radiological outcome were not significantly different
      between the two treatments. Toxicities, however, were more prevalent in the RT
      group.

PMID- 26885285
TI  - Malignant Glioma with Neuronal Marker Expression : A Clinicopathological Study of
      18 Cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Malignant gliomas with neuronal marker expression (MGwNM) are rare and
      poorly characterized. Increasingly diverse types of MGwNM have been described and
      these reported cases underscore the dilemmas in the classification and diagnosis
      of those tumors. The aim of this study is to provide additional insights into
      MGwNM and present the clinicopathological features of 18 patients. METHODS: We
      reviewed the medical records of 18 patients diagnosed as MGwNM at our institute
      between January 2006 and December 2012. Macroscopic total resection was performed
      in 11 patients (61%). We evaluated the methylation status of O(6)-methylguanine
      DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and expression of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH-1)
      in all cases, and deletions of 1p and 19q in available cases. RESULTS: The
      estimated median overall survival was 21.2 months. The median progression-free
      survival was 6.3 months. Six patients (33%) had MGMT methylation but IDH1
      mutation was found in only one patient (6%). Gene analysis for 1p19q performed in
      nine patients revealed no deletion in six, 19q deletion only in two, and 1p
      deletion only in one. The extent of resection was significantly correlated with
      progression free survival on both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis
      (p=0.002 and p=0.013, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, the overall
      survival of MGwNM was not superior to glioblastoma. The extent of resection has a
      significant prognostic impact on progression-free survival. Further studies of
      the prognostic factors related to chemo-radio therapy, similar to studies with
      glioblastoma, are mandatory to improve survival.

PMID- 26885286
TI  - Evaluation of Non-Watertight Dural Reconstruction with Collagen Matrix Onlay
      Graft in Posterior Fossa Surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many surgeons advocate for watertight dural reconstruction after
      posterior fossa surgery given the significant risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      leak. Little evidence exists for posterior fossa dural reconstruction utilizing
      monolayer collagen matrix onlay graft in a non-watertight fashion. Our objective
      was to report the results of using collagen matrix in a non-watertight fashion
      for posterior fossa dural reconstruction. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective
      review of operations performed by the senior author from 2004-2011 identified
      collagen matrix (DuraGen) use in 84 posterior fossa operations. Wound
      complications such as CSF leak, infection, pseudomeningocele, and aseptic
      meningitis were noted. Fisher's exact test was performed to assess risk factor
      association with specific complications. RESULTS: Incisional CSF leak rate was
      8.3% and non-incisional CSF leak rate was 3.6%. Incidence of aseptic meningitis
      was 7.1% and all cases resolved with steroids alone. Incidence of palpable and
      symptomatic pseudomeningocele in follow-up was 10.7% and 3.6% respectively.
      Postoperative infection rate was 4.8%. Previous surgery was associated with
      pseudomeningocele development (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: When primary dural closure
      after posterior fossa surgery is undesirable or not feasible, non-watertight
      dural reconstruction with collagen matrix resulted in incisional CSF leak in
      8.3%. Incidence of pseudomeningocele, aseptic meningitis, and wound infection
      were within acceptable range. Data from this study may be used to compare
      alternative methods of dural reconstruction in posterior fossa surgery.

PMID- 26885288
TI  - Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Presenting with Seizure due to Cerebrospinal Fluid
      Leakage after Spinal Surgery.
AB  - Cerebrospinal fluid leakage may commonly occur during spinal surgeries and it may
      cause dural tears. These tears may result in hemorrhage in the entire
      compartments of the brain. Most common site of such hemorrhages are the veins in
      the cerebellar region. We report a case of hemorrhage, mimicking aneurysmal
      subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a cerebrospinal fluid leakage following lumbar
      spinal surgery and discuss the possible mechanisms of action. 

PMID- 26885287
TI  - Sellar-Suprasellar Extraventricular Choroid Plexus Papilloma : A Case Report and
      Review of the Literature.
AB  - Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are relatively rare neuroectodermal tumors that
      develop from choroid plexus epithelial cells and are usually restricted to the
      ventricles. Extraventricular CPPs are very unusual and can be difficult to
      diagnose and treat. A 50-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic
      complaining of headache and visual deterioration. Neurological examination found
      no abnormalities except decreased light perception and secondary optic atrophy in
      the left eye. Endocrine testing revealed normal levels of hormones produced by
      the pituitary and target glands. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed
      a huge regular-shaped lesion in the sellar-suprasellar region occupying the sella
      turcica and extending into the suprasellar cistern and planum sphenoidale. The
      lesion was completely excised by microsurgery via an ordinary left-sided
      pterional approach. Histopathology identified the lesion as a choroid plexus
      papilloma. Following the case report, literature on the origin, differential
      diagnosis, and treatment of this rare tumor is reviewed. 

PMID- 26885289
TI  - Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy due to the Ochronotic Arthropathy of the Cervical
      Spine.
AB  - Ochronosis is a musculoskeletal manifestation of alkaptonuria, a rare hereditary
      metabolic disorder occurs due to the absence of homogentisic acid oxidase and
      leading to various systemic abnormalities related to deposition of homogentisic
      acid pigmentation (ochronotic pigmentation). The present case reports the
      clinical features, radiographic findings, treatments and results of a cervical
      spondylotic myelopathy woman patient due to the ochronotic arthropathy of the
      cervical spine. The patient aged 62 years was presented with gait disturbance and
      hand clumsiness. Physical examination, X-rays, computed tomography and lab
      results of the urine sample confirmed the presence of ochronosis with the
      involvement of the cervical spine. The patient underwent a modified cervical
      laminoplasty due to multi-segment spinal cord compression. The postoperative
      follow-up showed a good functional outcome with patient satisfaction. The present
      study concludes the conditions and important diagnostic and surgical aspects of a
      patient. It is necessary to identify the condition clinically and if cord
      compression is observed, appropriate surgical interventions needs to be
      instituted. 

PMID- 26885290
TI  - Extended Pneumocephalus after Drainage of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Associated
      with Intracranial Hypotension : Case Report with Pathophysiologic Consideration.
AB  - Chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) is a well-known disease entity and is
      traditionally managed with surgery. However, when associated with spontaneous
      intracranial hypotension (SIH), the treatment strategy ought to be modified, as
      classical treatment could lead to unwanted consequences. A 59-year-old man
      presented with a case of SIH that manifested as a bilateral chronic SDH. He
      developed fatal extensive pneumocephalus and SDH re-accumulation as a
      complication of burr-hole drainage. Despite application of an epidural blood
      patch, the spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak continued, which required open spinal
      surgery. Chronic SDH management should not be overlooked, especially if the exact
      cause has not been determined. When chronic SDH assumed to be associated with
      SIH, the neurosurgeon should determine the exact cause of SIH in order to
      effectively correct the cause. 

PMID- 26885291
TI  - Ultrasound Diagnosis of Double Crush Syndrome of the Ulnar Nerve by the Anconeus
      Epitrochlearis and a Ganglion.
AB  - Double compression of the ulnar nerve, including Guyon's canal syndrome
      associated with cubital tunnel syndrome caused by the anconeus epitrochlearis
      muscle, is a very rare condition. We present a case of double crush syndrome of
      the ulnar nerve at the wrist and elbow in a 55-year-old man, as well as a brief
      review of the literature. Although electrodiagnostic findings were consistent
      with an ulnar nerve lesion only at the elbow, ultrasonography revealed a ganglion
      compressing the ulnar nerve at the hypothenar area and the anconeus
      epitrochlearis muscle lying in the cubital tunnel. Careful physical examination
      and ultrasound assessment of the elbow and wrist confirmed the clinical diagnosis
      prior to surgery. 

PMID- 26885292
TI  - A Case Report of the Angiosarcoma Involving Epicranial Muscle and Fascia : Is the
      Occipitofrontalis Muscle Composed of Two Different Muscles?
AB  - The occipitofrontalis muscle is generally regarded as one muscle composed of two
      muscle bellies joined through the galea aponeurotica. However, two muscle bellies
      have different embryological origin, anatomical function and innervations. We
      report a case of angiosarcoma of the scalp in a 63-year-old man whose MR showed
      that the superficial fascia overlying the occipital belly becomes the
      temporoparietal fascia and ends at the superior end of the frontal belly. Beneath
      the superficial fascia, the occipital belly of the occipitofrontalis muscle
      becomes the galea aponeurotica and inserts into the underside of the frontal
      belly. The presented case report supported the concept of which the
      occipitofrontalis muscle appears to be composed of two anatomically different
      muscles. 

PMID- 26885293
TI  - Is postoperative nausea and vomiting still the big "little" problem?

PMID- 26885294
TI  - Perioperative lung-protective ventilation strategy reduces postoperative
      pulmonary complications in patients undergoing thoracic and major abdominal
      surgery.
AB  - The occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications is strongly associated
      with increased hospital mortality and prolonged postoperative hospital stays.
      Although protective lung ventilation is commonly used in the intensive care unit,
      low tidal volume ventilation in the operating room is not a routine strategy. Low
      tidal volume ventilation, moderate positive end-expiratory pressure, and repeated
      recruitment maneuvers, particularly for high-risk patients undergoing major
      abdominal surgery, can reduce postoperative pulmonary complications. Facilitating
      perioperative bundle care by combining prophylactic and postoperative positive
      pressure ventilation with intraoperative lung-protective ventilation may be
      helpful to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications. 

PMID- 26885295
TI  - Nonparametric statistical tests for the continuous data: the basic concept and
      the practical use.
AB  - Conventional statistical tests are usually called parametric tests. Parametric
      tests are used more frequently than nonparametric tests in many medical articles,
      because most of the medical researchers are familiar with and the statistical
      software packages strongly support parametric tests. Parametric tests require
      important assumption; assumption of normality which means that distribution of
      sample means is normally distributed. However, parametric test can be misleading
      when this assumption is not satisfied. In this circumstance, nonparametric tests
      are the alternative methods available, because they do not required the normality
      assumption. Nonparametric tests are the statistical methods based on signs and
      ranks. In this article, we will discuss about the basic concepts and practical
      use of nonparametric tests for the guide to the proper use. 

PMID- 26885296
TI  - The effect of electromagnetic guidance system on early learning curve of
      ultrasound for novices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic guidance reveals needle alignment and position
      relative to the image plane on an ultrasound view. This study compared the early
      learning curves of novices performing ultrasound-guided needle placement with (n
      = 10) or without electromagnetic guidance (n = 10). METHODS: Participants
      performed 30 ultrasound-guided needle placements using an echogenic stick (0.3-cm
      diameter) as a target inside a phantom model; this early learning period was
      divided into sequential periods (P1: 1-5, P2: 6-10, P3: 11-15, P4: 16-20, P5: 21
      25, P6: 26-30 attempts). RESULTS: Using an in-plane approach, the time required
      for needle placement in the EMG group was significantly shorter than that of the
      non-EMG group in P1, P2, P4, and P6 and the number of needle advances of the EMG
      group was significantly smaller than that of the non-EMG group in P1 and P2.
      Using an out-of-plane approaches, the time required for needle placement in the
      EMG group was significantly shorter than that of the non-EMG group in all
      periods, but the number of needle advances was similar between both groups in P1
      P5. CONCLUSIONS: The electromagnetic guidance system may be beneficial when
      performing ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks or vascular cannulation in
      the early learning period, especially by inexperienced operators with reducing
      patient risk.

PMID- 26885297
TI  - Comparison of clinical validation of acceleromyography and electromyography in
      children who were administered rocuronium during general anesthesia: a
      prospective double-blinded randomized study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electromyography and acceleromyography are common neuromuscular
      monitoring devices. However, questions still remain regarding the use of
      acceleromyography in children. This study compared the calibration success rates
      and intubation conditions in children after obtaining the maximal blockade
      depending on each of the devices. METHODS: Children, 3 to 6 years old, were
      randomly allocated to the TOF-Watch SX acceleromyography group or the NMT
      electromyography group. The induction was performed with propofol, fentanyl, and
      rocuronium. The bispectral index and 1 Hz single twitch were monitored during
      observation. The calibration of the each device was begun when the BIS dropped to
      60. After successful calibration, rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was injected. A tracheal
      intubation was performed when the twitch height suppressed to 0. The rocuronium
      onset time (time from administration to the maximal depression of twitch height)
      and intubating conditions were rated in a blinded manner. RESULTS: There was no
      difference in the calibration success rates between the two groups; and the
      calibration time in the electromyography group (16.7 +/- 11.0 seconds) was
      shorter than the acceleromyography group (28.1 +/- 13.4 seconds, P = 0.012). The
      rocuronium onset time of the electromyography group (73.6 +/- 18.9 seconds) was
      longer than the acceleromyography group (63.9 +/- 18.8 seconds, P = 0.042) and
      the intubation condition of the electromyography group (2.27 +/- 0.65) was better
      than the acceleromyography group (1.86 +/- 0.50, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS:
      Electromyography offers a better compromise than acceleromyography with respect
      to the duration of calibration process and surrogate for the optimal time of
      tracheal intubation in children.

PMID- 26885298
TI  - The effect of Valsalva maneuver in attenuating skin puncture pain during spinal
      anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Valsalva maneuver reduces pain by activating sinoaortic baroreceptor
      reflex arc. We planned this study to evaluate the role of valsalva in attenuating
      spinal needle-puncture pain. METHODS: Ninety American Society of
      Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and II enrolled patients undergoing elective
      surgery were randomized into 3 groups of 30 each. Group I (Control): didn't blow;
      group II (Distraction): patients blew into rubber tube; Group III (Valsalva):
      blew into sphygmomanometer tube and raise mercury column up to 30 mmHg for at
      least 20 seconds. During above procedures, spinal puncture was performed with 25
      gauge spinal needle. RESULTS: Eighty-two patient data were analyzed. Incidence of
      spinal puncture pain was reduced to 10% (3 of 27) in Valsalva group as compared
      to 100% (28 of 28 in control group and 27 of 27 in Distraction group) observed in
      other two groups (P < 0.05). Severity of lumbar puncture pain as assessed by
      visual analog scale (0-10; where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst imaginable
      pain) presented as Median (Interquartile range) were significantly reduced in the
      Valsalva group (0.0 [0.0] as compared to other 2 groups 2.0 [0.0] in the
      Distraction group and 3.0 [0.8] in Control group) (P < 0.05). Regarding time
      taken by CSF to fill spinal needle hub, there was no difference among the three
      groups (P > 0.05). None patient of all groups had post dural puncture headache (P
      > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Valsalva can be performed routinely in ASA I and II
      patients undergoing spinal anesthesia as it is safe, painless and non
      pharmacological method of pain attenuation.

PMID- 26885299
TI  - Can bedside patient-reported numbness predict postoperative ambulation ability
      for total knee arthroplasty patients with nerve block catheters?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adductor canal catheters offer advantages over femoral nerve
      catheters for knee replacement patients because they produce less quadriceps
      muscle weakness; however, applying adductor canal catheters in bedside clinical
      practice remains challenging. There is currently no patient-reported outcome that
      accurately predicts patients' physical function after knee replacement. The
      present study evaluates the validity of a relatively new patient-reported
      outcome, i.e., a numbness score obtained using a numeric rating scale, and
      assesses its predictive value on postoperative ambulation. METHODS: We conducted
      a retrospective cohort study pooling data from two previously-published clinical
      trials using identical research methodologies. Both studies recruited patients
      undergoing knee replacement; one studied adductor canal catheters while the other
      studied femoral nerve catheters. Our primary outcome was patient-reported
      numbness scores on postoperative day 1. We also examined postoperative day 1
      ambulation distance and its association with postoperative numbness using linear
      regression, adjusting for age, body mass index, and physical status. RESULTS:
      Data from 94 subjects were included (femoral subjects, n = 46; adductor canal
      subjects, n = 48). Adductor canal patients reported decreased numbness (median
      [10(th)-90(th) percentiles]) compared to femoral patients (0 [0-5] vs. 4 [0-10],
      P = 0.001). Adductor canal patients also ambulated seven times further on
      postoperative day 1 relative to femoral patients. There was a significant
      association between postoperative day 1 total ambulation distance and numbness
      (Beta = -2.6; 95% CI: -4.5, -0.8, P = 0.01) with R(2) = 0.1. CONCLUSIONS:
      Adductor canal catheters facilitate improved early ambulation and produce less
      patient-reported numbness after knee replacement, but the correlation between
      these two variables is weak.

PMID- 26885300
TI  - Arrhythmogenic potential develops rapidly at graft reperfusion before the start
      of hypotension during living-donor liver transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Detailed profiles of acute hypothermia and electrocardiographic (ECG)
      manifestations of arrhythmogenicity were examined to analyze acute hypothermia
      and ventricular arrhythmogenic potential immediately after portal vein unclamping
      (PVU) in living-donor liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: We retrospectively
      analyzed electronically archived medical records (n = 148) of beat-to-beat ECG,
      arterial pressure waveforms, and blood temperature (BT) from Swan-Ganz catheters
      in patients undergoing living-donor LT. The ECG data analyzed were selected from
      the start of BT drop to the initiation of systolic hypotension after PVU.
      RESULTS: On reperfusion, acute hypothermia of < 34C, < 33C and < 32C developed in
      75.0%, 37.2% and 11.5% of patients, respectively. BT decreased from 35.0C +/-
      0.8C to 33.3C +/- 1.0C (range 35.8C-30.5C). The median time to nadir of BT was 10
      s after PVU. Difference in BT (DeltaBT) was weakly correlated with graft
      recipient weight ratio (GRWR; r = 0.22, P = 0.008). Compared to baseline,
      arrhythmogenicity indices such as corrected QT (QTc), Tp-e (T wave peak to end)
      interval, and Tp-e/QTc ratio were prolonged (P < 0.001 each). ST height decreased
      and T amplitude increased (P < 0.001 each). However, no correlation was found
      between DeltaBT and arrhythmogenic indices. CONCLUSIONS: In living-donor LT,
      regardless of extent of BT drop, ventricular arrhythmogenic potential developed
      immediately after PVU prior to occurrence of systolic hypotension.

PMID- 26885301
TI  - Changes in cerebral oxygen saturation and early postoperative cognitive function
      after laparoscopic gastrectomy: a comparison with conventional open surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastrectomy requires a reverse-Trendelenburg position
      and prolonged pneumoperitoneum and it could cause significant changes in cerebral
      homeostasis and lead to cognitive dysfunction. We compared changes in regional
      cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), early postoperative cognitive function and
      hemodynamic variables in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy with those
      patients that underwent conventional open gastrectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients
      were enrolled in this study and the patients were distributed to receive either
      laparoscopic gastrectomy (laparoscopy group, n = 30) or open conventional
      gastrectomy (open group, n = 30). rSO2, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension,
      hemodynamic variables and arterial blood gas analysis were monitored during the
      operation. The enrolled patients underwent the mini-mental state examination 1
      day before and 5 days after surgery for evaluation of early postoperative
      cognitive function. RESULTS: Compared to baseline value, rSO2 and end-tidal
      carbon dioxide tension increased significantly in the laparoscopy group after
      pneumoperitoneum, whereas no change was observed in the open group. No patient
      experienced cerebral oxygen desaturation or postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
      Changes in mean arterial pressure over time were significantly different between
      the groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both laparoscopic and open gastrectomy did
      not induce cerebral desaturation or early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in
      patients under desflurane anesthesia. However, rSO2 values during surgery
      favoured laparoscopic surgery, which was possibly related to increased cerebral
      blood flow due to increased carbon dioxide tension and the effect of a reverse
      Trendelenburg position.

PMID- 26885302
TI  - Effects of intraoperative single bolus fentanyl administration and remifentanil
      infusion on postoperative nausea and vomiting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the use of postoperative opioids is a well-known risk factor
      for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), few studies have been performed on
      the effects of intraoperative opioids on PONV. We examined the effects of a
      single bolus administration of fentanyl during anesthesia induction and the
      intraoperative infusion of remifentanil on PONV. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty
      women, aged 20 to 65 years and scheduled for thyroidectomy, were allocated to a
      control group (Group C), a single bolus administration of fentanyl 2 ug/kg during
      anesthesia induction (Group F), or 2 ng/ ml of effect-site concentration
      controlled intraoperative infusion of remifentanil (Group R) groups. Anesthesia
      was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O. The incidence and severity of PONV
      and use of rescue antiemetics were recorded at 2, 6, and 24 h postoperatively.
      RESULTS: Group F showed higher incidences of nausea (60/82, 73% vs. 38/77, 49%; P
      = 0.008), vomiting (40/82, 49% vs. 23/77 30%; P = 0.041) and the use of rescue
      antiemetics (47/82, 57% vs. 29/77, 38%; P = 0.044) compared with Group C at
      postoperative 24 h. However, there were no significant differences in the
      incidence of PONV between Groups C and R. The overall incidences of PONV for
      postoperative 24 h were 49%, 73%, and 59% in Groups C, F, and R, respectively (P
      = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A single bolus administration of fentanyl 2 ug/kg during
      anesthesia induction increases the incidence of PONV, but intraoperative
      remifentanil infusion with 2 ng/ml effect-site concentration did not affect the
      incidence of PONV.

PMID- 26885304
TI  - Vagally mediated atrioventricular block with ventricular asystole immediately
      after assuming prone position under spinal anestheisa: a case report.
AB  - Vagally mediated atrioventricular (AV) block is a condition which a paroxysmal AV
      block occurs with the slowing of the sinus rate. Owing to its unpredictability
      and benign nature, it often goes unrecognized in clinical practice. We present
      the case of a 49-year-old man who suddenly lost consciousness when he assumed a
      prone position for hemorrohoidectomy under spinal anesthesia; continuous
      electrocardiographic recording revealed AV block with ventricular asystole. He
      was completely recovered after returning to a supine position. This case calls
      our attention to fatal manifestation of vagally mediated AV block leading to
      syncope. 

PMID- 26885305
TI  - Paraplegia following cervical epidural catheterization using loss of resistance
      technique with air: a case report.
AB  - We report a case of paraplegia without neurologic deficit of upper extremities
      following cervical epidural catheterization using air during the loss of
      resistance technique. A 41-year-old woman diagnosed with complex regional pain
      syndrome had upper and lower extremity pain. A thoracic epidural lead was
      inserted for a trial spinal cord stimulation for treating lower extremity pain
      and cervical epidural catheterization was performed for treating upper extremity
      pain. Rapidly progressive paraplegia developed six hours after cervical epidural
      catheterization. Spine CT revealed air entrapment in multiple thoracic
      intervertebral foraminal spaces and surrounding epidural space without obvious
      spinal cord compression before the decompressive operation, which disappeared one
      day after the decompressive operation. Her paraplegia symptoms were normalized
      immediately after the operation. The presumed cause of paraplegia was transient
      interruption of blood supply to the spinal cord through the segmental
      radiculomedullary arteries feeding the spinal cord at the thoracic level of the
      intervertebral foramen caused by the air. 

PMID- 26885303
TI  - Lipofundin(r) MCT/LCT 20% increase left ventricular systolic pressure in an ex
      vivo rat heart model via increase of intracellular calcium level.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lipid emulsions have been used to treat various drug toxicities and
      for total parenteral nutrition therapy. Their usefulness has also been confirmed
      in patients with local anesthetic-induced cardiac toxicity. The purpose of this
      study was to measure the hemodynamic and composition effects of lipid emulsions
      and to elucidate the mechanism associated with changes in intracellular calcium
      levels in myocardiocytes. METHODS: We measured hemodynamic effects using a
      digital analysis system after Intralipid(r) and Lipofundin(r) MCT/LCT were
      infused into hearts hanging in a Langendorff perfusion system. We measured the
      effects of the lipid emulsions on intracellular calcium levels in H9c2 cells by
      confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Infusion of Lipofundin(r) MCT/LCT 20% (1 ml/kg)
      resulted in a significant increase in left ventricular systolic pressure compared
      to that after infusing modified Krebs-Henseleit solution (1 ml/kg) (P = 0.003,
      95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-12.5). Lipofundin(r) MCT/LCT 20% had a more
      positive inotropic effect than that of Intralipid(r) 20% (P = 0.009, 95% CI, 1.4
      11.6). Both lipid emulsion treatments increased intracellular calcium levels.
      Lipofundin(r) MCT/LCT (0.01%) increased intracellular calcium level more than
      that of 0.01% Intralipid(r) (P < 0.05, 95% CI, 0.0-1.9). CONCLUSIONS: These two
      lipid emulsions had different inotropic effects depending on their triglyceride
      component. The inotropic effect of lipid emulsions could be related with
      intracellular calcium level.

PMID- 26885306
TI  - Usefulness of intraoperative bronchoscopy during surgical repair of a congenital
      cardiac anomaly with possible airway obstruction: three cases report.
AB  - Compression of the airway is relatively common in pediatric patients, although it
      is often an unrecognized complication of congenital cardiac and aortic arch
      anomalies. Aortopexy has been established as a surgical treatment for
      tracheobronchial obstruction associated with vascular anomaly, aortic arch
      anomaly, esophageal atresia, and tracheoesophageal fistula. The tissue-to-tissue
      arch repair technique could result in severe airway complication such as
      compression of the left main bronchus which was not a problem before the
      correction. We report three cases of corrective open heart surgery monitored by
      intraoperative bronchoscopy performed during prebypass, and performed immediately
      before weaning from bypass, to evaluate tracheobronchial obstruction caused by
      congenital, complex cardiac anomalies in the operating room. 

PMID- 26885307
TI  - Stanford type A aortic dissection in a patient with Marfan syndrome during
      pregnancy: a case report.
AB  - Aortic dissection during pregnancy is a devastating event for both the pregnant
      woman and the baby. We report a case of acute aortic dissection (Stanford type A)
      in a pregnant woman with Marfan syndrome at the 29(th) week of gestation. She
      underwent a cesarean section followed by an ascending aorta and total arch
      replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass, without a prior sternotomy. The
      hemodynamic parameters were kept stable during the cesarean section by using
      inotropes and vasopressors under transesophageal echocardiography monitoring. The
      newborn survived after endotracheal intubation and management in a neonatal
      intensive care unit. 

PMID- 26885308
TI  - Cerebral air embolism and subsequent transient neurologic abnormalities in a
      liver transplant recipient following the removal of the pulmonary artery catheter
      from the central venous access device: a case report.
AB  - Cerebral air embolism is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. We
      experienced a living-donor liver transplant recipient who presented with
      unexpected cerebral air embolism and transient neurologic abnormalities that
      subsequently developed just after the removal of the pulmonary artery catheter
      from the central venous access device. One day after the initial event, the
      patient's neurologic status gradually improved. The patient was discharged 30
      days after liver transplantation without neurologic sequelae. 

PMID- 26885309
TI  - Effectiveness of applying continuous positive airway pressure in a patient with
      paradoxical vocal fold movement after endotracheal extubation: a case report.
AB  - Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) is an uncommon upper airway disorder
      defined as paradoxical adduction of the vocal folds during inspiration. The
      etiology and treatment of PVFM are unclear. The physician should manage this
      condition because of the possibility of near complete airway obstruction in
      severe case of PVFM. We report a case of successful airway management in a
      patient with PVFM by applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this
      case, PVFM was detected after removing an endotracheal tube from a 67-year-old
      male who underwent excision of a laryngeal mass. The patient recovered without
      complications in 1 day with support by CPAP. 

PMID- 26885310
TI  - Carbon dioxide pneumothorax occurring during laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy due
      to a congenital diaphragmatic defect: a case report.
AB  - During laparoscopic surgery, carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumothorax can develop due to
      a congenital defect in the diaphragm. We present a case of a spontaneous massive
      left-sided pneumothorax that occurred during laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy,
      because of an escape of intraperitoneal CO2 gas, under pressure, into the pleural
      cavity through a congenital defect in the esophageal hiatus of the left
      diaphragm. This was confirmed on intraoperative chest radiography and
      laparoscopic inspection. This CO2 pneumothorax caused tolerable hemodynamic and
      respiratory consequences, and was rapidly reversible after release of the
      pneumoperitoneum. Thus, a conservative approach was adopted, and the remainder of
      the surgery was completed, laparoscopically. Due to the high solubility of CO2
      gas and the extra-pulmonary mechanism, CO2 pneumothorax with otherwise
      hemodynamically stable conditions can be managed by conservative modalities,
      avoiding unnecessary chest tube insertion or conversion to an open procedure. 

PMID- 26885311
TI  - Arytenoid dislocation after uneventful endotracheal intubation: a case report.
AB  - Arytenoid dislocation is an unusual complication of endotracheal intubation. We
      reported a case of a 48-year-old female with arytenoid dislocation after
      uneventful endotracheal intubation, which was successfully treated with arytenoid
      reduction. The patient complained of persistent hoarseness until the fourth day
      after an uneventful gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. On
      laryngoscopic examination, paralyzed left vocal cord with minimal arytenoid
      movement was observed. An anteromedial dislocation of the left arytenoid
      cartilage was suspected and surgical reduction was performed by the
      laryngologist. The hoarseness was immediately resolved after surgical
      intervention. Anesthesiologists should be careful not to cause laryngeal trauma
      in anesthetized patients. In addition, early diagnosis and prompt surgical
      reduction are essential for a better prognosis for arytenoid dislocation. 

PMID- 26885313
TI  - Erratum: A comparison of postoperative emergence agitation between sevoflurane
      and thiopental anesthesia induction in pediatric patients (Korean J Anesthesiol
      2015 Aug; 68(4): 373-378).
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 373 in vol. 68, PMID: 26257850.]. 

PMID- 26885312
TI  - Statistical review of 95 studies employing repeated-measures analysis of variance
      published in the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology.

PMID- 26885314
TI  - Authorship.

PMID- 26885315
TI  - Drinking Amount Associated with Abnormal Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase Expression
      in Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether there is any difference in drinking
      amount associated with abnormal expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase
      (GGT), one of the biological markers of excessive drinking, between flushing and
      non-flushing women after drinking. METHODS: The subjects were 797 women aged 20
      59 years old who visited health promotion center of Chungnam National University
      Hospital between January, 2013 and July, 2014. Facial flushing status after
      drinking, amount of alcohol consumed per drinking episode, and the number of
      drinking days per week were assessed using a questionnaire. Age, abnormal GGT
      expression, smoking status, menopauase status, and body mass index (BMI) were
      obtained from the health screening data. The weekly drinking amount were
      categorized into <4 drinks; >=4, <8 drinks; and >=8 drinks. The association of
      abnormal GGT expression with weekly drinking amount was analyzed using
      multivariate logistic regression after controlling for confounding variables
      including age, smoking status, menopauase status, and BMI. RESULTS: Compared to
      nondrinkers, the abnormal GGT expression in the non-flushing group was
      significantly increased when the weekly drinking amount was >=4 drinks (>=4, <8
      drinks: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 37.568; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.793
      144.116; >=8 drinks: aOR, 20.350; 95% CI, 20.350-305.138). On the other hand, the
      abnormal GGT expression in the flushing group was significantly increased in
      every weekly drinking amount range (<4 drinks: aOR, 4.120; 95% CI, 1.603-10.585;
      >=4, <8 drinks: aOR, 79.206; 95% CI, 24.034-261.031; >=8 drinks: aOR, 111.342;
      95% CI, 30.987-400.079). For each weekly drinking amount range, the flushing
      group showed significantly higher abnormal GGT expression than the non-flushing
      group (<4 drinks: aOR, 3.867; 95% CI, 1.786-8.374; >=4, <8 drinks: aOR, 57.277;
      95% CI, 24.430-134.285; >=8 drinks: aOR, 104.871; 95% CI, 42.945-256.091).
      CONCLUSION: This study showed that abnormal GGT expression in the flushing female
      drinkers was induced by smaller amounts of alcohol than in the non-flushing
      female drinkers.

PMID- 26885316
TI  - Effect of Coffee Consumption on the Progression of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among
      Prediabetic Individuals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A previous large-scale cohort study investigated the relationship
      between coffee intake and the progression of diabetes mellitus in the United
      States. However, studies on the effects of coffee on diabetes are rare in South
      Korea. Therefore, this study assessed the amount and method of coffee intake in
      Koreans in order to determine if coffee intake has a prophylactic effect on
      diabetes progression. METHODS: This study included 3,497 prediabetic patients
      from a single medical institution, with glycated hemoglobin levels ranging from
      5.7% to 6.4%. Cross-tabulation and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed
      to compare patients with and without diabetes progression based on the frequency
      and method of coffee intake. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to
      correct for confounding variables. RESULTS: The observation period (mean+/
      standard deviation) was 3.7+/-2.3 years. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed
      that the risk of diabetes progression was lowest in patients who drank black
      coffee three or more times per day (P=0.036). However, correction for confounding
      variables in Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that, while the risk was
      lower for the patients who typically consumed black coffee than for those who
      mixed creamer and sugar into their coffees, the difference was not significant.
      CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that drinking coffee without sugar
      and creamer at least three times daily has the greatest preventive effect on
      diabetes onset.

PMID- 26885317
TI  - Development of a Modified Korean East Asian Student Stress Inventory by Comparing
      Stress Levels in Medical Students with Those in Non-Medical Students.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medical students are usually under more stress than that experienced
      by non-medical students. Stress testing tools for Korean medical students have
      not been sufficiently studied. Thus, we adapted and modified the East Asian
      Student Stress Inventory (EASSI), a stress testing tool for Korean students
      studying abroad, and verified its usefulness as a stress test in Korean
      university students. We also compared and analyzed stress levels between medical
      and non-medical students. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on
      medical and non-medical students of a national university, and the responses of
      224 students were analyzed for this study. Factor analysis and reliability
      testing were performed based on data collected for 25 adapted EASSI questions and
      those on the Korean version of the Global Assessment of Recent Stress Scale
      (GARSS). A correlation analysis was performed between the 13 modified EASSI
      questions and the GARSS, and validity of the modified EASSI was verified by
      directly comparing stress levels between the two student groups. RESULTS: The 13
      questions adapted for the EASSI were called the modified EASSI and classified
      into four factors through a factor analysis and reliability testing. The
      Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between the
      modified EASSI and the Korean version of the GARSS, suggesting a complementary
      strategy of using both tests. CONCLUSION: The validity and reliability of the
      EASSI were verified. The modified Korean EASSI could be a useful stress test for
      Korean medical students. Our results show that medical students were under more
      stress than that of non-medical students. Thus, these results could be helpful
      for managing stress in medical students.

PMID- 26885318
TI  - Development of a Simple Tool for Identifying Alcohol Use Disorder in Female
      Korean Drinkers from Previous Questionnaires.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a simple tool for identifying alcohol use
      disorders in female Korean drinkers from previous questionnaires. METHODS: This
      research was conducted on 400 women who consumed at least one alcoholic drink
      during the past month and visited the health promotion center at Chungnam
      National University Hospital between June 2013 to May 2014. Drinking habits and
      alcohol use disorders were assessed by structured interviews using the Diagnostic
      and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition diagnostic criteria. The
      subjects were also asked to answer the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
      (AUDIT), AUDIT-Consumption, CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener), TWEAK
      (Tolerance, Worried, Eye-opener, Amnesia, Kut down), TACE (Tolerance, Annoyed,
      Cut down, Eye-opener), and NET (Normal drinker, Eye-opener, Tolerance)
      questionnaires. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of each
      question of the questionnaires on alcohol use disorders was assessed. After
      combining two questions with the largest AUROC, it was compared to other previous
      questionnaires. RESULTS: Among the 400 subjects, 58 (14.5%) were identified as
      having an alcohol use disorder. Two questions with the largest AUROC were
      question no. 7 in AUDIT, "How often during the last year have you had a feeling
      of guilt or remorse after drinking?" and question no. 5 in AUDIT, "How often
      during the past year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you
      because of drinking?" with an AUROC (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 0.886
      (0.850-0.915) and 0.862 (0.824-0.894), respectively. The AUROC (95% CI) of the
      combination of the two questions was 0.958 (0.934-0.976) with no significant
      difference as compared to the existing AUDIT with the largest AUROC. CONCLUSION:
      The above results suggest that the simple tool consisting of questions no. 5 and
      no. 7 in AUDIT is useful in identifying alcohol use disorders in Korean female
      drinkers.

PMID- 26885319
TI  - Correlation between Overactive Bladder Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      in Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Overactive bladder syndrome is characterized by urinary urgency,
      usually accompanied by Frequent urination and nocturia, with or without urgent
      urinary incontinence. There must be the absence of causative infection or
      pathological conditions. Overactive bladder syndrome is related to mental
      disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. However, obsessive-compulsive
      symptoms are investigated much less frequently. The purpose of the present study
      was thus to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms in overactive bladder syndrome
      patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven women patients with overactive bladder syndrome
      and fifty-seven women without it (age matched control group) were prospectively
      enrolled. They completed the overactive bladder syndrome-validated 8-question
      screener and the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory
      Questionnaire at the same time they visited the clinic. Patients were compared
      with controls on the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive
      Inventory Questionnaire and its checking, tidiness, doubting, and fear of
      contamination components. RESULTS: Patients showed more obsessive traits than
      controls on the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory
      Questionnaire total score (P=0.006) and on the checking subscale (P=0.001). Odds
      ratio for the overactive bladder syndrome group's obsessive-compulsive symptoms
      traits (score>=14) was 5.47 (P=0.001). The Korean version of the Maudsley
      Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory Questionnaire total score was associated with
      the overactive bladder syndrome-validated 8-question screener score in patients
      (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms may constitute an important
      aspect of the psychiatric profile of overactive bladder syndrome patients. The
      severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms seems to be related to the degree of
      the overactive bladder syndrome severity. Clinicians may consider screening women
      with overactive bladder syndrome for obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

PMID- 26885321
TI  - Sarcopenia Is Not Associated with Depression in Korean Adults: Results from the
      2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular
      disease, and mortality; however, its association with depression in the general
      population remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated this association in Korea.
      METHODS: This study included 8,958 and 8,518 subjects from the 2010-2011 Korean
      National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-1, 2. The study was restricted
      to participants >=20 years of age who had completed the survey, including whole
      body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. After exclusion, 7,364 subjects were
      included in our final analysis. Age was categorized into three groups (20-39, 40
      59, and >=60 years), and subjects were categorized according to their sarcopenic
      and obesity status. Depression was categorized into three groups (not depressed,
      depressed, and depression). RESULTS: The sarcopenia group did not have a higher
      prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms compared to the nonsarcopenia
      group; the same was true even when obesity was considered. All age groups showed
      non-significant associations between sarcopenia and depression. In multivariate
      logistic regression models, no significant associations were observed between
      sarcopenia and prevalence of depression or depressed symptoms in men and women.
      CONCLUSION: We found no associations between sarcopenia and the prevalence of
      depression or depressed symptoms in Korean adults. Future large prospective
      studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess this
      relationship.

PMID- 26885320
TI  - Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Menstrual Irregularity in Middle-Aged
      Korean Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Menstrual irregularity is a common major complaint in women of
      reproductive age. It is also a known marker for underlying insulin resistance. We
      investigated the association between menstrual irregularity and metabolic
      syndrome in the general population of middle-aged women in Korea. METHODS: This
      cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey 2010-2012. A total of 2,742 subjects were included in the
      analysis. Participants were divided into two categories based on their menstrual
      cycle regularity and the relationship between metabolic syndrome and its
      variables was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:
      Adjusted analyses revealed significantly higher odds ratios for metabolic
      syndrome, high waist circumference, high triglyceride levels, and low high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with the presence of menstrual
      irregularity. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and its components (high waist
      circumference, high triglyceride levels, and low high density lipoprotein
      cholesterol levels) were significantly associated with menstrual irregularity in
      women of reproductive age.

PMID- 26885322
TI  - Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and metabolic syndrome (Mets) are
      considered to be diseases with common traits that can increase the risk of
      cardiovascular disease incidence; studies in other countries examined the
      relationship between these diseases. However, existing studies did not show
      consistent results. In the present study, the relationship between RA and Mets in
      Koreans was examined using the data of the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: The present study used the data
      of the 4th and 5th KNHANES, conducted between 2007 and 2012. Among 25,812 adults
      aged over 40, 19,893 were selected as study subjects, excluding 5,919 who did not
      have variable information needed for the analysis. T-test and chi-square test
      were used for the analysis of related variables. To determine the relationship
      between diagnostic status of RA and Mets, multivariate logistic regression
      analysis was performed by controlling confounding variables, which were selected
      through literature review and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between
      diagnostic status of RA and Mets. When age, education level, average monthly
      household income, smoking, alcohol consumption, and level of physical activity
      were adjusted, the prevalence of Mets was lower in RA patients (adjusted odds
      ratio [aOR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 0.96). Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between
      treatment status of RA and Mets. When age, education level, average monthly
      household income, smoking, alcohol consumption, and level of physical activity
      were adjusted, there was a significant negative correlation in women (aOR, 0.65;
      95% CI, 0.44 to 0.96). CONCLUSION: The relationship between RA and Mets showed a
      significantly negative correlation in Korean women. The group that received RA
      treatment showed significantly lower prevalence of the Mets as compared to the
      untreated group in Korean RA women.

PMID- 26885323
TI  - Association between Sleep Duration and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Korean Adults:
      Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011
      2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is an established risk factor for type
      2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the relationship
      between sleep duration and IFG. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included
      14,925 Korean adults (5,868 men and 9,057 women) >=19 years of age who
      participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
      between 2011 and 2012. Blood glucose levels were measured after at least eight
      hours of fasting. Study subjects were categorized into three groups based on self
      reported sleep duration (<7, 7-8, or >8 h/d). IFG was diagnosed according to
      recommendations American Diabetes Association guidelines. Multiple logistic
      regression analysis was performed with adjustment for covariates. RESULTS: In
      men, short sleep duration (<7 hours) was associated with increased risk of IFG
      (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.96) compared to
      adequate sleep duration (7-8 hours), whereas long sleep duration (>8 hours) was
      not associated with risk of IFG (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.37 to 2.18). In women, sleep
      duration was not associated with risk of IFG. CONCLUSION: The association between
      sleep duration and IFG differed by sex; sleep deprivation, was associated with
      increased risk of IFG, especially in men.

PMID- 26885324
TI  - Association between Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Prevalence of
      Microalbuminuria in Korean Adults of Age 30 Years and Older without Diabetes,
      Hypertension, Renal Failure, or Overt Proteinuria: The 2013 Korean National
      Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria and obesity markers are known risk factors for
      cardiovascular or renal disease. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of
      microalbuminuria according to body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity
      criteria. METHODS: The study subjects included 3,979 individuals aged 30 years or
      older who did not have diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, or overt
      proteinuria, from among those who participated in The Korean National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013, a cross-sectional, nationally
      representative, stratified survey. Microalbuminuria was defined as a urinary
      albumin to creatinine ratio of 30 to 300 mg/g. BMI and waist circumference were
      classified according to the Asia-Pacific criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of
      microalbuminuria was found to be 5.1%. In the normoalbuminuria group, 3.4%,
      41.7%, 24%, 27.6%, and 3.2% of participants were included in the underweight,
      normal, overweight, obesity 1, and obesity 2 groups, respectively. These
      percentages in the microalbuminuria group were 7.1%, 34.5%, 19.2%, 28.6%, and
      10.6%, respectively (P<0.001). The waist circumference in men was 21.4% in the
      normoalbuminuria group and 36.5% in the microalbuminuria group (P=0.004).
      Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between
      the presence of microalbuminuria and BMI or waist circumference groups. The risk
      of microalbuminuria was significant only in the underweight group (odds ratio,
      13.22; 95% confidence interval, 2.55-68.63; P=0.002) after adjusting for
      confounding factors, abdominal obesity was not significantly associated with
      microalbuminuria. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of microalbuminuria in a general
      population in Korea was associated with underweight in men and was not associated
      with waist circumference in either men or women.

PMID- 26885326
TI  - Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury after Cesarean Section in a Patient with
      HELLP Syndrome.
AB  - Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious adverse reaction of
      transfusion, and presents as hypoxemia and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema within
      6 hours of transfusion. A 14-year-old primigravida woman at 34 weeks of gestation
      presented with upper abdominal pain without dyspnea. Because she showed the
      syndrome of HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count), an
      emergency cesarean section delivery was performed, and blood was transfused. In
      the case of such patients, clinicians should closely observe the patient's
      condition at least during the 6 hours while the patient receives blood
      transfusion, and should suspect TRALI if the patient complains of respiratory
      symptoms such as dyspnea. Furthermore, echocardiography should be performed to
      distinguish between the different types of transfusion-related adverse reactions.

PMID- 26885327
TI  - Comments on Statistical Issues in January 2016.

PMID- 26885325
TI  - Association between Obesity and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Korean
      Adolescents Based on the 2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An increase in the obese adolescent population is being recognized as
      a serious medical and social problem. The present study aimed to examine the
      association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity in Korean
      adolescents based on total available resources and local social inequality
      models. METHODS: The present study used data from the 2013 Korea Youth Risk
      Behavior Web-based Survey in analyzing 72,438 Korean adolescents aged 12-18. The
      analysis investigated obesity odds ratio (OR) according to neighborhood SES
      adjusted for age and individual SES indices, which included family affluence
      scale (FAS), education level of parents, cohabitation with parents, and weekly
      allowance. Obesity OR was investigated according to neighborhood SES by FAS, and
      according to FAS by neighborhood SES. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and
      individual SES variables, there was no significant association between
      neighborhood SES and adolescent obesity for either boys or girls. However, girls
      in the high FAS group showed a pattern of lower neighborhood SES being associated
      with a significant increase in risk of obesity; in the high neighborhood SES
      group, boys showed a pattern of higher FAS being associated with a significant
      increase in risk of obesity, whereas girls show a pattern of decrease.
      CONCLUSION: Although limited, the present study demonstrated that some girl
      groups exhibited a pattern of lower neighborhood SES being associated with an
      increase in risk of obesity, as well as a gender-based difference in risk of
      obesity by individual SES. Therefore, measures to prevent adolescent obesity
      should be established with consideration for differences in risk according to
      individual and neighborhood SES.

PMID- 26885328
TI  - Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of coagulase-negative
      staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from clinical specimens in Northern of Jordan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are one of the most common
      bacteria found on human skin and on mucous membranes as a component of normal
      flora. The presence of CoNS in clinical specimens is frequently associated with
      an infectious aetiology or contamination. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate CoNS
      species distribution and susceptibility patterns in specimens obtained from
      clinics and hospitals in the Northern area of Jordan. METHODS: Standard
      identification methods showed the presence of CoNS in 223 specimens at different
      local hospitals. Susceptibility testing was performed using 18 antibiotics in
      accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)
      recommendations. RESULTS: Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. haemolyticus were
      found to be the most common species isolated from all specimens representing 122
      (54.7%) and 52 (23.4%) of all CoNS species, respectively. Antibiotic
      susceptibility testing of CoNS species revealed their sensitivity to vancomycin,
      linozolid, rifampin and nitrofurantin, while showing a highly resistant pattern
      to ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
      and erythromycin. Some variation of the susceptibility pattern of CoNS species
      were identified in specimens isolated from the ICU and paediatric hospital wards
      as well as from clinical specimens of urine, blood and catheter tips. CONCLUSION:
      The most common CoNS isolates were found to be S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus
      with variable percentages according to the specimen source. Moreover, a high
      susceptibility CoNS to vancomycin, rifampin, and linezolid showed resistance to
      amoxicillin and penicillin.

PMID- 26885329
TI  - Dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing bla IMP-1 and bla VIM-1 in
      Qazvin and Alborz educational hospitals, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequent opportunistic
      pathogen in health care associated infections that is highly resistant to the
      majority of beta-lactams. The aims of this study were to access the antimicrobial
      susceptibility pattern of P. aeruginosa isolated from educational hospitals of
      Qazvin and Alborz provinces, to determine the prevalence of metallo-beta
      lactamase (MBL) among carbapenem non-susceptible isolates by combined disk (CD)
      method, and to detect the bla IMP, bla VIM, bla SIM, bla GIM, bla SPM and bla NDM
      1-MBL genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 300 P.
      aeruginosa isolates were collected from different clinical specimens in two
      provinces of Qazvin and Alborz hospitals, Iran. After identification of isolates
      by standard laboratory methods, antimicrobial susceptibility was done against 17
      antibiotics according to clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI)
      guideline. CD method was carried out for detection of MBLs and the presence of
      bla IMP, bla VIM, bla SIM, bla GIM, bla NDM-1 and bla SPM-genes was further
      assessed by PCR and sequencing methods. RESULTS: In this study, 107 (35.66%)
      isolates were non-susceptible to imipenem and/or meropenem among those 56 (52.3%)
      isolates were metallo-beta-lactamase producer. Twenty-four of 56 (42.85%) MBL
      positive isolates were confirmed to be positive for MBL-encoding genes in which
      14 (25%) and 10 (17.85%) isolates carried bla IMP-1 and bla VIM-1 genes either
      alone or in combination. Three (5.35%) isolates carried bla IMP and bla VIM
      genes, simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Considering the moderate prevalence and
      clinical importance of MBL-producing isolates, rapid identification and use of
      appropriate infection control (IC) measures are necessary to prevent further
      spread of infections by these resistant organisms.

PMID- 26885330
TI  - Hospital acquired diarrhea in a burn center of Tehran.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Incidence of hospital-acquired diarrhea has increased
      rapidly and burn patients are at high risk of getting it. Infection with C.
      difficile is the most common cause of antibiotic associated diarrhea. The aim of
      this study was to determine the baseline characteristics and clinical
      presentation of hospital-acquired diarrhea and compare C. difficile and non-C.
      difficile diarrhea in burn patients treated at a burn center. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: During a 1-year study all patients with hospital-acquired diarrhea at
      Motahari Burn Hospital, Tehran, Iran enrolled in this study. We compared patients
      with a stool sample positive for C. difficile toxin or tracing the antigen in
      patients who were negative for detection of toxin in their stool sample
      specimens. RESULTS: Diarrhea developed in 37 patients out of 3200 admitted
      patients with a mean burn size of 34.8 +/-20.1%. Among them, 8 patients had a
      positive result for C. difficile. The mean time between antibiotic therapy and
      occurrence of diarrhea was 9.5 +/- 6.2 days. Nine (23.7%) patients died in the
      7.8+/- 4.2 days, mostly due to co-morbidities. The mean duration of diarrhea was
      3.6 +/- 2 days. Twenty two (57.9%) patients were treated with oral metronidazol
      and eleven (28.9%) patients were treated with combination of metronidazole and
      vancomycin, higher rate of combination therapy was seen in Clostridium difficile
      CDI. CONCLUSION: Overall, the prevalence of hospital-acquired diarrhea was
      120/10,000 and 21% of them caused by infection with C. difficile. Presence of
      peripheral leukocytosis and colitis were the alarm sign for diagnosis of C.
      difficile infection.

PMID- 26885331
TI  - Blood pressure alterations in burn patients with septic shock under hydro
      cortisone treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hydrocortisone is widely used in septic shock cases
      resistant to fluid and vasopressor therapy. It may result in increased blood
      pressure and survival. However the efficacy is no established among patients with
      severe burn and septic shock. Accordingly it was assessed in this study.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients older than 14 years of age with resistant
      septic shock were enrolled during one-year period. The hydrocortisone was
      prescribed 100 mg three times per day and the alterations in systolic and
      diastolic blood pressures were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were
      enrolled including 19 men and 10 women. The mean age was 37 +/- 19 years and the
      mean burn surface area was 60 +/- 20. Fourteen patients had positive blood
      culture. The most common isolated microorganism were Pseudomonas aeuroginosa in
      34.6%(10 cases), and then Acinetobacter in 13.8%(4 cases). The infection was from
      wound in 79% and the remaining 21% had pneumonia. Twenty-one patients had good
      response to hydrocortisone and the increase in systolic and diastolic blood
      pressures was significant; but the mortality rate was similar. CONCLUSION:
      Treatment with hydrocortisone would result in increase in systolic and diastolic
      blood pressure in burn patients with resistant septic shock.

PMID- 26885332
TI  - Rapid fluorometric quantification of bacterial cells using Redsafe nucleic acid
      stain.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Numerous procedures in biology and medicine require
      the counting of cells. Direct enumeration of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) is time
      consuming and dreary accurate cell counting on plates with high numbers of CFUs
      is error prone. In this study we report a new indirect cell counting method that
      was developed based on the use of Redsafe fluorometric assay. The usefulness of
      Redsafe, a nucleic acid stain, in liquid medium is based on the binding of the
      fluorescent dye to DNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Redsafe fluorometric assay was
      evaluated in comparison with MTT colorimetric assay as a colourimetric assay for
      enumeration of bacterial cells. RESULTS: Obtained results showed that
      fluorometric assay threshold for LB grown E. coli is 6*10(4) CFU/ml. Redsafe
      fluorescent assay can be used as a rapid and inexpensive method for bacterial
      enumeration and quantification with increased sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The
      sensitivity of the Redsafe fluorometric assay for detection and enumeration of
      bacterial cells was 2-log-unit more than that was observed for the MTT assay.

PMID- 26885333
TI  - Nanosilver-marine fungal chitosan as antibiotic synergizers against sepsis fish
      bacteria.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mortality is highly variable within population of
      cultured fish due to virulent bacteria causing fish septicemia. The use of nano
      silver marine fungal chitosan as antibiotic synergisers could be an alternative
      in the treatment of sepsis fish pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different bulk
      chitosan solutions were prepared from the mycelia of four marine fungi
      (Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavipes, Tricoderma hamatum and Fennellia
      flavipes) and used as capping agents for silver nanoparticles. In vitro, the
      antibacterial activity of these preparations was determined against nine fish
      sepsis causing bacteria, alone and in combination with nine antibiotics of choice
      used in aquaculture. Prepared fungal chitosans (CsF) were characterized by yield
      of chistosan obtained, degree of deacetylation and viscosity. RESULTS AND
      CONCLUSION: The maximum yield of chitosan (28%) was obtained from Aspergillus
      terreus. A. terreus chitosan (CsF), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chitosan
      silver nanoparticles (CsF-AgNPs) showed maximum activity at the minimum
      inhibitory concentrations average (MICAVG) 27.2, 18.2 and 7.9 MUg/ml,
      respectively. Combination of CsF -AgNPs with amikacin (Ak) and rifampicin (RD)
      reduced the MIC values by 96 and 94%, respectively, with fractional inhibitory
      concentration index (FICI) = 0.42 and 0.50 as synergistic effect. It is promising
      to use CsF-AgNPs as enhancing agent in combination with antibiotics for fish
      sepsis therapy.

PMID- 26885334
TI  - The prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii among patients with different chronic
      pulmonary disorders in Ahvaz, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a chronic
      fungal infection that caused by P. jirovecii. Disease is more prevalent among the
      HIV-infected patients. The colonization of pneumocystis in human respiratory
      system is associated with the airway inflammation and obstruction. The current
      study was conducted to identify the prevalence of P. jirovecii among the patients
      with chronic pulmonary disorders in Ahvaz, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the
      present study, 115 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were collected from
      patients. Samples were subjected to Nested-PCR with specific primers. The second
      PCR products were used for sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Our findings
      demonstrated that 31(27.0%) of samples were positive for P. jirovecii. Nine
      patients (29%) have tuberculosis (TB) followed by, 1(3.2%) HIV positive and
      21(67.7%) miscellaneous pulmonary disorders. Our results show that there was no
      significant differences between sex (male:female ratio, 17:14), TB, HIV and P.
      jirovecii in BAL samples (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study is the first
      report from Ahvaz and it showed a relatively high frequency (27%) of P. jirovecii
      among patients with different pulmonary disorders. In addition Nested-PCR might
      be reliable technique for diagnosis of P. jirovecii, while the Grocott's
      methenamine silver (GMS) have a low sensitivity, which only two positive patients
      were identified.

PMID- 26885335
TI  - Microencapsulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its evaluation to protect in
      simulated gastric conditions.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Probiotic yeasts are used in production of functional
      foods and pharmaceutical products. They play an important role in promoting and
      maintaining human health. Until now, little work has been published on improving
      the survival of Saccharomyces in stimulated gastrointestinal condition. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: In this study the exposure of the yeast in the capsulate and free
      forms to artificial gastrointestinal conditions was assessed and the number of
      viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells during 0 to 120 mines in these conditions
      was evaluated by a pour plate method using sabouraud dextrose agar. RESULTS:
      Results showed the shape of the beads was generally spherical, sometimes
      elliptical with a mean diameter of about 50-90 MUm. Also count of viable
      probiotic cells obtained for all the microcapsules were above the recommended
      levels for a probiotic food. Also decrease of approximately 4 logs was noted in
      the number of free cells after 2 h of incubation at pH 2 and 8, when compared to
      decreases of about 2 logs in the all microencapsulated S. cerevisiae under
      similar conditions. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that microencapsulation process
      was significantly able to increase the survival rate of Saccharomyces in a
      simulated gastrointestinal condition (p<0.05)..

PMID- 26885336
TI  - Assessment of clinicopathologic features in patients with pituitary adenomas in
      Northeast of Iran: A 13-year retrospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intracranial lesions of the pituitary gland are common pituitary
      adenomas, accounting for 6-10% of all symptomatic intracranial tumors. In this
      retrospective study, the clinicopathologic features and survival rate of
      pituitary adenomas were evaluated. METHODS: The present retrospective study was
      conducted on 83 patients with pituitary adenomas, referring to radiation oncology
      departments of Ghaem and Omid Hospitals, Mashhad, Iran, over a period of 13 years
      (1999-2012). Data obtained from clinical records including clinical features,
      type of surgery (if performed), treatment modality, overall survival rate, and
      progression-free survival rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients
      including 44 males (53%) and 39 females (47%) participated in this study. The
      median age was 40 years (age range: 10-69 years). Chiasm compression was reported
      in 62 patients (74.4%), and 45.78% of the subjects suffered from headaches.
      Functional and non-functional adenomas were reported in 44 (53.01%) and 39
      (46.99%) patients, respectively. In cases with functional and non-functional
      adenomas, the disease was controlled in 95 and 84.5% of the subjects for 3 years,
      respectively. Furthermore, 1- and 3-year survival rates for functional adenoma
      were 84.6 and 23%, respectively; the corresponding values were 90.9 and 22.7% in
      non-functional adenomas, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, a significant
      correlation between headache severity and type of adenoma was observed. So,
      application of surgery and radiotherapy together could be a highly effective
      approach for treating functional adenomas, although it is less efficient for the
      non-functional type.

PMID- 26885337
TI  - Mutation analysis in exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene in Iranian patients with non
      dystrophic myotonia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-dystrophic myotonias are a heterogeneous set of skeletal,
      muscular channelopathies, which have been associated with point mutations within
      sodium channel alpha-subunit (SCN4A) gene. Because exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene
      are recognized as hot spots for this disease, the purpose of the study is to
      identify mutation in exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene in Iranian non-dystrophic
      myotonias patients. METHODS: In this study, 28 Iranian patients with non
      dystrophic myotonia analyzed for the mutation scanning in exons 22 and 24 of
      SCN4A gene by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism
      (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing. RESULTS: We found 29073G>C substitution in SCN4A gene
      in one case and 31506A>G substitution in seven cases. The 29073G>C substitution
      causes a missense mutation G1306A, located in the conserved cytoplasmic loop
      connecting repeat III and IV of the SCN4A channel but, 31506A>G substitution do
      not alter amino acid in SCN4A protein. CONCLUSION: G1306A residue is located in
      functionally important protein region. In "hinged-lid model" for Na(+) channel
      inactivation in which glycines(1306) act as the hinge of the lid occluding the
      channel pore. Mutation in this region slowed fast inactivation. Therefore, it
      might be a pathogenic mutation. The causal relationship of this mutation with the
      disease is an object for further discussion.

PMID- 26885338
TI  - Effects of L-arginine pre-treatment in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6
      tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's diseases in Balb/c mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease
      resulting from the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia
      nigra pars compacta (SNc). Increasing evidence demonstrated that mice treated
      intranasally with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) suffered
      impairments in motor functions associated with disruption of DA neurons in SNc
      conceivably analogous to those observed in PD. L-arginine has been proposed as a
      novel neuroprotective agent that plays protective roles in several models of
      neuronal cellular damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-arginine
      on the numerical density of dark neurons (DNs) in the SNc of Balb/c mice
      subjected to MPTP administration. METHODS: In the present study, we demonstrated
      that repeated treatment with L-arginine (300 mg/kg, i.p.) during 7 consecutive
      days attenuated the production of DNs in SNc of adult male Balb/c mice infused
      with a single intranasal administration of MPTP (1 mg/nostril). RESULTS: Pre
      treatment with L-arginine significantly decreased the numerical density of DNs in
      SNc of mice 21 days after intranasal MPTP administration. CONCLUSION: This
      investigation provides new insights in experimental models of PD, indicating that
      L-arginine represents a potential neuroprotective agent for the prevention of DA
      neuron degeneration in SNc observed in PD patients.

PMID- 26885339
TI  - A descriptive study of prevalence, clinical features and other findings of
      neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Khuzestan
      Province, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an uncommon neuro-inflammatory syndrome
      that has shown to be distinct from multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated with
      the autoantibody marker NMO-immunoglobulin G (IgG). There are still only a few
      studies regarding the epidemiology of NMO in Iran. In the present study, we tried
      to describe the epidemiology of NMO in Khuzestan as one of the densely populated
      regions in Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed during the period
      2013-2014. Multiple regional sources of data were used including hospital
      records, details from neurologists and MS society database. The diagnosis of NMO
      was based on clinical presentation, abnormal findings on neuroimaging and
      serological tests. RESULTS: A 51 Caucasian patients (36 patients with NMO and 15
      with NMO-spectrum disorder) were identified with a female/male ratio of 7.5:1.0.
      The crude prevalence of NMO was 1.1/100,000 population. The mean age at onset was
      29.2 +/- 6.1 years and the mean duration of symptoms was 5.0 +/- 0.4 years. The
      majority of patients (60.8%) were classified as having mild disability (Expanded
      Disability Status Scale = 0-3.5). Among of 35 patients whose titer of NMO-IgG was
      measured, 19 (54.2%) were seropositive. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that NMO
      prevalence rate in South West Iran (Khuzestan Province) is much lower than that
      reported for MS prevalence rate (16.2/100,000) and our patients had a lower age
      at onset presentation and milder course of the disease than western countries.

PMID- 26885340
TI  - Policy interventions to improve rural retention among neurosurgeons in Iran: A
      discrete choice experiment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health workforce shortages in rural and remote areas are a global
      challenge that almost every health system has to deal with. This study aimed to
      discover neurosurgeons' job preferences and propose policy interventions that
      could possibly increase their retention in rural, remote, or underserved areas.
      METHODS: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted in November 2014 with a
      sample of Iranian neurosurgeons selected from five contrary's provinces
      representing the geographical diversity. Job attributes included income, dual
      practice opportunities, workload, proximity to family, clinical infrastructure,
      housing, educational facilities, and work location. Probit regression model was
      used to estimate the importance of different job attributes and examine the
      extent to which neurosurgeons were willing to tradeoff between monetary and
      nonmonetary attributes. RESULTS: Findings indicated that increased salary,
      permission to undertake dual practice and access to adequate clinical
      infrastructure were the most important retention policies. Provision of
      subsidized housing and educational facilities also increased neurosurgeons'
      attraction and retention in rural areas. CONCLUSION: A range of policy
      interventions focusing on both monetary and nonmonetary incentives are required
      to increase neurosurgeons' retention in rural, remote, or underserved areas.

PMID- 26885341
TI  - Cortical tumor presenting with Parkinsonism.

PMID- 26885342
TI  - Cerebellar infarction and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: An unusual
      presentation and rare complications of rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

PMID- 26885343
TI  - Complicated orolingual angioedema after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
      treatment in stroke patients under angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor:
      Report of two cases.

PMID- 26885344
TI  - Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as Garcin's syndrome: A rare case report.

PMID- 26885345
TI  - The prevalence of Martin-Gruber anastomosis in Iranian subjects by
      electrodiagnostic criteria.

PMID- 26885346
TI  - A Scientometric Study of Iranian Scientific Productions in the Field of Substance
      Use and Addiction Research in the Years 2008 to 2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the current status of scientific production in
      the field of substance use and addiction in Iran, to determine its trend and
      pattern during a 5 years period (2008-2012). METHODS: Using relevant keywords, we
      searched three international databases (Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus) and
      two local databases (SID and Iranmedex) to locate the papers published in the
      field of addiction by Iranian researchers during 2008-2012. FINDINGS: The results
      indicated a significant increase in the number of studies published in the field
      during the 5 years study period, with more than half of the papers published in
      the last 2 years. Results also indicated that over half (53.5%) of the papers
      were published in Persian-language Iranian Journals, but the rate of increase in
      the number of papers published in English was slightly higher than that of
      Persian ones. Opioid substances were found to be the topic of approximately 75%
      of the papers. Studies on key topics, including national surveys, evaluation of
      current programs, addiction in women and children, and so forth, were found to be
      highly lacking. CONCLUSION: Results suggested a significant growth in the
      scientific production of Iran in the field of substance use and addiction.
      However, considering the significance of substance use and dependence in the
      country, and compared to the scientific production of developed countries, the
      amount of research conducted in the field of addiction in Iran is still limited.

PMID- 26885347
TI  - Assessment of Cognitive Functions in Methadone Maintenance Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Methadone maintenance has received little scientific attention
      regarding neurocognitive effects. This study is aimed to assess the
      neuropsychological performance of methadone maintenance patients (MMP) compared
      to those healthy controls. METHODS: Thirty-five MMP and 35 healthy controls,
      matched for age, gender, education and employment status, examined on a battery
      of tests aimed at assessing verbal fluency, executive functions, verbal memory,
      and working memory, using controlled oral word association test (COWAT), trial
      making test (TMT) Part A and B, Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), and
      backward digit span. FINDINGS: MMP performed significantly poorly than controls
      in cognitive domains of verbal fluency, executive function, and verbal memory.
      MMP did not exhibit impairment in working memory, and TMT Part A compared to
      controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that methadone consumption induces
      significant cognitive impairment that could compromise drug-treatment outcomes in
      MMP.

PMID- 26885348
TI  - Development and Psychometric Properties of Risk and Protective Factors of
      Substance Use Scale in Iran: An Application of Social Development Model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Substance use is a growing public health problem among adolescents.
      In the lack of a valid and reliable instrument based on social development model
      (SDM), this study aimed to develop risk and protective factors of substance use
      scale based on SDM to determine risk and protective factors influencing substance
      use among adolescents. METHODS: A total of 235 male students from 9th and 10th
      grade (14-18 years old) of public high schools in Kerman, Iran, selected through
      multistage cluster sampling. Items pool extracted from the literature and focus
      groups with male adolescents. Face validity of the questionnaire assessed for
      readability and clarity of items. Then, an expert panel evaluated the items for
      content validity. Consequently, construct validity of questionnaire confirmed
      through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Known group validity is determined by
      the degree to which the instrument shows different scores between two groups of
      those who had an experience in drug use and those who did not have such an
      experience. In addition, reliability assessed via internal consistency and test
      retest. FINDINGS: About 10 factor solution (containing 38 items) emerged as a
      result of EFA entitled adolescent's "beliefs on hookah and alcohol," "bonding to
      parents," "family rules on substance use," "drug resistance skills,"
      "adolescent's beliefs on hard drugs," "situational perception on hookah and
      alcohol," "rules of school," "situational perception on hard drugs," "attachment
      to school," and "perceived opportunity at school." The first four emerged factors
      explained 46% of the total variance observed. Among these factors, adolescent's
      beliefs on hookah and alcohol explained a more than 25.3% of the total variance.
      Results indicated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbachcs alpha ranging
      from 0.71 to 0.85) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) (ranging from
      0.48 to 0.81). CONCLUSION: The risk and protective factors of substance use
      questionnaire are the first instrument based on the SDM. The findings showed that
      this questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing determinants
      of substance use which can be used by researchers and policymakers in preventive
      initiatives.

PMID- 26885349
TI  - The Effect of Acute and Chronic Morphine on Some Blood Biochemical Parameters in
      an Inflammatory Condition in Gonadectomized Male Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Opiates affect blood factors as well as pain and inflammation in a
      gender-dependent manner. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects
      of morphine on serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea in
      gonadectomized and inflammation conditions. METHODS: Animals were divided as
      follows: control group, carrageenan and chronic morphine recipients, acute
      morphine recipients, chronic morphine recipients, carrageenan recipients, acute
      morphine and carrageenan recipients, gonadectomized group, gonadectomized
      recipients of carrageenan, gonadectomized recipients of morphine, gonadectomized
      recipients of chronic morphine, gonadectomized recipients of carrageenan and
      chronic morphine, gonadectomized recipients of acute morphine and carrageenan.
      FINDINGS: Our results have shown that acute and chronic morphine elevates blood
      glucose level in the acute and chronic morphine group. Cholesterol level has
      shown to be increasing in the morphine and carrageenan recipient group compared
      with a group which merely received morphine. Triglyceride has shown to be
      decreasing in acute and chronic morphine recipient group compared with control
      group. A significant increase in serum urea was observed in acute and chronic
      morphine recipients compared with the carrageenan recipient group. CONCLUSION:
      Morphine alters the serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea in the
      normal and inflammatory conditions differently, hence, this finding should be
      considered in the patients who use morphine as a relief of pain, especially in an
      inflammatory condition.

PMID- 26885350
TI  - Frequency of Psychiatric Disorders in Children of Opioid or Methamphetamine
      Dependent Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Addiction is one of the main problems of human societies, which is
      more common in developing countries. In addition, it causes to personal and
      social problems and family problem. The aim of this study was to examine the
      prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children 5-15 years old of opioid or
      methamphetamine dependence patients. METHODS: For this study, three groups
      including: (1) children of parents addicted to opium, (2) children of parents
      addicted to methamphetamine, and (3) control group were examined. Child symptom
      inventory-4 (CSI-4) questionnaires completed by non-hospitalized guardian and
      control group; then make interviews with the children by the Kiddie-schedule for
      affective disorders and schizophrenia (K-SADS). Data were analyzed by chi-square
      test and ANOVA. FINDINGS: Survey showed that the frequency of attention deficit
      hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized
      anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobia (SP), and
      separation anxiety disorder in children of addicted parents were more than a non
      addicted parent. However, there was no significant difference between the two
      groups in the frequency of conduct disorder, social phobia, and oppositional
      defiant disorders (ODDs). CONCLUSION: Parental addiction can lead to an increase
      in some psychiatric disorders in the children. Therefore follow-up, early
      diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these disorders in children of the drug
      dependent parent are necessary to reduce health costs and improve the health
      system.

PMID- 26885351
TI  - Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Concentration in Opium-Addicted Individuals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although the triggering role of both opium use and elevated plasma
      homocysteine level for progressing atherosclerosis and, therefore, appearing
      coronary heart disease has been clearly determined, no study are available with
      respect to the relation between these to risk profiles. In the present study and
      for the first time, we hypothesized that the opium addiction can be potentially
      correlated with elevated homocysteine concentration. METHODS: 217 persons (103
      opium-addicted and 114 non-addicted) were randomly selected from the Kerman
      Coronary Artery Disease Risk Study (KERCADRS), Iran, as a population-based,
      epidemiological prospective study. In all participants, an enzyme immunoassay kit
      was used to measure homocysteine in serum samples. FINDINGS: The serum level of
      homocysteine was significantly higher in the opium-addicted ones compared to non
      addicted individuals (11.49 +/- 7.45 vs. 8.02 +/- 3.87 MUmol/l) (P < 0.001). In
      this regard, 21.3% of the opium users and only 3.2% of the non-users had
      homocysteine concentration > 15 MUmol/l (P < 0.001). On the other hand,
      individuals addicted to opiates exhibited significantly elevated odds of having
      homocysteine level higher than 15 [odds ratio (OR) = 8.244, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) = 3.117-21.806]. Multivariable linear regression model showed that
      the opium addiction could strongly predict elevated homocysteine level in the
      study individuals [beta = 3.524, standard error (SE) = 0.852] (P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSION: Opium consumption can be strongly accompanied with the elevation of
      plasma homocysteine concentration, and thus opium addiction can exhibit elevated
      odds of having hyperhomocysteinemia.

PMID- 26885352
TI  - The Value of Perfectionism in Predicting Coping Strategies in Drug-User Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Positive perfectionism helps the individual to experience fewer
      worries and less anxiety. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of
      coping strategies to predict perfectionism in drug-user women. METHODS: This
      cross-sectional study was performed on 361 consecutive drug-user women who were
      randomly selected from a total of 6237 women referring to the Drug Abuse Centers
      of Kerman, Iran, in 2013. Data were gathered using the positive and negative
      perfectionism scale, and coping responses questionnaire. FINDINGS: There were
      significant correlations between positive and negative perfectionism with coping
      strategies problem-focused and emotional-focused (P < 0.001). Using multivariate
      regression modeling, 12% of total mental health variances could be estimated from
      metacognition beliefs. CONCLUSION: The positive and negative perfectionism can be
      rolled both as the predictors of coping strategies in drug-user women.

PMID- 26885354
TI  - Comparing Sensory Information Processing and Alexithymia between People with
      Substance Dependency and Normal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sensory information processing and alexithymia are two important
      factors in determining behavioral reactions. Some studies explain the effect of
      the sensitivity of sensory processing and alexithymia in the tendency to
      substance abuse. Giving that, the aim of the current study was to compare the
      styles of sensory information processing and alexithymia between substance
      dependent people and normal ones. METHODS: The research method was cross
      sectional and the statistical population of the current study comprised of all
      substance-dependent men who are present in substance quitting camps of Masal,
      Iran, in October 2013 (n = 78). 36 persons were selected randomly by simple
      randomly sampling method from this population as the study group, and 36 persons
      were also selected among the normal population in the same way as the comparison
      group. Both groups was evaluated by using Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS) and
      adult sensory profile, and the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test
      was applied to analyze data. FINDINGS: The results showed that there are
      significance differences between two groups in low registration (P < 0.020, F =
      5.66), sensation seeking (P < 0.050, F = 1.92), and sensory avoidance (P < 0.008,
      F = 7.52) as a components of sensory processing and difficulty in describing
      emotions (P < 0.001, F = 15.01) and difficulty in identifying emotions (P <
      0.002, F = 10.54) as a components of alexithymia. However, no significant
      difference were found between two groups in components of sensory sensitivity (P
      < 0.170, F = 1.92) and external oriented thinking style (P < 0.060, F = 3.60).
      CONCLUSION: These results showed that substance-dependent people process sensory
      information in a different way than normal people and show more alexithymia
      features than them.

PMID- 26885355
TI  - Comparison of Cotinine Salivary Levels in Hookah Smokers, Passive Smokers, and
      Non-Smokers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: At present smoking is considered a great health-related problem.
      Smoking cigarettes and use of tobacco are on the rise in the Middle East
      countries; therefore, the number of people exposed to passive cigarette smoke is
      increasing, too. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare
      salivary cotinine levels in hookah smokers, individuals exposed to passive
      cigarette smoke and non-smoker (passive smokers). METHODS: In the present cross
      sectional study, unstimulated salivary samples were collected from 150 subjects,
      including 50 hookah smokers, 50 passive smokers, and 50 non-smokers. Bioassay
      Technology Laboratory cotinine kit was used to determine salivary levels of
      cotinine using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique at a
      sensitivity rate of 0.019 pg/ml. Data were analyzed with SPSS software using t
      test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. FINDINGS: The highest salivary
      cotinine levels were recorded in hookah users (20.24 +/- 5.62 ng/ml), followed by
      passive smokers (16.09 +/- 3.51 ng/ml), in descending order. No detectable
      cotinine levels were observed in non-smokers. Pearson's correlation coefficient
      showed a strong and positive correlation between use of hookah and salivary
      cotinine levels (r = 0.932, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the
      present study, salivary cotinine levels were higher in hookah smokers compared
      with passive smokers and non-smokers, in descending order.

PMID- 26885356
TI  - The Role of Depression and Attachment Styles in Predicting Students' Addiction to
      Cell Phones.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The present study aimed at investigating the role of depression and
      attachment styles in predicting cell phone addiction. METHODS: In this
      descriptive correlational study, a sample including 100 students of Payame Noor
      University (PNU), Reyneh Center, Iran, in the academic year of 2013-2014 was
      selected using volunteer sampling. Participants were asked to complete the adult
      attachment inventory (AAI), Beck depression inventory-13 (BDI-13) and the cell
      phone overuse scale (COS). FINDINGS: Results of the stepwise multiple regression
      analysis showed that depression and avoidant attachment style were the best
      predictors of students' cell phone addiction (R(2) = 0.23). CONCLUSION: The
      results of this study highlighted the predictive value of depression and avoidant
      attachment style concerning students' cell phone addiction.

PMID- 26885353
TI  - Client-Level Coverage of Needle and Syringe Program and High-Risk Injection
      Behaviors: A Case Study of People Who Inject Drugs in Kermanshah, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002.
      However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual
      level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of
      NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230
      people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from two drop-in centers (DICs) from
      April to September 2014, participated in a face-to-face interview to provide
      information related individual coverage of NSP, demographic characteristics, and
      injecting behaviors 30 days prior to the interview. FINDINGS: Overall, the
      average of syringe coverage was 158% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 65.7-205.5],
      while 56% (95% CI = 40-97) have individual converge less than 100%.
      Needle/syringe sharing was significantly higher among individual with low NSP
      coverage [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3-6.2]. About 85%
      participants with coverage of less than 100% reported reuse of syringe within the
      last 30 days (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.4-7.7). CONCLUSION: PWID are different
      regarding their NSP individual-level converges. There are certain clusters of
      PWID, who do not receive sufficient number of syringes. Given that insufficient
      individual syringe coverage level is highly associated with injection risk
      behaviors, reasons for such low converge need to be assessed and addressed
      carefully.

PMID- 26885357
TI  - What Is the Main Reason for Reduction in Duration of Action of Local Anesthetics
      Used for Spinal Anesthesia in Opium Addicted Patients?

PMID- 26885358
TI  - An investigation of the associations among sleep duration and quality, body mass
      index and insulin resistance in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine direct and indirect associations of sleep duration and
      quality with insulin resistance, considering body mass index (BMI) as a potential
      mediator in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. METHODS: Cross
      sectional data from patients enrolled in the Early Activity in Diabetes study. We
      studied 522 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, 65.9% male, mean
      age 63.5 +/- 10.1 years. Of the total sample 53% had a BMI of ?30 kg/m(2).
      Participants completed a 7-day sleep diary and sleep questionnaire. Average sleep
      duration (minutes), average nap duration (minutes) and average number of night
      awakenings were derived. Objective measures of height and body weight were
      obtained for the BMI calculation (kg/m(2)). Insulin resistance was obtained using
      the homeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) standardized
      technique. RESULTS: Average number of night awakenings was positively correlated
      with BMI (r= 0.22, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with logged HOMA2-IR (r= 
      0.16, p = 0.04). Path analysis demonstrated night awakenings were directly
      associated with BMI and indirectly associated with insulin resistance, whilst
      considering BMI as a potential mediator (p < 0.05). Sleep duration was not
      associated with BMI or insulin resistance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality,
      not sleep duration, plays an important role in insulin resistance in newly
      diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. BMI may mediate the relationship
      between indicators of sleep quality and insulin resistance. There is a need to
      examine the impact of improving sleep quality on obesity and insulin resistance
      in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 26885359
TI  - Levothyroxine treatment of mild subclinical hypothyroidism: a review of potential
      risks and benefits.
AB  - Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined as elevated thyroid stimulating
      hormone (TSH) with normal levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free
      thyroxine (FT4). SCH is further classified into a milder condition with TSH
      levels between 4.0 and 10.0 milli-international units (mIU)/l (mild-SCH) and a
      severe form with TSH >10.0 mIU/l (severe-SCH). SCH is a common problem
      (prevalence is greater in women than men), which increases further with
      increasing age and TSH levels. Even though the risk of progression to overt
      hypothyroidism is higher in patients with severe-SCH, the risk is also
      significant in patients having mild-SCH; it has been suggested that every twofold
      rise in serum TSH would increase the risk from 1 to 4%, which further increases
      to 38% if thyroid antibodies are positive. Current data have shown increased
      cardiovascular risk in patients with mild-SCH and have demonstrated some benefits
      of levothyroxine treatment in reducing these events. However, evidence on the
      association of mild-SCH and musculoskeletal system, cognitive dysfunction, mood
      disorders, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and goitre is conflicting. Similarly, the
      discussion regarding the exact upper limit of normal for serum TSH remains
      controversial. The data have also shown increased risk of adverse pregnancy
      outcomes in patient with mild-SCH, with some benefits of thyroxine treatment. The
      recent available guidelines related to management of patients with serum TSH <10
      mIU/l have suggested decisions should be made taking into account the age of the
      patient, associated risk factors and comorbid conditions. This chronicle review
      assesses current evidence regarding the risks associated and the recommendations
      related to benefits of levothyroxine treatment in patients having mild-SCH. 

PMID- 26885361
TI  - Consecutive lynestrenol and cross-sex hormone treatment in biological female
      adolescents with gender dysphoria: a retrospective analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prior to the start of cross-sex hormone therapy (CSH), androgenic
      progestins are often used to induce amenorrhea in female to male (FtM) pubertal
      adolescents with gender dysphoria (GD). The aim of this single-center study is to
      report changes in anthropometry, side effects, safety parameters, and hormone
      levels in a relatively large cohort of FtM adolescents with a diagnosis of GD at
      Tanner stage B4 or further, who were treated with lynestrenol (Orgametril(r))
      monotherapy and in combination with testosterone esters (Sustanon(r)). METHODS: A
      retrospective analysis of clinical and biochemical data obtained during at least
      6 months of hormonal treatment in FtM adolescents followed at our adolescent
      gender clinic since 2010 (n = 45) was conducted. McNemar's test to analyze
      reported side effects over time was performed. A paired Student's t test or a
      Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was performed, as appropriate, on anthropometric and
      biochemical data. For biochemical analyses, all statistical tests were done in
      comparison with baseline parameters. Patients who were using oral contraceptives
      (OC) at intake were excluded if a Mann-Whitney U test indicated influence of OC.
      RESULTS: Metrorrhagia and acne were most pronounced during the first months of
      monotherapy and combination therapy respectively and decreased thereafter.
      Headaches, hot flushes, and fatigue were the most reported side effects. Over the
      course of treatment, an increase in musculature, hemoglobin, hematocrit,
      creatinine, and liver enzymes was seen, progressively sliding into male reference
      ranges. Lipid metabolism shifted to an unfavorable high-density lipoprotein
      (HDL)/low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ratio; glucose metabolism was not affected.
      Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), total testosterone, and estradiol levels
      decreased, and free testosterone slightly increased during monotherapy; total and
      free testosterone increased significantly during combination therapy.
      Gonadotropins were only fully suppressed during combination therapy. Anti
      Mullerian hormone (AMH) remained stable throughout the treatment. Changes
      occurred in the first 6 months of treatment and remained mostly stable
      thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of FtM gender dysphoric adolescents with
      lynestrenol monotherapy and in combination with testosterone esters is effective,
      safe, and inexpensive; however, suppression of gonadotropins is incomplete.
      Regular blood controls allow screening for unphysiological changes in safety
      parameters or hormonal levels and for medication abuse.

PMID- 26885362
TI  - Allergen immunotherapy for insect venom allergy: protocol for a systematic
      review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is in
      the process of developing the EAACI Guidelines for Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT)
      for the Management of Insect Venom Allergy. We seek to critically assess the
      effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of AIT in the management of insect
      venom allergy. METHODS: We will undertake a systematic review, which will involve
      searching international biomedical databases for published, in progress and
      unpublished evidence. Studies will be independently screened against pre-defined
      eligibility criteria and critically appraised using established instruments. Data
      will be descriptively and, if possible and appropriate, quantitatively
      synthesised. DISCUSSION: The findings from this review will be used to inform the
      development of recomendations for EAACI's Guidelines on AIT.

PMID- 26885363
TI  - Sick leave and healthcare utilisation in women reporting pregnancy related low
      back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain at 14 months postpartum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pregnancy related low back pain (PLBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
      are considered common complications of pregnancy. The long-term consequences for
      women with persistent PLBP/PGP postpartum are under-investigated. The main
      objective was to investigate the prevalence, pattern and degree of sick leave as
      well as healthcare utilisation and its perceived effect in women with persistent
      PLBP/PGP at 12 months postpartum. METHOD: This is a follow-up study of a cohort
      involving of a sample of women, who delivered from January 1(st) 2002 to April
      30(th) in 2002 at Umea University Hospital and Sunderby Hospital, and who
      reported PLBP/PGP during pregnancy. A total of 639 women were followed-up by a
      second questionnaire (Q2) at approximately 6 months postpartum. Women with
      persistent PLBP/PGP at the second questionnaire (N = 200) were sent a third
      questionnaire (Q3) at approximately 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: The final
      study sample consisted of 176 women reporting PLBP/PGP postpartum where N = 34
      (19.3 %) reported 'no' pain, N = 115 (65.3 %) 'recurrent' pain, and N = 27 (15.3
      %) 'continuous' pain. The vast majority (92.4 %) of women reported that they had
      neither been on sick leave nor sought any healthcare services (64.1 %) during the
      past 6 months at Q3. Women with 'continuous' pain at Q3 reported a higher extent
      of sick leave and healthcare seeking behaviour compared to women with 'recurrent'
      pain at Q3. Most women with persistent PLBP/PGP had been on sick leave on a full
      time basis. The most commonly sought healthcare was physiotherapy, followed by
      consultation with a medical doctor, acupuncture and chiropractic. CONCLUSION:
      Most women did not report any sick leave or sought any healthcare due to PLBP/PGP
      the past 6 months at Q3. However, women with 'continuous' PLBP/PGP 14 months
      postpartum did report a higher prevalence and degree of sick leave and sought
      healthcare to a higher extent compared to women with 'recurrent' PLBP/PGP at Q3.
      Women with more pronounced symptoms might constitute a specific subgroup of
      patients with a less favourable long-term outcome, thus PLBP/PGP needs to be
      addressed early in pregnancy to reduce both individual suffering and the risk of
      transition into chronicity.

PMID- 26885364
TI  - Correlation between biofilm formation and resistance toward different commonly
      used antibiotics along with extended spectrum beta lactamase production in
      uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from the patients suspected of urinary
      tract infections visiting Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni, Kathmandu, Nepal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is the most predominant causative agent of urinary
      tract infection (UTI). Recently, increase in drug resistance among the
      uropathogenic bacteria has caused great problem in treatment of UTI. The main
      objective of this research is to determine the correlation between biofilm
      formation and resistance toward different commonly used antibiotics along with
      extended spectrum beta lactamase production in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
      METHODS: The urine samples collected from the patients suspected of urinary tract
      infections (visiting Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni, Kathmandu, Nepal between
      July to December 2013) were cultured in cystine lactose electrolyte deficient
      (CLED) agar by using semi quantitative culture technique. Extended spectrum beta
      lactamase (ESBL) production was detected by combined disc diffusion technique and
      biofilm formation was detected by Congo red agar method. Chi-square test was
      applied and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out
      of 1480 urine samples, E. Coli was isolated from 208 (14.1 %) samples. Of total
      69 (33.2 %) ESBL producing uropathogenic strains of E. coli, 20 (29 %) were
      strong biofilm producers, 22 (31.9 %) were moderate biofilm producers, 11 (15.9
      %) were weak biofilm producers and 16 (23.2 %) were biofilm non producers.
      Whereas among 139 ESBL non producing E. coli, 22 (15.8 %) were strong biofilm
      producers, 20 (14.4 %) were moderate biofilm producers, 13 (9.4 %) were weak
      biofilm producers and 84 (60.4 %) were biofilm non producers. Among total 108
      biofilm producing E. coli, maximum resistance was observed toward cephalexin
      followed by amoxicillin and highest susceptibility was seen toward amikacin.
      CONCLUSION: The ability of biofilm formation was found to be significantly higher
      in ESBL producing strains of E. coli than that in ESBL non producing strains (p <
      0.05). There was higher resistance rate to antimicrobial agents among biofilm
      producing strains of E. coli than that in biofilm non producing strains.
      According to our antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for E. coli, to start
      preliminary treatment for UTI in Nepal, we recommend to use amikacin or
      nitrofurantoin. Further, for the treatment of the UTI, the antibiotics should be
      selected on the basis of the urine culture and sensitivity report.

PMID- 26885365
TI  - Erratum to: Particulate matters from diesel heavy duty trucks exhaust versus
      cigarettes emissions: a new educational antismoking instrument.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40248-016-0042-7.]. 

PMID- 26885360
TI  - Stimulation of incretin secreting cells.
AB  - The incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and
      glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are secreted from enteroendocrine cells in the
      gut and regulate physiological and homeostatic functions related to glucose
      control, metabolism and food intake. This review provides a systematic summary of
      the molecular mechanisms underlying secretion from incretin cells, and an
      understanding of how they sense and interact with lumen and vascular factors and
      the enteric nervous system through transporters and G-protein coupled receptors
      (GPCRs) present on their surface to ultimately culminate in hormone release. Some
      of the molecules described below such as sodium coupled glucose transporter 1
      (SGLT1), G-protein coupled receptor (GPR) 119 and GPR40 are targets of novel
      therapeutics designed to enhance endogenous gut hormone release. Synthetic
      ligands at these receptors aimed at treating obesity and type 2 diabetes are
      currently under investigation. 

PMID- 26885367
TI  - Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cells in CLL: the next chapter unfolds.
AB  - The long-standing promise for the application of engineered T lymphocytes to
      target and eradicate malignancy has begun to be realized recently, with
      remarkable clinical success reported by a number of groups using Chimeric Antigen
      Receptor -engineered T cells to target CD19-positive hematologic malignancies. In
      the September 2 issue of Science Translational Medicine, Porter et al. present
      the clinical data and correlative analyses for 14 CLL patients treated at the
      University of Pennsylvania under the pilot clinical trial recently completed at
      that institution. The initial reports from this trial, published in 2011
      documented robust clinical activity in a small cohort of treated patients
      accompanied by logarithmic expansion, contraction, and long-term functional
      persistence of engineered T cells, along with cytokine release syndrome as a side
      effect of the treatment. In this latest report, updated data are presented from
      the initial cohort of patients, as well as clinical and correlative data from the
      remainder of the treated cohort. The robust clinical activity observed in the
      initial cohort continued to be observed in a subset of the subsequently-treated
      patients, with molecular remissions documented in that subset; however, in the
      expanded cohort a subset of partial and non-responding patients was also
      identified. Collectively, the results from this exciting trial provide evidence
      to suggest that cellular immunotherapy using engineered T cells is a viable
      option for treating CLL, reveal a likely requirement for robust in-vivo
      activation and persistence of engineered cells to effect complete responses, and
      also highlight the need for a more complete mechanistic understanding of the
      immune- and tumor- specific processes that define and dictate the success of this
      powerful treatment modality. 

PMID- 26885366
TI  - Metabolic communication in tumors: a new layer of immunoregulation for immune
      evasion.
AB  - The success of cancer immunotherapy reveals the power of host immunity on killing
      cancer cells and the feasibility to unleash restraints of anti-tumor immunity.
      However, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and low immunogenicity of
      cancer cells restrict the therapeutic efficacy of cancer immunotherapies in a
      small fraction of patients. Therefore deciphering the underlying mechanisms
      promoting the generation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is direly
      needed to better harness host anti-tumor immunity. Early works revealed that
      deregulated metabolic activities in cancer cells support unrestricted
      proliferation and survival by producing macromolecules. Intriguingly, recent
      studies uncovered that metabolic switch in immune and endothelial cells modulate
      cellular activities and contribute to the progression of several diseases,
      including cancers. Herein, we review the progress on immunometabolic regulations
      on fine-tuning activities of immune cells and discuss how metabolic communication
      between cancer and infiltrating immune cells contributes to cancer immune
      evasion. Moreover, we would like to discuss how we might exploit this knowledge
      to improve current immunotherapies and the unresolved issues in this field. 

PMID- 26885368
TI  - Toll-like receptor agonist therapy can profoundly augment the antitumor activity
      of adoptively transferred CD8(+) T cells without host preconditioning.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lymphodepletion enhances adoptive T cell transfer (ACT) therapy by
      activating the innate immune system via microbes released from the radiation
      injured gut. Microbial components, such as LPS, are key mediators of total body
      irradiation (TBI) enhancement, but our ability to strategically use these toll
      like receptor (TLR) agonists to bolster the potency of T cell-based therapies for
      cancer remains elusive. Herein, we used TLR4 agonist LPS as a tool to address how
      and when to use TLR agonists to effectively improve cancer immunotherapy.
      METHODS: To determine the mechanisms of how innate immune activation via
      lymphodepletion potentiated antitumor T cell immunity, we utilized the pmel-1
      melanoma mouse model. B16F10-bearing mice were preconditioned with 5Gy TBI and
      given a tripartite ACT therapy (consisting of transferred pmel-1 CD8(+) T cells,
      vaccination with fowlpox encoding gp100, and IL-2) along with TLR4 agonist LPS.
      The timing of LPS administration and the requirement of individual components of
      the tripartite therapy were evaluated based on tumor growth and the phenotype of
      recovered splenocytes by flow cytometry. We also evaluated the role of non-toxic
      and clinically used TLR4 and TLR9 agonists-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and CpG
      Oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN), respectively- for ACT therapy. RESULTS: Here we
      report that while exogenous administration of LPS was able to enhance adoptively
      transferred CD8(+) T cells' tumor destruction, LPS treatment alone did not
      replace individual components of the tripartite ACT regimen, or obviate TBI.
      Moreover, we found that sequentially administering LPS during or one day prior to
      ACT therapy compromised tumor regression. In contrast, administering LPS after
      ACT potentiated the antitumor effectiveness of the regimen, thereby supporting
      the expansion of transferred tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells over host CD4(+) T
      cells. We also found that non-toxic TLR agonists MPL and CpG potentiated the
      antitumor activity of infused CD8(+) T cells. Finally, TBI was no longer needed
      to regress tumors in mice who were depleted of host CD4(+) T cells, given a
      tripartite ACT regimen and then treated with low dose LPS. CONCLUSIONS:
      Collectively, our results identify how and when to administer TLR agonists to
      augment T cell-based immunotherapy in the absence or presence of host
      preconditioning for treatment of advanced malignancies. Our findings have
      clinical implications for the design of next generation immune-based therapies
      for patients with cancer.

PMID- 26885370
TI  - Autoimmune inner ear disease in a melanoma patient treated with pembrolizumab.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immune related adverse events affecting various organ systems are a
      recognized potential consequence of immune checkpoint inhibition. However,
      autoimmune inner ear disease is one complication not previously associated with
      the use of checkpoint inhibitors, though it has been reported after adoptive cell
      immunotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present what we believe is the first
      case of autoimmune inner ear disease resulting from treatment with an immune
      checkpoint inhibitor in a patient with metastatic melanoma. An 82 year old male
      presented with widespread metastatic mucosal melanoma and was initially treated
      with the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab but had progression of disease after four
      doses. He was subsequently treated with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab and
      after two doses the patient noted bilateral hearing loss. Otology evaluation was
      significant for the development of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and the
      patient was started on treatment with bilateral intratympanic dexamethasone
      injections. He experienced significant recovery of his hearing deficit with the
      intratympanic injections and restaging imaging after 12 weeks of pembrolizumab
      demonstrated a dramatic reduction in tumor burden. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune inner
      ear disease has been previously associated with the therapeutic transfer of
      genetically engineered lymphocytes as an on-target effect of donor T-cells
      recognizing antigens on cells in the inner ear. It is important for physicians to
      have a high clinical index of suspicion for the appropriate recognition and
      management of any potential autoimmune toxicity with checkpoint inhibitors given
      the variability of presentation and unique aspects of toxicity.

PMID- 26885371
TI  - Multiplexed tissue biomarker imaging.

PMID- 26885372
TI  - Mismatch in epitope specificities between IFNgamma inflamed and uninflamed
      conditions leads to escape from T lymphocyte killing in melanoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A current focus in cancer treatment is to broaden responses to
      immunotherapy. One reason these therapies may prove inadequate is that T
      lymphocytes fail to recognize the tumor due to differences in immunogenic
      epitopes presented by the cancer cells under inflammatory or non-inflammatory
      conditions. The antigen processing machinery of the cell, the proteasome, cleaves
      proteins into peptide epitopes for presentation on MHC complexes.
      Immunoproteasomes in inflammatory melanomas, and in antigen presenting cells of
      the immune system, are enzymatically different to standard proteasomes expressed
      by tumors with no inflammation. This corresponds to alterations in protein
      cleavage between proteasome subtypes, and a disparate repertoire of MHC-presented
      epitopes. METHODS: We assessed steady state and IFNgamma-induced immunoproteasome
      expression in melanoma cells. Using epitope specific T-lymphocyte clones, we
      studied processing and presentation of three NY-ESO-1 HLA-Cw3 restricted epitopes
      by melanoma cell lines. Our experimental model allowed comparison of the
      processing of three distinct epitopes from a single antigen presented on the same
      HLA complex. We further investigated processing of these epitopes by direct
      inhibition, or siRNA mediated knockdown, of the immunoproteasome catalytic
      subunit LMP7. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated a profound difference in the way in
      which immunogenic T-lymphocyte epitopes are presented by melanoma cells under
      IFNgamma inflammatory versus non-inflammatory conditions. These alterations led
      to significant changes in the ability of T-lymphocytes to recognize and target
      melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results illustrate a little-studied mechanism of
      immune escape by tumor cells which, with appropriate understanding and treatment,
      may be reversible. These data have implications for the design of cancer vaccines
      and adoptive T cell therapies.

PMID- 26885373
TI  - Monomeric annexin A2 is an oxygen-regulated toll-like receptor 2 ligand and
      adjuvant.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a pleiotropic, calcium-dependent, phospholipid
      binding protein with a broad tissue distribution. It can be intracellular,
      membrane-bound, or secreted, and it exists as a monomer or heterotetramer. The
      secreted ANXA2 heterotetramer signals human and murine macrophages to produce IL
      1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha through TLR4/MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways. METHODS:
      GL261 glioma cells were cultured in 5 % or 20 % O2. Monomeric ANXA2 (ANXA2m) was
      identified as a TLR2-binding protein enriched in 5 % O2 by mass spectrometry.
      Purified ANXA2m and ANXA2-derived peptides were added to TLR2-expressing reporter
      cells and immature dendritic cells (DCs) cells in vitro. ANXA2m was then mixed
      with chicken ovalbumin (OVA) for vaccination of TLR2 (+/+) and TLR2 (-/-) mice
      for subsequent quantification of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. The
      TLR2-binding region of ANXA2m was determined using various peptides derived from
      the ANXA2 amino terminus on TLR2 reporter cells and in vaccinated mice. RESULTS:
      ANXA2m is overexpressed by murine glioblastoma GL261 cells grown under 5 % O2,
      but not atmospheric 20 % O2, and acts as an adjuvant by inducing murine and human
      DC maturation through TLR2. ANXA2m upregulates CD80 and CD86 expression, enhances
      antigen cross-presentation, and induces the secretion of IL-12p70, TNF-alpha, and
      IFN-gamma. The amino-terminal 15 amino acids of ANXA2m are necessary and
      sufficient for TLR2 binding and DC activation. CONCLUSION: This novel finding
      adds to the known functions of ANXA2 and suggests ways to exploit it as a vaccine
      adjuvant. ANXA2-antigen fusion peptides could be developed for patients as "off
      the-shelf" agents containing common tumor antigens. Alternatively, they could be
      "personalized" and synthesized after tumor sequencing to identify immunogenic
      tumor-specific neo-antigens. As the amino terminal 15 amino acids of ANXA2 are
      required to stimulate TLR2 activity, a fusion peptide could be as short as 30
      amino acids if one or two CD8 T cell epitopes are fused to the ANXA2 amino
      terminal portion. Future work will address the efficacy of ANXA2 peptide fusions
      alone and in combination with established TLR agonists to induce synergy in
      preclinical models of glioma as observed in other vaccines.

PMID- 26885377
TI  - Recent advances in canola meal utilization in swine nutrition.
AB  - Canola meal is derived from the crushing of canola seed for oil extraction.
      Although it has been used in swine diets for a long time, its inclusion levels
      have been limited due to concerns regarding its nutritive value primarily arising
      from results of early studies showing negative effects of dietary canola meal
      inclusion in swine diets. Such effects were attributable to the presence of anti
      nutritional factors (ANF; notably glucosinolates) in canola meal. However, due to
      advances in genetic improvements of canola that have led to production of
      cultivars with significantly lower ANF content and improved processing
      procedures, canola meal with a superior nutritive value for non-ruminant animals
      is now available. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the recent
      studies in the use of canola meal as feedstuff for swine, the factors influencing
      its use and the strategies to overcome them. First a historical overview of the
      development of canola is provided. 

PMID- 26885374
TI  - A comparison of behavioral and psychological characteristics of patients opting
      for surgical and conservative treatment for morbid obesity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the psychological prerequisites for weight loss
      maintenance after bariatric surgery. A first step in investigating whether
      existing knowledge of conservative weight loss treatment is applicable for
      lifestyle interventions postoperatively is to compare specific psychological
      characteristics at baseline. The aim of this study was to compare patients
      scheduled for bariatric surgery with patients receiving conservative treatment
      for morbid obesity on measures of behavioral and psychosocial characteristics
      considered predictors of their adoption of and adherence to long-term lifestyle
      recommendations. METHODS: Baseline clinical and questionnaire data from the
      prospective "Oslo Bariatric Surgery Study" were used to examine potential
      differences between bariatric surgery patients (n = 301) and patients receiving
      conservative weight loss treatment (n = 261). RESULTS: The surgical group was
      characterized by their younger age (43.8 vs. 46.2 years, p <0.01), higher
      percentage of women (79.1 vs. 70.1 %, p <0.05), and higher Body Mass Index (BMI;
      45.0 vs. 41.9 kg/m(2), p <0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis,
      adjusting for group differences in BMI, gender, and age, showed that the surgical
      group had higher self-efficacy (Odds ratio; OR = 3.44, 95 % Confidence interval;
      CI 1.65, 7.14), more positive outcome expectations (OR = 1.53, 95 % CI 1.23,
      1.89), and plans that were more explicit for changing their eating behaviors (OR
      = 1.80, 95 % CI 1.06, 1.93). The surgical patients were also less ready to change
      physical activity levels (OR = 0.59, 95 % CI 0.48, 0.73), had tried more types of
      unhealthy weight loss methods in the past (OR = 1.16, 95 % CI 1.01, 1.33), drank
      soda more frequently (OR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.02, 1.50), had fewer binge eating
      episodes (OR = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.20, 0.71), and had more depressive symptoms (OR =
      1.19, 95 % CI 1.09, 1.29). CONCLUSIONS: Patients opting for bariatric surgery had
      more positive expectations of the treatment outcomes and stronger beliefs in
      their ability to achieve these outcomes. Those starting conservative treatment
      had stronger beliefs in readiness to change physical activity levels. Future
      studies should explore the effect of interventions for bariatric surgery
      patients, promoting postoperative physical activity and stress realistic outcome
      expectations. The potential effects of incorporating this knowledge in
      intervention strategies remain to be explored.

PMID- 26885378
TI  - Intraoperative Corneal Thickness Changes during Pulsed Accelerated Corneal Cross
      Linking Using Isotonic Riboflavin with HPMC.
AB  - Purpose. To evaluate corneal thickness changes during pulsed accelerated corneal
      cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus using a new isotonic riboflavin formula.
      Methods. In this prospective, interventional, clinical study patients with grades
      1-2 keratoconus (Amsler-Krumeich classification) underwent pulsed accelerated (30
      mW/cm(2)) CXL after application of an isotonic riboflavin solution (0.1%) with
      HPMC for 10 minutes. Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were taken
      using ultrasound pachymetry before and after epithelial removal, after riboflavin
      soaking, and immediately after completion of UVA treatment. Results. Twenty eyes
      of 11 patients (4 males, 7 females) were enrolled. Mean patient age was 26 +/- 3
      (range from 18 to 30 years). No intraoperative or postoperative complications
      were observed in any of the patients. Mean CCT was 507 +/- 35 MUm (range: 559-459
      MUm) before and 475 +/- 40 MUm (range: 535-420 MUm) after epithelial removal (P <
      0.001). After 10 minutes of riboflavin instillation, there was a statistically
      significant decrease of CCT by 6.2% from 475 +/- 40 MUm (range: 535-420 MUm) to
      446 +/- 31 MUm (range: 508-400) (P < 0.005). There was no other statistically
      significant change of CCT during UVA irradiation. Conclusions. A significant
      decrease of corneal thickness was demonstrated during the isotonic riboflavin
      with HPMC application while there was no significant change during the pulsed
      accelerated UVA irradiation. 

PMID- 26885379
TI  - Outcomes of 23-Gauge Vitrectomy Combined with Phacoemulsification, Panretinal
      Photocoagulation, and Trabeculectomy without Use of Anti-VEGF Agents for
      Neovascular Glaucoma with Vitreous Hemorrhage.
AB  - Purpose. To evaluate the outcomes of 23-gauge vitrectomy combined with
      phacoemulsification, PRP and trabeculectomy without use of anti-VEGF-agents for
      NVG. Methods. Eighteen eyes of 18 patients with NVG underwent 23-gauge vitrectomy
      combined with phacoemulsification, PRP and trabeculectomy without use of anti
      VEGF agents. The preoperative BCVA ranged from light perception to 0.2. The
      preoperative IOP ranged from 38 mmHg to 64 mmHg with a mean of 54 +/- 8 mmHg. The
      average follow-up time was 14.5 +/- 3 months with a range from 11 to 24 months.
      Results. The postoperative VA increased in 14 eyes and was stable in 4 eyes at
      the final follow-up. The mean IOP was 12 +/- 3 mmHg at postoperative day 1. The
      mean IOP was 15 +/- 2 mmHg, 16 +/- 3 mmHg, 23 +/- 5 mmHg, 28 +/- 4 mmHg, 22 +/- 5
      mmHg, 17 +/- 3 mmHg, and 19 +/- 4 mmHg at postoperative days 2 and 3, 1, 2, 3,
      and 12 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively, respectively, with a range from 10 to
      30 mmHg at the final follow-up time point of one year. The IOP was significantly
      lower than the preoperative one 12 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.05). Conclusion.
      23-gauge vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification, PRP, and trabeculectomy
      without use of anti-VEGF-agents is a safe and effective method in treating NVG. 

PMID- 26885375
TI  - Effectiveness of regular weighing, weight target setting and feedback by
      community midwives within routine antenatal care in preventing excessive
      gestational weight gain: randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many pregnant women gain excess weight during pregnancy which
      increases the health risks to the mother and her baby. Interventions to prevent
      excess weight gain need to be given to the whole population to prevent excess
      weight gain. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a simple
      and brief intervention embedded withinroutine antenatal care to prevent excessive
      gestation weight gain. METHODS: Six hundred and ten pregnant women (between 10-14
      weeks gestation), aged >=18 years with a body mass index (BMI) >=18.5 kg/m2,
      planned to receive community midwife led care or shared care at the time of
      recruitment are eligible to take part in the study. Women will be recruited from
      four maternity centres in England. Community midwives complete a short training
      module before delivering the intervention. In the intervention, midwives weigh
      women, set maximum weight limits for weight gain at each antenatal appointment
      and ask women to monitor their weight at home. Themaximum weight limit is
      adjusted by the midwife at each antenatal appointment if women have exceeded
      their maximum weight gain limit set at their previous appointment. The
      intervention will be compared with usual antenatal care. The primary outcome is
      the proportion of women per group who exceed the Institute of Medicine guidelines
      for gestational weight gain at 38 weeks of pregnancy according to their early
      pregnancy BMI category. DISCUSSION: The proposed trial will test a brief
      intervention comprising regular weighing, target setting and monitoring ofweight
      during pregnancy that can be delivered at scale as part of routine antenatal
      care. Using the professional expertise of community midwives, but without
      specialist training in weight management, the intervention will incur minimal
      additionalhealthcare costs, and if effective at reducing excess weight gain, is
      likely to be very cost effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials
      ISRCTN67427351. Date assigned 29/10/2014.

PMID- 26885380
TI  - Zeaxanthin: Review of Toxicological Data and Acceptable Daily Intake.
AB  - Zeaxanthin is a nutritional carotenoid with a considerable amount of safety data
      based on regulatory studies, which form the basis of its safety evaluation.
      Subchronic OECD guideline studies with mice and rats receiving beadlet
      formulations of high purity synthetic zeaxanthin in the diet at dosages up to
      1000 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day, and in dogs at over 400 mg/kg bw/day, produced
      no adverse effects or histopathological changes. In developmental toxicity
      studies, there was no evidence of fetal toxicity or teratogenicity in rats or
      rabbits at dosages up to 1000 or 400 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. Formulated
      zeaxanthin was not mutagenic or clastogenic in a series of in vitro and in vivo
      tests for genotoxicity. A 52-week chronic oral study in Cynomolgus monkeys at
      doses of 0.2 and 20 mg/kg bw/day, mainly designed to assess accumulation and
      effects in primate eyes, showed no adverse effects. In a rat two-generation
      study, the NOAEL was 150 mg/kg bw/day. In 2012, this dosage was used by EFSA (NDA
      Panel), in association with a 200-fold safety factor, to propose an Acceptable
      Daily Intake equivalent to 53 mg/day for a 70 kg adult. The requested use level
      of 2 mg/day was ratified by the EU Commission. 

PMID- 26885382
TI  - Visual and Refractive Outcomes of a Toric Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lens.
AB  - Purpose. To evaluate outcomes in astigmatic patients implanted with the Trulign
      (Bausch + Lomb) toric presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) during
      cataract surgery in a clinical practice setting. Methods. Retrospective study in
      40 eyes (31 patients) that underwent cataract extraction and IOL implantation in
      a procedure using intraoperative wavefront aberrometry guidance (ORA system).
      Endpoints included uncorrected visual acuity (VA), reduction in refractive
      cylinder, accuracy to target, axis orientation, and safety. Results. At
      postoperative month 1, refractive cylinder was <=0.50 D in 97.5% of eyes (<=1.00
      D in 100%), uncorrected distance VA was 20/25 or better in 95%, uncorrected
      intermediate VA was 20/25 or better in 95%, and uncorrected near VA was 20/40 (J3
      equivalent) or better in 92.5%. Manifest refraction spherical equivalent was
      within 1.00 D of target in 95% of eyes and within 0.50 D in 82.5%. Lens rotation
      was <5 degrees  and best-corrected VA was 20/25 or better in all eyes.
      Conclusion. The IOL effectively reduced refractive cylinder and provided
      excellent uncorrected distance and intermediate vision and functional near
      vision. Refractive predictability and rotational stability were exceptional.
      Implantation of this toric presbyopia-correcting IOL using ORA intraoperative
      aberrometry provides excellent refractive and visual outcomes in a standard of
      care setting. 

PMID- 26885381
TI  - Comparison of Two Botulinum Neurotoxin A Injection Patterns with or without the
      Medial Lower Eyelid in the Treatment of Blepharospasm.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two botulinum toxin A (BoNT
      A) injection patterns with or without the medial lower eyelid (MLE) in treating
      benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) and influencing lacrimal drainage. Two
      different injection patterns of BoNT-A were randomly applied to 98 eyes of 49 BEB
      patients: MLE Group received a full injection pattern of 5 sites and non-MLE
      Group received a MLE waived injection pattern of 4 sites. Tear breakup time
      (BUT), Schirmer I test, lagophthalmos height, and lower lid tear meniscus height
      (TMH) were measured and Jankovic Rating Scale (JRS) was surveyed before injection
      and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after injection. The symptom of BEB was
      relieved in both groups as suggested by JRS scores at all time points after
      injection, and MLE Group came up with a better JRS score at 3 months. The
      increases of Schirmer I test value and TMH in MLE Group were higher than those in
      non-MLE Group at 1 week after injection. This study shows that the MLE-involved
      full injection pattern is a better choice for patients with BEB. It has longer
      lasting effects in relieving BEB symptoms and better efficacy in reducing
      lacrimal drainage. Clinical Trials registration number is NCT02327728. 

PMID- 26885383
TI  - Risk Factors and Adverse Events Poorly Predict Infections and
      Hypogammaglobulinemia in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Patients Receiving
      Rituximab.
AB  - Background. 29 GPA patients from the Northern Norway vasculitis disease registry
      received rituximab (RTX) induction and maintenance. 24% and 31% had,
      respectively, severe and chronic infections while 45% had hypogammaglobulinemia
      and 28% discontinued RTX due to hypogammaglobulinemia. The aim of the study was
      to examine how known predictors and adverse events interacted with adverse events
      using structural statistical methods. Methods. Five predictors (age,
      cyclophosphamide, total Ig and CD4/CD8 ratio prior RTX, and type of RTX
      maintenance regimen) and 4 adverse events (severe and chronic infections,
      hypogammaglobulinemia, and RTX discontinuation) were modeled in principal
      component and redundancy analyses. Results. The 5 predictors explained 51% of the
      variance of the GPA cohort. Models including cyclophosphamide exposure and total
      Ig level predicted best adverse events. However total Ig level has low R squared.
      The 2 best combinations of adverse events explained 13% of the variance of the
      predictors and adverse events. Only chronic infections were associated with
      combination of all adverse events (P = 0.014). Hypogammaglobulinemia did not seem
      associated with the other adverse events. Conclusions. Traditional risk factors
      for infections and hypogammaglobulinemia seemed to poorly predict adverse events
      in our GPA cohort. 

PMID- 26885384
TI  - Clinical Manifestations Associated with Overweight/Obesity in Puerto Ricans with
      Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
AB  - Objective. To determine the clinical manifestations associated with
      overweight/obesity in Hispanics from Puerto Rico with fibromyalgia syndrome
      (FMS). Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in 144 patients with FMS
      (per American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria).
      Sociodemographic features, FMS-related symptoms, tender points (per ACR
      criteria), comorbidities, and FMS treatment were examined. BMI was calculated and
      patients were grouped into two categories: BMI <= 24.9 kg/m(2)
      (nonoverweight/obese) and BMI >= 25 kg/m(2) (overweight/obese). Bivariate and
      multivariate analyses were used to evaluate differences between the study groups.
      Results. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of patients was 50.2 (9.9) years;
      95.1% were females and 75.7% were overweight/obese. In the bivariate analysis,
      overweight/obese patients were more likely to have self-reported memory
      impairment, anxiety, shortness of breath, and urinary frequency than
      nonoverweight/obese patients. In addition, the tender point count was higher in
      the overweight/obese group. In the logistic regression analyses, self-reported
      memory impairment and urinary frequency differences remained significant after
      adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion. In this population of Puerto
      Ricans with FMS, overweight/obese patients experienced more FMS-related
      manifestations than nonoverweight/obese individuals. However, prospective studies
      are needed to confirm these associations and to elucidate if weight reduction
      interventions could favorably impact the severity of FMS. 

PMID- 26885386
TI  - Breakfast Protein Source Does Not Influence Postprandial Appetite Response and
      Food Intake in Normal Weight and Overweight Young Women.
AB  - Breakfasts higher in protein lead to a greater reduction in hunger compared to
      breakfasts higher in carbohydrate. However, few studies have examined the impact
      of higher protein breakfasts with differing protein sources. Our objective was to
      determine if protein source (animal protein (AP) versus plant protein (PP))
      influences postprandial metabolic response in participants consuming a high
      protein breakfast (~30% energy from protein). Normal weight (NW; n = 12) and
      overweight women (OW; n = 8) aging 18-36 were recruited to participate.
      Participants completed two visits in a randomized, cross-over design with one
      week between visits. Subjects had 15 minutes to consume each breakfast. Blood
      glucose and appetite were assessed at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes
      postprandial. Participants kept a 24-hour dietary record for the duration of each
      test day. No difference was found between NW and OW participants or breakfasts
      for postprandial appetite responses. AP had a significantly lower glucose
      response at 30 minutes compared with PP (-11.6%; 127 +/- 4 versus 112 +/- 4
      mg/dL; P < 0.05) and a slower return to baseline. There was no difference in
      daily energy intake between breakfasts. These data suggest that protein source
      may influence postprandial glucose response without significantly impacting
      appetite response in breakfast consumers. 

PMID- 26885385
TI  - Obesity Severity, Dietary Behaviors, and Lifestyle Risks Vary by Race/Ethnicity
      and Age in a Northern California Cohort of Children with Obesity.
AB  - Identification of modifiable behaviors is important for pediatric weight
      management and obesity prevention programs. This study examined obesogenic
      behaviors in children with obesity in a Northern California obesity intervention
      program using data from a parent/teen-completed intake questionnaire covering
      dietary and lifestyle behaviors (frequency of breakfast, family meals, unhealthy
      snacking and beverages, fruit/vegetable intake, sleep, screen time, and
      exercise). Among 7956 children with BMI >= 95th percentile, 45.5% were females
      and 14.2% were 3-5, 44.2% were 6-11, and 41.6% were 12-17 years old. One-quarter
      (24.9%) were non-Hispanic white, 11.3% were black, 43.5% were Hispanic, and 12.0%
      were Asian/Pacific Islander. Severe obesity was prevalent (37.4%), especially
      among blacks, Hispanics, and older children, and was associated with less
      frequent breakfast and exercise and excess screen time, and in young children it
      was associated with consumption of sweetened beverages or juice. Unhealthy
      dietary behaviors, screen time, limited exercise, and sleep were more prevalent
      in older children and in selected black, Hispanic, and Asian subgroups, where
      consumption of sweetened beverages or juice was especially high. Overall, obesity
      severity and obesogenic behaviors increased with age and varied by gender and
      race/ethnicity. We identified several key prevalent modifiable behaviors that can
      be targeted by healthcare professionals to reduce obesity when counseling
      children with obesity and their parents. 

PMID- 26885387
TI  - Review and Outcome of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
AB  - The maximal duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is unknown. We report
      a case of prolonged CPR. We have then reviewed all published cases with CPR
      duration equal to or more than 20 minutes. The objective was to determine the
      survival rate, the neurological outcome, and the characteristics of the
      survivors. Measurements and Main Results. The CPR data for 82 patients was
      reviewed. The median duration of CPR was 75 minutes. Patients mean age was 43 +/-
      21 years with no significant comorbidities. The main causes of the cardiac
      arrests were myocardial infarction (29%), hypothermia (21%), and pulmonary emboli
      (12%). 74% of the arrests were witnessed, with a mean latency to CPR of 2 +/- 6
      minutes and good quality chest compression provided in 96% of the cases. Adjunct
      therapy included extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (18%), thrombolysis (15.8%),
      and rewarming for hypothermia (19.5%). 83% were alive at 1 year, with full
      neurological recovery reported in 63 patients. Conclusion. Patients undergoing
      prolonged CPR can survive with good outcome. Young age, myocardial infarction,
      and potentially reversible causes of cardiac arrest such as hypothermia and
      pulmonary emboli predict a favorable result, especially when the arrest is
      witnessed and followed by prompt and good resuscitative efforts. 

PMID- 26885388
TI  - Atherosclerosis as Extrahepatic Manifestation of Chronic Infection with Hepatitis
      C Virus.
AB  - Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with significant morbidity and
      mortality, as a result of progression towards advanced natural course stages
      including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, the SVR
      following successful therapy is generally associated with resolution of liver
      disease in patients without cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis remain at risk of
      life-threatening complications despite the fact that hepatic fibrosis may regress
      and the risk of complications such as hepatic failure and portal hypertension is
      reduced. Furthermore, recent data suggest that the risk of HCC and all-cause
      mortality is significantly reduced, but not eliminated, in cirrhotic patients who
      clear HCV compared to untreated patients and nonsustained virological responders.
      Data derived from studies have demonstrated a strong link between HCV infection
      and the atherogenic process. Subsequently HCV seems to represent a strong,
      independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, carotid atherosclerosis,
      stroke, and, ultimately, CVD related mortality. The advent of new direct acting
      antiviral therapy has dramatically increased the sustained virological response
      rates of hepatitis C infection. In this scenario, the cardiovascular risk has
      emerged and represents a major concern after the eradication of the virus which
      may influence the life expectancy and the quality of patients' life. 

PMID- 26885389
TI  - Association between Fellowship Training, Surgical Volume, and Laparoscopic
      Suturing Techniques among Members of the American Association of Gynecologic
      Laparoscopists.
AB  - Study Objective. To compare surgical volume and techniques including laparoscopic
      suturing among members of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
      (AAGL) according to fellowship training status. Design. A web-based survey was
      designed using Qualtrics and sent to AAGL members. Results. Minimally invasive
      gynecologic surgery (FMIGS) trained surgeons were more likely to perform more
      than 8 major conventional laparoscopic cases per month (63% versus 38%, P <
      0.001, OR [95% CI] = 2.78 [1.54-5.06]) and were more likely to perform
      laparoscopic suturing during these cases (32% versus 16%, P < 0.004, OR [95% CI]
      = 2.44 [1.25-4.71]). The non-fellowship trained (NFT) surgeons in private
      practice were less likely to perform over 8 conventional laparoscopic cases (34%
      versus 51%, P = 0.03, OR [95% CI] = 0.50 [0.25-0.99]) and laparoscopic suturing
      during these cases (13% versus 27%, P = 0.01, OR [95% CI] = 0.39 [0.17-0.92])
      compared to NFT surgeons in academic practice. Conclusion. The surgical volume
      and utilization of laparoscopic suturing of FMIGS trained surgeons are
      significantly increased compared to NFT surgeons. Academic practice setting had a
      positive impact on surgical volume of NFT surgeons but not on FMIGS trained
      surgeons. 

PMID- 26885390
TI  - Factors Related to Postoperative Pain Trajectories following Total Knee
      Arthroplasty: A Longitudinal Study of Patients Admitted to a Russian Orthopaedic
      Clinic.
AB  - This study explores sociodemographic, clinical, and surgical factors in relation
      to pain trajectories during the first 3 days following total knee arthroplasty
      (TKA). 100 patients (mean age 63.5 +/- 7.8 years and 93% female) consecutively
      admitted for uncomplicated primary TKA were prospectively included. Postoperative
      pain was assessed using pain diaries. Measures of preoperative pain, symptoms,
      daily functioning, quality of life, comorbidities, knee function, perioperative
      characteristics, and physical/biochemical parameters were also evaluated. All
      pain ratings decreased in the three days following surgery (p < .001) as well as
      the reported number of daily hours in moderate/severe pain (p < .001). Women
      reported more pain than men (p = .009). Pain trajectories did not differ by
      education, employment, cohabitation, or any patient clinical and biochemical
      characteristics but were significantly related to preoperative anxiety (p =
      .029). Patients reporting moderate/severe pain prior to surgery also reported
      more hours in moderate/severe pain on days 0-3 postoperatively (p = .029).
      Patients with surgeries longer than 90 min reported more hours of moderate/severe
      pain compared with patients who had shorter surgeries (p = .008), and similar
      results were observed for ratings of pain with activity (p = .012). In this
      sample, only female gender, higher levels of preoperative pain and anxiety, and
      longer surgical duration were associated with increased pain after TKA. 

PMID- 26885392
TI  - Differences between Groups of Family Physicians with Different Attitudes towards
      At-Risk Drinkers: A Post Hoc Study of the ODHIN Survey in Portugal.
AB  - Introduction. We have recently shown that family physicians can be classified
      into two groups based on their attitudes towards at-risk drinkers: one with
      better and the other with worse attitudes. Objective. To compare the two groups
      regarding demographics, alcohol-related clinical practice, knowledge of sensible
      drinking limits, and barriers and facilitators to working with at-risk drinkers.
      Methods. A random sample of 234 Portuguese family physicians who answered the
      Optimizing Delivery of Health Care Interventions survey was included. The
      questionnaire asked questions on demographics, alcohol-related clinical practice,
      knowledge of sensible drinking limits, and barriers and facilitators to working
      with at-risk drinkers. Results. Family physicians with better attitudes were
      younger (p = 0.005) and less experienced (p = 0.04) and with higher male
      proportion (p = 0.01). This group had more hours of postgraduate training (p <
      0.001), felt more prepared to counsel risky drinkers (p < 0.001), and considered
      themselves to have better counselling efficacy (p < 0.001). More family
      physicians in the group with worse attitudes considered that doctors cannot
      identify risky drinkers without symptoms (p = 0.01) and believed counselling is
      difficult (p = 0.005). Conclusions. Family physicians with better attitudes had
      more education on alcohol and fewer barriers to work with at-risk drinkers. These
      differences should be taken into account when designing implementation programs
      seeking to increase alcohol screening and brief advice. 

PMID- 26885391
TI  - Imaging of Hip Pain: From Radiography to Cross-Sectional Imaging Techniques.
AB  - Hip pain can have multiple causes, including intra-articular, juxta-articular,
      and referred pain, mainly from spine or sacroiliac joints. In this review, we
      discuss the causes of intra-articular hip pain from childhood to adulthood and
      the role of the appropriate imaging techniques according to clinical suspicion
      and age of the patient. Stress is put on the findings of radiographs, currently
      considered the first imaging technique, not only in older people with
      degenerative disease but also in young people without osteoarthritis. In this
      case plain radiography allows categorization of the hip as normal or dysplastic
      or with impingement signs, pincer, cam, or a combination of both. 

PMID- 26885393
TI  - Fabrication and Optimization of ChE/ChO/HRP-AuNPs/c-MWCNTs Based Silver Electrode
      for Determining Total Cholesterol in Serum.
AB  - The developed method used three enzymes comprised of cholesterol esterase,
      cholesterol oxidase, and peroxidase for fabrication of amperometric biosensor in
      order to determine total cholesterol in serum samples. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)
      and carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) were used to design core of
      working electrode, having covalently immobilized ChO, ChE, and HRP.
      Polyacrylamide layer was finally coated on working electrode in order to prevent
      enzyme leaching. Chemically synthesised Au nanoparticles were subjected to
      transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for analysing the shape and size of the
      particles. Working electrode was subjected to FTIR and XRD. The combined action
      of AuNP and c-MWCNT showed enhancement in electrocatalytic activity at a very low
      potential of 0.27 V. The pH 7, temperature 40 degrees C, and response time of 20
      seconds, respectively, were observed. The biosensor shows a broad linear range
      from 0.5 mg/dL to 250 mg/dL (0.01 mM-5.83 mM) with minimum detection limit being
      0.5 mg/dL (0.01 mM). The biosensor showed reusability of more than 45 times and
      was stable for 60 days. The biosensor was successfully tested for determining
      total cholesterol in serum samples amperometrically with no significant
      interference by serum components. 

PMID- 26885394
TI  - Halophilic Bacteria of Lunsu Produce an Array of Industrially Important Enzymes
      with Salt Tolerant Activity.
AB  - The halophilic bacterial isolates SS1, SS2, SS3, SS5, and SS8 were characterized
      for production of industrially important enzymes like amylase, protease, lipase,
      and glutaminase. Halophilic bacterial isolates SS1 and SS3 exhibited salt
      dependent extracellular amylase and protease activities. Both the halophilic
      isolates SS1 and SS3 exhibited maximum amylase and protease activities in the
      presence of 1.5 and 1.0 M NaCl, respectively, with the optimum pH 8 and
      temperature 40 degrees C. SS2 showed maximum extracellular protease and lipase
      activities in the presence of 0.75 M NaCl, at optimum pH of 7, and temperature 37
      degrees C. The glutaminase activity of SS3 increased with increase in
      concentration of NaCl up to 2.5 M. The optimum pH and temperature for L
      glutaminase activity of SS3 was 8 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The combined
      hydrolytic activities of these halophilic bacterial isolates can be used for
      bioconversion of organic materials to useful products. 

PMID- 26885395
TI  - Baird-Pattinson Aetiological Classification and Phases of Delay Contributing to
      Stillbirths in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aims to identify triggers of stillbirth in the study setting
      and to make suggestions to reduce the prevalence. METHOD: A three-year
      retrospective case-control study of stillbirths at Ekiti State University
      Teaching Hospital. RESULTS: The stillbirth rate was 33 per 1000 births. Based on
      Baird-Pattinson classification of the primary obstetric causes of stillbirth,
      adverse intrapartum events, hypertensive diseases, and unexplained intrapartum
      fetal deaths were topmost causes of stillbirths. In comparison with the controls,
      other identified predictors of SB were grand multiparity (p = 0.016), delays in
      seeking medical care and/or in receiving treatment (p = 0.001), wrong initial
      diagnosis (p = 0.001), inadequate intrapartum monitoring (p = 0.001), and
      inappropriate clinical management (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Stillbirth rate
      remains high in our setting. Elimination of obstacles to accessing care,
      effective management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, updated health
      facilities, improved dedication to duty, and retraining of health workers will
      reduce the prevalence.

PMID- 26885397
TI  - Restriction Profiling of 23S Microheterogenic Ribosomal Repeats for Detection and
      Characterizing of E. coli and Their Clonal, Pathogenic, and Phylogroups.
AB  - Correlating ribosomal microheterogenicity with unique restriction profiles can
      prove to be an efficacious and cost-effective approach compared with sequencing
      for microbial identification. An attempt to peruse restriction profiling of 23S
      ribosomal assemblage was ventured; digestion patterns with Bfa I discriminated E.
      coli from its colony morphovars, while Hae III profiles assisted in establishing
      distinct clonal groups. Among the gene pool of 399 ribosomal sequences
      extrapolated from 57 E. coli genomes, varying degree of predominance (I > III >
      IV > II) of Hae III pattern was observed. This was also corroborated in samples
      collected from clinical, commensal, and environmental origin. K-12 and its
      descendants showed type I pattern whereas E. coli-B and its descendants exhibited
      type IV, both of these patterns being exclusively present in E. coli. A near
      possible association between phylogroups and Hae III profiles with presumable
      correlation between the clonal groups and different pathovars was established.
      The generic nature, conservation, and barcode gap of 23S rRNA gene make it an
      ideal choice and substitute to 16S rRNA gene, the most preferred region for
      molecular diagnostics in bacteria. 

PMID- 26885398
TI  - Association of RBP4 Genotype with Phenotypic Reproductive Traits of Sows.
AB  - PCR-RFLP was applied to a commercial crossbred pig population in order to
      investigate the association between polymorphism (SNP) of Retinol-binding protein
      4 (RBP4) gene and reproductive performance. 400 sows were genotyped and 2000
      records of reproductive traits were used in order to retrieve information about
      the allele frequencies and the association of the RBP4 gene with main
      reproductive characteristics of the population. A deviation from the Hardy
      Weinberg equilibrium was observed as a result of the AB genotype excess. In
      addition, the AA genotype saw statistically significant higher values of (i) the
      total number of born piglets (p < 0.05), (ii) the number of piglets born alive (p
      < 0.01), and (iii) the number of weaned piglets (p < 0.01). The number of the
      mummified piglets and the number of the piglets born dead did not differ between
      the various RBP4 genotypes. Interestingly, the AA genotype had a negative impact
      (p < 0.05) on the number of piglets born dead, resulting indirectly in a larger
      litter size. In conclusion, the AA genotype and in extension the A allele of RBP4
      gene are in favor of producing larger litter size, suggesting that the RBP4 gene
      may be used in Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) programs for a rapid improvement
      of the reproductive characteristics in pigs. 

PMID- 26885399
TI  - Poor Sleep in Multiple Sclerosis Correlates with Beck Depression Inventory
      Values, but Not with Polysomnographic Data.
AB  - Objectives. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) values correlate with
      depression, but studies investigating the relationship between PSQI values and
      polysomnographic (PSG) data showed inconsistent findings. Methods. Sixty-five
      consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were retrospectively classified
      as "good sleepers" (GS) (PSQI <= 5) and "poor sleepers" (PS) (PSQI > 5). The PSG
      data and the values of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of fatigue, Modified Fatigue
      Impact Scale (MFIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale
      (ESS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were compared. Results. No
      significant differences were found either for PSG data or for ESS, MFIS, and FSS
      values; but PS showed significantly increased BDI and VAS values. Conclusions.
      Poor sleep is associated with increased depression and fatigue scale values. 

PMID- 26885396
TI  - Beliefs, Barriers, and Preferences of European Overweight Women to Adopt a
      Healthier Lifestyle in Pregnancy to Minimize Risk of Developing Gestational
      Diabetes Mellitus: An Explorative Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We explored beliefs, perceived barriers, and preferences regarding
      lifestyle changes among overweight European pregnant women to help inform the
      development of future lifestyle interventions in the prevention of gestational
      diabetes mellitus. METHODS: An explorative mixed methods, two-staged study was
      conducted to gather information from pregnant European women (BMI >= 25 kg/m2).
      In three European countries 21 interviews were conducted, followed by 71
      questionnaires in six other European countries. Content analysis and descriptive
      and chi-square statistics were applied (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Women preferred to
      obtain detailed information about their personal risk. The health of their baby
      was a major motivating factor. Perceived barriers for physical activity included
      pregnancy-specific issues such as tiredness and experiencing physical complaints.
      Insufficient time was a barrier more frequently reported by women with children.
      Abstaining from snacking was identified as a challenge for the majority of women,
      especially for those without children. Women preferred to obtain support from
      their partner, as well as health professionals and valued flexible lifestyle
      programs. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals need to inform overweight
      pregnant women about their personal risk, discuss lifestyle modification, and
      assist in weight management. Lifestyle programs should be tailored to the
      individual, taking into account barriers experienced by overweight first-time
      mothers and multipara women.

PMID- 26885401
TI  - Miglustat Reverts the Impairment of Synaptic Plasticity in a Mouse Model of NPC
      Disease.
AB  - Niemann-Pick type C disease is an autosomal recessive storage disorder,
      characterized by abnormal sequestration of unesterified cholesterol within the
      late endolysosomal compartment of cells and accumulation of gangliosides and
      other sphingolipids. Progressive neurological deterioration and insurgence of
      symptoms like ataxia, seizure, and cognitive decline until severe dementia are
      pathognomonic features of the disease. Here, we studied synaptic plasticity
      phenomena and evaluated ERKs activation in the hippocampus of BALB/c NPC1-/-
      mice, a well described animal model of the disease. Our results demonstrated an
      impairment of both induction and maintenance of long term synaptic potentiation
      in NPC1-/- mouse slices, associated with the lack of ERKs phosphorylation. We
      then investigated the effects of Miglustat, a recent approved drug for the
      treatment of NPCD. We found that in vivo Miglustat administration in NPC1-/- mice
      was able to rescue synaptic plasticity deficits, to restore ERKs activation and
      to counteract hyperexcitability. Overall, these data indicate that Miglustat may
      be effective for treating the neurological deficits associated with NPCD, such as
      seizures and dementia. 

PMID- 26885400
TI  - Eyes Open on Sleep and Wake: In Vivo to In Silico Neural Networks.
AB  - Functional and effective connectivity of cortical areas are essential for normal
      brain function under different behavioral states. Appropriate cortical activity
      during sleep and wakefulness is ensured by the balanced activity of excitatory
      and inhibitory circuits. Ultimately, fast, millisecond cortical rhythmic
      oscillations shape cortical function in time and space. On a much longer time
      scale, brain function also depends on prior sleep-wake history and circadian
      processes. However, much remains to be established on how the brain operates at
      the neuronal level in humans during sleep and wakefulness. A key limitation of
      human neuroscience is the difficulty in isolating neuronal excitation/inhibition
      drive in vivo. Therefore, computational models are noninvasive approaches of
      choice to indirectly access hidden neuronal states. In this review, we present a
      physiologically driven in silico approach, Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM), as a
      means to comprehend brain function under different experimental paradigms.
      Importantly, DCM has allowed for the understanding of how brain dynamics
      underscore brain plasticity, cognition, and different states of consciousness. In
      a broader perspective, noninvasive computational approaches, such as DCM, may
      help to puzzle out the spatial and temporal dynamics of human brain function at
      different behavioural states. 

PMID- 26885402
TI  - Linking Mitochondria to Synapses: New Insights for Stress-Related
      Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
AB  - The brain evolved cellular mechanisms for adapting synaptic function to energy
      supply. This is particularly evident when homeostasis is challenged by stress.
      Signaling loops between the mitochondria and synapses scale neuronal connectivity
      with bioenergetics capacity. A biphasic "inverted U shape" response to the stress
      hormone glucocorticoids is demonstrated in mitochondria and at synapses,
      modulating neural plasticity and physiological responses. Low dose enhances
      neurotransmission, synaptic growth, mitochondrial functions, learning, and memory
      whereas chronic, higher doses produce inhibition of these functions. The range of
      physiological effects by stress and glucocorticoid depends on the dose, duration,
      and context at exposure. These criteria are met by neuronal activity and the
      circadian, stress-sensitive and ultradian, stress-insensitive modes of
      glucocorticoid secretion. A major hallmark of stress-related neuropsychiatric
      disorders is the disrupted glucocorticoid rhythms and tissue resistance to
      signaling with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR resistance could result from
      the loss of context-dependent glucocorticoid signaling mediated by the
      downregulation of the activity-dependent neurotrophin BDNF. The coincidence of
      BDNF and GR signaling changes glucocorticoid signaling output with consequences
      on mitochondrial respiration efficiency, synaptic plasticity, and adaptive
      trajectories. 

PMID- 26885403
TI  - Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal
      Neurogenesis.
AB  - Although the literature reports a higher incidence of anxiety disorders in women,
      the majority of basic research has focused on male rodents, thus resulting in a
      lack of knowledge on the neurobiology of anxiety in females. Bridging this gap is
      crucial for the design of effective translational interventions in women. One of
      the key brain mechanisms likely to regulate anxious behavior is adult hippocampal
      neurogenesis (AHN). This review paper aims to discuss the evidence on the
      differences between male and female rodents with regard to anxiety-related
      behavior and physiology, with a special focus on AHN. The differences between
      male and female physiologies are greatly influenced by hormonal differences.
      Gonadal hormones and their fluctuations during the estrous cycle have often been
      identified as agents responsible for sexual dimorphism in behavior and AHN.
      During sexual maturity, hormone levels fluctuate cyclically in females more than
      in males, increasing the stress response and the susceptibility to anxiety. It is
      therefore of great importance that future research investigates anxiety and other
      neurophysiological aspects in the female model, so that results can be more
      accurately applicable to the female population. 

PMID- 26885406
TI  - Background Noise Contributes to Organic Solvent Induced Brain Dysfunction.
AB  - Occupational exposure to complex blends of organic solvents is believed to alter
      brain functions among workers. However, work environments that contain organic
      solvents are also polluted with background noise which raises the issue of
      whether or not the noise contributed to brain alterations. The purpose of the
      current study was to determine whether or not repeated exposure to low intensity
      noise with and without exposure to a complex blend of organic solvents would
      alter brain activity. Female Fischer344 rats served as subjects in these
      experiments. Asynchronous volume conductance between the midbrain and cortex was
      evaluated with a slow vertex recording technique. Subtoxic solvent exposure, by
      itself, had no statistically significant effects. However, background noise
      significantly suppressed brain activity and this suppression was exacerbated with
      solvent exposure. Furthermore, combined exposure produced significantly slow
      neurotransmission. These abnormal neurophysiologic findings occurred in the
      absence of hearing loss and detectable damage to sensory cells. The observations
      from the current experiment raise concern for all occupations where workers are
      repeatedly exposed to background noise or noise combined with organic solvents.
      Noise levels and solvent concentrations that are currently considered safe may
      not actually be safe and existing safety regulations have failed to recognize the
      neurotoxic potential of combined exposures. 

PMID- 26885405
TI  - The Right Hemisphere Planum Temporale Supports Enhanced Visual Motion Detection
      Ability in Deaf People: Evidence from Cortical Thickness.
AB  - After sensory loss, the deprived cortex can reorganize to process information
      from the remaining modalities, a phenomenon known as cross-modal reorganization.
      In blind people this cross-modal processing supports compensatory behavioural
      enhancements in the nondeprived modalities. Deaf people also show some
      compensatory visual enhancements, but a direct relationship between these
      abilities and cross-modally reorganized auditory cortex has only been established
      in an animal model, the congenitally deaf cat, and not in humans. Using T1
      weighted magnetic resonance imaging, we measured cortical thickness in the planum
      temporale, Heschl's gyrus and sulcus, the middle temporal area MT+, and the
      calcarine sulcus, in early-deaf persons. We tested for a correlation between this
      measure and visual motion detection thresholds, a visual function where deaf
      people show enhancements as compared to hearing. We found that the cortical
      thickness of a region in the right hemisphere planum temporale, typically an
      auditory region, was greater in deaf individuals with better visual motion
      detection thresholds. This same region has previously been implicated in
      functional imaging studies as important for functional reorganization. The
      structure-behaviour correlation observed here demonstrates this area's
      involvement in compensatory vision and indicates an anatomical correlate,
      increased cortical thickness, of cross-modal plasticity. 

PMID- 26885404
TI  - Emerging Role of Spinal Cord TRPV1 in Pain Exacerbation.
AB  - TRPV1 is well known as a sensor ion channel that transduces a potentially harmful
      environment into electrical depolarization of the peripheral terminal of the
      nociceptive primary afferents. Although TRPV1 is also expressed in central
      regions of the nervous system, its roles in the area remain unclear. A series of
      recent reports on the spinal cord synapses have provided evidence that TRPV1
      plays an important role in synaptic transmission in the pain pathway.
      Particularly, in pathologic pain states, TRPV1 in the central terminal of sensory
      neurons and interneurons is suggested to commonly contribute to pain
      exacerbation. These observations may lead to insights regarding novel synaptic
      mechanisms revealing veiled roles of spinal cord TRPV1 and may offer another
      opportunity to modulate pathological pain by controlling TRPV1. In this review,
      we introduce historical perspectives of this view and details of the recent
      promising results. We also focus on extended issues and unsolved problems to
      fully understand the role of TRPV1 in pathological pain. Together with recent
      findings, further efforts for fine analysis of TRPV1's plastic roles in pain
      synapses at different levels in the central nervous system will promote a better
      understanding of pathologic pain mechanisms and assist in developing novel
      analgesic strategies. 

PMID- 26885409
TI  - Anaesthetic Management of a Patient with Thyrotoxicosis for Nonthyroid Surgery
      with Peripheral Nerve Blockade.
AB  - Thyrotoxicosis is a hypermetabolic condition caused by an elevation in thyroid
      hormone levels. The disorder has a variety of causes, manifestations, and
      therapies. Several clinical features of thyrotoxicosis are due to sympathetic
      stimulation with increased beta-adrenoreceptor upregulation and sensitization to
      catecholamine. Anaesthetic management of thyrotoxicosis patients using neuraxial
      block has been described in literature; however, to our knowledge, there are no
      reports of peripheral nerve block utilization. Here, we report on the anaesthetic
      management of a patient with thyroiditis-associated thyrotoxicosis undergoing
      emergency surgery via a femoral and sciatic nerve block. 

PMID- 26885410
TI  - Anomalous Origination of Right Coronary Artery from Left Sinus in Asymptomatic
      Young Male Presenting with Positive Ischemic Response on Treadmill Test.
AB  - Anomalous origination of coronary artery from the opposite sinus (ACAOS) is a
      rare coronary artery anomaly. Right ACAOS with interarterial course is a type of
      ACAOS, which conveys a high risk for myocardial ischemia or sudden death. We
      reported a case of right ACAOS with interarterial course in otherwise healthy
      young male. He was asymptomatic, until an obligatory medical check-up with
      treadmill test showed a sign of positive ischemic response. Further work-up
      revealed that he had right ACAOS with interarterial course. Watchful observation
      was applied to him, while strenuous physical activity and competitive sport were
      absolutely prohibited. 

PMID- 26885407
TI  - Inhibition Plasticity in Older Adults: Practice and Transfer Effects Using a
      Multiple Task Approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVE. To examine plasticity of inhibition, as indexed by practice effects of
      inhibition tasks and the associated transfer effects, using a multiple task
      approach in healthy older adults. METHOD. Forty-eight healthy older adults were
      evenly assigned to either a practice group or a no-contact control group. All
      participants completed pretest (2.5 hours) and posttest (2 hours) sessions, with
      a 2-week interval in between. During the 2-week interval, only the practice group
      completed six 30-minute practice sessions (three sessions per week for two
      consecutive weeks) of three lab-based inhibition tasks. RESULTS. All three
      inhibition tasks demonstrated significant improvement across practice sessions,
      suggesting practice-induced plasticity. The benefit, however, only transferred to
      near-near tasks. The results are inconclusive with regard to the near-far and far
      far transfer effects. DISCUSSION. This study further extends literature on
      practice effects of inhibition in older adults by using a multiple task approach.
      Together with previous work, the current study suggests that older adults are
      able to improve inhibition performance through practice and transfer the practice
      gains to tasks that overlap in both target cognitive ability and task structure
      (i.e., near-near tasks).

PMID- 26885408
TI  - Functional Integration between Salience and Central Executive Networks: A Role
      for Action Video Game Experience.
AB  - Action video games (AVGs) have attracted increasing research attention as they
      offer a unique perspective into the relation between active learning and neural
      plasticity. However, little research has examined the relation between AVG
      experience and the plasticity of neural network mechanisms. It has been proposed
      that AVG experience is related to the integration between Salience Network (SN)
      and Central Executive Network (CEN), which are responsible for attention and
      working memory, respectively, two cognitive functions essential for AVG playing.
      This study initiated a systematic investigation of this proposition by analyzing
      AVG experts' and amateurs' resting-state brain functions through graph
      theoretical analyses and functional connectivity. Results reveal enhanced intra-
      and internetwork functional integrations in AVG experts compared to amateurs. The
      findings support the possible relation between AVG experience and the neural
      network plasticity. 

PMID- 26885411
TI  - Cytokine Reduction in the Setting of an ARDS-Associated Inflammatory Response
      with Multiple Organ Failure.
AB  - A 45-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a small bowel obstruction
      due to torsion and was immediately scheduled for surgical intervention. At
      anesthesia induction, the patient aspirated and subsequently developed a severe
      SIRS with ARDS and multiple organ failure requiring the use of ECMO, CRRT,
      antibiotics, and low dose steroids. Due to a rapid deterioration in clinical
      status and a concurrent surge in inflammatory biomarkers, an extracorporeal
      cytokine adsorber (CytoSorb) was added to the CRRT blood circuit. The combined
      treatment resulted in a rapid and significant reduction in the levels of
      circulating inflammatory mediators. This decrease was paralleled by marked
      clinical stabilization of the patient including a significant improvement in
      hemodynamic stability and a reduced need for norepinephrine and improved
      respiratory function as measured by PaO2/FIO2, ventilator parameters, lung
      mechanics, and indirect measures of capillary leak syndrome. The patient could be
      discharged to a respiratory weaning unit where successful respiratory weaning
      could be achieved later on. We attribute the clinical improvement to the rapid
      control of the hyperinflammatory response and the reduction of inflammatory
      mediators using a combination of CytoSorb and these other therapies. CytoSorb
      treatment was safe and well tolerated, with no device-related adverse effects
      observed. 

PMID- 26885412
TI  - Misdiagnosis of Extensive Maxillofacial Infection and Its Relationship with
      Periodontal Problems and Hyperglycemia.
AB  - Background. Complex dental infections can reach distant areas of the alveolar
      process, invading the secondary fascial spaces. Objectives. This case report aims
      to show a misdiagnosis of odontogenic infection and a great need for dentist in
      the hospital environment. Case Report. A male patient presented facial asymmetry
      and trismus, while the facial CT examination showed a hyperdense mass involving
      the left masseteric, pterygomandibular, and superficial temporal regions. The
      patient was then referred to oral oncology center by emergency physician with
      cancer suspicion. After 15 days, the patient returned to the same emergency room
      and was attended by the surgical and maxillofacial trauma team, presenting
      tachycardia, tachypnea, dysphagia, and trismus. During anamnesis, the patient
      reported being an uncontrolled diabetic. In intraoral exam, a poor oral condition
      and generalized periodontitis were observed. Results. Correct diagnosis of
      odontogenic infection was established and adequately treated. Conclusions.
      Symptomatology bland may mask the severity of an infection; every increase in
      volume associated with trismus, poor oral hygiene with or without hyperglycemia
      should be heavily investigated for the presence of an infectious process. It
      emphasizes the importance of a dentist working with the physician in emergency
      room. 

PMID- 26885413
TI  - Gingival Overgrowth Leading to the Diagnosis of Familial Tuberous Sclerosis
      Complex.
AB  - Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a neurocutaneous syndrome, is characterized by
      the development of benign tumours affecting different body systems. We herein
      present a report of a 40-year-old female patient presenting with dental enamel
      pits and localized gingival overgrowth that eventually lead to the diagnosis of a
      case of familial TSC. Diagnosis of familial TSC by comprehensive oral examination
      and detection of oral manifestations proved to be inevitable as it resulted in
      institution of appropriate treatment strategies and genetic counselling of the
      affected family. 

PMID- 26885414
TI  - A Novel Nonsense Mutation of the AGL Gene in a Romanian Patient with Glycogen
      Storage Disease Type IIIa.
AB  - Background. Glycogen storage disease type III (GSDIII) is a rare metabolic
      disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance, caused by deficiency of the
      glycogen debranching enzyme. There is a high phenotypic variability due to
      different mutations in the AGL gene. Methods and Results. We describe a 2.3-year
      old boy from a nonconsanguineous Romanian family, who presented with severe
      hepatomegaly with fibrosis, mild muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, ketotic fasting
      hypoglycemia, increased transaminases, creatine phosphokinase, and combined
      hyperlipoproteinemia. GSD type IIIa was suspected. Accordingly, genomic DNA of
      the index patient was analyzed by next generation sequencing of the AGL gene. For
      confirmation of the two mutations found, genetic analysis of the parents and
      grandparents was also performed. The patient was compound heterozygous for the
      novel mutation c.3235C>T, p.Gln1079(*) (exon 24) and the known mutation
      c.1589C>G, p.Ser530(*) (exon 12). c.3235 >T, p.Gln1079(*) was inherited from the
      father, who inherited it from his mother. c.1589C>G, p.Ser530(*) was inherited
      from the mother, who inherited it from her father. Conclusion. We report the
      first genetically confirmed case of a Romanian patient with GSDIIIa. We detected
      a compound heterozygous genotype with a novel mutation, in the context of a
      severe hepatopathy and an early onset of cardiomyopathy. 

PMID- 26885415
TI  - Massive Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage as an Initial Presentation of a Rare and
      Aggressive Form of Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - Multiple myeloma, a plasma cell neoplasm, presents most commonly with anemia,
      hypercalcemia, renal failure, and bone pain. Only few cases of clinical
      aggressive presentation associated with bleeding were reported in the medical
      literature. The reported cases included gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiac
      tamponade. Spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage as initial presentation has
      not been so far reported. We hereby report a case of a 64-year-old female who was
      found to have catastrophic hemorrhage in the retroperitoneal region that extended
      into intrathecal space causing cord compression. The case posed a significant
      diagnostic and management dilemma. This case emphasizes the need to think broadly
      and include multiple myeloma in the diagnosis of unexplained massive
      retroperitoneal bleeding. 

PMID- 26885416
TI  - Primary Myelofibrosis Presenting as Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a
      Transplanted Liver Graft: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) commonly results in extramedullary hematopoiesis
      (EMH) in the spleen and liver as well as a variety of other organs. We present a
      first report of a unique presentation of PMF in a liver transplant recipient
      patient as EMH in the transplanted liver graft. A 76-year-old man with history of
      cryptogenic cirrhosis received cadaveric liver transplantation in 1996. He
      maintained a normal graft function and stable hematologic parameters until 2013
      when he presented with anemia and progressive fatigue. Extensive work-up did not
      identify the etiology of the recent decline in his hemoglobin; thus a liver
      biopsy was done which showed findings of EMH within the sinusoids with increased
      megakaryocytes, some with atypical morphology. A BM biopsy revealed a
      hypercellular marrow, moderately increased reticulin fibrosis, and features
      consistent with primary myelofibrosis. Abdominal imaging showed a normal-size
      spleen and did not identify any sites of EMH outside of the liver. The diagnosis
      of myelofibrosis was thus made, and this case demonstrated predominant tropism to
      a transplanted liver graft with absence of EMH elsewhere. We would thus like to
      emphasize that findings of EMH in subjects with no preexisting hematologic
      neoplasm should warrant close follow-up and assessment. 

PMID- 26885417
TI  - Another Report of Acalculous Cholecystitis in a Greek Patient with Infectious
      Mononucleosis: A Matter of Luck or Genetic Predisposition?
AB  - We here report a case of a young, male patient who presented with jaundice and
      was diagnosed with acalculous cholecystitis during the course of a primary
      Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. The coexistence of cholestatic hepatitis and
      acalculous cholecystitis in patients with infectious mononucleosis is extremely
      uncommon and only few cases can be found in the literature. Moreover, almost one
      fourth of the total reports of this rare entity are coming from Greece. Whether
      this is a result of physicians' high index of suspicion due to previous reports
      or a consequence of genetic predisposition is an issue that deserves further
      investigation in the future. More studies are required in order to clarify the
      pathophysiological and genetic backgrounds that connect acalculous cholecystitis
      and EBV infection. 

PMID- 26885418
TI  - Edwardsiella tarda Endocarditis Confirmed by Indium-111 White Blood Cell Scan: An
      Unusual Pathogen and Diagnostic Modality.
AB  - Edwardsiella tarda is a freshwater marine member of the family Enterobacteriaceae
      which often colonizes fish, lizards, snakes, and turtles but is an infrequent
      human pathogen. Indium-111- ((111)In-) labeled white blood cell (WBC)
      scintigraphy is an imaging modality which has a wide range of reported
      sensitivity and specificity (from 60 to 100% and from 68 to 92%, resp.) for
      diagnosing acute and chronic infection. We describe a case of suspected E. tarda
      prosthetic aortic valve and mitral valve endocarditis with probable vegetations
      and new mitral regurgitation on transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms
      which was supported with the use of (111)In-labeled WBC scintigraphy. 

PMID- 26885419
TI  - First Pediatric Case of Tularemia after a Coyote Bite.
AB  - Bite-transmitted tularemia is a rare event in humans and most of the cases have
      been associated with cat bites. We report the first pediatric case of tularemia
      caused by a coyote (Canis latrans) bite. Coyotes can be healthy carriers of
      Francisella tularensis and transmit this infectious agent through a bite.
      Pediatricians should be aware of this risk after a carnivore bite and implement
      appropriate antibiotic therapy, as amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin)
      may have prolonged the typical two to three days' incubation period commonly
      observed for tularemia after an animal bite and was not effective in preventing
      clinical signs in this child. Finally, it emphasizes again the importance of
      early and late serum samples for appropriate serodiagnostic. 

PMID- 26885420
TI  - Clival Ectopic Pituitary Adenoma Mimicking a Chordoma: Case Report and Review of
      the Literature.
AB  - Background. Purely ectopic pituitary adenomas are exceedingly rare. Here we
      report on a patient that presented with an incidental clival mass thought to be a
      chordoma. Endonasal resection, tumor pathology, and endocrinology workup revealed
      a prolactinoma. Case Presentation. A 41-year-old male presented with an
      incidental clival lesion presumed to be a chordoma. On MRI it involved the entire
      clivus, extended laterally to the petroclival junction, and invaded the cavernous
      sinuses bilaterally, encasing both internal carotid arteries, without direct
      extension into the sella. Intraoperatively, it was clear that the tumor
      originated from the clivus and that the sellar dura was completely intact. Frozen
      section pathology was consistent with a pituitary adenoma. Immunostaining was
      positive for synaptophysin and prolactin with a low Ki-67 index, suggestive of a
      prolactinoma. Additional immunohistochemical stains seen in chordomas (EMA, S100,
      and Brachyury) and other metastatic tumors were negative. A postoperative
      endocrine workup revealed an elevated serum prolactin of 881.3 ng/mL (normal <
      20). Conclusions. In conclusion, it is crucial to maintain an extensive
      differential diagnosis when evaluating a patient with a clival lesion. Ectopic
      clival pituitary adenomas, although rare, may warrant an endocrinological workup
      preoperatively as the majority may respond to medical treatment. 

PMID- 26885421
TI  - Bilaterally Symmetrical Lower Extremity Compartment Syndrome following Massive
      Transfusion.
AB  - Compartment syndrome is a serious condition characterized by raised
      intracompartmental pressure, which develops following trauma. Well leg
      compartment syndrome (WLCS) is a term reserved for compartment syndrome in a
      nontraumatic setting, usually resulting from prolonged lithotomy position during
      surgery. In literature, 8 cases have been reported regarding well leg compartment
      syndrome in a supine position and bilateral symmetrical involvement was observed
      in only 2 cases. In WLCS etiology, lengthy surgery, lengthy hypotension, and
      extremity malpositioning have been held responsible but one of the factors with a
      role in the etiology may have been the tissue oedema and impaired
      microcirculation formed from the effect of vasoactive mediators expressed into
      the circulation associated with the massive blood transfusion. The case is
      presented here regarding symmetrical lower extremity compartment syndrome after
      surgery in which massive transfusion was made for gross haemorrhage from an
      abdominal injury. In conclusion, blood transfusion applied at the required time
      is life-saving but potential risks must always be considered. 

PMID- 26885422
TI  - An Unusual Prepatellar Bursa Swelling: Patellar Button Dissociation and
      Migration.
AB  - Implant loosening is not a new phenomenon, nor is implant migration; however they
      are rarely seen after knee arthroplasty surgery. Complications with patellar
      buttons have been reported before with peg failure, loosening, and patella
      fracture; however extra-articular migration is extremely rare. We report an
      unusual case of patellar button migration 11 years after total knee arthroplasty
      to the prepatellar bursa. 

PMID- 26885424
TI  - Two Cases of Heerfordt's Syndrome: A Rare Manifestation of Sarcoidosis.
AB  - Heerfordt's syndrome is a rare manifestation of sarcoidosis characterized by the
      presence of facial nerve palsy, parotid gland enlargement, anterior uveitis, and
      low grade fever. Two cases of Heerfordt's syndrome and a literature review are
      presented. Case  1. A 53-year-old man presented with swelling of his right
      eyelid, right facial nerve palsy, and swelling of his right parotid gland. A
      biopsy specimen from the swollen eyelid indicated sarcoidosis and he was
      diagnosed with incomplete Heerfordt's syndrome based on the absence of uveitis.
      His symptoms were improved by corticosteroid therapy. Case  2. A 55-year-old
      woman presented with left facial nerve palsy, bilateral hearing loss, and
      swelling of her bilateral parotid glands. She had been previously diagnosed with
      uveitis and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Although no histological
      confirmation was performed, she was diagnosed with complete Heerfordt's syndrome
      on the basis of her clinical symptoms. Swelling of the bilateral parotid glands
      and left facial nerve palsy were improved immediately by corticosteroid therapy.
      Sarcoidosis is a relatively uncommon disease for the otolaryngologist. However,
      the otolaryngologist may encounter Heerfordt's syndrome as this syndrome presents
      with facial nerve palsy and swelling of the parotid gland. Therefore, we
      otolaryngologists should diagnose and treat Heerfordt's syndrome appropriately in
      cooperation with pneumologists and ophthalmologists. 

PMID- 26885423
TI  - Management of Femoral Shaft Fracture in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome with External
      Fixator.
AB  - Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare complex malformation characterized by
      the clinical triad of capillary malformations, soft tissue and bone hypertrophy,
      and venous/lymphatic malformation. Fractures of long bones in such cases are
      challenging to treat. A 12-year-old female with this syndrome presented with
      femoral shaft fracture of right thigh. She was initially kept on skeletal
      traction for two weeks and then she underwent closed reduction and immobilization
      with external fixator with uneventful intraoperative and postoperative period.
      Fracture united at four and half months. 

PMID- 26885425
TI  - Fibrolipoma of the Buccal Mucosa: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Lipomas are common benign soft tissue neoplasms derived from mature adipose
      tissue. However, they rarely arise in the oral cavity. Fibrolipoma is a
      histological variant of lipoma that mainly affects the buccal mucosa and causes
      functional and cosmetic issues. This article describes the case of a 71-year-old
      male with a fibrolipoma of the left buccal mucosa and a review of previous
      articles about fibrolipoma. 

PMID- 26885426
TI  - Biliary Adenofibroma with Invasive Carcinoma: Case Report and Review of the
      Literature.
AB  - We report a case of biliary adenofibroma with an invasive carcinoma in a 71-year
      old female who presented with bilateral upper abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a
      6.3 cm heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left lateral segment of the liver.
      Histologically, the adenofibroma showed the characteristic components as
      previously described of biliary adenofibromata, namely, cystic and tubular
      structures lined by cuboidal to low columnar biliary type epithelium and a dense
      fibrous stroma composed of spindled cells. Intimately admixed with the
      adenofibroma was a distinct tumor composed of malignant clear cells which
      demonstrated stromal and vascular invasion. Although mitotic figures were
      inconspicuous, Ki67 was brisk and p53 demonstrated 25-50% positivity. Sections
      also showed a von Meyenberg complex located adjacent to the tumor. This case
      expands the understanding of this rare tumor and proves two important assertions
      from previous case reports. First, the presence of an associated von Meyenberg
      complex with similar morphology and immunohistochemical staining pattern suggests
      that biliary adenofibromata and von Meyenberg complexes may share related
      histogenesis. Second, biliary adenofibromata harbor malignant potential and may
      show malignant transformation. Furthermore, this case highlights the need for
      these rare tumors to be followed aggressively, as their biological behavior is
      poorly understood. 

PMID- 26885427
TI  - Tuberculous Dactylitis: An Uncommon Presentation of a Common Infection.
AB  - Tuberculous dactylitis is an unusual form of osteoarticular tuberculosis
      involving the short tubular bones of hands and feet, which is uncommon beyond six
      years of age. We report the case of a fifteen-year-old adolescent boy who was
      diagnosed with tuberculous dactylitis, involving contralateral hand and foot. His
      diagnosis was delayed due to lack of suspicion of this rare entity. The report
      also examines the diagnostic difficulties faced by clinicians in arriving at an
      appropriate diagnosis. 

PMID- 26885428
TI  - Detection of Myofascial Herniation on Dynamic Sonography and Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging.
AB  - Muscle hernia is an uncommon cause of leg swelling. It can be detected in the
      early stages only if there is a high index of suspicion. It is common in lower
      extremity compared to the upper extremity. Tibialis anterior muscle in the leg is
      commonly involved. Dynamic sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are
      the mainstay in their diagnosis, which demonstrate a facial defect with
      herniation of muscle fibers. We report a case of 23-year-old male patient who
      presented with a painless swelling in the anterolateral aspect of the left upper
      leg. Dynamic sonography done with high-resolution probe demonstrated a defect in
      fascia overlying tibialis anterior with herniation of outer muscle fibers which
      increased during dorsiflexion and reduced in the supine position at rest. MRI of
      the left leg confirmed the findings. 

PMID- 26885430
TI  - Infected Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Helicobacter cinaedi.
AB  - Helicobacter cinaedi is a rare human pathogen which has various clinical
      manifestations such as cellulitis, bacteremia, arthritis, meningitis, and
      infectious endocarditis. We report an abdominal aortic aneurysm infected with
      Helicobacter cinaedi, treated successfully with surgical repair and long-term
      antimicrobial therapy. 

PMID- 26885429
TI  - Pulmonary Disease Secondary to Reflux Mimicking Interstitial Pneumonia in
      Systemic Sclerosis: Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Systemic sclerosis is a complex disease due to the variety of clinical
      presentations, often superimposed on other conditions, related or not to the
      connective tissue. We report a 43-year-old Brazilian woman with limited systemic
      sclerosis and pulmonary symptoms secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease,
      with a clinical presentation similar to a diffuse interstitial lung disease.
      Because of the frequency of interstitial lung injury due to systemic sclerosis,
      this was an important differential diagnosis, which could be excluded after
      optimized treatment of reflux disease, with clinical and radiological
      improvement. Clinical management of patients with collagen diseases requires
      clinician skills to identify the natural history and understand its nuances. This
      is a common situation in clinical practice, but with a few discussions in
      international literature. 

PMID- 26885432
TI  - Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection with Cidofovir and CMV Immune Globulin in
      a Lung Transplant Recipient.
AB  - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after lung transplantation is associated with
      increased risk for pneumonitis and bronchiolitis obliterans as well as allograft
      rejection and opportunistic infections. Ganciclovir is the mainstay of
      prophylaxis and treatment but CMV infections can be unresponsive. Apart from
      direct antiviral drugs, CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) preparations may be considered
      but are only licensed for prophylaxis. A CMV-seronegative 42-year-old man with
      cystic fibrosis received a lung from a CMV-seropositive donor. Intravenous
      ganciclovir prophylaxis was delayed until day 12 due to acute postoperative renal
      failure and was accompanied by five doses of CMVIG (10 g). By day 16, CMV-DNA was
      detectable and rising; CMV-specific T-cells were undetectable. Switch from
      ganciclovir to foscarnet prompted a transient decrease in CMV viral load, but
      after increasing again to reach 3600 copies/mL foscarnet was changed to
      intravenous cidofovir and CMVIG was restarted. CMV load continued to fluctuate
      and declined slowly, whereas CMV-specific T-cells were detected five months later
      and increased thereafter. At last follow-up, the patient was in very good
      clinical condition with no evidence of bronchiolitis obliterans. No side effects
      of this treatment were observed. In this hard-to-treat case, the combination of
      cidofovir with off-label use of CMVIG contributed to a successful outcome. 

PMID- 26885431
TI  - Iatrogenic Spinal Cord Injury during Removal of the Inferior Articular Process in
      the Presence of Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum.
AB  - Ossified ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a condition of heterotopic lamellar bone
      formation within the yellow ligament. Some patients with OLF can be asymptomatic.
      However, asymptomatic OLF may not be obvious on preoperative MRI and could
      increase the risk of iatrogenic injury during treatments for unrelated spinal
      conditions. This report describes a case of spinal cord injury caused by the
      indirect transmission of force from an osteotome to an asymptomatic OLF during
      the resection of a thoracic inferior articular process (IAP). To prevent this
      outcome, we urge careful review of CT imaging in the preoperative setting and
      advocate the use of a high-speed drill instead of an osteotome during bone
      removal in the setting of an adjacent area of OLF. 

PMID- 26885433
TI  - Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Haematoma due to Polyarteritis Nodosa: Report of a
      Case and Literature Review.
AB  - Retroperitoneal haematoma is a rare clinical entity with variable etiology. It
      can happen spontaneously, without any obvious precipitating factors, the so
      called spontaneous retroperitoneal haematoma. There is no general consensus as to
      the best management plan for patients with retroperitoneal haematoma.
      Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare cause of retroperitoneal haematoma. Here we
      report relationship between PAN and retroperitoneal haematoma and treatment
      approaches. However, an accepted and clearly defined treatment has not been
      established due to its rarity. 

PMID- 26885434
TI  - High Output Cardiac Failure Resolving after Repair of AV Fistula in a Six-Month
      Old.
AB  - Background. Acquired AVF in pediatrics are commonly caused by iatrogenic means,
      including arterial or venous punctures. These fistulae can cause great
      hemodynamic stress on the heart as soon as they are created. Case. A six-month
      old 25-week gestation infant was referred for respiratory distress. Initial exam
      revealed tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypertension. There was a bruit noted on her
      left arm. An ultrasound showed an arteriovenous fistula. Its location, however,
      precluded intervention because of the high risk for limb-loss. An echocardiogram
      showed evidence of pulmonary hypertension that was treated with sildenafil and
      furosemide. However, no improvement was seen. On temporary manual occlusion of
      the fistula, the patient was noted to have increased her blood pressure and
      decreased her heart rate, suggesting significant hemodynamic effect of the
      fistula. The fistula was subsequently ligated and the patient clinically and
      echocardiographically improved. Conclusion. A patient in high output cardiac
      failure or pulmonary artery hypertension, especially premature patients with
      preexisting lung disease, should be probed for history of multiple punctures,
      trauma, or surgery and should have prompt evaluation for AVF. If it can be
      diagnosed and repaired, most of the cases have been shown to decrease the stress
      on the heart and reverse the pathologic hemodynamics. 

PMID- 26885435
TI  - Traumatic Arteriovenous Fistula of the Scalp in the Left Temporoparietal Region
      with Intra- and Extracranial Blood Supply.
AB  - Traumatic AVF of the scalp is a rare abnormal vascular disease. It is defined as
      a communication between the high flow arterial system and the low flow venous
      network, which directly connects the arterial feeding vessels of the scalp and
      the draining veins without an intervening capillary bed. The superficial temporal
      artery (STA) was involved in 90% of the cases, and 71% of the patients only had
      one dominant feeding STA. Here, we report the case of a rare large traumatic
      arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of the scalp that is fed by intra- and extracranial
      blood supply. The clinical and radiological features are presented, and the
      possible pathogenesis and surgical technique are discussed. 

PMID- 26885436
TI  - Renal Insufficiency and Early Bystander CPR Predict In-Hospital Outcomes in
      Cardiac Arrest Patients Undergoing Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia and Cardiac
      Catheterization: Return of Spontaneous Circulation, Cooling, and Catheterization
      Registry (ROSCCC Registry).
AB  - Objective. Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients are a critically ill
      patient population with high mortality. Combining mild therapeutic hypothermia
      (MTH) with early coronary intervention may improve outcomes in this population.
      The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of mortality in OHCA patients
      undergoing MTH with and without cardiac catheterization. Design. A retrospective
      cohort of OHCA patients who underwent MTH with catheterization (MTH + C) and
      without catheterization (MTH + NC) between 2006 and 2011 was analyzed at a single
      tertiary care centre. Predictors of in-hospital mortality and neurologic outcome
      were determined. Results. The study population included 176 patients who
      underwent MTH for OHCA. A total of 66 patients underwent cardiac catheterization
      (MTH + C) and 110 patients did not undergo cardiac catheterization (MTH + NC).
      Immediate bystander CPR occurred in approximately half of the total population.
      In the MTH + C and MTH + NC groups, the in-hospital mortality was 48% and 78%,
      respectively. The only independent predictor of in-hospital mortality for
      patients with MTH + C, after multivariate analysis, was baseline renal
      insufficiency (OR = 8.2, 95% CI 1.8-47.1, and p = 0.009). Conclusion. Despite
      early cardiac catheterization, renal insufficiency and the absence of immediate
      CPR are potent predictors of death and poor neurologic outcome in patients with
      OHCA. 

PMID- 26885437
TI  - Intravenous Immunoglobulins: Mode of Action and Indications in Autoimmune and
      Inflammatory Dermatoses.
AB  - Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs), a mixture of variable amounts of proteins
      (albumin, IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE antibodies), as well as salt, sugar, solvents,
      and detergents, are successfully used to treat a variety of dermatological
      disorders. For decades, IVIGs have been administered for treatment of infectious
      diseases and immune deficiencies, since they contain natural antibodies that
      represent a first-line defense against pathogens. Today their indication has
      expanded, including the off-label therapy for a variety of autoimmune and
      inflammatory diseases. In dermatology, IVIGs are administered for treatment of
      different disorders at different therapeutic regimens, mostly with higher doses
      then those administered for treatment of infectious diseases. The aim of this
      prospective review is to highlight the indications, effectiveness, side effects,
      and perspectives of the systemic treatment with IVIGs for patients with severe,
      life-threatening, and resistant to conventional therapies autoimmune or
      inflammatory dermatoses. 

PMID- 26885438
TI  - Predictive Response Value of Pre- and Postchemoradiotherapy Variables in Rectal
      Cancer: An Analysis of Histological Data.
AB  - Background. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by curative surgery in
      locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) improves pelvic disease control. Survival
      improvement is achieved only if pathological response occurs. Mandard tumor
      regression grade (TRG) proved to be a valid system to measure nCRT response.
      Potential predictive factors for Mandard response are analyzed. Materials and
      Methods. 167 patients with LARC were treated with nCRT and curative surgery.
      Tumor biopsies and surgical specimens were reviewed and analyzed regarding
      mitotic count, necrosis, desmoplastic reaction, and inflammatory infiltration
      grade. Surgical specimens were classified according to Mandard TRG. The patients
      were divided as "good responders" (Mandard TRG1-2) and "bad responders" (Mandard
      TRG3-5). According to results from our previous data, good responders have better
      prognosis than bad responders. We examined predictive factors for Mandard
      response and performed statistical analysis. Results. In univariate analysis,
      distance from anal verge and ten other postoperative variables related with nCRT
      tumor response had predictive value for Mandard response. In multivariable
      analysis only mitotic count, necrosis, and differentiation grade in surgical
      specimen had predictive value. Conclusions. There is a lack of clinical and
      pathological preoperative variables able to predict Mandard response. Only
      postoperative pathological parameters related with nCRT response have predictive
      value. 

PMID- 26885439
TI  - Comparison of the Effect of Two Purification Methods on the Immunogenicity of
      Recombinant Outer Membrane Protein H of Pasteurella multocida Serovar A:1.
AB  - Recombinant outer membrane protein H (rOmpH) of Pasteurella multocida strain X-73
      can be purified using affinity chromatography but this adversely affects its
      immunogenicity. The current study presents the results from an intervention study
      comparing the immunogenicity of rOmpH purified using electroelution with rOmpH
      purified using affinity chromatography and native OmpH purified using
      electroelution and a nonimmunized control group. Chickens immunized with rOmpH
      purified using electroelution produced the highest ELISA antibody levels against
      P. multocida strains. Chickens in each of the 5 treatment groups were split into
      two subgroups for challenge with two different P. multocida strains. The average
      number of adhesions to CEF cells was statistically significantly lower in sera
      from chickens immunized with rOmpH or native OmpH purified using electroelution
      than in those of the three other treatment groups. The survival amongst chickens
      immunized with rOmpH or native OmpH purified using electroelution indicated high
      levels of protection. In contrast, survival probability was zero or low in the
      groups immunized with rOmpH purified using affinity chromatography and in the
      nonimmunized group. These findings show that the rOmpH purified using
      electroelution retains its immunogenicity and stimulates high levels of
      protection in chickens against P. multocida infection. 

PMID- 26885440
TI  - Comparative Study of Novel Ratio Spectra and Isoabsorptive Point Based
      Spectrophotometric Methods: Application on a Binary Mixture of Ascorbic Acid and
      Rutin.
AB  - This paper presents novel methods for spectrophotometric determination of
      ascorbic acid (AA) in presence of rutin (RU) (coformulated drug) in their
      combined pharmaceutical formulation. The seven methods are ratio difference (RD),
      isoabsorptive_RD (Iso_RD), amplitude summation (A_Sum), isoabsorptive point,
      first derivative of the ratio spectra ((1)DD), mean centering (MCN), and ratio
      subtraction (RS). On the other hand, RU was determined directly by measuring the
      absorbance at 358 nm in addition to the two novel Iso_RD and A_Sum methods. The
      work introduced in this paper aims to compare these different methods, showing
      the advantages for each and making a comparison of analysis results. The
      calibration curve is linear over the concentration range of 4-50 MUg/mL for AA
      and RU. The results show the high performance of proposed methods for the
      analysis of the binary mixture. The optimum assay conditions were established and
      the proposed methods were successfully applied for the assay of the two drugs in
      laboratory prepared mixtures and combined pharmaceutical tablets with excellent
      recoveries. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical additives. 

PMID- 26885441
TI  - C4.4A as a biomarker of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and correlated with
      epithelial mesenchymal transition.
AB  - C4.4A, a member of the Ly6/uPAR family of membrane proteins, has been identified
      as a metastasis-associated molecule, but little is known about its actual
      expression and possible function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
      (HNSCC). To explore diagnostic and prognostic roles of C4.4A in HNSCC, we
      investigated the expression of C4.4A in human HNSCC tissue array which contains
      43 HNSCC, 6 epithelial dysplasia and 16 normal oral mucosa. Expression of C4.4A
      was significantly increased in epithelial dysplasia and HNSCC when compared with
      normal oral mucosa. Moreover, high C4.4A expression indicated a rather poor
      prognosis of HNSCC patients. To better understand the function of C4.4A in HNSCC
      progression, we investigated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)
      associated proteins including transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1), Slug and
      CD147 in HNSCC. The expression of TGF-beta1, Slug, and CD147 was significantly
      increased in HNSCC when compared with normal oral mucosa. Meanwhile, the
      expression of C4.4A was significantly correlated with TGF-beta1, Slug, and CD147
      in HNSCC tissue array. Furthermore, knockdown of C4.4A decreased the cell
      invasion and migration in CAL27 cell line and suppressed the EMT with increased E
      cadherin and decreased N-cadherin and Slug. Our study demonstrated that C4.4A was
      a potential marker for prognosis of HNSCC, and C4.4A participated in EMT program
      in HNSCC progression. 

PMID- 26885442
TI  - TOX gene: a novel target for human cancer gene therapy.
AB  - Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor (TOX) is a member
      of an evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding protein family and is expressed in
      several immune-relevant cell subsets. TOX encodes a nuclear protein of the high
      mobility group box superfamily. It contains a DNA-binding domain, which allows it
      to regulate transcription by modifying local chromatin structure and modulating
      the formation of multi-protein complexes. Previous studies have shown that TOX
      play important roles in immune system. More recently, several studies have
      described TOX expression is frequently upregulated in diverse types of human
      tumors and the overregulation often associates with tumor progression. Moreover,
      TOXis involved in the control of cell apoptosis, growth, metastasis, DNA repair
      and so on. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge concerning
      the role of TOX in tumor development and progression biology function. To our
      knowledge, this is the first review about the role of thisnew oncogene in tumor
      development and progression. 

PMID- 26885444
TI  - Safety and efficacy of quadrapeutics versus chemoradiation in head and neck
      carcinoma xenograft model.
AB  - Chemoradiation is the strongest anti-tumor therapy but in resistant unresectable
      cancers it often lacks safety and efficacy. We compared our recently developed
      cell-level combination approach, quadrapeutics, to chemoradiation therapy to
      establish pre-clinical data for its biodistribution, safety and efficacy in head
      and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as a clinically challenging aggressive
      and resistant cancer. In vitro and in vivo models of four carcinomas were treated
      with standard chemoradiation and quadrapeutics using identical drug and radiation
      doses. We applied liposomal cisplatin or doxorubicin, colloidal gold, near
      infrared laser pulses and radiation, all at low safe doses. The final evaluation
      used a xenograft model of HNSCC. Quadrapeutics enhanced standard chemoradiation
      in vitro by reducing head and neck cancer cell proliferation by 1000-fold,
      inhibiting tumor growth in vivo by 34-fold and improving animal survival by 5
      fold, and reducing the side effects to a negligible level. In quadrapeutics, we
      observed an "inversion" of the drug efficacy of two standard drugs: doxorubicin,
      a low efficacy drug for the cancers studied, was two times more efficient than
      cisplatin, the first choice drug in clinic for HNSCC. The radical therapeutic
      gain of quadrapeutics resulted from the intracellular synergy of the four
      components employed which we administered in a specific sequence, while the
      reduction in the toxicity was due to the low doses of all four components. The
      biodistribution, safety and efficacy data for quadrapeutics in HNSCC ensure its
      high translational potential and justify the possibility of clinical trials. 

PMID- 26885443
TI  - The association of mammalian DREAM complex and HPV16 E7 proteins.
AB  - The mammalian DREAM (Drosophila, RB, E2F, and Myb) complex was discovered in 2004
      by several research groups. It was initially identified in Drosophila followed by
      Caenorhaditis elegans and later in mammalian cells. The composition of DREAM is
      temporally regulated during cell cycle; being associated with E2F-4 and either
      p107 or p130 in G0/G1 (repressive DREAM complexes) and with B-myb transcription
      factor in S/G2 (activator DREAM complex). High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6
      and E7 oncoproteins expression are important for malignant transformation of
      cervical cancer cells. In particular, the E7 of high risk HPV binds to pRB family
      members (pRB, p107 and p130) for degradation. It has recently been discovered
      that the p107 and p130 'pocket proteins' are members of mammalian DREAM
      complexes. With this understanding, we would like to hypothesise the mammalian
      DREAM complex could plays a critical role for malignant transformation in
      cervical cancer cells. 

PMID- 26885445
TI  - Volasertib suppresses tumor growth and potentiates the activity of cisplatin in
      cervical cancer.
AB  - Volasertib (BI 6727), a highly selective and potent inhibitor of PLK1, has shown
      broad antitumor activities in the preclinical and clinical studies for the
      treatment of several types of cancers. However, the anticancer effect of
      volasertib on cervical cancer cells is still unknown. In the present study, we
      show that volasertib can markedly induce cell growth inhibition, cell cycle
      arrest at G2/M phase and apoptosis with the decreased protein expressions of PLK1
      substrates survivin and wee1 in human cervical cancer cells. Furthermore,
      volasertib also enhances the intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS)
      levels, and pretreated with ROS scavenger N-acety-L-cysteine totally blocks ROS
      generation but partly reverses volasertib-induced apoptosis. In addition,
      volasertib significantly potentiates the activity of cisplatin to inhibit the
      growth of cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. In brief, volasertib suppresses
      tumor growth and potentiates the activity of cisplatin in cervical cancer,
      suggesting the combination of volasertib and cisplatin may be a promising
      strategy for the treatment of patients with cervical cancer. 

PMID- 26885446
TI  - Carglumic acid promotes apoptosis and suppresses cancer cell proliferation in
      vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Drug repurposing is a therapeutic strategy that applies drugs to treat different
      diseases based on new therapeutic function. Carglumic acid (Carbaglu; Orphan
      Europe) is an orphan drug approved by the FDA for hyperammonemia. Administration
      of carglumic acid for treatment of hyperammonemia has few side effects and has
      been used for 10 years to effectively treat hyperammonemia symptoms of both adult
      and pediatric patients. Here, we tested the potential of carglumic acid to be
      repurposed as an anticancer agent and showed that carglumic acid promotes
      apoptosis and inhibits cancer cell growth ina wide variety of human cancers,
      including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC),
      hepatoma, and lung cancer. Our data from in vivo models indicates that orally
      taking 10% of the carglumic acid dose currently used for the treatment of
      hyperammonemia ise ffective to suppress the growth of pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinomaand TNBC. If given intravenously, only 5% of the carglumic acid
      doseis needed to be effective against TNBC. These findings suggest that carglumic
      acid may serve as a safe and effective therapeutic to treat both TNBC and
      pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26885448
TI  - Preclinical evaluation of afatinib (BIBW2992) in esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma (ESCC).
AB  - Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the eighth most common cancer
      worldwide. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are often overexpressed in
      esophageal cancers, thus anti-EGFR inhibitors have been evaluated in ESCC.
      Afatinib was an irreversible inhibitor of these ErbB family receptors. This study
      characterized the preclinical activity of afatinib in five ESCC cell lines: HKESC
      1, HKESC-2, KYSE510, SLMT-1 and EC-1. ESCC cell lines were sensitive to afatinib
      with IC50 concentrations at lower micro-molar range (at 72 hour incubation: HKESC
      1 = 0.002 MUM, HKESC-2 = 0.002 MUM, KYSE510 = 1.090 MUM, SLMT-1 = 1.161 MUM and
      EC-1 = 0.109 MUM) with a maximum growth inhibition over 95%. Afatinib can
      strongly induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HKESC-2 and EC-1 in a dose- and time
      dependent manner. The phosphorylation of ErbB family downstream effectors such as
      pAKT, pS6 and pMAPK were significantly inhibited in HKESC-2 and EC-1. Apoptosis
      was observed in both cell lines at 24 hours after exposure to afatinib, as
      determined by the presence of cleaved PARP. Afatinib could effectively inhibit
      HKESC-2 tumor growth in mice without obvious toxicity. Afatinib alone has shown
      excellent growth inhibitory effect on ESCC in both in vitro and in vivo models,
      however, no synergistic effect was observed when it was combined with
      chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin. In summary,
      afatinib can inhibit cell proliferation effectively by arresting the cells in
      G0/G1 phase, as well as inducing apoptosis in ESCC. These findings warrant
      further studies of afatinib as therapeutic agent in treating ESCC. 

PMID- 26885447
TI  - Andrographis paniculata elicits anti-invasion activities by suppressing TM4SF3
      gene expression and by anoikis-sensitization in esophageal cancer cells.
AB  - Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer in male causing death
      worldwide. It is usually diagnosed at advanced stage with high postoperative
      recurrence and systemic metastasis, which leads to poor prognosis. The potential
      inhibitory effect of herbal medicines on metastasis of esophageal cancer has
      drawn researchers' great attention. In the present study, the anti-invasion
      activities of Andrographis paniculata (AP) have been evaluated in two esophageal
      cancer cell lines, EC-109 and KYSE-520, as well as human microvascular
      endothelial cells (HMEC-1). The anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activities of AP
      were also evaluated in human esophageal xenograft-bearing mouse models. Our
      results demonstrated for the first time that aqueous extract of AP inhibited the
      motility and invasion of esophageal cancer cells, which is the initial step of
      metastasis, without cytotoxicity. Anoikis resistance has also been reversed in AP
      treated cancer cells. Besides, the expression of metastasis-related gene TM4SF3
      in EC-109 cells was significantly decreased in AP extract-treated cells in a
      concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the anti-tumor and anti-metastatic
      efficacies in subcutaneous and intraperitoneal esophageal xenograft-bearing mice
      were demonstrated after oral administration of AP aqueous extract for 3 weeks.
      Last but not least, the active component, isoandrographolide, responsible for the
      anti-migratory activity was firstly revealed here. In conclusion, the AP aqueous
      extract exerted inhibitory activities on the migration and anoikis resistance of
      esophageal cancer cells EC-109 and KYSE-520, as well as suppressed the
      proliferation and motility of endothelial cells. Combining the mentioned effects
      may account for the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects of AP aqueous extract
      in xenograft-bearing mice. The findings in the present study further enhance the
      understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of the herb AP, which may lead to
      clinical applications. 

PMID- 26885449
TI  - Metformin inhibits salivary adenocarcinoma growth through cell cycle arrest and
      apoptosis.
AB  - The inhibitory effects of metformin have been observed in many types of cancer.
      However, its effect on human salivary gland carcinoma is unknown. The effect of
      metformin alone or in combination with pp242 (an mTOR inhibitor) on salivary
      adenocarcinoma cells growth were determined in vitro and in vivo. We found that
      metformin suppressed HSY cell growth in vitro in a time and dose dependent manner
      associated with a reduced expression of MYC onco-protein, and the same inhibitory
      effect of metformin was also confirmed in HSG cells. In association with the
      reduction of MYC onco-protein, metformin significantly restored p53 tumor
      suppressor gene expression. The distinctive effects of metformin and PP242 on MYC
      reduction and P53 restoration suggested that metformin inhibited cell growth
      through a different pathway from PP242 in salivary carcinoma cells. Furthermore,
      the anti-tumor efficacy of metformin was confirmed in vivo as indicated by the
      increases of tumor necrosis and reduced proliferation in xenograft tumors from
      metformin treated group. For the first time, the inhibitory effect of metformin
      on human salivary gland tumor cells was documented. Moreover, metformin
      inhibitory effects were enhanced by mTOR inhibitor suggesting that metformin and
      mTOR inhibitor utilize distinctive signaling pathways to suppress salivary tumor
      growth. 

PMID- 26885451
TI  - Selective expression of constitutively active pro-apoptotic protein BikDD gene in
      primary mammary tumors inhibits tumor growth and reduces tumor initiating cells.
AB  - Our previous study showed that specifically delivering BikDD, a constitutive
      active mutant of pro-apoptotic protein Bik, to breast cancer cell xenografts in
      immunocompromised mice has a potent activity against tumor initiating cells
      (TICs), and that the combination between tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and
      BikDD gene therapy yielded synergistic effect on EGFR and HER2 positive breast
      cancer cells in immunodeficient nude mice. Those encouraging results have allowed
      us to propose a clinical trial using the liposome-complexing plasmid DNA
      expressing BikDD gene which has been approved by the NIH RAC Advisory committee.
      However, it is imperative to test whether systemic delivery of BikDD-expressing
      plasmid DNAs with liposomes into immunocompetent mice has therapeutic efficacy
      and tolerable side effects as what we observed in the nude mice model. In this
      study, we investigated the effects of BikDD gene-therapy on the primary mammary
      tumors, especially on tumor initiating cells (TICs), of a genetically engineered
      immunocompetent mouse harboring normal microenvironment and immune response. The
      effects on TIC population in tumors were determined by FACS analysis with
      different sets of murine specific TIC markers, CD49f(high)CD61(high) and
      CD24(+)Jagged1(-). First we showed in vitro that ectopic expression of BikDD in
      murine N202 cells derived from MMTV-HER2/Neu transgenic mouse tumors induced
      apoptosis and decreased the number of TICs. Consistently, systemic delivery of
      VISA-Claudin4-BikDD by liposome complexes significantly inhibited mammary tumor
      growth and slowed down residual tumor growth post cessation of therapy in MMTV
      HER2/Neu transgenic mice compared to the controls. In addition, the anti-tumor
      effects of BikDD in vivo were consistent with decreased TIC population assessed
      by FACS analysis and in vitro tumorsphere formation assay of freshly isolated
      tumor cells. Importantly, systemic administration of BikDD did not cause
      significant cytotoxic response in standard toxicity assays or body weight
      changes. Taken together, our findings validated that selective expression of
      BikDD in the primary mammary tumors in immunocompetent hosts significantly
      reduced tumor burden and inhibited the residual tumor growth at off-therapy stage
      by eliminating TICs. Hence, the VISA-Claudin4-BikDD-mediated gene therapy is
      worthy of further investigation in breast cancer clinical trials. 

PMID- 26885450
TI  - Oncolytic newcastle disease virus triggers cell death of lung cancer spheroids
      and is enhanced by pharmacological inhibition of autophagy.
AB  - Lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) have recently been isolated from lung cancer
      patient samples and have been reported to be responsible for tumor initiation,
      treatment resistance and tumor recurrence. We have previously shown that
      oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), strain FMW (NDV/FMW) induces apoptosis
      in drug-resistant lung cancer cells. However, how NDV exerts its oncolytic effect
      on lung CSCs remains to be investigated. Here we show that NDV/FMW replicates in,
      and lyses CSC-enriched lung cancer spheroids and inhibits the 3D growth potential
      of lung cancer spheroid and agar colonies. We demonstrate that NDV/FMW triggers
      caspase-dependent apoptosis in lung cancer spheroids as shown by increased
      caspase-3 processing and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Notably,
      NDV/FMW infection results in the degradation of microtubule-associated protein 1
      light chain 3 (LC3) II and P62, two hallmarks of autophagy maturation, indicating
      that NDV/FMW promotes autophagy flux in lung cancer cell spheroids. This was
      further confirmed by the appearance of an increased number of double-membrane
      vesicles as detected by transmission electron microscopy. We also show that
      NDV/FMW promotes autophagy degradation in lung cancer spheroids via inhibition of
      the AKT/mTOR pathway. In addition, treatment of spheroids with the autophagy
      inhibitor, chloroquine increases NDV/FMW-induced cytotoxicity. Collectively, our
      data show that oncolytic NDV/FMW may be a potential strategy in targeting lung
      CSCs. 

PMID- 26885452
TI  - MiR-610 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in colorectal cancer by
      repressing hepatoma-derived growth factor.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as key regulators of gene expression and their
      dysregulation is linked to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. MiR-610 has been
      implicated as an anti-tumor miRNA in multiple types of cancers. However, its
      biological role and the underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not
      been well explored. In this study, we report that miR-610 expression is decreased
      in CRC samples while ectopic expression of miR-610 suppresses cell proliferation,
      migration and invasion, and influences the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT)-associated proteins by up-regulating E-cadherin expression and
      down-regulating vimentin expression. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we reveal
      that miR-610 directly targets hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) by binding to
      its 3'UTR. A negative correlation was also observed between miR-610 and HDGF
      expression in CRC tissues. Further studies show that inhibition of HDGF
      recapitulates the anti-tumor function of miR-610, whereas re-expression of HDGF
      partially abrogates the inhibitory effects of miR-610. Collectively, our findings
      indicate that miR-610 exerts its function by directly targeting HDGF. The miR
      610/HDGF axis is a novel therapeutic target for CRC. 

PMID- 26885454
TI  - Increased NUCKS expression is a risk factor for poor prognosis and recurrence in
      endometrial cancer.
AB  - Nuclear ubiquitous casein and cyclin-dependent kinases substrate (NUCKS) was
      reported to function as a potential biomarker in various tumors. Thus, we aimed
      to explore the expression of NUCKS in endometrial cancer (EC) and its clinical
      significance using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry
      (IHC). qRT-PCR results showed that NUCKS mRNA expression gradually elevated from
      normal endometrium to atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and to EC (P < 0.05
      between each group). NUCKS overexpression was strongly associated with FIGO stage
      (P = 0.002), histologic grade (P = 0.029), lympho-vascular space involvement (P =
      0.014), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.019), and recurrence (P < 0.001). Cox
      multivariate analysis revealed that NUCKS overexpression was an independent
      factor for overall survival and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001 for both).
      Multivariate logistic regression suggested that recurrence was independently
      correlated with NUCKS overexpresion (P = 0.039), FIGO stage (P = 0.002), and
      lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002). In summary, NUCKS overexpression may function
      as a potential biomarker for prognosis especially for recurrence in ECs. 

PMID- 26885456
TI  - Nanoinformatics for environmental health and biomedicine.

PMID- 26885457
TI  - Effects of spin-orbit coupling and many-body correlations in STM transport
      through copper phthalocyanine.
AB  - The interplay of exchange correlations and spin-orbit interaction (SOI) on the
      many-body spectrum of a copper phtalocyanine (CuPc) molecule and their signatures
      in transport are investigated. We first derive a minimal model Hamiltonian in a
      basis of frontier orbitals that is able to reproduce experimentally observed
      singlet-triplet splittings. In a second step SOI effects are included
      perturbatively. Major consequences of the SOI are the splitting of former
      degenerate levels and a magnetic anisotropy, which can be captured by an
      effective low-energy spin Hamiltonian. We show that scanning tunneling microscopy
      based magnetoconductance measurements can yield clear signatures of both these
      SOI-induced effects. 

PMID- 26885453
TI  - Evaluation of 9-cis retinoic acid and mitotane as antitumoral agents in an
      adrenocortical xenograft model.
AB  - The available drug treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are
      limited. In our previous studies, the in vitro activity of 9-cis retinoic acid (9
      cisRA) on adrenocortical NCI-H295R cells was shown along with its antitumoral
      effects in a small pilot xenograft study. Our aim was to dissect the antitumoral
      effects of 9-cisRA on ACC in a large-scale xenograft study involving mitotane, 9
      cisRA and their combination. 43 male SCID mice inoculated with NCI-H295R cells
      were treated in four groups (i. control, ii. 9-cisRA, iii. mitotane, iv. 9-cisRA
      + mitotane) for 28 days. Tumor size follow-up, histological and
      immunohistochemical (Ki-67) analysis, tissue gene expression microarray,
      quantitative real-time-PCR for the validation of microarray results and to detect
      circulating microRNAs were performed. Protein expression was studied by
      proteomics and Western-blot validation. Only mitotane alone and the combination
      of 9-cisRA and mitotane resulted in significant tumor size reduction. The Ki-67
      index was significantly reduced in both 9-cisRA and 9-cisRA+mitotane groups. Only
      modest changes at the mRNA level were found: the 9-cisRA-induced overexpression
      of apolipoprotein A4 and down-regulation of phosphodiesterase 4A was validated.
      The expression of circulating hsa-miR-483-5p was significantly reduced in the
      combined treatment group. The SET protein was validated as being significantly
      down-regulated in the combined mitotane+9-cisRA group. 9-cisRA might be a helpful
      additive agent in the treatment of ACC in combination with mitotane. Circulating
      hsa-miR-483-5p could be utilized for monitoring the treatment efficacy in ACC
      patients, and the treatment-induced reduction in protein SET expression might
      raise its relevance in ACC biology. 

PMID- 26885458
TI  - Blue and white light emission from zinc oxide nanoforests.
AB  - Blue and white light emission is observed when high voltage stress is applied
      using micrometer-separated tungsten probes across a nanoforest formed of ZnO
      nanorods. The optical spectrum of the emitted light consistently shows three fine
      peaks with very high amplitude in the 465-485 nm (blue) range, corresponding to
      atomic transitions of zinc. Additional peaks with smaller amplitudes in the 330
      650 nm range and broad spectrum white light is observed depending on the
      excitation conditions. The spatial and spectral distribution of the emitted
      light, with pink-orange regions identifying percolation paths in some cases and
      high intensity blue and white light with center to edge variations in others,
      indicate that multiple mechanisms lead to light emission. Under certain
      conditions, the tungsten probe tips used to make electrical contact with the ZnO
      structures melt during the excitation, indicating that the local temperature can
      exceed 3422  degrees C, which is the melting temperature of tungsten. The
      distinct and narrow peaks in the optical spectra and the abrupt increase in
      current at high electric fields suggest that a plasma is formed by application of
      the electrical bias, giving rise to light emission via atomic transitions in
      gaseous zinc and oxygen. The broad spectrum, white light emission is possibly due
      to the free electron transitions in the plasma and blackbody radiation from
      molten silicon. The white light may also arise from the recombination through
      multiple defect levels in ZnO or due to the optical excitation from solid ZnO.
      The electrical measurements performed at different ambient pressures result in
      light emission with distinguishable differences in the emission properties and I
      V curves, which also indicate that the dielectric breakdown of ZnO, sublimation,
      and plasma formation processes are the underlying mechanisms. 

PMID- 26885455
TI  - Application of biclustering of gene expression data and gene set enrichment
      analysis methods to identify potentially disease causing nanomaterials.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The presence of diverse types of nanomaterials (NMs) in commerce is
      growing at an exponential pace. As a result, human exposure to these materials in
      the environment is inevitable, necessitating the need for rapid and reliable
      toxicity testing methods to accurately assess the potential hazards associated
      with NMs. In this study, we applied biclustering and gene set enrichment analysis
      methods to derive essential features of altered lung transcriptome following
      exposure to NMs that are associated with lung-specific diseases. Several datasets
      from public microarray repositories describing pulmonary diseases in mouse models
      following exposure to a variety of substances were examined and functionally
      related biclusters of genes showing similar expression profiles were identified.
      The identified biclusters were then used to conduct a gene set enrichment
      analysis on pulmonary gene expression profiles derived from mice exposed to nano
      titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2), carbon black (CB) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to
      determine the disease significance of these data-driven gene sets. RESULTS:
      Biclusters representing inflammation (chemokine activity), DNA binding, cell
      cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and fibrosis processes were
      identified. All of the NM studies were significant with respect to the bicluster
      related to chemokine activity (DAVID; FDR p-value = 0.032). The bicluster related
      to pulmonary fibrosis was enriched in studies where toxicity induced by CNT and
      CB studies was investigated, suggesting the potential for these materials to
      induce lung fibrosis. The pro-fibrogenic potential of CNTs is well established.
      Although CB has not been shown to induce fibrosis, it induces stronger
      inflammatory, oxidative stress and DNA damage responses than nano-TiO2 particles.
      CONCLUSION: The results of the analysis correctly identified all NMs to be
      inflammogenic and only CB and CNTs as potentially fibrogenic. In addition to
      identifying several previously defined, functionally relevant gene sets, the
      present study also identified two novel genes sets: a gene set associated with
      pulmonary fibrosis and a gene set associated with ROS, underlining the advantage
      of using a data-driven approach to identify novel, functionally related gene
      sets. The results can be used in future gene set enrichment analysis studies
      involving NMs or as features for clustering and classifying NMs of diverse
      properties.

PMID- 26885460
TI  - Probing the local environment of a single OPE3 molecule using inelastic tunneling
      electron spectroscopy.
AB  - We study single-molecule oligo(phenylene ethynylene)dithiol junctions by means of
      inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS). The molecule is contacted with
      gold nano-electrodes formed with the mechanically controllable break junction
      technique. We record the IETS spectrum of the molecule from direct current
      measurements, both as a function of time and electrode separation. We find that
      for fixed electrode separation the molecule switches between various
      configurations, which are characterized by different IETS spectra. Similar
      variations in the IETS signal are observed during atomic rearrangements upon
      stretching of the molecular junction. Using quantum chemistry calculations, we
      identity some of the vibrational modes which constitute a chemical fingerprint of
      the molecule. In addition, changes can be attributed to rearrangements of the
      local molecular environment, in particular at the molecule-electrode interface.
      This study shows the importance of taking into account the interaction with the
      electrodes when describing inelastic contributions to transport through single
      molecule junctions. 

PMID- 26885459
TI  - Calculations of helium separation via uniform pores of stanene-based membranes.
AB  - The development of low energy cost membranes to separate He from noble gas
      mixtures is highly desired. In this work, we studied He purification using
      recently experimentally realized, two-dimensional stanene (2D Sn) and decorated
      2D Sn (SnH and SnF) honeycomb lattices by density functional theory calculations.
      To increase the permeability of noble gases through pristine 2D Sn at room
      temperature (298 K), two practical strategies (i.e., the application of strain
      and functionalization) are proposed. With their high concentration of large
      pores, 2D Sn-based membrane materials demonstrate excellent helium purification
      and can serve as a superior membrane over traditionally used, porous materials.
      In addition, the separation performance of these 2D Sn-based membrane materials
      can be significantly tuned by application of strain to optimize the He
      purification properties by taking both diffusion and selectivity into account.
      Our results are the first calculations of He separation in a defect-free
      honeycomb lattice, highlighting new interesting materials for helium separation
      for future experimental validation. 

PMID- 26885461
TI  - Large area scanning probe microscope in ultra-high vacuum demonstrated for
      electrostatic force measurements on high-voltage devices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The resolution in electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), a descendant
      of atomic force microscopy (AFM), has reached nanometre dimensions, necessary to
      investigate integrated circuits in modern electronic devices. However, the
      characterization of conducting or semiconducting power devices with EFM methods
      requires an accurate and reliable technique from the nanometre up to the
      micrometre scale. For high force sensitivity it is indispensable to operate the
      microscope under high to ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions to suppress viscous
      damping of the sensor. Furthermore, UHV environment allows for the analysis of
      clean surfaces under controlled environmental conditions. Because of these
      requirements we built a large area scanning probe microscope operating under UHV
      conditions at room temperature allowing to perform various electrical
      measurements, such as Kelvin probe force microscopy, scanning capacitance force
      microscopy, scanning spreading resistance microscopy, and also electrostatic
      force microscopy at higher harmonics. The instrument incorporates beside a
      standard beam deflection detection system a closed loop scanner with a scan range
      of 100 MUm in lateral and 25 MUm in vertical direction as well as an additional
      fibre optics. This enables the illumination of the tip-sample interface for
      optically excited measurements such as local surface photo voltage detection.
      RESULTS: We present Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements before and
      after sputtering of a copper alloy with chromium grains used as electrical
      contact surface in ultra-high power switches. In addition, we discuss KPFM
      measurements on cross sections of cleaved silicon carbide structures: a
      calibration layer sample and a power rectifier. To demonstrate the benefit of
      surface photo voltage measurements, we analysed the contact potential difference
      of a silicon carbide p/n-junction under illumination.

PMID- 26885463
TI  - pH-Triggered release from surface-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)
      nanoparticles.
AB  - Nanoparticles (NP) of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) represent a promising
      biodegradable drug delivery system. We suggest here a two-step release system of
      PLGA nanoparticles with a pH-tunable polymeric shell, providing an initial pH
      triggered step, releasing a membrane-toxic cationic compound. PLGA nanoparticles
      are coated by polyelectrolytes using the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique,
      employing poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a pH-sensitive component and
      poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as the releasable polycation.
      The pH during multilayer deposition plays a major role and influences the
      titration curve of the layer system. The pH-tunability of PAA is intensively
      investigated with regard to the pH region, in which the particle system becomes
      uncharged. The isoelectric point can be shifted by employing suitable deposition
      pH values. The release is investigated by quantitative (1)H NMR, yielding a pH
      dependent release curve. A release of PDADMAC is initiated by a decrease of the
      pH value. The released amount of polymer, as quantified by (1)H NMR analysis,
      clearly depends on the pH value and thus on the state of deprotonation of the pH
      sensitive PAA layer. Subsequent incubation of the nanoparticles with high
      concentrations of sodium chloride shows no further release and thus demonstrates
      the pH-driven release to be quantitative. 

PMID- 26885464
TI  - Solution of fractional bioheat equation in terms of Fox's H-function.
AB  - Present paper deals with the solution of time and space fractional Pennes bioheat
      equation. We consider time fractional derivative and space fractional derivative
      in the form of Caputo fractional derivative of order [Formula: see text] and
      Riesz-Feller fractional derivative of order [Formula: see text] respectively. We
      obtain solution in terms of Fox's H-function with some special cases, by using
      Fourier-Laplace transforms. 

PMID- 26885462
TI  - Chemiresistive/SERS dual sensor based on densely packed gold nanoparticles.
AB  - Chemiresistors are a class of sensitive electrical devices capable of detecting
      (bio)chemicals by simply monitoring electrical resistance. Sensing based on
      surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) represents a radically different
      approach, in which molecules are optically detected according to their
      vibrational spectroscopic fingerprint. Despite different concepts are involved,
      one can find in the literature examples from both categories reporting sensors
      made of gold nanoparticles. The same building blocks appear because both sensor
      classes share a common principle: nanometric interparticle gaps are needed, for
      electron tunneling in chemiresistors, and for enhancing electromagnetic fields by
      plasmon coupling in SERS-based sensors. By exploiting such nano-gaps in self
      assembled films of gold nanoparticles, we demonstrate the proof of concept of a
      dual electrical/optical sensor, with both chemiresistive and SERS capabilities.
      The proposed device is realized by self-assembling 15 nm gold nanoparticles into
      few micrometers-wide strips across commercially available interdigitated
      electrodes. The dual-mode operation of the device is demonstrated by the
      detection of a biologically relevant model analyte, 4-mercaptophenyl boronic
      acid. 

PMID- 26885465
TI  - Antibacterial activity of an acidic phospholipase A2 (NN-XIb-PLA2) from the venom
      of Naja naja (Indian cobra).
AB  - The resistance of bacteria against the use of conventional antibiotics has become
      a serious threat to public health and considering the associated side effect with
      antibiotics; new strategies to find and develop new molecules with novel modes of
      action has received grate attention in recent years. In this study, when the
      antibacterial potential of an acidic protein-NN-XIb-PLA2 (Naja naja venom
      phospholipase A2 fraction-XIb) of Naja naja venom was evaluated, it showed
      significant bactericidal action against the human pathogenic strains tested. It
      inhibited more effectively the gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus
      and Bacillus subtilis, when compared to gram negative bacteria like Escherichia
      coli, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiell pneumoniae and Salmonella paratyphi. It
      inhibited the bacterial growth, with a MIC values ranging from 17 to 20 ug/ml. It
      was interesting to observe that NN-XIb-PLA2 showed comparable antibacterial
      activity to the used standards antibiotics. It was found that their was a strong
      correlation between PLA2 activities, hemolytic and antibacterial activity.
      Furthermore, it is found that in the presence of p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB),
      there is a significant decrease in enzymatic activity and associated
      antibacterial activities, suggesting that a strong association exists between
      catalytic activity and antimicrobial effects, which thereby destabilize the
      membrane bilayer. These studies encourage further in dept study on molecular
      mechanisms of bactericidal properties of NN-XIb-PLA2 and thereby help in
      development of this protein into a possible therapeutic lead molecule for
      treating bacterial infections. 

PMID- 26885466
TI  - Did Ugo Foscolo suffer from chronic renal insufficiency?
AB  - Ugo Foscolo, was an Italian poet whose works rank among the masterpieces of
      Italian literature. Talented and well educated in philosophy, classics, and
      Italian literature, Foscolo gave literary expression to his ideological
      aspirations and to the numerous amorous experiences in odes, sonnets, plays,
      poems and an epistolary novel. Concurrent with his rich literary output,
      Foscolo's correspondence represents a unique perspective from which to monitor
      his literary and political views and investigate aspects of his everyday life.
      Among other interesting information, one can find elements of Foscolo's medical
      history which is generally unknown. Based on his testimonies we suggest that he
      suffered of longstanding bladder outlet obstruction presumably due to urethral
      stricture. In the present article we investigate the possibility that chronic
      bladder outlet obstruction and the consequent renal insufficiency was attributed
      to the death of Ugo Foscolo. 

PMID- 26885468
TI  - Isolated third ventricle glioblastoma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma is the most common and the most malignant type of
      gliomas. Cerebral hemispheres are usual locations for gliomas. Isolated third
      ventricular presentation is very rare for glioblastomas. A new case of isolated
      third ventricular glioblastoma has been presented in this report. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: A 36-year-old woman was admitted to outpatient clinic with headache,
      blurred vision and confusion. A head CT scan and MRI had showed third ventricular
      mass lesion with obstructive hydrocephalus. Previous to her admission to our
      clinic, a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt had been inserted and her hydrocephalus had
      been relieved to some extent in acute settings. In our clinic, stereotactic
      biopsy was performed and a second ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted from
      the opposite site. Histopathological diagnosis was glioblastoma. Radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy were started immediately after the surgery. Patient's hydrocephalus
      has resolved and she was well at post-operative 6th month. DISCUSSION AND
      EVALUATION: In differential diagnosis list of the tumors presenting in the third
      ventricle, there are plenty of tumors such as colloid cyst, meningioma,
      germinoma, craniopharyngioma, lymphoma, choroid plexus papilloma, subependymal
      giant cell astrocytoma, chiasmatic and hypothalamic benign astrocytoma. Ring
      enhancement of this region pathology is a peculiar sign for glioblastoma, yet not
      pathognomonic. Tumor histology is crucial to yield the final diagnosis.
      CONCLUSION: Management of obstructive hydrocephalus, making histopathological
      diagnosis, starting adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in isolated third
      ventricular glioblastomas is a safe and effective approach when we consider
      malignant nature and intractable progress of glioblastomas.

PMID- 26885467
TI  - Role of patient and tumor characteristics in sentinel lymph node metastasis in
      patients with luminal early breast cancer: an observational study.
AB  - Predicting the risk of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis is important for
      clinical decision-making in the setting of early breast cancer (EBC). This study
      is aimed to identify tumor and patient characteristics that influenced the SLN
      metastatic involvement, with a focus on luminal subtypes. An observational study
      including women treated for EBC from 2005 to 2013 was conducted. Regression
      analyses were used to assess the association between SLN metastasis and age,
      menopausal status, tumor size, histological grading, presence of extensive "in
      situ" carcinoma components, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and expression of Ki
      67, hormone receptors, and HER2. Of 345 women, 84 (24.3 %) had at least one SLN
      metastasis; 63.1 % were macrometastases. Among all patients, 31.6 % exhibited
      LVI. In univariate analyses, tumor size, histological grade, and LVI were
      associated with SLN metastasis. The multivariate model confirmed only the
      association between LVI and SLN status (OR 3.27, 95 % CI 1.85-5.68; p < 0.0001).
      Luminal subtypes were detected in 86.1 % of women. In this subgroup, the
      multivariate model confirmed a significant relationship between LVI and SLN
      status (OR 3.47, 95 % CI 1.90-6.33; p < 0.0001). Since a proper histopathological
      assessment of LVI is not possible prior to surgery, this factor cannot be used to
      guide decisions on performing SLN biopsies. Nevertheless, when a SLN biopsy is
      refused or contraindicated, an LVI assessment on an excisional biopsy of the
      tumor could facilitate prognosis determination and treatment management. 

PMID- 26885469
TI  - Antibacterial activity of aquatic gliding bacteria.
AB  - The study aimed to screen and isolate strains of freshwater aquatic gliding
      bacteria, and to investigate their antibacterial activity against seven common
      pathogenic bacteria. Submerged specimens were collected and isolated for aquatic
      gliding bacteria using four different isolation media (DW, MA, SAP2, and Vy/2).
      Gliding bacteria identification was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and
      phylogenetic analysis. Crude extracts were obtained by methanol extraction.
      Antibacterial activity against seven pathogenic bacteria was examined by agar
      well diffusion assay. Five strains of aquatic gliding bacteria including RPD001,
      RPD008, RPD018, RPD027 and RPD049 were isolated. Each submerged biofilm and
      plastic specimen provided two isolates of gliding bacteria, whereas plant debris
      gave only one isolate. Two strains of gliding bacteria were obtained from each DW
      and Vy/2 isolation medium, while one strain was obtained from the SAP2 medium.
      Gliding bacteria strains RPD001, RPD008 and RPD018 were identified as
      Flavobacterium anhuiense with 96, 82 and 96 % similarity, respectively. Strains
      RPD049 and RPD027 were identified as F. johnsoniae and Lysobacter brunescens,
      respectively, with similarity equal to 96 %. Only crude extract obtained from
      RPD001 inhibited growth of Listeria monocytogenes (MIC 150 ug/ml), Staphylococcus
      aureus (MIC 75 ug/ml) and Vibrio cholerae (MIC 300 ug/ml), but showed weak
      inhibitory effect on Salmonella typhimurium (MIC > 300 ug/ml). Gliding bacterium
      strain RPD008 should be considered to a novel genus separate from Flavobacterium
      due to its low similarity value. Crude extract produced by RPD001 showed
      potential for development as a broad antibiotic agent. 

PMID- 26885470
TI  - Clinical and Research Implications of Gambling Disorder in DSM-5.
AB  - The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
      contains significant changes related to the diagnosis of gambling problems. These
      changes include the renaming of the disorder from pathological gambling to
      gambling disorder, reclassification of gambling disorder from an impulse control
      disorder to an addictive disorder, removal of the illegal acts criterion,
      lowering diagnostic threshold to endorsement of four criteria, and recognizing
      that the course of the disorder is no longer chronic for all diagnosed. This
      paper reviews the rationale and research support for these changes. Implications
      of the new revisions for both research and clinical practice are reviewed,
      including a discussion about future directions for research efforts.

PMID- 26885471
TI  - Significance of residual renal function for phosphate control in chronic
      hemodialysis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare mineral metabolism between
      anuric and nonanuric chronic hemodialysis patients, and determine the differences
      in phosphate control between the two groups. METHODS: A total of 77 chronic
      hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from January
      2012 to February 2012. Patient demographics, laboratory findings, medication
      histories, and vascular calcification scores were collected. We divided the
      patients into anuric and nonanuric groups according to the residual renal
      function and then compared their clinical features. Multivariate binary
      regression analysis was used in each group to determine the independent factors
      related to phosphate control. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 59.27+/-13.95
      years, and 57.1% of patients were anuric. In anuric patients, dialysis vintage
      was significantly longer, but the mean Kt/V was not different between groups.
      Serum phosphate, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, and Ca/P products were
      significantly higher, and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were significantly lower in the
      anuric patients, although the intact parathyroid hormone and 25(OH)D levels were
      not different. In anuric patients, LnFGF-23 [hazard ratio (HR) 2.894, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.294-6.474, P=0.010] was an independent factor
      predictive of phosphate control. However, in the nonanuric patients, glomerular
      filtration rate (HR 0.409, 95% CI 0.169-0.989, P=0.047) and blood urea nitrogen
      (HR 1.090, 95% CI 1.014-1.172, P=0.019) were independent factors predictive of
      phosphate control. CONCLUSION: In chronic hemodialysis patients, preservation of
      residual renal function is a significant determinant of phosphate control, and
      the factors associated with phosphate control is different depending on the
      residual renal function status. In the anuric patients, FGF-23 is most
      significantly associated with phosphate control; however, glomerular filtration
      rate and blood urea nitrogen are more important than FGF-23 in the nonanuric HD
      patients.

PMID- 26885472
TI  - New classification of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: a good start but
      a long way to go.

PMID- 26885473
TI  - Anticoagulants and acute kidney injury: clinical and pathology considerations.
AB  - We have recently identified a new clinical syndrome in patients receiving
      warfarin for anticoagulation therapy. This syndrome has been named warfarin
      related nephropathy (WRN), and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) appear
      to be particularly susceptible. WRN is defined as an acute increase in
      international normalized ratio (INR) to >3.0, followed by evidence of acute
      kidney injury (AKI) within 1 week of the INR increase. AKI was defined as a
      sustained increase in serum creatinine of greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/dL. The
      AKI cannot be explained by any other factors, and the kidney biopsy demonstrates
      extensive glomerular hemorrhage with tubular obstruction by red blood cells
      (RBCs). Beyond AKI, WRN is a significant risk factor for mortality within the
      first 2 months of diagnosis and it accelerates the progression of CKD. We
      demonstrated that 5/6 nephrectomy in rats is a suitable experimental model to
      study WRN. Animals treated with warfarin showed an increase in serum creatinine
      and morphologic findings in the kidney similar to those in humans with WRN. Our
      recent evidence suggests that novel oral anticoagulants may induce AKI. Diagnosis
      of WRN may be challenging for a renal pathologist. A few cases with suspected WRN
      and pathologic considerations are described. 

PMID- 26885474
TI  - Mechanisms of phytoestrogen biochanin A-induced vasorelaxation in renovascular
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The plant-derived estrogen biochanin A is known to cause
      vasodilation, but its mechanism of action in hypertension remains unclear. This
      study was undertaken to investigate the effects and mechanisms of biochanin A on
      the thoracic aorta in two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats.
      METHODS: Hypertension was induced by clipping the left renal artery, and control
      age-matched rats were sham treated. Thoracic aortae were mounted in tissue baths
      to measure isometric tension. RESULTS: Biochanin A caused concentration-dependent
      relaxation in aortic rings from 2K1C hypertensive and sham-treated rats, which
      was greater in 2K1C rats than in sham rats. Biochanin A-induced relaxation was
      significantly attenuated by removing the endothelium in aortic rings from 2K1C
      rats, but not in sham rats. N (omega)-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, a nitric
      oxide synthase inhibitor, or indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, did not
      affect the biochanin A-induced relaxation in aortic rings from 2K1C and sham
      rats. By contrast, treatment with glibenclamide, a selective inhibitor of
      adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K(+) channels, or tetraethylammonium, an
      inhibitor of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, significantly reduced biochanin A
      induced relaxation in aortic rings from both groups. However, 4-aminopyridine, a
      selective inhibitor of voltage-dependent K(+) channels, inhibited the relaxation
      induced by biochanin A in 2K1C rats, whereas no significant differences were
      observed in sham rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the enhanced
      relaxation caused by biochanin A in aortic rings from hypertensive rats is
      endothelium dependent. Vascular smooth muscle K(+) channels may be involved in
      biochanin A-induced relaxation in aortae from hypertensive and normotensive rats.
      In addition, an endothelium-derived activation of voltage-dependent K(+) channels
      contributes, at least in part, to the relaxant effect of biochanin A in
      renovascular hypertension.

PMID- 26885476
TI  - Insulin resistance is associated with new-onset cardiovascular events in
      nondiabetic patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to high glucose-containing peritoneal dialysis
      solution and consequent abdominal obesity are potential sources of insulin
      resistance in patients requiring prevalent peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this
      study was to elucidate the prognostic values of insulin resistance on new-onset
      cardiovascular events in nondiabetic patients undergoing prevalent peritoneal
      dialysis. METHODS: A total of 201 nondiabetic patients undergoing prevalent
      peritoneal dialysis were recruited. Insulin resistance was assessed by
      homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The primary outcome
      was new-onset cardiovascular events during the follow-up period. Cox proportional
      hazard analysis was performed to ascertain the independent prognostic value of
      HOMA-IR for the primary outcome. RESULTS: The mean age was 53.1 years and male
      was 49.3% (n=99). The mean HOMA-IR was 2.6+/-2.1. In multivariate linear
      regression, body mass index (beta=0.169, P=0.011), triglyceride level
      (beta=0.331, P<0.001), and previous cardiovascular diseases (beta=0.137, P=0.029)
      were still significantly associated with HOMA-IR. During a mean follow-up
      duration of 36.8+/-16.2 months, the primary outcome was observed in 36 patients
      (17.9%). When patients were divided into tertiles according to HOMA-IR, the
      highest tertile group showed a significantly higher incidence rate for new-onset
      cardiovascular events compared to the lower two tertile groups (P=0.029).
      Furthermore, multivariate Cox analysis revealed that HOMA-IR was an independent
      predictor of the primary outcome (hazard ratio=1.18, 95% confidence interval=1.03
      1.35, P=0.014). CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR was an
      independent risk factor for new-onset cardiovascular events in nondiabetic
      patients undergoing prevalent peritoneal dialysis.

PMID- 26885475
TI  - Reanalysis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patients according to the
      new classification: a multicenter study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: All types of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) are
      progressive diseases with poor prognoses. Recently, a newly proposed
      classification of these diseases separated them into immune complex- and
      complement-mediated diseases. We investigated the frequency of C3
      glomerulonephritis among previously diagnosed MPGN patients. METHODS: We
      conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with MPGN at three tertiary
      care institutions between 2001 and 2010. We investigated the incidence of
      complement-mediated disease among patients diagnosed with MPGN. Progressive renal
      dysfunction was defined as a 50% reduction in the glomerular filtration rate or
      the need for renal replacement therapy. RESULTS: Among the 3,294 renal biopsy
      patients, 77 (2.3%) were diagnosed with MPGN; 31 cases were excluded, of which
      seven were diagnosed with systemic lupus nephritis, and the others were not
      followed for a minimum of 12 months after biopsy. Based on the new
      classification, complement-mediated MPGN was diagnosed in two patients (4.3%);
      only one patient developed progressive renal dysfunction. Among the immune
      complex-mediated MPGN patients, 17 patients developed progressive renal
      dysfunction. Serum albumin and creatinine levels at the time of MPGN diagnosis
      were risk factors of renal deterioration, after adjusting for low C3 levels and
      nephrotic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Complement-mediated glomerulonephritis was
      present in 4.3% of patients previously diagnosed with MPGN.

PMID- 26885477
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy of urine dipstick for proteinuria in older outpatients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The urine dipstick is widely used as an initial screening tool for
      the evaluation of proteinuria; however, its diagnostic accuracy has not yet been
      sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, we evaluated its diagnostic accuracy using
      spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and total protein/creatinine ratio
      (PCR) in proteinuria. METHODS: Using PCR >=0.2 g/g or >=0.5 g/g and ACR >=300
      mg/g or >=30 mg/g as the reference standard, we calculated the diagnostic
      accuracy profile: sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive
      value, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating
      characteristic curve. RESULTS: PCR and ACR were available for 10,348 and 3,873
      instances of dipstick testing. The proportions with PCR >=0.2 g/g, >=0.5 g/g and
      ACR >=300 mg/g, >=30 mg/g were 38.2%, 24.6% and 8.9%, 31.7%, respectively. The
      AUCs for PCR >=0.2 g/g, >=0.5 g/g, and ACR >=300 mg/g were 0.935 (trace: closest
      to ideal point), 0.968 (1+), and 0.983 (1+), respectively. Both sensitivity and
      specificity were >80% except for PCR >=0.5 g/g with trace cutoff. For the
      reference standard of ACR >=30 mg/g, the AUC was 0.797 (trace) and the
      sensitivity was 63.5%. CONCLUSION: Urine dipstick test can be used for screening
      in older outpatients with ACR >=300 mg/g or PCR as the reference standard for
      proteinuria. However, we cannot recommend the test as a screening tool with ACR
      >=30 mg/g as the reference owing to its low sensitivity.

PMID- 26885478
TI  - Clinical outcome of percutaneous thrombectomy of dialysis access thrombosis by an
      interventional nephrologist.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the treatment of a thrombosed dialysis access in
      hemodialysis patients in Korea has been primarily performed by vascular surgeons
      and interventional radiologists. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
      outcome of percutaneous thrombectomy procedures performed by an interventional
      nephrologist. METHODS: From October 2010 to May 2014, 75 consecutive percutaneous
      thrombectomies were performed on 42 patients treated with maintenance
      hemodialysis. All percutaneous thrombectomy procedures were performed by an
      interventional nephrologist in a single hospital in Jeju, Korea. The thrombosed
      arteriovenous graft and arteriovenous fistula were declotted by thromboaspiration
      mechanical thrombectomy or pharmacomechanical thrombolysis. Kaplan-Meier survival
      analysis was performed to analyze the primary and secondary patency after the
      initial successful thrombectomy. Success and complication rates were identified
      and compared with the recommendations of the Kidney Disease Dialysis Outcomes
      Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guideline. RESULTS: The overall clinical success rate
      was 89.3% (67/75). In the successful cases, the postintervention primary
      (unassisted) patency rates at 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days were 79.9%, 56.6%,
      and 25.6%, respectively. The secondary patency rates at 30 days, 90 days, and 180
      days were 92.2%, 85.7%, and 83.7%, respectively. There were no major
      complications, and all complications were treated successfully during the
      procedure. CONCLUSION: The clinical success rate and primary patency rate at 3
      months exceeded the recommendations of the KDOQI guideline, and were comparable
      to that of other reports. Percutaneous thrombectomy by an interventional
      nephrologist was safe and effective.

PMID- 26885479
TI  - A randomized crossover study of single biweekly administration of epoetin-alpha
      compared with darbepoetin-alpha in chronic kidney disease patients not receiving
      dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent evidence demonstrates that high doses of epoetin-alpha (EPO
      alpha) can be administrated at extended intervals, despite its relatively short
      serum half-life. However, no prospective randomized trials on the effects of
      extended dosing intervals of EPO-alpha compared with darbepoetin-alpha (DA-alpha)
      have been performed. This study was designed to investigate whether a single
      biweekly (Q2W) administration of a high dose of EPO-alpha is as effective as DA
      alpha for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not receiving dialysis.
      METHODS: Sixty non-dialysis CKD patients were equally randomized to either Q2W
      subcutaneous EPO-alpha (10,000 unit) or DA-alpha (50 MUg) therapy groups for the
      first 6 weeks. After a 6-week washout period, the participants of the EPO-alpha
      and DA-alpha treatment groups switched to the alternate regimen for 6 weeks. The
      mean hemoglobin (Hb) levels after erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy
      and percentage change in Hb levels from baseline to the end of the study were
      analyzed. RESULTS: The mean Hb levels of postESA therapy increased significantly
      compared with those of preESA therapy in both ESA regimens. The percentage
      increase in Hb levels and erythropoietin resistance index did not show a
      significant difference between the different ESA regimens. No difference was
      observed between the regimens regarding mean Hb levels after ESA therapy.
      Additionally, there were no serious adverse effects leading to withdrawal from
      treatment. CONCLUSION: Biweekly high doses of EPO-alpha therapy may be equally as
      effective as Q2W DA-alpha therapy in maintaining target Hb levels in non-dialysis
      CKD patients.

PMID- 26885481
TI  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with deflazacort therapy with nephrotic
      syndrome.
AB  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a drug-related fatal disease. Extensive
      necrosis of the epidermis can lead to serious complications. This report
      describes two cases of TEN, associated with deflazacort (DFZ), in two boys, aged
      4 years and 14 years, with nephrotic syndrome (NS). The 14-year-old male teenager
      received DFZ following NS relapse. After 17 days, pruritic papules appeared on
      the lower extremities. Another case involved a 4-year-old boy receiving DFZ and
      enalapril. After a 41-day DFZ treatment period, erythematous papules appeared on
      the palms and soles. Within 3 days, both boys developed widespread skin lesions
      (>50%) and were admitted to the intensive care unit for resuscitative and
      supportive treatment. The patients showed improvement after intravenous
      immunoglobulin-G therapy. Owing to the rapid, fatal course of TEN, clinicians
      need to be aware of the adverse effects of this drug when treating cases of NS. 

PMID- 26885480
TI  - Ipsilateral leg swelling after renal transplantation as an alarming sign of Iliac
      vein stenosis.
AB  - Iliac vein stenosis is a rare vascular complication of renal transplantation that
      may compromise allograft function if not recognized and corrected in a timely
      fashion. Because chronic venous stenosis may remain undiagnosed for several
      years, a high index of suspicion should be maintained until diagnosing this rare
      disease. A 56-year-old renal transplant recipient presented with unilateral leg
      swelling and renal dysfunction 16 years after transplantation. Computed
      tomography excluded deep vein thrombosis and revealed tight iliac vein stenosis
      on the side of the renal transplant. Following angiographic confirmation of the
      stenosis, endovascular treatment was successfully performed with a purposefully
      designed, self-expanding, venous stent. Ipsilateral leg swelling is an alarming
      sign for the diagnosis of iliac vein stenosis after renal transplantation.
      Percutaneous intervention with venous stent placement seems to be a safe and
      effective treatment of this rare condition. 

PMID- 26885482
TI  - Resolution of uremic tumoral calcinosis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis with
      long-term low-calcium dialysate treatment.
AB  - Tumoral calcinosis is a rare complication in uremic patients. An in-depth review
      of published literature suggests that most patients with uremic tumoral
      calcinosis do not respond to medical treatment. Here, we report the case of a
      patient on peritoneal dialysis who presented with infected multifocal masses on
      both hip joints and was successfully treated by medical intervention. The patient
      was diagnosed with uremic tumoral calcinosis by physical examination and
      radiologic imaging, and treated with low-calcium dialysis and a non-calcium
      phosphate binder, sevelamer, without increasing the dose of dialysis. At the 36
      month follow-up, the majority of masses had disappeared and the patient was
      asymptomatic. 

PMID- 26885484
TI  - Association between mortality and abdominal aortic calcification and their
      progression in hemodialysis patients.

PMID- 26885483
TI  - A case of primary aldosteronism combined with acquired nephrogenic diabetes
      insipidus.
AB  - Aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma can induce various clinical manifestations
      as a result of chronic exposure to aldosterone. We report a rare case of a 37
      year-old man who complained of general weakness and polyuria. He was diagnosed
      with aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
      Aldosterone enhances the secretion of potassium in the collecting duct, which can
      lead to hypokalemia. By contrast, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, which manifests
      as polyuria and polydipsia, can occur in several clinical conditions such as
      acquired tubular disease and those attributed to toxins and congenital causes.
      Among them, hypokalemia can also damage tubular structures in response to
      vasopressin. The patient's urine output was >3 L/d and was diluted. Owing to the
      ineffectiveness of vasopressin, we eventually made a diagnosis of nephrogenic
      diabetes insipidus. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy and intraoperative kidney biopsy
      were subsequently performed. The pathologic finding of kidney biopsy revealed a
      decrease in aquaporin-2 on immunohistochemical stain. 

PMID- 26885485
TI  - Youyou Tu: significance of winning the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
      Medicine.
AB  - Youyou Tu, a female scientist at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese
      Medicine in Beijing, is the first Chinese winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology
      or Medicine. Based on the study of recipes which had been used for thousands of
      years to treat fever, Tu's group discovered that the plant artemesia annua, sweet
      wormwood, showed substantial inhibition of rodent malaria parasites. Her
      achievement and experience have inspired other researchers and emphasized the
      development of traditional Chinese medicine. Her award has led to a heated
      discussion about scientific research investment, fair treatment of research
      staff, and intellectual property right (IPR) protection in China. 

PMID- 26885486
TI  - Safety of anticoagulation with uninterrupted warfarin vs. interrupted dabigatran
      in patients requiring an implantable cardiac device.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The optimal strategy of peri-procedural anticoagulation in patients
      undergoing permanent cardiac device implantation is controversial. Our objective
      was to compare the major bleeding and thromboembolic complications in patients
      managed with uninterrupted warfarin (UW) vs. interrupted dabigatran (ID) during
      permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD)
      implantation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all eligible patients from
      July 2011 through January 2012 was performed. UW was defined as patients who had
      maintained a therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) on the day of the
      procedure. ID was defined as stopping dabigatran >=12 hours prior to the
      procedure and then resuming after implantation. Major bleeding events included
      hemothorax, hemopericardium, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleed,
      epistaxis, or pocket hematoma requiring surgical intervention. Thromboembolic
      complications included stroke, transient ischemic attack, deep venous thrombosis,
      pulmonary embolism, or arterial embolism. RESULTS: Of the 133 patients (73.4+/
      11.0 years; 91 males) in the study, 86 received UW and 47 received ID. One (1.2%)
      patient in the UW group sustained hemopericardium perioperatively and died. In
      comparison, the ID patients had no complications. As compared to the ID group,
      the UW group had a higher median CHADS2 score (2 vs. 3, P=0.04) and incidence of
      Grade 1 pocket hematoma (0% vs. 7%, P=0.09). Neither group developed any
      thromboembolic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Major bleeding rates were similar
      among UW and ID groups. Perioperative ID appears to be a safe anticoagulation
      strategy for patients undergoing PPM or ICD implantation.

PMID- 26885487
TI  - Spectrum of heart diseases in children: an echocardiographic study of 1,666
      subjects in a pediatric hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children's health programs in Sub-Saharan Africa have always been
      oriented primarily to infectious diseases and malnutrition. We are witnessing in
      the early 21(st) century an epidemiological transition marked by the decline of
      old diseases and the identification of new diseases including heart disease.
      Therefore, it is necessary to describe the spectrum of these diseases in order to
      better prepare health workers to these new challenges. METHODS: We conducted a
      cross-sectional study focused on heart disease diagnosed by echocardiography in
      children seen from January 2006 to December 2014 in a pediatric hospital of
      Yaounde. We collected socio-demographic data and the types of heart disease from
      registers, patients files as well as the electronic database of echocardiographic
      records. RESULTS: A total of 2,235 patients underwent echocardiographic
      examination during the study period including 1,666 subjects with heart disease.
      Congenital cardiopathies were found in 1,230 (73.8%) patients and acquired
      abnormalities in 429 (25.8%). Seven children (0.4%) had a combination of both
      types. Congenital heart defects (CHD) were dominated by ventricular septal defect
      (VSD). Acquired heart disease was mostly rheumatic valvulopathies. Dyspnea on
      exertion was the most frequent presenting complaint (87.6%). Discovery of a heart
      murmur was the principal clinical finding on physical examination (81.4%). The
      median age was 9 months for congenital heart disease and 132 months for acquired
      heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: As infectious diseases recede and the diagnostic
      facilities are improving, pediatric heart diseases occupy a more important
      position in the spectrum of pediatric diseases in our context. However, the
      ability to evoke the diagnosis remains unsatisfactory by the majority of health
      personnel and therefore needs to be improved. Apart from congenital heart
      diseases, the impact of acquired heart diseases, rheumatic valvulopathy being the
      highest ranking, is remarkable in pediatrics. Awareness of health personnel for
      better management of child tonsillitis is more than ever a necessity. This
      preventive attitude of rheumatic heart disease is the main attitude available in
      our disadvantaged economic environment.

PMID- 26885488
TI  - Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy in juvenile mitral stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) is a valid
      alternative to surgical therapy in selected patients with mitral stenosis.
      Juvenile mitral stenosis (JMS) varies uniquely from adult rheumatic heart disease
      (RHD). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PTMC in JMS patients. METHODS: It was
      a single centre, retrospective study conducted between July 2013 to June 2015 in
      Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal. Medical records of all
      consecutive patients aged less than 21 years who underwent PTMC were included.
      Mitral valve area (MVA), left atrial pressure and mitral regurgitation (MR) were
      compared pre and post procedure. RESULTS: During the study period 131 JMS
      patients underwent PTMC. Seventy (53.4%) were female and 61 (46.6%) were male.
      Among the 131 patients, 40 (30.5%) patients were below the age of 15 years.
      Patient age ranged between 9 to 20 years with the mean of 16.3+/-2.9 years.
      Electrocardiography (ECG) findings were normal sinus rhythm in 115 (87.7%)
      patients and atrial fibrillation in 16 (12.3%) patients. Left atrial size ranged
      from 2.9 to 6.1 cm with the mean of 4.5+/-0.6 cm. The mean MVA increased from
      0.8+/-0.1 cm(2) to 1.6+/-0.2 following PTMC. Mean left atrial pressure decreased
      from their pre-PTMC state of 27.5+/-8.6 to 14.1+/-5.8 mmHg. Successful results
      were observed in 115 (87.7%) patients. Suboptimal MVA <1.5 cm(2) in 11 (8.4%)
      patients and post-procedure MR of more than moderate MR in 5 (3.8%) patients was
      the reason for unsuccessful PTMC. CONCLUSIONS: PTMC in JMS is safe and effective.

PMID- 26885489
TI  - Anatomic distribution of culprit lesions in patients with non-ST-segment
      elevation myocardial infarction and normal ECG.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients presenting with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
      (NSTEMI), left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and three-vessel disease
      are the most commonly encountered culprit lesions in the presence of ST
      depression, while one third of patients with left circumflex (LCX) artery related
      infarction have normal ECG. We sought to determine the predictors of presence of
      culprit lesion in NSTEMI patients based on ECG, echocardiographic, and clinical
      characteristics. METHODS: Patients admitted to the coronary care unit with the
      diagnosis of NSTEMI between June 2012 and December 2013 were retrospectively
      identified. Admission ECG was interpreted by an electrophysiologist that was
      blinded to the result of the coronary angiogram. Patients were dichotomized into
      either normal or abnormal ECG group. The primary endpoint was presence of culprit
      lesion. Secondary endpoints included length of stay, re-hospitalization within 60
      days, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients that were
      identified; 47 with normal and 71 with abnormal ECG. At least one culprit lesion
      was identified in 101 patients (86%), and significantly more among those with
      abnormal ECG (91.5% vs. 76.6%, P=0.041).The LAD was the most frequently detected
      culprit lesion in both groups. There was a higher incidence of two and three
      vessel disease in the abnormal ECG group (P=0.041).On the other hand, there was a
      trend of higher LCX involvement (25% vs. 13.8%, P=0.18) and more normal coronary
      arteries in the normal ECG group (23.4% vs. 8.5%, P=0.041). On multivariate
      analysis, prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD) [odds ratio (OR) 6.4
      (0.8-52)], male gender [OR 5.0 (1.5-17)], and abnormal admission ECG [OR 3.6
      (1.12-12)], were independent predictors of a culprit lesion. There was no
      difference in secondary endpoints between those with normal and abnormal ECG.
      CONCLUSIONS: Among patients presenting with NSTEMI, prior history of CAD, male
      gender and abnormal admission ECG were independent predictors of a culprit
      lesion. An abnormal ECG was significantly associated with two and three-vessel
      disease, while normal ECG was more associated with LCX involvement or normal
      angiogram. Admission ECG did not impact secondary outcomes.

PMID- 26885490
TI  - HDL function and subclinical atherosclerosis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation adversely impacts the
      protective properties of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and progression of
      atherosclerosis. The impact of early chronic inflammatory conditions on HDL
      function and vascular risk has not been well investigated. METHODS: We compared
      measures of HDL particle distribution and functionality, in addition to measures
      of carotid intima-medial thickness (cIMT) in patients with juvenile idiopathic
      arthritis (JIA) and age matched controls. RESULTS: JIA patients demonstrated
      lower levels of HDL cholesterol [47.0 (40.0, 56.0) vs. 56.0 (53.0, 61.0) mg/dL,
      P=0.04], total HDL [29.5 (27.9, 32.3) vs. 32.9 (31.6, 36.3) mg/dL, P=0.05] and
      large HDL [5.1 (3.7, 7.3) vs. 8.0 (6.7, 9.7) mg/dL, P=0.04] particles. In
      association JIA patients demonstrated greater cholesterol efflux mediated via ATP
      binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) [17.3% (12.8, 19.7) vs. 10.0% (5.8, 16.0), P=0.05]
      and less efflux mediated via ATP binding cassette G-1 (ABCG1) [3.2% (2.0, 3.9)
      vs. 4.8% (3.5, 5.8), P=0.01] and SR-B1 [6.9% (6.0, 8.4) vs. 9.1% (8.6, 10.2),
      P=0.002] compared with controls. Exposure of macrophages to serum from JIA
      patients resulted in a smaller increase in mRNA expression of ABCA1 (2.0+/-0.95
      vs. 7.1+/-5.7 fold increase, P=0.01) and greater increases in expression of ABCG1
      [1.4 (0.9, 1.5) vs. 0.8 (0.7, 1.1) fold increase, P=0.04] and SR-B1 (1.3+/-0.47
      vs. 0.7+/-0.3 fold increase, P=0.001) compared with controls. Arylesterase
      (128.9+/-27.6 vs. 152.0+/-45.2 umoles/min/mL, P=0.04) activity and endothelial
      cell migration (491.2+/-68.9 vs. 634.2+/-227.4 cells/field, P=0.01) were less in
      JIA patients. No differences in cIMT were observed between JIA patients and
      controls. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of JIA was associated with alterations in HDL
      particle distribution, cholesterol efflux and non-lipid transporting activities.
      The ultimate implication of these findings for cardiovascular risk requires
      further investigation.

PMID- 26885491
TI  - Evaluation of fetal echocardiography as a routine antenatal screening tool for
      detection of congenital heart disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fetal echocardiography plays a pivotal role in identifying the
      congenital heart defects (CHDs) in utero. Though foetal echocardiography is
      mostly reserved for high risk pregnant women, its role as a routine prenatal
      screening tool still needs to be defined. Performing foetal echocardiography
      based on only these indications can lead to a significant numbers of CHD cases
      going undetected who will be deprived of further management leading to increased
      early neonatal mortalities. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of
      CHDs by fetal echocardiography in an unselected population of pregnant women in
      comparison with pregnant women with conventional high risk factors for CHD.
      METHODS: This study enrolled consecutive pregnant women who attended antenatal
      clinic between 2008 and 2012 in a tertiary care hospital. These pregnant women
      were categorized into two groups: high risk group included pregnant women with
      traditional risk factors for CHD as laid down by Pediatric Council of the
      American Society of Echocardiography and low risk group. Detailed fetal 2 D
      echocardiography was done. RESULTS: A total of 1,280 pregnant women were included
      in study. The 118 women were categorized as the high risk group while remaining
      1,162 were included in the low risk group. Twenty six cases of CHDs were detected
      based on abnormal foetal echocardiography (20.3 per 1,000). Two of the 26 cases
      of CHD occurred in high risk group whereas the remaining 24 occurred in low risk
      pregnancy. The difference in the incidence of CHDs between the two groups was not
      significant statistically (P=0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows no difference in
      incidence of CHDs between pregnancies associated with high risk factors compared
      to low risk pregnancies. So we advocate foetal echocardiography should be
      included as a part of routine antenatal screening and all pregnant women
      irrespective of risk factors for CHDs.

PMID- 26885493
TI  - Coronary heart disease in sub-Saharan Africa: still rare, misdiagnosed or
      underdiagnosed?
AB  - Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in developed
      countries, but it has generally been considered to be rare in sub-Saharan Africa
      (SSA). SSA is undergoing rapid epidemiological transition with an increasing
      prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors and consequential cardiovascular
      diseases such as stroke. However, CHD including myocardial infarction has
      generally been considered to be rare despite this deterioration in the risk
      factors profile. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about CHD both in the
      general population and healthcare professionals while making available simple,
      inexpensive screening and diagnostic tools in sub-Saharan African countries. 

PMID- 26885494
TI  - Cardiovascular diseases in Ghana within the context of globalization.
AB  - This paper discusses how globalization and its elements are influencing health
      dynamics and in particular Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Ghana. It assesses
      the growing burden of CVDs and its relationship with globalization. It further
      describes the conceptual framework on which to view the impact of globalization
      on CVDs in Ghana. It also set out the dimensions of the relationship between CVD
      risk factors and globalization. The paper concludes with a discussion on
      strategies for tackling the growing burden of CVDs in Ghana. 

PMID- 26885492
TI  - Cardiac sarcoidosis-state of the art review.
AB  - Sarcoidosis is a multi-system inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology resulting
      in formation of non-caseating granulomas. Cardiac involvement-which is associated
      with worse prognosis-has been detected in approximately 25% of individuals based
      on autopsy or cardiac imaging studies. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of cardiac
      sarcoidosis is challenging due to the low yield of endomyocardial biopsy, and the
      limited accuracy of various clinical criteria. Thus, no gold standard diagnostic
      criterion exists. This review will summarize the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
      treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis with a focus on advanced cardiovascular imaging,
      We review the evidence to support a role for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)
      imaging in the initial evaluation of selected patients with suspected cardiac
      sarcoidosis, with cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) as an alternative or
      complementary initial diagnostic test in a subgroup of patients in whom CMR may
      be contra-indicated or when CMR is negative with continued clinical concern for
      myocardial inflammation. In addition to the diagnostic value of these tests, CMR
      and PET are also useful in identifying patients who have higher risk of adverse
      events such as ventricular tachycardia or death, in whom preventive therapies
      such as defibrillators should be more strongly considered. Although no randomized
      controlled trials for treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis exist, immunosuppressive
      therapy is often used. We review emerging evidence regarding the use of cardiac
      PET to identify and quantity the amount of myocardial inflammation as well as to
      guide the use of immunotherapy. Future studies are needed to determine the
      benefit of imaging guided therapies aimed at improving patient outcomes. 

PMID- 26885495
TI  - Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for myocardial perfusion and diastolic
      function-reference control values for women.
AB  - Angina, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and coronary
      microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the absence of obstructive coronary artery
      disease (CAD) are more common in women and are associated with adverse
      cardiovascular prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is
      established for assessment of left ventricular (LV) morphology and systolic
      function and is increasingly used to assess myocardial perfusion and diastolic
      function. Indeed, stress CMRI allows measurement of myocardial perfusion reserve
      index (MPRI) using semi-quantitative techniques, and quantification of LV
      volumetric filling patterns provides valuable insight into LV diastolic function.
      The utility of these two techniques remains limited, because reference control
      values for MPRI and LV diastolic function in asymptomatic middle-aged, women have
      not previously been established. To address this limitation, we recruited twenty
      women, without clinical cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors,
      with normal maximal Bruce protocol exercise treadmill testing. Subjects underwent
      CMRI (1.5 tesla) using a standardized protocol of adenosine stress and rest
      perfusion and LV cinematic imaging. Commercially available with automated CMRI
      segmentation was used for calculation of MPRI, LV filling profiles, and ejection
      fraction. Mean age was 54+/-9 years and mean body mass index was 25+/-4 kg/m(3).
      The exercise treadmill testing results demonstrated a normotensive group with
      normal functional capacity and hemodynamic response. We report reference control
      values for semi-quantitative MPRI as well as measures of LV systolic and
      diastolic function including ejection fraction, stroke volume, peak filling rate
      (PFR), PFR adjusted for end-diastolic volume (EDV) and stroke volume, time to
      PFR, and EDV index. The data herein provide reference values for MPRI and
      diastolic function in a cohort of healthy, middle-aged of women. These reference
      values may be used for comparison with a variety of patient populations,
      including women with CMD and HFpEF. 

PMID- 26885496
TI  - Direct communication between the left circumflex and the right coronary arteries:
      a very rare coronary anomaly circulation.
AB  - Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are congenital changes in their origin, course,
      and/or structure. Intercoronary communication (ICC) is a very rare subset with
      uni- or bidirectional blood flow between two or more coronary arteries. We
      present the case of a 58-year-old man with an acute coronary syndrome whose
      coronary angiography incidentally showed a surprising and very rare communication
      between the right coronary and left circumflex arteries. 

PMID- 26885498
TI  - Chrysanthemums in full bloom.

PMID- 26885497
TI  - Prof. Brian Griffin: radiation heart disease.

PMID- 26885499
TI  - Bridging the Gap, Facing the Challenge-the 26(th) Great Wall International
      Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC).
AB  - The joint venue of the 26(th) Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW
      ICC) & Asia Pacific Heart Congress 2015 (APHC 2015) & International Congress
      Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation 2015 (ICCPR 2015) were held from
      October 29 to November 01, 2015 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC),
      Beijing, China. This year's conference focused on cardiovascular disease
      prevention, health promotion, education and training, as well as disease
      management and rehabilitation. 

PMID- 26885501
TI  - Acupuncture for Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is increasingly used to treat patients with erectile
      dysfunction (ED), and our systematic review aimed to evaluate the current
      evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating ED. METHODS: An
      electronic search was conducted in eight databases to identify randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for treating erectile dysfunction that
      were published in English and Chinese. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to
      assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: Three RCTs with a total of 183 participants met
      the inclusion criteria. One trial showed the beneficial effects of acupuncture
      compared with sham acupuncture while the others did not. One trial suggested that
      acupuncture combined with psychological therapy was superior to psychological
      therapy alone. However, the overall methodological and reporting quality of the
      studies was low. The safety of acupuncture for ED was unclear because there were
      too few reports on this topic. CONCLUSION: The available evidence supporting that
      acupuncture alone improves ED was insufficient and the available studies failed
      to show the specific therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Future well-designed and
      rigorous RCTs with a large sample size are required. This trial is registered
      with CRD42014013575.

PMID- 26885502
TI  - Experimental Heart Failure Models and Their Pathophysiological Characterization.

PMID- 26885500
TI  - Tanshinone IIA Attenuates Renal Fibrosis after Acute Kidney Injury in a Mouse
      Model through Inhibition of Fibrocytes Recruitment.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with an increased risk of developing
      advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Yet, effective interventions to prevent
      this conversion are unavailable for clinical practice. In this study, we examined
      the beneficial effects of Tanshinone IIA on renal fibrosis in a mouse model of
      folic acid induced AKI. We found that Tanshinone IIA treatment significantly
      attenuated the folic acid elicited kidney dysfunction on days 3, 14, and 28. This
      effect was concomitant with a much lessened accumulation of fibronectin and
      collagen in tubulointerstitium 28 days after folic acid injury, denoting an
      ameliorated renal fibrosis. The kidney protective and antifibrotic effect of
      Tanshinone IIA was likely attributable to an early inhibition of renal
      recruitment of fibrocytes positive for both CD45 and collagen I. Mechanistically,
      Tanshinone IIA treatment not only markedly diminished renal expression of
      chemoattractants for fibrocytes such as TGFbeta1 and MCP-1, but also
      significantly reduced circulating fibrocytes at the acute phase of kidney injury.
      These data suggested that Tanshinone IIA might be a novel therapy for preventing
      progression of CKD after AKI. 

PMID- 26885503
TI  - Organogenesis and Ultrastructural Features of In Vitro Grown Canna indica L.
AB  - An efficient protocol for micropropagation of Canna indica L., an economically
      and pharmaceutically important plant, was standardized using rhizome explants,
      excised from two-month-old aseptic seedlings. Complete plant regeneration was
      induced on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BAP plus 1.5 mg/L NAA, which
      produced the highest number of shoots (73.3 +/- 0.5%) and roots (86.7 +/- 0.4%)
      after 2 weeks. Furthermore, the optimum media for multiple shoots regeneration
      were recorded on MS enriched with 7.0 mg/L BAP (33.0 +/- 0.5%). Plantlets
      obtained were transplanted to pots after two months and acclimatized in the
      greenhouse, with 75% survival. In addition, ultrastructural studies showed that
      rhizomes of in vitro grown specimens were underdeveloped compared to the in vivo
      specimens, possibly due to the presence of wide spaces. Meanwhile, the leaves of
      in vivo specimens had more open stomata compared to in vitro specimens, yet their
      paracytic stomata structures were similar. Hence, there were no abnormalities or
      major differences between in vitro regenerants and mother plants. 

PMID- 26885504
TI  - Current Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Eosinophilic Myocarditis.
AB  - Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) represents a rare form of myocardial inflammation
      with very heterogeneous aetiology. In developed countries, the most prevalent
      causes of EM are hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, as well as hematological
      diseases leading to eosinophilia. The disease may have a variable clinical
      presentation, ranging from asymptomatic forms to life-threatening conditions.
      Most patients with EM have marked eosinophilia in peripheral blood.
      Endomyocardial biopsy needs to be performed in most cases in order to establish a
      definitive diagnosis of EM. The therapy depends on the underlying aetiology.
      Immunosuppressive therapy represents the treatment mainstay in the majority of EM
      forms. 

PMID- 26885505
TI  - The Subcellular Localization and Functional Analysis of Fibrillarin2, a Nucleolar
      Protein in Nicotiana benthamiana.
AB  - Nucleolar proteins play important roles in plant cytology, growth, and
      development. Fibrillarin2 is a nucleolar protein of Nicotiana benthamiana (N.
      benthamiana). Its cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into expression
      vector pEarley101 labeled with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The fusion
      protein was localized in the nucleolus and Cajal body of leaf epidermal cells of
      N. benthamiana. The N. benthamiana fibrillarin2 (NbFib2) protein has three
      functional domains (i.e., glycine and arginine rich domain, RNA-binding domain,
      and alpha-helical domain) and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in C-terminal.
      The protein 3D structure analysis predicted that NbFib2 is an alpha/beta protein.
      In addition, the virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach was used to
      determine the function of NbFib2. Our results showed that symptoms including
      growth retardation, organ deformation, chlorosis, and necrosis appeared in NbFib2
      silenced N. benthamiana. 

PMID- 26885507
TI  - Preparation of Microencapsulated Bacillus subtilis SL-13 Seed Coating Agents and
      Their Effects on the Growth of Cotton Seedlings.
AB  - Inoculation of the bacterial cells of microbial seed coating agents (SCAs) into
      the environment may result in limited survival and colonization. Therefore, the
      application efficacy of an encapsulated microbial seed coating agent (ESCA) was
      investigated on potted cotton plants; the agent was prepared with polyvinyl
      alcohol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, bentonite, and microencapsulated Bacillus
      subtilis SL-13. Scanning electron micrography revealed that the microcapsules
      were attached to ESCA membranes. The ESCA film was uniform, bubble-free, and easy
      to peel. The bacterial contents of seeds coated with each ESCA treatment reached
      10(6) cfu/seed. Results indicated that the germination rate of cotton seeds
      treated with ESCA4 (1.0% (w/v) sodium alginate, 4.0% polyvinyl alcohol, 1.0%
      sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.6% acacia, 0.5% bentonite, and 10% (v/v) microcapsules)
      increased by 28.74%. Other growth factors of the cotton seedlings, such as plant
      height, root length, whole plant fresh weight, and whole plant dry weight,
      increased by 52.70%, 25.13%, 46.47%, and 33.21%, respectively. Further analysis
      demonstrated that the peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities of cotton
      seedlings improved, whereas their malondialdehyde contents decreased. Therefore,
      the ESCA can efficiently improve seed germination, root length, and growth. The
      proposed ESCA exhibits great potential as an alternative to traditional SCA in
      future agricultural applications. 

PMID- 26885509
TI  - The Development and Validation of a Rapid Assessment Tool of Primary Care in
      China.
AB  - Introduction. With Chinese health care reform increasingly emphasizing the
      importance of primary care, the need for a tool to evaluate primary care
      performance and service delivery is clear. This study presents a methodology for
      a rapid assessment of primary care organizations and service delivery in China.
      Methods. The study translated and adapted the Primary Care Assessment Tool-Adult
      Edition (PCAT-AE) into a Chinese version to measure core dimensions of primary
      care, namely, first contact, continuity, comprehensiveness, and coordination. A
      cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of
      the Chinese Rapid Primary Care Assessment Tool (CR-PCAT). Eight community health
      centers in Guangdong province have been selected to participate in the survey.
      Results. A total of 1465 effective samples were included for data analysis. Eight
      items were eliminated following principal component analysis and reliability
      testing. The principal component analysis extracted five multiple-item scales
      (first contact utilization, first contact accessibility, ongoing care,
      comprehensiveness, and coordination). The tests of scaling assumptions were
      basically met. Conclusion. The standard psychometric evaluation indicates that
      the scales have achieved relatively good reliability and validity. The CR-PCAT
      provides a rapid and reliable measure of four core dimensions of primary care,
      which could be applied in various scenarios. 

PMID- 26885508
TI  - Immunohistochemical Studies on Galectin Expression in Colectomised Patients with
      Ulcerative Colitis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aetiology and pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) are
      essentially unknown. Galectins are carbohydrate-binding lectins involved in a
      large number of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Little is known
      about the role of galectins in human UC. In this immunohistochemical exploratory
      study, both epithelial and inflammatory cell galectin expression were studied in
      patients with a thoroughly documented clinical history and were correlated with
      inflammatory activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surgical whole intestinal wall colon
      specimens from UC patients (n = 22) and controls (n = 10) were studied. Clinical
      history, pharmacological treatment, and modified Mayo-score were recorded. Tissue
      inflammation was graded, and sections were stained with antibodies recognizing
      galectin-1, galectin-2, galectin-3, and galectin-4. RESULTS: Galectin-1 was
      undetectable in normal and UC colonic epithelium, while galectin-2, galectin-3,
      and galectin-4 were strongly expressed. A tendency towards diminished epithelial
      expression with increased inflammatory grade for galectin-2, galectin-3, and
      galectin-4 was also found. In the inflammatory cells, a strong expression of
      galectin-2 and a weak expression of galectin-3 were seen. No clear-cut
      correlation between epithelial galectin expression and severity of the disease
      was found. CONCLUSION: Galectin expression in patients with UC seems to be more
      dependent on disease focality and individual variation than on degree of tissue
      inflammation.

PMID- 26885510
TI  - The Role of a Primary Arthroplasty in the Treatment of Proximal Tibia Fractures
      in Orthogeriatric Patients.
AB  - The total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the gold standard for patients with an
      advanced symptomatic gonarthrosis. However, there are very few publications
      dealing with the primary TKA for patients with a proximal tibia fracture. In our
      retrospective study we evaluated 30 patients treated with a TKA for a proximal
      tibia fracture in our institution between 01/2008 and 12/2014. We collected the
      following statistical data from each patient: age, classification of the fracture
      (AO-classification), type of prosthesis used, length of the operation and
      hospitalization, and complications during the follow-up. We used the Knee Society
      Score (KSS) and the WOMAC score to evaluate the function. The Knee Society Score
      showed an average "general knee score" (KSS1) of 81.1 points and an average
      "functional knee score" (KSS2) of 74.5 points. The average WOMAC score was 78.6
      points. Immediate postoperative mobilization with the possibility of a full
      weight bearing is of crucial importance for the geriatric patients to maintain
      the mobility they had prior to the operation and reduce medical complications.
      Because of these advantages, the primary TKA seems to be a promising alternative
      to the ORIF of a proximal tibia fracture in the orthogeriatric patient. 

PMID- 26885506
TI  - New Ti-Alloys and Surface Modifications to Improve the Mechanical Properties and
      the Biological Response to Orthopedic and Dental Implants: A Review.
AB  - Titanium implants are widely used in the orthopedic and dentistry fields for many
      decades, for joint arthroplasties, spinal and maxillofacial reconstructions, and
      dental prostheses. However, despite the quite satisfactory survival rates
      failures still exist. New Ti-alloys and surface treatments have been developed,
      in an attempt to overcome those failures. This review provides information about
      new Ti-alloys that provide better mechanical properties to the implants, such as
      superelasticity, mechanical strength, and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, in
      vitro and in vivo studies, which investigate the biocompatibility and
      cytotoxicity of these new biomaterials, are introduced. In addition, data
      regarding the bioactivity of new surface treatments and surface topographies on
      Ti-implants is provided. The aim of this paper is to discuss the current trends,
      advantages, and disadvantages of new titanium-based biomaterials, fabricated to
      enhance the quality of life of many patients around the world. 

PMID- 26885512
TI  - Early Developmental Low-Dose Methylmercury Exposure Alters Learning and Memory in
      Periadolescent but Not Young Adult Rats.
AB  - Few studies have assessed the effects of developmental methylmercury (MeHg)
      exposure on learning and memory at different ages. The possibility of the
      amelioration or worsening of the effects has not been sufficiently investigated.
      This study aimed to assess whether low-dose MeHg exposure in utero and during
      suckling induces differential disturbances in learning and memory of
      periadolescent and young adult rats. Four experimental groups of pregnant Sprague
      Dawley rats were orally exposed to MeHg or vehicle from gestational day 5 to
      weaning: (1) control (vehicle), (2) 250 MUg/kg/day MeHg, (3) 500 MUg/kg/day MeHg,
      and (4) vehicle, and treated on the test day with MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg i.p.), an
      antagonist of the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor. The effects were evaluated in
      male offspring through the open field test, object recognition test, Morris water
      maze, and conditioned taste aversion. For each test and stage assessed, different
      groups of animals were used. MeHg exposure, in a dose-dependent manner, disrupted
      exploratory behaviour, recognition memory, spatial learning, and acquisition of
      aversive memories in periadolescent rats, but alterations were not observed in
      littermates tested in young adulthood. These results suggest that developmental
      low-dose exposure to MeHg induces age-dependent detrimental effects. The
      relevance of decreasing exposure to MeHg in humans remains to be determined. 

PMID- 26885511
TI  - Effectiveness of the Virtual Reality System Toyra on Upper Limb Function in
      People with Tetraplegia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a virtual reality program
      combined with conventional therapy in upper limb function in people with
      tetraplegia and to provide data about patients' satisfaction with the virtual
      reality system. Thirty-one people with subacute complete cervical tetraplegia
      participated in the study. Experimental group received 15 sessions with
      Toyra((r)) virtual reality system for 5 weeks, 30 minutes/day, 3 days/week in
      addition to conventional therapy, while control group only received conventional
      therapy. All patients were assessed at baseline, after intervention, and at three
      month follow-up with a battery of clinical, functional, and satisfaction scales.
      Control group showed significant improvements in the manual muscle test (p =
      0,043, partial eta (2) = 0,22) in the follow-up evaluation. Both groups
      demonstrated clinical, but nonsignificant, changes to their arm function in 4 of
      the 5 scales used. All patients showed a high level of satisfaction with the
      virtual reality system. This study showed that virtual reality added to
      conventional therapy produces similar results in upper limb function compared to
      only conventional therapy. Moreover, the gaming aspects incorporated in
      conventional rehabilitation appear to produce high motivation during execution of
      the assigned tasks. This trial is registered with EudraCT number 2015-002157-35. 

PMID- 26885513
TI  - Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Spine Radiosurgery: Superior Treatment
      Planning and Delivery Compared to Static Beam Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) delivers an accurate and efficient
      high radiation dose to vertebral metastases in 1-5 fractions. We aimed to compare
      volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to static beam intensity modulated
      radiotherapy (IMRT) for spine SRS. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten spine lesions of
      previously treated SRS patients were planned retrospectively using both IMRT and
      VMAT with a prescribed dose of 16 Gy to 100% of the planning target volume (PTV).
      The plans were compared for conformity, homogeneity, treatment delivery time, and
      safety (spinal cord dose). RESULTS: All evaluated parameters favored the VMAT
      plan over the IMRT plans. D min in the IMRT was significantly lower than in the
      VMAT plan (7.65 Gy/10.88 Gy, p < 0.001), the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC)
      was found to be significantly better for the VMAT plans compared to the IMRT
      plans (0.77/0.58, resp., p  value < 0.01), and an almost 50% reduction in the net
      treatment time was calculated for the VMAT compared to the IMRT plans (6.73
      min/12.96 min, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our report, VMAT provides better
      conformity, homogeneity, and safety profile. The shorter treatment time is a
      major advantage and not only provides convenience to the painful patient but also
      contributes to the precision of this high dose radiation therapy.

PMID- 26885514
TI  - An In Vitro Comparison of PMMA and Calcium Sulfate as Carriers for the Local
      Delivery of Gallium(III) Nitrate to Staphylococcal Infected Surgical Sites.
AB  - Antibiotic-loaded bone cements, including poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and
      calcium sulfate (CaSO4), are often used for treatment of orthopaedic infections
      involving Staphylococcus spp., although the effectiveness of this treatment
      modality may be limited due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and/or
      the development of biofilms within surgical sites. Gallium(III) is an iron analog
      capable of inhibiting essential iron-dependent pathways, exerting broad
      antimicrobial activity against multiple microorganisms, including Staphylococcus
      spp. Herein, we evaluated PMMA and CaSO4 as carriers for delivery of gallium(III)
      nitrate (Ga(NO3)3) to infected surgical sites by assessing the release kinetics
      subsequent to incorporation and antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and S.
      epidermidis. PMMA and to a lesser extent CaSO4 were observed to be compatible as
      carriers for Ga(NO3)3, eluting concentrations with antimicrobial activity against
      planktonic bacteria, inhibiting bacterial growth, and preventing bacterial
      colonization of beads, and effective against established bacterial biofilms of S.
      aureus and S. epidermidis. Collectively, our in vitro results indicate that PMMA
      is a more suitable carrier compared to CaSO4 for delivery of Ga(NO3)3; moreover
      they provide evidence for the potential use of Ga(NO3)3 with PMMA as a strategy
      for the prevention and/or treatment for orthopaedic infections. 

PMID- 26885515
TI  - The Superficial Stromal Scar Formation Mechanism in Keratoconus: A Study Using
      Laser Scanning In Vivo Confocal Microscopy.
AB  - To investigate the mechanism of superficial stromal scarring in advanced
      keratoconus using confocal microscopy, the keratocyte density, distribution,
      micromorphology of corneal stroma, and SNP in three groups were observed. Eight
      corneal buttons of advanced keratoconus were examined by immunohistochemistry.
      The keratocyte densities in the sub-Bowman's stroma, anterior stroma, and
      posterior stroma and the mean SNP density were significantly different among the
      three groups. In the mild-to-moderate keratoconus group, activated keratocyte
      nuclei and comparatively highly reflective ECM were seen in the sub-Bowman's
      stroma, while fibrotic structures with comparatively high reflection were visible
      in the anterior stroma in advanced keratoconus. The alternating dark and light
      bands in the anterior stroma of the mild-to-moderate keratoconus group showed
      great variability in width and direction. The wide bands were localized mostly in
      the posterior stroma that corresponded to the Vogt striae in keratoconus and
      involved the anterior stroma only in advanced keratoconus. Histopathologically,
      high immunogenicity of alpha-SMA, vimentin, and FAP was expressed in the region
      of superficial stromal scarring. In vivo confocal microscopy revealed
      microstructural changes in the keratoconic cone. The activation of superficial
      keratocytes and abnormal remodeling of ECM may both play a key role in the
      superficial stromal scar formation in advanced keratoconus. 

PMID- 26885517
TI  - Electrocardiography as the First Step for the Further Examination of Cardiac
      Involvement in Myasthenia Gravis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cardiac involvement of myasthenia gravis (MG) accompanies a poor
      prognosis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between
      ECG abnormality and cardiac involvement. METHODS: Of 178 patients diagnosed with
      MG between 2001 and 2013 at our hospital, we retrospectively analyzed consecutive
      58 patients who underwent both ECG and echocardiography and without underlying
      cardiovascular disease. ECG abnormalities were defined by computer-assigned
      Minnesota-codes. Cardiac damage was defined as either (1) ejection fraction (EF)
      <55% on echocardiography or (2) elevated E/e', the ratio of mitral velocity to
      early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus >8 on echocardiography. RESULTS:
      Thirty-three patients (56.8%) had ECG abnormality. An elevated E/e' was observed
      in patients with ECG abnormality compared to those without ECG abnormality (11.2
      +/- 3.2, 8.7 +/- 2.2, resp., p = 0.03). Among patients with ECG abnormality, 14
      of 15 patients showed cardiac damage. Among patients without ECG abnormality, 6
      of 33 patients showed cardiac damage (p = 0.003). Reduced EF was observed in five
      patients (8.6%) with ECG abnormality and none in patients without ECG
      abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: ECG may aid as the first step for the further
      examination of cardiac damage in patients with MG.

PMID- 26885516
TI  - Identification of Novel RD1 Antigens and Their Combinations for Diagnosis of
      Sputum Smear-/Culture+ TB Patients.
AB  - Rapid and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an unresolved
      problem worldwide, especially for sputum smear- (S-) cases. In this study, five
      antigen genes including Rv3871, Rv3874, Rv3875, Rv3876, and Rv3879 were cloned
      from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) RD1 and overexpressed to generate antigen
      fragments. These antigens and their combinations were investigated for PTB
      serodiagnosis. 298 serum samples were collected from active PTB patients,
      including 117 sputum smear+ (S+) and sputum culture+ (C+) cases, 101 S-/C+ cases,
      and 80 S-/C- cases. The serum IgG levels of the five antigens were measured by
      ELISA. Based on IgG levels, the sensitivity/specificity of Rv3871, Rv3874,
      Rv3875, Rv3876, and Rv3879 for PTB detection was 81.21%/74.74%, 63.09%/94.78%,
      32.21%/87.37%, 62.42%/85.26%, and 83.56%/83.16%, respectively. Furthermore, the
      optimal result for PTB diagnosis was achieved by combining antigens Rv3871,
      Rv3876, and Rv3879. In addition, the IgG levels of Rv3871, Rv3876, and Rv3879
      were found to be higher in S-/C+ PTB patients than in other PTB populations. More
      importantly, combination of the three antigens demonstrated superior diagnostic
      performance for both S-/C+ and S-/C- PTB. In conclusion, the combination of
      Rv3871, Rv3876, and Rv3879 induced higher IgG response in sputum S-/C+ PTB
      patients and represents a promising biomarker combination for diagnosing of PTB. 

PMID- 26885518
TI  - The Causes of HIV-Associated Cardiomyopathy: A Tale of Two Worlds.
AB  - Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the clinical profile of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from an acute infection with a high mortality into a
      treatable, chronic disease. As a result, the clinical sequelae of HIV infection
      are changing as patients live longer. HIV-associated cardiomyopathy (HIVAC) is a
      stage IV, HIV-defining illness and remains a significant cause of morbidity and
      mortality among HIV-infected individuals despite ART. Causes and clinical
      manifestations of HIVAC depend on the degree of host immunosuppression.
      Myocarditis from direct HIV toxicity, opportunistic infections, and nutritional
      deficiencies are implicated in causing HIVAC when HIV viral replication is
      unchecked, whereas cardiac autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and ART
      cardiotoxicity contribute to HIVAC in individuals with suppressed viral loads.
      The initiation of ART has dramatically changed the clinical manifestation of
      HIVAC in high income countries from one of severe, left ventricular systolic
      dysfunction to a pattern of subclinical cardiac dysfunction characterized by
      abnormal diastolic function and strain. In low and middle income countries,
      however, HIVAC is the most common HIV-associated cardiovascular disease. Clear
      diagnostic and treatment guidelines for HIVAC are currently lacking but should be
      prioritized given the global burden of HIVAC. 

PMID- 26885521
TI  - Neurovascular Disorders: Novel Perspectives on Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and
      Treatment.

PMID- 26885519
TI  - Deconstructing Complex Multimorbidity in the Very Old: Findings from the
      Newcastle 85+ Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent and complexity of the morbidity burden in 85
      year-olds; identify patterns within multimorbidity; and explore associations with
      medication and healthcare use. Participants. 710 men and women; mean (SD) age
      85.5 (0.4) years. METHODS: Data on 20 chronic conditions (diseases and geriatric
      conditions) ascertained from general practice records and participant assessment.
      Cluster analysis within the multimorbid sample identified subgroups sharing
      morbidity profiles. Clusters were compared on medication and healthcare use.
      RESULTS: 92.7% (658/710) of participants had multimorbidity; median number of
      conditions: 4 (IQR 3-6). Cluster analysis (multimorbid sample) identified five
      subgroups sharing similar morbidity profiles; 60.0% (395/658) of participants
      belonged to one of two high morbidity clusters, with only 4.9% (32/658) in the
      healthiest cluster. Healthcare use was high, with polypharmacy (>=5 medications)
      in 69.8% (459/658). Between-cluster differences were found in medication count (p
      = 0.0001); hospital admissions (p = 0.022); and general practitioner (p = 0.034)
      and practice nurse consultations (p = 0.011). Morbidity load was related to
      medication burden and use of some, but not all, healthcare services. CONCLUSIONS:
      The majority of 85-year-olds had extensive and complex morbidity. Elaborating
      participant clusters sharing similar morbidity profiles will help inform future
      healthcare provision and the identification of common underlying biological
      mechanisms.

PMID- 26885520
TI  - Automatic Classification of Specific Melanocytic Lesions Using Artificial
      Intelligence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Given its propensity to metastasize, and lack of effective therapies
      for most patients with advanced disease, early detection of melanoma is a
      clinical imperative. Different computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems have been
      proposed to increase the specificity and sensitivity of melanoma detection.
      Although such computer programs are developed for different diagnostic
      algorithms, to the best of our knowledge, a system to classify different
      melanocytic lesions has not been proposed yet. METHOD: In this research we
      present a new approach to the classification of melanocytic lesions. This work is
      focused not only on categorization of skin lesions as benign or malignant but
      also on specifying the exact type of a skin lesion including melanoma, Clark
      nevus, Spitz/Reed nevus, and blue nevus. The proposed automatic algorithm
      contains the following steps: image enhancement, lesion segmentation, feature
      extraction, and selection as well as classification. RESULTS: The algorithm has
      been tested on 300 dermoscopic images and achieved accuracy of 92% indicating
      that the proposed approach classified most of the melanocytic lesions correctly.
      CONCLUSIONS: A proposed system can not only help to precisely diagnose the type
      of the skin mole but also decrease the amount of biopsies and reduce the
      morbidity related to skin lesion excision.

PMID- 26885522
TI  - Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Mycobacterial Diseases in the Barletta
      Andria-Trani Province, Italy (2005-2013).
AB  - Tuberculosis remains one of the major worldwide problems regarding public health.
      This study evaluates the burden of this disease in the BAT Province of the Apulia
      region (Italy); 12,295 patients were studied, including 310 immigrants.
      Tubercular disease and mycobacteriosis were found in 129 patients. The number of
      new TB cases/year ranged from three in 2005 to 12 in 2009. TB was more frequently
      localized in the lung (70.5%). 14.4% of cases were institutionalized patients for
      severe neurological and/or psychiatric disease. The database evidenced certain
      aspects of our study population: the large number of TB patients
      institutionalized between natives, but no larger presence of TB among HIV
      positive patients in immigrants compared to Italians. Our findings should help to
      redefine the alarm regarding the spread of an epidemical form of TB but also to
      present certain criticisms regarding patient management (especially immigrants)
      regarding costs, hospitalization, and difficulty of reinstating the patient in
      the community. Further our data underscore the importance of prevalence of TB in
      bedridden, institutionalized patients. 

PMID- 26885523
TI  - Seawater Immersion Aggravates Burn Injury Causing Severe Blood Coagulation
      Dysfunction.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the endothelial function in a canine model of
      burn injury combined with seawater immersion. The model of burn injury was
      established. The dogs were randomly divided into four groups including dogs with
      burn injury (B group), or burn injury combined with seawater immersion (BI
      group), or only immersion in seawater (I group), or control animals with no
      injury or immersion (C group). The circulating endothelial cell (CEC) count and
      coagulation-fibrinolysis parameters were measured. The CEC count in B group
      increased at 4 h, 7 h, and 10 h after injury and then reduced, whereas it
      continuously increased to a greater extent in BI group (P < 0.05). The von
      Willebrand factor (vWF) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and
      the ratio of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) to 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-K-PGF1alpha
      ) in BI group had a marked increase after injury, and the tissue-type plasminogen
      activator (tPA) in the BI group decreased. Microscope observations revealed
      thrombus formation in lungs of the animals in BI group, but not in C, I, or B
      groups. Burn injury causes endothelial dysfunction, and seawater immersion
      lastingly aggravates this injury, leading to a higher risk of developing
      thrombosis. 

PMID- 26885524
TI  - Characterization of Enhancing MS Lesions by Dynamic Texture Parameter Analysis of
      Dynamic Susceptibility Perfusion Imaging.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate statistical differences
      with MR perfusion imaging features that reflect the dynamics of Gadolinium-uptake
      in MS lesions using dynamic texture parameter analysis (DTPA). METHODS: We
      investigated 51 MS lesions (25 enhancing, 26 nonenhancing lesions) of 12
      patients. Enhancing lesions (n = 25) were prestratified into enhancing lesions
      with increased permeability (EL+; n = 11) and enhancing lesions with subtle
      permeability (EL-; n = 14). Histogram-based feature maps were computed from the
      raw DSC-image time series and the corresponding texture parameters were analyzed
      during the inflow, outflow, and reperfusion time intervals. RESULTS: Significant
      differences (p < 0.05) were found between EL+ and EL- and between EL+ and
      nonenhancing inactive lesions (NEL). Main effects between EL+ versus EL- and EL+
      versus NEL were observed during reperfusion (mainly in mean and standard
      deviation (SD): EL+ versus EL- and EL+ versus NEL), while EL- and NEL differed
      only in their SD during outflow. CONCLUSION: DTPA allows grading enhancing MS
      lesions according to their perfusion characteristics. Texture parameters of EL-
      were similar to NEL, while EL+ differed significantly from EL- and NEL. Dynamic
      texture analysis may thus be further investigated as noninvasive endogenous
      marker of lesion formation and restoration.

PMID- 26885525
TI  - Biomechanical Comparison of Pedicle Screw Augmented with Different Volumes of
      Polymethylmethacrylate in Osteoporotic and Severely Osteoporotic Synthetic Bone
      Blocks in Primary Implantation: An Experimental Study.
AB  - This study was designed to compare screw stabilities augmented with different
      volumes of PMMA and analyze relationship between screw stability and volume of
      PMMA and optimum volume of PMMA in different bone condition. Osteoporotic and
      severely osteoporotic synthetic bone blocks were divided into groups A0-A5 and B0
      B5, respectively. Different volumes of PMMA were injected in groups A0 to A5 and
      B0 to B5. Axial pullout tests were performed and F max was measured. F max in
      groups A1-A5 were all significantly higher than group A0. Except between groups
      A1 and A2, A3 and A4, and A4 and A5, there were significant differences on F max
      between any other two groups. F max in groups B1-B5 were all significantly higher
      than group B0. Except between groups B1 and B2, B2 and B3, and B4 and B5, there
      were significant differences on F max between any other two groups. There was
      significantly positive correlation between F max and volume of PMMA in
      osteoporotic and severely osteoporotic blocks. PMMA can significantly enhance
      pedicle screw stability in osteoporosis and severe osteoporosis. There were
      positive correlations between screw stability and volume of PMMA. In this study,
      injection of 3 mL and 4 mL PMMA was preferred in osteoporotic and severely
      osteoporotic blocks, respectively. 

PMID- 26885526
TI  - High Intensity Resistance Training Methods with and without Protein
      Supplementation to Fight Cardiometabolic Risk in Middle-Aged Males: A Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - Time-effective protocols may potentially increase people's compliance with
      exercise. The purpose of this paper was to compare the relative effects of 16
      weeks of high intensity (resistance) training (HIT) with and without protein
      supplementation (HIT&P) and HVHIT (high volume/high intensity training) versus a
      nontraining control group on cardiometabolic risk factors. One hundred and twenty
      untrained males 30-50 years old were randomly assigned to 3 subgroups: (a) a HIT
      group; (b) a HIT&P group, and (c) a waiting-control group (phase I) that crossed
      over to (d) high volume/high intensity training (HVHIT) during the second study
      phase. HIT was defined as "single set to failure protocol" while HVHIT
      consistently applied two sets. Protein supplementation provided an overall intake
      of 1.5 g/kg/body mass. Primary study endpoint was the metabolic syndrome Z-Score
      (MetS-Z-Score). MetS-Z-Score significantly improved in all exercise groups (p <=
      0.001) with no significant difference between HIT, HIT&P, and HVHIT (p >= 0.829).
      However, all the exercise groups differed significantly from the CG (p < 0.001)
      which deteriorated significantly (p = 0.039). In conclusion, all exercise
      protocols were similarly effective in improving cardiometabolic risk factors.
      Thus, HIT may be the best choice for people with low time budgets looking to
      improve their cardiometabolic health. 

PMID- 26885527
TI  - Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of
      Economic Evaluation Studies.
AB  - Objective. To summarize key findings of economic evaluations of lifestyle
      interventions for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in high-risk
      subjects. Methods. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed original
      studies published since January 2009 in English, French, and Spanish. Eligible
      studies were identified through relevant databases including PubMed, Medline,
      National Health Services Economic Evaluation, CINHAL, EconLit, Web of sciences,
      EMBASE, and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. Studies
      targeting obesity were also included. Data were extracted using a standardized
      method. The BMJ checklist was used to assess study quality. The heterogeneity of
      lifestyle interventions precluded a meta-analysis. Results. Overall, 20 studies
      were retained, including six focusing on obesity control. Seven were conducted
      within trials and 13 using modeling techniques. T2D prevention by physical
      activity or diet or both proved cost-effective according to accepted thresholds,
      except for five inconclusive studies, three on diabetes prevention and two on
      obesity control. Most studies exhibited limitations in reporting results,
      primarily with regard to generalizability and justification of selected
      sensitivity parameters. Conclusion. This confirms that lifestyle interventions
      for the primary prevention of diabetes are cost-effective. Such interventions
      should be further promoted as sound investment in the fight against diabetes. 

PMID- 26885528
TI  - Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Gabapentin Plus B Complex (B1/B12)
      versus Pregabalin for Treating Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a prevalent and impairing
      disorder. The objective of this study was to show the efficacy and safety of
      gabapentin (GBP) plus complex B vitamins: thiamine (B1) and cyanocobalamine (B12)
      compared to pregabalin in patients with moderate to severe intensity PDN. METHOD:
      Multicenter, randomized, blind study. Two hundred and seventy patients were
      evaluated, 147 with GBP/B1/B12 and 123 with PGB, with a 7/10 pain intensity on
      the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Five visits (12 weeks) were scheduled. The GBP/B1
      (100 mg)/B12 (20 mg) group started with 300 mg at visit 1 to 3600 mg at visit 5.
      The PGB group started with 75 mg/d at visit 1 to 600 mg/d at visit 5. Different
      safety and efficacy scales were applied, as well as adverse event assessment.
      RESULTS: Both drugs showed reduction of pain intensity, without significant
      statistical difference (P = 0.900). In the GBP/B1/B12 group, an improvement of at
      least 30% on VAS correlated to a 900 mg/d dose, compared with PGB 300 mg/d.
      Likewise, occurrence of vertigo was lower in the GBP/B1-B12 group, with a
      significant statistical difference, P = 0.014. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that
      GPB/B1-B12 combination is as effective as PGB. Nonetheless, pain intensity
      reduction is achieved with 50% of the minimum required gabapentin dose alone (800
      to 1600 mg/d) in classic NDD trials. Less vertigo and dizziness occurrence was
      also observed in the GBP/B1/B12 group. This trial is registered with
      ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01364298.

PMID- 26885532
TI  - New Horizons in Diabetology.

PMID- 26885529
TI  - Treatment with Tacrolimus and Sirolimus Reveals No Additional Adverse Effects on
      Human Islets In Vitro Compared to Each Drug Alone but They Are Reduced by Adding
      Glucocorticoids.
AB  - Tacrolimus and sirolimus are important immunosuppressive drugs used in human
      islet transplantation; however, they are linked to detrimental effects on islets
      and reduction of long-term graft function. Few studies investigate the direct
      effects of these drugs combined in parallel with single drug exposure. Human
      islets were treated with or without tacrolimus (30 MUg/L), sirolimus (30 MUg/L),
      or a combination thereof for 24 hrs. Islet function as well as apoptosis was
      assessed by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and Cell Death ELISA.
      Proinflammatory cytokines were analysed by qRT-PCR and Bio-Plex. Islets exposed
      to the combination of sirolimus and tacrolimus were treated with or without
      methylprednisolone (1000 MUg/L) and the expression of the proinflammatory
      cytokines was investigated. We found the following: (i) No additive reduction in
      function and viability in islets existed when tacrolimus and sirolimus were
      combined compared to the single drug. (ii) Increased expression of
      proinflammatory cytokines mRNA and protein levels in islets took place. (iii)
      Methylprednisolone significantly decreased the proinflammatory response in islets
      induced by the drug combination. Although human islets are prone to direct toxic
      effect of tacrolimus and sirolimus, we found no additive effects of the drug
      combination. Short-term exposure of glucocorticoids could effectively reduce the
      proinflammatory response in human islets induced by the combination of tacrolimus
      and sirolimus.

PMID- 26885530
TI  - Vitamin D Deficiency Is Not Associated with Diabetic Retinopathy or Maculopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical studies suggest a possible association
      between vitamin D deficiency and both diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy.
      METHODS: We have performed a cross-sectional study in adults with types 1 and 2
      diabetes mellitus. The relationship between the presence and severity of diabetic
      retinopathy and maculopathy with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was
      evaluated using logistic regression analyses in the presence of demographic and
      clinical covariates. RESULTS: 657 adults with diabetes were stratified based on
      retinopathy grading: No Diabetic Retinopathy (39%), Background Diabetic
      Retinopathy (37%), Preproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (21%), and Proliferative
      Diabetic Retinopathy (3%), respectively. There were no differences in serum 25
      hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (25(OH)D) between the groups (15.3 +/- 9.0 versus
      16.4 +/- 10.5 versus 15.9 +/- 10.4 versus 15.7 +/- 8.5 ng/mL, P = NS). Logistic
      regression analysis demonstrated no statistically significant relationship
      between the severity of retinopathy and serum 25(OH)D. Furthermore, there was no
      difference in serum 25(OH)D between those with (n = 94, 14%) and those without (n
      = 563, 86%) Diabetic Maculopathy (16.2 +/- 10.0 versus 15.8 +/- 9.8, P = NS) and
      no relationship was demonstrated by logistic regression analyses between the two
      variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study has found no association between serum 25(OH)D
      and the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy.

PMID- 26885531
TI  - High Intensity Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Deficits of Cardiovascular
      Autonomic Function in a Rat Model of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus with Moderate
      Hyperglycemia.
AB  - Indices of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in experimental models of
      Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are often contrary to clinical data. Here, we
      investigated whether a relatable insulin-treated model of T1DM would induce
      deficits in cardiovascular (CV) autonomic function more reflective of clinical
      results and if exercise training could prevent those deficits. Sixty-four rats
      were divided into four groups: sedentary control (C), sedentary T1DM (D), control
      exercise (CX), or T1DM exercise (DX). Diabetes was induced via multiple low-dose
      injections of streptozotocin and blood glucose was maintained at moderate
      hyperglycemia (9-17 mM) through insulin supplementation. Exercise training
      consisted of daily treadmill running for 10 weeks. Compared to C, D had blunted
      baroreflex sensitivity, increased vascular sympathetic tone, increased serum
      neuropeptide Y (NPY), and decreased intrinsic heart rate. In contrast, DX
      differed from D in all measures of CAN (except NPY), including heart rate
      variability. These findings demonstrate that this T1DM model elicits deficits and
      exercise-mediated improvements to CV autonomic function which are reflective of
      clinical T1DM.

PMID- 26885533
TI  - Gq-Coupled Receptors in Autoimmunity.
AB  - Heterotrimeric G proteins can be divided into Gi, Gs, Gq/11, and G12/13
      subfamilies according to their alpha subunits. The main function of G proteins is
      transducing signals from G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), a family of seven
      transmembrane receptors. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that GPCRs
      interact with Gq, a member of the Gq/11 subfamily of G proteins. This interaction
      facilitates the vital role of this family of proteins in immune regulation and
      autoimmunity, particularly for Galphaq, which is considered the functional alpha
      subunit of Gq protein. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms through which Gq
      coupled receptors control autoreactive lymphocytes is critical and may provide
      insights into the treatment of autoimmune disorders. In this review, we summarize
      recent advances in studies of the role of Gq-coupled receptors in autoimmunity,
      with a focus on their pathologic role and downstream signaling. 

PMID- 26885536
TI  - Livedoid Dermatitis Treated With Nifedipine.
AB  - Intravenous injection of buprenorphine as a cause of livedoid dermatitis is a
      recently described phenomenon. This report reviews the brief literature of this
      finding, and presents a case of livedoid dermatitis of both heels following
      injection more than one day prior, and thesuccessful treatment with nifedipine
      monotherapy. 

PMID- 26885534
TI  - Monocyte Activation in Immunopathology: Cellular Test for Development of
      Diagnostics and Therapy.
AB  - Several highly prevalent human diseases are associated with immunopathology.
      Alterations in the immune system are found in such life-threatening disorders as
      cancer and atherosclerosis. Monocyte activation followed by macrophage
      polarization is an important step in normal immune response to pathogens and
      other relevant stimuli. Depending on the nature of the activation signal,
      macrophages can acquire pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes that are
      characterized by the expression of distinct patterns of secreted cytokines and
      surface antigens. This process is disturbed in immunopathologies resulting in
      abnormal monocyte activation and/or bias of macrophage polarization towards one
      or the other phenotype. Such alterations could be used as important diagnostic
      markers and also as possible targets for the development of immunomodulating
      therapy. Recently developed cellular tests are designed to analyze the phenotype
      and activity of living cells circulating in patient's bloodstream.
      Monocyte/macrophage activation test is a successful example of cellular test
      relevant for atherosclerosis and oncopathology. This test demonstrated changes in
      macrophage activation in subclinical atherosclerosis and breast cancer and could
      also be used for screening a panel of natural agents with immunomodulatory
      activity. Further development of cellular tests will allow broadening the scope
      of their clinical implication. Such tests may become useful tools for drug
      research and therapy optimization. 

PMID- 26885537
TI  - Reasons to Investigate the Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Product
      (sRAGE) Pathway in Aortic Disease.
AB  - Aortic disease has a high rate of morbidity and mortality, and there are no
      documented screening methods to date. Yet biochemical research does show a
      significant link between soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products
      (sRAGE) protein and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it can be hypothesized
      that sRAGE plasma levels may help differentiate patients with aortic disease from
      the general population, which this paper will review and present. 

PMID- 26885535
TI  - Annexin A1 and the Resolution of Inflammation: Modulation of Neutrophil
      Recruitment, Apoptosis, and Clearance.
AB  - Neutrophils (also named polymorphonuclear leukocytes or PMN) are essential
      components of the immune system, rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation,
      providing the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Since neutrophils
      can also cause tissue damage, their fine-tuned regulation at the inflammatory
      site is required for proper resolution of inflammation. Annexin A1 (AnxA1), also
      known as lipocortin-1, is an endogenous glucocorticoid-regulated protein, which
      is able to counterregulate the inflammatory events restoring homeostasis. AnxA1
      and its mimetic peptides inhibit neutrophil tissue accumulation by reducing
      leukocyte infiltration and activating neutrophil apoptosis. AnxA1 also promotes
      monocyte recruitment and clearance of apoptotic leukocytes by macrophages. More
      recently, some evidence has suggested the ability of AnxA1 to induce macrophage
      reprogramming toward a resolving phenotype, resulting in reduced production of
      proinflammatory cytokines and increased release of immunosuppressive and
      proresolving molecules. The combination of these mechanisms results in an
      effective resolution of inflammation, pointing to AnxA1 as a promising tool for
      the development of new therapeutic strategies to treat inflammatory diseases. 

PMID- 26885538
TI  - Oral Polio Vaccination and Hospital Admissions With Non-Polio Infections in
      Denmark: Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.
AB  - Background.  Live vaccines may have nonspecific beneficial effects on morbidity
      and mortality. This study examines whether children who had the live-attenuated
      oral polio vaccine (OPV) as the most recent vaccine had a different rate of
      admissions for infectious diseases than children with inactivated diphtheria
      tetanus-pertussis-polio-Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib) or
      live measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) as their most recent vaccine. Methods. 
      A nationwide, register-based, retrospective cohort study of 137 403 Danish
      children born 1997-1999, who had received 3 doses of DTaP-IPV-Hib, were observed
      from 24 months (first OPV dose) to 36 months of age. Results.  Oral polio vaccine
      was associated with a lower rate of admissions with any type of non-polio
      infection compared with DTaP-IPV-Hib as most recent vaccine (adjusted incidence
      rate ratio [IRR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], .77-.95). The association
      was separately significant for admissions with lower respiratory infections
      (adjusted IRR, 0.73; 95% CI, .61-.87). The admission rates did not differ for OPV
      versus MMR. Conclusions.  Like MMR, OPV was associated with fewer admissions for
      lower respiratory infections than having DTaP-IPV-Hib as the most recent
      vaccination. Because OPV is now being phased-out globally, further studies of the
      potential beneficial nonspecific effects of OPV are warranted. 

PMID- 26885539
TI  - A Cumulative Spore Killing Approach: Synergistic Sporicidal Activity of Dilute
      Peracetic Acid and Ethanol at Low pH Against Clostridium difficile and Bacillus
      subtilis Spores.
AB  - Background.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the primary method of hand hygiene
      in healthcare settings, but they lack activity against bacterial spores produced
      by pathogens such as Clostridium difficile and Bacillus anthracis. We previously
      demonstrated that acidification of ethanol induced rapid sporicidal activity,
      resulting in ethanol formulations with pH 1.5-2 that were as effective as soap
      and water washing in reducing levels of C difficile spores on hands. We
      hypothesized that the addition of dilute peracetic acid (PAA) to acidified
      ethanol would enhance sporicidal activity while allowing elevation of the pH to a
      level likely to be well tolerated on skin (ie, >3). Methods.  We tested the
      efficacy of acidified ethanol solutions alone or in combination with PAA against
      C difficile and Bacillus subtilis spores in vitro and against nontoxigenic C
      difficile spores on hands of volunteers. Results.  Acidification of ethanol
      induced rapid sporicidal activity against C difficile and to a lesser extent B
      subtilis. The addition of dilute PAA to acidified ethanol resulted in synergistic
      enhancement of sporicidal activity in a dose-dependent fashion in vitro. On
      hands, the addition of 1200-2000 ppm PAA enhanced the effectiveness of acidified
      ethanol formulations, resulting in formulations with pH >3 that were as effective
      as soap and water washing. Conclusions.  Acidification and the addition of dilute
      PAA induced rapid sporicidal activity in ethanol. Our findings suggest that it
      may be feasible to develop effective sporicidal ethanol formulations that are
      safe and tolerable on skin. 

PMID- 26885540
TI  - Viral Escape in the Central Nervous System with Multidrug-Resistant Human
      Immunodeficiency Virus-1.
AB  - In this study, we report the case of a patient infected with human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 who developed ataxia and neurocognitive impairment
      due to viral escape within the central nervous system (CNS) with a multidrug
      resistant HIV-1 despite long-term viral suppression in plasma. Antiretroviral
      therapy optimization with drugs with high CNS penetration led to viral
      suppression in the CSF, regression of ataxia, and improvement of neurocognitive
      symptoms. 

PMID- 26885541
TI  - Management of Multiple Myeloma Complicated by Hepatitis C Virus Reactivation: The
      Role of New Antiviral Therapy.
AB  - Reactivation of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported in
      cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In this study, we report the first case,
      to our knowledge, of thalidomide-induced acute exacerbation and reactivation of
      chronic HCV infection complicating management of multiple myeloma. Sofosbuvir
      based antiviral therapy helped achieve viral clearance and normalization of liver
      enzymes, thus allowing access to future potentially life-saving chemotherapy
      agents. 

PMID- 26885542
TI  - Molecular and Culture-Based Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Testing for the
      Diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus Pneumonitis.
AB  - Background.  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in
      immunocompromised patients, with CMV pneumonitis among the most severe
      manifestations of infection. Although bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples are
      frequently tested for CMV, the clinical utility of such testing remains
      uncertain. Methods.  Retrospective analysis of adult patients undergoing BAL
      testing via CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR), shell vial culture, and
      conventional viral culture between August 2008 and May 2011 was performed.
      Cytomegalovirus diagnostic methods were compared with a comprehensive definition
      of CMV pneumonitis that takes into account signs and symptoms, underlying host
      immunodeficiency, radiographic findings, and laboratory results. Results.  Seven
      hundred five patients underwent 1077 bronchoscopy episodes with 1090 BAL
      specimens sent for CMV testing. Cytomegalovirus-positive patients were more
      likely to be hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (26% vs 8%, P < .0001) and
      less likely to have an underlying condition not typically associated with lung
      disease (3% vs 20%, P < .0001). Histopathology was performed in only 17.3% of CMV
      positive bronchoscopy episodes. When CMV diagnostic methods were evaluated
      against the comprehensive definition, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR,
      shell vial culture, and conventional culture were 91.3% and 94.6%, 54.4% and
      97.4%, and 28.3% and 96.5%, respectively. Compared with culture, PCR provided
      significantly higher sensitivity and negative predictive value (P <= .001),
      without significantly lower positive predictive value. Cytomegalovirus
      quantitation did not improve test performance, resulting in a receiver operating
      characteristic curve with an area under the curve of 0.53. Conclusions. 
      Cytomegalovirus PCR combined with a comprehensive clinical definition provides a
      pragmatic approach for the diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis. 

PMID- 26885543
TI  - Risk Factors and Outcomes for Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
      Isolation, Stratified by Its Multilocus Sequence Typing: ST258 Versus Non-ST258.
AB  - A "high risk" clone of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP)
      identified by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as sequence type (ST) 258 has
      disseminated worldwide. As the molecular epidemiology of the CRE pandemic
      continues to evolve, the clinical impact of non-ST258 strains is less well
      defined. We conducted an epidemiological investigation of CRKP based on strains
      MLST. Among 68 CRKP patients, 61 were ST258 and 7 belonged to non-ST258.
      Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 strains were significantly associated with bla KPC
      production and with resistance to an increased number of antimicrobials. Clinical
      outcomes were not different. Based on this analysis, one cannot rely solely on
      the presence of bla KPC in order to diagnose CRKP. 

PMID- 26885545
TI  - Respiratory Viral Testing and Influenza Antiviral Prescriptions During
      Hospitalization for Acute Respiratory Illnesses.
AB  - We examined respiratory viral testing and influenza antiviral prescriptions at a
      US tertiary care hospital. During the 2010-11 to 2012-13 influenza seasons,
      antiviral prescriptions among acute respiratory illness (ARI) hospitalizations
      were associated with viral testing (rate ratio = 15.0), and empiric prescriptions
      were rare (<1% of ARI hospitalizations). 

PMID- 26885544
TI  - Hepatitis C Screening in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Lessons
      Learned From Syphilis Screening.
AB  - Background.  The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasing in
      human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). New
      guidelines recommend annual screening for HCV, similar to recommendations for
      syphilis screening with rapid plasma reagin (RPR). Methods.  This study compares
      the frequency of repeat HCV antibody (Ab) testing to repeat RPR testing in a
      retrospective chart review of 359 HCVAb-negative people living with HIV (PLWH)
      observed in an Infectious Diseases clinic. Patients were classified into risk
      groups based on sexual risk factors. Results.  Although 85% of PLWH had repeat
      syphilis screening, less than two thirds had repeat HCVAb screening. The MSM
      status was associated with increased HCVAb and RPR testing (adjusted odds ratio,
      2.6 and 5.9, respectively). Seven persons had incident HCV infection: 3 were MSM,
      and 4 had symptoms or abnormal laboratory results to prompt testing. Conclusions.
      Failure to find incident HCV infection in PLWH represents missed opportunities
      to cure HCV infection and prevent progressive liver disease. Further quality
      improvement studies are necessary to develop physician-focused interventions to
      increase HCV screening rates in PLWH. 

PMID- 26885546
TI  - Senior Center-Based Hepatitis C Screening in Baltimore.
AB  - Despite significant advancements in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments, the
      majority of individuals infected with HCV remain undiagnosed. We report on senior
      citizen center-based HCV testing in Baltimore, which revealed a 9.4% prevalence
      of infection. Our data suggest that community-based HCV testing and linkage to
      care in appropriate settings is feasible and high yield. 

PMID- 26885547
TI  - Completion Rate and Side-Effect Profile of Three-Month Isoniazid and Rifapentine
      Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in an Urban County Jail.
AB  - In an urban jail population, 3 months of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) was
      associated with an 85% latent tuberculosis infection treatment completion rate
      compared with 18% in a standard 9-month isoniazid treatment group. Among the 91
      patients who started 3HP therapy, there were 2 treatment discontinuations from
      adverse drug reactions. 

PMID- 26885548
TI  - On the Exploration of Adaptive Mechanisms Providing Reliability in Clustered WSNs
      for Power Plant Monitoring.
AB  - Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are used in almost every sensing and detection
      environment instead of wired devices in the current world, all the more in power
      plant monitoring applications. In such a kind of environment, providing
      reliability is a challenging task, since WSN makes use of low powered sensors.
      There are many existing works that provide reliable transmission in WSN
      (predominantly via multipath routing). However, most of the existing works take
      additional delay, excessive packet loss, and energy consumption, and hence they
      provide less packet delivery and throughput. Adaptive Priority Routing (APR) is
      first proposed during the initial design to provide efficiency in next hop
      selection. APR computes the priority value for selecting the intermediate nodes
      during the data transmission in order to improve the packet delivery, throughput,
      and energy efficiency. In addition to this, APR is developed into QAPR protocol
      to provide reliability which can operate in two modes, D representing distance
      mode and Q representing quality of service (QoS) mode. The proposed work is
      simulated in both flat topology and hierarchical topologies and the simulation
      analysis shows that the reliability is increased significantly in comparison with
      existing works. 

PMID- 26885550
TI  - Object lessons:   The matula.

PMID- 26885551
TI  - The art of medicine:   Social medicine: lessons from Cuba.

PMID- 26885552
TI  - Enter Mepolizumab, Better Late Than Never.

PMID- 26885553
TI  - Minutes count. Designs that improve ED performance.

PMID- 26885554
TI  - Expressing kindness and compassion.

PMID- 26885555
TI  - Palliative care--a key objective in health.

PMID- 26885556
TI  - Caring for drug-affected patients in EDs.

PMID- 26885557
TI  - Aged care: Equal pay meetings underway.

PMID- 26885558
TI  - Ultrastrong, Chemically Resistant Reduced Graphene Oxide-based Multilayer Thin
      Films with Damage Detection Capability.
AB  - Multilayer thin films of graphene oxide (GO) and poly(vinylamine) (PVAm) were
      deposited via layer-by-layer assembly. Poly(vinylamine) pH was used to tailor
      film thickness and GO layer spacing. Graphene oxide concentration in the films
      was controlled through simple pH adjustment. Thermal reduction of the PVAm/GO
      multilayer thin films rendered them electrically conductive, which could be
      further tailored with PVAm pH. These reduced films also exhibited exceptionally
      high elastic modulus of 30 GPa and hardness of 1.8 GPa, which are among the
      highest of any graphene-filled polymer composite values ever reported. Cross
      linking of these films with glutaraldehyde improved their chemical resistance,
      allowing them to survive strongly acidic or salty solutions. Additionally,
      scratches in the films can be instantaneously detected by a simple electrical
      resistance measurement. These films are promising for a variety of packaging and
      electronic applications. 

PMID- 26885559
TI  - Glabellar dermoid cyst: A case presentation.
AB  - Dermoid cysts are one of the most common non-inflammatory space-occupying orbital
      lesions in the pediatric population. They are ectodermal cysts which may contain
      squamous epithelium with dermal contents such as skin, hair follicles, sebaceous
      glands, or sweat glands. Dermoid cyts are often innocent, however complications
      such as inflammation of the fistula or preseptal cellulitis are occasionally
      seen. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl with a glabellar dermoid cyst and
      describe the appropriate investigations and definitive treatment.

PMID- 26885561
TI  - Potential Interference of Protein-Protein Interactions by Graphyne.
AB  - Graphyne has attracted tremendous attention recently due to its many potentially
      superior properties relative to those of graphene. Although extensive efforts
      have been devoted to explore the applicability of graphyne as an alternative
      nanomaterial for state-of-the-art nanotechnology (including biomedical
      applications), knowledge regarding its possible adverse effects to biological
      cells is still lacking. Here, using large-scale all-atom molecular dynamics
      simulations, we investigate the potential toxicity of graphyne by interfering a
      protein-protein interaction (ppI). We found that graphyne could indeed disrupt
      the ppIs by cutting through the protein-protein interface and separating the
      protein complex into noncontacting ones, due to graphyne's dispersive and
      hydrophobic interaction with the hydrophobic residues residing at the dimer
      interface. Our results help to elucidate the mechanism of interaction between
      graphyne and ppI networks within a biological cell and provide insights for its
      hazard reduction. 

PMID- 26885560
TI  - Vestibular Dysfunction after Subconcussive Head Impact.
AB  - Current thinking views mild head impact (i.e., subconcussion) as an
      underrecognized phenomenon that has the ability to cause significant current and
      future detrimental neurological effects. Repeated mild impacts to the head,
      however, often display no observable behavioral deficits based on standard
      clinical tests, which may lack sensitivity. The current study investigates the
      effects of subconcussive impacts from soccer heading with innovative measures of
      vestibular function and walking stability in a pre- 0-2 h, post- 24 h post
      heading repeated measures design. The heading group (n = 10) executed 10 headers
      with soccer balls projected at a velocity of 25 mph (11.2 m/sec) over 10 min.
      Subjects were evaluated 24 h before, immediately after, and 24 h after soccer
      heading with: the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS); a walking
      stability task with visual feedback of trunk movement; and galvanic vestibular
      stimulation (GVS) while standing with eyes closed on foam. A control group (n =
      10) followed the same protocol with no heading. The results showed significant
      decrease in trunk angle, leg angle gain, and center of mass gain relative to GVS
      for the heading group compared with controls. Medial-lateral trunk orientation
      displacement and velocity during treadmill walking increased immediately after
      mild head impact for the heading group compared with controls. Controls showed an
      improvement in mBESS scores over time, indicating a learning effect, which was
      not observed with the heading group. These results suggest that mild head impact
      leads to a transient dysfunction in vestibular processing, which deters walking
      stability during task performance.

PMID- 26885562
TI  - Slow-Injection Growth of Seeded CdSe/CdS Nanorods with Unity Fluorescence Quantum
      Yield and Complete Shell to Core Energy Transfer.
AB  - A two-step process has been developed for growing the shell of CdSe/CdS
      core/shell nanorods. The method combines an established fast-injection-based step
      to create the initial elongated shell with a second slow-injection growth that
      allows for a systematic variation of the shell thickness while maintaining a high
      degree of monodispersity at the batch level and enhancing the uniformity at the
      single-nanorod level. The second growth step resulted in nanorods exhibiting a
      fluorescence quantum yield up to 100% as well as effectively complete energy
      transfer from the shell to the core. This improvement suggests that the second
      step is associated with a strong suppression of the nonradiative channels
      operating both before and after the thermalization of the exciton. This
      hypothesis is supported by the suppression of a defect band, ubiquitous to CdSe
      based nanocrystals after the second growth. 

PMID- 26885563
TI  - Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Identification of Heavy Metal Arsenic(V)
      Mediated Enhancing Effect on Antibiotic Resistance.
AB  - Bacterial antibiotic resistance poses a threat to global public health.
      Restricted usage of antibiotics does not necessarily prevent its continued
      emergence. Rapid and sensitive screening of triggers, in addition to antibiotic,
      and exploring the underlying mechanism are still major challenges. Herein, by
      developing a homogeneous vacuum filtration-based bacterial sample fabrication
      enabling high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) reproducibility across
      multiple bacterial samples and negating interfering spectral variations from
      inhomogeneous sample geometry and SERS enhancement, SERS was employed to study
      heavy metal arsenic [As(V)]-mediated antibiotic resistance in a robust,
      sensitive, and rapid fashion. Independent and robust spectral changes
      representing phenotypic bacterial responses, combined with multivariate analysis,
      clearly identified that As(V) enhanced antibiotic resistance to tetracycline
      (Tet). Similar spectral alteration profile to As(V) and Tet indicated that cross
      resistance, whereby As(V)-induced bacterial resistance simultaneously blocked Tet
      action, could account for the enhanced resistance. The sensitive, robust, and
      rich phenotypic profile provided by SERS, combined with additional advantages in
      imposing no need to cultivate bacteria and single-cell sensitivity, can be
      further exploited to evaluate resistance-intervening factors in real microbiota. 

PMID- 26885564
TI  - Butyrate production from high-fiber diet protects against lymphoma tumor.
AB  - Gut microbiota and dietary fiber are critical for protecting body from obesity,
      diabetes and cancer. Butyrate, produced in the gut by bacterial fermentation of
      dietary fibers, is demonstrated to be protective against the development of
      colorectal cancer as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. We report that high
      fiber diet and butyrate significantly inhibited the growth lymphoma tumors.
      Butyrate induced apoptosis of lymphoma tumor cells and significantly up-regulated
      histone 3 acetylation (H3ac) level and target genes such as Fas, P21, P27. Our
      results unravel an instrumental role of fiber diet and their metabolites on
      lymphoma tumor and demonstrate an intervention potential on the prevention and
      therapy of lymphoma.

PMID- 26885565
TI  - Resistance of Strains Producing Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamases Among
      Salmonella from Duck Carcasses at Slaughterhouses in Three Major Provinces of
      South Korea.
AB  - The current study was carried out to estimate Salmonella spp. contamination of
      duck carcasses and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles and
      serotype distribution of the isolates. Salmonella spp. was detected in 21.7%
      (26/120) of fresh raw duck carcasses sampled at different slaughterhouses in
      South Korea. Eight Salmonella serovars were identified; the most prevalent
      serovar was S. Typhimurium (34.6%), followed by S. Virchow (30.8%). All isolates
      were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and five remarkable isolates were
      resistant to more than 10 antibiotics, including third- and fourth-generation
      cephalosporins. Additional phenotypic and genetic characterization demonstrated
      that these isolates harbored resistance genes to broad-spectrum beta-lactams,
      blaCTX-M-15 and blaCMY-2 genes, among the most prevalent beta-lactamase enzymes
      worldwide. Based on molecular subtyping performed using the DiversiLabTM
      automated repetitive-sequence-based PCR system, isolates were classified into
      cluster A and cluster B. Among beta-lactamase-producing Salmonellas, the isolate
      showing >98% similarity in their repetitive-sequence-based PCR banding pattern
      seemed to have acquired the resistance gene (blaCMY-2) and thus a distinct
      multiresistance profile. Given that antibiotic-resistant genes might be
      transferred by plasmid-mediated conjugation, periodic microbiological assessment
      within slaughterhouses is recommended for pathogens not to be transmitted through
      cross-contamination during slaughtering and dressing. 

PMID- 26885566
TI  - Estimating Broad Sense Heritability and Investigating the Mechanism of Genetic
      Transmission of Cold Tolerance Using Mannitol as a Measure of Post-freeze Juice
      Degradation in Sugarcane and Energycane (Saccharum spp.).
AB  - In approximately 25% of the sugarcane-producing countries worldwide, conventional
      sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) is exposed to damaging freezes. A study was
      conducted during the 2009 and 2010 harvest seasons to compare late-season freeze
      tolerance among three groups: commercial Louisiana sugarcane genotypes, early
      generation genotypes selected for cold tolerance in the U.S. Department of
      Agriculture sugarcane breeding programs at Houma, LA, and Canal Point, FL, and
      potential energycane genotypes selected for high total biomass per acre. Mannitol
      concentrations in cane juice following freezing temperatures were determined to
      evaluate levels of cold tolerance. Genotypes selected for cold tolerance in
      Houma, LA, had significantly more late-season freeze tolerance than commercial
      sugarcane genotypes and genotypes selected in Canal Point, FL. Genotypes showing
      the most cold tolerance were Ho02-146 and Ho02-152, and those that were most
      highly susceptible were US87-1006 and US87-1003 (early-generation breeding
      genotypes) and L99-233 (commercial genotype). Broad-sense heritability for late
      season cold tolerance in the two-year study was estimated at g(2) = 0.78. The
      enzymatic mannitol analysis successfully differentiated high-fiber energycane
      genotypes from those from other sources. 

PMID- 26885567
TI  - Identification and Structure-Activity Relationships of Diarylhydrazides as Novel
      Potent and Selective Human Enterovirus Inhibitors.
AB  - Enterovirus 71 (EV71) plays an important role in hand-foot-and-mouth disease. In
      this study, a series of diarylhydrazide analogues was synthesized, and the
      systematic exploration of SAR led to potent enterovirus inhibitors, of which
      compound 15 exhibits significant improvements in inhibition potency with an EC50
      value of 0.02 MUM against EV71. It is very interesting that this class of
      diarylhydrazides exhibits activities against a series of human enteroviruses at
      the picomolar level, including EV71 and Coxsackieviruses B1 (CVB1), CVB2, CVB3,
      CVB4, CVB5, and CVB6 (EC50 as low as 0.5 nM). Compared with the reference
      antienterovirus drug 1 (enviroxime) and known inhibitor 5 (WIN 51711), the four
      highly selective compounds 15, 27, 41 and 47 inhibited EV71 replication with EC50
      values of 0.17-0.02 MUM and SI values in a range of 978.4-12338. A preliminary
      mechanistic study indicated that VP1 might be the target site for this type of
      compound. 

PMID- 26885568
TI  - Reconstruction of Ancestral Genomes in Presence of Gene Gain and Loss.
AB  - Since most dramatic genomic changes are caused by genome rearrangements as well
      as gene duplications and gain/loss events, it becomes crucial to understand their
      mechanisms and reconstruct ancestral genomes of the given genomes. This problem
      was shown to be NP-complete even in the "simplest" case of three genomes, thus
      calling for heuristic rather than exact algorithmic solutions. At the same time,
      a larger number of input genomes may actually simplify the problem in practice as
      it was earlier illustrated with MGRA, a state-of-the-art software tool for
      reconstruction of ancestral genomes of multiple genomes. One of the key obstacles
      for MGRA and other similar tools is presence of breakpoint reuses when the same
      breakpoint region is broken by several different genome rearrangements in the
      course of evolution. Furthermore, such tools are often limited to genomes
      composed of the same genes with each gene present in a single copy in every
      genome. This limitation makes these tools inapplicable for many biological
      datasets and degrades the resolution of ancestral reconstructions in diverse
      datasets. We address these deficiencies by extending the MGRA algorithm to
      genomes with unequal gene contents. The developed next-generation tool MGRA2 can
      handle gene gain/loss events and shares the ability of MGRA to reconstruct
      ancestral genomes uniquely in the case of limited breakpoint reuse. Furthermore,
      MGRA2 employs a number of novel heuristics to cope with higher breakpoint reuse
      and process datasets inaccessible for MGRA. In practical experiments, MGRA2 shows
      superior performance for simulated and real genomes as compared to other
      ancestral genome reconstruction tools.

PMID- 26885569
TI  - The evolution of prostacyclins in pulmonary arterial hypertension: from classical
      treatment to modern management.
AB  - Prostacyclins for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have
      historically been covered under the insurance medical benefit because they
      require durable medical equipment and are administered by an intravenous,
      subcutaneous, or inhalation route. However, more treatment options that target
      the prostacyclin pathway have become available. As the number and type of options
      expand, an improved understanding of these drugs will aid managed care decision
      makers in evaluating new treatment options and making clinically sound and cost
      effective treatment decisions. PAH is a progressive disease of pulmonary vascular
      remodeling that increases pulmonary vascular resistance and often results in
      right-side heart failure and death if left untreated. Adverse event profiles, the
      complexity of administration modalities, and potential complications must be
      considered when administering prostacyclin therapy. Traditional modes of
      administration, with their potential challenges and complications, may have
      contributed to the unmet need for an oral agent. Another consideration for
      managed care decision makers is that oral agents are generally covered under the
      insurance pharmacy benefit. Access to oral medications with long-term outcomes
      data, as well as the improved convenience of oral therapy, may help patients with
      PAH maximize function by maintaining a more convenient and consistent therapeutic
      regimen. 

PMID- 26885570
TI  - Effect of a High Density of Stacking Faults on the Young's Modulus of GaAs
      Nanowires.
AB  - Stacking faults (SFs) are commonly observed crystalline defects in III-V
      semiconductor nanowires (NWs) that affect a variety of physical properties.
      Understanding the effect of SFs on NW mechanical properties is critical to NW
      applications in nanodevices. In this study, the Young's moduli of GaAs NWs with
      two distinct structures, defect-free single crystalline wurtzite (WZ) and highly
      defective wurtzite containing a high density of SFs (WZ-SF), are investigated
      using combined in situ compression transmission electron microscopy and finite
      element analysis. The Young's moduli of both WZ and WZ-SF GaAs NWs were found to
      increase with decreasing diameter due to the increasing volume fraction of the
      native oxide shell. The presence of a high density of SFs was further found to
      increase the Young's modulus by 13%. This stiffening effect of SFs is attributed
      to the change in the interatomic bonding configuration at the SFs. 

PMID- 26885571
TI  - Am I Drinking Enough? Yes, No, and Maybe.
AB  - Adequate fluid intake can be dually defined as a volume of fluid (from water,
      beverages, and food) sufficient to replace water losses and provide for solute
      excretion. A wide range of fluid intakes are compatible with euhydration, whereby
      total body water varies narrowly from day to day by 600 to 900 mL (<1% body
      mass). One measure of fluid intake adequacy involves enough fluid to prevent
      meaningful body water deficits outside this euhydration range (i.e.,
      dehydration). Another measure of fluid intake adequacy involves enough fluid to
      balance the renal solute load, which can vary widely inside the euhydration
      range. The subtle but important distinction between the 2 types of adequacy may
      explain some of the ambiguity surrounding the efficacy of hydration status
      markers. Both perspectives of fluid intake adequacy are discussed in detail and a
      simple tool is reviewed that may help healthy, active, low-risk populations
      answer the question, "Am I drinking enough?" Key Teaching Points * Adequate fluid
      intake can be dually defined as a volume of fluid (from water, beverages, and
      food) sufficient to replace water losses and provide for solute excretion. *
      Fluid needs can differ greatly among individuals due to variation in the factors
      that influence both water loss and solute balance; thus, adequacy is consistent
      with a wide range of fluid intakes and is better gauged using hydration
      assessment methods. * Adequacy of fluid intake for replacing meaningful water
      losses (dehydration) can be assessed simply, inexpensively, and with reasonable
      fidelity among healthy, active, low-risk individuals. * Adequacy of fluid intake
      for solute excretion per se can also be assessed among individuals but is more
      difficult to define and less practical to measure.

PMID- 26885572
TI  - Antimicrobial Bowel Preparation for Elective Colon Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mechanical bowel preparation continues to be a controversial subject
      for the pre-operative management of patients undergoing elective colon resection.
      METHODS: The English literature on bowel preparation was searched to identify
      pertinent publications. RESULTS: The published literature over the past 80 y
      confirms that mechanical bowel preparation alone does not reduce surgical site
      infections. However, the use of appropriate oral antibiotics following mechanical
      bowel preparation with pre-operative systemic antibiotics reduces rates of
      surgical site infections and anastomotic leaks when compared with systemic
      antibiotics alone. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical bowel preparation with pre-operative
      oral antibiotics and pre-operative systemic antibiotics are the standard of care
      for elective colon surgery. Refinement in methods of bowel preparation needs
      additional clinical investigations to further enhance outcomes.

PMID- 26885573
TI  - PM2.5 Population Exposure in New Delhi Using a Probabilistic Simulation
      Framework.
AB  - This paper presents a Geographical Information System (GIS) based probabilistic
      simulation framework to estimate PM2.5 population exposure in New Delhi, India.
      The framework integrates PM2.5 output from spatiotemporal LUR models and trip
      distribution data using a Gravity model based on zonal data for population,
      employment and enrollment in educational institutions. Time-activity patterns
      were derived from a survey of randomly sampled individuals (n = 1012) and in
      vehicle exposure was estimated using microenvironmental monitoring data based on
      field measurements. We simulated population exposure for three different
      scenarios to capture stay-at-home populations (Scenario 1), working population
      exposed to near-road concentrations during commutes (Scenario 2), and the working
      population exposed to on-road concentrations during commutes (Scenario 3).
      Simulated annual average levels of PM2.5 exposure across the entire city were
      very high, and particularly severe in the winter months: ~200 MUg m(-3) in
      November, roughly four times higher compared to the lower levels in the monsoon
      season. Mean annual exposures ranged from 109 MUg m(-3) (IQR: 97-120 MUg m(-3))
      for Scenario 1, to 121 MUg m(-3) (IQR: 110-131 MUg m(-3)), and 125 MUg m(-3)
      (IQR: 114-136 MU gm(-3)) for Scenarios 2 and 3 respectively. Ignoring the effects
      of mobility causes the average annual PM2.5 population exposure to be
      underestimated by only 11%. 

PMID- 26885574
TI  - Risk of the Metabolic Syndrome in Sexual Minority Women: Results from the ESTHER
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Compared to heterosexuals, sexual minority women (SMW) have higher
      rates of the metabolic syndrome risk factors (e.g., obesity, smoking, heavy
      drinking, and depression). Yet, no published research has examined whether SMW
      have higher rates of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to describe
      the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual factors in a sample
      of heterosexuals and SMW, and identify whether SMW are at greater risk of having
      the metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data are from the Epidemiologic
      STudy of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER), a cross-sectional convenience sample of
      479 SMW and 400 heterosexual women from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants
      provided self-report questionnaire data, clinical data, and blood work. RESULTS:
      Compared to heterosexuals, SMW had higher mean waist circumference, fasting
      glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Nearly one-quarter (24.3%) of
      SMW had the metabolic syndrome compared to 15.6% of heterosexual women (p =
      0.002). After controlling for demographic and risk factors, SMW had a 44% higher
      risk of having the metabolic syndrome than heterosexuals (p = 0.031).
      CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify this health
      disparity in SMW. Future studies should explore differential risk of mortality
      and metabolic health between SMW and heterosexuals.

PMID- 26885575
TI  - Intravitreal Filariasis: The Accidental Traveler.

PMID- 26885576
TI  - Intern Boot Camp: Feasibility and impact of a 1-hour session to ensure graduating
      medical student competency in falls risk assessment.
AB  - The authors evaluated the feasibility of a 1-hour session to ensure competency in
      gait and falls risk assessment for medical students at their institution. The
      session included a history and exam with faculty and staff as standardized
      patients, gait recognition videos, and case evaluation for falls risk assessment
      and prevention. Student perceptions were evaluated using a retrospective pre-post
      survey, scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were
      used to assess change and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze differences
      by residency choice. A range of five to 11 faculty and staff certified 238
      medical students during eight 1-hour sessions. Overall self-perception of
      competence in falls risk assessment and prevention improved (p <= .001), and did
      not differ by residency choice, both before and after the training program (p =
      .73 and p = .25). Feedback was positive. This session is a feasible way to teach
      and assess the competency for falls risk assessment with modest time commitment.

PMID- 26885577
TI  - Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the combined modality treatment of
      anal cancer patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report clinical and dosimetric outcomes of a consecutive series of
      patients with anal cancer treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
      concomitant to chemotherapy (CT). METHODS: A cohort of 39 patients underwent VMAT
      employing a schedule consisting of 50.4 Gy/28 fractions to the gross tumour
      volume (GTV) and 42 Gy/28 fractions to the elective nodal volumes for patients
      with cT2N0 disease. Patients with cT3-T4/N0-N3 tumours were prescribed 54 Gy/30
      fractions to the GTV and 50.4 Gy/30 fractions to the gross nodal volumes if sized
      <=3 cm or 54 Gy/30 fractions if > 3 cm. Elective nodal regions were given 45
      Gy/30 fractions. CT was administered concurrently following Nigro's regimen. The
      primary end point was acute toxicity. Secondary end points were colostomy-free
      survival (CFS), disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and
      overall survival (OS). Dosimetric data are also provided. RESULTS: Median follow
      up was 21 months. Maximum acute toxicities were: dermatologic-G3: 18%;
      gastrointestinal-G3: 5%; genitourinary-G3: 2%; anaemia-G2: 7%; leukopenia-G3:
      28%; G4: 8%; neutropenia-G3: 13%; G4: 18%; thrombocytopenia-G3: 11%; and G4: 2%.
      The actuarial 2-year CFS was 77.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 54-90.4%].
      Actuarial 2-year OS and CSS were 85.2% (95% CI: 60.1-95.1%), while DFS was 75.1%
      (95% CI: 52.4.7-88.1%). CONCLUSION: Our clinical results support the use of VMAT
      as a safe and effective intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) option in the
      combined modality treatment of anal cancer, with consistent dosimetry, mild
      toxicity and promising sphincter preservation and survival rates. Advances in
      knowledge: IMRT is a standard of care for patients with anal cancer, and VMAT is
      a robust technical solution in this setting.

PMID- 26885578
TI  - Structure and Noncanonical Activities of Coat Proteins of Helical Plant Viruses.
AB  - The main function of virus coat protein is formation of the capsid that protects
      the virus genome against degradation. However, besides the structural function,
      coat proteins have many additional important activities in the infection cycle of
      the virus and in the defense response of host plants to viral infection. This
      review focuses on noncanonical functions of coat proteins of helical RNA
      containing plant viruses with positive genome polarity. Analysis of data on the
      structural organization of coat proteins of helical viruses has demonstrated that
      the presence of intrinsically disordered regions within the protein structure
      plays an important role in implementation of nonstructural functions and largely
      determines the multifunctionality of coat proteins. 

PMID- 26885579
TI  - Role of Protein L25 and Its Contact with Protein L16 in Maintaining the Active
      State of Escherichia coli Ribosomes in vivo.
AB  - A ribosomal protein of the L25 family specifically binding to 5S rRNA is an
      evolutionary feature of bacteria. Structural studies showed that within the
      ribosome this protein contacts not only 5S rRNA, but also the C-terminal region
      of protein L16. Earlier we demonstrated that ribosomes from the DeltaL25 strain
      of Escherichia coli have reduced functional activity. In the present work, it is
      established that the reason for this is a fraction of functionally inactive 50S
      ribosomal subunits. These subunits have a deficit of protein L16 and associate
      very weakly with 30S subunits. To study the role of the contact of these two
      proteins in the formation of the active ribosome, we created a number of E. coli
      strains containing protein L16 with changes in its C-terminal region. We found
      that some mutations (K133L or K127L/K133L) in this protein lead to a noticeable
      slowing of cell growth and decrease in the activity of their translational
      apparatus. As in the case of the ribosomes from the DeltaL25 strain, the fraction
      of 50S subunits, which are deficient in protein L16, is present in the ribosomes
      of the mutant strains. All these data indicate that the contact with protein L25
      is important for the retention of protein L16 within the E. coli ribosome in
      vivo. In the light of these findings, the role of the protein of the L25 family
      in maintaining the active state of the bacterial ribosome is discussed. 

PMID- 26885580
TI  - Calponin-Like Protein from Mussel Smooth Muscle Is a Competitive Inhibitor of
      Actomyosin ATPase.
AB  - The goal of this work was to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of the actin
      activated ATPase of myosin subfragment-1 (S1) by the calponin-like protein from
      mussel bivalve muscle. The calponin-like protein (Cap) is a 40-kDa actin-binding
      protein from the bivalve muscle of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus. Kinetic
      parameters Vmax and KATPase of actomyosin ATPase in the absence and the presence
      of Cap were determined to investigate the mechanism of inhibition. It was found
      that Cap mainly causes increase in KATPase value and to a lesser extent the
      decrease in Vmax, which indicates that it is most likely a competitive inhibitor
      of actomyosin ATPase. Analysis of Vmax and KATPase parameters in the presence of
      tropomyosin revealed that the latter is a noncompetitive inhibitor of the
      actomyosin ATPase. 

PMID- 26885581
TI  - Proteomic Analysis of Escherichia coli Protein Fractions Resistant to
      Solubilization by Ionic Detergents.
AB  - Amyloids are protein fibrils adopting structure of cross-beta spine exhibiting
      either pathogenic or functionally significant properties. In prokaryotes, there
      are several groups of functional amyloids; however, all of them were identified
      by specialized approaches that do not reveal all cellular amyloids. Here, using
      our previously developed PSIA (Proteomic Screening and Identification of
      Amyloids) approach, we have conducted a proteomic screening for candidates for
      novel amyloid-forming proteins in Escherichia coli as one of the most important
      model organisms and biotechnological objects. As a result, we identified 61
      proteins in fractions resistant to treatment with ionic detergents. We found that
      a fraction of proteins bearing potentially amyloidogenic regions predicted by
      bioinformatics algorithms was 3-5-fold more abundant among the identified
      proteins compared to those observed in the entire E. coli proteome. Almost all
      identified proteins contained potentially amyloidogenic regions, and four of them
      (BcsC, MukB, YfbK, and YghJ) have asparagine- and glutamine-rich regions
      underlying a crucial feature of many known amyloids. In this study, we
      demonstrate for the first time that at the proteome level there is a correlation
      between experimentally demonstrated detergent-resistance of proteins and
      potentially amyloidogenic regions predicted by bioinformatics approaches. The
      data obtained enable further comprehensive characterization of entirety of
      amyloids (or amyloidome) in bacterial cells. 

PMID- 26885582
TI  - Recombinant Phospholipase A1 of the Outer Membrane of Psychrotrophic Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis: Expression, Purification, and Characterization.
AB  - The pldA gene encoding membrane-bound phospholipase A1 of Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli cells.
      Recombinant phospholipase A1 (rPldA) was isolated from inclusion bodies dissolved
      in 8 M urea by two-stage chromatography (ion-exchange and gel-filtration
      chromatography) as an inactive monomer. The molecular mass of the rPldA
      determined by MALDI-TOF MS was 31.7 +/- 0.4 kDa. The highly purified rPldA was
      refolded by 10-fold dilution with buffer containing 10 mM Triton X-100 and
      subsequent incubation at room temperature for 16 h. The refolded rPldA hydrolyzed
      1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine in the presence of calcium ions.
      The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at 37 degrees C and nearly 40% of maximal
      activity at 15 degrees C. The phospholipase A1 was active over a wide range of pH
      from 4 to 11, exhibiting maximal activity at pH 10. Spatial structure models of
      the monomer and the dimer of Y. pseudotuberculosis phospholipase A1 were
      constructed, and functionally important amino acid residues of the enzyme were
      determined. Structural differences between phospholipases A1 from Y.
      pseudotuberculosis and E. coli, which can affect the functional activity of the
      enzyme, were revealed. 

PMID- 26885583
TI  - Investigation of Stability of Photosynthetic Reaction Center and Quantum Dot
      Hybrid Films.
AB  - The efficiency of interaction (efficiency of energy transfer) between various
      quantum dots (QDs) and photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) from the purple
      bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides and conditions of long-term stability of
      functioning of such hybrid complexes in film preparations were investigated. It
      was found that dry films containing RCs and QDs and maintained at atmospheric
      humidity are capable to keep their functional activity for at least some months
      as judging by results of measurement of their spectral characteristics,
      efficiency of energy transfer from QDs to RCs, and RC electron-transport
      activity. Addition of trehalose to the films giving them still greater stability
      is especially expressed for films maintained at low humidity. These stable hybrid
      film structures are promising for further biotechnological studies for developing
      new phototransformation devices. 

PMID- 26885584
TI  - Reoperation for Margins After Breast Conservation Surgery: What's Old Is New
      Again.

PMID- 26885586
TI  - Taking action to solve the wellness issue.

PMID- 26885588
TI  - A call for data on gorillas.

PMID- 26885589
TI  - What Is Your Diagnosis?: Mediastinal shift.

PMID- 26885590
TI  - What Is Your Diagnosis?: Primary pulmonary neoplasia.

PMID- 26885591
TI  - ECG of the Month.

PMID- 26885592
TI  - Pathology in Practice.

PMID- 26885594
TI  - Outcomes of ureteral surgery and ureteral stenting in cats: 117 cases (2006
      2014).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare outcomes in cats following ureteral surgery or
      ureteral stent placement. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 117 cats.
      PROCEDURES: Data regarding signalment, history, concurrent disease, clinical
      signs, clinicopathologic tests, surgical procedures, and perioperative
      complications (including death) were recorded. Follow-up data, including presence
      of signs of chronic lower urinary tract disease, chronic urinary tract infection,
      reobstruction, and death, if applicable, were obtained by records review or
      telephone contact with owners. Variables of interest were compared statistically
      between cats treated with and without stent placement. Kaplan-Meier analysis and
      Cox regression were performed to assess differences in survival time between cats
      with and without ureteral stents. RESULTS: Perioperative complications referable
      to the urinary tract were identified in 6 of 43 (14%) cats that had >= 1 ureteral
      stent placed and 2 of 74 (3%) cats that underwent ureteral surgery without
      stenting. Perioperative mortality rates were similar between cats with (4/43
      [9%]) and without (6/74 [8%]) stents. After surgery, signs of chronic lower
      urinary tract disease and chronic urinary tract infection were significantly more
      common among cats with than cats without stents. Nineteen of 87 (22%) cats with
      follow-up information available had recurrent obstruction; incidence of
      reobstruction did not differ between cats with and without stents. Median
      survival time did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: The potential for signs of chronic lower urinary tract disease and
      chronic infection, particularly among cats that receive ureteral stents, warrants
      appropriate client counseling. Judicious long-term follow-up for detection of
      reobstruction is recommended.

PMID- 26885593
TI  - Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2016.

PMID- 26885595
TI  - Use of endoscopic-assisted argon plasma coagulation for the treatment of colonic
      vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia) in an adult dog.
AB  - CASE DESCRIPTION: A 10-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog was evaluated for a
      5-year history of intermittent hematochezia and chronic anemia that were
      unresponsive to medical treatment. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Colonoscopy revealed
      multifocal areas of coalescing tortuous mucosal blood vessels throughout the
      colon and rectum. Colonic vascular ectasia (angiodysplasia) was diagnosed on the
      basis of the endoscopic appearance of the lesions. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The dog
      failed to respond to traditional medical treatments for colonic vascular ectasia
      and required multiple plasma and blood transfusions. The dog received 4
      endoscopic-assisted argon plasma coagulation treatments, which resulted in long
      term resolution of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Colonic perforation occurred
      during the third argon plasma coagulation treatment. The perforation was
      surgically repaired. The dog remained free from clinical signs of colonic
      vascular ectasia for > 1 year after the third argon plasma coagulation treatment
      and was euthanized because of clinical deterioration associated with progressive
      heart disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Endoscopic-assisted argon plasma coagulation
      treatment is a novel treatment for dogs with colonic vascular ectasia and
      provided long-term resolution of clinical signs for the dog of this report. In
      human patients, complications associated with endoscopic-assisted argon plasma
      coagulation treatment include colonic perforation, which also occurred in the dog
      of this report.

PMID- 26885596
TI  - Use of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of radiation therapy-induced
      myokymia and neuromyotonia in a dog.
AB  - CASE DESCRIPTION A 5-year-old castrated male Maltese was evaluated for
      intermittent clinical signs of muscle cramping and abnormal movements of the skin
      of the right pelvic limb at the site where an infiltrative lipoma had twice been
      resected. After the second surgery, the surgical field was treated with radiation
      therapy (RT). The clinical signs developed approximately 14 months after
      completion of RT. CLINICAL FINDINGS When clinical signs were present, the right
      biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles in the area that received RT were firm
      and had frequently visible contractions, and the skin overlying those muscles had
      episodic vermiform movements. Electromyography of those muscles revealed abnormal
      spontaneous activity with characteristics consistent with myokymic discharges and
      neuromyotonia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the affected leg revealed no
      evidence of tumor regrowth. The myokymia and neuromyotonia were considered
      secondary to RT. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME 4 U of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A
      (BoNT-A) neurotoxin complex was injected into the affected muscles at each of 6
      sites twice during a 24-hour period (ie, 48 U of BoNT-A were administered). The
      clinical signs were completely resolved 10 days after BoNT-A treatment and were
      controlled by repeated BoNT-A treatment every 3 to 4 months for > 1 year.
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE To our knowledge, this is the first report of myokymia and
      neuromyotonia secondary to RT in a dog. For the dog of this report, injection of
      BoNT-A into the affected muscles was safe, effective, and easy to perform. 

PMID- 26885597
TI  - Urinary bladder retroversion and neourethrocystostomy for treatment of
      inadvertent prostatectomy and urethrectomy in a dog.
AB  - CASE DESCRIPTION A 15-month-old male Newfoundland was examined because of an
      inability to urinate, lethargy, inappetence, and intermittent vomiting that first
      became evident after bilateral cryptorchidectomy 2 days previously. The patient
      was referred for further evaluation and treatment. CLINICAL FINDINGS Results of
      physical examination, serum biochemical analysis, and abdominocentesis led to a
      diagnosis of uroperitoneum. Retrograde cystography indicated urinary tract
      obstruction. In view of the history of recent elective cryptorchidectomy, a
      diagnosis of uroperitoneum with urethral obstruction secondary to iatrogenic
      prostatectomy and urethrectomy was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME During a ventral
      midline celiotomy, the inadvertent prostatectomy and urethrectomy were found to
      have resulted in insufficient urethral length for primary repair. Surgical repair
      of the urethral defect was achieved by means of a novel technique of bladder
      retroversion and neourethrocystostomy at the apex of the bladder. A urethral
      stricture evident 1.5 months after surgery was initially treated with balloon
      dilatation, followed by temporary and then permanent placement of a self
      expanding metallic stent. At the last follow-up 6.6 years after stent placement,
      the dog remained continent while receiving phenylpropanolamine and the owner was
      highly satisfied with the outcome. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Caudal intraabdominal
      bladder retroversion with apex neourethrocystostomy may be a viable alternative
      to more complex urethral lengthening procedures in dogs and can potentially
      preserve lower urinary tract function. This treatment might be considered for
      patients with urethral trauma or malignant neoplasia necessitating extensive
      urethral resection. Urethral strictures may be effectively managed with stenting.

PMID- 26885598
TI  - Use of a percutaneously controlled hydraulic occluder for treatment of refractory
      urinary incontinence in three female cats.
AB  - CASE DESCRIPTION 3 cats were referred for evaluation of chronic urinary
      incontinence. CLINICAL FINDINGS A presumptive diagnosis of urethral sphincter
      mechanism incompetence (USMI) was made in all 3 cats. Preoperatively,
      incontinence was mild in 1 cat (incontinence during sleep) and moderate to severe
      (incontinence while awake and at rest) in 2. Structural abnormalities noted
      during cystoscopy included urethrovestibular junction stenosis (n = 1), vaginal
      stenosis (1), short urethra (1), and intrapelvic bladder (1). TREATMENT AND
      OUTCOME All 3 cats were treated by means of implantation of an inflatable
      silicone hydraulic occluder (HO) via a ventral midline celiotomy. Immediately
      prior to HO implantation, patients underwent cystoscopy to detect any anatomic
      abnormalities and confirm the absence of ureteral ectopia. Following surgery, all
      3 patients attained complete continence, needing 0 or 1 inflation of the device.
      Complications included cystoscopy-associated urethral tear (n = 1), constipation
      (1), stranguria (1), hematuria (2), and urinary tract infection (2). Device
      explantation was performed 14 weeks after surgery in 1 cat because of
      postoperative constipation. Constipation persisted and urinary incontinence
      recurred but was markedly improved following device removal in this cat (leakage
      of urine only when sleeping at follow-up 29 months after surgery [26 months after
      device explantation]). At the time of last follow-up, 2 of the 3 cats remained
      fully continent approximately 3 and 6 years after device implantation. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE Findings suggested that implantation of an HO may be a safe and
      effective long-term treatment for some cats with USMI. Further studies are
      necessary to evaluate the potential for treatment-related complications and the
      long-term outcome. 

PMID- 26885599
TI  - Hydrops associated with chondrodysplasia of the fetus in a miniature Scottish
      Highland cow.
AB  - CASE DESCRIPTION A 2-year-old primiparous miniature Scottish Highland cow with an
      unknown breeding date was evaluated for suspected hydrops. CLINICAL FINDINGS
      Transabdominal and transrectal ultrasonographic examination identified a large
      amount of hypoechoic fluid within an enlarged uterus; the fetus could not be
      identified. Presence of a severely distended uterus and concerns regarding
      associated health risks to the cow led to the decision to induce labor. Although
      fluids were expelled, parturition did not progress further over the following 48
      hours. Vaginal examination revealed a partially dilated cervix and an abnormally
      shaped fetus that was too large to pass vaginally. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
      Supportive care was provided to the cow, and a stillborn bull calf was delivered
      by cesarean section. Grossly evident chondrodystrophic dwarfism with
      hydrocephalus, compatible with so-called bulldog calf malformations, was
      confirmed by diagnostic imaging and histopathologic evaluation. The cow recovered
      from surgery uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital the following day.
      Genetic analysis of DNA from hair roots collected from the sire and dam confirmed
      both were carriers of an aggrecan-1 gene mutation (bulldog dwarfism1) previously
      associated with dwarfism and bulldog calf malformations in Dexter cattle.
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bulldog
      calf malformations associated with an aggrecan-1 gene mutation in miniature
      Scottish Highland cattle, confirming that at least 1 genetic mutation associated
      with this condition is found in cattle breeds other than Dexter. The findings
      highlighted the clinical importance of testing for known genetic diseases in
      breeding cattle, particularly among miniature breeds. 

PMID- 26885601
TI  - Erythematous Plaque in the Cheek of an HIV Patient.

PMID- 26885600
TI  - Changes in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor
      isotypes serum levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis following treatment
      with different biological drugs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) are a
      serological marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and also have a prognostic value
      for more aggressive disease. Whether anti-CCP levels may change during treatment
      according to clinical response is matter of debate. Likewise, it is unknown
      whether different biological drugs have peculiar effects on anti-CCP levels. This
      study aimed to investigate changes in anti-CCP serum levels in RA patients on
      biological drugs with different mechanism of action. METHODS: We studied 71
      patients with active RA tested positive for anti-CCP who started a first
      biological drug (54 anti-TNF-alpha drug, 9 rituximab, 8 tocilizumab). In 14
      patients stopping anti-TNF-alpha treatment for ineffectiveness, rituximab was
      started. Anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes (IgM, IgA, IgG) levels were
      measured at entry, 12 months and again at 12 months after swapping to rituximab.
      RESULTS: After 1 year of therapy of the first biological drug, patients taking
      anti-TNF-alpha drugs showed a significant reduction of the anti-CCP levels
      (p=0.002), and all RF isotypes (p=0.003). Also patients treated with rituximab or
      tolicizumab had a significant decrease in anti-CCP (p=0.01) and RF isotype levels
      (p=0.01). Anti-CCP levels did not correlated with DAS28 over time. In patients
      switching to rituximab after failure of TNF-alpha blockers, anti-CCP levels did
      not change at 12 months (p=0.06), despite of the reduction of DAS28 (p=0.02) and
      RFs levels (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that anti-CCP levels may
      change during RA course, regardless of the biological drug used and the clinical
      response.

PMID- 26885602
TI  - Melanocytic Hyperplasia in the Epidermis Overlying Trichoblastomas in 100
      Randomly Selected Cases.
AB  - One hundred cases of trichoblastomas (large nodular, small nodular, cribriform,
      lymphadenoma, and columnar) were randomly selected and studied for the presence
      of melanocytic hyperplasia in the epidermis overlying the tumors, which was
      defined as foci of increased melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis
      (more than 1 per 4 basal keratinocytes). Focal melanocytic hyperplasia was
      detected in a total of 22 cases of trichoblastoma (22%), and this phenomenon was
      most frequently seen in columnar trichoblastoma (7 cases), followed by large
      nodular trichoblastoma (5 cases). The mechanism of epidermal melanocytic
      hyperplasia overlying trichoblastoma is unclear. Ultraviolet may be a
      contributing factor, as focal melanocytic hyperplasia was also detected in one
      third of cases in the epidermis overlying uninvolved skin, usually associated
      with solar elastosis. This is further corroborated by the occurrence of the
      lesions predominantly on the face. Melanocytic hyperplasia overlying
      trichoblastoma appears to have no impact on the clinical appearance of the lesion
      and is recognized only microscopically. In an adequate biopsy specimen containing
      at least part of trichoblastoma, it should not cause any diagnostic problems. 

PMID- 26885603
TI  - Systemic Hyalinosis With Heterozygous CMG2 Mutations: A Case Report and Review of
      Literature.
AB  - Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder
      characterized by hyalinizing fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Clinical
      features include multiple papular skin lesions, gingival hyperplasia, joint
      contractures, and osteolytic bone lesions. The systemic variant of JHF, known as
      infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH), has an early onset and poor prognosis.
      Histological examination of cutaneous lesions shows bland-appearing fibroblasts
      within amorphous eosinophilic hyaline depositions. JHF and infantile systemic
      hyalinosis form a clinical spectrum with higher mortality that is typically
      observed in systemic cases. Here, the authors present a case of systemic
      hyalinosis with a heterozygous mutation in CMG2 that resulted in improved
      survival. 

PMID- 26885604
TI  - Cold-Associated Perniosis of the Thighs ("Equestrian-Type" Chilblain): A
      Reappraisal Based on a Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Study of 6
      Cases.
AB  - Cold-associated perniosis of the thighs ("equestrian cold panniculitis") is an
      unusual and still enigmatic entity. The authors retrieved 6 cases for a re
      evaluation of their clinicopathologic features and for an immunohistochemical
      assessment with antibodies anti-CD3, anti-CD20, and anti-CD123. All patients were
      women, aged 17-45 years. One of them had elevated antinuclear antibody titers.
      Available anamnestic data confirmed the triggering role of prolonged/intermittent
      exposure to cold (not necessarily for equestrian activities). The lesions
      affected the thighs, with a preferential, although not exclusive involvement of
      the upper lateral surface. The histopathological pattern was perivascular,
      superficial, and deep, extending toward the superficial fat lobules, with
      lymphocytic vasculitis and mucin deposition; clumps of CD123 cells were found in
      4 of 6 cases. Cold-associated perniosis of the thighs cannot be considered as a
      panniculitis. The histopathological features considerably overlap with perniosis
      at other sites of the body and with chilblain lupus erythematosus. 

PMID- 26885605
TI  - Phenotypic Variation in Different Lesions of Mycosis Fungoides Biopsied Within a
      Short Period of Time From the Same Patient.
AB  - Phenotypic variants of mycosis fungoides (MF) include mainly the expression of
      cytotoxic markers by neoplastic cells (either alpha/beta or gamma/delta
      cytotoxic). To manage the patient properly, distinction from other cutaneous
      cytotoxic natural killer/T-cell lymphomas is paramount. Particularly for
      cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma, distinction is often based on
      clinicopathologic correlation (presence of tumors at first diagnosis as opposed
      to patches only in MF). The authors report a case of cytotoxic MF characterized
      by expression of TCRgamma in two of three biopsies performed within a time frame
      of 1 week. The patient presented with patches, plaques, and 1 tumor at the time
      of first diagnosis; thus, distinction from cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma
      was not possible on clinical grounds alone. The diagnosis of MF was established,
      thanks to the phenotypic variations revealed by the three biopsies, with 1
      lacking expression of cytotoxic proteins (TIA-1 and granzyme B) and of TCRgamma.
      This case shows the importance to perform several biopsies in cases of cutaneous
      lymphoma, as morphologic and phenotypic features are variable and information
      gathered from a single biopsy may result in a wrong diagnosis. 

PMID- 26885606
TI  - Malignant Clear Cell Acanthoma: Report of a Rare Case of Clear Cell Acanthoma
      Like Tumor With Malignant Features.
AB  - An erythematous and moist tumor nodule on the left temple of a 92-year-old woman
      was biopsied and identified as a clear cell acanthoma (CCA)-like tumor with
      malignant cytology and high proliferation activity. This case is similar to 2
      cases reported previously as atypical CCA. The authors believe that these tumors
      are malignant counterparts of CCA and propose to call them malignant CCA. The
      clinicopathologic features of the present case are described along with
      dermoscopic findings. 

PMID- 26885607
TI  - Clinical Features of Thoracic Spinal Stenosis-associated Myelopathy: A
      Retrospective Analysis of 427 Cases.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study
      was to examine the epidemiological characteristics and causes of spinal cord
      compression in thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: As the
      thoracic spinal canal is relatively narrow and the thoracic cord has a poor blood
      supply, severe neurological symptoms may develop if TSS is not treated promptly.
      However, as it is rare, TSS is less often studied and its clinical features are
      often not recognized. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2012, 427 patients diagnosed with
      TSS underwent surgery in our department. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The
      mean age was 53 years. The most reported symptom was motor deficit in the lower
      extremities (347 cases, 81%), followed by sensory deficit in the lower limbs (271
      cases, 64%). Falls were the most common trigger of acute symptoms (29 cases, 7%).
      Preoperative imaging results of each case were reviewed to summarize the causes
      and site of cord compression and coexisting spinal diseases. RESULTS: The most
      reported compressive factor was ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF),
      which implicated in 309 cases, followed by thoracic disk herniation (TDH) and
      ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The most common site
      of OLF and TDH was T9-L1 (56% and 89%, respectively), whereas OPLL was mainly
      found at T1-8 (90%). Forty-seven patients (11%) had coexisting lumbar spinal
      disease and 64 (15%) had cervical disease. CONCLUSIONS: Onset of TSS was
      generally insidious but may be triggered acutely by apparently trivial events.
      Myelopathy mainly affected the lower limbs. The most common cause was OLF in the
      lower thoracic spine. Cervical or lumbar spinal disease was often also evident;
      therefore, comprehensive clinical assessment is required to avoid delays in
      diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 26885608
TI  - Hedgehog inhibitors selectively target cell migration and adhesion of mantle cell
      lymphoma in bone marrow microenvironment.
AB  - The clinical benefits of a Hedgehog (Hh) inhibitor, LDE225 (NPV-LDE-225,
      Erismodegib), have been unclear in hematological cancers. Here, we report that
      LDE225 selectively inhibited migration and adhesion of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
      to bone marrows via very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) mediated inactivation of focal
      adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. LDE225 treatment not only affected MCL cells,
      but also modulated stromal cells within the bone marrow microenvironment by
      decreasing their production of SDF-1, IL-6 and VCAM-1, the ligand for VLA-4.
      Surprisingly, LDE225 treatment alone did not suppress cell proliferation due to
      increased CXCR4 expression mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The
      increased ROS/CXCR4 further stimulated autophagy formation. The combination of
      LDE225 with the autophagy inhibitors further enhanced MCL cell death. Our data,
      for the first time, revealed LDE225 selectively targets MCL cells migration and
      adhesion to bone marrows. The ineffectiveness of LDE225 in MCL is due to
      autophagy formation, which in turn increases cell viability. Inhibiting autophagy
      will be an effective adjuvant therapy for LDE225 in MCL, especially for advanced
      MCL patients with bone marrow involvement. 

PMID- 26885610
TI  - Comparison of the RECIST 1.0 and RECIST 1.1 in patients treated with targeted
      agents: a pooled analysis and review.
AB  - Patients treated with targeted agents were not included in the data warehouse
      when the RECIST 1.1 was revised in 2009. We conducted this pooled analysis to
      investigate the impact of the RECIST 1.1 on the assessment of tumor response in
      cancer patients treated with targeted agents. We surveyed MEDLINE, EMBASE and
      PubMed for articles with terms of the RECIST 1.0 or RECIST 1.1. We searched for
      all the references of relevant articles and reviews using the 'related articles'
      feature in the PubMed. There were six articles in the literature comparing the
      clinical impacts of the RECIST 1.0 and RECIST 1.1 in patients treated with
      targeted agents for advanced or metastatic cancer. A total of 322 patients were
      recruited from the six trials; 217 with non-small cell lung cancer, 23 with
      thyroid cancer, 20 with gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and 62 with renal cell
      carcinoma. Because of new lymph node criteria, eight patients (2.5%) had no
      target lesions when adopting the RECIST 1.1. The number of target lesions by the
      RECIST 1.1 was significantly lower than that by the RECIST 1.0 (P < 0.001).
      However, the RECIST 1.1 showed high concordance with the RECIST 1.0 in the
      assessment of best tumor responses (k = 0.908). Seventeen patients (5.6%) showed
      discrepancy in the best tumor response between the RECIST 1.0 and RECIST 1.1.
      This pooled study demonstrates that the RECIST 1.1 shows the highly concordant
      response assessment with the RECIST 1.0 in patients treated with targeted agents.

PMID- 26885609
TI  - SIRT1 at the crossroads of AKT1 and ERbeta in malignant pleural mesothelioma
      cells.
AB  - In this report, we show that malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients whose
      tumors express high levels of AKT1 exhibit a significantly worse prognosis,
      whereas no significant correlation with AKT3 expression is observed. We provide
      data that establish a phosphorylation independent role of AKT1 in affecting MPM
      cell shape and anchorage independent cell growth in vitro and highlight the AKT1
      isoform-specific nature of these effects.We describe that AKT1 activity is
      inhibited by the loss of SIRT1-mediated deacetylation and identify, by mass
      spectrometry, 11 unique proteins that interact with acetylated AKT1.Our data
      demonstrate a role of the AKT1/SIRT1/FOXM1 axis in the expression of the tumor
      suppressor ERbeta. We further demonstrate an inhibitory feedback loop by ERbeta,
      activated by the selective agonist KB9520, on this axis both in vitro and in
      vivo.Our data broaden the current knowledge of ERbeta and AKT isoform-specific
      functions that could be valuable in the design of novel and effective therapeutic
      strategies for MPM. 

PMID- 26885611
TI  - Exosomes released by granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells attenuate DSS
      induced colitis in mice.
AB  - Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been described in inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD), but their role in the disease remains controversial. We sought to
      define the effect of granulocytic MDSC-derived exosomes (G-MDSC exo) in dextran
      sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis. G-MDSC exo-treated mice showed
      greater resistance to colitis, as reflected by lower disease activity index,
      decreased inflammatory cell infiltration damage. There was a decrease in the
      proportion of Th1 cells and an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells
      (Tregs) in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) from G-MDSC exo-treated colitis mice.
      Moreover, lower serum levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor
      (TNF)-alpha were detected in G-MDSC exo-treated colitis mice. Interestingly,
      inhibition of arginase (Arg)-1 activity in G-MDSC exo partially abrogated the
      spontaneous improvement of colitis. In addition, G-MDSC exo could suppress CD4+ T
      cell proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion in vitro and inhibit the delayed-type
      hypersensitivity (DTH) response, and these abilities were associated with Arg-1
      activity. Moreover, G-MDSC exo promoted the expansion of Tregs in vitro. Taken
      together, these results suggest that G-MDSC exo attenuate DSS-induced colitis
      through inhibiting Th1 cells proliferation and promoting Tregs expansion. 

PMID- 26885613
TI  - Long noncoding RNA Saf and splicing factor 45 increase soluble Fas and resistance
      to apoptosis.
AB  - In multicellular organisms, cell growth and differentiation is controlled in part
      by programmed cell death or apoptosis. One major apoptotic pathway is triggered
      by Fas receptor (Fas)-Fas ligand (FasL) interaction. Neoplastic cells are
      frequently resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis, evade Fas signals through down
      regulation of Fas and produce soluble Fas proteins that bind FasL thereby
      blocking apoptosis. Soluble Fas (sFas) is an alternative splice product of Fas
      pre-mRNA, commonly created by exclusion of transmembrane spanning sequences
      encoded within exon 6 (FasDeltaEx6). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with
      other RNAs, DNA, and proteins to regulate gene expression. One lncRNA, Fas
      antisense or Saf, was shown to participate in alternative splicing of Fas pre
      mRNA through unknown mechanisms. We show that Saf is localized in the nucleus
      where it interacts with Fas receptor pre-mRNA and human splicing factor 45
      (SPF45) to facilitate alternative splicing and exclusion of exon 6. The product
      is a soluble Fas protein that protects cells against FasL-induced apoptosis.
      Collectively, these studies reveal a novel mechanism to modulate this critical
      cell death program by an lncRNA and its protein partner. 

PMID- 26885612
TI  - BAP1 suppresses lung cancer progression and is inhibited by miR-31.
AB  - BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) is an important nuclear-localized
      deubiquitinating enzyme that serves as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer;
      however, its function and its regulation are largely unknown. In this study, we
      found that BAP1 protein levels were dramatically diminished in lung cancer
      tissues while its mRNA levels did not differ significantly, suggesting that a
      post-transcriptional mechanism was involved in BAP1 regulation. Because microRNAs
      (miRNAs) are powerful post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, we used
      bioinformatic analyses to search for miRNAs that could potentially bind BAP1. We
      predicted and experimentally validated miR-31 as a direct regulator of BAP1.
      Moreover, we showed that miR-31 promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis
      in lung cancer cells and accelerated the development of tumor growth in xenograft
      mice by inhibiting BAP1. Taken together, this study highlights an important role
      for miR-31 in the suppression of BAP1 in lung cancer cells and may provide
      insights into the molecular mechanisms of lung carcinogenesis. 

PMID- 26885614
TI  - MRTF/SRF dependent transcriptional regulation of TAZ in breast cancer cells.
AB  - Dysregulation of Hippo pathway results in activation of transcriptional co
      activators YAP/TAZ in breast cancer. Previously, we showed that overexpression of
      TAZ in breast cancer promotes cell migration, invasion and tumorigenesis. Here,
      we show that upregulation of TAZ in breast cancers could also be due to
      dysregulation of TAZ transcription. Heregulin beta1 (HRG1) increases TAZ mRNA
      level in breast cancer cells. TAZ is a direct target of MRTF/SRF transcriptional
      factors which are activated by HRG1. Both MRTF/SRF and TAZ are the important
      downstream effectors enhancing cell migration induced by HRG1. TAZ mRNA level is
      correlated with nuclear localization of MRTF in breast cancer cells and the mRNA
      level of MRTF/SRF direct target genes in breast cancers, indicating the
      correlation between MRTF/SRF activity and TAZ expression. Our results provide new
      insights into the transcriptional regulation of TAZ and dysregulation mechanism
      of TAZ in breast cancer, which could be a new therapeutic strategy for breast
      cancer. 

PMID- 26885616
TI  - Predictive value of GGN and CAG repeat polymorphisms of androgen receptors in
      testicular cancer: a meta-analysis.
AB  - The risk of testicular cancer (TC) is markedly increased in subjects with
      androgen insensitivity, and previous studies have proposed that GGN and CAG
      repeats in androgen receptors (AR) could be related to the risk of TC. To
      evaluate the association between the length of GGN and CAG repeats in AR and TC,
      a meta-analysis involving 3255 TC cases and 2804 controls was performed. The
      results suggested that long GGN repeats are associated with an increased risk of
      TC compared with those < 23 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI)
      = 1.05-1.41]; similarly, a subgroup analysis revealed that this association
      occurred in studies with case sizes > 200, and in the mid-latitude, and seminoma
      subgroups. The subgroup analysis based on populations, high-latitude, and
      seminomas/non-seminomas suggested that AR CAG repeat polymorphisms with > 25 and
      < 21 + > 25 repeats might confer a protective effect to the patients with TC (in
      the high-latitude subgroup analysis, for > 25 vs. 21-25: OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.41
      0.70). In contrast, an increased risk of TC was observed for AR CAG repeat
      polymorphisms with > 25 and < 21 + > 25 repeats in the mid-latitude subgroup (for
      > 25 vs. 21-25: OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.09-2.50). In addition, no associations
      between the remaining subgroups and male infertility were observed. In short,
      this meta-analysis suggested that AR GGN and CAG repeat polymorphisms may be
      involved in the etiology of TC. 

PMID- 26885615
TI  - Combining FoxP3 and Helios with GARP/LAP markers can identify expanded Treg
      subsets in cancer patients.
AB  - Regulatory T cells (Tregs) comprise numerous heterogeneous subsets with distinct
      phenotypic and functional features. Identifying Treg markers is critical to
      investigate the role and clinical impact of various Treg subsets in pathological
      settings, and also for developing more effective immunotherapies. We have
      recently shown that non-activated FoxP3-Helios+ and activated FoxP3+/-Helios+
      CD4+ T cells express GARP/LAP immunosuppressive markers in healthy donors. In
      this study we report similar observations in the peripheral blood of patients
      with pancreatic cancer (PC) and liver metastases from colorectal cancer (LICRC).
      Comparing levels of different Treg subpopulations in cancer patients and
      controls, we report that in PC patients, and unlike LICRC patients, there was no
      increase in Treg levels as defined by FoxP3 and Helios. However, defining Tregs
      based on GARP/LAP expression showed that FoxP3-LAP+ Tregs in non-activated and
      activated settings, and FoxP3+Helios+GARP+LAP+ activated Tregs were significantly
      increased in both groups of patients, compared with controls. This work implies
      that a combination of Treg-specific markers could be used to more accurately
      determine expanded Treg subsets and to understand their contribution in cancer
      settings. Additionally, GARP-/+LAP+ CD4+ T cells made IL-10, and not IFN-gamma,
      and levels of IL-10-secreting CD4+ T cells were elevated in LICRC patients,
      especially with higher tumor staging. Taken together, our results indicate that
      investigations of Treg levels in different cancers should consider diverse Treg
      related markers such as GARP, LAP, Helios, and others and not only FoxP3 as a
      sole Treg-specific marker. 

PMID- 26885617
TI  - Nuclear localization of TEF3-1 promotes cell cycle progression and angiogenesis
      in cancer.
AB  - TEF3-1 (transcriptional enhancer factor 3 isoform 1), also known as TEAD4 (TEA
      domain family member 4), was recently revealed as an oncogenic character in
      cancer development. However, the underlying molecular pathogenic mechanisms
      remain undefined. In this paper, we investigated nuclear TEF3-1 could promote
      G1/S transition in HUVECs, and the expression levels of cyclins and CDKs were
      upregulated. Additionally, if TEF3-1 was knocked down, the expression of cyclins
      and CDKs was downregulated while the expression of P21, a negative regulator of
      the cell cycle, was upregulated. A microarray analysis also confirmed that TEF3-1
      overexpression upregulates genes that are related to cell cycle progression and
      the promotion of angiogenesis. Moreover, we observed that nuclear TEF3-1 was
      highly expressed during the formation of vascular structures in gastric cancer
      (GC). Finally, tumor xenograft experiments indicated that, when TEF3-1 was
      knocked down, tumor growth and angiogenesis were also suppressed. Taken together,
      these results demonstrate for the first time that TEF3-1 localization to the
      nucleus stimulates the cell cycle progression in HUVECs and specifically
      contributes to tumor angiogenesis. Nuclear TEF3-1 in HUVECs may serve as an
      oncogenic biomarker, and the suppression of TEF3-1 may be a potential target in
      anti-tumor therapy. 

PMID- 26885618
TI  - GADD45alpha and gamma interaction with CDK11p58 regulates SPDEF protein stability
      and SPDEF-mediated effects on cancer cell migration.
AB  - The epithelium-specific Ets transcription factor, SPDEF, plays a critical role in
      metastasis of prostate and breast cancer cells. While enhanced SPDEF expression
      blocks migration and invasion, knockdown of SPDEF expression enhances migration,
      invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. SPDEF expression and activation is
      tightly regulated in cancer cells; however, the precise mechanism of SPDEF
      regulation has not been explored in detail. In this study we provide evidence
      that the cell cycle kinase CDK11p58, a protein involved in G2/M transition and
      degradation of several transcription factors, directly interacts with and
      phosphorylates SPDEF on serine residues, leading to subsequent ubiquitination and
      degradation of SPDEF through the proteasome pathway. As a consequence of CDK11p58
      mediated degradation of SPDEF, this loss of SPDEF protein results in increased
      prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. In contrast, knockdown of CDK11p58
      protein expression by interfering RNA or SPDEF overexpression inhibit migration
      and invasion of cancer cells. We demonstrate that CDK11p58 mediated degradation
      of SPDEF is attenuated by Growth Arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 (GADD45)
      alpha and , two proteins inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. We show that GADD45
      alpha and gamma, directly interact with CDK11p58 and thereby inhibit CDK11p58
      activity, and consequentially SPDEF phosphorylation and degradation, ultimately
      reducing prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. Our findings provide new
      mechanistic insights into the complex regulation of SPDEF activity linked to
      cancer metastasis and characterize a previously unidentified
      SPDEF/CDK11p58/GADD45alpha/gamma pathway that controls SPDEF protein stability
      and SPDEF-mediated effects on cancer cell migration and invasion. 

PMID- 26885619
TI  - MR imaging biomarkers for evaluating therapeutic effects shortly after near
      infrared photoimmunotherapy.
AB  - Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that
      combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity
      induced by photon absorbers after irradiation with NIR light. The purpose of this
      study was to determine if MR imaging can detect changes in the MR properties of
      tumor within several hours of NIR-PIT. A431 cells were injected subcutaneously in
      the right and left dorsi of 12 mice. Six days later, the mice were injected with
      a photon absorber, IR700, conjugated to panitumumab, an antibody targeting
      epidermal growth factor receptor. One day later, only right sided tumor was
      exposed to NIR light (treated tumor). MRI was performed 1 day before and 1-2
      hours after NIR-PIT using gadofosveset for six mice and gadopentetate dimeglumine
      for another six mice. T2 relaxation times, the apparent diffusion coefficient
      (ADC) for the following combinations of b-values: 0-1000, 200-1000 and 500-1000
      s/mm2 and enhancement indices were compared before and after NIR-PIT using a two
      sided paired t-test. For treated tumors, T2 relaxation time increased after NIR
      PIT (p < 0.01) and all three ADC values decreased after NIR-PIT (p < 0.01).
      Moreover, the enhancement area under the curve (AUC) using gadofosveset increased
      after NIR-PIT (p = 0.02). In conclusion, prolongation of T2, reductions in ADC
      and increased enhancement using gadofosveset are seen within 2 hours of NIR-PIT
      treatment of tumors. Thus, MRI can be a useful imaging biomarker for detecting
      early therapeutic changes after NIR-PIT. 

PMID- 26885622
TI  - Multiple Paternity in Urban Norway Rats: Extended Ranging for Mates.
AB  - Norway rats are an abundant synanthropic species in urban settings and serve as
      reservoirs for many pathogens. Attempts to control their populations have met
      with little success. Recent genetic studies suggest that local populations are
      structured and few individuals move significant distances, but there is
      substantial gene flow. To understand these observations and their implications on
      control strategies, we genotyped 722 rats from 20 alleys in Baltimore to
      establish paternity for 180 embryos. Up to 88 males may have contributed to the
      litters. All litters were sired by >=2 males, with an average of 4.9 (range 2-7)
      males. For dams and sires with known locations, most matings (71.7%; n = 46)
      occurred among animals from different alleys. The average distance between sires
      and dams was 114 meters (range 8-352 meters). In 10/17 (58.8%) litters, the
      majority of the identified sires were captured in different alleys than the
      females. Sires were significantly less related to females than were the males
      captured in the females' alleys. Although rats may generally restrict their
      movements, either receptive females and/or breeding males engage in mate-seeking
      behaviors that extend beyond movement patterns at other times. This
      geographically extends the sizes of local populations and buffers them from the
      impacts of control strategies that focus on local infestations.

PMID- 26885623
TI  - The Cure PSP Care Guide: A Telephonic Nursing Intervention for Individuals and
      Families Living With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
AB  - Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare, progressive, and terminal
      neurodegenerative disease characterized by problems with ambulation, balance,
      mobility, vision, speech, swallowing, and behavior during the 7- to 10-year
      course of the illness. Substantial evidence in the nursing literature supports
      the benefits of patient education, self-management, chronic disease management,
      telehealth, and nurse navigation programs, which enhance patient and caregiver
      knowledge, improve day-to-day management by developing an awareness of resources,
      decrease dependence on services, and address caregiver needs. The Cure PSP Care
      Guide is a targeted telehealth nursing intervention aimed at providing knowledge,
      guidance, and resources to the vulnerable individuals and families living with
      PSP; identifying local resources; and building community. During the course of
      two telephone calls, individuals and their caregivers are assessed to develop a
      Cure PSP Care Guide designed to provide guidance along the trajectory. A
      knowledge assessment, self-efficacy scale, and Caregiver Strain Index are
      administered before and after the intervention to determine the program
      intervention effect. Caregiver knowledge assessments improved after the
      intervention, whereas strain scores were static. Qualitative data show the
      ability of the intervention to address caregiver needs for knowledge and support,
      daily management tips, and resource identification. The preliminary quantitative
      and qualitative data collected on this pilot project justify further exploration
      of the use of telehealth to remotely deliver nurse case management to the
      vulnerable individuals and families living with PSP. 

PMID- 26885620
TI  - Expression of androgen receptor in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer predicts
      the preventive effect of androgen deprivation therapy on tumor recurrence.
AB  - Our recent retrospective study revealed a significantly reduced risk of bladder
      cancer (BC) recurrence in men who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for
      their prostate cancer. However, whether androgen receptor (AR) signals
      contributed to the preventive effect of ADT remained unclear because ADT could
      reduce serum estrogens as well. The purpose of this study is to investigate the
      associations between the expression of AR/estrogen receptors (ERs) and BC
      recurrence in patients treated with ADT. We immunohistochemically stained 72 BCs
      and 42 corresponding normal urothelial tissues. AR/ERalpha/ERbeta were positive
      in 44(61%)/22(31%)/39(54%) tumors and 35(83%)/24(57%)/34(81%) corresponding
      normal urothelial tissues, respectively. There were no statistically significant
      correlations between AR/ERalpha/ERbeta expression and clinicopathological
      features of BC. With a median follow-up of 31.3 months, 12 (43%) of 28 patients
      with AR-negative tumor versus 11 (23%) of 44 patients with AR-positive tumor
      experienced BC recurrence. Thus, patients with AR-positive tumor had a
      significantly lower risk of BC recurrence (P=0.031), compared with those with AR
      negative tumor. Meanwhile, the expression of ERalpha/ERbeta in tumors and that of
      AR/ERalpha/ERbeta in normal urothelial tissues were not significantly correlated
      with BC recurrence. A multivariate analysis revealed AR positivity in tumors as
      an independent prognosticator (hazard ratio: 0.27; 95% confidence interval: 0.11
      0.67) for BC recurrence. These results indicate that ADT prevents BC recurrence
      via the AR pathway, but not via the ERalpha/ERbeta pathways. 

PMID- 26885621
TI  - Novel potential serological prostate cancer biomarkers using CT100+ cancer
      antigen microarray platform in a multi-cultural South African cohort.
AB  - There is a growing need for high throughput diagnostic tools for early diagnosis
      and treatment monitoring of prostate cancer (PCa) in Africa. The role of cancer
      testis antigens (CTAs) in PCa in men of African descent is poorly researched.
      Hence, we aimed to elucidate the role of 123 Tumour Associated Antigens (TAAs)
      using antigen microarray platform in blood samples (N = 67) from a South African
      PCa, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and disease control (DC) cohort. Linear
      (fold-over-cutoff) and differential expression quantitation of autoantibody
      signal intensities were performed. Molecular signatures of candidate PCa antigen
      biomarkers were identified and analyzed for ethnic group variation. Potential
      cancer diagnostic and immunotherapeutic inferences were drawn. We identified a
      total of 41 potential diagnostic/therapeutic antigen biomarkers for PCa. By
      linear quantitation, four antigens, GAGE1, ROPN1, SPANXA1 and PRKCZ were found to
      have higher autoantibody titres in PCa serum as compared with BPH where MAGEB1
      and PRKCZ were highly expressed. Also, p53 S15A and p53 S46A were found highly
      expressed in the disease control group. Statistical analysis by differential
      expression revealed twenty-four antigens as upregulated in PCa samples, while 11
      were downregulated in comparison to BPH and DC (FDR = 0.01). FGFR2, COL6A1and
      CALM1 were verifiable biomarkers of PCa analysis using urinary shotgun
      proteomics. Functional pathway annotation of identified biomarkers revealed
      similar enrichment both at genomic and proteomic level and ethnic variations were
      observed. Cancer antigen arrays are emerging useful in potential diagnostic and
      immunotherapeutic antigen biomarker discovery. 

PMID- 26885624
TI  - Identification of Novel Zoonotic Activity of Bartonella spp., France.
AB  - Certain Bartonella species are known to cause afebrile bacteremia in humans and
      other mammals, including B. quintana, the agent of trench fever, and B. henselae,
      the agent of cat scratch disease. Reports have indicated that animal-associated
      Bartonella species may cause paucisymptomatic bacteremia and endocarditis in
      humans. We identified potentially zoonotic strains from 6 Bartonella species in
      samples from patients who had chronic, subjective symptoms and who reported tick
      bites. Three strains were B. henselae and 3 were from other animal-associated
      Bartonella spp. (B. doshiae, B. schoenbuchensis, and B. tribocorum). Genomic
      analysis of the isolated strains revealed differences from previously sequenced
      Bartonella strains. Our investigation identifed 3 novel Bartonella spp. strains
      with human pathogenic potential and showed that Bartonella spp. may be the cause
      of undifferentiated chronic illness in humans who have been bitten by ticks.

PMID- 26885625
TI  - Different contributions of angiostatin and endostatin in angiogenesis impairment
      in systemic sclerosis: a cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the concentrations of circulating endostatin and
      angiostatin in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to assess its
      relationship to disease subsets, evolution phase, organ involvement and nailfold
      capillaroscopic changes. METHODS: Endostatin and angiostatin serum levels were
      measured by ELISA in a cohort of 57 patients with SSc, and correlated with
      disease subsets, evolution phase, organ involvement and nailfold capillaroscopic
      changes. RESULTS: Endostatin and angiostatin serum levels were significantly
      higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls. Also, angiostatin was
      elevated in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), but
      not in pre-SSc, while endostatin was increased in all SSc subsets. Moreover,
      endostatin was augmented in lcSSc, with or without CREST syndrome, whereas
      angiostatin was increased exclusively in patients with CREST. Analysis according
      to disease evolution phase found that endostatin was elevated in all phases while
      angiostatin was only significantly higher in intermediate and late phases of
      disease. Analysis regarding organ involvement revealed that angiostatin was
      significantly higher in patients with osteoarticular involvement and with more
      serious lung affection; no significant differences were found for endostatin.
      Finally, endostatin was significantly increased in all nailfold capillaroscopy
      stages, while angiostatin was only elevated in active and late phases.
      CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with previous studies, we found that endostatin and
      angiostatin concentrations are elevated in SSc patients. Additionally, we
      recognised the important role that endostatin might play as an early disease
      marker and realized that angiostatin is a marker of late disease and relates to
      lung disease severity.

PMID- 26885626
TI  - Probing dopants in wide semiconductor quantum point contacts.
AB  - Effects of randomly distributed impurities on conductance, spin polarization and
      electron localization in realistic gated semiconductor quantum point contacts
      (QPCs) have been simulated numerically. To this end density functional theory in
      the local spin-density approximation has been used. In the case when the donor
      layer is embedded far from the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) the
      electrostatic confinement potential exhibits the conventional parabolic form, and
      thus the usual ballistic transport phenomena take place both in the devices with
      split gates alone and with an additional metallic gate on the top. In the
      opposite case, i.e. when the randomly distributed donors are placed not far away
      from the 2DEG layer, there are drastic changes like the localization of electrons
      in the vicinity of confinement potential minima which give rise to fluctuations
      in conductance and resonances. The conductance as a function of the voltage
      applied to the top gate for asymmetrically charged split gates has been
      calculated. In this case resonances in conductance caused by randomly distributed
      donors are shifted and decrease in amplitude while the anomalies caused by
      interaction effects remain unmodified. It has been also shown that for a wide QPC
      the polarization can appear in the form of stripes. The importance of partial
      ionization of the random donors and the possibility of short range order among
      the ionized donors are emphasized. The motivation for this work is to critically
      evaluate the nature of impurities and how to guide the design of high-mobility
      devices. 

PMID- 26885627
TI  - Modulating foveal representation can influence visual discrimination in the
      periphery.
AB  - A previous study by Williams et al. (2008) provided evidence for a novel form of
      feedback in the visual system, whereby peripheral information is contained in
      foveal retinotopic cortex. Beyond its possible implication for peripheral object
      recognition, few studies have examined the effect of a direct behavioral
      manipulation of the foveal feedback representation. To address this question, we
      measured participants' peripheral visual discrimination performance while
      modulating their foveal representation in a series of psychophysical experiments.
      On each trial, participants discriminated the identities of briefly presented
      novel, three-dimensional objects or the orientations of gratings in a peripheral
      location while fixating at the center. Besides the peripheral target, another
      stimulus (foil) was also presented and masked at the fovea. Our results showed
      that for objects, when the foveal foil that was identical to the peripheral
      target was presented 150 ms after the onset of the peripheral target, visual
      discrimination of the peripheral target was improved. This congruency effect
      occurred even though participants did not consciously perceive the foveal
      stimulus. No such effect was observed when the foveal foil was presented
      simultaneously with the peripheral target, or when the foil was presented in a
      parafoveal location. The foil effect in gratings was different from that in
      objects in terms of its effective timing and foveal specificity, suggesting that
      foveal feedback may be specific to high-level objects. These results indicate
      that modulating foveal information can affect individuals' ability to
      discriminate peripheral objects, suggesting a functional role of foveal
      representations in peripheral visual perception. 

PMID- 26885629
TI  - Priming in a shape task but not in a category task under continuous flash
      suppression.
AB  - Continuous flash suppression (CFS) is an interocular suppression technique that
      uses high-contrast masks flashed to one eye to prevent conscious perception of
      images shown to the other eye. It has become widely used due to its strength and
      prolonged duration of suppression and its nearly deterministic control of
      suppression onset and offset. Recently, it has been proposed that action-relevant
      visual processing ascribed to the dorsal stream remains functional, while
      processing in the ventral stream is completely suppressed, when stimuli are
      invisible under CFS. Here we tested the hypothesis that the potentially dorsal
      stream-based analysis of prime-stimulus elongation during CFS affects the
      categorization of manipulable target objects. In two behavioral experiments, we
      found evidence for priming in a shape task, but none for priming in a category
      task, when prime stimuli were rendered invisible using CFS. Our results thus
      support the notion that the representation of CF-suppressed stimuli is more
      limited than previously thought. 

PMID- 26885630
TI  - Functionalized C@TiO2 hollow spherical architecture for multifunctional
      applications.
AB  - Hierarchical anatase titania (TiO2) with a hollow spherical architecture
      decorated with functionalized carbon dots (C(F)@THS) was synthesized by a
      solvothermal decomposition of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) in the presence of
      a solution mixture containing thiourea and citric acid. Interestingly, the
      concomitant presence of thiourea and citric acid has been found to be essential
      to obtain such hierarchical hollow architecture because individual constituents
      produced non-hollow spheres when hydrothermally treated with TTIP. The co
      existence of these two constituents also accelerates the growth of hollow
      spheres. BET surface area study of C(F)@THS revealed the existence of a slit like
      mesoporosity with a surface area value of 81 m(2) g(-1). Time dependent FESEM and
      TEM studies confirmed the formation of nanoflake like structures in the
      intermediate stages followed by the growth of a hollow spherical architecture. We
      proposed that these nanoflakes get accumulated on the bubble surface to form such
      hollow spherical morphology. The PL spectral study and Raman shift of the as
      prepared C(F)@THS confirmed the presence of functionalized graphitic C dots on
      the surface. A thorough XPS analysis was conducted to explore the nature and
      relative atomic concentration of the functional groups (-COOH, -CONH2, -NH2).
      This C(F)@THS sample showed very fast and selective dye (methylene blue and
      methyl violet) adsorption ability (even from a mixture of two different dye
      solutions) due to these delta-site containing functional groups on the surface.
      As C(F)@THS showed only two times reusability for adsorption, the dye adsorbed
      C(F)@THS was calcined at 450  degrees C in air to yield organic free anatase TiO2
      hollow spheres (THS) with a retention of the original structure. THS was recycled
      as an efficient and a reusable photocatalyst (k = 9.36 * 10(-2) min(-1)) as well
      as a photoanode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) having Jsc value of 19.58
      mA cm(-2) with overall efficiency of 6.48%.

PMID- 26885628
TI  - Degraded attentional modulation of cortical neural populations in strabismic
      amblyopia.
AB  - Behavioral studies have reported reduced spatial attention in amblyopia, a
      developmental disorder of spatial vision. However, the neural populations in the
      visual cortex linked with these behavioral spatial attention deficits have not
      been identified. Here, we use functional MRI-informed electroencephalography
      source imaging to measure the effect of attention on neural population activity
      in the visual cortex of human adult strabismic amblyopes who were stereoblind. We
      show that compared with controls, the modulatory effects of selective visual
      attention on the input from the amblyopic eye are substantially reduced in the
      primary visual cortex (V1) as well as in extrastriate visual areas hV4 and hMT+.
      Degraded attentional modulation is also found in the normal-acuity fellow eye in
      areas hV4 and hMT+ but not in V1. These results provide electrophysiological
      evidence that abnormal binocular input during a developmental critical period may
      impact cortical connections between the visual cortex and higher level cortices
      beyond the known amblyopic losses in V1 and V2, suggesting that a deficit of
      attentional modulation in the visual cortex is an important component of the
      functional impairment in amblyopia. Furthermore, we find that degraded
      attentional modulation in V1 is correlated with the magnitude of interocular
      suppression and the depth of amblyopia. These results support the view that the
      visual suppression often seen in strabismic amblyopia might be a form of
      attentional neglect of the visual input to the amblyopic eye. 

PMID- 26885631
TI  - Incidence of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Using Gadobenate Dimeglumine in 1423
      Patients With Renal Insufficiency Compared With Gadodiamide.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of nephrogenic
      systemic fibrosis (NSF) before and after educational interventions,
      implementation of a clinical screening process, and change to gadobenate
      dimeglumine in patients who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of
      30 mL/min per 1.72 m or less. METHODS: This is a Health Insurance Portability and
      Accountability Act compliant, institutional review board exempt study. Two
      periods were studied-July 2005 to June 2006, during which gadodiamide was
      utilized as our magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent, and November 2006 to
      August 2014, during which gadobenate dimeglumine was used as our MR contrast
      agent in patients who had an eGFR 30 mL/min per 1.72 m or less. In addition to a
      change in the MR contrast agent, education of our staff physician to the risks of
      NSF with MR contrast agents and the implementation of a clinical screening
      process occurred. The rate of NSF before and after the interventions was compared
      using the chi test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in
      the incidence of NSF in patients with an eGFR 30 mL/min per 1.72 m or less
      between the 2 periods: July 2005 to June 2006, 6 of 246 patients were diagnosed
      with NSF (P < 0.001), versus November 2006 to August 2014, 0 of 1423 patients
      were diagnosed with NSF. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrates a marked decrease in
      the incidence of NSF after education of our referring physicians, implementation
      of clinical screening process, and change to gadobenate dimeglumine from
      gadodiamide in patients with renal insufficiency. This approach potentially
      provides an acceptable risk-benefit profile for patients with renal insufficiency
      that required MR imaging for clinical care.

PMID- 26885632
TI  - Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System v2014 With Gadoxetate Disodium-Enhanced
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Validation of LI-RADS Category 4 and 5 Criteria.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to validate the Liver Imaging Reporting and
      Data System (LI-RADS) v2014 category 4 (LR-4) and 5 (LR-5) criteria on gadoxetate
      disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with chronic liver
      disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January and December 2012, 300 patients
      with chronic liver disease who had hepatic nodules 3.0 cm or smaller at
      surveillance ultrasonography and gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI were included.
      LI-RADS category was retrospectively assigned to each nodule on MRI. Final
      diagnosis was assessed using pathologic diagnosis only (operation or core-needle
      biopsy) or pathologic and clinical diagnosis (marginal recurrence after treatment
      or a change in lesion size on follow-up imaging). To validate the LR-4 and LR-5
      criteria, the sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and false referral
      rate for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma were examined. RESULTS: Based on
      major imaging features only, 137 nodules were initially assigned as LR-3, but 133
      (97.1%) were upgraded into LR-4 by the presence of ancillary features. Excluding
      the remaining 4 LR-3 and 3 LR-M nodules, we analyzed 379 nodules in 294 patients,
      consisting of 211 LR-4 and 168 LR-5 nodules. Using pathologic diagnosis only, the
      sensitivity and PPV with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LR-5 were higher than
      those for LR-4 (57.3% [50.6-63.7] vs 42.7% [36.3-49.4]; 94.6% [89.0-97.5] vs
      82.0% [73.7-88.1]), with a lower false referral rate (5.4% [2.5-11.0] vs 18.0%
      [11.9-26.3]). Using pathologic and clinical diagnosis, PPV and 95% CI for LR-5
      were higher than that for LR-4 (95.2% [90.7-97.7] vs 79.1% [73.1-84.1]), whereas
      sensitivity and 95% CI for LR-5 was similar to that for LR-4 (48.9% [43.6-54.3]
      vs 51.1% [45.7-56.4]). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic liver disease, LR-5
      criteria on gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI had excellent PPV for diagnosing
      hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas LR-4 criteria showed good PPV, but are only of
      limited use.

PMID- 26885633
TI  - Highly efficient CuxO/TiO2 catalysts: controllable dispersion and isolation of
      metal active species.
AB  - Porous Cu(x)O/TiO2 architectures with enhanced dispersion of the active phase are
      synthesized by a facile MOF-templated method. Such a unique composite would
      furnish excellent catalytic activity for CO oxidation under relatively mild
      conditions.

PMID- 26885634
TI  - Rumpel-Leede Phenomenon Associated With Tourniquet-like Forces of Baby Carriers
      in Otherwise Healthy Infants: Baby Carrier Purpura.

PMID- 26885635
TI  - Evidences of Changes in Surface Electrostatic Charge Distribution during
      Stabilization of HPV16 Virus-Like Particles.
AB  - The stabilization of human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles has been
      examined by means of different techniques including dynamic and static light
      scattering, transmission electron microscopy and electrophoretic mobility. All
      these techniques provide different and often complementary perspectives about the
      aggregation process and generation of stabilized virus-like particles after a
      period of time of 48 hours at a temperature of 298 K. Interestingly, static light
      scattering results point towards a clear colloidal instability in the initial
      systems, as suggested by a negative value of the second virial coefficient. This
      is likely related to small repulsive electrostatic interactions among the
      particles, and in agreement with relatively small absolute values of the
      electrophoretic mobility and, hence, of the net surface charges. At this initial
      stage the small repulsive interactions are not able to compensate binding
      interactions, which tend to aggregate the particles. As time proceeds, an
      increase of the size of the particles is accompanied by strong increases, in
      absolute values, of the electrophoretic mobility and net surface charge,
      suggesting enhanced repulsive electrostatic interactions and, consequently, a
      stabilized colloidal system. These results show that electrophoretic mobility is
      a useful methodology that can be applied to screen the stabilization factors for
      virus-like particles during vaccine development. 

PMID- 26885636
TI  - Adaptations to Speed Endurance Training in Highly Trained Soccer Players.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present study examined whether a period of additional speed
      endurance training would improve intense intermittent exercise performance in
      highly trained soccer players during the season and whether the training changed
      aerobic metabolism and the level of oxidative enzymes in type I and type II
      muscle fibers. METHODS: During the last 9 wk of the season, 13 semiprofessional
      soccer players performed additional speed endurance training sessions consisting
      of two to three sets of 8-10 repetitions of 30-m sprints with 10 s of passive
      recovery (SET). Before and after SET, subjects completed a double-step exercise
      protocol that included transitions from standing to moderate-intensity running
      (~75% HRmax), followed by transitions from moderate- to high-intensity running
      (~90% HRmax) in which pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2) was determined. In addition,
      the yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 was performed, and a muscle biopsy
      was obtained at rest. RESULTS: The yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1
      performance was 11.6% +/- 6.4% (mean +/- SD) better (2803 +/- 330 vs 3127 +/- 383
      m, P < 0.05) after SET compared with before SET. In the transition from standing
      to moderate-intensity running, phase II pulmonary VO2 kinetics was 11.4% +/-
      16.5% faster (P < 0.05), and the running economy at this intensity was 2.3% +/-
      3.0% better (P < 0.05). These improvements were apparent despite the content of
      muscle proteins regulating oxidative metabolism (3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase,
      COX IV, and OXPHOS), and capillarization was reduced (P < 0.05). The content of 3
      hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase and citrate synthase in type I and type II fibers
      did not change. CONCLUSION: In highly trained soccer players, additional speed
      endurance training is associated with an improved ability to perform repeated
      high-intensity work. To what extent the training-induced changes in VO2 kinetics
      and mechanical efficiency in type I fibers caused the improvement in performance
      warrants further investigation.

PMID- 26885637
TI  - Skeletal Muscle Erythropoietin Expression Is Responsive to Hypoxia and Exercise.
AB  - PURPOSE: Erythropoietin is responsible for regulating the growth and development
      of red blood cells. Reports conflict on whether skeletal muscle is able to
      produce erythropoietin and release it into circulation and if exercise affects
      this. We set out to determine how erythropoietin is regulated in skeletal muscle
      and to determine whether skeletal muscle-derived erythropoietin can stimulate
      erythropoiesis. METHODS: Using an in vitro approach, we exposed proliferating and
      differentiated skeletal muscle cells to various forms of exercise-induced
      physiological stimuli and measured erythropoietin gene expression. To understand
      if skeletal muscle cells were able to stimulate erythropoiesis, independent of
      other cell types found in skeletal muscle, we used myoblast-conditioned media to
      treat bone marrow and to measure erythropoiesis through flow cytometry. We also
      measured erythropoietin expression and hypoxia in mice subjected to an exercise
      protocol designed to induce skeletal muscle oxygen stress. RESULTS: Hypoxia
      increased erythropoietin expression in C2C12 myoblasts, myotubes, and primary
      myoblasts in vitro by 50% to 130%. Bone marrow treated with media conditioned
      with hypoxic myoblasts for 24 h increased the number of Ter-119-positive cells by
      32%. An erythropoietin-neutralizing antibody prevented this increase. Compared
      with unexercised controls, exhaustive exercise increased skeletal muscle
      HIF1alpha levels by 50% and HIF2alpha levels by 20%. Moreover, exercised skeletal
      muscle erythropoietin expression was 70% higher. CONCLUSION: These results
      demonstrate that skeletal muscle produces erythropoietin in a hypoxia and HIF
      dependent manner and that hypoxia-treated muscle is capable of stimulating
      erythropoiesis in vitro.

PMID- 26885639
TI  - Correction: Quantification of the Blood Platelet Reactivity in the ADP-Induced
      Model of Non-Lethal Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Mice with the Use of Laser
      Doppler Flowmetry.

PMID- 26885638
TI  - Ovariectomized Highly Fit Rats Are Protected against Diet-Induced Insulin
      Resistance.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In the absence of exercise training, rats selectively bred for high
      intrinsic aerobic capacity (high-capacity running (HCR)) are protected against
      ovariectomy (OVX)-induced insulin resistance (IR) and obesity compared with those
      bred for low intrinsic aerobic capacity (low-capacity running (LCR)). PURPOSE:
      This study determined whether OVX HCR rats remain protected with exposure to high
      fat diet (HFD) compared with OVX LCR rats. METHODS: Female HCR and LCR rats (n =
      36; age, 27-33 wk) underwent OVX and were randomized to a standard chow diet (NC,
      5% kcal fat) or HFD (45% kcal fat) ad libitum for 11 wk. Total energy
      expenditure, resting energy expenditure, spontaneous physical activity (SPA), and
      glucose tolerance were assessed midway, whereas fasting circulating metabolic
      markers, body composition, adipose tissue distribution, and skeletal muscle
      adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mitochondrial
      markers were assessed at sacrifice. RESULTS: Both HCR and LCR rats experienced
      HFD-induced increases in total and visceral adiposity after OVX. Despite similar
      gains in adiposity, HCR rats were protected from HFD-induced IR and reduced total
      energy expenditure observed in LCR rats (P < 0.05). This metabolic protection was
      likely attributed to a compensatory increase in SPA and associated preservation
      of skeletal muscle AMPK activity in HCR; however, HFD significantly reduced SPA
      and AMPK activity in LCR (P < 0.05). In both lines, HFD reduced citrate synthase
      activity, gene expression of markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (tFAM, NRF1, and
      PGC-1alpha), and protein levels of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
      complexes I, II, IV, and V in skeletal muscle (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After
      OVX, HCR and LCR rats differentially respond to HFD such that HCR increase while
      LCR decrease SPA. This "physical activity compensation" likely confers protection
      from HFD-induced IR and reduced energy expenditure in HCR rats.

PMID- 26885641
TI  - Eight New Species of Charinus Simon, 1892 (Arachnida: Amblypygi: Charinidae)
      Endemic for the Brazilian Amazon, with Notes on Their Conservational Status.
AB  - Eight new species of Charinus Simon, 1892 are described for the Brazilian Amazon,
      from the states of Para (C. bichuetteae sp. n., C. bonaldoi sp. n., C. carajas
      sp. n., C. ferreus sp. n., C. guto sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n.) and Amazonas
      (Charinus brescoviti sp. n. and C. ricardoi sp. n.). All new species can be
      differentiated from the other species of the genus by the number of pseudo
      articles in basitibia IV, the presence/absence of median eyes, and the shape of
      the female gonopod. Brazil now becomes the country with the largest diversity of
      Amblypygi in the world, with 25 known species. Half of the new species described
      here have a high degree of endangerment: C. bichuetteae sp. n. is threatened by
      the flood caused by the hydroelectric dam of Belo Monte, and C. carajas sp. n.,
      C. ferreus sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n. are endangered by the iron mining in
      Carajas municipality and surroundings. The Charinus species here described are
      endemic to the Amazon Region, so in order to assure their preservation, it is
      strongly recommended a special care with their habitats (type localities) which
      are facing increasing rates of destruction and deforestation. 

PMID- 26885642
TI  - Erratum to: Dietary intake in Japanese patients with kidney transplantation.

PMID- 26885640
TI  - Multiscale Modeling in the Clinic: Drug Design and Development.
AB  - A wide range of length and time scales are relevant to pharmacology, especially
      in drug development, drug design and drug delivery. Therefore, multiscale
      computational modeling and simulation methods and paradigms that advance the
      linkage of phenomena occurring at these multiple scales have become increasingly
      important. Multiscale approaches present in silico opportunities to advance
      laboratory research to bedside clinical applications in pharmaceuticals research.
      This is achievable through the capability of modeling to reveal phenomena
      occurring across multiple spatial and temporal scales, which are not otherwise
      readily accessible to experimentation. The resultant models, when validated, are
      capable of making testable predictions to guide drug design and delivery. In this
      review we describe the goals, methods, and opportunities of multiscale modeling
      in drug design and development. We demonstrate the impact of multiple scales of
      modeling in this field. We indicate the common mathematical and computational
      techniques employed for multiscale modeling approaches used in pharmacometric and
      systems pharmacology models in drug development and present several examples
      illustrating the current state-of-the-art models for (1) excitable systems and
      applications in cardiac disease; (2) stem cell driven complex biosystems; (3)
      nanoparticle delivery, with applications to angiogenesis and cancer therapy; (4)
      host-pathogen interactions and their use in metabolic disorders, inflammation and
      sepsis; and (5) computer-aided design of nanomedical systems. We conclude with a
      focus on barriers to successful clinical translation of drug development, drug
      design and drug delivery multiscale models.

PMID- 26885644
TI  - Characterization of MazF-Mediated Sequence-Specific RNA Cleavage in Pseudomonas
      putida Using Massive Parallel Sequencing.
AB  - Under environmental stress, microbes are known to alter their translation
      patterns using sequence-specific endoribonucleases that we call RNA interferases.
      However, there has been limited insight regarding which RNAs are specifically
      cleaved by these RNA interferases, hence their physiological functions remain
      unknown. In the current study, we developed a novel method to effectively
      identify cleavage specificities with massive parallel sequencing. This approach
      uses artificially designed RNAs composed of diverse sequences, which do not form
      extensive secondary structures, and it correctly identified the cleavage sequence
      of a well-characterized Escherichia coli RNA interferase, MazF, as ACA. In
      addition, we also determined that an uncharacterized MazF homologue isolated from
      Pseudomonas putida specifically recognizes the unique triplet, UAC. Using a real
      time fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, the UAC triplet was further
      proved to be essential for cleavage in P. putida MazF. These results highlight an
      effective method to determine cleavage specificity of RNA interferases. 

PMID- 26885647
TI  - Prediction of Phenotypic Effects of Variants Observed in LOC_Os04g36720 of FRO1
      Gene in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).
AB  - In rice, ferric-chelate reductase-1 (FRO1) (LOC_Os04g36720) gene was present on
      chromosome number 4 and its beginning and ending coordinates where coding
      sequence lies are 22182599 and 22186943, respectively. It plays a vital role in
      metal homeostasis and iron transportation in plants. Based on the alignment
      results, location of single-nucleotide variants is located in open reading frame
      and their effects of variants were predicted using SIFT sequence tool. The non
      synonymous variants at position 342 and 436 lies in helical and coil parts of the
      protein, respectively, as predicted by Psi-pred server. PSI-Blast which resulted
      in significant hits and the most similar protein sequence (Accession ID:
      NP_001052896) with available sequence features displayed 100 % identity with
      query cover of 99 %. Results suggest the non-synonymous variant at position 436
      (Accession ID: TBGI204002) lies in FAD-binding domain and nsSNV at position 342
      (Accession ID: TBGI203998) lies in periphery of NADP. The SNPs were also analyzed
      for the deleterious effect by PANTHER subPSEC scores and I-mutant score, and it
      was postulated that SNPs would be hampering on biological as well as molecular
      function of FRO 1 gene of rice. A cutoff of -3 corresponds to a 50 % probability
      that a score is deleterious. From this, the probability that a given variant will
      cause a deleterious effect on protein function is estimated by P deleterious,
      such that a subPSEC score of -4 corresponds to a P deleterious of 0.79. Hence, to
      study the phenotypic consequences of variant TBGI204002, we performed comparative
      molecular docking studies of native modeled protein and protein with induced
      mutation as receptors and FAD as ligand to be utilized for binding. The docking
      process was performed by AutoDock 4.2 software with Lamarckian Genetic algorithm
      as computational algorithm. Results suggest binding energies are higher in case
      of mutation-induced protein which suggests presence of variant TBGI204002
      enhances binding of FAD ligand at FAD-binding domain site. In case of TBGI203998,
      similar comparative docking procedure was performed with FAD as binding ligand,
      which suggests presence of variant does not impact FAD binding at the domain
      site. We revealed impact of SNPs on the protein structure and its function using
      sequence-based tools.

PMID- 26885649
TI  - Erratum to: 1-Year outcome of concomitant intracarpal lesions in patients with
      dislocated distal radial fractures: a systematic assessment of 78 distal radial
      fractures.

PMID- 26885643
TI  - Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Prostate: Emerging Insights from Molecular Data and
      Updates to the 2016 World Health Organization Classification.
AB  - Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the prostate represent a multifarious group of tumors
      that exist both in pure forms and associated with prostatic adenocarcinoma.
      Morphologically, neuroendocrine cells in prostate neoplasms can range from being
      indistinguishable from surrounding prostate adenocarcinoma cells to having high
      grade neuroendocrine appearances similar to neuroendocrine malignancies of other
      organs. On the molecular level, neuroendocrine malignancies arising in the
      setting of prostate adenocarcinoma have been the subject of a large amount of
      recent research, most of which has supported the conclusion that neuroendocrine
      malignancy within the prostate develops as a transdifferentiation from prostate
      adenocarcinoma. There has not, however, been substantial investigation into rare,
      pure neuroendocrine malignancies and the possibility that these tumors may have a
      different cell of origin and molecular genesis. Here, we discuss the morphologic
      spectrum of malignant neuroendocrine prostate neoplasms and review the most
      recent molecular data on the subject of malignant neuroendocrine differentiation
      in prostatic adenocarcinoma. In reflection of the most recent data, we also
      discuss diagnostic classification of prostate neuroendocrine tumors with
      reference to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We discuss
      the reporting of these tumors, placing emphasis on the differentiation between
      pure and mixed neuroendocrine malignancies so that, in the least, they can be
      easily identified for the purposes of future clinical and laboratory-based
      investigation. Finally, we suggest a designation for an unclassifiable (or not
      otherwise specified) high-grade neuroendocrine prostate malignancy whose features
      do not easily place it into one of the WHO diagnostic entities. 

PMID- 26885650
TI  - Recent advances in the clinical management of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu
      arteritis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article critically reviews the advances in medical
      management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with a
      focus on recent developments in targeted biologic therapy. RECENT FINDINGS: The
      role of biologics in the treatment of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is expanding.
      TNFalpha inhibitors appear to be effective in the treatment of TAK but have
      little benefit in GCA. Preliminary clinical trial data suggest that abatacept and
      tocilizumab reduce the risk of relapse in GCA. Increasing observational evidence
      supports the use of interleukin-6 inhibitors in TAK. Based on a small open-label
      study, ustekinumab appears safe and potentially effective for refractory GCA. A
      possible role of B cell dysregulation may contribute to pathogenic mechanisms in
      LVV, but support for the use of B cell depleting therapy is limited. SUMMARY:
      Interleukin-6 inhibitors appear efficacious in the treatment of refractory cases
      of LVV; however, utility in newly diagnosed immunosuppressive-naive patients is
      less well established. Abatacept and ustekinumab are promising targets for
      therapy in LVV but further investigation is needed before routine use is
      considered.

PMID- 26885645
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for High Grade Glioma in Usual
      Clinical Practice: A Prospective Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: During the last decade, the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has
      been steadily increasing in neurosurgery. The study's main objectives were to
      prospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 5-ALA when used in
      clinical practice setting on high-grade gliomas' patients. METHODS: National,
      multicenter and prospective observational study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: authorized
      conditions of use of 5-ALA. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: contraindication to 5-ALA,
      inoperable or partial resected tumors, pregnancy and children. Epidemiological,
      clinical, laboratory, radiological, and safety data were collected. Effectiveness
      was assessed using complete resection of the tumor, and progression-free and
      overall survival probabilities. RESULTS: Between May 2010 and September 2014, 85
      patients treated with 5-ALA were included, and 77 were suitable for the
      effectiveness analysis. Complete resection was achieved in 41 patients (54%).
      Surgeons considered suboptimal the fluorescence of 5-ALA in 40% of the patients
      assessed. The median duration of follow-up was 12.3 months. The progression-free
      survival probability at 6 months was 58%. The median duration overall survival
      was 14.2 months. Progression tumor risk factors were grade of glioma, age and
      resection degree; and death risk factors were grade of glioma and gender. No
      severe adverse effects were reported. At one month after surgery, new or
      increased neurological morbidity was 6.5%. Hepatic enzymes were frequently
      increased within the first month after surgery; however, they subsequently
      normalized, and this was found to have no clinical significance. CONCLUSION: In
      clinical practice, the 5-ALA showed a good safety profile, but the benefits
      related to 5-ALA have not been yet clearly shown. The improved differentiation
      expected by fluorescence between normal and tumor cerebral tissue was suboptimal
      in a relevant number of patients; in addition, the expected higher degree of
      resection was lower than in clinical trials as well as incomplete resection was
      not identified as a prognostic factor risk for death. Because optimal
      fluorescence was correlated to higher complete resection rate, further research
      is needed to identify patients (or tumors) with more surgery benefits when using
      the 5-ALA.

PMID- 26885651
TI  - Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals--is it time to act?

PMID- 26885654
TI  - Predicting Essential Metabolic Genome Content of Niche-Specific Enterobacterial
      Human Pathogens during Simulation of Host Environments.
AB  - Microorganisms have evolved to occupy certain environmental niches, and the
      metabolic genes essential for growth in these locations are retained in the
      genomes. Many microorganisms inhabit niches located in the human body, sometimes
      causing disease, and may retain genes essential for growth in locations such as
      the bloodstream and urinary tract, or growth during intracellular invasion of the
      hosts' macrophage cells. Strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella
      spp. are thought to have evolved over 100 million years from a common ancestor,
      and now cause disease in specific niches within humans. Here we have used a
      genome scale metabolic model representing the pangenome of E. coli which contains
      all metabolic reactions encoded by genes from 16 E. coli genomes, and have
      simulated environmental conditions found in the human bloodstream, urinary tract,
      and macrophage to determine essential metabolic genes needed for growth in each
      location. We compared the predicted essential genes for three E. coli strains and
      one Salmonella strain that cause disease in each host environment, and determined
      that essential gene retention could be accurately predicted using this approach.
      This project demonstrated that simulating human body environments such as the
      bloodstream can successfully lead to accurate computational predictions of
      essential/important genes. 

PMID- 26885652
TI  - [Subintimal recanalization. Indications, technique and results].
AB  - CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: This article gives an overview of the current
      importance of so-called subintimal recanalization in the lower extremities.
      STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: The primary technical goal of endovascular
      interventions in the lower extremities is the endoluminal restoration of blood
      circulation from the iliac arteries into the feet. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: If
      endoluminal recanalization of e.g. high-grade flow-relevant stenoses or chronic
      total occlusion (CTO) is technically not possible, subintimal recanalization is a
      promising option and the only remaining minimally invasive alternative. During
      subintimal recanalization a channel is intentionally generated in the vessel wall
      (dissection) in order to bypass e. g. a chronic vascular occlusion over as short
      a distance as possible. PERFORMANCE: The technical success rate for subintimal
      recanalization of CTO of the lower extremities is 65-100 %. Technical failure
      occurs in approximately 25 % using the catheter and wire technique and is caused
      in most cases by difficulties in reaching the true lumen after the subintimal
      passage (the so-called re-entry). ACHIEVEMENTS: Compared to conventional
      subintimal recanalization, in recent years so-called re-entry devices have
      expanded the technical possibilities and depending on the medical experience and
      training level of the physician, provide an improvement in the technical success
      rate, a lower complication rate, a reduction of fluoroscopy time and the amount
      of necessary contrast medium but also result in higher costs. PRACTICAL
      RECOMMENDATIONS: Subintimal recanalization, whether carried out conventionally
      with a catheter and wire or using re-entry devices, of high-grade stenoses or CTO
      in the lower extremities provides a high technical success rate but requires an
      experienced and trained physician who is capable of operating the elaborate
      materials and mastering any possible complications.

PMID- 26885655
TI  - Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Peaches and Pumpkins.
AB  - The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was used to optimize the
      extraction of phenolic compounds from pumpkins and peaches. The response surface
      methodology (RSM) was used to study the effects of three independent variables
      each with three treatments. They included extraction temperatures (30, 40 and 50
      degrees C), ultrasonic power levels (30, 50 and 70%) and extraction times (10, 20
      and 30 min). The optimal conditions for extractions of total phenolics from
      pumpkins were inferred to be a temperature of 41.45 degrees C, a power of 44.60%
      and a time of 25.67 min. However, an extraction temperature of 40.99 degrees C,
      power of 56.01% and time of 25.71 min was optimal for recovery of free radical
      scavenging activity (measured by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)
      reduction). The optimal conditions for peach extracts were an extraction
      temperature of 41.53 degrees C, power of 43.99% and time of 27.86 min for total
      phenolics. However, an extraction temperature of 41.60 degrees C, power of 44.88%
      and time of 27.49 min was optimal for free radical scavenging activity (judged by
      from DPPH reduction). Further, the UAE processes were significantly better than
      solvent extractions without ultrasound. By electron microscopy it was concluded
      that ultrasonic processing caused damage in cells for all treated samples
      (pumpkin, peach). However, the FTIR spectra did not show any significant changes
      in chemical structures caused by either ultrasonic processing or solvent
      extraction. 

PMID- 26885653
TI  - [Drug-coated balloons in the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
      History and current level of evidence].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite initially encouraging technical success after femoropopliteal
      PTA, restenosis remains the major challenge in patients with peripheral artery
      disease (PAD). The main cause of restenosis is neointimal hyperplasia which can
      be suppressed by antiproliferative drugs. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) or drug
      eluting stents (DES) are used for the inhibition of restenosis. OBJECTIVES: The
      present article gives an overview of DCB development, actual DCB systems for
      femoro- and infrapopliteal use, displays the outcomes of randomized clinical
      trials and the discusses the evidence for the DCB treatment in PAD. METHODS: A
      systematic literature search was performed in i) medical journals (i. e.
      MEDLINE), ii) in international registers for clinical studies (i. e.
      www.clinicaltrials.gov ) and in iii) scientific session abstracts. RESULTS: The
      clinical evidence of the PTX-DCB of the first and following generation has been
      shown in several controlled randomized trials. CONCLUSIONS: Major advantages of
      the DCBs lie in leaving no stent scaffold behind, the immediate release of high
      drug concentrations with a single dosage, their efficacy in areas, where stents
      have been contra-indicated until now and its use for secondary interventions. As
      their effect seems to be limited in severely calcified lesions, prior plaque
      preconditioning or removal could be advantageous. First positive results data
      supporting this hypothesis do exist.

PMID- 26885656
TI  - Hemodynamic monitoring in the era of digital health.
AB  - Digital innovations are changing medicine, and hemodynamic monitoring will not be
      an exception. Five to ten years from now, we can envision a world where
      clinicians will learn hemodynamics with simulators and serious games, will
      monitor patients with wearable or implantable sensors in the hospital and after
      discharge, will use medical devices able to communicate and integrate the
      historical, clinical, physiologic and biological information necessary to predict
      adverse events, propose the most rationale therapy and ensure it is delivered
      properly. Considerable intellectual and financial investments are currently made
      to ensure some of these new ideas and products soon become a reality. 

PMID- 26885658
TI  - Reservoir Sedimentation and Upstream Sediment Sources: Perspectives and Future
      Research Needs on Streambank and Gully Erosion.
AB  - The future reliance on water supply and flood control reservoirs across the globe
      will continue to expand, especially under a variable climate. As the inventory of
      new potential dam sites is shrinking, construction of additional reservoirs is
      less likely compared to simultaneous flow and sediment management in existing
      reservoirs. One aspect of this sediment management is related to the control of
      upstream sediment sources. However, key research questions remain regarding
      upstream sediment loading rates. Highlighted in this article are research needs
      relative to measuring and predicting sediment transport rates and loading due to
      streambank and gully erosion within a watershed. For example, additional instream
      sediment transport and reservoir sedimentation rate measurements are needed
      across a range of watershed conditions, reservoir sizes, and geographical
      locations. More research is needed to understand the intricate linkage between
      upland practices and instream response. A need still exists to clarify the
      benefit of restoration or stabilization of a small reach within a channel system
      or maturing gully on total watershed sediment load. We need to better understand
      the intricate interactions between hydrological and erosion processes to improve
      prediction, location, and timing of streambank erosion and failure and gully
      formation. Also, improved process-based measurement and prediction techniques are
      needed that balance data requirements regarding cohesive soil erodibility and
      stability as compared to simpler topographic indices for gullies or stream
      classification systems. Such techniques will allow the research community to
      address the benefit of various conservation and/or stabilization practices at
      targeted locations within watersheds. 

PMID- 26885657
TI  - The novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine, PBOX-15, synergistically enhances the
      apoptotic efficacy of imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumours; suggested
      mechanism of action of PBOX-15.
AB  - The C-KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is constitutively activated in the majority of
      gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Imatinib (IM) a selective inhibitor of C
      KIT, is indicated for the treatment of KIT-positive unresectable and/or
      metastatic GIST, and has tripled the survival time of patients with metastatic
      GIST. However, the majority of patients develop IM-resistance and progress.
      Although IM elicits strong antiproliferative effects, it fails to induce
      sufficient levels of apoptosis; acquired IM-resistance and disease recurrence
      remain an issue, a more effective drug treatment is greatly needed. We examined
      the effect of a novel microtubule-targeting agent (MTA), pyrrolo-1,5
      benzoxazepine (PBOX)-15 in combination with IM on GIST cells. PBOX-15 decreased
      viability and in combination with IM synergistically enhanced apoptosis in both
      IM-sensitive and IM-resistant GIST cells, decreased the anti-apoptotic protein
      Mcl-1, and enhanced activation of pro-caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. The
      combination treatment also led to an enhanced inhibition of C-KIT-phosphorylation
      and inactivation of C-KIT-dependent signalling in comparison to either drug
      alone; CDC37, a key regulator of C-KIT in GIST was also dramatically decreased.
      Furthermore, PBOX-15 reduced CKII expression, an enzyme which regulates the
      expression of CDC37. In conclusion, our findings indicate the potential of PBOX
      15 to improve the apoptotic response of IM in GIST cells and provide a more
      effective treatment option for GIST patients. 

PMID- 26885659
TI  - Nonadherence to immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients: can
      technology help?
AB  - End-stage kidney disease is a life-threatening condition that compels patients to
      accept either dialysis or transplant. Kidney transplantation is the best choice
      for patients with end-stage kidney disease because it ensures higher quality of
      life and longer survival rates than other choices, with less cost for the
      healthcare system. However, in order for renal recipients to maintain the
      functioning graft they must take lifelong immunosuppressive medications, with
      possible side effects and low medication adherence. It is known that low
      medication adherence in kidney transplant recipients may cause poor outcomes,
      chronic graft rejection, and graft failure. In this review, the authors give an
      overview of nonadherence in the transplant setting. In addition, they analyze the
      role of different technologies as an aid to improve adherence, with a focus on
      mobile-phone based solutions to monitor and enhance kidney transplant recipient
      compliance. 

PMID- 26885661
TI  - Macroscopic morphology for estimation of malignant potential in pancreatic
      neuroendocrine neoplasm.
AB  - PURPOSE: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (Pan-NEN) representing approximately
      1.3 % of pancreatic malignancy cases in incidence has been a so rare disease that
      it remains major problem to analyze the malignant potential. The aim of this
      study was to verify whether the macroscopic morphology of Pan-NEN, a novel
      pathological classification, contributes to malignant potential. METHODS: From a
      total of 86 patients with Pan-NEN, 41 surgical sections obtained from the primary
      site were classified by their morphology into a simple nodular (SN) group and a
      non-SN group. The non-SN group was further divided into three subtypes: simple
      nodular with extranodular growth (SNEG), confluent multinodular (CM), and
      infiltrative (IF). The clinicopathological features of the SN and the non-SN
      groups were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival rates with
      and without surgical resection were 94 and 48 %, respectively. SN and non-SN
      types were identified in 21 and 20 patients, respectively. The non-SN group
      comprised 14 SNEG type, 2 CM type, and 4 IF type. Synchronous lymph node
      metastases (p = 0.009), synchronous liver metastases (p = 0.048), microinvasion
      to an adjacent organ (p < 0.001), vascular invasion (p = 0.023), and neural
      invasion (p = 0.019) were more significant in the non-SN group than in the SN
      group. As judged by WHO 2004 classification and TNM stages (AJCC and ENETS), non
      SN type showed malignant trend (p < 0.05). Moreover, overall 5-year survival
      rates of SN and non-SN groups were 100 and 84.4 %, respectively (p = 0.048).
      CONCLUSIONS: Non-SN tumors may have higher malignant potential than SN tumors.

PMID- 26885662
TI  - Prospective assessment of time-dependent changes in quality of life of Japanese
      patients with prostate cancer following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
AB  - The objective of this study was to characterize changes in the quality of life
      (QOL) of Japanese patients following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).
      This study included 298 consecutive localized prostate cancer (PC) patients
      undergoing RARP. The health-related QOL and disease-specific QOL were assessed
      using The Medical Outcomes Study 8-Item Short Form (SF-8) and The Extended
      Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), respectively, before and 1, 3, 6, 12 and
      24 months after RARP. At 1 month after RARP, four (physical function, role
      limitations because of physical health problems, social function and role
      limitations because of emotional problems) of the eight scores in SF-8 were
      significantly impaired compared with those of baseline scores. However, all eight
      scores on all postoperative assessments, except for at 1 month after RARP, showed
      no significant differences from baseline scores. Although there were no
      significant differences in the bowel function, bowel bother, sexual bother,
      hormonal function or hormonal bother between baseline and postoperative
      assessments of EPIC at all time points, the urinary function, urinary
      incontinence and sexual function scores at 1, 3 and 6 months after RARP were
      significantly inferior to those of baseline scores, and urinary bother and
      urinary irritation/obstruction scores at 1 month after RARP were significantly
      impaired compared with those of baseline scores. These findings suggest that the
      health-related QOL of Japanese PC patients undergoing RARP may not be markedly
      deteriorated following RARP; however, as for the disease-specific QOL, urinary
      and sexual functions, particularly those early after RARP, appeared to be
      significantly impaired. 

PMID- 26885663
TI  - Functional Characterization of the Tau Class Glutathione-S-Transferases Gene
      (SbGSTU) Promoter of Salicornia brachiata under Salinity and Osmotic Stress.
AB  - Reactive oxygen or nitrogen species are generated in the plant cell during the
      extreme stress condition, which produces toxic compounds after reacting with the
      organic molecules. The glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymes play a significant
      role to detoxify these toxins and help in excretion or sequestration of them. In
      the present study, we have cloned 1023 bp long promoter region of tau class GST
      from an extreme halophyte Salicornia brachiata and functionally characterized
      using the transgenic approach in tobacco. Computational analysis revealed the
      presence of abiotic stress responsive cis-elements like ABRE, MYB, MYC, GATA, GT1
      etc., phytohormones, pathogen and wound responsive motifs. Three 5'-deletion
      constructs of 730 (GP2), 509 (GP3) and 348 bp (GP4) were made from 1023 (GP1)
      promoter fragment and used for tobacco transformation. The single event
      transgenic plants showed notable GUS reporter protein expression in the leaf
      tissues of control as well as treated plants. The expression level of the GUS
      gradually decreases from GP1 to GP4 in leaf tissues, whereas the highest level of
      expression was detected with the GP2 construct in root and stem under control
      condition. The GUS expression was found higher in leaves and stems of salinity or
      osmotic stress treated transgenic plants than that of the control plants, but,
      lower in roots. An efficient expression level of GUS in transgenic plants
      suggests that this promoter can be used for both constitutive as well as stress
      inducible expression of gene(s). And this property, make it as a potential
      candidate to be used as an alternative promoter for crop genetic engineering. 

PMID- 26885665
TI  - Proteinaceous Pheromone Homologs Identified from the Cloacal Gland Transcriptome
      of a Male Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum.
AB  - Pheromones play an important role in modifying vertebrate behavior, especially
      during courtship and mating. Courtship behavior in urodele amphibians often
      includes female exposure to secretions from the cloacal gland, as well as other
      scent glands. The first vertebrate proteinaceous pheromone discovered, the
      decapeptide sodefrin, is a female attracting pheromone secreted by the cloacal
      gland of male Cynops pyrrhogaster. Other proteinaceous pheromones in salamanders
      have been shown to elicit responses from females towards conspecific males. The
      presence and levels of expression of proteinaceous pheromones have not been
      identified in the family Ambystomatidae, which includes several important
      research models. The objective of this research was therefore to identify
      putative proteinaceous pheromones from male axolotls, Ambystoma mexicanum, as
      well as their relative expression levels. The results indicate that axolotls
      possess two different forms of sodefrin precursor-like factor (alpha and beta),
      as well as a putative ortholog of plethodontid modulating factor. The beta form
      of sodefrin precursor-like factor was amongst the most highly expressed
      transcripts within the cloacal gland. The ortholog of plethodontid modulating
      factor was expressed at a level equivalent to the beta sodefrin precursor-like
      factor. The results are from a single male axolotl; therefore, we are unable to
      assess how representative our results may be. Nevertheless, the presence of these
      highly expressed proteinaceous pheromones suggests that male axolotls use
      multiple chemical cues to attract female conspecifics. Behavioral assays would
      indicate whether the putative protein pheromones elicit courtship activity from
      female axolotls. 

PMID- 26885666
TI  - Registered report: Kinase-dead BRAF and oncogenic RAS cooperate to drive tumor
      progression through CRAF.
AB  - The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns
      about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of
      selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer
      biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on
      the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This
      Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from
      "Kinase-dead BRAF and oncogenic RAS cooperate to drive tumor progression through
      CRAF" by Heidorn and colleagues, published in Cell in 2010 (Heidorn et al.,
      2010). The experiments to be replicated are those reported in Figures 1A, 1B, 3A,
      3B, and 4D. Heidorn and colleagues report that paradoxical activation of the RAF
      RAS-MEK-ERK pathway by BRAF inhibitors when applied to BRAF(WT) cells is a result
      of BRAF/CRAF heterodimer formation upon inactivation of BRAF kinase activity, and
      occurs only in the context of active RAS. The Reproducibility Project: Cancer
      Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science
      Exchange, and the results of the replications will be published by eLife. 

PMID- 26885668
TI  - Role of Fanconi anemia/BRCA pathway genes in hepatocellular carcinoma
      chemoresistance.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the expression of DNA repair genes and the impact of the
      breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1) protein on chemoresistance of hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Microarray gene expression datasets were analyzed using
      the gene set enrichment analysis method. BRCA1 protein was tested by Western
      blotting. Response of HCC cells to interstrand cross-links was investigated by
      cell viability assay following exposure to mitomycin C, cisplatin, and melphalan.
      Effects of BRCA1 ectopic expression were studied in HepG2 cells with BRCA1
      expression plasmids. Effects of BRCA1 downregulation were studied in SNU449 cells
      with BRCA1-specific siRNAs. Response of transfected SNU449 cells to mitomycin C
      was analyzed by cell viability tests and cell cycle analysis using flow
      cytometry. RESULTS: Expression of Fanconi anemia and double-stranded DNA break
      repair genes was significantly upregulated in HCC tumors. This upregulation
      displayed a gradual amplification during tumor progression. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
      were among consistently upregulated genes. Epithelial-like HCC cells had low
      BRCA1 expression and low chemoresistance, whereas mesenchymal-like HCC cells had
      high BRCA1 expression and increased chemoresistance. Ectopic expression of BRCA1
      increased the chemoresistance of epithelial-like HepG2 cells. Conversely, BRCA1
      knockdown chemosensitized mesenchymal-like SNU449 cells. Chemosensitization of
      SNU449 cells was due to cell cycle arrest at 4N stage. CONCLUSION: Increased
      expression of Fanconi anemia and double-stranded DNA repair genes such as BRCA1
      is a novel mechanism of HCC chemoresistance. However, functional inactivation of
      BRCA1 expression is sufficient to reverse such chemoresistance.

PMID- 26885664
TI  - Omega-3 fatty acids as an adjunct for periodontal therapy-a review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to present an overview of omega-3 fatty
      acids, their anti-inflammatory properties and potential use as an adjunct for
      periodontal therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A general literature search was
      conducted to provide an overview of omega-3 fatty acids, their metabolism and
      anti-inflammatory properties. A more specific literature search of PubMed and
      EMBASE was conducted to identify articles dealing studies investigating the
      effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of periodontitis in animals and
      humans and included cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention designs.
      RESULTS: To date, there is good emerging evidence that dietary supplementation
      with fish oil may be of some benefit and this is enhanced if combined with
      aspirin. All clinical intervention studies to date have been on small sample
      sizes, and this indicates there is need for larger and more robust clinical
      trials to verify these initial findings. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation
      with fish oil could be a cost-effective adjunctive therapy to the management of
      periodontal disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The host modulatory properties of omega
      3 fatty acids warrant further assessment of their use as an adjunct in the
      management of periodontitis.

PMID- 26885669
TI  - The promise and perils of big data in healthcare.

PMID- 26885670
TI  - Longitudinal adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe adherence with United States Preventive Services Task
      Force (USPSTF) colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommendations over a 10-year
      period in a large, continuously insured screening population at average risk for
      CRC. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective claims database analysis. METHODS: Insured
      members (N = 151,638) who turned 50 years old between January 1, 2000, and
      December 31, 2004, and were at average risk for CRC were included in the
      analysis. Subjects were categorized as adherent, inadequately screened, or
      screening-naive based on their level of adherence with USPSTF CRC screening
      guidelines. Outcomes considered were age at initial CRC screening and CRC
      screening tests received over the 10-year period. RESULTS: Of the 151,638
      subjects in the cohort, only 97,518 (64%) were adherent with current CRC
      screening recommendations. An additional 18,050 (12%) were considered
      inadequately screened and 36,070 (24%) were screening-naive. In those subjects
      who received some form of CRC screening, the average age at screening initiation
      was 53 years--3 years past the age recommended by current guidelines. Of those
      subjects who were inadequately screened, nearly half (46%) received only 1 fecal
      occult blood or fecal immunochemical test over the 10-year period. CONCLUSIONS:
      In a sample of continuously insured average-risk individuals aged 50 to 54 years,
      CRC screening was initiated later and performed less frequently than recommended
      in USPSTF guidelines.

PMID- 26885671
TI  - The value of value-based insurance design: savings from eliminating drug co
      payments.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cost impact of a $0 co-pay prescription drug program
      implemented by a large healthcare employer as a part of its employee wellness
      program. STUDY DESIGN: A $0 co-pay program that included approximately 200
      antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and antilipid medications was offered to
      Geisinger Health System (GHS) employees covered by Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) in
      2007. Claims data from GHP for the years 2005 to 2011 were obtained. The sample
      was restricted to continuously enrolled members with Geisinger primary care
      providers throughout the study period. METHODS: The intervention group, defined
      as 2251 GHS employees receiving any of the drugs eligible for $0 co-pay, was
      propensity score matched based on 2 years of pre-intervention claims data to a
      comparison group, which was defined as 3857 non-GHS employees receiving the same
      eligible drugs at the same time. Generalized linear models were used to estimate
      differences in terms of per-member-per-month (PMPM) claims amounts related to
      prescription drugs and medical care. RESULTS: Total healthcare spending (medical
      plus prescription drug spending) among the GHS employees was lower by $144 PMPM
      (13%; 95% CI, $38-$250) during the months when they were taking any of the
      eligible drugs. Considering the drug acquisition cost and the forgone co-pay, the
      estimated return on investment over a 5-year period was 1.8. CONCLUSIONS: This
      finding suggests that VBID implementation within the context of a wider employee
      wellness program targeting the appropriate population can potentially lead to
      positive cost savings.

PMID- 26885672
TI  - Characterizing health plan price estimator tools: findings from a national
      survey.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Policy makers have growing interest in price transparency and in the
      kinds of tools available to consumers. Health plans have implemented price
      estimator tools that make provider pricing information available to members;
      however, systematic data on prevalence and characteristics of such tools are
      limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of price
      estimator tools offered by health plans to their members and to identify
      potential trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing the utility of
      these tools. STUDY DESIGN: National Web-based survey. METHODS: Between 2014 and
      2015, we conducted a national Web-based survey of health plans with commercial
      enrollment (100 plans, 43% response rate). Descriptive analyses were conducted
      using survey data. RESULTS: Health plan members have access to a variety of price
      estimator tool capabilities for commonly used procedures. These tools take into
      account member characteristics, including member zip code and benefit design.
      Despite outreach to members, however, challenges remain with respect to member
      uptake of such tools. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that health plans share price
      and provider performance data with their members.

PMID- 26885673
TI  - Continuity of care and changes in medication adherence among patients with newly
      diagnosed diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have revealed significant variation in medication
      adherence among patients with chronic conditions. Little is known about the
      effect of continuity of care (COC) on changes in medication adherence. This study
      aims to identify medication adherence trajectories among patients with newly
      diagnosed diabetes, as well as to examine the association of COC and medication
      adherence among various adherence trajectories. METHODS: This study utilized a
      longitudinal design with a 6-year follow-up, from 2002 to 2008, under a universal
      health insurance program in Taiwan. Subjects 18 years or older with type 2
      diabetes that was newly diagnosed in 2002 were included in the study. The main
      outcome was medication adherence measured by medication possession ratio each
      year. Group-based trajectory models were used for analysis. RESULTS: Four
      medication adherence trajectories were identified: persistent adherence (39.9%),
      increasing adherence (27.5%), decreasing adherence (12.0%), and nonadherence
      (20.6%). Patients with high or medium COC index scores were more likely to be
      adherent to medications than those with low COC index scores in all of the
      trajectory adherence groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the
      heterogeneity in patients' medication adherence and identified 4 distinct
      trajectories of medication adherences among those with newly diagnosed type 2
      diabetes. Improving COC may lead to better medication adherence in all of the
      adherence trajectory groups.

PMID- 26885667
TI  - Activation of the Nrf2 Cell Defense Pathway by Ancient Foods: Disease Prevention
      by Important Molecules and Microbes Lost from the Modern Western Diet.
AB  - The Nrf2 (NFE2L2) cell defense pathway protects against oxidative stress and
      disorders including cancer and neurodegeneration. Although activated modestly by
      oxidative stress alone, robust activation of the Nrf2 defense mechanism requires
      the additional presence of co-factors that facilitate electron exchange. Various
      molecules exhibit this co-factor function, including sulforaphane from
      cruciferous vegetables. However, natural co-factors that are potent and widely
      available from dietary sources have not been identified previously. The
      objectives of this study were to investigate support of the Nrf2 cell defense
      pathway by the alkyl catechols: 4-methylcatechol, 4-vinylcatechol, and 4
      ethylcatechol. These small electrochemicals are naturally available from numerous
      sources but have not received attention. Findings reported here illustrate that
      these compounds are indeed potent co-factors for activation of the Nrf2 pathway
      both in vitro and in vivo. Each strongly supports expression of Nrf2 target genes
      in a variety of human cell types; and, in addition, 4-ethylcatechol is orally
      active in mice. Furthermore, findings reported here identify important and
      previously unrecognized sources of these compounds, arising from
      biotransformation of common plant compounds by lactobacilli that express phenolic
      acid decarboxylase. Thus, for example, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus
      brevis, and Lactobacillus collinoides, which are consumed from a diet rich in
      traditionally fermented foods and beverages, convert common phenolic acids found
      in fruits and vegetables to 4-vinylcatechol and/or 4-ethylcatechol. In addition,
      all of the alkyl catechols are found in wood smoke that was used widely for food
      preservation. Thus, the potentially numerous sources of alkyl catechols in
      traditional foods suggest that these co-factors were common in ancient diets.
      However, with radical changes in food preservation, alkyl catechols have been
      lost from modern foods. The absence of alkyl catechols from the modern Western
      diet suggests serious negative consequences for Nrf2 cell defense, resulting in
      reduced protection against multiple chronic diseases associated with oxidative
      stress. 

PMID- 26885674
TI  - Global Progress and Challenges in Implementing New Medications for Treating
      Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.
AB  - Two new drugs-bedaquiline and delamanid-have recently been approved by stringent
      regulatory authorities to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and
      recommended by the World Health Organization for use under defined programmatic
      conditions. Introducing the medications in TB programs worldwide has not kept
      pace with the need for these drugs. In response, the DR-TB STAT (Drug-Resistant
      TB Scale-up Treatment Action Team) task force was formed in April 2015 to monitor
      progress and help overcome challenges. Information was collected from multiple
      sources and assessed monthly. Some progress has been made in introducing
      bedaquiline: as of October 2015, a total of 1,258 persons were on the medication
      under programmatic conditions. For delamanid, >100 patients, but few under
      programmatic conditions, have received the medication. Coordinated global action
      might help assist making these medications accessible for persons who need them
      most.

PMID- 26885676
TI  - The interplay of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and commensal E. coli: the importance
      of strain-level identification.

PMID- 26885677
TI  - Surgical Site Infection Rates in Seven Cities in Vietnam: Findings of the
      International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare
      associated infections (HAI) in lower-income countries. This is the first study to
      report the results of surveillance on SSI stratified by surgical procedure in
      seven Vietnamese cities. METHODS: This was a prospective, active SSI surveillance
      study conducted from November 2008-December 2010 in seven hospitals using the
      U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety
      Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions and methods. Surgical procedures (SPs) were
      classified into 26 types according to the International Classification of
      Diseases Edition 9 criteria. RESULTS: We recorded 241 SSIs, associated with 4,413
      SPs (relative risk [RR] 5.5%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 4.8-6.2). The
      highest SSI rates were found for limb amputation (25%), colon surgery (33%), and
      small bowel surgery (21%). Compared with CDC-NHSN SSI report, our SSI rates were
      higher for the following SPs: Limb amputation (25% vs. 1.3%; RR 20.0; p = 0.001);
      appendix surgery (8.8% vs. 3.5%; RR 2.54; 95% CI 1.3-5.1; p = 0.001); gallbladder
      surgery (13.7% vs. 1.7%; RR 7.76; 95% CI 1.9-32.1; p = 0.001); colon surgery
      (18.2% vs. 4.0%; RR 4.56; 95% CI 2.0-10.2; p = 0.001); open reduction of fracture
      (15.8% vs. 3.4%; RR 4.70, 95% CI 1.5-15.2; p = 0.004); gastric surgery (7.3% vs.
      1.7%; RR 4.26; 95% CI 2.2-8.4, p = 0.001); kidney surgery (8.9% vs. 0.9%; RR
      10.2; 95% CI 3.8-27.4; p = 0.001); prostate surgery (5.1% vs. 0.9%; RR 5.71; 95%
      CI 1.9-17.4; p = 0.001); small bowel surgery (20.8% vs. 6.7%; RR 3.07; 95% CI 1.7
      5.6; p = 0.001); thyroid or parathyroid surgery (2.4% vs. 0.3%; RR 9.27; 95% CI
      1.0-89.1; p = 0.019); and vaginal hysterectomy (14.3% vs. 1.2%; RR 12.3; 95% CI
      1.7-88.4; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our SSIs rates were significantly higher for
      11 of the 26 types of SPs than for the CDC-NHSN. This study advances our
      knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Vietnam and will allow us to introduce targeted
      interventions.

PMID- 26885675
TI  - Evaluating the Role of Cellular Immune Responses in the Emergence of HCV NS3
      Resistance Mutations During Protease Inhibitor Therapy.
AB  - The efficacy of protease inhibitor drugs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment is
      limited by the selection and expansion of drug-resistant mutations. HCV
      replication is error-prone and genetic variability within the dominant epitopes
      ensures its persistence. The aims of this study are to evaluate the role of
      cellular immune response in the emergence of HCV protease resistance mutations
      and its effects on treatment outcome. Ten chronically HCV-infected subjects were
      treated with boceprevir (BOC)-based triple therapy. HCV-RNA was tested for BOC
      resistance-associated viral variants. HCV protease resistance mutations were
      investigated pretreatment and 24 weeks post-treatment. Synthetic peptides
      representing the wild-type and the potential nonstructural (NS)3 variants were
      used to evaluate T cell responses and human leukocyte antigen binding. Sustained
      viral response was achieved in 70% of patients, two patients were treatment
      nonresponders (NRs) and one was classified as a relapse. Pretreatment, the
      proportion of drug-resistant variants within individuals was higher in sustained
      viral responders (SVRs) than in NR patients. However, resistance-associated
      variants increased in NRs after BOC combined triple therapy. In contrast to NR
      patients, significant stronger cell-mediated immune responses were observed at
      the baseline among those who achieved sustained viral response for all T cell
      epitopes tested. Despite the increase in cell-mediated immune responses at week
      24 in NRs, they failed to control the virus replication, leading to development
      of overt drug-resistant variants. Our data suggest that strong NS3-specific T
      cell immune responses at the baseline may predict a positive outcome of directly
      acting antiviral-based therapy, and the presence of pre-existent resistance
      mutations does not play a significant role in the outcome of anti-HCV combined
      therapy.

PMID- 26885678
TI  - One-Pot and Facile Fabrication of Hierarchical Branched Pt-Cu Nanoparticles as
      Excellent Electrocatalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.
AB  - Hierarchical branched nanoparticles are one promising nanostructure with three
      dimensional open porous structure composed of integrated branches for superior
      catalysis. We have successfully synthesized Pt-Cu hierarchical branched
      nanoparticles (HBNDs) with small size of about 30 nm and composed of integrated
      ultrathin branches by using a modified polyol process with introduction of
      poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and HCl. This strategy is expected to be a general
      strategy to prepare various metallic nanostructures for catalysis. Because of the
      special open porous structure, the as-prepared Pt-Cu HBNDs exhibit greatly
      enhanced specific activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction as much as 2.5
      and 1.7 times compared with that of the commercial Pt-Ru and Pt-Ru/C catalysts,
      respectively. Therefore, they are potentially applicable as electrocatalysts for
      direct methanol fuel cells. 

PMID- 26885679
TI  - In vitro maturation alters gene expression in bovine oocytes.
AB  - Gene expression profiling of in vivo- and in vitro-matured bovine oocytes can
      identify transcripts related to the developmental potential of oocytes.
      Nonetheless, the effects of in vitro culturing oocytes are yet to be fully
      understood. We tested the effects of in vitro maturation on the transcript
      profile of oocytes collected from Bos taurus indicus cows. We quantified the
      expression of 1488 genes in in vivo- and in vitro-matured oocytes. Of these, 51
      genes were up-regulated, whereas 56 were down-regulated (>=2-fold) in in vivo
      matured oocytes in comparison with in vitro-matured oocytes. Quantitative real
      time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nine genes confirmed the microarray
      results of differential expression between in vivo- and in vitro-matured oocytes
      (EZR, EPN1, PSEN2, FST, IGFBP3, RBBP4, STAT3, FDPS and IRS1). We interrogated the
      results for enrichment of Gene Ontology categories and overlap with protein
      protein interactions. The results revealed that the genes altered by in vitro
      maturation are mostly related to the regulation of oocyte metabolism.
      Additionally, analysis of protein-protein interactions uncovered two regulatory
      networks affected by the in vitro culture system. We propose that the
      differentially expressed genes are candidates for biomarkers of oocyte
      competence. In vitro oocyte maturation can affect the abundance of specific
      transcripts and are likely to deplete the developmental competence. 

PMID- 26885680
TI  - Association of spinal degenerative disc disease with thyroid autoimmunity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Autoimmune thyroiditis (ATD) has been linked to various forms of
      arthritis. The relationship with spinal degenerative disc disease (DDD) is not
      known. We studied the association between ATD and spinal DDD. METHODS: We
      performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients who had data on both anti
      thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)
      from January 1997 to January 2014 in Clinical Looking Glass (CLG), a data
      analysis software platform. Spinal DDD was confirmed by radiological diagnosis.
      RESULTS: Of the 7698 patients for whom the TPOAb and TgAb values were available,
      4383 patients with complete data for the following covariates; age, gender, race,
      ethnicity, smoking, diabetes, body mass index and thyroid stimulating hormone
      (TSH) levels, were included. Thirty-three percent had ATD, while 67% did not. The
      unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of having spinal DDD with ATD was 1.5 (95% confidence
      interval (CI)1.3, 1.7), p<0.001. After adjustment for covariates, ATD remained
      associated with a higher frequency of spinal DDD, OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.6, 2.2),
      p<0.001. Stratifying by BMI and TSH levels showed similar results. Additional
      analyses excluding patients with known connective tissue diseases and
      spondyloarthritis (SpA) also showed consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: ATD is
      associated with increased frequency of spinal DDD independent of BMI and TSH
      levels, and among those without connective tissue diseases or SpA. This finding
      suggests that there may be an important link between thyroid autoimmunity and
      spinal DDD.

PMID- 26885681
TI  - Prospective Study of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) with
      Ginsenoside Rg3 versus TACE Alone for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - Purpose To conduct a single-center, open-label, randomized, controlled trial to
      compare the effectiveness and safety of (a) ginsenoside Rg3 combined with
      transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and (b) TACE alone in patients
      with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods This trial
      was approved by the Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital ethics committee and was
      registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-TRC-11001643). After
      informed consent was obtained, 228 patients with advanced HCC (Barcelona Clinic
      Liver Cancer stage C) were randomly assigned to receive an Rg3 capsule and
      undergo TACE (n = 152; mean age +/- standard deviation, 52.4 years +/- 11.8;
      84.2% men) or undergo TACE alone (n = 76; mean age, 52.4 years +/- 10.4; 82.9%
      men). TACE was performed by using iodized oil with epirubicin and gelatin sponge
      after oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil were infused. The primary end point was
      overall survival. Secondary end points included time to progression, time to
      untreatable progression, disease control rate, and safety. Data were compared
      with the log-rank test, and survival curves were generated with the Kaplan-Meier
      method. Results Median overall survival was 13.2 months (95% confidence interval
      [CI]: 11.15, 15.26) in the TACE with Rg3 group and 10.1 months (95% CI: 9.14,
      11.06) in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.63 [95% CI: 0.46, 0.85]; P = .002).
      Median time to progression (4.3 vs 3.2 months, respectively; P = .151) and median
      time to untreatable progression (8.3 vs 7.3 months, respectively; P = .063) were
      similar in the two groups. Disease control rate was 69.7% in the TACE with Rg3
      group versus 51.3% in the control group (P = .012). Constipation and epistaxis
      were more frequent in the Rg3 with TACE group (P < .05). Importantly, Rg3
      alleviated some TACE-related adverse syndromes and blood anomalies. Conclusion In
      patients with advanced HCC and adequate liver function, the combination of TACE
      and ginsenoside Rg3 may prolong overall survival when compared with TACE alone.
      ((c)) RSNA, 2016. 

PMID- 26885682
TI  - Stiffness Value and Serum Biomarkers in Liver Fibrosis Staging: Study in Large
      Surgical Specimens in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.
AB  - Purpose To investigate the capabilities of stiffness value and serum biomarkers
      in the staging of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with
      pathologic findings in large surgical specimens serving as the reference
      standard. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional
      review board, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Liver
      stiffness (determined by means of ultrasonography-based elastography point
      quantification), aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index (APRI), and
      fibrosis index (based on the four-factor Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4] calculation) were
      obtained in 386 patients with CHB. With pathologic fibrosis stages in large
      surgical specimens as the reference standard, capabilities and cutoffs of
      stiffness and serum biomarkers were first investigated in a cohort of 284
      patients and then validated in an independent cohort of 102 patients by means of
      area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis. Results
      Liver stiffness demonstrated significantly stronger correlation with fibrosis
      stages than did APRI and FIB-4 (r = 0.738 vs r = 0.477 vs r = 0.427,
      respectively; P < .05 for all). In the development cohort, liver stiffness had
      significantly higher AUCs in identifying fibrosis of stage 1 or higher, stage 2
      or higher, stage 3 or higher, and stage 4 or higher (0.97, 0.96, 0.91, and 0.87,
      respectively) than APRI (0.89, 0.84, 0.73, and 0.74, respectively) and FIB-4
      (0.82, 0.79, 0.70, and 0.72, respectively). In the validation cohort, liver
      stiffness was validated as showing significantly higher AUCs in identifying
      fibrosis of stage 1 or higher, stage 2 or higher, stage 3 or higher, and stage 4
      or higher (0.99, 0.95, 0.89, and 0.88, respectively) than APRI (0.83, 0.76, 0.78,
      and 0.68, respectively) and FIB-4 (0.76, 0.69, 0.75, and 0.67, respectively).
      Conclusion Liver stiffness demonstrated considerable capability in identifying
      each stage of liver fibrosis in patients with CHB, whereas serum biomarkers
      showed limited capabilities. ((c)) RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is
      available for this article.

PMID- 26885683
TI  - Is the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivor at Risk for Late Effects? It
      Depends on Where You Look.
AB  - PURPOSE: The adolescent and young adult (AYA) population is a growing group of
      survivors, exceeding more than 600,000, at high risk for late effects of cancer
      directed therapy. While many guidelines exist for cancer survivorship care,
      choosing which to use for an AYA cancer survivor is challenging, yet vital, to
      ensure comprehensive follow-up care. METHODS: Survivorship care plans (SCPs),
      including treatment summaries (TS) and follow-up care plans, were created for
      three clinical vignettes (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Hodgkin
      lymphoma). Four sets of guidelines were used, including the Children's Oncology
      Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines (COG LTFU), National Comprehensive Cancer
      Network (NCCN) Guidelines for Age- Related Recommendations: AYA Oncology (NCCN
      AYA), NCCN Guidelines for Treatment of Cancer by Site (NCCN-Site), and NCCN
      Guidelines for Supportive Care: Survivorship (NCCN-Survivorship) and NCCN
      supplemental cancer screening guidelines. The follow-up care plans were compared
      across guidelines to determine the extent and nature of the similarities and
      differences concerning AYA cancer survivorship care. RESULTS: The guidelines
      disagree on the link between treatment exposures and late effects, the population
      to be screened, the screening test to be used, and the time interval of testing.
      Specific examples of this include screening for cardiac toxicity, breast cancer,
      and neurocognitive deficits. CONCLUSIONS: While many guidelines exist for AYA
      survivorship care, there is discordance among the recommendations. This has
      significant implications for the long-term follow-up care of an AYA survivor.
      This study offers solutions to harmonize guidelines in order to ensure
      comprehensive quality survivorship care for this population.

PMID- 26885684
TI  - Gallium as a Therapeutic Agent: A Thermodynamic Evaluation of the Competition
      between Ga(3+) and Fe(3+) Ions in Metalloproteins.
AB  - Gallium has been employed (in the form of soluble salts) to fight various forms
      of cancer, infectious, and inflammatory diseases. The rationale behind this lies
      in the ability of Ga(3+) cation to mimic closely in appearance the native ferric
      ion, Fe(3+), thus interfering with the biological processes requiring ferric
      cofactors. However, Ga(3+) ion cannot participate in redox reactions and, when
      substituting for the "native" Fe(3+) ion in the enzyme active site, renders it
      inactive. Although a significant body of information on the Ga(3+)-Fe(3+)
      competition in biological systems has been accumulated, the intimate mechanism of
      the process is still not well understood and several questions remain: What are
      the basic physical principles governing the competition between the two trivalent
      cations in proteins? What type of metal centers are the most likely targets for
      gallium therapy? To what extent are the Fe(3+)-binding sites in the key enzyme
      ribonucleotide reductase vulnerable to Ga(3+) substitution? Here, we address
      these questions by studying the competition between Ga(3+) and Fe(3+) ions in
      model metal binding sites of various compositions and charge states. The results
      obtained are in line with available experimental data and shed light on the
      intimate mechanism of the Ga(3+)/Fe(3+) selectivity in various model metal
      binding sites and biological systems such as serum transferrin and ribonucleotide
      reductase. 

PMID- 26885685
TI  - Medical record keeping and system performance in orthopaedic trauma patients.
AB  - Objective The medical record is critical for documentation and communication
      between healthcare professionals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate
      important aspects of the orthopaedic medical record and system performance to
      determine whether any deficiencies exist in these areas. Methods Review of 200
      medical records of surgically treated traumatic lower limb injury patients was
      undertaken. The operative report, discharge summary and first and second
      outpatient reviews were evaluated. Results In all cases, an operative report was
      completed by a senior surgeon. Weight-bearing status was adequately documented in
      91% of reports. Discharge summaries were completed for 82.5% of admissions, with
      87.3% of these having instructions reflective of those in the operative report.
      Of first and second outpatient reviews, 69% and 73%, respectively, occurred
      within 1 week of the requested time. Previously documented management plans were
      changed in 30% of reviews. At 6-months post-operatively, 42% of patients had been
      reviewed by a member of their operating team. Discussion Orthopaedic medical
      record documentation remains an area for improvement. In addition, hospital out
      patient systems perform suboptimally and may affect patient outcomes. What is
      known about the topic? Medical records are an essential tool in modern medical
      practice. Despite the importance of comprehensive documentation in the medical
      record, numerous examples of poor documentation have been demonstrated, including
      substandard documentation during consultant ward rounds by junior doctors leading
      to a breakdown in healthcare professional communication and potential patient
      mismanagement. Further inadequacies of medical record documentation have been
      demonstrated in surgical discharge notes, with complete and correct documentation
      reported to be as low as 65%. What does this paper add? Standards of patient care
      should be constantly monitored and deficiencies identified in order to implement
      a remedy and close the quality loop. The present study has highlighted that the
      standard of orthopaedic trauma medical record keeping at an Australian Level 1
      trauma centre is below what is expected and several key areas of documentation
      require improvement. This paper further evaluates the system performance of the
      out-patient system, an area where, to the authors knowledge, there is no previous
      work published. The findings show that the performance was below what is expected
      for surgical review, with many patients failing to be reviewed by their operating
      surgeon. What are the implications for practitioners? The present study shows
      that there is a poor level of documentation and a standard of out-patient review
      below what is expected. The implications of these findings will be to highlight
      current deficiencies to practitioners and promote change in current practice to
      improve the quality of medical record documentation among medical staff. Further,
      the findings of poor system performance will promote change in the current system
      of delivering out-patient care to patients.

PMID- 26885687
TI  - Controlled Low-Pressure Blast-Wave Exposure Causes Distinct Behavioral and
      Morphological Responses Modelling Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic
      Stress Disorder, and Comorbid Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-Post-Traumatic Stress
      Disorder.
AB  - The intense focus in the clinical literature on the mental and neurocognitive
      sequelae of explosive blast-wave exposure, especially when comorbid with post
      traumatic stress-related disorders (PTSD) is justified, and warrants the design
      of translationally valid animal studies to provide valid complementary basic
      data. We employed a controlled experimental blast-wave paradigm in which
      unanesthetized animals were exposed to visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile
      effects of an explosive blast-wave produced by exploding a thin copper wire. By
      combining cognitive-behavioral paradigms and ex vivo brain MRI to assess mild
      traumatic brain injury (mTBI) phenotype with a validated behavioral model for
      PTSD, complemented by morphological assessments, this study sought to examine our
      ability to evaluate the biobehavioral effects of low-intensity blast overpressure
      on rats, in a translationally valid manner. There were no significant differences
      between blast- and sham-exposed rats on motor coordination and strength, or
      sensory function. Whereas most male rats exposed to the blast-wave displayed
      normal behavioral and cognitive responses, 23.6% of the rats displayed a
      significant retardation of spatial learning acquisition, fulfilling criteria for
      mTBI-like responses. In addition, 5.4% of the blast-exposed animals displayed an
      extreme response in the behavioral tasks used to define PTSD-like criteria,
      whereas 10.9% of the rats developed both long-lasting and progressively worsening
      behavioral and cognitive "symptoms," suggesting comorbid PTSD-mTBI-like
      behavioral and cognitive response patterns. Neither group displayed changes on
      MRI. Exposure to experimental blast-wave elicited distinct behavioral and
      morphological responses modelling mTBI-like, PTSD-like, and comorbid mTBI-PTSD
      like responses. This experimental animal model can be a useful tool for
      elucidating neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of blast-wave
      induced mTBI and PTSD and comorbid mTBI-PTSD.

PMID- 26885686
TI  - The efficacy and safety of a new reduced-toxicity conditioning with 4 days of
      once-daily 100 mg/m(2) intravenous busulfan associated with fludarabine and
      antithymocyte globulins prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients
      with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia.
AB  - The optimal intensity of myeloablation associated with a reduced-toxicity
      conditioning (RTC) regimen in order to decrease the relapse rate without
      increasing non-relapse mortality (NRM), is not well established yet. This
      retrospective analysis was done on 30 patients with hematological malignancies.
      The aim was to assess the safety of a RTC regimen based on the busulfan at a dose
      of 100 mg/m(2)/d intravenously for 4 d, fludarabine at a dose of 30 mg/m(2)/d for
      5 d, and anti-thymoglobulins at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/d for 2 d. The cumulative
      incidences of grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and all grades
      chronic GVHD were 37% and 42%, respectively. Median 1-year overall survival and
      disease-free survival were 66% and 50%, respectively. At 1 year, the cumulative
      incidence of relapse/disease progression was 33%. NRM was 3% and 17% at day 100
      and 1 year, respectively. This RTC conditioning regimen can lead to a long-term
      disease control. Moreover, it appears to be safe with a low NRM rate among high
      risk patients.

PMID- 26885688
TI  - Comparative effectiveness of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers in near
      infrared photoimmunotherapy.
AB  - Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that
      combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity
      induced by photosensitizers after exposure to near infrared (NIR) light. Herein
      we compare two NIR-light sources; light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers, for
      their effectiveness in NIR-PIT. A photosensitizer, IRDye-700DX, conjugated to
      panitumumab (pan-IR700), was incubated with EGFR-expressing A431 and MDA-MB-468
      luc cells. NIR-light was provided by LEDs or Lasers at the same light dose. Laser
      light produced more cytotoxicity and greater reductions in IR700-fluorescence
      intensity than LED-light. Laser-light also produced more cytotoxicity in vivo in
      both cell lines. Assessment of super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR)
      effects were stronger with Laser than LED. These results suggest that Laser-light
      produced significantly more cytotoxic effects compared to LEDs. Although LED is
      less expensive, Laser-light produces superior results in NIR-PIT. 

PMID- 26885689
TI  - mir-329 restricts tumor growth by targeting grb2 in pancreatic cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. To illustrate
      the pathogenic mechanism(s), we looked into the expression and function of miR
      329 associated with pancreatic cancer development. It was found that miR-329
      expression was downregulated in the pancreatic cancer patients who demonstrated
      significantly shorter overall survival than the patients having upregulated
      expression. Also, more advanced pT stage cases were observed in the low miR-329
      expression group of patients. Interestingly, our studies uncovered that miR-329
      overexpression inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer
      cells, in contrast the miR-329 inhibitor reversed this phenomenon dramatically.
      Additionally, overexpression of miR-329 significantly limited tumor growth in the
      xenograft model. In the mechanistic study, we identified GRB2 as a direct target
      of miR-329 in pancreatic cancer cells, and expression of GRB2 was inversely
      correlated with miR-329 expression in pancreatic cancer patients. Furthermore,
      GRB2 overexpression in cell line and xenograft model dramatically diminished miR
      329 mediated anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction, indicating that
      GRB2/pERK pathway was mainly downregulated by miR-329 expression. In general, our
      study has shed light on miR-329 regulated mechanism and, miR-329/GRB2/pERK is
      potential to be targeted for pancreatic cancer management. 

PMID- 26885690
TI  - Targeting the CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis in cancer metastasis.
AB  - The CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis has generated increasing interest in recent years
      due to its association with the progression of cancer. Although first described
      as a chemotactic molecule with physiological roles in regulating inflammation,
      recent studies have revealed a pro-tumorigenic function for CCL2 in favoring
      cancer development and subsequent metastasis. CCL2 binds the cognate receptor
      CCR2, and together this signaling pair has been shown to have multiple pro
      tumorigenic roles, from mediating tumor growth and angiogenesis to recruiting and
      usurping host stromal cells to support tumor progression. The importance of CCL2
      CCR2 signaling has been further championed by the establishment of clinical
      trials targeting this signaling pair in solid and metastatic cancers. Here we
      review the roles of CCL2-CCR2 signaling in the development and progression of
      cancer metastasis. We further evaluate the outcome of several clinical trials
      targeting either CCL2 or CCR2, and discuss the prospects and challenges of
      manipulating CCL2-CCR2 interaction as a potential approach for combating
      metastatic disease. 

PMID- 26885692
TI  - Cervical cancer systemic inflammation score: a novel predictor of prognosis.
AB  - Inflammation contributes to development and progression in a variety of cancers,
      including cervical cancer. We developed a novel cervical cancer systemic
      inflammation score (CCSIS) based on the preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio
      (PLR) and serum albumin levels. A retrospective analysis of clinical data from
      795 patients with operable cervical cancer was then conducted to investigate the
      prognostic value of CCSIS and its association with the patients'
      clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival
      (DFS). CCSIS was predictive of OS and DFS. High CCSIS was correlated with more
      advanced FIGO stages, poor tumor differentiation, and the presence of PLN and
      LVSI. Both albumin levels and the PLR were independent prognostic indicators for
      operable cervical cancer. The use of the CCSIS could improve risk stratification
      and traditional clinicopathological analysis in cervical cancer. 

PMID- 26885693
TI  - Teaching dementia care to physical therapy doctoral students: A multimodal
      experiential learning approach.
AB  - As the population aged 65 and older grows, it becomes imperative for health care
      providers to expand their knowledge regarding geriatric conditions and concerns.
      Dementia is a devastating degenerative disease process that is affecting millions
      of individuals in the United States, with significant economic and emotional
      burden on family and caregivers. The need for further dementia education in
      physical therapy school is essential to improve attitudes and treatment that
      affect patient outcomes and quality of care. This physical therapy program
      implemented a 12-hour multimodal experiential learning module designed to educate
      their students on the challenges associated with dementia to increase knowledge
      and confidence when treating these patients. The results of this study showed
      statistically significant improvements in overall confidence and knowledge of
      treating patients with dementia. The study finds the addition of experiential
      learning to traditional didactic coursework improves students' reported
      confidence in working with patients with dementia and understanding the
      challenges associated with treating patients with dementia.

PMID- 26885691
TI  - The RNA helicase A in malignant transformation.
AB  - The RNA helicase A (RHA) is involved in several steps of RNA metabolism, such as
      RNA processing, cellular transit of viral molecules, ribosome assembly,
      regulation of transcription and translation of specific mRNAs. RHA is a
      multifunctional protein whose roles depend on the specific interaction with
      different molecular partners, which have been extensively characterized in
      physiological situations. More recently, the functional implication of RHA in
      human cancer has emerged. Interestingly, RHA was shown to cooperate with both
      tumor suppressors and oncoproteins in different tumours, indicating that its
      specific role in cancer is strongly influenced by the cellular context. For
      instance, silencing of RHA and/or disruption of its interaction with the
      oncoprotein EWS-FLI1 rendered Ewing sarcoma cells more sensitive to genotoxic
      stresses and affected tumor growth and maintenance, suggesting possible
      therapeutic implications. Herein, we review the recent advances in the cellular
      functions of RHA and discuss its implication in oncogenesis, providing a
      perspective for future studies and potential translational opportunities in human
      cancer. 

PMID- 26885696
TI  - The buffering effect of family functioning on the psychological consequences of
      headache.
AB  - The current study aimed to examine whether high family functioning mitigates the
      association between headache intensity and distress. The sample consisted of 124
      patients with chronic or recurrent headache. Patients completed validated
      questionnaires about headache intensity, family functioning, and distress.
      Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine the interaction
      between headache intensity and family functioning on distress. Headache intensity
      was positively associated with distress (r = .28, p = .002). As hypothesized,
      family functioning moderated this association (B = -.01, p = .023). More
      specifically, the positive association between headache intensity and distress
      was significant only among patients with lower family functioning (B = .01, p <
      .001) and not among patients with higher levels of family functioning (B = .006,
      p = .075). Functional families appear to buffer the distress level in patients;
      they showed relatively low levels of distress regardless of the severity of their
      headache. In contrast, patients with dysfunctional families who experienced more
      pain reported more distress, presumably because they did not receive adequate
      help and support from these families. This study underlines the importance of a
      broader perspective on family dynamics in coping with pain.

PMID- 26885695
TI  - Phenotypic observations in "hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy"
      (recessive CDH3 mutations).
AB  - PURPOSE: Recessive mutations in CDH3 cause "hypotrichosis with juvenile macular
      dystrophy," typically recognized by the presence of prominent dermatological
      features. We report novel phenotypic observations and associated mutations in
      four patients from three families, including one who did not have frank
      hypotrichosis. METHODS: Retrospective case series (2010-2014). RESULTS: Four
      affected individuals from three consanguineous Arabian families were identified.
      All four subjects (two sisters and two unrelated males; 5, 13, 17, and 26 years
      old) had homozygous recessive CDH3 mutations not previously associated with the
      condition (c.307C>T; p.R103 in two sisters, c.1859_1862delCTCT in both unrelated
      males). Symptomatic visual loss was since birth or early childhood. One male
      subject did not have frank hypotrichosis, but review of symptoms revealed
      relatively slow hair growth and an inability to conceive children. None had
      dental or digital findings, although one female noted slow nail growth. All had a
      circumscribed central maculopathy with borders that did not respect posterior
      pole horizontal arterioles (typically extending beyond the major arcades) and
      associated with polygonal pigment clumping. Recognition of this pattern led us to
      suspect the diagnosis in the male without frank hypotrichosis. Retinal
      dysfunction was cone-rod (rather than macular only) by ERG in one patient, who
      developed severe central macular atrophy and a macular hole. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ophthalmologists should consider the diagnosis of CDH3-related retinopathy in
      individuals with such clinical features whether or not there is frank
      hypotrichosis.

PMID- 26885697
TI  - A 7-Year Longitudinal Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of a Vitamin/Mineral
      Enhanced Plant-Sourced Calcium Supplement.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of
      a vitamin-mineral enhanced plant-sourced calcium AlgaeCal calcium (AC) in female
      consumers who had taken the supplement from 1 to 7 years. METHODS: Consumers who
      had completed at least one dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) bone mineral
      density (BMD) scan (N = 172) and/or blood chemistry test (N = 30) and purchased
      AC from 1 to 7 years were contacted and offered complimentary repeat tests.
      Safety and efficacy were examined by annualized changes in a 45-measurement blood
      chemistry panel and changes in BMD. RESULTS: No adverse effects or safety
      concerns were found in any of the annualized within-group annualized changes in
      the 45 blood chemistries or in between-group changes in a similar control group
      (n = 5070) who completed the same measurements. With regard to BMD, consistent
      and statistically significant within-group increases were found for the 7-year
      study period and when compared to expected BMD changes in 3 large databases or
      the combination (N = 25,885) of the 3 databases. Data from this study suggest
      that AC supplement was associated with a significant annualized and linear
      increase in BMD of 1.04% per year, 7.3% over the 7-year study period. These
      results stand in marked contrast to normative or expected changes of -0.4%/y from
      3 different databases or in a combination of all 3 databases (N = 16,289).
      CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found in cardiovascular risk as measured by adverse
      changes in blood lipids, nor was any evidence found of a diminished efficacy over
      the 7-year study period because gains in BMD were consistent and linear over the
      7-year study period, averaging 1.04% per year over the 7-year study. The results
      are also consistent with earlier short-term studies suggesting that this
      supplement can facilitate significant increases in total body BMD in contrast to
      studies suggesting that calcium supplements can only slow down age-related
      declines in BMD.

PMID- 26885694
TI  - Design and Structural Characterization of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of
      Phosphatidylinositol 4 Kinase IIIbeta.
AB  - Type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4KIIIbeta) is an essential enzyme in
      mediating membrane trafficking and is implicated in a variety of pathogenic
      processes. It is a key host factor mediating replication of RNA viruses. The
      design of potent and specific inhibitors of this enzyme will be essential to
      define its cellular roles and may lead to novel antiviral therapeutics. We
      previously reported the PI4K inhibitor PIK93, and this compound has defined key
      functions of PI4KIIIbeta. However, this compound showed high cross reactivity
      with class I and III PI3Ks. Using structure-based drug design, we have designed
      novel potent and selective (>1000-fold over class I and class III PI3Ks)
      PI4KIIIbeta inhibitors. These compounds showed antiviral activity against
      hepatitis C virus. The co-crystal structure of PI4KIIIbeta bound to one of the
      most potent compounds reveals the molecular basis of specificity. This work will
      be vital in the design of novel PI4KIIIbeta inhibitors, which may play
      significant roles as antiviral therapeutics. 

PMID- 26885698
TI  - In Situ Electrochemical Generation of Electrochemiluminescent Silver
      Naonoclusters on Target-Cycling Synchronized Rolling Circle Amplification
      Platform for MicroRNA Detection.
AB  - On the basis of a novel target-cycling synchronized rolling circle amplification
      (RCA) as a signal amplification strategy and in situ electrochemical generation
      of silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) as signal probes, an ultrasensitive and simple
      electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was proposed for microRNA (miRNA)
      detection. It was worth mentioning that the circular template was subtly designed
      to consist of a guanine-rich (G-rich) region and a binding region for realizing
      target-cycling synchronized RCA. In the presence of target miR-21, the binding
      region hybridized with the primer and the target miR-21 to form a ternary "P"
      junction structure, and then the RCA was triggered from the 3'-end of the primer.
      Along with the proceeding of RCA, the target miR-21 was released and participated
      into another trigger of the RCA. On account of the G-rich region in the circular
      template, the product DNA of the target-cycling synchronized RCA possessed tandem
      periodic cytosine-rich (C-rich) sequences, which acted as ligands to further in
      situ electrochemically generate silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) as ECL signal
      probes. As expected, the obtained ECL intensity dependent on the amount of the Ag
      NCs, which was positively related to the concentration of the target miR-21. The
      ECL assay for miR-21 detection demonstrated excellent linear response to a
      concentration variation from 100 aM to 100 pM and limit of detection down to 22
      aM. 

PMID- 26885699
TI  - Life-Span Development of Brain Network Integration Assessed with Phase Lag Index
      Connectivity and Minimum Spanning Tree Graphs.
AB  - Graph analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) has previously revealed
      developmental increases in connectivity between distant brain areas and a
      decrease in randomness and increased integration in the brain network with
      concurrent increased modularity. Comparisons of graph parameters across age
      groups, however, may be confounded with network degree distributions. In this
      study, we analyzed graph parameters from minimum spanning tree (MST) graphs and
      compared their developmental trajectories to those of graph parameters based on
      full graphs published previously. MST graphs are constructed by selecting only
      the strongest available connections avoiding loops, resulting in a backbone graph
      that is thought to reflect the major qualitative properties of the network, while
      allowing a better comparison across age groups by avoiding the degree of
      distribution confound. EEG was recorded in a large (n = 1500) population-based
      sample aged 5-71 years. Connectivity was assessed using phase lag index to reduce
      effects of volume conduction. Connectivity in the MST graph increased
      significantly from childhood to adolescence, continuing to grow nonsignificantly
      into adulthood, and decreasing significantly about 57 years of age. Leaf number,
      degree, degree correlation, and maximum centrality from the MST graph indicated a
      pattern of increased integration and decreased randomness from childhood into
      early adulthood. The observed development in network topology suggested that
      maturation at the neuronal level is aimed to increase connectivity as well as
      increase integration of the brain network. We confirm that brain network
      connectivity shows quantitative changes across the life span and additionally
      demonstrate parallel qualitative changes in the connectivity pattern.

PMID- 26885700
TI  - Ligand-Induced Formation of Copper(I) Iodide Clusters: Exocyclic Coordination
      Polymers with Bis-dithiamacrocycle Isomers.
AB  - A comparative study on the formation of guest clusters induced by different
      shapes (or sizes) of exocyclic binding sites embedded in the bis-macrocyclic host
      isomers is reported. CuI reacts with two regioisomers of a bis-dithiamacrocycle,
      o-bis-L (W-shaped binding site) and m-bis-L (U-shaped binding site), to yield one
      dimensional coordination polymers {[(MU4-Cu4I4)(o-bis-L)].2CH3CN}n (1a) and [(MU4
      Cu2I2)(m-bis-L)]n (2). In 1a, the o-bis-L ligand isomer is linked by a spacious
      cubane [Cu4I4] cluster, while the m-bis-L ligand in 2 is linked by a smaller
      rhomboid [Cu2I2] cluster because of the different exocyclic binding sites. The
      results observed illustrate the possibility for the metal clusters including
      [CunIn] (n = 2 or 4) to adopt a controlled formation through the binding site
      alternation or design. Because of the adaptive cluster formations, the products
      show different photophysical properties. Additionally, sliding of the one
      dimensional chains in 1a was observed upon loss of the lattice solvent molecules
      in ambient condition. 

PMID- 26885701
TI  - Imaging Nanostructures by Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy in Organic
      Solvents.
AB  - The introduction of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRM) opened an
      unprecedented vista into nanoscopic length scales, unveiling a new degree of
      complexity in biological systems in aqueous environments. Regrettably,
      supramolecular chemistry and material science benefited far less from these
      recent developments. Here we expand the scope of SRM to photoactivated
      localization microscopy (PALM) imaging of synthetic nanostructures that are
      highly dynamic in organic solvents. Furthermore, we characterize the
      photophysical properties of commonly used photoactivatable dyes in a wide range
      of solvents, which is made possible by the addition of a tiny amount of an
      alcohol. As proof-of-principle, we use PALM to image silica beads with radii
      close to Abbe's diffraction limit. Individual nanoparticles are readily
      identified and reliably sized in multicolor mixtures of large and small beads. We
      further use SRM to visualize nm-thin yet MUm-long dynamic, supramolecular
      polymers, which are among the most challenging molecular systems to image. 

PMID- 26885703
TI  - Localized NMR Mediated by Electrical-Field-Induced Domain Wall Oscillation in
      Quantum-Hall-Ferromagnet Nanowire.
AB  - We present fractional quantum Hall domain walls confined in a gate-defined wire
      structure. Our experiments utilize spatial oscillation of domain walls driven by
      radio frequency electric fields to cause nuclear magnetic resonance. The
      resulting spectra are discussed in terms of both large quadrupole fields created
      around the wire and hyperfine fields associated with the oscillating domain
      walls. This provides the experimental fact that the domain walls survive near the
      confined geometry despite of potential deformation, by which a localized magnetic
      resonance is allowed in electrical means. 

PMID- 26885702
TI  - High Baseline Postconcussion Symptom Scores and Concussion Outcomes in Athletes.
AB  - CONTEXT: Some healthy athletes report high levels of baseline concussion
      symptoms, which may be attributable to several factors (eg, illness, personality,
      somaticizing). However, the role of baseline symptoms in outcomes after sport
      related concussion (SRC) has not been empirically examined. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine if athletes with high symptom scores at baseline performed worse than
      athletes without baseline symptoms on neurocognitive testing after SRC. DESIGN:
      Cohort study. SETTING: High school and collegiate athletic programs. PATIENTS OR
      OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 670 high school and collegiate athletes
      participated in the study. Participants were divided into groups with either no
      baseline symptoms (Postconcussion Symptom Scale [PCSS] score = 0, n = 247) or a
      high level of baseline symptoms (PCSS score > 18 [top 10% of sample], n = 68).
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants were evaluated at baseline and 2 to 7 days
      after SRC with the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test and
      PCSS. Outcome measures were Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive
      Test composite scores (verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor processing
      speed, and reaction time) and total symptom score on the PCSS. The groups were
      compared using repeated-measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni correction
      to assess interactions between group and time for symptoms and neurocognitive
      impairment. RESULTS: The no-symptoms group represented 38% of the original
      sample, whereas the high-symptoms group represented 11% of the sample. The high
      symptoms group experienced a larger decline from preinjury to postinjury than the
      no-symptoms group in verbal (P = .03) and visual memory (P = .05). However, total
      concussion-symptom scores increased from preinjury to postinjury for the no
      symptoms group (P = .001) but remained stable for the high-symptoms group.
      CONCLUSIONS: Reported baseline symptoms may help identify athletes at risk for
      worse outcomes after SRC. Clinicians should examine baseline symptom levels to
      better identify patients for earlier referral and treatment for their injury.
      Additional investigation of baseline symptoms is warranted to help delineate the
      type and severity of premorbid symptoms.

PMID- 26885704
TI  - Polarization of ferroelectric films through electrolyte.
AB  - A simplified model is developed to understand the field and potential
      distribution through devices based on a ferroelectric film in direct contact with
      an electrolyte. Devices based on the ferroelectric polymer polyvinylidenefluoride
      trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) were produced--in metal-ferroelectric-metal, metal
      ferroelectric-dielectric-metal, and metal-ferroelectric-electrolyte-metal
      architectures--and used to test the model, and simulations based on the model and
      these fabricated devices were performed. From these simulations we find
      indication of progressive polarization of the films. Furthermore, the model
      implies that there is a relation between the separation of charge within the
      devices and the observed open circuit voltage. This relation is confirmed
      experimentally. The ability to polarize ferroelectric polymer films through
      aqueous electrolytes, combined with the strong correlation between the properties
      of the electrolyte double layer and the device potential, opens the door to a
      variety of new applications for ferroelectric technologies, e.g. regulation of
      cell culture growth and release, steering molecular self-assembly, or other large
      area applications requiring aqueous environments.

PMID- 26885705
TI  - The main progress over the past decade and future outlook on high-nuclear
      transition-metal substituted polyoxotungstates: from synthetic strategies,
      structural features to functional properties.
AB  - Currently, transition-metal substituted polyoxotungstates (TMSPTs) have developed
      as a fast growing and challengeable subfamily of polyoxoxmetalates (POMs). Before
      2005, the number of TM cores in TMSPTs was mostly lower than five. Since 2005,
      numerous inorganic or organic-inorganic TMSPTs with more than five TM cores
      (denoted as high-nuclear TMSPTs) have continuously been excavated and
      investigated. In this perspective, we endeavor to discuss the synthetic
      methodologies, structural diversities and relevant properties of the high-nuclear
      TMSPTs reported in the past decade. Future perspectives and opportunities on
      TMSPTs are included in the last section. This review is meant to provide fodder
      and guidance for further exploration and discovery of more high-nuclear TMSPTs
      with innovative architectures and remarkable functionality. 

PMID- 26885706
TI  - Laboratory animal allergy: a new world.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In recent years there has been a dramatic shift in the world
      of animal research whereby genetically modified mice have largely supplanted
      rats, and individually ventilated cages have been introduced to house delicate
      experimental animals in place of traditional open cages. Although laboratory
      animal allergy remains an important cause of occupational asthma, the risks
      associated with contemporary practice and consequently the opportunities for
      primary and secondary prevention are largely unknown. RECENT FINDINGS: Although
      there is clear confirmation of a widespread increase in animal experiments using
      mice, the evidence-base on the associated risks has lagged. Individually
      ventilated cages reduce ambient levels of mouse urinary protein in air but task
      based exposures are unquantified. Immunological techniques to identify
      sensitization to mouse proteins are poorly standardized. The available evidence
      suggests that modern practices are, in most cases, associated with a reduced
      incidence of animal sensitization. SUMMARY: There is a paucity of data to inform
      evidence-based practice in methods to control the incidence of laboratory animal
      allergy under the prevailing research environment; a better understanding of the
      relationship between exposures and outcome is urgently needed. As exposures
      decline, the relative importance of individual susceptibility will become
      prominent.

PMID- 26885708
TI  - Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Treatment With Ipilimumab for Metastatic
      Melanoma.
AB  - Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated
      antigen 4 (CTLA-4) that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for
      the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Ipilimumab is known to
      cause immune-mediated adverse reactions because of the resultant increase in T
      cell activity. To date, there are no published reports of ipilimumab-related
      heart failure, although a recently published report describes a case of transient
      cardiomyopathy associated with its use. We report the case of a 60-year-old man
      who developed left ventricular dysfunction with an asymptomatic reduction in
      ejection fraction from 55%-60% at baseline to 40%-45% 4 months after completing a
      second course of treatment with ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma. Ipilimumab
      was not restarted, and the patient was initiated on lisinopril and carvedilol.
      Repeat echocardiograms 3 and 5 months later revealed ejection fractions of 40%
      45% and 55%-60%, respectively.

PMID- 26885710
TI  - Manganism and Parkinson's disease: Mn(II) and Zn(II) interaction with a 30-amino
      acid fragment.
AB  - A protected 30-amino acid fragment, Acetyl-SPDEKHELMIQLQKLDYTVGFCGDGANDCG-Amide,
      Acetyl-Ser-Pro-Asp-Glu-Lys-His-Glu-Leu-Met-Ile-Gln-Leu-Gln-Lys-Leu-Asp-Tyr-Thr
      Val-Gly-Phe-Cys-Gly-Asp-Gly-Ala-Asn-Asp-Cys-Gly-Amide, encompassing the sequence
      from residues 1164 to 1193 in the encoded protein from Parkinson's disease gene
      Park9 (YPk9), was studied for manganese and zinc binding. Manganese exposure is
      considered to be an environmental risk factor connected to PD and PD-like
      syndrome. Research into the genetic and environmental risk factors involved in
      disease susceptibility has recently uncovered a link existing between Park9 and
      manganese. It seems that manganese binding to Park9 (YPk9) protein is involved in
      the detoxification mechanism exerted by this protein against manganese toxicity.
      In this study, we used potentiometric, mono- and bi-dimensional (TOCSY, HSQC)
      NMR, EPR and ESI-MS measurements to analyze complex formation and metal binding
      sites in the peptide fragment. Presumably octahedral species, in which the Mn(II)
      ion was bound to oxygens of the carboxyl groups of Glu and Asp, and species where
      the involvement of sulfur from Cys and nitrogen from His residues, depending on
      the metal to ligand molar ratio, were detected for manganese coordination.
      Structural changes in the 30-amino acid fragment were triggered by Zn(II)
      interaction. A general decrease in the intensity of NMR signals was detected,
      suggesting the occurrence of chemical exchange among some coordinated species in
      an intermediate NMR timescale. The coordination may involve both S and N donor
      atoms from cysteine as well as histidine residues, together with O donor atoms
      from glutamic and aspartic residues.

PMID- 26885711
TI  - Asymmetric Papilledema in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Comment.

PMID- 26885712
TI  - Orthopaedic Surgeon Burnout: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
AB  - Burnout is a syndrome marked by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low
      job satisfaction. Rates of burnout in orthopaedic surgeons are higher than those
      in the general population and many other medical subspecialties. Half of all
      orthopaedic surgeons show symptoms of burnout, with the highest rates reported in
      residents and orthopaedic department chairpersons. This syndrome is associated
      with poor outcomes for surgeons, institutions, and patients. Validated
      instruments exist to objectively diagnose burnout, although family members and
      colleagues should be aware of early warning signs and risk factors, such as
      irritability, withdrawal, and failing relationships at work and home. Emerging
      evidence indicates that mindfulness-based interventions or educational programs
      combined with meditation may be effective treatment options. Orthopaedic
      residency programs, departments, and practices should focus on identifying the
      signs of burnout and implementing prevention and treatment programs that have
      been shown to mitigate symptoms. 

PMID- 26885707
TI  - The microbiome and development of allergic disease.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: First, to review how the global rise in prevalence of asthma
      prompted studies of the relationships between microbial exposure in early
      infancy, the rate and pattern of development of immune function, and the
      development of allergic sensitization and of wheezing in childhood. And, second,
      to review how those studies laid the groundwork for a possible strategy for
      primary prevention of asthma through manipulation of the microbiome of the
      gastrointestinal and/or respiratory tracts. RECENT FINDINGS: Atopy and asthma are
      complex diseases thought to result from a 'gene-by-environment' interaction; the
      rapidity of their rise in prevalence points to a change in environment as most
      likely causal. Epidemiologic studies noting associations between events in
      infancy and later development of atopic diseases have suggested that their rise
      in prevalence is related to a deficiency in microbial exposure in early life. The
      findings from birth cohort studies of humans and from interventional studies of
      mice converge in suggesting that a deficiency in microbial colonization of the
      respiratory or gastrointestinal tract by certain commensal microbes results in
      skewed development of systemic and/or local immune function that increases
      susceptibility to allergic sensitization and to viral lower respiratory
      infection. Recent studies are now honing in on identifying the microbes, or
      collection of microbes, whose collective functions are necessary for induction of
      immune tolerance, and thus of reduced susceptibility. SUMMARY: Atopy and asthma
      appear to have their roots in an insufficiency of early-life exposure to the
      diverse environmental microbiota necessary to ensure colonization of the
      gastrointestinal and/or respiratory tracts with the commensal microbes necessary
      for induction of balanced, toleragenic immune function. Identification of the
      commensal bacteria necessary, now ever closer at hand, will lay the groundwork
      for the development of strategies for primary prevention of atopic disease,
      especially of childhood asthma.

PMID- 26885713
TI  - Norepinephrine, the Intensivist's Swiss Army Knife for Circulatory Shock?

PMID- 26885715
TI  - Near-Full-Length Genome Sequences of a Novel HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form,
      CRF01_AE/B'/C (CRF78_cpx), in Yunnan, China.
AB  - We report a novel HIV circulating recombinant form (CRF78_cpx) composed mainly of
      CRF01_AE with inserts from subtypes B and C identified from three
      epidemiologically unlinked individuals in Yunnan province, China. Two of the
      subjects are heterosexual men and one is a male intravenous drug user. Sequencing
      and analyzing the near-full-length genome of these three isolates (YNTC88,
      YNTC19, and YNTC35) revealed identical recombination breakpoints in all three
      viruses, but considerable genetic diversity between them, across the genomes,
      indicating that this is not a newly created CRF, only newly detected. CRF78_cpx
      differs from previously documented CRF01-AE/B'/C forms in its distinct backbone,
      inserted fragment size, and breakpoints, and is not related to other described
      recombinants in the region such as CRF07_BC or CRF65_cpx (also composed of
      CRF01_AE, B', and C). Our present findings further enrich the diversity of the
      prevalent HIV-1 CRFs in Yunnan, which is considered as an epicenter of HIV-1
      infections in China.

PMID- 26885714
TI  - Comparison of black, green and rooibos tea on osteoblast activity.
AB  - Globally, tea is the second most consumed beverage after water. Habitual tea
      intake has been associated with higher bone mineral density, particularly in
      postmenopausal women. This association may be due to its polyphenols and
      resulting protective antioxidant effects. While in vivo studies have shown
      improved bone outcomes with a consumption of individual purified tea polyphenols,
      it is unclear if a particular tea - due to its different profiles of polyphenols 
      is more beneficial than others. Therefore, we compared three different types of
      commercially available teas on osteoblasts: green, black and rooibos tea. Tea was
      normalized to 1 or 10 MUg per mL gallic acid equivalents to assess differences in
      outcomes based on tea profiles rather than the quantity of polyphenol naturally
      present. The lower level of polyphenols (1 MUg per mL gallic acid equivalents) -
      regardless of tea type and thus polyphenol profile - resulted in greater mineral
      content as well as cellular and alkaline phosphatase activity in Saos2 cells.
      Moreover, this was associated with higher markers of differentiation
      (osteopontin, sclerostin) and reduced cellular toxicity and pro-inflammatory
      markers (IL6, TNFalpha). Green, black and rooibos tea improved osteoblast
      activity at the low level and support epidemiological evidence suggesting tea
      consumption may benefit bone heath. 

PMID- 26885716
TI  - Clonality of localized and metastatic prostate cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The influence of the long life-history of prostate cancer on
      the temporal and spatial variability of the tumour genome is now being
      elucidated. Multiregion sequencing to identify spatio-genomic differences in
      prostate tumour mutation profiles combined with computational approaches can map
      the evolution and transit of tumour cells throughout an individual patient.
      RECENT FINDINGS: A series of recent studies have demonstrated that a prostate
      tumour is often composed of different subclones, with varying genetic similarity.
      As such, a single biopsy specimen may be insufficient to make accurate clinical
      predictions from molecular biomarkers, greatly complicating the application of
      biopsy-based tools for precision medicine. In addition, subclones that arise
      outside of the primary tumour can seed new metastases and circulate between sites
      within a patient. SUMMARY: The mutational complexity of multiple tumour clones
      within the same individual, which respond differently to specific treatments,
      suggests the need for multimodal interventions.

PMID- 26885718
TI  - Using SBAR as a Preconference Reporting Tool for Nursing Students.

PMID- 26885719
TI  - Teaching Psychomotor Skills in Nursing.

PMID- 26885717
TI  - Probing the catalytic functions of Bub1 kinase using the small molecule
      inhibitors BAY-320 and BAY-524.
AB  - The kinase Bub1 functions in the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and in
      chromosome congression, but the role of its catalytic activity remains
      controversial. Here, we use two novel Bub1 inhibitors, BAY-320 and BAY-524, to
      demonstrate potent Bub1 kinase inhibition both in vitro and in intact cells.
      Then, we compared the cellular phenotypes of Bub1 kinase inhibition in HeLa and
      RPE1 cells with those of protein depletion, indicative of catalytic or
      scaffolding functions, respectively. Bub1 inhibition affected chromosome
      association of Shugoshin and the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), without
      abolishing global Aurora B function. Consequently, inhibition of Bub1 kinase
      impaired chromosome arm resolution but exerted only minor effects on mitotic
      progression or SAC function. Importantly, BAY-320 and BAY-524 treatment
      sensitized cells to low doses of Paclitaxel, impairing both chromosome
      segregation and cell proliferation. These findings are relevant to our
      understanding of Bub1 kinase function and the prospects of targeting Bub1 for
      therapeutic applications. 

PMID- 26885720
TI  - Plasma pentraxin-3 levels in patients with Takayasu's arteritis during routine
      follow-up.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To date, no biomarker is universally accepted to be a surrogate for
      active disease being one of major difficulties in follow-up of Takayasu's
      arteritis (TAK). In this study, we aimed to investigate plasma pentraxin-3 (PTX
      3) levels and its correlation with activity in patients with TAK. METHODS: This
      cross-sectional study included 94 patients (age: 43.3+/-13.6 years, F/M: 80/14)
      with TAK, 40 age-sex matched control donors (age: 41.5+/-9.3 years, F/M: 28/12).
      TAK patients were evaluated by physician's global assessment (PGA;
      active/inactive), as well as with the activity definition by Kerr et al. and with
      a new composite index of ITAS2010 (Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score).
      Plasma PTX-3 levels are measured with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit.
      RESULTS: Thirty-three (35.5%) patients were clinically active with PGA, while 25
      (31.6%) patients and 28 (31.8%) patients were accepted to have active disease
      according to Kerr activity criteria and ITAS2010, respectively. Plasma PTX-3
      levels were significantly higher in TAK patients compared to healthy controls
      (3.5+/-2.5 ng/ml vs. 2.5+/-1.6 ng/ ml, p=0.029). However, PTX-3 levels were
      similar among active and inactive patients according to all three assessment
      tools. PTX-3 levels significantly correlated only with serum CRP levels.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma PTX- 3 levels were higher in patients with TAK
      compared to healthy controls, we observed no association with disease activity,
      limiting the role of PTX-3 level as a biomarker for active disease in TAK.

PMID- 26885721
TI  - The current pharmacological landscape of tuberculous meningitis: where to next?

PMID- 26885722
TI  - Nosocomial Infections Caused by Acinetobacter baumannii: Are We Losing the
      Battle?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of nosocomial infections caused by multi-drug- and
      extended-drug resistant strains of Acinetobacter is constantly increasing all
      over the world, with a high mortality rate. We analyzed the in-hospital data on
      the sensitivity of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates and correlated them with
      antibiotic treatment and clinical outcomes of nosocomial infections over a 17-mo
      period. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed at the Clinical Center
      "Bezanijska kosa," Belgrade, Serbia. Microbiologic data (number and sensitivity
      of A. baumannii isolates) and clinical data (medical records of 41 randomly
      selected patients who developed nosocomial infection caused by A. baumannii) were
      matched. RESULTS: Acinetobacter baumannii, detected in 279 isolates and obtained
      from 19 patients (12% of all samples), was resistant to almost all antibiotics
      tested, including carbapenems, with the exception of colistin and tigecycline. It
      was obtained most often from the respiratory tract samples. Empiric treatment of
      the nosocomial infections (pneumonia in 75% of cases) involved cephalosporins,
      metronidazole, and carbapenems (80%, 66%, and 61% of patients, respectively),
      whereas tigecyclin and colistin were used primarily in targeted therapy (20% and
      12% of patients, respectively). The mortality rate of patients treated
      empirically was significantly higher (p < 0.01), reaching 100% in the elderly.
      CONCLUSIONS: Nosocomial A. baumannii infections represent a significant clinical
      problem because of their high incidence, lack of susceptibility to the most
      commonly used antibiotics, and the often inappropriate treatment, which favors
      the development of multi-drug-resistant strains.

PMID- 26885723
TI  - Efficient Fabrication of Hierarchically Porous Graphene-Derived Aerogel and Its
      Application in Lithium Sulfur Battery.
AB  - Hierarchically porous carbon/graphene aerogel (CGA) with relatively high surface
      area and pore volume is synthesized through an efficient fabrication strategy,
      which involves forming hydrothermal carbon layer on the pore wall as upholder and
      directly carbonizing the wet hydrogel from hydrothermal reaction, without using
      any special drying techniques. Cassava powder is used as carbon precursor which
      enables sustainable synthesis. Carbonizing the wet hydrothermal product is found
      to be a self-activation process, through which abundant pores are generated. The
      aerogel is used as host to encapsulate sulfur for lithium sulfur battery.
      Graphene, served as highly conductive scaffold, accelerates the transport of the
      electrons. The hierarchically porous structure is in favor of improving the
      electrochemical performance of lithium sulfur battery. Therefore, the cathode
      with high sulfur loading and high sulfur content can deliver very good
      performance. 

PMID- 26885724
TI  - A successful case of second autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
      for post-transplant systemic sclerosis relapse.

PMID- 26885727
TI  - Analysis of Confined Random Walkers with Applications to Processes Occurring in
      Molecular Aggregates and Immunological Systems.
AB  - Explicit solutions are presented in the Laplace and time domains for a one
      variable Fokker-Planck equation governing the probability density of a random
      walker moving in a confining potential. Illustrative applications are discussed
      in two unrelated physical contexts: quantum yields in a doped molecular crystal
      or photosynthetic system, and the motion of signal receptor clusters on the
      surface of a cell encountered in a problem in immunology. An interesting
      counterintuitive effect concerning the consequences of confinement is found in
      the former, and some insights into the driving force for microcluster
      centralization are gathered in the latter application. 

PMID- 26885726
TI  - Enhancing Mn(II)-Binding and Manganese Peroxidase Activity in a Designed
      Cytochrome c Peroxidase through Fine-Tuning Secondary-Sphere Interactions.
AB  - Noncovalent second-shell interactions are important in controlling metal-binding
      affinity and activity in metalloenzymes, but fine-tuning these interactions in
      designed metalloenzymes has not been fully explored. As a result, most designed
      metalloenzymes have low metal-binding affinity and activity. Here we identified
      three mutations in the second coordination shell of an engineered Mn(II)-binding
      site in cytochrome c peroxidase (called MnCcP.1, containing Glu45, Glu37, and
      Glu181 ligands) that mimics the native manganese peroxidase (MnP), and explored
      their effects on both Mn(II)-binding affinity and MnP activity. First, removing a
      hydrogen bond to Glu45 through Tyr36Phe mutation enhanced Mn(II)-binding
      affinity, as evidenced by a 2.8-fold decrease in the KM of Mn(II) oxidation.
      Second, introducing a salt bridge through Lys179Arg mutation improved Glu35 and
      Glu181 coordination to Mn(II), decreasing KM 2.6-fold. Third, eliminating a
      steric clash that prevented Glu37 from orienting toward Mn(II) resulted in an 8.6
      fold increase in kcat/KM, arising primarily from a 3.6-fold decrease in KM, with
      a KM value comparable to that of the native enzyme (0.28 mM vs 0.19 mM for
      Pleurotus eryngii MnP PS3). We further demonstrated that while the effects of
      Tyr36Phe and Lys179Arg mutations are additive, because involved in secondary
      shell interactions to different ligands, other combinations of mutations were
      antagonistic because they act on different aspects of the Mn(II) coordination at
      the same residues. Finally, we showed that these MnCcP variants are functional
      models of MnP that mimic its activity in both Mn(II) oxidation and degradation of
      a phenolic lignin model compound and kraft lignin. In addition to achieving KM in
      a designed protein that is similar to the that of native enzyme, our results
      offer molecular insight into the role of noncovalent interactions around metal
      binding sites for improving metal binding and overall activity; such insight can
      be applied to rationally enhance these properties in other metalloenzymes and
      their models.

PMID- 26885728
TI  - Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients
      With Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a common inflammatory skin disease.
      The disease has been associated with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, but the
      risk of CV disease in patients with HS is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate CV
      risk in patients with HS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based
      cohort study was conducted from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2011, using
      individual-level linkage of nationwide administrative registers. In a study
      population of 35 368 Danish individuals, 5964 patients aged 18 years or older
      with a hospital-based diagnosis of HS (cases) were matched 1:5 on age, sex, and
      calendar time with 29 404 individuals serving as controls. MAIN OUTCOMES AND
      MEASURES: Outcomes were myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, CV-associated death,
      major adverse CV events (MACEs), and all-cause mortality. Incidence rate ratios
      (IRRs) were estimated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: The 5964 patients with HS
      had a mean (SD) age of 37.7 (11.7) years; 4346 (72.9%) were women. In this
      sample, a total of 62 (42 749.0 person-years) MIs, 74 (42 647.8 person-years)
      ischemic strokes, 63 (42 941.7 person-years) CV-associated deaths, 169 (42 463.5
      person-years) MACEs, and 231 (42 941.7 person-years) all-cause deaths occurred
      during follow-up. Adjusted (age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, comorbidity,
      and medication) IRRs (95% CIs) were 1.57 (1.14-2.17) for MI, 1.33 (1.01-1.76) for
      ischemic stroke, 1.95 (1.42-2.67) for CV-associated death, 1.53 (1.27-1.86) for
      MACEs, and 1.35 (1.15-1.59) for all-cause mortality. When patients with severe
      psoriasis were used as controls, the adjusted IRRs in patients with HS were 1.00
      (0.74-1.35) for MI, 0.93 (0.71-1.22) for ischemic stroke, 1.58 (1.17-2.12) for CV
      associated death, 1.08 (0.90-1.29) for MACEs, and 1.09 (0.94-1.28) for all-cause
      mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Hidradenitis suppurativa was associated
      with a significantly increased risk of adverse CV outcomes and all-cause
      mortality independent of measured confounders. The risk of CV-associated death
      was higher in patients with HS compared with the risk in those with severe
      psoriasis. The results call for increased awareness of this association and for
      studies of its clinical consequences.

PMID- 26885729
TI  - Barriers to Participation in Preoperative Risk-Reduction Programs Prior to
      Ventral Hernia Repair: An Assessment of Underserved Patients at a Safety-Net
      Hospital.

PMID- 26885730
TI  - Science to Practice: Hyperpolarized Metabolic MR Imaging--The Light at the End of
      the Tunnel for Clinical (13)C MR Spectroscopy?
AB  - Hyperpolarized metabolic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers greatly enhanced
      sensitivity to multinuclear MR spectroscopy, opening up a new tool with which to
      noninvasively assess metabolic changes in the diseased heart. In this issue of
      Radiology, O h-Ici et al ( 1 ) have demonstrated this ability by exploring the
      metabolic changes that occur in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion. They have
      shown the acute metabolic alterations that occur immediately after reperfusion
      (increased anaerobic and decreased oxidative metabolism) that then normalize over
      the following 60 minutes. This demonstration paves the way for the use of
      hyperpolarized metabolic MR imaging in the assessment of coronary artery disease
      in humans and shows the potential for this new tool to aid in the assessment of
      the diseased heart.

PMID- 26885731
TI  - Recent Endovascular Trials: Implications for Radiology Departments, Radiology
      Residency, and Neuroradiology Fellowship Training at Comprehensive Stroke
      Centers.

PMID- 26885732
TI  - Pelvic Evaluation in Thoracolumbar Corrective Spine Surgery: How I Do It.
AB  - Surgeons and radiologists have traditionally focused on frontal radiographs and
      the measurement of scoliosis curves as important tools in the management of
      spinal deformity. It has become evident, however, that the management of spinal
      deformity should use a multidimensional approach with an increased emphasis on
      standing lateral radiographs and the sagittal position of the spine. Furthermore,
      they have come to realize the critical role that the pelvis plays in the
      maintenance of posture. Failure to recognize pelvic compensation can lead to
      under-treatment and poor postoperative outcomes.

PMID- 26885725
TI  - Systems Biology Approaches for Host-Fungal Interactions: An Expanding Multi-Omics
      Frontier.
AB  - Opportunistic fungal infections are an increasing threat for global health, and
      for immunocompromised patients in particular. These infections are characterized
      by interaction between fungal pathogen and host cells. The exact mechanisms and
      the attendant variability in host and fungal pathogen interaction remain to be
      fully elucidated. The field of systems biology aims to characterize a biological
      system, and utilize this knowledge to predict the system's response to stimuli
      such as fungal exposures. A multi-omics approach, for example, combining data
      from genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, would allow a more comprehensive and pan
      optic "two systems" biology of both the host and the fungal pathogen. In this
      review and literature analysis, we present highly specialized and nascent methods
      for analysis of multiple -omes of biological systems, in addition to emerging
      single-molecule visualization techniques that may assist in determining
      biological relevance of multi-omics data. We provide an overview of computational
      methods for modeling of gene regulatory networks, including some that have been
      applied towards the study of an interacting host and pathogen. In sum,
      comprehensive characterizations of host-fungal pathogen systems are now possible,
      and utilization of these cutting-edge multi-omics strategies may yield advances
      in better understanding of both host biology and fungal pathogens at a systems
      scale. 

PMID- 26885733
TI  - State of the Art: Clinical Applications of Cardiac T1 Mapping.
AB  - While cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) has become the noninvasive tool of
      choice for the assessment of myocardial viability and for the detection of acute
      myocardial edema, cardiac T1 mapping is believed to further extend the ability of
      cardiovascular MR to characterize the myocardium. Fundamentally, cardiovascular
      MR can improve diagnosis of disease that historically has been challenging to
      establish with other imaging modalities. For example, decreased native T1 values
      appear highly specific to detect and quantify disease severity related to
      myocardial iron overload states or glycosphingolipid accumulation in Anderson
      Fabry disease, whereas high native T1 values are observed with edema, amyloid,
      and other conditions. Cardiovascular MR can also improve the assessment of
      prognosis with parameters that relate to myocardial structure and composition
      that complement the familiar functional parameters around which contemporary
      cardiology decision making revolves. In large cohorts, extracellular volume
      fraction (ECV) has been shown to quantify the full extent of myocardial fibrosis
      in noninfarcted myocardium. ECV may predict outcomes at least as effectively as
      left ventricular ejection fraction. This uncommon statistical observation (of
      potentially being more strongly associated with outcomes than ejection fraction)
      suggests prime biologic importance for the cardiac interstitium that may rank
      highly in the hierarchy of vast myocardial changes occurring in cardiac
      pathophysiology. This article presents current and developing clinical
      applications of cardiac T1 mapping and reviews the existing evidence on their
      diagnostic and prognostic value in various clinical conditions. This article also
      contextualizes these advances and explores how T1 mapping and ECV may affect
      major "global" issues such as diagnosis of disease, risk stratification, and
      paradigms of disease, and ultimately how we conceptualize patient vulnerability.

PMID- 26885736
TI  - Case 227: Endobronchial Carcinoid Tumor with Incidental Metastatic Breast Cancer
      Detected with Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy ((111)In Pentreotide).
AB  - HISTORY: A 30-year-old woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome who was undergoing
      hormone replacement therapy presented with a 6-month history of a nonproductive
      cough and a 1-day history of hemoptysis (approximately 20 mL). Intravenous
      contrast material-enhanced (100 mL of Omnipaque 350; GE Healthcare, Princeton,
      NJ) computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography was performed to evaluate for
      pulmonary embolism. On the basis of the CT pulmonary angiographic findings,
      chromogranin A and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were measured and were 7
      nmol/L (343 ug/L) (high) and 2.9 mg per 24 hours (15.167 umol/d) (normal),
      respectively. This patient underwent bronchoscopy and biopsy. After these tests,
      she was referred for whole-body scintigraphy, which revealed an unexpected
      finding that was further investigated with fluorine 18 ((18)F) flurodeoxyglucose
      (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and CT.

PMID- 26885737
TI  - James Lean Body Weight Formula Is Not Appropriate for Determining CT Contrast
      Media Dose in Patients with High Body Mass Index.

PMID- 26885738
TI  - Severe Bleeding after Percutaneous Transhepatic Drainage of the Biliary System.

PMID- 26885739
TI  - Role of Coronary CT Angiography in Patients with Stroke.

PMID- 26885740
TI  - Potential Solution for the Age-Old Problem of CT Overuse in Emergency
      Departments?

PMID- 26885741
TI  - Radiology Transitions in the Lion City.

PMID- 26885742
TI  - Effect of Change in Portal Venous Blood Flow Rates on the Performance of a 2.45
      GHz Microwave Ablation Device.

PMID- 26885743
TI  - Image Noise Reduction Algorithm for Digital Subtraction Angiography: Clinical
      Results.

PMID- 26885745
TI  - Roaming Under the Microscope: Trajectory Study of Formaldehyde Dissociation.
AB  - The photodissociation of formaldehyde was studied using quasi-classical
      trajectories to investigate "roaming," or events involving trajectories that
      proceed far from the minimum energy pathway. Statistical analysis of trajectories
      performed over a range of nine excitation energies from 34 500 to 41 010 cm(-1)
      (including zero-point energy) provides characterization of the roaming phenomenon
      and insight into the mechanism. The trajectories are described as projections
      onto three coordinates: the distance from the CO center of mass to the furthest H
      atom and the azimuthal and polar coordinates of that H atom with respect to the
      CO axis. The trajectories are used to construct a "minimum energy" potential
      energy surface showing the potential for any binary combination of these three
      coordinates that is at a minimum energy with respect to values of the other
      coordinates encountered during the trajectories. We also construct flux diagrams
      for roaming, transition-state, and radical pathways, as well as "reaction
      configuration" plots that show the distribution of reaction geometries for
      roaming and transition-state pathways. These constructs allow characterization of
      roaming in formaldehyde as, principally, internal rotation of the roaming H atom
      around the CO axis at a slowly varying and elongated distance from the CO center
      of mass. The rotation is nearly uniform, and is sometimes accompanied by rotation
      in the polar coordinate. The roaming state of formaldehyde can be treated as a
      separate kinetic entity, much as one might treat an isomer. Rate constants for
      the formation of and reaction from this roaming state are derived from the
      trajectory data as a function of excitation energy. 

PMID- 26885746
TI  - Sexual and Romantic Relationships: Experiences of Adolescent and Young Adult
      Cancer Survivors.
AB  - This study examined the quality and satisfaction of sexual/romantic relationships
      of adolescents/young adults (AYAs) who recently completed cancer treatment. AYAs
      between 16 and 26 years old (62.5% female) and less than 24 months post-treatment
      were interviewed using the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS)
      interview. Of 43 participants, 16 (37.2%) were in a relationship at time of the
      interview; eight (50%) reported minor relationship/sexual difficulties. AYAs
      identified emotional support with their partner as positive aspects of their
      relationships, and described relational conflict associated with communication
      difficulties and loss of sexual interest. Better understanding the factors that
      enable healthy relationships warrants further exploration.

PMID- 26885747
TI  - Tensile Strength of Liquids: Equivalence of Temporal and Spatial Scales in
      Cavitation.
AB  - It is well known that strain rate and size effects are both important in material
      failure, but the relationships between them are poorly understood. To establish
      this connection, we carry out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of cavitation
      in Lennard-Jones and Cu liquids over a very broad range of size and strain rate.
      These studies confirm that temporal and spatial scales play equivalent roles in
      the tensile strengths of these two liquids. Predictions based on smallest-scale
      MD simulations of Cu for larger temporal and spatial scales are consistent with
      independent simulations, and comparable to experiments on liquid metals. We
      analyze these results in terms of classical nucleation theory and show that the
      equivalence arises from the role of both size and strain rate in the nucleation
      of a daughter phase. Such equivalence is expected to hold for a wide range of
      materials and processes and to be useful as a predictive bridging tool in
      multiscale studies. 

PMID- 26885748
TI  - Improving the management and care of refugees in Australian hospitals: a
      descriptive study.
AB  - Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate healthcare provider
      perceptions of the impact of refugee patients at two public hospitals, one rural
      and one urban, in designated refugee resettlement areas. Healthcare
      professionals' views regarding improvements that could be made in this area were
      also sought. Methods Two-page anonymous questionnaires containing demographic,
      quantitative and open-ended questions were distributed to 150 healthcare
      providers at each research site. Results Response rates at the rural and urban
      sites were 50% and 49%, respectively. Refugees were seen at least monthly by 40%
      of respondents. Additional support was requested by 70% of respondents.
      Confidence was associated with being born overseas (P=0.029) and increased time
      working with refugees (rs=0.418, P<0.001). Only 47% of respondents felt confident
      managing social and psychological needs of refugees. Midwives saw refugees more
      than nursing and allied healthcare staff combined, and this was significant at
      the rural hospital (P<0.001). Rural respondents reported that working with
      refugees enhanced their practice (P=0.025), although felt significantly less
      confident (P<0.001) than urban respondents. Themes that arose regarding barriers
      to care included language and cultural barriers, paucity of knowledge and issues
      accessing available services, including appropriate interpreters, Medicare
      eligibility and patient factors, including lack of patient trust in government
      systems. Desire for support was more pronounced in the rural setting (P=0.001).
      Conclusions Refugees were seen frequently in both settings and most respondents
      requested additional support, highlighting that caring for refugees in Australian
      hospitals is a significant challenge. Additional support and education should be
      targeted to those caring for refugees most frequently, particularly midwifery
      services, to reduce barriers to care. What is known about the topic? Refugees are
      a vulnerable group, often with complex health needs. These needs are often unmet
      because of issues including language and cultural barriers. What does this paper
      add? Refugees were seen frequently in the two public hospital settings involved
      in the present study and most often by midwifery services. Healthcare
      professionals require more support, more information about available services and
      better access to interpreter services. These issues were more pronounced in the
      rural setting where very limited research exists. What are the implications for
      practitioners? Implementing additional support and education regarding refugee
      health needs could increase knowledge and confidence when managing refugees,
      reducing barriers to care and improving quality of care.

PMID- 26885749
TI  - Evaluation of glycosylated docetaxel-encapsulated liposomes prepared by remote
      loading under solubility gradient.
AB  - Docetaxel comprises one of the most effective anti-cancer drugs despite of
      serious side effects. Liposomes encapsulation is practically feasible to deliver
      the drug. However, due to the significant hydrophobicity, docetaxel will be
      integrated into the lipid bilayer resulting in poor encapsulation capacity. Here,
      we evaluated a remote loading strategy using a solubility gradient made between
      the two solvents for 7-glucosyloxyacetyldocetaxel, which has enhanced water
      solubility of docetaxel with a coupled glucose moiety. Therefore, 7
      glucosyloxyacetyldocetaxel was more effectively encapsulated into liposomes with
      71.0% of encapsulation efficiency than docetaxel. While 7
      glucosyloxyacetyldocetaxel exhibited 90.9% of tubulin stabilisation activity of
      docetaxel, 7-glucosyloxyacetyldocetaxel encapsulated in liposomes significantly
      inhibited the growth of tumour in vivo with side effects less than unencapsulated
      drug. Collectively, the encapsulation of 7-glucosyloxyacetyldocetaxel into
      liposomes by remote loading under the solubility gradient is considered to be a
      promising application to prepare practical drug delivery system. 

PMID- 26885750
TI  - A new anti-proliferative acylated flavonol glycoside from Fuzhuan brick-tea.
AB  - Fuzhuan brick-tea (FBT) is unique for a fungal fermentation stage in its
      manufacture process and is classified in dark tea. A new acylated flavonol
      glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-[E-p-coumaroyl-(->2)][alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1
      >3)][alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1->6)]-beta-d-glucopyranoside, which was trivially
      named as camellikaempferoside A (1), was isolated from FBT along with
      camelliquercetiside C (2). Their structures were unambiguously elucidated by
      combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compound 1 showed anti
      proliferative activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 values of
      7.83 and 19.16 MUM, respectively.

PMID- 26885751
TI  - Multi-objective analysis for assessing simultaneous changes in regional spinal
      curvatures under backpack carriage in young adults.
AB  - Change in sagittal spinal curvature from the neutral upright stance is an
      important measure of the heaviness and correctness of backpack use. As current
      recommendations, with respect to spinal profile, of backpack load thresholds were
      based on the significant curvature change in individual spinal region only, this
      study investigated the most critical backpack load by assessing simultaneously
      the spinal curvature changes along the whole spine. A motion analysis system was
      used to measure the curvature changes in cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic
      and lumbar regions with backpack load at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of body weight. A
      multi-objective goal programming model was adopted to determine the global
      critical load of maximum curvature change of the whole spine in accordance with
      the maximum curvature changes of the four spinal regions. Results suggested that
      the most critical backpack load was 13% of body weight for healthy male college
      students. Practitioner Summary: As current recommendations of backpack load
      thresholds were based on the significant curvature change in individual spinal
      region only, this study investigated the backpack load by considering
      simultaneously the spinal curvature changes along the whole spine. The
      recommendation, in terms of the global critical load, was 13% of body weight for
      healthy male college students.

PMID- 26885752
TI  - SOX9 indirectly regulates CEACAM1 expression and immune resistance in melanoma
      cells.
AB  - As melanoma cells are immunogenic, they instigate an adaptive immune response and
      production of anti-tumor T-cells. A central factor in this interaction is CEACAM1
      (carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1), a transmembrane glycoprotein
      previously shown in our lab to protect melanoma cells from T cell-mediated
      killing. In this study, we examine the role of transcription factor SOX9 in the
      regulation of CEACAM1 expression and immune resistance in melanoma cells.
      Knockdown of endogenous SOX9 results in CEACAM1 up-regulation, while its
      overexpression leads to the opposite effect. We show that SOX9 controls CEACAM1
      expression at a transcriptional level, but in an indirect manner, as regulation
      of the CEACAM1 promoter remains intact even when all eight potential SOX9-binding
      sites are abolished. A series of promoter truncations localizes the SOX9
      controlled area to the proximal 200bp of the promoter. Point mutations in
      putative Sp1 and ETS1 binding sites identify these transcription factors as the
      primary SOX9-controlled mediators. Co-immunoprecipitation studies show that SOX9
      and Sp1 physically interact in melanoma cells, while silencing of SOX9 down
      regulates ETS1, but not Sp1, in the same cells. Finally, knockdown of SOX9 indeed
      renders melanoma cells resistant to T cell-mediated killing, in line with the
      increased CEACAM1 expression. In conclusion, we show that SOX9 regulates CEACAM1
      expression in melanoma cells, and thereby their immune resistance. As CEACAM1 is
      a pivotal protein in melanoma biology and immune crosstalk, further understanding
      of its regulation can provide new insights and contribute to the development of
      novel approaches to therapy. 

PMID- 26885753
TI  - Potential role of PCTAIRE-2, PCTAIRE-3 and P-Histone H4 in amyloid precursor
      protein-dependent Alzheimer pathology.
AB  - Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) is regulated in a mitosis-specific manner and
      plays a role in proliferative signaling in cells. Though APP-derived Abeta
      generation has a well-established role in neurodegeneration, the mechanistic role
      of APP in this process is not fully understood. Here, we performed an unbiased,
      comprehensive analysis of the phosphoproteome signature in APP-null neuroblastoma
      cells (B103) compared to those expressing APP-695 isoform (B103-695) to determine
      if APP expression affects protein phosphorylation. Stable isotope labeling by
      amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) followed by mass spectrometry-based
      phosphoproteomic analysis with PolyMAC identified a total of 2,478
      phosphopeptides in the B103 and B103-695 cell culture model system. We observed
      that phosphorylation of PCTAIRE-2 (CDK17), PCTAIRE-3 (CDK18), and Histone H4 are
      significantly elevated in B103-695 cells; western blot analysis confirmed
      overexpression of PCTAIREs and increased phosphorylation of Histone H4. More
      importantly, analysis of primary neurons treated with Abeta, as well as brain
      samples from MCI (mild cognitive impaired) and AD patients recapitulated these
      results, showing increased levels of PCTAIREs and P-Histone H4. These novel
      findings identify a hitherto uncharacterized mechanism by which APP and/or Abeta
      may promote AD neurodegeneration, and raises the possibility that their
      inhibition may protect against pathology development in AD. 

PMID- 26885755
TI  - Molecular signatures of age-associated chronic degeneration of shoulder muscles.
AB  - Chronic muscle diseases are highly prevalent in the elderly causing severe
      mobility limitations, pain and frailty. The intrinsic molecular mechanisms are
      poorly understood due to multifactorial causes, slow progression with age and
      variations between individuals. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms
      could lead to new treatment options which are currently limited. Shoulder
      complaints are highly common in the elderly, and therefore, muscles of the
      shoulder's rotator cuff could be considered as a model for chronic age-associated
      muscle degeneration. Diseased shoulder muscles were characterized by muscle
      atrophy and fatty infiltration compared with unaffected shoulder muscles. We
      confirmed fatty infiltration using histochemical analysis. Additionally, fibrosis
      and loss of contractile myosin expression were found in diseased muscles. Most
      cellular features, including proliferation rate, apoptosis and cell senescence,
      remained unchanged and genome-wide molecular signatures were predominantly
      similar between diseased and intact muscles. However, we found down-regulation of
      a small subset of muscle function genes, and up-regulation of extracellular
      region genes. Myogenesis was defected in muscle cell culture from diseased
      muscles but was restored by elevating MyoD levels. We suggest that impaired
      muscle functionality in a specific environment of thickened extra-cellular matrix
      is crucial for the development of chronic age-associated muscle degeneration. 

PMID- 26885754
TI  - Moderate treadmill running exercise prior to tendon injury enhances wound healing
      in aging rats.
AB  - The effect of exercise on wound healing in aging tendon was tested using a rat
      moderate treadmill running (MTR) model. The rats were divided into an MTR group
      that ran on a treadmill for 4 weeks and a control group that remained in cages.
      After MTR, a window defect was created in the patellar tendons of all rats and
      wound healing was analyzed. We found that MTR accelerated wound healing by
      promoting quicker closure of wounds, improving the organization of collagen
      fibers, and decreasing senescent cells in the wounded tendons when compared to
      the cage control. MTR also lowered vascularization, increased the numbers of
      tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCs) and TSC proliferation than the control.
      Besides, MTR significantly increased the expression of stem cell markers, OCT-4
      and Nanog, and tenocyte genes, Collagen I, Collagen III and tenomodulin, and down
      regulated PPAR-gamma, Collagen II and Runx-2 (non-tenocyte genes). These findings
      indicated that moderate exercise enhances healing of injuries in aging tendons
      through TSC based mechanisms, through which exercise regulates beneficial effects
      in tendons. This study reveals that appropriate exercise may be used in clinics
      to enhance tendon healing in aging patients. 

PMID- 26885756
TI  - Epigenetic clock analyses of cellular senescence and ageing.
AB  - A confounding aspect of biological ageing is the nature and role of senescent
      cells. It is unclear whether the three major types of cellular senescence, namely
      replicative senescence, oncogene-induced senescence and DNA damage-induced
      senescence are descriptions of the same phenomenon instigated by different
      sources, or if each of these is distinct, and how they are associated with
      ageing. Recently, we devised an epigenetic clock with unprecedented accuracy and
      precision based on very specific DNA methylation changes that occur in function
      of age. Using primary cells, telomerase-expressing cells and oncogene-expressing
      cells of the same genetic background, we show that induction of replicative
      senescence (RS) and oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) are accompanied by ageing
      of the cell. However, senescence induced by DNA damage is not, even though RS and
      OIS activate the cellular DNA damage response pathway, highlighting the
      independence of senescence from cellular ageing. Consistent with this, we
      observed that telomerase-immortalised cells aged in culture without having been
      treated with any senescence inducers or DNA-damaging agents, re-affirming the
      independence of the process of ageing from telomeres and senescence.
      Collectively, our results reveal that cellular ageing is distinct from cellular
      senescence and independent of DNA damage response and telomere length. 

PMID- 26885760
TI  - Correction to Caylobolide B, a Macrolactone from Symplostatin 1-Producing Marine
      Cyanobacteria Phormidium spp. from Florida.

PMID- 26885757
TI  - Prognosis communication with older patients with multimorbidity: Assessment after
      an educational intervention.
AB  - This study aimed to assess how internal medicine residents incorporated prognosis
      to inform clinical decisions and communicated prognosis in primary care visits
      with older patients with multimorbidity after an educational intervention, and
      resident and patient perspectives regarding these visits. Assessment used mixed
      methods. The authors assessed the frequency and content of prognosis discussions
      through residents' self-report and qualitative content analysis of audio-recorded
      clinic visits. The authors assessed the residents' perceived effect of
      incorporating prognosis on patient care and patient relationship through a
      resident survey. The authors assessed the patients' perceived quality of
      communication and trust in physicians through a patient survey. The study
      included 21 clinic visits that involved 12 first-year residents and 21 patients.
      Residents reported incorporating patients' prognoses to inform clinical decisions
      in 13/21 visits and perceived positive effects on patient care (in 11/13 visits)
      and patient relationship (in 7/13 visits). Prognosis communication occurred in
      9/21 visits by self-report, but only in six of these nine visits by content
      analysis of audio-recordings. Patient ratings were high regardless of whether or
      not prognosis was communicated. In summary, after training, residents often
      incorporated patients' prognoses to inform clinical decisions, but sometimes did
      so without communicating prognosis to the patients. Residents and patients
      reported positive perceptions regarding the visits.

PMID- 26885758
TI  - Selenium status during pregnancy and child psychomotor development-Polish Mother
      and Child Cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The studies on the impact of selenium (Se) levels in different
      pregnancy periods on child psychomotor functions are limited. The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the impact of prenatal Se on child neurodevelopment.
      METHODS: The study population consisted of 410 mother-child pairs from Polish
      Mother and Child Cohort. Se levels were measured in each trimester of pregnancy,
      at delivery, and in cord blood by graphite furnace atomic absorption
      spectrometry. Psychomotor development was assessed in children at the age of 1
      and 2 y using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. RESULTS:
      Plasma Se levels decreased through pregnancy (from 48.3 +/- 10.6 ug/l in the
      first trimester to 38.4 +/- 11.8 ug/l at delivery; P < 0.05). A statistically
      significant positive association between Se levels in the first trimester of
      pregnancy and motor development (beta = 0.2, P = 0.002) at 1 y of age, and
      language development (beta = 0.2, P = 0.03) at 2 y of age was observed. The
      positive effect of Se levels on cognitive score at 2 y of age was of borderline
      significance (beta = 0.2, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prenatal selenium status was
      associated with child psychomotor abilities within the first years of life.
      Further epidemiological and preclinical studies are needed to confirm the
      association and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

PMID- 26885761
TI  - Pattern dystrophy in a female carrier of RP2 mutation.

PMID- 26885762
TI  - The Effects of Nitrate-Rich Supplementation on Neuromuscular Efficiency during
      Heavy Resistance Exercise.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Nitrate-rich (NR) supplements can enhance exercise performance by
      improving neuromuscular function and the aerobic cost of exercise. However,
      little is known about the effects of nitrate on dynamic, multijoint resistance
      exercise. METHODS: Fourteen resistance-trained men (age, 21.1 +/- 0.9 years;
      height, 173.2 +/- 2.9 cm: body mass, 77.6 +/- 4.3 kg; squat one-repetition
      maximum [1RM], 127.5 +/- 18.8 kg) participated in a randomized, double-blind,
      crossover experiment. Subjects consumed an NR or nitrate-poor (NP) supplement for
      3 days, performed a bout of heavy resistance exercise, completed a washout, and
      then repeated the procedures with the remaining supplement. Before, during, and
      after exercise, individual and gross motor unit efficiency was assessed during
      isometric and dynamic muscle contractions. In addition, we compared physical
      performance, heart rate, lactate, and oxygen consumption (VO2). RESULTS: Nitrate
      rich supplementation resulted in lower initial muscle firing rates at rest and
      lower mean and maximum firing rates over the course of fatiguing exercise.
      Nitrate-poor supplementation was accompanied by increased mean and maximum firing
      rates by the end of exercise and lower initial firing rates. In addition, NR
      supplementation resulted in higher mean peak electromyography (EMG) amplitudes.
      Heart rate, lactate, and physical performance did not differ by treatment, but
      oxygen consumption increased more frequently when the NP supplement was consumed.
      CONCLUSION: Supplementation with an NR beetroot extract-based supplement provided
      neuromuscular advantages during metabolically taxing resistance exercise.

PMID- 26885764
TI  - Insulin Infusion Sets: A Critical Reappraisal.
AB  - An insulin infusion set (IIS) is a key component of insulin pumps. In daily
      practice issues with the IIS appear to be as relevant for a successful insulin
      therapy as the pumps themselves. The insulin is applied to the subcutaneous
      tissue via a Teflon((r)) (Dupont, Wilmington, DE) or steel cannula. There are
      intensive discussions about the impact the choice of material for insulin
      application has on insulin pharmacokinetics. In this review, this factor and
      others that are known to have an impact on the successful usage of IIS are
      discussed.

PMID- 26885759
TI  - Evaluation of novel urinary tract infection biomarkers in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pediatricians frequently use urinalysis to diagnose urinary tract
      infection (UTI) while awaiting urine culture results, but sensitivity and
      specificity of urinalysis are limited. This study evaluated the diagnostic
      accuracy of the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5) and
      human neutrophil peptides (HNP) 1-3 as novel UTI biomarkers in children. METHODS:
      We prospectively enrolled 199 pediatric Emergency Department or Urgent Care
      patients evaluated for a UTI. Urine concentrations of HD5 and HNP1-3 were
      measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urine culture was the reference
      standard. Sensitivities and specificities of leukocyte esterase (LE), HD5, HNP1
      3, and test combinations were compared. RESULTS: For predicting positive urine
      culture, the areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for HD5 and
      HNP1-3 were 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.92) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82
      0.93), respectively. Compared to LE >= trace, the combination test "LE and HD5"
      increased specificity by 6% (95% CI: 3-10%) without decreasing sensitivity. In
      the subgroup whose urine was collected by a clean-catch method, combination tests
      "LE and HD5" and "HD5 and HNP1-3" increased specificity by > 10% compared to LE
      alone. CONCLUSION: Urine AMP profiles are a promising novel strategy as an
      adjunct to urinalysis to aid UTI diagnosis in children.

PMID- 26885766
TI  - X-ray Structure and Properties of the Ferrous Octaethylporphyrin Nitroxyl
      Complex.
AB  - The preparation and characterization of the iron octaethylporphyrin nitroxyl ion,
      [Fe(OEP)(NO)(-)], is reported. The complex was synthesized by the one-electron
      reduction of Fe(OEP)(NO) using anthracenide as the reducing agent. The compound
      was isolated as the potassium (2.2.2)cryptand salt. The anion was characterized
      using X-ray analysis with visible and infrared spectroscopy. The spectral
      features of the iron nitroxyl complex were consistent with previous literature
      reports. The important structural changes upon reduction were a significant
      decrease in the Fe-N-O bond angle from 142 degrees  to 127 degrees  and an
      increase in the N-O bond length from that in the starting nitrosyl moiety. The
      porphyrin ring became significantly less planar upon reduction, but the
      displacement of the iron atom from the 24-atom plane was essentially unchanged.
      In spite of the attempt to encapsulate the potassium ion with the
      (2.2.2)cryptand, significant interaction between K(+) and the oxygen of the
      nitroxyl were observed, indicating a contact ion pair in the crystal structure.
      Comparison between the experimental structure and the DFT-calculated parameters
      were reported. The results are consistent with the Fe-N-O moiety being the site
      of the reduction, with little evidence for the reduction of the iron itself or
      the porphyrin ring. The proton NMR spectrum was also obtained, and the chemical
      shifts were significantly different from other S = 0 metalloporphyrin complexes.
      These shifts, though, were consistent with the DFT calculations. 

PMID- 26885765
TI  - Toward a comprehensive care of HIV patients: finding a strategy to detect
      depression in a Spanish HIV cohort.
AB  - Depression is a common but frequently undiagnosed feature in individuals with HIV
      infection. To find a strategy to detect depression in a non-specialized clinical
      setting, the overall performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
      (HADS) and the depression identification questions proposed by the European AIDS
      Clinical Society (EACS) guidelines were assessed in a descriptive cross-sectional
      study of 113 patients with HIV infection. The clinician asked the two screening
      questions that were proposed under the EACS guidelines and requested patients to
      complete the HADS. A psychiatrist or psychologist administered semi-structured
      clinical interviews to yield psychiatric diagnoses of depression (gold standard).
      A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the HADS-Depression (HADS
      D) subscale indicated that the best sensitivity and specificity were obtained
      between the cut-off points of 5 and 8, and the ROC curve for the HADS-Total (HADS
      T) indicated that the best cut-off points were between 12 and 14. There were no
      statistically significant differences in the correlations of the EACS
      (considering positive responses to one [A] or both questions [B]), the HADS-D >=
      8 or the HADS-T >= 12 with the gold standard. The study concludes that both
      approaches (the two EACS questions and the HADS-D subscale) are appropriate
      depression-screening methods in HIV population. We believe that using the EACS-B
      and the HADS-D subscale in a two-step approach allows for rapid, assumable and
      accurate clinical diagnosis in non-psychiatric hospital settings.

PMID- 26885767
TI  - Maximum Spreading of Liquid Drops Impacting on Groove-Textured Surfaces: Effect
      of Surface Texture.
AB  - Maximum spreading of liquid drops impacting on solid surfaces textured with
      unidirectional parallel grooves is studied for drop Weber number in the range 1
      100 focusing on the role of texture geometry and wettability. The maximum spread
      factor of impacting drops measured perpendicular to grooves, betam,? is seen to
      be less than that measured parallel to grooves, betam,?. The difference between
      betam,? and betam,? increases with drop impact velocity. This deviation of
      betam,? from betam,? is analyzed by considering the possible mechanisms,
      corresponding to experimental observations-(1) impregnation of drop into the
      grooves, (2) convex shape of liquid-vapor interface near contact line at maximum
      spreading, and (3) contact line pinning of spreading drop at the pillar edges-by
      incorporating them into an energy conservation-based model. The analysis reveals
      that contact line pinning offers a physically meaningful justification of the
      observed deviation of betam,? from betam,? compared to other possible candidates.
      A unified model, incorporating all the above-mentioned mechanisms, is formulated,
      which predicts betam,? on several groove-textured surfaces made of intrinsically
      hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials with an average error of 8.3%. The effect
      of groove-texture geometrical parameters on maximum drop spreading is explained
      using this unified model. A special case of the unified model, with contact line
      pinning absent, predicts betam,? with an average error of 6.3%. 

PMID- 26885768
TI  - Robust and Porous beta-Diketiminate-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks for
      Earth-Abundant-Metal-Catalyzed C-H Amination and Hydrogenation.
AB  - We have designed a strategy for postsynthesis installation of the beta
      diketiminate (NacNac) functionality in a metal-organic framework (MOF) of UiO
      topology. Metalation of the NacNac-MOF (I) with earth-abundant metal salts
      afforded the desired MOF-supported NacNac-M complexes (M = Fe, Cu, and Co) with
      coordination environments established by detailed EXAFS studies. The NacNac-Fe
      MOF catalyst, I*Fe(Me), efficiently catalyzed the challenging intramolecular
      sp(3) C-H amination of a series of alkyl azides to afford alpha-substituted
      pyrrolidines. The NacNac-Cu-MOF catalyst, I*Cu(THF), was effective in promoting
      the intermolecular sp(3) C-H amination of cyclohexene using unprotected anilines
      to provide access to secondary amines in excellent selectivity. Finally, the
      NacNac-Co-MOF catalyst, I*Co(H), was used to catalyze alkene hydrogenation with
      turnover numbers (TONs) as high as 700,000. All of the NacNac-M-MOF catalysts
      were more effective than their analogous homogeneous catalysts and could be
      recycled and reused without a noticeable decrease in yield. The NacNac-MOFs thus
      provide a novel platform for engineering recyclable earth-abundant-element-based
      single-site solid catalysts for many important organic transformations.

PMID- 26885770
TI  - Selective Area Sublimation: A Simple Top-down Route for GaN-Based Nanowire
      Fabrication.
AB  - Post-growth in situ partial SiNx masking of GaN-based epitaxial layers grown in a
      molecular beam epitaxy reactor is used to get GaN selective area sublimation
      (SAS) by high temperature annealing. Using this top-down approach, nanowires
      (NWs) with nanometer scale diameter are obtained from GaN and InxGa1-xN/GaN
      quantum well epitaxial structures. After GaN regrowth on InxGa1-xN/GaN NWs
      resulting from SAS, InxGa1-xN quantum disks (QDisks) with nanometer sizes in the
      three dimensions are formed. Low temperature microphotoluminescence experiments
      demonstrate QDisk multilines photon emission around 3 eV with individual line
      widths of 1-2 meV. 

PMID- 26885769
TI  - High Rates of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Both Arms of a Peer Counseling Study
      Promoting EBF Among HIV-Infected Kenyan Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended for 6 months after
      delivery as the optimal infant feeding method and is especially important for
      prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). However, EBF promotion
      efforts among HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa have achieved mixed
      success and require context-specific interventions. METHODS: HIV-positive,
      pregnant women from six clinics in Nairobi were enrolled into a clinic-level,
      before-after counseling intervention study. All women received standard perinatal
      and HIV care. Women in the intervention arm were offered three counseling
      sessions that promoted EBF, described its benefits, and explained breastfeeding
      techniques. Mother-infant pairs were followed until 14 weeks postpartum, with
      infant HIV testing at 6 weeks. EBF prevalence at 14 weeks postpartum was compared
      between study arms using log-binomial regression. Proportions of 6-week HIV-free
      survival and 14-week infant survival were assessed using Cox regression. Risk
      estimates were adjusted for clinic, relationship status, and antiretroviral
      therapy. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2013, 833 women were enrolled of whom 94%
      planned to practice EBF for 6 months and 95% were taking therapeutic or
      prophylactic antiretrovirals. Median age was 27 years; median CD4 count was 403
      cells/MUL. EBF prevalence at 14 weeks postpartum was 86% in the control and 81%
      in the intervention group (p = 0.19). No differences were observed between groups
      for 6-week HIV-free survival and 14-week infant survival. CONCLUSION: Women who
      received breastfeeding counseling were not more likely to breastfeed exclusively,
      in part due to high overall EBF prevalence in this study population. The high EBF
      prevalence is an important finding, given recent efforts to promote EBF in Kenya.

PMID- 26885771
TI  - MicroRNAs in cardiovascular disease.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Noncoding RNAs regulate many aspects of cardiovascular biology
      and are potential therapy targets. In this review, we summarize and highlight
      current discoveries in the field of microRNAs, a class of noncoding RNAs. RECENT
      FINDINGS: miRNAs regulate posttranscriptional gene expression and have been shown
      to control cardiac development, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and regeneration. Of note
      are the miRNAs that regulate cardiac contractility (for example, miR-25 and miR
      22), cardiac regeneration (like miR-302-367 and miR99/100 families), and fibrosis
      (as miR-125b). Consistently with these roles of miRNAs, pharmacological
      intervention using anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (antagomirs or LNA-anti-miRs) has
      been shown to improve cardiac contractility and mitigate fibrosis, alleviating
      cardiac dysfunction in the setting of heart failure. SUMMARY: miRNAs are crucial
      regulators of cardiac phenotype and have enthused both basic scientists and
      clinicians alike. With advancement of technology and better understanding of
      mechanisms governing miRNA deregulation, we are at the crossroads for deciphering
      miRNA function and modulating it for therapeutics.

PMID- 26885772
TI  - Interleukin 18 (IL-18) as a target for immune intervention.
AB  - Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the regulation of
      innate and acquired immune response. In the milieu of IL-12 or IL-15, IL-18 is a
      potent inducer of IFN-gamma in natural killer (NK) cells and CD4 T helper (Th) 1
      lymphocytes. However, IL-18 also modulates Th2 and Th17 cell responses, as well
      as the activity of CD8 cytotoxic cells and neutrophils, in a host
      microenvironment-dependent manner. It is produced by various hematopoietic and
      nonhematopoietic cells, including dendritic cells and macrophages. In an
      organism, bioactivity of the cytokine depends on the intensity of IL-18
      production, the level of its natural inhibitory protein - IL-18BP (IL-18 binding
      protein) and the surface expression of IL-18 receptors (IL-18R) on the responding
      cells. This review summarizes the biology of the IL-18/IL-18BP/IL-18R system and
      its role in the host defense against infections. The prospects for IL-18
      application in immunotherapeutic or prophylactic interventions in infectious and
      non-infectious diseases are discussed.

PMID- 26885773
TI  - Multiplex real-time PCR to identify a possible reinfection with different strains
      of human cytomegalovirus in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
      recipients.
AB  - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection remains the leading cause of serious
      contagious complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation. These infections in HCMV-seropositive recipients can be due to
      reactivation or reinfection. Different HCMV strains were identified by
      determining the genotypes isolated from repeatedly tested patients. The UL55
      sequences encoding viral glycoprotein B (gB) have been chosen as the target gene.
      The region, in which the gB precursor protein is cleaved into two fragments by a
      cellular endoprotease, is characterized by genetic variability, and based on that
      HCMV is classified into four major genotypes: gB1, gB2, gB3 and gB4. Multiplex
      real-time PCR assay enabled both, HCMV gB genotyping, as well as simultaneous
      quantitative assessment of the detected genotypes. This study was carried out in
      30 transplant recipients, from whom 105 isolates of HCMV DNA were genotyped. In
      40% of recipients, a mixed infection with two or three genotypes was detected.
      Genotype gB1 dominated in general, and characteristically for mixed infections,
      the genotype gB3 or gB4 was always present. Although there were no significant
      differences in the load for each genotype, in case of multiple infections, the
      number of copies of gB1 genotype was significantly higher when compared to a
      single gB1 infection. In patients with mixed genotypes, chronic HCMV infections
      and graft versus host disease were observed more often, as well as antiviral
      treatment was less effective. It was assumed that these adverse effects can be
      related to the presence of gB3 and gB4 genotypes.

PMID- 26885774
TI  - Principles and applications of Ligation Mediated PCR methods for DNA-based typing
      of microbial organisms.
AB  - A significant number of DNA-based techniques has been introduced into the field
      of microorganisms' characterization and taxonomy. These genomic fingerprinting
      methods were developed to detect DNA sequence polymorphisms by using general
      principles, such as restriction endonuclease analysis, molecular hybridization,
      and PCR amplification. In recent years, some alternative techniques based on
      ligation of oligonucleotide adapters before DNA amplification by PCR, known as
      Ligation-Mediated PCR methods (LM PCR), have been successfully applied for the
      typing of microorganisms below the species level. These molecular methods
      include: Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Amplification of DNA
      fragments Surrounding Rare Restriction Sites (ADSRRS), PCR Melting Profiles (PCR
      MP), Ligation Mediated PCR/Shifter (LM PCR/Shifter), Infrequent-Restriction-Site
      Amplification (IRS PCR), double digestion Ligation Mediated Suppression PCR
      (ddLMS PCR). These techniques are now applied more and more often because they
      involve less time, are comparably inexpensive, and require only standard lab
      equipment. Here, we present a general review of this group of methods showing
      their possibilities and limitations. We also identify questions and propose
      solutions which may be helpful in choosing a particular LM PCR method for the
      achievement of the required goal.

PMID- 26885775
TI  - Effect of different wavelengths of light on laccase, cellobiose dehydrogenase,
      and proteases produced by Cerrena unicolor, Pycnoporus sanguineus and Phlebia
      lindtneri.
AB  - Three species of white rot fungi: Cerrena unicolor, Phlebia lindtneri and
      Pycnoporus sanguineus were cultured in two different media under five different
      lighting conditions: dark, white, red, blue, and green light. Laccase, cellobiose
      dehydrogenase, and protease activities were examined in the samples. Blue light
      efficiently boosted laccase synthesis in C. unicolor and P. sanguineus, whereas
      the highest activities (20 654 nkat/l) of P. lindtneri laccase were observed when
      this fungus was maintained in green light. On the contrary, the green light
      allowed obtaining the highest activities of cellobiose dehydrogenase of C.
      unicolor and P. lindtneri, while CDH of P. sanguineus seems to be dependent on
      white light. It is clearly visible that differences in protease activities are
      noticeable not only between the lights variants but also among the media used.
      However, high proteases activities are correlated with light variants inducing
      laccase in Lindeberg and Holm medium. Contrary to the cellulose-based medium,
      where they are weak in light variants that lead to high CDH activities. 

PMID- 26885776
TI  - Reversible hemostatic properties of sulfabetaine/quaternary ammonium modified
      hyperbranched polyglycerol.
AB  - A library of hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs) functionalized with different
      mole fractions of zwitterionic sulfabetaine and cationic quaternary ammonium
      ligands was synthesized and characterized. A post-polymerization method was
      employed that utilized double bond moieties on the dendritic HPG for the coupling
      of thiol-terminated ligands via UV initiated thiol-ene "click" chemistry. The
      proportions of different ligands were precisely controlled by varying the ligand
      concentration during the irradiation process. The effect of the polymer library
      on hemostasis was investigated using whole human blood. It was found that polymer
      with >=40% of alkenes converted to positive charges and the remainder to
      sulfabetaines caused hemagglutination at >=1 mg/mL, without causing red blood
      cell lysis. The quaternary ammonium groups can interact with the negative charged
      sites on the membranes of erythrocytes, which provides the bioadhesion. The
      zwitterionic sulfabetaine evidently provides a hydration layer to partially mask
      the adverse effects that are likely to be caused by cationic moieties. The
      polymer was also found able to enhance platelet aggregation and activation in a
      concentration and positive charge density-dependent manner, which would
      contribute to initiating hemostasis. In a variety of other assays the material
      was found to be largely biocompatible. The polymer-induced hemostasis is obtained
      by a process independent of the normal blood clotting cascade but dependent on
      red blood cell agglutination, where the polymers promote hemostasis by linking
      erythrocytes together to form a lattice to entrap the cells. 

PMID- 26885777
TI  - Genomic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form
      Originated from CRF01_AE and CRF08_BC in Dali Prefecture of Yunnan Province,
      China.
AB  - Yunnan seems to be a "hot spot" region of HIV-1 recombination. CRF01_AE and
      subtype CRF08_BC are two main HIV-1 clades circulating in Yunnan. We report here
      a novel HIV-1 second-generation recombinant form originated from CRF01_AE and
      CRF08_BC. The strain (12YN10551) was isolated from a HIV-positive male infected
      through heterosexual contact in Dali prefecture of Yunnan province, China. This
      is the first report of HIV-1 near full-length genomic sequence in Dali.
      Recombinant analysis shows that 12YN10551 was composed of two well-established
      circulating recombinant forms (CRF01_AE and CRF08_BC). Two CRF01_AE recombinant
      fragments were inserted into the CRF08_BC backbone genome in the
      pol/vif/vpr/tat/rev and nef gene regions, respectively. The discovery and
      characterization of this new recombinant indicate that intersubtype recombination
      is continuously generating new forms of HIV-1. More work is needed to better
      monitor the genetic diversity of HIV-1 in this region.

PMID- 26885778
TI  - Use of a 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate anion based ionic liquid for the synthesis of
      iron and silver nanoparticles.
AB  - Sixteen new ionic liquids (ILs) with tetraethylammonium, 1-butyl-3
      methylimidazolium, 3-methyl-1-octylimidazolium and tetrabutylphosphonium cations
      paired with 2-substituted 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate anions (substituent at C2 =
      methyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, N,N'-dimethyl amino and nitro) have
      been synthesized and characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry
      (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of cation and anion type and
      structure of the resulting ILs, including several room temperature ionic liquids
      (RTILs), are reflected in the crystallization, melting points and thermal
      decomposition of the ILs. ILs exhibited large liquid and crystallization ranges
      and formed glasses on cooling with glass transition temperatures in the range of 
      22 to -71  degrees C. We selected one of the newly designed ILs due to its bigger
      size, compared to the common conventional IL anion and high electron-withdrawing
      nitrile group leads to an overall stabilization anion that may stabilize the
      metal nanoparticles. Stable and better separated iron and silver nanoparticles
      are obtained by the decomposition of corresponding Fe2(CO)9 and AgPF6,
      respectively, under N2-atmosphere in newly designed nitrile functionalized 4,5
      dicyanoimidazolate anion based IL. Very small and uniform size for Fe
      nanoparticles of about 1.8 +/- 0.6 nm were achieved without any additional
      stabilizers or capping molecules. Comparatively bigger size of Ag-nanoparticles
      was obtained through the reduction of AgPF6 by hydrogen gas. Additionally, the
      AgPF6 precursor was decomposed under microwave irradiation (MWI), fabricating nut
      in-shell-like, that is, core-separated-from-shell Ag-nano-structures. 

PMID- 26885779
TI  - Serum Protein Profile Changes in Psoriatic Patients Undergoing Treatment With
      Infliximab.
AB  - The therapeutic paradigm in psoriasis includes antitumor necrosis alpha agents
      that have been proved effective and safe as long-term therapy. Recently, it has
      been described a correlation between the use of biologic agents and the
      occurrence of monoclonal gammopathies, which are haematological conditions
      characterized by clonal plasma cells proliferation producing a monoclonal
      immunoglobulin that accumulates in the blood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is
      to detect electrophoretic abnormalities in psoriatic patients undergoing
      treatment with infliximab. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective study
      evaluating all charts from the clinic database of all patients treated with
      infliximab. The evaluation of serum protein profile is routinely performed in the
      clinical setting during biologic therapies. We reported the occurrence MGUS in
      infliximab-treated patients. RESULTS: The study analysis included 141 charts.
      Overall, 23 patients showed a MGUS in their electrophoretic profile, though in 6
      cases MGUS was detected at the baseline. Thereby, 17 cases (12.06% of the study
      population) developed MGUS during infliximab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Serum protein
      electrophoresis test represents a useful tool to detect and monitor any
      potentially harmful condition that could occur during treatment with a biologic
      agent. Particularly, it could be crucial for the detection of MGUS, which does
      not affect clinical response, and it does not represent a criteria to withdraw
      the treatment.

PMID- 26885781
TI  - Lower Socioeconomic Status is Associated With Decreased Therapeutic Response to
      the Biologic Agents in Psoriasis Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lower socioeconomic status is associated with poorer overall health
      outcomes. However, few studies have examined the impact of socioeconomic status
      on psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of individual socioeconomic status
      on systemic therapeutic outcomes amongst psoriasis patients. METHODS: The study
      analyzed 156 psoriasis patients treated at the Tufts Medical Center Department of
      Dermatology from 2008-2014. Individual socioeconomic status was inferred from
      neighborhood income, defined as the percentage of households with income below
      the federal poverty line (% below FPL) in the patient's census tract. The
      following outcomes were compared between socioeconomic groups: improvement in
      simple measure for assessing psoriasis activity (S-MAPA) score at 12 weeks,
      primary and secondary drug failure rates, and incidence of documented medication
      non-adherence. RESULTS: Those patients living in relatively poorer neighborhoods
      (% below FPL <= 10%) experienced a significantly decreased improvement in S-MAPA
      score at 12 weeks of biologic treatment when compared to those in relatively
      richer neighborhoods (% below FPL >10%), 23.2% vs. 45.5%, P=0.021. Patients
      living in poorer neighborhoods also had a significantly higher rate of primary
      drug failure when treated with biologics (34.7% vs. 18.4%, P=0.039) and were
      significantly more likely to have >= 1 documented instance of medication non
      adherence when treated with biologics (45.5% vs. 8.8%, P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS:
      Retrospective design, small sample size CONCLUSIONS: Our study offers preliminary
      data that suggests lower socioeconomic status may be associated with decreased
      clinical response to the biologic agents, presumably through decreased medication
      adherence.

PMID- 26885780
TI  - Zinc Pyrithione: A Topical Antimicrobial With Complex Pharmaceutics.
AB  - Zinc pyrithione (ZPT) is an active material that has been used for over 50 years
      to effectively treat dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (D/SD). It has become the
      most common material for that purpose, its use has expanded to include other skin
      benefits such as skin hygiene. However, there is much about ZPT that is
      unappreciated. It is a rationally developed molecule that was modeled after the
      naturally occurring antimicrobial aspergillic acid. The molecular basis for its
      antifungal activity has been elucidated. The efficacy of ZPT originates from two
      attributes. First, it has a very broad antimicrobial spectrum of activity,
      including fungi, gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Second, the material has
      very low solubility, resulting in formulation and delivery as a particulate
      material, which has distinct performance advantages. The particles are deposited
      and retained on the target skin surfaces even when delivered from rinse-off
      products. These particles slowly release molecularly active material to interact
      with the surface fungal and bacteria cells to control their population,
      functioning as slow-release reservoirs to provide extended and persistent
      benefits. This particulate nature, though, results in complex pharmaceutics to
      realize the full efficacy benefits; it is common to see products with the same
      ZPT level having widely varying levels of clinical performance. Several product
      matrix-determined factors directly impact resultant benefits: ZPT must be
      retained on the skin surface achieving uniform spatial distribution laterally as
      well as within hair follicles (especially on scalp); ZPT must be maintained as a
      physically stable dispersion in product; ZPT must be maintained in a chemically
      active form as there are many chemical reactions that can occur that can harm ZPT
      bioactivity. The benefits achievable by employing ZPT require significant
      pharmaceutics expertise to realize the full benefits of this active material.

PMID- 26885782
TI  - DFD-01, a Novel Medium Potency Betamethasone Dipropionate 0.05% Emollient Spray,
      Demonstrates Similar Efficacy to Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate 0.05%
      Lotion for the Treatment of Moderate Plaque Psoriasis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A novel 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate emollient spray (DFD-01) was
      formulated to optimize penetration of steroid to the epidermal layers affected by
      psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of medium potency DFD-01
      with super potent augmented betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion (Diprolene)
      for the topical treatment of moderate plaque psoriasis. METHODS: Adults with
      moderate plaque psoriasis (Investigator Global Assessment [IGA]=3; 10-20% BSA)
      were randomized 2:1:1 to DFD-01, Diprolene, or Vehicle. Products were applied
      twice daily to affected areas for 14 days. Treatment success was defined as IGA=0
      or 1 and >= 2-grade improvement from baseline. IGA and target lesion Total Sign
      Score (TSS; sum of erythema, scaling, and plaque elevation scores) were assessed
      at baseline and at days 4, 8, and 15. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded.
      RESULTS: 351 subjects with moderate psoriasis were randomized to DFD-01 (n=174),
      Diprolene (n=90), or Vehicle (n=87). Mean BSA was 13-14%. Treatment success was
      achieved in 19.0% DFD-01, 18.9% Diprolene, and 2.3% Vehicle (P<0.001 DFD-01 vs
      Vehicle) at day 15. Treatment success at day 8 was 10% DFD-01, 6.7% Diprolene,
      and 1.2% Vehicle (P=0.003 DFD-01 vs Vehicle). TSS was significantly reduced with
      DFD-01 compared with Vehicle at days 4, 8, and 15 (P <= 0.006) and compared with
      Diprolene at day 4 (P=0.010). DFD-01 relieved signs of erythema and scaling
      earlier than Diprolene or Vehicle, showing significant improvements on day 4 (P
      <= 0.048). All products were well tolerated. Significantly more burning/stinging
      was reported with Diprolene than DFD-01 (13.6% vs 4.1%, P=0.006). CONCLUSION:
      Medium potency DFD-01 was efficacious for the treatment of moderate psoriasis.
      DFD-01 demonstrated similar efficacy to super potent Diprolene lotion. Results at
      4 and 8 days indicate that DFD-01 shows early improvement in some subjects. DFD
      01 was well tolerated and had an excellent safety profile.

PMID- 26885783
TI  - Asthma and Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Targeted Inhibition of Interleukin-4
      and Interleukin-13 As Therapy for Atopic Disease.
AB  - Type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-mediated inflammation plays a critical role in the
      pathogenesis of allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD). Recent research
      focusing on the suppression of the Th2 axis with targeted inhibitors in atopic
      disease is showing promising early results. In particular, the simultaneous
      blockage of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 has successfully mitigated symptoms of
      allergic asthma and AD in preliminary clinical trials. Given the current
      therapeutic challenges of treating these chronic and severe diseases, this review
      brings to light new data demonstrating that agents targeting IL-4 and IL-13 are
      relatively safe and effective medications in blocking the inflammatory cascade
      responsible for allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis.

PMID- 26885784
TI  - Post Hoc Analyses of the Effect of Crisaborole Topical Ointment, 2% on Atopic
      Dermatitis: Associated Pruritus from Phase 1 and 2 Clinical Studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Two post hoc analyses assessed the antipruritic activity of
      crisaborole topical ointment, 2% (crisaborole; Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo
      Alto, CA), a first-in-class boron-based phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor in
      development for treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS:
      Two pooled analyses included data from 4 studies evaluating crisaborole in AD
      (study 1, phase 1b, systemic exposure, safety, and pharmacokinetics [PK] under
      maximal-use conditions in children and adolescents; study 2, phase 2a, safety and
      PK in adolescents; study 3, phase 2a, efficacy and safety in adults; study 4,
      phase 2, efficacy and safety in adolescents). Pooled data from studies 1 and 2
      included whole body assessments; studies 3 and 4 included target lesion
      assessments. Pruritus severity was evaluated using a 4-point rating scale (0=none
      to 3=severe). Efficacy assessments included percent change from baseline in
      pruritus severity scores at days 8 (first pooled assessment), 15, 22, and 29
      (whole body assessments) or days 15 (first pooled assessment), 22, and 29 (target
      lesions). Paired t-tests comparing change from baseline against zero were used to
      calculate P values. Categorical shifts in pruritus severity were also assessed
      (no to mild pruritus, 0-1.5; moderate to severe pruritus, 2-3). RESULTS: In the
      pooled analysis of studies 1 and 2 (N=57), the percent change from baseline in
      pruritus severity scores were 63.0% and 64.9% at days 8 and 29, respectively
      (P<0.001 for each). Similar results were observed in the pooled analysis of
      studies 3 and 4 (N=67). In both analyses, most patients had mild to no pruritus
      from the first time point assessed through the remainder of treatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with crisaborole topical ointment, 2% resulted in
      statistically significant reductions in pruritus severity at the first time point
      evaluated in both analyses. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the
      antipruritic activity of crisaborole topical ointment, 2%.

PMID- 26885785
TI  - Randomized, Double-Blind, Split-Face Study to Compare the Irritation Potential of
      Two Topical Acne Formulations Over a 21-Day Treatment Period.
AB  - The use of fixed combinations in acne vulgaris (acne) is very common, however
      comparative clinical trial data are limited. Cutaneous tolerability can influence
      patient compliance, and concerns about skin irritation with topical acne
      treatments have lead to a number of comparative split-face studies. Recently, a
      new fixed combination product was introduced (clin 1.0%-BP 3.75% gel) that was
      shown to be effective in reducing both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions
      in moderate to severe acne. Here, we assess the tolerability of clin 1.0%-BP
      3.75% gel compared with adap 0.1%-BP 2.5% gel in healthy volunteers with no
      apparent facial redness or dryness over 21-days, using a split-face methodology.
      Especially over the first two weeks of treatment, clin 1.0%-BP 3.75% gel was more
      tolerable than adap 0.1%-BP 2.5% gel, with statistically significant differences
      in cumulative change from baseline starting as early as day 8 (dryness) and day 9
      (erythema), and composite index on days 8-12 and 16. Transepidermal water loss
      was less with clin 1.0%-BP 3.75% gel, although the difference was not
      statistically significant.

PMID- 26885786
TI  - Understanding the Relationship Between Pruritus Severity and Work Productivity in
      Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis: Sleep Problems Are a Mediating
      Factor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a debilitating skin disease associated with substantial
      pruritus, work impairment, and sleep disturbance. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated
      associations between pruritus and work productivity, and the role of sleep
      problems as a possible mediator of the relationship between the two. METHODS AND
      MATERIALS: Data from a pruritus visual analog scale (Itch VAS), the Medical
      Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS), and the Work Productivity and Activity
      Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI) were collected in a phase 2 clinical trial in
      patients with psoriasis treated with ixekizumab or placebo. Mediating effects of
      sleep were tested in multiple regressions with pruritus severity (independent
      variable) and work productivity (dependent variable). Sobel tests evaluated the
      significance of sleep's effect. RESULTS: Several MOS-SS domains were
      significantly associated with the WPAI presenteeism, work productivity, and
      activity impairment scores, and decreased the effect of pruritus. Sobel tests
      indicated that the Sleep Problems Index I had a significant effect (P<.05) in
      mediating the relationship between pruritus and presenteeism, work productivity,
      and activity impairment. CONCLUSION: Sleep may mediate the role of pruritus on
      work productivity, but both factors appear to have independent negative effects
      on work.

PMID- 26885787
TI  - Use of Dapsone 5% Gel as Maintenance Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Following
      Completion of Oral Doxycycline and Dapsone 5% Gel Combination Treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a common, chronic skin disease that requires long
      term therapy. Oral antibiotics are a mainstay of treatment, but extended use is
      associated with the development of bacterial resistance. Topical therapies are
      often combined with oral antibiotics to achieve an initial improvement, after
      which the oral agents may be discontinued and the topical therapy used as
      maintenance. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of combination therapy
      with dapsone 5% gel with oral doxycycline hyclate 100mg, followed by monotherapy
      with dapsone 5% gel in improving and maintaining response in patients with
      moderate to severe acne. METHODS: In this open-label study, all patients applied
      dapsone 5% gel twice daily along with doxycycline hyclate 100mg once daily for 12
      weeks. Subjects who achieved a qualifying improvement at week 12 continued to the
      second phase of the study in which they applied only dapsone 5% gel twice daily
      for maintenance therapy of 12 more weeks. Subjects were evaluated for safety and
      efficacy at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. RESULTS: All subjects (n=30) in the
      initial phase qualified to enter the maintenance phase. 82% of participants
      maintained their treatment response (Investigator's Global Assessment score) at
      week 24. The regimen was safe and well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The combination
      oral doxycycline hyclate 100 mg with topical dapsone 5% gel twice daily is an
      effective and well-tolerated regimen to treat moderate to severe acne vulgaris.
      After discontinuation of doxycycline, topical dapsone 5% gel is effective at
      maintaining a therapeutic response. These data suggest that topical dapsone 5%
      gel can be used effectively for long-term acne maintenance treatment without the
      risk of developing antibiotic resistance.

PMID- 26885788
TI  - The Efficacy and Safety of Topical Dapsone Gel, 5% for the Treatment of Acne
      Vulgaris in Adult Females With Skin of Color.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Topical dapsone gel, 5% is approved for treatment of acne vulgaris
      but has not been studied specifically in women with skin of color (SOC;
      Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, or VI). OBJECTIVE: Evaluate safety and efficacy of
      dapsone gel, 5% applied topically twice daily for 12 weeks in women with SOC.
      METHODS: Females with SOC aged 18 years and older with facial acne participated
      in a multicenter, open-label, single-group, 12-week pilot study of twice-daily
      monotherapy with dapsone gel, 5%. The investigator-rated 5-point Global Acne
      Assessment Score (GAAS) was used to assess efficacy. The impact of acne on
      subjects was assessed using the validated Acne Symptom and Impact Scale (ASIS).
      RESULTS: The study enrolled and treated 68 women with SOC and facial acne. GAAS
      decreased significantly from baseline to week 12 (mean, -1.2 [95% CI, -1.4, 
      1.0]; P<.001), a 39.0% improvement. Overall, 42.9% of subjects were responders
      based on a GAAS of 0 or 1 at week 12. Subjects also experienced significant
      reductions in mean total lesions (52% decrease), inflammatory lesions (65%), and
      comedo counts (41%; all P<.001). Dapsone gel, 5% monotherapy was associated with
      significant improvement in subject-assessed acne signs (P<.001) and impact on
      quality of life (QOL; P<.001), based on ASIS. Dapsone gel, 5% used twice daily
      was well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events. The local dermal
      tolerability scores tended to remain stable or decrease from baseline to week 12.
      CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy with dapsone gel, 5% administered twice daily was safe
      and effective for treatment of facial acne in women with SOC. Significant
      improvement in overall acne severity and both inflammatory lesions and comedones
      was observed. Further, study subjects reported considerable improvement in both
      acne signs and impact on QOL.

PMID- 26885789
TI  - Jasmonates and Tetrahydrojasmonic Acid: A Novel Class of Anti-Aging Molecules.
AB  - Jasmonates are plant-derived hormones from linoleic acid that were originally
      isolated from jasmine, and which are involved in plant stress regulation, wound
      repair and defense. They have been demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo
      studies to possess anti-neoplastic properties. Most recently, a novel jasmonate
      analog was developed, tetrahydrojasmonic acid (LR2412), which possesses favorable
      characteristics for cutaneous application and which induces improvements in
      epidermal hyaluronic acid and thickness. Clinical application of LR2412 to facial
      skin has been demonstrated to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and photoaging.
      In this issue, a clinical trial is published demonstrating the results of topical
      application of this agent for th cosmetic treatment of wrinkle appearance, poor
      texture and large pores.

PMID- 26885790
TI  - Clinical Assessment of a Novel Jasmonate Cosmeceutical, LR2412-Cx, for the
      Treatment of Skin Aging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The jasmonates are a novel class of plant-derived anti-aging
      compounds. Among these, LR2412-Cx (tetrahydrojasmonic acid, Visionnaire) has been
      demonstrated to reduce photoaging and the appearance of wrinkles, as well as to
      upregulate collagens, hyaluronic acid and fibrillin. OBJECTIVE: To clinically
      study the cosmetic effects of a novel jasmonate complex LR2412-Cx in the
      treatment of visible skin aging. METHODS: LR2412-Cx was evaluated in a 15-subject
      open-label prospective clinical trial for the treatment of fine wrinkle
      appearance, texture, and pores. Subjects were evaluated by an investigator at
      baseline, day 1, day 3, and week 6 with the Alexiades comprehensive grading scale
      of skin aging, and introducing a novel pore-grading scale and subject quality of
      life assessments. RESULTS: The mean (SEM) at baseline and at week 6 following
      twice-daily application were: for the appearance of wrinkles 2.91 (0.12) and 2.70
      (0.10); for texture 2.91 (0.10) and 2.55 (0.10); and for pores 3.29 (0.08) and
      2.46 (0.09), respectively. The differences in all 3 categories at all follow-up
      intervals were statistically significant (P<.005). The percentage improvement in
      investigator-assessed grades relative to baseline at day 1, day 3, and week 6
      were: 2.3%, 4.9%, and 7.4% for the appearance of wrinkles, 5.7%, 9.4%, and 12.4%
      for texture, and 14.2%, 21.6% and 25.2% for pores, respectively. No significant
      untoward effects were reported. CONCLUSION: Visionnaire LR2412-Cx is a novel
      jasmonate-containing compound that is safe and effective for the cosmetic
      treatment of fine wrinkle appearance, texture, and pores of the facial skin.

PMID- 26885791
TI  - Superior Efficacy of an Herbal-based Cosmeceutical Compared With Common
      Prescription and Cosmetic Antiaging Therapies.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that a disrupted stratum corneum permeability
      barrier coupled with chronic inflammation induce signs of extrinsic aging
      (photoaging). An novel herbal-based three product cosmeceutical regimen used to
      reverse these two anomalies that does not contain retinol, soy, niacinamide, tea,
      L-ascorbic acid or esters, hydroxy acids, tocopherol, or growth factors was
      tested in six human clinical trials to determine effectiveness and safety in
      reversing photoaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six randomized split face, double
      blind, prospective, controlled clinical trials involving a total of 110 subjects
      compared a cosmeceutical blend of novel herbs in regimens consisting of one to
      three products to several common antiaging topical treatments. These comparative
      products include prescription tretinoin, physician strength idebenone, kinetin,
      polyhydroxy, lactic and glycolic acids in reversing signs of photoaging. RESULTS:
      The novel cosmeceutical blend regimen showed superior efficacy and safety in all
      six trials. DISCUSSION: These trials substantiate that herbs not used in common
      antiaging products effectively and safely mitigate and reverse photoaging signs
      and symptoms. The novel concept of treating photoaging and preventing its
      progression by repairing and optimizing the stratum corneum barrier, while
      reversing and inhibiting chronic cutaneous inflammation, has now been proven.

PMID- 26885793
TI  - Accelerated Onset of Action and Increased Tolerability in Treating Acne With a
      Fixed-Dose Combination Gel.
AB  - Nonadherence to topical acne therapies is a major contributing factor to poor
      treatment outcomes. Multiple contributing factors have been identified, including
      a lack of perceived efficacy and fear of side effects. A fixed-dose combination
      gel of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide gel, 0.1%/2.5% (A-BPO) is an efficacious and
      safe treatment for a range of acne severities in patients as young as 9 years
      old. A meta-analysis of 14 clinical studies involving A-BPO was conducted to
      assess the 4 week efficacy and overall tolerability of this treatment. Over 2,300
      subjects were included in the analysis. Mean total, inflammatory, and non
      inflammatory lesion counts decreased at 4 weeks by 40.8%, 46.2%, and 37.5%,
      respectively. Worst post-baseline tolerability scores for stinging/burning,
      dryness, scaling, and erythema were none or mild for a majority of subjects. The
      result of this meta-analysis add to the body of literature supporting the use of
      A-BPO in a variety of acne patients and shows that A-BPO provides meaningful
      clinical results within 4 weeks and will be well-tolerated for a majority of
      patients. With a demonstrable quick onset of action and high tolerability, A-BPO
      may improve adherence, and ultimately treatment outcomes, by addressing factors
      that contribute to nonadherence.

PMID- 26885794
TI  - Oral Acyclovir in the Treatment of Verruca.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a case in which persistent plantar warts resolved after a
      ten-day treatment course of oral acyclovir prescribed for herpes zoster. CASE
      SUMMARY: A 49 year-old Caucasian female with non-significant past medical history
      presented to the podiatry clinic for treatment of verrucae. Debridement was
      performed and monochloroacetic acid was applied to affected areas seven times
      over seven months. The patient was diagnosed and treated for herpes zoster with
      acyclovir for ten days. Following acyclovir completion, only one verruca remained
      with complete resolution at the next follow-up podiatry visit. DISCUSSION AND
      CONCLUSION: Few previous trials have supported the use of acyclovir cream in
      treatment-resistant plantar warts. However, no case reports to date describe the
      efficacy of oral acyclovir in the treatment of verruca. While a causal
      relationship has not been solidified between verrucous lesion resolution and
      treatment with acyclovir, it can be inferred and warrants additional attention.

PMID- 26885792
TI  - Polypodium Leucotomos--An Overview of Basic Investigative Findings.
AB  - The use of Polypodium leucotomos, a species of fern, has been reported to be
      beneficial in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and psoriasis, and
      for prevention of polymorphic light eruption, sunburn, and squamous cell
      carcinoma. We review the in vivo animal, in vitro human, and human clinical
      studies performed to help elucidate the actions of and biologic pathways affected
      by P. leucotomos. These results serve as the scientific rationale and basis for
      the protection and effectiveness afforded by P. leucotomos in cutaneous diseases.

PMID- 26885795
TI  - A Unique Case of Herpes Zoster Within One Week of Varicella Zoster Vaccination.
AB  - We report a unique case of herpes zoster that developed shortly after Varicella
      Zoster vaccination.

PMID- 26885797
TI  - Introduction to Advances in Tinea Pedis Management.

PMID- 26885796
TI  - Resident Rounds: Part III--Case Report: Crohn's Disease Presenting as
      Granulomatous Cheilitis.
AB  - Cutaneous Crohn's is a rare extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel
      disease seen in a select group of patients, in which cutaneous lesions similar to
      those of the intestinal illness appear distant from the gastrointestinal tract.
      Oral findings may be found in up to 60% of patients with extra-intestinal Crohn's
      and may appear as the initial symptom underlying disease. We present a case of a
      17-year-old male presenting with granulomatous chelitis of the lower lip who was
      unaware of the underlying diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD). 

PMID- 26885798
TI  - Advancements in Topical Antifungal Vehicles.
AB  - The primary treatment for superficial fungal infections is antifungal topical
      formulations, and allylamines and azoles represent the two major classes of
      topical formulations that are used to treat these infections. The stratum corneum
      (SC) is composed of keratinocytes that are surrounded by a matrix of lipids. The
      efficacy of topically applied formulations depends on their ability to penetrate
      this lipid matrix, and the vehicle plays an integral role in the penetration of
      active molecule into skin. There are several challenges to formulating topical
      drugs, which include the biotransformation of the active molecules as they pass
      through the SC and the physical changes that occur to the vehicle itself when it
      is applied to the skin. This article will review current and emerging topical
      antifungal vehicles.

PMID- 26885799
TI  - Mycological Considerations in the Topical Treatment of Superficial Fungal
      Infections.
AB  - Trichophyton rubrum remains the most common pathogenic dermatophyte in the United
      States, Europe, and industrialized Asia, although other species are predminant
      elsewhere. Candida albicans is the most common pathogenic yeast, with other
      species occasionally encountered. Just a few of the 14 described species of
      Malassezia cause pityriasis versicolor worldwide. FDA approval does not always
      accurately reflect the potential utility of any given topical antifungal agent.
      Azole, hydroxypyridone, and allylamine agents are beneficial in the management of
      dermatophytosis; however, the allylamines may lead to faster symptom resolution
      and a higher degree of sustained response. Although in actual clinical use the
      allylamines have all shown some activity against superficial cutaneous
      candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor, the azole agents remain drugs of choice.
      Ciclopirox is an excellent broad-spectrum antifungal agent. Optimal topical
      therapy for superficial fungal infections cannot yet be reliably based upon in
      vitro laboratory determination of sensitivity. Inherent antibacterial and anti
      inflammatory properties possessed by some antifungal agents may be exploited for
      clinical purposes. Candida species may be azole-insensitive due to efflux pumps
      or an altered target enzyme. So-called "antifungal resistance" of dermatophyets
      is actually due to poor patient adherence (either in dosing or treatment
      duration), or to reinfection.

PMID- 26885800
TI  - The Role of Naftifine HCl 2% Gel and Cream in Treating Moccasin Tinea Pedis.
AB  - In recent years, new topical antifungals have emerged for the treatment and
      management of tinea pedis, but all have been investigated and approved for the
      treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. Moccasin tinea pedis has not been
      recognized by governing bodies as a definable and treatable disease entity
      separate from interdigital tinea pedis at this time. Thus, creating randomized,
      controlled clinical trials to investigate moccasin tinea pedis is a challenge
      without an agreed upon definition of the disease state, treatment regimen, and
      treatment course. Considering systemic therapy issues and the lack of data from
      large trials demonstrating safety and efficacy in the topical management of this
      clinical presentation, an unmet need has been created for a topical antifungal
      agent that can treat moccasin tinea pedis. Naftifine 2% gel, an allylamine, was
      studied in a clinical trial that enrolled patients who had interdigital or both
      interdigital and moccasin-type tinea pedis. In the moccasin group, the primary
      efficacy endpoint of complete cure at week 2 (end of treatment) was 1.7% (gel) vs
      0.9% (vehicle) and week 6 (four weeks post-treatment) was 19.2% (gel) vs 0.9%
      (vehicle). Naftifine 2% cream in combination with urea 39% also showed
      improvement in hyperkeratotic moccasin tinea pedis.

PMID- 26885801
TI  - Liver Fibrosis Linked to Cognitive Performance in HIV and Hepatitis C.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Because HIV impairs gut barriers to pathogens, HIV-infected adults may
      be vulnerable to minimal hepatic encephalopathy in the absence of cirrhosis.
      BACKGROUND: Cognitive disorders persist in up to one-half of people living with
      HIV despite access to combination antiretroviral therapy. Minimal hepatic
      encephalopathy occurs in cirrhotic patients with or without HIV infection and may
      be associated with inflammation. DESIGN/METHODS: A cross-sectional investigation
      of liver fibrosis severity using the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio
      index (APRI) and neuropsychological testing performance among women from the
      Women's Interagency HIV Study. A subset underwent liver transient elastography
      (FibroScan, n = 303). RESULTS: We evaluated 1479 women [mean (SD) age of 46 (9.3)
      years]: 770 (52%) only HIV infected, 73 (5%) only hepatitis C virus (HCV)
      infected, 235 (16%) HIV/HCV coinfected, and 401 (27%) uninfected. Of these, 1221
      (83%) exhibited APRI <=0.5 (no or only mild fibrosis), 206 (14%) exhibited APRI
      >0.5 and <=1.5 (moderate fibrosis), and 52 (3%) exhibited APRI >1.5 (severe
      fibrosis). Having moderate or severe fibrosis (APRI >0.5) was associated with
      worse performance in learning, executive function, memory, psychomotor speed,
      fluency, and fine motor skills. In these models that adjusted for fibrosis,
      smaller associations were found for HIV (learning and memory) and HCV (executive
      functioning and attention). The severity of fibrosis, measured by FibroScan, was
      associated with worse performance in attention, executive functioning, and
      fluency. CONCLUSIONS: Liver fibrosis had a contribution to cognitive performance
      independent of HCV and HIV; however, the pattern of neuropsychological deficit
      associated with fibrosis was not typical of minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

PMID- 26885802
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of Co-Formulated Elvitegravir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir
      Disoproxil Fumarate After Switch From Efavirenz/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir
      Disoproxil Fumarate in Healthy Subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elvitegravir (EVG), a HIV integrase inhibitor, is metabolized
      primarily by CYP3A, and secondarily by UGT1A1/3; Efavirenz (EFV), a HIV non
      nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is metabolized by Cytochrome P450
      (CYP) 2B6 and induces CYP3A and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)
      with residual effects post discontinuation because of long T1/2 (40-55 hours).
      This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics after switching from
      efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF) to
      elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
      (EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF). METHODS: Healthy subjects (n = 32 including n = 8 CYP2B6 poor
      metabolizers) received EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF (150/150/200/300 mg) on days 1-7, and
      after a washout, received EFV/FTC/TDF (600/200/300 mg) on days 15-28 and switched
      to EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF (150/150/200/300 mg) for 5 weeks (days 29-62).
      Pharmacokinetic assessments occurred on days 7, 28, 35, and 42; trough samples
      (Ctrough) were collected periodically until day 63. Safety was assessed
      throughout the study. RESULTS: Twenty-nine subjects completed with 3 adverse
      events leading to discontinuation; no grade >=3 adverse events were reported.
      Post-EFV/FTC/TDF, mean EVG area under concentration (AUCtau) was 37% and 29%
      lower and mean Ctrough ~3- and ~5-fold above IC95, respectively, on days 35 and
      42, and 7-8-fold above IC95 by 5 weeks. COBI AUCtau returned to normal by day 42.
      EVG glucuronide, GS-9200, AUCtau was higher (46% and 32% on days 35 and 42,
      respectively) postswitch. CYP2B6 poor metabolizers displayed higher EFV AUCtau
      and Cmax (125% and 91%, respectively) versus non-poor metabolizers, and lower EVG
      and COBI exposures. EFV Ctrough was >IC90 (10 ng/mL) in all subjects postswitch.
      FTC and tenofovir (TFV) exposures were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: After EFV/FTC/TDF
      to EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF switch, EVG and/or EFV exposures were in an active range.
      These findings support further evaluation of switching regimens in HIV-1
      patients.

PMID- 26885804
TI  - HIV Testing, Care Referral, and Linkage to Care Intervals Affect Time to
      Engagement in Care for Newly Diagnosed HIV-Infected Adolescents in 15 Adolescent
      Medicine Clinics in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine how the time from HIV testing to care referral and from
      referral to care linkage influenced time to care engagement for newly diagnosed
      HIV-infected adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated the Care Initiative, a care
      linkage and engagement program for HIV-infected adolescents in 15 US clinics. We
      analyzed client-level factors, provider type, and intervals from HIV testing to
      care referral and from referral to care linkage as predictors of care engagement.
      Engagement was defined as a second HIV-related medical visit within 16 weeks of
      initial HIV-related medical visit (linkage). RESULTS: At 32 months, 2143 youth
      had been referred. Of these, 866 were linked to care through the Care Initiative
      within 42 days and thus eligible for study inclusion. Of the linked youth, 90.8%
      were ultimately engaged in care. Time from HIV testing to referral (eg, <=7 days
      versus >365 days) was associated with engagement [adjusted odds ratio = 2.91; 95%
      confidence interval (CI): 1.43 to 5.94] and shorter time to engagement (adjusted
      hazard ratio = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.79). Individuals with shorter care
      referral to linkage intervals (eg, <=7 days versus 22-42 days) engaged in care
      faster (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.90; 95% CI: 2.34 to 3.60) and more successfully
      (adjusted odds ratio = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.04 to 3.89). CONCLUSIONS: These data
      address a critical piece of the care continuum and can offer suggestions of where
      and with whom to intervene to best achieve the care engagement goals outlined in
      the US National HIV/AIDS Strategy. These results may also inform programs and
      policies that set concrete milestones and strategies for optimal care linkage
      timing for newly diagnosed adolescents.

PMID- 26885803
TI  - Mechanisms for the Negative Effects of Internalized HIV-Related Stigma on
      Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in Women: The Mediating Roles of Social
      Isolation and Depression.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Internalization of HIV-related stigma may inhibit a person's ability
      to manage HIV disease through adherence to treatment regimens. Studies, mainly
      with white men, have suggested an association between internalized stigma and
      suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, there is a
      scarcity of research with women of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and on
      mediating mechanisms in the association between internalized stigma and ART
      adherence. METHODS: The Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) is a multicenter
      cohort study. Women living with HIV complete interviewer-administered
      questionnaires semiannually. Cross-sectional analyses for the current article
      included 1168 women on ART for whom data on medication adherence were available
      from their last study visit between April 2013 and March 2014, when the
      internalized stigma measure was initially introduced. RESULTS: The association
      between internalized stigma and self-reported suboptimal ART adherence was
      significant for those in racial/ethnic minority groups (AOR = 0.69, P = 0.009,
      95% CI: 0.52 to 0.91), but not for non-Hispanic whites (AOR = 2.15, P = 0.19, 95%
      CI: 0.69 to 6.73). Depressive symptoms, loneliness, and low perceived social
      support mediated the association between internalized stigma and suboptimal
      adherence in the whole sample, as well as in the subsample of minority
      participants. In serial mediation models, internalized stigma predicted less
      perceived social support (or higher loneliness), which in turn predicted more
      depressive symptoms, which in turn predicted suboptimal medication adherence.
      CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that interconnected psychosocial mechanisms affect
      ART adherence, and that improvements in adherence may require multifaceted
      interventions addressing both mental health and interpersonal factors, especially
      for minority women.

PMID- 26885806
TI  - Trends in Serosorting and the Association With HIV/STI Risk Over Time Among Men
      Who Have Sex With Men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serosorting among men who have sex with men (MSM) is common, but
      recent data to describe trends in serosorting are limited. How serosorting
      affects population-level trends in HIV and other sexually transmitted infection
      (STI) risk is largely unknown. METHODS: We collected data as part of routine care
      from MSM attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic (2002-2013) and a
      community-based HIV/sexually transmitted disease testing center (2004-2013) in
      Seattle, WA. MSM were asked about condom use with HIV-positive, HIV-negative, and
      unknown-status partners in the prior 12 months. We classified behaviors into 4
      mutually exclusive categories: no anal intercourse (AI); consistent condom use
      (always used condoms for AI); serosorting [condom-less anal intercourse (CAI)
      only with HIV-concordant partners]; and nonconcordant CAI (CAI with HIV
      discordant/unknown-status partners; NCCAI). RESULTS: Behavioral data were
      complete for 49,912 clinic visits. Serosorting increased significantly among both
      HIV-positive and HIV-negative men over the study period. This increase in
      serosorting was concurrent with a decrease in NCCAI among HIV-negative MSM, but a
      decrease in consistent condom use among HIV-positive MSM. Adjusting for time
      since last negative HIV test, the risk of testing HIV positive during the study
      period decreased among MSM who reported NCCAI (7.1%-2.8%; P= 0.02), serosorting
      (2.4%-1.3%; P = 0.17), and no CAI (1.5%-0.7%; P = 0.01). Serosorting was
      associated with a 47% lower risk of testing HIV positive compared with NCCAI
      (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.62).
      CONCLUSIONS: Between 2002 and 2013, serosorting increased and NCCAI decreased
      among Seattle MSM. These changes paralleled a decline in HIV test positivity
      among MSM.

PMID- 26885805
TI  - CD4/CD8 Ratio Predicts Peripheral Fat in HIV-Infected Population.

PMID- 26885808
TI  - Brief Report: Macrophage Activation in HIV-Infected Adolescent Males Contributes
      to Differential Bone Loss by Sex: Adolescent Trials Network Study 021.
AB  - Accumulating evidence suggests that rates of low bone mass are greater in HIV
      infected males than females. Of 11 biomarkers assessed by sex and HIV-status, HIV
      infected males had increased levels of soluble CD14 which inversely correlated
      with bone mineral content and bone mineral density measures, suggesting
      macrophage activation as a possible mechanism of differential bone loss.

PMID- 26885810
TI  - High-Frequency Illegitimate Strand Transfers of Nascent DNA Fragments During
      Reverse Transcription Result in Defective Retrovirus Genomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Two strand transfers of nascent DNA fragments during reverse
      transcription are required for retrovirus replication. However, whether strand
      transfers occur at illegitimate sites and how this may affect retrovirus
      replication are not well understood. METHODS: The reverse transcription was
      carried out with reverse transcriptases (RTs) from HIV-1, HIV-2, and murine
      leukemia virus. The nascent complementary DNA fragments were directly cloned
      without polymerase chain reaction amplification. The sequences were compared with
      the template sequence to determine if new sequences contained mismatched
      sequences caused by illegitimate strand transfers. RESULTS: Among 1067 nascent
      reverse transcript sequences, most of them (72%) matched to the template
      sequences, although they randomly stopped across the RNA templates. The other 28%
      of them contained mismatched 3'-end sequences because of illegitimate strand
      transfers. Most of the illegitimate strand transfers (81%) were disassociated
      from RNA templates and realigned onto opposite complementary DNA strands. Up to 3
      strand transfers were detected in a single sequence, whereas most of them (93%)
      contained 1 strand transfer. Because most of the illegitimate strand-transfer
      fragments were generated from templates at 2 opposite orientations, they resulted
      in defective viral genomes and could not be detected by previous methods. Further
      analysis showed that mutations at pause/disassociation sites resulted in
      significantly higher strand-transfer rates. Moreover, illegitimate strand
      transfer rates were significantly higher for HIV-2 RT (38.2%) and murine leukemia
      virus RT (44.6%) than for HIV-1 RT (5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Illegitimate strand
      transfers frequently occur during reverse transcription and can result in a large
      portion of defective retrovirus genomes.

PMID- 26885809
TI  - Protective Role of BST2 Polymorphisms in Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV-1
      and Adult AIDS Progression.
AB  - Bone marrow stromal cell antigen-2 (BST-2)/Tetherin is a restriction factor that
      prevents Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) release from infected cells
      and mediates pro-inflammatory cytokine production. This study investigated the
      risk conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs919266, rs9192677, and
      rs9576) at BST-2 coding gene (BST2) in HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission and in
      disease progression. Initially, 101 HIV-1+ pregnant women and 331 neonates
      exposed to HIV-1 from Zambia were enrolled. Additional BST2 single nucleotide
      polymorphism analyses were performed in 2 cohorts with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS) progression: an adult Brazilian cohort (37 rapid, 30 chronic and
      21 long-term non-progressors) and an Italian pediatric cohort (21 rapid and 67
      slow progressors). The rs9576A allele was nominally associated with protection
      during breastfeeding (P = 0.019) and individuals carrying rs919266 GA showed
      slower progression to AIDS (P = 0.033). Despite the influence of rs919266 and
      rs9576 on BST2 expression being still undetermined, a preventive role by BST2
      polymorphisms was found during HIV-1 infection.

PMID- 26885811
TI  - Comparison of Individual and Area Level Factors Between HIV-Infected Cisgender
      and Transgender Individuals in Florida (2006-2014).
AB  - This descriptive study compares individual- and area-level factors among HIV
      infected transgender and cisgender individuals in Florida using data from the
      Florida Department of Health HIV/AIDS surveillance system (2006-2014). Of those
      individuals diagnosed with HIV, 7 (0.01 %) identified as transgender males, 142
      (0.3 %) as transgender females, 12,497 (25.7 %) as cisgender females, and 35,936
      (74.0 %) as cisgender males. Transgender females resided in rural and urban
      areas, were disproportionately non-Hispanic black, and were more likely than
      cisgender women to be diagnosed with AIDS within 3 months of their HIV diagnosis.
      Results suggest HIV screening and outreach efforts should be enhanced for
      transgender women.

PMID- 26885812
TI  - Correlates of Combination Antiretroviral Adherence Among Recently Diagnosed Older
      HIV-Infected Adults Between 50 and 64 years.
AB  - Optimal adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy is essential to the
      health of older people living with HIV (PLWH), however, the literature on
      adherence and aging is limited. Using Medicaid data from 29 states (N = 5177), we
      explored correlates of optimal adherence among older PLWH. The prevalence of
      optimal adherence was low (32 %) in this study. Males were more adherent than
      females (APR = 1.11, 95 % CI 1.02-1.21, P = 0.0127); persons with three or more
      co-morbidities (APR = 0.67, 95 % CI 0.60-0.74, P < 0.001), two co-morbidities
      (APR = 0.86, 95 % CI 0.75-0.98, P = 0.0319) and one co-morbidity (APR = 0.82, 95
      % CI 0.73-0.92, P = 0.0008) were less adherent than those without any co
      morbidity; and residents of rural areas (APR = 0.90, 95 % CI 0.63-0.98, P =
      0.0385) and small metropolitan areas (APR = 0.82, 95 % CI 0.72-0.94, P = 0.0032)
      were less adherent than residents of large metropolitan areas. There were no
      racial differences in optimal adherence. Targeted interventions that provide
      adherence support, case management, and peer navigation services may be of
      benefit in achieving optimal adherence in this population.

PMID- 26885813
TI  - Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills of High-Risk Young Adults to Use
      the HIV Self-Test.
AB  - HIV self tests (HIVST) have the potential to increase testing among young adults.
      However, little is known about high-risk young adults' perception of the HIVST as
      a risk reduction tool and how they would use the HIVST in their everyday lives.
      Our study sought to examine these factors. Twenty-one ethnically diverse
      participants (ages 18-24) used the HIVST at our study site, completed surveys,
      and underwent an in-depth interview. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze
      the survey responses, and interview data were coded using constructs from the
      information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Information deficits included:
      how to use the HIVST and the "window period" for sero-conversion. Motivations
      supporting HIVST use included: not needing to visit the clinic, fast results,
      easy access, and use in non-monogamous relationships. Behavioral skills discussed
      included: coping with a positive test, handling partner violence after a positive
      test, and accessing HIV services. These findings can inform the use of the HIVST
      for improving HIV testing rates and reducing HIV risk behavior.

PMID- 26885814
TI  - Development and Validation of a Chromatographic Ultraviolet Method for the
      Simultaneous Quantification of Dolutegravir and Rilpivirine in Human Plasma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We have developed and validated a high-performance liquid
      chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification, in human plasma, of
      dolutegravir, a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase inhibitor, and
      rilpivirine, a novel HIV nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. METHODS:
      An internal standard (quinoxaline) was added to plasma aliquots (500 MUL), and a
      simple solid-phase extraction procedure was applied. Chromatographic separation
      of the drugs and internal standard was achieved with a gradient of acetonitrile
      and acetate buffer, and with an analytical run time of 25 minutes using an
      XBridge C18 column. The column eluate was monitored at 260 nm for dolutegravir
      and the internal standard and at 305 nm for rilpivirine. RESULTS: The method was
      linear in the range of 20-8000 and 20-2000 ng/mL for dolutegravir and
      rilpivirine, respectively (mean r >= 0.993 on 10 replicates for both analytes).
      Mean intraday and interday precision and inaccuracy were <15% for both compounds.
      The mean recovery was 73% and 80% for dolutegravir and rilpivirine, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: The high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method we
      developed showed a good analytical performance required for therapeutic drug
      monitoring of antiretrovirals, leading to potential improvements in HIV-infected
      patient care and laboratory management.

PMID- 26885819
TI  - Amyloid PET Screening for Enrichment of Early-Stage Alzheimer Disease Clinical
      Trials: Experience in a Phase 1b Clinical Trial.
AB  - Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is being investigated as a
      screening tool to identify amyloid-positive patients as an enrichment strategy
      for Alzheimer disease (AD) clinical trial enrollment. In a multicenter, phase 1b
      trial, patients meeting clinical criteria for prodromal or mild AD underwent
      florbetapir PET scanning at screening. PET, magnetic resonance imaging, and
      coregistered PET/magnetic resonance imaging scans were reviewed by 2 independent
      readers and binary visual readings tabulated. Semiquantitative values of cortical
      to whole cerebellar standard uptake value ratios were computed (threshold 1.10).
      Of 278 patients with an evaluable PET scan, 170 (61%) and 185 (67%) were amyloid
      positive by visual reading and quantitative analysis, respectively; 39% were
      excluded from the study due to an amyloid-negative scan based on visual readings.
      More ApoE epsilon4 carriers than noncarriers were amyloid-positive (80% vs. 43%).
      Comparison of visual readings with quantitative results identified 21 discordant
      cases (92% agreement). Interreader and intrareader agreements from visual
      readings were 98% and 100%, respectively. Amyloid PET imaging is an effective and
      feasible screening tool for enrollment of amyloid-positive patients with early
      stages of AD into clinical trials. 

PMID- 26885815
TI  - Biodeterioration Risk Threatens the 3100 Year Old Staircase of Hallstatt
      (Austria): Possible Involvement of Halophilic Microorganisms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prosperity of Hallstatt (Salzkammergut region, Austria) is based
      on the richness of salt in the surrounding mountains and salt mining, which is
      documented as far back as 1500 years B.C. Substantial archaeological evidence of
      Bronze and Iron Age salt mining has been discovered, with a wooden staircase
      (1108 B.C.) being one of the most impressive and well preserved finds. However,
      after its discovery, fungal mycelia have been observed on the surface of the
      staircase, most probably due to airborne contamination after its find. OBJECTIVE:
      As a basis for the further preservation of this valuable object, the active micro
      flora was examined to investigate the presence of potentially biodegradative
      microorganisms. RESULTS: Most of the strains isolated from the staircase showed
      to be halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms, due to the saline environment
      of the mine. Results derived from culture-dependent assays revealed a high fungal
      diversity, including both halotolerant and halophilic fungi, the most dominant
      strains being members of the genus Phialosimplex (synonym: Aspergillus).
      Additionally, some typical cellulose degraders, namely Stachybotrys sp. and
      Cladosporium sp. were detected. Numerous bacterial strains were isolated and
      identified as members of 12 different genera, most of them being moderately
      halophilic species. The most dominant isolates affiliated with species of the
      genera Halovibrio and Marinococcus. Halophilic archaea were also isolated and
      identified as species of the genera Halococcus and Halorubrum. Molecular analyses
      complemented the cultivation assays, enabling the identification of some
      uncultivable archaea of the genera Halolamina, Haloplanus and Halobacterium.
      Results derived from fungi and bacteria supported those obtained by cultivation
      methods, exhibiting the same dominant members in the communities. CONCLUSION: The
      results clearly showed the presence of some cellulose degraders that may become
      active if the requirements for growth and the environmental conditions turn
      suitable; therefore, these microorganisms must be regarded as a threat to the
      wood.

PMID- 26885820
TI  - The Ratio of ADP- to TRAP-Induced Platelet Aggregation Quantifies P2Y12-Dependent
      Platelet Inhibition Independently of the Platelet Count.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association of clinical factors with
      P2Y12-dependent platelet inhibition as monitored by the ratio of ADP- to TRAP
      induced platelet aggregation and conventional ADP-induced aggregation,
      respectively. BACKGROUND: Controversial findings to identify and overcome high
      platelet reactivity (HPR) after coronary stent-implantation and to improve
      clinical outcome by tailored anti-platelet therapy exist. Monitoring anti
      platelet therapy ex vivo underlies several confounding parameters causing that ex
      vivo platelet aggregation might not reflect in vivo platelet inhibition. METHODS:
      In a single centre observational study, multiple electrode aggregometry was
      performed in whole blood of patients after recent coronary stent-implantation.
      Relative ADP-induced aggregation (r-ADP-agg) was defined as the ratio of ADP- to
      TRAP- induced aggregation reflecting the individual degree of P2Y12-mediated
      platelet reactivity. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation was assessed in 359 patients.
      Means (+/- SD) of TRAP-, ADP-induced aggregation and r-ADP-agg were 794 +/- 239
      AU*min, 297 +/- 153 AU*min and 37 +/- 14%, respectively. While ADP- and TRAP
      induced platelet aggregation correlated significantly with platelet count (ADP: r
      = 0.302; p<0.001; TRAP: r = 0.509 p<0.001), r-ADP-agg values did not (r = -0.003;
      p = 0.960). These findings were unaltered in multivariate analyses adjusting for
      a range of factors potentially influencing platelet aggregation. The presence of
      an acute coronary syndrome and body weight were found to correlate with both ADP
      induced platelet aggregation and r-ADP-agg. CONCLUSION: The ratio of ADP- to TRAP
      induced platelet aggregation quantifies P2Y12-dependent platelet inhibition
      independently of the platelet count in contrast to conventional ADP-induced
      aggregation. Furthermore, r-ADP-agg was associated with the presence of an acute
      coronary syndrome and body weight as well as ADP-induced aggregation. Thus, the r
      ADP-agg is a more valid reflecting platelet aggregation and potentially prognosis
      after coronary stent-implantation in P2Y12-mediated HPR than conventional ADP
      induced platelet aggregation.

PMID- 26885816
TI  - Association between the Severity of Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Infections and Length
      of the Incubation Period.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In early 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) virus emerged
      in China, and has caused sporadic human infections. The incubation period is the
      delay from infection until onset of symptoms, and varies from person to person.
      Few previous studies have examined whether the duration of the incubation period
      correlates with subsequent disease severity. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We analyzed
      data of period of exposure on 395 human cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza
      A(H7N9) virus infection in China in a Bayesian framework using a Weibull
      distribution. We found a longer incubation period for the 173 fatal cases with a
      mean of 3.7 days (95% credibility interval, CrI: 3.4-4.1), compared to a mean of
      3.3 days (95% CrI: 2.9-3.6) for the 222 non-fatal cases, and the difference in
      means was marginally significant at 0.47 days (95% CrI: -0.04, 0.99). There was a
      statistically significant correlation between a longer incubation period and an
      increased risk of death after adjustment for age, sex, geographical location and
      underlying medical conditions (adjusted odds ratio 1.70 per day increase in
      incubation period; 95% credibility interval 1.47-1.97). CONCLUSIONS: We found a
      significant association between a longer incubation period and a greater risk of
      death among human H7N9 cases. The underlying biological mechanisms leading to
      this association deserve further exploration.

PMID- 26885822
TI  - Importance of Central Retinal Sensitivity for Prediction of Visual Acuity after
      Intravitreal Bevacizumb in Eyes with Macular Edema Associated with Branch Retinal
      Vein Occlusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the baseline retinal sensitivity can predict the
      best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1 month after intravitreal bevacizumab
      (IVB) in eyes with macular edema (ME) associated with a branch retinal vein
      occlusion (BRVO). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 16 eyes of 16 patients who
      had ME associated with a BRVO. The mean +/- standard deviation age was 69.1 +/-
      8.9 years, and all had a single IVB injection. The BCVA, central macular
      thickness (CMT), integrity of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) of the photoreceptors, and
      retinal sensitivity were determined before (baseline) and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1
      month following the IVB. The average threshold retinal sensitivity (AT) within
      the central 10 degrees  was determined by Macular Integrity Assessment. The
      correlations between the BCVA at 1 month and the CMT, integrity of the EZ, and AT
      at each visit were determined. RESULTS: One month after IVB, the BCVA improved
      significantly from 0.56 +/- 0.27 logMAR units to 0.32 +/- 0.28 logMAR units, and
      the CMT from 611.4 +/- 209.3 MUm to 258.7 +/- 64.0 MUm (P <0.05). The AT improved
      significantly from 17.9 +/- 5.3 dB to 21.2 +/- 5.0 dB (P <0.05). At 1 day after
      the treatment, both the integrity of the EZ (r = 0.59) and the retinal
      sensitivity (r = 0.76) were moderately correlated with the BCVA at 1 month.
      CONCLUSION: These results indicate that both the integrity of the EZ and the AT
      at 1 day after the IVB can predict the BCVA after treatment for ME associated
      with BRVO. There is a possibility that these parameters will predict the
      effectiveness of IVB for each case.

PMID- 26885823
TI  - Narrowing the blockade field: development of an optimal postoperative analgesia
      regimen for total knee arthroplasty.

PMID- 26885824
TI  - Altered Cortico-Striatal Connectivity in Offspring of Schizophrenia Patients
      Relative to Offspring of Bipolar Patients and Controls.
AB  - Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share clinical features, genetic
      risk factors and neuroimaging abnormalities. There is evidence of disrupted
      connectivity in resting state networks in patients with SZ and BD and their
      unaffected relatives. Resting state networks are known to undergo reorganization
      during youth coinciding with the period of increased incidence for both
      disorders. We therefore focused on characterizing resting state network
      connectivity in youth at familial risk for SZ or BD to identify alterations
      arising during this period. We measured resting-state functional connectivity in
      a sample of 106 youth, aged 7-19 years, comprising offspring of patients with SZ
      (N = 27), offspring of patients with BD (N = 39) and offspring of community
      control parents (N = 40). We used Independent Component Analysis to assess
      functional connectivity within the default mode, executive control, salience and
      basal ganglia networks and define their relationship to grey matter volume,
      clinical and cognitive measures. There was no difference in connectivity within
      any of the networks examined between offspring of patients with BD and offspring
      of community controls. In contrast, offspring of patients with SZ showed reduced
      connectivity within the left basal ganglia network compared to control offspring,
      and they showed a positive correlation between connectivity in this network and
      grey matter volume in the left caudate. Our findings suggest that dysconnectivity
      in the basal ganglia network is a robust correlate of familial risk for SZ and
      can be detected during childhood and adolescence. 

PMID- 26885826
TI  - Secondary SUNCT syndrome caused by dorsolateral medullary infarction.
AB  - Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headaches with conjunctival injection and
      tearing (SUNCT) is a rare headache syndrome which belongs to trigeminal autonomic
      cephalalgias. Though the majority of SUNCT syndrome is idiopathic, more and more
      cases of secondary SUNCT syndrome have been reported recently. In this study, we
      present a case of symptomatic SUNCT syndrome caused by acute dorsolateral
      medullary infarction which was verified by brain MRI(magnetic resonance imaging).
      Up to now, there is not absolutely effective treatment for SUNCT syndrome.
      However, in our case, SUNCT was completely resolved after conventional treatment
      for cerebral infarction without specific drug intervention. 

PMID- 26885825
TI  - Nigrostriatal dopaminergic depletion increases static orofacial allodynia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated mesencephalic dopamine depletion effects on
      static mechanical allodynia (SMA) elicited by chronic constriction of the
      infraorbitary nerve (CCI-IoN). METHODS: Dopamine depletion (6-OHDA administration
      into the medial forebrain bundle) effects on CCI-IoN-induced SMA were explored
      using behavioral (nocifensive behavior score upon non-noxious stimuli using von
      Frey filament), pharmacological (bromocriptine injections) and
      immunohistochemical (PKCgamma and pERK1/2) techniques. RESULTS: The central
      dopamine depletion increased significantly the SMA score. Intraperitoneal and
      intracisternal injections of bromocriptine alleviated the allodynic behavior
      observed in both CCI-IoN and CCI-IoN + 6-OHDA animal groups. At the cellular
      level, dopamine depletion induced a significant increase in PKCgamma expression
      in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH) in rat with CCI-IoN + 6-OHDA when compared to
      sham animals (CCI-IoN only). Similarly, after static non-noxious stimuli, the
      expression of pain marker proteins pERK1/2 within the MDH revealed significantly
      a higher number of positive cells in CCI-IoN + 6-OHDA rats when compared to the
      CCI-IoN group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that nigrostriatal dopamine
      depletion exacerbates the neuropathic pain resulting from CCI-IoN. This effect is
      probably due to an action through descending pain inhibitory systems which
      increased pain sensitization at the MDH level. It demonstrates also an analgesic
      effect elicited by D2R activation at the segmental level.

PMID- 26885827
TI  - Parental Acculturative Stressors and Adolescent Adjustment Through Interparental
      and Parent-Child Relationships in Chinese American Families.
AB  - Perpetual foreigner stereotype and bicultural management difficulty are two
      understudied acculturative stressors frequently experienced by Asian Americans.
      This study expanded the family stress model to examine how parental experiences
      of these two acculturative stressors relate to measures of adolescent adjustment
      (depressive symptoms, delinquent behaviors, and academic performance) during high
      school and emerging adulthood through interparental and parent-child relationship
      processes. Participants were 350 Chinese American adolescents (M age  = 17.04, 58
      % female) and their parents in Northern California. Path models showed that
      parental acculturative stressors positively related to parent-child conflict,
      either directly (for both mother-adolescent and father-adolescent dyads) or
      indirectly through interparental conflict (for mother-adolescent dyads only).
      Subsequently, both interparental and parent-child conflict positively related to
      a sense of alienation between parents and adolescents, which then related to more
      depressive symptoms, more delinquent behaviors, and lower academic performance in
      adolescents, for mother-adolescent and father-adolescent dyads. These effects
      persisted from high school to emerging adulthood. The results highlight the
      indirect effects of maternal and paternal acculturative stressors on adolescent
      adjustment through family processes involving interparental and parent-child
      relationships. 

PMID- 26885828
TI  - Promotive and Corrosive Factors in African American Students' Math Beliefs and
      Achievement.
AB  - Framed by expectancy-value theory (which posits that beliefs about and the
      subjective valuation of a domain predict achievement and decision-making in that
      domain), this study examined the relationships among teacher differential
      treatment and relevant math instruction on African American students' self
      concept of math ability, math task value, and math achievement. These questions
      were examined by applying structural equation modeling to 618 African American
      youth (45.6 % female) followed from 7th to 11th grade in the Maryland Adolescent
      Development in Context Study. While controlling for gender and prior math
      achievement, relevant math instruction promoted and teacher differential
      treatment corroded students' math beliefs and achievement over time. Further,
      teacher discrimination undermined students' perceptions of their teachers, a
      mediating process under-examined in previous inquiry. These findings suggest
      policy and practice levers to narrow opportunity gaps, as well as foster math
      achievement and science, technology, engineering and math success. 

PMID- 26885829
TI  - The Promotive and Protective Effects of Family Factors in the Context of Peer and
      Community Risks for Aggression.
AB  - A clearer understanding of the promotive factors that reduce adolescents'
      involvement in aggression and the protective factors that mitigate the influence
      of risk factors that emerge during adolescence is needed to inform prevention
      efforts. This study examined the promotive and protective influences of family
      factors on physical aggression using data collected from aggressive and socially
      influential adolescents (N = 537; 35 % female) at the beginning of sixth grade
      and at three subsequent waves across the following 3 years. Family
      characteristics (i.e., better family functioning, higher perceived parental
      support for nonviolence, and lower parental support for fighting) at the start of
      the sixth grade exerted promotive effects that reduced levels of aggression at
      subsequent waves. Some support was also found for protective influences. A
      foundation of good family functioning at the start of sixth grade buffered
      adolescents from the risks from delinquent peers, from the spring of sixth grade
      to the spring of seventh grade. Low parental support for fighting reduced risks
      associated with witnessing community violence, from the fall to the spring of
      sixth grade, but at low levels of risk only. These findings suggest that
      interventions targeting high-risk adolescents might benefit by enhancing both
      promotive and protective family factors.

PMID- 26885830
TI  - Transgenic rat model of childhood-onset dermatitis by overexpressing telomerase
      reverse transcriptase (TERT).
AB  - Childhood-onset dermatitis is one of the most common skin disorders in children.
      Although various mouse models that mirror aspects of dermatitis have become
      available, there is still a need for an animal model that develops dermatitis in
      childhood and is more suitable for performing tissue transplantation experiments.
      There is emerging evidence that peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with
      dermatitis have significantly increased telomerase activity. Here, we developed
      telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-expressing transgenic (Tg) rats that
      spontaneously developed eczematous skin inflammation in childhood. Newborn TERT
      Tg rats developed visible dermatitis in 56 % of cases, and the skin lesions
      microscopically showed spongiosis and acanthosis with infiltration of
      lymphocytes, eosinophils and mast cells. TERT-Tg rats with dermatitis exhibited
      increased CD4 (2.5-fold) and CD8 (fivefold) T cell numbers compared with
      dermatitis-free TERT-Tg rats. Stronger TERT activity was observed in the
      peripheral lymphocytes of dermatitis-positive TERT-Tg rats than those of
      dermatitis-free TERT-Tg rats. RT-PCR analysis revealed that IL-4 was markedly
      elevated in the spleen of dermatitis-positive TERT-Tg rats, and that interferon
      gamma was increased in the dermatitis lesions. Moreover, skin grafting of TERT-Tg
      rats with dermatitis onto T cell-deficient nude rats demonstrated that the
      inflamed skin lesions could not be maintained. Taken together, the results
      suggest that TERT activation in T lymphocytes is one of the potential
      predisposing factors for dermatitis. Moreover, our results demonstrated that the
      TERT-Tg rats mirror aspects of human childhood-onset dermatitis and that these
      animals represent a potential animal model system for studying childhood-onset
      dermatitis.

PMID- 26885831
TI  - Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
      -Prognostic Implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinically unrecognized myocardial infarctions (UMI) are not uncommon
      and may be associated with adverse outcome. The aims of this study were to
      determine the prognostic implication of UMI in patients with stable suspected
      coronary artery disease (CAD) and to investigate the associations of UMI with the
      presence of CAD. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In total 235 patients late gadolinium
      enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) imaging and coronary
      angiography were performed. For each patient with UMI, the stenosis grade of the
      coronary branch supplying the infarcted area was determined. UMIs were present in
      25% of the patients and 67% of the UMIs were located in an area supplied by a
      coronary artery with a stenosis grade >=70%. In an age- and gender-adjusted
      model, UMI independently predicted the primary endpoint (composite of death,
      myocardial infarction, resuscitated cardiac arrest, hospitalization for unstable
      angina pectoris or heart failure within 2 years of follow-up) with an odds ratio
      of 2.9; 95% confidence interval 1.1-7.9. However, this association was abrogated
      after adjustment for age and presence of significant coronary disease. There was
      no difference in the primary endpoint rates between UMI patients with or without
      a significant stenosis in the corresponding coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: The
      presence of UMI was associated with a threefold increased risk of adverse events
      during follow up. However, the difference was no longer statistically significant
      after adjustments for age and severity of CAD. Thus, the results do not support
      that patients with suspicion of CAD should be routinely investigated by LGE-CMR
      for UMI. However, coronary angiography should be considered in patients with UMI
      detected by LGE-CMR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NTC01257282.

PMID- 26885832
TI  - Mixtures of Two Bile Alcohol Sulfates Function as a Proximity Pheromone in Sea
      Lamprey.
AB  - Unique mixtures of pheromone components are commonly identified in insects, and
      have been shown to increase attractiveness towards conspecifics when
      reconstructed at the natural ratio released by the signaler. In previous field
      studies of pheromones that attract female sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus, L.),
      putative components of the male-released mating pheromone included the newly
      described bile alcohol 3,12-diketo-4,6-petromyzonene-24-sulfate (DkPES) and the
      well characterized 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS). Here, we show chemical
      evidence that unequivocally confirms the elucidated structure of DkPES,
      electrophysiological evidence that each component is independently detected by
      the olfactory epithelium, and behavioral evidence that mature female sea lamprey
      prefer artificial nests activated with a mixture that reconstructs the male
      released component ratio of 30:1 (3kPZS:DkPES, molar:molar). In addition, we
      characterize search behavior (sinuosity of swim paths) of females approaching
      ratio treatment sources. These results suggest unique pheromone ratios may
      underlie reproductive isolating mechanisms in vertebrates, as well as provide
      utility in pheromone-integrated control of invasive sea lamprey in the Great
      Lakes. 

PMID- 26885834
TI  - Treatment of Cutaneous Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma With Fractionated
      Carbon Dioxide Laser.

PMID- 26885833
TI  - Rapid Discovery and Functional Characterization of Terpene Synthases from Four
      Endophytic Xylariaceae.
AB  - Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous plant endosymbionts that establish complex and
      poorly understood relationships with their host organisms. Many endophytic fungi
      are known to produce a wide spectrum of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with
      potential energy applications, which have been described as "mycodiesel". Many of
      these mycodiesel hydrocarbons are terpenes, a chemically diverse class of
      compounds produced by many plants, fungi, and bacteria. Due to their high energy
      densities, terpenes, such as pinene and bisabolene, are actively being
      investigated as potential "drop-in" biofuels for replacing diesel and aviation
      fuel. In this study, we rapidly discovered and characterized 26 terpene synthases
      (TPSs) derived from four endophytic fungi known to produce mycodiesel
      hydrocarbons. The TPS genes were expressed in an E. coli strain harboring a
      heterologous mevalonate pathway designed to enhance terpene production, and their
      product profiles were determined using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) and GC
      MS. Out of the 26 TPS's profiled, 12 TPS's were functional, with the majority of
      them exhibiting both monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthase activity. 

PMID- 26885836
TI  - Blunt Blade Subcision: An Evolution in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subcision is the mainstay of atrophic acne scar treatment but the
      efficacy and safety of the procedure is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To improve the
      efficacy of the subcision procedure, a blunt subcision blade was designed and
      evaluated. METHODS: Eighteen patients with bilateral atrophic acne scars
      considered eligible for subcision were enrolled. Before subcision, a tumescent
      solution was injected subdermally to anesthetize the treatment area and aid the
      dissection of the dermal-subcutaneous tissue. Patients underwent treatment using
      the blunt subcision blade, a long metal blade with gradually narrowing edges, and
      a rounded blunt tip. Early postoperative complications, overall aesthetic
      improvement and persistent discoloration, or lumpiness were assessed 7 days after
      subcision and at a 6-month follow-up visit. RESULTS: Moderate to marked
      improvement of atrophic scars was observed in 15 cases (83.3%). Mild to moderate
      tenderness, periorbital ecchymoses, and swelling were reported by some patients,
      but resolved completely within 1 week after the procedure. No cases of persistent
      discoloration or lumpiness were observed at the final visit. CONCLUSION: The
      blunt blade subcision procedure is suggested as an effective method for the
      treatment of atrophic acne scars.

PMID- 26885835
TI  - Reply: "Repigmentation of Vitiligo Using Follicular Unit Extraction Technique"
      Dermatol Surg 2014;1425-1427.

PMID- 26885837
TI  - Reconstruction After Full-Thickness Loss of the Antihelix, Scapha, and Triangular
      Fossa.

PMID- 26885839
TI  - Exposure to industrial air pollutant emissions and lung function in children:
      Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007 to 2011.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with
      adverse effects on children's lung function. Few studies have examined lung
      function in relation to industrial emissions of air pollutants. DATA AND METHODS:
      This cross-sectional study was based on 2,833 respondents aged 6 to 18 for whom
      spirometry data were collected by the Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007 to
      2011. The weighted sum of industrial air emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
      fine particulate matter (PM2.5) within 25 km of the respondent's residence was
      derived using National Pollutant Release Inventory data. Multivariate linear
      regression was used to examine the relationship between NOx and PM2.5 emissions
      and forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1),
      and the ratio of the two (FEV1/FVC). RESULTS: Industrial air emissions of NOx
      were not significantly associated with lung function among males or females.
      Emissions of PM2.5 were negatively associated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, but not
      FVC, among males. PM2.5 was not significantly related to lung function among
      females. INTERPRETATION: The associations that emerged between lung function and
      industrial emissions of PM2.5 among males were consistent with airway
      obstruction. Further research is warranted to investigate the gender differences
      observed in this study.

PMID- 26885838
TI  - Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Management of Paraganglioma: A Single Institute
      Experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility and safety of retroperitoneal laparoscopic
      resection of paraganglioma (RLPG) in a large study population. METHODS: In a six
      year period, 49 patients with primary retroperitoneal paragangliomas (PG)
      underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in a single center. Medical
      records were reviewed, and collected the following data, which were clinical
      characteristics, perioperative data (operative time, estimated blood loss,
      intraoperative hemodynamic changes, intraoperative and postoperative
      complications, and open conversions), and follow-up data (recurrence or distant
      metastases). RESULTS: All PGs were removed with negative tumor margin confirmed
      by postoperative histopathology. The operative time of RLPG was 101.59+/-31.12
      minutes, and the estimated blood loss was 169.78+/-176.70ml. Intraoperative
      hypertensive and hypotensive episodes occurred in 25 cases and 27 cases,
      respectively. Two open conversions occurred. Two intraoperative complications
      occurred but were successfully managed endoscopically. Postoperative
      complications were minor and unremarkable. No local recurrence or distant
      metastasis were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience
      indicates the feasibility and safety of resection of PGs in a relatively large
      study population.

PMID- 26885840
TI  - Cadmium levels and sources of exposure among Canadian adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cadmium is a heavy metal found naturally in the environment that has
      been associated with negative health outcomes. The present study examines levels
      of blood cadmium (BCd), urinary cadmium (UCd), and the main sources of cadmium
      exposure among Canadians aged 20 to 79. DATA AND METHODS: The data are from
      cycles 1 (2007 to 2009) and 2 (2009 to 2011) of the Canadian Health Measures
      Survey (CHMS), including measures of BCd and UCd, markers of smoking status (self
      reported and second-hand smoke exposure), and self-reported consumption of foods
      known to be high in cadmium. The relationship between sources of exposure and
      cadmium levels was examined descriptively. The magnitude of the contribution of
      different exposure sources was examined in regression models. RESULTS: Age and
      smoking status were the greatest contributors to BCd and UCd: older people and
      current smokers had the highest cadmium levels. Dietary exposure, while
      significant, was a modest contributor overall, but a more important source of
      cadmium among never-smokers. INTERPRETATION: Smoking was the greatest contributor
      to cadmium levels among Canadians aged 20 to 79. Dietary differences explained a
      small percentage of variation in cadmium levels.

PMID- 26885841
TI  - Effect of colchicine on serum lipid levels.

PMID- 26885842
TI  - Manner of death associated with autoerotic practice.

PMID- 26885844
TI  - Determination of the protonation state of the Asp dyad: conventional molecular
      dynamics versus thermodynamic integration.
AB  - The protonation state of the Asp dyad is important as it can reveal enzymatic
      mechanisms, and the information this provides can be used in the development of
      drugs for proteins such as memapsin 2 (BACE-1), HIV-1 protease, and rennin.
      Conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been successfully used to
      determine the preferred protonation state of the Asp dyad. In the present work,
      we demonstrate that the results obtained from conventional MD simulations can be
      greatly influenced by the particular force field applied or the values used for
      control parameters. In principle, free-energy changes between possible
      protonation states can be used to determine the protonation state. We show that
      protonation state prediction by the thermodynamic integration (TI) method is
      insensitive to force field version or to the cutoff for calculating nonbonded
      interactions (a control parameter). In the present study, the protonation state
      of the Asp dyad predicted by TI calculations was the same regardless of the force
      field and cutoff value applied. Contrary to the intuition that conventional MD is
      more efficient, our results clearly show that the TI method is actually more
      efficient and more reliable for determining the protonation state of the Asp
      dyad. 

PMID- 26885845
TI  - Molecular dynamics simulation of coarse-grained poly(L-lysine) dendrimers.
AB  - Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) dendrimer are amino acid based macromolecules and can be
      used as drug delivery agents. Their branched structure allows them to be
      functionalized by various groups to encapsulate drug agents into their structure.
      In this work, at first, an attempt was made on all-atom simulation of PLL
      dendrimer of different generations. Based on all-atom results, a course-grained
      model of this dendrimer was designed and its parameters were determined, to be
      used for simulation of three generations of PLL dendrimer, at two pHs. Similar to
      the all-atom, the coarse-grained results indicated that by increasing the
      generation, the dendrimer becomes more spherical. At pH 7, the dendrimer had
      larger size, whereas at pH 12, due to back folding of branching chains, they had
      the tendency to penetrate into the inner layers. The calculated radial
      probability and radial distribution functions confirm that at pH 7, the PLL
      dendrimer has more cavities and as a result it can encapsulate more water
      molecules into its inner structure. By calculating the moment of inertia and the
      aspect ratio, the formation of spherical structure for PLL dendrimer was
      confirmed. 

PMID- 26885846
TI  - Bedside lung ultrasound in the evaluation of acute decompensated heart failure.
AB  - Dyspnea is a common presenting complaint in the emergency department (ED) and a
      leading cause of hospitalization in intensive care unit (ICU) and medical wards.
      Ultrasound (US) has traditionally been considered inadequate to explore the
      aerated lung. However, in the past 15 years LUS gained broader application, at
      least in part thanks to the interpretation of the artefacts generated by the
      interaction of US and lung structures/content. The total reflection of US beam
      occurring at the pleural level determines the artefactual image of the aerated
      lung: an homogenous 'foggy-like' picture under the pleural line. As the air
      content of the lungs decreases due to interstitial imbibition, deposition of
      collagen or presence of blood, vertical artefacts -arising from the pleural line
      and moving synchronously with the respiration- called B-lines appear. Multiple
      and bilateral B-lines identify the alveolar-interstitial syndrome (AIS). The most
      common cause of AIS is the wet lung: the more the congestion burden, the more the
      extent of the B-lines, which become confluent until the so-called white lung in
      case of pulmonary edema. Many studies showed a higher accuracy of LUS in
      diagnosing acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) as compared to chest X-ray As
      recently shown, the integration of LUS to clinical assessment allow to
      differentiate cardiogenic dyspnea with sensitivity and specificity greater than
      95 %. Moreover, LUS can easily detect pleural effusion -frequently present in
      ADHF-appearing as an anechoic area in the recumbent area of the thorax, delimited
      inferiorly by the diaphragmatic dome and superiorly by the aerated lung. 

PMID- 26885847
TI  - Postoperative dyspnea mimicking pulmonary embolism as a result of regional nerve
      block.

PMID- 26885843
TI  - Characters, functions and clinical perspectives of long non-coding RNAs.
AB  - It is well established that most of the human genome and those of other mammals
      and plants are transcribed into RNA without protein-coding capacity, which we
      define as non-coding RNA. From siRNA to microRNA, whose functions and features
      have been well characterized, non-coding RNAs have been a popular topic in life
      science research over the last decade. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), however,
      as a novel class of transcripts, are distinguished from these other small RNAs.
      Recent studies have revealed a diverse population of lncRNAs with different sizes
      and functions across different species. These populations are expressed
      dynamically and act as important regulators in a variety of biological processes,
      especially in gene expression. Nevertheless, the functions and mechanisms of most
      lncRNAs remain unclear. In this review, we present recent progress in the
      identification of lncRNAs, their functions and molecular mechanisms, their roles
      in human diseases, their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications as
      well as newer technologies for identifying deregulated lncRNAs in disease
      tissues. 

PMID- 26885848
TI  - Residents values in a rational decision-making model: an interest in academics in
      emergency medicine.
AB  - Academic physicians train the next generation of doctors. It is important to
      understand the factors that lead residents to choose an academic career to
      continue to effectively recruit residents who will join the national medical
      faculty. A decision-making theory-driven, large scale assessment of this process
      has not been previously undertaken. To examine the factors that predict an
      Emergency resident's interest in pursuing an academic career at the conclusion of
      training. This study employs the ABEM Longitudinal Survey (n = 365). A logistic
      regression model was estimated using an interest in an academic career in
      residency as the dependent variable. Independent variables include gender, under
      represented minority status, survey cohort, number of dependent children,
      possession of an advanced degree, ongoing research, publications, and the appeal
      of science, independence, and clinical work in choosing EM. Logistic regression
      resulted in a statistically significant model (p < 0.001). Residents who chose EM
      due to the appeal of science, had peer-reviewed publications and ongoing research
      were more likely to be interested in an academic career at the end of residency
      (p < 0.05). An increased number of children (p < 0.05) was negatively associated
      with an interest in academics. Individual resident career interests, research
      productivity, and lifestyle can help predict an interest in pursuing an academic
      career. Recruitment and enrichment of residents who have similar values and
      behaviors should be considered in programs interested in generating more
      graduates who enter an academic career. 

PMID- 26885849
TI  - Strength in Numbers: Visualizing CTL-Mediated Killing In Vivo.
AB  - Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) have long been believed to be extremely
      efficient killers. Forster and colleagues (Halle et al., 2016) used in vivo
      imaging to tell a different story, in which each CTL killed only 2-16 targets a
      day, and several CTLs per target were needed to get the job done.

PMID- 26885850
TI  - Bon EPOtit! S1P-Mediated EPO Signaling Whets a Macrophage's Appetite for
      Apoptotic Cells.
AB  - Phagocytes clear dying cells within an organism to prevent damaging inflammation
      and autoimmunity. In this issue of Immunity, Luo et al. (2016) describe how "find
      me" signals from apoptotic cells induce erythropoietin signaling within
      macrophages to prime them for efferocytosis. 

PMID- 26885852
TI  - Costimulation Engages the Gear in Driving CARs.
AB  - In this issue of Immunity,Kawalekar et al. (2016) find that costimulation by a
      chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) can control T cell metabolism and balance the
      response toward long-lived memory or short-lived effector cells. The results
      provide a rationale of how to tune cancer immunotherapy more effectively in a
      hostile tumor environment. 

PMID- 26885851
TI  - Fungi Take Control of Lymphocyte Recirculation.
AB  - Factors regulating leukocyte migration to neonatal lymph nodes are not
      sufficiently identified. In this issue of Immunity, Zhang et al. (2016) reveal
      that fungi drive emigration of gut DCs to lymph nodes, where these DCs instruct
      endothelial cell receptivity to leukocytes. 

PMID- 26885853
TI  - ILC You Later: Early and Irreparable Loss of Innate Lymphocytes in HIV Infection.
AB  - Loss of IL-17-producing cells in the gut during HIV infection is linked to GI
      barrier damage. Kloverpris et al. (2016) find that circulating ILCs are lost
      early and irreversibly during HIV infection. Early ART administration protects
      against the ILC loss, and this might be clinically beneficial to HIV-infected
      individuals. 

PMID- 26885854
TI  - TLRs of Our Fathers.
AB  - Two new studies published in The American Journal of Human Genetics (Dannemann et
      al., 2016; Deschamps et al., 2016) show that introgression of innate immune genes
      from Neandertals and Denisovans contributed to the modern genome of European and
      Asian, but not African, populations, and this might partly explain differences in
      susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. 

PMID- 26885855
TI  - Caspases Connect Cell-Death Signaling to Organismal Homeostasis.
AB  - Some forms of regulated cell death, such as apoptosis, are precipitated by the
      activation of cysteine proteases of the caspase family, including caspase 8, 9,
      and 3. Other caspases, such as caspase 1 and 4, are well known for their pro
      inflammatory functions but regulate cell death in a limited number of
      pathophysiological settings. Accumulating evidence suggests that the most
      conserved function of mammalian caspases is not to control cell death sensu
      stricto, but to regulate inflammatory and immune reactions to dying cells and
      infectious challenges. Here, we review the molecular and cellular mechanisms
      though which mammalian caspases connect cell-death signaling to the maintenance
      of organismal homeostasis. 

PMID- 26885856
TI  - Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Inactivation Drives T-bet-Mediated Downregulation of
      Co-receptor PD-1 to Enhance CD8(+) Cytolytic T Cell Responses.
AB  - Despite the importance of the co-receptor PD-1 in T cell immunity, the upstream
      signaling pathway that regulates PD-1 expression has not been defined. Glycogen
      synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3, isoforms alpha and beta) is a serine-threonine kinase
      implicated in cellular processes. Here, we identified GSK-3 as a key upstream
      kinase that regulated PD-1 expression in CD8(+) T cells. GSK-3 siRNA
      downregulation, or inhibition by small molecules, blocked PD-1 expression,
      resulting in increased CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) function.
      Mechanistically, GSK-3 inactivation increased Tbx21 transcription, promoting
      enhanced T-bet expression and subsequent suppression of Pdcd1 (encodes PD-1)
      transcription in CD8(+) CTLs. Injection of GSK-3 inhibitors in mice increased in
      vivo CD8(+) OT-I CTL function and the clearance of murine gamma-herpesvirus 68
      and lymphocytic choriomeningitis clone 13 and reversed T cell exhaustion. Our
      findings identify GSK-3 as a regulator of PD-1 expression and demonstrate the
      applicability of GSK-3 inhibitors in the modulation of PD-1 in immunotherapy. 

PMID- 26885857
TI  - CD45 Phosphatase Inhibits STAT3 Transcription Factor Activity in Myeloid Cells
      and Promotes Tumor-Associated Macrophage Differentiation.
AB  - Recruitment of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and
      differentiation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major factors
      contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. We demonstrated that
      differentiation of TAMs in tumor site from monocytic precursors was controlled by
      downregulation of the activity of the transcription factor STAT3. Decreased STAT3
      activity was caused by hypoxia and affected all myeloid cells but was not
      observed in tumor cells. Upregulation of CD45 tyrosine phosphatase activity in
      MDSCs exposed to hypoxia in tumor site was responsible for downregulation of
      STAT3. This effect was mediated by the disruption of CD45 protein dimerization
      regulated by sialic acid. Thus, STAT3 has a unique function in the tumor
      environment in controlling the differentiation of MDSC into TAM, and its
      regulatory pathway could be a potential target for therapy. 

PMID- 26885858
TI  - Peripheral Lymphoid Volume Expansion and Maintenance Are Controlled by Gut
      Microbiota via RALDH+ Dendritic Cells.
AB  - Lymphocyte homing to draining lymph nodes is critical for the initiation of
      immune responses. Secondary lymphoid organs of germ-free mice are underdeveloped.
      How gut commensal microbes remotely regulate cellularity and volume of secondary
      lymphoid organs remains unknown. We report here that, driven by commensal fungi,
      a wave of CD45(+)CD103(+)RALDH(+) cells migrates to the peripheral lymph nodes
      after birth. The arrival of these cells introduces high amounts of retinoic acid,
      mediates the neonatal to adult addressin switch on endothelial cells, and directs
      the homing of lymphocytes to both gut-associated lymphoid tissues and peripheral
      lymph nodes. In adult mice, a small number of these RALDH(+) cells might serve to
      maintain the volume of secondary lymphoid organs. Homing deficiency of these
      cells was associated with lymph node attrition in vitamin-A-deficient mice,
      suggesting a perpetual dependence on retinoic acid signaling for structural and
      functional maintenance of peripheral immune organs. 

PMID- 26885860
TI  - Distinct Signaling of Coreceptors Regulates Specific Metabolism Pathways and
      Impacts Memory Development in CAR T Cells.
AB  - Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) redirect T cell cytotoxicity against cancer
      cells, providing a promising approach to cancer immunotherapy. Despite extensive
      clinical use, the attributes of CAR co-stimulatory domains that impact
      persistence and resistance to exhaustion of CAR-T cells remain largely undefined.
      Here, we report the influence of signaling domains of coreceptors CD28 and 4-1BB
      on the metabolic characteristics of human CAR T cells. Inclusion of 4-1BB in the
      CAR architecture promoted the outgrowth of CD8(+) central memory T cells that had
      significantly enhanced respiratory capacity, increased fatty acid oxidation and
      enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis. In contrast, CAR T cells with CD28 domains
      yielded effector memory cells with a genetic signature consistent with enhanced
      glycolysis. These results provide, at least in part, a mechanistic insight into
      the differential persistence of CAR-T cells expressing 4-1BB or CD28 signaling
      domains in clinical trials and inform the design of future CAR T cell therapies. 

PMID- 26885859
TI  - A Common Variant in the Adaptor Mal Regulates Interferon Gamma Signaling.
AB  - Humans that are heterozygous for the common S180L polymorphism in the Toll-like
      receptor (TLR) adaptor Mal (encoded by TIRAP) are protected from a number of
      infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), whereas those homozygous for
      the allele are at increased risk. The reason for this difference in
      susceptibility is not clear. We report that Mal has a TLR-independent role in
      interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor signaling. Mal-dependent IFN-gamma receptor
      (IFNGR) signaling led to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38
      phosphorylation and autophagy. IFN-gamma signaling via Mal was required for
      phagosome maturation and killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      (Mtb). The S180L polymorphism, and its murine equivalent S200L, reduced the
      affinity of Mal for the IFNGR, thereby compromising IFNGR signaling in
      macrophages and impairing responses to TB. Our findings highlight a role for Mal
      outside the TLR system and imply that genetic variation in TIRAP may be linked to
      other IFN-gamma-related diseases including autoimmunity and cancer. 

PMID- 26885863
TI  - Case Series Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Bilateral Fluocinolone
      Acetonide (ILUVIEN((r))) in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), a chronic, vision
      limiting condition, may be insufficiently responsive to standard-of-care anti
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and/or laser therapies. One approved
      treatment for such patients is 0.2 MUg/day fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) sustained
      release implant; however, data are limited for treatment strategies in patients
      with bilateral chronic DME insufficiently responsive to standard-of-care
      therapies. METHODS: Six pseudophakic patients with bilateral, chronic DME
      previously treated with laser and anti-VEGF therapy (and intravitreal
      triamcinolone acetonide in 10 eyes) were retrospectively investigated for visual
      and anatomical outcomes, 6 months post-0.2 MUg/day FAc implant in both eyes.
      RESULTS: At baseline, the mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was
      approximately 6/38 or 43 [standard deviation (SD) +/-17.4] Early Treatment
      Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters; mean central retinal thickness (CRT)
      was 648 MUm (SD +/-160). Mean change in BCVA was +10 letters (SD +/-12.2
      letters), with 4/12 eyes maintaining or achieving driving vision (>=70 letters)
      and 3/12 eyes having unchanged BCVA. CRT was reduced 6 months after 0.2 MUg/day
      FAc implant in 11/12 eyes. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 16.1 mmHg
      [mean change of 1.1 mmHg (SD +/-3.6)]. CONCLUSION: In a real-world setting, 0.2
      MUg/day FAc implant in both eyes was a feasible, effective choice for patients
      with severe bilateral DME, without notable increases in IOP. FUNDING: Publication
      charges were funded by Alimera Sciences Ltd. Medical writing assistance for this
      study was provided by QXV Communications and funded by Alimera Sciences Ltd.

PMID- 26885861
TI  - The Proteomic Landscape of Human Ex Vivo Regulatory and Conventional T Cells
      Reveals Specific Metabolic Requirements.
AB  - Human CD4(+)CD25(hi)Foxp3(+)CD127(-) Treg and CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(-) Tconv cell
      functions are governed by their metabolic requirements. Here we report a
      comprehensive comparative analysis between ex vivo human Treg and Tconv cells
      that comprises analyses of the proteomic networks in subcellular compartments. We
      identified a dominant proteomic signature at the metabolic level that primarily
      impacted the highly-tuned balance between glucose and fatty-acid oxidation in the
      two cell types. Ex vivo Treg cells were highly glycolytic while Tconv cells used
      predominantly fatty-acid oxidation (FAO). When cultured in vitro, Treg cells
      engaged both glycolysis and FAO to proliferate, while Tconv cell proliferation
      mainly relied on glucose metabolism. Our unbiased proteomic analysis provides a
      molecular picture of the impact of metabolism on ex vivo human Treg versus Tconv
      cell functions that might be relevant for therapeutic manipulations of these
      cells. 

PMID- 26885864
TI  - Empathy and universal values explicated by the empathy-altruism hypothesis.
AB  - Research reports that empathy is on the decline in present-day society, together
      with an increasing trend in self-enhancing values. Based on the empathy-altruism
      hypothesis, we investigated whether these constructs are interlinked by analyzing
      the relationships between emotional and cognitive empathy and 10 universal
      values. In the first study, using a middle-aged U.S. sample, the results showed
      that empathy was strongly and positively related to altruistic values and
      negatively to self-enhancing values in a pattern that aligned with the empathy
      altruism hypothesis. In a second confirmation study, these findings were
      replicated and extended, while also controlling for the Big Five personality
      traits, to discount that empathy is only captured by basic personality. Only
      emotional empathy, not cognitive empathy, accounted for up to 18% additional
      variance in altruistic values, which further confirmed the emphasis on feelings,
      as postulated by the empathy-altruism hypothesis.

PMID- 26885865
TI  - True fenestration of the anterior communicating artery diagnosed by magnetic
      resonance angiography.
AB  - Variations of the anterior cerebral artery-anterior communicating artery (ACoA)
      complex are common. Most are duplicated or partially duplicated ACoAs that are
      confused with fenestration of the ACoA. We report here an extremely rare case of
      true fenestration of the ACoA diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography. Tiny
      true fenestrations of the ACoA may be overlooked easily by MR angiography.
      Partial maximum-intensity-projection image and volume-rendering image are useful
      in identifying true fenestration of the ACoA.

PMID- 26885862
TI  - Analysis of the Rab GTPase Interactome in Dendritic Cells Reveals Anti-microbial
      Functions of the Rab32 Complex in Bacterial Containment.
AB  - Dendritic cells (DCs) orchestrate complex membrane trafficking through an
      interconnected transportation network linked together by Rab GTPases. Through a
      tandem affinity purification strategy and mass spectrometry, we depicted an
      interactomic landscape of major members of the mammalian Rab GTPase family. When
      complemented with imaging tools, this proteomic analysis provided a global view
      of intracellular membrane organization. Driven by this analysis, we investigated
      dynamic changes to the Rab32 subnetwork in DCs induced by L. monocytogenes
      infection and uncovered an essential role of this subnetwork in controlling the
      intracellular proliferation of L. monocytogenes. Mechanistically, Rab32 formed a
      persistent complex with two interacting proteins, PHB and PHB2, to encompass
      bacteria both during early phagosome formation and after L. monocytogenes escaped
      the original containment vacuole. Collectively, we have provided a functional
      compartmentalization overview and an organizational framework of intracellular
      Rab-mediated vesicle trafficking that can serve as a resource for future
      investigations. 

PMID- 26885867
TI  - TLR3 deficiency increases voluntary alcohol consumption.
AB  - Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immunity-related receptors. Many studies
      have indicated the involvement of TLRs in neurophysiology and neuropathology. One
      study showed that TLR3 regulates hippocampal memory and is highly expressed in
      the mesolimbic dopamine system, suggesting that TLR3 signaling may regulate
      alcohol consumption. The present study assessed the potential role of TLR3 in
      alcohol intake pattern. We used adult BalbC wild-type mice and TLR3 knockout mice
      and tested two-bottle alcohol preference over 15 days and one-bottle 2 or 4 h
      drinking in the dark over 4 consecutive days. The 10% alcohol consumption rate of
      TLR3 knockout mice increased on the 24 h free-choice test. Our findings support a
      potential regulatory role of TLR3 in alcohol consumption.

PMID- 26885868
TI  - The involvement of sirtuins during optic nerve injury of rats.
AB  - Sirtuins, comprised of seven members, protect cells from injury, possibly through
      different roles. In this study, we used two young rat optic nerve injury models
      to analyze the changes in Sirts 1-7 at different time points to better understand
      the role of sirtuins during optic nerve injury. Twelve-week-old adult male F344
      rats (total n=42) were divided randomly into two groups. One group was subjected
      to optic nerve cut (ON-cut) and the other group was subjected to a peripheral
      nerve-optic nerve graft (PN-ON graft) on the left eye. At 1 and 3 days and 1, 2,
      and 4 weeks, rats were euthanized and retinas of both eyes were removed. Total
      RNA was extracted and first-strand cDNA was synthesized. Sirts 1-7 and
      housekeeping beta-actin quantitative real-time PCR were performed. The
      quantitative real-time PCR profile showed that sirtuin mRNAs in both groups
      increased following optic nerve injury with and without peripheral nerve
      grafting. Sirt1 mRNA increased rapidly, reaching its peak at 3 days after
      surgery. Sirts 2-7 showed an increasing trend and remained high through 4 weeks
      after surgery. Sirts 4 and 6 were the only Sirts that increased in number in the
      PN-graft group at 4 weeks after surgery, where neuronal survival should be
      higher. Our data indicate that Sirt1 and Sirts 2-7 may play different or
      complementary roles in optic nerve injury and that Sirts 4 and 6 may play a
      greater role than the remaining Sirts in axon regeneration. 

PMID- 26885866
TI  - The role of leptin in central nervous system diseases.
AB  - Leptin is a peptide hormone produced by adipose tissue and acts in brain centers
      to control critical physiological functions. Leptin receptors are especially
      abundant in the hypothalamus and trigger specific neuronal subpopulations, and
      activate several intracellular signaling events, including the JAK/STAT, MAPK,
      PI3K, and mTOR pathway. Although most studies focus on its role in energy intake
      and expenditure, leptin also plays a critical role in many central nervous system
      diseases. 

PMID- 26885869
TI  - Special considerations for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in the
      elderly.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in older adults, and its burden is
      expected to increase in older populations. Even if the knowledge on the approach
      to older patient with CKD is still evolving, current guidelines for
      pharmacological management of CKD does not include specific recommendations for
      older patients. Additionally, decision-making on renal replacement therapy (RRT)
      for older patients is far from being evidence-based, and despite the improvement
      in dialysis outcomes, RRT may cause more harm than benefit compared with
      conservative care when prognostic stratification is not carefully assessed. The
      use of comprehensive geriatric assessment tools could help clinicians in applying
      a more informed decision-making. Finally, physical exercise and rehabilitation
      interventions also represents a promising therapeutic strategy. 

PMID- 26885870
TI  - New Sunscreens and the Precautionary Principle.

PMID- 26885871
TI  - Teamwork and Collaboration for Prevention of Surgical Site Infections.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The surgeon has been regarded as the "captain of the ship" in the
      operating room (OR) for many years, but cannot accomplish successful operative
      intervention without the rest of the team. METHODS: Review of the pertinent
      English-language literature. RESULTS: Many reports demonstrate very different
      impressions of teamwork and communication in the OR held by different members of
      the surgical team. Objective measures of teamwork and communication demonstrate a
      reduction in complications including surgical site infections with improved
      teamwork and communication, with fewer distractions such as noise, and with
      effective use of checklists. CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve teamwork and
      communication and promote the effective use of checklists promote patient safety
      and improved outcomes for patients with reduction in surgical site infections.

PMID- 26885872
TI  - Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Analgesia in Laparoscopic
      Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus
      abdominis plane (TAP) block for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      (LC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to
      identify randomized controlled trials that compared ultrasound-guided TAP block
      with control for analgesia in adult patients undergoing LC. The original data
      were pooled for the meta-analysis using Review Manager 5. The main outcomes
      included postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, and adverse events.
      Out of a total of 77 trials, 7 were included. RESULTS: Compared with control,
      ultrasound-guided TAP block reduced the following: (1) postoperative pain
      intensity (visual analog scale: 0-10) both at rest and on movement at 0, 2, 4, 8,
      and 24 h (at rest: mean difference, MD(0 h) = -2.19, 95% confidence interval, CI:
      -3.46 to -0.91, p = 0.0008; on movement: MD(0 h) = -2.67, 95% CI: -3.86 to -1.48,
      p < 0.0001); (2) intraoperative fentanyl consumption (MD = -27.85 ug, 95% CI: 
      44.91 to -10.79, p = 0.001), and (3) morphine consumption in the recovery room
      (MD = -1.57 mg, 95% CI: -3.0 to -0.14, p = 0.03) and 0-24 h postoperatively.
      Fewer patients required analgesics in the recovery room when receiving TAP blocks
      (risk ratio, RR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.62, p = 0.0003). TAP blocks also
      reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.81, p =
      0.006). None of the studies reported symptoms of local anesthetic toxicity.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the ultrasound-guided TAP block was an effective
      strategy for analgesia in patients undergoing LC.

PMID- 26885874
TI  - Interlayer Interactions in van der Waals Heterostructures: Electron and Phonon
      Properties.
AB  - Artificial van der Waals heterostructures constitute an emerging field that
      promises to design systems with properties on demand. Stacking patterns and the
      utilization of different types of chemically inert layers can deliver novel
      materials and devices. Despite the relatively weak van der Waals interaction,
      which does not affect the electronic properties around the Fermi level, our first
      principles calculations show significant changes in the higher conduction and
      deeper valence regions in the considered graphene/silicene, graphene/MoS2, and
      silicene/MoS2 systems. Such changes are linked to strong out-of-plane
      hybridization effects and van der Waals interactions. We also find that the
      interface coupling significantly affects the vibrational properties of the
      heterostructures when compared to the individual constituents. Specifically, the
      van der Waals coupling is found to be a major factor for the stability of the
      system. The emergence of shear and breathing modes, as well as the transformation
      of flexural modes, are also found. 

PMID- 26885875
TI  - Annual Survey of Horsehair Worm Cysts in Northern Taiwan, with Notes on a Single
      Seasonal Infection Peak in Chironomid Larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae).
AB  - The life cycle of the freshwater horsehair worm typically includes a free-living
      phase (adult, egg, larva) and a multiple-host parasitic phase (aquatic paratenic
      host, terrestrial definitive host). Such a life cycle involving water and land
      can improve energy flow in riparian ecosystems; however, its temporal dynamics in
      nature have rarely been investigated. This study examined seasonal infection with
      cysts in larval Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in northern Taiwan. In the
      larval chironomids, cysts of 3 horsehair worm species were identified. The cysts
      of the dominant species were morphologically similar to those of Chordodes
      formosanus. Infection with these cysts increased suddenly and peaked 2 mo after
      the reproductive season of the adult horsehair worms. Although adult C.
      formosanus emerged several times in a year, only 1 distinct infection peak was
      detected in September in the chironomid larvae. Compared with the subfamily
      Chironominae, samples from the subfamilies Tanypodinae and Orthocladiinae were
      less parasitized. This indicates that the feeding behavior of the chironomid host
      likely affects horsehair worm cyst infections; however, bioconcentration in
      predatory chironomids was not detected.

PMID- 26885873
TI  - Canakinumab in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a novel unexpected
      weapon for non-healing wounds?

PMID- 26885876
TI  - Picosecond Pulse Radiolysis of Highly Concentrated Carbonate Solutions.
AB  - Highly concentrated potassium carbonate aqueous solutions are studied by
      picosecond pulse radiolysis with the purpose of exploring the formation processes
      of carbonate radical CO3(*-). The transient absorption band of solvated electron
      produced by ionizing is markedly shifted from 715 to 600 nm when the solute
      concentration of K2CO3 is 5 mol L(-1). This spectral shift is even more important
      than that observed for the solvated electron in 10 mol L(-1) KOH solutions. The
      broad absorption band of solvated electron in K2CO3 solutions overlaps with that
      of carbonate radical CO3(*-) formed at ultrashort time. Nitrate ion is used to
      scavenge the solvated electron and to observe the contribution of carbonate
      radical CO3(*-). The analysis of the amplitude and the kinetics of carbonate
      radical formation in highly concentrated solutions shows that CO3(*-) is formed
      within the electron pulse (7 ps) by two parallel mechanisms: a direct effect on
      the solute and the oxidation of the solute by water radical hole H2O(*+). These
      two mechanisms are followed by an additional one, by reaction between the solute
      and OH(*) radical especially in lower concentration. The radiolytic yield of each
      process is discussed. 

PMID- 26885877
TI  - Behavioral Screening and Intervention for Improving Lower-Extremity Arthroplasty
      Outcomes and Controlling Costs.

PMID- 26885878
TI  - Role of Calcium in Secondary Structure Stabilization during Maturation of Nitrous
      Oxide Reductase.
AB  - The copper enzyme nitrous oxide reductase catalyzes the two-electron reduction of
      nitrous oxide N2O to dinitrogen N2. Its maturation largely occurs in the
      periplasm and includes the insertion of at least one Ca2+ ion per monomer. Here
      we have investigated the role of this structural cation in recombinantly produced
      apo-N2OR from Shewanella denitrificans and have determined the three-dimensional
      structure of the protein by X-ray crystallography. In the absence of Ca2+,
      substantial parts of the enzyme surrounding the binding sites for the copper ions
      show structural disorder. Reconstitution of the binuclear CuA site was possible
      in vitro but required the presence of Ca2+ ions for a stable insertion of the
      center. In contrast, an excess of Ca2+ prevented copper insertion, and the
      structural analysis of the Ca2+apo form revealed that the cation is sufficient to
      structure the disordered regions of the protein even in the absence of Cu ions,
      indicating that the geometry of the two noncanonical copper centers is largely
      predetermined by the protein structure.

PMID- 26885879
TI  - Improving the Description of the Optical Properties of Carotenoids by Tuning the
      Long-Range Corrected Functionals.
AB  - In this work we use gap-fitting procedure to tune the long-range corrected
      functionals and accurately investigate the electronic and optical properties of
      the five main molecules composing Buriti oil (extracted from Mauritia flexuosa
      L.) in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD)
      DFT. The characteristic length (1/omega) was observed to be entirely system
      dependent, though we concluded that its determination is of fundamental
      importance to rescue geometrical, electronic, and optical properties with
      accuracy. We demonstrate that our approach of tuning characteristic length for
      each system resulted in an absorbance spectra in better experimental agreement
      when compared to the traditional methodology. Therefore, this study indicates
      that the tuning of the range-separation parameter is crucial to improve the
      description of the optical properties of conjugated molecules when TDDFT is used.
      For example, the wavelength of maximum absorption, lambdamax, for the
      phytofluene, obtained using B3LYP, is 381 nm, while using the gap-fitting
      procedure for the tuned-LC-BLYP the estimated lambdamax changed to 358 nm. The
      latter estimate is in better agreement with the experimental value of 350 nm. 

PMID- 26885880
TI  - Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Impact Insulin Resistance in Black and White
      Children.
AB  - CONTEXT: Vitamin D supplementation trials with diabetes-related outcomes have
      been conducted almost exclusively in adults and provide equivocal findings.
      OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the dose-response of
      vitamin D supplementation on fasting glucose, insulin, and a surrogate measure of
      insulin resistance in white and black children aged 9-13 years, who participated
      in the Georgia, Purdue, and Indiana University (or GAPI) trial: a 12-week
      multisite, randomized, triple-masked, dose-response, placebo-controlled vitamin D
      trial. DESIGN: Black and white children in the early stages of puberty (N = 323,
      50% male, 51% black) were equally randomized to receive vitamin D3 (0, 400, 1000,
      2000, or 4000 IU/day) for 12 weeks. Fasting serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D),
      glucose and insulin were assessed at baseline and weeks 6 and 12. Homeostasis
      model assessment of insulin resistance was used as a surrogate measure of insulin
      resistance. Statistical analyses were conducted as intent-to-treat using a mixed
      effects model. RESULTS: Baseline serum 25(OH)D was inversely associated with
      insulin (r = -0.140, P = 0.017) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin
      resistance (r = -0.146, P = 0.012) after adjusting for race, sex, age, pubertal
      maturation, fat mass, and body mass index. Glucose, insulin, and insulin
      resistance increased (F > 5.79, P < .003) over the 12 weeks, despite vitamin D
      dose-dependent increases in serum 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant
      baseline inverse relationships between serum 25(OH)D and measures of insulin
      resistance, vitamin D supplementation had no impact on fasting glucose, insulin,
      or a surrogate measure of insulin resistance over 12 weeks in apparently healthy
      children.

PMID- 26885882
TI  - Low Endogenous Secretory Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products Levels Are
      Associated With Inflammation and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Prediabetes.
AB  - CONTEXT: Prediabetes is associated with atherosclerotic vascular damage.
      OBJECTIVE: We investigated the correlation of endogenous secretory receptor for
      advanced glycation end-products (esRAGE), total soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and markers
      of inflammation, with early cardiovascular disease in subjects with prediabetes.
      We particularly focused on individuals with prediabetes identified only by
      glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (5.7-6.4%) who had normal fasting glucose and
      were normotolerant after oral glucose tolerance test. DESIGN: This was a cross
      sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Department of Clinical
      and Molecular Medicine, University of Catania, Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
      sRAGE, esRAGE, carboxymethyl-lysine, S100A12, HbA1c, fasting glycemia, oral
      glucose tolerance test, pulse wave velocity, and intima-media thickness were
      evaluated in subjects with prediabetes. PATIENTS: Three hundred eighty subjects
      without previous history of diabetes were stratified into three groups: controls
      (n = 99), prediabetes (n = 220), and new-onset type 2 diabetes (n = 61). RESULTS:
      Subjects with prediabetes exhibited the following: lower esRAGE (0.29 +/- 0.18 vs
      0.45 +/- 0.26 ng/mL; P < .05) and higher S100A12 levels than controls. RT-PCR
      analysis in mononuclear cells revealed that the mRNA expression level of the
      esRAGE splice variant progressively decreased in patients with prediabetes and
      type 2 diabetes with respect to controls. No difference was observed in sRAGE and
      carboxymethyl-lysine plasma levels between the groups. After multiple regression
      analyses, only age, HbA1c, and hs-CRP were independently associated with esRAGE
      levels. Age, HbA1c, and esRAGE were the major determinants of intima-media
      thickness, whereas S100A12 and systolic blood pressure were the major
      determinants of pulse wave velocity. When we analyzed the subjects with HbA1c
      prediabetes (normal fasting glucose/normotolerant and HbA1c 5.7-6.4%), esRAGE and
      inflammatory markers plasma levels still remained significantly different in
      respect to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with HbA1c prediabetes exhibited
      significantly reduced esRAGE levels and increased levels of markers of
      inflammation. These alterations are associated with early markers of
      cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26885883
TI  - Pyruvate Improved Insulin Secretion Status in a Mitochondrial Diabetes Mellitus
      Patient.
AB  - CONTEXT: Mitochondrial diabetes is a rare form of diabetes mellitus accounting
      for up to 1% of all diabetes. Pyruvate therapy has been reported to be a
      potential therapeutic choice for patients with mitochondrial diseases. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: Water-based sodium pyruvate solutions (0.5 g/kg, thrice daily) were
      administrated orally to a 32-year-old Japanese male with mitochondrial diabetes
      and myopathy caused by m.14709T>C mutation. At the age of 20 years, he was
      diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and started insulin therapy. He tested negative
      for islet cell and glutamic decarboxylase antibodies. To evaluate favorable
      therapeutic improvements, we measured the lactate and pyruvate levels in plasma
      and cerebrospinal fluid; urinary C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, and glycoalbumin
      levels; and total daily insulin dose (TDD). The patient experienced no side
      effects such as diarrhea because of pyruvate therapy. His urinary C-peptide level
      improved from 4.3 to 17.2 MUg/d after 1 day and to 30.2 MUg/d after 6 months of
      pyruvate therapy. TDD decreased from 33 to 20 U/d after 6 months of pyruvate
      therapy, but the lactate levels of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid and the
      lactate/pyruvate ratio did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium pyruvate improved
      insulin secretion and resulted in decreased TDD in a patient with mitochondrial
      diabetes. Pyruvate therapy may be a potential therapeutic choice for patients
      with mitochondrial diabetes. Clinical trials involving a larger number of
      patients and long-term evaluation of the therapy are necessary to clarify the
      efficacy of pyruvate therapy.

PMID- 26885881
TI  - Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Testosterone Supplementation on Systemic
      Lipolysis.
AB  - CONTEXT: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and T hormones are advertised as
      antiaging, antiobesity products. However, the evidence that these hormones have
      beneficial effects on adipose tissue metabolism is limited. OBJECTIVE: The
      objective of the study was to determine the effect of DHEA and T supplementation
      on systemic lipolysis during a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) and an iv glucose
      tolerance test (IVGTT). DESIGN: This was a 2-year randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: The study was conducted at a general clinical
      research center. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty elderly women with low DHEA concentrations
      and 92 elderly men with low DHEA and bioavailable T concentrations participated
      in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Elderly women received 50 mg DHEA (n = 30) or
      placebo (n = 30). Elderly men received 75 mg DHEA (n = 30), 5 mg T (n = 30), or
      placebo (n = 32). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In vivo measures of systemic lipolysis
      (palmitate rate of appearance) during a MMTT or IVGTT. RESULTS: At baseline there
      was no difference in insulin suppression of lipolysis measured during MMTT and
      IVGTT between the treatment groups and placebo. For both sexes, a univariate
      analysis showed no difference in changes in systemic lipolysis during the MMTT or
      IVGTT in the DHEA group and T group when compared with placebo. There was no
      change in the results after adjusting for the resting energy expenditure, except
      for a small, but significant (P = .03) lowering of MMTT nadir palmitate rate of
      appearance in women who received DHEA. CONCLUSION: In elderly individuals with
      concentrations of DHEA (men and women) or T (men) below the normal range for
      young adults, supplementation of these hormones has no effect on insulin
      suppression of systemic lipolysis.

PMID- 26885884
TI  - Organohalide Lead Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications.
AB  - Perovskite solar cells have recently exhibited a significant leap in efficiency
      due to their broad absorption, high optical absorption coefficient, very low
      exciton binding energy, long carrier diffusion lengths, efficient charge
      collection, and very high open-circuit potential, similar to that of III-IV
      semiconductors. Unlike silicon solar cells, perovskite solar cells can be
      developed from a variety of low-temperature solutions processed from inexpensive
      raw materials. When the perovskite absorber film formation is optimized using
      solvent engineering, a power conversion efficiency of over 21% has been
      demonstrated, highlighting the unique photovoltaic properties of perovskite
      materials. Here, we review the current progress in perovskite solar cells and
      charge transport materials. We highlight crucial challenges and provide a summary
      and prospects. 

PMID- 26885885
TI  - Perceptions and correlates of pubic hair removal and grooming among college-aged
      women: a mixed methods approach.
AB  - Background Although much is known about behavioural indicators of pubic hair
      removal, current research lacks deeper cognitive reasoning and understanding
      through utilising quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The purpose of this
      study was to: (1) describe and understand pubic hair removal behaviours using a
      quantitative survey; and (2) examine the relationship between pubic hair removal,
      sexual behaviours and genital self-image using in-depth interviews. METHODS: Data
      were collected from women aged 18-24 years living in the United States. Overall,
      663 participants completed an online survey and 53 completed in-depth interviews.
      Questions asked related to pubic hair removal and sexual history. RESULTS:
      Participants removed hair for hygiene, comfort and sensation purposes, which was
      a personal decision influenced by family, friends and the media. Race, pubic hair
      removal initiation age, genital image and sexual behaviours were significantly
      related to pubic hair removal. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study prove that
      further education regarding safe pubic hair removal methods is needed, especially
      for those who initiate pubic hair removal and sexual behaviours concurrently.

PMID- 26885886
TI  - New Alkaloids from Green Vegetable Soybeans and Their Inhibitory Activities on
      the Proliferation of Concanavalin A-Activated Lymphocytes.
AB  - A comprehensive phytochemical study of the chemical constituents of green
      vegetable soybeans resulted in the isolation of two new alkaloids, soyalkaloid A,
      1, and isoginsenine, 2, together with four known ones, ginsenine, 3, (1S,3S)-1
      methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 4, (1R,3S)-1-methyl
      1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 5, and indole-3-carboxylic
      acid, 6. The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated on the basis of
      spectroscopic and chemical analyses. All of the alkaloids were isolated from
      soybeans for the first time, and compound 1 was a new indole-type alkaloid with a
      novel carbocyclic skeleton. Their inhibitory activities on the proliferation of
      concanalin A-activated lymphocytes were assessed by CCK8 assay. 

PMID- 26885889
TI  - Highly water-soluble mast cell stabiliser-encapsulated solid lipid nanoparticles
      with enhanced oral bioavailability.
AB  - Cromolyn sodium (CS), a mast cell stabiliser, is widely employed for the
      prevention and treatment of allergic conditions. However, high hydrophilicity and
      poor oral permeability hinder its oral clinical translation. Here, solid lipid
      nanoparticles (SLNs) have been developed for the purpose of oral bioavailability
      enhancement. The CS-SLNs were engineered by double emulsification method
      (W1/O/W2) and optimised by using Box-Behnken experimental design. The surface and
      solid-state characterisations revealed the presence of CS in an amorphous form
      without any interactions inside the spherical-shaped SLNs. The in-vitro release
      study showed an extended release up to 24 hr by diffusion controlled process. Ex
      vivo and in-vivo intestinal permeation study showed ~2.96-fold increase in
      permeability of CS by presentation as SLNs (p < 0.05). Further, in-vivo
      pharmacokinetic study exhibited ~2.86-fold enhancements in oral bioavailability
      of CS by encapsulating inside SLNs, which clearly indicate that SLNs can serve as
      the potential therapeutic carrier system for oral delivery of CS. 

PMID- 26885890
TI  - Influenza infection in human host: challenges in making a better influenza
      vaccine.
AB  - Influenza is a ubiquitous infection with a spectrum ranging from mild to severe.
      The mystery regarding such variability in the clinical spectrum has not been
      fully unravelled, although a role for the complex interplay among virus
      characteristics, host immune response and environmental factors has been
      suggested. Antivirals and current vaccines have a limited role in prophylaxis and
      treatment because they primarily target surface glycoproteins which undergo
      antigenic/genetic changes under host immune pressure. Targeting conserved
      internal proteins could lead the way to a universal vaccine which can be used
      against various types/subtypes. However, this is on the distant horizon, so in
      the meantime, developing improved vaccines should be given high priority. In this
      review, we discuss where the current influenza research stands in terms of
      vaccines, adjuvants, and how we can better predict the vaccine strains for
      upcoming influenza seasons by understanding complex phenomena which drive the
      continuous antigenic evolution. 

PMID- 26885891
TI  - Non-dioxin-like PCBs: a survey on fishery and aquaculture from the Mediterranean
      area.
AB  - A sampling campaign from 21 sites in Italy was conducted: 15 species from fishery
      and three species from aquaculture, for a total of 40 determinations, were
      considered. A careful sample preparation preceded the instrumental analysis that
      was carried out by means of GC-ECD and GC-MS. Good laboratory practice was
      achieved by the participation in proficiency tests, by the use of certified
      reference materials and by applying other directives recommended by international
      organisations. Concentrations measured in this work were compared with a TDI
      proposed by some international bodies: for a person weighing 70 kg one-third of
      the samples from fishery, when consumed, lead to exceed this TDI if the average
      fish daily consumption per capita is considered. Based on the data obtained here
      some hypotheses on environmental spreading and influence of PCBs on human health
      are made. Some suggestions about the preparation of fish for consumption are also
      given. 

PMID- 26885892
TI  - Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer extract improves
      antioxidant defenses and accelerates the regression of hepatic fibrosis after
      exposure to carbon tetrachloride in rats.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leaves extract of
      Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer on hepatic
      morphofunctional dysfunction induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Liver
      lesions were induced via intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 every 48 h for 12
      days. Forty-nine rats were randomised into seven groups: G1: CCl4; G2: CCl4
      (animals euthanised 24 h after last CCl4 application); G3: CCl4 + DMSO; G4: SCE
      400 mg/kg; G5: DMSO (700 MUl); G6: CCl4 + SCE 200 mg/kg and G7: CCl4 + SCE 400
      mg/kg. SCE administration resulted in reduction in hydroperoxide levels, lipidic
      droplets and necrosis compared to G1, G2 and G3. There was an increase in the
      amount of collagen fibres in G1, G2 and G3 compared to the groups. These results
      show that the extract of SCE leaves has great potential for the recovery of liver
      damage after the application of CCl4.

PMID- 26885893
TI  - A training program to enhance recognition of depression in nursing homes,
      assisted living, and other long-term care settings: Description and evaluation.
AB  - Low levels of symptom recognition by staff have been "gateway" barriers to the
      management of depression in long-term care. The study aims were to refine a
      depression training program for front-line staff in long-term care and provide
      evaluative knowledge outcome data. Three primary training modules provide an
      overview of depression symptoms; a review of causes and situational and
      environmental contributing factors; and communication strategies, medications,
      and clinical treatment strategies. McNemar's chi-square tests and paired t-tests
      were used to examine change in knowledge. Data were analyzed for up to 143 staff
      members, the majority from nursing. Significant changes (p < .001) in knowledge
      were observed for all modules, with an average change of between 2 and 3 points.
      Evidence was provided that participants acquired desired information in the
      recognition, detection, and differential diagnosis and treatment strategies for
      those persons at significant risk for a depressive disorder.

PMID- 26885894
TI  - Sex differences in genomics in lupus: girls with systemic lupus have high
      interferon gene expression while boys have high levels of tumour necrosis factor
      related gene expression.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease occurring up
      to 15 times more frequently in females than males. This bias extends to possible
      differences in disease flares and response to therapy. This study was initiated
      to investigate the differences between girls and boys with childhood-onset SLE
      (cSLE) at the molecular level. METHOD: We analysed the Gene Expression Omnibus
      National Center for Biotechnology Information (GEO NCBI) microarray data
      available for 88 girls and 16 boys with treatment-naive cSLE and compared the
      results to those from healthy controls. Transcriptional profiles were generated
      using the platforms of Affymetrix U133A and U133B gene chips and Bioconductor/R
      programming packages were used to process and compare the data. RESULTS: Girls
      with cSLE overexpressed an interferon (IFN)-alpha signature that was absent in
      boys. Boys with cSLE were observed to overexpress tumour necrosis factor-related
      genes that were absent in girls. Both boys and girls were observed to overexpress
      several genes related to granulopoeisis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a
      potential application of genomics to differentially predict response to therapy
      between females and males with SLE.

PMID- 26885895
TI  - Hyperhomocysteinemia disrupts retinal pigment epithelial structure and function
      with features of age-related macular degeneration.
AB  - The disruption of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) function and the degeneration
      of photoreceptors are cardinal features of age related macular degeneration
      (AMD); however there are still gaps in our understanding of underlying biological
      processes. Excess homocysteine (Hcy) has been reported to be elevated in plasma
      of patients with AMD. This study aimed to evaluate the direct effect of
      hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) on structure and function of RPE. Initial studies in
      a mouse model of HHcy, in which cystathionine-beta-synthase (cbs) was deficient,
      revealed abnormal RPE cell morphology with features similar to that of AMD upon
      optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), histological,
      and electron microscopic examinations. These features include atrophy,
      vacuolization, hypopigmentation, thickened basal laminar membrane, hyporeflective
      lucency, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and disturbed RPE-photoreceptor
      relationship. Furthermore, intravitreal injection of Hcy per se in normal wild
      type (WT) mice resulted in diffuse hyper-fluorescence, albumin leakage, and CNV
      in the area of RPE. In vitro experiments on ARPE-19 showed that Hcy dose
      dependently reduced tight junction protein expression, increased FITC dextran
      leakage, decreased transcellular electrical resistance, and impaired phagocytic
      activity. Collectively, our results demonstrated unreported effects of excess Hcy
      levels on RPE structure and function that lead to the development of AMD-like
      features. 

PMID- 26885896
TI  - Highlighting the impact of aging on type I collagen: label-free investigation
      using confocal reflectance microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in 3D
      matrix model.
AB  - During aging, alterations of extracellular matrix proteins contribute to various
      pathological phenotypes. Among these alterations, type I collagen cross-linking
      and associated glycation products accumulation over time detrimentally affects
      its physico-chemical properties, leading to alterations of tissue biomechanical
      stability. Here, different-age collagen 3D matrices using non-destructive and
      label-free biophotonic techniques were analysed to highlight the impact of
      collagen I aging on 3D constructs, at macroscopic and microscopic levels.
      Matrices were prepared with collagens extracted from tail tendons of rats
      (newborns, young and old adults) to be within the physiological aging process.
      The data of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveal that aging leads to an
      inhibition of fibril assembly and a resulting decrease of gel density.
      Investigations by confocal reflectance microscopy highlight poor-fibrillar
      structures in oldest collagen networks most likely related to the glycation
      products accumulation. Complementarily, an infrared analysis brings out marked
      spectral variations in the Amide I profile, specific of the peptidic bond
      conformation and for carbohydrates vibrations as function of collagen-age.
      Interestingly, we also highlight an unexpected behavior for newborn collagen,
      exhibiting poorly-organized networks and microscopic features close to the oldest
      collagen. These results demonstrate that changes in collagen optical properties
      are relevant for investigating the incidence of aging in 3D matrix models. 

PMID- 26885897
TI  - Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma presents with long-term nasal blockage and fever: a rare
      case report and literature review.
AB  - NK/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a common disease which is a threat to human health.
      Nasal NKTCL is a rare but serious type of systemic lymphoma because of its high
      mortality rate and serious complications. In this case report, we describe a male
      who presented with nasal blockage in the right side, a fever of one month
      duration and a soy-like, painless and gradually increasing mass in the right
      submandibular region due to nasal NKTCL. The patient had no significant medical
      history and the initial clinical symptoms were nasal blockage. Contrast computed
      tomography showed that the nasopharyngeal mucosa was thickened and that the
      celiac and retroperitoneal lymphaden was intumescent. Finally a biopsy, guided by
      nasal endoscopy and examined using flow cytometry confirmed a diagnosis of NKTCL.
      Nasal NKTCL is rare and has no unique characteristics at first presentation, such
      as epidemiology and obvious clinical manifestation. As no effective therapy is
      currently available for this disease, early diagnosis and therapy of nasal NKTCL
      remains challenging. 

PMID- 26885899
TI  - Integrative analysis of genome-wide association studies and gene expression
      analysis identifies pathways associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex and systematic autoimmune disease, which
      is usually influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Pathway analyses
      based on a single data type such as microarray data or SNP data have successfully
      revealed some biology pathways associated with RA. However, we found that the
      pathway analysis based on a single data type only provide limited understanding
      about the pathogenesis of RA. Gene-disease association is usually caused by many
      ways, such as genotype, gene expression and so on. Therefore, the integrative
      analysis method combining multiple levels of evidence can more precisely and
      comprehensively identify the pathway associations. In this study, we performed a
      pathway analysis by integrating GWAS and gene expression analysis to detect the
      RA-related pathways. The integrative analysis identified 28 pathways associated
      with RA. Among these pathways, 18 pathways were also found by both GWAS and gene
      expression analysis, 7 pathways are novel RA-related pathways, such as B cell
      receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Fc gamma R
      mediated phagocytosis and so on. Compared with pathway analyses using only one
      type genomic data, we found integrative analysis can increase the power to
      identify the real associations and provided more stable and accurate results. We
      believe these results will contribute to perform future genetic studies in RA
      pathogenesis and may promote the development of new therapeutic strategies by
      targeting these pathways. 

PMID- 26885898
TI  - Metformin regulates oxLDL-facilitated endothelial dysfunction by modulation of
      SIRT1 through repressing LOX-1-modulated oxidative signaling.
AB  - It is suggested that oxLDL is decisive in the initiation and development of
      atherosclerotic injuries. The up-regulation of oxidative stress and the
      generation of ROS act as key modulators in developing pro-atherosclerotic and
      anti-atherosclerotic processes in the human endothelial wall. In this present
      study, we confirmed that metformin enhanced SIRT1 and AMPK expression in human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Metformin also inhibited oxLDL
      increased LOX-1 expression and oxLDL-collapsed AKT/eNOS levels. However,
      silencing SIRT1 and AMPK diminished the protective function of metformin against
      oxidative injuries. These results provide a new insight regarding the possible
      molecular mechanisms of metformin. 

PMID- 26885900
TI  - [Development of human embryonic stem cell platforms for human health-safety
      evaluation].
AB  - The human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) serve as a self-renewable, genetically
      healthy, pluripotent and single source of all body cells, tissues and organs.
      Therefore, it is considered as the good standard for all human stem cells by US,
      Europe and international authorities. In this study, the standard and healthy
      human mesenchymal progenitors, ligament tissues, cardiomyocytes, keratinocytes,
      primary neurons, fibroblasts, and salivary serous cells were differentiated from
      hESCs. The human cellular health-safety of NaF, retinoic acid, 5-fluorouracil,
      dexamethasone, penicillin G, adriamycin, lead acetate PbAc, bisphenol A
      biglycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) were evaluated selectively on the standardized
      platforms of hESCs, hESCs-derived cardiomyocytes, keratinocytes, primary neurons,
      and fibroblasts. The evaluations were compared with those on the currently most
      adopted cellular platforms. Particularly, the sensitivity difference of PM2.5
      toxicity on standardized and healthy hESCs derived fibroblasts, currently adopted
      immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells Beas-2B and human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated. The RESULTS showed that the
      standardized hESCs cellular platforms provided more sensitivity and accuracy for
      human cellular health-safety evaluation. 

PMID- 26885901
TI  - [Relationships between microRNA expressions and prognosis in patients with tongue
      squamous cell carcinoma and the mechanisms microRNA regulating tongue squamous
      cell carcinoma biological behavior].
AB  - Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer and
      is well known for its high rate of proliferation and lymph nodal metastasis.
      Exploring the underlying pathways regulating TSCC could provide novel ideas for
      diagnosis and prognosis of TSCC patients, as well as molecular targets for
      treatment of TSCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that inhibit gene
      expression through the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of their target messenger
      RNAs. They play crucial roles in numerous biological processes, including cancer
      progression. Although great efforts have been made, what role miRNAs may play in
      the early detection and diagnosis of TSCC is not fully understood. Recently, our
      team has performed a series of basic and clinical researches in an attempt to
      investigate the relationships between miRNA expressions and prognosis of patients
      with TSCC and the mechanisms under regulation of TSCC. The results showed that
      miR-195, miR-34a, miR-29b, miR-375 and miR-26a could inhibit TSCC cells
      progression and development via a sophisticated network of genes. Specifically,
      the anti-tumor effects of miR-195 in TSCC may be partially mediated by its
      inhibition of CyclinD1 and Bcl-2 expression. The expression of miR-34a could
      inhibit migration and invasion of TSCC cell lines via targeting MMP9 and MMP14.
      The function of miR-29b may be through the miR-29b/Sp1/PTEN/AKT axis.
      Overexpression of miR-375 inhibited Sp1 expression by targeting the 3'
      untranslated region of the Sp1 transcript. MEG3 and miR-26a inhibited TSCC cell
      proliferation, cycle progression and promoted cell apoptosis and miR-26a could
      increase the MEG3 expression through reduction of the expression of DNMT3B in
      TSCC. In light of the role of those miRNAs in diagnosis and prognosis of TSCC, we
      reported that decreased miR-195 and miR-375 expression was associated with poor
      overall survival rate of the TSCC patients, while miR-34a expression was
      negatively correlated with cervical lymph node metastases. Furthermore, combined
      low expression levels of miR-26a and MEG3 emerged as an independent prognostic
      factor for poor clinical outcomes in TSCC patients, suggesting that combined miR
      26a and MEG3 expression might prove useful as an independent biomarker of
      clinical prognosis among TSCC patients.

PMID- 26885902
TI  - [Association between FADS1 rs174537 polymorphism and serum proteins in patients
      with aggressive periodontitis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential association between FADS1 rs174537
      polymorphism and serum proteins in patients with aggressive periodontitis, which
      may provide benefits for diagnosis and treatment of aggressive periodontitis.
      METHODS: A total of 353 patients with aggressive periodontitis (group AgP) and
      125 matched controls (group HP) were recruited in the study. Genotyping of FADS1
      rs174537 and serum biochemical indexes were tested at the study's start. The
      relationships between the levels of TP, GLB, ALB, A/G and genotyping were
      analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The detection rate of allele G in group AgP was higher
      than that in group HP(68.1% vs. 61.2%, P=0.046,OR=1.35,95% CI 1.00-1.83); the
      detection rate of genotype GG in group AgP was higher than in group HP(45.5% vs.
      34.4%,P=0.029, OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.05-2.44). (2) In group AgP, the patients with GG
      genotype exhibited significantly lower TP, GLB than the patients with GT+TT
      genotype [(77.08 +/- 7.88) g/L vs. (79.00 +/- 4.66) g/L, P=0.007; (28.17 +/-
      7.63) g/L vs.(29.88 +/- 3.49) g/L,P=0.007) and the higher A/G(1.72 +/- 0.22
      vs.1.67 +/- 0.22, P=0.040), but there was no significant difference in ALB
      between the patients with GG genotype and the patients with GT+TT genotype. In
      group HP, there were no significant differences in TP, GLB, A/G and ALB between
      individuals with genotype GT+TT and with genotype GG. (3)Compared with
      individuals with genotype GT+TT in group HP, the AgP patients with genotype GT+TT
      exhibited significantly higher TP, GLB [(79.00 +/- 4.66) g/L vs. (75.20 +/- 4.53)
      g/L, P<0.01; (29.88 +/- 3.49) g/L vs.(26.55 +/- 2.94) g/L, P<0.01) and the lower
      A/G(1.67 +/- 0.22 vs. 1.88 +/- 0.30, P<0.01), but there was no significant
      difference in ALB. There were no significant differences in TP, GLB, A/G and ALB
      the between the AgP patients with genotype GG and the healthy subjects with the
      same genotype either. CONCLUSION: FADS1 rs174537 polymorphism is associated with
      aggressive periodontitis. The patients with genotype GG in group AgP had
      relatively lower TP,GLB and higher A/G. Genotype GG might be a risk indicator for
      aggressive periodontitis by reducing host defense capability and contributing to
      inflammatory response in the occurrence and development of aggressive
      periodontitis.

PMID- 26885903
TI  - [Expression, roles and therapy target values of CD24 in oral squamous cell
      carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression profile and potential roles of CD24 in
      oral squamous cell carcinoma and explore the values of CD24 function as a
      potential target of clinical therapy. METHODS: Semi-quantitative
      immunohistochemistry was used to construct the expression profile of CD24 in 78
      human oral tissues and 59 Hamster buccal pouch tissues. Real-time RT-PCR and
      Western blot were used to analyze the CD24 expression levels in oral DOK4 cells,
      oral cancer CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells. Then these two cancer cell lines were
      selected to evaluate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and CD24
      antibody on CD24 expression, and the proliferation and tumorsphere formation
      capacity of these two cell lines. RESULTS: CD24 expression was found
      significantly elevated in both human and animal tissues compared with normal and
      benign tissues (P<0.05), as well as in oral cancer CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells
      compared with DOK cells (P<0.05). CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells possess increased
      proliferative and specific tumorsphere formation capability compared with DOK
      cells (P<0.05). Both ATRA and CD24 antibody were able to effectively inhibit the
      proliferation and tumorsphere formation of CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells (P<0.05).
      Among them ATRA at least involved partially in the proliferation by down
      regulating the CD24 expression (P<0.05), while CD24 antibody blocking had no
      effect on the CD24 expression. CONCLUSION: CD24 was upregulated in oral cancer
      and functioned as a potential factor that promoted the proliferation and
      tumorsphere formation of CAL-27 and WSU-HN6 cells. Both ATRA and CD24 antibody
      might effectively inhibit the proliferation and tumorsphere formation of CAL-27
      and WSU-HN6 cells and function as a potential therapy target.

PMID- 26885904
TI  - [Effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1 on proliferation, migration, and
      odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and
      granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on proliferation, migration, and
      odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) in vitro.
      METHODS: DPSCs were cultured in vitro and treated with either 100 MUg/L SDF-1 or
      100 MUg/L G-CSF. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony-forming unit (CFU) were
      used to detect the effect of SDF-1 and G -CSF on the proliferation ability of
      DPSC. Cell migration of DPSC was determined by wound healing assay and Transwell
      migration assay. The effects of SDF-1 and G-CSF on odontoblastic differentiation
      of DPSC were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity and
      alizarin red S staining. The expression of odontoblastic-related genes such as
      dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) were
      quantified by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: SDF-1 and G-CSF promoted the
      proliferation of DPSC slightly, but the difference was not statistically
      significant. Wound healing assay showed that SDF-1 and G-CSF promoted cell
      migration of DPSC significantly (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference
      between the two factors. In Transwell migration assay, the number of migrated
      cells of the control group was 5.0 +/- 1.4 per sight, while the SDF-1 group was
      24.3 +/- 6.8 per sight and the G-CSF group was 11.8 +/- 3.3 per sight, suggesting
      that cell migration of DPSC was improved significantly after being treated with
      SDF-1 or G-CSF, and SDF-1 was more effective than G-CSF (P<0.05). Significantly
      greater odontoblastic differentiation potential was found in SDF-1 group and G
      CSF group based on the ALP staining. Higher ALP activity, more mineralization
      nodule formation and higher expressions of DMP-1 and DSPP were also found after
      SDF-1 or G-CSF treatment. CONCLUSION: SDF-1 had no significant effect on the
      proliferation of DPSC, but could significantly promote cell migration and
      odontoblastic differentiation of DPSC. Its effect on DPSC was better than G-CSF.

PMID- 26885905
TI  - [Histological changes in the circum-maxillary sutures during alternate maxillary
      expansions and constrictions in a rat model].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in the circum-maxillary sutures during
      alternate maxillary expansions and constrictions in a rat model. METHODS: Twenty
      two male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were used and divided into three
      groups. In maxillary expansion (ME) group (n=9), an expander was activated for 5
      d, and then sacrificed. In alternate maxillary expansions and constrictions (Alt
      MEC) group (9 animals), an alternate expansion and constriction protocol (5 d
      expansion and 5 d constriction for one cycle) was conducted for 2.5 cycles (25 d
      total), and then sacrificed. The control group comprised 4 animals with no
      appliances used, each of two sacrificed on day 5 and day 25, respectively. Circum
      maxillary sutures (mid-palatal, maxillopalatine, premaxillary,
      zygomaticotemporal, and frontonasal suture) in each group were characterized
      histologically. RESULTS: Histological findings of circum-maxillary sutures: in
      control group, the normal sutures were divided into 5 zones, the center was
      polygon mesenchyme zone, the lateral was mature chondrocyte zone, the next
      lateral was bone tissue. In ME group, the mid-palatal suture was expanded after
      ME, the fibre and connective tissue were extracted and invaded into cartilage
      zone. Osteoblast hyperplasia and new bone formation occurred. The orientation of
      the new bone trabecula was consistent with force. The osteoclast appeared in some
      area. Findings of other sutures were similar with those of control group,
      osteogenesis was active in some area without obvious reconstruction in Alt-MEC
      group, mid-palatal suture and other sutures in some area were widened after Alt
      MEC with much more osteoblast hyperplasia and new bone formation. Fibre and
      connective tissue were extracted, distorted or even broken. Sutures in some areas
      were narrowed with osteoblast cytopenia and osteoclast hyperplasia. Fibre and
      connective tissue compressed because of the different force and orientation.
      Osteoclast count results showed that compared with the control group, the number
      of the osteoclast was increased only in the palatal suture in ME group (P<0.05).
      Other sutures did not show obvious changes (P>0.05). In Alt-MEC group, the
      numbers of the osteoclast in circum-maxillary sutures were the most, and had
      statistical significances (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These RESULTS suggested that
      circum -maxillary sutures were actively reconstructed after Alt-MEC. while only
      midpalatal suture had active reaction after ME.

PMID- 26885906
TI  - [Promoted role of bone morphogenetic protein 2/7 heterodimer in the osteogenic
      differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of bone morphogenetic protein 2/7 heterodimer
      (BMP-2/7) in the osteogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).
      METHODS: hASCs were exposed to three different treatments in vitro: osteogenic
      medium with 150 MUg/L BMP-2/7 (experimental group), osteogenic medium alone (OM
      group) and proliferation medium (PM group). After 1, 4 and 7 days of osteogenic
      induction, the amount of cellular DNA was measured to investigate the
      cytotoxicity. After 7 and 14 days, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and
      quantification were performed to test the activity of ALP. After 21 and 28 days,
      the calcification deposition was determined by Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and
      quantification. The expressions of the osteoblast-related genes were tested on
      days 1, 4, 7 and 14. In the in vivo study, 6 nude mice were used and 4 groups
      were set and implanted subcutaneously into the back of nude mice: (1) beta-TCP
      scaffold only (scaffold control group); (2) beta-TCP scaffold with hASCs cultured
      by PM in vitro for 1 week (PM control group); (3) beta-TCP scaffold with hASCs
      cultured by OM in vitro for 1 week (OM control group); (4) beta-TCP scaffold with
      hASCs cultured by OM with 150 MUg/L BMP-2/7 in vitro for 1 week (test group).
      After 4 weeks of implantation, histological staining was performed to evaluate
      the in vivo osteogenesis of hASCs. RESULTS: After induction for 1 day, there was
      no significant difference between the experimental group and the PM group on the
      cellular DNA content (P>0.05). After 4 days, the cellular DNA content increased
      under the stimulation of BMP-2/7 (P<0.05). On day 7, there was no significant
      difference among the three groups (P>0.05). ALP activity was higher by the
      induction of BMP-2/7 than in OM alone and PM (P<0.05). More mineralization
      deposition and more expressions of osteoblast-related genes such as Runx2, ALP,
      COL-1A1 and OC were determined in the experimental group at different time points
      (P<0.05). HE staining showed that, in the test group and OM control group, the
      extracellular matrix (ECM) with eosinophilic staining were observed around hASCs,
      and newly-formed bone-like tissues could be found in ECM around the scaffold
      materials. Moreover, compared with the OM control group, more bone-like tissues
      could be observed in ECM with typical structure of bone tissue in the test group.
      Masson's trichrome staining showed that more expression of collagen could be
      observed in ECM in the test group compared with the other groups. There was small
      amount of expression of collagen in the OM and PM control groups. No obvious
      positive results were found in the scaffold group. CONCLUSION: BMP-2/7
      heterodimer plays a significant role in the osteogenesis of hASCs and is able to
      enhance the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 26885907
TI  - [Osteogenesis of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells-biomaterial mixture
      in vivo after 3D bio-printing].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To construct human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs)
      biomaterial mixture 3D bio-printing body and detect its osteogenesis in vivo, and
      to establish a guideline of osteogenesis in vivo by use of 3D bio-printing
      technology preliminarily. METHODS: P4 hASCs were used as seed cells, whose
      osteogenic potential in vitro was tested by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining
      and alizarin red staining after 14 d of osteogenic induction. The cells were
      added into 20 g/L sodium alginate and 80 g/L gelatin mixture (cell density was 1
      * 10(6)/mL), and the cell-sodium alginate-gelatin mixture was printed by
      Bioplotter 3D bio-printer (Envision company, Germany), in which the
      cells'survival rate was detected by live- dead cell double fluorescence staining.
      Next, the printing body was osteogenically induced for 1 week to gain the
      experimental group; and the sodium alginate-gelatin mixture without cells was
      also printed to gain the control group. Both the experimental group and the
      control group were implanted into the back of the nude mice. After 6 weeks of
      implantation, the samples were collected, HE staining, Masson staining,
      immunohistochemical staining and Inveon Micro CT test were preformed to analyze
      their osteogenic capability. RESULTS: The cells'survival rate was 89%+/- 2% after
      printing. Six weeks after implantation, the samples of the control group were
      mostly degraded, whose shape was irregular and gel-like; the samples of the
      experimental group kept their original size and their texture was tough. HE
      staining and Masson staining showed that the bone-like tissue and vessel in
      growth could be observed in the experimental group 6 weeks after implantation,
      immunohistochemical staining showed that the result of osteocalcin was positive,
      and Micro CT results showed that samples of the experimental group had a higher
      density and the new bone volume was 18% +/- 1%. CONCLUSION: hASCs -biomaterial
      mixture 3D bio-printing body has capability of ectopic bone formation in nude
      mice, and it is feasible to apply cells-biomaterial mixture 3D bio-printing
      technology in the area of bone formation in vivo.

PMID- 26885908
TI  - [Influence of the occlusal interference time on masticatory muscle mechanical
      hyperalgesia in rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the removal time of 0.2 mm
      occlusal interference and the recovery of masticatory muscle mechanical
      hyperalgesia in rats. METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-220 g) were
      randomly assigned to eight groups, with five rats in each group: (1) naive group:
      these rats were anesthetized and their mouths were forced open for about 5 min
      (the same duration as the other groups), but restorations were not applied; (2)
      sham-occlusal interference control group: bands were bonded to the right
      maxillary first molars which did not interfere with occlusion; (3)occlusal
      interference group: 0.2 mm thick crowns were bonded to the right maxillary first
      molars; (4) 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 d removal of occlusal interference groups: 0.2 mm
      thick crowns were bonded to the right maxillary first molars and removed on days
      2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The naive group and sham-occlusal interference control group
      were control groups. The other groups were experimental groups. Bilateral
      masticatory muscle mechanical withdrawal thresholds were tested on pre
      application days 1, 2, and 3, and on post-application days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21
      and 28. The rats were weighed on pre-application day 1 and on post-application
      days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. RESULTS: Between the naive group and the sham
      occlusal interference control group, there was no significant difference in the
      masticatory muscle mechanical withdrawal threshold of bilateral temporalis and
      masseters at each time point. No significant difference was detected between the
      contralateral side and ipsilateral side in experimental groups (P>0.05). In the
      2, 3, 4, and 5 d removal of occlusal interference groups, the masticatory muscle
      mechanical withdrawal thresholds decreased after occlusal interference and
      increased after removal of the crowns and recovered to the baseline on days 7,
      10, 14, and 14, respectively [the masticatory muscle mechanical withdrawal
      thresholds of right masseter muscle were (137.46 +/- 2.08) g, (139.02 +/- 2.11)
      g, (140.40 +/- 0.98) g, (138.95 +/- 0.98) g, respectively]. In the 6 d removal of
      occlusal interference group, the masticatory muscle mechanical withdrawal
      threshold increased after removal of the crowns and became stable since day 14.
      There was a significant difference between the 6 d removal of occlusal
      interference group and the sham-occlusal interference group on day 28 (P<0.05),
      the masticatory muscle mechanical withdrawal thresholds of right masseter muscle
      were (131.24 +/- 0.76) g and (141.34 +/- 1.43) g, respectively. CONCLUSION: After
      removal of the 0.2 mm thick crown within 5 days, the mechanical hyperalgesia of
      the rats could reverse completely. The mechanical hyperalgesia of the rats could
      only be relieved, but not reverse completely after removal of the 0.2 mm thick
      crown on day 6. As the time went on, even minor occlusal interference could cause
      irreversible mechanical hyperalgesia of masticatory muscles. This study suggested
      that occlusal interference caused by dental treatment should be eliminated as
      soon as possible, to avoid irreversible orofacial pain.

PMID- 26885910
TI  - [Effects of different fibre diameter of polypyrrole after direct current
      stimulation on adhesion and proliferation of cells and bacteria].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of cells'and bacteria's adhesion and
      proliferation on different fiber diameters of polypyrrole coating with
      electricity. METHODS: Titanium coated with polypyrrole was divided into no
      electrical stimulation and stimulation groups, each group had 30-60 nm, 70- 100
      nm, 130-170 nm diameters of the fiber. MC3T3 cells and Staphylococcus aureus (S.
      aureus) were inoculated on different fiber diameters of polypyrrole coating with
      and without electric stimulation. We gave the electrical stimulation group 100 mV
      for 1 h and every 24 hours gave it 1 h stimulation, and no electrical stimulation
      group was not managed. We used scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the
      cells'and bacteria's morphology. The cells were given 20 mL CCK-8 solutions after
      1,3,7 days' cultivation, then incubated for 2 h, the solution was transferred to
      96-well plate, we measured the cells' CCK-8 of the 30-60 nm, 70-100 nm, and 130
      170 nm groups by Elisa. The cells on different fiber diameters were also stained
      by live-dead cell staining kit, TritonX-100 and DAPI. We used PBS to wash and
      glycerin to seal them. The live-dead situation and morphology were tested by co
      focal microscope. The bacterial were stained by Live/dead baclight bacterial
      viability kits, we detect the suspension's D of the 30-60 nm, 70-100 nm, and 130
      170 nm groups, and also observed the bacteria's survival situation by co focal
      microscope. RESULTS: The CCK-8 of the cells with direct current stimulation was
      higher than that of the unpowered group (F=12.248, P=0.006). The smaller the
      fiber diameter, the better was the cell's adhesion and proliferation (F=9.261,
      P=0.005). The bacterial suspension's D of the electric group was lower than that
      of the unpowered group, and the fiber diameter had no significant effect on the
      bacteria's growth(F=9.641, P=0.036). CONCLUSION: Polypyrrole coating with
      electricity can promote the cell's proliferation and inhibit the bacteria's
      proliferation, and the cell growth on small fiber diameter coating is better.
      There is no difference in the bacterial growth of different fiber diameter
      coatings.

PMID- 26885909
TI  - [Antibacterial effect of self-etching adhesive systems on Streptococcus mutans].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antibacterial effect of different self-etching
      adhesive systems against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). METHODS: Six reagents
      Clearfil(TM) SE Bond primer (SP), Clearfil(TM) SE Bond adhesive (SA),Clearfil(TM)
      Protect Bond primer (PP), which contained antibacterial monomer
      methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB), ClearfilTM Protect Bond adhesive
      (PA), positive control chlorhexidine acetate [CHX, 1% (mass fraction)], and
      negative control phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were selected. They were mixed
      with S. mutans for 30 s respectively, then colony-forming units (CFU) were
      counted after incubated for 48 h on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar medium. The 6
      reagents were applied to the sterile paper discs, and distributed onto the BHI
      agar medium with S. mutans and incubated for 24 h, then the inhibition zones were
      observed. CHX, PBS, PP, and SP were added on the dentin with artificial caries
      induced by S. mutans and kept for 30 s, then confocal laser scanning microscope
      (CLSM) was used to observe the live and dead bacteria after staining. The ratio
      of live to dead bacteria was calculated. PP+PA and SP+SA were applied on the
      dentin according to the manual and light cured. S. mutans were incubated on the
      samples for 2 h, ultrasonically treated and incubated on BHI agar medium for 48
      h, then CFU was counted. The data were analyzed by non-parametric analysis and
      one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Compared with PBS, the PP, SP, PA, SA and CHX showed the
      antibacterial effect on free S. mutans (P<0.05); SP and PP showed stronger
      antibacterial effect than PA, SA and CHX (P<0.05). CHX, SP and PP presented
      inhibition zones, while PBS, SA and PA did not. Compared with PBS, the CHX, SP
      and PP could lower the ratio of the live to dead bacteria significantly (P<0.05).
      Cured self-etching adhesive systems did not show any antibacterial effect on the
      free S. mutans. CONCLUSION: The primer of self-etching adhesives Clearfil(TM) SE
      Bond and Clearfil(TM) Protect Bond showed significant antibacterial effect on
      free and attached S. mutans. The adhesive only showed antibacterial effect on
      free S. mutans before light-cured polymerization. After being cured, the self
      etching adhesive systems did not show antibacterial effect anymore.

PMID- 26885911
TI  - [Effects of Er, Cr: YSGG laser on the root surface of periodontitis and healthy
      teeth].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Er, Cr: YSGG laser on the root surface of
      periodontally involved teeth and healthy teeth, concerning the microstructure and
      the roughness. METHODS: Eight freshly extracted teeth due to severe periodontitis
      and eight freshly extracted teeth due to orthodontic reasons or being third molar
      were chosen in this study. The root surface of each tooth was divided into four
      areas, and received four treatment METHODS: no treatment (control group); root
      planing with Gracey scaler for 30 seconds; irradiation by the lower power Er, Cr:
      YSGG laser; irradiation by the higher power Er, Cr: YSGG laser. Four
      periodontally involved teeth and four healthy teeth were used for the evaluation
      of microstructure using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The other four
      periodontitis teeth and four healthy teeth were used for the evaluation of
      roughness (Ra value) using 3D profiler. RESULTS: Smear layer was found on the
      teeth scaled by Gracey scaler, while the teeth irradiated by Er, Cr: YSGG laser
      demonstrated a melting surface with less smear layer. In the periodontitis teeth
      irradiated by the higher power, opening dentinal tubules could be observed. For
      the periodontally involved teeth, the Ra values of groups 1 to 4 were (237.4 +/-
      20.0) nm, (135.7 +/- 11.9) nm (P=0.01), (463.6 +/- 49.3) nm (P<0.001) and (486.0
      +/- 59.0) nm (P<0.001) respectively. For the healthy teeth, the Ra values of
      groups 1 to 4 were (191.4 +/- 44.5) nm, (131.6 +/- 21.5) nm (P=0.482), (463.7 +/-
      34.6) nm (P<0.001) and (470.3 +/- 121.3) nm (P<0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Er, Cr: YSGG laser can affect the microstructure of the cementum of the
      periodontitis teeth and healthy teeth. Irradiation by the Er, Cr: YSGG laser
      resulted in a melting surface with less smear layer and increased the roughness
      in the surface of root.

PMID- 26885912
TI  - [Application of anaerobic bacteria detection in oral and maxillofacial
      infection].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution and drug resistance of anaerobic
      bacteria in the patients with oral and maxillofacial infection. METHODS: Aerobic
      and anaerobic bacteria cultures from 61 specimens of pus from the patients with
      oral and maxillofacial infection in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial
      Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology were identified. The culture
      type was evaluated by API 20A kit and drug resistance test was performed by Etest
      method. The clinical data and antibacterial agents for the treatment of the 61
      cases were collected, and the final outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The bacteria
      cultures were isolated from all the specimens, with aerobic bacteria only in 6
      cases (9.8%), anaerobic bacteria only in 7 cases (11.5%), and both aerobic and
      anaerobic bacteria in 48 cases (78.7%). There were 55 infected cases (90.2%) with
      anaerobic bacteria, and 81 anaerobic bacteria stains were isolated. The highest
      bacteria isolation rate of Gram positive anaerobic bacteria could be found in
      Peptostreptococcus, Bifidobacterium and Pemphigus propionibacterium. No
      cefoxitin, amoxicillin/carat acid resistant strain was detected in the above
      three Gram positive anaerobic bacteria. The highest bacteria isolation rate of
      Gram negative anaerobic bacteria could be detected in Porphyromonas and
      Prevotella. No metronidazole, cefoxitin, amoxicillin/carat acid resistant strain
      was found in the two Gram negative anaerobic bacteria. In the study, 48 patients
      with oral and maxillofacial infection were treated according to the results of
      drug resistance testing, and the clinical cure rate was 81.3%. CONCLUSION: Mixed
      aerobic and anaerobic bacteria cultures are very common in most oral and
      maxillofacial infection patients. Anaerobic bacteria culture and drug resistance
      testing play an important role in clinical treatment.

PMID- 26885914
TI  - [Determination of human papillomavirus in oral leukoplakia,oral lichen planus and
      oral squamous cell carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility for human papillomavirus (HPV)
      infection to be a predictable signal for the carcinogenesis of oral mucosa by
      comparing the prevalences of HPV in each stage of oral mucosal carcinogenesis and
      to compare the sensitivity differences of the two methods in detecting HPV
      infection in oral cavity. METHODS: The hybrid capture (HC-II) was used to detect
      infection of HPV in 255 samples taken from 12 cases of healthy oral mucosa, 211
      cases of patients with pathological diagnosis and 32 cases of patients with
      clinical diagnosis. The diagnosed cases included 8 cases of benign lesions of the
      oral mucosa, precancerous lesions [74 cases of oral leukoplakia (OLK) with
      hyperplasia and 42 cases of OLK with oral epithelial dysplasia (OED)], 91 cases
      of precancerous condition [oral lichen planus (OLP)] and 28 cases of oral
      squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). And in situ hybridization (ISH) was used to
      detect infection of HPV in 33 cases of OSCC and 76 cases of OLK, including 30
      cases of hyperplasia, 15 cases of mild OED, 15 cases of moderate OED and 16 cases
      of severe OED. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPV in OLP samples was higher (12.12%,
      8/66) than that of OLK (2.59%, 3/116) (chi(2)=4.666, P=0.031) and OSCC(7.14%,
      2/28, chi(2)=0.513, P=0.474). The prevalence of HPV in OSCC (7.14%, 2/28) was
      higher than that of OLK (2.59%, 3/116), and no significant difference was found.
      There was only one case of smoke spot and statistical analysis was not carried
      out. ISH was used to detect type 16/18 and type 31/33 HPV DNA in 109 cases of
      oral mucosal lesions in paraffin sections and only one case of OSCC was HPV
      positive. Thirty-seven cases were detected by HC-II and ISH methods at the same
      time. The same negative results by the two methods were found in 94.6% samples
      (35/37). In the other two samples, one was OSCC with early infiltration and the
      other was OLK with hyperplasia, The HC-II results were positive while the ISH
      results were negative. The patients with OLP and HPV testing results were
      followed up and the average follow-up period was (36.2 +/- 10.5) months. It was
      found that three of them had a malignant transformation, and the malignant
      transformation rate of HPV positive patients was 12.50% (1/8), which was higher
      than that of HPV negative patients (3.45%, 2/58), and the difference was not
      statistically significant, P=0.249. CONCLUSION: HC-II assay was more sensitive in
      detecting HPV infection of oral mucosal lesions than ISH. The results of this
      study showed that there was insufficient evidence for taking HPV infection as a
      predictor of OLK carcinogenesis. Patients suffering from OLP were in a
      precancerous condition. The prevalence of HPV in OLP patients of this study was
      higher than that in OLK and OSCC patients, suggesting that for some reason, OLP
      patients were susceptible to HPV. HPV testing can be considered as routine in
      patients with OLP, and HC-II assay was recommended. And patients with OLP and HPV
      positive should be followed up regularly.

PMID- 26885913
TI  - [Clinical features of osteonecrosis of jaws after bisphosphonates therapy for
      bone metastasis of breast cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To understand the clinical features of osteonecrosis of the jaw after
      bisphosphonates use for therapy of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis.
      METHODS: The cases diagnosed as bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaws
      (BRONJ) were retrospectively analyzed from January 2011 to August 2015 in the
      Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, and those breast cancer
      patients with bone metastasis were selected. The clinical symptoms, imaging
      characteristics and treatment results were summarized. RESULTS: A total of 14
      cases of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis were selected, with an
      average age of 60.21 years. The average time of suffering from breast cancer was
      9.77 years, and the average time of bone metastasis and bisphosphonates drugs use
      was 5.67 and 3.29 years individually. There was no patient with systemic
      application history of hormone therapy, and no history of diabetes. There were 9
      patients with tooth extractions history, and the mean time of bone necrosis
      symptoms was 8.58 months. There were 10 cases with bone necrosis occurring on
      mandible, 3 cases on maxilla, and one case with both upper and lower jaws
      involved. Among the 10 patients with surgical treatment, there were 3 cases
      cured, and 6 cases improved. However, the clinical symptoms of 2 cases with
      conservative treatment were significantly aggravated. CONCLUSION: The medication
      time between the bisphosphonates use beginning and the occurrence of BRONJ is
      relatively long. The history of diabetes and long-time hormone use did not exist
      in this group. Tooth extraction itself does not determine the severity of BRONJ.
      Mandible is the most common site involved by BRONJ. Surgical treatment can
      alleviate the clinical symptoms of BRONJ with breast cancer to some extent.

PMID- 26885915
TI  - [Risk assessment of different grades of hypertension during the treatment of
      patients with acute pulpitis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the vital signs changes, influence factors in different
      grades of hypertension patients during the treatment of acute pulpitis, in order
      to obtain the risk prevention measures. METHODS: In this study, 90 different
      grades of hypertension patients with acute pulpitis were recruited from February
      2014 to February 2015 in the Department of Oral Emergency, Peking University
      School and Hospital of Stomatology. The information about the patients'general
      health, oral treatment, life signs of change information was collected. Patients
      were divided into high risk group, middle risk group, and low risk group (30
      patients for each group). RESULTS: (1) Compared with the preoperative, systolic
      blood pressure (90%), diastolic blood pressure (80%), heart rate increase (100%)
      were increased in the high risk group. The increase rates of the middle risk
      group and the low risk group were significantly lower than those of the high risk
      group (P<0.01). At the same time, the systolic blood pressure of 1/4 (26.7%)
      patients in high risk group increased more than 20 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and
      the diastolic blood pressure of 2/5 patients in high risk group increased more
      than 10 mmHg, the difference was statistically significant compared with the
      other two groups (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the preoperative, the average
      increase of the maximum peak were increased [systolic blood pressure (18.0 +/-
      1.5) mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (8.0 +/- 1.7) mmHg], the mean of heart rate
      changes [(7.0 +/- 0.3) beats per minute] was also increased in the high risk
      group, while these two indicators were decreased in the low risk group and the
      middle risk group. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was changed in 6 cases during the
      treatment in the high risk group. No significantly changed were observed in the
      low risk group and the middle risk group. (3) Compared the risk assessment in
      preoperative with that in postoperative, in the middle risk group, 23 cases were
      evaluated as medium risk in final evaluation, 6 as low risk, and 1 as high risk
      (risk assessment increased); in the high risk group, 20 cases were evaluated as
      high risk, 7 as very high risk, and 3 as medium risk (risk assessment decreased).
      CONCLUSION: Oral treatment is very safe for patients with hypertension, but the
      risk factor, target organ damage, and complications will also increase the risk
      of cardiovascular events in elderly patients during the acute pulpitis treatment.
      Dentist should take some measures to avoid the risks.

PMID- 26885916
TI  - [Three-dimensional finite element analysis of influence of occlusal surface
      height on stress distribution around posterior implant-supported single crown].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the occlusal surface height of a mandibular
      posterior implant-supported single crown on stress in bone tissues. METHODS:
      Three-dimensional finite element models of the implant-supported single crown
      replacing the missing right lower second premolar, mesial and distal natural
      teeth, periodontal membrane, alveolar bone, loaded rigid body and analog food of
      almond were established. Using the Federation Dentaire International (FDI)
      system, the first premolar, the second premolar and the first molar were
      represented with 44, 45, 46. Three occlusal surface heights of the crown were
      studied: (1) normal height; (2) 15 MUm reduction in height; (3) 30 MUm reduction
      in height. The models were loaded by independent loading with maximal occlusal
      force(44 by 280 N, 45 by 360 N, and 46 by 480 N) and average occlusal force(44 by
      140 N, 45 by 180 N, and 46 by 240 N)on the single crown; combined loading
      (maximal occlusal force transformed into uniform load of 3.7 MPa on top of rigid
      body, in contact with points on the occlusal surface), and analog almond-like
      food loading (average occlusal force transformed into uniform load of 1.67 MPa in
      simulated food chewing, in contact with points on the occlusal surface). RESULTS:
      For maximal biting force under independent loading, Von Mises stress peak values
      in bone tissues around 44, 45, and 46 were 82.57 MPa, 45.26 MPa and 27.79 MPa;
      For average biting force, peak values were 41.28 MPa, 22.63 MPa and 13.89 MPa.
      Under combined loading, compared with the normal occlusal surface height group,
      Von Mises stress peak values decreased 4.6 MPa, by 0.84%; increased 7.52 MPa, by
      20.04%, and decreased 1.8 MPa, by 5.84%, for 45, 46, and 44 in the 30 MUm infra
      occlusion group, respectively. Under food loading, Von Mises stress peak values
      decreased 0.34 MPa, by 1.62%; increased 1.11 MPa, by 2.66%; and increased 0.06
      MPa, by 0.54%, and for 45, 46, and 44 in the 30 MUm infra-occlusion group,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, within 30 MUm
      reduction of the occlusal surface height of implant-supported single crown, no
      significant difference of the peak values was observed.

PMID- 26885917
TI  - [Comparison of effectiveness and safety between Twisted File technique and
      ProTaper Universal rotary full sequence based on micro-computed tomography].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and security of two type of rotary nickel
      titanium system (Twisted File and ProTaper Universal) for root canal preparation
      based on micro-computed tomography(micro-CT). METHODS: Twenty extracted molars
      (including 62 canals) were divided into two experimental groups and were
      respectively instrumented using Twisted File rotary nickel titanium system (TF)
      and ProTaper Universal rotary nickel titanium system (PU) to #25/0.08 following
      recommended protocol. Time for root canal instrumentation (accumulation of time
      for every single file) was recorded. The 0-3 mm root surface from apex was
      observed under an optical stereomicroscope at 25 * magnification. The presence of
      crack line was noted. The root canals were scanned with micro-CT before and after
      root canal preparation. Three-dimensional shape images of canals were
      reconstructed, calculated and evaluated. The amount of canal central
      transportation of the two groups was calculated and compared. RESULTS: The
      shorter preparation time [(0.53 +/- 0.14) min] was observed in TF group, while
      the preparation time of PU group was (2.06 +/- 0.39) min (P<0.05). In mid-root
      level, TF group shaping resulted in less canal center transportation than PU
      group [(0.070 +/- 0.056) mm vs. (0.097 +/- 0.084) mm, P<0.05]. No instrument
      separation was observed in both the groups. Cracks were not found in both the
      groups either based in micro-CT images or observation under an optical
      stereomicroscope at 25 * magnification. CONCLUSION: Compared with ProTaper
      Universal, Twisted File took less time in root canal preparation and exhibited
      better shaping ability, and less canal transportation.

PMID- 26885918
TI  - [A cone-beam computed tomography study on crown-root morphology of maxillary
      anterior teeth in Class II, division 2 malocclusion].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study crown-root morphology of maxillary anterior teeth in Class
      II, division 2 malocclusion using cone-beam CT (CBCT) combined with computer
      aided measurement technology to provide guidance for clinical treatment. METHODS:
      The samples which consisted of 36 cases radiographed with CBCT techniques were
      selected and divided into two groups (18 each ) based on the type of malocclusion
      presented: Class II, division 2 group (group II 2) and Class I group (group I).
      The measurements of crown-root morphology including crown-root angle and surface
      shaft angle were got by Multiple Planer Reconstruction of CBCT data uploaded into
      InvivoDental software 5.0. The data were processed with SPSS 20.0 software
      package and t test was employed for comparison of angular measurements. RESULTS:
      In group I, crown-root angles of maxillary central incisor, maxillary lateral
      incisor and maxillary canines were 179.08 degrees  +/- 3.31 degrees , 176.55
      degrees  +/- 2.77 degrees  and 184.20 degrees  +/- 2.51 degrees  respectively,
      surface-shaft angles were 21.00 degrees  +/- 2.63 degrees , 19.63 degrees  +/-2
      .35 degrees  and 19.36 degrees  +/- 2.30 degrees  respectively. While in group II
      2, crown-root angles of maxillary central incisor, maxillary lateral incisor and
      maxillary canines were 176.80 degrees  +/- 2.62 degrees , 174.13 degrees  +/-
      3.28 degrees  and 181.79 degrees  +/- 2.88 degrees  respectively, surface-shaft
      angles were 23.20 degrees  +/- 2.95 degrees , 22.29 degrees  +/- 2.19 degrees 
      and 20.61 degrees  +/- 2.34 degrees  respectively. Compared with group I,
      significant statistical differences were observed with the exception of surface
      shaft angle of maxillary incisor. There was significant difference in crown-root
      angle between group II 2 and 180 degrees . CONCLUSION: The maxillary anterior
      teeth in Class II, division 2 malocclusion exhibited significant crown-root
      morphology which would influence the torque after orthodontic treatment. Special
      attention should be paid to the position of maxillary anterior teeth roots during
      orthodontic treatment for Class II, division 2 malocclusion. The ideal position
      of tooth movement should be decided by the root rather than the location of the
      crowns.

PMID- 26885919
TI  - [Study of anterior alveolar bone thickness in skeletal class III malocclusion
      patients with orthognathic surgery].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the compensation of the anterior alveolar bone
      thickness in skeletal class III patients treated with orthodontic-surgical
      treatment. METHODS: The samples consisted of 54 skeletal class III patients
      treated with orthodontic-surgical treatment. Lateral cephalograms were taken
      before treatment. Descriptive statistics were calculated for corresponding
      variables, and the differences between the samples and the norms from Peking
      University normal occlusion sample library were assessed by independent-sample t
      test. Correlation analyses were performed to find associations between skeletal
      characteristics and anterior alveolar bone thickness. According to skeletal
      anteroposterior discrepancy/vertical type (ANB, criteria=-4 degrees ; SN-MP,
      criteria=37.7 degrees ), the samples were allocated into group A (severe
      anteroposterior discrepancy/hypodivergent vertical type, n=11), group B (moderate
      anteroposterior discrepancy/hypodivergent vertical type, n=16), group C (severe
      anteroposterior discrepancy/hyperdivergent vertical type, n=14), and group D
      (moderate anteroposterior discrepancy/hyperdivergent vertical type, n=13),and one
      way ANOVA with SNK multiple comparison test were performed. RESULTS: The anterior
      alveolar bone thickness of the skeletal class III patients were thinner compared
      with norm values (P<0.05). Correlational analyses showed that,both the upper and
      lower anterior alveolar bone thickness was correlated with the skeletal vertical
      discrepancy (P<0.05), but the anteroposterior type was only correlated with the
      lower anterior alveolar bone thickness (P<0.05). For the 4 groups according to
      skeletal anteroposterior discrepancy/vertical type, hypodivergent vertical type
      had thinner lower ligual and total bone thickness (LP, LW, P<0.05). while for
      upper alveolar bone thickness (UW), group C and group B exhibited the thinnest
      and thickest (the values of UW were 7.86 mm and 9.05 mm). CONCLUSION: The upper
      and lower anterior alveolar bone thickness of skeletal class III patients are
      thinner compared with normal occlusion. Different skeletal anteroposterior
      discrepancy/vertical type results in differences in the anterior alveolar bone
      thickness, so decompensation should be treated differently and carefully.

PMID- 26885920
TI  - [Bonding strength of resin and tooth enamel after teeth bleaching with cold
      plasma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate bond strength and surface structure of
      resin and the tooth enamel which treated by cold plasma. METHODS: In the study,
      40 bovine incisors were divided into two equal parts. In this sense, all enamel
      adhesive samples were prepared and then randomly divided into 4 groups (n =20).
      group 1: acid + single bond 2+resin composite (control group); group 2:beyond
      bleaching+ acid+single bond 2+resin composite; group 3: treated by cold plasma
      for 5 minutes+ acid+single bond 2+resin composite; group 4: treated by cold
      plasma for 5 minutes+single bond 2+resin composite. Single bond 2 bonding system
      and Filtek Z250 resin were used in this experiment. The shear bond strength was
      tested by universal testing machine. The surface of the enamel in different
      processes was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Statistical
      analyses by the single factor analysis of variance and multiple pairwise
      comparisons were performed with SPSS 17.0 . RESULTS: The shear bond strength of
      group 4 (8.60 MPa) was significantly lower than that of the other three groups
      (P<0.05). The shear bond strength of group 2 (17.89 MPa) was higher than that of
      group 4, but lower than group 1 and group 3 (P<0.05).There was no significant
      difference between group 1 (34.82 MPa) and group 3 (34.69 MPa). Scanning electron
      microscope indicated that the enamel treated by cold plasma had slight molten
      form, which was different from etched enamel surface.The fractured surface of
      group 3 was mix fracture, which was similar to the control group (group 1).
      CONCLUSION: Compared with the conventional clinic bleaching, immediate bond
      strength of resin-enamel that treated by cold plasma has not been affected.

PMID- 26885921
TI  - [Evaluation of alveolar ridge reconstruction and esthetic result following
      immediate implant].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bone alteration subject to remodeling and analyze the
      esthetic result following immediate implant placement of incisors. METHODS: In
      this study, 20 patients (13 women, 7 men) were involved, who needed implants for
      incisors of maxilla. The patients received 23 immediate implants totally. On the
      day of surgery and 6 months after the implants were placed, Cone beam CT (CBCT)
      was taken. The thickness of the alveolar ridge and the vertical change of
      marginal bone levels onthe mesial and distal aspects of theimplants were measured
      using the computer software (PlanmecaRomexis Viewer 3.6.0.R). The evaluation of
      esthetic result by labial convexity score (LCS) and papilla index score (PIS)
      were analyzed pre-operation and one year after the final crown was delivered. The
      statistics with paired-t test for the measurement data and Willcoxon test for
      rating data were done by SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: The survival rate in the two-year
      follow-up was 100%. The measuring point 1 (MP1), MP2, MP3 and MP4 (0, 2, 4, 6 mm
      apical to the implant platform, respectively) got significant alterations after 6
      months of the follow-up. These differences were statistically significant
      (P<0.05).The major alteration happened at MP1 and MP4, which got (-0.89 +/- 2.06)
      mm and (-0.75 +/- 1.28) mm reduction of the alveolar, respectively. The marginal
      alveolar ridge resorption was (-0.42 +/- 1.24) mm and(-0.91 +/- 1.96) mm for
      Ankylos System and Replace System, respectively, and the difference was not
      statistical significant . The esthetic results were quite acceptable. Before
      treatment, 18 incisors rated 3 for LCS, and 2 incisors rated 4 for LCS;after
      final restoration, only 5 incisors rated 3 for LCS, and 14 incisors rated 2 for
      LCS. Before treatment, 15 incisors rated 3 for PIS; after final restoration, 13
      incisors rated 3 for PIS. There was no statistically significant difference for
      the PIS pre-operation and 1 year after final restoration, while there was
      statistically significant negative change for LCS. CONCLUSION: Even following the
      proper surgical technique, the alveolar ridge wall still can't be maintained
      after immediate implant placed in fresh socket of incisors. The inter-dental
      papilla could be well maintained, while due to the remodeling of labial bone,
      labial convexity will inevitably collapse. Therefore immediate implant still has
      esthetic risk.

PMID- 26885922
TI  - [Evaluation with different measuring methods for the alveolar bone change of
      ridge preservation in molar sites].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of the vertical height and width of the
      alveolar bone six months after the alveolar ridge preservation in periodontal
      compromised molar sites of severe alveolar bone defects with clinical direct
      measurement, parallel periapical radiographs, and cone-beam computed tomography
      (CBCT), and to analyze the effect of the three different methods of measurement.
      METHODS: In this study, 20 subjects requiring tooth extraction on account of
      periodontal disease with a total of 23 extracted molars were enrolled.
      Extractions were performed atraumatically and patients were received alveolar
      ridge preservation procedure with Bio-Oss and Bio-Gide. Clinical direct
      measurements were taken after tooth extraction and during the implant surgery 6
      months later, CBCT scans and parallel periapical radiographs were taken
      immediately after ridge preservation and 6 months later. The changes of alveolar
      ridge width and vertical height after six months were measured and analyzed
      through the above-mentioned three methods and the similarities and differences of
      the measured effect were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant difference
      of alveolar vertical height in the center of the extraction sites, the center of
      distal aspect, and distobuccal aspect between the clinical direct measurements
      and the CBCT measurements (P>0.05), alveolar vertical height in other points and
      alveolar width measurements were statically significant (P<0.05). After 6 months,
      10 sites of 10 subjects were received a flap and re-entered to perform dental
      implants surgery. The vertical height in the center of alveolar increased
      significantly and the changes of alveolar vertical height of clinical direct and
      CBCT measurement were (6.15 +/- 1.73) mm and (6.59 +/- 2.53) mm, respectively.
      The measurements of the width of the alveolar bone were (8.45 +/- 1.18) mm and
      (8.52 +/- 1.27) mm, respectively. The measurements of the two methods were not
      statistically significant (P>0.05). The change of the alveolar height in the
      center of the extraction socket after six months measured by parallel periapical
      was (5.84 +/- 4.28) mm, which was closed to the clinical direct measurement and
      the CBCT measurement. CONCLUSION: Clinical direct measurement and CBCT
      measurement were largely consistent in the evaluation of the alveolar bone height
      and width after the alveolar ridge preservation using deproteinized boving bone
      mineral (DBBM, Bio-Oss) and bioabsorbable collagen membrane (Bio-Gide) in
      periodontal compromised molar sites of severe bone defects.

PMID- 26885923
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of "All-on-Four" provisional prostheses reinforced with
      carbon fibers].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effects of carbon fiber reinforcement on the
      "All-on-Four" provisional prostheses. METHODS: Provisional prostheses were
      divided into control group and carbon fiber reinforcing group according to
      whether carbon fiber reinforcement was used in the provisional prostheses base
      resin. In our study, a total of 60 patients (32 males and 28 females) with 71
      provisional prostheses(28 maxilla and 43 mandible)were enrolled between April
      2008 and December 2012 for control group; a total of 23 patients (13 males and 10
      females) with 28 provisional prostheses (9 maxillas and 19 mandibles) were
      enrolled between January 2013 and March 2014 for carbon fiber reinforcing group.
      The information of provisional prostheses in the patients was recorded according
      to preoperative examination. We used the date of definitive prosthesis
      restoration as the cut-off point, observing whether fracture occurred on the
      provisional prostheses in the two groups. Additionally we observed whether fiber
      exposure occurred on the tissue surface of the provisional prostheses and caused
      mucosal irritation. The interface between the denture base resin and the fibers
      was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The age [(57.3 +/
      10.1) years vs.(55.1 +/- 11.4) years], gender (32 males and 28 females vs. 13
      males and 10 females), maxilla and mandible distributions (28 maxillas and 43
      mandibles vs. 9 maxillas and 19 mandibles), the number of extraction jaws (46 vs.
      23), the average using time [(7.8 +/- 1.3) months vs. (7.5 +/- 1.1) months], and
      the opposing dentition distributions of provisional prostheses of the patients
      showed no significant differences between the control and reinforcing groups.
      There were 21(29.6%) fractures that occurred on the 71 provisional prostheses in
      the control group; there was no fracture that occurred on the 28 provisional
      prosthesesin the carbon fiber reinforcing group. The fracture rate of the carbon
      fiber reinforcing group was significantly lower than that of the control group
      (P=0.001). No carbon fiber exposure and mucosal irritation were observed from
      clinical examination.SEM revealed relatively continuous contact between the fiber
      and acrylic resin, and the resin particles adhered on the surface of the carbon
      fibers. CONCLUSION: The addition of carbon fibers between abutments placed on
      "All-on-Four" provisional fixed denture base resin may be clinically effective in
      preventing "All-on-Four" denture fracture and can provide several advantages for
      clinical use.

PMID- 26885924
TI  - [Constructing 3-dimensional colorized digital dental model assisted by digital
      photography].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore a method of constructing universal 3-dimensional (3D)
      colorized digital dental model which can be displayed and edited in common 3D
      software (such as Geomagic series), in order to improve the visual effect of
      digital dental model in 3D software. METHODS: The morphological data of teeth and
      gingivae were obtained by intra-oral scanning system (3Shape TRIOS), constructing
      3D digital dental models. The 3D digital dental models were exported as STL
      files. Meanwhile, referring to the accredited photography guide of American
      Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), five selected digital photographs of
      patients'teeth and gingivae were taken by digital single lens reflex camera
      (DSLR) with the same exposure parameters (except occlusal views) to capture the
      color data. In Geomagic Studio 2013, after STL file of 3D digital dental model
      being imported, digital photographs were projected on 3D digital dental model
      with corresponding position and angle. The junctions of different photos were
      carefully trimmed to get continuous and natural color transitions. Then the 3D
      colorized digital dental model was constructed, which was exported as OBJ file or
      WRP file which was a special file for software of Geomagic series. For the
      purpose of evaluating the visual effect of the 3D colorized digital model, a
      rating scale on color simulation effect in views of patients'evaluation was used.
      Sixteen patients were recruited and their scores on colored and non-colored
      digital dental models were recorded. The data were analyzed using McNemar-Bowker
      test in SPSS 20. RESULTS: Universal 3D colorized digital dental model with better
      color simulation was constructed based on intra-oral scanning and digital
      photography. For clinical application, the 3D colorized digital dental models,
      combined with 3D face images, were introduced into 3D smile design of aesthetic
      rehabilitation, which could improve the patients' cognition for the esthetic
      digital design and virtual prosthetic effect. CONCLUSION: Universal 3D colorized
      digital dental model with better color simulation can be constructed assisted by
      3D dental scanning system and digital photography. In clinical practice, the
      communication between dentist and patients could be improved assisted by the
      better visual perception since the colorized 3D digital dental models with better
      color simulation effect.

PMID- 26885925
TI  - [Prospective and controlled study on effect of fortified human milk feeding on
      infants with extremely and very low birth weight during hospital stay].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of fortified human milk feeding on growth and
      complications of infants with extremely and very low birth weight (ELBW/VLBW)
      during hospital stay by a prospective, random and controlled study. METHODS: In
      the study, 122 ELBW/VLBW infants were enrolled and divided into two groups. The
      infants fed with human breast milk, combined with human milk fortification (HMF)
      during hospital stay were named HMF group (n=62), and those fed exclusively with
      premature formula were named premature formula feeding group (PF group, n=60).
      The data of the infants'growth (the velocity of increase on the weight, length,
      head circumference and upper arm circumference), the time of rebounding to birth
      weight, the time of needing intravenous nutrition, the time of hospitalizing, the
      proportion of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) during hospital stay, the
      level of hemoglobin, bone metabolism and incidence of complications were compared
      between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 122 infants included, (1) the length
      increment in HMF group was higher than PF group [(0.89 +/- 0.23) cm/week vs.
      (0.79 +/- 0.34) cm/week, P=0.04]; there were no significant differences in the
      weight gain, head circumference increment and upper arm circumference increment
      (P>0.05); (2) the age of rebounding to birth weight [(10.13 +/- 4.03) d vs. (8.03
      +/- 3.28) d, P=0.002] and the duration of intravenous nutrition [(16.77 +/- 6.63)
      d vs. (14.23 +/- 4.15) d, P=0.01] in HMF group were longer than that in PF group,
      there were no significant differences between the two groups in the hospital stay
      and age achieved feeding; (3) there were no significant differences between the
      two groups in the incidence rate of EUGR during hospital stay (P>0.05); (4) the
      level of calcium at birth in HMF group was lower than that in PF group [(2.19 +/-
      0.22) mmol/L vs.( 2.32 +/- 0.27) mmol/L, P=0.005], and the level of alkaline
      phosphatase (AKP) in HMF group at discharge was higher than in PF group [(363.98
      +/- 122.49) mmol/L vs. (299.73 +/- 117.39) mmol/L, P=0.004]; (5) the incidence of
      the feeding intolerance (6.5% vs. 18.3%, P=0.04) and sepsis (4.8% vs. 16.7%,
      P=0.03) in HMF group were less than in PF group, there were no significant
      differences between the two groups on the morbidity of necrotizing enterocditis,
      retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (P>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: HMF for premature infants may ensure the same growth pattern as those
      fed by premature formula, promote the calcium absorption, decrease the incidence
      of sepsis and feeding intolerance, and does not increase the incidence of
      necrotizing enterocolitis.

PMID- 26885926
TI  - [Endovascular treatment in cerebral artery tandem lesions].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment in
      solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions. METHODS: From June 2012 to
      February 2014, 12 cases (24 lesions) with symptomatic cerebral artery tandem
      lesions were accepted for the endovascular treatment. The distributions of the
      tandem lesions were as follows: the common carotid artery and internal carotid
      artery (1 case), the internal carotid artery and the proximal of the carotid
      cavernous sinus segment (3 cases), the internal carotid artery and the distal of
      the carotid cavernous sinus segment (4 cases), the intracranial segment of
      internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery M1 segment (2 cases), the
      first segment of vertebral artery and intracranial segment of vertebral artery (2
      cases). All of these cases were treated from distal lesions to proximal lesions
      except for tandem lesions in the internal carotid artery and the distal of the
      carotid cavernous sinus segment in order to obtain better support. Tandem lesions
      were treated in the same operation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia.
      The procedures of the 12 cases retrospectively were analyzed and the peri
      operation complications and responsibility region recurrent ischemic stroke
      incidents observed. RESULTS: All tandem lesions were solved successfully all at
      once. There were no peri-operation complications or recurrent ischemic stroke
      incidents. There were no recurrent ischemic stroke incidents or stent restenosis
      cases in the follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is safe and effective for selective
      endovascular treatment in solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions at
      the same time, but we should take careful preoperative evaluation and improve the
      operation plan.

PMID- 26885927
TI  - [Keap1-tat peptide attenuates oxidative stress damage in hippocampal CA1 region
      and learning and memory deficits following global cerebral ischemia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To design Keap1-tat peptide and explore its neuroprotective role on
      hipocampal CA1 neuron, as well as the effect on spacial learning and memory
      function following global cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Adult male Sprague Dawley
      (SD) rats were subjected to global cerebral ischemia (GCI) by four-vessel
      occlusion for 15 min and randomly divided into five groups: sham, sham+Keap1-tat,
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), Keap1-tat peptide- and vehicle-administrated groups.
      For Keap1-tat or vehicle groups, the rats were treated with Keap1-tat (30, 50,
      100 MUg in 5 MUL 0.9% saline) or the same volume vehicle by
      intracerebroventricular injection (icv) 30 min prior to ischemia. Cresyl violet
      staining was used to observe the surviving neurons and 4-hydroxy-2-noneal (4-HNE)
      and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) immunostaining were used to detect the
      change of markers response to oxidative stress in hippocampal CA1 region. The
      spatial learning and memory function of the rats was evaluated using Morris water
      maze. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, the number of surviving neurons in
      ischemia-reperfusion and vehicle groups significantly decreased in the
      hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.05), while administration of Keap1-tat significantly
      decreased the damage following GCI (P<0.05), and the dose of 50 MUg existed the
      most effective neuroprotective role. Furthermore, immunostaining intensity of 4
      HNE and 8-OHdG, markers of oxidative stress damage attenuated by Keap1-tat
      peptide as compared with vehicle group in CA1 region. Of significant interest,
      the time of finding underwater platform in Keap1-tat group animals was
      significantly short, and after removing the platform, the probe time of Keap1-tat
      group animals in the original quadrant where the platform was significantly
      increased compared with that of vehicle and I/R group animals (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Keap1-tat peptide can effectively attenuate neuronal damage in
      hippocampal CA1 region and improve learning and memory function, which might
      bedue to the attenuation of oxidative stress caused by GCI.

PMID- 26885929
TI  - [Sonographic fingdings of pectoralis major and its tears].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the normal sonographic anatomic characteristics of the
      pectoralis major and the clinical value of ultrasound in diagnosing the extent
      and location of the pectoralis major tears. METHODS: High frequency transducer
      was used in scanning the pectoralis major. The ultrasonographic images of 40
      normal pectoralis major were obtained from 20 healthy volunteers with both sides.
      Longitudinal and transversal views were performed and stored. The distal tendon
      was identified in the transverse plane coursing superficially to the long head of
      the biceps brachii tendon inferior to the level of the subscapularis tendon.
      Eighteen cases of pectoralis major tears were analyzed retrospectively,with MRI,
      surgical and ultrasound follow -up RESULTS correlation respectively. RESULTS:
      High-frequency ultrasound could clearly show the anatomic orientation of the
      normal pectoralis major. The fibers converge was like a fan into three laminae
      that twisted upon each other at 90 degrees  before coalescing into a single
      tendon of insertion. In the study, 18 patients of pectoralis major muscle tears
      [average age: (37.2 +/- 15.6) years] sustained injuries during weightlifting,
      basketball and impact. Three of the eighteen patients had MRI results; nine had
      surgical correlation; six were followed by ultrasound. Eleven were injured on the
      left side, and 7 on the right side. Seven were involved in the distal tendon (1
      in sternal head, 2 in clavicular head, 4 in both sternal and clavicular head),
      five were involved the musculotendinous junction, 6 were involved muscle belly.
      Twelve cases were partial-thickness petoralis major tears (4 in the distal
      tendon, four in the muscle tendon junction,4 in the muscle belly),with the
      partial fiber intact, echogenicity decreased and the internal structure
      disordered; 6 cases (3 in the distal tendon, 1 in the muscle tendon junction, 2
      in pectoralis major muscle belly) were completely disrupted, with fiber fracture
      and retraction, accompanied with or without hematoma formation. CONCLUSION: High
      frequency ultrasound can clearly show the anatomic structure of the pectoralis
      major. Ultrasonography can diagnose the pectoralis major tears with the extent
      and location of injuries,and can be used to help the clinical treatment.

PMID- 26885928
TI  - [Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty versus stent implantation for treatment of
      femoral and popliteal artery lesion resulted from arteriosclerosis obliterans].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effects of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
      (PTA) versus stent implantation (ST) after PTA for the treatment of femoral and
      popliteal artery lesion resulted from arteriosclerosis obliterans. METHODS: One
      hundred and three patients (119 limbs) treated for femoral and popliteal artery
      lesion resulted from arteriosclerosis obliterans for ten years were reviewed, of
      whom 60 limbs were treated by PTA and the other 47 by PTA combined with stent
      implantation. RESULTS: Among the 60 limbs of the PTA group, there were 22 limbs
      involved only in femoral and popliteal artery; 13 limbs combined with iliac
      artery lesion; 17 limbs combined with infrapopliteal artery lesion; 8 limbs
      combined with iliac and infrapopliteal artery lesion. Among the 47 limbs of the
      ST group, there were 18 limbs involved only in femoral and popliteal artery; 8
      limbs combined with iliac artery lesion; 15 limbs combined with infrapopliteal
      artery lesion; 6 limbs combined with iliac and infrapopliteal artery lesion.
      There was no significant difference between the two groups on age, sex,
      concomitant disease, ankle brachial index(ABI) before treatment and Rutherford
      classification (P>0.05). The patients' Trans-atlantic inter-society consensus
      (TASC) C/D was lower in the PTA group than that in the ST group (58.3% vs.76.6%,
      P=0.047).The follow-up periods were 48.0 (5.0,108.0) and 40.0 (3.0,96.0) months
      respectively (P=0.064). Compared with the PTA group, the ST group had a better
      short-term total effective rate (93.6% vs.80.0%, P=0.044) and a higher cost [(33
      882.7 +/- 8 695.6) yuan vs. (17 754.8 +/- 3 654.2) yuan, P<0.001]. The short-term
      marked effective rate of the ST group was higher than that of the PTA group, but
      the difference was not significant (31.9% vs.21.7%, P=0.231). There was no
      significant difference between the two groups on short-term efficiency, and
      complication rates (58.3% vs. 58.3%, P=0.724; 1.7% vs.2.1%, P=1.000). There was
      no death during perioperative period and no short-term deterioration in both the
      groups. The long-term marked effective rate was lower and the deterioration rate
      was higher in the ST group than that in the PTA group, but the difference was not
      significant (8.5% vs. 15.0%, P=0.381; 14.9% vs. 5.0%, P=0.081).There was no
      significant difference between the two group on long term total effective
      rate,accumulative limb salvage rate and reoperation rate (66.0% vs. 66.7%,
      P=0.939; 94.7% vs. 94.1%, P=0.884; 31.9% vs. 31.7%, P=1.000), and the 1 to 10
      years primary and secondary patency rates were similar (P=0.837, P=0.622).When
      compared based on TASC classification, TASC A/B patients in the ST group had a
      higher short-term marked effective rate, a higher short-term total effective rate
      and a higher long-term deterioration rate than those in the PTA group, but the
      difference was not significant (36.4% vs. 24.0%, P=0.353; 100.0% vs. 88.0%,
      P=0.322; 18.2% vs. 4.0%, P=0.216). TASC C/D patients had a similar result (30.6%
      vs. 20.0%, P=0.307; 91.7% vs. 74.3%, P=0.050; 13.9% vs. 5.7%, P=0.226). Both TASC
      A/B and TASC C/D patients in the ST group had a similar accumulative limb salvage
      rate with that in the PTA group (90.9% vs. 90.6%, P=0.920; 97.1% vs. 94.1%,
      P=0.796). CONCLUSION: Stent implantation can increase the cost and short term
      effective rate at the same time and is not superior to PTA on the long term
      effective rate and limb salvage rate for femoral and popliteal artery lesion
      resulted from arteriosclerosis obliterans.

PMID- 26885930
TI  - [Establishing a luciferase reporter system to evaluate osteogenic differentiation
      potential of human adipose-derived stem cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) are a highly attractive
      source in bone tissue engineering. To generate a luciferase reporter system that
      could be used to quantitatively and rapidly examine osteogenic differentiation
      potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in vitro, and eventually
      make it possible to monitor the osteogenic differentiation of transplanted cells
      in vivo. METHODS: The genomic DNA harboring promotor regions of osteocalcin and
      DNA sequences encoding luciferase genes were amplified by PCR and cloned into the
      pLVX-pTRE-puro vector to generate the OC(pro)-Luc-Puro construct. Then, the
      OC(pro)-Luc-Puro construct together with three assistant vectors: pMDLg/pRRE,
      pRSV-REV, and pVSVG, were transiently transfected into HEK293T cells followed by
      viral supernatants collection, filtration and concentration. Next, the hASCs
      stably expressing luciferase reporter gene driven by osteocalcin promotor were
      created with the lentivirus carrying OC(pro)-Luc-Puro cassette under puromycin
      selection. The OC(pro)-Luc-hASCs were then cultured in the absence or presence of
      osteogenic differentiation medium. On the 7th and 14th days, after osteogenic
      induction, cellular extracts were collected and analyzed by luciferase reporter
      assay. Meanwhile, alizarin red staining and quantification as well as
      quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of osteogenic
      associated genes osteocalcin (OC), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2)
      and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were used to assess the osteogenic differentiation
      ability of OC(pro)-Luc-hASCs. RESULTS: OC(pro)-Luc-Puro plasmid and OCpro-Luc
      hASCs were successfully generated. On the 7th and 14th days after osteogenic
      induction, the luciferase activity of the cellular extracts from OC(pro)-Luc
      hASCs was dramatically increased. Consistently, the extracellular matrix
      mineralization, as shown by Alizarin red S (ARS) staining and quantification was
      also markedly intensified and a marked increase of the mRNA expression levels of
      OC, Runx2 and ALP, although to variable extent, was observed upon osteogenic
      differentiation. These results indicated that the observations from traditional
      experiments examining hASCs osteogenic differentiation were largely in agreement
      with that of our luciferase reporter assay in OC(pro)-Luc-hASCs. CONCLUSION: We
      established a luciferase reporter system that could be used to rapidly,
      quantitatively and specifically determine osteogenic differentiation ability of
      hASCs. Comparing with the traditional time-consuming methods, the system we
      generated here was highly effective. This system not only can be used to examine
      ostogenic differentiation of hASCs in a high throughput manner, but also provides
      a way to monitor ostogenic differentiation of cells in vivo.

PMID- 26885931
TI  - [A novel technique to preserve the alveolar ridge width following tooth
      extraction in the maxillary frontal area].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce a novel ridge preservation technique with micro-titanium
      plate avoiding the use of bone grafting materials, and evaluate the potential
      horizontal bone preservation effect of this new technique, applied on single
      maxillary central incisors after tooth extraction for future implant restoration.
      METHODS: Nine patients (six women and three men), mean age (26.0 +/- 5.7)
      years(from 18 to 34 years) referred to the Department of Oral Implantology,
      Peking University School and Hospital of Stomotology, were selected and diagnosed
      with unsalvageable single middle incisor with fine general conditions, no signs
      of acute local inflammation, no ongoing or previous periodontitis, healthy
      neighboring teeth and intact buccal bone walls. Tooth extraction, delayed implant
      placement and implant-supported single crown restoration were selected as
      treatment plan. The teeth were extracted atraumatically with local anesthesia,
      followed by a reflection of a minor flap to exposed 2-3 mm of the buccal bone
      plate. After that, a micro-titanium plate was trimmed and bended to fit the
      convexity of the labial bone and fixed by two mini pins with intent to support
      the labial soft tissue. The flap was then repositioned over the micro titanium
      plate and secured with two single sutures. No bone grafting materials or
      releasing incisions were needed. The sockets were left to heal without any
      intention of primary wound closure. Cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans
      were obtained before and four months after tooth extraction. Horizontal ridge
      widths were measured with CBCT software, and the preservation effects were
      calculated and recorded by the percentage of horizontal ridge alteration.
      RESULTS: The nine extraction sockets were healed uneventfully. The average socket
      width before extraction was (7.51 +/- 0.48) mm (6.92-7.82 mm). The average
      alveolar ridge labial-palatal width at the control point of the edentulous area
      was (6.81+/-0.44) mm (6.04-7.38 mm) 4 months after tooth extraction, the mean
      percentage of ridge width preserved was 90.87% +/- 2.91% (87.28%-95.60%).
      CONCLUSION: This novel ridge preservation method by the usage of a micro-titanium
      plate did not interfere with the natural socket healing process, and at the same
      time, largely preserved the width of alveolar ridge without any bone grafting
      procedures. Long term results remain to be seen.

PMID- 26885933
TI  - [Pharmaceutical care for a patient with warfarin-induced autoimmune hepatitis].
AB  - Here we reported a patient with warfarin-induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and
      explored new concerns for the pharmaceutical care of warfarin. A 57- year-old
      woman was admitted to hospital for repeated anorexia, abdominal pain and abnormal
      liver function. She received prosthetic heart valve replacement because of
      rheumatic heart disease, and had started warfarin medication since 2 years
      before. Her liver function was elevated with highest alanine aminotransferase 861
      U/L, aspertate aminotransferase 604 U/L, and total bilirubin 106.7 MUmol/L. Her
      anticoagulant therapy was switched to low molecular weight heparin and the liver
      function returned to normal. The liver function was elevated when she started to
      take warfarin again. The patient was then on liver protection therapy, and
      warfarin was stopped again for the liver biopsy for diagnosis reason. Through
      medication consultation and evaluation, pharmacists were invited to work together
      with the physicians and helped to differentiate the reason for abnormal liver
      function, and provided therapeutic suggestions. Also the pharmacists gained
      experiences in the treatment of AIH, and discovered a new and severe adverse drug
      reaction for warfarin. In treating this case, the pharmacists'active involvement
      into the treatment and evaluation of the effect on the patient reflected the
      advantage and importance of the multidisciplinary cooperation for pharmacists and
      physicians when complex diseases are faced. 

PMID- 26885932
TI  - [Anorexia with sinus bradycardia: a case report].
AB  - As anorexia patients always go to the psychiatric clinic, little is concerned
      about the occurrence of sinus bradycardia in these patients for cardiologists and
      psychiatrists. The aim of this paper is to discuss the relationship between
      anorexia and sinus bradycardia, and the feature analysis, differential diagnosis
      and therapeutic principles of this type of sinus bradycardia. We report a case of
      sinus bradycardia in an anorexia patient with the clinical manifestations,
      laboratory exams, auxiliary exams, therapeutic methods, and her prognosis, who
      was admitted to Peking University Third Hospital recently. The patient was a 19
      year-old female, who had the manifestation of anorexia. She lost obvious weight
      in a short time (about 15 kg in 6 months), and her body mass index was 14.8
      kg/m(2). The patient felt apparent palpitation, chest depression and short
      breath, without dizziness, amaurosis or unconsciousness. Vitals on presentation
      were notable for hypotension, and bradycardia. The initial exam was significant
      for emaciation, but without lethargy or lower extremity edema. The
      electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia with her heart rate being 32 beats per
      minute. The laboratory work -up revealed her normal blood routine, electrolytes
      and liver function. But in her thyroid function test, the free thyroid (FT)
      hormones 3 was 0.91 ng/L (2.3-4.2 ng/L),and FT4 was 8.2 ng/L (8.9-18.0 ng/L),
      which were all lower; yet the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was normal 1.48
      IU/mL (0.55-4.78 IU/mL). Ultrasound revealed her normal thyroid. Anorexia is an
      eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight, fear of gaining
      weight or distorted perception of body image, and amenorrhea. Anorexia patients
      who lose weight apparently in short time enhance the excitability of the
      parasympathetic nerve, and inhibit the sympathetic nerve which lead to the
      appearance of sinus bradycardia, and functional abnormalities of multiple systems
      such as hypothyroidism. But this kind of sinus bradycardia and hypothyroidism
      have good prognosis. And asymptomatic sinus bradycardia with reversible causes,
      because of the great prognosis, they do not need special treatment. Multiple
      medical and psychiatric disciplines were consulted, and then, family care,
      nutritional support and psychiatric therapy were given, and she did not need
      thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The patient's overall clinical status
      improved gradually during her hospital stay and her heart rate was recovered to
      55 beats per minute.

PMID- 26885934
TI  - Self-Monitoring Using Continuous Glucose Monitors with Real-Time Feedback
      Improves Exercise Adherence in Individuals with Impaired Blood Glucose: A Pilot
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exercise helps individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D)
      manage their blood glucose (BG); however, exercise adherence in this population
      is dismal. In this pilot study we tested the efficacy of a self-monitoring group
      based intervention using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) at increasing
      exercise adherence in individuals with impaired BG. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Thirteen participants with prediabetes or T2D were randomized to an 8-week
      standard care exercise program (CON condition) (n = 7) or self-monitoring
      exercise intervention (SM condition) (n = 6). Participants in the SM condition
      were taught how to self-monitor their exercise and BG, to goal set, and to use
      CGM to observe how exercise influences BG. We hypothesized that compared with the
      CON condition, using a real-time CGM would facilitate self-monitoring behavior,
      resulting in increased exercise adherence. RESULTS: Repeated-measures analysis of
      variance revealed significant Condition * Time interactions for self-monitoring
      (P < 0.01), goal setting (P = 0.01), and self-efficacy to self-monitor (P =
      0.01), such that the SM condition showed greater increases in these outcomes
      immediately after the program and at the 1-month follow-up compared with the CON
      condition. The SM condition had higher program attendance rates (P = 0.03), and a
      greater proportion of participants reregistered for additional exercise programs
      (P = 0.048) compared with the CON condition. Participants in both conditions
      experienced improvements in health-related quality of life, waist circumference,
      and fitness (P values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide promising
      initial support for the use of a real-time CGM to foster self-monitoring and
      exercise behavior in individuals living with prediabetes or T2D.

PMID- 26885935
TI  - Exometabolomics Assisted Design and Validation of Synthetic Obligate Mutualism.
AB  - Synthetic microbial ecology has the potential to enhance the productivity and
      resiliency of biotechnology processes compared to approaches using single
      isolates. Engineering microbial consortia is challenging; however, one approach
      that has attracted significant attention is the creation of synthetic obligate
      mutualism using auxotrophic mutants that depend on each other for exchange or
      cross-feeding of metabolites. Here, we describe the integration of mutant library
      fitness profiling with mass spectrometry based exometabolomics as a method for
      constructing synthetic mutualism based on cross-feeding. Two industrially
      important species lacking known ecological interactions, Zymomonas mobilis and
      Escherichia coli, were selected as the test species. Amino acid exometabolites
      identified in the spent medium of Z. mobilis were used to select three
      corresponding E. coli auxotrophs (proA, pheA and IlvA), as potential E. coli
      counterparts for the coculture. A pooled mutant fitness assay with a Z. mobilis
      transposon mutant library was used to identify mutants with improved growth in
      the presence of E. coli. An auxotroph mutant in a gene (ZMO0748) with sequence
      similarity to cysteine synthase A (cysK), was selected as the Z. mobilis
      counterpart for the coculture. Exometabolomic analysis of spent E. coli medium
      identified glutathione related metabolites as potentially available for rescue of
      the Z. mobilis cysteine synthase mutant. Three sets of cocultures between the Z.
      mobilis auxotroph and each of the three E. coli auxotrophs were monitored by
      optical density for growth and analyzed by flow cytometry to confirm high cell
      counts for each species. Taken together, our methods provide a technological
      framework for creating synthetic mutualisms combining existing screening based
      methods and exometabolomics for both the selection of obligate mutualism partners
      and elucidation of metabolites involved in auxotroph rescue.

PMID- 26885936
TI  - Response to Dr. Parkinson.

PMID- 26885937
TI  - Sliding Fibers: Slidable, Injectable, and Gel-like Electrospun Nanofibers as
      Versatile Cell Carriers.
AB  - Designing biomaterial systems that can mimic fibrous, natural extracellular
      matrix is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of various therapeutic tools.
      Herein, a smart technology of three-dimensional electrospun fibers that can be
      injected in a minimally invasive manner was developed. Open surgery is currently
      the only route of administration of conventional electrospun fibers into the
      body. Coordinating electrospun fibers with a lubricating hydrogel produced
      fibrous constructs referred to as slidable, injectable, and gel-like (SLIDING)
      fibers. These SLIDING fibers could pass smoothly through a catheter and fill any
      cavity while maintaining their fibrous morphology. Their injectable features were
      derived from their distinctive rheological characteristics, which were presumably
      caused by the combinatorial effects of mobile electrospun fibers and lubricating
      hydrogels. The resulting injectable fibers fostered a highly favorable
      environment for human neural stem cell (hNSC) proliferation and neurosphere
      formation within the fibrous structures without compromising hNSC viability.
      SLIDING fibers demonstrated superior performance as cell carriers in animal
      stroke models subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) stroke
      model. In this model, SLIDING fiber application extended the survival rate of
      administered hNSCs by blocking microglial infiltration at the early, acute
      inflammatory stage. The development of SLIDING fibers will increase the clinical
      significance of fiber-based scaffolds in many biomedical fields and will broaden
      their applicability. 

PMID- 26885938
TI  - Involving lay community researchers in epidemiological research: experiences from
      a seroprevalence study among sub-Saharan African migrants.
AB  - Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has received considerable attention
      during past decades as a method to increase community ownership in research and
      prevention. We discuss its application to epidemiological research using the case
      of second-generation surveillance conducted among sub-Saharan African (SSA)
      migrants in Antwerp city. To inform evidence-based prevention planning for this
      target group, this HIV-prevalence study used two-stage time-location sampling
      preceded by formative research. Extensive collaborative partnerships were built
      with community organizations, a Community Advisory Board provided input
      throughout the project, and community researchers were trained to participate in
      all phases of the seroprevalence study. Valid oral fluid samples for HIV testing
      were collected among 717 SSA migrants and linked to behavioural data assessed
      through an anonymous survey between December 2013 and August 2014. A qualitative
      content analysis of various data sources (extensive field notes, minutes of
      intervision, and training protocols) collected at 77 data collection visits in 51
      settings was carried out to describe experiences with challenges and
      opportunities inherent to the CBPR approach at three crucial stages of the
      research process: building collaborative partnerships; implementing the study;
      dissemination of findings including prevention planning. The results show that
      CBPR is feasible in conducting scientifically sound epidemiological research, but
      certain requirements need to be in place. These include among others sufficient
      resources to train, coordinate, and supervise community researchers; continuity
      in the implementation; transparency about decision-taking and administrative
      procedures, and willingness to share power and control over the full research
      process. CBPR contributed to empowering community researchers on a personal
      level, and to create greater HIV prevention demand in the SSA communities.

PMID- 26885939
TI  - Three-Dimensional Network of Cation-Cation-Bound Neptunyl(V) Squares: Synthesis
      and in Situ Raman Spectroscopy Studies.
AB  - Cation-cation interactions (CCIs) are an essential feature of actinyl chemistry,
      particularly neptunyl(V). To better understand the formation mechanisms of CCIs,
      the crystallization process of Np(V) CCI compounds has been explored during the
      evaporation of acidic Np(V) stock solutions using X-ray diffraction and both ex
      situ and in situ Raman spectroscopy. At least four Np solid products have been
      isolated from evaporation of the same Np(V) acidic solution. In situ evaporation
      using a continuous wave laser (532 nm) as a local heat source produced similar
      solid products to ex situ experiments with matching Raman signatures. The
      formation of these products is highly dependent on the evaporation conditions.
      Slower evaporation appears to favor the formation of a new neptunyl(V) compound,
      (NpO2)Cl(H2O)2 (1), over other solid products. The structure of 1 features a
      three-dimensional network of NpO2(+) cations, where neighboring Np(V) ions are
      only connected to each other through CCIs in a square arrangement. The O?Np?O
      stretching region shows similar Raman bands in both the solids and solution
      suggesting that CCIs between Np(V) cations exist prior to crystallization. These
      results provide new insight into the formation mechanism of Np(V) CCI compounds
      from solutions. 

PMID- 26885940
TI  - Melt-Quenched Glasses of Metal-Organic Frameworks.
AB  - Crystalline solids dominate the field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with
      access to the liquid and glass states of matter usually prohibited by relatively
      low temperatures of thermal decomposition. In this work, we give due
      consideration to framework chemistry and topology to expand the phenomenon of the
      melting of 3D MOFs, linking crystal chemistry to framework melting temperature
      and kinetic fragility of the glass-forming liquids. Here we show that melting
      temperatures can be lowered by altering the chemistry of the crystalline MOF
      state, which provides a route to facilitate the melting of other MOFs. The
      glasses formed upon vitrification are chemically and structurally distinct from
      the three other existing categories of melt-quenched glasses (inorganic
      nonmetallic, organic, and metallic), and retain the basic metal-ligand
      connectivity of crystalline MOFs, which connects their mechanical properties to
      their starting chemical composition. The transfer of functionality from crystal
      to glass points toward new routes to tunable, functional hybrid glasses. 

PMID- 26885941
TI  - Influence of Surface Morphology on the Shear-Induced Wear of Alkylsilane
      Monolayers: Molecular Dynamics Study.
AB  - Chemisorbed alkylsilane monolayer coatings have been shown to possess favorable
      lubrication properties; however, film degradation prevents the widespread use of
      these materials as lubricants in micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems
      (MEMS/NEMS). In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to
      provide insight into the conditions that promote the degradation and wear of
      these materials. This is achieved through removal of interfacial chain-substrate
      bonds during shear and the examination of the mobility of the resulting free,
      unbound chains. Specific focus is given to the effects of surface morphology,
      which has been shown previously to strongly influence frictional forces in
      monolayer systems. In-plane order of chain attachments is shown to lead to
      pressure-induced orientational ordering of monolayers, promoting film stability.
      This behavior is lost as nonideality is introduced into the substrate and chain
      patterning on the surface becomes disordered. The presence of surface roughness
      is found to reduce film stability, with localization of wear observed for chain
      attachment sites nearest the interface of contact. The influence of substrate
      nonideality on monolayer degradation is shown to diminish as chain length is
      increased. 

PMID- 26885942
TI  - Development of an Integrated Theory of Surgical Recovery in Older Adults.
AB  - Experts argue the health care system is not prepared to meet the unique needs of
      older surgical patients, including how to provide the best care during the
      recovery phase. Nutrition plays a critical role in the recovery of surgical
      patients. Since older adults are at risk for malnutrition, examining the role of
      nutrition as a mediator for surgical recovery across the care continuum in older
      adults is critical. Presently there is a paucity of frameworks, models, and
      guidelines that integrate the role of nutrition on the trajectory of
      postoperative recovery in older surgical patients. The purpose of this article is
      to introduce the Integrated Theory of Surgical Recovery in Older Adults, an
      interdisciplinary middle-range theory, so that scholars, researchers, and
      clinicians can use this framework to promote recovery from surgery in older
      adults by considering the contribution of mediators of recovery (nutritional
      status, functional status, and frailty) unique to the older adults.

PMID- 26885943
TI  - Comparison of Intake of Animal and Plant Foods and Related Nutrients in
      Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors and Controls.
AB  - This study's objective is to assess differences in dietary intakes in breast
      cancer survivors (n = 13) and women without a history of breast cancer (controls,
      n = 71). In a cross-sectional design, intake of foods, food groups, nutrients,
      and non-nutritive sweeteners was assessed using participant-completed three-day
      food records. All women were postmenopausal (mean age (SD) 58.5 (+/-3.8) y, 95%
      White, 2.4% Asian Pacific, and 2.4% Black). The two groups did not differ in age,
      energy intake, or body mass index (p > 0.05). Compared to controls, survivors
      consumed less dairy products, animal protein, total protein, and calcium, but
      more legumes, noncitrus fruit, and carbohydrates (p <= 0.05). Calcium intakes
      were of particular concern in survivors who consumed an average of 686 mg
      calcium/d, which is <60% of the recommended 1200 mg/d. Given the important role
      of calcium in bone health and protein in muscle function among aging women,
      breast cancer survivors may benefit from consultation with a Registered Dietitian
      or other health professional knowledgeable in nutritional recommendations for
      postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

PMID- 26885944
TI  - Food Insecurity and Eating Behavior Relationships Among Congregate Meal
      Participants in Georgia.
AB  - This study explored relationships of food insecurity with cognitive restraint,
      uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating behaviors among congregate meal
      participants in northeast Georgia [n = 118 years, age 60 years and older, mean
      (SD) age = 75 ( 8 ) years, 75% female, 43% Black, 53% obese (Body Mass Index >=
      30)]. Food insecurity was assessed with a 6-item questionnaire. Scores ranged
      from 0 to 6 and were defined as high or marginal food security, FS, 0-1 (70%);
      low food security, LFS, 2-4 (20%); very low food security, VLFS, 5-6 (10%); and
      low and very low food security, LVLFS, 2-6 (30%). Eating behavior was assessed
      with an 18-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R-18. In bivariate analyses
      food insecurity was consistently associated with cognitive restraint scores above
      the median split and to a lesser extent with uncontrolled eating scores (p <=
      0.05). No association was found between emotional eating and food insecurity. In
      multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses, food insecurity was
      consistently associated with cognitive restraint (p <= 0.05) even when controlled
      for potential confounders (demographics, Body Mass Index, and chronic diseases).
      Food insecurity was also associated with uncontrolled eating (p <= 0.05), but the
      relationship was attenuated when controlled for potential confounding variables.
      Although cognitive restraint is defined as the conscious restriction of food
      intake to control body weight or promote weight loss, these findings suggest
      there may be other dimensions of cognitive restraint to consider in nutritional
      assessment and interventions among food-insecure older adults.

PMID- 26885945
TI  - Nutritional Risk is Associated with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Community
      dwelling Older Persons: The PAINEL Study.
AB  - Malnutrition is a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases related to ageing, and
      it can also contribute to musculoskeletal health. This study investigated whether
      nutritional risk is associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain in community
      dwelling older persons. Nutritional risk was assessed by the DETERMINE Checklist.
      Chronic musculoskeletal pain was defined as the presence of pain in the past six
      months that did not disappear for at least 30 consecutive days. Multivariate
      logistic regression including confounding variables was used for the analysis.
      The sample was comprised of 383 participants (age 75.6 +/- SD 6.1); the majority
      were at moderate-to-high nutritional risk (69%) and approximately one third
      presented chronic musculoskeletal pain (30%). The nutritional risk score was
      independently associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain: adding one unit in
      the risk score produces an 11% increment in the odds of presenting pain (OR
      1.109, 95% CI 1.022-1.204). Individuals classified into moderate- or high-risk
      categories also had substantially higher odds (~90%) of presenting chronic
      musculoskeletal pain when compared to those in the low-risk category, although
      our findings were only marginally significant. This is the first study to
      demonstrate the association between nutritional risk and chronic musculoskeletal
      pain above and beyond the contributed effects from relevant confounders.

PMID- 26885947
TI  - Quality Analysis of DNA from Cord Blood Buffy Coat: The Best Neonatal DNA Source
      for Epidemiological Studies?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood is an economical and easy to obtain source of
      high-quality neonatal genomic DNA. However, although large numbers of cord blood
      samples have been collected, information on the yield and quality of the DNA
      extracted from cord blood is scarce. Moreover, considerable doubt still exists on
      the utility of the buffy coat instead of whole blood as a DNA source. METHODS: We
      compared the sample storage and DNA extraction costs for whole blood, buffy coat,
      and all-cell pellet. We evaluated three different DNA purification kits and
      selected the most suitable one to purify 1011 buffy coat samples. We determined
      the DNA yield and optical density (OD) ratios and analyzed 48 single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms using time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS). We also analyzed
      eight possible preanalytical variables that may correlate with DNA yield or
      quality. RESULTS: Buffy coat was the most economical and least labor-intensive
      source for sample storage and DNA extraction. The average yield of genomic DNA
      from 200 MUL of buffy coat sample was 16.01 +/- 8.00 MUg, which is sufficient for
      analytic experiments. The mean A260/A280 ratio and the mean A260/A230 ratio were
      1.89 +/- 0.09 and 1.95 +/- 0.66, respectively. More than 99.5% of DNA samples
      passed the TOF MS test. Only hemolysis showed a strong correlation with OD ratios
      of DNA, but not with yield. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that cord blood buffy
      coat yields high-quality DNA in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements of
      experiments. Buffy coat was also found to be the most economic, efficient, and
      stable source of genomic DNA.

PMID- 26885946
TI  - Managing Malnutrition in Older Persons Residing in Care Homes: Nutritional and
      Clinical Outcomes Following a Screening and Intervention Program.
AB  - This study aimed to establish prevalence of malnutrition in older adult care home
      residents and investigate whether a nutritional screening and intervention
      program could improve nutritional and clinical outcomes. A community-based cohort
      study was conducted in five Newcastle care homes. 205 participants entered; 175
      were followed up. Residents already taking oral nutritional supplements (ONS)
      were excluded from interventions. Those with Malnutrition Universal Screening
      Tool (MUST) score of 1 received dietetic advice and >=2 received dietetic advice
      and were prescribed ONS (220 ml, 1.5 kcal/ml) twice daily for 12 weeks. Body mass
      index (BMI), MUST, mini nutritional assessment score (MNA)(r), mid upper arm
      muscle circumference (MAMC), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were recorded
      at baseline and 12 weeks. Malnutrition prevalence was 36.6% +/- 6.6 (95% CI). A
      higher MUST was associated with greater mortality (p = 0.004). Type of
      intervention received was significantly associated with change in MUST score (p <
      0.001); dietetic advice resulting in the greatest improvement. There were no
      significant changes in BMI (p = 0.445), MAMC (p = 0.256), or GDS (p = 0.385)
      following the interventions. Dietitian advice may slow the progression of
      nutritional decline. In this study oral nutritional supplements over a 3-month
      period did not significantly improve nutritional status in malnourished care home
      residents.

PMID- 26885948
TI  - A Vertically Integrated Junctionless Nanowire Transistor.
AB  - A vertically integrated junctionless field-effect transistor (VJ-FET), which is
      composed of vertically stacked multiple silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with a gate-all
      around (GAA) structure, is demonstrated on a bulk silicon wafer for the first
      time. The proposed VJ-FET mitigates the issues of variability and fabrication
      complexity that are encountered in the vertically integrated multi-NW FET (VM
      FET) based on an identical structure in which the VM-FET, as recently reported,
      harnesses a source and drain (S/D) junction for its operation and is thus based
      on the inversion mode. Variability is alleviated by bulk conduction in a
      junctionless FET (JL-FET), where current flows through the core of the SiNW,
      whereas it is not mitigated by surface conduction in an inversion mode FET (IM
      FET), where current flows via the surface of the SiNW. The fabrication complexity
      is reduced by the inherent JL structure of the JL-FET because S/D formation is
      not required. In contrast, it is very difficult to dope the S/D when it is
      positioned at each floor of a tall SiNW with greater uniformity and with less
      damage to the crystalline structure of the SiNW in a VM-FET. Moreover, when the
      proposed VJ-FET is used as nonvolatile flash memory, the endurance and retention
      characteristics are improved due to the above-mentioned bulk conduction. 

PMID- 26885949
TI  - Annual Iron Loss Associated with Hemodialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In order to keep up the optimal iron status in chronic hemodialysis
      patients, it is important to know how much iron is lost due to hemodialysis.
      Residual blood associated with the hemodialysis procedure together with blood
      sampling inevitably causes the loss of iron in chronic hemodialysis patients.
      Recent advances in hemodialysis techniques might have reduced this complication.
      In this cross-sectional study, we directly measured total iron loss by
      hemodialysis. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-nine patients who received chronic
      hemodialysis at Otowa Memorial Hospital were enrolled; 65.7% of patients were
      men, and mean age was 67 +/- 6.4 years (mean +/- SD) and 43.2% were diabetic.
      Residual blood in blood tubing set and dialyzer after rinse back with saline was
      collected and homogenized. The iron content including free, protein-bound and
      heme iron was measured using an atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean
      iron content in residual blood was 1,247.3 +/- 796.2 ug (mean +/- SD) and the
      median was 1,002 ug (95% CI 377.6-3,461.6 ug), indicating 160.8 mg (95% CI 58.9
      540.0 mg) iron loss annually when hemodialysis was performed 156 times a year.
      Fifty milliliter whole blood for monthly blood test and another 2 ml of whole
      blood lost by paracentesis at every dialysis session contains 228.6 and 118.9 mg
      iron at 11 g/dl hemoglobin, respectively. Therefore, an annual total iron loss
      due to hemodialysis comes to 508.3 mg (95% CI 406.4-887.5 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Five
      hundred milligram of annual iron supplementation might be sufficient to maintain
      iron status in hemodialysis patients, which is less than the dose recommended as
      1,000-2,000 mg a year. Further study will be required to verify this iron
      supplementation dosage with recent hemodialysis procedure.

PMID- 26885950
TI  - Management of choledochal cysts.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Historically, surgical treatment of choledochal cyst consisted
      of cyst enterostomy. However, incomplete cyst excision can result in recurrent
      symptoms and malignant transformation within the cyst remnant. Accordingly,
      management of choledochal cyst now includes complete cyst excision whenever
      possible. We provide a review detailing the up to date management of choledochal
      cysts. We describe choledochal cyst-type specific surgical approaches, the impact
      of minimally invasive surgery in choledochal cyst therapy, and long-term sequelae
      of choledochal cyst management. RECENT FINDINGS: Treatment of choledochal cyst
      aims to avoid the numerous hepatic, pancreatic, or biliary complications that may
      occur. More recently, minimally invasive approaches are being used for the
      treatment of choledochal cyst with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Moreover,
      long-term follow up of choledochal cyst patients after resection has demonstrated
      that although the risk of biliary malignancy is significantly decreased after
      choledochal cyst resection, these patients may remain at a slightly increased
      risk of biliary malignancy even after excision. SUMMARY: Management of
      choledochal cyst and the operative conduct will depend upon the patient
      comorbidities and choledochal cyst subtype. However, given the complex nature of
      choledochal cyst and limited experience of most centers, these patients should be
      evaluated and treated at high-volume hepatopancreaticobiliary centers familiar
      with management of choledochal cyst.

PMID- 26885951
TI  - Primary biliary cholangitis in China.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic
      liver disease characterized by immunomediated destruction of small and medium
      sized intrahepatic bile ducts. In 1987, a cDNA for a 74 kDa mitochondrial
      autoantigen was cloned and identified as the E2 component of the mitochondrial
      pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which improved the diagnosis and changed research
      directions in this field. In 1958, the first Chinese case of PBC was reported.
      But until 1990, a comprehensive description of the characteristics of Chinese PBC
      patients was published. In China we now know that PBC is not rare and usually
      does not progress to cirrhosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The number of Chinese patients
      with PBC has increased each and every year. This increase may be associated with
      the changes of liver disease spectrum, the application of convenient autoantibody
      detection kits, and the comprehensive understanding of the disease. It may also
      reflect, however, a westernization change in environmental features with China.
      There is now significant and important basic and clinical research on PBC in
      China, with major contributions in diagnostic criteria, treatment, and on basic
      biology. This has led to exciting proposals based on Chinese PBC cohorts.
      SUMMARY: Chinese hepatologists and scientists are now focusing their efforts on
      PBC. These efforts have led to new diagnostic biomarkers, novel therapeutic
      methods (stem cells and Chinese traditional medicine), and unique immunological
      mechanisms, including roles for T-follicular helper cells and monocyte
      subpopulations, both of which are involved in the breach of immune tolerance for
      PBC.

PMID- 26885955
TI  - A Public Health of Consequence--March 2016.

PMID- 26885956
TI  - Shorter Lives and Poorer Health on the Campaign Trail.

PMID- 26885957
TI  - Butler Responds.

PMID- 26885958
TI  - 2015-2020 National HIV/AIDS Strategy Goals for HIV Linkage and Retention in Care:
      Recommendations From Program Implementers.

PMID- 26885959
TI  - Federal Funding for Kidney Disease Research: A Missed Opportunity.

PMID- 26885960
TI  - Neighborhoods and Health: What Do We Know? What Should We Do?

PMID- 26885961
TI  - Evaluating Public Health Interventions: 2. Stepping Up to Routine Public Health
      Evaluation With the Stepped Wedge Design.
AB  - In a stepped wedge design (SWD), an intervention is rolled out in a staggered
      manner over time, in groups of experimental units, so that by the end, all units
      experience the intervention. For example, in the MaxART study, the date at which
      to offer universal antiretroviral therapy to otherwise ineligible clients is
      being randomly assigned in nine "steps" of four months duration so that after
      three years, all 14 facilities in northern and central Swaziland will be offering
      early treatment. In the common alternative, the cluster randomized trial (CRT),
      experimental units are randomly allocated on a single common start date to the
      interventions to be compared. Often, the SWD is more feasible than the CRT, both
      for practical and ethical reasons, but takes longer to complete. The SWD permits
      both within- and between- unit comparisons, while the CRT only allows between
      unit comparisons. Thus, confounding bias with respect to time-invariant factors
      tends to be lower in an SWD than a CRT, but the SWD cannot as readily control for
      confounding by time-varying factors. SWDs have generally more statistical power
      than CRTs, especially as the intraunit correlation and the number of participants
      within unit increases. Software for both designs are available, although for a
      more limited set of SWD scenarios. 

PMID- 26885962
TI  - Coefficient alpha as a Measure of Test Score Reliability: Review of 3 Popular
      Misconceptions.
AB  - We discuss 3 popular misconceptions about Cronbach alpha or coefficient alpha,
      traditionally used in public health and the behavioral sciences as an index of
      test score reliability. We also review several other indices of test score
      reliability. We encourage researchers to thoughtfully consider the nature of
      their data and the options when choosing an index of reliability, and to clearly
      communicate this choice and its implications to their audiences. 

PMID- 26885963
TI  - Voigt Responds.

PMID- 26885964
TI  - Renormalization and Regulation of E-Cigarettes.

PMID- 26885965
TI  - Attitudes of Health Care Providers Toward LGBT Patients: The Need for Cultural
      Sensitivity Training.

PMID- 26885966
TI  - Sabin and Riskind Respond.

PMID- 26885967
TI  - Lin et al. Respond.

PMID- 26885971
TI  - Active Transportation Surveillance-United States, 1999-2012.

PMID- 26885968
TI  - Categorization of Frequent Emergency Department Use in an Insured Homeless
      Population.

PMID- 26885972
TI  - Molecular separations with breathing metal-organic frameworks: modelling packed
      bed adsorbers.
AB  - Various metal-organic framework (MOFs) adsorbents show peculiar adsorption
      behaviour as they can adopt different crystal phases, each phase with its own
      adsorption characteristics. Besides external stimuli such as temperature or
      light, different species of guest adsorbate can trigger a transition (breathing)
      of the host structure at a different pressure. Such phase transitions also occur
      during dynamic separations on a packed bed of adsorbent, where the concentrations
      of the adsorbates vary throughout axial column distance and time. This work
      presents a general strategy to model the adsorption behavior of such phase
      changing adsorbents during column separations and focuses on remarkable model
      predictions for pure components and binary mixtures in diluted and non-diluted
      conditions. During binary breakthrough experiments, the behaviour of flexible
      adsorbents is quite complex. A succession of complete or even partial phase
      transformations (resulting in phase coexistence) can occur during the adsorption
      process. A variety of unusual breakthrough profiles is observed for diluted
      binary mixtures. Simulations reveal at least five types of breakthrough profiles
      to emerge. The occurrence of these cases can be rationalized by the hodograph
      technique, combined with the phase diagram of the adsorbent. The remarkable
      experimental breakthrough profiles observed for ortho-xylene/ethylbenzene
      (diluted) and CO2/CH4 (non-diluted) separation on the flexible MIL-53 framework
      can be rationalized by application of the proposed model strategy. 

PMID- 26885974
TI  - The Relationship between GRACE Score and Epicardial Fat Thickness in non-STEMI
      Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: GRACE risk score (GS) is a scoring system which has a prognostic
      significance in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (non
      STEMI). OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine whether end-systolic or
      end-diastolic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is more closely associated with high
      risk non-STEMI patients according to the GS. METHODS: We evaluated 207 patients
      who had non-STEMI beginning from October 2012 to February 2013, and 162 of them
      were included in the study (115 males, mean age: 66.6 +/- 12.8 years). End
      systolic and end-diastolic EFTs were measured with echocardiographic methods.
      Patients with high in-hospital GS were categorized as the H-GS group (in hospital
      GS > 140), while other patients were categorized as the low-to-moderate risk
      group (LM-GS). RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of H-GS patients
      were lower than those of LM-GS patients, and the average heart rate was higher in
      this group. End-systolic EFT and end-diastolic EFT were significantly higher in
      the H-GS group. The echocardiographic assessment of right and left ventricles
      showed significantly decreased ejection fraction in both ventricles in the H-GS
      group. The highest correlation was found between GS and end-diastolic EFT (r =
      0.438). CONCLUSION: End-systolic and end-diastolic EFTs were found to be
      increased in the H-GS group. However, end-diastolic EFT and GS had better
      correlation than end-systolic EFT and GS.

PMID- 26885975
TI  - Unraveling Trichoderma species in the attine ant environment: description of
      three new taxa.
AB  - Fungus-growing "attine" ants forage diverse substrates to grow fungi for food. In
      addition to the mutualistic fungal partner, the colonies of these insects harbor
      a rich microbiome composed of bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts. Previous
      work reported some Trichoderma species in the fungus gardens of leafcutter ants.
      However, no studies systematically addressed the putative association of
      Trichoderma with attine ants, especially in non-leafcutter ants. Here, a total of
      62 strains of Trichoderma were analyzed using three molecular markers (ITS, tef1
      and rpb2). In addition, 30 out of 62 strains were also morphologically examined.
      The strains studied correspond to the largest sampling carried out so far for
      Trichoderma in the attine ant environment. Our results revealed the richness of
      Trichoderma in this environment, since we found 20 Trichoderma species, including
      three new taxa described in the present work (Trichoderma attinorum, Trichoderma
      texanum and Trichoderma longifialidicum spp. nov.) as well as a new phylogenetic
      taxon (LESF 545). Moreover, we show that all 62 strains grouped within different
      clades across the Trichoderma phylogeny, which are identical or closely related
      to strains derived from several other environments. This evidence supports the
      transient nature of the genus Trichoderma in the attine ant colonies. The
      discovery of three new species suggests that the dynamic foraging behavior of
      these insects might be responsible for accumulation of transient fungi into their
      colonies, which might hold additional fungal taxa still unknown to science. 

PMID- 26885973
TI  - Dyslipidemia is Associated with Unfit and Overweight-Obese Children and
      Adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Both poor aerobic fitness and obesity, separately, are associated
      with abnormal lipid profiles. OBJECTIVE: To identify possible relationships of
      dyslipidemia with cardiorespiratory fitness and obesity, evaluated together, in
      children and adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,243
      children and adolescents (563 males and 680 females) between 7 and 17 years of
      age from 19 schools. Obesity was assessed using body mass index (BMI)
      measurements, and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined via a 9-minute
      run/walk test. To analyze the lipid profile of each subject, the following
      markers were used: total cholesterol, cholesterol fractions (high-density
      lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides. Data were analyzed
      using SPSS v. 20.0, via prevalence ratio (PR), using the Poisson regression.
      RESULTS: Dyslipidemia is more prevalent among unfit/overweight-obese children and
      adolescents compared with fit/underweight-normal weight boys (PR: 1.25; p =
      0.007) and girls (PR: 1.30, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of
      dyslipidemia is directly related to both obesity and lower levels of
      cardiorespiratory fitness.

PMID- 26885976
TI  - Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic
      Performance.
AB  - Despite the old adage not to 'judge a book by its cover', facial cues often guide
      first impressions and these first impressions guide our decisions. Literature
      suggests there are valid facial cues that assist us in assessing someone's health
      or intelligence, but such cues are overshadowed by an 'attractiveness halo'
      whereby desirable attributions are preferentially ascribed to attractive people.
      The impact of the attractiveness halo effect on perceptions of academic
      performance in the classroom is concerning as this has shown to influence
      students' future performance. We investigated the limiting effects of the
      attractiveness halo on perceptions of actual academic performance in faces of 100
      university students. Given the ambiguity and various perspectives on the
      definition of intelligence and the growing consensus on the importance of
      conscientiousness over intelligence in predicting actual academic performance, we
      also investigated whether perceived conscientiousness was a more accurate
      predictor of academic performance than perceived intelligence. Perceived
      conscientiousness was found to be a better predictor of actual academic
      performance when compared to perceived intelligence and perceived academic
      performance, and accuracy was improved when controlling for the influence of
      attractiveness on judgments. These findings emphasize the misleading effect of
      attractiveness on the accuracy of first impressions of competence, which can have
      serious consequences in areas such as education and hiring. The findings also
      have implications for future research investigating impression accuracy based on
      facial stimuli. 

PMID- 26885977
TI  - The High Cost of HIV-Positive Inpatient Care at an Urban Hospital in
      Johannesburg, South Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While most HIV care is provided on an outpatient basis, hospitals
      continue to treat serious HIV-related admissions, which is relatively resource
      intensive and expensive. This study reports the primary reasons for HIV-related
      admission at a regional, urban hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa and
      estimates the associated lengths of stay and costs. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A
      retrospective cohort study of adult, medical admissions was conducted. Each
      admission was assigned a reason for admission and an outcome. The length of stay
      was calculated for all patients (N = 1,041) and for HIV-positive patients (n =
      469), actual utilization and associated costs were also estimated. Just under
      half were known to be HIV-positive admissions. Deaths and transfers were
      proportionately higher amongst HIV-positive admissions compared to HIV-negative
      and unknown. The three most common reasons for admission were tuberculosis and
      other mycobacterial infections (18%, n = 187), cardiovascular disorders (12%, n =
      127) and bacterial infections (12%, n = 121). The study sample utilized a total
      of 7,733 bed days of those, 55% (4,259/7,733) were for HIV-positive patients. The
      average cost per admission amongst confirmed HIV-positive patients, which was an
      average of 9.3 days in length, was $1,783 (United States Dollars). CONCLUSIONS:
      Even in the era of large-scale antiretroviral treatment, inpatient facilities in
      South Africa shoulder a significant HIV burden. The majority of this burden is
      related to patients not on ART (298/469, 64%), and accounts for more than half of
      all inpatient resources. Reducing the costs of inpatient care is thus another
      important benefit of expanding access to ART, promoting earlier ART initiation,
      and achieving rates of ART retention and adherence.

PMID- 26885978
TI  - Endurance Exercise Enhances the Effect of Strength Training on Muscle Fiber Size
      and Protein Expression of Akt and mTOR.
AB  - Reports concerning the effect of endurance exercise on the anabolic response to
      strength training have been contradictory. This study re-investigated this issue,
      focusing on training effects on indicators of protein synthesis and degradation.
      Two groups of male subjects performed 7 weeks of resistance exercise alone (R; n
      = 7) or in combination with preceding endurance exercise, including both
      continuous and interval cycling (ER; n = 9). Muscle biopsies were taken before
      and after the training period. Similar increases in leg-press 1 repetition
      maximum (30%; P<0.05) were observed in both groups, whereas maximal oxygen uptake
      was elevated (8%; P<0.05) only in the ER group. The ER training enlarged the
      areas of both type I and type II fibers, whereas the R protocol increased only
      the type II fibers. The mean fiber area increased by 28% (P<0.05) in the ER
      group, whereas no significant increase was observed in the R group. Moreover,
      expression of Akt and mTOR protein was enhanced in the ER group, whereas only the
      level of mTOR was elevated following R training. Training-induced alterations in
      the levels of both Akt and mTOR protein were correlated to changes in type I
      fiber area (r = 0.55-0.61, P<0.05), as well as mean fiber area (r = 0.55-0.61,
      P<0.05), reflecting the important role played by these proteins in connection
      with muscle hypertrophy. Both training regimes reduced the level of MAFbx protein
      (P<0.05) and tended to elevate that of MuRF-1. The present findings indicate that
      the larger hypertrophy observed in the ER group is due more to pronounced
      stimulation of anabolic rather than inhibition of catabolic processes. 

PMID- 26885981
TI  - Implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary prevention of sudden death in
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AB  - AIMS: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) may complicate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
      natural course. Patient selection for implantable cardioverter defibrillator
      (ICD) therapy in the primary prevention setting is still a challenge. METHODS:
      Thirty-seven HCM patients with a primary prevention ICD were included. All
      patients underwent preimplantation SCD risk assessment and semi-annual device
      interrogation during follow-up. Primary end point was the time to first
      appropriate ICD intervention including antitachycardia pacing or shock.
      Inappropriately delivered ICD therapies served as secondary end point. RESULTS:
      During a median follow-up of 3.1 years, 10 (27%) patients received one or more
      appropriate ICD therapies. First appropriate ICD intervention rate was 7.2%/year
      (95% CI: 3.4-13.2) with a 5-year cumulative probability of 29.2 +/- 7.4%. No SCD
      risk marker was significantly associated with the primary end point, whereas
      event rates were comparable among patients with one, two or three or more SCD
      risk markers (log-rank P = 0.58). Patients with a history of SCD in first-degree
      relatives with HCM were at 3.8 times higher risk of experiencing an ICD
      intervention compared with those with no family history of SCD (HR: 3.8; 95% CI:
      1.0-14.1, P = 0.05). Seven (18.9%) patients experienced one or more inappropriate
      ICD therapies; beta-blocker therapy was associated with 75% fewer inappropriate
      ICD interventions (HR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.03-0.89). CONCLUSION: Current criteria
      identify a subgroup of patients with HCM at increased risk of major arrhythmic
      events as indicated by high ICD intervention rates. However, no individual risk
      marker demonstrated superior predictive ability over the others, whereas simple
      arithmetic summing of risk markers was not associated with increased ICD
      intervention rates.

PMID- 26885979
TI  - Clinical Impact of a Novel MicroRNA Chemo-Sensitivity Predictor in
      Gastrooesophageal Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: miRNAs might be potentially useful biomarkers for prediction of
      response to chemotherapeutic agents, radiotherapy and survival. The aim of this
      retrospective study was to validate miRNA response predictors in a cohort of
      patients with gastrooesophageal cancer in order to predict overall survival (OS)
      and disease-specific survival (DSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population
      encompassed 53 patients treated with curative intend for loco-regional
      gastrooesophageal cancer. miRNA expression was quantified from pre-therapeutic
      and diagnostic, formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tumour specimens using
      Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 1.0 Array. Based on growth inhibition of the NCI60
      panel in the presence of cisplatin, epirubicine and capecitabine, a miRNA based
      response predictor was developed. The Cox proportional hazards model was applied
      to assess the correlations of the response predictor with OS and DSS. RESULTS: A
      univariate analysis demonstrated a statistical significant improvement of OS for
      patients who had undergone surgical resection with prediction scores above the
      median prediction score (HR: 0.41 (95% CI: 0.17-0.96). Adjusting for surgery and
      stage, this predictor was identified to be independently associated with both OS
      (HR: 0.37 (95% CI: 0.16-0.87)) and DSS (HR: 0.32 (0.12-0.87)). CONCLUSION: The
      miRNA profile predictive for sensitivity to cisplatin, epirubicine and
      capecitabine was shown to be independently associated with OS and DSS in patients
      with gastrooesophageal cancer.

PMID- 26885980
TI  - The Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction Is Superior to Tocopherol in Promoting Myogenic
      Differentiation in the Prevention of Replicative Senescence of Myoblasts.
AB  - Aging results in a loss of muscle mass and strength. Myoblasts play an important
      role in maintaining muscle mass through regenerative processes, which are
      impaired during aging. Vitamin E potentially ameliorates age-related phenotypes.
      Hence, this study aimed to determine the effects of the tocotrienol-rich fraction
      (TRF) and alpha-tocopherol (ATF) in protecting myoblasts from replicative
      senescence and promoting myogenic differentiation. Primary human myoblasts were
      cultured into young and senescent stages and were then treated with TRF or ATF
      for 24 h, followed by an analysis of cell proliferation, senescence biomarkers,
      cellular morphology and differentiation. Our data showed that replicative
      senescence impaired the normal regenerative processes of myoblasts, resulting in
      changes in cellular morphology, cell proliferation, senescence-associated beta
      galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) expression, myogenic differentiation and myogenic
      regulatory factors (MRFs) expression. Treatment with both TRF and ATF was
      beneficial to senescent myoblasts in reclaiming the morphology of young cells,
      improved cell viability and decreased SA-beta-gal expression. However, only TRF
      treatment increased BrdU incorporation in senescent myoblasts, as well as
      promoted myogenic differentiation through the modulation of MRFs at the mRNA and
      protein levels. MYOD1 and MYOG gene expression and myogenin protein expression
      were modulated in the early phases of myogenic differentiation. In conclusion,
      the tocotrienol-rich fraction is superior to alpha-tocopherol in ameliorating
      replicative senescence-related aberration and promoting differentiation via
      modulation of MRFs expression, indicating vitamin E potential in modulating
      replicative senescence of myoblasts. 

PMID- 26885982
TI  - Balloon aortic valvuloplasty before noncardiac surgery in severe aortic stenosis:
      a single-center experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the role and short-term
      results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) before noncardiac surgery in a high
      selected cohort of patients. BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis is one of the most
      common valvular heart diseases and a well recognized risk factor for
      perioperative mortality. METHODS: Between May 2012 and July 2013 we enrolled 15
      consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis to allow urgent major noncardiac
      surgery. They had been excluded from surgical aortic valve replacement and
      transcatheter aortic valve implantation. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent BAV
      as a bridge to noncardiac surgery. They were elderly (mean age 81 +/- 5 years)
      and predominantly men (66%) with high surgery risk (mean logistic EuroSCORE: 31.1
      +/- 18.2%). Three patients underwent vascular surgery, five underwent thoracic
      surgery, five were subjected to major abdominal surgery and in the last two
      patients orthopedic surgery and mastectomy were performed. No adverse events were
      observed in the perioperative period. Six patients (40%) were in New York Heart
      Association class III or IV. Mean aortic valve area was 0.52 +/- 0.1 cm/m; mean
      aortic pressure gradient was 55.6 +/- 10.8 mmHg. BAV was performed successfully
      in all patients. The mean peak-to-peak gradient assessed by catheterization
      significantly reduced after BAV (from 69.0 +/- 22.1 to 29.7 +/- 9.3 mmHg; P <
      0.0001). The echocardiographic mean gradient was also significantly improved
      (from 55.6 +/- 10.8 to 33.8 +/- 7.9 mmHg; P < 0.0001). Survival at 30 days and at
      6 months' follow-up respectively was 100%. At 6 months' follow-up clinical status
      according to New York Heart Association class was significantly improved (P <
      0.0001). CONCLUSION: BAV is well tolerated and effective in high-risk patients
      with severe aortic stenosis undergoing noncardiac surgery with good short-term
      survival. It could represent a valid choice of treatment prior to noncardiac
      surgery in these high-risk patients.

PMID- 26885983
TI  - The C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of hedgehog receptor Patched1 is a platform for
      E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes.
AB  - The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in cell
      proliferation and differentiation via Patched1 (Ptc1), a 12-pass transmembrane
      receptor protein. The C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of Ptc1 can be cleaved to
      release the 7th intracellular domain (ICD7), whose function is still unclear. In
      this study, we found that the ICD7 fragment of Ptc1 associates with
      polyubiquitinated species. Using mass spectrometry, we identified a cluster of E3
      ubiquitin ligase complex as novel Ptc1 ICD7-binding proteins. In particular, Ptc1
      ICD7 interacted with most components of the Cullin-2 (CUL2)-based E3 ligase
      complex, including TCEB1 (EloC), TCEB2 (EloB), ZYG11B, and CUL2 itself. To
      address the significance of CUL2-based E3 ligase in Ptc1 function, we examined
      the effects of CUL2 knockdown on Shh-induced osteoblast differentiation in the
      mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2. Indeed, knockdown of CUL2 abolished the Shh
      induced stem cell differentiation. These results suggest that CUL2-based E3
      ligase complex may play a role in Shh- and Ptc1-dependent signaling pathways.

PMID- 26885985
TI  - Community-based tsetse fly control significantly reduces fly density and
      trypanosomosis prevalence in Metekel Zone, Northwest, Ethiopia.
AB  - African animal trypanosomosis is a great obstacle to livestock production where
      tsetse flies play a major role. Metekel zone is among the tsetse-infested areas.
      Community-based tsetse fly and trypanosomosis control using targets was conducted
      from June 2011 to May 2012 in Metekel zone, Ethiopia, to decrease trypanosomosis
      and tsetse fly. Cloth screen targets were developed, impregnated with 0.1 %
      deltamethrin, and deployed alongside rivers by the research team together with
      the community animal health workers. Monthly parasitological and entomological
      data were collected, processed, and compared with similar data collected before
      control. Overall average tsetse fly (Glossina tachinoides) density decreased from
      1.13 to 0.18 fly/trap/day after control. The density was decreased in all sites
      with no significant difference among the sites. However, higher decrements were
      observed in the dry and late dry seasons by more than 12 and 6 times,
      respectively. The reduction in overall apparent prevalence of trypanosomosis
      caused by Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma brucei, and Trypanosoma vivax from
      12.14 % before to 3.61 % after control coincides with the tsetse fly reduction.
      In all the study sites, significant reduction was observed before and after
      control. The highest decrement was observed in the late dry season when the
      apparent prevalence was reduced from 7.89 to 1.17 % before and after control,
      respectively. As this approach is simple, cost-effective, and appropriate for
      riverine tsetse species, we recommend to be scaled up to other similar places. 

PMID- 26885986
TI  - Molasses supplementation for dual-purpose cows during the dry season in
      subtropical Mexico.
AB  - The effect of including 9 % of molasses in supplements offered to dual purpose
      cows, during dry season in subtropical Mexico was determined. Forage availability
      in pastures during the dry season is reduced and of low quality. Molasses is a
      readily available source of energy that may improve forage utilization and could
      have a positive effect on cow's milk production and calves daily weight gain
      (CDWG). Twelve multiparous Brown Swiss cows (409 +/- 33 kg of body weight and 136
      +/- 73 days in milk), and their calves were randomly assigned to two supplements
      (six cows per treatment). Control supplement (COS) consisted of cracked maize
      ears (CME), soybean meal and urea (14 % CP), and experimental supplement in which
      9 % of CME was replaced by molasses (MOS). Cows received 4.5 kg/cow/day dry
      matter (DM) of supplement. Experiment lasted 10 weeks divided in five
      experimental periods (EP). Animal responses (milk yield, milk composition, body
      weight, body condition score and CDWG) were recorded at the end of every EP. A
      linear mixed model was used to analyse the data as a complete random design. Net
      profits from milk and beef due to supplements were estimated using partial budget
      approach. Average milk yield was 7 (kg/cow/day) with 30.6, 30.4 and 42.5 (g/kg
      milk) of fat, protein and lactose, respectively. Average cow weight was 422 kg
      and CDWG was 0.8 kg/day. No significant responses on animal production variables
      were found when 9 % of MOS was included in the supplement; however, total net
      income increased on 4 %, due to higher CDWG. 

PMID- 26885987
TI  - Rice gluten meal as an alternative by-product feed for growing dairy calves.
AB  - This experiment aimed at studying the nutritional characteristics and feeding
      value of rice gluten meal (RGM, a wet-milling by-product of rice) in growing
      dairy calves. RGM contained 464 g/kg of crude protein with 821 and 196 g/kg
      nitrogen (N) of borate-phosphate insoluble N and acid detergent insoluble N,
      respectively, which were higher (P < 0.05) than groundnut cake (GNC). In vitro
      gas production, organic matter digestibility and energy values were comparable
      between RGM and GNC. For in vivo trial, 18 Karan-Fries calves (6-12 months) were
      randomly assigned into three groups based on comparable body weight and age. The
      first group (GP-I) was fed concentrate mixture containing mainly GNC as protein
      source, whilst it was replaced by RGM up to 50 and 75 % on N basis, in second (GP
      II) and third (GP-III) groups, respectively. Thus, RGM constituted 140 and 210
      g/kg of concentrate mixture of GP-II and GP-III, respectively. In addition, all
      animals were offered chopped green maize and wheat straw for the whole
      experimental period of 90 days. Results revealed that there was no difference in
      intake and digestibility of nutrients, N balance, average daily gain (ADG) and
      feed efficiency among three groups. Nevertheless, RGM-based diets produced cost
      effective ADG than GP-I. Furthermore, experimental calves did not differ in
      haematological variables like glucose, blood urea N, plasma proteins and non
      esterified fatty acids. This study demonstrated that RGM could be incorporated
      successfully in the concentrate mixture, replacing 75 % of GNC without any
      discernable compromise in the performance of growing calves. 

PMID- 26885984
TI  - Response of the JAK-STAT pathway to mammalian hibernation in 13-lined ground
      squirrel striated muscle.
AB  - Over the course of the torpor-arousal cycle, hibernators must make behavioral,
      physiological, and molecular rearrangements in order to keep a very low metabolic
      rate and retain organ viability. 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys
      tridecemlineatus) remain immobile during hibernation, and although the mechanisms
      of skeletal muscle survival are largely unknown, studies have shown minimal
      muscle loss in hibernating organisms. Additionally, the ground squirrel heart
      undergoes cold-stress, reversible cardiac hypertrophy, and ischemia-reperfusion
      without experiencing fatal impairment. This study examines the role of the Janus
      kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling
      pathway in the regulation of cell stress in cardiac and skeletal muscles,
      comparing euthermic and hibernating ground squirrels. Immunoblots showed a
      fivefold decrease in JAK3 expression during torpor in skeletal muscle, along with
      increases in STAT3 and 5 phosphorylation and suppressors of cytokine signaling-1
      (SOCS1) protein levels. Immunoblots also showed coordinated increases in STAT1, 3
      and 5 phosphorylation and STAT1 inhibitor protein expression in cardiac muscle
      during torpor. PCR analysis revealed that the activation of these pro-survival
      signaling cascades did not result in coordinate changes in downstream genes such
      as anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family gene expression. Overall,
      these results indicate activation of the JAK-STAT pathway in both cardiac and
      skeletal muscles, suggesting a response to cellular stress during hibernation.

PMID- 26885988
TI  - Rumen microorganisms, methane production, and microbial protein synthesis
      affected by mangosteen peel powder supplement in lactating dairy cows.
AB  - Four crossbred dairy cows (50 % Holstein-Friesian * 50 % Thai native), 404 +/-
      50.0 kg of body weight (4 years old) and 90 +/- 5 day in milk with daily milk
      production of 9 +/- 2.0 kg/day, were randomly assigned according to a 4 * 4 Latin
      square design to study the effect of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) peel powder
      (MSP) supplementation on rumen microorganisms, methane production, and microbial
      protein synthesis fed concentrate containing yeast fermented cassava chip protein
      (YEFECAP). The treatments were different levels of MSP supplementation at 0, 100,
      200, and 300 g/head/day. Rice straw was used as a roughage source fed ad libitum,
      and concentrate containing YEFECAP at 200 g/kg concentrate was offered
      corresponding to concentrate-to-milk-yield ratio at 1:2. A quantitative real-time
      PCR approach was used to determine the population densities of ruminal
      microorganisms. The results revealed that supplementation of MSP did not affect
      on Fibrobactor succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Ruminococcus albus (P
      > 0.05). However, total bacteria was linearly increased (P < 0.01) while
      methanogens and protozoal population were linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with
      increasing level of MSP supplementation. Increasing level of MSP supplement could
      decrease rumen methane production from 27.5 to 23.7 mmol/100 ml(3). Furthermore,
      cows that received MSP at 300 g/head/day had the highest microbial crude protein
      and efficiency of rumen microbial N synthesis (416.8 g/day and 16.2 g/kg organic
      matter truly digested in the rumen (OMDR), respectively). In conclusion,
      supplementation of MSP at 300 g/head/day with YEFECAP as a protein source in the
      concentrate mixture revealed an enhancement of rumen fermentation and methane
      reduction in lactating dairy cows. 

PMID- 26885989
TI  - An analysis of neurosurgical practice patterns and outcomes for serious to
      critical traumatic brain injuries in a mature trauma state.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We sought to characterize trends in neurosurgical practice patterns
      and outcomes for serious to critical traumatic brain injuries from 2003 to 2013
      in the mature trauma state of Pennsylvania. METHODS: All 2003 to 2013 admissions
      to Pennsylvania's 30 accredited Level I to II trauma centers with serious to
      critical traumatic brain injuries (head Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score >=
      3, Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score < 13) were extracted from the state registry.
      Adjusted temporal trend tests controlling for demographic and injury severity
      covariates assessed the impact of admission year on intervention rates
      (craniotomy, craniectomy, and intracranial pressure monitor/ventriculostomy
      [ICP]) and outcome measures for the total population as well as serious (head AIS
      score >= 3; GCS score, 9-12) and critical (head AIS score >= 3, GCS score <= 8)
      subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 22,229 patients met inclusion criteria. Admission
      year was significantly associated with an adjusted increase in craniectomy
      (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.12 [1.09-1.14]; p < 0.001) and ICP rates (AOR, 1.03
      [1.02-1.04]; p < 0.001) and a decrease in craniotomy rate (AOR, 0.96 [0.95-0.97];
      p < 0.001). No significant trends in adjusted mortality were found for the total
      study population (AOR, 1.01 [1.00-1.02]; p = 0.150); however, a significant
      reduction was found for the serious subgroup (AOR, 0.95 [0.92-0.98]; p = 0.002),
      and a significant increase was found for the critical subgroup (AOR, 1.02 [1.01
      1.03]; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Total study population trends showed a reduction
      in rates of craniotomy and increase in craniectomy and ICP rates without any
      change in outcome. Despite significant adaptations in neurosurgical practice
      patterns from 2003 to 2013, only patients with serious head injuries are
      experiencing improved survival. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiologic
      study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

PMID- 26885990
TI  - Re: Contact isolation is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism in trauma
      patients.

PMID- 26885991
TI  - Issues regarding patient assessment scores that focus on acid base changes in
      fracture patients.

PMID- 26885992
TI  - Hyperoxic resuscitation following hemorrhage: Good, harmless, or harmful?

PMID- 26885993
TI  - The state of the union: Nationwide absence of uniform guidelines for the
      prehospital use of tourniquets to control extremity exsanguination.
AB  - BACKGROUND: After the Sandy Hook shootings and the resulting Hartford Consensus,
      as well as the recent Boston Marathon bombing, the need for a uniform, detailed,
      and aggressive prehospital extremity exsanguination control protocol became
      clear. We hypothesized that most states within the United States lack a detailed
      uniform protocol. METHODS: We performed a systematic nationwide assessment of
      emergency medical services (EMS) prehospital extremity exsanguination control
      protocols. An online search (updated February 7, 2015) identified state-, region
      , or county-specific EMS protocols in all 50 states. If unavailable online,
      protocols were retrieved directly by contacting each state's Department of Public
      Health (or other appropriate agency). Two investigators independently screened
      each extremity exsanguination control protocol. Protocols were first grouped into
      three categories: I, tourniquet not mentioned; II, tourniquet mentioned, without
      specific guidance; III, tourniquet mentioned, with specific guidance related to
      type, indications, application technique, and safety concerns. Each protocol was
      then scored on a five-point scale for comparison. RESULTS: Forty-two states (84%)
      had statewide and 14 (28%) had at least one county-specific protocol. Seven
      states (16%) had no statewide protocol but at least one county-specific protocol
      (range, 1-10). Mississippi had neither statewide nor county-specific protocols.
      Of statewide protocols, 4 (9.5%) were in Category I, 23 (54.8%) in Category II,
      and 15 (35.7%) in Category III. The mean score for statewide tourniquets was
      2.4/5 (SD, 1.25; range, 0-5). Thirteen (31%) statewide protocols referred to
      "commercial" or "approved" tourniquets; only three (7%) recommended a particular
      commercial device. The mean score for the county-specific protocols of states
      with no statewide protocol was 3.10 (SD, 1.56; range, 0-5) CONCLUSIONS:
      Throughout the United States, there is considerable variability in EMS protocols
      addressing the management of extremity exsanguination and an alarming absence of
      specific guidance for tourniquet use. Most states do not have a uniform,
      detailed, and aggressive prehospital extremity exsanguination control protocol.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic and prognostic study, level III.

PMID- 26885994
TI  - Re: Hyperoxic resuscitation following hemorrhage: Good, harmless, or harmful?

PMID- 26885995
TI  - Contemporary outcomes of lower extremity vascular repairs extending below the
      knee: A multicenter retrospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcomes of vascular injury interventions extending
      below the knee. METHODS: Vascular injury repairs extending below the knee from
      January 2008 to December 2014 were collected from six American College of
      Surgeons Level I trauma centers. Demographics, management, and outcomes were
      collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 194 vascular injuries were
      identified. The mean age was 33.7 years, with 88.1% male, and 71.1% had blunt
      injury. Admission systolic blood pressure was less than 90 mm Hg in 10.8%;
      prehospital tourniquets were used in 5.6%. Median mangled extremity severity
      score (MESS) was 6.0 [interquartile range, 6]. Imaging used included computed
      tomography angiography (58.2%) and angiography (7.2%); with 66 (34.0%) proceeding
      directly to OR based on examination alone. Vascular interventions were conducted
      primarily by vascular (66.0%) and trauma (25.3%) surgeons at a median time from
      injury of 8 hours (interquartile range, 7 hours). Initial interventions included
      graft interposition (57.7%) with saphenous vein (111) or synthetic graft (1),
      primary repair (14.9%), endovascular stent-graft (1.5%), and patch angioplasty
      (2.1%). Fasciotomy was performed at initial operation in 41.8%, and for delayed
      compartment syndrome in 2.1%. Vascular reintervention was required in 20 patients
      (6.7%) for bleeding (seven patients) or thrombosis (13 patients). There was a
      higher reintervention rates for thrombosis among interposition grafts with distal
      anastomotic sites at the below-knee popliteal compared to those extending to the
      tibioperoneal trunk or distal trifurcation vessels, but this was not significant.
      (4/60, 6.7% vs. 6/49, 12.2%; p = 0.34). Postintervention amputation rates were
      significantly higher among interposition grafts extending distal to the popliteal
      (4/60 [6.7%] vs. 15/49 [30.6%]; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The management of
      vascular injuries extending below the knee remains a complex issue of extremity
      trauma care. The need for delayed amputation is significantly more common when
      revascularization below the distal popliteal artery is required. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic/care management
      study, level IV.

PMID- 26885996
TI  - Creation of a decision aid for goal setting after geriatric burns: a study from
      the prognostic assessment of life and limitations after trauma in the elderly
      [PALLIATE] consortium.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that a decision-support aid to predict index
      admission mortality and discharge disposition for geriatric burns could be
      constructed using the well-accepted Baux score (age +total body surface area
      burned) in a geriatric-specific cohort. METHODS: National Burn Repository version
      8.0 (2002-2011) was queried for all subjects aged 65 years or older. Baux scores
      were calculated and patients grouped into deciles. Three discharge outcomes
      (death,home, discharge to nonhome setting) were measured per decile. A receiver
      operating characteristic analysis was used to determine optimal Baux score
      cutpoints based on the Youden Index. The odds of mortality at various Baux score
      cutoffs were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The sample was
      composed of 8,001 subjects. Withdrawal of care was documented in 264 deaths;
      median time to withdrawal was three days. As Baux score increased, three peaks in
      disposition were seen. Less than 50% of patients with a Baux score of 80 or
      greater were discharged home. Patients with a moderate Baux score (80-130) had an
      increased likelihood of discharge to a nonhome setting. Baux scores of 130 or
      greater were nearly uniformly fatal (mortality, 94-100%). Baux score of 86.15 or
      less was predictive of discharge home (area under the curve, 0.698; sensitivity,
      75.28%; specificity, 54.64%), and a score greater than 93.3 was predictive of
      mortality (area under the curve, 0.779; sensitivity, 57.46%; specificity,
      87.08%). CONCLUSION: For geriatric patients whose Baux scores exceed 86, return
      to-home rates drop drastically; mortality increases at a score greater than 93,
      and mortality is nearly universal at a score >=130 or greater. We are piloting a
      display of these findings as a decision-making aid when setting goals of care
      with stakeholders after geriatric burns. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III; therapeutic/care management, level IV.

PMID- 26885997
TI  - Computed tomography abbreviated assessment of sarcopenia following trauma: The
      CAAST measurement predicts 6-month mortality in older adult trauma patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Older adult trauma patients are at increased risk of poor outcome,
      both immediately after injury and beyond hospital discharge. Identifying patients
      early in the hospital stay who are at increased risk of death after discharge can
      be challenging. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed using our trauma
      registry linked with the social security death index from 2010 to 2014. Age was
      categorized as 18 to 64 and 65 years or older. We calculated mortality rates by
      age category then selected elderly patients with mechanism of injury being a fall
      for further analysis. Computed Tomography Abbreviated Assessment of Sarcopenia
      for Trauma (CAAST) was obtained by measuring psoas muscle cross-sectional area
      adjusted for height and weight. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed, and
      proportional hazards regression modeling was used to determine independent risk
      factors for in-hospital and out-of-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 23,622
      patients were analyzed (16,748, aged 18-64 years; and 6,874, aged 65 or older).
      In-hospital mortality was 1.96% for ages 18 to 64 and 7.19% for age 65 or older
      (p < 0.001); postdischarge 6-month mortality was 1.1% for ages 18 to 64 and
      12.86% for age 65 or older (p < 0.001). Predictors of in-hospital and
      postdischarge mortality for ages 18 to 64 and in-hospital mortality for ages 65
      or older group included injury characteristics such as ISS, admission vitals, and
      head injury. Predictors of postdischarge mortality for age 65or older included
      skilled nursing before admission, disposition, and mechanism of injury being a
      fall. A total of 57.5% (n = 256) of older patients who sustained a fall met
      criteria for sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was the strongest predictor of out-of
      hospital mortality in this cohort with a hazard ratio of 4.77 (95% confidence
      interval, 2.71-8.40; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Out of hospital does not assure out
      of danger for the elderly. Sarcopenia is a strong predictor of 6-month
      postdischarge mortality for older adults. The CAAST measurement is an efficient
      and inexpensive measure that can allow clinicians to target older trauma patients
      at risk of poor outcome for early intervention and/or palliative care services.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.

PMID- 26885998
TI  - Contact isolation is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism in trauma patients.

PMID- 26885999
TI  - Re: Issues regarding patient assessment scores that focus on acid base changes in
      fracture patients.

PMID- 26886002
TI  - Acute traumatic coagulopathy in a critically injured pediatric population:
      Definition, trend over time, and outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While our understanding of acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) in
      adults is advancing, the pediatric literature on ATC is limited. Children have a
      unique injury profile and physiologic response to trauma; however, the impact of
      this phenomenon on ATC has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We performed a
      retrospective review of our trauma registry from 2005 to 2014. Level 1 trauma
      patients age 0 year to 17 years requiring admission to the intensive care unit
      were included. Variables included admission vital signs and laboratory studies,
      product transfusion, injuries, and mortality. Youden index was used to determine
      optimum cutoff point for admission international normalized ratio (INR) as a
      predictor of mortality. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine
      independent predictors of mortality adjusting for hypotension, hypothermia,
      acidosis, injury severity, hemorrhage, and head injury. chi tests were performed
      evaluating for association between mortality and 24-hour INR as well as between
      transfusion and INR correction. RESULTS: A total of 776 patients were analyzed:
      29.2% (n = 227) had an admission INR of 1.3 or greater, and 13.3% (n = 103) had
      an admission INR of 1.5 or greater. Youden index demonstrated optimum cutoff at
      INR of 1.3 or greater to distinguish survivors and nonsurvivors. Overall
      mortality rate was 11.1% (n = 86). Elevated INR was independently associated with
      mortality (odds ratio, 3.77; p < 0.001) after controlling for other predictors in
      regression modeling. Death was also associated with elevated INR at 24 hours and
      worsening INR trend over time. Patients who received plasma were equally likely
      to normalize their INR compared with those who were not transfused (p =
      nonsignificant). Findings were consistent across age groups. CONCLUSION: INR
      likely serves as a marker of systemic dysregulation rather than a treatment
      target in ATC. Elevated admission INR, elevated INR at 24 hours, and overall
      trend in INR strongly predict mortality in a diverse pediatric trauma population;
      however, product transfusion did not influence the INR trend or clinical outcome.
      Further research is warranted to evaluate potential upstream mediators of ATC and
      targets for intervention in pediatric trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.

PMID- 26886001
TI  - Pattern of law enforcement-related injuries in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The pattern of law enforcement-related injuries of police and
      civilians in the United States is unknown. METHODS: Data were aggregated from the
      Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Centers
      for Disease Control (CDC) Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System,
      and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2003 to 2011. Law enforcement
      related injuries in the CDC Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting
      System and the NIS were identified using E-codes 970-976, which are meant to
      identify "injuries inflicted by the police or other law-enforcing agents,
      including military on duty, in the course of arresting or attempting to arrest
      lawbreakers, suppressing disturbances, maintaining order, and other legal
      action." RESULTS: The CDC reported a total of 715,118 nonfatal injuries and 3,156
      fatal injuries from 2003 to 2011. In contrast, for the same period, the NIS
      identified a total of 3,958 patients, ranging from 348 to 572 per year. Among the
      injured, 1,548 (48.0%) were white, 866 were black (26.8%), and 605 were Hispanic
      (18.8%); 1,011 patients (25.5%) were injured by firearms, while 2,304 (58.2%)
      experienced blows or manhandling. Firearm-injured hospitalized patients are more
      likely to be male, black or Hispanics, and in the age group of 18 years to 39
      years. CONCLUSION: The majority of law enforcement-related injuries are among
      white or black young men. Hispanic patients are more likely to be injured by a
      firearm than struck. When injured by firearm, white and black patients are more
      likely to die compared with Hispanic patients. Unfortunately, data about these
      injuries are scattered across multiple data systems. A uniform national system to
      aggregate these data sources is needed to better understand the scope of the
      problem, for both law enforcement personnel and civilians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Epidemiologic study, level III.

PMID- 26886000
TI  - Not all prehospital time is equal: Influence of scene time on mortality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trauma is time sensitive, and minimizing prehospital (PH) time is
      appealing. However, most studies have not linked increasing PH time with worse
      outcomes because raw PH times are highly variable. It is unclear whether specific
      PH time patterns affect outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the association
      of PH time interval distribution with mortality. METHODS: Patients transported by
      emergency medical services in the Pennsylvania trauma registry from 2000 to 2013
      with a total PH time (TPT) of 20 minutes or longer were included. TPT was divided
      into three PH time intervals: response, scene, and transport time. The number of
      minutes in each PH time interval was divided by TPT to determine the relative
      proportion each interval contributed to TPT. A prolonged interval was defined as
      any one PH interval contributing equal to or greater than 50% of TPT. Patients
      were classified by prolonged PH interval or no prolonged PH interval (all
      intervals < 50% of TPT). Patients were matched for TPT, and conditional logistic
      regression determined the association of mortality with PH time pattern,
      controlling for confounders. PH interventions were explored as potential
      mediators, and PH triage criteria used identify patients with time-sensitive
      injuries. RESULTS: There were 164,471 patients included. Patients with prolonged
      scene time had increased odds of mortality (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.02-1.44; p = 0.03). Prolonged response, transport, and no prolonged
      interval were not associated with mortality. When adjusting for mediators
      including extrication and PH intubation, prolonged scene time was no longer
      associated with mortality (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.25;
      p = 0.50). Together, these factors mediated 61% of the effect between prolonged
      scene time and mortality. Mortality remained associated with prolonged scene time
      in patients with hypotension, penetrating injury, and flail chest. CONCLUSION:
      Prolonged scene time is associated with increased mortality. PH interventions
      partially mediate this association. Further study should evaluate whether these
      interventions drive increased mortality because they prolong scene time or by
      another mechanism, as reducing scene time may be a target for intervention. LEVEL
      OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.

PMID- 26886003
TI  - The painful truth: The documentation burden of a trauma surgeon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Implementation of the electronic medical record (EMR) has introduced
      several unintended consequences, including increased documentation demands. The
      purpose of this study was to define the EMR documentation burden and its economic
      impact at a busy regional Level I trauma center, comparing attending trauma
      surgeons (TSs) with orthopedic surgeons (OSs), and neurosurgeons (NSs). METHODS:
      The EMR was queried to determine the number of attending documentation entries
      during 2014 for TS, OS, and NS. The eight TSs were then surveyed to estimate the
      time it took to write each note type, and this was used to calculate the total
      time needed for documentation. The hospital financial database was queried for
      2014 hospital charges and work relative value units (WRVUs) for TSs, OSs, and NSs
      to generate a comparison. The charges and WRVUs were broken down into those
      generated from nonprocedural documentation and procedures. RESULTS: During 2014,
      there were 5,864 trauma activations with 3,111 patient admissions. The attending
      TSs wrote a total of 26,455 documentation entries. Of these notes, 92% were from
      inpatients, and 74% were progress notes. Documentation time estimates for TSs
      demonstrated that it took 1,760.5 hours or 73.3 twenty-four-hour days to complete
      these 26,455 notes. Financial data revealed that 44% of the TS charges were
      directly related to nonprocedural documentation, compared with 14% for OSs and 7%
      for NSs. Evaluation of WRVUs demonstrated that 55% of the TS WRVUs were directly
      related to nonprocedural documentation, compared with 28% for OSs and 19% for
      NSs. CONCLUSION: The EMR has introduced a significant documentation burden to the
      busy TSs. This documentation burden is critical for defining hospital charges and
      WRVUs, and it differs from that of OSs and NSs. Workflow changes, such as the
      introduction of scribes, may lessen the documentation burden and improve hospital
      charges and WRVUs of the TSs.

PMID- 26886004
TI  - Valproic acid-mediated myocardial protection of acute hemorrhagic rat via the BCL
      2 pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemorrhage is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among trauma
      patients. The pathophysiologic changes following acute severe hemorrhage and
      tissue hypoxia lead to an imbalance of protein acetylation. Histone deacetylase
      inhibitors (HDACIs) were reported to restore the acetylation imbalance and serve
      as potential drugs for treating severe hemorrhage. However, the molecular
      mechanism of HDACI-mediated cytoprotection remains unclear. In this study, we
      examined the myocardial protective effects and respective mechanism of the HDACI
      valproic acid (VPA) administered during hemorrhagic and hypoxic stress in vivo
      and in vitro. METHODS: In vivo, the therapeutic effect of VPA was evaluated in
      acute severe hemorrhagic rats, and the expressions of BCL-2 signal pathway
      molecules were observed in rat heart tissues. To explore the molecular mechanism
      of VPA-mediated myocardial protection, a cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced hypoxia
      model of rat H9c2 cardiomyoblasts was applied to mimic hypoxic injury raised by
      acute hemorrhage. RESULTS: VPA administration significantly improved the 4-hour
      survival rate of hemorrhagic animals from 55% to 100% and protected H9c2 cells
      against CoCl2-induced hypoxic injury at a dose of between 12.5 MUM and 100 MUM.
      Increased expression of BCL-2 messenger RNA was observed following VPA treatment
      in the heart tissues of hemorrhagic rats (approximately 4.9-fold) and in H9c2
      cells that survived CoCl2-induced hypoxia (approximately 4.9-fold). Western blot
      analysis showed a concomitant increase in BCL-2 protein expression and Akt
      phosphorylation following VPA treatment. The cytoprotective activity of VPA was
      diminished by triciribine-mediated inhibition of Akt activation and by silencing
      of BCL-2 gene expression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that VPA protects
      myocardial cells from hemorrhagic and hypoxic stress through the Akt/BCL-2
      survival pathway, indicating a potential use of HDACIs for acute severe
      hemorrhage treatment.

PMID- 26886005
TI  - When children become adults and adults become most hypercoagulable after trauma:
      An assessment of admission hypercoagulability by rapid thrombelastography and
      venous thromboembolic risk.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thrombelastography (TEG) maximal amplitude (mA) has also been shown
      to reflect hypercoagulability and increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in
      adult trauma patients. Based on these previous works, we sought to identify when
      children become adults with respect to TEG mA values and whether this correlated
      with VTE risk. METHODS: We evaluated all trauma patients admitted from January
      2010 to December 2013 who were highest-level activations. Age was evaluated as a
      continuous variable, followed by a categorical evaluation. TEG mA values were
      evaluated as continuous and dichotomous (hypercoagulable, mA >= 65 mm). Logistic
      regression was then constructed controlling for age categories, sex, and injury
      severity to assess the association with TEG mA values and VTE risk. RESULTS: A
      total of 7,194 Level 1 trauma patients were admitted during this time frame (819
      were <18 years of age). The likelihood of mA equal to or greater than 65 mm
      remained at 35% to 37% through age 30 years with significant increases observed
      at ages 31 years to 35 years (45%) and 46 years to 50 years (49%), both p < 0.01.
      When controlling for injury severity, race, and sex, logistic regression
      demonstrated that every 5-year increase in age (after age 30 years) was
      associated with a 16% increased likelihood of hypercoagulability at admission.
      Beginning with age 1 year, VTE risk remained at 1.5% or less until age 13 years
      where it increased to 2.3%, increasing again at age 15 years to 5.1%. Two
      additional significant increases were identified between ages 31 years and 35
      years (5.5%) as well as 46 years and 50 years (7.6%), both p < 0.001. Logistic
      regression demonstrated a 3.4-fold increased risk for VTE among those aged 31
      years to 50 years compared with those who are younger than 30 years. The same
      model noted a 2.3-fold increased risk compared with those who are older than 50
      years. CONCLUSION: Beginning at age 13 years, children transition toward adult
      hypercoagulability, as evidenced by elevated TEG mA values and VTE risk. However,
      the greatest VTE risk (and highest likelihood of hypercoagulable mA) is among
      those adults 31 years to 50 years of age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and
      epidemiologic study, level III.

PMID- 26886006
TI  - Object Recognition in Flight: How Do Bees Distinguish between 3D Shapes?
AB  - Honeybees (Apis mellifera) discriminate multiple object features such as colour,
      pattern and 2D shape, but it remains unknown whether and how bees recover three
      dimensional shape. Here we show that bees can recognize objects by their three
      dimensional form, whereby they employ an active strategy to uncover the depth
      profiles. We trained individual, free flying honeybees to collect sugar water
      from small three-dimensional objects made of styrofoam (sphere, cylinder,
      cuboids) or folded paper (convex, concave, planar) and found that bees can easily
      discriminate between these stimuli. We also tested possible strategies employed
      by the bees to uncover the depth profiles. For the card stimuli, we excluded
      overall shape and pictorial features (shading, texture gradients) as cues for
      discrimination. Lacking sufficient stereo vision, bees are known to use speed
      gradients in optic flow to detect edges; could the bees apply this strategy also
      to recover the fine details of a surface depth profile? Analysing the bees'
      flight tracks in front of the stimuli revealed specific combinations of flight
      maneuvers (lateral translations in combination with yaw rotations), which are
      particularly suitable to extract depth cues from motion parallax. We modelled the
      generated optic flow and found characteristic patterns of angular displacement
      corresponding to the depth profiles of our stimuli: optic flow patterns from pure
      translations successfully recovered depth relations from the magnitude of angular
      displacements, additional rotation provided robust depth information based on the
      direction of the displacements; thus, the bees flight maneuvers may reflect an
      optimized visuo-motor strategy to extract depth structure from motion signals.
      The robustness and simplicity of this strategy offers an efficient solution for
      3D-object-recognition without stereo vision, and could be employed by other
      flying insects, or mobile robots. 

PMID- 26886007
TI  - Isolating Influenza RNA from Clinical Samples Using Microfluidic Oil-Water
      Interfaces.
AB  - The effective and robust separation of biomolecules of interest from patient
      samples is an essential step in diagnostic applications. We present a platform
      for the fast extraction of nucleic acids from clinical specimens utilizing
      paramagnetic PMPs, an oil-water interface, a small permanent magnet and a
      microfluidic channel to separate and purify captured nucleic acids from lysate in
      less than one minute, circumventing the need for multiple washing steps and
      greatly simplifying and expediting the purification procedure. Our device was
      able to isolate influenza RNA from clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples with high
      efficiency when compared to the Ambion(r) MagMAXTM Viral RNA Isolation Kit,
      sufficiently separating nucleic acid analytes from PCR-inhibiting contaminants
      within the lysate while also critically maintaining high integrity of the viral
      genome. We find that this design has great potential for rapid, efficient and
      sensitive nucleic acid separation from patient sample. 

PMID- 26886008
TI  - Estrogen Deficiency Leads to Further Bone Loss in the Mandible of CKD Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been regarded as a grave public
      health problem. Estrogen is a critical factor for both renal protection and bone
      remodeling. Our previous study demonstrated that CKD impairs the healing of
      titanium implants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of
      estrogen deficiency on the mandibular bone in CKD mice. METHODS: Forty eleven
      week-old female C57BL mice were used in this study. Uremia and estrogen
      deficiency were induced by 5/6 nephrectomy and ovariectomy (OVX), respectively.
      After 8 weeks, the mice were sacrificed, and their mandibles were collected for
      micro-CT analysis and histological examination. RESULTS: All the mice survived
      the experimental period. Serum measurements confirmed a significant increase in
      BUN in the CKD group that was further increased by OVX. OVX led to significant
      decreases in both the BV/TV and cortical thickness of the mandibular bone in CKD
      mice. CONCLUSION: In summary, our findings indicate that estrogen deficiency
      leads to further mandibular bone loss in CKD mice.

PMID- 26886009
TI  - Predictors of Extubation Success in Patients with Posterior Fossa Strokes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Posterior fossa stroke is unique in its presentation and outcomes, and
      mechanical ventilation is commonly used in the management of these patients. We
      aimed to identify predictors of extubation success in patients with posterior
      fossa stroke, who require mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: We included consecutive
      adult patients admitted to the neurosciences ICU from January 2003 to December
      2012. Extubation failure was defined as re-intubation within 7 days of
      extubation. A modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3 was considered a good outcome.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified 150 patients with mean age of 65 +/-
      15.7 years with posterior fossa strokes; 77 (51 %) were hemorrhagic, and 73 (49
      %) were ischemic. The most common reason for intubation was depressed
      consciousness (54 %). Fifty-two (35 %) were successfully extubated, 18 (12 %)
      failed extubation, 17 (11 %) patients had tracheostomy without attempted
      extubation, and 63 (42 %) were transitioned to palliative care prior to
      extubation. In the logistic regression analysis, controlling for transition to
      palliative care, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score >6 at the time of intubation (p =
      0.020), mechanical ventilation for less than 7 days (p = 0.004), and surgical
      evacuation of a hematoma (p = 0.058) were independently associated with
      successful extubation. The presence of cough, gag reflex, and absence of
      pneumonia/atelectasis were not associated with successful extubation. Success of
      extubation predicted a good outcome at hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In
      posterior fossa stroke patients with a GCS <= 6 at the time of intubation and who
      remain intubated for more than 1 week, extubation is less likely to be
      successful, and tracheostomy should be considered.

PMID- 26886010
TI  - Controlled Hypercapnia Enhances Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain Tissue Oxygenation
      After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Results of a Phase 1 Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated if cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation by
      changes of the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can be used
      therapeutically to increase CBF and improve neurological outcome after
      subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: In 12 mechanically ventilated poor-grade
      SAH-patients, a daily trial intervention was performed between day 4 and 14.
      During this intervention, PaCO2 was decreased to 30 mmHg and then gradually
      increased to 40, 50, and 60 mmHg in 15-min intervals by modifications of the
      respiratory minute volume. CBF and brain tissue oxygen saturation (StiO2) were
      the primary and secondary endpoints. Intracranial pressure was controlled by an
      external ventricular drainage. RESULTS: CBF reproducibly decreased during
      hyperventilation and increased to a maximum of 141 +/- 53 % of baseline during
      hypercapnia (PaCO2 60 mmHg) on all days between day 4 and 14 after SAH.
      Similarly, StiO2 increased during hypercapnia. CBF remained elevated within the
      first hour after resetting ventilation to baseline parameters and no rebound
      effect was observed within this time-span. PaCO2-reactivities of CBF and StiO2
      were highest between 30 and 50 mmHg and slightly decreased at higher levels.
      CONCLUSION: CBF and StiO2 reproducibly increased by controlled hypercapnia of up
      to 60 mmHg even during the period of the maximum expected vasospasm. The absence
      of a rebound effect within the first hour after hypercapnia indicates that an
      improvement of the protocol is possible. The intervention may yield a therapeutic
      potential to prevent ischemic deficits after aneurysmal SAH.

PMID- 26886011
TI  - First-line therapy for treatment-naive patients with advanced/metastatic renal
      cell carcinoma: a systematic review of published randomized controlled trials.
AB  - In the recent years, a number of targeted therapies have been approved for first
      line treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A systematic
      review was conducted to assess the clinical efficacy, safety and effect of all
      first-line treatments evaluated to date on health-related quality of life
      (HRQoL). A systematic search of Embase, Cochrane and MEDLINE databases was
      performed to identify randomized controlled trials (1980-2015) evaluating any
      targeted therapy/immunotherapy against placebo or any other targeted
      intervention/immunotherapy in treatment-naive patients with metastatic renal cell
      carcinoma. Conference proceedings from major cancer congresses (2007-2015) were
      handsearched. Sixteen randomized controlled trials were identified, mostly phase
      III. Overall, targeted therapies were associated with either improved [sunitinib,
      bevacizumab+interferon alpha (IFNalpha) and temsirolimus] or comparable
      (sorafenib) progression-free survival (PFS) versus IFNalpha monotherapy.
      Sunitinib demonstrated comparable PFS and overall survival to pazopanib,
      comparable PFS to sorafenib and shorter PFS compared with bevacizumab+IFNalpha
      (although no conclusions were made with regard to superiority/inferiority).
      Compared with sorafenib, tivozanib demonstrated a significantly longer PFS, and
      both tivozanib and axitinib demonstrated higher response rates. Nintedanib
      demonstrated comparable PFS and overall survival to sunitinib in a phase II
      trial. Temsirolimus, sunitinib and sorafenib treatment led to better HRQoL versus
      IFNalpha; pazopanib was associated with better HRQoL versus sunitinib. No direct
      meta-analyses or indirect treatment comparison analysis were undertaken because
      of noncomparability of the trials. In general, targeted therapies demonstrated
      favourable clinical efficacy and improved HRQoL compared with IFNalpha
      monotherapy. The newer therapies, tivozanib and axitinib (but not nintedanib),
      appeared to exhibit greater clinical benefit (response rate) than older tyrosine
      kinase inhibitors. 

PMID- 26886012
TI  - Proposed technique for open repair of a small umbilical hernia and rectus
      divarication with self-gripping mesh.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There are a group of patients in which umbilical or epigastric
      hernias co-exist with rectus divarication. These patients have weak abdominal
      musculature and are likely to pose a higher risk of recurrence following
      umbilical hernia repair. We would like to describe a technique for open repair of
      small (<4 cm) midline hernias in patients with co-existing rectus divarication
      using self-adhesive synthetic mesh. The use of a self-adhesive mesh avoids the
      need for suture fixation of the mesh in the superior portion of the abdomen,
      allowing for a smaller skin incision. RESULTS: In 173 patients, preperitoneal
      self-fixating mesh has been used for the repair of midline hernias <4 cm in
      diameter. In 58 of these patients, the mesh was extended superiorly to reinforce
      a concurrent divarication. DISCUSSION: The described technique offers a simple
      option for open repair of small midline hernias in patients with co-existing
      rectus divarication, to decrease the risk of upper midline recurrence in an at
      risk patient group. This initial case series is able to demonstrate a suitably
      low rate of recurrence and complications.

PMID- 26886013
TI  - The use of Vicryl mesh in a porcine model to assess its safety as an adjunct to
      posterior fascial closure during retromuscular mesh placement.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Posterior component separation has become a common approach to
      complex abdominal wall reconstructions. This technique includes creation of an
      extraperitoneal retromuscular space for subsequent large synthetic mesh
      reinforcement. In certain cases, when complete restoration of "posterior" layer
      is precluded by significant tissue loss/damage, one proposed strategy is to
      replace the posterior fascia with an absorbable synthetic polyglactin (Vicryl)
      mesh. However, the safety of this strategy to prevent mesh-related visceral
      complication is unknown. Herein, we aimed to characterize mesh-viscera adhesion
      profiles and host tissue response of synthetic mesh either exposed directly to
      the viscera, or protected with Vicryl mesh. METHODS: Using adult Yorkshire pigs,
      5 * 5 cm pieces of mesh were secured to the intact peritoneum in each of the four
      quadrants (n = 6 pigs, 24 mesh samples). The study groups were Vicryl (V), Marlex
      (M), Softmesh (S), Marlex + Vicryl construct (MV), Softmesh + Vicryl construct
      (SV). The self-made composite meshes were then implanted with the Vicryl side
      facing the exposed viscera. The pigs were survived for 60 days. At necropsy,
      grossly, the extent and tenacity of visceral adhesions were evaluated using
      established scales. Histologically, all specimens for fibrous encapsulation on
      the visceral surface of the mesh were reviewed by an experienced pathologist
      blind to meshes used. RESULTS: At necropsy, all Vicryl meshes were completely
      resorbed. The mean adhesion and tenacity scores for M and MV were 1.8 and 1.1 (P
      > 0.05), 2.0 and 1.5 (P > 0.05), respectively; while the mean adhesion extent
      scores and tenacity scores for S and SV were 2.0 and 1.2 (P > 0.05), 2.0 and 1.7
      (P > 0.05). No significant difference in adhesion extent and tenacity was
      observed between Synthetic and Vicryl composite mesh groups. Histologically,
      Marlex + Vicryl mesh and Softmesh + Vicryl mesh constructs had thicker fibrous
      capsules than the corresponding unprotected Marlex and Soft mesh implants.
      Furthermore, visceral adhesions in the composite groups were noted to be to the
      fibrous capsule and not synthetic mesh itself. CONCLUSION: Utilization of the
      absorbable polyglactin (Vicryl) mesh as a separating layer between a synthetic
      mesh and intestines, did not reduce adhesions across various mesh types and
      composites. Histologically, however, a thick fibrous capsule replaced the Vicryl
      mesh and may be an important layer to prevent intestinal erosion into
      retromuscular synthetic meshes.

PMID- 26886014
TI  - Robust Classification of Small-Molecule Mechanism of Action Using a Minimalist
      High-Content Microscopy Screen and Multidimensional Phenotypic Trajectory
      Analysis.
AB  - Phenotypic screening through high-content automated microscopy is a powerful tool
      for evaluating the mechanism of action of candidate therapeutics. Despite more
      than a decade of development, however, high content assays have yielded mixed
      results, identifying robust phenotypes in only a small subset of compound
      classes. This has led to a combinatorial explosion of assay techniques, analyzing
      cellular phenotypes across dozens of assays with hundreds of measurements. Here,
      using a minimalist three-stain assay and only 23 basic cellular measurements, we
      developed an analytical approach that leverages informative dimensions extracted
      by linear discriminant analysis to evaluate similarity between the phenotypic
      trajectories of different compounds in response to a range of doses. This method
      enabled us to visualize biologically-interpretable phenotypic tracks populated by
      compounds of similar mechanism of action, cluster compounds according to
      phenotypic similarity, and classify novel compounds by comparing them to
      phenotypically active exemplars. Hierarchical clustering applied to 154 compounds
      from over a dozen different mechanistic classes demonstrated tight agreement with
      published compound mechanism classification. Using 11 phenotypically active
      mechanism classes, classification was performed on all 154 compounds: 78% were
      correctly identified as belonging to one of the 11 exemplar classes or to a
      different unspecified class, with accuracy increasing to 89% when less
      phenotypically active compounds were excluded. Importantly, several apparent
      clustering and classification failures, including rigosertib and 5-fluoro-2'
      deoxycytidine, instead revealed more complex mechanisms or off-target effects
      verified by more recent publications. These results show that a simple, easily
      replicated, minimalist high-content assay can reveal subtle variations in the
      cellular phenotype induced by compounds and can correctly predict mechanism of
      action, as long as the appropriate analytical tools are used. 

PMID- 26886015
TI  - Finding the needle in a haystack: identification of cases of Lynch syndrome with
      MLH1 epimutation.
AB  - Constitutional epimutation of the DNA mismatch repair gene, MLH1, represents a
      minor cause of Lynch syndrome. MLH1 epimutations are characterized by the soma
      wide distribution of methylation of a single allele of the MLH1 promoter
      accompanied by constitutive allelic loss of transcription. 'Primary' MLH1
      epimutations, considered pure epigenetic defects, tend to arise de novo in
      patients without a family history or any apparent genetic mutation. These
      demonstrate non-Mendelian inheritance. 'Secondary' MLH1 epimutations have a
      genetic basis and have been linked to non-coding genetic alterations in the
      vicinity of MLH1. These demonstrate autosomal dominant inheritance. Despite
      convincing evidence of their role in causing Lynch-type cancers, routine
      screening for MLH1 epimutations has not been widely adopted. Complicating factors
      may include: the need to perform additional methylation-based testing beyond the
      standard genetic screening for a germline mutation; the lack of a consensus
      algorithm for the selection of patients warranting MLH1 epimutation testing;
      overlapping molecular pathology features of MLH1 methylation and loss of MLH1
      expression with more prevalent sporadic MSI cancers; the rarity of MLH1
      epimutation; the variable inter-generational inheritance patterns; and the cost
      effectiveness of screening. Nevertheless, a positive molecular diagnosis of MLH1
      epimutation is clinically important because carriers have a high personal risk of
      developing metachronous Lynch-type cancers, and their relatives may also be at
      risk of carriage. Extending existing universal and clinic-based screening
      algorithms for Lynch syndrome to include an additional arm of selection criteria
      for cases warranting MLH1 epimutation testing could provide a cost-effective
      means of diagnosing these cases.

PMID- 26886016
TI  - A phase 1b study of erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel
      in patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer: an Academic
      Oncology GI Cancer Consortium study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Addition of either nab-paclitaxel or erlotinib to gemcitabine to treat
      advanced pancreatic cancer has demonstrated overall survival benefit. This study
      was conducted to evaluate the tolerability and safety of combining all three
      drugs and assess preliminary evidence of efficacy. METHODS: In this open-label,
      phase 1b study, patients with previously untreated, advanced pancreatic cancer
      were treated in 28-day cycles with intravenous gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel on days
      1, 8, and 15, and once daily oral erlotinib. A standard "3 + 3" design was used.
      Dose level 1 (DL1) for gemcitabine (mg/m(2))/nab-paclitaxel (mg/m(2))/erlotinib
      (mg) was 1000/125/100, respectively, with de-escalation to DL-1 (1000/100/100),
      DL-2b (1000/75/100), and DL-3 (1000/75/75). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was
      defined by occurrence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in <=1 of six patients
      within the first cycle. Efficacy was assessed with CT scans performed at two
      cycle intervals. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled. DLTs occurred in two
      patients at DL1, three patients at DL-1, two patients at DL-2b, and one patient
      at DL-3. The MTD for the combination of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel/erlotinib was
      DL-3 (1000/75/75). In analyses of efficacy among 14 evaluable patients, partial
      responses were observed in four of six patients at DL1, one of two patients at DL
      2b, and two of six patients at DL-3. CONCLUSION: The addition of erlotinib to
      gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel is not tolerable at standard single-agent dosing
      of all drugs. However, significant clinical activity was noted, even at DL-3.
      Further study of the combination will need to incorporate reduced dosing.

PMID- 26886017
TI  - Trajectory of absolute neutrophil counts in patients treated with pegfilgrastim
      on the day of chemotherapy versus the day after chemotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Risk of infection increases with severity and duration of chemotherapy
      induced neutropenia (CIN). Pegfilgrastim is approved for use on the day after
      chemotherapy to reduce incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile
      neutropenia (FN), in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In this
      study, we compared severity and duration of absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
      suppression in patients who received pegfilgrastim on the same day as
      chemotherapy versus the next day. METHODS: We combined individual patient data
      from four Amgen-sponsored clinical trials in which patients with cancer were
      randomized to receive pegfilgrastim either the same day as chemotherapy or the
      next day. Severity and duration of ANC suppression were calculated using area
      over the curve (AOC, the area over the ANC-time response curve and below a given
      clinical threshold). AOC of ANC and incidences of CIN and FN were compared by day
      of pegfilgrastim use. RESULTS: The analysis included 95 same-day patients and 97
      next-day patients. Despite similar ANC at baseline, ANC at nadir was higher among
      next-day patients than same-day patients. Mean AOC of ANC (cutoff 0.5 * 10(9)/L)
      among next-day patients was lower by 0.30 (95 % confidence interval: 0.16, 0.43)
      10(9)/L * day than same-day patients in cycle 1. Next-day patients had lower
      incidences of CIN than same-day patients, but there were no significant
      differences in incidences of FN. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received pegfilgrastim
      the day after chemotherapy had less severe and shorter suppression of ANC than
      patients who received pegfilgrastim the same day as chemotherapy.

PMID- 26886018
TI  - Platinum-based drugs: past, present and future.
AB  - Platinum-based drugs cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are widely used in
      the therapy of human neoplasms. Their clinical success is, however, limited due
      to severe side effects and intrinsic or acquired resistance to the treatment.
      Much effort has been put into the development of new platinum anticancer
      complexes, but none of them has reached worldwide clinical application so far.
      Nedaplatin, lobaplatin and heptaplatin received only regional approval. Some new
      platinum complexes and platinum drug formulations are undergoing clinical trials.
      Here, we review the main classes of new platinum drug candidates, such as
      sterically hindered complexes, monofunctional platinum drugs, complexes with
      biologically active ligands, trans-configured and polynuclear platinum complexes,
      platinum(IV) prodrugs and platinum-based drug delivery systems. For each class of
      compounds, a detailed overview of the mechanism of action is given, the
      cytotoxicity is compared to that of the clinically used platinum drugs, and the
      clinical perspectives are discussed. A critical analysis of lessons to be learned
      is presented. Finally, a general outlook regarding future directions in the field
      of new platinum drugs is given. 

PMID- 26886019
TI  - A retrospective review of the type of anaesthesia used for LLETZ: proposal for a
      categorisation audit tool.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) is the most
      common form of treatment for cervical pre-cancer. The majority of procedures
      should be performed under local anaesthesia (LA) in an outpatient setting. AIM:
      To review the reasons behind choice of general anaesthesia (GA) for LLETZ and to
      devise a categorisation tool for audit purposes. METHODS: Review of the type of
      anaesthesia and histopathological findings for all cases of LLETZ performed at
      Wexford General Hospital between January 2010 and June 2013 inclusive. RESULTS:
      Of the 970 cases reviewed, 829 (85.5 %) were performed under LA and 141 (14.5 %)
      under GA. In five of the 141 GA cases the indication could not be established.
      The remaining 136 cases could be classified into three categories based on their
      indications for choosing GA: Category I: 46 cases (33.8 %) where there was
      associated pathology requiring treatment under GA. Category II: 56 cases (41.2 %)
      where the colposcopist anticipated difficulty with the procedure and decided on
      GA. Category III: 34 remaining cases (25 %), where GA was requested by the
      patient. During the study period the GA rate decreased significantly from 19.4 to
      10 % due to a decrease in category II numbers. Higher rates of complete excision
      of pre-cancer were not found in the GA group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of GA for
      LLETZ rarely confers benefits in terms of diagnostic or therapeutic quality
      indicators. The categorisation we propose is a simple audit tool that could be
      adopted by all colposcopy units to reduce the rate of GA.

PMID- 26886021
TI  - Targeting Nonsense Mutations in Diseases with Translational Read-Through-Inducing
      Drugs (TRIDs).
AB  - In recent years, remarkable advances in the ability to diagnose genetic disorders
      have been made. The identification of disease-causing genes allows the
      development of gene-specific therapies with the ultimate goal to develop
      personalized medicines for each patient according to their own specific genetic
      defect. In-depth genotyping of many different genes has revealed that ~12% of
      inherited genetic disorders are caused by in-frame nonsense mutations. Nonsense
      (non-coding) mutations are caused by point mutations, which generate premature
      termination codons (PTCs) that cause premature translational termination of the
      mRNA, and subsequently inhibit normal full-length protein expression. Recently, a
      gene-based therapeutic approach for genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations
      has emerged, namely the so-called translational read-through (TR) therapy. Read
      through therapy is based on the discovery that small molecules, known as TR
      inducing drugs (TRIDs), allow the translation machinery to suppress a nonsense
      codon, elongate the nascent peptide chain, and consequently result in the
      synthesis of full-length protein. Several TRIDs are currently under investigation
      and research has been performed on several genetic disorders caused by nonsense
      mutations over the years. These findings have raised hope for the usage of TR
      therapy as a gene-based pharmacogenetic therapy for nonsense mutations in various
      genes responsible for a variety of genetic diseases.

PMID- 26886020
TI  - Advances in the management of severe aortic stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent developments in the management of severe aortic stenosis have
      resulted in a paradigm shift in the way we view the condition. Patients
      previously denied intervention in the form of surgical aortic valve replacement
      (SAVR) are now candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation and the
      risk and age profiles of those undergoing SAVR are rising with the ageing
      population. This review article is designed to provide an overview of
      developments in the surgical management of severe aortic stenosis. We also
      discuss the expanding role of minimally invasive surgical approaches to outline
      the current techniques available to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis.
      METHODS: PubMed was searched using the terms 'severe aortic stenosis', 'surgical
      aortic valve replacement', 'transcatheter aortic valve replacement', 'mechanical
      aortic valve replacement' and 'sutureless aortic valve replacement'. Selection of
      articles was based on peer review, journal and relevance. Where possible articles
      from high-impact factor peer review journals were included. RESULTS: Minimally
      invasive operative approaches include mini-sternotomy and mini-thoracotomy.
      Sutureless aortic prostheses reduce aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary
      bypass time; however, long-term follow-up data are unavailable at this time.
      Mechanical prostheses are advised for those under 60. CONCLUSION: Multiple
      advances in the surgical management of aortic stenosis have occured in the past
      decade. An evolving spectrum of surgical and transcatheter interventions is now
      available depending on patient age and operative risk.

PMID- 26886023
TI  - Pharmacological or Genetic Activation of Hsp70 Protects against Loss of Parkin
      Function.
AB  - Mutations of parkin are a prevalent genetic contributor to familial Parkinson's
      disease (PD). As a key regulator of protein and mitochondrial homeostasis, parkin
      plays a pivotal role in maintaining dopaminergic neuronal survival. However,
      whereas Drosophila parkin null mutants exhibit prominent parkinsonian features,
      parkin-deficient mice generally lack an overt phenotype. Here, we found that the
      expression of Hsp70 along with several other members of the chaperone family is
      elevated in parkin null mice, suggesting a possible compensatory mechanism for
      the loss of parkin function in these mice that could have masked their phenotype.
      Supporting this, we demonstrate that the enhancement of chaperone function
      induced either pharmacologically via 17-AAG treatment or genetically via Hsp70
      overexpression can protect cells against proteolytic and mitochondrial stress in
      a manner that is similar to that brought about by parkin overexpression.
      Importantly, we further showed that enhanced chaperone activity can ameliorate
      the pathological phenotypes in Drosophila parkin null mutants, which suggests the
      ability of chaperones to phenocopy parkin function. Taken together, our results
      suggest that Hsp members may act as compensatory factors for parkin loss of
      function and that the exploitation of these factors may be of potential
      therapeutic value.

PMID- 26886025
TI  - Importance of immunisation of elderly subjects before immunosuppressive
      treatment.

PMID- 26886026
TI  - Parents' reactions to testing for herpes simplex virus type 2 as a biomarker of
      sexual activity in Botswana junior secondary school students.
AB  - Background Use of sexual activity biomarkers in HIV prevention trials has been
      widely supported to validate self-reported data. When such trials involve minors,
      researchers may face challenges in obtaining parental buy-in, especially if
      return of results procedures uphold the confidentiality and privacy rights of
      minors and preclude parental access to test results. In preparation for a
      randomised controlled trial (RCT) with junior secondary school (JSS) students in
      Botswana, a formative assessment was conducted to assess parents' opinions and
      concerns about testing for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (biomarker of
      sexual activity) as part of the RCT. METHODS: Six focus groups were held with
      parents (n=32) of JSS students from urban, peri-urban and rural communities.
      Parents were asked their opinions of students being tested for HSV-2 and
      procedures for blood sample collection and return of results. RESULTS: Overall,
      parents were supportive of HSV-2 testing, which they thought was a beneficial
      sexual health resource for adolescents and parents, and a motivation for parent
      child communication about HSV-2, sexual activity and sexual abuse. Some parents
      supported the proposed plan to disclose HSV-2 test results to adolescents only,
      citing the importance of adolescent privacy and the possibility of HSV-2 positive
      adolescents being stigmatised by family members. Conversely, opposing parents
      requested parental access to results. These parents were concerned that
      adolescents may experience distress following a positive result and withhold this
      information thereby reducing parents' abilities to provide support. Parents were
      also concerned about support for victims of sexual abuse. CONCLUSION: Although
      the present study demonstrates that parents can be accepting of sexual activity
      biomarker testing of adolescents, more research is needed to identify best
      approaches for returning test results.

PMID- 26886028
TI  - [Finde needle aspiration of peripheral lymph nodes--A method with more
      potential].

PMID- 26886029
TI  - [Erythema nodosum: Many possible causes].

PMID- 26886030
TI  - [Erythema nodosum: Many possible causes--in reply].

PMID- 26886027
TI  - Having Two Ears Facilitates the Perceptual Separation of Concurrent Talkers for
      Bilateral and Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implantees.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Listening to speech with multiple competing talkers requires the
      perceptual separation of the target voice from the interfering background. Normal
      hearing listeners are able to take advantage of perceived differences in the
      spatial locations of competing sound sources to facilitate this process. Previous
      research suggests that bilateral (BI) cochlear-implant (CI) listeners cannot do
      so, and it is unknown whether single-sided deaf (SSD) CI users (one acoustic and
      one CI ear) have this ability. This study investigated whether providing a second
      ear via cochlear implantation can facilitate the perceptual separation of targets
      and interferers in a listening situation involving multiple competing talkers.
      DESIGN: BI-CI and SSD-CI listeners were required to identify speech from a target
      talker mixed with one or two interfering talkers. In the baseline monaural
      condition, the target speech and the interferers were presented to one of the CIs
      (for the BI-CI listeners) or to the acoustic ear (for the SSD-CI listeners). In
      the bilateral condition, the target was still presented to the first ear but the
      interferers were presented to both the target ear and the listener's second ear
      (always a CI), thereby testing whether CI listeners could use information about
      the interferer obtained from a second ear to facilitate perceptual separation of
      the target and interferer. RESULTS: Presenting a copy of the interfering signals
      to the second ear improved performance, up to 4 to 5 dB (12 to 18 percentage
      points), but the amount of improvement depended on the type of interferer. For BI
      CI listeners, the improvement occurred mainly in conditions involving one
      interfering talker, regardless of gender. For SSD-CI listeners, the improvement
      occurred in conditions involving one or two interfering talkers of the same
      gender as the target. This interaction is consistent with the idea that the SSD
      CI listeners had access to pitch cues in their normal-hearing ear to separate the
      opposite-gender target and interferers, while the BI-CI listeners did not.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a second auditory input via a CI can
      facilitate the perceptual separation of competing talkers in situations where
      monaural cues are insufficient to do so, thus partially restoring a key advantage
      of having two ears that was previously thought to be inaccessible to CI users.

PMID- 26886033
TI  - [58-year old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis and crepitations].

PMID- 26886035
TI  - [57-year-old patient with unclear cutaneous finding].

PMID- 26886036
TI  - [Question about weight loss is a must].

PMID- 26886024
TI  - Balancing self-renewal against genome preservation in stem cells: How do they
      manage to have the cake and eat it too?
AB  - Stem cells are endowed with the awesome power of self-renewal and multi-lineage
      differentiation that allows them to be major contributors to tissue homeostasis.
      Owing to their longevity and self-renewal capacity, they are also faced with a
      higher risk of genomic damage compared to differentiated cells. Damage on the
      genome, if not prevented or repaired properly, will threaten the survival of stem
      cells and culminate in organ failure, premature aging, or cancer formation. It is
      therefore of paramount importance that stem cells remain genomically stable
      throughout life. Given their unique biological and functional requirement, stem
      cells are thought to manage genotoxic stress somewhat differently from non-stem
      cells. The focus of this article is to review the current knowledge on how stem
      cells escape the barrage of oxidative and replicative DNA damage to stay in self
      renewal. A clear statement on this subject should help us better understand
      tissue regeneration, aging, and cancer.

PMID- 26886037
TI  - [Weight loss in cancer patients].
AB  - Cancer patients are regularly affected by malnutrition which often leads to a
      worsened quality of life and activity in daily living, more side effects and
      complications during anticancer treatment and shorter survival times. The early
      diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition are therefore relevant components of
      oncological treatment. The assessment of the nutritional status and determination
      of the body-mass-index should be done in every patient with cancer. The clinical
      examination delivers important findings and indications for malnutrition.
      Bioimpedance analysis can deliver additional objective information. The treatment
      of malnutrition should start early and follows a step-wise escalation reaching
      from nutritional counseling to enteral nutritional support to parenteral
      nutrition.

PMID- 26886038
TI  - [Gastrointestinal causes of weight loss: clinical presentation, diagnostic workup
      and therapy].
AB  - This review describes the gasterointestinal entities, their pathophysiology,
      clinical presentation, diagnostic workup and therapy that typically involve
      weight loss as the major presenting symptom. The differentiation of
      malassimilation into maldigestion and malabsorption is clinically mostly not
      helpful. Instead primary malasssimilation can be distinguished from secondary due
      to another disease. Celiac disease, lambliasis, small bowel CD, CVIDS and
      Whipple's disease result in loss of absorptive surface. Chronic intestinal
      pseudobstruction leads to weight loss through dysmotility and postprandial pain.
      Microscopic colitis involves some weight loss and needs to be considered because
      of its high prevalence. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and the various protein
      loosing enteropathies may be primary or secondary syndromes. Dumping, bile acid
      malabsorption and short bowel syndrome occur after typical operative procedures.
      Chronic radiation enteritis, chronic intestinal ischemia and intestinal diabetic
      polyneuropathy are due to chronic intestinal injury. 

PMID- 26886040
TI  - [Hydrogen Breath Tests].
AB  - In the field of gastroenterology hydrogen breath test are used for the diagnosis
      of carbohydrate malabsorption and small intestine bacterial overgrowth. This
      paper provides information on performing a hydrogen breath test and shows
      potential sources of error. 

PMID- 26886039
TI  - [Anorexia nervosa as differential diagnosis in underweight patients].
AB  - Anorexia nervosa is a differential diagnosis in underweight patients, especially
      in young underweight women. Diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa are self
      induced weight loss due to restrictive eating or purging behaviour, intense fear
      of gaining weight and disturbance in the way in which one's shape is experienced,
      undue influence of body weight on self-evaluation and persistent lack of
      recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight. Anorexia nervosa
      is associated with numerous medical complications. 

PMID- 26886041
TI  - [66-year old female patient with vitreous and mucosal bleeding].
AB  - HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: We report on a 66-year-old female patient, who
      presented with a new occurrence of mucosal bleeding and also developed a vitreous
      hemorrhage. INVESTIGATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS: The bleeding symptoms were caused by an
      acquired von Willebrand disease (VWD) associated with Waldenstrom
      macroglobulinemia. In this context, acquired VWD disease results from a
      dysfunction of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) caused by monoclonal
      immunoglobulin of type IgM. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Chemotherapy led to
      normalization of VWF levels and activity, and a complete remission of the
      bleeding symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired VWD should be considered in patients
      with acquired bleeding tendency. Vitreous hemorrhage as observed in our patient
      is an unusual bleeding symptom induced by hemorrhagic disorders and has to our
      knowledge not yet been reported in association with this entity.

PMID- 26886042
TI  - [Cardiopulmonary Comorbidities].
AB  - Cardiac and pulmonary diseases are primary causes of global morbidity and
      mortality. Since the prevalence of both cardiac and pulmonary diseases increases
      with age, cardiopulmonary comorbidities inflict especially the elderly. Due to
      the tight physiological connection of the heart and the lung, diseases of both
      organs affect each other beyond a mere coincidence. At the same time, due to the
      similarity of their respective symptoms, their differentiation is challenging in
      clinical practice and therefore, comorbidities can be easily overlooked. This
      article provides an overview on the characteristics of cardiopulmonary
      comorbidities and their specific-, but also mutual pathophysiology. 

PMID- 26886043
TI  - [Type 2 diabetes--criteria for the selection of the antidiabetic drug].
AB  - Modern treatment of type 2 diabetes follows a patient-centered approach. Blood
      glucose targets depend on patients' individual situation e. g. age, disease
      duration and comorbidities. Today physicians can choose from several
      antidiabetics with different modes of action. Based on national guidelines on the
      step-wise treatment of type 2 diabetes these substances come into consideration
      after lifestyle intervention and initial pharmacotherapy with metformin proved to
      be insufficient. Results from clinical trials have in part shown significant
      differences between distinct drug classes regarding efficacy, risk of
      hypoglycemia and effect on body weight. Cardiovascular safety is another
      important aspect to consider. This balance between efficacy and safety is
      reflected more and more by analyzing a combined endpoint "reaching individual
      HbA1c-target without hypoglycemia and weight gain". A guideline- and evidence
      based classification of present therapeutic options aims to support orientation
      in diabetes practice. 

PMID- 26886044
TI  - [When to terminate resuscitation in adults?].
AB  - Resuscitation in cardiac arrest rarely results in survival with a good neurologic
      outcome. It is therefore a common problem to decide when resuscitation should not
      be initiated or an ongoing attempt has to be terminated. Resuscitation attempts
      should be withheld or terminated if there is a do not resuscitate order (DNR), if
      resuscitation is not in accordance with the presumptive will of the patient or
      does not have a chance to allow the patient to continue an independent living. As
      long as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia are
      present, however, resuscitation should be continued. Also in pulmonary embolism
      prolonged resuscitation measures may be necessary. In out-of-hospital cardiac
      arrest resuscitation may be stopped when the three criteria are met: not
      witnessed arrest, no ventricular fibrillation or pulseless tachycardia, and no
      return of spontaneous circulation before arrival at the hospital. According to
      current guidelines in-hospital resuscitation can be terminated if the patient is
      in asystole for at least 20 minutes. In any case termination of a resuscitation
      attempt is an individual decision where all possible information on circumstances
      and on the patient should be taken into account. 

PMID- 26886045
TI  - [Assisted suicide in Germany: medical diagnoses and personal reasons of 117
      decedents].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Germany both scientific and public debates on physician assisted
      suicide often focus on patients with unbearable suffering in terminal condition.
      Proponents of physician assisted suicide bring forward the argument that there
      are end-of-life situations where only assisted suicide can bring relief from
      intolerable pain, dyspnea or other symptoms. But does focusing on unbearable
      symptoms in terminal condition reflect the reality of assisted suicide? Our data
      from 117 assisted suicides in Germany indicates that the reasons for assisted
      suicide are more complex than the current debate in Germany suggests. METHODS: We
      analyzed diagnoses and reasons that prompted patients to suicide with the help of
      the German right-to-die organization "Sterbehilfe Deutschland" (StHD) between
      2010 and 2013. 118 case reports of assisted suicide published by StHD were
      evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2013 StHD provided
      assistance in 118 suicides. 71 % of the deceased were women. 67 % were aged 70
      years or older. 25,6 % suffered from metastasized cancer, 20,5 % had a severe
      neurological disease. 23 % suffered from age-associated diseases or disability.
      14,5 % of the decedents had a predominant psychiatric diagnose, 7,7 % were
      physically and mentally healthy. The main reasons for suicide were loss of life
      perspective in the face of a severe disease (29 %), fear of care dependency (23,9
      %), weariness of life without any severe disease (20,5 %). Only 12,8 % named non
      treatable symptoms as a reason. CONCLUSION: Loss of life perspective in the face
      of a severe disease, fear of long-term care and weariness of life without any
      severe disease rather than unbearable suffering of non-treatable symptoms seem to
      be the most common reasons for members of StHD to commit suicide. These empirical
      findings should be mentioned in future debates on assisted suicide in Germany.

PMID- 26886046
TI  - Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders: Prospective Evidence From a US
      National Longitudinal Study.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: With rising rates of marijuana use in the general population and an
      increasing number of states legalizing recreational marijuana use and authorizing
      medical marijuana programs, there are renewed clinical and policy concerns
      regarding the mental health effects of cannabis use. OBJECTIVE: To examine
      prospective associations between cannabis use and risk of mental health and
      substance use disorders in the general adult population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: A nationally representative sample of US adults aged 18 years or
      older was interviewed 3 years apart in the National Epidemiologic Survey on
      Alcohol and Related Conditions (wave 1, 2001-2002; wave 2, 2004-2005). The
      primary analyses were limited to 34 653 respondents who were interviewed in both
      waves. Data analysis was conducted from March 15 to November 30, 2015. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We used multiple regression and propensity score matching
      to estimate the strength of independent associations between cannabis use at wave
      1 and incident and prevalent psychiatric disorders at wave 2. Psychiatric
      disorders were measured with a structured interview (Alcohol Use Disorder and
      Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV). In both analyses, the same
      set of wave 1 confounders was used, including sociodemographic characteristics,
      family history of substance use disorder, disturbed family environment, childhood
      parental loss, low self-esteem, social deviance, education, recent trauma, past
      and present psychiatric disorders, and respondent's history of divorce. RESULTS:
      In the multiple regression analysis of 34 653 respondents (14 564 male [47.9%
      weighted]; mean [SD] age, 45.1 [17.3] years), cannabis use in wave 1 (2001-2002),
      which was reported by 1279 respondents, was significantly associated with
      substance use disorders in wave 2 (2004-2005) (any substance use disorder: odds
      ratio [OR], 6.2; 95% CI, 4.1-9.4; any alcohol use disorder: OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9
      3.8; any cannabis use disorder: OR, 9.5; 95% CI, 6.4-14.1; any other drug use
      disorder: OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6-4.4; and nicotine dependence: OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2
      2.4), but not any mood disorder (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.4) or anxiety disorder
      (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.7-1.1). The same general pattern of results was observed in
      the multiple regression analyses of wave 2 prevalent psychiatric disorders and in
      the propensity score-matched analysis of incident and prevalent psychiatric
      disorders. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Within the general population, cannabis use
      is associated with an increased risk for several substance use disorders.
      Physicians and policy makers should take these associations of cannabis use under
      careful consideration.

PMID- 26886048
TI  - Investigation of in vitro cytotoxic, mutagenic and anti-mutagenic effects of
      shirazolide extracted from Jurinea leptoloba.
AB  - Shirazolide is an elemanolide isolated from Jurinea leptoloba DC. The aim of this
      study was to determine the cytotoxic, mutagenic and anti-mutagenic properties of
      shirazolide from J. leptoloba DC in vitro. Cytotoxicity was measured using a
      modified MTT (3-(4,5-di methyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-di phenyltetrazolium bromide)
      assay on normal human lymphocytes and tumor HeLa cells, showing that the
      cytotoxicity of shirazolide is much higher for HeLa cells than for normal
      lymphocytes. Mutagenic and anti-mutagenic activities of shirazolide were
      evaluated using the Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100 showing
      anti-mutagenic properties against the former strain under metabolic activation.

PMID- 26886047
TI  - The effect of new dynamic splint in pinch strength in De Quervain syndrome: a
      comparative study.
AB  - Objective For patients with De Quervain syndrome using thumb spica orthosis is
      restricting, so many patient are dissatisfied with using static model. The aim of
      this study is to compare the effect of modified dynamic and conventional static
      orthoses on pinch power and functional abilities of hand in De Quervain syndrome.
      Method In this quasi-experimental study, palmar and lateral pinch strength of the
      thumb, pain and functional abilities of hand, patient's satisfaction of orthoses,
      were evaluated after using modified dynamic and conventional static orthosis in
      two groups. Results Both orthoses improved palmar and lateral pinch strength of
      the thumb, pain level and functional abilities. In comparison of mentioned
      variables, there was no significant difference between two groups regarding to
      pain recovery and abilities improvement (p > 0.05). However, the satisfaction
      level of the patients who had used dynamic orthosis was higher (p < 0.05).
      Conclusion It seems, adding a joint to the static thumb spica leads to patient's
      relief and consequently to their satisfaction. Implications for Rehabilitation
      The dynamic thumb spica, is easier to use and patients satisfaction is higher
      than static thumb spica. Therefore, it can be used for conservative treatment of
      De Quervain syndrome.

PMID- 26886049
TI  - Late sodium current dysregulation as a causal factor in arrhythmia.

PMID- 26886050
TI  - Effects of Solvent Dielectric Constant and Viscosity on Two Rotational Relaxation
      Paths of Excited 9-(Dicyanovinyl) Julolidine.
AB  - The understanding of the interplay between microenvironment and molecular rotors
      is helpful for designing and developing of molecular sensors of local physical
      properties. We present a study on the two rotational relaxation paths of excited
      9-(dicyanovinyl) julolidine in several solvents. One rotational path (C-C single
      bond rotation, taub) quickly leads to the formation of a twisted state. The other
      path (C?C double-bond rotation, tauc) shows that the populations go back to the
      ground state directly via a conical intersection between the S1 and ground state.
      The increase in the solvent dielectric constant shows little effect on the taub
      lifetime for its small energy barrier (<0.01 eV), but tauc lifetime is increased
      in larger dielectric constant solvents due to the larger energy gap at conical
      intersection. Both taub and tauc are increased greatly with the increased solvent
      viscosity. taub is more sensitive to viscosity than tauc may be due to its larger
      rotational moiety. 

PMID- 26886051
TI  - Is gerontology ready for anti-racist pedagogy? A survey of educators' practices
      and perspectives.
AB  - The older population in the United States is becoming more diverse, bringing
      increasing attention to the ways in which diversity and multiculturalism are
      addressed in gerontological education. Although diversity and multiculturalism
      have long been recognized as important components of the aging experience, our
      approach to understanding their significance and impact continues to grow and
      change. Anti-racist pedagogy represents one catalyst to stimulate such change. To
      evaluate the potential for anti-racist pedagogy in gerontology, this study
      explored gerontological educators' (N = 121) current practices and perspectives
      regarding the inclusion of diversity content in their courses, as well as the
      extent to which they are familiar with and/or use anti-racist pedagogy in their
      classes. The findings suggest that greater attention to issues of race,
      ethnicity, and multicultural diversity throughout the gerontological curriculum
      is needed and wanted. Although respondents were generally unfamiliar with the
      name anti-racist pedagogy, many indicated that their current teaching practices
      employed select components of it. Overall, the findings point toward the need for
      continued exploration of how anti-racist pedagogy may be brought into the
      gerontological classroom, as well as its implications for future research,
      policy, and practice.

PMID- 26886052
TI  - Origin of J-V Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells.
AB  - High-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on organometal halide
      perovskite have emerged in the past five years as excellent devices for
      harvesting solar energy. Some remaining challenges should be resolved to continue
      the momentum in their development. The photocurrent density-voltage (J-V)
      responses of the PSCs demonstrate anomalous dependence on the voltage scan
      direction/rate/range, voltage conditioning history, and device configuration. The
      hysteretic J-V behavior presents a challenge for determining the accurate power
      conversion efficiency of the PSCs. Here, we review the recent progress on the
      investigation of the origin(s) of J-V hysteresis behavior in PSCs. We discuss the
      impact of slow transient capacitive current, trapping and detrapping process, ion
      migrations, and ferroelectric polarization on the hysteresis behavior. The
      remaining issues and future research required toward the understanding of J-V
      hysteresis in PSCs will also be discussed. 

PMID- 26886053
TI  - Our Nobel Laureate, Dr. William C. Campbell.

PMID- 26886054
TI  - ERRATUM . . .

PMID- 26886055
TI  - Comparison of Replica Exchange Simulations of a Kinetically Trapped Protein
      Conformational State and its Native Form.
AB  - Recently an X-ray crystallographic structure of a single-domain antibody was
      reported with the protein chain trapped in a rare homodimeric form. One of the
      conformers appears to exhibit a misfolded region, and thus presumably the
      configurational stability is less favorable. To investigate whether simulation
      methods can detect any difference between the conformers and buttress the notion
      that one conformation is trapped on a pathway that incurs lower activation energy
      to unfold, adaptive temperature-based replica exchange simulations were applied
      to each chain to model conformational transitions. Simulation results found that
      the observed crystallographic difference between the two chains in the
      complementarity determining region CDR2 induces a stark distinction in
      conformational populations on the energy landscape. An appraisal of the energetic
      difference between the CDR2 conformations at 300 K revealed a localized order
      disorder free-energy transition of roughly equivalent to two peptide hydrogen
      bonds in solution. It was also found that interconversion between the conformers
      is slower than the rate to unfold and that near an unfolding transition
      temperature one conformer retained a greater fraction of native-like contacts and
      energy over a longer time span before fully populating the denatured state, thus
      verifying the coexistence of a metastable conformation in the crystallographic
      assembly. 

PMID- 26886056
TI  - Increased visfatin levels are associated with higher disease activity in anti-Jo
      1-positive myositis patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of visfatin in
      anti-Jo-1-positive myositis patients, its expression in muscle tissue and to
      investigate potential relationships between visfatin, B-cell activating factor of
      the TNF family (BAFF), disease activity and anti-Jo-1 autoantibody levels.
      METHODS: Serum levels of visfatin and BAFF were measured in 38 anti-Jo-1 positive
      myositis patients and 35 healthy subjects. Disease activity was evaluated by
      myositis disease activity assessment tool (MYOACT) using visual analogue scales
      (VAS) and by serum muscle enzymes. Visfatin expression was evaluated by
      immunohistochemistry in muscle tissue of myositis patients (n=10) and compared
      with non-inflammatory control muscle tissue samples from patients with myasthenia
      gravis (n=5). RESULTS: Serum visfatin and BAFF levels were significantly higher
      in myositis patients compared to healthy subjects and were associated with
      clinical muscle activity assessed by VAS. Only serum BAFF levels, but not
      visfatin levels, positively correlated with muscle enzyme concentrations and anti
      Jo1 antibody levels. There was a positive correlation between visfatin and BAFF
      serum levels in myositis patients but a negative correlation was observed in
      healthy subjects. Visfatin expression was up-regulated in endomysial and
      perimysial inflammatory infiltrates of muscle tissue from myositis patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulation of visfatin in myositis muscle tissue and an
      association between increased visfatin levels and muscle disease activity
      evaluated by MYOACT in anti-Jo-1 positive myositis patients could support
      possible role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of myositis.

PMID- 26886057
TI  - Increased oxidative stress in children with attention deficit hyperactivity
      disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate oxidative stress in
      children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Total
      oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), paraxonase-1 (PON-1) and
      arylesterase (ARE) activity were measured in 76 children (44 boys, 32 girls)
      diagnosed with ADHD according to the DSM-IV and 78 healthy children (46 boys, 32
      girls). RESULTS: Age and sex were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). TOS and
      the oxidative stress index (OSI) were higher in the patient group than the
      control group (P < 0.001). PON-1 (P = 0.002), ARE (P = 0.010) activity and TAS (P
      < 0.001) were lower in the patient group than the control group. DISCUSSION: We
      found decreased PON-1, ARE activity and TAS, and increased TOS and OSI in
      children with ADHD. Our study showed that there is significantly increased
      oxidative stress in children with ADHD.

PMID- 26886058
TI  - Behavioral Screening and Intervention for Improving Lower-Extremity Arthroplasty
      Outcomes and Controlling Costs-Reply.

PMID- 26886059
TI  - Anti-HMGCR antibody-associated necrotizing myopathy: diagnosis and treatment
      illustrated using a case report.

PMID- 26886060
TI  - Self-presentation as a function of perceived closeness and trust with romantic
      partners, friends, and acquaintances.
AB  - Self-presentation represents behaviors used in establishing an identity with
      others; such behaviors may differ across various interpersonal relationships. The
      current article presents two studies examining differences in self-presentation
      to acquaintances, friends, and romantic partners among college students in
      relationships. Study 1 was an experiment, and Study 2 utilized a within-subject
      design. Results showed that individuals engaged in more self-presentation in more
      established types of relationships. Additionally, both closeness and trust served
      as moderators, such that those lower in closeness/trust reported more self
      presentation in more established types of relationships than in less established
      types of relationships. At higher levels of closeness/trust, the results were
      somewhat inconsistent, with Study 1 finding no differences between relationship
      types and Study 2 finding more self-presentation to romantic partners than to
      friends and acquaintances. These results are among the first to suggest that
      individuals engage in differing levels of self-presentation, depending on the
      type of relationship and the extent to which they feel close to and trust the
      person.

PMID- 26886061
TI  - Co-occurrence and distribution of deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and zearalenone in
      wheat from Brazil.
AB  - Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and zearalenone (ZEN)
      were investigated in wheat from the 2009 and 2010 crop years. Samples (n = 745)
      from commercial fields were collected in four wheat producing regions (WPR) which
      differed in weather conditions. Analyses were performed using HPLC-DAD.
      Contamination with ZEN, DON and NIV occurred in 56, 86 and 50%, respectively.
      Also, mean concentrations were different: DON = 1046 ug kg(-1), NIV < 100 ug kg(
      1) and ZEN = 82 ug kg(-1). Co-occurrence of ZEN, DON and NIV was observed in 74%
      of the samples from 2009 and in 12% from 2010. Wet/cold region WPR I had the
      highest mycotoxin concentration. Wet/moderately hot region WPR II had the lowest
      mycotoxin levels. Furthermore, the mean concentration of each mycotoxin was
      higher in samples from 2009 as compared with those from 2010. Precipitation
      during flowering or harvest periods may explain these results. 

PMID- 26886062
TI  - Contribution of hot-melt extrusion technology to advance drug delivery in the
      21st century.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology is applied successfully in the
      plastic, rubber and food industry. HME has also emerged as an important
      technology for drug delivery applications in pharmaceutical research and
      manufacturing because of its process automation and low-cost scale-up properties,
      which reduce labor costs and capital investment. There are a number of commercial
      FDA-approved HME-derived products, signifying the commercial feasibility of this
      novel technique in drug delivery applications. HME is a highly efficient, solvent
      free continuous processing technique for the development of solid dispersions;
      thus, research efforts to develop sustained, modified and targeted drug delivery
      systems to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble
      active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are of interest. AREAS COVERED: This
      review focuses on both the innovations and applications of HME in the production
      of pharmaceutical formulations, and on the significant findings of the general
      principles regarding formulation and process development via HME as described in
      published articles. EXPERT OPINION: Challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies
      to produce efficient drug formulations may be partly overcome by HME's advantages
      - high drug-loading capacity, good content uniformity, cost-effectiveness, and
      ease of processing scale-up. Nevertheless, HME's high processing temperatures may
      be an obstacle if adequate knowledge about the product's formulation is lacking.

PMID- 26886063
TI  - Engineering the Autotroph Methanococcus maripaludis for Geraniol Production.
AB  - The rapid autotrophic growth of the methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus
      maripaludis on H2 and CO2 makes it an attractive microbial chassis to
      inexpensively produce biochemicals. To explore this potential, a synthetic gene
      encoding geraniol synthase (GES) derived from Ocimum basilicum was cloned into a
      M. maripaludis expression vector under selection for puromycin resistance.
      Recombinant expression of GES in M. maripaludis during autotrophic growth on
      H2/CO2 or formate yielded geraniol at 2.8 and 4.0 mg g(-1) of dry weight,
      respectively. The yield of geraniol decreased 2-3-fold when organic carbon
      sources were added to stimulate heterotrophic growth. In the absence of
      puromycin, geraniol production during autotrophic growth on formate increased to
      4.6 mg g(-1) of dry weight. A conceptual model centered on the autotrophic acetyl
      coenzyme A biosynthetic pathway identified strategies to divert more autotrophic
      carbon flux to geraniol production.

PMID- 26886064
TI  - A Guide to Scientific Crowdfunding.
AB  - Crowdfunding represents an attractive new option for funding research projects,
      especially for students and early-career scientists or in the absence of
      governmental aid in some countries. The number of successful science-related
      crowdfunding campaigns is growing, which demonstrates the public's willingness to
      support and participate in scientific projects. Putting together a crowdfunding
      campaign is not trivial, however, so here is a guide to help you make yours a
      success. 

PMID- 26886065
TI  - Effect of Different Insulin Response Patterns During Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
      on Glycemia in Individuals with Normal Glucose Tolerance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research is still going on for detecting the earliest glucose
      homeostasis derangements in individuals, which is crucial for the prevention of
      glucose intolerance. This cross-sectional study analyzes different insulin
      response patterns during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and their
      implications on glycemia in normoglycemic individuals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The
      sample frame was the "Offspring of Individuals with Diabetes Study" database. All
      participants underwent OGTT. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 120
      min for measurement of insulin, C-peptide, and proinsulin levels. Normal glucose
      tolerant individuals were selected for analysis. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty
      subjects (mean age, 25 years) were included and divided into two groups according
      to timing of plasma insulin peaking during OGTT: Group 1, peaking at 30 min; and
      Group 2, peaking at 60 or 120 min. Body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance
      were comparable between the groups; however, Group 2 showed a significantly
      higher 60- and 120-min glucose level and lower disposition index. Based on the
      magnitude of the insulin levels, Group 1 was subdivided into Group N (normal
      pattern) and Group E (exaggerated pattern) with a 30-min insulin cutoff of 74
      MUU/mL (Group E, >=74 MUU/mL). Group 2 was subdivided into Group DL (delayed and
      limited pattern; 60-min insulin <73.0 MUU/mL and 120-min insulin <80.0 MUU/mL)
      and Group DE (delayed and exaggerated pattern; 60-min insulin >=73.0 MUU/mL or
      120-min insulin >=80.0 MUU/mL). Group DE showed a significantly higher area under
      the curve (AUC) of glucose compared with the other groups and had a lower
      disposition index and high-density lipoprotein levels. Group DL had significantly
      lower insulin resistance and BMI compared with Group E but showed a similar AUC
      of glucose. CONCLUSIONS: A delayed insulin pattern was associated with higher
      postprandial glucose levels. Individuals with delayed and exaggerated insulin
      secretion may have a higher risk for glucose intolerance.

PMID- 26886066
TI  - Aging of immune system: Immune signature from peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets
      in 1068 healthy adults.
AB  - Aging is a major risk factor for several conditions including neurodegenerative,
      cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Functional impairments in cellular pathways
      controlling genomic stability, and immune control have been identified. Biomarker
      of immune senescence is needed to improve vaccine response and to develop therapy
      to improve immune control. To identify phenotypic signature of circulating immune
      cells with aging, we enrolled 1068 Chinese healthy volunteers ranging from 18 to
      80 years old. The decreased naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, increased memory CD4+ or
      CD8+ T cells, loss of CD28 expression on T cells and reverse trend of CD38 and
      HLA-DR, were significant for aging of immune system. Conversely, the absolute
      counts and percentage of NK cells and CD19+B cells maintained stable in aging
      individuals. The Chinese reference ranges of absolute counts and percentage of
      peripheral lymphocyte in this study might be useful for future clinical
      evaluation.

PMID- 26886067
TI  - Purification and Characterization of Protamine, the Allergen from the Milt of
      Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea), and Its Components.
AB  - The protamine in fish milt can cause anaphylaxis in humans. To determine the
      allergen in the milt of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea), crude
      extracts were incubated with sera from allergic patients. The results showed that
      a 12 kDa multicomponent protein was the major allergen in the milt of large
      yellow croaker. The multicomponent protein was purified, and physicochemical
      characterization showed that it was a glycoprotein, highly stable in acid-alkali
      conditions, and weakly retained immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding activity at high
      temperatures. Separation and immunoreactivity analysis of the components of the
      multicomponent protein showed that it had six components, and component 5 had the
      strongest IgE-binding activity with patient sera. N-terminal sequencing confirmed
      the multicomponent protein was protamine. Following analysis of protamine from
      different fish by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and circular dichroism
      spectra, the protamines from different fish were found to have a similar
      secondary structure, although their components were different. 

PMID- 26886068
TI  - Leveraging Advances in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment to Address
      Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease.
AB  - The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), defined as any mycobacterial pathogen
      other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium leprae, are a diverse
      group of pathogens that collectively cause a substantive but often unappreciated
      worldwide burden of illness. Although NTMs may cause illness similar to M.
      tuberculosis, these pathogens generally do not respond to classic tuberculosis
      (TB) drug regimens, resulting in misdiagnosis and poor treatment, particularly in
      resource-poor settings. Although a few high-quality epidemiologic surveys have
      been made on the topic, existing evidence suggests that NTM-associated disease is
      much more common than previously thought: more common than TB in the
      industrialized world and likely increasing in prevalence globally. Despite this
      evidence, these organisms remain markedly understudied, and few international
      grants support basic science and clinical research. Here we suggest that the
      considerable efforts in developing new treatments and diagnostics for TB can be
      harnessed in the fight against NTM-associated illnesses.

PMID- 26886070
TI  - Operative Neurosurgery: The Surgeon's Armamentarium.

PMID- 26886069
TI  - Quaternary Structure of Fur Proteins, a New Subfamily of Tetrameric Proteins.
AB  - The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) belongs to the family of the DNA-binding metal
      responsive transcriptional regulators. Fur is a global regulator found in all
      proteobacteria. It controls the transcription of a wide variety of genes involved
      in iron metabolism but also in oxidative stress or virulence factor synthesis.
      When bound to ferrous iron, Fur can bind to specific DNA sequences, called Fur
      boxes. This binding triggers the repression or the activation of gene expression,
      depending on the regulated genes. As a general view, Fur proteins are considered
      to be dimeric proteins both in solution and when bound to DNA. In this study, we
      have purified Fur from four pathogenic strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
      Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, and Legionella pneumophila) and compared
      them to Fur from Escherichia coli (EcFur), the best characterized of this family.
      By using a series of "in solution" techniques, including multiangle laser light
      scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering, as well as cross-linking
      experiments, we have shown that the Fur proteins can be classified into two
      groups, according to their quaternary structure. The group of dimers is
      represented by EcFur and YpFur and the group of very stable tetramers by PaFur,
      FtFur, and LpFur. Using PaFur as a case study, we also showed that the
      dissociation of the tetramers into dimers is necessary for binding of Fur to DNA,
      and that this dissociation requires the combined effect of metal ion binding and
      DNA proximity.

PMID- 26886073
TI  - Optimisation of microstructured biodegradable finasteride formulation for depot
      parenteral application.
AB  - This study aimed to use the biocompatibility features of the biodegradable
      polymers to prepare depot injectable finasteride (FIN) microspheres for the
      treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. FIN microspheres were prepared
      utilising an emulsion-solvent evaporation/extraction technique. The Box-Behnken
      experimental design was adopted to optimise the preparation process. FIN plasma
      levels in albino rabbits were determined after injection with optimised FIN
      microspheres formula and compared with oral FIN suspension. Results revealed that
      the optimum microspheres displayed an amended sustained release pattern with
      lower initial burst. The cumulative FIN % released after 25 days was in the range
      27.83-73.18% for F4 and F1, respectively. The optimised formula, with 50.0% (X1),
      and 22.316% (X2) and 1.38% (X3) showed 6.503 MUm, 93.213%, 14.574%, and 64.838%
      for Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4, respectively. In vivo studies displayed a sustained
      release pattern with minimal initial burst release when injected into rabbits. 

PMID- 26886074
TI  - Experiences of Antihomosexual Attitudes and Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men
      in the South: A Need for Community-Based Interventions.
AB  - PURPOSE: In 2012, Jackson, Mississippi, had the third highest incidence rate of
      human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among young Black men who have sex with men
      (MSM). The goal of this qualitative study (the initial phase of an HIV prevention
      clinical trial) was to explore how cultural norms regarding antihomosexual
      attitudes interfere with the safe sex practices and relationship norms of young
      Black MSM in Mississippi. METHODS: Nine focus groups (N = 54) were conducted with
      young Black MSM aged 18-29. Participants were recruited through medical providers
      at local sexually transmitted infection clinics and through community organizers
      at local LGBT outreach programs. The data were analyzed through the use of
      grounded theory, multiple coders for consistency and intercoder reliability, and
      a qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified
      during the analysis: (1) resiliency and condom use, (2) inconsistent condom use
      among closeted young Black MSM, and (3) intimate partner violence (IPV) among
      closeted young Black MSM. Black MSM in Mississippi continue to be highly
      stigmatized within their social networks (i.e., families, sexual partners, and
      community). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that cultural and community norms
      regarding antihomosexual attitudes may be a barrier to the practices of safe sex
      and a contributing factor to IPV among young Black MSM. There is a need for
      tailored interventions that address these cultural norms and establish social and
      community support for young Black MSM in Mississippi.

PMID- 26886075
TI  - The association between combination antiretroviral adherence and AIDS-defining
      conditions at HIV diagnosis.
AB  - Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has changed the clinical course of HIV.
      AIDS-defining conditions (ADC) are suggestive of severe or advanced disease and
      are a leading cause of HIV-related hospitalizations and death among people living
      with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the USA. Optimal adherence to cART can mitigate the
      impact of ADC and disease severity on the health and survivability of PLWHA. The
      objective of this study was to evaluate the association between ADC at HIV
      diagnosis and optimal adherence among PLWHA. Using data from the 2008 and 2009
      Medicaid data from 29 states, we identified individuals, between 18 and 49 years,
      recently infected with HIV and with a cART prescription. Frequencies and
      descriptive statistics were conducted to characterize sample. Univariate and
      multivariable Poisson regression analyses were employed to evaluate the
      association optimal cART adherence (defined as >= 95% study days covered by cART)
      and ADC at HIV diagnosis (>=1 ADC) were assessed. Approximately 17% of
      respondents with ADC at HIV diagnosis reported optimal cART adherence. After
      adjusting for covariates, respondents with an ADC at HIV diagnosis were less
      likely to report optimal cART adherence (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) = 0.64,
      95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.54-0.75). Among the covariates, males (APR=1.10,
      95% CI, 1.02-1.19) compared to females were significantly more likely to report
      optimal adherence while younger respondents, 18-29 years (APR=0.67, 95% CI, 0.57
      0.77), 30-39 years (APR=0.86, 95% CI, 0.79-0.95) compared to older respondents
      were significantly less likely to report optimal adherence. PLWHA with ADC at HIV
      diagnosis are at risk of suboptimal cART adherence. Multiple adherence strategies
      that include healthcare providers, case managers, and peer navigators should be
      utilized to improve cART adherence and optimize health outcomes among PLWHA with
      ADC at HIV diagnosis. Targeted adherence programs and services are required to
      address suboptimal adherence in this population.

PMID- 26886076
TI  - Differentiating Between Cancer and Inflammation: A Metabolic-Based Method for
      Functional Computed Tomography Imaging.
AB  - One of the main limitations of the highly used cancer imaging technique, PET-CT,
      is its inability to distinguish between cancerous lesions and post treatment
      inflammatory conditions. The reason for this lack of specificity is that
      [(18)F]FDG-PET is based on increased glucose metabolic activity, which
      characterizes both cancerous tissues and inflammatory cells. To overcome this
      limitation, we developed a nanoparticle-based approach, utilizing glucose
      functionalized gold nanoparticles (GF-GNPs) as a metabolically targeted CT
      contrast agent. Our approach demonstrates specific tumor targeting and has
      successfully distinguished between cancer and inflammatory processes in a
      combined tumor-inflammation mouse model, due to dissimilarities in angiogenesis
      occurring under different pathologic conditions. This study provides a set of
      capabilities in cancer detection, staging and follow-up, and can be applicable to
      a wide range of cancers that exhibit high metabolic activity. 

PMID- 26886078
TI  - Consequences of Electron-Density Manipulations on the X-ray Photoelectron
      Spectroscopic Properties of Ferrocenyl-beta-diketonato Complexes of
      Manganese(III). Structure of [Mn(FcCOCHCOCH3)3].
AB  - Reaction of [Mn3(OAc)6O.3H2O](+) (1) with ferrocenyl beta-diketones of the type
      FcCOCH2COR with R = CF3 (2a) and CH3 (2b), Ph = C6H5 (2c), and Fc = Fe(II)(eta(5)
      C5H4)(eta(5)-C5H5) (2d) yielded a series of ferrocene-functionalized beta
      diketonato manganese(III) complexes 3a-3d, respectively, of general formula
      [Mn(FcCOCHCOR)3]. The mixed-ligand beta-diketonato complex
      [Mn(FcCOCHCOFc)2(FcCOCHCOCH3)] (4) was obtained by reacting mixtures of diketones
      2b and 2d with 1. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination of 3b (Z = 2,
      triclinic, space group P1) highlighted a weak axial elongating Jahn-Teller effect
      and a high degree of bond conjugation. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic
      study, by virtue of linear relationships between group electronegativities of
      ligand R groups, chiR, or ?chiR, and binding energies of both the Fe 2p3/2 and Mn
      2p3/2 photoelectron lines, confirmed communication between molecular fragments of
      2a-2d as well as 3a-3d. This unprecedented observation allows prediction of
      binding energies from known beta-diketonato side group chiR values. 

PMID- 26886079
TI  - Designing CuOx Nanoparticle-Decorated CeO2 Nanocubes for Catalytic Soot
      Oxidation: Role of the Nanointerface in the Catalytic Performance of
      Heterostructured Nanomaterials.
AB  - This work investigates the structure-activity properties of CuOx-decorated CeO2
      nanocubes with a meticulous scrutiny on the role of the CuOx/CeO2 nanointerface
      in the catalytic oxidation of diesel soot, a critical environmental problem all
      over the world. For this, a systematic characterization of the materials has been
      undertaken using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron
      microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), high-angle annular
      dark-field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), scanning
      transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS), X
      ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, N2 adsorption-desorption, and X-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The TEM images show the formation of nanosized
      CeO2 cubes (~25 nm) and CuOx nanoparticles (~8.5 nm). The TEM-EDS elemental
      mapping images reveal the uniform decoration of CuOx nanoparticles on CeO2
      nanocubes. The XPS and Raman studies show that the decoration of CuOx on CeO2
      nanocubes leads to improved structural defects, such as higher concentrations of
      Ce(3+) ions and abundant oxygen vacancies. It was found that CuOx-decorated CeO2
      nanocubes efficiently catalyze soot oxidation at a much lower temperature (T50 =
      646 K, temperature at which 50% soot conversion is achieved) compared to that of
      pristine CeO2 nanocubes (T50 = 725 K) under tight contact conditions. Similarly,
      a huge 91 K difference in the T50 values of CuOx/CeO2 (T50 = 744 K) and pristine
      CeO2 (T50 = 835 K) was found in the loose-contact soot oxidation studies. The
      superior catalytic performance of CuOx-decorated CeO2 nanocubes is mainly
      attributed to the improved redox efficiency of CeO2 at the nanointerface sites of
      CuOx-CeO2, as evidenced by Ce M5,4 EELS analysis, supported by XRD, Raman, and
      XPS studies, a clear proof for the role of nanointerfaces in the performance of
      heterostructured nanocatalysts. 

PMID- 26886077
TI  - Spectroscopic Studies of the EutT Adenosyltransferase from Salmonella enterica:
      Mechanism of Four-Coordinate Co(II)Cbl Formation.
AB  - EutT from Salmonella enterica is a member of a class of enzymes termed
      ATP:Co(I)rrinoid adenosyltransferases (ACATs), implicated in the biosynthesis of
      adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl). In the presence of cosubstrate ATP, ACATs raise the
      Co(II)/Co(I) reduction potential of their cob(II)alamin [Co(II)Cbl] substrate by
      >250 mV via the formation of a unique four-coordinate (4c) Co(II)Cbl species,
      thereby facilitating the formation of a "supernucleophilic" cob(I)alamin
      intermediate required for the formation of the AdoCbl product. Previous kinetic
      studies of EutT revealed the importance of a HX11CCX2C(83) motif for catalytic
      activity and have led to the proposal that residues in this motif serve as the
      binding site for a divalent transition metal cofactor [e.g., Fe(II) or Zn(II)].
      This motif is absent in other ACAT families, suggesting that EutT employs a
      distinct mechanism for AdoCbl formation. To assess how metal ion binding to the
      HX11CCX2C(83) motif affects the relative yield of 4c Co(II)Cbl generated in the
      EutT active site, we have characterized several enzyme variants by using
      electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic
      resonance spectroscopies. Our results indicate that Fe(II) or Zn(II) binding to
      the HX11CCX2C(83) motif of EutT is required for promoting the formation of 4c
      Co(II)Cbl. Intriguingly, our spectroscopic data also reveal the presence of an
      equilibrium between five-coordinate "base-on" and "base-off" Co(II)Cbl species
      bound to the EutT active site at low ATP concentrations, which shifts in favor of
      "base-off" Co(II)Cbl in the presence of excess ATP, suggesting that the base-off
      species serves as a precursor to 4c Co(II)Cbl. 

PMID- 26886080
TI  - Improving Ribosomal RNA Integrity in Surgically Resected Human Brain Tumor
      Biopsies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biopsies extracted from brain cancer patients often display degraded
      ribosomal RNA, which makes them unusable in transcriptomic experiments. This has
      not been properly documented in previous works aimed at refining the molecular
      classification of brain cancer. OBJECTIVE: To determine RNA integrity in a large
      cohort of human brain cancer biopsies and to evaluate different factors that may
      influence RNA integrity in both a murine model of glioblastoma and in additional
      subsets of patient biopsies. METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from 255 biopsies of
      various human brain tumors (HBTs) and processed on a Bioanalyzer. Correct RNA
      integrity was considered for samples showing either the ribosomal 28S/18S peak
      ratio >= 1.2 or RNA integrity number >= 6. The time-dependent effect of ex vivo
      ischemia was evaluated in a murine model, whose results were tested in a new
      collection of 27 human biopsies. Multiple biopsy sampling was considered in a
      further set comprising 32 biopsies. RESULTS: The 255 human biopsies revealed a
      substantial percentage of samples displaying degraded RNA (27.5%). The murine
      model confirmed the known relevance of ex vivo ischemia time in increased RNA
      degradation. Human biopsies extracted immediately after cauterization showed a
      trend toward less RNA degradation. Combining snap freezing and multiple sampling
      of biopsies, the percentage of patients with degraded RNA was reduced by twofold
      (15.6%). CONCLUSIONS: We provide a first concise study of factors influencing RNA
      degradation in HBT biopsies. Immediate biopsy removal after cauterization of the
      tumor area, snap freezing, and multiple sampling improve RNA quality.

PMID- 26886081
TI  - Direct Preparation of 3-Iodochromenes from 3-Aryl- and 3-Alkyl-2-propyn-1-ols
      with Diaryliodonium Salts and NIS.
AB  - On the basis of a study of the O-phenylation of 3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-ol with
      diphenyliodonium triflate and t-BuONa, a variety of 4-aryl-3-iodo-2H-benzopyrans
      were prepared in good to moderate yields in one pot from the reaction of 3-aryl-2
      propyn-1-ols with diaryliodonium triflates and t-BuONa, followed by the treatment
      with N-iodosuccinimide and BF3.OEt2, under transition-metal-free and mild
      conditions. The formed 4-phenyl-3-iodo-2H-benzopyran was converted into 4-phenyl
      2H-benzopyran derivatives through C-C bond formations at the 3-position by Pd
      catalyzed coupling reactions and into coumarin with oxidants. 

PMID- 26886084
TI  - Coinage metal complexes with bridging hybrid phosphine-NHC ligands: synthesis of
      di- and tetra-nuclear complexes.
AB  - A series of P-NHC-type hybrid ligands containing both PR2 and N-heterocyclic
      carbene (NHC) donors on meta-bis-substituted phenylene backbones, L(Cy), L(tBu)
      and L(Ph) (R = Cy, tBu, Ph, respectively), was accessed through a modular
      synthesis from a common precursor, and their coordination chemistry with coinage
      metals was explored and compared. Metallation of L(Ph).n(HBr) (n = 1, 2) with
      Ag2O gave the pseudo-cubane [Ag4Br4(L(Ph))2], isostructural to [Ag4Br4(L(R))2] (R
      = Cy, tBu) (T. Simler, P. Braunstein and A. A. Danopoulos, Angew. Chem., Int.
      Ed., 2015, 54, 13691), whereas metallation of .HBF4 (R = Ph, tBu) led to the
      dinuclear complexes [Ag2(L(R))2](BF4)2 which, in the solid state, feature
      heteroleptic Ag centres and a 'head-to-tail' (HT) arrangement of the bridging
      ligands. In solution, interconversion with the homoleptic 'head-to-head' (HH)
      isomers is facilitated by ligand fluxionality. 'Head-to-tail' [Cu2Br2(L(R))2] (R
      = Cy, tBu) dinuclear complexes were obtained from L(R).HBr and [Cu5(Mes)5], Mes =
      2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, which also feature bridging ligands and heteroleptic Cu
      centres. Although the various ligands L(R)l ed to structurally analogous
      complexes for R = Cy, tBu and Ph, the rates of dynamic processes occurring in
      solution are dependent on R, with faster rates for R = Ph. Transmetallation of
      both NHC and P donor groups from [Ag4Br4(L(tBu))2] to AuI by reaction with
      [AuCl(THT)] (THT = tetrahydrothiophene) led to L(tBu) transfer and to the
      dinuclear complex [Au2Cl2L(tBu)] with one L(tBu) ligand bridging the two Au
      centres. Except for the silver pseudo-cubanes, all other complexes do not exhibit
      metallophilic interactions.

PMID- 26886083
TI  - Brain Microvasculature Involvement in ANCA Positive Vasculitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with arterial stiffness, a
      factor that is increasingly recognised as an important determinant of
      cardiovascular risk. High-flow organs such as the brain and kidneys are
      particularly sensitive to excessive pressure and flow pulsatility. High, local
      blood flow is associated with low microvascular impedance, which facilitates the
      penetration of excessive pulsatile energy into the microvascular bed leading to
      tissue damage. Systemic endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness have been
      demonstrated in peripheral vessels in associated vasculitis (AAV). Although, the
      brain involvement is not infrequent in AAV, it has not been evaluated previously.
      Our aim is to evaluate the involvement of the brain microvasculature in AAV.
      METHODS: Twenty-three patients with inactive AAV were studied. Brain blood flow
      was assessed by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and single-photon positron emission
      tomography (SPECT), structural brain involvement by brain MRI and cognitive
      scores by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. RESULTS: Lower mean flow
      velocity (MFV) was associated to altered SPECT perfusion, higher white matter
      changes (WMC), lower MoCA scores and younger age (p < 0.05). Middle cerebral
      artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI) was related to hypertension, diabetes, lower
      scores on MoCA, increased vasculitis damage index (VDI) and perfusion impairment
      in SPECT (p < 0.05). These data were reproduced for all intracranial arteries. Up
      to 88.9% of patients had WMC on MRI. A higher lesion load was associated with
      age, decreased MoCA and fewer MFV with higher PI. The multivariable linear
      regression analysis showed that the greater the lesion loads, greater the
      bifrontal atrophy, MCA-PI and lower MoCA scores. Up to 60.9% of patients
      presented a decreased MoCA score (p = 0.012). It appeared to be related to VDI (p
      = 0.04), WMC (p = 0.004) and altered SPECT (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The
      alterations in brain perfusion SPECT, the presence of white matter lesions on
      MRI, as well as increased PI and RI with lower MFV of the cerebral vessels in TCD
      suggest the presence of microangiopathy in asymptomatic AAV that could lead to
      cognitive impairment.

PMID- 26886082
TI  - Hepcidin regulation in the anemia of inflammation.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Anemia is prevalent in patients with infections and other
      inflammatory conditions. Induction of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin has
      been implicated in the pathogenesis of anemia of inflammation. This review
      outlines recent discoveries in understanding how hepcidin and its receptor
      ferroportin are regulated, how they contribute to anemia of inflammation, and how
      this knowledge may help guide new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this
      disease. RECENT FINDINGS: IL-6 is a primary driver for hepcidin induction in many
      models of anemia of inflammation, but the SMAD1/5/8 pathway also contributes,
      likely via Activin B and SMAD-STAT3 interactions at the hepcidin promoter.
      Hepcidin has an important functional role in many, but not all forms of anemia of
      inflammation, although hepcidin-independent mechanisms also contribute. In
      certain populations, hepcidin assays may help target therapy with iron or
      erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to patients who may benefit most. New therapies
      targeting the hepcidin-ferroportin axis have shown efficacy in preclinical and
      early clinical studies. SUMMARY: Recent studies confirm an important role for the
      hepcidin-ferroportin axis in the development of anemia of inflammation, but also
      highlight the diverse and complex pathogenesis of this disorder depending on the
      underlying disease. Hepcidin-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies offer
      promise to improve anemia treatment, but more work is needed in this area.

PMID- 26886086
TI  - Male-female differences in 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in hypopituitary
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate melatonin secretion in adult hypopituitary patients with
      Growth Hormone deficiency (AGHD) on and off replacement therapy. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: We studied 48 subjects: 12 (6 males) untreated AGHD (AGHDnt), 20 (10
      males) treated AGHD (AGHDt) and 16 healthy subjects (8 males) as control group
      (CG). We measured urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SM) in total (24 h samples),
      nocturnal (6-SMn): 1800-0800 and diurnal samples (6-SMd): 0800-1800. RESULTS:
      Significant differences were observed among the 3 groups of male subjects, in
      total 6-SM (p < 0.05), nocturnal 6-SM (p < 0.02) and nighttime-daytime delta
      values (p < 0.003). CG had significantly higher values than the AGHDnt in total 6
      SM (p < 0.01), nocturnal 6-SM (p < 0.05) and nighttime-daytime delta values (p <
      0.01). AGHDt patients showed significantly higher levels in nighttime-daytime
      delta values than AGHDnt patients (p < 0.05). In females, no significant
      differences were found among the 3 groups studied in total, nocturnal, diurnal or
      nighttime-daytime delta values. In males, significant correlations were found
      among total 6-SM (r = 0.58; p = 0.029), nocturnal 6-SM (r = 0.70; p = 0.006) and
      nighttime-daytime delta values (r = 0.71; p = 0.004) vs. serum IGF-1 levels in
      subjects evaluated. In females, significant correlations were found among total 6
      SM (r = 0.57; p = 0.02) vs. serum IGF-1 levels in subjects evaluated. A tendency
      towards a significant correlation was found in diurnal 6-SM (r = 0.48; p = 0.07).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a sexual dimorphism in 6-SM excretion in AGHD
      patients and provide an interesting approach to a further understanding of some
      chronobiological disorders involved in GH deficiency.

PMID- 26886087
TI  - Radio-contrast agent-induced hyperthyroidism: case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - A 66 year-old woman with a history of a euthyroid multinodular goiter underwent a
      head and neck computed tomography (CT) scan (total iodine load of 35 g) in order
      to evaluate the extent of retrosternal expansion. Less than 24 h after the iodine
      based contrast media (ICM) administration, she presented with symptoms and
      laboratory findings typical of thyrotoxicosis. She was treated successfully with
      antithyroid medications. This is the shortest time reported in the literature and
      it is of clinical importance, as it may have an impact to the recommendations
      given by the attending physician. Given the fact that a large number of ICM
      examinations are performed in everyday practice, physicians should be aware of
      this possible thyroid-specific effect. Prophylactic drugs could be considered in
      high-risk populations, such as administration of perchlorate and a thionamide
      class drug to elderly patients with suppressed TSH and/or palpable goiter,
      started the day before and continued for two weeks after ICM administration.

PMID- 26886088
TI  - Clinical, hormonal and radiological features of partial Sheehan's syndrome: an
      Indian experience.
AB  - Objective The objective of this study was to describe clinical presentation,
      hormonal profile and imaging characteristics of 21 patients with partial
      Sheehan's syndrome. Subjects and methods This prospective study was carried out
      over a period of six years (2008-2013). The evaluation of patients included
      clinical assessment, hormone estimations and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance
      imaging of pituitary. Results We documented preservation of gonadotroph,
      corticotroph and lactotroph function in 71.4, 61.9, and 9.5% of patients
      respectively. Conclusion To conclude some of the pituitary functions can be
      preserved in Sheehan's syndrome and this has important implications from the
      treatment and long term morbidity point of view. 

PMID- 26886089
TI  - Mutation screening of the SLC26A4 gene in a cohort of 192 Chinese patients with
      congenital hypothyroidism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pendred syndrome (PS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised
      by sensorineural hearing loss and thyroid dyshormonogenesis. It is caused by
      biallelic mutations in the SLC26A4 gene encoding for pendrin. Hypothyroidism in
      PS can be present from birth and therefore diagnosed by neonatal screening. The
      aim of this study was to examine the SLC26A4 mutation spectrum and prevalence
      among congenital hypothyroidism (CH) patients in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
      Region of China and to establish how frequently PS causes hearing impairment in
      our patients with CH. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 192
      CH patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and genomic DNA was
      extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. All exons of the SLC26A4 gene
      together with their exon-intron boundaries were screened by next-generation
      sequencing. Patients with SLC26A4 mutations underwent a complete audiological
      evaluation including otoscopic examination, audiometry and morphological
      evaluation of the inner ear. RESULTS: Next generation sequencing analysis of
      SLC26A4 in 192 CH patients revealed five different heterozygous variations in
      eight individuals (8/192, 4%). The prevalence of SLC26A4 mutations was 4% among
      studied Chinese CH. Three of the eight were diagnosed as enlargement of the
      vestibular aqueduct (EVA), no PS were found in our 192 CH patients. The mutations
      included one novel missense variant p.P469S, as well as four known missense
      variants, namely p.V233L, p.M147I, p.V609G and p.D661E. Of the eight patients
      identified with SLC26A4 variations in our study, seven patients showed normal
      size/location of thyroid gland, and one patients showed a decreased size one.
      CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SLC26A4 pathogenic variants was 4% among studied
      Chinese patients with CH. Our study expanded the SLC26A4 mutation spectrum,
      provided the best estimation of SLC26A4 mutation rate for Chinese CH patients and
      indicated the rarity of PS as a cause of CH.

PMID- 26886091
TI  - TSH reference values in the first trimester of gestation and correlation between
      maternal TSH and obstetric and neonatal outcomes: a prospective Brazilian study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the normal range of TSH in the first trimester of gestation
      and to evaluate the correlation between maternal TSH and obstetric and neonatal
      outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective study. Women without known or
      clinically suspected thyroid disease and without risk factors for thyroid
      dysfunction, who became pregnant spontaneously and were initially evaluated up to
      week 12 of gestation, were included. Women with positive anti-thyroperoxidase
      antibodies, twin pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, and trophoblastic disease
      were excluded. RESULTS: In the 660 pregnant women, the mean, median, and 2.5th
      and 97.5th percentiles of TSH were 0.9, 0.96, 0.04 and 2.68 mIU/L, respectively.
      TSH was undetectable in 2%, < 0.5 mIU/L in 17.4%, > 2 mIU/L in 9.7%, > 2.5 mIU/L
      in 4.7%, and > 3 mIU/L in 1%. None of the women received levothyroxine or
      antithyroid drugs during pregnancy. In addition, there was no difference in
      obstetric or neonatal outcomes when women with TSH <= 0.1, between 0.1 and 2.5,
      and between 2.5 and 4 mIU/L were compared. CONCLUSION: In the population studied,
      the TSH value corresponding to the 97.5th percentile was 2.68 mIU/L in the first
      trimester of gestation.

PMID- 26886090
TI  - Evaluation of biochemical and clinical markers of endothelial dysfunction and
      their correlation with urinary albumin excretion in patients with type 1 diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Objective Endothelial dysfunction (ED) plays an important role in the
      pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The purpose of the study was to determine
      flow mediated endothelial dependent vasodilatation (FMD) measurements and serum
      soluble (s) endothelin-1 (ET-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and
      vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes
      mellitus (T1DM) with or without increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and
      compare them with the healthy controls. Subjects and methods Seventy three
      patients with T1DM were enrolled. Patients were divided into two subgroups
      according to microalbumin measurements in 24-hr urine collections. The diabetic
      patients without microalbuminuria (41 patients) were defined as Group I and those
      with microalbuminuria (32 patients) were defined as group II. A hundred age and
      sex matched healthy subjects participated as the control group (Group III). Serum
      sET-1, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 levels and FMD measurements were determined in all
      participants. Results Median FMD measurement was significantly lower in the
      diabetic groups compared with the control group (6.6, 6.4 and 7.8% in Group I, II
      and III, respectively) (p < 0.05). FMD was negatively correlated with age (p =
      0.042). Median serum sICAM-1 level was higher in the patient groups compared to
      the control group (p < 0.05). Median serum sVCAM-1 level was higher in the group
      of patients with increased albuminuria compared to the normoalbuinuric and the
      control group (p < 0.05). Serum sVCAM-1 level was found to be positively
      correlated with degree of urinary albumin excretion (p < 0.001). Conclusion We
      assume that sVCAM-1 may be used as a predictive marker for risk stratification
      for nephropathy development and progression. 

PMID- 26886092
TI  - Assessment of the left ventricular function in normotensive prediabetics: a
      tissue Doppler echocardiography study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown that left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is
      increased in individuals with diabetes. However, there are scarce data about LV
      function in prediabetics. This study assessed the early changes in LV diastolic
      and systolic myocardial function in normotensive prediabetics using tissue
      Doppler echocardiography (TDE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 94 patients
      with prediabetes (mean age of 50.8 +/- 6.9 years, 78 female) without known
      cardiovascular diseases and 70 healthy volunteers with similar demographic
      characteristics. Systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle was
      evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography according to the latest consensus
      recommendations including TDE. RESULTS: The mean results of septal and lateral
      parts of the mitral annulus Pulsed wave TDE showed that myocardial systolic wave
      (Sm), myocardial early diastolic wave (Em) and Em to atrial peak velocity (Am)
      ratio were significantly lower whereas early diastolic peak flow velocity (E) to
      Em ratio, myocardial isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRTm), myocardial
      isovolumetric contraction time (IVCTm) and myocardial performance index (MPI)
      values were significantly higher in patients with prediabetes (preDM). In
      addition, mean left atrium (LA) diameter measured with M-mode echocardiography
      was significantly higher in prediabetics than controls. CONCLUSION: PreDM is
      associated with subclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction as evaluated by
      TDE.

PMID- 26886093
TI  - Mean platelet volume in patients with prolactinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Prolactin is a multifunctional pituitary hormone. The effect of
      prolactin on platelet activation is not well understood. Prolactinomas are the
      most common type of pituitary adenomas, and they are medically responsive to
      dopamine agonists. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet function
      and activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPV values before and 6
      months of cabergoline treatment when normoprolactinemia was achieved. SUBJECTS
      AND METHODS: A total of 101 newly diagnosed prolactinoma patients and 102 healthy
      control subjects were included in the study. Patients with hematological
      disorders that affect MPV and those on medications were excluded. Prolactin,
      platelet count and MPV levels were recorded before and 6 months after the
      initiation of cabergoline treatment (0.5 to 1 mg, two times a week). RESULTS:
      There was no significant difference in platelet count and MPV before and after 6
      months of treatment with cabergoline in patients with prolactinoma compared with
      the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that MPV, a marker
      of platelet function, was unchanged in patients with prolactinoma.

PMID- 26886094
TI  - Clustering of risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases in low-income, female
      adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and clustering patterns of cardiometabolic
      risk factors among low-income, female adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross
      sectional study involving 196 students of public schools (11-19 years old). The
      following risk factors were considered in the analysis: excess weight, central
      obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose. The ratio
      between observed and expected prevalence and its confidence interval were used to
      identify clustering of risk factors that exceeded expected prevalence in the
      population. RESULTS: The most prevalent risk factors were dyslipidemia (70.9%),
      and central obesity (39.8%), followed by excess weight (29.6%), and high blood
      pressure (12.8%). A total of 42.9% of adolescents had two or more risk factors,
      and 24% had three or more. Excess weight, central obesity, and dyslipidemia were
      common risk factors in the clustering patterns that showed higher-than-expected
      prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Clustering of risk factors (>= two factors) among the
      adolescents showed considerable prevalence, and there was a non-casual
      coexistence of excess weight, central obesity, and dyslipidemia (mainly low HDL
      cholesterol).

PMID- 26886095
TI  - Cerebellar ataxia as presenting feature of hypothyroidism.
AB  - Symptoms and signs of the hypothyroidism vary in relation to the magnitude and
      acuteness of the thyroid hormone deficiency. The usual clinical features are
      constipation, fatigue, cold intolerance and weight gain. Rarely it can present
      with neurologic problems like reversible cerebellar ataxia, dementia, peripheral
      neuropathy, psychosis and coma. Hypothyroidism should be suspected in all cases
      of ataxia, as it is easily treatable. A 40 year-old male presented with the
      history facial puffiness, hoarseness of voice and gait-ataxia. Investigations
      revealed frank primary hypothyroidism. Anti-TPO antibody was positive. Thyroxine
      was started and patient improved completely within eight weeks. Hypothyroidism
      can present with ataxia as presenting feature. Hypothyroidism should be
      considered in all cases of cerebellar ataxia as it is a reversible cause of
      ataxia. 

PMID- 26886096
TI  - The Evaluation of Serum Copeptin Levels and Some Commonly Seen Thrombophilic
      Mutation Prevalence in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.
AB  - Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, emergent condition and may affect a
      large number of patients. Copeptin has been indicated to be a sensitive biomarker
      of arginine vasopressin release, and has diagnostic and prognostic value in
      various clinical conditions. Genetic mutations are considerable components of
      thrombophilic diseases, and factor II gene G20210A, (FII20210A), factor V Leiden
      (FVL, G1691A) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T (MTHFR677T)
      single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common mutations of thrombophilic
      diseases. In this study, serum copeptin levels were determined in patients with
      PE and healthy controls, and the results were discussed. The prevalence of some
      commonly seen thrombophilic mutations was also evaluated in patients with PE. The
      study included 32 patients (18 male, 14 female) with PE and 24 (13 male, 11
      female) age- and gender-matched healthy controls. A significant difference in
      serum copeptin levels was determined between the patient and control groups (8.58
      +/- 4.42 and 4.07 +/- 1.02 pmol/L, respectively). Heterozygous mutant genotype
      for FII20210A and heterozygous mutant genotype for FVL were observed in 3.1 and
      9.4% of patients, respectively. Mutant genotype of 49% was determined for
      MTHFR677T mutations. It was concluded that copeptin may have diagnostic value for
      PE. 

PMID- 26886097
TI  - Chromoendoscopy with a Standard-Resolution Colonoscope for Evaluation of Rectal
      Aberrant Crypt Foci.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of death worldwide.
      According to the theory by Vogelstein, colorectal carcinogenesis involves a
      series of successive changes in the normal colonic mucosa, starting with
      excessive proliferation and focal disorders of intestinal crypts, followed by
      adenoma and its subsequent malignant transformation. The first identifiable
      changes in CRC carcinogenesis are aberrant crypt foci (ACF). ACF are invisible
      during routine colonoscopy yet are well identifiable in chromoendoscopy using
      methylene blue or indigo carmine. High-resolution colonoscopes are used for
      assessment of ACF. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of
      standard-resolution colonoscopy for identification of rectal ACF. The following
      parameters were evaluated: duration of chromoendoscopy of a given rectal segment,
      type of ACF, sensitivity and specificity of endoscopy combined with
      histopathological evaluation. The mean duration of colonoscopy and
      chromoendoscopy was 26.8 min. In the study population, typical ACF were found in
      73 patients (p = 0.489), hyperplastic ACF in 49 (p = 0.328), and dysplastic ACF
      in 16 patients (p = 0.107). Mixed ACF were observed in 11 individuals (p =
      0.073). The sensitivity of the method was found to be 0.96 whereas its
      specificity 0.99. Identification of rectal ACF using standard-resolution
      colonoscopy combined with rectal mucosa staining with 0.25% methylene blue is
      characterised by high sensitivity and specificity. 

PMID- 26886098
TI  - p-Curve and p-Hacking in Observational Research.
AB  - The p-curve, the distribution of statistically significant p-values of published
      studies, has been used to make inferences on the proportion of true effects and
      on the presence of p-hacking in the published literature. We analyze the p-curve
      for observational research in the presence of p-hacking. We show by means of
      simulations that even with minimal omitted-variable bias (e.g., unaccounted
      confounding) p-curves based on true effects and p-curves based on null-effects
      with p-hacking cannot be reliably distinguished. We also demonstrate this problem
      using as practical example the evaluation of the effect of malaria prevalence on
      economic growth between 1960 and 1996. These findings call recent studies into
      question that use the p-curve to infer that most published research findings are
      based on true effects in the medical literature and in a wide range of
      disciplines. p-values in observational research may need to be empirically
      calibrated to be interpretable with respect to the commonly used significance
      threshold of 0.05. Violations of randomization in experimental studies may also
      result in situations where the use of p-curves is similarly unreliable. 

PMID- 26886099
TI  - Staying Connected on the Road: A Comparison of Different Types of Smart Phone Use
      in a Driving Simulator.
AB  - Previous research on smart phone use while driving has primarily focused on phone
      calls and texting. Drivers are now increasingly using their phone for other
      activities during driving, in particular social media, which have different
      cognitive demands. The present study compared the effects of four different smart
      phone tasks on car-following performance in a driving simulator. Phone tasks were
      chosen that vary across two factors: interaction medium (text vs image) and task
      pacing (self-paced vs experimenter-paced) and were as follows: Text messaging
      with the experimenter (text/other-paced), reading Facebook posts (text/self
      paced), exchanging photos with the experimenter via Snapchat (image, experimenter
      paced), and viewing updates on Instagram (image, experimenter-paced). Drivers
      also performed a driving only baseline. Brake reaction times (BRTs) were
      significantly greater in the text-based conditions (Mean = 1.16 s) as compared to
      both the image-based conditions (Mean = 0.92 s) and the baseline (0.88 s). There
      was no significant difference between BRTs in the image-based and baseline
      conditions and there was no significant effect of task-pacing. Similar results
      were obtained for Time Headway variability. These results are consistent with the
      picture superiority effect found in memory research and suggest that image-based
      interfaces could provide safer ways to "stay connected" while driving than text
      based interfaces.

PMID- 26886101
TI  - First steps to understand heat tolerance of temperate maize at adult stage:
      identification of QTL across multiple environments with connected segregating
      populations.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Dents were more heat tolerant than Flints. QTL for heat tolerance
      with respect to grain yield at field conditions were identified considering
      multiple populations and environments. High temperatures have the potential to
      cause severe damages to maize production. This study aims to elucidate the
      genetic mechanisms of heat tolerance under field conditions in maize and the
      genome regions contributing to natural variation. In our study, heat tolerance
      was assessed on a multi-environment level under non-controlled field conditions
      for a set of connected intra- and interpool Dent and Flint populations. Our
      findings indicate that Dent are more heat tolerant during adult stage than Flint
      genotypes. We identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTL) including 2 loci for
      heat tolerance with respect to grain yield. Furthermore, we identified six heat
      tolerance and 112 heat-responsive candidate genes colocating with the previously
      mentioned QTL. To investigate their contribution to the response to heat stress
      and heat tolerance, differential expression and sequence variation of the
      identified candidate genes should be subjected to further research.

PMID- 26886102
TI  - Uncrossed Asymmetry in Pattern Visual Evoked Potentials: A Reappraisal.
AB  - PURPOSE: To demonstrate the utility of an uncrossed asymmetry in full-field
      pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (FF-PVEPs) will accurately predict a
      retrochiasmal lesion confirmed by MRI. METHODS: During an 8-year period, 754
      patients had FF-PVEPs performed and analyzed without knowledge of their clinical
      histories and imaging studies. Interhemispheric amplitude ratios were calculated
      between N75-P100 and P100-N145 and deemed significant if both demonstrated
      greater than 50% amplitude asymmetry no matter which eye was stimulated
      (uncrossed symmetry). RESULTS: We identified 11 patients of 754 patients
      evaluated for 8 years (1.5%) whose FF-PVEP fulfilled our amplitude criteria. Ten
      of 11 had retrochiasmal lesions confirmed with MRI for a calculated positive
      predictive value of 91%. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide initial support for the
      hypothesis that specified amplitude criteria in FF-PVEPs can provide evidence for
      a retrochiasmal lesion. An abnormal interhemispheric amplitude ratio in FF-PVEPs
      is underrecognized as a diagnostic criterion for retrochiasmal lesion prediction.

PMID- 26886103
TI  - Conductive Plastic Electrodes Reduce EEG Artifact During Pediatric ECMO Therapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving heart and
      lung bypass procedure that can cause substantial EEG artifact. Continuous EEG
      monitoring is nonetheless a helpful neuromonitoring tool for patients receiving
      ECMO therapy because neurologic complications are frequent, but factors such as
      sedation, neuromuscular blockade, and hemodynamic instability limit clinical and
      radiographic evaluation. We examined whether using conductive plastic electrodes
      in place of conventional gold electrodes reduces artifact in clinical EEG studies
      of pediatric ECMO patients. METHODS: Four masked electroencephalographers
      assessed artifact and its impact on overall EEG interpretation in samples from 21
      consecutive EEGs recorded during ECMO therapy (14 gold and 7 plastic). A spectral
      power analysis then quantified 50- to 70-Hz artifact in a larger group of 14 gold
      and 34 plastic electrode studies during ECMO and 4 non-ECMO gold electrode
      studies. RESULTS: The masked electroencephalographers identified less artifact (P
      < 0.001) and indicated greater confidence in the accuracy of EEG interpretation
      (P < 0.001) among studies recorded with plastic electrodes. In quantitative
      analyses, ECMO was associated with greater 50- to 70-Hz power among studies using
      gold electrodes (P < 0.001) and gold electrodes exhibited greater 50- to 70-Hz
      power than plastic electrodes (P < 0.001). Contrasting studies in which most of
      the electroencephalographers believed that interpretation was (n = 12; 7 gold and
      5 plastic) or was not (n = 7; all gold) compromised by artifact, 50- to 70-Hz
      power was similarly higher among the compromised studies (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION:
      Plastic electrodes substantially reduce the burden of electrical artifact in EEG
      studies performed on pediatric ECMO patients and improve confidence in EEG
      interpretation.

PMID- 26886100
TI  - Individual Differences in Scotopic Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity:
      Genetic and Non-Genetic Influences.
AB  - Despite the large amount of variation found in the night (scotopic) vision
      capabilities of healthy volunteers, little effort has been made to characterize
      this variation and factors, genetic and non-genetic, that influence it. In the
      largest population of healthy observers measured for scotopic visual acuity (VA)
      and contrast sensitivity (CS) to date, we quantified the effect of a range of
      variables on visual performance. We found that young volunteers with excellent
      photopic vision exhibit great variation in their scotopic VA and CS, and this
      variation is reliable from one testing session to the next. We additionally
      identified that factors such as Circadian preference, iris color, astigmatism,
      depression, sex and education have no significant impact on scotopic visual
      function. We confirmed previous work showing that the amount of time spent on the
      vision test influences performance and that laser eye surgery results in worse
      scotopic vision. We also showed a significant effect of intelligence and photopic
      visual performance on scotopic VA and CS, but all of these variables collectively
      explain <30% of the variation in scotopic vision. The wide variation seen in
      young healthy volunteers with excellent photopic vision, the high test-retest
      agreement, and the vast majority of the variation in scotopic vision remaining
      unexplained by obvious non-genetic factors suggests a strong genetic component.
      Our preliminary genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 106 participants ruled
      out any common genetic variants of very large effect and paves the way for
      future, larger genetic studies of scotopic vision. 

PMID- 26886104
TI  - Urinary Dysfunction in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Compared with Other
      Parkinsonian Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Autonomic urinary dysfunction affects patients with progressive
      supranuclear palsy (PSP); however, the severity and prevalence of urinary
      dysfunctions in these patients compared with those observed in patients with
      Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are unknown.
      OBJECTIVE: We compared urinary dysfunction characteristics in patients with PSP,
      PD, and MSA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients who satisfied the
      probable or possible criteria of the National Institute for Neurological Diseases
      and Stroke and Society for PSP were assessed using the urinary symptoms
      questionnaire and the urodynamic study at Chiba and Toho Universities (n = 26 and
      21, respectively). The results were compared with those of patients with PD and
      MSA (n = 218 and 193, respectively). RESULTS: The mean disease duration of PSP
      and the mean age were 2.97 +/- 0.26 and 71.4 +/- 0.88 years, respectively. The
      mini-mental state examination and frontal assessment battery scores were 22.6 +/-
      0.70 and 10.7 +/- 0.49, respectively. Urinary storage and voiding symptoms were
      observed in 57% and 56% of patients with PSP, respectively. Detrusor overactivity
      in the urodynamic study was detected in 81% of patients with PSP, which was
      slightly more than that found in patients with PD (69%) and MSA (67%); however,
      this was not statistically significant. Postvoid residual volume in patients with
      PSP was significantly more than that in patients with PD (P < 0.01), but was
      equivalent to that in patients with MSA. CONCLUSIONS: The present study
      demonstrated that patients with PSP experienced various urinary dysfunctions.
      Urinary storage dysfunction in patients with PSP was not different from that in
      patients with PD or MSA, whereas urinary voiding dysfunction in patients with PSP
      was milder than that in patients with MSA and more severe than that in patients
      with PD. These features should be taken into account for the differentiation of
      PSP from PD and MSA.

PMID- 26886105
TI  - Peering into the Deep: Characterizing the Internet Search Patterns of Patients
      with Gynecologic Cancers.
AB  - Cancer patients are increasingly using the Internet to learn about their disease,
      connect with others undergoing similar treatments and obtain support outside of
      the clinical encounter. The goal of this project was to explore how patients with
      gynecological cancers (ovarian, cervical, and endometrial) used the Internet as
      an information resource and how this influenced their treatment decisions and
      interactions with their health care specialists. From 2013 to 2014, ovarian,
      endometrial, and cervical cancer patients attending a comprehensive cancer centre
      were invited to complete a 24-item paper questionnaire detailing their
      experiences in searching the Internet. Twenty-eight patients completed survey.
      The largest portion of participants had an ovarian cancer diagnosis (61 %),
      followed by endometrial (29 %) and cervical cancer (11 %). Results indicate that
      the majority (85 %) of patients used the Internet as a resource to learn about
      their gynecological cancers. Most respondents (89 %) used Google as their search
      engine, and some used multiple search engines. The most frequently searched
      topics included treatment information (85 %), management of symptoms/treatment
      toxicity (59 %), and alternative treatments (37 %). Many patients (74 %) felt
      that the Internet was a useful tool for understanding their diagnosis; however,
      33 % reported that the Internet was somewhat hard to understand. Most (78 %)
      patients reported that Internet information increased their understanding of
      their diagnosis, and 56 % felt it did not affect their decision-making. This
      study highlights how gynecological patients are accessing cancer information
      online and how physicians may support this within the clinical setting.

PMID- 26886106
TI  - Sudden death following accidental ingestion of a button battery by a 17-month-old
      child: a case study.
AB  - Cases of ingesting button batteries by children are not common clinical
      situations in forensic medicine. Although it can be a cause of death when
      associated with digestive perforations, no cases of sudden death have been
      reported in the literature. We report the case of a 17-month-old girl who
      presented at home with haematemesis, followed by failed cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation. The child had been treated on two occasions for nasopharyngitis,
      14 and 18 days prior to her death. The post-mortem scan revealed a radio-opaque
      foreign body in the oesophagus. The autopsy revealed the presence of a round
      button battery, 20 mm in diameter, blocking the lumen of the oesophagus in its
      upper third, associated with two parietal oesophageal ruptures opposite each
      other. There was limited digestive haemorrhage, but above all significant
      bronchial inhalation of blood. Toxicology analyses showed slightly increased
      blood levels of the heavy metals of which the battery was composed (lithium,
      chromium, manganese and molybdenum). The anatomopathological analyses confirmed
      the recent nature of these ruptures. Ingestions of button batteries localised at
      the level of the oesophagus are the cases linking to the highest risk of
      complications, particularly for batteries with a diameter of more than 20 mm and
      in children under the age of 4. The main difficulty in such clinical situations
      is identifying when the ingestion occurred, as more often than not, no witnesses
      are present. We discuss the advantages of anatomopathology and toxicology
      examinations targeted towards heavy metals in these forensic situations. 

PMID- 26886107
TI  - The cardiothoracic ratio on post-mortem computer tomography.
AB  - In clinical practice, the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) was first utilized on plain
      chest radiography, and subsequently with computed tomography (CT) to diagnose
      cardiomegaly with a threshold of 0.5. Using CTR in forensic practice could help
      to detect cardiomegaly on post-mortem CT (PMCT) prior to the autopsy. However, an
      adaption of the threshold could be necessary because of post-mortem changes. Our
      retrospective study aimed to measure the CTR on PMCT and test the possible
      influence of variables. We selected 109 autopsy cases in which the heart weight
      was within normal limits. A forensic pathologist and a radiologist measured
      separately the CTR on axial and scout views on PMCT. We tested the statistical
      concordance between the two readers and between the axial and scout view and
      identified factors that could be associated with a modification of the CTR. The
      CTR measurements revealed an overestimation of the measurements made on scout
      compared to axial view. The inter-reader correlation was very high for both
      views. Among the different variables statistically tested, heart dilatation and
      body mass index (BMI) were the only two factors statistically associated with an
      augmentation of the CTR. The CTR can be useful in the diagnosis of cardiomegaly
      on PMCT. However, dilatation of the cardiac chambers caused by acute heart
      failure may be misinterpreted radiographically as cardiomegaly. Inter-observer
      reliability in our study was very high. CTR may be overestimated when measured on
      the scout view. Further investigations with larger cohorts, including cases with
      cardiac hypertrophy, are necessary to better understand the relationship between
      radiological CTR and the morphology of the heart. 

PMID- 26886108
TI  - Ultrasound and Electromyography Guidance for Injection of the Longus Colli With
      Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Cervical Dystonia.
AB  - Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, is a painful condition in
      which neck muscles contract involuntarily, and may cause abnormal head position
      or movements. The primary (or first line of) treatment of cervical dystonia is
      chemodenervation with injection of botulinum toxin into the affected muscles. We
      report a case of a young man with idiopathic cervical dystonia who developed
      anterocollis (forward flexion of the neck) not responsive to prior scalene and
      sternocleidomastoid muscle injections. To safely access the deeper cervical
      musculature, ultrasound (US) was used in conjunction with electromyography, to
      inject the longus colli muscles bilaterally. The patient responded well and had
      no complications. The longus colli has been reported to be injected using
      electromyography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, and, less frequently, US. We
      propose that US guidance is an excellent technique for botulinum toxin injection,
      especially for deep cervical muscles such as the longus colli. 

PMID- 26886109
TI  - Identifying minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients by measuring
      spontaneous brain activity.
AB  - It has been demonstrated that minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is associated
      with aberrant regional intrinsic brain activity in cirrhotic patients. However,
      few studies have investigated whether altered intrinsic brain activity can be
      used as a biomarker of MHE among cirrhotic patients. In this study, 36 cirrhotic
      patients (with MHE, n = 16; without MHE [NHE], n = 20) underwent resting-state
      functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Spontaneous brain activity was
      measured by examining the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the
      fMRI signal. MHE was diagnosed based on the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy
      Score (PHES). A two-sample t-test was used to determine the regions of interest
      (ROIs) in which ALFF differed significantly between the two groups; then, ALFF
      values within ROIs were selected as classification features. A linear
      discriminative analysis was used to differentiate MHE patients from NHE patients.
      The leave-one-out cross-validation method was used to estimate the performance of
      the classifier. The classification analysis was 80.6 % accurate (81.3 %
      sensitivity and 80.0 % specificity) in terms of distinguishing between the two
      groups. Six ROIs were identified as the most discriminative features, including
      the bilateral medial frontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex, posterior
      cingulate cortex/precuneus, left precentral and postcentral gyrus, right lingual
      gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and inferior/superior parietal lobule. The ALFF
      values within ROIs were correlated with PHES in cirrhotic patients. Our findings
      suggest that altered regional brain spontaneous activity is a useful biomarker
      for MHE detection among cirrhotic patients.

PMID- 26886111
TI  - Erratum to: Treatment costs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in
      Germany.

PMID- 26886110
TI  - Back to the future: restricted protein intake for conservative management of CKD,
      triple goals of renoprotection, uremia mitigation, and nutritional health.
AB  - Lowering dietary protein intake (DPI) to approximately 0.6-0.8 g/kgBW/day may be
      renoprotective through various mechanisms, and it has been recommended in
      patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) as a means
      to also control various metabolic consequences of advanced CKD, such as uremic
      symptoms, hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, hyperkalemia, and hyperphosphatemia.
      A meta-analysis in this issue of the Journal suggests that low-protein diet is
      effective and safe when used to retard progression of CKD and alleviate uremic
      complications. A potential deleterious consequence of lowering DPI in this
      population is the development or worsening of protein-energy wasting (PEW), which
      can contribute to poor clinical outcomes such as higher mortality and morbidity.
      There is currently insufficient high-level evidence to determine the ideal level
      of DPI in patients with NDD-CKD with high risk of PEW. For the time being we
      recommend a DPI of 0.6-0.8 g/kgBW/day, and increasing this as needed on an
      individual basis in patients with PEW. Further examination of this dilemma in
      randomized controlled clinical trials will be necessary.

PMID- 26886112
TI  - The "Majority Illusion" in Social Networks.
AB  - Individual's decisions, from what product to buy to whether to engage in risky
      behavior, often depend on the choices, behaviors, or states of other people.
      People, however, rarely have global knowledge of the states of others, but must
      estimate them from the local observations of their social contacts. Network
      structure can significantly distort individual's local observations. Under some
      conditions, a state that is globally rare in a network may be dramatically over
      represented in the local neighborhoods of many individuals. This effect, which we
      call the "majority illusion," leads individuals to systematically overestimate
      the prevalence of that state, which may accelerate the spread of social
      contagions. We develop a statistical model that quantifies this effect and
      validate it with measurements in synthetic and real-world networks. We show that
      the illusion is exacerbated in networks with a heterogeneous degree distribution
      and disassortative structure. 

PMID- 26886113
TI  - Glaucoma: Today and Tomorrow.

PMID- 26886114
TI  - Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging for Glaucoma - Today and Tomorrow.
AB  - Digital imaging technologies for glaucoma diagnostics have evolved rapidly over
      the recent years. From time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to spectral
      domain and swept-source OCTs, the application of OCT for analysis of the anterior
      chamber angle and the optic nerve head (ONH) is expanding. The second-generation
      anterior segment swept-source OCT is able to image the configuration of the
      anterior chamber angle in 3 dimensions in less than 1 second and perform 360
      degree analysis of the anterior chamber angle width for detection of angle
      closure. The morphology, density, and dimensions of the crystalline lens in
      relation to the anterior chamber can now be examined from the anterior corneal
      surface to the posterior lens surface, facilitating the investigation of the
      involvement of the crystalline lens in primary angle closure. Spectral-domain and
      swept-source OCTs have improved the measurement reliability of the lamina
      cribrosa and the neuroretinal rim configurations. Studying the deformation of the
      lamina cribrosa and ONH surfaces is relevant to decipher the mechanisms of ONH
      damage in the development and progression of glaucoma. Software and algorithms
      for automatic analysis of the anterior chamber angle dimensions and deformation
      of the ONH and lamina cribrosa surfaces are required to process large volumetric
      data sets, and they are under active development. It is expected that new imaging
      technologies will improve the detection and risk assessment of angle-closure and
      open-angle glaucomas. 

PMID- 26886115
TI  - Personalizing Intraocular Pressure: Target Intraocular Pressure in the Setting of
      24-Hour Intraocular Pressure Monitoring.
AB  - Determining target intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients is
      multifaceted, requiring attention to many different factors such as glaucoma
      type, severity of disease, age, race, family history, corneal thickness and
      hysteresis, and initial IOP. Even with all these variables accounted for, there
      are still patients who have progression of the disease despite achieving target
      IOP. Intraocular pressure variability has been identified as a potential
      independent risk factor for glaucoma progression but is currently difficult to
      quantify in individual patients. New technologies enabling measurement of both
      diurnal and nocturnal IOP may necessitate modifying our concept of target
      pressure. 

PMID- 26886116
TI  - Update on the Prevalence, Etiology, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of Normal-Tension
      Glaucoma.
AB  - Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG)
      is a type of open-angle glaucoma with intraocular pressure measurements always 21
      mm Hg or less. A controversy surrounding NTG is the question of whether it should
      be regarded as a disease within the spectrum of primary open-angle glaucoma or as
      a distinctive disease entity. Nonetheless, NTG does have distinctive features
      compared with primary open-angle glaucoma: intraocular pressure-independent risk
      factors for development of NTG, characteristic patterns of structural and
      functional damage, and a unique disease course. This review provides an overview
      and update on the current issues surrounding the prevalence, etiology, diagnosis,
      and monitoring of NTG. 

PMID- 26886117
TI  - Glaucoma Suspect: Diagnosis and Management.
AB  - Glaucoma suspect is a diagnosis reserved for individuals who do not definitively
      have glaucoma at the present time but have characteristics suggesting that they
      are at high risk of developing the disease in the future based on a variety of
      factors. This review provides a practical approach to individuals classified as
      glaucoma suspects caused by one or more of the following risk factors or
      indicators of disease: ocular hypertension, optic nerve features suggestive of
      glaucoma, visual field abnormalities, and other characteristics placing them at
      greater risk than the average population. In addition to diagnostic
      considerations, this overview provides information on therapeutic approaches to
      the glaucoma suspect. 

PMID- 26886118
TI  - Ocular Blood Flow and Influencing Factors for Glaucoma.
AB  - Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is characterized by optic nerve fiber atrophy and
      deterioration of the visual field, corresponding to damage to the optic nerve
      head. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only evidence-based, treatable
      risk factor for OAG. However, normal-tension glaucoma, the most common type of
      OAG in Asia, is a type of glaucoma with an unclear pathogenesis. Glaucoma is
      suspected to be a multifactorial disease with IOP-dependent and IOP-independent
      risk factors, including decreased ocular blood flow (OBF), oxidative stress,
      decreased axoplasmic flow, and genetic background. A number of epidemiological
      studies have generated strong evidence that OBF may be an especially important
      risk factor for the progression of glaucoma. Recent innovations in laser speckle
      flowgraphy and optical coherence tomography-based angiography have allowed us to
      noninvasively monitor changes in the microcirculation of the optic nerve head
      with high reproducibility. Laser speckle flowgraphy-derived measurement
      parameters include mean blur rate and pulse wave form parameters, whereas the
      main optical coherence tomography angiography-derived parameter is the vessel
      index. Decreases in these parameters are associated with the severity of
      glaucomatous damage, and changes are detectible even in the earliest,
      preperimetric stage of glaucoma. In the future, OBF analysis may improve
      significantly because of continuing progress in the development of the relevant
      instruments. This review will summarize possible connections between systemic and
      OBF abnormalities and OAG, describe the scientific rationale for these
      connections, and discuss their potential implications. Thus, this review will
      summarize the role of OBF in glaucoma pathogenesis and discuss the wide range of
      IOP-independent risk factors. 

PMID- 26886119
TI  - Systemic Associations of Exfoliation Syndrome.
AB  - Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is an age-related disease characterized by the
      production, deposition, and progressive accumulation of a white, fibrillar,
      extracellular material in many ocular tissues, most prominent on the anterior
      lens surface and pupillary border. Its prevalence increases steadily with age in
      all populations. It is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma
      worldwide and is a potentially reversible or even curable disease. First
      described in Finland in 1917 by Lindberg, it has long been associated with open
      angle glaucoma. However, in recent years, it is being increasingly reported in
      conjunction with a multiplicity of both ocular and systemic disorders, and the
      number of these is expected to grow, particularly with investigations based on
      attempts to associate other diseases with those genes known to be associated with
      XFS. Despite the focus on XFS as a cause of open-angle glaucoma for nearly a
      century, in reality it is still only an ocular manifestation of a protean
      systemic disease. It is a unique disorder with extensive and often serious ocular
      and systemic manifestations and not, as it has long been termed, a "form" or
      "type" of glaucoma. This misconception has delayed research into the molecular
      and cellular processes involved in its development, and the underestimation of
      its overall importance and its underlying causative mechanisms have largely been
      long ignored. The purpose of this article is to review the systemic disorders
      which are becoming increasingly associated with XFS. Reviews of epidemiology,
      genetics, biomarkers, molecular mechanisms of development, and ocular findings
      may be found elsewhere. 

PMID- 26886120
TI  - Update on the Medical Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.
AB  - Glaucoma comprises a group of progressive, neurodegenerative disorders
      characterized by retinal ganglion cell death and nerve fiber layer atrophy.
      Several randomized controlled trials have consistently demonstrated the efficacy
      of intraocular pressure lowering to slow or halt the measurable progression of
      the disease. Medical therapy, in places where it is easily accessible, is often
      the primary method to lower intraocular pressure. We review the medical options
      currently available and possible future options currently in development. The 5
      contemporary classes of topical agents in use include prostaglandin analogs, beta
      blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha agonists, and cholinergics. In
      addition, several fixed combination agents are commercially available. Agents
      from each of these classes have unique mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and
      other characteristics that impact how they are used in clinical practice. Despite
      the plethora of medical options available, there are limitations to topical
      ophthalmic therapy such as the high rate of noncompliance and local and systemic
      adverse effects. Alternate and sustained drug delivery models, such as injectable
      agents and punctal plug delivery systems, may in the future alleviate some such
      concerns and lead to increased efficacy of treatment while minimizing adverse
      effects. 

PMID- 26886121
TI  - Management of Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma.
AB  - Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a progressive optic nerve degeneration
      and is defined as a glaucomatous optic neuropathy with associated characteristic
      enlargement of optic disc cupping and visual field loss that is secondary to
      ocular hypertension caused by closure of the drainage angle. Angle closure is
      caused by appositional approximation or adhesion between the iris and the
      trabecular meshwork. The main treatment strategy for PACG lies in the reduction
      of intraocular pressure, reopening of the closed angle, and possible prevention
      of further angle closure. There is no universally agreed best surgical treatment
      for PACG. Trabeculectomy, goniosynechialysis (GSL), glaucoma implant, and
      cyclodestructive procedures are effective surgical options. Each of them plays an
      important role in the management of PACG with its own pros and cons. Accumulating
      evidence is available to show the effectiveness of visually significant and
      visually nonsignificant cataract extraction in the treatment of PACG.
      Trabeculectomy and GSL are often combined with cataract extraction, which may
      offer additional pressure control benefits to patients with PACG. This review
      article will discuss laser peripheral iridotomy, argon laser peripheral
      iridoplasty, and surgeries such as GSL, phacoemulsification, and phaco plus
      glaucoma surgeries that lower intraocular pressure and also alter the anterior
      segment and/or drainage angle anatomy. Currently, glaucoma implants and
      cyclodestruction are mainly reserved for PACG patients who have failed previous
      filtering operations. Their role as initial surgical treatment for PACG will not
      be discussed.

PMID- 26886122
TI  - Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: An Update.
AB  - Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an effective treatment option for the
      reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension or
      open-angle glaucoma. The mechanism by which SLT lowers IOP is not completely
      understood and is likely multifactorial. Published studies indicate that SLT is
      at least as effective as argon laser trabeculoplasty or medications at lowering
      IOP in many forms of glaucoma. In addition to IOP reduction, SLT may decrease IOP
      fluctuation and can be successfully used as primary or adjunctive therapy for the
      management of both early and advanced glaucoma. However, SLT may not be effective
      in certain forms of glaucoma, and the IOP-lowering effect seems to wane with
      time. High pretreatment IOP is the strongest predictor of treatment success, even
      in patients with normal-tension glaucoma. Repeatability of SLT has been
      controversial, but recent evidence suggests that it can be successfully repeated
      to achieve additional or recurrent IOP reduction, even in eyes that only had a
      modest response to initial treatment. Adverse events are uncommon after SLT, and
      the most common complications such as discomfort and inflammation are typically
      mild and transient. Further investigation is required to determine the optimal
      treatment parameters for SLT treatment. Limited evidence suggests that SLT is
      cost-effective as primary therapy for patients with glaucoma. 

PMID- 26886124
TI  - Updates on the Surgical Management of Pediatric Glaucoma.
AB  - Childhood glaucoma is known to be one of the most challenging conditions to
      manage. Surgical management is more complicated than in adults because of
      differences in anatomy from adults along with variations in anatomy caused by
      congenital and developmental anomalies, wide-ranging pathogenetic mechanisms, a
      more aggressive healing response, and a less predictable postoperative course.
      Challenges in postoperative examination and management in less cooperative
      children and the longer life expectancies preempting the need for future
      surgeries and reinterventions are also contributing factors. Angle surgery is
      usually the first-line treatment in the surgical management of primary congenital
      glaucoma because it has a relatively good success rate with a low complication
      rate. After failed angle surgery or in cases of secondary pediatric glaucoma,
      options such as trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices, or cyclodestructive
      procedures can be considered, depending on several factors such as the type of
      glaucoma, age of the patient, and the severity and prognosis of the disease.
      Various combinations of these techniques have also been studied, in particular
      combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy, which has been shown to be successful in
      patients with moderate-to-advanced disease. Newer nonpenetrating techniques, such
      as viscocanalostomy and deep sclerectomy, have been reported in some studies with
      variable results. Further studies are needed to evaluate these newer surgical
      techniques, including the use of modern minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, in
      this special and diverse group of young patients. 

PMID- 26886123
TI  - Lowering of Intraocular Pressure After Phacoemulsification in Primary Open-Angle
      and Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Bayesian Analysis.
AB  - Phacoemulsification as treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) remains
      more controversial than for primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). If the
      objective of glaucoma surgery is an additional greater than or equal to 5 to 6 mm
      Hg reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), the role of phacoemulsification
      should be based on the probability of achieving this. A Bayesian analysis of
      available data was performed to calculate the change in IOP after
      phacoemulsification in POAG and PACG. Standard meta-analysis formulation with
      prephacoemulsification and postphacoemulsification IOP-assumed to have normal
      distributions, with study-specific means and SDs-was used. Absolute and relative
      change in IOP was calculated using different priors, and sensitivity analyses
      were performed. The prior that just included a decrease of greater than or equal
      to 6 mm Hg in the 95% credible interval was identified. The probability of
      achieving greater than or equal to 5 to 6 mm Hg decrease in IOP (and other
      levels) was calculated. Depending on the prior, the probability of achieving a
      greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg reduction in IOP in POAG varied from 0.1% to 3%.
      Confidence in a greater than or equal to 6 mm Hg decrease required a prior belief
      that phacoemulsification produces a mean decrease of 7 mm Hg. The probability of
      a decrease in IOP was greater in PACG: approximately 50% probability of a greater
      than or equal to 5 mm Hg decrease in PACG uncontrolled on medications.
      Phacoemulsification in POAG has a high probability of producing a small decrease
      in IOP that may be useful in early, well-controlled disease. The probability of a
      clinically significant decrease of greater than or equal to 5 to 6 mm Hg-required
      for advanced/uncontrolled disease-is low. Results support the role of
      phacoemulsification in PACG.

PMID- 26886125
TI  - A Balance between Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Volumes Controls Spindle Length.
AB  - Proper assembly of the spindle apparatus is crucially important for faithful
      chromosome segregation during anaphase. Thanks to the effort over the last
      decades, we have very detailed information about many events leading to spindle
      assembly and chromosome segregation, however we still do not understand certain
      aspects, including, for example, spindle length control. When tight regulation of
      spindle size is lost, chromosome segregation errors emerge. Currently, there are
      several hypotheses trying to explain the molecular mechanism of spindle length
      control. The number of kinetochores, activity of molecular rulers, intracellular
      gradients, cell size, limiting spindle components, and the balance of the spindle
      forces seem to contribute to spindle size regulation, however some of these
      mechanisms are likely specific to a particular cell type. In search for a general
      regulatory mechanism, in our study we focused on the role of cell size and
      nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio in this process. To this end, we used relatively
      large cells isolated from 2-cell mouse embryos. Our results showed that the
      spindle size upper limit is not reached in these cells and suggest that accurate
      control of spindle length requires balanced ratio between nuclear and cytoplasmic
      volumes. 

PMID- 26886126
TI  - Temperature Insensitivity and Behavioural Reduction of the Physiological Stress
      Response to Longline Capture by the Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus.
AB  - Many factors influence the physiological stress response to fisheries capture in
      elasmobranchs. However, the influence of sea surface temperatures (SST) and
      behaviour are unknown and crucial considering global fishing pressures. We
      investigated the effect of SST and behaviour on the physiological stress response
      to capture of the gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, and compared our results to
      a laboratory study using similar conditions to test whether stress responses of
      in situ capture are consistent with those from laboratory simulations. Capture
      time for 23 M. antarcticus ranged 32-241 min as measured by hook timers or time
      depth recorders (TDR) in SSTs ranging 12-20 degrees C. TDR data from 13 M.
      antarcticus were analysed to quantify capture behaviour as the percentage of time
      spent moving during capture. Several physiological variables measured from blood
      samples obtained immediately upon the animals' landing indicated that although
      warmer SSTs increased metabolic rate, the stress response to capture was not
      exacerbated by capture duration. During capture movement occurred for an average
      of 10% of the time and since M. antarcticus can respire whilst stationary,
      restricted movement probably mitigated potential influences of increased SSTs and
      capture duration on the stress response. Previous laboratory findings were also
      shown to be indicative of in situ conditions and we thus advise that studies
      control for water temperature given the influence it has on variables (e.g.
      lactate) used to measure capture stress in elasmobranchs. We highlight the
      importance of seasonal water temperatures and capture behaviour when assessing
      the resilience to fisheries capture and the implementation of appropriate
      fisheries management strategies. 

PMID- 26886127
TI  - Ritonavir-boosted danoprevir-based regimens in treatment-naive and prior null
      responders with HCV genotype 1 or 4 and compensated cirrhosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Effective and safe antiviral treatment regimens are needed
      for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and cirrhosis. METHODS: An
      international open-label trial was conducted in CHC patients with genotype (G)1/4
      infection, compensated cirrhosis, HCV RNA >= 50,000 IU/mL and body mass index 18
      35 kg/m(2). Treatment-naive patients (Cohort 1) received a triple therapy regimen
      [danoprevir/r 100/100 mg twice daily (bid), ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day and
      peginterferon alfa-2a 180 ug/week] for 24 weeks. Prior null responders (Cohort 2)
      received a quadruple therapy regimen (danoprevir/r 100/100 mg bid, mericitabine
      1000 mg bid and peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin). The primary efficacy outcome
      was sustained virological response (HCV RNA < limit of quantification, target not
      detected) at end of the 24-week follow-up period (SVR24). RESULTS: In Cohort 1 (n
      = 23), 73.9 and 65.2 % of patients had a virological response at Weeks 4 and 24,
      respectively; 39.1 % achieved SVR24 (G1a = 1/13; G1b = 8/9; G4 = 0/1). In Cohort
      2 (n = 20), 100 % achieved virological response at Weeks 4 and 24; 65 % achieved
      SVR24 (G1a = 4/8; G1b = 7/10; G4 = 2/2). Treatment failure was more common in G1a
      than G1b-infected patients and less common in patients receiving quadruple
      therapy. Treatment failure was associated with emergence of resistance to
      danoprevir, but not mericitabine. The safety profile was typical of that
      associated with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin. No deaths/episodes of hepatic
      decompensation occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with danoprevir/r-based regimens
      for 24 weeks is safe and well tolerated in CHC patients with compensated
      cirrhosis. A quadruple therapy regimen (danoprevir/r, mericitabine, peginterferon
      alfa/ribavirin) produced high SVR24 rates in prior null responders, particularly
      among G1b patients.

PMID- 26886128
TI  - The A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR): therapeutic target and predictive biological
      marker in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - The Gi protein-associated A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) is over-expressed in
      inflammatory cells, and this high expression is also reflected in the peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells of patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as
      rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. CF101, a selective agonist
      with high affinity to the A3AR, is known to induce robust anti-inflammatory
      effect in experimental animal models of adjuvant-, collagen-, and tropomyosin
      induced arthritis. The effect is mediated via a definitive molecular mechanism
      entailing deregulation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and the Wnt
      signal transduction pathways resulting in apoptosis of inflammatory cells. CF101
      was found to be safe and well tolerated in all preclinical, phase I, and phase II
      human clinical studies. In two phase II clinical studies where CF101 was
      administered to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients as a stand-alone drug, a
      significant anti-rheumatic effect and a direct significant correlation were found
      between receptor expression at baseline and patients' response to the drug,
      suggesting that A3AR may be utilized as a predictive biomarker. The A3AR is a
      promising therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis and can be used also as a
      biological marker to predict patients' response to CF101. This is a unique type
      of a personalized medicine approach which may pave the way for a safe and
      efficacious treatment for this patient population. 

PMID- 26886129
TI  - Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
AB  - PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and
      diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a representative population of type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (DM2) patients in Catalonia (Spain). METHODS: This was a population
      based, cross-sectional study. A total of 28,344 patients diagnosed with DM2 who
      had recorded ophthalmologic and renal functional examinations were evaluated.
      Data were obtained from a primary healthcare electronic database of medical
      records. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFR) of
      <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) >=30 mg/g. DR
      was categorized as non-vision threatening diabetic retinopathy and vision
      threatening diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: CKD was associated with a higher rate
      of DR [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 (1.4-1.7). When we analyzed the
      association between different levels of UACR and DR prevalence observed that DR
      prevalence rose with the increase of UACR levels, and this association was
      significant from UACR values >=10 mg/g, and increased considerably with UACR
      values >=300 mg/g (Odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0 (1.6-2.5).
      This association was lower in patients with eGFR levels 44 to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2
      [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 (1.1-1.6). CONCLUSIONS: These results
      show that CKD, high UACR and/or low eGFR, appear to be associated with DR in this
      DM2 population.

PMID- 26886130
TI  - Heterozygosity, gender, and the growth-defense trade-off in quaking aspen.
AB  - Although plant growth is generally recognized to be influenced by allocation to
      defense, genetic background (e.g., inbreeding), and gender, rarely have those
      factors been addressed collectively. In quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides
      Michx.), phenolic glycosides (PGs) and condensed tannins (CTs) constitute up to
      30 % of leaf dry weight. To quantify the allocation cost of this chemical
      defense, we measured growth, defense chemistry, and individual heterozygosity (H
      obs at 16 microsatellite loci) for male and female trees in both controlled and
      natural environments. The controlled environment consisted of 12 juvenile genets
      grown for 3 years in a common garden, with replication. The natural environment
      consisted of 51 mature genets in wild populations, from which we sampled multiple
      ramets (trees) per genet. Concentrations of PGs and CTs were negatively
      correlated. PGs were uncorrelated with growth, but CT production represented a
      major cost. Across the range of CT levels found in wild-grown trees, growth rates
      varied by 2.6-fold, such that a 10 % increase in CT concentration occurred with a
      38.5 % decrease in growth. H obs had a marked effect on aspen growth: for wild
      trees, a 10 % increase in H obs corresponded to a 12.5 % increase in growth. In
      wild trees, this CT effect was significant only in females, in which reproduction
      seems to exacerbate the cost of defense, while the H obs effect was significant
      only in males. Despite the lower growth rate of low-H obs trees, their higher CT
      levels may improve survival, which could account for the deficit of heterozygotes
      repeatedly found in natural aspen populations.

PMID- 26886131
TI  - The effect of timing of growing season drought on flowering of a dominant C4
      grass.
AB  - Timing of precipitation is equally important as amount for determining ecosystem
      function, especially aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), in a number of
      ecosystems. In tallgrass prairie of the Central Plains of North America, grass
      flowering stalks of dominant C4 grasses, such as Andropogon gerardii, can account
      for more than 70 % of ANPP, or almost none of it, as the number of flowering
      stalks produced is highly variable. Although growing season precipitation amount
      is important for driving variation in flowering stalk production, it remains
      unknown whether there are critical periods within the growing season in which
      sufficient rainfall must occur to allow for flowering. The effect of timing of
      rainfall deficit (drought) on flowering of A. gerardii, was tested by excluding
      rainfall during three periods within the growing season (starting in mid-April,
      mid-May and mid-June). Mid-summer drought (starting in mid-June) strongly reduced
      the flowering rate (e.g., density and biomass) of A. gerardii (e.g., as high as
      94 % compared to the control), suggesting flowering is highly sensitive to
      precipitation at this time. This effect appeared to be related to plant water
      status at the time of flowering stalk initiation, rather than an indirect
      consequence of reduced C assimilation. Our results suggest that increased
      frequency of growing season drought forecast with climate change could reduce
      sexual reproduction in this dominant grass species, particularly if it coincides
      with timing of flowering stalk initiation, with important implications for
      ecosystem functioning.

PMID- 26886133
TI  - [Kidney tumours].

PMID- 26886132
TI  - The effect of dietary cricket meal (Gryllus bimaculatus) on growth performance,
      antioxidant enzyme activities, and haematological response of African catfish
      (Clarias gariepinus).
AB  - This study was conducted to investigate the growth performance, biomarkers of
      oxidative stress, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S
      transferase (GST) as well as the haematological response of African catfish after
      being fed with fish feed containing different levels of cricket meal. The
      juvenile fish were assigned to three different treatments with isonitrogenous (35
      %) and isoenergetic (19 kJ g(-1)) diets containing 100 % cricket meal (100 % CM),
      75 % cricket meal (75 % CM), and 100 % fishmeal (100 % FM) as control groups for
      7 weeks. The results indicated that a diet containing 100 % CM and 75 % CM
      improved growth performance in terms of body weight gain and specific growth
      rate, when compared to 100 % FM. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein
      efficiency ratio (PER) did not differ significantly between all diets, but
      reduced FCR and increased PER were observed with a higher inclusion of cricket
      meal. A haematological examination of fish demonstrated no significant difference
      of red blood cells in all diets and white blood cells showed a significantly
      higher value in fishmeal-fed fish. On the other hand, haemoglobin and haematocrit
      significantly increased with increasing amounts of cricket meal in the diet.
      Antioxidant activity of CAT was higher in the 100 % CM group compared to fish fed
      other diets, whereas GST and SOD showed increasing trends with a higher
      incorporation of cricket, although insignificant differences were observed
      between all diets. These results suggest that cricket meal could be an
      alternative to fishmeal as a protein source in the African catfish diet. 

PMID- 26886135
TI  - Two-Drug Treatment Approaches in HIV: Finally Getting Somewhere?
AB  - The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly
      decreased AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the benefits of ART
      are only realized through adherence to lifelong treatment. Though contemporary
      antiretroviral (ARV) drugs have fewer adverse effects in comparison to older ARV
      drugs, many agents are associated with negative or unknown long-term effects.
      There is increasing evidence that two-drug (dual-therapy) regimens may be an
      effective alternative to the currently recommended three-drug (triple-therapy)
      regimens. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and critical review of
      recently completed and ongoing trials of dual-therapy regimens in treatment-naive
      and treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients. We also review current
      HIV/AIDS society recommendations regarding dual therapy as well as future
      therapeutic possibilities. 

PMID- 26886134
TI  - Thyroid Hormone Mimetics: the Past, Current Status and Future Challenges.
AB  - The association between thyroid hormone status and plasma levels of low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol has raised the awareness for the development of thyroid
      hormone mimetics as lipid-lowering agents. The discovery of the two main types of
      thyroid hormone receptors (alpha and beta) as well as the development of novel
      combinatorial chemistry providing organ specificity has drastically improved the
      selectivity of these compounds. In the past decades, several thyroid hormone
      mimetics have been investigated with the purpose of lowering low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol levels. However, until now, none of the thyromimetics
      reached the stage of completing a phase III clinical trial without deleterious
      side effects. Here, we review the currently available literature on thyromimetics
      investigated for the treatment of dyslipidemia, their rise, their downfall and
      the challenges for the development of novel agents.

PMID- 26886137
TI  - Right Ventricular Function in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia:
      Association with Respiratory Sequelae.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While cor pulmonale has been noted in infants with bronchopulmonary
      dysplasia (BPD), information on right ventricular (RV) function is limited.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess RV function in infants with severe BPD and ascertain
      correlation with respiratory outcomes. METHODS: We prospectively assessed RV
      function using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), 2D fractional area change (FAC), M
      mode tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and myocardial
      performance index (MPI) using echocardiography. Additionally, we compared RV
      function with preterm infants with no BPD. RESULTS: Eighteen preterm infants with
      severe BPD were enrolled at 36 weeks' gestation. Higher E/E' (r = 0.78, p <
      0.0001) and lower FAC (r = 0.8, p < 0.0001) showed strong correlations with the
      subsequent duration of respiratory support. Correlations with TDI isovolumic
      velocity and Tei index were significant (-0.69, p = 0.002 and 0.58, p = 0.011,
      respectively). On comparison with infants with no BPD, TDI peak systolic
      velocities (0.06 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.01 m/s, p < 0.0001), peak isovolumic
      systolic velocities (0.05 +/- 0.009 vs. 0.07 +/- 0.008 m/s, p < 0.0001) and RV
      FAC (31 +/- 4.7 vs. 36 +/- 3.6%, p = 0.019) were significantly lower. Cardiac
      relaxation was impaired [higher TDI E/E' ratio (9.6 +/- 1.8 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.5, p <
      0.0001) and higher RV MPI (0.33 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.03, p < 0.0001)].
      CONCLUSIONS: Impaired RV performance in the infants with severe BPD at 36 weeks'
      corrected gestation correlated with a longer duration of subsequent respiratory
      support.

PMID- 26886136
TI  - Duration of gonorrhoea and chlamydia infection at the pharynx and rectum among
      men who have sex with men: a systematic review.
AB  - Background Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the two most common sexually
      transmissible infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) worldwide.
      Infections at the pharynx and rectum are usually asymptomatic; however, the
      natural history of these infections remains unknown. The aim of this study is to
      estimate the duration of both infections at the extragenital sites from published
      epidemiological cohort studies. METHODS: English peer-reviewed articles were
      searched from 1 January 2000 to 12 March 2015 in three electronic databases
      (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central). The prevalence-to-incidence ratio from
      each study was calculated to reflect the duration of each infection. This review
      followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42014007087).
      RESULTS: There were 2585 records identified, with 1721 abstracts and 52 full-text
      articles screened, resulting in four studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria.
      Pharyngeal gonorrhoea (114-138 days) had a shorter duration of infection than
      rectal gonorrhoea (346 days). In addition, chlamydia had a longer duration of
      infection at the pharynx (667 days) and rectum (579 days) compared with
      gonorrhoea infection. CONCLUSIONS: Gonorrhoea has a shorter duration of infection
      than chlamydia, suggesting that annual STI screening will be more effective at
      diagnosing chlamydia than gonorrhoea. The current STI guidelines recommend
      screening gonorrhoea and chlamydia at least once a year in MSM; it would only
      detect ~30% of incident pharyngeal gonorrhoea cases, with a mean duration of 4
      months.

PMID- 26886138
TI  - Identifying optimal heparin management during cardiopulmonary bypass in obese
      patients: A prospective observational comparative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The heparin regimen providing anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary
      bypass (CPB) is usually adapted to total body weight (TBW), but may be inaccurate
      in obese patients in whom TBW exceeds their ideal body weight. OBJECTIVES: The
      objective is to compare the effects of heparin injection based on TBW on
      haemostatic parameters between obese and nonobese patients during cardiac surgery
      and to calculate the optimal heparin regimen. DESIGN: Prospective comparative
      study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Two groups of 50 patients (BMI>=
      or <30 kg m) were included in the study over a 9-month period in 2013. The study
      started on 27 February 2013. INTERVENTIONS: An unfractionated heparin (UFH) bolus
      of 300 IU kg TBW was injected before initiation of CPB followed by additional
      doses (50 to 100 IU kg) to maintain a target activated coagulation time (ACT) of
      at least 400 s. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ACT and plasma heparin concentration were
      measured at different time points after initiation of, and weaning from CPB.
      RESULTS: Obese patients received higher initial and total doses of heparin (P <
      0.0001). Plasma heparin concentrations were significantly higher in obese
      patients at each time point (P < 0.001) and reached very high values after the
      initial bolus (5.90 vs. 4.48 IU ml, P < 0.0001). The relationship between plasma
      heparin concentration and ACT after the initial bolus was not linear and followed
      an asymptotic regression curve. Haemoglobin concentration decreased
      intraoperatively to a greater extent in the obese group (P < 0.001). No
      significant differences in postoperative bleeding or global transfusion
      requirements were observed. CONCLUSION: The standard heparin regimen based on TBW
      in obese patients during CPB results in excessive plasma heparin concentrations
      and a significant intraoperative decrease in haemoglobin concentration. ACT
      monitoring was not accurate in identifying this excess dosage. An initial bolus
      of 340 IU kg ideal body weight would achieve a heparin concentration of 4.5 IU
      ml, similar to that observed in nonobese patients. Further investigations are
      warranted to confirm this heparin regimen.

PMID- 26886139
TI  - Acromio-axillo-suprasternal notch index: a new screening test to predict
      difficult laryngoscopy in obstetric patients scheduled for caesarean delivery.

PMID- 26886140
TI  - Use of rocuronium and sugammadex in renal transplantation: Problems that must be
      considered.

PMID- 26886141
TI  - [Intensive care treatment of a patient with Ebola virus disease in Germany].
AB  - In this case report, we describe the clinical course of a patient with Ebola
      virus disease who was transferred to the Highly Contagious Pathogens Treatment
      Unit at the Hamburg University Medical Center. High volume turnover, electrolyte
      imbalances, paralytic ileus, sepsis with multiresistant gram-negative pathogen,
      and respiratory failure due to blood aspiration were major clinical challenges.

PMID- 26886142
TI  - Bisphosphonate use and lower risk of incident diabetes mellitus: suggestions for
      other possible explanations.

PMID- 26886143
TI  - Mediation of Developmental Risk Factors for Psychosis by White Matter
      Microstructure in Young Adults With Psychotic Experiences.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: White matter (WM) abnormalities have been identified in schizophrenia
      at the earliest stages of the disorder. Individuals in the general population
      with psychotic experiences (PEs) may show similar changes, suggesting dysfunction
      due to aberrant neurodevelopment. Studying such people is a powerful means of
      understanding the nature of neurodevelopmental problems without the confound of
      clinical management and allows other potential risk factors associated with the
      schizophrenia spectrum to be taken into account. OBJECTIVES: To compare WM
      microstructure and myelination in young adults with and without PEs identified
      from a population-based cohort using diffusion and relaxometry magnetic resonance
      imaging and to quantify potential mediating effects of WM on several known risk
      factors for psychosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this case-control
      study, participants were drawn from the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and
      Children. Psychotic experiences were assessed using a semistructured interview.
      Magnetic resonance imaging was carried out at age 20 years in 123 participants
      who had PEs and 124 individuals serving as controls. Participants with PEs were
      subdivided into those with operationally defined suspected PEs, definite PEs, and
      psychotic disorder. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Diffusion tensor magnetic
      resonance imaging and relaxometry-derived myelin water fractions were used to
      measure WM microstructure and myelination, respectively. Differences in
      quantitative WM indices were assessed using tract-based spatial statistics. A
      binary model and a continuum-like ordinal model of PEs were tested. RESULTS:
      Among the 123 participants who had PEs (mean [SE] age, 20.01 [0.004] years), 37
      were male and 86 were female. Among the 124 controls (mean [SE] age, 20.11
      [0.004] years), 49 were male and 76 were female. Fractional anisotropy in left
      frontomedial WM was significantly reduced in individuals with PEs (Montreal
      Neurological Institute [MNI] coordinates, -18, 37, -2; P = .0046). The ordinal
      model identified a similar but more widespread effect, with a corresponding
      increase in radial diffusivity (MNI coordinates, -15, 29, 21; P = .0042). Low
      birth weight (rho = -0.155; P = .015) and childhood IQ (rho = -0.188; P = .003)
      were associated with the presence of PEs. Results of mediation analysis were
      consistent with the association between birth weight (21.1% mediation effect; P =
      6.20 * 10-3) and childhood IQ (7.9% mediation effect; P = .041) and by PEs being
      mediated by fractional anisotropy changes in these regions. CONCLUSIONS AND
      RELEVANCE: The results of the study imply the presence of abnormal WM
      microstructure in young adults with PEs. The results are consistent with the
      hypothesis that neurodevelopmental factors cause alterations in the cellular
      composition of WM circuits critical to higher cognitive function. Such
      alterations may first manifest in childhood as reduced IQ and later contribute to
      PEs in early adulthood.

PMID- 26886144
TI  - Muscle strengthening activities and mortality with considerations by hearing
      sensitivity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Research demonstrates that hearing impairment is associated with
      premature all-cause mortality. Emerging work indicates that physical activity is
      associated with hearing sensitivity and muscle strengthening activities (MSA) are
      favorably associated mortality in the general population. Whether MSA can promote
      survival among those with hearing impairment is, at this point, unknown, which
      was this study's objective. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study using data from the
      2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with follow-up
      through 2011. STUDY SAMPLE: 1482 adult (20-85 years) participants comprised the
      analytic sample. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 152 died over the follow
      up period (10.26%; unweighted); the unweighted median follow-up period was 89
      months (IQR = 74-98 months). Among adults with moderate or greater hearing loss
      who achieved the United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines
      for MSA (2 + sessions/week), they were at a 71% reduced risk of all-cause
      mortality (HRadjusted = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.10-0.83; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: MSA may
      help to prolong survival among those with worse hearing impairment.

PMID- 26886145
TI  - Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes before
      Viability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes of previable preterm
      premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and compare outcome between previable
      PPROM before and after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with data from one single center.
      PATIENTS: All women with singleton or twin pregnancies, from 2002 through 2011,
      who presented with PPROM before 24 weeks of gestation. METHOD: A retrospective
      cohort study in a university teaching hospital in the Netherlands. Data were
      analyzed and compared between pregnancies with previable PPROM before and after
      20 weeks of pregnancy. Main outcome measures were maternal and neonatal morbidity
      and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 160 women (164 fetuses) were included. 90
      women (56.2%) developed complications (intra-uterine infection, retained
      placenta, placental abruption or sepsis). There was no maternal mortality. 68
      neonates were admitted after birth. PPHN (64.7%, p=0.001) and contractures
      (58.8%, p<0.001) occurred significantly more in neonates born after PPROM<20
      weeks of pregnancy. Eventually 38.4% of the neonates survived. Neonates born
      after previable PPROM > 20 weeks had a greater likelihood of being alive at
      discharge (22.7 vs. 46.9%, p=0.008). DISCUSSION: This study of previable PPROM
      shows that more than 50% of the mothers develop one or more complications.
      Neonates have a high mortality rate, especially neonates born after PPROM<20
      weeks of pregnancy. In particular neonates born after PPROM<20 weeks of pregnancy
      should be watched closely for PPHN and contractures. CONCLUSION: This large
      single center study can provide good foundation for counseling parents on
      previable PPROM, especially the prognosis of PPROM<20 weeks of pregnancy is of
      additional value.

PMID- 26886146
TI  - [Utilization of Occupational Therapy in Children - Results from the KiGGS Basis
      Survey].
AB  - BACKGROUND: A population-based analysis on use of occupational therapy by child's
      parentally reported health restrictions and socio-demographic determinants is
      missing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The basis KiGGS survey (2003 to 2006) reports on
      health in 17 641 children aged 0 to 17 years. The use of occupational therapy in
      the last 12 months could be ticked as other therapies with a free text field to
      name occupational therapy or others. Health restrictions potentially relevant for
      the use of occupational therapy and sociodemographic factors were assessed. The
      proportion of use of occupational therapy explained by the health restrictions
      was estimated by the population attributable risk fraction. RESULTS: The average
      use of occupational therapy for 3 to 13-year-olds was 2.4%. There was no
      association with the socioeconomic status; Children with immigration background
      used occupational therapy less often (e. g. age group 3 to 6 years: ORadjusted
      0.2 [95-% KI: 0.1-1.0]). The proportion of occupational therapy explainable by
      the health restrictions considered ranged from 45% (3 to 6 years) to 65% (11 to
      13 years). DISCUSSION: The lower use of occupational therapy in the KiGGS survey
      compared to health insurance reports may be explained by the ascertainment
      method. A lower use of occupational therapy related to immigration background
      matches lower use for physician visits. CONCLUSION: The causes for the low
      proportion of explained occupational therapy in young children and the lower use
      in children with immigration background warrant further research.

PMID- 26886147
TI  - Sequence Variants of SIRT6 Gene Promoter in Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - AIMS: Coronary artery disease (CAD), including myocardial infarction (MI), is a
      common complex disease caused by atherosclerosis. Although more than 50 genetic
      variants have been associated with CAD, these loci collectively account for only
      10% of CAD cases. Genetic variants of low and rare frequencies have been proposed
      as the main causes of CAD. SIRT6, one of the highly conserved NAD-dependent class
      III deacetylases, has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Considering the
      important roles that SIRT6 plays in the cardiovascular system, inflammation, and
      lipid and cholesterol metabolism, genetic variants were hypothesized to
      contribute to MI development. METHODS: The promoter regions of the SIRT6 gene
      were genetically analyzed in large cohorts of MI patients (n = 371) and
      ethnically-matched controls (n = 383). RESULTS: A total of 15 DNA sequence
      variants (DSVs) were identified, including seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms
      (SNPs). Two novel heterozygous DSVs, g.4183823G>C and g.4183742G>A, were
      identified in two MI patients but in none of the controls. Two SNPs, g.4183685T>C
      (rs4359565) and g.4182942C>A (rs3760905), were found in MI patients with
      significantly higher frequencies compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: These DSVs
      identified in MI patients may alter the transcriptional activity of the SIRT6
      gene promoter and alter SIRT6 levels which might contribute to the risk of MI.

PMID- 26886148
TI  - Serotonergic drugs for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia.
AB  - Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (known also as neuropsychiatric
      symptoms) are essential features of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
      The near universal presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia (up to 90%
      of cases) has brought significant attention of clinicians and experts to the
      field. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions are recommended for
      various types of neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, most pharmacological
      interventions for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of
      dementia are used off-label in many countries. Cognitive decline and
      neuropsychiatric symptoms can be linked to alterations in multiple
      neurotransmitter systems, so modification of abnormalities in specific systems
      may improve clinical status of patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Use of
      serotonergic compounds (novel particles acting on specific receptors and widely
      acting drugs) in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms is reviewed. 

PMID- 26886149
TI  - Zero-Dimensional Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Modeling: Insights
      from First Principles.
AB  - We discuss the properties of zero dimensional (cluster) hybrid organic-inorganic
      halide perovskite in view of their possible applicability in photovoltaics, light
      emitting, and lasing devices. To support the need of theoretical investigations
      of such systems and pave the way for future investigations of clusters with
      different orientations, terminations, and compositions, we have assembled and
      characterized some zero dimensional models of methylammonium lead iodide, MAPbI3,
      by "cutting" its bulk. Interesting properties of such clusters that have been
      here theoretically investigated include their charge distribution, bandgap, wave
      function localization, and reduced effective mass. The surface
      orientation/termination and the organic/inorganic cation ratios have been
      discussed together with the roles they play in determining the electronic
      properties of such clusters. Also in agreement with experiments, it emerges that
      surface termination is crucial in determining the structural and optoelectronic
      properties of this largely overlooked, dimensionally reduced class of materials.
      Analogies and differences between clusters and bulk are discussed. 

PMID- 26886150
TI  - Lattice Defects in the Kitaev Honeycomb Model.
AB  - The Kitaev honeycomb lattice system is an important model of topological
      materials whose phase diagram exhibits both abelian and non-abelian topological
      phases. The latter, a so-called Ising phase, is related to topological
      superconductors. Its quasiparticle excitations, which are formed by Majorana
      fermions attached to vortices, show non-abelian fractional statistics and are
      known as Ising anyons. We investigate dislocation defects in the Ising phase of
      the Kitaev honeycomb model. After introducing them to the system, we accordingly
      generalize our solution of this model to the situation with the defects. The
      important part of this effort is developing an appropriate Jordan-Wigner
      fermionization procedure. It is expected that the presence of defects manifests
      itself by the formation of fermionic zero-energy modes around the defect end
      points. We numerically confirm this expectation and further investigate
      properties of these modes. The computational potential of our technique is
      demonstrated for both diagonalization and dynamical simulations. The latter
      focuses on the process of fusion of the vortex zero-energy modes with the
      Majorana fermions attached to the defect. This process simulates fusion of non
      abelian Ising anyons. 

PMID- 26886151
TI  - When I'm 64: Effects of an interdisciplinary gerontology course on first-year
      undergraduates' perceptions of aging.
AB  - One challenge for gerontology is getting more students interested in aging at an
      earlier point in their academic career. This study evaluated the impact of an
      interdisciplinary course on aging designed for first-year undergraduate students.
      The course aimed to expand students' appreciation of the personal and
      professional relevance of aging issues, with the goal of expanding their aging
      related curricular and career interests. Main outcome variables of the study
      included knowledge of older adults and aging, attitudes toward older adults, and
      anxiety about personal aging. Participants included an intervention group
      enrolled in the course and a control group not enrolled in the course. Compared
      to baseline, at the end of the semester students in the class had more knowledge
      about aging and more positive explicit attitudes toward older adults, but their
      implicit attitudes toward older adults and anxiety about aging did not change.
      Control students showed no changes. These findings suggest that objective
      knowledge of aging and explicit attitudes improve with curricular intervention,
      but implicit attitudes and anxiety might be more difficult to change. Gerontology
      education is a complex undertaking whose diverse goals must be clearly
      articulated in order to guide curricular interventions and incite curiosity among
      young undergraduate students.

PMID- 26886152
TI  - Need for cognition moderates paranormal beliefs and magical ideation in
      inconsistent-handers.
AB  - A growing literature suggests that degree of handedness predicts gullibility and
      magical ideation. Inconsistent-handers (people who use their non-dominant hand
      for at least one common manual activity) report more magical ideation and are
      more gullible. The current study tested whether this effect is moderated by need
      for cognition. One hundred eighteen university students completed questionnaires
      assessing handedness, self-reported paranormal beliefs, and self-reported need
      for cognition. Handedness (Inconsistent vs. Consistent Right) and Need for
      Cognition (High vs. Low) were treated as categorical predictors. Both paranormal
      beliefs and magical ideation served as dependent variable's in separate analyses.
      Neither set of tests yielded main effects for handedness or need for cognition.
      However, there were a significant handedness by need for cognition interactions.
      Post-hoc comparisons revealed that low, but not high, need for cognition
      inconsistent-handers reported relatively elevated levels of paranormal belief and
      magical ideation. A secondary set of tests treating the predictor variables as
      continuous instead of categorical obtained the same overall pattern. 

PMID- 26886153
TI  - Electron Solvation in Liquid Ammonia: Lithium, Sodium, Magnesium, and Calcium as
      Electron Sources.
AB  - A free electron in solution, known as a solvated electron, is the smallest
      possible anion. Alkali and alkaline earth atoms serve as electron donors in
      solvents that mediate outer-sphere electron transfer. We report herein ab initio
      molecular dynamics simulations of lithium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium in
      liquid ammonia at 250 K. By analyzing the electronic properties and the ionic and
      solvation structures and dynamics, we systematically characterize these metals as
      electron donors and ammonia molecules as electron acceptors. We show that the
      solvated metal strongly modifies the properties of its solvation shells and that
      the observed effect is metal-specific. Specifically, the radius and charge
      exhibit major impacts. The single solvated electron present in the alkali metal
      systems is distributed more uniformly among the solvent molecules of each metal's
      two solvation shells. In contrast, alkaline earth metals favor a less uniform
      distribution of the electron density. Alkali and alkaline earth atoms are
      coordinated by four and six NH3 molecules, respectively. The smaller atoms, Li
      and Mg, are stronger electron donors than Na and Ca. This result is surprising,
      as smaller atoms in a column of the periodic table have higher ionization
      potentials. However, it can be explained by stronger electron donor-acceptor
      interactions between the smaller atoms and the solvent molecules. The structure
      of the first solvation shell is sharpest for Mg, which has a large charge and a
      small radius. Solvation is weakest for Na, which has a small charge and a large
      radius. Weak solvation leads to rapid dynamics, as reflected in the diffusion
      coefficients of NH3 molecules of the first two solvation shells and the Na atom.
      The properties of the solvated electrons established in the present study are
      important for radiation chemistry, synthetic chemistry, condensed-matter charge
      transfer, and energy sources. 

PMID- 26886154
TI  - Efficacy of belimumab and targeting of rheumatoid factor-positive B-cell
      expansion in Sjogren's syndrome: follow-up after the end of the phase II open
      label BELISS study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Belimumab, a monoclonal anti-B lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) antibody,
      appeared effective in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) in the phase II open-label 52-week
      BELISS study. Herein, the follow-up after the end of the BELISS study and
      suspension of the drug was reported in order to further verify the efficacy of
      belimumab in SS. METHODS: 13 SS patients were followed after the end of the
      belimumab treatment. The patients were all female, aged 54+/-15 years; all the
      patients presented anti-SSA and/or anti-SSB positivity. Composite scores for SS
      disease activity were collected at month 6 and month 12 after the end of the
      trial. The changes of IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulin serum levels, and rheumatoid
      factor (RF) level were reported. BLyS serum levels were also analysed. Statistics
      for paired comparisons were used. RESULTS: ESSDAI score increased from 3.5+/-3.7
      at week 52 (end of the trial) to 7.0+/-5.7 at month 12 after the end of the trial
      (p=0.003). RF level increased from 31.0 (8.0-224.6) IU/ml at week 52 to 69 (11
      666) IU/ml at month 12 after the end of the trial (p=0.008). IgM level increased
      from 131.9+/-73.6 mg/dl at week 52 to 165+/-84.6 mg/dl at month 12 after the end
      of the trial (p=0.04). A significant increase of serum BLyS levels also increased
      from 1304 (667-3835) pg/ml at week 52 to 2882 (1353-6178) pg/ml twelve months
      after belimumab suspension (p=0,04). CONCLUSIONS: Targeting BLyS by belimumab
      appears effective in SS, with the inhibition of RF-positive B cell proliferation.

PMID- 26886155
TI  - Domestic violence against women in India: A systematic review of a decade of
      quantitative studies.
AB  - Domestic violence (DV) is prevalent among women in India and has been associated
      with poor mental and physical health. We performed a systematic review of 137
      quantitative studies published in the prior decade that directly evaluated the DV
      experiences of Indian women to summarise the breadth of recent work and identify
      gaps in the literature. Among studies surveying at least two forms of abuse, a
      median 41% of women reported experiencing DV during their lifetime and 30% in the
      past year. We noted substantial inter-study variance in DV prevalence estimates,
      attributable in part to different study populations and settings, but also to a
      lack of standardisation, validation, and cultural adaptation of DV survey
      instruments. There was paucity of studies evaluating the DV experiences of women
      over age 50, residing in live-in relationships, same-sex relationships, tribal
      villages, and of women from the northern regions of India. Additionally, our
      review highlighted a gap in research evaluating the impact of DV on physical
      health. We conclude with a research agenda calling for additional qualitative and
      longitudinal quantitative studies to explore the DV correlates proposed by this
      quantitative literature to inform the development of a culturally tailored DV
      scale and prevention strategies.

PMID- 26886157
TI  - Drug-Resistance Strategies of Early Adolescents in Mexico: Gender Differences in
      the Influence of Drug Offers and Relationship to the Offeror.
AB  - To address increases in substance use among Mexican adolescents, particularly
      females, US prevention programs are being adapted to the Mexican cultural
      context. Understanding how responses to substance offers by Mexican adolescents
      are shaped by gender and relationships to those making offers is an important
      step in the adaptation process. Using data from Guadalajara, Mexico middle
      schools (N = 431), this pilot study tested for gender differences in the use of
      several drug resistance strategies commonly taught in US substance abuse
      prevention interventions. Results indicated that the drug-resistance strategies
      of Mexican early adolescents differ by gender, type of substance offered, and the
      youth's relationship to the offeror. Contrary to previous research on older
      Mexican adolescents, in this sample, females received more substance offers from
      age peers than males did, and employed a wider repertoire of drug-resistance
      strategies, including active strategies such as direct refusals. Gender
      differences in use of the strategies persisted after controlling for number of
      offers received. There were gender differences in the conditional effects of
      greater exposure to offers. A larger volume of alcohol and cigarette offers
      predicted females' use of direct strategies more strongly than for males, but
      less strongly than males for marijuana offers. Females' use of drug resistance
      strategies was more strongly associated with offers from family adults, siblings,
      and cousins, while males' use of strategies was predicted more strongly by offers
      from nonfamily adults. Interpretations and prevention implications are discussed
      in light of changing gender norms in Mexico and gendered patterns of substance
      use.

PMID- 26886158
TI  - Peering into the "black box" of education interventions and attitude change:
      Audience characteristics moderate the effectiveness...and then only toward
      specific targets.
AB  - To probe the inconsistent link between education and attitude change toward
      minority social groups, we conducted a field study that focused on audience
      characteristics and education about lesbian, gay, and transgender (LGT) targets.
      Participants enrolled in a sexuality course were compared to those in a neurology
      course, both taught by the same professor. Multiple regression analyses predicted
      attitude change toward LGT targets from social dominance orientation (SDO), right
      wing authoritarianism (RWA), ratings of professor's characteristics, SDO by
      course interaction, and RWA by course interaction. Only the SDO by course
      interaction significantly predicted attitude change. Simple slopes analyses
      indicated that high-SDO participants in the sexuality course showed the most
      positive attitude change. These findings suggest that education may reduce
      prejudice for certain audience characteristics.

PMID- 26886156
TI  - Effect of Regional Hospital Competition and Hospital Financial Status on the Use
      of Robotic-Assisted Surgery.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Despite the lack of efficacy data, robotic-assisted surgery has
      diffused rapidly into practice. Marketing to physicians, hospitals, and patients
      has been widespread, but how this marketing has contributed to the diffusion of
      the technology remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of regional
      hospital competition and hospital financial status on the use of robotic-assisted
      surgery for 5 commonly performed procedures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A
      cohort study of 221 637 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, total
      nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, hysterectomy, or oophorectomy at 1370 hospitals
      in the United States from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2011, was conducted.
      The association between hospital competition, hospital financial status, and
      performance of robotic-assisted surgery was examined. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
      The association between hospital competition was measured with the Herfindahl
      Hirschman Index (HHI), hospital financial status was estimated as operating
      margin, and performance of robotic-assisted surgery was examined using
      multivariate mixed-effects regression models. RESULTS: We identified 221 637
      patients who underwent one of the procedures of interest. The cohort included 30
      345 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy; 20 802, total nephrectomy;
      8060, partial nephrectomy; 134 985, hysterectomy; and 27 445, oophorectomy.
      Robotic-assisted operations were performed for 20 500 (67.6%) radical
      prostatectomies, 1405 (6.8%) total nephrectomies, 2759 (34.2%) partial
      nephrectomies, 14 047 (10.4%) hysterectomies, and 1782 (6.5%) oophorectomies. Use
      of robotic-assisted surgery increased for each procedure from January 2010
      through December 2011. For all 5 operations, increased market competition (as
      measured by the HHI) was associated with increased use of robotic-assisted
      surgery. For prostatectomy, the risk ratios (95% CIs) for undergoing a robotic
      assisted procedure were 2.20 (1.50-3.24) at hospitals in moderately competitive
      markets and 2.64 (1.84-3.78) for highly competitive markets compared with
      noncompetitive markets. For hysterectomy, patients at hospitals in moderately
      (3.75 [2.26-6.25]) and highly (5.30; [3.27-8.57]) competitive markets were more
      likely to undergo a robotic-assisted surgery. Increased hospital profitability
      was associated with use of robotic-assisted surgery only for partial nephrectomy
      in facilities with medium-high (1.67 [1.13-2.48]) and high (1.50 [0.98-2.29])
      operating margins. With analysis limited to patients treated at a hospital that
      had performed robotic-assisted surgery, there was no longer an association
      between competition and use of robotic-assisted surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND
      RELEVANCE: Patients undergoing surgery in a hospital in a competitive regional
      market were more likely to undergo a robotic-assisted procedure. These data imply
      that regional competition may influence a hospital's decision to acquire a
      surgical robot.

PMID- 26886159
TI  - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Italian preserved food products in oil.
AB  - A method based on gas chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry was used to assess
      levels of 16 EU priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 48 preserved
      food products in oil including foods such as vegetables in oil, fish in oil and
      oil-based sauces obtained from the Italian market. The benzo[a]pyrene
      concentrations ranged from <0.04 to 0.40 ug kg(-1), and 72.9% of the samples
      showed detectable levels of this compound. The highest contamination level was
      observed for chrysene with three additional PAHs (benzo[a]anthracene,
      benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[c]fluorene) giving mean values higher than the
      mean value for benzo[a]pyrene. Chrysene was detected in all the samples at
      concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 1.80 ug kg(-1) (median 0.31 ug kg(-1)). The
      contamination expressed as PAH4 (sum of benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene,
      benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene), for which the maximum tolerable
      limit has been set by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 835/2011, varied between
      0.10 and 2.94 ug kg(-1). 

PMID- 26886160
TI  - The O-Carbamoyl-Transferase Alb15 Is Responsible for the Modification of
      Albicidin.
AB  - Albicidin is a potent antibiotic and phytotoxin produced by Xanthomonas
      albilineans which targets the plant and bacterial DNA gyrase. We now report on a
      new albicidin derivative which is carbamoylated at the N-terminal coumaric acid
      by the action of the ATP-dependent O-carbamoyltransferase Alb15, present in the
      albicidin (alb) gene cluster. Carbamoyl-albicidin was characterized by tandem
      mass spectrometry from cultures of a Xanthomonas overproducer strain and the gene
      function confirmed by gene inactivation of alb15 in X. albilineans. Expression of
      alb15 in Escherichia coli and in vitro reconstitution of the carbamoyltransferase
      activity confirmed albicidin as the substrate. The chemical synthesis of
      carbamoyl-albicidin finally enabled us to assess its bioactivity by means of in
      vitro gyrase inhibition and antibacterial assays. Compared to albicidin,
      carbamoyl-albicidin showed a significantly higher inhibitory efficiency against
      bacterial gyrase (~8 vs 49 nM), which identifies the carbamoyl group as an
      important structural feature of albicidin maturation.

PMID- 26886161
TI  - Genotype Specification Language.
AB  - We describe here the Genotype Specification Language (GSL), a language that
      facilitates the rapid design of large and complex DNA constructs used to engineer
      genomes. The GSL compiler implements a high-level language based on traditional
      genetic notation, as well as a set of low-level DNA manipulation primitives. The
      language allows facile incorporation of parts from a library of cloned DNA
      constructs and from the "natural" library of parts in fully sequenced and
      annotated genomes. GSL was designed to engage genetic engineers in their native
      language while providing a framework for higher level abstract tooling. To this
      end we define four language levels, Level 0 (literal DNA sequence) through Level
      3, with increasing abstraction of part selection and construction paths. GSL
      targets an intermediate language based on DNA slices that translates efficiently
      into a wide range of final output formats, such as FASTA and GenBank, and
      includes formats that specify instructions and materials such as oligonucleotide
      primers to allow the physical construction of the GSL designs by individual
      strain engineers or an automated DNA assembly core facility.

PMID- 26886162
TI  - Switching long acting antipsychotic medications to aripiprazole long acting once
      a-month: expert consensus by a panel of Italian and Spanish psychiatrists.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Aripiprazole long acting once-monthly (AOM) is a long acting
      atypical antipsychotic with proven efficacy in schizophrenia and with a
      pharmacological and a side effect profile that is different from other
      antipsychotics. These and other characteristics make AOM a possible alternative
      in patients requiring a change in long acting antipsychotic treatment due to
      issues such as lack of efficacy or persistent side effects. Both clinical and
      pharmacological factors should be considered when switching antipsychotics, and
      specific guidelines for long acting antipsychotic switching that address all
      these factors are needed. AREAS COVERED: A panel of Italian and Spanish experts
      in psychiatry met to discuss the strategies for the switch to AOM in patients
      with schizophrenia. Real life clinical experiences were shared and the clinical
      strategies to improve the likelihood of success were discussed. EXPERT OPINION:
      Due to its specific pharmacological and tolerability profile, AOM represents a
      suitable alternative for patients with schizophrenia requiring a switch to a new
      LAI treatment because of lack of efficacy or persistent side effects from another
      LAI. Possible strategies for the switch to AOM are presented in this expert
      consensus paper in an attempt to provide guidance throughout the entire switching
      process.

PMID- 26886163
TI  - Expert Study: Utility of an Automated Bolus Advisor System in Patients with Type
      1 Diabetes Treated with Multiple Daily Injections of Insulin-A Crossover Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the impact of the use of an
      automated bolus advisor (ABA) on glycemic control, quality of life, and
      satisfaction in adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with
      multiple daily injections of insulin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A crossover,
      prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter study of 36 weeks duration was
      conducted. Patients were randomized to start in either control phase (CP) using a
      traditional blood glucose meter to calculate insulin doses (Accu-Chek((r)) Aviva
      Nano; Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) or intervention phase (IP) using an
      ABA meter (Accu-Chek Aviva Expert; Roche Diagnostics) and switched to the other
      phase after a washout period. Each phase was 12 weeks in duration. RESULTS:
      Significant glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction was observed in both phases
      (CP, initial HbA1c of 8.05 +/- 0.7%, final HbA1c of 7.59 +/- 0.7% [P < 0.001];
      IP, initial HbA1c of 8.13 +/- 1%, final HbA1c of 7.61 +/- 0.8% [P < 0.001]).
      Although the trend was to a higher HbA1c reduction in IP, no statistically
      significant differences were observed between phases (CP, HbA1c -0.39%; IP, HbA1c
      -0.52% [P = 0.8]). During IP, the number of daily glucose measurements was
      greater (4.28 +/- 1.2 vs. 4.01 +/- 1.1 [P < 0.006]), the rate of postprandial
      hypoglycemia was lower, and an improvement in quality of life and higher
      satisfaction were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this first crossover study comparing
      the use of an ABA with the standard usual care, the use of an ABA was effective
      and well accepted. Furthermore, reduction in hypoglycemic events, improvement in
      adherence and quality of life, and higher treatment satisfaction were observed.

PMID- 26886164
TI  - Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Egypt.
AB  - In Egypt, avian influenza A subtype H5N1 and H9N2 viruses are enzootic in
      poultry. The control plan devised by veterinary authorities in Egypt to prevent
      infections in poultry focused mainly on vaccination and ultimately failed.
      Recently, widespread H5N1 infections in poultry and a substantial increase in the
      number of human cases of H5N1 infection were observed. We summarize surveillance
      data from 2009 through 2014 and show that avian influenza viruses are established
      in poultry in Egypt and are continuously evolving genetically and antigenically.
      We also discuss the epidemiology of human infection with avian influenza in Egypt
      and describe how the true burden of disease is underestimated. We discuss the
      failures of relying on vaccinating poultry as the sole intervention tool. We
      conclude by highlighting the key components that need to be included in a new
      strategy to control avian influenza infections in poultry and humans in Egypt.

PMID- 26886165
TI  - Altered lipid metabolism in the aging kidney identified by three layered omic
      analysis.
AB  - Aging-associated diseases and their comorbidities affect the life of a constantly
      growing proportion of the population in developed countries. At the center of
      these comorbidities are changes of kidney structure and function as age-related
      chronic kidney disease predisposes to the development of cardiovascular diseases
      such as stroke, myocardial infarction or heart failure. To detect molecular
      mechanisms involved in kidney aging, we analyzed gene expression profiles of
      kidneys from adult and aged wild-type mice by transcriptomic, proteomic and
      targeted lipidomic methodologies. Interestingly, transcriptome and proteome
      analyses revealed differential expression of genes primarily involved in lipid
      metabolism and immune response. Additional lipidomic analyses uncovered
      significant age-related differences in the total amount of
      phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins as well as in
      subspecies of phosphatidylserines and ceramides with age. By integration of these
      datasets we identified Aldh1a1, a key enzyme in vitamin A metabolism specifically
      expressed in the medullary ascending limb, as one of the most prominent
      upregulated proteins in old kidneys. Moreover, ceramidase Asah1 was highly
      expressed in aged kidneys, consistent with a decrease in ceramide C16. In
      summary, our data suggest that changes in lipid metabolism are involved in the
      process of kidney aging and in the development of chronic kidney disease. 

PMID- 26886168
TI  - Correction: Membrane Partitioning of Anionic, Ligand-Coated Nanoparticles Is
      Accompanied by Ligand Snorkeling, Local Disordering, and Cholesterol Depletion.

PMID- 26886167
TI  - Surface Tension Guided Hanging-Drop: Producing Controllable 3D Spheroid of High
      Passaged Human Dermal Papilla Cells and Forming Inductive Microtissues for Hair
      Follicle Regeneration.
AB  - Human dermal papilla (DP) cells have been studied extensively when grown in the
      conventional monolayer. However, because of great deviation from the real in vivo
      three-dimensional (3D) environment, these two-dimensional (2D) grown cells tend
      to lose the hair-inducible capability during passaging. Hence, these 2D caused
      concerns have motivated the development of novel 3D culture techniques to produce
      cellular microtissues with suitable mimics. The hanging-drop approach is based on
      surface tension-based technique and the interaction between surface tension and
      gravity field that makes a convergence of liquid drops. This study used this
      technique in a converged drop to form cellular spheroids of dermal papilla cells.
      It leads to a controllable 3Dspheroid model for scalable fabrication of inductive
      DP microtissues. The optimal conditions for culturing high-passaged (P8) DP
      spheroids were determined first. Then, the morphological, histological and
      functional studies were performed. In addition, expressions of hair-inductive
      markers including alkaline phosphatase, alpha-smooth muscle actin and neural cell
      adhesion molecule were also analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, immunostaining and
      immunoblotting. Finally, P8-DP microtissues were coimplanted with newborn mouse
      epidermal cells (EPCs) into nude mice. Our results indicated that the formation
      of 3D microtissues not only endowed P8-DP microtissues many similarities to
      primary DP, but also confer these microtissues an enhanced ability to induce hair
      follicle (HF) neogenesis in vivo. This model provides a potential to elucidate
      the native biology of human DP, and also shows the promising for the controllable
      and scalable production of inductive DP cells applied in future follicle
      regeneration. 

PMID- 26886166
TI  - Germline and Somatic DICER1 Mutations in a Well-Differentiated Fetal
      Adenocarcinoma of the Lung.
AB  - Germ-line DICER1 mutations predispose to a distinctive tumour predisposition
      syndrome, the DICER1 syndrome, which is associated with a spectrum of rare mainly
      childhood-onset tumours. In 2014, a case of well-differentiated fetal
      adenocarcinoma of the lung (WDFA) was reported in a 16-year-old germ-line DICER1
      mutation carrier. Here we report our finding of a characteristic somatic DICER1
      RNase IIIb c.5127T>A (p.Asp1709Glu) missense mutation within the WDFA, confirmed
      using laser capture microscopy. The child has a personal history consistent with
      the DICER1 syndrome: she developed a multinodular goitre at age 14 years and an
      ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour at age 16 years, each of which were found to
      harbour a somatic DICER1 RNase IIIb missense mutation. The identification of two
      DICER1 "hits" in the WDFA strongly suggests that WDFA is a rare, previously
      unrecognised manifestation of DICER1 syndrome. 

PMID- 26886170
TI  - Enhanced Uterine Contractility and Stillbirth in Mice Lacking G Protein-Coupled
      Receptor Kinase 6 (GRK6): Implications for Oxytocin Receptor Desensitization.
AB  - Oxytocin is a potent uterotonic agent and is used clinically for induction and
      augmentation of labor, as well as for prevention and treatment of postpartum
      hemorrhage. Oxytocin increases uterine contractility by activating the oxytocin
      receptor (OXTR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, which is
      prone to molecular desensitization. After oxytocin binding, the OXTR is
      phosphorylated by a member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family,
      which allows for recruitment of beta-arrestin, receptor internalization, and
      desensitization. According to previous in vitro analyses, desensitization of
      calcium signaling by the OXTR is mediated by GRK6. The objective of this study
      was to determine the role of GRK6 in mediating uterine contractility. Here, we
      demonstrate that uterine GRK6 levels increase in pregnancy and using a telemetry
      device to measure changes in uterine contractility in live mice during labor,
      show that mice lacking GRK6 produce a phenotype of enhanced uterine contractility
      during both spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labor compared with wild-type or
      GRK5 knockout mice. In addition, the observed enhanced contractility was
      associated with high rates of term stillbirth. Lastly, using a heterologous in
      vitro model, we show that beta-arrestin recruitment to the OXTR, which is
      necessary for homologous OXTR desensitization, is dependent on GRK6. Our findings
      suggest that GRK6-mediated OXTR desensitization in labor is necessary for normal
      uterine contractile patterns and optimal fetal outcome. 

PMID- 26886171
TI  - Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 Reduces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Lipid
      Treated Hepatocytes.
AB  - Isoforms of flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) are involved in xenobiotic
      metabolism but have also been implicated in the regulation of glucose and lipid
      homeostasis and in the development of atherosclerosis. However, we have recently
      shown that improved insulin action is associated with increased FMO expression in
      livers of protein kinase C-deficient mice. Here, we investigated whether FMO3
      expression affected insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, and endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) stress in hepatocytes. HepG2 and IHH hepatocytes were transfected
      with FMO3 cDNA for overexpression, or small interfering RNA for knockdown. Cells
      were treated with palmitate to induce insulin resistance and insulin signaling,
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene expression and ER stress markers
      were examined by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. Glycogen synthesis was measured using
      [(14)C]glucose. Palmitate treatment reduced insulin signaling at the level of Akt
      phosphorylation and glycogen synthesis, which were little affected by FMO3
      overexpression. However, the fatty acid also increased the levels of several ER
      stress markers and activation of caspase 3, which were counteracted by FMO3
      overexpression and exacerbated by FMO3 knockdown. Although FMO3 expression did
      not reverse lipid effects on protein thiol redox in hepatocytes, it did prevent
      up-regulation of the gluconeogenic enzyme PEPCK by pharmacological ER stress
      inducers or by palmitate. ER stress and PEPCK levels were also reduced in livers
      of fat-fed protein kinase Cdelta-deficient mice. Our data indicate that FMO3 can
      contribute to the regulation of glucose metabolism in the liver by reducing lipid
      induced ER stress and the expression of PEPCK, independently of insulin signal
      transduction. 

PMID- 26886173
TI  - Ligand-Mediated Synthesis of Shape-Controlled Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite
      Nanocrystals via Reprecipitation Process at Room Temperature.
AB  - Colloidal nanocrystals of fully inorganic cesium lead halide (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br,
      I, or combinations thereof) perovskites have attracted much attention for
      photonic and optoelectronic applications. Herein, we demonstrate a facile room
      temperature (e.g., 25  degrees C), ligand-mediated reprecipitation strategy for
      systematically manipulating the shape of CsPbX3 colloidal nanocrystals, such as
      spherical quantum dots, nanocubes, nanorods, and nanoplatelets. The colloidal
      spherical quantum dots of CsPbX3 were synthesized with photoluminescence (PL)
      quantum yield values up to >80%, and the corresponding PL emission peaks covering
      the visible range from 380 to 693 nm. Besides spherical quantum dots, the shape
      of CsPbX3 nanocrystals could be engineered into nanocubes, one-dimensional
      nanorods, and two-dimensional few-unit-cell-thick nanoplatelets with well-defined
      morphology by choosing different organic acid and amine ligands via the
      reprecipitation process. The shape-dependent PL decay lifetimes have been
      determined to be several to tens to hundreds of nanoseconds. Our method provides
      a facile and versatile route to rationally control the shape of the CsPbX3
      perovskites nanocrystals, which will create opportunities for applications such
      as displays, lasing, light-emitting diodes, solar concentrators, and photon
      detection. 

PMID- 26886172
TI  - Correlates of HIV and STI testing among Latino men who have sex with men in New
      York City.
AB  - We assessed the extent to which sociodemographic, personal, and behavioral
      factors are associated with human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted
      infection (HIV/STI) testing among a diverse group of Latino men who have sex with
      men (MSM) in New York City. The triangulation approach was used to synthesize
      data from 176 MSM who completed an in-person or phone questionnaire about
      substance use, alcohol consumption, sexual behaviors, and HIV/STI testing history
      and 40 participants who participated in focus groups. Correlates of testing
      significant in univariable analyses (p < .05) were entered into multivariable
      logistic regression models. Over half (57.9%) of study subjects tested for HIV in
      the previous 12 months and 60.2% tested for STIs in the previous 12 months. Age
      and education were positively correlated with HIV testing in multivariable
      analysis. No significant correlates of STI testing were identified. Spanish
      speaking only subjects were less likely to get tested for HIV and STI; however,
      this association was not significant. Our study demonstrates the need for further
      study of predictors of STI testing as well as the potential role of language
      barriers and education in routine testing for HIV. Social and behavioral factors
      may intensify these obstacles. Future research and interventions should address
      the role of language barriers and perceived issues of immigration status in the
      decision to get tested.

PMID- 26886174
TI  - Noncovalent Immobilization of a Molecular Iron-Based Electrocatalyst on Carbon
      Electrodes for Selective, Efficient CO2-to-CO Conversion in Water.
AB  - Catalysis of fuel-producing reactions can be transferred from homogeneous
      solution to surface via attachment of the molecular catalyst. A pyrene-appended
      iron triphenyl porphyrin bearing six pendant OH groups on the phenyl rings in all
      ortho and ortho' positions was immobilized on carbon nanotubes via noncovalent
      interactions and further deposited on glassy carbon. X-ray photoelectron
      spectroscopy and electrochemistry confirm catalyst immobilization. Using the
      carbon material, highly selective and rapid catalysis of the reduction of CO2
      into CO occurs in water (pH 7.3) with 480 mV overpotential. Catalysis could be
      sustained for hours without loss of activity and selectivity, and high turnover
      number was obtained. 

PMID- 26886175
TI  - Long-Range Antiferromagnetic Ordering in B-Site Ordered Double Perovskite
      Ca2ScOsO6.
AB  - A new Os-based B-site ordered double perovskite with the chemical composition of
      Ca2ScOsO6 was successfully synthesized. The crystal structure of the title
      compound was determined by employing the powder X-ray diffraction method and was
      found to crystallize in the monoclinic P21/n space group with the cell constants
      of a = 5.4716(1) A, b = 5.6165(1) A, c = 7.8168 (1) A, and beta = 89.889 (2)
      degrees . The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data suggest that
      this novel S = (3)/2 compound undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at ~ 69
      K. Fitting the high-temperature susceptibility data (100-300 K) to Currie-Weisse
      behavior showed C = 1.734 emu.K/mol (MUeff = 3.72 bohr magnetons) and theta = 
      341 K, which is indicative of dominant antiferromagnetic interactions.
      Temperature-dependent specific heat measurements exhibit a lambda shape anomaly
      at 69 K, which is consistent with a long-range ordering of the spins. Because of
      a triangular arrangement of antiferromagnetically ordered magnetic ions, the
      system exhibits some degree of geometric magnetic frustration (GMF), but not
      strongly. Spin-dimer analysis, employing extended Huckel theory, reveals that a
      dominant exchange interaction exists (along the a crystallographic axis in
      perovskite layer), which violates the perfect condition for GMF.

PMID- 26886176
TI  - Interfacial Interaction in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates Modifies Morphology,
      Surface Area, and Crystallization of Polyamide-6 Nanofibers.
AB  - Here, we demonstrated that, when the precipitation process of polyamide-6 (PA6)
      solution happens in cylindrical channels of an anodized aluminum oxide membrane
      (AAO), interface interactions between a solid surface, solvent, non-solvent, and
      PA6 will influence the obtained polymer nanostructures, resulting in complex
      morphologies, increased surface area, and crystallization changes. With the
      enhancing interaction of PA6 and the AAO surface, the morphology of PA6
      nanostructures changes from solid nanofibers, mesoporous, to bamboo-like, while
      at the same time, metastable gamma-phase domains increase in these PA6
      nanostructures. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas of solid, bamboo-like,
      and mesoporous PA6 nanofibers rise from 16, 20.9, to 25 m(2)/g. This study shows
      that interfacial interaction in AAO template fabrication can be used in
      manipulating the morphology and crystallization of one-dimensional polymer
      nanostructures. It also provides us a simple and novel method to create porous
      PA6 nanofibers with a large surface area. 

PMID- 26886177
TI  - Preanalytical Investigation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids in
      Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preanalytical variables have a great impact on sample matrices and
      are a source of laboratory errors. The effect of cryobanking, which is gaining
      great importance recently, requires systematic investigation. The arachidonic
      acid metabolism is useful as a quality marker since eicosanoids are easily
      subjected to in vitro oxidation processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyunsaturated
      fatty acids (PUFAs) and related metabolites were analyzed by online solid-phase
      extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The
      influence of different plasma anticoagulants, as well as serum, freeze-thaw
      cycles (n = 5), short-term storage at 4 degrees C, room temperature up to 120
      minutes, and long-term storage at -20 degrees C, -80 degrees C, and -150 degrees
      C up to 180 days, were investigated. We further investigated the influence of
      protein depletion, antioxidants, and shock-freezing on plasma. RESULTS: PUFA
      metabolites were stable at 4 degrees C in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
      stabilized whole blood for 120 minutes and in EDTA-plasma for 30 minutes. Plasma
      stability at 4 degrees C could be further increased up to 7 days after protein
      depletion, while addition of antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene or
      coverage with nitrogen had no protective effects. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles (n
      > 1) resulted in eicosanoid formation up to 63%. Long-term storage at -20 degrees
      C led to substantial eicosanoid increases after 30 days, which could be prevented
      by depleting proteins before storage. Cryobanking at -80 degrees C and -150
      degrees C revealed decreased concentrations of eight eicosanoids after 180 days.
      An advantage of shock-freezing with liquid nitrogen could not be confirmed
      compared to conventional freezing. CONCLUSION: Defined preanalytical conditions
      for eicosanoid analysis in human matrices are required to minimize in vitro data
      variability.

PMID- 26886178
TI  - N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Mediated Microfluidic Oxidative Electrosynthesis of Amides
      from Aldehydes.
AB  - A flow process for N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-mediated anodic oxidative
      amidation of aldehydes is described, employing an undivided microfluidic
      electrolysis cell to oxidize Breslow intermediates. After electrochemical
      oxidation, the reaction of the intermediate N-acylated thiazolium cation with
      primary amines is completed by passage through a heating cell to achieve high
      conversion in a single pass. The flow mixing regimen circumvented the issue of
      competing imine formation between the aldehyde and amine substrates, which
      otherwise prevented formation of the desired product. High yields (71-99%),
      productivities (up to 2.6 g h(-1)), and current efficiencies (65-91%) were
      realized for 19 amides. 

PMID- 26886179
TI  - Empiric antibiotic selection and risk prediction of drug-resistant pathogens in
      community-onset pneumonia.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVEIW: Empiric antibiotic selection in community-onset pneumonia is
      complicated by uncertainty regarding risk of drug-resistant pathogens (DRPs). The
      healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) criteria have limited predictive value and
      lead to unnecessary antibiotic use. Better methods of predicting risk of DRP and
      selecting empiric antibiotics are needed. Here we give an update on risk factors
      for DRP, available risk prediction models, and treatment strategy in patients
      with pneumonia. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence supporting factors that contribute to
      risk of DRP has improved since the advent of HCAP. Many of these risk factors
      have been reproducibly identified in heterogeneous populations. Newer methods of
      predicting DRP based on these factors demonstrate better performance than HCAP.
      Recent innovations include the potential to discriminate between risk for
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other DRP, and use of severity as
      a modifier of treatment threshold. However, there is wide variation in included
      predictor variables, and at proposed thresholds most scores still favor
      overtreatment. SUMMARY: Until reliable molecular diagnostics are available,
      additional development and validation of decision support models integrating
      local resistance rates, estimated DRP risk, severity, and threshold for anti-DRP
      antibiotics are needed. Once optimized models are identified, implementation
      studies will be needed to confirm safety and efficacy.

PMID- 26886181
TI  - Developing a core set of patient-reported outcomes in pancreatic cancer: A Delphi
      survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are amongst the most relevant
      outcome measures in pancreatic cancer care and research. However, it is unknown
      which out of the numerous PROs are most important to patients and health care
      professionals (HCPs) in this setting. The aim of this study was to identify a
      core set of PROs to be incorporated in a nationwide prospective multidisciplinary
      pancreatic cancer registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a two-round Delphi
      survey among 150 patients diagnosed with pancreatic or periampullary cancer
      (treated either with curative intent or in palliative setting) and 78 HCPs
      (surgeons, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiotherapists, nurses, and
      dietitians) in The Netherlands. In round 1, participants were invited to rate the
      importance of 53 PROs, which were extracted from 17 different PRO measures and
      grouped into global domains, on a 1-9 Likert scale. PROs rated as very important
      (score 7-9) by the majority (>= 80%) of curative and/or palliative patients as
      well as HCPs were considered sufficiently important to be incorporated in the
      core set. PROs not fulfilling these criteria in round 1 were presented again to
      the participants in round 2 along with individual and group feedback. RESULTS: A
      total of 97 patients (94%) in curative-intent setting, 38 patients (81%) in
      palliative setting and 73 HCPs (94%) completed both rounds 1 and 2. After the
      first round, 7 PROs were included in the core set: general quality of life,
      general health, physical ability, satisfaction with caregivers, satisfaction with
      services and care organisation, coping and defecation. After the second round, 10
      additional PROs were added: appetite, ability to work/do usual activities,
      medication use, weight changes, fatigue, negative feelings, positive feelings,
      fear of recurrence, relationship with partner/family, and pancreatic enzyme
      replacement therapy use. CONCLUSION: This study provides a core set of PROs
      selected by patients and HCPs, which may be incorporated in pancreatic cancer
      care and research. Validation outside the Dutch context is recommended for
      generalisation and use in international studies.

PMID- 26886182
TI  - An ultrafast turn-on thiol probe for protein labeling and bioimaging.
AB  - A novel turn-on type of ultrafast biothiol fluorescent probe, Naph-EA-mal, was
      designed, synthesized and evaluated. The probe contains a naphthalimide moiety as
      a fluorophore, a maleimide unit as a thiol acceptor, and 1,2-ethylenediamine as a
      linker. Naph-EA-mal displays high selectivity and a fast response toward thiols
      in aqueous solution. The reaction mechanism of the probe with thiols was
      confirmed by 1H NMR and HRMS. Test strips were fabricated and a sharp color
      change was observed by the naked-eye. Furthermore, Naph-EA-mal was successfully
      applied to label protein thiols, image thiols in living cells, quantify thiol
      content in cells lysate, and determine the reversible protein thiols oxidation in
      fixed cells.

PMID- 26886180
TI  - Gut Microbiota Predict Pulmonary Infiltrates after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell
      Transplantation.
AB  - RATIONALE: Pulmonary complications (PCs) cause significant morbidity and
      mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Shifts
      in gut microbiota have been linked to HCT outcomes; however, their effect on PCs
      is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether changes in gut microbiota are
      associated with PCs after HCT. METHODS: A single-center observational study was
      performed on 94 patients who underwent HCT from 2009 to 2011 and who were
      previously enrolled in a protocol for 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of fecal
      microbiota. The primary endpoint, PC, was defined by new abnormal parenchymal
      findings on chest imaging in the setting of respiratory signs and/or symptoms.
      Outcomes were collected up to 40 months after transplant. Clinical and microbiota
      risk factors for PCs and mortality were evaluated using survival analysis.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred twelve PCs occurred in 66 (70.2%)
      subjects. A high comorbidity index (hazard ratio [HR], 2.30; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 1.30-4.00; P = 0.004), fluoroquinolones (HR, 2.29, 95% CI, 1.32
      3.98; P = 0.003), low baseline diversity (HR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.22-5.32; P =
      0.015), and gamma-proteobacteria domination of fecal microbiota (HR, 2.64; 95%
      CI, 1.10-5.65; P = 0.031), which included common respiratory pathogens, predicted
      PCs. In separate analyses, low baseline diversity was associated with PCs that
      occurred preengraftment (HR, 6.30; 95% CI, 1.42-31.80; P = 0.016), whereas gamma
      proteobacteria domination predicted PCs postengraftment (HR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.49
      8.21; P = 0.006) and overall mortality (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.28-9.21; P = 0.016).
      Postengraftment PCs were also independent predictors of death (HR, 2.50; 95% CI,
      1.25-5.22; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate
      prospective changes in gut microbiota associated with PCs after HCT.
      Postengraftment PCs and gamma-proteobacteria domination were predictive of
      mortality. This suggests an adverse relationship between the graft and lung,
      which is perhaps mediated by bacterial composition in the gut. Further study is
      warranted.

PMID- 26886183
TI  - The three branches of Government and financing of the Brazilian Unified National
      Health System: 2015 in review.

PMID- 26886184
TI  - [Use and sources of medicines: a population-based study in Campinas, Sao Paulo
      State, Brazil].
AB  - The use of medicines is influenced by different factors. This study aimed to
      analyze the use of medicines and identify the sources for obtaining them and
      associated factors, using a population-based cross-sectional design with two
      stage cluster sampling in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in 2008. Prevalence
      of use of at least one drug in the 3 previous days was 57.2% and prevalence of
      obtaining the drug from the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) was
      30%. 47.8% of individuals with no health insurance had to pay out-of-pocket for
      their medication, and 10.9% of individuals with insurance nevertheless obtained
      their medication from the SUS. Use of medicines obtained from the SUS was
      associated with older age, widowhood, black or brown skin color, lower schooling
      and income, and lack of insurance. Only 2.1% reported not being able to obtain
      the prescribed medication, and the main reasons were lack of availability in the
      public system and lack of money for out-of-pocket purchases. The study identified
      the subgroups that obtained most of their medicines in the SUS and showed that
      these were the subgroups with the lowest use of medicines in the system. 

PMID- 26886185
TI  - Prospective birth cohort in a hyperendemic dengue area in Northeast Brazil:
      methods and preliminary results.
AB  - Dengue cases have increased in younger age groups in Brazil. Maternal anti-dengue
      antibodies can have a protective effect in the first months of life, but their
      decline can increase the risk of severe dengue. A prospective birth cohort was
      established in 2011-2012 in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, to
      determine the incidence of serotype-specific dengue infection and the kinetics of
      transferred maternal anti-dengue antibodies in the first years of life. This
      article describes the design, methods and preliminary results of this cohort
      study. 354 children underwent clinical and laboratory monitoring for two years,
      with 15% losses to follow-up. The overall rate of new infections was
      approximately 10% in the first year of follow-up. Information on the force of
      serotype-specific dengue infection and the evaluation of transferred maternal
      antibodies can contribute to understanding dengue etiopathogenesis. 

PMID- 26886186
TI  - Does the knowledge of emergency contraception affect its use among high school
      adolescents?
AB  - This study aimed to test how knowledge on emergency contraception (according to
      age at sexual initiation, type of school, and knowing someone that has already
      used emergency contraception) influences the method's use. This was a cross
      sectional study in a probabilistic sample of students 15-19 years of age enrolled
      in public and private middle schools in a medium-sized city in Southeast Brazil
      (n = 307). Data were collected in 2011 using a self-administered questionnaire. A
      structural equations model was used for the data analysis. Considering age at
      sexual initiation and type of school, knowledge of emergency contraception was
      not associated with its use, but knowing someone that had used the method showed
      a significant mean effect on use of emergency contraception. Peer group
      conversations on emergency contraception appear to have greater influence on use
      of the method than knowledge itself, economic status, or sexual experience. 

PMID- 26886187
TI  - [Frequency of self-reported vocal problems and associated occupational factors in
      primary schoolteachers in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil].
AB  - This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported vocal problems among
      primary schoolteachers and to identify associated occupational factors, using a
      cross-sectional design and face-to-face interviews with 967 teachers in 20 public
      schools in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. Prevalence of self-reported vocal
      problems was 25.7%. Adjusted analyses showed associations with characteristics of
      the employment relationship (workweek >= 40 hours and poor perception of salaries
      and health benefits), characteristics of the work environment (number of students
      per class and exposure to chalk dust and microorganisms), psychological factors
      (low job satisfaction, limited opportunities to express opinions, worse
      relationship with superiors, and poor balance between professional and personal
      life), and violence (insults and bullying). Vocal disorders affected one in four
      primary schoolteachers and were associated with various characteristics of the
      teaching profession (both structural and work-related). 

PMID- 26886188
TI  - Protonic Ammonium Nitrate Ionic Liquids and Their Mixtures: Insights into Their
      Thermophysical Behavior.
AB  - This study is centered on the thermophysical characterization of different
      families of alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids and their binary mixtures, namely
      the determination at atmospheric pressure of densities, electric conductivities
      and viscosities in the 288.15 < T/K < 353.15 range. First, measurements focusing
      on ethylammonium, propylammonium and butylammonium nitrate systems, and their
      binary mixtures, were determined. These were followed by studies involving binary
      mixtures composed of ethylammonium nitrate (with three hydrogen bond donor
      groups) and different homologous ionic liquids with differing numbers of hydrogen
      bond donor groups: diethylammonium nitrate (two hydrogen bond donors),
      triethylammonium nitrate (one hydrogen bond donor) and tetraethylammonium nitrate
      (no hydrogen bond donors). Finally, the behavior of mixtures with different
      numbers of equivalent carbon atoms in the alkylammonium cations was analyzed. The
      results show a quasi-ideal behavior for all monoalkylammonium nitrate mixtures.
      In contrast, the other mixtures show deviations from ideality, namely when the
      difference in the number of carbon atoms present in the cations increases or the
      number of hydrogen bond donors present in the cation decreases. Overall, the
      results clearly show that, besides the length and distribution of alkyl chains
      present in a cation such as alkylammonium, there are other structural and
      interaction parameters that influence the thermophysical properties of both pure
      compounds and their mixtures. 

PMID- 26886189
TI  - Cognitive Impairment in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although by definition a transient ischemic attack (TIA) lasts less
      than 24 h, many patients experience cognitive complaints beyond focal symptom
      resolution. However, their prevalence, causes and profile are unclear. We
      therefore performed a systematic review on cognitive impairment after TIA.
      SUMMARY: Medline and Embase were searched for relevant studies. Risk of bias was
      assessed, and data synthesis was performed according to the severity of cognitive
      impairment. Thirteen studies were included, with considerable heterogeneity
      concerning methods and timing of cognitive testing. Confounding, detection bias
      and attrition were the main causes of a high risk of bias in several studies. The
      prevalence of post-TIA mild cognitive impairment ranged from 29 to 68%. Severe
      cognitive impairment was found in 8-22% of patients. Studies using a cognitive
      screening instrument and those performed shortly after TIA or several years
      later, reported the highest frequencies of impairment. Patients evaluated with a
      screening tool were substantially older than those who underwent a full
      neuropsychological assessment (weighted mean age difference 10.9 years). Based on
      limited data, the post-TIA cognitive profile showed prominent executive function
      deficits. Insufficient data refrained us from drawing conclusions on causality.
      The few studies that reported neuroimaging results found a minor correlation with
      cognitive impairment. KEY MESSAGES: Mild cognitive impairment is present in more
      than a third of the TIA patients and has a profile comparable with vascular
      cognitive impairment. Reported rates of post-TIA cognitive impairment are highly
      variable and higher frequencies are found with cognitive screening tools.
      Considerable heterogeneity and insufficient data limit further conclusions about
      potential causative factors.

PMID- 26886190
TI  - Olmesartan Inhibits Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice Overexpressing Renin
      Independently of Blood Pressure: Its Beneficial Effects on ACE2/Ang(1-7)/Mas Axis
      and NADPH Oxidase Expression.
AB  - Enhanced renin-angiotensin activity causes hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy.
      The angiotensin (Ang)-converting enzyme (ACE)2/Ang(1-7)/Mas axis pathway
      functions against Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) signaling. We investigated
      whether olmesartan (Olm), an AT1R blocker, inhibits cardiac hypertrophy
      independently of blood pressure, and evaluated the potential mechanisms. The 3-
      to 4-month-old male mice overexpressing renin in the liver (Ren-Tg) were given
      Olm (5 mg/kg/d) and hydralazine (Hyd) (3.5 mg/kg/d) orally for 2 months. Systolic
      blood pressure was higher in the Ren-Tg mice than in wild-type littermates. Olm
      and Hyd treatments lowered systolic blood pressure to the same degree. However,
      cardiac hypertrophy, evaluated by echocardiography, heart weight, cross-sectional
      area of cardiomyocytes, and gene expression, was inhibited by only Olm treatment,
      but not by Hyd. Olm treatment reversed decreased gene expressions of ACE2 and Mas
      receptor of Ren-Tg mice and inhibited enhanced NADPH oxidase (Nox)4 expression
      and reactive oxygen species, whereas Hyd treatment had no influence on them.
      These findings indicate that Olm treatment inhibits cardiac hypertrophy
      independently of blood pressure, not only through its original AT1R blockade but
      partly through enhancement of ACE2/Ang(1-7)/Mas axis and suppression of Nox4
      expression. 

PMID- 26886191
TI  - Pushing the Envelope on the Indications and Doses of Pulmonary Arterial
      Hypertension Medications: What Is Reasonable?

PMID- 26886192
TI  - Metabolic engineering of Klebsiella pneumoniae and in silico investigation for
      enhanced 2,3-butanediol production.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To improve the production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) in Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, the genes related to the formation of lactic acid, ethanol, and
      acetic acid were eliminated. RESULTS: Although the cell growth and 2,3-BD
      production rates of the K. pneumoniae DeltaldhA DeltaadhE Deltapta-ackA strain
      were lower than those of the wild-type strain, the mutant produced a higher titer
      of 2,3-BD and a higher yield in batch fermentation: 91 g 2,3-BD/l with a yield of
      0.45 g per g glucose and a productivity of 1.62 g/l.h in fed-batch fermentation.
      The metabolic characteristics of the mutants were consistent with the results of
      in silico simulation. CONCLUSIONS: K. pneumoniae knockout mutants developed with
      an aid of in silico investigation could produce higher amounts of 2,3-BD with
      increased titer, yield, and productivity.

PMID- 26886193
TI  - RETRACTED ARTICLE: Extract from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum as an
      elicitor of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici in
      tomato.

PMID- 26886194
TI  - A New Fishfly Species (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Neohermes Banks) Discovered from
      North America by a Systematic Revision, with Phylogenetic and Biogeographic
      Implications.
AB  - The taxonomy of Megaloptera from the Nearctic region is fairly well known and
      their faunal diversity has been largely surveyed, even in relatively remote
      regions. However, the evolutionary history of Nearctic Megaloptera is still
      poorly known with phylogenetic and biogeographic studies lacking. In this paper,
      we report a new fishfly species of the endemic North American genus Neohermes
      Banks, 1908, increasing the total number known of species to six. This new
      species (Neohermes inexpectatus sp. nov.) is currently known to occur only in
      California (USA) and is apparently confined to the Northern Coastal Range. The
      new species resembles the three Neohermes species from eastern North America
      based on the relatively small body size and the presence of female gonostyli 9.
      However, our phylogenetic analysis using adult morphological data recovered the
      new species as the sister species to the remaining Neohermes, which includes two
      species from western North America and three from eastern North America.
      According to the present interspecific phylogeny of Neohermes, with reconstructed
      ancestral areas, the initial divergence within the genus was found to take place
      in western North America, with a subsequent eastward dispersal. This likely lead
      to the modern distribution of Neohermes in eastern North America with the closure
      of the Mid-Continental Seaway, which separated western and eastern North America
      in the Mid-Late Cretaceous (100-80 MYA) and finally disappeared at the end of the
      Cretaceous (70 MYA). The uplift of the Cordilleran System probably accounted for
      the divergence between the eastern and two western Neohermes species. 

PMID- 26886196
TI  - Inducible Defenses with a "Twist": Daphnia barbata Abandons Bilateral Symmetry in
      Response to an Ancient Predator.
AB  - Predation is one of the most important drivers of natural selection. In
      consequence a huge variety of anti-predator defenses have evolved in prey
      species. Under unpredictable and temporally variable predation pressure, the
      evolution of phenotypically plastic defensive traits is favored. These "inducible
      defenses", range from changes in behavior, life history, physiology to morphology
      and can be found in almost all taxa from bacteria to vertebrates. An important
      group of model organisms in ecological, evolutionary and environmental research,
      water fleas of the genus Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera), are well known for their
      ability to respond to predators with an enormous variety of inducible
      morphological defenses. Here we report on the "twist", a body torsion, as a so
      far unrecognized inducible morphological defense in Daphnia, expressed by Daphnia
      barbata exposed to the predatory tadpole shrimp Triops cancriformis. This defense
      is realized by a twisted carapace with the helmet and the tail spine deviating
      from the body axis into opposing directions, resulting in a complete abolishment
      of bilateral symmetry. The twisted morphotype should considerably interfere with
      the feeding apparatus of the predator, contributing to the effectiveness of the
      array of defensive traits in D. barbata. As such this study does not only
      describe a completely novel inducible defense in the genus Daphnia but also
      presents the first report of a free living Bilateria to flexibly respond to
      predation risk by abandoning bilateral symmetry. 

PMID- 26886195
TI  - Involvement of a Novel Class C Beta-Lactamase in the Transglutaminase Mediated
      Cross-Linking Cascade of Streptomyces mobaraensis DSM 40847.
AB  - Streptomyces mobaraensis DSM 40847 secretes transglutaminase that cross-links
      proteins via gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine isopeptide bonds. Characterized
      substrates are inhibitory proteins acting against various serine, cysteine and
      metalloproteases. In the present study, the bacterial secretome was examined to
      uncover additional transglutaminase substrates. Fractional ethanol precipitation
      of the exported proteins at various times of culture growth, electrophoresis of
      the precipitated proteins, and sequencing of a 39 kDa protein by mass
      spectrometry revealed the novel beta-lactamase Sml-1. As indicated by
      biotinylated probes, Sml-1, produced in E. coli, exhibits glutamine and lysine
      residues accessible for transglutaminase. The chromogenic cephalosporin analogue,
      nitrocefin, was hydrolyzed by Sml-1 with low velocity. The obtained Km and kcat
      values of the recombinant enzyme were 94.3+/-1.8 MUM and 0.39+/-0.03 s(-1),
      respectively. Penicillin G and ampicillin proved to be weak inhibitors of
      nitrocefin hydrolysis (Ki of 0.1 mM and 0.18 mM). Negligible influence of metals
      on beta-lactamase activity ruled out that Sml-1 is a Zn2+-dependent class B beta
      lactamase. Rather, sequence motifs such as SITK, YSN, and HDG forming the active
      core in a hypothetical structure may be typical for class C beta-lactamases.
      Based on the results, we assume that the novel transglutaminase substrate ensures
      undisturbed growth of aerial hyphae in Streptomyces mobaraensis by trapping and
      inactivating hostile beta-lactam antibiotics.

PMID- 26886197
TI  - Population Recovery of Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus
      following a Tsunami in the Nicobar Islands, India.
AB  - Natural disasters pose a threat to isolated populations of species with
      restricted distributions, especially those inhabiting islands. The Nicobar long
      tailed macaque.Macaca fascicularis umbrosus, is one such species found in the
      three southernmost islands (viz. Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Katchal) of
      the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, India. These islands were hit by a massive
      tsunami (Indian Ocean tsunami, 26 December 2004) after a 9.2 magnitude
      earthquake. Earlier studies [Umapathy et al. 2003; Sivakumar, 2004] reported a
      sharp decline in the population of M. f. umbrosus after thetsunami. We studied
      the distribution and population status of M. f. umbrosus on thethree Nicobar
      Islands and compared our results with those of the previous studies. We carried
      out trail surveys on existing paths and trails on three islands to get encounter
      rate as measure of abundance. We also checked the degree of inundation due to
      tsunami by using Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) on landsat imageries of
      the study area before and after tsunami. Theencounter rate of groups per
      kilometre of M. f. umbrosus in Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Katchal was
      0.30, 0.35 and 0.48 respectively with the mean group size of 39 in Great Nicobar
      and 43 in Katchal following the tsunami. This was higher than that reported in
      the two earlier studies conducted before and after the tsunami. Post tsunami,
      there was a significant change in the proportion of adult males, adult females
      and immatures, but mean group size did not differ as compared to pre tsunami. The
      results show that population has recovered from a drastic decline caused by
      tsunami, but it cannot be ascertained whether it has reached stability because of
      the altered group structure. This study demonstrates the effect of natural
      disasters on island occurring species. 

PMID- 26886200
TI  - Utility of a next-generation sequencing-based gene panel investigation in German
      patients with genetically unclassified limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.
AB  - Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are genetically heterogeneous and the
      diagnostic work-up including conventional genetic testing using Sanger sequencing
      remains complex and often unsatisfactory. We performed targeted sequencing of 23
      LGMD-related genes and 15 genes in which alterations result in a similar
      phenotype in 58 patients with genetically unclassified LGMDs. A genetic diagnosis
      was possible in 19 of 58 patients (33 %). LGMD2A was the most common form,
      followed by LGMD2L and LGMD2I. In two patients, pathogenic mutations were
      identified in genes that are not classified as LGMD genes (glycogen branching
      enzyme and valosin-containing protein). Thus, a focused next-generation
      sequencing-based gene panel is a rather satisfactory tool for the diagnosis in
      unclassified LGMDs.

PMID- 26886198
TI  - ANT1-mediated fatty acid-induced uncoupling as a target for improving myocellular
      insulin sensitivity.
AB  - AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Dissipating energy via mitochondrial uncoupling has been
      suggested to contribute to enhanced insulin sensitivity. We hypothesised that
      skeletal muscle mitochondria of endurance-trained athletes have increased
      sensitivity for fatty acid (FA)-induced uncoupling, which is driven by the
      mitochondrial protein adenine nucleotide translocase 1 (ANT1). METHODS: Capacity
      for FA-induced uncoupling was measured in endurance-trained male athletes (T) and
      sedentary young men (UT) in an observational study and also in isolated skeletal
      muscle mitochondria from Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and C2C12 myotubes
      following small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing of ANT1. Thus,
      fuelled by glutamate/succinate (fibres) or pyruvate (mitochondria and myotubes)
      and in the presence of oligomycin to block ATP synthesis, increasing levels of
      oleate (fibres) or palmitate (mitochondria and myotubes) were automatically
      titrated while respiration was monitored. Insulin sensitivity was measured by
      hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp in humans and via insulin-stimulated glucose
      uptake in myotubes. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle from the T group displayed increased
      sensitivity to FA-induced uncoupling (p = 0.011) compared with muscle from the UT
      group, and this was associated with elevated insulin sensitivity (p = 0.034).
      ANT1 expression was increased in T (p = 0.013). Mitochondria from ZDF rats
      displayed decreased sensitivity for FA-induced uncoupling (p = 0.008). This
      difference disappeared in the presence of the adenine nucleotide translocator
      inhibitor carboxyatractyloside. Partial knockdown of ANT1 in C2C12 myotubes
      decreased sensitivity to the FA-induced uncoupling (p = 0.008) and insulin
      stimulated glucose uptake (p = 0.025) compared with controls.
      CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Increased sensitivity to FA-induced uncoupling is
      associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity and is affected by ANT1 activity in
      skeletal muscle. FA-induced mitochondrial uncoupling may help to preserve insulin
      sensitivity in the face of a high supply of FAs. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      www.trialregister.nl NTR2002.

PMID- 26886201
TI  - Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Lazio region, Italy: use of an algorithm
      based on health information systems.
AB  - Compared with other areas of the country, very limited data are available on
      multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence in Central Italy. We aimed to estimate MS
      prevalence in the Lazio region and its geographical distribution using regional
      health information systems (HIS). To identify MS cases we used data from drug
      prescription, hospital discharge and ticket exemption registries. Crude, age- and
      gender-specific prevalence estimates on December 31, 2011 were calculated. To
      compare MS prevalence between different areas within the region, we calculated
      age- and gender-adjusted prevalence and prevalence ratios using a multivariate
      Poisson regression model. Crude prevalence rate was 130.5/100,000 (95 % CI 127.5
      133.5): 89.7/100,000 for males and 167.9/100,000 for females. The overall
      prevalence rate standardized to the European Standard Population was
      119.6/100,000 (95 % CI 116.8-122.4). We observed significant differences in MS
      prevalence within the region, with estimates ranging from 96.3 (95 % CI 86.4
      107.3) for Latina to 169.6 (95 % CI 147.6-194.9) for Rieti. Most districts close
      to the coast showed lower prevalence estimates compared to those situated in the
      eastern mountainous area of the region. In conclusion, this study produced a MS
      prevalence estimate at regional level using population-based health
      administrative databases. Our results showed the Lazio region is a high-risk area
      for MS, although with an uneven geographical distribution. While some limitations
      must be considered including possible prevalence underestimation, HIS represent a
      valuable source of information to measure the burden of SM, useful for
      epidemiological surveillance and healthcare planning.

PMID- 26886202
TI  - Impaired renal function is related to deep and mixed, but not strictly lobar
      cerebral microbleeds in patients with ischaemic stroke and TIA.
AB  - The vasculature of the brain and kidneys are similarly vulnerable to
      hypertension, so their microvascular damage may be correlated. We investigated
      the relationship of renal function to the anatomical distribution of cerebral
      microbleeds (CMBs), a marker of underlying cerebral small vessel disease
      (hypertensive arteriopathy or cerebral amyloid angiopathy), in a Western patient
      cohort. This was a retrospective study of referrals to a hospital stroke service.
      All patients with clinical data and a T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo (T2*
      GRE) MRI were included. MRI scans were rated for CMBs using the Microbleed
      Anatomical Rating Scale. Renal function was assessed by estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula.
      We included 202 patients, 39 with CMBs (19.3 %); 15 had "strictly lobar", 12 had
      "strictly deep" and 12 had "mixed" CMBs. Patients without CMBs had a higher eGFR
      than those with CMBs (mean difference 6.50 ml/min/1.73 m(2), 95 % CI -14.73 to
      1.72 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p = 0.121). Multivariable analysis found that those with
      deep and mixed CMBs had a lower eGFR than those without CMBs (mean difference 
      10.70 ml/min/1.73 m(2), 95 % CI -20.35 to -1.06 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p = 0.030).
      There was no difference in eGFR found between those with strictly lobar CMBs and
      those without CMBs (mean difference -1.59 ml/min/1.73 m(2), 95 % CI -13.08 to
      9.89 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p = 0.79). In a Western patient cohort, there appears to
      be an association between eGFR and the presence of deep and mixed CMBs, but not
      strictly lobar CMBs. This suggests a shared vulnerability of renal afferent and
      cerebral deep and superficial perforating arterioles to systemic hypertension.
      The arteriopathy underlying strictly lobar CMBs (i.e. cerebral amyloid
      angiopathy), appears to be less related to renal impairment.

PMID- 26886203
TI  - Two cases of multiple sclerosis manifesting after in vitro fertilization
      procedures.

PMID- 26886205
TI  - Cognitive and neuropsychological evolution in children with anti-NMDAR
      encephalitis.
AB  - We describe neurological and cognitive/neuropsychological changes from symptom
      onset in 13 consecutive children (8 females and 5 males; median age 11 years,
      range 3-17) with anti-NMDAR-encephalitis. We assessed neurological status using
      the modified Rankin Scale for children and cognitive/neuropsychological status
      using a standardized battery that was administered serially in 10 prospective
      patients, and at latest follow-up in three retrospective patients diagnosed
      before study initiation. Symptom onset was marked by neurological or
      psychiatric/behavioural manifestations, which became severe but regressed at
      variable rates after starting immunotherapy. The 10 prospective patients were
      able to undergo first standardized cognitive/neuropsychological assessment a
      median of 3 months (range 1-12) after symptom onset: they had extensive deficits,
      although severity varied. Subsequent assessment showed marked improvements
      although the timescale varied. At latest evaluation (median 31 months, range 3
      112, after symptom onset), seven patients had no neurological disability, five
      had improved substantially, and one had persistent behavioural problems. Latest
      cognitive/neuropsychological assessment in 11 patients with at least a year of
      follow-up showed normal general intellectual abilities, but over half had
      residual deficits indicating frontal lobe dysfunction. All patients had resumed
      normal activities. Our findings suggest that early installation of immunotherapy
      results in good long-term recovery in most paediatric patients with anti-NMDAR
      encephalitis, however, recovery is incomplete and the disease leaves subtle
      lasting defects that impact quality of life, social relationships, and academic
      achievement.

PMID- 26886204
TI  - Spring cleaning: time to rethink imaging research lines in MS?
AB  - Together with recently advanced MRI technological capability, new needs and
      updated questions are emerging in imaging research in multiple sclerosis (MS),
      especially with respect to the identification of novel in vivo biomarkers of MS
      relevant pathological processes. Expected benefits will involve approaches to
      diagnosis and clinical classification. In detail, three main points of discussion
      are addressed in this review: (1) new imaging biomarkers (centrifugal/centripetal
      lesion enhancement, central vein, paramagnetic rims at the lesion edge, subpial
      cortical demyelination); (2) thinking about high-resolution MR from a
      pathological perspective (from postmortem to in vivo staging); and (3) the
      clinical utility of quantitative MRI. In this context, research efforts should
      increasingly be focused on the direct in vivo visualization of "hidden"
      inflammation, beyond what can be detected with conventional gadolinium-based
      methods, as well as remyelination and repair, since these are likely to represent
      critical pathological processes and potential therapeutic targets. Concluding
      remarks concern the limitations, challenges, and ultimately clinical role of non
      conventional MRI techniques. 

PMID- 26886207
TI  - Does the Establishment of Sustainable Use Reserves Affect Fire Management in the
      Humid Tropics?
AB  - Tropical forests are experiencing a growing fire problem driven by climatic
      change, agricultural expansion and forest degradation. Protected areas are an
      important feature of forest protection strategies, and sustainable use reserves
      (SURs) may be reducing fire prevalence since they promote sustainable livelihoods
      and resource management. However, the use of fire in swidden agriculture, and
      other forms of land management, may be undermining the effectiveness of SURs in
      meeting their conservation and sustainable development goals. We analyse MODIS
      derived hot pixels, TRMM rainfall data, Terra-Class land cover data, socio
      ecological data from the Brazilian agro-census and the spatial extent of rivers
      and roads to evaluate whether the designation of SURs reduces fire occurrence in
      the Brazilian Amazon. Specifically, we ask (1) a. Is SUR location (i.e., de
      facto) or (1) b. designation (i.e. de jure) the driving factor affecting
      performance in terms of the spatial density of fires?, and (2), Does SUR creation
      affect fire management (i.e., the timing of fires in relation to previous
      rainfall)? We demonstrate that pre-protection baselines are crucial for
      understanding reserve performance. We show that reserve creation had no
      discernible impact on fire density, and that fires were less prevalent in SURs
      due to their characteristics of sparser human settlement and remoteness, rather
      than their status de jure. In addition, the timing of fires in relation to
      rainfall, indicative of local fire management and adherence to environmental law,
      did not improve following SUR creation. These results challenge the notion that
      SURs promote environmentally sensitive fire-management, and suggest that SURs in
      Amazonia will require special attention if they are to curtail future accidental
      wildfires, particularly as plans to expand the road infrastructure throughout the
      region are realised. Greater investment to support improved fire management by
      farmers living in reserves, in addition to other fire users, will be necessary to
      help ameliorate these threats. 

PMID- 26886208
TI  - Of rodents and men: understanding the emergence of motor and cognitive symptoms
      in Huntington disease.
AB  - Arguably, one of the most important milestones in Huntington disease research
      since the discovery of the gene responsible has been the generation of different
      genetic animal models. Although clinical reports have shown evidence of
      progressive cognitive impairments in gene carriers before motor symptoms are
      diagnosed, such symptoms have been much less obvious in animal models. In this
      review, we summarize the three main classes of animal models for Huntington
      disease and describe some relevant translational assays for behavioural deficits
      evaluation. Finally, we argue that a good knowledge of the emergence of motor and
      cognitive symptoms in mice and rat models is indispensable for the selection of
      endpoint measures in early preclinical drug screening studies.

PMID- 26886210
TI  - Self-reported smoking effects and comparative value between cigarettes and high
      dose e-cigarettes in nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers.
AB  - The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the comparative value of
      cigarettes versus high dose e-cigarettes among nicotine-dependent cigarette
      smokers when compared with money or use of their usual cigarette brand. The
      experiment used a within-subject design with four sessions. After baseline
      assessment, participants attended two 15-min unrestricted smoking sessions: one
      cigarette smoking session and one e-cigarette smoking session. Participants then
      attended two multiple-choice procedure (MCP) sessions: a session comparing
      cigarettes and money and a session comparing e-cigarettes and money. Participants
      (n=27) had used cigarettes regularly, had never used e-cigarettes, and were not
      currently attempting to quit smoking. The sample consisted primarily of males
      (72%), with a mean age of 34 years. When given the opportunity to choose between
      smoking a cigarette or an e-cigarette, participants chose the cigarette 73.9% of
      the time. Findings from the MCP demonstrated that after the first e-cigarette
      exposure sessions, the crossover value for cigarettes ($3.45) was significantly
      higher compared with the crossover value for e-cigarettes ($2.73). The higher
      participant preference, self-reported smoking effects, and higher MCP crossover
      points indicate that cigarettes have a higher comparative value than high dose e
      cigarettes among e-cigarette naive smokers. 

PMID- 26886206
TI  - Clinical features, pathogenesis, and treatment of myasthenia gravis: a supplement
      to the Guidelines of the German Neurological Society.
AB  - Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune antibody-mediated disorder of
      neuromuscular synaptic transmission. The clinical hallmark of MG consists of
      fluctuating fatigability and weakness affecting ocular, bulbar and (proximal)
      limb skeletal muscle groups. MG may either occur as an autoimmune disease with
      distinct immunogenetic characteristics or as a paraneoplastic syndrome associated
      with tumors of the thymus. Impairment of central thymic and peripheral self
      tolerance mechanisms in both cases is thought to favor an autoimmune CD4(+) T
      cell-mediated B cell activation and synthesis of pathogenic high-affinity
      autoantibodies of either the IgG1 and 3 or IgG4 subclass. These autoantibodies
      bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR) itself, or muscle-specific
      tyrosine-kinase (MuSK), lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) and agrin
      involved in clustering of AchRs within the postsynaptic membrane and structural
      maintenance of the neuromuscular synapse. This results in disturbance of
      neuromuscular transmission and thus clinical manifestation of the disease.
      Emphasizing evidence from clinical trials, we provide an updated overview on
      immunopathogenesis, and derived current and future treatment strategies for MG
      divided into: (a) symptomatic treatments facilitating neuromuscular transmission,
      (b) antibody-depleting treatments, and 

PMID- 26886209
TI  - Methamphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects of bupropion and its two
      hydroxy metabolites in male rhesus monkeys.
AB  - The dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor and nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh)
      receptor antagonist bupropion is being investigated as a candidate 'agonist'
      medication for methamphetamine addiction. In addition to its complex
      pharmacology, bupropion also has two distinct pharmacologically active
      metabolites. However, the mechanism by which bupropion produces methamphetamine
      like 'agonist' effects remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to
      determine the role of DAT inhibition, nACh receptor antagonism, and the
      hydroxybupropion metabolites in the methamphetamine-like discriminative stimulus
      effects of bupropion in rhesus monkeys. In addition, varenicline, a partial
      agonist at the nACh receptor, and risperidone, a dopamine antagonist, were tested
      as controls. Monkeys (n=4) were trained to discriminate 0.18 mg/kg intramuscular
      methamphetamine from saline in a two-key food-reinforced discrimination
      procedure. The potency and time course of methamphetamine-like discriminative
      stimulus effects were determined for all compounds. Bupropion, methylphenidate,
      and 2S,3S-hydroxybupropion produced full, at least 90%, methamphetamine-like
      effects. 2R,3R-Hydroxybupropion, mecamylamine, and nicotine also produced full
      methamphetamine-like effects, but drug potency was more variable between monkeys.
      Varenicline produced partial methamphetamine-like effects, whereas risperidone
      did not. Overall, these results suggest DAT inhibition as the major mechanism of
      the methamphetamine-like 'agonist' effects of bupropion, although nACh receptor
      antagonism appeared, at least partially, to contribute. Furthermore, the
      contribution of the 2S,3S-hydroxybupropion metabolite could not be completely
      ruled out. 

PMID- 26886211
TI  - Trastuzumab-associated autoimmune thyroid disease in a patient with metastatic
      breast cancer.

PMID- 26886212
TI  - Comparative study on the epidemiological aspects of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia
      coli infections between Korea and Japan, 2006 to 2010.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare the epidemiological aspects of enterohemorrhagic
      Escherichia coli (EHEC) between Korea and Japan by analyzing the current state of
      EHEC infection outbreaks and related risk factors. METHODS: We investigated the
      epidemiological aspects of EHEC infection cases between Korea and Japan from 2006
      to 2010. The following factors were analyzed: national prevalence rate (PR),
      regional prevalence rate, epidemic aspects (i.e., Cases related to gender), male
      to female morbidity ratio, age, and seasonal distribution. RESULTS: In total,
      there were 254 cases of EHEC with an average PR of 0.11 per 100,000 populations
      in Korea from 2006 to 2010. During the same period in Japan, there were 20,883
      cases of EHEC with an average PR of 3.26 per 100,000 populations. The PR in Japan
      was significantly higher than that in Korea (p < 0.01). In both countries, more
      females than males had EHEC infections, with the highest incidence of infections
      (> 50%) observed for individuals younger than 9 years. EHEC is an emerging
      zoonosis and may be caused by consumption of raw or undercooked meat products
      from ruminants. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a quantitative analysis of the
      epidemiological aspects and risk factors of EHEC infections in Korea and Japan
      and will provide insight on effective future strategies to reduce these
      infections.

PMID- 26886213
TI  - Hepatocellular carcinoma hidden by multiple infarcted regenerative nodules.

PMID- 26886214
TI  - Engineering TaqII bifunctional endonuclease DNA recognition fidelity: the effect
      of a single amino acid substitution within the methyltransferase catalytic site.
AB  - The aim of this study was to improve a useful molecular tool-TaqII restriction
      endonuclease-methyltransferase-by rational protein engineering, as well as to
      show an application of our novel method of restriction endonuclease activity
      modulation through a single amino acid change in the NPPY motif of
      methyltransferase. An amino acid change was introduced using site-directed
      mutagenesis into the taqIIRM gene. The mutated gene was expressed in Escherichia
      coli. The protein variant was purified and characterized. Previously, we
      described a TspGWI variant with an amino acid change in the methyltransferase
      motif IV. Here, we investigate a complex, pleiotropic effect of an analogous
      amino acid change on its homologue-TaqII. The methyltransferase activity is
      reduced, but not abolished, while TaqII restriction endonuclease can be
      reactivated by sinefungin, with an increased DNA recognition fidelity. The
      general method for engineering of the IIS/IIC/IIG restriction endonuclease
      activity/fidelity is developed along with the generation of an improved TaqII
      enzyme for biotechnological applications. A successful application of our novel
      strategy for restriction endonuclease activity/fidelity alteration, based on
      bioinformatics analyses, mutagenesis and the use of cofactor-analogue activity
      modulation, is presented. 

PMID- 26886215
TI  - Magnetic drug targeting through a realistic model of human tracheobronchial
      airways using computational fluid and particle dynamics.
AB  - Magnetic drug targeting (MDT) is a local drug delivery system which aims to
      concentrate a pharmacological agent at its site of action in order to minimize
      undesired side effects due to systemic distribution in the organism. Using
      magnetic drug particles under the influence of an external magnetic field, the
      drug particles are navigated toward the target region. Herein, computational
      fluid dynamics was used to simulate the air flow and magnetic particle deposition
      in a realistic human airway geometry obtained by CT scan images. Using discrete
      phase modeling and one-way coupling of particle-fluid phases, a Lagrangian
      approach for particle tracking in the presence of an external non-uniform
      magnetic field was applied. Polystyrene (PMS40) particles were utilized as the
      magnetic drug carrier. A parametric study was conducted, and the influence of
      particle diameter, magnetic source position, magnetic field strength and
      inhalation condition on the particle transport pattern and deposition efficiency
      (DE) was reported. Overall, the results show considerable promise of MDT in
      deposition enhancement at the target region (i.e., left lung). However, the
      positive effect of increasing particle size on DE enhancement was evident at
      smaller magnetic field strengths (Mn [Formula: see text] 1.5 T), whereas, at
      higher applied magnetic field strengths, increasing particle size has a inverse
      effect on DE. This implies that for efficient MTD in the human respiratory
      system, an optimal combination of magnetic drug career characteristics and
      magnetic field strength has to be achieved.

PMID- 26886216
TI  - Fat King Penguins Are Less Steady on Their Feet.
AB  - Returning to the shore after a feeding sojourn at sea, king penguins often
      undertake a relatively long terrestrial journey to the breeding colony carrying a
      heavy, mostly frontal, accumulation of fat along with food in the stomach for
      chick-provisioning. There they must survive a fasting period of up to a month in
      duration, during which their complete reliance on endogenous energy stores
      results in a dramatic loss in body mass. Our aim was to determine if the king
      penguin's walking gait changes with variations in body mass. We investigated this
      by walking king penguins on a treadmill while instrumented with an acceleration
      data logger. The stride frequency, dynamic body acceleration (DBA) and posture of
      fat (pre-fasting; 13.2 kg) and slim (post fasting; 11 kg) king penguins were
      assessed while they walked at the same speed (1.4 km/h) on a treadmill. Paired
      statistical tests indicated no evidence for a difference in dynamic body
      acceleration or stride frequency between the two body masses however there was
      substantially less variability in both leaning angle and the leaning amplitude of
      the body when the birds were slimmer. Furthermore, there was some evidence that
      the slimmer birds exhibited a decrease in waddling amplitude. We suggest the
      increase in variability of both leaning angle and amplitude, as well as a
      possibly greater variability in the waddling amplitude, is likely to result from
      the frontal fat accumulation when the birds are heavier, which may move the
      centre of mass anteriorly, resulting in a less stable upright posture. This study
      is the first to use accelerometry to better understand the gait of a species
      within a specific ecological context: the considerable body mass change exhibited
      by king penguins.

PMID- 26886217
TI  - The degradation of two fluoroquinolone based antimicrobials by SilA, an alkaline
      laccase from Streptomyces ipomoeae.
AB  - The presence of fluoroquinolone based antimicrobials in natural waters represents
      a significant emerging environmental problem. In this study the suitability of a
      novel alkaline bacterial laccase, SilA, from Streptomyces ipomoeae to degrade two
      key antimicrobials, Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin under alkaline conditions in
      the presence of natural mediators was assessed. Results showed that only the
      selected SilA-acetosyringone system was able to degrade more than 90% of both
      fluoroquinolones. HPLC analysis of the degradation products obtained after enzyme
      treatment confirmed the disappearance of the antimicrobials and the mediator
      after 24 h. The time course of the degradation showed that during the first 4 h a
      75% of degradation of fluoroquinolones was detected while the mediator remained
      stable. A concomitant appearance of new chromatographic peaks derived from the
      fluoroquinolones and/or the mediator was detected. Moreover, toxicity assays
      demonstrated that the SilA-acetosyringone system was able to reduce the toxicity
      of Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin by 90 and 70%, respectively. In conclusion,
      these findings support the suitability of a low cost and environmentally friendly
      strategy based on the SilA-acetosyringone system for a primary treatment of
      contaminated alkaline wastewaters with this type of emerging pollutants.

PMID- 26886218
TI  - The Effects of Classroom Interventions on Off-Task and Disruptive Classroom
      Behavior in Children with Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A
      Meta-Analytic Review.
AB  - Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often exhibit
      problem behavior in class, which teachers often struggle to manage due to a lack
      of knowledge and skills to use classroom management strategies. The aim of this
      meta-analytic review was to determine the effectiveness of several types of
      classroom interventions (antecedent-based, consequence-based, self-regulation,
      combined) that can be applied by teachers in order to decrease off-task and
      disruptive classroom behavior in children with symptoms of ADHD. A second aim was
      to identify potential moderators (classroom setting, type of measure, students'
      age, gender, intelligence, and medication use). Finally, it was qualitatively
      explored whether the identified classroom interventions also directly or
      indirectly affected behavioral and academic outcomes of classmates. Separate meta
      analyses were performed on standardized mean differences (SMDs) for 24 within
      subjects design (WSD) and 76 single-subject design (SSD) studies. Results showed
      that classroom interventions reduce off-task and disruptive classroom behavior in
      children with symptoms of ADHD (WSDs: MSMD = 0.92; SSDs: MSMD = 3.08), with
      largest effects for consequence-based (WSDs: MSMD = 1.82) and self-regulation
      interventions (SSDs: MSMD = 3.61). Larger effects were obtained in general
      education classrooms than in other classroom settings. No reliable conclusions
      could be formulated about moderating effects of type of measure and students'
      age, gender, intelligence, and medication use, mainly because of power problems.
      Finally, classroom interventions appeared to also benefit classmates' behavioral
      and academic outcomes. 

PMID- 26886219
TI  - Rural to Urban Population Density Scaling of Crime and Property Transactions in
      English and Welsh Parliamentary Constituencies.
AB  - Urban population scaling of resource use, creativity metrics, and human behaviors
      has been widely studied. These studies have not looked in detail at the full
      range of human environments which represent a continuum from the most rural to
      heavily urban. We examined monthly police crime reports and property transaction
      values across all 573 Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales, finding
      that scaling models based on population density provided a far superior framework
      to traditional population scaling. We found four types of scaling: i) non-urban
      scaling in which a single power law explained the relationship between the
      metrics and population density from the most rural to heavily urban environments,
      ii) accelerated scaling in which high population density was associated with an
      increase in the power-law exponent, iii) inhibited scaling where the urban
      environment resulted in a reduction in the power-law exponent but remained
      positive, and iv) collapsed scaling where transition to the high density
      environment resulted in a negative scaling exponent. Urban scaling transitions,
      when observed, took place universally between 10 and 70 people per hectare. This
      study significantly refines our understanding of urban scaling, making clear that
      some of what has been previously ascribed to urban environments may simply be the
      high density portion of non-urban scaling. It also makes clear that some metrics
      undergo specific transitions in urban environments and these transitions can
      include negative scaling exponents indicative of collapse. This study gives
      promise of far more sophisticated scale adjusted metrics and indicates that
      studies of urban scaling represent a high density subsection of overall scaling
      relationships which continue into rural environments. 

PMID- 26886221
TI  - Pigeons perform poorly on a midsession reversal task without rigid temporal
      regularity.
AB  - Animals make surprising anticipatory and perseverative errors when faced with a
      midsession reversal of reinforcer contingencies on a choice task with highly
      predictable stimulus-time relationships. In the current study, we asked whether
      pigeons would anticipate changes in reinforcement when the reinforcer
      contingencies for each stimulus were not fixed in time. We compared the responses
      of pigeons on a simultaneous choice task when the initially correct stimulus was
      randomized or alternated across sessions. Pigeons showed more errors overall
      compared with the typical results of a standard midsession reversal procedure,
      and they did not show the typical anticipatory errors prior to the contingency
      reversal. Probe tests that manipulated the spacing between trials also suggested
      that timing of the session exerted little control of pigeons' behavior. The
      temporal structure of the experimental session thus appears to be an important
      determinant for animals' use of time in midsession reversal procedures.

PMID- 26886220
TI  - Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide and neuron-specific enolase: useful predictors of
      response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with small cell lung cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate and predict the value of
      ProGRP and NSE in therapy and survival; (2) as well as to investigate the
      correlation between the ProGRP mRNA expression in peripheral blood and serum
      ProGRP protein. METHODS: The study included 122 patients with SCLC without prior
      therapy. The serum levels of ProGRP and NSE were detected by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay and eletro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. The
      expression of ProGRP mRNA was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase
      polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Distribution of serum levels of ProGRP, NSE
      and ProGRP mRNA differed significantly according to tumor size, disease stage and
      distant metastasis (all P < 0.05), and no association was found between them and
      gender or age (both P > 0.05). After two courses of chemotherapy, patients of
      remission and stable groups showed a marked decrease in ProGRP and NSE
      concentrations (P < 0.05). The ProGRP concentration of patients in progression
      group was significantly higher than pretreatment level (P < 0.05), while NSE
      concentration was not. A linear nonparametric (Spearman) correlation test
      revealed that there was a significant correlation between ProGRP mRNA expression
      in peripheral blood and serum ProGRP protein level (P < 0.05). Univariate
      analysis found a statistically significant association of survival with disease
      stage, distant metastasis, ProGRP and NSE (P < 0.05). Gender, age and tumor size
      were not prognostic factors (P > 0.05). Multiple Cox regression model analysis
      found that only disease stage and NSE were significant predictors (P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study has found that there is a potential role for ProGRP and
      NSE in both therapy monitoring and predicting survival in SCLC patients.

PMID- 26886222
TI  - A Case Series Characterizing Pilomyxoid Astrocytomas in Childhood.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The term pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) was added to the World Health
      Organization Classification of Tumours of the central nervous system in 2007.
      Pilomyxoid tumors are grade II tumors, considered to be variants of pilocytic
      astrocytomas. We attempted to determine if positron emission tomography (PET),
      proliferative index (PI), and BRAF V600E mutation help better define PMAs.
      OBSERVATIONS: We report 5 patients' clinical and neuroimaging findings, pathology
      (PI), and outcome. Four of the 5 patients had PET scans. Three patients showed
      [18F]fluoro-deoxyglucose hypermetabolism. The PI was elevated in all 5 cases and
      the BRAF V600E mutation was found in 3 of the 3 patients tested. CONCLUSION: Our
      data suggest that PMAs are hypermetabolic on PET, have elevated PIs and BRAF
      V600E mutations, and behave aggressively.

PMID- 26886223
TI  - Enhancement in xylose utilization using Kluyveromyces marxianus NIRE-K1 through
      evolutionary adaptation approach.
AB  - The evolutionary adaptation was carried out on the thermotolerant yeast
      Kluyveromyces marxianus NIRE-K1 at 45  degrees C up to 60 batches to enhance its
      xylose utilization capability. The adapted strain showed higher specific growth
      rate and 3-fold xylose uptake rate and short lag phase as compared to the native
      strain. During aerobic growth adapted yeast showed 2.81-fold higher xylose
      utilization than that of native. In anaerobic batch fermentation, adapted yeast
      utilized about 91% of xylose in 72 h and produced 2.88 and 18.75 g l-1 of ethanol
      and xylitol, respectively, which were 5.11 and 5.71-fold higher than that of
      native. Ethanol yield, xylitol yield and specific sugar consumption rate obtained
      by the adapted cells were found to be 1.57, 1.65 and 4.84-fold higher than that
      of native yeast, respectively. Aforesaid results suggested that the evolutionary
      adaptation will be a very effective strategy in the near future for economic
      lignocellulosic ethanol production.

PMID- 26886225
TI  - Mitochondrial involvement in myocyte death and heart failure.
AB  - As the heart is an energy-demanding organ, impaired cardiac energy metabolism and
      mitochondrial function have been inexorably linked to cardiac dysfunction. There
      is a growing recognition that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to impaired
      myocardial energetics and increased oxidative stress in cardiomyopathies, cardiac
      ischemic damage and heart failure (HF), and mitochondrial permeability transition
      pore opening has been reported a critical trigger of myocyte death and myocardial
      remodeling. It is well established that mitochondria play pivotal roles in
      intracellular signaling in both cell death as well as in cardioprotective
      pathways. Moreover, recent studies have shown that defects in mitochondrial
      dynamics affecting biogenesis and turnover are linked to cardiac senescence and
      HF. Accordingly, there has been an increasing interest in targeting mitochondria
      for HF therapy. This article reviews the background and recent evidence of
      mitochondrial involvement in several types of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis and
      autophagy) occurring in HF. In addition, potential strategies for targeting
      mitochondria are examined, and their utility in HF therapy considered. 

PMID- 26886226
TI  - Cell death in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure.

PMID- 26886224
TI  - A Panel of Stably Expressed Reference Genes for Real-Time qPCR Gene Expression
      Studies of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).
AB  - Determining which reference genes have the highest stability, and are therefore
      appropriate for normalising data, is a crucial step in the design of real-time
      quantitative PCR (qPCR) gene expression studies. This is particularly warranted
      in non-model and ecologically important species for which appropriate reference
      genes are lacking, such as the mallard--a key reservoir of many diseases with
      relevance for human and livestock health. Previous studies assessing gene
      expression changes as a consequence of infection in mallards have nearly
      universally used beta-actin and/or GAPDH as reference genes without confirming
      their suitability as normalisers. The use of reference genes at random, without
      regard for stability of expression across treatment groups, can result in
      erroneous interpretation of data. Here, eleven putative reference genes for use
      in gene expression studies of the mallard were evaluated, across six different
      tissues, using a low pathogenic avian influenza A virus infection model. Tissue
      type influenced the selection of reference genes, whereby different genes were
      stable in blood, spleen, lung, gastrointestinal tract and colon. beta-actin and
      GAPDH generally displayed low stability and are therefore inappropriate reference
      genes in many cases. The use of different algorithms (GeNorm and NormFinder)
      affected stability rankings, but for both algorithms it was possible to find a
      combination of two stable reference genes with which to normalise qPCR data in
      mallards. These results highlight the importance of validating the choice of
      normalising reference genes before conducting gene expression studies in ducks.
      The fact that nearly all previous studies of the influence of pathogen infection
      on mallard gene expression have used a single, non-validated reference gene is
      problematic. The toolkit of putative reference genes provided here offers a solid
      foundation for future studies of gene expression in mallards and other waterfowl.

PMID- 26886227
TI  - Prevalence of human herpesvirus-8 among HIV-infected patients, intravenous drug
      users and the general population in Iran.
AB  - Studies looking at the frequency of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) among Iranian
      blood donors have produced conflicting results. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the prevalence of HHV-8 DNA by using polymerase chain reaction
      methods among 168 healthy individuals, 60 intravenous drug users and 100 HIV
      infected patients from Iran. The prevalence of HHV-8 was significantly higher
      among intravenous drug users (13.3%) compared with the general population (3.6%;
      P=0.017). The HHV-8 genome was mostly detected among intravenous drug users who
      displayed high-risk sexual behaviours. Moreover, the HHV-8 genome was also
      detected in 8% of HIV-infected patients. The present study findings support the
      likelihood that the transmission of HHV-8 is via a sexual route in the Iranian
      population.

PMID- 26886229
TI  - The Meaning of Evidence-Based Treatments for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress
      Disorder.

PMID- 26886228
TI  - Glycemic Control and Excess Cardiovascular Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus is a chronic systemic disease with multiple complications
      ranging from microvascular to macrovascular diseases. Type 1 diabetes comprises 5
      % of adults with diabetes in the US. This population is shown to be at increased
      risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Intensive glycemic control has been
      consistently associated with decreased microvascular complications but trials on
      macrovascular benefit yielded mixed results over the years. Recent data from long
      term observational follow-up studies of major diabetes cardiovascular events and
      mortality are showing benefits that were not seen with the initial interventional
      trials. This article will review evidence on the effect of glycemic control on
      complications in diabetes mellitus with a focus on cardiovascular mortality in
      type 1 diabetes.

PMID- 26886230
TI  - Gait abnormalities in early rheumatoid arthritis with temporomandibular joint
      involvement.

PMID- 26886231
TI  - Severe Neonatal Anaemia, MRI Findings and Neurodevelopmental Outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Severe neonatal anaemia can impair cerebral oxygen
      supply. Data on long-term outcomes following severe neonatal anaemia are scarce.
      METHODS: Clinical data and neurodevelopmental outcome of 49 (near) term infants
      with haemoglobin concentration after birth <6.0 mmol/l were retrospectively
      collected and analysed. In a subgroup of 28 patients, amplitude-integrated EEG
      was available and in 25 infants cerebral MRI was obtained. Infants were followed
      up at 14-35 months of age and assessed with the Griffiths Scale of Mental
      Development or Bayley Scale of Infant Development. RESULTS: Eighteen patients
      (37%) died during the neonatal period. In 25 patients MRI was performed. A
      predominant pattern of injury on MRI was seen in the basal ganglia and thalami in
      7 patients (28%), whereas some form of white matter injury was present in 16
      (64%) and a combination in 3 (12%). Follow-up data were available for 26 patients
      (84% of survivors). Formal assessment of neurodevelopmental outcome was performed
      in 20 of 31 (65%) infants who survived (median age: 19 months, range: 14-35).
      Sixteen infants (80%) had a developmental quotient appropriate for age in the
      first 2 years after birth. On motor outcome, 1 patient (5%) scored below average
      (Z-score -1.10). One patient developed cerebral palsy. CONCLUSION: Early
      neurodevelopmental outcome in surviving patients with severe neonatal anaemia was
      within the normal range in the majority of the survivors. MRI showed mild-to
      moderate white matter injury in two thirds of the infants. Prospectively
      collected data with a longer follow-up period are needed.

PMID- 26886232
TI  - Nitric oxide in fungi: is there NO light at the end of the tunnel?
AB  - Nitric oxide (NO) is a remarkable gaseous molecule with multiple and important
      roles in different organisms, including fungi. However, the study of the biology
      of NO in fungi has been hindered by the lack of a complete knowledge on the
      different metabolic routes that allow a proper NO balance, and the regulation of
      these routes. Fungi have developed NO detoxification mechanisms to combat
      nitrosative stress, which have been mainly characterized by their connection to
      pathogenesis or nitrogen metabolism. However, the progress on the studies of NO
      anabolic routes in fungi has been hampered by efforts to disrupt candidate genes
      that gave no conclusive data until recently. This review summarizes the different
      roles of NO in fungal biology and pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the
      alternatives to explain fungal NO production and the recent findings on the
      involvement of nitrate reductase in the synthesis of NO and its regulation during
      fungal development. 

PMID- 26886233
TI  - PCNA-binding proteins in the archaea: novel functionality beyond the conserved
      core.
AB  - Sliding clamps play an essential role in coordinating protein activity in DNA
      metabolism in all three domains of life. In eukaryotes and archaea, the sliding
      clamp is PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). Across the diversity of the
      archaea PCNA interacts with a highly conserved set of proteins with key roles in
      DNA replication and repair, including DNA polymerases B and D, replication factor
      C, the Fen1 nuclease and RNAseH2, but this core set of factors is likely to
      represent a fraction of the PCNA interactome only. Here, I review three recently
      characterised non-core archaeal PCNA-binding proteins NusS, NreA/NreB and TIP,
      highlighting what is known of their interactions with PCNA and their functions in
      vivo and in vitro. Gaining a detailed understanding of the non-core PCNA
      interactome will provide significant insights into key aspects of chromosome
      biology in divergent archaeal lineages. 

PMID- 26886234
TI  - Intra-ChIP: studying gene regulation in an intracellular pathogen.
AB  - Intracellular bacteria that reside within a host cell use a variety of strategies
      to exploit this unique niche. While these organisms are technically challenging
      to study in the context of an infected host cell, recent advances have led to an
      improved understanding of how the intracellular environment impacts bacterial
      gene expression. We recently demonstrated that chromatin immunoprecipitation
      (ChIP) can be used to quantify transcription factor binding in the obligate
      intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis within infected cells. Furthermore,
      we showed it was possible to experimentally modulate transcription factor binding
      while simultaneously measuring changes in transcription. Here we discuss these
      findings as well as other recent work that has used ChIP to study intracellular
      pathogens within infected cells. We also discuss technical considerations
      associated with this approach and its possible future applications. 

PMID- 26886235
TI  - Nuclear medicine imaging of posttraumatic osteomyelitis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Early recognition of a possible infection and therefore a prompt
      and accurate diagnostic strategy is essential for a successful treatment of
      posttraumatic osteomyelitis (PTO). However, at this moment there is no single
      routine test available that can detect osteomyelitis beyond doubt and the
      performed diagnostic tests mostly depend on personal experience, available
      techniques and financial aspects. Nuclear medicine techniques focus on imaging
      pathophysiological changes which usually precede anatomical changes. Together
      with recent development in hybrid camera systems, leading to better spatial
      resolution and quantification possibilities, this provides new opportunities and
      possibilities for nuclear medicine modalities to play an important role in
      diagnosing PTO. AIM: In this overview paper the techniques and available
      literature results for PTO are discussed for the three most commonly used nuclear
      medicine techniques: the three phase bone scan (with SPECT-CT), white blood cell
      scintigraphy (also called leukocyte scan) with SPECT-CT and (18)F
      fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT. Emphasis is on how these techniques are able to
      answer the diagnostic questions from the clinicians (trauma and orthopaedic
      surgeons) and which technique should be used to answer a specific question.
      Furthermore, three illustrative cases from clinical practice are described.

PMID- 26886236
TI  - Reproductive factors are associated with oesophageal cancer risk: results from a
      meta-analysis of observational studies.
AB  - To further evaluate the association between reproductive events and the
      development of oesophageal cancer, we searched relevant studies using electronic
      databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Science). Study-specific relative risks with
      corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) in all analyses were used and
      multiple summary relative risk (SRR) estimates were calculated. We carried out
      subgroup analyses and used meta-regression techniques to explore potential
      sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify
      whether pooled results were influenced by individual studies and publication bias
      was assessed by Begg's funnel plots and the Egger regression asymmetry test.
      Fourteen studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis, summarizing a
      total of 3816 oesophageal cancer cases. We found that age at menopause (SRR=0.70;
      95% CI: 0.51-0.95) and hormone replacement therapy (SRR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.56-0.81)
      had an association with a decreased risk of oesophageal cancer. A similar result
      was obtained for parity (SRR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.71-0.89) and ever breastfeeding
      (SRR=0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.97). In contrast, postmenopausal status was associated
      with increased risk (SRR=1.65; 95% CI: 1.28-2.14). No statistically significant
      link was found with other exposures. Our meta-analysis supports the substantial
      influence of reproductive factors, which could be causally linked to oesophageal
      cancer.

PMID- 26886237
TI  - Interactive effects of 9-cis-retinoic acid and androgen on proliferation,
      differentiation, and apoptosis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells.
AB  - 9-cis-Retinoic acid (9cRA), which binds to both retinoic acid receptors and
      retinoic X receptors, inhibits prostate cancer induction in rats and reduces
      growth of prostate cancer cells. However, the nature of this growth inhibition
      and the interactive influence of androgens are not well defined and are the
      subject of this report. LNCaP and PC-3 cells were cultured and treated with a
      range of 9cRA concentrations for 3-6 days in the absence or presence of 5alpha
      dehydrotestosterone. 9cRA inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent
      manner, plateauing at 10 mol/l. Treatment of cells with 10 mol/l 9cRA inhibited
      5alpha-dihydroxytestosterone (DHT)-stimulated proliferation, the effect of which
      was maximal at 10 mol/l DHT. Treatment of DHT (10 mol/l)-exposed cells with 9cRA
      caused a dose-dependent increase in prostate-specific antigen in the medium after
      6 days, but not 3 days. 9cRA caused a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic cells
      stained with H33258 after 3 days, but not 6 days; however, on using flow
      cytometry, apoptosis was apparent at both 3 and 6 days. Flow cytometry also
      revealed interference of G0/G1 to S phase transition by 9cRA. Inhibition by 9cRA
      of anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 cells was also found; LNCaP cells did not
      grow colonies in soft agar. 9cRA inhibited growth and induced differentiation of
      human LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vitro and inhibited anchorage-independent
      growth of PC-3 cells. Because 9cRA and 13-cis-retinoic acid, which is retinoic
      acid receptor-selective, prevent prostate carcinogenesis in rats, and 13-cis
      retinoic acid also inhibits growth of human prostate cancer cells, the RAR is a
      potential molecular target for prostate cancer prevention and therapy.

PMID- 26886238
TI  - Associations of alcohol use disorders with esophageal and gastric cancers: a
      population-based study in Sweden.
AB  - Alcohol consumption is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus,
      but little is known about whether alcohol consumption is associated with
      adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cancer, which we attempt to clarify
      in this study. Individuals with alcohol use disorders were identified from the
      nation-wide Swedish Hospital Discharge Register and Outpatient Register, the
      Crime Register, and the Prescription Drug Register, and they were linked to the
      Swedish Cancer Registry to calculate standardized incidence ratios of esophageal
      and gastric cancers using those without alcohol use disorders (AUDs) as a
      reference. A total of 14 518 and 73 504 patients were diagnosed with esophageal
      and gastric cancers, separately, during the study period. The risk of esophageal
      cancer was significantly increased, with a standardized incidence ratio of 2.24
      (95% confidence interval 2.08-2.41) among individuals with AUDs. Both squamous
      cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus were increased (2.89 for
      squamous cell carcinoma and 1.20 for adenocarcinoma). The incidence of gastric
      cancer was significantly decreased and the decrease was even more prominant for
      corpus cancer compared with cardia cancer (0.57 vs. 0.82). In this retrospective
      cohort study, we found that AUDs were associated with an increased risk of both
      squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, whereas individuals
      with AUDs had a lower risk of gastric cancer, especially for corpus cancer, which
      may be related to the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the
      underlying mechanisms need to be explored in future studies.

PMID- 26886239
TI  - Design in mind: eliciting service user and frontline staff perspectives on
      psychiatric ward design through participatory methods.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psychiatric ward design may make an important contribution to patient
      outcomes and well-being. However, research is hampered by an inability to assess
      its effects robustly. This paper reports on a study which deployed innovative
      methods to capture service user and staff perceptions of ward design. METHOD:
      User generated measures of the impact of ward design were developed and tested on
      four acute adult wards using participatory methodology. Additionally, inpatients
      took photographs to illustrate their experience of the space in two wards. Data
      were compared across wards. RESULTS: Satisfactory reliability indices emerged
      based on both service user and staff responses. Black and minority ethnic (BME)
      service users and those with a psychosis spectrum diagnosis have more positive
      views of the ward layout and fixtures. Staff members have more positive views
      than service users, while priorities of staff and service users differ. Inpatient
      photographs prioritise hygiene, privacy and control and address symbolic aspects
      of the ward environment. CONCLUSIONS: Participatory and visual methodologies can
      provide robust tools for an evaluation of the impact of psychiatric ward design
      on users.

PMID- 26886240
TI  - Association Between Gasdermin A and Gasdermin B Polymorphisms and Susceptibility
      to Adult and Childhood Asthma Among Jordanians.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gasdermin A (GSDMA) and gasdermin B (GSDMB) have been associated
      with childhood, and to a lesser extent with adult, asthma in many populations.
      AIMS: In this study, we investigated the association between GSDMA and GSDMB
      variants and the incidence of adult and childhood asthma among Jordanians.
      METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups: adults and children. Within the
      adult group there were 129 asthma patients and 111 healthy controls. In the
      pediatric group there were 98 asthma patients and 112 healthy children. Gasdermin
      A (GSDMA) (rs7212938, T/G) and Gasdermin B (rs7216389, T/C) polymorphisms were
      genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. Three analysis models were applied to the
      genotype data: co-dominant, dominant and recessive. RESULTS: An association
      between the GSDMB T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype and the
      incidence of childhood asthma was found (< 0.05). GSDMB T/C SNP in children also
      showed a very high tendency toward significance with p = 0.0532 in the single
      locus analysis. In adults, no significant differences in the allelic frequencies
      of any of the SNPs analyzed were found between the case and control populations.
      At the haplotype level, GC haplotype was found to be associated with the risk of
      asthma in children while none of the tested haplotypes were found to be
      associated with asthma risk in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study
      confirm the previously reported association between the GSDMB gene and the risk
      of childhood asthma.

PMID- 26886241
TI  - The Assessment of Diet Quality and Its Effects on Health Outcomes Pre-pregnancy
      and during Pregnancy.
AB  - Overweight and obesity pre pregnancy or during pregnancy is associated with an
      increased risk for maternal obstetric and fetal complications. Diet is one
      modifiable risk factor that women may be motivated to improve. General healthy
      eating guidelines, micronutrient sufficiency and macronutrient quantity and
      quality are important nutrition considerations pre and during pregnancy. With
      regards to specific nutrients, health authorities have recommendations for folate
      and/or iodine supplementation; but not consistently for iron and omega-3 despite
      evidence for their association with health outcomes. There are modest additional
      requirements for energy and protein, but not fat or carbohydrate, in mid-late
      pregnancy. Diet indices and dietary pattern analysis are additional tools or
      methodologies used to assess diet quality. These tools have been used to
      determine dietary intakes and patterns and their association with pregnancy
      complications and birth outcomes pre or during pregnancy. Women who may
      unnecessarily resist foods due to fear of food contamination from listeriosis and
      methylmercury may limit their diet quality and a balanced approached is required.
      Dietary intake may also vary according to certain population characteristics.
      Additional support for women who are younger, less educated, overweight and
      obese, from socially disadvantaged areas, smokers and those who unnecessarily
      avoid healthy foods, is required to achieve a higher quality diet and optimal
      lifestyle peri conception. 

PMID- 26886242
TI  - Lifestyle in Reproductive Medicine.

PMID- 26886243
TI  - Low-Temperature Seebeck Coefficients for Polaron-Driven Thermoelectric Effect in
      Organic Polymers.
AB  - We report the results of electronic structure coupled to molecular dynamics
      simulations on organic polymers subject to a temperature gradient at low
      temperature regimes. The temperature gradient is introduced using a Langevin-type
      dynamics corrected for quantum effects, which are very important in these
      systems. Under this condition we were able to determine that in these no-impurity
      systems the Seebeck coefficient is in the range of 1-3 MUV/K. These results are
      in good agreement with reported experimental results under the same low
      temperature conditions. 

PMID- 26886244
TI  - Excited-State Dynamics of DNA Duplexes with Different H-Bonding Motifs.
AB  - The excited-state dynamics of three distinct forms of the d(GC)9.d(GC)9 DNA
      duplex were studied by combined time-resolved infrared experiments and quantum
      mechanical calculations. In the B- and Z-forms, bases on opposite strands form
      Watson-Crick (WC) base pairs but stack differently because of salt-induced
      changes in backbone conformation. At low pH, the two strands associate by
      Hoogsteen (HG) base pairing. Ultraviolet-induced intrastrand electron transfer
      (ET) triggers interstrand proton transfer (PT) in the B- and Z-forms, but the PT
      pathway is blocked in the HG duplex. Despite the different decay mechanisms, a
      common excited-state lifetime of ~ 30 ps is observed in all three duplex forms.
      The ET-PT pathway in the WC duplexes and the solely intrastrand ET pathway in the
      HG duplex yield the same pair of pi-stacked radicals on one strand. Back ET
      between these radicals is proposed to be the rate-limiting step behind excited
      state deactivation in all three duplexes.

PMID- 26886245
TI  - Falls prevention education: Interprofessional training to enhance collaborative
      practice.
AB  - The gap between the complex health care needs of older adults and the
      availability of geriatrics-trained health care professionals is widening.
      Interprofessional education offers an opportunity to engage multiple professions
      in interactive learning and clinically relevant problem solving to achieve high
      quality patient-centered care. This article describes a project that engaged an
      interprofessional teaching team to support interprofessional practice teams to
      reduce falls in older adults via implementation of evidence-based practice
      guidelines. Ninety-five participants from 25 teams were trained on multiple
      strategies to decrease the risk of falls in older adults. The intervention
      facilitated increases in knowledge, confidence in skill performance, and team
      commitment to change practice patterns to support the health and safety of older
      adults. Findings suggest that community-based practices can successfully support
      the training of interprofessional teams and that training may lead to improved
      care processes and outcomes for older adults.

PMID- 26886247
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, conventional radiography and synovial fluid
      analysis in the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition
      disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound (US), x-rays, and
      microscopic analysis of synovial fluid (SF) for calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
      crystal deposition disease (CPPD) using histology as a reference standard.
      METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with osteoarthritis waiting to undergo
      knee replacement surgery. Each patient underwent US of the knee, focusing on
      menisci and the hyaline cartilage, the day before surgery. During surgery, SF,
      menisci and condyles were retrieved and examined microscopically. For the
      meniscus and cartilage microscopic analysis, 8 samples were collected from each
      specimen and knee radiographs, performed up to 3 months before surgery, were also
      assessed. A dichotomous score was given for the presence/absence of CPP for each
      method. Microscopic findings of the specimens were considered the reference
      standard. All the procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical
      standards of the local responsible committee. RESULTS: 42 patients (14 males)
      were enrolled. All patients underwent US, 34 had eligible radiographs and 32 had
      SF analysis. 25 patients (59.5%) were positive for CPP at US, 15 (44.1%) at X-ray
      and 14 (43.7%) at SF. Sensitivity and specificity values were 96% and 87% for US,
      75% and 93% for radiography and 77% and 100% for SF respectively. There were no
      statistically significant differences between the diagnostic performance across
      single tests. CONCLUSIONS: US proved to be at least as accurate as SF analysis
      for the diagnosis of CPPD. US, which is feasible and harmless, could be
      considered the first exam of choice for CPPD diagnosis.

PMID- 26886248
TI  - The Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ): Development and Psychometric
      Evaluation.
AB  - Measurements of subjective quality of life (QoL) are an important complement to
      symptom ratings in clinical research and practice. Despite there being several
      established QoL self-rating scales, we identified a need for a freely accessible,
      easy-to-use inventory, validated for use with both clinical and non-clinical
      samples, based on the overall life satisfaction conceptualization of QoL. The
      Brunnsviken Brief Quality of life scale (BBQ) was designed to meet these
      requirements. Items were selected by performing a factor analysis on a large data
      set of QoL ratings collected previously. Six life areas (Leisure time, View on
      life, Creativity, Learning, Friends and Friendship, and View of self) were
      identified as important for overall QoL and were included in the BBQ. A
      psychometric evaluation was performed using two independent samples: healthy
      undergraduate students (n = 163), and a sample seeking treatment for social
      anxiety disorder (n = 568). Results suggested a unifactorial structure, with good
      concurrent and convergent validity, high internal and test-retest reliability,
      and accurate classification ability. We conclude that the BBQ is a valid and
      reliable measure of subjective QoL for use in clinical and research settings. The
      BBQ is presently available in 31 languages and can be freely downloaded from
      www.bbqscale.com . 

PMID- 26886246
TI  - Face perception and learning in autism spectrum disorders.
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairment in social
      communication and restricted and repetitive interests. While not included in the
      diagnostic characterization, aspects of face processing and learning have shown
      disruptions at all stages of development in ASD, although the exact nature and
      extent of the impairment vary by age and level of functioning of the ASD sample
      as well as by task demands. In this review, we examine the nature of face
      attention, perception, and learning in individuals with ASD focusing on three
      broad age ranges (early development, middle childhood, and
      adolescence/adulthood). We propose that early delays in basic face processing
      contribute to the atypical trajectory of social communicative skills in
      individuals with ASD and contribute to poor social learning throughout
      development. Face learning is a life-long necessity, as the social world of
      individual only broadens with age, and thus addressing both the source of the
      impairment in ASD as well as the trajectory of ability throughout the lifespan,
      through targeted treatments, may serve to positively impact the lives of
      individuals who struggle with social information and understanding.

PMID- 26886250
TI  - Fluorescent Peptoids as Selective Live Cell Imaging Probes.
AB  - This paper describes the synthesis of fluorescent peptoids using the Ugi
      multicomponent reaction (4CR). The four synthesized structures had their
      photophysical properties evaluated and their potential as biomarkers established.
      The peptidomimetics were used at very low concentrations (10 nM) to follow their
      internalization in breast cancer cells and had their localization precisely
      determined. One of the new peptoids displayed mitochondrial affinity and stained
      this important organelle selectively. Co-staining experiments using MitoTracker
      Red confirmed the localization inside live cells. 

PMID- 26886249
TI  - Association of Breast Conservation Surgery for Cancer With 90-Day Reoperation
      Rates in New York State.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: For early-stage breast cancer, breast conservation surgery (BCS) is a
      conservative option for women and involves removing the tumor with a margin of
      surrounding breast tissue. If margins are not tumor free, patients undergo
      additional surgery to avoid local recurrence. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the use
      of BCS in New York State and to determine rates of reoperation, procedure choice,
      and the effect of surgeon experience on the odds of a reoperation 90 days after
      BCS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 89 448 women
      undergoing primary BCS for cancer were selected and examined from January 1,
      2003, to December 31, 2013, in New York State mandatory reporting databases. All
      hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in New York State were included. Data
      were analyzed from December 15, 2014, to November 1, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND
      MEASURES: Rate of reoperations within 90 days of the initial BCS procedure.
      RESULTS: During the study period, 89 448 women 20 years or older (mean [SD] age,
      61.7 [13.7] years) underwent primary BCS. In 2013, 1416 women in New York aged 20
      to 49 years underwent BCS compared with 3068 women aged 50 to 64 years and 3644
      women 65 years or older. These numbers represent a significant decrease from 1960
      women younger than 50 years in 2003 who underwent BCS (P < .001 for trend) but
      little change from the 2899 women aged 50 to 64 years and 3270 women 65 years or
      older who underwent BCS in 2003. Mean overall rate of 90-day reoperation was
      30.9% (27 010 of 87 499 patients) and decreased over time from 39.5% (6630 of 16
      805 patients) in 2003 to 2004 to 23.1% (5148 of 22 286 patients) in 2011 to 2013.
      Rates of reoperation were highest in women aged 20 to 49 years (37.7% [6990 of 18
      524]) and lowest in women 65 years or older (26.3% [9656 of 36 691]) (P < .001
      for trend). Over time, more patients underwent BCS as a subsequent procedure,
      from 4237 of 6630 patients (63.9%) in 2003 to 2004 to 4258 of 5148 (82.7%) in
      2011 to 2013 (P < .001 for trend). Among the 19 466 women who underwent BCS as a
      second procedure, 2429 (12.5%) required a third intervention (2.7% of all women
      included). Significant surgeon-level variation was found in the data; 90-day
      rates of reoperations by surgeon ranged from 0% to 100%. Low-volume surgeons (<14
      cases per year) had an unadjusted rate of 35.2% compared with 29.6% in middle
      volume (14-33 cases per year) and 27.5% in high-volume (>=34 cases per year)
      surgeons. The difference persisted in adjusted analyses (odds ratio for low
      volume surgeons, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.19-1.87]; for middle-volume surgeons, 1.20 [95%
      CI, 0.93-1.56]) compared with high-volume surgeons (used as the reference
      category). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Use of BCS has decreased overall, most
      steeply in younger women. Nearly 1 in 4 women underwent a reoperation within 90
      days of BCS across New York State from 2011 to 2013, compared with 2 in 5 from
      2003 to 2004. Rates vary significantly by surgeon, and initial BCS performed by
      high-volume surgeons was associated with a 33% lower risk for a reoperation.

PMID- 26886251
TI  - Prescription Psychostimulant Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review of
      Qualitative Studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Within the last decade, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has
      raised concern, particularly among young adults. Psychostimulants, that is to say
      amphetamine and its derivatives, are pharmaceuticals, which contribute to what
      has come to be known in Canada and the United States as the "prescription drug
      crisis." Research in the fields of public health, addiction studies, and
      neuroethics has attempted to further understand this mounting issue; however,
      there is a paucity of data concerning the underlying social logics related to the
      use of these substances. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to provide
      an overview of the current literature related to the social context of
      prescription psychostimulant use among young adults, and to discuss theoretical
      considerations as well as implications for future research. METHODS: A narrative
      review of the literature was performed. RESULTS: We found that research efforts
      have chiefly targeted college students, yet there is a lack of knowledge
      concerning other social groups likely to use these pharmaceuticals nonmedically,
      such as persons with high strain employment. Three main emerging patterns related
      to prescription psychostimulant use were identified: (1) control of external
      stressors, (2) strategic use toward the making of the self, and (3) increasing
      one's performance. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription psychostimulant use among young
      adults is anchored in contemporary normativity and cannot be separated from the
      developing performance ethic within North-American and other Western societies.
      We suggest that pharmaceuticalization and Actor-Network Theory are useful
      conceptual tools to frame future research efforts.

PMID- 26886252
TI  - Workplace mobbing: How the victim's coping behavior influences bystander
      responses.
AB  - Victims of workplace mobbing show diverse coping behavior. We investigated the
      impact of this behavior on bystander cognitions, emotions, and helping toward the
      victim, integrating coping literature with attribution theory. Adult part-time
      university students (N = 161) working at various organizations participated in a
      study with a 3(Coping: approach/avoidance/neutral) * 2(Gender Victim:
      male/female) * 2(Gender Bystander: male/female) design. Victims showing approach
      (vs. avoidance) coping were considered to be more self-reliant and less
      responsible for the continuation of the mobbing, and they elicited less anger.
      Continuation responsibility and self-reliance mediated the relationship between
      the victim's coping behavior and bystanders' helping intentions. Female (vs.
      male) participants reported more sympathy for the victim and greater willingness
      to help, and female (vs. male) victims elicited less anger. Theoretical and
      practical implications of the findings are discussed.

PMID- 26886253
TI  - Elemental composition of game meat from Austria.
AB  - Concentrations of 26 elements (B, Na, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu,
      Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, Pb, U) in wild game meat from Austria
      were analysed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. All
      investigated animals were culled during the hunting season 2012/2013, including
      10 chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), 9 hare (Lepus europaeus), 10 pheasant
      (Phasianus colchicus), 10 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 12 roe deer (Capreolus
      capreolus) and 10 wild boar (Sus scrofa). In 19 out of 61 meat samples lead
      concentrations were higher than 0.1 mg/kg, the maximum limit in meat as set by
      the European Commission (Regulation EC No 1881/2006), which is most likely caused
      by ammunition residues. Especially, pellet shot animals and chamois show a high
      risk for lead contamination. Despite ammunition residues all investigated muscle
      samples show no further health risk with respect to metal contamination. 

PMID- 26886254
TI  - NOx Emissions from Diesel Passenger Cars Worsen with Age.
AB  - Commonly, the NOx emissions rates of diesel vehicles have been assumed to remain
      stable over the vehicle's lifetime. However, there have been hardly any
      representative long-term emission measurements. Here we present real-driving
      emissions of diesel cars and light commercial vehicles sampled on-road over 15
      years in Zurich/Switzerland. Results suggest deterioration of NOx unit emissions
      for Euro 2 and Euro 3 diesel technologies, while Euro 1 and Euro 4 technologies
      seem to be stable. We can exclude a significant influence of high-emitting
      vehicles. NOx emissions from all cars and light commercial vehicles in European
      emission inventories increase by 5-10% accounting for the observed deterioration,
      depending on the country and its share of diesel cars. We suggest monitoring the
      stability of emission controls particularly for high-mileage light commercial as
      well as heavy-duty vehicles. 

PMID- 26886255
TI  - Transition State Structure of RNA Depurination by Saporin L3.
AB  - Saporin L3 from the leaves of the common soapwort is a catalyst for hydrolytic
      depurination of adenine from RNA. Saporin L3 is a type 1 ribosome inactivating
      protein (RIP) composed only of a catalytic domain. Other RIPs have been used in
      immunotoxin cancer therapy, but off-target effects have limited their
      development. In the current study, we use transition state theory to understand
      the chemical mechanism and transition state structure of saporin L3. In favorable
      cases, transition state structures guide the design of transition state analogues
      as inhibitors. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were determined for an A14C mutant
      of saporin L3. To permit KIE measurements, small stem-loop RNAs that contain an
      AGGG tetraloop structure were enzymatically synthesized with the single adenylate
      bearing specific isotopic substitutions. KIEs were measured and corrected for
      forward commitment to obtain intrinsic values. A model of the transition state
      structure for depurination of stem-loop RNA (5'-GGGAGGGCCC-3') by saporin L3 was
      determined by matching KIE values predicted via quantum chemical calculations to
      a family of intrinsic KIEs. This model indicates saporin L3 displays a late
      transition state with the N-ribosidic bond to the adenine nearly cleaved, and the
      attacking water nucleophile weakly bonded to the ribosyl anomeric carbon. The
      transition state retains partial ribocation character, a feature common to most N
      ribosyl transferases. However, the transition state geometry for saporin L3 is
      distinct from ricin A-chain, the only other RIP whose transition state is known.

PMID- 26886258
TI  - Tuberculosis Caused by Mycobacterium africanum, United States, 2004-2013.
AB  - Mycobacterium africanum is endemic to West Africa and causes tuberculosis (TB).
      We reviewed reported cases of TB in the United States during 2004-2013 that had
      lineage assigned by genotype (spoligotype and mycobacterial interspersed
      repetitive unit variable number tandem repeats). M. africanum caused 315 (0.4%)
      of 73,290 TB cases with lineage assigned by genotype. TB caused by M. africanum
      was associated more with persons from West Africa (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]
      253.8, 95% CI 59.9-1,076.1) and US-born black persons (aOR 5.7, 95% CI 1.2-25.9)
      than with US-born white persons. TB caused by M. africanum did not show
      differences in clinical characteristics when compared with TB caused by M.
      tuberculosis. Clustered cases defined as >2 cases in a county with identical 24
      locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit genotypes, were less likely for
      M. africanum (aOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.4), which suggests that M. africanum is not
      commonly transmitted in the United States.

PMID- 26886256
TI  - Embryonic Stem Cell (ES)-Specific Enhancers Specify the Expression Potential of
      ES Genes in Cancer.
AB  - Cancers often display gene expression profiles resembling those of
      undifferentiated cells. The mechanisms controlling these expression programs have
      yet to be identified. Exploring transcriptional enhancers throughout
      hematopoietic cell development and derived cancers, we uncovered a novel class of
      regulatory epigenetic mutations. These epimutations are particularly enriched in
      a group of enhancers, designated ES-specific enhancers (ESSEs) of the
      hematopoietic cell lineage. We found that hematopoietic ESSEs are prone to DNA
      methylation changes, indicative of their chromatin activity states. Strikingly,
      ESSE methylation is associated with gene transcriptional activity in cancer.
      Methylated ESSEs are hypermethylated in cancer relative to normal somatic cells
      and co-localized with silenced genes, whereas unmethylated ESSEs tend to be
      hypomethylated in cancer and associated with reactivated genes. Constitutive or
      hematopoietic stem cell-specific enhancers do not show these trends, suggesting
      selective reactivation of ESSEs in cancer. Further analyses of a hypomethylated
      ESSE downstream to the VEGFA gene revealed a novel regulatory circuit affecting
      VEGFA transcript levels across cancers and patients. We suggest that the
      discovered enhancer sites provide a framework for reactivation of ES genes in
      cancer. 

PMID- 26886259
TI  - The Mutational Landscape of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Reveals an Interacting
      Network of Co-Occurrences and Recurrent Mutations.
AB  - Preliminary Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) whole exome sequencing (WES)
      studies have identified a huge number of somatic mutations affecting more than a
      hundred different genes mainly in a non-recurrent manner, suggesting that APL is
      a heterogeneous disease with secondary relevant changes not yet defined. To
      extend our knowledge of subtle genetic alterations involved in APL that might
      cooperate with PML/RARA in the leukemogenic process, we performed a comprehensive
      analysis of somatic mutations in APL combining WES with sequencing of a custom
      panel of targeted genes by next-generation sequencing. To select a reduced subset
      of high confidence candidate driver genes, further in silico analysis were
      carried out. After prioritization and network analysis we found recurrent
      deleterious mutations in 8 individual genes (STAG2, U2AF1, SMC1A, USP9X, IKZF1,
      LYN, MYCBP2 and PTPN11) with a strong potential of being involved in APL
      pathogenesis. Our network analysis of multiple mutations provides a reliable
      approach to prioritize genes for additional analysis, improving our knowledge of
      the leukemogenesis interactome. Additionally, we have defined a functional module
      in the interactome of APL. The hypothesis is that the number, or the specific
      combinations, of mutations harbored in each patient might not be as important as
      the disturbance caused in biological key functions, triggered by several not
      necessarily recurrent mutations. 

PMID- 26886257
TI  - A Mechanism to Enhance Cellular Responsivity to Hormone Action: Kruppel-Like
      Factor 9 Promotes Thyroid Hormone Receptor-beta Autoinduction During
      Postembryonic Brain Development.
AB  - Thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR)-beta (trb) is induced by TH (autoinduced) in
      Xenopus tadpoles during metamorphosis. We previously showed that Kruppel-like
      factor 9 (Klf9) is rapidly induced by TH in the tadpole brain, associates in
      chromatin with the trb upstream region in a developmental stage and TH-dependent
      manner, and forced expression of Klf9 in the Xenopus laevis cell line XTC-2
      accelerates and enhances trb autoinduction. Here we investigated whether Klf9 can
      promote trb autoinduction in tadpole brain in vivo. Using electroporation
      mediated gene transfer, we transfected plasmids into premetamorphic tadpole brain
      to express wild-type or mutant forms of Klf9. Forced expression of Klf9 increased
      baseline trb mRNA levels in thyroid-intact but not in goitrogen-treated tadpoles,
      supporting that Klf9 enhances liganded TR action. As in XTC-2 cells, forced
      expression of Klf9 enhanced trb autoinduction in tadpole brain in vivo and also
      increased TH-dependent induction of the TR target genes klf9 and thbzip.
      Consistent with our previous mutagenesis experiments conducted in XTC-2 cells,
      the actions of Klf9 in vivo required an intact N-terminal region but not a
      functional DNA binding domain. Forced expression of TRbeta in tadpole brain by
      electroporation-mediated gene transfer increased baseline and TH-induced TR
      target gene transcription, supporting a role for trb autoinduction during
      metamorphosis. Our findings support that Klf9 acts as an accessory transcription
      factor for TR at the trb locus during tadpole metamorphosis, enhancing trb
      autoinduction and transcription of other TR target genes, which increases
      cellular responsivity to further TH action on developmental gene regulation
      programs. 

PMID- 26886260
TI  - Single Gene Prognostic Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To discover novel prognostic biomarkers in ovarian serous carcinomas.
      METHODS: A meta-analysis of all single genes probes in the TCGA and HAS ovarian
      cohorts was performed to identify possible biomarkers using Cox regression as a
      continuous variable for overall survival. Genes were ranked by p-value using
      Stouffer's method and selected for statistical significance with a false
      discovery rate (FDR) <.05 using the Benjamini-Hochberg method. RESULTS: Twelve
      genes with high mRNA expression were prognostic of poor outcome with an FDR <.05
      (AXL, APC, RAB11FIP5, C19orf2, CYBRD1, PINK1, LRRN3, AQP1, DES, XRCC4, BCHE, and
      ASAP3). Twenty genes with low mRNA expression were prognostic of poor outcome
      with an FDR <.05 (LRIG1, SLC33A1, NUCB2, POLD3, ESR2, GOLPH3, XBP1, PAXIP1,
      CYB561, POLA2, CDH1, GMNN, SLC37A4, FAM174B, AGR2, SDR39U1, MAGT1, GJB1, SDF2L1,
      and C9orf82). CONCLUSION: A meta-analysis of all single genes identified thirty
      two candidate biomarkers for their possible role in ovarian serous carcinoma.
      These genes can provide insight into the drivers or regulators of ovarian cancer
      and should be evaluated in future studies. Genes with high expression indicating
      poor outcome are possible therapeutic targets with known antagonists or
      inhibitors. Additionally, the genes could be combined into a prognostic multi
      gene signature and tested in future ovarian cohorts.

PMID- 26886261
TI  - Psychological and behavioral interventions to reduce HIV risk: evidence from a
      randomized control trial among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents in South
      Africa.
AB  - Evidence-based approaches are needed to address the high levels of sexual risk
      behavior and associated HIV infection among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents.
      This study recruited adolescents from a support program for HIV-affected families
      and randomly assigned them by cluster to receive one of the following: (1) a
      structured group-based behavioral health intervention; (2) interpersonal
      psychotherapy group sessions; (3) both interventions; or (4) no new
      interventions. With 95% retention, 1014 adolescents were interviewed three times
      over a 22-month period. Intent-to-treat analyses, applying multivariate
      difference-in-difference probit regressions, were performed separately for boys
      and girls to assess intervention impacts on sexual risk behaviors. Exposure to a
      single intervention did not impact behaviors. Exposure to both interventions was
      associated with risk-reduction behaviors, but the outcomes varied by gender: boys
      reported fewer risky sexual partnerships (beta = -.48, p = .05) and girls
      reported more consistent condom (beta = 1.37, p = .02). There was no difference
      in the likelihood of sexual debut for either gender. Providing both psychological
      and behavioral interventions resulted in long-term changes in sexual behavior
      that were not present when either intervention was provided in isolation.
      Multifaceted approaches for reducing sexual risk behaviors among vulnerable
      adolescents hold significant promise for mitigating the HIV epidemic among this
      priority population.

PMID- 26886263
TI  - Chemotherapy Modulates Intestinal Immune Gene Expression Including Surfactant
      Protein-D and Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 in Piglets.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Information about chemotherapy-induced intestinal gene expression may
      provide insight into the mechanisms underlying gut toxicity and help identify
      biomarkers and targets for intervention. METHODS: We analyzed jejunal tissue from
      piglets subjected to two different, clinically relevant chemotherapy regimens:
      (1) busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BUCY) and (2) doxorubicin (DOX). RESULTS:
      Gene expression analysis identified 1,328 differentially expressed genes in the
      BUCY piglets and 594 in the DOX piglets, compared to controls. Similar changes in
      expression were found for 137 genes across the BUCY and DOX piglets. Selected
      genes of potential biological significance with a similar change in expression
      across the treatments were controlled by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Key
      innate defense molecules, including surfactant protein-D and deleted in malignant
      brain tumors 1, were among the upregulated genes for both treatments. CONCLUSION:
      In the developing intestine, chemotherapy increases the expression of genes
      related to innate immune functions involved in surveillance, protection, and
      homeostasis of mucosal surfaces.

PMID- 26886262
TI  - The Effects of 52 Weeks of Soccer or Resistance Training on Body Composition and
      Muscle Function in +65-Year-Old Healthy Males--A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - The effects of 52 weeks of soccer or resistance training were investigated in
      untrained elderly men. The subjects aged 68.1+/-2.1 yrs were randomised into a
      soccer (SG; n = 9), a resistance (RG; n = 9) and a control group (CG; n = 8). The
      subjects in SG and RG, respectively, trained 1.7+/-0.3 and 1.8+/-0.3 times weekly
      on average during the intervention period. Muscle function and body composition
      were determined before and after 16 and 52 weeks of the intervention period. In
      SG, BMI was reduced by 1.5% and 3.0% (p<0.05) after 16 and 52 weeks,
      respectively, unchanged in RG and 2% higher (p<0.05) in CG after 52 weeks of the
      intervention period. In SG, the response to a glucose tolerance test was 16%
      lower (p<0.05) after 16 wks, but not after 52 wks, compared to before the
      intervention period, and unchanged in RG and CG. In SG, superoxide dismutase-2
      expression was 59% higher (p<0.05) after 52 wks compared to before the
      intervention period, and unchanged in RG and CG. In RG, upper body lean mass was
      3 and 2% higher (p<0.05) after 16 and 52 wks, respectively, compared to before
      the intervention period, and unchanged in SG and CG. In RG, Akt-2 expression
      increased by 28% (p<0.01) and follistatin expression decreased by 38% (p<0.05)
      during the 52-wk intervention period, and was unchanged in SG and CG. Thus, long
      term soccer training reduces BMI and improves anti-oxidative capacity, while long
      term resistance training impacts muscle protein enzyme expression and increases
      lean body mass in elderly men. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov:
      NCT01530035.

PMID- 26886264
TI  - Ethnicity and detention: are Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups
      disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act 2007?
AB  - PURPOSE: There is substantial evidence to suggest that Black and minority ethnic
      (BME) patients are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA).
      We examined ethnic differences in patients assessed for detention and explored
      the effect of ethnicity after controlling for confounders. METHODS: A prospective
      study of all MHA assessments conducted in 1 year (April 2009-March 2010) within
      Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, UK. Proportion of
      assessments and detentions within denominator population of service users and
      regional populations were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was conducted
      to determine which variables were associated with the outcome of MHA assessment
      and the role of ethnicity. RESULTS: Of the 1115 assessments, 709 led to
      detentions (63.58 %). BME ethnic groups were statistically more likely to be
      assessed and detained under the MHA as compared to Whites, both in the service
      user and the ethnic population estimates in Birmingham, UK. MHA detention was
      predicted by having a serious mental illness, the presence of risk, older age and
      living alone. Ethnicity was not associated with detention under the MHA with age,
      diagnosis, risk and level of social support accounted for. CONCLUSION: The BME
      'disproportionality' in detention rates seems to be due to higher rates of mental
      illness, greater risk and poorer levels of social support rather than ethnicity
      per se.

PMID- 26886266
TI  - Voting Intention and Choices: Are Voters Always Rational and Deliberative?
AB  - Human rationality--the ability to behave in order to maximize the achievement of
      their presumed goals (i.e., their optimal choices)--is the foundation for
      democracy. Research evidence has suggested that voters may not make decisions
      after exhaustively processing relevant information; instead, our decision-making
      capacity may be restricted by our own biases and the environment. In this paper,
      we investigate the extent to which humans in a democratic society can be rational
      when making decisions in a serious, complex situation-voting in a local political
      election. We believe examining human rationality in a political election is
      important, because a well-functioning democracy rests largely upon the rational
      choices of individual voters. Previous research has shown that explicit political
      attitudes predict voting intention and choices (i.e., actual votes) in democratic
      societies, indicating that people are able to reason comprehensively when making
      voting decisions. Other work, though, has demonstrated that the attitudes of
      which we may not be aware, such as our implicit (e.g., subconscious) preferences,
      can predict voting choices, which may question the well-functioning democracy. In
      this study, we systematically examined predictors on voting intention and choices
      in the 2014 mayoral election in Taipei, Taiwan. Results indicate that explicit
      political party preferences had the largest impact on voting intention and
      choices. Moreover, implicit political party preferences interacted with explicit
      political party preferences in accounting for voting intention, and in turn
      predicted voting choices. Ethnic identity and perceived voting intention of
      significant others were found to predict voting choices, but not voting
      intention. In sum, to the comfort of democracy, voters appeared to engage mainly
      explicit, controlled processes in making their decisions; but findings on ethnic
      identity and perceived voting intention of significant others may suggest
      otherwise.

PMID- 26886267
TI  - Making "cents" of the business side of nurse practitioner practice.
AB  - Nurse practitioners produce excellent patient outcomes and should be allowed to
      practice to the full extent of their education and training. In addition to
      clinical skills, nurse practitioners need to understand the business side of
      practice in order to ensure fair and equitable compensation. 

PMID- 26886265
TI  - Transition from Bioinert to Bioactive Material by Tailoring the Biological Cell
      Response to Carboxylated Nanocellulose.
AB  - This work presents an insight into the relationship between cell response and
      physicochemical properties of Cladophora cellulose (CC) by investigating the
      effect of CC functional group density on the response of model cell lines. CC was
      carboxylated by electrochemical TEMPO-mediated oxidation. By varying the amount
      of charge passed through the electrolysis setup, CC materials with different
      degrees of oxidation were obtained. The effect of carboxyl group density on the
      material's physicochemical properties was investigated together with the response
      of human dermal fibroblasts (hDF) and human osteoblastic cells (Saos-2) to the
      carboxylated CC films. The introduction of carboxyl groups resulted in CC films
      with decreased specific surface area and smaller total pore volume compared with
      the unmodified CC (u-CC). While u-CC films presented a porous network of randomly
      oriented fibers, a compact and aligned fiber pattern was depicted for the
      carboxylated-CC films. The decrease in surface area and total pore volume, and
      the orientation and aggregation of the fibers tended to augment parallel to the
      increase in the carboxyl group density. hDF and Saos-2 cells presented poor cell
      adhesion and spreading on u-CC, which gradually increased for the carboxylated CC
      as the degree of oxidation increased. It was found that a threshold value in
      carboxyl group density needs be reached to obtain a carboxylated-CC film with
      cytocompatibility comparable to commercial tissue culture material. Hence, this
      study demonstrates that a normally bioinert nanomaterial can be rendered
      bioactive by carefully tuning the density of charged groups on the material
      surface, a finding that not only may contribute to the fundamental understanding
      of biointerface phenomena, but also to the development of bioinert/bioactive
      materials. 

PMID- 26886268
TI  - The lead crisis in Flint, Michigan.

PMID- 26886269
TI  - Managing chronic pain in primary care.
AB  - At least 100 million adults in the United States are afflicted with chronic pain.
      Nurse practitioners and other providers are often challenged by the complexity of
      chronic pain management. This article discusses systematic strategies to
      facilitate safe, efficient, satisfactory, and quality care of patients with
      chronic pain in primary care. 

PMID- 26886270
TI  - Acute kidney injury after cardiovascular surgery.
AB  - Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication experienced by many patients
      undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Postoperative deterioration in renal function
      is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and affects long
      term survival. Developing strategies to identify and treat AKI is important to
      reduce incidence and optimize outcomes. 

PMID- 26886272
TI  - Integrating palliative care into primary care for patients with chronic, life
      limiting conditions.
AB  - As longevity increases, individuals with chronic, life-limiting conditions will
      live longer with disease burden and functional decline. Nurse practitioners can
      integrate symptom management, early decision-making, and supportive care into the
      primary care setting to improve quality of life and decrease economic and
      emotional impact at the end of life. 

PMID- 26886275
TI  - Contrasting Inducible Knockdown of the Auxiliary PTEX Component PTEX88 in P.
      falciparum and P. berghei Unmasks a Role in Parasite Virulence.
AB  - Pathogenesis of malaria infections is linked to remodeling of erythrocytes, a
      process dependent on the trafficking of hundreds of parasite-derived proteins
      into the host erythrocyte. Recent studies have demonstrated that the Plasmodium
      translocon of exported proteins (PTEX) serves as the central gateway for
      trafficking of these proteins, as inducible knockdown of the core PTEX
      constituents blocked the trafficking of all classes of cargo into the
      erythrocyte. However, the role of the auxiliary component PTEX88 in protein
      export remains less clear. Here we have used inducible knockdown technologies in
      P. falciparum and P. berghei to assess the role of PTEX88 in parasite development
      and protein export, which reveal that the in vivo growth of PTEX88-deficient
      parasites is hindered. Interestingly, we were unable to link this observation to
      a general defect in export of a variety of known parasite proteins, suggesting
      that PTEX88 functions in a different fashion to the core PTEX components.
      Strikingly, PTEX88-deficient P. berghei were incapable of causing cerebral
      malaria despite a robust pro-inflammatory response from the host. These parasites
      also exhibited a reduced ability to sequester in peripheral tissues and were
      removed more readily from the circulation by the spleen. In keeping with these
      findings, PTEX88-deficient P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes displayed reduced
      binding to the endothelial cell receptor, CD36. This suggests that PTEX88 likely
      plays a specific direct or indirect role in mediating parasite sequestration
      rather than making a universal contribution to the trafficking of all exported
      proteins. 

PMID- 26886276
TI  - Polysaccharide-based silver nanoparticles synthesized by Klebsiella oxytoca DSM
      29614 cause DNA fragmentation in E. coli cells.
AB  - Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), embedded into a specific exopolysaccharide (EPS),
      were produced by Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614 by adding AgNO3 to the cultures
      during exponential growth phase. In particular, under aerobic or anaerobic
      conditions, two types of silver nanoparticles, named AgNPs-EPS(aer) and the AgNPs
      EPS(anaer), were produced respectively. The effects on bacterial cells was
      demonstrated by using Escherichia coli K12 and Kocuria rhizophila ATCC 9341 (ex
      Micrococcus luteus) as Gram-negative and Gram-positive tester strains,
      respectively. The best antimicrobial activity was observed for AgNPs-EPS(aer), in
      terms of minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal
      concentrations. Observations by transmission electron microscopy showed that the
      cell morphology of both tester strains changed during the exposition to AgNPs
      EPS(aer). In particular, an electron-dense wrapped filament was observed in E.
      coli cytoplasm after 3 h of AgNPs-EPS(aer) exposition, apparently due to silver
      accumulation in DNA, and both E. coli and K. rhizophila cells were lysed after 18
      h of exposure to AgNPs-EPS(aer). The DNA breakage in E. coli cells was confirmed
      by the comparison of 3-D fluorescence spectra fingerprints of DNA. Finally the
      accumulation of silver on DNA of E. coli was confirmed directly by a significant
      Ag(+) release from DNA, using the scanning electrochemical microscopy and the
      voltammetric determinations.

PMID- 26886277
TI  - Mechanisms of Asthma in Obesity. Pleiotropic Aspects of Obesity Produce Distinct
      Asthma Phenotypes.
AB  - The majority of patients with severe or difficult-to-control asthma in the United
      States are obese. Epidemiological studies have clearly established that obese
      patients tend to have worse asthma control and increased hospitalizations and do
      not respond to standard controller therapy as well as lean patients with asthma.
      Less clear are the mechanistic underpinnings for the striking clinical
      differences between lean and obese patients with asthma. Because obesity is
      principally a disorder of metabolism and energy regulation, processes fundamental
      to the function of every cell and system within the body, it is not surprising
      that it affects the respiratory system; it is perhaps surprising that it has
      taken so long to appreciate how dysfunctional metabolism and energy regulation
      lead to severe airway disease. Although early investigations focused on
      identifying a common factor in obesity that could promote airway disease, an
      appreciation has emerged that the asthma of obesity is a manifestation of
      multiple anomalies related to obesity affecting all the different pathways that
      cause asthma, and likely also to de novo airway dysfunction. Consequently, all
      the phenotypes of asthma currently recognized in lean patients (which are
      profoundly modified by obesity), as well as those unique to one's obesity
      endotype, likely contribute to obese asthma in a particular individual. This
      perspective reviews what we have learned from clinical studies and animal models
      about the phenotypes of asthma in obesity, which show how specific aspects of
      obesity and altered metabolism might lead to de novo airway disease and
      profoundly modify existing airway disease.

PMID- 26886278
TI  - Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in malignant neoplasms.
AB  - According to International Agency for Research on Cancer, ethanol and
      acetaldehyde belong to group 1 of human carcinogens. The accurate mechanism by
      which alcohol consumption enhances carcinogenesis is still unexplained. Alcohol
      is oxidized primarily by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to acetaldehyde, a substance
      capable of initiating carcinogenesis by forming adducts with proteins and DNA and
      causing mutations. Next, acetaldehyde is metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase
      (ALDH) to acetate. In tissues of many cancers, we can observe significantly
      higher activity of total alcohol dehydrogenase with any change in aldehyde
      dehydrogenase activity in comparison with healthy cells. Moreover, in malignant
      diseases of digestive system, significantly increased activity of ADH isoenzymes
      class I, III and IV was found. The gynecological, brain and renal cancers exhibit
      increased activity of class I ADH. ADH and ALDH can play also a crucial
      regulatory role in initiation and progression of malignant diseases by
      participation in retinoic acid synthesis and elimination of toxic acetaldehyde.
      Besides, changes of enzymes activities in tumor cells are reflected in serum of
      cancer patients, which create the possibilities of application ADH isoenzymes as
      cancer markers.

PMID- 26886279
TI  - Non-random spatial relationships between mast cells and microvessels in human
      endometrial carcinoma.
AB  - Mast cells (MCs) accumulate in the stroma surrounding tumors, where they secrete
      angiogenic cytokines and proteases, and an increased number of MCs have been
      demonstrated in angiogenesis associated with solid and hematological tumors. The
      aim of this study is to contribute to the knowledge of distribution of MCs in
      tumors, investigating the pattern of distribution of tryptase-positive MCs around
      the blood vessels in human endometrial carcinoma samples by introducing a
      quantitative approach to characterize their spatial distribution. The results
      have shown that in human endometrial cancer bioptic specimens the spatial
      distribution of MCs shows significant deviation from randomness as compared with
      control group in which, instead, the spatial distribution of MCs is consistent
      with a random distribution. These findings confirm that MCs enhance tumor
      angiogenesis and their preferential localization along blood vessels and sites of
      new vessel formation sustaining the suggestion for an association between MCs and
      angiogenesis. However, this spatial association between vessels and MCs might
      simply reflect migrating MCs from the blood stream at vessel growing sites.

PMID- 26886280
TI  - Necessary circumferential resection margins to prevent rectal cancer relapse
      after abdomino-peranal (intersphincteric) resection.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the adequate circumferential
      resection margin (CRM) for abdomino-peranal (intersphincteric) resection (ISR)
      that would prevent the relapse of rectal cancers. METHODS: The records of 41
      cases that underwent curative ISR for rectal cancer were retrospectively
      reviewed. The relapse-free survival rates and overall survival rates were
      evaluated and correlated with the maximum depth of the inner muscularis layer
      reached during ISR (i.e., the radial margin [RM] and distal margin [DM]). Cases
      were divided into three groups based on the sizes of the RM and DM: (1) group A
      (RM >2 mm and DM >1.5 cm), (2) group B (RM >2 mm or DM >1.5 cm but not both), and
      (3) group C (RM <2 mm and DM <1.5 cm). RESULTS: The relapse-free survival rates
      of the cases in group C were lower than those in the cases of group A or group B
      (p = 0.002 and 0.037, respectively). The resection margins required to prevent
      rectal cancer relapse were >2 mm for the RM and >1.5 cm for the DM. For these
      margins, the intersphincteric space had to be entered (i.e., between the internal
      and external anal sphincters). CONCLUSION: It is critical to enter the
      intersphincteric space to ensure an adequate CRM (RM >2 mm and DM >1.5 cm) for
      preventing rectal cancer recurrence after ISR.

PMID- 26886281
TI  - Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with incomplete loss of electromyography signal
      during monitored thyroidectomy-evaluation and outcome.
AB  - PURPOSE: During monitored thyroidectomy, a partially or completely disrupted
      point of nerve conduction on the exposed recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)
      indicates true electrophysiologic nerve injury. Complete loss of signal (LOS;
      absolute threshold value <100 MUV) at the end of operation often indicates a
      postoperative vocal cord (VC) palsy. However, the evaluation for the injured RLN
      with incomplete LOS and its functional outcome has not been well described.
      METHODS: Three hundred twenty-three patients with 522 RLNs at risk who underwent
      standardized monitored thyroidectomy were enrolled. The RLN was routinely
      stimulated at the most proximal (R2p signal) and distal (R2d signal) ends of
      exposure after thyroid resection to determine if there was an injured point on
      the RLN. Pre- and postoperative VC function was routinely examined. RESULTS:
      Twenty-nine RLNs (5.6 %) were detected with an injury point. Five nerves had
      complete LOS and other 24 nerves had incomplete LOS where the R2p/R2d reduction
      (% of amplitude reduction compared with proximal to distal RLN stimulation)
      ranged from 22 to 79 %. Postoperative temporary VC palsy was noted in those five
      RLNs with complete LOS (final vagal signal, V2 < 100 MUV) and four RLNs with
      incomplete LOS (R2p/R2d reduction 62-79 %; V2 181-490 MUV). In the remaining 20
      nerves with R2p/R2d reduction <=53 % (V2 373-1623 MUV), all showed normal VC
      mobility. Overall, false negative results were found in two RLNs (0.4 %)
      featuring unchanged V2 and R2p/R2d but developed VC palsy. CONCLUSIONS: Testing
      and comparing the R2p/R2d signal is a simple and useful procedure to evaluate RLN
      injury after its dissection and predict functional outcome. When the relative
      threshold value R2p/R2d reduction reaches over 60 %, surgeon should consider the
      possibility of postoperative VC palsy.

PMID- 26886282
TI  - Identification of proteins derived from Listeria monocytogenes inducing human
      dendritic cell maturation.
AB  - Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that can promote
      antitumor immunity when pulsed with tumor antigens and then matured by
      stimulatory agents. Despite apparent progress in DC-based cancer immunotherapy,
      some discrepancies were reported in generating potent DCs. Listeria monocytogenes
      as an intracellular microorganism is able to effectively activate DCs through
      engaging pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). This study aimed to find the most
      potent components derived from L. monocytogenes inducing DC maturation. The
      preliminary results demonstrated that the ability of protein components is higher
      than DNA components to promote DC maturation and activation. Protein lysate
      fractionation demonstrated that fraction 2 HIC (obtained by hydrophobic
      interaction chromatography) was able to efficiently mature DCs. F2HIC-matured DCs
      are able to induce allogeneic CD8(+) T cells proliferation better than LPS
      matured DCs and induce IFN-gamma producing CD8(+) T cells. Mass spectrometry
      results showed that F2HIC contains 109 proteins. Based on the bioinformatics
      analysis for these 109 proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) could be considered
      as a PRR ligand for stimulating DC maturation. 

PMID- 26886283
TI  - Fascin 1 promoted the growth and migration of non-small cell lung cancer cells by
      activating YAP/TEAD signaling.
AB  - Fascin 1 (Fascin actin-bundling protein 1) is an actin-binding protein. Although
      several studies have reported the dysregulation of Fascin 1 in non-small cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC), its functions in the progression of NSCLC and the related
      molecular mechanism were not fully understood. In this study, the expression of
      Fascin 1 in NSCLC tissues was determined using quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the
      roles of Fascin 1 in the progression of NSCLC were investigated. It was found
      that both the messenger RNA (mRNA) level and the protein level of Fascin 1 were
      upregulated in NSCLC tissues. Forced expression of Fascin 1 promoted the growth
      and migration of NSCLC cells, while knocking down the expression of Fascin 1
      inhibited the growth, migration, and tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells. Mechanism
      studies showed that Fascin 1 increased the transcriptional activity of the
      YAP/TEAD (Yes-associated protein/TEA domain transcriptional factor) complex, and
      knocking down the expression of Fascin 1 attenuated the expression of target
      genes downstream the YAP/TEAD complex. In addition, MST1 interacted with Fascin
      1. Taken together, Fascin 1 plays an oncogenic role in NSCLC by activating the
      transcriptional activity of the YAP/TEAD complex. 

PMID- 26886284
TI  - Significance and evaluation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase by immunohistochemistry
      in non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - We used immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
      (RT-PCR) to evaluate anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein expression and gene
      rearrangements, respectively, in 283 cases of wild-type epidermal growth factor
      receptor (EGFR) non-small cell lung cancer biopsy specimens. Immunohistochemistry
      was positive for ALK in 52 cases (18.4 %), and there was no significant
      difference in staining between various monoclonal antibodies (Roche ALK test kit,
      D5F3, p-ALK, and EML4-ALK). On RT-PCR, 36 cases (12.7 %) were positive for ALK.
      Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were both positive in 35 cases and both negative
      in 230 cases, and both have a high consistency (265/283, 93.6 %). Including 17
      cases, immunohistochemistry was positive but RT-PCR was negative, and in one
      case, immunohistochemistry was negative but RT-PCR was positive. On fluorescence
      in situ hybridization (FISH) testing of these 18 cases, only three cases were
      positive (one RT-PCR was positive; two immunohistochemistry were positive). There
      is a high prevalence of ALK positivity in wild-type EGFR non-small cell lung
      cancer. Immunohistochemistry for the detection of ALK gene rearrangements was
      highly consistent with RT-PCR, and thus, it is a good screening tool but produces
      false positive results that necessitate further screening by RT-PCR or FISH. 

PMID- 26886285
TI  - TNFAIP8 overexpression: a potential predictor of lymphatic metastatic recurrence
      in pN0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.
AB  - Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a poor prognosis due to high
      lymphatic metastatic recurrence rates after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. We sought
      to investigate the correlation between tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced
      protein 8 (TNFAIP8) expression and postoperative lymphatic recurrence in patients
      with pN0 ESCC. One hundred twenty-two patients with pN0 ESCC undergoing Ivor
      Lewis esophagectomy were enrolled in this study. TNFAIP8 overexpression was found
      in 73 (59.8 %) tumor specimens. The 3-year lymphatic metastatic recurrence rate
      among TNFAIP8-overexpressing patients was significantly higher than in TNFAIP8
      negative patients (p = 0.003). Multivariate Cox regression identified TNFAIP8
      overexpression as an independent risk factor for lymphatic recurrence (p =
      0.048). TNFAIP8 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were significantly higher in patients
      with lymphatic recurrence than in patients without tumor recurrence (p = 0.019).
      Stable silencing of TNFAIP8 expression in ESCC-derived cells (Eca109) reduced
      proliferation, motility, and invasion and induced apoptosis. In addition,
      transient silencing of TNFAIP8 expression decreased cell motility and invasion
      and increased apoptosis in a second ESCC-derived cell line (KYSE150). Taken
      together, these findings suggest that TNFAIP8 overexpression is a potential
      biomarker to identify pN0 ESCC patients at higher risk of lymphatic recurrence
      who may benefit from adjuvant therapy. 

PMID- 26886286
TI  - Association between p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and the development of cervical
      lesion in women infected with high risk HPV.
AB  - Infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and single nucleotide
      polymorphism (SNP) in genes involved in cell cycle control, as p21 and p27, are
      important factors in the development of different types of human cancers. This
      study aims at investigating whether both the p21 Ser31Arg and p27 V109G
      polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to the development of cervical
      lesions in women HR-HPV positive. We analyzed 132 women HPV positive and with
      cervical lesions or CC and 154 healthy control (HPV negative and without cervical
      lesions). p21 Ser31Arg and p27 V109G polymorphisms were analyzed using the
      polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)
      method and sequencing. The p21 31Arg allele was associated with susceptibility
      for the development of cervical lesions (P* = 0.0009), while p27 V109G
      polymorphism showed no significant differences for this association (P* = 0.89).
      However, the combined effect of the polymorphisms showed that the presence of the
      CC genotype (SNP p21 Ser31Arg) conferred protection for the development of
      cervical lesions (OR = 0.39). p21 Ser31Arg and p27 V109G polymorphisms were not
      associated with the grade of cervical lesions (CINI, CINII, and CINIII) or CC (P*
      > 0.05). The HR-HPV more frequent in this study were of 16 (57.6 %) and 18 (37.1
      %) types; however, no association was observed when both polymorphisms and risk
      factors analyzed were compared (P* > 0.05). Our findings suggest a possible
      association between p21 Ser31tabArg polymorphism and susceptibility to the
      development of cervical lesions in women from Pernambuco. Brazil. 

PMID- 26886288
TI  - Aqueous Phase Synthesis of ZIF-8 Membrane with Controllable Location on an
      Asymmetrically Porous Polymer Substrate.
AB  - In this study, we have demonstrated a simple, scalable, and environmentally
      friendly route for controllable fabrication of continuous, well-intergrown ZIF-8
      on a flexible polymer substrate via contra-diffusion method in conjunction with
      chemical vapor modification of the polymer surface. The combined chemical vapor
      modification and contra-diffusion method resulted in controlled formation of a
      thin, defect-free, and robust ZIF-8 layer on one side of the support in aqueous
      solution at room temperature. The ZIF-8 membrane exhibited propylene permeance of
      1.50 * 10(-8) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa(-1) and excellent selective permeation
      properties; after post heat-treatment, the membrane showed ideal selectivities of
      C3H6/C3H8 and H2/C3H8 as high as 27.8 and 2259, respectively. The new synthesis
      approach holds promise for further development of the fabrication of high-quality
      polymer-supported ZIF membranes for practical separation applications. 

PMID- 26886287
TI  - Combination of 5-fluorouracil and 2-morphilino-8-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one may
      inhibit liver cancer stem cell activity.
AB  - This work aims to evaluate the impact of 2-morpholino-8-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one
      (LY294002) combined 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the activity of CD90+ liver cancer
      cells derived from the human liver cancer cell line MHCC97H. MHCC97H sphere
      forming cells (MSFCs) were amplified in serum-free medium and CD90+ cells were
      isolated from bulk MSFCs using flow cytometry. The phenotype of these CD90+ cells
      which show liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) behavior was validated in vitro and in
      a xenograft model in nude mice. MSFCs, CD90+ liver cancer cells (CD90+ LCCs), and
      parental MHCC97H cells were treated with no drug, LY294002 alone, 5-FU alone, or
      both drugs together and then compared in terms of stem cell-related gene
      expression, proliferation, and invasion. Stem cell phenotype increased with
      increasing proportion of CD90+ cells, in ascending order: parental MHCC97H cells,
      MSFCs, and CD90+ liver cancer cells. LY294002 reduced the expression of CD90,
      Nanog, SALL4, and SHP2 in a concentration-dependent manner in CD90+ LCCs and
      MSFCs, but not in parental cells. LY294002 blocked AKT phosphorylation via the
      PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibited CD90+ LCCs proliferation and
      tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. CD90+ liver cancer cells can express liver
      cancer stem cell phenotype. LY294002 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of
      MHCC97H-derived CD90+ LCCs and sensitized CD90+ LCCs-derived tumors to 5-FU in
      the current study which may provide insight into the association between the
      LY294002 combined 5-FU and liver cancer stem cell (LCSCs). 

PMID- 26886289
TI  - Explaining the gender difference in self-rated health among university students
      in Egypt.
AB  - In this study the authors assessed gender differences in the relationships
      between self-rated health (SRH) and demographic factors, physical health, health
      service use, infections, a variety of symptoms and health conditions, and wider
      well-being features. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 3,271
      students at Assiut University, Egypt during 2009-2010. Multiple logistic
      regression was used (with excellent/very good SRH as dependent variable) to
      assess the variables that might explain the gender difference in SRH. Females had
      more symptoms, infectious diseases/illness periods, substantially lower quality
      of life, and more burdens, although their health awareness and satisfaction with
      social support were higher than males. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) suggested
      that females were less likely than males to rate their SRH as excellent/very good
      [OR 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.68]. Adjusting only for relevant
      physical health and health service use variables, the OR for excellent/very good
      SRH for females increased, but nevertheless still remained significantly lower
      than that of males. With further adjustment for physical health, health service
      use, and also for wider well-being variables, the gender difference in SRH became
      no longer statistically significant. Poorer physical health indicators and a
      lower level of wider well-being features explained the lower SRH among female
      Egyptian university students. Health promotion and prevention programs should
      consider these factors in attempting to address gender health disparities.

PMID- 26886292
TI  - Probing the Noninnocent pi-Bonding Influence of N-Carboxyamidoquinolate Ligands
      on the Light Harvesting and Redox Properties of Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes.
AB  - Electronic and photophysical characterization is presented for a series of bis
      heteroleptic [Ru(bpy)2(R-CAQN)](+) complexes where CAQN is a bidentate N
      (carboxyaryl)amidoquinolate ligand and the aryl substituent R = p-tolyl, p
      fluorobenzene, p-trifluoromethylbenzene, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene, or 4
      methoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene. Characterized by a strong noninnocent Ru(dpi)
      CAQN(pi) bonding interaction, density functional theory (DFT) analysis is used to
      estimate the contribution of both atomic Ru(dpi) and ligand CAQN(pi) manifolds to
      the frontier molecular orbitals of these complexes. UV-vis absorption and
      emission studies are presented where the noninnocent Ru(dpi)-CAQN(pi) bonding
      scheme plays a major role in defining complex electronic and photophysical
      properties. Oxidation potentials are tuned over a range of 0.92 V with respect to
      the [Ru(bpy)3](2+) reference system, hereafter referred to as 1(2+), by varying
      the degree of R-CAQN fluorination while maintaining consistently strong and
      panchromatic visible absorption properties. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)
      spectroscopy is employed to experimentally map delocalization of the unpaired
      electron/electron-hole within the delocalized Ru(dpi)-CAQN(pi) singly occupied
      valence molecular orbital of the one-electron oxidized complexes. EPR data is
      complemented experimentally by UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry, and
      computationally by molecular orbital Mulliken contributions and spin-density
      analysis. It is ultimately demonstrated that the CAQN ligand framework provides a
      simple yet broad synthetic platform in the design of redox-active transition
      metal chromophores with a range of electronic and spectroscopic characteristics
      hinting at the diversity and potential of these complexes toward photochemical
      and catalytic applications. 

PMID- 26886290
TI  - Synthesis of 9-Substituted Triptycene Building Blocks for Solid-Phase
      Diversification and Nucleic Acid Junction Targeting.
AB  - Triptycenes have been shown to bind nucleic acid three-way junctions, but rapid
      and efficient methods to diversify the triptycene core are lacking. An efficient
      synthesis of a 9-substituted triptycene scaffold is reported that can be used as
      a building block for solid-phase peptide synthesis and rapid diversification. The
      triptycene building block was diversified to produce a new class of tripeptide
      triptycenes, and their binding abilities toward d(CAG).(CTG) repeat junctions
      were investigated. 

PMID- 26886293
TI  - Endoscopic Strip Craniectomy for Craniosynostosis: Do We Really Understand the
      Indications, Outcomes, and Risks?
AB  - Endoscopic strip craniectomy with postoperative helmet therapy has been
      introduced as a means to correct various forms of craniosynostosis. Although some
      authors have deemed the procedure safe and effective, many questions remain
      regarding this promising yet developing approach. The authors discuss 4 cases
      where patients were inadequately treated with endoscopic strip craniectomy
      resulting in a recommendation of complete secondary open cranial vault
      reconstruction. In addition, the authors present the findings from an informal
      survey of craniofacial colleagues to highlight an important discrepancy between
      published and anecdotal reports of complications. Finally, the authors highlight
      the need for further investigation into the proper indications and clinical
      outcomes of endoscopic strip craniectomy to better understand the role of this
      technique in the treatment of craniosynostosis. 

PMID- 26886294
TI  - The Potential Significance of Concha Bullosa During Nasotracheal Intubation.
AB  - The authors experienced a case of severe epistaxis caused by accidental partial
      middle turbinectomy during nasotracheal intubation, which the patient had
      bilateral concha bullosa narrowing the nasal airway. Although anesthesiologist
      checked nasal airway through subjective symptoms and the size of both nostrils,
      they tend to overlook common anatomic variation, concha bullosa, and can injure
      turbinate structures. Therefore, preoperative computed tomography images should
      be carefully evaluated for the possibility of concha bullosa, which narrows nasal
      airway and induces the traumatic injury or epistaxis during nasotracheal
      intubation. 

PMID- 26886295
TI  - Computed Tomography Imaging Measurement for Safer Cavernous Sinus Biopsy.
AB  - The aim of this study was to measure the relative location between foramen ovale
      and internal carotid artery. The results can guide surgeons to avoid damaging
      internal carotid artery in cavernous sinus biopsy. One hundred twenty people (73
      men and 47 women) were involved in this study anonymously. Five parameters of
      both sides were measured on 2 planes. This study provides data for safer
      cavernous sinus biopsy. 

PMID- 26886296
TI  - Unifying Evaluation of the Technical Performances of Iron-Tetra-amido Macrocyclic
      Ligand Oxidation Catalysts.
AB  - The main features of iron-tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand complex (a sub-branch of
      TAML) catalysis of peroxide oxidations are rationalized by a two-step mechanism:
      Fe(III) + H2O2 -> Active catalyst (Ac) (kI), and Ac + Substrate (S) -> Fe(III) +
      Product (kII). TAML activators also undergo inactivation under catalytic
      conditions: Ac -> Inactive catalyst (ki). The recently developed relationship,
      ln(S0/Sinfinity) = (kII/ki)[Fe(III)]tot, where S0 and Sinfinity are [S] at time t
      = 0 and infinity, respectively, gives access to ki under any conditions. Analysis
      of the rate constants kI, kII, and ki at the environmentally significant pH of 7
      for a broad series of TAML activators has revealed a 6 orders of magnitude
      reactivity differential in both kII and ki and 3 orders differential in kI.
      Linear free energy relationships linking kII with ki and kI reveal that the
      reactivity toward substrates is related to the instability of the active TAML
      intermediates and suggest that the reactivity in all three processes derives from
      a common electronic origin. The reactivities of TAML activators and the
      horseradish peroxidase enzyme are critically compared. 

PMID- 26886297
TI  - Photochemical Microcontact Printing by Tetrazole Chemistry.
AB  - We developed a simple method to pattern self-assembled monolayers of tetrazole
      triethoxylsilane with a variety of different molecules by photochemical
      microcontact printing. Under irradiation, tetrazoles form highly reactive nitrile
      imines, which react with alkenes, alkynes, and thiols. The covalent linkage to
      the surface could be unambiguously demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy,
      because the reaction product is fluorescent in contrast to tetrazole. The
      modified surfaces were further analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
      (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), atomic force
      microscopy (AFM), and contact angle goniometry. Protein-repellent micropatterns,
      a biotin-streptavidin array, and structured polymer brushes could be fabricated
      with this straightforward method for surface functionalization. 

PMID- 26886298
TI  - Strain Differences Determine the Suitability of Animal Models for Noninvasive In
      Vivo Beta Cell Mass Determination with Radiolabeled Exendin.
AB  - PURPOSE: Noninvasive beta cell mass (BCM) quantification is a crucial tool to
      understand diabetes development and progression. [(111)In]exendin is a promising
      agent for in vivo beta cell imaging, but tracer testing has been hampered by the
      lack of well-defined rodent models. PROCEDURES: Biodistribution and pancreatic
      uptake of [(111)In]exendin were compared in rats and mice. In selected models,
      the amount of [(111)In]exendin accumulation in the pancreas and other organs was
      determined using a model of alloxan-induced beta cell loss. GLP-1R expression
      levels were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Namely Brown
      Norway rats showed beta-cell-specific tracer accumulation and favorable pancreas
      to-background ratios for noninvasive BCM determination. Mice displayed receptor
      mediated [(111)In]exendin uptake in endocrine and exocrine pancreas, in spite of
      very low GLP-1R expression in exocrine tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Rats display better
      characteristics for in vivo BCM determination than mice and are suggested as a
      more adequate model for humans.

PMID- 26886299
TI  - Carcass Type Affects Local Scavenger Guilds More than Habitat Connectivity.
AB  - Scavengers and decomposers provide an important ecosystem service by removing
      carrion from the environment. Scavenging and decomposition are known to be
      temperature-dependent, but less is known about other factors that might affect
      carrion removal. We conducted an experiment in which we manipulated combinations
      of patch connectivity and carcass type, and measured responses by local scavenger
      guilds along with aspects of carcass depletion. We conducted twelve, 1-month
      trials in which five raccoon (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossum (Didelphis
      virginiana), and domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus spp.) carcasses (180 trials total)
      were monitored using remote cameras in 21 forest patches in north-central
      Indiana, USA. Of 143 trials with complete data, we identified fifteen species of
      vertebrate scavengers divided evenly among mammalian (N = 8) and avian species (N
      = 7). Fourteen carcasses (9.8%) were completely consumed by invertebrates,
      vertebrates exhibited scavenging behavior at 125 carcasses (87.4%), and four
      carcasses (2.8%) remained unexploited. Among vertebrates, mammals scavenged 106
      carcasses, birds scavenged 88 carcasses, and mammals and birds scavenged 69
      carcasses. Contrary to our expectations, carcass type affected the assemblage of
      local scavenger guilds more than patch connectivity. However, neither carcass
      type nor connectivity explained variation in temporal measures of carcass
      removal. Interestingly, increasing richness of local vertebrate scavenger guilds
      contributed moderately to rates of carrion removal (~6% per species increase in
      richness). We conclude that scavenger-specific differences in carrion utilization
      exist among carcass types and that reliable delivery of carrion removal as an
      ecosystem service may depend on robust vertebrate and invertebrate communities
      acting synergistically. 

PMID- 26886300
TI  - Formulation of Granules for Site-Specific Delivery of an Antimicrobial Essential
      Oil to the Animal Intestinal Tract.
AB  - Owing to proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the use of antibiotics
      for livestock growth promotion is banned in many countries and alternatives to in
      feed antibiotics are needed. Cinnamon essential oil exhibits strong in vitro
      antibacterial activity; however, direct addition of essential oils to animal feed
      has limited practicality due to their high volatility, odor, fast decomposition,
      and poor availability in the lower intestines. To solve these problems, we
      formulated trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN) with an adsorbent powder and fatty acid via
      a melt-solidification technique. Core granules of an optimized composition
      contained up to 48% wt/wt CIN. The granules were then coated with an enteric
      polymer to impart site-specific release of CIN. CIN was mostly retained in
      simulated gastric fluid and released rapidly (>80% under 2 h) in simulated
      intestinal fluids. Rapid CIN autoxidation into cinnamic acid was inhibited by
      adding 1% vol/vol eugenol, which maintained CIN stability for at least 1 y. The
      granule formulation increased the antimicrobial activity of CIN against
      Escherichia coli K88 slightly with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 450
      MUg/mL for CIN in lauric acid-based granules compared with 550-600 MUg/mL for
      palmitic acid-based granules and free CIN, respectively. These results encourage
      the potential use of encapsulated CIN for control of animal enteric pathogens by
      oral in-feed administration.

PMID- 26886301
TI  - Heat-Shock Protein 90-Targeted Nano Anticancer Therapy.
AB  - Suboptimal chemotherapy of anticancer drugs may be attributed to a variety of
      cellular mechanisms, which synergize to dodge the drug responses. Nearly 2
      decades of heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-targeted drug discovery has shown that
      the mono-therapy with Hsp90 inhibitors seems to be relatively ineffective
      compared with combination treatment due to several cellular dodging mechanisms.
      In this article, we have tried to analyze and review the Hsp90 and mammalian
      target of rapamycin (m-TOR)-mediated drug resistance mechanisms. By using this
      information we have discussed about the rationale behind use of drug combinations
      that includes both or any one of these inhibitors for cancer therapy. Currently,
      biodegradable nano vector (NV)-loaded novel drug delivery systems have shown to
      resolve the problems of poor bioavailability. NVs of drugs such as paclitaxel,
      doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and others have been successfully introduced for
      medicinal use. Hence, looking at the success of NVs, in this article we have also
      discussed the progress made in the delivery of biodegradable NV-loaded Hsp90 and
      m-TOR-targeted inhibitors in multiple drug combinations. We have also discussed
      the possible ways by which the market success of biodegradable NVs can positively
      impact the clinical trials of anti-Hsp90 and m-TOR combination strategy. 

PMID- 26886302
TI  - Benzoic Acid and Chlorobenzoic Acids: Thermodynamic Study of the Pure Compounds
      and Binary Mixtures With Water.
AB  - Benzoic acid is a model compound for drug substances in pharmaceutical research.
      Process design requires information about thermodynamic phase behavior of benzoic
      acid and its mixtures with water and organic solvents. This work addresses phase
      equilibria that determine stability and solubility. In this work, Perturbed-Chain
      Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) was used to model the phase
      behavior of aqueous and organic solutions containing benzoic acid and
      chlorobenzoic acids. Absolute vapor pressures of benzoic acid and 2-, 3-, and 4
      chlorobenzoic acid from literature and from our own measurements were used to
      determine pure-component PC-SAFT parameters. Two binary interaction parameters
      between water and/or benzoic acid were used to model vapor-liquid and liquid
      liquid equilibria of water and/or benzoic acid between 280 and 413 K. The PC-SAFT
      parameters and 1 binary interaction parameter were used to model aqueous
      solubility of the chlorobenzoic acids. Additionally, solubility of benzoic acid
      in organic solvents was predicted without using binary parameters. All results
      showed that pure-component parameters for benzoic acid and for the chlorobenzoic
      acids allowed for satisfying modeling phase equilibria. The modeling approach
      established in this work is a further step to screen solubility and to predict
      the whole phase region of mixtures containing pharmaceuticals.

PMID- 26886304
TI  - An Integrated Solution-Based Rapid Sample Preparation Procedure for the Analysis
      of N-Glycans From Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies.
AB  - Consistent glycosylation in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies is a major concern
      in the biopharmaceutical industry as it impacts the drug's safety and efficacy
      and manufacturing processes. Large numbers of samples are created for the
      analysis of glycans during various stages of recombinant proteins drug
      development. Profiling and quantifying protein N-glycosylation is important but
      extremely challenging due to its microheterogeneity and more importantly the
      limitations of existing time-consuming sample preparation methods. Thus, a
      quantitative method with fast sample preparation is crucial for understanding,
      controlling, and modifying the glycoform variance in therapeutic monoclonal
      antibody development. Presented here is a rapid and highly quantitative method
      for the analysis of N-glycans from monoclonal antibodies. The method comprises a
      simple and fast solution-based sample preparation method that uses nontoxic
      reducing reagents for direct labeling of N-glycans. The complete work flow for
      the preparation of fluorescently labeled N-glycans takes a total of 3 h with less
      than 30 min needed for the release of N-glycans from monoclonal antibody samples.

PMID- 26886303
TI  - Holographic Characterization of Protein Aggregates.
AB  - We demonstrate how holographic video microscopy can be used to detect, count, and
      characterize individual micrometer-scale protein aggregates as they flow down a
      microfluidic channel in their native buffer. Holographic characterization
      directly measures the radius and refractive index of subvisible protein
      aggregates and offers insights into their morphologies. The measurement proceeds
      fast enough to build up population averages for time-resolved studies and lends
      itself to tracking trends in protein aggregation arising from changing
      environmental factors. Information on individual particle's refractive indexes
      can be used to differentiate protein aggregates from such contaminants as
      silicone droplets. These capabilities are demonstrated through measurements on
      samples of bovine pancreas insulin aggregated through centrifugation and of
      bovine serum albumin aggregated by complexation with a polyelectrolyte.
      Differentiation is demonstrated with samples that have been spiked with
      separately characterized silicone spheres. Holographic characterization
      measurements are compared with results obtained with microflow imaging and
      dynamic light scattering. 

PMID- 26886305
TI  - Pharmaceutical Applications of Relaxation Filter-Selective Signal Excitation
      Methods for 19F Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Case Study With
      Atorvastatin in Dosage Formulation.
AB  - We recently developed several new relaxation filter-selective signal excitation
      (RFS) methods for (13)C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that allow
      (13)C signal extraction of the target components from pharmaceuticals. These
      methods were successful in not only qualification but also quantitation over the
      wide range of 5% to 100%. Here, we aimed to improve the sensitivity of these
      methods and initially applied them to (19)F solid-state NMR, on the basis that
      the fluorine atom is one of the most sensitive NMR-active nuclei. For testing, we
      selected atorvastatin calcium (ATC), an antilipid BCS class II drug that inhibits
      3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and is marketed in crystalline
      and amorphous forms. Tablets were obtained from 2 generic drug suppliers, and the
      ATC content occurred mainly as an amorphous form. Using the RFS method with (19)F
      solid-state NMR, we succeeded in qualifying trace amounts (less than 0.5% w/w
      level) of crystalline phase (Form I) of ATC in the tablets. RFS methods with
      (19)F solid-state NMR are practical and time efficient and can contribute not
      only to the study of pharmaceutical drugs, including those with small amounts of
      a highly potent active ingredient within a formulated product, but also to the
      study of fluoropolymers in material sciences.

PMID- 26886306
TI  - Development of Suberin Fatty Acids and Chloramphenicol-Loaded Antimicrobial
      Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats Intended for Wound Therapy.
AB  - Suberin fatty acids (SFAs) isolated from outer birch bark were investigated as an
      antimicrobial agent and biomaterial in nanofibrous mats intended for wound
      treatment. Electrospinning (ES) was used in preparing the composite nonwoven
      nanomats containing chloramphenicol (CAM; as a primary antimicrobial drug), SFAs,
      and polyvinylpyrrolidone (as a carrier polymer for ES). The X-ray powder
      diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy,
      atomic force microscopy, and texture analysis were used for the physicochemical
      and mechanical characterization of the nanomats. ES produced nanofibrous mats
      with uniform structure and with an average fiber diameter ranging from 370 to 425
      nm. Microcrystalline SFAs and crystalline CAM were found to undergo a solid-state
      transformation during ES processing. The ES process caused also the loss of CAM
      in the final nanofibers. In the texture analysis, the SFAs containing nanofibers
      exhibited significantly higher maximum detachment force to an isolated pig skin
      (p < 0.05) than that obtained with the reference nanofibers. CAM exists in an
      amorphous form in the nanofibers which needs to be taken into account in
      controlling the physical storage stability. In conclusion, homogeneous composite
      nanofibrous mats for wound healing can be electrospun from the ternary mixture(s)
      of CAM, SFAs, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. 

PMID- 26886307
TI  - Extraction Method Plays Critical Role in Antibacterial Activity of Propolis
      Loaded Hydrogels.
AB  - Extracted propolis has been used for a long time as a remedy. However, if the
      release rate of propolis is not controlled, the efficacy is reduced. To overcome
      this issue, extracted propolis was added to a cryogel system. Propolis collected
      from southern Brazil was extracted using different methods and loaded at
      different concentrations into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylic acid
      hydrogels as carrier systems. The material properties were investigated with a
      focus on the propolis release profiles and the cryogel antibacterial properties
      against 4 different bacteria, namely: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli,
      Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas putida. Swelling studies indicated that
      the swelling of the hydrogel was inversely related to propolis content. In
      addition, propolis release studies indicated a decreased release rate with
      increased propolis loading. PVA and PVA/polyacrylic acid-loaded propolis were
      effective against all 4 bacteria studied. These results indicate that the
      efficacy of propolis can be enhanced by incorporation into hydrogel carrier
      systems and that hydrogels with higher concentrations of propolis can be
      considered for use as bactericide dressing.

PMID- 26886308
TI  - Preparation and Physical Characterization of a Diclofenac-Ranitidine Co
      precipitate for Improving the Dissolution of Diclofenac.
AB  - Mixing aqueous solutions of sodium diclofenac (DIC-Na) and ranitidine
      hydrochloride (RAN.HCl) afforded an off-white solid (DIC-RAN) that was
      investigated from the microscopic, thermal, diffractometric, spectroscopic, and
      functional (chemometrics-assisted dissolution) points of view. The solid has a
      2:1 (DIC:RAN) molar ratio according to (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy. It is thermally stable, displaying a broad endothermic signal
      centered at 105 degrees C in the thermogram, and its characteristic reflections
      in the powder X-ray diffractogram remained unchanged after a 3-month aging
      period. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs uncovered its morphology,
      whereas the spectral data suggested an interaction between the carboxylic acid of
      DIC and the alkyldimethylamino moiety of RAN. The dissolution of DIC-RAN was
      monitored at different pH values by an ultraviolet/chemometrics procedure, being
      complete within 5 min at pH 6.8. This compares favorably with the dissolution of
      a DIC-Na sample of the same particle size.

PMID- 26886309
TI  - Bad Science: Cause and Consequence.
AB  - Scientific progress is dependent on accumulation of quality data with appropriate
      data analysis. Unfortunately, there are a troubling number of accounts describing
      an inability to replicate published work. Some explanations are lack of access to
      proprietary reagents and equipment, or lack of expertise and know how. However,
      it is clear that there are many publications that are fatally flawed, and it is
      difficult to ascertain which ones they are, but there are clues. Many articles
      are improperly controlled, resulting in false-positive or -negative results.
      Reagents and procedures are used without verifying their specificity. There is
      also confirmation bias, a tendency to seek and find conclusions that we like,
      which is exacerbated by faithful acceptance by readers of the publication record
      without assessment of merit. These and other issues have slowed progress,
      resulted in waste of scarce funds, and even put patients at risk when clinical
      decisions are made according to flawed data. Solving these and related problems
      requires recognition of the problem and better training. We also need to take
      personal responsibility for not only our own work, but also for the accuracy of
      information in the scientific domain. 

PMID- 26886310
TI  - The Effect of Genetic Polymorphism on the Inhibition of Azole Antifungal Agents
      Against CYP2C9-Mediated Metabolism.
AB  - We investigated the effect of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 polymorphism on the
      inhibition of methylhydroxylation activity of tolbutamide, a typical CYP2C9
      substrate, by triazole antifungal agents, fluconazole and voriconazole. Although
      the Michaelis constants (Km), maximal velocities (Vmax), and Vmax/Km values for
      CYP2C9.1 (wild type) and CYP2C9.2 (Arg144Cys) were similar and CYP2C9.3
      (Ile359Leu) had a higher Km and a lower Vmax than CYP2C9.1 and CYP2C9.2, the
      inhibition constants of fluconazole and voriconazole against CYP2C9.2 were lower
      than that against CYP2C9.1 and CYP2C9.3. These results suggest that more careful
      administration of azole antifungals to patients with the CYP2C9*2 allele might be
      required because of the strong inhibitory effects.

PMID- 26886311
TI  - Improved Comparative Signature Diagrams to Evaluate Similarity of Storage
      Stability Profiles of Different IgG1 mAbs.
AB  - For therapeutic protein analytical studies related to evaluating lot-to-lot
      variability, different processes and/or formulations, or biosimilars, there is
      growing interest in applying novel data visualization tools for fingerprint
      analysis to identify statistically significant differences between 2 samples.
      Comparative Signature Diagrams (CSDs) were previously developed to display such
      differences as colored contour plots using a variety of biophysical data sets. In
      this study, several improvements are proposed to enhance readability and
      quantitative determinations of CSDs using protein stability data from more
      commonly used analytical methods such as size exclusion chromatography and
      capillary isoelectric focusing. To demonstrate the effectiveness of improved CSDs
      for data visualization, an accelerated and real-time stability study was set up
      for an IgG1 mAb (mAb A) and its corresponding triple mutant (mAb E). The
      stability profiles of both mAbs were compared for differences in aggregation
      (size exclusion chromatography) and charge heterogeneity (capillary isoelectric
      focusing) profiles over time. Both traditional data analysis and the improved
      CSDs conclude that the triple mutant mAb E is more susceptible to physicochemical
      degradation than mAb A under accelerated conditions. The current abilities and
      limitations of CSDs to provide fingerprint analysis of protein stability profiles
      to facilitate the determination of similarity versus nonsimilarity between
      samples is discussed. 

PMID- 26886312
TI  - Rediscovery and Revival of Analytical Refractometry for Protein Determination:
      Recombining Simplicity With Accuracy in the Digital Era.
AB  - Among "vintage" methods of protein determination, quantitative analytical
      refractometry has received far less attention than well-established
      pharmacopoeial techniques based on protein nitrogen content, such as Dumas
      combustion (1831) and Kjeldahl digestion (1883). Protein determination by
      quantitative refractometry dates back to 1903 and has been extensively
      investigated and characterized in the following 30 years, but has since vanished
      into a few niche applications that may not require the degree of accuracy and
      precision essential for pharmaceutical analysis. However, because high-resolution
      and precision digital refractometers have replaced manual instruments, reducing
      time and resource consumption, the method appears particularly attractive from an
      economic, ergonomic, and environmental viewpoint. The sample solution can be
      measured without dilution or other preparation procedures than the separation of
      the protein-free matrix by ultrafiltration, which might even be omitted for a
      constant matrix and excipient composition.

PMID- 26886313
TI  - Solution and Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic
      Characterization of Efavirenz.
AB  - Samples of efavirenz (EFZ) were evaluated to investigate the influence of the
      micronization process on EFZ stability. A combination of X-ray diffraction,
      thermal analysis, FTIR, observations of isotropic chemical shifts of (1)H in
      distinct solvents, their temperature dependence and spin-lattice relaxation time
      constants (T1), solution (1D and 2D) (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and
      solid-state (13)C NMR (CPMAS NMR) provides valuable structural information and
      structural elucidation of micronized EFZ and heptane-recrystallized polymorphs
      (EFZ/HEPT). This study revealed that the micronization process did not affect the
      EFZ crystalline structure. It was observed that the structure of EFZ/HEPT is in
      the same form as that obtained from ethyl acetate/hexane, as shown in the
      literature. A comparison of the solid-state NMR spectra revealed discrepancies
      regarding the assignments of some carbons published in the literature that have
      been resolved.

PMID- 26886314
TI  - Polymeric Amorphous Solid Dispersions: A Review of Amorphization,
      Crystallization, Stabilization, Solid-State Characterization, and Aqueous
      Solubilization of Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II Drugs.
AB  - Poor water solubility of many drugs has emerged as one of the major challenges in
      the pharmaceutical world. Polymer-based amorphous solid dispersions have been
      considered as the major advancement in overcoming limited aqueous solubility and
      oral absorption issues. The principle drawback of this approach is that they can
      lack necessary stability and revert to the crystalline form on storage.
      Significant upfront development is, therefore, required to generate stable
      amorphous formulations. A thorough understanding of the processes occurring at a
      molecular level is imperative for the rational design of amorphous solid
      dispersion products. This review attempts to address the critical molecular and
      thermodynamic aspects governing the physicochemical properties of such systems. A
      brief introduction to Biopharmaceutical Classification System, solid dispersions,
      glass transition, and solubility advantage of amorphous drugs is provided. The
      objective of this review is to weigh the current understanding of solid
      dispersion chemistry and to critically review the theoretical, technical, and
      molecular aspects of solid dispersions (amorphization and crystallization) and
      potential advantage of polymers (stabilization and solubilization) as inert,
      hydrophilic, pharmaceutical carrier matrices. In addition, different
      preformulation tools for the rational selection of polymers, state-of-the-art
      techniques for preparation and characterization of polymeric amorphous solid
      dispersions, and drug supersaturation in gastric media are also discussed.

PMID- 26886315
TI  - Does the Digestibility of Cyclodextrins Influence the In Vivo Absorption of
      Benzo[a]pyrene in Rats?
AB  - An important excipient used to overcome poor solubility is cyclodextrin. However,
      data in the literature suggest that excessive overdosing of cyclodextrins can
      decrease the absorption of compounds administered with cyclodextrins, due to
      their lack of release from the complex. gamma-Cyclodextrin is digestible in
      contrast to beta-cyclodextrins. This could potentially limit the sensitivity
      toward overdose, which was evaluated using benzo[a]pyrene in this study, in which
      rats were administered benzo[a]pyrene and different doses of the 2 cyclodextrins.
      Both cyclodextrins lowered the area under the curve and therefore the absorption
      of benzo[a]pyrene by up to a factor of 2 when dosed in high concentrations, thus
      indicating that overdosing of cyclodextrins may limit the oral absorption of a
      compound. This limitation may be artificial because the molar ratio of
      benzo[a]pyrene:cyclodextrin was >1:50,000 at the concentration where a
      significant decrease in the absorption was observed. No difference was observed
      between the 2 cyclodextrins, so digestibility seemed less important. More
      interesting was that the decrease in absorption was relatively small when
      compared with literature values, suggesting that the effect of overdosing a
      compound with cyclodextrins was lower than anticipated.

PMID- 26886316
TI  - Amorphous Solid Dispersions or Prodrugs: Complementary Strategies to Increase
      Drug Absorption.
AB  - Maximizing oral bioavailability of drug candidates represents a challenge in the
      pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use
      of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) to address this issue, where a growing
      number of solid dispersion formulations have been introduced to the market.
      However, an increase in solubility or dissolution rate through ASD does not
      always result in sufficient improvement of oral absorption because solubility
      limitations may still exist at high doses. Chemical modification in the form of a
      prodrug may offer an alternative approach for these cases. Although prodrugs have
      been primarily used to improve membrane permeability, examples are available in
      which prodrugs have been used to increase drug solubility beyond what can be
      achieved via formulation approaches. In this mini review, the role of ASDs and
      prodrugs as 2 complementary approaches in improving oral bioavailability of drug
      candidates is discussed. We discuss the fundamental principles of absorption and
      bioavailability, and review available literature on both solid dispersions and
      prodrugs, providing a summary of their use and examples of successful
      applications, and cover some of the biopharmaceutics evaluation aspects for these
      approaches.

PMID- 26886317
TI  - Physiologically Based Absorption Modeling to Impact Biopharmaceutics and
      Formulation Strategies in Drug Development-Industry Case Studies.
AB  - In recent years, there has been a significant increase in use of physiologically
      based pharmacokinetic models in drug development and regulatory applications.
      Although most of the published examples have focused on aspects such as first-in
      human (FIH) dose predictions or drug-drug interactions, several publications have
      highlighted the application of these models in the biopharmaceutics field and
      their use to inform formulation development. In this report, we present 5 case
      studies of use of such models in this biopharmaceutics/formulation space across
      different pharmaceutical companies. The case studies cover different aspects of
      biopharmaceutics or formulation questions including (1) prediction of absorption
      prior to FIH studies; (2) optimization of formulation and dissolution method post
      FIH data; (3) early exploration of a modified-release formulation; (4) addressing
      bridging questions for late-stage formulation changes; and (5) prediction of
      pharmacokinetics in the fed state for a Biopharmaceutics Classification System
      class I drug with fasted state data. The discussion of the case studies focuses
      on how such models can facilitate decisions and biopharmaceutic understanding of
      drug candidates and the opportunities for increased use and acceptance of such
      models in drug development and regulatory interactions.

PMID- 26886318
TI  - Investigation of the Efficacy of Transdermal Penetration Enhancers Through the
      Use of Human Skin and a Skin Mimic Artificial Membrane.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of promising penetration
      enhancers through the use of 2 different skin test systems. Hydrogel-based
      transdermal formulations were developed with ibuprofen as a nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drug. Transcutol and sucrose esters were used as biocompatible
      penetration enhancers. The permeability measurements were performed with ex vivo
      Franz diffusion cell methods and a newly developed Skin Parallel Artificial
      Membrane Permeability Assays (PAMPA) model. Franz diffusion measurement is
      commonly used as a research tool in studies of diffusion through synthetic
      membranes in vitro or penetration through ex vivo human skin, whereas Skin PAMPA
      involves recently published artificial membrane-based technology for the fast
      prediction of skin penetration. It is a 96-well plate-based model with optimized
      artificial membrane structure containing free fatty acid, cholesterol, and
      synthetic ceramide analog compounds to mimic the stratum corneum barrier
      function. Transdermal preparations containing 2.64% of different sucrose esters
      and/or Transcutol and a constant (5%) of ibuprofen were investigated to determine
      the effects of these penetration enhancers. The study demonstrated the good
      correlation of the permeability data obtained through use of human skin membrane
      and the in vitro Skin PAMPA system. The Skin PAMPA artificial membrane serves as
      quick and relatively deep tool in the early stages of transdermal delivery
      systems, through which the enhancing efficacy of excipients can be screened so as
      to facilitate the choice of effective penetration components.

PMID- 26886319
TI  - On the Variation of Water Diffusion Coefficient in Stratum Corneum With Water
      Content.
AB  - Water permeability and transient water sorption data in human and porcine stratum
      corneum (SC) are analyzed in conjunction with equilibrium water sorption data and
      a dynamic skin swelling model to develop a quantitative model for water
      diffusivity in the SC as a function of its water content. The recommended
      function (model 1) is phenomenological and treats the SC as a uniform, swellable
      slab. This approach yields satisfactory agreement with experimental data over a
      wide range of RH and associated equilibrium SC water content, Cw. It is supported
      by two alternative approaches. Model 2 considers the SC to be a multilaminate
      membrane consisting of alternating lipid and protein layers. Diffusivity in the
      protein phase is estimated from water diffusivity in other keratinized tissues,
      whereas diffusivity in the lipid phase is assumed to be linearly related to the
      swelling strain on intercellular lipids. Model 3 uses an analysis previously
      suggested by Stockdale to rationalize transepidermal water loss data in humans
      over a wide range of relative humidity. All models yield similar results for 0.20
      <= Cw <= 0.78 g/cm(3), the usual range of SC water content in vivo.

PMID- 26886320
TI  - Systematic Evaluation of Wajima Superposition (Steady-State Concentration to Mean
      Residence Time) in the Estimation of Human Intravenous Pharmacokinetic Profile.
AB  - We present a systematic evaluation of the Wajima superpositioning method to
      estimate the human intravenous (i.v.) pharmacokinetic (PK) profile based on a set
      of 54 marketed drugs with diverse structure and range of physicochemical
      properties. We illustrate the use of average of "best methods" for the prediction
      of clearance (CL) and volume of distribution at steady state (VDss) as described
      in our earlier work (Lombardo F, Waters NJ, Argikar UA, et al. J Clin Pharmacol.
      2013;53(2):178-191; Lombardo F, Waters NJ, Argikar UA, et al. J Clin Pharmacol.
      2013;53(2):167-177). These methods provided much more accurate prediction of
      human PK parameters, yielding 88% and 70% of the prediction within 2-fold error
      for VDss and CL, respectively. The prediction of human i.v. profile using Wajima
      superpositioning of rat, dog, and monkey time-concentration profiles was tested
      against the observed human i.v. PK using fold error statistics. The results
      showed that 63% of the compounds yielded a geometric mean of fold error below 2
      fold, and an additional 19% yielded a geometric mean of fold error between 2- and
      3-fold, leaving only 18% of the compounds with a relatively poor prediction. Our
      results showed that good superposition was observed in any case, demonstrating
      the predictive value of the Wajima approach, and that the cause of poor
      prediction of human i.v. profile was mainly due to the poorly predicted CL value,
      while VDss prediction had a minor impact on the accuracy of human i.v. profile
      prediction.

PMID- 26886321
TI  - The Sustainable Release of Vancomycin and Its Degradation Products From
      Nanostructured Collagen/Hydroxyapatite Composite Layers.
AB  - Infections of the musculoskeletal system present a serious problem with regard to
      the field of orthopedic and trauma medicine. The aim of the experiment described
      in this study was to develop a resorbable nanostructured composite layer with the
      controlled elution of antibiotics. The layer is composed of collagen,
      hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, and vancomycin hydrochloride (10 wt%). The
      stability of the collagen was enhanced by means of cross-linking. Four cross
      linking agents were studied, namely an ethanol solution, a phosphate buffer
      solution of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N
      hydroxysuccinimide, genipin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. High performance
      liquid chromatography was used so as to characterize the in vitro release rates
      of the vancomycin and its crystalline degradation antibiotically inactive
      products over a 21-day period. The maximum concentration of the released active
      form of vancomycin (approximately 265 mg/L) exceeded the minimum inhibitory
      concentration up to an order of 17 times without triggering the burst releasing
      effect. At the end of the experiment, the minimum inhibitory concentration was
      exceeded by up to 6 times (approximately 100 mg/L). It was determined that the
      modification of collagen with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles does not negatively
      influence the sustainable release of vancomycin. The balance of vancomycin and
      its degradation products was observed after 14 days of incubation.

PMID- 26886322
TI  - Development of pH-Independent Drug Release Formulation Using Lipocalin-Type
      Prostaglandin D Synthase.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a pH-independent drug release
      formulation using lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase, a member of the
      lipocalin superfamily, with the function of forming complexes together with
      various small lipophilic molecules. Dipyridamole, a poorly water-soluble drug,
      showing a pH-dependent solubility profile, was used as the model drug. The
      solubilization of dipyridamole was achieved by a simple complex formulation
      method with lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase. The complex formulation was
      produced successfully by spray drying, and the obtained powder formulation showed
      complete dissolution in fasted-state simulated gastric fluid (pH, 1.6) and
      phosphate-buffered solution (pH, 6.8). In addition, the potential stability of
      the complex formulation was assessed, and the dissolution profile of the produced
      powder at pH 6.8 was maintained after 4-week storage under several storage
      conditions. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetic study using hypochlorhydria model rats
      was performed to verify the improvement of the intestinal absorption behavior,
      and eventually the complex formulation overcame the problematic absorption
      profile of dipyridamole in the elevated gastric pH conditions. These results,
      taken together, demonstrate that the use of this well-designed drug-delivery
      carrier is feasible for the development of pH-independent drug release
      formulations.

PMID- 26886323
TI  - Application of Cassette Ultracentrifugation Using Non-labeled Compounds and
      Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis for High-Throughput
      Protein Binding Determination.
AB  - Membrane-based devices typically used for serum protein binding determination are
      not fully applicable to highly lipophilic compounds because of nonspecific
      binding to the device membrane. Ultracentrifugation, however, completely
      eliminates the issue by using a membrane-free approach, although its wide
      application has been limited. This lack of utilization is mainly attributed to 2
      factors: the high cost in acquiring and handling of radiolabeled compounds and
      low assay throughput owing to the difficulties in process automation. To overcome
      these challenges, we report a high-throughput workflow by cassette
      ultracentrifugation of nonradiolabeled compounds followed by liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Twenty compounds
      with diverse physicochemical and protein binding properties were selected for the
      evaluation of the workflow. To streamline the working process, approaches of
      matrix balancing for all the samples for LC-MS/MS analysis and determining free
      fraction without analytical calibration curves were adopted. Both the discrete
      ultracentrifugation of individual compounds and cassette ultracentrifugation of
      all the test compounds followed by simultaneous LC-MS/MS analysis exhibited a
      linear correlation with literature values, demonstrating respectively the
      validity of the ultracentrifugation process and the cassette approach. The
      cassette ultracentrifugation using nonradiolabeled compounds followed by LC-MS/MS
      analysis has greatly facilitated its application for high-throughput protein
      binding screening in drug discovery. 

PMID- 26886324
TI  - Subvisible Particle Content, Formulation, and Dose of an Erythropoietin Peptide
      Mimetic Product Are Associated With Severe Adverse Postmarketing Events.
AB  - Peginesatide (Omontys((r)); Affymax, Inc., Cupertino, CA) was voluntarily
      withdrawn from the market less than a year after the product launch. Although
      clinical trials had demonstrated the drug to be safe and efficacious, 49 cases of
      anaphylaxis, including 7 fatalities, were reported not long after market
      introduction. Commercialization was initiated with a multiuse vial presentation,
      which differs in formulation from the single-use vial presentation used in phase
      3 studies. Standard physical and chemical testing did not indicate any deviation
      from product specifications in either formulation. However, an analysis of
      subvisible particulates using nanoparticle tracking analysis and flow imaging
      revealed a significantly higher concentration of subvisible particles in the
      multiuse vial presentation linked to the hypersensitivity cases. Although it is
      unknown whether the elevated particulate content is causally related to these
      serious adverse events, this report illustrates the utility of characterizing
      subvisible particulates not captured by conventional light obscuration.

PMID- 26886325
TI  - Current Challenges and Potential Opportunities for the Pharmaceutical Sciences to
      Make Global Impact: An FIP Perspective.
AB  - The chairs of each of the 8 Special Interest Groups of the Board of
      Pharmaceutical Sciences of the International Pharmaceutical Federation have
      compiled opinions with regard to major challenges for the pharmaceutical sciences
      over the next 5-10 years. Areas covered are drug design and discovery, natural
      products, formulation design and pharmaceutical technology,
      pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and systems pharmacology, translational and
      personalized medicine, biotechnology, analytical sciences and quality control,
      and regulatory science.

PMID- 26886326
TI  - An Injectable Gel Platform for the Prolonged Therapeutic Effect of Pitavastatin
      in the Management of Hyperlipidemia.
AB  - In this study, an injectable in situ-forming gel has been designed and fabricated
      for the controlled and prolonged release of pitavastatin calcium (Pit) for
      treating hyperlipidemia. By mixing phospholipids and soybean oil with ethanol,
      the phospholipid-based platform material (PSE) displayed in a sol state with low
      viscosity in vitro. After subcutaneous injection, pregel solution underwent rapid
      phase separation and gelation in situ thus forming a drug release depot. Pit was
      loaded within PSE (PSE-P), which achieved prolonged release profiles for 15
      consecutive days in vitro. Correspondingly, the pharmacokinetic study in rats
      demonstrated that PSE-P achieved sustained in vivo release for 15 days after 1
      subcutaneous injection. The pharmacodynamic study in hyperlipidemia rats further
      revealed that the levels of total cholesterol, total triglyceride, and low
      density lipoprotein decreased remarkably, and the in vivo therapeutic effect was
      well maintained for over 20 days. Additionally, PSE-P showed mild tissue
      inflammatory responses and excellent degradability in vivo. Thus, in situ-forming
      PSE-P gel represents a viable and promising drug delivery platform to achieve
      long-term therapeutic effects in the management of hyperlipidemia.

PMID- 26886327
TI  - Do We Bury Antibacterials When Launching? Cefaclor Example.
AB  - This study aimed to compare existing dosing regimens of cefaclor with recommended
      pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters and to see if the proposed
      dosing regimen could have been the reason for development of bacterial
      resistance. PKs of cefaclor were determined after administrating the highest
      therapeutic dose of 750 mg in standard release (SF) and modified release form
      (MRF) in 12 volunteers. The study was performed on clinical isolates of the most
      frequent causative agents in urinary and respiratory infections. Minimum
      inhibitory concentration (MIC), postantibiotic effect, and PK/PD efficacy indices
      were determined. Peak plasma concentrations of 23.142 +/- 5.67 (SF) and 8.7 +/-
      2.09 MUg/mL (MRF) were observed after 40-60 min and 3.04 +/- 0.75 h,
      respectively. MIC for investigated bacterial strains ranged from 1 to 4 mg/L.
      Postantibiotic effect lasted from 2.10-2.18 +/- 0.2 h for Gram-positive to 0.58
      0.90 +/- 0.05 h for Gram-negative bacteria. PK/PD indices (t > MIC) ranged from
      27.08 +/- 5.93% to 43.23 +/- 6.54% of 8-h dosing interval (SF) and 22.57 +/-
      8.93% to 49.65 +/- 1.95% of 12-h dosing interval (MRF). Plasma levels were below
      MIC for more than 50% of the dosing interval even for the most sensitive
      pathogens (MIC = 1 mg/L). During both dosing intervals the total "antibacterial
      activity" was not longer than 6 h for Gram-positive and 5 h for Gram-negative
      bacteria for SF and 9 h for Gram-positive and 5 h for Gram-negative bacteria for
      MRF.

PMID- 26886328
TI  - Clarifications: Dermal Clearance Model for Epidermal Bioavailability
      Calculations.
AB  - Delivery through the skin, either through topical application for therapeutic or
      cosmetic benefits or intradermal delivery through emerging technologies such as
      microneedles, has been studied extensively in past decades. In a previous report
      in this journal one of the authors proposed an extensive model for predicting
      dermal clearance under pseudo steady-state conditions from the physiochemical
      properties of the compound (Ibrahim et al. 2012 J Pharm Sci, 101:2094-2108). This
      note provides some clarifications regarding this model, highlighting critical
      points that must be considered when using the model. The points are discussed in
      the order of relevance and complement the understanding of how molecules
      delivered intradermally clear from the dermis into the systemic circulation. In
      brief, solute binding to protein is reconsidered, limitations in using empirical
      models to determine physiochemical properties of a molecule are highlighted, and
      readers are informed about critical details regarding the calculations.

PMID- 26886329
TI  - Solid Phospholipid Dispersions for Oral Delivery of Poorly Soluble Drugs:
      Investigation Into Celecoxib Incorporation and Solubility-In Vitro Permeability
      Enhancement.
AB  - Celecoxib (CXB) is a Biopharmaceutical Classification System class II drug in
      which its oral bioavailability is limited by poor aqueous solubility. Although a
      range of formulations aiming to increase the solubility of CXB have been
      developed, it is not completely understood, whether (1) an increase in CXB
      solubility leads to a subsequent increase in permeability across intestinal
      barrier and (2) the presence of bile salts affects the solubility and
      permeability behavior of CXB formulations. By formulating CXB solid phospholipid
      (PL) dispersions with various PL-to-drug ratios using freeze drying, the present
      study illustrated that the enhancement of CXB solubility was not proportionally
      translated into enhanced permeability; both parameters were highly dependent on
      the PL-to-drug ratios as well as the dispersion media (i.e., the presence of 3-mM
      sodium taurocholate). This study highlights the importance of evaluating both,
      solubility and permeability, and the use of biorelevant medium for testing the
      candidate-enabling performance of liposomal formulations. Mechanisms at molecular
      level that may explain the effect of PL formulations on the permeability of CXB
      are also discussed.

PMID- 26886331
TI  - Proton-Coupled Organic Cation Antiporter Contributes to the Hepatic Uptake of
      Matrine.
AB  - Matrine is the major bioactive alkaloid found in certain Sophora plants and has
      been used for the treatment of liver diseases and protection of liver function.
      The aim of this study was to investigate the human liver uptake mechanism of
      matrine by using HepG2 cells as the in vitro model. Matrine was transported into
      HepG2 cells in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. The cellular uptake was
      saturable and was significantly reduced by the metabolic inhibitors, such as
      sodium azide and rotenone. Furthermore, the uptake of matrine was found to be
      regulated by a protonophore (carbonyl cyanide 4
      (trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone) and pH, indicating that this influx
      transporter may be a proton-coupled antiporter. The uptake of matrine was
      sensitive to inhibition by the cationic drugs including pyrilamine, quinidine,
      verapamil, amantadine, diphenhydramine, and cimetidine but insensitive to other
      typical substrates or inhibitors of well-known organic cation transport systems.
      The present study reveals that, for the first time, in HepG2 cells, the existence
      of a proton-coupled organic cation antiporter that contributes substantially to
      the hepatic uptake of matrine.

PMID- 26886330
TI  - Investigation of the Changes in Aerosolization Behavior Between the Jet-Milled
      and Spray-Dried Colistin Powders Through Surface Energy Characterization.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the surface energy factors behind improved
      aerosolization performance of spray-dried colistin powder formulations compared
      with those produced by jet milling. Inhalable colistin powder formulations were
      produced by jet milling or spray drying (with or without l-leucine). Scanning
      electron micrographs showed the jet-milled particles had irregularly angular
      shapes, whereas the spray-dried particles were more spherical. Significantly
      higher fine particle fractions were measured for the spray-dried (43.8%-49.6%)
      versus the jet-milled formulation (28.4%) from a Rotahaler at 60 L/min; albeit
      the size distribution of the jet-milled powder was smaller. Surprisingly,
      addition of l-leucine in the spray drying feed solution gave no significant
      improvement in fine particle fraction. As measured by inverse gas chromatography,
      spray-dried formulations had significantly (p < 0.001) lower dispersive,
      specific, and total surface energy values and more uniform surface energy
      distributions than the jet-milled powder. Interestingly, no significant
      difference was measured in the specific and total surface energy values between
      the spray-dried formulation with or without l-leucine. Based on our previous
      findings in the self-assembling behavior of colistin in aqueous solution and the
      surface energy data obtained here, we propose the self-assembly of colistin
      molecules during spray drying contributed significantly to the reduction of
      surface free energy and the superior aerosolization performance. 

PMID- 26886332
TI  - Electrospun Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Ethyl Cellulose Nanofibers as
      Thermoresponsive Drug Delivery Systems.
AB  - Fibers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), ethyl cellulose (EC), and a
      blend of both were successfully fabricated by electrospinning. Analogous drug
      loaded fibers were prepared loaded with ketoprofen (KET). Scanning and
      transmission electron microscopy showed that the fibers were largely smooth and
      cylindrical, with no phase separation observed. The addition of KET to the
      spinning solutions did not affect the morphology of resultant fibers, and no drug
      particles could be observed to separate from the polymer matrix. X-ray
      diffraction demonstrated that the drug was present in the amorphous physical form
      in the fiber matrix. There are significant intermolecular interactions between
      KET and polymers, as evidenced by IR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Water
      contact angle measurements proved that the PNIPAAm and PNIPAAm/EC fibers switched
      from being hydrophilic to hydrophobic when the temperature was increased through
      the lower critical solution temperature of 32 degrees C. In vitro drug release
      studies found that the PNIPAAm/EC blend nanofibers were able to synergistically
      combine the properties of the 2 polymers, giving temperature-sensitive systems
      with sustained release properties. In addition, they were established to be
      nontoxic and suitable for cell growth. This study demonstrates that electrospun
      blend PNIPAAm/EC fibers comprise effective and biocompatible materials for drug
      delivery systems and tissue engineering.

PMID- 26886333
TI  - Controlled Release of Antibiotics From Vitamin E-Loaded Silicone-Hydrogel Contact
      Lenses.
AB  - Symptoms of bacterial and fungal keratitis are typically treated through the
      frequent application of antibiotic and antifungal eye drops. The high frequency
      of half hourly or hourly eye drop administration required to treat these
      indications is tedious and could reduce compliance. Here, we combine in vitro
      experiments with a mathematical model to develop therapeutic soft contact lenses
      to cure keratitis by extended release of suitable drugs. We specifically focus on
      increasing the release duration of levofloxacin and chlorhexidine from 1-DAY
      ACUVUE((r)) TrueEyeTM and ACUVUE OASYS((r)) contact lenses by incorporating
      vitamin E diffusion barriers. Results show that 20% of vitamin E loading in the
      contact lens increases the release duration of levofloxacin to 100 h and 50 h
      from 1-DAY ACUVUE((r)) TrueEyeTM and ACUVUE OASYS((r)), respectively, which is a
      3- and 6-fold increase, respectively, for the 2 lenses. For chlorhexidine, the
      increase is 2.5- and 10-fold, for the TrueEyeTM and OASYS((r)), respectively, to
      130 h and 170 h. The mass of drug loaded in the lenses can be controlled to
      achieve a daily release comparable to the commonly prescribed eye drop therapy.
      The vitamin E-loaded lenses retain all critical properties for in vivo use.

PMID- 26886335
TI  - Sponge-Like Dressings Based on the Association of Chitosan and Sericin for the
      Treatment of Chronic Skin Ulcers. II. Loading of the Hemoderivative Platelet
      Lysate.
AB  - Platelet lysate (PL) was loaded into dressings based on chitosan glutamate (CSG)
      low and high molecular weight, sericin (Ser), and glycine (Gly). A synergic
      effect of Ser and PL on fibroblast proliferation was proved in vitro. Two
      different PL loading approaches were considered: the first provided to prepare
      dressings by freeze-drying a mixture of PL and CSG/Gly/Ser solution, the second
      approach consisted in the extemporarily loading of PL in the CSG/Gly/Ser freeze
      dried dressings. As for the first approach, PL loading did not produce any
      variation in dressing mechanical properties. Such dressings absorbed a high
      amount (about 8-fold of dry weight) of phosphate-buffered saline (fluid mimicking
      wound exudate), forming a gel with pseudoplastic and elastic properties. Platelet
      derived growth factor AB assay indicated that neither freeze-drying nor the
      excipients alter PL growth factor content. As for the second approach, mechanical
      and rheological properties of the gel formed upon PL absorption enabled to choose
      a PL loading of about 90 MUL/cm(2). Upon contact with fibroblasts, all PL loaded
      formulations increased the number not only of viable cells but also of those in
      the proliferative phase. Histological studies effected on human skin strips
      pointed out the positive effect of PL loaded dressings on dermal matrix
      reconstruction.

PMID- 26886334
TI  - Development and Evaluation of Biodegradable Particles Coloaded With Antigen and
      the Toll-Like Receptor Agonist, Pentaerythritol Lipid A, as a Cancer Vaccine.
AB  - Immune adjuvants are important components of current and prospective cancer
      vaccines. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the use of a synthetic lipid A
      derivative, pentaerythritol lipid A (PET lipid A), loaded into poly(lactic-co
      glycolic acid) particles, as a potential cancer vaccine adjuvant. Poly(lactic-co
      glycolic acid) particles (size range: 250-600 nm) were successfully formulated to
      include PET lipid A and/or the model tumor antigen, chicken ovalbumin (OVA). It
      was shown that particulated PET lipid A had a distinct advantage at promoting
      secretion of the immune potentiating cytokine, IL-12p70, and upregulating key
      costimulatory surface proteins, CD86 and CD40, in murine dendritic cells in
      vitro. In a murine tumor model, involving prophylactic vaccination with various
      permutations of soluble versus particulated formulations of OVA with or without
      PET lipid A, modest benefit was observed in terms of OVA-specific cell-mediated
      immune responses when PET lipid A was delivered in particles. These findings
      translated into a corresponding trend toward increased survival of mice
      challenged with OVA-expressing tumor cells (E.G7). In terms of translation of
      safe adjuvants into the clinic, these results promote the concept of delivering
      toll-like receptor-4 agonists in particles because doing so improves their
      adjuvant properties, while decreasing the chances of adverse effects due to off
      target uptake by nonphagocytic cells.

PMID- 26886337
TI  - Cyclodextrin and Meglumine-Based Microemulsions as a Poorly Water-Soluble Drug
      Delivery System.
AB  - Cyclodextrins (CDs) and meglumine (MEG) are pharmaceutical excipients widely used
      to improve solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. The purpose of this work was
      to study the effect of CDs or MEG on the internal microstructure of soya oil
      based O/W microemulsions (MEs) and on the modulation of the solubility and
      release rate of Class II model hydrophobic drugs, sulfamerazine and indomethacin.
      The pseudoternary phase diagrams revealed that higher proportions of oil phase,
      as well as the presence of beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD), methyl-betaCD, and MEG,
      favored the incorporation of the drugs. The conductivity studies, particle size,
      and zeta potential analysis showed that the O/W ME structure remained unaffected
      and that the ME presented reduced droplet sizes after the incorporation of the
      ligands. The drug-component interactions were assessed by proton nuclear magnetic
      resonance studies. The highest incorporations of sulfamerazine (35.6 mg/mL) and
      indomethacin (73.1 mg/mL) were obtained with the ME with W = 5%, MEG and W = 1.8%
      betaCD in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 8, respectively. In addition, the
      ligands in ME significantly enhanced the released amount of the drugs, probably
      due to a solubilizing effect that facilitates the drug to penetrate the unstirred
      water layer adjacent to membranes.

PMID- 26886336
TI  - Dynamic and Static Simulations of Fluvoxamine-Perpetrated Drug-Drug Interactions
      Using Multiple Cytochrome P450 Inhibition Modeling, and Determination of
      Perpetrator-Specific CYP Isoform Inhibition Constants and Fractional CYP Isoform
      Contributions to Victim Clearance.
AB  - Fluvoxamine-perpetrated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) of victims metabolized by
      multiple cytochrome P450 isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4) were simulated
      using 2 compartment-based tube modeling, assuming a multiple inhibition-constant
      (Ki) model, as well as a previously reported single Ki model. Good fittings were
      obtained for all DDIs using consistent perpetrator-specific CYP isoform Kis and
      fractional CYP isoform contributions to victim clearance in concordance with
      literature information. Through these simulations, the following rules to predict
      DDI were derived. Overall enzymatic inhibitory activity calculated from static
      DDI data determines entirely dynamic DDIs. DDI-relevant time-dependent hepatic
      blood unbound perpetrator levels can be approximated to mean hepatic blood
      unbound perpetrator levels in any victim DDIs when a perpetrator is supplied
      consistently. Static and dynamic multiple CYP model-based simulations agree with
      one another. Fluvoxamine-perpetrated DDIs can be bridged to other perpetrator
      DDIs. The derived rules will allow simpler prediction of DDIs from in vivo DDI
      databases. Tens or hundreds of Ki gaps between in vitro and in vivo data could be
      reduced to within severalfold using the liver-microsome contamination model, thus
      suggesting that microsomes qualified with contamination would greatly improve
      prediction of DDIs from in vitro data.

PMID- 26886338
TI  - Sponge-Like Dressings Based on the Association of Chitosan and Sericin for the
      Treatment of Chronic Skin Ulcers. I. Design of Experiments-Assisted Development.
AB  - The aim of the present work was the development of sponge-like dressings based on
      chitosan glutamate (high molecular weight) and sericin for the treatment of
      chronic skin ulcers. Dressings were prepared by freeze-drying and glycine was
      added as cryoprotectant agent. Dressing development was assisted by design of
      experiments, using a simplex centroid design. Mechanical resistance, hydration
      propensity, viscous, and viscoelasticity properties of dressings were considered
      as response variables. The superimposition of the contour plots, calculated by
      the best fit model for each response variable, permitted to individuate a region
      of the factor space where the dressing of optimized quantitative composition was
      chosen. Such a dressing was able to absorb high amount of phosphate-buffered
      saline forming a gel characterized by rheological properties enabling both a
      lubricant and a protective effect. The optimized formulation was characterized by
      optimal mechanical properties and by cell proliferation and antioxidant activity
      on human fibroblast cell line. 

PMID- 26886339
TI  - One-Step Self-Assembling Method to Prepare Dual-Functional Transferrin
      Nanoparticles for Antitumor Drug Delivery.
AB  - Protein-based nanoparticles hold great promise in both preclinical and clinical
      practices due to their high biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the
      complicated preparations often denature proteins, which subsequently diminish
      their bioactivity. To overcome these drawbacks, we developed a one-step self
      assembling method for preparing protein-based nanoparticles. Transferrin (Tf), a
      targeting protein, was mixed with 2-mercaptoethanol to break disulfide bonds.
      Using this method, Tf-PTX-NPs (paclitaxel-loaded Tf nanoparticles) could be
      readily obtained. Tf-PTX-NPs were round and their diameter could be controlled in
      the range of 5-200 nm. The bioactivity of Tf to its receptor after forming
      nanoparticles was also confirmed in vitro. Tf-PTX-NPs also could inhibit the
      tumor growth to some extent in a mice tumor xenograft model. Therefore, using
      this self-assembling method, we fabricated this antitumor Tf-based nanoparticle,
      in which Tf acted as both the targeting moiety and drug carrier.

PMID- 26886340
TI  - Ketoconazole Stereoisomers Differentially Induce Cytochrome P450 1A1 Between
      Human Hepatoma HepG2 and Mouse Hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 Cells.
AB  - Ketoconazole (KTZ) has 2 chiral centers with the therapeutically active form
      being a racemic mixture of 2 cis-enantiomers, namely, (2R,4S)-(+)-KTZ and (2S,4R)
      (-)-KTZ. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of (+)-KTZ, (
      )-KTZ, and (+/-)-KTZ on aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation and subsequently
      CYP1A1 induction in both human HepG2 and murine Hepa1c1c7 hepatoma cells, and to
      further test their inhibitory effect using recombinant human and mouse CYP1A1
      enzymes. Our results demonstrated that (+)-KTZ induced human CYP1A1 more than (-)
      KTZ, whereas on the other hand (-)-KTZ induced murine Cyp1a1 more than (+)-KTZ at
      the mRNA, and activity levels. Human CYP1A1 showed higher affinity to 7ER
      compared with murine Cyp1a1 (Km values 13.29 nM for human vs. 168.1 nM for
      murine). The intrinsic clearance values for human and murine CYP1A1 were 194.1
      and 87.6 MUL/pmol P450/min, respectively, whereas, Vmax values were 2.58 and
      14.73 pmol/pmol P450/min, respectively. (+)-KTZ and (-)-KTZ directly inhibited
      CYP1A1 activity by noncompetitive mechanism. The affinity of (-)-KTZ to interact
      with human CYP1A1 and murine Cyp1a1 was significantly different from (+)-KTZ, as
      the Ki values for human CYP1A1 and murine Cyp1a1 were 199.4 and 413.7 nM,
      respectively, for (+)-KTZ, and 269.3 and 230.8 nM, respectively, for (-)-KTZ.

PMID- 26886341
TI  - Alteration in Intrapulmonary Pharmacokinetics of Aerosolized Model Compounds Due
      to Disruption of the Alveolar Epithelial Barriers Following Bleomycin-Induced
      Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats.
AB  - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lethal lung disease that is characterized by
      the accumulation of extracellular matrix and a change in lung structure. In this
      study, intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics of aerosolized model compounds were
      evaluated using rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Aerosol
      formulations of indocyanine green, 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-CF), and fluorescein
      isothiocyanate dextrans (FD; 4.4, 10, 70, and 250 kDa) were administered to rat
      lungs using a MicroSprayer. Indocyanine green fluorescence signals were
      significantly weaker in fibrotic lungs than in control lungs and 6-CF and FD
      concentrations in the plasma of pulmonary fibrotic animals were markedly higher
      than in the plasma of control animals. Moreover, disrupted epithelial tight
      junctions, including claudins-1, -3, and -5, were observed in pulmonary fibrotic
      lesions using immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, destruction of tight
      junctions on model alveolar epithelial cells (NCI-H441) by transforming growth
      factor-beta1 treatment enhanced the permeability of 6-CF and FDs through NCI-H441
      cell monolayers. These results indicate that aerosolized drugs are easily
      distributed into the plasma after leakage through damaged tight junctions of
      alveolar epithelium. Therefore, the development of delivery systems for anti
      fibrotic agents to improve intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics may be necessary for
      effective idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy.

PMID- 26886343
TI  - An Approach to Mitigate Particle Formation on the Dilution of a Monoclonal
      Antibody Drug Product in an IV Administration Fluid.
AB  - To support dose reduction, low dose of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) was required
      to be administered via IV infusion at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. To achieve
      the target protein concentration, the infusion solution was prepared by diluting
      the drug product containing 10-mg/mL mAb with normal saline, a 0.9% sodium
      chloride injection solution. However, particles were observed in the diluted
      solution. Particle formation must be avoided to administer the low dose using the
      existing drug product. To mitigate the particle formation, an unconventional
      compounding approach was used. With this approach, a stabilizing vehicle
      containing polysorbate-80 was added to saline before drug-product dilution to
      maintain suitable surfactant level to prevent precipitation of the mAb. In this
      way, use of the stabilizing vehicle to support low doses ensured suitable quality
      across a wider range of mAb concentrations, thereby allowing additional
      flexibility to the clinical trial. Such an approach may be useful for broader
      application in early-stage clinical trials where there is an uncertainty
      regarding doses or the need to revise to lower doses based on clinical
      observations or other drivers. 

PMID- 26886342
TI  - Size and Charge Dependence of Ion Transport in Human Nail Plate.
AB  - The electrical properties of human nail plate are poorly characterized yet are a
      key determinate of the potential to treat nail diseases, such as onychomycosis,
      using iontophoresis. To address this deficiency, molar conductivities of 17
      electrolytes comprising 12 ionic species were determined in hydrated human nail
      plate in vitro. Cation transport numbers across the nail for 11 of these
      electrolytes were determined by the electromotive force method. Effective ionic
      mobilities and diffusivities at infinite dilution for all ionic species were
      determined by regression analysis. The ratios of diffusivities in nail to those
      in solution were found to correlate inversely with the hydrodynamic radii of the
      ions according to a power law relationship having an exponent of -1.75 +/- 0.27,
      a substantially steeper size dependence than observed for similar experiments in
      skin. Effective diffusivities of cations in nail were 3-fold higher than those of
      comparably sized anions. These results reflect the strong size and charge
      selectivity of the nail plate for ionic conduction and diffusion. The analysis
      implies that efficient transungual iontophoretic delivery of ionized drugs having
      radii upward of 5 A (molecular weight, ca. >= 340 Da) will require chemical or
      mechanical alteration of the nail plate.

PMID- 26886344
TI  - Origin of Aggregate Formation in Antibody Crystal Suspensions Containing PEG.
AB  - The crystalline state of proteins is deemed as a promising formulation platform
      for biopharmaceuticals. However, a stabilizing effect of protein crystal
      suspensions is controversially discussed. In fact, antibodies can display an
      increased aggregation and particle formation profile after the crystallization
      process compared with liquid or solid amorphous formulations. Nevertheless,
      studies regarding aggregate formation and its origin remain meager in literature.
      It was the aim of this study to investigate these aspects for a model IgG
      antibody (mAb1), which shows an increased aggregate formation after
      crystallization with polyethylene glycol. The presence of a dynamic equilibrium,
      a steady exchange of protein between the crystals and the supernatant, was
      demonstrated by replacing the supernatant with an identical but fluorescence
      labeled protein solution and followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
      Aggregate formation was monitored by size exclusion high-pressure chromatography
      and flow cytometry. Constantly increasing aggregate levels were found for the
      crystal fraction and for the supernatant. For the later, markedly higher particle
      counts were detected. The labeled supernatant and the unlabeled protein crystals
      allowed a precise identification of the origin of the aggregates. The rising
      aggregate fractions of the crystals displayed high mean fluorescence intensities
      that elucidated their origin in the supernatant. 

PMID- 26886345
TI  - Development and Evaluation of a Novel Intranasal Spray for the Delivery of
      Amantadine.
AB  - The aim of this study was to develop and characterize an intranasal delivery
      system for amantadine hydrochloride (AMT). Optimal formulations consisted of a
      thermosensitive polymer Pluronic(r) 127 and either carboxymethyl cellulose or
      chitosan which demonstrated gel transition at nasal cavity temperatures (34 +/- 1
      degrees C). Rheologically, the loss tangent (Tan delta) confirmed a 3-stage
      gelation phenomena at 34 +/- 1 degrees C and non-Newtonian behavior. Storage of
      optimized formulation carboxymethyl cellulose and optimal formulation chitosan at
      4 degrees C for 8 weeks resulted in repeatable release profiles at 34 degrees C
      when sampled, with a Fickian mechanism earlier on but moving toward anomalous
      transport by week 8. Polymers (Pluronic(r) 127, carboxymethyl cellulose, and
      chitosan) demonstrated no significant cellular toxicity to human nasal epithelial
      cells up to 4 mg/mL and up to 1 mM for AMT (IC50: 4.5 +/- 0.05 mM). Optimized
      formulation carboxymethyl cellulose and optimal formulation chitosan demonstrated
      slower release across an in vitro human nasal airway model (43%-44% vs 79 +/-
      4.58% for AMT). Using a human nasal cast model, deposition into the olfactory
      regions (potential nose-to-brain) was demonstrated on nozzle insertion (5 mm),
      whereas tilting of the head forward (15 degrees ) resulted in greater deposition
      in the bulk of the nasal cavity.

PMID- 26886346
TI  - Acetate- and Citrate-Specific Ion Effects on Unfolding and Temperature-Dependent
      Aggregation Rates of Anti-Streptavidin IgG1.
AB  - Controlling and predicting unwanted degradation, such as non-native aggregation,
      is a long-standing challenge for mAbs and other protein-based products. mAb
      aggregation rates are typically sensitive to temperature, pH, and the addition of
      excipients. Quantitatively comparing temperature-dependent aggregation rates
      across multiple possible formulations is a challenge in product development. A
      parallel temperature initial rate method is used to efficiently and accurately
      determine initial rates for anti-streptavidin (AS) IgG1 aggregation as a function
      of pH, [NaCl], and in the presence of acetate versus citrate buffer. Parallel
      temperature initial rates are shown to agree with results from a traditional,
      isothermal method and permits direct comparison of the formulations across almost
      3 orders of magnitude of aggregation rates. The apparent midpoint unfolding
      temperatures (through differential scanning calorimetry) and the effective
      activation energy values (Ea) are generally higher in acetate buffer compared
      with citrate buffer, which is consistent with preferential accumulation of
      citrate ions compared with acetate ions that was speculated in previous work
      (Barnett et al., J Phys Chem B, 2015). Static light scattering and Kirkwood-Buff
      analysis show that AS-IgG1 has stronger net repulsive protein-protein
      interactions in acetate compared with citrate buffer, also consistent with
      increased values of Ea. In an extreme case, aggregation of AS-IgG1 is effectively
      eliminated across all practical temperatures at pH 4 in 10 mM sodium acetate but
      proceeds readily in citrate buffer.

PMID- 26886347
TI  - Allometric Scaling of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies Using Antigen
      Concentration as a Correction Factor: Application to the Human Clearance
      Prediction.
AB  - Allometric scaling has been widely used for predictions of human pharmacokinetic
      (PK) parameters in the development of monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs, and some
      correction factors have been proposed to improve the estimations. However,
      classic correction factors fail to offer a complete explanation of the additional
      differences among species besides the body weight and, thus, lack enough power to
      further improve the predictions. In this study, the antigen concentration was
      initially set as a new correction factor to predict the human clearance (CL) of
      mAbs. Bevacizumab was intravenously injected into 2 animal species and humans to
      obtain PK data to predict human CL from the animal data. Additionally, a new
      approach was also validated with data from 3 other mAbs which were collected
      through a literature review of published work. Accordingly, allometric scaling
      with a correction factor of the antigen concentration generated accurate
      estimations of the human CL of 4 mAbs, which were superior to the results
      obtained by other classic scaling methods. More importantly, the proposed method
      also achieved good predictions of individual human CL of bevacizumab. In
      conclusion, the potential of this method as a powerful tool for human PK
      estimation of mAbs in species translation has been demonstrated. 

PMID- 26886348
TI  - Preservation of Biospecimens at Ambient Temperature: Special Focus on Nucleic
      Acids and Opportunities for the Biobanking Community.
AB  - Several approaches to the preservation of biological materials at ambient
      temperature and the relative impact on sample stability and degradation are
      reviewed, with a focus on nucleic acids. This appraisal is undertaken within the
      framework of biobank risk, quality management systems, and accreditation, with a
      view to assessing how best to apply ambient temperature sample storage to ensure
      stability, reduce costs, improve handling logistics, and increase the efficiency
      of biobank procedures. 

PMID- 26886349
TI  - Evolution of a Planktonic Foraminifer during Environmental Changes in the
      Tropical Oceans.
AB  - Ecological adaptation to environmental changes is a strong driver of evolution,
      enabling speciation of pelagic plankton in the open ocean without the presence of
      effective physical barriers to gene flow. The tropical ocean environment, which
      plays an important role in shaping marine biodiversity, has drastically and
      frequently changed since the Pliocene. Nevertheless, the evolutionary history of
      tropical pelagic plankton has been poorly understood, as phylogeographic
      investigations are still in the developing state and paleontological approaches
      are insufficient to obtain a sequential record from the deep-sea sediments. The
      planktonic foraminifer Pulleniatina obliquiloculata is widely distributed in the
      tropical area throughout the world's oceans, and its phylogeography is well
      established. It is thus one of the best candidates to examine how past
      environmental changes may have shifted the spatial distribution and affected the
      diversification of tropical pelagic plankton. Such an examination requires the
      divergence history of the planktonic foraminifers, yet the gene marker (partial
      small subunit (SSU) rDNA) previously used for phylogeographic studies was not
      powerful enough to achieve a high accuracy in estimating the divergence times.
      The present study focuses on improving the precision of divergence time estimates
      for the splits between sibling species (genetic types) of planktonic foraminifers
      by increasing the number of genes as well as the number of nucleotide bases used
      for molecular clock estimates. We have amplified the entire coding regions of two
      ribosomal RNA genes (SSU rDNA and large subunit (LSU) rDNA) of three genetic
      types of P. obliquiloculata and two closely related species for the first time
      and applied them to the Bayesian relaxed clock method. The comparison of the
      credible intervals of the four datasets consisting either of sequences of the
      partial SSU rDNA, the complete SSU rDNA, LSU rDNA, or a combination of both genes
      (SSU+LSU) clearly demonstrated that the two-gene dataset improved the accuracy of
      divergence time estimates. The P. obliquiloculata lineage diverged twice, first
      at the end of the Pliocene (3.1 Ma) and again in the middle Pleistocene (1.4 Ma).
      Both timings coincided with the environmental changes, which indirectly involved
      geographic separation of populations. The habitat of P. obliquiloculata was
      expanded toward the higher latitudinal zones during the stable warm periods and
      subsequently placed on the steep environmental gradients following the global
      cooling. Different environmental conditions in the stable warm tropics and
      unstable higher latitudes may have triggered ecological divergence among the
      populations, leading to adaptive differentiation and eventually speciation. A
      comprehensive analysis of divergence time estimates combined with phylogeography
      enabled us to reveal the evolutionary history of the pelagic plankton and to find
      the potential paleoenvironmental events, which could have changed their
      biogeography and ecology. 

PMID- 26886350
TI  - Three Millennia of Southwestern North American Dustiness and Future Implications.
AB  - Two sediment records of dust deposition from Fish Lake, in southern Colorado,
      offer a new perspective on southwest United States (Southwest) aridity and
      dustiness over the last ~3000 years. Micro scanning X-ray fluorescence and grain
      size analysis provide separate measures of wind-deposited dust in the lake
      sediment. Together these new records confirm anomalous dustiness in the 19th and
      20th centuries, associated with recent land disturbance, drought, and livestock
      grazing. Before significant anthropogenic influences, changes in drought
      frequency and aridity also generated atmospheric dust loading. Medieval times
      were associated with high levels of dustiness, coincident with widespread
      aridity. These records indicate the Southwest is naturally prone to dustiness. As
      global and regional temperatures rise and the Southwest shifts toward a more arid
      landscape, the Southwest will likely become dustier, driving negative impacts on
      snowpack and water availability, as well as human health. 

PMID- 26886352
TI  - 1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments of an enzymatically active domain from the
      catalytic component (CDTa, residues 216-420) of a binary toxin from Clostridium
      difficile.
AB  - Clostridium difficile is a bacterial pathogen and is the most commonly reported
      source of nosocomial infection in industrialized nations. Symptoms of C.
      difficile infection (CDI) include antibiotic-associated diarrhea,
      pseudomembranous colitis, sepsis and death. Over the last decade, rates and
      severity of hospital infections in North America and Europe have increased
      dramatically and correlate with the emergence of a hypervirulent strain of C.
      difficile characterized by the presence of a binary toxin, CDT (C. difficile
      toxin). The binary toxin consists of an enzymatic component (CDTa) and a cellular
      binding component (CDTb) that together form the active binary toxin complex. CDTa
      harbors a pair of structurally similar but functionally distinct domains, an N
      terminal domain (residues 1-215; (1-215)CDTa) that interacts with CDTb and a C
      terminal domain (residues 216-420; (216-420)CDTa) that harbors the intact ADP
      ribosyltransferase (ART) active site. Reported here are the (1)H, (13)C, and
      (15)N backbone resonance assignments of the 23 kDa, 205 amino acid C-terminal
      enzymatic domain of CDTa, termed (216-420)CDTa. These NMR resonance assignments
      for (216-420)CDTa represent the first for a family of ART binary toxins and
      provide the framework for detailed characterization of the solution-state protein
      structure determination, dynamic studies of this domain, as well as NMR-based
      drug discovery efforts.

PMID- 26886353
TI  - The paraoxonase disruption hypothesis in sporadic ALS steamrolled.

PMID- 26886355
TI  - Understanding migraine and psychiatric comorbidity.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article describes recent trends in our understanding of
      the role of psychiatric disorders in the experience and treatment of migraine,
      and the role of migraine in the experience and treatment of psychiatric
      disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the majority of studies evaluating
      psychiatric comorbidity in migraine have focused on depression, anxiety, and
      bipolar disorders are highly associated with migraine and relevant for prognosis
      and treatment planning. Comorbid psychiatric disorders may be associated with
      poorer treatment response for some acute pharmacotherapies; however, people with
      comorbid migraine and mood or anxiety disorders can achieve large responses to
      preventive pharmacologic and behavioral therapies. Emerging research is
      developing and evaluating behavioral treatments designed to manage cooccurring
      migraine and mood or anxiety disorders. Stigma related to psychiatric disorders
      has been well characterized, and could exacerbate extant migraine-related stigma.
      SUMMARY: Anxiety and mood disorders are prevalent in people with migraine,
      although not ubiquitous. Psychiatric comorbidity is associated with greater
      migraine symptoms and disability; however, people with comorbid depression or
      anxiety are amenable to preventive migraine treatment. Research regarding
      migraine treatment strategies optimized for people with comorbid psychiatric
      disorders is critical to advancing care and reducing stigma for this important
      subpopulation of people with migraine.

PMID- 26886354
TI  - Thinking globally to meet local needs: autism spectrum disorders in Africa and
      other low-resource environments.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Most people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) live in low
      and middle-income countries, yet almost everything we know about ASD comes from
      high-income countries. Here we review recent research from Africa, with some
      references to research in other low-resource environments. We examine
      publications on screening and diagnosis, intervention, clinical presentation of
      ASD, cultural perspectives, and neuroscience and technology. RECENT FINDINGS:
      Open-access screening and diagnostic tools represent a positive, but nontrivial,
      future goal. Recent efforts at 'low intensity' community-based interventions are
      encouraging, but many significant scalability challenges remain. Proposals that
      ASD in Africa is more severe and overrepresented in high socioeconomic families
      are likely to be attributable to ascertainment biases and the absence of
      standardized phenotyping tools. Cultural perspectives and innovative use of
      technology and neuroscience have the potential to generate novel strategies of
      global relevance, but research priorities have to be determined by local needs.
      SUMMARY: To have a real impact on clinical services, training, and research in
      local communities, clinician-scientists should start by thinking globally. ASD
      research in Africa and other low-resource environments remains limited and of
      questionable quality and highlights the need to build high-quality research
      capacity in these low-resource environments.

PMID- 26886356
TI  - The migraine postdrome.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Migraine is a common, disabling neurological disorder that
      affects up to 12% of the world population. Its pathophysiology is incompletely
      described. Of the various phases of migraine, the migraine postdrome is the least
      studied and hence the least understood. RECENT FINDINGS: Electronic diary studies
      show patients are left disabled with non-headache symptoms in the migraine
      postdrome. Hence, the importance of understanding the phase better and ensuring
      that more effective treatments become available in the future to cut down the
      morbidity associated with this phase. SUMMARY: The disability related to migraine
      is not limited to the headache phase and pans out to include the postdrome phase.
      The migraine postdrome needs to be studied more as this may improve our overall
      understanding of migraine mechanisms and also treat the concurrent symptoms
      better.

PMID- 26886358
TI  - Progress from genome-wide association studies and copy number variant studies in
      epilepsy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The pace of gene discovery in epilepsy remains frenetic.
      Although most recent discoveries have come from next-generation sequencing
      studies, there has also been important progress using more established
      methodologies, such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and copy number
      variants (CNVs) identified through array-based techniques. Progress in these
      areas over the last year is reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: The first meta-analysis of
      GWASs was a landmark development for the epilepsy community, though more sizeable
      studies are sorely needed. Other GWASs point to potentially interesting
      discoveries, and are in need of replication and follow-up. Copy number variation
      is emerging as an important genetic contribution to causation across a wide range
      of epilepsies, with a number of discoveries in epilepsies from the common, such
      as genetic generalized epilepsies, to the individually comparatively rare, such
      as particular epileptic encephalopathies. The first studies of CNV analysis from
      next-generation sequencing data, and of the combination of sequencing and array
      based data, have also emerged, allowing more comprehensive genetic evaluation of
      specific phenotypes. SUMMARY: GWASs based on single nucleotide polymorphisms, and
      CNV analyses based on a variety of data sources, retain a place in the discovery
      of causation and susceptibility in the epilepsies, and will probably become more
      powerful in the near future through the use of large-scale next-generation
      sequencing studies. There are still discoveries to come through these routes.

PMID- 26886359
TI  - Predicting epilepsy surgery outcome.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent evidence on the seizure, safety,
      cognitive and psychosocial outcomes of epilepsy surgery and their predictors.
      RECENT FINDINGS: Risks of serious surgical complications have dramatically
      decreased over years to drop below 1% for temporal lobe resections. Although
      chances of postoperative seizure freedom largely vary between recent series, some
      data suggest that long-term seizure control might be achieved in over 80% of
      patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy or neocortical epilepsy associated
      with type 2 focal cortical dysplasia, and in up to two-thirds of patients with
      extratemporal lobe epilepsy. In the same conditions, some recent series challenge
      the classic view that a normal MRI is associated with worse outcome, an important
      finding given the greater proportion of MRI-negative patients now considered for
      epilepsy surgery. SUMMARY: These provocative findings appear to partly reflect
      the advances in the optimal use or postprocessing of neuroimaging data, as well
      as the identification of temporal plus epilepsy. This latter condition, which is
      characterized by normal MRI in half of patients and very poor outcome following
      anterior temporal lobectomy, was found to represent the main predictor of
      temporal lobe epilepsy surgery failures. Postoperative cognitive and quality-of
      life outcomes, which partly depend on seizure control, are also influenced by
      antiepileptic drugs and psychiatric comorbidities.

PMID- 26886357
TI  - Progress in autoimmune epileptic encephalitis.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Autoimmune epileptic encephalopathy is a potentially treatable
      neurological syndrome characterized by the coexistence of a neuronal antibody in
      serum and, often, cerebrospinal fluid. Patients present with combinations of
      seizures, neuropsychiatric features, movement disorder, and cognitive decline,
      but some patients have isolated seizures either at first presentation or during
      their illness. This review summarizes our current understanding of the roles of
      specific neuronal antibodies in epilepsy-related syndromes and aims to aid the
      clinician in diagnosis and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Antigen discovery methods
      in three neuroimmunology centres independently identified antibodies to different
      subunits of the gamma amino butyric acid-A receptor; high levels of these
      antibodies were found mainly in patients with severe refractory seizures. These
      and other antibodies were also found in a proportion (<10%) of children and
      adults with epilepsy. A clinical study comparing immunotherapy in patients with
      autoantibodies or without an identified target antigen found neuroinflammatory
      features were predictive of a therapeutic response. New in-vitro and in-vivo
      studies, and spontaneous animal models, have confirmed the pathogenicity and
      epileptogenicity of neuronal antibodies and their relevance to other mammals.
      SUMMARY: Neuronal antibodies are an important cause of autoimmune epileptic
      encephalopathy, early recognition is important as there may be an underlying
      tumour, and early treatment is associated with a better outcome. In the absence
      of an antibody, the clinician should adopt a pragmatic approach and consider a
      trial of immunotherapy when other causes have been excluded.

PMID- 26886360
TI  - Recent advances in status epilepticus.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review discusses advances in the understanding of the
      mechanisms of status epilepticus and its current treatment approaches. Many of
      these have been topics at the 5th London-Innsbruck Colloquium on status
      epilepticus 2015. RECENT FINDINGS: A new definition and classification of status
      epilepticus was proposed, which is expected to improve treatment and stimulate
      research. A better understanding of the failure of seizure suppressing mechanisms
      and the initiation of self-sustaining seizures begins to translate into the
      clinical arena. Drugs, such as allopregnanolone, cannabinoids, sec
      butylpropylacetamide and valnoctamide, may better target these seizure
      perpetuating mechanisms. The concept of combinatorial treatments has further
      developed, but yet trials in humans are lacking. A new prognostic outcome-score
      and electroencephalography-criteria for nonconvulsive status epilepticus are
      ready for clinical use. Alternative routes, such as intranasal or buccal, have
      been explored in a number of trials suggesting that intramuscular midazolam is at
      least as effective as intravenous lorazepam and buccal or intranasal midazolam is
      at least as effective as rectal diazepam. SUMMARY: Despite progress in basic
      science, translation into the clinical field remains difficult. There is hope,
      that the two large phase III studies in the established and refractory status
      that started recruitment in 2015 will better inform the clinicians in this
      emergency situation.

PMID- 26886361
TI  - Effects on fibrinogen, fibrin, and blood coagulation of proteolytic extracts from
      fruits of Pseudananas macrodontes, Bromelia balansae, and B. hieronymi
      (Bromeliaceae) in comparison with bromelain.
AB  - Extracts rich in cysteine proteases obtained from fruits of Pseudananas
      macrodontes (Pm), Bromelia balansae (Bb), and B. hieronymi (Bh) have previously
      shown an anti-inflammatory effect on animal models. Given the close relationship
      between hemostasis and inflammation, it is attractive to investigate therapeutic
      agents capable of modulating both systems. The aim of this work was to study the
      effect of Pm, Bb, and Bh on fibrin(ogen) and blood coagulation compared with stem
      bromelain (Bro). Action on fibrinogen was electrophoretically and
      spectrophotometrically evaluated, fibrinolytic activity was measured both
      electrophoretically and by the fibrin plate assay, and the effect on blood
      coagulation was studied by conventional coagulation tests (PT and APPT). All
      extracts showed the same proteolytic preference for fibrinogen subunits, that is
      Aalpha > Bbeta, whereas gamma was partially hydrolyzed by 100-fold concentration
      increase. Unlike Bro, cysteine proteases of Pm, Bb, and Bh increased absorbance
      at 540 nm of fibrinogen solution, suggesting thrombin-like activity, which was
      time-dependent and reached maximum values at lower concentration. All extracts
      showed the same proteolytic preference for fibrin subunits; however Pm, Bb, and
      Bh showed lower fibrinolytic activity than Bro at the assayed concentrations.
      Although Bb acted only as anticoagulant, Pm, Bh, and unexpectedly Bro showed dual
      action on blood coagulation: at low concentration showed procoagulant effect and
      at high concentration anticoagulant effect. Results reveal new plant species as
      potential sources of pharmacological agents for the treatment of a wide range of
      hemostatic disorders as well as to wound healing. 

PMID- 26886362
TI  - Patterns of international normalized ratio values among new warfarin patients
      with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
AB  - Limited information exists regarding the relationship between international
      normalized ratio (INR) control/stability and the discontinuation of warfarin
      therapy among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study
      evaluated the association between INR stabilization and warfarin discontinuation
      and assessed INR patterns before and after INR stabilization among patients (>=18
      years) with NVAF who newly initiated warfarin (Veterans Health Administration
      datasets; October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2012). Achievement of INR
      stabilization (>=3 consecutive in-range therapeutic INR measurements >=7 days
      apart) was examined from warfarin initiation through the end of warfarin
      exposure. Proportion of time in therapeutic range during warfarin exposure was
      calculated (Rosendaal method) and categorized as at least 60% or less than 60%.
      Among 34 346 patients, 49.4% achieved INR stabilization (mean time to
      stabilization, 98 days). Approximately 40% of INR values were out-of-range, even
      after achieving stabilization. During 30 days following an INR 4.0 or higher,
      patients had more INR testing than the overall mean (2.51 vs. 1.67 tests).
      Warfarin discontinuation was 4.2 times more likely among patients without INR
      stabilization versus those with INR stabilization (P < 0.00001). Patients with
      poor INR control (time in therapeutic range <60%) were 1.76 times more likely to
      discontinue warfarin within 1 year (P < 0.0001). INR stabilization is a better
      predictor of warfarin discontinuation than poor INR control. Improved approaches
      are necessary to maintain appropriate anticoagulation levels among patients with
      NVAF.

PMID- 26886363
TI  - A case of congenital prothrombin deficiency and idiopathic thrombocytopenic
      purpura in a pregnant female.
AB  - Hereditary prothrombin deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder with an
      estimated incidence of 1 in 2 million . Presentation of the disease is variable;
      however, it is usually associated with moderate to severe bleeding tendencies
      including muscle hematomas, hemarthrosis, intracranial, mucosal, and
      postoperative bleeding. Here we report a case of a 35-year-old pregnant woman
      with congenital hypoprothrombinemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura,
      review the literature, and discuss its epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and
      treatment.

PMID- 26886364
TI  - [Accuracy of probabilistic record linkage for identifying deaths in a cohort of
      patients with decompensated heart failure].
AB  - Probabilistic record linkage has been used increasingly to identify outcomes in
      cohort studies. This study aimed to assess the method's accuracy for identifying
      deaths in a cohort of 450 patients admitted to a university hospital for
      decompensated heart failure over a six-year period. Vital status of cohort
      members was determined from electronic patient file data (gold standard).
      OpenRecLink software was used to link cohort records with those from the
      Mortality Information System, aimed at identifying deaths. Only 53.6% of patients
      had vital status known at the end of follow-up, and 59.3% of these had died. The
      method showed 97.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive
      value, 97% negative predictive value, and 98.8% accuracy. The results suggest
      probabilistic record linkage as a valuable tool for identifying deaths in cohort
      studies. 

PMID- 26886365
TI  - Innovation, quality and quantity: choose two.

PMID- 26886366
TI  - [Determinants of equity in financing medicines in Argentina: an empirical study].
AB  - Medicines are an important part of household health spending. A progressive
      system for financing drugs is thus essential for an equitable health system. Some
      authors have proposed that the determinants of equity in drug financing are
      socioeconomic, demographic, and associated with public interventions, but little
      progress has been made in the empirical evaluation and quantification of their
      relative importance. The current study estimated quantile regressions at the
      provincial level in Argentina and found that old age (> 65 years), unemployment,
      the existence of a public pharmaceutical laboratory, treatment transfers, and a
      health system orientated to primary care were important predictors of progressive
      payment schemes. Low income, weak institutions, and insufficient infrastructure
      and services were associated with the most regressive social responses to health
      needs, thereby aggravating living conditions and limiting development
      opportunities. 

PMID- 26886367
TI  - Walking, body mass index, and self-rated health in a representative sample of
      Spanish adults.
AB  - Obesity and physical inactivity (PI) are risk factors for chronic diseases and
      are associated with lifestyle and environmental factors. The study tested the
      association between PI, body mass index (BMI), and self-rated health in a
      representative sample of the Spanish adult population (N = 21,486). The sample
      included 41.5% men, with mean age 52.3 years (+/- 18.03), and age range 20-82
      years. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 34.2%/12.7% in women and 52.1%/12.7%
      in men (p < 0.001 for obesity in both sexes). 53% of women and 57.5% of men met
      recommended levels of physical activity by walking (>= 150 minutes/week).
      According to logistic regression analysis, individuals that walked less had
      higher risk of overweight or obesity. Data from the population-based surveillance
      study support suggestions that regular walking by adults is associated with
      positive self-rated health and better BMI profile. Obesity and low/very low self
      rated health have low prevalence rates to meet the recommendations. 

PMID- 26886368
TI  - [Prevalence of illicit drug use and associated factors during pregnancy in the
      BRISA cohort].
AB  - This study analyzes the prevalence of illicit drug use and associated factors
      during pregnancy. This was a cross-sectional study of participants in the BRISA
      prenatal care cohort. Frequencies and hierarchical logistic regression were used.
      Estimated prevalence rates were 1.45% for illicit drug use, 22.32% for alcohol
      consumption, and 4.22% for smoking. The study population was mostly young (81% in
      the 20-34-year bracket), with 9 to 11 years of schooling (75.55%), with more than
      half of the women outside the workforce (52.18%), and in economic class "C"
      (67.61%). Pregnant women showed a high level of stress (24.46%), moderate to
      intense anxiety (40.84%), and severe depressive symptoms (28.8%). Approximately
      half (49.72%) of the pregnant women reported some type of violence, and they had
      wide networks (72.77%) and low social support (65.21%). Use of legal drugs, high
      stress levels, and single parenthood were independently associated with illicit
      drug use in pregnancy. 

PMID- 26886369
TI  - [Litigation and the right to health in Argentina].
AB  - This article explores the characteristics of lawsuits for obtaining access to
      healthcare through the Argentine Supreme Court and reflects on the potential to
      influence health rights and equity in a context of growing litigation. An
      analysis of documents from 125 lawsuits with verdicts issued from 1994 to 2013
      showed a majority of individual claims (88% of claimants were individual physical
      persons), and of claimants covered by social security or private insurance (64%)
      with typical private legal counsel (87% claiming coverage of a medical service).
      75% of the verdicts simply ordered the provision of the claimed health services,
      without highlighting failures in the healthcare system or mandating measures to
      promote equity and guarantee the right to health for other persons subject to the
      same situation as the claimant. Thus far, litigation in health has failed to
      actively promote either health equity, the right to health, or inter
      institutional dialogue. 

PMID- 26886373
TI  - Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy in the Epididymis: A Brief Report and
      Review of the Role of Chemotherapy in Management.
AB  - Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare benign tumor of neural crest
      origin. The tumor generally presents in the jawbones; however, it occasionally
      occurs in extracranial sites. Although 95% of these tumors present within the
      first year of life and 15% in extracranial locations, we report an unusual case
      of a 15-month-old male with melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy of the
      epididymis. The patient underwent orchiectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy or
      radiation. Twenty months later, there was no sign of recurrence. In addition, we
      discuss the role of chemotherapy and radiation and the potential importance of
      molecular genetics in establishing guidelines for management. 

PMID- 26886370
TI  - Does a Water Protocol Improve the Hydration and Health Status of Individuals with
      Thin Liquid Aspiration Following Stroke? A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - The benefit of water protocols for individuals with thin liquid aspiration
      remains controversial, with mixed findings from a small number of randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs). This study aimed to contribute to the evidence of the
      effectiveness of water protocols with a particular emphasis on health outcomes,
      especially hydration. An RCT was conducted with patients with known thin liquid
      aspiration post stroke randomized to receiving thickened liquids only or a water
      protocol. For the 14 participants in rehabilitation facilities whose data
      proceeded to analysis, there was no difference in the total amount of beverages
      consumed between the water protocol group (mean = 1103 ml per day, SD = 215 ml)
      and the thickened liquids only group (mean = 1103 ml, SD = 247 ml). Participants
      in the water protocol group drank on average 299 ml (SD 274) of water but offset
      this by drinking less of the thickened liquids. Their hydration improved over
      time compared with participants in the thickened liquids only group, but
      differences between groups were not significant. Twenty-one percent of the total
      sample was diagnosed with dehydration, and no participants in either group were
      diagnosed with pneumonia. There were significantly more diagnoses of urinary
      tract infection in the thickened liquids only group compared to the water
      protocol group (chi (2) = 5.091, p = 0.024), but no differences between groups
      with regard to diagnoses of dehydration (chi (2) = 0.884, p = 0.347) or
      constipation (chi (2) = 0.117, p = 0.733). The findings reinforce evidence about
      the relative safety of water protocols for patients in rehabilitation post stroke
      and provide impetus for future research into the potential benefits for hydration
      status and minimizing adverse health outcomes.

PMID- 26886371
TI  - Increased mRNA Levels of Sphingosine Kinases and S1P Lyase and Reduced Levels of
      S1P Were Observed in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Association with Poorer
      Differentiation and Earlier Recurrence.
AB  - Although sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been reported to play an important
      role in cancer pathophysiology, little is known about S1P and hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC). To clarify the relationship between S1P and HCC, 77 patients
      with HCC who underwent surgical treatment were consecutively enrolled in this
      study. In addition, S1P and its metabolites were quantitated by LC-MS/MS. The
      mRNA levels of sphingosine kinases (SKs), which phosphorylate sphingosine to
      generate S1P, were increased in HCC tissues compared with adjacent non-HCC
      tissues. Higher mRNA levels of SKs in HCC were associated with poorer
      differentiation and microvascular invasion, whereas a higher level of SK2 mRNA
      was a risk factor for intra- and extra-hepatic recurrence. S1P levels, however,
      were unexpectedly reduced in HCC compared with non-HCC tissues, and increased
      mRNA levels of S1P lyase (SPL), which degrades S1P, were observed in HCC compared
      with non-HCC tissues. Higher SPL mRNA levels in HCC were associated with poorer
      differentiation. Finally, in HCC cell lines, inhibition of the expression of SKs
      or SPL by siRNA led to reduced proliferation, invasion and migration, whereas
      overexpression of SKs or SPL enhanced proliferation. In conclusion, increased SK
      and SPL mRNA expression along with reduced S1P levels were more commonly observed
      in HCC tissues compared with adjacent non-HCC tissues and were associated with
      poor differentiation and early recurrence. SPL as well as SKs may be therapeutic
      targets for HCC treatment. 

PMID- 26886372
TI  - Helicobacter pylori-elicited induction in gastric mucosal matrix
      metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) release involves ERK-dependent cPLA2 activation and
      its recruitment to the membrane-localized Rac1/p38 complex.
AB  - Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases implicated in a
      wide rage of degenerative and inflammatory diseases, including Helicobacter
      pylori-associated gastritis, and gastric and duodenal ulcer. As gastric mucosal
      inflammatory responses to H. pylori are characterized by the rise in MMP-9
      production, as well as the induction in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)
      and Rac1 activation, we investigated the role of Rac1/MAPK in the processes
      associated with the release of MMP-9. We show that H. pylori LPS-elicited
      induction in gastric mucosal MMP-9 release is associated with MAPK, ERK and p38
      activation, and occurs with the involvement of Rac1 and cytosolic phospholipase
      A2 (cPLA2). Further, we demonstrate that the LPS-induced MMP-9 release requires
      ERK-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 on Ser(505) that is essential for its
      membrane localization with Rac1, and that this process necessitates p38
      participation. Moreover, we reveal that the activation and membrane translocation
      of p38 to the Rac1-GTP complex plays a pivotal role in cPLA2-dependent
      enhancement in MMP-9 release. Hence, our findings provide a strong evidence for
      the role of ERK/cPLA2 and Rac1/p38/cPLA2 cascade in H. pylori LPS-induced up
      regulation in gastric mucosal MMP-9 release. 

PMID- 26886374
TI  - Epstein-Barr Virus-related Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in
      Children: A Single-institution Experience.
AB  - We report 4 pediatric cases of biopsy-proven posttransplant lymphoproliferative
      disorder (PTLD) in the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation (HSCT). All cases showed diffuse staining with latent membrane
      protein-1 in immunohistochemistry. The median age at transplant of 4 patients
      with PTLD was 10.1 years (range, 2.2 to 13.2 y). The median interval between HSCT
      and the diagnosis of PTLD was 5.5 months (range, 4 to 8 mo). All patients were
      treated with rituximab at dosage of 375 mg/m at weekly intervals. Reduction of
      immunosuppression was warranted in all cases. All patients survived with median
      follow-up duration of 27 months. Although PTLD has been rare following allogeneic
      HSCT, reduction of immunosuppression combined with rituximab yielded significant
      response rates in patients with this infrequent but potentially lethal
      complication. The preliminary finding of this study demonstrated that severe
      aplastic anemia is closely associated with the development of PTLD in children. 

PMID- 26886375
TI  - Gorham-Stout Disease Successfully Treated With Sirolimus and Zoledronic Acid
      Therapy.
AB  - Gorham-Stout disease is a life-threatening disorder often manifested by lymphatic
      malformation and osteolysis. Unfortunately, available therapies are not uniformly
      effective and often carry substantial morbidity. We report an 18-year-old male
      with Gorham-Stout disease manifested by lytic rib lesions and an intractable
      pleural effusion that responded dramatically to the combination of the mammalian
      target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor sirolimus and the aminobisphosphonate
      zoledronic acid after failing interferon therapy. This tolerable therapeutic
      combination has demonstrated synergism in preclinical cancer models and merits
      further study in vascular anomalies. 

PMID- 26886376
TI  - Assessing the Immunogenic Response of a Single Center's Pneumococcal Vaccination
      Protocol in Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited hematologic disorder in
      the United States. Patients with SCD are at increased risk of invasive
      pneumococcal disease and are reliant on both early penicillin prophylaxis and
      antipneumococcal vaccination for prevention of infection. Although studies
      examining vaccine response have demonstrated a drop-off of titer response after 3
      years, an optimal vaccination regimen has not been identified. Our study sought
      to assess the immunogenicity of our center's pneumococcal vaccination strategy,
      which included Prevnar (PCV-7) (before the introduction of PCV-13) followed by
      Pneumovax (PPV-23) given routinely at 2 and 5 years of age and then every 5 years
      thereafter. Our goal was to assess vaccine response in a population of patients
      with SCD who had received vaccines according to this regimen using multiplex bead
      analysis. Our study demonstrated a significant percentage of persons with SCD do
      not maintain a sufficient vaccination response to PPV-23 for 5 years. Our study
      revealed that only 36% of patients had protective levels of antipneumococcal
      antibody titers at an average of 37 months after vaccination. Most alarmingly,
      within the group of patients with subtherapeutic titers, 64% demonstrated vaccine
      response to <25% of the tested serotypes. These findings were significantly
      associated with duration of time since last vaccine administration, but the mean
      age of lack of response was below the 3-year window where vaccine response was
      previously reported to wane. Our results indicate antipneumococcal immunity may
      not be optimally maintained using this vaccination strategy in patients with SCD
      leaving them vulnerable to invasive pneumococcal disease. Many pediatric
      hematologists stop prophylactic penicillin at 5 years of age making these results
      alarming. We recommend further investigation into an optimal vaccine schedule and
      monitoring of antipneumococcal titers in at-risk patients. 

PMID- 26886377
TI  - Myoepithelial Carcinoma: The Role of Radiation Therapy. A Case Report and
      Analysis of Data From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)
      Registry.
AB  - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The role of radiation therapy in the treatment of
      myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is unknown. We present a case of a high-grade soft
      tissue MC in a pediatric patient and retrospectively examine the effect of
      postoperative radiation on survival in patients with MC. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Our patient was treated with 4 cycles of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide
      followed by 3 cycles of ifosfamide vincristine and etoposide. Radiation was
      delivered to a total dose of 5580 cGy in 180 cGy/fraction to the surgical bed
      with a 2 cm margin starting after the third cycle of chemotherapy. The
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry database was queried
      for cases of surgically resected MC. Retrospective analysis was performed with
      the endpoint of overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-four cases of
      MC were identified; for 62 of these cases, the grade of the tumor wasidentified.
      Of these 62 patients, 27 received postoperative radiation. OS was improved with
      adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with grade III or IV MC (P<0.01) as
      determined by the log-rank test. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of SEER data showed
      an OS benefit with adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of high-grade MC.
      Physicians should report all cases of MC to improve clinical decision making in
      the treatment of this rare disease.

PMID- 26886378
TI  - True Evidence-Based Care for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military Personnel
      and Veterans.

PMID- 26886379
TI  - What would be missed if we didn't screen men who have sex with men for oral
      chlamydia trachomatis? A cross-sectional study.
AB  - Background This study aimed to describe oropharyngeal chlamydia (OCT) in gay and
      bisexually active men (GBM) attending a large urban sexual health clinic in
      Sydney and determine what proportion of cases would be missed if screening was
      not routine. METHODS: Retrospective data were extracted for all GBM with a
      positive OCT result between 1 October 2012 and 31 April 2014. The control group
      consisted of patients who had a negative OCT result on their first visit during
      the study period, and each patient was only counted once. RESULTS: A total of 74
      of 2920 GBM (0.03, 95% CI: 0.02-0.03) were diagnosed with OCT. The 2920 GBM had a
      total of 11226 OCT tests performed, demonstrating OCT test positivity of 0.006
      (95% CI: 0.005-0.008). A total of 62 sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
      were diagnosed at other sites: 34 rectal chlamydia (CT), 12 throat gonorrohea
      (GC), 7 urine CT, 7 rectal GC, 1 infectious syphilis and 1 non-gonoccal
      urethritis (NGU) case. Of the 74 OCT cases, 56 (0.76, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85) were
      treated with Azithromycin; 51 (69%) as part of standard treatment for their STI
      co-infection (34 rectal CT, 12 throat GC, 7 urine CT, 7 rectal GC, 1 NGU case)
      and a further five (7%) were treated as contacts. The remaining 18 people (0.24,
      95% CI: 0.15-0.36) would not have been treated unless they were tested
      specifically for OCT. CONCLUSION: Overall, two-thirds of the OCT cases received
      appropriate treatment and only a small number of cases would have been missed had
      routine screening not been performed. With an extremely low overall test
      positivity of 0.6%, screening for OCT at our service adds little to population
      level health control.

PMID- 26886380
TI  - Exploring the Microbiome in Heart Failure.
AB  - Recent years have brought interesting insights into the human gut microbiota and
      have highlighted its increasingly recognized impact on cardiovascular (CV)
      diseases, including heart failure (HF). Changes in composition of gut microbiota,
      called dysbiosis, can trigger systemic inflammation, which is known to be
      involved in the pathophysiology of HF. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is
      derived from gut microbiota metabolites of specific dietary nutrients, has
      emerged as a key contributor to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. Elevated
      TMAO levels have been reported to be associated with poor outcomes in patients
      with both HF and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dysbiosis of gut microbiota can
      contribute to higher levels of TMAO and the generation of uremic toxins,
      progressing to both HF and CKD. Therefore, this bidirectional relationship
      between HF and CKD through gut microbiota may be a novel therapeutic target for
      the cardiorenal syndrome. However, the mechanisms by which gut microbiota could
      influence the development of heart failure are still unknown, and there are still
      some questions regarding the causative effects of TMAO and the underlying
      mechanistic link that explains how TMAO might directly or indirectly promote CV
      diseases including HF. Further studies are warranted to clarify the function of
      TMAO on the pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome and the handling of TMAO
      levels by the kidneys. 

PMID- 26886381
TI  - Evolving Concepts of Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Left Heart Disease.
AB  - Pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease is the most common form
      of pulmonary hypertension. Although its pathophysiology remains incompletely
      understood, it is now well recognized that the presence of pulmonary hypertension
      is associated with a worse prognosis. Right ventricular failure has independent
      and additive prognostic value over pulmonary hypertension for adverse outcomes in
      left heart disease. Recently, several new terminologies have been introduced to
      better define and characterize the nature and severity of pulmonary hypertension.
      Several new treatment options including the use of pulmonary arterial
      hypertension specific therapies are being considered, but there is lack of
      evidence. Here, we review the recent advances in this field and summarize the
      diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of use in the management of pulmonary
      hypertension associated with left heart disease. 

PMID- 26886382
TI  - Decreased Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Toll-Like Receptor 7/8-Induced Cytokines in
      Parkinson's Disease Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed in several immune cells
      including blood monocytes and resident macrophages, such as microglia in the
      central nervous system. TLRs recognize pathogen- or damage-associated molecular
      patterns, leading to the release of inflammatory and toxic molecules, which can
      contribute to neuroinflammation associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim
      of this study was to compare the potential of peripheral blood cells from PD
      patients or healthy subjects to produce cytokines after exposure to TLR agonists,
      and to investigate TLR2 and TLR4 expression on monocyte subsets. METHODS: Twenty
      one patients and 21 healthy controls were recruited. Patients were evaluated
      according to the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and Hoehn and Yahr
      stage. Cytokines were measured in supernatants of whole blood cultures after
      incubation with TLR2, TLR4, or TLR7/8 agonists, by cytometric bead array.
      Expression of CD14, CD16, TLR2, and TLR4 was analyzed by cytometry. RESULTS:
      Patient blood cells produced lower levels of cytokines in response to TLR2 and
      also after TLR7/8/R848 activation than controls. Percentages of CD14+CD16+ or
      CD14+CD16- monocytes and TLR2 and TLR4 expression were similar between patients
      and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Blood leukocyte TLR2 and TLR7/8 responses are impaired
      in PD. This was neither associated with imbalance in monocyte subsets nor with
      TLR2/TLR4 expression on these cells. The association between a decreased TLR
      response in periphery and damage of brain in PD must be further investigated.

PMID- 26886383
TI  - Effect of using a laryngeal tube on the no-flow time in a simulated, single
      rescuer, basic life support setting with inexperienced users.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The laryngeal tube (LT) is a recommended alternative to endotracheal
      intubation during advanced life support (ALS). Its insertion is relatively
      simple; therefore, it may also serve as an alternative to bag mask ventilation
      (BMV) for untrained personnel performing basic life support (BLS). Data support
      the influence of LT on the no-flow time (NFT) compared with BMV during ALS in
      manikin studies. METHODS: We performed a manikin study to investigate the effect
      of using the LT for ventilation instead of BMV on the NFT during BLS in a
      prospective, randomized, single-rescuer study. All 209 participants were trained
      in BMV, but were inexperienced in using LT; each participant performed BLS during
      a 4-min time period. RESULTS: No significant difference in total NFT (LT: mean
      81.1 +/- 22.7 s; BMV: mean 83.2 +/- 13.1 s, p = 0.414) was found; however,
      significant differences in the later periods of the scenario were identified.
      While ventilating with the LT, the proportion of chest compressions increased
      significantly from 67.2 to 73.2%, whereas the proportion of chest compressions
      increased only marginally when performing BMV. The quality of the chest
      compressions and the associated ventilation rate did not differ significantly.
      The mean tidal volume and mean minute volume were significantly lower when
      performing BMV. CONCLUSIONS: The NFT was significantly shorter in the later
      periods in a single-rescuer, cardiac arrest scenario when using an LT without
      previous training compared with BMV with previous training. A possible
      explanation for this result may be the complexity and workload of alternating
      tasks (e.g., time loss when reclining the head and positioning the mask for each
      ventilation during BMV).

PMID- 26886384
TI  - [Implementation of regularly performed resuscitation training at a hyperbaric
      treatment center].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medical emergency situations and even cardiac arrest can occur during
      treatment of patients in therapeutic hyperbaric chambers just as in other
      clinical departments; therefore, high quality structured management should be
      implemented for dealing with emergencies in this special working area. To ensure
      this the emergency medical treatment should not only be performed according to
      the current state of medical knowledge but needs to take the special features of
      the hyperbaric environment including safety aspects into account. METHOD: This
      article presents a description of the implementation and effects of routine
      emergency and resuscitation training at a center for hyperbaric medicine.
      RESULTS: By simulation of emergencies in a hyperbaric chamber it rapidly became
      clear that the treatment of medical emergencies and cardiac arrest under
      hyperbaric conditions has some special features and due to safety aspects cannot
      always be performed according to current medical guidelines. At the time of this
      simulation in a real life working environment, previously unknown structural and
      logistic problems became obvious whereby the solutions contributed to a
      significant improvement of structural and process quality and could potentially
      also improve the outcome quality. Furthermore, a positive and lasting learning
      effect in the fields of quality of resuscitation measures, organization of the
      workplace, communication skills, logistics and safety aspects was detectable by
      analyzing participant performance over a period of 4 years. On the part of the
      participating staff a positive feedback and high acceptance of emergency
      simulator training was confirmed. CONCLUSION: Through annual compulsory emergency
      training of the complete staff of the hyperbaric unit at the actual workplace, a
      structural and confident approach to dealing with emergencies and resuscitation
      situations was observed. By the use of on-site simulator training even in
      specialized hospital units, deficits and tentativeness regarding logistics,
      course of action, organization and communication in emergency situations can be
      minimized to provide optimum patient care in a real life emergency situation by
      focusing on the medical measures.

PMID- 26886385
TI  - Radiographic vertebral fractures develop in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
      during 4 years of TNF-alpha blocking therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and incidence of radiographic vertebral
      fractures in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with TNF-alpha blocking
      therapy for 4 years and to explore the relationship with patient characteristics,
      clinical assessments, radiographic damage, and bone mineral density (BMD).
      METHODS: This study included consecutive AS patients with active disease from the
      Groningen Leeuwarden AS (GLAS) cohort treated with TNF-alpha blocking therapy for
      4 years and with available thoracic and lumbar radiographs at baseline and at 4
      years. Vertebral fractures were assessed by two readers (mild: >=20-<25%,
      moderate: >=25-<40%, severe: >=40% reduction in vertebral height). RESULTS: In 27
      of 105 (26%) AS patients, radiographic vertebral fractures were observed at
      baseline. These patients were significantly older, had larger occiput-to-wall
      distance, and more spinal radiographic damage. During 4 years of TNF-alpha
      blocking therapy, 21 (20%) patients developed at least one new fracture. Older
      age, smoking, higher BASFI, low lumbar spine BMD (Z-score <=-2), presence of
      moderate vertebral fractures, and use of anti-osteoporotic treatment at baseline
      were associated with the development of new fractures. Most fractures were mild
      and occurred in the thoracic spine. The improvement in lateral spinal mobility
      and lumbar spine BMD during treatment was significantly less in patients with new
      fractures (median change of 0.8 vs. 2.8 cm and 0.3 vs. 0.8 Z-score,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of radiographic vertebral fractures
      was high in AS patients with active disease. Although clinical assessments and
      BMD improved significantly, new vertebral fractures still developed during 4
      years of TNF-alpha blocking therapy.

PMID- 26886386
TI  - Characteristics and outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
      recipients in the VA Healthcare System.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
      placement is an effective treatment for complications of portal hypertension. We
      aimed to describe post-TIPS mortality and its predictors in the modern era of
      covered stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified patients with cirrhosis who
      underwent TIPS insertion at Veterans Affairs Healthcare facilities nationally
      from 2004 to 2014 (n=703), most of which (95%) were performed as elective
      procedures. We followed patients until the date of death, transplantation, or the
      end of the observation period. RESULTS: TIPS recipients had a mean age of 59.3
      years (SD 8) and 97% were men. The mean Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD)
      score was 13 (SD 4.8); 47% had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 48% had
      variceal hemorrhage, and 40% had ascites. During a mean follow-up of 1.72 years
      (SD 1.9), 57.5% of TIPS recipients died (n=404) and only 5.3% underwent liver
      transplantation (n=37). The median survival after TIPS was 1.74 years
      (interquartile range 0.3-4.7). Thirty-day mortality after TIPS was 11.6% [95%
      confidence interval (CI) 9.4-14.2], 1-year mortality was 40.3% (95% CI 36.7
      44.2), and 3-year mortality was 61.9% (95% CI 57.9-66.0). Independent predictors
      of post-TIPS mortality included medical comorbidity burden, low albumin, HCV
      infection, and high MELD score (or high international normalized ratio and
      bilirubin when the components of the MELD score were analyzed individually). TIPS
      revision was performed at least once in 27.3% of TIPS recipients. CONCLUSION:
      TIPS should not be considered simply as a bridge to transplantation. Burden of
      extra-hepatic comorbidities, HCV infection, and low serum albumin strongly
      predict post-TIPS mortality in addition to the MELD score.

PMID- 26886387
TI  - Uric acid in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PMID- 26886390
TI  - Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) and the hallmarks of cancer.
AB  - The kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) represent the largest family of serine
      proteases within the human genome and are expressed in various tissues. Although
      they regulate several important physiological functions, KLKs have also been
      implicated in numerous pathophysiological processes, including cancer. Growing
      evidence describing the deregulation of KLK expression and secretion, as well as
      activation in various malignancies, has uncovered their potential as mediators of
      cancer progression, biomarkers of disease and as candidate therapeutic targets.
      The diversity of signalling pathways and proteolytic cascades involving KLKs and
      their downstream targets appears to affect cancer biology through multiple
      mechanisms, including those related to the hallmarks of cancer. The aim of this
      review is to provide an update on the importance of KLK-driven molecular pathways
      in relation to cancer cell traits associated with the hallmarks of cancer and to
      highlight their potential in personalized therapeutics.

PMID- 26886391
TI  - Staff members' perceived training needs regarding sexuality in residential aged
      care facilities.
AB  - The purpose of the article is to ascertain if staff members of residential aged
      care facilities (RACF) perceive the need for training regarding residents'
      sexuality, and what, if any, benefits from the training were perceived, and to
      compare perceived benefits of training between care assistants and
      professional/managerial staff. Interviews were conducted with 53 staff members of
      five different RACF in Spain. Their responses to two semistructured questions
      were transcribed verbatim and submitted to content analysis. Results show that
      most interviewees said they lacked training about sexuality and aging. Two
      potential highlighted benefits of the training are knowledge/attitudinal
      (countering negative attitudes regarding sexuality) and procedural (developing
      common protocols and tools to manage situations related to sexuality). Care
      assistants and professional staff agreed on the need for training, though the
      former emphasized the procedural impact and the latter the knowledge/attitudinal
      benefits. The results suggest that RACF staff should have an opportunity to
      receive training on residents' sexuality, as sexual interest and behavior is a
      key dimension of residents' lives.

PMID- 26886392
TI  - Interactions between Carboxylic Acids and Heteroaromatics: A Rotational Study of
      Formic Acid-Pyridine.
AB  - The rotational spectra of four isotopologues of the 1:1 complex between formic
      acid and pyridine show that the two units are linked together through a
      "classical" (OH...N) and a weak (CH...O) hydrogen bond. The molecular system
      appears quite rigid and no effects of the internal motions have been observed in
      the spectrum. The dissociation energy obtained from the centrifugal distortion by
      applying an approximate model, 39.8 kJ/mol, is quite similar to the ab initio
      value, 41.7 kJ/mol. Its relatively high value suggests a small charge transfer to
      take place. 

PMID- 26886393
TI  - Stereo-, Regio-, and Chemoselective [3 + 2]-Cycloaddition of (2E,4E)-Ethyl 5
      (Phenylsulfonyl)penta-2,4-dienoate with Various Azomethine Ylides, Nitrones, and
      Nitrile Oxides: Synthesis of Pyrrolidine, Isoxazolidine, and Isoxazoline
      Derivatives and a Computational Study.
AB  - One-pot chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective synthesis of series of heterocyclic
      and spiroheterocyclic compounds was accomplished through mono- and bis[3 + 2]
      cycloaddition reactions of (2E,4E)-ethyl 5-(phenylsulfonyl)penta-2,4-dienoate as
      a dipolarophile with azomethine ylides, nitrones, and nitrile oxides in good
      yields. The structures of the products were established by spectroscopic
      techniques as well as by single-crystal XRD study, and DFT calculations were
      performed to further understand the mechanism of this [3 + 2]-cycloaddition
      reaction. 

PMID- 26886389
TI  - Computed tomography of pulmonary changes in rheumatoid arthritis:
      carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a marker of airway disease.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) classically affects the joints, but can present extra
      articular manifestations, including pulmonary disease. The present study aimed to
      identify possible risk factors or laboratory markers for lung involvement in RA,
      particularly the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated peptide
      antibodies (ACPA), and tumor markers, by correlating them with changes observed
      on chest high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT). This cross-sectional
      study involved RA patients who were examined and questioned by a specialist
      physician and later subjected to chest HRCT and blood collection for measurement
      of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid
      factor (RF), ACPA (anti-vimentin and/or anti-CCP3), and the tumor markers
      carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9. A total of 96
      patients underwent chest HRCT. The most frequent findings were bronchial
      thickening (27/28.1 %) and bronchiectasis (25/26 %). RF was present in 63.2 % of
      patients (55/87), and ACPA (anti-vimentin or anti-CCP3) was present in 72.7 % of
      patients (64/88). CEA levels were high in 14 non-smokers (37.8 %) and 23 smokers
      (62.2 %). CA-19-9 levels were high in 6 of 86 patients (7.0 %), CA 15-3 levels
      were high in 3 of 85 patients (3.5 %), and CA 125 levels were high in 4 of 75
      patients (5.3 %). Multivariate analysis indicated a statistically significant
      association between high CEA levels and the presence of airway changes in
      patients with RA (p = 0.048). CEA can serve as a predictor of lung disease in RA
      and can help identify individuals who require more detailed examination for the
      presence of respiratory disorders. 

PMID- 26886388
TI  - Cardiac involvement in primary systemic vasculitis and potential drug therapies
      to reduce cardiovascular risk.
AB  - Cardiac involvement is common in primary systemic vasculitides and may be due to
      direct effect of the disease on the heart or due to therapy. We shall review
      involvement of the heart in the various forms of primary systemic vasculitis.
      Among anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV),
      eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis most commonly involves the heart.
      Involvement of the heart confers poorer prognosis in AAV, which is also
      complicated by increased risk of cardiovascular events. Kawasaki's disease (KD)
      is the most common form of medium-vessel vasculitis to affect the heart, with
      coronary artery aneurysms being the most common manifestation. These predispose
      patients with KD to develop premature ischemic heart disease. Takayasu's
      arteritis is the most common large-vessel vasculitis to involve the heart and can
      result in aortic incompetence, myocarditis, or coronary heart disease.
      Involvement of the heart in Behcet's disease is usually in the form of
      intracardiac mass lesions, thrombosis, or endomyocardial fibrosis. Drugs used in
      the treatment of systemic vasculitis influence the risk of developing
      cardiovascular events. Corticosteroid therapy has been shown to increase the risk
      of myocardial infarction, whereas methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate
      mofetil, rituximab, and anti-tumor necrosis alpha agents favorably modulate the
      risk of cardiovascular events, predominantly by dampening systemic inflammation.
      Awareness of cardiac involvement in vasculitis and accelerated cardiovascular
      risk in these patients should help clinicians to maximize the modulation of
      modifiable risk factors for heart disease in these individuals.

PMID- 26886394
TI  - Inflammatory Contribution of Platelets Revisited: New Players in the Arena of
      Inflammation.
AB  - Platelet-derived mediators, either in an autocrine or paracrine mode of action,
      regulate systemic and vascular inflammation as well as contribute to innate
      immune defense and also to regenerative mechanisms. This review reevaluates the
      impact of inflammatory mediators such as CXC-chemokine-Ligands, their receptors
      in modulating platelet functions and platelet survival, thereby influencing
      inflammatory or regenerative processes. We further explore the contribution of
      cyclophilin A and C-reactive protein in regulating thrombotic and hemostatic
      attributes of platelets. Moreover, we emphasize on the role of platelets as
      active components bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses, toll-like
      receptors on platelets, platelet interactions with the complement system, and
      platelet-derived thrombocidins exhibiting direct antimicrobial properties. As
      highlighted in this review, the multifaceted aspects of platelets and platelet
      derived factors encourage further investigations in this intriguing and expansive
      but largely uncharted area of research in platelet biology. 

PMID- 26886395
TI  - Platelet Function Testing in Patients on Antiplatelet Medications.
AB  - Guidelines provide a Class IA recommendation for the use of dual antiplatelet
      therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However,
      there is interindividual variability in the pharmacodynamic response to
      antiplatelet medications. Some patients present with a status of high on
      treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) during platelet function testing after
      standard doses of antiplatelet drugs, reflecting a failure to achieve adequate
      platelet inhibition. As an example, patients with HPR on clopidogrel are at
      increased risk for thrombotic events, particularly for stent thrombosis and
      myocardial infarction, but cardiovascular mortality is also elevated. On the
      contrary, low on-treatment platelet reactivity or an enhanced response to
      antiplatelet medications has been linked to a higher risk for bleeding. Although
      both thrombotic and bleeding events are multifactorial in origin, there is
      supportive evidence for the prognostic value of platelet function testing for
      risk prediction of both sides of the coin. However, although small studies have
      provided evidence that treatment adjustments based on platelet function testing
      results may improve clinical outcomes, the available randomized controlled trials
      showed no benefit of modifying antiplatelet treatment based on platelet function
      testing. This review presents the current evidence regarding platelet function
      testing in patients undergoing PCI. The prognostic value of platelet function
      testing regarding ischemic and bleeding events is highlighted. Furthermore, the
      value of platelet function testing for guiding treatment and possible
      explanations for the so-far negative trial results are presented. The possible
      future role of platelet function testing for individualized antiplatelet
      treatment regimens in high-risk patients will be also discussed. 

PMID- 26886396
TI  - Platelet Function Tests in Bleeding Disorders.
AB  - Functional disorders of platelets can involve any aspect of platelet physiology,
      with many different effects or outcomes. These include platelet numbers
      (thrombocytosis or thrombocytopenia); changes in platelet production or
      destruction, or capture to the liver (Ashwell receptor); altered adhesion to
      vascular injury sites and/or influence on hemostasis and wound healing; and
      altered activation or receptor functions, shape change, spreading and release
      reactions, procoagulant and antifibrinolytic activity. Procoagulant membrane
      alterations, and generation of thrombin and fibrin, also affect platelet
      aggregation. The above parameters can all be studied, but standardization and
      quality control of assay methods have been limited despite several efforts. Only
      after a comprehensive clinical bleeding assessment, including family history,
      information on drug use affecting platelets, and exclusion of coagulation factor,
      and tissue deficits, should platelet function testing be undertaken to confirm an
      abnormality. Current diagnostic tools include blood cell counts, platelet
      characteristics according to the cell counter parameters, peripheral blood smear,
      exclusion of pseudothrombocytopenia, whole blood aggregometry (WBA) or light
      transmission aggregometry (LTA) in platelet-rich plasma, luminescence, platelet
      function analysis (PFA-100) for platelet adhesion and deposition to collagen
      cartridges under blood flow, and finally transmission electron microscopy to
      exclude rare structural defects leading to functional deficits. The most
      validated test panels are included in WBA, LTA, and PFA. Because platelets are
      isolated from their natural environment, many simplifications occur, as
      circulating blood and interaction with vascular wall are omitted in these assays.
      The target to reach a highly specific platelet disorder diagnosis in routine
      clinical management can be exhaustive, unless needed for genetic counseling. The
      elective overall assessment of platelet function disorder primarily aims at
      better management of hemostasis in case of emergency surgery or other
      interventions and acute bleeding events. 

PMID- 26886398
TI  - Platelet Function Determined by Flow Cytometry: New Perspectives?
AB  - Flow cytometry enables studies of several different aspects of platelet function
      in response to a variety of platelet agonists. This can be done using only a
      small volume of whole blood, and also in blood with low platelet counts. These
      properties, together with the increasing number of flow cytometers available in
      hospitals worldwide, make flow cytometry an interesting option for laboratories
      interested in studies of platelet function in different clinical settings. This
      review focuses on practical issues regarding the use of flow cytometry for
      platelet function testing. It provides an overview of available activation
      markers, platelet agonists, and experimental setup issues. The review summarizes
      previous experience and factors important to consider to perform high-quality
      platelet function testing by flow cytometry. It also discusses its current use
      and possibilities and challenges for future use of flow cytometry in clinical
      settings. 

PMID- 26886397
TI  - Platelets and Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and
      Diabetes.
AB  - Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of cardiovascular events.
      Despite advances in medical and interventional therapy, cardiovascular morbidity
      and mortality remains high in patients with diabetes. Although accelerated
      atherosclerosis has long been recognized as an underlying cause, recent studies
      suggest that changes in platelets and coagulation also play important roles.
      Patients with diabetes exhibit a prothrombotic milieu with hyperreactive
      platelets and coagulation abnormalities. Thus, prevention of cardiovascular
      events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes involves a
      multifactorial approach including treatment of risk factors such as dyslipidemia,
      obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hypercoagulation. An impaired response
      to antiplatelet therapy has been consistently reported and optimization of this
      therapy seems appropriate to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in these
      patients. In this review, platelet abnormalities are summarized together with an
      update of benefits and limitations of antiplatelet therapy in patients with CAD
      and diabetes. 

PMID- 26886399
TI  - Decaheme Cytochrome MtrF Adsorption and Electron Transfer on Gold Surface.
AB  - Emergent electrical properties of multiheme cytochromes have promising
      applications. We performed hybrid simulations (molecular dynamics, free energy
      computation, and kinetic Monte Carlo) to study decaheme cytochrome, MtrF
      adsorption on an Au (111) surface in water and the electron transfer (ET)
      efficiency. Our results reveal that the gold surface's dehydration serves as a
      crucial driving force for protein adsorption due to large surface tension. The
      most possible adsorption orientation is with the ET terminal (heme5) approaching
      the gold surface, which yields a pathway for ET between the substrate and the
      aqueous environment. Upon adsorption, protein's secondary structures and central
      domains (II and IV) bonded with heme-residues remain relatively stable. MtrF
      surface mobility is dictated by thiol-gold interaction and strong binding between
      Au(111) and peptide aromatic groups. ET transfer rate across protein heme-network
      along the solvent-to-surface direction is slightly larger than that of the
      reverse direction, but lower than that of the solvation structure. 

PMID- 26886400
TI  - How gender-expectancy affects the processing of "them".
AB  - How sensitive is pronoun processing to expectancies based on real-world knowledge
      and language usage? The current study links research on the integration of gender
      stereotypes and number-mismatch to explore this question. It focuses on the use
      of them to refer to antecedents of different levels of gender-expectancy (low
      cyclist, high-mechanic, known-spokeswoman). In a rating task, them is considered
      increasingly unnatural with greater gender-expectancy. However, participants
      might not be able to differentiate high-expectancy and gender-known antecedents
      online because they initially search for plural antecedents (e.g., Sanford &
      Filik), and they make all-or-nothing gender inferences. An eye-tracking study
      reveals early differences in the processing of them with antecedents of high
      gender-expectancy compared with gender-known antecedents. This suggests that
      participants have rapid access to the expected gender of the antecedent and the
      level of that expectancy.

PMID- 26886401
TI  - Unrealistic Hope and Unnecessary Fear: Exploring How Sensationalistic News
      Stories Influence Health Behavior Motivation.
AB  - In light of the inherent conflict between the nature of science (slow, subject to
      correction) and the nature of news (immediate, dramatic, novel), this study
      examines the effect of emotional health news coverage on intentions to engage in
      protective health behaviors. One hundred seventy-seven students read news stories
      designed to evoke either fear or hope about human papillomavirus (HPV) followed
      by different levels of response efficacy information regarding an impending HPV
      vaccine. Results indicated no main effects for emotion frame or response
      efficacy, but a significant interaction suggested that emotionally-consistent
      presentations (fear/low efficacy; hope/high efficacy) boosted intentions to
      engage in protective actions relative to emotionally-inconsistent,
      sensationalized presentations (fear/high efficacy, hope/low efficacy). Consistent
      with the emotion-as-frame perspective, this effect was moderated by perceived
      knowledge about HPV prevention. Effects of the sensationalized story
      constructions on trust in health news were also evidenced. Implications for the
      role of emotional health news coverage in priming prior knowledge about
      preventative health behaviors, along with future research directions, are
      discussed.

PMID- 26886402
TI  - Generational differences in American students' reasons for going to college, 1971
      2014: The rise of extrinsic motives.
AB  - We examined generational differences in reasons for attending college among a
      nationally representative sample of college students (N = 8 million) entering
      college between 1971-2014. We validated the items on reasons for attending
      college against an established measure of extrinsic and intrinsic values among
      college students in 2014 (n = 189). Millennials (in college 2000s-2010s) and
      Generation X (1980s-1990s) valued extrinsic reasons for going to college ("to
      make more money") more, and anti-extrinsic reasons ("to gain a general education
      and appreciation of ideas") less than Boomers when they were the same age in the
      1960s-1970s. Extrinsic reasons for going to college were higher in years with
      more income inequality, college enrollment, and extrinsic values. These results
      mirror previous research finding generational increases in extrinsic values begun
      by GenX and continued by Millennials, suggesting that more recent generations are
      more likely to favor extrinsic values in their decision-making.

PMID- 26886405
TI  - Types and Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse: How Do They Matter in HIV
      Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Women in Methadone Treatment in New York City?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is often considered an important distal
      factor in HIV sexual risk behaviors; however, there are limited and mixed
      findings regarding this relationship among women experiencing substance use
      problems. In addition, research with this population of women has yet to examine
      differences in observed CSA-HIV sexual risk behaviors relationships by CSA type
      and characteristics. OBJECTIVES: This study examines relationships between CSA
      coding, type, and characteristics and HIV sexual risk behaviors with main
      intimate partners among a random sample of 390 women in methadone treatment in
      New York City who completed individual interviews with trained female
      interviewers. RESULTS: Findings from logistic regression analyses indicate that
      CSA predicts substance use with sexual activity, with variations by CSA coding,
      type, and characteristics; however, the role of CSA is more limited than
      expected. Having a main partner with HIV risk mediates some relationships between
      CSA and drinking four or more drinks prior to sex. Intimate partner violence is
      the most consistent predictor of sexual risk behaviors. Other salient factors
      include polysubstance use, depression, social support, recent incarceration,
      relationship characteristics, and HIV status. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: This study
      contributes to understanding of relationships between CSA and HIV sexual risk
      behaviors and key correlates associated with HIV sexual risk behaviors among
      women in methadone treatment. It also highlights the complexity of measuring CSA
      and its association with sexual risk behaviors and the importance of
      comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention that address psychological,
      relational, situational, and substance use experiences associated with sexual
      risk behaviors among this population.

PMID- 26886404
TI  - Cost of illness and illness perceptions in patients with fibromyalgia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The disease impact and economic burden of fibromyalgia (FM) are high
      for patients and society at large. Knowing potential determinants of economic
      costs may help in reducing this burden. Cognitive appraisals (perceptions) of the
      illness could affect costs. The present study estimated costs of illness in FM
      and examined the association between these costs and illness perceptions.
      METHODS: Questionnaire data of FM severity (FIQ), illness perceptions (IPQ-R-FM),
      productivity losses (SF-HLQ) and health care use were collected in a cohort of
      patients with FM. Costs were calculated and dichotomised (median split).
      Univariate and hierarchic logistic regression models examined the unique
      association of each illness perception with 1) health care costs and 2) costs of
      productivity losses. Covariates were FM severity, comorbidity and other illness
      perceptions. RESULTS: 280 patients participated: 95% female, mean age 42 (SD=12)
      years. Annualised costs of FM per patient were ?2944 for health care, and ?5731
      for productivity losses. In multivariate analyses, a higher disease impact (FIQ)
      and two of seven illness perceptions (IPQ-R-FM) were associated with high health
      care costs: 1) high scores on 'cyclical timeline' reflecting a fluctuating,
      unpredictable course and 2) low scores on 'emotional representations', thus not
      perceiving a connection between fibromyalgia and emotions. None of the variables
      was associated with productivity losses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that
      perceiving a fluctuating course and low emotional representation, which perhaps
      reflects somatic fixation, are associated with health care costs in FM. Future
      studies should examine whether targeting these illness perceptions results in
      reduction of costs.

PMID- 26886408
TI  - Kinetic Diversity of Striatal Dopamine: Evidence from a Novel Protocol for
      Voltammetry.
AB  - In vivo voltammetry reveals substantial diversity of dopamine kinetics in the rat
      striatum. To substantiate this kinetic diversity, we evaluate the temporal
      distortion of dopamine measurements arising from the diffusion-limited adsorption
      of dopamine to voltammetric microelectrodes. We validate two mathematical
      procedures for correcting adsorptive distortion, both of which substantiate that
      dopamine's apparent kinetic diversity is not an adsorption artifact.

PMID- 26886407
TI  - Metal (Ag, Cd, Cu, Ni, Tl, and Zn) Binding to Cytosolic Biomolecules in Field
      Collected Larvae of the Insect Chaoborus.
AB  - We characterized the biomolecules involved in handling cytosolic metals in larvae
      of the phantom midge (Chaoborus) collected from five mining-impacted lakes by
      determining the distribution of Ag, Cd, Cu, Ni, Tl, and Zn among pools of various
      molecular weights (HMW: high molecular weight, >670-40 kDa; MMW: medium molecular
      weight, 40-<1.3 kDa; LMW: low molecular weight, <1.3 kDa). Appreciable
      concentrations of nonessential metals were found in the potentially metal
      sensitive HMW (Ag and Ni) and LMW (Tl) pools, whereas the MMW pool, which
      includes metallothioneins (MTs) and metallothionein-like proteins and peptides
      (MTLPs), appears to be involved in Ag and Cd detoxification. Higher-resolution
      fractionation of the heat-stable protein (HSP) fraction revealed further
      differences in the partitioning of nonessential metals (i.e., Ag = Cd ? Ni ? Tl).
      These results provide unprecedented details about the metal-handling strategies
      employed by a metal-tolerant, freshwater animal in a field situation. 

PMID- 26886409
TI  - Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Survival in Terminal Cancer Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio (NLR) is a prognostic factor in
      cancer, although its prognostic significance in terminally ill cancer patients is
      not clear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of NLR with survival in
      patients with terminal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 205
      consecutive patients with terminal cancer admitted to a palliative care unit
      during 2014. RESULTS: The median value of NLR was 9.7. In univariable analysis,
      NLR of 10 or more was significantly associated with shorter survival and NLR
      further discriminated survival of each palliative prognostic index (PPI) group.
      In multivariable analysis, increased NLR (>=10) was associated with shorter
      survival (hazards ratio [HR] 1.54, p<0.005), along with poor performance status
      (HR 1.55, p < 0.011), high PPI score (HR 1.59, p<0.003), and hyperbilirubinemia
      (HR 1.84, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that elevated NLR was an
      independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with terminal cancer.

PMID- 26886410
TI  - Successful treatment of rapidly progressing severe fever with thrombocytopenia
      syndrome with neurological complications using intravenous immunoglobulin and
      corticosteroid.
AB  - Since the first report of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in
      China, diagnostic methods have evolved. Despite definitive diagnoses, SFTS
      management has focused on prevention and supportive care. Although conservative
      treatment is effective for mild cases, there is an urgent need for an effective
      therapeutic modality to treat severe cases because of the high mortality
      associated with these. In this study, we report two cases of SFTS with
      neurological manifestations that fully recovered after a combination treatment
      consisting of intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroid.

PMID- 26886406
TI  - National Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual House Calls for People with
      Parkinson's Disease: Interest and Barriers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delivering specialty care remotely directly into people's homes can
      enhance access for and improve the healthcare of individuals with chronic
      conditions. However, evidence supporting this approach is limited. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Connect.Parkinson is a randomized comparative effectiveness study that
      compares usual care of individuals with Parkinson's disease in the community with
      usual care augmented by virtual house calls with a Parkinson's disease specialist
      from 1 of 18 centers nationally. Individuals in the intervention arm receive four
      virtual visits from a Parkinson's disease specialist over 1 year via secure, Web
      based videoconferencing directly into their homes. All study activities,
      including recruitment, enrollment, and assessments, are conducted remotely. Here
      we report on interest, feasibility, and barriers to enrollment in this ongoing
      study. RESULTS: During recruitment, 11,734 individuals visited the study's Web
      site, and 927 unique individuals submitted electronic interest forms. Two hundred
      ten individuals from 18 states enrolled in the study from March 2014 to June
      2015, and 195 were randomized. Most participants were white (96%) and college
      educated (73%). Of the randomized participants, 73% had seen a Parkinson's
      disease specialist within the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals with
      Parkinson's disease, national interest in receiving remote specialty care
      directly into the home is high. Remote enrollment in this care model is feasible
      but is likely affected by differential access to the Internet.

PMID- 26886412
TI  - Methylotroph Infections and Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
AB  - Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by a
      defect in production of phagocyte-derived reactive oxygen species, which leads to
      recurrent infections with a characteristic group of pathogens not previously
      known to include methylotrophs. Methylotrophs are versatile environmental
      bacteria that can use single-carbon organic compounds as their sole source of
      energy; they rarely cause disease in immunocompetent persons. We have identified
      12 infections with methylotrophs (5 reported here, 7 previously reported) in
      patients with CGD. Methylotrophs identified were Granulibacter bethesdensis (9
      cases), Acidomonas methanolica (2 cases), and Methylobacterium lusitanum (1
      case). Two patients in Europe died; the other 10, from North and Central America,
      recovered after prolonged courses of antimicrobial drug therapy and, for some,
      surgery. Methylotrophs are emerging as disease-causing organisms in patients with
      CGD. For all patients, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was required for correct
      diagnosis. Geographic origin of the methylotroph strain may affect clinical
      management and prognosis.

PMID- 26886413
TI  - Cyclic Peptide-Decorated Self-Assembled Nanohybrids for Selective Recognition and
      Detection of Multivalent RNAs.
AB  - Although there has been substantial advancement in the development of
      nanostructures, the development of self-assembled nanostructures that can
      selectively recognize multivalent targets has been very difficult. Here we show
      the proof of concept that topology-controlled peptide nanoassemblies can
      selectively recognize and detect a multivalent RNA target. We compared the
      differential behaviors of peptides in a linear or cyclic topology in terms of
      peptide-gold nanoparticle hybrid nanostructure formation, conformational
      stabilization, monovalent and multivalent RNA binding in vitro, and multivalent
      RNA recognition in live cells. When the topology-dependent selectivity
      amplification of the cyclic peptide hybrids is combined with the noninvasive
      nature of dark-field microscopy, the cellular localization of the viral Rev
      response element (RRE) RNA can be monitored in situ. Because intracellular
      interactions are often mediated by overlapping binding partners with weak
      affinity, the topology-controlled peptide assemblies can provide a versatile
      means to convert weak ligands into multivalent ligands with high affinity and
      selectivity. 

PMID- 26886411
TI  - Genome-Wide Comparative Analysis of Chemosensory Gene Families in Five Tsetse Fly
      Species.
AB  - For decades, odour-baited traps have been used for control of tsetse flies
      (Diptera; Glossinidae), vectors of African trypanosomes. However, differential
      responses to known attractants have been reported in different Glossina species,
      hindering establishment of a universal vector control tool. Availability of full
      genome sequences of five Glossina species offers an opportunity to compare their
      chemosensory repertoire and enhance our understanding of their biology in
      relation to chemosensation. Here, we identified and annotated the major
      chemosensory gene families in Glossina. We identified a total of 118, 115, 124,
      and 123 chemosensory genes in Glossina austeni, G. brevipalpis, G. f. fuscipes,
      G. pallidipes, respectively, relative to 127 reported in G. m. morsitans. Our
      results show that tsetse fly genomes have fewer chemosensory genes when compared
      to other dipterans such as Musca domestica (n>393), Drosophila melanogaster (n =
      246) and Anopheles gambiae (n>247). We also found that Glossina chemosensory
      genes are dispersed across distantly located scaffolds in their respective
      genomes, in contrast to other insects like D. melanogaster whose genes occur in
      clusters. Further, Glossina appears to be devoid of sugar receptors and to have
      expanded CO2 associated receptors, potentially reflecting Glossina's obligate
      hematophagy and the need to detect hosts that may be out of sight. We also
      identified, in all species, homologs of Ir84a; a Drosophila-specific ionotropic
      receptor that promotes male courtship suggesting that this is a conserved trait
      in tsetse flies. Notably, our selection analysis revealed that a total of four
      gene loci (Gr21a, GluRIIA, Gr28b, and Obp83a) were under positive selection,
      which confers fitness advantage to species. These findings provide a platform for
      studies to further define the language of communication of tsetse with their
      environment, and influence development of novel approaches for control. 

PMID- 26886414
TI  - TAFRO syndrome successfully treated with tocilizumab: A case report and
      systematic review.
AB  - Thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis, and organomegaly (TAFRO)
      syndrome is considered as a unique clinicopathologic variant of multicentric
      Castleman's disease and is recently reported in Japan. This entity represents a
      severe inflammatory state leading to organ failures such as severe liver
      dysfunction seen in our case, and can be treated by immunosuppressive agents,
      steroids, and cyclosporine shown in several case reports. A systematic review and
      our case suggest the potential utility of tocilizumab as a treatment for TAFRO
      syndrome.

PMID- 26886415
TI  - Emotional, physical and financial burdens of stigma against people living with
      HIV/AIDS in China.
AB  - Numerous researches have shown pernicious effects of stigma against people living
      with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). However, no available studies have reported these negative
      effects including emotional, physical to financial burdens to PLWHA. In the
      current study, we aim to explore different types of stigma (e.g., perceived,
      internalized and enacted) and the relevant consequences among PLWHA in China. A
      cross-sectional study was conducted from 2012 to 2013 in the Guangxi Autonomous
      Region in China. The validated Berger HIV Stigma Scale was used to measure
      various types of stigma. We employed a series of linear, logistic and polytomous
      regression models to assess the association between stigma and different
      consequences while accounting for potential confounders for each specific model.
      Of the total sample, 2987 PLWHA provided valid responses with 63% being male and
      having an average age of 42.9 years. Perceived, internalized and enacted HIV
      stigma were prevalent among participants, and resulted in various burdens with
      different magnitudes in their life contexts. Specially, PLWHA who reported higher
      perceived and internalized stigma were more likely to be imposed on emotional and
      physical burdens (p < .05). People who reported higher enacted stigma had heavier
      financial burden compared to their peers (p < .05). Our findings revealed that
      devastating consequences of HIV-related stigma in China. The prevalent
      stigmatizing attitudes have pushed PLWHA to the fringes of society and affected
      them at multiple aspects in their life context. We call for tailored efforts to
      overcome stigma and discrimination against PLWHA.

PMID- 26886416
TI  - Shape Ontogeny of the Distal Femur in the Hominidae with Implications for the
      Evolution of Bipedality.
AB  - Heterochrony has been invoked to explain differences in the morphology of modern
      humans as compared to other great apes. The distal femur is one area where
      heterochrony has been hypothesized to explain morphological differentiation among
      Plio-Pleistocene hominins. This hypothesis is evaluated here using geometric
      morphometric data to describe the ontogenetic shape trajectories of extant
      hominine distal femora and place Plio-Pleistocene hominins within that context.
      Results of multivariate statistical analyses showed that in both Homo and
      Gorilla, the shape of the distal femur changes significantly over the course of
      development, whereas that of Pan changes very little. Development of the distal
      femur of Homo is characterized by an elongation of the condyles, and a greater
      degree of enlargement of the medial condyle relative to the lateral condyle,
      whereas Gorilla are characterized by a greater degree of enlargement of the
      lateral condyle, relative to the medial. Early Homo and Australopithecus
      africanus fossils fell on the modern human ontogenetic shape trajectory and were
      most similar to either adult or adolescent modern humans while specimens of
      Australopithecus afarensis were more similar to Gorilla/Pan. These results
      indicate that shape differences among the distal femora of Plio-Pleistocene
      hominins and humans cannot be accounted for by heterochrony alone; heterochrony
      could explain a transition from the distal femoral shape of early Homo/A.
      africanus to modern Homo, but not a transition from A. afarensis to Homo. That
      change could be the result of genetic or epigenetic factors. 

PMID- 26886417
TI  - Insulin Resistance and a Long, Strange Trip.

PMID- 26886420
TI  - Recent Advances in Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.
AB  - The recent advances in electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for
      proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are thoroughly reviewed. This
      comprehensive Review focuses on the low- and non-platinum electrocatalysts
      including advanced platinum alloys, core-shell structures, palladium-based
      catalysts, metal oxides and chalcogenides, carbon-based non-noble metal
      catalysts, and metal-free catalysts. The recent development of ORR
      electrocatalysts with novel structures and compositions is highlighted. The
      understandings of the correlation between the activity and the shape, size,
      composition, and synthesis method are summarized. For the carbon-based materials,
      their performance and stability in fuel cells and comparisons with those of
      platinum are documented. The research directions as well as perspectives on the
      further development of more active and less expensive electrocatalysts are
      provided. 

PMID- 26886421
TI  - Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: a technical and clinical appraisal.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women worldwide.
      Regional lymph node status is one of the strongest predictors of long-term
      prognosis in primary breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has
      replaced axillary lymph node dissection as the standard surgical procedure for
      staging clinically tumor-free regional nodes in patients with early-stage breast
      cancer. SLNB staging considerably reduces surgical morbidity in terms of shoulder
      dysfunction and lymphedema, without affecting diagnostic accuracy and prognostic
      information. Clinicians should not recommend axillary lymph node dissection for
      women with early-stage breast cancer who have tumor-free findings on SLNB because
      there is no advantage in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival.
      Starting from the early 1990s, SLNB has increasingly been used in breast cancer
      management, but its role is still debated under many clinical circumstances.
      Moreover, there is still a lack of standardization of the basic technical details
      of the procedure that is likely to be responsible for the variability found in
      the false-negative rate of the procedure (5.5-16.7%). In this article, we report
      the aspects of SLNB that are well established, those that are still debated, and
      the advancements that have taken place over the last 20 years. We have provided
      an update on the methodology from both a technical and a clinical point of view
      in the light of the most recent publications. 

PMID- 26886419
TI  - Randomized Trial of Stent versus Surgery for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous clinical trials have suggested that carotid-artery stenting
      with a device to capture and remove emboli ("embolic protection") is an effective
      alternative to carotid endarterectomy in patients at average or high risk for
      surgical complications. METHODS: In this trial, we compared carotid-artery
      stenting with embolic protection and carotid endarterectomy in patients 79 years
      of age or younger who had severe carotid stenosis and were asymptomatic (i.e.,
      had not had a stroke, transient ischemic attack, or amaurosis fugax in the 180
      days before enrollment) and were not considered to be at high risk for surgical
      complications. The trial was designed to enroll 1658 patients but was halted
      early, after 1453 patients underwent randomization, because of slow enrollment.
      Patients were followed for up to 5 years. The primary composite end point of
      death, stroke, or myocardial infarction within 30 days after the procedure or
      ipsilateral stroke within 1 year was tested at a noninferiority margin of 3
      percentage points. RESULTS: Stenting was noninferior to endarterectomy with
      regard to the primary composite end point (event rate, 3.8% and 3.4%,
      respectively; P=0.01 for noninferiority). The rate of stroke or death within 30
      days was 2.9% in the stenting group and 1.7% in the endarterectomy group
      (P=0.33). From 30 days to 5 years after the procedure, the rate of freedom from
      ipsilateral stroke was 97.8% in the stenting group and 97.3% in the
      endarterectomy group (P=0.51), and the overall survival rates were 87.1% and
      89.4%, respectively (P=0.21). The cumulative 5-year rate of stroke-free survival
      was 93.1% in the stenting group and 94.7% in the endarterectomy group (P=0.44).
      CONCLUSIONS: In this trial involving asymptomatic patients with severe carotid
      stenosis who were not at high risk for surgical complications, stenting was
      noninferior to endarterectomy with regard to the rate of the primary composite
      end point at 1 year. In analyses that included up to 5 years of follow-up, there
      were no significant differences between the study groups in the rates of non
      procedure-related stroke, all stroke, and survival. (Funded by Abbott Vascular;
      ACT I ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00106938.).

PMID- 26886424
TI  - Unicameral Bone Cyst of the Medial Cuneiform: A Case Report.
AB  - A unicameral bone cyst is a relatively uncommon, benign bone tumor found in the
      metaphysis of long bones, such as the humerus and the femur, in skeletally
      immature persons. In the foot, these benign, fluid-filled cavities are most
      commonly found within the os calcis. We present a case report of a 10-year-old
      female with a unicameral bone cyst of the medial cuneiform.

PMID- 26886423
TI  - In Vivo versus Augmented Reality Exposure in the Treatment of Small Animal
      Phobia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - Although in vivo exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobias, some
      acceptability problems have been associated with it. Virtual Reality exposure has
      been shown to be as effective as in vivo exposure, and it is widely accepted for
      the treatment of specific phobias, but only preliminary data are available in the
      literature about the efficacy of Augmented Reality. The purpose of the present
      study was to examine the efficacy and acceptance of two treatment conditions for
      specific phobias in which the exposure component was applied in different ways:
      In vivo exposure (N = 31) versus an Augmented Reality system (N = 32) in a
      randomized controlled trial. "One-session treatment" guidelines were followed.
      Participants in the Augmented Reality condition significantly improved on all the
      outcome measures at post-treatment and follow-ups. When the two treatment
      conditions were compared, some differences were found at post-treatment, favoring
      the participants who received in vivo exposure. However, these differences
      disappeared at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Regarding participants'
      expectations and satisfaction with the treatment, very positive ratings were
      reported in both conditions. In addition, participants from in vivo exposure
      condition considered the treatment more useful for their problem whereas
      participants from Augmented Reality exposure considered the treatment less
      aversive. Results obtained in this study indicate that Augmented Reality exposure
      is an effective treatment for specific phobias and well accepted by the
      participants. 

PMID- 26886425
TI  - Metals, Parasites, and Environmental Conditions Affecting Breeding Populations of
      Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in Northern Arkansas, USA.
AB  - The spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is indigenous to northern Arkansas,
      and several breeding sites are known to exist in the region. Spotted salamanders
      (n = 17) were collected and examined for parasites and only three females
      harbored nematodes (Physaloptera spp.). Chronic aquatic bioassays were conducted
      using water collected from eight breeding ponds during different hydroperiod
      events. No lethal or sublethal effects were measured in Ceriodaphnia dubia;
      however, decreased growth and survival were seen in Pimephales promelas. Aqueous,
      sediment, and salamander hepatic samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and
      Ni. Metal analysis revealed possible increased metal exposure following
      precipitation, with greatest metal concentrations measured in sediment samples.
      Hepatic metal concentrations were similar in parasitized and non-parasitized
      individuals, and greatest Pb concentrations were measured following normal
      precipitation events. Determining environmental stressors of amphibians,
      especially during their breeding and subsequent larval life stage, is imperative
      to improve species conservation. 

PMID- 26886422
TI  - CDK13, a Kinase Involved in Pre-mRNA Splicing, Is a Component of the
      Perinucleolar Compartment.
AB  - The perinucleolar compartment (PNC) is a subnuclear stucture forming
      predominantly in cancer cells; its prevalence positively correlates with
      metastatic capacity. Although several RNA-binding proteins have been
      characterized in PNC, the molecular function of this compartment remains unclear.
      Here we demonstrate that the cyclin-dependent kinase 13 (CDK13) is a newly
      identified constituent of PNC. CDK13 is a kinase involved in the regulation of
      gene expression and whose overexpression was found to alter pre-mRNA processing.
      In this study we show that CDK13 is enriched in PNC and co-localizes all along
      the cell cycle with the PNC component PTB. In contrast, neither the cyclins K and
      L, known to associate with CDK13, nor the potential kinase substrates accumulate
      in PNC. We further show that CDK13 overexpression increases PNC prevalence
      suggesting that CDK13 may be determinant for PNC formation. This result linked to
      the finding that CDK13 gene is amplified in different types of cancer indicate
      that this kinase can contribute to cancer development in human. 

PMID- 26886427
TI  - Estimation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Groundwater and Development of a Heavy
      Metal Pollution Index by Using GIS Technique.
AB  - Heavy metal (Al, As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn) concentration in sixty
      six groundwater samples of the West Bokaro coalfield were analyzed using
      inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy for determination of seasonal
      fluctuation, source apportionment and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). Metal
      concentrations were found higher in the pre-monsoon season as compared to the
      post-monsoon season. Geographic information system (GIS) tool was attributed to
      study the metals risk in groundwater of the West Bokaro coalfield. The results
      show that 94 % of water samples were found as low class and 6 % of water samples
      were in medium class in the post-monsoon season. However, 79 % of water samples
      were found in low class, 18 % in medium class and 3 % in high class in the pre
      monsoon season. The HPI values were below the critical pollution index value of
      100. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, and Ni are exceeding the desirable limits
      in many groundwater samples in both seasons.

PMID- 26886426
TI  - Monitoring of Lead (Pb) Pollution in Soils and Plants Irrigated with Untreated
      Sewage Water in Some Industrialized Cities of Punjab, India.
AB  - Soil and plant samples were collected from sewage and tubewell irrigated sites
      from three industrially different cities of Punjab (India) viz. Ludhiana,
      Jalandhar and Malerkotla. The extent of lead (Pb) pollution was assessed with
      respect to background concentration of tubewell irrigation. In sewage irrigated
      surface soil layer (0-15 cm), the extent of Pb accumulation was 4.61, 4.20 and
      2.26 times higher than those receiving tubewell irrigation sites in Ludhiana,
      Jalandhar and Malerkotla, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that
      soil pH, organic carbon, calcium carbonate and clay were significant soil
      parameters explaining the variation in available soil Pb. The mean Pb content in
      plants receiving sewage irrigation was 4.56, 5.48 and 2.72 times higher than
      tubewell irrigation in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Malerkotla, respectively. The
      content of Pb in plants receiving sewage irrigation revealed that, assuming a
      weekly consumption of 500-1000 g of vegetables grown on sewage irrigated soils by
      an adult of 70 kg body weight, the Pb intake may far exceed the World Health
      Organization proposed tolerable weekly intake of Pb.

PMID- 26886428
TI  - Effects of Maternally-Transferred Methylmercury on Stress Physiology in Northern
      Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) Neonates.
AB  - Biomagnification of methylmercury in aquatic systems can cause elevated tissue
      mercury (Hg) and physiological stress in top predators. Mercury is known to
      affect stress hormone levels in mammals, birds and fish. In this study, the
      effects of maternally-transferred methylmercury on the stress physiology of
      Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) neonates were tested. Gravid females were
      dosed via force-fed capsules during late gestation with 0, 0.01, or 10 ug
      methylmercury per gram of body mass. Plasma corticosterone levels and leukocyte
      differentials were analyzed in baseline and confinement-stressed neonates from
      all dose levels. Neither Hg nor confinement stress had a significant effect on
      leukocyte differentials nor was Hg related to corticosterone levels. However,
      stress group neonates showed lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratios and this study
      was the first to show that neonate N. sipedon can upregulate CORT in response to
      stress. These results indicate that N. sipedon may be somewhat tolerant to Hg
      contamination. 

PMID- 26886429
TI  - Micronutrient Fractionation in Coal Mine-Affected Agricultural Soils, India.
AB  - Assessment of the anthropogenic impacts on bioavailability, mobility, immobility
      and toxicity of four micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were carried out by
      Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) fractionation scheme in agricultural soils (n
      = 10) around Jharia coalfield, eastern India. The relative abundance of
      micronutrients was as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. The enrichment factor was >1
      for Zn (6.1) and Cu (1.8) near coal mining area indicated toward soil pollution
      due to coal mining activities and application of inorganic fertilizers. The I geo
      values of micronutrients were <0 suggest no pollution with respect to Cu, Fe, Mn
      and Zn. Correlation analysis showed geogenic origin of soil micronutrients and
      derived mainly from weathering of minerals present in the parent rock. The mean
      values of Cu, Mn and Zn were less than certified reference material indicating
      highly leached agricultural soils in the study region. BCR fractionation of
      micronutrients showed that a single element could not reveal all types of
      chemical reactions occurring in soil consortium.

PMID- 26886432
TI  - Comparative Study of MIL-96(Al) as Continuous Metal-Organic Frameworks Layer and
      Mixed-Matrix Membrane.
AB  - MIL-96(Al) layers were prepared as supported metal-organic frameworks membrane
      via reactive seeding using the alpha-alumina support as the Al source for the
      formation of the MIL-96(Al) seeds. Depending on the solvent mixture employed
      during seed formation, two different crystal morphologies, with different
      orientation of the transport-active channels, have been formed. This crystal
      orientation and habit is predefined by the seed crystals and is kept in the
      subsequent growth of the seeds to continuous layers. In the gas separation of an
      equimolar H2/CO2 mixture, the hydrogen permeability of the two supported MIL
      96(Al) layers was found to be highly dependent on the crystal morphology and the
      accompanied channel orientation in the layer. In addition to the neat supported
      MIL-96(Al) membrane layers, mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs, 10 wt % filler loading)
      as a composite of MIL-96(Al) particles as filler in a continuous Matrimid polymer
      phase have been prepared. Five particle sizes of MIL-96(Al) between 3.2 MUm and
      55 nm were synthesized. In the preparation of the MIL-96(Al)/Matrimid MMM (10 wt
      % filler loading), the following preparation problems have been identified: The
      bigger micrometer-sized MIL-96(Al) crystals show a trend toward sedimentation
      during casting of the MMM, whereas for nanoparticles aggregation and
      recrystallization to micrometer-sized MIL-96(Al) crystals has been observed.
      Because of these preparation problems for MMM, the neat supported MIL-96(Al)
      layers show a relatively high H2/CO2 selectivity (~9) and a hydrogen permeance
      approximately 2 magnitudes higher than that of the best MMM. 

PMID- 26886431
TI  - Non-Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in the Essential Oil of Copaifera langsdorffii
      Desf. Increase during the Day in the Dry Season.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal and diurnal events on
      the chemical profile of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Copaifera
      langsdorffii Desf. This study was performed in a Brazilian savanna named Cerrado.
      We identified the best harvesting period for obtaining the highest amount of
      compounds used for commercial and industrial purposes. The chemical profile of
      the essential oils was evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS, and the results were
      assessed through multivariate analyses. The data showed that the time of day and
      seasonal variations affect the quality of the essential oil obtained. Leaves
      harvested at the end of the day (5:00 pm) in the dry season resulted in richer
      essential oils with higher amounts of non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes. To the best
      of our knowledge, environmental conditions induce metabolic responses in the
      leaves of C. langsdorffii, which changes the patterns of sesquiterpene
      production. Therefore, these factors need to be considered to obtain better
      concentrations of bioactive compounds for pharmacological studies. 

PMID- 26886433
TI  - Patient-provider communication with HIV-positive women about abnormal Pap test
      results.
AB  - In this article, the authors examine communication between women living with
      human immunodeficiency virus (WLH) and health care providers (HCPs) regarding
      abnormal Pap tests. During the period of March 2011 through April 2012, 145 WLH
      were recruited from Ryan White funded clinics and community-based AIDS service
      organizations located in the southeastern United States. WLH who had an abnormal
      Pap test (69%, n = 100/145) were asked if their HCP shared and explained
      information about abnormal Pap tests. The authors performed chi-square tests and
      multivariable logistic regression analyses using Stata I/C 13. HCPs shared
      information about abnormal Pap tests with 60% of participants, and explained the
      information they shared to 78% of those. Health literate participants were more
      than three times as likely to have read the information received about abnormal
      Pap tests (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19
      10.23), and almost five times as likely to have understood the cancer information
      they read (aOR = 4.70, 95% CI 1.55-14.24). Knowing other women who had had an
      abnormal Pap test was not significantly associated with cancer information
      seeking or processing after controlling for confounding factors. The present
      findings underscore the need to increase WLH's health literacy as an intermediate
      step to improving patient-provider communication among WLH. Lay sources of cancer
      information for WLH warrant further study.

PMID- 26886435
TI  - Encapsulated or Not Encapsulated? Ammonium Salts Can Be Encapsulated in Hexameric
      Capsules of Pyrogallol[4]arene.
AB  - Tetraalkylammonium salts were found, contrary to literature reports, to be
      encapsulated into hexameric capsules of pyrogallol[4]arene in benzene solution.
      The guest affinity depended on the length of the alkyl chain, the counteranion,
      the solvent used, the ammonium concentration, and most importantly, the
      pyrogallol[4]arene to ammonium salt ratio. At high ammonium salt to
      pyrogallol[4]arene ratios no encapsulation was observed, presumably since the
      high salt destabilized the formed hexamers. 

PMID- 26886430
TI  - Tetra-O-Methyl Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid Broadly Suppresses Cancer Metabolism and
      Synergistically Induces Strong Anticancer Activity in Combination with Etoposide,
      Rapamycin and UCN-01.
AB  - The ability of Tetra-O-methyl nordihydroguaiaretic acid (M4N) to induce rapid
      cell death in combination with Etoposide, Rapamycin, or UCN-01 was examined in
      LNCaP cells, both in cell culture and animal experiments. Mice treated with M4N
      drug combinations with either Etoposide or Rapamycin showed no evidence of tumor
      and had a 100% survival rate 100 days after tumor implantation. By comparison all
      other vehicles or single drug treated mice failed to survive longer than 30 days
      after implantation. This synergistic improvement of anticancer effect was also
      confirmed in more than 20 cancer cell lines. In LNCaP cells, M4N was found to
      reduce cellular ATP content, and suppress NDUFS1 expression while inducing
      hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. M4N-treated cells lacked
      autophagy with reduced expression of BNIP3 and ATG5. To understand the mechanisms
      of this anticancer activity of M4N, the effect of this drug on three cancer cell
      lines (LNCaP, AsPC-1, and L428 cells) was further examined via transcriptome and
      metabolomics analyses. Metabolomic results showed that there were reductions of
      26 metabolites essential for energy generation and/or production of cellular
      components in common with these three cell lines following 8 hours of M4N
      treatment. Deep RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that there were sixteen
      genes whose expressions were found to be modulated following 6 hours of M4N
      treatment similarly in these three cell lines. Six out of these 16 genes were
      functionally related to the 26 metabolites described above. One of these up
      regulated genes encodes for CHAC1, a key enzyme affecting the stress pathways
      through its degradation of glutathione. In fact M4N was found to suppress
      glutathione content and induce reactive oxygen species production. The data
      overall indicate that M4N has profound specific negative impacts on a wide range
      of cancer metabolisms supporting the use of M4N combination for cancer
      treatments. 

PMID- 26886437
TI  - An Anion Metal-Organic Framework with Lewis Basic Sites-Rich toward Charge
      Exclusive Cationic Dyes Separation and Size-Selective Catalytic Reaction.
AB  - Organic dye pollutants become a big headache due to their toxic nature to the
      environment, and it should be one of the best solutions if we can separate and
      reuse them. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a microporous
      anion metal-organic framework (MOF) with Lewis basic sites-rich based on TDPAT
      (2,4,6-tris(3,5-dicarboxylphenylamino)-1,3,5-triazine) ligand, FJI-C2, which
      shows high adsorption and separation of cationic dye based on the charge
      exclusive effect. Compared to other MOF materials, FJI-C2 shows the largest
      adsorption amount of methylene blue (1323 mg/g) at room temperature due to the
      nature of the anion frameworks and high surface area/pore volume. Furthermore,
      motivated by the adsorption properties of large guest molecules, we proceeded to
      investigate the catalytic behaviors of FJI-C2, not only because the large pore
      facilitates the mass transfer of guest molecules but also because the high
      density of Lewis basic sites can act as effective catalytic sites. As expected,
      FJI-C2 exhibits excellent catalytic performance for size-selective Knoevenagel
      condensation under mild conditions and can be reused several times without a
      significant decrease of the activity. 

PMID- 26886434
TI  - Reproductive biology of an Alpic paleo-endemic in a changing climate.
AB  - Climate change is known to have a profound influence on plant reproduction,
      mainly because it affects plant/pollinator interactions, sometimes driving plants
      to extinction. Starting from the Neogene, the European climate was subjected to
      severe alterations. Nevertheless, several genera, including Berardia, survived
      these climatic changes. Despite the numerous studies performed about the
      relationship between climate change and plant reproductive biology, equivalent
      studies on ancient species are lacking, even though they may furnish crucial
      information on the strategies that allowed them to survive drastic climatic
      fluctuations. We investigated floral and reproductive features in Berardia
      subacaulis (Asteraceae), describing pollen vectors, capitulum and florets
      phenology, evaluating reproductive efficiency and defining the reproductive mode
      of the plant with bagging experiments and test of apomixis. B. subacaulis grows
      in habitats with low pollination services; it is self-compatible, but many
      typical features favouring cross-pollination are still present: florets are
      characterized by incomplete protandry, capitulum protogyny and high pollen-ovule
      ratio. The plant is not apomictic and self-fertilization is allowed within each
      capitulum. Similarly to other European Alpine endemics supposed to belong to the
      Mediterranean ancient tropical flora, the reproductive mode observed in the
      monospecific genus Berardia assured reproduction also under a pollinator decline.
      Differently from the other endemics, it took advantage of its spontaneous self
      pollination and compatibility and its generalist pollination service, common both
      among high altitude plants and in the Asteraceae. 

PMID- 26886439
TI  - Rates of Cancers and Opportunistic Infections in Patients With Psoriatic
      Arthritis Compared With Patients Without Psoriatic Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate rates of cancer or opportunistic
      infection in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with patients
      without PsA. METHODS: Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we conducted
      a cohort study of patients with a PsA diagnosis and patients without such
      diagnosis, matched on age, sex, general practice, and calendar time, to assess
      the incidence of cancers (solid, hematologic, and nonmelanoma skin cancer) and
      opportunistic infections. We estimated incidence rates (IRs) and IR ratios (IRRs)
      with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome and stratified results in
      the PsA cohort by receipt of systemic PsA drugs. RESULTS: The rate of hematologic
      cancer was slightly higher in the PsA cohort compared with the non-PsA cohort
      (IRR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.10-2.10), whereas the rates of solid cancer and of
      nonmelanoma skin cancer were similar between the PsA and non-PsA cohorts (IRR,
      1.01; 95% CI, 0.90-1.13; and IRR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.82-1.14, respectively).
      Incidence rates were higher for PsA patients who received prescriptions for PsA
      drugs compared with those who did not. The IRs for infection were higher in the
      PsA compared with the non-PsA cohort (IRR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.31-1.47) and were
      significantly higher in patients who received prescriptions (IRR, 1.71; 95% CI,
      1.52-1.91). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of solid and nonmelanoma skin cancers were
      similar in patients with PsA compared with patients without PsA, but the rates of
      hematologic cancer and opportunistic infections were higher in patients with PsA.
      In patients with PsA, rates of all outcomes were higher among those who received
      prescriptions for systemic PsA therapy.

PMID- 26886438
TI  - Direct Comparative Effectiveness Among 3 Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Biologics in
      a Real-Life Cohort of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the clinical response at 36 months and
      evaluate the adverse events in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
      treated with etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab. METHODS: An observational
      retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients older than 18 years with
      active rheumatoid arthritis, for which the physician had initiated a treatment
      scheme with etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab, were included in the study.
      The follow-up was conducted through at least trimestral evaluations during the
      course of 36 months. Outcomes evaluated included Disease Activity Score 28, level
      of disease activity, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and degree of disability.
      RESULTS: Three hundred seven subjects were included in the cohort (108
      adalimumab, 107 infliximab, and 92 etanercept). The median Disease Activity Score
      28 at the onset was 4.1 and 2.39 at month 36. There were no differences among the
      3 medications (P = 0.51). The remission rate was of 7.4 per 100 people per month
      (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6-8.3) without differences between groups. The
      initial Health Assessment Questionnaire median was 1.75 and 0.25 at 36 months. No
      differences per medicine were found (P = 0.54). The most common adverse effect
      was dermatitis. Eighteen cases of serious adverse effects occurred, including 11
      cases of serious infectious events. The adverse events rates were as follows:
      infliximab, 24 per 100 people per year (95% CI, 19-29); adalimumab, 22 per 100
      people per year (95% CI, 18-27); and etanercept, 12 per 100 people per year (95%
      CI, 8-16). CONCLUSIONS: Etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab are 3 effective
      therapeutic anti-tumor necrosis factor alternatives to reduce the level of
      severity and the degree of disability generated by rheumatoid arthritis.
      Etanercept presented a rate of adverse events lower than those for infliximab and
      adalimumab.

PMID- 26886440
TI  - A Network Meta-analysis Comparing Exenatide Once Weekly with Other GLP-1 Receptor
      Agonists for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Exenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA),
      approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is limited
      direct evidence comparing the efficacy and tolerability of exenatide 2 mg once
      weekly (QW) to other GLP-1 RAs. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to
      estimate the relative efficacy and tolerability of exenatide QW versus other GLP
      1 RAs for the treatment of adults with T2DM inadequately controlled on metformin
      monotherapy. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated GLP-1 RAs (albiglutide,
      dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide) at approved doses in the
      United States/Europe, added on to metformin only and of 24 +/- 6 weeks treatment
      duration. A Bayesian NMA was conducted. RESULTS: Fourteen RCTs were included in
      the NMA. Exenatide QW obtained a statistically significant reduction in glycated
      hemoglobin (HbA1c) relative to lixisenatide 20 ug once daily. No other
      comparisons of exenatide QW to other GLP-1 RAs were statistically significant for
      change in HbA1c. No statistically significant differences in change in weight,
      systolic blood pressure, risk of nausea or discontinuation due to adverse events
      were observed for exenatide QW versus other GLP-1 RAs. CONCLUSION: Exenatide QW
      demonstrated similar effectiveness and tolerability compared to other GLP-1 RAs,
      for the treatment of T2DM in adults inadequately controlled on metformin alone.

PMID- 26886442
TI  - AVN-211, Novel and Highly Selective 5-HT6 Receptor Small Molecule Antagonist, for
      the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Within the past decade several novel targets have been indicated as key players
      in Alzheimer-type dementia and associated conditions, including a "frightening"
      memory loss as well as severe cognitive impairments. These proteins are deeply
      implicated in crucial cell processes, e.g., autophagy, growth and progression,
      apoptosis, and metabolic equilibrium. Since recently, 5-HT6R has been considered
      as one of the most prominent biological targets in AD drug therapy. Therefore, we
      investigated the potential procognitive and neuroprotective effects of our novel
      selective 5-HT6R antagonist, AVN-211. During an extensive preclinical evaluation
      the lead compound demonstrated a relatively high therapeutic potential and
      improved selectivity toward 5-HT6R as compared to reference drug candidates. It
      was thoroughly examined in different in vivo behavioral models directly related
      to AD and showed evident improvements in cognition and learning. In many cases,
      the observed effect was considerably greater than that determined for the
      reported drugs and drug candidates, including memantine, SB-742457, and Lu
      AE58054, evaluated under the same conditions. In addition, AVN-211 showed a
      similar or better anxiolytic efficacy than fenobam, rufinamide, lorazepam, and
      buspirone in an elevated plus-maze model, elevated platform, and open field
      tests. The compound demonstrated low toxicity and no side effects in vivo, an
      appropriate pharmacokinetic profile, and stability. In conclusion, AVN-211
      significantly delayed or partially halted the progressive decline in memory
      function associated with AD, which makes it an interesting drug candidate for the
      treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Advanced clinical
      trials are currently under active discussion and in high priority.

PMID- 26886441
TI  - Hypoglycemia Event Rates: A Comparison Between Real-World Data and Randomized
      Controlled Trial Populations in Insulin-Treated Diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of diabetes therapy,
      particularly insulin treatment. Hypoglycemia is associated with considerable
      clinical and economic burden, and may be under-reported. The aim of this study
      was to com pare the frequency of hypoglycemic events reported in real-world
      settings with those reported in clinical trials. METHODS: We conducted a
      structured literature review in PubMed to identify hypoglycemic event rates in
      patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (T2DM) from real-world data (RWD) and randomized controlled trials
      (RCTs). The search was restricted to English language, full-text publications
      from 2010 onwards, reporting on treatment of T1DM or T2DM with basal only, basal
      bolus, or premix insulin. RESULTS: The final dataset included 30 studies (11 RWD
      studies and 19 RCTs). Six studies (RWD, n = 2; RCT, n = 4) reported hypoglycemia
      event rates in people with T1DM. For all reported categories of hypoglycemia
      (severe, non-severe, and nocturnal), rates were consistently higher in RWD
      studies compared with RCTs. Twenty-five studies (RWD, n = 10; RCT, n = 15)
      reported hypoglycemia event rates in people with insulin-treated T2DM. For T2DM
      basal-oral therapy; the highest rates were observed in RWD studies, although
      there was an overlap with RCT rates. For basal-bolus therapy, there was
      considerable between-study variability but higher rates of severe and non-severe
      hypoglycemia were generally observed in RWD studies. For T2DM premix insulin,
      reported rates of hypoglycemia in RWD studies and RCTs were similar. CONCLUSION:
      We found that higher rates of hypoglycemia are observed in real-world settings
      compared with clinical trial settings, although there is a large degree of
      overlap. Due to the inherent constraints of RCTs, they are likely to
      underestimate the burden of hypoglycemia in clinical practice. Further, high
      quality RWD are needed to determine a more accurate incidence of hypoglycemia in
      clinical practice.

PMID- 26886443
TI  - Epidemiological Aspects of Dermatophytosis in Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, an
      Update.
AB  - Dermatophytosis is among the most common superficial mycoses in Iran. The purpose
      of this report was to update the clinical and mycological features of human
      dermatophytosis in the Khuzestan, southwestern Iran. In the framework of a one
      year survey, a total of 4120 skin, hair and nail samples obtained from the
      outpatients with symptoms suggestive of tinea were analyzed by using direct
      microscopy, culture and molecular identification methods. Strains isolated from
      cultures were subjected to amplification of the nuclear rDNA ITS regions in a PCR
      assay followed by an early established RFLP analysis. For confirmation of species
      identification, 100 isolates as representatives of all presumable species were
      subjected to ITS sequencing. Infection was confirmed in 1123 individuals (27.25
      %) in the age range of 1-89 years by direct microscopy and/or culture including
      603 males versus 520 females. Frequencies of infections were the highest and the
      lowest in age groups of 21-30 and 11-20 years, respectively. Tinea corporis was
      the most prevalent clinical manifestation followed by tinea cruris, tinea
      capitis, tinea manuum, tinea pedis, tinea unguium, tinea faciei and tinea barbae.
      Trichophyton interdigitale (58.7 %) was the most dominant isolate followed by
      Epidermophyton floccosum (35.4 %), Microsporum canis (3 %), T. rubrum (1.5 %), T.
      species of Arthroderma benhamiae (0.5 %), T. tonsurans (0.3 %) and T. violaceum
      (0.3 %). Other species included M. gypseum, M. fulvum and T. verrucosum (each one
      0.1 %). Such a high occurrence of infection with T. interdigitale, which has not
      been reported from Iran, is due to the use of accurate molecular methods based on
      new species concept in dermatophytes. The prevalence of dermatophytoses caused by
      zoophilic species remarkably increased and Trichophyton species of A. benhamiae
      has emerged as a new agent of dermatophytosis in southwestern Iran, while
      infections due to anthropophilic species, except E. floccosum, took a decreasing
      trend. 

PMID- 26886444
TI  - The Correlation Between Candida Colonization of Distinct Body Sites and Invasive
      Candidiasis in Emergency Intensive Care Units: Statistical and Molecular
      Biological Analysis.
AB  - Both statistical and molecular biological methods were used to evaluate the
      association between Candida colonization of different body sites and invasive
      candidiasis (IC) and analyse the potential infection sources of IC. Candida
      surveillance cultures from the urine, sputum, rectum and skin were performed on
      patients admitted to an emergency intensive care units (EICU) of a tertiary care
      hospital in Shanghai, China, from February 2014 to January 2015. Specimens were
      collected once a week at admission and thereafter. The patients' clinical data
      were collected, and Candida isolates were genotyped using polymorphic
      microsatellite markers. A total of 111 patients were enrolled. Patients with
      positive urine (23.3 vs. 2.5 %, p = 0.001) and rectal swab (13.6 vs. 0 %, p =
      0.010) cultures were more likely to develop IC. However, the risk for IC was not
      significantly different among patients with and without respiratory (10.0 vs. 5.8
      %, p = 0.503) and skin (33.3 vs. 6.5 %, p = 0.056) colonization. Gene
      microevolution frequently occurred at rectal swab and urine sites, and IC with
      possible source of infection was caused by rectal isolates (2/7), urine isolates
      (4/7) and sputum isolate (1/7).The colonization of gut and urinary tract maybe
      more relevant indicators of IC, which should be taken into consideration when
      selecting practical body sites for Candida surveillance cultures. 

PMID- 26886445
TI  - Autophagy response in the liver of pigeon exposed to avermectin.
AB  - Pesticide residues are an important aspect of environmental pollution.
      Environmental avermectin residues have produced adverse effects in organisms.
      Many pesticides exert their toxic effects via the mechanism of autophagy. The
      purpose of this study was to examine the changes in autophagy levels and in
      autophagy-related genes, including LC3, Beclin 1, Dynein, ATG5, TORC1, and TORC2,
      resulting from exposure to subchronic levels of AVM in liver tissue in the king
      pigeon model. We observed abundant autophagic vacuoles with extensively degraded
      organelles, autophagosomal vacuoles, secondary lysosomes, and double-membrane
      structures in the liver. The expression levels of the autophagy-related genes LC3
      I, LC3-II, Beclin 1, ATG5, and Dynein were up-regulated; however, TORC1 and TORC2
      expression levels were down-regulated. These changes occurred in a concentration
      dependent manner after AVM exposure for 30, 60, and 90 days in pigeons. Taken
      together, these results suggested that AVM increased the autophagic flux and that
      upregulation of autophagy might be closely related to the hepatotoxicity of AVM
      in birds.

PMID- 26886418
TI  - Pioglitazone after Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are
      at increased risk for future cardiovascular events despite current preventive
      therapies. The identification of insulin resistance as a risk factor for stroke
      and myocardial infarction raised the possibility that pioglitazone, which
      improves insulin sensitivity, might benefit patients with cerebrovascular
      disease. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned
      3876 patients who had had a recent ischemic stroke or TIA to receive either
      pioglitazone (target dose, 45 mg daily) or placebo. Eligible patients did not
      have diabetes but were found to have insulin resistance on the basis of a score
      of more than 3.0 on the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA
      IR) index. The primary outcome was fatal or nonfatal stroke or myocardial
      infarction. RESULTS: By 4.8 years, a primary outcome had occurred in 175 of 1939
      patients (9.0%) in the pioglitazone group and in 228 of 1937 (11.8%) in the
      placebo group (hazard ratio in the pioglitazone group, 0.76; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 0.62 to 0.93; P=0.007). Diabetes developed in 73 patients (3.8%)
      and 149 patients (7.7%), respectively (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.69;
      P<0.001). There was no significant between-group difference in all-cause
      mortality (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.17; P=0.52). Pioglitazone was
      associated with a greater frequency of weight gain exceeding 4.5 kg than was
      placebo (52.2% vs. 33.7%, P<0.001), edema (35.6% vs. 24.9%, P<0.001), and bone
      fracture requiring surgery or hospitalization (5.1% vs. 3.2%, P=0.003).
      CONCLUSIONS: In this trial involving patients without diabetes who had insulin
      resistance along with a recent history of ischemic stroke or TIA, the risk of
      stroke or myocardial infarction was lower among patients who received
      pioglitazone than among those who received placebo. Pioglitazone was also
      associated with a lower risk of diabetes but with higher risks of weight gain,
      edema, and fracture. (Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
      and Stroke; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00091949.).

PMID- 26886447
TI  - Effects of Transport and Storage Conditions on Gene Expression in Blood Samples.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Inappropriate handling of blood samples might induce or repress gene
      expression and/or lead to RNA degradation affecting downstream analysis. In
      particular, sample transport is a critical step for biobanking or multicenter
      studies because of uncontrolled variables (i.e., unstable temperature). We report
      the results of a pilot study implemented within the EC funded SPIDIA project,
      aimed to investigate the role of transport and storage of blood samples
      containing and not containing an RNA stabilizer. METHODS: Blood was collected
      from a single donor both in EDTA and in PAXgene Blood RNA tubes. Half of the
      samples were sent to a second laboratory both at room temperature and at 4
      degrees C, whereas the remaining samples were stored at room temperature and at 4
      degrees C. Gene expression of selected genes (c-FOS, IL-1beta, IL-8, and GAPDH)
      known to be induced or repressed by ex vivo blood handling and of blood-mRNA
      quality biomarkers identified and validated within the SPIDIA project, which
      allow for monitoring changes in unstabilized blood samples after collection and
      during transport and storage, were analyzed by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: If the shipment
      of blood in tubes not containing RNA stabilizer is not performed under a stable
      condition, gene profile studies can be affected by the effects of transport.
      Moreover, also controlled temperature shipment (4 degrees C) can influence the
      expression of specific genes if blood is collected in tubes not containing a
      stabilizer. CONCLUSION: The use of dedicated biomarkers or time course
      experiments should be performed in order to verify potential bias on gene
      expression analysis due to sample shipment and storage conditions. Alternatively,
      the use of RNA stabilizer containing tubes can represent a reliable option to
      avoid ex vivo RNA changes.

PMID- 26886446
TI  - Association of Genotyping of Bacillus cereus with Clinical Features of Post
      Traumatic Endophthalmitis.
AB  - Bacillus cereus is the second most frequent cause of post-traumatic bacterial
      endophthalmitis. Although genotyping of B. cereus associated with
      gastrointestinal infections has been reported, little is known about the B.
      cereus clinical isolates associated with post-traumatic endophthalmitis. This is
      largely due to the limited number of clinical strains available isolated from
      infected tissues of patients with post-traumatic endophthalmitis. In this study,
      we report successful isolation of twenty-four B. cereus strains from individual
      patients with different disease severity of post-traumatic endophthalmitis.
      Phylogenetic analysis showed that all strains could be categorized into three
      genotypes (GTI, GTII and GTIII) and the clinical score showed significant
      differences among these groups. We then further performed genotyping using the
      vrrA gene, and evaluated possible correlation of genotype with the clinical
      features of B. cereus-caused post-traumatic endophthalmitis, and with the
      prognosis of infection by conducting follow-up with patients for up to 2 months.
      We found that the disease of onset and final vision acuity were significantly
      different among the three groups. These results suggested that the vrrA gene may
      play a significant role in the pathogenesis of endophthalmitis, and genotyping of
      B. cereus has the potential for predicting clinical manifestation and prognosis
      of endophthalmitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of
      isolation of large numbers of clinical isolates of B. cereus from patients with
      endophthalmitis. This work sets the foundation for future investigation of the
      pathogenesis endophthalmitis caused by B. cereus infection. 

PMID- 26886448
TI  - Impact of a Probiotic-Based Cleaning Intervention on the Microbiota Ecosystem of
      the Hospital Surfaces: Focus on the Resistome Remodulation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Contamination of hospital surfaces by clinically-relevant pathogens
      represents a major concern in healthcare facilities, due to its impact on
      transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and to the growing drug
      resistance of HAI-associated pathogens. Routinely used chemical disinfectants
      show limitations in controlling pathogen contamination, due to their inefficacy
      in preventing recontamination and selection of resistant strains. Recently we
      observed that an innovative approach, based on a cleanser added with spores of
      non-pathogenic probiotic Bacilli, was effective in stably counteracting the
      growth of several pathogens contaminating hospital surfaces. METHODS: Here, we
      wanted to study the impact of the Bacillus-based cleanser on the drug-resistance
      features of the healthcare pathogens population. In parallel, the ability of
      cleanser-derived Bacilli to infect hospitalized patients was also investigated.
      RESULTS: Collected data showed that Bacilli spores can germinate on dry inanimate
      surfaces, generating the bacterial vegetative forms which counteract the growth
      of pathogens and effectively substitute for them on treated surfaces. Strikingly,
      this procedure did not select resistant species, but conversely induced an
      evident decrease of antibiotic resistance genes in the contaminating microbial
      population. Also importantly, all the six HAI-positive patients hosted in the
      treated areas resulted negative for probiotic Bacilli, thus adding evidences to
      their safety-to-use. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that this probiotic
      based procedure is active not only in controlling surface microbial contamination
      but also in lowering drug-resistant species, suggesting that it may have relevant
      clinical and therapeutical implications for the management of HAIs.

PMID- 26886449
TI  - The combination effects of bendamustine with antimetabolites against childhood
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
AB  - Bendamustine combined with other drugs is clinically efficacious for some adult
      lymphoid malignancies, but to date there are no reports of the use of such
      combinatorial approaches in pediatric patients. We investigated the in vitro
      activity of bendamustine combined with other antimetabolite drugs on B cell
      precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cell lines established from
      pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed ALL. We also developed a
      mathematically drown improved isobologram method to assess the data objectively.
      Three BCP-ALL cell lines; YCUB-2, YCUB-5, and YCUB-6, were simultaneously exposed
      to various concentrations of bendamustine and cladribine, cytarabine,
      fludarabine, or clofarabine. Cell growth inhibition was determined using the WST
      8 assay. Combinatorial effects were estimated using our improved isobologram
      method with IC80 (drug concentration corresponding to 80 % of maximum
      inhibition). Bendamustine alone inhibited ALL cell growth with mean IC80 values
      of 11.30-18.90 MUg/ml. Combinations of bendamustine with other drugs produced the
      following effects: (1) cladribine; synergistic-to-additive on all cell lines; (2)
      cytarabine; synergistic-to-additive on YCUB-5 and YCUB-6, and synergistic-to
      antagonistic on YCUB-2; (3) fludarabine; additive-to-antagonistic on YCUB-5, and
      synergistic-to-antagonistic on YCUB-2 and YCUB-6; (4) clofarabine; additive-to
      antagonistic on all cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis also showed the
      combination effects of bendamustine and cladribine. Bendamustine/cladribine or
      bendamustine/cytarabine may thus represent a promising combination for salvage
      treatment in childhood ALL.

PMID- 26886450
TI  - In vitro alteration of hematological parameters and blood viscosity by the
      perfluorocarbon: Oxycyte.
AB  - While perfluorocarbons (PFCs) may be useful in some clinical situations, previous
      studies have shown that interferences with chemistry analytes can occur with
      blood samples containing PFCs. This in vitro study focused on how the PFC Oxycyte
      may affect hematology measurements in blood samples. Swine blood diluted with
      Oxycyte or saline (Controls) were analyzed for Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular
      Volume (MCV),Hematocrit (Hct) and Fluorocrit (Fct) using a HemaVet, ABL-735
      (ABL), or microhematocrit. Ancillary tests (blood viscosity, electrolytes, cell
      counts, and red blood cell morphology) were performed secondarily. Increasing
      Oxycyte resulted in increases in MCV, Hct, and visible cell shape change and
      morphology vs. CONTROLS: Effects correlated with lower sodium in Oxycyte samples
      vs. CONTROLS: With increasing Oxycyte, Hb became higher than Controls or became
      unpredictable depending on the instrument (HemaVet or ABL, respectively). Fct was
      smaller than predicted and likely represented the heaviest components of Oxycyte.
      At >=50 % Oxycyte, RBC hemolysis rendered further measurements impractical.
      Viscosity first increased then decreased with increasing Oxycyte, peaking at ~40
      % Oxycyte. Hct, MCV, Hb, and RBC morphology may be affected by Oxycyte. These
      observations correlated with lower sodium and increasing Oxycyte, causing
      hemolysis at high Oxycyte concentrations. These changes were due to alterations
      in the blood samples in vitro and this should be considered when interpreting
      hematology parameters from in vivo studies.

PMID- 26886452
TI  - Setting up an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) unit in
      Switzerland: review of the first 18 months of activity.
AB  - Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has been recognised as a
      useful, cost-effective and safe alternative to inpatient treatment, but no formal
      OPAT unit existed in Switzerland until recently. In December 2013 an OPAT unit
      was established at Lausanne University Hospital. We review here the experience of
      this new OPAT unit after 18 months of activity. Patient characteristics, clinical
      activities and outcomes were recorded prospectively. Need and acceptance was
      evaluated as number of OPAT courses administered and number of patients refusing
      OPAT. Safety and efficacy were evaluated as: (1) adverse events linked to
      antimicrobials and catheters, (2) re-admission to hospital, (3) rate of treatment
      failures and (4) mortality. Over 18 months, 179 courses of OPAT were
      administered. Acceptance was high with only four patients refusing OPAT. Urinary
      tract infections with resistant bacteria and musculoskeletal infections were the
      most common diagnoses. Self-administration of antibiotics using elastomeric pumps
      became rapidly the most frequently used approach. Sixteen patients presented with
      adverse events linked to antimicrobials and catheters. OPAT-related readmissions
      occurred in nine patients. The overall cure rate was 94 %. This study shows that
      OPAT is very well accepted by patients and medical staff, even in a setting which
      has not used this type of treatment approach until now. Self-administration using
      elastomeric pumps proved to be particularly useful, safe and efficient. OPAT
      offers a good alternative to hospitalisation for patients presenting with
      infections due to resistant bacteria that cannot be treated orally anymore and
      for difficult to treat infections.

PMID- 26886451
TI  - Clinical Implications of Diffuse Excessive High Signal Intensity (DEHSI) on
      Neonatal MRI in School Age Children Born Extremely Preterm.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain carried out during the
      neonatal period shows that 55-80% of extremely preterm infants display white
      matter diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI). Our aim was to study
      differences in developmental outcome at the age of 6.5 years in children born
      extremely preterm with and without DEHSI. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective
      cohort study of 83 children who were born in Stockholm, Sweden, between 2004 and
      2007, born at gestational age of < 27 weeks + 0 days and who underwent an MRI
      scan of their brain at term equivalent age. The outcome measures at 6.5 years
      included testing 66 children with the modified Touwen neurology examination, the
      Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for
      Children-Fourth Edition, Beery Visual-motor Integration test-Sixth Edition, and
      the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Group-wise comparisons were done
      between children with and without DEHSI using Student t-test, Mann Whitney U
      test, Chi square test and regression analysis. RESULTS: DEHSI was detected in 39
      (59%) of the 66 children who were assessed at 6.5 years. The presence of DEHSI
      was not associated with mild neurological dysfunction, scores on M-ABC
      assessment, cognition, visual-motor integration, or behavior at 6.5 years.
      CONCLUSION: The presence of qualitatively defined DEHSI on neonatal MRI did not
      prove to be a useful predictor of long-term impairment in children born extremely
      preterm.

PMID- 26886453
TI  - Structure, toxicity and antibiotic activity of gramicidin S and derivatives.
AB  - Development of new antibiotics is declining whereas antibiotic resistance is
      rising, heralding a post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial peptides such as
      gramicidin S (GS), exclusively topically used due to its hemolytic side-effect,
      could still be interesting as therapeutic compounds. By modifying the amino-acid
      composition of GS, we synthesized GS analogues. We now show that derivative VK7
      has a lower MIC (7.8-31.2 MUg/ml, median 15.6 MUg/ml) against strains of multi
      drug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa than GS has (3.9-62.5 MUg/ml, median 31.3 MUg/ml). Low
      MICs for both VK7 and GS were observed for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus
      faecium. VK7 showed reduced haemolysis and less lactate dehydrogenase release.
      All compounds were fully bactericidal at MIC values. Modification of GS enables
      production of novel derivatives potentially useful for systemic treatment of
      human infections.

PMID- 26886454
TI  - When is mesh fixation in TAPP-repair of primary inguinal hernia repair necessary?
      The register-based analysis of 11,230 cases.
AB  - Whereas for TEP the guidelines do not recommend mesh fixation on the basis of
      meta-analyses regardless of the defect size, for TAPP mesh fixation can be
      omitted only up to a defect size of 3 cm because of the paucity of studies on
      this topic. Hence, this study now seeks to explore this subject on the basis of
      prospective data from the Herniamed Hernia Registry. In the period September 01,
      2009, to January 31, 2014, 11,228 male patients were operated on with the TAPP
      technique for a primary unilateral inguinal hernia and were followed up for 1
      year. Mesh fixation was used for 7422 (66.1 %) of these patients and no mesh
      fixation for 3806 patients (33.9 %). Unadjusted analysis did not find any
      significant difference in the recurrence rate (0.88 % with fixation vs. 1.1 %
      without fixation; p = 0.259). Multivariable analysis of all potential influence
      factors (age, ASA, BMI, risk factors, defect size, mesh fixation, localization of
      defect, mesh size) did not identify any factor that impacted recurrence on 1-year
      follow-up. Only for medial and combined defect localization versus lateral
      localization was a highly significant effect identified (p < 0.001). With mesh
      fixation and larger mesh size, it was possible to significantly reduce the
      recurrence rate for larger medial hernias in this series (p = 0.046). For TAPP
      repair of an inguinal hernia, mesh fixation is not necessary in a significant
      number of patients. Patients with a medial and combined hernia are at higher risk
      of recurrence. In the patient series analyzed, it was possible to significantly
      reduce the recurrence rate with mesh fixation and larger mesh size for medial
      defects.

PMID- 26886455
TI  - siRNA Targeting the 2Apro Genomic Region Prevents Enterovirus 71 Replication In
      Vitro.
AB  - Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the most important etiological agent of hand, foot, and
      mouth disease (HFMD) in young children, which is associated with severe
      neurological complications and has caused significant mortalities in recent HFMD
      outbreaks in Asia. However, there is no effective antiviral therapy against EV71.
      In this study, RNA interference (RNAi) was used as an antiviral strategy to
      inhibit EV71 replication. Three small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting the
      2Apro region of the EV71 genome were designed and synthesized. All the siRNAs
      were transfected individually into rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells, which were then
      infected with strain EV71-2006-52-9. The cytopathic effects (CPEs) in the
      infected RD cells, cell viability, viral titer, and viral RNA and protein
      expression were examined to evaluate the specific viral inhibition by the siRNAs.
      The results of cytopathogenicity and MTT tests indicated that the RD cells
      transfected with the three siRNAs showed slight CPEs and significantly high
      viability. The 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) values demonstrated
      that the viral titer of the groups treated with three siRNAs were lower than
      those of the control groups. qRT-PCR and western blotting revealed that the
      levels of viral RNA and protein in the RD cells treated with the three siRNAs
      were lower than those in the controls. When RD cells transfected with siRNAs were
      also infected with strain EV71-2008-43-16, the expression of the VP1 protein was
      significantly inhibited. The levels of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-beta
      did not differ significantly in any group. These results suggest that siRNAs
      targeting the 2Apro region of the EV71 genome exerted antiviral effects in vitro.

PMID- 26886456
TI  - Averting the legacy of kidney disease: focus on childhood.

PMID- 26886457
TI  - Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in Children Younger Than 10 Years of Age.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Femoral neck stress fractures are rare in healthy children, with only
      9 cases previously reported. The present article reviews our institutional
      experience with femoral neck stress fractures in children younger than 10 years
      of age, to highlight the unique features of this condition. METHODS: We undertook
      a retrospective review of clinical records of patients who had been treated at
      our institution for an idiopathic femoral neck stress fracture between 2000 and
      2014. To focus on children rather than adolescents, the World Health
      Organization's definition of adolescent as a person between 10 and 19 years of
      age was used; we thereby limited our analysis to patients younger than 10 years
      of age. RESULTS: The study included 6 patients (3 males, 3 females) treated for
      an idiopathic femoral neck stress fracture, with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.7
      years (range, 5.2 to 8.9 y). All patients presented with a limp, which worsened
      with activity and had persisted for a mean of 5 weeks (range, 2 to 9 wk). None of
      the patients had experienced an increase in activity level or sporting volume
      before symptom onset. On examination, 3 patients experienced pain with terminal
      hip flexion and 3 patients demonstrated pain-free hip range of motion. Plain
      radiography demonstrated inferior femoral neck cortical disruption, suggesting a
      compression-type stress fracture mechanism. The diagnosis was confirmed by cross
      sectional imaging in all cases. All patients were initially treated with 6 to 8
      weeks of non-weight-bearing followed by 4 to 6 weeks of partial weight-bearing,
      leading to complete healing in 4 patients. Two patients demonstrated incomplete
      healing and were managed with spica casting for an additional 6 weeks.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our case series illustrates the unique features of this rare
      condition in children, with a history and examination profile distinct from those
      of adolescents and adults. Compliance with weight-bearing restrictions is
      difficult in this population and hip spica casting may be required to permit
      complete healing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-case series.

PMID- 26886458
TI  - External Rotation Predicts Outcomes After Closed Glenohumeral Joint Reduction
      With Botulinum Toxin Type A in Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated outcomes after adjunct botulinum toxin
      type A (BTX-A) injections into the shoulder internal rotator muscles during
      shoulder closed reduction and spica cast immobilization in children with brachial
      plexus birth palsy. The purpose of this study was to report success rates after
      treatment and identify pretreatment predictors of success. METHODS: Children with
      brachial plexus birth palsy who underwent closed glenohumeral joint reduction
      with BTX-A and casting were included. Minimum follow-up was 1 year. Included
      patients did not receive concomitant shoulder surgery nor undergo microsurgery
      within 8 months. Records were reviewed for severity of palsy, age, physical
      examination scores, passive external rotation (PER), and subsequent orthopaedic
      procedures (repeat injections, repeat reduction, shoulder tendon transfers, and
      humeral osteotomy). Treatment success was defined in 3 separate ways: no
      subsequent surgical reduction, no subsequent closed or surgical reduction, and no
      subsequent procedure plus adequate external rotation. RESULTS: Forty-nine
      patients were included. Average age at time of treatment was 11.5 months. Average
      follow-up was 21.1 months (range, 1 to 9 y). Thirty-two patients (65%) required
      repeat reduction (closed or surgical). Only 16% of all patients obtained adequate
      active external rotation without any subsequent procedure. Increased PER (average
      41+/-14 degrees, odds ratio=1.21, P=0.01) and Active Movement Scale external
      rotation (average 1.3, odds ratio=2.36, P=0.02) predicted optimal treatment
      success. Limited pretreatment PER (average -1+/-17 degrees) was associated with
      treatment failure. Using the optimal definition for success, all patients with
      pretreatment PER>30 degrees qualified as successes and all patients with PER<15
      degrees were treatment failures. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment PER>30 degrees can
      help identify which patients are most likely to experience successful outcomes
      after shoulder closed reduction with BTX-A and cast immobilization. However, a
      large proportion of these patients will still have mild shoulder subluxation or
      external rotation deficits warranting subsequent intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
      Level IV-therapeutic.

PMID- 26886459
TI  - Dynamic Splinting in Children and Adolescents With Stiffness After Knee Surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the indications and
      outcomes of dynamic splinting (DS) of the arthrofibrotic knee in the pediatric
      population. METHODS: Seventy-four patients (41 males, 33 females) with
      postoperative arthrofibrosis treated with DS after an index knee surgery were
      reviewed. Median age was 13 years (range, 4 to 18 y), and median follow-up was 17
      months (interquartile range, 10 to 28 mo). Demographics, index surgery procedure,
      preoperative and postoperative knee range of motion (ROM) measurements, treatment
      length and subsequent need for manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), and surgical
      lysis of adhesions (LOA) were evaluated. A ROM deficit was defined as lack of
      extension >=10 degrees or lack of flexion <130 degrees. Successful improvement of
      ROM was defined as an increase of >=10 degrees in flexion, extension, or both.
      There were 23 patients with flexion deficit only, 17 with extension deficit only,
      and 34 with combined flexion and extension deficits. Wilcoxon signed-rank test
      was used to assess median improvement in ROM. Patients were classified into 4
      surgical groups: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction without meniscal
      repair (n=19), ACL reconstruction with meniscal repair (n=12), tibial spine
      fracture repair (n=21), and other (n=22). Multivariable logistic regression was
      used to identify independent predictors of failure of DS requiring MUA and LOA.
      RESULTS: A total of 57 patients with flexion deficits showed median improvement
      of 30 degrees in flexion (95% confidence interval, 0-90 degrees; P<0.001), and 51
      patients with extension deficits showed median improvement of 7 degrees in
      extension (95% confidence interval, 0-60 degrees; P<0.001). DS was associated
      with ROM improvement in 84% and avoided the need for surgery in 58% of all 74
      patients included in the study. Multivariate analysis of the ACL with meniscus
      repair subgroup revealed that each 1-month delay in DS treatment was associated
      with a 5-fold increased risk of undergoing a LOA (P=0.007). Thirty-six (63%)
      patients with flexion deficit avoided need for surgery, whereas 26 (51%) patients
      with extension deficits avoided surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that DS is
      an effective method to increase knee ROM and reduce the need for subsequent
      MUA/LOA in the pediatric and adolescent patient with arthrofibrosis after an
      index knee surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective case series.

PMID- 26886460
TI  - Body Image and Quality of Life and Brace Wear Adherence in Females With
      Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical evidence regarding the ability of braces to decrease the
      risk of curve progression to surgical threshold in patients with adolescent
      idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) continues to strengthen. Unfortunately, there is still
      a great deal of uncertainty regarding the impact of brace wear on psychosocial
      well-being or the impact of psychological well-being on brace wear adherence. The
      purpose of this study is to evaluate psychosocial well-being, in particular body
      image and quality of life (QOL), and brace wear adherence in female AIS patients
      undergoing brace treatment. METHODS: The Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic
      Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST) was a multicenter, controlled trial using randomized and
      preference assignments into an observation or brace treatment group. BrAIST
      patients were skeletally immature adolescents diagnosed with AIS having moderate
      curve sizes (20 to 40 degrees). Patients in the bracing group were instructed to
      wear a thoracolumbosacral orthosis, at least 18 h/d. Scores on the Spinal
      Appearance Questionnaire and the PedsQL4.0 Generic Scales from 167 female BrAIST
      patients who were randomized to brace treatment (n=58) and patients who chose
      brace treatment (n=109) were analyzed. RESULTS: At baseline and at 12 months, no
      differences were found between the least-adherent brace wear group (<6 h/d) and
      most-adherent brace wear group (>=12 h/d) patients in terms of major curve, body
      image, and QOL. In the most-adherent group, poorer body image scores were
      significantly correlated with poorer QOL scores at baseline, at 6 months, and at
      12 months but not at 18 months. In general, body image scores and QOL scores were
      not significantly correlated in the least-adherent group. When comparing patients
      that had a >=6 degree increase of their major curve between baseline and 12
      months to patients that did not, there were no significant differences in body
      image or QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: For females adolescents with AIS, body image
      and QOL do not have a significant impact on brace wear adherence and are
      subsequently not significantly impacted by brace wear. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level
      II-therapeutic (prospective comparative study).

PMID- 26886461
TI  - Quantifying Anesthesia Exposure in Growing Rod Treatment for Early Onset
      Scoliosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Growing rod (GR) treatment for early-onset scoliosis requires
      repeated anesthesia exposure (AE). At a minimum, GR treatment requires AE for
      diagnostic imaging, index GR surgery, periodic lengthenings, and final fusion.
      Adjunct procedures and complication-related procedures also increase AE. To our
      knowledge, this is the first study to quantify AE in GR treatment and to
      establish preoperative expectations. METHODS: A single-center retrospective
      review of 16 patients who completed GR treatment and underwent final fusion.
      Duration of all AE related to GR treatment for "standard" care procedures (ie,
      advanced imaging, index surgery, lengthenings, final fusion) and "associated"
      care procedures (ie, revisions, adjunctive surgical procedures, wound-related
      complications) were reviewed. Etiologies were classified per the classification
      of early-onset scoliosis. Mean total anesthesia time (TAT) was tallied and
      analyzed for standard care and associated care procedures. RESULTS: There were 5
      syndromic, 8 neuromuscular, and 3 idiopathic patients. The mean age at the first
      AE event related to GR treatment was 7.4 years (range, 3.8 to 11 y). Mean age at
      the index GR surgery and final fusion was 8.1 years (range, 3.9 to 14.4 y) and
      12.8 years (range, 9.7 to 19 y), respectively. The percentage of TAT for each
      procedural category was 7% for advanced imaging, 14% for index GR, 14% for
      lengthenings, 21% for final fusion, 27% for revisions, 9% for adjunct surgery,
      and 9% for wound complications. Standard care procedures accounted for 55% of
      TAT, whereas associated care procedures accounted for 45%. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study quantified expected duration of AE in GR treatment. Revisions and final
      fusion contributed most to TAT. Given the recent controversy of repeated AE in
      young children, efficiency measures should be implemented to reduce AE and avoid
      duplication without compromising the goals of surgical treatment. Associated care
      procedures accounted for 45% of the total AE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID- 26886464
TI  - Narrowing of the Coronary Sinus: A Device-Based Therapy for Persistent Angina
      Pectoris.
AB  - Alongside the remarkable advances in medical and invasive therapies for the
      treatment of ischemic heart disease, an increasing number of patients with
      advanced coronary artery disease unsuitable for revascularization continue to
      suffer from angina pectoris despite optimal medical therapy. Patients with
      chronic angina have poor quality of life and increased levels of anxiety and
      depression. A considerable number of innovative therapeutic modalities for the
      treatment of chronic angina have been investigated over the years; however, none
      of these therapeutic options has become a standard of care, and none are widely
      utilized. Current treatment options for refractory angina focus on medical
      therapy and secondary risk factor modification. Interventions to create increased
      pressure in the coronary sinus may alleviate myocardial ischemia by forcing
      redistribution of coronary blood flow from the less ischemic subepicardium to the
      more ischemic subendocardium, thus relieving symptoms of ischemia. Percutaneous,
      transvenous implantation of a balloon expandable, hourglass-shaped, stainless
      steel mesh in the coronary sinus to create a fixed focal narrowing and to
      increase backwards pressure, may serve as a new device-based therapy destined for
      the treatment of refractory angina pectoris. 

PMID- 26886463
TI  - Hair cell stereociliary bundle regeneration by espin gene transduction after
      aminoglycoside damage and hair cell induction by Notch inhibition.
AB  - Once inner ear hair cells (HCs) are damaged by drugs, noise or aging, their
      apical structures including the stereociliary arrays are frequently the first
      cellular feature to be lost. Although this can be followed by progressive loss of
      HC somata, a significant number of HC bodies often remain even after
      stereociliary loss. However, in the absence of stereocilia they are
      nonfunctional. HCs can sometimes be regenerated by Atoh1 transduction or Notch
      inhibition, but they also may lack stereociliary bundles. It is therefore
      important to develop methods for the regeneration of stereocilia, in order to
      achieve HC functional recovery. Espin is an actin-bundling protein known to
      participate in sterociliary elongation during development. We evaluated
      stereociliary array regeneration in damaged vestibular sensory epithelia in
      tissue culture, using viral vector transduction of two espin isoforms. Utricular
      HCs were damaged with aminoglycosides. The utricles were then treated with a
      gamma-secretase inhibitor, followed by espin or control transduction and
      histochemistry. Although gamma-secretase inhibition increased the number of HCs,
      few had stereociliary arrays. In contrast, 46 h after espin1 transduction, a
      significant increase in hair-bundle-like structures was observed. These were
      confirmed to be immature stereociliary arrays by scanning electron microscopy.
      Increased uptake of FM1-43 uptake provided evidence of stereociliary function.
      Espin4 transduction had no effect. The results demonstrate that espin1 gene
      therapy can restore stereocilia on damaged or regenerated HCs.

PMID- 26886465
TI  - Marijuana Use and Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Marijuana is currently the most used illicit substance in the world. With the
      current trend of decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in the US,
      physicians in the US will encounter more patients using marijuana recreationally
      over a diverse range of ages and health states. Therefore, it is relevant to
      review marijuana's effects on human cardiovascular physiology and disease.
      Compared with placebo, marijuana cigarettes cause increases in heart rate, supine
      systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and forearm blood flow via increased
      sympathetic nervous system activity. These actions increase myocardial oxygen
      demand to a degree that they can decrease the time to exercise-induced angina in
      patients with a history of stable angina. In addition, marijuana has been
      associated with triggering myocardial infarctions (MIs) in young male patients.
      Smoking marijuana has been shown to increase the risk of MI onset by a factor of
      4.8 for the 60 minutes after marijuana consumption, and to increase the annual
      risk of MI in the daily cannabis user from 1.5% to 3% per year. Human and animal
      models suggest that this effect may be due to coronary arterial vasospasm.
      However, longitudinal studies have indicated that marijuana use may not have a
      significant effect on long-term mortality. While further research is required to
      definitively determine the impact of marijuana on cardiovascular disease, it is
      reasonable to recommend against recreational marijuana use, especially in
      individuals with a history of coronary artery disorders. 

PMID- 26886466
TI  - PCSK9 Inhibitors: An Innovative Approach to Treating Hyperlipidemia.
AB  - Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are novel agents
      indicated for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Inhibition of PCSK9 produces an
      increase in surface low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and increases removal
      of LDL from the circulation. Alirocumab (Praluent; Sanofi/Regeneron, Bridgewater,
      NJ) and evolocumab (Repatha; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) are currently available
      and approved for use in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia,
      homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and clinical atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease. Bococizumab (RN316; Pfizer, New York, NY) is currently
      being studied in similar indications, with an estimated approval date in late
      2016. The pharmacodynamic effects of PCSK9 inhibitors have been extensively
      studied in various patient populations. They have been shown to produce
      significant reductions in LDL and are well tolerated in clinical studies, but
      they are very costly when compared with statins, the current mainstay of
      hyperlipidemia treatment. Clinical outcome studies are underway, but not yet
      available; however, meta-analyses have pointed to a reduction in cardiovascular
      death and cardiovascular events with the use of PCSK9 inhibitors. This review
      will discuss the novel mechanism of action of PCSK9 inhibitors, the results of
      clinical studies, and the clinical considerations of these agents in current
      therapy. 

PMID- 26886467
TI  - The Role of Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound in the Identification of
      Coronary Artery Plaque Vulnerability in Acute Coronary Syndromes.
AB  - Markers of coronary plaque vulnerability, such as a high lipid burden, increased
      inflammatory activity, and a thin fibrous cap, have been identified in
      histological studies. In vivo, grayscale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides
      more in-depth information on coronary artery plaque burden than conventional
      angiography but is unable to accurately distinguish between noncalcific tissue
      types within the plaque. An analysis of IVUS radiofrequency backscatter based on
      spectral pattern recognition, such as virtual histology IVUS, allows detailed
      scrutiny of plaque composition and classification of coronary lesions. This
      review discusses the virtual histology IVUS technology and its accuracy in
      identifying vulnerable plaque features, focusing on its use in predicting patient
      outcomes after acute coronary syndrome, and its limitations in clinical practice.

PMID- 26886468
TI  - Theory of Mind and Executive Control Deficits in Typically Developing Adults and
      Adolescents with High Levels of Autism Traits.
AB  - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by profound difficulties in
      empathic processing and executive control. Whilst the links between these
      processes have been frequently investigated in populations with autism, few
      studies have examined them at the subclinical level. In addition, the
      contribution of alexithymia, a trait characterised by impaired interoceptive
      awareness and empathy, and elevated in those with ASD, is currently unclear. The
      present two-part study employed a comprehensive battery of tasks to examine these
      processes. Findings support the notion that executive function and theory of mind
      are related abilities. They also suggest that individuals with elevated levels of
      autism-like traits experience a partially similar pattern of social and executive
      function difficulties to those diagnosed with ASD, and that these impairments are
      not explained by co-occurring alexithymia.

PMID- 26886470
TI  - Brief Report: Assessment of Intervention Effects on In Vivo Peer Interactions in
      Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a randomized controlled trial
      of a social skills intervention, the Program for the Education and Enrichment of
      Relational Skills (PEERS: Laugeson et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 39(4): 596-606,
      2009), by coding digitally recorded social interactions between adolescent
      participants with ASD and a typically developing adolescent confederate.
      Adolescent participants engaged in a 10-min peer interaction at pre- and post
      treatment. Interactions were coded using the Contextual Assessment of Social
      Skills (Ratto et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 41(9): 1277-1286, 2010). Participants
      who completed PEERS demonstrated significantly improved vocal expressiveness, as
      well as a trend toward improved overall quality of rapport, whereas participants
      in the waitlist group exhibited worse performance on these domains. The degree of
      this change was related to knowledge gained in PEERS.

PMID- 26886471
TI  - Pediatrician Sees Long Road Ahead for Flint After Lead Poisoning Crisis.

PMID- 26886472
TI  - Association between histological features and clinical features of patients with
      biopsy positive giant cell arteritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between
      histological biopsy features and clinical features, such as blindness, in
      patients with biopsy positive giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: Positive
      temporal artery biopsies registered on the South Australian Giant Cell Arteritis
      Registry were identified between 1991 and 2013 (n=186). Clinical and serological
      data was recorded using both patient questionnaire and case note review. Patients
      without clinical data were excluded from the analysis (n=42). Statistical
      analysis was performed using chi-squared and Wilcoxon's tests. RESULTS: 144
      biopsy positive GCA cases were analysed. The mean age at biopsy was 77 years; 71%
      were female. In total 25% experienced blindness. Although not individually
      significant, transmural inflammation (p=0.11), luminal thrombus (p=0.17) and
      giant cells (p=0.20) were more frequent in patients who suffered blindness,
      whereas fragmentation of the internal elastic lamina (p=0.04), and intimal
      thickening (p=0.02) were more frequent in patients without blindness. The
      presence of giant cells was associated with transmural inflammation (p=0.06), jaw
      claudication (p=0.02), and higher inflammatory markers. In contrast,
      characteristics of patients with intimal thickening included a lower frequency of
      giant cells (0.01) and jaw claudication (p=0.01), and lower inflammatory markers.
      CONCLUSIONS: Giant cells are strongly associated with jaw claudication and
      systemic markers of inflammation, perhaps reflecting more acute and aggressive
      disease. We did not find any histological features that were individually
      significantly associated with an increased risk of blindness in GCA patients.

PMID- 26886469
TI  - Attention Bias to Emotional Faces Varies by IQ and Anxiety in Williams Syndrome.
AB  - Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) often experience significant anxiety. A
      promising approach to anxiety intervention has emerged from cognitive studies of
      attention bias to threat. To investigate the utility of this intervention in WS,
      this study examined attention bias to happy and angry faces in individuals with
      WS (N = 46). Results showed a significant difference in attention bias patterns
      as a function of IQ and anxiety. Individuals with higher IQ or higher anxiety
      showed a significant bias toward angry, but not happy faces, whereas individuals
      with lower IQ or lower anxiety showed the opposite pattern. These results suggest
      that attention bias interventions to modify a threat bias may be most effectively
      targeted to anxious individuals with WS with relatively high IQ.

PMID- 26886473
TI  - Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Irreversible pulpitis, which is characterised by acute and intense
      pain, is one of the most frequent reasons that patients attend for emergency
      dental care. Apart from removal of the tooth, the customary way of relieving the
      pain of irreversible pulpitis is by drilling into the tooth, removing the
      inflamed pulp (nerve) and cleaning the root canal. However, a significant number
      of dentists continue to prescribe antibiotics to stop the pain of irreversible
      pulpitis.This review updates the previous version published in 2013. OBJECTIVES:
      To assess the effects of systemic antibiotics for irreversible pulpitis. SEARCH
      METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register (to 27
      January 2016); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The
      Cochrane Library 2015, Issue 12); MEDLINE via Ovid (1946 to 27 January 2016);
      EMBASE via Ovid (1980 to 27 January 2016), ClinicalTrials.gov (to 27 January
      2016) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (to 27 January
      2016). There were no language restrictions in the searches of the electronic
      databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials which compared pain
      relief with systemic antibiotics and analgesics, against placebo and analgesics
      in the acute preoperative phase of irreversible pulpitis. DATA COLLECTION AND
      ANALYSIS: Two review authors screened studies and extracted data independently.
      We assessed the quality of the evidence of included studies using GRADEpro
      software. Pooling of data was not possible and a descriptive summary is
      presented. MAIN RESULTS: One trial assessed at low risk of bias, involving 40
      participants was included in this update of the review. The quality of the body
      of evidence was rated low for the different outcomes. There was a close parallel
      distribution of the pain ratings in both the intervention and placebo groups over
      the seven-day study period. There was insufficient evidence to claim or refute a
      benefit for penicillin for pain intensity. There was no significant difference in
      the mean total number of ibuprofen tablets over the study period: 9.2 (standard
      deviation (SD) 6.02) in the penicillin group versus 9.6 (SD 6.34) in the placebo
      group; mean difference -0.40 (95% confidence interval (CI) -4.23 to 3.43; P value
      = 0.84). This applied equally for the mean total number of Tylenol tablets: 6.9
      (SD 6.87) used in the penicillin group versus 4.45 (SD 4.82) in the placebo
      group; mean difference 2.45 (95% CI -1.23 to 6.13; P value = 0.19). Our secondary
      outcome on reporting of adverse events was not addressed in this study. AUTHORS'
      CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review which was based on one low powered small
      sample trial assessed as at low risk of bias, illustrates that there is
      insufficient evidence to determine whether antibiotics reduce pain or not
      compared to not having antibiotics. The results of this review confirm the
      necessity for further larger sample and methodologically sound trials that can
      provide additional evidence as to whether antibiotics, prescribed in the
      preoperative phase, can affect treatment outcomes for irreversible pulpitis.

PMID- 26886474
TI  - Effects of Virtual Reality Training (Exergaming) Compared to Alternative Exercise
      Training and Passive Control on Standing Balance and Functional Mobility in
      Healthy Community-Dwelling Seniors: A Meta-Analytical Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Balance training is considered an important means to decrease fall
      rates in seniors. Whether virtual reality training (VRT) might serve as an
      appropriate treatment strategy to improve neuromuscular fall risk parameters in
      comparison to alternative balance training programs (AT) is as yet unclear.
      OBJECTIVE: To examine and classify the effects of VRT on fall-risk relevant
      balance performance and functional mobility compared to AT and an inactive
      control condition (CON) in healthy seniors. DATA SOURCES: The literature search
      was conducted in five databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed,
      SPORTDiscus). The following search terms were used with Boolean conjunction:
      (exergam* OR exer-gam* OR videogam* OR video-gam* OR video-based OR computer
      based OR Wii OR Nintendo OR X-box OR Kinect OR play-station OR playstation OR
      virtua* realit* OR dance dance revolution) AND (sport* OR train* OR exercis* OR
      intervent* OR balanc* OR strength OR coordina* OR motor control OR postur* OR
      power OR physical* OR activit* OR health* OR fall* risk OR prevent*) AND (old* OR
      elder* OR senior*). STUDY SELECTION: Randomized and non-randomized controlled
      trials applying VRT as interventions focusing on improving standing balance
      performance (single and double leg stance with closed and open eyes, functional
      reach test) and functional mobility (Berg balance scale, Timed-up and go test,
      Tinetti test) in healthy community-dwelling seniors of at least 60 years of age
      were screened for eligibility. DATA EXTRACTION: Eligibility and study quality
      (PEDro scale) were independently assessed by two researchers. Standardized mean
      differences (SMDs) served as main outcomes for the comparisons of VRT versus CON
      and VRT versus AT on balance performance and functional mobility indices.
      Statistical analyses were conducted using a random effects inverse-variance
      model. RESULTS: Eighteen trials (mean PEDro score: 6 +/- 2) with 619 healthy
      community dwellers were included. The mean age of participants was 76 +/- 5
      years. Meaningful effects in favor of VRT compared to CON were found for balance
      performance [p < 0.001, SMD: 0.77 (95 % CI 0.45-1.09)] and functional mobility [p
      = 0.004, SMD: 0.56 (95 % CI 0.25-0.78)]. Small overall effects in favor of AT
      compared to VRT were found for standing balance performance [p = 0.31, SMD: -0.35
      (95 % CI -1.03 to 0.32)] and functional mobility [p = 0.05, SMD: -0.44 (95 % CI: 
      0.87 to 0.00)]. Sensitivity analyses between "weaker" (n = 9, PEDro <=5) and
      "stronger" (n = 9, PEDro >=6) studies indicated that weaker studies showed larger
      effects in favor of VRT compared to CON regarding balance performance (p <
      0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although slightly less effective than AT, VRT-based balance
      training is an acceptable method for improving balance performance as well as
      functional mobility outcomes in healthy community dwellers. VRT might serve as an
      attractive complementary training approach for the elderly. However, more high
      quality research is needed in order to derive valid VRT recommendations compared
      to both AT and CON.

PMID- 26886477
TI  - SOX2 Expression in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3 (CIN3) and
      Superficially Invasive (Stage IA1) Squamous Carcinoma of the Cervix.
AB  - The transcription factor SOX2 plays an important role in tissue development and
      differentiation. In the neoplastic context, SOX2 has been shown to potentiate
      tumor invasion, and increased SOX2 immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in a
      variety of epithelial and nonepithelial malignancies often correlating with
      adverse prognosis. There are limited data on SOX2 expression in cervical squamous
      neoplasia and in particular, no studies have compared staining in cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)3 and in superficially invasive (Stage IA1)
      squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). We examined SOX2 expression in 12 cervical
      biopsies showing CIN3 only and 30 specimens with an initial diagnosis of Stage
      IA1 SCC; 7 of the latter samples did not demonstrate residual invasive foci in
      the study slides but all showed CIN3. There was variable staining in CIN3 without
      stromal invasion but CIN3 adjacent to SCC was more often SOX2 positive with 70%
      cases showing diffuse staining. CIN within endocervical crypts often showed more
      extensive SOX2 expression and in some cases staining was restricted to areas of
      crypt involvement. In contrast to CIN, most SCCs were SOX2 negative and there was
      often an abrupt loss of expression at the tumor-stromal interface. In summary,
      CIN3 usually showed increased SOX2 expression compared with normal epithelium,
      particularly in areas of endocervical crypt involvement and adjacent to
      superficially invasive SCC. However, most invasive tumor cells were unstained
      suggesting downregulation of SOX2 during the initial stages of the invasive
      process. Progression of cervical squamous neoplasia may involve cyclical
      alterations in SOX2 activity.

PMID- 26886475
TI  - The Benefits of Natural Environments for Physical Activity.
AB  - Urbanisation has a profound effect on both people and the environment, as levels
      of physical activity decline and many natural ecosystems become lost or degraded.
      Here we draw on emerging research to examine the role of green spaces in
      providing a venue for outdoor physical activity, and in enhancing the benefit of
      a given amount of physical activity for urban residents. We identify critical
      knowledge gaps, including (1) whether (and for whom) levels of physical activity
      increase as new green spaces are introduced or old spaces reinvigorated; (2)
      which characteristics of nature promote physical activity; (3) the extent to
      which barriers to outdoor physical activity are environmental or social; and (4)
      whether the benefits of physical activity and experiences of nature accrue
      separately or synergistically. A clear understanding of these issues will help
      guide effective investment in green space provision, ecological enhancement and
      green exercise promotion. 

PMID- 26886478
TI  - Photoelectron Spectroscopy of cis-Nitrous Acid Anion (cis-HONO(-)).
AB  - We report photoelectron spectra of cis-HONO(-) formed from an association
      reaction of OH(-) and NO in a pulsed, plasma-entrainment ion source. The
      experimental data are assigned to the cis-HONO(-) isomer, which is predicted to
      be the global minimum on the anion potential energy surface. We do not find
      evidence for a significant contribution from trans-HONO(-). Electron
      photodetachment of cis-HONO(-) with 1613, 1064, 532, 355, and 301 nm photons
      accesses the ground X (1)A' (S0) and excited a (3)A" (T1) states of neutral HONO.
      The photoelectron spectrum resulting from detachment forming cis-HONO (S0)
      exhibits a long vibrational progression, dominated by overtones and combination
      bands involving the central O-N stretching and ONO bending vibrations. This
      indicates that there is a significant change in the central O-N bond length
      between cis-HONO(-) and cis-HONO (S0). The electron affinity (EA) of cis-HONO is
      determined to be 0.356(8) eV. We also report the dissociation energy (D0) of cis
      HONO(-), forming OH(-) + NO, as 0.594(9) eV, which is a factor of 4 decrease in
      the central O-N bond strength compared to neutral cis-HONO. The T1 state of cis
      HONO is shown to be ~2.3 eV higher in energy than cis-HONO (S0). Electron
      photodetachment to form cis-HONO (T1) accesses a transition state along the HO-NO
      bond dissociation coordinate. The resulting photoelectron spectrum exhibits broad
      peaks spaced by the terminal N?O stretching frequency. Electronic structure
      calculations and photoelectron spectrum simulations reported here show very good
      agreement with the experimental data. 

PMID- 26886479
TI  - Maintenance Treatment by Erlotinib and Toxic Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report.
AB  - Erlotinib maintenance treatment improves progression-free survival compared with
      observation after first-line chemotherapy in unselected advanced non-small cell
      lung cancer (NSCLC). Very few cardiac adverse effects have been observed in phase
      III studies on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). We report the case of a 71-year
      old woman with metastatic NSCLC treated with cisplatin/pemetrexed and then
      erlotinib maintenance therapy. After 26 months of TKI therapy, she developed
      dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite symptomatic treatment, left ventricular ejection
      fraction decreased to 25%. Ischemic heart disease was excluded by coronary
      angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and no other cause was found.
      Erlotinib was stopped, and cardiac resynchronization therapy by pacemaker was
      initiated. This case report highlights the possible cardiotoxic effects of long
      term erlotinib and suggests the need for close clinical and echocardiographic
      follow-up of patients receiving long-term TKI therapy. 

PMID- 26886476
TI  - A Review of the Anthropometric Characteristics, Grading and Dispensation of
      Junior and Youth Rugby Union Players in Australia.
AB  - The grading of Australian junior and youth rugby union players has received
      substantial media attention in recent years. Media reports have focussed on size
      mismatches observed between players, especially players with Polynesian heritage,
      and the concerned parents who fear for the safety of their child owing to
      perceived mismatches. Although such concerns are well meaning, few media reports
      recognise the need for substantial evidence to determine the best grading system
      for junior and youth rugby union players. The current study reviewed relevant
      literature pertinent to the grading and dispensation of junior and youth rugby
      union players. Using primary and secondary search strategies, a total of 33
      articles reporting the anthropometric characteristics of junior and youth rugby
      players were identified. Anthropometric data from the literature were compared
      with normative population data and currently used dispensation criteria. Junior
      and youth rugby players were found to be taller and heavier than normative
      population data. Current dispensation criteria, in terms of body mass, were found
      to vary and it is suggested that criteria be revised and standardised across
      rugby unions throughout Australia. Although it is acknowledged that other factors
      are important for grading players, anthropometric characteristics should be
      considered as potential dispensation criteria to supplement current age-based
      grading for junior and youth rugby union players. Measuring the body mass and
      stature of each junior player upon pre-season registration is suggested, which
      would provide data to establish valid dispensation criteria for the following
      season. 

PMID- 26886480
TI  - A new mechanism of post-transfer editing by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: catalysis
      of hydrolytic reaction by bacterial-type prolyl-tRNA synthetase.
AB  - Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are enzymes that specifically attach amino acids to
      cognate tRNAs for use in the ribosomal stage of translation. For many aminoacyl
      tRNA synthetases, the required level of amino acid specificity is achieved either
      by specific hydrolysis of misactivated aminoacyl-adenylate intermediate (pre
      transfer editing) or by hydrolysis of the mischarged aminoacyl-tRNA (post
      transfer editing). To investigate the mechanism of post-transfer editing of
      alanine by prolyl-tRNA synthetase from the pathogenic bacteria Enterococcus
      faecalis, we used molecular modeling, molecular dynamic simulations, quantum
      mechanical (QM) calculations, site-directed mutagenesis of the enzyme, and tRNA
      modification. The results support a new tRNA-assisted mechanism of hydrolysis of
      misacylated Ala-tRNAPro. The most important functional element of this catalytic
      mechanism is the 2'-OH group of the terminal adenosine 76 of Ala-tRNAPro, which
      forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl group of the alanine
      residue, strongly facilitating hydrolysis. Hydrolysis was shown by QM methods to
      proceed via a general acid-base catalysis mechanism involving two functionally
      distinct water molecules. The transition state of the reaction was identified.
      Amino acid residues of the editing active site participate in the coordination of
      substrate and both attacking and assisting water molecules, performing the proton
      transfer to the 3'-O atom of A76.

PMID- 26886482
TI  - The Ethics of Cloud Computing.
AB  - Cloud computing is rapidly gaining traction in business. It offers businesses
      online services on demand (such as Gmail, iCloud and Salesforce) and allows them
      to cut costs on hardware and IT support. This is the first paper in business
      ethics dealing with this new technology. It analyzes the informational duties of
      hosting companies that own and operate cloud computing datacentres (e.g.,
      Amazon). It considers the cloud services providers leasing 'space in the cloud'
      from hosting companies (e.g., Dropbox, Salesforce). And it examines the business
      and private 'clouders' using these services. The first part of the paper argues
      that hosting companies, services providers and clouders have mutual informational
      (epistemic) obligations to provide and seek information about relevant issues
      such as consumer privacy, reliability of services, data mining and data
      ownership. The concept of interlucency is developed as an epistemic virtue
      governing ethically effective communication. The second part considers potential
      forms of government restrictions on or proscriptions against the development and
      use of cloud computing technology. Referring to the concept of technology
      neutrality, it argues that interference with hosting companies and cloud services
      providers is hardly ever necessary or justified. It is argued, too, however, that
      businesses using cloud services (e.g., banks, law firms, hospitals etc. storing
      client data in the cloud) will have to follow rather more stringent regulations.

PMID- 26886481
TI  - Lessons learned from narrative feedback of students on a geriatric training
      program.
AB  - Geriatrics continues to draw insufficient numbers of medical students today.
      Currently, little is known regarding how education can motivate students to
      choose geriatrics. The authors' aim was to examine geriatrics from the students'
      perspective to identify elements that can be useful in education and improving
      attitudes toward, interest in, and knowledge about geriatrics. The authors
      analyzed narrative reflection essays of 36 students and clarified the themes from
      the essays during focus group sessions. Four overarching themes that influenced
      students' perspective on geriatrics were identified: professional identity,
      perception of geriatrics, geriatric-specific problems, and learning environment.
      Students have an inaccurate image of clinical practice and the medical
      professional identity, which has a negative impact on their attitude toward,
      interest in, and knowledge of geriatrics. Furthermore, this study yielded the
      important role of the hidden curriculum on professional identity, the novelty of
      geriatric-specific problems to students, and the importance of educational
      approach and good role models.

PMID- 26886483
TI  - Are experiences of family and of organized violence predictors of aggression and
      violent behavior? A study with unaccompanied refugee minors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is strong support for familial abuse as a risk factor for later
      delinquency and violent offending, whereas empirical evidence about the
      contribution of experienced organized violence to the cycle of violence is less
      clear. Nevertheless not all abused children do become violent offenders. This
      raises the question of which factors influence these children's risk of future
      aggressive behavior. Recent evidence suggests that the trait of appetitive
      aggression plays an important role in the prediction of aggressive behavior.
      OBJECTIVE: The focus of the study is to investigate whether exposures to 1)
      organized; and 2) family violence equally contribute to aggressive behavior and
      how this is related to a trait of appetitive aggression. Furthermore it is of
      interest to uncover how the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
      symptoms modulates associations between violent experiences and aggression.
      METHOD: To answer these questions, we investigated unaccompanied refugee minors
      who had been exposed to varying levels of both violence types. Using structured
      interviews, experiences of organized and familial violence, self-committed
      aggressive acts, the trait of appetitive aggression, and PTSD symptoms were
      assessed in 49 volunteers. RESULTS: A sequential regression analysis revealed
      that the trait of appetitive aggression and experienced family violence were
      independent and significant predictors of self-committed aggressive acts,
      altogether accounting for 70% of the variance. Exposure to organized violence,
      however, was not significantly associated with aggressive acts or appetitive
      aggression. PTSD symptom severity was not correlated with measures of aggression
      but with the exposure to familial and organized violence. CONCLUSIONS: Results
      suggest that in addition to the impact of family violence, an elevated trait of
      appetitive aggression plays a crucial role in aggressive behavior and should be
      considered in psychotherapeutic treatment.

PMID- 26886484
TI  - Challenging future, challenging past: the relationship of social integration and
      psychological impairment in traumatized refugees.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Refugees have been shown to present high prevalence rates of trauma
      related mental disorders. Despite their psychological impairment, they are
      expected to meet high functional requirements in terms of social integration
      into, and financial independence from, the host society. METHODS: This cross
      sectional study examined the relationship of mental health problems, post
      migration living difficulties (PMLD), and social integration in a sample of 104
      refugees seeking treatment for severe posttraumatic stress and comorbid symptoms
      in two outpatient clinics in Switzerland. RESULTS: Despite an average time of
      residence in Switzerland of over 10 years, participants showed poor integration
      and a high number of PMLD. Integration difficulties were closely associated with
      psychological symptoms, but not with socio-demographic parameters such as
      education or visa status. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological impairment in treatment
      seeking traumatized refugees is associated with poor integration. To foster
      social integration, it is crucial to better understand and address the specific
      needs of this highly vulnerable population.

PMID- 26886486
TI  - Complex PTSD and phased treatment in refugees: a debate piece.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Asylum seekers and refugees have been claimed to be at increased risk
      of developing complex posttraumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD). Consequently,
      it has been recommended that refugees be treated with present-centred or phased
      treatment rather than stand-alone trauma-focused treatment. This recommendation
      has contributed to a clinical practice of delaying or waiving trauma-focused
      treatment in refugees with PTSD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this debate piece is to
      defend two theses: (1) that complex trauma leads to complex PTSD in a minority of
      refugees only and (2) that trauma-focused treatment should be offered to all
      refugees who seek treatment for PTSD. METHODS: The first thesis is defended by
      comparing data on the prevalence of complex PTSD in refugees to those in other
      trauma-exposed populations, using studies derived from a systematic review. The
      second thesis is defended using conclusions of systematic reviews and a meta
      analysis of the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatment in refugees. RESULTS:
      Research shows that refugees are more likely to meet a regular PTSD diagnosis or
      no diagnosis than a complex PTSD diagnosis and that prevalence of complex PTSD in
      refugees is relatively low compared to that in survivors of childhood trauma.
      Effect sizes for trauma-focused treatment in refugees, especially narrative
      exposure therapy (NET) and culturally adapted cognitive-behaviour therapy (CA
      CBT), have consistently been found to be high. CONCLUSIONS: Complex PTSD in
      refugees should not be assumed to be present on the basis of complex traumatic
      experiences but should be carefully diagnosed using a validated interview. In
      line with treatment guidelines for PTSD, a course of trauma-focused treatment
      should be offered to all refugees seeking treatment for PTSD, including asylum
      seekers.

PMID- 26886485
TI  - Prevalence and gender differences in symptomatology of posttraumatic stress
      disorder and depression among Iraqi Yazidis displaced into Turkey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common among
      populations displaced due to large-scale political conflicts and war. OBJECTIVE:
      The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and gender-based
      differences in symptoms of PTSD and depression among Iraqi Yazidis displaced into
      Turkey. METHOD: The study was conducted on 238 individuals who were evaluated
      using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) and the Stressful
      Life Events Screening Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the participants, 42.9% met the
      DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD, 39.5% for major depression, and 26.4% for
      both disorders. More women than men suffered from PTSD and major depression. More
      women than men with PTSD or depression reported having experienced or witnessed
      the death of a spouse or child. Women with PTSD reported flashbacks,
      hypervigilance, and intense psychological distress due to reminders of trauma
      more frequently than men. Men with PTSD reported feelings of detachment or
      estrangement from others more frequently than women. More depressive women than
      men reported feelings of guilt or worthlessness. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD and major
      depression affected women more frequently than men. While women tended to respond
      to traumatic stress by undermodulation of emotions and low self-esteem, men
      tended to respond by overmodulation of emotions. Rather than being a derivative
      of sex differences, this complementary diversity in response types between
      genders seems to be shaped by social factors in consideration of survival under
      extreme threat.

PMID- 26886487
TI  - Growing from experience: an exploratory study of posttraumatic growth in
      adolescent refugees.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore perceived posttraumatic growth
      (PTG) and its associations with potentially traumatic events (PTEs),
      dispositional optimism, perceived social support, posttraumatic stress disorder
      (PTSD) symptoms, and satisfaction with life (SWL) among adolescent refugees and
      asylum seekers. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was employed including 111
      refugees, aged 12-17, that were recruited from asylum seeker centres throughout
      the Netherlands. Measurements included the revised Posttraumatic Growth Inventory
      for Children, Children's Impact of Event Scale, Multidimensional Scale of
      Perceived Social Support, The Life Orientation Test, and the Satisfaction with
      Life Scale. RESULTS: Participants reported mean PTG scores (20.2) indicating an
      average response of some perceived change, while reporting high levels of PTSD
      symptoms (30.6). PTG and PTSD symptoms were not related with each other (r=0.07,
      p=0.50). PTG was positively associated with dispositional optimism (r=0.41,
      p<0.01) and social support (r=0.43, p<0.01). A hierarchical regression analysis
      demonstrated that dispositional optimism (beta=0.33; p<0.05) and social support
      (beta=0.27; p<0.05) positively predicted PTG, explaining 22% of the PTG variance
      above demographic variables and PTEs. PTG was also positively related with SWL
      (r=0.37, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Perceived PTG and PTSD symptoms appear to be
      independent constructs, which co-occur in adolescent refugees and asylum seekers.
      The relationship between PTG and mental health remains inconclusive; PTG was
      positively related to SWL and not associated with PTSD symptoms. Longitudinal
      research is required to determine causality between PTG and mental health in this
      refugee population confronted with many traumatic experiences and challenging
      migration tasks.

PMID- 26886488
TI  - Effects of acculturative stress on PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms among
      refugees resettled in Australia and Austria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research indicates that exposure to war-related traumatic events
      impacts on the mental health of refugees and leads to higher rates of
      posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms.
      Furthermore, stress associated with the migration process has also been shown to
      impact negatively on refugees' mental health, but the extent of these experiences
      is highly debatable as the relationships between traumatic events, migration, and
      mental health outcomes are complex and poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study
      aimed to examine the influence of trauma-related and post-migratory factors on
      symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety in two samples of Bosnian refugees that
      have resettled in two different host nations-Austria and Australia. METHOD: Using
      multiple recruitment methods, 138 participants were recruited to complete self
      report measures assessing acculturative stress, PTSD, depressive, and anxiety
      symptoms. RESULTS: Hierarchical regressions indicated that after controlling for
      age, sex, and exposure to traumatic events, acculturative stress associated with
      post-migratory experiences predicted severity of PTSD and anxiety symptoms, while
      depressive symptoms were only predicted by exposure to traumatic events. This
      model, however, was only significant for Bosnian refugees resettled in Austria,
      as PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were only predicted by traumatic
      exposure in the Bosnian refugees resettled in Australia. CONCLUSION: These
      findings point toward the importance of assessing both psychological and social
      stressors when assessing mental health of refugees. Furthermore, these results
      draw attention to the influence of the host society on post-migratory adaptation
      and mental health of refugees. Further research is needed to replicate these
      findings among other refugee samples in other host nations.

PMID- 26886490
TI  - Global mental health: trauma and adversity among populations in transition.

PMID- 26886489
TI  - Psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: risk factors and
      associations with birth outcomes in the Drakenstein Child Health Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prenatal and peripartum trauma may be associated with poor maternal
      fetal outcomes. However, relatively few data on these associations exist from low
      middle income countries, and populations in transition. OBJECTIVE: We
      investigated the prevalence and risk factors for maternal trauma and
      posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and their association with adverse birth
      outcomes in the Drakenstein Child Health Study, a South African birth cohort
      study. METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited from two clinics in a peri-urban
      community outside Cape Town. Trauma exposure and PTSD were assessed using
      diagnostic interviews; validated self-report questionnaires measured other
      psychosocial characteristics. Gestational age at delivery was calculated and
      birth outcomes were assessed by trained staff. Multiple logistic regression
      explored risk factors for trauma and PTSD; associations with birth outcomes were
      investigated using linear regression. Potential confounders included study site,
      socioeconomic status (SES), and depression. RESULTS: A total of 544 mother-infant
      dyads were included. Lifetime trauma was reported in approximately two-thirds of
      mothers, with about a third exposed to past-year intimate partner violence (IPV).
      The prevalence of current/lifetime PTSD was 19%. In multiple logistic regression,
      recent life stressors were significantly associated with lifetime trauma, when
      controlling for SES, study site, and recent IPV. Childhood trauma and recent
      stressors were significantly associated with PTSD, controlling for SES and study
      site. While no association was observed between maternal PTSD and birth outcomes,
      maternal trauma was significantly associated with a 0.3 unit reduction (95% CI:
      0.1; 0.5) in infant head-circumference-for-age z-scores (HCAZ scores) at birth in
      crude analysis, which remained significant when adjusted for study site and
      recent stressors in a multivariate regression model. CONCLUSIONS: In this
      exploratory study, maternal trauma and PTSD were found to be highly prevalent,
      and preliminary evidence suggested that trauma may adversely affect fetal growth,
      as measured by birth head circumference. However, these findings are limited by a
      number of methodological weaknesses, and further studies are required to extend
      findings and delineate causal links and mechanisms of association.

PMID- 26886491
TI  - Oxidation of Aryl Diphenylmethyl Sulfides Promoted by a Nonheme Iron(IV)-Oxo
      Complex: Evidence for an Electron Transfer-Oxygen Transfer Mechanism.
AB  - The oxidation of a series of aryl diphenylmethyl sulfides (4-X-C6H4SCH(C6H5)2,
      where X = OCH3 (1), X = CH3 (2), X = H (3), and X = CF3 (4)) promoted by the
      nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex [(N4Py)Fe(IV)?O](2+) occurs by an electron transfer
      oxygen transfer (ET-OT) mechanism as supported by the observation of products
      (diphenylmethanol, benzophenone, and diaryl disulfides) deriving from alpha-C-S
      and alpha-C-H fragmentation of radical cations 1(+*)-4(+*), formed besides the S
      oxidation products (aryl diphenylmethyl sulfoxides). The fragmentation/S
      oxidation product ratios regularly increase through a decrease in the electron
      donating power of the aryl substituents, that is, by increasing the fragmentation
      rate constants of the radical cations as indicated by a laser flash photolysis
      (LFP) study of the photochemical oxidation of 1-4 carried out in the presence of
      N-methoxyphenanthridinium hexafluorophosphate (MeOP(+)PF6(-)). 

PMID- 26886492
TI  - [Deliberate release of the laryngeal adductor reflex via microdroplet impulses:
      Development of a device].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR), a reflexive vocal fold closing
      mechanism, includes an early, probably di- or oligosynaptic ipsilateral LAR1- and
      a late ipsilateral and contralateral LAR2 polysynaptic component. In a clinical
      evaluation of dysphagia the LAR can be triggered by air pulses or tactile stimuli
      and typically assessed only qualitatively. METHODOLOGY: The development and
      construction of a device that can selectively shoot very small water droplets
      (microdroplet impulse testing MIT). RESULTS: The MIT device has a water reservoir
      with an infinitely adjustable pressure. The opening period of the piezo
      electrically operated valve determines the droplet size. With a high-speed camera
      system, the change in the airspeed of the drop can be determined, depending on
      the set water reservoir pressure. With the knowledge of the droplet size, the
      shooting speed and the estimation of the distance between the valve and laryngeal
      mucosa or airspeed can be determined the muzzle energy. By mounting the MIT
      device to a high speed glottography system, the time between the impact of the
      droplet on the laryngeal mucosa and the start of the laryngeal adduction, the LAR
      latency can be determined using an image by image evaluation. DISCUSSION: In
      dysphagia with penetration or aspiration it is presumed that the protective
      function of the larynx is no longer adequately ensured. The MIT-LAR device
      provides a valid and reliable method to assess LAR quantitatively. Furthermore,
      it holds the promise of being a simple to handle method that can be used
      clinically for routine diagnostics.

PMID- 26886493
TI  - Prevalence and complications of MRI scans of cochlear implant patients : English
      version.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cochlear implants (CI) are the preferred method of treatment for
      patients with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and
      unilateral deafness. For many years, because of the magnetic field applied during
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, MRI examinations were
      contraindicated for CI patients or feasible only under specific circumstances.
      MRI examinations of CI recipients entail complications and therefore preventive
      measures have to be considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      prevalence of MRI scans in CI recipients and the occurrence of complications and
      furthermore to investigate the preventive measures taken in radiological daily
      routine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to 482
      patients that received CIs from 1999-2013. Details of the MRI examination and
      subjective and objective incidents during and after the MRI scan were evaluated.
      RESULTS: A total of 204 CI recipients answered the retrospective questionnaire
      (42.3 %). Twenty patients (9.8 %) with 23 implants underwent a total of 33 MRI
      scans with their cochlear implant in place. In 16 cases the scanned region was
      the head (49 %). Preventive measures in the form of head bandages were taken in
      20 cases (61 %). The most common complication was pain in 23 cases (70 %) and the
      most serious complication was the dislocation of the internal magnet in 3 cases
      (9 %). CONCLUSIONS: The number of CI recipients undergoing MRI scans is high.
      Possible complications and preventive measures attract too little attention in
      radiological daily routine.

PMID- 26886494
TI  - [Bony lacrimal duct stenosis and hand abnormalities as signs of systemic
      disease].

PMID- 26886496
TI  - [Human polyomaviruses].
AB  - Polyomaviruses belong to a group of viruses that has recently attracted the
      attention of many research groups. During 35 years, JC and BK viruses, known
      pathogens in immunocompromised patients, seemed to be the only human
      polyomaviruses. But in 2007, two other polyomaviruses, WU and KI, were isolated
      whose pathogenicity is still a matter of discussion. A year later, another human
      polyomavirus, associated with Merkel cell carcinoma, was identified, and seven
      more were described by the end of 2014. Some of them were found to be related to
      various diseases, others seem to be a part of the normal skin and mucosal
      microbiome. The article summarizes basic information about all so far described
      human polyomaviruses. 

PMID- 26886495
TI  - The "parts and wholes" of face recognition: A review of the literature.
AB  - It has been claimed that faces are recognized as a "whole" rather than by the
      recognition of individual parts. In a paper published in the Quarterly Journal of
      Experimental Psychology in 1993, Martha Farah and I attempted to operationalize
      the holistic claim using the part/whole task. In this task, participants studied
      a face and then their memory presented in isolation and in the whole face.
      Consistent with the holistic view, recognition of the part was superior when
      tested in the whole-face condition compared to when it was tested in isolation.
      The "whole face" or holistic advantage was not found for faces that were
      inverted, or scrambled, nor for non-face objects, suggesting that holistic
      encoding was specific to normal, intact faces. In this paper, we reflect on the
      part/whole paradigm and how it has contributed to our understanding of what it
      means to recognize a face as a "whole" stimulus. We describe the value of
      part/whole task for developing theories of holistic and non-holistic recognition
      of faces and objects. We discuss the research that has probed the neural
      substrates of holistic processing in healthy adults and people with prosopagnosia
      and autism. Finally, we examine how experience shapes holistic face recognition
      in children and recognition of own- and other-race faces in adults. The goal of
      this article is to summarize the research on the part/whole task and speculate on
      how it has informed our understanding of holistic face processing. 

PMID- 26886497
TI  - [Determination of the naturally occurring Q80K mutation in the HCV NS3 protease
      gene].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim was to introduce a diagnostic method for detecting variants
      of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with protease NS3 resistance primarily to simeprevir
      (Q80K mutation in HCV genotype 1a) and its subsequent use in routine practice.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: The detection of HCV resistance-associated variants in the
      NS3 protease gene by sequence analysis was introduced in the molecular biology
      laboratory of University Hospital Hradec Kralove in 2015. The primers were
      designed by sequence analysis software Custom Primers - OligoPerfectTM Designer.
      The method was optimized for HCV genotype 1a. The search for variants was
      performed using two programs. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients with genotype 1a
      chronic hepatitis C have been examined since 2015. In five of them, the Q80K
      variant was detected. CONCLUSION: The development of resistance to antiviral
      therapy for chronic hepatitis C gained importance after the introduction of
      direct-acting antivirals. Given the relatively high prevalence of the Q80K
      mutation in HCV genotype 1a, it is crucial to confirm its presence or absence
      before the therapy is initiated. The reported method enables clear and early
      detection of the Q80K mutation.

PMID- 26886498
TI  - [Furuncular myiasis - 2 case reports].
AB  - Furuncular myiasis caused by the larvae of the human botfly, Dermatobia hominis,
      is a common disease in tropical areas of Latin America and may therefore occur in
      travelers returning from that region. Outside the endemic areas, the diagnosis is
      often delayed because the disease is mistaken for a bacterial skin infection.
      Reported are two cases of furuncular myiasis in patients returning from Central
      and South America. 

PMID- 26886499
TI  - A Methodological Review of Exploratory Factor Analysis in Sexuality Research:
      Used Practices, Best Practices, and Data Analysis Resources.
AB  - Sexuality researchers frequently use exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to
      illuminate the distinguishable theoretical constructs assessed by a set of
      variables. EFA entails a substantive number of analytic decisions to be made with
      respect to sample size determination, and how factors are extracted, rotated, and
      retained. The available analytic options, however, are not all equally
      empirically rigorous. We discuss the commonly available options for conducting
      EFA and which options constitute best practices for EFA. We also present the
      results of a methodological review of the analytic options for EFA used by
      sexuality researchers in more than 200 EFAs, published in more than 160 articles
      and chapters from 1974 to 2014, in a sample of sexuality research journals. Our
      review reveals that best practices for EFA are actually those least frequently
      used by sexuality researchers. We introduce freely available analytic resources
      to help make it easier for sexuality researchers to adhere to best practices when
      conducting EFAs in their own research.

PMID- 26886500
TI  - Fitting identity in the reasoned action framework: A meta-analysis and model
      comparison.
AB  - Several competing models have been put forth regarding the role of identity in
      the reasoned action framework. The standard model proposes that identity is a
      background variable. Under a typical augmented model, identity is treated as an
      additional direct predictor of intention and behavior. Alternatively, it has been
      proposed that identity measures are inadvertent indicators of an underlying
      intention factor (e.g., a manifest-intention model). In order to test these
      competing hypotheses, we used data from 73 independent studies (total N = 23,917)
      to conduct a series of meta-analytic structural equation models. We also tested
      for moderation effects based on whether there was a match between identity
      constructs and the target behaviors examined (e.g., if the study examined a
      "smoker identity" and "smoking behavior," there would be a match; if the study
      examined a "health conscious identity" and "smoking behavior," there would not be
      a match). Average effects among primary reasoned action variables were all
      substantial, rs = .37-.69. Results gave evidence for the manifest-intention model
      over the other explanations, and a moderation effect by identity-behavior
      matching.

PMID- 26886501
TI  - Transversus Abdominis Release as an Alternative Component Separation Technique
      for Ventral Hernia Repair.

PMID- 26886502
TI  - Anti-fibrotic characteristics of Vgamma9+ gammadelta T cells in systemic
      sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: gammadelta T cells of the Vgamma9Vdelta2 subtype secrete anti
      fibrotic cytokines upon isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) stimulation. In this
      study, we sought to compare IPP and Zoledronate, an up-regulator of IPP, effects
      on proliferation and cytokine secretion of Vgamma9+ T cells from systemic
      sclerosis (SSc) patients and healthy controls (HCs). We also examined the effect
      of IPP-triggered peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) on fibroblast procolla
      gen secretion. METHODS: PBMC from SSc patients and HCs were stimulated by
      increasing concentrations of Zoledronate, with or without IPP, and Vgamma9+ T
      cell percentages were calculated using FACScan analysis. Subsequently, PBMC were
      cultured with IPP or toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and contents of the
      anti-fibrotic cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)
      gamma were measured by ELISA kits. Finally, supernatants of IPP-triggered
      Vgamma9+ T cells from SSc patients were added to fibroblast cultures, and
      relative intensities of procollagen alpha1 chains were determined by
      densinometry. RESULTS: Higher concentrations of Zoledronate were required for
      maximal proliferation of Vgamma9+ T cells in 9 SSc patients compared to 9 HCs,
      irrespective of exogenous IPP. When compared to stimulation by TSST-1, a non
      Vgamma9+ selective reagent, secretion of the anti-fibrotic cytokines TNF-alpha
      and IFN-gamma in response to IPP was relatively diminished in SSc but not in HCs.
      Reduction of procollagen secretion by fibroblasts cultured with supernatants of
      IPP-stimulated PBMC was observed only in some SSc patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Activated Vgamma9+ T cells could act as anti-fibrotic mediators in SSc, although
      decreased responsiveness to IPP may play a role in the pathological fibrosis of
      this disease.

PMID- 26886503
TI  - Smoking Prevention for Students: Findings From a Three-Year Program of Integrated
      Harm Minimization School Drug Education.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigated the impact of the Drug Education in Victorian
      Schools (DEVS) program on tobacco smoking. The program taught about licit and
      illicit drugs in an integrated manner over 2 years, with follow up in the third
      year. It focused on minimizing harm, rather than achieving abstinence, and
      employed participatory, critical-thinking and skill-based teaching methods.
      METHODS: A cluster-randomized, controlled trial of the program was conducted with
      a student cohort during years 8 (13 years), 9 (14 years), and 10 (15 years).
      Twenty-one schools were randomly allocated to the DEVS program (14 schools, n =
      1163), or their usual drug education program (7 schools, n = 589). One
      intervention school withdrew in year two. RESULTS: There was a greater increase
      in the intervention students' knowledge about drugs, including tobacco, in all 3
      years. Intervention students talked more with their parents about smoking at the
      end of the 3-year program. They recalled receiving more education on smoking in
      all 3 years. Their consumption of cigarettes had not increased to the same extent
      as controls at the end of the program. Their change in smoking harms, relative to
      controls, was positive in all 3 years. There was no difference between groups in
      the proportionate increase of smokers, or in attitudes towards smoking, at any
      time. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that a school program that teaches
      about all drugs in an integrated fashion, and focuses on minimizing harm, does
      not increase initiation into smoking, while providing strategies for reducing
      consumption and harm to those who choose to smoke.

PMID- 26886505
TI  - Effects of multitasking on operator performance using computational and auditory
      tasks.
AB  - This study investigated the effects of multiple cognitive tasks on human
      performance. Twenty-four students at North Carolina A&T State University
      participated in the study. The primary task was auditory signal change perception
      and the secondary task was a computational task. Results showed that
      participants' performance in a single task was statistically significantly
      different from their performance in combined tasks: (a) algebra problems (algebra
      problem primary and auditory perception secondary); (b) auditory perception tasks
      (auditory perception primary and algebra problems secondary); and (c) mean false
      alarm score in auditory perception (auditory detection primary and algebra
      problems secondary). Using signal detection theory (SDT), participants'
      performance measured in terms of sensitivity was calculated as -0.54 for combined
      tasks (algebra problems the primary task) and -0.53 auditory perceptions the
      primary task. During auditory perception tasks alone, SDT was found to be 2.51.
      Performance was 83% in a single task compared to 17% when combined tasks. 

PMID- 26886504
TI  - The Universal 3D3 Antibody of Human PODXL Is Pluripotent Cytotoxic, and
      Identifies a Residual Population After Extended Differentiation of Pluripotent
      Stem Cells.
AB  - Podocalyxin-like protein (PODXL) is a member of CD34 family proteins. It is the
      protein that carries many post-translational epitopes responsible for various
      pluripotent surface markers including TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, GCTM2, GP200, and
      mAb84. However, PODXL has not attracted the attention of stem cell biologists.
      Here, we report several features of PODXL mRNA and protein in pluripotent stem
      cells. Similar to the modification-dependent pluripotent epitopes, PODXL
      transcripts and carrier protein are also features of pluripotency. PODXL is
      highly expressed in early human embryos from oocytes up to four-cell stages.
      During reprogramming of human cells to pluripotency, in contrast to TRA-1-60 and
      TRA-1-81, PODXL is activated by KLF4 at a very early time of reprogramming.
      Although TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81 are completely lost upon differentiation, a
      residual PODXL(+) population exists even after extended differentiation and they
      were identified by the universal human PODXL epitope 3D3. Unlike TRA-1-60 and TRA
      1-81 epitopes that are unique to primate pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), PODXL
      carrier protein can be used as a murine surface marker. Most importantly,
      antibody to 3D3 epitope causes massive necrosis and apoptosis of human PSCs
      (hPSCs). We suggest that 3D3 antibody could be employed to eliminate the
      tumorigenic pluripotent cells in hPSC-derived cells for cell transplantation. 

PMID- 26886506
TI  - Photochemical Transformation of Aminoglycoside Antibiotics in Simulated Natural
      Waters.
AB  - Aminoglycoside antibiotics are widely used in human therapy and veterinary
      medicine. We report herein a detailed study on the natural-organic-matter- (NOM-)
      photosensitized degradation of aminoglycosides in aqueous media under simulated
      solar irradiation. It appears that the direct reaction of the excited states of
      NOM ((3)NOM*) with aminoglycosides is minor. The contributions of reactive oxygen
      species (ROSs) in the bulk solutions are also unimportant, as determined by an
      assessment based on steady-state concentrations and bimolecular reaction rate
      constants in a homogeneous reaction model. The inhibition of the photodegradation
      by isopropamide is rationalized through competitive sorption with aminoglycosides
      on the NOM surface, whereas the addition of isopropanol negligibly affects
      degradation because it quenches HO(*) in the bulk solution but not HO(*)
      localized on the NOM surface where aminoglycosides reside. Therefore, a sorption
      enhanced phototransformation mechanism is proposed. The sorption of
      aminoglycosides on NOM follows a dual-mode model involving Langmuir and linear
      isotherms. The steady-state concentration of HO(*) on the surface of NOM was
      calculated as 10(-14) M, 2 orders of magnitude higher than that in the bulk
      solution. This fundamental information is important in the assessment of the fate
      and transport of aminoglycosides in aqueous environments. 

PMID- 26886507
TI  - Radiosynthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of Neuropeptide Y5 Receptor (NPY5R) PET
      Tracers.
AB  - Neuropeptide Y receptor type 5 (NPY5R) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)
      that belongs to the subfamily of neuropeptide receptors (NPYR) that mediate the
      action of endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY). Animal models and preclinical studies
      indicate a role for NPY5R in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, and
      obesity and as a target of potential therapeutic drugs. To better understand the
      pathophysiological involvement of NPY5R, and to measure target occupancy by
      potential therapeutic drugs, it would be advantageous to measure NPY5R binding in
      vivo by positron emission tomography (PET). Four potent and selective NPY5R
      antagonists were radiolabeled via nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions
      with [(18)F]fluoride. Of the four radioligands investigated, PET studies in
      anesthetized baboons showed that [(18)F]LuAE00654 ([(18)F]N-[trans-4-({[4-(2
      fluoropyridin-3-yl)thiazol-2-yl]amino}methyl)cyclohexyl]propane-2-sulfonamide)
      penetrates blood brain barrier (BBB) and a small amount is retained in the brain.
      Slow metabolism of [(18)F]LuAE00654 was observed in baboon plasma. Blocking
      studies with a specific NPY5R antagonist demonstrated up to 60% displacement of
      radioactivity in striatum, the brain region with highest NPY5R binding. Our
      studies suggest that [(18)F]LuAE00654 can be a potential PET radiotracer for the
      quantification and occupancy studies of NPY5R drug candidates.

PMID- 26886508
TI  - Phonon dynamics of graphene on metals.
AB  - The study of surface phonon dispersion curves is motivated by the quest for a
      detailed understanding of the forces between the atoms at the surface and in the
      bulk. In the case of graphene, additional motivation comes from the fact that
      thermal conductivity is dominated by contributions from acoustic phonons, while
      optical phonon properties are essential to understand Raman spectra. In this
      article, we review recent progress made in the experimental determination of
      phonon dispersion curves of graphene grown on several single-crystal metal
      surfaces. The two main experimental techniques usually employed are high
      resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and inelastic helium atom
      scattering (HAS). The different dispersion branches provide a detailed insight
      into the graphene-substrate interaction. Softening of optical modes and
      signatures of the substrate's Rayleigh wave are observed for strong graphene
      substrate interactions, while acoustic phonon modes resemble those of free
      standing graphene for weakly interacting systems. The latter allows determining
      the bending rigidity and the graphene-substrate coupling strength. A comparison
      between theory and experiment is discussed for several illustrative examples.
      Perspectives for future experiments are discussed. 

PMID- 26886509
TI  - Evaluation of Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Women Treated for Stress
      Urinary Incontinence: Tension-Free Transobturator Suburethral Tape Versus Single
      Incision Sling.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the change in quality of life
      (QoL) and sexual function in women treated for pure stress urinary incontinence
      (SUI) using tension-free transobturator suburethral tape (TVT-O) and single
      incision sling (SIS) procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2013 to
      January 2015, a total of 48 female patients with pure SUI and normotonic urethra
      were consecutively enrolled and randomized into two treatment groups: TVT-O
      versus SIS. Both groups were homogeneous in the preoperative evaluation of age,
      body mass index, comorbidities, and pregnancies. Exclusion criteria included urge
      urinary incontinence, neurogenic bladder, previous surgery for incontinence, and
      mental or neurological disorders. The female sexual function and QoL were
      assessed preoperatively and postoperatively (3-12 months follow-up), using the
      Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Consultation on
      Incontinence Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients completed both the
      questionnaires (21 patients in the TVT-O group and 21 patients in the SIS group,
      whereas 6 patients were lost to follow-up). Of the 19/21 (90.4%) of patients who
      successfully underwent the SIS procedure, 17 (80.9%) reported a complete
      resolution of SUI, whereas 2 (9.5%) reported an improvement in urinary
      incontinence at follow-up. In the TVT-O group, 18/21 (85.7%) of patients reported
      complete recovery, whereas 4.1% patients reported an improvement in the
      incontinence. The FSFI score increased significantly in both the SIS groups (from
      23:51 +/- 3.78 to 27.42 +/- 3.34; p < 0.001) and TVT-O group (from 23.96 +/- 5:56
      to 28.09 +/- 3.62) with no statistically significant differences between the two
      treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In our study, both slings showed a high rate of
      continence without any major complications. The sexual function also improved
      sharply in all the six FSFI domains, with no statistically significant difference
      between the two treatment groups.

PMID- 26886510
TI  - An Ex Vivo Phantom Validation Study of an MRI-Transrectal Ultrasound Fusion
      Device for Targeted Prostate Biopsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ex vivo accuracy of an MRI-TRUS fusion device for
      guiding targeted prostate biopsies, to identify the origin of errors, and to
      evaluate the likelihood that lesions can be accurately targeted. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Three prostate phantoms were used to perform 27 biopsies using
      transperineal MRI-TRUS fusion. All phantoms underwent 3-T MRI. The prostate
      contour and nine lesions were delineated onto the MRI. A 3D-US dataset was
      generated and fused with the MRI. Per lesion, one needle was virtually planned.
      The postbiopsy needle location was virtually registered. The needle trajectory
      was marked using an MRI-safe guidewire. Postinterventional MRI was performed. The
      coordinates of the lesion on preinterventional MRI, the virtually planned needle,
      the virtually registered needle, and the marked needle trajectory on
      postinterventional MRI were documented and used to calculate the planning error
      (PE), targeting error (TE), and overall error (OE). Using the OE in the
      transversal plane, an upper one-sided tolerance interval was calculated to assess
      the likelihood that a biopsy needle was on target. RESULTS: In the transversal
      plane, the mean PE, TE, and OE were 1.18, 0.39, and 2.33 mm, respectively. Using
      a single biopsy core, the likelihood that lesions with a diameter of 2 mm can be
      accurately targeted is 26%; lesions of 3 mm 61%; lesions of 4 mm 86%; lesions of
      5 mm 96%; and lesions of 6 mm 99%. The likelihood of accurate sampling increases
      if more biopsy cores are used. CONCLUSION: MRI-TRUS fusion allows for accurate
      sampling of MRI-identified lesions with an OE of 2.33 mm. Lesions with a diameter
      of 3 mm or more can be accurately targeted. These results should be considered
      the lower limit of in vivo accuracy.

PMID- 26886511
TI  - Mortality Rates during Cholera Epidemic, Haiti, 2010-2011.
AB  - The 2010 cholera epidemic in Haiti was one of the largest cholera epidemics ever
      recorded. To estimate the magnitude of the death toll during the first wave of
      the epidemic, we retrospectively conducted surveys at 4 sites in the northern
      part of Haiti. Overall, 70,903 participants were included; at all sites, the
      crude mortality rates (19.1-35.4 deaths/1,000 person-years) were higher than the
      expected baseline mortality rate for Haiti (9 deaths/1,000 person-years). This
      finding represents an excess of 3,406 deaths (2.9-fold increase) for the 4.4% of
      the Haiti population covered by these surveys, suggesting a substantially higher
      cholera mortality rate than previously reported.

PMID- 26886512
TI  - AMD3100: A Versatile Platform for CXCR4 Targeting (68)Ga-Based
      Radiopharmaceuticals.
AB  - CXCR4 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which is overexpressed in numerous
      diseases, particularly in multiple cancers. Therefore, this receptor represents a
      valuable target for imaging and therapeutic purposes. Among the different
      approaches, which were developed for CXCR4 imaging, a CXCR4 antagonist biscyclam
      system (AMD3100, also called Mozobil), currently used in the clinic for the
      mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells, was radiolabeled with different
      radiometals such as (62)Zn, (64)Cu, (67)Ga, or (99m)Tc. However, cyclam is not an
      ideal chelator for most of these radiometals, and could lead to the release of
      the radionuclide in vivo. In the current study, a new family of CXCR4 imaging
      agents is presented, in which AMD3100 is used as a carrier for specific delivery
      of an imaging reporter, i.e., a (68)Ga complex for PET imaging. AMD3100 was
      functionalized on the phenyl moiety with different linkers, either
      ethylenediamine or diamino-polyethylene glycol 3 (PEG3). The resulting AMD3100
      analogues were further coupled with two different chelators, 1,4,7,10
      tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) or 1,4,7-triazacyclononane
      1-glutaric acid-4,7-acetic acid (NODAGA). Five potential CXCR4 targeting agents
      were obtained. The derived AMD3100-based ligands were labeled with (68)Ga,
      highlighting the influence of the spacer nature on the (68)Ga-labeling yield. The
      lipophilic character of the different systems was also investigated, as well as
      their affinity for the CXCR4 receptor. The most promising compound was further
      evaluated in vivo in H69 tumor xenografts by biodistribution and PET imaging
      studies, validating the proof of principle of our concept. 

PMID- 26886513
TI  - Vaccination with Replication Deficient Adenovectors Encoding YF-17D Antigens
      Induces Long-Lasting Protection from Severe Yellow Fever Virus Infection in Mice.
AB  - The live attenuated yellow fever vaccine (YF-17D) has been successfully used for
      more than 70 years. It is generally considered a safe vaccine, however, recent
      reports of serious adverse events following vaccination have raised concerns and
      led to suggestions that even safer YF vaccines should be developed. Replication
      deficient adenoviruses (Ad) have been widely evaluated as recombinant vectors,
      particularly in the context of prophylactic vaccination against viral infections
      in which induction of CD8+ T-cell mediated immunity is crucial, but potent
      antibody responses may also be elicited using these vectors. In this study, we
      present two adenobased vectors targeting non-structural and structural YF
      antigens and characterize their immunological properties. We report that a single
      immunization with an Ad-vector encoding the non-structural protein 3 from YF-17D
      could elicit a strong CD8+ T-cell response, which afforded a high degree of
      protection from subsequent intracranial challenge of vaccinated mice. However,
      full protection was only observed using a vector encoding the structural proteins
      from YF-17D. This vector elicited virus-specific CD8+ T cells as well as
      neutralizing antibodies, and both components were shown to be important for
      protection thus mimicking the situation recently uncovered in YF-17D vaccinated
      mice. Considering that Ad-vectors are very safe, easy to produce and highly
      immunogenic in humans, our data indicate that a replication deficient adenovector
      based YF vaccine may represent a safe and efficient alternative to the classical
      live attenuated YF vaccine and should be further tested. 

PMID- 26886515
TI  - sigma-Hole Bond vs pi-Hole Bond: A Comparison Based on Halogen Bond.
AB  - The sigma-hole and pi-hole are the regions with positive surface electrostatic
      potential on the molecule entity; the former specifically refers to the positive
      region of a molecular entity along extension of the Y-Ge/P/Se/X covalent sigma
      bond (Y = electron-rich group; Ge/P/Se/X = Groups IV-VII), while the latter
      refers to the positive region in the direction perpendicular to the sigma
      framework of the molecular entity. The directional noncovalent interactions
      between the sigma-hole or pi-hole and the negative or electron-rich sites are
      named sigma-hole bond or pi-hole bond, respectively. The contributions from
      electrostatic, charge transfer, and other terms or Coulombic interaction to the
      sigma-hole bond and pi-hole bond were reviewed first followed by a brief
      discussion on the interplay between the sigma-hole bond and the pi-hole bond as
      well as application of the two types of noncovalent interactions in the field of
      anion recognition. It is expected that this review could stimulate further
      development of the sigma-hole bond and pi-hole bond in theoretical exploration
      and practical application in the future.

PMID- 26886514
TI  - Episodic medication adherence in adolescents and young adults with perinatally
      acquired HIV: a within-participants approach.
AB  - Due to the success of antiretroviral (ART) medications, young people living with
      perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV+) are now surviving into adolescence and young
      adulthood. Understanding factors influencing ART non-adherence in this group is
      important in developing effective adherence interventions. Most studies of ART
      adherence in HIV-positive populations assess differences in adherence levels and
      adherence predictors between participants, over a period of time (global
      adherence). Many individuals living with HIV, however, including PHIV+ young
      people, take medication inconsistently. To investigate this pattern of adherence,
      a within-participants design, focussing on specific episodes of adherence and non
      adherence, is suitable (episodic adherence). A within-participants design was
      used with 29 PHIV+ young people (17 female, median age 17 years, range 14-22
      years), enrolled in the UK Adolescents and Adults Living with Perinatal HIV
      cohort study. Participants were eligible if they could identify one dose of
      medication taken and one dose they had missed in the previous two months. For
      each of the two episodes (one adherent, one non-adherent), behavioural factors
      (whom they were with, location, routine, day, reminders) and psychological
      factors at the time of the episode (information about medication, adherence
      motivation, perceived behavioural skills to adhere to medication - derived from
      the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (IMB) Model - and affect) were
      assessed in a questionnaire. Non-adherence was significantly associated with
      weekend days (Friday to Sunday versus Monday to Thursday, p = .001), lack of
      routine (p = .004), and being out of the home (p = .003), but not with whom the
      young person was with or whether they were reminded to take medication. Non
      adherence was associated with lower levels of behavioural skills (p < .001), and
      lower positive affect (p = .005). Non-adherence was not significantly associated
      with negative affect, information about ART, or ART motivation. The use of
      situationally specific strategies to enhance adherence in young people who take
      their medication inconsistently is proposed.

PMID- 26886516
TI  - Micro-RNA-208a, -208b, and -499 as Biomarkers for Myocardial Damage After Cardiac
      Surgery in Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that cardiac-enriched micro-RNAs can serve as
      accurate biomarkers that reflect myocardial injury and to predict the
      postoperative course following pediatric cardiac surgery. Micro-RNAs have emerged
      as plasma biomarkers for many pathologic states. We aimed to quantify
      preoperative and postoperative plasma levels of cardiac-enriched micro-RNA-208a, 
      208b, and -499 in children undergoing cardiac surgery and to evaluate
      correlations between their levels, the extent of myocardial damage, and the
      postoperative clinical course. DESIGN: PICU. PATIENTS: Thirty pediatric patients
      that underwent open heart surgery for the correction of congenital heart defects
      between January 2012 to July 2013. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: At 12 hours post surgery, the plasma levels of the micro-RNAs increased
      by 300- to 4,000-fold. At 24 hours, their levels decreased but remained
      significantly higher than before surgery. Micro-RNA levels were associated with
      troponin levels, longer cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic crossclamp times,
      maximal postoperative aspartate aminotransferase levels, and delayed hospital
      discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating micro-RNA-208a, -208b, and -499 are
      detectable in the plasma of children undergoing cardiac surgery and may serve as
      novel biomarkers for monitoring and forecasting postoperative myocardial injury
      and recovery.

PMID- 26886517
TI  - Neurotrophic growth factor responses to lower body resistance training in older
      adults.
AB  - Resistance exercise is an efficacious stimulus for improving cognitive function
      in older adults, which may be mediated by the upregulation of blood-borne
      neurotrophic growth factors (NTFs) like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
      and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). However, the NTF response to resistance
      exercise and training in older adults is poorly understood. Therefore, the
      purpose of this study was to characterize the timing and magnitude of the NTF
      response following an acute bout of resistance exercise before and after 8 weeks
      of resistance training. Ten cognitively normal, older adults (ages 60-77 years,
      five men) were examined. The acute NTF response to resistance exercise was
      assessed via serum samples drawn at designated time points following exercise.
      This procedure was then repeated following 8 weeks of resistance training. BDNF
      increased immediately post-exercise (Delta9% pre-training, Delta11% post
      training) then returned to resting levels while IGF-1 remained stable following
      resistance exercise before and after 8 weeks of resistance training. Basal levels
      of both NTFs were unaffected by the 8 week training period. We report a transient
      increase in serum BDNF following a bout of resistance exercise in older adults,
      which could have implications for the design of interventions seeking to maximize
      cognitive function in older adults. 

PMID- 26886518
TI  - How Employers Are Responding to the ACA.

PMID- 26886519
TI  - Asymmetric Thinking about Return on Investment.

PMID- 26886520
TI  - The Doctor's New Dilemma.

PMID- 26886523
TI  - Statin-Associated Autoimmune Myopathy.

PMID- 26886524
TI  - IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Geographic Tongue.

PMID- 26886525
TI  - CASE RECORDS of the MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. Case 5-2016. A 43-Year-Old
      Man with Altered Mental Status and a History of Alcohol Use.

PMID- 26886526
TI  - Establishing a Framework--Does Testosterone Supplementation Help Older Men?

PMID- 26886522
TI  - Clinical Management of Ebola Virus Disease in the United States and Europe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Available data on the characteristics of patients with Ebola virus
      disease (EVD) and clinical management of EVD in settings outside West Africa, as
      well as the complications observed in those patients, are limited. METHODS: We
      reviewed available clinical, laboratory, and virologic data from all patients
      with laboratory-confirmed Ebola virus infection who received care in U.S. and
      European hospitals from August 2014 through December 2015. RESULTS: A total of 27
      patients (median age, 36 years [range, 25 to 75]) with EVD received care; 19
      patients (70%) were male, 9 of 26 patients (35%) had coexisting conditions, and
      22 (81%) were health care personnel. Of the 27 patients, 24 (89%) were medically
      evacuated from West Africa or were exposed to and infected with Ebola virus in
      West Africa and had onset of illness and laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus
      infection in Europe or the United States, and 3 (11%) acquired EVD in the United
      States or Europe. At the onset of illness, the most common signs and symptoms
      were fatigue (20 patients [80%]) and fever or feverishness (17 patients [68%]).
      During the clinical course, the predominant findings included diarrhea,
      hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia; 14
      patients (52%) had hypoxemia, and 9 (33%) had oliguria, of whom 5 had anuria.
      Aminotransferase levels peaked at a median of 9 days after the onset of illness.
      Nearly all the patients received intravenous fluids and electrolyte
      supplementation; 9 (33%) received noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation;
      5 (19%) received continuous renal-replacement therapy; 22 (81%) received
      empirical antibiotics; and 23 (85%) received investigational therapies (19 [70%]
      received at least two experimental interventions). Ebola viral RNA levels in
      blood peaked at a median of 7 days after the onset of illness, and the median
      time from the onset of symptoms to clearance of viremia was 17.5 days. A total of
      5 patients died, including 3 who had respiratory and renal failure, for a
      mortality of 18.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Among the patients with EVD who were cared for
      in the United States or Europe, close monitoring and aggressive supportive care
      that included intravenous fluid hydration, correction of electrolyte
      abnormalities, nutritional support, and critical care management for respiratory
      and renal failure were needed; 81.5% of these patients who received this care
      survived.

PMID- 26886521
TI  - Effects of Testosterone Treatment in Older Men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serum testosterone concentrations decrease as men age, but benefits
      of raising testosterone levels in older men have not been established. METHODS:
      We assigned 790 men 65 years of age or older with a serum testosterone
      concentration of less than 275 ng per deciliter and symptoms suggesting
      hypoandrogenism to receive either testosterone gel or placebo gel for 1 year.
      Each man participated in one or more of three trials--the Sexual Function Trial,
      the Physical Function Trial, and the Vitality Trial. The primary outcome of each
      of the individual trials was also evaluated in all participants. RESULTS:
      Testosterone treatment increased serum testosterone levels to the mid-normal
      range for men 19 to 40 years of age. The increase in testosterone levels was
      associated with significantly increased sexual activity, as assessed by the
      Psychosexual Daily Questionnaire (P<0.001), as well as significantly increased
      sexual desire and erectile function. The percentage of men who had an increase of
      at least 50 m in the 6-minute walking distance did not differ significantly
      between the two study groups in the Physical Function Trial but did differ
      significantly when men in all three trials were included (20.5% of men who
      received testosterone vs. 12.6% of men who received placebo, P=0.003).
      Testosterone had no significant benefit with respect to vitality, as assessed by
      the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale, but men who
      received testosterone reported slightly better mood and lower severity of
      depressive symptoms than those who received placebo. The rates of adverse events
      were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In symptomatic men 65 years of age
      or older, raising testosterone concentrations for 1 year from moderately low to
      the mid-normal range for men 19 to 40 years of age had a moderate benefit with
      respect to sexual function and some benefit with respect to mood and depressive
      symptoms but no benefit with respect to vitality or walking distance. The number
      of participants was too few to draw conclusions about the risks of testosterone
      treatment. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others;
      ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00799617.).

PMID- 26886527
TI  - Epigenetic Modulators and the New Immunotherapies.

PMID- 26886528
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886529
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886530
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886531
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886532
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886533
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886534
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26886535
TI  - A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Total Knee Replacement.

PMID- 26886536
TI  - A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Total Knee Replacement.

PMID- 26886537
TI  - Pediatric Outcome after Maternal Cancer Diagnosed during Pregnancy.

PMID- 26886538
TI  - Pediatric Outcome after Maternal Cancer Diagnosed during Pregnancy.

PMID- 26886539
TI  - Emergency Department Visits Related to Dietary Supplements.

PMID- 26886540
TI  - Emergency Department Visits Related to Dietary Supplements.

PMID- 26886541
TI  - Drug-Induced Megaloblastic Anemia.

PMID- 26886542
TI  - Drug-Induced Megaloblastic Anemia.

PMID- 26886543
TI  - Drug-Induced Megaloblastic Anemia.

PMID- 26886544
TI  - Cost of Smoking among Homeless Adults.

PMID- 26886546
TI  - Belatacept and Long-Term Outcomes in Kidney Transplantation.

PMID- 26886545
TI  - A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Total Knee Replacement.

PMID- 26886547
TI  - VIDEOS IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Removal of Foreign Bodies from the Ear and Nose.

PMID- 26886548
TI  - IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Central Pontine Myelinolysis.

PMID- 26886549
TI  - Are Diet Preferences Associated to Skulls Shape Diversification in Xenodontine
      Snakes?
AB  - Snakes are a highly successful group of vertebrates, within great diversity in
      habitat, diet, and morphology. The unique adaptations for the snake skull for
      ingesting large prey in more primitive macrostomatan snakes have been well
      documented. However, subsequent diversification in snake cranial shape in
      relation to dietary specializations has rarely been studied (e.g. piscivory in
      natricine snakes). Here we examine a large clade of snakes with a broad spectrum
      of diet preferences to test if diet preferences are correlated to shape variation
      in snake skulls. Specifically, we studied the Xenodontinae snakes, a speciose
      clade of South American snakes, which show a broad range of diets including
      invertebrates, amphibians, snakes, lizards, and small mammals. We characterized
      the skull morphology of 19 species of xenodontine snakes using geometric
      morphometric techniques, and used phylogenetic comparative methods to test the
      association between diet and skull morphology. Using phylogenetic partial least
      squares analysis (PPLS) we show that skull morphology is highly associated with
      diet preferences in xenodontine snakes. 

PMID- 26886550
TI  - Cytoskeletal Linker Protein Dystonin Is Not Critical to Terminal Oligodendrocyte
      Differentiation or CNS Myelination.
AB  - Oligodendrocyte differentiation and central nervous system myelination require
      massive reorganization of the oligodendrocyte cytoskeleton. Loss of specific
      actin- and tubulin-organizing factors can lead to impaired morphological and/or
      molecular differentiation of oligodendrocytes, resulting in a subsequent loss of
      myelination. Dystonin is a cytoskeletal linker protein with both actin- and
      tubulin-binding domains. Loss of function of this protein results in a sensory
      neuropathy called Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy VI in humans and
      dystonia musculorum in mice. This disease presents with severe ataxia, dystonic
      muscle and is ultimately fatal early in life. While loss of the neuronal isoforms
      of dystonin primarily leads to sensory neuron degeneration, it has also been
      shown that peripheral myelination is compromised due to intrinsic Schwann cell
      differentiation abnormalities. The role of this cytoskeletal linker in
      oligodendrocytes, however, remains unclear. We sought to determine the effects of
      the loss of neuronal dystonin on oligodendrocyte differentiation and central
      myelination. To address this, primary oligodendrocytes were isolated from a
      severe model of dystonia musculorum, Dstdt-27J, and assessed for morphological
      and molecular differentiation capacity. No defects could be discerned in the
      differentiation of Dstdt-27J oligodendrocytes relative to oligodendrocytes from
      wild-type littermates. Survival was also compared between Dstdt-27J and wild-type
      oligodendrocytes, revealing no significant difference. Using a recently developed
      migration assay, we further analysed the ability of primary oligodendrocyte
      progenitor cell motility, and found that Dstdt-27J oligodendrocyte progenitor
      cells were able to migrate normally. Finally, in vivo analysis of oligodendrocyte
      myelination was done in phenotype-stage optic nerve, cerebral cortex and spinal
      cord. The density of myelinated axons and g-ratios of Dstdt-27J optic nerves was
      normal, as was myelin basic protein expression in both cerebral cortex and spinal
      cord. Together these data suggest that, unlike Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes do
      not have an intrinsic requirement for neuronal dystonin for differentiation and
      myelination. 

PMID- 26886552
TI  - Mini-laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for apical and posterior female pelvic organ
      prolapse.
AB  - AIM OF THE VIDEO: Mini-laparoscopic surgery is the future for most laparoscopic
      procedures. Although already applied in some gynaecological surgical
      interventions, this video is to our knowledge the first publication on the use of
      the mini-laparoscopic approach to sacrocolpopexy for apical and posterior pelvic
      organ prolapse following total hysterectomy. METHODS: The concept of mini
      laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy presented in this video article was performed on 12
      women with post-hysterectomy apical and posterior pelvic organ prolapse using
      mini-laparoscopic instruments and ports of 3 mm in diameter combined with a 12-mm
      umbilical port. Surgery was performed with the same principles as for the
      conventional laparoscopic procedure. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 70 min
      (SD +/- 12). The tensile strength of the mini-laparoscopic instruments allowed
      appropriate manipulation of tissue consistent with that of conventional
      instruments. No difficulties or complications were experienced in comparison to a
      conventional technique. All patients were discharged from hospital on day 1
      postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness, safety and feasibility of the
      mini-laparoscopic surgical technique was applied to sacrocolpopexy. Because of
      the initial favourable experience, the mini-laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy could
      become more widely used in the future.

PMID- 26886551
TI  - Mathematical Model of the Firefly Luciferase Complementation Assay Reveals a Non
      Linear Relationship between the Detected Luminescence and the Affinity of the
      Protein Pair Being Analyzed.
AB  - The firefly luciferase complementation assay is widely used as a bioluminescent
      reporter technology to detect protein-protein interactions in vitro, in cellulo,
      and in vivo. Upon the interaction of a protein pair, complemented firefly
      luciferase emits light through the adenylation and oxidation of its substrate,
      luciferin. Although it has been suggested that kinetics of light production in
      the firefly luciferase complementation assay is different from that in full
      length luciferase, the mechanism behind this is still not understood. To
      quantitatively understand the different kinetics and how changes in affinity of a
      protein pair affect the light emission in the assay, a mathematical model of the
      in vitro firefly luciferase complementation assay was constructed. Analysis of
      the model finds that the change in kinetics is caused by rapid dissociation of
      the protein pair, low adenylation rate of luciferin, and increased affinity of
      adenylated luciferin to the enzyme. The model suggests that the affinity of the
      protein pair has an exponential relationship with the light detected in the
      assay. This relationship causes the change of affinity in a protein pair to be
      underestimated. This study underlines the importance of understanding the
      molecular mechanism of the firefly luciferase complementation assay in order to
      analyze protein pair affinities quantitatively. 

PMID- 26886553
TI  - Voiding trial outcome following pelvic floor repair without incontinence
      procedures.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to identify predictors of postoperative
      voiding trial failure among patients who had a pelvic floor repair without a
      concurrent incontinence procedure in order to identify low-risk patients in whom
      postoperative voiding trials may be modified. METHODS: We conducted a
      retrospective cohort study of women who underwent pelvic floor repair without
      concurrent incontinence procedures at two institutions from 1 November 2011
      through 13 October 2013 after abstracting demographic and clinical data from
      medical records. The primary outcome was postoperative retrograde voiding trial
      failure. We used modified Poisson regression to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and
      95 % confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Of the 371 women who met eligibility
      criteria, 294 (79.2 %) had complete data on the variables of interest. Forty nine
      (16.7 %) failed the trial, and those women were less likely to be white (p =
      0.04), more likely to have had an anterior colporrhaphy (p = 0.001), and more
      likely to have had a preoperative postvoid residual (PVR) >=150 ml (p = 0.001).
      After adjusting for race, women were more likely to fail their voiding trial if
      they had a preoperative PVR of >=150 ml (RR: 1.9; 95 % CI: 1.1-3.2); institution
      also was associated with voiding trial failure (RR: 3.0; 95 % CI: 1.6-5.4).
      CONCLUSIONS: Among our cohort, postoperative voiding trial failure was associated
      with a PVR of >=150 ml and institution at which the surgery was performed.

PMID- 26886554
TI  - Incidence and risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic repair of pelvic
      organ prolapse by lateral suspension with mesh.
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective of our study was to estimate the
      incidence and identify the risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic
      repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) by lateral suspension with mesh. METHODS:
      We conducted a nested case-control study among 480 women who underwent POP repair
      by laparoscopic lateral suspension with mesh from January 2004 to October 2012.
      Cases (n = 18) were women who showed mesh erosion following the first
      intervention through December 2014. Controls (n = 133) were women randomly
      selected from the same cohort who did not have any erosion. RESULTS: The risk of
      mesh erosion was 3.8 % with a mean follow-up of 82.3 months (range 28.2 - 130.6
      months). The main risk factor was the use of a type 3 mesh (macroporous with
      either multifilamentous or microporous components) rather than a type 1 mesh
      (macroporous and monofilamentous; adjusted OR 13.0, 95 % CI 1.5 - 110.6; P =
      0.02). Risk factors included smoking (adjusted OR 10.4, 95 % CI 2.3 - 46.5; P <
      0.01) and posterior mesh placement (adjusted OR 5.1, 95 % CI 1.2 - 21.8 P =
      0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of mesh erosion is low and may be further reduced by
      using the appropriate mesh material, and by identifying specific patient
      characteristics such as tobacco use. As conventional vaginal surgery is effective
      for the treatment of the posterior compartment, the use of posterior mesh during
      laparoscopic pelvic floor repair needs to be questioned.

PMID- 26886556
TI  - Metal Nickel Foam as an Efficient and Stable Electrode for Hydrogen Evolution
      Reaction in Acidic Electrolyte under Reasonable Overpotentials.
AB  - Acidic electrolytes are advantageous for water electrolysis in the production of
      hydrogen as there is a large supply of H(+) ions in the solution. In this study,
      with the applied overpotential larger than the equilibrium potential of
      Ni(0)/Ni(2+), Ni foam as HER electrode exhibits excellent and stable HER activity
      with an onset potential of -84 mV (vs RHE), a high current density of 10 mA cm(
      2) at -210 mV (vs RHE), and prominent electrochemical durability (longer than 5
      days) in acidic electrolyte. The results presented herein may has potential large
      scale application in hydrogen energy production. 

PMID- 26886557
TI  - A Rotifer-Based Technique to Rear Zebrafish Larvae in Small Academic Settings.
AB  - Raising zebrafish from larvae to juveniles can be laborious, requiring frequent
      water exchanges and continuous culturing of live feed. This task becomes even
      more difficult for small institutions that do not have access to the necessary
      funding, equipment, or personnel to maintain large-scale systems usually employed
      in zebrafish husbandry. To open this opportunity to smaller institutions, a cost
      efficient protocol was developed to culture Nannochloropsis to feed the
      halophilic, planktonic rotifer Brachionus plicatilis; the rotifers were then used
      to raise larval zebrafish to juveniles. By using these methods, small
      institutions can easily raise zebrafish embryos in a cost-efficient manner
      without the need to establish an extensive fish-raising facility. In addition,
      culturing rotifers provides a micrometazoan that serves as a model organism for
      teaching and undergraduate research studies for a variety of topics, including
      aging, toxicology, and predator-prey dynamics.

PMID- 26886555
TI  - Pharmacological methods for the preclinical assessment of therapeutics for OAB:
      an up-to-date review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Licenced oral pharmacotherapies for overactive bladder (OAB) act on
      muscarinic receptors or beta3-adrenoceptors. The search for new drugs to treat
      OAB that have novel mechanisms of action is very active, with the aim of
      discovering more effective and/or better tolerated agents. METHODS: A literature
      review of the most frequently used pharmacological methods for the preclinical
      assessment of new agents aimed at treating OAB, such as isolated organ technique,
      electrophysiological techniques, radioligand binding assay, and animal models,
      was carried out. Novel potential developments based on recent knowledge of
      urothelial and neural mechanisms are also discussed. RESULTS: The isolated organ
      technique, electrophysiological techniques, and the radioligand binding assay are
      very effective methods for the demonstration that a novel pharmacological target
      with a specific and high affinity binding site for a new drug is present in the
      bladder and its modulation regulates functions critical for the pathophysiology
      of OAB. Afterward, the new drug should be shown to be effective in animal models
      of OAB, although the translational value of these models is limited by a poor
      pathophysiological relationship with human OAB. Exciting novel perspectives
      focusing in particular on the theory of the mucosal-bladder network have recently
      opened new paths in the discovery and assessment of new therapeutics in this
      field. CONCLUSIONS: Available experimental models still play a central role in
      the appraisal of OAB therapeutics; however, their shortcomings and the paucity of
      very effective drugs indicate the need for new models that better reproduce the
      pathophysiological features of OAB. Some emerging lines of research show promise.
      A change of perspective in the future evaluation of putative drugs is required,
      especially in the light of the latest knowledge on the key role of the mucosal
      bladder network and the brain-bladder neural pathways.

PMID- 26886558
TI  - Development of Bifunctional Gadolinium-Labeled Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles
      (Gd-MnMEIO) for In Vivo MR Imaging of the Liver in an Animal Model.
AB  - Liver tumors are common and imaging methods, particularly magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI), play an important role in their non-invasive diagnosis. Previous
      studies have shown that detection of liver tumors can be improved by injection of
      two different MR contrast agents. Here, we developed a new contrast agent, Gd
      manganese-doped magnetism-engineered iron oxide (Gd-MnMEIO), with enhancement
      effects on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images of the liver. A 3.0T clinical MR
      scanner equipped with transmit/receiver coil for mouse was used to obtain both T1
      weighted spoiled gradient-echo and T2-weighted fast spin-echo axial images of the
      liver before and after intravenous contrast agent injection into Balb/c mice with
      and without tumors. After pre-contrast scanning, six mice per group were
      intravenously injected with 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-MnMEIO, or the control agents, i.e.,
      Gd-DTPA or SPIO. The scanning time points for T1-weighted images were 0.5, 5, 10,
      15, 20, 25, and 30 min after contrast administration. The post-enhanced T2
      weighted images were then acquired immediately after T1-weighted acquisition. We
      found that T1-weighted images were positively enhanced by both Gd-DTPA and Gd
      MnMEIO and negatively enhanced by SPIO. The enhancement by both Gd-DTPA and Gd
      MnMEIO peaked at 0.5 min and gradually declined thereafter. Gd-MnMEIO (like Gd
      DTPA) enhanced T1-weighted images and (like SPIO) T2-weighted images. Marked
      vascular enhancement was clearly visible on dynamic T1-weighted images with Gd
      MnMEIO. In addition, the T2 signal was significantly decreased at 30 min after
      administration of Gd-MnMEIO. Whereas the effects of Gd-MnMEIO and SPIO on T2
      weighted images were similar (p = 0.5824), those of Gd-MnMEIO and Gd-DTPA
      differed, with Gd-MnMEIO having a significant T2 contrast effect (p = 0.0086).
      Our study confirms the feasibility of synthesizing an MR contrast agent with both
      T1 and T2 shortening effects and using such an agent in vivo. This agent enables
      tumor detection and characterization in single liver MRI sections. 

PMID- 26886560
TI  - Erratum to: CXCL13-CXCR5 co-expression regulates epithelial to mesenchymal
      transition of breast cancer cells during lymph node metastasis.

PMID- 26886559
TI  - Tissue Specific Expression of Cre in Rat Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Dopamine Active
      Transporter-Positive Neurons.
AB  - The rat is a preferred model system over the mouse for neurological studies, and
      cell type-specific Cre expression in the rat enables precise ablation of gene
      function in neurons of interest, which is especially valuable for
      neurodegenerative disease modeling and optogenetics. Yet, few such Cre rats are
      available. Here we report the characterization of two Cre rats, tyrosine
      hydroxylase (TH)-Cre and dopamine active transporter (DAT or Slc6a3)-Cre, by
      using a combination of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and mRNA fluorescence in situ
      hybridization (FISH) as well as a fluorescent reporter for Cre activity. We
      detected Cre expression in expected neurons in both Cre lines. Interestingly, we
      also found that in Th-Cre rats, but not DAT-Cre rats, Cre is expressed in female
      germ cells, allowing germline excision of the floxed allele and hence the
      generation of whole-body knockout rats. In summary, our data demonstrate that
      targeted integration of Cre cassette lead to faithful recapitulation of
      expression pattern of the endogenous promoter, and mRNA FISH, in addition to IHC,
      is an effective method for the analysis of the spatiotemporal gene expression
      patterns in the rat brain, alleviating the dependence on high quality antibodies
      that are often not available against rat proteins. The Th-Cre and the DAT-Cre rat
      lines express Cre in selective subsets of dopaminergic neurons and should be
      particularly useful for researches on Parkinson's disease. 

PMID- 26886561
TI  - Subsequent risk of gout for women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a
      retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The association between the risk of subsequent gout and hypertensive
      disorders in pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia
      has not been well investigated. We investigated the risk of gout in later life
      for women with a history of HDP. METHODS: We identified 1133 newly diagnosed HDP
      women aged 14-40 years from Taiwan insurance claims data from the period of 2000
      2010. From the same database, 9064 women without HDP were randomly selected as
      the control cohort, with frequency matched by age and diagnosis year. Those with
      a baseline history of hypertension or gout were excluded from this study. All
      study participants were followed until the development of gout, withdrawal from
      the insurance program, or the end of 2011. Cox proportional hazards regression
      was used to assess the risk for gout in the HDP cohort compared with the
      controls. RESULTS: The incidence of gout was 2.83 folds higher in the HDP cohort
      than in the control cohort (2.66 vs. 0.94 per 1000 person-years) with an adjusted
      hazard ratio of 2.34 (95% confidence interval = 1.36-4.02) and 1.84 (95%
      confidence interval = 1.03-3.32) after controlling for comorbidities prior to and
      after pregnancy, respectively. In addition, the risk for gout increased as the
      severity of HDP increased. CONCLUSION: Women with HDP are at higher risk of
      developing gout in their later life. Close surveillance for hyperuricemia and
      lifestyle intervention should be considered for these high risk women. Further
      prospective study is needed for investigating the relationship between HDP and
      subsequent gout.

PMID- 26886562
TI  - A functional variant in the coding region of CAMTA2 is associated with left
      ventricular hypertrophy by affecting the activation of Nkx2.5-dependent
      transcription.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The calmodulin-binding transcription activator 2 (CAMTA2) promotes
      transcription of genes involved in cardiac hypertrophy through its interaction
      with Nkx2.5 and is an indispensable transcription coactivator for cardiac
      hypertrophy. We hypothesized that variants in the coding region of CAMTA2 would
      affect its function and confer a risk of cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: The
      effects of the variant rs238234 on the activity of the atrial natriuretic factor
      promoter and on the cardiomyocytes hypertrophy were assessed in the H9C2 cell
      line and primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, respectively. Furthermore, the
      association of this variant with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was tested in
      hypertensive patients with and without hypertrophy (N = 325 and 697), and this
      analysis was replicated in an independent population of 987 hypertensive patients
      without hypertrophy and 463 hypertensive patients with hypertrophy. RESULTS: We
      found that the G allele of rs238234 activated the atrial natriuretic factor
      promoter more strongly than the C allele. The cell size of cardiomyocytes was
      larger in the presence of the Ad-CAMTA2 G allele, and the G allele was associated
      with significantly increased susceptibility to LVH in hypertensive [odds ratio
      (OR), 1.29; P = 0.009]. In the discovery cohort, after adjusting for age and sex,
      the GG genotype was significantly associated with increased LVH risk (OR, 1.75; P
      = 0.015). There was little attenuation of the ORs (1.62; P < 0.05) when adjusting
      for BMI, heart rate, blood pressure, smoking, and drinking and further adjusting
      all covariates including lipid levels and other major risk factors. However, the
      GC genotype did not show any association with LVH using three regressive models.
      Replication in the second study yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: Our results
      provide evidence that the rs238234 GG genotype in the coding region of CAMTA2 may
      increase the risk of LVH by affecting the activation of Nkx2.5-dependent
      transcription.

PMID- 26886563
TI  - Tripartite motif-containing 55 identified as functional candidate for spontaneous
      cardiac hypertrophy in the rat locus cardiac mass 22.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a risk factor for cardiovascular
      death, but the genetic factors determining LV size and predisposition to
      hypertrophy are not well understood. We have previously linked the quantitative
      trait locus cardiac mass 22 (Cm22) on chromosome 2 with cardiac hypertrophy
      independent of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. From an
      original cross of spontaneously hypertensive rat with F344 rats, we derived a
      normotensive polygenic model of spontaneous cardiac hypertrophy, the hypertrophic
      heart rat (HHR) and its control strain, the normal heart rat (NHR). METHODS AND
      RESULTS: To identify the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying spontaneous LV
      hypertrophy we sequenced the HHR genome with special focus on quantitative trait
      locus Cm22. For correlative analyses of function, we measured global RNA
      transcripts in LV of neonatal HHR and NHR and 198 neonatal rats of an HHR * NHR
      F2 crossbred population. Only one gene within locus Cm22 was differentially
      expressed in the parental generation: tripartite motif-containing 55 (Trim55),
      with mRNA downregulation in HHR (P < 0.05) and reduced protein expression. Trim55
      mRNA levels were negatively correlated with LV mass in the F2 cross (r = -0.16, P
      = 0.025). In exon nine of Trim55 in HHR, we found one missense mutation that
      functionally alters protein structure. This mutation was strongly associated with
      Trim55 mRNA expression in F2 rats (F = 10.35, P < 0.0001). Similarly, in humans,
      we found reduced Trim55 expression in hearts of subjects with idiopathic dilated
      cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the Trim55 gene, located in
      Cm22, is a novel candidate gene for polygenic LV hypertrophy independent of blood
      pressure.

PMID- 26886564
TI  - Urinary sodium excretion predicts blood pressure response to spironolactone in
      patients with resistant hypertension independent of aldosterone status.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Resistant hypertension (RHTN), blood pressure (BP) at least 140/90
      mmHg despite using at least three different medications, including a diuretic, is
      associated with high dietary sodium and hyperaldosteronism. Mineralocorticoid
      receptor antagonists are recommended for treatment of RHTN, however, BP response
      to these agents varies widely. In the current analysis, we assessed predictors of
      BP response to spironolactone in patients with RHTN. METHODS: We retrospectively
      evaluated the BP response to adding spironolactone 12.5-25 mg to existing
      medications. A favorable BP response was defined as a reduction in SBP of at
      least 10 mmHg. Tested variables included baseline characteristics and biochemical
      parameters. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with RHTN were included in the
      analysis. Evaluated patients were more likely women (53.2%) and African-American
      (55.8%); were generally obese (76%) and were prescribed an average of four
      antihypertensive medications. Baseline SBP was 153.6 +/- 22.3 mmHg; addition of
      spironolactone resulted in a mean reduction of 15.5 +/- 20.7 mmHg. Patients with
      high urinary sodium excretion (>=200 mEq/24 h) had a significantly greater BP
      reduction compared with patients with normal excretion (<200 mEq/24 h) (P =
      0.008). Multivariable analysis identified 24 h urinary sodium excretion as a
      significant predictor of BP response (P = 0.021) after controlling for potential
      confounders, including primary aldosteronism. CONCLUSION: The antihypertensive
      effect of spironolactone is positively related to urinary sodium excretion
      regardless of aldosterone status. These findings suggest that mineralocorticoid
      receptor antagonists may be of preferential benefit in counteracting the BP
      effects of high dietary sodium.

PMID- 26886565
TI  - Diuretic antihypertensive drugs and incident dementia risk: a systematic review,
      meta-analysis and meta-regression of prospective studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Diuretic drugs have been a mainstay of hypertension treatment in the
      elderly however their dementia sparing effects are under-reported. The objective
      was to quantify dementia risk in relation to diuretic antihypertensive drugs.
      METHODS: Electronic databases were searched until June 2015. ELIGIBILITY
      CRITERIA: population, adults without dementia from primary care, community
      cohort, residential/institutionalized, or randomized controlled trial; exposure,
      diuretic antihypertensive drug; comparison, no diuretic drug, other or no
      antihypertensive drug, placebo-control; outcome, incident dementia diagnosed by
      standardized criteria. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals
      (CI) were pooled in fixed-effects models with RevMan 5.3 (The Nordic Cochrane
      Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) and the findings rated according to The Grading of
      Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. RESULTS: A total
      of 15 articles were included (52 599 persons, 3444 dementia cases, median age
      76.1 years) and median follow-up was 6.1 years. Diuretics were associated with
      reduced dementia risk (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.76-0.91, P < 0.0001, I = 0) and
      Alzheimer's disease risk (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.71-0.94, P = 0.004, I = 0).
      Stratified analysis indicated a difference between potassium sparing, thiazide
      and loop diuretics (P = 0.01). Risk estimates were generally consistent comparing
      monotherapy vs. combination therapy, study design and follow-up. Meta-regression
      showed that demographics, stroke, heart failure, diabetes, liver disease,
      attrition, mortality rate, cognitive function, and apolipoprotein E allele did
      not moderate the results. CONCLUSION: Diuretic antihypertensive drugs were
      associated with a consistent reduction in dementia risk without heterogeneity,
      pointing to generalizability of these findings. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO
      [CRD42015023428].

PMID- 26886566
TI  - Prevalence and prognosis of ECG abnormalities in normotensive and hypertensive
      individuals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the prevalence and prognosis of ECG abnormalities in
      hypertensive individuals. METHODS: ECG, blood pressure and other cardiovascular
      risk factors were recorded in a nationwide population sample of 5800 Finns. The
      presence of 15 ECG abnormalities was evaluated. Participants were divided into
      categories by blood pressure and followed for coronary heart (CHD) and
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 10.4 +/- 2.2
      years. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rates of ECG abnormalities were
      generally higher in the hypertensive participants than in normotensive
      individuals. In multivariable-adjusted Cox models, the following ECG
      abnormalities predicted CHD in hypertensive participants: left ventricular
      hypertrophy (LVH) by Sokolow-Lyon criteria [hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence
      interval (CI), 1.07-2.01; P = 0.02], LVH with ST-depression and negative T wave
      (ST/T changes) (hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.20-4.43, P = 0.01), ST/T changes
      (hazard ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.34-3.36; P = 0.001), positive T wave in lead aVR
      (AVRT+) (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.15-2.64; P = 0.009) and poor R-wave
      progression (hazard ratio, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.27-3.22; P = 0.003). These ECG
      abnormalities were also significant predictors of CVD in hypertensive
      participants (P <= 0.03 for all). Nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay
      predicted CVD in the whole population (hazard ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.06-2.13; P =
      0.02). Prolonged QT interval, abnormal P-wave indices, left axis deviation and
      early repolarization pattern were not associated with CHD or CVD. CONCLUSION: ECG
      abnormalities are highly prevalent in hypertensive individuals. LVH is still the
      cornerstone of cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertensive patients. The
      additional assessment of ST/T changes, AVRT+ and poor R-wave progression in ECGs
      could improve risk prediction in hypertensive patients.

PMID- 26886567
TI  - Centrally acting drug moxonidine decreases reactive oxygen species via
      inactivation of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase signaling in the rostral
      ventrolateral medulla in hypertensive rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Centrally acting antihypertensive action of moxonidine is a result of
      activation of Imidazoline-1 receptor (I1R) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla
      (RVLM). Hypertension shows an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the
      RVLM. The present objective was to determine the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)
      signaling pathway involved in the effect of moxonidine on ROS generation in the
      RVLM of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). METHODS: Wistar-Kyoto rats and SHR
      received intracisternal infusion (2 weeks) of tested agents which were subjected
      to subsequent experiments. In-situ ROS in the RVLM was evaluated by the oxidative
      fluorescence dye. Western blot and PCR analysis were performed to detect the
      expression levels of PI3K signaling pathway. Lentivirus was injected bilaterally
      into the RVLM for silencing PI3K signaling. RESULTS: ROS production in the RVLM
      was dose-dependently reduced in SHRs treated with infusion of moxonidine (20
      nmol/day), which was prevented by the I1R antagonist efaroxan but not by the
      alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine. Moxonidine pretreatment significantly
      blunted cardiovascular sensitivity to injection of tempol (5 nmol) or angiotensin
      II (10 pmol) into the RVLM in SHR. Expression levels of PI3K/Akt, nuclear factor
      kappa-B (NFkappaB), NADPHase (NOX4), and angiotensin type I receptor (AT1R) in
      the RVLM were markedly decreased in SHR treated with moxonidine. Infection of
      lentivirus containing PI3K shRNA in the RVLM effectively prevented effects of
      moxonidine on cardiovascular activity and expression levels of Akt, NFkappaB,
      NOX4, and AT1R. CONCLUSION: The centrally antihypertensive drug moxonidine
      decreases ROS production in the RVLM through inactivation of the PI3K/Akt
      signaling pathway in hypertension.

PMID- 26886569
TI  - Gold vs Rhodium Catalysis: Tuning Reactivity through Catalyst Control in the C-H
      Alkynylation of Isoquinolones.
AB  - A site-selective C-4/C-8 alkynylation of isoquinolones catalyzed by gold and
      rhodium complexes is reported. A broad range of synthetically useful functional
      groups (-F, -Cl, -Br, -CF3, -OMe, alkyl, etc.) were tolerated, providing an
      efficient and robust protocol for the synthesis either C-4- or C-8-alkynylated
      isoquinolones. 

PMID- 26886570
TI  - A systematic review on the long-term success of calcium phosphate plasma-spray
      coated dental implants.
AB  - The objectives of the current review were (1) to systematically appraise, and (2)
      to evaluate long-term success data of calcium phosphate (CaP) plasma-spray-coated
      dental implants in clinical trials with at least 5 years of follow-up. To
      describe the long-term efficacy of functional implants, the outcome variables
      were (a) percentage annual complication rate (ACR) and (b) cumulative success
      rate (CSR), as presented in the selected articles. The electronic search yielded
      645 titles. On the basis of the inclusion criteria, 8 studies were finally
      included. The percentage of implants in function after the first year was
      estimated to be 98.4 % in the maxilla and 99.2 % in the mandible. The estimates
      of the weighted mean ACR-percentage increased over the years up to 2.6 (SE 0.7)
      during the fifth year of function for the maxilla and to 9.4 (SE 8.4) for the
      mandible in the tenth year of function. After 10 years, the mean percentage of
      successful implants was estimated to be 71.1 % in the maxilla and 72.2 % in the
      mandible. The estimates seem to confirm the proposed, long-term progressive bone
      loss pattern of CaP-ceramic-coated dental implants. Within the limits of this
      meta-analytic approach to the literature, we conclude that: (1) published long
      term success data for calcium phosphate plasma-spray-coated dental implants are
      limited, (2) comparison of the data is difficult due to differences in success
      criteria among the studies, and (3) long-term CSRs demonstrate very weak evidence
      for progressive complications around calcium phosphate plasma-spray-coated dental
      implants. 

PMID- 26886571
TI  - An accurate bimaxillary repositioning technique using straight locking miniplates
      for the mandible-first approach in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.
AB  - Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery has been widely performed to achieve optimal
      functional and esthetic outcomes in patients with dentofacial deformity. Although
      Le Fort I osteotomy is generally performed before bilateral sagittal split
      osteotomy (BSSO) in the surgery, in several situations BSSO should be performed
      first. However, it is very difficult during bimaxillary orthognathic surgery to
      maintain an accurate centric relation of the condyle and decide the ideal
      vertical dimension from the skull base to the mandible. We have previously
      applied a straight locking miniplate (SLM) technique that permits accurate
      superior maxillary repositioning without the need for intraoperative measurements
      in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Here we describe the application of this
      technique for accurate bimaxillary repositioning in a mandible-first approach
      where the SLMs also serve as a condylar positioning device in bimaxillary
      orthognathic surgery.

PMID- 26886572
TI  - Nanoscaled Zinc Pyrazolate Metal-Organic Frameworks as Drug-Delivery Systems.
AB  - This work describes synthesis at the nanoscale of the isoreticular metal-organic
      framework (MOF) series ZnBDP_X, based on the assembly of Zn(II) metal ions and
      the functionalized organic spacers 1,4-bis(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2-X-benzene (H2BDP_X;
      X = H, NO2, NH2, OH). The colloidal stability of these systems was evaluated
      under different relevant intravenous and oral-simulated physiological conditions,
      showing that ZnBDP_OH nanoparticles exhibit good structural and colloidal
      stability probably because of the formation of a protein corona on their surface
      that prevents their aggregation. Furthermore, two antitumor drugs (mitroxantrone
      and [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(pta)] (RAPTA-C) where pta = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phospaadamantane)
      were encapsulated within the pores of the ZnBDP_X series in order to investigate
      the effect of the framework functionalization on the incorporation/delivery of
      bioactive molecules. Thus, the loading capacity of both drugs within the ZnBDP_X
      series seems to directly depend on the surface area of the solids. Moreover,
      ligand functionalization significantly affects both the delivery kinetics and the
      total amount of released drug. In particular, ZnBDP_OH and ZnBDP_NH2 matrixes
      show a slower rate of delivery and higher percentage of release than ZnBDP_NO2
      and ZnBDP_H systems. Additionally, RAPTA-C delivery from ZnBDP_OH is accompanied
      by a concomitant and progressive matrix degradation due to the higher polarity of
      the BPD_OH ligand, highlighting the impact of functionalization of the MOF
      cavities over the kinetics of delivery. 

PMID- 26886573
TI  - Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Hydroperoxide Lyase Gene in the Leaves
      of Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis).
AB  - Hydroperoxide lyase (HPL, E.C. 4.1.2.) is the major enzyme in the biosynthesis of
      natural volatile aldehydes and alcohols in plants, however, little was known
      about HPL in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). A unique cDNA fragment was isolated
      by suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) from a tea plant subjected to
      herbivory by tea geometrid Ectropis obliqua. This full length cDNA acquired by
      RACE was 1476 bp and encoded 491 amino acids. DNA and protein BLAST searches
      showed high homology to HPL sequences from other plants. The His-tag expression
      vector pET-32a(+)/CsHPL was constructed and transferred into Escherichia coli
      Rosetta (DE3). The expression product of recombinant CsHPL in E. coli was about
      60 kDa. The enzyme activity of CsHPL was 0.20 MUmol.min(-1).mg(-1). Quantitative
      RT-PCR analysis indicated CsHPL was strongly up-regulated in tea plants after
      Ectropis obliqua attack, suggesting that it may be an important candidate for
      defense against insects in tea plants. 

PMID- 26886574
TI  - Privacy and confidentiality measures in genetic testing and counselling: arguing
      on genetic exceptionalism again?
AB  - Medical confidentiality in clinical genetics poses an important question about
      its scope, which would be in line with professional ethics and simple honesty. It
      is already known that the maintenance of absolute anonymity, bearing in mind the
      current progress of genetic techniques, is virtually impossible. On the other
      hand, our insight into the information contained in the human genome is
      increasing. This mini-review presents the authors' standpoint regarding this
      complex and difficult issue.

PMID- 26886575
TI  - Intrusive thoughts: linking spontaneous mind wandering and OCD symptomatology.
AB  - One recent line of research in the literature on mind wandering has been
      concerned with examining rates of mind wandering in special populations, such as
      those characterized by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dysphoria, and
      schizophrenia. To best conceptualize mind wandering in studies examining special
      populations, it has recently been suggested that researchers distinguish between
      deliberate and spontaneous subtypes of this experience. Extending this line of
      research on mind wandering in special populations, in a large non-clinical sample
      (N = 2636), we examined how rates of deliberate and spontaneous mind wandering
      vary with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Results indicate that,
      whereas deliberate mind wandering is not associated with OCD symptomatology,
      spontaneous mind wandering is, with higher reports of spontaneous mind wandering
      being associated with higher reports of OCD symptoms. We discuss the implications
      of these results for understanding both mind wandering and OCD.

PMID- 26886576
TI  - A Food Effect Study of an Oral Thrombin Inhibitor and Prodrug Approach To
      Mitigate It.
AB  - LB30870, a new direct thrombin inhibitor, showed 80% reduction in oral
      bioavailability in fed state. The present study aims to propose trypsin binding
      as a mechanism for such negative food effect and demonstrate a prodrug approach
      to mitigate food effect. Effect of food composition on fed state oral
      bioavailability of LB30870 was studied in dogs. Various prodrugs were
      synthesized, and their solubility, permeability, and trypsin binding affinity
      were measured. LB30870 and prodrugs were subject to cocrystallization with
      trypsin, and the X-ray structures of cocrystals were determined. Food effect was
      studied in dogs for selected prodrugs. Protein or lipid meal appeared to affect
      oral bioavailability of LB30870 in dogs more than carbohydrate meal. Blocking
      both carboxyl and amidine groups of LB30870 resulted in trypsin Ki values orders
      of magnitude higher than that of LB30870. Prodrugs belonged to either
      Biopharmaceutical Classification System I, II, or III. X-ray crystallography
      revealed that prodrugs did not bind to trypsin, but instead their hydrolysis
      product at the amidine blocking group formed cocrystal with trypsin. A prodrug
      with significantly less food effect than LB30870 was identified. Binding of
      prodrugs to food components such as dietary fiber appeared to counteract the
      positive effect brought with the prodrug approach. Further formulation research
      is warranted to enhance the oral bioavailability of prodrugs. In conclusion, this
      study is the first to demonstrate that the negative food effect of LB30870 can be
      attributed to trypsin binding. Trypsin binding study is proposed as a screening
      tool during lead optimization to minimize food effect. 

PMID- 26886577
TI  - Identification of human ferritin, heavy polypeptide 1 (FTH1) and yeast RGI1
      (YER067W) as pro-survival sequences that counteract the effects of Bax and copper
      in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Ferritin is a sub-family of iron binding proteins that form multi-subunit
      nanotype iron storage structures and prevent oxidative stress induced apoptosis.
      Here we describe the identification and characterization of human ferritin, heavy
      polypeptide 1 (FTH1) as a suppressor of the pro-apoptotic murine Bax sequence in
      yeast. In addition we demonstrate that FTH1 is a general pro-survival sequence
      since it also prevents the cell death inducing effects of copper when
      heterologously expressed in yeast. Although ferritins are phylogenetically widely
      distributed and are present in most species of Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya,
      ferritin is conspicuously absent in most fungal species including Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. An in silico analysis of the yeast proteome lead to the
      identification of the 161 residue RGI1 (YER067W) encoded protein as a candidate
      for being a yeast ferritin. In addition to sharing 20% sequence identity with the
      183 residue FTH1, RGI1 also has similar pro-survival properties as ferritin when
      overexpressed in yeast. Analysis of recombinant protein by SDS-PAGE and by
      electron microscopy revealed the expected formation of higher-order structures
      for FTH1 that was not observed with Rgi1p. Further analysis revealed that cells
      overexpressing RGI1 do not show increased resistance to iron toxicity and do not
      have enhanced capacity to store iron. In contrast, cells lacking RGI1 were found
      to be hypersensitive to the toxic effects of iron. Overall, our results suggest
      that Rgi1p is a novel pro-survival protein whose function is not related to
      ferritin but nevertheless it may have a role in regulating yeast sensitivity to
      iron stress. 

PMID- 26886579
TI  - Unprecedented W2(0) quadruply bonded complex supported by pi-donor ligands.
AB  - A quadruply bonded complex W2(DippF)2K2 with a W2(0) core was synthesized and
      structurally characterized. The observed W-W distance of 2.407(1) A and DFT
      calculations are consistent to the unprecedented electronic structure in D(2h)
      symmetry of sigma(2)pi(2)pi(2)delta(2)delta(2)delta*(2) where the HOMO is the
      delta* orbital.

PMID- 26886578
TI  - The modified lateral supraorbital approach for tumors of the petroclival junction
      extending into the anterior cerebellopontine area.
AB  - Various surgical approaches for the removal of meningioma and trigeminal
      schwannoma in the petroclival junction (PCJ) and anterior cerebellopontine area
      (CPA) have been described previously. In this study, we compared the surgical
      outcomes of the combined petrosal approach and a modified lateral supraorbital
      (MLSO) approach and evaluated the reliability and safety of the MLSO approach.
      Fifty patients underwent surgical treatment using the combined petrosal or MLSO
      approach between 1996 and 2011. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and
      compared the two approaches. Among 50 patients, 27 patients underwent operation
      through the combined petrosal approach and 23 underwent operation through the
      MLSO approach. The operation time of the MLSO approach was significantly shorter
      than that of the combined petrosal approach (p = 0.03). There was no significant
      difference in the gross total resection rate between the two approaches (p =
      0.67). After the operation, the improvement in Karnofsky performance score and
      Mean Glasgow outcomes scales were better in the MLSO approach, but without
      statistical significance (p = 0.723, p = 0.20 respectively). Complications
      occurred more often with the combined petrosal approach than with MLSO. Facial
      nerve palsy was the most common complication, followed by hearing difficulty. The
      frequency of these two complications was higher in the combined petrosal
      approach. Various tumors occurring in the PCJ and anterior CPA remain a
      challenging problem for neurosurgeons. The new modified approach of MLSO yielded
      good surgical results for these tumors compared to the combined petrosal
      approach. Therefore, the MLSO approach might be a good option for removal of
      tumors in the PCJ including anterior CPA. 

PMID- 26886580
TI  - Repository Planning, Design, and Engineering: Part I--Infrastructure.
AB  - This is a two-part review describing the planning, engineering, and design
      considerations for building a new repository for biological and environmental
      samples. Part I addresses the physical infrastructure requirements for a
      repository; Part II will cover equipment and costing. Planning for construction
      of a new repository is a complex process requiring comprehensive preplanning and
      adherence to many regulatory and safety requirements. Guidance and a planning
      timeline are provided for many of the physical aspects and large capital
      acquisition costs for the expansion of an existing repository, or the creation of
      a new repository facility, using an available unoccupied building such as a
      former warehouse. This article provides a comprehensive set of information about
      every aspect of repository construction and operation to be considered in the
      planning process, and also addresses all aspects of designing and constructing a
      new repository in an existing structure. The engineering and design parameters
      for the repository are discussed in detail. 

PMID- 26886581
TI  - Water, Water, Everywhere: Defining and Assessing Data Sharing in Academia.
AB  - Sharing of research data has begun to gain traction in many areas of the sciences
      in the past few years because of changing expectations from the scientific
      community, funding agencies, and academic journals. National Science Foundation
      (NSF) requirements for a data management plan (DMP) went into effect in 2011,
      with the intent of facilitating the dissemination and sharing of research
      results. Many projects that were funded during 2011 and 2012 should now have
      implemented the elements of the data management plans required for their grant
      proposals. In this paper we define 'data sharing' and present a protocol for
      assessing whether data have been shared and how effective the sharing was. We
      then evaluate the data sharing practices of researchers funded by the NSF at
      Oregon State University in two ways: by attempting to discover project-level
      research data using the associated DMP as a starting point, and by examining data
      sharing associated with journal articles that acknowledge NSF support. Sharing at
      both the project level and the journal article level was not carried out in the
      majority of cases, and when sharing was accomplished, the shared data were often
      of questionable usability due to access, documentation, and formatting issues. We
      close the article by offering recommendations for how data producers, journal
      publishers, data repositories, and funding agencies can facilitate the process of
      sharing data in a meaningful way. 

PMID- 26886582
TI  - Carotid atherosclerosis, cytomegalovirus infection, and cognitive decline in the
      very old: a community-based prospective cohort study.
AB  - To investigate various risk factors of cognitive decline in the very old, we
      studied 494 subjects over 85 years old without diagnosis of dementia at baseline
      from the Tokyo Oldest Old Survey on Total Health, an ongoing, community-based
      cohort in Japan. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and at 3-year follow
      up using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Plasma samples were assayed for
      levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and blood chemistry. Carotid artery plaques were
      measured using an ultrasonography. In the cross-sectional analyses using Tobit
      regression, individuals with high carotid artery plaque score (>=5.0) had MMSE
      scores that were 1.08 points lower compared to those with no plaque (95 %
      confidence interval (CI) -1.95 to -0.20; p = 0.016), adjusted for age, sex, and
      education. Individuals with CMV IgG titers in the highest quartile had MMSE
      scores that were 1.47 points lower compared to individuals in the lowest quartile
      (95 % CI -2.44 to -0.50; p = 0.003). CMV and carotid atherosclerosis showed
      evidence of an interaction, where the association between CMV and MMSE was
      present only in subjects with carotid artery plaque. In the longitudinal analyses
      using linear regression, carotid atherosclerosis, smoking, low grip strength, and
      poor activities of daily living (ADL) status were associated with faster
      cognitive decline, adjusted for age, sex, education, and baseline cognitive
      function. Our findings suggest that carotid atherosclerosis is consistently
      associated with low cognitive function in the very old and modifies the
      association between latent CMV infection and cognition. 

PMID- 26886584
TI  - The benefit of deep inspiration breath hold: evaluating cardiac radiation
      exposure in patients after mastectomy and after breast-conserving surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the reduction of cardiac radiation dose
      and volume with deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique compared to free
      breathing (FB) in patients with left-sided breast cancer. The study also aims to
      evaluate whether the benefits of DIBH vary in patients who had whole breast
      radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and those who had chest
      wall RT post-mastectomy (M). METHODS: FB and DIBH plans were generated for 15
      consecutive post-BCS patients and 17 post-M patients who underwent RT with DIBH
      using varian real-time position management (RPM) system. Cardiac shields were
      used in all post-BCS plans, provided that clinical treatment volume coverage was
      not compromised, while chest wall coverage took priority in post-M plans. The
      prescribed dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions for the whole breast or the chest wall.
      Parameters of interest were cardiac V5, mean LAD dose, maximum LAD dose, and mean
      heart dose. The impact of DIBH was compared in post-BCS and post-M patients using
      paired t tests. To gauge clinically meaningful outcome, the proportion of
      patients with V5 < 5 % and mean cardiac dose <2 Gy were compared using McNemar's
      test. RESULTS: DIBH decreased V5 by an absolute 4.5 % (2.3 vs. 6.8 %; p < 0.0001)
      in post-M group, and by an absolute 2.4 % (1.3 vs. 3.7 %; p = 0.0028) in post-BCS
      group. DIBH decreased the mean heart dose by 107.0 cGy (127.4 vs. 234.4 cGy; p =
      0.0002) in post-M group, and by 58.9 cGy (82.2 vs. 141.1 cGy; p = 0.0012) in post
      BCS group. DIBH decreased mean LAD by 1201.6 cGy (670 vs. 1872.5 cGy; p = 0.0006)
      in post-M group, and by 799.0 cGy (425.3 vs. 1224.3 cGy; p = 0.0003) in post-BCS
      group. DIBH also decreased max LAD dose by 1244.3 cGy (2776.0 vs. 4020.3 cGy; p =
      0.0014) in post-M group, and by 1856.3 cGy (1898.7 vs. 3754.9 cGy; p = 0.0005) in
      post-BCS group. In post-BCS group, cardiac V5 < 5 % was achieved in 10/15 (67 %)
      FB patients, and in 15/15 (100 %) DIBH patients (p = 0.002), and mean heart dose
      <2 Gy was achieved in 12/15 (80 %) FB patients and in 15/15 (100 %) DIBH patients
      (p < 0.001). This compares with post-M group, in which V5 < 5 % was achieved in
      6/17 (35 %) FB patients and in 16/17 (94 %) DIBH patients (p = 0.05), and mean
      heart dose <2 Gy was achieved in 7/17 FB (41 %) an 16/17 DIBH patients (94 %) (p
      = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there is considerable
      reduction in cardiac exposure in most patients with DIBH compared to FB, although
      less reduction is observed in the post-BCS patients. The use of cardiac shields
      and collimators/gantry adjustments, more readily applicable for post-BCS cases,
      may limit the additional benefits of DIBH. In an environment where DIBH
      availability is limited, the result of this study supports the preferential use
      of DIBH in post-M patients over post-BCS patients.

PMID- 26886583
TI  - Functional and Structural Analysis of a beta-Glucosidase Involved in beta-1,2
      Glucan Metabolism in Listeria innocua.
AB  - Despite the presence of beta-1,2-glucan in nature, few beta-1,2-glucan degrading
      enzymes have been reported to date. Recently, the Lin1839 protein from Listeria
      innocua was identified as a 1,2-beta-oligoglucan phosphorylase. Since the
      adjacent lin1840 gene in the gene cluster encodes a putative glycoside hydrolase
      family 3 beta-glucosidase, we hypothesized that Lin1840 is also involved in beta
      1,2-glucan dissimilation. Here we report the functional and structural analysis
      of Lin1840. A recombinant Lin1840 protein (Lin1840r) showed the highest
      hydrolytic activity toward sophorose (Glc-beta-1,2-Glc) among beta-1,2
      glucooligosaccharides, suggesting that Lin1840 is a beta-glucosidase involved in
      sophorose degradation. The enzyme also rapidly hydrolyzed laminaribiose (beta
      1,3), but not cellobiose (beta-1,4) or gentiobiose (beta-1,6) among beta-linked
      gluco-disaccharides. We determined the crystal structures of Lin1840r in
      complexes with sophorose and laminaribiose as productive binding forms. In these
      structures, Arg572 forms many hydrogen bonds with sophorose and laminaribiose at
      subsite +1, which seems to be a key factor for substrate selectivity. The
      opposite side of subsite +1 from Arg572 is connected to a large empty space
      appearing to be subsite +2 for the binding of sophorotriose (Glc-beta-1,2-Glc
      beta-1,2-Glc) in spite of the higher Km value for sophorotriose than that for
      sophorose. The conformations of sophorose and laminaribiose are almost the same
      on the Arg572 side but differ on the subsite +2 side that provides no interaction
      with a substrate. Therefore, Lin1840r is unable to distinguish between sophorose
      and laminaribiose as substrates. These results provide the first mechanistic
      insights into beta-1,2-glucooligosaccharide recognition by beta-glucosidase. 

PMID- 26886585
TI  - Red and infrared laser therapy inhibits in vitro growth of major bacterial
      species that commonly colonize skin ulcers.
AB  - Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is used in chronic wounds due to its healing
      effects. However, bacterial species may colonize these wounds and the optimal
      parameters for effective bacterial inhibition are not clear. The aim of this
      study was to analyze the effect of LLLT on bacterial growth in vitro. Bacterial
      strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa were suspended in saline solution at a concentration of 10(3) cells/ml
      and exposed to laser irradiation at wavelengths of 660, 830, and 904 nm at
      fluences of 0 (control), 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 J/cm(2). An aliquot of the
      irradiated suspension was spread on the surface of petri plates and incubated at
      37  degrees C for quantification of colony-forming unit after 24, 48, and 72 h.
      Laser irradiation inhibited the growth of S. aureus at all wavelengths and
      fluences higher than 12 J/cm(2), showing a strong correlation between increase in
      fluence and bacterial inhibition. However, for P. aeruginosa, LLLT inhibited
      growth at all wavelengths only at a fluence of 24 J/cm(2). E. coli had similar
      growth inhibition at a wavelength of 830 nm at fluences of 3, 6, 12, and 24
      J/cm(2). At wavelengths of 660 and 904 nm, growth inhibition was only observed at
      fluences of 12 and 18 J/cm(2), respectively. LLLT inhibited bacterial growth at
      all wavelengths, for a maximum of 72 h after irradiation, indicating a
      correlation between bacterial species, fluence, and wavelength.

PMID- 26886586
TI  - Photodynamic inactivation of Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms and planktonic cells
      by 5-aminolevulinic acid and 5-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester.
AB  - The treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae, particularly extended-spectrum beta
      lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae, is currently a great challenge.
      Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy is a promising approach for killing
      antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity
      of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and its derivative 5-ALA methyl ester (MAL) in
      the presence of white light to cause photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of K.
      pneumoniae planktonic and biofilm cells. In the presence of white light, 5-ALA
      and MAL inactivated planktonic cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
      Biofilms were also sensitive to 5-ALA and MAL-mediated PDI. The mechanisms by
      which 5-ALA and MAL caused PDI of ESBL-producing K. pneumonia were also
      investigated. Exposure of K. pneumonia to light in the presence of either 5-ALA
      or MAL induced cleavage of genomic DNA and the rapid release of intracellular
      biopolymers. Intensely denatured cytoplasmic contents and aggregated ribosomes
      were also detected by transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron
      microscopy showed that PDI of biofilms caused aggregated bacteria to detach and
      that the bacterial cell envelope was damaged. This study provides insights into 5
      ALA and MAL-mediated PDI of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. 

PMID- 26886587
TI  - Impact of CO2 laser and stannous fluoride on primary tooth erosion.
AB  - This study evaluated in vitro the effect of input power of CO2 laser, either
      associated or not to stannous fluoride (SnF2) gel, for the control of intrinsic
      erosion in primary teeth. One hundred four enamel slabs (3 * 3 * 2 mm) from human
      primary molars were flattened and polished. Adhesive tapes were placed on their
      surface leaving a window of 3 * 1 mm. Slabs were then cycled four times in 0.01 M
      hydrochloric acid (pH 2, 2 min) and in artificial saliva (2 h) for creation of
      erosive lesions. Specimens were randomly assigned into eight groups (n = 13)
      according to fluoride application [absent (control) or 0.4% stannous fluoride gel
      (SnF2)] and input power of CO2 laser [unlased (control), 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 W]. The
      CO2 laser irradiation was performed in an ultra-pulse mode (100 MUs of pulse
      duration), 4-mm working distance, for 10 s. Specimens were then submitted to
      further erosive episodes for 5 days and evaluated for enamel relative
      permeability. Fluoride did not show any protective effect for any of the laser
      treated groups or control (p = 0.185). However, a significant effect was detected
      for input power of CO2 laser (p = 0.037). Tukey's test showed that there was a
      significant statistically difference between specimens irradiated with 0.5 and
      1.5 W (p = 0.028). The input power of 0.5 W showed lower permeability. Variation
      of input power CO2 laser can influence enamel permeability, at the power of 1.5 W
      which promoted greater permeability.

PMID- 26886588
TI  - Analysis of heterogeneous gallstones using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
      (LIBS) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF).
AB  - Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging analytical technique
      with numerous advantages such as rapidity, multi-elemental analysis, no specific
      sample preparation requirements, non-destructiveness, and versatility. It has
      been proven to be a robust elemental analysis tool attracting interest because of
      being applied to a wide range of materials including biomaterials. In this paper,
      we have performed spectroscopic studies on gallstones which are heterogeneous in
      nature using LIBS and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF)
      techniques. It has been observed that the presence and relative concentrations of
      trace elements in different kind of gallstones (cholesterol and pigment
      gallstones) can easily be determined using LIBS technique. From the experiments
      carried out on gallstones for trace elemental mapping and detection, it was found
      that LIBS is a robust tool for such biomedical applications. The stone samples
      studied in the present paper were classified using the Fourier transform infrared
      (FTIR) spectroscopy. WD-XRF spectroscopy has been applied for the qualitative and
      quantitative analysis of major and trace elements present in the gallstone which
      was compared with the LIBS data. The results obtained in the present paper show
      interesting prospects for LIBS and WD-XRF to study cholelithiasis better. 

PMID- 26886589
TI  - Cell viability, reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, and necrosis in myoblast
      cultures exposed to low-level infrared laser.
AB  - Low-level infrared laser is considered safe and effective for treatment of muscle
      injuries. However, the mechanism involved on beneficial effects of laser therapy
      are not understood. The aim was to evaluate cell viability, reactive oxygen
      species, apoptosis, and necrosis in myoblast cultures exposed to low-level
      infrared laser at therapeutic fluences. C2C12 myoblast cultures at different (2
      and 10 %) fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentrations were exposed to low-level
      infrared laser (808 nm, 100 mW) at different fluences (10, 35, and 70 J/cm(2))
      and evaluated after 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was evaluated by WST-1
      assay; reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and necrosis were evaluated by
      flow cytometry. Cell viability was decreased atthe lowest FBS concentration.
      Laser exposure increased the cell viability in myoblast cultures at 2 % FBS after
      48 and 72 h, but no significant increase in ROS was observed. Apoptosis was
      decreased at the higher fluence and necrosis was increased at lower fluence in
      myoblast cultures after 24 h of laser exposure at 2 % FBS. No laser-induced
      alterations were obtained at 10 % FBS. Results show that level of reactive oxygen
      species is not altered, at least to those evaluated in this study, but low-level
      infrared laser exposure affects cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis in
      myoblast cultures depending on laser fluence and physiologic conditions of cells.

PMID- 26886591
TI  - Ameloblastomas of the mandible and maxilla.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on issues in managing ameloblastomas of
      the mandible and maxilla. We will refer to current practice in the treatment of
      ameloblastomas based on the available evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent reviews
      have been trying to establish natural history, growth patterns and malignant
      potential. This provides the clinicians and the patients with useful prognostic
      information. Controversies in management of ameloblastomas in relation to the
      type, age and site exist. This paper aims to categorize these issues. More
      recently, the authors have adopted the staged treatment approach as an additional
      step to ensure margin clearance. SUMMARY: Current evidence favours radical
      resection to provide better control rates. This applies to maxillary lesions of
      all ages, and solid mandibular lesions in adults (>18 years) where growth has
      ceased and the patient has matured enough to withstand the impact of resection
      and reconstruction. Conservative management is advocated for unicystic lesions
      with good control rates. In children and adolescents, a conservative approach is
      recommended. This approach aids to minimize both psychological and the impact on
      growth. Furthermore, most of the lesions are unicystic and the recurrent lesions
      have been shown to be much smaller and can be managed promptly within a good
      healthcare system.

PMID- 26886590
TI  - Distribution and Genetic Profiles of Campylobacter in Commercial Broiler
      Production from Breeder to Slaughter in Thailand.
AB  - Poultry and poultry products are commonly considered as the major vehicle of
      Campylobacter infection in humans worldwide. To reduce the number of human cases,
      the epidemiology of Campylobacter in poultry must be better understood.
      Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the distribution
      and genetic relatedness of Campylobacter in the Thai chicken production industry.
      During June to October 2012, entire broiler production processes (i.e., breeder
      flock, hatchery, broiler farm and slaughterhouse) of five broiler production
      chains were investigated chronologically. Representative isolates of C. jejuni
      from each production stage were characterized by flaA SVR sequencing and
      multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Amongst 311 selected isolates, 29 flaA SVR
      alleles and 17 sequence types (STs) were identified. The common clonal complexes
      (CCs) found in this study were CC-45, CC-353, CC-354 and CC-574. C. jejuni
      isolated from breeders were distantly related to those isolated from broilers and
      chicken carcasses, while C. jejuni isolates from the slaughterhouse environment
      and meat products were similar to those isolated from broiler flocks. Genotypic
      identification of C. jejuni in slaughterhouses indicated that broilers were the
      main source of Campylobacter contamination of chicken meat during processing. To
      effectively reduce Campylobacter in poultry meat products, control and prevention
      strategies should be aimed at both farm and slaughterhouse levels. 

PMID- 26886593
TI  - A Woman With Right Hand and Leg Discoordination.

PMID- 26886592
TI  - Serum Collagen Type II Cleavage Epitope and Serum Hyaluronic Acid as Biomarkers
      for Treatment Monitoring of Dogs with Hip Osteoarthritis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of serum type II collagen cleavage
      epitope and serum hyaluronic acid as biomarkers for treatment monitoring in
      osteoarthritic dogs. For this purpose, a treatment model based on mesenchymal
      stem cells derived from adipose tissue combined with plasma rich in growth
      factors was used. This clinical study included 10 dogs with hip osteoarthritis.
      Both analytes were measured in serum at baseline, just before applying the
      treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. These results were compared
      with those obtained from force plate analysis using the same animals during the
      same study period. Levels of type II collagen cleavage epitope decreased and
      those of hyaluronic acid increased with clinical improvement objectively verified
      via force plate analysis, suggesting these two biomarkers could be effective as
      indicators of clinical development of joint disease in dogs. 

PMID- 26886594
TI  - Severe Bloodstream Infection due to KPC-Producer E coli in a Renal Transplant
      Recipient Treated With the Double-Carbapenem Regimen and Analysis of In Vitro
      Synergy Testing: A Case Report.
AB  - Transplant recipients are at high risk of infections caused by multidrug
      resistant microorganisms. Due to the limited therapeutic options, innovative
      antimicrobial combinations against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
      causing severe infections are necessary.A 61-year-old woman with a history of
      congenital solitary kidney underwent renal transplantation. The postoperative
      course was complicated by nosocomial pneumonia due to Stenotrophomonas
      maltophilia and pan-sensitive Escherichia coli, successfully treated with
      antimicrobial therapy. On postoperative day 22, diagnosis of surgical site
      infection and nosocomial pneumonia with concomitant bacteremia due to a
      Klebisella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producer E coli was made. The patient was
      treated with the double-carbapenem regimen (high dose of meropenem plus
      ertapenem) and a potent synergistic and bactericidal activity of this un
      conventional therapeutic strategy was observed in vitro. Despite a
      microbiological response with prompt negativity of blood cultures, the patient
      faced a worse outcome because of severe hemorrhagic shock.The double-carbapenem
      regimen might be considered as a rescue therapy in those subjects, including
      transplant recipients, in whom previous antimicrobial combinations failed or when
      colistin use might be discouraged. Performing in vitro synergy testing should be
      strongly encouraged in cases of infections caused by pan-drug resistant strains,
      especially in high-risk patients. 

PMID- 26886595
TI  - Long-Term Exposure to Ozone and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2002 to
      2008.
AB  - Long-term exposure to ground-level ozone is associated with increased risk of
      morbidity and mortality. The association remains uncertain between long-term
      exposure to ozone and life expectancy. We assessed the associations between
      seasonal mean daily 8-hour maximum (8-hr max) ozone concentrations measured
      during the ozone monitoring seasons and life expectancy at birth in 3109 counties
      of the conterminous U.S. during 2002 to 2008. We used latent class growth
      analysis to identify latent classes of counties that had distinct mean levels and
      rates of change in ozone concentrations over the 7-year period and used linear
      regression analysis to determine differences in life expectancy by ozone levels.
      We identified 3 classes of counties with distinct seasonal mean daily 8-hr max
      ozone concentrations and rates of change. When compared with the counties with
      the lowest ozone concentrations, the counties with the highest ozone
      concentrations had 1.7- and 1.4-year lower mean life expectancy in males and
      females (both P < 0.0001), respectively. The associations remained statistically
      significant after controlling for potential confounding effects of seasonal mean
      PM2.5 concentrations and other selected environmental, demographic, socio
      economic, and health-related factors (both P < 0.0001). A 5 ppb higher ozone
      concentration was associated with 0.25 year lower life expectancy in males (95%
      CI: -0.30 to -0.19) and 0.21 year in females (95% CI: -0.25 to -0.17). We
      identified 3 classes of counties with distinct mean levels and rates of change in
      ozone concentrations. Our findings suggest that long-term exposure to a higher
      ozone concentration may be associated with a lower life expectancy.

PMID- 26886597
TI  - Atorvastatin Use Associated With Acute Pancreatitis: A Case-Control Study in
      Taiwan.
AB  - Few data are present in the literature on the relationship between atorvastatin
      use and acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to explore this issue in
      Taiwan. Using representative claims data established from the Taiwan National
      Health Insurance Program, this case-control study consisted of 5810 cases aged 20
      to 84 years with a first-time diagnosis of acute pancreatitis during the period
      1998 to 2011and 5733 randomly selected controls without acute pancreatitis. Both
      cases and controls were matched by sex, age, comorbidities, and index year of
      diagnosing acute pancreatitis. Subjects who at least received 1 prescription for
      other statins or nonstatin lipid-lowering drugs were excluded from the study. If
      subjects never had 1 prescription for atorvastatin, they were defined as never
      use of atorvastatin. Current use of atorvastatin was defined as subjects whose
      last remaining 1 tablet of atorvastatin was noted <=7 days before the date of
      diagnosing acute pancreatitis. Late use of atorvastatin was defined as subjects
      whose last remaining 1 tablet of atorvastatin was noted >7 days before the date
      of diagnosing acute pancreatitis. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval of
      acute pancreatitis associated with atorvastatin use was calculated by using the
      logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the
      odds ratio of acute pancreatitis was 1.67 for subjects with current use of
      atorvastatin (95% confidence interval 1.18, 2.38), when compared with subjects
      with never use of atorvastatin. The odds ratio decreased to 1.15 for those with
      late use of atorvastatin (95% confidence interval 0.87, 1.52), but without
      statistical significance. Current use of atorvastatin is associated with the
      diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Clinically, clinicians should consider the
      possibility of atorvastatin-associated acute pancreatitis when patients present
      with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis without a definite etiology but are taking
      atorvastatin.

PMID- 26886596
TI  - Fbxw7 Tumor Suppressor: A Vital Regulator Contributes to Human Tumorigenesis.
AB  - Rapidly accumulating data indicate that F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7
      (Fbxw7) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers and
      regulates a network of crucial oncoproteins. These studies have generated
      important new insights into tumorigenesis and may soon enable therapies targeting
      the Fbxw7 pathway. We searched PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science databases
      (1973-2015, especially recent 5 years) for articles published in the English
      language using the key words "Fbxw7," "Fbw7," "hCDC4," and "Sel-10," and we
      reviewed recent developments in the search for Fbxw7. Fbxw7 coordinates the
      ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of several critical cellular regulators, thereby
      controlling essential processes, such as cell cycle, differentiation, and
      apoptosis. Fbxw7 contains 3 isoforms (Fbxw7alpha, Fbxw7beta, and Fbxw7gamma), and
      they are differently regulated in subtract recognition. Besides those, Fbxw7
      activity is controlled at different levels, resulting in specific and tunable
      regulation of the abundance and activity of its substrates in a variety of human
      solid tumor types, including glioma malignancy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma,
      osteosarcoma, melanoma as well as colorectal, lung, breast, gastric, liver,
      pancreatic, renal, prostate, endometrial, and esophageal cancers. Fbxw7 is
      strongly associated with tumorigenesis, and the mechanisms and consequences of
      Fbxw7 deregulation in cancers may soon enable the development of novel
      therapeutic approaches.

PMID- 26886598
TI  - Absence of Bladder Outlet Obstruction Is an Independent Risk Factor for Prostate
      Cancer in Men Undergoing Prostate Biopsy.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between bladder
      outlet obstruction (BOO) and the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer
      (PCa).Study population consisted of 2673 patients scheduled for the first
      prostate biopsy (PBx). All patients underwent uroflowmetry before PBx; those with
      a peak flow rate (PFR) <10 mL/s were considered to have BOO.The incidence of PCa
      was 41.3% (1104/2673) in the overall population and 34.1% (659/1905) in patients
      with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <= 10 ng/mL. Univariate and
      multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that patients with BOO had a
      significantly (P < 0.0001) lower risk than those without BOO of being diagnosed
      with PCa (33.1% vs 66.9% in the overall population; 30% vs 70% in patients with
      PSA <= 10 ng/mL). As the presence of BOO was significantly correlated to a large
      prostate volume, another independent predictor of PBx outcome, we tested whether
      these parameters could be used to identify, in the subset of patients with
      PSA<=10 ng/mL, those who could potentially be spared from a PBx. If we would have
      not biopsied patients with BOO and prostate volume >=60 mL, 14.5% of biopsies
      could have been avoided while missing only 6% of tumors. Only 10% of the tumors
      that would have been missed were high-risk cancers.In conclusion, in men
      undergoing PBx, the absence of BOO, as determined by a PFR >=10 mL/s, is an
      independent risk factor for PCa. Our study provides ground for this simple,
      noninvasive, objective parameter being used, alone or in combination with
      prostate volume, in the decision-making process of men potentially facing a PBx.

PMID- 26886600
TI  - Bedside Lung Ultrasound During Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - Lung ultrasound (LU) is increasingly used to assess pleural and lung disease in
      intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency unit at the bedside. We assessed the
      performance of bedside chest radiograph (CR) and LU during severe acute chest
      syndrome (ACS), using computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard. We
      prospectively explored 44 ACS episodes (in 41 patients) admitted to the medical
      ICU. Three imaging findings were evaluated (consolidation, ground-glass
      opacities, and pleural effusion). A score was used to quantify and compare loss
      of lung aeration with each technique and assess its association with outcome. A
      total number of 496, 507, and 519 lung regions could be assessed by CT scan,
      bedside CR, and bedside LU, respectively. Consolidations were the most common
      pattern and prevailed in lung bases (especially postero-inferior regions). The
      agreement with CT scan patterns was significantly higher for LU as compared to CR
      (kappa coefficients of 0.45 +/- 0.03 vs 0.30 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01 for the
      parenchyma, and 0.73 +/- 0.08 vs 0.06 +/- 0.09, P < 0.001 for pleural effusion).
      The Bland and Altman analysis showed a nonfixed bias of -1.0 (P = 0.12) between
      LU score and CT score whereas CR score underestimated CT score with a fixed bias
      of -5.8 (P < 0.001). The specificity for the detection of consolidated regions or
      pleural effusion (using CT scan as the reference standard) was high for LU and
      CR, whereas the sensitivity was high for LU but low for CR. As compared to
      others, ACS patients with an LU score above the median value of 11 had a larger
      volume of transfused and exsanguinated blood, greater oxygen requirements, more
      need for mechanical ventilation, and a longer ICU length of stay. LU outperformed
      CR for the diagnosis of consolidations and pleural effusion during ACS. Higher
      values of LU score identified patients at risk of worse outcome.

PMID- 26886599
TI  - Prevalence of Undiagnosed Diabetes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: an OGTT Study.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by an
      excess of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, estimated to be at least 50% greater
      when compared to the general population. Although the widespread diffusion of
      type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) awareness, there is still a significant
      proportion of patients with T2DM that remain undiagnosed. Aim of this cross
      sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and
      prediabetes in RA patients. For the present study, 100 consecutive nondiabetic RA
      patients were recruited. Age- and sex-matched subjects with noninflammatory
      diseases (osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia) were used as controls. After overnight
      fasting, blood samples were obtained for laboratory evaluation including serum
      glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low
      density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate (ESR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),
      rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies (ACPA).
      A standard Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) with 75 g of glucose was performed
      and blood samples were collected at time 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, for
      measurement of plasma glucose concentrations. The prevalence of impaired fasting
      glucose (IFG) (9/100 vs 12/100, P = 0.49), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
      (19/100 vs 12/100, P = 0.17), and concomitant IFG/IGT (5/100 vs 9/100, P = 0.27)
      was similar between groups, whereas the prevalence of diabetes was significantly
      higher in RA patients (10/100 vs 2/100, P = 0.02). In a logistic regression
      analysis, increasing age (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.028-1.245, P = 0.01) and disease
      duration (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.210-2.995, P = 0.005) were both associated with an
      increased likelihood of being classified as prediabetes (i.e. IFG and/or IGT) or
      T2DM. A ROC curve was built to evaluate the predictivity of disease duration on
      the likelihood of being diagnosed with T2DM. The area under the ROC curve was
      0.67 (95% CI: 0.56-0.78, P = 0.004). We identified the best cut-off of 33 months
      that yielded a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 70% for classification of
      T2DM patients. According to our data, RA seems to be characterized by an elevated
      prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, especially in patients with longer disease
      duration.

PMID- 26886601
TI  - Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Use Is Not Associated With Acute Pancreatitis in
      High-Risk Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.
AB  - To analyze the association between use of DPP-4 inhibitors and acute pancreatitis
      in high-risk type 2 diabetic patients. A retrospective nationwide cohort study
      was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance claim database. The risk
      associated with sitagliptin was compared to that with acarbose, a second-line
      antidiabetic drug prescribed for patients with similar diabetes severity and with
      a known neutral effect on pancreatitis. Between January 1, 2009 and December 31,
      2010, a total of 8526 sitagliptin initiators and 8055 acarbose initiators who had
      hypertriglyceridemia or prior hospitalization history for acute pancreatitis were
      analyzed for the risk of hospitalization due to acute pancreatitis stratified for
      baseline propensity score. In the crude analysis, sitagliptin was associated with
      a decreased risk of acute pancreatitis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74; 95% confidence
      interval [CI]: 0.62-0.88) compared to acarbose in diabetic patients with prior
      history of hospitalization for pancreatitis or hypertriglyceridemia. The
      association was abolished after stratification for propensity score quintiles
      (adjusted HR 0.95; 95% CI: 0.79-1.16). Similar results were found separately in
      both patients' histories of prior hospitalization of acute pancreatitis (adjusted
      HR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.76-1.24) and those with hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted HR
      0.86; 95% CI: 0.65-1.13). No significant association was found for different
      durations or accumulative doses of sitagliptin. In the stratified analysis, no
      significant effect modification was found in relation to patients'
      characteristics. Use of sitagliptin was not associated with an increased risk of
      acute pancreatitis in high-risk diabetic patients with hypertriglyceridemia or
      with history of acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 26886602
TI  - Comparison of Standard Automated Perimetry, Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry,
      and Frequency-Doubling Technology Perimetry to Monitor Glaucoma Progression.
AB  - Detection of progression is paramount to the clinical management of glaucoma. Our
      goal is to compare the performance of standard automated perimetry (SAP), short
      wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), and frequency-doubling technology (FDT)
      perimetry in monitoring glaucoma progression.Longitudinal data of paired SAP,
      SWAP, and FDT from 113 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma enrolled in the
      Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study or the African Descent and Glaucoma
      Evaluation Study were included. Data from all tests were expressed in comparable
      units by converting the sensitivity from decibels to unitless contrast
      sensitivity and by expressing sensitivity values in percent of mean normal based
      on an independent dataset of 207 healthy eyes with aging deterioration taken into
      consideration. Pointwise linear regression analysis was performed and 3 criteria
      (conservative, moderate, and liberal) were used to define progression and
      improvement. Global mean sensitivity (MS) was fitted with linear mixed models.No
      statistically significant difference in the proportion of progressing and
      improving eyes was observed across tests using the conservative criterion. Fewer
      eyes showed improvement on SAP compared to SWAP and FDT using the moderate
      criterion; and FDT detected less progressing eyes than SAP and SWAP using the
      liberal criterion. The agreement between these test types was poor. The linear
      mixed model showed a progressing trend of global MS overtime for SAP and SWAP,
      but not for FDT. The baseline estimate of SWAP MS was significantly lower than
      SAP MS by 21.59% of mean normal. FDT showed comparable estimation of baseline MS
      with SAP.SWAP and FDT do not appear to have significant benefits over SAP in
      monitoring glaucoma progression. SAP, SWAP, and FDT may, however, detect
      progression in different glaucoma eyes. 

PMID- 26886603
TI  - The Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents in the Child
      Welfare System: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - It remains unclear whether children and adolescents in the child welfare system
      (CWS) exhibit a higher prevalence of mental disorders compared with the general
      population. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and
      meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of mental disorders in the CWS.A ll of the
      epidemiological surveys assessing the prevalence of mental disorders in children
      and adolescents in the CWS were included. The pooled prevalence was estimated
      with random effect models. Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored using
      meta-regression analyses.E ight studies provided prevalence estimates that were
      obtained from 3104 children and adolescents. Nearly 1 child or adolescent of
      every 2 (49%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 43-54) was identified as meeting
      criteria for a current mental disorder. The most common mental disorder was
      disruptive disorder (27%; 95% CI 20-34), including conduct disorder (20%; 95% CI
      13-27) and oppositional defiant disorder (12%; 95% CI 10-14). The prevalence of
      attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was estimated to be 11% (95% CI 6-15).
      The prevalence estimates of anxiety and depressive disorders were 18% (95% CI 12
      24) and 11% (95% CI 7-15). Posttraumatic stress disorder had the lowest
      prevalence (4%; 95% CI 2-6). High prevalences of mental disorders in the CWS were
      reported, which highlights the need for the provision of qualified service. The
      substantial heterogeneity of our findings is indicative of the need for accurate
      epidemiological data to effectively guide public policy.

PMID- 26886604
TI  - Growing Teratoma Syndrome Secondary to Ovarian Giant Immature Teratoma in an
      Adolescent Girl: A Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare clinical entity first described by
      Logothetis et al in 1982. Although it is unusual for GTS to be located in the
      ovary, this report is of a case of an adolescent girl who underwent a complete
      surgical resection of the mass. Histopathology confirmed only an immature
      teratoma had originated from the ovary and so she received adjuvant chemotherapy
      with blemycin, etopside, and cisplatin over 4 cycles. Results from an abdominal
      enhanced CT (computed tomography) 9 years later revealed a giant mass had
      compressed adjacent tissues and organs. Laparotomy was performed and a
      postoperative histopathology showed the presence of a mature teratoma, and so the
      diagnosis of ovarian GTS was made. One hundred one cases of ovarian GTS from
      English literature published between 1977 and 2015 were collected and
      respectively analyzed in large samples for the first time. The median age of
      diagnosis with primary immature teratoma was 22 years (range 4-48 years, n = 56).
      GTS originating from the right ovary accounted for 57% (27/47, n = 47) whereas
      the left contained 43% (20/47, n = 47). Median primary tumor size was 18.7 cm
      (range 6-45 cm, n = 28) and median subsequent tumor size was 8.6 cm (range 1-25
      cm, n = 25). From the primary treatment to the diagnosis of ovarian GTS, median
      tumor growth speed was 0.94 cm/month (range 0.3-4.3 cm/month, n = 21). Median
      time interval was 26.6 months (range 1-264 months, n = 41). According to these
      findings, 5 patients did have a pregnancy during the time interval between
      primary disease and GTS, making our patient the first case of having a pregnancy
      following the diagnosis of ovarian GTS. Because of its high recurrence and
      insensitiveness to chemotherapy, complete surgical resection is the preferred
      treatment and fertility-sparing surgery should be considered for women of child
      bearing age. Anyhow GTS of the ovary has an excellent prognosis. Patients with
      GTS had no evidence of recurrence or were found to be disease free during a 40.3
      month (range 1-216 months, n = 48) median follow-up. Moreover, regular follow-ups
      with imaging and serum tumor markers are important and must not be neglected.

PMID- 26886605
TI  - Lessons Learned From a Case of Gastric Cancer After Liver Transplantation for
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literatures Review.
AB  - Nowadays, de novo malignancies have become an important cause of death after
      transplantation. According to the accumulation of cases with liver
      transplantation, the incidence of de novo gastric cancer is anticipated to
      increase among liver transplant recipients in the near future, especially in some
      East Asian countries where both liver diseases requiring liver transplantation
      and gastric cancer are major burdens. Unfortunately, there is limited information
      regarding the relationship between de novo gastric cancer and liver
      transplantation. Herein, we report a case of stage IIIc gastric cancer after
      liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma, who was successfully treated
      by radical distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy but died 15 months later
      due to tumor progression. Furthermore, we extract some lessons to learn from the
      case and review the literatures. The incidence of de novo gastric cancer
      following liver transplantations is increasing and higher than the general
      population. Doctors should be vigilant in early detection and control the risk
      factors causing de novo gastric cancer after liver transplantation. Curative
      gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy is still the mainstay of treatment for such
      patients. Preoperative assessments, strict postoperative monitoring, and
      managements are mandatory. Limited chemotherapy could be given to the patients
      with high risk of recurrence. Close surveillance, early detection, and treatment
      of posttransplant cancers are extremely important and essential to improve the
      survival.

PMID- 26886606
TI  - The Power of Renal Function Estimation Equations for Predicting Long-Term Kidney
      Graft Survival: A Retrospective Comparison of the Chronic Kidney Disease
      Epidemiology Collaboration and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study
      Equations.
AB  - Evaluation of renal function using an accurate estimation equation is important
      for predicting long-term graft survival. We designed this retrospective cohort
      study to evaluate the predictive power of renal function estimation by the
      Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and the Modification
      of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equations for graft survival. We reviewed
      data of 3290 adult kidney transplant recipients who underwent transplantation at
      a single center between April 1979 and September 2012. The reliability and
      agreement of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages based on the estimated
      glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as calculated by the CKD-EPI and MDRD equations
      were evaluated using Bland-Altman plots and Cohen weighted kappa analyses. The
      predictive power of CKD stages as classified by each equation for graft survival
      was investigated using Cox regression models. Additionally, Pearson and Spearman
      correlation coefficients were used to reveal the relationship between graft
      survival and eGFR equations. Of 3290 kidney transplant recipients, 3040 were
      included in the analysis. The mean follow-up duration was 128.08 +/- 83.54
      months, and 29.8% of participants were reclassified to higher eGFR categories by
      the CKD-EPI equation compared to the category classification by the MDRD
      equation. eGFR calculated using the MDRD equation was underestimated compared to
      that calculated using the CKD-EPI equation, based on the Bland-Altman plot. In
      Cohen weighted kappa analysis, agreement across CKD stages classified using the 2
      equations was reliable, but all CKD stages classified using the MDRD equation
      appeared to be in lower eGFR categories than those classified using the CKD-EPI
      equation. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses indicated that the CKD stage
      as classified by the CKD-EPI equation, but not the MDRD equation, was
      significantly correlated with the risk of graft failure. In multivariable Cox
      regression analysis for graft failure after adjustment for CKD stage as
      determined using the MDRD equation, but not the CKD-EPI equation, stage
      reclassification was significantly associated with a lower graft failure risk.
      Our data from this long-term follow-up study indicate that the CKD-EPI equation
      has a stronger predictive power for kidney graft survival than does the MDRD
      equation in transplantation settings.

PMID- 26886607
TI  - Prognosis Predicting Score for Endovascular Treatment of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid
      Hemorrhage: A Risk Modeling Study for Individual Elderly Patients.
AB  - The elderly patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) have a
      greater risk of poor clinical outcome after endovascular treatment (EVT) than
      younger patients do. Hence, it is necessary to explore which factors are
      associated with poor outcome and develop a predictive score specifically for
      elderly patients with aSAH receiving EVT. The aim of this study was to develop
      and validate a predictive score for 1-year outcomes in individual elderly
      patients with aSAH underwent EVT.In this 10-year prospective study, 520
      consecutive aSAH elderly (age >= 60 years) patients underwent EVT in a single
      center were included. The risk factors, periprocedural, and 1-year follow-up data
      of all patients were entered in a specific prospective database. The modified
      Rankin scale was used for evaluating clinical outcome. To optimize the model's
      predictive capacity, the original matrix was randomly divided in 2 submatrices
      (learning and testing). The predictive score was developed using Arabic numerals
      for all variables based on the variable coefficients (beta) of multivariable
      logistic regression analysis in the learning set and the predictive performance
      evaluation was assessed in the testing set. The risk classes were constructed
      using classification criteria based on sensitivity and specificity. The poor
      outcome rate at 1 year was 26.15%. Six risk factors, including age, hypertension,
      Hunt-Hess scale, Fisher scale, aneurysm location, and periprocedural
      complications, were independently associated with poor outcome and assembled the
      Changhai score. The discriminative power analysis with the area under the
      receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the Changhai score was
      statistically significant (0.864, 0.824-0.904, P < 0.001). The sensitivity and
      specificity of the Changhai score were 82.07% and 78.06%, respectively. Our study
      indicated that age, hypertension, Hunt-Hess scale, Fisher scale, aneurysm
      location, and periprocedural complications were independent risk factors of poor
      outcome for elderly aSAH patients underwent EVT. In combination with these risk
      factors, the Changhai score can be a useful tool in the prediction of clinical
      outcome but needs to be validated in various centers before it can be recommended
      for application.

PMID- 26886609
TI  - Change of Nutritional Status Assessed Using Subjective Global Assessment Is
      Associated With All-Cause Mortality in Incident Dialysis Patients.
AB  - Subjective global assessment (SGA) is associated with mortality in end-stage
      renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, little is known whether improvement or
      deterioration of nutritional status after dialysis initiation influences the
      clinical outcome. We aimed to elucidate the association between changes in
      nutritional status determined by SGA during the first year of dialysis and all
      cause mortality in incident ESRD patients. This was a multicenter, prospective
      cohort study. Incident dialysis patients with available SGA data at both baseline
      and 12 months after dialysis commencement (n = 914) were analyzed. Nutritional
      status was defined as well nourished (WN, SGA A) or malnourished (MN, SGA B or
      C). The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the change in
      nutritional status between baseline and 12 months after dialysis commencement:
      group 1, WN to WN; group 2, MN to WN; group 3, WN to MN; and group 4, MN to MN.
      Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to clarify the association between
      changes in nutritional status and mortality. Being in the MN group at 12 months
      after dialysis initiation, but not at baseline, was a significant risk factor for
      mortality. There was a significant difference in the 3-year survival rates among
      the groups (group 1, 92.2%; group 2, 86.0%; group 3, 78.2%; and group 4, 63.5%;
      log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the
      mortality risk was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1 (hazard ratio
      [HR] 2.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-6.03, P = 0.01) whereas the
      mortality risk was significantly lower in group 2 compared with group 4 (HR 0.35,
      95% CI 0.17-0.71, P < 0.01) even after adjustment for confounding factors.
      Moreover, mortality risk of group 3 was significantly higher than in group 2 (HR
      2.89, 95% CI 1.22-6.81, P = 0.02); there was no significant difference between
      groups 1 and 2. The changes in nutritional status assessed by SGA during the
      first year of dialysis were associated with all-cause mortality in incident ESRD
      patients.

PMID- 26886608
TI  - Targeted Disruption of miR-17-92 Impairs Mouse Spermatogenesis by Activating mTOR
      Signaling Pathway.
AB  - The miR-17-92 cluster and its 6 different mature microRNAs, including miR-17, miR
      18a, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-19b-1, and miR-92a, play important roles in embryo
      development, immune system, kidney and heart development, adipose
      differentiation, aging, and tumorigenicity. Currently, increasing evidence
      indicates that some members of miR-17-92 cluster may be critical players in
      spermatogenesis, including miR-17, miR-18a, and miR-20a. However, the roles and
      underlying mechanisms of miR-17-92 in spermatogenesis remain largely unknown. Our
      results showed that the targeted disruption of miR-17-92 in the testes of adult
      mice resulted in severe testicular atrophy, empty seminiferous tubules, and
      depressed sperm production. This phenotype is partly because of the reduced
      number of spermatogonia and spermatogonial stem cells, and the significantly
      increased germ cell apoptosis in the testes of miR-17-92-deficient mice. In
      addition, overactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway
      and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim, Stat3, c-Kit, and Socs3 were
      also observed in miR-17-92-deficient mouse testes, which might be, at least
      partially if not all, responsible for the aforementioned phenotypic changes in
      mutant testes. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-17-92 is essential
      for normal spermatogenesis in mice. 

PMID- 26886610
TI  - How Strong Is the Evidence for Sodium Bicarbonate to Prevent Contrast-Induced
      Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary
      Intervention?
AB  - Hydration with sodium bicarbonate is one of the strategies to prevent contrast
      induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). The purpose of this study was to determine
      how strong is the evidence for sodium bicarbonate to prevent CI-AKI after
      coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).We
      conducted PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases to search for randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate with sodium
      chloride to prevent CI-AKI after CAG and/or PCI. Relative risk (RR), standardized
      mean difference (SMD), or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) was calculated. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and study
      quality were evaluated, sensitivity analyses, cumulative analyses, and subgroup
      analyses were performed. The risk of random errors was assessed by trial
      sequential analysis (TSA).Sixteen RCTs (3537 patients) met the eligibility
      criteria. Hydration with sodium bicarbonate showed significant beneficial effects
      in preventing CI-AKI (RR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.96, P = 0.029), decreasing the
      change in serum creatinine (SCr) (SMD -0.31 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.07, P = 0.011)
      and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (SMD -0.17 95% CI: -0.30 to 
      0.04, P = 0.013). But no significant differences were observed in the requirement
      for dialysis (RR 1.11; 95% CI: 0.60-2.07, P = 0.729), mortality (RR 0.71; 95% CI:
      0.41-1.21, P = 0.204) and reducing the length of hospital stay (LHS) (WMD -1.47;
      95% CI: -4.14 to 1.20, P = 0.279). The result of TSA on incidence of CI-AKI
      showed the required information size (RIS = 6614) was not reached and cumulative
      z curve did not cross TSA boundary. The result of TSA on the requirement for
      dialysis and mortality demonstrated the required information sizes (RIS = 170,510
      and 19,516, respectively) were not reached, and the cumulative z-curve did not
      cross any boundaries.The evidence that sodium bicarbonate reduces the incidence
      of CI-AKI is encouraging but more well-designed randomized controlled trails are
      required to allow definitive firm conclusion to be drawn. 

PMID- 26886611
TI  - Low Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number is Associated With Adverse Clinical Outcomes in
      Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.
AB  - Mitochondrial dysfunction may play an important role in abnormal glucose
      metabolism and systemic inflammation. We aimed to investigate the relationship
      between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and clinical outcomes in peritoneal
      dialysis (PD) patients. We recruited 120 prevalent PD patients and determined
      mtDNA copy number by PCR. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality, whereas
      secondary outcomes included cardiovascular events, technical PD failure, and
      incident malignancy. Cox proportional hazards analysis determined the independent
      association of mtDNA copy number with outcomes. The mean patient age was 52.3
      years; 42.5% were men. The mean log mtDNA copy number was 3.30 +/- 0.50. During a
      follow-up period of 35.4 +/- 19.3 months, all-cause mortality and secondary
      outcomes were observed in 20.0% and 59.2% of patients, respectively. Secondary
      outcomes were significantly lower in the highest mtDNA copy number group than in
      the lower groups. In multiple Cox analysis, the mtDNA copy number was not
      associated with all-cause mortality (lower two vs highest tertile: hazard ratio
      [HR] = 1.208, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.477-3.061). However, the highest
      tertile group was significantly associated with lower incidences of secondary
      outcomes (lower two vs highest tertile: HR [95% CI] = 0.494 [0.277-0.882]) after
      adjusting for confounding factors. The decreased mtDNA copy number was
      significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes in PD patients.

PMID- 26886612
TI  - Predicting Hepatic Steatosis in Living Liver Donors via Noninvasive Methods.
AB  - Hepatic steatosis assessment is of paramount importance for living liver donor
      selection because significant hepatic steatosis can affect the postoperative
      outcome of recipients and the safety of the donor. The validity of various
      noninvasive imaging methods to assess hepatic steatosis remains controversial.
      The purpose of our study is to investigate the association between noninvasive
      imaging methods and pathology to detect steatosis in living liver donors and to
      propose a prediction model for hepatic steatosis. Liver stiffness measurements
      (LSMs) and controlled attenuation parameter values in vibration controlled
      transient elastography, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic
      resonance imaging were used as pretransplant screening methods to evaluate living
      liver donors between 2012 and 2014. Only 1 pathologist assessed tissue sample for
      hepatic steatosis. The median age of the 79 living donors (53 men and 26 women)
      was 32 years (16-68 years). The CT liver-spleen attenuation (L-S) difference and
      the controlled attenuation parameter values were well correlated with the level
      of hepatic steatosis on liver pathology. Multivariate analysis showed that liver
      stiffness measurement (LSM) (beta = 0.903; 95% CI, 0.105-1.702; P = 0.027) and
      the CT L to S attenuation difference (beta = -3.322; 95% CI, -0.502 to -0.142; P
      = 0.001) were closely associated with hepatic steatosis. We generated the
      following equation to predict total hepatic steatosis: Hepatic steatosis = 0.903
      * LSM - 0.322 * CT L to S attenuation difference (AUC = 86.6% and P = 0.001). The
      values predicted by the equation correlated well with the presence of hepatic
      steatosis (r = 0.509 and P < 0.001). The combination of nonenhanced CT L to S
      attenuation difference and transient elastography using vibration controlled
      transient elastography provides sufficient information to predict hepatic
      steatosis in living liver donor candidates.

PMID- 26886613
TI  - The PER (Preoperative Esophagectomy Risk) Score: A Simple Risk Score to Predict
      Short-Term and Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Surgically Treated Esophageal
      Cancer.
AB  - Esophageal resection in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) is still associated
      with high mortality and morbidity rates. We aimed to develop a simple
      preoperative risk score for the prediction of short-term and long-term outcomes
      for patients with EC treated by esophageal resection. In total, 498 patients
      suffering from esophageal carcinoma, who underwent esophageal resection, were
      included in this retrospective cohort study. Three preoperative esophagectomy
      risk (PER) groups were defined based on preoperative functional evaluation of
      different organ systems by validated tools (revised cardiac risk index, model for
      end-stage liver disease score, and pulmonary function test). Clinicopathological
      parameters, morbidity, and mortality as well as disease-free survival (DFS) and
      overall survival (OS) were correlated to the PER score. The PER score
      significantly predicted the short-term outcome of patients with EC who underwent
      esophageal resection. PER 2 and PER 3 patients had at least double the risk of
      morbidity and mortality compared to PER 1 patients. Furthermore, a higher PER
      score was associated with shorter DFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P < 0.001). The PER
      score was identified as an independent predictor of tumor recurrence (hazard
      ratio [HR] 2.1; P < 0.001) and OS (HR 2.2; P < 0.001). The PER score allows
      preoperative objective allocation of patients with EC into different risk
      categories for morbidity, mortality, and long-term outcomes. Thus, multicenter
      studies are needed for independent validation of the PER score.

PMID- 26886614
TI  - Multiple Ewing Sarcoma/Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors in the Mediastinum: A
      Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ES/PNET) are high-grade malignant
      neoplasms. These malignancies present very rare tumors of thoracopulmonary area
      and even rarer in the mediastinum. In our knowledge, ES/PNET presented with
      multiple mediastinal masses has not been reported previously. We experienced a
      case of a 42-year-old man presented with gradual onset of left-side pleuritic
      chest pain. A contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed
      separate 2 large heterogeneously enhancing masses in each anterior and middle
      mediastinum of the left hemithorax. Positron emission tomography-computed
      tomography (PET-CT) scan revealed high fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the
      mediastinal masses. After surgical excision for the mediastinal masses, both of
      the masses were diagnosed as the ES/PNET group of tumors on the histopathologic
      examination. The patient refused postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and came
      back with local tumor recurrence and distant metastasis on 4-month follow-up
      after surgical resection. We report this uncommon form of ES/PNET. We are to
      raise awareness that this rare malignancy should be considered as a differential
      diagnosis of the malignant mediastinal tumors and which can be manifested as
      multiple masses in a patient. Understanding this rare entity of extra-skeletal
      ES/PNET and characteristic imaging findings can help radiologists and clinicians
      to approach proper diagnosis and better management for this highly malignant
      tumor.

PMID- 26886615
TI  - Clinical and Radiological Characteristics of Lumbosacral Lateral Disc Herniation
      in Comparison With Those of Medial Disc Herniation.
AB  - Lateral disc herniation (foraminal and extra foraminal) has clinical
      characteristics that are different from those of medial disc herniation (central
      and subarticular), including older age, more frequent radicular pain, and
      neurologic deficits. This is supposedly because lateral disc herniation
      mechanically irritates or compresses the exiting nerve root or dorsal root
      ganglion inside of a narrow canal more directly than medial disc herniation. The
      purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and radiological
      characteristics of lateral disc herniation in comparison with medial disc
      herniation. The 352 subjects diagnosed with localized lumbosacral disc herniation
      and followed up for at least 12 months after completion of treatment were
      included and divided into medial and lateral disc herniation groups, according to
      the anatomical location of the herniated disc in axial plain of magnetic
      resonance image. Clinical and radiological data were obtained and compared
      between the two groups. The lateral group included 74 (21%) patients and the
      medial group included 278 (79%). Mean age of the lateral group was significantly
      higher than that in the medial group. The lateral group showed a significantly
      larger proportion of patients with radiating leg pain and multiple levels of disc
      herniations than the medial group. No significant differences were found in terms
      of gender, duration of pain, pretreatment numeric rating scale, severity of disc
      herniation (protrusion and extrusion), and presence of weakness in leg muscles.
      The proportion of patients who underwent surgery was not significantly different
      between the 2 groups. However, the proportion of patients who accomplished
      successful pain reduction after treatment was significantly smaller in the
      lateral than in the medial group. In conclusion, patients with lateral disc
      herniation were older and had larger proportion of radiating leg pain than those
      with medial disc herniation. Lateral disc herniation was more associated with
      multiple disc herniations and worse clinical outcomes after treatment than medial
      disc herniation. 

PMID- 26886617
TI  - Tailored Therapy Versus Empiric Chosen Treatment for Helicobacter pylori
      Eradication: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Although various regimens are empirically accepted for Helicobacter pylori
      eradication, the efficacy might be declined by multiple individual factors. The
      necessity of a personalized eradication therapy still remains controversial. The
      aim of the study was to compare tailored therapy with empiric chosen regimens.
      Databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched for eligible studies,
      published up to October 2015. All relevant controlled clinical trials were
      included. A random-effect model was applied to compare pooled relative risk (RR)
      with related 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Thirteen controlled clinical trials
      integrating 3512 participants were assessed. Overall, the pooled eradication
      rates of tailored groups were higher than those of empiric ones (intention-to
      treat: RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22; preprotocol: RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.21). In
      subgroup analysis, tailored therapy was superior to 7-day standard triple therapy
      (RR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.16-1.29) and bismuth-quadruple therapy (RR = 1.14, 95% CI
      1.07-1.22) on eradication rates; first-line tailored therapy achieved higher
      eradication rates than first-line empirical regimens (pooled RR = 1.18, 95%CI
      1.14-1.22), whereas tailored rescue regimen showed no difference with empirical
      ones (pooled RR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.96-1.39). Moreover, among different tailored
      designs, susceptibility-guided tailored therapy obtained higher eradication rates
      than empiric groups, independent of CYP2C19 genotype detection (with CYP: RR =
      1.16, 95% CI 1.09-1.23; without CYP: RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.28). Both molecular
      test-based and culture-based tailored groups were better on eradication rates
      than empiric groups (molecular: RR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.35; culture: RR = 1.13,
      95% CI 1.06-1.20). Compared with empiric chosen treatments, tailored therapy is a
      better alternative for H pylori eradication.

PMID- 26886616
TI  - Metformin Is Associated With Slightly Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer and
      Moderate Survival Benefits in Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - To systematically assess the effect of metformin on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk
      and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. We conducted a
      systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases
      for relevant articles before August 2015. Two investigators identified and
      extracted data independently. We adopted adjusted estimates to calculate summary
      estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI) using either a fixed-effects or a
      random-effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to
      evaluate the robustness of the pooled results. The risk of publication bias was
      assessed by examining funnel plot asymmetry as well as Begg test and Egger test.
      Fifteen studies on CRC incidence and 6 studies on CRC survival were finally
      included in our meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of observational
      studies illustrated that a slight 10% reduction of CRC incidence was associated
      with metformin use (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.96). Furthermore, the pooled hazard
      ratio (HR) revealed an improved survival outcome for metformin users in CRC
      patients compared to nonusers (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58-081). There was no
      publication bias across studies. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that metformin
      therapy could slightly reduce CRC incidence and moderately improve the survival
      outcomes in patients with T2DM. More prospective studies are warranted to certify
      this protective association.

PMID- 26886618
TI  - Multimorbidity: Epidemiology and Risk Factors in the Golestan Cohort Study, Iran:
      A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
AB  - Advances in medicine and health policy have resulted in growing of older
      population, with a concurrent rise in multimorbidity, particularly in Iran, as a
      country transitioning to a western lifestyle, and in which the percent of the
      population over the age of 60 years is increasing. This study aims to assess
      multimorbidity and the associated risk factors in Iran. We used data from 50,045
      participants (age 40-75 y) in the Golestan Cohort Study, including data on
      demographics, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status, and anthropometric indices.
      Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of 2 or more out of 8 self-reported
      chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, liver disease,
      gastroesophageal reflux disease, tuberculosis, and cancer. Multivariate logistic
      regression models were used to examine the associations between multiple
      different factors and the risk factors. Multimorbidity prevalence was 19.4%, with
      the most common chronic diseases being gastroesophageal reflux disease (76.7%),
      cardiovascular diseases (72.7%), diabetes (25.3%), and chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease (21.9%). The odds of multimorbidity was 2.56-fold higher at the
      age of >60 years compared with that at <50 years (P < 0.001), and 2.11-fold
      higher in women than in men (P < 0.001). Other factors associated with higher
      risk of multimorbidity included non-Turkmen ethnicity, low education,
      unemployment, low socioeconomic status, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity,
      former smoking, opium and alcohol use, and poor oral health. Apart from advanced
      age and female sex, the most important potentially modifiable lifestyle factors,
      including excess body weight and opium use, and opium user, are associated with
      multimorbidity. Policies aiming at controlling multimorbidity will require a
      multidimensional approach to reduce modifiable risk factors in the younger
      population in developing countries alongside adopting efficient strategies to
      improve life quality in the older population.

PMID- 26886619
TI  - Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Associated With Higher 1-year All-Cause
      Rehospitalization Rates in Patients Admitted for Acute Heart Failure.
AB  - Repeat hospitalization due to acute heart failure (HF) is a global public health
      problem that markedly impacts on health resource use. Identifying novel
      predictors of rehospitalization would help physicians to determine the optimal
      postdischarge plan for preventing HF rehospitalization. Nonalcoholic fatty liver
      disease (NAFLD) is an emerging risk factor for many heart diseases, including HF.
      We assessed whether NAFLD at hospital admission predicts 1-year all-cause
      rehospitalization in patients with acute HF. We enrolled all patients
      consecutively admitted for acute HF to our General Medicine Division, from
      January 2013 to April 2014, after excluding patients with acute myocardial
      infarction, severe heart valve diseases, malignancy, known liver diseases, and
      those with volume overload related to extracardiac causes. NAFLD was diagnosed by
      ultrasonography and exclusion of competing etiologies. The primary outcome of the
      study was the 1-year all-cause rehospitalization rate. Among the 107 patients
      enrolled in the study, the cumulative rehospitalization rate was 12.1% at 1
      month, 25.2% at 3 months, 29.9% at 6 months, and 38.3% at 1 year. Patients with
      NAFLD had markedly higher 1-year rehospitalization rates than those without NAFLD
      (58% vs 21% at 1 y; P < 0.001 by the log-rank test). Cox regression analysis
      revealed that NAFLD was associated with a 5.5-fold increased risk of
      rehospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio 5.56, 95% confidence interval 2.46-12.1,
      P < 0.001) after adjustment for multiple HF risk factors and potential
      confounders. In conclusion, NAFLD was independently associated with higher 1-year
      rehospitalization in patients hospitalized for acute HF.

PMID- 26886620
TI  - Differential Postoperative Effects of Volatile Anesthesia and Intraoperative
      Remifentanil Infusion in 7511 Thyroidectomy Patients: A Propensity Score Matching
      Analysis.
AB  - Although remifentanil is used widely by many clinicians during general
      anesthesia, there are recent evidences of opioid-induced hyperalgesia as an
      adverse effect. This study aimed to determine if intraoperative remifentanil
      infusion caused increased pain during the postoperative period in patients who
      underwent a thyroidectomy. A total of 7511 patients aged >= 20 years, who
      underwent thyroidectomy between January 2009 and December 2013 at the Asan
      Medical Center were retrospectively analyzed. Enrolled patients were divided into
      2 groups: group N (no intraoperative remifentanil and only volatile maintenance
      anesthesia) and group R (intraoperative remifentanil infusion including total
      intravenous anesthesia and balanced anesthesia). Following propensity score
      matching analysis, 2582 patients were included in each group. Pain scores based
      on numeric rating scales (NRS) were compared between the 2 groups at the
      postoperative anesthetic care unit and at the ward until 3 days postoperation.
      Incidences of postoperative complications, such as nausea, itching, and shivering
      were also compared. The estimated NRS pain score on the day of surgery was 5.08
      (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.97-5.19) in group N patients and 6.73 (95% CI
      6.65-6.80) in group R patients (P < 0.001). There were no statistically
      significant differences in NRS scores on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 between
      the 2 groups. Postoperative nausea was less frequent in group R (31.4%) than in
      group N (53.5%) (P < 0.001). However, the incidence of itching was higher in
      group R (4.3%) than in group N (0.7%) (P < 0.001). Continuous infusion of
      remifentanil during general anesthesia can cause higher intensity of
      postoperative pain and more frequent itching than general anesthesia without
      remifentanil infusion immediately after thyroidectomy. Considering the advantages
      and disadvantages of continuous remifentanil infusion, volatile anesthesia
      without opioid may be a good choice for minor surgeries, such as thyroidectomy.

PMID- 26886621
TI  - Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Presenting With Dizziness and Gaze-Evoked Nystagmus: A
      Case Report.
AB  - Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is clinically characterized by rapidly
      progressive dementia combined with other cardinal symptoms, such as myoclonus,
      visual or cerebellar disturbances, extrapyramidal or pyramidal disturbance, and
      akinetic mutism. However, as an initial manifestation, focal neurologic deficits
      other than the aforementioned or nonspecific generalized symptoms may lead to a
      misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis. The authors report a case of 66-year-old
      male patient with sporadic CJD who had dizziness, gaze-evoked nystagmus (GEN),
      and other central eye signs (impaired smooth pursuit, saccadic dysmetria) as an
      initial manifestation without dementia. The central eye signs led us to perform
      brain magnetic resonance images, which showed abnormal cortical high-signal
      intensity in both the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres including the
      vestibulocerebellum. We reached a presumptive diagnosis of CJD, but the findings
      did not meet diagnostic criteria for probable CJD at that time. Three weeks after
      the initial work-ups, the patient presented with typical neurological findings of
      CJD: rapidly progressive dementia, akinetic mutism, and myoclonus of the left
      arm. Cerebrospinal fluid was positive for 14-3-3 protein, and
      electroencephalography showed periodic sharp wave complexes. In this patient, GEN
      and other central eye signs provided diagnostic clues for CJD. These unusual
      neurological manifestations may help physicians have a thorough knowledge of
      early deficits of CJD.

PMID- 26886622
TI  - Comparison of Clinical Outcome Between Twice-Weekly and Thrice-Weekly
      Hemodialysis in Patients With Residual Kidney Function.
AB  - Residual kidney function (RKF) contributes to improved survival in hemodialysis
      (HD) patients. However, it is not clear whether RKF allows a comparable survival
      rate in patients undergoing twice-weekly HD compared with thrice-weekly HD.We
      enrolled 685 patients from a prospective multicenter observational cohort. RKF
      and HD adequacy was monitored regularly over 3-year follow-up. Patients with RKF
      were divided into groups undergoing twice-weekly HD (n = 113) or thrice-weekly HD
      (n = 137). Patients without RKF undergoing thrice-weekly HD (n = 435) were
      included as controls. Fluid balance and dialysis-associated characteristics were
      followed and clinical outcomes evaluated using all-cause mortality and
      cardiovascular events (CVE).In patients with RKF, baseline and follow-up RKF were
      significantly higher in patients undergoing twice-weekly HD than in those
      undergoing thrice-weekly HD. Total Kt/V urea (dialysis plus residual renal) in
      patients with RKF undergoing twice-weekly HD was greater than or equal to those
      in patients with or without RKF undergoing thrice-weekly HD. Compared with
      patients with RKF undergoing thrice-weekly HD, patients with RKF undergoing twice
      weekly HD had no fluid excess, but their normalized protein catabolic rate became
      lower since 24-month follow up. In multivariable analyses, patients with RKF
      undergoing twice-weekly HD had a noninferior risk of mortality (hazard ratio
      [HR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.34-2.01, P = 0.68) and of CVE
      (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.28-1.29, P = 0.19) compared with patients without RKF
      undergoing thrice-weekly HD. However, this group showed an independent
      association with a greater risk of mortality compared with patients with RKF
      undergoing thrice-weekly HD (HR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.02-17.32, P = 0.04).In
      conclusion, patients with RKF undergoing twice-weekly HD had an increased risk of
      mortality compared with those undergoing thrice-weekly HD. Decisions about twice
      weekly HD should consider not only RKF, but also other risk factors such as
      normalized protein catabolic rate. 

PMID- 26886623
TI  - Incidence, Surgical Treatment, and Prognosis of Anorectal Melanoma From 1973 to
      2011: A Population-Based SEER Analysis.
AB  - Anorectal melanoma (AM) is a rare type of melanoma that accounts for 0.4% to 1.6%
      of total malignant melanomas. The incidence of AM increases over time, and it
      remains highly lethal, with a 5-year survival rate of 6% to 22%. Considering the
      rare nature of this disease, most studies on AM comprise isolated case reports
      and single-center trials, which could not provide comprehensive assessment of the
      disease. Therefore, we conducted a population-based study by using the
      Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to provide the latest
      and best available evidence of AM.We extracted all cases of AM registered in the
      SEER database from 1973 to 2011 (April 2014 release) and calculated age-adjusted
      incidence. Only cases with active follow-up were included to predict factors
      associated with prognosis. Survival outcomes were also compared among different
      types of surgery.We identified 640 AM cases, which consisted of 265 rectal
      melanoma and 375 anal melanoma. The estimated annual incidence rates of AM per 1
      million population were 0.259 in males and 0.407 in females, and it increased
      with advanced age and over time. Tumor stage and surgical treatment were
      independent predictors of survival. Results implied that surgery improved the
      prognosis of patients with local- and regional-stage AM but could not prolong the
      survival of patients with distant-stage AM. Moreover, the outcome of less
      extensive excision was not statistically different from that of more extensive
      excision.This study provides an up-to-date estimation of the incidence and
      prognosis of AM by using SEER data. The incidence of AM continuously increases
      over time, despite its rarity. This disease also exhibits poor prognosis. Thus,
      AM must be further investigated in future studies. We also recommend surgery as
      the optimal treatment for local- and regional-stage AM patients but not for those
      with distant metastasis. 

PMID- 26886624
TI  - Genetic Polymorphisms in Long Noncoding RNA H19 Are Associated With
      Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in Chinese Population.
AB  - H19, a maternally expressed imprinted gene transcribing a long noncoding RNA, has
      previously been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.
      However, the association between the H19 polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC)
      susceptibility has remained elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      associations between 2 H19 haplotype tagging SNPs (rs3741219 T>C, rs217727 C>T)
      and the risk of breast cancer. Our study comprised 464 BC patients and 467 cancer
      free controls in China. rs3741219 and rs217727 were genotyped with polymerase
      chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and created
      restriction site PCR (CRS-RFLP) assays, respectively. False-positive report
      probability (FPRP) was calculated to test the false-positive association. On
      performing univariate analysis, no significant association between H19
      polymorphisms (rs3741219 and rs217727) and BC was observed. However, in further
      stratified analyses, CT+TT genotypes of rs217727 had a significantly lower risk
      of breast cancer among women with number of pregnancy >2 (OR = 0.79; 95% CI =
      0.55-0.97). CT genotype of rs217727 was associated with ER positivity (OR = 2.19;
      95 % CI = 1.07-4.45) and HER-2 positivity (OR = 1.34; 95 % CI = 1.05-2.12). It
      was proved that our results were less likely to be false positives according to
      false-positive report probability calculation. Our findings extend available data
      on the association of H19 polymorphisms and BC susceptibility. Further validation
      in large population or cohort studies is needed.

PMID- 26886626
TI  - Quick and Easy Screening for Vitamin D Insufficiency in Adults: A Scoring System
      to Be Implemented in Daily Clinical Practice.
AB  - Vitamin D is essential regarding several health outcomes. Prevention of
      insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <=20 ng/mL) generally entails
      blood testing and/or supplementation, strategies that should target at-risk
      individuals because blood testing is costly, and unwarranted supplementation
      could result in vitamin D overload with unknown long-term consequences. Our
      objective was to develop a simple score (Vitamin D Insufficiency Prediction
      score, VDIP) for identifying adults at risk of vitamin D insufficiency. Subjects
      were 1557 non-vitamin D-supplemented middle-aged adults from the SU.VI.MAX
      cohort. Scoring points corresponded to the rounded odds ratio for each individual
      level characteristic associated with vitamin D insufficiency in a multivariable
      logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic curve (area under
      curve), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values
      were computed. External validation was performed in an independent cohort
      (NutriNet-Sante, N = 781). For female sex, overweight, low physical activity,
      winter season, moderate sun exposure, and very fair or dark skin 1.5 points were
      attributed; 2 points for latitude >=48 degrees N and spring season; 2.5 points
      for obesity and late winter; 3 points for low sun exposure. Points were then
      summed up for each participant. The VDIP score had an AUC = 0.70 +/- 0.01
      (validation: 0.67 +/- 0.02). With a score of 7 or more, 70% of the participants
      were vitamin D-insufficient (80% in those with a score >=9),
      sensitivity/specificity were 0.67/0.63, and positive and negative predictive
      values were 0.70/0.59. The VDIP score performed well in identifying middle-aged
      adults at risk of vitamin D insufficiency (score >=7, moderate risk; score>=9,
      high risk), using only simple individual-level characteristics easily assessable
      in day-to-day clinical practice. Implementation of this simple and costless score
      could thus obviate unwarranted supplementation and/or blood testing.

PMID- 26886625
TI  - The Source and Credibility of Colorectal Cancer Information on Twitter.
AB  - Despite the rapid penetration of social media in modern life, there has been
      limited research conducted on whether social media serves as a credible source of
      health information. In this study, we propose to identify colorectal cancer
      information on Twitter and assess its informational credibility. We collected
      Twitter messages containing colorectal cancer-related keywords, over a 3-month
      period. A review of sample tweets yielded content and user categorization
      schemes. The results of the sample analysis were applied to classify all
      collected tweets and users, using a machine learning technique. The credibility
      of the information in the sampled tweets was evaluated. A total of 76,119 tweets
      were analyzed. Individual users authored the majority of tweets (n = 68,982,
      90.6%). They mostly tweeted about news articles/research (n = 16,761, 22.0%) and
      risk/prevention (n = 14,767, 19.4%). Medical professional users generated only
      2.0% of total tweets (n = 1509), and medical institutions rarely tweeted (n =
      417, 0.6%). Organizations tended to tweet more about information than did
      individuals (85.2% vs 63.1%; P < 0.001). Credibility analysis of medically
      relevant sample tweets revealed that most were medically correct (n = 1763,
      84.5%). Among those, more frequently retweeted tweets contained more medically
      correct information than randomly selected tweets (90.7% vs 83.2%; P < 0.01). Our
      results demonstrate an interest in and an engagement with colorectal cancer
      information from a large number and variety of users. Coupled with the Internet's
      potential to increase social support, Twitter may contribute to enhancing public
      health and empowering users, when used with proper caution.

PMID- 26886627
TI  - A Novel and Validated Inflammation-Based Score (IBS) Predicts Survival in
      Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Curative Surgical Resection: A
      STROBE-Compliant Article.
AB  - As chronic inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the prognostic accuracy of a
      cluster of inflammatory scores, including the Glasgow Prognostic Score, modified
      Glasgow Prognostic Score, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, Prognostic Nutritional
      Index, Prognostic Index, and a novel Inflammation-Based Score (IBS) integrated
      preoperative and postoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in 2 independent
      cohorts. Further, we aimed to formulate an effective prognostic nomogram for HCC
      after hepatectomy.Prognostic value of inflammatory scores and Barcelona Clinic
      Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage were studied in a training cohort of 772 patients with
      HCC underwent hepatectomy. Independent predictors of survival identified in
      multivariate analysis were validated in an independent set of 349 patients with
      an overall similar clinical feature.In both training and validation cohorts, IBS,
      microscopic vascular invasion, and BCLC stage emerged as independent factors of
      overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The predictive capacity
      of the IBS in both OS and RFS appeared superior to that of the other inflammatory
      scores in terms of C-index. Additionally, the formulated nomogram comprised IBS
      resulted in more accurate prognostic prediction compared with BCLC stage
      alone.IBS is a novel and validated prognostic indicator of HCC after curative
      resection, and a robust HCC nomogram including IBS was developed to predict
      survival for patients after hepatectomy. 

PMID- 26886628
TI  - Chinese Herbal Medicine for Symptom Management in Cancer Palliative Care:
      Systematic Review And Meta-analysis.
AB  - Use of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) in symptom management for cancer palliative
      care is very common in Chinese populations but clinical evidence on their
      effectiveness is yet to be synthesized. To conduct a systematic review with meta
      analysis to summarize results from CHM randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      focusing on symptoms that are undertreated in conventional cancer palliative
      care.Five international and 3 Chinese databases were searched. RCTs evaluating
      CHM, either in combination with conventional treatments or used alone, in
      managing cancer-related symptoms were considered eligible. Effectiveness was
      quantified by using weighted mean difference (WMD) using random effect model meta
      analysis. Fourteen RCTs were included. Compared with conventional intervention
      alone, meta-analysis showed that combined CHM and conventional treatment
      significantly reduced pain (3 studies, pooled WMD: -0.90, 95% CI: -1.69 to 
      0.11). Six trials comparing CHM with conventional medications demonstrated
      similar effect in reducing constipation. One RCT showed significant positive
      effect of CHM plus chemotherapy for managing fatigue, but not in the remaining 3
      RCTs. The additional use of CHM to chemotherapy does not improve anorexia when
      compared to chemotherapy alone, but the result was concluded from 2 small trials
      only. Adverse events were infrequent and mild. CHM may be considered as an add-on
      to conventional care in the management of pain in cancer patients. CHM could also
      be considered as an alternative to conventional care for reducing constipation.
      Evidence on the use of CHM for treating anorexia and fatigue in cancer patients
      is uncertain, warranting further research.

PMID- 26886629
TI  - Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Metastases From Atypical Laryngeal Carcinoids: Case
      Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - The incidence of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases from atypical laryngeal
      carcinoids is approximately 20%. However, the pathogenesis and natural history
      of, and prognostic factors for, the condition remain poorly understood. We
      reported a 54-year-old female presented with cutaneous and subcutaneous
      metastases from atypical laryngeal carcinoid. Laryngoscopy revealed a 0.5 * 1.5
      cm reddish mass on the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis. Under general
      anesthesia, a biopsy sample was obtained via suspension laryngoscopy. Routine
      pathology revealed atypical laryngeal carcinoid. Immunohistochemical staining of
      the sections of primary tumor was positive for cytokeratin, chromogranin A,
      synaptophysin, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, P53, and CD56. GLUT-1, p-Akt, and
      PI3K were negative. The Ki-67 index was 15%. Supraglottic laryngectomy and
      selective right-neck dissection were performed. After 6 months, the patient
      complained of pain in the right wall of the chest; multiple cutaneous and
      subcutaneous nodules were evident at that site and in the abdomen. An abdominal
      nodule was biopsied and pathology revealed that the atypical metastatic carcinoid
      had metastasized to both cutaneous and subcutaneous areas of the abdomen.
      Chemotherapy was then prescribed. Currently, the intrathecal drug delivery system
      remains in place. No local recurrence has been detected. Furthermore, we
      systematically reviewed clinical manifestations of the disease, pathogenesis,
      prognostic factors, and treatment. The metastasis rate (cutaneous and
      subcutaneous) was approximately 12.2%. Thirty patients (62.5%) with cutaneous and
      subcutaneous metastases exhibited contemporaneous lymph node invasion. The 3-, 5
      , and 10-year survival rates were 44.0%, 22.0%, and 13.0%, respectively. The
      prognosis of patients with atypical laryngeal carcinoids was poor. Relevant
      prognostic factors included the level of p53, human papilloma virus status,
      certain hypoxic markers, and distant metastasis. No optimal treatment for such
      metastases has yet been defined.

PMID- 26886630
TI  - A Causal Role of Genetically Elevated Circulating Interleukin-10 in the
      Development of Digestive Cancers: Evidence from Mendelian Randomization Analysis
      Based on 29,307 Subjects.
AB  - Recent studies have observed a high level of circulating interleukin-10 (IL-10)
      in patients with digestive cancers, yet whether elevated IL-10 is causally
      associated with digestive cancers so far remained unresolved. We therefore meta
      analyzed available observational studies with Mendelian randomization method to
      explore this causal association by employing IL-10 gene 3 variants (-592C>A, 
      819C>T, and -1082A>G) as instruments. Data were available from 52 articles
      encompassing 29,307 subjects. Subgroup analysis by cancer type indicated that 
      1082A>G was associated with increased risk of gastric cancer (odds ratio [OR] =
      1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.35; P = 0.006), and the association
      was reinforced for intestinal type gastric cancer (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.09-1.44; P
      = 0.001). By ethnicity, risk estimate for -1082G allele carriers was increased by
      21% for digestive cancers in East Asians (95%CI: 1.05-1.40; P = 0.009). As for
      the genotype-phenotype association, carriers of -1082G allele had an overall
      20.21 pg/mL higher IL-10 level than those with -1082AA genotype (P = 0.023). In
      further Mendelian randomization analysis, the predicted OR for 10 pg/mL increment
      in IL-10 was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.01-16.99) in gastric cancer. Our findings provided
      evidence for a causal role of genetically elevated IL-10 in the development of
      gastric cancer, especially in East Asians and for intestinal type gastric cancer.

PMID- 26886632
TI  - Factors Associated With Neck Hematoma After Thyroidectomy: A Retrospective
      Analysis Using a Japanese Inpatient Database.
AB  - To identify risk factors for post-thyroidectomy hematoma requiring airway
      intervention or surgery ("wound hematoma") and determine post-thyroidectomy time
      to intervention. Post-thyroidectomy hematoma is rare but potentially lethal.
      Information on wound hematoma in a nationwide clinical setting is scarce.Using
      the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we extracted data from
      records of patients undergoing thyroidectomy from July 2010 to March 2014.
      Patients with clinical stage IV cancer or those with bilateral neck dissection
      were excluded because they could have undergone planned tracheotomy on the day of
      thyroidectomy. We assessed the association between background characteristics and
      wound hematoma <=2 days post-thyroidectomy, using multivariable logistic
      regression analysis. Among 51,968 patients from 880 hospitals, wound hematoma
      occurred in 920 (1.8%) <=2 days post-thyroidectomy and in 203 (0.4%) >=3 days
      post-thyroidectomy (in-hospital mortality = 0.05%). Factors significantly
      associated with wound hematoma <=2 days post-thyroidectomy were male sex (odds
      ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-1.77); higher age (OR 1.01,
      95% CI 1.00-1.02); overweight or obese (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.44); type of
      surgery (partial thyroidectomy for benign tumor compared with: total
      thyroidectomy, benign tumor [OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.45-2.63]; partial thyroidectomy,
      malignant tumor [OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.00-1.46]; total thyroidectomy, malignant tumor
      [OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.82-3.49]; and thyroidectomy for Graves disease [OR 3.88, 95%
      CI 2.59-5.82]); neck dissection (OR, 1.53, 95% CI 1.05-2.23); antithrombotic
      agents (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.15-2.17); and blood transfusion (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.39
      11.91). Closer monitoring of airway and neck is recommended for patients with
      risk factors, and further cautious monitoring beyond 3 days post-thyroidectomy.

PMID- 26886631
TI  - Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Osteoarthritis: An Overview and a Meta
      Analysis.
AB  - Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder characterized by degenerative articular
      cartilage and is largely attributed to genetic risk factors. Single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) are common DNA variants that have shown promising and
      efficiency, compared with positional cloning, to map candidate genes of complex
      diseases, including OA. In this study, we aim to provide an overview of multiple
      SNPs from a number of genes that have recently been linked to OA susceptibility.
      We also performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the association of
      SNP rs7639618 of double von Willebrand factor A domains (DVWA) gene with OA
      susceptibility. A systematic search of studies on the association of SNPs with
      susceptibility to OA was conducted in PubMed and Google scholar. Studies
      subjected to meta-analysis include human and case-control studies that met the
      Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium model and provide sufficient data to calculate an odds
      ratio (OR). A total of 9500 OA cases and 9365 controls in 7 case-control studies
      relating to SNP rs7639618 were included in this study and the ORs with 95%
      confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Over 50 SNPs from different genes
      have been shown to be associated with either hip (23), or knee (20), or both (13)
      OA. The ORs of these SNPs for OA and the subtypes are not consistent. As to SNP
      rs7639618 of DVWA, increased knee OA risk was observed in all genetic models
      analyzed. Specifically, people from Asian with G-allele showed significantly
      increased risk of knee OA (A versus G: OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.46; AA versus GG:
      OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.25-2.05; GA versus GG: OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.18-1.44; AA versus
      GA+GG: OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.12-1.61; AA+GA versus GG: OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.19
      1.64), but not in Caucasians or with hip OA. Our results suggest that multiple
      SNPs play different roles in the pathogenesis of OA and its subtypes; SNP
      rs7639618 of DVWA gene is associated with a significantly increased risk of knee
      OA in Asians. Given the limited sample size, further studies are needed to
      evaluate this observation.

PMID- 26886634
TI  - Tracheobronchial Involvement of Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Case Report and Review of
      the Literature.
AB  - Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD) is a rare non-neoplastic entity, also known as sinus
      histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), characterized by a benign
      proliferation of histiocytes in lymph nodes. Localized forms of RDD involving the
      tracheobronchial tree are very rare. There is no consensus regarding the
      management of central airway forms and recurrence is frequent. We report the case
      of an 81-year-old Caucasian woman admitted in 2014 for chronic cough. Her main
      medical past history included a diagnosis of sinonasal RDD in 1996 with recurrent
      obstructive rhinosinusitis requiring repeated sinonasal surgery, and a diagnosis
      of tracheal RDD in 2010 with 2 asymptomatic smooth lesions (5 and 7 mm) on the
      anterior tracheal wall. Physical examination was normal in 2014. Pulmonary
      function tests showed an obstructive pattern. Computed tomographic scan revealed
      a mass arising from the anterior wall of the trachea that projects into the
      tracheal lumen. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a hypervascular multilobular
      lesion (2 cm) arising from the anterior tracheal wall and causing 50% obstruction
      of the tracheal lumen. Mechanical resection with electrocoagulation of the
      tracheal mass was performed by rigid bronchoscopy with no complication.
      Histological examination demonstrated tracheal RDD. One year after endotracheal
      resection, the patient presented no recurrence of cough and the obstructive
      pattern had resolved. Reports on tracheobronchial involvement are scarce.
      Symptomatic tracheobronchial obstruction requires mechanical resection by rigid
      bronchoscopy or surgery. Recurrence is frequent, justifying long-term follow-up.

PMID- 26886633
TI  - Negative Effects of Total Gastrectomy on Bone Tissue Metabolism and Volumetric
      Bone Mineral Density (vBMD) of Lumbar Spine in 1-Year Study in Men.
AB  - Gastrectomy induces severe osteoporosis in humans but its quantitative scale
      within trabecular and cortical compartments was not estimated. The aim of the
      study was to determine changes of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in
      lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) and biochemical bone metabolism markers in serum of
      patients 1 year after total gastrectomy. The control group consisted of patients
      (N = 8) subjected to abdominal surgery due to cardiospasmus. Total gastrectomy
      was performed in the experimental group (N = 6). Volumetric bone mineral density
      of trabecular and cortical bone of lumbar spine was measured before (baseline)
      and 1 year after the gastric surgery using the quantitative computed tomography
      method. Serum concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, tyroxine,
      interleukin-6, C-terminal telopeptides of type II collagen and bone formation,
      and resorption markers were determined at baseline and 1 year later, using ELISA,
      EIA, and IEMA methods. Total gastrectomy induced significant decrease of vBMD
      values, up to 16.8% and 10.0%, within the trabecular and cortical bone
      compartments of lumbar spine (P < 0.05). These negative changes of vBMD were
      associated with significantly increased serum concentration of bone resorption
      markers such as deoxypyridinoline, pyridinoline, and C-terminal telopeptides of
      type I collagen, by 13.5%, 32.2%, and 121.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). Neither
      vBMD nor biochemical bone turnover markers and hormone concentrations were
      influenced in the control patients. Dramatic bone loss during the first year in
      gastrectomized patients has proven dynamic osteoporosis progress indicating an
      importance of treatment interventions in these patients with emphasis on
      inhibition of intensive bone resorption processes.

PMID- 26886635
TI  - The Association Between Hyperuricemia and Hematological Indicators in a Chinese
      Adult Population.
AB  - The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between hyperuricemia and
      hematological indicators. Five hundred twenty-two male and 255 female subjects
      (18-90 years old) were recruited in the study. The level of serum uric acid
      (SUA), total white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count,
      hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count was measured, computed, and analyzed.
      Pearson correlation coefficients, Student t-tests, multivariate linear regression
      models, and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to analyze the
      results.For men, WBC count (r = 0.13, P < 0.01), RBC count (r = 0.15, P < 0.001),
      and hemoglobin (r = 0.11, P < 0.05) were significantly correlated with SUA. For
      women, WBC count (r = 0.24, P < 0.001), RBC count (r = 0.31, P < 0.001),
      hemoglobin (r = 0.31, P < 0.001), and hematocrit (r = 0.29, P < 0.001) were
      significantly correlated with SUA. For men, WBC (P < 0.01) and RBC (P < 0.05)
      counts were significantly higher in patients with hyperuricemia than in normal
      subjects. For men, after adjustment for confounding factors, those in the fourth
      quartiles of WBC counts had 1.66-fold increased odds of hyperuricemia as compared
      with those in the reference group. For women, after adjustment, those in the
      second to fourth quartiles of WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit
      had increased the odds of hyperuricemia as compared with those in the reference
      groups. Our study showed significant relations between the level of SUA and WBC
      count, RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, which could be important biological
      markers of hyperuricemia.

PMID- 26886636
TI  - Spectral CT in the Demonstration of the Pancreatic Arteries and Their Branches: A
      Comparison With Conventional CT.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of monochromatic images
      of spectral computed tomographic (CT) in the visualization of the pancreatic
      arteries compared with polychromatic CT images. We conducted a case-control study
      in a group of 26 consecutive patients with monochromatic CT and contrasted the
      results against a control group of 26 consecutive patients with polychromatic CT.
      The CNR (contrast-to-noise ratio), SIR (signal intensity ratio), SNR (signal to
      noise ratio), and image noise were measured. A 5-score classification system was
      used to evaluate the branch order of pancreatic arteries. The course of
      pancreatic arteries was compared. Compared with polychromatic images, the CNR,
      SIR, and SNR obtained by monochromatic images were increased by 64.74%, 23.99%,
      and 39.50%. Branch visualization of PSPDA (posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal
      artery), ASPDA (anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery), and DPA (dorsal
      pancreatic artery) was better at monochromatic images than at polychromatic
      images. The display rate was significantly better in monochromatic images for the
      second and third segments of PSPDA, total course of ASPDA, and artery of uncinate
      process. Compared with polychromatic images, monochromatic images can improve the
      visualization of pancreatic arteries.

PMID- 26886637
TI  - Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial of Combined Oral laxatives Medication for
      BOwel PREParation (COMBO-PREP study).
AB  - The combination of different laxatives at reduced volumes may benefit patients by
      enhancing efficacy for bowel cleansing and increasing tolerability. However,
      evidence regarding combined preparations is scarce. This study evaluated whether
      the combined preparations are associated with enhanced efficacy and tolerability.
      This randomized phase II study had a single-blind, parallel-arm design. Between
      December 2013 and September 2014, consecutive patients aged between 20 and 65
      years and who required diagnostic colonoscopies were considered for inclusion.
      Patients were randomly allocated into 4 arms: sodium picosulfate and magnesium
      citrate (PMC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with ascorbic acid in a day-prior
      (PMC-PEG-DP), PMC and oral sodium phosphate (NaP) in a day-prior (PMC-NaP-DP),
      PMC and PEG with ascorbic acid in a split-dose (PMC-PEG-SD), and PMC and oral NaP
      in a split-dose (PMC-NaP-SD). Primary endpoint was the Aronchick scale, and
      Ottawa scale results by colon segment, patients' adverse gastrointestinal
      symptoms, and willingness to reuse the same agents were also recorded. Successful
      bowel preparation was defined as an "excellent" or "good" score on the Aronchick
      scale. A total of 236 patients were randomized and 229 patients received the
      planned colonoscopy. The rates of successful bowel preparation in the PMC-PEG-DP,
      PMC-NaP-DP, PMC-PEG-SD, and PMC-NaP-SD were 82.5%, 64.4%, 100%, and 100%,
      respectively. Excluding the failed PMC-NaP-DP group, all groups showed
      satisfactory rates of successful bowel preparation, and the mean Ottawa scores
      were significantly better in the PMC-PEG-SD and PMC-NaP-SD groups than in the PMC
      PEG-DP group (P < 0.0001). The PMC-PEG-DP, PMC-NaP-DP, PMC-PEG-SD, and PMC-NaP-SD
      groups were similar in terms of rates of adverse gastrointestinal symptoms
      reported on a 5-point scale (P = 0.40) and willingness to reuse the same combined
      preparations (P = 0.55). PMC-PEG in a day-prior or split-dose and PMC-NaP in a
      split-dose were efficient and tolerable bowel preparations for colonoscopy.

PMID- 26886638
TI  - The Associations of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in miR196a2, miR-499, and miR
      608 With Breast Cancer Susceptibility: A STROBE-Compliant Observational Study.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role as regulators of tumor suppressors and
      oncogenes in cancer-related processes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in
      miRNAs have been shown to be relevant to various different cancers, including
      breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to estimate the associations
      between miRNA-related gene polymorphisms (miR-196a2, miR-499, and miR-608) and
      the risk of BC in a Chinese population. Gene polymorphisms were analyzed in 1143
      subjects (controls = 583; BC = 560). The 3 SNPs were genotyped using the Sequenom
      Mass-ARRAY platform. The associations between the SNP frequencies and BC were
      assessed by computing odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs),
      as well as by applying Chi-square tests. The miR-196a2 (rs11614913) T allele was
      associated with a decreased risk of BC based on results from dominant (OR = 0.67,
      95% CI = 0.52-0.86), recessive (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.48-0.86), and allele models
      (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.62-0.86). In contrast, the miR-499 (rs3746444) AG/GG
      genotypes were associated with an increased risk of BC (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.10
      1.91), and miR-608 (rs4919510) was not significantly associated with BC risk. Our
      study suggested that the polymorphisms of rs11614913 and rs3746444 may be
      associated with BC risk in Chinese individuals.

PMID- 26886639
TI  - Impact of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring on Prognosis of Patients With Severe
      Traumatic Brain Injury: A PRISMA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - To evaluate the influences of using intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring on the
      prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Systematic search were
      conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and CNKI. The eligible
      studies were identified for pooling analysis under fixed- or random effects
      model. Hospital mortality, functional outcomes, length of hospital stay, and the
      related complications in patients were extracted. Six randomized controlled
      trials with 880 cases and 12 cohort studies with 12,606 cases were included.
      Combined analysis found that ICP monitoring was effective for reducing the risk
      rate of electrolyte disturbances (RR = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63
      0.90), rate of renal failure (RR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.83), and for improving
      favorable prognosis (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00-1.35). However, ICP monitoring was
      not significant for hospital mortality (RR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.77-0.1.06),
      decreasing rate of pulmonary infection (RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.76-1.14), rate of
      mechanical ventilation (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.86-1.09), and duration of hospital
      stays (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.06, 95% CI: -0.03, 0.16). ICP
      monitoring may not reduce the risk of hospital mortality, but plays a role in
      decreasing the rate of electrolyte disturbances, rate of renal failure, and
      increasing favorable functional outcome. However, effect of other outcomes need
      to be further confirmed in the future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with
      larger sample size.

PMID- 26886640
TI  - CD34 Over-Expression is Associated With Gliomas' Higher WHO Grade.
AB  - CD34 is a transmembrane phosphoglycoprotein that was first identified on
      hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. CD34 is known as an optimum marker for
      microvascular density studies and it is positively stained in pathological and
      physiologic vessels. The use of CD34 for the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment
      of neoplasms has been increasingly discussed. The implications and utilities of
      CD34 in WHO grades of gliomas and its prognosis have been reported rarely. Also,
      the WHO grades and prognosis researches remains unclear and controversial. A meta
      analysis is the best choice for drawing a convincing conclusion. Several
      databases were searched. We carefully assess the relevant articles and standard
      mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated in
      terms of the relationship between CD34 expression levels with gliomas' WHO
      grades, patients' ages and gender. We used the Galbraith figure, the I test, and
      Cochran Q test to evaluate the heterogeneity of the included studies. A
      sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the pooled results' stability. A
      Contour-enhanced funnel plot evaluation was made to assess potential publication
      bias. Ethics review and approval was not necessary because the meta-analysis did
      not involve any direct human trials or animal experiments. There were 12 eligible
      studies, including 684 patients who were considered in the present meta-analysis.
      All of them were conducted in China. CD34 overexpression in glioma tissues was
      associated closely, according to the pooled SMD, with higher WHO grade (III + IV)
      (SMD -1.503, 95% CI -1.685 to -1.321; P = 0.000). There were no significant
      associations between CD34 and age (SMD -0.223, 95% CI -0.602 to 0.156; P = 0.248)
      and CD34 and gender (SMD -0.059, 95% CI -0.439, 0.321; P = 0.761). No publication
      bias was detected according to Contour-enhanced funnel plot. Our results
      suggested that CD34 overexpression is associated with higher WHO grades of
      gliomas. CD34 may serve as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker, or it
      could be a useful therapy target.

PMID- 26886641
TI  - Unusual Presentation of Elastofibroma Dorsi on 18F-FDG-PET/CT: A Case Report.
AB  - A 70-year-old male patient underwent an Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission
      tomography-computed tomography for staging of a left parahilar lung neoplasm
      found during work-up for fatigue and asthenia. The scan demonstrated a
      hypermetabolic lung tumor, a hypermetabolic pleural effusion and 4 hypermetabolic
      bilateral soft tissue lesions of the chest wall corresponding to 4 elastofibroma
      dorsi. Initially, the oncologic disease was classified as stage IV because of the
      hypermetabolic pleural effusion. A transbronchial biopsy showed squamous cell
      carcinoma and the cytology of the pleural effusion revealed no malignant cells.
      As the other 4 hypermetabolic thoracic wall lesions were correctly diagnosed as
      benign despite their unusual presentation, the patient underwent surgery by left
      pneumonectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. The lymph node involvement
      required adjuvant chemotherapy. Diagnostic confidence of the benignity of the
      hypermetabolic chest wall lesions allowed a more aggressive treatment with a
      better outcome after a malignant pleural effusion was excluded.

PMID- 26886642
TI  - Association Between Glaucoma and the Risk of Dementia.
AB  - We investigated the association of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary
      angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) with the risk of dementia by evaluating their
      clinical and epidemiological similarities by using a nationally representative
      sample in Taiwan. Data were collected from the National Health Insurance Research
      Database of Taiwan. In total, 6509 patients with glaucoma (3304 with POAG and
      3205 with PACG) were enrolled, and a comparison cohort of 26,036 individuals
      without glaucoma was established after matching for age and sex. The cumulative
      incidence curve of overall dementia for each cohort was evaluated. The risk of
      dementia was analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard
      models after adjustment for demographic characteristics and comorbidities. The
      patients with glaucoma exhibited a significantly higher risk of dementia than the
      individuals without glaucoma did (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.13, 95% confidence
      interval [CI] = 1.01-1.27). The patients with POAG exhibited a 1.21-fold
      increased risk of dementia compared with the individuals without glaucoma (HR =
      1.21, 95% CI = 1.02-1.43). However, the patients with PACG were not significantly
      associated with an increased risk of dementia compared with the individuals
      without glaucoma (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.95-1.26). Patients with POAG aged >=65
      years were significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia compared
      with the individuals without glaucoma (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.07-1.54). Females
      with POAG exhibited a 1.34-fold increased risk of dementia compared with females
      without glaucoma (95% CI = 1.06-1.69). This study demonstrated that patients with
      POAG but not those with PACG were associated with an increased risk of dementia
      compared with the general population.

PMID- 26886643
TI  - Child-to-Adult Liver Transplantation With Donation After Cardiac Death Donors:
      Three Case Reports.
AB  - Development of organ transplantation is restricted by the discrepancy between the
      lack of donors and increasing number of patients. The outcome of pediatric donors
      transplanted into adult recipients especially with donation after circulatory
      death (DCD) pattern has not been well studied. The aim of this paper is to
      describe our experience of 3 successful DCD donor child-to-adult liver
      transplantations lately. Three DCD donors were separately 7, 5, and 8 years old.
      The ratio between donor graft weight and recipient body weight was 1.42%, 1.00%,
      and 1.33%, respectively. Ratio between the volume of donor liver and the expected
      liver volume was 0.65, 0.46, and 0.60. Splenectomy was undertaken for the second
      recipient according to the portal vein pressure (PVP) which was observed during
      the operation. Two out of 3 of the recipients suffered with acute kidney injury
      and got recovered after renal replacement therapy. The first recipient also went
      through early allograft dysfunction and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The
      hospital course of the third recipient was uneventful. After 1 year of follow-up
      visit, the first and second recipients maintain good quality of life and liver
      function. The third patient was followed up for 5 months until now and recovered
      well. DCD child-to-adult liver transplantation should only be used for
      comparatively matched donor and recipient. PVP should be monitored during the
      operation. The short-term efficacy is good, but long-term follow-up and clinical
      study with large sample evaluation are still needed.

PMID- 26886644
TI  - Differences and Similarities in the Clinicopathological Features of Pancreatic
      Neuroendocrine Tumors in China and the United States: A Multicenter Study.
AB  - The presentation, pathology, and prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
      (PNETs) in Asian patients have not been studied in large cohorts. We hypothesized
      that the clinicopathological features of PNETs of Chinese patients might be
      different from those of US patients. The objectives of this study were to address
      whether PNETs in Chinese patients exhibit unique clinicopathological features and
      natural history, and can be graded and staged using the WHO/ENETS criteria. This
      is a retrospective review of medical records of patients with PNETs in multiple
      academic medical centers in China (7) and the United States (2). Tumor grading
      and staging were based on WHO/ENETS criteria. The clinicopathological features of
      PNETs of Chinese and US patients were compared. Univariate and multivariate
      analyses were performed to find associations between survival and patient
      demographics, tumor grade and stage, and other clinicopathological
      characteristics. A total of 977 (527 Chinese and 450 US) patients with PNETs were
      studied. In general, Chinese patients were younger than US patients (median age
      46 vs 56 years). In Chinese patients, insulinomas were the most common (52.2%),
      followed by nonfunctional tumors (39.7%), whereas the order was reversed in US
      patients. Tumor grade distribution was similar in the 2 countries (G1: 57.5% vs
      55.0%; G2: 38.5% vs 41.3%; and G3: 4.0% vs 3.7%). However, age, primary tumor
      size, primary tumor location, grade, and stage of subtypes of PNETs were
      significantly different between the 2 countries. The Chinese nonfunctional tumors
      were significantly larger than US ones (median size 4 vs 3 cm) and more
      frequently located in the head/neck region (54.9% vs 34.8%). The Chinese and US
      insulinomas were similar in size (median 1.5 cm) but the Chinese insulinomas
      relatively more frequently located in the head/neck region (48.3% vs 26.1%).
      Higher grade, advanced stage, metastasis, and larger primary tumor size were
      significantly associated with unfavorable survival in both countries. Several
      clinicopathological differences are found between Chinese and US PNETs but the
      PNETs of both countries follow a similar natural history. The WHO tumor grading
      and ENETS staging criteria are applicable to both Chinese and US patients.

PMID- 26886645
TI  - LV Dyssynchrony Is Helpful in Predicting Ventricular Arrhythmia in Ischemic
      Cardiomyopathy After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Preliminary Study.
AB  - For patients with coronary artery disease, larger scar burdens are associated
      with higher risk of ventricular arrhythmia. Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony is
      associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart
      failure. The purpose of this study was to assess the values of LV dyssynchrony
      and myocardial scar assessed by myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) in predicting
      the development of ventricular arrhythmia in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Twenty-two
      patients (16 males, mean age: 66 +/- 13) with irreversible ischemic
      cardiomyopathy received cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for at least 12
      months were enrolled for MPS. Quantitative parameters, including LV dyssynchrony
      with phase standard deviation (phase SD) and bandwidth, left ventricular ejection
      fraction (LVEF), and scar (% of total areas), were generated by Emory Cardiac
      Toolbox. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) recorded
      in the CRT device during follow-up were used as the reference standard of
      diagnosing ventricular arrhythmia. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was
      performed for determining the independent predictors of VT/VF and receiver
      operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for generating the optimal
      cut-off values for predicting VT/VF. Nine (41%) of the 22 patients developed
      VT/VF during the follow-up periods. Patients with VT/VF had significantly lower
      LVEF, larger scar, larger phase SD, and larger bandwidth (all P < 0.05). Logistic
      regression analysis showed LVEF and bandwidth were independent predictors of
      VT/VF. ROC curve analysis showed the areas under the curves were 0.71 and 0.83
      for LVEF and bandwidth, respectively. The optimal cut-off values were <36% and >
      139 degrees  for LVEF and bandwidth, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity,
      positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 100%, 39%, 53%, and
      100%, respectively, for LVEF; and were 78%, 92%, 88%, and 86%, respectively, for
      bandwidth. LV dyssynchrony as assessed by phase analysis of MPS is helpful for
      predicting ventricular arrhythmia in ischemic cardiomyopathy after CRT. Further
      implantation of defibrillator may be considered for those patients with bandwidth
      >139 degrees .

PMID- 26886646
TI  - Prediction of Large Joint Destruction in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Using
      18F-FDG PET/CT and Disease Activity Score.
AB  - The assessments of joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are
      mainly restricted to small joints in the hands and feet. However, the development
      of arthritis in RA patients often involves the large joints, such as the
      shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. Few studies have been reported regarding
      the degree of large joint destruction in RA patients. F-fluorodeoxyglucose
      positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT)
      visualizes the disease activity in large joints affected by RA. In this study,
      the associations between destruction of the large joints and the findings of FDG
      PET/CT as well as laboratory parameters were investigated, and factors associated
      with large joint destruction after the administration of biological therapy were
      identified in RA patients. A total of 264 large joints in 23 RA patients (6 men
      and 17 women; mean age of 66.9 +/- 7.9 years) were assessed in this study. FDG
      PET/CT was performed at baseline and 6 months after the initiation of biological
      therapy. The extent of FDG uptake in large joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip,
      knee, and ankle) was analyzed using the maximum standardized uptake value
      (SUVmax). Radiographs of the 12 large joints per patient obtained at baseline and
      after 2 years were assessed according to Larsen's method. A logistic regression
      analysis was performed to determine the factors most significantly contributing
      to the progression of joint destruction within 2 years. Radiographic progression
      of joint destruction was detected in 33 joints. The SUVmax at baseline and 6
      months, and the disease activity score (DAS) 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate
      (ESR) at 6, 12, and 24 months were significantly higher in the group with
      progressive joint destruction. The SUVmax at baseline and DAS28-ESR at 6 months
      were found to be factors associated with joint destruction at 2 years (P < 0.05).
      The FDG uptake in the joints with destruction was higher than that observed in
      the joints without destruction. The SUVmax at baseline and the DAS28-ESR at 6
      months after the biological treatment were identified to be significant factors
      predicting destruction of the large joints at 2 years.

PMID- 26886647
TI  - Outcomes of Induction Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Combined
      Study of Two National Cohorts in Taiwan.
AB  - The use of induction chemotherapy (CT) is controversial. We compared the survival
      of head and neck cancer patients receiving docetaxel- or platinum-based induction
      CT before concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with the survival of those
      receiving upfront CCRT alone. Data from the National Health Insurance and cancer
      registry databases in Taiwan were linked and analyzed. We enrolled patients who
      had head and neck cancer between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2011. Follow-up
      was from the index date to December 31, 2013. We included head and neck patients
      diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth
      Revision, Clinical Modification codes 140.0-148.9 who were aged >20 years, at
      American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical cancer stage III or IV, and receiving
      induction CT or platinum-based CCRT. The exclusion criteria were a cancer history
      before head and neck cancer diagnosis, distant metastasis, AJCC clinical cancer
      stage I or II, receipt of platinum and docetaxel before radiotherapy, an age <20
      years, missing sex data, docetaxel use during or after RT, induction CT for >8
      weeks before RT, induction CT alone before RT, cetuximab use, adjuvant CT within
      90 days after RT completion, an RT dose <7000 cGy, curative head and neck cancer
      surgery before RT, nasopharyngeal cancer, in situ carcinoma, sarcoma, and head
      and neck cancer recurrence. We enrolled 10,721 stage III-IV head and neck cancer
      patients, with a median follow-up of 4.18 years (interquartile range, 3.25
      years). The CCRT (arm 1), docetaxel-based induction CT (arm 2), and platinum
      based CCRT (arm 3; control arm) groups comprised 7968, 503, and 2232 patients,
      respectively. Arm 3 was used to investigate mortality risk after induction CT.
      After adjustment for age, sex, clinical stage, and comorbidities, the adjusted
      hazard ratios (aHRs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for overall death were 1.37
      (1.22-1.53) and 1.44 (1.36-1.52) in arms 2 and 3, respectively. In a disease
      specific survival rate analysis, aHRs (95% CI) of head and neck cancer-related
      death were 1.29 (1.14-1.46) and 1.47 (1.38-1.56) in arms 2 and 3, respectively.
      Compared with CCRT alone, docetaxal- or platinum-based induction CT did not
      improve survival but increased the risk of all-cause and head and neck cancer
      related death.

PMID- 26886648
TI  - Factors Associated With Mortality of Thyroid Storm: Analysis Using a National
      Inpatient Database in Japan.
AB  - Thyroid storm is a life-threatening and emergent manifestation of thyrotoxicosis.
      However, predictive features associated with fatal outcomes in this crisis have
      not been clearly defined because of its rarity. The objective of this study was
      to investigate the associations of patient characteristics, treatments, and
      comorbidities with in-hospital mortality. We conducted a retrospective
      observational study of patients diagnosed with thyroid storm using a national
      inpatient database in Japan from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014. Of
      approximately 21 million inpatients in the database, we identified 1324 patients
      diagnosed with thyroid storm. The mean (standard deviation) age was 47 (18)
      years, and 943 (71.3%) patients were female. The overall in-hospital mortality
      was 10.1%. The number of patients was highest in the summer season. The most
      common comorbidity at admission was cardiovascular diseases (46.6%).
      Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that higher mortality was
      significantly associated with older age (>=60 years), central nervous system
      dysfunction at admission, nonuse of antithyroid drugs and beta-blockade, and
      requirement for mechanical ventilation and therapeutic plasma exchange combined
      with hemodialysis. The present study identified clinical features associated with
      mortality of thyroid storm using large-scale data. Physicians should pay special
      attention to older patients with thyrotoxicosis and coexisting central nervous
      system dysfunction. Future prospective studies are needed to clarify treatment
      options that could improve the survival outcomes of thyroid storm.

PMID- 26886649
TI  - Comparison of Effects of Botulinum Toxin Injection Between Subacute and Chronic
      Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare the effects of botulinum toxin injection
      between subacute and chronic stroke patients. Eighteen stroke patients (9
      subacute and 9 chronic) with spasticity of 1+ or higher in the hemiplegic elbow
      or wrist joint, based on the modified Ashworth scale were recruited. Modified
      Ashworth scale, modified Tardieu scale, manual muscle testing, passive range of
      motion, Brunnstrom stage, modified Barthel index, and Fugl-Meyer scale
      evaluations of the hemiplegic upper extremity were performed just before the
      injection and 4 weeks later. A total dose of 200 U of botulinum toxin type A was
      injected into each patient. One or more of the elbow flexor muscles and one or
      more of the wrist flexor or finger flexor muscles were included. Modified
      Ashworth scale, manual muscle testing, passive range of motion, and modified
      Barthel index results were improved in subacute patients only. However, modified
      Tardieu scale for the elbow and Fugl-Meyer scale results were improved in both
      groups, and the improvement was comparable. In conclusion, botulinum toxin
      injection in subacute patients was more helpful for spasticity, contracture, and
      function than in chronic patients. However, beneficial effects of botulinum toxin
      injection on spasticity and function in chronic patients were found in the
      assessments of the modified Tardieu scale and Fugl-Meyer scale.

PMID- 26886650
TI  - DNA Microarray Analysis of Submandibular Glands in IgG4-Related Disease Indicates
      a Role for MARCO and Other Innate Immune-Related Proteins.
AB  - IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a novel systemic disease entity characterized
      by elevated serum IgG4 and tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells
      accompanied by severe fibrosis. Although recent studies demonstrated that innate
      immune cells including monocytes and macrophages might promote local fibrosis and
      IgG4 production, the pathological mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we
      sought to identify the disease-associated genes, especially innate immune
      molecules. Gene expression was analyzed by DNA microarray in submandibular glands
      (SMGs) from patients with IgG4-RD (n = 5), chronic sialoadenitis (CS) (n = 3),
      and controls (n = 3). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were validated by
      real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical staining in
      IgG4-RD (n = 18), CS (n = 4), Sjogren syndrome (n = 11), and controls (n = 10).
      Gene expression patterns in the 3 groups were quite different from each other by
      the pvclust method and principal components analysis. In IgG4-RD, 1028
      upregulated genes and 692 downregulated genes were identified as DEGs (P < 0.05).
      Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis indicated that the upregulated DEGs in IgG4-RD
      encoded proteins involved in T/B cell activation and chemotaxis. PCR validated
      significantly higher expression of macrophage receptor with collagenous structure
      (MARCO), a pattern-recognition receptor, in IgG4-RD compared with the other
      groups (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the expression
      pattern of MARCO was similar to that of the M2 macrophage marker CD163. MARCO was
      identified as a disease-associated molecule in IgG4-RD by DNA microarray.
      Moreover, M2 macrophages might contribute to the initiation of IgG4-RD via MARCO.

PMID- 26886651
TI  - Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Improves the Quality of Recovery and Postoperative
      Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A
      CONSORT-Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
AB  - Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been known to be a stressful
      event for patients, and dexmedetomidine is known to attenuate surgery-induced
      sympathetic responses and potentiate analgesia in perioperative periods. The
      present was designed to evaluate the effects of intraoperative dexmedetomidine
      administration on the quality of recovery (QoR) and pulmonary function after
      VATS. Patients with lung cancer undergoing VATS were randomized to Dex group
      (loading of 1.0 MUg/kg for 20 minutes before the termination of surgery, n = 50)
      or Control group (comparable volume of normal saline, n = 50). The QoR-40
      questionnaire assesses postoperative recovery and validates the overall surgical
      and general anesthesia outcomes. The QoR-40 scores, forced expiratory volume for
      1 second (FEV1) on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 2, and emergence agitation were
      evaluated. The global QoR-40 score (162.3 +/- 17.8 vs 153.3 +/- 18.7, P = 0.016
      on POD 1; 174.3 +/- 16.0 vs 166.8 +/- 16.7, P = 0.028 on POD 2) and FEV1 (2.1 +/-
      0.4 vs 1.9 +/- 0.5 L, P = 0.034 on POD 1; 2.2 +/- 0.5 vs 2.0 +/- 0.4 L, P = 0.030
      on POD 2) were significantly higher in the Dex group compared with the Control
      group on POD1 and POD 2. The score of emergence agitation was lower in the Dex
      group compared with the Control group (3 [2-5] vs 5 [3-7], P < 0.001). The number
      of patients indicating severe emergence agitation was shorter in the Dex group
      than Control group (0 [0%] vs 7 [14%], P = 0.048). The length of hospital stay
      was significantly shorter (6.7 [3-9] vs 8.4 [4-9] days, P = 0.045) in the Dex
      group compared with the Control group. Intraoperative dexmedetomidine
      administration improved QoR, postoperative pulmonary function, and emergence
      agitation in patients undergoing VATS. Consequently, intraoperative
      dexmedetomidine administration could improve postoperative outcomes and reduced
      the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing VATS.

PMID- 26886652
TI  - Rapid Early Triage by Leukocytosis and the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction
      (TIMI) Risk Score for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary
      Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Observational Study.
AB  - The clinical utility of leukocytosis in risk assessment for ST-elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still unclear. We aim to demonstrate the
      prognostic value of leukocyte counts independent from traditional risk factors
      and the TIMI risk score (TRS) for STEMI and to propose a practical model
      comprising leukocyte count for early triage in STEMI undergoing primary
      angioplasty. A prospective database (n = 796) of consecutive STEMI cases
      receiving primary angioplasty at a tertiary medical center was retrospectively
      analyzed in the period from February 1, 2007 through December 31, 2012. Primary
      endpoints were 30-day and 1-year mortality. Propensity score-adjusted Cox
      regression models and subdivision analysis were performed. Leukocytosis group (n
      = 306) had higher 30-day mortality (5.9% vs 3.1%, P = 0.048) and 1-year mortality
      (9.2% vs 5.1%, P = 0.022). After adjustment by propensity score and TRS,
      leukocyte count (per 10/MUL) was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality
      (HR: 1.086, 95% CI: 1.034-1.140, P = 0.001). Subdivision analysis demonstrated
      the correlation between leukocytosis and higher 1-year mortality within both high
      and low TRS strata (divided by 4, the median of TRS). Additionally, 24% (191 out
      of 796) of patients were characterized by nonleukocytosis and TRS < 4, having 0%
      of mortality rate at 1-year follow-up. In conclusion, leukocyte count is an
      independent prognostic factor adding incremental value to TRS for STEMI.
      Nonleukocytosis in conjunction with TRS < 4 identifies a large patient group at
      extremely low risk and thus provides rapid early triage for STEMI patients
      undergoing primary PCI. This finding is worth validation in the future.

PMID- 26886653
TI  - Comparison of Elixhauser and Charlson Methods for Predicting Oral Cancer
      Survival.
AB  - Cancer survival correlates not only with the features of primary malignancy but
      also with the degree of underlying comorbidities. Of the multiple methods used
      for evaluating the impact of comorbidities on survival, the Charlson and
      Elixhauser methods are most common. This study compared these 2 comorbidity
      measures for predicting survival in oral cancer patients. Using the Taiwan
      National Health Insurance claims data (2008-2011), we acquired data regarding
      patients' characteristics, comorbidities, and survival from 3583 oral cancer
      patients. Comorbidity was classified according to both the Charlson comorbidity
      and Elixhauser comorbidity based on the International Classification of Diseases,
      9th Revision. The Elixhauser comorbidity score and Charlson comorbidity score
      were also calculated. The prediction of survival was determined using measures of
      discrimination, including the Akaike information criterion and Harrell C (C
      statistic). The mean age of the study cohort was 52 +/- 10 years, and 94.9% of
      the patients were male. The median follow-up time was 30.1 months, and the 3-year
      overall survival was 61.6%. Elixhauser comorbidity method added higher
      discrimination, compared with the Charlson comorbidity method (Harrell C, 0.677
      vs 0.651). Furthermore, the Elixhauser comorbidity score outperformed the
      Charlson comorbidity score in continuous variable (Harrell C, 0.654 vs 0.646) and
      category (Harrell C, 0.658 vs 0.645). The Elixhauser method is a superior
      comorbidity risk-adjustment model for oral cancer survival prediction.
      Utilization of the Elixhauser comorbidity method may be encouraged for risk
      adjustment in oral cancer study.

PMID- 26886654
TI  - Clinicopathological Differences and Prognostic Value of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor
      2alpha Expression for Gastric Cancer: Evidence From Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Published literatures have reported the relationship between hypoxic-inducible
      factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha) expression and clinicopathological features in gastric
      cancer (GC), but the evaluated conclusions remain controversial. A meta-analysis
      was carried to examine the clinicopathological features and prognostic values of
      HIF-2alpha in patients with GC. Systematic detailed searches were performed to
      Pub Med, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO until to August 2015. Six studies (508
      specimens) were included in this meta-analysis. HIF-2alpha-positive expression
      indicates an unfavorable prognosis value and advanced clinicopathological
      differences for the available patient dates with GC. Further multivariate meta
      analysis revealed that HIF-2alpha-positive expression in gastric cancer
      associated with deeper tumor infiltration (OR = 3.08; 95%CI: 1.18-8.04), higher
      rates of lymphatic metastasis (OR = 3.26; 95%CI: 1.10-9.63), higher TNM stage
      (III+IV) (OR = 2.61; 95%CI: 1.40-4.84), and much lower 5-year overall survival
      (OR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.21-3.58). Nevertheless, there is no association between HIF
      2alpha-positive expression and worse tumor differentiation (OR = 2.03; 95%CI:
      0.73-5.64). In addition, by this subgroup analysis, HIF-2alpha-positive
      expression associated with deeper tumor infiltration (OR = 3.81; 95%CI: 1.03
      14.08), higher lymphatic metastasis (OR = 4.71; 95%CI: 1.08-20.50), higher TNM
      stage (OR = 3.21; 95%CI: 1.57-6.57), worse tumor differentiation (OR = 3.08;
      95%CI: 1.51-6.31), and lower 5-year overall survival (OR = 2.34; 95%CI: 1.15
      4.79). Our results indicate that HIF-2alpha overexpression can potently predict
      the poor prognosis and may be a potential therapeutic target for gastric
      carcinoma, according to the limited evidence. Meanwhile, further studies are
      needed to elucidate the accuracy of these results.

PMID- 26886655
TI  - Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Xingnaojing Injection on Consciousness
      Disturbance.
AB  - Xingnaojing (XNJ) is commonly extracted from Angongniuhuang, a classic Chinese
      emergency prescription, and widely used in the treatment of nervous system
      disorders including consciousness disturbance in China. To evaluate the
      beneficial and adverse effects of XNJ injection, on consciousness disturbance.
      Seven major electronic databases were searched to retrieve randomized controlled
      trials designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of XNJ alone or combined with
      Western medicine in treating consciousness disturbance caused by conditions such
      as high fever, poisoning, and stroke. The methodological quality of the included
      studies was assessed using criteria from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic
      Review of Interventions, and analyzed using the RevMan 5.3.0 software. Seventeen
      randomized controlled trials on XNJ were included in this study and the trials
      generally showed low methodological quality. The results revealed that XNJ alone
      or in combination with other medicines and adjuvant methods had a positive effect
      on patients with fever-, poisoning-, and stroke-induced coma. XNJ effectively
      treated consciousness disturbances that were caused by high fever, poisoning, or
      stroke.

PMID- 26886656
TI  - Growth of rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus) fed different amounts of dietary
      protein and lipids.
AB  - The rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) is a laboratory fish that is commonly used
      for toxicology research, but there is currently no standard lab diet for this
      model organism. Certain studies with rare minnows require specialized diets, so
      there is a need to better understand how manipulating nutrients affects the
      development and growth of this fish. We conducted two separate dose-response
      experiments to determine the effect of different levels of dietary protein or
      dietary lipids on the growth of juvenile rare minnows over 60 d. We measured
      growth rates and food intake over two periods of time: the first 20 or 30 d of
      diet consumption and the entire 60 d of each experiment. We found that different
      levels of dietary protein or dietary lipids produced significantly different
      growth rates during both the early phase and the entire duration of the study.
      Among experimental protein-variable diets, those with intermediate levels of
      dietary protein (around 35.2%) produced the highest growth rate. Among
      experimental lipid-variable diets, those with intermediate levels of dietary
      lipids (around 7.6%) produced the highest growth rate. Over all periods of both
      experiments, however, the control diet of bloodworms generally produced the
      highest growth rate that matched or exceeded that of any experimental diet. These
      results can guide investigators when using rare minnows in research, particularly
      when using custom and standardized diets. 

PMID- 26886657
TI  - Collection of untainted urinary specimens from the bladder of an anesthetized
      rabbit.
AB  - It is difficult to collect untainted urine specimens over short intervals of time
      during renal studies with rabbits. This is because both the ureters and the
      bladder of this species are relatively friable and minor manipulation can easily
      cause intraluminal bleeding. We have developed and refined an effective technique
      and protocol for placing an indwelling urinary bladder catheter into an
      anesthetized rabbit. The procedure is easy to perform and completely effective
      and reliable, allowing high-quality urinary specimens to be collected at
      intervals of 15-20 min over a period of 3-4 hours during a study of acute
      metabolic acidosis. 

PMID- 26886660
TI  - CRISPR/Cas9 corrects retinal dystrophy in rats.

PMID- 26886661
TI  - Amputated amphibians advance regenerative medicine.

PMID- 26886663
TI  - Breaking down barriers to treating rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 26886664
TI  - Vervets reveal a cause of neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26886665
TI  - CRISPR/Cas9 and the future of clinical research.

PMID- 26886667
TI  - Longevity in a fish bowl.

PMID- 26886668
TI  - Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Consider the circumstances.

PMID- 26886669
TI  - Setting sights on gunshot training.

PMID- 26886670
TI  - A word from USDA.

PMID- 26886671
TI  - Response to Protocol Review Scenario: The details are what matter.

PMID- 26886672
TI  - Response to Protocol Review Scenario: More comprehensive training is necessary.

PMID- 26886673
TI  - Methods for measuring pain in laboratory animals.
AB  - Pain is one of the most important variables that members of the lab animal
      science community try to control and minimize, and it is a critical topic of
      research in clinical and basic sciences. Objective measurements of pain severity,
      especially in non-verbal animals that are used as disease models, can be
      difficult to obtain, but several developments in behavioral neuroscience are
      making the measurement of pain more consistent, automated and accurate. 

PMID- 26886675
TI  - Lessons learned from implementing new technology as a trainer.

PMID- 26886676
TI  - The last airline flying.

PMID- 26886677
TI  - Fulfilling a lifelong dream.

PMID- 26886678
TI  - Erratum: Antibody production in rabbits administered Freund's complete adjuvant
      and carprofen concurrently.

PMID- 26886679
TI  - Multilayered film microreactors fabricated by a one-step thermal bonding
      technique with high reproducibility and their applications.
AB  - We report the versatile uses of multilayered polyimide (PI) film microreactors
      with various functions including pressure tolerance, three-dimensional mixing and
      multistep membrane emulsification. Such PI film microreactors were fabricated by
      a simple one-step thermal bonding technique with high reproducibility. Upon
      bonding at 300  degrees C for 1 hour, the thin and flexible film microdevices
      could withstand pressure up to 8.6 MPa and 16.3 MPa with PI adhesive film or
      fluoropolymer adhesive, respectively, due to differences in wettability. The
      hydrophilic and hydrophobic microchannel devices were used to generate
      monodisperse oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) droplets, and polymer
      micro/nanoparticles at a high generation frequency. A monolithic and chemical
      resistant film microreactor with a three-dimensional serpentine microchannel was
      used for the selective reduction of ester to aldehyde by efficient mixing and
      quenching in a flash chemistry manner, within a several 10(1) millisecond time
      scale. Furthermore, a novel multilayered film microreactor for organic-aqueous
      biphasic interfacial reactions was devised by embedding a membrane layer to
      induce chaotic mixing in both the interface and emulsified phase by flowing
      through multiple numbers of meshed structures along the hydrophobic channel. This
      simple and economic fabrication technique significantly facilitates mass
      production of multilayered film devices that could be useful as a platform for
      various microfluidic applications in chemistry and biology.

PMID- 26886680
TI  - Nurses' Experiences of an Initial and Reimplemented Electronic Health Record Use.
AB  - The electronic health record is a key component of healthcare information
      systems. Currently, numerous hospitals have adopted electronic health records to
      replace paper-based records to document care processes and improve care quality.
      Integrating healthcare information system into traditional nursing daily
      operations requires time and effort for nurses to become familiarized with this
      new technology. In the stages of electronic health record implementation, smooth
      adoption can streamline clinical nursing activities. In order to explore the
      adoption process, a descriptive qualitative study design and focus group
      interviews were conducted 3 months after and 2 years after electronic health
      record system implementation (system aborted 1 year in between) in one hospital
      located in southern Taiwan. Content analysis was performed to analyze the
      interview data, and six main themes were derived, in the first stage: (1)
      liability, work stress, and anticipation for electronic health record; (2) slow
      network speed, user-unfriendly design for learning process; (3) insufficient
      information technology/organization support; on the second stage: (4) getting
      used to electronic health record and further system requirements, (5) benefits of
      electronic health record in time saving and documentation, (6) unrealistic
      information technology competence expectation and future use. It concluded that
      user-friendly design and support by informatics technology and manpower backup
      would facilitate this adoption process as well. 

PMID- 26886682
TI  - The extent of medication errors and adverse drug reactions throughout the patient
      journey in acute care in Australia.
AB  - AIM: To provide an estimate of the numbers of medication errors and adverse drug
      reactions that occur along a person's journey through their hospital stay in
      Australia. METHODS: A search of databases and online resources was undertaken to
      identify published literature on medication safety in the acute care setting in
      Australia from 2008 to 2013. Data on the rates of adverse drug reactions and
      medication errors associated with hospitalization was extracted from the
      published studies. This evidence was synthesized with evidence from previous
      reviews of medication safety in the acute care setting in Australia conducted in
      2002 and 2008. RESULTS: Findings from the Australian literature across the two
      previous reviews of medication safety and the present review indicate the
      proportion of all hospital admissions that are medication-related is between 2
      and 3%. Studies assessing medication errors on admission to hospital suggest
      there may be an overall rate of two errors for every three patients at the time
      of admission to hospital. Large studies examining the rates of prescribing errors
      in major Australian teaching hospitals give insight into the rates of
      prescription error and suggest that prescription error rates of up to one error
      per patient occur in the hospital system. The best available evidence from more
      recent research suggests that errors (excluding errors of timing) occur in around
      9% of medication administrations in hospital. At hospital discharge, errors in
      medication documentation in discharge summaries may occur at a rate of up to two
      errors per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Medication safety in the various stages of the
      patient journey through acute care in Australia continues to be a significant
      problem. However, the extent of medication-related problems in acute care needs
      to be interpreted within the context of increasingly complex health care. There
      are an estimated 230 000 medication-related hospital admissions occurring per
      year. This suggests an annual cost of medication-related admissions of AU$1.2
      billion.

PMID- 26886681
TI  - Biologically relevant photoacoustic imaging phantoms with tunable optical and
      acoustic properties.
AB  - Established medical imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and
      computed tomography rely on well-validated tissue-simulating phantoms for
      standardized testing of device image quality. The availability of high-quality
      phantoms for optical-acoustic diagnostics such as photoacoustic tomography (PAT)
      will facilitate standardization and clinical translation of these emerging
      approaches. Materials used in prior PAT phantoms do not provide a suitable
      combination of long-term stability and realistic acoustic and optical properties.
      Therefore, we have investigated the use of custom polyvinyl chloride plastisol
      (PVCP) formulations for imaging phantoms and identified a dual-plasticizer
      approach that provides biologically relevant ranges of relevant properties. Speed
      of sound and acoustic attenuation were determined over a frequency range of 4 to
      9 MHz and optical absorption and scattering over a wavelength range of 400 to
      1100 nm. We present characterization of several PVCP formulations, including one
      designed to mimic breast tissue. This material is used to construct a phantom
      comprised of an array of cylindrical, hemoglobin-filled inclusions for evaluation
      of penetration depth. Measurements with a custom near-infrared PAT imager provide
      quantitative and qualitative comparisons of phantom and tissue images. Results
      indicate that our PVCP material is uniquely suitable for PAT system image quality
      evaluation and may provide a practical tool for device validation and
      intercomparison.

PMID- 26886683
TI  - Self-management for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PMID- 26886684
TI  - Erratum to: Islet Xeno/transplantation and the risk of contagion: local responses
      from Canada and Australia to an emerging global technoscience.

PMID- 26886685
TI  - The Prevalence of Vitreomacular Interface Pathology in a Spanish Tertiary
      Hospital.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of vitreomacular interface (VMI) pathology,
      using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: VMI status
      was classified into macular posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), focal
      vitreomacular adhesion (VMA; <=1,500 MUm), broad VMA (>1,500 MUm), focal
      vitreomacular traction (VMT; <=1,500 MUm), broad VMT (>1,500 MUm), full-thickness
      macular hole (FTMH) with the presence of VMT, and FTMH without the presence of
      VMT. RESULTS: A total of 1,976 eyes were included. A nonpathologic VMI was
      observed in 1,875 eyes (94.8%), including 1,050 (53.1%) with PVD, 120 (6.1%) with
      focal VMA and 705 (35.6%) with broad VMA. A pathologic state of the VMI was
      diagnosed in 101 eyes (5.1%). Thirty-three eyes (1.7%) were classified as focal
      VMT, 29 (1.4%) as broad VMT, 39 (1.9%) as FTMH, resulting in 6 small, 12 medium
      and 21 large FTMHs, six eyes had VMT associated to FTMH. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a
      tertiary care, retinal referral practice, VMI pathology is a relatively rare
      condition. There was a higher prevalence in a tertiary hospital study compared to
      population-based studies.

PMID- 26886686
TI  - How stereotypes and attitudes toward older adults are challenged through
      intergenerational contact: Young people explain the process.
AB  - There is a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of intergenerational
      contact in challenging stereotypes and attitudes, particularly when applying the
      four conditions of Allport's contact hypothesis. Despite this, little is known of
      how change actually occurs, particularly among young people. Individual
      interviews with twelve young people (age 11-12 years) were conducted to determine
      the extent and process by which their stereotypes and attitudes toward older
      adults (aged 65+) changed through intergenerational contact based on the contact
      hypothesis. Data analysis revealed five themes and 12 subthemes that illustrate
      this process. The findings support the contact hypothesis, explain how change
      occurs, and point to the need for further research on the change process.

PMID- 26886687
TI  - Parvovirus infection in early arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To analyse the subgroup of early arthritis patients with new onset
      parvovirus infections for details that may help narrow the population tested.
      METHODS: From their routine patient charts, patient histories and clinical and
      serological data were obtained for all 130 patients of the Rheumatology division
      with parvovirus serology performed. 11 patients had acute parvovirus infections,
      defined by specific IgM antibodies. 95 patients had a previous infection, 16 were
      never infected, together forming the n=111 control group, and 8 patients had to
      be excluded. RESULTS: Most patients with acute parvovirus infection had an acute
      onset, highly symmetrical polyarthritis of small joints, which was preceded by
      prodromal symptoms. Positive ANA were frequently found, whereas C-reactive
      protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were only mildly elevated.
      No frank synovitis was found longer than two weeks after disease onset. Most
      patients were free of symptoms within three months, and no patient in the
      parvovirus group developed rheumatoid arthritis or a connective tissue disease.
      CONCLUSIONS: Parvovirus serology may be helpful in patients with acute
      polyarthritis of very recent onset, and if they give a history of prodromal
      symptoms, in particular. In most instances, parvovirus arthritis is an acute
      disease, which is rapidly self-limiting.

PMID- 26886688
TI  - Mapping intermolecular interactions and active site conformations: from human MMP
      1 crystal structure to molecular dynamics free energy calculations.
AB  - The zinc-dependent Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) found within the
      extracellular matrix (ECM) of vertebrates are linked to pathological processes
      such as arthritis, skin ulceration and cancer. Although a general backbone
      proteolytic mechanism is understood, crystallographic data continue to suggest an
      active site that is too narrow to encompass the respective substrate. We present
      a fully parameterised Molecular Dynamics (MD) study of the structural properties
      of an MMP-1-collagen crystallographic structure (Protein Data Bank - 4AUO),
      followed by an exploration of the free energy surface of a collagen polypeptide
      chain entering the active site, using a combined meta-dynamics and umbrella
      sampling (MDUS) approach. We conclude that the interactions between MMP-1 and the
      collagen substrate are in good agreement with a number of experimental studies.
      As such, our unrestrained MD simulations and our MDUS results, which indicate an
      energetic barrier for a local uncoiling and insertion event, can inform future
      investigations of the collagen-peptide non-bonded association steps with the
      active site prior to proteolytic mechanisms. The elucidation of such free energy
      barriers provides a better understanding of the role of the enzyme in the ECM and
      is important in the design of future MMP inhibitors.

PMID- 26886689
TI  - Analysis of chronic myelogenous leukemia in an underserved, inner-city cohort
      shows a significant five year overall survival that is not affected by choice of
      tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

PMID- 26886690
TI  - Not the Last Word: Morbidity and Mortality Conference: Theater of Education.

PMID- 26886691
TI  - [Migraine - best possible management of an irritating lifelong partner].

PMID- 26886692
TI  - [Letter].

PMID- 26886693
TI  - [Multimorbid patients - numerous illnesses, numerous therapies: a challenge due
      to interactions].

PMID- 26886695
TI  - [Migraine - Principles and Treatment of a Widespread Disease].
AB  - Headaches are amongst the most common reasons for visiting a general practitioner
      in Switzerland. The key features in differentiating migraine from other types of
      headache are the pulsating pain, interfering with daily activities, and the
      hypersensitivity to stimuli such as light or sound. Around 15 % of the patients
      report a preceeding aura, consisting of transient neurological symptoms. An
      effective migraine management is based on non-pharmacological treatment as well
      as acute and preventive medication. Non-pharmacological options include the
      management of the trigger factors stress, sleep deprivation, musculoskeletal
      tension. Acute treatment should be stratified and include non-opioid analgesics
      for milder attacks, triptans or combinations for more severe attacks. The
      spectrum of preventive medication is broad. Therefore it is essential to find a
      suitable and well tolerable drug for the individual patient.

PMID- 26886696
TI  - [Spirometry in the GP-Office].
AB  - Spirometry is an important diagnostic tool, which, with correct implementation,
      detects possible obstructive or restrictive lung diseases. However, it is
      important to note that only part of the lung function is measured by spirometry.
      For instance, total lung volume and residual volume, both useful in detecting
      pulmonary emphysema, are not measured. Therefore, in case of pathological
      spirometry or suspected restrictive lung disease, further tests such as body
      plethysmography with diffusion measurement should be carried out.

PMID- 26886697
TI  - [Acute Chest Pain].
AB  - Acute chest pain is a frequent consultation reason in general practice as well as
      in emergency departments. With the help of history, physical examination, ECG,
      laboratory and newly developed risk scores, potentially life-threatening diseases
      and high-risk patients may be detected and treated early, quickly and cost
      effectively. New biomarkers and their combination with risk scores can increase
      the negative predictive value to exclude certain diseases.

PMID- 26886698
TI  - [How Reliable is Neuronavigation?].
AB  - Neuronavigation plays a central role in modern neurosurgery. It allows
      visualizing instruments and three-dimensional image data intraoperatively and
      supports spatial orientation. Thus it allows to reduce surgical risks and speed
      up complex surgical procedures. The growing availability and importance of
      neuronavigation makes clear how relevant it is to know about its reliability and
      accuracy. Different factors may influence the accuracy during the surgery
      unnoticed, misleading the surgeon. Besides the best possible optimization of the
      systems themselves, a good knowledge about its weaknesses is mandatory for every
      neurosurgeon.

PMID- 26886699
TI  - [Does long-term use of proton pump inhibitors promote premalignant lesions of the
      gastric mucosa?].

PMID- 26886700
TI  - [Walking exercise for patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease helps
      patients with and without revascularization].

PMID- 26886701
TI  - [Intensive blood pressure treatment vs. less intensive treatment].

PMID- 26886703
TI  - [Ultrasonography 68. Evaluation of fatigue].

PMID- 26886706
TI  - Comparative Proteomics Provides Insights into Metabolic Responses in Rat Liver to
      Isolated Soy and Meat Proteins.
AB  - It has been reported that isolated dietary soy and meat proteins have distinct
      effects on physiology and liver gene expression, but the impact on protein
      expression responses are unknown. Because these may differ from gene expression
      responses, we investigated dietary protein-induced changes in liver proteome.
      Rats were fed for 1 week semisynthetic diets that differed only regarding protein
      source; casein (reference) was fully replaced by isolated soy, chicken, fish, or
      pork protein. Changes in liver proteome were measured by iTRAQ labeling and LC
      ESI-MS/MS. A robust set totaling 1437 unique proteins was identified and
      subjected to differential protein analysis and biological interpretation.
      Compared with casein, all other protein sources reduced the abundance of proteins
      involved in fatty acid metabolism and Pparalpha signaling pathway. All dietary
      proteins, except chicken, increased oxidoreductive transformation reactions but
      reduced energy and essential amino acid metabolic pathways. Only soy protein
      increased the metabolism of sulfur-containing and nonessential amino acids. Soy
      and fish proteins increased translation and mRNA processing, whereas only chicken
      protein increased TCA cycle but reduced immune responses. These findings were
      partially in line with previously reported transcriptome results. This study
      further shows the distinct effects of soy and meat proteins on liver metabolism
      in rats. 

PMID- 26886707
TI  - Sex Ideologies in China: Examining Interprovince Differences.
AB  - In recent decades, premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexuality have
      become increasingly visible in China, leading scholars to claim that a national
      "sex revolution" is under way. However, China's internal sociocultural diversity
      calls this nation-level generalization into question. How do sex ideologies vary
      across China's distinct provinces? To what extent are interprovince variations in
      sex ideologies associated with distinct macrolevel social factors in China? In
      this research, data from the 2010 China General Social Survey and the 2011
      Chinese Statistics Yearbook were analyzed using multilevel models to test four
      contending theories of interprovince differences in sex ideologies in China:
      modernization, Westernization, deindustrialization, and the "rice theory." The
      modernization theory was unsupported by the results, as socioeconomic development
      is not significantly associated with sex ideologies. Higher levels of
      deindustrialization and Westernization were associated with less traditional sex
      ideologies, but the strength of association varied across the domains of
      premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexuality. The rice theory was
      consistently supported, as the distinction between rice and wheat agriculture
      explained up to 30% of the province-level variance in sex ideologies. The
      findings underline the roles of both long-standing geographic differences and
      recent social changes in shaping China's ideational landscape of sex.

PMID- 26886708
TI  - [Paradoxical low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis].
AB  - In approximately one third of patients presenting with suspected severe aortic
      stenosis, there is a discrepancy between a severely reduced aortic valve opening
      area (< 1 cm(2)) and a non-severe increase of the mean transvalvular gradient (<
      40 mmHg). In a substantial number of these cases there is evidence of a severe
      paradoxical low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis, characterized by a reduced
      stroke volume index in the setting of a normal left ventricular ejection
      fraction. This finding should trigger an extensive diagnostic work-up, including
      echocardiography, stress echocardiography and computed tomography to rule out
      measurement errors and to identify the cause(s) of the hemodynamic discrepancy.
      If the diagnosis of a severe paradoxical low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis is
      confirmed and, furthermore, the patient is normotensive and reports stenosis
      associated symptoms, the feasibility of an aortic valve replacement should be
      considered. 

PMID- 26886709
TI  - [Pharmacotherapy of urinary incontinence in the elderly].
AB  - The prevalence and the incidence of Urinary Incontinence is growing. Women suffer
      predominantly from stress and mixed urinary incontinence and men from urge
      incontinence. In elderly people, the pathophysiological and the physiological
      change in the lower urinary tract system must be considered as well as an
      underlying multimorbidity. Stress urinary incontinence is among others caused by
      an insufficient urethral closure mechanism and urge incontinence is followed by
      unhibited detrusor contractions. Medical treatment is beside other important
      conservative options only one part of the treatment strategy in incontinence.
      Duloxetine, a serotonine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitore can increase activity
      of the external urethral sphincter and is able to reduce incontinence episodes in
      up to 64 %. Antagonists of muscarinic receptors can reduce urgency, frequency and
      urge incontinence as well as increase bladder capacity significantly. In Germany,
      darifenacin, fesoterodin, oxybutynin, propiverine, solifenacin, tolterodine and
      trospium chloride are available to treat urge incontinence. The efficacy of these
      agents are almost comparable in the elderly with the exception of oxybutynin IR.
      However, tolerability is different and not well studied in the elderly population
      with the exception of fesoterodin. Side effects, especially dry mouth, dizziness
      and constipation often limit their use. None of the agents show ideal efficacy or
      tolerability in all patients. Last summer therefore a beta3-agonist mirabegron
      was also introduced in Germany but was withdrawn. 

PMID- 26886712
TI  - Friable Nodules on the Elbow of a Transplant Patient.

PMID- 26886710
TI  - [Current therapeutic strategies for mantle cell lymphoma].
AB  - Mantle cell lymphoma is a subtype of B-cell lymphoma with a mostly aggressive
      behavior and poor long-term prognosis. The choice of therapy depends on the age,
      performance status and risk profile of the patient. Randomized trials have
      confirmed the superiority of a dose-intensified induction therapy containing
      cytarabine followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in the first-line
      treatment of younger patients with a good general condition. Elderly patients
      benefit from a rituximab maintenance therapy after immunochemotherapy. Novel
      targeted therapies of the B-cell receptor pathway with the Bruton's tyrosine
      kinase inhibitor ibrutinib and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)
      antagonist temsirolimus as well as immunomodulatory drugs (lenalidomide) have
      shown promising results in relapsed disease. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib
      has been approved for first-line treatment in combination with conventional
      chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26886711
TI  - Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts express an orally immunogenic protein
      targeting the p210 epitope implicated in atherosclerosis immunotherapies.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: An algae-based vaccine model against atherosclerosis was developed
      with positive findings in terms of antigen yield and immunogenicity in mouse.
      Several immunotherapies against atherosclerosis have been evaluated at the
      preclinical level thus far, with some of them currently under evaluation in
      clinical trials. In particular, the p210 epitope from ApoB100 is known to elicit
      atheroprotective responses. Considering that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an
      attractive host for the production and delivery of subunit vaccines, in this
      study a chimeric protein consisting of the B subunit of the cholera toxin and the
      p210 epitope from ApoB100 (CTB:p210) has been expressed in C. reinhardtii
      chloroplast as an attempt to establish an oral vaccine candidate against
      atherosclerosis. The Chlamydomonas-made CTB:p210 protein was successfully
      expressed at levels of up to 60 ug per g of fresh weight biomass. The antigenic
      activity of the CTB and the p210 moiety was preserved in the CTB:p210 chimera.
      Moreover the algae-made CTB:p210 showed an immunogenic activity, when orally
      administered to BALB/c mice, as evidenced the presence of anti-p210 serum
      antibodies in mice treated with the algae-derived CTB:p210. The antibody response
      lasts for at least 80 days after the last boost. This experimental model is
      proposed as a convenient tool in the development of low cost atherosclerosis
      vaccines of easy compliance and friendly delivery. Further studies will determine
      the therapeutic potential of this algae-made vaccine in atherosclerosis animal
      models.

PMID- 26886714
TI  - Rituximab-refractory lupus nephritis successfully treated with belimumab.

PMID- 26886713
TI  - An Examination of Social Anxiety in Marijuana and Cigarette Use Motives Among
      Adolescents.
AB  - Marijuana and nicotine are two of the most widely used substances among
      adolescents in the United States. Symptoms of social anxiety (SA) typically
      emerge during early adolescence, and elevated levels are associated with
      increased substance-related problems despite inconsistent links to frequency of
      use. Substance use motives, and in particular coping motives, have been found to
      play an important role in understanding the heightened risk for use problems
      among those with elevated SA. Importantly, work to date has been conducted almost
      exclusively with adult samples; thus the current study examined whether similar
      patterns would emerge among adolescents. The current project included 56
      community-recruited adolescents (ages 12-17 years; 41% girls) with a positive
      history of lifetime marijuana and cigarette use. Consistent with the adult
      literature, SA was not positively associated with frequency of use across either
      substance. Further, SA was positively associated with conformity use motives and
      unrelated to social or enhancement motives for both substances. Unexpectedly, SA
      was unrelated to coping use motives for either marijuana or cigarettes. These
      preliminary data highlight the need for future research designed to forward
      developmentally sensitive models of substance use behaviors and etiology.

PMID- 26886715
TI  - A Facile Method for in Situ Preparation of the MnO2/LaMnO3 Catalyst for the
      Removal of Toluene.
AB  - MOx/ABO3 is a promising catalyst for the high-efficiency removal of volatile
      organic compounds. However, this catalyst is limited on practical applications
      due to its complex synthesis procedure and high cost. In this work, the
      MnO2/LaMnO3 catalyst was prepared in situ using a facile one-step method for the
      first time, in which partial La cations were selectively removed from three
      dimensionally chain-like ordered macroporous (3DOM) LaMnO3 material. After
      selective removal, the obtained MnO2/LaMnO3 sample expressed an excellent
      catalytic performance on toluene oxidation. Toluene could be completely oxidized
      into CO2 and H2O at 290  degrees C over the MnO2/LaMnO3 catalyst with a
      toluene/oxygen molar ratio of 1/100 and a space velocity of 120 000 mL/(g h). In
      addition, the apparent activation energy value of MnO2/LaMnO3 was 57 kJ/mol,
      which was lower than those of other metal oxides catalysts. According to O2-TPD
      and XPS results, it is concluded that the high catalytic performance of
      MnO2/LaMnO3 was mainly associated with the large amount of oxygen species and the
      excellent lattice oxygen mobility. MnO2/LaMnO3 is a promising catalyst for the
      practical removal of volatile organic compounds due to its high efficiency, good
      stability, low cost, and convenient preparation.

PMID- 26886717
TI  - Ultrafast exciton-polariton scattering towards the Dirac points.
AB  - Using the Feynman-Dyson diagram technique, we study nonlinear polariton-polariton
      scattering in a two-dimensional micropillar-based optical superlattice with
      hexagonal symmetry. We demonstrate that both the emerging polariton chirality and
      the loop Feynman diagrams up to infinite order should be strictly accounted for
      in the evaluation of the self-energy of the system. Further, we explicitly show
      that in such a design the time of polariton scattering towards the Dirac points
      can be drastically decreased which can be used, for instance, in engineering
      novel classes of polariton lasers with substantially reduced thresholds. 

PMID- 26886716
TI  - Vitamin E Improves Serum Paraoxonase-1 Activity and Some Metabolic Factors in
      Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: No Effects on Nitrite/Nitrate Levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: It is known that markers of oxidative stress and nitrite/nitrate anion
      (NOx) increase and activity of antioxidative enzyme paraoxonase-1 decline in type
      2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The effects of vitamin E on paraoxonase-1 activity and
      NOx in patients with type 2 diabetes are not known. The purpose of this study was
      to examine the hypothesis that vitamin E supplementation would affect paraoxonase
      1 activity, metabolic factors, and NOx in patients with DM. METHODS: This double
      blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 83 patients with DM
      aged 30-60 years. Forty-two of the subjects had taken 400 IU/day vitamin E and 41
      were given placebo over 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric
      measurements, and dietary intake data were collected at the baseline and at the
      end of the trial. RESULTS: Vitamin E significantly increased serum vitamin E
      level, paraoxonase-1 activity, and total antioxidant status (TAS) and decreased
      fasting blood sugar (FBS) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin
      A1c, serum insulin, and insulin resistance significantly decreased in the vitamin
      E group compared to baseline values (p < 0.05). Alterations in serum levels of
      malondialdehyde and NOx were not significant in any of groups (p > 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E improved serum vitamin E level, paraoxonase-1 activity,
      TAS, and FBS in patients with type 2 diabetes. Longitudinal studies are warranted
      to assess the outcome of these results in reducing complications of diabetes in
      patients with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26886718
TI  - Associations Between Parity, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among
      Middle-Aged Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated an association between parity and
      the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged women;
      however, some inconsistencies still remain in the literature after accounting for
      obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between parity
      and the risk factors of CVD while accounting for current obesity status in middle
      aged women. METHOD: Data for this study came from the National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. The final analytic sample included 2024
      middle-aged women (40-60 years old). General linear models predicting CVD risk
      factors based on parity (nulliparous, 1, 2, 3, and >=4) were established after
      controlling for study covariates. Least square adjusted means of CVD risk factors
      and associated 95% confidence intervals were estimated across parity and body
      mass index (BMI) levels. RESULTS: Women with >=4 parity (8.34%; standard error
      [SE] = 0.84) showed significantly distinct demographic characteristics and health
      conditions, including obesity (49.08%; SE = 3.55). There were no significant
      associations between parity and CVD risk factors after controlling for
      covariates. Follow-up analyses showed consistent results across parity; however,
      CVD risk factors were significantly increased with higher BMI levels, regardless
      of parity status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that parity is not a
      significant predictor of CVD risk factors in middle-aged women, whereas current
      overweight or obesity status is more important when explaining the risk of the
      development of CVD.

PMID- 26886719
TI  - Thulium Laser Enucleation Versus Plasmakinetic Enucleation of the Prostate: A
      Randomized Trial of a Single Center.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of thulium laser enucleation of the
      prostate (ThuLEP) with plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP). METHODS:
      A total of 127 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were randomized
      to either ThuLEP (n = 61) or PKEP (n = 66). All patients were assessed
      preoperatively and followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Baseline
      characteristics of the patients, perioperative data, postoperative outcomes, and
      complications were recorded. RESULTS: The decrease in hemoglobin level and the
      catheter time were statistically significantly lower in the ThuLEP group compared
      with the PKEP group (0.80 +/- 0.49 vs 0.99 +/- 0.52, p = 0.037, and 1.85 +/- 0.94
      vs 2.28 +/- 1.34, p = 0.042). There were no statistical differences in
      complications between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant
      improvement in 3, 6, and 12 months' parameters compared with preoperative values
      (p < 0.001). Assessment at the 12-month follow-up showed no difference in urinary
      parameters between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ThuLEP and PKEP are both safe and
      efficient procedures for the treatment of patients with BPH. Compared with PKEP,
      ThuLEP provided less risk of hemorrhage and shorter catheter time, although the
      differences may be of little clinical relevance. Further well-designed trials
      with extended follow-up and larger sample size are needed to draw final
      conclusions about the efficacy of the two procedures.

PMID- 26886720
TI  - Use of Transnational Services to Prevent Treatment Interruption in Tuberculosis
      Infected Persons Who Leave the United States.
AB  - A major problem resulting from interrupted tuberculosis (TB) treatment is the
      development of drug-resistant TB, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), a
      more deadly and costly-to-treat form of the disease. Global health systems are
      not equipped to diagnose and treat the current burden of MDR TB. TB-infected
      foreign visitors and temporary US residents who leave the country during
      treatment can experience treatment interruption and, thus, are at greater risk
      for drug-resistant TB. Using epidemiologic and demographic data, we estimated TB
      incidence among this group, as well as the proportion of patients referred to
      transnational care-continuity and management services during relocation; each
      year, ~2,827 visitors and temporary residents are at risk for TB treatment
      interruption, 222 (8%) of whom are referred for transnational services. Scale up
      of transnational services for persons at high risk for treatment interruption is
      possible and encouraged because of potential health gains and reductions in
      healthcare costs for the United States and receiving countries.

PMID- 26886721
TI  - Tunable pH-Sensitive Linker for Controlled Release.
AB  - We have developed a novel pH-sensitive linker based on a phosphoramidate scaffold
      that can be tuned to release amine-containing drug molecules at various pH
      values. The pH-triggered phosphoramidate-based linkers are responsive to pH alone
      and do not require intracellular enzymatic action to initiate drug release. Key
      to the pH-triggered amine release from these linkers is a proximal acidic group
      (e.g., pyridinium or carboxylic acid) to promote the hydrolysis of the
      phosphoramidate P-N bond, presumably through an intramolecular general-acid type
      mechanism. Phosphoramidate hydrolysis is largely governed by the pKa of the
      leaving amine (e.g., primary, secondary, aniline). However, the proximity of the
      neighboring pyridine group attenuates the stability of the P-N bond to
      hydrolysis, thus allowing for control over the release of an amine from the
      phosphoramidate center. Based on the model scaffolds examined, phosphoramidate
      based linkers could be selected for particular properties for controlled-release
      applications such as amine type, stability under physiological conditions, or
      release rates at various pH values such as intracellular endosomal conditions.
      The tunability of the phosphoramidate scaffold is expected to find broad
      applicability in various controlled drug-release applications such as antibody or
      small-molecule drug conjugates, drug-eluting stents, prodrug activation, as well
      as intracellular trafficking studies in which pH changes can trigger the release
      of turn-on dyes. 

PMID- 26886722
TI  - Treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome with Electroconvulsive Therapy in an
      Adolescent with Psychosis.

PMID- 26886724
TI  - Role of Metabolic Activation in 8-Epidiosbulbin E Acetate-Induced Liver Injury:
      Mechanism of Action of the Hepatotoxic Furanoid.
AB  - 8-Epidiosbulbin E acetate (EEA), a furanoid, was unexpectedly found to be the
      most abundant diterpenoid lactone in certain varieties of Dioscorea bulbifera L.
      (DB), a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Asian nations. This herb has
      been reported to cause liver injury in humans and experimental animals. The
      occurrence of EEA in DB was dependent on its commercial source. The present study
      shows that EEA exhibits time- and dose-dependent liver injury in mice.
      Pretreatment with ketoconazole prevented the animals from developing EEA-induced
      liver injury, caused 7- and 13-fold increases in the plasma Cmax and AUC of EEA,
      and decreased urinary excretion of glutathione conjugates derived from EEA.
      Pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine exacerbated EEA-induced hepatotoxicity.
      In order to define the role of EEA's furan moiety in EEA-induced hepatotoxicity,
      we synthesized tetrahydro-EEA by catalytic hydrogenation of the furan moiety. No
      liver injury was observed in the animals given the same doses of tetrahydro-EEA
      as those used with EAA. The results indicate that EEA itself does not appear to
      be hepatotoxic but that the electrophilic intermediate generated by the metabolic
      activation of the furan ring mediated by cytochromes P450 is responsible for EEA
      induced liver injury. 

PMID- 26886723
TI  - 18alpha-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Proteasome Activator Decelerates Aging and
      Alzheimer's Disease Progression in Caenorhabditis elegans and Neuronal Cultures.
AB  - AIMS: Proteasomes are constituents of the cellular proteolytic networks that
      maintain protein homeostasis through regulated proteolysis of normal and abnormal
      (in any way) proteins. Genetically mediated proteasome activation in
      multicellular organisms has been shown to promote longevity and to exert protein
      antiaggregation activity. In this study, we investigate whether compound-mediated
      proteasome activation is feasible in a multicellular organism and we dissect the
      effects of such approach in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression.
      RESULTS: Feeding of wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans with 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic
      acid (18alpha-GA; a previously shown proteasome activator in cell culture)
      results in enhanced levels of proteasome activities that lead to a skinhead-1-
      and proteasome activation-dependent life span extension. The elevated proteasome
      function confers lower paralysis rates in various AD nematode models accompanied
      by decreased Abeta deposits, thus ultimately decelerating the progression of AD
      phenotype. More importantly, similar positive results are also delivered when
      human and murine cells of nervous origin are subjected to 18alpha-GA treatment.
      INNOVATION: This is the first report of the use of 18alpha-GA, a diet-derived
      compound as prolongevity and antiaggregation factor in the context of a
      multicellular organism. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that proteasome
      activation with downstream positive outcomes on aging and AD, an aggregation
      related disease, is feasible in a nongenetic manipulation manner in a
      multicellular organism. Moreover, they unveil the need for identification of
      antiaging and antiamyloidogenic compounds among the nutrients found in our normal
      diet. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 855-869.

PMID- 26886726
TI  - White Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Exciplex Electroluminescence from
      Polymer Blends and a Single Polymer.
AB  - In this Article, we designed and synthesized a series of polyfluorene
      derivatives, which consist of the electron-rich 4,4'-(9-alkyl-carbazole-3,6
      diyl)bis(N,N-diphenylaniline) (TPA-Cz) in the side chain and the electron
      deficient dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide (SO) unit in the main chain. The resulting
      copolymer PF-T25 that did not comprise the SO unit exhibited blue light-emission
      with the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of (0.16, 0.10).
      However, by physically blending PF-T25 with a blue light-emitting SO-based
      oligomer, a novel low-energy emission correlated to exciplex emerged due to the
      appropriate energy level alignment of TPA-Cz and the SO-based oligomers, which
      showed extended exciton lifetime as confirmed by time-resolved photoluminescent
      spectroscopy. The low-energy emission was also identified in copolymers
      consisting of SO unit in the main chain, which can effectively compensate for the
      high-energy emission to produce binary white light-emission. Polymer light
      emitting diodes based on the exciplex-type single greenish-white polymer exhibit
      the peak luminous efficiency of 2.34 cd A(-1) and the maximum brightness of 12
      410 cd m(-2), with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage color coordinates
      (0.27, 0.39). The device based on such polymer showed much better
      electroluminescent stability than those based on blending films. These
      observations indicated that developing a single polymer with the generated
      exciplex emission can be a novel and effective molecular design strategy toward
      highly stable and efficient white polymer light-emitting diodes. 

PMID- 26886725
TI  - Effect of Imaging Parameter Thresholds on MRI Prediction of Neoadjuvant
      Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer Subtypes.
AB  - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive performance of magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) markers in breast cancer patients by subtype. Sixty-four
      patients with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy
      were enrolled in this study. Each patient received a dynamic contrast-enhanced
      (DCE-MRI) at baseline, after 1 cycle of chemotherapy and before surgery.
      Functional tumor volume (FTV), the imaging marker measured by DCE-MRI, was
      computed at various thresholds of percent enhancement (PEt) and signal
      enhancement ratio (SERt). Final FTV before surgery and percent changes of FTVs at
      the early and final treatment time points were used to predict patients'
      recurrence-free survival. The full cohort and each subtype defined by the status
      of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HR+/HER2-,
      HER2+, triple negative) were analyzed. Predictions were evaluated using the Cox
      proportional hazard model when PEt changed from 30% to 200% in steps of 10% and
      SERt changed from 0 to 2 in steps of 0.2. Predictions with high hazard ratios and
      low p-values were considered as strong. Different profiles of FTV as predictors
      for recurrence-free survival were observed in each breast cancer subtype and
      strong associations with survival were observed at different PEt/SERt
      combinations that resulted in different FTVs. Findings from this retrospective
      study suggest that the predictive performance of imaging markers based on FTV may
      be improved with enhancement thresholds being optimized separately for clinically
      relevant subtypes defined by HR and HER2 receptor expression. 

PMID- 26886727
TI  - New Transgenic Lines for Localization of GFP-Tagged Proteins by Electron
      Microscopy.

PMID- 26886728
TI  - Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 in Colombia: Survey in Patients with Clinical
      Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus is a major cause of outbreaks as well as sporadic
      hepatitis cases worldwide. The epidemiology of this enterically transmitted
      infection differs between developing and developed countries. The aims of this
      study were to describe HEV infection in Colombian patients and to characterize
      the genotype. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 40 patients aged
      over 15 with a clinical diagnosis of viral hepatitis, recruited from five primary
      health units in the city of Medellin, Colombia. Fecal samples obtained from the
      40 consecutives cases were analyzed for HEV RNA using nested reverse
      transcription PCR for both ORF1 and ORF2-3. The amplicons were sequenced for
      phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: Nine (22.5%) cases of HEV infection were
      identified in the study population. Three HEV strains obtained from patients were
      classified as genotype 3. No significant association was found between cases of
      Hepatitis E and the variables water drinking source, garbage collection system
      and contact with pigs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective study of
      hepatitis E in Colombian patients. The circulation of the genotype 3 in this
      population is predictable considering the reports of the region and the
      identification of this genotype from pigs in the state of Antioquia, of which
      Medellin is the capital. Further studies are necessary to establish whether
      zoonotic transmission of HEV is important in Colombia.

PMID- 26886730
TI  - Open Access Meets Discoverability: Citations to Articles Posted to Academia.edu.
AB  - Using matching and regression analyses, we measure the difference in citations
      between articles posted to Academia.edu and other articles from similar journals,
      controlling for field, impact factor, and other variables. Based on a sample size
      of 31,216 papers, we find that a paper in a median impact factor journal uploaded
      to Academia.edu receives 16% more citations after one year than a similar article
      not available online, 51% more citations after three years, and 69% after five
      years. We also found that articles also posted to Academia.edu had 58% more
      citations than articles only posted to other online venues, such as personal and
      departmental home pages, after five years. 

PMID- 26886729
TI  - Enhancing the Thermostability of Serratia plymuthica Sucrose Isomerase Using B
      Factor-Directed Mutagenesis.
AB  - The sucrose isomerase of Serratia plymuthica AS9 (AS9 PalI) was expressed in
      Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and characterized. The half-life of AS9 PalI was 20
      min at 45 degrees C, indicating that it was unstable. In order to improve its
      thermostability, six amino acid residues with higher B-factors were selected as
      targets for site-directed mutagenesis, and six mutants (E175N, K576D, K174D,
      G176D, S575D and N577K) were designed using the RosettaDesign server. The E175N
      and K576D mutants exhibited improved thermostability in preliminary experiments,
      so the double mutant E175N/K576D was constructed. These three mutants (E175N,
      K576D, E175N/K576D) were characterized in detail. The results indicate that the
      three mutants exhibit a slightly increased optimal temperature (35 degrees C),
      compared with that of the wild-type enzyme (30 degrees C). The mutants also share
      an identical pH optimum of 6.0, which is similar to that of the wild-type enzyme.
      The half-lives of the E175N, K576D and E175N/K576D mutants were 2.30, 1.78 and
      7.65 times greater than that of the wild-type enzyme at 45 degrees C,
      respectively. Kinetic studies showed that the Km values for the E175N, K576D and
      E175N/K576D mutants decreased by 6.6%, 2.0% and 11.0%, respectively, and their
      kcat/Km values increased by 38.2%, 4.2% and 19.4%, respectively, compared with
      those of the wild-type enzyme. After optimizing the conditions for isomaltulose
      production at 45 degrees C, we found that the E175N, K576D and E175N/K576D
      mutants displayed slightly improved isomaltulose yields, compared with the wild
      type enzyme. Therefore, the mutants produced in this study would be more suitable
      for industrial biosynthesis of isomaltulose. 

PMID- 26886731
TI  - GeneNetFinder2: Improved Inference of Dynamic Gene Regulatory Relations with
      Multiple Regulators.
AB  - A gene involved in complex regulatory interactions may have multiple regulators
      since gene expression in such interactions is often controlled by more than one
      gene. Another thing that makes gene regulatory interactions complicated is that
      regulatory interactions are not static, but change over time during the cell
      cycle. Most research so far has focused on identifying gene regulatory relations
      between individual genes in a particular stage of the cell cycle. In this study
      we developed a method for identifying dynamic gene regulations of several types
      from the time-series gene expression data. The method can find gene regulations
      with multiple regulators that work in combination or individually as well as
      those with single regulators. The method has been implemented as the second
      version of GeneNetFinder (hereafter called GeneNetFinder2) and tested on several
      gene expression datasets. Experimental results with gene expression data revealed
      the existence of genes that are not regulated by individual genes but rather by a
      combination of several genes. Such gene regulatory relations cannot be found by
      conventional methods. Our method finds such regulatory relations as well as those
      with multiple, independent regulators or single regulators, and represents gene
      regulatory relations as a dynamic network in which different gene regulatory
      relations are shown in different stages of the cell cycle. GeneNetFinder2 is
      available at http://bclab.inha.ac.kr/GeneNetFinder and will be useful for
      modeling dynamic gene regulations with multiple regulators. 

PMID- 26886732
TI  - ChIP-PIT: Enhancing the Analysis of ChIP-Seq Data Using Convex-Relaxed Pair-Wise
      Interaction Tensor Decomposition.
AB  - In recent years, thanks to the efforts of individual scientists and research
      consortiums, a huge amount of chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high
      throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) experimental data have been accumulated. Instead
      of investigating them independently, several recent studies have convincingly
      demonstrated that a wealth of scientific insights can be gained by integrative
      analysis of these ChIP-seq data. However, when used for the purpose of
      integrative analysis, a serious drawback of current ChIP-seq technique is that it
      is still expensive and time-consuming to generate ChIP-seq datasets of high
      standard. Most researchers are therefore unable to obtain complete ChIP-seq data
      for several TFs in a wide variety of cell lines, which considerably limits the
      understanding of transcriptional regulation pattern. In this paper, we propose a
      novel method called ChIP-PIT to overcome the aforementioned limitation. In ChIP
      PIT, ChIP-seq data corresponding to a diverse collection of cell types, TFs and
      genes are fused together using the three-mode pair-wise interaction tensor (PIT)
      model, and the prediction of unperformed ChIP-seq experimental results is
      formulated as a tensor completion problem. Computationally, we propose efficient
      first-order method based on extensions of coordinate descent method to learn the
      optimal solution of ChIP-PIT, which makes it particularly suitable for the
      analysis of massive scale ChIP-seq data. Experimental evaluation the ENCODE data
      illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model. 

PMID- 26886733
TI  - The Intrinsic Geometric Structure of Protein-Protein Interaction Networks for
      Protein Interaction Prediction.
AB  - Recent developments in high-throughput technologies for measuring protein-protein
      interaction (PPI) have profoundly advanced our ability to systematically infer
      protein function and regulation. However, inherently high false positive and
      false negative rates in measurement have posed great challenges in computational
      approaches for the prediction of PPI. A good PPI predictor should be 1) resistant
      to high rate of missing and spurious PPIs, and 2) robust against incompleteness
      of observed PPI networks. To predict PPI in a network, we developed an intrinsic
      geometry structure (IGS) for network, which exploits the intrinsic and hidden
      relationship among proteins in network through a heat diffusion process. In this
      process, all explicit PPIs participate simultaneously to glue local infinitesimal
      and noisy experimental interaction data to generate a global macroscopic
      descriptions about relationships among proteins. The revealed implicit
      relationship can be interpreted as the probability of two proteins interacting
      with each other. The revealed relationship is intrinsic and robust against
      individual, local and explicit protein interactions in the original network. We
      apply our approach to publicly available PPI network data for the evaluation of
      the performance of PPI prediction. Experimental results indicate that, under
      different levels of the missing and spurious PPIs, IGS is able to robustly
      exploit the intrinsic and hidden relationship for PPI prediction with a higher
      sensitivity and specificity compared to that of recently proposed methods. 

PMID- 26886734
TI  - A Novel Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization for Improved Mutagenic Primer Design
      in Mismatch PCR-RFLP SNP Genotyping.
AB  - Many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for complex genetic diseases are
      genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism
      (PCR-RFLP) in small-scale basic research studies. It is an essential work to
      design feasible PCR-RFLP primer pair and find out available restriction enzymes
      to recognize the target SNP for PCR experiments. However, many SNPs are incapable
      of performing PCR-RFLP makes SNP genotyping become unpractical. A genetic
      algorithm (GA) had been proposed for designing mutagenic primer and get available
      restriction enzymes, but it gives an unrefined solution in mutagenic primers. In
      order to improve the mutagenic primer design, we propose TLBOMPD (TLBO-based
      Mutagenic Primer Design) a novel computational intelligence-based method that
      uses the notion of "teaching and learning" to search for more feasible mutagenic
      primers and provide the latest available restriction enzymes. The original
      Wallace's formula for the calculation of melting temperature is maintained, and
      more accurate calculation formulas of GC-based melting temperature and
      thermodynamic melting temperature are introduced into the proposed method.
      Mutagenic matrix is also reserved to increase the efficiency of judging a
      hypothetical mutagenic primer if involve available restriction enzymes for
      recognizing the target SNP. Furthermore, the core of SNP-RFLPing version 2 is
      used to enhance the mining work for restriction enzymes based on the latest
      REBASE. Twenty-five SNPs with mismatch PCR-RFLP screened from 288 SNPs in human
      SLC6A4 gene are used to appraise the TLBOMPD. Also, the computational results are
      compared with those of the GAMPD. In the future, the usage of the mutagenic
      primers in the wet lab needs to been validated carefully to increase the
      reliability of the method. The TLBOMPD is implemented in JAVA and it is freely
      available at http://tlbompd.googlecode.com/. 

PMID- 26886735
TI  - Discovering Motifs in Biological Sequences Using the Micron Automata Processor.
AB  - Finding approximately conserved sequences, called motifs, across multiple DNA or
      protein sequences is an important problem in computational biology. In this
      paper, we consider the (l, d) motif search problem of identifying one or more
      motifs of length l present in at least q of the n given sequences, with each
      occurrence differing from the motif in at most d substitutions. The problem is
      known to be NP-complete, and the largest solved instance reported to date is
      (26,11). We propose a novel algorithm for the (l,d) motif search problem using
      streaming execution over a large set of non-deterministic finite automata (NFA).
      This solution is designed to take advantage of the micron automata processor, a
      new technology close to deployment that can simultaneously execute multiple NFA
      in parallel. We demonstrate the capability for solving much larger instances of
      the (l, d) motif search problem using the resources available within a single
      automata processor board, by estimating run-times for problem instances (39,18)
      and (40,17). The paper serves as a useful guide to solving problems using this
      new accelerator technology.

PMID- 26886736
TI  - Fractal Behavior of the Pancreatic beta-Cell Near the Percolation Threshold:
      Effect of the KATP Channel On the Electrical Response.
AB  - The molecular system built with true chemical bonds or strong molecular
      interaction can be described using conceptual mathematical tools. Modeling of the
      natural generated ionic currents on the human pancreatic beta-cell activity had
      been already studied using complicated analytical models. In our present
      contribution, we prove the same using our simple electrical model. The ionic
      currents are associated with different proteins membrane channels (K-Ca, K(v),
      K(ATP), Ca(v)-L) and Na/Ca Exchanger (NCX). The proteins are Ohmic conductors and
      are modeled by conductance randomly distributed. Switches are placed in series
      with conductances in order to highlight the channel activity. However, the KATP
      channel activity is stimulated by glucose, and the NCX's conductance change
      according to the intracellular calcium concentration. The percolation threshold
      of the system is calculated by the fractal nature of the infinite cluster using
      the Tarjan's depth-first-search algorithm. It is shown that the behavior of the
      internal concentration of Ca(2+) and the membrane potential are modulated by
      glucose. The results confirm that the inhibition of KATP channels depolarizes the
      membrane and increases the influx of [Ca(2+)]i through NCX and Ca(v)-L channel
      for high glucose concentrations.

PMID- 26886737
TI  - gEFM: An Algorithm for Computing Elementary Flux Modes Using Graph Traversal.
AB  - Computational methods to engineer cellular metabolism promise to play a critical
      role in producing pharmaceutical, repairing defective genes, destroying cancer
      cells, and generating biofuels. Elementary Flux Mode (EFM) analysis is one such
      powerful technique that has elucidated cell growth and regulation, predicted
      product yield, and analyzed network robustness. EFM analysis, however, is a
      computationally daunting task because it requires the enumeration of all
      independent and stoichiometrically balanced pathways within a cellular network.
      We present in this paper an EFM enumeration algorithm, termed graphical EFM or
      gEFM. The algorithm is based on graph traversal, an approach previously assumed
      unsuitable for enumerating EFMs. The approach is derived from a pathway synthesis
      method proposed by Mavrovouniotis et al. The algorithm is described and proved
      correct. We apply gEFM to several networks and report runtimes in comparison with
      other EFM computation tools. We show how gEFM benefits from network compression.
      Like other EFM computational techniques, gEFM is sensitive to constraint
      ordering; however, we are able to demonstrate that knowledge of the underlying
      network structure leads to better constraint ordering. gEFM is shown to be
      competitive with state-of-the-art EFM computational techniques for several
      networks, but less so for networks with a larger number of EFMs. 

PMID- 26886738
TI  - Globally Asymptotic Stability Analysis for Genetic Regulatory Networks with Mixed
      Delays: An M-Matrix-Based Approach.
AB  - This paper deals with the problem of globally asymptotic stability for
      nonnegative equilibrium points of genetic regulatory networks (GRNs) with mixed
      delays (i.e., time-varying discrete delays and constant distributed delays). Up
      to now, all existing stability criteria for equilibrium points of the kind of
      considered GRNs are in the form of the linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In this
      paper, the Brouwer's fixed point theorem is employed to obtain sufficient
      conditions such that the kind of GRNs under consideration here has at least one
      nonnegative equilibrium point. Then, by using the nonsingular M-matrix theory and
      the functional differential equation theory, M-matrix-based sufficient conditions
      are proposed to guarantee that the kind of GRNs under consideration here has a
      unique nonnegative equilibrium point which is globally asymptotically stable. The
      M-matrix-based sufficient conditions derived here are to check whether a constant
      matrix is a nonsingular M-matrix, which can be easily verified, as there are many
      equivalent statements on the nonsingular M-matrices. So, in terms of
      computational complexity, the M-matrix-based stability criteria established in
      this paper are superior to the LMI-based ones in literature. To illustrate the
      effectiveness of the approach proposed in this paper, several numerical examples
      and their simulations are given. 

PMID- 26886739
TI  - Identification of Glucose-Binding Pockets in Human Serum Albumin Using Support
      Vector Machine and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.
AB  - Human Serum Albumin (HSA) has been suggested to be an alternate biomarker to the
      existing Hemoglobin-A1c (HbA1c) marker for glycemic monitoring. Development and
      usage of HSA as an alternate biomarker requires the identification of glycation
      sites, or equivalently, glucose-binding pockets. In this work, we combine
      molecular dynamics simulations of HSA and the state-of-art machine learning
      method Support Vector Machine (SVM) to predict glucose-binding pockets in HSA.
      SVM uses the three dimensional arrangement of atoms and their chemical properties
      to predict glucose-binding ability of a pocket. Feature selection reveals that
      the arrangement of atoms and their chemical properties within the first 4A from
      the centroid of the pocket play an important role in the binding of glucose. With
      a 10-fold cross validation accuracy of 84 percent, our SVM model reveals seven
      new potential glucose-binding sites in HSA of which two are exposed only during
      the dynamics of HSA. The predictions are further corroborated using docking
      studies. These findings can complement studies directed towards the development
      of HSA as an alternate biomarker for glycemic monitoring. 

PMID- 26886740
TI  - Relational Agreement Measures for Similarity Searching of Cheminformatic Data
      Sets.
AB  - Research on similarity searching of cheminformatic data sets has been focused on
      similarity measures using fingerprints. However, nominal scales are the least
      informative of all metric scales, increasing the tied similarity scores, and
      decreasing the effectivity of the retrieval engines. Tanimoto's coefficient has
      been claimed to be the most prominent measure for this task. Nevertheless, this
      field is far from being exhausted since the computer science no free lunch
      theorem predicts that "no similarity measure has overall superiority over the
      population of data sets". We introduce 12 relational agreement (RA) coefficients
      for seven metric scales, which are integrated within a group fusion-based
      similarity searching algorithm. These similarity measures are compared to a
      reference panel of 21 proximity quantifiers over 17 benchmark data sets (MUV), by
      using informative descriptors, a feature selection stage, a suitable performance
      metric, and powerful comparison tests. In this stage, RA coefficients perform
      favourably with repect to the state-of-the-art proximity measures. Afterward, the
      RA-based method outperform another four nearest neighbor searching algorithms
      over the same data domains. In a third validation stage, RA measures are
      successfully applied to the virtual screening of the NCI data set. Finally, we
      discuss a possible molecular interpretation for these similarity variants. 

PMID- 26886741
TI  - TIRF high-content assay development for the evaluation of drug efficacy of
      chemotherapeutic agents against EGFR-/HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines.
AB  - Elevated expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is reported to be
      associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. EGFR subtype identification
      plays a crucial role in deciding the drug combination to treat the cancer
      patients. Conventional application of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence
      in situ hybridization (FISH) produces more discordance results in EGFR subtype
      identification of cancer specimens. The present study is designed to develop an
      analytical method for simultaneous identification of cell surface biomarkers and
      quantitative estimation of drug efficacy in cancer specimens. For this study, we
      have utilized a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM), Qdot
      molecular probes and chemotherapeutic agent camptothecin (CPT)-treated breast
      cancer cell lines namely MCF-7, SK-BR-3 and JIMT-1. Highly sensitive detection
      signals with low background noise generated from the evanescent field excitation
      of TIRFM make it a highly suitable tool to detect the cell surface biomarkers in
      living cells. Moreover, single wavelength excitation of Qdot probes offers
      multicolour imaging with strong emission brightness. In the present study, TIRF
      high-content imaging system simultaneously showed the expression pattern of EGFRs
      and EC50 value for CPT-induced apoptosis and necrosis in MCF-7, SK-BR-3 and JIMT
      1 cancer cell lines.

PMID- 26886742
TI  - A comparative study of phosphopeptide-selective techniques for a sub-proteome of
      a complex biological sample.
AB  - Phosphorylation of proteins is important for controlling cellular signaling and
      cell cycle regulatory events. The process is reversible and phosphoproteins
      normally constitute a minor part of the global proteome in a cell. Thus, sample
      preparation techniques tailored for phosphoproteome studies are continuously
      invented and evaluated. This paper aims at evaluating the performances of the
      most popular techniques for phospho-enrichments in sub-proteome analysis, such as
      viral proteomes expressed in human cells during infection. A two-species sample
      of Adenovirus type 2 infected human cells was used, and in-solution digestion,
      strong cation exchange (SCX), and electrostatic repulsion hydrophilic interaction
      chromatography (ERLIC) fractionation, and subsequent enrichment by TiO2, were
      compared with SDS-PAGE fractionation and in-gel digestion. Evaluation was focused
      on phosphopeptide detection in the sub-proteome. The results showed that the
      SCX+TiO2 or ERLIC+TiO2 combinations had the highest enrichment efficiencies, but
      SDS-PAGE fractionation and in-gel digestion resulted in the highest number of
      identified proteins and phosphopeptides. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the
      usefulness of applying as many orthogonal techniques as possible in deep
      phosphoproteome analysis, since the overlap between approaches was low.

PMID- 26886744
TI  - Merits of online electrochemistry liquid sample desorption electrospray
      ionization mass spectrometry (EC/LS DESI MS).
AB  - A new online electrochemistry/liquid sample desorption electrospray ionization
      mass spectrometry (EC/LS DESI MS) system with a simple electrochemical thin-layer
      flow-through cell was developed and tested using N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine
      (DMPA) as a model probe. Although oxidation of DMPA is observed as a result of
      ionization of LS in positive ion mode LS DESI, application of voltage to the
      online electrochemical (EC) cell in EC/LS DESI MS increases yields of oxidation
      products. An advantage of LS DESI MS is its sensitivity in aqueous electrolyte
      solutions, which improves efficiency of electrochemical reactions in EC/LS DESI
      MS. In highly conductive low pH aqueous buffer solutions, oxidation efficiency is
      close to 100%. EC/ESI MS typically requires mixed aqueous/organic solvents and
      low electrolyte concentrations for efficient ionization in MS, limiting
      efficiency of electrochemistry online with MS. Independently, the results verify
      higher electrochemical oxidation efficiency during positive mode ESI than during
      LS DESI.

PMID- 26886743
TI  - Data independent acquisition-digital archiving mass spectrometry: application to
      single kernel mycotoxin analysis of Fusarium graminearum infected maize.
AB  - New and conjugated mycotoxins of concern to regulators are frequently being
      identified, necessitating the costly need for new method development and sample
      reanalysis. In response, we developed an LC-data independent acquisition (LC-DIA)
      method on a Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer tailored for mycotoxins
      analysis. This method combines absolute quantification of targeted fungal
      metabolites with non-targeted digital archiving (DA) of data on all ionizable
      compounds for retrospective analysis. The quantitative power of this approach was
      assessed by spiking 23 mycotoxins at a range of concentrations into clean maize
      extracts. The linearity and limits of detection achieved were comparable to
      conventional LC-MS/MS and significantly better than 'all-ion-fragmentation'
      scanning mode. This method was applied to single kernel analysis of Fusarium
      infected maize, where we quantified nine Fusarium metabolites and three
      metabolites from unexpected contaminations by Alternaria and Penicillium species.
      Retrospective analysis of this data set allowed us to detect the recently
      reported 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside without requiring re
      analysis of the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence
      of this conjugated mycotoxin in naturally contaminated maize, and led us to
      further study maize artificially inoculated with the 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and
      15-acetyldeoxynivalenol chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum. Analysis of these
      samples showed that the maize genotype tested glycosylates 15
      acetyldeoxynivalenol but not 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol likely because the
      glycosylation site was blocked. In addition to confirming that these two F.
      graminearum chemotypes behave differently when infecting the host plant, it
      demonstrates the utility of using a single screening method to quantify known
      mycotoxins and archive a completely non-targeted dataset for future analysis. 

PMID- 26886745
TI  - State of the art in the determination of trace elements in seawater: a worldwide
      proficiency test.
AB  - This manuscript presents the results of the International Measurement Evaluation
      Programme 40 (IMEP-40) study, a proficiency test (PT) which was organised to
      assess the worldwide performance of laboratories for the determination of trace
      elements in seawater. This PT supports the implementation of the European Union
      Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, which aims at achieving a long-term high
      level protection of the aquatic environment, covering lakes, ground water and
      coastal waters. Forty-six participants reported results. The test item was
      seawater containing the trace elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se
      and Zn. The trace elements in the test item were present in very low
      concentrations to mimic natural levels. The results of the participants were
      rated with z and zeta (zeta) scores in accordance with ISO 13528 and ISO 17043.
      The standard deviation for proficiency assessment, sigma, was set at 25% of the
      respective assigned values for the 12 measured elements based on previous
      experience with similar PTs. The low levels of the trace elements combined with
      the high salt concentration of the seawater made the measurements challenging.
      Many laboratories were unable to detect or quantify the elements and reported
      "lower than X" values. The percentage of satisfactory performances (expressed as
      z scores) ranged from 41% (Cr, Fe) to 86% (Mo). The PT study showed that the use
      of proper standard methods, like ISO 17294-2, and sensitive techniques, like
      inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), contributed to performing
      well in this PT round.

PMID- 26886746
TI  - Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Some Inflammatory Factors in Patients
      With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective option for
      several psychiatric conditions, including treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
      However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of action of ECT. The link
      between inflammatory system and schizophrenia is the focus of recent studies.
      However, the impact of ECT on inflammatory functioning in this disorder remains
      elusive. Whether ECT could modulate inflammatory factors in patients with
      schizophrenia was examined. METHODS: Plasma levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4),
      transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nuclear
      factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation were analyzed in 20 schizophrenic patients,
      mainly with resistant to antipsychotic medication disorders, and in 20 sex- and
      age-matched healthy controls. Disease severity was evaluated using the Brief
      Psychiatric Rating Scale. All patients were followed with measurement of the
      inflammatory factors before and after ECT treatment and compared with the
      controls. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia had markedly raised NF-kappaB and
      but decreased TGF-beta levels compared with healthy controls. On the other hand,
      no significant differences were found for the levels of IL-4 and MPO levels. The
      clinical improvement during repeated ECT was accompanied by a gradual and
      significant increase in IL-4 and TGF-beta level, but MPO and NF-kappaB activation
      were left unaffected. Increases in TGF-beta were negatively correlated with the
      change in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores after ECT. CONCLUSIONS: It is
      shown that ECT, while increasing the anti-inflammatory response such as the
      levels of IL-4 and TGF-beta, it did not affect the levels of MPO and NF-kappaB
      activation in this study.

PMID- 26886747
TI  - Fused Catechol Ethers from Gold(I)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Reaction of Propargyl
      Ethers with Acetals.
AB  - Selective gold(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of aromatic methoxypropynyl acetals
      leads to fused catechol ethers (1,2-dialkoxynapthalenes) in excellent yields.
      Furthermore, this process extends to the analogous heterocyclic and aliphatic
      substrates. Alkyne activation triggers nucleophilic addition of the acetal oxygen
      that leads to an equilibrating mixture of oxonium ions of similar stability. This
      mixture is "kinetically self-sorted" via a highly exothermic cyclization.
      Selective formation of 1,2-dialkoxy naphthalenes originates from chemoselective
      aromatization of the cyclic intermediate via 1,4-elimination of methanol. 

PMID- 26886748
TI  - Hepatitis C Virus Activates a Neuregulin-Driven Circuit to Modify Surface
      Expression of Growth Factor Receptors of the ErbB Family.
AB  - Recently, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR), a member of the ErbB
      receptor family, and its down-stream signalling have been identified as co
      factors for HCV entry and replication. Since EGFR also functions as a heterodimer
      with other ErbB receptor family members, the subject of the present study was to
      investigate a possible viral interference with these cellular components. By
      using genotype 1b replicon cells as well as an infection-based system we found
      that while transcript and protein levels of EGFR and ErbB2 were up-regulated or
      unaffected, respectively, HCV induced a substantial reduction of ErbB3 and ErbB4
      expression. Down-regulation of ErbB3 expression by HCV involves specificity
      protein (Sp)1-mediated induction of Neuregulin (NRG)1 expression as well as
      activation of Akt. Consistently, at transcript level disruption of ErbB3
      expression by HCV can be prevented by knockdown of NRG1 or Sp1 expression,
      whereas reconstitution of ErbB3 protein levels requires inhibition of HCV-induced
      NRG1 expression and of Akt activity. Interestingly, the NRG1-mediated suppression
      of ErbB3 expression by HCV results in an enhanced expression of EGFR and ErbB2 on
      the cell surface, which can be mimicked by siRNA-mediated knockdown of ErbB3
      expression. These data delineate a novel mechanism enabling HCV to sway the
      composition of the ErbB family members on the surface of its host cell by an NRG1
      driven circuit and unravels a yet unknown cross-regulation between ErbB3 and the
      two other family members ErbB2 and EGFR. The shift of the receptor surface
      expression of the ErbB family towards enhanced expression of ErbB2 and EGFR
      triggered by HCV was found to promote viral RNA replication and infectivity. This
      suggests that HCV rearranges expression of ErbB family members to adapt the
      cellular environment to its requirements. 

PMID- 26886749
TI  - The Emergence and Spread of Multiple Livestock-Associated Clonal Complex 398
      Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Strains
      among Animals and Humans in the Republic of Ireland, 2010-2014.
AB  - Clonal complex (CC) 398 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and
      methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) are associated with carriage and
      infection among animals and humans but only a single case of CC398 MRSA has been
      reported in the Republic of Ireland (ROI). The present study investigated the
      molecular epidemiology of CC398 MRSA (n = 22) and MSSA (n = 10) from animals and
      humans in the ROI from 2010-2014. Isolates underwent antimicrobial susceptibility
      testing, spa typing, DNA microarray profiling and PCR for CC398-associated
      resistance genes. All MRSA underwent SCCmec IV or V subtyping. Four distinct
      CC398-MRSA incidents were identified from (i) a man in a nursing home (spa type
      t011-SCCmec IVa, immune evasion complex (IEC) negative), (ii) a horse and
      veterinarian who had recently travelled to Belgium (t011-IVa, IEC positive),
      (iii) pigs (n = 9) and farm workers (n = 9) on two farms, one which had been
      restocked with German gilts and the other which was a finisher farm (t034-VT, IEC
      negative, 3/9 pigs; t011-VT, IEC negative, 6/9 pigs & 9/9 farm workers), and (iv)
      a child who had worked on a pig farm in the UK (t034-VT, IEC negative). Isolates
      also carried different combinations of multiple resistance genes including
      erm(A), erm(B), tet(K), tet(M) & tet(L), fexA, spc, dfrG, dfrK aacA-aphD and aadD
      further highlighting the presence of multiple CC398-MRSA strains. CC398 MSSA were
      recovered from pigs (n = 8) and humans (n = 2). CC398 MSSA transmission was
      identified among pigs but zoonotic transmission was not detected with animal and
      human isolates exhibiting clade-specific traits. This study highlights the
      importation and zoonotic spread of CC398 MRSA in the ROI and the spread of CC398
      MSSA among pigs. Increased surveillance is warranted to prevent further CC398
      MRSA importation and spread in a country that was considered CC398 MRSA free.

PMID- 26886750
TI  - Shengmai Formula Ameliorates Pathological Characteristics in AD C. elegans.
AB  - Shengmai (SM) formula, a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, is
      composed of Panax ginseng (Pg), Ophiopogon japonicus (Oj), and Schisandra
      Chinesis (Sc). SM has been clinically used to treat heart failure and ischemic
      heart disease. Although SM formula has been reported to be potential for fighting
      against Alzheimer's disease (AD) by previous works, there are many gaps in our
      knowledge on its usage in AD treatment on an organism level and will then need to
      be further clarified. In this study, transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing
      human Abeta1-42 are used to evaluate SM formula efficacy to treat AD phenotype
      and to investigate its underlying mechanism. The results showed that SM formula
      ameliorated AD pathological characteristics of paralysis behavior and chemotaxis
      defect in transgenic C. elegans. With SM treatment, the number of Abeta deposits
      decreased, the levels of gene expressions of hsp16-2, hsp16-41, ace-1, ace-2, and
      TNFA1P1 homolog genes were down-regulated. Our results also showed that Oj
      exhibited more stronger effect on delaying paralysis in worms than Pg and Sc did,
      and synergistic action was observed between Pg and Oj, and Sc further enhanced
      the activity of Pg/Oj combination on delaying paralysis behavior. Further, SM
      with herbs of Pg, Oj, and Sc at a dose proportion of 9:9:6 exhibited superior
      therapeutic efficacy in comparison with herbs at other dose proportions. After SM
      formula extracted by ethanol, it delayed AD symptoms on a wider dose from 0.2 to
      10.0 mg/mL with no toxic effect. These results provided more evidence for SM
      formula being potential to be used to treat AD.

PMID- 26886751
TI  - Stichopus japonicus Polysaccharide, Fucoidan, or Heparin Enhanced the SDF
      1alpha/CXCR4 Axis and Promoted NSC Migration via Activation of the
      PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a Signaling Pathway.
AB  - Stichopus japonicus Polysaccharide (SJP) is a sulfated polysaccharide from the
      body wall of the sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus. Fucoidan is a heparinoid
      compound that belongs to a family of sulfated polyfucose polysaccharides. Heparin
      is a glycosaminoglycan. SJP, fucoidan, and heparin profoundly promoted stromal
      cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1alpha)-induced neural stem cell (NSC) migration
      in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the basal migration capacity of
      cells was significantly promoted after incubation with SJP, fucoidan, or heparin.
      Interaction of SJP, fucoidan, or heparin with SDF-1alpha efficiently showed
      additive effects on the promotion of cell migration from the neurosphere. SJP,
      fucoidan, or heparin interaction with SDF-1alpha treatment could increase Nestin
      expression. SDF-1alpha modulated by SJP, fucoidan, or heparin activated the CXCR4
      receptor and directed cellular migration via the activation of the
      PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway. Moreover, interaction of SJP, fucoidan, or
      heparin with SDF-1alpha effectively promoted NSC migration and induced SDF-1alpha
      and CXCR4 expressions. Results suggested that SJP, fucoidan, and heparin might be
      good candidates for alleviating injury-initiated signals to which NSCs respond.

PMID- 26886752
TI  - Sodium Phenylbutyrate and Edaravone Abrogate Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced
      Behavioral Deficits: Implication of Oxido-Nitrosative, Endoplasmic Reticulum
      Stress Cascade, and Neuroinflammation.
AB  - Chronic stress exposure can produce deleterious effects on the hippocampus (HC)
      which eventually leads to cognitive impairment and depression. Endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) stress has been reported as one of the major culprits in the
      development of stress-induced cognitive impairment and depression. We
      investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of sodium phenylbutyrate (SPB), an ER
      stress inhibitor, and edaravone, a free radical scavenger, against chronic
      restraint stress (CRS)-induced cognitive deficits and anxiety- and depressive
      like behavior in mice. Adult male Swiss albino mice were restrained for 6 h/day
      for 28 days and injected (i.p.) with SPB (40 and 120 mg/kg) or edaravone (3 and
      10 mg/kg) for the last seven days. After stress cessation, the anxiety- and
      depressive-like behavior along with spatial learning and memory were examined.
      Furthermore, oxido-nitrosative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and gene
      expression level of ER stress-related genes were assessed in HC and prefrontal
      cortex (PFC). CRS-exposed mice showed anxiety- and depressive-like behavior,
      which was significantly improved by SPB and edaravone treatment. In addition, SPB
      and edaravone treatment significantly alleviated CRS-induced spatial learning and
      memory impairment. Furthermore, CRS-evoked oxido-nitrosative stress,
      neuroinflammation, and depletion of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor were
      significantly ameliorated by SPB and edaravone treatment. We found significant up
      regulation of ER stress-related genes in both HC and PFC regions, which were
      suppressed by SPB and edaravone treatment in CRS mice. Our study provides
      evidence that SPB and edaravone exerted neuroprotective effects on CRS-induced
      cognitive deficits and anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, which is possibly
      coupled with inhibition of oxido-nitrosative stress, neuroinflammation, and ER
      stress cascade.

PMID- 26886753
TI  - Dynamic Gradient of Glutamate Across the Membrane: Glutamate/Aspartate-Induced
      Changes in the Ambient Level of L-[14C]glutamate and D-[3H]aspartate in Rat Brain
      Nerve Terminals.
AB  - Extracellular/intracellular L-[14C]glutamate exchange and conservativeness of the
      extracellular level of L-[14C]glutamate was analyzed in isolated rat brain nerve
      terminals. L-Glutamate-, DL-threo-beta-hydroxyaspartate (DL-THA)-, and D
      aspartate-induced increase in the ambient level of L-[14C]glutamate or D
      [3H]aspartate was evaluated comparatively. 100 MUM "cold" nonradiolabeled L
      glutamate, DL-THA, D-aspartate extruded a quarter of radioactivity from L
      [14C]glutamate-preloaded synaptosomes for 6 min. The similar results were
      obtained with L-glutamate-evoked extracellular/intracellular redistribution of D
      [3H]aspartate. Contribution of presynaptic glutamate receptors to an increase in
      the extracellular L-[14C]glutamate level was evaluated using receptor agonists
      NMDA, AMPA, and kainate (100 MUM), and it consisted of less than 5 % of total
      accumulated label. The existence of the efficient extracellular/intracellular
      glutamate exchange, and so dynamic glutamate gradient across the plasma membrane
      of nerve terminals was demonstrated. A two-substrate kinetic algorithm that
      included transporter reversal was considered. The extracellular level of L
      [14C]glutamate and D-[3H]aspartate in nerve terminals depended on the amount of
      exogenous substrates of glutamate transporter available. Taking into account that
      L-glutamate, DL-THA, and D-aspartate are the substrates of glutamate
      transporters, and also the similarity in their effectiveness in the establishment
      of new extracellular level of the neurotransmitters, the central role of
      glutamate transporters in permanent glutamate turnover in nerve terminals was
      demonstrated.

PMID- 26886754
TI  - Atorvastatin Upregulates the Expression of miR-126 in Apolipoprotein E-knockout
      Mice with Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque.
AB  - Carotid atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the carotid
      arterial wall, which is very important in terms of the occurrence of cerebral
      vascular accidents. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) and their
      target genes are involved in the formation of atherosclerosis and that
      atorvastatin might reduce atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the expression of
      miRNAs. However, the related mechanism is not yet known. In this study, we first
      investigated the effects of atorvastatin on miR-126 and its target gene, i.e.,
      vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-/-)
      mice with carotid atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. We compared the expressions of
      miR-126 and VCAM-1 between the control, atherosclerotic model and atorvastatin
      treatment groups of ApoE-/- mice using RT-PCR and Western blot. We found the miR
      126 expression was significantly down-regulated, and the VCAM-1 expression was
      significantly up-regulated in the atherosclerotic model group, which accelerated
      the progression of atherosclerosis in the ApoE-/- mice. These results following
      atorvastatin treatment indicated that miR-126 expression was significantly up
      regulated, VCAM-1 expression was significantly down-regulated and atherosclerotic
      lesions were reduced. The present results might explain the mechanism by which
      miR-126 is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis in vivo. Our study first
      indicated that atorvastatin might exert its anti-inflammatory effects in
      atherosclerosis by regulating the expressions of miR-126 and VCAM-1 in vivo.

PMID- 26886755
TI  - Environmental Circadian Disruption Worsens Neurologic Impairment and Inhibits
      Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Adult Rats After Traumatic Brain Injury.
AB  - Circadian rhythms modulate many physiologic processes and behaviors. Therefore,
      their disruption causes a variety of potential adverse effects in humans and
      animals. Circadian disruption induced by constant light exposure has been
      discovered to produce pathophysiologic consequences after brain injury. However,
      the underlying mechanisms that lead to more severe impairment and disruption of
      neurophysiologic processes are not well understood. Here, we evaluated the effect
      of constant light exposure on the neurobehavioral impairment and survival of
      neurons in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sixty adult male Sprague
      Dawley rats were subjected to a weight-drop model of TBI and then exposed to
      either a standard 12-/12-h light/dark cycle or a constant 24-h light/light cycle
      for 14 days. Our results showed that 14 days of constant light exposure after TBI
      significantly worsened the sensorimotor and cognitive deficits, which were
      associated with decreased body weight, impaired water and food intake, increased
      cortical lesion volume, and decreased neuronal survival. Furthermore,
      environmental circadian disruption inhibited cell proliferation and newborn cell
      survival and decreased immature cell production in rats subjected to the TBI
      model. We conclude that circadian disruption induced by constant light exposure
      worsens histologic and neurobehavioral impairment and inhibits neurogenesis in
      adult TBI rats. Our novel findings suggest that light exposure should be
      decreased and circadian rhythm reestablished in hospitalized TBI patients and
      that drugs and strategies that maintain circadian rhythm would offer a novel
      therapeutic option. 

PMID- 26886756
TI  - Metabolic engineering of Rhodopseudomonas palustris for squalene production.
AB  - Squalene is a strong antioxidant used extensively in the food, cosmetic and
      medicine industries. Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 was used as the host
      because of its ability to grow photosynthetically using solar energy and carbon
      dioxide from atmosphere. The deletion of the shc gene resulted in a squalene
      production of 3.8 mg/g DCW, which was 27-times higher than that in the wild type
      strain. For constructing a substrate channel to elevate the conversion
      efficiency, we tried to fuse crtE gene with hpnD gene. By fusing the two genes,
      squalene content was increased to 12.6 mg/g DCW, which was 27.4 % higher than
      that resulted from the co-expression method. At last, the titer of squalene
      reached 15.8 mg/g DCW by co-expressing the dxs gene, corresponding to 112-fold
      increase relative to that for wild-type strain. This study provided novel
      strategies for improving squalene yield and demonstrated the potential of
      producing squalene by Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

PMID- 26886757
TI  - A mutant form of 3-ketosteroid-Delta(1)-dehydrogenase gives altered androst-1,4
      diene-3, 17-dione/androst-4-ene-3,17-dione molar ratios in steroid
      biotransformations by Mycobacterium neoaurum ST-095.
AB  - Mycobacterium neoaurum ST-095 and its mutant M. neoaurum JC-12, capable of
      transforming phytosterol to androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and androst-4-ene
      3,17-dione (AD), produce very different molar ratios of ADD/AD. The distinct
      differences were related to the enzyme activity of 3-ketosteroid-Delta(1)
      dehydrogenase (KSDD), which catalyzes the C1,2 dehydrogenation of AD to ADD
      specifically. In this study, by analyzing the primary structure of KSDDI (from M.
      neoaurum ST-095) and KSDDII (from M. neoaurum JC-12), we found the only
      difference between KSDDI and KSDDII was the mutation of Val(366) to Ser(366).
      This mutation directly affected KSDD enzyme activity, and this result was
      confirmed by heterologous expression of these two enzymes in Bacillus subtilis.
      Assay of the purified recombinant enzymes showed that KSDDII has a higher C1,2
      dehydrogenation activity than KSDDI. The functional difference between KSDDI and
      KSDDII in phytosterol biotransformation was revealed by gene disruption and
      complementation. Phytosterol transformation results demonstrated that ksdd I and
      ksdd II gene disrupted strains showed similar ADD/AD molar ratios, while the
      ADD/AD molar ratios of the ksdd I and ksdd II complemented strains were restored
      to their original levels. These results proved that the different ADD/AD molar
      ratios of these two M. neoaurum strains were due to the differences in KSDD.
      Finally, KSDD structure analysis revealed that the Val(366)Ser mutation could
      possibly play an important role in stabilizing the active center and enhancing
      the interaction of AD and KSDD. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis
      for understanding the structure and catalytic mechanism of the Mycobacteria KSDD
      enzyme.

PMID- 26886758
TI  - Immobilization of nitrilase on bioinspired silica for efficient synthesis of 2
      hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid from 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanenitrile.
AB  - In this paper, a simple and effective method using sodium metasilicate as
      precursor and amine as additive was first reported to immobilize recombinant
      nitrilase, for efficient production of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid
      from 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanenitrile. High immobilization recovery of
      enzyme activity (above 90 %) was achieved. The immobilized enzyme displayed
      better thermal stability, pH stability and shelf life compared to free nitrilase.
      Moreover, it showed excellent reusability and could be recycled up to 16 batches
      without significant loss in activity. 200 mM 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)
      butanenitrile was completely converted by the immobilized enzyme within 30 min,
      and the accumulation amount of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid reached 130
      mmol/g of immobilized beads after 16 batches. These encouraging results
      demonstrated the efficiency of the new technology for nitrilase immobilization,
      which has great potential in preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic
      acid.

PMID- 26886759
TI  - Slippery slope arguments imply opposition to change.
AB  - Slippery slope arguments (SSAs) of the form if A, then C describe an initial
      proposal (A) and a predicted, undesirable consequence of this proposal (C) (e.g.,
      "If cannabis is ever legalized, then eventually cocaine will be legalized, too").
      Despite SSAs being a common rhetorical device, there has been surprisingly little
      empirical research into their subjective evaluation and perception. Here, we
      present evidence that SSAs are interpreted as a form of consequentialist
      argument, inviting inferences about the speaker's (or writer's) attitudes. Study
      1 confirmed the common intuition that a SSA is perceived to be an argument
      against the initial proposal (A), whereas Study 2 showed that the subjective
      strength of this inference relates to the subjective undesirability of the
      predicted consequences (C). Because arguments are rarely made out of context, in
      Studies 3 and 4 we examined how one important contextual factor, the speaker's
      known beliefs, influences the perceived coherence, strength, and persuasiveness
      of a SSA. Using an unobtrusive dependent variable (eye movements during reading),
      in Study 3 we showed that readers are sensitive to the internal coherence between
      a speaker's beliefs and the implied meaning of the argument. Finally, Study 4
      revealed that this degree of internal coherence influences the perceived strength
      and persuasiveness of the argument. Together, these data indicate that SSAs are
      treated as a form of negative consequentialist argument. People infer that the
      speaker of a SSA opposes the initial proposal; therefore, SSAs are only perceived
      to be persuasive and conversationally relevant when the speaker's attitudes match
      this inference.

PMID- 26886760
TI  - In this issue: small B cell lymphomas, more than just a size.

PMID- 26886761
TI  - Broadband Photovoltaic Detectors Based on an Atomically Thin Heterostructure.
AB  - van der Waals junctions of two-dimensional materials with an atomically sharp
      interface open up unprecedented opportunities to design and study functional
      heterostructures. Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides have shown
      tremendous potential for future applications due to their unique electronic
      properties and strong light-matter interaction. However, many important
      optoelectronic applications, such as broadband photodetection, are severely
      hindered by their limited spectral range and reduced light absorption. Here, we
      present a p-g-n heterostructure formed by sandwiching graphene with a gapless
      band structure and wide absorption spectrum in an atomically thin p-n junction to
      overcome these major limitations. We have successfully demonstrated a MoS2
      graphene-WSe2 heterostructure for broadband photodetection in the visible to
      short-wavelength infrared range at room temperature that exhibits competitive
      device performance, including a specific detectivity of up to 10(11) Jones in the
      near-infrared region. Our results pave the way toward the implementation of
      atomically thin heterostructures for broadband and sensitive optoelectronic
      applications. 

PMID- 26886762
TI  - Salicylate-Induced Hearing Loss Trigger Structural Synaptic Modifications in the
      Ventral Cochlear Nucleus of Rats via Medial Olivocochlear (MOC) Feedback Circuit.
AB  - Lesion-induced cochlear damage can result in synaptic outgrowth in the ventral
      cochlear nucleus (VCN). Tinnitus may be associated with the synaptic outgrowth
      and hyperactivity in the VCN. However, it remains unclear how hearing loss
      triggers structural synaptic modifications in the VCN of rats subjected to
      salicylate-induced tinnitus. To address this issue, we evaluated tinnitus-like
      behavior in rats after salicylate treatment and compared the amplitude of the
      distortion product evoked otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem
      response (ABR) between control and treated rats. Moreover, we observed the
      changes in the synaptic ultrastructure and in the expression levels of growth
      associated protein (GAP-43), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the
      microglial marker Iba-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the VCN.
      After salicylate treatment (300 mg/kg/day for 4 and 8 days), analysis of the gap
      prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle showed that the rats were
      experiencing tinnitus. The changes in the DPOAE and ABR amplitude indicated an
      improvement in cochlear sensitivity and a reduction in auditory input following
      salicylate treatment. The treated rats displayed more synaptic vesicles and
      longer postsynaptic density in the VCN than the control rats. We observed that
      the GAP-43 expression, predominantly from medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons, was
      significantly up-regulated, and that BDNF- and Iba-1-immunoreactive cells were
      persistently decreased after salicylate administration. Furthermore, GFAP
      immunoreactive astrocytes, which is associated with synaptic regrowth, was
      significantly increased in the treated groups. Our study revealed that reduced
      auditory nerve activity triggers synaptic outgrowth and hyperactivity in the VCN
      via a MOC neural feedback circuit. Structural synaptic modifications may be a
      reflexive process that compensates for the reduced auditory input after
      salicylate administration. However, massive increases in excitatory synapses in
      the VCN may represent a detrimental process that causes central hyperactivity,
      leading to tinnitus. 

PMID- 26886764
TI  - Nanoscale characterization illustrates the cisplatin-mediated biomechanical
      changes of B16-F10 melanoma cells.
AB  - Cells reorganize their membrane biomechanical dynamics in response to
      environmental stimuli or inhibitors associated with their
      physiological/pathological processes, and disease therapeutics. To validate the
      biophysical dynamics during cell exposure to anti-cancer drugs, we investigate
      the nanoscale biological characterization in melanoma cells undergoing cisplatin
      treatment. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that the cellular
      morphology and membrane ultrastructure are altered after exposure to cisplatin.
      In contrast to their normal spindle-like shape, cisplatin causes cell deformation
      rendering cells flat and enlarged, which increases the cell area by 3-4 fold.
      Additionally, cisplatin decreases the topography height values for both the
      cytoplasmic and nuclear regions (by 40-80% and 60%, respectively). Furthermore,
      cisplatin increases the cytoplasmic root mean square roughness by 110-240% in
      correlation with the drug concentration and attenuates the nuclear RMS by 60%.
      Moreover, the cellular adhesion force was enhanced, while the Young's modulus
      elasticity was attenuated by ~2 and ~2.3 fold, respectively. F-actin phalloidin
      staining revealed that cisplatin enlarges the cell size through enhanced stress
      fiber formation and promotes cytoskeletal reorganization. Immunoblot analyses
      further revealed that the activities of focal adhesion proteins, such as FAK and
      c-Src, are upregulated by cisplatin through phosphorylation at tyrosine 397 and
      530, respectively. Collectively, these results show that cisplatin-treated
      melanoma cells not only exhibit the upregulation of FAK-mediated signaling to
      enhance the cytoskeleton mechanical stretch, but also promote the cytoskeletal
      rearrangement resulting in 43% decrease in the cell modulus. These mechanisms
      thus promote the malignancy and invasiveness of the melanoma cells. 

PMID- 26886763
TI  - Kinetics and Molecular Docking Study of an Anti-diabetic Drug Glimepiride as
      Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor: Implication for Alzheimer's Disease-Diabetes Dual
      Therapy.
AB  - At the present time, treatment of two most common degenerative disorders of
      elderly population i.e., Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease
      (AD) is a major concern worldwide. As there are several evidences that proved
      strong linkages between these two disorders, the idea of using dual therapeutic
      agent for both the diseases might be considered as a good initiative. Earlier
      reports have revealed that oral anti-diabetic drugs such as peroxisome
      proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists (thiazolidinediones)
      when used in T2DM patients suffering from AD showed improved memory and
      cognition. However, the underlying mechanism still needs to be deciphered.
      Therefore, the present study was carried out to find whether glimepiride, an oral
      antidiabetic drug which is a PPARgamma agonist could inhibit the activity of
      acetylcholine esterase (AChE) enzyme. Actually, AChE inhibitors seize the
      breakdown of acetylcholine which forms the main therapeutic strategy for AD.
      Here, glimepiride showed dose dependent inhibitory activity against AChE enzyme
      with IC50 value of 235 MUM. Kinetic analysis showed competitive inhibition, which
      was verified by in silico docking studies. Glimepiride was found to interact with
      AChE enzyme at the same locus as that of substrate acetylcholine iodide (AChI).
      Interestingly, amino acid residues, Q71, Y72, V73, D74, W86, N87, Y124, S125,
      W286, F295, F297, Y337, F338 and Y341 of AChE were found to be common for
      'glimepiride-AChE interaction' as well as 'AChI-AChE interaction'. Thus the
      present computational and kinetics study concludes that glimepiride and other
      thiazolidinediones derivatives could form the basis of future dual therapy
      against diabetes associated neurological disorders. 

PMID- 26886765
TI  - Construction of CuS Nanoflakes Vertically Aligned on Magnetically Decorated
      Graphene and Their Enhanced Microwave Absorption Properties.
AB  - Hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced microwave absorption properties have been
      designed by growing CuS nanoflakes on magnetically decorated graphene, and the
      effect of special nanostructures on microwave absorption properties has been
      investigated. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized by Fourier
      transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X
      ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscope
      (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption, and
      vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The influence of cetyltrimethylammonium
      bromide (CTAB) on the morphology of CuS nanoflakes was also investigated. A
      possible formation process of the nanocomposites and the mechanism of microwave
      absorption were explained in detail. As an absorber, the nanocomposites with a
      filler loading of 20 wt % exhibited enhanced microwave absorption properties due
      to the special nanostructures, extra void space, and synergistic effect. The
      maximum reflection loss can reach -54.5 dB at 11.4 GHz, and the absorption
      bandwidths exceeding -10 dB are 4.5 GHz with a thickness of 2.5 mm, which can be
      adjusted by the thickness. The results indicate that the hybrid nanocomposites
      with enhanced microwave absorption properties and lightweight have a promising
      future in decreasing electromagnetic wave irradiation. 

PMID- 26886767
TI  - A Molecular Dynamics Study of Tributyl Phosphate and Diamyl Amyl Phosphonate Self
      Aggregation in Dodecane and Octane.
AB  - A molecular dynamics model for tributyl phosphate (TBP) and diamyl amyl
      phosphonate (DAAP) is presented using the Generalized AMBER Force Field (GAFF)
      and the AM1-BCC method for calculated atomic charges with a modification to the
      phosphorus-containing dihedral parameters. The density and average molecular
      dipole in a neat liquid simulation, and dimerization in dodecane and octane
      diluents, compare favorably to experimental values. At low extractant
      concentration, investigation of the dimer structure reveals the offset "head-to
      head" orientation as the predominant structure over a range of TBP and DAAP
      concentrations with a phosphoryl oxygen separation distance between dimerized
      extractants of 3-5.5 A. At high extractant concentrations, a graph analysis of
      extractant aggregates was used to determine concentrations of each aggregate size
      and the average coordination number, which gives a measure of the linearity of
      the aggregates. For aggregates up to 7 extractant molecules, the mean free energy
      of association per molecule was found to be 0.55-0.59 and 0.72 kcal/mol for TBP
      and DAAP, respectively. In both diluents, TBP formed large aggregates more
      frequently than DAAP, and those aggregates were more nonlinear than their DAAP
      equivalents. This finding anticipates differences in aggregation chemistry
      between TBP and DAAP in PUREX extraction systems. 

PMID- 26886766
TI  - Why Do Floral Perfumes Become Different? Region-Specific Selection on Floral
      Scent in a Terrestrial Orchid.
AB  - Geographically structured phenotypic selection can lead to adaptive divergence.
      However, in flowering plants, such divergent selection has rarely been shown, and
      selection on floral signals is generally little understood. In this study, we
      measured phenotypic selection on display size, floral color, and floral scent in
      four lowland and four mountain populations of the nectar-rewarding terrestrial
      orchid Gymnadenia odoratissima in two years. We also quantified population
      differences in these traits and pollinator community composition. Our results
      show positive selection on display size and positive, negative, or absence of
      selection on different scent compounds and floral color. Selection on the main
      scent compounds was consistently stronger in the lowlands than in the mountains,
      and lowland plants emitted higher amounts of most of these compounds. Pollinator
      community composition also differed between regions, suggesting different
      pollinators select for differences in floral volatiles. Overall, our study is the
      first to document consistent regional differences in selection on floral scent,
      suggesting this pattern of selection is one of the evolutionary forces
      contributing to regional divergence in floral chemical signaling. 

PMID- 26886768
TI  - Repository Planning, Design, and Engineering: Part II-Equipment and Costing.
AB  - Part II of this article discusses and provides guidance on the equipment and
      systems necessary to operate a repository. The various types of storage equipment
      and monitoring and support systems are presented in detail. While the material
      focuses on the large repository, the requirements for a small-scale startup are
      also presented. Cost estimates and a cost model for establishing a repository are
      presented. The cost model presents an expected range of acquisition costs for the
      large capital items in developing a repository. A range of 5,000-7,000 ft(2)
      constructed has been assumed, with 50 frozen storage units, to reflect a
      successful operation with growth potential. No design or engineering costs,
      permit or regulatory costs, or smaller items such as the computers, software,
      furniture, phones, and barcode readers required for operations have been
      included. 

PMID- 26886769
TI  - Secondary Guilt Syndrome May Have Led Nazi-persecuted Jewish Writers to Suicide.
AB  - Feelings of guilt have tormented Holocaust survivors, ranging from immediately
      after the liberation to later in life, for shorter or longer periods, and
      persisting for some throughout their entire post-war lives. Descriptions of the
      guilt experienced by survivors of the Nazi camps occupy an impressive amount of
      literature: "Why me?" was the question, when a younger and more able family
      member perished; "Why me?" when more productive members of the community
      perished; "Why me?" when a million and a half children were deprived of their
      lives. Many found the answer by retelling their stories, witnesses of what
      happened. This type of guilt is much different from the recently described
      phenomenon of survivor syndrome, namely the secondary guilt felt by Nazi
      persecuted Jewish writers. Despite successes in all aspects of their life, these
      writers developed a self-incriminating guilt due to their perceived inadequacy of
      communicating, particularly in light of the resurging anti-Semitism worldwide.
      This paper deals with the survival and suicides of Nazi-persecuted Jewish writers
      and offers a possible explanation for their late self-destructive acts. 

PMID- 26886770
TI  - The Clinical Significance of Ependymal Enhancement at Presentation in Patients
      with Malignant Glioma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The current study evaluated the rate of ependymal enhancement and
      whether its presence influences survival of patients with malignant glioma (GBM).
      METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who were treated in our
      institution from 2005 to 2011 was conducted. Data extracted from the medical
      records included age, date of diagnosis, co-morbidities, treatment regimen, and
      time of death. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) were evaluated for the presence of
      ependymal enhancement and its extent, and the correlation to survival was
      investigated. RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2011, 230 patients were treated for GBM.
      Eighty-nine patients were excluded from the study due to insufficient data,
      leaving 141 patients for analysis. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years. Sixty
      seven (40.6%) patients had evidence of ependymal enhancement on MRI (group A),
      and 70 (42.4%) patients did not have evidence of enhancement. The assessment of
      ependymal enhancement was inconclusive due to mass effect and ventricular
      compression that precluded accurate assessment for 28 (17%) patients (group C).
      Median survival was 14 months for group A (range, 12-16 months), 15.9 months for
      group B (range, 14.28-17.65 months), and 11.7 months for group C (range, 6.47
      16.92 months) (P>0.05). A multivariate analysis to predict survival indicated
      that male gender (P=0.039), hypertension (P=0.012), and biopsy only compared to
      complete gross tumor resection (P=0.001) were significant for poor survival.
      CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment ependymal enhancement on MRI was not found to be
      associated with poorer survival. These results might be due to better treatments
      options compared to prior reports.

PMID- 26886771
TI  - Diseases of Old Age in Two Paintings by Rembrandt.
AB  - Two paintings of older men by Rembrandt (1609-1669) are examined to demonstrate
      that historical attitudes toward diseases of old age and the ageing person's
      response to illness can be investigated in paintings. The works selected are of
      different genres and date from different stages of Rembrandt's own life, one from
      his youth and one from his old age. Both paintings show figures who have joint
      pathologies typically associated with the ageing process, the first involving the
      subject's foot and the second involving the subject's hand. Despite the sometimes
      painful nature of these conditions, the subjects are shown accommodating their
      illnesses while maintaining both their intellectual and social engagement and
      their emotional composure. Although the seventeenth century offered older people
      very little effective medical treatment in comparison with what is presently
      available, these paintings nevertheless present a view of illness as a subsidiary
      rather than a dominant feature of old age. 

PMID- 26886773
TI  - Public-Medicine Dissonance: Why in a World of Evidence-based Medicine?
AB  - The evolution of medicine is quite remarkable and astounding. Modern medicine is
      successfully treating or providing long-term control of conditions which in the
      not-so-distant past were lethal or resulted in permanent disability. The strong
      emphasis on evidence-based medicine in today's medical profession has led to a
      more organized approach toward evaluating the safety and efficacy of new medical
      treatments. Despite attempts to meet the complex needs of an ever-aging
      population, an almost cynical or inherent distrust of physicians in general and
      their medical claims is being increasingly noted. For many physicians this has
      led to an uncomfortable sense of professional frustration as doubt is cast on
      themselves or the medical profession in general when the expectations and goals
      of patients or their families are not achieved. The causes of this apparent
      malady of contemporary medicine are myriad and may be explored from various
      perspectives, depending on the particular issue. To understand better the issues
      and challenges involved, today's medical practitioner needs to be aware of the
      complex mix of organizational, professional, ethical, and at times
      anthropological perspectives contributing to this dissonance between medical
      professionals and the public. Improving our insight into the forces at work in
      this dissonance will help medical professionals improve medical services to the
      public and contribute to the preservation of medicine's admirable historical
      legacy. 

PMID- 26886772
TI  - Prolactin-induced Subcellular Targeting of GLUT1 Glucose Transporter in Living
      Mammary Epithelial Cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studying the biological pathways involved in mammalian milk
      production during lactation could have many clinical implications. The mammary
      gland is unique in its requirement for transport of free glucose into the cell
      for the synthesis of lactose, the primary carbohydrate in milk. OBJECTIVE: To
      study GLUT1 trafficking and subcellular targeting in living mammary epithelial
      cells (MEC) in culture. METHODS: Immunocytochemistry was used to study GLUT1
      hormonally regulated subcellular targeting in human MEC (HMEC). To study GLUT1
      targeting and recycling in living mouse MEC (MMEC) in culture, we constructed
      fusion proteins of GLUT1 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed them
      in CIT3 MMEC. Cells were maintained in growth medium (GM), or exposed to
      secretion medium (SM), containing prolactin. RESULTS: GLUT1 in HMEC localized
      primarily to the plasma membrane in GM. After exposure to prolactin for 4 days,
      GLUT1 was targeted intracellularly and demonstrated a perinuclear distribution,
      co-localizing with lactose synthetase. The dynamic trafficking of GFP-GLUT1
      fusion proteins in CIT3 MMEC suggested a basal constitutive GLUT1 recycling
      pathway between an intracellular pool and the cell surface that targets most
      GLUT1 to the plasma membrane in GM. Upon exposure to prolactin in SM, GLUT1 was
      specifically targeted intracellularly within 90-110 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      studies suggest intracellular targeting of GLUT1 to the central vesicular
      transport system upon exposure to prolactin. The existence of a dynamic prolactin
      induced sorting machinery for GLUT1 could be important for transport of free
      glucose into the Golgi for lactose synthesis during lactation.

PMID- 26886775
TI  - Correction for the article "Why Do We Need Multifunctional Neuroprotective and
      Neurorestorative Drugs for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disorders?" by Moussa B.
      H. Youdim.

PMID- 26886774
TI  - The Angelina Jolie Effect in Jewish Law: Prophylactic Mastectomy and Oophorectomy
      in BRCA Carriers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Following the announcement of actress Angelina Jolie's prophylactic
      bilateral mastectomies and subsequent prophylactic oophorectomy, there has been a
      dramatic increase in interest in BRCA testing and prophylactic surgery.
      OBJECTIVE: To review current medical literature on the benefits of prophylactic
      mastectomy and oophorectomy among BRCA-positive women and its permissibility
      under Jewish law. RESULTS: Recent literature suggests that in BRCA-positive women
      who undergo prophylactic oophorectomy the risk of dying of breast cancer is
      reduced by 90%, the risk of dying of ovarian cancer is reduced by 95%, and the
      risk of dying of any cause is reduced by 77%. The risk of breast cancer is
      further reduced by prophylactic mastectomy. Prophylactic oophorectomy and
      prophylactic mastectomy pose several challenges within Jewish law that call into
      question the permissibility of surgery, including mutilation of a healthy organ,
      termination of fertility, self-wounding, and castration. A growing number of
      Jewish legal scholars have found grounds to permit prophylactic surgery among
      BRCA carriers, with some even obligating prophylactic mastectomy and
      oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: Current data suggest a significant reduction in
      mortality from prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy in BRCA carriers. While
      mutilation of healthy organs is intrinsically forbidden in Jewish law, the
      ability to preserve human life may contravene and even mandate prophylactic
      surgery.

PMID- 26886777
TI  - Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes on Conventional Versus Intensive Insulin
      Therapy: Efficacy of Low-Calorie Dietary Intervention.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the results of a
      standard low-calorie dietary intervention (7.5 MJ/day) on body weight (BW) and
      the metabolic profile of obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on
      intensive insulin therapy (IIT: 4 insulin injections/day) versus conventional
      insulin therapy (CIT: 2/3 insulin injections/day). METHODS: A total of 60
      patients (n = 60, 23 males and 37 postmenopausal females) were recruited and
      categorized into two groups according to the scheme of insulin treatment. Thirty
      were on IIT (13 males and 17 females) and an equal number on CIT (10 males and 20
      females). BW, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, and metabolic parameters were
      compared at 6 and 12 months after baseline. RESULTS: Significant reductions were
      observed in the BW, BMI, HbA1c (p <= 0.001 for all) and cholesterol (p <= 0.05)
      at 6 months post-intervention. At 1 year, median BW reduction was 4.5 kg (3.3,
      5.8) for patients on IIT and 4.8 kg (3.6, 7.0) for those on CIT. The 12-month
      dietary intervention increased prevalence of normoglycemia in the IIT group and
      reduced the prevalence of obesity prevalence among the CIT participants (all p <
      0.001). CIT patients with BW reduction >=5.0% demonstrated 11-fold greater
      chances of being normoglycemic (odds ratio 11.3, 95% CI 1.1-110.5). BW reduction
      >=7.0% was associated with CIT, being overweight, and having normal HDLc, LDLc,
      and cholesterol levels. A reduction in BW between 5.0% and 6.9% was associated
      with IIT, normoglycemia, and obesity. CONCLUSION: A 12-month 1800-kcal dietary
      intervention achieved significant BW and HbA1c reductions irrespectively of
      insulin regimen. CIT was associated with BW reduction greater than 8.0%, whereas
      IIT was associated with higher rates of normoglycemia.

PMID- 26886776
TI  - Two-Year Data from a Long-Term Phase IV Study of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone
      in Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This ongoing, prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter
      phase IV study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of recombinant human growth
      hormone (rhGH; Omnitrope((r)), Sandoz GmbH) in short children born small for
      gestational age (SGA). Here we report data from patients who have completed 2
      years' treatment. METHODS: Eligibility criteria included prepubertal children
      born SGA with growth disturbances defined as current height standard deviation
      score (HSDS) <-2.5 and parental adjusted SDS <-1; birth weight and/or length <-2
      SDS; and failure of catch-up growth [height velocity (HV) SDS <0 during the last
      year] by 4 years of age or later. The primary study objective is to assess the
      long-term effect of Omnitrope treatment on the development of diabetes in short
      children born SGA. Secondary objectives include evaluation of efficacy, incidence
      and severity of adverse events (AEs), occurrence of malignancies during
      treatment, and detection of anti-rhGH antibodies during treatment. RESULTS: In
      total, 278 children have been enrolled and received study medication; 249 have
      completed 2 years of treatment. No child has developed diabetes mellitus during
      the first 2 years; no fasting glucose or 2-h oral glucose tolerance test value
      exceeded the pre-defined limits of >126 or >200 mg/dL, respectively. No adverse
      alterations in body mass were noted. Treatment-emergent AEs were experienced by
      211 (76.2%) children; most of these were of mild-to-moderate intensity (99.3%)
      and considered unrelated to study medication (97.6%). Treatment with Omnitrope
      was effective; mean HSDS was -3.39 at baseline, -2.57 at 1 year and -2.15 at 2
      years of treatment. Mean HVSDS (peak-centered) also improved, from -2.13 at
      baseline to +4.16 at 1 year and +2.23 at 2 years. CONCLUSION: In this second
      interim analysis, short children born SGA were safely and effectively treated
      with rhGH (Omnitrope), and 2 years' treatment had no major adverse impact on
      carbohydrate metabolism or body mass. FUNDING: Sandoz.

PMID- 26886778
TI  - Plaque Size Is Decreased but M1 Macrophage Polarization and Rupture Related
      Metalloproteinase Expression Are Maintained after Deleting T-Bet in ApoE Null
      Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thelper1 (Th1) lymphocytes have been previously implicated in
      atherosclerotic plaque growth but their role in plaque vulnerability to rupture
      is less clear. We investigated whether T-bet knockout that prevents Th1
      lymphocyte differentiation modulates classical (M1) macrophage activation or
      production of matrix degrading metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue
      inhibitors, TIMPs. METHODS & RESULTS: We studied the effect of T-bet deletion in
      apolipoproteinE (ApoE) knockout mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) or normal chow
      diet (ND). Transcript levels of M1/M2 macrophage polarization markers, selected
      MMPs and TIMPs were measured by RT-qPCR in macrophages isolated from subcutaneous
      granulomas or in whole aortae. Immunohistochemistry of aortic sinus (AS) and
      brachiocephalic artery (BCA) plaques was conducted to quantify protein expression
      of the same factors. Deletion of T-bet decreased mRNA for the M1 marker NOS-2 in
      granuloma macrophages but levels of M2 markers (CD206, arginase-1 and Ym-1), MMPs
      2, -9, -12, -13, -14 and -19 or TIMPs-1 to -3 were unchanged. No mRNA differences
      were observed in aortic extracts from mice fed a HFD for 12 weeks. Moreover, AS
      and BCA plaques were similarly sized between genotypes, and had similar areas
      stained for NOS-2, COX-2, MMP-12 and MMP-14 proteins. T-bet deletion increased
      MMP-13, MMP-14 and arginase-1 in AS plaques. After 35 weeks of ND, T-bet deletion
      reduced the size of AS and BCA plaques but there were no differences in the
      percentage areas stained for M1 or M2 markers, MMPs-12, -13, -14, or TIMP-3.
      CONCLUSIONS: Absence of Th1 lymphocytes is associated with reduced plaque size in
      ApoE knockout mice fed a normal but not high fat diet. In either case, M1
      macrophage polarization and expression of several MMPs related to plaque
      instability are either maintained or increased.

PMID- 26886779
TI  - A new multilayer reconstruction using nasal septal flap combined with fascia
      graft dural suturing for high-flow cerebrospinal fluid leak after endoscopic
      endonasal surgery.
AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness and reliability of a new endoscopic
      multilayer reconstruction using nasal septal flap (NSF) to prevent high-flow
      cerebrospinal fluid leak after endoscopic endonasal surgery. This study was a
      retrospective review on 97 patients who underwent multilayer reconstructions
      using NSF combined with fascia graft dural suturing after endoscopic endonasal
      surgery between July 2012 and March 2014. Patients were divided into two groups,
      third ventricle opening group and nonopening group, based on the presence of a
      direct connection between the third ventricle and the paranasal sinus after tumor
      removal. Furthermore, we compared this procedure with our previous reconstruction
      after resection of craniopharyngioma. Finally, we checked the patients who had
      postoperative prolonged discomfort of the nasal cavity for over a year.
      Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurred in three patients (3.1 %):
      one from the third ventricle opening group and the remaining two from the
      nonopening group. External lumbar drain was performed after surgery in only seven
      patients (7.2 %). The incidence of postoperative CSF leak was similar in both
      groups, whereas the rate of craniopharyngioma in the third ventricle opening
      group was significantly higher. The incidence of postoperative CSF leak after
      resection of craniopharyngioma was not statistically significant but obviously
      higher in the previous group (12.2 %) compared with that in the present group
      (2.3 %). Twelve patients (12.4 %) had postoperative nasal discomfort of the nasal
      cavity for over a year. Multilayer reconstruction using NSF combined with fascia
      graft dural suturing is a more reliable method for preventing postoperative high
      flow CSF leakage after endoscopic endonasal surgery even if there is a direct
      connection between the third ventricle and the paranasal sinus. However, we
      should pay close attention especially to prolonged discomfort of the nasal cavity
      after harvesting NSF. 

PMID- 26886781
TI  - Lung cancer stigma and patient-provider communication: a complex association.

PMID- 26886780
TI  - Frontal Bone Insufficiency in Gsk3beta Mutant Mice.
AB  - The development of the mammalian skull is a complex process that requires
      multiple tissue interactions and a balance of growth and differentiation.
      Disrupting this balance can lead to changes in the shape and size of skull bones,
      which can have serious clinical implications. For example, insufficient
      ossification of the bony elements leads to enlarged anterior fontanelles and
      reduced mechanical protection of the brain. In this report, we find that loss of
      Gsk3beta leads to a fully penetrant reduction of frontal bone size and subsequent
      enlarged frontal fontanelle. In the absence of Gsk3beta the frontal bone
      primordium undergoes increased cell death and reduced proliferation with a
      concomitant increase in Fgfr2-IIIc and Twist1 expression. This leads to a smaller
      condensation and premature differentiation. This phenotype appears to be Wnt
      independent and is not rescued by decreasing the genetic dose of beta
      catenin/Ctnnb1. Taken together, our work defines a novel role for Gsk3beta in
      skull development. 

PMID- 26886783
TI  - Advances in family-based interventions in the neonatal ICU.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite advances in medical care, preterm infants remain at
      risk for many adverse outcomes. This article reviews findings from several recent
      neonatal ICU (NICU) interventions and a trial of a novel nurture-based approach,
      Family Nurture Intervention (FNI). RECENT FINDINGS: Recent trials reviewed here
      find positive effects of a variety of family-related interventions focused on
      parental guidance. These interventions target prescribed physical activities with
      infants, parents' stress, and the parents' ability to recognize their positive
      and negative behaviors with their infants. Beneficial effects include reductions
      in parenting stress, maternal anxiety, and depression. A different approach, FNI,
      is aimed at establishing mother-infant emotional connection. As in other trials,
      FNI also decreased maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increased
      maternal sensitivity. Additionally, FNI led to positive short and long-term
      effects on infant neurobehavioral outcomes at term and 18 months. SUMMARY: A
      number of recent parent-based NICU interventions have been effective at reducing
      preterm parent stress. Another, FNI, has positive effects on both maternal and
      infant outcomes and promises to be cost-effective. Future decreases in long-term
      morbidity in preterm infants will increasingly rely on nonmedical interventions.
      Therefore, the rigorous development and testing of such interventions should be a
      high priority in perinatology research.

PMID- 26886782
TI  - Thiamin and Riboflavin in Human Milk: Effects of Lipid-Based Nutrient
      Supplementation and Stage of Lactation on Vitamer Secretion and Contributions to
      Total Vitamin Content.
AB  - While thiamin and riboflavin in breast milk have been analyzed for over 50 years,
      less attention has been given to the different forms of each vitamin. Thiamin
      monophosphate (TMP) and free thiamin contribute to total thiamin content; flavin
      adenine-dinucleotide (FAD) and free riboflavin are the main contributors to total
      riboflavin. We analyzed milk collected at 2 (n = 258) or 6 (n = 104), and 24
      weeks (n = 362) from HIV-infected Malawian mothers within the Breastfeeding,
      Antiretrovirals and Nutrition (BAN) study, randomly assigned at delivery to lipid
      based nutrient supplements (LNS) or a control group, to investigate each
      vitamer's contribution to total milk vitamin content and the effects of
      supplementation on the different thiamin and riboflavin vitamers at early and
      later stages of lactation, and obtain insight into the transport and distribution
      of these vitamers in human milk. Thiamin vitamers were derivatized into
      thiochrome-esters and analyzed by high-performance liquid-chromatography
      fluorescence-detection (HPLC-FLD). Riboflavin and FAD were analyzed by ultra
      performance liquid-chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry (ULPC-MS/MS). Thiamin
      pyrophosphate (TPP), identified here for the first time in breast milk,
      contributed 1.9-4.5% to total thiamin. Free thiamin increased significantly from
      2/6 to 24 weeks regardless of treatment indicating an active transport of this
      vitamer in milk. LNS significantly increased TMP and free thiamin only at 2 weeks
      compared to the control: median 170 versus 151 MUg/L (TMP), 13.3 versus 10.5
      MUg/L (free thiamin, p<0.05 for both, suggesting an up-regulated active mechanism
      for TMP and free thiamin accumulation at early stages of lactation. Free
      riboflavin was consistently and significantly increased with LNS (range: 14.8
      19.6 MUg/L (LNS) versus 5.0-7.4 MUg/L (control), p<0.001), shifting
      FAD:riboflavin relative amounts from 92-94:6-8% to 85:15%, indicating a preferred
      secretion of the free form into breast milk. The continuous presence of FAD in
      breast milk suggests an active transport and secretion system for this vitamer or
      possibly formation of this co-enymatic form in the mammary gland.

PMID- 26886784
TI  - Fetal interventions for congenital heart disease.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article discusses the rationale, patient selection,
      technical aspects, and outcomes of percutaneous, ultrasound-guided fetal cardiac
      intervention (FCI) for structural congenital heart disease. RECENT FINDINGS: FCI
      is most commonly performed for three forms of congenital heart disease: severe
      aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), pulmonary
      atresia with intact ventricular septum and evolving hypoplastic right heart
      syndrome, and HLHS with intact or highly restrictive atrial septum. For severe
      aortic stenosis and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, the goal of
      intervention is to alter the natural history such that a biventricular
      circulation may be achieved postnatally. A growing number of patients have
      achieved a biventricular circulation; however, patient selection and postnatal
      management strategy are essential for success. HLHS with intact or highly
      restrictive atrial septum is one of the most lethal forms of congenital heart
      disease, and the goal of FCI is to improve survival. Although the creation of an
      atrial communication in utero is technically feasible and may permit greater
      stability in the immediate postnatal period, significant improvements in survival
      have not yet been reported. SUMMARY: FCI is an evolving form of treatment for
      congenital heart disease that holds promise for select patients. Critical
      evaluation of both short and long-term outcomes is warranted.

PMID- 26886786
TI  - Identification of protein complexes of microsomes in rat adipocytes by native gel
      coupled with LC-ESI-QTOF.
AB  - The study of the composition of microsome proteins/complexes/interactions in
      adipocytes provides useful information for researchers related to energy
      metabolism disorders. The native gel coupled with LC-ESI-QTOF approach was
      employed here for separating protein complexes. We found a series of proteins
      functionally clustered in biological processes of protein metabolism, cellular
      carbohydrate catabolism, response to stimulus and wounding, macromolecular
      complex subunit organization, positive regulation of molecular function,
      regulation of programmed cell death and biomolecule transport. According to
      clustering of proteins' electrophoresis profiles across native gel fractions and
      bioinformatics data retrieval, protein complexes/interactions involved in protein
      metabolism, cellular carbohydrate catabolism, macromolecular complex subunit
      organization and biomolecule transport were identified. Besides, the results also
      revealed some functional linkages, which may provide useful information for
      discovering previously unknown interactions. The interaction between SSAO and
      ALDH2 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation. The native gel combining mass
      spectrometry approach appeared to be a useful tool for investigating microsome
      proteins and complexes to complement the traditional electrophoresis approaches.
      The native gel strategy together with our findings should facilitate future
      studies of the composition of rat adipocyte microsome protein complexes under
      different conditions. 

PMID- 26886787
TI  - A Year in Review.

PMID- 26886785
TI  - Adverse consequences of neonatal antibiotic exposure.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Antibiotics have not only saved lives and improved outcomes,
      but they also influence the evolving microbiome. This review summarizes reports
      on neonatal infections and variation in antibiotic utilization, discusses the
      emergence of resistant organisms, and presents data from human neonates and
      animal models demonstrating the impact of antibiotics on the microbiome, and how
      microbiome alterations impact health. The importance of antibiotic stewardship is
      also discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Infections increase neonatal morbidity and
      mortality. Furthermore, the clinical presentation of infections can be subtle,
      prompting clinicians to empirically start antibiotics when infection is a
      possibility. Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing problem. Cohort
      studies have identified extensive center variations in antibiotic usage and
      associations between antibiotic exposures and outcomes. Studies of antibiotic
      induced microbiome alterations and downstream effects on the developing immune
      system have increased our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
      associations between antibiotics and adverse outcomes. The emergence of resistant
      microorganisms and recent evidence linking antibiotic practice variations with
      health outcomes has led to the initiation of antibiotic stewardship programs.
      SUMMARY: The review encourages practitioners to assess local antibiotic use with
      regard to local microbiology, and to adopt steps to reduce infections and use
      antibiotics wisely.

PMID- 26886788
TI  - Clinical significance of serum claudin-1 levels in melanoma patients.
AB  - Claudins are the most important structural and functional components of tight
      junction integral membrane proteins. They play roles in major cellular functions
      including growth and adhesion and are responsible for regulating the paracellular
      transport of molecules. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical
      significance of the serum levels of claudin-1, an oldest and important member of
      the claudin family, in melanoma patients. A total of 98 patients with a
      pathologically confirmed melanoma were enrolled into this study. Serum claudin-1
      concentrations were determined by the solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay method. Age-matched and sex-matched 43 healthy controls were
      included in the analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 51 years, ranging from
      16 to 85 years. The majority of the patients were male (61%) and had axial
      localized (54%) and metastatic disease (61%). Moreover, most of the patients with
      metastatic disease had M1c (73%). The baseline serum claudin-1 levels of the
      melanoma patients were significantly lower than those of control subjects (median
      values 9.17 vs. 13.82 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001). However, known clinical
      variables including age of the patient, sex, site of lesion, histology, lymph
      node involvement, stage of disease, serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and
      response to chemotherapy were not found to be correlated with serum claudin-1
      concentrations (P>0.05). Similarly, serum claudin-1 concentration was found to
      have no prognostic role in survival (P=0.524). In conclusion, serum levels of
      claudin-1 may have a diagnostic value in melanoma patients. However, its
      predictive and prognostic value has not been determined.

PMID- 26886789
TI  - Palladium-catalysed transannular C-H functionalization of alicyclic amines.
AB  - Discovering pharmaceutical candidates is a resource-intensive enterprise that
      frequently requires the parallel synthesis of hundreds or even thousands of
      molecules. C-H bonds are present in almost all pharmaceutical agents.
      Consequently, the development of selective, rapid and efficient methods for
      converting these bonds into new chemical entities has the potential to streamline
      pharmaceutical development. Saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles (alicyclic
      amines) feature prominently in pharmaceuticals, such as treatments for depression
      (paroxetine, amitifadine), diabetes (gliclazide), leukaemia (alvocidib),
      schizophrenia (risperidone, belaperidone), malaria (mefloquine) and nicotine
      addiction (cytisine, varenicline). However, existing methods for the C-H
      functionalization of saturated nitrogen heterocycles, particularly at sites
      remote to nitrogen, remain extremely limited. Here we report a transannular
      approach to selectively manipulate the C-H bonds of alicyclic amines at sites
      remote to nitrogen. Our reaction uses the boat conformation of the substrates to
      achieve palladium-catalysed amine-directed conversion of C-H bonds to C-C bonds
      on various alicyclic amine scaffolds. We demonstrate this approach by
      synthesizing new derivatives of several bioactive molecules, including
      varenicline. 

PMID- 26886790
TI  - Sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability.
AB  - The identification of properties that contribute to the persistence and
      resilience of ecosystems despite climate change constitutes a research priority
      of global relevance. Here we present a novel, empirical approach to assess the
      relative sensitivity of ecosystems to climate variability, one property of
      resilience that builds on theoretical modelling work recognizing that systems
      closer to critical thresholds respond more sensitively to external perturbations.
      We develop a new metric, the vegetation sensitivity index, that identifies areas
      sensitive to climate variability over the past 14 years. The metric uses time
      series data derived from the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer
      (MODIS) enhanced vegetation index, and three climatic variables that drive
      vegetation productivity (air temperature, water availability and cloud cover).
      Underlying the analysis is an autoregressive modelling approach used to identify
      climate drivers of vegetation productivity on monthly timescales, in addition to
      regions with memory effects and reduced response rates to external forcing. We
      find ecologically sensitive regions with amplified responses to climate
      variability in the Arctic tundra, parts of the boreal forest belt, the tropical
      rainforest, alpine regions worldwide, steppe and prairie regions of central Asia
      and North and South America, the Caatinga deciduous forest in eastern South
      America, and eastern areas of Australia. Our study provides a quantitative
      methodology for assessing the relative response rate of ecosystems--be they
      natural or with a strong anthropogenic signature--to environmental variability,
      which is the first step towards addressing why some regions appear to be more
      sensitive than others, and what impact this has on the resilience of ecosystem
      service provision and human well-being.

PMID- 26886791
TI  - Corrigendum: Bees prefer foods containing neonicotinoid pesticides.

PMID- 26886792
TI  - Ecology: Vegetation's responses to climate variability.

PMID- 26886793
TI  - The mid-developmental transition and the evolution of animal body plans.
AB  - Animals are grouped into ~35 'phyla' based upon the notion of distinct body
      plans. Morphological and molecular analyses have revealed that a stage in the
      middle of development--known as the phylotypic period--is conserved among species
      within some phyla. Although these analyses provide evidence for their existence,
      phyla have also been criticized as lacking an objective definition, and
      consequently based on arbitrary groupings of animals. Here we compare the
      developmental transcriptomes of ten species, each annotated to a different
      phylum, with a wide range of life histories and embryonic forms. We find that in
      all ten species, development comprises the coupling of early and late phases of
      conserved gene expression. These phases are linked by a divergent 'mid
      developmental transition' that uses species-specific suites of signalling
      pathways and transcription factors. This mid-developmental transition overlaps
      with the phylotypic period that has been defined previously for three of the ten
      phyla, suggesting that transcriptional circuits and signalling mechanisms active
      during this transition are crucial for defining the phyletic body plan and that
      the mid-developmental transition may be used to define phylotypic periods in
      other phyla. Placing these observations alongside the reported conservation of
      mid-development within phyla, we propose that a phylum may be defined as a
      collection of species whose gene expression at the mid-developmental transition
      is both highly conserved among them, yet divergent relative to other species.

PMID- 26886794
TI  - Structural basis for activity regulation of MLL family methyltransferases.
AB  - The mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) family of proteins (including MLL1-MLL4, SET1A
      and SET1B) specifically methylate histone 3 Lys4, and have pivotal roles in the
      transcriptional regulation of genes involved in haematopoiesis and development.
      The methyltransferase activity of MLL1, by itself severely compromised, is
      stimulated by the three conserved factors WDR5, RBBP5 and ASH2L, which are shared
      by all MLL family complexes. However, the molecular mechanism of how these
      factors regulate the activity of MLL proteins still remains poorly understood.
      Here we show that a minimized human RBBP5-ASH2L heterodimer is the structural
      unit that interacts with and activates all MLL family histone methyltransferases.
      Our structural, biochemical and computational analyses reveal a two-step
      activation mechanism of MLL family proteins. These findings provide unprecedented
      insights into the common theme and functional plasticity in complex assembly and
      activity regulation of MLL family methyltransferases, and also suggest a
      universal regulation mechanism for most histone methyltransferases. 

PMID- 26886797
TI  - Autoimmunity: Antigen-specific immunotherapy.

PMID- 26886795
TI  - Inhibiting fungal multidrug resistance by disrupting an activator-Mediator
      interaction.
AB  - Eukaryotic transcription activators stimulate the expression of specific sets of
      target genes through recruitment of co-activators such as the RNA polymerase II
      interacting Mediator complex. Aberrant function of transcription activators has
      been implicated in several diseases. However, therapeutic targeting efforts have
      been hampered by a lack of detailed molecular knowledge of the mechanisms of gene
      activation by disease-associated transcription activators. We previously
      identified an activator-targeted three-helix bundle KIX domain in the human MED15
      Mediator subunit that is structurally conserved in Gal11/Med15 Mediator subunits
      in fungi. The Gal11/Med15 KIX domain engages pleiotropic drug resistance
      transcription factor (Pdr1) orthologues, which are key regulators of the
      multidrug resistance pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in the clinically
      important human pathogen Candida glabrata. The prevalence of C. glabrata is
      rising, partly owing to its low intrinsic susceptibility to azoles, the most
      widely used antifungal agent. Drug-resistant clinical isolates of C. glabrata
      most commonly contain point mutations in Pdr1 that render it constitutively
      active, suggesting that this transcriptional activation pathway represents a
      linchpin in C. glabrata multidrug resistance. Here we perform sequential
      biochemical and in vivo high-throughput screens to identify small-molecule
      inhibitors of the interaction of the C. glabrata Pdr1 activation domain with the
      C. glabrata Gal11A KIX domain. The lead compound (iKIX1) inhibits Pdr1-dependent
      gene activation and re-sensitizes drug-resistant C. glabrata to azole antifungals
      in vitro and in animal models for disseminated and urinary tract C. glabrata
      infection. Determining the NMR structure of the C. glabrata Gal11A KIX domain
      provides a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of Pdr1 gene
      activation and multidrug resistance inhibition by iKIX1. We have demonstrated the
      feasibility of small-molecule targeting of a transcription factor-binding site in
      Mediator as a novel therapeutic strategy in fungal infectious disease. 

PMID- 26886796
TI  - Epithelial tricellular junctions act as interphase cell shape sensors to orient
      mitosis.
AB  - The orientation of cell division along the long axis of the interphase cell--the
      century-old Hertwig's rule--has profound roles in tissue proliferation,
      morphogenesis, architecture and mechanics. In epithelial tissues, the shape of
      the interphase cell is influenced by cell adhesion, mechanical stress, neighbour
      topology, and planar polarity pathways. At mitosis, epithelial cells usually
      adopt a rounded shape to ensure faithful chromosome segregation and to promote
      morphogenesis. The mechanisms underlying interphase cell shape sensing in tissues
      are therefore unknown. Here we show that in Drosophila epithelia, tricellular
      junctions (TCJs) localize force generators, pulling on astral microtubules and
      orienting cell division via the Dynein-associated protein Mud independently of
      the classical Pins/Galphai pathway. Moreover, as cells round up during mitosis,
      TCJs serve as spatial landmarks, encoding information about interphase cell shape
      anisotropy to orient division in the rounded mitotic cell. Finally, experimental
      and simulation data show that shape and mechanical strain sensing by the TCJs
      emerge from a general geometric property of TCJ distributions in epithelial
      tissues. Thus, in addition to their function as epithelial barrier structures,
      TCJs serve as polarity cues promoting geometry and mechanical sensing in
      epithelial tissues.

PMID- 26886798
TI  - Adult restoration of Shank3 expression rescues selective autistic-like
      phenotypes.
AB  - Because autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders and patients
      typically display symptoms before the age of three, one of the key questions in
      autism research is whether the pathology is reversible in adults. Here we
      investigate the developmental requirement of Shank3 in mice, a prominent
      monogenic autism gene that is estimated to contribute to approximately 1% of all
      autism spectrum disorder cases. SHANK3 is a postsynaptic scaffold protein that
      regulates synaptic development, function and plasticity by orchestrating the
      assembly of postsynaptic density macromolecular signalling complex. Disruptions
      of the Shank3 gene in mouse models have resulted in synaptic defects and autistic
      like behaviours including anxiety, social interaction deficits, and repetitive
      behaviour. We generated a novel Shank3 conditional knock-in mouse model, and show
      that re-expression of the Shank3 gene in adult mice led to improvements in
      synaptic protein composition, spine density and neural function in the striatum.
      We also provide behavioural evidence that certain behavioural abnormalities
      including social interaction deficit and repetitive grooming behaviour could be
      rescued, while anxiety and motor coordination deficit could not be recovered in
      adulthood. Together, these results reveal the profound effect of post
      developmental activation of Shank3 expression on neural function, and demonstrate
      a certain degree of continued plasticity in the adult diseased brain. 

PMID- 26886799
TI  - Expanding antigen-specific regulatory networks to treat autoimmunity.
AB  - Regulatory T cells hold promise as targets for therapeutic intervention in
      autoimmunity, but approaches capable of expanding antigen-specific regulatory T
      cells in vivo are currently not available. Here we show that systemic delivery of
      nanoparticles coated with autoimmune-disease-relevant peptides bound to major
      histocompatibility complex class II (pMHCII) molecules triggers the generation
      and expansion of antigen-specific regulatory CD4(+) T cell type 1 (TR1)-like
      cells in different mouse models, including mice humanized with lymphocytes from
      patients, leading to resolution of established autoimmune phenomena. Ten pMHCII
      based nanomedicines show similar biological effects, regardless of genetic
      background, prevalence of the cognate T-cell population or MHC restriction. These
      nanomedicines promote the differentiation of disease-primed autoreactive T cells
      into TR1-like cells, which in turn suppress autoantigen-loaded antigen-presenting
      cells and drive the differentiation of cognate B cells into disease-suppressing
      regulatory B cells, without compromising systemic immunity. pMHCII-based
      nanomedicines thus represent a new class of drugs, potentially useful for
      treating a broad spectrum of autoimmune conditions in a disease-specific manner. 

PMID- 26886801
TI  - Performance on the Functional Movement Screen Is Related to Hop Performance But
      Not to Hip and Knee Strength in Collegiate Football Players.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the relationship between Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
      scores and hop performance, hip strength, and knee strength in collegiate
      football players. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort. PARTICIPANTS: Freshmen of a
      Division I collegiate American football team (n = 59). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      athletes performed the FMS, and also a variety of hop tests, isokinetic knee
      strength, and isometric hip strength tasks. We recorded total FMS score, peak
      strength, and hop performance, and we calculated asymmetries between legs on the
      different tasks. Spearman correlation coefficients quantified the relationships
      between these measures, and chi analyses compared the number of athletes with
      asymmetries on the different tasks. RESULTS: We observed significant correlations
      (r = 0.38-0.56, P <= 0.02) between FMS scores and hop distance but not between
      FMS scores and hip or knee strength (all P >= 0.21). The amount of asymmetry on
      the FMS test was significantly correlated to the amount of asymmetry on the timed
      6-m hop (r = 0.44, P < 0.01) but not to hip or knee strength asymmetries between
      limbs (all P >= 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Functional Movement Screen score was
      positively correlated to hop distance, and limb asymmetry in FMS tasks was
      correlated to limb asymmetry in 6-m hop time in football players. No significant
      correlations were observed between FMS score and hip and knee strength or between
      FMS asymmetry and asymmetries in hip and knee strength between limbs. These
      results indicate that a simple hop for distance test may be a time-efficient and
      cost-efficient alternative to FMS testing in athletes and that functional
      asymmetries between limbs do not coincide with strength asymmetries.

PMID- 26886800
TI  - Ancient gene flow from early modern humans into Eastern Neanderthals.
AB  - It has been shown that Neanderthals contributed genetically to modern humans
      outside Africa 47,000-65,000 years ago. Here we analyse the genomes of a
      Neanderthal and a Denisovan from the Altai Mountains in Siberia together with the
      sequences of chromosome 21 of two Neanderthals from Spain and Croatia. We find
      that a population that diverged early from other modern humans in Africa
      contributed genetically to the ancestors of Neanderthals from the Altai Mountains
      roughly 100,000 years ago. By contrast, we do not detect such a genetic
      contribution in the Denisovan or the two European Neanderthals. We conclude that
      in addition to later interbreeding events, the ancestors of Neanderthals from the
      Altai Mountains and early modern humans met and interbred, possibly in the Near
      East, many thousands of years earlier than previously thought. 

PMID- 26886802
TI  - Five-Year Experience with Screening Electrocardiograms in National Collegiate
      Athletic Association Division I Athletes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: (1) Compare rates of abnormal screening electrocardiograms (ECGs)
      using updated criteria compared with older criteria. (2) Compare rates of
      abnormal ECGs by ethnicity. (3) Evaluate ability of ECG criteria to detect the
      predicted number of athletes with previously undetected cardiovascular
      abnormalities. DESIGN: Prospective and retrospective review of ECGs. During the
      prospective portion of the study, the 2005 European Society of Cardiology
      criteria were used from 2008 to July 2011 and the 2011 Stanford criteria were
      used from August 2011 to 2013. Retrospectively, all ECGs were reevaluated using
      the 2011 Stanford criteria, 2013 Seattle criteria, and 2014 Sharma Refined
      criteria. SETTING: Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association
      University. PARTICIPANTS: 874 incoming athletes over a 5-year period.
      INTERVENTIONS: ECG screening program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of abnormal
      ECGs and number of athletes with newly discovered cardiac abnormalities. RESULTS:
      Abnormal ECG rates were the 2005 European criteria 10.7%, 2011 Stanford criteria
      6.6%, 2013 Seattle criteria 2.8%, and 2014 Sharma Refined criteria 2.8%. In black
      athletes, the Stanford criteria resulted in more abnormal ECGs compared with
      Seattle or Sharma Refined. Three athletes were found to have a previously
      undetected cardiac abnormality (2 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 1 with
      preexcitation). CONCLUSIONS: More recent ECG screening criteria substantially
      reduce the abnormal ECG rate and thus the number of athletes requiring additional
      testing. ECG screening criteria identified the predicted number (1/300) of young
      athletes with serious underlying cardiovascular disease. These criteria prompt
      not only additional cardiovascular testing but also a more thorough
      cardiovascular history.

PMID- 26886804
TI  - Wide field of view multifocal scanning microscopy with sparse sampling.
AB  - We propose to use sparsely sampled line scans with a sparsity-based
      reconstruction method to obtain images in a wide field of view (WFOV) multifocal
      scanning microscope. In the WFOV microscope, we used a holographically generated
      irregular focus grid to scan the sample in one dimension and then reconstructed
      the sample image from line scans by measuring the transmission of the foci
      through the sample during scanning. The line scans were randomly spaced with
      average spacing larger than the Nyquist sampling requirement, and the image was
      recovered with sparsity-based reconstruction techniques. With this scheme, the
      acquisition data can be significantly reduced and the restriction for equally
      spaced foci positions can be removed, indicating simpler experimental
      requirement. We built a prototype system and demonstrated the effectiveness of
      the reconstruction by recovering microscopic images of a U.S. Air Force target
      and an onion skin cell microscope slide with 40, 60, and 80% missing data with
      respect to the Nyquist sampling requirement.

PMID- 26886803
TI  - Reconstruction of explicit structural properties at the nanoscale via
      spectroscopic microscopy.
AB  - The spectrum registered by a reflected-light bright-field spectroscopic
      microscope (SM) can quantify the microscopically indiscernible, deeply
      subdiffractional length scales within samples such as biological cells and
      tissues. Nevertheless, quantification of biological specimens via any optical
      measures most often reveals ambiguous information about the specific structural
      properties within the studied samples. Thus, optical quantification remains
      nonintuitive to users from the diverse fields of technique application. In this
      work, we demonstrate that the SM signal can be analyzed to reconstruct explicit
      physical measures of internal structure within label-free, weakly scattering
      samples: characteristic length scale and the amplitude of spatial refractive
      index (RI) fluctuations. We present and validate the reconstruction algorithm via
      finite-difference time-domain solutions of Maxwell's equations on an example of
      exponential spatial correlation of RI. We apply the validated algorithm to
      experimentally measure structural properties within isolated cells from two
      genetic variants of HT29 colon cancer cell line as well as within a prostate
      tissue biopsy section. The presented methodology can lead to the development of
      novel biophotonics techniques that create two-dimensional maps of explicit
      structural properties within biomaterials: the characteristic size of
      macromolecular complexes and the variance of local mass density.

PMID- 26886805
TI  - Simultaneous blood flow and blood oxygenation measurements using a combination of
      diffuse speckle contrast analysis and near-infrared spectroscopy.
AB  - A combined diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA)-near-infrared spectroscopy
      (NIRS) system is proposed to simultaneously measure qualitative blood flow and
      blood oxygenation changes in human tissue. The system employs an optical switch
      to alternate two laser sources at two different wavelengths and a CCD camera to
      capture the speckle image. Therefore, an optical density can be measured from two
      wavelengths for NIRS measurements and a speckle contrast can be calculated for
      DSCA measurements. In order to validate the system, a flow phantom test and an
      arm occlusion protocol for arterial and venous occlusion were performed. Shorter
      exposure times (<1 ms ) show a higher drop (between 50% and 66%) and recovery of
      1/K2S values after occlusion (approximately 150%), but longer exposure time (3
      ms) shows more consistent hemodynamic changes. For four subjects, the 1/K2S
      values dropped to an average of 82.1+/-4.0% during the occlusion period and the
      average recovery of 1/K2S values after occlusion was 109.1+/-0.8% . There was
      also an approximately equivalent amplitude change in oxyhemoglobin (OHb) and
      deoxyhemoglobin (RHb) during arterial occlusion (max RHb=0.0085+/-0.0024 mM/DPF,
      min OHb=-0.0057+/-0.0044 mM/DPF). The sensitivity of the system makes it a
      suitable modality to observe qualitative hemodynamic trends during induced
      physiological changes.

PMID- 26886806
TI  - Online dosimetry for temoporfin-mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy using
      the canine prostate as model.
AB  - Online light dosimetry with real-time feedback was applied for temoporfin
      mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) of dog prostate. The aim was to
      investigate the performance of online dosimetry by studying the correlation
      between light dose plans and the tissue response, i.e., extent of induced tissue
      necrosis and damage to surrounding organs at risk. Light-dose planning software
      provided dose plans, including light source positions and light doses, based on
      ultrasound images. A laser instrument provided therapeutic light and dosimetric
      measurements. The procedure was designed to closely emulate the procedure for
      whole-prostate PDT in humans with prostate cancer. Nine healthy dogs were
      subjected to the procedure according to a light-dose escalation plan. About 0.15
      mg/kg temoporfin was administered 72 h before the procedure. The results of the
      procedure were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and gross pathology and
      histopathology of excised tissue. Light dose planning and online dosimetry
      clearly resulted in more focused effect and less damage to surrounding tissue
      than interstitial PDT without dosimetry. A light energy dose-response
      relationship was established where the threshold dose to induce prostate gland
      necrosis was estimated from 20 to 30  J/cm2.

PMID- 26886807
TI  - Efficacy of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Osseointegration of Implants.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim was to systematically review the efficacy of vitamin D3 (VD3)
      supplementation on the osseointegration of implants. METHODS: The addressed
      focused question was "does VD3 supplementation affect osseointegration around
      implants?" Indexed databases were searched from 1969 up to and including March
      2015 using various key words including: "Bone to implant contact"; "implant";
      "vitamin D"; and "osseointegration." Letters to the editor, case reports/case
      series, reviews, and articles published in languages other than English were
      excluded. The pattern of the present systematic review was customized to
      primarily summarize the pertinent data. RESULTS: Six experimental studies (4 in
      rodents and 2 in rabbits) were included. Number of titanium implants placed
      ranged between 28 and 100 implants. Results from 5 studies showed that VD3
      supplementation enhanced new bone formation and/or bone to implant contact (BIC)
      around implants. One study showed no significant difference in BIC and new bone
      formation around VD3 coated and noncoated implants. One study reported that
      insulin therapy with adjunct VD3 supplementation enhances new bone formation
      around implants in diabetic rats than when insulin replacement therapy is used
      alone. CONCLUSION: Efficacy of VD3 supplementation on osseointegration of
      implants remains controversial and requires further investigations.

PMID- 26886808
TI  - Clinical Outcomes After Immediate and Late Implant Loading for a Single Missing
      Tooth in the Anterior Maxilla.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study compared the clinical outcomes of 1-year follow-up of
      immediate and late implant loading after implant restoration of a single tooth in
      the anterior maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with missing
      teeth in the anterior maxilla were included in this study (18 immediate loading
      and 15 late loading). Standard periapical radiographs were obtained to evaluate
      the vertical bone loss around the implant. For both implant groups, periimplant
      parameters (probing depth, gingival bleeding index, gingival index (GI), modified
      plaque index, width of keratinized gingiva) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were
      no significant differences in bone loss, the widths of keratinized gingiva, the
      GI, and modified plaque index between the immediate implant loading and late
      implant loading groups (P > 0.05). A significant difference in the probing depth
      was observed between these groups at the initial and 1-month evaluations (P <
      0.05). Significant differences in bleeding indices between these groups were
      observed at months 3 and 6 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When selecting appropriate
      patients (adequate primary stability, patient compliance with the surgeon's
      recommendations), immediate implant loading may be an alternative method to late
      loading protocol for replacement of a missing tooth in anterior maxilla.

PMID- 26886809
TI  - Silent Bias: Challenges, Obstacles, and Strategies for Leadership Development in
      Academic Medicine-Lessons From Oral Histories of Women Professors at the
      University of Kansas.
AB  - PURPOSE: Despite dramatic increases in female learners and junior faculty, a
      significant gap remains in female leadership in academic medicine. To assess
      challenges and obstacles encountered, strategies for academic success, and
      lessons learned for leadership development, the authors conducted an in-depth
      study of women full professors. METHOD: The authors used a qualitative oral
      history approach, interviewing 87% of the cohort of female full professors at one
      Midwestern medical school in 2013 using a pretested, open-ended, semistructured
      interview guide. Interviews were videotaped and the audio recordings transcribed.
      Content was sorted into categories and key themes identified within each
      category. RESULTS: Participants described significant challenges: being treated
      with "silent bias," "being ignored," and being seen as an "other." Coping
      strategies included downplaying, keeping a distance, employing humor, and using
      symbols (e.g., white coat) to carefully present themselves. Explanations for
      success included intelligence, meritocracy, being even-tempered, and carefully
      constructing femininity. The participants recommended individual skills and
      actions to prepare for leadership development. Virtually all women could describe
      an individual mentor (sponsor), usually male, who provided essential assistance
      for their career success. At the same time, they stressed the importance of
      institutional support for diversity, especially with child care. CONCLUSIONS:
      Attaining "full professor" status is the pinnacle of academic success. Women who
      successfully navigated this academic ladder describe significant external and
      internal challenges that require multiple strategies to overcome. Leadership
      development entails a combination of individual support through mentors and
      sponsors, self-education and reflection, and organizational structural support to
      promote diversity.

PMID- 26886810
TI  - Taking Risk: Early Results From Teaching Hospitals' Participation in the Center
      for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Bundled Payments for Care Improvement
      Initiative.
AB  - The authors describe observations from the 27 teaching hospitals constituting the
      Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) cohort in the Center for Medicare
      and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI)
      initiative. CMMI introduced BPCI in August 2011 and selected the first set of
      participants in January 2013. BPCI participants enter into Medicare payment
      arrangements for episodes of care for which they take financial risk. The first
      round of participants entered risk agreements on October 1, 2013 and January 1,
      2014. In April 2014, CMMI selected additional participants who started taking
      financial risk in 2015. Selected episodes include congestive heart failure (CHF),
      major joint replacement (MJR), and cardiac valve surgery. The AAMC cohort of
      participating hospitals selected clinical conditions on the basis of patient
      volume, opportunity to impact savings and quality, organizational and clinical
      team readiness, and prior process improvement experience. Early financial results
      suggest that focused attention to postacute care utilization and outcomes, rapid
      changes in care processes, program pricing rules, and team composition drove
      savings and losses. The first cohort of participants generated savings in MJR,
      CHF, and cardiac valve episodes; losses were experienced in stroke, percutaneous
      coronary intervention, and spine surgery. Although about one-quarter of U.S.
      teaching hospitals are participating in BPCI, the proliferation of existing and
      new payment models, as well as the 2015 announcement to increasingly pay
      providers according to value, mandates close scrutiny of program outcomes. The
      authors conclude by proposing additional opportunities for research related to
      alternative payment models.

PMID- 26886811
TI  - Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer and a Tyrosine-Histidine Pair in a Photosystem
      II-Inspired beta-Hairpin Maquette: Kinetics on the Picosecond Time Scale.
AB  - Photosystem II (PSII) and ribonucleotide reductase employ oxidation and reduction
      of the tyrosine aromatic ring in radical transport pathways. Tyrosine-based
      reactions involve either proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) or electron
      transfer (ET) alone, depending on the pH and the pKa of tyrosine's phenolic
      oxygen. In PSII, a subset of the PCET reactions are mediated by a tyrosine
      histidine redox-driven proton relay, YD-His189. Peptide A is a PSII-inspired beta
      hairpin, which contains a single tyrosine (Y5) and histidine (H14). Previous
      electrochemical characterization indicated that Peptide A conducts a net PCET
      reaction between Y5 and H14, which have a cross-strand pi-pi interaction. The
      kinetic impact of H14 has not yet been explored. Here, we address this question
      through time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and 280-nm photolysis, which
      generates a neutral tyrosyl radical. The formation and decay of the neutral
      tyrosyl radical at 410 nm were monitored in Peptide A and its variant, Peptide C,
      in which H14 is replaced by cyclohexylalanine (Cha14). Significantly, both
      electron transfer (ET, pL 11, L = lyonium) and PCET (pL 9) were accelerated in
      Peptide A and C, compared to model tyrosinate or tyrosine at the same pL.
      Increased electronic coupling, mediated by the peptide backbone, can account for
      this rate acceleration. Deuterium exchange gave no significant solvent isotope
      effect in the peptides. At pL 9, but not at pL 11, the reaction rate decreased
      when H14 was mutated to Cha14. This decrease in rate is attributed to an increase
      in reorganization energy in the Cha14 mutant. The Y5-H14 mechanism in Peptide A
      is reminiscent of proton- and electron-transfer events involving YD-H189 in PSII.
      These results document a mechanism by which proton donors and acceptors can
      regulate the rate of PCET reactions. 

PMID- 26886812
TI  - Transformative Theatre: A Promising Educational Tool for Improving Health
      Encounters With LGBT Older Adults.
AB  - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) older adults are often unaware or
      fearful of aging services that contribute to greater vulnerability, isolation,
      and risk when services are needed. In addition, they may perceive or experience
      bias in health care encounters. Providers may not recognize their own biases or
      their impact on such encounters. In response, a group of LGBT community
      activists, aging professionals, researchers, and a theatre ensemble developed an
      interactive theatre experience, described herein, that portrays challenges faced
      by LGBT older adults needing services. Goals included raising awareness among
      LGBT older adults and providers about issues such as the limited legal rights of
      partners, limited family support, and fear of being mistreated as a result of
      homophobia. Evaluations and feedback reflected the potential of interactive
      theatre to engage people in sensitive discussions that can lead to increased
      awareness, reduced bias, practice change, and ultimately improved care for LGBT
      older adults.

PMID- 26886813
TI  - Rampant infections of bone marrow stem cell niches as triggers for
      spondyloarthropathies and rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Tropheryma Whipplei can induce rheumatism mimicking SpA or RA, but even more
      rampant bacterial/viral infections in epiphyseal bones could also contribute to
      the onset of RA and SpA. Indeed, as bone marrow stem cell niches are enriched in
      Tregs and myeloid derived suppressor cells, these areas are favourable for the
      persistence of quiescent viruses and/or dormant bacteria. This review focuses on
      the possibility that such silent infections of bone marrow stem cell niches might
      contribute to the pathogenesis of SpA and RA, at least during their onset. Some
      infections can affect the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, which can transmit
      these pathogens to their progeny. Transient but repeated revivals of viruses or
      dormant bacteria could promote the conversion of marrow regulatory T cells into
      effector phenotypes, leading to autoimmunity in the epiphyseal bone marrow,
      entheses and adjacent synovium. This scenario would also fit the flares of
      rheumatic disorders and explain why some joints or enthuses can be severely
      involved whereas their neighbours remain intact. The efficiency of anti-TNF drugs
      does not rule out a role of persistent infections in SpA and RA. These drugs do
      not affect chlamydial clearance, or the reactivation of latent Salmonella
      enterica serovar Typhimurium in mice or Epstein-Barr virus in humans. Anti-TNF
      might even prevent, rather than foster, the revival of dormant bacteria and
      viruses in marrow stem cell niches. Indeed, anti-TNF enhance the maturation of
      the immunosuppressive immature myeloid cells around stem cells into dendritic
      cells and macrophages, thus restoring immune responses in these areas. 

PMID- 26886814
TI  - Effect of stents coated with a combination of sirolimus and alpha-lipoic acid in
      a porcine coronary restenosis model.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate antiproliferative sirolimus- and
      antioxidative alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)-eluting stents using biodegradable polymer
      [poly-L-lactic acid (PLA)] in a porcine coronary overstretch restenosis model.
      Forty coronary arteries of 20 pigs were randomized into four groups in which the
      coronary arteries had a bare metal stent (BMS, n = 10), ALA-eluting stent with
      PLA (AES, n = 10), sirolimus-eluting stent with PLA (SES, n = 10), or sirolimus-
      and ALA-eluting stent with PLA (SAS, n = 10). A histopathological analysis was
      performed 28 days after the stenting. The ALA and sirolimus released slowly over
      30 days. There were no significant differences between groups in the injury or
      inflammation score; however, there were significant differences in the percent
      area of stenosis (56.2 +/- 11.78% in BMS vs. 51.5 +/- 12.20% in AES vs. 34.7 +/-
      7.23% in SES vs. 28.7 +/- 7.30% in SAS, P < 0.0001) and fibrin score [1.0 (range
      1.0-1.0) in BMS vs. 1.0 (range 1.0-1.0) in AES vs. 2.0 (range 2.0-2.0) in SES vs.
      2.0 (range 2.0-2.0) in SAS, P < 0.0001] between the four groups. The percent area
      of stenosis based on micro-computed tomography corresponded with the restenosis
      rates based on histopathological stenosis in different proportions in the four
      groups (54.8 +/- 7.88% in BMS vs. 50.4 +/- 14.87% in AES vs. 34.5 +/- 7.22% in
      SES vs. 28.9 +/- 7.22% in SAS, P < 0.05). SAS showed a better neointimal
      inhibitory effect than BMS, AES, and SES at 1 month after stenting in a porcine
      coronary restenosis model. Therefore, SAS with PLA can be a useful drug
      combination for coronary stent coating to suppress neointimal hyperplasia.

PMID- 26886815
TI  - Is dialdehyde starch a valuable cross-linking agent for collagen/elastin based
      materials?
AB  - Collagen and elastin are the main structural proteins in mammal bodies. They
      provide mechanical support, strength, and elasticity to various organs and
      tissues, e.g. skin, tendons, arteries, and bones. They are readily available,
      biodegradable, biocompatible and they stimulate cell growth. The physicochemical
      properties of collagen and elastin-based materials can be modified by cross
      linking. Glutaraldehyde is one of the most efficient cross-linking agents.
      However, the unreacted molecules can be released from the material and cause
      cytotoxic reactions. Thus, the aim of our work was to investigate the influence
      of a safer, macromolecular cross-linking agent--dialdehyde starch (DAS). The
      properties of hydrogels based on collagen/elastin mixtures (95/5, 90/10)
      containing 5 and 10% of DAS and neutralized via dialysis against deionized water
      were tested. The homogenous, transparent, stiff hydrogels were obtained. The DAS
      addition causes the formation of intermolecular cross-linking bonds but does not
      affect the secondary structure of the proteins. As a result, the thermal
      stability, mechanical strength, and, surprisingly, swelling ability increased. At
      the same time, the surface properties test and in vitro study show that the
      materials are attractive for 3T3 cells. Moreover, the materials containing 10% of
      DAS are more resistant to enzymatic degradation.

PMID- 26886816
TI  - The response of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells to micro- and nano-textured,
      hydrophilic and bioactive titanium surfaces.
AB  - The aim of the present work was to investigate the morphology and activity of the
      murine osteoblastic cell line MC3T3 on control smooth (Machined), commercially
      available rough (ZT) titanium discs, and on titanium samples obtained by
      modifying the ZT treatment protocol, and herein labelled as ZTF, ZTM and ZTFM.
      Cells were evaluated at SEM and immunofluorescence for morphology and cell-to
      cell interactions and by MTT assay and real time PCR for cell growth and
      function. Microscopy showed that ZT modified protocols could differently affect
      cell shape and distribution. All the tested surfaces showed good biocompatibility
      by viability assay. However, cells on smoother surfaces appeared to express
      higher levels of transcript for Collagen 1a1, the main component of extracellular
      matrix, by real time PCR. Expression of the early differentiation marker Alkaline
      Phosphatase was higher on ZTF surfaces and ZTM enhanced the expression of later
      osteoblastic markers Osteoprotegerin and Osteocalcin. Noteworthy, the expression
      of Connexin 43, a component of cell-to-cell contacts and hemichannels, followed a
      similar pattern to differentiation marker genes and was higher in cells on ZTM
      surfaces, consistently with the microscopic observation of cell clusters. Taken
      together, this data showed that ZTF and ZTM treatment protocols appeared to
      improve the basal sand-blasting/acid-etching ZT procedure with ZTM surfaces
      promoting the most mature stage of differentiation. 

PMID- 26886817
TI  - Production of new 3D scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration by rapid prototyping.
AB  - The incidence of bone disorders, whether due to trauma or pathology, has been
      trending upward with the aging of the worldwide population. The currently
      available treatments for bone injuries are rather limited, involving mainly bone
      grafts and implants. A particularly promising approach for bone regeneration uses
      rapid prototyping (RP) technologies to produce 3D scaffolds with highly
      controlled structure and orientation, based on computer-aided design models or
      medical data. Herein, tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/alginate scaffolds were produced
      using RP and subsequently their physicochemical, mechanical and biological
      properties were characterized. The results showed that 60/40 of TCP and alginate
      formulation was able to match the compression and present a similar Young modulus
      to that of trabecular bone while presenting an adequate biocompatibility.
      Moreover, the biomineralization ability, roughness and macro and microporosity of
      scaffolds allowed cell anchoring and proliferation at their surface, as well as
      cell migration to its interior, processes that are fundamental for
      osteointegration and bone regeneration. 

PMID- 26886818
TI  - Impact of decellularization on porcine myocardium as scaffold for tissue
      engineered heart tissue.
AB  - Decellularized myocardium has been proposed to construct tissue engineered heart
      tissue, providing the advantage of natural extracellular architecture. Various
      decellularization protocols have been developed, but the impact of individual
      decellularization reagent in the protocol remains unclear. The aim of this study
      is to evaluate the structural impact of three commonly used decellularization
      reagents on the porcine myocardium. We decellularized porcine heart tissue with
      trypsin, Triton X-100 or SDS, and analyzed the morphological characteristics of
      the remaining tissue by SEM, AFM and two-photon LSM. We further recellularized
      the scaffold with rat myocardial fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes separately.
      According to the H&E staining and DNA quantification, SDS decellularized more
      efficiently in comparison to the other two reagents. Moreover, we found distinct
      surface microarchitecture differences among groups. The changed structure of
      tissue might result in varied proliferation myocardial fibroblasts and
      biophysical performance of the engineered heart tissue. This study demonstrated
      that the microstructure of decellularized porcine heart tissue vary with
      decellularization agents. Compared to trypsin and Triton X-100, SDS not only
      decellularized more efficiently but also preserved the biocompatible
      microstructure of ECM for recellularization. 

PMID- 26886819
TI  - Graphene oxide and titanium: synergistic effects on the biomineralization ability
      of osteoblast cultures.
AB  - Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted remarkable attention in recent years due to
      properties such as extremely large surface area, biocompatibility, biostability,
      and easy chemical functionalization. Osteoblasts underlie the deposition of
      hydroxyapatite crystals in the bone protein matrix during biomineralization;
      hydroxyapatite deposition involves extracellular matrix vesicles that are rich in
      alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Here, we have investigated how GO affects osteoblast
      viability, ALP activity, and mineralized matrix formation in osteoblast cultures
      in three different phases of cell growth, in the presence and in the absence of
      titanium (Ti). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectra, and energy
      dispersive spectroscopy aided GO characterization. The presence of GO increased
      the viability of osteoblast cells grown on a plastic surface. However, osteoblast
      viability on Ti discs was lower in the presence than in the absence of GO. ALP
      activity emerged at 14 days for the cell culture incubated with GO. The total
      protein concentration also increased at 21 days on both the Ti discs and plastic
      surface. Osteoblasts grown on Ti discs had increased mineralized matrix formation
      in the presence of GO as compared to the cells grown in the absence of GO. SEM
      images of the cell cultures on plastic surfaces in the presence of GO suggested
      delayed mineralized matrix formation. In conclusion, applications requiring the
      presence of Ti, such as prostheses and implants, should benefit from the use of
      GO, which may increase mineralized nodule formation, stimulate biomineralization,
      and accelerate bone regeneration.

PMID- 26886820
TI  - Mechanical and thermal behaviour of an acrylic bone cement modified with a
      triblock copolymer.
AB  - The basic formulation of an acrylic bone cement has been modified by the addition
      of a block copolymer, Nanostrength((r)) (NS), in order to augment the mechanical
      properties and particularly the fracture toughness of the bone cement. Two grades
      of NS at different levels of loading, between 1 and 10 wt.%, have been used.
      Mechanical tests were conducted to study the behaviour of the modified cements;
      specific tests measured the bend, compression and fracture toughness properties.
      The failure mode of the fracture test specimens was analysed using scanning
      electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of NS addition on the thermal properties
      was also determined, and the polymerisation reaction using differential scanning
      calorimetry. It was observed that the addition of NS produced an improvement in
      the fracture toughness and ductility of the cement, which could have a positive
      contribution by reducing the premature fracture of the cement mantle. The
      residual monomer content was reduced when the NS was added. However this also
      produced an increase in the maximum temperature and the heat delivered during the
      polymerisation of the cement. 

PMID- 26886821
TI  - Injectable micellar supramolecular hydrogel for delivery of hydrophobic
      anticancer drugs.
AB  - In this paper, an injectable micellar supramolecular hydrogel composed of alpha
      cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon
      caplactone) (MPEG5000-PCL5000) micelles was developed by a simple method for
      hydrophobic anticancer drug delivery. By mixing alpha-CD aqueous solution and
      MPEG5000-PCL5000 micelles, an injectable micellar supramolecular hydrogel could
      be formed under mild condition due to the inclusion complexation between alpha-CD
      and MPEG segment of MPEG5000-PCL5000 micelles. The resultant supramolecular
      hydrogel was thereafter characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning
      electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of alpha-CD amount on the gelation time,
      mechanical strength and thixotropic property was studied by a rheometer. Payload
      of hydrophobic paclitaxel (PTX) to supramolecular hydrogel was achieved by
      encapsulation of PTX into MPEG5000-PCL5000 micelles prior mixing with alpha-CD
      aqueous solution. In vitro release study showed that the release behavior of PTX
      from hydrogel could be modulated by change the alpha-CD amount in hydrogel.
      Furthermore, such supramolecular hydrogel could enhance the biological activity
      of encapsulated PTX compared to free PTX, as indicated by in vitro cytotoxicity
      assay. All these results indicated that the developed micellar supramolecular
      hydrogel might be a promising injectable drug delivery system for anticancer
      therapy. 

PMID- 26886822
TI  - Dynamic finite element simulation of the gunshot injury to the human forehead
      protected by polyvinyl alcohol sponge.
AB  - Although there are some traditional models of the gunshot wounds, there is still
      a need for more modeling analyses due to the difficulties related to the gunshot
      wounds to the forehead region of the human skull. In this study, the degree of
      damage as a consequence of penetrating head injuries due to gunshot wounds was
      determined using a preliminary finite element (FE) model of the human skull. In
      addition, the role of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge, which can be used as an
      alternative to reinforce the kinetic energy absorption capacity of bulletproof
      vest and helmet materials, to minimize the amount of skull injury due to
      penetrating processes was investigated through the FE model. Digital computed
      tomography along with magnetic resonance imaging data of the human head were
      employed to launch a three-dimensional (3D) FE model of the skull. Two
      geometrical shapes of projectiles (steel ball and bullet) were simulated for
      penetrating with an initial impact velocity of 734 m/s using nonlinear dynamic
      modeling code, namely LS-DYNA. The role of the damaged/distorted elements were
      removed during computation when the stress or strain reached their thresholds.
      The stress distributions in various parts of the forehead and sponge after injury
      were also computed. The results revealed the same amount of stress for both the
      steel ball and bullet after hitting the skull. The modeling results also
      indicated the time that steel ball takes to penetrate into the skull is lower
      than that of the bullet. In addition, more than 21% of the steel ball's kinetic
      energy was absorbed by the PVA sponge and, subsequently, injury sternness of the
      forehead was considerably minimized. The findings advise the application of the
      PVA sponge as a substitute strengthening material to be able to diminish the
      energy of impact as well as the load transmitted to the object.

PMID- 26886823
TI  - Phycocyanin-encapsulating hyalurosomes as carrier for skin delivery and
      protection from oxidative stress damage.
AB  - The phycobiliprotein phycocyanin, extracted from Klamath algae, possesses
      important biological properties but it is characterized by a low bioavailability
      due to its high molecular weight. To overcome the bioavailability problems,
      phycocyanin was successfully encapsulated, using an environmentally-friendly
      method, into hyalurosomes, a new kind of phospholipid vesicles immobilised with
      hyaluronan sodium salt by the simple addition of drug/sodium hyaluronate water
      dispersion to phospholipids. Liposomes were used as a comparison. Vesicles were
      small in size and homogeneously dispersed, being the mean size always smaller
      than 150 nm and PI never higher than 0.31. Liposomes were unilamellar and
      spherical, the addition of the polymer slightly modify the vesicular shape which
      remain spherical, while the addition of PEG improve the lamellarity of vesicles
      being multilamellar vesicles. In all cases phycocyanin was encapsulated in good
      amount especially using hyalurosomes and PEG hyalurosomes (65 and 61%
      respectively). In vitro penetration studies suggested that hyalurosomes favoured
      the phycocyanin deposition in the deeper skin layers probably thanks to their
      peculiar hyaluronan-phospholipid structure. Moreover, hyalurosomes were highly
      biocompatible and improved phycocyanin antioxidant activity on stressed human
      keratinocytes respect to the drug solution.

PMID- 26886824
TI  - Preparation and characterization of biomedical highly porous Ti-Nb alloy.
AB  - The compressive strength and the biocompatibility were assessed for the porous Ti
      25 wt%Nb alloy fabricated by the combination of the sponge impregnation technique
      and sintering technique. The alloy provided pore sizes of 300-600 MUm, porosity
      levels of 71 +/- 1.5%, in which the volume fraction of open pores was 94 +/-
      1.3%. The measurements also showed that the alloy had the compressive Young's
      modulus of 2.23 +/- 0.5 GPa and the strength of 98.4 +/- 4.5 MPa, indicating that
      the mechanical properties of the alloy are similar to those of human bone. The
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the pores were well
      connected to form three-dimension (3D) network open cell structure. Moreover, no
      obvious impurities were detected in the porous structure. The experiments also
      confirmed that rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could adhere and
      proliferate in the porous Ti-25 wt%Nb alloy. The interactions between the porous
      alloy and the cells are attributed to the porous structure with relatively higher
      surface. The suitable mechanical and biocompatible properties confirmed that this
      material has a promising potential in the application for tissue engineering.

PMID- 26886825
TI  - Aquated cisplatin and heparin-pluronic nanocomplexes exhibiting sustainable
      release of active platinum compound and NCI-H460 lung cancer cell
      antiproliferation.
AB  - In recent decades, platinum compounds have been many contributions in medicine.
      Development of new drugs from the active platinum compounds as well as
      nanocarriers for targeted delivery and reducing side effects of the drugs has
      paid much attention. In the study, nanocomplexes were prepared from aquated
      species of cisplatin and pluronic-conjugated heparin which distributed in the
      range of 80-100 nm by Transmission Electron Microscopy and 134 nm by Dynamic
      light scattering (DLS). Formation of the complex was confirmed by FTIR and DLS.
      The nanocomplexes exhibited high drug-loading capacity (approximately 42.5% wt/wt
      at 37  degrees C and 37.5% wt/wt at 25  degrees C). In vitro, drug-loaded
      nanogels showed much slower release profiles of cisplatin CDDP in pH 7.4
      (physiological pH) compared with pH 5.5 condition at 37  degrees C. Moreover, the
      cytotoxicity assay results also indicated that Hep-F127 was cytocompatible;
      meanwhile, CDDP-loaded nanocomplex was able to reduce the cytotoxic ability of
      free CDDP (IC50 = 5.68 +/- 0.73 MUg/ml), which still maintain a significantly
      antiproliferative activity on NCI-H460 lung cancer cell. The in vitro
      preliminarily obtained results indicate that the nanocomplex is a candidate for
      CDDP delivery which can be studied further in cancer therapy.

PMID- 26886826
TI  - Over-the-counter medicine and dietary supplement consumption among academic youth
      in Poland.
AB  - Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements are increasingly popular
      in Poland, potentially improving but also potentially posing a threat to public
      health. The study goal is to characterize and assess behaviors related to use of
      OTC medicines and dietary supplements among Polish university students. A
      questionnaire-based survey was performed with students divided into groups
      (gender, subjects studied, period of studies). The majority of students declared
      using the products, significantly more females and younger students in their
      early years. Females tended to be more attentive to product information. Students
      with a background in biological or medical sciences were also more attentive and
      less influenced by advertising. The authors present that the differences between
      the defined groups of students should be utilized in tailored educational
      activities, aiming to rationalize high consumption of OTC medicines and dietary
      supplements. Targeting other, especially low-socioeconomic and less-educated,
      groups should follow. 

PMID- 26886829
TI  - Special Note from the Editor-in-Chief.

PMID- 26886827
TI  - Emotion-focused treatments for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review of the
      literature.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present review explores emotion-focused treatments for anorexia
      nervosa (AN). METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search across key
      databases (PsychINFO, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science) prior to September
      2015. Twenty studies were selected for systematic review. RESULTS: The present
      review found initial evidence supporting the acceptability and feasibility of
      emotion-focused treatments for AN. Although preliminary results are promising,
      further controlled studies are necessary to establish the efficacy of emotion
      focused treatments for AN. CONCLUSIONS: Future controlled trials should compare
      emotion-focused treatments against each other and against other AN treatments.
      Future studies should also examine the mechanisms of action for the emotion
      focused treatments and treatment moderators.

PMID- 26886828
TI  - A convenient prognostic score consisting of the Glasgow prognostic score and
      serum lactate dehydrogenase predicts clinical outcome in patients with diffuse
      large B-cell lymphoma.

PMID- 26886830
TI  - Hopes, Promises, and Future Directions of Gene and Cell Therapies in France.

PMID- 26886831
TI  - Gene and Cell Therapies: Inserm at the Heart of Biomedical Revolutions.

PMID- 26886833
TI  - Transfer of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator to Human
      Cystic Fibrosis Cells Mediated by Extracellular Vesicles.
AB  - Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF
      transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, resulting in a deficiency in
      chloride channel activity. In this study, extracellular vesicles (EVs),
      microvesicles, and exosomes were used as vehicles to deliver exogenous CFTR
      glycoprotein and its encoding mRNA (mRNA(GFP-CFTR)) to CF cells to correct the
      CFTR chloride channel function. We isolated microvesicles and exosomes from the
      culture medium of CFTR-positive Calu-3 cells, or from A549 cells transduced with
      an adenoviral vector overexpressing a GFP-tagged CFTR (GFP-CFTR). Both
      microvesicles and exosomes had the capacity to package and deliver the GFP-CFTR
      glycoprotein and mRNA(GFP-CFTR) to target cells in a dose-dependent manner.
      Homologous versus heterologous EV-to-cell transfer was studied, and it appeared
      that the cellular uptake of EVs was significantly more efficient in homologous
      transfer. The incubation of CF15 cells, a nasal epithelial cell line homozygous
      for the DeltaF508 CFTR mutation, with microvesicles or exosomes loaded with GFP
      CFTR resulted in the correction of the CFTR function in CF cells in a dose
      dependent manner. A time-course analysis of EV-transduced CF cells suggested that
      CFTR transferred as mature glycoprotein was responsible for the CFTR-associated
      channel activity detected at early times posttransduction, whereas GFP-CFTR
      translated from exogenous mRNA(GFP-CFTR) was responsible for the CFTR function at
      later times. Collectively, this study showed the potential application of
      microvesicles and exosomes as vectors for CFTR transfer and functional correction
      of the genetic defect in human CF cells. 

PMID- 26886834
TI  - "RCL-Pooling Assay": A Simplified Method for the Detection of Replication
      Competent Lentiviruses in Vector Batches Using Sequential Pooling.
AB  - Nonreplicative recombinant HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors (LV) are increasingly
      used in gene therapy of various genetic diseases, infectious diseases, and
      cancer. Before they are used in humans, preparations of LV must undergo extensive
      quality control testing. In particular, testing of LV must demonstrate the
      absence of replication-competent lentiviruses (RCL) with suitable methods, on
      representative fractions of vector batches. Current methods based on cell culture
      are challenging because high titers of vector batches translate into high volumes
      of cell culture to be tested in RCL assays. As vector batch size and titers are
      continuously increasing because of the improvement of production and purification
      methods, it became necessary for us to modify the current RCL assay based on the
      detection of p24 in cultures of indicator cells. Here, we propose a practical
      optimization of this method using a pairwise pooling strategy enabling easier
      testing of higher vector inoculum volumes. These modifications significantly
      decrease material handling and operator time, leading to a cost-effective method,
      while maintaining optimal sensibility of the RCL testing. This optimized "RCL
      pooling assay" ameliorates the feasibility of the quality control of large-scale
      batches of clinical-grade LV while maintaining the same sensitivity. 

PMID- 26886835
TI  - Gerontology across the professions and the Atlantic: Development and evaluation
      of an interprofessional and international course on aging and health.
AB  - The need for interprofessional teamwork and the global challenges for health care
      systems of dramatically increasing numbers of older adults have received
      increased recognition in gerontological and geriatrics education. The authors
      report on the pilot development of a hybrid course on aging and health for
      graduate-level health professions students from Norway, Canada, and the United
      States. International faculty from partnering universities developed, taught, and
      evaluated the course. Course assignments included online forum postings,
      reflections, and a problem-based learning group assignment and presentation.
      Directed readings and discussion included topics related to health care systems
      and services in the three participating countries, teamwork, and patient-centered
      care. To evaluate the course, quantitative and qualitative data were collected
      and analyzed. Results indicate a significant impact on student learning outcomes,
      including understanding of issues in international aging and health, attitudes
      and skills in teamwork, and application to clinical practice. This course clearly
      established the importance of developing innovative interprofessional educational
      experiences that respond to the increasingly universal impacts of aging
      populations on health and social care systems around the world.

PMID- 26886832
TI  - Gene Therapy of the beta-Hemoglobinopathies by Lentiviral Transfer of the
      beta(A(T87Q))-Globin Gene.
AB  - beta-globin gene disorders are the most prevalent inherited diseases worldwide
      and result from abnormal beta-globin synthesis or structure. Novel therapeutic
      approaches are being developed in an effort to move beyond palliative management.
      Gene therapy, by ex vivo lentiviral transfer of a therapeutic beta-globin gene
      derivative (beta(AT87Q)-globin) to hematopoietic stem cells, driven by cis
      regulatory elements that confer high, erythroid-specific expression, has been
      evaluated in human clinical trials over the past 8 years. beta(AT87Q)-globin is
      used both as a strong inhibitor of HbS polymerization and as a biomarker. While
      long-term studies are underway in multiple centers in Europe and in the United
      States, proof-of-principle of efficacy and safety has already been obtained in
      multiple patients with beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. 

PMID- 26886836
TI  - Omega-3 Fatty Acid Protects Against Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Cardiotoxicity In
      Vitro and In Vivo.
AB  - Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is a highly effective therapeutic against acute
      promyelocytic leukaemia, but its clinical efficacy is burdened by serious cardiac
      toxicity. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of omega (omega)
      3 fatty acid on As2O3-induced cardiac toxicity in in vivo and in vitro settings.
      In in vivo experiments, male Wistar rats were orally administered with As2O3 4
      mg/kg body weight for a period of 45 days and cardiotoxicity was assessed. As2O3
      significantly increased the tissue arsenic deposition, micronuclei frequency and
      creatine kinase (CK)-MB activity. There were a rise in lipid peroxidation and a
      decline in reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S
      transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in heart tissue of arsenic
      administered rats. The cardioprotective role of omega-3 fatty acid was assessed
      by combination treatment with As2O3. omega-3 fatty acid co-administration with
      As2O3 significantly alleviated these changes. In in vitro study using H9c2
      cardiomyocytes, As2O3 treatment induced alterations in cell viability, lactate
      dehydrogenase (LDH) release, lipid peroxidation, cellular calcium levels and
      mitochondrial membrane potential (?Psim). omega-3 fatty acid co-treatment
      significantly increased cardiomyocyte viability, reduced LDH release, lipid
      peroxidation and intracellular calcium concentration and improved the ?Psim.
      These findings suggested that the omega-3 fatty acid has the potential to protect
      against As2O3-induced cardiotoxicity.

PMID- 26886840
TI  - FLT3 Inhibitor-Associated Neutrophilic Dermatoses.

PMID- 26886841
TI  - Juvenile dermatomyositis: A report of three cases.
AB  - Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), an autoimmune idiopathic myositis, is
      characterized by rash and proximal muscle weakness. Immunohistopathology
      typically shows perivascular inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of CD4+ T
      lymphocytes, perifascicular atrophy, and upregulation of major histocompatibility
      complex class I. JDM has been attributed to a humoral-driven muscle
      microangiopathy probably implicating the type I interferon pathway. Tubulo
      reticular inclusions present in endothelial cell of muscle are biomarkers of
      interferon exposure, and so may be an indirect data of this myopathy especially
      in the absence of rash and inflammatory infiltrate. We report on three patients
      in which electron microscopy solves the differential diagnosis among infantile
      myositis showing peculiar inclusions. 

PMID- 26886842
TI  - Assessment of Total Choline Intakes in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Choline is an essential nutrient and plays a critical role in brain
      development, cell signaling, nerve impulse transmission, and lipid transport and
      metabolism. This analysis aimed to assess usual intakes of choline and compare
      them with the dietary reference intakes for U.S. residents aged >= 2 years.
      METHODS: The National Cancer Institute method was used to assess usual intakes of
      choline from foods according to data for participants in the 2009-2012 National
      Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; n = 16,809). RESULTS: Suboptimal
      intakes of choline are prevalent across many life-stage subpopulations in the
      United States. Only 10.8 +/- 0.6% of 2009-2012 NHANES participants aged >= 2
      years (15.6 +/- 0.8% of males and 6.1 +/- 0.6% of females) achieved the adequate
      intake (AI) for choline. Children aged 2-3 years were the most likely to exceed
      the AI (62.9 +/- 3.1%), followed by children aged 4-8 years (45.4 +/- 1.6%) and
      children aged 9-13 years (9.0 +/- 1.0%), compared to adolescents aged 14-18 years
      (1.8 +/- 0.4%) and adults aged >= 19 years (6.6 +/- 0.5%). When comparing by age
      and gender, males consumed significantly more choline than females for all age
      groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that there is a need to increase
      awareness among health professionals and consumers regarding potential suboptimal
      intakes of choline in the United States, as well as the critical role that
      choline plays in health maintenance throughout the lifespan. Food scientists and
      the food and dietary supplement industries should consider working collectively
      with government agencies to discuss strategies to help offset the percentage of
      the population that does not meet the AI. Revision of the dietary reference
      intakes for choline should include replacement of the AI with an estimated
      average requirement and a recommended dietary allowance, so that more accurate
      population estimates of inadequate intakes may be calculated.

PMID- 26886843
TI  - Prevalence and Characterization of Cronobacter sakazakii in Retail Milk-Based
      Infant and Baby Foods in Shaanxi, China.
AB  - Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) is an opportunistic
      pathogen that causes meningitis, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in
      neonates and infants through consumption of contaminated milk-based foods. In
      this study, the prevalence of C. sakazakii in 705 retail milk-based infant and
      baby food samples was investigated in 12 cities in Shaanxi, China, in 2010 and
      2012. One hundred and nineteen samples (16.9%) were C. sakazakii positive. The
      isolates were further characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility to 14
      antibiotics, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles, and presence of the
      virulence genes. Samples of brand W, Y, A, and G in 2010 and 2012 were C.
      sakazakii positive. All isolates recovered in 2010 and 2012 were susceptible to
      levofloxacin and cefoperazone. In 2012, no isolate was resistant to gentamicin,
      cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, gatifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone.
      Antibiotic resistance of the isolates was most commonly found to rifampicin,
      amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, streptomycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin in both
      2010 and 2012, except to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in 2012. Pulsed-field gel
      electrophoresis profiles indicated that C. sakazakii isolates were genotypically
      diverse, although these isolates were prevalent in infant and baby foods with the
      same brand. A total of 34 virulence gene profiles of the C. sakazakii isolates in
      2010 and 2012 were detected. Isolates that co-carried hly-ompX-eitCBAD
      iucABCD/iutA genes in 2012 were significantly (p < 0.05) more prevalent than
      those in 2010. The results added new epidemiological evidence for the widespread
      occurrence of C. sakazakii in retail milk-based infant and baby foods and this
      should be an indicator of potential health risk for consumers. 

PMID- 26886844
TI  - Genetic variants in MiR-29a associated with high myopia.

PMID- 26886845
TI  - Label-Free Real-Time Microarray Imaging of Cancer Protein-Protein Interactions
      and Their Inhibition by Small Molecules.
AB  - A rapid optical microarray imaging approach for anticancer drug screening at
      specific cancer protein-protein interface targets with binding kinetics and
      validation by a mass sensor is reported for the first time. Surface plasmon
      resonance imager (SPRi) demonstrated a 3.5-fold greater specificity for
      interactions between murine double minute 2 protein (MDM2) and wild-type p53 over
      a nonspecific p53 mutant in a real-time microfluidic analysis. Significant
      percentage reflectivity changes (Delta%R) in the SPRi signals and molecular-level
      mass changes were detected for both the MDM2-p53 interaction and its inhibition
      by a small-molecule Nutlin-3 drug analogue known for its anticancer property. We
      additionally demonstrate that synthetic, inexpensive binding domains of
      interacting cancer proteins are sufficient to screen anticancer drugs by an array
      based SPRi technique with excellent specificity and sensitivity. This imaging
      array, combined with a mass sensor, can be used to study quantitatively any
      protein-protein interaction and screen for small molecules with binding and
      potency evaluations. 

PMID- 26886848
TI  - Differences between the insulating limit quasiparticles of one-band and three
      band cuprate models.
AB  - We study the charge dynamics of the quasiparticle that forms when a single hole
      is doped in a two-dimensional antiferromagnet as described by the one-band t-t'
      t"-J model, using a variational approximation that includes spin fluctuations in
      the vicinity of the hole. We explain why the spin fluctuations and the longer
      range hopping have complementary contributions to the quasiparticle dynamics, and
      thus why both are essential to obtain a dispersion in agreement with that
      measured experimentally. This is very different from the three-band Emery model
      in the strongly-correlated limit, where the same variational approximation shows
      that spin fluctuations have a minor effect on the quasiparticle dynamics. This
      difference proves that these one-band and three-band models describe
      qualitatively different quasiparticles in the insulating limit, and therefore
      that they cannot both be suitable to describe the physics of very underdoped
      cuprates.

PMID- 26886847
TI  - Rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty have
      better in-hospital outcomes compared with non-rheumatoid arthritis patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with multiple
      comorbidities and, therefore, overall management is critical for those patients
      undergoing elective major orthopaedic surgeries, such as total hip arthroplasty
      (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to compare
      in-hospital outcomes of elective THA and TKA between patients with and without RA
      in the US during the last decade. We hypothesised that patients with RA would
      have similar perioperative outcomes after elective THA and TKA. METHODS: Clinical
      data were derived from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2000 and
      2009. Patients who underwent elective THA and TKA were identified. Data regarding
      patient- and healthcare system-related characteristics, comorbidities, in
      hospital complications, and mortality were retrieved. In-hospital outcomes of the
      procedures were compared between patients with and without RA. RESULTS:
      Comparison between patients with and without RA showed that patients with RA had
      significantly lower overall in-hospital complication rates following THA and TKA,
      and lower in-hospital mortality rate following THA. Patients with RA undergoing
      THA and TKA had decreased risk of overall in-hospital complications compared to
      those without RA. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypothesis, perioperative outcomes
      of elective THA and TKA in patients with RA were better than those in patients
      without RA. These results may indicate that patient selection and pre- and
      perioperative management of patients with RA undergoing elective THA and TKA were
      well conducted in the US during the last decade.

PMID- 26886846
TI  - Effects of Response to 2014-2015 Ebola Outbreak on Deaths from Malaria, HIV/AIDS,
      and Tuberculosis, West Africa.
AB  - Response to the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa overwhelmed the
      healthcare systems of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, reducing access to
      health services for diagnosis and treatment for the major diseases that are
      endemic to the region: malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. To estimate the
      repercussions of the Ebola outbreak on the populations at risk for these
      diseases, we developed computational models for disease transmission and
      infection progression. We estimated that a 50% reduction in access to healthcare
      services during the Ebola outbreak exacerbated malaria, HIV/AIDS, and
      tuberculosis mortality rates by additional death counts of 6,269 (2,564-12,407)
      in Guinea; 1,535 (522-2,8780) in Liberia; and 2,819 (844-4,844) in Sierra Leone.
      The 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak was catastrophic in these countries, and its
      indirect impact of increasing the mortality rates of other diseases was also
      substantial.

PMID- 26886849
TI  - Discovery of Highly Selective and Nanomolar Carbamate-Based Butyrylcholinesterase
      Inhibitors by Rational Investigation into Their Inhibition Mode.
AB  - Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a promising target for the treatment of later
      stage cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. A set of pseudo-irreversible BChE
      inhibitors with high selectivity over hAChE was synthesized based on carbamates
      attached to tetrahydroquinazoline scaffolds with the 2-thiophenyl compound 2p as
      the most potent inhibitor of eqBChE (KC = 14.3 nM) and also of hBChE (KC = 19.7
      nM). The inhibitors transfer the carbamate moiety onto the active site under
      release of the phenolic tetrahydroquinazoline scaffolds that themselves act as
      neuroprotectants. By combination of kinetic data with molecular docking studies,
      a plausible binding model was probed describing how the tetrahydroquinazoline
      scaffold guides the carbamate into a close position to the active site. The model
      explains the influence of the carrier scaffold onto the affinity of an inhibitor
      just before carbamate transfer. This strategy can be used to utilize the binding
      mode of other carbamate-based inhibitors. 

PMID- 26886850
TI  - Molecular Characterization of the Gas-Particle Interface of Soot Sampled from a
      Diesel Engine Using a Titration Method.
AB  - Surface functional groups of two different types of combustion aerosols, a
      conventional diesel (EN 590) and a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) soot, have
      been investigated using heterogeneous chemistry (i.e., gas-particle surface
      reactions). A commercial sample of amorphous carbon (Printex XE2-B) was analyzed
      as a reference substrate. A Knudsen flow reactor was used to carry out the
      experiments under molecular flow conditions. The selected gases for the titration
      experiments were: N(CH3)3 for the identification of acidic sites, NH2OH for the
      presence of carbonyl groups, CF3COOH and HCl for basic sites of different
      strength, and O3 and NO2 for reducing groups. Reactivity with N(CH3)3 indicates a
      lower density of acidic functionalities for Printex XE2-B in relation to diesel
      and HVO soot. Results for NH2OH experiments indicates that commercial amorphous
      carbon exhibits a lower abundance of available carbonyl groups at the interface
      compared to the results from diesel and HVO soot, the latter being the one with
      the largest abundance of carbonyl functions. Reactions with acids indicate the
      presence of weak basic oxides on the particle surface that preferentially
      interact with the strong acid CF3COOH. Finally, reactions with O3 and NO2 reveal
      that diesel and especially HVO have a significantly higher reactivity with both
      oxidizers compared to that of Printex XE2-B because they have more reducing sites
      by roughly a factor of 10 and 30, respectively. The kinetics of titration
      reactions have also been investigated. 

PMID- 26886851
TI  - Parental Perception of Weight Status: Influence on Children's Diet in the
      Gateshead Millennium Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Recognising overweight and obesity is critical to prompting action,
      and consequently preventing and treating obesity. The present study examined the
      association between parental perceptions of child weight status and child's diet.
      METHODS: Participants were members of the Gateshead Millennium Study. Parental
      perception of their child's weight status was assessed using a questionnaire and
      compared against International Obesity Task Force cut-offs for childhood
      overweight and obesity when the children were aged 6-8 years old. Diet was
      assessed at age 6-8years old using the FAST (Food Assessment in Schools Tool)
      food diary method. The association between parental perception and dietary
      patterns as defined by Principal Components Analysis, was assessed using
      multivariate regression after adjustment for child's gender, child's weight
      status, maternal body mass index (BMI), maternal education and deprivation
      status. RESULTS: Of the 361 parents who provided complete data on confounders and
      on their perception of their child's weight status, 63 (17%) parents perceived
      their child as being of 'normal' weight or 'overweight' when they were actually
      'overweight' or 'obese', respectively. After adjustment for confounders, parents
      who misperceived their child's weight had children with a lower 'healthy' dietary
      pattern score compared to children whose parents correctly perceived their weight
      (beta = -0.88; 95% CI: -1.7, -0.1; P-value = 0.028). This association was found
      despite higher consumption of reduced sugar carbonated drinks amongst children
      whose parents incorrectly perceived their weight status compared to children
      whose parents perceived their weight correctly (52.4% vs. 33.6%; P-value =
      0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, children whose parents did not correctly
      perceive their weight status scored lower on the 'healthy' dietary pattern.
      Further research is required to define parents' diets based on their perception
      status and to examine if a child's or parent's diet mediates the association
      between parental perception and child weight.

PMID- 26886852
TI  - Comprehensive Expression Profiling and Functional Network Analysis of p53
      Regulated MicroRNAs in HepG2 Cells Treated with Doxorubicin.
AB  - Acting as a sequence-specific transcription factor, p53 tumor suppressor involves
      in a variety of biological processes after being activated by cellular stresses
      such as DNA damage. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been confirmed to be
      regulated by p53 in several cancer types. However, it is still unclear how miRNAs
      orchestrate their regulation and function in p53 network after p53 activation in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we used small RNA sequencing and
      systematic bioinformatic analysis to characterize the regulatory networks of
      differentially expressed miRNAs after the p53 activation in HepG2. Here, 33
      miRNAs significantly regulated by p53 (12 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated)
      were detected between the doxorubicin-treated and untreated HepG2 cells in two
      biological replicates for small RNA sequencing and 8 miRNAs have been reported
      previously to be associated with HCC. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway
      enrichment analysis showed that 87.9% (29 out of 33) and 90.9% (30 out of 33) p53
      regulated miRNAs were involved in p53-related biological processes and pathways
      with significantly low p-value, respectively. Remarkably, 18 out of 33 p53
      regulated miRNAs were identified to contain p53 binding sites around their
      transcription start sites (TSSs). Finally, comprehensive p53-miRNA regulatory
      networks were constructed and analyzed. These observations provide a new insight
      into p53-miRNA co-regulatory network in the context of HCC. 

PMID- 26886853
TI  - Is Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Related to Brain and Behavior Impairments in
      Humans? Evidence from a Population-Representative Birth Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite present in
      around a third of the human population. Infected individuals are commonly
      asymptomatic, though recent reports have suggested that infection might influence
      aspects of the host's behavior. In particular, Toxoplasma infection has been
      linked to schizophrenia, suicide attempt, differences in aspects of personality
      and poorer neurocognitive performance. However, these studies are often conducted
      in clinical samples or convenience samples. METHODS/RESULTS: In a population
      representative birth-cohort of individuals tested for presence of antibodies to
      T. gondii (N = 837) we investigated the association between infection and four
      facets of human behavior: neuropsychiatric disorder (schizophrenia and major
      depression), poor impulse control (suicidal behavior and criminality),
      personality, and neurocognitive performance. Suicide attempt was marginally more
      frequent among individuals with T. gondii seropositivity (p = .06). Seropositive
      individuals also performed worse on one out of 14 measures of neuropsychological
      function. CONCLUSION: On the whole, there was little evidence that T. gondii was
      related to increased risk of psychiatric disorder, poor impulse control,
      personality aberrations or neurocognitive impairment.

PMID- 26886856
TI  - Why Dyes Should Not Be Used to Test the Photocatalytic Activity of Semiconductor
      Oxides.

PMID- 26886854
TI  - The Formation of Microthrombi in Parenchymal Microvessels after Traumatic Brain
      Injury Is Independent of Coagulation Factor XI.
AB  - Microthrombus formation and bleeding worsen the outcome after traumatic brain
      injury (TBI). The aim of the current study was to characterize these processes in
      the brain parenchyma after experimental TBI and to determine the involvement of
      coagulation factor XI (FXI). C57BL/6 mice (n = 101) and FXI-deficient mice (n =
      15) were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI). Wild-type mice received
      an inhibitory antibody against FXI (14E11) or control immunoglobulin G 24 h
      before or 30 or 120 min after CCI. Cerebral microcirculation was visualized in
      vivo by 2-photon microscopy 2-3 h post-trauma and histopathological outcome was
      assessed after 24 h. TBI induced hemorrhage and microthrombus formation in the
      brain parenchyma (p < 0.001). Inhibition of FXI activation or FXI deficiency did
      not reduce cerebral thrombogenesis, lesion volume, or hemispheric swelling.
      However, it also did not increase intracranial hemorrhage. Formation of
      microthrombosis in the brain parenchyma after TBI is independent of the intrinsic
      coagulation cascade since it was not reduced by inhibition of FXI. However, since
      targeting FXI has well-established antithrombotic effects in humans and
      experimental animals, inhibition of FXI could represent a reasonable strategy for
      the prevention of deep venous thrombosis in immobilized patients with TBI.

PMID- 26886855
TI  - The Association Between Body Mass Index and Presenting Symptoms in African
      American Women with Ovarian Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, typically
      comes to clinical attention due to nonspecific gastrointestinal or pelvic
      symptoms. African Americans with ovarian cancer have a greater mortality burden
      than whites and are also much more likely to be obese. The objective of this
      study is to explore whether the presentation and duration of symptoms differ by
      body mass index (BMI) in African Americans with ovarian cancer. METHODS: We
      conducted a case-only analysis using data from a multicenter population-based
      study of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer in African American women.
      Information on risk factors and symptoms leading to diagnosis was obtained in a
      telephone interview. Frequency and duration of symptoms by BMI categories were
      compared using logistic regression and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Of
      the 326 women, ~60% was obese (BMI >=30), with 30.8% having a BMI >=35 kg/m(2).
      Ninety-four percent of women reported >=1 symptom during the year before
      diagnosis. We observed differences in frequency of symptoms by BMI categories,
      with most being reported more frequently by the heaviest women. The reported
      duration of symptoms was longer in women with higher BMI, with statistically
      significant trend tests for 6 of the 10 symptoms evaluated. CONCLUSION: BMI
      appears to impact ovarian cancer symptomatology. Women with higher BMI report
      having symptoms for a longer period of time before diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
      Healthcare providers should be vigilant and consider ovarian cancer in the
      differential diagnosis for obese women presenting with abdominal and pelvic
      symptoms.

PMID- 26886857
TI  - Parameter Estimation in Stratified Cluster Sampling under Randomized Response
      Models for Sensitive Question Survey.
AB  - Randomized response is a research method to get accurate answers to sensitive
      questions in structured sample survey. Simple random sampling is widely used in
      surveys of sensitive questions but hard to apply on large targeted populations.
      On the other side, more sophisticated sampling regimes and corresponding formulas
      are seldom employed to sensitive question surveys. In this work, we developed a
      series of formulas for parameter estimation in cluster sampling and stratified
      cluster sampling under two kinds of randomized response models by using classic
      sampling theories and total probability formulas. The performances of the
      sampling methods and formulas in the survey of premarital sex and cheating on
      exams at Soochow University were also provided. The reliability of the survey
      methods and formulas for sensitive question survey was found to be high. 

PMID- 26886858
TI  - Hepatoprotective activity of white horehound (Marrubium vulgare) extract against
      cyclophosphamide toxicity in male rats.
AB  - The hepatoprotective activity of Marrubium vulgare against cyclophosphamide
      toxicity in Wistar rats was evaluated. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups
      of 6 each: a control group, a group injected with cyclophosphamide (150 mg.kg(
      1)) for 3 days, a group orally given a M. vulgare aqueous extract ((500 mg of dry
      leaves).kg(-1).day(-1)) for 30 days then treated with cyclophosphamide, and a
      group receiving only M. vulgare for 30 days. After 33 days of treatment,
      activities of alanine amino transferase (ALAT), aspartate amino transferase
      (ASAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were
      determined in serum. Moreover, lipid peroxidation level and superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) activities, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured
      in liver. Alterations of these hepatic biomarkers and increased lipid
      peroxidation confirmed cyclophosphamide-induced liver toxicity. Cyclophosphamide
      also decreased the enzymatic defense system against oxidative stress. However,
      when this drug was administered in rats given M. vulgare extract, all the
      biological parameters underwent much less alteration. Administration of M.
      vulgare extract was found to be beneficial by attenuating cyclophosphamide
      induced liver damage. The protective effect of the plant is mainly attributed to
      its antioxidant properties and the existence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, as
      highlighted by HPLC-based analysis. 

PMID- 26886859
TI  - Pseudo-De Novo Assembly and Analysis of Unmapped Genome Sequence Reads in Wild
      Zebrafish Reveal Novel Gene Content.
AB  - Zebrafish represents the third vertebrate with an officially completed genome,
      yet it remains incomplete with additions and corrections continuing with the
      current release, GRCz10, having 13% of zebrafish cDNA sequences unmapped. This
      disparity may result from population differences, given that the genome reference
      was generated from clonal individuals with limited genetic diversity. This is
      supported by the recent analysis of a single wild zebrafish, which identified
      over 5.2 million SNPs and 1.6 million in/dels in the previous genome build, zv9.
      Re-examination of this sequence data set indicated that 13.8% of quality sequence
      reads failed to align to GRCz10. Using a novel bioinformatics de novo assembly
      pipeline on these unmappable reads, we identified 1,514,491 novel contigs
      covering ~224 Mb of genomic sequence. Among these, 1083 contigs were found to
      contain a potential gene coding sequence. RNA-seq data comparison confirmed that
      362 contigs contained a transcribed DNA sequence, suggesting that a large amount
      of functional genomic sequence remains unannotated in the zebrafish reference
      genome. By utilizing the bioinformatics pipeline developed in this study, the
      zebrafish genome will be bolstered as a model for human disease research.
      Adaptation of the pipeline described here also offers a cost-efficient and
      effective method to identify and map novel genetic content across any genome and
      will ultimately aid in the completion of additional genomes for a broad range of
      species. 

PMID- 26886861
TI  - Brain herniations into arachnoid granulations: about 68 cases in 38 patients and
      review of the literature.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Brain herniations (BH) into arachnoid granulations (AG) in dural
      venous sinuses and calvarium have rarely been reported in the literature.
      METHODS: MRIs of 38 patients with BH into AG (BHAG) were retrospectively
      analyzed. Locations of BHAG, gyrus/lobe of the herniated brain, parenchymal
      abnormalities of the BH, and clinical and radiological conditions with raised
      intracranial pressure were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty-eight BHAG were found, by
      order of frequency, in the occipital squama (OS), transverse sinus (TS), lateral
      lacuna of the superior sagittal sinus (LLSSS), and straight sinus (SS), with
      cerebellar tissue being the most frequently involved in BHAG (94.5 % of OS, 55 %
      of TS, 100 % SS BHAG). Multiple BHAG were found in 58 % of the patients (up to
      five per patient). Parenchymal signal and structural changes (SSCG) were observed
      in 46 % of BHAG (100 % were cerebellar). Three patients had pseudotumor cerebri
      (PTCS); one patient had only MRI signs of PTCS. Twenty-one percent of patients
      had intracranial conditions susceptible of increasing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      pressure other than PTCS. CONCLUSIONS: BHAG occurred in the OS, TS, LLSSS, and
      the SS. SSCG of the herniated cerebellum were frequent and possibly result from
      tethering/strangulation in the AG. No symptoms could be clearly attributed to
      BHAG, though in three cases of PTCS, TS BHAG could have contributed to sustaining
      the raised CSF pressure. Various factors are probably involved in the development
      of BHAG including normal pia-arachnoid bridges between the brain surface and the
      AG, hydrodynamic constrains on the brain and AG, and, in some cases, increased
      intracranial pressure.

PMID- 26886862
TI  - Neuroanesthesiology Update.
AB  - We provide a synopsis of innovative research, recurring themes, and novel
      experimental findings pertinent to the care of neurosurgical patients and
      critically ill patients with neurological diseases. The following broad topics
      are covered: general neurosurgery, spine surgery, stroke, traumatic brain injury,
      anesthetic neurotoxicity, perioperative cognitive dysfunction, and monitoring. 

PMID- 26886863
TI  - Large-volume Epidural Blood Patch: An Alternative Technique.

PMID- 26886864
TI  - Preservation of Supported Lipid Membrane Integrity from Thermal Disruption:
      Osmotic Effect.
AB  - Preservation of structural integrity under various environmental conditions is
      one major concern in the development of the supported lipid membrane (SLM)-based
      devices. It is common for SLMs to experience temperature shifts from manufacture,
      processing, storage, and transport to operation. In this work, we studied the
      thermal adaption of the supported membranes on silica substrates. Homogenous SLMs
      with little defects were formed through the vesicle fusion method. The mass and
      fluidity of the bilayers were found to deteriorate from a heating process but not
      a cooling process. Fluorescence characterizations showed that the membranes
      initially budded as a result of heating-induced lipid lateral area expansion,
      followed by the possible fates including maintenance, retraction, and fission,
      among which the last contributes to the irreversible compromise of the SLM
      integrity and spontaneous release of the interlipid stress accumulated. Based on
      the mechanism, we developed a strategy to protect SLMs from thermal disruption by
      increasing the solute concentration in medium. An improved preservation of the
      membrane mass and fluidity against the heating process was observed, accompanied
      by a decrease in the retraction and fission of the buds. Theoretical analysis
      revealed a high osmotic energy penalty for the fission, which accounts for the
      depressed disruption. This osmotic-based protection strategy is facile, solute
      nonspecific, and long-term efficient and has little impact on the original SLM
      properties. The results may help broaden SLM applications and sustain the
      robustness of SLM-based devices under multiple thermal conditions. 

PMID- 26886865
TI  - Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Atractylodemayne A, a Conjugated
      2(E),8(Z),10(E)-Triene-4,6-diyne.
AB  - The first total synthesis of the polyacetylene natural product atractylodemayne A
      is reported. Stereoselective construction of the conjugated 8(Z),10(E)-diene
      moiety was achieved through a tethered ring-closing metathesis approach,
      comprising a Ru-catalyzed RCM followed by a base-induced elimination. A Pd
      catalyzed Cadiot-Chodkiewicz coupling was used for the synthesis of the diyne.
      Overall, atractylodemayne A was synthesized in nine steps for the longest linear
      sequence. 

PMID- 26886866
TI  - New Analytical Tool for the Detection of Ractopamine Abuse in Goat Skeletal
      Muscle by Potential Gene Expression Biomarkers.
AB  - In this study, quantification of mRNA gene expression was examined as biomarkers
      to detect ractopamaine abuse and ractopamaine residues in cashmere goats. It was
      focused on the identification of potential gene expression biomarkers and
      describing the coreletionship between gene expression and residue level by 58
      animals for 49 days. The results showed that administration periods and residue
      levels significantly influenced mRNA expressions of the beta2-adrenergic receptor
      (beta2AR), the enzymes PRKACB, ADCY3, ATP1A3, ATP2A3, PTH, and MYLK, and the
      immune factors IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Statistical analysis like principal
      components analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and discriminant
      analysis (DA) showed that these genes can serve as potential biomarkers for
      ractopamine in skeletal muscle and that they are also suitable for describing
      different residue levels separately. 

PMID- 26886869
TI  - Zr-based metal-organic frameworks: design, synthesis, structure, and
      applications.
AB  - Among the large family of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Zr-based MOFs, which
      exhibit rich structure types, outstanding stability, intriguing properties and
      functions, are foreseen as one of the most promising MOF materials for practical
      applications. Although this specific type of MOF is still in its early stage of
      development, significant progress has been made in recent years. Herein, advances
      in Zr-MOFs since 2008 are summarized and reviewed from three aspects: design and
      synthesis, structure, and applications. Four synthesis strategies implemented in
      building and/or modifying Zr-MOFs as well as their scale-up preparation under
      green and industrially feasible conditions are illustrated first. Zr-MOFs with
      various structural types are then classified and discussed in terms of different
      Zr-based secondary building units and organic ligands. Finally, applications of
      Zr-MOFs in catalysis, molecule adsorption and separation, drug delivery, and
      fluorescence sensing, and as porous carriers are highlighted. Such a review based
      on a specific type of MOF is expected to provide guidance for the in-depth
      investigation of MOFs towards practical applications. 

PMID- 26886868
TI  - An Analysis of Sponsors/Collaborators of 69,160 Drug Trials Registered with
      ClinicalTrials.gov.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have been criticized on various counts. Any attempt
      to improve how trials are conducted or reported requires--amongst other things-
      an understanding of the number, the nature and the location of those that sponsor
      them or collaborate on them. Here we sought to identify the nature and location
      of each sponsor/collaborator. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We examined the
      'sponsor/collaborator' field for the 69,160 drug trials that were registered with
      ClinicalTrials.gov over a 9-year period (2005-2014). Of the 12,823 unique
      sponsors, 56% had sponsored only one and 27% had sponsored 2-5 trials each. Just
      18% were involved with six or more trials each, and we have (arbitrarily) labeled
      these organizations as 'more experienced' in sponsoring/collaborating on trials.
      These 18% (2,266 sponsors/collaborators) were analyzed further: (a) 951 were
      corporate organizations and (b) 1,145 were non-corporates (including 31
      individuals) with (c) 170 unclassified. Further, we identified the location of
      each organization in (a) and (b). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trials are an important
      part of a nation's research endeavors, and ultimately contribute to the health of
      its people. Thus, understanding the clinical trial landscape--including the
      number and nature of sponsors, and how active they are--is important for every
      country. We believe that policy makers in particular should be interested in this
      study to understand the current situation, and to use the numbers as a baseline
      for the evolving landscape, to assess the impact of their strategies in future.

PMID- 26886867
TI  - Naturally-Acquired Immune Response against Plasmodium vivax Rhoptry-Associated
      Membrane Antigen.
AB  - Rhoptry-associated membrane antigen (RAMA) is an abundant
      glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that is embedded within the
      lipid bilayer and is implicated in parasite invasion. Antibody responses against
      rhoptry proteins are produced by individuals living in a malaria-endemic area,
      suggesting the immunogenicity of Plasmodium vivax RAMA (PvRAMA) for induction of
      immune responses during P. vivax infection. To determine whether PvRAMA
      contributes to the acquisition of immunity to malaria and could be a rational
      candidate for a vaccine, the presence of memory T cells and the stability of the
      antibody response against PvRAMA were evaluated in P. vivax-exposed individuals.
      The immunogenicity of PvRAMA for the induction of T cell responses was evaluated
      by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). High
      levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-10 cytokines were detected
      in the culture supernatant of PBMCs, and the CD4+ T cells predominantly produced
      IL-10 cytokine. The levels of total anti-PvRAMA immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody
      were significantly elevated, and these antibodies persisted over the 12 months of
      the study. Interestingly, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 were the major antibody subtypes in
      the response to PvRAMA. The frequency of IgG3 in specific to PvRAMA antigen
      maintained over 12 months. These data could explain the immunogenicity of PvRAMA
      antigen in induction of both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity in
      natural P. vivax infection, in which IFN-gamma helps antibody class switching
      toward the IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 isotypes and IL-10 supports PvRAMA-specific
      antibody production. 

PMID- 26886870
TI  - Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Diode Consisting of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials.
AB  - We present a novel metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) diode consisting of
      graphene, hexagonal BN, and monolayer MoS2 for application in ultrathin
      nanoelectronics. The MIS heterojunction structure was fabricated by vertically
      stacking layered materials using a simple wet chemical transfer method. The
      stacking of each layer was confirmed by confocal scanning Raman spectroscopy and
      device performance was evaluated using current versus voltage (I-V) and
      photocurrent measurements. We clearly observed better current rectification and
      much higher current flow in the MIS diode than in the p-n junction and the metal
      semiconductor diodes made of layered materials. The I-V characteristic curve of
      the MIS diode indicates that current flows mainly across interfaces as a result
      of carrier tunneling. Moreover, we observed considerably high photocurrent from
      the MIS diode under visible light illumination. 

PMID- 26886871
TI  - Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model of Change: Under
      Explored Resources for Suicide Intervention.
AB  - Motivational interviewing (MI) is a robust evidence-based intervention that has
      been used to evoke intrinsic motivation to change behaviors. MI as an
      intervention focuses on facilitating movement through the stages of the
      transtheoretical model of change. A study by Coombs et al. (Substance abuse
      treatment and the stages of change: Selecting and planning interventions,
      Guilford Press, New York, 2001) demonstrated that suicidal individuals move
      through such stages toward suicidal behavior, yet research and applications of MI
      for suicide have been minimal. In hopes of generating increased exploration of MI
      for suicidality, this article reviews the theoretical rationale and existing
      empirical research on applications of MI with suicidal individuals. Potential
      uses of MI in suicide risk assessment/crisis intervention, as well as an adjunct
      to longer-term treatment, are discussed.

PMID- 26886872
TI  - Topographical variations in zonal properties of canine tibial articular cartilage
      due to early osteoarthritis: a study using 7-T magnetic resonance imaging at
      microscopic resolution.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine topographical variations in zonal properties
      of articular cartilage over the medial tibia in an experimental osteoarthritis
      (OA) model using 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An
      anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-transection canine model was subjected to study
      at 8 (six) and 12 (seven) weeks after the surgery. Each medial tibia was divided
      into five topographical locations. For each specimen, T2 relaxation (at 0 degrees
      and 55 degrees ) was quantified at microscopic resolution. The imaging data
      grouped the five locations into two topographical areas (meniscus-covered and 
      uncovered). RESULTS: The T2 (55 degrees ) bulk values from the meniscus-covered
      area were significantly lower than those from the uncovered area. The total
      cartilage thicknesses on the meniscus-covered area were significantly thinner
      than those on the meniscus-uncovered area. Significant differences in the T2 (0
      degrees ) values were observed in most thicknesses of the four subtissue zones
      and whole-tissue from the uncovered area, while the same significant changes were
      detected in the superficial zone from the meniscus-covered area. CONCLUSION: By
      quantifying high-resolution imaging data both topographically and depth
      dependently (zonal-wise), this study demonstrates that the rate of disease
      progression varies topographically over the medial tibia. Future correlation with
      OA pathology could lead to better detection of early OA.

PMID- 26886873
TI  - New Patient-Oriented Tools for Assessing Atrophic Acne Scarring.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Scarring on visible areas such as the face is associated with
      negative psychological impact. Many patients with acne have clinically relevant
      scarring for which they seek treatment, implying that there is an impact on their
      lives. Currently there are no validated tools to assess the burden of atrophic
      acne scarring from the patient's perspective or to assess treatment benefit.
      METHODS: Two patient-reported outcome measures, the self-assessment of clinical
      acne-related scars (SCARS) and the facial acne scar quality of life (FASQoL)
      tools, both specific to facial atrophic acne scarring, were developed according
      to Food and Drug Administration guidance methodology. Patient interviews were
      conducted first to elicit patient-important concepts about scarring, then to
      validate patients' understanding of wording in the tools. These tools focus on
      symptoms (SCARS) and psychological and social well-being (FASQoL) and were
      designed to be suitable for self-completion and to be rapidly completed (2-5 min)
      within a clinical research setting. RESULTS: Concept elicitation interviews were
      conducted with 30 subjects and cognitive interviews with 20 subjects. With acne
      scarring, important concepts for patients included size, surface area affected,
      counts, and depth. The SCARS and FASQoL tools were shown to address relevant
      concepts that were easily understood by patients. CONCLUSION: Two patient
      reported measures, SCARS and FASQoL, have been developed to help clinicians
      assess the severity and impact of acne scars. Responsivity of these instruments
      to treatment will require further evaluation. FUNDING: Galderma R&D, Sophia
      Antipolis, France.

PMID- 26886875
TI  - Psychiatric Symptoms Associated with Oocyte-Donation.
AB  - Oocyte-donation is generally safe but may exacerbate psychiatric symptoms in some
      women. In this prospective study 63 oocyte-donating women and, as a control
      group, 63 women providing their own oocytes for in vitro fertilization (in
      couples with male infertility) were evaluated pre- and post-ovulation-induction
      in regard to hypochondriasis, anxiety, social impairment, and depression. The
      mean hypochondriasis score for oocyte-donators was significantly lower than for
      women providing their own oocytes, prior to ovulation-induction (5.03 vs. 6.59).
      However, after ovulation-induction and oocyte retrieval this score rose to 6.66
      among oocyte-donators, whereas it remained essentially unchanged among women
      providing their own oocytes (6.66). The mean anxiety score for oocyte-donating
      women also rose following this procedure, from 5.87 to 7.65. Depression scores
      for both groups remained similar, before and after the procedure. Results showed
      that at the beginning of the ARP donating women have the same conditions as own
      oocyte women regarding depression and anxiety but after the egg harvesting they
      would suffer more damages regarding hypochondriasis and anxiety aspects.

PMID- 26886874
TI  - A novel approach to contrast-induced nephrotoxicity: the melatonergic agent
      agomelatine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the potential nephroprotective role of agomelatine in rat
      renal tissue in cases of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN). The drug's action
      on the antioxidant system and proinflammatory cytokines, superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) activity, levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the
      gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and
      nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) was measured. Tubular necrosis and hyaline and
      haemorrhagic casts were also histopathologically evaluated. METHODS: The
      institutional ethics and local animal care committees approved the study. Eight
      groups of six rats were put on the following drug regimens: Group 1: healthy
      controls, Group 2: GLY (glycerol), Group 3: CM (contrast media--iohexol 10 ml kg(
      1)), Group 4: GLY+CM, Group 5: CM+AGO20 (agomelatine 20 mg kg(-1)), Group 6:
      GLY+CM+AGO20, Group 7: CM+AGO40 (agomelatine 40 mg kg(-1)) and Group 8:
      GLY+CM+AGO40. The groups were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance and
      Duncan's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: Agomelatine administration
      significantly improved the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and
      creatinine, SOD activity, GSH and MDA. The use of agomelatine had substantial
      downregulatory consequences on TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB and IL-6 messenger RNA
      levels. Mild-to-severe hyaline and haemorrhagic casts and tubular necrosis were
      observed in all groups, except in the healthy group. The histopathological scores
      were better in the agomelatine treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Agomelatine has
      nephroprotective effects against CIN in rats. This effect can be attributed to
      its properties of reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting the secretion of
      proinflammatory cytokines (NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6). ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:
      CIN is one of the most important adverse effects of radiological procedures.
      Renal failure, diabetes, malignancy, old age and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
      drug use pose the risk of CIN in patients. Several clinical studies have
      investigated ways to avoid CIN. Theophylline/aminophylline, statins, ascorbic
      acid and iloprost have been suggested for this purpose. Agomelatine is one of the
      melatonin ligands and is used for affective disorders and has antioxidant
      features. In this study, we hypothesized that agomelatine could have
      nephroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against CIN in rats.

PMID- 26886876
TI  - Net Effects of Ecotourism on Threatened Species Survival.
AB  - Many threatened species rely on ecotourism for conservation funding, but
      simultaneously suffer direct ecological impacts from ecotourism. For a range of
      IUCN-Redlisted terrestrial and marine bird and mammal species worldwide, we use
      population viability analyses to calculate the net effects of ecotourism on
      expected time to extinction, in the presence of other anthropogenic threats such
      as poaching, primary industries and habitat loss. Species for which these
      calculations are currently possible, for one or more subpopulations, include:
      orangutan, hoolock gibbon, golden lion tamarin, cheetah, African wild dog, New
      Zealand sealion, great green macaw, Egyptian vulture, and African penguin. For
      some but not all of these species, tourism can extend expected survival time,
      i.e., benefits outweigh impacts. Precise outcomes depend strongly on population
      parameters and starting sizes, predation, and ecotourism scale and mechanisms.
      Tourism does not currently overcome other major conservation threats associated
      with natural resource extractive industries. Similar calculations for other
      threatened species are currently limited by lack of basic population data. 

PMID- 26886877
TI  - [Nighttime restlessness in people with dementia in residential care: an
      explorative field study].
AB  - Nighttime restlessness in dementia is an underestimated problem. Although little
      is known about the prevalence and not every person with dementia struggles with
      it, nighttime restlessness puts a heavy burden on the persons themselves and
      their caregivers.This field study explores nighttime restlessness in nursing
      homes based on two research questions: (1) What is nighttime restlessness
      according to professional caregivers? and (2) How is nighttime restlessness
      managed?Data were collected through diaries, interviews with caregivers and one
      night of observation in eight nursing homes.Wandering and screaming seem to be
      the most prevalent nighttime agitated behaviours. Caregivers identify many
      possible causes, but spatial and sensory factors, such as light or noise, were
      rarely mentioned spontaneously. The observations highlighted that a lot of light
      and noise is prominent and this might be causing nighttime
      restlessness.Caregivers try several strategies: for example talking with the
      resident, put on a light and apply medication or physical restraints.The
      management of nighttime restlessness requires a holistic approach. Caregivers'
      attention for and efforts to ameliorate the spatial and sensory environment in
      the management of nighttime restlessness are limited. 

PMID- 26886878
TI  - Cardiovascular disease as a complication of community-acquired pneumonia.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Here, we review the incidence, prognosis, potential mechanisms
      and therapeutic implications of cardiovascular disease in community-acquired
      pneumonia (CAP). RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidence suggests that a large
      proportion of deaths from CAP are attributable to cardiovascular disease,
      including sudden cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (MI), arrhythmias and
      cardiac failure. Up to one-third of patients with CAP may experience
      cardiovascular complications within 30 days of hospital admission, while data
      also suggest that CAP managed in the community is associated with increased risk
      of acute MI. The risk is maximal within a few days of hospitalization with CAP
      and reduces over time. Most studies suggest that risk is still increased at 1
      year, and some suggest risk continues to be increased at 10 years post-CAP. This
      clearly contributes to the well-recognized increased long-term mortality
      associated with CAP. The mechanism is not entirely clear, but recent published
      data have better defined the impact of the host response, including systemic
      inflammation and platelet activation. The contribution of Streptococcus
      pneumoniae has also been recently investigated, with animal studies suggesting a
      direct effect of S. pneumoniae on the myocardium, forming microlesions that heal
      with resulting myocardial fibrosis. Several studies suggest a key role for the
      pore-forming toxin pneumolysin in S. pneumoniae-induced cardiac toxicity.
      SUMMARY: Several therapies have been shown to improve the outcomes in
      cardiovascular disease, but whether these would be effective in improving
      outcomes in CAP is unknown. In this review, we argue that cardioprotective
      treatments may hold the greatest promise in terms of reducing long-term mortality
      in patients with CAP.

PMID- 26886879
TI  - Probing fatty acid metabolism in bacteria, cyanobacteria, green microalgae and
      diatoms with natural and unnatural fatty acids.
AB  - In both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, fatty acid synthases are responsible for the
      biosynthesis of fatty acids in an iterative process, extending the fatty acid by
      two carbon units every cycle. Thus, odd numbered fatty acids are rarely found in
      nature. We tested whether representatives of diverse microbial phyla have the
      ability to incorporate odd-chain fatty acids as substrates for their fatty acid
      synthases and their downstream enzymes. We fed various odd and short chain fatty
      acids to the bacterium Escherichia coli, cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC
      6803, green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and diatom Thalassiosira
      pseudonana. Major differences were observed, specifically in the ability among
      species to incorporate and elongate short chain fatty acids. We demonstrate that
      E. coli, C. reinhardtii, and T. pseudonana can produce longer fatty acid products
      from short chain precursors (C3 and C5), while Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 lacks
      this ability. However, Synechocystis can incorporate and elongate longer chain
      fatty acids due to acyl-acyl carrier protein synthetase (AasS) activity, and
      knockout of this protein eliminates the ability to incorporate these fatty acids.
      In addition, expression of a characterized AasS from Vibrio harveyii confers a
      similar capability to E. coli. The ability to desaturate exogenously added fatty
      acids was only observed in Synechocystis and C. reinhardtii. We further probed
      fatty acid metabolism of these organisms by feeding desaturase inhibitors to test
      the specificity of long-chain fatty acid desaturases. In particular,
      supplementation with thia fatty acids can alter fatty acid profiles based on the
      location of the sulfur in the chain. We show that coupling sensitive gas
      chromatography mass spectrometry to supplementation of unnatural fatty acids can
      reveal major differences between fatty acid metabolism in various organisms.
      Often unnatural fatty acids have antibacterial or even therapeutic properties.
      Feeding of short precursors now gives us easy access to these extended molecules.

PMID- 26886881
TI  - Implications of Market Competition, Technology Adoption, and Cost for Surgical
      Patients.

PMID- 26886880
TI  - Genome-Wide De Novo Prediction of Cis-Regulatory Binding Sites in Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis H37Rv.
AB  - The transcription regulatory system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) remains
      incompletely understood. In this study, we have applied the eGLECLUBS algorithm
      to a group of related prokaryotic genomes for de novo genome-wide prediction of
      cis-regulatory binding sites (CRBSs) in M. tb H37Rv. The top 250 clusters from
      our prediction recovered 83.3% (50/60) of all known CRBSs in extracted inter
      operonic sequences of this strain. We further demonstrated that the integration
      of our prediction results with the ChIP-Seq datasets is very effective in
      identifying true binding sites of TFs. Using electrophoretic mobility shift
      assays and real-time RT-PCR, we experimentally verified our prediction of CRBSs
      for Rv0081, an important transcription factor thought to be involved in
      regulation of M. tb under hypoxia. 

PMID- 26886882
TI  - Hormonal-stress interactions in precipitating perimenopausal depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26886883
TI  - Vitamin D and conjugated equine estrogen: the association with coronary artery
      atherosclerosis in cynomolgus monkeys.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze vitamin D3 plasma concentrations among monkeys randomized
      to oral conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) versus control and the association with
      coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA). METHODS: Surgically postmenopausal monkeys
      (N = 50) were fed an atherogenic diet containing a woman's equivalent of 1000
      IU/day of vitamin D3. The monkeys were randomized at baseline to receive CEE
      (equivalent of 0.45 mg/d, n = 25) or placebo (n = 25). 25-hydroxyvitamin D3
      (25OHD3) was measured at baseline and 20 months later. At 20 months, CAA evidence
      of coronary artery remodeling, and American Heart Association (AHA) severity
      scores were assessed. RESULTS: The percent change in 25OHD3 concentrations from
      baseline to 20 months postrandomization was inversely correlated with plaque area
      of the right coronary artery (P = 0.048), left circumflex artery (P = 0.039),
      left anterior descending artery (P = 0.017), and AHA severity score (AHA LADmax)
      (P = 0.016). Those with increased 25OHD3 concentrations who were taking CEE also
      had significantly lower AHA scores compared with those who were not taking CEE
      and did not have an increase in 25OHD3 (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Monkeys with
      increases in 25OHD3 concentrations had significantly less severe CAA. Those with
      increases in 25OHD3 with CEE were associated with significantly decreased AHA
      lesion scores, decreased plaque, and greater coronary artery remodeling. If these
      findings are present in women, achieving higher 25OHD3 concentrations (or being a
      vitamin D supplementation "responder") may be associated with cardioprotection,
      and further studies to evaluate a synergistic effect with CEE and vitamin D on
      cardiovascular health are needed.

PMID- 26886884
TI  - Physical therapy for urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women with
      osteoporosis or low bone density: a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of 12 weekly physical therapy sessions for
      urinary incontinence (UI) compared with a control intervention, for reducing the
      number of UI episodes measured with the 7-day bladder diary, at 3 months and 1
      year postrandomization. METHODS: A single parallel-group randomized controlled
      trial was conducted at one outpatient public health center, in postmenopausal
      women aged 55 years and over with osteoporosis or low bone density and UI. Women
      were randomized to physical therapy (PT) for UI or osteoporosis education. The
      primary outcome measure was number of leakage episodes on the 7-day bladder
      diary, assessed at baseline, after treatment and at 1 year. The secondary outcome
      measures included the pad test and disease-specific quality of life and self
      efficacy questionnaires assessed at the same timepoints. RESULTS: Forty-eight
      women participated (24 per group). Two participants dropped out of each group and
      one participant was deceased before 3-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat
      analysis was undertaken. At 3 months and 1 year, there was a statistically
      significant difference in the number of leakage episodes on the 7-day bladder
      diary (3 mo: P = 0.04; 1 y: P = 0.01) in favor of the PT group. The effect size
      was 0.34 at 1 year. There were no harms reported. CONCLUSIONS: After a 12-week
      course of PT once per week for UI, PT group participants had a 75% reduction in
      weekly median number of leakage episodes, whereas the control group's condition
      had no improvement. At 1 year, the PT group participants maintained this
      improvement, whereas the control group's incontinence worsened.

PMID- 26886886
TI  - Refinement and expansion of a tool for measuring genitourinary syndrome of
      menopause.

PMID- 26886885
TI  - The longitudinal relation of stress during the menopausal transition to
      fibrinogen concentrations: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the
      Nation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Life course theory suggests that exposures during critical or
      sensitive periods have particularly profound effects on health. Most research on
      this subject has focused on the occurrence of such windows early in life. We
      investigated whether perimenopause, a period of dramatic neuroendocrine changes
      at midlife, represents a sensitive period for response to stress by evaluating
      the relation of perceived stress to fibrinogen, a biomarker for inflammation.
      METHODS: The study sample was composed of participants in the Study of Women's
      Health Across the Nation, a longitudinal study on women's health during the
      menopausal transition (n = 3,287). We fitted linear mixed effects models to
      estimate the longitudinal relationship between stress and menopausal stage and
      the association between stress and fibrinogen over the menopausal transition.
      RESULTS: Women in early and late perimenopause reported perceiving higher levels
      of stress than premenopausal women (P < 0.05), adjusted for confounding
      variables. This increased perception of stress during perimenopause, however, was
      unrelated to changes in fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS: Although neuroendocrine changes
      during the menopausal transition may exacerbate the negative health effects of
      stress, the findings of this study do not suggest such interaction, as measured
      by changes in fibrinogen. The significant association observed between perceived
      stress and menopause status, however, may still have important implications,
      given prior literature linking perceived stress with numerous health outcomes.

PMID- 26886887
TI  - Detection of Talaromyces marneffei from Fresh Tissue of an Inhalational Murine
      Pulmonary Model Using Nested PCR.
AB  - Penicilliosis marneffei, often consecutive to the aspiration of Talaromyces
      marneffei (Penicillium marneffei), continues to be one of the significant causes
      of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients in endemic regions such
      as Southeast Asia. Improving the accuracy of diagnosing this disease would aid in
      reducing the mortality of associated infections. In this study, we developed a
      stable and reproducible murine pulmonary model that mimics human penicilliosis
      marneffei using a nebulizer to deliver Talaromyces marneffei (SUMS0152) conidia
      to the lungs of BALB/c nude mice housed in exposure chamber. Using this model, we
      further revealed that nested PCR was sensitive and specific for detecting
      Talaromyces marneffei in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and fresh tissues. This
      inhalation model may provide a more representative analysis tool for studying the
      development of penicilliosis marneffei, in addition to revealing that nested PCR
      has a predictive value in reflecting pulmonary infection. 

PMID- 26886888
TI  - Modular Synthetic Inverters from Zinc Finger Proteins and Small RNAs.
AB  - Synthetic zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) can be created to target promoter DNA
      sequences, repressing transcription. The binding of small RNA (sRNA) to ZFP mRNA
      creates an ultrasensitive response to generate higher effective Hill
      coefficients. Here we combined three "off the shelf" ZFPs and three sRNAs to
      create new modular inverters in E. coli and quantify their behavior using
      induction fold. We found a general ordering of the effects of the ZFPs and sRNAs
      on induction fold that mostly held true when combining these parts. We then
      attempted to construct a ring oscillator using our new inverters. Our chosen
      parts performed insufficiently to create oscillations, but we include future
      directions for improvement upon our work presented here. 

PMID- 26886889
TI  - Bimatoprost Increases Mechanosensitivity of Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons
      Innervating the Inner Walls of Rat Anterior Chambers via Activation of TRPA1.
AB  - PURPOSE: Our previous study found that some trigeminal ganglion (TG) nerve
      endings in the inner walls of rat anterior chambers were mechanosensitive, and
      transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) was an essential mechanosensitive
      channel in the membrane. To address the effect of bimatoprost on the
      mechanosensitive TG nerve endings in the inner walls of rat anterior chambers, we
      investigated its effect on their cell bodies in vitro. METHODS: Rat TG neurons
      innervating the inner walls of the anterior chambers were labeled by anterior
      chamber injection of 1,1'-dilinoleyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine, 4
      chlorobenzenesulfonate (FAST DiI). Calcium imaging and whole cell patch clamp
      were used on neuronal cell bodies to detect the activation effect of TRPA1
      channels. Whole cell patch clamp was performed to record the currents induced by
      drugs and mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation was applied to the
      neurons by buffer ejection. RESULTS: Bimatoprost mimicked the effect of TRPA1
      agonists, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and (R)-(+)-WIN55, 212-2 mesylate salt
      (WIN) in the TG neurons. Bimatoprost induced Ca(2+) influx in HEK293 cells stably
      transfected with human TRPA1, but not in untransfected cells as AITC and WIN.
      Moreover, bimatoprost evoked inward currents via TRPA1 activation in FAST DiI
      labeled TG neurons as WIN. Bimatoprost also enhanced mechanosensitivity of FAST
      DiI-labeled TG neurons via TRPA1 activation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate
      that bimatoprost is a novel agonist of TRPA1, and it can enhance
      mechanosensitivity of TG nerve endings in the inner walls of anterior eye
      chambers via TRPA1 activation in rats.

PMID- 26886892
TI  - Choroidal Folds in Astronauts.

PMID- 26886891
TI  - Species Cross-Reactivity of Antibodies Used to Treat Ophthalmic Conditions.
AB  - PURPOSE: The species cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies infliximab,
      bevacizumab, and an anti-VEGF-B antibody, 2H10, in humans and rodents was
      determined. METHODS: The binding of infliximab to human, mouse, and rat TNF
      alpha, of bevacizumab to human, mouse, and rat VEGF-A, and of the 2H10 antibody
      to human, mouse, and rat VEGF-B was evaluated by ELISA. The sequence of human,
      mouse, and rat TNF-alpha and VEGF-A at the binding sites for infliximab and
      bevacizumab were compared. RESULTS: Infliximab bound to human TNF-alpha, but no
      binding to mouse or rat TNF-alpha was detected between 10 pg/mL and 10 MUg/ml.
      Sequence comparison of the binding site revealed four changes in mouse and five
      in rat TNF-alpha compared with human. Bevacizumab bound strongly to human VEGF-A,
      but showed 5-log weaker binding to both mouse and rat VEGF-A. There was a single
      amino acid substitution in mouse and rat VEGF-A at the bevacizumab binding site.
      The 2H10 antibody displayed a similar binding profile to human, mouse, and rat
      VEGF-B. CONCLUSIONS: The species cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies should
      be determined prior to their use in preclinical animal models. The 2H10 antibody
      binds to human, mouse, and rat VEGF-B making it suitable for testing in rodent
      models of human disease.

PMID- 26886893
TI  - Author Response: Choroidal Folds in Astronauts.

PMID- 26886890
TI  - MRI of Retinal Free Radical Production With Laminar Resolution In Vivo.
AB  - PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested the hypothesis that quench-assisted 1/T1
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures free radical production with laminar
      resolution in vivo without the need of a contrast agent. Here, we test this
      hypothesis further by examining the spatial and detection sensitivity of quench
      assisted 1/T1 MRI to strain, age, or retinal cell layer-specific genetic
      manipulations. METHODS: We studied: adult wild-type mice; mice at postnatal day 7
      (P7); cre dependent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific MnSOD knockout
      mice; doxycycline-treated Sod2f(lox/flox) mice lacking the cre transgene; and
      alpha-transducin knockout (Gnat1(-/-)) mice on a C57Bl/6 background. Transretinal
      1/T1 profiles were mapped in vivo in the dark without or with antioxidant
      treatment, or followed by light exposure. We calibrated profiles spatially using
      optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Dark-adapted RPE-specific MnSOD knockout
      mice had greater than normal 1/T1 in the RPE and outer nuclear layers that was
      corrected to wild-type levels by antioxidant treatment. Dark and light Gnat1(-/-)
      mice also had greater than normal outer retinal 1/T1 values. In adult wild-type
      mice, dark values of 1/T1 in the ellipsoid region and in the outer segment were
      suppressed by 13 minutes of light. By 29 minutes of light, 1/T1 reduction
      extended to the outer nuclear layer. Gnat1(-/-) mice demonstrated a faster light
      evoked suppression of 1/T1 values in the outer retina. In P7 mice, transretinal
      1/T1 profiles were the same in dark and light. CONCLUSIONS: Quench-assisted MRI
      has the laminar resolution and detection sensitivity to evaluate normal and
      pathologic production of free radicals in vivo.

PMID- 26886894
TI  - Topical Application of Interleukin-28A Attenuates Allergic Conjunctivitis in an
      Ovalbumin-Induced Mouse Model.
AB  - PURPOSE: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated and
      helper T cell 2 (Th2)--cell-mediated disease characterized by conjunctival
      eosinophilic infiltration. Previous study shows that IL-28A had anti-allergic
      activity in airway disease. In this study, we examined the effect of IL-28A on a
      mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis
      (EAC). METHODS: Mouse EAC was induced by topical application of OVA after
      intraperitoneal (IP) sensitization with OVA in aluminum hydroxide (ALUM).
      Interleukin-28A was administered 1 hour before OVA challenge. Allergic
      conjunctivitis symptoms, eosinophil infiltration in the conjunctiva, antigen
      specific IgE in the serum, and Th2 cytokine production by lymph node cells and
      splenocytes were subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: Topical application of IL-28A to
      OVA-induced EAC reduced clinical symptoms, serum OVA-specific IgE, and the
      infiltration of eosinophils in the conjunctiva. In addition, topical
      administration of IL-28A suppressed the expression of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 (Th2
      type cytokine) but promoted the expression of IFN-gamma (Th1-type cytokine) by
      splenocytes and cervical lymph node cells in EAC mice. Immunofluorescence
      staining showed decrease expression of IL-4 and IL-5 in IL-28A-treated EAC
      conjunctiva. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-28A shows therapeutic potential for
      allergic conjunctival inflammation.

PMID- 26886895
TI  - Contamination of Primary Human Corneal Epithelial Cells With an SV40-Transformed
      Human Corneal Epithelial Cell Line: A Lesson for Cell Biologists in Good
      Laboratory Practice.

PMID- 26886897
TI  - Germline mosaicism in osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis--recurrence in
      siblings.
AB  - We report recurrence of osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) in two
      full siblings conceived by unaffected parents. Molecular confirmation of OSCS in
      both siblings was achieved by identification of a novel heterozygous mutation in
      the WTX gene. Neither parent had clinical features of OSCS nor was the pathogenic
      mutation demonstrable in DNA extracted from both peripheral blood leucocytes and
      buccal cells. This case demonstrates germline mosaicism in OSCS and represents
      the third report of mosaicism affecting the germline in families with OSCS.
      Previous reports were of parental gonadosomal mosaicism, with one showing
      recurrence in multiple children. Our observation adds to a body of evidence that
      suggests that germline mosaicism in OSCS may occur more frequently than believed
      previously and may have implications for counselling families with OSCS.

PMID- 26886898
TI  - Transapical Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantation Using an Edwards SAPIEN 3
      Prosthesis.
AB  - We report a case of transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation for a
      deteriorated bioprosthesis using the SAPIEN 3. Our patient, a 79-year-old man,
      with a history of mitral valve replacement 10 years before, presented with acute
      dyspnea due to mitral valve dysfunction. He was successfully treated with
      transapical implantation and had an uneventful recovery. Our case demonstrates
      the feasibility of using SAPIEN 3 in treating degenerated bioprosthetic mitral
      valves. 

PMID- 26886896
TI  - Corneal Mechanical Thresholds Negatively Associate With Dry Eye and Ocular Pain
      Symptoms.
AB  - PURPOSE: To examine associations between corneal mechanical thresholds and
      metrics of dry eye. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of individuals seen
      in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic. The evaluation consisted of
      questionnaires regarding dry eye symptoms and ocular pain, corneal mechanical
      detection and pain thresholds, and a comprehensive ocular surface examination.
      The main outcome measures were correlations between corneal thresholds and signs
      and symptoms of dry eye and ocular pain. RESULTS: A total of 129 subjects
      participated in the study (mean age 64 +/- 10 years). Mechanical detection and
      pain thresholds on the cornea correlated with age (Spearman's rho = 0.26, 0.23,
      respectively; both P < 0.05), implying decreased corneal sensitivity with age.
      Dry eye symptom severity scores and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (modified
      for the eye) scores negatively correlated with corneal detection and pain
      thresholds (range, r = -0.13 to -0.27, P < 0.05 for values between -0.18 and 
      0.27), suggesting increased corneal sensitivity in those with more severe ocular
      complaints. Ocular signs, on the other hand, correlated poorly and
      nonsignificantly with mechanical detection and pain thresholds on the cornea. A
      multivariable linear regression model found that both posttraumatic stress
      disorder (PTSD) score (beta = 0.21, SE = 0.03) and corneal pain threshold (beta =
      -0.03, SE = 0.01) were significantly associated with self-reported evoked eye
      pain (pain to wind, light, temperature) and explained approximately 32% of
      measurement variability (R = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical detection and pain
      thresholds measured on the cornea are correlated with dry eye symptoms and ocular
      pain. This suggests hypersensitivity within the corneal somatosensory pathways in
      patients with greater dry eye and ocular pain complaints.

PMID- 26886899
TI  - Comparison of stroke volumes assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography and
      transpulmonary thermodilution in a pediatric animal model.
AB  - To compare stroke volumes (SV) in small hearts assessed by real-time three
      dimensional echocardiography (3DE) with SV measured by transpulmonary
      thermodilution (TPTD) and continuous pulse contour analysis (PC) under various
      hemodynamic conditions. In thirteen anesthetized piglets (range 3.6-7.1 kg) SV
      were measured by 3DE, TPTD and PC at baseline and during phenylephrine and
      esmolol administration. 3DE and TPTD measurements were done successively while SV
      calculated by PC was documented at the time of 3DE. 3DE and TPTD showed a good
      correlation (r2 = 0.74) and a bias of -1.3 ml (limits of agreement -4.1 to 1.5
      ml). While TPTD measured higher SV than 3DE, both methods tracked SV changes with
      a concordance rate of 91 %. PC and 3DE showed a lower correlation coefficient of
      r2 = 0.57 and a bias of -2.1 ml (limits of agreement -5.9 to 1.8 ml). Inter- and
      intra-observer variability of SV measured by 3DE was good with a mean bias <5 %.
      SV3DE showed a small variance and tracked acute small changes in SV in acceptable
      concordance with TPTD. PC measured SV with a higher variance and mean difference
      compared to 3DE. In an experimental setting 3DE has the possibility to offer non
      invasive assessments of ventricular volumes volume changes. To determine whether
      3DE could be used for SV assessment in a clinical routine our results need
      confirmation in a clinical setting.

PMID- 26886900
TI  - Radiation Recall Dermatitis With Concomitant Dabrafenib and Pazopanib Therapy.

PMID- 26886901
TI  - Endoscopic thyroidectomy along with bilateral central neck dissection (ETBC)
      increases the risk of transient hypoparathyroidism for patients with thyroid
      carcinoma.
AB  - Increasing number of patients with thyroid carcinoma, especially young female
      patients, prefer to choose endoscopic thyroidectomy with bilateral central neck
      dissection (ETBC) for perfect cosmetic effects. However, the incidence of
      hypoparathyroidism after ETBC has not been well studied. Ninety six patients with
      papillary thyroid carcinoma were enrolled. All patients, including 49 ETBC and 47
      open surgery patients, underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral central neck
      dissection (CND). Some patients also underwent lateral neck dissection
      simultaneously. The incidence of hypoparathyroidism and parathyroid hormone (PTH)
      level were examined. Patients in the open surgery group had more advanced
      lesions, with larger tumor (p = 0.000), older age (p = 0.000), and more serious
      local involvement. The dissection extent of the open group was significantly
      larger than that of the ETBC group (p = 0.006). In contrast, the ETBC group with
      less dissection extent showed a significantly higher incidence of transient
      hypoparathyroidism than the open group (59.2 vs. 29.6 %, p = 0.004). The average
      PTH decline of the ETBC group was significantly higher than that of the open
      group on postoperative day 1 (POD1) (32.1 vs. 21.6 pg/ml, p = 0.010).
      Furthermore, the ETBC group had a significantly higher portion of patients with a
      PTH <10 pg/ml on POD1 (p = 0.001). One patient in the ETBC group developed
      permanent hypoparathyroidism. Autotransplantation and inadvertent removal rates
      of parathyroid did not differ between the two groups. Although generally
      considered a safe method for patients with thyroid carcinoma, ETBC may increase
      the risk of transient hypoparathyroidism compared with conventional open surgery.

PMID- 26886902
TI  - Cancerous leptomeningitis and familial congenital hypopituitarism.
AB  - People are at higher risk of cancer as they get older or have a strong family
      history of cancer. The potential influence of environmental and behavioral
      factors remains poorly understood. Earlier population and case control studies
      reported that upper quartile of circulating IGF-I is associated with a higher
      risk of developing cancer suggesting possible involvement of the growth hormone
      (GH)/IGF system in initiation or progression of cancer. Since GH therapy
      increases IGF-1 levels, there have been concerns that GH therapy in
      hypopituitarism might increase the risk of cancer. We report a 42-year-old female
      patient who presented with subacute onset of symptoms of meningitis and with the
      absence of fever which resulted in death 70 days after the onset of symptoms. The
      patient together with her younger brother was diagnosed at the age of 5 years
      with familial congenital hypopituitarism, due to homozygous mutation c.150delA in
      PROP1 gene. Due to evolving hypopituitarism, she was replaced with thyroxine
      (from age 5), hydrocortisone (from age 13), GH (from age 13 until 17), and sex
      steroids in adolescence and adulthood. Her consanguineous family has a prominent
      history of malignant diseases. Six close relatives had malignant disease
      including her late maternal aunt with breast cancer. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutational
      analysis in the patient's mother was negative. Histology after autopsy disclosed
      advanced ovarian cancer with multiple metastases to the brain, leptomeninges,
      lungs, heart, and adrenals. Low circulating IGF-1 did not seem to protect this
      patient from cancer initiation and progression in the context of strong family
      history of malignancies.

PMID- 26886903
TI  - [Periprosthetic fractures following total hip and knee arthroplasty: Risk
      factors, epidemiological aspects, diagnostics and classification systems].
AB  - Periprosthetic fractures following hip and knee arthroplasty are potentially
      severe complications. As a fundament in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures,
      specific classification systems are necessary to ensure an optimal individualized
      treatment of these sometimes complicated fractures. This review article
      summarizes the epidemiological aspects, risk factors and diagnostics of
      periprosthetic hip and knee fractures. The most frequently used location related
      fracture classifications systems are explained. In addition, the recently
      introduced unified classification system (UCS), which is applicable to any
      location of periprosthetic fractures, is described in detail. Initial studies
      have shown a reliable applicability of the UCS to periprosthetic hip and knee
      fractures. 

PMID- 26886905
TI  - Changes in Predominance of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Profiles of
      Bordetella pertussis Isolates, United States, 2000-2012.
AB  - To clarify the characteristics of circulating Bordetella pertussis isolates, we
      used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to analyze 5,262 isolates collected
      in the United States during 2000-2012. We found 199 PFGE profiles; 5 profiles
      accounted for 72% of isolates. The most common profile, CDC013, accounted for 35%
      46% of isolates tested from 2000-2009; however, the proportion of isolates of
      this profile rapidly decreased in 2010. Profile CDC237, first seen in 2009,
      increased rapidly and accounted for 29% of 2012 isolates. No location bias was
      observed among profiles during 2000-2010, but differences were observed among
      isolates from different states during 2012. Predominant profiles match those
      observed in recent European PFGE studies. PFGE profile changes are concurrent
      with other recent molecular changes in B. pertussis and may be contributing to
      the reemergence of pertussis in the United States. Continued PFGE monitoring is
      critical for understanding the changing epidemiology of pertussis.

PMID- 26886904
TI  - High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for pancreatic carcinoma: evaluation of
      feasibility, reduction of tumour volume and pain intensity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Prognosis of patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma
      is extremely poor. They often suffer from cancer-related pain reducing their
      quality of life. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate
      feasibility, local tumour response, and changes in quality of life and symptoms
      in Caucasian patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated by
      ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). METHODS: Thirteen
      patients underwent HIFU, five with stage III, eight with stage IV UICC disease.
      Ten patients received simultaneous palliative chemotherapy. Postinterventional
      clinical assessment included evaluation of quality of life and symptom changes
      using standardized questionnaires. CT and MRI follow-up evaluated the local
      tumour response. RESULTS: HIFU was successfully performed in all patients.
      Average tumour reduction was 34.2 % at 6 weeks and 63.9 % at 3 months. Complete
      or partial relief of cancer-related pain was achieved in 10 patients (77 %), five
      of whom required less analgesics for pain control. Quality of life was improved
      revealing increased global health status and alleviated symptoms. HIFU treatment
      was well tolerated. Eight patients experienced transient abdominal pain directly
      after HIFU. CONCLUSIONS: HIFU ablation of pancreatic carcinoma is a feasible,
      safe and effective treatment with a crucial benefit in terms of reduction of
      tumour volume and pain intensity. KEY POINTS: * US-guided HIFU is feasible and
      safe for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. * HIFU can considerably
      reduce tumour volume and cancer-related pain. * Patients treated with HIFU
      experienced significant and lasting reduction of pain intensity. * HIFU has a
      crucial clinical benefit for patients with pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26886906
TI  - Comprehensive Map of Molecules Implicated in Obesity.
AB  - Obesity is a global epidemic affecting over 1.5 billion people and is one of the
      risk factors for several diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and
      hypertension. We have constructed a comprehensive map of the molecules reported
      to be implicated in obesity. A deep curation strategy was complemented by a novel
      semi-automated text mining system in order to screen 1,000 full-length research
      articles and over 90,000 abstracts that are relevant to obesity. We obtain a
      scale free network of 804 nodes and 971 edges, composed of 510 proteins, 115
      genes, 62 complexes, 23 RNA molecules, 83 simple molecules, 3 phenotype and 3
      drugs in "bow-tie" architecture. We classify this network into 5 modules and
      identify new links between the recently discovered fat mass and obesity
      associated FTO gene with well studied examples such as insulin and leptin. We
      further built an automated docking pipeline to dock orlistat as well as other
      drugs against the 24,000 proteins in the human structural proteome to explain the
      therapeutics and side effects at a network level. Based upon our experiments, we
      propose that therapeutic effect comes through the binding of one drug with
      several molecules in target network, and the binding propensity is both
      statistically significant and different in comparison with any other part of
      human structural proteome. 

PMID- 26886907
TI  - Addition of Phenylboronic Acid to Malus domestica Pollen Tubes Alters Calcium
      Dynamics, Disrupts Actin Filaments and Affects Cell Wall Architecture.
AB  - A key role of boron in plants is to cross-link the cell wall pectic
      polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) through borate diester linkages.
      Phenylboronic acid (PBA) can form the same reversible ester bonds but cannot
      cross-link two molecules, so can be used as an antagonist to study the function
      of boron. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PBA on apple (Malus
      domestica) pollen tube growth and the underlying regulatory mechanism. We
      observed that PBA caused an inhibition of pollen germination, tube growth and led
      to pollen tube morphological abnormalities. Fluorescent labeling, coupled with a
      scanning ion-selective electrode technique, revealed that PBA induced an increase
      in extracellular Ca2+ influx, thereby elevating the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration
      [Ca2+]c and disrupting the [Ca2+]c gradient, which is critical for pollen tube
      growth. Moreover the organization of actin filaments was severely perturbed by
      the PBA treatment. Immunolocalization studies and fluorescent labeling, together
      with Fourier-transform infrared analysis (FTIR) suggested that PBA caused an
      increase in the abundance of callose, de-esterified pectins and arabinogalactan
      proteins (AGPs) at the tip. However, it had no effect on the deposition of the
      wall polymers cellulose. These effects are similar to those of boron deficiency
      in roots and other organs, indicating that PBA can induce boron deficiency
      symptoms. The results provide new insights into the roles of boron in pollen tube
      development, which likely include regulating [Ca2+]c and the formation of the
      actin cytoskeleton, in addition to the synthesis and assembly of cell wall
      components. 

PMID- 26886908
TI  - A Finite Element Model Approach to Determine the Influence of Electrode Design
      and Muscle Architecture on Myoelectric Signal Properties.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Surface electromyography (sEMG) is the measurement of the
      electrical activity of the skeletal muscle tissue detected at the skin's surface.
      Typically, a bipolar electrode configuration is used. Most muscles have pennate
      and/or curved fibres, meaning it is not always feasible to align the bipolar
      electrodes along the fibres direction. Hence, there is a need to explore how
      different electrode designs can affect sEMG measurements. METHOD: A three layer
      finite element (skin, fat, muscle) muscle model was used to explore different
      electrode designs. The implemented model used as source signal an experimentally
      recorded intramuscular EMG taken from the biceps brachii muscle of one healthy
      male. A wavelet based intensity analysis of the simulated sEMG signal was
      performed to analyze the power of the signal in the time and frequency domain.
      RESULTS: The model showed muscle tissue causing a bandwidth reduction (to 20-92-
      Hz). The inter-electrode distance (IED) and the electrode orientation relative to
      the fibres affected the total power but not the frequency filtering response. The
      effect of significant misalignment between the electrodes and the fibres (60
      degrees -90 degrees ) could be reduced by increasing the IED (25-30 mm), which
      attenuates signal cancellation. When modelling pennated fibres, the muscle tissue
      started to act as a low pass filter. The effect of different IED seems to be
      enhanced in the pennated model, while the filtering response is changed
      considerably only when the electrodes are close to the signal termination within
      the model. For pennation angle greater than 20 degrees , more than 50% of the
      source signal was attenuated, which can be compensated by increasing the IED to
      25 mm. CONCLUSION: Differences in tissue filtering properties, shown in our
      model, indicates that different electrode designs should be considered for muscle
      with different geometric properties (i.e. pennated muscles).

PMID- 26886909
TI  - MRI of the normal appendix in children: data toward a new reference standard.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might prove useful in the diagnostic
      evaluation of pediatric appendicitis in the effort to avoid exposing children to
      the ionizing radiation of CT, yet there is a paucity of literature describing the
      normal range of appearances of the pediatric appendix on MRI. OBJECTIVE: To
      investigate MRI characteristics of the normal appendix to aid in establishing a
      reference standard in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      conducted a retrospective study of children and young adults (<=18 years of age)
      who underwent lumbar spine or pelvis MRI between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013,
      for indications unrelated to appendicitis. Two board-certified radiologists
      independently reviewed all patients' MRI examinations for appendix visualization,
      diameter, intraluminal content signal, and presence of periappendiceal
      inflammation or free fluid. We used the Cohen kappa statistic and Spearman
      correlation coefficient to assess reader agreement on qualitative and
      quantitative data, respectively. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-six patients met
      inclusion criteria. Both readers visualized the appendix in 192/346 (55.5%)
      patients (kappa = 0.88, P < 0.0001). Estimated median appendix diameter was 5 mm
      for reader 1 and 6 mm for reader 2 ([25th, 75th] quartiles = [5, 6] mm; range, 2
      11 mm; r = 0.81, P < 0.0001). Appendix intraluminal signal characteristics were
      variable. Periappendiceal inflammation was present in 0/192 (0%) and free fluid
      in 6/192 (3.1%) MRI examinations (kappa = 1.0). CONCLUSION: The normal appendix
      was seen on MRI in approximately half of pediatric patients, with a mean diameter
      of ~5-6 mm, variable intraluminal signal characteristics, no adjacent
      inflammatory changes, and rare surrounding free fluid.

PMID- 26886910
TI  - Child abuse: we have problems.

PMID- 26886911
TI  - The etiology and significance of fractures in infants and young children: a
      critical multidisciplinary review.
AB  - This paper addresses significant misconceptions regarding the etiology of
      fractures in infants and young children in cases of suspected child abuse. This
      consensus statement, supported by the Child Abuse Committee and endorsed by the
      Board of Directors of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, synthesizes the
      relevant scientific data distinguishing clinical, radiologic and laboratory
      findings of metabolic disease from findings in abusive injury. This paper
      discusses medically established epidemiology and etiologies of childhood
      fractures in infants and young children. The authors also review the body of
      evidence on the role of vitamin D in bone health and the relationship between
      vitamin D and fractures. Finally, the authors discuss how courts should properly
      assess, use, and limit medical evidence and medical opinion testimony in criminal
      and civil child abuse cases to accomplish optimal care and protection of the
      children in these cases. 

PMID- 26886912
TI  - Free-breathing motion-corrected late-gadolinium-enhancement imaging improves
      image quality in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The value of late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) imaging in the
      diagnosis and management of pediatric and congenital heart disease is clear;
      however current acquisition techniques are susceptible to error and artifacts
      when performed in children because of children's higher heart rates, higher
      prevalence of sinus arrhythmia, and inability to breath-hold. Commonly used
      techniques in pediatric LGE imaging include breath-held segmented FLASH
      (segFLASH) and steady-state free precession-based (segSSFP) imaging. More
      recently, single-shot SSFP techniques with respiratory motion-corrected averaging
      have emerged. OBJECTIVE: This study tested and compared single-shot free
      breathing LGE techniques with standard segmented breath-held techniques in
      children undergoing LGE imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive
      children underwent clinically indicated late-enhancement imaging using
      intravenous gadobutrol 0.15 mmol/kg. Breath-held segSSFP, breath-held segFLASH,
      and free-breathing single-shot SSFP LGE sequences were performed in consecutive
      series in each child. Two blinded reviewers evaluated the quality of the images
      and rated them on a scale of 1-5 (1 = poor, 5 = superior) based on blood pool
      myocardial definition, presence of cardiac motion, presence of respiratory motion
      artifacts, and image acquisition artifact. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA)
      to compare groups. RESULTS: Patients ranged in age from 9 months to 18 years,
      with a mean +/- standard deviation (SD) of 13.3 +/- 4.8 years. R-R interval at
      the time of acquisition ranged 366-1,265 milliseconds (ms) (47-164 beats per
      minute [bpm]), mean +/- SD of 843+/-231 ms (72+/-21 bpm). Mean +/- SD quality
      ratings for long-axis imaging for segFLASH, segSSFP and single-shot SSFP were
      3.1+/-0.9, 3.4+/-0.9 and 4.0+/-0.9, respectively (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). Mean +/- SD
      quality ratings for short-axis imaging for segFLASH, segSSFP and single-shot SSFP
      were 3.4+/-1, 3.8+/-0.9 and 4.3+/-0.7, respectively (P < 0.01 by ANOVA).
      CONCLUSION: Single-shot late-enhancement imaging with motion-corrected averaging
      is feasible in children, robust at high heart rates and with variable R-R
      intervals, and can be performed without breath-holding with higher image quality
      ratings than standard breath-held techniques. Use of free-breathing single-shot
      motion-corrected technique does not compromise LGE image quality in children who
      can hold their breath, and it can significantly improve image quality in children
      who cannot hold their breath or who have significant arrhythmia.

PMID- 26886914
TI  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the digestive tract identified on an upper
      gastrointestinal examination.
AB  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with involvement of the gastrointestinal
      tract is rare and typically identified in patients with systemic disease. We
      describe a 16-month-old girl who initially presented with bilious vomiting,
      failure to thrive and a rash. An upper gastrointestinal (GI) examination revealed
      loss of normal mucosal fold pattern and luminal narrowing within the duodenum,
      prompting endoscopic biopsy. Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the digestive tract
      was confirmed by histopathology. A skeletal survey and skin biopsy identified
      other systemic lesions. Although uncommon, it is important to consider LCH in the
      differential diagnosis for gastrointestinal symptoms of unclear origin,
      especially when seen with concurrent rash. Findings of gastrointestinal
      involvement on upper GI examination include loss of normal mucosal fold pattern
      and luminal narrowing in the few published case reports. 

PMID- 26886913
TI  - Early imaging findings in germ cell tumors arising from the basal ganglia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is difficult to diagnosis early stage germ cell tumors originating
      in the basal ganglia, but early recognition is important for better outcome.
      OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serial MR images of basal ganglia germ cell tumors, with
      emphasis on the features of early stage tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed serial MR images of 15 tumors in 14 children and young
      adults. We categorized MR images of the tumors as follows: type I, ill-defined
      patchy lesions (<3 cm) without cyst; type II, small mass lesions (<3 cm) with
      cyst; and type III, large lesions (>=3 cm) with cyst. We also assessed temporal
      changes of the MR images. RESULTS: On the initial images, 8 of 11 (73%) type I
      tumors progressed to types II or III, and 3 of 4 (75%) type II tumors progressed
      to type III. The remaining 4 tumors did not change in type. All type II tumors
      (5/5, 100%) that changed from type I had a few tiny cysts. Intratumoral
      hemorrhage was observed even in the type I tumor. Ipsilateral hemiatrophy was
      observed in most of the tumors (13/15, 87%) on initial MR images. As tumors grew,
      cystic changes, intratumoral hemorrhage, and ipsilateral hemiatrophy became more
      apparent. CONCLUSION: Early stage basal ganglia germ cell tumors appear as ill
      defined small patchy hyperintense lesions without cysts on T2-weighted images,
      are frequently associated with ipsilateral hemiatrophy, and sometimes show
      microhemorrhage. Tumors develop tiny cysts at a relatively early stage.

PMID- 26886915
TI  - A review of the literature for intra-arterial chemotherapy used to treat
      retinoblastoma.
AB  - Retinoblastoma is a malignancy of the retina that usually presents before the age
      of 5 years. Sporadic retinoblastoma is most often unilateral and with no
      hereditary influence, whereas familial retinoblastoma presents unilaterally or
      bilaterally in conjunction with genetic inheritance. Several treatments have been
      attempted with the goals of saving the child's life, salvaging the eye, and
      preserving vision. Alternative methods including external beam radiation,
      systemic chemotherapy and focal therapies have been shown to be effective but
      carry a risk of enucleation and other complications proportional to the severity
      of the tumor. Selective intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma began in
      1988 in Japan and has emerged in the last 7 years in the United States as a
      feasible, effective and minimally invasive treatment option. We review the
      retinoblastoma treatment literature focusing on intra-arterial chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26886916
TI  - Safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cholecystostomy in critically ill
      children who are immune compromised.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acalculous cholecystitis is known to develop in critically ill
      patients without cystic duct obstruction. In the past, treatment for acalculous
      cholecystitis has been cholecystectomy; however, many children who are critically
      ill are Percutaneous cholecystostomy is likely the procedure of choice in this
      subgroup of patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of
      percutaneous cholecystostomy in critically ill and immune-compromised children
      with acalculous cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of
      immune-compromised and critically ill children who underwent percutaneous
      cholecystostomy between 2006 and 2013. Diagnostic imaging performed included
      ultrasound, CT and hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Every percutaneous cholecystostomy
      was performed using imaging guidance. RESULTS: Ten critically ill and immune
      compromised children with acalculous cholecystitis underwent percutaneous
      cholecystostomy. Seven boys and 3 girls, ranging in age from 10 months to 15
      years 8 months, were treated. Six of the immune-compromised children had received
      a bone marrow transplant for leukemia (5 children) or severe combined
      immunodeficiency (SCID) (1 child), and ranged from 18 to 307 days post bone
      marrow transplant at the time of their percutaneous cholecystostomy. Of the
      remaining four immune-compromised children with acalculous cholecystitis who
      underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy, two had leukemia, one had SCID and
      lymphoma, and the fourth was undergoing treatment for undifferentiated germ cell
      tumor. The 10 percutaneous gallbladder drains were placed using a transhepatic
      approach, except one unintentional transperitoneal approach. There were no
      complications. Three gallbladder drains were removed in Interventional Radiology.
      Those three patients had a return to normal gallbladder function and didn't
      require cholecystectomy. Two drains were removed during cholecystectomy and
      another as an outpatient. Four patients died in the hospital due to multiorgan
      system failure, with indwelling gallbladder drains. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous
      cholecystostomy is a safe procedure in immune-compromised and critically ill
      children with acalculous cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy may obviate
      the need for future cholecystectomy.

PMID- 26886918
TI  - Multivessel versus Single Vessel Angioplasty in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary
      Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multivessel disease is common in acute coronary syndrome patients.
      However, if multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention is superior to culprit
      vessel angioplasty has not been systematically addressed. METHODS: A metaanalysis
      was conducted including studies that compared multivessel angioplasty with
      culprit-vessel angioplasty among non-ST elevation ACS patients. Since all studies
      were observational adjusted estimates of effects were used. Pooled estimates of
      effects were computed using the generic inverse of variance with a random effects
      model. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included (n = 117,685). Median age was 64.1
      years, most patients were male, 29.3% were diabetic and 36,9% had previous
      myocardial infarction. Median follow-up was 12 months. There were no significant
      differences in mortality risk (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.09; I2 67.9%), with
      moderate inconsistency. Also, there were no significant differences in the risk
      of death or MI (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.17; I2 62.3%), revascularization (HR
      0.76; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.05; I2 49.9%) or in the combined incidence of death,
      myocardial infarction or revascularization (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.66 to 1.03; I2
      70.8%). All analyses exhibited a moderate degree of inconsistency. Subgroup
      analyses by design reduced the inconsistency of the analyses on death or
      myocardial infarction, revascularization and death, myocardial infarction or
      revascularization. There was evidence of publication bias (Egger's test p =
      0.097). CONCLUSION: Routine multivessel angioplasty in non-ST elevation acute
      coronary syndrome patients with multivessel disease was not superior to culprit
      vessel angioplasty. Randomized controlled trials comparing safety and
      effectiveness of both strategies in this setting are needed.

PMID- 26886919
TI  - Radiative Peristaltic Flow of Jeffrey Nanofluid with Slip Conditions and Joule
      Heating.
AB  - Mixed convection peristaltic flow of Jeffrey nanofluid in a channel with
      compliant walls is addressed here. The present investigation includes the viscous
      dissipation, thermal radiation and Joule heating. Whole analysis is performed for
      velocity, thermal and concentration slip conditions. Related problems through
      long wavelength and low Reynolds number are examined for stream function,
      temperature and concentration. Impacts of thermal radiation, Hartman number,
      Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis, Joule heating and slip parameters are
      explored in detail. Clearly temperature is a decreasing function of Hartman
      number and radiation parameter. 

PMID- 26886917
TI  - Whole-Body Vibration Partially Reverses Aging-Induced Increases in Visceral
      Adiposity and Hepatic Lipid Storage in Mice.
AB  - At old age, humans generally have declining muscle mass and increased fat
      deposition, which can increase the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases.
      While regular physical activity postpones these age-related derangements, this is
      not always possible in the elderly because of disabilities or risk of injury.
      Whole-body vibration (WBV) training may be considered as an alternative to
      physical activity particularly in the frail population. To explore this
      possibility, we characterized whole-body and organ-specific metabolic processes
      in 6-month and 25-month old mice, over a period of 14 weeks of WBV versus sham
      training. WBV training tended to increase blood glucose turnover rates and
      stimulated hepatic glycogen utilization during fasting irrespective of age. WBV
      was effective in reducing white fat mass and hepatic triglyceride content only in
      old but not in young mice and these reductions were related to upregulation of
      hepatic mitochondrial uncoupling of metabolism (assessed by high-resolution
      respirometry) and increased expression of uncoupling protein 2. Because these
      changes occurred independent of changes in food intake and whole-body metabolic
      rate (assessed by indirect calorimetry), the liver-specific effects of WBV may be
      a primary mechanism to improve metabolic health during aging, rather than that it
      is a consequence of alterations in energy balance. 

PMID- 26886920
TI  - The role of titin and extracellular matrix remodelling in heart failure with
      preserved ejection fraction.
AB  - Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterised by a high
      incidence of metabolic comorbidities that share the potential to induce both
      systemic and coronary microvascular inflammation and oxidative stress. These
      pathophysiological alterations contribute to increased passive stiffness of the
      myocardium and to diastolic dysfunction, both hallmarks of HFpEF. Passive
      myocardial stiffness depends mainly on two components: the extracellular matrix
      (ECM) and the cardiomyocytes. Quantitative and qualitative changes in collagen
      metabolism leading to myocardial fibrosis determine the ECM-based stiffness of
      the myocardium. Different noninvasive diagnostic tools to assess myocardial
      fibrosis are being developed, some of which have demonstrated to correlate with
      clinical status and prognosis. Cardiomyocytes mainly alter the passive stiffness
      through alterations in the giant myofilament titin, which serves as a spring. By
      modifying its phosphorylation state or by direct oxidative effects, titin
      determines cardiomyocyte-based passive stiffness. Probably the relative
      importance of cardiomyocyte-based changes is more important in the beginning of
      the disease, whereas ECM-based changes become more prominent in the more advanced
      stages. The present review focuses on these changes in ECM and cardiomyocytes in
      HFpEF and their potential prognostic and therapeutic implications. 

PMID- 26886921
TI  - Erratum to: Echocardiography and cardiac resynchronization therapy, friends or
      foes?

PMID- 26886922
TI  - Atelectasis After Endoscopic Resection: Relations and Prediction.

PMID- 26886924
TI  - A fluorescence anisotropy-based assay for determining the activity of tissue
      transglutaminase.
AB  - Tissue transglutaminase (TGase 2) is the most abundantly expressed enzyme of the
      transglutaminase family and involved in a large variety of pathological
      processes, such as neurodegenerative diseases, disorders related to autoimmunity
      and inflammation as well as tumor growth, progression and metastasis. As a
      result, TGase 2 represents an attractive target for drug discovery and
      development, which requires assays that allow for the characterization of
      modulating agents and are appropriate for high-throughput screening. Herein, we
      report a fluorescence anisotropy-based approach for the determination of TGase
      2's transamidase activity, following the time-dependent increase in fluorescence
      anisotropy due to the enzyme-catalyzed incorporation of fluorescein- and
      rhodamine B-conjugated cadaverines 1-3 (acyl acceptor substrates) into N,N
      dimethylated casein (acyl donor substrate). These cadaverine derivatives 1-3 were
      obtained by solid-phase synthesis. To allow efficient conjugation of the
      rhodamine B moiety, different linkers providing secondary amine functions, such
      as sarcosyl and isonipecotyl, were introduced between the cadaverine and
      xanthenyl entities in compounds 2 and 3, respectively, with acyl acceptor 3
      showing the most optimal substrate properties of the compounds investigated. The
      assay was validated for the search of both irreversible and reversible TGase 2
      inhibitors using the inactivators iodoacetamide and a recently published L-lysine
      derived acrylamide and the allosteric binder GTP, respectively. In addition, the
      fluorescence anisotropy-based method was proven to be suitable for high
      throughput screening (Z' factor of 0.86) and represents a non-radioactive and
      highly sensitive assay for determining the active TGase 2 concentration.

PMID- 26886925
TI  - The debate continues: is urine culture indicated in neonates with prolonged
      jaundice?

PMID- 26886923
TI  - Comparative Analysis of Protocols to Induce Human CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells
      by Combinations of IL-2, TGF-beta, Retinoic Acid, Rapamycin and Butyrate.
AB  - Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress other immune cells and are critical mediators
      of peripheral tolerance. Therapeutic manipulation of Tregs is subject to numerous
      clinical investigations including trials for adoptive Treg transfer. Since the
      number of naturally occurring Tregs (nTregs) is minute, it is highly desirable to
      develop a complementary approach of inducing Tregs (iTregs) from naive T cells.
      Mouse studies exemplify the importance of peripherally induced Tregs as well as
      the applicability of iTreg transfer in different disease models. Yet, procedures
      to generate iTregs are currently controversial, particularly for human cells.
      Here we therefore comprehensively compare different established and define novel
      protocols of human iTreg generation using TGF-beta in combination with other
      compounds. We found that human iTregs expressed several Treg signature molecules,
      such as Foxp3, CTLA-4 and EOS, while exhibiting low expression of the cytokines
      Interferon-gamma, IL-10 and IL-17. Importantly, we identified a novel combination
      of TGF-beta, retinoic acid and rapamycin as a robust protocol to induce human
      iTregs with superior suppressive activity in vitro compared to currently
      established induction protocols. However, iTregs generated by these protocols did
      not stably retain Foxp3 expression and did not suppress in vivo in a humanized
      graft-versus-host-disease mouse model, highlighting the need for further research
      to attain stable, suppressive iTregs. These results advance our understanding of
      the conditions enabling human iTreg generation and may have important
      implications for the development of adoptive transfer strategies targeting
      autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

PMID- 26886927
TI  - Changes in quality of life after a diagnosis of cancer: a 2-year study comparing
      breast cancer and melanoma patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: Longitudinal studies addressing change in health-related quality of life
      (HRQoL) following a diagnosis of cancer have mainly focused on a single cancer
      type, and little is known about the differences in HRQoL over time according to
      the type of tumor. The current study aims to compare the change in HRQoL over 2
      years following breast cancer or melanoma diagnosis and socio-demographic
      variables associated with HRQoL over time. METHODS: Patients recently diagnosed
      with breast cancer (n = 215) or melanoma (n = 78) completed surveys within 1
      month of diagnosis and 6, 12, and 24 months later. Multilevel modeling analyses
      were used to compare the evolution over time of HRQoL dimensions, as measured by
      the EORTC QLQ-C30, in both cancers. Longitudinal effect of socio-demographic
      variables on HRQoL was also assessed. RESULTS: Consistent with the literature,
      both cancer patients experienced decreased HRQoL scores following the diagnosis
      before improving over time. However, our analyses revealed that this rebound
      effect may occur at diverse times over the course of the illness according to the
      type of cancer. In addition, HRQoL over time was positively associated with age
      and negatively related to living with a partner regardless of the type of cancer.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that support in hospital
      units should be specific and depend on the cancer type.

PMID- 26886926
TI  - Health-related quality of life among veterans in addictions treatment:
      identifying behavioral targets for future intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: US veterans report lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
      relative to the general population. Identifying behavioral factors related to
      HRQoL that are malleable to change may inform interventions to improve well-being
      in this vulnerable group. PURPOSE: The current study sought to characterize HRQoL
      in a largely male sample of veterans in addictions treatment, both in relation to
      US norms and in association with five recommended health behavior practices:
      regularly exercising, managing stress, having good sleep hygiene, consuming
      fruits and vegetables, and being tobacco free. METHODS: We assessed HRQoL with
      250 veterans in addictions treatment (96 % male, mean age 53, range 24-77) using
      scales from four validated measures. Data reduction methods identified two
      principal components reflecting physical and mental HRQoL. Model testing of HRQoL
      associations with health behaviors adjusted for relevant demographic and
      treatment-related covariates. RESULTS: Compared to US norms, the sample had lower
      HRQoL scores. Better psychological HRQoL was associated with higher subjective
      social standing, absence of pain or trauma, lower alcohol severity, and
      monotonically with the sum of health behaviors (all p < 0.05). Specifically,
      psychological HRQoL was associated with regular exercise, stress management, and
      sleep hygiene. Regular exercise also related to better physical HRQoL. The models
      explained >40 % of the variance in HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise, sleep hygiene,
      and stress management are strongly associated with HRQoL among veterans in
      addictions treatment. Future research is needed to test the effect of
      interventions for improving well-being in this high-risk group.

PMID- 26886928
TI  - Erratum to: Uptake of a fluorescent L-glucose derivative 2-NBDLG into three
      dimensionally accumulating insulinoma cells in a phloretin-sensitive manner.

PMID- 26886931
TI  - Erratum to: Biography of Aniceto Baltasar, MD.

PMID- 26886929
TI  - Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Effects on Weight Loss
      and Metabolic Control.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes patients, although typically lean, experience an
      increased prevalence of obesity, and bariatric surgery is considered in severe
      cases. Bariatric surgery in such patients leads to significant weight loss and
      decreased insulin requirements; however, effects on glycemic control remain
      discussed. We assessed, in obese patients with type 1 diabetes, the effects of
      bariatric surgery upon body weight, body composition, and glycemic control,
      including the occurrence of hypoglycemic events. METHODS: Thirteen obese patients
      with type 1 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass n
      = 6, sleeve gastrectomy n = 7) were matched with obese patients without diabetes
      and with type 2 diabetes patients during 12 months of follow-up. Outcomes
      included body weight, DXA-assessed body composition, HbA1c, and incidence of
      hypoglycemia. RESULTS: At 12 months, median surgery-induced weight loss was 27.9
      % (21.1-33.3), 26.1 % (24.8-29.7), and 27.5 % (21.8-32.1) in patients with type 1
      diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and without diabetes, respectively, with no
      significant differences across the groups. Similar findings were observed for
      body fat changes. At 12 months, median HbA1c decreased from 8.3 to 7.6 % in type
      1 diabetes patients versus 8.0 to 5.9 % in type 2 diabetes patients (P = 0.04
      between the groups). In type 1 diabetes patients, the number of reported minor
      hypoglycemia increased transiently only at 6 months. Two patients reported severe
      hypoglycemia (one episode each). CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 diabetes patients benefit
      from bariatric surgery in terms of weight loss and glycemic control. Close
      monitoring of insulin therapy appears warranted to prevent minor hypoglycemia in
      the first months post-surgery.

PMID- 26886930
TI  - Stigma and Knowledge as Determinants of Recommendation and Referral Behavior of
      General Practitioners and Internists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite reported effectiveness, weight loss surgery (WLS) still
      remains one of the least preferred options for outpatient providers, especially
      in Germany. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of stigma and
      knowledge on recommendation of WLS and referral to a surgeon by general
      practitioners (GPs) and internists. METHOD: The sample consists of 201 GPs and
      internists from Germany. The questionnaire included questions on the perceived
      effectiveness of WLS, the frequency of recommendations of WLS, and the frequency
      of referral to WLS. Stigma, as well as knowledge was also assessed in this
      context. Linear and logistic regression models were conducted. A mediation
      analysis was carried out within post hoc analysis. RESULTS: Knowledge (b = 0.258,
      p < 0.001) and stigma towards surgery (b = -0.129, p = 0.013) were related to the
      frequency of recommendation of WLS. Additionally, respondents, who were more
      likely to express negative attitudes towards WLS, were less likely to recommend
      WLS and thus refer patients to WLS (b = -0.107, p < 0.05). Furthermore,
      respondents with more expertise on WLS were more likely to recommend and thus
      refer patients to WLS (b = 0.026, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that
      stigma plays a role when it comes to defining treatment pathways for patients
      with obesity. The question remains how this might influence the patients and
      their decision regarding their treatment selection. Interventions are required to
      make treatment decisions by physicians or patients independent of social pressure
      due to stigma.

PMID- 26886932
TI  - Can Novel Management Practice Improve Soil and Environmental Quality and Sustain
      Crop Yield Simultaneously?
AB  - Little is known about management practices that can simultaneously improve soil
      and environmental quality and sustain crop yields. The effects of novel and
      traditional management practices that included a combination of tillage, crop
      rotation, and N fertilization on soil C and N, global warming potential (GWP),
      greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and malt barley (Hordeum vulgarie L.) yield and
      quality were examined under non-irrigated and irrigated cropping systems from
      2008 to 2011 in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, USA. In loamy soil
      under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana, novel and traditional
      management practices were no-till malt barley-pea (Pisum sativum L.) with 80 kg N
      ha(-1) and conventional till malt barley-fallow with 80 kg N ha(-1),
      respectively. In sandy loam soil under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in
      western North Dakota, novel and traditional management practices included no-till
      malt barley-pea with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha(-1) (irrigated) and
      conventional till malt barley with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha(-1)
      (irrigated), respectively. Compared with the traditional management practice,
      soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) at 0-120 cm were 5% greater with the novel
      management practice under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana and under
      irrigated condition in western North Dakota, but were not different under non
      irrigated condition in western North Dakota. In both places under irrigated and
      non-irrigated conditions, total applied N rate, residual soil NO3-N content at 0
      120 cm, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were
      15 to 70% lower with the novel than the traditional management practice. Malt
      barley yield and quality were not different between the two practices in both
      places. Novel management practices, such as no-till malt barley-pea with reduced
      N rate, can simultaneously enhance soil and environmental quality, reduce N
      input, and sustain crop yield compared with traditional practices in the northern
      Great Plains, USA.

PMID- 26886934
TI  - Super-slim endoscopy, in a patient with a Crohn's ileocecal valve stricture, for
      assessment of mucosal healing.

PMID- 26886933
TI  - Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grain Protein Concentration Is Related to
      Early Post-Flowering Nitrate Uptake under Putative Control of Plant Satiety
      Level.
AB  - The strong negative correlation between grain protein concentration (GPC) and
      grain yield (GY) in bread wheat complicates the simultaneous improvement of these
      traits. However, earlier studies have concluded that the deviation from this
      relationship (grain protein deviation or GPD) has strong genetic basis. Genotypes
      with positive GPD have an increased ability to uptake nitrogen (N) during the
      post-flowering period independently of the amount of N taken up before flowering,
      suggesting that genetic variability for N satiety could enable the breakage of
      the negative relationship. This study is based on two genotypes markedly
      contrasted for GPD grown under semi-hydroponic conditions differentiated for
      nitrate availability both before and after flowering. This allows exploration of
      the genetic determinants of post-flowering N uptake (PANU) by combining whole
      plant sampling and targeted gene expression approaches. The results highlights
      the correlation (r2 = 0.81) with GPC of PANU occurring early during grain
      development (flowering-flowering + 250 degree-days) independently of GY. Early
      PANU was in turn correlated (r2 = 0.80) to the stem-biomass increment after
      flowering through its effect on N sink activity. Differences in early PANU
      between genotypes, despite comparable N statuses at flowering, suggest that
      genetic differences in N satiety could be involved in the establishment of the
      GPC. Through its strong negative correlation with genes implied in N
      assimilation, root nitrate concentration appears to be a good marker for
      evaluating instantaneous plant N demand, and may provide valuable information on
      the genotypic N satiety level. This trait may help breeders to identify genotypes
      having high GPC independently of their GY. 

PMID- 26886935
TI  - The use of a T drain tube to treat anastomotic leaks.

PMID- 26886937
TI  - Introduction to the Second Section of the Special Issue: Invited Papers from the
      2015 APAHC Conference.

PMID- 26886936
TI  - Clinical recurrence and re-resection rates after extensive vs. segmental
      colectomy in Crohn's colitis: a retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to document long-term clinical
      recurrence and re-resection rates of segmental and extended colectomy in patients
      with Crohn's colitis and to identify risk factors causing recurrence. METHODS:
      Records of patients with isolated colonic Crohn's disease who underwent colectomy
      between 1995 and 2013 and were followed at our medical center were identified.
      Data on age at diagnosis, gender, smoking, disease location at diagnosis,
      perianal and rectal disease, indication for surgery, preoperative disease
      duration, type of operation, primary anastomosis at first operation, length of
      resected specimen, recurrence of symptoms, postoperative medication, reoperation,
      and total follow-up time were retrieved. RESULTS: Thirty-five suitable patients
      (18 segmental colectomy, 17 extensive colectomy; 17 males; mean age at operation
      36.6 years) were identified. Mean age at primary operation was 36 years. The mean
      preoperative disease duration was 121 months. Postoperative medical treatment was
      needed in 10 (56 %) patients undergoing segmental colectomy and in 16 (94 %) of
      those undergoing extensive colectomy (p = 0.01). There was longer reoperation
      free survival in the segmental colectomy patient group (p = 0.02) and also a
      trend toward longer symptom-free survival compared to the extensive colectomy
      patient group (p = 0.105). There was no correlation between the length of
      resected bowel and recurrence. Patients operated on at a younger age did not have
      a higher rate of recurrence of symptoms. Shorter disease duration, smoking, and
      male gender were risk factors for clinical recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental
      resection with primary anastomosis can be safely performed in patients with
      limited Crohn's colitis with reasonable clinical recurrence rates.

PMID- 26886938
TI  - Rectal HSV-2 Infection May Increase Rectal SIV Acquisition Even in the Context of
      SIVDeltanef Vaccination.
AB  - Prevalent HSV-2 infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition both in men and
      women even in asymptomatic subjects. Understanding the impact of HSV-2 on the
      mucosal microenvironment may help to identify determinants of susceptibility to
      HIV. Vaginal HSV-2 infection increases the frequency of cells highly susceptible
      to HIV in the vaginal tissue of women and macaques and this correlates with
      increased susceptibility to vaginal SHIV infection in macaques. However, the
      effect of rectal HSV-2 infection on HIV acquisition remains understudied. We
      developed a model of rectal HSV-2 infection in macaques in combination with
      rectal SIVmac239Deltanef (SIVDeltanef) vaccination and our results suggest that
      rectal HSV-2 infection may increase the susceptibility of macaques to rectal
      SIVmac239 wild-type (wt) infection even in SIVDeltanef-infected animals. Rectal
      SIVDeltanef infection/vaccination protected 7 out of 7 SIVDeltanef-infected
      macaques from SIVmac239wt rectal infection (vs 12 out of 16 SIVDeltanef-negative
      macaques), while 1 out of 3 animals co-infected with SIVDeltanef and HSV-2
      acquired SIVmac239wt infection. HSV-2/SIVmac239wt co-infected animals had
      increased concentrations of inflammatory factors in their plasma and rectal
      fluids and a tendency toward higher acute SIVmac239wt plasma viral load. However,
      they had higher blood CD4 counts and reduced depletion of CCR5+ CD4+ T cells
      compared to SIVmac239wt-only infected animals. Thus, rectal HSV-2 infection
      generates a pro-inflammatory environment that may increase susceptibility to
      rectal SIV infection and may impact immunological and virological parameters
      during acute SIV infection. Studies with larger number of animals are needed to
      confirm these findings. 

PMID- 26886939
TI  - Aberrant expression and hormonal regulation of Galectin-3 in endometriosis women
      with infertility.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and potential molecular mechanism of Galectin
      3 (Gal-3) in the etiology of endometriosis-associated infertility. METHODS: We
      detected Gal-3 expression in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis
      associated infertility and healthy women without endometriosis or infertility. We
      then evaluated Gal-3 expression in endometrial glandular epithelial cells (EECs)
      and endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and investigated its response to hormone
      stimulation in EECs and ESCs from both groups of women. RESULTS: Results of real
      time PCR and western blot analysis showed Gal-3 expression in both proliferative
      and secretory stages of the menstrual cycle decreased significantly in women with
      endometriosis-associated infertility compared to healthy women. The changes in
      expression of Gal-3 were more dramatic in EECs than ESCs. Moreover, estrogen (E2)
      and progesterone (P4) induced Gal-3 expression in EECs of healthy groups, and P4
      was more significant than E2 and combined E2 and P4 (E2P4). However, in the
      endometriosis group, P4 failed to induce a similar increase in Gal-3 expression.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that aberrant expression of Gal-3 might
      contribute to infertility in patients with endometriosis due to progesterone
      resistance.

PMID- 26886940
TI  - Prospective, systematically recorded mycophenolate safety data in Graves'
      orbitopathy.
AB  - CONTEXT: The antiproliferative mechanism of mycophenolate acid (MPA) suggests a
      beneficial effect in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO). OBJECTIVE: To
      systematically analyze for the first time adverse events (AEs) during MPA
      treatment in GO. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study. SETTING: Academic
      tertiary referral center with a joint thyroid-eye clinic. PATIENTS: Fifty-three
      consecutive, unselected patients with clinically active and moderate-to-severe
      GO. METHODS: MPA 0.720 g was given once daily for 24-weeks in GO patients. AEs
      were documented and coded according to the standardized medical dictionary for
      regulatory activities (MedDRA). AE were followed up and seriousness as defined by
      ICH-guideline E6 was documented. All AEs were analyzed regarding a possible
      underlying cause and if not, graded as side effect (SE). RESULTS: Fifty GO
      patients (93 %) had Graves' disease, 37 (70 %) and 29 (54.7 %) were female and
      smoker, respectively. Thirty-six patients (68 %) reported at least one AE. A
      total of 88 AEs were documented, most frequent AEs were insomnia (N = 6), fatigue
      (N = 5) and optic neuropathy (N = 5), while other AEs occurred in up to three
      patients (5.6 %), only. In 12 (23 %) patients, at least one SE occurred. All 17
      reported SE, i.e. mild infections and gastrointestinal intolerance were within
      the known safety profile of MPA. No patient dropped MPA medication because of
      drug-induced SE. Most AEs showed a recovered (76 %) or recovering (16 %) outcome.
      Seven (13 %) patients were hospitalized, five (62 %) due to optic neuropathy,
      none of these events was graded as SE. CONCLUSIONS: MedDRA-coded data documented
      the good tolerance of a moderate MPA dose in GO patients.

PMID- 26886943
TI  - Meta-analysis of the association between a serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR
      polymorphism and smoking cessation.
AB  - 5-HTTLPR is one of the candidate genes influencing addiction. Recent studies have
      reported that the 5-HTTLPR genotype is associated with smoking behaviour, but its
      influence is still controversial. Thus, we reviewed the smoking-cessation
      outcomes among previously reported studies by comparing the 5-HTTLPR
      polymorphism. In total, eight studies including 3206 participants for the present
      meta-analysis were assessed and the S/S, S/L and L/L genotypes were compared with
      respect to smoking-cessation outcomes. The results of comparing 5-HTTLPR
      genotypes were as follows: odds ratio (OR)=1.044 and 95% confidence interval
      (CI)=0.751-1.078 for S/S versus S/L; OR=0.862 and 95% CI=0.690-1.077 for S/L
      versus L/L; and OR=0.924 and 95% CI=0.689-1.433 for S/S versus L/L. We found no
      significant association between 5-HTTLPR and smoking cessation, but 5-HTTLPR
      remains an important smoking-related candidate gene. 

PMID- 26886944
TI  - Tumor Growth Kinetics Before and After First-line Chemotherapy in Metastatic
      Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Prostate-specific Antigen-based
      Retrospective Analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The role of the tumor growth fraction has been investigated poorly in
      metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The aim of this study
      was to assess whether some prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-related variables of
      tumor cell kinetics predict the overall survival in early and late mCRPC, and to
      explore changes in the tumor growth fraction after chemotherapy. METHODS: A
      retrospective analysis of 3 tumor cell kinetic variables in patients with mCRPC
      receiving first-line chemotherapy has been performed. The PSA-related tumor
      growth rate, the log ratio, and the tumor response have been measured at 3
      different times. A further analysis has been performed after stratification by
      the Gleason score and chemotherapy. Finally, tumor growth after progression to
      chemotherapy has been explored. RESULTS: G at castration resistance is
      significantly associated with survival after chemotherapy among patients with a
      low Gleason score (r=-0.650, P-value=0.022). At the time of first-line
      chemotherapy, both G and PSA response rates report a significant relationship
      with survival. At the time of postchemotherapy progression, only the G after 12
      weeks of chemotherapy maintains a relationship with survival in patients with a
      low Gleason score (r=-0.483, P-value=0.023); in particular, a tumor growth rate <
      0.5%/day appears to be associated with a poor postprogression survival. Despite
      the lack of correlation between postprogression G and postprogression survival,
      the response to chemotherapy defines 2 groups with different growth
      characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with mCRPC, tumor cell kinetics
      appears to be able to predict the outcome, especially in tumors with a low
      Gleason score.

PMID- 26886941
TI  - A large insertion in intron 2 of the TYRP1 gene associated with American Palomino
      phenotype in American mink.
AB  - A number of American mink phenotypes display a range of brownish colours. One of
      these phenotypes, namely American Palomino (b (P) b (P) ) (AP) has been found to
      be associated with the tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) gene by genotyping
      microsatellite markers in one sire family. Trials for amplifying the genomic DNA
      and cDNA at the beginning of intron 2 of AP TYRP1 revealed the presence of a
      large insertion of approximately eight kb. The insertion most likely disrupts
      different elements necessary for the splicing of intron 2 of the TYRP1 gene. In
      AP RNAseq data indicate, however, the presence of the wild-type (wt) transcript
      at very low levels and Western blot reveals three products when using an antibody
      raised against middle part of the TYRP1 protein. One individual from another
      brown mink phenotype-commercially named Dawn-was also investigated at the
      molecular level by long-range PCR and the same size insertion appears to be
      present. By this we suggest that certain modifiers of TYRP1 would induce
      different brown colour degradation, which results in at least two different
      phases of brown. 

PMID- 26886945
TI  - Stage I and II Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: Analysis of 2009 FIGO Staging Revision
      and Impact on Survival by Adjuvant Therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2009, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
      revised the staging classification for endometrial cancer. Mucosal cervical
      involvement was eliminated from the criteria and only those with stromal cervical
      involvement were considered stage II. We examined the implications of the staging
      changes and the survival impact of adjuvant therapy in stage I to II endometrial
      adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from the National
      Oncology Data Alliance. Stage I to II endometrial adenocarcinoma patients
      diagnosed between 1988 and 2008 were identified and grouped according to the 1988
      International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging. Multivariate
      analysis (MVA) was performed using proportional hazards model; comparison of
      Kaplan-Meier survival curves was based on the log-rank statistic. RESULTS: A
      total of 14,158 patients with stage I to II endometrial adenocarcinoma were
      identified with a median follow-up of 41 months. Adjuvant external-beam radiation
      therapy (EBRT) and adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VB) were positive predictors
      for overall survival (OS) only in IC, IIA, and IIB. On MVA, stages IA and IB OS
      did not differ (P=0.17), IIA had worse OS compared with IC (P<0.05), and IIA OS
      did not differ from IIB (P=0.57). Neither IA nor IB benefited from adjuvant
      radiotherapy on MVA. However, both IC and IIA had OS improvements with VB+/-EBRT
      (P<0.05) with the greatest impact from the VB. CONCLUSIONS: Mucosal cervical
      involvement represents a risk factor and should be considered when determining
      adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant therapy provided no survival benefit in 1988 stage IA
      or IB; however, adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended in the management of IC,
      IIA, and IIB.

PMID- 26886946
TI  - Phase I Trial of Dose-escalated Whole Liver Irradiation With Hepatic Arterial
      Fluorodeoxyuridine/Leucovorin and Streptozotocin Followed by
      Fluorodeoxyuridine/Leucovorin and Chemoembolization for Patients With
      Neuroendocrine Hepatic Metastases.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We have previously shown that refractory neuroendocrine tumors can
      respond to moderate doses of chemoradiotherapy. We completed a dose-escalation
      phase I/II trial combining hepatic arterial (HA) chemotherapy, chemoembolization,
      and dose-escalated whole liver radiotherapy to determine the maximum safe dose of
      radiation that could be delivered and to make a preliminary assessment of
      response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2009, 19 patients with symptomatic
      neuroendocrine liver metastases who failed somatostatin analog therapy were
      enrolled. HA fluorodeoxyuridine, leucovorin, and streptozotocin were delivered,
      as concurrent whole liver radiotherapy was dose escalated from 24 to 32 Gy in 2
      Gy fractions, with a target rate of dose-limiting grade >=3 radiation-induced
      liver disease of 10%. Eight weeks later, for patients without grade >=3 liver or
      grade >=4 any toxicity, a 72-hour infusion of HA fluorodeoxyuridine and
      leucovorin was given, followed by transarterial chemoembolization. RESULTS:
      Eleven patients completed the entire protocol and received 24 to 32 Gy. No
      patients developed radiation-induced liver disease; 7 had grade 3 to 4
      transiently increased liver function tests, and 4 had other grade 4 toxicities.
      Three patients (14%) had partial response, 16 (84%) stable disease. Median
      freedom from local progression and overall survival were 35.3 and 54.6 months,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-two in 2 Gy daily fractions can be delivered
      safely when combined with HA chemotherapy and subsequent transarterial
      chemoembolization. However, although objective responses were observed, this
      combination was not significantly better than our prior approaches. Further
      treatment intensification strategies, including individualized dose escalation
      for radiation-tolerant livers, and improved radiosensitization should be
      investigated, along with improved systemic therapy.

PMID- 26886947
TI  - Medicare Cancer Screening in the Context of Clinical Guidelines: 2000 to 2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cancer screening is a ubiquitous and controversial public health
      issue, particularly in the elderly population. Despite extensive evidence-based
      guidelines for screening, it is unclear how cancer screening has changed in the
      Medicare population over time. We characterize trends in cancer screening for the
      most common cancer types in the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program in the
      context of conflicting guidelines from 2000 to 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      performed a descriptive analysis of retrospective claims data from the Medicare
      FFS program based on billing codes. Our data include all claims for Medicare part
      B beneficiaries who received breast, colorectal (CRC), or prostate cancer
      screening from 2000 to 2012 based on billing codes. We utilize a Monte Carlo
      permutation method to detect changes in screening trends. RESULTS: In total,
      231,416,732 screening tests were analyzed from 2000 to 2012, representing an
      average of 436.8 tests per 1000 beneficiaries per year. Mammography rates
      declined 7.4%, with digital mammography extensively replacing film. CRC cancer
      screening rates declined overall. As a percentage of all CRC screening tests,
      colonoscopy grew from 32% to 71%. Prostate screening rates increased 16% from
      2000 to 2007, and then declined to 7% less than its 2000 rate by 2012.
      DISCUSSION: Both the aggressiveness of screening guidelines and screening rates
      for the Medicare FFS population peaked and then declined from 2000 to 2012.
      However, guideline publications did not consistently precede utilization trend
      shifts. Technology adoption, practical and financial concerns, and patient
      preferences may have also contributed to the observed trends. Further research
      should be performed on the impact of multiple, conflicting guidelines in cancer
      screening.

PMID- 26886948
TI  - A Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Radiation Therapy and Survival for
      Surgically Resected Soft-Tissue Sarcoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Radiotherapy for soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) has been shown to reduce
      local recurrence, but without clear improvement in survival. We conducted a meta
      analysis to study the association between radiotherapy and survival in patients
      undergoing surgery for STS. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted from
      PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Our population of
      interest consisted of adults with primary extremity, chest wall, trunk, or back
      STS. Our metameters were either an odds or hazard ratio for mortality. A bias
      score was generated for each study based on margin status and grade. RESULTS: Of
      1044 studies, 30 met inclusion criteria for final analysis. The pooled odds ratio
      in patients receiving radiation was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78
      1.14). The pooled estimate of the hazards ratio in patients receiving radiation
      was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.73-1.03) overall and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.52-0.82) for studies
      judged to be at low risk of bias. Significant publication bias was not seen.
      CONCLUSIONS: High-quality studies reporting adjusted hazard ratios are associated
      with improved survival in patients receiving radiotherapy for STS. Studies in
      which odds ratios are calculated from event data and those that do not report
      adjusted outcomes do not show the same association, likely due to confounding by
      indication.

PMID- 26886949
TI  - Pre-ESRD Care and Mortality in Incident ESRD Patients With Multiple Myeloma.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The relationship between mortality and pre-ESRD (end-stage renal
      disease) nephrology care in incident ESRD patients with multiple myeloma (MM) as
      the primary cause of renal failure has not been examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Among 439,206 incident US hemodialysis patients with MM as the primary cause of
      ESRD (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009) identified using the US Renal Data System,
      adjusted odds ratios (OR) for reported pre-ESRD nephrology care for ESRD due to
      MM (n=4561) versus other causes (n=434,645) were calculated. The association of
      pre-ESRD nephrology care with subsequent mortality in MM-ESRD patients was
      examined. RESULTS: MM-ESRD patients were less likely to have any predialysis
      nephrology care in the year before initiation of dialysis (34.8% vs. 58.5%;
      OR=0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-0.43) compared with patients with
      ESRD due to other causes. MM-ESRD patients compared with others were more likely
      to have catheters on first dialysis (91.8% vs. 75.6%; OR=4.15; 95% CI, 3.54
      4.86). Incident MM-ESRD patients receiving predialysis care for >=6 months had
      significantly lower 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97 and
      0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.96, respectively), relative to those without this care. A
      catheter for dialysis access was associated with a 1.6-fold increase in 1-year
      mortality in incident MM-ESRD (hazard ratio 1.55; 95% CI, 1.32-1.83).
      CONCLUSIONS: MM-ESRD patients were less likely to have predialysis nephrology
      care and more likely to use catheters on first dialysis. However, predialysis
      care is independently associated with lower mortality in MM-ESRD patients.
      Predialysis care should be prioritized in MM patients approaching ESRD.

PMID- 26886950
TI  - Stabilization of Cu7 clusters in azide networks: syntheses, structures and
      magnetic behaviour.
AB  - Two new azide bridged copper(II) coordination polymer compounds,
      [Cu7(N3)14(C3H10N2)(C4H13N3)]n (I) and [Cu7(N3)14(C3H10N2)(C5H15N3)2]n (II)
      [where C3H10N2 = 1,2-diaminopropane (1,2-DAP); C4H13N3 = diethylenetriamine
      (DETA); C5H15N3 = N-2-aminoethyl-1,3-propanediamine (AEDAP)] were prepared by
      employing a room temperature diffusion technique involving three layers. Single
      crystal studies reveal that both compounds I and II, have similar connectivity
      forming Cu7 clusters through end-on (EO) bonding of the azide. The Cu7 clusters
      are connected through end-to-end (EE) connectivity of the azides forming three
      dimensional structures. Magnetic studies confirmed the ferromagnetic interactions
      within the Cu7 units and revealed the occurrence of concomitant ferro- and
      antiferro-magnetic interactions between these clusters. As a result I behaves as
      a weak-ferromagnet with TC = 10 K.

PMID- 26886951
TI  - Thyroid Hormone Replacement in Patients Following Thyroidectomy for Thyroid
      Cancer.
AB  - Thyroid hormone replacement therapy in patients following thyroidectomy for
      thyroid cancer, although a potentially straightforward clinical problem, can
      present the clinician and patient with a variety of challenges. Most often the
      problems are related to the dose and preparation of thyroid hormone (TH) to use.
      Some patients feel less well following thyroidectomy and/or radioiodine ablation
      than they did before their diagnosis. We present evidence that levothyroxine (L
      T4) is the preparation of choice, and keeping the thyroid-stimulating hormone
      (TSH) between detectable and 0.1 mU/L should be the standard of care in most
      cases. In unusual circumstances, when the patient remains clinically hypothyroid
      despite a suppressed TSH, we acknowledge there may be as yet unidentified factors
      influencing the body's response to TH, and individualized therapy may be
      necessary in such patients. 

PMID- 26886952
TI  - The Role of Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection in the Treatment of
      Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - The utility and efficacy of prophylactic central neck dissection with total
      thyroidectomy for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer has been debated
      in the literature over the past few decades. Proponents of prophylactic central
      neck dissection support its routine use with the notion that it reduces local
      recurrence, increases accuracy in TNM staging, and reduces surgical morbidity
      associated with reoperation. Conversely, those against the use of routine
      prophylactic central neck dissection argue there is no clear evidence which shows
      a reduction in recurrence or added benefit to survival, while the procedure
      increases the risk for complications and morbidity. This article discusses the
      role of prophylactic central neck dissection in the setting of thyroid cancer and
      reviews recently published literature to evaluate efficacy and safety of this
      procedure. 

PMID- 26886953
TI  - The Mystery of Michelangelo Buonarroti's Goiter.
AB  - Whilst painting the vault of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo Buonarroti left an
      autographical sketch that revealed a prominence at the front of his hyper
      extended neck. This image was recently diagnosed as goiter. The poet Michelangelo
      in a sonnet dated 1509 described himself as being afflicted by goiter similarly
      to the cats in the northern Italian Lombardy, a region with endemic goiter.
      Several narratives extended this sonnet into a pathological theory. The analyses
      of Michelangelo's works, however, his portraits and self-portraits, of poems and
      major biographies, have not indicated the likelihood of goiter. This
      investigation makes an attempt to assess the diagnosis on clinical as well as
      iconographical grounds. 

PMID- 26886955
TI  - A Risk-adapted Approach to Follow-up in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.
AB  - The last 10 years have seen a renewed interest in a risk-adapted approach to the
      management of differentiated thyroid cancer. This review outlines a state-of-the
      art approach to individualized management in which the original follow-up plan
      that was developed based on initial risk stratification is modified over time as
      new data become available. This risk-adapted follow-up approach allows clinicians
      to determine the intensity of follow-up and management recommendations in
      response to real-time dynamic risk assessments which may change over time. 

PMID- 26886954
TI  - Contemporary Management of Recurrent Nodal Disease in Differentiated Thyroid
      Carcinoma.
AB  - Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) comprises over 90% of thyroid tumors and
      includes papillary and follicular carcinomas. Patients with DTC have an excellent
      prognosis, with a 10-year survival rate of over 90%. However, the risk of
      recurrent tumor ranges between 5% and 30% within 10 years of the initial
      diagnosis. Cervical lymph node disease accounts for the majority of recurrences
      and in most cases is detected during follow-up by ultrasound or elevated levels
      of serum thyroglobulin. Recurrent disease is accompanied by increased morbidity.
      The mainstay of treatment of nodal recurrence is surgical management. We provide
      an overview of the literature addressing surgical management of recurrent or
      persistent lymph node disease in patients with DTC. 

PMID- 26886956
TI  - External Beam Radiation in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.
AB  - The treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is surgery followed in
      some cases by adjuvant treatment, mostly with radioactive iodine (RAI). External
      beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is less common and not a well-established treatment
      modality in DTC. The risk of recurrence depends on three major prognostic
      factors: extra-thyroid extension, patient's age, and tumor with reduced iodine
      uptake. Increased risk for recurrence is a major factor in the decision whether
      to treat the patient with EBRT. Data about the use of EBRT in DTC are limited to
      small retrospective studies. Most series have demonstrated an increase in loco
      regional control. The risk/benefit from giving EBRT requires careful patient
      selection. Different scoring systems have been proposed by different
      investigators and centers. The authors encourage clinicians treating DTC to
      become familiarized with those scoring systems and to use them in the management
      of different cases. The irradiated volume should include areas of risk for
      microscopic disease. Determining those areas in each case can be difficult and
      requires detailed knowledge of the surgery and pathological results, and also
      understanding of the disease-spreading pattern. Treatment with EBRT in DTC can be
      beneficial, and data support the use of EBRT in high-risk patients. Randomized
      controlled trials are needed for better confirmation of the role of EBRT. 

PMID- 26886957
TI  - Genetic Testing in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Indications and Clinical
      Implications.
AB  - Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common and diverse endocrine malignancy.
      In most patients DTC results in an indolent and curable disease. Nevertheless,
      disease recurrence rates are relatively high (10%-30%), while 5% of the patients
      are resistant to conventional treatment and some of these patients are incurable.
      Over the past 20 years much progress has been made in identifying genetic changes
      that occur in DTC. In addition, studies aimed to understand the role of these
      genetic changes in tumorigenesis and their effects on the clinical
      characteristics of the disease have been conducted. The accrued knowledge has set
      the stage for development of genetic tests aimed to identify these changes in
      samples obtained from DTC patients and use this information in the clinical
      decision process. This paper reviews genetic changes that were identified in DTC,
      and how the emerging data obtained by genetic testing are currently used to gain
      key information on the diagnosis, risk stratification, and personalized care of
      DTC patients. 

PMID- 26886958
TI  - Trends of Thyroid Cancer in Israel: 1980-2012.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing worldwide, while mortality
      from thyroid cancer is stable or decreasing. Consequently, survival rates are
      rising. We describe time trends in the incidence, mortality, and 5-year survival
      of thyroid cancer in Israel in 1980-2012, in light of the global trends. METHODS:
      Israel National Cancer Registry database provided information regarding thyroid
      cancer incidence and vital status, which enabled computation of survival rates.
      The Central Bureau of Statistics database provided information on thyroid cancer
      mortality. Incidence and mortality rates were age-adjusted and presented by
      population group (Jews/Arabs) and gender. Relative 5-year survival rates which
      account for the general population survival in the corresponding time period were
      presented by population group and gender. Joinpoint analyses were used to assess
      incidence trends over time. RESULTS: In 1980-2012 significant increases in the
      incidence of thyroid cancer were observed, with an annual percent change (APC)
      range of 3.98-6.93, driven almost entirely by papillary carcinoma (APCs 5.75
      8.86), while rates of other types of thyroid cancer remained stable or decreased.
      Furthermore, higher rates of early detection were noted. In 1980-2012, a modest
      reduction in thyroid cancer mortality was observed in Jewish women (APC -1.07)
      with no substantial change in Jewish men. The 5-year relative survival after
      thyroid cancer diagnosis has increased to >=90% in both population groups and
      both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The Israeli secular trends of thyroid cancer incidence
      (increasing), mortality (mostly stable), and survival (modestly increasing)
      closely follow reported global trends.

PMID- 26886959
TI  - Risk Stratification in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: An Ongoing Process.
AB  - Thyroid cancer is an increasingly common malignancy, with a rapidly rising
      prevalence worldwide. The social and economic ramifications of the increase in
      thyroid cancer are multiple. Though mortality from thyroid cancer is low, and
      most patients will do well, the risk of recurrence is not insignificant, up to
      30%. Therefore, it is important to accurately identify those patients who are
      more or less likely to be burdened by their disease over years and tailor their
      treatment plan accordingly. The goal of risk stratification is to do just that.
      The risk stratification process generally starts postoperatively with
      histopathologic staging, based on the AJCC/UICC staging system as well as others
      designed to predict mortality. These do not, however, accurately assess the risk
      of recurrence/persistence. Patients initially considered to be at high risk may
      ultimately do very well yet be burdened by frequent unnecessary monitoring.
      Conversely, patients initially thought to be low risk, may not respond to their
      initial treatment as expected and, if left unmonitored, may have higher
      morbidity. The concept of risk-adaptive management has been adopted, with an
      understanding that risk stratification for differentiated thyroid cancer is
      dynamic and ongoing. A multitude of variables not included in AJCC/UICC staging
      are used initially to classify patients as low, intermediate, or high risk for
      recurrence. Over the course of time, a response-to-therapy variable is
      incorporated, and patients essentially undergo continuous risk stratification.
      Additional tools such as biochemical markers, genetic mutations, and molecular
      markers have been added to this complex risk stratification process such that
      this is essentially a continuum of risk. In recent years, additional
      considerations have been discussed with a suggestion of pre-operative risk
      stratification based on certain clinical and/or biologic characteristics. With
      the increasing prevalence of thyroid cancer but stable mortality, this risk
      stratification may identify those in whom the risk of conventional surgical
      treatment may outweigh the benefit. This review aims to outline the process of
      risk stratification and highlight the important concepts that are involved and
      those that are continuously evolving. 

PMID- 26886961
TI  - A Two-Dimensional Lock-In Algorithm for Signal Analysis in Patterned Images.
AB  - GOAL: We extend a classic signal processing algorithm, the lock-in amplifier, to
      two dimensions to extract the signal in patterned images. METHODS: The algorithm
      was evaluated using simulated image data and experimental microscopy images to
      determine the fluorescence signal of fluorescently labeled proteins adsorbed on
      surfaces patterned with chemical vapor deposition. RESULTS: The algorithm was
      capable of retrieving the signal with a signal-to-noise ratio as low as -20 dB.
      Optimal parameters were determined for the pattern design. CONCLUSION: The lock
      in algorithm is a powerful technique for 1/f noise removal. SIGNIFICANCE: The
      methodology holds promise not only for the measurement of adsorption events on
      patterned surfaces but in all situations where a signal has to be extracted from
      a noisy background in two or more dimensions.

PMID- 26886960
TI  - What is the Minimal Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma?
AB  - Although thyroid surgery for treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has
      been practiced for more than 100 years, there is still controversy regarding the
      minimal surgery needed for cure. The main reason for this controversy is lack of
      prospective randomized trials. The data accumulated in the last four decades
      indicate that hemithyroidectomy can be sufficient and safely practiced in low
      risk patients with PTC. Patients <45 years of age with a single tumor less than 2
      cm, with no lymphatic spread, and in the absence of other risk factors, can be
      equally managed by hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy. A slight increase in
      the risk of vocal cord paralysis and hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy
      suggests that hemithyroidectomy is appropriate for the management of patients
      with stage T1 disease. Any choice regarding the extent of surgery should be made
      with the patient and his family and in a multidisciplinary setup, which has been
      shown to improve decision-making procedures before the operation and during
      follow-up. 

PMID- 26886962
TI  - In-Vivo Automatic Nuclear Cataract Detection and Classification in an Animal
      Model by Ultrasounds.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To early detect nuclear cataract in vivo and automatically classify
      its severity degree, based on the ultrasound technique, using machine learning.
      METHODS: A 20-MHz ophthalmic ultrasound probe with a focal length of 8.9 mm and
      an active diameter of 3 mm was used. Twenty-seven features in time and frequency
      domain were extracted for cataract detection and classification with support
      vector machine (SVM), Bayes, multilayer perceptron, and random forest
      classifiers. Fifty rats were used: 14 as control and 36 as study group. An animal
      model for nuclear cataract was developed. Twelve rats with incipient, 13 with
      moderate, and 11 with severe cataract were obtained. The hardness of the nucleus
      and the cortex regions was objectively measured in 12 rats using the NanoTest.
      RESULTS: Velocity, attenuation, and frequency downshift significantly increased
      with cataract formation ( ). The SVM classifier showed the higher performance for
      the automatic classification of cataract severity, with a precision, sensitivity,
      and specificity of 99.7% (relative absolute error of 0.4%). A statistically
      significant difference was found for the hardness of the different cataract
      degrees ( P = 0.016). The nucleus showed a higher hardness increase with cataract
      formation ( P = 0.049 ). A moderate-to-good correlation between the features and
      the nucleus hardness was found in 23 out of the 27 features. CONCLUSION: The
      developed methodology made possible detecting the nuclear cataract in-vivo in
      early stages, classifying automatically its severity degree and estimating its
      hardness. SIGNIFICANCE: Based on this work, a medical prototype will be developed
      for early cataract detection, classification, and hardness estimation.

PMID- 26886963
TI  - Scattering and Diffraction of Elastodynamic Waves in a Concentric Cylindrical
      Phantom for MR Elastography.
AB  - AIM: The focus of this paper is to report on the design and construction of a
      multiply connected phantom for use in magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)-an
      imaging technique that allows for the noninvasive visualization of the
      displacement field throughout an object from externally driven harmonic motion-as
      well as its inverse modeling with a closed-form analytic solution which is
      derived herein from first principles. METHODS: Mathematically, the phantom is
      described as two infinite concentric circular cylinders with unequal complex
      shear moduli, harmonically vibrated at the exterior surface in a direction along
      their common axis. Each concentric cylinder is made of a hydrocolloid with its
      own specific solute concentration. They are assembled in a multistep process for
      which custom scaffolding was designed and built. A customized spin-echo-based MR
      elastography sequence with a sinusoidal motion-sensitizing gradient was used for
      data acquisition on a 9.4 T Agilent small-animal MR scanner. Complex moduli
      obtained from the inverse model are used to solve the forward problem with a
      finite-element method. RESULTS: Both complex shear moduli show a significant
      frequency dependence (p 0.001) in keeping with previous work. CONCLUSION: The
      novel multiply connected phantom and mathematical model are validated as a viable
      tool for MRE studies. SIGNIFICANCE: On a small enough scale much of physiology
      can be mathematically modeled with basic geometric shapes, e.g., a cylinder
      representing a blood vessel. This study demonstrates the possibility of elegant
      mathematical analysis of phantoms specifically designed and carefully constructed
      for biomedical MRE studies.

PMID- 26886964
TI  - Dosimetric Characteristics of an EMF Delivery System Based on a Real-Time
      Impedance Measurement Device.
AB  - In this paper, the dosimetric characterization of an EMF exposure setup
      compatible with real-time impedance measurements of adherent biological cells is
      proposed. The EMF are directly delivered to the 16-well format plate used by the
      commercial xCELLigence apparatus. Experiments and numerical simulations were
      carried out for the dosimetric analysis. The reflection coefficient was less than
      -10 dB up to 180 MHz and this exposure system can be matched at higher
      frequencies up to 900 and 1800 MHz. The specific absorption rate (SAR)
      distribution within the wells containing the biological medium was calculated by
      numerical finite-difference time domain simulations and results were verified by
      temperature measurements at 13.56 MHz. Numerical SAR values were obtained at the
      microelectrode level where the biological cells were exposed to EMF including
      13.56, 900, and 1800 MHz. At 13.56 MHz, the SAR values, within the cell layer and
      the 270-MUL volume of medium, are 1.9e3 and 3.5 W/kg/incident mW, respectively.

PMID- 26886965
TI  - Discriminative Bayesian Dictionary Learning for Classification.
AB  - We propose a Bayesian approach to learn discriminative dictionaries for sparse
      representation of data. The proposed approach infers probability distributions
      over the atoms of a discriminative dictionary using a finite approximation of
      Beta Process. It also computes sets of Bernoulli distributions that associate
      class labels to the learned dictionary atoms. This association signifies the
      selection probabilities of the dictionary atoms in the expansion of class
      specific data. Furthermore, the non-parametric character of the proposed approach
      allows it to infer the correct size of the dictionary. We exploit the
      aforementioned Bernoulli distributions in separately learning a linear
      classifier. The classifier uses the same hierarchical Bayesian model as the
      dictionary, which we present along the analytical inference solution for Gibbs
      sampling. For classification, a test instance is first sparsely encoded over the
      learned dictionary and the codes are fed to the classifier. We performed
      experiments for face and action recognition; and object and scene-category
      classification using five public datasets and compared the results with state-of
      the-art discriminative sparse representation approaches. Experiments show that
      the proposed Bayesian approach consistently outperforms the existing approaches.

PMID- 26886966
TI  - Higher-Order Graph Principles towards Non-Rigid Surface Registration.
AB  - This paper casts surface registration as the problem of finding a set of discrete
      correspondences through the minimization of an energy function, which is composed
      of geometric and appearance matching costs, as well as higher-order deformation
      priors. Two higher-order graph-based formulations are proposed under different
      deformation assumptions. The first formulation encodes isometric deformations
      using conformal geometry in a higher-order graph matching problem, which is
      solved through dual-decomposition and is able to handle partial matching. Despite
      the isometry assumption, this approach is able to robustly match sparse feature
      point sets on surfaces undergoing highly anisometric deformations. Nevertheless,
      its performance degrades significantly when addressing anisometric registration
      for a set of densely sampled points. This issue is rigorously addressed
      subsequently through a novel deformation model that is able to handle arbitrary
      diffeomorphisms between two surfaces. Such a deformation model is introduced into
      a higher-order Markov Random Field for dense surface registration, and is
      inferred using a new parallel and memory efficient algorithm. To deal with the
      prohibitive search space, we also design an efficient way to select a number of
      matching candidates for each point of the source surface based on the matching
      results of a sparse set of points. A series of experiments demonstrate the
      accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed framework, notably in challenging
      cases of large and/or anisometric deformations, or surfaces that are partially
      occluded.

PMID- 26886967
TI  - Spatially Variant Resolution Modelling for Iterative List-Mode PET
      Reconstruction.
AB  - A spatially variant resolution modelling technique is presented which estimates
      the system matrix on-the-fly during iterative list-mode reconstruction. This is
      achieved by redistributing the endpoints of each list-mode event according to
      derived probability density functions describing the detector response function
      and photon acollinearity, at each iteration during the reconstruction. Positron
      range is modelled using an image-based convolution. When applying this technique
      it is shown that the maximum-likelihood expectation maximisation (MLEM) algorithm
      is not compatible with an obvious acceleration strategy. The image space
      reconstruction algorithm (ISRA), however, after being adapted to a list-mode
      based implementation, is well-suited to the implementation of the model. A
      comparison of ISRA and MLEM is made to confirm that ISRA is a suitable
      alternative to MLEM. We demonstrate that this model agrees with measured point
      spread functions and we present results showing an improvement in resolution
      recovery, particularly for off-centre objects, as compared to commercially
      available software, as well as the standard technique of using a stationary
      Gaussian convolution to model the resolution, for equal iterations and only
      slightly higher computation time.

PMID- 26886968
TI  - Combining Generative and Discriminative Representation Learning for Lung CT
      Analysis With Convolutional Restricted Boltzmann Machines.
AB  - The choice of features greatly influences the performance of a tissue
      classification system. Despite this, many systems are built with standard,
      predefined filter banks that are not optimized for that particular application.
      Representation learning methods such as restricted Boltzmann machines may
      outperform these standard filter banks because they learn a feature description
      directly from the training data. Like many other representation learning methods,
      restricted Boltzmann machines are unsupervised and are trained with a generative
      learning objective; this allows them to learn representations from unlabeled
      data, but does not necessarily produce features that are optimal for
      classification. In this paper we propose the convolutional classification
      restricted Boltzmann machine, which combines a generative and a discriminative
      learning objective. This allows it to learn filters that are good both for
      describing the training data and for classification. We present experiments with
      feature learning for lung texture classification and airway detection in CT
      images. In both applications, a combination of learning objectives outperformed
      purely discriminative or generative learning, increasing, for instance, the lung
      tissue classification accuracy by 1 to 8 percentage points. This shows that
      discriminative learning can help an otherwise unsupervised feature learner to
      learn filters that are optimized for classification.

PMID- 26886969
TI  - Fast Convolutional Neural Network Training Using Selective Data Sampling:
      Application to Hemorrhage Detection in Color Fundus Images.
AB  - Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are deep learning network architectures that
      have pushed forward the state-of-the-art in a range of computer vision
      applications and are increasingly popular in medical image analysis. However,
      training of CNNs is time-consuming and challenging. In medical image analysis
      tasks, the majority of training examples are easy to classify and therefore
      contribute little to the CNN learning process. In this paper, we propose a method
      to improve and speed-up the CNN training for medical image analysis tasks by
      dynamically selecting misclassified negative samples during training. Training
      samples are heuristically sampled based on classification by the current status
      of the CNN. Weights are assigned to the training samples and informative samples
      are more likely to be included in the next CNN training iteration. We evaluated
      and compared our proposed method by training a CNN with (SeS) and without (NSeS)
      the selective sampling method. We focus on the detection of hemorrhages in color
      fundus images. A decreased training time from 170 epochs to 60 epochs with an
      increased performance-on par with two human experts-was achieved with areas under
      the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.894 and 0.972 on two data sets.
      The SeS CNN statistically outperformed the NSeS CNN on an independent test set.

PMID- 26886970
TI  - Association Between Changes in Mammographic Image Features and Risk for Near-Term
      Breast Cancer Development.
AB  - The purpose of this study is to develop and test a new computerized model for
      predicting near-term breast cancer risk based on quantitative assessment of
      bilateral mammographic image feature variations in a series of negative full
      field digital mammography (FFDM) images. The retrospective dataset included
      series of four sequential FFDM examinations of 335 women. The last examination in
      each series ("current") and the three most recent "prior" examinations were
      obtained. All "prior" examinations were interpreted as negative during the
      original clinical image reading, while in the "current" examinations 159 cancers
      were detected and pathologically verified and 176 cases remained cancer-free.
      From each image, we initially computed 158 mammographic density, structural
      similarity, and texture based image features. The absolute subtraction value
      between the left and right breasts was selected to represent each feature. We
      then built three support vector machine (SVM) based risk models, which were
      trained and tested using a leave-one-case-out based cross-validation method. The
      actual features used in each SVM model were selected using a nested stepwise
      regression analysis method. The computed areas under receiver operating
      characteristic curves monotonically increased from 0.666+/-0.029 to 0.730+/-0.027
      as the time-lag between the "prior" (3 to 1) and "current" examinations
      decreases. The maximum adjusted odds ratios were 5.63, 7.43, and 11.1 for the
      three "prior" (3 to 1) sets of examinations, respectively. This study
      demonstrated a positive association between the risk scores generated by a
      bilateral mammographic feature difference based risk model and an increasing
      trend of the near-term risk for having mammography-detected breast cancer.

PMID- 26886971
TI  - Automatic Hookworm Detection in Wireless Capsule Endoscopy Images.
AB  - Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has become a widely used diagnostic technique to
      examine inflammatory bowel diseases and disorders. As one of the most common
      human helminths, hookworm is a kind of small tubular structure with grayish white
      or pinkish semi-transparent body, which is with a number of 600 million people
      infection around the world. Automatic hookworm detection is a challenging task
      due to poor quality of images, presence of extraneous matters, complex structure
      of gastrointestinal, and diverse appearances in terms of color and texture. This
      is the first few works to comprehensively explore the automatic hookworm
      detection for WCE images. To capture the properties of hookworms, the multi scale
      dual matched filter is first applied to detect the location of tubular structure.
      Piecewise parallel region detection method is then proposed to identify the
      potential regions having hookworm bodies. To discriminate the unique visual
      features for different components of gastrointestinal, the histogram of average
      intensity is proposed to represent their properties. In order to deal with the
      problem of imbalance data, Rusboost is deployed to classify WCE images.
      Experiments on a diverse and large scale dataset with 440 K WCE images
      demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves a promising performance and
      outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the high sensitivity in
      detecting hookworms indicates the potential of our approach for future clinical
      application.

PMID- 26886972
TI  - Size-Invariant Detection of Cell Nuclei in Microscopy Images.
AB  - Accurate detection of individual cell nuclei in microscopy images is an essential
      and fundamental task for many biological studies. In particular, multivariate
      fluorescence microscopy is used to observe different aspects of cells in
      cultures. Manual detection of individual cell nuclei by visual inspection is time
      consuming, and prone to induce subjective bias. This makes automatic detection of
      cell nuclei essential for large-scale, objective studies of cell cultures. Blur,
      clutter, bleed-through, imaging noise and touching and partially overlapping
      nuclei with varying sizes and shapes make automated detection of individual cell
      nuclei a challenging task using image analysis. In this paper we propose a new
      automated method for fast and robust detection of individual cell nuclei based on
      their radial symmetric nature in fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) images
      obtained via confocal microscopy. The main contributions are two-fold. 1) This
      work presents a more accurate cell nucleus detection system using the fast radial
      symmetry transform (FRST). 2) The proposed cell nucleus detection system is
      robust against most occlusions and variations in size and moderate shape
      deformations. We evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm using
      precision/recall rates, Fbeta-score and root-mean-squared distance (RMSD) and
      show that our algorithm provides improved detection accuracy compared to existing
      algorithms.

PMID- 26886974
TI  - Transurethral Photoacoustic Endoscopy for Prostate Cancer: A Simulation Study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to optimize the configuration of a photoacoustic
      endoscope (PAE) for prostate cancer detection and therapy monitoring. The
      placement of optical fiber bundles and ultrasound detectors was chosen to
      maximize the photoacoustic imaging penetration depth. We performed both
      theoretical calculations and simulations of this optimized PAE configuration on a
      prostate-sized phantom containing tumor and various photosensitizer
      concentrations. The optimized configuration of PAE with transurethral light
      delivery simultaneously increases the imaging penetration depth and improves
      image quality. Thermal safety, investigated via COMSOL Multiphysics, shows that
      there is only a 4 mK temperature rise in the urethra during photoacoustic
      imaging, which will cause no thermal damage. One application of this PAE has been
      demonstrated for quasi-quantifying photosensitizer concentrations during
      photodynamic therapy. The sensitivity of the photoacoustic detection for TOOKAD
      was 0.18 ng/mg at a 763 nm laser wavelength. Results of this study will greatly
      enhance the potential of prostate PAE for in vivo monitoring of drug delivery and
      guidance of the laser-induced therapy for future clinical use.

PMID- 26886973
TI  - Probabilistic Modeling of Imaging, Genetics and Diagnosis.
AB  - We propose a unified Bayesian framework for detecting genetic variants associated
      with disease by exploiting image-based features as an intermediate phenotype. The
      use of imaging data for examining genetic associations promises new directions of
      analysis, but currently the most widely used methods make sub-optimal use of the
      richness that these data types can offer. Currently, image features are most
      commonly selected based on their relevance to the disease phenotype. Then, in a
      separate step, a set of genetic variants is identified to explain the selected
      features. In contrast, our method performs these tasks simultaneously in order to
      jointly exploit information in both data types. The analysis yields probabilistic
      measures of clinical relevance for both imaging and genetic markers. We derive an
      efficient approximate inference algorithm that handles the high dimensionality of
      image and genetic data. We evaluate the algorithm on synthetic data and
      demonstrate that it outperforms traditional models. We also illustrate our method
      on Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data.

PMID- 26886975
TI  - Automatic Detection of Cerebral Microbleeds From MR Images via 3D Convolutional
      Neural Networks.
AB  - Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small haemorrhages nearby blood vessels. They
      have been recognized as important diagnostic biomarkers for many cerebrovascular
      diseases and cognitive dysfunctions. In current clinical routine, CMBs are
      manually labelled by radiologists but this procedure is laborious, time
      consuming, and error prone. In this paper, we propose a novel automatic method to
      detect CMBs from magnetic resonance (MR) images by exploiting the 3D
      convolutional neural network (CNN). Compared with previous methods that employed
      either low-level hand-crafted descriptors or 2D CNNs, our method can take full
      advantage of spatial contextual information in MR volumes to extract more
      representative high-level features for CMBs, and hence achieve a much better
      detection accuracy. To further improve the detection performance while reducing
      the computational cost, we propose a cascaded framework under 3D CNNs for the
      task of CMB detection. We first exploit a 3D fully convolutional network (FCN)
      strategy to retrieve the candidates with high probabilities of being CMBs, and
      then apply a well-trained 3D CNN discrimination model to distinguish CMBs from
      hard mimics. Compared with traditional sliding window strategy, the proposed 3D
      FCN strategy can remove massive redundant computations and dramatically speed up
      the detection process. We constructed a large dataset with 320 volumetric MR
      scans and performed extensive experiments to validate the proposed method, which
      achieved a high sensitivity of 93.16% with an average number of 2.74 false
      positives per subject, outperforming previous methods using low-level descriptors
      or 2D CNNs by a significant margin. The proposed method, in principle, can be
      adapted to other biomarker detection tasks from volumetric medical data.

PMID- 26886977
TI  - Skull Optical Clearing Solution for Enhancing Ultrasonic and Photoacoustic
      Imaging.
AB  - The performance of photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) degrades due to the turbidity
      of the skull that introduces attenuation and distortion of both laser and
      stimulated ultrasound. In this manuscript, we demonstrated that a newly developed
      skull optical clearing solution (SOCS) could enhance not only the transmittance
      of light, but also that of ultrasound in the skull in vitro. Thus the
      photoacoustic signal was effectively elevated, and the relative strength of the
      artifacts induced by the skull could be suppressed. Furthermore in vivo studies
      demonstrated that SOCS could drastically enhance the performance of photoacoustic
      microscopy for cerebral microvasculature imaging.

PMID- 26886976
TI  - Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Computer-Aided Detection: CNN
      Architectures, Dataset Characteristics and Transfer Learning.
AB  - Remarkable progress has been made in image recognition, primarily due to the
      availability of large-scale annotated datasets and deep convolutional neural
      networks (CNNs). CNNs enable learning data-driven, highly representative,
      hierarchical image features from sufficient training data. However, obtaining
      datasets as comprehensively annotated as ImageNet in the medical imaging domain
      remains a challenge. There are currently three major techniques that successfully
      employ CNNs to medical image classification: training the CNN from scratch, using
      off-the-shelf pre-trained CNN features, and conducting unsupervised CNN pre
      training with supervised fine-tuning. Another effective method is transfer
      learning, i.e., fine-tuning CNN models pre-trained from natural image dataset to
      medical image tasks. In this paper, we exploit three important, but previously
      understudied factors of employing deep convolutional neural networks to computer
      aided detection problems. We first explore and evaluate different CNN
      architectures. The studied models contain 5 thousand to 160 million parameters,
      and vary in numbers of layers. We then evaluate the influence of dataset scale
      and spatial image context on performance. Finally, we examine when and why
      transfer learning from pre-trained ImageNet (via fine-tuning) can be useful. We
      study two specific computer-aided detection (CADe) problems, namely thoraco
      abdominal lymph node (LN) detection and interstitial lung disease (ILD)
      classification. We achieve the state-of-the-art performance on the mediastinal LN
      detection, and report the first five-fold cross-validation classification results
      on predicting axial CT slices with ILD categories. Our extensive empirical
      evaluation, CNN model analysis and valuable insights can be extended to the
      design of high performance CAD systems for other medical imaging tasks.

PMID- 26886978
TI  - Deep 3D Convolutional Encoder Networks With Shortcuts for Multiscale Feature
      Integration Applied to Multiple Sclerosis Lesion Segmentation.
AB  - We propose a novel segmentation approach based on deep 3D convolutional encoder
      networks with shortcut connections and apply it to the segmentation of multiple
      sclerosis (MS) lesions in magnetic resonance images. Our model is a neural
      network that consists of two interconnected pathways, a convolutional pathway,
      which learns increasingly more abstract and higher-level image features, and a
      deconvolutional pathway, which predicts the final segmentation at the voxel
      level. The joint training of the feature extraction and prediction pathways
      allows for the automatic learning of features at different scales that are
      optimized for accuracy for any given combination of image types and segmentation
      task. In addition, shortcut connections between the two pathways allow high- and
      low-level features to be integrated, which enables the segmentation of lesions
      across a wide range of sizes. We have evaluated our method on two publicly
      available data sets (MICCAI 2008 and ISBI 2015 challenges) with the results
      showing that our method performs comparably to the top-ranked state-of-the-art
      methods, even when only relatively small data sets are available for training. In
      addition, we have compared our method with five freely available and widely used
      MS lesion segmentation methods (EMS, LST-LPA, LST-LGA, Lesion-TOADS, and SLS) on
      a large data set from an MS clinical trial. The results show that our method
      consistently outperforms these other methods across a wide range of lesion sizes.

PMID- 26886981
TI  - Postprocessing Approaches for the Improvement of Cardiac Ultrasound B-Mode
      Images: A Review.
AB  - The improvement in the quality and diagnostic value of ultrasound images has been
      an ongoing research theme for the last three decades. Cardiac ultrasound suffers
      from a wide range of artifacts such as acoustic noise, shadowing, and
      enhancement. Most artifacts are a consequence of the interaction of the
      transmitted ultrasound signals with anatomic structures of the examined body.
      Structures such as bone, lungs (air), and fat have a direct limiting effect on
      the quality of the acquired images. Furthermore, physical phenomena such as
      speckle introduce a granular pattern on the imaged tissue structures that can
      sometimes obscure fine anatomic detail. Over the years, numerous studies have
      attempted to address a range of artifacts in medical ultrasound, including
      cardiac ultrasound B-mode images. This review provides extensive coverage of such
      attempts identifying their limitations as well as future research opportunities. 

PMID- 26886979
TI  - Estimation of Shear Wave Speed in the Rhesus Macaques' Uterine Cervix.
AB  - Cervical softness is a critical parameter in pregnancy. Clinically, preterm birth
      is associated with premature cervical softening and postdates birth is associated
      with delayed cervical softening. In practice, the assessment of softness is
      subjective, based on digital examination. Fortunately, objective, quantitative
      techniques to assess softness, and other parameters associated with
      microstructural cervical change are emerging. One of these is shear wave speed
      (SWS) estimation. In principle, this allows objective characterization of
      stiffness because waves travel more slowly in softer tissue. We are studying SWS
      in humans and rhesus macaques, the latter in order to accelerate translation from
      bench to bedside. For the current study, we estimated SWS in ex vivo cervices of
      rhesus macaques, n=24 nulliparous (never given birth) and n=9 multiparous
      (delivered at least one baby). Misoprostol (a prostaglandin used to soften human
      cervices prior to gynecological procedures) was administered to 13 macaques prior
      to necropsy (nulliparous: 7; multiparous: 6). SWS measurements were made at
      predetermined locations from the distal to proximal end of the cervix on both the
      anterior and posterior cervix, with five repeat measures at each location. The
      intent was to explore macaque cervical microstructure, including biological and
      spatial variability, to elucidate the similarities and differences between the
      macaque and the human cervix in order to facilitate future in vivo studies. We
      found that SWS is dependent on location in the normal nonpregnant macaque cervix,
      as in the human cervix. Unlike the human cervix, we detected no difference
      between ripened and unripened rhesus macaque cervix samples, nor nulliparous
      versus multiparous samples, although we observed a trend toward stiffer tissue in
      nulliparous samples. We found rhesus macaque cervix to be much stiffer than
      human, which is important for technique refinement. These findings are useful for
      guiding study of cervical microstructure in both humans and macaques.

PMID- 26886982
TI  - High-Temperature Piezoelectric Crystals for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications.
AB  - In this review paper, nine different types of high-temperature piezoelectric
      crystals and their sensor applications are overviewed. The important materials'
      properties of these piezoelectric crystals including dielectric constant, elastic
      coefficients, piezoelectric coefficients, electromechanical coupling
      coefficients, and mechanical quality factor are discussed in detail. The
      determination methods of these physical properties are also presented. Moreover,
      the growth methods, structures, and properties of these piezoelectric crystals
      are summarized and compared. Of particular interest are langasite and oxyborate
      crystals, which exhibit no phase transitions prior to their melting points ~ 1500
      degrees C and possess high electrical resistivity, piezoelectric coefficients,
      and mechanical quality factor at ultrahigh temperature ( ~ 1000  degrees C).
      Finally, some research results on surface acoustic wave (SAW) and bulk acoustic
      wave (BAW) sensors developed using this high-temperature piezoelectric crystals
      are discussed.

PMID- 26886980
TI  - On System-Dependent Sources of Uncertainty and Bias in Ultrasonic Quantitative
      Shear-Wave Imaging.
AB  - Ultrasonic quantitative shear-wave imaging methods have been developed over the
      last decade to estimate tissue elasticity by measuring the speed of propagating
      shear waves following acoustic radiation force excitation. This work discusses
      eight sources of uncertainty and bias arising from ultrasound system-dependent
      parameters in ultrasound shear-wave speed (SWS) measurements. Each of the eight
      sources of error is discussed in the context of a linear, isotropic, elastic,
      homogeneous medium, combining previously reported analyses with Field II
      simulations, full-wave 2-D acoustic propagation simulations, and experimental
      studies. Errors arising from both spatial and temporal sources lead to errors in
      SWS measurements. Arrival time estimation noise, speckle bias, hardware
      fluctuations, and phase aberration cause uncertainties (variance) in SWS
      measurements, while pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and beamforming errors, as
      well as coupling medium sound speed mismatch, cause biases in SWS measurements
      (accuracy errors). Calibration of the sources of bias is an important step in the
      development of shear-wave imaging systems. In a well-calibrated system, where the
      sources of bias are minimized, and averaging over a region of interest (ROI) is
      employed to reduce the sources of uncertainty, an SWS error can be expected. 

PMID- 26886983
TI  - On the Detectability of Acoustic Waves Induced Following Irradiation by a
      Radiotherapy Linear Accelerator.
AB  - Irradiating an object with a megavoltage photon beam generated by a clinical
      radiotherapy linear accelerator (linac) induces acoustic waves through the
      photoacoustic effect. The detection and characterization of such acoustic waves
      has potential applications in radiation therapy dosimetry. The purpose of this
      work was to gain insight into the properties of such acoustic waves by simulating
      and experimentally detecting them in a well-defined system consisting of a metal
      block suspended in a water tank. A novel simulation workflow was developed by
      combining radiotherapy Monte Carlo and acoustic wave transport simulation
      techniques. Different set-up parameters such as photon beam energy, metal block
      depth, metal block width, and metal block material were varied, and the simulated
      and experimental acoustic waveforms showed the same relative amplitude trends and
      frequency variations for such setup changes. The simulation platform developed in
      this work can easily be extended to other irradiation situations, and will be an
      invaluable tool for developing a radiotherapy dosimetry system based on the
      detection of the acoustic waves induced following linear accelerator irradiation.

PMID- 26886984
TI  - Lidar Waveform-Based Analysis of Depth Images Constructed Using Sparse Single
      Photon Data.
AB  - This paper presents a new Bayesian model and algorithm used for depth and
      reflectivity profiling using full waveforms from the time-correlated single
      photon counting measurement in the limit of very low photon counts. The proposed
      model represents each Lidar waveform as a combination of a known impulse
      response, weighted by the target reflectivity, and an unknown constant
      background, corrupted by Poisson noise. Prior knowledge about the problem is
      embedded through prior distributions that account for the different parameter
      constraints and their spatial correlation among the image pixels. In particular,
      a gamma Markov random field (MRF) is used to model the joint distribution of the
      target reflectivity, and a second MRF is used to model the distribution of the
      target depth, which are both expected to exhibit significant spatial
      correlations. An adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is then proposed to
      perform Bayesian inference. This algorithm is equipped with a stochastic
      optimization adaptation mechanism that automatically adjusts the parameters of
      the MRFs by maximum marginal likelihood estimation. Finally, the benefits of the
      proposed methodology are demonstrated through a series of experiments using real
      data. 

PMID- 26886985
TI  - Effective Five Directional Partial Derivatives-Based Image Smoothing and a
      Parallel Structure Design.
AB  - Image smoothing has been used for image segmentation, image reconstruction,
      object classification, and 3D content generation. Several smoothing approaches
      have been used at the pre-processing step to retain the critical edge, while
      removing noise and small details. However, they have limited performance,
      especially in removing small details and smoothing discrete regions. Therefore,
      to provide fast and accurate smoothing, we propose an effective scheme that uses
      a weighted combination of the gradient, Laplacian, and diagonal derivatives of a
      smoothed image. In addition, to reduce computational complexity, we designed and
      implemented a parallel processing structure for the proposed scheme on a graphics
      processing unit (GPU). For an objective evaluation of the smoothing performance,
      the images were linearly quantized into several layers to generate experimental
      images, and the quantized images were smoothed using several methods for
      reconstructing the smoothly changed shape and intensity of the original image.
      Experimental results showed that the proposed scheme has higher objective scores
      and better successful smoothing performance than similar schemes, while
      preserving and removing critical and trivial details, respectively. For
      computational complexity, the proposed smoothing scheme running on a GPU provided
      18 and 16 times lower complexity than the proposed smoothing scheme running on a
      CPU and the L0-based smoothing scheme, respectively. In addition, a simple noise
      reduction test was conducted to show the characteristics of the proposed
      approach; it reported that the presented algorithm outperforms the state-of-the
      art algorithms by more than 5.4 dB. Therefore, we believe that the proposed
      scheme can be a useful tool for efficient image smoothing. 

PMID- 26886986
TI  - Texture Classification Using Dense Micro-Block Difference.
AB  - This paper is devoted to the problem of texture classification. Motivated by
      recent advancements in the field of compressive sensing and keypoints
      descriptors, a set of novel features called dense micro-block difference (DMD) is
      proposed. These features provide highly descriptive representation of image
      patches by densely capturing the granularities at multiple scales and
      orientations. Unlike most of the earlier work on local features, the DMD does not
      involve any quantization, thus retaining the complete information. We demonstrate
      that the DMD have dimensionality much lower than Scale Invariant Feature
      Transform (SIFT) and can be computed using integral image much faster than SIFT.
      The proposed features are encoded using the Fisher vector method to obtain an
      image descriptor, which considers high-order statistics. The proposed image
      representation is combined with the linear support vector machine classifier.
      Extensive experiments are conducted on five texture data sets (KTH-TIPS, UMD, KTH
      TIPS-2a, Brodatz, and Curet) using standard protocols. The results demonstrate
      that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art in texture classification. 

PMID- 26886987
TI  - Unsupervised Co-Segmentation for Indefinite Number of Common Foreground Objects.
AB  - Co-segmentation addresses the problem of simultaneously extracting the common
      targets appeared in multiple images. Multiple common targets involved object co
      segmentation problem, which is very common in reality, has been a new research
      hotspot recently. In this paper, an unsupervised object co-segmentation method
      for indefinite number of common targets is proposed. This method overcomes the
      inherent limitation of traditional proposal selection-based methods for multiple
      common targets involved images while retaining their original advantages for
      objects extracting. For each image, the proposed multi-search strategy extracts
      each target individually and an adaptive decision criterion is raised to give
      each candidate a reliable judgment automatically, i.e., target or non-target. The
      comparison experiments conducted on public data sets iCoseg, MSRC, and a more
      challenging data set Coseg-INCT demonstrate the superior performance of the
      proposed method. 

PMID- 26886988
TI  - Statistical Performance Analysis of a Fast Super-Resolution Technique Using Noisy
      Translations.
AB  - The registration process is a key step for super-resolution (SR) reconstruction.
      More and more devices permit to overcome this bottleneck using a controlled
      positioning system, e.g., sensor shifting using a piezoelectric stage. This makes
      possible to acquire multiple images of the same scene at different controlled
      positions. Then, a fast SR algorithm can be used for efficient SR reconstruction.
      In this case, the optimal use of r(2) images for a resolution enhancement factor
      r is generally not enough to obtain satisfying results due to the random
      inaccuracy of the positioning system. Thus, we propose to take several images
      around each reference position. We study the error produced by the SR algorithm
      due to spatial uncertainty as a function of the number of images per position. We
      obtain a lower bound on the number of images that is necessary to ensure a given
      error upper bound with probability higher than some desired confidence level.
      Such results give precious hints to the design of SR systems. 

PMID- 26886989
TI  - The Semi-Variogram and Spectral Distortion Measures for Image Texture Retrieval.
AB  - Semi-variogram estimators and distortion measures of signal spectra are utilized
      in this paper for image texture retrieval. On the use of the complete Brodatz
      database, most high retrieval rates are reportedly based on multiple features and
      the combinations of multiple algorithms, while the classification using single
      features is still a challenge to the retrieval of diverse texture images. The
      semi-variogram, which is theoretically sound and the cornerstone of spatial
      statistics, has the characteristics shared between true randomness and complete
      determinism and, therefore, can be used as a useful tool for both the structural
      and statistical analysis of texture images. Meanwhile, spectral distortion
      measures derived from the theory of linear predictive coding provide a rigorously
      mathematical model for signal-based similarity matching and have been proven
      useful for many practical pattern classification systems. Experimental results
      obtained from testing the proposed approach using the complete Brodatz database,
      and the the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign texture database suggests
      the effectiveness of the proposed approach as a single-feature-based
      dissimilarity measure for real-time texture retrieval. 

PMID- 26886990
TI  - Regularization Strategies for Discontinuity-Preserving Optical Flow Methods.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to study several strategies for the preservation of flow
      discontinuities in variational optical flow methods. We analyze the combination
      of robust functionals and diffusion tensors in the smoothness assumption. Our
      study includes the use of tensors based on decreasing functions, which has shown
      to provide good results. However, it presents several limitations and usually
      does not perform better than other basic approaches. It typically introduces
      instabilities in the computed motion fields in the form of independent blobs of
      vectors with large magnitude. We propose two alternatives to overcome these
      drawbacks: first, a simple approach that combines the decreasing function with a
      minimum isotropic smoothing, and second, a method that looks for the best
      parameter configuration that preserves the important motion contours and avoid
      instabilities. It relies on the input images and the regularization parameter. It
      is fully automatic, providing a near-optimal value for many sequences, as shown
      in the experiments. Both proposals allow to detect the contours of the motion
      field and produce more stable solutions for a large range of parameters. In the
      experimental results, we present a detailed study and comparison of the different
      strategies. 

PMID- 26886991
TI  - Joint Cross-Range Scaling and 3D Geometry Reconstruction of ISAR Targets Based on
      Factorization Method.
AB  - Traditionally, the factorization method is applied to reconstruct the 3D geometry
      of a target from its sequential inverse synthetic aperture radar images. However,
      this method requires performing cross-range scaling to all the sub-images and
      thus has a large computational burden. To tackle this problem, this paper
      proposes a novel method for joint cross-range scaling and 3D geometry
      reconstruction of steadily moving targets. In this method, we model the
      equivalent rotational angular velocity (RAV) by a linear polynomial with time,
      and set its coefficients randomly to perform sub-image cross-range scaling. Then,
      we generate the initial trajectory matrix of the scattering centers, and solve
      the 3D geometry and projection vectors by the factorization method with relaxed
      constraints. After that, the coefficients of the polynomial are estimated from
      the projection vectors to obtain the RAV. Finally, the trajectory matrix is re
      scaled using the estimated rotational angle, and accurate 3D geometry is
      reconstructed. The two major steps, i.e., the cross-range scaling and the
      factorization, are performed repeatedly to achieve precise 3D geometry
      reconstruction. Simulation results have proved the effectiveness and robustness
      of the proposed method. 

PMID- 26886992
TI  - Non-Parametric Blur Map Regression for Depth of Field Extension.
AB  - Real camera systems have a limited depth of field (DOF) which may cause an image
      to be degraded due to visible misfocus or too shallow DOF. In this paper, we
      present a blind deblurring pipeline able to restore such images by slightly
      extending their DOF and recovering sharpness in regions slightly out of focus. To
      address this severely ill-posed problem, our algorithm relies first on the
      estimation of the spatially varying defocus blur. Drawing on local frequency
      image features, a machine learning approach based on the recently introduced
      regression tree fields is used to train a model able to regress a coherent
      defocus blur map of the image, labeling each pixel by the scale of a defocus
      point spread function. A non-blind spatially varying deblurring algorithm is then
      used to properly extend the DOF of the image. The good performance of our
      algorithm is assessed both quantitatively, using realistic ground truth data
      obtained with a novel approach based on a plenoptic camera, and qualitatively
      with real images. 

PMID- 26886993
TI  - Data-Driven Soft Decoding of Compressed Images in Dual Transform-Pixel Domain.
AB  - In the large body of research literature on image restoration, very few papers
      were concerned with compression-induced degradations, although in practice, the
      most common cause of image degradation is compression. This paper presents a
      novel approach to restoring JPEG-compressed images. The main innovation is in the
      approach of exploiting residual redundancies of JPEG code streams and sparsity
      properties of latent images. The restoration is a sparse coding process carried
      out jointly in the DCT and pixel domains. The prowess of the proposed approach is
      directly restoring DCT coefficients of the latent image to prevent the spreading
      of quantization errors into the pixel domain, and at the same time, using online
      machine-learned local spatial features to regulate the solution of the underlying
      inverse problem. Experimental results are encouraging and show the promise of the
      new approach in significantly improving the quality of DCT-coded images. 

PMID- 26886994
TI  - CASAIR: Content and Shape-Aware Image  Retargeting and Its Applications.
AB  - This paper proposes a novel image-retargeting algorithm that can retarget images
      to a large family of non-rectangular shapes. Specifically, we study image
      retargeting from a broader perspective that includes the content as well as the
      shape of an image, and the proposed content and shape-aware image-retargeting
      (CASAIR) algorithm is driven by the dual objectives of image content preservation
      and image domain transformation, with the latter defined by an application
      specific target shape. The algorithm is based on the idea of seam segment carving
      that successively removes low-cost seam segments from the image to simultaneously
      achieve the two objectives, with the selection of seam segments determined by a
      cost function incorporating inputs from image content and target shape. To
      provide a complete characterization of shapes that can be obtained using CASAIR,
      we introduce the notion of bhv-convex shapes, and we show that bhv-convex shapes
      are precisely the family of shapes that can be retargeted to by CASAIR. The
      proposed algorithm is simple in both its design and implementation, and in
      practice, it offers an efficient and effective retargeting platform that provides
      its users with considerable flexibility in choosing target shapes. To demonstrate
      the potential of CASAIR for broadening the application scope of image
      retargeting, this paper also proposes a smart camera-projector system that
      incorporates CASAIR. In the context of ubiquitous display, CASAIR equips the
      camera-projector system with the capability of retargeting images online in order
      to maximize the quality and fidelity of the displayed images whenever the
      situation demands.

PMID- 26886995
TI  - LBP-Based Segmentation of Defocus Blur.
AB  - Defocus blur is extremely common in images captured using optical imaging
      systems. It may be undesirable, but may also be an intentional artistic effect,
      thus it can either enhance or inhibit our visual perception of the image scene.
      For tasks, such as image restoration and object recognition, one might want to
      segment a partially blurred image into blurred and non-blurred regions. In this
      paper, we propose a sharpness metric based on local binary patterns and a robust
      segmentation algorithm to separate in- and out-of-focus image regions. The
      proposed sharpness metric exploits the observation that most local image patches
      in blurry regions have significantly fewer of certain local binary patterns
      compared with those in sharp regions. Using this metric together with image
      matting and multi-scale inference, we obtained high-quality sharpness maps. Tests
      on hundreds of partially blurred images were used to evaluate our blur
      segmentation algorithm and six comparator methods. The results show that our
      algorithm achieves comparative segmentation results with the state of the art and
      have big speed advantage over the others. 

PMID- 26886997
TI  - Evaluation of the Achilles Ankle Exoskeleton.
AB  - This paper evaluates the Achilles exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is intended to
      provide push-off assistance for healthy subjects during walking. The assistance
      is provided by a series elastic actuator that has been optimized to provide
      maximal push-off power. The paper presents the control method of the exoskeleton
      and the evaluation of the exoskeleton.

PMID- 26886998
TI  - Genome-Wide Search for Translated Upstream Open Reading Frames in Arabidopsis
      Thaliana.
AB  - Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are open reading frames that occur within
      the 5' UTR of an mRNA. uORFs have been found in many organisms. They play an
      important role in gene regulation, cell development, and in various metabolic
      processes. It is believed that translated uORFs reduce the translational
      efficiency of the main coding region. However, only few uORFs are experimentally
      characterized. In this paper, we use ribosome footprinting together with a semi
      supervised approach based on stacking classification models to identify
      translated uORFs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our approach identified 5360
      potentially translated uORFs in 2051 genes. GO terms enriched in genes with
      translated uORFs include catalytic activity, binding, transferase activity,
      phosphotransferase activity, kinase activity, and transcription regulator
      activity. The reported uORFs occur with a higher frequency in multi-isoform
      genes, and some uORFs are affected by alternative transcript start sites or
      alternative splicing events. Association rule mining revealed sequence features
      associated with the translation status of the uORFs. We hypothesize that uORF
      translation is a complex process that might be regulated by multiple factors. The
      identified uORFs are available online
      at:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zdutupedxafhly8/AABFsdNR5zDfiozB7B4igFcja?dl=0.
      This paper is the extended version of our research presented at ISBRA 2015.

PMID- 26886999
TI  - Kinesin-1 Expressed in Insect Cells Improves Microtubule in Vitro Gliding
      Performance, Long-Term Stability and Guiding Efficiency in Nanostructures.
AB  - The cytoskeletal motor protein kinesin-1 has been successfully used for many
      nanotechnological applications. Most commonly, these applications use a gliding
      assay geometry where substrate-attached motor proteins propel microtubules along
      the surface. So far, this assay has only been shown to run undisturbed for up to
      8 h. Longer run times cause problems like microtubule shrinkage, microtubules
      getting stuck and slowing down. This is particularly problematic in
      nanofabricated structures where the total number of microtubules is limited and
      detachment at the structure walls causes additional microtubule loss. We found
      that many of the observed problems are caused by the bacterial expression system,
      which has so far been used for nanotechnological applications of kinesin-1. We
      strive to enable the use of this motor system for more challenging
      nanotechnological applications where long-term stability and/or reliable guiding
      in nanostructures is required. Therefore, we established the expression and
      purification of kinesin-1 in insect cells which results in improved purity and-
      more importantly--long-term stability > 24 h and guiding efficiencies of > 90% in
      lithographically defined nanostructures.

PMID- 26887000
TI  - Robustness Analysis of a Geant4-GATE Simulator for Nanoradiosensitizers
      Characterization.
AB  - The increase of computational environments dedicated to the simulation of
      nanoparticles (NP)-X-Rays interactions has opened new perspectives in computer
      aided-design of nanostructured materials for biomedical applications. Several
      published studies have shown a crucial need of standardization of these numerical
      simulations. That is why, a robustness multivariate analysis was performed in
      this paper. A gold nanoparticle (GNP) of 100 nm diameter was selected as a
      standard nanosystem activated by a X-ray source placed just below the NP. Two
      response variables were examined: the dose enhancement in seven different spatial
      regions of interest around the NP and the duration of the experiments. Nine
      factors were pre-identified as potentially critical. A Plackett-Burman design of
      numerical experiments was applied to estimate and test the effects of each
      simulation factors on the examined responses. Four factors-the working volume,
      the spatial resolution, the spatial cutoff, and the computational mode
      (parallelization)-do not significantly affect the dose deposition results and
      none except the last one may reduce the computational duration. The energy cutoff
      may cause significant variations of the dose enhancement in some specific regions
      of interest: the higher the cutoff, the closer the secondary particles will stop
      from the GNP. By contrast, the Auger effect as well as the choice of the physical
      medium and the fluence level clearly appear as critical simulation parameters.
      Consequently, these four factors may be compulsory examined before comparing and
      interpreting any simulation results coming from different simulation sessions.

PMID- 26887001
TI  - Unconstrained Diameters for Deep Coalescence.
AB  - The minimizing-deep-coalescence (MDC) approach infers a median (species) tree for
      a given set of gene trees under the deep coalescence cost. This cost accounts for
      the minimum number of deep coalescences needed to reconcile a gene tree with a
      species tree where the leaf-genes are mapped to the leaf-species through a
      function called leaf labeling. In order to better understand the MDC approach we
      investigate here the diameter of a gene tree, which is an important property of
      the deep coalescence cost. This diameter is the maximal deep coalescence costs
      for a given gene tree under all leaf labelings for each possible species tree
      topology. While we prove that this diameter is generally infinite, this result
      relies on the diameter's unrealistic assumption that species trees can be of
      infinite size. Providing a more practical definition, we introduce a natural
      extension of the gene tree diameter that constrains the species tree size by a
      given constant. For this new diameter, we describe an exact formula, present a
      complete classification of the trees yielding this diameter, derive formulas for
      its mean and variance, and demonstrate its ability using comparative studies.

PMID- 26887002
TI  - A New Scheme to Characterize and Identify Protein Ubiquitination Sites.
AB  - Protein ubiquitination, involving the conjugation of ubiquitin on lysine residue,
      serves as an important modulator of many cellular functions in eukaryotes. Recent
      advancements in proteomic technology have stimulated increasing interest in
      identifying ubiquitination sites. However, most computational tools for
      predicting ubiquitination sites are focused on small-scale data. With an
      increasing number of experimentally verified ubiquitination sites, we were
      motivated to design a predictive model for identifying lysine ubiquitination
      sites for large-scale proteome dataset. This work assessed not only single
      features, such as amino acid composition (AAC), amino acid pair composition
      (AAPC) and evolutionary information, but also the effectiveness of incorporating
      two or more features into a hybrid approach to model construction. The support
      vector machine (SVM) was applied to generate the prediction models for
      ubiquitination site identification. Evaluation by five-fold cross-validation
      showed that the SVM models learned from the combination of hybrid features
      delivered a better prediction performance. Additionally, a motif discovery tool,
      MDDLogo, was adopted to characterize the potential substrate motifs of
      ubiquitination sites. The SVM models integrating the MDDLogo-identified substrate
      motifs could yield an average accuracy of 68.70 percent. Furthermore, the
      independent testing result showed that the MDDLogo-clustered SVM models could
      provide a promising accuracy (78.50 percent) and perform better than other
      prediction tools. Two cases have demonstrated the effective prediction of
      ubiquitination sites with corresponding substrate motifs.

PMID- 26887003
TI  - A Flexible Computational Framework Using R and Map-Reduce for Permutation Tests
      of Massive Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits.
AB  - In quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping significance of putative QTL is often
      determined using permutation testing. The computational needs to calculate the
      significance level are immense, 104 up to 108 or even more permutations can be
      needed. We have previously introduced the PruneDIRECT algorithm for multiple QTL
      scan with epistatic interactions. This algorithm has specific strengths for
      permutation testing. Here, we present a flexible, parallel computing framework
      for identifying multiple interacting QTL using the PruneDIRECT algorithm which
      uses the map-reduce model as implemented in Hadoop. The framework is implemented
      in R, a widely used software tool among geneticists. This enables users to
      rearrange algorithmic steps to adapt genetic models, search algorithms, and
      parallelization steps to their needs in a flexible way. Our work underlines the
      maturity of accessing distributed parallel computing for computationally
      demanding bioinformatics applications through building workflows within existing
      scientific environments. We investigate the PruneDIRECT algorithm, comparing its
      performance to exhaustive search and DIRECT algorithm using our framework on a
      public cloud resource. We find that PruneDIRECT is vastly superior for
      permutation testing, and perform 2 *105 permutations for a 2D QTL problem in 15
      hours, using 100 cloud processes. We show that our framework scales out almost
      linearly for a 3D QTL search.

PMID- 26887004
TI  - A Resolution of the Static Formulation Question for the Problem of Computing the
      History Bound.
AB  - Evolutionary data has been traditionally modeled via phylogenetic trees; however,
      branching alone cannot model conflicting phylogenetic signals, so networks are
      used instead. Ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) are used to model the
      evolution of incompatible sets of SNP data, allowing each site to mutate only
      once. The model often aims to minimize the number of recombinations. Similarly,
      incompatible cluster data can be represented by a reticulation network that
      minimizes reticulation events. The ARG literature has traditionally been disjoint
      from the reticulation network literature. By building on results from the
      reticulation network literature, we resolve an open question of interest to the
      ARG community. We explicitly prove that the History Bound, a lower bound on the
      number of recombinations in an ARG for a binary matrix, which was previously only
      defined procedurally, is equal to the minimum number of reticulation nodes in a
      network for the corresponding cluster data. To facilitate the proof, we give an
      algorithm that constructs this network using intermediate values from the
      procedural History Bound definition. We then develop a top-down algorithm for
      computing the History Bound, which has the same worst-case runtime as the known
      dynamic program, and show that it is likely to run faster in typical cases.

PMID- 26887005
TI  - Genome-Wide Semi-Automated Annotation of Transporter Systems.
AB  - Usually, transport reactions are added to genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs)
      based on experimental data and literature. This approach does not allow
      associating specific genes with transport reactions, which impairs the ability of
      the model to predict effects of gene deletions. Novel methods for systematic
      genome-wide transporter functional annotation and their integration into GSMMs
      are therefore necessary. In this work, an automatic system to detect and classify
      all potential membrane transport proteins for a given genome and integrate the
      related reactions into GSMMs is proposed, based on the identification and
      classification of genes that encode transmembrane proteins. The Transport
      Reactions Annotation and Generation (TRIAGE) tool identifies the metabolites
      transported by each transmembrane protein and its transporter family. The
      localization of the carriers is also predicted and, consequently, their action is
      confined to a given membrane. The integration of the data provided by TRIAGE with
      highly curated models allowed the identification of new transport reactions.
      TRIAGE is included in the new release of merlin, a software tool previously
      developed by the authors, which expedites the GSMM reconstruction processes.

PMID- 26887006
TI  - Searching Genome-Wide Multi-Locus Associations for Multiple Diseases Based on
      Bayesian Inference.
AB  - Taking the advantage of high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
      genotyping technology, large genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been
      considered to hold promise for unraveling complex relationships between genotypes
      and phenotypes. Current multi-locus-based methods are insufficient to detect
      interactions with diverse genetic effects on multifarious diseases. Also,
      statistic tests for high-order epistasis ( >= 2 SNPs) raise huge computational
      and analytical challenges because the computation increases exponentially as the
      growth of the cardinality of SNPs combinations. In this paper, we provide a
      simple, fast and powerful method, named DAM, using Bayesian inference to detect
      genome-wide multi-locus epistatic interactions in multiple diseases. Experimental
      results on simulated data demonstrate that our method is powerful and efficient.
      We also apply DAM on two GWAS datasets from WTCCC, i.e., Rheumatoid Arthritis and
      Type 1 Diabetes, and identify some novel findings. Therefore, we believe that our
      method is suitable and efficient for the full-scale analysis of multi-disease
      related interactions in GWASs.

PMID- 26887007
TI  - Extending and Applying Spartan to Perform Temporal Sensitivity Analyses for
      Predicting Changes in Influential Biological Pathways in Computational Models.
AB  - Through integrating real time imaging, computational modelling, and statistical
      analysis approaches, previous work has suggested that the induction of and
      response to cell adhesion factors is the key initiating pathway in early lymphoid
      tissue development, in contrast to the previously accepted view that the process
      is triggered by chemokine mediated cell recruitment. These model derived
      hypotheses were developed using spartan, an open-source sensitivity analysis
      toolkit designed to establish and understand the relationship between a
      computational model and the biological system that model captures. Here, we
      extend the functionality available in spartan to permit the production of
      statistical analyses that contrast the behavior exhibited by a computational
      model at various simulated time-points, enabling a temporal analysis that could
      suggest whether the influence of biological mechanisms changes over time. We
      exemplify this extended functionality by using the computational model of
      lymphoid tissue development as a time-lapse tool. By generating results at twelve
      hour intervals, we show how the extensions to spartan have been used to suggest
      that lymphoid tissue development could be biphasic, and predict the time-point
      when a switch in the influence of biological mechanisms might occur.

PMID- 26887008
TI  - Optimal Landmark Selection for Registration of 4D Confocal Image Stacks in
      Arabidopsis.
AB  - Technologically advanced imaging techniques have allowed us to generate and study
      the internal part of a tissue over time by capturing serial optical images that
      contain spatio-temporal slices of hundreds of tightly packed cells. Image
      registration of such live-imaging datasets of developing multicelluar tissues is
      one of the essential components of all image analysis pipelines. In this paper,
      we present a fully automated 4D(X-Y-Z-T) registration method of live imaging
      stacks that takes care of both temporal and spatial misalignments. We present a
      novel landmark selection methodology where the shape features of individual cells
      are not of high quality and highly distinguishable. The proposed registration
      method finds the best image slice correspondence from consecutive image stacks to
      account for vertical growth in the tissue and the discrepancy in the choice of
      the starting focal point. Then, it uses local graph-based approach to
      automatically find corresponding landmark pairs, and finally the registration
      parameters are used to register the entire image stack. The proposed registration
      algorithm combined with an existing tracking method is tested on multiple image
      stacks of tightly packed cells of Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem and the
      results show that it significantly improves the accuracy of cell lineages and
      division statistics.

PMID- 26887009
TI  - Transductive Learning for Multi-Label Protein Subchloroplast Localization
      Prediction.
AB  - Predicting the localization of chloroplast proteins at the sub-subcellular level
      is an essential yet challenging step to elucidate their functions. Most of the
      existing subchloroplast localization predictors are limited to predicting single
      location proteins and ignore the multi-location chloroplast proteins. While
      recent studies have led to some multi-location chloroplast predictors, they
      usually perform poorly. This paper proposes an ensemble transductive learning
      method to tackle this multi-label classification problem. Specifically, given a
      protein in a dataset, its composition-based sequence information and profile
      based evolutionary information are respectively extracted. These two kinds of
      features are respectively compared with those of other proteins in the dataset.
      The comparisons lead to two similarity vectors which are weighted-combined to
      constitute an ensemble feature vector. A transductive learning model based on the
      least squares and nearest neighbor algorithms is proposed to process the ensemble
      features. We refer to the resulting predictor to as EnTrans-Chlo. Experimental
      results on a stringent benchmark dataset and a novel dataset demonstrate that
      EnTrans-Chlo significantly outperforms state-of-the-art predictors and
      particularly gains more than 4% (absolute) improvement on the overall actual
      accuracy. For readers' convenience, EnTrans-Chlo is freely available online at
      http://bioinfo.eie.polyu.edu.hk/EnTransChloServer/.

PMID- 26887010
TI  - Enhancing the Prediction of Transmembrane beta-Barrel Segments with Chain
      Learning and Feature Sparse Representation.
AB  - Transmembrane beta-barrels (TMBs) are one important class of membrane proteins
      that play crucial functions in the cell. Membrane proteins are difficult wet-lab
      targets of structural biology, which call for accurate computational prediction
      approaches. Here, we developed a novel method named MemBrain-TMB to predict the
      spanning segments of transmembrane beta-barrel from amino acid sequence. MemBrain
      TMB is a statistical machine learning-based model, which is constructed using a
      new chain learning algorithm with input features encoded by the image sparse
      representation approach. We considered the relative status information between
      neighboring residues for enhancing the performance, and the matrix of features
      was translated into feature image by sparse coding algorithm for noise and
      dimension reduction. To deal with the diverse loop length problem, we applied a
      dynamic threshold method, which is particularly useful for enhancing the
      recognition of short loops and tight turns. Our experiments demonstrate that the
      new protocol designed in MemBrain-TMB effectively helps improve prediction
      performance.

PMID- 26887011
TI  - Algorithms and Complexity Results for Genome Mapping Problems.
AB  - Genome mapping algorithms aim at computing an ordering of a set of genomic
      markers based on local ordering information such as adjacencies and intervals of
      markers. In most genome mapping models, markers are assumed to occur uniquely in
      the resulting map. We introduce algorithmic questions that consider repeats,
      i.e., markers that can have several occurrences in the resulting map. We show
      that, provided with an upper bound on the copy number of repeated markers and
      with intervals that span full repeat copies, called repeat spanning intervals,
      the problem of deciding if a set of adjacencies and repeat spanning intervals
      admits a genome representation is tractable if the target genome can contain
      linear and/or circular chromosomal fragments. We also show that extracting a
      maximum cardinality or weight subset of repeat spanning intervals given a set of
      adjacencies that admits a genome realization is NP-hard but fixed-parameter
      tractable in the maximum copy number and the number of adjacent repeats, and
      tractable if intervals contain a single repeated marker.

PMID- 26887012
TI  - Quantitative Laughter Detection, Measurement, and Classification-A Critical
      Survey.
AB  - The study of human nonverbal social behaviors has taken a more quantitative and
      computational approach in recent years due to the development of smart interfaces
      and virtual agents or robots able to interact socially. One of the most
      interesting nonverbal social behaviors, producing a characteristic vocal signal,
      is laughing. Laughter is produced in several different situations: in response to
      external physical, cognitive, or emotional stimuli; to negotiate social
      interactions; and also, pathologically, as a consequence of neural damage. For
      this reason, laughter has attracted researchers from many disciplines. A
      consequence of this multidisciplinarity is the absence of a holistic vision of
      this complex behavior: the methods of analysis and classification of laughter, as
      well as the terminology used, are heterogeneous; the findings sometimes
      contradictory and poorly documented. This survey aims at collecting and
      presenting objective measurement methods and results from a variety of different
      studies in different fields, to contribute to build a unified model and taxonomy
      of laughter. This could be successfully used for advances in several fields, from
      artificial intelligence and human-robot interaction to medicine and psychiatry.

PMID- 26887013
TI  - Anticipatory Vibrotactile Cueing Facilitates Grip Force Adjustment during
      Perturbative Loading.
AB  - Grip force applied to an object held between the thumb and index finger is
      automatically and unconsciously adjusted upon perception of an external
      disturbance to the object. Typically, this adjustment occurs within approximately
      100 ms. Here, we investigated the effect of anticipatory vibrotactile cues prior
      to a perturbative force, which the central nervous system may use for rapid grip
      re-stabilization. We asked participants to grip and hold an instrumented,
      actuated handle between the thumb and index finger. Under computer control, the
      handle could suddenly be pulled away from a static grip and could independently
      provide vibration to the gripping fingers. The mean latency of corrective motor
      action was 139 ms. When vibrotactile stimulation was applied 50 ms before
      application of tractive force, the latency was reduced to 117 ms, whereas the
      mean latency of the conscious response to vibrotactile stimuli alone was 229 ms.
      This suggests that vibrotactile stimulation can influence reflex-like actions. We
      also examined the effects of anticipatory cues using a set of perturbative loads
      with different rising rates. As expected, facilitation of grip force adjustment
      was observed for moderate loads. In contrast, anticipatory cues had an
      insignificant effect on rapid loads that evoked an adjustment within 60-80 ms,
      which approaches the minimum latency of human grip adjustment. Understanding the
      facilitative effects of anticipatory cues on human reactive grip can aid the
      development of human-machine interfaces to enhance human behavior.

PMID- 26887014
TI  - Pinning Impulsive Synchronization of Reaction-Diffusion Neural Networks With Time
      Varying Delays.
AB  - This paper investigates the exponential synchronization of reaction-diffusion
      neural networks with time-varying delays subject to Dirichlet boundary
      conditions. A novel type of pinning impulsive controllers is proposed to
      synchronize the reaction-diffusion neural networks with time-varying delays. By
      applying the Lyapunov functional method, sufficient verifiable conditions are
      constructed for the exponential synchronization of delayed reaction-diffusion
      neural networks with large and small delay sizes. It is shown that
      synchronization can be realized by pinning impulsive control of a small portion
      of neurons of the network; the technique used in this paper is also applicable to
      reaction-diffusion networks with Neumann boundary conditions. Numerical examples
      are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

PMID- 26887015
TI  - High-Performance Consensus Control in Networked Systems With Limited Bandwidth
      Communication and Time-Varying Directed Topologies.
AB  - Communication data rates and energy constraints are two important factors that
      have to be considered in the coordination control of multiagent networks.
      Although some encoder-decoder-based consensus protocols are available, there
      still exists a fundamental theoretical problem: how can we further reduce the
      update rate of control input for each agent without the changing consensus
      performance? In this paper, we consider the problem of average consensus over
      directed and time-varying digital networks of discrete-time first-order
      multiagent systems with limited communication data transmission rates. Each agent
      has a real-valued state but can only exchange binary symbolic sequence with its
      neighbors due to bandwidth constraints. A class of novel event-triggered dynamic
      encoding and decoding algorithms is proposed, based on which a kind of consensus
      protocol is presented. Moreover, we develop a scheme to select the numbers of
      time-varying quantization levels for each connected communication channel in the
      time-varying directed topologies at each time step. The analytical relation among
      system and network parameters is characterized explicitly. It is shown that the
      asymptotic convergence rate is related to the scale of the network, the number of
      quantization levels, the system parameter, and the network structure. It is also
      found that under the designed event-triggered protocol, for a directed and time
      varying digital network, which uniformly contains a spanning tree over a time
      interval, the average consensus can be achieved with an exponential convergence
      rate based on merely 1-b information exchange between each pair of adjacent
      agents at each time step.

PMID- 26887016
TI  - HEp-2 Cell Image Classification With Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.
AB  - Efficient Human Epithelial-2 cell image classification can facilitate the
      diagnosis of many autoimmune diseases. This paper proposes an automatic framework
      for this classification task, by utilizing the deep convolutional neural networks
      (CNNs) which have recently attracted intensive attention in visual recognition.
      In addition to describing the proposed classification framework, this paper
      elaborates several interesting observations and findings obtained by our
      investigation. They include the important factors that impact network design and
      training, the role of rotation-based data augmentation for cell images, the
      effectiveness of cell image masks for classification, and the adaptability of the
      CNN-based classification system across different datasets. Extensive experimental
      study is conducted to verify the above findings and compares the proposed
      framework with the well-established image classification models in the
      literature. The results on benchmark datasets demonstrate that 1) the proposed
      framework can effectively outperform existing models by properly applying data
      augmentation, 2) our CNN-based framework has excellent adaptability across
      different datasets, which is highly desirable for cell image classification under
      varying laboratory settings. Our system is ranked high in the cell image
      classification competition hosted by ICPR 2014.

PMID- 26887017
TI  - A Hierarchical Classification and Segmentation Scheme for Processing Sensor Data.
AB  - Detecting short-duration events from continuous sensor signals is a significant
      challenge in the domain of wearable devices and health monitoring systems. Time
      series segmentation refers to the challenge of subdividing a continuous stream of
      data into discrete windows, which can be individually processed using statistical
      classifiers or other algorithms. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for
      segmenting time-series signals and detecting short-duration data in the domain of
      lightweight embedded systems with real-time constraints. First, we demonstrate an
      approach for signal segmentation using a simple binary classifier. Next, we show
      how a novel two-stage classification algorithm can reduce computational overhead
      compared to a single-stage approach. Our proposed scheme is benchmarked using an
      audio-based nutrition-monitoring case study.

PMID- 26887018
TI  - Real-Time Hypoxia Prediction Using Decision Fusion.
AB  - Humans who operate in high altitudes for prolonged durations often suffer from
      hypoxia. The commencement of physiological and cognitive changes due to the onset
      of hypoxia may not be immediately apparent to the exposed individual. These
      changes can go unrecognized for minutes and even hours and may lead to serious
      performance degradation or complete incapacitation. A dynamic system capable of
      monitoring and detecting decreased physiologic states due to the onset of hypoxia
      has the potential to prevent adverse outcomes. In this study, we develop a real
      time hypoxia monitoring system based on a parallel M -ary decision fusion
      architecture. Blood oxygen saturation levels and altitude readings are the inputs
      and estimates of the level of hypoxia are the outputs. We develop new temporal
      evolution models for blood oxygen saturation and functional impairment with
      respect to varying altitude. The proposed models enable accurate tracking of
      various hypoxia levels based on the duration of stay of the subject at an
      altitude. Using a Bayesian decision-making formulation, the system generates
      global estimates of the degree of hypoxia. The detection system is tested against
      synthetic and real datasets to demonstrate applicability and accuracy.

PMID- 26887019
TI  - Adjustable Parameter-Based Distributed Fault Estimation Observer Design for
      Multiagent Systems With Directed Graphs.
AB  - In this paper, a novel adjustable parameter (AP)-based distributed fault
      estimation observer (DFEO) is proposed for multiagent systems (MASs) with the
      directed communication topology. First, a relative output estimation error is
      defined based on the communication topology of MASs. Then a DFEO with AP is
      constructed with the purpose of improving the accuracy of fault estimation. Based
      on H infinity and H 2 with pole placement, multiconstrained design is given to
      calculate the gain of DFEO. Finally, simulation results are presented to
      illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed DFEO design with AP.

PMID- 26887020
TI  - $H_?infty $ Control for 2-D Fuzzy Systems With Interval Time-Varying Delays and
      Missing Measurements.
AB  - In this paper, we consider the Hinfinity control problem for a class of 2-D
      Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy described by the second Fornasini-Machesini local state-space
      model with time-delays and missing measurements. The state delays are allowed to
      be time-varying within a known interval. The measurement output is subject to
      randomly intermittent packet dropouts governed by a random sequence satisfying
      the Bernoulli distribution. The purpose of the addressed problem is to design an
      output-feedback controller such that the closed-loop system is globally
      asymptotically stable in the mean square and the prescribed Hinfinity performance
      index is satisfied. By employing a combination of the intensive stochastic
      analysis and the free weighting matrix method, several delay-range-dependent
      sufficient conditions are presented that guarantee the existence of the desired
      controllers for all possible time-delays and missing measurements. The explicit
      expressions of such controllers are derived by means of the solution to a class
      of convex optimization problems that can be solved via standard software
      packages. Finally, a numerical simulation example is given to demonstrate the
      applicability of the proposed control scheme.

PMID- 26887021
TI  - Evolving Transcription Factor Binding Site Models From Protein Binding Microarray
      Data.
AB  - Protein binding microarray (PBM) is a high-throughput platform that can measure
      the DNA binding preference of a protein in a comprehensive and unbiased manner.
      In this paper, we describe the PBM motif model building problem. We apply several
      evolutionary computation methods and compare their performance with the interior
      point method, demonstrating their performance advantages. In addition, given the
      PBM domain knowledge, we propose and describe a novel method called kmerGA which
      makes domain-specific assumptions to exploit PBM data properties to build more
      accurate models than the other models built. The effectiveness and robustness of
      kmerGA is supported by comprehensive performance benchmarking on more than 200
      datasets, time complexity analysis, convergence analysis, parameter analysis, and
      case studies. To demonstrate its utility further, kmerGA is applied to two real
      world applications: 1) PBM rotation testing and 2) ChIP-Seq peak sequence
      prediction. The results support the biological relevance of the models learned by
      kmerGA, and thus its real world applicability.

PMID- 26887022
TI  - A Hierarchical Auction-Based Mechanism for Real-Time Resource Allocation in Cloud
      Robotic Systems.
AB  - Cloud computing enables users to share computing resources on-demand. The cloud
      computing framework cannot be directly mapped to cloud robotic systems with ad
      hoc networks since cloud robotic systems have additional constraints such as
      limited bandwidth and dynamic structure. However, most multirobotic applications
      with cooperative control adopt this decentralized approach to avoid a single
      point of failure. Robots need to continuously update intensive data to execute
      tasks in a coordinated manner, which implies real-time requirements. Thus, a
      resource allocation strategy is required, especially in such resource-constrained
      environments. This paper proposes a hierarchical auction-based mechanism, namely
      link quality matrix (LQM) auction, which is suitable for ad hoc networks by
      introducing a link quality indicator. The proposed algorithm produces a fast and
      robust method that is accurate and scalable. It reduces both global communication
      and unnecessary repeated computation. The proposed method is designed for firm
      real-time resource retrieval for physical multirobot systems. A joint
      surveillance scenario empirically validates the proposed mechanism by assessing
      several practical metrics. The results show that the proposed LQM auction
      outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms for resource allocation.

PMID- 26887023
TI  - Learning Instance Correlation Functions for Multilabel Classification.
AB  - Multilabel learning has a wide range of potential applications in reality. It
      attracts a great deal of attention during the past years and has been extensively
      studied in many fields including image annotation and text categorization.
      Although many efforts have been made for multilabel learning, there are two
      challenging issues remaining, i.e., how to exploit the correlations and how to
      tackle the high-dimensional problems of multilabel data. In this paper, an
      effective algorithm is developed for multilabel classification with utilizing
      those data that are relevant to the targets. The key is the construction of a
      coefficient-based mapping between training and test instances, where the mapping
      relationship exploits the correlations among the instances, rather than the
      explicit relationship between the variables and the class labels of data.
      Further, a constraint, l1-norm penalty, is performed on the mapping relationship
      to make the model sparse, weakening the impacts of noisy data. Our empirical
      study on eight public datasets shows that the proposed method is more effective
      in comparing with the state-of-the-art multilabel classifiers.

PMID- 26887024
TI  - Learning Nonparametric Relational Models by Conjugately Incorporating Node
      Information in a Network.
AB  - Relational model learning is useful for numerous practical applications. Many
      algorithms have been proposed in recent years to tackle this important yet
      challenging problem. Existing algorithms utilize only binary directional link
      data to recover hidden network structures. However, there exists far richer and
      more meaningful information in other parts of a network which one can (and
      should) exploit. The attributes associated with each node, for instance, contain
      crucial information to help practitioners understand the underlying relationships
      in a network. For this reason, in this paper, we propose two models and their
      solutions, namely the node-information involved mixed-membership model and the
      node-information involved latent-feature model, in an effort to systematically
      incorporate additional node information. To effectively achieve this aim, node
      information is used to generate individual sticks of a stickbreaking process. In
      this way, not only can we avoid the need to prespecify the number of communities
      beforehand, the algorithm also encourages that nodes exhibiting similar
      information have a higher chance of assigning the same community membership.
      Substantial efforts have been made toward achieving the appropriateness and
      efficiency of these models, including the use of conjugate priors. We evaluate
      our framework and its inference algorithms using real-world data sets, which show
      the generality and effectiveness of our models in capturing implicit network
      structures.

PMID- 26887025
TI  - Blind Domain Adaptation With Augmented Extreme Learning Machine Features.
AB  - In practical applications, the test data often have different distribution from
      the training data leading to suboptimal visual classification performance. Domain
      adaptation (DA) addresses this problem by designing classifiers that are robust
      to mismatched distributions. Existing DA algorithms use the unlabeled test data
      from target domain during training time in addition to the source domain data.
      However, target domain data may not always be available for training. We propose
      a blind DA algorithm that does not require target domain samples for training.
      For this purpose, we learn a global nonlinear extreme learning machine (ELM)
      model from the source domain data in an unsupervised fashion. The global ELM
      model is then used to initialize and learn class specific ELM models from the
      source domain data. During testing, the target domain features are augmented with
      the reconstructed features from the global ELM model. The resulting enriched
      features are then classified using the class specific ELM models based on minimum
      reconstruction error. Extensive experiments on 16 standard datasets show that
      despite blind learning, our method outperforms six existing state-of-the-art
      methods in cross domain visual recognition.

PMID- 26887026
TI  - An Inertial Projection Neural Network for Solving Variational Inequalities.
AB  - Recently, projection neural network (PNN) was proposed for solving monotone
      variational inequalities (VIs) and related convex optimization problems. In this
      paper, considering the inertial term into first order PNNs, an inertial PNN
      (IPNN) is also proposed for solving VIs. Under certain conditions, the IPNN is
      proved to be stable, and can be applied to solve a broader class of constrained
      optimization problems related to VIs. Compared with existing neural networks
      (NNs), the presence of the inertial term allows us to overcome some drawbacks of
      many NNs, which are constructed based on the steepest descent method, and this
      model is more convenient for exploring different Karush-Kuhn-Tucker optimal
      solution for nonconvex optimization problems. Finally, simulation results on
      three numerical examples show the effectiveness and performance of the proposed
      NN.

PMID- 26887027
TI  - Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score at Presentation Predicts Survival in
      Patients Treated With Percutaneous Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane
      Oxygenation.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study sought to investigate demographic, clinical,
      and procedural determinants of outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous
      veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiated in the
      cardiac catheterization laboratory with a portable system. METHODS: We performed
      a retrospective review of patients treated with percutaneous VA-ECMO during the
      study period at our institution. A logistic regression model was applied to
      investigate the association between sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)
      score and survivor status. Fisher's exact test was used to examine the
      association between survivor status and cannula size (15 Fr vs >15 Fr). RESULTS:
      Percutaneous VA-ECMO was initiated in 25 patients. At 30 days, 10 patients were
      alive (40%). Fifteen patients had cardiac arrest (CA) prior to ECMO initiation,
      of which 5 were alive at 30 days (33%). Survivors had a lower baseline median
      SOFA score (9 vs 16; P=.02; odds ratio, 0.577). Use of a smaller cannula was
      associated with survival (P=.01). There was an association between the size of
      the arterial cannula and increased blood transfusions (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Lower
      presenting SOFA score and smaller cannula size were associated with increased
      survival in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) or CA who underwent percutaneous
      VA-ECMO placed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory using a portable system.
      Calculation of the SOFA score at presentation may help physicians determine which
      patients may derive benefit from ECMO. Smaller cannula size, while decreasing the
      amount of flow, may result in decreased bleeding and increased survival.

PMID- 26887028
TI  - Left Radial Versus Femoral Access for Coronary Angiography in Post-Coronary
      Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients.
AB  - It has been recently demonstrated that coronary angiography of native coronary
      arteries via the radial artery results in reduced morbidity and mortality, when
      compared with a femoral approach. However, the efficacy and safety of the
      transradial approach in patients with coronary grafts is relatively unknown. We
      performed a retrospective audit of all patients with a history of previous
      coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery who underwent diagnostic angiography
      at our institution from 2008-2012. The primary efficacy endpoint was procedure
      time (minutes), while the secondary efficacy measure was patient radiation
      exposure (MUGy/m2). There were 326 post-CABG patients studied during the defined
      period, with 254 via femoral approach and 72 via left radial artery. There was no
      significant difference between the two approaches in procedure time (37 minutes
      in radial group vs 35 minutes in femoral group; t-test, P=.43). There was also no
      difference in radiation exposure (7855 MUGy/m2 in femoral group vs 6825 MUGy/m2
      in radial group; Satterthwaite t-test, P=.08). This study shows the validity of a
      left radial approach in patients who have undergone angiography post CABG. It
      suggests that transradial angiography can be safely performed in these patients,
      without significant increase in procedural time or radiation exposure. 

PMID- 26887029
TI  - Impact of Surgical Consultation on Outcomes in Hemodynamically Supported High
      Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From PROTECT II Randomized
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In observational studies of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI), surgical ineligibility is associated with increased
      mortality. Whether the use of hemodynamic support during PCI can mitigate the
      adverse prognostic importance of surgical ineligibility is unknown. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: We sought to evaluate the association between request for surgical
      consultation (presumed surgical ineligibility) prior to PCI and clinical outcomes
      in 427 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease or unprotected left main
      disease and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function undergoing PCI
      assisted by hemodynamic support (intraaortic balloon pump or Impella) from the
      PROTECT II randomized trial. Patients in whom surgical consultation was requested
      prior to PCI (n = 201) were compared with those in whom surgical consultation was
      not requested (n = 226). The primary endpoint of this analysis was the composite
      of 90-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Demographic
      and procedural variables were similar between patients receiving surgical
      consultation and patients not receiving surgical consultation, with the exception
      that the prevalence of prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery was
      significantly higher in patients not receiving surgical consultation (42.0% vs
      25.4%; P<.001); these patients also had a higher proportion of lesions within a
      saphenous vein graft, and a greater prevalence of moderate/severe vessel
      calcification. MACCE rate at 90 days was similar in patients receiving surgical
      consultation compared with patients not receiving surgical consultation (23.4% vs
      29.0%, respectively; P=.19). CONCLUSIONS: In this high-risk cohort of patients
      undergoing hemodynamically supported PCI, clinical outcome was not associated
      with an antecedent request for surgical consultation (presumed surgical
      ineligibility). Whether the use of hemodynamically supported PCI can lessen the
      risk conferred by surgical ineligibility requires further study.

PMID- 26887030
TI  - Changing exposures in a changing world: models for reducing the burden of
      disease.
AB  - Environmental exposures are changing dramatically in location, intensity, and
      frequency. Many developing countries are undergoing a transition in which they
      face the double burden of infectious diseases as well as chronic diseases.
      Noncommunicable diseases have emerged as the leading cause of death and
      disability in developing countries. Globally, pollution is insufficiently
      appreciated and inadequately quantified as a cause of disease. The health burden
      from both noninfectious diseases and infectious disease, especially parasites, is
      high among exposed people. Mothers and children are particularly vulnerable to
      pollution-related diseases in developing countries. Exposures to pollution can
      cause protracted noncommunicable diseases across their life span. A global
      initiative to promote human health sciences and technologies would enhance
      collaborations and communications amongst investigators and public environmental
      health officials. Existing models that facilitate the transfer of information and
      research results exist and can provide insight into building such an
      international network, allowing better prediction of disease risk and provide
      ways to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants. A global network would
      bring together scientists from multiple disciplines and countries to work toward
      a better understanding of the double burden of disease, especially in low and
      middle income countries, and promote ways to improve public health. 

PMID- 26887031
TI  - Determination of antepartum and intrapartum risk factors associated with neonatal
      intensive care unit admission.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine antepartum and intrapartum factors that are associated
      with admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) among infants delivered
      between 36.0 and 42.0 weeks at our institution. METHODS: The retrospective cohort
      study included 73 consecutive NICU admissions and 375 consecutive non-NICU
      admissions. Data on demographic, antepartum, intrapartum and neonatal factors
      were collected. The primary endpoint defined was admission to NICU. Univariate
      analyses using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, chi2 Fisher's exact
      test was performed along with multivariate analysis of significant non-redundant
      variables. RESULTS: Those with a significantly higher risk of NICU admission
      underwent induction of labor with prostaglandin analogs (12.5% vs. 24.7%,
      P=0.007). Length of first stage >=720 min (33.5% vs. 51.9%, P=0.011), length of
      second stage of labor >=240 min (10.6% vs. 31.6%, P<0.001) and prolonged rupture
      of membranes >=120 min (54.0% vs. 80.0%, P=0.001) were all associated with an
      increased chance of NICU admission. Intrapartum factors predictive of NICU
      admission included administration of meperidine (11.7% vs. 27.4%, P<0.001),
      presence of preeclampsia (5.5% vs. 0.8%, P=0.015), use of intrapartum IV
      antihypertensives (1.1% vs. 13.7%, P<0.001), maternal fever (5.3% vs. 31.5%,
      P<0.001), fetal tachycardia (1.9% vs. 12.3%, P<0.001), and presence of meconium
      (30% vs. 8%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Identification of modifiable risk factors may
      reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. Results from this study can be used to
      develop and validate a risk model based on combined antepartum and intrapartum
      risk factors.

PMID- 26887032
TI  - Waist-to-height ratio as a marker of low-grade inflammation in obese children and
      adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The epidemic of childhood obesity is associated with early
      atherosclerosis. Several reports have related this event to low-grade
      inflammation described in obesity. CRP and IL6 are markers that correlate with
      adiposity. The waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) is an anthropometric marker
      associated with insulin resistance and inflammation. The objective of this study
      was to assess the correlation between WtHR, metabolic complications and pro
      inflammatory factors in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: Weight, height,
      waist circumference, glycemia, insulin, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were measured in
      the baseline sample in 280 patients 6-19 years of age with overweight or obesity
      (OW/OB) and 112 normal-weight controls. Logistic regression was performed using
      WtHR as an independent variable. p>0.05 STATA11. RESULTS: Mean WtHR was 0.6+/
      0.06 in OW/OB and 0.43+/-0.02 in controls (p<0.01). WtHR was increased in 93% of
      the OW/OB vs. 2% of the controls. In the OW/OB inflammatory markers were
      significantly increased (p<0.01) compared to the controls (CRP 2.2 vs. 0.8; Il-6
      2.9 vs. 2.1; and TNF-alpha 6.2 vs. 5.5). In the WtHR>0.5, insulin resistence and
      inflammatory markers were significantly increased (p<0.01) compared to the
      WtHR<0.5 (HOMA 3.4 vs. 1.4; CRP 2.3 vs. 0.6; Il-6 2.9 vs. 2.1; and TNF-alpha 6.4
      vs. 5.55). In logistic regression, a significant independent association was
      found between WtHR with CRP (OR1.47), IL6 (OR1.60) and TNF-alpha (OR1.79).
      CONCLUSIONS: Obese children and adolescents have high inflammatory markers that
      may increase cardiovascular risk. WtHR is associated with low-grade inflammation
      and may be considered a relevant anthropometric marker in the clinical practice.

PMID- 26887033
TI  - Pituitary gigantism: a retrospective case series.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pituitary gigantism (PG) is a rare pediatric disease with poorly
      defined long-term outcomes. Our aim is to describe the longitudinal clinical
      course in PG patients using a single-center, retrospective cohort study. METHODS:
      Patients younger than 19 years diagnosed with PG were identified. Thirteen cases
      were confirmed based on histopathology of a GH secreting adenoma or hyperplasia
      and a height >2 SD for age and gender. Laboratory studies, initial pathology, and
      imaging were abstracted. RESULTS: Average age at diagnosis was 13 years with an
      average initial tumor size of 7.4*3.8 mm. Initial transsphenoidal surgery was
      curative in 3/12 patients. Four of the nine patients who failed the initial
      surgery required a repeat procedure. Octreotide successfully normalized GH levels
      in 1/6 patients with disease refractory to surgery (1/6). Two out of five
      patients received pegvisomant after failing octreotide but only one patient
      responded to treatment. Five patients were ultimately treated with radiosurgery
      or radiation patients were followed for an average of 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: PG
      is difficult to treat. In most patients, the initial transsphenoidal surgery
      failed to normalize GH levels. If the initial surgery was unsuccessful, repeat
      surgery was unlikely to control GH secretion. Treatment with octreotide or
      pegvisomant was successful in less than half the patients failing surgery.
      Radiosurgery was curative, but is not an optimal treatment for pediatric
      patients. Despite the small sample, our study suggests that the treatment outcome
      of pediatric PG may be different than adults.

PMID- 26887034
TI  - Efficacy and safety of triptorelin 6-month formulation in patients with central
      precocious puberty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Triptorelin is an established treatment for central precocious
      puberty (CPP) as 1- and 3-month formulations. The current triptorelin 22.5 mg 6
      month formulation is approved for prostate cancer therapy. This is the first
      study in patients with CPP. METHODS: The efficacy and safety of the triptorelin 6
      month formulation in CPP were investigated. The primary objective was to evaluate
      the efficacy in achieving luteinizing hormone (LH) suppression to pre-pubertal
      levels at month 6. This was an international, non-comparative phase III study
      over 48 weeks. Eighteen medical centers in the US, Chile and Mexico participated.
      Forty-four treatment naive patients (39 girls and five boys) aged at treatment
      start 2-8 years for girls and 2-9 years for boys with an advancement of bone age
      over chronological age >=1 year were to be included. Triptorelin was administered
      im twice at an interval of 24 weeks. LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
      (basal and stimulated), estradiol (girls), testosterone (boys), auxological
      parameters, clinical signs of puberty and safety were assessed. RESULTS: Forty
      one patients (93.2%) showed pre-pubertal LH levels (stimulated LH <=5 IU/L) at
      month 6 and maintained LH suppression through month 12. The percentage of
      patients with LH suppression exceeded 93% at each time point and reached 97.7% at
      month 12. No unexpected drug-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS:
      The triptorelin 6-month formulation was safe and effective in suppressing the
      pituitary-gonadal axis in children with CPP. The extended injection interval may
      improve compliance and increase comfort in the management of CPP.

PMID- 26887035
TI  - Assessment of paediatric pain: a critical review.
AB  - Pain is a complex experience, and its quantification involves many aspects
      including physiological, behavioural, and psychological factors. References
      related to the topic were selected and analysed, along with a PubMed search of
      the recent and earlier reports. Assessment of pain in infants and children has
      always been a dilemma for the clinicians. Unlike in adults, it is difficult to
      assess and effectively treat pain in paediatric age groups, and it often remains
      untreated or undertreated. Misperceptions are attributed not only to the
      difficulties in isolating the specific signs of pain but also in recognising and
      inferring the meaning of the cues available in the complex of individual
      differences in the reaction pattern of children to pain. In children, several
      parameters such as age, cognitive level, type of pain, etc. are required to be
      considered for the selection of appropriate pain assessment tools. Although
      considerable progress has been made, there is a critical need for a more accurate
      measurement tool for both research and clinical purposes. This review has
      critically analysed the various techniques available to assess pain in children
      with emphasis on current research and present-day status of paediatric pain
      assessment. 

PMID- 26887036
TI  - A collaboration investigating endocannabinoid signalling in brain and bone.
AB  - Investigations into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the
      psychoactive effects of cannabis preparations have led to the discovery of the
      endocannabinoid system. Interest in the central nervous system effects was
      initially the main focus of the research, but it soon became evident that the
      endocannabinoid system affects virtually every organ. The research field has
      therefore experienced a tremendous growth over the last decade and is now truly
      interdisciplinary. This short review provides a personal account of an
      interdisciplinary collaboration between Itai Bab from the Hebrew University of
      Jerusalem and the author. It describes the discovery of the endocannabinoid
      system in bone and the analysis of its functions. I am summarising the role of
      CB1 signalling as a modulator of sympathetic inhibition of bone formation. Thus,
      activation of CB1 receptors on sympathetic nerve terminals in bone, presumably
      from endocannabinoids released from apposing osteoblasts, reduces the inhibition
      of bone formation of sympathetic norepinephrine. CB2 receptors on osteoblasts and
      osteoclasts also modulate the proliferation and functions of these cells. Thus,
      activation of CB2 stimulates bone formation and represses bone resorption,
      whereas the genetic disruption of CB2 results in an osteoporosis-like phenotype.
      This signalling mechanism is clinically relevant, as shown by the association of
      polymorphisms in the CB2 receptor gene, CNR2, with bone density and osteoporosis.
      Finally, the review provides a summary of the recently discovered role of
      endocannabinoid signalling in one elongation. This review will also discuss the
      benefits of interdisciplinary and international collaborations. 

PMID- 26887037
TI  - Human dipeptidyl peptidase III regulates G-protein coupled receptor-dependent
      Ca2+ concentration in human embryonic kidney 293T cells.
AB  - The precise biological function of human dipeptidyl peptidase III (hDPP III) is
      poorly understood. Using luciferase reporter constructs responsive to change in
      Ca2+ and/or cAMP and Fura 2-AM fluorometric assay, we show a significant decrease
      in intracellular Ca2+ following hDPP III overexpression and angiotensin II
      stimulation in angiotensin II type 1 receptor (G-protein coupled receptor, GPCR)
      expressing HEK293T cells. Silencing the expression of hDPP III by siRNA reversed
      the effect of hDPP III overexpression with a concomitant increase in Ca2+. These
      results, for the first time, show involvement of hDPP III in GPCR dependent Ca2+
      regulation in HEK293T cells.

PMID- 26887038
TI  - Derivation of level-specific reference change values (RCV) from a health
      screening database and optimization of their thresholds based on clinical
      utility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reference change values (RCV) are used for judging the significance
      of changes between any two measurements. Based on the within-individual CV (CVI),
      RCV is conventionally computed as the 95% confidence limit (CL) of the changes:
      RCV=1.96*2CVI. $RCV = 1.96 ?times ?sqrt 2 C{V_I}.$ However, the appropriateness
      of assuming a constant CVI and using the 95% CL for RCV remains controversial.
      METHODS: The level-specific CVI and RCV were estimated for 20 screening tests
      using a database composed of results from 13,545 health-screening attendees over
      a 17-year period, after preliminary exclusion of individuals taking medications
      or having unusual changes in body mass index (BMI). A rational CL for RCV was
      explored in reference to a clinical score for the metabolic syndrome, sMS, which
      was derived based on a logistic regression model consisting of tests related to
      metabolic syndrome. The effect of adjusting CL for the RCV on diagnostic
      efficacies of detecting between-year change in sMS was evaluated. RESULTS: Test
      level dependency of CVI was apparent for some screening tests which have
      distributions with prominent skewing. The use of level-specific RCV was thus
      essential for them. The sensitivity for detecting a critical change in sMS based
      on the RCV set at 95%CL was extremely low in the majority of tests. However, by
      lowering CL stepwise from 95 to 75%, the sensitivity improved greatly without
      much change in specificity and positive predictive value. Loss-and-gain analysis
      showed that CL for RCV set around 80% gave the lowest loss, assuming a policy of
      reducing false negative judgment. CONCLUSIONS: Level specific CVI and RCV were
      necessary in tests with skewed distributions. RCV using 80%-90% CL is suitable in
      health screening for diseases that require early intervention for changes.

PMID- 26887039
TI  - A technical and clinical evaluation of a new assay for inhibin A and its use in
      second trimester Down syndrome screening.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare a new AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin
      A kit (B064-102) with the Access Inhibin A kit (A36097) using clinical specimens
      and to evaluate the AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin A assay performance in screening for
      Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: Using clinical
      samples, we performed a method comparison between new and existing inhibin A kits
      and assessed AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin A kit precision performance. Normal median
      values for the second trimester of pregnancy were also determined. Finally, we
      evaluated the screening performance of the AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin A kit together
      with other second trimester biomarkers for the detection of Down syndrome.
      RESULTS: The two methods showed a high degree of correlation (r=0.99, Pearson and
      Spearman correlation), and the average relative level difference between the
      methods at a concentration range of 41.7-1925 pg/mL was 19.6% [95% confidence
      interval (CI) from 17.6% to 21.5%]. The acceptable precision of the AutoDELFIA(r)
      Inhibin A kit was demonstrated: the within-lot CV% varied from 1.9% to 3.9%. The
      screening performance results show that AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin A when added to a
      combination of other second trimester serum markers [human alpha foetoprotein
      (hAFP), free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free hCGbeta) and
      unconjugated estriol (uE3) or hAFP and free hCGbeta] improves the detection rate
      of screening in both combinations. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the
      AutoDELFIA(r) Inhibin A assay is highly acceptable for routine laboratory use for
      screening Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy.

PMID- 26887040
TI  - Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) in obese children: no relationship to
      growth, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is a hepatic protein that plays
      a critical role in liver, adipose tissue, and bone metabolism. Animal models
      reported an increase of FGF-21 and associated growth disturbances in
      undernutrition. Therefore, we studied the impact of weight loss in obese children
      on growth, FGF-21, and insulin-like factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations. METHODS: We
      analyzed height, serum concentrations of FGF-21, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, leptin, and
      insulin at baseline and 1 year later in 30 obese children with substantial weight
      loss (reduction >0.5 BMI-SDS) and in 30 obese children of similar age, gender,
      and pubertal stage with stable BMI-SDS. All children participated in a 1-year
      lifestyle intervention. Height and IGF-1 was transformed to standard deviation
      score (SDS). Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and
      pubertal stage were performed. RESULTS: At baseline, height-SDS was significantly
      related to IGF-1-SDS (beta-coefficient 0.68 95% confidence interval (95% CI)+/
      0.49; p=0.008) and leptin (beta-coefficient 0.042 95% CI+/-0.030; p=0.008), but
      not to FGF-21 or insulin. FGF-21 was not significantly associated with IGF-1 or
      IGFBP-3. In longitudinal analysis, changes of FGF-21 were not significantly
      related to changes of height, IGF-1-SDS or IGFBP-3. However, in the subgroup of
      30 children with substantial BMI-SDS reduction, FGF-21, leptin, insulin, and HOMA
      decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: As there was no significant association
      between FGF-21 and growth or IGF-1 both in cross-sectional and longitudinal
      analyses, these findings do not support the hypothesis that FGF-21 is involved in
      growth of obese children. Further studies are necessary to understand the
      multiple alterations in the growth hormone (GH) axis in obese children.

PMID- 26887041
TI  - HMM-DM: identifying differentially methylated regions using a hidden Markov
      model.
AB  - DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification involved in organism development
      and cellular differentiation. Identifying differential methylations can help to
      study genomic regions associated with diseases. Differential methylation studies
      on single-CG resolution have become possible with the bisulfite sequencing (BS)
      technology. However, there is still a lack of efficient statistical methods for
      identifying differentially methylated (DM) regions in BS data. We have developed
      a new approach named HMM-DM to detect DM regions between two biological
      conditions using BS data. This new approach first uses a hidden Markov model
      (HMM) to identify DM CG sites accounting for spatial correlation across CG sites
      and variation across samples, and then summarizes identified sites into regions.
      We demonstrate through a simulation study that our approach has a superior
      performance compared to BSmooth. We also illustrate the application of HMM-DM
      using a real breast cancer dataset. 

PMID- 26887042
TI  - MLN-8237: A dual inhibitor of aurora A and B in soft tissue sarcomas.
AB  - Aurora kinases have become an attractive target in cancer therapy due to their
      deregulated expression in human tumors. Liposarcoma, a type of soft tissue
      sarcoma in adults, account for approximately 20% of all adult soft tissue
      sarcomas. There are no effective chemotherapies for majority of these tumors.
      Efforts made to define the molecular basis of liposarcomas lead to the finding
      that besides the amplifications of CDK4 and MDM2, Aurora Kinase A, also was shown
      to be overexpressed. Based on these as well as mathematic modeling, we have
      carried out a successful preclinical study using CDK4 and IGF1R inhibitors in
      liposarcoma. MLN8237 has been shown to be a potent and selective inhibitor of
      Aurora A. MLN-8237, as per our results, induces a differential inhibition of
      Aurora A and B in a dose dependent manner. At a low nanomolar dose, cellular
      effects such as induction of phospho-Histone H3 (Ser10) mimicked as that of the
      inhibition of Aurora kinase A followed by apoptosis. However, micromolar dose of
      MLN-8237 induced polyploidy, a hallmark effect of Aurora B inhibition. The dose
      dependent selectivity of inhibition was further confirmed by using siRNA specific
      inhibition of Aurora A and B. This was further tested by time lapse microscopy of
      GFP-H2B labelled cells treated with MLN-8237. LS141 xenograft model at a dose of
      30 mg/kg also showed efficient growth suppression by selective inhibition of
      Aurora Kinase A. Based on our data, a dose that can target only Aurora A will be
      more beneficial in tumor suppression. 

PMID- 26887043
TI  - Overcoming chemo/radio-resistance of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting STAT3
      signaling.
AB  - Chemo/radio-therapy resistance to the deadly pancreatic cancer is mainly due to
      the failure to kill pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). Signal transducer and
      activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is activated in pancreatic CSCs and,
      therefore, may be a valid target for overcoming therapeutic resistance. Here we
      investigated the potential of STAT3 inhibition in sensitizing pancreatic cancer
      to chemo/radio-therapy. We found that the levels of nuclear pSTAT3 in pancreatic
      cancer correlated with advanced tumor grade and poor patient outcome. Liposomal
      delivery of a STAT3 inhibitor FLLL32 (Lip-FLLL32) inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation
      and STAT3 target genes in pancreatic cancer cells and tumors. Consequently, Lip
      FLLL32 suppressed pancreatic cancer cell growth, and exhibited synergetic effects
      with gemcitabine and radiation treatment in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Lip
      FLLL32 reduced ALDH1-positive CSC population and modulated several potential stem
      cell markers. These results demonstrate that Lip-FLLL32 suppresses pancreatic
      tumor growth and sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to radiotherapy through
      inhibition of CSCs in a STAT3-dependent manner. By targeting pancreatic CSCs, Lip
      FLLL32 provides a novel strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy via overcoming
      radioresistance. 

PMID- 26887044
TI  - Targeting the p53-MDM2 interaction by the small-molecule MDM2 antagonist Nutlin
      3a: a new challenged target therapy in adult Philadelphia positive acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia patients.
AB  - MDM2 is an important negative regulator of p53 tumor suppressor. In this study,
      we sought to investigate the preclinical activity of the MDM2 antagonist, Nutlin
      3a, in Philadelphia positive (Ph+) and negative (Ph-) leukemic cell line models,
      and primary B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patient samples. We demonstrated
      that Nutlin-3a treatment reduced viability and induced p53-mediated apoptosis in
      ALL cells with wild-type p53 protein, in a time and dose-dependent manner,
      resulting in the increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and key
      regulators of cell cycle arrest. The dose-dependent reduction in cell viability
      was confirmed in primary blast cells from B-ALL patients, including Ph+ ALL
      resistant patients carrying the T315I BCR-ABL1 mutation. Our findings provide a
      strong rational for further clinical investigation of Nutlin-3a in Ph+ and Ph-
      ALL.

PMID- 26887045
TI  - Targeting DNA repair by coDbait enhances melanoma targeted radionuclide therapy.
AB  - Radiolabelled melanin ligands offer an interesting strategy for the treatment of
      disseminated pigmented melanoma. One of these molecules, ICF01012 labelled with
      iodine 131, induced a significant slowing of melanoma growth. Here, we have
      explored the combination of [131I]ICF01012 with coDbait, a DNA repair inhibitor,
      to overcome melanoma radioresistance and increase targeted radionuclide therapy
      (TRT) efficacy. In human SK-Mel 3 melanoma xenograft, the addition of coDbait had
      a synergistic effect on tumor growth and median survival. The anti-tumor effect
      was additive in murine syngeneic B16Bl6 model whereas coDbait combination with
      [131I]ICF01012 did not increase TRT side effects in secondary pigmented tissues
      (e.g. hair follicles, eyes). Our results confirm that DNA lesions induced by TRT
      were not enhanced with coDbait association but, the presence of micronuclei and
      cell cycle blockade in tumor shows that coDbait acts by interrupting or delaying
      DNA repair. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time, the usefulness of
      DNA repair traps in the context of targeted radionuclide therapy. 

PMID- 26887046
TI  - Rapid generation of novel models of RAG1 deficiency by CRISPR/Cas9-induced
      mutagenesis in murine zygotes.
AB  - Mutations in the Recombination Activating Gene 1 (RAG1) can cause a wide variety
      of clinical and immunological phenotypes in humans, ranging from absence of T and
      B lymphocytes to occurrence of autoimmune manifestations associated with
      expansion of oligoclonal T cells and production of autoantibodies. Although the
      mechanisms underlying this phenotypic heterogeneity remain poorly understood,
      some genotype-phenotype correlations can be made. Currently, mouse models of Rag
      deficiency are restricted to RAG1-/- mice and to knock-in models carrying severe
      missense mutations. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat
      (CRISPR)/Cas9 system is a novel and powerful gene-editing strategy that permits
      targeted introduction of DNA double strand breaks with high efficiency through
      simultaneous delivery of the Cas9 endonuclease and a guide RNA (gRNA). Here, we
      report on CRISPR-based, single-step generation and characterization of mutant
      mouse models in which gene editing was attempted around residue 838 of RAG1, a
      region whose functional role had not been studied previously. 

PMID- 26887047
TI  - Retrospective study testing next generation sequencing of selected cancer
      associated genes in resected prostate cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Prostate cancer (PCa) has a highly heterogeneous outcome. Beyond Gleason
      Score, Prostate Serum Antigen and tumor stage, nowadays there are no biological
      prognostic factors to discriminate between indolent and aggressive tumors.The
      most common known genomic alterations are the TMPRSS-ETS translocation and
      mutations in the PI3K, MAPK pathways and in p53, RB and c-MYC genes.The aim of
      this retrospective study was to identify by next generation sequencing the most
      frequent genetic variations (GVs) in localized and locally advanced PCa underwent
      prostatectomy and to investigate their correlation with clinical-pathological
      variables and disease progression. RESULTS: Identified non-synonymous GVs
      included TP53 p.P72R (78% of tumors), two CSFR1 SNPs, rs2066934 and rs2066933
      (70%), KDR p.Q472H (67%), KIT p.M541L (28%), PIK3CA p.I391M (19%), MET p.V378I
      (10%) and FGFR3 p.F384L/p.F386L (8%). TP53 p.P72R, MET p.V378I and CSFR1 SNPs
      were significantly associated with the HI risk group, TP53 and MET variations
      with T>=T2c. FGFR3 p.F384L/p.F386L was correlated with T<=T2b. MET p.V378I
      mutation, detected in 20% of HI risk patients, was associated with early
      biochemical recurrence. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Nucleic acids were obtained from
      tissue samples of 30 high (HI) and 30 low-intermediate (LM) risk patients,
      according to D'Amico criteria. Genomic DNA was explored with the
      Ion_AmpliSeq_Cancer_Hotspot_Panel_v.2 including 50 cancer-associated genes. GVs
      with allelic frequency (AF) >=10%, affecting protein function or previously
      associated with cancer, were correlated with clinical-pathological variables.
      CONCLUSION: Our results confirm a complex mutational profile in PCa, supporting
      the involvement of TP53, MET, FGFR3, CSF1R GVs in tumor progression and
      aggressiveness.

PMID- 26887048
TI  - Prognostic relevance of HER2/neu in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and induction of
      NK cell reactivity against primary ALL blasts by trastuzumab.
AB  - The epidermal growth factor receptor HER2/neu is expressed on various cancers and
      represents a negative prognostic marker, but is also a target for the therapeutic
      monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab. In about 30% of cases, HER2/neu is expressed on
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells and was proposed to be associated with a
      deleterious prognosis. Here we evaluated clinical data from 65 ALL patients
      (HER2/neu+, n = 17; HER2/neu-, n = 48) with a median follow-up of 19.4 months
      (range 0.6-176.5 months) and observed no association of HER2/neu expression with
      response to chemotherapy, disease free or overall survival. In vitro, treatment
      of primary ALL cells (CD20+HER2/neu+, CD20+HER2/neu- and CD20-HER2/neu-) with
      Rituximab and Trastuzumab led to activation of NK cells in strict dependence of
      the expression of the respective antigen. NK reactivity was more pronounced with
      Rituximab as compared to Trastuzumab, and combined application could lead to
      additive effects in cases where both antigens were expressed. Besides providing
      evidence that HER2/neu expression is no risk factor in ALL patients, our data
      demonstrates that HER2/neu can be a promising target for Trastuzumab therapy in
      the subset of ALL patients with the potential to improve disease outcome. 

PMID- 26887049
TI  - Substrate-specific effects of pirinixic acid derivatives on ABCB1-mediated drug
      transport.
AB  - Pirinixic acid derivatives, a new class of drug candidates for a range of
      diseases, interfere with targets including PPARalpha, PPARgamma, 5-lipoxygenase
      (5-LO), and microsomal prostaglandin and E2 synthase-1 (mPGES1). Since 5-LO,
      mPGES1, PPARalpha, and PPARgamma represent potential anti-cancer drug targets, we
      here investigated the effects of 39 pirinixic acid derivatives on prostate cancer
      (PC-3) and neuroblastoma (UKF-NB-3) cell viability and, subsequently, the effects
      of selected compounds on drug-resistant neuroblastoma cells. Few compounds
      affected cancer cell viability in low micromolar concentrations but there was no
      correlation between the anti-cancer effects and the effects on 5-LO, mPGES1,
      PPARalpha, or PPARgamma. Most strikingly, pirinixic acid derivatives interfered
      with drug transport by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCB1 in a drug
      specific fashion. LP117, the compound that exerted the strongest effect on ABCB1,
      interfered in the investigated concentrations of up to 2MUM with the ABCB1
      mediated transport of vincristine, vinorelbine, actinomycin D, paclitaxel, and
      calcein-AM but not of doxorubicin, rhodamine 123, or JC-1. In silico docking
      studies identified differences in the interaction profiles of the investigated
      ABCB1 substrates with the known ABCB1 binding sites that may explain the
      substrate-specific effects of LP117. Thus, pirinixic acid derivatives may offer
      potential as drug-specific modulators of ABCB1-mediated drug transport. 

PMID- 26887050
TI  - MicroRNA-138 promotes acquired alkylator resistance in glioblastoma by targeting
      the Bcl-2-interacting mediator BIM.
AB  - Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor in adults with a median survival
      below 12 months in population-based studies. The main reason for tumor recurrence
      and progression is constitutive or acquired resistance to the standard of care of
      surgical resection followed by radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant
      temozolomide (TMZ/RT->TMZ). Here, we investigated the role of microRNA (miRNA)
      alterations as mediators of alkylator resistance in glioblastoma cells. Using
      microarray-based miRNA expression profiling of parental and TMZ-resistant
      cultures of three human glioma cell lines, we identified a set of differentially
      expressed miRNA candidates. From these, we selected miR-138 for further
      functional analyses as this miRNA was not only upregulated in TMZ-resistant
      versus parental cells, but also showed increased expression in vivo in recurrent
      glioblastoma tissue samples after TMZ/RT->TMZ treatment. Transient transfection
      of miR-138 mimics in glioma cells with low basal miR-138 expression increased
      glioma cell proliferation. Moreover, miR-138 overexpression increased TMZ
      resistance in long-term glioblastoma cell lines and glioma initiating cell
      cultures. The apoptosis regulator BIM was identified as a direct target of miR
      138, and its silencing mediated the induced TMZ resistance phenotype. Altered
      sensitivity to apoptosis played only a minor role in this resistance mechanism.
      Instead, we identified the induction of autophagy to be regulated downstream of
      the miR-138/BIM axis and to promote cell survival following TMZ exposure. Our
      data thus define miR-138 as a glioblastoma cell survival-promoting miRNA
      associated with resistance to TMZ therapy in vitro and with tumor progression in
      vivo. 

PMID- 26887051
TI  - Multi-kinase inhibitors can associate with heat shock proteins through their NH2
      termini by which they suppress chaperone function.
AB  - We performed proteomic studies using the GRP78 chaperone-inhibitor drug AR-12
      (OSU-03012) as bait. Multiple additional chaperone and chaperone-associated
      proteins were shown to interact with AR-12, including: GRP75, HSP75, BAG2; HSP27;
      ULK-1; and thioredoxin. AR-12 down-regulated in situ immuno-fluorescence
      detection of ATP binding chaperones using antibodies directed against the NH2
      termini of the proteins but only weakly reduced detection using antibodies
      directed against the central and COOH portions of the proteins. Traditional SDS
      PAGE and western blotting assessment methods did not exhibit any alterations in
      chaperone detection. AR-12 altered the sub-cellular distribution of chaperone
      proteins, abolishing their punctate speckled patterning concomitant with changes
      in protein co-localization. AR-12 inhibited chaperone ATPase activity, which was
      enhanced by sildenafil; inhibited chaperone - chaperone and chaperone - client
      interactions; and docked in silico with the ATPase domains of HSP90 and of HSP70.
      AR-12 combined with sildenafil in a GRP78 plus HSP27 -dependent fashion to
      profoundly activate an eIF2alpha/ATF4/CHOP/Beclin1 pathway in parallel with
      inactivating mTOR and increasing ATG13 phosphorylation, collectively resulting in
      formation of punctate toxic autophagosomes. Over-expression of [GRP78 and HSP27]
      prevented: AR-12 -induced activation of ER stress signaling and maintained mTOR
      activity; AR-12 -mediated down-regulation of thioredoxin, MCL-1 and c-FLIP-s; and
      preserved tumor cell viability. Thus the inhibition of chaperone protein
      functions by AR-12 and by multi-kinase inhibitors very likely explains why these
      agents have anti-tumor effects in multiple genetically diverse tumor cell types. 

PMID- 26887052
TI  - XPG rs2296147 T>C polymorphism predicted clinical outcome in colorectal cancer.
AB  - Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG), one of key components of nucleotide excision
      repair pathway (NER), is involved in excision repair of UV-induced DNA damage.
      Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the XPG gene have been reported to
      associate with the clinical outcome of various cancer patients. We aimed to
      assess the impact of four potentially functional SNPs (rs2094258 C>T, rs2296147
      T>C, rs751402 G>A, and rs873601 G>A) in the XPG gene on prognosis in colorectal
      cancer (CRC) patients. A total of 1901 patients diagnosed with pathologically
      confirmed CRC were genotyped for four XPG polymorphisms. Cox proportional hazards
      model analysis controlled for several confounding factors was conducted to
      compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Of the four
      included SNPs, only rs2296147 was shown to significantly affect progression-free
      survival (PFS) in CRC. Patients carrying rs2296147 CT/TT genotype had a
      significantly shorter median 10 years PFS than those carrying CC genotype (88.5
      months vs. 118.1 months), and an increased progression risk were observed with
      rs2296147 (HR = 1.324, 95% CI = 1.046-1.667). Moreover, none of the four SNPs
      were associated with overall survival. In conclusion, our study showed that XPG
      rs2296147 CT/TT variants conferred significant survival disadvantage in CRC
      patients in term of PFS. XPG rs2296147 polymorphism could be predictive of
      unfavorable prognosis of CRC patients. 

PMID- 26887053
TI  - NFE2L2 variations reduce antioxidant response in patients with Parkinson disease.
AB  - Oxidative stress has been recognized as a risk factor of Parkinson's disease (PD)
      development. We hypothesized that decreased function of the nuclear factor
      (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway
      might predispose to Parkinsonism. A case-control study was performed between
      NFE2L2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and PD in a cohort of 765 unrelated
      patients with diagnosis of PD and 489 matched normal individuals. We found that
      c.351T>A, D117E (P = 0.003, OR = 2.8) and c.351T>A, D117E (P = 0.012, OR = 1.9)
      were significantly associated with PD. The risk allele of both polymorphisms
      showed a high frequency in our PD sample (c.351A: 19.7% and c.423T: 7.8%). The
      association between both c.351T>A and c.423G>T and PD was further confirmed in an
      independent case-control cohort consisting of 210 individuals with PD and 148
      normal controls. We further found that over expression of D117E and Q141H
      variants of NFE2L2 reduced target genes expression of Glutathione S-transferase
      Pi 1 (GSTP1), Glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1), and Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)
      genes. NFE2L2 D117E and Q141H impaired activation of ARE-driven transcriptional
      activity. Our findings indicate that NFE2L2 may play an important role in the
      pathogenesis of PD in Chinese populations. 

PMID- 26887054
TI  - Identification of novel long non-coding RNAs deregulated in hepatocellular
      carcinoma using RNA-sequencing.
AB  - Functional characterization of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their
      pathological relevance is still a challenging task. Abnormal expression of a few
      long non-coding RNAs have been found associated with hepatocellular carcinoma,
      with potential implications to both improve our understanding of molecular
      mechanism of liver carcinogenesis and to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis
      or therapy. However, the understanding of the global role of lncRNAs during HCC
      development is still in its infancy. In this study, we produced RNA-Seq data from
      23 liver tissues (controls, cirrhotic and HCCs) and applied statistical and gene
      network analysis approaches to identify and characterize expressed lncRNAs. We
      detected 5,525 lncRNAs across different tissue types and identified 57
      differentially expressed lncRNAs in HCC compared with adjacent non-tumour tissues
      using stringent criteria (FDR<0.05, Fold Change>2). Using weighted gene co
      expression network analysis (WGCNA), we found that differentially expressed
      lncRNAs are co-expressed with genes involved in cell cycle regulation, TGF-beta
      signalling and liver metabolism. Furthermore, we found that more than 20% of
      differentially expressed lncRNAs are associated to actively transcribed enhancers
      and that the co-expression patterns with their closest genes change dramatically
      during HCC development. Our study provides the most comprehensive compendium of
      lncRNAs expressed in HCC, as well as in control or cirrhotic livers. Our results
      identified both known oncogenic lncRNAs (such as H19 and CRNDE) and novel lncRNAs
      involved in cell cycle deregulation and liver metabolism deficits occurring
      during HCC development. 

PMID- 26887057
TI  - Professor Doctor Crisan Mircioiu.

PMID- 26887055
TI  - Expression of S1P metabolizing enzymes and receptors correlate with survival time
      and regulate cell migration in glioblastoma multiforme.
AB  - A signaling molecule which is involved in proliferation and migration of
      malignant cells is the lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). There are
      hints for a potential role of S1P signaling in malignant brain tumors such as
      glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) which is characterized by a poor prognosis.
      Therefore, a comprehensive expression analysis of S1P receptors (S1P1-S1P5) and
      S1P metabolizing enzymes in human GBM (n = 117) compared to healthy brain (n =
      10) was performed to evaluate their role for patient's survival. Furthermore,
      influence of S1P receptor inhibition on proliferation and migration were studied
      in LN18 GBM cells. Compared to control brain, mRNA levels of S1P1, S1P2, S1P3 and
      S1P generating sphingosine kinase-1 were elevated in GBM. Kaplan-Meier analyses
      demonstrated an association between S1P1 and S1P2 with patient's survival times.
      In vitro, an inhibitory effect of the SphK inhibitor SKI-II on viability of LN18
      cells was shown. S1P itself had no effect on viability but stimulated LN18
      migration which was blocked by inhibition of S1P1 and S1P2. The participation of
      S1P1 and S1P2 in LN18 migration was further supported by siRNA-mediated silencing
      of these receptors. Immunoblots and inhibition experiments suggest an involvement
      of the PI3-kinase/AKT1 pathway in the chemotactic effect of S1P in LN18 cells.In
      summary, our data argue for a role of S1P signaling in proliferation and
      migration of GBM cells. Individual components of the S1P pathway represent
      prognostic factors for patients with GBM. Perspectively, a selective modulation
      of S1P receptor subtypes could represent a therapeutic approach for GBM patients
      and requires further evaluation. 

PMID- 26887056
TI  - Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 increases AKAP-9 expression by promoting SRPK1
      catalyzed SRSF1 phosphorylation in colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - Our earlier findings indicate that the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 promotes
      colorectal cancer (CRC) cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in vitro and
      in vivo by increasing expression of AKAP-9. In the present study, we investigated
      the molecular mechanism by which MALAT1 enhances AKAP9 expression in CRC SW480
      cells. We found that MALAT1 interacts with both SRPK1 and SRSF1. MALAT1 increases
      AKAP-9 expression by promoting SRPK1-catalyzed SRSF1 phosphorylation. Following
      MALAT1 knockdown, overexpression of SRPK1 was sufficient to restore SRSF1
      phosphorylation and AKAP-9 expression to a level that promoted cell
      proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro. Conversely, SRPK1 knockdown after
      overexpression of MALAT1 in SW480 cells diminished SRSF1 phosphorylation and AKAP
      9 expression and suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro.
      These findings suggest MALAT1 increases AKAP-9 expression by promoting SRPK1
      catalyzed SRSF1 phosphorylation in CRC cells. These results reveal a novel
      molecular mechanism by which MALAT1 regulates AKAP-9 expression in CRC cells. 

PMID- 26887059
TI  - A UNITED CLASSIFICATION IN CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS AND THE CARDIA BASED ON THE
      LYMPH METASTASIS.
AB  - The problem of the surgical treatment of cancer of the esophagus-gastric
      transition is up to date until today and has caused disagreements between the
      surgeons. This is one of the most aggressive visceral tumors. Metastasis is very
      specific due to the specificity of lymph edema. We operated 213 patients for four
      years period, 162 of them male and 51 - female. Cancer cardia and lower third of
      the esophagus are seen in 163 of them. All carcinomas of the gastroesophageal
      transition are diagnosed as adenocarcinomas, which means there is an increase of
      this localization of the tumor. This distribution of cardiac carcinoma Sieber is
      almost equal in our series of patients. We operated 137 patients for three years
      period. Sieber 1 - 47 patients, Sieber 2 - 37 patients, Sieber 3 - 53 patients.
      The persentage raio is as follows: Sieber 1 - 34%, Sieber 2 - 27%, Sieber 3-39%.

PMID- 26887058
TI  - MULTIVISCERAL RESECTIONS FOR GASTRIC CANCER.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multivisceral resection for locally advanced gastric cancer is
      necessary to achieve R0-margins. This surgical option is accompanied by short-
      and long-term outcomes that still remain questionable. AIM: Our aim was to
      evaluate the efficacy of "en bloc"-resections as an "aggressive" surgical
      approach with regard to postoperative morbidity, mortality and survival. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: Postoperative morbidity, mortality and survival rates of 60 patients
      with locally advanced gastric carcinoma, who underwent total or subtotal
      gastrectomy with multivisceral resection between 2004-2014, were retrospectively
      analysed. RESULTS: The most common adjacent organs resected were spleen (n = 46) 
      76.7%, pancreas (n = 24) - 40%, colon (n = 11) - 18.3%, liver (n = 9) - 15% and
      duodenum (n = 4) - 6.7%. Resection of more than one organ was performed in 70% of
      cases, R0-resection was achieved in 75%, histopathologic examination confirmed
      involvement of adjacent organs (pT4) in 42 patients (70%). Surgical mortality and
      morbidity rates were 6.7% and 28.3% respectively. The overall 5-year survival
      rate was 24.1% (R0 vs R1 resections - 32.6 vs 0%, p < 0.05). There is a 10-year
      survival rate of 5.2% registered. CONCLUSION: R0-multivisceral resection is the
      key therapeutic option for advanced gastric cancer. It appears to be feasible in
      selected patients on providing adequate selection and surgical expertise and can
      be achieved with relatively low mortality and morbidity, offering good overall
      and 5-year survival rates.

PMID- 26887060
TI  - SINGLE-ACCESS TRANSUMBILICAL LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY USING CURVED REUSABLE
      INSTRUMENTS: AN INITIAL REPORT OF THREE CASES.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The continuous evolution of laparoscopic surgery and the ambition
      of better cosmetic results raise the need for less invasive procedures. The
      umbilicus represents a natural scar and constitutes a well-healing site of access
      to the peritoneal cavity. Single-access Transumbilical Laparoscopy (SATL) is
      gaining popularity and can be an alternative surgical treatment for acute
      appendicitis. We report three cases of SATL appendectomy using curved reusable
      instruments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three female patients, wanting minimal
      scarring (mean age - 30 years) were admitted to our hospital in April 2015 with
      acute abdominal pain in the right iliac area. A SATL appendectomy was performed
      using a standard 11-mm reusable trocar for a 10-mm, 30 degrees- angled, rigid
      scope and curved reusable instruments according to DAPRI (Karl Storz-Endoskope,
      Tuttlingen, Germany) placed transumbilically. RESULTS: Neither a conversion to
      open surgery nor an insertion of extraumbilical trocars was necessary. The mean
      operative time was 101.6 +/- 24.66 minutes and the mean blood loss 6.66 +/- 11.54
      mL. The mean scar length was 16.66 +/- 0.57 mm. No intraoperative complications
      were registered and the use of minimal pain killers allowed the discharge after 2
      or maximum 4 days. After three months of follow-up no late complications occurred
      and the umbilical scar was not visible. CONCLUSION: In young and scarless
      demanding females with acute appendicitis SATL appendectomy can be performed
      safely and offers the possibility of surgical treatment without a visible scar.

PMID- 26887062
TI  - TRENDS AND ALTERNATIVES IN TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT TUMORS OF EXTRAHEPATIC BILE
      DUCTS.
AB  - Neoplasms of extrahepatic bile ducts are rare and represent about 2% of all
      malignant diseases. Their clinical manifestation is delayed, when they are in
      advanced stage and the opportunities for radical treatment are limited. The
      resectability rate of the tumors of the middle and distal part of the bile ducts
      is higher than the percentage of the neoplasms with perihilar localization.
      Improved methods for preoperative diagnostic and staging as well as the
      individualized therapeutic approach, including biliary drainage, use of
      contemporary surgical techniques and methods, selective embolization of portal
      vein, partial hepatectomy, resection of caudal lobe, lead to increased rate of
      radical operations and improved long-term results.

PMID- 26887061
TI  - GIANT MORGAGNI HERNIA IN A FEMALE WITH MALROTATION SYNDROME AND THORACIC
      TRANSPOSITION OF SMALL BOWEL, COECUM, ASCENDING AND TRANSVERSE COLON.
AB  - The sterno-costal hernia of Morgagni is a congenital vice in which is represented
      unfinished fusion of the transverse septum and the muscular diaphragmal wall. The
      malrotation syndrome is an embryonic vice as well, with various degree of
      incomplete and even reverse rotation of the gut, because of disturbed or
      unfinished development of the midgut. The described case presents a 37 years old
      female without anamnesis of any previous complains, who was pointed to the clinic
      after a X-ray photograph because of breathless and asteno-adynamic syndrome.
      After a precise CT investigation performance was found the presence of the above
      described anomalities, as well as ectopy of the right kidney and the right liver
      part. An operative treatment was performed with correction of the hernia and the
      bowel malrotation. The patient was followed up to the 12th month post
      operatively. After a review of the literature in the discussion we inspect the
      diagnostics and the definition of the right surgical tactics and operative
      approach in this case with combined malformative pathology.

PMID- 26887063
TI  - It Isn't Just Happening to Medicine: Thoughts on My Year as MedChi President.

PMID- 26887064
TI  - Beating to Windward. Making Progress in Difficult Times.

PMID- 26887065
TI  - MedChi Sets Priorities for 2016.

PMID- 26887067
TI  - Introduction.

PMID- 26887066
TI  - I See Your Facebook and Raise You One Google!

PMID- 26887068
TI  - How to Manage Your Online Reputation.

PMID- 26887069
TI  - Who Are Healthcare Dropouts? A ZocDoc Study.

PMID- 26887070
TI  - Professional Social Networks Helping Solve Physician Communication Challenges.

PMID- 26887071
TI  - Text Messaging and Physician Communication: Tweeting Others as We Would Want to
      Be Tweeted.

PMID- 26887072
TI  - Diminishing the Risk of Physician-to-Physician Mobile Communication.

PMID- 26887073
TI  - Helping Future Patients Find Your Practice on the Internet: It's All About SEO.

PMID- 26887075
TI  - "A Servant to His Brethren". Osler's Impact on the University of Maryland School
      of Medicine and on MedChi.

PMID- 26887074
TI  - Legal and Ethical Concerns of Digital Media and Technology in Healthcare.

PMID- 26887076
TI  - Late Night Thoughts.

PMID- 26887077
TI  - Elemental Etymology.

PMID- 26887078
TI  - '360 Strategy' Tackles Heroin, Rx Drug Abuse.

PMID- 26887079
TI  - Informed Workers Are Safer Workers: Science Is the Key to FR Technology.

PMID- 26887080
TI  - If the Shoe Fits....

PMID- 26887081
TI  - Footwear That Goes the Extra Mile.

PMID- 26887083
TI  - Key Ingredients: What Makes a Safety Strategy Effective.

PMID- 26887082
TI  - Four Steps to GHS Compliance.

PMID- 26887084
TI  - Taking the Work Out of Reward and Recognition: Using Wellness, Safety, and
      Performance Incentives.

PMID- 26887085
TI  - Taking Stock of 2015.

PMID- 26887086
TI  - Solving Employee Transportation Issues.

PMID- 26887087
TI  - Comfort is the Key to FR Clothing Compliance.

PMID- 26887088
TI  - Gearing Up for the Race Against Time.

PMID- 26887089
TI  - Prepare for the Worst and Then Be Ready When It Happens.

PMID- 26887090
TI  - Training By the Book.

PMID- 26887091
TI  - No Strain Safety.

PMID- 26887092
TI  - Unmet clinical needs in cervical cancer screening.
AB  - Cancer rates worldwide are expected to increase disproportionally in coming
      decades relative to the projected increase in population, especially in the
      developing world. The general unavailability of the Pap test and the cost of the
      HPV test in the developing world have precluded the deployment of effective
      cervical cancer screening programs in many developing countries. Recent
      improvements in testing technology arise from a need to overcome the significant
      limitations of the Pap test and HPV test, but results require first-world
      technology and validation. Developing countries, where cervical cancer remains
      one of the most important causes of cancer death, have the greatest need for an
      affordable, easy-to-use, and highly reliable cancer screening method that can
      return a diagnosis through efficient laboratory analysis or, more easily, at a
      woman's point of care. While research, testing, and vaccine improvements in
      recent years continue to lower the incidence of cervical cancer in some developed
      countries such as the U.S., HPV testing research needs to do more than test for
      the presence of virus. The tests must determine the presence and progression of
      cervical disease. Tests should be more sensitive and specific than Pap tests and
      Pap-related tests, and should be accurate in more than 90 percent of cases. Tests
      also need to be low-cost, objective, and easy to perform so screening programs
      can be widely implemented in developing countries where the need for a better
      cervical cancer screening test is highest. Such tests may be available through
      the recent advances in specific biomarkers of cervical cancer and multiplex
      detection technologies. Development of the next generation of cervical cancer
      tests that are more specific, sensitive, and informative than the traditional Pap
      or HPV test will make a significant impact on the reduction of cervical cancer
      worldwide.

PMID- 26887093
TI  - The evolution of prenatal testing: how NIPT is changing the landscape in fetal
      aneuploidy screening.

PMID- 26887094
TI  - Beyond conventional cell analysis: the latest science and technology in flow
      cytometry.
AB  - Combining powerful performance and innovative design and technology, it is
      possible to deliver a compact, easy-to-use flow cytometry system. Pushing the
      'norms' of conventional flow cytometry, today's--and tomorrow's--systems enable
      complex research into high-content applications in cell biology, as well as a
      deeper understanding of the advantages gained from the emerging nanoparticle
      frontier. Flow cytometry is a powerful tool for interrogating complex biological
      questions at the forefront of biomedical and life science research and
      increasingly for clinical laboratory applications. Today's investigators want to
      harness that power and are demanding smaller and more powerful instruments that
      are more affordable and easier to use. Using innovation, engineers are able to
      deliver solutions to meet the challenge.

PMID- 26887095
TI  - Liquid biopsy: the time is even more right!

PMID- 26887096
TI  - In the news: antibiotic resistance.

PMID- 26887097
TI  - Co-creating critical limits for enhanced acute care: proven need and web
      knowledge base. Part 2: Standard of care, what it means and how it is applied.

PMID- 26887098
TI  - What's the buzz in drug testing?

PMID- 26887100
TI  - Change Is the Name of the Game.

PMID- 26887101
TI  - Adherence to Oral Agents for Cancer. The Nurse's Role in an Evolving Phenomenon.

PMID- 26887102
TI  - How Can Nurses Help Patients Adhere to Their Oral Chemotherapy?.

PMID- 26887103
TI  - Oncology Nurses Can Use Evidence to Promote Oral Adherence.

PMID- 26887104
TI  - Growing Number of States Enact Right-to-Try Laws in Challenge to FDA.

PMID- 26887105
TI  - How to Manage the Side Effects of New Targets Agents for Metastatic Colorectal
      Cancer.

PMID- 26887106
TI  - FDA Claims Jurisdiction Over Premarket Tobacco Product Applications.

PMID- 26887107
TI  - The Case of the Looming Medical Bankruptcy.

PMID- 26887108
TI  - Aspirin Post-Diagnosis for Gastrointestinal Cancer Linked to Improved Survival.

PMID- 26887109
TI  - GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIPID-METABOLIC INDICATORS AT
      THE YAKUTSK.
AB  - AIM: To estimate interrelations of gastroesophageal reflux disease with lipid
      metabolic indicators at the Yakutsk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A one-stage
      investigation of 100 patients of the Yakut nationality with gastroesophageal
      reflux disease (GERD) is carried out. For estimating the association of GERD
      clinical symptoms with lipid-metabolic indicators a method of binary logistical
      regress with compulsory inclusion of predictors has been used. RESULTS: According
      to results of the comparison most statistically significant distinctions of
      metabolic indicators are revealed at GERD esophageal (eructation) and extra
      esophageal symptoms (night cough), dyspepsia (distention, epigastric heaviness),
      as well as snoring. Logistical regression analysis has confirmed interrelation of
      clinical symptoms with lipid-metabolic indicators, as waist circumference, a
      level of arterial pressure and blood lipid (triglycerides, lipoprotein
      cholesterol of low and high density). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the estimation of
      interrelation of GERD clinical symptoms with MS criteria at the Yakutsk has
      revealed the influence of MS components, especially abdominal adiposity, arterial
      hypertension and triglycerides on the development of dyspepsic symptoms
      (distention, epigastric heaviness), GERD esophageal (eructation) and extra
      esophageal manifestations (night cough).

PMID- 26887111
TI  - ADAPTIVE REACTIONS OF INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF YAKUTIA.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The researches of organism's adaptive possibilities of indigenous
      population of the Arctic region are extremely important in modern conditions of
      the development of northern territories. The functional reserve of basic
      physiological systems and their interaction define "the health's resources", its
      potential level. AIM: This research has substantiated the adaptive reactions of
      organism of the North inhabitants on the basis of medical-physiological results.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physical development was estimated by the standard
      anthopometrical method: the height and body mass were measured, index of body
      mass (BM), Quetelet's index, Rohrer's index were defined, area of body surface
      was calculated. Carbon dioxide in the air was defined by portable infra-red gas
      analyzer of firm "Fudji" for measurements indoors and outdoors. The parametres of
      blood acid-base state (ABS) were analyzed by standard procedures with
      microevaluator application ABL-330 (Denmark). Computer spirometry was done on the
      hardware-software diagnostic complex (HSDC) for analyses of external respiration
      function (NSRIMT - Russia) and "Pneumoscrin-2" of Erih Eger company (Germany).
      Arterial pressure was measured by Korotkov's method. RESULTS: The inhabitants of
      the North irrespective of ethnicity have conditions for more effective lung
      ventilation to satisfaction of the high metabolic requirements of the organism.
      CONCLUSIONS: Stability of arterial pressure among indigenous population,
      microcirculation optimisation and transcapillary tissues exchange, conserves
      steady level of metabolism that testifies a high level of adaptation of the
      person to severe climate- geographic North conditions.

PMID- 26887110
TI  - FEATURES OF CLINICAL-FUNCTIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG
      DISEASE IN COMBINATION WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME IN ETHNIC GROUPS OF THE YAKUTS AND
      THE RUSSIANS.
AB  - AIM: Studying features of clinical-functional manifestations of chronic
      obstructive lung disease in the combination with metabolic syndrome in the Yakut
      ethnic group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The basic group consisted of 39 patients of
      Yakut nationality with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in the combination
      with metabolic syndrome (MS), middle age of them being 53.4 +/- 1.17 years. The
      comparison group comprised 40 patients of Russian nationality with COLD and MS
      with middle age 53.1 +/- 1.21 years. Features of clinical manifestations and
      respiratory functions are studied. RESULTS: Cough and sputum were noted in
      dynamics for 3 years by 64.1% of Yakut patients and 85% of the Russians, p =
      0.033; the intensity of cough was marked at 30% of patients of Russian
      nationality and 15.4% of patients of the Yakut nationality, p = 0.01 6. The
      morning sputum and daily sputum within 3 months a year at the Russians in
      comparison with the Yakuts was marked in 95 % vs 74,4 %, p = 0.011; 80.0% vs
      56.4% p = 0.024, accordingly. According to Medical Research Council (mMRC)
      Dyspnea Scale (Mahler et al., 1985) dyspnea has been 2.2 +/- 0.09 points atthe
      Yakuts vs 2.7 +/- 0.09 points at Russian, p = 0.002. At patients of the Yakut
      nationality more often exacerbations were registered 2 times a year (53.8%), at
      patients of Russian nationality noted 3 times a year (55%). Respiratory function
      manifestations have been at patients of the Yakut nationality with COLD and MS,
      in comparison with similar Russian patients: forced expiratory volume for a first
      second (FEV,) - 64,0+2,30 % vs 56,8?2,69 %, p = 0,026; forced vital capacity of
      lungs (FVC) - 65,0?2,45 vs 65,0?3,70, p = 0.733; FEV1/FVCL ratio being 102.5 +/-
      2.81 vs 87.3 +/- 3.30, p = 0.000, accordingly. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of
      ethnicity the phenotype "D" has higher prevalence rate of clinical phenotype COLD
      in the combination with metabolic syndrome, thus at the Russians the clinical
      COLD is characterized by severe clinical manifestations in comparison with
      theYakuts, and also in both ethnic groups expiratory dysfunctions in the form of
      decreasing FEV1, decreasing FVC and increases of ratio FEV1/FVC > 70% are marked.

PMID- 26887112
TI  - THE ROLE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IN THE MECHANISM OF LIVER CANCER FORMATION AMONG THE
      FAR NORTH INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Yakutia is a region of high prevalence of viral hepatitis B, C and
      D. The rating and ranking of risk factors for the formation of cirrhosis and
      primary liver cancer in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) B, C and D in
      the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (R S(Y)), it is a serious medical problem. AIM:
      Studying of the main reasons for the progression of chronic viral hepatitis B, C
      and D to cirrhosis and liver cancer in the Far North. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Materials of official statistics of theTerritorial Rospotrebnadzor and official
      registration of the Ministry of Health of RS (Y); serological and molecular
      biological research methods to the studying of HCV genotype B, C, D. RESULTS: On
      the basis of long-term morbidity of chronic viral hepatitis B, C and D and their
      outcomes in Yakutia defined a role in the progression to cirrhosis and primary
      liver cancer, ethnicity and genotype of HBV and HDV. Established fact of viral
      replication in cirrhosis and primary liver cancer under adverse social and
      environmental factors, genetically determined increased concentration of
      acetaldehyde due to impaired activity of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) and
      aldegiddegirogenases (AIDG) at the indigenous inhabitants of the republic proves
      the need for targeted therapy of complex events. CONCLUSIONS: The regions of
      Yakutia are the most affected by the virus of hepatitis B, C and D with
      progressive course of the disease to cirrhosis and cirrhosis liver cancer,
      defined by genotype hepatitis B & D, in which significantly usually occurs
      primary liver cancer, also noted that the combined mixed-replicating virus
      hepatitis is a risk factor for primary liver cancer.

PMID- 26887113
TI  - PSYCHOLOGICAL AND VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS--YAKUTS WITH DIFFERENT
      EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.
AB  - Consideration of ethnic features of adaptation of students to educational
      activity in high school is needed as to optimize the learning process and to
      preserve the functional reserves of the organism. We investigated the
      characteristics of the psychological status and correlated them with the heart
      rhythm variability in students Yakuts with varying different effectiveness of
      educational success. Regression analysis of the relationship of personality
      psychological characteristics of students with indicators of the spectral power
      of heart rate showed that more adaptive resource autonomic regulation of the
      heart have people with an average level of introversion and of personal anxiety
      indicators corresponding to the transition from moderate to high degree and also
      in individuals with an average levels of neuroticism. Revealed higher
      effectiveness of examinations students introverted compared to extroverts and
      students with high personal anxiety relatively to persons with moderate personal
      anxiety. High efficiency of intellectual activity of students is achieved through
      high tension mechanisms vegetative regulation of the heart.

PMID- 26887114
TI  - BREADTH SPREADING OF VIRAL HEPATITIS MARKERS IN THE RISK GROUPS IN THE REPUBLIC
      OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is a hyperendemic region of Russian
      Federation for spreading of parenteral viral hepatitis B, C and D. In risk groups
      of these diseases are firstly medical personnel, who contacting with infection
      carriers including latent infections family and members of families of chronic
      viral hepatitis carriers. AIM: To reveal the breadth of spreading of viral
      hepatitis markers in the risk groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of HBV-
      and HC- infection were determined in medical staff of large multi specialty
      hospital and family members of people with viral hepatitis B and C.
      Epidemiological, clinical, serological and molecular biology methods of viral
      hepatitis diagnostics were applied in this study. RESULTS: Results of this study
      showed that the staff at surgery and hematology departments and all nursing staff
      belong to the high-risk of HBV-infection groups. Therefore, they are a priority
      for active immunization. Attention is paid on the fact that infectivity of
      medical staff is not equally distributed in dependence on type of department and
      position of medical staff. Rate HBV-marker detecting in "family hearths" was
      dependent on degree of interrelationship with infection source. According
      received information, in families of patientwith chronic hepatitis B spreading of
      infection was higher (77.6%) then in families of patients with acute hepatitis B
      (39.7%). At primary examination of families an anti-HCV was detected in 9.3 +/-
      1.8% cases, i.e. the spreading of HCV was at low-activity. CONCLUSIONS: Results
      of our study on spreading of hepatitis B and C in Yakutia showed the high rate of
      appearance of HCV and HBV markers in the risk groups.

PMID- 26887115
TI  - LICHENS' B-OLIGOSACCHARIDES IN THE CORRECTION OF METABOLIC DISORDERS IN TYPE 2
      DIABETES MELLITUS.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Lichens of the genus Cladonia are used as medicinal plants in folk
      medicine. Biologically active food supplement (BAFS) on the basis of lichens p.
      Cladonia was derived by mechanical-chemical biotechnology in the Educational
      Research-Engineering Laboratory "Mechanical-Chemical Biotechnology" of the North
      Eastern Federal University (NEFU). As a result of biotech impact, the solid beta
      glycoside bonds are destructed on beta-oligosaccharide molecules, and other
      groups of lichen BAS is mobilized. The content of hydrolysable carbohydrates in
      samples of lichen increased 8 times after mechanical activation. AIM: The aim of
      investigation was to study the effects of BAFS "Yagel-Detox" in patients with
      type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 150 patients (group 1
      -100 patients receiving "Yagel-Detox", group 2--50 patients receiving placebo)
      with a diagnosis DM 2 were examined. The research included: general clinical and
      instrumental examination, biochemical and clinical blood tests. "Yagel-Detox" was
      used 1 capsule 3 times a day, the rate of admission was 3 months. RESULTS:
      Clinical trials have shown that 3-month intake of BAFS "Yagel-Detox" reduces the
      concentration of blood glucose 1.3 1.6 times (in the control group--1.2 / 1.4
      times), glycosylated hemoglobin--from 9.8 / 11.4% to 7.6% (in the control group-
      1.0%). The concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) reduced on 1.3% through
      6 months. Patients of both groups were on the similar tablet glucose-lowering
      therapy (randomized treatment), which have not been adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: The
      obtained results allow us to recommend BAFS "Yagel-Detox" as an additional remedy
      to normalize blood glucose concentration in patients with DM 2.

PMID- 26887117
TI  - NEW APPLICATIONS OF ADAPTOGENS TO REDUCE RADIATION SIDE EFFECTS.
AB  - One of the live medical issues today is to find medication to prevent adverse
      effects of ionizing radiation on the immune and hematopoietic systems. In Yakutia
      where in most of its regions the overall environmental situation is getting worse
      due to the development of natural deposits including radioactive deposits, this
      problem remains vital. The purpose of this work is to study radioprotective
      properties of adaptogens in the case of the hematopoietic system under
      irradiation. The studies were conducted on certain groups of hybrid mice. We used
      the methods of radiation exposure by a radiological apparatus RUM-25 on hybrid
      mice followed by studying the cellularity of bone marrow, spleen and thymus. The
      functional activity of all compartments of early hematopoiesis (bone marrow
      hematopoiesis) was identified by the exogenous colony forming method. The study
      found that the extracts of reindeer and moose antlers have a stimulating effect
      on the functional activity of the hematopoietic precursors in response to
      radiation. The study medication stimulates regeneration processes in the thymus
      and bone marrow after irradiation. Further, the adaptogens stimulatory effect on
      CFU functional activity was identified. The most pronounced effect has the
      extracts of reindeer antlers "Epsorin".

PMID- 26887116
TI  - CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRONIC GASTRITIS WITH
      FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chronic gastritis with syndrome, functional dyspepsia (SFD) is one
      of the most pressing problems in medicine. Certain scientific and practical
      interest is the elucidation of the frequency and clinical manifestations of
      functional dyspepsia in patients hospitalized in the gastroenterology department
      YAGKB and frequency combinations of chronic gastritis (including H. pylori) with
      functional dyspepsia. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical
      and morphological features of the chronic gastritis with syndrome pattern of
      functional dyspepsia in native-born and people of the Republic of Sakha
      (Yakutia), and to assess the effectiveness of treatment, depending on the gastric
      acid and H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined 105 patients with
      functional dyspepsia, including 41 patients with epigastric pain syndrome and 64
      patients with postprandial distress syndrome. Considered groups of patients were
      homogeneous for age, gender, by ethnicity. Of the 105 patients included in the
      study, I group were 57 indigenous people (80% of them--Yakutia), 11 group--48
      people visiting (Caucasians). RESULTS: Clinical presentation and course of
      chronic gastritis with functional dyspepsia in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
      have a number of distinctive features: epigastric pain syndrome occurs in 26.8%
      of patients and 73.2% of the indigenous population of the visitor, the intensity
      of pain in the root is much lower than that of visitors--12 and 85% respectively.
      Postprandial distress syndrome was diagnosed in 71.9% of patients and 28.1% of
      the indigenous newcomers. At endoscopy in all patients with functional dyspepsia
      diagnosed chronic gastritis. The native inhabitants of the most common mixed
      gastritis (54.5%), the newcomers--superficial gastritis (66.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The
      found features of a current of functional dyspepsia can be further the basis for
      the individualized and differentiated approaches to treatment of this disease.

PMID- 26887118
TI  - THE SITUATION WITH STAFFING IN PEDIATRIC SERVICES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA
      (YAKUTIA).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: At present, the public health in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
      (RS(Y)) is a powerful state structure with an extensive network of prevention and
      treatment facilities. Since medical service density is the most generalized
      criterion of the medical service level, its analysis represents special interest
      to any regional system of public health. AIM: To analyze the dynamics of
      availability of doctors of all fields, of pediatricians, including pediatric
      surgeons, pediatric endocrinologists, and pediatric oncologists in 1995-2013.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis is done to reveal the dynamics of
      availability of doctors: of all fields, pediatricians, including pediatric
      surgeons, pediatric endocrinologists, and pediatric oncologists to the population
      of Yakutia in 1995-2013. A statistical and comparative analysis of the data has
      done. RESULTS: As a whole, in the studied period, RS(Y) witnessed an increase in
      the availability of doctors of the pediatric profile to the child population.
      Both in the Russian Federation and in the RS(Y) in particular, the increased
      availability of pediatricians was mainly due to the reduction of the child
      population and, to a lesser degree, to an increase in the number of doctors.
      CONCLUSIONS: The survey revealed the increased availability of pediatricians in
      RS(Y) only in densely populated areas and the continuing lack of pediatric
      services in the areas with low population density.

PMID- 26887119
TI  - MICROBIOCENOSIS IN INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES OF MARGINAL GUM AMONG CHILDREN.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The development of gingivitis among children remains actual problem
      in modern dentistry due to high prevalence, disorders of dental-alveolar
      functions and development of parodontium diseases at the older age. The
      microorganisms occupying dental chamfer play the leading role in parodontium
      tissues damage. AIM: Research of microbial spectrum of dental chamfer and
      assessment of etiology significances of the revealed microorganisms in gingivitis
      among children of school age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacteriological research of
      dental chamfer in 30 children of secondary school age with gingivitis of slight
      and severe level. Inoculations have been done on the chocolate agar incubated in
      air-locked containers with gas generators for anaerobic atmosphere "GENbag Anaer"
      and inoculations on bloody gemagar--with gas generators for microaerophiles
      "GENbag Microaer" (bioMerieux) within 24-48 hours. Infections were precipitated
      out on the Saburo medium. Identification of discharged cultures was carried out
      on the microbialogic evaluator "Vitek II Compact" (bioMerieux). RESULTS:
      Microflora of dental chamfer in the examined children has been presented by three
      groups of microorganisms: gram-positive cocci (63.3%), gram-negative
      nonfermentative bacteriums (63.3%) and yeast Candida fungus (30%). Among gram
      postitive cocci representatives of normal microflora of oral cavity Streptococcus
      oralis (26.6%) were dominated. Neisseria (N. sicca, cinerea et animaloris) were
      dominated most often in the group of gram-negative nonfermentative bacteriums
      (23.3% of children), yeast Candida fungus have been presented by two kinds--C.
      dubliensis (at 20% of children) and C. albicans (at 10%). The mean content of all
      discharged microorganisms has compounded 5,7 Ig KOE that supposes their etiology
      role in development of marginal gum inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Received results
      showed us some mechanisms of development of inflammatory diseases of parodontium
      tissues which will allow us to develop new approaches of treatment and gingivitis
      prevention among children of school age.

PMID- 26887120
TI  - THE ANALYSIS OF MAJOR RISK FACTORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG INHABITANTS
      OF THE NORTH REGION.
AB  - Last years the problem of organism's adaptation to severe climate-environmental
      conditions of the Far North has been intensively developed. The Republic of Sakha
      (Yakutia) is the most northern republic of the Russian Federation. People have
      created a unique way of life, language, original culture on this cold part of the
      earth and have carried centuries later. This unique experience has been saved up
      throughout many centuries and generated in natural environment of habitation and
      passed from generation to generation. Last years the changes of living conditions
      of indigenous population, urbanization and globalisation, deterioration of
      ecological conditions exhausted reserve possibilities of organism. Among the
      indigenous population health change has menacing character, especially among the
      children's population. The analysis of major risk factors of the development of
      cardiovascular diseases among the indigenous population of the north has been
      carried out in this research.

PMID- 26887121
TI  - EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF CHRONIC VIRUS HEPATITIS B AND C IN THE REPUBLIC SAKHA
      (YAKUTIA).
AB  - High disease burden of chronic virus hepatitis B and C of population in the
      Republic Sakha (Yakutia) is subject to referring it to endemic territories due to
      these infections. For a 15-year-old period the disease has been registered at
      higher rates in the Russian Federation.

PMID- 26887122
TI  - CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTUAL FOOD AT ELDERLY AND SENILE AGED POPULATION OF YAKUTIA.
AB  - AIM: To conduct estimation of actual food among in digenous and arrived
      population of Yakutia of elderly and senile ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the
      work results of epidemiological research with analysis of actual food of the
      population of Yakutia at the age of 60 years and over are presented. On the basis
      of a list of candidates with use of random selection a representative sample of
      men and women of Yakutsk at the age of 60 years and more has been generated. In
      total 775 foreheads were surveyed, the middle age has made 75.7 +/- 9.4 years.
      For the analysis of actual food 575 people (244 men and 331 women) have been
      included. Among the surveyed there were 244 respondents of the in digenous
      population (the Yakuts) and 331 arrived respondents (the Russians, the
      Ukrainians, the Byelorussians, the Poles, the Germans, the Jews). The estimation
      of actual food is conducted by means of a frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: High
      content of general fat, sated fat acids, polyunsaturated fat acids and refined
      sugar due to low consumption of general carbohydrates is revealed. At the
      analysis of food package of the indigenous population in comparison with the
      newly arrived some distinctions in consumption of following products are
      revealed: fresh, tinned and frozen vegetables, potatoes, eggs, horsemeat,
      venison, koumiss, fresh fruit and berries, oil and fats, bean, juice and drinks,
      sugar, chocolate and confectionery products. CONCLUSIONS: daily food intake of
      the indigenous population of elderly and senile ages is notable for lower daily
      caloric content, greater general fat, SFA, less consumption of refined sugar on
      the background of significantly lower content of general carbohydrates, starch
      and food proteins. In diets at theYakuts there is considerably lower consumption
      of fresh and tinned vegetables, potatoes, eggs, fresh fruit and berries, bean,
      nuts, sugar, chocolate and confectionery products and higher consumption of meat
      products (horsemeat, venison), oil and fats.

PMID- 26887123
TI  - RESULTS OF COLON CANCER SURGICAL TREATMENT.
AB  - In recent decades in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) there was a growth of the
      colon cancer, so the problem of its early diagnosis and treatment currently
      acquired great importance. The article is devoted to one of the most common
      cancers--the colon cancer and considers issues of the differentiated approach to
      its integrated treatment. We achieved the best results of the five-year survival
      in patients with colon cancer at Stage A.

PMID- 26887124
TI  - GENDER FEATURES OF THE ANTHROPOMETRIC, CEPHALOMETRIC AND BIOIMPEDANCE PARAMETERS
      IN THE STUDENTS OF YAKUTIA.
AB  - To establish the anthropo-ecological portrait of the current population of
      Yakutia, it is necessary to study the regularities of the variability of physical
      status in different gender groups and develop regional standards of the physical
      development of different age-sex groups of the population with regard to the
      peculiarities of the environment. The aim of this study is to do research on the
      gender features of anthropometric, cephalometric and bioimpedance parameters in
      the students of Yakut ethnicity. The measures of 228 Yakut girls and 168 Yakut
      youths born and permanently resident in Yakutia were analyzed. Anthropometric
      measurements were performed using the method of V.V. Bunak (1941), somatotyping-
      using the Rees-Eysenck index (1945). Head type was determined by the cephalic
      index, face type--by the upper facial index. Bioelectrical impedance analysis
      with the use of ABC--01 Medass analyzer was performed to estimate body
      composition. Adipose tissue mass (AM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), lean mass
      (LM), active cell mass (ACM) and phase angle (PA) were determined. Obtained
      material was processed by the method of variation statistics with the use of SPSS
      17.0 software package. Overall measures of the soma of the examined groups have
      gender features of body organization that are expressed in the significantly
      higher values of all measured parameters in the youths of Yakutia. In our study,
      the sexual dimorphism in the distribution of somatotypes by the Rees-Eysenck
      index has not been identified. The analysis of cephalometric measures has
      revealed reliably higher parameters of absolute head sizes in the youths. Gender
      differences in the distribution of head and face types have not been found in the
      examined ethno-age group. Significantly larger absolute amount of AM has been
      established in the girls. The measures of SMM, ACM and LM are reliably higher in
      the youths. The values of active and reactive tissue resistance are reliably
      higher in the girls. Gender features of the anthropometric, cephalometric and
      bioimpedance parameters of the students have been established. The conducted
      study presents the anthropo-ecological image of this age-sex group of the
      population of Yakutia.

PMID- 26887125
TI  - CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE LEVELS OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND CERULOPLASMIN IN PATIENTS
      WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The study examined the relationship of levels of ceruloplasmin and
      CRP in patients with coronary heart disease and assessed the possibility of their
      use for diagnosis and prediction of developing complications. AIM: The study
      investigated the relationship of levels of ceruloplasmin and CRP in patients with
      coronary heart disease and their potential use in the diagnosis and prediction of
      complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Examined 117 patients with ischemic heart
      disease at the age of 39 to 80 years (median age + 13.9 61.7 years), among them
      56 were women and 61 men. Assessment of prognosis in patients with ischemic heart
      disease was conducted based on the two-year observation. RESULTS: The reverse
      relationship between the levels of ceruloplasmin and CRP was identified. When
      comparing the survival curves without adverse events using the log-rank analysis
      in patients with levels of CPU of more than 0.2 grams per liter and CRP of less
      than 6.0 mg/l, the prognosis was significantly better than in patients with
      simultaneously detected low levels of the CPU (less than 0.2 g/l) and high levels
      of CRP (more than 6.0 mg/l) in the blood (p < 0.05), CONCLUSIONS: Highly
      sensitive measurement method of levels of c-reactive protein in patients with
      coronary heart disease combined with measurement of levels of ceruloplasmin,
      gives an opportunity to assess the activity of vascular inflammation that can be
      used to predict the development of acute coronary events.

PMID- 26887126
TI  - SUPER EARLY PREMATURE BIRTH IN TERMS OF THE NEW STANDARD OF LIVE BIRTH IN THE
      REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA).
AB  - Premature birth is a serious problem of public health around the world owing to
      the high frequency of complications and perinatal losses. According to the WHO
      recommendations by gestation terms the premature birth divides into: super early
      premature birth (SEPB) in the term of 22-27 weeks, early PB in the term of 28-33
      weeks and PB in the term of 34-37 weeks. Preterm born infants make 85%, and in
      the neonatal mortality structure make more than 55%. It is necessary to consider
      that in recent years the number of women in the premature birth development risk
      group has increased, to which patients with a uterus scar, extragenital
      pathology, supporting reproductive technology treatment pregnancy are related.

PMID- 26887127
TI  - MORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF NATIVE MALE SUBJECTS' THYROID BODY IN THE REPUBLIC
      SAKHA (YAKUTIA) IN DIFFERENT SEASONS.
AB  - Morphological analysis of macro-, microstructures of native male subjects'
      thyroid gland in the Republic Sakha (Yakutia) in different seasons has been
      conducted. Macromorphometric indicators of native male subjects' thyroid gland
      (specific weight, total capacity, linear indicators were specified in summer and
      winter seasons. Micromorphometric characteristics of structural components of
      native male subjects' thyroid gland tissue was given in relation to different
      seasons. In this case native male subjects' thyroid gland was as curtained as
      normoplastic mixed type of structure, indicators of outer and inner thyroid gland
      follicles diameter in winter period were slightly bigger than in summer period.
      The same tendency was observed when thyroid gland follicular-colloidal index was
      calculated. On the data obtained the attempt to assess season temperature factor
      impact on the thyroid gland structural indicators were made. This assessment
      might be used as morphological equivalent of the body adaptation processes in
      northern regions.

PMID- 26887128
TI  - X-RAY DENSITOMETRY AND FRAX MODEL IN PREDICTING THE RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS AND LOW
      ENERGY FRACTURES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.
AB  - 88 people of 50 years of age and older were put in this cross-sectional study.
      The main risk factors for osteoporosis and bone fractures were obtained using
      questionnaires. X-ray absorptiometry of the distal forearm was carried out with
      the help of Osteometer DTX-200. The FRAX tool was used for calculation of the 10
      year absolute risk of major osteoporotic fractures. In the 50-59 year age group
      osteoporosis was found only in 30% of women but with increasing age its
      occurrence increases dramatically approaching 70% in women 70 years of age and
      older. The higher the age of women, the lower bone mineral density (r = -0.44, p
      < 0.001).

PMID- 26887129
TI  - REGIONAL TRENDS IN THE WORKING-AGE POPULATION MORTALITY RATE IN THE REPUBLIC OF
      SAKHA (YAKUTIA) IN 1990-2012.
AB  - Regions of the Russian Federation differ in climatic-geographic, medical
      demographic and social-economic situations. One of the regions with distinct
      peculiarities is the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Ranking first by the territory
      (3,103.2 thousand sq x km), Yakutia is on the 81th place by the population
      density among regions of the Russian Federation (0.3 people per 1 km2).Yakutia is
      one of the most isolated and inaccessible regions of the world: 90% of the
      territory lacks all-the-year-round transportation. Regions of the republic, as
      well, differ significantly in the climatic conditions and the levels of social
      economic development, which influences the population health indicators,
      including mortality. This survey aimed to study the trends of mortality in the
      working-age population in different groups of regions. To do this, basing on the
      statistical data, we compared the levels, trends and structure of mortality in
      1990-2012. It was established that the different groups of regions show a
      significant variation in the working-age population mortality, depending on the
      social-economic conditions. Since 2000, the Arctic group of regions has
      demonstrated higher mortality in working-age men and women, especially of
      cardiovascular and digestive system diseases, and external causes. Lying beyond
      the Arctic Circle, these regions have severe conditions and a relatively low
      level of social-economic development. As for the rural regions, despite the
      relatively favourabe situation, they also show a high level of mortality of
      external causes. The industrial regions are characterized by higher social
      economic development, better transport infrastructure, a satisfactory material
      base of medical institutions. They also have sufficient resources of health
      institutions, including the staff and modern equipment for treatment and
      diagnostics, as well as, which is critical, the full range of medical
      specialists. Thus, these regions demonstrate lower population mortality; however,
      there is still mortality of infectious diseases, neoplasms, and respiratory
      diseases.

PMID- 26887130
TI  - ADAPTIVE MECHANISMS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CHILDREN IN FAR NORTH.
AB  - This article is devoted to the probleme of modern Pediatrics pathology of the
      immune system in children with complicated viral infections. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the immune and cytokine status in children with
      complicated acute respiratory viral infections. The study included 100 children
      are often ill respiratory virus infections (more than 8 times per year) from age
      0 to 7 years, and 30 children with upper respiratory tract infection; no more
      than 1 time per year-the control group. The standards of indicators developed by
      the staff of Immunological laboratory Diagnostic center of the Ministry of health
      of Republic Sakha (Yakutia ) together with the Institute of health of the
      Republic Sakha (Yakutia). Statistical calculations made on the basis of applied
      programs "SAS"and "SPSS"In the analysis of contingency tables (estimates of the
      correlation of the characteristic and evaluation of significance of differences
      between groups) used the criterion of 2 (Pearson and likelihood ratio and
      Fisher's exact test. Comparison of mean values was performed univariate analysis
      of variance using T-student criterion for assessing the equality of mean F-Fisher
      test to assess equality of variance. Extreme climatic conditions ofthe far North
      have an impact on immunological mechanisms. In the analysis of changes ofthe
      immune status revealed the greatest decline in T-cell level and components of
      complement in children with complications of viral respiratory infections. In
      children with complicated respiratory viral infections reduced cellular immunity
      (CD3+, CD41, CD81, CD+, CD 22+). In children with complicated respiratory viral
      infections decrease levels ofcytokines (IFN-y FN0-d), indicating about the risk
      of the formation of complications of respiratory viral infections. As a result of
      drug therapy of broncho-vaxom marked improvement in immune status and the absence
      of recurrence of respiratory viral infections within the next 3 months after
      therapy.

PMID- 26887131
TI  - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MAMMARY EPITHELIAL CELLS AT TUMORAL GROWTH IN
      REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA).
AB  - The analysis of results histological examination of surgical material of breast
      cancer from 294 women with subsequent immunohistochemical determination of
      estrogen (ER)--and progesterone (PgR)--receptors, proliferative activity (Ki-67),
      expression of the mutant suppressor gene (p53) and gene-inhibitor apoptosis (bcl
      2) was carried out. The obtained data testify that IHC-research of the tumor
      progression markers is a defining part in the forecast of course, optimization of
      therapeutic approaches with an individualization of chemo-, hormonal and beam
      therapy of mammary cancer, the decision of a question of medicamentous and/or
      surgical shutdown of the ovaries, based on the research results of the biological
      activity markers of the tumor.

PMID- 26887132
TI  - THE ROLE OF CANDIDA IN INTESTINAL DYSBACTERIOSIS FORMATION.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In modern TB chemotherapy until today retains a leading role in the
      treatment of tuberculosis patients, and specific nature of the inflammatory
      process, its course and symptoms include the duration and continuity of
      chemotherapy. It is known that prolonged chemotherapy naturally leads a large
      majority (92.0%) of patients in the development of intestinal dysbiosis, where
      the leading role in the microbial imbalance is a deficiency or complete absence
      of bifidobacteria, it creates conditions for the settlement of fungi Candida,
      also plays a major role in microbial associations. AIM: Examine the role of
      candida in intestinal dysbacteriosis formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 500
      patients with various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were examined for reveal
      intestinal dysbiosis, which conducted bacteriological examination of feces for
      intestinal dysbiosis method RV Epstein-Litvak FL Vilshanskoy. RESULTS: In great
      majority of patients (92%), the long chemotherapy naturally leads to conclusions
      development of intestines dysbacteriosis. The leading value in a microbial
      imbalance belongs to deficiency or total absence of the bifidobacterium, which
      creates conditions for Candida, and plays the main part in microbial
      associations. There was noted a high therapeutic efficiency of the pathogenic
      agents antifungal drugs, allowing to eliminate Candida intestinal dysbacteriosis
      of patients suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis.

PMID- 26887133
TI  - RESULTS OF MONITORING METALLO-BETA-LACTAMASE-PRODUCING STRAINS OF PSEUDOMONAS
      AERUGINOSA IN A MULTI-PROFILE HOSPITAL.
AB  - The authors present the results of long-term monitoring of metallo-beta-lactamase
      (MBL) producing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the Republican Hospital No 2
      of Yakutsk, Russian Federation. Hospitals across Russia, as well as the rest of
      the world, face a rapid appearance and a virtually unchecked spread of
      multiresistant and panresistant nosocomial pathogens. Especially prevalent are
      multidrug-resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa, most often found among the
      patients of intensive care and intensive therapy units, as well as surgery
      departments. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of metallo
      beta-lactamase-producing strains of P. aeruginosa in a multi-profile hospital.
      2,135 isolates of P. aeruginosa were studied, collected during a time span of
      seven years (2008-2014) from clinical specimens of hospitalised patients in acute
      surgery, purulent surgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, coloproctology
      departments, intensive care and intensive therapy, burn units, as well as
      intensive care unit for patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents and
      coronary care unit. Strains were identified and re-identified using established
      methods, NEFERMtest 24 (MICROLATEST) biochemical microtest and API (bioMerieux)
      test systems were used. For all carbapenem-resistant strains a phenotype
      screening for MBL was performed using the double-disks method with EDTA. In order
      to identify VIM-type and IMP-type MBL genes a real-time multiplex polymerase
      chain reaction was used. Among the investigated strains the largest number of P.
      aeruginosa - 35.6% (761 isolates) was found in patients at intensive care and
      intensive therapy units. Clonal expansion of extensively drug-resistant strain P.
      aeruginosa ST235 (VIM-2) was determined, the resistance mechanism of which is
      connected to MBL. Sensitivity determination of MBL-producing isolates of P.
      aeruginosa has shown that isolated strains have a high level of resistance (100%)
      to all tested antibacterial agents: piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam,
      ceftazidime, cefepime, cefoperazone-sulbactam, aztreonam, imipenem, meropenem,
      doripenem, gentamicin, netilmicin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin,
      fosfomicin.

PMID- 26887134
TI  - THE ROLE OF MEDICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS IN PREDICTING DISABILITY TUBERCULOSIS.
AB  - In persisting study are considered social, epydemiological and clinical features
      by sick tuberculosis lungs with for the first time installed by disability. On
      the grounds of got result are revealled main criteria of the forecasting to
      disability on tuberculosis lungs. Disability of pulmonary tuberculosis is an
      important medical and social problem and is dependent on the social and clinical
      factors. The study of disability reveals the main reasons for poor prognosis in
      tuberculosis, which leads to a more chronic course with frequent exacerbations
      and relapses. In Russia, the dynamics of disability for tuberculosis does not
      tend to decrease. Unfavorable epidemiological disability tuberculosis remains
      high in the structure of the primary disability in Yakutsk and Sakha (Yakutia)
      (2.8%, 2.5% - respectively).

PMID- 26887135
TI  - THE PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN YAKUTIA.
AB  - Chronic hepatitis in children represents a serious health and social problem.
      Under the conditions of the high prevalence of viral hepatitis in Yakutia
      epidemiological process has a number of peculiarities. In children chronic
      hepatitis often occurs with minor clinical manifestations, which complicate
      diagnosis. The study of the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data is an
      important task.The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological
      characteristics of chronic hepatitis in children and adolescents living in hyper
      endemic region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 1568 patients'data,
      registered in the dispensary with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis in the period
      from 2000 to 2012. Epidemiological history data of 304 patients with chronic
      hepatitis were analyzed. The data from official statistics were used for
      epidemiological analysis. Processing of clinical and laboratory studies was
      performed using the statistical package IBM SPSS STATISTICS 19. RESULT: CH
      epidemiological features were identified, including the prevalence of HBV
      infection in etiological structure, the high incidence of the disease among the
      indigenous population, a high risk of intra-familial infection with hepatitis B
      virus , high frequency of perinatal infection with hepatitis C virus. It was
      proposed to maximize screening tests for markers of viral hepatitis and to
      improve quality control of vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic process of
      viral hepatitis in children and adolescents in Yakutia is characterized by
      domination of HBV-infection in the structure of chronic hepatitis. The
      predominance of the indigenous nationalities among patients with chronic
      hepatitis B and the leading role of family contact in the routes structure of
      infection transmission indicates the importance of ethnic and social factors in
      contraction of the disease.

PMID- 26887136
TI  - DIAGNOSTICS ALGORITHM OF DIABETIC POLYNEUROPATHY IN PREDICTION OF CLINICAL
      COURSE.
AB  - AIM: To estimate the importance of new algorithm introducing of PDP diagnostics
      in practice of NEFU medical institute Clinic in detection of severity level and
      predicting of clinical course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 people with sensory
      motor PDP form among patients with 2 type diabetes were examined on the basis of
      Clinic of NEFU medical institute. Patients have been divided into 2 groups by
      disease duration: the first groups were patients with duration of disease till 10
      years, the second group--more than 10 years. Diagnostics methods: clinical
      neurologic, neurophysiological. RESULTS: Patients underwent polymodal sensitivity
      analysis, computer pallesteziometry, stabilometry, electroneuromyography. The
      dependence of clinical neurophysiological PDP parametres from severity of the
      duration of type 2 diabetes has been revealed. CONCLUSION: Thus, dependence of
      clinical-neurophysiological parametres of PDP severity from the duration of 2
      type diabetes has been revealed. The new algorithm raised efficacy of clinical
      neurophysiological PDP diagnostics and helped the predicting of the clinical
      course.

PMID- 26887137
TI  - THE INFLUENCE OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS ON TREATMENT OF FRACTURE OF PROXIMAL
      FEMUR IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIV OSTEOPOROSIS.
AB  - In the structure of intrahospital infections the infections of urinary tract make
      up from 20 to 40%. This problem represents special medical-social significance
      for trauma departments as patients with trauma are being in forced situation for
      along time. 380 patients older than 60 years (average age 73.6 +/- 9.2 years)
      with a fracture of proximal femur against background of the systemic osteoporosis
      having in-patient treatment in the trauma department of the Republic Hospital No2
      were being examined and treated from 2011 to 2013. Urinary tract infections were
      diagnosed in 130 (34.2%) patients (average age 77.3 +/- 8.3 years). Women (80%
      82%) with the average age 77.7 +/- 8.2 years prevailed by gender signs. From them
      40 (30.8%) patients admitted with prehospital urinary tract infections and
      intrahospital urinary tract infections were diagnosed in 90 (69.2%) patients. In
      etiological structure of urinary tract infections the part of gram-negative
      microorganisms made up 47.4%, the leading role belonged to the family of
      Enterobacteriaceae. Escherichia coli (23.3%) and Klibsiella pneumonia (12%) were
      the most significant from them. Gram-positive microorganisms 44% were sown in the
      second place. More frequently Enterococci (33.6%) were separated such as
      Enterococcus faecium (18.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (15.5%). Intrahospital
      urinary tract infections resistant to antimicrobial therapy were observed in 6.7%
      patients with systemic osteoporosis and fracture of proximal femur. The average
      duration of preoperative preparation and in-patient treatment of patients with
      fracture of proximal femurand concomitant urinary tract infections is much more
      (3.9 days and 5.4 bed-days correspondingly) higher than the average indications
      of all operated patients in the department.

PMID- 26887138
TI  - SIMULATION OF GENERAL ANESTHESIA ON THE "SIMMAN 3G" AND ITS EFFICIENCY.
AB  - In recent years in medical educational process new innovative technologies are
      widely used with computer simulation, providing the reality of medical
      intervations and procedures. Practice-training teaching with using of simulation
      allows to improve the efficiency of learning material at the expense of creating
      imaginary professional activity and leading barring material to practical
      activity. The arm of the investigation is evaluation of the students training
      efficiency at the Medical Institute on the topic "General Anesthesia with using a
      modern simulation "SimMan 3 G". The material of the investigation is the results,
      carried out on the basis of the Centre of Practical skills and medical virtual
      educational technologies (Simulation Centre) at the Medical Institute of NEFU by
      M.K. Ammosov. The Object of the investigation was made up by 55 students of the
      third (3) course of the Faculty of General Medicine of the Medical Institute of
      NEFU. The investigation was hold during practical trainings (April-May 2014) of
      the General Surgery Department on the topic "General Anesthesia". A simulation
      practical course "General Anesthesia" consisted of 12 academic hours. Practical
      training was carried out using instruments, equipments and facilities to install
      anesthesia on the SimMan 3G with shooting the process and further discussions of
      the results. The methods of the investigations were the appreciation of students
      background knowledge before and after practical training (by 5 points scale) and
      the analysis of the results. The results of the investigation showed that before
      the practical course only 23 students (41.8%) had dot positive marks: "Good"--7
      students (12.7%) and "Satisfactory"--16 (29.1%) students. The rest 22 (58.2%)
      students had bad results. The practical trainings using real instruments,
      equipments and facilities with imitation of installation of preparations for
      introductory anesthesia, main analgesics and muscle relaxants showed a patients
      reaction on the virtual trainer SimMan 3 G. Students were divided into anesthetic
      team, co-assisting of an anesthesiologist, an assistant and nurses anesthetist,
      who conducted general anesthesia (the mask anesthesia, intravenous anesthesia,
      endotracheal anesthesia). After finishing the practical course 16 students
      (29.1%) got 5 marks (Excellent), 35 students (63.6%)--4 (Good) and 4 students
      (7.3%)--3 mark (Satisfactory).

PMID- 26887139
TI  - THE MORBIDITY OF UPPER AIRWAYS AND EAR IN INDUSTRIAL REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC
      SAKHA (YAKUTIA).
AB  - The analysis of morbidity of upper airways and ear in industrial areas of the
      Republic Sakha (Yakutia)--Aldanskiy, Mirninskiy and Nerungrinsky regions is
      presented in the article. The main tendencies in dynamics of morbidity of
      inflammatory diseases and cancer are revealed. The reasons of increasing
      pathology of upper airways and ear in the studied industrial regions are defined.

PMID- 26887140
TI  - EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION.
AB  - The search for the most perfect way of hollow organ obturation has been done
      through the history of gastro-intestinal tract surgery. lmi present time sucn
      aspects of the problem asmorphological changes peculiarities in the process of
      intestine wound repair in the zone of anastomosis and biological impermeabilty of
      intestine fistula, possibilities of entero entero anast6mosis different types
      formation are not researched enough and remain actual.

PMID- 26887141
TI  - SURGERY OF CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS IN NEWBORNS.
AB  - The development of neonatal surgery is an important task of health care system,
      because birth defects have been the 2nd most prevalent cause of infant mortality
      for many years. In order to improve the quality of care for neonates with
      surgical diseases we studied the main causes of neonatal deaths during the period
      from 1995 to 2014, on the basis of data from the Children's Surgery Department of
      Yakutsk. In 77% of cases, the causes of lethal outcomes in neonates with surgical
      pathology were conditionally preventable. We singled out the basic organizational
      problems, the solution of which led to a 3.5 times reduction in mortality of
      infants with surgical pathology during the second period of the study (2005
      2014). The main organizational aspects of the regional model of improving medical
      care of infants with surgical pathology are: antenatal diagnosis of malformations
      and prenatal consultation with children's surgeon, competent and timely
      transportation of newborns from district hospitals, the centralization of aid at
      level 3 hospitals, the introduction of modern diagnostic and treatment
      algorithms, methods of minimally invasive endosurgery.

PMID- 26887142
TI  - IMMUNOMODULATION AND TREATMENT OF ACUTE DESTRUCTIVE PANCREATITIS IN A
      MULTIDISCIPLINARY SURGICAL HOSPITAL.
AB  - This work is based on the analysis of complex treatment of 497 patients with
      pancreatic necrosis treated at the surgical department of the Republican Hospital
      No2-Center for Emergency the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the period from 2010
      to 2015. The study was able to adapt and improve the two-tier immunocorretion in
      pancreatic necrosis in a multidisciplinary surgical hospital that along with the
      other constituents of intensive therapy has allowed a whole to reduce the amount
      of intra-abdominal and extraabdominal complications--sterile pancreatic necrosis
      phase--from 23.6% to 14.6 and 31 6% to 15.0% respectively, total lethality--from
      17.6% to 7.2% lethality in patients with non-operated group--from 15.6% to 2.2%
      lethality in the group of patients operated--18.4% to 10.9%. In the phase of
      infectious complications of pancreatic necrosis lethality rate decreased from
      45.8% to 37.7%.

PMID- 26887143
TI  - EXPERIENCE OF TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AMONG BABIES.
AB  - The article presents our experience of treatment of congenital diaphrogmatic
      hernia at newborns and hernia of an esophageal opening of a diaphragm among
      children of early age. Since 2010 surgical tactics has been changed: the
      prolonged preoperative preparation with use of the device of high-frequency
      ventilation of lungs, correction of symptoms of pulmonary hypertensia is carried
      out, operation is carried out according to plan after stabilization of the
      patient in parameters of oxygenation and an acid-base state, operative treatment
      is executed by method of low-invasive endosurgery. Over the last 5 years 25
      children with good functional and cosmetic results have been operated. The
      lethality in the case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia at newborns decreased to
      12%, it was noted generally among patients with the expressed hypoplasia of lungs
      which died during preoperative preparation. In recent years we place emphasis on
      antenatal diagnosis of pathology and prenatal diagnostics of degree of a
      hypoplasia of a lung on indicators of a pulmonary and head index at a fetus. It
      wasn't noted a postoperative lethality.

PMID- 26887144
TI  - CLINICAL CASE OF CONDUCTING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AT THE WOMAN WITH CHRONIC
      VIRAL HEPATITIS B IN THE REPLICATIVE FORM.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Because of a wide circulation of the hepatitis B (HB) among persons
      of young age, so-called vertical transmission of a virus from mother to the child
      is of particular importance. Relevance of this problem of HB increases in
      connection with a set of ways of infection, failures are more often observed at
      infection by natural ways: sexual and from mother to a fetus that demands
      development of effective measures of prevention of transfer from mother to a
      fetus. AIM: To develop algorithm of maintaining pregnant women with the chronic
      hepatitis B (HBV) for prevention of perinatal transfer of a HBV infection in the
      Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (RS (Y)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Materials of
      official statistics of Territorial administration of Rospotrebnadzor of RS (Y)
      are studied, incidence of chronicviral hepatitises B, C and D in RS (Y) from 2003
      2013 was analyzed. Clinical, laboratory and tool, serological, molecular and
      biological methods of research were carried out. RESULTS: The high incidence of
      CHV, considerable frequency of delectability of markers of a HB infection at
      pregnant women, feasibility of a vertical way of a transmission of infection
      cause interest of doctors of different specialties in this problem. In this
      scientific publication we analyzed an example of maintaining the pregnant woman,
      woman in childbirth period with chronic viral hepatitis B, with long "experience"
      of an illness, with existence of replication of HBV-DNA. CONCLUSIONS: To decrease
      the risk of perinatal transfer of a HBV infection it is recommended a
      quantitative PCR-research among pregnant women with HBsAg which will provide
      decrease in transmission frequency of HB by carrying out in need of antiviral
      therapy to the woman and the individualized schedule of vaccinal prevention with
      introduction of specific immunoglobulin to the newborn.

PMID- 26887145
TI  - HEALTH STATUS OF PREGNANT WOMEN.
AB  - The article covers the study into the structure of extragenital pathology in
      pregnantwomen based on the data obtained at the antenatal clinic of the perinatal
      center of the State Organization of the Ministry of Health of the Sakha Republic
      (Yakutia) National Center of Medicine - Republican Hospital No. 1 in 2013. The
      presence of extragenital pathology in pregnant women is a major factor in the
      high risk of maternal mortality. The majority of women (90%) have two or more
      extragenital pathologies simultaneously. In the structure of extragenital
      pathology in pregnant women the first most prevalent diseases are urinary system
      diseases, 2nd most prevalent--diseases of the cardiovascular system, 3rd most
      prevalent--diseases of the hematopoietic system. Diseases of the circulatory
      system are the leading indications for termination of pregnancy. It is necessary
      to increase the efficiency of cooperation between gynecologists, internists and
      specialists to identify women at high risk of perinatal pathology, to form
      prognosis in terms of carrying of pregnancy and timely decision on its
      prolongation and perinatal care.

PMID- 26887146
TI  - SURGICAL TREATMENT OF NECK AND RETROSTERNAL GOITER, CLINICAL CASE.
AB  - Here is a clinical case of neck and retrosternal goiter. We describe the clinical
      course characteristics and diagnosis of cervical-retrosternal goiter, when
      intrathoracic goiter was not located by palpation.

PMID- 26887147
TI  - DESCRIPTION OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE IN DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, LIVING
      IN THE NORTH.
AB  - INTRODUCTIOD: Over the past 15 years, the relative frequency of detection of
      erosive form of GERD has increased from 3,1 to 16%. Manifestations of GERD in
      different ethnic populations of Yakutia are not well understood. AIM: Studying
      kliniko-endoscopic and the morfofunktsionalnykh of features of GERD in various
      ethnic groups living in conditions of Yakutia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study
      included 168 patients with GERD of different ethnic origins. Yakuts, Evens and
      Evenks, were considered as indigenous people and newcomers were all persons of
      other nationalities, who arrived at different times from other regions of Russia.
      The average age was 41.75 +/- 24.73 years. RESULTS: Clinical manifestations of
      GERD in different ethnic groups living in Yakutia. Leukoplakia of the esophagus
      was detected in the indigenous population are four times more likely than
      newcomers. With GERD associated with thyroid disorders prevalent low level of
      contamination of Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori infection in patients
      with GERD in Yakutia was higher among immigrants than among the indigenous, with
      a high degree of contamination of Helicobacter pylori was detected more
      frequently in immigrants than among the indigenous. Pathological gastroesophageal
      reflux during the daily pH-metry of the esophagus was detected more frequently in
      patients visiting than among the indigenous. CONCLUSIONS: The found features of a
      current of GERD can be further the basis for the individualized and
      differentiated approaches to treatment of this disease.

PMID- 26887148
TI  - CONTRIBUTION OF CEREBRAL VASCULAR ANOMALIES IN HEMORRHAGIC STROKE STRUCTURE IN
      DIFFERENT RACIAL GROUPS OF YAKUTIA.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) has higher incidence in Asian population
      compared to Caucasian. The reason for this phenomenon is not clearly understood.
      AIM: To investigate the contribution of cerebral vascular anomalies in
      hemorrhagic stroke structurein different racial groups of Yakutia. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The study group included 1078 consecutively hospitalized patients with
      acute HS. A comparative analysis of demographic data and frequency of CVA, which
      were identified as a cause of HS, was carried out between the group of indigenous
      patients of Asian race and the group of Caucasian patients. RESULTS: The
      proportion of hemorrhage due to rupture of cerebralarterial aneurysms (CAA) in
      the hospital HS structure was higher in Asians, compared to Caucasians (p =
      0.001; OR = 1.7; 95% CL: 1.2-2.4). No difference in the arteriovenous
      malformations' (AVM) frequency was found between groups (p = 0.345), as well as
      in age and gender distribution (p = 0.052 and p = 0.759, respectively). The CAA
      frequency was higher among female patients compared to male in both racial groups
      (p < 0.0001; OR = 1.71; CI 95% 1.3-2.3). CONCLUSIONS: In Yakutia, the proportion
      of hemorrhage due to rupture of cerebral arterial aneurysmsin hemorrhagic stroke
      structure is higher among indigenous ethnic group of Asian race, compared to
      Caucasians. No difference in the arteriovenous malformations' frequency was found
      between racial groups, as well as in age and gender distribution. The cerebral
      aneurisms' frequency was higher among female patients compared to male in both
      racial groups. Further studies of cerebral vascular anomalies and stroke risk
      factors using a population-based data in different racial groups are needed.

PMID- 26887149
TI  - REGIONAL PECULIARITIES IN SEMEN QUALITY AND SERUM HORMONAL CONCENTRATIONS OF
      CITIZENS FROM YAKUTIA.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to evaluate sperm quality and reproductive
      hormonal level in an unselected population of men who were permanent residents of
      the Yakutsk city and compare the semen and hormonal parameters with the World
      Health Organization (WHO, 2001) recommended normal values and the results from
      other countries. A total of 145 men (mean age 24 years) agreed to be included in
      the study. All the volunteers completed a questionnaire, received a general and
      reproductive health examination by an andrologist, gave semen and blood samples.
      There are no differences between Yakut and Slavs in anthropometric, hormonal or
      sperm measures, but height and ejaculate volume were higher in Slavs than Yakut
      men. The data obtained indicated high frequency of suboptimal quality of sperm in
      males of both nations from this Siberian region in comparison with other Russian
      regions or European countries.

PMID- 26887150
TI  - [We will stick with it].

PMID- 26887151
TI  - [Interrupting the vicious cycle].

PMID- 26887152
TI  - [At the center of the nursing process].

PMID- 26887153
TI  - [Knowledge, that works].

PMID- 26887154
TI  - [A high quality of life in Swiss nursing homes].

PMID- 26887155
TI  - [It depends on this].

PMID- 26887156
TI  - [Slept well? Not really...].

PMID- 26887157
TI  - [Strategies for improving compliance].

PMID- 26887158
TI  - [Not to be confused with democracy].

PMID- 26887159
TI  - [Our students want to go into nursing practice].

PMID- 26887160
TI  - [Weak heart - strong person].

PMID- 26887161
TI  - [To have the cake and eat it too].

PMID- 26887162
TI  - [Curiosity and the desire to act].

PMID- 26887163
TI  - [Student attendance: challenges and nursing impact].

PMID- 26887164
TI  - [Speak, but why? And to say what to whom?].

PMID- 26887165
TI  - [Prevent and ameliorate winter ailments].

PMID- 26887166
TI  - [The place of independent nurses].

PMID- 26887167
TI  - [The powerlessness to empower].

PMID- 26887168
TI  - [Taking nursing care into all it's dimensions].

PMID- 26887169
TI  - [Going on like this].

PMID- 26887170
TI  - [Trial and error as sources of knowledge].

PMID- 26887172
TI  - [Four writers' novels on hospital death].

PMID- 26887171
TI  - [The nurse facing the decline and death of the patient].

PMID- 26887173
TI  - [The mystery of the guardian angel].

PMID- 26887174
TI  - [NURSING DIAGNOSES AND MIGRATION: PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY FROM THE IMMIGRANT'S
      POINT OF VIEW].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to identify nursing diagnosis NANDA
      which is predominant within the immigrant community, linked to the migratory
      process and part of the framework of the Outcome Present State Test (OPT) of
      Pesut and Herman's critical awareness. METHODOLOGY: Keeping in mind the
      objectives of this research, this approaches the quality-based paradigm and
      follows the proposals of phenomenology research. The study was carried out using
      an individual semi-structured interview of 30 immigrants. A categorization of the
      data has been applied in accordance with the domains of NANDA for the
      identification of nursing diagnosis and its analysis has been carried with
      computer support with Atlas-ti 6.0. RESULTS: Twenty three diagnoses were
      identified in nine out of thirteen taxonomy NANDA domains. Analysis of their
      interrelationships according to the OPT model were carried out and a clinical
      reasoning net was created. The main diagnoses achieved in our study was:
      Readiness for Enhanced Coping. CONCLUSIONS: NANDA taxonomy doesn't include the
      migratory process in the characteristics and related factors of this nursing
      diagnosis. We consider that nursing taxonomy should be reassessed in order to
      describe more in depth the specific responses derived from the migratory
      experience so it can lead to a high quality health care.

PMID- 26887176
TI  - [BREASTFEEDING AS A METHOD OF BREAST CANCER PREVENTION].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common type or cancer in women with an
      incidence of about 720,000 cases per year and a mortality between 6 and 23 per
      100,000, what it means a very important global health problem. METHOD: Sistematic
      review in the following databases: PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane Plus, Medline, Cuiden
      and Embase. The search was limited to English and Spanish languages, between 2005
      and 2015 and human studies. RESULTS: All studies are observational by the
      characteristics of the studied pathology. It is observed that there is a
      decreased risk of breast cancer in women who had ever breastfed compared to those
      who had not. This reduced risk is most evident in postmenopausal women but also
      happens in premenopausal. It has also been observed that protection is increased
      with increasing lactation duration. The protective effect of breastfeeding
      happens by differentiation of breast cells, by reduction of the number of
      ovulatory cycles and by estrogen and carcinogens excretion through human milk.
      CONCLUSTONS: Breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer,
      and health teams must therefore educate mothers about its beneficial effects to
      themselves and their children.

PMID- 26887175
TI  - [NABARRA TECHNIQUE. POST-SURGICAL APPLICATION OF NOBECUTAN(r) AS BARRIER
      DRESSING].
AB  - The incidence of neoplasia of vulva round 1-2 per 100,000 women with predominance
      in ranges age of diagnosis between 65-75years. This type of cancer pathology is
      tackled with surgical techniques summarized in simple vulvectomy or vulvectomy
      with unilateral or bilateral lymphadenectomy according to staging of cutaneous
      involvement. The morbidity of this surgical process is mainly grouped in skin
      moisture, dehiscence and infection. The use of Nobecutan(r) as a plastic dressing
      aerosol barrier reduces cutaneous surgical comorbidity.

PMID- 26887177
TI  - [MANAGEMENT IN THE NURSING SURGERY OF PRIMARY CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH HIGH BLOOD
      PRESSURE OR WITH A CARDIOVASCULAR RISK. SUGGESTION FOR THE USE OF THE APM AND
      SMAP].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Analyze the necessity of creating and managing a nursing surgery in
      Primary Care focused exclusively on the discovery, following up and derivation in
      the cardiovascular risk patient. METHODS: Making use of the available Scientific
      evidence, consider the advantages of putting into practice a system for a nurse
      to attend the necessities of a patient with a cardiovascular risk taking into
      consideration the following: 1) Estimating the risk; 2) Stratagies for nursing
      supervision and activities; 3) The correct registration of medical diagnosis of
      the patient; 4) Monitoring. RESULTS: To enable nurses to treat cardiovascular
      patients in Primary Care, to reduce the time the patient would have to wait to be
      attended and to supervise the patient's progress. CONCLUSIONS: Making it possible
      for nurses to use the same registered standard system for controlling the
      treatment of cardiovascular patients.

PMID- 26887178
TI  - [THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF NURSING IN ADVANCE DIRECTIVES].
AB  - The advance directives' document involves patients in decisions related to their
      treatment; it promotes the principle of autonomy. Although advance directives'
      document has been regulated legally at national state and local levels, nursing
      professionals still have a huge lack of this issue. How they work directly with
      patients, it is important nurses have update knowledge to give support and
      information to the patients, with the aim ofproviding a quality care.

PMID- 26887179
TI  - [ELDERLY CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE: BURDEN AND SOCIAL SUPPORT].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden and social support perceived by elderly
      caregivers of elderly people. METHOD: Cross-sectional study using a standardized
      questionnaire for elderly caregivers of elderly people. RESULTS: In the
      population of elderly caregivers of elderly people, the prevalent type of care is
      by couples (84.1 %), and the percentages of men and women correspond to 40.2 %
      and 59.8 %, respectively. The 53.3 % of caregivers have burden, of which a 31.8 %
      present an intense burden, and a 21.5 % a slight burden. Regarding to perceived
      social support of elderly caregivers, it is normal in a 81.3 % of cases, compared
      to a 18.7 % who reflecting a low perceived social support. Finally, there is
      correlation between Duke social support questionnaire and Zarit scale caregiver
      burden. CONCLUSION: Elderly caregivers of elderly people who have higher levels
      of burden have lower perceived social support.

PMID- 26887181
TI  - A Campaign to Cut Drug Prices.

PMID- 26887180
TI  - [NURSING CARE TO A PATIENT WITH INTRAVESICAL TREATMENT].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer is one of the most frequent in developed countries.
      It is the 4th most frequent cancer in men and the 9th in women. The main risk
      factor is the smoking habit and its main symptom is hematuria. One of the
      therapies used in its treatment is the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin intravesical
      (BCG). OBJECTIVE: TO carry out a specific care plan to a patient treated with BCG
      and improve the information delivered to the patient and family. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: An observational study of a nursing plan of care through a clinical
      case. A bibliographical research was carried out in the main Spanish and English
      databases to collect articles published in the last 5 years. Subsequently, the
      studies of the Spanish M.a T Luis, C. Ferndndez and M.a V. Navarro were adopted
      in the model suggested by V. Henderson and NANDA, NIC and NOC taxonomy. RESULTS:
      The nursing assessment is performed through V. Henderson's 14 needs and the
      Collaboration Problem was detected: Hematuria, secondary to bladder cancer and
      the nursing diagnosis: <<Disposition to improve the management of the own health
      expressed by the wish of managing the disease>>. For the planning and execution
      the following NOC were selected: Knowledge: management of the cancer and
      Knowledge: therapeutic procedure, and the NIC and its corresponding activities
      and their evaluation. CONCLUSION: The Nursing Care Process application with a
      personalised and standardised language, guarantees a quality healthcare and
      continuity. Moreover, it sets common targets for the nursing team. It tries to
      show how an appropriate control of the symptoms can be carried out at home, when
      the cares are taught and organised by adapting the oral or written information to
      each patient.

PMID- 26887183
TI  - SPACE Fear of the Unknown.

PMID- 26887182
TI  - Academia's Gender Problem.

PMID- 26887184
TI  - The Starfish Assassin.

PMID- 26887185
TI  - Divide or Conquer.

PMID- 26887187
TI  - Ground Control.

PMID- 26887186
TI  - Ballots for Bison.

PMID- 26887188
TI  - Branches of Science.

PMID- 26887189
TI  - Frictionless Finance.

PMID- 26887190
TI  - The Brain's Whorl.

PMID- 26887192
TI  - Click 'n' Pay.

PMID- 26887191
TI  - That Craving for Dessert.

PMID- 26887194
TI  - Rings of a Super Saturn.

PMID- 26887193
TI  - WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING?

PMID- 26887195
TI  - DEATH IN THE WATER.

PMID- 26887197
TI  - The Carbon Capture fallacy.

PMID- 26887196
TI  - AN ON OFF SWITCH FOR GENES.

PMID- 26887198
TI  - DO ANIMALS KNOW WHERE BABIES COME FROM.

PMID- 26887199
TI  - Elegant Equations.

PMID- 26887201
TI  - Sleeping Beauties of Science.

PMID- 26887200
TI  - Murder in the Cave.

PMID- 26887202
TI  - [Effects of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Oxygen Free Radicals and
      Expression of Apoptosis-related Proteins in Rats with Ischemic Learning and
      Memory Disorder].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on levels of
      oxygen free radicals (OFR) and hippocampal apoptosis-related protein expression
      in ischemic learning-memory disorder rats so as to investigate its mechanisms
      underlying improvement of ischemic learning-memory impairment. METHODS: A total
      of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation (sham), model,
      medication, and EA groups, with 15 rats in each group. The learning-memory
      disorder model was made by occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries. EA (2- 3 Hz,
      2 mA) was applied to "Zhi San Zhen" ["Shenting" (GV 24) and bilateral "Benshen"
      (GB 13)] for 30 min, once a day for 3 weeks. The rats of the medication group
      were treated by lavage of Aricept (0.03 mg . kg(-1) . d(-1)), once daily for 3
      weeks. The rats' learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tests
      and the state of hippocampal apoptosis cells was observed by light microscope
      after TUNEL staining and the expression of hippocampal Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3
      proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry. Serum and hippocampal superoxide
      dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and malondialdehyde
      (MDA) contents were detected by chemical colorimetric analysis. RESULTS: Compared
      with the sham group, the escape latencies (place-navigation) after modeling were
      evidently prolonged, and the times of target-platform crossing in 90 sec (spatial
      probe test) considerably reduced in the model group (P<0.01), suggesting an
      impairment of learning-memory ability. After the treatment for 21 d, the
      increased escape latency and the reduced target-platform crossing time in both EA
      and medication groups were reversed in comparison with the model group (P<0.01),
      suggesting an improvement of memory ability, and the effect of the EA group was
      significantly superior to that of the medication group (P<0.05). Compared with
      the sham group, the number of apoptotic cells in hippocampal CA 1- CA 3 regions,
      and the expression levels of hippocampal Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins, and
      serum and hippocampal MDA contents were significantly increased in the model
      group (P<0.01), while serum and hippocampal SOD and GSH-Px levels obviously
      decreased in the model group (P<0.01). After the treatment for 21 days, compared
      to the model group, the number of the apoptotic cells, the expression levels of
      hippocampal Bax and Caspase--3 proteins, and the contents of serum and
      hippocampal MDA were notably decreased in the EA and medication groups (P<0.01),
      whereas, Bcl-2 protein expression levels, and serum and hippocampal SOD and GSH
      Px activity were notably up-regulated in the EA and medication groups (P<0.01).
      The effects of EA group were obviously superior to those of medication group in
      increasing hippocampal Bcl-2 immunoactivity, serum SOD and GSH-Px and hippocampal
      GSH-Px activity and in down-regulating serum MDA level (P<0.01, P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture intervention can improve learning-memory ability
      in ischemic learning-memory disorder rats which may be associated with its
      effects in reducing blood and hippocampal OFR contents and hippocampal cellular
      apoptosis.

PMID- 26887203
TI  - [Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6) on Expression of
      Myocardial Chloride Channel-related Genes, PKC and PKG Proteins in Myocardial
      Ischemia Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of
      "Neiguan" (PC 6), etc. on expression levels of myocardial chloride (CL-) channel
      related genes and intracellular protein kinase C (PKC) protein in myocardial
      ischemia (M) rats. METHODS: Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into control
      group (n = 10), model group (n = 15) , Neiguan (PC 6) group (n = 15), Lieque (LU
      7) group (n = 15) and non-acupoint group (n = 15). The MI model was established
      by i. p. of isoproterenol (ISO, a sympathomimetic beta adrenergic agonist).
      Electroacupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6),
      "Lieque" (LU 7), or non-acupoint [the mid-point between "Tianshu" (ST 25) and
      "Shenque" (CV 8)] for 15 min, once a day for 7 days. Quantitative RT-PCR was
      employed to detect the expression levels of cystic fibrosis transmembrane
      conductance regulator (CFTR, a CL-channel) mRNA and chloride channel calcium
      activated 1 (CLCa 1, a member of the family of calcium-activated chloride
      channels, CLCa) mRNA in the left cardiac ventricle tissue, and Western blot was
      used to detect the expression level of myocardial PKC protein of the left
      ventricle. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression levels of
      myocardial PKC protein, and CLCa 1 and CFTR genes were significantly increased in
      the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, the expression
      levels of myocardial PKC protein, and CFTR mRNA and CLCa 1 mRNA in the Neiguan
      group, and PKC protein and CLCa 1 mRNA in the Lieque and non-acupoint groups, as
      well as CFTR mRNA in the Lieque group were notably down-regulated (P<0.05). No
      significant change was found in the expression of CFTR mRNA in the non-acupoint
      group (P>0.05), and no significant differences were found between Neiguan and
      Lieque groups in the expression levels of PKC protein (P>0.05). The effects of
      "Neiguan" (PC 6) were obviously superior to those of non-acupoint in down
      regulating myocardial PKC protein, CLCa 1 mRNA and CFTR mRNA (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6) can down-regulate the expression
      of myocardial PKC protein, CFTR and CLCa 1 genes in Ml rats, which may contribute
      to its effect in protecting rnyocardium from ischemic injury.

PMID- 26887204
TI  - [Effect of Acupuncture Stimulation of Different Acupoint Groups on Levels of
      Stress Hormones and Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Depression Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To screen the effective acupoints for anti-depression in depression
      rats and to explore the mechanisms of acupuncture for relieving depression.
      METHODS: Fifty rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, "Yin-tang"
      (EX-HN 3)-"Baihui" (GV 20, 2-acupoints), EX-HN 3-GV 20-"Fengchi" (GB 20)
      "Shenshu" (BL 23, 4-acupoints) and medication groups, with 10 rats in each group.
      The depression model was established by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)
      for 28 days. For rats of the 2-acupoints and 4-acupoints groups, EX-HN 3 and GV
      20, and EX-HN 3, GV 20, GB 20 and BL 23 were punctured with filiform needles
      respectively before performing mild stress every time. The acupuncture needles
      were retained for 30 min during each intervention and the treatment was conducted
      once daily for 28 days. The rats of the medication group were treated by
      intragastric administration of Fluoxetine (0.18 mg/kg) once a day for 28 days.
      The rats' anxiety-like behavior (rearing and crossing times) was detected by open
      field test. The contents of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the pituitary,
      5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the hippocampus, the cortisol (CORT) in the adrenal
      gland, and the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum were
      examined by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, the numbers of
      both rearing and crossing motions in the model group were significantly decreased
      (P<0.01, P<0.05), while in comparison with the model group, the rearing and
      crossing numbers of rats in the 2-acupoints and 4-acupoints and medication groups
      were significantly increased (P<0.01). ELISA showed that after modeling, the
      content of adrenal CORT was significantly increased (P<0.01), and those of
      hippocampal 5-HT and serum BDNF were obviously down-regulated in the model group
      (P<0.01). After the treatment, the adrenal CORT levels in the three intervention
      groups were notably down-regulated, and hippocampal 5-HT and serum BONE evidently
      up-regulated in these 3 intervention groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). No marked changes
      were found in the pituitary ACTH contents of the model and 3 intervention groups
      (P>0.05), and no significant differences were shown among the three intervention
      groups in the levels of the aforementioned 6 indexes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Acupuncture intervention can effectively improve the unprompted activates of the
      depression rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating hippocampal
      5-HT and serum BONE levels, and in down-regulating adrenal CORT content.

PMID- 26887205
TI  - [The Expression of Substance P in Sensory Neurons and Nerve Fibers Associated
      with "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) Region in the Rat].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the innervation and biochemical characteristics associated
      with acupoint "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) in the rat by using neural tracing and
      immunofluorescence techniques. METHODS: Five male SD rats were used in the
      present study. Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated cholera toxin subunit B (AF 488-CTB, 5
      L, 1%) was injected into the site superior to the prominence of the medial
      malleolus, a corresponding site to acupoint SP 6 in the human body. After 3
      surviving days, the rat's local tissue of SP 6 region, spinal cord and dorsal
      root ganglia (DRGs) at lumbar (L) segments (L 1 - S 1) were dissected following
      perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde, cut into sections (20 MUm for DRG and SP 6,
      and 40 MUm for spinal cord) and observed under light microscope. In addition,
      substance P (SP) immunoreaction in the spinal cord, DRG and SP 6 region tissues
      was examined with immunofluorescence. RESULTS: All the labeling of AF 488-CTB
      appeared on the ipsilateral side of the injection. The labeled sensory and motor
      neurons distributed in L 3 - L 6 DRGs and spinal ventral horns with high
      concentration in the L 4 and L 5 segments. In addition, SP-positive neural
      labeling was found in small sensory neurons in DRG, axonal terminals in lamina I 
      II of spinal dorsal horns, and free nerve fibers in local subcutaneous tissues.
      Additionally, 24. 1 % of AF 488-CTB labeled sensory neurons simultaneously
      presented a SP-positive expression. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal that the
      sensory and motor neurons associated with acupoint SP 6 distribute in L 3- L 6
      DRGs and spinal ventral horns of rats, concentrating in the L 4 and L 5 segments,
      and 24.1% sensory neurons show SP-positive, suggesting a possible involvement of
      the primary SP-positive sensory neurons in the transmission of acupuncture
      stimulation signals.

PMID- 26887206
TI  - [Effects of Electroacupuncture Intervention Combined with Gastrodin on Expression
      of Proteins Related to Proliferation-differentiation of Neural Stem Cells in
      Hippocampal CA 1 and CA 3 Regions in Focal Cerebral Ischemia Rats].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) combined with
      medication on changes of expression of Nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein
      (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the hippocampal CA 1 and CA 3 regions
      of focal cerebral ischemia (FC1) rats, so as to analyze its mechanisms underlying
      neuroprotection. METHODS: Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal
      control, model, EA, medication, and EA+ medication groups (n = 10 in each group).
      The FCI model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with
      thread embolus. EA (2 Hz, 2 V) was applied to the left "Hegu"(LI 4) and "Quchi"
      (LI 11) for 30 min, once daily for 14 days after MCAO. Rats of the medication
      group were given with intraperitoneal injection of gastrodin (10 mg/kg). The
      expression of Nestin, GFAP and NSE in the hippocampal CA 1 and CA 3 regions were
      detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control
      group, the numbers of Nestin- and GFAP-immunoreaction (IR) positive cells in both
      CA 1 and CA 3 regions of the hippocampus were significantly increased in the
      model ciroup (P<0.05), while those of NSE-IR positive cells in both CA 1 and CA 3
      regions were significantly decreased in the mdlgroup (P<0.05). After EA and
      medication interventions, the numbers of Nestin- and NSE-IR positive cells in the
      CA 1 and CA 3 regions were evidently increased and GFAP-IR positive neurons were
      considerably reduced in the EA, medication and EA+ medication groups (P<0.05).
      The effects of EA+ medication were significantly superior to those of both EA and
      simple medication in up-regulating the number of Nestin- and NSE-IR positive
      cells and down-regulating the number of GFAP positive neurons in CA 1 and CA 3
      regions (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA and EA intervention combined with gastrodin can
      significantly up-regulate the number of Nestin- and NSE-IR positive cells, and
      down-regulate the number of GFAP positive cells in the CA 1 and CA 3 regions of
      hippocampus in focal cerebral ischemia rats, which may contribute to their
      effects in promoting the differentiation and proliferation of mature neurons in
      the hippocampus for improving cerebral functions. The effects of EA+ medication
      are obviously better than simple EA intervention.

PMID- 26887207
TI  - [Electroacupuncture Intervention Combined with Anesthetics for Analgesia and Post
      surgical Gastrointestinal Recovery in Pneumectomy Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of
      bilateral Taichong (LR 3), Yan-glingquan (GB 34), Waiguan (TE 5) and Chize (LU 5)
      on pain and post-surgical gastrointestinal reactions in patients undergoing
      pneumectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients with pneumectomy were randomly divided into
      EA group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases). For patients of the EA group,
      EA stimulation (2 Hz, 3 - 5 mA) was applied to bilateral LR 3, GB 34, TE 5 and LU
      5 once every 12 h in the following two days after the surgery. For patients of
      the control group, the filiform needles were just adhered to the abovementioned
      acupoints without electrical stimulation. In addition, patients of both groups
      were treated first with lower dose of anesthetics including Fentanyl (250 MUg) +
      Flurbiprofen axetil (25 mg) + normal saline (i. v., 2 mL/h), and Sauteralgyl
      (muscular injection if necessary). The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for
      measuring the patients' pain reaction at 24(th) h and 48(th) h after surgery. The
      contents of plasma beta-endorphine (EP) and leu-enkephalin were assayed by ELISA,
      the times of vomiting and nausea, and the time of postoperative exhaust and
      defecation were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the VAS score
      at 48 h after surgery, and the dosage of the supplemented Sauteralgyl were
      evidently lower, and the time of both exhaust and defecation after surgery was
      significantly earlier, and the degree of nausea after surgery was obviously
      milder in patients of the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with 0 h post
      operation, the beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin levels were significantly
      increased in the EA group (P<0.01). No significant difference was found between
      the control and EA groups in the vomiting rating (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA
      intervention combined with anesthetics is effective in reducing the dosage of the
      supplemented Sauteralgyl and the degree of postoperative nausea, and in improving
      postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery in patients undergoing
      pneumectomy.

PMID- 26887209
TI  - [Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation Undergoing Emergency Treatment of Zusanli
      (ST 36) Is Beneficial to Rescued Organophosphorus Pesticide Poisoning Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical
      stimulation (TAES) of Zusanli (ST 36) on gastrointestinal activities in
      organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (OPP) patients undergoing emergency
      treatment so as to explore its action in scavenging gastrointestinal toxicant.
      METHODS: A total of 116 OPP patients were randomly divided into control group and
      TAES group (n=58 in each group) according to the simple random sampling method.
      All the patients received comprehensive treatment including gastric lavage,
      catharsis, oral administration of atropine Pralidoxime Chloride, Omeprazole, etc.
      For patients of the TAES group, TAES stimulation (30 Hz/60 Hz, 15-20 mA) was
      applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) for 30 min, 3 times a day till black stool
      was discharged. The vomiting times after catharsis, the time of the first
      defecation and black stool discharge, the dosage of atropine and the length of
      patient stay in hospital were recorded. RESULTS: Of the two 58 cases of OPP
      patients in the control and TAES groups, 11 (18.9%) and 3 (5.2%) underwent
      vomiting after catharsis, being significantly lower in the TAES group (P<0.05).
      Compared with the control group, the time of first defecation and black stool
      discharge, the dosage of the administrated atropine and the time of
      hospitalization were significantly lower in the TAES group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:
      TAES of ST 36 may lower incidence of emesis, enhance the cathartic effect,
      promote gastrointestinal poison discharge, reduce total atropine dosage and
      shorten the hospitalization time in OPP patients, favoring the patient's
      rehabilitation.

PMID- 26887208
TI  - [Different Warm Sensations May Induce Different Therapeutic Effects in Primary
      Dysmenorrhea Patients Undergoing Moxibustion Treatment Based on Propensity Score:
      A Prospective Cohort Study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness difference between the "heat-sensitive"
      sensation and conventional warm sensation of moxibustion stimulation of Guanyuan
      (GV 4) in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients. METHODS: Cohort study design was
      used in the present study. A total of 189 PD patients were divided into heat
      sensitive group (n = 148) and conventional warm sensation group (n = 41)
      according to the patients' subjective feeling to moxibustion stimulation and the
      sequence of treatment. The Propensity Score Match (PSM)function of SPSS 19.0
      software was used to match the patients of the two groups for balancing their
      baseline data (age, duration of illness, McGill and CMSS scores). Thus, 35 cases
      in each group were subjected into the analysis at last. Heat-sensitive
      moxibustion was applied to Guanyuan (GV 4) for 40 min beginning 5 days before
      dysmenorrheal attack, once daily for (7 +/- 2) days in one menstrual cycle, and
      for 3 menstrual cycles for heat-sensitive group, wheras routine moxibustion for
      conventional warm sensation group. The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) composed
      of pain rating index (PRI), visual analogue scale (VAS) and present pain
      intensity (PPI) and COX Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) containing 18 items (0 - 4
      grades/item) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of moxibustion
      treatment. Follow-up visit was conducted 3 months after the treatment. RESULTS:
      Compared to pre-treatment, MPQ and CMSS scores were significantly decreased in
      both groups after the treatment (P<0.01), and the effects of heat-sensitive group
      were significantly superior to those of conventional warm sensation group in
      lowering MPQ and CMSS scores (P<0.01). Follow-up survey showed that both MPQ and
      CMSS scores were still considerably lower in the heat-sensitive group than in the
      conventional warm sensation group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The heat
      sensitive moxibustion is superior to conventional warm moxibustion in improving
      symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea patients.

PMID- 26887210
TI  - [Effects of Acupuncture Intervention Combined with Rehabilitation on Standing
      balance-walking Ability in Stroke Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of acupuncture stimulation of lateral side of
      Tianzhu (para-BL 10), electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of scalp-point Balance
      Area (MS 14), Motor Area (MS 6) and body acupoints combined with rehabilitation
      training on standing-balance and walking ability in stroke patients. METHODS: A
      total of 145 stroke inpatients were randomly assigned to rehabilitation group
      (n=48), routine acupuncture group (n=49) and para-BL10 group (n = 48). Patients
      of the rehabilitation group received balance training and routine rehabilitation
      training treatment, those of the routine acupuncture group received acupuncture
      stimulation of scalp-points (MS 14, MS 6), body acupoints, balance training and
      routine rehabilitation training,and those of the para-BL10 group received
      acupuncture stimulation of lateral side of BL 10 combined with scalp-points of MS
      14 and MS 6 and body acupoints, and balance training and routine rehabilitation
      training. The treatment was conducted once daily, 5 times per week, 8 weeks
      altogether. The patients' balancing function, lower-limb motor function and
      walking ability were assessed using Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Sheikh Trunk
      Control Ability Scale(STCAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMAS), and Holden
      Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), respectively. RESULTS: After 4 and 8
      weeks' treatment, the scores of BBS, STCAS, FMAS and FAC in patients of the
      rehabilitation, routine acupuncture and para-BL10 groups were significantly
      increased and 10 meters-walking time obviously reduced in comparison with pre
      treatment in the same one group (P<0.01). The effects of acupuncture stimulation
      of para-BL 10 were considerably better than both rehabilitation and routine
      acupuncture groups in raising BBS, STCAS, FMAS and FAC scores and in reducing 10
      m-walking time (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of lateral side of
      BL 10 combined with scalp-points has a significant benefit for stroke patients in
      standing-balance ability and walking ability.

PMID- 26887212
TI  - [Effect of Acupuncture Therapy on Visceral Fat Thickness in Simple Central
      Obesity Patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy in decreasing visceral
      fat thickness(VFT) in patients with simple central obesity. METHODS: Sixty
      patients with simple central obesity (syndrome of stomach and intestinal
      excessive heat) were randomly divided into control and acupuncture groups.
      Patients of the control group were treated with diet control and physical
      exercise procedure (basic treatment) for 6 months, and those of the acupuncture
      group treated with basic treatment combined with acupuncture stimulation of main
      acupoints Shuifen (CV 9), Yinjiao (CV 7), and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25),
      Huaroumen (ST 24) and bilateral Wailing (ST 26), etc., in combination with
      electroacupuncture (EA, 50- 100 Hz, 1- 5 mA) of bilateral ST 25, CV 9 and CV 7
      for 30 min, once every other day for 3 months. The VFT (1 cm above the umbilicus)
      was detected by using an ultrasonic diagnosis instrument, and the body mass index
      (BMI, body weight/height(2)), and waist circumfe-rence (WC) were measured before
      treatment, 3 and 6 months after the treatment, respectively. RESULTS: Following 3
      and 6 months' treatment, the VFT, BMI and WC of both groups were significantly
      decreased (P<0.01), and the effects of the acupuncture group were significantly
      superior to those of the control group in lowering VFT [(51.5 +/- 6.5) mm vs
      (48.3 +/- 4.7) mm)] and WC [(88.2 +/- 3.6)cm vs (85.9 +/- 4.3)cm] 6 months' after
      the treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the control
      and acupuncture groups in BMI fowllowing 6 months' treatment [(31.0 +/- 4.3) vs
      (30.1 +/- 3.2), P>0.05]. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention combined with diet
      control and physical exercise can effectively decrease VFT and WC in simple
      central obesity patients. VFT is a sensitive and better parameter for evaluating
      the effect of obesity treatment.

PMID- 26887211
TI  - [Acupuncture Stimulation of Acupoints of Multiple Meridians for Patients with
      Diminished Ovarian Reserve of Both Yin and Yang Deficiency].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the
      Conception Vessel, Kidney Meridian, Spleen Meridian, and Bladder Meridian on
      menstrual cycles and duration, and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
      luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen 2 (E(2)) levels in patients with diminished
      ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: A total of 96 patients with DOR of both yin and
      yang deficiency were randomly divided into medication group and acupuncture group
      (n = 48 cases in each group). Patients of the medication group were treated by
      Estradiol Valerate tablets, 2 mg/d on the first 10 days, and Estradiol
      Cyproterone, 3 mg/d from day 11 to 21, followed by 5 -7 days' rest, and the next
      therapeutic course, continuously for 6 months. For patients of the acupuncture
      group, filiform acupuncture needles were separately inserted into every 5 points
      of the Conceptional Vessel, Kidney, Spleen and Bladder Meridians, manipulated
      with uniform reinforcing and reducing methods till Deqi, and retained for 40 min.
      The treatment was conducted once daily for consecutive 10 days in one menstrual
      cycle, beginning from the 10(th) day on after menstruation, which was repeated
      for 6 months. The integrative scores (normal = 0, mild=2, moderate=4 and severe=6
      points) of menstrual cycle, menstrual duration, amount, color, quality [blood
      blot or ame- nia, symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)] were assessed
      according to "Guiding Principles for Clinical Trials of New Drugs of Chinese
      Materia Medica". Serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents were detected by Roche's
      electrochemical luminescence method. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the two 48
      cases in the medication and acupuncture groups, 12 (25.0%) and 20 (4.7) were
      cured, 11 (22.9 %) and 12 (25.0 %) experienced marked improvement in their
      symptoms, 20 (41.7%) and 10 (20.8%) were effective, and 5 (10.4%) and 6 (12.5%)
      failed, with the effective rate being 89.6% and 87.5%, respectively. The integral
      score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle, serum FSH, LH and E2 contents were
      considerably diminished in both groups after 6 months of treatment (P<0.05), and
      the TOM symptom score, menstrual cycle, and serum FSH, LH and E2 levels were
      significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6
      months after cease of the treatment (P<0.05), while the menstrual duration in
      each cycle was notably longer in both groups after the treatment, and evidently
      longer in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6 months after cease
      of the treatment (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two
      groups in the effective rate, score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle and
      duration, and serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents following the treatment (P>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the Conception Vessel,
      Kidney, Spleen, and Bladder Meridians is effective in improving clinical symptoms
      of DOR patients with deficiency of both yin and yang, and has a longer effect,
      which may be closely associated with its functions in lowering serum FSH, LH and
      E(2) levels through regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

PMID- 26887213
TI  - [Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Rehabilitation of Upper Limb Motor
      Function in Patients with Ischemic Stroke].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-elongated needle intervention on
      rehabilitation of upper limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke.
      METHODS: A total of 100 ischemic stroke patients were equally and randomly
      divided into manual acupuncture group and electro-elongated needle group (n=50
      cases/group). For patients of the manual acupuncture group, filiform needles were
      respectively inserted into Jianyu (LI 15), Jiquan (HT 1), Shousanli (LI 10),
      Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side, manipulated with lifting
      thrusting reinforcing or reducing method for 40 min, once daily for two weeks
      except the weekends, and for those of the electro-elongated needle group,
      elongated needles were repeatedly penetrated from LI 15 to Binao (LI 14), and
      from LI 10 to Waiguan (TE 5) on the affected side, followed by electrical
      stimulation for 40 min, once daily for two weeks except weekends. The therapeutic
      effect of manual acupuncture and electro-elongated needle for upper extremity
      rehabilitation was assessed according to the modified upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer
      Assessment (FMA) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) separately. The surface
      electromyogram (sEMG) of the deltoid muscle was recorded by using a Megawin
      Surface Electrogram System and the root mean square (RMS) of the amplitude of
      sEMG was used to evaluate the functional state of the deltoid muscle. RESULTS:
      After the treatment, the score of FMA and WMFT in both manual acupuncture and
      electro-elongated needle groups were significantly increased compared with pre
      treatment in the same one group (P<0.01), suggesting an improvement of the motor
      function of the upper limbs, but RMS ratios of the amplitude of sEMG were
      evidently decreased in both groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), suggesting a relief of the
      abnormal muscular tension. The therapeutic effects of the electro-elongated
      needle were obviously superior to those of manual acupuncture in up-regulating
      FMA and WMFT scores and down-regulating RMS ratio (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Electro
      elongated needle therapy can effectively improve the motor function of upper limb
      in ischemic stroke patients and has a better effect in comparison with simple
      manual acupuncture.

PMID- 26887214
TI  - [Clinical Trials of Triple-puncture Stimulation of Zhibian (BL 54), ctc. plus
      Moxibustion for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of triple-puncture stimulation of
      Zhibian (BL 54), etc. combined with moxibustion therapy for patients with benign
      prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Two hundred patients with BPH who met the
      inclusive criteria were randomized into control (acupuncture) and treatment
      (acupuncture plus moxibustion) groups (n = 100 cases in each one). Patients of
      both the control and treatment groups were treated by puncturing the sensitive
      spot of bilateral Zhibian (BL 54, with triple filiform needles), and other main
      acupoints as Pang-Shuidao (ST 28, one cun beside ST 28), Pang-Guilai (ST 29, one
      cun beside ST 29), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji
      (GV 7), and some supplemented acupoints selected according to the syndrome
      identification. In addition, for patients of the treatment group, bird-pecking
      moxibustion was applied to bilateral Zhibian (BL 54), and the rest acupoints were
      punctured with filiform needles which were attached with ignited moxa stick
      segments. The treatment was conducted for 30 min every time, once every day for
      20 times, with 2 days' rest between the two 10 days' treatments. The state of the
      patients' prostate (micturation state) was evaluated according to the
      "International prostate symptom score" (I-PSS, 0 - 35 poins, 7 symptom questions)
      and quality of life (QOL, 0 - 6 points) score before and after the treatment.
      RESULTS: After the treatment, both l-PSS score and QOL score of the two groups
      were significantly decreased compared with pre-treatment in the same one group
      (P<0.01), and the effect of the treatment group was evidently superior to that of
      the control group in lowering I-PSS score and QOL score (P<0.01). Of the two 100
      cases in the control and treatment groups, 23 (23.0%) and 42(42.0%) experienced a
      marked improvement, 51(51.0%) and 47 (47.0%) were effective, and 26 (26.0%) and
      11(11.0%) invalid, with the effective rates being 74.0% and 89.0%, respectively.
      The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was obviously superior to that of
      the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment is
      effective in improving BPH patients' micturation symptoms, which is superior to
      the simple acupuncture intervention.

PMID- 26887215
TI  - [Basic Characteristics of Simplex Reinforcing and Reducing Manipulations of
      Filiform Acupuncture Needle in Clinical Practice Based upon Data Mining].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and features of clinical application of
      simplex reinforcing or reducing manipulation of filiform acupuncture needles by
      data mining in order to guide clinical decision in a better way. METHODS: A
      database about simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations of filiform
      acupuncture needle was established first after collection, sorting, screening,
      type-in, and collation of the related papers, academic dissertations and theses
      of academic conferences published from January 1st of 1950 to January 31 of 2015
      by using key word "acupuncture" "acupuncture and moxibustion" "needle
      manipulation" and "filiform needle" from database of China National Knowledge
      Infrastructure (CNKI, a full-text database of Chinese journals), followed by data
      extraction and statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1 304 articles were
      found to meet the standards formulated in the present study. Among them, 800
      papers belong to the internal medicine covering apoplectic sequelae (153 papers),
      apoplexy (52), headache (63) and insomnia (60), 271 to surgery involving soft
      tissue injury (63) and backleg pain (46); 93 to five-sense-organs involving
      nasosinusitis (14), 64 gynecology involving dysmenorrhea (13), 41 to dematology
      involving struma (20), and 35 to pediatrics covering five kinds of tardy growth
      and five flaccid syndromes(8). These 1 304 papers contain 2 542 of simplex
      reinforcing and reducing manipulations, including 895 of twirling-thrusting
      reducing, 611 of twirling-rotating reinforcing, 571 of lifting-thrusting
      reducing, 303 of lifting-thrusting reinforcing, 32 of reinforcing and 32 of
      reducing in cooperation wihpatients' respiration, 23 open-close reducing, 12 open
      close reinforcing, 21 reducing and 16 of reinforcing achieved by inserting the
      needle along or against the meridian, 14 rapid-slow reinforcing, and 12 rapid
      slow reducing. Regarding the acupoint selection, distal and local acupoints are
      most frequently used, followed by symptoms-determined and syndrome-determined,
      respectively. The acupuncture needle retained time was from 0 min to 45 mn, and
      the therapeutic effect was relatively better for post-stroke. The totally
      therapeutic effects of the simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations were
      96.07% for problems of demotology, 94.19% for gynecology, 96. 58% for surgery,
      92.85% for pediatrics, 91.78% for five-sense organs and 93. 70% for internal
      medicine, respectively. CONCLUSION: Simplex reinforcing and reducing
      manipulations of acupuncture has a definite effect in the treatment of different
      problems particularly in the internal medicine and surgery. Often, the twirling
      rotating and lifting-thrusting reinforcing and reducing manipulations of
      acupuncture are employed in clinical practice.

PMID- 26887216
TI  - [From Biological Effects of Local Cutaneous Thermal Stimulation to Moxibustion
      Therapy].
AB  - Moxibustion is one of the major external therapies of traditional Chinese
      medicine (TCM) and exerts a definite favorable effect in the treatment of
      patients with different problems. In the present paper, the authors reviewed 38
      papers about somatic thermal intervention therapy published in recent 15 years
      and analyzed its biological functions from local, distal, and whole body effects.
      The local effects include 1) improving cutaneous inflammatory illnesses as
      verruca, herpes simplex, Leishmania infection, cutaneous necrosis, wound
      disunion, and promoting percutaneous absorption of some medicines, swelling pain;
      2) reliving sports fatigue and muscular injury, eliminating inflammation and pain
      reactions, probably by lowering local reactive oxygen species, superoxide
      dismutase,catalase, glutathione, etc. levels, and strengthening the flexibility
      of the knee-joint, and anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments; 3) increasing
      blood perfusion of the regional arteriola, micrangium to eliminate accumulated
      subcutaneous blood cells, inflammatory mediators and other metabolic products.
      The distal effects contain 1) increase of the distal cutaneous blood flow and
      suppression of the arterial stenosis; and 2) improvement of the visceral
      functions including the heart (ischemia), liver, gastrointestinal blood flow and
      smooth muscles, uterus smooth muscular tension, etc. The whole body effects
      include raising immunoability against cancer, and reducing tumor blood flow to
      damage the blood vessels in the tumor tissue, etc. In addition, the effects of
      thermal stimulation are affected by the temperature, stimulating duration and the
      stimulated positions. These research results may help us to comprehensively
      understand the effects and mechanisms of moxibustion therapy in the treatment of
      different clinical disorders.

PMID- 26887217
TI  - [Acupuncture Intervention Reduced Weight Gain Induced by Hypoglycemic Agents
      through Food Intake-related Targets in Central Nervous System].
AB  - Clinical practice shows that thiazolidinediones (TZDs) induce weight gain in
      patients with type-II diabetes mellitus during treatment, which restrains its
      application and generalization clinically. It has been demonstrated that
      acupuncture therapy is useful in easing obesity in clinical trials. In the
      present paper, we summarize the underlying mechanism of weight gain induced by
      TZDs through food intake-related targets in the central nervous system and
      analyze the possible effects of acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture therapy is
      expected to reduce weight gain side effect of TZDs through 1) lowering
      permeability of blood brain barrier to reduce TZDs concentration in the brain, 2)
      upregulating the expression of hypothalamic leptin and inhibiting hypothalamic
      neuropiptide Y expression, and 3) down-regulating activities of peroxisome
      proliferator-activated receptor to reduce energy intake and fat syntheses.

PMID- 26887218
TI  - Serum Uric Acid and Mortality Form Cardiovascular Disease: EPOCH-JAPAN Study.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid levels and
      cardiovascular disease in Asians. METHODS: We examined the above relationship
      using the data of Evidence for Cardiovascular Prevention from Observational
      Cohorts in Japan (EPOCH-JAPAN Study). The data of 36,313 subjects (15,628 men and
      20,685 women aged 35-89 years without histories of stroke, coronary heart
      disease, or cancer at baseline) were used for the analyses. Sex-specific hazard
      ratios (HRs) of mortality from cardiovascular disease were estimated according to
      the quintiles of serum uric acid using Cox hazard models stratified by cohorts.
      RESULTS: During 441,771 person-years of follow-up, we documented 1,288
      cardiovascular deaths. A J- or U-shaped relationship between serum uric acid
      level and cardiovascular disease mortality was observed. Compared with the lowest
      quintile of serum uric acid levels, the highest quintile was associated with an
      increased cardiovascular disease mortality in men [HR: 1.28; 95% confidence
      interval (CI): 1.01-1.63] and women (HR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.14-1.99). However, there
      was no significant association with mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease
      or heart failure in both men and women. CONCLUSION: This large pooled analysis in
      Japan suggested a J- or U-shaped relationship between serum uric acid levels and
      cardiovascular mortality. The highest quintile of serum uric acid levels was
      associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality in both Japanese men
      and women.

PMID- 26887219
TI  - Predictors of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Progression in a Chinese
      Population.
AB  - AIM: Atherosclerotic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide.
      Longitudinal changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque are being
      increasingly used as markers of atherosclerosis progression and may predict
      future cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of
      carotid IMT and plaque progression in a Chinese population and to determine
      whether these predictors differ by gender. METHODS: Segment-specific carotid IMT
      and plaque were measured in 712 stroke- and myocardial infarction-free subjects
      at baseline and after an average interval of 4.3+/-0.9 years. Multivariate linear
      regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the
      predictive effect of age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors on carotid IMT
      and plaque progression. Gender-specific analyses were also performed. RESULTS:
      Overall, age and smoking were predictors of common carotid artery IMT progression
      (adjusted p<0.001 and p=0.045, respectively). Age, hypertension, and use of
      antihypertensive medication were predictors of bifurcation IMT progression
      (adjusted p<0.001, p=0.033, and p<0.001, respectively). The use of
      antihypertensive medication was associated with less annual IMT progression in
      hypertensive subjects than in those who did not take medication, which was most
      prominent in the bifurcation segment. In addition, most predictors of IMT
      progression were identified in women in a gender-specific analysis. For plaque
      progression, age and gender were independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The
      predictors of carotid atherosclerosis progression were gender and segment
      specific. The detection and control of hypertension may prevent atherosclerosis
      progression, particularly in women.

PMID- 26887220
TI  - Bacterial treatment of alkaline cement kiln dust using Bacillus halodurans strain
      KG1.
AB  - This study was conducted to isolate an acid-producing, alkaliphilic bacterium to
      reduce the alkalinity of cement industry waste (cement kiln dust). Gram-positive
      isolate KG1 grew well at pH values of 6-12, temperatures of 28-50 degrees C, and
      NaCl concentrations of 0-16% and thus was further screened for its potential to
      reduce the pH of an alkaline medium. Phenotypic characteristics of the KG1
      isolate were consistent with those of the genus Bacillus, and the highest level
      of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was found with Bacillus halodurans strain
      DSM 497 (94.7%). On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and genotypic
      distinctiveness from other phylogenetic neighbors belonging to alkaliphilic
      Bacillus species, the isolated strain was designated B. halodurans strain KG1,
      with GenBank accession number JQ307184 (= NCIM 5439). Isolate KG1 reduced the
      alkalinity (by 83.64%) and the chloride content (by 86.96%) of cement kiln dust
      and showed a potential to be used in the cement industry for a variety of
      applications.

PMID- 26887221
TI  - The improvement of competitive saprophytic capabilities of Trichoderma species
      through the use of chemical mutagens.
AB  - The antagonistic potential of Trichoderma strains was assayed by studying the
      effect of their culture filtrate on the radial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, the
      causal agent of chickpea collar rot. Trichoderma harzianum-1432 (42.2%) and
      Trichoderma atroviride (40.3%) were found to be strong antagonists. To enhance
      their antagonistic potential, mutagenesis of these two selected strains was
      performed. Two mutants, Th-m1 and T. atroviride m1, were found to be more
      effective than their parent strains. The enzymatic activities of the selected
      parent and mutant strains were assayed, and although both mutants were found to
      have enhanced enzymatic activities compared to their respective parent strains,
      Th-m1 possessed the maximum cellulase (5.69U/mL) and beta-1,3-glucanase activity
      (61.9U/mL). Th-m1 also showed high competitive saprophytic ability (CSA) among
      all of the selected parent and mutant strains, and during field experiments, Th
      m1 was found to successfully possess enhanced disease control (82.9%).

PMID- 26887222
TI  - Isolation and characterization of phenol degrading yeasts from wastewater in the
      coking plant of Zarand, Kerman.
AB  - Phenol and phenolic compounds are environmental pollutants present in industrial
      wastewaters such as coal tar, oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Phenol
      removal from industrial effluents is extremely important for the protection of
      environment. Usually, phenol degradation is carried out by physicochemical
      methods that are costly and produce hazardous metabolites. Recently, phenol
      biodegradation has been considered. Yeasts are the most important phenol
      biodegraders. In this study, the phenol-degrading yeast from environmental
      samples (soil and wastewater) was isolated from the coking plant of Zarand,
      Kerman. Then total heterotrophic yeasts were counted. The soil samples had higher
      rates of yeast degrader, in comparison to wastewater samples. After three
      passages, four yeasts (K1, K2, K7 and K11) that had the highest growth rate were
      selected for further study. Also, these yeasts were able to remove phenol
      measured by Gibbs reagent. The effect of four different concentrations of phenol
      (50, 125, 200 and 275) mgL(-1) was measured and three degradation patterns in
      these yeasts were observed. The hydrophobicity and emulsification activity were
      measured in all eleven yeasts. Finally, strong yeasts in phenol degrading yeasts
      were identified by molecular method using amplification of 18S rRNA gene region.
      The sequencing results showed that these isolated yeasts belonged to Candida
      tropicalis strain K1, Pichia guilliermondii strain K2, Meyerozyma guilliermondii
      strain K7 and C. tropicalis strain K11.

PMID- 26887223
TI  - Cultural conditions on the production of extracellular enzymes by Trichoderma
      isolates from tobacco rhizosphere.
AB  - Twelve isolates of Trichoderma spp. isolated from tobacco rhizosphere were
      evaluated for their ability to produce chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase
      extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Isolates ThJt1 and TvHt2, out of 12 isolates,
      produced maximum activities of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase, respectively. In
      vitro production of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase by isolates ThJt1 and TvHt2
      was tested under different cultural conditions. The enzyme activities were
      significantly influenced by acidic pH and the optimum temperature was 30 degrees
      C. The chitin and cell walls of Sclerotium rolfsii, as carbon sources, supported
      the maximum and significantly higher chitinase activity by both isolates. The
      chitinase activity of isolate ThJt1 was suppressed significantly by fructose
      (80.28%), followed by glucose (77.42%), whereas the beta-1,3-glucanase activity
      of ThJt1 and both enzymes of isolate TvHt2 were significantly suppressed by
      fructose, followed by sucrose. Ammonium nitrate as nitrogen source supported the
      maximum activity of chitinase in both isolates, whereas urea was a poor nitrogen
      source. Production of both enzymes by the isolates was significantly influenced
      by the cultural conditions. Thus, the isolates ThJt1 and TvHt2 showed higher
      levels of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase activities and were capable of
      hydrolyzing the mycelium of S. rolfsii infecting tobacco. These organisms can be
      used therefore for assessment of their synergism in biomass production and
      biocontrol efficacy and for their field biocontrol ability against S. rolfsii and
      Pythium aphanidermatum infecting tobacco.

PMID- 26887224
TI  - Azole resistance in Candida spp. isolated from Catu Lake, Ceara, Brazil: an
      efflux-pump-mediated mechanism.
AB  - Since, there is no study reporting the mechanism of azole resistance among yeasts
      isolated from aquatic environments; the present study aims to investigate the
      occurrence of antifungal resistance among yeasts isolated from an aquatic
      environment, and assess the efflux-pump activity of the azole-resistant strains
      to better understand the mechanism of resistance for this group of drugs. For
      this purpose, monthly water and sediment samples were collected from Catu Lake,
      Ceara, Brazil, from March 2011 to February 2012. The obtained yeasts were
      identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. Of the 46
      isolates, 37 were Candida spp., 4 were Trichosporon asahii, 3 were Cryptococcus
      laurentii, 1 Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and 1 was Kodamaea ohmeri. These isolates
      were subjected to broth microdilution assay with amphotericin B, itraconazole,
      and fluconazole, according to the methodology standardized by the Clinical and
      Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The minimum inhibitory concentrations
      (MICs) of amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole were 0.03125-2MUg/mL,
      0.0625 to >=16MUg/mL, and 0.5 to >=64MUg/mL, respectively, and 13 resistant azole
      resistant Candida isolates were detected. A reduction in the azole MICs leading
      to the phenotypical reversal of the azole resistance was observed upon addition
      of efflux-pump inhibitors. These findings suggest that the azole resistance among
      environmental Candida spp. is most likely associated with the overexpression of
      efflux-pumps.

PMID- 26887225
TI  - Decolorization of azo dyes (Direct Blue 151 and Direct Red 31) by moderately
      alkaliphilic bacterial consortium.
AB  - Removal of synthetic dyes is one of the main challenges before releasing the
      wastes discharged by textile industries. Biodegradation of azo dyes by
      alkaliphilic bacterial consortium is one of the environmental-friendly methods
      used for the removal of dyes from textile effluents. Hence, this study presents
      isolation of a bacterial consortium from soil samples of saline environment and
      its use for the decolorization of azo dyes, Direct Blue 151 (DB 151) and Direct
      Red 31 (DR 31). The decolorization of azo dyes was studied at various
      concentrations (100-300mg/L). The bacterial consortium, when subjected to an
      application of 200mg/L of the dyes, decolorized DB 151 and DR 31 by 97.57% and
      95.25% respectively, within 5 days. The growth of the bacterial consortium was
      optimized with pH, temperature, and carbon and nitrogen sources; and
      decolorization of azo dyes was analyzed. In this study, the decolorization
      efficiency of mixed dyes was improved with yeast extract and sucrose, which were
      used as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively. Such an alkaliphilic bacterial
      consortium can be used in the removal of azo dyes from contaminated saline
      environment.

PMID- 26887226
TI  - Fusarium culmorum affects expression of biofilm formation key genes in Bacillus
      subtilis.
AB  - It is known that there is correlation between biofilm formation and antagonistic
      activities of Bacillus subtilis strains; but, the mechanism of this correlation
      is not clear. So, the effect of the plant pathogen (Fusarium culmorum) on the
      biofilm formation in a B. subtilis strain with high antagonistic and biofilm
      formation activities was studied. The expression of sinR and tasA genes involved
      in the biofilm formation was studied in both single culture of bacterium (B) and
      co-culture with F. culmorum (FB) using real-time PCR. The results revealed that
      the expression of the sinR gene in both B and FB conditions was continuously
      decreased during the biofilm formation period and, after 24h (B4 and FB4), it
      reached 1% and 0.3% at the planktonic phase (B1), respectively, whereas the
      expression of the tasA was continuously increased and was 5.27 and 30 times more
      than that at the planktonic phase (B1) after 24h, respectively. So, the
      expression reduction rate for sinR (3 times) and the expression increasing rate
      for tasA (6 times) were significantly higher in FB conditions than the B ones.
      The relative expression of sinR in FB1 (planktonic phase), FB2 (8h), FB3(12h),
      and FB4 (24h) times was 0.65, 0.44, 0.35, and 0.29, whereas the tasA gene
      expression was 2.98, 3.44, 4.37, and 5.63-fold of the one at coordinate time
      points in B conditions, respectively. The significant expression reduction of
      sinR and increase of tasA confirmed that the presence of pathogen could stimulate
      biofilm formation in the antagonistic bacterium.

PMID- 26887227
TI  - Analysis for the presence of determinants involved in the transport of mercury
      across bacterial membrane from polluted water bodies of India.
AB  - Mercury, which is ubiquitous and recalcitrant to biodegradation processes,
      threatens human health by escaping to the environment via various natural and
      anthropogenic activities. Non-biodegradability of mercury pollutants has
      necessitated the development and implementation of economic alternatives with
      promising potential to remove metals from the environment. Enhancement of
      microbial based remediation strategies through genetic engineering approaches
      provides one such alternative with a promising future. In this study, bacterial
      isolates inhabiting polluted sites were screened for tolerance to varying
      concentrations of mercuric chloride. Following identification, several
      Pseudomonas and Klebsiella species were found to exhibit the highest tolerance to
      both organic and inorganic mercury. Screened bacterial isolates were examined for
      their genetic make-up in terms of the presence of genes (merP and merT) involved
      in the transport of mercury across the membrane either alone or in combination to
      deal with the toxic mercury. Gene sequence analysis revealed that the merP gene
      showed 86-99% homology, while the merT gene showed >98% homology with previously
      reported sequences. By exploring the genes involved in imparting metal resistance
      to bacteria, this study will serve to highlight the credentials that are
      particularly advantageous for their practical application to remediation of
      mercury from the environment.

PMID- 26887228
TI  - Comparing how land use change impacts soil microbial catabolic respiration in
      Southwestern Amazon.
AB  - Land use changes strongly impact soil functions, particularly microbial biomass
      diversity and activity. We hypothesized that the catabolic respiration response
      of the microbial biomass would differ depending on land use and that these
      differences would be consistent at the landscape scale. In the present study, we
      analyzed the catabolic response profile of the soil microbial biomass through
      substrate-induced respiration in different land uses over a wide geographical
      range in Mato Grosso and Rondonia state (Southwest Amazon region). We analyzed
      the differences among native areas, pastures and crop areas and within each land
      use and examined only native areas (Forest, Dense Cerrado and Cerrado), pastures
      (Nominal, Degraded and Improved) and crop areas (Perennial, No-Tillage,
      Conventional Tillage). The metabolic profile of the microbial biomass was
      accessed using substrate-induced respiration. Pasture soils showed significant
      responses to amino acids and carboxylic acids, whereas native areas showed higher
      responses to malonic acid, malic acid and succinic acid. Within each land use
      category, the catabolic responses showed similar patterns in both large general
      comparisons (native area, pasture and crop areas) and more specific comparisons
      (biomes, pastures and crop types). The results showed that the catabolic
      responses of the microbial biomass are highly correlated with land use,
      independent of soil type or climate. The substrate induced respiration approach
      is useful to discriminate microbial communities, even on a large scale.

PMID- 26887229
TI  - Bacterial ecology of abattoir wastewater treated by an anaerobic digestor.
AB  - Wastewater from an anaerobic treatment plant at a slaughterhouse was analysed to
      determine the bacterial biodiversity present. Molecular analysis of the anaerobic
      sludge obtained from the treatment plant showed significant diversity, as 27
      different phyla were identified. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes,
      Thermotogae, Euryarchaeota (methanogens), and msbl6 (candidate division) were the
      dominant phyla of the anaerobic treatment plant and represented 21.7%, 18.5%,
      11.5%, 9.4%, 8.9%, and 8.8% of the total bacteria identified, respectively. The
      dominant bacteria isolated were Clostridium, Bacteroides, Desulfobulbus,
      Desulfomicrobium, Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. Our results revealed the
      presence of new species, genera and families of microorganisms. The most
      interesting strains were characterised. Three new bacteria involved in anaerobic
      digestion of abattoir wastewater were published.

PMID- 26887230
TI  - Exploring plant growth-promotion actinomycetes from vermicompost and rhizosphere
      soil for yield enhancement in chickpea.
AB  - The main objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize
      actinomycetes for their plant growth-promotion in chickpea. A total of 89
      actinomycetes were screened for their antagonism against fungal pathogens of
      chickpea by dual culture and metabolite production assays. Four most promising
      actinomycetes were evaluated for their physiological and plant growth-promotion
      properties under in vitro and in vivo conditions. All the isolates exhibited good
      growth at temperatures from 20 degrees C to 40 degrees C, pH range of 7-11 and
      NaCl concentrations up to 8%. These were also found highly tolerant to Bavistin,
      slightly tolerant to Thiram and Captan (except VAI-7 and VAI-40) but susceptible
      to Benlate and Ridomil at field application levels and were found to produce
      siderophore, cellulase, lipase, protease, chitinase (except VAI-40), hydrocyanic
      acid (except VAI-7 and VAI-40), indole acetic acid and beta-1,3-glucanase. When
      the four actinomycetes were evaluated for their plant growth-promotion properties
      under field conditions on chickpea, all exhibited increase in nodule number,
      shoot weight and yield. The actinomycetes treated plots enhanced total N,
      available P and organic C over the un-inoculated control. The scanning electron
      microscope studies exhibited extensive colonization by actinomycetes on the root
      surface of chickpea. The expression profiles for indole acetic acid, siderophore
      and beta-1,3-glucanase genes exhibited up-regulation for all three traits and in
      all four isolates. The actinomycetes were identified as Streptomyces but
      different species in the 16S rDNA analysis. It was concluded that the selected
      actinomycetes have good plant growth-promotion and biocontrol potentials on
      chickpea.

PMID- 26887231
TI  - Alternariol 9-methyl ether from the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. Samif01 and
      its bioactivities.
AB  - One bioactive compound, identified as alternariol 9-methyl ether, was isolated
      from the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. Samif01 residing
      in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Alternariol 9-methyl ether was active
      against bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 25 to
      75MUg/mL and median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 16.00 to
      38.27MUg/mL. The IC50 value of alternariol 9-methyl ether against spore
      germination of Magnaporthe oryzae was 87.18MUg/mL. Alternariol 9-methyl ether
      also showed antinematodal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and
      Caenorhabditis elegans with IC50 values of 98.17MUg/mL and 74.62MUg/mL,
      respectively. This work is the first report on alternariol 9-methyl ether and its
      biological activities from the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. Samif01 derived
      from S. miltiorrhiza Bunge. The results indicate the potential of Alternaria sp.
      Samif01 as a source of alternariol 9-methyl ether and also support that
      alternariol 9-methyl ether is a natural compound with high potential bioactivity
      against microorganisms.

PMID- 26887232
TI  - Structure of xanthan gum and cell ultrastructure at different times of alkali
      stress.
AB  - The effect of alkali stress on the yield, viscosity, gum structure, and cell
      ultrastructure of xanthan gum was evaluated at the end of fermentation process of
      xanthan production by Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis 280-95. Although
      greater xanthan production was observed after a 24h-alkali stress process, a
      lower viscosity was observed when compared to the alkali stress-free gum,
      regardless of the alkali stress time. However, this outcome is not conclusive as
      further studies on gum purification are required to remove excess sodium, verify
      the efficiency loss and the consequent increase in the polymer viscosity. Alkali
      stress altered the structure of xanthan gum from a polygon-like shape to a star
      like form. At the end of the fermentation, early structural changes in the
      bacterium were observed. After alkali stress, marked structural differences were
      observed in the cells. A more vacuolated cytoplasm and discontinuities in the
      membrane cells evidenced the cell lysis. Xanthan was observed in the form of
      concentric circles instead of agglomerates as observed prior to the alkali
      stress.

PMID- 26887233
TI  - Enzymatic saccharification and fermentation of cellulosic date palm wastes to
      glucose and lactic acid.
AB  - The bioconversion of cellulosic wastes into high-value bio-products by
      saccharification and fermentation processes is an important step that can reduce
      the environmental pollution caused by agricultural wastes. In this study,
      enzymatic saccharification of treated and untreated date palm cellulosic wastes
      by the cellulases from Geobacillus stearothermophilus was optimized. The alkaline
      pre-treatment of the date palm wastes was found to be effective in increasing the
      saccharification percentage. The maximum rate of saccharification was found at a
      substrate concentration of 4% and enzyme concentration of 30 FPU/g of substrate.
      The optimum pH and temperature for the bioconversions were 5.0 and 50 degrees C,
      respectively, after 24h of incubation, with a yield of 31.56mg/mL of glucose at a
      saccharification degree of 71.03%. The saccharification was increased to 94.88%
      by removal of the hydrolysate after 24h by using a two-step hydrolysis.
      Significant lactic acid production (27.8mg/mL) was obtained by separate
      saccharification and fermentation after 72h of incubation. The results indicate
      that production of fermentable sugar and lactic acid is feasible and may reduce
      environmental pollution by using date palm wastes as a cheap substrate.

PMID- 26887234
TI  - A new alkalophilic isolate of Bacillus as a producer of cyclodextrin
      glycosyltransferase using cassava flour.
AB  - Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) catalyzes the conversion of starch into
      non-reducing cyclic sugars, cyclodextrins, which have several industrial
      applications. This study aimed to establish optimal culture conditions for beta
      CGTase production by Bacillus sp. SM-02, isolated from soil of cassava industries
      waste water lake. The optimization was performed by Central Composite Design
      (CCD) 2, using cassava flour and corn steep liquor as substrates. The maximum
      production of 1087.9UmL(-1) was obtained with 25.0gL(-1) of cassava flour and
      3.5gL(-1) of corn steep after 72h by submerged fermentation. The enzyme showed
      optimum activity at pH 5.0 and temperature 55 degrees C, and maintained thermal
      stability at 55 degrees C for 3h. The enzymatic activity was stimulated in the
      presence of Mg(+2), Ca(+2), EDTA, K(+), Ba(+2) and Na(+) and inhibited in the
      presence of Hg(+2), Cu(+2), Fe(+2) and Zn(+2). The results showed that Bacillus
      sp. SM-02 have good potential for beta-CGTase production.

PMID- 26887236
TI  - Double mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for enhanced beta-d
      fructofuranosidase fructohydrolase productivity and application of growth
      kinetics for parametric significance analysis.
AB  - The kinetics of an extracellular beta-d-fructofuranosidase fructohydrolase
      production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a chemically defined medium, i.e.,
      sucrose peptone agar yeast extract at pH 6, was investigated. The wild-type was
      treated with a chemical mutagen, methyl methane sulfonate. Among the six mutants
      isolated, methyl methane sulfonate-V was found to be a better enzyme producing
      strain (52+/-2.4(a)U/mL). The maximum production (74+/-3.1(a)U/mL) was
      accomplished after at 48h (68+/-2.7(a)mg/mL protein). The mutants were stabilized
      at low levels of 5-fluoro-cytocine and the viable ones were further processed for
      optimization of cultural conditions and nutritional requirements. The sucrose
      concentration, incubation period and pH were optimized to be 30g/L, 28 degrees C,
      and 6.5, respectively. The methyl methane sulfonate-V exhibited an improvement of
      over 10 folds in enzyme production when 5g/L ammonium sulfate was used as a
      nitrogen source. Thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid
      chromatography analysis illustrated the optimal enzyme activity supported by the
      higher rate of hydrolysis of sucrose into monosaccharides, particularly alpha-d
      glucose and beta-d-fructose. The values for Qp (2+/-0.12(c)U/mL/h) and Yp/s (4+/
      1.24(b)U/g) of the mutant were considerably increased in comparison with other
      yeast strains (both isolates and viable mutants). The mutant could be exploited
      for enzyme production over a wider temperature range (26-34 degrees C), with
      significantly high enzyme activity (LSD 0.048, HS) at the optimal temperature.

PMID- 26887235
TI  - Effects of oxygen transfer coefficient on dihydroxyacetone production from crude
      glycerol.
AB  - The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of
      dihydroxyacetone production by Gluconobacter frateurii CGMCC 5397 under different
      oxygen volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) conditions in submerged
      bioreactors using biodiesel-derived crude glycerol as the carbon source. kLa is a
      key fermentation parameter for the production of dihydroxyacetone. Cultivations
      were conducted in baffled- and unbaffled-flask cultures (the kLa values were
      24.32h(-1) and 52.05h(-1), respectively) and fed-batch cultures (the kLa values
      were held at 18.21h(-1), 46.03h(-1), and 82.14h(-1)) to achieve high
      dihydroxyacetone concentration and productivity. The results showed that a high
      kLa could dramatically increase dihydroxyacetone concentrations and
      productivities. The baffled-flask culture (with a kLa of 52.05h(-1)) favored
      glycerol utilization and dihydroxyacetone production, and a dihydroxyacetone
      concentration as high as 131.16g/L was achieved. When the kLa was set to 82.14h(
      1) in the fed-batch culture, the dihydroxyacetone concentration, productivity and
      yield were 175.44g/L, 7.96g/L/h and 0.89g/g, respectively, all of which were
      significantly higher than those in previous studies and will benefit
      dihydroxyacetone industrial production.

PMID- 26887237
TI  - Characterization of biotechnologically relevant extracellular lipase produced by
      Aspergillus terreus NCFT 4269.10.
AB  - Enzyme production by Aspergillus terreus NCFT 4269.10 was studied under liquid
      static surface and solid-state fermentation using mustard oil cake as a
      substrate. The maximum lipase biosynthesis was observed after incubation at 30
      degrees C for 96h. Among the domestic oils tested, the maximum lipase
      biosynthesis was achieved using palm oil. The crude lipase was purified 2.56-fold
      to electrophoretic homogeneity, with a yield of 8.44%, and the protein had a
      molecular weight of 46.3kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. Enzyme characterization
      confirmed that the purified lipase was most active at pH 6.0, temperature of 50
      degrees C, and substrate concentration of 1.5%. The enzyme was thermostable at 60
      degrees C for 1h, and the optimum enzyme-substrate reaction time was 30min.
      Sodium dodecyl sulfate and commercial detergents did not significantly affect
      lipase activity during 30-min incubation at 30 degrees C. Among the metal ions
      tested, the maximum lipase activity was attained in the presence of Zn(2+),
      followed by Mg(2+) and Fe(2+). Lipase activity was not significantly affected in
      the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate and Triton
      X-100. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (1mM) and the reducing, beta-mercaptoethanol
      significantly inhibited lipase activity. The remarkable stability in the presence
      of detergents, additives, inhibitors and metal ions makes this lipase unique and
      a potential candidate for significant biotechnological exploitation.

PMID- 26887238
TI  - Resistance patterns, ESBL genes, and genetic relatedness of Escherichia coli from
      dogs and owners.
AB  - Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from pet dogs can be
      considered a potential threat of infection for the human population. Our
      objective was to characterize the resistance pattern, extended spectrum beta
      lactamase production and genetic relatedness of multiresistant E. coli strains
      isolated from dogs (n=134), their owners (n=134), and humans who claim to have no
      contact with dogs (n=44, control), searching for sharing of strains. The strains
      were assessed for their genetic relatedness by phylogenetic grouping and pulsed
      field gel electrophoresis. Multiresistant E. coli strains were isolated from 42
      (31.3%) fecal samples from pairs of dogs and owners, totaling 84 isolates, and
      from 19 (43.1%) control group subjects. The strains showed high levels of
      resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim and
      sulfamethoxazole regardless of host species or group of origin. The blaTEM,
      blaCTX-M, and blaSHV genes were detected in similar proportions in all groups.
      All isolates positive for bla genes were ESBL producers. The phylogenetic group A
      was the most prevalent, irrespective of the host species. None of the strains
      belonging to the B2 group contained bla genes. Similar resistance patterns were
      found for strains from dogs, owners and controls; furthermore, identical PFGE
      profiles were detected in four (9.5%) isolate pairs from dogs and owners,
      denoting the sharing of strains. Pet dogs were shown to be a potential household
      source of multiresistant E. coli strains.

PMID- 26887239
TI  - Isoflavone formononetin from red propolis acts as a fungicide against Candida sp.
AB  - A bioassay-guided fractionation of two samples of Brazilian red propolis (from
      Igarassu, PE, Brazil, hereinafter propolis 1 and 2) was conducted in order to
      determine the components responsible for its antimicrobial activity, especially
      against Candida spp. Samples of both the crude powdered resin and the crude
      ethanolic extract of propolis from both locations inhibited the growth of all 12
      tested Candida strains, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 256MUg/mL. The
      hexane, acetate and methanol fractions of propolis 1 also inhibited all strains
      with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 128 to 512MUg/mL for
      the six bacteria tested and from 32 to 1024MUg/mL for the yeasts. Similarly,
      hexane and acetate fractions of propolis sample 2 inhibited all microorganisms
      tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 512MUg/mL for bacteria
      and 32MUg/mL for yeasts. The extracts were analyzed by HPLC and their phenolic
      profile allowed us to identify and quantitate one phenolic acid and seven
      flavonoids in the crude ethanolic extract. Formononetin and pinocembrin were the
      major constituents amongst the identified compounds. Formononetin was detected in
      all extracts and fractions tested, except for the methanolic fraction of sample
      2. The isolated isoflavone formononetin inhibited the growth of all the
      microorganisms tested, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 200MUg/mL for
      the six bacteria strains tested and 25MUg/mL for the six yeasts. Formononetin
      also exhibited fungicidal activity against five of the six yeasts tested. Taken
      together our results demonstrate that the isoflavone formononetin is implicated
      in the reported antimicrobial activity of red propolis.

PMID- 26887240
TI  - Investigation of Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool samples of patients with
      upper gastrointestinal complaints.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori infection is usually acquired in early childhood and it can
      persist throughout life without antibiotic treatment. This study aimed to compare
      the accuracy of the noninvasive H. pylori Stool Antigen Test-applied on the stool
      samples with the invasive gold standart Rapid Urease Test-applied on the gastric
      biopy samples of patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints. After
      endoscopy, biopsy and stool specimens were taken in 122 patients. The infection
      was detected with rapid urease test which is accepted as gold standart test.
      Rapid, one-step H. pylori card test was applied to all patients stool specimens.
      In this study 106 of the 122 patients (86.8%) were positive for H. pylori
      infection, while 16 of the 122 patients (13.2%) were negative. H. pylori card
      test was negative in 13 of the 16 patients and was positive in 98 of the 106. The
      sensitivity, specifity, positive and negative predictive values were 92.45%,
      81.25%, 97.02%, and 61.90%, respectively. H. pylori card test is rapid, easy,
      noninvasive and inexpensive methods for detection H. pylori infection. This test
      showed high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, it may be a good
      alternative to invasive tests for the detection of H. pylori infections
      especially in children.

PMID- 26887241
TI  - Rapid detection of Candida species in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients
      with pulmonary symptoms.
AB  - Candida species, especially C. albicans, are commensals on human mucosal
      surfaces, but are increasingly becoming one of the important invasive pathogens
      as seen by a rise in its prevalence in immunocompromised patients and in
      antibiotic consumption. Thus, an accurate identification of Candida species in
      patients with pulmonary symptoms can provide important information for effective
      treatment. A total of 75 clinical isolates of Candida species were obtained from
      the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of both immunocompromised and immunocompetent
      patients with pulmonary symptoms. Candida cultures were identified based on
      nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1-ITS2 rDNA) sequence analysis
      by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR
      RFLP). Molecular identification indicated that the isolates belonged
      predominantly to C. albicans (52%), followed by C. tropicalis (24%), C. glabrata
      (14.7%), C. krusei (5.3%), C. parapsilosis (1.3%), C. kefyr (1.3%) and C.
      guilliermondii (1.3%). Given the increasing complexity of disease profiles and
      their management regimens in diverse patients, rapid and accurate identification
      of Candida species can lead to timely and appropriate antifungal therapy.

PMID- 26887243
TI  - Isolation, identification and characterization of regional indigenous
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.
AB  - In the present work we isolated and identified various indigenous Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae strains and screened them for the selected oenological properties.
      These S. cerevisiae strains were isolated from berries and spontaneously
      fermented musts. The grape berries (Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir) were grown
      under the integrated and organic mode of farming in the South Moravia (Czech
      Republic) wine region. Modern genotyping techniques such as PCR-fingerprinting
      and interdelta PCR typing were employed to differentiate among indigenous S.
      cerevisiae strains. This combination of the methods provides a rapid and
      relatively simple approach for identification of yeast of S. cerevisiae at strain
      level. In total, 120 isolates were identified and grouped by molecular approaches
      and 45 of the representative strains were tested for selected important
      oenological properties including ethanol, sulfur dioxide and osmotic stress
      tolerance, intensity of flocculation and desirable enzymatic activities. Their
      ability to produce and utilize acetic/malic acid was examined as well; in
      addition, H2S production as an undesirable property was screened. The oenological
      characteristics of indigenous isolates were compared to a commercially available
      S. cerevisiae BS6 strain, which is commonly used as the starter culture. Finally,
      some indigenous strains coming from organically treated grape berries were chosen
      for their promising oenological properties and these strains will be used as the
      starter culture, because application of a selected indigenous S. cerevisiae
      strain can enhance the regional character of the wines.

PMID- 26887242
TI  - Novel nonsense mutation in the katA gene of a catalase-negative Staphylococcus
      aureus strain.
AB  - We report the first description of a rare catalase-negative strain of
      Staphylococcus aureus in Chile. This new variant was isolated from blood and
      synovial tissue samples of a pediatric patient. Sequencing analysis revealed that
      this catalase-negative strain is related to ST10 strain, which has earlier been
      described in relation to S. aureus carriers. Interestingly, sequence analysis of
      the catalase gene katA revealed presence of a novel nonsense mutation that causes
      premature translational truncation of the C-terminus of the enzyme leading to a
      loss of 222 amino acids. Our study suggests that loss of catalase activity in
      this rare catalase-negative Chilean strain is due to this novel nonsense mutation
      in the katA gene, which truncates the enzyme to just 283 amino acids.

PMID- 26887244
TI  - Multidrug resistance and ESBL-producing Salmonella spp. isolated from broiler
      processing plants.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of multidrug-resistant,
      extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Salmonella spp. isolated from
      conveyor belts of broiler cutting rooms in Brazilian broiler processing plants.
      Ninety-eight strains of Salmonella spp. were analyzed. Multidrug resistance was
      determined by the disk diffusion test and the susceptibility of the isolated
      bacteria was evaluated against 18 antimicrobials from seven different classes.
      The double disk diffusion test was used to evaluate ESBL production. Of the 98
      strains tested, 84 were multidrug resistant. The highest rates of resistance were
      against nalidixic acid (95%), tetracycline (91%), and the beta-lactams:
      ampicillin and cefachlor (45%), followed by streptomycin and gentamicin with 19%
      and 15% of strain resistance, respectively. By contrast, 97% of the strains were
      sensitive to chloramphenicol. 45% of the strains were positive for the presence
      of ESBL activity. In this study, high rates of multidrug resistance and ESBL
      production were observed in Salmonella spp.

PMID- 26887245
TI  - Characterization of quinolone resistance in Salmonella spp. isolates from food
      products and human samples in Brazil.
AB  - Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Salmonella
      enterica. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plasmid
      mediated quinolone resistance in Salmonella spp. and its association with
      fluoroquinolone susceptibility in Brazil. A total of 129 NTS isolates (samples
      from human origin, food from animal origin, environmental, and animal) grouped as
      from animal (n=62) and human (n=67) food were evaluated between 2009 and 2013.
      These isolates were investigated through serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility
      testing, and the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes
      (qnr, aac(6')-Ib) and associated integron genes (integrase, and conserved
      integron region). Resistance to quinolones and/or fluoroquinolones, from first to
      third generations, was observed. Fifteen isolates were positive for the presence
      of qnr genes (8 qnrS, 6 qnrB, and 1 qnrD) and twenty three of aac(6')-Ib. The
      conserved integron region was detected in 67 isolates as variable regions, from
      +/-600 to >1000pb. The spread of NTS involving PMQR carriers is of serious
      concern and should be carefully monitored.

PMID- 26887246
TI  - Lactobacillus plantarum: Effect of a protective biofilm on the surface of olives
      during storage.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus
      plantarum adhesion to the surface of olives during storage through studying the
      interaction between the surfaces of the olives and L. plantarum. The results
      showed that the total number of adherent L. plantarum increased exponentially
      from 1.2*10(6) to 1.3*10(8)cfu/g. Images obtained using environmental scanning
      electron microscopy (ESEM) after 4 days of storage revealed that the olive
      surface was covered with a uniform and compact biofilm constituted of L.
      plantarum and yeast. Physicochemical analysis of surface of L. plantarum revealed
      that it was hydrophilic (Giwi>0mJ/m(2)). The surface of the olives also appeared
      to be hydrophilic (Giwi=3.28mJ/m(2)). The electron-donor characteristics of the
      surfaces of L. plantarum and olive were gamma(-)=53.1mJ/m(2) and gamma(
      )=28.1mJ/m(2), respectively. The formation of a protective biofilm of L.
      plantarum increased the hydrophilicity (from 3.28 to 46.14mJ/m(2)) and the
      electron-donor capacity (from 28.1 to 67.2mJ/m(2)) of the olive surface by 1 day
      of storage. Analysis of the impact of the biofilm that formed on the surface of
      the olives during storage showed a reduction in the content of undesirable
      planktonic microorganisms, such as fungi, which could have occurred due to
      competition for nutrients and oxygen or modifications in the physicochemical
      properties of the olives. Thus, coating the surface of olives with a natural
      material, such as L. plantarum, may be a first step in developing strategies to
      prevent their microbial colonization.

PMID- 26887248
TI  - Genotypic characterization of psittacid herpesvirus isolates from Brazil.
AB  - Thirty-six isolates of psittacid herpesvirus (PsHV), obtained from 12 different
      species of psittacids in Brazil, were genotypically characterized by restriction
      fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and PCR amplification. RFLP analysis
      with the PstI enzyme revealed four distinct restriction patterns (A1, X, W and
      Y), of which only A1 (corresponding to PsHV-1) had previously been described. To
      study PCR amplification patterns, six pairs of primers were used. Using this
      method, six variants were identified, of which, variants 10, 8, and 9 (in this
      order) were most prevalent, followed by variants 1, 4, and 5. It was not possible
      to correlate the PCR and RFLP patterns. Twenty-nine of the 36 isolates were shown
      to contain a 419bp fragment of the UL16 gene, displaying high similarity to the
      PsHV-1 sequences available in GenBank. Comparison of the results with the
      literature data suggests that the 36 Brazilian isolates from this study belong to
      genotype 1 and serotype 1.

PMID- 26887247
TI  - Virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance of Pasteurella multocida isolated
      from poultry and swine.
AB  - Pasteurella multocida causes atrophic rhinitis in swine and fowl cholera in
      birds, and is a secondary agent in respiratory syndromes. Pathogenesis and
      virulence factors involved are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was
      to detect 22 virulence-associated genes by PCR, including capsular serogroups A,
      B and D genes and to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of P. multocida
      strains from poultry and swine. ompH, oma87, plpB, psl, exbD-tonB, fur, hgbA,
      nanB, sodA, sodC, ptfA were detected in more than 90% of the strains of both
      hosts. 91% and 92% of avian and swine strains, respectively, were classified in
      serogroup A. toxA and hsf-1 showed a significant association to serogroup D;
      pmHAS and pfhA to serogroup A. Gentamicin and amoxicillin were the most effective
      drugs with susceptibility higher than 97%; however, 76.79% of poultry strains and
      85% of swine strains were resistant to sulphonamides. Furthermore, 19.64% and
      36.58% of avian and swine strains, respectively, were multi-resistant. Virulence
      genes studied were not specific to a host and may be the result of horizontal
      transmission throughout evolution. High multidrug resistance demonstrates the
      need for responsible use of antimicrobials in animals intended for human
      consumption, in addition to antimicrobial susceptibility testing to P. multocida.

PMID- 26887249
TI  - Detection of seasonal asymptomatic dermatophytes in Van cats.
AB  - The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey.
      In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in
      Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected
      from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples,
      30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in
      winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of
      the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1-3 years old, and 68
      were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic
      examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar
      and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol.
      Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic
      colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at
      37 degrees C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated
      from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi
      were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M.
      nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a
      health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was
      not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p>0.05)
      association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The
      carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only
      possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal.

PMID- 26887250
TI  - Experimental infection with Brazilian Newcastle disease virus strain in pigeons
      and chickens.
AB  - This study was designed with the goal of adding as much information as possible
      about the role of pigeons (Columba livia) and chickens (Gallus gallus) in
      Newcastle disease virus epidemiology. These species were submitted to direct
      experimental infection with Newcastle disease virus to evaluate interspecies
      transmission and virus-host relationships. The results obtained in four
      experimental models were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition and reverse
      transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of virus shedding. These
      techniques revealed that both avian species, when previously immunized with a low
      pathogenic Newcastle disease virus strain (LaSota), developed high antibody
      titers that significantly reduced virus shedding after infection with a highly
      pathogenic Newcastle disease virus strain (Sao Joao do Meriti) and that, in
      chickens, prevent clinical signs. Infected pigeons shed the pathogenic strain,
      which was not detected in sentinel chickens or control birds. When the presence
      of Newcastle disease virus was analyzed in tissue samples by RT-PCR, in both
      species, the virus was most frequently found in the spleen. The vaccination
      regimen can prevent clinical disease in chickens and reduce viral shedding by
      chickens or pigeons. Biosecurity measures associated with vaccination programs
      are crucial to maintain a virulent Newcastle disease virus-free status in
      industrial poultry in Brazil.

PMID- 26887252
TI  - Phylogenetic analysis of Dengue virus 1 isolated from South Minas Gerais, Brazil.
AB  - Dengue is a major worldwide public health problem, especially in the tropical and
      subtropical regions of the world. Primary infection with a single Dengue virus
      serotype causes a mild, self-limiting febrile illness called dengue fever.
      However, a subset of patients who experience secondary infection with a different
      serotype can progress to a more severe form of the disease, called dengue
      hemorrhagic fever. The four Dengue virus serotypes (1-4) are antigenically and
      genetically distinct and each serotype is composed of multiple genotypes. In this
      study we isolated one Dengue virus 1 serotype, named BR/Alfenas/2012, from a
      patient with dengue hemorrhagic fever in Alfenas, South Minas Gerais, Brazil and
      molecular identification was performed based on the analysis of NS5 gene. Swiss
      mice were infected with this isolate to verify its potential to induce
      histopathological alterations characteristic of dengue. Liver histopathological
      analysis of infected animals showed the presence of inflammatory infiltrates,
      hepatic steatosis, as well as edema, hemorrhage and necrosis focal points.
      Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses based on the envelope gene provided
      evidence that the isolate BR/Alfenas/2012 belongs to genotype V, lineage I and it
      is probably derived from isolates of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The isolate
      BR/Alfenas/2012 showed two unique amino acids substitutions (SER222THRE and
      PHE306SER) when compared to other Brazilian isolates from the same
      genotype/lineage. Molecular models were generated for the envelope protein
      indicating that the amino acid alteration PHE 306 SER could contribute to a
      different folding in this region located within the domain III. Further genetic
      and animal model studies using BR/Alfenas/2012 and other isolates belonging to
      the same lineage/genotype could help determine the relation of these genetic
      alterations and dengue hemorrhagic fever in a susceptible population.

PMID- 26887251
TI  - The role of human adenoviruses type 41 in acute diarrheal disease in Minas Gerais
      after rotavirus vaccination.
AB  - Human adenovirus species F (HAdV-F) type 40 and 41 are commonly associated with
      acute diarrheal disease (ADD) across the world. Despite being the largest state
      in southeastern Brazil and having the second largest number of inhabitants, there
      is no information in the State of Minas Gerais regarding the role of HAdV-F in
      the etiology of ADD. This study was performed to determine the prevalence, to
      verify the epidemiological aspects of infection, and to characterize the strains
      of human adenoviruses (HAdV) detected. A total of 377 diarrheal fecal samples
      were obtained between January 2007 and August 2011 from inpatient and outpatient
      children of age ranging from 0 to 12 years. All samples were previously tested
      for rotavirus, norovirus, and astrovirus, and 314 of 377 were negative. The viral
      DNA was extracted, amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and the HAdV
      positive samples were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Statistical
      analyses were performed using the Chi-square test (p<0.05), considering two
      conditions: the total of samples tested (377) and the total of negative samples
      for the remaining viruses tested (314). The overall prevalence of HAdV was 12.47%
      (47/377); and in 76.60% (36/47) of the positive samples, this virus was the only
      infectious agent detected. The phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of 32
      positive samples revealed that they all clustered with the HAdV-F type 41. The
      statistical analysis showed that there was no correlation between the onset of
      the HAdV infection and the origin of the samples (inpatients or outpatients) in
      the two conditions tested: the total of samples tested (p=0.598) and the total of
      negative samples for the remaining viruses tested (p=0.614). There was a
      significant association in the occurrence of infection in children aged 0-12
      months for the condition 1 (p=0.030) as well as condition 2 (p=0.019). The
      occurrence of infections due to HAdV did not coincide with a pattern of seasonal
      distribution. These data indicate the significant involvement of HAdV-F type 41
      in the etiology of ADD in Minas Gerais, which demonstrates the importance of
      other viral agents in the development of the disease after the introduction of
      rotavirus vaccine immunization.

PMID- 26887254
TI  - The dynamic structure of Spitzenkorpers of Trichosporon asahii examined by the
      fluorescent probe FM4-64.
AB  - The Spitzenkorper is a dynamic and specialized multicomponent cell complex
      present in the tips of hyphal cells. The amphiphilic styryl dye FM4-64 was found
      to be ideal for imaging the dynamic changes of the apical vesicle cluster within
      growing hyphal tips. It is widely used as a marker of endocytosis and to
      visualize vacuolar membranes. Here we performed uptake experiments using FM4-64
      to study the dynamic of the Spitzenkorper in Trichosporon asahii. We observed
      that Spitzenkorpers were present at the tip of the budding site of the spore,
      blastospore, and the germ tube of T. asahii. We also found that Spitzenkorpers
      were present at the tip of the hyphae as well as the subapical regions.
      Cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, leads to abnormal
      Spitzenkorper formation and loss of cell polarity.

PMID- 26887255
TI  - Development of a beetroot-based nutritional gel containing high content of
      bioaccessible dietary nitrate and antioxidants.
AB  - Beetroot, a food rich in nitrate and antioxidants has gained attention because of
      its potential effect on improving cardiovascular health and exercise performance.
      This work had the purpose of developing a beetroot-based nutritional gel (BG) and
      estimating the in vitro bioaccessibility of the nitrate, total antioxidant
      capacity (TAC), total phenolic (TP) and potassium content, as compared to
      beetroot juice (BJ). Nitrate was assessed by a high-performance liquid
      chromatography system, TAC was assessed using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant
      capacity (TEAC) assay and TP was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method before
      and after an in vitro digestion. Significantly higher values of nitrate, TEAC, TP
      and potassium before and after digestion were observed in BG as compared to BJ.
      The results suggest a new nutritional strategy to give high contents of
      bioaccessible nutrients (nitrate, antioxidants and potassium) that are
      potentially relevant to improve cardiovascular health and exercise performance. 

PMID- 26887253
TI  - Selection of reference genes for expression analysis in the entomophthoralean
      fungus Pandora neoaphidis.
AB  - The selection of suitable reference genes is crucial for accurate quantification
      of gene expression and can add to our understanding of host-pathogen
      interactions. To identify suitable reference genes in Pandora neoaphidis, an
      obligate aphid pathogenic fungus, the expression of three traditional candidate
      genes including 18S rRNA(18S), 28S rRNA(28S) and elongation factor 1 alpha-like
      protein (EF1), were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction at
      different developmental stages (conidia, conidia with germ tubes, short hyphae
      and elongated hyphae), and under different nutritional conditions. We calculated
      the expression stability of candidate reference genes using four algorithms
      including geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and Delta Ct. The analysis results
      revealed that the comprehensive ranking of candidate reference genes from the
      most stable to the least stable was 18S (1.189), 28S (1.414) and EF1 (3). The 18S
      was, therefore, the most suitable reference gene for real-time RT-PCR analysis of
      gene expression under all conditions. These results will support further studies
      on gene expression in P. neoaphidis.

PMID- 26887256
TI  - Detection of Matrilysin Activity Using Polypeptide Functionalized Reduced
      Graphene Oxide Field-Effect Transistor Sensor.
AB  - A novel approach for rapid and sensitive detection of matrilysin (MMP-7, a
      biomarker involved in the degradation of various macromolecules) based on a
      polypeptide (JR2EC) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) field effect
      transistor (FET) is reported. MMP-7 specifically digests negatively charged JR2EC
      immobilized on rGO, thereby modulating the conductance of rGO-FET. The proposed
      assay enabled detection of MMP-7 at clinically relevant concentrations with a
      limit of detection (LOD) of 10 ng/mL (400 pM), attributed to the significant
      reduction of the net charge of JR2EC upon digestion by MMP-7. Quantitative
      detection of MMP-7 in human plasma was further demonstrated with a LOD of 40
      ng/mL, illustrating the potential for the proposed methodology for tumor
      detection and carcinoma diagnostic (e.g., lung cancer and salivary gland cancer).
      Additionally, excellent specificity of the proposed assay was demonstrated using
      matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP-1), a protease of the same family. With
      appropriate selection and modification of polypeptides, the proposed assay could
      be extended for detection of other enzymes with polypeptide digestion capability.

PMID- 26887257
TI  - Discourse level reading comprehension interventions following acquired brain
      injury: a systematic review.
AB  - Purpose Reading comprehension can change following acquired brain injury (ABI),
      impacting independence and participation. This review aims to identify and
      evaluate the interventions used for rehabilitation of discourse level reading in
      adults with ABI. Methods A systematic review was conducted of published journal
      articles. Methodological quality of studies was reviewed using formal and
      informal rating scales. Inclusion criteria involved adults with non-progressive
      ABI who experienced discourse level reading deficits related to aphasia or
      cognitive-communication disorders. Results A total of 23 studies were identified;
      these included randomized controlled trials, cohort and case studies. Six
      different types of reading interventions were found, overall results of these
      interventions were mixed. Reading deficits were reportedly related to language
      (aphasia) and/or cognitive deficits, with assessment processes varying. Questions
      arose regarding comparability of assessment methods and diagnostic issues across
      the studies. Conclusions Interventions for discourse level reading comprehension
      can make positive changes to reading function. However, no intervention was
      identified as a gold standard. A trend toward strategy-based reading was found,
      with these offering a potential for (comparatively) cost-effective lower-dosage
      reading treatments with positive-trend results. Cognitive and language features
      should be considered for assessment and intervention planning for discourse
      reading in ABI. Implications for Rehabilitation Six different types of discourse
      reading comprehension interventions for people with ABI were identified, with
      mixed evidence for each intervention. Clinicians need to consider both the
      linguistic and cognitive features of reading for assessment and intervention
      planning for discourse level reading. There is a research trend toward strategy
      based reading interventions, which use a lower treatment dosage.

PMID- 26887259
TI  - Review of Coping in Children Exposed to Mass Trauma: Measurement Tools, Coping
      Styles, and Clinical Implications.
AB  - Evidence-based practice requires the use of data grounded in theory with clear
      conceptualization and reliable and valid measurement. Unfortunately, developing a
      knowledge base regarding children's coping in the context of disasters,
      terrorism, and war has been hampered by a lack of theoretical consensus and a
      virtual absence of rigorous test construction, implementation, and evaluation.
      This report presents a comprehensive review of measurement tools assessing child
      and adolescent coping in the aftermath of mass trauma, with a particular emphasis
      on coping dimensions identified through factor analytic procedures. Coping
      measurement and issues related to the assessment of coping are reviewed. Concepts
      important in instrument development and psychometric features of coping measures
      used in disasters, terrorism, and war are presented. The relationships between
      coping dimensions and both youth characteristics and clinical outcomes also are
      presented. A discussion of the reviewed findings highlights the difficulty
      clinicians may experience when trying to integrate the inconsistencies in coping
      dimensions across studies. Incorporating the need for multiple informants and the
      difference between general and context-specific coping measures suggests the
      importance of a multilevel, theoretical conceptualization of coping and thus, the
      use of more advanced statistical measures. Attention also is given to issues
      deemed important for further exploration in child disaster coping research.

PMID- 26887260
TI  - [Oxidative stress and mitochondrion-related cell apoptosis in human bronchial
      epithelial 16HBE cells induced by silica dust].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate oxidative stress and mitochondria-related cell
      apoptosis induced by silica dust in human normal bronchial epithelial 16HBE
      cells. METHODS: Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase
      (SOD), cell apoptotic rate, the expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA were
      measured after 16HBE cells were exposed to 37.5, 75, 150, 300 ug/mL respirable
      silica dust (diameter<2 um, d50=1 um)for 24 h in vitro. Reactive oxygen species
      (ROS)were tested after 16HBE cells were exposed to silica dust at above
      concentrations for 1.5, 3, 6, 12 h, respectively. RESULTS: Dose-dependent
      decreases of cell viability and the activity of SOD were observed when silica
      concentrations increased. The activity of LDH increased when silica
      concentrations elevated. Compared with the control group, cell viability
      significantly reduced in 75, 150, 300 ug/mL silica-treated groups (P<0.05). The
      activity of LDH significantly increased in 150, 300 ug/mL silica-treated groups
      when compared with the control group (P<0.05). The activity of SOD in all silica
      treated groups were significantly lower in comparison with controls (P<0.05).
      Intracellular ROS levels reached peak values at 1.5 h of silica exposure and
      gradually dropped to the base level at 12 h. The relationship between ROS levels
      and silica exposure were dose-response at 1.5 h, 3 h and 6 h of exposure
      (P<0.05). Similar dose-dependent increase were observed for apoptotic rate and
      silica exposure (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA decreased, and the
      expression levels of Bax mRNA increased when silica concentrations increased. The
      results showed that significantly positive correlations between ROS level and
      apoptotic rate (r=0.892,P<0.05)or the expression level of Bax mRNA
      (r=0.850,P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between ROS level and the
      expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA (r=-0.703,P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Silica dust could
      induce cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and mitochondria-related cell apoptosis in
      16HBE cells. Oxidative stress may play role in the processes of mitochondria
      related apoptosis.

PMID- 26887261
TI  - [The effect of Wnt signaling pathway on paraquat induced PC12 cells damage].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Wnt signaling pathway on paraquat
      (PQ)induced PC12 cells damage. METHODS: Using PC12 cells, in this study CCK8
      assay was used to detect the effect of cell viability. The cell apoptosis and
      cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The real-time polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of Wnt pathway key
      genes including Fzd1, Dvl2 and beta-catenin and downstream genes including Bax,
      Bcl2, Survivin, Cyclin D1 and C-myc. RESULT: Compared with the control, PC12
      cells viability in 50.00 and 100.00 umol/L PQ treatment groups were obviously
      decreased, the cell cycle S phase arrest, and cell apoptosis increased (P<0.05).
      The 25.00, 50.00 and 100.00 umol/L PQ treatment groups mRNA expression of Wnt
      pathway key genes including Fzd1, Dvl2 and beta-catenin and downstream genes
      including apoptosis suppressor genes (Bcl-2 and survivin)and cyclin gene (Cyclin
      D1) were downregulated (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of pro-apoptosis gene (Bax)
      and cyclin gene (C-myc) were upregulated (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It suggested that
      PQ can activate Wnt pathway to regulate downsteam genes expression, resulting in
      PC12 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

PMID- 26887258
TI  - Differential neutrophil responses to bacterial stimuli: Streptococcal strains are
      potent inducers of heparin-binding protein and resistin-release.
AB  - Neutrophils are critical for the control of bacterial infections, but they may
      also contribute to disease pathology. Here we explore neutrophil responses, in
      particular the release of sepsis-associated factors heparin-binding protein (HBP)
      and resistin in relation to specific bacterial stimuli and sepsis of varying
      aetiology. Analyses of HBP and resistin in plasma of septic patients revealed
      elevated levels as compared to non-infected critically ill patients. HBP and
      resistin correlated significantly in septic patients, with the strongest
      association seen in group A streptococcal (GAS) cases. In vitro stimulation of
      human neutrophils revealed that fixed streptococcal strains induced significantly
      higher release of HBP and resistin, as compared to Staphylococcus aureus or
      Escherichia coli. Similarly, neutrophils stimulated with the streptococcal M1
      protein showed a significant increase in co-localization of HBP and resistin
      positive granules as well as exocytosis of these factors, as compared to LPS.
      Using a GAS strain deficient in M1-protein expression had negligible effect on
      neutrophil activation, while a strain deficient in the stand-alone regulator MsmR
      was significantly less stimulatory as compared to its wild type strain. Taken
      together, the findings suggest that the streptococcal activation of neutrophils
      is multifactorial and involves, but is not limited to, proteins encoded by the
      FCT-locus. 

PMID- 26887262
TI  - [Anti-oncogene of opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule-like methylation
      status in malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by
      glycidyl methacrylate].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule-like
      (OPCML) methylation status at different stages of malignant transformation of
      human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells induced by Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA)
      and to explore the effect of OPCML methylation in the process of malignant
      transformation. METHODS: Cells were harvested at different stages (the 10th
      generation, the 20th generation and the 30th generation). To verify the
      Methylation chip result of OPCML methylation status in the process of malignant
      transformation, we detected it by methylation-specific-PCR (MSP); Real-time
      fluorescence Quantitative PCR (qPCR) were applied to measure the gene expression
      levels of OPCML at different transformed stage, and compared with the control
      groups (treated with DMSO). RESULTS: Based on the result of methylation chip, the
      gene of OPCML methylation occurred in all stages, which was consistent to the
      result of MSP; qPCR showed that the levels of gene expression decreased in the
      20th generation and 30th generation. CONCLUSION: Methylation status of OPCML gene
      promoter could be considered as a stable and specific biomarker in the
      transformation process.

PMID- 26887263
TI  - [Inhibition effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline on myofibroblast
      differentiation by regulating acetylated tubulin alpha in silicotic rat model].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibition effect and mechanism of N-acetyl-seryl
      aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP)on myofibroblast differentiation via regulating
      acetylated tubulin alpha (Ac-Tub alpha)in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Silicotic
      model were made by SiO2 douched and divided into 6 groups as follows: control
      (4w, 8w)group, silicotic model (4w, 8w)group and post-or pre-treatment by Ac-SDKP
      group. Pulmonary fibroblasts were divided into 5 groups: (1) control; (2) Ang II;
      (3) Ang II+Ac-SDKP; (4) Ang II+Valsartan; (5) Ang II+TCS histone deacetylase
      (HDAC)6 20b. The localization of Ac-Tub alpha and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)
      were observed by immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescence staining. The
      protein levels of Ac-Tub alpha, alpha-SMA, collagen type I (col I) and HDAC6 were
      measured by western blot. RESULTS: In silicotic nodules and interstitial fibrosis
      area, positive expression of alpha-SMA, a classical marker of myofibroblast, was
      ob-served by IHC, accompanied with absence expression of Ac-Tub alpha.
      Furthermore, Ac-SDKP post-treatment could attenuate the levels of col I, alpha
      SMA and HDAC6 to 48.39%, 52.63% and 70.18% compared with the silicotic 8w group
      respectively. And in Ac-SDKP pre-treatment group, compared with the silicotic 8w
      group, these protein levels were decreased to 32.26%, 64.91% and 54.39%
      respectively (P<0.05). The up-regulation of Ac-Tub alpha was found in Ac-SDKP
      post-and pre-treatment and increased to 3.00 and 2.90 folds compared with the
      silicotic 8w group. Compared with control group, the levels of alpha-SMA, HDAC6
      and col I in Ang II group were up-regulated to 1.66, 3.56 and 4.00 folds
      accompanied with down-regulation of Ac-Tub by 44.44% (P<0.05). Pre-treatment with
      Valsartan, TCS HDAC6 20b or Ac-SDKP could inhibited all this changes induced by
      Ang II in vitro. CONCLUSION: Ac-SDKP can inhibit the myofibroblast
      differentiation and collagen deposition via sup-press HDAC6 and up-regulate the
      expression of Ac-Tub alpha in vivo and in vitro.

PMID- 26887264
TI  - [Comparison of two methods for fiber count concentration determination].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the determination methods of fiber number concentration
      between China and WHO. METHODS: Individual fiber samplings were conducted at a
      RCF manufacturing enterprise for 40 types of work. Flow rate was set as 2 L/min
      and lasted 2 to 4 hours. We used acetone-triacetin to prepare samples. The rules
      of two methods were used to count fibers for each sample respectively. The
      differences between the results of two methods were compared using the sign-rank
      test, and the correlation between the two methods' counting results were
      evaluated by the Spearsman rank correlation analysis. RESULTS: The results of WHO
      counting rule were higher than those of Chinese counting rule for the same
      sample. The ratios of WHO method to Chinese method ranged from 1.88 to 3.70.
      Paired sign-rank test found the statistically significant differences of the
      results between the two methods (P<0.01). The rank correlation coefficient of the
      results by two rules counting ranged between 0.621 to 0.975, suggested positive
      correlation (P<0.01). The possible reasons of the difference between the two
      methods included the difference between the shapes of asbestos fiber and man-made
      mineral fiber, and counting rules of two methods. CONCLUSION: The results of WHO
      counting method is higher than those of Chinese counting method. High
      correlations between the results of the two methods were observed.

PMID- 26887265
TI  - [Comparison of welder's pneumoconiosis with silicosis and follow-up study of
      welder's pneumoconiosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the character of welder's pneumoconiosis on CT, pathology,
      and lung function. METHODS: To contrast 185 welder's pneumoconiosis and 115
      silicosis on CT, pathology, and clinical characters which were diagnosed between
      Jan 2008 and Dec 2013. Chest X-ray and lung function of 39 welder's
      pneumoconiosis patients were followed up after diagnosed 4~6 years later.
      RESULTS: Average age and working years of welder's pneumoconiosis were 36.7 and
      11.5, less than silicosis patients 58.8 and 22.1, respectively (P<0.05). Of all
      185 welder's pneumoconiosis 98.4% were of stage I and no stage III, while in
      silicosis group stage I, stage II and stage III were 56.5%, 22.6% and 20.9%,
      respectively. The ratio differences between the two groups were statistically
      significant,P<0.05. 82.7% of welder's pneumoconiosis patients were observed
      pathologically moderate or above dust deposition in lung tissue while
      interstitial fibrosis level was just mild (97.6% patients) or no fibrosis (2.4%
      patients). By contrast, 60.0% silicosis patients pathologically showed moderate
      or above dust deposition while 77.8% were of moderate or above fibrosis. CT
      findings in welder' s pneumoconiosis were diffuse branching linear structure
      (38.9%), low density consistent size centrilobular micronodules (19.5%), or both
      (30.8%). Poorly-defined ground-glass attenuation centrilobular micronodules or
      widely ground glass shadow were observed in 6.4% welder's pneumoconiosis patents.
      30.8% patients failed to reach the original stage when 39 welder's pneumoconiosis
      followed up chest radiograph. CONCLUSION: Changes in welder's lung caused by
      welding fume were not only siderosis, but also interstitial fibrosis.

PMID- 26887266
TI  - [Establishment of transbronchoscope whole lung lavage and its comparison with
      bronchoalveolar lavage and whole lung lavage].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the technical specifications of transbronchoscope whole
      lung lavage (TBWLL) and to compare the clinical efficacy between TBWLL and
      bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or whole lung lavage (WLL). METHODS: A total of 133
      patients with pneumoconiosis admitted to Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute
      for Occupational Diseases from 2009 to 2014 were divided into TBWLL group (n=43),
      BAL group (n=45), and WLL group (n=45). Patients in the TBWLL group received
      conventional BAL of both lungs under a fiber bronchoscope, as well as sedation
      and anesthesia; lavage was performed twice in each course. TBWLL was compared
      with the BAL and WLL in terms of lavage volume. The clinical symptoms, pulmonary
      function, and blood gas before and after treatment and the safety were evaluated.
      RESULTS: The TBWLL group had significantly relieved cough and limitation of
      activity after lavage (P<0.05). Compared with the BAL group, the TBWLL group had
      significantly increased single lavage volumes and total lavage volume and a
      significantly shortened length of hospital stay (P<0.05). The three groups showed
      no significant short-term changes in clinical symptoms and pulmonary function
      after lavage. The TBWLL and WLL groups had a significantly lower incidence of
      postoperative complications than the BAL group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TBWLL has
      good clinical efficacy, with the advantages of BAL and WLL, and is highly
      feasible, safe, and effective.

PMID- 26887267
TI  - [Monitoring and analysis of asbestos concentration in working environment of
      different asbestos-producing technologies in a certain area].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze asbestos exposure level between 1984 and 2010 in a district
      of malignant mesothelioma with clustering incidence in Zhejiang Province, in
      order to improve the recognizing and early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma,
      protect the health of workers. METHODS: Monitoring data of total asbestos dust
      concentration in the air of workplace from 1984 to 2010 in asbestos textile
      enterprises, family hand spinning operation, brake production, and asbestos board
      production in Zhejiang Province were collected in the local CDC. A total of 766
      TWA copies of mass concentration were collected, and 1233 copies of MAC data.
      Asbestos mass concentration and fibre counting concentration of 29 points of
      family hand spinning operation were parallel determinated in the same time and
      the same sampling point. Raw asesbtos materials and dust composition of local
      asbestos processing corporations were collected and analyzed using X-ray
      diffraction method. RESULTS: Raw materials of asbestos used between 1984 and 2010
      in this area were chrysotile from Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Russia, Zimbabwe,
      and some were mixed with SiO2, CaCO3 and other impurities. Raw materials used in
      asbestos board production were blue asbestos. Dust concentration between 1960s
      and 1980s in asbestos processing plants far exceeded the national standard. After
      then the dust concentration decreased significantly, but still higher than the
      national standard. 95.2% of air dust concentrations in the workplaces of asbestos
      factories exceeded the standard, and dust concentrations of workplaces of raw
      material, spinning, weaving, carding and labor insurance were above 90% in which
      carding work had the highest median concentration. 37.9% of dust mass
      concentrations in hand spinning work exceeded the standard where textile
      machinery side had the highest value. Beating job in asbestos board manufacturing
      and grinding job in brake production had higher concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Most
      of production technologies in asbestos processing industry exceed the standard
      level, indicating that the workers were at risk for malignant mesothelioma and
      other asbestos related diseases, which should draw high attention.

PMID- 26887269
TI  - [Effects of mecobalamin on Bax and Bcl-2 in neurons after peripheral nerve
      injury].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of mecobalamin on the expression of apoptosis
      related proteins, Bax and Bcl-2, in neurons after peripheral nerve injury, and to
      explore the role of neuron apoptosis in peripheral nerve regeneration after
      injury. METHODS: Thirty healthy adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into
      sham-operation group, model group, and mecobalamin group, with 10 rats in each
      group. A rat model of left sciatic nerve semi-injury was established using
      forceps. Rats in the mecobalamin group were fed mecobalamin, while rats in the
      sham-operation group and model group were given the same dose of normal saline.
      The protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in neurons was measured at 14 days after
      operation. A semi-quantitative analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was performed
      by image analysis technology. RESULTS: The model group had significantly
      increased Bax protein expression and significantly reduced Bcl-2 protein
      expression in spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons and ganglion sensory
      neurons compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.05). Compared with the model
      group and sham-operation group, the mecobalamin group had significantly reduced
      Bax protein expression and significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression in
      spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons and ganglion sensory neurons (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSION: Mecobalamin has anti-apoptotic effect, and it contributes to
      neurological function recovery possibly by inhibiting the death of injured
      neurons.

PMID- 26887268
TI  - [Effect of total flavonoids from astragalus complanatus on paraquat poisoning
      induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its mechanisms].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of total flavonoids from astragalus
      complanatus (FAC) on paraquat poisoning-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
      METHODS: The rats were divided into six groups randomly: control group, paraquat
      group, prednisolone group and FAC low-dose, middle-dose, high-dose group.
      Pulmonary fibrosis model was replicated by intratracheal injection of paraquat.
      In the mext day,the rats were treated by intragastric administration once a day.
      After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed. The lung index and the levels of HYP and
      T-AOC were measured, and the pathologic changes of the lung tissue were obtained
      by HE staining. The levels of TGF-beta, Smad2, alpha-SMA protein were analyzed by
      Western blot. RESULTS: FAC improved the activity of T-AOC in serum and reduced
      pulmonary index and the content of HYP as well (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the alveolitis
      and fibrosis extent were attenuated. The expression of Smad2 significantly
      decreased in groups of FAC low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose (0.31+/-0.11,
      0.45+/-0.12 and 0.30+/-0.05) as compared with that of the PQ group (0.85+/-0.34)
      (P<0.05). The expression of alpha-SMA significantly decreased in groups of FAC
      low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose (0.31+/-0.11, 0.35+/-0.07 and 0.32+/-0.10) as
      compared with that of the PQ group (0.45+/-0.08) (P<0.05). The expression of TGF
      beta significantly decreased in groups of FAC low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose
      (0.35+/-0.04, 0.27+/-0.05 and 0.18+/-0.04)as compared with that of the PQ group
      (0.63+/-0.11) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FAC can alleviate PQ-induced pulmonary
      fibrosis in rats through inhibiting TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway.

PMID- 26887270
TI  - [The rabbit experimental study for toxicokinetics of chlorpyrifos impacted by
      hemoperfusion].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate toxicokinetic parameters impacted by hemoperfusion
      after oral chlorpyrifos exposure, to investigate the adsorption effect of
      hemoperhusion for chlorpyrifos poisoning. METHODS: 12 rabbits were divided into
      two groups after oral exposure with chlorpyrifos 300 mg/kg body weight. Control
      group: without hemoperfusion; hemoperfusion group: hemoperfusion starts 0.5 h
      after chlorpyrifos exposure and lasts for 2h. Blood samples were collected at
      different times, concentrations of chlorpyrifos were tested by GC, then,
      toxicokinetic parameterswere calculated and analysis by DAS3.0. RESULTS: In
      hemoperfusion group, peak time was (7.19+/-3.74) h, peak concentrations was
      (1.37+/-0.56) mg/L, clearance rate was (13.93+/-10.27) L/h/kg, apparent volume of
      distribution was (418.18+/-147.15) L/kg The difference of these parameter were
      statistically significant compared with control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Hmoperfusion will decrease the inner exposure and load dose of rabbits with
      chlorpyrifos poisoning.

PMID- 26887271
TI  - [One case with silicosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis].

PMID- 26887272
TI  - [A case of intravenous paraquat induced poisoning death].

PMID- 26887274
TI  - [Misdiagnosis of stage III cement pneumoconiosis].

PMID- 26887273
TI  - [Isocyanurate exposure induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

PMID- 26887275
TI  - [A case of oral trichloropropane and dichloropropane poisoning].

PMID- 26887276
TI  - [A case of rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure induced by paraquat poisoning].

PMID- 26887277
TI  - [Rapid determination of 8 urinary carbamate pesticides by liquid chromatography
      tandem mass spectrometry].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneously determining the urinary
      concentrations of 8 carbamate pesticides. METHODS: After being purified by
      acetonitrile precipitation, urine samples were transferred to a liquid
      chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system, and the concentrations of 8
      carbamate pesticides were determined by external standard method. A C18 column
      was used for ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography; methanol/ammonium
      acetate solution was used as the mobile phase for gradient elution; the mass
      spectrometer was operated in a multi-reaction monitoring mode. RESULTS: The
      calibration curves were linear when the urinary concentrations of these carbamate
      pesticides were 20~800 ug/L, and the recovery rates were 61.0%~121% at spiked
      levels of 20, 200 and 800 ug/L, with a relative standard deviation of 1.7%~5.5%.
      CONCLUSION: This determination method meets the Guide for establishing
      occupational health standards-part 5: Determination methods of chemicals in
      biological materials, and can be used for simultaneous determination of 8
      carbamate pesticides in the urine of poisoning patients.

PMID- 26887278
TI  - [Guidelines for pathologic diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma--2012 update of
      the consensus statement from the International Mesothelioma Interest Group].

PMID- 26887279
TI  - [Enlightenment of occupational medicine teaching for undergraduate in American
      and European countries].

PMID- 26887280
TI  - [MicroRNAs in the diagnosis and therapy of malignant mesothelioma].

PMID- 26887281
TI  - [Current status and challenges from therapeutic targeting of microRNAs].

PMID- 26887282
TI  - [Recent progress on translocation of nanoparticles from lung to circulation
      system].

PMID- 26887283
TI  - [Progress on analytical methods for benzene and its metabolites in human blood
      and urine].

PMID- 26887284
TI  - Voltage collapse in complex power grids.
AB  - A large-scale power grid's ability to transfer energy from producers to consumers
      is constrained by both the network structure and the nonlinear physics of power
      flow. Violations of these constraints have been observed to result in voltage
      collapse blackouts, where nodal voltages slowly decline before precipitously
      falling. However, methods to test for voltage collapse are dominantly simulation
      based, offering little theoretical insight into how grid structure influences
      stability margins. For a simplified power flow model, here we derive a closed
      form condition under which a power network is safe from voltage collapse. The
      condition combines the complex structure of the network with the reactive power
      demands of loads to produce a node-by-node measure of grid stress, a prediction
      of the largest nodal voltage deviation, and an estimate of the distance to
      collapse. We extensively test our predictions on large-scale systems,
      highlighting how our condition can be leveraged to increase grid stability
      margins. 

PMID- 26887285
TI  - Toxocara canis: anthelmintic activity of quinone derivatives in murine
      toxocarosis.
AB  - Human toxocarosis is a chronic tissue parasitosis most often caused by Toxocara
      canis. The seroprevalence can reach up to 50%, especially among children and
      adolescents. The anthelmintics used in the treatment have moderate efficacy. The
      aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity
      of quinones and their derivatives against T. canis larvae and the cytotoxicity of
      the larvicidal compounds. The compounds were evaluated at 1 mg mL(-1)
      concentration in microculture plates containing third stage larvae in an Roswell
      Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 environment, incubated at 37  degrees C in 5%
      CO2 tension for 48 h. Five naphthoxiranes were selected for the cytotoxicity
      analysis. The cell viability evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays using murine
      peritoneal macrophages isolated from C57BL/6 mice revealed that the
      naphthoxiranes (1 and 3) were less cytotoxic at a concentration of 0.05 mg mL(
      1). The efficacy of naphthoxiranes (1 and 3) was examined in murine toxocarosis
      also. The anthelmintic activity was examined by evaluating the number of larvae
      in the brain, carcass, liver, lungs, heart, kidneys and eyes. Compound (3)
      demonstrated anthelmintic activity similar to that of albendazole by decreasing
      the number of larvae in the organs of mice and thus could form the basis of the
      development of a new anthelmintic drug.

PMID- 26887286
TI  - Design of all-optical, hot-electron current-direction-switching device based on
      geometrical asymmetry.
AB  - We propose a nano-scale current-direction-switching device(CDSD) that operates
      based on the novel phenomenon of geometrical asymmetry between two hot-electron
      generating plasmonic nanostructures. The proposed device is easy to fabricate and
      economical to develop compared to most other existing designs. It also has the
      ability to function without external wiring in nano or molecular circuitry since
      it is powered and controlled optically. We consider a such CDSD made of two
      dissimilar nanorods separated by a thin but finite potential barrier and
      theoretically derive the frequency-dependent electron/current flow rate. Our
      analysis takes in to account the quantum dynamics of electrons inside the
      nanorods under a periodic optical perturbation that are confined by nanorod
      boundaries, modelled as finite cylindrical potential wells. The influence of
      design parameters, such as geometric difference between the two nanorods, their
      volumes and the barrier width on quality parameters such as frequency-sensitivity
      of the current flow direction, magnitude of the current flow, positive to
      negative current ratio, and the energy conversion efficiency is discussed by
      considering a device made of Ag/TiO2/Ag. Theoretical insight and design
      guidelines presented here are useful for customizing our proposed CDSD for
      applications such as self-powered logic gates, power supplies, and sensors. 

PMID- 26887287
TI  - Influence of process dynamics on the microbial diversity in a nitrifying biofilm
      reactor: Correlation analysis and simulation study.
AB  - For engineers, it is interesting to gain insight in the effect of control
      strategies on microbial communities, on their turn influencing the process
      behavior and its stability. This contribution assesses the influence of process
      dynamics on the microbial community in a biofilm reactor for nitrogen removal,
      which was controlled according to several strategies aiming at nitrite
      accumulation. The process dataset, combining conventional chemical and physical
      data with molecular information, was analyzed through a correlation analysis and
      in a simulation study. During nitrate formation, an increased nitrogen loading
      rate (NLR) resulted in a drop of the bulk liquid oxygen concentration without
      resulting in nitrite accumulation. A biofilm model was able to reproduce the bulk
      liquid nitrogen concentrations in two periods before and after this increased
      NLR. As the microbial parameters calibrated for the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria
      (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in both periods were different, it was
      concluded that the increased NLR governed an AOB and NOB population shift. Based
      on the molecular data, it was assumed that each period was typified by one
      dominant AOB and probably several subdominant NOB populations. The control
      strategies for nitrite accumulation influenced the bulk liquid composition by
      controlling the competition between AOB and NOB. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113:
      1962-1974. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887288
TI  - G6PDH activity highlights the operation of the cyclic electron flow around PSI in
      Physcomitrella patens during salt stress.
AB  - Photosynthetic performances and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH)
      activity in Physcomitrella patens changed greatly during salt stress and
      recovery. In P. patens, the cyclic electron flow around photosystem (PS) I was
      much more tolerant to high salt stress than PSII. After high salt stress, the
      PSII activity recovered much more slowly than that of PSI, which was rapidly
      restored to pretreatment levels even as PSII was almost inactivate. This result
      suggested that after salt stress the recovery of the cyclic electron flow around
      PSI was independent of PSII activity. In addition, G6PDH activity and NADPH
      content increased under high salt stress. When G6PDH activity was inhibited by
      glucosamine (Glucm, a G6PDH inhibitor), the cyclic electron flow around PSI and
      the NADPH content decreased significantly. Additionally, after recovery in liquid
      medium containing Glucm, the PSI activity was much lower than in liquid medium
      without Glucm. These results suggested the PSI activity was affected
      significantly by G6PDH activity and the NADPH content. Based on the above
      results, we propose that G6PDH in P. patens has a close relationship with the
      photosynthetic process, possibly providing NADPH for the operation of the cyclic
      electron flow around PSI during salt stress and promoting the restoration of PSI.

PMID- 26887290
TI  - Alteration in Phospholipidome Profile of Myoblast H9c2 Cell Line in a Model of
      Myocardium Starvation and Ischemia.
AB  - Myocardium infarction is one of the most deathly cardiovascular diseases. It is
      characterized by myocardium ischemia as a result of nutrients depletion and
      hypoxia. The cell can respond to this injury by autophagy or apoptosis, which
      determines the evolution and possible recovery of the myocardium infarction.
      Lipids play an important role in cardiovascular disease. However reports stating
      lipidome variations in cardiovascular disease are scarce and the role that lipids
      play in this pathological condition is not completely understood. The aim of this
      work was to identify changes in lipid profile of a myoblast H9c2 cell line under
      starvation and ischemia, to better understand and recognize new biomarkers for
      myocardial infarction. Lipidomic profile was evaluated by HILIC-LC-MS and GC-MS.
      Cardiac cells showed alterations in phosphatidylcholines PC (34:1) and PC (36:2),
      lysophosphatidylcholines lyso PC(16:0), lysoPC(18:1) and lysoPC(18:0),
      phosphatidylethanolamine PE (34:1), phosphatidylserine PS (36:1),
      phosphatidylinositol PI (36:2), PI (38:3) and PI (38:5), sphingomyelin SM (34:1)
      and cardiolipins CL(68:4), CL(72:5) and CL(74:7) in ischemia and/or starvation,
      in comparison with control. Specific differences observed only in starvation were
      decrease of SM (34:1) and FA (20:4), and increase of PS (36:1). Differences
      observed only in ischemia were decrease of PC (36:2), lyso PC (16:0) and FA
      (18:1) and simultaneous increase of FA (16:0), and FA (18:0). Interestingly, PC
      (34:1) increased in ischemia and decreased in starvation. In conclusion, our work
      suggests that lipids are potential markers for evaluation of cell fate, either
      cell death or recovery, which will be useful to improve diagnosis and prognostic
      of cardiovascular diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2266-2274, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887289
TI  - Adipose tissue natriuretic peptide receptor expression is related to insulin
      sensitivity in obesity and diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs) bind to two receptors (NPRA
      mediator of signaling; NPRC-clearance receptor) whose ratio, NPRR (NPRA/NPRC),
      determines the NP bioactivity. This study investigated the relationship of NP
      receptor gene expression in adipose tissue and muscle with obesity and glucose
      intolerance. Prospectively, the study also assessed whether changes in NP
      receptor expression and thermogenic gene markers accompanied improvements of
      insulin sensitivity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of subjects with a wide
      range of BMI and glucose tolerance (n = 50) was conducted, as well as a
      randomized 12-week trial of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated
      with pioglitazone (n = 9) or placebo (n = 10). RESULTS: NPRR mRNA was
      significantly lower in adipose tissue of subjects with obesity when compared with
      lean subjects (P <= 0.001). NPRR decreased with progression from normal glucose
      tolerance to T2DM (P < 0.01) independently of obesity. Treatment of subjects with
      T2DM with pioglitazone increased NPRR in adipose tissue (P <= 0.01) in
      conjunction with improvements in insulin sensitivity and increases of the
      thermogenic markers PPARgamma coactivator-1alpha and uncoupling protein 1 (P <=
      0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased adipose tissue NPRR was associated with obesity,
      glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. This relationship was not observed
      for skeletal muscle NPRR. Pharmacological improvement of insulin sensitivity in
      subjects with T2DM was tied to improvement in NPRR and increased expression of
      genes involved in thermogenic processes.

PMID- 26887291
TI  - Large pinning forces and matching effects in YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) thin films with
      Ba2Y(Nb/Ta)O6 nano-precipitates.
AB  - The addition of mixed double perovskite Ba2Y(Nb/Ta)O6 (BYNTO) to YBa2Cu3O(7
      delta) (YBCO) thin films leads to a large improvement of the in-field current
      carrying capability. For low deposition rates, BYNTO grows as well-oriented,
      densely distributed nanocolumns. We achieved a pinning force density of 25
      GN/m(3) at 77 K at a matching field of 2.3 T, which is among the highest values
      reported for YBCO. The anisotropy of the critical current density shows a complex
      behavior whereby additional maxima are developed at field dependent angles. This
      is caused by a matching effect of the magnetic fields c-axis component. The
      exponent N of the current-voltage characteristics (inversely proportional to the
      creep rate S) allows the depinning mechanism to be determined. It changes from a
      double-kink excitation below the matching field to pinning-potential-determined
      creep above it.

PMID- 26887294
TI  - [Status of acute upper respiratory infection, influenza-like illness, and
      influenza vaccination coverage among community residents in Jinan].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the status of acute upper respiratory infection and
      influenza-like illness (ILI) among community residents in Jinan in 2015, and to
      make a understand of the patient's medical treatment behavior and influenza
      vaccination coverage status in 2014. METHODS: Balloting method and convenient
      sampling method were used to launch a household survey. The residents who had
      been in Jinan for more than 3 months were selected, to investigate the residents'
      attack ratio of acute upper respiratory and influenza-like from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7,
      2015. Totally, 1 300 persons from 410 families were involved in this survey which
      recovered 1 241 valid questionnaires with the efficiency of 95.5%. Based on the
      national age-urban demographic statistics in 2010, the attack rates of acute
      respiratory infections, influenza-like illness were estimated by the direct
      standardization method, and the influenza vaccination rates were also calculated
      in this study. chi(2)-test method was used to compare the different status of
      incidence and vaccination among residents with different features. RESULTS: The
      attack rate of acute upper respiratory infection and influenza-like illness in
      Jinan from January 8, 2015 to February 7, 2015 were 30.2% (375 cases), and 6.1%
      (76 cases), respectively, with a standardized rate of 29.1% and 5.4%. 5.3% (66
      cases) of the residents have vaccinated with the influenza vaccine inoculation,
      with an adjusted rate of 3.8%. The attack rate difference of acute upper
      respiratory tract infections was statistically significant between each age group
      (chi(2)=17.121, P= 0.002). The 0-4 age group had a highest attack rate (45.4%) of
      acute respiratory infection, while the 15-24 age group got the lowest (26.5%).
      38.9% (146 cases) of patients went for a treatment in hospital. Among them, 37.7%
      (55 cases) of them selected the county level hospitals for treatment, 37.7% (55
      cases) selected the community level hospitals, and 24.6% (36 cases) selected the
      individual clinic. Significant differences of influenza-like illness attack rate
      between each age group were also found in this study (chi(2)=76.79, P<0.001). 0-4
      age group had the highest attack rate (22.7%). 81.6% (62 cases) of the ILI sought
      treatment in the hospital, of which 53.2% (33 cases) selected county level
      hospital or above, and 33.9% (21 cases) selected community hospital, and 12.9% (8
      cases) selected the individual clinic. CONCLUSION: The attack rate of acute upper
      respiratory infections among the residents of Jinan was high, whereas that of
      influenza-like illness was relatively low. 0-4 age group had a higher risk of ILI
      than other age groups. Most of the cases were likely to take the treatment in
      large hospitals. In general, the coverage rate of influenza vaccination was
      relatively low.

PMID- 26887293
TI  - [Analysis of vaccination coverage of the elderly influenced by different family
      structures in Beijing].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in free influenza vaccination rate
      among different family structures of the elderly population in Beijing under the
      free vaccination policy. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted by a
      multi-stage cluster sampling from July to August in 2013. A total of 1 717
      individuals were selected to answer a self-designed questionnaire of demographic
      characteristics and basic information about receiving free influenza vaccination
      and 1 637 of which were valid. The chi-square test for dichotomous variables was
      calculated to examine the relationship between vaccine status and family
      characteristics. Predictor variables were selected as variables for non
      conditional logistic regression model to determine potential independent
      predictors of vaccine uptake. RESULTS: The free influenza vaccination rate in
      elderly population was 38.8% (634/1 637) in 2013. The rate in the old people who
      lived alone was the highest which was 47.5% (58/122). The rate in the old people
      who lived with children and spouse was 34.6% (175/506). There was a significant
      difference in coverage rate among different family structures (chi(2)=11.57,
      P=0.009). The rate in the old people who lived with spouse only, lived with
      children only and other types were 41.5% (322/778) , 34.7% (69/201), and 33.3%
      (10/30), respectively. In a multi-factor model, there was a significant
      difference in vaccination rate among different family structures after other
      confounding factors were controlled. The odds ratios (95% CI) of the people
      living with spouse only, people living with children only and people living with
      spouse and children were 0.90 (0.60-1.33) , 0.59 (0.37-0.96) , and 0.63 (0.42
      0.96), respectively. CONCLUSION: The vaccination rate in the old people living
      alone was low. The health education should be conducted not only in the elderly
      people but also in their family members.

PMID- 26887292
TI  - How Tissue Mechanical Properties Affect Enteric Neural Crest Cell Migration.
AB  - Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a population of multipotent cells that migrate
      extensively during vertebrate development. Alterations to neural crest
      ontogenesis cause several diseases, including cancers and congenital defects,
      such as Hirschprung disease, which results from incomplete colonization of the
      colon by enteric NCCs (ENCCs). We investigated the influence of the stiffness and
      structure of the environment on ENCC migration in vitro and during colonization
      of the gastrointestinal tract in chicken and mouse embryos. We showed using
      tensile stretching and atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the mesenchyme of the
      gut was initially soft but gradually stiffened during the period of ENCC
      colonization. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy revealed that this
      stiffening was associated with a gradual organization and enrichment of collagen
      fibers in the developing gut. Ex-vivo 2D cell migration assays showed that ENCCs
      migrated on substrates with very low levels of stiffness. In 3D collagen gels,
      the speed of the ENCC migratory front decreased with increasing gel stiffness,
      whereas no correlation was found between porosity and ENCC migration behavior.
      Metalloprotease inhibition experiments showed that ENCCs actively degraded
      collagen in order to progress. These results shed light on the role of the
      mechanical properties of tissues in ENCC migration during development. 

PMID- 26887295
TI  - [Changes of epidemiological characteristics of measles in Beijing before and
      after supplementary immunization campaigns of measles vaccine in 2010].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of epidemiological characteristics of
      measles in Beijing before and after Supplementary Immunization Campaigns (SIA)
      (2007-2010 vs 2011-2014) of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) among children aged
      between 8 months and 14 years in 2010. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological
      analysis was conducted on surveillance data of measles cases (clinical cases and
      laboratory confirmed cases), with the occurrence during 2007-2014, and of
      outbreaks, with the occurrence during 2009-2014, from National Notifiable Disease
      Reporting System. MapInfo geographic information system (Version 8.5) was used to
      illustrate the distribution of measles incidence by district. Annual measles
      incidence was classified into 5 groups at the same intervals between the upper
      and lower limits to analyze the morbidity of the different areas. RESULTS: In
      total, 7 722 and 3 132 measles cases were reported during 2007-2010 and 2011
      2014, with the annual incidence of 11.59 and 3.84 cases per 100 000 population,
      respectively. Comparing with the results during 2007-2010, total number of
      measles cases and average annual incidence during 2011-2014 were decreased by
      59.4%, and 66.9%, respectively. Among measles cases during 2011-2014, percentage
      of cases aged 15 years or above were 57.7%(56/97), 62.0%(49/79), 65.5%(370/565),
      and 71.4% (1 707/2 391), respectively, which increased by years. During 2007
      2010, the highest risk age for adults was 20-34, while 2011-2014, 5 years older:
      25-39. During 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014, 50.3% (447/889), 30.3%
      (10/33), and 57.8% (201/348), respectively, of measles cases aged 8-17 months
      were unvaccinated by MCV. Percentages of measles cases aged 0-7 months, 8 months
      14 years, 15-39 years and 40 years or above during 2013-2014, who visited
      hospitals 7-21 days before disease onset, were 59.8% (238/398), 49.3% (237/481),
      32.2% (529/1641), and 37.6% (164/436), respectively. A total of 11 nosocomial
      measles outbreaks occurred during 2013-2014, which was much higher than that
      during 2009-2010 (2 nosocomial outbreaks). And universities accounted for the
      majority of outbreak settings of schools (3/4). All 11 outbreaks among grouped
      employees during 2009-2012 occurred in factories, restaurants, or large shopping
      centers, while the largest proportion (6/16) of that kind of outbreaks during
      2013-2014 occurred in office buildings. CONCLUSIONS: SIA of MCV in 2010
      effectively decreased measles transmission in Beijing. But routine immunization
      of MCV still needed to be improved. The issue of adult measles has been a
      prominent problem. Hospitals, office buildings and universities were the focus of
      prevention of measles transmission.

PMID- 26887296
TI  - [Application of multiple seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model
      in predicting the mumps incidence].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish multiple seasonal autoregressive integrated moving
      average model(ARIMA) according to mumps disease incidence in Hunan province, and
      to predict the mumps incidence from May 2015 to April 2016 in Hunan province by
      the model. METHODS: The data were downloaded from "Disease Surveillance
      Information Reporting Management System" in China Information System for Disease
      Control and Prevention. The monthly incidence of mumps in Hunan province was
      collected from January 2004 to April 2015 according to the onset date, including
      clinical diagnosis and laboratory confirmed cases. The predictive analysis method
      was the ARIMA model in SPSS 18.0 software, the ARIMA model was established on the
      monthly incidence of mumps from January 2004 to April 2014, and the date from May
      2014 to April 2015 was used as the testing sample, Box-Ljung Q test was used to
      test the residual of the selected model. Finally, the monthly incidence of mumps
      from May 2015 to April 2016 was predicted by the model. RESULTS: The peak months
      of the mumps incidence were May to July every year, and the secondary peak months
      were November to January of the following year, during January 2004 to April 2014
      in Hunan province. After the data sequence was handled by smooth sequence, model
      identification, establishment and diagnosis, the ARIMA(2,1,1) * (0,1,1)(12) was
      established, Box-Ljung Q test found, Q=8.40, P=0.868, the residual sequence was
      white noise, the established model to the data information extraction was
      complete, the model was reasonable. The R(2) value of the model fitting degree
      was 0.871, and the value of BIC was -1.646, while the average absolute error of
      the predicted value and the actual value was 0.025/100 000, the average relative
      error was 13.004%. The relative error of the model for the prediction of the
      mumps incidence in Hunan province was small, and the predicting results were
      reliable. Using the ARIMA(2,1,1) *(0,1,1)(12) model to predict the mumps
      incidence from April 2016 to May 2015 in Hunan province, the peak months of the
      mumps incidence were May to July, and the secondary peak months were November to
      January of the following year, the incidence of the peak month was close to the
      same period. CONCLUSION: The ARIMA(2,1,1)*(0,1,1)(12) model is well fitted the
      trend of the mumps disease incidence in Hunan province, it has some practical
      value for the prevention and control of the disease.

PMID- 26887297
TI  - [Analysis of seroepidemiology of enterovirus 71 diseases in children in Jiangsu
      province].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the dynamic pattern and the distributive characteristics of
      neutralizing antibody against enterovirus 71 (EV-A71 ) in children aged 6-35
      months in Jiangsu province from 2012 to 2014. METHODS: From March, 2012 to March,
      2014, a total of 1 276 children aged between 6 and 35 months were regularly
      followed up on day 0, year 1 and year 2 for EV-A71 neutralizing antibody test
      based on the enterovirus surveillance system, with the method of reporting by
      their guardian or being visited in Ganyu Sheyang Taixing Donghai Pizhou and
      Baoying in Jiangsu province. At the same time, samples were taken from the
      suspected persons infected by enterovirus. The chi(2) test or variance analysis
      was used to compare the difference of the positive rates and the geometric mean
      titer(GMT) of EV-A71 neutralizing antibody in different subjects. RESULTS: In 2
      years follow-up, the positive rates of EV-A71 antibody increased as the growth of
      the age,and the positive rates on day 0, year 1 and year 2 were 22.57% (288/1
      276), 37.72%(444/1 177) and 42.84%(422/985), respectively (chi(2) values were
      39.33, 56.41, 32.25; P< 0.001).The GMTs were 9.95, 15.37 and 24.05, respectively
      (F values were 22.90,46.36,41.58;P<0.001). In 2 years, the annually new infection
      rates were 13.47%(158/1 173) and 20.73%(192/926),respectively, and the annually
      decay rates of EV-A71 antibody were 2.81%(33/1 173) and 8.10%(75/926).
      CONCLUSIONS: In 2012 to 2014, the positive rates and the GMTs of EV-A71 antibody
      of children increased as the growth of the age in Jiangsu. The higher annually
      new infection rate was in children aged 3 to 4 years. The EV-A71 neutralizing
      antibody level could maintain at least two years after natural infection.

PMID- 26887298
TI  - [Short term effect of weather patterns on the incidence of hand foot and mouth
      disease aged <=5 years old in Jinan city].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of weather patterns on the incidence of hand
      foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Jinan. METHODS: HFMD confirmed cases aged <=5
      years old for the period of 2012-2014 were collected from National Notifiable
      Disease Report System (NNDRS). Simultaneous meteorological data, including daily
      average temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind velocity,
      rainfall and duration of sunshine were obtained from the website of Jinan
      meteorological bureau. A negative binomial multivariable regression was used to
      identify the relationship between meteorological variables and HFMD. RESULTS:
      During the study period, a total of 40 405 HFMD cases aged <=5 years old were
      reported. The incident peak occurred from May to July, a total of 22 254 cases
      were reported during this period, which accounted for 55.08% of whole cases.
      After adjusting by "year", each 1  degrees C rise of weekly average temperature
      corresponded to an increase of 6.70% (95%CI:6.35% to 7.06%) in the weekly number
      of HFMD cases, while a 1 kPa rise of weekly average atmospheric pressure
      corresponded to a decrease in the number of cases by 44.77% (95%CI: -46.23% to 
      41.91%). Likewise, a one percent rise in weekly average relative humidity
      corresponded to an increase of 1.96% (95%CI: 1.84% to 2.09%), a 1 m/h rise in
      weekly average wind velocity corresponded to an increase of 16.63% (95% CI:14.08%
      to 19.25%), a hour add in weekly duration of sunshine corresponded to a decrease
      of 0.82% (95% CI : -0.93% to -0.72%), in the weekly number of HFMD cases.
      CONCLUSION: Weather factors including temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative
      humidity, wind velocity, and duration of sunshine had a significant influence on
      occurrence and transmission of HFMD in Jinan city.

PMID- 26887299
TI  - [Genetic characteristics of VP1 region of coxsackievirus A10 strains in Ningxia
      Hui Autonomous Region during 2013-2014].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic characteristics of coxsackievirus A10(CV
      A10) strains isolated from hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Ningxia
      province. METHODS: Based on the HFMD laboratory network surveillance system, 2
      470 patients clinical specimens including 450 faeces and 2 020 throat swaps were
      collected from various regions people's hospital in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
      during January, 2013 to December, 2014. All specimens were isolated using
      rhabdomyosarcoma cells. VP1 regional gene of isolated strains was amplified by RT
      PCR using degenerate primers and sequenced. Sequences were compared with the
      database of GenBank by the Blast algorithm to identify the enterovirus genotypes.
      All the CV-A10 strains were performed the homology and phylogenetic evolution
      analysis. RESULTS: 450 specimens identified as non-EV-A71, non-CV-A16 enterovirus
      were collected and 36 CV-A10 strains were isolated, 6 strains were isolated in
      2013 and 30 strains were isolated in 2014. The homology of nucleotides and amino
      acids among 36 CV-A10 strains were 90.6%-100.0% , and 90.2%-100.0%, respectively.
      Compared 36 strains with genotype A, B, C, D representative strains, it has the
      highest homology with the genotype C, the nucleotide and amino acids homogeneity
      were 90.2%-98.9% and 95.7%-99.7%. The phylogenetic tree showed 36 strains and
      genotype C representative strains located in the same evolutionary branch.
      CONCLUSION: CV-A10 was one of the most common pathogen of HFMD in Ningxia Hui
      Autonomous Region. All CV-A10 strains belonged to genotype C and contained wide
      homology range.

PMID- 26887300
TI  - [Survival analysis of AIDS patients of 15 years or above years old after
      initiation antiretroviral treatment in Henan province during 2005 to 2014].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the survival rate of AIDS patients after receiving
      antiretroviral therapy(ART) in Henan province and to determine factors associated
      with survival status. METHODS: Database of AIDS patients receiving ART were
      downloaded from China Information System for Disease Preventioin and Control
      AIDS, retrospective study method was conducted to analyze the information.
      INCLUSION CRITERIA: initially received national free ART during January, 2005 to
      December, 2014; aged 15 years or above; and with relatively complete baseline
      information and follow-up information. The accumulated survival rate of AIDS
      patients was calculated by life table method and the influencing factors were
      analyzed by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Total 30 376 AIDS patients
      were enrolled in this study. During the follow-up period, a total of 3 927 cases
      died from HIV/AIDS related diseases. The mortality of all patients was 3.2/100
      person year. After 1, 5, 10 years after the initiation of ART, the rates of
      accumulate survival rate were 93.7%, 85.3%, and 78.4%, respectively. Stepwise
      regression was used to conduct the time multiple factors analysis, the results
      showed that man (HR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.20-1.37), older age (HR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.16
      1.24), others marital status except marrage or cohabitation (HR=1.20,95% CI: 1.12
      1.29), more number of symptoms (HR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.07-1.14), initial treatment
      were main stavudine (D4T) or zidovudine (AZT)+ didanosine(DDI)+ nevirapine (NVP)
      or efevirenz (EFV) (HR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.20), missing drug in the past 7 days
      (HR=18.36,95%CI: 17.08-19.74) among AIDS patients had high mortality risk,
      homosexuality sexual transmission (HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.40-0.87), higher baseline
      count of CD4(+)T lymphocyte (relative to 0-200 cells/ul group, HR (95%CI) were
      0.57 (0.53-0.62), 0.43(0.37-0.49), 0.33 (0.27-0.40) in 201-350 cells/ul group,
      351-500 cells/ul group, and >=501 cells/ul group, respectively), higher
      educations (HR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.95) had low mortality risk. CONCLUSION:
      Survival rate was higher after initial antiretroviral treatment among AIDS
      patients in Henan province. AIDS patient will have shorter survival time after
      antiviral treatment under one or more following conditions: higher age, male,
      initial treatment with D4T or AZT + DDI + NVP or EFV, lower baseline CD4 (+) T
      lymphocyte count, ever missed antiviral drugs in past 7 days of latest follow-up.

PMID- 26887301
TI  - [Contact tracing of pregnant women infected with syphilis and the associated
      factors].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of contact tracing among pregnant
      women infected with syphilis and to analyze the associated factors from patients'
      perspective. METHODS: Pregnant women who aged 18 years old, receiving prenatal
      care services in Shenzhen, diagnosed with syphilis according to national
      diagnostic criteria (WS 273-2007) from 2008 to 2011 were recruited and the total
      number was 3 551. Information of both pregnant women (including demographic
      information, laboratory results, syphilis diagnosis, and personal life history)
      and their partners (including results of partner tracing and laboratory
      examination) were collected with structured questionnaire by face-to-face
      interview. Multivariate non-conditional logistic regression model was applied to
      analyze the factors associated with partners' contract tracing. Odds ratio (OR)
      and its 95% confidential interval (95%CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The average
      age was 28.72 among recruited 3 551 syphilis-infected pregnant women, with
      standard deviation of 5.21 and range of 18 to 40. Totally 2 550 partners attended
      antenatal clinics and received syphilis examination, with a contact tracing rate
      of 71.81%. The OR(95%CI) was 1.70(1.26-2.30) for pregnant women with college or
      above education when comparing with those with senior high school or below
      education. The OR(95%CI) was 0.57(0.45-0.71) for those unmarried or divorce when
      comparing with those married. The OR (95% CI) was 0.73(0.56-0.94) and 0.65(0.53
      0.81) for those screened in 28-36 gestational weeks and those screened in >36
      gestational weeks or right before delivery separately, when comparing with those
      screened in <=27 gestational weeks. The OR (95% CI) was 1.45(1.14-1.84) for those
      having received sufficient treatment before pregnancy when comparing with those
      diagnosed with latent syphilis. The OR(95%CI) was 0.31 (0.24-0.39) for those
      having no treatment or not standardized treatment when comparing with those
      having standardized penicillin treatment. The OR(95%CI) was 0.53 (0.43-0.65) for
      those terminating the pregnancy when comparing with those giving birth to a baby.
      The OR(95%CI) was 1.24 (1.05-1.46) for those having two or more love histories
      when comparing with those having only one love history. The OR(95%CI) was 4.74
      (3.54-6.35) for those intending to disclose the serostatus to their partner when
      comparing with those showing unwillingness to disclose the serostatus.
      CONCLUSION: The successful rate of contact tracing among pregnant women infected
      with syphilis was high. The implementation of contact tracing may be affected by
      many factors, including patients' education levels, marital status, gestational
      weeks of screening, stage of syphilis, treatment status, outcome of pregnancy,
      number of love histories, and willingness of serostatus disclosure.

PMID- 26887302
TI  - [The negative psychology for the public in Zhejiang province during the epidemic
      of human H7N9 avian influenza].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cognition and emotional response of the public in
      Zhejiang province during the epidemic of human H7N9 avian influenza and provide
      scientific support for group psychological intervention under public health
      emergency. METHODS: 57 communities in 19 counties from Hangzhou, Jiaxing and
      Lishui district of Zhejiang province were selected as survey sites using
      stratified clustered sampling method from March, 2013 to April, 2014. 2 319
      ordinary civilians were chosen using convenience sampling method and 390
      individuals who had close contact history with H7N9 avian influenza patients, 109
      family members of patients and 281 medical workers, were selected using census
      method. The inclusion criteria for subjects were: subjects aged over 10 years;
      could complete the questionnaire independently or with the help of the
      investigators. A total of 2 709 subjects were surveyed by avian influenza risk
      perception and response questionnaire, negative emotion questionnaire was also
      used to see their cognition and negative emotion related to the disease. Spearman
      correlation analysis was used to analyze the interrelationship between public
      risk perception, response and negative emotions. RESULTS: 95.10% (2 576)of the
      subjects have sensed the risk of epidemic and 91.00% (2 465) of the subjects have
      taken preventive measures in 2 709 subjects. The positive rate for depression,
      neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis were 36.40% (986) , 37.21% (1
      008) , 79.70% (2 159) , 33.41% (905) , 27.69% (750) respectively (chi(2)=1
      935.89, P<0.001) ;the P(50)(P(25)-P(75)) of the depression scores of patients'
      family members, medical workers and the general public were 0.50 (0.00-0.83),
      0.17 (0.00-0.67), 0.17 (0.00-0.50) (H= 7.27, P=0.03) ; the neurasthenia scores
      were 0.20 (0.00-0.60), 0.2 (0.00-0.40), 0.00 (0.00-0.20) (H= 64.74, P<0.001) ;
      fear scores were 0.83 (0.33-1.17), 0.33 (0.17-0.67), 0.33 (0.17-0.83) (H=30.03,
      P< 0.001) ; anxiety scores were 0.17(0.00-0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.33), 0.00(0.00-0.17)
      (H=51.82, P<0.001). The neurasthenia, fear, anxiety scores (P(50)(P(25)-P(75)))
      for females among the public were 0.00(0.00-0.20), 0.50(0.17-0.83), 0.00(0.00
      0.17), which were higher than those of male's (0.00(0.00-0.20), 0.33(0.00-0.67),
      0.00(0.00-0.17)) (chi(2) values were 5.26, 27.52, 8.29, P<0.05); Among medical
      staff, the depression, neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis scores for
      females were 0.33(0.00-0.67), 0.20(0.00-0.40), 0.50(0.17-0.83), 0.00(0.00-0.33),
      0.00(0.00-0.50) respectively, which were higher than those of males'(0.00(0.00
      0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.40), 0.33(0.17-0.50), 0.00(0.00-0.17), 0.00(0.00-0.00))(chi(2)
      values were 7.22, 7.97, 14.46, 4.93, 5.22, P<0.05); for the family members of the
      patients who were in poor mental conditions when doing self-assessment, their
      depression and neurasthenia scores were 0.50(0.08-0.96), 0.30(0.00-0.55), which
      were higher than those of people in good mental conditions (0.17(0.00-0.83),
      0.20(0.00-0.60)) (chi(2) values were 12.95, 11.20, P<0.05). Spearman correlation
      analysis showed that the subjects' risk perception level was positively
      correlated with depression, neurasthenia, fear, and hypochondriasis, with the
      correlation coefficients 0.07, 0.07, 0.08, 0.04, respectively (P<0.05) ; the
      subjects' risk response level was also positively related with depression,
      neurasthenia, fear, anxiety and hypochondriasis, and the correlation coefficients
      were 0.09, 0.09, 0.12, 0.05, 0.04, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The general
      public was highly concerned about the epidemic of H7N9 avian influenza and
      developed certain levels of negative emotions. The female, equal or over 60 years
      old, those with poor educational level, agricultural related occupation and poor
      physical and psychology health were risk factors of disease related negative
      emotions. The subject's risk perception and response level was positively related
      with depression, neurasthenia, fear and hypochondriasis.

PMID- 26887303
TI  - [Effects of occupational stress and related factors on depression symptoms in
      train drivers].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of occupational stress and related factors on
      depression symptoms in train drives. METHODS: In March 2012, by using cluster
      sampling method, a cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 1 402
      train drivers in China. Questionnaires was investigation was conducted by face to
      face interview. Sample with missing variables on demographic characteristics
      questionnaire with missed survey variables, and occupational stress related
      factors and with over 3 item missing in depression symptoms self-rating scale
      were exclued. Depression symptoms were measured by Center for Epidemiological
      Survey Depression Scale. The occupational stress related actors were measured by
      the revised effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaires and occupational
      stress measurement scale. Chi-square test was carried out to analyze the
      differences of the incidence of depressive symptoms among different general
      characteristics groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was
      conducted to analyze the influence of occupational stress and related factors on
      depression symptoms in train drivers. RESULTS: The study showed that the average
      age of 1 402 subjects was (34.95+/-9.20) years, the length of service were
      (13.28+/-9.78) years, the score of depressive symptoms was (24.14+/-5.98) scores.
      902 subjects (64.3%,902/1 402) were classified as people with depressive
      symptoms, the incidence of depressive symptoms in EMU or high-speed train drivers
      were the highest (68.0%,51/75); Incidence of depressive symptoms showed that were
      statistically significant differences in two groups of technical secondary school
      and college, and incidence of depressive symptoms in the junior college and above
      group (68.1%,352/517) was higher than that in the senior high school and below
      group (62.1%, 550/885) (chi(2)=5.02, P=0.025). The results of the multiple
      logistic regression analysis revealed that high levels of education (OR=1.63,
      95%CI: 1.12-2.19), role conflict (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.21-2.24), role ambiguity
      (OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.45-2.73), negative emotion(OR=2.87, 95%CI: 2.15-3.82), daily
      tension(OR=2.86, 95%CI: 2.11-3.86), poor colleagues and family support (OR=1.55,
      95% CI: 1.11-2.16 and OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.27-2.41) were risk factors of depressive
      symptoms, but positive emotion (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96), self-esteem
      (OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.16-0.30), and job itself satisfaction (OR=0.48, 95%CI: 0.35
      0.65) were protective factors of depressive symptoms in train drivers.
      CONCLUSION: Train drivers, in particular EMU or high-speed train drivers who were
      prone to depressive symptoms. To arrange reasonably job roles and tasks, increase
      support from superiors, colleagues, and family, bring up healthy and coordinated
      personality, keep a good mood, promote job satisfaction, reduce the daily tension
      have positive effects on reducing the occurrence of depressive symptoms for train
      drivers.

PMID- 26887304
TI  - [Acute effects of SO2 and NO2 on mortality in the six cities of China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore acute effects of SO(2) and NO(2) on mortality in the six
      cities of China. METHODS: Surveillance data on daily air quality, meteorology and
      the cause of death were collected from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 in
      Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan. Generalized additive
      model was used to explore the relationship between the daily average
      concentration of SO(2) and NO(2) and daily mortality, after adjusting the effects
      of long-term and seasonal trend and weather conditions. RESULTS: In Beijing,
      Tianjin, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan, the daily average concentration of
      SO(2) and NO(2) were in the range of 39.8-59.5 ug/m(3) and 41.4-60.1 ug/m(3)
      respectively; the daily mortality for non-accidental were 174.5, 101.4, 27.7,
      108.4, 50.6, 17.8, cardiovascular were 86.9, 53.3, 12.8, 34.8, 16.3, 8.1 and
      respiratory were 18.3, 8.6, 2.6, 18.6, 9.0, 1.8 respectively. The daily average
      concentration of SO(2) were negatively correlated with daily average temperature
      in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Wuhan (the correlation coefficients were -0.66, 
      0.73, -0.67 and -0.39 respectively, P<0.05). The daily average concentration of
      SO(2) were negativeiy correlated with relative humidity in Tianjin, Shanghai and
      Wuhan (the correlation coefficients were -0.26, -0.46 and -0.28 respectively,
      P<0.05). The daily average concentration of NO(2) were negative correlated with
      daily average temperature in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Wuhan (the correlation
      coefficients were -0.27, -0.49, -0.45 and -0.38 respectively, P<0.05). When the
      day concentration of SO(2) increased every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental
      mortality in Tianjin and Wuhan raised 0.44%(95%CI: 0.11%-0.78%) and 0.96%(95%CI:
      0.22%-1.72%) respectively. When the 1 day-lag concentration of SO(2) increased
      every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan
      raised 0.28% (95% CI: 0.02%-0.54% ), 0.41% (95% CI: 0.04%-0.79% ) and 1.14% (95%
      CI: 0.44%-1.84%) respectively. When the day and 1 day-lag concentration of SO(2)
      increased every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental mortality and the cardiovascular
      mortality at the six cities scale raised 0.40% (95% CI: 0.13%-0.67%) and 0.48%
      (95% CI: 0.11%-0.85%) respectively. When the day concentration of NO2 increased
      every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai,
      Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.60% (95% CI: 0.26%-0.95%), 0.96% (95% CI: 0.29%
      1.64%), 0.43% (95% CI: 0.09%-0.78%), 1.17%(95%CI: 0.69%-1.66%) and 1.23%(95%CI:
      0.19%-2.28%) respectively; the cardiovascular mortality in Beijing, Tianjin,
      Xi'an, Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.83% (95% CI: 0.34%-1.32%), 1.09% (95% CI:
      0.25%-1.94%), 1.98% (95% CI: 0.00%-4.01%), 1.52% (95% CI: 0.70%-2.36%) and 2.04%
      (95% CI: 0.54%-3.56%) respectively. When the 1 day-lag concentration of NO(2)
      increased every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Guangzhou and Wuhan
      raised 0.97% (95% CI: 0.49%-1.46%) and 1.67% (95% CI: 0.66%-2.70%)respectively;
      the cardiovascular mortality in Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 1.06% (95% CI: 0.24%
      1.89%)and 2.42% (95% CI: 0.97%-3.89%) respectively. When the day and 1 day-lag
      concentration of NO(2) increased every 10 ug/m(3), the non-accidental mortality
      and the cardiovascular mortality at the six cities scale raised 0.81% (95% CI:
      0.35%-1.28%), 1.03% (95% CI: 0.40%-1.66%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to
      SO(2) and NO(2) was significantly associated with daily non-accidental morality
      and cardiovascular morality at the multi-city scale in China.

PMID- 26887305
TI  - [Impact of dynamic changes of waist circumference and body mass index on type 2
      diabetes mellitus risk].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of dynamic change of waist circumference or
      body mass index (BMI) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) populations in a cohort
      study. METHODS: We not only obtained the baseline survey data from program
      'Prevention of Multiple Metabolic Disorders and metabolic syndrome (MS) in
      Jiangsu Province'(PMMJS) which started in 1994, and we conducted twice follow-ups
      from January 2002 to August 2003, and March 2006 to November 2007. After
      excluding subjects who were found to have T2DM at baseline, cardiovascular
      disease(CVD), and BMI<18.5 kg/m(2) , and loss to follow up because of relocation,
      death or other reasons, a total of 3 461 subjects were included in this analysis.
      They received investigation including questionnaires investigation, measurement
      and laboratory examination. The differences of gender, smoking, alcohol drinking
      and T2DM family history in different groups were examined using chi(2)-test,
      median and inter-quartile range were calculated for TG, and they were examined by
      rank test. Four equal parts of the differences of waist circumference and BMI
      were carried out in the COX regression model, to investigate the association
      between 2 years change of waist circumference or BMI and incidence of T2DM. We
      also examined the association between BMI and waist circumference modification
      and incident risk of T2DM in subjects with normal baseline BMI, baseline obese
      subjects, subjects with normal baseline waist circumference and baseline
      abdominal obese subjects. RESULTS: A total of 3 461 participants (1 406 males, 2
      055 females) were investigated, including 160 new T2DM cases (60 males, 100
      females) who were from between baseline and the second following up. The
      accumulative incidence was 4.6% (60/3 461). Multivariate COX regression model
      analysis results showed that the T2DM risk was relatively high in the highest
      quartile of waist circumference D-value group(HR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.27-3.16), the
      T2DM risk was also high in the highest quartile of BMI D-value group (HR=1.30,
      95% CI: 0.86-1.95). In subjects with abdominal obesity and normal waist
      circumference at baseline, the incidence rate of T2DM in non-control group was
      7.1% (40/565) , 6.3% (45/645), higher than that in control group (3.4%(71/2 096),
      4.5%(4/155)) (chi(2) values were 3.98 and 15.18, P values were 0.043 and <0.001).
      In subjects with normal waist circumference, T2DM risk was higher in non-control
      group than that in control group (HR=2.12, 95% CI: 1.40-3.22). In abdominal obese
      subjects, T2DM risk was also higher in non-control group than that in control
      group (HR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.92). If waist circumference was not controlled,
      T2DM risk was high, no matter BMI controlled or not (HR(95% CI) were 1.73(1.17
      2.54), 2.45(1.63-3.69) respectively). CONCLUSION: Controlling the waistline could
      reduce the risk of diabetes, and once waist circumference was not controlled,
      T2DM risk would be increased no matter BMI was controlled or not.

PMID- 26887306
TI  - [Impact of health educators' intervention on non-communicable diseases-related
      knowledge, attitude and behavior among rural residents].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of health educators' intervention on knowledge,
      attitude and behavior among rural residents and the feasibility of this
      intervention mode. METHODS: Using stratified cluster random sampling method,
      three towns and five villages in Yongchuan district, Chongqing municipality were
      selected from February to November, 2013. One or two health educators from each
      village were recruited by recommendation or voluntary registration. A total of 30
      health educators were recruited and trained. Health educators who passed the exam
      of the training conducted the intervention and training of knowledge and skill
      about non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control for over 30 rural
      residents who lived nearby aged over 18 years old, could take care of themselves
      and complete questionnaire independently. 900 residents were selected as the
      study samples before and after the intervention. Questionnaire surveys were
      conducted before and after the intervention to evaluate the effect. Changes of
      knowledge and behavior among participants were compared by Chi-square test.
      Changes of attitude towards NCD prevention and control among participants were
      compared by two independent t-test. RESULTS: Before and after the intervention,
      the cognition rate about diagnostic criteria of hypertension among rural adults
      was 29.8% (268/900) and 67.9% (611/900), respectively(chi(2)=261.58, P<0.001).
      The cognition rate about risk factors of hypertension was 22.9% (206/900) and
      78.2% (704/900), respectively(chi(2)=551.19, P<0.001). The cognition rate about
      the prevention measure of hypertension was 37.2% (335/900) and 88.0% (792/900) ,
      respectively(chi(2)=495.64, P<0.001). The cognition rate about complications of
      hypertension was 15.4% (139/900) and 68.9% (620/900), respectively(chi(2)=527.07,
      P<0.001). The cognition rate about diagnostic criteria of diabetes was 12.9%
      (116/900) and 50.3% (453/900), respectively(chi(2)=291.85, P<0.001). The
      cognition rate about the criteria of risk population of diabetes was 8.6%
      (77/900) and 62.0% (558/900), respectively(chi(2)=562.94, P<0.001). The cognition
      rate about the symptom of diabetes was 29.8% (268/900) and 83.3% (750/900),
      respectively(chi(2)=525.31, P<0.001). The cognition about the preventive measure
      of diabetes was 44.7% (402/900) and 89.3% (804/900), respectively(chi(2)=406.06,
      P<0.001). The cognition rate about 6 g salt intake per person per day among rural
      adults was 28.0% (252/900) and 84.3% (759/900), respectively(chi(2)=580.04,
      P<0.001). The cognition about 25 g oil intake per person per day among rural
      adults was 26.7% (240/900) and 71.4% (643/900), respectively(chi(2)=361.04,
      P<0.001). The cognition about self-perception of body weight among rural adults
      was 62.9% (566/900) and 91.9% (827/900), respectively (chi(2)=216.28, P<0.001).
      The cognition about self-circumference among rural adult was 54.8% (493/900) and
      87.7% (789/900), respectively(chi(2)=237.49, P<0.001). The cognition rate of self
      blood pressure was 60.5% (544/900) and 70.4% (634/900),
      respectively(chi(2)=14.92, P<0.001). Before and after the intervention, the
      scores of the necessity about conducting health education for the public among
      rural adults was (3.1+/-0.9 ) and (3.7+/-0.5 ), respectively(t=20.09, P<0.001).
      The score of the necessity about unhealthy lifestyle change among rural adults
      was (3.0+/-0.9 ) and (3.7+/-0.6), respectively(t=20.84, P<0.001). The score of
      the necessity about testing blood pressure and blood glucose regularly among
      rural adults was (3.0+/-0.9) and (3.7+/-0.6), respectively(t=21.07, P<0.001). The
      score of the necessity about body weight control was (2.9+/-1.0) and (3.6+/-
      0.8), respectively(t=20.04, P<0.001). The score of the necessity about conducting
      hypertension screen among high risk population was (3.0+/-0.9) and (3.7+/-0.5),
      respectively(t=22.99, P<0.001). The score of the necessity about conducting
      diabetes screen among high risk population was (3.0 +/- 0.9) and (3.7 +/- 0.5),
      respectively(t=23.22, P<0.001). The score of the necessity about providing
      instruction service of diet and physical activity for high risk population was
      (3.0+/-0.9) and (3.7+/-0.5), respectively(t=22.41 and 22.87, P< 0.001). Before
      and after the intervention, the proportion of rural adults seeking counseling
      service about NCD was 44.0% (396/900) and 64.9% (584/900),
      respectively(chi(2)=79.17, P<0.001). The proportion of rural adults testing blood
      pressure in the recent six months was 43.4% (391/900) and 63.1% (568/900),
      respectively(chi(2)=69.92, P<0.001). The proportion of rural adults who tested
      blood glucose in the recent six months was 28.6%(257/900) and 48.1% (433/900),
      respectively(chi(2)=72.80,P<0.001). The proportion of rural adults who controlled
      body weight consciously was 34.7%(312/900) and 29.3% (264/900),
      respectively(chi(2)= 5.88,P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Health educators' intervention
      could raise rural participants' awareness and confidence about NCD significantly,
      but this intervention mode might have little impact on healthy behaviors change
      in a short time.

PMID- 26887307
TI  - [Effect evaluation on physical activities intervention of Hangzhou community
      medical staff as well as the factor analysis].

PMID- 26887308
TI  - [The prevalence of overweight and obesity among aged 20-69 years old in Hubei
      province].

PMID- 26887309
TI  - [Immunological surrogate endpoints to evaluate vaccine efficacy].
AB  - An immunological surrogate endpoints is a vaccine-induced immune response (either
      humoral or cellular immune) that predicts protection against clinical endpoints
      (infection or disease), and can be used to evaluate vaccine efficacy in clinical
      vaccine trials. Compared with field efficacy trials observing clinical endpoints,
      immunological vaccine trials could reduce the sample size or shorten the duration
      of a trial, which promote the license and development of new candidate vaccines.
      For these reasons, establishing immunological surrogate endpoints is one of 14
      Grand Challenges of Global Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and
      the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. From two parts of definition and
      statistical methods for evaluation of surrogate endpoints, this review provides a
      more comprehensive description. 

PMID- 26887310
TI  - [Development and application of adverse outcome pathway in toxicology research].
AB  - Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) was a conceptual construct that integrated existing
      knowledge concerning the pathway of causal linkages between a molecular
      initiating event (MIE) and a final adverse effect at individual or population
      levels. The AOP methodology could be used as a basis for effects extrapolation
      and was an approach towards providing a framework for collecting and evaluating
      relevant chemical, biological and toxicological information. The framework would
      play an important role in risk assessment. We reviewed the concept of AOP, the
      development and assessment of the framework and the established models in
      toxicology researches. And the prospects and challenges of its application in
      toxicology were also introduced. 

PMID- 26887311
TI  - Impact of agriculture and land use on nitrate contamination in groundwater and
      running waters in central-west Poland.
AB  - Protected areas due to their long-term protection are expected to be
      characterized by good water quality. However, in catchments where arable fields
      dominate, the impact of agriculture on water pollution is still problematic. In
      Poland, recently, the fertilization level has decreased, mostly for economic
      reasons. However, this applies primarily to phosphorus and potassium. In order to
      evaluate the impact of agriculture on water quality in a protected area with a
      high proportion of arable fields in the aspect of level and type of
      fertilization, complex monitoring has been applied. The present study was carried
      out in Wielkopolska National Park and its buffer zone, which are protected under
      Natura 2000 as Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. The
      aim of the study were (1) to assess the impact of agriculture, with special
      attention on fertilization, on groundwater, and running water quality and (2) to
      designate priority areas for implementing nitrogen reduction measures in special
      attention on protected areas. In our study, high nitrogen concentrations in
      groundwater and surface waters were detected in the agricultural catchments. The
      results demonstrate that in the watersheds dominated by arable fields, high
      nitrogen concentrations in groundwater were measured in comparison to forestry
      catchments, where high ammonium concentrations were observed. The highest
      nitrogen concentrations were noted in spring after winter freezing, with a small
      cover of vegetation, and in the areas with a high level of nitrogen application.
      In the studied areas, both in the park and its buffer zone, unfavorable N:P and
      N:K ratios in supplied nutrients were detected. Severe shortage of phosphorus and
      potassium in applied fertilizers is one of the major factors causing leaching of
      nitrogen due to limited possibilities of its consumption by plants. 

PMID- 26887312
TI  - Poverty within watershed and environmentally protected areas: the case of the
      indigenous community in Peninsular Malaysia.
AB  - "Indigenous people" have been acknowledged as among the poorest and most socio
      economically and culturally marginalized all over the world. This paper explores
      the socio-economic status of the indigenous people and their poverty profile
      within watershed and environmentally protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia. The
      findings of the study indicate that the "indigenous community" is likely to be
      poor if they live in environmentally sensitive and unprotected areas as compared
      to families under the new resettlement scheme. Inadequate access to basic
      education and employment contributed significantly to their poor economic status.
      The findings further reveal that the indigenous community is facing difficulties
      in receiving access and support in terms of basic needs such as housing,
      education, economic livelihood, and other social infrastructure. Moreover, the
      regulatory structure for the management of watershed areas as well as the
      emphasis for commodity crops such as palm oil and natural rubber have indirectly
      contributed toward the poverty level of the indigenous people. 

PMID- 26887313
TI  - Retraction Note to: Biomonitoring fallout (137)Cs in resident and migratory
      fishes collected along the southern coast of India and assessment of dose.

PMID- 26887314
TI  - Differential bleaching of corals based on El Nino type and intensity in the
      Andaman Sea, southeast Bay of Bengal.
AB  - The Andaman coral reef region experienced mass bleaching events during 1998 and
      2010. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the El Nino in the
      coral reef bleaching events of the Andaman region. Both Nino 3.4 and 3 indices
      were examined to find out the relationship between the mass bleaching events and
      El Nino, and correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the
      Andaman Sea. The result shows that abnormal warming and mass bleaching events in
      the Andaman Sea were seen only during strong El Nino years of 1997-1998 and 2009
      2010. The Andaman Sea SST was more elevated and associated with El Nino Modoki
      (central Pacific El Nino) than conventional El Nino (eastern Pacific El Nino)
      occurrences. It is suggested that the development of hot spot patterns around the
      Andaman Islands during May 1998 and April-May 2010 may be attributed to zonal
      shifts in the Walker circulation driven by El Nino during the corresponding
      period. 

PMID- 26887315
TI  - Novel synthetic benzimidazole-derived oligosaccharide, M3BIM, prevents ex vivo
      platelet aggregation and in vivo thromboembolism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thrombus formation, a phenomenon primarily related to increased
      platelet activation, plays a key role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
      diseases. Although the established antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin and
      clopidogrel, have been shown to be beneficial in treating thromboembolic
      diseases, they have considerable limitations. Hence, the development of more
      effective and safe antithrombotic agents is necessary to satisfy a substantial
      unmet clinical need. In recent years, the favorable properties of imidazole
      related drugs have prompted medicinal chemists to synthesize numerous novel
      therapeutic agents. The chemical structure of the benzimidazole backbone has
      proven antiplatelet properties. Moreover, synthetic oligosaccharides have
      exhibited antiplatelet properties. Therefore, we developed a new aldo
      benzimidazole-derived oligosaccharide compound, M3BIM, for achieving a stronger
      antiplatelet effect than the drugs which are being used in clinical aspects. We
      investigated the effects of M3BIM on platelet activation ex vivo and its
      antithrombotic activity in vivo. RESULTS: M3BIM (10-50 MUM) exhibited a more
      potent activity in inhibiting platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen than it
      did in inhibiting that stimulated by thrombin in washed human platelets. The
      M3BIM treatment revealed no cytotoxicity in zebrafish embryos, even at the
      highest concentration of 100 MUM. In addition, M3BIM inhibited the
      phosphorylation of phospholipase Cgamma2, protein kinase C (PKC), and mitogen
      activated protein kinases (MAPKs; extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and c
      Jun N-terminal kinase 1), and markedly reduced the ATP-release reaction and
      intracellular calcium mobilization in collagen-activated platelets. By contrast,
      M3BIM showed no effects on either collagen-induced p38 MAPK and Akt
      phosphorylation or phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate-induced PKC activation and platelet
      aggregation. Moreover, the M3BIM treatment substantially prolonged the closure
      time in human whole blood, and increased the occlusion time in mesenteric
      microvessels and attenuated cerebral infarction in mice. For the study of
      anticoagulant activities, M3BIM showed no significant effects in the prolongation
      of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time in mice.
      CONCLUSION: The findings of our study suggest that M3BIM is a potential
      therapeutic agent for preventing or treating thromboembolic disorders.

PMID- 26887317
TI  - Canine Trichomonas tenax mandibular gland infestation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several species of trichomonads are intestinal or urogenital
      parasites of humans and animals, with only a few species typically being located
      in the oral cavity. The prevalence of oral trichomoniasis in dogs is
      approximately 15-25 %, although the prevalence varies among different populations
      and depends on age, sex and the health of the oral cavity. CASE PRESENTATION: A
      case of mandibular gland infestation by trichomonads in a 13-year-old female
      Dachshund with advanced periodontal disease and oral trichomoniasis is reported.
      The dog was referred due to a history of a painless swelling over the left
      submandibular region that increased in size over time. Based on physical and
      ultrasound examinations, a final diagnosis of mandibular gland cyst was
      established and transcutaneous needle aspiration was carried out. Numerous mobile
      trophozoites of trichomonads were found by microscopy and culturing for
      trichomonas was performed. The species was finally characterized as Trichomonas
      tenax by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Studies have
      shown that T. tenax can be found in humans in atypical locations such as the
      salivary glands and upper and lower respiratory tracts. According to our
      knowledge this is the first report of T. tenax being present in the salivary
      glands of a dog. Because of the relatively high prevalence of trichomoniasis in
      dogs with periodontal diseases, these parasites should be considered together
      with bacterial and viral agents in salivary gland infections, especially in
      individuals with compromised oral health.

PMID- 26887318
TI  - Screening of antitubercular compound library identifies novel shikimate kinase
      inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - Shikimate kinase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is involved in the biosynthesis of
      aromatic amino acids through shikimate pathway. The enzyme is essential for the
      survival of M. tuberculosis and is absent from mammals, thus providing an
      excellent opportunity for identifying new chemical entities to combat
      tuberculosis with a novel mechanism of action. In this study, an antitubercular
      library of 1000 compounds was screened against M. tuberculosis shikimate kinase
      (MtSK). This effort led to the identification of 20 inhibitors, among which five
      promising leads exhibited half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values
      below 10 MUM. The most potent inhibitor ("5631296") showed an IC50 value of 5.10
      MUM +/- 0.6. The leads were further evaluated for the activity against multidrug
      resistant (MDR)-TB, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, mode of
      action, docking simulations, and combinatorial study with three frontline anti-TB
      drugs. Compound "5491210" displayed a nearly synergistic activity with
      rifampicin, isoniazid, and ethambutol while compound "5631296" was synergistic
      with rifampicin. In vitro cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line was evaluated and
      barring one compound; all were found to be non-toxic (SI > 10). In order to rule
      out mitochondrial toxicity, the promising inhibitors were also evaluated for cell
      cytotoxicity using galactose medium where compounds "5631296" and "5122752"
      appeared non-toxic. Upon comprehensive analysis, compound "5631296" was found to
      be the most promising MtSK inhibitor that was safe, synergistic with rifampicin,
      and bactericidal against M. tuberculosis. 

PMID- 26887316
TI  - 4-Hydroxyisoleucine attenuates the inflammation-mediated insulin resistance by
      the activation of AMPK and suppression of SOCS-3 coimmunoprecipitation with both
      the IR-beta subunit as well as IRS-1.
AB  - It is known that 4-hydroxyisoleucine (4-HIL) from seeds of Trigonella foenum
      graecum has beneficial effects on low-grade inflammation; therefore, the insulin
      signaling as well as the anti-inflammatory effects of 4-HIL in TNF-alpha-induced
      insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes was studied with an aim to dissect out the
      mechanism(s) of the inflammation-mediated insulin resistance. TNF-alpha
      suppressed insulin-stimulated glucose transport rate and increased Ser-307
      phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). However, the treatment
      of 4-hydroxyisoleucine enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose transport rate via the
      activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a dose-dependent manner. 4
      HIL also increases the tyrosine phosphorylation of both IR-beta and IRS-1.
      Moreover, coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) of insulin receptor-beta (IR-beta)
      subunit with IRS-1 was found to be increased by 4-hydroxyisoleucine.
      Concentration of SOCS-3 protein and coimmunoprecipitation of SOCS-3 protein with
      both the IR-beta subunit as well as IRS-1 was found to be decreased by 4-HIL. We
      conclude that the 4-hydroxyisoleucine reverses the insulin resistance by the
      activation of AMPK and suppression of SOCS-3 coimmunoprecipitation with both the
      IR-beta subunit as well as IRS-1.

PMID- 26887319
TI  - New tools for chloroplast genetic engineering allow the synthesis of human growth
      hormone in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
AB  - In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the exploitation of
      microalgae in industrial biotechnology. Potentially, these phototrophic
      eukaryotes could be used for the low-cost synthesis of valuable recombinant
      products such as bioactive metabolites and therapeutic proteins. The algal
      chloroplast in particular represents an attractive target for such genetic
      engineering, both because it houses major metabolic pathways and because foreign
      genes can be targeted to specific loci within the chloroplast genome, resulting
      in high-level, stable expression. However, routine methods for chloroplast
      genetic engineering are currently available only for one species-Chlamydomonas
      reinhardtii-and even here, there are limitations to the existing technology,
      including the need for an expensive biolistic device for DNA delivery, the lack
      of robust expression vectors, and the undesirable use of antibiotic resistance
      markers. Here, we describe a new strain and vectors for targeted insertion of
      transgenes into a neutral chloroplast locus that (i) allow scar-less fusion of a
      transgenic coding sequence to the promoter/5'UTR element of the highly expressed
      endogenous genes psaA or atpA, (ii) employ the endogenous gene psbH as an
      effective but benign selectable marker, and (iii) ensure the successful
      integration of the transgene construct in all transformant lines. Transformation
      is achieved by a simple and cheap method of agitation of a DNA/cell suspension
      with glass beads, with selection based on the phototrophic rescue of a cell wall
      deficient DeltapsbH strain. We demonstrate the utility of these tools in the
      creation of a transgenic line that produces high levels of functional human
      growth hormone. 

PMID- 26887320
TI  - Biophotography: concepts, applications and perspectives.
AB  - Synthetic biology aims at manipulating biological systems by rationally designed
      and genetically introduced components. Efforts in photoactuator engineering
      resulted in microorganisms reacting to extracellular light-cues with various
      cellular responses. Some of them lead to the formation of macroscopically
      observable outputs, which can be used to generate images made of living matter.
      Several methods have been developed to convert colorless compounds into visible
      pigments by an enzymatic conversion. This has been exploited as a showcase for
      successful creation of an optogenetic tool; examples for basic light-controlled
      biological processes that have been coupled to this biophotography comprise
      regulation of transcription, protein stability, and second messenger synthesis.
      Moreover, biological reproduction of images is used as means to facilitate
      quantitative characterization of optogenetic switches as well as a technique to
      investigate complex cellular signaling circuits. Here, we will compare the
      different techniques for biological image generation, introduce experimental
      approaches, and provide future-perspectives for biophotography. 

PMID- 26887321
TI  - An evaluation of a multi-component adult weight management on referral
      intervention in a community setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on
      adult weight management recommends interventions are multi-component. We aimed to
      assess the implementation and health benefits of a primary care referral to an
      adult multi-component weight management intervention in a community setting. The
      intervention was offered through Primary care in National Health Service (NHS)
      South Gloucestershire, UK, from Oct 2008 to Nov 2010, in partnership with
      statutory, community and commercial providers. The scheme offered 12 weeks'
      community based concurrent support of dietary (Weight Watchers, WW), physical
      activity (Exercise on Prescription, EOP) and behavioural change (motivational
      interviewing) components to obese adults. Funding was available for 600 places.
      RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty nine participants engaged with the intervention,
      mean age 48 years, 88% female. Mean weight loss for all engagers was 3.7 kg (95 %
      confidence interval 3.4, 4.1). Participants completing the intervention achieved
      the largest weight reduction (mean loss 5.9 kg; 5.3, 6.6). Achievement of 5%
      weight loss was higher in completers (58%; 50, 65) compared to non-completers
      (19%; 12, 26) and people who only participated in one commercial component of the
      intervention (either WW or EOP; 19%; 13, 24). CONCLUSION: A multi-component
      weight management programme may be beneficial for weight loss, but a randomized
      controlled trial is needed to establish effectiveness and to evaluate cost.

PMID- 26887324
TI  - Genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp. and characterization of the prevalent T4 type
      along with T10 and unassigned genotypes from amoebic keratitis patients in India.
AB  - Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are the causative agents of severe
      sight-threatening infection of the cornea. This study was designed to
      characterize the genotype of 20 Acanthamoeba spp. isolates obtained from corneal
      scrapings of 183 suspected Acanthamoeba keratitis patients reporting to the
      Outpatient Department/Casualty Services of Dr R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic
      Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India during the
      period 2011-2015. Corneal scrapings were inoculated onto 2 % non-nutrient agar
      plates overlaid with Escherichia coli and incubated at 30  degrees C for 15 days.
      Amongst 183 suspected Acanthamoeba keratitis patients, 29 were found culture
      positive for Acanthamoeba spp. out of which 20 samples were established in axenic
      culture for molecular analysis. DNA was isolated and PCR assay was performed for
      the amplification of the diagnostic fragment 3 (DF3) (~280 bp) region of the 18S
      rRNA gene from axenic culture of 20 Acanthamoeba spp. isolates. Rns genotyping
      was performed on the basis of variation in nucleotide sequences of the DF3 region
      of the 18S rRNA gene. In the phylogenetic analysis, 16 of the 20 isolates were
      found to be of prevalent genotype T4, two were of genotype T10 and the remaining
      two isolates were of unassigned genotypes. Hence, it was concluded that genotype
      T4 was found as the most predominant genotype involved in Acanthamoeba keratitis
      infections. Genotype T10, which had not been reported from India, was detected
      for the first time in two patients. Two isolates were found to be unique, which
      shared < 95 % homology with all the known genotypes (T1-T20) of Acanthamoeba spp.

PMID- 26887322
TI  - CSF complement 3 and factor H are staging biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: CSF levels of established Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers
      remain stable despite disease progression, and non-amyloid non-tau biomarkers
      have the potential of informing disease stage and progression. We previously
      identified complement 3 (C3) to be decreased in AD dementia, but this change was
      not found by others in earlier AD stages. We hypothesized that levels of C3 and
      associated factor H (FH) can potentially distinguish between mild cognitive
      impairment (MCI) and dementia stages of AD, but we also found their levels to be
      influenced by age and disease status. RESULTS: We developed a
      biochemical/bioinformatics pipeline to optimize the handling of complex
      interactions between variables in validating biochemical markers of disease. We
      used data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuro-imaging Initiative (ADNI, n = 230)
      to build parallel machine learning models, and objectively tested the models in a
      test cohort (n = 73) of MCI and mild AD patients independently recruited from
      Emory University. Whereas models incorporating age, gender, APOE epsilon4 status,
      and CSF amyloid and tau levels failed to reliably distinguish between MCI and
      mild AD in ADNI, introduction of CSF C3 and FH levels reproducibly improved the
      distinction between the two AD stages in ADNI (p < 0.05) and the Emory cohort (p
      = 0.014). Within each AD stage, the final model also distinguished between fast
      vs. slower decliners (p < 0.001 for MCI, p = 0.007 for mild AD), with lower C3
      and FH levels associated with more advanced disease and faster progression.
      CONCLUSIONS: We propose that CSF C3 and FH alterations may reflect stage
      associated biomarker changes in AD, and can complement clinician diagnosis in
      diagnosing and staging AD using the publically available ADNI database as
      reference.

PMID- 26887323
TI  - A systematic review of correlates of sedentary behaviour in adults aged 18-65
      years: a socio-ecological approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent research shows that sedentary behaviour is associated with
      adverse cardio-metabolic consequences even among those considered sufficiently
      physically active. In order to successfully develop interventions to address this
      unhealthy behaviour, factors that influence sedentariness need to be identified
      and fully understood. The aim of this review is to identify individual, social,
      environmental, and policy-related determinants or correlates of sedentary
      behaviours among adults aged 18-65 years. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL,
      PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January
      2000 and September 2015. The search strategy was based on four key elements and
      their synonyms: (a) sedentary behaviour (b) correlates (c) types of sedentary
      behaviours (d) types of correlates. Articles were included if information
      relating to sedentary behaviour in adults (18-65 years) was reported. Studies on
      samples selected by disease were excluded. The full protocol is available from
      PROSPERO (PROSPERO 2014:CRD42014009823). RESULTS: 74 original studies were
      identified out of 4041: 71 observational, two qualitative and one experimental
      study. Sedentary behaviour was primarily measured as self-reported screen leisure
      time and total sitting time. In 15 studies, objectively measured total sedentary
      time was reported: accelerometry (n = 14) and heart rate (n = 1). Individual
      level factors such as age, physical activity levels, body mass index, socio
      economic status and mood were all significantly correlated with sedentariness. A
      trend towards increased amounts of leisure screen time was identified in those
      married or cohabiting while having children resulted in less total sitting time.
      Several environmental correlates were identified including proximity of green
      space, neighbourhood walkability and safety and weather. CONCLUSIONS: Results
      provide further evidence relating to several already recognised individual level
      factors and preliminary evidence relating to social and environmental factors
      that should be further investigated. Most studies relied upon cross-sectional
      design limiting causal inference and the heterogeneity of the sedentary measures
      prevented direct comparison of findings. Future research necessitates
      longitudinal study designs, exploration of policy-related factors, further
      exploration of environmental factors, analysis of inter-relationships between
      identified factors and better classification of sedentary behaviour domains.

PMID- 26887325
TI  - Antiepileptogenic effects of borneol in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling in
      mice.
AB  - Borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene, can easily cross the blood brain barrier and was
      found to possess gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) modulatory effect. The present
      study was aimed at investigating the antiepileptogenic effect of borneol in the
      pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling besides its ability to suppress
      oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein
      (GFAP). Repeated administration of a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.)
      on every alternate day for 4 weeks produced kindling in mice. Borneol (5, 10, and
      25 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) were given as a pretreatment prior
      to each PTZ injection during the progression of kindling. Oxidative stress
      parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH),
      catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were assessed at the end of the
      study. Neuronal damage was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining technique.
      GFAP was also evaluated in the hippocampus region of the brain by using
      immunohistochemistry. Borneol significantly suppressed the process of
      epileptogenesis in PTZ-kindled mice. The biochemical alterations induced by PTZ
      kindling were ameliorated in borneol-treated animals which was indicated by
      decreased LPO and increased SOD, GSH, CAT levels. The distinct neuronal damage
      observed in the kindled group was counteracted by borneol. Furthermore, it
      decreased the levels of GFAP which was manifested by reduced immunostaining. The
      above results are suggestive of the antiepileptogenic potential of borneol in the
      PTZ-induced kindling model of epilepsy, and thus, it could be a prospective
      molecule in the treatment of epilepsy.

PMID- 26887326
TI  - Rg3-enriched ginseng extract ameliorates scopolamine-induced learning deficits in
      mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been used as a traditional
      herb in the treatment of many medical disorders. Ginsenosides, which are
      triterpene derivatives that contain sugar moieties, are the main pharmacological
      ingredients in ginseng. This study was designed to investigate the effect of
      ginsenoside Rg3-enriched ginseng extract (Rg3GE) on scopolamine-induced memory
      impairment in mice. METHODS: Rg3GE (50 and 100 mg/kg) were administered to
      C57BL/6 mice by oral gavage for 14 days (days 1-14). Memory impairment was
      induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) for 6 days (days
      914). The Morris water maze test was used to assess hippocampus-dependent spatial
      memory. The effects of scopolamine with or without Rg3GE on acetylcholinesterase
      and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the hippocampus were also examined.
      RESULTS: Mice with scopolamine treatment alone showed impairments in the
      acquisition and retention of spatial memory. Mice that received Rg3GE and
      scopolamine showed no scopolamine-induced impairment in the acquisition of
      spatial memory. Oral administration of Rg3GE suppressed the scopolamine-mediated
      increase in acetylcholinesterase activity and stimulation of the NF-kappaB
      pathway (i.e., phosphorylation of p65) in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: These
      findings suggest that Rg3GE may stabilize scopolamine-induced memory deficits
      through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and NF-kappaB signaling
      in the hippocampus.

PMID- 26887328
TI  - Biological Activities of Oleanolic Acid Derivatives from Calendula officinalis
      Seeds.
AB  - Phytochemical examination of butanol fraction of Calendula officinalis seeds led
      to the isolation of two compounds identified as 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl
      oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid
      (CS1) and oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1->3)-beta-D
      glucopyranosiduronic acid (CS2). Biological evaluation was carried out for these
      two compounds such as melanin biosynthesis inhibitory, hyaluronic acid production
      activities, anti obesity using lipase inhibition and adipocyte differentiation as
      well as evaluation of the protective effect against hydrogen peroxide induced
      neurotoxicity in neuro-2A cells. The results showed that, compound CS2 has a
      melanin biosynthesis stimulatory activity; however, compound CS1 has a potent
      stimulatory effect for the production of hyaluronic acid on normal human dermal
      fibroblast from adult (NHDF-Ad). Both compounds did not show any inhibitory
      effect on both lipase and adipocyte differentiation. Compound CS2 could protect
      neuro-2A cells and increased cell viability against H2 O2 . These activities
      (melanin biosynthesis stimulatory and protective effect against H2 O2 of CS2 and
      hyaluronic acid productive activities of these triterpene derivatives) have been
      reported for the first time. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26887327
TI  - Exercise training improves vascular function in adolescents with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - The impact of exercise training on vascular health in adolescents with type 2
      diabetes has not been previously studied. We hypothesized that exercise training
      would improve micro- and macrovascular health in adolescents with type 2
      diabetes. Thirteen adolescents (13-21 years, 10F) with type 2 diabetes were
      recruited from Princess Margaret Hospital. Participants were randomized to
      receive either an exercise program along with standard clinical care (n = 8) or
      standard care alone (n = 5). Those in the intervention group received 12 weeks of
      gym-based, personalized, and supervised exercise training. Those in the control
      group were instructed to maintain usual activity levels. Assessments were
      conducted at baseline and following week 12. The exercise group was also studied
      12 weeks following the conclusion of their program. Assessments consisted of
      conduit artery endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, FMD) and
      microvascular function (cutaneous laser Doppler). Secondary outcomes included
      body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA), glycemic control (whole
      body insulin sensitivity, M) assessed using the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp
      protocol, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), and muscular strength (1RM).
      Exercise training increased FMD (P < 0.05), microvascular function (P < 0.05),
      total lean mass (P < 0.05), and muscle strength (P < 0.001). There were no
      changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, body weight, BMI, or M. In the control
      group, body weight (P < 0.01), BMI (P < 0.01), and total fat mass (P < 0.05)
      increased. At week 24, improvements in vascular function were reversed. This
      study indicates that exercise training can improve both conduit and microvascular
      endothelial function and health, independent of changes in insulin sensitivity in
      adolescents with type 2 diabetes. 

PMID- 26887329
TI  - Absent anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1a antibodies in herpes simplex virus
      encephalitis and varicella zoster virus infections.
AB  - PURPOSE: A 2012 report and subsequent case series described anti-N-methyl-D
      aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies in patients during the acute phase and
      relapse of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) encephalitis (HSV1E). However, the
      prevalence of this phenomenon is unknown and systematic studies on other viral
      infections of the nervous system are missing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively analyzed serial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of
      consecutive patients treated for neurological HSV1, HSV2 and varicella zoster
      virus (VZV) infections in our tertiary care university hospital between 2003 and
      2013 for the presence of antibodies directed against the NR1a subunit of the
      NMDAR using indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: In total, 88 patients with the
      following infections were identified through an electronic database search: HSV1
      (24 with encephalitis), HSV2 (6 with meningitis, 3 with encephalitis and 1 with
      myelitis), or VZV (3 with meningitis, 33 with encephalitis, 17 with radiculitis
      and 1 with myelitis). Two patients with HSV1E and HSV2E, respectively,
      experienced a clinical relapse. Clinical follow-up was for up to 85 months, and
      repetitive serum and CSF analyses for up to 43 months. However, at no time did
      any of the 88 patients exhibit anti-NMDAR NR1a antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: In this
      study, we did not detect anti-NMDAR NR1a antibodies in serial CSF and serum
      samples of HSV1E patients or patients with other viral infections (HSV2 and VZV).
      However, the presence of antibodies directed against other epitopes of the NMDAR
      and other neuronal cell surface antigens cannot be excluded, necessitating
      further studies.

PMID- 26887330
TI  - A novel rodent model of severe renal ischemia reperfusion injury.
AB  - Renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major problem, currently without
      treatments in clinical use. This reflects the failure of animal models to mimic
      the severity of IRI observed in clinical practice. Most described models lack
      both the ability to inflict a permanent reduction in renal function and the
      sensitivity to demonstrate the protective efficacy of different therapies in
      vivo. To test novel cell-based therapies, we have developed a model of renal IRI
      in Fisher 344 rats. Animals were subjected to 120 min of unilateral warm
      ischemia, during which they underwent an intra-renal artery infusion of
      therapeutic agents or vehicle. At either 2 or 6 weeks post-surgery, animals
      underwent terminal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) studies by inulin clearance
      to most accurately quantify renal function. Harvested kidneys underwent
      histological analysis. Compared to sham operations, saline treated animals
      suffered a long-term reduction in GFR of ~50%. Histology revealed short- and long
      term disruption of renal architecture. Despite the injury severity, post
      operative animal losses are <5%. This model produces a severe, consistent renal
      injury that closely replicates the pathological processes encountered in clinical
      medicine. Renal artery infusion mimics the route likely employed in clinical
      transplantation, where the renal artery is accessible. Inulin clearance
      characterizes GFR, allowing full assessment of therapeutic intervention. This
      model is useful for screening therapeutic agents prior to testing in a transplant
      model. This reduces animal numbers needed to test drugs for clinical
      transplantation and allows for refinement of dosing schedules.

PMID- 26887331
TI  - Transport of 3-fluoro-L-alpha-methyl-tyrosine (FAMT) by organic ion transporters
      explains renal background in [(18)F]FAMT positron emission tomography.
AB  - A PET tracer for tumor imaging, 3-(18)F-l-alpha-methyl-tyrosine ([(18)F]FAMT),
      has advantages of high cancer-specificity and low physiological background. In
      clinical studies, FAMT-PET has been proved useful for the detection of malignant
      tumors and their differentiation from inflammation and benign lesions. The tumor
      specific uptake of FAMT is due to its high-selectivity to cancer-type amino acid
      transporter LAT1 among amino acid transporters. In [(18)F]FAMT PET, kidney is the
      only organ that shows high physiological background. To reveal transporters
      involved in renal accumulation of FAMT, we have examined [(14)C]FAMT uptake on
      the organic ion transporters responsible for the uptake into tubular epithelial
      cells. We have found that OAT1, OAT10 and OCTN2 transport [(14)C]FAMT. The
      [(14)C]FAMT uptake was inhibited by probenecid, furosemide and ethacrynic acid,
      consistent with the properties of the transporters. The amino acid uptake
      inhibitor, 2-amino-2-norbornanecarboxylic acid (BCH), also inhibited the
      [(14)C]FAMT uptake, whereas OCTN2-mediated [(14)C]FAMT uptake was Na(+)
      dependent. We propose that FAMT uptake by OAT1, OAT10 and OCTN2 into tubular
      epithelial cells could contribute to the renal accumulation of FAMT. The results
      from this study would provide clues to the treatments to reduce renal background
      and enhance tumor uptake as well as to designing PET tracers with less renal
      accumulation. 

PMID- 26887332
TI  - Combination therapy with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor
      telmisartan and serine protease inhibitor camostat mesilate provides further
      renoprotection in a rat chronic kidney disease model.
AB  - We previously reported that camostat mesilate (CM) had renoprotective and
      antihypertensive effects in rat CKD models. In this study, we examined if CM has
      a distinct renoprotective effect from telmisartan (TE), a renin-angiotensin
      aldosterone system (RAS) inhibitor, on the progression of CKD. We evaluated the
      effect of CM (400 mg/kg/day) and/or TE (10 mg/kg/day) on renal function,
      oxidative stress, renal fibrosis, and RAS components in the adenine-induced rat
      CKD model following 5-weeks treatment period. The combination therapy with CM and
      TE significantly decreased the adenine-induced increase in serum creatinine
      levels compared with each monotherapy, although all treatment groups showed
      similar reduction in blood pressure. Similarly, adenine-induced elevation in
      oxidative stress markers and renal fibrosis markers were significantly reduced by
      the combination therapy relative to each monotherapy. Furthermore, the effect of
      the combination therapy on plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone
      concentration (PAC) was similar to that of TE monotherapy, and CM had no effect
      on both PRA and PAC, suggesting that CM has a distinct pharmacological property
      from RAS inhibition. Our findings indicate that CM could be a candidate drug for
      an add-on therapy for CKD patients who had been treated with RAS inhibitors. 

PMID- 26887333
TI  - Subthalamic stimulation may inhibit the beneficial effects of levodopa on
      akinesia and gait.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gait and akinesia deterioration in PD patients during the immediate
      postoperative period of DBS has been directly related to stimulation in the
      subthalamic region. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aim
      of the present study was to clinically and anatomically describe this side
      effect. METHODS: PD patients presenting with a worsening of gait and/or akinesia
      following STN-DBS, that was reversible on stimulation arrest were included. The
      evaluation included (1) a Stand Walk Sit Test during a monopolar survey of each
      electrode in the on-drug condition; (2) a 5-condition test with the following
      conditions: off-drug/off-DBS, off-drug/on-best-compromise-DBS, on-drug/off-DBS,
      on-drug/on-best-compromise-DBS, and on-drug/on-worsening-DBS, which utilized the
      contact inducing the most prominent gait deterioration. The following scales were
      performed: UPDRSIII subscores, Stand Walk Sit Test, and dyskinesia and freezing
      of gait scales. Localization of contacts was performed using a coregistration
      method. RESULTS: Twelve of 17 patients underwent the complete evaluation.
      Stimulation of the most proximal contacts significantly slowed down the Stand
      Walk Sit Test. The on-drug/on-worsening-DBS condition compared with the on
      drug/off-DBS condition worsened akinesia (P = 0.02), Stand Walk Sit Test (P =
      0.001), freezing of gait (P = 0.02), and improved dyskinesias (P = 0.003).
      Compared with the off-drug/off-DBS condition, the on-drug/on-worsening-DBS
      condition improved rigidity (P = 0.007) and tremor (P = 0.007). Worsening contact
      sites were predominantly dorsal and anterior to the STN in the anterior zona
      incerta and Forel fields H2. CONCLUSIONS: A paradoxical deterioration of gait and
      akinesia is a rare side effect following STN-DBS. We propose that this may be
      related to misplaced contacts, and we discuss the pathophysiology and strategies
      to identify and manage this complication. (c) 2016 International Parkinson and
      Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26887334
TI  - Erratum to: 'Phosphoproteomic analysis reveals Smarcb1 dependent EGFR signaling
      in Malignant Rhabdoid tumor cells'.

PMID- 26887335
TI  - Privacy and Confidentiality Practices In Adolescent Family Planning Care At
      Federally Qualified Health Centers.
AB  - CONTEXT: The confidentiality of family planning services remains a high priority
      to adolescents, but barriers to implementing confidentiality and privacy
      practices exist in settings designed for teenagers who are medically underserved,
      including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). METHODS: A sample of 423
      FQHCs surveyed in 2011 provided information on their use of five selected privacy
      and confidentiality practices, which were examined separately and combined into
      an index. Regression modeling was used to assess whether various state policies
      and organizational characteristics were associated with FQHCs' scores on the
      index. In-depth case studies of six FQHCs were conducted to provide additional
      contextual information. RESULTS: Among FQHCs reporting on confidentiality, most
      reported providing written or verbal information regarding adolescents' rights to
      confidential care (81%) and limiting access to family planning and medical
      records to protect adolescents' confidentiality (84%). Far fewer reported
      maintaining separate medical records for family planning (10%), using a security
      block on electronic medical records to prevent disclosures (43%) or using
      separate contact information for communications regarding family planning
      services (50%). Index scores were higher among FQHCs that received Title X
      funding than among those that did not (coefficient, 0.70) and among FQHCs with
      the largest patient volumes than among those with the smallest caseloads (0.43).
      Case studies highlighted how a lack of guidelines and providers' confusion over
      relevant laws present a challenge in offering confidential care to adolescents.
      CONCLUSIONS: The organizational practices used to ensure adolescent family
      planning confidentiality in FQHCs are varied across organizations.

PMID- 26887336
TI  - SKA2 methylation predicts reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal cortex.

PMID- 26887337
TI  - Increased expression of IDO associates with poor postoperative clinical outcome
      of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Clinical significance of 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) has been studied in types of
      tumors, but the role that IDO played in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is still
      unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the prognostic value of IDO expression in
      patients with GAC. We examined intratumoral IDO expression in retrospectively
      enrolled 357 patients with GAC undergoing gastrectomy at Zhongshan Hospital of
      Fudan University in 2008 by immunohistochemical staining. The Kaplan-Meier method
      and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the prognostic value of IDO
      expression and its association with clinical pathological factors. We generated a
      predictive nomogram by integrating IDO expression with the TNM staging system for
      overall survival of GAC patients. High expression of intratumoral IDO predicted a
      dismal outcome. Intratumoral IDO expression gave a further discrimination for the
      prognosis of GAC patients. By Cox multivariate analysis, IDO expression was
      defined as an independent prognosticator. The generated nomogram performed well
      in predicting the 3- and 5-year overall survival of GAC patients. Conclusively,
      IDO is a potential prognostic biomarker for overall survival of patients with GAC
      after gastrectomy. 

PMID- 26887338
TI  - Investigation of allosteric modulation mechanism of metabotropic glutamate
      receptor 1 by molecular dynamics simulations, free energy and weak interaction
      analysis.
AB  - Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1), which belongs to class C G protein
      coupled receptors (GPCRs), can be coupled with G protein to transfer
      extracellular signal by dimerization and allosteric regulation. Unraveling the
      dimer packing and allosteric mechanism can be of great help for understanding
      specific regulatory mechanism and designing more potential negative allosteric
      modulator (NAM). Here, we report molecular dynamics simulation studies of the
      modulation mechanism of FITM on the wild type, T815M and Y805A mutants of mGlu1
      through weak interaction analysis and free energy calculation. The weak
      interaction analysis demonstrates that van der Waals (vdW) and hydrogen bonding
      play an important role on the dimer packing between six cholesterol molecules and
      mGlu1 as well as the interaction between allosteric sites T815, Y805 and FITM in
      wild type, T815M and Y805A mutants of mGlu1. Besides, the results of free energy
      calculations indicate that secondary binding pocket is mainly formed by the
      residues Thr748, Cys746, Lys811 and Ser735 except for FITM-bound pocket in
      crystal structure. Our results can not only reveal the dimer packing and
      allosteric regulation mechanism, but also can supply useful information for the
      design of potential NAM of mGlu1. 

PMID- 26887339
TI  - Relevance of Pre-Transplant alpha-fetoprotein Dynamics in Liver Transplantation
      for Hepatocellular Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The magnitude of pre-transplant a-fetoprotein (AFP) changes has been
      advocated to be a superior predictor of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) recurrence
      following liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to compare AFP
      dynamics and last pre-transplant AFP as risk factors for post-transplant HCC
      recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of 146 patients after liver
      transplantation for HCC were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: While last pre
      transplant AFP was a significant predictor of microvascular invasion (p=0.006)
      and poor tumor differentiation (p=0.020), AFP slope was associated only with
      microvascular invasion (p=0.029). Notably, last pre-transplant AFP (p<0.001), but
      not AFP slope (p=0.279), was an independent risk factor for recurrence. No
      significant effects of AFP slope were also found following division of patients
      into those with pre-transplant AFP <100 (p=0.260) and those with AFP >100
      (p=0.178) ng/mL. Moreover, prediction of recurrence based on last pre-transplant
      AFP was superior (p=0.018) to those based on AFP slope. Recurrence-free survival
      at 5 years was superior in patients with pre-transplant AFP persistently at
      (97.3%) or dropping to <100 ng/mL (100.0%) as compared to patients with AFP
      rising to (75.0%) or persistently at >100 ng/mL (38.4%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      The risk of post-transplant HCC recurrence is dependent on the last pre
      transplant AFP regardless of its previous dynamics.

PMID- 26887340
TI  - A Comparison of New Pharmacological Agents for the Treatment of Obesity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review and compare the phase 3 clinical trial evidence on the 4 new
      pharmacological agents approved for the management of overweight and obesity.
      DATA SOURCES: Searches were performed (from 1966 through January 2016) in
      PubMed/MEDLINE, Scientific Citation Index, and product package inserts to
      identify key phase 3 clinical trials that were used in the approval of each
      agent. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Phase 3 clinical trials that listed
      end points of >=5% and >=10% weight loss benchmarks from baseline as well as
      total percentage of weight loss by participants were selected for the review.
      DATA SYNTHESIS: No head-to-head trials have been identified between these agents
      at this point, which limits comparisons across agents. Phentermine/topiramate ER
      appeared to have the best overall average weight loss from baseline as well as
      highest percentages of patients achieving both >=5% and >=10% weight loss
      benchmarks, followed second by naltrexone/bupropion, and then liraglutide, with
      lorcaserin showing the lowest rates. Phentermine/topiramate ER completion rates
      were highest for both treatment and placebo groups, followed by liraglutide, with
      lorcaserin and naltrexone/bupropion showing similar completion rates, below that
      of the other 2 agents. Common side effects reported differed between agents,
      although the most common adverse events reported were gastrointestinal in nature,
      with liraglutide demonstrating the highest reported rates and lorcaserin
      demonstrating the lowest. CONCLUSION: These 4 new pharmacological agents
      represent new options for the clinician to utilize when trying to manage the
      problem of obesity. No clear first-line agent has emerged, so treatment decisions
      should be based on patient-specific factors.

PMID- 26887341
TI  - Antioxidant activity of a Lachnum YM226 melanin-iron complex and its influence on
      cytokine production in mice with iron deficiency anemia.
AB  - The present study aims to investigate the protective effects of an orally
      administered Lachnum YM226 melanin-iron complex (LM-Fe) against iron deficiency
      anemia (IDA) in mice. The IDA mouse model was established by feeding mice with
      iron-deficient food. Different doses of LM-Fe were given to the anaemic mice via
      intragastric administration, with FeCl3 and FeSO4 used as positive controls.
      After the iron supplement administration, it was observed that LM-Fe could
      significantly improve the decreased haemoglobin (Hb) level, and normalize the
      serum iron (SI) level, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and serum ferritin (SF)
      of the anaemic mice in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with LM-Fe
      significantly increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxidase
      dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in plasma to
      normal or better. Furthermore, the levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were obviously
      decreased in the LM-Fe supplemented groups compared with the model group, while
      the level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) was significantly increased. In conclusion, LM
      Fe was efficient at ameliorating the anemia symptoms, improving the activities of
      antioxidant enzymes and adjusting the immune dysfunction of anaemic mice. Thus,
      these results demonstrated that LM-Fe might be exploited as an efficient and
      multifunctional iron supplement. 

PMID- 26887342
TI  - Heteroscedastic transformation cure regression models.
AB  - Cure models have been applied to analyze clinical trials with cures and age-at
      onset studies with nonsusceptibility. Lu and Ying (On semiparametric
      transformation cure model. Biometrika 2004; 91:331?-343. DOI:
      10.1093/biomet/91.2.331) developed a general class of semiparametric
      transformation cure models, which assumes that the failure times of uncured
      subjects, after an unknown monotone transformation, follow a regression model
      with homoscedastic residuals. However, it cannot deal with frequently encountered
      heteroscedasticity, which may result from dispersed ranges of failure time span
      among uncured subjects' strata. To tackle the phenomenon, this article presents
      semiparametric heteroscedastic transformation cure models. The cure status and
      the failure time of an uncured subject are fitted by a logistic regression model
      and a heteroscedastic transformation model, respectively. Unlike the approach of
      Lu and Ying, we derive score equations from the full likelihood for estimating
      the regression parameters in the proposed model. The similar martingale
      difference function to their proposal is used to estimate the infinite
      dimensional transformation function. Our proposed estimating approach is
      intuitively applicable and can be conveniently extended to other complicated
      models when the maximization of the likelihood may be too tedious to be
      implemented. We conduct simulation studies to validate large-sample properties of
      the proposed estimators and to compare with the approach of Lu and Ying via the
      relative efficiency. The estimating method and the two relevant goodness-of-fit
      graphical procedures are illustrated by using breast cancer data and melanoma
      data. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887343
TI  - Ceratonia siliqua L. hydroethanolic extract obtained by ultrasonication:
      antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds profile and effects in yogurts
      functionalized with their free and microencapsulated forms.
AB  - Bioactive extracts were obtained from powdered carob pulp through an ultrasound
      extraction process and then evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity. Ten
      minutes of ultrasonication at 375 Hz were the optimal conditions leading to an
      extract with the highest antioxidant effects. After its chemical
      characterization, which revealed the preponderance of gallotannins, the extract
      (free and microencapsulated) was incorporated in yogurts. The microspheres were
      prepared using an extract/sodium alginate ratio of 100/400 (mg mg(-1)) selected
      after testing different ratios. The yogurts with the free extract exhibited
      higher antioxidant activity than the samples added with the encapsulated
      extracts, showing the preserving role of alginate as a coating material. None of
      the forms significantly altered the yogurt's nutritional value. This study
      confirmed the efficiency of microencapsulation to stabilize functional
      ingredients in food matrices maintaining almost the structural integrity of
      polyphenols extracted from carob pulp and furthermore improving the antioxidant
      potency of the final product. 

PMID- 26887345
TI  - Occludin-Knockout Human Hepatic Huh7.5.1-8-Derived Cells Are Completely Resistant
      to Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
AB  - It is well known that occludin (OCLN) is involved in hepatitis C virus (HCV)
      entry into hepatocytes, but there has been no conclusive evidence that OCLN is
      essential for HCV infection. In this study, we first established an OCLN-knockout
      cell line derived from human hepatic Huh7.5.1-8 cells using the clustered
      regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein
      9 system, in which two independent targeting plasmids expressing single-guide
      RNAs were used. One established cell clone, named OKH-4, had the OCLN gene
      truncated in the N-terminal region, and a complete defect of the OCLN protein was
      shown using immunoblot analysis. Infection of OKH-4 cells with various genotypes
      of HCV was abolished, and exogenous expression of the OCLN protein in OKH-4 cells
      completely reversed permissiveness to HCV infection. In addition, using a co
      culture system of HCV-infected Huh7.5.1-8 cells with OKH-4 cells, we showed that
      OCLN is also critical for cell-to-cell HCV transmission. Thus, we concluded that
      OCLN is essential for HCV infection of human hepatic cells. Further experiments
      using HCV genomic RNA-transfected OKH-4 cells or HCV subgenomic replicon
      harboring OKH-4 cells suggested that OCLN is mainly involved in the entry step of
      the HCV life cycle. It was also demonstrated that the second extracellular loop
      of OCLN, especially the two cysteine residues, is critical for HCV infection of
      hepatic cells. OKH-4 cells may be a useful tool for understanding not only the
      entire mechanism of HCV entry, but also the biological functions of OCLN. 

PMID- 26887344
TI  - Proteomic Characterization Reveals That MMP-3 Correlates With Bronchiolitis
      Obliterans Syndrome Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell and Lung
      Transplantation.
AB  - Improved diagnostic methods are needed for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome
      (BOS), a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
      (HCT) and lung transplantation. For protein candidate discovery, we compared
      plasma pools from HCT transplantation recipients with BOS at onset (n = 12),
      pulmonary infection (n = 16), chronic graft-versus-host disease without pulmonary
      involvement (n = 15) and no chronic complications after HCT (n = 15). Pools were
      labeled with different tags (isobaric tags for relative and absolute
      quantification), and two software tools identified differentially expressed
      proteins (>=1.5-fold change). Candidate proteins were further selected using a
      six-step computational biology approach. The diagnostic value of the lead
      candidate, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), was evaluated by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay in plasma of a verification cohort (n = 112) with and without
      BOS following HCT (n = 76) or lung transplantation (n = 36). MMP3 plasma
      concentrations differed significantly between patients with and without BOS (area
      under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.77). Consequently, MMP3
      represents a potential noninvasive blood test for diagnosis of BOS.

PMID- 26887346
TI  - How does curcumin work with poor bioavailability? Clues from experimental and
      theoretical studies.
AB  - Curcumin is a natural product with multiple biological activities and numerous
      potential therapeutic applications. However, its poor systemic bioavailability
      fails to explain the potent pharmacological effects and hinders its clinical
      application. Using experimental and theoretical approaches, we compared curcumin
      and its degradation products for its biological activities against Alzheimer's
      disease (AD), including the superoxide anion radical (O2(.-))-scavenging
      activity, Abeta fibrils (fAbeta) formation-inhibiting activity, and enzymatic
      inhibition activity. We showed that compared to the parent compound curcumin, the
      degradation products mixture possessed higher O2(.-)-scavenging activity and
      stronger inhibition against fAbeta formation. The docking simulations revealed
      that the bioactive degradation products should make important contribution to the
      experimentally observed enzymatic inhibition activities of curcumin. Given that
      curcumin is readily degraded under physiological condition, our findings strongly
      suggested that the degradation products should make important contribution to the
      diverse biological activities of curcumin. Our novel findings not only provide
      novel insights into the complex pharmacology of curcumin due to its poor
      bioavailability, but also open new avenues for developing therapeutic
      applications of this natural product. 

PMID- 26887347
TI  - Human Salivary Gland Stem Cells Functionally Restore Radiation Damaged Salivary
      Glands.
AB  - Adult stem cells are often touted as therapeutic agents in the regenerative
      medicine field, however data detailing both the engraftment and functional
      capabilities of solid tissue derived human adult epithelial stem cells is scarce.
      Here we show the isolation of adult human salivary gland (SG) stem/progenitor
      cells and demonstrate at the single cell level in vitro self-renewal and
      differentiation into multilineage organoids. We also show in vivo functionality,
      long-term engraftment, and functional restoration in a xenotransplantation model.
      Indeed, transplanted human salisphere-derived cells restored saliva production
      and greatly improved the regenerative potential of irradiated SGs. Further
      selection for c-Kit expression enriched for cells with enhanced regenerative
      potencies. Interestingly, interaction of transplanted cells with the recipient SG
      may also be involved in functional recovery. Thus, we show for the first time
      that salispheres cultured from human SGs contain stem/progenitor cells capable of
      self-renewal and differentiation and rescue of saliva production. Our study
      underpins the therapeutic promise of salisphere cell therapy for the treatment of
      xerostomia.

PMID- 26887348
TI  - The impact of KRAS mutations on prognosis in surgically resected colorectal
      cancer patients with liver and lung metastases: a retrospective analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: KRAS mutations are common in colorectal cancer (CRC). The role of
      KRAS mutation status as a prognostic factor remains controversial, and most large
      population-based cohorts usually consist of patients with non-metastatic CRC. We
      evaluated the impact of KRAS mutations on the time to recurrence (TTR) and
      overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic CRC who underwent curative
      surgery with perioperative chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients who underwent curative
      resection for primary and synchronous metastases were retrospectively collected
      in a single institution during a 6 year period between January 2008 and June
      2014. Patients with positive surgical margins, those with known BRAF mutation, or
      those with an unknown KRAS mutation status were excluded, and a total of 82 cases
      were identified. The pathological and clinical features were evaluated. Patients'
      outcome with KRAS mutation status for TTR and OS were investigated by univariate
      and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: KRAS mutations were identified in 37.8% of
      the patients and not associated with TTR or OS between KRAS wild type and KRAS
      mutation cohorts (log-rank p = 0.425 for TTR; log-rank p = 0.137 for OS). When
      patients were further subdivided into three groups according to mutation subtype
      (wild-type vs. KRAS codon 12 mutation vs. KRAS codon 13 mutation) or amino acid
      missense mutation type (G > A vs. G > T vs. G > C), there were no significant
      differences in TTR or OS. Mutational frequencies were significantly higher in
      patients with lung metastases compared with those with liver and ovary/bladder
      metastases (p = 0.039), however, KRAS mutation status was not associated with an
      increased risk of relapsed in the lung. CONCLUSIONS: KRAS mutation was not
      associated with TTR or OS in patients with metastatic CRC who underwent curative
      surgery with perioperative chemotherapy.

PMID- 26887349
TI  - Pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis: a national record linkage study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis. DESIGN: A
      national population based cohort study using record linkage. SETTING: Scotland.
      PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 14 655 women followed up over a 30-year period (1981
      2010). METHODS: In a nationwide Scottish study, we compared pregnancy outcomes in
      5375 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis with outcomes in 8710 women
      without endometriosis who were pregnant during the same time period. Data were
      analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression after adjusting
      for confounding factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures evaluated
      included miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and other pregnancy
      complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, antepartum and
      postpartum haemorrhage, operative delivery and preterm births. The outcomes were
      presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
      RESULTS: On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for age, parity, socio
      economic status and year of delivery, women with endometriosis when compared to
      women without endometriosis, had a significantly higher risk of early pregnancy
      complications with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.76 (1.44, 2.15) and 2.70 (1.09,
      6.72) for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, respectively. A previous diagnosis
      of endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of [adjusted
      OR (95% CI)] placenta praevia [2.24 (1.52, 3.31)], unexplained antepartum
      haemorrhage [1.67 (1.39, 2.00)], postpartum haemorrhage [1.30 (1.61, 1.46)] and
      preterm births [1.26 (1.07, 1.49)] in pregnancies progressing beyond 24 weeks.
      CONCLUSION: Endometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early
      pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT:
      Endometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and
      later pregnancy complications.

PMID- 26887350
TI  - Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus Adversely Affect Outcomes after Cardiac Surgery in
      Children's Hospitals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess how obesity or diabetes mellitus impacts outcomes in
      patients undergoing cardiac surgery in pediatric hospitals. DESIGN: A multi
      institutional, matched case-control study of the Pediatric Health Information
      System database was performed. SETTING: Tertiary children's hospitals in the
      United States. PATIENTS: All cardiac surgical cases in patients with obesity or
      diabetes mellitus between 2004 and 2012 were included. Cases were matched to
      controls by age, sex, race, and Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery
      score. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, surgical complications, and hospital
      utilization. Differences in outcome measures were assessed by chi-square and Mann
      Whitney tests. P value < .05 was significant. RESULTS: Six hundred twenty-nine
      cardiac surgical cases (median age 17 years [IQR 12-32]) with obesity or diabetes
      mellitus were matched to 629 controls. Cases demonstrated lower median household
      income than those in the control group ($38,031 [IQR $31,900-$48,844] vs.
      ($41,896 [IQR $32,854-$56,020], P < .001). Mortality was similar between cases
      and controls (22% vs. 1.9%, P =.692). Surgical complications occurred similarly
      between cases and controls (13.5% vs. 12.4%, P = .535). Cases had longer
      intensive care unit length of stay than controls (3 vs. 2 days, P = .001),
      resulting in longer overall hospital length of stay (5 vs. 4 days, P < .001).
      Cases also had a higher odds of undergoing mechanical ventilation for >96 hours
      (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7) and higher rate of total parenteral nutrition use (7.2%
      vs. 4.5%, P = .040). Median hospital charges were higher in cases (clinical:
      $6,696 vs. $5,872; laboratory: $14,168 vs. $12,251; pharmacy: $12,971 vs.
      $10,426; imaging: $6,259 vs. $5,660; P <= .030 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The
      presence of obesity or diabetes mellitus was associated with increased
      postoperative morbidity, hospital utilization, and cost in patients undergoing
      cardiac surgery in pediatric hospitals.

PMID- 26887351
TI  - Recreational drug use and related social factors among HIV-positive men in Japan.
AB  - This study aims to determine the relationship between recreational drug use in
      HIV-positive males in the past year and socio-economic factors and/or social
      support networks in Japan. A national online survey in a cross-sectional study
      was conducted by HIV Futures Japan project from July 2013 to February 2014. Of
      the 1095 HIV-positive individuals who responded, 913 responses were determined to
      be valid; responses from the 875 males were analysed. A total of 282 participants
      used addictive drugs (32.2%) in past year. New psychoactive substances were used
      by 121 participants (13.8%), methamphetamine or amphetamine by 47 (5.4%), air
      dusters/sprays/gas by 31 (3.5%), 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5MeO-DIPT)
      by 16 (1.8%) and cannabis (1.0%) by 9. Multiple logistic regression analysis was
      performed with the use of alkyl nitrites, addictive drugs, air dusters and
      thinners, which are low illegality, as dependent variables. We found that the
      odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for use among participants with full-time
      and temp/contracted/part-time employees compared to management/administration
      professions were 2.59 (0.99-6.77) and 2.61 (0.91-7.51). Also, a correlation was
      observed between alkyl nitrites and new psychoactive substances and usage rates
      in people engaged in few HIV-positive networks. It is necessary to develop
      targeted policies for drug use prevention and user support among HIV-positive men
      and to support and provide care for drug users who are isolated or have a narrow
      HIV/AIDS support network.

PMID- 26887352
TI  - Backdating of events in electronic primary health care data: should one censor at
      the date of last data collection.
AB  - PURPOSE: Studies using primary care databases often censor follow-up at the date
      data are last collected from clinical computer systems (last collection date
      (LCD)). We explored whether this results in the selective exclusion of events
      entered in the electronic health records after their date of occurrence, that is,
      backdated events. METHODS: We used data from The Health Improvement Network
      (THIN). Using two versions of the database, we identified events that were
      entered into a later (THIN14) but not an earlier version of the database (THIN13)
      and investigated how the number of entries changed as a function of time since
      LCD. Times between events and the dates they were recorded were plotted as a
      function of time since the LCD in an effort to determine appropriate points at
      which to censor follow-up. RESULTS: There were 356 million eligible events in
      THIN14 and 355 million eligible events in THIN13. When comparing the two data
      sets, the proportion of missing events in THIN13 was highest in the month prior
      to the LCD (9.6%), decreasing to 5.2% at 6 months and 3.4% at 12 months. The
      proportion of missing events was largest for events typically diagnosed in
      secondary care such as neoplasms (28% in the month prior to LCD) and negligible
      for events typically diagnosed in primary care such as respiratory events (2% in
      the month prior to LCD). CONCLUSIONS: Studies using primary care databases,
      particularly those investigating events typically diagnosed outside primary care,
      should censor follow-up prior to the LCD to avoid underestimation of event rates.

PMID- 26887353
TI  - Dynamics and plasticity of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition induced by
      miR-200 family inhibition.
AB  - Whereas miR-200 family is known to be involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT), a crucial biological process observed in normal and
      pathological contexts, it has been largely unclear how far the functional levels
      of these tiny RNAs alone can propagate the molecular events to accomplish this
      process within several days. By developing a potent inhibitor of miR-200 family
      members (TuD-141/200c), the expression of which is strictly regulatable by the
      Tet (tetracycline)-On system, we found using a human colorectal cell line,
      HCT116, that several direct gene target mRNAs (Zeb1/Zeb2, ESRP1, FN1and FHOD1) of
      miR-200 family were elevated with distinct kinetics. Prompt induction of the
      transcriptional suppressors, Zeb1/Zeb2 in turn reduced the expression levels of
      miR-200c/-141 locus, EpCAM, ESRP1 and E-Cad. The loss of ESRP1 subsequently
      switched the splicing isoforms of CD44 and p120 catenin mRNAs to mesenchymal
      type. Importantly, within 9 days after the release from the inhibition of miR-200
      family, all of the expression changes in the 14 genes observed in this study
      returned to their original levels in the epithelial cells. This suggests that the
      inherent epithelial plasticity is supported by a weak retention of key regulatory
      gene expression in either the epithelial or mesenchymal states through epigenetic
      regulation. 

PMID- 26887354
TI  - Effects of submaximal and supramaximal interval training on determinants of
      endurance performance in endurance athletes.
AB  - We compared the effects of submaximal and supramaximal cycling interval training
      on determinants of exercise performance in moderately endurance-trained men.
      Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max ), peak power output (Ppeak ), and peak and
      mean anaerobic power were measured before and after 6 weeks (3 sessions/week) of
      submaximal (85% maximal aerobic power [MP], HIIT85 , n = 8) or supramaximal (115%
      MP, HIIT115 , n = 9) interval training to exhaustion in moderately endurance
      trained men. High-intensity training volume was 47% lower in HIIT115 vs HIIT85
      (304 +/- 77 vs 571 +/- 200 min; P < 0.01). Exercise training was generally
      associated with increased VO2max (HIIT85 : +3.3 +/- 3.1 mL/kg/min; HIIT115 : +3.3
      +/- 3.6 ml/kg/min; Time effect P = 0.002; Group effect: P = 0.95), Ppeak (HIIT85
      : +18 +/- 9 W; HIIT115 : +16 +/- 27 W; Time effect P = 0.045; Group effect: P =
      0.49), and mean anaerobic power (HIIT85 : +0.42 +/- 0.69 W/kg; HIIT115 : +0.55 +/
      0.65 W/kg; Time effect P = 0.01; Group effect: P = 0.18). Six weeks of
      submaximal and supramaximal interval training performed to exhaustion seems to
      equally improve VO2max and anaerobic power in endurance-trained men, despite half
      the accumulated time spent at the target intensity.

PMID- 26887356
TI  - NO2-induced performance enhancement of PEDOT:PSS/Si hybrid solar cells with a
      high efficiency of 13.44.
AB  - Using poly (3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT: PSS) as
      an effective hole collecting layer, high-efficiency PEDOT: PSS/n-Si hybrid solar
      cells are fabricated and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.13% is
      obtained. After being treated by HNO3 vapor, the PCE value of PEDOT: PSS/n-Si
      hybrid solar cells enhances from 12.13% to 13.44%. NO2 gas molecules in HNO3
      vapor play a significant doping role in raising the PCE of solar cells. As the
      doping level raises, NO2 would get more electrons from PEDOT and lead to the
      increase of hole carriers in the films, which improves the polymer film's
      conductivity and PCE of solar cells.

PMID- 26887355
TI  - Carotid inter-adventitial diameter is more strongly related to plaque score than
      lumen diameter: An automated tool for stroke analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the strength of correlation between automatically measured
      carotid lumen diameter (LD) and interadventitial diameter (IAD) with plaque score
      (PS). METHODS: Retrospective study on a database of 404 common carotid artery B
      mode sonographic images from 202 diabetic patients. LD and IAD were computed
      automatically using an advanced computerized edge detection method and compared
      with two distinct manual measurements. PS was computed by adding the maximal
      thickness in millimeters of plaques in segments taken from the internal carotid
      artery, bulb, and common carotid artery on both sides. RESULTS: The coefficient
      of correlation was 0.19 (p < 0.007) between LD and PS, and 0.25 (p < 0.0006)
      between IAD and PS. After excluding 10 outliers, coefficient of correlation was
      0.25 (p < 0.0001) between LD and PS, and 0.38 (p < 0.0001) between IAD and PS.
      The precision of merit of automated versus the two manual measurements was 96.6%
      and 97.2% for LD, and 97.7% and 98.1%, for IAD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      automated measurement system gave satisfying results in comparison with manual
      measurements. Carotid IAD was more strongly correlated to PS than carotid LD in
      this population sample of Japanese diabetic patients.

PMID- 26887357
TI  - Hydrate-based heavy metal separation from aqueous solution.
AB  - A novel hydrate-based method is proposed for separating heavy metal ions from
      aqueous solution. We report the first batch of experiments and removal
      characteristics in this paper, the effectiveness and feasibility of which are
      verified by Raman spectroscopy analysis and cross-experiment. 88.01-90.82% of
      removal efficiencies for Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), and Zn(2+) were obtained.
      Further study showed that higher R141b-effluent volume ratio contributed to
      higher enrichment factor and yield of dissociated water, while lower R141b
      effluent volume ratio resulted in higher removal efficiency. This study provides
      insights into low-energy, intensive treatment of wastewater.

PMID- 26887358
TI  - Mechanism of Inhibition of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide-Induced Membrane
      Damage by a Small Organic Fluorogen.
AB  - Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is believed to be responsible for the
      death of insulin-producing beta-cells. However, the mechanism of membrane damage
      at the molecular level has not been fully elucidated. In this article, we employ
      coarse- grained dissipative particle dynamics simulations to study the
      interactions between a lipid bilayer membrane composed of 70% zwitterionic lipids
      and 30% anionic lipids and hIAPPs with alpha-helical structures. We demonstrated
      that the key factor controlling pore formation is the combination of peptide
      charge-induced electroporation and peptide hydrophobicity-induced lipid
      disordering and membrane thinning. According to these mechanisms, we suggest that
      a water-miscible tetraphenylethene BSPOTPE is a potent inhibitor to rescue hIAPP
      induced cytotoxicity. Our simulations predict that BSPOTPE molecules can bind
      directly to the helical regions of hIAPP and form oligomers with separated
      hydrophobic cores and hydrophilic shells. The micelle-like hIAPP-BSPOTPE clusters
      tend to be retained in the water/membrane interface and aggregate therein rather
      than penetrate into the membrane. Electrostatic attraction between BSPOTPE and
      hIAPP also reduces the extent of hIAPP binding to the anionic lipid bilayer.
      These two modes work together and efficiently prevent membrane poration. 

PMID- 26887360
TI  - Clues from oculomotor phenotype to genotype in CACNA1A channelopathies.

PMID- 26887359
TI  - Longitudinal relaxation time editing for acetylcarnitine detection with 1 H-MRS.
AB  - PURPOSE: Acetylcarnitine formation is suggested to be crucial in sustaining
      metabolic flexibility and glucose homeostasis. Recently, we introduced a method
      to detect acetylcarnitine in vivo with long TE 1 H-MRS. Differences in T1
      relaxation time between lipids and acetylcarnitine can be exploited for
      additional lipid suppression in subjects with high myocellular lipid levels.
      METHODS: Acquisition of spectra with an inversion recovery sequence was
      alternated with standard signal acquisition to suppress short T1 metabolite
      signals. A proof of principle experiment was conducted in a lean subject and the
      new approach was subsequently tested in four overweight/obese subjects. RESULTS:
      Using the new T1 editing approach, lipid signals in spectra of skeletal muscle
      can be (additionally) suppressed by a factor of 10 using a TI of 900 ms.
      Combination of the long TE protocol with the T1 editing resulted in a well
      resolved acetylcarnitine peak in the obese subjects. CONCLUSION: The T1 editing
      approach suppresses short T1 metabolites and offers a new contrast in 1 H-MRS.
      The approach should be used in combination with a long TE in subjects with high
      lipid contamination for accurate quantification of the acetylcarnitine
      concentration. Magn Reson Med 77:505-510, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society
      for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26887362
TI  - [Targeting primary and secondary prevention of stroke].

PMID- 26887361
TI  - Transcriptome analysis reveals a diverse family of kinesins essential for
      spermatogenesis in the fern Marsilea.
AB  - The male gametophyte of the semi-aquatic fern, Marsilea vestita, produces
      multiciliated spermatozoids in a rapid developmental sequence that is controlled
      post-transcriptionally when dry microspores are placed in water. Development can
      be divided into two phases, mitosis and differentiation. During the mitotic
      phase, a series of nine successive division cycles produce 7 sterile cells and 32
      spermatids in 4.5-5 h. During the next 5-6 h, each spermatid differentiates into
      a corkscrew-shaped motile spermatozoid with ~140 cilia. In order to study the
      mechanisms that regulate spermatogenesis, we used RNAseq to generate a reference
      transcriptome that allowed us to assess abundance of transcripts at different
      stages of development. Here, we characterize transcripts present in the kinesin
      motor family. Over 120 kinesin-like sequences were identified in our
      transcriptome that represent 56 unique kinesin transcripts. Members of the
      kinesin-2, -4, -5, -7, -8, -9, -12, -13, and -14 families, in addition to several
      plant specific and 'orphan' kinesins are present. Most (91%) of these kinesin
      transcripts change in abundance throughout gametophyte development, with 52% of
      kinesin mRNAs enriched during the mitotic phase and 39% enriched during
      differentiation. Functional analyses of six kinesins with different patterns of
      transcript abundance show that the temporal regulation of these transcripts
      during gametogenesis correlates directly with kinesin protein function.

PMID- 26887363
TI  - [The prevalence and status of pre-hospital treatments of risk factors among
      patients with stroke in China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution and treatment of risk factors in
      hospitalized stroke patients before stroke onset. METHOD: This was a multi-center
      cross-sectional study. Patients with acute stroke were collected from 41
      hospitals in 25 provinces in China from January to May in 2011. RESULTS: A total
      of 20 570 stoke patients (13 062 men, 7 508 women) aged (63.0 +/- 12.9) years
      were enrolled and analyzed in this study. Among them, 15 329 were first-onset
      stroke, and 17 052 were ischemic stroke. (1) Of all the subjects, 75.5% were with
      hypertension, 53.5% with elevated LDL-C, 37.3% with diabetes, and 6.5% with
      atrial fibrillation. 75.2% of them had two or more above risk factors and 43.0%
      had three or more risk factors. (2) According to the current definition, 53.3% of
      the first-onset stroke patients were classified as at high risk and 25.9% were
      classified as at low risk. Noticeably, 42.1% of the patients below 65 years old
      were at low risk by the same definition. (3) The awareness rate of hypertension
      was 70.3% in the first-onset stroke patients. However, only 20.1% of the patients
      reached the target of blood pressure control in the treatment. Although the
      awareness rate of hypertension and diabetes among recurrent stroke patients were
      relatively high, the treatment and control rates of these risk factors were still
      low. Compared with the other two risk factors, the awareness, treatment and
      control rates of elevated LDL-C were much lower. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the
      stroke patients are complicated with multiple risk factors before stroke onset,
      suggesting a great needs for improving the primary and secondary prevention of
      stroke in China. In addition, the definition for risk classification of stroke
      may need to be modified for subjects under 65 years old.

PMID- 26887364
TI  - [The clinical analysis of plakophilin-2 gene mutation in patients with
      arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to screen genetic variations in
      plakophilin-2 (PKP2) gene in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular
      cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) and investigate the differences in clinical
      features between mutation and no-mutation groups. METHODS: Thirty unrelated
      Chinese patients clinically diagnosed with ARVC/D and 50 healthy controls were
      included. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples. PCR and direct
      sequencing were used to detect variations in PKP2 gene. RESULTS: Eight PKP2
      mutant variants were identified in 10 ARVC/D patients (8 men, 2 women). Among the
      eight mutation, three (c.2194C>T, c. 1170+ 1G>A and c. 810_813delGGTC) were novel
      mutation. Clinical features of the PKP2 mutation group were similar to those of
      the non-mutation group. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of PKP2 mutation is 33.3% (10/30)
      in ARVC/D patients. The penetrance of PKP2 mutation for ARVC/D tends to be higher
      in man patients. No significant differences could be detected in phenotype
      characteristics between patients with and without PKP2 mutation.

PMID- 26887365
TI  - [Gender difference in the prognostic value of renal dysfunction in patients with
      ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the gender difference in the prognostic value of admission
      renal dysfunction (RD) for patients with acute ST-segment elevation (STEMI).
      METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Four hundred and fifty
      STEMI patients within 24 h of onset and discharged successfully from 19 hospitals
      in Beijing were included in the study. All the patients were followed up six
      years later.According to gender, patients were categorized into two groups.
      Clinical characteristics, reperfusion therapy conditions and outcomes were
      analyzed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the possible
      gender difference in the prognostic value of RD. RESULTS: Among all the subjects,
      342 were men and 108 were women with age of (61.3+/-12.5) years. Compared to man
      patients, women were older (P<0.001), and more subjects were with hypertension
      (67.6% vs 49.7 %, P=0.005), stroke (15.7% vs 8.8%, P=0.039) and RD (17.9% vs
      6.7%, P=0.001). After adjustment of age, past medical history, and acute
      reperfusion therapy. Cox regression analysis showed that RD was associated with
      the risk of all-cause mortality (HR 3.771, 95%CI 1.382-10.294, P=0.010) and major
      adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, HR 2.292, 95%CI: 1.091-4.817, P=0.029) in
      male patients.However, the associations between RD and all-cause mortality (HR
      0.889, 95%CI 0.241-3.281, P=0.859), and MACE (HR 1.508, 95%CI 0.616-3.693,
      P=0.368) were disappeared in women.The interaction test showed that there existed
      significant interactions between gender and RD in all-cause mortality (HR 2.709,
      95%CI 1.150-6.384, P=0.023) and MACE (HR 1.977, 95%CI 1.009-3.876, P=0.023).
      CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable gender difference in the prognostic value of
      RD for the outcomes in patients with STEMI. RD seemed to be an important
      prognostic maker in male patients.

PMID- 26887366
TI  - [Minocycline quadruple versus tailored therapy in retreatment of Helicobacter
      pylori infection].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare eradication rates, safety and compliance of minocycline
      quadruple and tailored therapies in patients retreated for Helicobacter pylori
      (H.pylori) infection. METHODS: Between January 2014 and June 2014, 135 patients
      with dyspepsia (18-70 years) and H. pylori infection after at least one previous
      eradication treatment at a tertiary hospital were randomly assigned to a 10-day
      treatment with minocycline quadruple therapy versus tailored triple regimen of
      PPI, amoxicillin and a third antibiotic. In the group of tailored therapy,
      medications were adjusted based on clarithromycin sensitivity and cytochrome P450
      isoenzyme 2C19 genotype. Eradication status was assessed 4-12 weeks after
      treatment. RESULTS: Although H. pylori eradication rates were higher in the
      minocycline therapy group than that in the tailored therapy group in intention-to
      treat [84.1% (95%CI 75.0%-93.2%) vs 75.8%(95%CI 65.1%-86.5%), P=0.245] and per
      protocol [88.3% (95%CI 80.3%-96.3%) vs 79.7%(95%CI 69.7%-89.7%), P=0.197]
      analyses, the differences between the two groups were not statistically
      significant.The incidence of adverse effects and compliance between the two
      groups were also comparable. CONCLUSIONS: The tailored therapy in this study had
      a poor eradication efficacy in the retreated patients with H. pylori
      infection.Minocycline quadruple therapy achieved a relatively satisfactory
      eradication efficacy and may be an alternative choice for the retreatment of H.
      pylori infection. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry,
      ChiCTR-TRC-13003975.

PMID- 26887367
TI  - [A multicenter retrospective etiological analysis of 601 patients with
      hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and etiology of hemophagocytic
      lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in different age groups. METHODS: Clinical data of
      patients with HLH were retrospectively collected from June 2005 to March 2014 in
      49 hospitals in China. These patients were divided into child, youth, middle-aged
      and elderly groups according to the age of onset; meanwhile divided into primary
      HLH group, infection-associated HLH group, tumor-associated HLH group, rheumatic
      disease-associated HLH group according to the etiology. Prevalence rates, gender
      and underlying diseases of each group were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A
      total of 601 patients were included in the study, age ranging from 1 month to 82
      years. The median age of onset was 27 years and 26 years respectively in
      males(316 cases) and females (285 cases) without statistical significance
      (P=0.622). There were 171 in child group (28.5%); 262 in youth group(43.6%); 104
      in middle-aged group(17.3%); 64 in elderly group(10.6%). The most common causes
      were infections in child group, malignancies and infections in youth group,
      malignancies in middle-aged group as well as elderly group. There were 48
      patients in primary HLH group(8.0%), 197 in infection-associated HLH
      group(32.78%), 208 in tumor-associated HLH group(34.61%), 56 in rheumatic disease
      associated HLH group(9.32%). Patients with primary HLH were significantly younger
      than those with secondary HLH (P<0.001), however the tumor-associated HLH group
      was the eldest. Primary HLH, infection-associated HLH and tumor-associated HLH
      had more male patients but without statistical significance (P=0.196), while
      rheumatic disease-associated HLH was mostly female patients (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: HLH is not a disease peculiar to children, instead, it may occur in
      all ages. There are a variety of etiology in different age groups, and a possible
      link between sex and HLH development. In clinical practice, due attention should
      be paid to the patients with suspected HLH. Positive relevant inspections may aid
      in the final diagnosis.

PMID- 26887369
TI  - [A retrospective study of the impact of diabetes mellitus on survival in patients
      with lung cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on survival in
      patients with lung cancer. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 1 096
      patients died from lung cancer collected from clinical records in Chinese PLA
      General Hospital. Survival time of lung cancer with and without DM was compared
      using Log-rank analysis and Cox regression model. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty
      one patients (16.5%) had DM. The median survival time of the lung cancer patients
      with DM was 9 months, whereas, the median survival time of the patients without
      DM was 8 months. Log-rank analysis showed that this difference was significant
      (P<0.05). Moreover, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate in lung cancer patients
      with and without DM were 43% vs 35%, 27% vs 17%, and 16% vs 10%, respectively.
      After adjusting for age, gender, histology, stage of lung cancer and treatment,
      Cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratio for survival in lung cancer
      patients with DM was 0.74 (95%CI 0.61-0.89, P<0.05) compared with those without
      DM. In non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients, the hazard ratio for survival
      in lung cancer patients with DM was 0.69 (95%CI 0.56-0.85, P<0.05). However, this
      association disappeared in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. In advanced
      lung cancer patients (stage III-IV), diabetes was also a significant factor for
      survival (HR=0.74, 95%CI 0.61-0.91, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced
      NSCLC with DM have longer survival time compared with those without DM.

PMID- 26887368
TI  - [The clinical analysis of orthotopic liver transplantation for primary biliary
      cirrhosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcome and complications of orthotopic liver
      transplantation (OLT) for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC). METHODS:
      Clinical data of 25 patients with PBC who underwent OLT were analyzed
      retrospectively. The postoperative cumulative survival rate of the patients was
      calculated. The postoperative recurrence of PBC, de novo diseases and other
      complications were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were recruited
      including 22 females and 3 males. The average age was 49.1 years (range from 40
      to 64 years). The score of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) was 21.80+/
      5.49, and the Mayo score 8.01+/-1.38. Four patients died after liver
      transplantation. The 1-year, 2-year and 7-year patient cumulative survival rates
      were 92.0%, 87.8% and 75.3%, respectively. Eight cases (32.0%) developed
      recurrent PBC based on histological evidence. The median time to recurrence was
      17.5 months. One of the eight patients with recurrent PBC was diagnosed with de
      novo auto-immune hepatitis (AIH) simultaneously, who eventually died. Acute
      rejection and de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection developed in thirteen
      (52.0%) patients and five (20.0%) patients, respectively. Two cases (8.0%) of de
      novo AIH were diagnosed, one of which was fatal. CONCLUSIONS: OLT is an effective
      procedure for end-stage PBC. Much attention needs to be paid to the post
      transplantation complications, including recurrence of primary disease, combined
      de novo HBV infection, de novo AIH, etc.

PMID- 26887370
TI  - [A comparative study of IgA nephropathy secondary to ankylosing spondylitis and
      primary IgA nephropathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) secondary to
      ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared with primary IgAN. METHODS: Clinical and
      pathologic data were collected in patients who were diagnosed with IgAN by renal
      biopsy and admitted to our hospital from Jan 2007 to Sep 2015. Patients with IgAN
      secondary to AS were recruited by the ratio 1:5 of patients with primary IgAN as
      control group at the same period. RESULTS: There were 15 patients in AS group,
      proportionately 75 patients in the control group. Compared with those in control
      group, patients in AS group had shorter disease course [(10.1+/-8.3) months vs
      (20.2+/-27.9) months] and lower proportions of renal insufficiency and
      hypertension[1/15 vs 52.0%(39/75); 1/15 vs 46.7%(35/75)]. In laboratory tests,
      quantitative 24 hour urinary protein and serum creatinine were significantly
      lower in group AS than those in the control group [(1.42+/-0.67)g vs (2.88+/
      1.35)g; (79.0+/-18.2)mmol/L vs (145.3+/-77.6) mmol/L]. The Lee grading of IgAN in
      two groups was comparable. The treatment in both groups was similar including
      steroids, immunosuppression agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and
      angiotensin receptor blockers . After follow-up from 1 to 6 years, 3/11 patients
      in AS group and 22.8%(13/57)(13/75) in control group developed deterioration of
      renal function. CONCLUSION: Patients with IgAN secondary to AS have shorter
      disease course and milder condition compared with patients with primary IgAN.
      Clinical outcome of renal function in both groups is similar according to
      comparable treatment.

PMID- 26887371
TI  - [Pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:
      clinical characteristics and risk factors].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of pulmonary
      hypertension(PH) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and
      study the related risk factors. METHODS: Patients with stable COPD enrolled in
      this study, undergoing examinations including full pulmonary function tests
      (PFT), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), Exercise Oxyhemoglobin, Saint. George's
      respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) and transthoracic echocardiography. Pulmonary
      artery systolic pressure(sPAP) >=36 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) was defined as PH.
      RESULTS: A total of 251 patients were finally evaluable in this study. The
      frequency of PH was 55.4% (139/251) in patients with stable COPD. Significant
      differences were seen between patients with PH and without PH respectively in the
      following factors (mean P<0.05): proportion of age >= 60 years (69.8% vs 57.1%),
      forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) (% predicted) [(47.5+/-8.2)% vs
      (61.2+/-10.2)% and (49.8+/-7.9)% vs (66.4+/-11.3)%], sPAP [(41.9+/-9.1) mmHg vs
      (28.2+/-3.2) mmHg], exercise oxyhemoglobin desaturation [(-5.5+/-3.2)% vs (-2.2+/
      1.2)%], 6MWD [(316.0+/-55.2)m vs (390.0+/-75.2)m]. The following variables were
      negatively correlated with sPAP : 6MWD (r=-0.330, P=0.003), FEV(1)(% predicted)
      (r=-0.210, P=0.024 and r=-0.130, P=0.012, respectively). The following variables
      were positively correlated with sPAP: age (r= 0.560, P= 0.031), exercise
      oxyhemoglobin desaturation> 3% (r= 0.540, P= 0.001). Logistic regression test has
      showed that age >= 60 years, exercise oxygen desaturation>3%, FEV(1) (%
      predicted) <50%, 6MWD <350 m were risk factors for PH in COPD. CONCLUSION: The
      incidence of PH in COPD increases with age, yet the performance of lung function
      and the activity of endurance decrease in elder patients. Sixty years or older,
      exercise oxygen desaturation> 3%, FEV(1) (% predicted) <50%, 6MWD <350 m are risk
      factors of PH in COPD. Echocardiography or right heart catheterization when
      needed should be considered to confirm the diagnosis.

PMID- 26887372
TI  - Simulated Microgravity Promotes Cell Apoptosis Through Suppressing
      Uev1A/TICAM/TRAF/NF-kappaB-Regulated Anti-Apoptosis and p53/PCNA- and ATM/ATR
      Chk1/2-Controlled DNA-Damage Response Pathways.
AB  - Microgravity has been known to induce cell death. However, its underlying
      mechanism is less studied. In this study, BL6-10 melanoma cells were cultured in
      flasks under simulated microgravity (SMG). We examined cell apoptosis, and
      assessed expression of genes associated with apoptosis and genes regulating
      apoptosis in cells under SMG. We demonstrate that SMG induces cell morphological
      changes and microtubule alterations by confocal microscopy, and enhances
      apoptosis by flow cytometry, which was associated with up- and down-regulation of
      pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively. Moreover, up- and down
      regulation of pro-apoptotic (Caspases 3, 7, 8) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2 and
      Bnip3) molecules was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Western blot
      analysis also indicates that SMG causes inhibition of an apoptosis suppressor,
      pNF-kappaB-p65, which is complemented by the predominant localization of NF
      kappaB-p65 in the cytoplasm. SMG also reduces expression of molecules regulating
      the NF-kappaB pathway including Uev1A, TICAM, TRAF2, and TRAF6. Interestingly, 10
      DNA repair genes are down-regulated in cells exposed to SMG, among which down
      regulation of Parp, Ercc8, Rad23, Rad51, and Ku70 was confirmed by Western
      blotting analysis. In addition, we demonstrate a significant inhibition of
      molecules involved in the DNA-damage response, such as p53, PCNA, ATM/ATR, and
      Chk1/2. Taken together, our work reveals that SMG promotes the apoptotic response
      through a combined modulation of the Uev1A/TICAM/TRAF/NF-kappaB-regulated
      apoptosis and the p53/PCNA- and ATM/ATR-Chk1/2-controlled DNA-damage response
      pathways. Thus, our investigation provides novel information, which may help us
      to determine the cause of negative alterations in human physiology occurring at
      spaceflight environment. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2138-2148, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887373
TI  - Interobserver agreement of Neer and AO classifications for proximal humeral
      fractures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The classification of proximal humeral fractures remains challenging.
      The two main classification systems used, the Neer and the AO classification,
      have both been shown to have less than ideal interobserver agreement. Agreement
      in classification is required, however, to guide fracture management. METHOD:
      Data from the Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry were collected and
      the X-rays of 104 proximal humeral fractures were reviewed by three orthopaedic
      consultants. They classified the fractures according to the Neer and AO
      classifications, as well as their simplified versions. Interobserver agreement
      was then assessed using kappa statistics. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was
      better overall in the Neer classification, which was moderate (kappa = 0.40
      0.58), than the AO classification, which was fair to moderate (kappa = 0.31
      0.54). When simplified, the Neer and AO classification interobserver agreement
      remained similar. CONCLUSION: The classification of proximal humeral fractures
      with both the Neer and the AO systems remains difficult with minimal improvements
      seen when reducing the number of categories in each classification system. From
      these results, the Neer classification system would appear slightly more useful
      in clinical practice to guide treatment.

PMID- 26887374
TI  - Ramucirumab Clinical Development: an Emerging Role in Gastrointestinal Tumors.
AB  - Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B, LY3009806) is a fully human G1 monoclonal antibody that
      specifically targets vascular endotelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) with
      a substantially greater binding affinity than that of its natural ligands. Early
      clinical trials in patients with advanced solid tumors demonstrated that
      biologically relevant blood target concentrations are achievable with tolerable
      doses, and also showed some preliminary evidence of clinical activity. Several
      pivotal phase III trials have now been concluded and have led regulatory agencies
      to grant marketing authorization to ramucirumab for use as second line therapy in
      patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma
      (as single agent or in combination with paclitaxel), in patients with advanced
      colorectal carcinoma (CRC) (in combination with infusional fluorouracil and
      irinotecan (FOLFIRI regimen)) and in patients with advanced non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC) (in combination with docetaxel). In contrast, ramucirumab failed
      to significantly improve survival versus placebo as second line therapy in
      patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this review is
      to summarize the clinical development and emerging role of ramucirumab in
      gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, including relevant aspects of its mechanism of
      action, pharmacology, safety profile, and antitumor activity in gastric, HCC, and
      CRC carcinomas.

PMID- 26887375
TI  - PlanTE-MIR DB: a database for transposable element-related microRNAs in plant
      genomes.
AB  - Transposable elements (TEs) comprise a major fraction of many plant genomes and
      are known to drive their organization and evolution. Several studies show that
      these repetitive elements have a prominent role in shaping noncoding regions of
      the genome such as microRNA (miRNA) loci, which are components of post
      transcriptional regulation mechanisms. Although some studies have reported
      initial formation of miRNA loci from TE sequences, especially in model plants,
      the approaches that were used did not employ systems that would allow results to
      be delivered by a user-friendly database. In this study, we identified 152
      precursor miRNAs overlapping TEs in 10 plant species. PlanTE-MIR DB was designed
      to assemble this data and deliver it to the scientific community interested in
      miRNA origin, evolution, and regulation pathways. Users can browse the database
      through a web interface and search for entries using various parameters. This
      resource is cross-referenced with repetitive element (Repbase Update) and miRNA
      (miRBase) repositories, where sequences can be checked for further analysis. All
      data in PlanTE-MIR DB are publicly available for download in several file formats
      to facilitate their understanding and use. The database is hosted at
      http://bioinfo-tool.cp.utfpr.edu.br/plantemirdb/ . 

PMID- 26887376
TI  - Cyclic changes in area- and perimeter-derived effective dimensions of the aortic
      annulus measured with multislice computed tomography and comparison with metric
      intraoperative sizing.
AB  - AIMS: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is recommended for annular sizing
      prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), but it remains unclear
      whether systolic or diastolic reconstructions should be used and whether the
      effective annular diameter should be derived by area or perimeter. In this study
      these different approaches were compared with intraoperative sizing. METHODS: In
      52 patients who were evaluated but deemed unsuitable for TAVI, the annulus was
      measured during conventional surgery using metric sizers (AnnOp) and compared
      with MSCT measurements (cross-sectional diameter derived by area [AnnAsys,
      AnnAdia; AnnAmean = (AnnAsys + AnnAdia)/2] and perimeter (AnnPsys, AnnPdia) in
      systole and diastole). Furthermore, TAVI was simulated based on AnnOp and the
      impact of the various MSCT approaches on sizing strategy was determined. RESULTS:
      The best agreement with AnnOp [mean difference (limits of agreement)] was shown
      for AnnAmean [0.03 mm (-1.9 to 1.96)], whereas the strongest deviation was noted
      for AnnPsys [-1.08 mm (-3.01 to 0.86)]. Mean differences between systole and
      diastole were significant but small: 0.82 mm (3.5 %) for area- and 0.81 mm (3.3
      %) for perimeter-derived measurements. Simulation of TAVI revealed the least
      change of strategy for AnnAmean (76.9 %) as compared with AnnPsys (53.8 %);
      between AnnAsys and AnnAdia sizing would have been deviant in 17.3 % due to
      relatively large intraindividual cyclic differences. CONCLUSIONS: AnnAmean
      demonstrated the best agreement with AnnOp, whereas perimeter-derived
      measurements were somewhat overestimated. Despite a negligible average difference
      between systolic and diastolic annular values, in a subset of patients the
      intraindividual cyclic variability was relatively large and potentially of
      clinical impact.

PMID- 26887377
TI  - Use of targeted therapy in cancer patients in the end-of-life period: results
      from an Australian centre.
AB  - PURPOSE: Data on the use of targeted therapies at the end of life are scarce.
      This study reviews the pattern of use of targeted and potentially futile, toxic,
      or costly therapies at an Australian cancer centre. METHODS: This retrospective
      single-centre review of data from patients who died within 3 months of having
      targeted therapy examined demographic characteristics, types of cancers, types of
      therapy, age, and lines of prior therapy. RESULTS: Over 24 months, two groups
      were analysed. Firstly, 889 patients died with 107 patients who were prescribed
      targeted therapy. Secondly, 457 patients were treated with targeted therapies
      with 52 patients, (11 %) dying within 3 months. To focus on the 52 patients:
      median age was 69 years, 65 % were men and 35 % were women, 50 % had haematologic
      cancers and 50 % had solid tumours. Ten therapeutic agents were represented: a
      higher total number of deaths among those prescribed erlotinib, bevacizumab, and
      rituximab. There were no deaths within 3 months of treatment with trastuzumab,
      ipilimumab, or vemurafenib. The targeted therapy was the first-line treatment in
      54 %, second in 15 %, and third and beyond in 15 %. The patient's sex and type of
      cancer had no statistically significant influence on death within 3 months of
      targeted treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of targeted therapy at the end of life
      in this single-centre descriptive study was lower than documented in other
      studies. There is a need to prospectively document the factors leading to this
      prescribing behaviour to guide future protocols.

PMID- 26887378
TI  - Multicenter phase II study of an oral care program for patients with head and
      neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: This multicenter phase II trial assessed the clinical benefit of a
      multidisciplinary oral care program in reducing the incidence of severe
      chemoradiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM). METHODS: Patients with head and
      neck cancer (HNC) who were scheduled to receive definitive or postoperative
      chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. The oral care program included routine oral
      screening by dentists and a leaflet containing instructions regarding oral care,
      nutrition, and lifestyle. Oral hygiene and oral care were evaluated continuously
      during and after the course of chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the
      incidence of grade >=3 OM assessed by certified medical staff according to the
      Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events version 3.0. RESULTS: From April
      2012 to December 2013, 120 patients with HNC were enrolled. Sixty-four patients
      (53.3 %) developed grade >=3 OM (i.e., functional/symptomatic). The incidence of
      grade <=1 OM at 2 and 4 weeks after radiotherapy completion was 34.2 and 67.6 %,
      respectively. Clinical examination revealed that 51 patients (42.5 %) developed
      grade >=3 OM during chemoradiotherapy. The incidence of grade <=1 OM at 2 and 4
      weeks after radiotherapy completion was 54.7 and 89.2 %, respectively. The
      incidences of grade 3 infection and pneumonitis throughout chemoradiotherapy were
      <5 %. Only 6.7 % of patients had unplanned breaks in radiotherapy, and 99.2 %
      completed treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic oral care program alone is
      insufficient to decrease the incidence of severe OM in patients with HNC being
      treated with chemoradiotherapy. However, systematic oral care programs may
      indirectly improve treatment compliance by decreasing infection risk. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000006660.

PMID- 26887379
TI  - Exome-Wide Association Study Identified New Risk Loci for Hirschsprung's Disease.
AB  - Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a rare congenital disease caused by impaired
      proliferation and migration of neural crest cells. In this study, we aimed to
      investigate the genetic loci involved in the pathogenesis of HSCR. The exome-wide
      scan was performed to screen the genetic variants with minor allele frequency
      (MAF) < 0.05 in exonic regions. Candidate mutation type and the wild type were
      overexpressed to investigate the affection on cell proliferation and migration.
      We found that ten variants were associated with HSCR at P < 10-4 in the single
      variant analysis while ten genes were also associated with HSCR at P < 10-4 in
      the optimized sequence kernel association test (SKAT-O) test analysis. Among
      these SNPs, the missense variants catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) (rs6267)
      and armadillo repeat gene deleted in velocardiofacial syndrome (ARVCF)
      (rs80068543) indicated an ectopic expression in colon tissues of HSCR patients.
      The Ala72Ser variant in COMT induced proliferation suppression through NOTCH
      signal pathway, while the ARVCF affected cell migration via the downregulating of
      RHOA and ROC. In conclusion, this exome array study identified the COMT and ARVCF
      missense coding variants as candidate loci for HSCR. The finding implies the
      abnormal variant of COMT and ARVCF may account for the pathogenesis of HSCR.

PMID- 26887380
TI  - The Brain NO Levels and NOS Activities Ascended in the Early and Middle Stages
      and Descended in the Terminal Stage in Scrapie-Infected Animal Models.
AB  - The infections of prion agents may cause progressive and fatal neurodegenerative
      diseases in humans and a serial of animal species. Previous studies have proposed
      that the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the
      brains of some neurodegeneration diseases changed, while S-nitrosylation (SNO) of
      many brain proteins altered in prion diseases. To elucidate the potential changes
      of brain NO levels during prion infection, the NO levels and NOS activities in
      the brain tissues of three scrapie experimental rodents were measured, including
      scrapie agent 263 K-infected hamsters and 139A- and ME7-infected mice. Both NO
      levels and NOS activities, including total NOS (TNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS),
      were increased at the terminal stages of scrapie-infected animals. Assays of the
      brain samples collected at different time points during scrapie infection showed
      that the NO levels and NOS activities started to increase at early stage, reached
      to the peak in the middle stage, and dropped down at late stage. Western blots
      for brain iNOS revealed increased firstly and decreased late, especially in the
      brains of 139A- and ME7-infected mice. In line with those alterations, the levels
      of the SNO forms of several selected brain proteins such as aquaporin-1 (AQP1),
      calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), neurogranin, and opalin,
      underwent similar changing trends, while their total protein levels did not
      change obviously during scrapie infection. Our data here for the first time
      illustrate the changing profile of brain NO and NOS during prion infection. Time
      dependent alterations of brain NO level and the associated protein S
      nitrosylation process may contribute greatly to the neuropathological damage in
      prion diseases.

PMID- 26887381
TI  - Adoptive Autophagy Activation: a Much-Needed Remedy Against Chemical Induced
      Neurotoxicity/Developmental Neurotoxicity.
AB  - The profound significance of autophagy as a cell survival mechanism under
      conditions of metabolic stress is a well-proven fact. Nearly a decade-long
      research in this area has led scientists to unearth various roles played by
      autophagy other than just being an auto cell death mechanism. It is implicated as
      a vital cell survival pathway for clearance of all the aberrant cellular
      materials in case of cellular injury, metastasis, disease states, cellular
      stress, neurodegeneration and so on. In this review, we emphasise the critical
      role of autophagy in the environmental stressors-induced neurotoxicity and its
      therapeutic implications for the same. We also attempt to shed some light on the
      possible protective role of autophagy in developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) which
      is a rapidly growing health issue of the human population at large and hence a
      point of rising concern amongst researchers. The intimate association between DNT
      and neurodegenerative disorders strongly indicates towards adopting autophagy
      activation as a much-needed remedy for DNT.

PMID- 26887382
TI  - Prevention of Hippocampal Neuronal Damage and Cognitive Function Deficits in
      Vascular Dementia by Dextromethorphan.
AB  - Dextromethorphan (DM) is a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors and a
      widely used component of cough medicine. Recently, its indication has been
      extended experimentally to a wide range of disorders including inflammation
      mediated central nervous system disorders such as Parkinson disease (PD) and
      multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we investigate whether DM treatment has
      protective effects on the hippocampal neuron damage induced by bilateral
      occlusion of the common carotid arteries (two-vessel occlusion [2VO]), an animal
      model of vascular dementia (VaD). Sprague-Dawley (SD) (10 weeks of age) rats were
      subjected to the 2VO, and DM was injected intraperitoneally once per day for 37
      days. Neuron death, glial activation, and cognitive function were assessed at 37
      days after 2VO (0.2 mg/kg, i.p., "DM-0.2" and 2 mg/kg, i.p., "DM-2"). DM-2
      treatment provided protection against neuronal death and glial activation in the
      hippocampal CA1 subfield and reduced cognitive impairment induced by 2VO in rats.
      The study also demonstrates that activation of the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway and
      upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) play important roles in these effects.
      These results suggest that DM is effective in treating VaD and protecting against
      oxidative stress, which is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of VaD.
      Therefore, the present study suggests that DM treatment may represent a new and
      promising protective strategy for treating VaD.

PMID- 26887384
TI  - The Critical Role of SRPK1 in EMT of Human Glioblastoma in the Spinal Cord.
AB  - Up to now, the serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1) has been suggested as an
      important signal mediator, which is implicated in the development of cancers.
      Unfortunately, some molecular pathways in SRPK1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT) in human spinal glioblastoma have been not elucidated. In this
      work, we detected the expression of SRPK1 in human spinal glioblastoma tissues
      and GBM cell lines and analyzed the relevant molecular proteins using in vitro
      experiments, including RT-PCR, gene silencing, and Western blot. In this study,
      RT-PCR and Western blot revealed that the expression of SRPK1 mRNA and protein
      became higher in all six spinal glioblastoma specimens; however, its expression
      was low in matched normal specimens. We also demonstrated SRPK1 expression
      facilitated the proliferation of U87 and U251 cells and inhibited the apoptosis
      in U87 and U251 cells. Also, SRPK1 promoted the expression of EMT-regulating
      markers, involving N-cadherin, Snail, and MMP9 and decreased the expression of
      mesenchymal marker E-cadherin. Moreover, knockdown of SRPK1 significantly
      inhibited the expression levels of p-Akt rather than t-Akt. In conclusion,
      knockdown of SRPK1 inhibited glioblastoma cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT
      process via suppressing p-Akt signaling pathway. This study also lays a new
      foundation for the clinically biological treatment.

PMID- 26887383
TI  - Pharmacological Inhibition of PERK Attenuates Early Brain Injury After
      Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats Through the Activation of Akt.
AB  - Neuronal apoptosis is a central pathological process in subarachnoid hemorrhage
      (SAH)-induced early brain injury. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was reported
      to have a vital role in the pathophysiology of neuronal apoptosis in the brain.
      The present study was designed to investigate the potential effects of ER stress
      and its downstream signals in early brain injury after SAH. One hundred thirty
      four rats were subjected to an endovascular perforation model of SAH. The RNA
      activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK) inhibitor GSK2606414 and the Akt
      inhibitor MK2206 were injected intracerebroventricularly. SAH grade, neurologic
      scores, and brain water content were measured 72 h after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
      Expression of PERK and its downstream signals, Akt, Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved
      caspase-3, were examined using Western blot analysis. Specific cell types that
      expressed PERK were detected with double immunofluorescence staining. Neuronal
      cell death was demonstrated with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)
      mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Our results showed that the expression
      of p-PERK and its downstream targets, p-eIF2alpha and ATF4, increased after SAH
      and peaked at 72 h after SAH. PERK was expressed mostly in neurons. The
      inhibition of PERK with GSK2606414 reduced p-PERK, p-eIF2alpha, and ATF4
      expression. Furthermore, GSK2606414 treatment increased p-Akt levels and the Bcl
      2/Bax ratio as well as decreased cleaved caspase-3 expression and neuronal death,
      thereby improving neurological deficits at 72 h after SAH. The selective Akt
      inhibitor MK2206 abolished the beneficial effects of GSK2606414. PERK, the major
      transducer of ER stress, is involved in neuronal apoptosis after SAH. The
      inhibition of PERK reduces early brain injury via Akt-related anti-apoptosis
      pathways. PERK may serve as a promising target for future therapeutic
      intervention.

PMID- 26887386
TI  - Seven day services will need 4000 extra doctors, says leaked report.

PMID- 26887387
TI  - Ian Forgacs: Loves skinny dipping.

PMID- 26887385
TI  - Interferon-beta Inhibits Neurotrophin 3 Signalling and Pro-Survival Activity by
      Upregulating the Expression of Truncated TrkC-T1 Receptor.
AB  - Although clinically useful for the treatment of various diseases, type I
      interferons (IFNs) have been implicated as causative factors of a number of
      neuroinflammatory disorders characterized by neuronal damage and altered CNS
      functions. As neurotrophin 3 (NT3) plays a critical role in neuroprotection, we
      examined the effects of IFN-beta on the signalling and functional activity of the
      NT3/TrkC system. We found that prolonged exposure of differentiated human SH-SY5Y
      neuroblastoma cells to IFN-beta impaired the ability of NT3 to induce
      transphosphorylation of the full-length TrkC receptor (TrkC-FL) and the
      phosphorylation of downstream signalling molecules, including PLCgamma1, Akt, GSK
      3beta and ERK1/2. NT3 was effective in protecting the cells against apoptosis
      triggered by serum withdrawal or thapsigargin but not IFN-beta. Prolonged
      exposure to the cytokine had little effects on TrkC-FL levels but markedly
      enhanced the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the truncated isoform
      TrkC-T1, a dominant-negative receptor that inhibits TrkC-FL activity. Cell
      depletion of TrkC-T1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment enhanced NT3
      signalling through TrkC-FL and allowed the neurotrophin to counteract IFN-beta
      induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the upregulation of TrkC-T1 by IFN-beta was
      associated with the inhibition of NT3-induced recruitment of the scaffold protein
      tamalin to TrkC-T1 and tamalin tyrosine phosphorylation. These data indicate that
      IFN-beta exerts a negative control on NT3 pro-survival signalling through a novel
      mechanism involving the upregulation of TrkC-T1.

PMID- 26887388
TI  - Regulation of liver development: implications for liver biology across the
      lifespan.
AB  - The liver serves a spectrum of essential metabolic and synthetic functions that
      are required for the transition from fetal to postnatal life. Processes essential
      to the attainment of adequate liver mass and function during fetal life include
      cell lineage specification early in development, enzymic and other functional
      modes of differentiation throughout gestation, and ongoing cell proliferation to
      achieve adequate liver mass. Available data in laboratory rodents indicate that
      the signaling networks governing these processes in the fetus differ from those
      that can sustain liver function and mass in the adult. More specifically, fetal
      hepatocytes may develop independent of key mitogenic signaling pathways,
      including those involving the Erk mitogen-activated protein kinases MAPK1/3 and
      the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). In addition, the fetal liver is
      subject to environmental influences that, through epigenetic mechanisms, can have
      sustained effects on function and, by extension, contribute to the developmental
      origin of adult metabolic disease. Finally, the mitogen-independent phenotype of
      rat fetal hepatocytes in late gestation makes these cells suitable for cell-based
      therapy of liver injury. In the aggregate, studies on the mechanisms governing
      fetal liver development have implications not only for the perinatal metabolic
      transition but also for the prevention and treatment of liver disorders
      throughout the lifespan.

PMID- 26887392
TI  - [Essence and clinical application of classical directional force system].

PMID- 26887391
TI  - Evolutionary history of the chitin synthases of eukaryotes.
AB  - Chitin synthases are widespread among eukaryotes and known to have a complex
      evolutionary history in some of the groups. We have reconstructed the chitin
      synthase phylogeny using the most taxonomically comprehensive dataset currently
      available and have shown the presence of independently formed paralogous groups
      in oomycetes, ciliates, fungi, and all diatoms except raphid pennates. There were
      also two cases of horizontal gene transfer (HGT): transfer from fungus to early
      diatoms gave rise to diatom paralogous group, while transfer from raphid pennate
      diatom to Acantamoeba ancestor is, to our knowledge, restricted to a single gene
      in amoeba. Early evolution of chitin synthases is heavily obscured by paralogy,
      and further sequencing effort is necessary.

PMID- 26887390
TI  - Hexosamine biosynthesis in keratinocytes: roles of GFAT and GNPDA enzymes in the
      maintenance of UDP-GlcNAc content and hyaluronan synthesis.
AB  - UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is a glucose metabolite with pivotal
      functions as a key substrate for the synthesis of glycoconjugates like
      hyaluronan, and as a metabolic sensor that controls cell functions through O
      GlcNAc modification of intracellular proteins. However, little is known about the
      regulation of hexosamine biosynthesis that controls UDP-GlcNAc content. Four
      enzymes can catalyze the crucial starting point of the pathway, conversion of
      fructose-6-phosphate (Fru6P) to glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P): glutamine
      fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferases (GFAT1 and 2) and glucosamine-6-phosphate
      deaminases (GNPDA1 and 2). Using siRNA silencing, we studied the contributions of
      these enzymes to UDP-GlcNAc content and hyaluronan synthesis in human
      keratinocytes. Depletion of GFAT1 reduced the cellular pool of UDP-GlcNAc and
      hyaluronan synthesis, while simultaneous blocking of both GNPDA1 and GDPDA2
      exerted opposite effects, indicating that in standard culture conditions
      keratinocyte GNPDAs mainly catalyzed the reaction from GlcN6P back to Fru6P.
      However, when hexosamine biosynthesis was blocked by GFAT1 siRNA, the effect by
      GNPDAs was reversed, now catalyzing Fru6P towards GlcN6P, likely in an attempt to
      maintain UDP-GlcNAc content. Silencing of these enzymes also changed the gene
      expression of related enzymes: GNPDA1 siRNA induced GFAT2 which was hardly
      measurable in these cells under standard culture conditions, GNPDA2 siRNA
      increased GFAT1, and GFAT1 siRNA increased the expression of hyaluronan synthase
      2 (HAS2). Silencing of GFAT1 stimulated GNPDA1 and GDPDA2, and inhibited cell
      migration. The multiple delicate adjustments of these reactions demonstrate the
      importance of hexosamine biosynthesis in cellular homeostasis, known to be
      deranged in diseases like diabetes and cancer.

PMID- 26887389
TI  - Mechanisms of uterine estrogen signaling during early pregnancy in mice: an
      update.
AB  - Adherence of an embryo to the uterus represents the most critical step of the
      reproductive process. Implantation is a synchronized event between the blastocyst
      and the uterine luminal epithelium, leading to structural and functional changes
      for further embryonic growth and development. The milieu comprising the complex
      process of implantation is mediated by estrogen through diverse but
      interdependent signaling pathways. Mouse models have demonstrated the relevance
      of the expression of estrogen-modulated paracrine factors to uterine receptivity
      and implantation window. More importantly, some factors seem to serve as
      molecular links between different estrogen pathways, promoting cell growth,
      acting as molecular chaperones, or amplifying estrogenic effects. Abnormal
      expression of these factors can lead to implantation failure and infertility.
      This review provides an overview of several well-characterized signaling pathways
      that elucidates the molecular cross talk involved in the uterus during early
      pregnancy.

PMID- 26887393
TI  - [Effect of the presurgical nasoalveolar molding using computer-aided design
      technique].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To develop a new method of presurgical nasoalveolar molding based on
      computer-aided design technique. METHODS: Twenty patients(16 boys, 4 girls) with
      complete unilateral cleft lip and palate(UCLP) who received presurgical
      nasoalveolar molding were recruited as the treatment group. Twenty patients(15
      boys, 5 girls) with complete UCLP who did not receive presurgical orthopedic
      treatment were selected as the control group. All parameters of the digital
      maxillary model were measured using the Rapidform XOR3 software. The statistical
      analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: A'-X and B-Il were reduced
      significantly after presurgical nasoalveolar molding. However, the mean alveolar
      height [F- hight (3.7 +/- 1.1) mm, F'-height (4.6 +/- 0.9) mm] decreased
      significantly after treatment(P <0.05). There were significant differences
      between the treatment group and the control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary
      alveolar morphology could be improved in UCLP infants treated with computer-aided
      presurgical nasoalveolar molding. The width of the cleft could be reduced and the
      maxillary midline corrected effectively. However, the alveolar height decreased
      significantly after the treatment.

PMID- 26887394
TI  - [Mineral trioxide aggragate pulpotomy for the treatment of immature permanent
      teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a preliminary clinical study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preliminary clinical effect of mineral trioxide
      aggragate (MTA) pulpotomy on immature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis.
      METHODS: Twenty-six immature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis were
      recuited from Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and
      Hospital of Stomatology. These teeth were treated with partial or full pulpotomy
      according to the condition of pulp bleeding. MTA was used as pulp capping
      material. Patients were recalled periodically after the treatment. Clinical and
      radiographic effects were evaluated. RESULTS: At one year follow-up, 20 teeth
      were evaluated as healed or healing, 2 teeth were evaluated as failure and 4
      teeth were dropped out. The success rate was considered 91% (20/22). A dentinal
      bridge was radiographcally observed underneath the pulpotomy site in 13
      teeth(65%, 13/20). CONCLUSIONS: MTA pulpotomy is an effective method for the
      treatment of immature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis. But further
      research with longer follow up period is required.

PMID- 26887395
TI  - [An experimental study on segmental defects reconstruction of canine mandible
      with allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with lyophilized
      bone].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of segmental defects reconstruction of
      canine mandible with allogenenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)
      combined with lyophilized bone. METHODS: A 30 mm segmental defect was created on
      the left mandibles of beagles. Beagles were randomly divided into three groups.
      Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with lyophilized bone were used for
      segmental defects reconstruction in group A. Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal
      stem cells with freeze- dried bone were used for segmental defects reconstruction
      in group B. The defects of group C were repaired with lyophilized bone only.
      Every three beagles were sacrificed 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after surgery
      respectively. The reconstruction effect was evaluated by CT and histopathological
      examination. RESULTS: CT examination showed that new bones formed in group A and
      group B 12 weeks after surgery, but not in group C. The form of the reconstructed
      mandibles in the three groups recovered in 48 weeks. The small pores on the bone
      graft were filled with new bones in group A and group B. In group C, the pores
      were still evident. Histopathological examination showed that bone trabecula
      between allogeneic bone and autogenous bone was completely joined in group A and
      group B. A large number of fibrous tissue appeared around the implanted bone and
      new bones were formed. In group C, the lyophilized bone resorption was still not
      obvious, the new bone formation was significantly slower than the other two
      groups. There was no difference between group A and group B. CONCLUSIONS: Both
      allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and autologous mesenchymal stem
      cells could accelerate the bone formation.

PMID- 26887396
TI  - [Bioactive glass 45S5-silk fibroin membrane supports proliferation and
      differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bioactivity glass 45S5- silk
      fibroin(BG45S5- SF) membrane on growth, proliferation and differentiation of
      human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSC), and to provide new ideas and method for the
      regeneration of pulp-dentine complex. METHODS: hDPSC seed on pure silk fibroin
      membrane (protein membrane group) and BG45S5-SF membrane with different
      concentrations(1 000, 5 000 mg/L, composite membrane group A and B, respectively)
      were prepared, and the materials were incubated in cell culture fluid for 24 h.
      No material membrane orifice plate was used as blank control group. Contact angle
      meter was used to measure surface contact angle of protein membrane and composite
      membrane group(each group had three repeated holes). Cell proliferation was
      assessed by cell counting kit- 8 on the 4, 7, 14, and 21 days. The state of
      adhesion and growth of hDPSC on the materials surface was evaluated by scanning
      electron microscopy and cytoskeleton staining; and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
      activity was measured to evaluate the cell differentiation potential. The
      expression of odontoblastic differentiation-related genes was measured by real
      time PCR. RESULTS: Surface contact angle of the protein membrane group and
      composite membrane group A and group B were 89.51 degrees  +/- 0.12 degrees ,
      70.32 degrees  +/- 0.07 degrees  and 71.31 degrees  +/- 0.09 degrees 
      respectively. hDPSC adhered well on each materials surface on the 7, 14, 21 days,
      ALP activity and differentiation genes of composite membrane group A and B rised
      more significantly than the blank control group and protein membrane group did
      (P<0.05). Dentin matrix protein1(DMP- 1), dentin sialoprotein(DSP), ALP,
      osteocalcin(OC) mRNA expression reached peak on the 14 days in group A, and in
      group B on the 21 days. Bone sialoprotein(BSP) mRNA expression in both group A
      and B reached peak on the 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: BG45S5- SF membrane is able to
      support the proliferation and showed the potential of odontoblastic
      differentiation for hDPSC. This finding suggests that BG45S5-SF membrane was a
      kind of tissue engineering film material with the regeneration potential for pulp
      dentine complex.

PMID- 26887397
TI  - [Effect of tooth extraction and antibiotics on carotid artery wall and serum
      interleukin 6 in chronic periodontitis rats with or without atherosclerosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tooth extraction with antibiotics on
      atherosclerosis, and to examine the expression of serum interleukin 6(IL-6) and
      the pathological changes of the carotid artery in chronic periodontitis(CP) rats
      with or without atherosclerosis(As). METHODS: A total of 44 SD rats were randomly
      divided into four groups, group A(normal control), group B(As), group C(CP),
      group D(CP+As). After model establishment, group C and group D were randomly
      divided into group C1/D1 (tooth extraction) and group C2/D2(tooth extraction with
      antibiotics) according to random number table and received the corresponding oral
      intervention treatment respectively. Serum IL-6 levels were determined by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) respectively one week before the intervention,
      one week after the first intervention, one, three, five weeks after the second
      intervention. The pathological changes of the carotid artery were accessed under
      light microscope. RESULTS: At all sampling time points, the levels of serum IL-6
      in group B, C, D were higher than that of group A, with group D1 being increased
      most obviously, significantly higher than that of group A(P< 0.001). One week
      after the second intervention, the content of IL-6 in group C and group D
      peaked[C1(127.0 +/- 29.9) ng/L, C2: (120.6 +/- 23.1) ng/L, D1: (175.1 +/- 50.8)
      ng/L, D2: (160.5 +/- 37.7) ng/L], and was significantly higher than that of group
      B[B: (43.4 +/- 7.5) ng/L,P<0.001]. Then they all had varying degrees of decline,
      5 weeks after the second intervention, group C1 and D1 were still higher than
      that of group B, but group C2 and D2 were lower than that of group B. At all
      sampling time points, the levels of serum IL- 6 in group C2/D2 were lower than
      those in group C1/D1, 5 weeks after the second intervention the difference was
      most obvious and statistically significant(P<0.001). Pathology showed that the
      carotid artery wall in group A was normal. The carotid artery wall was thickened
      in group B, inflammatory cells and foam cells could be seen, and elastic fibers
      disordered. The carotid artery wall in group C1 was uneven, foam cells and a
      small amount of inflammatory cells were visible, and elastic fiber disordered.
      Obvious thickening was not seen in the carotid artery wall of group C2, a small
      amount of foam cells and inflammatory cells were found, and elastic fiber mildly
      disordered. The carotid artery wall in group D1 was obviously uneven, calcium
      salt deposits were visible in the artery wall, a large amount of inflammatory
      cells and foam cells could be found, and elastic fiber disordered. Obvious
      thickening was not seen in the carotid artery wall of group D2, a small amount of
      inflammatory cells and a large amount of foam cells could be seen, and elastic
      fiber disordered. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis and hyperlipidemia could increase
      the level of serum IL- 6 and the risk of the As. In chronic periodontitis rats
      with or without atherosclerosis, when periodontal inflammation was not
      controlled, tooth extraction may increase the risk of the As. At the time of
      tooth extraction, giving the anti-inflammatory treatment can reduce the risk to a
      certain extent.

PMID- 26887398
TI  - [Effect of resin infiltration on microhardness of artificial caries lesions].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the changes of enamel surface and cross-sectional
      microhardness of artificial caries immediately and after the twice
      demineralization through coating resin infiltration, fluoride varnish and fissure
      sealant. METHODS: A total of forty bovine lower incisors enamel samples with
      artificial caries lesions by the demineralization liquid were used in the
      experiment. The specimens were then randomly divided into four groups as group
      A(resin infiltration), B(fluoride varnish), C (fissure sealant), D(control), 10
      specimens in each group. The samples were sectioned vertically into two halves
      through the centre. One half of each sample the surface and cross-sectional
      microhardness was measured. The other half was put into demineralization liquid
      for 14 days, then the surface and cross-sectional microhardness was measured
      again. The cross section morphology of the samples was observed by scanning
      electron microscope. RESULTS: The surface of enamel had the highest microhardness
      value, and with the increase of cross- sectional depth, the microhardness value
      declined gradually. Variance analysis showed that the difference was
      statistically significant in the cross-section of different depth among the four
      groups(P<0.05). The microhardness values of the surface and the cross- section at
      40 um of each group in immediate measure showed the values were significantly
      higher in group A, B and C than in group D. There was no significant difference
      in the microhardness value of cross-section at 80 um between group A[(324 +/- 17)
      kg/mm(2)] and group C[(316 +/- 20) kg/mm(2)], but they were significantly higher
      than group D. There was no significant difference between group B[(303 +/- 13)
      kg/mm(2)] and group D[(294 +/- 23) kg/mm(2)]. At 120 um level, the microhardness
      value of group A was significantly higher than those of the other three groups.
      After the twice demineralization, the enamel surface microhardness value of the
      specimens was the same as the first measurement. In the cross-section at 40 um
      level, the microhardness value was equal to the value of cross-section at 80 um
      level of the first measurement. In the cross- section at 80 um and 120 um level,
      the microhardness value of group A was significantly higher than those of the
      other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Resin infiltration can effectively strengthen
      microhardness of enamel surface and cross-section of different depth of
      artificial caries.

PMID- 26887399
TI  - [Effect of human papilloma virus infection status on the prognosis of localized
      stage head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in different ethnic groups of
      Xinjiang].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of limited head and neck squamous cell
      carcinomas human papillomavirus(HPV) infection status on the prognosis in
      different nationalities of Xinjiang. METHODS: The clinical data of 149 cases of
      head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from Uighur, Han and Kazak was analyzed.
      The HPV16/18 infection and viral load was examined.The prognosis was analyzed by
      cox multiIvar-Iate model. The effect of HPV infection status on prognosis was
      evaluated. RESULTS: In this study, Oropharyngeal HPV infection rate was 35.0%,
      followed by hypopharynx 30.0%, oropharyx was 16.0%. The overall survival rate of
      3 years and 5 years was 66.4%, and 39.2% respectively. The clinical stage,N stage
      and HPV were influencing factors for the prognosis of patients with head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma (P< 0.05). N stage and HPV were independent prognostic
      factors for the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
      (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of HPV infection in oropharynx in
      head and neck cancer. HPV positive is a protective factor for the prognosis of
      head and neck cancer, and the risk of death in patients with HPV was 3/5 lower
      than that of HPV negative patients. HPV viral load may be positively related to
      the total survival rate. N stage is a risk factor for the prognosis of head and
      neck cancer. Different nationalities have little influence on prognosis.

PMID- 26887400
TI  - [Analysis of type-I collagen fibrils and chondroitin sulfate distribution in
      human dentin by confocal laser scanning microscopy combined with dual
      immunofluorescent labeling technique].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce the method of dual immunofluorescence labeling of human
      dentin matrix without demineralization of the whole dentin fragments, and to
      analyze the distribution of type-I collagen fibrils and chondroitin sulfate in
      human dentin. METHODS: Forty 30 um- thick middle coronal dentin sections were
      obtained from 8 freshly extracted human third molars and etched with 37%
      phosphoric acid(PA) gel for 15 s. After preconditioning with or without tosyl-
      phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone(TPCK) treated trypsin digestion, sections were
      subjected to dual immunofluorescent labeling and scanned by confocal laser
      scanning microscopy to identify the type-I collagen fibrils and chondroitin
      sulfate. RESULTS: Chondroitin sulfate was localized in the lumens of the dentin
      tubules and peritubular dentin, while the type-I collagen fibrils were localized
      in intertubular dentin and peritubular dentin. After preconditioning with TPCK
      treated trypsin digestion, the red fluorescence was decreased or disappeared.
      CONCLUSIONS: The dual immunofluorescence labeling methodology can be used to
      study the human dentin matrix without demineralization of the whole dentin
      fragments. Chondroitin sulfate was localized in the lumens of the dentin tubules
      and peritubular dentin, while the type-I collagen fibrils were localized in
      intertubular dentin and peritubular dentin.

PMID- 26887402
TI  - [Application of piezotome and hydraulic pressure in crestal approach high
      inclination sinus floor elevation and simultaneous implant placement].

PMID- 26887401
TI  - [Experimental study on the corrosion behavior of a type of oral near beta-type
      titanium alloys modified with double glow plasma nitriding].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the electrochemical corrosion performance of a type of
      biomedical materials near beta titanium alloy(Ti-3Zr-2Sn-3Mo-25Nb, TLM) in
      artificial saliva before and after nitride changing, and to provide clinical
      basis for clinical application of titanium alloy TLM. METHODS: The double glow
      plasma alloying technology was used to nitride the surface of titanium alloy TLM.
      The surface properties of the modified layer were observed and tested by optical
      microscope, scanning electron microscope, glow discharge spectrum analyzer, X-ray
      diffraction and micro hardness tester. Then, electrochemical measurement system
      was used to test and compare titanium alloy TLM's electrochemical corrosion in
      artificial saliva before and after its surface change. Finally, the surface
      morphology of the original titanium alloy and the modified layer was compared by
      scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: By the technology of double glow plasma
      nitriding, the surface of the titanium alloy TLM had been successfully nitrided
      with a modified layer of 4-5 um in thickness, uniform and compact. Its main
      compositions were Ti and Ti(2)N. The Microhardness of modified layer also had
      been improved from (236.8 +/- 5.4) to (871.8 +/- 5.2) HV. The self-corrosion
      potential in electrochemical corrosion tests had been increased from -0.559 V to 
      0.540 V, while the self- corrosion current density had been reduced from 2.091 *
      10(-7) A/cm(2) to 7.188 * 10(-8) A/cm(2). Besides, alternating-current
      impedance(AC Impedance) had also been increased. With the scanning electron
      microscope, it's obvious that the diameter of corrosion holes on modified layer
      were approximately 10 um. As to the diameter and number of corrosion holes on
      modified layer, they had been decreased comparing with the original titanium
      alloy. CONCLUSIONS: The type of near beta titanium alloy TLM can construct a
      nitriding modified layer on its surface. Meanwhile, the performance of its anti-
      corrosion in artificial saliva has been improved, comparing to the original
      titanium alloy TLM.

PMID- 26887403
TI  - [Current advance in the development and application of zirconia implant].

PMID- 26887404
TI  - [Relationship between nuclear factor-kappaB and oral carcinoma].

PMID- 26887405
TI  - [Research and development of the autogenous tooth bone graft materia].

PMID- 26887406
TI  - [A case of branchiogenic carcinoma].

PMID- 26887407
TI  - Can roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, improve clinical outcomes in
      patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Effects of roflumilast on lung function, symptoms, acute exacerbation
      and adverse events in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
      are controversial. We aimed to further clarify the efficacy and safety of
      roflumilast in treatment of moderate-to-severe COPD. METHODS: From 1946 to
      November 2015, we searched the Pubmed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Central Register
      of Controlled Trials, ISI Web of Science and American College of Physician using
      "roflumilast" and "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" or "COPD". Randomized
      controlled trials that reported forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1),
      forced vital capacity (FVC), transition dyspnea index (TDI), St George's
      Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and incidence of COPD exacerbations and adverse
      events were eligible. We conducted the heterogeneities test and sensitivity
      analysis, and random-effects or fixed-effects model was applied to calculate risk
      ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) for dichotomous and continuous data
      respectively. Cochrane systematic review software, Review Manager (RevMan), was
      used to test the hypothesis by Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Thirteen trials with
      a total of 14,563 patients were pooled in our final studies. Except for SGRQ (I
      (2) = 63 %, chi (2) = 1.71, P = 0.07) and adverse events (I (2) = 94 %, chi (2) =
      0.03, P < 0.001), we did not find statistical heterogeneity in outcome measures.
      The pooled MD of pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV1 was 54.60 (95 % confidence
      interval (CI) 46.02 ~ 63.18) and 57.86 (95 % CI 49.80 ~ 65.91), and both showed
      significant improvement in patients with roflumilast (z = 12.47, P <0.001; z =
      14.07, P < 0.001), so did in FVC (MD 90.37, 95 % CI 73.95 ~ 106.78, z = 10.79, P
      < 0.001). Significant alleviation of TDI (MD 0.30, 95 % CI 0.14 ~ 0.46, z = 3.67,
      P < 0.001) and decrease of acute exacerbation (RR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.81 ~ 0.91, z =
      5.54, P < 0.001) were also identified in treatment of roflumilast, but without
      significant difference in SGRQ (MD -1.30, 95 % CI -3.16 ~ 0.56, z = 1.37, P =
      0.17). Moreover, roflumilast significantly increased the incidence of adverse
      events compared with placebo (RR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.16 ~ 1.47, z = 4.32, P < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Roflumilast can be considered as an alternative therapy in selective
      patients with moderate-to-severe COPD.

PMID- 26887410
TI  - Loss.

PMID- 26887408
TI  - Notch stimulates growth by direct regulation of genes involved in the control of
      glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
AB  - Glycolytic shift is a characteristic feature of rapidly proliferating cells, such
      as cells during development and during immune response or cancer cells, as well
      as of stem cells. It results in increased glycolysis uncoupled from mitochondrial
      respiration, also known as the Warburg effect. Notch signalling is active in
      contexts where cells undergo glycolytic shift. We decided to test whether
      metabolic genes are direct transcriptional targets of Notch signalling and
      whether upregulation of metabolic genes can help Notch to induce tissue growth
      under physiological conditions and in conditions of Notch-induced hyperplasia. We
      show that genes mediating cellular metabolic changes towards the Warburg effect
      are direct transcriptional targets of Notch signalling. They include genes
      encoding proteins involved in glucose uptake, glycolysis, lactate to pyruvate
      conversion and repression of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The direct
      transcriptional upregulation of metabolic genes is PI3K/Akt independent and
      occurs not only in cells with overactivated Notch but also in cells with
      endogenous levels of Notch signalling and in vivo. Even a short pulse of Notch
      activity is able to elicit long-lasting metabolic changes resembling the Warburg
      effect. Loss of Notch signalling in Drosophila wing discs as well as in human
      microvascular cells leads to downregulation of glycolytic genes. Notch-driven
      tissue overgrowth can be rescued by downregulation of genes for glucose
      metabolism. Notch activity is able to support growth of wing during nutrient
      deprivation conditions, independent of the growth of the rest of the body. Notch
      is active in situations that involve metabolic reprogramming, and the direct
      regulation of metabolic genes may be a common mechanism that helps Notch to exert
      its effects in target tissues. 

PMID- 26887411
TI  - Blue Thought.

PMID- 26887409
TI  - Moramonas marocensis gen. nov., sp. nov.: a jakobid flagellate isolated from
      desert soil with a bacteria-like, but bloated mitochondrial genome.
AB  - A new jakobid genus has been isolated from Moroccan desert soil. The cyst-forming
      protist Moramonas marocensis gen. nov., sp. nov. has two anteriorly inserted
      flagella of which one points to the posterior cell pole accompanying the ventral
      feeding groove and is equipped with a dorsal vane-a feature typical for the
      Jakobida. It further shows a flagellar root system consisting of singlet
      microtubular root, left root (R1), right root (R2) and typical fibres associated
      with R1 and R2. The affiliation of M. marocensis to the Jakobida was confirmed by
      molecular phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rRNA gene, five nuclear genes and 66
      mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The mitochondrial genome has the high number
      of genes typical for jakobids, and bacterial features, such as the four-subunit
      RNA polymerase and Shine-Dalgarno sequences upstream of the coding regions of
      several genes. The M. marocensis mitochondrial genome encodes a similar number of
      genes as other jakobids, but is unique in its very large genome size (greater
      than 264 kbp), which is three to four times higher than that of any other jakobid
      species investigated yet. This increase seems to be due to a massive expansion in
      non-coding DNA, creating a bloated genome like those of plant mitochondria. 

PMID- 26887412
TI  - Efficacy and Tolerability of Lacosamide in the Treatment of Children With
      Refractory Generalized Epilepsy.
AB  - Lacosamide is FDA-approved in patients 17 years or older with partial-onset
      epilepsy. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide in children
      with refractory generalized epilepsy. We retrospectively reviewed records of 21
      children with refractory generalized epilepsy treated with lacosamide in our
      institution from 2009-2013 divided into 2 subgroups- I, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome,
      and II, other generalized epilepsies. Efficacy was defined as seizure freedom or
      >=50% seizure reduction. Descriptive data analysis including seizure freedom was
      compared using c(2) analysis. There were eleven females and ten males with a mean
      age, of 11.9 years. Five patients became seizure free, nine had >=50% seizure
      reduction, and seven had no response. Group I: seven had >=50% improvement, one
      did not respond. Group II: five became seizure free, two had >=50% improvement,
      five had no response. Lacosamide is effective and well tolerated in children with
      refractory generalized epilepsy particularly patients with Lennox-Gastaut
      Syndrome.

PMID- 26887413
TI  - Is Celiac Disease an Etiological Factor in Children With Migraine?
AB  - To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with
      migraine, the authors investigated serum levels of tissue transglutaminase
      antibody immunoglobulin A and total immunoglobulin A from 81 children with
      migraine and in a healthy control group of 176 children. Study participants who
      were positive for tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A antibodies underwent a
      duodenal biopsy. Two patients in the migraine group (2.5%) and 1 in the control
      group (0.57%) tested positive for serum tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A
      antibodies (P > .05). Duodenal biopsy did not confirm celiac disease in both
      groups, and these patients were considered "potential celiac" cases. In the
      present study, children with migraine did not exhibit a higher prevalence rate of
      celiac disease compared with healthy controls. Therefore, the screening test for
      celiac disease is not a necessary part of the management of migraine in children.

PMID- 26887414
TI  - Psychosocial factors associated with outcomes of sports injury rehabilitation in
      competitive athletes: a mixed studies systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prime focus of research on sports injury has been on physical
      factors. This is despite our understanding that when an athlete sustains an
      injury it has psychosocial as well as physical impacts. Psychosocial factors have
      been suggested as prognostic influences on the outcomes of rehabilitation. The
      aim of this work was to address the question: are psychosocial factors associated
      with sports injury rehabilitation outcomes in competitive athletes? STUDY DESIGN:
      Mixed studies systematic review (PROSPERO reg.CRD42014008667). METHOD: Electronic
      database and bibliographic searching was undertaken from the earliest entry until
      1 June 2015. Studies that included injured competitive athletes, psychosocial
      factors and a sports injury rehabilitation outcome were reviewed by the authors.
      A quality appraisal of the studies was undertaken to establish the risk of
      reporting bias. RESULTS: 25 studies were evaluated that included 942 injured
      competitive athletes were appraised and synthesised. Twenty studies had not been
      included in previous reviews. The mean methodological quality of the studies was
      59% (moderate risk of reporting bias). Convergent thematic analysis uncovered
      three core themes across the studies: (1) emotion associated with rehabilitation
      outcomes; (2) cognitions associated with rehabilitation outcomes; and (3)
      behaviours associated with rehabilitation outcomes. Injury and performance
      related fears, anxiety and confidence were associated with rehabilitation
      outcomes. There is gender-related, age-related and injury-related bias in the
      reviewed literature. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial factors were associated with a
      range of sports injury rehabilitation outcomes. Practitioners need to recognise
      that an injured athlete's thoughts, feelings and actions may influence the
      outcome of rehabilitation.

PMID- 26887415
TI  - Muscle injury is the principal injury type and hamstring muscle injury is the
      first injury diagnosis during top-level international athletics championships
      between 2007 and 2015.
AB  - BACKGROUND: During top-level international athletics championships, muscle
      injuries are frequent. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the incidence and characteristics of
      muscle injuries and hamstring muscle injuries (hamstring injuries) occurring
      during top-level international athletics championships. METHODS: During 16
      international championships held between 2007 and 2015, national medical team and
      local organising committee physicians reported daily all injuries on a
      standardised injury report form. Only muscle injuries (muscle tears and muscle
      cramps) and hamstring injuries have been analysed. RESULTS: 40.9% of all recorded
      injuries (n=720) were muscle injuries, with 57.5% of them resulting in time loss.
      The overall incidence of muscle injuries was higher in male athletes than female
      athletes (51.9+/-6.0 vs 30.3+/-5.0 injuries per 1000 registered athletes,
      respectively; RR=1.71; 95% CI 1.45 to 2.01). Muscle injuries mainly affected the
      thigh (52.9%) and lower leg (20.1%), and were mostly caused by overuse with
      sudden onset (38.2%) and non-contact trauma (24.6%). Muscle injury risk varied
      according to the event groups. Hamstring injuries represented 17.1% of all
      injuries, with a higher risk in male compared to female athletes (22.4+/-3.4 vs
      11.5+/-2.6 injuries per 1000 registered athletes, respectively; RR=1.94; 95% CI
      1.42 to 2.66). CONCLUSIONS: During international athletics championships, muscle
      injury is the principal type of injury, and among those, the hamstring is the
      most commonly affected, with a two times higher risk in male than female
      athletes. Athletes in explosive power events, male athletes and older male
      athletes, in specific were more at risk of muscle injuries and hamstring
      injuries. Injury prevention strategies should be sex-specific.

PMID- 26887416
TI  - Erratum to: NLK functions to maintain proliferation and stemness of NSCLC and is
      a target of metformin.

PMID- 26887417
TI  - Identification and characterization of thirty novel microsatellite DNA markers
      from the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis expressed sequence tags.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis is an economically
      important decapod crustacean in China. Despite a widespread distribution and
      production in China, the resources of E. sinensis have experienced a dramatic
      decline in the past decades. Here we describe a new set of novel polymorphic
      microsatellite loci to facilitate the investigation of genetic structure and
      artificial breeding. RESULTS: In this study, a set of 30 novel polymorphic
      microsatellite markers for E. sinensis was developed from EST databases. The
      number of alleles per locus ranged from three to twenty. The observed and
      expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.047 to 0.932 and from 0.047 to 0.935,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These informative microsatellite markers will be
      useful in studies of genetics, genomics and marker-assisted selection breeding in
      E. sinensis.

PMID- 26887418
TI  - Tryptophan depletion in context of the inflammatory and general nutritional
      status of a low-income South African HIV-infected population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The essential amino acid tryptophan cannot be synthesised in the body
      and must be acquired through dietary intake. Oxidation of tryptophan, due to
      immune induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), is considered
      to be the main cause of tryptophan depletion in HIV infection and AIDS. We
      examined plasma tryptophan levels in a low-income sub-Saharan HIV-infected
      population and compared it to that of developed countries. Tryptophan levels were
      further examined in context of the general nutritional and inflammatory status.
      METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 105 HIV-positive patients recruited
      from the Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, and 60 HIV-negative
      controls. RESULTS: Patient tryptophan levels were in general markedly lower than
      those reported for developed countries. In contrast to reports from developed
      countries that showed tryptophan levels on average to be 18.8 % lower than their
      control values, tryptophan levels in our study were 44.1 % lower than our
      controls (24.4 +/- 4.1 vs. 43.6 +/- 11.9 MUmol/l; p < 0.001). Tryptophan levels
      correlated with both CD4 counts (r = 0.341; p = 0.004) and with pro-inflammatory
      activity as indicated by neopterin levels (r = -0.399; p = 0.0001). Nutritional
      indicators such as albumin and haemoglobin correlated positively with tryptophan
      and negatively with the pro-inflammatory indicators neopterin, interleukin 6 and
      C-reactive protein. The most probable causes of the lower tryptophan levels seen
      in our population are food insecurity and higher levels of inflammatory activity.
      CONCLUSIONS: We contend that inflammation-induced tryptophan depletion forms part
      of a much wider effect of pro-inflammatory activity on the nutritional profile of
      HIV-infected patients.

PMID- 26887419
TI  - The relationship between serum fatty-acid binding protein 4 level and lung
      function in Korean subjects with normal ventilatory function.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the association of lung function
      with serum fatty-acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in apparently healthy Korean
      adults. METHODS: In 495 participants in a health screening program, Force
      Exploratory Volume (FEV) 1 and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) were assessed with
      standard spirometry. Subjects with obstructive (n = 19) and restrictive (n = 45)
      lung function were excluded from the analysis. Serum FABP4 level was measured by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and transformed into Ln(FABP4). 431 subjects
      with normal ventilator function (72.4% men, mean age 41 years) were included in
      the final analysis. RESULTS: Mean Ln(FABP4) significantly decreased in subjects
      from 1(st) quartile to 4(th) quartile of FVC (p = 0.008). Ln(FABP4) did not show
      significant differences across the quartile groups of FEV1. The odds ratio (OR)
      of being in the lowest quartile of FVC was 2.704 in subject with 3(rd) tertile of
      Ln(FABP4) after full adjustment for confounding variables {95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.397 ~ 5.357}. OR of being in the lowest quartile of FEV1 was
      1.822 (95% CI 1.021 ~ 3.298) in subjects with 3(rd) tertile of Ln(FABP4) after
      adjustment of age and sex, which was attenuated after full adjustment for
      confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Increased FABP4 level showed increased risk
      for reduced lung function in subjects with normal ventilatory function.

PMID- 26887421
TI  - Appropriate design, methodological quality assessment, and clinically relevant
      outcomes are essential to determine the therapeutic role of epidural injections
      for low back pain and radiculopathy.

PMID- 26887420
TI  - Effects of naturopathic medicines on Multiplate and ROTEM: a prospective
      experimental pilot study in healthy volunteers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Of patients undergoing surgery, 22 to 57% have been reported to be
      using naturopathic medicines. Several of these medicines have been reported to
      increase bleeding or enhance the effect of other drugs that increase bleeding.
      The Swedish Medical Products Agency recommends cessation of the use of the
      naturopathic medicines echinacea, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St. John's
      wort, valeriana and garlic 2 weeks before surgery. The aim of this pilot study
      was to examine the effects of these 7 naturopathic medicines in healthy humans by
      utilising multiple electrode aggregometer (Multiplate) and viscoelastic
      rotational thromboelastometer (ROTEM) to obtain data for sample size calculation
      before a larger trial. METHODS: Thirty-five healthy volunteers ingested one of
      the listed naturopathic medicines for 7 days. Each naturopathic medicine was
      taken in a recommended standard dose by 5 volunteers. ROTEM clot initiation (CT),
      clot formation (CFT), alpha-angle (AA) and clot structure (MCF) were analysed
      with tissue factor activated (EXTEM) and native (NATEM) assays. The Multiplate
      platelet aggregation area under curve (AUC) was measured with adenosine
      diphosphate (ADP), collagen (COL) and arachidonic acid (ASPI) assays. RESULTS:
      Multiplate with ADP agonist decreased from 73 +/- 8.7 AUC to 60 +/- 5.9 AUC (P =
      0.003, 95% confidence interval (CI) -19.2 to -7.6) after medication with fish
      oil, but fish oil had no effect on COL or ASPI reagents. None of the other
      naturopathic medicines had any effect on Multiplate aggregometry. ROTEM NATEM-CFT
      increased from 217 +/- 32 s to 283 +/- 20 (P = 0.009, 95% CI 26.8 to 107), and
      NATEM-AA decreased from 52 +/- 3.9 degrees  to 44 +/- 2.3 degrees  (P = 0.009, 95
      % CI -12.0 to -3.2) after medication with fish oil. There were no significant
      changes in the other NATEM or EXTEM parameters. The other naturopathic medicines
      had no significant effects on ROTEM or Multiplate aggregometry. CONCLUSIONS: We
      have demonstrated that a recommended standard intake of 1260 mg Omega-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) daily - but not echinacea, ginkgo biloba,
      ginseng, St. John's wort, valeriana or garlic - may decrease platelet aggregation
      and clot formation. A larger trial in this setting would be meaningful to
      perform. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration ISRCTN78027929. Registered 19 May
      2015.

PMID- 26887422
TI  - Cardiac resynchronisation therapy with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
      appears to be cost-effective in patients with mild heart failure.

PMID- 26887423
TI  - Insomnia is associated with risk of future cardiovascular events irrespective of
      comorbidities.

PMID- 26887424
TI  - Both paroxetine and imipramine appear to be ineffective in adolescents with major
      depression, furthermore doubts have risen about their safety.

PMID- 26887425
TI  - JAK inhibitors truly changing the therapeutic paradigm in myelofibrosis.

PMID- 26887426
TI  - Adenosine Triphosphate Regresses Endometrial Explants in a Rat Model of
      Endometriosis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the effects of adenosine triphosphate
      (ATP) in a rat endometriosis model. After surgical induction of endometriosis, 3
      rats were killed, and explants were measured in the remaining 19 rats, which were
      then randomly assigned to 4 groups. Group 1 (n = 4) received normal saline (2
      mL/d intragastric [IG]), group 2 (n = 4) gestrinone (0.5 mg/kg/d IG), group 3 (n
      = 5) ATP (3.4 mg/kg/d IG), and group 4 (n = 6) ATP (1.0 mg/kg/d;
      intramuscularly), respectively. Four weeks after medication, they were euthanized
      to evaluate histological features of explants and eutopic uterine tissues. To
      test the effect of ATP on the growth of eutopic endometrium stromal cells,
      proliferation rates of hEM15A cells at 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment with
      different concentrations of ATP and vehicle control were detected with the Cell
      Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. There was a significant difference between
      pretreatment and posttreatment volumes within group 2 (positive control; P =
      .048) and group 4 (P = .044). On condition that pretreatment implant size was
      similar in both groups (P = .516), regression of explants in group 4 was
      significantly higher than that in group 1 (negative control; P = .035).
      Epithelial cells were significantly better preserved in group 1 than in group 3
      (P = .008) and group 4 (P = .037). The CCK-8 assay showed no significant
      difference in proliferation among hEM15A cells treated with ATP and controls.
      These results suggest that ATP regresses endometriotic tissues in a rat
      endometriosis model but has no impact on the growth of eutopic endometrium
      stromal cells.

PMID- 26887427
TI  - Elevated Systemic Levels of Endocannabinoids and Related Mediators Across the
      Menstrual Cycle in Women With Endometriosis.
AB  - Cannabinoids and modulators of the endocannabinoid system affect specific
      mechanisms that are critical to the establishment and development of
      endometriosis. The aim of this study was to measure the systemic levels of
      endocannabinoids and related mediators in women with and without endometriosis
      and to investigate whether such levels correlated with endometriosis-associated
      pain. Plasma and endometrial biopsies were obtained from women with a
      laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis (n = 27) and no endometrial pathology (n
      = 29). Plasma levels of endocannabinoids (N-arachidonoylethanolamine [AEA] and 2
      arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG]) and related mediators (N-oleoylethanolamine [OEA]
      and N-palmitoylethanolamine [PEA]), messenger RNA expression of some of their
      receptors (cannabinoid receptor type 1 [CB1], CB2, transient receptor potential
      vanilloid type [TRPV1]), and the enzymes involved in the synthesis (N-acyl
      phosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D [NAPE-PLD]) and degradation
      (fatty acid amide hydrolase 1 [FAAH]) of AEA, OEA, and PEA were evaluated in
      endometrial stromal cells. The systemic levels of AEA, 2-AG, and OEA were
      elevated in endometriosis in the secretory phase compared to controls. The
      expression of CB1 was higher in secretory phase endometrial stromal cells of
      controls versus endometriosis. Similar expression levels of CB2, TRPV1, NAPE-PLD,
      and FAAH were detected in controls and endometriosis. Patients with moderate-to
      severe dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia showed higher AEA and PEA levels than those
      with low-to-moderate pain symptoms, respectively. The association of increased
      circulating AEA and 2-AG with decreased local CB1 expression in endometriosis
      suggests a negative feedback loop regulation, which may impair the capability of
      these mediators to control pain. These preliminary data suggest that the
      pharmacological manipulation of the action or levels of these mediators may offer
      an alternative option for the management of endometriosis-associated pain.

PMID- 26887428
TI  - Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in a Rat
      Model of Preeclampsia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HU
      MSC) transplantation on reversing preeclampsia (PE) symptoms in a
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat PE model. METHODS: Human umbilical cord MSCs
      were detected, isolated, and cultured. Human umbilical cord MSC transplantation
      was conducted. Expressions of inflammatory cytokines in serum and placental
      tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in
      inflammatory cytokines, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
      (PPARgamma), laminin receptor 1 (LR1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP
      9 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in placental tissue were recorded by quantitative
      real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting
      were performed for PPARgamma detection. RESULTS: The LPS group exhibited
      increased blood pressure and proteinuria and decreased fetal weight compared to
      the normal pregnancy (NP) group (all P < .05). The LPS + MSC group presented
      lowered blood pressure and higher fetal weight than the LPS group (P < .05). The
      levels of interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin
      (IL) 1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)
      increased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 levels decreased in the LPS group
      compared to the NP group (all P < .05). Tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, IL-12,
      and ICAM-1 levels decreased and IL-10 level increased in the LPS + MSC group
      compared to the LPS group (all P < .05). The LPS-MSC group showed lower mRNA
      expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-6, MMP-2, MMP-9, and ICAM-1 and higher mRNA
      expressions of IL-10, PPARgamma, and LR1 than the LPS group (all P < .05).
      CONCLUSION: In summary, HU-MSC transplantation may be extremely beneficial for PE
      therapy.

PMID- 26887429
TI  - Probing the Buried Magnetic Interfaces.
AB  - Understanding magnetism in ferromagnetic metal/semiconductor (FM/SC)
      heterostructures is important to the development of the new-generation spin field
      effect transistor. Here, we report an element-specific X-ray magnetic circular
      dichroism study of the interfacial magnetic moments for two FM/SC model systems,
      namely, Co/GaAs and Ni/GaAs, which was enabled using a specially designed
      FM1/FM2/SC superstructure. We observed a robust room temperature magnetization of
      the interfacial Co, while that of the interfacial Ni was strongly diminished down
      to 5 K because of hybridization of the Ni d(eg) and GaAs sp(3) states. The
      validity of the selected method was confirmed by first-principles calculations,
      showing only small deviations (<0.02 and <0.07 MUB/atom for Co/GaAs and Ni/GaAs,
      respectively) compared to the real FM/SC interfaces. Our work proved that the
      electronic structure and magnetic ground state of the interfacial FM2 is not
      altered when the topmost FM2 is replaced by FM1 and that this model is applicable
      generally for probing the buried magnetic interfaces in the advanced spintronic
      materials.. 

PMID- 26887430
TI  - Measuring redox-active species in cells and tissues. Focus on "A case of mistaken
      identity: are reactive oxygen species actually reactive sulfide species?".

PMID- 26887431
TI  - Development of ovine chorionic somatomammotropin hormone-deficient pregnancies.
AB  - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality
      and morbidity. Chorionic somatomammotropin hormone (CSH), a placenta-specific
      secretory product found at high concentrations in maternal and fetal circulation
      throughout gestation, is significantly reduced in human and sheep IUGR
      pregnancies. The objective of this study was to knock down ovine CSH (oCSH)
      expression in vivo using lentiviral-mediated short-hairpin RNA to test the
      hypothesis that oCSH deficiency would result in IUGR of near-term fetal lambs.
      Three different lentiviral oCSH-targeting constructs were used and compared with
      pregnancies (n = 8) generated with a scrambled control (SC) lentiviral construct.
      Pregnancies were harvested at 135 days of gestation. The most effective targeting
      sequence, "target 6" (tg6; n = 8), yielded pregnancies with significant
      reductions (P <= 0.05) in oCSH mRNA (50%) and protein (38%) concentrations, as
      well as significant reductions (P <= 0.05) in placental (52%) and fetal (32%)
      weights compared with the SC pregnancies. Fetal liver weights were reduced 41% (P
      <= 0.05), yet fetal liver insulin-like growth factor-I (oIGF1) and -II mRNA
      concentrations were reduced (P <= 0.05) 82 and 71%, respectively, and umbilical
      artery oIGF1 concentrations were reduced 62% (P <= 0.05) in tg6 pregnancies.
      Additionally, fetal liver oIGF-binding protein (oIGFBP) 2 and oIGFBP3 mRNA
      concentrations were reduced (P <= 0.05), whereas fetal liver oIGFBP1 mRNA
      concentration was not impacted nor was maternal liver oIGF and oIGFBP mRNA
      concentrations or uterine artery oIGF1 concentrations (P >= 0.10). Based on our
      results, it appears that oCSH deficiency does result in IUGR, by impacting
      placental development as well as fetal liver development and function.

PMID- 26887432
TI  - Voluntary wheel running attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced liver inflammation
      in mice.
AB  - Sepsis induces an acute inflammatory response in the liver, which can lead to
      organ failure and death. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise, we
      hypothesized that habitual physical activity could protect against acute sepsis
      induced liver inflammation via mechanisms, including heat shock protein (HSP)
      70/72. Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 80, ~8 wk of age) engaged in physical activity via
      voluntary wheel running (VWR) or cage control (SED) for 10 wk. To induce sepsis,
      we injected (2 mg/kg ip) LPS or sterile saline (SAL), and liver was harvested 6
      or 12 h later. VWR attenuated increases in body and epididymal adipose tissue
      mass, improved glucose tolerance, and increased liver protein content of PEPCK (P
      < 0.05). VWR attenuated increases in LPS-induced IL-6 signaling and mRNA
      expression of other inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha, chemokine C-C motif ligand
      2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, IL-10, IL-1beta) in the liver; however, this
      was not reflected at the whole body level, as systemic markers of inflammation
      were similar between SED and VWR. Insulin tolerance was greater in VWR compared
      with SED at 6 but not 12 h after LPS. The protective effect of VWR occurred in
      parallel with increases in the liver protein content of HSP70/72, a molecular
      chaperone that can protect against inflammatory challenges. This study provides
      novel evidence that physical activity protects against the inflammatory cascade
      induced by LPS in the liver and that these effects may be mediated via HSP70/72.

PMID- 26887433
TI  - Factors related to fatigue in Chinese patients with end-stage renal disease
      receiving maintenance hemodialysis: a multi-center cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUD: Fatigue is considered as a common symptom in patients with end-stage
      renal disease (ESRD) and can significantly decrease patients' quality of life.
      This study aimed to assess fatigue in hemodialysis patients and to investigate
      risk factors of fatigue in Chinese patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis
      (MHD) in China. METHODS: Eligible patients completed questionnaires including
      demographic information, a Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of
      Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue), the Family APGAR Index (APGAR),
      the medical outcomes study health status-Social Functioning subscale (SF
      36,SocF), and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Laboratory parameters
      were abstracted by medical records review. The multiple linear regression model
      was used to relate parameters with the FACIT-Fatigue score. RESULTS: A total of
      345 MHD patients (216 men and 129 women, age 55.6 +/- 12.8) were recruited in
      this study. The score of FACIT-Fatigue was 39 (Interquartile Range, 31-44).
      Fatigue was correlated with PSQI scores (p < 0.001), SocF scores (p < 0.001),
      comorbidity (p = 0.006), exercise time <1 hour per day (p = 0.003), adequacy of
      dialysis (Kt/V) < 1.2 (p = 0.016), APGAR scores (p = 0.014), and high Scr (p =
      0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is related to sleep disturbance, social and family
      functioning, taking physical exercise time, comorbidity condition, Kt/V and serum
      creatinine level in Chinese MHD patients. Future studies and interventions should
      focus on developing strategies and improving the quality of life in patients by
      addressing these significant contributing factors.

PMID- 26887434
TI  - Gastric varicella: two cases in cancer patients.
AB  - Gastric involvement with the varicella-zoster virus is an uncommon clinical
      condition where early suspicion and diagnosis are important to prevent the
      consequences deriving from its high morbidity and mortality, which in
      immunocompromised patients oscillate between 9% and 41% according to the various
      series. Two cases of gastric involvement with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in
      two patients with blood cancer are reported below. Gastric lesions are usually
      preceded by typical papulovesicular skin lesions. When gastric involvement is the
      first symptom of the disease its diagnosis and management may be delayed, which
      may entail severe consequences for immunocompromised patients. It is therefore
      that we suggest its inclusion in the algorithm for immunocompromised patients
      with abdominal pain and ulcer-like endoscopic lesions.

PMID- 26887435
TI  - Relapsing polychondritis complicated by cognitive dysfunction: two distinct
      clinical phenotypes?
AB  - Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare, immune-mediated condition affecting
      approximately 3.5 per million population per year. Neurological involvement in
      RPC is still rarer and is presumed to be the result of a vasculitic process,
      although this is seldom confirmed in the literature. We present two cases of RPC
      complicated by cognitive dysfunction with contrasting clinical trajectories. Our
      findings suggest that there are two clinical phenotypes of cognitive dysfunction
      in RPC. The first is a fulminant, multisystem presentation with sub-acute
      cognitive decline mimicking central nervous system vasculitis, and we provide
      histopathological evidence of this process occurring. The other is an insidious
      cognitive decline without associated constitutional or systemic symptoms.

PMID- 26887436
TI  - CellECT: cell evolution capturing tool.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Robust methods for the segmentation and analysis of cells in 3D time
      sequences (3D+t) are critical for quantitative cell biology. While many automated
      methods for segmentation perform very well, few generalize reliably to diverse
      datasets. Such automated methods could significantly benefit from at least
      minimal user guidance. Identification and correction of segmentation errors in
      time-series data is of prime importance for proper validation of the subsequent
      analysis. The primary contribution of this work is a novel method for interactive
      segmentation and analysis of microscopy data, which learns from and guides user
      interactions to improve overall segmentation. RESULTS: We introduce an
      interactive cell analysis application, called CellECT, for 3D+t microscopy
      datasets. The core segmentation tool is watershed-based and allows the user to
      add, remove or modify existing segments by means of manipulating guidance
      markers. A confidence metric learns from the user interaction and highlights
      regions of uncertainty in the segmentation for the user's attention. User
      corrected segmentations are then propagated to neighboring time points. The
      analysis tool computes local and global statistics for various cell measurements
      over the time sequence. Detailed results on two large datasets containing
      membrane and nuclei data are presented: a 3D+t confocal microscopy dataset of the
      ascidian Phallusia mammillata consisting of 18 time points, and a 3D+t single
      plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) dataset consisting of 192 time points.
      Additionally, CellECT was used to segment a large population of jigsaw-puzzle
      shaped epidermal cells from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. The cell coordinates
      obtained using CellECT are compared to those of manually segmented cells.
      CONCLUSIONS: CellECT provides tools for convenient segmentation and analysis of
      3D+t membrane datasets by incorporating human interaction into automated
      algorithms. Users can modify segmentation results through the help of guidance
      markers, and an adaptive confidence metric highlights problematic regions.
      Segmentations can be propagated to multiple time points, and once a segmentation
      is available for a time sequence cells can be analyzed to observe trends. The
      segmentation and analysis tools presented here generalize well to membrane or
      cell wall volumetric time series datasets.

PMID- 26887438
TI  - Small-molecule PSMA ligands. Current state, SAR and perspectives.
AB  - Prostate cancer (PC) is the prevalent malignancy widespread among men in the
      Western World. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an established PC
      marker and has been considered as a promising biological target for anti-PC drug
      delivery and diagnostics. The protein was found to be overexpressed in PC cells,
      including metastatic, and the neovasculature of solid tumors. These properties
      make PSMA-based approach quite appropriate for effective PC imaging and specific
      drug therapy. Through the past decade, a variety of PSMA-targeted agents has been
      systematically evaluated. Small-molecule compounds have several advantages over
      other classes, such as improved pharmacokinetics and rapid blood clearance. These
      low-weight ligands have similar structure and can be divided into three basic
      categories in accordance with the type of their zinc-binding core-head. Several
      PSMA binders are currently undergoing clinical trials generally for PC imaging.
      The main goal of the present review is to describe the recent progress achieved
      within the title field and structure activity relationships (SAR) disclosed for
      different PSMA ligands. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies for each type of the
      compounds described have also been briefly summarized.

PMID- 26887439
TI  - Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 protects against cytotoxicity induced
      by polyunsaturated fatty acids.
AB  - The degree of fatty acid unsaturation in membrane phospholipids affects many
      membrane-associated functions and can be influenced by dietary consumption of
      fatty acids such as saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids
      (PUFAs). Cells must adapt to changes in composition of membrane fatty acids by
      regulating lipid-metabolizing enzymes. In this study, we investigated how cells
      respond to loading with excess PUFAs, such as arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic
      acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. A lipidomics analysis revealed that
      dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was increased after the production of PUFA
      containing phospholipids in cells loaded with PUFAs. An RNA interference screen
      of lipid-metabolizing enzymes revealed that lysophosphatidylcholine
      acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) was involved in the DPPC production. Moreover, LPCAT1
      knockdown markedly enhanced the cytotoxicity induced by excess PUFAs. PUFA
      induced cytotoxicity was dependent on caspase and unfolded protein response (UPR)
      sensor proteins inositol requiring 1alpha and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic
      reticulum kinase, suggesting that excess PUFAs trigger UPR-mediated apoptosis. In
      murine retina, in which PUFAs are highly enriched, DPPC was produced along with
      increase of PUFA-containing phospholipids. In LPCAT1 knockout mice, DPPC level
      was reduced and UPR was activated in the retina. Our results provide insight into
      understanding of the retinal degeneration seen in rd11 mice that lack LPCAT1.
      Akagi, S., Kono, N., Ariyama, H., Shindou, H., Shimizu, T., Arai, H.
      Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 protects against cytotoxicity induced
      by polyunsaturated fatty acids.

PMID- 26887440
TI  - Corticosteroid modulation of immunoglobulin expression and B-cell function in
      COPD.
AB  - We investigated changes in gene expression that occur in chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease (COPD) after corticosteroid treatment and sought to identify
      the mechanisms that regulate these changes. Biopsy samples were taken from
      patients with COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage
      I to II) before and after treatment with fluticasone propionate (FP)/salmeterol
      (SM) (50/500, 4 wk). Gene expression was measured by microarray and was confirmed
      by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The effect of FP
      on IgG expression and B-cell proliferation in the presence of oxidative stress
      was also studied. FP/SM significantly increased the expression of 180 genes while
      repressing 343 genes. The top 5 down-regulated genes were associated with
      immunoglobulin production, whereas the immunomodulatory FK506 binding protein
      (FK506BP) was up-regulated. Genes including IL6, IL8, and TBET-encoding TBX21
      were unaffected. FP reduced IgG protein and mRNA expression and proliferation of
      human B cells through the dephosphorylation of ERK-1/2 via increased DUSP1 (dual
      specificity protein phosphatase 1) expression. Consistent with in vivo data,
      oxidative stress did not prevent FP-induced suppression of IgG expression in
      human B cells in vitro Changes in expression were validated by RT-qPCR and by
      gene set enrichment analysis in distinct COPD cohorts. FP may reduce the adaptive
      immune response in COPD and may be more effective in patients with an increased B
      cell/antibody response indicated by high autoantibody titers.-Lee, J., Machin,
      M., Russell, K. E., Pavlidis, S., Zhu, J., Barnes, P. J., Chung, K. F., Adcock,
      I. M., Durham, A. L. Corticosteroid modulation of immunoglobulin expression and B
      cell function in COPD.

PMID- 26887441
TI  - MicroRNA-150 regulates blood-brain barrier permeability via Tie-2 after permanent
      middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.
AB  - The mechanism of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, involved in poststroke
      edema and hemorrhagic transformation, is important but elusive. We investigated
      microRNA-150 (miR-150)-mediated mechanism in the disruption of BBB after stroke
      in rats. We found that up-regulation of miR-150 increased permeability of BBB as
      detected by MRI after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in vivo as well
      as increased permeability of brain microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen
      glucose deprivation in vitro. The expression of claudin-5, a key tight junction
      protein, was decreased in the ischemic boundary zone after up-regulation of miR
      150. We found in brain microvascular endothelial cells that overexpression of miR
      150 decreased not only cell survival rate but also the expression levels of
      claudin-5 after oxygen-glucose deprivation. With dual-luciferase assay, we
      confirmed that miR-150 could directly regulate the angiopoietin receptor Tie-2.
      Moreover, silencing Tie-2 with lentivirus-delivered small interfering RNA
      reversed the effect of miR-150 on endothelial permeability, cell survival, and
      claudin-5 expression. Furthermore, poststroke treatment with antagomir-150, a
      specific miR-150 antagonist, contributed to BBB protection, infarct volume
      reduction, and amelioration of neurologic deficits. Collectively, our findings
      suggested that miR-150 could regulate claudin-5 expression and endothelial cell
      survival by targeting Tie-2, thus affecting the permeability of BBB after
      permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats, and that miR-150 might be a
      potential alternative target for the treatment of stroke.-Fang, Z., He, Q.-W.,
      Li, Q., Chen, X.-L., Baral, S., Jin, H.-J., Zhu, Y.-Y., Li, M., Xia, Y.-P., Mao,
      L., Hu, B. MicroRNA-150 regulates blood-brain barrier permeability via Tie-2
      after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

PMID- 26887442
TI  - Respective roles of hyaluronidases 1 and 2 in endogenous hyaluronan turnover.
AB  - We studied the physiologic roles of the hyaluronidase (HYAL) 1 and HYAL2 in
      hyaluronan (HA) turnover. HA was localized and quantified using HA binding
      proteins in various tissues of Hyal1(-/-) and Hyal2(-/-) mice (knockout mice) as
      well as control mice. HA MW was determined using gel filtration chromatography.
      HA endocytosis in liver nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) was quantified in vivo Both
      Hyal1 and Hyal2 knockout mice showed HA accumulation in peripheral tissues
      without changes in HA MW distribution. HYAL2 deficiency induced buildup of very
      high MW (>3.10(6) Da) HA in lymph and serum with severe lymph node distortion.
      The lack of HYAL2 also impaired high MW HA endocytosis by liver NPCs. HYAL1
      deficiency led to a moderate increase in serum HA concentration without changes
      in HA MW distribution and to HA overload of liver NPCs. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice
      served as controls. In HA injection experiments, saline-injected mice served as
      additional controls. We conclude that: 1) HYAL1 and HYAL2 are both needed for
      tissue HA catabolism; 2) HYAL2 is required for high MW HA clearance in lymph
      nodes and plasma and for HA endocytosis by liver NPCs; and 3) the main role of
      HYAL1 is HA degradation within liver NPCs.-Bourguignon, V., Flamion, B.
      Respective roles of hyaluronidases 1 and 2 in endogenous hyaluronan turnover.

PMID- 26887443
TI  - Hypoxic HepG2 cell adaptation decreases ATP synthase dimers and ATP production in
      inflated cristae by mitofilin down-regulation concomitant to MICOS clustering.
AB  - The relationship of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) cristae structure and
      intracristal space (ICS) to oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) is not well
      understood. Mitofilin (subunit Mic60) of the mitochondrial contact site and
      cristae organizing system (MICOS) IMM complex is attached to the outer membrane
      (OMM) via the sorting and assembly machinery/topogenesis of mitochondrial outer
      membrane beta-barrel proteins (SAM/TOB) complex and controls the shape of the
      cristae. ATP synthase dimers determine sharp cristae edges, whereas trimeric OPA1
      tightens ICS outlets. Metabolism is altered during hypoxia, and we therefore
      studied cristae morphology in HepG2 cells adapted to 5% oxygen for 72 h. Three
      dimensional (3D), super-resolution biplane fluorescence photoactivation
      localization microscopy with Eos-conjugated, ICS-located lactamase-beta indicated
      hypoxic ICS expansion with an unchanged OMM (visualized by Eos-mitochondrial
      fission protein-1). 3D direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy
      immunocytochemistry revealed foci of clustered mitofilin (but not MICOS subunit
      Mic19) in contrast to its even normoxic distribution. Mitofilin mRNA and protein
      decreased by ~20%. ATP synthase dimers vs monomers and state-3/state-4
      respiration ratios were lower during hypoxia. Electron microscopy confirmed ICS
      expansion (maximum in glycolytic cells), which was absent in reduced or OMM
      detached cristae of OPA1- and mitofilin-silenced cells, respectively. Hypoxic
      adaptation is reported as rounding sharp cristae edges and expanding cristae
      width (ICS) by partial mitofilin/Mic60 down-regulation. Mitofilin-depleted MICOS
      detaches from SAM while remaining MICOS with mitofilin redistributes toward
      higher interdistances. This phenomenon causes partial oxphos dormancy in
      glycolytic cells via disruption of ATP synthase dimers.-Plecita-Hlavata, L.,
      Engstova, H., Alan, L., Spacek, T., Dlaskova, A., Smolkova, K., Spackova, J.,
      Tauber, J., Stradalova, V., Malinsky, J., Lessard, M., Bewersdorf, J., Jezek, P.
      Hypoxic HepG2 cell adaptation decreases ATP synthase dimers and ATP production in
      inflated cristae by mitofilin down-regulation concomitant to MICOS clustering.

PMID- 26887444
TI  - Manipulating the interfacial structure of nanomaterials to achieve a unique
      combination of strength and ductility.
AB  - The control of interfaces in engineered nanostructured materials has met limited
      success compared with that which has evolved in natural materials, where
      hierarchical structures with distinct interfacial states are often found. Such
      interface control could mitigate common limitations of engineering nanomaterials.
      For example, nanostructured metals exhibit extremely high strength, but this
      benefit comes at the expense of other important properties like ductility. Here,
      we report a technique for combining nanostructuring with recent advances capable
      of tuning interface structure, a complementary materials design strategy that
      allows for unprecedented property combinations. Copper-based alloys with both
      grain sizes in the nanometre range and distinct grain boundary structural
      features are created, using segregating dopants and a processing route that
      favours the formation of amorphous intergranular films. The mechanical behaviour
      of these alloys shows that the trade-off between strength and ductility typically
      observed for metallic materials is successfully avoided here. 

PMID- 26887445
TI  - Organic heterojunctions: Contact-induced molecular reorientation, interface
      states, and charge re-distribution.
AB  - We reveal the rather complex interplay of contact-induced re-orientation and
      interfacial electronic structure - in the presence of Fermi-level pinning - at
      prototypical molecular heterojunctions comprising copper phthalocyanine (H16CuPc)
      and its perfluorinated analogue (F16CuPc), by employing ultraviolet photoelectron
      and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. For both layer sequences, we find that Fermi
      level (EF) pinning of the first layer on the conductive polymer substrate
      modifies the work function encountered by the second layer such that it also
      becomes EF-pinned, however, at the interface towards the first molecular layer.
      This results in a charge transfer accompanied by a sheet charge density at the
      organic/organic interface. While molecules in the bulk of the films exhibit
      upright orientation, contact formation at the heterojunction results in an
      interfacial bilayer with lying and co-facial orientation. This interfacial layer
      is not EF-pinned, but provides for an additional density of states at the
      interface that is not present in the bulk. With reliable knowledge of the organic
      heterojunction's electronic structure we can explain the poor performance of
      these in photovoltaic cells as well as their valuable function as charge
      generation layer in electronic devices. 

PMID- 26887446
TI  - Guidelines for Performing Dermatologic Ultrasound Examinations by the DERMUS
      Group.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To support standardization for performing dermatologic ultrasound
      examinations. METHODS: An international working group, called DERMUS
      (Dermatologic Ultrasound), was formed, composed of physicians who have been
      working on a regular basis and publishing in peer-reviewed articles on
      dermatologic ultrasound. A questionnaire on 5 critical issues about performance
      of the examinations was prepared and distributed by e-mail. The areas of
      discussion included technical aspects, main areas of application, minimum number
      of examinations per year required for assessing competence, qualifications of the
      personnel in charge of the examination, and organization of courses. Final
      recommendations were approved on the basis of the agreement of more than 50% of
      the members. RESULTS: The minimum frequency recommended for performing
      dermatologic examinations was 15 MHz. Routine use of color Doppler ultrasound and
      the performance of spectral curve analysis for assessing the main vascularity of
      lesions were suggested. Three-dimensional reconstructions were considered
      optional. The main dermatologic applications were benign tumors, skin cancer,
      vascular anomalies, cosmetic field, nail disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
      The minimum number of examinations per year suggested by the group for assessing
      competence was 300. A physician and not a sonographer was recommended to be the
      person in charge of performing the examination. On course organization, a minimum
      of 2 levels of complexity (basic and advanced) was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: There
      is a need to standardize the performance and quality of dermatologic ultrasound
      examinations. The present guidelines written by an international group of
      specialists in the field may support this objective.

PMID- 26887447
TI  - Evaluation of Underlying Lymphocytic Thyroiditis With Histogram Analysis Using
      Grayscale Ultrasound Images.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostic performance of
      histogram analysis using grayscale ultrasound (US) images in the diagnosis of
      lymphocytic thyroiditis. METHODS: Three radiologists reviewed a total of 505 US
      images and classified the images according to the presence/existence of
      lymphocytic thyroiditis. After 2 months, each reviewer repeated the process with
      the same 505 images in a randomly mixed order. The intraobserver and
      interobserver variability was analyzed with a generalized kappa value. Four
      histogram parameters (mean value, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis)
      were obtained, and an index was calculated from principal component analysis.
      Diagnostic performances were compared. RESULTS: Of 505 patients, 125 (24.8%) had
      lymphocytic thyroiditis, and 380 (75.2%) had normal thyroid parenchyma on
      pathologic analysis. The kappa value for intraobserver variance ranged from 
      0.002 to 0.781, and the overall kappa values for interobserver variance were
      0.570 and 0.214 in the first and second tests, respectively. The sensitivity,
      specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value
      for the 3 reviewers versus the principal component analysis index were 28.0% to
      83.2%, 43.7% to 82.6%, 53.5% to 79.0%, 24.6% to 56.2%, and 75.2% to 88.9% versus
      58.4%, 72.4%, 68.9%, 41.0%, and 84.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Histogram analysis of
      grayscale US images provided confirmable and quantitative information about
      lymphocytic thyroiditis and was comparable with performers' assessments in
      diagnostic performance.

PMID- 26887448
TI  - Damage Effects on Bacille Calmette-Guerin by Low-Frequency, Low-Intensity
      Ultrasound: A Pilot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To perform an in vitro experimental study of the possible damage
      effects on Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) by low-frequency (42-kHz) ultrasound
      (US) irradiation at low spatially and temporally averaged intensities and
      different exposure times. METHODS: A 2-mL BCG suspension was added to the wells
      of a 24-well cell culture plate. Then the samples were randomly divided into 4
      groups, each group including 3 wells, with group 1 as a control group and groups
      2, 3, and 4, as US treatment groups. The samples for groups 2, 3, and 4 were
      irradiated with US at 0.13 W/cm(2) for 5 minutes, 0.13 W/cm(2) for 15 minutes,
      and 1.53 W/cm(2) for 15 minutes, respectively. After irradiation, the
      temperature, ratio of damage, and structure of the bacteria were examined. The
      cavitation effect of the device was detected by the passive cavitation detection
      method. RESULTS: After US irradiation at the different doses (intensity and
      exposure time), no significant temperature change was found in all sample
      suspensions. The ratio of bacterial damage tested by flow cytometry and the
      optical density of the suspensions as assayed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)
      2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric method showed that the US-irradiated
      groups were significantly different from the control group. The BCG damage ratio
      reached 28% at the intensity of 1.53 W/cm(2). Transmission electron microscopic
      results showed that the bacterial structure of BCG could be destroyed by low
      frequency, low-intensity US. CONCLUSIONS: Low-frequency, low-intensity US can
      cause acute injury to BCG, and the degree of injury is closely correlated with
      the US dose applied.

PMID- 26887449
TI  - Three-Dimensional Sonography of Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients With Breast
      Cancer.
AB  - Sonography is useful in the evaluation of axillary lymph nodes in patients with
      breast cancer. In this pictorial essay, we review the range of grayscale and
      Doppler appearances of abnormal axillary lymph nodes on 2-dimensional and 3
      dimensional imaging. 

PMID- 26887450
TI  - Evaluation of Fetal First and Second Cervical Vertebrae: Normal or Abnormal?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To use 3-dimensional sonographic volumes to evaluate the variable
      appearance of the normal fetal cervical spine and craniocervical junction, which
      if unrecognized may lead to misdiagnosis of malalignment at the first and second
      cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2). METHODS: Three-dimensional sonographic volumes of
      the fetal cervical spine were obtained from 24 fetuses at gestational ages
      between 12 weeks 6 days and 35 weeks 1 day. The volumes were reviewed on 4
      dimensional software, and the vertebral level was determined by labeling the
      first rib-bearing vertebra as the first thoracic vertebra. The ossification
      centers of the cervical spine and occipital condyles were then labeled
      accordingly and evaluated for alignment and structure by rotating the volumes in
      oblique planes. The appearance on multiplanar images was assessed for possible
      perceived anomalies, including malalignment, particularly at the C1 and C2
      levels. Evidence of head rotation was correlated with the presence of possible
      malalignment at C1-C2. Head rotation was identified in the axial plane by
      measuring the angle of the anteroposterior axis of C1 to the anteroposterior axis
      of C2. RESULTS: Of the 24 fetuses, 16 had adequate quality to assess the entire
      cervical spine and craniocervical junction. All 16 cases showed an osseous
      component of C1 that did not align directly with C2 on some of the multiplanar
      images when the volumes were rotated, which could lead to suspected diagnosis of
      spinal malalignment or a segmental abnormality, as occurred in 2 clinical cases
      in our practice. All 16 cases showed at least some degree of head rotation,
      ranging from 2 degrees  to 36 degrees , which may possibly explain the apparent
      malalignment. The lateral offset from C1 to C2 ranged from 0.0 to 3.3 mm.
      CONCLUSIONS: The normal C1 and C2 ossification centers may appear to be
      malaligned due to normal offsetting (lateral displacement) of C1 on C2. An
      understanding of the normal development of the cervical spine is important in
      assessing spinal anatomy.

PMID- 26887451
TI  - Erratum to: Results of multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled phase II
      clinical trial of Panagen preparation to evaluate its leukostimulatory activity
      and formation of the adaptive immune response in patients with stage II-IV breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26887452
TI  - Ethics, Science and Mind Control: J. M. Rodriguez-Delgado's Legacy.
AB  - This work analyses the evolution of the scientific visibility of the
      neurophysiologist Jose Manuel Rodriguez Delgado. It examines the longitudinal
      evolution from 1955 to 2013 of an article (Delgado, Roberts, & Miller, 1954)
      studying the neurological basis of learning and motivation and compares it with a
      coetaneous article (Olds & Milner, 1954) with a similar subject and methodology.
      Both studies have been essential in Psychology. This work analyses the number of
      times each article has been cited between 1955-1984 and 1985-2013. The results
      show that the visibility of James Olds and Peter Milner's article (expressed in
      number of citations between 1955-1984 and 1985-2013) has longitudinally increased
      (p < .001), whereas the number of citations received by Jose Manuel Rodriguez
      Delgado et al.'s article has significantly reduced (p < .001). The results are
      discussed and the low visibility of Delgado's article is explained through
      historical and social factors, including the growing concern about compliance
      with bioethical and research guidelines and the controversial media projection of
      the Spanish scientist, not by the intrinsic value or the scientific repercussion
      of the compared articles. 

PMID- 26887453
TI  - Back to Earth.

PMID- 26887454
TI  - Green-sky thinking.

PMID- 26887455
TI  - Chow down.

PMID- 26887456
TI  - Put innovation science at the heart of discovery.

PMID- 26887468
TI  - Gravitational waves: How LIGO forged the path to victory.

PMID- 26887469
TI  - Young scientists poised to ride the gravitational wave.

PMID- 26887470
TI  - A mouse's house may ruin experiments.

PMID- 26887471
TI  - Biologists urged to hug a preprint.

PMID- 26887472
TI  - New Delhi car ban yields trove of pollution data.

PMID- 26887474
TI  - Corrections.

PMID- 26887473
TI  - UN agency proposes greenhouse-gas standard for aircraft.

PMID- 26887475
TI  - What sparked the Cambrian explosion?

PMID- 26887476
TI  - The truth about exoplanets.

PMID- 26887477
TI  - Pollution: Three steps to a green shipping industry.

PMID- 26887481
TI  - Reproducibility: International accord on open data.

PMID- 26887482
TI  - Nuclear waste: Weapons plutonium riskier above ground.

PMID- 26887483
TI  - Energy: Technology alone won't save climate.

PMID- 26887484
TI  - India: Formalize recycling of electronic waste.

PMID- 26887485
TI  - Invasive species: Control wildlife pathogens too.

PMID- 26887486
TI  - Marvin L. Minsky (1927-2016).

PMID- 26887487
TI  - Quantum physics: Photons paired with phonons.

PMID- 26887489
TI  - Climate science: Ice streams waned as ice sheets shrank.

PMID- 26887490
TI  - Cell biology: Form follows function for mitochondria.

PMID- 26887491
TI  - Developmental biology: Females have a lot of guts.

PMID- 26887492
TI  - Super-catastrophic disruption of asteroids at small perihelion distances.
AB  - Most near-Earth objects came from the asteroid belt and drifted via non
      gravitational thermal forces into resonant escape routes that, in turn, pushed
      them onto planet-crossing orbits. Models predict that numerous asteroids should
      be found on orbits that closely approach the Sun, but few have been seen. In
      addition, even though the near-Earth-object population in general is an even mix
      of low-albedo (less than ten per cent of incident radiation is reflected) and
      high-albedo (more than ten per cent of incident radiation is reflected)
      asteroids, the characterized asteroids near the Sun typically have high albedos.
      Here we report a quantitative comparison of actual asteroid detections and a near
      Earth-object model (which accounts for observational selection effects). We
      conclude that the deficit of low-albedo objects near the Sun arises from the
      super-catastrophic breakup (that is, almost complete disintegration) of a
      substantial fraction of asteroids when they achieve perihelion distances of a few
      tens of solar radii. The distance at which destruction occurs is greater for
      smaller asteroids, and their temperatures during perihelion passages are too low
      for evaporation to explain their disappearance. Although both bright and dark
      (high- and low-albedo) asteroids eventually break up, we find that low-albedo
      asteroids are more likely to be destroyed farther from the Sun, which explains
      the apparent excess of high-albedo near-Earth objects and suggests that low
      albedo asteroids break up more easily as a result of thermal effects. 

PMID- 26887493
TI  - Universal resilience patterns in complex networks.
AB  - Resilience, a system's ability to adjust its activity to retain its basic
      functionality when errors, failures and environmental changes occur, is a
      defining property of many complex systems. Despite widespread consequences for
      human health, the economy and the environment, events leading to loss of
      resilience--from cascading failures in technological systems to mass extinctions
      in ecological networks--are rarely predictable and are often irreversible. These
      limitations are rooted in a theoretical gap: the current analytical framework of
      resilience is designed to treat low-dimensional models with a few interacting
      components, and is unsuitable for multi-dimensional systems consisting of a large
      number of components that interact through a complex network. Here we bridge this
      theoretical gap by developing a set of analytical tools with which to identify
      the natural control and state parameters of a multi-dimensional complex system,
      helping us derive effective one-dimensional dynamics that accurately predict the
      system's resilience. The proposed analytical framework allows us systematically
      to separate the roles of the system's dynamics and topology, collapsing the
      behaviour of different networks onto a single universal resilience function. The
      analytical results unveil the network characteristics that can enhance or
      diminish resilience, offering ways to prevent the collapse of ecological,
      biological or economic systems, and guiding the design of technological systems
      resilient to both internal failures and environmental changes.

PMID- 26887494
TI  - Ice stream activity scaled to ice sheet volume during Laurentide Ice Sheet
      deglaciation.
AB  - The contribution of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets to sea level has
      increased in recent decades, largely owing to the thinning and retreat of outlet
      glaciers and ice streams. This dynamic loss is a serious concern, with some
      modelling studies suggesting that the collapse of a major ice sheet could be
      imminent or potentially underway in West Antarctica, but others predicting a more
      limited response. A major problem is that observations used to initialize and
      calibrate models typically span only a few decades, and, at the ice-sheet scale,
      it is unclear how the entire drainage network of ice streams evolves over longer
      timescales. This represents one of the largest sources of uncertainty when
      predicting the contributions of ice sheets to sea-level rise. A key question is
      whether ice streams might increase and sustain rates of mass loss over centuries
      or millennia, beyond those expected for a given ocean-climate forcing. Here we
      reconstruct the activity of 117 ice streams that operated at various times during
      deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (from about 22,000 to 7,000 years ago)
      and show that as they activated and deactivated in different locations, their
      overall number decreased, they occupied a progressively smaller percentage of the
      ice sheet perimeter and their total discharge decreased. The underlying geology
      and topography clearly influenced ice stream activity, but--at the ice-sheet
      scale--their drainage network adjusted and was linked to changes in ice sheet
      volume. It is unclear whether these findings can be directly translated to modern
      ice sheets. However, contrary to the view that sees ice streams as unstable
      entities that can accelerate ice-sheet deglaciation, we conclude that ice streams
      exerted progressively less influence on ice sheet mass balance during the retreat
      of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.

PMID- 26887495
TI  - The sexual identity of adult intestinal stem cells controls organ size and
      plasticity.
AB  - Sex differences in physiology and disease susceptibility are commonly attributed
      to developmental and/or hormonal factors, but there is increasing realization
      that cell-intrinsic mechanisms play important and persistent roles. Here we use
      the Drosophila melanogaster intestine to investigate the nature and importance of
      cellular sex in an adult somatic organ in vivo. We find that the adult intestinal
      epithelium is a cellular mosaic of different sex differentiation pathways, and
      displays extensive sex differences in expression of genes with roles in growth
      and metabolism. Cell-specific reversals of the sexual identity of adult
      intestinal stem cells uncovers the key role this identity has in controlling
      organ size, reproductive plasticity and response to genetically induced tumours.
      Unlike previous examples of sexually dimorphic somatic stem cell activity, the
      sex differences in intestinal stem cell behaviour arise from intrinsic mechanisms
      that control cell cycle duration and involve a new doublesex- and fruitless
      independent branch of the sex differentiation pathway downstream of transformer.
      Together, our findings indicate that the plasticity of an adult somatic organ is
      reversibly controlled by its sexual identity, imparted by a new mechanism that
      may be active in more tissues than previously recognized. 

PMID- 26887498
TI  - DNA tags help the hunt for drugs.

PMID- 26887497
TI  - Crystal structure of the Rous sarcoma virus intasome.
AB  - Integration of the reverse-transcribed viral DNA into the host genome is an
      essential step in the life cycle of retroviruses. Retrovirus integrase catalyses
      insertions of both ends of the linear viral DNA into a host chromosome. Integrase
      from HIV-1 and closely related retroviruses share the three-domain organization,
      consisting of a catalytic core domain flanked by amino- and carboxy-terminal
      domains essential for the concerted integration reaction. Although structures of
      the tetrameric integrase-DNA complexes have been reported for integrase from
      prototype foamy virus featuring an additional DNA-binding domain and longer
      interdomain linkers, the architecture of a canonical three-domain integrase bound
      to DNA remained elusive. Here we report a crystal structure of the three-domain
      integrase from Rous sarcoma virus in complex with viral and target DNAs. The
      structure shows an octameric assembly of integrase, in which a pair of integrase
      dimers engage viral DNA ends for catalysis while another pair of non-catalytic
      integrase dimers bridge between the two viral DNA molecules and help capture
      target DNA. The individual domains of the eight integrase molecules play varying
      roles to hold the complex together, making an extensive network of protein-DNA
      and protein-protein contacts that show both conserved and distinct features
      compared with those observed for prototype foamy virus integrase. Our work
      highlights the diversity of retrovirus intasome assembly and provides insights
      into the mechanisms of integration by HIV-1 and related retroviruses. 

PMID- 26887496
TI  - Cryo-EM reveals a novel octameric integrase structure for betaretroviral intasome
      function.
AB  - Retroviral integrase catalyses the integration of viral DNA into host target DNA,
      which is an essential step in the life cycle of all retroviruses. Previous
      structural characterization of integrase-viral DNA complexes, or intasomes, from
      the spumavirus prototype foamy virus revealed a functional integrase tetramer,
      and it is generally believed that intasomes derived from other retroviral genera
      use tetrameric integrase. However, the intasomes of orthoretroviruses, which
      include all known pathogenic species, have not been characterized structurally.
      Here, using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography,
      we determine an unexpected octameric integrase architecture for the intasome of
      the betaretrovirus mouse mammary tumour virus. The structure is composed of two
      core integrase dimers, which interact with the viral DNA ends and structurally
      mimic the integrase tetramer of prototype foamy virus, and two flanking integrase
      dimers that engage the core structure via their integrase carboxy-terminal
      domains. Contrary to the belief that tetrameric integrase components are
      sufficient to catalyse integration, the flanking integrase dimers were necessary
      for mouse mammary tumour virus integrase activity. The integrase octamer solves a
      conundrum for betaretroviruses as well as alpharetroviruses by providing critical
      carboxy-terminal domains to the intasome core that cannot be provided in cis
      because of evolutionarily restrictive catalytic core domain-carboxy-terminal
      domain linker regions. The octameric architecture of the intasome of mouse
      mammary tumour virus provides new insight into the structural basis of retroviral
      DNA integration. 

PMID- 26887500
TI  - Continuous-wave phase-matched molecular optical modulator.
AB  - In optical modulation, the highest available modulation rate is basically limited
      to the GHz frequency range at best. This is because optical modulation is often
      performed using electro-optic or acousto-optic effects that require application
      of an external signal to solid-state nonlinear optical materials. Here we
      describe optical modulation of continuous-wave radiation at frequencies exceeding
      10 THz based on ultrafast variation of molecule polarizability arising from
      coherent molecular motion. The optical modulation efficiency is extensively
      enhanced by fulfilling phase-matching conditions with the help of dispersion
      control of the optical cavity, generating sidebands with a highest ratio of 7.3 *
      10(-3). These results will pave the way for development of versatile optical
      modulation-based techniques in a wide range of research fields in optical
      sciences, such as mode-locked lasers operating in the THz range.

PMID- 26887501
TI  - FLP-4 neuropeptide and its receptor in a neuronal circuit regulate preference
      choice through functions of ASH-2 trithorax complex in Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Preference choice on food is an important response strategy for animals living in
      the environment. Using assay system of preference choice on bacterial foods, OP50
      and PA14, we identified the involvement of ADL sensory neurons in the control of
      preference choice in Caenorhabditis elegans. Both genetically silencing and ChR2
      mediated activation of ADL sensory neurons significantly affected preference
      choice. ADL regulated preference choice by inhibiting function of G protein
      coupled receptor (GPCR)/SRH-220. ADL sensory neurons might regulate preference
      choice through peptidergic signals of FLP-4 and NLP-10, and function of FLP-4 or
      NLP-10 in regulating preference choice was regulated by SRH-220. FLP-4 released
      from ADL sensory neurons further regulated preference choice through its receptor
      of NPR-4 in AIB interneurons. In AIB interneurons, NPR-4 was involved in the
      control of preference choice by activating the functions of ASH-2 trithorax
      complex consisting of SET-2, ASH-2, and WDR-5, implying the crucial role of
      molecular machinery of trimethylation of histone H3K4 in the preference choice
      control. The identified novel neuronal circuit and the underlying molecular
      mechanisms will strengthen our understanding neuronal basis of preference choice
      in animals. 

PMID- 26887502
TI  - Fecal Lipid Excretion after Consumption of a Black Tea Polyphenol Containing
      Beverage-Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Study.
AB  - Obesity is a serious medical condition worldwide. Inhibition of lipid absorption
      is very important in preventing obesity. In a previous study, we found that
      postprandial elevation of triacylglycerol was suppressed by the intake of black
      tea polyphenol (BTP). We also reported that BTP caused lipid excretion into feces
      in an animal study. The present study is a clinical trial that examined lipid
      excretion. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study,
      in the first test period participants were asked to drink either a beverage
      containing 55 mg BTP or a control beverage without BTP 3 times a day for 10 d.
      After an 11-d interval, for the second test period, they then drank the alternate
      test beverage 3 times a day for 10 d. During the test periods, the participants
      were asked to eat meals standardized according to calorie and fat content. Stool
      samples were obtained during the last 3 d of each test period for fecal lipid
      measurements. Total lipid excretion increased from 5.51+/-1.73 to 6.87+/-1.91 g/3
      d after BTP intake in comparison with intake of the control beverage. These
      results indicated that BTP increased lipid excretion. 

PMID- 26887504
TI  - Thermodynamics and efficiency of an autonomous on-chip Maxwell's demon.
AB  - In his famous letter in 1870, Maxwell describes how Joule's law can be violated
      "only by the intelligent action of a mere guiding agent", later coined as
      Maxwell's demon by Lord Kelvin. In this letter we study thermodynamics of
      information using an experimentally feasible Maxwell's demon setup based a single
      electron transistor capacitively coupled to a single electron box, where both the
      system and the Demon can be clearly identified. Such an engineered on-chip Demon
      measures and performes feedback on the system, which can be observed as cooling
      whose efficiency can be adjusted. We present a detailed analysis of the system
      and the Demon, including the second law of thermodynamics for bare and coarse
      grained entropy production and the flow of information as well as efficiency of
      information production and utilization. Our results demonstrate how information
      thermodynamics can be used to improve functionality of modern nanoscale devices. 

PMID- 26887503
TI  - Ancestry variation and footprints of natural selection along the genome in Latin
      American populations.
AB  - Latin American populations stem from the admixture of Europeans, Africans and
      Native Americans, which started over 400 years ago and had lasted for several
      centuries. Extreme deviation over the genome-wide average in ancestry estimations
      at certain genomic locations could reflect recent natural selection. We evaluated
      the distribution of ancestry estimations using 678 genome-wide microsatellite
      markers in 249 individuals from 13 admixed populations across Latin America. We
      found significant deviations in ancestry estimations including three locations
      with more than 3.5 times standard deviations from the genome-wide average: an
      excess of European ancestry at 1p36 and 14q32, and an excess of African ancestry
      at 6p22. Using simulations, we could show that at least the deviation at 6p22 was
      unlikely to result from genetic drift alone. By applying different linguistic
      groups as well as the most likely ancestral Native American populations as the
      ancestry, we showed that the choice of Native American ancestry could affect the
      local ancestry estimation. However, the signal at 6p22 consistently appeared in
      most of the analyses using various ancestral groups. This study provided
      important insights for recent natural selection in the context of the unique
      history of the New World and implications for disease mapping. 

PMID- 26887507
TI  - [Targeted therapy for thyroid cancer].

PMID- 26887505
TI  - Long Noncoding RNA LOC100129973 Suppresses Apoptosis by Targeting miR-4707-5p and
      miR-4767 in Vascular Endothelial Cells.
AB  - Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are
      key regulators of multiple biological processes by altering gene expression at
      various levels. Apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) is closely linked
      to numerous cardiovascular diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, thrombus formation
      and plaque erosion. However, studies on lncRNAs in the cardiovascular system are
      just beginning. And thus far, no anti-apoptosis lncRNAs have been identified in
      VECs. Here, we focused on the anti-apoptosis roles of lncRNAs in the serum and
      FGF-2 starvation-induced apoptosis of VECs. Using microarray analysis, we found a
      novel lncRNA LOC100129973 which acted as an apoptosis inhibitor in VECs. Through
      sponging miR-4707-5p and miR-4767, lncRNA LOC100129973 upregulated the expression
      of two apoptosis repressors gene, Apoptosis Inhibitor 5 (API5) and BCL2 like 12
      (BCL2L12), and thus alleviated the serum and FGF-2 starvation-induced apoptosis
      in VECs. This evidence suggests that lncRNA LOC100129973 is an attractive target
      to improve endothelial function and for therapy of apoptosis related
      cardiovascular diseases.

PMID- 26887506
TI  - A Modular Assembly Platform for Rapid Generation of DNA Constructs.
AB  - Traditional cloning methods have limitations on the number of DNA fragments that
      can be simultaneously manipulated, which dramatically slows the pace of molecular
      assembly. Here we describe GMAP, a Gibson assembly-based modular assembly
      platform consisting of a collection of promoters and genes, which allows for one
      step production of DNA constructs. GMAP facilitates rapid assembly of expression
      and viral constructs using modular genetic components, as well as increasingly
      complicated genetic tools using contextually relevant genomic elements. Our data
      demonstrate the applicability of GMAP toward the validation of synthetic
      promoters, identification of potent RNAi constructs, establishment of inducible
      lentiviral systems, tumor initiation in genetically engineered mouse models, and
      gene-targeting for the generation of knock-in mice. GMAP represents a recombinant
      DNA technology designed for widespread circulation and easy adaptation for other
      uses, such as synthetic biology, genetic screens, and CRISPR-Cas9. 

PMID- 26887508
TI  - [Transforming growth factor-beta1 induces bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem
      cells to differentiate into cancer-associated fibroblasts].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF
      beta1) on the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
      (MSCs) into cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs). METHODS: MSCs were cultured in
      alpha-MEM with recombinant human TGF-beta1 or in tumor-conditioned medium.The
      expression of CAFs markers were detected by immunofluorescence and quantitative
      RT-PCR. RESULTS: The qRT-PCR assay showed that the expression of CAFs markers
      FAP, ACTA, CAV, CCL5, CXCR4, FSP1, SDF-1 and vimentin were 9.92+/-2.16, 7.76+/
      1.28, 3.04+/-0.95, 3.28+/-2.16, 2.13+/-0.71, 1.41+/-0.66, 2.25+/-0.86 and 1.38+/
      0.56, respectively, significantly upregulated in the MSCs co-cultured with TGF
      beta1 or TCM. The relative levels of FAP, ACTA, CAV, CCL5, CXCR4, FSP1, SDF-1 and
      vimentin mRNA in the TCM group were 7.52+/-1.76, 5.02+/-1.18, 1.98+/-1.19, 1.82+/
      1.19, 2.95+/-0.86, 1.44+/-0.67, 2.08+/-0.74 and 1.47+/-0.55, respectively,
      indicating that MSCs can express CAFs phenotype.TGF beta signaling pathway
      inhibitor SB-431542 could inhibit the differentiation. Both immunofluorescence
      and Western blot confirmed the above results. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-beta1 induces
      differentiation of local MSCs to CAFs by upregulating the expression of pSmad3,
      so as to further promote the growth of cancer cells.

PMID- 26887509
TI  - [Effect of colon cancer cell-derived IL-1alpha on the migration and proliferation
      of vascular endothelial cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of colon cancer cell-derived interleukin-1alpha
      on the migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells as
      well as the role of IL-1alpha and IL-1ra in the angiogenesis process. METHODS:
      Western blot was used to detect the expression of IL-1alpha and IL-1R1 protein in
      the colon cancer cell lines with different liver metastatic potential. We also
      examined how IL-1alpha and IL-1ra influence the proliferation and migration of
      umbilical vascular endothelial cells assessed by PreMix WST-1 assay and migration
      assay, respectively. Double layer culture technique was used to detect the effect
      of IL-1alpha on the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells and
      the effect of IL-1ra on the vascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: Western blot
      analysis showed that IL-1alpha protein was only detected in highly metastatic
      colon cancer HT-29 and WiDr cells, but not in the lowly metastatic CaCo-2 and
      CoLo320 cells.Migration assay showed that there were significant differences in
      the number of penetrated cells between the control (17.9+/-3.6) and 1 ng/ml rIL
      1alpha group (23.2+/-4.2), 10 ng/ml rIL-1alpha group (31.7+/-4.5), and 100 ng/ml
      rIL-1alpha group (38.6+/-4.9), showing that it was positively correlated with the
      increasing concentration of rIL-1alpha (P<0.01 for all). The proliferation assay
      showed that the absorbance values were 1.37+/-0.18 in the control group, and
      1.79+/-0.14 in the 1 ng/ml rIL-1alpha group, 2.14+/-0.17 in the 10 ng/ml rIL
      1alpha group, and 2.21+/-0.23 in the 100 ng/ml rIL-1alpha group, showing a
      positive correlation with the increasing concentration of rIL-1alpha(P<0.01 for
      all). IL-1ra significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular
      endothelial cells (P<0.01). The levels of VEGF protein were (1.697+/-0.072)
      ng/ml, (3.507+/-0.064)ng/ml and (4.139+/-0.039)ng/ml in the control, HUVECs+ IL
      1alpha and HUVECs+ HT-29 co-culture system groups, respectively, showing a
      significant difference between the control and HUVECs+ 10 pg/ml rIL-1alpha groups
      and between the control and HUVECs+ HT-29 groups (P<0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS:
      Our findings indicate that colon cancer cell-derived IL-1alpha plays an important
      role in the liver metastasis of colon cancer through increased VEGF level of the
      colon cancer cells and enhanced vascular endothelial cells proliferation,
      migration and angiogenesis, while IL-1ra can suppress the effect of IL-1alpha and
      inhibit the angiogenesis in colon cancer.

PMID- 26887510
TI  - [Detection and significance of BRAF gene in mature T/NK cell lymphoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: we aimed to investigate the mutation and expression of BRAF gene in
      mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and cell lines, explore the correlation between
      gene alterations and clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes of mature
      T/NK cell lymphoma. METHODS: Firstly, we detected common mutant sites of BRAF
      (locus 1 799 mutation in exon 15 and loci 463, 465 and 468 mutation in exon 11)
      in lymphoma Jurkat, Hut-78 and YTS cell lines, normal peripheral blood
      lymphocytes, different types of mature T/NK cell lymphoma and reactive
      hyperplasia lymph nodes by direct sequencing. Then we measured the expression of
      BRAF in Jurkat, Hut-78, YTS cells and normal peripheral blood lymphocytes by real
      time-PCR and Western-blot detection. We also used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to
      detect the expression of BRAF in mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and reactive
      hyperplasia lymph nodes, and to analyze the correlation between the expression of
      BRAF and clinocopathological features and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We did not
      find common BRAF mutation in mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and cell lines,
      and the relatively expression of BRAF gene mRNA in normal peripheral blood
      lymphocytes, YTS, Hut-78 and Jurkat cells were 1.000, 5.207+/-0.013, 8.412+/
      0.615 and 36.720+/-1.797, respectively, and protein expressions were 0.051+/
      0.003, 0.102+/-0.013, 0.113+/-0.017 and 0.304+/-0.010, respectively, and the
      expression of BRAF in peripheral T cell lymphoma Jurkat cells was significantly
      higher than that of Hut-78, YTS cells and normal lymphocytes (P<0.05). Only 6 of
      58 peripheral T cell lymphomas (10.3%) had positive BRAF expression, and were the
      subgroups of peripheral T cell lymphoma-unspecified type. The statistical data
      did not show any correlation between positive expression of BRAF and gender, age,
      clinical stage, location, lactate dehydrogenase in the 21 cases of peripheral T
      cell lymphoma-unspecified type (P<0.05), but the positive rate of BRAF in the
      effective treatment group (8.3%) was significantly lower than that of the invalid
      group (55.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of BRAF gene may become a
      marker of malignant biological characteristics and clinical therapeutic target of
      peripheral T cell lymphoma.

PMID- 26887511
TI  - [Clinicopathological features and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma with
      sarcomatoid differentiation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathological features and prognosis of renal cell
      carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation (RCCS). METHODS: The clinical data and
      pathological materials of 18 RCCS cases were retrospectively reviewed.The follow
      up data were available in 13 RCCS cases, and were compared with the follow up
      data of 20 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RESULTS: The 18 RCCS
      patients included 14 males and 4 females, and were 49-79 years old (mean age: 62
      years old). On gross examination, the tumor size was 3-19 cm in diameter (mean
      diameter: 9.8 cm). Histologically, all tumors were composed of a mixture of
      typical RCC with sarcomatoid component, including 9 clear cell RCC, 3 chromophobe
      RCC and one papillary RCC. The sarcomatoid components included 9 cases of
      fibrosarcoma, 3 cases of leiomyosarcoma, 5 cases of malignant fibrous histocytoma
      and one case of undifferentiated sarcoma. Immunohistochemistry showed that the
      sarcomatoid components were strongly vimentin-positive in 18 cases, and one or
      more epithelial markers (EMA, AE1/AE3, CK7, CK18) were expressed to varying
      degrees in 14 cases, but the high-molecular weight keratin 34betaE12 was scarcely
      expressed. The sarcomatoid components presented positive expressions of CAIX in
      88.9% (16/18) and CD10 in 72.2% (13/18) cases. Among the 18 RCCS patients, 13
      patients were followed-up: 9 patients died in 1-25 months after the surgery, of
      which 5 cases died of lung or bone metastasis, and 4 patients died of systemic
      failure. The twenty RCC cases without sarcomatoid differentiation were followed
      up for 3-65 months after the surgery, and the majority of them was alive
      uneventfully except for 2 cases who died of lung or bone metastasis of the tumor.
      The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the median survival time of the 18
      RCCS patients was 8 months, while that of the 20 RCC cases without sarcomatoid
      differentiation was 62 months (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of sarcomatoid
      differentiation in renal cell carcinoma indicates highly aggressive behavior and
      poor prognosis. The positive expressions of the immune markers CAIX and CD10 may
      play important roles in the transformation from renal cell carcinoma to
      sarcomatoid component.

PMID- 26887512
TI  - [Expression and clinical significance of MTDH and VEGF in triple-negative breast
      cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and clinical significance of MTDH and VEGF in
      triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: Tissue samples of 168 breast
      cancers (including 112 TNBC tissue and 56 non-TNBC tissue), 10 breast
      fibroadenomas and 15 normal breast tissues were collected. Postoperative
      specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry for MTDH and VEGF expression. The
      correlation between the expression of MTDH and VEGF and clinicopathological
      features was analyzed. RESULTS: MTDH and VEGF were expressed in 57.1% and 49.4%
      of breast cancer patients, 64.3% and 56.3% in TNBC patients, respectively,
      significantly higher than that in the non-TNBC tissues, breast fibroadenomas and
      normal breast tissues (P<0.05 for all). Statistically significant correlation was
      found between the MTDH and VEGF expressions (r=0.356, P<0.001). Moreover, MTDH
      expression was correlated with tumor size, BMI index, lymph node metastasis,
      pathological stage, recurrence and metastasis, and the expression of p53 and Ki
      67 proteins (P<0.05 for all). The VEGF protein expression was correlated with
      lymph node metastasis, pathological staging, recurrence and metastasis, and the
      expression of Ki-67 protein (P<0.05 for all). The patients with high expression
      of MTDH and VEGF showed a lower DFS and OS (P<0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: MTDH
      and VEGF expression may be correlated with tumor angiogenesis and progression and
      has the potential to be valuable prognostic factors in patients with TNBC.

PMID- 26887513
TI  - [Association between the expression of IGF1R and estrogen receptor and efficacy
      of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in beast cancer patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of IGF1R and estrogen receptor, and to
      explore the relationship between their expression and the pathological complete
      response (pCR) rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel plus epirubicin) in
      breast cancer patients. METHODS: We selected 139 women with breast cancer who
      underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel plus epirubicin), and detected the
      expression of IGF1R and estrogen receptor in the samples taken before
      chemotherapy by Immunohistochemistry. The association between their expression
      and pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 139
      cases, IGF1R was highly expressed in 45.3% (63/139) cases, and ER was positively
      expressed in 62.6% (87/139) cases. IGF1R was highly expressed in 54.0% (47/87) of
      the ER+ cases, significantly higher than that of ER- cases (30.8%, P<0.01). The
      overall pCR rate of all the 139 patients who received docetaxel plus epirubicin
      as neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 10.1% (14/139). The pCR rate was 19.2% (10/52) of
      the ER- patients and 4.6% (4/87) of the ER+ patients (P<0.05). The pCR rate was
      10.5% (8/76) in the patients with low IGF1R expression and 9.5% (6/63) in the
      patients with high IGF1R expression (P>0.05). The patients with negative
      expression of ER and high expression of IGF1R showed the highest pCR rate (31.2%,
      P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer patients with negative expression of ER and
      high expression of IGF1R are more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of
      docetaxel plus epirubicin, and their pCR rate is significantly higher than that
      of other patients.

PMID- 26887514
TI  - [Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on the prognosis of gastric cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT)
      with survival of gastric cancer after surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively
      reviewed the medical records of 1 000 gastric cancer patients, including 738 non
      transfused (73.8%) and 262 transfused (26.2%) cases. A one to one match was
      created using propensity score analysis, except preoperative hemoglobin level and
      operative blood loss. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival model.
      RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate of the 1 000 cases of gastric cancer patients
      was 39.9%. Before matching, there was a significant difference between transfused
      group (33.6%) and non-transfused group (49.1%, P<0.005). Univariate analysis
      showed that age, tumor size, hemoglobin level, albumin level, depth of invasion,
      lymph node metastasis, lymph node dissection, surgery mode, adjuvant
      chemotherapy, blood loss and blood transfusion during perioperative period were
      associated with prognosis in the gastric cancer patients (all P<0.05).
      Multivariate analysis showed that tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph
      node dissection, chemotherapy and perioperative blood transfusion were
      independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer (all P<0.05). After matching,
      the 5-year survival rate of the 262 non-transfused patients was 37.7%, while that
      of the 262 transfused patients was 33.6% (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative
      blood transfusion has no significant effect on the prognosis of gastric cancer
      patients.

PMID- 26887515
TI  - [Patterns of lymphatic spread in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a
      study of 313 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the lymph node (MLNs) metastasis of thoracic esophageal
      squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to explore the patterns of lymphatic spread and
      the rational surgical procedure and extent of lymph node dissection for ESCC.
      METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 313 consecutive patients treated in our
      hospital between January 2010 and May 2014 who underwent minimally invasive
      esophagectomy (MIE) for ESCC. The information of lymph node status was obtained
      and the features of lymph node metastasis were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 313
      cases, 122 (39.0%) were found to have lymph node metastasis. In the 4461
      dissected lymph nodes, metastasis was identified in 294 (6.6%) lymph nodes. The
      recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes were the most frequent metastatic nodes
      with a metastasis rate of 25.2%, followed by the paracardiac and left gastric
      artery lymph nodes (18.2%). Chi-square test showed that the lymph node metastasis
      is associated with tumor invasion and tumor differentiation (P<0.001 for both).
      Metastases were more frequently found in the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph
      nodes in patients with tumors in the upper third esophagus and with
      histologically poor differentiation (P<0.05 for both). The metastasis rate of
      para-cardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes was associated with tumor in the
      lower third of esophagus, T stage and differentiation (all P<0.05). Logistic
      regression analysis showed that tumor differentiation and location are
      independent factors affecting the metastasis of recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph
      nodes (P<0.05 for all). T stage, tumor differentiation and location were
      independent factors associated with metastasis of para-cardiac and left gastric
      artery lymph nodes (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Metastases of thoracic
      esophageal carcinoma are often found in the recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph
      nodes, para-cardiac and left gastric artery lymph nodes. (2) Extensive lymph node
      dissection should be performed for ESCC with poor differentiation and deep tumor
      invasion.

PMID- 26887516
TI  - [CT differential diagnosis of cystic nephroma and multilocular cystic renal cell
      carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the CT findings of cystic nephroma (CN) and multilocular
      cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC) and to improve the accuracy of preoperative
      diagnosis of these two diseases. METHODS: The CT findings of nine CN cases and 19
      MCRCC cases confirmed by pathology were blindly reviewed and compared with their
      pathological results. Fisher's exact test and independent-samples T test were
      applied to statistically analyze some of the CT features of the CN and MCRCC
      lesions. RESULTS: The thickness of cystic walls and partitions in the nine CN
      cases ranged from 0.5 to 5 mm. Cystic walls and partitions were slightly thicker
      in some parts without visible mural nodules. Varying amounts of solid tissue
      could be found in all the 19 MCRCC tumors, and the cystic walls and partitions
      were found partially thickened ranging from 3 mm to 13 mm. Eight cases were with
      mural nodules (nodule diameter: 4.5-16 mm). Nine cases of CN tumors were
      lobulated and 7 protruded into the renal sinus. Three out of the 19 MCRCC
      presented shallow lobulation, and 7 tumors protruded into the renal sinus. The CT
      contrast-enhancement scanning displayed moderate delayed enhancement in the
      cystic walls and partitions in 8 cases. The enhanced scanning revealed that all
      the nine cases showed enhancement of the cystic walls and partitions, while 8
      cases of them had mild to moderate delayed enhancement. The cystic walls,
      partitions and nodules were enhanced in 19 MRCC cases, among them 17 cases
      displayed obvious enhancement in the cortical phase. Among the differences of CT
      findings between MC and MRCC, the shallow lobulation, protruding into the renal
      sinus, mural nodules, cystic wall and partition thickness, and net growth in the
      cortical and nephrographic phase were statistically significantly different
      (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: CT scan can provide significant evidence for CN
      and MCRCC diagnosis. CN cases usually present relatively thin and even cystic
      walls and partitions without mural nodules and with shallow lobulation and
      protruding into the renal sinus. The enhancement is mild to moderate, dynamic and
      delayed, while the opposite CT findings may indicate a higher possibility of
      MCRCC.

PMID- 26887517
TI  - [Role of multiphasic multidetector CT imaging in differential diagnosis of small
      renal cell carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of predicting the histopathological types
      of small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by analyzing the different ways of
      enhancement with multiphasic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of small
      renal cell carcinomas (diameter<=4 cm). METHODS: CT images of 93 cases, diagnosed
      as RCC by pathology, were analyzed retrospectively, including 70 clear cell renal
      cell carcinoma (CCRCC), 13 papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) and 10
      chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). All of the cases were examined by
      multiphasic multidetector CT scanning. RESULTS: In plain scans, 46 CCRCCs were
      homogeneous, 21 CCRCCs were heterogeneous with low-density area and 3 of them had
      calcification. CCRCCs were enhanced in contrast scan with a presence of "wash in
      and wash out" enhancement in general. 11 PRCCs were homogeneous and 2 PRCCs had
      calcification. Slight-homogeneous enhancement and "delayed enhancement" were
      present in the PRCCs. Six CRCCs were homogeneous and 2 were calcified, 2 CRCCs
      were heterogeneous with low-density area. The CRCCs presented as slight or
      moderate enhancement and 5 CRCCs as homogeneous enhancement, while one CRCC was
      "spoke-wheel-like enhancement", with a trend of "delayed enhancement".
      Statistically significant differences were revealed among the actual enhanced CT
      values, the ratio of enhanced CT value to aorta CT value in the corticomedullary
      phase, nephrographic phase and excretory phase between the CCRCCs and non-CCRCCs
      (P<0.001). The analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC)
      revealed that when the actual enhanced CT value of tumors in CMP larger than 84.2
      HU, the ratio of actual enhanced CT value to aorta CT value at the same phase in
      CMP larger than 0.315 were used as criteria to diagnose CCRCCs and excluded non
      CCRCCs, the diagnostic value was best. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT is of an important
      significance in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of small CCRCCs and non
      CCRCCs.

PMID- 26887518
TI  - [Management of vascular crisis of free flaps after reconstruction of head and
      neck defects caused by tumor resection].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the management of vascular crisis of free flaps after
      reconstruction of head and neck defects caused by tumor resection. METHODS: A
      total of 259 cases of free flap reconstruction performed in the Cancer Hospital
      of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively
      analyzed, including 89 cases of anterolateral thigh flaps, 48 cases of radial
      forearm flaps, 46 free fibula flaps, 5 cases of inferior epigastric artery
      perforator flaps, 5 cases of free latissimus dorsi flaps, one case of lateral arm
      flap, and one case of medial femoral flap. The surveillance frequency of free
      flaps was q1h on post-operative day (POD) 1, q2h on POD 2 and 3, and q4h after
      POD 3. Vascular crises were reviewed for analysis. RESULTS: The incidence rate of
      vascular crisis was 8.1% (21/259), with 15 males and 6 females. The average age
      was 54.8 years old (17-68), and the average time of vascular crisis was 100.8 h
      post-operation (3-432). There were 7 cases of free jejunum flaps and 14 dermal
      free flaps. Seven of these 21 cases with vascular crisis were rescued by surgery.
      The success rate of salvage surgery within 72 hours from the primary operation
      was 54.5% (6/11), significantly higher than that of salvage surgery performed
      later than 72 hours from primary operation (10.0%, 1/10, P=0.043). There were 14
      cases of flap necrosis, two of which died of local infection. CONCLUSION: Early
      detection of vascular crisis can effectively improve the success rate of salvage,
      so as to avoid the serious consequences caused by free flap necrosis.

PMID- 26887519
TI  - [Efficacy and safety of topical PUVA treatment for refractory lesions of mycosis
      fungoides].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical PUVA treatment of
      refractory lesions of mycosis fungoides. METHODS: From January 2008 to 2014, a
      total of 10 patients (4 males and 6 females) with mycosis fungoides were treated
      with topical PUVA in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, including 7 cases in
      plaque stage and 3 cases in tumor stage. The average number of lesions were 1.9+/
      0.9. The median age of these patients was (46.0+/-9.4) years. The average course
      of disease was (12.4+/-7.7) years. Psoralen was applied topically on treatment
      area 30 min before total body UVA irradiation treatment, 3 times a week. And the
      efficiency and safety of the therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: All the patients
      were treated with topical PUVA with a median total dose of (161.60+/-135.96)
      J/cm2 in an average of (18.10+/-14.61) fractions. Total dose of UVA was (1
      953.25+/-829.73) J/cm2, and total number of treatment was (261.90+/-116.79)
      fractions. The total treatment time was (45.80+/-26.64) months. Complete clinical
      response (CR) rate was 60.0%, partial response (PR) rate was 30.0%, and the
      overall response rate (CR+PR) was 90.0%. One patient showed no response. No
      severe acute or chronic side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Topical PUVA
      therapy is effective in the treatment of refractory lesions of mycosis fungoides
      with little severe side effects.

PMID- 26887520
TI  - [Outcome of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced non-small-cell lung
      cancer patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy
      (CCRT) for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).
      METHODS: Clinical data of 251 patients with stage III (76 IIIA and 175 IIIB)
      NSCLC who received CCRT as initial treatment between Jan 2001 and Dec 2010 in our
      hospital were reviewed. A median total radiotherapy dose of 60 Gy (range, 50-74
      Gy) were delivered. 174 patients were treated with IMRT, 51 with 3D-CRT and 26
      with 2D-radiotherapy. EP chemotherapy regimen was administered in 112 patients,
      PC regimen in 99 patients, topotecan regimen in 18 patients and other regimens in
      the remaining 22 patients. The efficacy and toxicity of CCRT were retrospectively
      analyzed. RESULTS: 244 patients were assessable for response, including 6 (2.5%)
      patients with CR, 183 (75.0%) with PR, 42 (17.2%) with SD and 13 (5.3%) with PD.
      At a median follow-up period of 20 months, the 1-, 3-, 5- year OS were 69.2%,
      31.2%, 23.2%, respectively, and the median OS was 21 months. The 1-, 3-, 5- year
      PFS were 40.9%, 22.1%, 17.7%, respectively, and the median PFS was 10 months.
      Patients with stage IIIA NSCLC achieved better 5-year OS than that with IIIB
      NSCLC (29.2% vs. 20.7%, chi2=2.254, P=0.133). Failure pattern was assessable in
      244 patients, including 61 (25.0%) locoregional progression alone, 55 (22.5%)
      distant metastasis alone and 77 (31.6%) with both. The rates of grade>=3
      radiation pneumonitis, esophagitis and hematologic toxicity were 4.4%, 11.2% and
      26.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CCRT provide stage III NSCLC patients favorable
      outcome with acceptable toxicity. CCRT is standard therapeutic approach for
      patients with unresectable locally advanced NSCLC.

PMID- 26887521
TI  - [Clinical efficacy of vitamin support in lung adenocarcinoma patients treated
      with pemetrexed second-line chemotherapy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical efficacy and toxicity of vitamin support in
      lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with pemetrexed second-line chemotherapy.
      METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-three patients with stage 3/4 lung adenocarcinoma
      treated at our hospital from August 2010 to August 2013 were included in this
      study. The lung adenocarcinomas in all the 283 patients were confirmed by
      pathology or cytology, all were EGFR-negative, and all patients received
      pemetrexed second line chemotherapy. The 283 patients were randomly divided into
      two groups: the improved treatment group (142 cases) and the conventional
      treatment group (141 cases). The patients of conventional treatment group
      received 400 ug folic acid per os daily for 7 days before the first dose of
      pemetrexed, and continued until 21 days after the last dose of pemetrexed.
      Besides, they received 1000 ug vitamin B12 injection at 7 days before the first
      dose of pemetrexed, and once per cycle of pemetrexed for 3 cycles after the last
      dose of pemetrexed. The patients of the improved treatment group took 400 ug
      folic acid daily per os from the day before the first dose to 21 days after the
      last dose of pemetrexed. They also received 500 ug vitamin B12 by injection one
      day before the first dose, and one day before each therapy cycle of pemetrexed
      therapy. RESULTS: The mean number of cycles of pemetrexed chemotherapy was 4 in
      both groups. In the 142 patients of improved treatment group, complete response
      (CR) was observed in two cases, partial remission (PR) in 28, stable disease (SD)
      in 21, and progressive disease (PD) in 91 cases, with a total effective rate of
      21.1%. While in the conventional treatment group, CR was observed in one case, PR
      in 27 cases, SD in 23 cases, and PD in 90 cases, with a total effective rate of
      19.9%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.8 months in the improved
      treatment group and 4.2 months in the conventional treatment group (P=0.143). The
      toxicity of chemotherapy was mild in both groups, with no significant difference
      between the two groups (P>0.05). The most common side effects of hematological
      system were leukopenia and neutropenia, and the most common side effects of non
      blood system were nausea and vomiting. The most common grade 3-4 toxic reaction
      in both groups was leukopenia and neutropenia, with no significant difference
      between the two groups (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the age of
      patients was an independent factor of grade 3-4 chemotherapy toxic reaction
      (P<0.05), while gender, the baseline level of PS score or blood system had no
      significant effect on the grade 3-4 chemotherapy toxic reaction (P>0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the conventional treatment scheme, the improved
      treatment scheme has similar therapeutic effects and could be used more
      conveniently, while the toxic effects of chemotherapy are not increased at the
      same time. Our results indicate that pemetrexed-based chemotherapy does not need
      to delay the chemotherapy because of vitamin support treatment.

PMID- 26887522
TI  - [Clinical features and treatment analysis of mantle cell lymphoma].

PMID- 26887523
TI  - [Value of 4-quadrant biopsies under colposcopy for detecting precancerous lesions
      in cervical cancer screening].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of colposcopical 4-quadrant biopsies for
      detecting precancerous lesion in cervical cancer screening. METHODS: We used the
      data of a cross-sectional screening study in 1999, in which 1,997 women received
      cervical cancer screening in Xiang Yuan County, Shanxi province. The sensitivity,
      specificity and accuracy of both 4-quadrant biopsy and colposcopy directed biopsy
      to detect high-grade or more severe squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL+) were
      calculated. RESULTS: 1,784(89.3%) women who received 4-quadrant biopsies and
      endocervical curettage were negative. 127(6.4%) women were diagnosed as LSIL,
      74(3.7%) women as HSIL and 12(0.6%) cases of squamous cell carcinoma.
      1,478(74.0%) women who received biopsies in the sites of abnormal lesions were
      negative, 463(23.2%) cases of LSIL, 41(2.1%) cases of HSIL, 15(0.8%) cases of
      squamous cell carcinoma. The positive rate was 26.0%(519/1,997) for colposcopy,
      and the coincidence rate was 73.7% with pathological diagnosis. Sensitivity and
      specificity were 81.4% and 76.5% of colposcopy for HSIL+. In total of 519 women
      were found to be with any abnormal colposcopic appearance. The consistency rate
      between 4-quadrant biopsies and suspicious lesion-directed biopsies was 96.3%. By
      suspicious lesion-directed biopsy alone, 14.8% cervical lesions were miss
      diagnosed, of which 8.6%(5/58) cases of total HSIL and 24.1%(14/58) cases of all
      LSIL. CONCLUSIONS: 4-quadrant biopsy can detect more HSIL+ lesions and is more
      accurate than suspicious lesion biopsy alone. As an important triage technique to
      detect cervical precancerous lesions, it can improve the detection rate of HSIL+
      lesions in cervical cancer screening.

PMID- 26887524
TI  - Overstatement in happiness reporting with ordinal, bounded scale.
AB  - There are various methods by which people can express subjective evaluations
      quantitatively. For example, happiness can be measured on a scale from 1 to 10,
      and has been suggested as a measure of economic policy. However, there is
      resistance to these types of measurement from economists, who often regard
      welfare to be a cardinal, unbounded quantity. It is unclear whether there are
      differences between subjective evaluation reported on ordinal, bounded scales and
      on cardinal, unbounded scales. To answer this question, we developed functional
      magnetic resonance imaging experimental tasks for reporting happiness from
      monetary gain and the perception of visual stimulus. Subjects tended to report
      higher values when they used ordinal scales instead of cardinal scales. There
      were differences in neural activation between ordinal and cardinal reporting
      scales. The posterior parietal area showed greater activation when subjects used
      an ordinal scale instead of a cardinal scale. Importantly, the striatum exhibited
      greater activation when asked to report happiness on an ordinal scale than when
      asked to report on a cardinal scale. The finding that ordinal (bounded) scales
      are associated with higher reported happiness and greater activation in the
      reward system shows that overstatement bias in happiness data must be considered.

PMID- 26887525
TI  - R6G molecule induced modulation of the optical properties of reduced graphene
      oxide nanosheets for use in ultrasensitive SPR sensing.
AB  - A proper understanding of the role that molecular doping plays is essential to
      research on the modulation of the optical and electronic properties of graphene.
      The adsorption of R6G molecules onto defect-rich reduced graphene oxide
      nanosheets results in a shift of the Fermi energy and, consequently, a variation
      in the optical constants. This optical variation in the graphene nanosheets is
      used to develop an ultrasensitive surface plasmon resonance biosensor with a
      detection limit of 10(-17) M (0.01 fM) at the molecular level. A density
      functional theory calculation shows that covalent bonds were formed between the
      R6G molecules and the defect sites on the graphene nanosheets. Our study reveals
      the important role that defects play in tailoring the properties and sensor
      device applications of graphene materials.

PMID- 26887526
TI  - A risk score to identify HIV-infected women most likely to become lost to follow
      up in the postpartum period.
AB  - Access to lifelong combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is expanding among
      HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women throughout sub-Saharan Africa
      (SSA). For this strategy to meaningfully improve maternal HIV outcomes, retention
      in HIV care is essential. We developed a risk score to identify women with high
      likelihood of loss to follow-up (LTFU) at 6 months postpartum from HIV care,
      using data from public health facilities in Lusaka, Zambia. LTFU was defined as
      not presenting for HIV care within 60 days of the last scheduled appointment. We
      used logistic regression to assess demographic, obstetric and HIV predictors of
      LTFU and to develop a simple risk score. Sensitivity and specificity were
      assessed at each risk score cut-point. Among 2029 pregnant women initiating cART
      between 2009 and 2011, 507 (25%) were LTFU by 6 months postpartum. Parity,
      education, employment status, WHO clinical stage, duration of cART during
      pregnancy and number of antenatal care visits were associated with LTFU (p-value
      < .10). A risk score cut-point of 11 (42nd percentile) had 85% sensitivity (95%
      CI 82%, 88%) and 22% specificity (95% CI 20%, 24%) to detect women LTFU and would
      exclude 20% of women from a retention intervention. A risk score cut-point of 18
      (69th percentile) identified the 23% of women with the highest probability of
      LTFU and had sensitivity 32% (95% CI 28%, 36%) and specificity 80% (95% CI 78%,
      82%). A risk score approach may be useful to triage a subset of women most likely
      to be LTFU for targeted retention interventions.

PMID- 26887527
TI  - Layer-switching cost and optimality in information spreading on multiplex
      networks.
AB  - We study a model of information spreading on multiplex networks, in which agents
      interact through multiple interaction channels (layers), say online vs. offline
      communication layers, subject to layer-switching cost for transmissions across
      different interaction layers. The model is characterized by the layer-wise path
      dependent transmissibility over a contact, that is dynamically determined
      dependently on both incoming and outgoing transmission layers. We formulate an
      analytical framework to deal with such path-dependent transmissibility and
      demonstrate the nontrivial interplay between the multiplexity and spreading
      dynamics, including optimality. It is shown that the epidemic threshold and
      prevalence respond to the layer-switching cost non-monotonically and that the
      optimal conditions can change in abrupt non-analytic ways, depending also on the
      densities of network layers and the type of seed infections. Our results
      elucidate the essential role of multiplexity that its explicit consideration
      should be crucial for realistic modeling and prediction of spreading phenomena on
      multiplex social networks in an era of ever-diversifying social interaction
      layers. 

PMID- 26887528
TI  - Preliminary Results From the C-Pulse OPTIONS HF European Multicenter Post-Market
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND The C-Pulse System is an extra-aortic balloon counterpulsation device.
      It is used to treat patients with heart failure disease in NYHA functional class
      III or ambulatory class IV. MATERIAL AND METHODS We present preliminary site
      reported 6-month data from 3 centers in Germany as part of the prospective
      observational post-market OPTIONS HF study. RESULTS Between May 2013 and March
      2014, the C-Pulse System was implanted in 8 patients (7 male) with a mean age of
      61.6+/-9.3 years. Four had ischemic and 4 had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. No
      stroke, myocardial infarction, major bleeding, or major infection due to the
      device were reported. One patient developed non-device-related refractory
      tachycardia with worsening heart failure 12 h after surgery and underwent left
      ventricular assist device implantation. Within 6 months of observation,
      functional status improved from NYHA III to II in 5 patients, and 2 remained in
      NYHA III. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 24.3+/-7.9% to
      44.5+/-4.5% (p<0.0001). Mean Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall
      score improved from 28.6+/-19.1 to 59.1+/-22.5 (p=0.0183). Six-minute walk test
      was performed in 6 out of 7 patients at follow-up. The mean distance improved
      from 252.0+/-85.1 m to 279.2+/-87.5 m (p>0.05). One patient was weaned off the
      device after 6 months of support. CONCLUSIONS The C-Pulse System provides a
      therapeutic option for patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure and seems
      to improve quality of life and cardiac function over time.

PMID- 26887529
TI  - In vitro efficacy of essential oils and extracts of Schinus molle L. against
      Ctenocephalides felis felis.
AB  - Extracts and essential oils from plants are important natural sources of
      pesticides. These compounds are considered an alternative to control
      ectoparasites of veterinary importance. Schinus molle, an endemic species of
      Brazil, produces a high level of essential oil and several other compounds. The
      aim of this work was to determinate the chemical composition of extracts and
      essential oils of S. molle and further to evaluate the activity against eggs and
      adults of Ctenocephalides felis felis, a predominant flea that infests dogs and
      cats in Brazil. In an in vitro assay, the non-polar (n-hexane) extract showed
      100% efficacy (800 ug cm(-2); LD50 = 524.80 ug cm(-2)) at 24 and 48 h. Its major
      compound was lupenone (50.25%). Essential oils from fruits and leaves were
      evaluated, and had 100% efficacy against adult fleas at 800 ug cm(-2) (LD50 =
      353.95 ug cm(-2)) and at 50 ug cm(-2) (LD50 = 12.02 ug cm(-2)), respectively. On
      the other hand, the essential oil from fruits and leaves was not active against
      flea eggs. This is the first study that reports the insecticidal effects of
      essential oils and extracts obtained from Schinus molle against Ctenocephalides
      felis felis.

PMID- 26887530
TI  - Conserved miR-26b enhances ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis through HAS2-HA-CD44
      Caspase-3 pathway by targeting HAS2.
AB  - The hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2)-hyaluronic acid (HA)-CD44-Caspase-3 pathway is
      involved in ovarian granulosa cell (GC) functions in mammals. HAS2 is a key
      enzyme required for HA synthesis and is the key factor in this pathway. However,
      the regulation of HAS2 and the HAS2-mediated pathway by microRNAs in GCs is
      poorly understood. Here, we report that miR-26b regulates porcine GC (pGC)
      apoptosis through the HAS2-HA-CD44-Caspase-3 pathway by binding directly to the
      3'- untranslated region of HAS2 mRNA. Knockdown of miR-26b reduced pGC apoptosis.
      Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that HAS2 is a direct target of miR-26b
      in pGCs. Knockdown and overexpression of miR-26b increased and decreased,
      respectively, HA content, and HAS2 and CD44 expression in pGCs. At the same time,
      inhibition and overexpression of miR-26b decreased and increased the expression
      of Caspase-3, a downstream factor in the HAS2-HA-CD44 pathway. Moreover,
      knockdown of HAS2 enhanced pGC apoptosis, reduced the inhibitory effects of a miR
      26b inhibitor on pGC apoptosis, repressed HA content and CD44 expression, and
      promoted Caspase-3 expression. In addition, overexpression of HAS2 has a opposite
      effect. Collectively, miR-26b positively regulates pGC apoptosis via a novel HAS2
      HA-CD44-Caspase-3 pathway by targeting the HAS2 gene. 

PMID- 26887532
TI  - A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug
      Interactions of Herbal Remedies.
AB  - Systematic reviews and meta-analyses represent the uppermost ladders in the
      hierarchy of evidence. Systematic reviews/meta-analyses suggest preliminary or
      satisfactory clinical evidence for agnus castus (Vitex agnus castus) for
      premenstrual complaints, flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) for hypertension,
      feverfew (Tanacetum partenium) for migraine prevention, ginger (Zingiber
      officinalis) for pregnancy-induced nausea, ginseng (Panax ginseng) for improving
      fasting glucose levels as well as phytoestrogens and St John's wort (Hypericum
      perforatum) for the relief of some symptoms in menopause. However, firm
      conclusions of efficacy cannot be generally drawn. On the other hand,
      inconclusive evidence of efficacy or contradictory results have been reported for
      Aloe vera in the treatment of psoriasis, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in
      cystitis prevention, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) for tinnitus and intermittent
      claudication, echinacea (Echinacea spp.) for the prevention of common cold and
      pomegranate (Punica granatum) for the prevention/treatment of cardiovascular
      diseases. A critical evaluation of the clinical data regarding the adverse
      effects has shown that herbal remedies are generally better tolerated than
      synthetic medications. Nevertheless, potentially serious adverse events,
      including herb-drug interactions, have been described. This suggests the need to
      be vigilant when using herbal remedies, particularly in specific conditions, such
      as during pregnancy and in the paediatric population. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26887531
TI  - Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN) promotes lung fibroblast
      proliferation, survival and differentiation to myofibroblasts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressively fatal
      disease. Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN) is a
      glycosylated transmembrane protein that induces the expression of some matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP) in neighboring stromal cells through direct epithelial
      stromal interactions. EMMPRIN is highly expressed in type II alveolar epithelial
      cells at the edges of the fibrotic areas in IPF lung sections. However, the exact
      role of EMMPRIN in IPF is unknown. METHODS: To determine if EMMPRIN contributes
      to lung fibroblast proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and differentiation to
      myofibroblasts, normal Human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) transiently transfected with
      either EMMPRIN/GFP or GFP were treated with TGF- beta1 from 0 to 10 ng/ml for 48
      h and examined for cell proliferation (thymidine incorporation), apoptosis (FACS
      analysis and Cell Death Detection ELISA assay), cell migration (Modified Boyden
      chamber) and differentiation to myofibroblasts using Western blot for alpha
      smooth actin of cell lysates. The effect of EMMPRIN inhibition on NHLF
      proliferation, apoptosis, migration and differentiation to myofibroblasts after
      TGF- beta1 treatment was examined using EMMPRIN blocking antibody. We examined
      the mechanism by which EMMPRIN induces its effects on fibroblasts by studying the
      beta-catenin/canonical Wnt signaling pathway using Wnt luciferase reporter assays
      and Western blot for total and phosphorylated beta-catenin. RESULTS: Human lung
      fibroblasts overexpressing EMMPRIN had a significant increase in cell
      proliferation and migration compared to control fibroblasts. Furthermore, EMMPRIN
      promoted lung fibroblasts resistance to apoptosis. Lung fibroblasts
      overexpressing EMMPRIN showed a significantly increased expression of alpha-
      smooth muscle actin, a marker of differentiation to myofibroblasts compared to
      control cells. TGF-beta1 increased the expression of EMMPRIN in lung fibroblasts
      in a dose-dependent manner. Attenuation of EMMPRIN expression with the use of an
      EMMPRIN blocking antibody markedly inhibited TGF-beta1 induced proliferation,
      migration, and differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. EMMPRIN
      overexpression in lung fibroblasts was found to induce an increase in TOPFLASH
      luciferase reporter activity when compared with control fibroblasts. CONCLUSION:
      These findings indicate that TGF-beta1 induces the release of EMMPRIN that
      activates beta-catenin/canonical Wnt signaling pathway. EMMPRIN overexpression
      induces an anti-apoptotic and pro-fibrotic phenotype in lung fibroblasts that may
      contribute to the persistent fibro-proliferative state seen in IPF.

PMID- 26887534
TI  - Incomplete Cor Triatriatum Dexter and Its Clinical and Technical Implications in
      Interatrial Shunt Device-Based Closure: An Intracardiac Echocardiography Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cor triatriatum dexter (CTD) is a congenital anomaly in which the
      right atrium is divided into two parts by a membrane or fibromuscular band.
      Incomplete separation of the right atrium may occur when prominent venous valve
      remnants such as Eustachian valve (EV) or Chiari network (CN) incompletely
      divided the right atrium (incomplete CTD-iCTD). We sought to assess the incidence
      of EV/CN and iCTD and its clinical and technical implications in patients
      submitted to interatrial shunt transcatheter closure. DESIGN: Retrospective
      analysis of single center registry. SETTING: Secondary referral center. PATIENTS:
      Five hundred eighty consecutive patients (mean age 44 +/- 15.5 years, 385
      females) who had been submitted over a 12 years period to intracardiac
      echocardiography-aided interatrial shunt catheter-based closure. OUTCOMES
      MEASURES: Prevalence of iCTD and EV/CN, shunt grade, right ventricle diameter,
      incidence of intraprocedural complications. RESULTS: In patients with PFO, a
      prominent EV or a large CN and iCTD have been diagnosed in was diagnosed on ICE
      in 51.1% and 5.2%, respectively. In ASD patients, a prominent EV or a large CN
      and iCTD were apparent in 13.7% and 5.6%, respectively. PFO patients with iCTD
      had more frequently a curtain pattern on TC Doppler and a larger right-to-left
      shunt graded than prominent EV/CN patients and patients without. ASD patients
      with iCTD had larger right ventricle diameter than both ASD patients with EV/CN
      and patients without. iCTD was associated with 45.1% of patients with
      intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: iCTD are not so infrequently observed
      by ICE during interatrial shunt closure procedure. Presence of this peculiar
      structure should be taken in account during device-based procedure in the right
      atrium.

PMID- 26887533
TI  - A 16-channel combined loop-dipole transceiver array for 7 Tesla body MRI.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop a 16-channel transceive body imaging array at 7.0 T with
      improved transmit, receive, and specific absorption rate (SAR) performance by
      combining both loop and dipole elements and using their respective and
      complementary near and far field characteristics. METHODS: A 16-channel
      radiofrequency (RF) coil array consisting of eight loop-dipole blocks (16LD) was
      designed and constructed. Transmit and receive performance was quantitatively
      investigated in phantom and human model simulations, and experiments on five
      healthy volunteers inside the prostate. Comparisons were made with 16-channel
      microstrip line (16ML) and 10-channel fractionated dipole antenna (10DA) arrays.
      The 16LD was used to acquire anatomic and functional images of the prostate,
      kidneys, and heart. RESULTS: The 16LD provided > 14% improvements in the signal
      to-noise ratio (SNR), peak B1+, B1+ transmit, and SAR efficiencies over the 16ML
      and 10DA in simulations inside the prostate. Experimentally, the 16LD had > 20%
      higher SNR and B1+ transmit efficiency compared with other arrays, and achieved
      up to 51.8% higher peak B1+ compared with 10DA. CONCLUSION: Combining loop and
      dipole elements provided a body imaging array with high channel count and density
      while limiting inter-element coupling. The 16LD improved both near and far-field
      performance compared with existing 7.0T body arrays and provided high-quality MRI
      of the prostate kidneys and heart. Magn Reson Med 77:884-894, 2017. (c) 2016
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26887536
TI  - Effect of postprandial gum chewing on diet-induced thermogenesis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of postprandial gum chewing on diet-induced
      thermogenesis (DIT). METHODS: Twelve healthy normal-weight males completed four
      trials on four different days. They chewed a 621-kcal test meal for as long as
      possible and as many times as possible in the slow-eating trials, while they
      consumed the same meal as rapidly as possible in the rapid-eating trials. In the
      gum-chewing trials, they chewed a 3-kcal gum for 15 min after the meal. In the
      non-gum-chewing trials, they consumed 3 kcal of sugar with the test meal instead
      of chewing the gum. DIT was calculated based on the oxygen uptake, body mass, and
      postprandial increments in energy expenditure above the baseline as measured
      before each trial. RESULTS: DIT was significantly greater in the gum-chewing
      trials than in the non-gum-chewing trials for both rapid-eating and slow-eating
      trials. The difference in DIT between rapid-eating and slow-eating trials was
      greater than that between non-gum-chewing and gum-chewing trials. CONCLUSIONS:
      Postprandial gum chewing enhanced DIT, but the effect of gum chewing on DIT did
      not exceed that of slow eating when consuming a meal.

PMID- 26887535
TI  - Descriptive analysis of high birth prevalence rate geographical clusters of
      congenital anomalies in South America.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The birth prevalence rate (BPR) of congenital anomalies (CAs) is
      heterogeneous and exhibits geographical and sociocultural variations throughout
      the world. In South America (SA), high birth prevalence regions of congenital
      anomalies have been observed. The aim of this study was to identify, describe,
      and characterize geographical clusters of congenital anomalies in SA. METHODS:
      This observational descriptive study is based on clinical epidemiological data
      registered by the Latin-American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations
      network. Between 1995 and 2012, a total of 25,082 malformed newborns were
      ascertained from 2,557,424 births at 129 hospitals in SA. The spatial scan
      statistic was used to determine geographical regions with high BPR of CAs. The
      BPR was obtained with a Poisson regression model. Odds ratios were estimated for
      several risk factors inside the geographical clusters. RESULTS: We confirmed the
      existence of high BPR regions of CAs in SA. Indicators of low socioeconomic
      conditions, such as a low maternal education, extreme age childbearing,
      infectious diseases, and medicine use during pregnancy were detected as risk
      factors inside these regions. Native and African ancestries with high frequency
      of consanguineous marriages could explain partially these high BPR clusters.
      CONCLUSION: The recognition of clusters could be a starting point in the
      identification of susceptibility genes associated with the occurrence of CA in
      high BPR regions.

PMID- 26887537
TI  - A systematic review of prevalence and impact of symptoms of pelvic floor
      dysfunction in identified workforce groups.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the prevalence and impact of symptoms of pelvic floor
      dysfunction in identified workforce groups. BACKGROUND: Productivity of workforce
      groups is a concern for ageing societies. Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction
      are associated with ageing and negatively influence psychosocial health. In the
      general population, lower urinary tract symptoms negatively influence work
      productivity. DESIGN: A systematic review of observational studies. DATA SOURCES:
      Electronic searches of four academic databases. Reference lists were scanned for
      relevant articles. The search was limited to English language publications 1990
      2014. REVIEW METHODS: The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination procedure guided
      the review method. Data extraction and synthesis was conducted on studies where
      the workforce group was identified and the type of pelvic floor dysfunction
      defined according to accepted terminology. Quality appraisal of studies was
      performed using a Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. RESULTS:
      Twelve studies were identified of variable quality, all on female workers. Nurses
      were the most frequently investigated workforce group and urinary incontinence
      was the most common subtype of pelvic floor dysfunction examined. Lower urinary
      tract symptoms were more prevalent in the studied nurses than related general
      populations. No included study investigated pelvic organ prolapse, anorectal or
      male symptoms or the influence of symptoms on work productivity. CONCLUSION:
      Lower urinary tract symptoms are a significant issue among the female nursing
      workforce. Knowledge of the influence of symptoms on work productivity remains
      unknown. Further studies are warranted on the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction
      subtypes in workforce groups.

PMID- 26887538
TI  - Antimicrobial activity of Butyl acetate, Ethyl acetate and Isopropyl alcohol on
      undesirable microorganisms in cosmetic products.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The microbiological contamination risk of a cosmetic product has to be
      assessed by the manufacturer, according to the composition, to determine whether
      microbiological testing is required. Certain ingredients in cosmetic formulations
      help to create an environment hostile towards microbial growth. In this study,
      the influence on microbial survival of some solvents used in nail varnishes was
      evaluated. The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first was to define the
      thresholds to be considered for the exemption of products from microbiological
      testing. The second was to assess the cross-contamination risk linked to the use
      on successive consumers of solvent-based products in beauty salons. METHODS:
      Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli,
      Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum were exposed to various concentrations
      of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol in culture medium to
      estimate their MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration). These strains are relevant
      to cosmetic products as they are associated with skin and nail infections.
      Mixtures of the three solvents, which are characteristic of nail varnish
      compositions, were also tested for their cidal activity. RESULTS: Ethyl and butyl
      acetates had a stronger impact than isopropyl alcohol: the MIC of ethyl and butyl
      acetate is <=5% for all of the tested strains, whereas that of isopropyl alcohol
      is <=10%. Various combinations of the three solvents tested showed a significant
      effect on both fungal and bacterial strains (greater than 3 log reduction in 15
      min for the bacterial test strains and in 30 min for T. rubrum). CONCLUSION:
      Products containing more than 5% ethyl or butyl acetate or more than 10%
      isopropyl alcohol are hostile towards microbial growth. These products can
      therefore be considered as microbiologically low risk during both production and
      use, and so do not require microbiological testing (challenge test and end
      product testing). Moreover, the nine tested mixtures of these three solvents -
      which are characteristic of nail varnish compositions - all have a high cidal
      activity on the tested strains within a short time. The risk of cross
      contamination can therefore be considered as controlled when the nail varnishes
      are applied on successive clients in beauty salons.

PMID- 26887539
TI  - [China child health care discipline: distinguishing feature and development].

PMID- 26887540
TI  - [Promote screening for primary immunodeficiency disease in neonate].

PMID- 26887541
TI  - [Recommendation for child growth assessment in China].

PMID- 26887542
TI  - [Early recognition and screening of primary immunodeficiency diseases].

PMID- 26887543
TI  - [Expert consensus on the clinical practice of vaccination of the
      immunocompromised populations (trial implementation): primary immunodeficiency].

PMID- 26887544
TI  - [Interpretation for the expert consensus on the clinical practice of vaccination
      of the immunocompromised populations (trial implementation): primary
      immunodeficiency].

PMID- 26887545
TI  - [Multi-center study on the effects of television viewing on sleep quality among
      children under 4 years of age in China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the current television viewing situation among children
      less than 4 years of age in our country and investigate effects of television
      viewing on sleep quality. METHOD: According to the"Hospital of Province-City
      County"sampling technical route, a total of 1 046 full term healthy children at
      the age of 4-48 months were sampled by stratified cluster random sampling method
      from 8 provinces in China from 2012-2013. The information of television viewing
      and family and personal information was investigated by Shanghai Children's
      Medical Center Socio-demographic Questionnaire. Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire
      (BISQ) and Brief Child Sleep Questionnaire (BCSQ) were employed to assess the
      sleep behaviors of children 0-3 years old and over 3 years old respectively.The
      effects of television viewing on sleep quality were analyzed by multiple linear
      regression analysis. RESULT: The children's average age was (20+/-13) months,
      with boys accounted for 53.3% (558/1 046). The percentage of children who viewed
      television was 70.3% (735/1 046). Moreover, 58.7% (408/695) of infants and young
      children under the age of 2 viewed TV per day, and 19.9% (70/351) of 2 years and
      older infants and young children viewed television >=2 hours per day. With the
      increase of age, the percentage of children who viewed television time gradually
      increased (P<0.001). Child sex, geographic area, paternal education, and family
      structure were not associated with television viewing time among children aged 4
      48 months. However, the presence of a bedroom TV(chi(2)=13.682, P=0.001) and
      maternal employment (chi(2)=15.053, P=0.005) were commonly correlated with long
      screen-watching time among children. After adjusting for age, gender, mother'
      education level, and working state, it was revealed by multiple linear regression
      analysis that television viewing was not only positively correlated with later
      bedtime (t=5.49, P<0.001) and shorter night sleep duration (t=-3.49, P=0.001) but
      also significantly associated with longer sleep onset latency (t=2.63, P=0.009).
      CONCLUSION: The percentage of children under 4 years of age who viewed television
      is very high in our country, and many infants under 6 months of age exposed to TV
      environment. Bedroom TV and mother full-time job were associated with higher
      proportion of children viewing TV. In early childhood, television viewing was
      positively correlated with later bedtime, shorter sleep duration and longer sleep
      onset latency. There is a need for parents and pediatricians to pay more
      attention to the behavior of children viewing TV and improve sleep quality.

PMID- 26887546
TI  - [Studies of the norm and psychometrical properties of the ages and stages
      questionnaires, third edition, with a Chinese national sample].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ
      3), to China, created ASQ-Chinese (ASQ-C) and carried out studies of its national
      norm and the psychometrical properties in the children aged 1-66 months in the
      mainland of China in collaboration with the author of the ASQ System and under
      the authorizations from its publisher on translation, researches, publication and
      distribution of the ASQ-3. METHOD: The ASQ-3 questionnaires were translated and
      adapted into a Simplified Chinese version, the ASQ-C, with six steps such as
      translation, back-translation and adaptation and so on to ensure consistency with
      the core of the original document and to have the cultural relevance in China.A
      stratified cluster sampling method was utilized to recruit children aged 1-66
      months with respect to demographic characteristics such as the proportion of
      population in each administrative region and in urban and rural areas and so on
      that are representative of 2010 China census data.A sample size of over 200 was
      collected for each ASQ-C age interval.Children were excluded from the normative
      sample who (1) are from communities or villages at an elevation of 2 000 m or
      above and(or) where simplified Chinese is not the official language, or (2) had
      been diagnosed as having a developmental delay by any authoritative
      organizations.The national normative sample for the ASQ-C had a total sample size
      of 4 452, sample size within each age interval ranged from 218 to 227, including
      2 230 male cases and 2 222 female cases, 2 236 urban cases and 2 216 rural
      cases.A convenience sample was recruited from the normative sample to examine
      inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability in all six administrative
      regions.Researchers completed the ASQ-C on the same child with their parents for
      162 children for inter-rater reliability(the size of each ASQ-C age interval was
      5-9); parents of 168 children completed another age-appropriate ASQ-C for test
      retest reliability during 10-15 days after they completed the normative ASQ-C(The
      size of each ASQ-C age interval is 6-10). Another convenience sample was
      recruited from the follow-up of low birth weight infants for the concurrent
      validity of the ASQ-C in comparison with the Beijing Gesell.Parents of 198
      children completed age-appropriate ASQ-C and professional administered to the
      children with the Beijing Gesell.In the ASQ-C norm and test-retest reliability,
      parents completed the age-appropriate ASQ-C, independently or with needed
      assistance. In inter-rater reliability, researchers completed the same ASQ-C
      after parents. In validity test, after parents completing age-appropriate ASQ-C,
      professional tested children with the Beijing Gesell.Data were analyzed using
      SPSS version 13.0 software.The mean and standard deviation of the national
      normative sample were calculated, reliability and validity of the ASQ-C was
      examined. RESULT: The demographic characteristics of this Chinese sample match
      the 2010 China census data on gender, urban or rural location, and family
      income.All 20 intervals of the ASQ-C were standardized on 21 national normative
      samples.Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole measure was 0.8.The Pearson
      correlation coefficient between the ASQ-C total scores of the two raters was
      0.8.The Pearson correlation coefficient between the ASQ-C total scores of the two
      times was 0.8 (all P<0.000 1). The sensitivity of ASQ-C was 87.50% and the
      specificity of ASQ-C was 84.48%.The percentage of the agreement between the ASQ-C
      and the Beijing Gesell was 84.74%. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the
      ASQ-C is a reliable and valid measure with a representative national sample aged
      1-66 months.It can be used to screen and monitor the development of children in
      the mainland of China.

PMID- 26887547
TI  - [Relationship between energy intake and catch-up growth in full-term small-for
      gestational-age infants under 6 months of age].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between nutrition and catch-up growth in
      full-term small-for-gestational-age infants under 6 months of age. METHOD: A
      prospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data of full-term
      small for gestational-age infants (SGA) and full-term appropriate-for-gestational
      age infants (AGA) from the Department of Health Care of the Children's Hospital
      of Chongqing Medical University. According to inclusion criteria, between
      February 2014 and April 2015, the infants were divided into three groups: AGA,
      SGA with catch-up growth (DeltaSDS of weight>=0.67), and SGA with no catch-up
      growth (DeltaSDS <0.67). DeltaSDS was the DeltaZ of weight, calculated using the
      standard deviation of the dispersion method (Z score). Chi-square was used to
      compare differences in feeding patterns between the catch-up growth and no catch
      up growth groups. Analysis of variance was used to compare differences between
      the three groups in daily energy intake and protein to energy ratios. RESULT:
      Totally 180 SGA infants within 6 months of age were enrolled, among whom 63 were
      male, 117 were female; and 48 AGA infants were enrolled, among whom 19 were male,
      29 were female. There were no significant differences in the feeding patterns
      (breast feeding, partial breast feeding or full formula feeding) of SGA catch-up
      and SGA no catch-up groups at 1, 3 or 6 months during the first year (43 (75.4%)
      vs. 75 (61.0%), 7 (12.3%) vs. 25 (20.3%), 7 (12.3%) vs. 23 (18.7%) at 1 month, 70
      (66.7%) vs. 39 (53.4%), 13 (12.4%) vs. 12 (16.4%), 22 (21.0%) vs. 22 (30.1%) at 3
      months, 30 (31.6%) vs. 16 (23.5%), 14 (14.7%) vs. 12 (17.6%), 51 (53.7%) vs. 40
      (58.8%) at 6 months, chi(2)=3.263, 3.207, 1.308 respectively, all P>0.05). The
      total daily energy intake (kJ/d) of the SGA no catch-up group was significantly
      lower than that of the AGA group at 1, 3 and 6 months of age (1 668+/-350 vs. 1
      841+/-426, 1 889+/-276 vs. 2 330+/-379, 2 175+/-349 vs. 2 556+/-354,
      respectively, all P<0.05). It was also significantly lower than that of the SGA
      catch-up group at 3 months (1 889+/-276 vs. 2 118+/-361, P<0.05). The total daily
      energy intake of the SGA catch-up group was significantly lower than that of the
      AGA group at 3 and 6 months (2 118+/-361 vs. 2 330+/-379, 2 336+/-374 vs. 2 556+/
      354, respectively, all P<0.05). The average daily energy intake (kJ/(kg.d)) of
      the SGA no catch-up group was significantly greater than that of the SGA catch-up
      and AGA groups at 1 and 6 months (483+/-113 vs. 413+/-79 vs. 407+/-82, 343+/-52
      vs. 321+/-56 vs. 310+/-47, respectively, all P<0.05). However, there was no
      significant difference between the SGA catch-up group and AGA group (all P>0.05).
      The protein to energy ratio(g/100 kJ)of the SGA no catch-up group was
      significantly higher than that of the SGA catch-up and AGA groups at 6 months
      (0.59+/-0.09 vs.0.51+/-0.07 vs. 0.50+/-0.07, P<0.05). There was no significant
      difference between the SGA catch-up group and AGA group (all P>0.05). Differences
      in energy intake at 1, 3 and 6 months were also compared between the SGA catch-up
      and SGA no catch-up groups using repeated measures analysis of variance.The
      results suggested the total daily energy intake in the SGA catch-up group within
      6 months was higher than the SGA no catch-up group (F=7.512, P<0.05), but there
      were no significant differences in average daily energy intake (F=0.345) or
      protein to energy ratio (F=0.436) between the two groups (all P>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between catch-up growth and feeding
      patterns or average daily energy intake of full-term small for gestational age
      infants under 6 months of age.

PMID- 26887548
TI  - [Clinical features and genotype analysis of 132 patients with Wiskott-Aldrich
      syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and immunological laboratory features,
      gene mutations, treatment and prognosis in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
      (WAS). METHOD: The clinical, laboratory characteristics, treatment and prognosis
      of 132 children with WAS, who visited Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical
      University from April 2000 to June 2015, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT:
      All patients were male. The median age of disease onset was 15 days and the
      median age at diagnosis was 10 months. Of the 132 cases, 112 had classic WAS, 20
      had X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). The median platelet count was 23*10(9)/L.
      All cases had the clinical characteristics of WAS including bleeding, eczema, and
      being susceptible to infection. The initial symptoms include hemorrhage (75.0%)
      and eczema (16.7%). Twenty-one cases had autoimmune diseases and one patient had
      leukemia. WAS protein (WASP) expression in 115 cases were measured by flow
      cytometry, 88 cases were negative, in 12 cases WASP decreased, in 5 cases it was
      normal, 10 cases had bimodal distribution. Eighty-one kinds of mutations were
      found in 122 families, including eight kinds of hot-spot mutations, which were
      290 C> N / 291G> N (R86C / H / L), 665 C> T (R211X), 155 C> T (R41X), 168 C> T
      (T45 M), IVS1+ 1 g> t/ a, IVS6 + 5 g> a, IVS8 + 1 g> a and IVS8 + 1to + 6del
      gtga. Meantime, 29 kinds of novel mutations were found, which were 321T>C,
      415C>A, 471C>T, 102-105delC, 521 del C, 1330 del A, IVS2-2 a>c, 168 C>A/1412 C>
      T, exon1-2 del/1412 C>T, and so on. The proportion of CD3(+) T cells (31.3%),
      helper T cells (37.3%) and cytotoxic T cells (38.6%) in the peripheral blood
      declined. The serum levels of IgG (51.1%), IgA (43.3%) and IgE (40.0%) increased,
      IgM (25.6%) decreased. Of the 132 cases, 72 remain survived, of whom 36 cases
      received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 14 patients with classic
      WAS received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. With regular IVIG
      therapy, the frequency of infections was reduced and the patients' symptoms were
      improved. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
      were early age of onset, microthrombocytopenia, eczema and recurrent infections.
      The proportion of T lymphocyte declined, the serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgE
      increased, and level of IgM decreased in a part of patients. The detection of WAS
      gene mutation and WAS protein detection was the key diagnostic methods. Regular
      IVIG can gain more time for children who will receive HSCT and improve their
      quality of life.

PMID- 26887549
TI  - [A collaborative study of children with lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in
      China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a collaborative study and
      efficacy of lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LBL) treatment protocols in
      children with LBL in China retrospectively and to explore the clinical and
      prognostic features as well as treatment response of LBL, in order to better
      regulate the treatment for further improving the prognosis. METHOD: Seven
      tertiary referral centers for childhood cancer actively participated in this
      study. Shanghai Children's Medical Center (SCMC) 2007, SCMC-2011 and NHL-2010
      protocols of treatment were modified based on BFM-90/95 regimen originated from
      Germany. SCMC-2007 and SCMC-2011 were used in Shanghai Children's Medical Center
      and NHL-2010 was used in other centers. Uniform data collection forms were sent
      out to all the centers and collected back via e-mail. The clinical data were then
      analyzed with primary focus on clinical presentations, and laboratory findings.
      Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the survival rates between groups, while
      multiple factors logistic regression was used to identify the prognostic/relapse
      factors. RESULT: (1) A total of 96 patients were recruited. The median age at
      diagnosis was 8.6 (1.1-16.2) years. The male-to-female ratio was 3.2:1. (2) The
      immunophenotype was T-cell LBL in 77 patients (80%) and precursor B-cell LBL in
      19 patients (20%), respectively. According to St. Jude staging classification, 6
      patients (6%) were divided into stage I, 6 patients (6%) into stage II, 51
      patients (53%) into stage III, 32 patients (33%) into stage IV and 1 patient with
      isolated bone involvement. (3) With a median follow up of 21 months (0.3-60.7
      months), the 2-year overall survival (OS) rates and event-free survival (EFS)
      rates were (89+/-3)% and (68+/-5)%, respectively, and the 5-year probability of
      OS and EFS were (88+/-4)% and (64+/-6)%, respectively in all patients. Out of
      all, 23 patients received SCMC-2007 protocol, 15 patients received SCMC-2011
      protocol and 58 patients received NHL-2010 protocol. The 2-year OS and EFS were
      (91+/-6)% and (70+/-10)% in SCMC-2007 study, 100% and (92+/-8)% in SCMC-2011
      study, (83+/-6)% and (72+/-6)% in NHL-2010 study, respectively. For patients with
      complete response on day 33, the 2-year EFS was (77+/-6)% compared with (17+/
      10)% for patients with incomplete response (P<0.005). (4) In 13 patients (20%)
      the disease relapsed. The median relapse time range was 8 months (1-31 months).
      Six patients suffered from progressive disease. Logistic regression analysis
      showed that incomplete response on days 33 was an independent unfavorable
      prognostic factor (OR=4.138, P=0.035). CONCLUSION: Despite the apparent existence
      of gap between China and International states in the diagnostic and treatment
      approaches towards childhood LBL in China, with implementation of further
      modification of treatment protocols to strengthen cooperation between domestic
      tertiary centers, the long-term survival rate and reduction of recurrence of
      childhood LBL in China can be markedly improved.

PMID- 26887550
TI  - [Clinical and genetic analysis for two children with congenital disturbance of
      glycosylation with PMM2 gene mutations].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and PMM2 gene mutation features of congenital
      disturbance of glycosylation caused by PMM2 gene mutation (PMM2-CDG, previously
      known as CDG 1a). METHOD: The clinical data of two Chinese patients who were
      clinically diagnosed as PMM2-CDG at neurology department of Beijing Children's
      Hospital in 2012 were retrospectively collected. The gene mutations were
      identified by Sanger sequencing. RESULT: Both patients were female, aged 1 year
      and 1 month and 8 months respectively. The main clinical features of the two
      cases were developmental delay after birth, chronic diarrhea and metabolic
      acidosis, associated with elevated serum transaminases, and decreased
      antithrombin III activity. Physical examination showed esotropia, inverted
      nipples, and abnormal subcutaneous fat pads. The cranial MRI showed cerebellar
      atrophy. Both cases were treated with occupational therapy, physical therapy and
      speech therapy. The development was gradually improved but also delayed as
      compared with normal peers during follow-up for more than 3 years. Genetic
      analysis showed that patient 1 was compound heterozygous for c.
      422G>A(p.Arg141His), which was reported for known pathogenic mutation, and c.
      669C>A(p.Asp223Glu), was a new mutation. The patient 2 showed compound
      heterozygous mutation for c. 634A>G (p.Met212Val)and c. 713G>C(p.Arg238Pro),
      which were both new mutations. CONCLUSION: PMM2-CDG is a rare metabolic disease,
      and the diagnosis should be considered in a child with developmental delay,
      elevated serum transaminases, decreased antithrombin III activity, inverted
      nipples, abnormal subcutaneous fat pads, esotropia, and cerebellar atrophy on
      MRI. It can be confirmed by PMM2 gene analysis.

PMID- 26887551
TI  - [Analysis of clinical characteristics of the 12 cases of neonatal dengue fever in
      Guangzhou in 2014 and literatures review].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations and laboratory examination
      characteristics of neonatal dengue fever. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 12
      cases of neonatal dengue fever treated in the Guangdong Women and Children's
      Hospital and Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center was conducted, and
      related literature was reviewed. RESULT: Twelve cases of neonatal dengue fever
      included 9 males and 3 females; their age was 30 min after birth to 29 d, the age
      of onset was 30 min-24 d. (1) CLINICAL FEATURES: fever was present in 11 cases,
      rash in 6 cases, bleeding in 1 case, jaundice in 5 cases, cough in 1 case,
      coagulopathy in 2 cases. (2) Mothers' perinatal conditions: 7 mothers were
      confirmed to have dengue fever, 2 mothers had suspected dengue fever, and in 3
      mothers the dengue fever was excluded. Eight mothers prenatally had fever. (3)
      LABORATORY TESTS: Thrombocytopenia was found in 11 cases (19*10(9)-156*10(9)/L),
      activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged in 11 cases (44.0-89.8 s),
      fibrinogen decreased in 5 cases (1.17-3.02 g/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
      increased in 5 cases (28-78 U/L), creatine kinase (CK-MB) increased in 4 cases
      (13-86 U/L), hypokalemia in 1 case (2.8-5.1 mmol/L ), C- reactive protein (CRP)
      increased in 6 cases (0.04-46.05 mg/L). (4) Treatment and prognosis: platelet
      transfusion was used in 2 cases, anti-infective therapy was given to 6 cases,
      intravenous gamma globulin treatment was used in 5 cases, hospitalization was 4
      17 d, 10 cases were cured, 2 cases were discharged after condition was improved.
      Literature search was performed with "neonatal dengue" as keywords at Wanfang,
      Weipu, and CNKI, no relevant reports were found. Pubmed search was done with
      "neonatal dengue" and "case report" as keywords, 15 reports were retrieved during
      1990 and 2014, which reported 30 cases, all acquired the disease via vertical
      transmission; the main clinical manifestations were fever, rash, petechiae,
      anemia, jaundice, tachycardia, and hepatomegaly; laboratory test: all had visible
      purpura due to thrombocytopenia; anti-infective treatment, platelet transfusion
      and symptomatic treatment were given, and all the 30 cases of infants were cured.
      CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestations of neonatal dengue fever are
      characterized by fever and the disorder of blood coagulation system. The course
      of disease is mild, lack of specific clinical symptoms, and the prognosis is
      good. Mother to infant vertical transmission of dengue virus is one of the ways
      of transmission.

PMID- 26887553
TI  - [A case of pediatric follicular lymphoma].

PMID- 26887552
TI  - [Antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin and some associated autoantibodies
      in juvenile idiopathic arthritis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic value of antibodies to mutated citrullinated
      vimentin (MCV) and some associated autoantibodies in juvenile idiopathic
      arthritis and to further analyze the relation between antibodies and inflammatory
      markers. METHOD: Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) and anti-MCV
      antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),
      antiperinuclear factor (APF) and antikeratin antibody (AKA) by indirect
      immunofluorescent assay, as well as rheumatoid factor (RF) by latex agglutination
      test in serum samples from 113 patients with JIA and 56 children without
      rheumatoid arthritis. RESULT: (1) The positive rate of anti-MCV antibodies, anti
      CCP antibodies, and RF was 16.8%, 14.2%, and 21.2% in the JIA. In the other
      group, the positive rate was 2.2%, 2.2%, and 6.5%. There was a significant
      difference between the two groups (chi(2)=8.105, 6.337, 7.036, P<0.05). The
      positive rate of AKA and APF were not significantly different. The area under the
      ROC curve of anti-MCV antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies, RF, AKA, APF was 0.579,
      0.561, 0.578, 0.539, 0.505. (2) The positive rate of anti-MCV antibodies and anti
      CCP antibodies were higher than other antibodies. In the RF-positive
      polyarticular disease patients, they were higher than those in the other subtypes
      (P<0.05). Antibody levels were not significantly different (P>0.05) from other
      subtypes. (3) The swollen joint counts and tender joint counts had a low
      correlation to anti-MCV antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies, RF, AKA and APF. No
      correlation was found between ESR, CRP and anti-MCV antibodies, anti-CCP
      antibodies, RF, AKA and APF. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of anti-MCV
      antibodies is low for JIA. The positive rate of anti-MCV antibodies was higher
      than the other antibodies in the classification of JIA. There was a low
      correlation between anti-MCV antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies, RF, AKA, APF and
      swollen joint counts, tender joint counts.

PMID- 26887554
TI  - [A case report of plasmapheresis successfully treated macrophage activation
      syndrome in juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

PMID- 26887555
TI  - [The cardiovascular changes in pediatric onset systemic lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 26887556
TI  - [Relationship between the different components of executive function and obesity
      in children].

PMID- 26887557
TI  - [Nonhomologous DNA end joining pathway defect and primary immunodeficiency
      diseases].

PMID- 26887558
TI  - [Paracetamol treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants: a
      review].

PMID- 26887559
TI  - [Summary of the fifth national children's syncope academic conference].

PMID- 26887560
TI  - The consistent difference in red fluorescence in fishes across a 15 m depth
      gradient is triggered by ambient brightness, not by ambient spectrum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Organisms adapt to fluctuations or gradients in their environment by
      means of genetic change or phenotypic plasticity. Consistent adaptation across
      small spatial scales measured in meters, however, has rarely been reported. We
      recently found significant variation in fluorescence brightness in six benthic
      marine fish species across a 15 m depth gradient. Here, we investigate whether
      this can be explained by phenotypic plasticity alone, using the triplefin
      Tripterygion delaisi as a model species. In two separate experiments, we measure
      change in red fluorescent brightness to spectral composition and ambient
      brightness, two central parameters of the visual environment that change rapidly
      with depth. RESULTS: Changing the ambient spectra simulating light at -5 or -20 m
      depth generated no detectable changes in mean fluorescence brightness after 4-6
      weeks. In contrast, a reduction in ambient brightness generated a significant and
      reversible increase in mean fluorescence, most of this within the first week.
      Although individuals can quickly up- and down-regulate their fluorescence around
      this mean value using melanosome aggregation and dispersal, we demonstrate that
      this range around the mean remained unaffected by either treatment. CONCLUSION:
      We show that the positive association between fluorescence and depth observed in
      the field can be fully explained by ambient light brightness, with no detectable
      additional effect of spectral composition. We propose that this change is
      achieved by adjusting the ratio of melanophores and fluorescent iridophores in
      the iris.

PMID- 26887562
TI  - NMDA receptors amplify mossy fiber synaptic inputs at frequencies up to at least
      750 Hz in cerebellar granule cells.
AB  - Neuronal integration of high-frequency signals is important for rapid information
      processing. Cerebellar mossy fiber axons (MFs) can fire action potentials (APs)
      at frequencies of more than one kilohertz. However, it is unclear whether and how
      the postsynaptic cerebellar granule cells (GCs) are able to process these high
      frequency MF inputs. Here, we measured AP firing in GCs during high-frequency MF
      stimulation and show that GC firing frequency increased non-linearly when MF
      stimulation frequency was increased from 100 to 750 Hz. To investigate the
      mechanisms enabling such high-frequency signaling, we analyzed the role of N
      methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), which have been implicated in synaptic
      signaling at lower frequencies. Application of D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic
      acid (APV), a potent inhibitor of NMDARs, strongly impaired the GC firing
      frequency during high-frequency MF stimulation. APV had no significant effect on
      single excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) or currents (EPSCs) evoked at 1
      Hz at resting membrane potentials. However, the time course of EPSCs evoked at 1
      Hz at depolarized potentials or following high-frequency MF stimulation was
      accelerated by APV. Thus, our results show that NMDAR-mediated currents amplify
      high-frequency MF inputs by prolonging the time courses of synaptic inputs,
      thereby causing greater synaptic summation of inputs. Hence, NMDARs support the
      integration of MF synaptic input at frequencies up to at least 750 Hz. Synapse
      70:269-276, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887561
TI  - Who's misbehaving? Perceptions of unprofessional social media use by medical
      students and faculty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Social media use by physicians offers potential benefits but may also
      be associated with professionalism problems. The objectives of this study were:
      1) to examine and compare characteristics of social media use by medical students
      and faculty; 2) to explore the scope of self- and peer-posting of unprofessional
      online content; and 3) to determine what actions were taken when unprofessional
      content was viewed. METHODS: An anonymous, web-based survey was sent to medical
      students and faculty in October, 2013 at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
      in Bronx, New York. RESULTS: Three-quarters of medical students reported using
      social media "very frequently" (several times a day), whereas less than one-third
      of faculty did so (p < .001). Medical students reported using privacy settings
      more often than faculty (96.5 % v. 78.1 %, p < .001). Most medical students (94.2
      %) and faculty (94.1 %) reported "never" or "occasionally" monitoring their
      online presence (p = 0.94). Medical students reported self-posting of profanity,
      depiction of intoxication, and sexually suggestive material more often than
      faculty (p < .001). Medical students and faculty both reported peer-posting of
      unprofessional content significantly more often than self-posting. There was no
      association between year of medical school and posting of unprofessional content.
      CONCLUSION: Medical students reported spending more time using social media and
      posting unprofessional content more often than did faculty.

PMID- 26887563
TI  - Biological verification of sterilization cycles in dental clinics in Mexico.

PMID- 26887564
TI  - Non-invasive assessment of tear film stability with a novel corneal topographer
      in Indian subjects.
AB  - The aim of the study is to investigate the applicability of a newly developed
      corneal topographer in assessing tear film stability in Indian subjects. A
      prospective comparative study of 25 Indian subjects with dry eyes attending a
      tertiary eye care clinic in South India and 25 normal control subjects was
      conducted. The diagnosis of dry eye was made based on ocular surface disease
      index questionnaire. Non-invasive tear film break-up time (NI-TBUT) was measured
      using a new method based on a corneal topographer equipped with modified scan
      software. The correlations between the NI-TBUT and the traditional fluorescein
      tear film break-up time (F-TBUT), Schirmer I test values were determined. A total
      of 50 patients (100 eyes) were included. The values of NI-TBUT were significantly
      lower than the values of F-TBUT in both the cases (NI-TBUT 5.78 +/- 0.8 s and F
      TBUT 7.56 +/- 0.5 s; p < 0.02) and controls (NI-TBUT 11.66 +/- 1 s and F-TBUT
      12.92 +/- 1.2 s; p < 0.01). NI-TBUT values were significantly lower than the
      corresponding F-TBUT values in the varying grades of dry eyes. The mean NI-TBUT
      values in mild dry eyes was 6.42 +/- 0.2 s, moderate dry eyes was 4.70 +/- 0.3 s
      and in severe dry eyes was 2.32 +/- 1.2 s. There was a significant difference in
      the NI-TBUT values for cases and controls (p < 0.001). There was a good
      correlation seen between the NI-TBUT values and the F-TBUT values, Schirmer I
      values and the ODSI scores. NI-TBUT was found to have a sensitivity of 86.1 % and
      a specificity of 81.1 % when the cut-off value was kept at 6.2 s. We investigated
      the performance of a non-invasive technique for measuring tear film stability to
      aid in the diagnosis of dry eye disease. It is a useful non-invasive objective
      method for the detection of dry eye, and its varying grades and may be useful in
      monitoring the efficacy of therapies for dry eye.

PMID- 26887565
TI  - Comparability of retinal thickness measurements using different scanning
      protocols on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
AB  - Retinal thickness measurements obtained using optical coherence tomography (OCT)
      play an essential role both in multi-center clinical trials and in normal
      clinical practice. Different scanning protocols are available on most OCT
      devices, and it is important to ascertain whether the retinal thickness
      measurements obtained from these are comparable. This study aimed to compare
      retinal thickness measurements between raster and radial scanning protocols using
      spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT). In a prospective study, 32 healthy subjects were
      scanned sequentially using raster and radial protocols from a SD-OCT device. For
      both the raster and radial OCT scans, retinal thicknesses were measured manually
      subfoveally and at 12 other points at 0.5 mm intervals temporally and nasally on
      the horizontal OCT B-scan passing through the fovea. The retinal thickness
      measurements were compared using intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland-Altman
      plots. Subfoveal retinal thickness was 227.0 um when measured on the raster scan
      and 229.2 um on the radial scan, with a mean difference of 2.2 um (P = 0.141).The
      ICC for agreement was 0.889 (95 % confidence interval 0.818-0.933). Similar
      results were observed for retinal thickness measurements at all other points,
      with mean differences ranging from -3.37 to 2.59 um, and ICC values ranging from
      0.837 to 0.972. The retinal thickness measurements obtained by the raster and
      radial scans of the same SD-OCT device are comparable, with differences of less
      than 4 um. This is of relevance when measurements made using different OCT scan
      protocols are compared.

PMID- 26887567
TI  - Late onset dHMN II caused by c.404C>G mutation in HSPB1 gene.
AB  - Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) type II is genetically heterogeneous.
      We report three siblings of a German family with late onset distal motor
      neuropathy due to the c.404C>G mutation in heat-shock 27-kDa protein 1 gene
      (HSPB1/HSP27). A 36-year-old mutation carrier, daughter of one sibling, did not
      present any clinical or electrophysiological abnormalities. The index patient
      (oldest brother) developed weakness of the distal lower limbs and nocturnal
      muscle cramps at the age of 54. After 5 years this patient developed an l-DOPA
      responsive hypokinetic rigid syndrome, establishing a diagnosis of Parkinson's
      disease. Although none of the three other mutation carriers displayed
      Parkinsonian signs, a pathogenic relationship with Parkinson's disease remains a
      possibility, based on the known molecular pathology of HSPB1. The rare pathogenic
      HSPB1 c.404C>G mutation may predispose for late-onset of dHMN type II.

PMID- 26887566
TI  - Evaluation of the anatomic and refractive differences in hyperopic anisometropia.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the interocular symmetry of
      ultrasonic biometric characteristics and anterior segment measurements between
      the fellow eyes of hyperopic anisometropes. Forty-two healthy hyperopic
      anisometropic cases (1 D mean spherical equivalent difference between eyes)
      without strabismus were recruited. A range of refractive and ultrasonic biometric
      parameters were measured in both eyes of each subject including keratometry, mean
      spherical equivalent, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness, vitreous
      depth (VD), axial length (AL), and anterior segment parameters (central corneal
      thickness (CCT), ACD, anterior chamber volume (ACV)) with Pentacam. Mean
      spherical equivalent anisometropia was 2.66 +/- 1.233 (range 1.125 and 6.25) D,
      and there was a strong correlation between the degree of anisometropia and the
      interocular difference in AL (r = 0.632, P < 0.001). A total of 61.3 % of the
      anisometropia was related with AL (50.7 %) and mean keratometry (10.6 %). Every 1
      mm change in AL and every 1 D change in mean keratometry caused a total of 2.82 D
      and 2.14 D refractive difference, respectively. Among Pentacam parameters, ACD
      was correlated with ACV (r = 0.528; P < 0.001) and AL (r = 0.510; P = 0.001); ACV
      was correlated with VD (r = 0.358; P = 0.020); and CCT was correlated with ACV (r
      = 0.510; P = 0.001) and AL (r = 0.318; P = 0.040). Among ultrasonographic
      measurements, ultrasonic-ACD was correlated with CCT (r = 0.510; P = 0.001) and
      lens thickness (r = -0.556; P < 0.001), and VD was correlated with AL (r = 0.937,
      r 2 = 0.877, P < 0.001). The hyperopic and the fellow eyes displayed a high
      degree of interocular symmetry for the other measured parameters. AL and mean
      keratometry are the leading causes of hyperopic anisometropia. However, ACD as
      measured with Pentacam also shows difference in hyperopic anisometropic eyes.

PMID- 26887568
TI  - Prednisolone impairs embryonic and posthatching development and shell formation
      of the freshwater snail, Physa acuta.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the lethal and sublethal effects
      of prednisolone exposure on the embryonic and posthatching stage of the
      freshwater snail, Physa acuta. The egg masses were exposed for 14 d to
      prednisolone concentrations ranging from 15.6 MUg/L to 1000 MUg/L. Treatment with
      prednisolone at 125 MUg/L to 1000 MUg/L resulted in significant decline in
      growth, survival, and heart rate, as well as notable abnormalities in embryonic
      development. Premature embryonic hatching was observed at lower concentrations of
      31.25 MUg/L and 62.5 MUg/L, whereas delayed hatching was seen at concentrations
      from 125 MUg/L to 1000 MUg/L. To assess impacts of prednisolone exposure on the
      hatched juveniles, the drug exposure was extended for another 28 d. Impairment of
      shell development was noted in juveniles exposed to concentrations from 62.5
      MUg/L to 1000 MUg/L at the end of 42 d, which resulted in thin and fragile
      shells. The thickness of shells in snails exposed to 1000 MUg/L was significantly
      lower in comparison to those in the 15.6-MUg/L and control treatments. In
      addition, lower calcium concentration in shells of the exposed juvenile snails at
      treatments of 62.5 MUg/L to 1000 MUg/L consequently reduced their growth. The
      present study confirms that continuous exposure to prednisolone can result in
      deleterious effects on calcium deposition, resulting in shell thinning in the
      freshwater snail P. acuta. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2339-2348. (c) 2016
      SETAC.

PMID- 26887569
TI  - Synthesis of chiral 2-alkanols from n-alkanes by a P. putida whole-cell
      biocatalyst.
AB  - The cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP154A8 from Nocardia farcinica was previously
      found to catalyze hydroxylation of linear alkanes (C7 -C9 ) with a high regio-
      and stereoselectivity. The objective of this study was to integrate CYP154A8
      along with suitable redox partners into a whole-cell system for the production of
      chiral 2-alkanols starting from alkanes. Both recombinant Escherichia coli and
      Pseudomonas putida whole-cell biocatalysts tested for this purpose showed the
      ability to produce chiral alkanols, but a solvent tolerant P. putida strain
      demonstrated several advantages in the applied biphasic reaction system. The
      optimized P. putida whole-cell system produced ~16 mM (S)-2-octanol with 87% ee
      from octane, which is more than sevenfold higher than the previously described
      system with isolated enzymes. The achieved enantiopurity of the product could
      further be increased up to 99% ee by adding an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to the
      alkane-oxidizing P. putida whole-cell systems. By using this setup for the
      individual conversions of heptane, octane or nonane, 2.6 mM (S)-2-heptanol with
      91% ee, 5.4 mM (S)-2-octanol with 97% ee, or 5.5 mM (S)-2-nonanol with 97% ee
      were produced, respectively. The achieved concentrations of chiral 2-alkanols are
      the highest reported for a P450-based whole-cell system so far. Biotechnol.
      Bioeng. 2016;113: 1845-1852. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887571
TI  - Porous LaCo1-xNixO3-delta Nanostructures as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for
      Water Oxidation and for a Zinc-Air Battery.
AB  - Perovskites have emerged as promising earth-abundant alternatives to precious
      metals for catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report the
      synthesis of a series of porous perovskite nanostructures, LaCo0.97O3-delta, with
      systematic Ni substitution in Co octahedral sites. Their electrocatalytic
      activity during the water oxidation reaction was studied in alkaline
      electrolytes. The electrocatalytic OER activity and stability of the perovskite
      nanostructure was evaluated using the rotating disk electrode technique. We show
      that the progressive replacement of Co by Ni in the LaCo0.97O3-delta perovskite
      structure greatly altered the electrocatalytic activity and that the
      La(Co0.71Ni0.25)0.96O3-delta composition exhibited the lowest OER overpotential
      of 324 and 265 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) in 0.1 M KOH and 1 M KOH, respectively. This
      value was much lower than that of the noble metal catalysts, IrO2, Ru/C, and
      Pt/C. Furthermore, the La(Co0.71Ni0.25)0.96O3-delta nanostructure showed
      outstanding electrode stability, with no observable decrease in performance up to
      114th cycle in the auxiliary linear sweep voltammetry that lasted for 10 h in
      chronoamperometry studies. The excellent oxygen evolution activity of the
      La(Co0.71Ni0.25)0.96O3-delta perovskite nanostructure can be attributed to its
      intrinsic structure, interconnected particle arrangement, and unique redox
      characteristics. The enhanced intrinsic electrocatalytic activity of the
      La(Co0.71Ni0.25)0.96O3-delta catalyst was correlated with several parameters,
      such as the electrochemical surface area, the roughness factor, and the turnover
      frequency, with respect to variation in the transition metals of the perovskite
      structure. Subsequently, La(Co0.71Ni0.25)0.96O3-delta was utilized as the air
      cathode in a zinc-air battery application. 

PMID- 26887572
TI  - Erratum to: MINE: Module Identification in Networks.

PMID- 26887570
TI  - Stability properties of neuronal microtubules.
AB  - Neurons are terminally differentiated cells that use their microtubule arrays not
      for cell division but rather as architectural elements required for the
      elaboration of elongated axons and dendrites. In addition to acting as
      compression-bearing struts that provide for the shape of the neuron, microtubules
      also act as directional railways for organelle transport. The stability
      properties of neuronal microtubules are commonly discussed in the biomedical
      literature as crucial to the development and maintenance of the nervous system,
      and have recently gained attention as central to the etiology of
      neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs that affect microtubule stability are currently
      under investigation as potential therapies for disease and injury of the nervous
      system. There is often a lack of consistency, however, in how the issue of
      microtubule stability is discussed in the literature, and this can affect the
      design and interpretation of experiments as well as potential therapeutic
      regimens. Neuronal microtubules are considered to be more stable than
      microtubules in dividing cells. On average, this is true, but in addition to an
      abundant stable microtubule fraction in neurons, there is also an abundant labile
      microtubule fraction. Both are functionally important. Individual microtubules
      consist of domains that differ in their stability properties, and these domains
      can also differ markedly in their composition as well as how they interact with
      various microtubule-related proteins in the neuron. Myriad proteins and pathways
      have been discussed as potential contributors to microtubule stability in
      neurons. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26887573
TI  - An evaluation of the Swiss staging model for hypothermia using case reports from
      the literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Core body temperature is used to stage and guide the management of
      hypothermic patients, however obtaining accurate measurements of core temperature
      is challenging, especially in the pre-hospital context. The Swiss staging model
      for hypothermia uses clinical indicators to stage hypothermia. The proposed
      temperature range for clinical stage 1 is <35-32  degrees C (95-90  degrees F),
      for stage 2, <32-28  degrees C (<90-82  degrees F) for stage 3, <28-24  degrees C
      (<82-75  degrees F), and for stage 4 below 24  degrees C (75  degrees F).
      However, the evidence relating these temperature ranges to the clinical stages
      needs to be strengthened. METHODS: Medline was used to retrieve data on as many
      cases of accidental hypothermia (core body temperature <35  degrees C (95 
      degrees F)) as possible. Cases of therapeutic or neonatal hypothermia and those
      with confounders or insufficient data were excluded. To evaluate the Swiss
      staging model for hypothermia, we estimated the percentage of those patients who
      were correctly classified and compared the theoretical with the observed ranges
      of temperatures for each clinical stage. The number of rescue collapses was also
      recorded. RESULTS: We analysed 183 cases; the median temperature for the sample
      was 25.2  degrees C (IQR 22-28). 95 of the 183 patients (51.9%; 95% CI = 44.7%
      59.2%) were correctly classified, while the temperature was overestimated in 36
      patients (19.7%; 95% CI = 13.9%-25.4%). We observed important overlaps among the
      four stage groups with respect to core temperature, the lowest observed
      temperature being 28.1  degrees C for Stage 1, 22  degrees C for Stage 2, 19.3 
      degrees C for Stage 3, and 13.7  degrees C for stage 4. CONCLUSION: Predicting
      core body temperature using clinical indicators is a difficult task. Despite the
      inherent limitations of our study, it increases the strength of the evidence
      linking the clinical hypothermia stage to core temperature. Decreasing the
      thresholds of temperatures distinguishing the different stages would allow a
      reduction in the number of cases where body temperature is overestimated,
      avoiding some potentially negative consequences for the management of hypothermic
      patients.

PMID- 26887574
TI  - Delayed consequences of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and the influence
      of adverse environmental conditions on roach Rutilus rutilus embryos.
AB  - This study presents data collected over a 6 year period on the effects of
      extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (MFs) (1.4-1.6 uT, 500 Hz and 1.4-1.6 uT,
      72.5 Hz) and MFs in combination with other environmental stressors (elevated
      temperature, 0.01 mg l(-1) trichlorfon, 0.01 mg l(-1) copper sulphate
      pentahydrate) on roach Rutilus rutilus embryos. Effects were studied during
      different stages of early development. Rutilus rutilus were raised in ponds for 4
      months after exposure to MFs. The mass, standard length (LS ) and morphological
      characteristics of underyearlings which were exposed as embryos were recorded. An
      increase in embryo mortality and a decrease in LS and mass indices in
      underyearlings were noted after they had been exposed to a combination of MFs and
      different adverse environmental factors. In addition, exposure to MFs led to
      changes in the total number of vertebrae and the number of seismosensory system
      openings in the mandibular bones of underyearlings. MFs of different frequency
      caused both increases (500 Hz) and decreases (72.5 Hz) in morphological
      diversity. The stressors used in this study, however, did not increase the
      fluctuating asymmetry of bilateral morphological characteristics. The possible
      microevolutionary effects of exposure to MFs alone and in combination with other
      adverse environmental factors upon natural fish populations are discussed.

PMID- 26887575
TI  - Assessment of the H-reflex at two contraction levels before and after fatigue.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to compare the H-reflex evoked at rest and at
      20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) prior to and after fatiguing the lateral
      gastrocnemius (LG). The maximal H-reflex and M-wave were recorded in the LG, and
      soleus (SOL). Electrical evoked potentials were delivered to the posterior tibial
      nerve when muscles were inactivated and at 20% MVC. After fatigue, the Hmax /Mmax
      ratio of the fatigued LG was increased for both contraction levels (rest and 20%
      MVC) and remained unaltered for non-fatigued SOL. Before fatigue, the Hmax /Mmax
      ratio of SOL was enhanced at rest compared with the Hmax /Mmax ratio at 20% MVC.
      No differences were observed for LG. Fatigue of a single muscle leads to
      increased spinal reflex activity of the homonymous muscle. Contrary to previous
      recommendations in the literature, there appears to be no benefit with regard to
      the H-reflex amplitude in evoking electrical potentials during constant voluntary
      contractions at 20% MVC compared with inactivated muscles. The observed
      difference in SOL prior to fatigue was most likely due to hyperpolarization of
      the muscle fiber membrane.

PMID- 26887577
TI  - Dietary antioxidant capacity and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the
      E3N/EPIC cohort study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The cellular oxidative stress (balance between pro-oxidant and
      antioxidant) may be a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Antioxidant
      capacity of human diet can be globally assessed through the dietary non-enzymatic
      antioxidant capacity (NEAC). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between
      the NEAC and all-cause and cause-specific mortality, and to test potential
      interactions with smoking status, a well-known pro-oxidant factor. METHODS: Among
      the French women of the E3N prospective cohort study initiated in 1990, including
      4619 deaths among 1,199,011 persons-years of follow-up. A validated dietary
      history questionnaire assessed usual food intake; NEAC intake was estimated using
      a food composition table from two different methods: ferric ion reducing
      antioxidant power (FRAP) and total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP).
      Hazard ratio (HR) estimates and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were derived from
      Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses,
      FRAP dietary equivalent intake was inversely associated with mortality from all
      causes (HR for the fourth vs. the first quartile: HR4 = 0.75, 95 % CI 0.67, 0.83,
      p trend < 0.0001), cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Similar results were
      obtained with TRAP. There was an interaction between NEAC dietary equivalent
      intake and smoking status for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, but
      not cancer mortality (respectively, for FRAP, p inter = 0.002; 0.013; 0.113,
      results were similar with TRAP), and the association was the strongest among
      current smokers. CONCLUSION: This prospective cohort study highlights the
      importance of antioxidant consumption for mortality prevention, especially among
      current smokers.

PMID- 26887576
TI  - Effect of aqua-cycling on pain and physical functioning compared with usual care
      in patients with knee osteoarthritis: study protocol of a randomised controlled
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over the last decade aquatic exercise has become more and more
      popular. One of the latest trends is aqua-cycling, where participants sit on a
      water-resistant stationary bike and, while immersed chest deep in the water,
      combine continuous cycling with upper body exercises that utilise water
      resistance. Since stationary cycling and aquatic exercises are frequently
      recommended to patients with knee osteoarthritis, combining both would seem an
      obvious step, and an aqua-cycling exercise programme for patients with knee
      osteoarthritis has indeed been developed. This study protocol gives a detailed
      description of the exercise programme and the methodology of a study to compare
      this programme with treatment involving usual care only. METHODS: The study is a
      single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial of Maastricht
      University Medical Centre+, the Netherlands. INCLUSION CRITERIA: knee pain of
      four to seven on a 10-point pain rating scale; a Kellgren/Lawrence score between
      one to three; ability to cycle; good mental health; sufficient language skills;
      indication for physical therapy in conjunction with impairments due to OA.
      EXCLUSION CRITERIA: any contra-indication for aquatic exercise; planned total
      knee replacement; corticosteroid injection <3 months and/or hyaluronic acid
      injection <6 months; severe joint complaints (other than knee joint); symptomatic
      and radiological apparent hip OA; inflammatory joint diseases; inability to
      safely enter and exit the pool; fear of water. Participants will receive two 45
      min moderate intense aqua-cycling sessions weekly over a period of 12 weeks in
      addition to usual care or usual care only. Usual care consists of an individual
      intervention plan comprising lifestyle recommendations, medication routine and
      referral to a physical therapist. Participants will be assessed at baseline, and
      at 12 and 24 weeks after baseline. The primary outcome is self-reported knee pain
      and physical functioning. Secondary outcomes are lower limb muscle strength,
      functional capacity, self-reported disease severity, physical activity level,
      quality of life, self-efficacy and fear of movement. Daily diaries will collect
      information on knee pain, physical functioning, level of physical activity, pain
      medication routine and physical therapy (control group only) or exercise
      participation over two 30-day periods (during the intervention period).
      DISCUSSION: To our knowledge the present study is the first randomised controlled
      trial evaluating the effects of aqua-cycling in the pre-surgical stage of knee
      osteoarthritis. This trial will demonstrate if the newly designed aqua-cycling
      intervention, in supplement to usual care, can help to improve impairments due to
      knee osteoarthritis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register NTR3766 (21
      12-2012).

PMID- 26887578
TI  - Therapeutic Potential of Delivering Arsenic Trioxide into HPV-Infected Cervical
      Cancer Cells Using Liposomal Nanotechnology.
AB  - Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been used successfully to treat acute promyelocytic
      leukaemia, and since this discovery, it has also been researched as a possible
      treatment for other haematological and solid cancers. Even though many positive
      results have been found in the laboratory, wider clinical use of ATO has been
      compromised by its toxicity at higher concentrations. The aim of this study was
      to explore an improved method for delivering ATO using liposomal nanotechnology
      to evaluate whether this could reduce drug toxicity and improve the efficacy of
      ATO in treating human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. HeLa, C33a, and
      human keratinocytes were exposed to 5 MUm of ATO in both free and liposomal forms
      for 48 h. The stability of the prepared samples was tested using inductively
      coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) to measure the
      intracellular arsenic concentrations after treatment. Fluorescent double
      immunocytochemical staining was carried out to evaluate the protein expression
      levels of HPV-E6 oncogene and caspase-3. Cell apoptosis was analysed by flow
      cytometry. Results showed that liposomal ATO was more effective than free ATO in
      reducing protein levels of HPV-E6 and inducing cell apoptosis in HeLa cells.
      Moreover, lower toxicity was observed when liposomal-delivered ATO was used. This
      could be explained by lower intracellular concentrations of arsenic. The slowly
      accumulated intracellular ATO through liposomal delivery might act as a reservoir
      which releases ATO gradually to maintain its anti-HPV effects. To conclude,
      liposome-delivered ATO could protect cells from the direct toxic effects induced
      by higher concentrations of intracellular ATO. Different pathways may be involved
      in this process, depending on local architecture of the tissues and HPV status. 

PMID- 26887579
TI  - Alpha-Glucosidase Enzyme Biosensor for the Electrochemical Measurement of
      Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants.
AB  - A biosensor for measuring the antidiabetic potential of medicinal plants was
      developed by covalent immobilization of alpha-glucosidase (AG) enzyme onto amine
      functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH2). The immobilized enzyme
      was entrapped in freeze-thawed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) together with p
      nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) on the screen-printed carbon electrode
      at low pH to prevent the premature reaction between PNPG and AG enzyme. The
      enzymatic reaction within the biosensor is inhibited by bioactive compounds in
      the medicinal plant extracts. The capability of medicinal plants to inhibit the
      AG enzyme on the electrode correlates to the potential of the medicinal plants to
      inhibit the production of glucose from the carbohydrate in the human body. Thus,
      the inhibition indicates the antidiabetic potential of the medicinal plants. The
      performance of the biosensor was evaluated to measure the antidiabetic potential
      of three medicinal plants such as Tebengau (Ehretis laevis), Cemumar (Micromelum
      pubescens), and Kedondong (Spondias dulcis) and acarbose (commercial antidiabetic
      drug) via cyclic voltammetry, amperometry, and spectrophotometry. The cyclic
      voltammetry (CV) response for the inhibition of the AG enzyme activity by
      Tebengau plant extracts showed a linear relation in the range from 0.423-8.29
      MUA, and the inhibition detection limit was 0.253 MUA. The biosensor exhibited
      good sensitivity (0.422 MUA/mg Tebengau plant extracts) and rapid response (22
      s). The biosensor retains approximately 82.16 % of its initial activity even
      after 30 days of storage at 4  degrees C. 

PMID- 26887581
TI  - Comparative study of wavelet denoising in myoelectric control applications.
AB  - Here, the wavelet analysis has been investigated to improve the quality of
      myoelectric signal before use in prosthetic design. Effective Surface
      Electromyogram (SEMG) signals were estimated by first decomposing the obtained
      signal using wavelet transform and then analysing the decomposed coefficients by
      threshold methods. With the appropriate choice of wavelet, it is possible to
      reduce interference noise effectively in the SEMG signal. However, the most
      effective wavelet for SEMG denoising is chosen by calculating the root mean
      square value and signal power values. The combined results of root mean square
      value and signal power shows that wavelet db4 performs the best denoising among
      the wavelets. Furthermore, time domain and frequency domain methods were applied
      for SEMG signal analysis to investigate the effect of muscle-force contraction on
      the signal. It was found that, during sustained contractions, the mean frequency
      (MNF) and median frequency (MDF) increase as muscle force levels increase. 

PMID- 26887580
TI  - Laser biospectroscopy and 5-ALA fluorescence navigation as a helpful tool in the
      meningioma resection.
AB  - 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a natural precursor of protoporphyrin IX (PP
      IX), which possesses fluorescent properties and is more intensively accumulated
      in tumor cells than in normal tissue. Therefore, the use of 5-ALA in the surgical
      treatment of intracranial tumors, particularly gliomas, has gained popularity in
      the last years, whereas its use in other intracranial pathological entities
      including meningiomas has been reported occasionally. This study describes a
      series of 28 patients with intracranial meningiomas, who were administered 5-ALA
      for a better visualization of tumor boundaries. Twelve patients underwent also
      laser spectroscopic analysis in order to confirm the visual impression of tumor
      tissue visualization. Bone infiltration was readily demonstrated. In one case,
      the tumor recurrence could have been prevented by removal of a tumor remnant,
      which would possibly have been better recognized if spectroscopic analysis had
      been used. Fluorescent navigation (FN) is a useful method for maximizing the
      radicality of meningioma surgery, particularly if the tumor infiltrates the bone,
      the skull base, and/or the surrounding structures. 

PMID- 26887583
TI  - Integrative genomic testing of cancer survival using semiparametric linear
      transformation models.
AB  - The wide availability of multi-dimensional genomic data has spurred increasing
      interests in integrating multi-platform genomic data. Integrative analysis of
      cancer genome landscape can potentially lead to deeper understanding of the
      biological process of cancer. We integrate epigenetics (DNA methylation and
      microRNA expression) and gene expression data in tumor genome to delineate the
      association between different aspects of the biological processes and brain tumor
      survival. To model the association, we employ a flexible semiparametric linear
      transformation model that incorporates both the main effects of these genomic
      measures as well as the possible interactions among them. We develop variance
      component tests to examine different coordinated effects by testing various
      subsets of model coefficients for the genomic markers. A Monte Carlo perturbation
      procedure is constructed to approximate the null distribution of the proposed
      test statistics. We further propose omnibus testing procedures to synthesize
      information from fitting various parsimonious sub-models to improve power.
      Simulation results suggest that our proposed testing procedures maintain proper
      size under the null and outperform standard score tests. We further illustrate
      the utility of our procedure in two genomic analyses for survival of glioblastoma
      multiforme patients. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887582
TI  - The Neuroprotective Effects of Justicidin A on Amyloid Beta25-35-Induced Neuronal
      Cell Death Through Inhibition of Tau Hyperphosphorylation and Induction of
      Autophagy in SH-SY5Y Cells.
AB  - Justicidin A is a structurally defined arylnaphthalide lignan, which has been
      shown anti-cancer activity; however, the neuroprotective effect of justicidin A
      is still untested. In this study, we investigated the action of justicidin A on
      amyloid beta (Abeta)25-35-induced neuronal cell death via inhibition of the
      hyperphosphorylation of tau and induction of autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells.
      Pretreatment with justicidin A significantly elevated cell viability in cells
      treated with Abeta25-35. Western blot data demonstrated that justicidin A
      inhibited the Abeta25-35-induced up-regulation the levels of hyperphosphorylation
      of tau in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, treatment with justicidin A significantly
      induced autophagy as measured by the increasing LC3 II/I ratio, an important
      autophagy marker. These studies showed that justicidin A inhibited activity of
      glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), which is an important kinase in up
      stream signaling pathways; inhibited hyperphosphorylation of tau in AD; and
      enhanced activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is the key
      molecule for both hyperphosphorylation of tau and induction of autophagy. These
      data provide the first evidence that justicidin A protects SH-SY5Y cells from
      Abeta25-35-induced neuronal cell death through inhibition of hyperphosphorylation
      of tau and induction of autophagy via regulation the activity of GSK-3beta and
      AMPK, and they also provide some insights into the relationship between tau
      protein hyperphosphorylation and autophagy. Thus, we conclude that justicidin A
      may have a potential role for neuroprotection and, therefore, may be used as a
      therapeutic agent for AD. 

PMID- 26887585
TI  - A randomized controlled trial of two mail-based lifestyle interventions for
      breast cancer survivors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although breast cancer survivors' lifestyle choices affect their
      subsequent health, a majority do not engage in healthy behaviors. Because
      treatment end is a "teachable moment" for potentially altering lifestyle change
      for breast cancer survivors, we developed and tested two mail-based interventions
      for women who recently completed primary treatment. METHODS: One hundred seventy
      three survivors were randomly assigned to (1) Targeting the Teachable Moment
      (TTMI, n = 57), (2) Standard Lifestyle Management (SLM, n = 58), or (3) usual
      care (UC, n = 58) control group. Participants who were assigned to TTMI and SLM
      received relevant treatment materials biweekly for 4 months. Participants were
      assessed at baseline (T1, before randomization), post-treatment (T2, 4 months),
      and follow-up (T3, 7 months). Fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake, fat intake, and
      moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed. RESULTS: Results
      showed promise for these mail-based interventions for changes in health
      behaviors: Survivors in TTMI (+.47) and SLM (+.45) reported increased F/V intake,
      whereas those in UC (-.1) reported decreased F/V intake from T1 to T2. Changes in
      minutes of MVPA from T1 to T2 were higher in SLM than UC and marginally higher in
      TTMI than UC. However, these differences were due to decreased MVPA in UC rather
      than increased MVPA in the intervention groups. There were no group differences
      regarding fat intake. Survivors reported high satisfaction and preference for
      mail-based interventions, supporting feasibility. CONCLUSIONS: Mail-based
      lifestyle interventions for breast cancer survivors may benefit F/V intake and
      physical activity. Further testing and optimizing of these interventions is
      warranted.

PMID- 26887584
TI  - AllergenOnline: A peer-reviewed, curated allergen database to assess novel food
      proteins for potential cross-reactivity.
AB  - SCOPE: Increasingly regulators are demanding evaluation of potential
      allergenicity of foods prior to marketing. Primary risks are the transfer of
      allergens or potentially cross-reactive proteins into new foods. AllergenOnline
      was developed in 2005 as a peer-reviewed bioinformatics platform to evaluate
      risks of new dietary proteins in genetically modified organisms (GMO) and novel
      foods. METHODS AND RESULTS: The process used to identify suspected allergens and
      evaluate the evidence of allergenicity was refined between 2010 and 2015.
      Candidate proteins are identified from the NCBI database using keyword searches,
      the WHO/IUIS nomenclature database and peer reviewed publications. Criteria to
      classify proteins as allergens are described. Characteristics of the protein, the
      source and human subjects, test methods and results are evaluated by our expert
      panel and archived. Food, inhalant, salivary, venom, and contact allergens are
      included. Users access allergen sequences through links to the NCBI database and
      relevant references are listed online. Version 16 includes 1956 sequences from
      778 taxonomic-protein groups that are accepted with evidence of allergic serum
      IgE-binding and/or biological activity. CONCLUSION: AllergenOnline provides a
      useful peer-reviewed tool for identifying the primary potential risks of allergy
      for GMOs and novel foods based on criteria described by the Codex Alimentarius
      Commission (2003).

PMID- 26887586
TI  - Electronic real-time assessment of patient-reported outcomes in routine care
      first findings and experiences from the implementation in a comprehensive cancer
      center.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cancer patients suffer from a variety of physical and mental complaints.
      Since physician assessment of symptoms seems insufficient to reveal the complete
      range of patients' ailments, patient-reported outcomes (PRO) have become of key
      importance in modern cancer treatment. The implementation and first results of a
      systematic electronic real-time assessment of PRO in routine care is described.
      METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting for the first time to a German
      comprehensive cancer center were asked to fill in an adaptive self-administered
      electronic questionnaire consisting of standardized PRO measures. After
      completion, patient-reported data was linked to the patients' medical files for
      discussion in the first consultation with the treating physician. Interviews with
      staff were conducted to identify barriers in implementation. RESULTS: Out of 160
      cancer patients, 126 (79 %; mean age 63 years, 67 % males) agreed to participate.
      The number of recruited patients increased over time. Of participating patients,
      67 % provided complete information on all PRO-related scales. On average, 31 min
      (range 3-140) were required to fill in the questionnaire. Of participating
      patients, 53.0 % comprised need for psychooncological support and 62 % revealed
      moderate to severe psychosocial distress. The mean score for global quality of
      life according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
      Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was 55.2 (SD +/-25.6).
      CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive oncological treatment needs to consider disease
      symptoms, quality of life, preferences, and comorbidities of individual patients
      in a structured, standardized, and transparent way. Our findings indicate that an
      adaptive, self-administered electronic assessment tool for cancer patients to
      report a broad set of PRO can be feasibly implemented and is well accepted by
      patients in a realistic setting.

PMID- 26887587
TI  - A randomised, double-blind controlled trial of intranasal midazolam for the
      palliation of dyspnoea in patients with life-limiting disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: Anxiety is a major component of breathlessness and is often palliated
      with benzodiazepines. Midazolam is a short-acting water-soluble benzodiazepine
      with a rapid onset of action and short half-life. Intranasal midazolam had been
      shown to be of marked clinical benefit in an uncontrolled pilot study for the
      control of dyspnoea. A blinded randomised controlled study was therefore
      undertaken across four Australasian palliative care services. METHODS: All
      participants received six numbered study nasal spray (SNS) bottles, three of
      which contained midazolam and three placebo. They were instructed to use one SNS
      bottle on each day they were breathless, for 6 days within 2 weeks. Dyspnoea
      scores were recorded before and at set time intervals following the first use of
      each SNS bottle. RESULTS: Across all SNS bottles, the maximum change of 2.1 on an
      11-point numerical rating scale was seen at 60 min. There was no difference in
      dyspnoea score between the two arms. Approximately 50 % of participants in each
      arm had a positive response (i.e. >=2 point change in dyspnoea score from
      baseline). Anxiety scores at baseline were low. The most common adverse event was
      local nasal reactions. CONCLUSION: Intranasal midazolam had no clinical benefit
      over intranasal placebo for the control of dyspnoea. The low level of anxiety at
      baseline and dose of active drug delivered may have been important factors. Many
      participants found the SNS bottles to be a challenging mode of drug delivery.
      This study confirms the importance of placebo-controlled trials for defining best
      clinical practise.

PMID- 26887588
TI  - Psychological distress, health, and socio-economic factors in caregivers of
      terminally ill patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study.
AB  - PURPOSE: At some point in life, most people become caregivers to a terminally ill
      relative. Previous studies have shown that many caregivers experience
      psychological distress and declining physical health, but these studies have
      predominantly been conducted in specialized palliative care settings. Therefore,
      caregiver studies with a population-based approach are needed. We aimed to
      describe socio-economic characteristics, situational factors, pre-loss grief
      symptoms, depressive symptoms, caregiver burden, and health status in a general
      population of caregivers to terminally ill patients. METHOD: We conducted a
      nationwide population-based cohort study. Caregivers were systematically
      recruited through patients registered with drug reimbursement for terminal
      illness in 2012. Data on socio-economic characteristics was mainly obtained from
      Danish registries, whereas data on situational factors, distress, and health was
      measured in questionnaires. RESULTS: Of patients to responding caregivers (n =
      3635), 89 % suffered from cancer, predominantly lung cancer (23 %). Of responding
      caregivers, 62 % were partners and 29 % were adult children. In total, one third
      of caregivers reported severe outcome, 15 % reported severe pre-loss grief
      symptoms, 16.1 % had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 12 % experienced
      high caregiver burden. Partners had the highest levels of pre-loss grief and
      depressive symptoms, while adult children reported the highest levels of
      caregiver burden. CONCLUSIONS: From this cohort, which was estimated to be
      representative of caregivers to terminally ill relatives in the general
      population, we found high levels of pre-loss grief, depressive symptoms, and/or
      caregiver burden in one third of all caregivers. These findings call for
      increased focus on caregivers' need of support.

PMID- 26887589
TI  - Phentermine induces conditioned rewarding effects via activation of the PI3K/Akt
      signaling pathway in the nucleus accumbens.
AB  - RATIONALE: Phentermine is structurally similar to methamphetamine and is widely
      used as an anti-obesity drug in the USA and many other countries. The potential
      for reward of phentermine has been noted; however, the mechanisms of phentermine
      dependence have not been established. OBJECTIVES: Here, we investigated the
      rewarding and dopaminergic behavioral responses to phentermine in mice and found
      that phentermine produced conditioned rewarding effects through the
      phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway in the nucleus accumbens
      (NAc). METHODS: The impact of phentermine was assessed using conditioned place
      preference (CPP) test, climbing behavior test, and western blot analysis.
      RESULTS: Phentermine 1 and 3 mg/kg (i.p.) significantly increased CPP.
      Phentermine, a known dopamine releaser, boosted apomorphine-induced climbing
      behavior in mice, and methamphetamine (i.p.) also increased apomorphine-induced
      dopaminergic behavior. Phentermine and methamphetamine increased the level of
      expression of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and phospho-Akt proteins to a
      similar degree in the NAc of CPP mice. To determine whether the conditioned
      rewarding effects of phentermine were mediated through the PI3K/Akt pathway, we
      assessed the effects of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 on phentermine-induced place
      preference and climbing behavior. LY294002 (1 and 3 MUg/site, i.c.v.) reduced
      phentermine-induced CPP and phentermine-increased climbing behavior. However,
      LY294002 did not change CPP and climbing behavior itself and also did not
      decrease apomorphine-induced climbing behavior in mice. Further, LY294002
      decreased the phentermine-increased levels of DAT protein and phosphorylation of
      Akt in the NAc of CPP mice. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, these findings suggest that
      phentermine induces conditioned rewarding effects via activation of the PI3K/Akt
      signaling pathway in the NAc.

PMID- 26887591
TI  - Endoscopic incision for the treatment of refractory esophageal anastomotic
      strictures: outcomes of 13 cases with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic incision is an alternative method for refractory
      esophageal strictures; however, little is known about its long-term efficacy. The
      aim of the study is to assess the long-term outcomes of endoscopic incision for
      treating refractory esophageal anastomotic strictures. METHODS: Between September
      2011 and September 2014, 13 patients with refractory esophageal anastomotic
      strictures were treated with endoscopic incision. Their clinical data were
      retrospectively collected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the technique.
      RESULTS: All the 13 patients underwent the procedure successfully with median
      operation duration of 15 minutes. A total of 27 sessions were necessary to
      maintain lumen patency until September 2015, and 7 patients needed retreatment.
      The symptoms relieved in all the cases, and the median dysphagia score decreased
      from 4 to 1 during a median follow-up of 25 months. The median diameter of
      stricture was enlarged from 4 mm to 12 mm. As a short-term effect, dysphagia
      symptoms improved in 100% (13/13), 84.6% (11/13) and 76.9% (10/13) of the
      patients one, three and six months after a single treatment. As long-term effect,
      the dysphagia improved in 61.5% (8/13), 63.6% (7/11) and 60% (6/10) of the
      patients 12, 18 and 24 months after a single treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy
      of endoscopic incision is favorable in the short term. However, retreatment is
      needed to maintain the long-term lumen patency for parts of the patients.

PMID- 26887590
TI  - The Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire: comparison of different
      factor structures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is one
      of the most widely used health-related quality of life questionnaires for
      patients with heart failure (HF). It provides scores for two dimensions, physical
      and emotional, and a total score. However, there are some concerns about its
      factor structure and alternatives have been proposed, some including a third
      factor representing a social dimension. The objectives of the present study were
      to analyze the internal structure of the MLHFQ and the unidimensionality of the
      total score, and to compare the different factor structures proposed. METHODS:
      The MLHFQ was given to 2565 patients with HF. The structural validity of the
      questionnaire was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Rasch
      analysis. These two approaches were also applied to the alternative structures
      proposed. RESULTS: The CFA results for the hypothesized model of two latent
      factors and the Rasch analysis confirmed the adequacy of the physical and
      emotional scales. Rasch analysis for the total score showed only two problematic
      items. The results of the CFA for other two-factor structures proposed were not
      better than the results for the original structure. The Rasch analyses applied to
      the different social factors yielded the best results for Munyombwe's social
      dimension, composed of six items. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the validity
      of using the MLHFQ physical, emotional and total scores in patients with HF, for
      clinical practice and research. In addition, they confirmed the existence of a
      third factor, and we recommend the use of Munyombwe's social factor.

PMID- 26887592
TI  - Accurate prediction of cellular co-translational folding indicates proteins can
      switch from post- to co-translational folding.
AB  - The rates at which domains fold and codons are translated are important factors
      in determining whether a nascent protein will co-translationally fold and
      function or misfold and malfunction. Here we develop a chemical kinetic model
      that calculates a protein domain's co-translational folding curve during
      synthesis using only the domain's bulk folding and unfolding rates and codon
      translation rates. We show that this model accurately predicts the course of co
      translational folding measured in vivo for four different protein molecules. We
      then make predictions for a number of different proteins in yeast and find that
      synonymous codon substitutions, which change translation-elongation rates, can
      switch some protein domains from folding post-translationally to folding co
      translationally--a result consistent with previous experimental studies. Our
      approach explains essential features of co-translational folding curves and
      predicts how varying the translation rate at different codon positions along a
      transcript's coding sequence affects this self-assembly process.

PMID- 26887593
TI  - Cytotoxicity considerations and electrically tunable release of dexamethasone
      from polypyrrole for the treatment of back-of-the-eye conditions.
AB  - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are
      common causes of blindness in people aged over 55 years. Current treatment
      involves frequent intravitreal administration of corticosteroids such as
      dexamethasone. The aim of this research was to formulate an electrically
      controlled delivery system for dexamethasone. Polypyrrole (PPy) was polymerized
      with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dex-P) through two approaches. Firstly,
      conventional films (CFs) of PPy were electropolymerized by applying a constant
      current density of 2 mA/cm2 for 4 min. Secondly, for the first time, we report
      drug-loaded ethanol-washed films (EWFs). EWFs were prepared in the same manner as
      CFs, except ethanol washing steps were introduced in the middle and at the end of
      PPy electropolymerization. The ethanol washing removed unbound PPy oligomers
      resulting in the formation of smooth surfaces with two distinct layers when
      viewed in cross-section. The EWFs showed superior electrochemical activity
      compared to CFs. Sustained release was observed from both CFs and EWFs with
      bursts of release triggered by electrical stimulation. The EWFs were initially
      more responsive to the electrical trigger, offering future opportunities to fine
      tune release. The cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts collected from both films was
      evaluated on human adult retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells using a 3
      (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with
      negligible toxicity observed. The results suggest PPy-Dex-P films are highly
      suitable for the development of electro-responsive implants for the treatment of
      AMD and DME.

PMID- 26887596
TI  - Editor's Notes--February 2016.

PMID- 26887597
TI  - Growth, Maturation, and Exercise During Youth.

PMID- 26887595
TI  - A generic selection system for improved expression and thermostability of G
      protein-coupled receptors by directed evolution.
AB  - Structural and biophysical studies as well as drug screening approaches on G
      protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been largely hampered by the poor
      biophysical properties and low expression yields of this largest class of
      integral membrane proteins. Thermostabilisation of GPCRs by introduction of
      stabilising mutations has been a key factor to overcome these limitations.
      However, labelled ligands with sufficient affinity, which are required for
      selective binding to the correctly folded receptor, are often not available. Here
      we describe a novel procedure to improve receptor expression and stability in a
      generic way, independent of specific ligands, by means of directed evolution in
      E. coli. We have engineered a homogenous fluorescent reporter assay that only
      detects receptors which are correctly integrated into the inner cell membrane
      and, thus, discriminates functional from non-functional receptor species. When we
      combined this method with a directed evolution procedure we obtained highly
      expressing mutants of the neurotensin receptor 1 with greatly improved
      thermostability. By this procedure receptors with poor expression and/or low
      stability, for which no ligands or only ones with poor binding properties are
      available, can now be generated in quantities allowing detailed structural and
      biophysical analysis. 

PMID- 26887598
TI  - Aerobic Fitness and Training in Children and Adolescents.

PMID- 26887594
TI  - Methylisoindigo preferentially kills cancer stem cells by interfering cell
      metabolism via inhibition of LKB1 and activation of AMPK in PDACs.
AB  - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) clinically has a very poor prognosis. No
      small molecule is available to reliably achieve cures. Meisoindigo is chemically
      related to the natural product indirubin and showed substantial efficiency in
      clinical chemotherapy for CML in China. However, its effect on PDAC is still
      unknown. Our results showed strong anti-proliferation effect of meisoindigo on
      gemcitabine-resistant PDACs. Using a recently established primary PDAC cell line,
      called Jopaca-1 with a larger CSCs population as model, we observed a reduction
      of CD133+ and ESA+/CD44+/CD24+ populations upon treatment and concomitantly a
      decreased expression of CSC-associated genes, and reduced cellular mobility and
      sphere formation. Investigating basic cellular metabolic responses, we detected
      lower oxygen consumption and glucose uptake, while intracellular ROS levels
      increased. This was effectively neutralized by the addition of antioxidants,
      indicating an essential role of the cellular redox balance. Further analysis on
      energy metabolism related signaling revealed that meisoindigo inhibited LKB1, but
      activated AMPK. Both of them were involved in cellular apoptosis. Additional in
      situ hybridization in tissue sections of PDAC patients reproducibly demonstrated
      co-expression and -localization of LKB1 and CD133 in malignant areas. Finally, we
      detected that CD133+/CD44+ were more vulnerable to meisoindigo, which could be
      mimicked by LKB1 siRNAs. Our results provide the first evidence, to our
      knowledge, that LKB1 sustains the CSC population in PDACs and demonstrate a clear
      benefit of meisoindigo in treatment of gemcitabine-resistant cells. This novel
      mechanism may provide a promising new treatment option for PDAC.

PMID- 26887600
TI  - Elite Youth Sports.

PMID- 26887599
TI  - Muscle Strength and Resistance Training in Youth--Do They Affect Cardiovascular
      Health?

PMID- 26887601
TI  - Physical Activity, Inactivity, and Health During Youth.

PMID- 26887602
TI  - Exercise and Cognition.

PMID- 26887603
TI  - Psychosocial Aspects of Youth Physical Activity.

PMID- 26887604
TI  - Metabolism and Exercise During Youth.

PMID- 26887605
TI  - Endocrinology and Pediatric Exercise Science.

PMID- 26887606
TI  - Neuromuscular Physiology and Youth.

PMID- 26887607
TI  - Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease in Youth.

PMID- 26887608
TI  - Childhood Obesity, Physical Activity, and Exercise.

PMID- 26887609
TI  - Chronic Diseases, Exercise, and Physical Activity in Childhood: 2015 in Review.

PMID- 26887610
TI  - Erratum: Weiss et al. 2015.
AB  - Physical and Psychosocial Health Outcomes," in Ped Exerc Sci, 27(4), pp. 546-558,
      http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/pes.2015-0011, Kipp's affiliation was incorrectly
      listed as the Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Lexington, KY. Kipp's
      correct affiliation is with the Dept. of Health and Human Performance, Texas
      State University, San Marcos, TX. We apologize for this error. 

PMID- 26887612
TI  - Alzheimer's disease and diet: a systematic review.
AB  - : Purpose/Aim: Approximately 44 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease
      (AD). Numerous claims have been made regarding the influence of diet on AD
      development. The aims of this systematic review were to summarize the evidence
      considering diet as a protective or risk factor for AD, identify methodological
      challenges and limitations, and provide future research directions. METHODS:
      Medline, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES were searched for articles that examined the
      relationship between diet and AD. RESULTS: On the basis of the inclusion and
      exclusion criteria, 64 studies were included, generating a total of 141 dietary
      patterns or "models". All studies were published between 1997 and 2015, with a
      total of 132 491 participants. Twelve studies examined the relationship between a
      Mediterranean (MeDi) diet and AD development, 10 of which revealed a significant
      association. Findings were inconsistent with respect to sample size, AD diagnosis
      and food measures. Further, the majority of studies (81.3%) included samples with
      mean baseline ages that were at risk for AD based on age (>65 years), ranging
      from 52.0 to 85.4 years. The range of follow-up periods was 1.5-32.0 years.
      CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of the samples poses a limitation in determining the
      influence of diet on AD; given that AD has a long prodromal phase prior to the
      manifestation of symptoms and decline. Further studies are necessary to determine
      whether diet is a risk or protective factor for AD, foster translation of
      research into clinical practice and elucidate dietary recommendations. Despite
      the methodological limitations, the finding that 50 of the 64 reviewed studies
      revealed an association between diet and AD incidence offers promising
      implications for diet as a modifiable risk factor for AD.

PMID- 26887611
TI  - Comparison of ILK and ERP29 expressions in benign and malignant pancreatic
      lesions and their clinicopathological significances in pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinomas.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant tumor
      of the pancreas with poor prognosis. The lack of understanding of the molecular
      mechanisms of PDAC and biomarkers for early diagnosis might be two of the reasons
      for the poor prognosis of PDAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ILK and ERP29 protein
      expressions in PDAC, peritumoral tissues, benign pancreatic lesions, and normal
      pancreatic tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and the clinical and
      pathological significances of ILK and ERP29 in PDAC were analyzed. RESULTS: The
      percentages of positive ILK and negative ERP29 expressions were significantly
      higher in PDAC tumors than in peritumoral tissues, benign pancreatic tissues, and
      normal pancreatic tissues (P < 0.01). Benign pancreatic lesions with positive ILK
      and negative ERP29 expressions exhibited dysplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia.
      The percentage of cases with positive ILK and negative ERP29 expressions was
      significantly lower in PDAC patients without lymph node metastasis and invasion,
      and having TNM stage I/II disease than in patients with lymph node metastasis,
      invasion, and TNM stage III/IV disease (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier
      survival analysis showed that positive ILK and negative ERP29 expressions were
      significantly associated with survival in PDAC patients (P < 0.001). Cox
      multivariate analysis revealed that positive ILK and negative ERP29 expressions
      were independent poor prognosis factors in PDAC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Positive
      ILK and negative ERP29 expressions are associated with the progression of PDAC
      and poor prognosis in patients with PDAC.

PMID- 26887614
TI  - [Hormonal therapy for hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer].

PMID- 26887615
TI  - [Sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to rapamycin can be
      improved by siRNA-interfered expression of p70S6K].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in sensitivity to rapamycin of five
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines with different differentiation and
      the changes of sensitivity of the cells after siRNA-interfered expression of
      p70S6K. METHODS: Effects of rapamycin on proliferation of ESCC cell lines with
      different differentiation, EC9706, TE-1, Eca109, KYSE790 and KYSE450 cells, were
      investigated using cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, and according to the above
      results, the EC9706 cells non-sensitive to rapamycin were chosen to be
      transfected with p70S6K-siRNA. The changes in sensitivity of cells to rapamycin
      were measured in vitro and in vivo using CCK-8 kit, flow cytometry and tumor
      formation in nude mice. RESULTS: CCK-8 results showed that all the five cell line
      cells were sensitive to low concentration of rapamycin (<100 nmol/L), but TE-1
      and EC9706 cells, which were with poor differentiation, showed resistance to high
      concentration of rapamycin. After EC9706 cells were treated with 50, 100, 200,
      500 and 1 000 nmol/L rapamycin and p70S6K-siRNA, the proliferation rates of
      EC9706 cells were (48.67 +/- 1.68)%, (15.45 +/- 1.54)%, (14.00 +/- 0.91)%, (10.97
      +/- 0.72)% and (2.70 +/- 0.32)%, respectively, and were significantly lower than
      that of cells treated with 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1 000 nmol/L rapamycin and
      control siRNA [(74.53 +/- 1.71)%, (68.27 +/- 1.35)%, (71.74 +/- 2.44)%, (76.23 +/
      1.02)% and (80.21 +/- 2.77)%] (P<0.05 for all). The results of flow cytometry
      showed that the ratios of cells in G1 phase of the p70S6K-siRNA, rapamycin and
      p70S6K-siRNA+ rapamycin groups were (53.82 +/- 1.78)%, (57.87 +/- 4.01)% and
      (73.73 +/- 3.68)%, respectively, significantly higher than that in the control
      group (46.09 +/- 2.31)% (P<0.05 for all). The results of tumor formation test in
      vivo showed that the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on tumor growth was stronger
      after the cells were transfected with p70S6K-siRNA, and the inhibition rate was
      96.5%. CONCLUSION: ESCC cells with different differentiation have different
      sensitivity to rapamycin, and p70S6K-siRNA can improve the sensitivity of cells
      to rapamycin in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 26887613
TI  - Dysfunction of Wntless triggers the retrograde Golgi-to-ER transport of Wingless
      and induces ER stress.
AB  - Secreted Wnts play diverse roles in a non-cell-autonomous fashion. However, the
      cell-autonomous effect of unsecreted Wnts remains unknown. Endoplasmic reticulum
      (ER) stress is observed in specialized secretory cells and participates in
      pathophysiological processes. The correlation between Wnt secretion and ER stress
      remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that Drosophila miR-307a
      initiates ER stress specifically in wingless (wg)-expressing cells through
      targeting wntless (wls/evi). This phenotype could be mimicked by retromer loss-of
      function or porcupine (porc) depletion, and rescued by wg knockdown, arguing that
      unsecreted Wg triggers ER stress. Consistently, we found that disrupting the
      secretion of human Wnt5a also induced ER stress in mammalian cells. Furthermore,
      we showed that a C-terminal KKVY-motif of Wg is required for its retrograde Golgi
      to-ER transport, thus inducing ER stress. Next, we investigated if COPI, the
      regulator of retrograde transport, is responsible for unsecreted Wg to induce ER
      stress. To our surprise, we found that COPI acts as a novel regulator of Wg
      secretion. Taken together, this study reveals a previously unknown Golgi-to-ER
      retrograde route of Wg, and elucidates a correlation between Wnt secretion and ER
      stress during development. 

PMID- 26887616
TI  - [The Hsp90 inhibitor FW-04-806 suppresses Bcr/Abl-mediated growth of leukemia
      cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor efficacy and mechanism of HSP90 inhibitor
      FW-04-806 against Bcr/Abl(+) leukemia K562 and HL60 cells and their mechanisms of
      action. METHODS: MTT assay was used to assess the proliferation-inhibiting effect
      of FW-04-806. Cell cycle was analyzed with propidium iodide by flow cytometry.
      Cell apoptosis was determined using the FITC mV apoptosis detection kit. Western
      blot was applied to reveal the protein expression of related proliferative and
      apoptotic signaling pathways. The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential
      were detected by flow cytometry. Protein-protein interactions was shown by co
      immunoprecipitation. The level of mRNA was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS:
      FW-04-806 obviously inhibited cell proliferation in the HL60, K562 and HL60/Bcr
      Abl cell lines, with an IC50 of (30.89 +/- 0.12) umol/L, (9.76 +/- 0.19) umol/L
      and (8.03 +/- 0.26) umol/L, respectively (P<0.001). Compared with the vehicle
      group, the two increasing doses of FW-04-806 showed inhibition of tumor growth at
      a rate of (17.40 +/- 0.34)% and (34.33 +/- 5.00)%, respectively, in the K562 cell
      line groups (P=0.003), and (18.90 +/- 1.45)% and (35.60 +/- 3.55)% (P=0.001) in
      the HL60/Bcr-Abl cell line groups. FW-04-806 dissociated Hsp90/Cdc37 chaperon/co
      chaperon complex, followed by degradation of the Hsp90 proteins through
      proteasome pathway without affecting mRNA expression. FW-04-806 induced apoptosis
      and led to G2/M arrest. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that FW-04-806 displays
      potential antitumor effect by suppressing the proliferation and apoptosis in
      Bcr/Abl(+) leukemia cells in vivo.

PMID- 26887617
TI  - [Lymph node metastasis patterns and influencing factors in patients with limited
      esophageal small cell carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the patterns and influencing factors of lymph node
      metastasis in limited esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESCC). METHODS: A total
      of 98 limited stage PESCC patients who underwent surgery were selected for this
      study. The lymph node metastasis ratio at different sites, depth of invasion,
      tumor length and other factors were analyzed to assess their influence on lymph
      node metastasis. RESULTS: Among the 98 PESCC cases, 46 cases had lymph node
      metastasis (46.9%). 100 out of 833 lymph nodes had metastasis, with a metastasis
      ratio of 12.0%. For upper thoracic esophageal small cell carcinomas, lymph node
      metastasis ratios were 42.9%, 12.5%, 0 and 0 in the superior mediastinum, middle
      mediastinum, inferior mediastinum and abdominal cavity, respectively. In the
      middle thoracic PESCCs, the lymph node metastasis ratios were 18.8%, 7.7%, 15.7%,
      and 15.3%, respectively. In the lower thoracic PESCCs, the lymph node metastasis
      ratios were 0, 0, 27.3% and 23.5%, respectively. Lymph node metastasis rates in
      PESCCs at stages T1, T2, T3, T4 were 15.4%, 42.3%, 63.9%, and 80.0%,
      respectively. The lymph node metastasis ratios in PESCCs at stages T1, T2, T3, T4
      were 2.0%, 8.3%, 17.8% and 25.0%, respectively. Lymph node metastasis rate and
      lymph node metastasis ratio at different T stages were of significant difference
      (P<0.05 for all). Lymph node metastasis rates in patients with tumor <3 cm, 3-5
      cm, and >5 cm were 30.6%, 46.9% and 66.7%, respectively, and lymph node
      metastasis ratios were 5.4%, 11.0% and 21.1%, respectively. Lymph node metastasis
      rate and lymph node metastasis ratio in patients with different tumor length had
      significant differences (P<0.05 for all). Lymph node metastasis ratio was 11.6%
      in the Chr-A negative and weak positive group, much higher than 4.3% in the Chr-A
      positive group (P=0.013). There was a tendency that lymph node metastasis ratio
      of NSE-positive group was higher than that of NSE-negative and weak positive
      group (P=0.069). The logistic univariate analysis did not find high risk factors
      of distant lymph node metastasis (all P>0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis
      found that only depth of invasion was a risk factor of lymph node metastasis in
      limited PESCC (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Esophagus small cell carcinomas sometimes
      have early lymph node metastases in many sites and distant range. The middle
      thoracic PESCCs tend to have extensive metastasis quite common in the upper
      mediastinal lymph nodes. Lower mediastinal and abdominal lymph node metastases
      are often seen in lower thoracic PESCCs. The depth of invasion and tumor length
      are main factors influencing mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The depth of
      invasion is an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis.

PMID- 26887618
TI  - [Evaluation of the blood flow in common hepatic tumors by multi-slice spiral CT
      whole-liver perfusion imaging].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of blood flow in common hepatic tumors by
      256-slice spiral CT whole-liver perfusion imaging. METHODS: Seventy-one patients
      with hepatic tumors were examined retrospectively by 256-slice spiral CT whole
      liver perfusion. Among them, twenty-seven cases were of primary hepatic cancer,
      twenty-four cases of hepatic hemangioma, and twenty cases of hepatic
      metastases.Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in the tumor parenchyma (Area
      A), peritumoral hepatic parenchyma (Area B), and normal hepatic parenchyma (Area
      C), respectively. The time density curves (TDC) were drawn, and perfusion
      parameters including hepatic arterial perfusion(HAP), portal venous
      perfusion(PVP), total liver perfusion(TLP) and hepatic erfusion index(HPI) were
      obtained. The values of ROIs were measured, and the perfusion parameters in the
      areas A, B, C of different hepatic tumors were statistically analyzed. RESULTS:
      The values of HAP, PVP, HPI in the tumor parenchyma of primary hepatic carcinoma
      were (20.00 +/- 11.41)ml . min(-1) . 100 ml(-1,) (32.31 +/- 21.06)ml . min(-1) .
      100 ml(-1,) (52.31 +/- 30.55)ml . min(-1) . 100 ml(-1,) and (39.67 +/- 11.19)%,
      showing significant difference as compared with those in peritumoral hepatic
      parenchyma and in normal hepatic parenchyma(P<0.05). The values of HAP, TLP, and
      HPI in the tumor parenchyma of hepatic hemangioma were (40.39 +/- 29.23)ml . min(
      1) . 100 ml(-1,) (132.72 +/- 132.65) ml . min(-1) . 100 ml(-1,) and (35.51 +/-
      15.12)%, were significantly different as compared with those in the peritumoral
      hepatic parenchyma and in normal hepatic parenchyma(P<0.05). The values of HAP,
      PVP, HPI in the tumor parenchyma of hepatic metastases were (17.43 +/- 12.27)ml .
      min(-1) . 100 ml(-1,) (36.19 +/- 34.99) ml . min(-1) . 100 ml(-1,) and (37.86 +/-
      14.49)%, significantly different as compared normal hepatic parenchyma (P<0.05).
      The HAP, PVP, and TLP of tumor tissue and the PVP and HPI of peritumoral tissue
      in different hepatic tumors were statistically significantly different (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: The multi-slice spiral CT whole-liver perfusion has certain value in
      the diagnosis of common hepatic tumors. Perfusion parameters in different areas
      of common hepatic tumors have their own hemodynamic characteristics.

PMID- 26887619
TI  - [Impact of microwave dealing with the cutting surface on the hepatocellular
      carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of microwave dealing with cutting surface on
      perioperative liver function recovery and recurrence and metastasis after
      hepatectomy for HCC. METHODS: Clinical data of 133 patients with HCC from March
      2009 to November 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into the
      conventional surgery group (66 cases) and microwave treatment group (67 cases). A
      domestic ECO-100 microwave knife was inserted into the liver cutting surface 0.5
      cm from the cutting edge, and repeated multi-point burning with an average time
      of 25 minutes in the microwave treatment group. Then the perioperative liver
      function recovery and recurrence and metastasis in the two groups were compared.
      RESULTS: The operation time of conventional surgery group was (158.0 +/- 31.0)
      minutes, and that of microwave treatment group was significantly longer (181.0 +/
      28.0) minutes (P=0.027). There were no significant differences in the liver
      function recovery between the two groups (P>0.05). There were 6 cases of
      recurrence and metastasis after 6 months and 9 cases after 12 months in the
      microwave treatment group, while there were 15 cases of recurrence and metastasis
      after 6 months and 20 cases after 12 months in the conventional surgery group,
      showing a significant difference (P=0.034 and 0.022, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:
      Microwave dealing with the cutting surface has no significant effect on
      perioperative liver function recovery in hepatectomy. However, microwave
      treatment can reduce the in situ recurrence in HCC patients within the first year
      after surgery, indicating a good clinical application value.

PMID- 26887621
TI  - [Prognostic value of AJCC TNM Staging 7th edition in limited-stage small cell
      lung cancer: validation in 437 patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of AJCC TNM Staging 7th edition on survival
      outcome of limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: Four hundred and
      thirty-seven SCLC patients with completed diagnosis and treatment data treated in
      our department between January 1996 and December 2006 were reclassified according
      to the AJCC TNM Staging 7th edition. The patients of stages IA, IB, IIA, IIB,
      IIIA, IIIB were 8, 44, 7, 64, 192 cases, respectively. Kaplan-Meier method was
      used for survival analysis and log-rank test was used to identify the prognostic
      factors. The survival rate was determined using chi-square test. RESULTS: The
      median follow-up time was 64 months. The median survival time was 26.2 months and
      median progression free survival time was 13.7 months. The 1-, 2- and 5-year
      overall survival rates were 86.0%, 52.7%, and 29.7%, respectively. The log-rank
      test showed that TNM stage is a statistically significant prognostic factor for
      OS in LS-SCLC (P<0.001). TNM staging system generally allowed a good separation
      in pairwise comparison for OS between successive stages except there was no
      significant difference between stages I and II (P=0.061). The 5-year progression
      free survival rates of patients of stage I, II, IIIA and IIIB were 53.2%, 43.2%,
      16.8%, and 10.9%, respectively. TNM stage also was a statistically significant
      prognostic factor for PFS in LS-SCLC (P<0.001), but there was no significant
      difference between successive stages (P>0.05 for all). The T staging confirmed
      significant influence on OS (P<0.001) with no significant difference between
      successive stages (P>0.05 for all), while T stage was not a significant
      prognostic factor for PFS in the LS-SCLC patients (P=0.194). N stage also had a
      significant influence on OS (P<0.001), but with no significant differences
      between successive stages except N1 and N2 (P=0.001). N staging also showed
      significant influence on PFS (P=0.001), but with no significant difference
      between successive stages (P>0.05) except that between the 5-year survival rates
      of N2 and N3 cases (P=0.013). The cumulative brain metastasis rates of stages I,
      II, IIIA, and stage IIIB were 17.3%, 28.6%, 33.3%, and 35.8%,
      respectively(P=0.072), and were 12.8% and 30.8% for pathological stage I and
      clinical stage I (P=0.203). CONCLUSION: AJCC TNM Staging 7th edition criteria for
      LS-SCLC patients have a high prognostic impact and therefore are preferable in
      clinical practice and future therapeutic trials.

PMID- 26887620
TI  - [Prognostic significance of clinical risk score system after resection of hepatic
      metastases from colorectal cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To validate the prognostic significance of Clinical Risk Score (CRS)
      system proposed by Fong et al. after hepatectomy of liver metastasis from
      colorectal cancer. METHODS: The clinicopathological data were collected
      retrospectively from 294 patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer
      who received liver resection between January 2000 and August 2014 in Peking
      University Cancer Hospital. Routine follow-up was done by outpatient interview or
      telephone. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the survival of
      different CRS patients. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 19 months (2-129
      months) for all the 294 patients, the median overall survival and disease-free
      survival were 35 months and 11 months, respectively. The postoperative 1-, 3- and
      5-year overall survival rates were 89.0%, 49.0%, and 35.7%, and the disease-free
      survival rates were 47.2%, 22.2%, and 18.2%, respectively. For the six different
      groups with CRS of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 accordingly, the median overall survival was
      64, 59, 33, 35, 17 and 15 months, respectively, showing a significant difference
      (P=0.002), and the median disease-free survival was 16, 19, 13, 10, 4 and 6
      months, respectively, showing also a significant difference (P<0.001). For
      patients whose CRS were 0-2 and 3-5, the median overall survival was 44 and 33
      months, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P=0.022), and
      the median disease-free survival was 15 and 8 months, respectively, with also a
      significant difference (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This CRS system may predict the
      prognosis for patients with hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer after
      hepatectomy, therefore to provide useful reference for making treatment plan for
      those patients.

PMID- 26887622
TI  - [Prognostic analysis of benign, borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors of the
      breast].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognosis of benign, borderline and malignant phyllodes
      tumors of the breast. METHODS: Data from 246 women with phyllodes tumors of the
      breast treated in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
      between January 2002 and December 2012, were collected and analyzed
      retrospectively. The patients were followed-up for a median of 48 months (range 1
      138 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were used to
      analyze the factors affecting the disease-free survival. RESULTS: Among the 246
      patients, 65 were dropped out from the follow-up. 56 patients had local
      recurrence, 5 patients had distant metastasis, while one case had both local
      recurrence and distant metastasis. The median disease-free survival time was 39
      months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that fibroadenoma history and
      type of primary surgery were associated to the disease-free survival of phyllodes
      tumors of the breast (P<0.001, P=0.043), while histological type and primary
      tumor size had no significant relationship with the disease-free survival
      (P=0.083, P=0.974). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that
      type of primary surgery, fibroadenoma history and histological types are all
      independent factors affecting the disease-free survival (P=0.009, P=0.001 and
      P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Phyllodes tumors of the breast have a relatively good
      prognosis on the whole. Type of primary surgery, fibroadenoma history and
      histological type are independent factors predicting the disease-free survival of
      patients with phyllodes tumors of the breast.

PMID- 26887623
TI  - [Effect of resection margin and tumor number on survival of patients with small
      liver cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of resection margin and tumor number on
      survival of patients with small liver cancer after hepatectomy. METHODS: We
      collected 219 cases with small liver cancer undergoing hepatectomy in Cancer
      Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between December 2003 to July 2013.
      The survival rates were compared by log-rank test between two resection margin
      groups (>= 1 cm vs. <1 cm), different tumor number groups (single tumor vs.
      multiple tumors). We also performed a multifactor analysis by Cox model. RESULTS:
      The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10- year overall survival rates were 95.9%, 85.3%, 67.8% and
      53.3%, respectively, in all patients. The median survival time was 28 months in
      the group of <1 cm resection margin and 36 months in the group of >= 1 cm
      resection margin (P=0.249). The median survival time was 36 months in the group
      of single tumor and 26 months in the group of multiple tumors (P=0.448). The
      multifactor analysis also did not show significant effect of resection margin and
      tumor number on the patients' survival. CONCLUSIONS: For small liver cancer, the
      resection margin of 1 cm might be advised. Increasing resection margin in further
      could probably not improve therapeutic effect. Standardized operation and
      combined treatment will decrease the negative influence of multiple tumors on
      overall survival.

PMID- 26887624
TI  - [Clinical application of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for primary
      hepatocellular carcinoma near the liver surface].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency
      ablation (RFA) in designing the indication, treatment protocol and operational
      skills for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) near the liver
      surface. METHODS: Sixty-one HCC patients with 69 lesions, confirmed by clinical
      examination and pathology, underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The
      study included 40 cases of liver function Child-Pugh grade A and 21 cases of
      grade B. The average size of tumors was (3.8 +/- 1.2) cm, tumor diameter >= 4 cm
      accounted for 39.1% (27/69 lesions), and the average age was 58.2 years (range,
      35-76 years). Taking comprehensive measures, such as intraperitoneal injection of
      saline adjacent to the tumor before RFA, increasing the puncture sites on the
      surface of tumor to avoid overlapping of the central portion of tumor, repeated
      ablation of the needle track to reduce needle tract metastasis, avoid vertical
      puncture, and other additional measures, to improve the inactivation of tumors
      adjacent to the liver surface. Enhanced CT/MRI was performed to evaluate the
      curative effect at 1, 3, 6 and 24 months after the treatment. RESULTS: The
      inactivation rate of tumor was 98.6% (68/69 lesions) and local recurrence rate
      was 5.8%(4/69) after RFA. The tumor-related marker AFP was 1 000-1 500 ng/ml
      before and reduced to (98.5 +/- 42.5) ng/ml after radiofrequency ablation, among
      them returned to normal in 13 cases (21.3%). Since the ablation area was rather
      small, the level of serum alanine aminotransferase was elevated only to (148.5 +/
      38.5) U/ml at one week after RFA and returned to normal at (1.8 +/- 0.6) week
      after RFA. No patient experienced severe liver dysfunction. The local HCC
      recurrent rate after RFA was 5.8%(4/69 lesions) and intrahepatic heterotopic
      recurrence rate was 24.6% (15/61). The 20-61 months follow-up showed that the 1-,
      2- and 3-year survival rate was 83.6%, 57.3% and 44.2%, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation provides an
      effective minimally invasive treatment for primary HCC near the liver surface.
      Taking some additional measures such as intraperitoneal injection of saline,
      increase of percutaneous puncture sites, and avoiding vertical needle puncture,
      may reduce complications and improve the therapeutic outcome. RFA is one of
      effective and minimally invasive treatment and causing less liver damage for
      primary HCC near the liver surface.

PMID- 26887625
TI  - [Efficacy and safety of cisplatin plus capecitabine for patients with metastatic
      triple negative breast cancer progressing after anthracycline and taxane
      treatment].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cisplatin and capecitabine
      combination (XP) therapy for patients with metastatic triple negative breast
      cancer (TNBC) progressing after anthracycline and taxane treatment. METHODS:
      Twenty-nine metastatic TNBC patients were prospectively enrolled to receive
      capecitabine (1, 000 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1-14) and cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)
      on day 1) , repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: With a median of 6 cycles of XP, all
      29 patients were evaluable for response, including 18 PR (62.1%), 6 SD (20.7%), 5
      PD (17.2%) and no CR. The response rate was 62.1%. Patients with earlier stage at
      diagnosis (stage I to IIIA), longer post-operative disease free survival (>2
      years) and less metastatic sites (<= 3) obtained significantly higher response
      rate than patients with later stage at diagnosis (stage IIIB to IV), shorter post
      operative disease free survival (<= 2 years) and more metastatic sites (>3). The
      leading side effects were grade 1/2 gastrointestinal and hematological
      toxicities. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (34.5%), leukocytopenia
      (31.0%), anemia (6.9%), thrombocytopenia (3.4%), nausea/vomiting (20.7%),
      stomatitis (3.4%), and hand-foot syndrome (3.4%). CONCLUSION: Cisplatin and
      capecitabine combination therapy is an active and well-tolerated doublet
      treatment in metastatic TNBC patients progressing after anthracycline and taxane
      treatments.

PMID- 26887626
TI  - [Treatment of refractory pulmonary metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma by
      transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using arsenic trioxide in combination
      with sorafinib].

PMID- 26887627
TI  - [Cost-effectiveness analysis of two breast cancer screening modalities in
      Shanghai, China].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two breast cancer screening
      modalities conducted in Minhang district of Shanghai, China. METHODS: An
      organized and an opportunistic breast screening programs were implemented among
      women aged 35-74 years in Minhang district of Shanghai between May 2008 and Oct
      2010, and were compared with the results obtained without screening. Costs
      related to screening were obtained by access to finance data of the screening
      programs, and costs of first treatment were collected through patient survey and
      medical reimbursement system query. Information on breast cancer stage was
      obtained from Shanghai Cancer Registry and confirmed by medical chart review. The
      effectiveness of screening was evaluated by breast cancer stage improvement.Cost
      effectiveness ratios (CERs) were computed as costs of gaining a stage improvement
      from a specified screening strategy when compared with the results obtained
      without screening. Incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) which compares the two
      screening strategies was calculated by dividing the difference in total net costs
      and the difference in stages improved between the two screening strategies.
      RESULTS: Thirty-five, one hundred and ninety-three and four hundred and seventy
      nine breast cancer cases were identified in the organized screening,
      opportunistic screening and control groups, with an early detection rate of
      46.9%, 40.7% and 38.9%, respectively. The costs of screening were 208 yuan per
      person or 72 453 yuan per case detected in the organized screening group and were
      21 yuan per person or 11 640 yuan per case detected in the opportunistic
      screening group. The total cost was 103 650 yuan per case in the organized
      screening group, significantly higher than 50 712 yuan in the opportunistic
      screening group and 35 413 yuan in the control group. However, the average direct
      medical cost was significantly lower in the organized screening group than that
      in the opportunistic screening group and control group, with median costs of 11
      024 yuan, 13 465 yuan and 14 243 yuan per case, respectively (P<0.001). The
      additional cost per case detected was 68 237 yuan for the organized screening and
      15 299 yuan for opportunistic screening. The CERs were 135 291 yuan and 152 179
      yuan per stage improved in the organized screening and opportunistic screening
      relative to the control group, with ICER of organized versus opportunistic
      screening being 131 086 yuan per stage improved. CONCLUSIONS: The organized
      screening modality and the opportunistic one are both effective in early
      detecting breast cancer in Chinese women. The organized screening costs more than
      opportunistic screening, but with a better cost-effectiveness. It may be used as
      an option in economically developed areas of China.

PMID- 26887629
TI  - Ultrafast deactivation of bilirubin: dark intermediates and two-photon
      isomerization.
AB  - Bilirubin is a neurotoxic product responsible for neonatal jaundice, which is
      generally treated by phototherapy. The photoreaction involves ultrafast internal
      conversion via an elusive intermediate and Z-E isomerization with minor yield
      (less than 3% in solution). The structure of the intermediate remains unclear.
      Here, the combination of UV-vis and mid-IR ultrafast transient absorption
      spectroscopy reports a comprehensive picture of the mechanism and provides
      essential structural information about the intermediate species. Thus, spectral
      dynamics during the earliest ps unveils a wavepacket travelling from the Franck
      Condon region to the crossing point with a dark state. The latter shows a tighter
      molecular skeleton than the ground state and decays with 15 ps time constant.
      Remarkably, the relative contribution of a non-decaying component increases
      linearly with pump energy, suggesting that Z-E isomerization could also be
      triggered by two-photon excitation. Implications for the photochemistry of
      protein-bound open tetrapyrroles are discussed. 

PMID- 26887628
TI  - Thrombopoietic status of patients on haemodialysis.
AB  - Thrombocytopenia is a potential dialysis-related treatment complication.
      Developments in bio-compatible dialyser membranes have decreased the occurrence
      of thrombocytopenia. We investigated whether thrombopoiesis is impaired in
      haemodialysis patients by measuring the thrombopoietin level and absolute
      immature platelet number (AIPN) in the blood of patients undergoing
      haemodialysis. Samples were collected from the dialysis tubing pre- and post-
      haemodialysis in a cohort of 45 well-characterized haemodialysis patients.
      Thrombopoietin levels and AIPN increased following haemodialysis, despite no
      change in platelet count. Observed increase in release of immature platelets from
      the bone marrow following haemodialysis indicates possible complement activation
      secondary to interaction between blood constituents and the dialysis membrane. 

PMID- 26887630
TI  - Substantiating the need for primary care-based sexual health promotion
      interventions for ethnic minority adolescent women experiencing health
      disparities.
AB  - PURPOSE: Assess the context of psychological distress, violence, and substance
      use among African- and Mexican-American adolescent women with a history of STI,
      violence, or high sexual risk behavior. These adolescents experience multiple
      health disparities, limited access to care, and are at particularly high risk of
      adverse sexual health outcomes. The results will inform sexual health promotion
      interventions provided by advanced practice nurses in primary care-based settings
      for women experiencing these disparities. METHODS: Analysis of self-report data
      obtained at study entry from African- and Mexican-American adolescent women (n =
      559) enrolled in a randomized trial of a behavioral intervention for sexual risk
      reduction. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of psychological distress, sexual risk
      behavior, sexually transmitted infection (STI), personal and friend/peer
      substance use, alcohol use, and violence were reported by women at study entry.
      Analyses found that STI, physical violence, and substance-using friends were
      twice as likely associated with personal substance use. Alcohol users were five
      times more likely to use other substances. Mexican Americans were three times
      more likely than African Americans to use substances. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
      Recommendation is made for integration of multicomponent sexual health promotion
      interventions as advanced practice nurse provider services addressing these
      health disparities within primary care-based settings.

PMID- 26887631
TI  - Review of Interventions to Enhance the Health Communication of People With
      Intellectual Disabilities: A Communicative Health Literacy Perspective.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Communicative health literacy is a term relating to the range of
      competencies and capabilities patients bring to the task of seeking information
      about their health and sharing it with others. This exchange can be problematic
      for people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this review was to
      synthesize findings from interventions designed to improve health communication
      for people with intellectual disabilities. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Available
      evidence was systematically reviewed, and findings from 14 articles were
      synthesized in a narrative review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Interventions
      addressed communicative aspects of health consultations, taking into account
      emotional factors and social context. Questions remain about how such
      interventions might impact on real-life health consultations and how issues of
      power might be resolved.

PMID- 26887632
TI  - Local and interannual variations in mercury and cadmium in eggs of eight seabird
      species of the Sinaloa coast, Mexico.
AB  - Mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in eggs of 8 seabird species
      inhabiting 5 coastal ecosystems in Sinaloa, Mexico were determined during 2
      breeding seasons (2012 and 2013): blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii), brown booby
      (Sula leucogaster), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), magnificent
      frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), royal
      tern (Thalasseus maximus), laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla), and Heermann's
      gull (Larus heermanni). The interspecific differences found in the concentrations
      of both metals were attributed to the diet and foraging ecology of the species.
      The highest Hg concentrations were detected in piscivorous species (brown
      pelican, 0.42 ug/g; brown booby, 0.31 ug/g; blue-footed booby, 0.26 ug/g; and
      double-crested cormorant, 0.23 ug/g); whereas species with more varied diets
      presented the highest Cd concentrations (Heermann's gull, 0.31 ug/g; laughing
      gull, 0.27 ug/g; and magnificent frigatebird, 0.27 ug/g). Cadmium concentrations
      were significantly greater in 2013 than 2012 for most species, and brown pelican
      and laughing gull also had higher Hg concentrations in 2013 in Santa Maria Bay,
      suggesting a relationship as a result of the changes either in oceanographic
      conditions or in continental runoff. Mercury concentrations in brown pelican and
      Cd concentrations in Heermann's gull and laughing gull were above threshold
      levels for adverse effects on reproduction and survival. Environ Toxicol Chem
      2016;35:2330-2338. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26887633
TI  - Easily accessible polymer additives for tuning the crystal-growth of perovskite
      thin-films for highly efficient solar cells.
AB  - For perovskite solar cells (Pero-SCs), one of the key issues with respect to the
      power conversion efficiency (PCE) is the morphology control of the perovskite
      thin-films. In this study, an easily-accessible additive polyethylenimine (PEI)
      is utilized to tune the morphology of CH3NH3PbI3-xClx. With addition of 1.00 wt%
      of PEI, the smoothness and crystallinity of the perovskite were greatly improved,
      which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray
      diffraction (XRD). A summit PCE of 14.07% was achieved for the p-i-n type Pero
      SC, indicating a 26% increase compared to those of the devices without the
      additive. Both photoluminescence (PL) and alternating current impedance
      spectroscopy (ACIS) analyses confirm the efficiency results after the addition of
      PEI. This study provides a low-cost polymer additive candidate for tuning the
      morphology of perovskite thin-films, and might be a new clue for the mass
      production of Pero-SCs. 

PMID- 26887635
TI  - Decoupling Charge Transfer and Transport at Polymeric Hole Transport Layer in
      Perovskite Solar Cells.
AB  - Tailoring charge extraction interfaces in perovskite solar cells (PeSCs)
      critically determines the photovoltaic performance of PeSCs. Here, we
      investigated the decoupling of two major determinants of the efficient charge
      extraction, the charge transport and interfacial charge transfer properties at
      hole transport layers (HTLs). A simple physical tuning of a representative
      polymeric HTL, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), provided
      a wide range of charge conductivities from 10(-4) to 10(3) S cm(-1) without
      significant modulations in their energy levels, thereby enabling the decoupling
      of charge transport and transfer properties at HTLs. The transient photovoltaic
      response measurement revealed that the facilitation of hole transport through the
      highly conductive HTL promoted the elongation of charge carrier lifetimes within
      the PeSCs up to 3 times, leading to enhanced photocurrent extraction and finally
      25% higher power conversion efficiency. 

PMID- 26887637
TI  - Seasonal and spatial ontogenetic movements of Gerreidae in a Brazilian tropical
      estuarine ecocline and its application for nursery habitat conservation.
AB  - The density and biomass of different ontogenetic phases (juvenile, sub-adult and
      adult) of the two most important sympatric Gerreidae species in the Goiana
      Estuary, north-east Brazil, are described in order to determine the patterns of
      estuarine habitat use and to identify nursery grounds. Eugerres brasilianus and
      Eucinostomus melanopterus were the most abundant gerreids in the main channel and
      adjacent estuarine beach habitats. Eugerres brasilianus is abundant in the main
      channel, whereas E. melanopterus is most common in the beach habitats.
      Significant interaction in density and biomass of juvenile and sub-adult size
      classes of E. brasilianus was found between season and area. In addition, E.
      brasilianus adults and E. melanopterus sub-adults differed significantly in
      density and biomass between areas of the estuary. Both the upper estuary, during
      the late dry season, and the middle estuary, during the early rainy season,
      functioned as nursery habitats for E. brasilianus. During the early rainy season
      and dry season, the beaches were a nursery for the E. melanopterus. The
      concentration of these ontogenetic phases was mainly related to the dissolved
      oxygen and salinity gradients of the estuary, which drive not only gerreid
      movement between estuarine habitats but also moves the habitats. This study
      reinforces the importance of conserving the habitats of the Goiana Estuary so
      that species such as gerreids can complete their life cycle in the face of
      pressure from anthropogenic activities, such as mangrove forest deforestation,
      overfishing, fish contamination by plastic ingestion and domestic effluent
      disposal. 

PMID- 26887636
TI  - Persistent activation of microglia and NADPH oxidase [corrected] drive
      hippocampal dysfunction in experimental multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS). Unfortunately, the
      synaptic and molecular mechanisms underlying MS-associated cognitive dysfunction
      are largely unknown. We explored the presence and the underlying mechanism of
      cognitive and synaptic hippocampal dysfunction during the remission phase of
      experimental MS. Experiments were performed in a chronic-relapsing experimental
      autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, after the resolution of motor
      deficits. Immunohistochemistry and patch-clamp recordings were performed in the
      CA1 hippocampal area. The hole-board was utilized as cognitive/behavioural test.
      In the remission phase of experimental MS, hippocampal microglial cells showed
      signs of activation, CA1 hippocampal synapses presented an impaired long-term
      potentiation (LTP) and an alteration of spatial tests became evident. The
      activation of hippocampal microglia mediated synaptic and cognitive/behavioural
      alterations during EAE. Specifically, LTP blockade was found to be caused by the
      reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
      phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. We suggest that in the remission phase of experimental
      MS microglia remains activated, causing synaptic dysfunctions mediated by NADPH
      oxidase. Inhibition of microglial activation and NADPH oxidase may represent a
      promising strategy to prevent neuroplasticity impairment associated with active
      neuro-inflammation, with the aim to improve cognition and counteract MS disease
      progression. 

PMID- 26887638
TI  - Considerable loss of information on skin cancer occurrence and non-adherence to
      clinical practice guideline in renal transplant recipients.

PMID- 26887641
TI  - Highly ordered surfactant micelles function as the extraction matrix for direct
      electrochemical detection of halonitrobenzenes at the ppb level.
AB  - Halonitrobenzenes (HNBs) are a class of molecules that are highly toxic to human
      health and the ecological environment. Thus, effective and efficient approaches
      capable of monitoring and detecting HNBs are greatly desired. We report herein a
      simple and sensitive method for the detection of HNBs. The detection was based on
      the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes modified with a binary assembly of highly
      ordered surfactant micelles (OSMs) and silica mesochannels (SMs). The SMs have a
      diameter of 2-3 nm and a vertical orientation, which provide a hard support to
      stabilize soft OSMs. Moreover, each OSM consists of a hydrophobic core due to the
      organized assembly of surfactant hydrocarbon chains, which can selectively
      extract and concentrate lipophilic HNBs from aqueous media, allow their transport
      to the underlying ITO electrode surface and therein their detection by
      voltammetry. As a proof-of-concept experiment, 1-chloro-3-nitrobenzene, 1-chloro
      4-nitrobenzene, 1-bromo-4-nitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrobromobenzene were analyzed
      in aqueous solutions. A simple and fast detection was achieved in all cases, with
      a wide linear dynamic range, a high sensitivity and a low limit of detection at
      the ppb level. Apart from the extraction ability, the OSMs also prohibited the
      access of and surface contamination by unwanted substances, showing excellent
      anti-fouling and anti-interference power. Indeed, as we demonstrated, the sensor
      could be employed for direct electrochemical detection of HNBs in complex
      samples, such as lake water and soil dispersion, without any pre-treatment,
      indicating its potential usefulness in practical analysis. 

PMID- 26887639
TI  - Temporal dynamics of Puumala hantavirus infection in cyclic populations of bank
      voles.
AB  - Understanding the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in their reservoir host
      populations is a prerequisite for predicting and preventing human disease
      epidemics. The human infection risk of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) is highest in
      northern Europe, where populations of the rodent host (bank vole, Myodes
      glareolus) undergo cyclic fluctuations. We conducted a 7-year capture-mark
      recapture study to monitor seasonal and multiannual patterns of the PUUV
      infection rate in bank vole populations exhibiting a 3-year density cycle.
      Infected bank voles were most abundant in mid-winter months during years of
      increasing or peak host density. Prevalence of PUUV infection in bank voles
      exhibited a regular, seasonal pattern reflecting the annual population turnover
      and accumulation of infections within each year cohort. In autumn, the PUUV
      transmission rate tracked increasing host abundance, suggesting a density
      dependent transmission. However, prevalence of PUUV infection was similar during
      the increase and peak years of the density cycle despite a twofold difference in
      host density. This may result from the high proportion of individuals carrying
      maternal antibodies constraining transmission during the cycle peak years. Our
      exceptionally intensive and long-term dataset provides a solid basis on which to
      develop models to predict the dynamic public health threat posed by PUUV in
      northern Europe. 

PMID- 26887642
TI  - Strange Bedfellows? Common Ground on the Moral Status Question.
AB  - When does a developing human being acquire moral status? I outline three
      different positions based on substance ontology that attempt to solve the
      question by locating some morally salient event in the process of human
      development question. In the second section, I consider some specific empirical
      objections to one of these positions, refute them, and then show how similar
      objections and responses would generalize to the other substance-based positions
      on the question. The crucial finding is that all the attempts to answer the
      question that involve substance ontology need to appeal to dispositions. 

PMID- 26887643
TI  - A Radio-genomics Approach for Identifying High Risk Estrogen Receptor-positive
      Breast Cancers on DCE-MRI: Preliminary Results in Predicting OncotypeDX Risk
      Scores.
AB  - To identify computer extracted imaging features for estrogen receptor (ER)
      positive breast cancers on dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI that are
      correlated with the low and high OncotypeDX risk categories. We collected 96 ER
      positive breast lesions with low (< 18, N = 55) and high (> 30, N = 41)
      OncotypeDX recurrence scores. Each lesion was quantitatively characterize via 6
      shape features, 3 pharmacokinetics, 4 enhancement kinetics, 4 intensity kinetics,
      148 textural kinetics, 5 dynamic histogram of oriented gradient (DHoG), and 6
      dynamic local binary pattern (DLBP) features. The extracted features were
      evaluated by a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier in terms of their
      ability to distinguish low and high OncotypeDX risk categories. Classification
      performance was evaluated by area under the receiver operator characteristic
      curve (Az). The DHoG and DLBP achieved Az values of 0.84 and 0.80, respectively.
      The 6 top features identified via feature selection were subsequently combined
      with the LDA classifier to yield an Az of 0.87. The correlation analysis showed
      that DHoG (rho = 0.85, P < 0.001) and DLBP (rho = 0.83, P < 0.01) were
      significantly associated with the low and high risk classifications from the
      OncotypeDX assay. Our results indicated that computer extracted texture features
      of DCE-MRI were highly correlated with the high and low OncotypeDX risk
      categories for ER-positive cancers.

PMID- 26887644
TI  - Improving seedless kelp (Saccharina japonica) during its domestication by
      hybridizing gametophytes and seedling-raising from sporophytes.
AB  - Dongfang no.7 (Saccharina japonica) was bred and maintained by hybridizing
      gametophytes, self-crossing the best individuals, selecting the best self
      crossing line and seedling-raising from yearly reconstructed sporophytes. It
      increased the air dry yield by 43.2% in average over 2 widely farmed controls.
      Dongfang no.7 was seedling-raised from bulked sporophytes reconstructed from its
      representative gametophyte clones. Such strategy ensured it against variety
      contamination due to possible cross fertilization and occasional mixing and
      inbred depletion due to self-crossing number-limited sporophytes year after year.
      It derived from an intraspecific hybrid through 4 rounds of self-crossing and
      selection and retained a certain degree of genetic heterozygosity, thus being
      immune to inbred depletion due to purification of unknown detrimental alleles.
      Most importantly, it can be farmed in currently available system as the seedlings
      for large scale culture can be raised from reconstructed Dongfang no.7
      sporophytes. Breeding and maintaining Dongfang no.7 provided a model that other
      varieties of kelp (S. japonica) and brown algae may follow during their
      domestication. 

PMID- 26887645
TI  - Efficacy of Transforaminal Endoscopic Spine System (TESSYS) Technique in Treating
      Lumbar Disc Herniation.
AB  - BACKGROUND To compare efficacy and safety of percutaneous transforaminal
      endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) and traditional fenestration discectomy (FD) in
      treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 106
      LDH patients were divided into TESSYS group (n=48) and FD group (n=58). Visual
      analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopedic
      Association (JOA), and modified MacNab criteria were used for efficacy
      evaluation. Post-operative responses were compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay (ELISA) based on detection of serum IL-6, CRP, and CPK levels. RESULTS In
      the TESSYS group, compared with the FD group, we observed, shorter incision
      length, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, lower hospitalization cost,
      shorter recovery time, lower complication rate (all P<0.001), and lower VAS
      scores of lumbago and skelalgia at 3 days and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively
      (all P<0.05). At 24 and 48 h postoperatively, CRP level was remarkably higher in
      the FD group compared to the TESSYS group (P<0.001). Further, comparison of IL-6
      levels at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively revealed significantly higher
      levels in the FD group than in the FESSYS group (all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS TESSYS
      had clinical advantages over FD and entails less trauma and quicker postoperative
      recovery, suggesting that TESSYS is well tolerated by patients and is a better
      approach than FD in surgical treatment of LDH. 

PMID- 26887646
TI  - Trypanosoma evansi in naturally infected dromedary camels: lipid profile,
      oxidative stress parameters, acute phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines.
AB  - Additional biomarkers are essential for control of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi)
      infection in dromedary camels. Two groups of 30 camels each, one naturally
      infected with T. evansi and other normal healthy were executed. The basis for the
      infection was the positive findings of clinical examination, blood smears and
      latex agglutination test. Blood samples of both groups and its harvested serum
      were used for the estimation of present serobiochemical parameters. The present
      findings revealed significant decrease (P ? 0.05) in triacylglycerol,
      cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol with significant increase (P ?
      0.05) in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, beta hydroxyl butyric acids, non
      esterified fatty acids, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen,
      interleukins, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon gamma, malondialdehyde,
      superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase of infected camels
      compared with the control. The present study suggests lipid profile, acute phase
      proteins, proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress parameters as biomarkers
      for T. evansi infection in camels.

PMID- 26887647
TI  - Comparative assay of Vipera ammodytes antivenom potency.
AB  - The finding of the most appropriate way to assess precisely the antivenom
      efficacy represents one of the major issues for antivenom standardization and
      success increasing of antivenom therapy. The efficacy of experimental Vipera
      ammodytes antivenom raised in sheep was determined using in vivo mouse lethality
      test, respectively, L-aminoacid oxidase, total proteinase and phospholipase A2
      antienzymatic effectiveness. The values gained for the antivenom potency depend
      on the method of measure. So, some of the most toxic venom proteins own
      phospholipase A2 activity and provide the highest antivenom potency (lowest
      effective dose) values by antienzymatic assay method. This value is similar with
      total antiproteolytic antivenom potency value, but almost three times higher than
      value obtained by L-aminoacid oxidase (low toxic viper venom protein)
      antienzymatic assay method. 

PMID- 26887648
TI  - Dietary patterns in early childhood and child cognitive and psychomotor
      development: the Rhea mother-child cohort study in Crete.
AB  - Early-life nutrition is critical for optimal brain development; however, few
      studies have evaluated the impact of diet as a whole in early childhood on
      neurological development with inconsistent results. The present analysis is a
      cross-sectional study nested within an ongoing prospective birth cohort, the Rhea
      study, and aims to examine the association of dietary patterns with cognitive and
      psychomotor development in 804 preschool (mean age 4.2 years) children. Parents
      completed a validated FFQ, and dietary patterns were identified using principal
      component analysis. Child cognitive and psychomotor development was assessed by
      the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA). Multivariable linear
      regression models were used to investigate the associations of dietary patterns
      with the MSCA scales. After adjustment for a large number of confounding factors,
      the 'Snacky' pattern (potatoes and other starchy roots, salty snacks, sugar
      products and eggs) was negatively associated with the scales of verbal ability
      (beta=-1.31; 95 % CI -2.47, -0.16), general cognitive ability (beta=-1.13; 95 %
      CI -2.25, -0.02) and cognitive functions of the posterior cortex (beta=-1.20; 95
      % CI -2.34, -0.07). Further adjustment for maternal intelligence, folic acid
      supplementation and alcohol use during pregnancy attenuated the observed
      associations, but effect estimates remained at the same direction. The 'Western'
      and the 'Mediterranean' patterns were not associated with child
      neurodevelopmental scales. The present findings suggest that poorer food choices
      at preschool age characterised by foods high in fat, salt and sugar are
      associated with reduced scores in verbal and cognitive ability.

PMID- 26887649
TI  - Quality of serious adverse events reporting to academic sponsors of clinical
      trials: far from optimal.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of the serious
      adverse events (SAE) reported to an academic sponsor. Assessing the safety of a
      clinical trial relies on information gathering the collection of adverse events
      reported by the investigators to the sponsor. The accuracy of safety evaluation
      depends in particular on the quality of the reporting. METHODS: All SAE case
      report forms, reported in 2012 to the sponsor from all clinical trials, were
      evaluated for completeness and accuracy with a standardized data quality
      evaluation form. Several items were assessed: regulatory mandatory information
      and items concerning the reported events. For statistical comparisons, Chi2/exact
      Fisher test was performed. RESULTS: Investigators or patients were not identified
      in <3% of the reports. The investigational product was not identified in 11.2%.
      In 3.6% of the reports, the seriousness of the event was unknown. The causality
      assessment was missing in 9.3%. In 15.0%, the verbatim of the event was
      considered as not consistent with the description of the event. In 32.4%, the
      sponsor considered there were insufficient data concerning relevant
      laboratory/additional examinations performed or relevant history required to help
      in the assessment. The onset date of SAE was not mentioned in 5.7% of the reports
      and patient outcome in 12.1%. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the far from
      optimal quality of reporting both in terms of completeness and accuracy. The
      accurate coding of the events using MedDRA and the safety evaluation by the
      sponsor can be difficult. The training of investigators in SAE reporting must be
      improved. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887650
TI  - Breast cancer literacy among higher secondary students: results from a cross
      sectional study in Western Nepal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Being the most common cancer among women worldwide, it is vital to be
      well-aware of breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and curability. However, few
      studies have reported breast cancer literacy in students using a validated
      instrument. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of
      grades 11 and 12 from eleven higher secondary schools, one selected randomly from
      each ilaka of Parbat district. Questionnaire with modified Comprehensive Breast
      Cancer Knowledge Test was self-administered to 516 students. Knowledge score was
      categorized into two categories: 'good knowledge' and 'poor knowledge' taking
      median score as the cut-off. Chi-square test was used to determine difference in
      knowledge by socio-demographic factors, including gender. RESULTS: Only 4.8% of
      the students responded correctly to at least half of the items, and 1.4% did not
      respond correctly to any of the items on risk factors and curability. Physical
      exercise was identified as a protective factor of breast cancer by 62.4% of the
      students. Presence of noncancerous breast lumps (56.6%) and being overweight
      (36.4%) were recognized as the risk factors. Knowledge of lumpectomy and
      radiation therapy for treatment of breast cancer was reported by 42.8% of
      students, while only 39.0% were aware of the availability of treatment therapies
      other than mastectomy. Males were significantly better informed than females
      (chi(2) = 4.02, p = 0.045). Pain in the breast (23.3 %), change in the shape of
      the breast (20.0%) and discharge of pus (14.1%) were the three most commonly
      recognized symptoms. Nearly one in two (47.1%) students indicated that the school
      curriculum inadequately informed them on breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Our study
      demonstrates poor knowledge on breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and
      curability among higher secondary school students in Western Nepal. Still,
      several myths regarding breast cancer persist. Half of the students had the
      perception that school curriculum inadequately informed them on breast cancer.
      Future studies should aim at the measures necessary to address the inadequate
      knowledge, along with the perceived gap in school curriculum.

PMID- 26887651
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and N-acetylation metabolism of S-methyl-l-cysteine and trans-S
      1-propenyl-l-cysteine in rats and dogs.
AB  - 1. Pharmacokinetics and N-acetylation metabolism of S-methyl-L-cysteine (SMC) and
      trans-S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine (S1PC) were examined in rats and dogs. SMC and S1PC
      (2-5 mg/kg) were well absorbed in both species with high bioavailability (88
      100%). 2. SMC and S1PC were excreted only to a small extent in the urine of rats
      and dogs. The small renal clearance values (<0.03 l/h/kg) indicated the extensive
      renal reabsorption of SMC and S1PC, which potentially contributed to their long
      elimination half-lives (>5 h) in dogs. 3. S1PC, but not SMC, underwent N
      acetylation extensively in vivo, which can be explained by the relative
      activities of N-acetylation of S1PC/SMC and deacetylation of their N-acetylated
      forms, N-acetyl-S1PC/N-acetyl-SMC, in the liver and kidney in vitro. The
      activities for S1PC N-acetylation were similar to or higher than those for N
      acetyl-S1PC deacetylation in liver S9 fractions of rat and dog, whereas liver and
      kidney S9 fractions of rat and dog had little activity for SMC N-acetylation or
      considerably higher activities for N-acetyl-SMC deacetylation. 4. Our study
      demonstrated that the pharmacokinetics of SMC and S1PC in rats and dogs was
      characterized by high bioavailability and extensive renal reabsorption; however,
      the extent of undergoing the N-acetylation metabolism was extremely different
      between SMC and S1PC. 

PMID- 26887653
TI  - The impact of clinical librarian services on patients and health care
      organisations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews have found limited evidence of effectiveness and
      impact of clinical librarians (CLs) due to the poor quality of reporting, scale
      and design of previous studies. OBJECTIVES: To measure specific CL impact on
      organisational and patient outcomes using a robust approach that helps CLs
      develop research skills. METHODS: Questionnaire and interviews. RESULTS: Clinical
      librarians contribute to a wide range of outcomes in the short and longer term
      reflecting organisational priorities and objectives. These include direct
      contributions to choice of intervention (36%) diagnosis (26%) quality of life
      (25%), increased patient involvement in decision making (26%) and cost savings
      and risk management including avoiding tests, referrals, readmissions and
      reducing length of stay (28%). DISCUSSION: Interventions provided by CL's are
      complex and each contributes to multiple outcomes of importance to health care
      organisations. CONCLUSION: This study is unique in taking a wide view of
      potential and specific impacts to which CLs contribute across health care
      organisations. It is the largest UK evaluation of CL services to date and
      demonstrates CLs affect direct patient care, improve quality and save money.
      Future researchers are urged to use the tools presented to collect data on the
      same outcomes to build a significant and comprehensive international evidence
      base about the effectiveness and impact of clinical librarian services.

PMID- 26887652
TI  - LIN7A is a major determinant of cell-polarity defects in breast carcinomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polarity defects are a hallmark of most carcinomas. Cells from
      invasive micropapillary carcinomas (IMPCs) of the breast are characterized by a
      striking cell polarity inversion and represent an interesting model for the
      analysis of polarity abnormalities. METHODS: In-depth investigation of polarity
      proteins in 24 IMPCs and a gene expression profiling, comparing IMPC (n = 73)
      with invasive carcinomas of no special type (ICNST) (n = 51) have been performed.
      RESULTS: IMPCs showed a profound disorganization of the investigated polarity
      proteins and revealed major abnormalities in their subcellular localization. Gene
      expression profiling experiments highlighted a number of deregulated genes in the
      IMPCs that have a role in apico-basal polarity, adhesion and migration. LIN7A, a
      Crumbs-complex polarity gene, was one of the most differentially over-expressed
      genes in the IMPCs. Upon LIN7A over-expression, we observed hyperproliferation,
      invasion and a complete absence of lumen formation, revealing strong polarity
      defects. CONCLUSION: This study therefore shows that LIN7A has a crucial role in
      the polarity abnormalities associated with breast carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26887654
TI  - Drug repurposing to target Ebola virus replication and virulence using structural
      systems pharmacology.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The recent outbreak of Ebola has been cited as the largest in
      history. Despite this global health crisis, few drugs are available to
      efficiently treat Ebola infections. Drug repurposing provides a potentially
      efficient solution to accelerating the development of therapeutic approaches in
      response to Ebola outbreak. To identify such candidates, we use an integrated
      structural systems pharmacology pipeline which combines proteome-scale ligand
      binding site comparison, protein-ligand docking, and Molecular Dynamics (MD)
      simulation. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred and sixty-six FDA-approved drugs
      and 259 experimental drugs were screened to identify those with the potential to
      inhibit the replication and virulence of Ebola, and to determine the binding
      modes with their respective targets. Initial screening has identified a number of
      promising hits. Notably, Indinavir; an HIV protease inhibitor, may be effective
      in reducing the virulence of Ebola. Additionally, an antifungal (Sinefungin) and
      several anti-viral drugs (e.g. Maraviroc, Abacavir, Telbivudine, and Cidofovir)
      may inhibit Ebola RNA-directed RNA polymerase through targeting the MTase domain.
      CONCLUSIONS: Identification of safe drug candidates is a crucial first step
      toward the determination of timely and effective therapeutic approaches to
      address and mitigate the impact of the Ebola global crisis and future outbreaks
      of pathogenic diseases. Further in vitro and in vivo testing to evaluate the anti
      Ebola activity of these drugs is warranted.

PMID- 26887655
TI  - Comparison of different anticoagulant associations on haemostasis and biochemical
      analyses in feline blood specimens.
AB  - Objectives Universal anticoagulant could be an alternative to the multiple blood
      sampling required for clinical pathology investigations in cats. An association
      of citrate, theophylline, adenosine and dipyridamole (CTAD) has been reported to
      be a good substitute for EDTA for haematology analysis in cats, limiting platelet
      clumping, and has also been shown to be valid for haematology, secondary
      haemostasis and some biochemical variables in humans. The aim of the study was
      therefore to investigate the effects of CTAD on in vitro platelet aggregation and
      compare results of secondary haemostasis and biochemistry tests, excluding a
      priori those variables not reliably measured in CTAD, such as sodium, chloride
      and divalent cations, in feline blood specimens collected in CTAD and paired
      citrate and heparin tubes. Methods Thirty blood specimens sampled in citrate and
      CTAD were analysed for in vitro platelet aggregation, and 60 blood specimens
      sampled in citrate or heparin and CTAD were analysed for plasma coagulation and a
      biochemistry panel. Results In vitro platelet aggregation was inhibited in CTAD
      compared with citrate specimens. Prothrombin time, activated partial
      thromboplastin time, antithrombin and fibrinogen results were similar, despite
      some significant differences. Measurements of triglycerides, cholesterol,
      glucose, urea, creatinine, phosphate, total proteins and alanine aminotransferase
      activity were similar and well correlated in CTAD and heparin plasmas, despite
      some significant differences and moderate biases. Albumin showed a marked
      positive proportional bias, and creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase
      activities a moderate and marked negative mixed bias, respectively, but could be
      measured in CTAD if new reference intervals were calculated. Aspartate
      aminotransferase activity showed a marked negative proportional bias, along with
      a poor correlation and some clinical misclassifications just like the potassium
      concentration, and thus cannot be recommended to be measured in CTAD specimens.
      Conclusions and relevance In cats, CTAD cannot be used for primary haemostasis
      investigation but could be a suitable (almost) universal anticoagulant for
      routine haematology, as well as for plasma coagulation and many biochemistry
      variables.

PMID- 26887658
TI  - Giant absorption of light by molecular vibrations on a chip.
AB  - Vibrational overtone spectroscopy of molecules is a powerful tool for drawing
      information on molecular structure and dynamics. It relies on absorption of near
      infrared radiation (NIR) by molecular vibrations. Here we show the experimental
      evidence of giant enhancement of the absorption of light in solutions of organic
      molecules due to the switch from ballistic to diffusive propagation of light
      through a channel silicate glass waveguide. We also experimentally address a
      dynamics of absorption as a function of time of adsorption of the organic
      molecules on a waveguide. The observed enhancement in diffusion regime is by a
      factor of 300 in N-Methylaniline and by factor of 80 in Aniline compared to the
      expected values in the case of ballistic propagation of light in a waveguide. Our
      results underscore the importance of a guide surface modification and the
      disordered molecular nano-layer in enhancement of absorption by amines on
      engineered integrated system. 

PMID- 26887656
TI  - Cryptococcus neoformans Intracellular Proliferation and Capsule Size Determines
      Early Macrophage Control of Infection.
AB  - Cryptococcus neoformans is a significant fungal pathogen of immunocompromised
      patients. Many questions remain regarding the function of macrophages in normal
      clearance of cryptococcal infection and the defects present in uncontrolled
      cryptococcosis. Two current limitations are: 1) The difficulties in interpreting
      studies using isolated macrophages in the context of the progression of
      infection, and 2) The use of high resolution imaging in understanding immune cell
      behavior during animal infection. Here we describe a high-content imaging method
      in a zebrafish model of cryptococcosis that permits the detailed analysis of
      macrophage interactions with C. neoformans during infection. Using this approach
      we demonstrate that, while macrophages are critical for control of C. neoformans,
      a failure of macrophage response is not the limiting defect in fatal infections.
      We find phagocytosis is restrained very early in infection and that increases in
      cryptococcal number are driven by intracellular proliferation. We show that
      macrophages preferentially phagocytose cryptococci with smaller polysaccharide
      capsules and that capsule size is greatly increased over twenty-four hours of
      infection, a change that is sufficient to severely limit further phagocytosis.
      Thus, high-content imaging of cryptococcal infection in vivo demonstrates how
      very early interactions between macrophages and cryptococci are critical in the
      outcome of cryptococcosis. 

PMID- 26887657
TI  - Asia-Pacific Hematology Consortium Report on approach to multiple myeloma. Survey
      results from the 6th International Hematologic Malignancies Conference: Bridging
      the Gap 2015, Beijing, China.
AB  - The Asia-Pacific Hematology Consortium (APHCON), in partnership with MDRingTM, a
      mobile global physician education network, has initiated a detailed longitudinal
      study of physician knowledge and practice preferences in the Asia-Pacific sphere.
      The first dataset comes from a series of surveys answered by delegates at the
      APHCON Bridging The Gap (BTG) conference in Beijing in January, 2015. In this
      report we present our findings regarding diagnosis and treatment of multiple
      myeloma (MM). We aim to create a conduit for physicians in this region to share
      their experiences with the rest of the world, to identify areas of consensus and
      best practices, and to highlight opportunities for improvement in communication,
      education and patient care.

PMID- 26887659
TI  - Quantitative susceptibility mapping at 3 T: comparison of acquisition
      methodologies.
AB  - Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is fast becoming a routine clinical
      tool in the evaluation and assessment of neurological diseases. Unfortunately,
      there is currently no established standard scanning protocol, and it is uncertain
      whether different acquisition strategies alter the derived estimates of magnetic
      susceptibility. Here, we compare some key deep grey matter susceptibility values
      in healthy adults acquired from various QSM sequences using either unipolar or
      bipolar readout gradients, accelerated imaging or not, and gradient-warp
      correction or not. Four healthy adult volunteers were scanned three times each
      within 4 days at 3 T. The eight different QSM combinations were acquired in
      different randomised order for each session, and then co-registered to an
      anatomical atlas. The average and standard deviations of magnetic
      susceptibilities in the caudate, putamen, red nucleus, internal and external
      globus pallidus were used in a linear mixed effects model to determine the
      influence of the various acquisition parameters. Gradient-warp correction was the
      only statistically significant fixed effect (p < 0.01), but its impact was small
      (~5% change) compared with the overall fixed effects. The random effects
      coefficients (i.e. the various tissues) were statistically significant. Based on
      our limited multiple observations in healthy adult volunteers, the
      susceptibilities in deep grey matter are statistically equivalent when QSM source
      data are acquired with or without accelerated imaging using either unipolar or
      bipolar readout gradients. There is, however, a statistically meaningful, but
      small, difference if gradient-warp correction is used or not. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887660
TI  - Salinity drives archaeal distribution patterns in high altitude lake sediments on
      the Tibetan Plateau.
AB  - Archaeal communities and the factors regulating their diversity in high altitude
      lakes are poorly understood. Here, we provide the first high-throughput
      sequencing study of Archaea from Tibetan Plateau lake sediments. We analyzed
      twenty lake sediments from the world's highest and largest plateau and found
      diverse archaeal assemblages that clustered into groups dominated by methanogenic
      Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Halobacteria/mixed euryarchaeal phylotypes.
      Statistical analysis inferred that salinity was the major driver of community
      composition, and that archaeal diversity increased with salinity. Sediments with
      the highest salinities were mostly dominated by Halobacteria. Crenarchaeota
      dominated at intermediate salinities, and methanogens were present in all lake
      sediments, albeit most abundant at low salinities. The distribution patterns of
      the three functional types of methanogens (hydrogenotrophic, acetotrophic and
      methylotrophic) were also related to changes in salinity. Our results show that
      salinity is a key factor controlling archaeal community diversity and composition
      in lake sediments on a spatial scale that spans nearly 2000 km on the Tibetan
      Plateau.

PMID- 26887661
TI  - Quantification of the effects of ocean acidification on sediment microbial
      communities in the environment: the importance of ecosystem approaches.
AB  - To understand how ocean acidification (OA) influences sediment microbial
      communities, naturally CO2-rich sites are increasingly being used as OA
      analogues. However, the characterization of these naturally CO2-rich sites is
      often limited to OA-related variables, neglecting additional environmental
      variables that may confound OA effects. Here, we used an extensive array of
      sediment and bottom water parameters to evaluate pH effects on sediment microbial
      communities at hydrothermal CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea. The geochemical
      composition of the sediment pore water showed variations in the hydrothermal
      signature at seep sites with comparable pH, allowing the identification of sites
      that may better represent future OA scenarios. At these sites, we detected a 60%
      shift in the microbial community composition compared with reference sites,
      mostly related to increases in Chloroflexi sequences. pH was among the factors
      significantly, yet not mainly, explaining changes in microbial community
      composition. pH variation may therefore often not be the primary cause of
      microbial changes when sampling is done along complex environmental gradients.
      Thus, we recommend an ecosystem approach when assessing OA effects on sediment
      microbial communities under natural conditions. This will enable a more reliable
      quantification of OA effects via a reduction of potential confounding effects.

PMID- 26887662
TI  - Meeting individualized glycemic targets in primary care patients with type 2
      diabetes in Spain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Information about the achievement of glycemic targets in patients
      with type 2 diabetes according to different individualization strategies is
      scarce. Our aim was to analyze the allocation of type 2 diabetic patients into
      individualized glycemic targets according to different strategies of
      individualization and to assess the degree of achievement of adequate control.
      METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis on 5382 type 2 diabetic patients in primary
      care setting in Spain between 2011 and 2012. Targets of HbA1c were assigned based
      on different strategies of individualization of glycemic targets: 1) the ADA/EASD
      consensus 2) The Spanish Diabetes Society (SED) consensus 3) a strategy that
      accounts for the risk of hypoglycemia (HYPO) considering the presence of a
      hypoglycemia during the last year and type of hypoglycemic treatment. Concordance
      between the different strategies was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 15.9, 17.1 and
      67 % applied to ADA/EASD recommendation of HbA1c target of <6.5, < 7 and <8 %
      (48, 53 and 64 mmol/mol), and 31.9 and 67.4 % applied to the SED glycemic target
      of <6.5 and <7.5 % (<48 and 58 mmol/mol). Using the HYPO strategy, 53.5 % had a
      recommended HbA1c target <7 % (53 mmol/mol). There is a 94 % concordance between
      the ADA/EASD and SED strategies, and a concordance of 41-42 % between these
      strategies and HYPO strategy. Using the three different strategies, the overall
      proportion of patients achieving glycemic targets was 56-68 %. CONCLUSIONS:
      Individualization of glycemic targets increases the number of patients who are
      considered adequately controlled. The proposed HYPO strategy identifies a similar
      proportion of patients that achieve adequate glycemic control than ADA/EASD or
      SED strategies, but its concordance with these strategies in terms of patient
      classification is bad.

PMID- 26887663
TI  - Effect of metformin therapy on circulating amino acids in a randomized trial: the
      CAMERA study.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate whether metformin therapy alters circulating aromatic and
      branched-chain amino acid concentrations, increased levels amino acid
      concentrations, increased levels of which have been found to predict Type 2
      diabetes. METHODS: In the Carotid Atherosclerosis: Metformin for Insulin
      Resistance (CAMERA) study (NCT00723307), 173 individuals without Type 2 diabetes,
      but with coronary disease, were randomized to metformin (n=86) or placebo (n=87)
      for 18 months. Plasma samples, taken every 6 months, were analysed using
      quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ten metabolites consisting
      of eight amino acids [three branched-chain (isoleucine, leucine, valine), three
      aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine) and two other amino acids (alanine,
      glutamine)], lactate and pyruvate were quantified and analysed using repeated
      measures models. On-treatment analyses were conducted to investigate whether
      amino acid changes were dependent on changes in weight, fat mass or insulin
      resistance estimated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). RESULTS:
      Tyrosine decreased [-6.1 MUmol/l (95% CI -8.5, -3.7); P<0.0001], while alanine
      [42 umol/l (95% CI 25, 59); P<0.0001] increased in the metformin-treated group
      compared with the placebo-treated group. Decreases in phenylalanine [-2.0 MUmol/l
      (95% CI -3.6, -0.3); P=0.018] and increases in histidine [2.3 MUmol/l (95% CI
      0.1, 4.6); P=0.045] were also observed in the metformin group, although these
      changes were less statistically robust. Changes in these four amino acids were
      not accounted for by changes in weight, fat mass or HOMA-IR values. Levels of
      branched-chain amino acids, glutamine, pyruvate and lactate were not altered by
      metformin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin therapy results in a sustained and
      specific pattern of changes in aromatic amino acid and alanine concentrations.
      These changes are independent of any effects on weight and insulin sensitivity.
      Any causal link to metformin's unexplained cardiometabolic benefit requires
      further study.

PMID- 26887664
TI  - Recurrent event data analysis with intermittently observed time-varying
      covariates.
AB  - Although recurrent event data analysis is a rapidly evolving area of research,
      rigorous studies on estimation of the effects of intermittently observed time
      varying covariates on the risk of recurrent events have been lacking. Existing
      methods for analyzing recurrent event data usually require that the covariate
      processes are observed throughout the entire follow-up period. However,
      covariates are often observed periodically rather than continuously. We propose a
      novel semiparametric estimator for the regression parameters in the popular
      proportional rate model. The proposed estimator is based on an estimated score
      function where we kernel smooth the mean covariate process. We show that the
      proposed semiparametric estimator is asymptotically unbiased, normally
      distributed, and derives the asymptotic variance. Simulation studies are
      conducted to compare the performance of the proposed estimator and the simple
      methods carrying forward the last covariates. The different methods are applied
      to an observational study designed to assess the effect of group A streptococcus
      on pharyngitis among school children in India. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887665
TI  - Tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis as a limb salvage procedure for complex hindfoot
      deformities.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Tibiocalcaneal (TC) arthrodesis is a limb salvage method for
      patients with severe deformities combined with necrosis and/or luxation of the
      talus. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical and radiological outcome
      of TC arthrodesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study identified 12
      patients with luxation and/or necrosis of the talus, due to charcot
      neuroarthropathy (83.3 %) or traumatic injuries (16.7 %). All patients underwent
      TC arthrodesis by an external fixator or nail arthrodesis. The mean follow up was
      18 (6-36) months with a mean age of 51.3 (30-66) years. The data were collected
      using the AOFAS score as well as clinical and radiological examination during
      regular follow up. RESULTS: Seven (58.3 %) patients were treated with an external
      fixator, four (33.3 %) with nail arthrodesis and one (8.3 %) patient rejected
      both fixation methods. Four (100 %) patients achieved radiological and clinical
      bone union after nail arthrodesis and four (57.1 %) patients after external
      fixation. Three (42.9 %) patients treated by an external fixator showed a
      radiological moderate bone fusion, but a stable, asymptomatic non-union. One (8.3
      %) case ended up in transfemoral amputation. Eleven patients (91.7 %) regained
      independent mobilization. The mean AOFAS score improved from 24.3 preoperatively
      to 66.7 postoperatively (p < 0.05). The postoperative satisfaction rate was good
      to excellent in 83.3 %. CONCLUSION: TC arthrodesis is a promising and effective
      method for the treatment of severe ankle deformities with talus luxation. It
      allows patient's return to mobility with good to excellent patient satisfaction.

PMID- 26887666
TI  - N-methylnicotinamide protects against endothelial dysfunction and attenuates
      atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
AB  - SCOPE: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that N-methylnicotinamide (MNA)
      may exert antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects on the endothelium.
      However, the exact role of MNA in endothelial function remains uncertain. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-) ) mice fed with a high-fat,
      high-cholesterol diet (HCD) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
      were used to explore the role of MNA in endothelial function and its underlying
      mechanism. The endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine in the
      aortas of low and high dose MNA-fed apoE(-/-) mice was improved by 24 and 36% (p
      < 0.05), respectively, compared with high-fat, HCD-fed control. MNA significantly
      increased nitric oxide/cyclic guanosinemonophosphate levels and decreased
      asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations by induction of
      dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)2 both in aorta and endothelial
      cells. Neither the activity nor the protein expression of DDAH1 was influenced
      upon MNA treatment. Then, DDAH2 depletion by RNA interference in HUVECs abolished
      the protective effect of MNA on endothelial function. Mechanically, this could be
      attributed to a direct modulation of the methylation level of DDAH2 gene promoter
      region by MNA. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals a novel mechanism through
      which MNA improves endothelial dysfunction and attenuates atherogenesis via the
      modulation of ADMA-DDAH axis.

PMID- 26887667
TI  - Effect of Balloon:Annulus Ratio on Incidence of Pulmonary Insufficiency Following
      Valvuloplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary insufficiency following balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonary
      valve stenosis has been shown to result in right ventricular dilation, which may
      necessitate pulmonary valve replacement. This study investigates the consequences
      of employing a more conservative balloon:annulus ratio of <=1.2 against the
      currently used ratios of >1.2. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a
      more conservative balloon:annulus ratio would maintain procedural success with
      adequate relief of the pulmonary valve gradient, while minimizing pulmonic
      insufficiency. DESIGN: Procedural data were collected on cases considered for
      balloon valvuloplasty for congenital pulmonic stenosis at Rady Children's
      Hospital, San Diego between March 31, 2003 and April 9, 2014. The study includes
      98 patients whose median age at the time of procedure was 3.6 months (range: 1
      day to 271 months); median follow-up was 15.2 months (range 24 days to 106
      months). The subjects were divided into two groups based on their balloon:annulus
      ratio: <=1.2 (n = 67) and >1.2 (n = 31). RESULTS: The difference in pulmonary
      gradient reduction-the marker of procedural success-was not significant between
      the two groups (P = .33). Although both groups had an increase in pulmonary valve
      insufficiency from baseline, the <=1.2 group had significantly less insufficiency
      compared to the >1.2 group (P = .008). Reintervention rates were not
      statistically significant between both groups (P = .89). CONCLUSION: Performing
      pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty with a balloon:annulus ratio of <=1.2 produces
      significantly less pulmonary insufficiency than a ratio of >1.2 without reducing
      procedure efficacy.

PMID- 26887668
TI  - The applicability of chemical alternatives assessment for engineered
      nanomaterials.
AB  - The use of alternatives assessment to substitute hazardous chemicals with
      inherently safer options is gaining momentum worldwide as a legislative and
      corporate strategy to minimize consumer, occupational, and environmental risks.
      Engineered nanomaterials represent an interesting case for alternatives
      assessment approaches, because they can be considered both emerging "chemicals"
      of concern, as well as potentially safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals.
      However, comparing the hazards of nanomaterials to traditional chemicals or to
      other nanomaterials is challenging, and critical elements in chemical hazard and
      exposure assessment may have to be fundamentally altered to sufficiently address
      nanomaterials. The aim of this paper is to assess the overall applicability of
      alternatives assessment methods for nanomaterials and to outline recommendations
      to enhance their use in this context. The present paper focuses on the
      adaptability of existing hazard and exposure assessment approaches to engineered
      nanomaterials as well as strategies to design inherently safer nanomaterials. We
      argue that alternatives assessment for nanomaterials is complicated by the sheer
      number of nanomaterials possible. As a result, the inclusion of new data tools
      that can efficiently and effectively evaluate nanomaterials as substitutes is
      needed to strengthen the alternatives assessment process. However, we conclude
      that with additional tools to enhance traditional hazard and exposure assessment
      modules of alternatives assessment, such as the use of mechanistic toxicity
      screens and control banding tools, alternatives assessment can be adapted to
      evaluate engineered nanomaterials as potential substitutes for chemicals of
      concern and to ensure safer nanomaterials are incorporated in the design of new
      products. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:177-187. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26887669
TI  - Atrophic hepatocytes express keratin 7 in ischemia-associated liver lesions.
AB  - AIM: To investigate atrophic parenchymal changes in ischemic liver conditions.
      DESIGN: We studied 18 cases of hepatic lesions with atrophic changes due to
      altered blood flow (hepatic venous congestion n=15 including 4 cases with
      additional nodular regenerative hyperplasia-NRH, NRH n=1, and antiphospholipid
      syndrome with patchy parenchymal atrophy n=2). Metaplastic hepatocellular
      changes, hepatocyte proliferation, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, and
      sinusoidal capillarization were examined immunohistochemically with antibodies to
      keratins (K) 7 and 19, Ki67, alphaSMA and CD34, respectively. RESULTS: K7 was
      positive and K19 was negative in zone 3 atrophic hepatocytes in venous congestion
      and in areas of plate atrophy, as well as in congested or compressed sites in
      NRH. Sinusoidal CD34-positivity indicating capillarization accompanied K7
      immunoexpression. Masson trichrome revealed sinusoidal fibrosis to be restricted
      in atrophic areas, usually mild and in 7 cases focally dense. alphaSMA expression
      expanded beyond K7-positive areas. Ki67 was negative in K7-positive hepatocytes.
      CONCLUSION: Ischemic parenchymal changes are characterized by hepatocyte K7
      immunoexpression, sinusoidal capillarization, HSC activation and lack of cellular
      proliferation, indicating an early reaction of the major liver parenchyma
      cellular components creating a more resistant microenvironment. These phenotypic
      alterations may prove valuable in the discrimination of ischemic liver lesions.

PMID- 26887670
TI  - When and How to "Open" in Laparoscopic or Robotic Surgery.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Surgical training today is all about minimally invasive surgery.
      With little or no experience and/or confidence in rapid, emergent conversion to
      an open procedure, how does the surgeon expeditiously do so? OBJECTIVES: The
      intent of this paper is to help those inexperienced in "open" techniques to
      quickly recognize the need for same and rapidly open and temporarily control an
      acute hemorrhage or significant problem requiring more than the tips of
      laparoscopic instruments. METHODS: The left subcostal or high transverse incision
      has been used by this author and several others with an experience of several
      thousand open cases. The author's emergent technique includes a 3-cm mid-line
      incision from the xiphoid inferiorly, extending into a 135 degrees  left
      subcostal "hockey stick" approximately 12 cm in length, large enough for the
      surgeon's fist to rapidly apply a tamponading moist lap sponge. Extension of the
      incision and rectus muscle bleeding is then controlled before proceeding.
      RESULTS: This author has used the left subcostal incision in over 4000 bariatric
      cases over a 30-year career with an incisional hernia and major wound infection
      rates of less than 1%. CONCLUSION: Today, the laparoscope has virtually replaced
      all open GS visceral techniques which are de-emphasized in surgical training
      programs. This author's experience demonstrates a rapid fire technique, which
      will assist the inexperienced open surgeon in dealing with a very treatable acute
      complication and preventing a long-term disaster with a huge mid-line wound
      infection, dehiscence, and ultimate hernia.

PMID- 26887671
TI  - The Hindlimb Myology of Tyto alba (Tytonidae, Strigiformes, Aves).
AB  - This work is the first myological dissection performed in detail on the hindlimb
      of Tyto alba. Six specimens were dissected and their muscle masses were obtained.
      T. alba has the classical myological pattern present in other species of
      Strigiformes, such as a well-developed m. flexor digitorum longus and the absence
      of the m. plantaris, flexor cruris lateralis and ambiens. Also, T. alba lacks the
      m. extensor propius digiti III, m. extensor propius digiti IV and m. lumbricalis,
      present in the Strigidae. Hindlimb muscle mass accounts for 14.13% of total body
      mass, which is within the range of values of both nocturnal (Strigiformes) and
      diurnal (Falconidae and Accipitridae) raptors. This study provides important
      information for future studies related to functional morphology and
      ecomorphology.

PMID- 26887672
TI  - High prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk factors among
      medical students at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala,
      Uganda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease has become a leading global health challenge
      representing the largest cause of mortality in adults worldwide. Non communicable
      diseases are neglected in Uganda over infectious diseases. With increased
      urbanization, there is likely increase in burden of these NCDs yet there is
      paucity of reliable data regarding the NCD burden. We assessed the prevalence of
      hypertension and other cardiovascular disease risk factors among medical students
      at Makerere University, College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS:
      We conducted a cross-sectional study at Makerere University comprising 180
      medical students. We used a standardized questionnaire and anthropometric
      measurements to assess their cardiovascular disease risk factors using JNC-7.
      Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with elevated blood
      pressure. RESULTS: Of the 180 students surveyed, 107 (59%) were males, mean age
      was 22 years (SD = 3 years), and 159 (88%) were in their preclinical years of
      training. Cardiovascular risk factors with the highest prevalence were alcohol
      consumption (31.7%); elevated systolic blood pressure (14%); and excessive salt
      intake (13%). Participants with elevated systolic blood pressure were more likely
      to be older (OR = 1.18), overweight (OR = 1.08), and with a personal history of
      cardiovascular disease (OR = 4.68). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension
      and known cardiovascular disease risk factors is high among the medical students.
      Strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease among the young population should be
      put in place.

PMID- 26887674
TI  - Long-term outcomes of hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases at a New
      Zealand tertiary level public hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is common with half of all patients developing
      metastases to the liver. The aim of this study was to document the survival for
      patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases. METHOD: A
      review of all patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver
      metastases at a New Zealand tertiary level public hospital over a 9-year period
      was performed. RESULTS: Primary survival outcomes assessed were overall survival
      (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Of the 116 patients followed-up with a
      median (range) of 53 (10-116) months, the OS at 5 years was 53%. Median survival
      was 6.5 years. At end of follow-up, 57% of patients were alive and 49% were alive
      without recurrence. The overall rate of recurrence was 39%. CONCLUSION: This
      study confirms that excellent long term survival can be achieved with hepatic
      resection for colorectal liver metastases.

PMID- 26887675
TI  - An Investigation of the Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Major Depressive
      Disorder Across Hispanic National Groups.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There has been consistent epidemiological evidence of the association
      between drinking, alcohol dependence, and depression. However, most of the
      research has ignored potential diversity across Hispanic national subgroups. This
      study examines the prevalence of depression and explores its association with
      volume of drinking, age at first drink, binge drinking, and alcohol dependence
      across Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and South/Central American Hispanic
      national groups. METHODS: Data from more than 19,000 Hispanic adults were
      obtained from the 2010 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Survey
      logistic regression methods were used to test for differences in the relationship
      between major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol consumption across national
      groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of MDD varied significantly across Hispanic
      national groups (chi(2)  = 67.06, p < 0.001). Puerto Ricans (14%) and Mexican
      Americans (9%) were most likely to have MDD. Mexican Americans had the highest
      prevalence of alcohol dependence, volume of consumption, and youngest age at
      first drink compared to Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Central/South
      Americans. Multivariate results suggest that the odds of alcohol dependence were
      nearly 4 times greater among Hispanics with MDD compared to Hispanics who did not
      meet the criteria for MDD. Hispanic national origin did not modify the
      association between MDD and alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Although significant
      differences in the prevalence rates of MDD and alcohol-use measures emerged
      across Hispanic national groups, there was no evidence that the relationships
      between these measures were different across Hispanic national groups. Further
      research should investigate the root causes of these variable MDD prevalence
      rates to inform detection and intervention efforts targeted toward specific
      national groups.

PMID- 26887676
TI  - Maternal Mineral and Bone Metabolism During Pregnancy, Lactation, and Post
      Weaning Recovery.
AB  - During pregnancy and lactation, female physiology adapts to meet the added
      nutritional demands of fetuses and neonates. An average full-term fetus contains
      ~30 g calcium, 20 g phosphorus, and 0.8 g magnesium. About 80% of mineral is
      accreted during the third trimester; calcium transfers at 300-350 mg/day during
      the final 6 wk. The neonate requires 200 mg calcium daily from milk during the
      first 6 mo, and 120 mg calcium from milk during the second 6 mo (additional
      calcium comes from solid foods). Calcium transfers can be more than double and
      triple these values, respectively, in women who nurse twins and triplets. About
      25% of dietary calcium is normally absorbed in healthy adults. Average maternal
      calcium intakes in American and Canadian women are insufficient to meet the fetal
      and neonatal calcium requirements if normal efficiency of intestinal calcium
      absorption is relied upon. However, several adaptations are invoked to meet the
      fetal and neonatal demands for mineral without requiring increased intakes by the
      mother. During pregnancy the efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption doubles,
      whereas during lactation the maternal skeleton is resorbed to provide calcium for
      milk. This review addresses our current knowledge regarding maternal adaptations
      in mineral and skeletal homeostasis that occur during pregnancy, lactation, and
      post-weaning recovery. Also considered are the impacts that these adaptations
      have on biochemical and hormonal parameters of mineral homeostasis, the
      consequences for long-term skeletal health, and the presentation and management
      of disorders of mineral and bone metabolism. 

PMID- 26887677
TI  - In Utero Origins of Hypertension: Mechanisms and Targets for Therapy.
AB  - The developmental origins of health and disease theory is based on evidence that
      a suboptimal environment during fetal and neonatal development can significantly
      impact the evolution of adult-onset disease. Abundant evidence exists that a
      compromised prenatal (and early postnatal) environment leads to an increased risk
      of hypertension later in life. Hypertension is a silent, chronic, and progressive
      disease defined by elevated blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) and is strongly
      correlated with cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. The pathophysiological
      mechanisms, however, are complex and poorly understood, and hypertension
      continues to be one of the most resilient health problems in modern society.
      Research into the programming of hypertension has proposed pharmacological
      treatment strategies to reverse and/or prevent disease. In addition,
      modifications to the lifestyle of pregnant women might impart far-reaching
      benefits to the health of their children. As more information is discovered, more
      successful management of hypertension can be expected to follow; however, while
      pregnancy complications such as fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, preterm
      birth, etc., continue to occur, their offspring will be at increased risk for
      hypertension. This article reviews the current knowledge surrounding the
      developmental origins of hypertension, with a focus on mechanistic pathways and
      targets for therapeutic and pharmacologic interventions. 

PMID- 26887678
TI  - Thiol-Disulfide Exchange in Human Growth Hormone.
AB  - PURPOSE: Thiol-disulfide exchange was monitored in recombinant human growth
      hormone (hGH) and in model tryptic peptides derived from hGH to investigate the
      effects of higher-order structure on the reaction. METHODS: Different free thiol
      containing peptides, varying in length and amino acid sequence, were used to
      initiate the reaction at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C in hGH. Protein samples were
      digested with trypsin and analyzed for native disulfides, scrambled disulfides
      and free thiols using LC/MS. The loss of native disulfide and disulfide exchange
      was compared with model peptides derived from hGH. RESULTS: Loss of native
      disulfide in cyclic (cT20-T21) and linear peptides (T20-T21pep) derived from the
      C-terminal hGH disulfide during the first 60 min of reaction was greater than
      loss of the C-terminal disulfide in hGH itself. Of the thiols tested, glutathione
      (GSH) was the most reactive, forming the highest percentage of mixed disulfides
      in intact hGH and in the model peptides. At longer reaction times (>240 min),
      native disulfides in both hGH and cT20-T21 were regenerated. The fastest rates of
      regeneration were observed for Cys and the di- or tripeptide containing an Arg
      residue adjacent to Cys, suggesting that they may be useful in refolding.
      CONCLUSIONS: Thiol-disulfide exchange reactions in hGH and related model peptides
      were influenced by higher order structure, by the size of the thiol reactant and
      by an Arg residue adjacent to Cys in the thiol reactant. Reduction of disulfide
      bonds in hGH did not affect higher order structure as measured by CD and HDX-MS.

PMID- 26887679
TI  - First Steps to Develop and Validate a CFPD Model in Order to Support the Design
      of Nose-to-Brain Delivered Biopharmaceuticals.
AB  - PURPOSE: Aerosol particle deposition in the human nasal cavity is of high
      interest in particular for intranasal central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery
      via the olfactory cleft. The objective of this study was the development and
      comparison of a numerical and experimental model to investigate various
      parameters for olfactory particle deposition within the complex anatomical nasal
      geometry. METHODS: Based on a standardized nasal cavity, a computational fluid
      and particle dynamics (CFPD) model was developed that enables the variation and
      optimization of different parameters, which were validated by in vitro
      experiments using a constructed rapid-prototyped human nose model. RESULTS: For
      various flow rates (5 to 40 l/min) and particle sizes (1 to 10 MUm), the airflow
      velocities, the calculated particle airflow patterns and the particle deposition
      correlated very well with the experiment. Particle deposition was investigated
      numerically by varying particle sizes at constant flow rate and vice versa
      assuming the particle size distribution of the used nebulizer. CONCLUSIONS: The
      developed CFPD model could be directly translated to the in vitro results. Hence,
      it can be applied for parameter screening and will contribute to the improvement
      of aerosol particle deposition at the olfactory cleft for CNS drug delivery in
      particular for biopharmaceuticals.

PMID- 26887680
TI  - Insights into Spray Development from Metered-Dose Inhalers Through Quantitative X
      ray Radiography.
AB  - PURPOSE: Typical methods to study pMDI sprays employ particle sizing or visible
      light diagnostics, which suffer in regions of high spray density. X-ray
      techniques can be applied to pharmaceutical sprays to obtain information
      unattainable by conventional particle sizing and light-based techniques. METHODS:
      We present a technique for obtaining quantitative measurements of spray density
      in pMDI sprays. A monochromatic focused X-ray beam was used to perform
      quantitative radiography measurements in the near-nozzle region and plume of HFA
      propelled sprays. RESULTS: Measurements were obtained with a temporal resolution
      of 0.184 ms and spatial resolution of 5 MUm. Steady flow conditions were reached
      after around 30 ms for the formulations examined with the spray device used.
      Spray evolution was affected by the inclusion of ethanol in the formulation and
      unaffected by the inclusion of 0.1% drug by weight. Estimation of the nozzle exit
      density showed that vapour is likely to dominate the flow leaving the inhaler
      nozzle during steady flow. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative measurements in pMDI sprays
      allow the determination of nozzle exit conditions that are difficult to obtain
      experimentally by other means. Measurements of these nozzle exit conditions can
      improve understanding of the atomization mechanisms responsible for pMDI spray
      droplet and particle formation.

PMID- 26887681
TI  - Design principles for rapid folding of knotted DNA nanostructures.
AB  - Knots are some of the most remarkable topological features in nature. Self
      assembly of knotted polymers without breaking or forming covalent bonds is
      challenging, as the chain needs to be threaded through previously formed loops in
      an exactly defined order. Here we describe principles to guide the folding of
      highly knotted single-chain DNA nanostructures as demonstrated on a nano-sized
      square pyramid. Folding of knots is encoded by the arrangement of modules of
      different stability based on derived topological and kinetic rules. Among DNA
      designs composed of the same modules and encoding the same topology, only the one
      with the folding pathway designed according to the 'free-end' rule folds
      efficiently into the target structure. Besides high folding yield on slow
      annealing, this design also folds rapidly on temperature quenching and dilution
      from chemical denaturant. This strategy could be used to design folding of other
      knotted programmable polymers such as RNA or proteins. 

PMID- 26887682
TI  - Spectral phase measurement of a Fano resonance using tunable attosecond pulses.
AB  - Electron dynamics induced by resonant absorption of light is of fundamental
      importance in nature and has been the subject of countless studies in many
      scientific areas. Above the ionization threshold of atomic or molecular systems,
      the presence of discrete states leads to autoionization, which is an interference
      between two quantum paths: direct ionization and excitation of the discrete state
      coupled to the continuum. Traditionally studied with synchrotron radiation, the
      probability for autoionization exhibits a universal Fano intensity profile as a
      function of excitation energy. However, without additional phase information, the
      full temporal dynamics cannot be recovered. Here we use tunable attosecond pulses
      combined with weak infrared radiation in an interferometric setup to measure not
      only the intensity but also the phase variation of the photoionization amplitude
      across an autoionization resonance in argon. The phase variation can be used as a
      fingerprint of the interactions between the discrete state and the ionization
      continua, indicating a new route towards monitoring electron correlations in
      time. 

PMID- 26887683
TI  - National registration scheme at 5 years: not what it promised.
AB  - A national registration scheme for health professionals was introduced in
      Australia 5 years ago, replacing the long-standing state-based schemes. This
      review examines whether the scheme has delivered what it promised and makes
      recommendations for change. The available evidence indicates that the scheme's
      design and its implementation were rushed and that the legislation has serious
      flaws. Two parliamentary inquiries and the experience of registrants confirm that
      the system is more expensive, remote and bureaucratic than the previous state
      based systems. The scheme has delivered benefits only in relation to portability
      of registration and a single national register. In addition, with two large
      jurisdictions participating in a 'co-regulated' mode, it is not truly a national
      scheme. To restore the confidence that health professionals need to have in the
      regulator, it is recommended that all jurisdictions seek to be 'co-regulated' and
      that the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority be pared back to
      providing a central database for national portable registration.

PMID- 26887684
TI  - Assortativity and leadership emerge from anti-preferential attachment in
      heterogeneous networks.
AB  - Real-world networks have distinct topologies, with marked deviations from purely
      random networks. Many of them exhibit degree-assortativity, with nodes of similar
      degree more likely to link to one another. Though microscopic mechanisms have
      been suggested for the emergence of other topological features, assortativity has
      proven elusive. Assortativity can be artificially implanted in a network via
      degree-preserving link permutations, however this destroys the graph's
      hierarchical clustering and does not correspond to any microscopic mechanism.
      Here, we propose the first generative model which creates heterogeneous networks
      with scale-free-like properties in degree and clustering distributions and
      tunable realistic assortativity. Two distinct populations of nodes are
      incrementally added to an initial network by selecting a subgraph to connect to
      at random. One population (the followers) follows preferential attachment, while
      the other population (the potential leaders) connects via anti-preferential
      attachment: they link to lower degree nodes when added to the network. By
      selecting the lower degree nodes, the potential leader nodes maintain high
      visibility during the growth process, eventually growing into hubs. The evolution
      of links in Facebook empirically validates the connection between the initial
      anti-preferential attachment and long term high degree. In this way, our work
      sheds new light on the structure and evolution of social networks. 

PMID- 26887685
TI  - Systematic review of the effectiveness of polyurethane-coated compared with
      textured silicone implants in breast surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Silicone gel implants are used worldwide for breast augmentation and
      breast reconstruction. Textured silicone implants are the most commonly placed
      implant, but polyurethane-coated implants are increasingly being used in an
      attempt to ameliorate the long-term complications associated with implant
      insertion. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to the
      Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.
      Electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and
      www.ClinicalTrials.gov were undertaken in March 2014 using keywords. RESULTS:
      Following data extraction, 18 studies were included in the review, including four
      core studies of textured silicone implants and five studies reporting outcomes
      for polyurethane-coated silicone implants. There are no clear data reporting
      revision rates in patients treated with polyurethane implants. In the primary
      reconstructive setting, capsular contracture rates with silicone implants are 10
      15% at 6 years, whilst studies of polyurethane implants report rates of 1.8-3.4%.
      In the primary augmentation setting, core studies show a capsular contracture
      rate of 2-15% at 6 years compared with 0.4-1% in polyurethane-coated implants;
      however, the polyurethane studies are limited by their design and poor follow-up.
      CONCLUSIONS: The use of polyurethane implants should be considered a safe
      alternative to textured silicone implants. It is likely that an implant surface
      does influence short- and long-term outcomes; however, the extent of any benefit
      cannot be determined from the available evidence base. Future implant studies
      should target the short- and long-term benefits of implant surfacing by procedure
      with defined outcome measures; a head-to-head comparison would help clarify
      outcomes.

PMID- 26887686
TI  - Frontalis suspension with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet for
      congenital ptosis repair.
AB  - Congenital ptosis with poor levator function is most often repaired with a
      frontalis suspension procedure. Autogenous fascia lata grafting is generally
      effective, with low rates of infection and granuloma formation. However,
      contraction of the grafted fascia lata may cause eyelash inversion, tarsal
      deformity, and/or lagophthalmos. Conversely, several synthetic suspensory
      materials have been used for frontalis suspension, among which
      polytetrafluoroethylene has been reported to be comparable to the fascia lata.
      However, in some studies using polytetrafluoroethylene strips or sutures,
      complications such as infection and granuloma formation were a significant
      problem. This study evaluated the outcomes of frontalis suspension with an
      expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet for congenital ptosis repair in 97
      patients (130 eyelids). No ptosis recurrence was reported in an average follow-up
      of 31.6 months (range: 6-102 months). Six of the 130 eyelids (4.6%) had
      complications. Based on these results, frontalis suspension with an expanded
      polytetrafluoroethylene sheet for congenital ptosis repair can be considered safe
      and effective and be recommended for clinical use. 

PMID- 26887687
TI  - The medial sural artery perforator flap in intra-oral reconstruction: A Northeast
      experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap is a fasciocutaneous
      flap that is gaining popularity for intra-oral reconstructions. The aim of this
      two-centre review was to evaluate the use of the MSAP flap in intra-oral
      reconstructions and report our experiences. METHODS: Data were collected
      prospectively on 35 consecutive intra-oral reconstructions using the free MSAP
      flap. Patient details and intraoperative flap details were recorded. RESULTS:
      Thirty-five patients underwent intra-oral reconstruction with a free MSAP flap
      (26 males and nine females). The average flap dimensions were a length of 8.03
      cm, a width of 5.0 cm and a thickness of 7.1 mm. Twenty-two flaps had two
      perforators, and the average pedicle length was 11.1 cm. There were no flap
      losses. Ninety-one per cent of donor sites were closed primarily. There were two
      minor complications related to donor-site wound dehiscence, which required
      delayed skin grafting. The overall complication rate was 5.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The
      MSAP flap is a good choice for intra-oral reconstruction. It has reliable anatomy
      and provides thin, pliable skin with a long pedicle. In addition, donor morbidity
      is low as the donor site can be closed directly in most cases. It is currently
      our flap of choice for small intra-oral soft tissue defects.

PMID- 26887688
TI  - Effects of waxy rice starch and short chain amylose (SCA) on the formation of 2
      amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in a model system.
AB  - Starch is a glucose polymer of vast importance to mankind. It forms the major
      component of all our staple foods. Starch is often used as an important material
      in cooking meat. In this study, the effects of waxy rice starch and short chain
      amylose (SCA) from debranched waxy rice starch on the formation of PhIP in a
      model system were investigated and compared. The results showed that the addition
      of waxy rice starch and SCA significantly decreased PhIP, and the effect of SCA
      was more pronounced than that of waxy rice starch. This decrease may be
      attributed to the fact that the glucose residues of starch condense with the
      amino group of the creatinine formed N-glycosyl conjugate. This reaction path
      could disturb the reaction of creatinine with phenylacetaldehyde, subsequently
      influence the aldol condensation product formation, and finally suppress the
      formation of PhIP. Furthermore, the complex spatial structure of waxy rice starch
      disturbs the reaction of the glucosyl hydroxyl groups of glucose with the amino
      group of creatinine in the model reaction. So the effect of SCA was more
      pronounced than that of waxy rice starch on suppressing PhIP formation. A
      possible mechanism of waxy rice starch and SCA for inhibiting PhIP formation in
      the model system is also proposed. 

PMID- 26887689
TI  - Psychometric Properties of Farsi Version of the Revised Fear Survey Schedule for
      Children.
AB  - This study examined the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the
      Revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children (Ollendick, 1983), namely the FSSC-FA,
      in a sample of Iranian children and adolescents (N = 394, 206 girls) aged 9-11:11
      years. The internal consistency coefficient was found to range from .79 to .96
      for total and subscale scores. The authors used exploratory and confirmatory
      factor analyses to determine the factor structure of the FSSC-FA. The results
      showed that a 71-item, six-factor model provided a satisfactory fit for the
      structure of the FSSC-FA (RMSEA = .07, 90% CIs [.068, .072], CFI = .94, NNFI =
      .94, chi2/df = 2.94). With regard to gender and age differences in fears of the
      present sample, girls typically reported more fears than boys (Cohen's d = .28,
      95% CIs [.08, .48], p < .001), but differences between older and younger
      participants were modest. The study also reported most common fears in the sample
      which were very similar to those reported by other studies except one item being
      specific to the Iranian population. Bearing in mind the limitations discussed,
      the results generally show that the FSSC-FA scores are valid and reliable to
      assess fears in Iranian youth. 

PMID- 26887691
TI  - Questions about aspiration for children with eating, drinking, and swallowing
      difficulties.

PMID- 26887690
TI  - Worldwide research productivity in the field of spine surgery: a 10-year
      bibliometric analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Bibliometrics is increasingly used to assess the quantity and quality of
      scientific research output in many research fields worldwide. However, the
      bibliometric studies in the field of spine surgery are scarce. This study aimed
      to evaluate the worldwide research productivity in the field of spine surgery
      using bibliometric methods and to provide an insight into the spine research for
      surgeons and researchers. METHODS: Articles published between 2004 and 2013 were
      retrieved using the Scopus database in 5 spine journals, including Spine,
      European Spine Journal, The Spine Journal, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and
      Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. The number of articles, trend of
      publications, countries' contribution and h-index, authorship, subspecialty,
      funding source, journal pattern, institutions, and top cited articles were
      analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 13,115 publications were identified in the database
      of Scopus from 2004 to 2013. The time trend of the number of articles showed a
      significant increase of 1.9-fold between 2004 and 2013 (p = 0.000). The largest
      number of articles in the field of spine surgery was from United States (39.17%),
      followed by Japan (10.74%) and China (8.62%). United States also have the highest
      h-index (106), followed by Canada (60) and United Kingdom (54). China (p = 0.000)
      and South Korea (p = 0.000) have a significantly increasing trend of contribution
      proportion to the world spine production over time in years, but h-index was
      still low (39 and 38, respectively). Spine published the highest number of
      articles (45.44%), followed by European Spine Journal (21.43%) and Journal of
      Neurosurgery: Spine (13.32%). The most productive institutions were University of
      California, San Francisco (1.98%), followed by Thomas Jefferson University
      (1.61%) and University of Toronto (1.41%). CONCLUSIONS: There has a rapid
      increase of scientific research productivity in the field of spine surgery during
      the past 10 years. United States has special contributions to the body of spine
      publications. China and South Korea have increasing contributions to the field of
      spine surgery.

PMID- 26887692
TI  - Quantification of global mitochondrial DNA methylation levels and inverse
      correlation with age at two CpG sites.
AB  - Mammalian ageing features biological attrition evident at cellular, genetic and
      epigenetic levels. Mutation of mitochondrial DNA, and nuclear DNA methylation
      changes are well established correlates of ageing. The methylation of
      mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a new and incompletely described phenomenon with
      unknown biological control and significance. Here we describe the bisulphite
      sequencing of mtDNA from 82 individuals aged 18-91 years. We detected low and
      variable levels of mtDNA methylation at 54 of 133 CpG sites interrogated.
      Regression analysis of methylation levels at two CpG sites (M1215 and M1313)
      located within the 12S ribosomal RNA gene showed an inverse correlation with
      subject age suggesting their utility as epigenetic markers of ageing.

PMID- 26887693
TI  - Expanding the primary health care workforce through contracting with
      nongovernmental entities: the cases of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brazil has experienced difficulties in attracting health
      professionals (especially doctors and nurses) to practice at the primary health
      care (PHC) level and in rural and remote areas. This study presents two case
      studies, each a current initiative in contracting for primary health services in
      Brazil: one for the state of Bahia and the other for the city of Rio de Janeiro.
      The two models differ considerably in context, needs, modalities, and outcomes.
      This article does not attempt to evaluate the initiatives but to identify their
      strengths and weaknesses. METHODS: Analysis was based on indicators produced by
      the Brazilian health care information systems, a review of literature and other
      documentation, and key informant interviews. RESULTS: In the case of Bahia, the
      state and municipalities decided to create a State Foundation, a new
      institutional public entity acting under private law that centralizes the hiring
      of health professionals in order to offer stable positions with career plans and
      mobility within the state. Results have been mixed as a lower than expected
      municipal involvement resulted in relatively high administrative costs and
      consequent default on municipal financial contributions. In the case of Rio de
      Janeiro, the municipality opted to contract not-for-profit Social Organizations
      as it made a push to expand access to primary health care in the city. The
      approach has been successful in expanding coverage, but evidence on cost and
      performance is weak. CONCLUSIONS: Both cases highlight that improvements in cost
      and performance data will be critical for meaningful comparative evaluation of
      delivery arrangements in primary care. Despite the different institutional and
      implementation arrangements of each model, which make comparison difficult, the
      analysis provides important lessons for contracting out health professionals for
      PHC within Brazil and elsewhere.

PMID- 26887695
TI  - Sex Trafficking of Girls With Intellectual Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed
      Methods Study.
AB  - Few researchers have examined sex trafficking of girls with intellectual
      disabilities (IDs). Drawing from 54 juvenile sex trafficking (JST) cases, this
      exploratory, mixed methods study compared 15 JST cases involving girls with ID
      with 39 JST cases involving girls without ID. Findings revealed a
      disproportionate risk for exploitation in JST for girls with ID, endangering
      circumstances creating vulnerability among this population, as well as the
      perpetrator-victim dynamics that complicate prevention and intervention.
      Complicating dynamics included victim lack of awareness of exploitation and its
      endangerments, inability of victims to self-identify, and the relative ease with
      which traffickers manipulated these girls. The disproportionate risk faced by
      girls with ID substantiates the need for enhanced safeguards to prevent sexual
      exploitation of girls with ID including stiffer penalties for those who exploit
      and buy sex with youth with disabilities.

PMID- 26887694
TI  - Effect of oxygen pressure during incubation with a (10)B-carrier on (10)B uptake
      capacity of cultured p53 wild-type and mutated tumor cells: dependency on p53
      status of tumor cells and types of (10)B-carriers.
AB  - Purpose To evaluate the effect of oxygen pressure during incubation with a (10)B
      carrier on (10)B uptake capacity of cultured p53 wild-type and mutated tumor
      cells. Materials and methods Cultured human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
      cell line transfected with mutant TP53 (SAS/mp53), or with a neo vector as a
      control (SAS/neo) was incubated with L-para-boronophenylalanine-(10)B (BPA) or
      sodium mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate-(10)B (BSH) as a (10)B-carrier at the
      (10)B concentration of 60 ppm for 24 h under aerobic (20.7% of oxygen) or hypoxic
      (0.28% of oxygen) conditions. Immediately after incubation, cultured tumor cells
      received reactor thermal neutron beams, and a cell survival assay was performed.
      (10)B concentration of cultured SAS/neo or SAS/mp53 cells incubated under aerobic
      or hypoxic conditions was determined with a thermal neutron guide tube. Results
      Hypoxic incubation significantly decreased (10)B concentration of cultured cells
      with a clearer tendency observed following BPA than BSH treatment in both SAS/neo
      and SAS/mp53 cells. Following neutron beam irradiation, SAS/mp53 cells showed
      significantly higher relative biological effectiveness values than SAS/neo cells
      because of the significantly lower radiosensitivity of SAS/mp53 to gamma-rays
      than SAS/neo cells. Conclusion Oxygen pressure during incubation with a (10)B
      carrier had a critical impact on (10)B uptake of cultured tumor cells.

PMID- 26887696
TI  - Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test. A
      simple questionnaire to measure adherence to a gluten-free diet.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A gluten-free diet is to date the only treatment available
      to celiac disease sufferers. However, systematic reviews indicate that, depending
      on the method of evaluation used, only 42% to 91% of patients adhere to the diet
      strictly. Transculturally adapted tools that evaluate adherence beyond simple
      self-informed questions or invasive analyses are, therefore, of importance. The
      aim is to obtain a Spanish transcultural adaption and validation of Leffler's
      Celiac Dietary Adherence Test. METHODS: A two-stage observational transversal
      study: translation and back translation by four qualified translators followed by
      a validation stage in which the questionnaire was administered to 306 celiac
      disease patients aged between 12 and 72 years and resident in Aragon. Factorial
      structure, criteria validity and internal consistency were evaluated. RESULTS:
      The Spanish version maintained the 7 items in a 3-factor structure. Reliability
      was very high in all the questions answered and the floor and ceiling effects
      were very low (4.3% and 1%, respectively). The Spearman correlation with the self
      efficacy and life quality scales and the self-informed question were
      statistically significant (p < 0.01). According to the questionnaire criteria,
      adherence was 72.3%. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the Celiac Dietary
      Adherence Test shows appropriate psychometric properties and is, therefore,
      suitable for studying adherence to a gluten-free diet in clinical and research
      environments.

PMID- 26887697
TI  - Evaluating the influence of a fixated object's spatio-temporal properties on gaze
      control.
AB  - Despite recent progress in understanding the factors that determine where an
      observer will eventually look in a scene, we know very little about what
      determines how an observer decides where he or she will look next. We
      investigated the potential roles of object-level representations in the direction
      of subsequent shifts of gaze. In five experiments, we considered whether a
      fixated object's spatial orientation, implied motion, and perceived animacy
      affect gaze direction when shifting overt attention to another object. Eye
      movements directed away from a fixated object were biased in the direction it
      faced. This effect was not modified by implying a particular direction of
      inanimate or animate motion. Together, these results suggest that decisions
      regarding where one should look next are in part determined by the spatial, but
      not by the implied temporal, properties of the object at the current locus of
      fixation.

PMID- 26887699
TI  - Combining nurse-led care with patient self-assessment could enhance tight control
      of rheumatoid arthritis and management of comorbidities.

PMID- 26887698
TI  - An approach to quantifying 3D responses of cells to extreme strain.
AB  - The tissues of hollow organs can routinely stretch up to 2.5 times their length.
      Although significant pathology can arise if relatively large stretches are
      sustained, the responses of cells are not known at these levels of sustained
      strain. A key challenge is presenting cells with a realistic and well-defined
      three-dimensional (3D) culture environment that can sustain such strains. Here,
      we describe an in vitro system called microscale, magnetically-actuated synthetic
      tissues (micro-MASTs) to quantify these responses for cells within a 3D hydrogel
      matrix. Cellular strain-threshold and saturation behaviors were observed in
      hydrogel matrix, including strain-dependent proliferation, spreading,
      polarization, and differentiation, and matrix adhesion retained at strains
      sufficient for apoptosis. More broadly, the system shows promise for defining and
      controlling the effects of mechanical environment upon a broad range of cells. 

PMID- 26887700
TI  - Reply: Letter to the editor - A dietary amino acid load causes a transient
      decrease in the function of human neutrophil granulocytes.

PMID- 26887701
TI  - Deep-UV nitride-on-silicon microdisk lasers.
AB  - Deep ultra-violet semiconductor lasers have numerous applications for optical
      storage and biochemistry. Many strategies based on nitride heterostructures and
      adapted substrates have been investigated to develop efficient active layers in
      this spectral range, starting with AlGaN quantum wells on AlN substrates and more
      recently sapphire and SiC substrates. Here we report an efficient and simple
      solution relying on binary GaN/AlN quantum wells grown on a thin AlN buffer layer
      on a silicon substrate. This active region is embedded in microdisk photonic
      resonators of high quality factors and allows the demonstration of a deep ultra
      violet microlaser operating at 275 nm at room temperature under optical pumping,
      with a spontaneous emission coupling factor beta = (4 +/- 2) 10(-4). The ability
      of the active layer to be released from the silicon substrate and to be grown on
      silicon-on-insulator substrates opens the way to future developments of nitride
      nanophotonic platforms on silicon.

PMID- 26887702
TI  - Re: Health Economic Changes as a Result of Implementation of Targeted Therapy for
      Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: National Results from DARENCA Study 2.

PMID- 26887703
TI  - Re: Clinical and Radiographic Predictors of the Need for Inferior Vena Cava
      Resection during Nephrectomy for Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma and Caval
      Tumour Thrombus.

PMID- 26887704
TI  - Re: Conditional Survival after Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Evidence
      for a Patient Changing Risk Profile over Time.

PMID- 26887705
TI  - Re: Factors Influencing the Length of Stay after Radical Cystectomy: Implications
      for Cancer Care and Perioperative Management.

PMID- 26887706
TI  - Re: Wound Dehiscence in a Sample of 1,776 Cystectomies: Identification of
      Predictors and Implications for Outcomes.

PMID- 26887707
TI  - Re: Prostate Biopsy Specimens with Gleason 3+3=6 and Intraductal Carcinoma:
      Radical Prostatectomy Findings and Clinical Outcomes.

PMID- 26887708
TI  - Re: Difference in Association of Obesity with Prostate Cancer Risk between US
      African American and Non-Hispanic White Men in the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer
      Prevention Trial (SELECT).

PMID- 26887709
TI  - Re: Dose-Escalated Irradiation and Overall Survival in Men with Nonmetastatic
      Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26887710
TI  - Re: Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values of the Benign Central Zone of the
      Prostate: Comparison with Low- and High-Grade Prostate Cancer.

PMID- 26887711
TI  - Re: Trends in Testicular Cancer Survival: A Large Population-Based Analysis.

PMID- 26887712
TI  - Re: Treatment for Metastatic Penile Cancer after First-Line Chemotherapy Failure:
      Analysis of Response and Survival Outcomes.

PMID- 26887713
TI  - Re: Clinical Outcomes after Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy in Patients Who Initially
      Presented with Urosepsis: Matched Pair Comparison with Elective Ureteroscopy.

PMID- 26887714
TI  - Re: Fibrin Glue Therapy for Severe Hemorrhagic Cystitis after Allogeneic
      Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

PMID- 26887715
TI  - Re: Do Kidney Stone Formers Have a Kidney Disease?

PMID- 26887716
TI  - Re: Altered Calcium and Vitamin D Homeostasis in First-Time Calcium Kidney Stone
      Formers.

PMID- 26887717
TI  - Re: Alkali Replacement Raises Urinary Citrate Excretion in Patients with
      Topiramate-Induced Hypocitraturia.

PMID- 26887718
TI  - Re: EAU Guidelines on Interventional Treatment for Urolithiasis.

PMID- 26887719
TI  - Re: Initial Experience and Comparative Efficacy of the UreTron: A New
      Intracorporeal Ultrasonic Lithotriptor.

PMID- 26887721
TI  - Re: Artificial Urinary Sphincter Outcomes in the "Fragile Urethra".

PMID- 26887720
TI  - Re: Practice Patterns in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture among American
      Urologists: A Paradigm Change?

PMID- 26887722
TI  - Re: American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially
      Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

PMID- 26887723
TI  - Re: Utilities of Split-Thickness Skin Grafting for Male Genital Reconstruction.

PMID- 26887724
TI  - Re: Alternative Medications for Medications in the Use of High-Risk Medications
      in the Elderly and Potentially Harmful Drug-Disease Interactions in the Elderly
      Quality Measures.

PMID- 26887725
TI  - Re: How to Use the American Geriatrics Society 2015 Beers Criteria-A Guide for
      Patients, Clinicians, Health Systems, and Payors.

PMID- 26887726
TI  - Re: Factors Influencing Deprescribing Habits among Geriatricians.

PMID- 26887727
TI  - Re: Urinary Retention Rates after Intravesical OnabotulinumtoxinA Injection for
      Idiopathic Overactive Bladder in Clinical Practice and Predictors of this
      Outcome.

PMID- 26887728
TI  - Re: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in the United States, 1993-2012.

PMID- 26887729
TI  - Re: Intermittent Catheterisation for Long-Term Bladder Management (Abridged
      Cochrane Review).

PMID- 26887730
TI  - Re: Adjustable Continence Balloons in Men: Adjustments Do Not Translate into Long
      Term Continence.

PMID- 26887731
TI  - Re: Quality of Life in Women Who Use Pessaries for Longer than 12 Months.

PMID- 26887732
TI  - Re: Removal or Revision of Vaginal Mesh Used for the Treatment of Stress Urinary
      Incontinence.

PMID- 26887733
TI  - Re: Physician Use of Sacral Neuromodulation among Medicare Beneficiaries with
      Overactive Bladder and Urinary Retention.

PMID- 26887734
TI  - Re: The Role of Inflammation in Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) due to Benign
      Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and its Potential Impact on Medical Therapy.

PMID- 26887735
TI  - Re: Improvement of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Sexual Activity after Open
      Simple Prostatectomy: Prospective Analysis of 50 Cases.

PMID- 26887736
TI  - Re: The Impact of Abdominal Aortic Calcification and Visceral Fat Obesity on
      Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

PMID- 26887737
TI  - Re: Impact of 120-W 2-MUm Continuous Wave Laser Vapoenucleation of the Prostate
      on Sexual Function.

PMID- 26887738
TI  - Re: Genetic Testing in the Assessment of Living Related Kidney Donors at Risk of
      Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

PMID- 26887739
TI  - Re: Transplanting Kidneys from Deceased Donors with Severe Acute Kidney Injury.

PMID- 26887740
TI  - Re: Use of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors for Erectile Dysfunction and Risk
      of Malignant Melanoma.

PMID- 26887741
TI  - Re: Unexpected Long-Term Improvements in Urinary and Erectile Function in a Large
      Cohort of Men with Self-Reported Outcomes following Radical Prostatectomy.

PMID- 26887742
TI  - Re: The Safety and Efficacy of Clomiphene Citrate in Hypoandrogenic and
      Subfertile Men.

PMID- 26887743
TI  - Re: Erectile Dysfunction in 1050 Men following Extended (18 Cores) vs Saturation
      (28 Cores) vs Saturation plus MRI-Targeted Prostate Biopsy (32 Cores).

PMID- 26887745
TI  - Re: Effect of Sexual Diary Keeping and Self-Evaluation on Female Sexual Function
      and Depression: A Pilot Study.

PMID- 26887744
TI  - Re: How Successful is TESE-ICSI in Couples with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia?

PMID- 26887746
TI  - Re: Vasectomy Reversal for Postvasectomy Pain Syndrome: A Study and Literature
      Review.

PMID- 26887747
TI  - Re: Assessment of Time-Dependent Changes in Semen Parameters in Infertile Men
      after Microsurgical Varicocelectomy.

PMID- 26887748
TI  - Re: Differences in the Seminal Plasma Proteome are Associated with Oxidative
      Stress Levels in Men with Normal Semen Parameters.

PMID- 26887749
TI  - Re: Male Biological Clock: A Critical Analysis of Advanced Paternal Age.

PMID- 26887750
TI  - Re: Hymenal Anomalies in Twins-Review of the Literature and Case Report.

PMID- 26887751
TI  - Re: Combined Creatinine Velocity and Nadir Creatinine: A Reliable Predictor of
      Renal Outcome in Neonatally Diagnosed Posterior Urethral Valves.

PMID- 26887752
TI  - Re: Higher Incidence of Hypospadias in Monochorionic Twins.

PMID- 26887754
TI  - Re: Prevalence, Repairs and Complications of Hypospadias: An Australian
      Population-Based Study.

PMID- 26887753
TI  - Re: Further Analysis of the Glans-Urethral Meatus-Shaft (GMS) Hypospadias Score:
      Correlation with Postoperative Complications.

PMID- 26887755
TI  - Re: Expression of Nuclear Matrix Proteins Binding Matrix Attachment Regions in
      Prostate Cancer. PARP-1: New Player in Tumor Progression.

PMID- 26887756
TI  - Re: Prostate Sphere-Forming Stem Cells are Derived from the P63-Expressing Basal
      Compartment.

PMID- 26887757
TI  - Re: Chronic Oxidative Stress Leads to Malignant Transformation Along with
      Acquisition of Stem Cell Characteristics, and Epithelial to Mesenchymal
      Transition in Human Renal Epithelial Cells.

PMID- 26887758
TI  - Optimizing the post-graduate institutional program evaluation process.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reviewing program educational efforts is an important component of
      postgraduate medical education program accreditation. The post-graduate review
      process has evolved over time to include centralized oversight based on
      accreditation standards. The institutional review process and the impact on
      participating faculty are topics not well described in the literature. METHODS:
      We conducted multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to identify and implement
      areas for change to improve productivity in our institutional program review
      committee. We also conducted one focus group and six in-person interviews with 18
      committee members to explore their perspectives on the committee's evolution. One
      author (MLL) reviewed the transcripts and performed the initial thematic coding
      with a PhD level research associate and identified and categorized themes. These
      themes were confirmed by all participating committee members upon review of a
      detailed summary. Emergent themes were triangulated with the University of
      Michigan Medical School's Admissions Executive Committee (AEC). RESULTS: We
      present an overview of adopted new practices to the educational program
      evaluation process at the University of Michigan Health System that includes
      standardization of meetings, inclusion of resident members, development of area
      content experts, solicitation of committed committee members, transition from
      paper to electronic committee materials, and focus on continuous improvement.
      Faculty and resident committee members identified multiple improvement areas
      including the ability to provide high quality reviews of training programs,
      personal and professional development, and improved feedback from program
      trainees. CONCLUSIONS: A standing committee that utilizes the expertise of a
      group of committed faculty members and which includes formal resident membership
      has significant advantages over ad hoc or other organizational structures for
      program evaluation committees.

PMID- 26887759
TI  - Gaucher's Disease with Cardiac Valve Calcification and Stenosis: A Rare
      Presentation due to Homozygous p.D409H Mutation in a North Indian Family.

PMID- 26887760
TI  - Field Testing of Appropriate Technological Tool of Individualised Color Coded Any
      Day Neonatal Growth Monitoring Charts for Neonatal Care at Primary Health Care
      Level.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To field test the Individualised Color Coded Any Day (ICCAD) growth
      monitoring charts at primary health care level in three districts of Maharashtra.
      METHODS: The present study was conducted in three districts of Maharashtra -
      Pune, Satara and Kolhapur and included newborns with weight >= 1500 g born during
      1st May 2010 to 30th July 2011. Talukas were matched based on mortality and
      coverage indicators and put in study (ICCAD use) and control area (ICCAD non-use)
      from every District. Health centres were selected from each taluka where
      facilities of expert obstetric and pediatric services did not exist but number of
      deliveries conducted was high. Data was collected during neonatal period. Three
      patterns of ICCAD charts; 1500 g to 1999 g, 2000 to 2499 g and >=2500 g;
      developed from daily weight record of 430 newborns for 30 d were used. Outcome
      measures were neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and weight gain in study and control
      groups. RESULTS: There were 6705 live births from study and 6341 from control
      area. The NMR of study area (6.3/1000 live births) was significantly lesser as
      compared to control area (10.6/1000 live births). Birth weight group specific NMR
      of birth weight between 1500 to <2000 g and >=2500 g was significantly lower in
      study area as compared to control area. There was improvement in mean gain weight
      of 15 g, 43 g and 89 g for respective birth weight groups in ascending order.
      CONCLUSIONS: This innovative appropriate technological tool based on
      translational research of ICCAD neonatal growth monitoring charts appears to have
      benefited the decision of type of care.

PMID- 26887761
TI  - Role of Dentists in Managing Pediatric Celiac Disease.

PMID- 26887763
TI  - Egyptian doctors vote for free hospital care in police assault protest.

PMID- 26887762
TI  - Clinical Abacavir Hypersensitivity Reaction among Children in India.
AB  - Abacavir is currently recommended as a part of first line regimen by National
      AIDS Control Organization. The objective of this study was to observe the
      incidence of clinically diagnosed abacavir Hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) among
      children on abacavir based therapy in the National program. In this observational
      study, all children started on abacavir were included and HSR reaction was
      diagnosed clinically as per National guidelines. HLA- B*5701 testing was done in
      children diagnosed with clinical abacavir HSR. Among 101 children started on
      abacavir during the study period, 8 [7.9 % (95 % CI 3.5-15.0 %)] children
      developed clinically diagnosed abacavir HSR. All children with concomitant
      illness (4/8) were HLA-B*5701 negative. Only 2 (25 %, 2/8) carried HLA-B*5701
      allele. Fever with abdominal symptoms as compared to respiratory symptoms were
      more common in HLA-B*5701 positive cases. Overdiagnosis of clinically diagnosed
      abacavir HSR is common and could be decreased by treating concomitant illness
      before starting abacavir. 

PMID- 26887764
TI  - [Consensus on diagnosis and treatment of hyperemesis gravidurum (2015)].

PMID- 26887765
TI  - [Using of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist protocol: a committee
      opinion].

PMID- 26887766
TI  - [The multidisciplinary and long-term management of polycystic ovary syndrome].

PMID- 26887767
TI  - [A case-control study of correlation between serum adiponectin levels and
      polycystic ovary syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of serum adiponectin levels between
      polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and age, boby mass index (BMI) and
      insulin-resistance index matched controls, and explore its influence factors.
      METHODS: Case-control study, involving 97 women with PCOS and 116 age, BMI,
      fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin
      resistance index (HOMA-IR) matched controls. Hormone profiles, and serum
      adiponectin levels were measured and compared. Hormone profiles and serum
      adiponectin levels were compared among the four PCOS phenotypes. Multiple
      regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors affecting serum adiponectin
      levels. RESULTS: (1) Serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in PCOS
      group [(21+/-16) mg/L] than controls [(25+/-13) mg/L, P=0.038], and the same
      result in stratified analysis on weight height ratio (WHR, >=0.8 and <0.8). (2)
      There was statistical differences in testosterone among different four PCOS
      phenotypes (P=0.001), there were no statistical differences in FSH, LH, WHR and
      serum adiponectin levels among four PCOS phenotypes (P>0.05). (3) WHR and PCOS
      status were independent determinants of serum adiponectin levels (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Low serum adiponectin levels in the women with PCOS is correlated
      with PCOS per se, independent of insulin resistance and obese. This fact supports
      the further study of the effect of adiponection in the pathophysiology of PCOS
      and its log-term impact.

PMID- 26887768
TI  - [A pilot study of serum anti-Mullerian hormone in diagnosis of polycystic ovary
      syndrome based on 2012 Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis criteria].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Based on 2012 Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis
      criteria, we detect the serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in PCOS
      patients, to evaluate the diagnosis value of AMH for PCOS. METHODS: Totally 217
      PCOS patients were chosen as study group and 204 non-PCOS women were as controls.
      Their clinical information (body weight, score for acne and hirsutism),
      ultrasonography for ovarian volume and the number of small follicle, and blood
      sample detected for hormonal and metabolic parameters were obtained. Spearman's
      analysis and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) were used to
      assess relevance and the diagnostic efficiency of AMH in PCOS. RESULTS: Serum AMH
      level was significantly higher in PCOS group compared with the control group
      (105.46 versus 26.28 pmol/L, P<0.01). Serum AMH were positively related to
      Ferriman and Gallwey (F-G) score (r=0.526, P<0.01), global acne grading system
      (GAGS) score (r=0.359, P<0.01), total testosterone (r=0.514, P<0.01), LH/FSH
      ratio (r=0.542, P<0.01), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.373, P<0.01), fasting
      insulin (r=0.168, P=0.008), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance
      (HOMA-IR) index (r=0.182, P=0.004), total cholesterol (r=0.247, P<0.01),
      triglyceride (r=0.235, P<0.01), total ovarian volume (r=0.204, P=0.008), and mean
      number of small follicle (r=0.693, P<0.01). The area under the ROC curve for PCOS
      diagnosed by AMH was 0.954 (P<0.01). the threshold of AMH for PCOS diagnosis was
      57.76 pmol/L, diagnostic efficiency was high (sensitivity 95.1%, specificity
      89.3%). CONCLUSION: Based on 2012 Chinese PCOS diagnosis criteria, serum AMH
      level elevated in PCOS, and correlated with women's hormonal imbalance and
      abnormal follicular development.

PMID- 26887769
TI  - [Case-control based study between polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene and
      polycystic ovary syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequeney of four single nucleotide polymorphism
      (SNP) sites (rs17300539, rs12495941, rs2241766 and rs1501299) of adiponectin gene
      (ADIPOQ) and to elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary
      syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A total of 207 women with PCOS and 192 controls were
      recruited. Four ml whole-blood samples were collected in tubes containing
      ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) by peripheral venous puncture. Genomic
      DNA was extracted using a QIAamp DNA mini kit. Four SNP sites (rs17300539,
      rs12495941, rs2241766 and rs1501299) of ADIPOQ were amplified by PCR and then
      directly sequenced to screen variants. RESULTS: (1) The genotype frequencies of
      AA of rs17300539 in PCOS was significantly higher than controls [57.5% (119/207)
      versus 48.4% (93/192), P<0.05]. The genotype frequencies of AA of rs1501299 in
      PCOS was significantly lower than controls [4.8% (10/207) versus 11.5% (22/192),
      P<0.05]. While no significant differences were found in rs2241766 and rs12495941
      (P>0.05). (2) The allele A of rs17300539 [75.8% (314/414)] and allele C
      frequeneies of rs1501299 [76.3% (316/414)] in PCOS were significantly higher than
      controls [67.7% (260/384), 69.0% (265/384), respectively; all P<0.05]. While no
      significant differences were found in rs2241766 and rs12495941 (P>0.05). (3)
      Further analysis we found rs17300539 AA genotypes had an increased risk for PCOS
      compared with GG genotype (OR=2.670, P=0.009), rs1501299 CC genotype had an
      increased risk for PCOS compared with AA genotypes (OR=2.756, P=0.012); and the
      difference remained significantly after adjustment for age, testosterone and body
      mass index (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in
      genotype and allele frequencies between PCOS and controls for rs2241766 and
      rs12495941. However, we observed an association between rs17300539, rs1501299 and
      PCOS. rs17300539 and rs1501299 of ADIPOQ perhaps are the susceptibility gene
      locus of PCOS.

PMID- 26887770
TI  - [Characteristics of oral glucose tolerance test in 9803 pregnant women of
      different pre-pregnancy body mass index and its relationship with the incidence
      of gestational diabetes mellitus].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the values and characteristics of 75 g oral glucose
      tolerance test (OGTT) in women with different pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI)
      and to evaluate the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Medical
      records of 9803 pregnant women attending the Peking University First Hospital and
      delivered between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013 were retrospectively
      analyzed. The frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes across different degrees
      pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated. We divided participants into 4 groups based on
      pre-pregnancy BMI, underweight: BMI<18.5 kg/m(2) (1221 cases), normal weight:
      18.5-23.9 kg/m(2) (6594 cases), overweight: 24-27.9 kg/m(2) (1549 cases),
      obesity: >=28.0 kg/m(2) (439 cases). The diagnosis of GDM was made when any one
      of the values was met or exceeded in 75 g OGTT. The characteristics of 75 g OGTT
      and the incidence of GDM were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The average age, pre
      pregnancy weight, height and pre-pregnancy BMI of the participants was (30.5+/
      3.7) years, (57.7+/-9.0) kg, (162.8+/-4.9) cm and (21.8+/-3.2) kg/m(2),
      respectively. All the values of 75 g OGTT were presented normal distribution. (2)
      There was statistical difference in the glucose levels among women with different
      pre-pregnancy BMI. The fasting, 1-hour, 2-hour glucose were (4.55+/-0.34),
      (7.31+/-1.54), (6.38+/-1.23) mmol/L in underweight women, (4.65+/-0.38), (7.70+/
      1.59), (6.70+/-1.27) mmol/L in normal weight women, (4.82+/-0.47), (8.29+/-1.67),
      (7.04+/-1.29) mmol/L in overweight women and (4.94+/-0.48), (8.56+/-1.64),
      (7.10+/-1.35) mmol/L in obesity women (P<0.01). (3) The incidence of GDM was
      21.76% (2133/9803) in our study. There were 1374 cases (64.42%, 1374/2133) with
      only one abnormal OGTT value while 759 cases (35.58%, 759/2133) with two or more
      abnormal values. The incidence of GDM in women with underweight, normal weight,
      overweight and obesity was 12.53% (153/1221), 19.71% (1300/6594), 32.73%
      (507/1549) and 39.41% (173/439), respectively (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the incidence
      of women with two and more abnormal OGTT value in GDM was increased as the pre
      pregnancy increasing. CONCLUSION: The risk of GDM is increased as pre-pregnancy
      BMI increasing, and the risk of GDM increases significantly in women with pre
      pregnancy overweight or obesity.

PMID- 26887771
TI  - [Expression of glucose regulated protein 78 and the pathogenesis of gestational
      diabetes mellitus].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the expression of glucose
      regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in the placental trophoblast cells and the
      pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: All the patients
      were recruited from Qingdao Municipal Hospital from May 2013 to May 2014. Among
      them, fifty women with GDM were assigned to the GDM group, and fifty healthy
      women were defined as the control group. All of them received cesarean section
      because of breech presentation, contracted pelvis, scarred uterus or on mother's
      demand. Real-time PCR was conducted to analyze the expression of GRP78 mRNA in
      the trophoblasts. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the localization
      of GRP78 protein in the placentasl trophoblast cells. RESULTS: (1) GRP78 mRNA
      expressed in the cytoplasm of trophoblasts of both the GDM group and the control
      group. The GRP78 mRNA levels in the GDM group and the control group were 15.6+/
      0.4 and 6.0+/-0.7, respectively. The relative expression level of GRP78 mRNA in
      the GDM group was 2.6 times of that in the control group, with statistically
      significant difference (P<0.01). (2) The expression of GRP78 protein was found in
      the cytoplasm of the trophoblasts of the GDM group. It showed in deep, light
      brown or yellow after staining, according to the expression degree. The
      expression of GRP78 protein was also found in the cytoplasm of the trophoblasts
      of the control group, but it mainly showed yellow color (38/50). The strong
      positive rate of GRP78 protein in the GDM group (96%, 48/50) was higher than that
      in the control group (22%, 11/50; P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression of GRP78
      increased in the placental trophoblast cells of GDM patients. It might suggest
      that GRP78 had some effect on the pathogenesis of GDM.

PMID- 26887772
TI  - [Ovarian clear cell carcinoma derived from endometriotic cyst: a
      clinicopathological analysis of 54 cases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To clarify the clinicopathological features of ovarian clear cell
      carcinoma derived from endometriotic cyst (EC-OCCC). METHODS: Totally 54 cases of
      EC-OCCC were recruited in the current retrospective study. The relation between
      ages, clinical symptoms and signs, surgical and pathological stages, serum CA125,
      findings of ultrasound, treatments and the sites of tumors, macro- and micro
      features and expression of immunostainings were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Clinical
      features: the ages of patients were (50+/-6) years old (range 31-62 years old).
      Pelvic mass was the major complaint of 50 patients (93% , 50/54). Forty-five
      cases belonged to International federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
      stage I, 4 cases were stage II and another 5 cases were stage III. Serum CA125
      was elevated in 21 cases (54%, 21/39) before therapy. Doppler ultrasound showed
      46 cases (85%, 46/54) had solid masses in pelvis. (2) Pathological findings: 52
      cases (96%, 52/54) had their tumor unilaterally, and 2 cases (4%, 2/54) occurred
      bilaterally. The maximal diameters of endometriotic cyst (EC) ranged from 1.5 to
      23.0 cm and maximal diameters of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) components
      were from 0.5 to 12.0 cm. Fifty-one cases (94%, 51/54) had their tumor within EC,
      which showed focally irregular protrudings, grey-white papillae or solid nodules
      attached to the cyst wall. Three cases (6%, 3/54) appeared as irregular thickened
      wall of the cysts, ranged from 1.5 to 6.0 cm in the maximal length, with the
      microscopic features of EC and OCCC and the transitional areas between the 2
      morphologies. All cases expressed cytokeratin (CK) 7 and pan-CK AE1/AE3, 17 cases
      (33%, 17/51) expressed ER and 5 cases (10%, 5/51) expressed PR. TP53 showed
      mutational phenotype in 19 cases (36%, 19/53). Sixteen cases (30%, 16/54)
      combined with uterine adenomyosis and 25 cases (46%, 25/54) with endometriosis at
      other sites. (3) Survival survey: during the period of 39.1 months follow-up, 3
      cases relapsed and 2 cases died. (4) There was a significant difference of serum
      CA125 between patients of early-and advanced-stages (P=0.049). There were no
      differences identified in ages, diameters of EC and OCCC, the expression level of
      ER, PR and TP53, the co-existence of adenomyosis and endometrosis, as well as
      ultrasonic findings (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EC-OCCC could be recognized in early
      stage by symptoms and ultrasound due to accompanied endometriotic cysts,
      resulting in relatively good prognosis.

PMID- 26887773
TI  - [Response of potassium channels to estrogen and progesterone in the uterine
      smooth muscle cells of adenomyosis in vitro].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of potassium channels and the influence
      of estrogen and progesterone on the cultured uterine smooth muscle cells (USMC)
      of adenomyosis in vitro. METHODS: There were 22 cases of adenomyosis hysterectomy
      in the adenomyosis group and 12 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
      III removal of the uterus in the control group. USMC were separated and cultured
      in vitro, incubated with different concentrations of estrogen and progesterone.
      We used reverse transcription-PCR to dectect the expression of large-conductance
      calcium- and voltage-sensitive potassium channel alpha subunit (BKCa alpha) and
      voltage-gated potassium channel 4.3 (Kv4.3). RESULTS: The mRNA expression of BKCa
      alpha and Kv4.3 in the adenomyosis group (4.43+/-2.05 and 4.52+/-1.97) were
      significantly higher than those in the control group (0.83+/-0.25 and 0.86+/
      0.19, P<0.05). In the control group, Kv4.3 mRNA decreased after treated with 0.1
      nmol/L (0.17+/-0.10) and 1.0 nmol/L (0.13+/-0.08) estrogen than before (0.55+/
      0.29, P<0.05). In the adenomyosis group, BKCa alpha mRNA decreased significantly
      after treated with 10.0 nmol/L estrogen (0.56+/-0.27 versus 1.01+/-0.35, P<0.05).
      0.1 umol/L progesterone elevated both BKCa alpha mRNA (0.44+/-0.24 versus 0.16+/
      0.09) and Kv4.3 mRNA (1.29+/-0.51 versus 0.55+/-0.29) in the control group (all
      P<0.05); however, there were no significant difference in adenomyosis group of
      different concentration of progestrone (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: There is an abnormal
      expression of potassium channels in the adenomyosis USMC, which is regulated by
      high concentration of estrogen and might be resistant to progesterone.

PMID- 26887774
TI  - [Effect of glucose regulated protein 78 on autophagy and apoptosis in ovarian
      epithelial carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of glucose regulated protein 78
      (GRP78) on autophagy and apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma, and to investigate the
      influence on the growth and sensitivity to cisplatin on the ovarian cancer cells.
      METHODS: The human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 were treated by the GRP78
      regulator BAPTA-AM and A23187, which were used to decrease or increase the
      expression levels of GRP78, respectively. The experiment were divided into three
      groups. Cells in the group of BAPTA-AM were treated by BAPTA-AM at the final
      concerntration of 40 umol/L for 1 hour. Cells in the group of A23187 were treated
      by A23187 at the final concerntration of 4 umol/L for 24 hours. While, cells in
      the control group were treated by culture medium without any GRP78 regulator for
      24 hours. The expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and CHOP mRNA and protein were
      detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and western blot. The autophagy levels
      was observed by green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1 light
      chain 3-II (GFP-LC3-II) fluorescence staining. The flow cytometry was used to
      analyse the apoptosis rates of cells. The effect on cell growth and the
      sensitivity to cisplatin of SKOV3 were accessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium
      (MTT). RESULTS: (1) The mRNA expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and CHOP in the
      group of BAPTA-AM were 0.583+/-0.025, 0.860+/-0.055, 0.714+/-0.032 and 0.811+/
      0.004, respectively. The mRNA expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and CHOP in
      the group of A23187 were 0.840+/-0.044, 0.654+/-0.065, 0.908+/-0.047 and 0.620+/
      0.062, respectively. The mRNA expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and CHOP in
      the control group were 0.687+/-0.032, 0.772+/-0.029, 0.845+/-0.018, 0.712+/
      0.077, respectively. While the protein expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and
      CHOP in the group of BAPTA-AM were 0.423+/-0.035, 0.952+/-0.022, 0.385+/-0.032,
      0.681+/-0.095, respectively. The protein expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and
      CHOP in the group of A23187 were 0.743+/-0.032, 0.638+/-0.025, 0.596+/-0.029,
      0.431+/-0.095, respectively. The protein expressions of GRP78, beclin1, Bcl-2 and
      CHOP in the control group were 0.617+/-0.031, 0.789+/-0.083, 0.492+/-0.036,
      0.531+/-0.003, respectively. The mRNA and protein expressions of beclin and CHOP
      in the group of BAPTA-AM were both higher than those in the control group
      (P<0.05). While, the mRNA and protein expressions of beclin and CHOP in the group
      of A23187 were both lower than those in the control group (P< 0.05). (2) The
      autophagy fluorescence of SKOV3 in the group of BAPTA-AM, A23187 and the control
      group were 706+/-117, 473+/-128, 595+/-126, respectively, in which there were
      significant differences among three groups (P<0.05). (3) The apoptosis rate of
      SKOV3 in the group of BAPTA-AM was (27.4+/-2.2)%, which was higher than that in
      the control group [(19.6+/-1.4)%, P<0.05]. The apoptosis rate of SKOV3 in the
      group of A23187 was (12.2+/-1.9)%, which was lower than that in the control group
      (P<0.05). (4) The comparison of the sensitivity to cisplatin in 3 groups of
      SKOV3. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of SKOV3 to cisplatin was (3.02+/
      0.62) mg/L. After treated by BAPTA-AM + cisplatin, the IC50 was (2.00+/-0.17)
      mg/L and the sensitivity of SKOV3 to cisplatin was increased by 33.8%, and there
      was significant difference (P<0.05), compared with the control group. And after
      treated by A23187 + cisplatin, the IC50 was (4.91+/-2.52) mg/L and the
      sensitivity of SKOV3 to cisplatin was decreasd by 62.6%; and there was
      significant difference (P<0.05), compared with the control group. CONCLUSION:
      GRP78 could regulate autophagy and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by
      regulating the expressions of beclin1, Bcl-2 and CHOP, thereby affecting the
      sensitivity to cisplatin in ovarian carcinoma, which may be a new method for the
      treatment and improvement of the sensitivity to cisplatin in ovarian carcinoma.

PMID- 26887775
TI  - [Cisplatin resistant effects of dihydrofolate reductase gene expression up
      regulation in epithelial ovarian cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene
      expression up-regulating on cisplatin resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer
      cell lines. METHODS: The cDNA length of DHFR gene was amplified by PCR and was
      connected to lentiviral vector pWPI, the recombinant retroviral vector DHFR-pWPI
      was infected SKOV3 cells by lipofectamine 2000. The groups included DHFR-pWPI
      SKOV3 cell, pWPI-SKOV3 cell and SKOV3 cell group. Western blot was used to detect
      the expression of DHFR. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the cell apoptosis
      rate of 3 groups cells in different cisplatin concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 10.0,
      20.0 ug/ml) and at different time period (24, 48 and 72 hours), and half maximal
      inhibitory concentration (IC50) treated with cisplatin concentration (6.0, 4.0,
      4.9 ug/ml). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to test
      intracellular cisplatin concentration in different cisplatin concentration (4.0,
      6.0, 8.0 ug/ml) at 24 and 48 hours. Transmission electron microscope was used to
      observe ultrastructural changes cells under IC50 cisplatin concentration.
      RESULTS: The recombinant plasmid DHFR-pWPI was constructed and then infected into
      SKOV3 cell successfully. (1) The expression of DHFR detected by western blot in
      transfection group was higher than those in the negative control group and blank
      control group (10.280+/-0.009 vs 2.050+/-0.003 vs 3.480+/-0.003; P<0.01). (2)
      Treated with cisplatin concentration (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 ug/ml) at 24, 48
      hours, the apoptosis rate detected by flow cytometry results shown that they were
      lower than those in the negative control group and blank control group (P<0.05),
      while treated at the concentration of 5.0 and 10.0 ug/ml for 72 hours, whose
      apoptosis rate in transfection group was higher than those in the negative
      control group and blank control group (P<0.05). When treated cells under IC50
      cisplatin concentration (6.0, 4.0, 4.9 ug/ml) at for 24 and 48 hours, the results
      indicated that there were mainly G0/G1 stage cell cycle rate in 3 groups, it was
      obviously higher in transfection group than those in two control groups (P<0.05).
      However, mainly G2/M, S stage cell cycle rate for 72 hours, and S stage cell
      cycle rate in transfection group obviously higher than those in two control
      groups, but G2/M stage cell cycle rate were lower (P<0.01). (3) After treated
      with cisplatin concentration (4.0 ug/ml) for 24, 48 hours and cisplatin
      concentration (6.0 ug/ml) for 24 hours, the intracellular cisplatin content
      tested by HPLC method in the transfection group were significantly lower than
      those in two control groups (P<0.01). While, at 6.0 ug/ml of cisplatin
      concentration for 48 hours and 8.0 ug/ml of cisplatin concentration for 24 and 48
      hours, the intracellular cisplatin content of transfection group were obviously
      higher than those two control groups (P<0.05). (4) Treated with IC50 (6.0, 4.0,
      4.9 ug/ml) cisplatin concentration at different time to obeserve ultrastructural
      changes by transmission electron microscopy. The results shown that the microwire
      gathered together at 24 and 48 hours, and the number and structure of
      mitochondria had obvious change in transfection group, while there was rare
      microfilament, the number of mitochondria decreased but structure change was not
      apparent in two control groups. There were appeared expansion of endoplasmic
      reticulum and had rare normal organelles among three groups. After treated with
      cisplatin for 72 hours, there were inordinate microfilament, a part of nuclear
      membrane disappeared, a lot of ribosomes gathered together in two control groups,
      and there were rare microfilament in transfection group, nuclear membrane
      completely disappeared, many white cystic matter were seen in cytoplasm,
      mitochondrial structure disappeared completely, which seems most cells on the
      verge of death. CONCLUSION: The lentiviral expressing vector harboring human DHFR
      gene were successfully constructed. When the up- expression of DHFR gene, the
      drug-resistant in ovarian cancer cell may be increase, which suggest that there
      were certain contact between resistance increases with microfilament gathered and
      the change of the mitochondria.

PMID- 26887776
TI  - Genetic differences between paediatric and adult Burkitt lymphomas.
AB  - Dysregulation of MYC is the genetic hallmark of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) but it is
      encountered in other aggressive mature B-cell lymphomas. MYC dysregulation needs
      other cooperating events for BL development. We aimed to characterize these
      events and assess the differences between adult and paediatric BLs that may
      explain the different outcomes in these two populations. We analysed patterns of
      genetic aberrations in a series of 24 BLs: 11 adults and 13 children. We looked
      for genomic imbalances (copy number variations), copy-neutral loss of
      heterozygosity (CN-LOH) and mutations in TP53, CDKN2A, ID3 (exon 1), TCF3
      (exon17) and CCND3 (exon 6). Young patients displayed more frequent 13q31.3q32.1
      amplification, 7q32q36 gain and 5q23.3 CN-LOH, while 17p13 and 18q21.3 CN-LOH
      were only detected in adult BLs. ID3 mutations were present in all adult samples,
      but only in 42% of childhood cases. CCND3 and ID3 double-hit mutations, as well
      as 18q21 CN-LOH, seemed to be associated with poorer outcome. For the first time,
      we report different genetic anomalies between adult and paediatric BLs,
      suggesting age-related heterogeneity in Burkitt lymphomagenesis. This may explain
      the poorer prognosis of adult BLs. Additional studies are needed to confirm these
      results in the setting of clinical trials. 

PMID- 26887778
TI  - Regulation of nonadiabatic processes in the photolysis of some carbonyl
      compounds.
AB  - Carbonyl compounds studied are confined to acetyl halide (CH3COCl), acetyl
      cyanide (CH3COCN), acetyl sulfide (CH3COSH), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), and methyl
      formate (HCOOCH3). They are asymmetrically substituted, but do not follow the
      well-known Norrish type I reactions. Each compound ejected in an effusive beam at
      about 300 K is commonly excited to the (1)(n, pi*)CO lower state; that is, a
      nonbonding electron on O of the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O group is
      promoted to the antibonding orbital of pi*CO. The photolysis experiments are
      conducted in the presence of Ar gas and the corresponding fragments are detected
      using time-resolved Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) emission spectroscopy. The
      enhancement of the collision-induced internal conversion or intersystem crossing
      facilitates the dissociation channels via highly vibrational states of the ground
      singlet (So) or triplet (T1) potential energy surfaces. In this manner, an
      alternative nonadiabatic channel is likely to open yielding different products,
      even if the diabatic coupling strength is strong between the excited state and
      the neighboring state. For instance, the photodissociation of CH3COCl at 248 nm
      produces HCl, CO, and CH2 fragments, in contrast to the supersonic jet
      experiments showing dominance of the Cl fragment eliminated from the excited
      state. If the diabatic coupling strength is weak, dissociation proceeds mainly
      through internal conversion, such as the cases of CH3COCN and CH3COSH. The
      photodissociation of CH3COCN at 308 nm has never been reported before, while for
      CH3COSH matrix-isolated photodissociation was conducted that shows a distinct
      spectral feature from the current FTIR method. The CH3CHO and HCOOCH3 molecules
      belong to the same type of carbonyl compounds, in which the molecular products,
      CO + CH4 and CO + CH3OH, are produced through both transition state and roaming
      pathways. Their products are characterized differently between molecular beam and
      current FTIR experiments. For instance, the photodissociation of HCOOCH3 at 248
      nm yields CO with the vibrational state v >= 4, in contrast to the molecular beam
      experiments producing CO at v = 1. The photodissociation of CH3CHO at 308 nm
      intensifies a low energy component in the CH4 vibrational distribution, thus
      verifying the transition state pathway for the first time. 

PMID- 26887780
TI  - Alcohol and serious harms of antidepressant treatment.

PMID- 26887777
TI  - Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Facilitate Vesicle Endocytosis by
      Increasing Presynaptic Calcium Channel Expression at a Central Synapse.
AB  - Accumulating evidence suggests significant biological effects caused by extremely
      low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF). Although exo-endocytosis plays
      crucial physical and biological roles in neuronal communication, studies on how
      ELF-EMF regulates this process are scarce. By directly measuring calcium currents
      and membrane capacitance at a large mammalian central nervous synapse, the calyx
      of Held, we report for the first time that ELF-EMF critically affects synaptic
      transmission and plasticity. Exposure to ELF-EMF for 8 to 10 days dramatically
      increases the calcium influx upon stimulation and facilitates all forms of
      vesicle endocytosis, including slow and rapid endocytosis, endocytosis overshoot
      and bulk endocytosis, but does not affect the RRP size and exocytosis. Exposure
      to ELF-EMF also potentiates PTP, a form of short-term plasticity, increasing its
      peak amplitude without impacting its time course. We further investigated the
      underlying mechanisms and found that calcium channel expression, including the
      P/Q, N, and R subtypes, at the presynaptic nerve terminal was enhanced,
      accounting for the increased calcium influx upon stimulation. Thus, we conclude
      that exposure to ELF-EMF facilitates vesicle endocytosis and synaptic plasticity
      in a calcium-dependent manner by increasing calcium channel expression at the
      nerve terminal. 

PMID- 26887781
TI  - Liver transplantation in Japan: Registry by the Japanese Liver Transplantation
      Society.
AB  - As of December 31, 2013, a total of 7474 liver transplants have been carried out
      at 66 institutions in Japan. This total included 7255 living-donor transplants
      and 219 deceased-donor transplants (216 from heart-beating donors and 3 from non
      heart-beating donors). The annual total of liver transplants in 2013 decreased to
      408, from 422 in 2012. The number of liver transplants from living donors
      decreased to 369, from 381, whereas the number of liver transplants from heart
      beating deceased donors did not change significantly. The most frequent
      indication was cholestatic disease, followed by neoplastic disease. In terms of
      graft liver in living-donor cases, right-lobe graft was the most popular (36%).
      Patient survival following transplantations from heart-beating donors (1 year,
      85.9%; 3 years, 82.6%; 5 years, 81.3%; 10 years, 73.8%) was similar to those from
      living donors (1 year, 83.8%; 3 years, 79.6%; 5 years, 77.1%; 10 years, 71.9%; 15
      years, 67.8%; 20 years, 66.1%). Graft survival was very much the same as patient
      survival. As for ABO-incompatible transplantation, transplant period affected the
      outcome significantly, probably due to local infusion therapy and rituximab
      prophylaxis, which were introduced in many transplant centers after 2000 and
      2004, respectively.

PMID- 26887782
TI  - Antimicrobial resistance genes and modelling of treatment failure in bacterial
      vaginosis: clinical study of 289 symptomatic women.
AB  - Clinical management of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is difficult owing to inaccurate
      diagnostic tests, limited drug choices, and a high rate of recurrence. To our
      knowledge, there has not been a previous study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
      genes in community practice using next-generation sequencing (NGS). A case
      control study (1 : 1 age-matched with and without BV) was undertaken in a series
      of 326 nongravid women of reproductive age with symptoms of BV to determine the
      prevalence of AMR genes. NGS was used to describe the complete vaginal microbiota
      and identify bacterial genes associated with resistance to: macrolides and/or
      lincosamides - ermA, ermB, ermC, erM, ermTR and mefA; tetracyclines, beta
      lactams, streptomycin, gentamicin and/or tobramycin - acrA, acrB, mecA, tet,
      tetA, tolC and aac2; 5-nitroimadazoles - nim and nimB; and triazoles - cdr1 and
      mdr1. An evidence base was created to inform treatment decisions applicable to
      individual patients. AMR genes were identified in all drug classes: macrolides,
      35.2 %; lincosamides, 35.6 %; tetracyclines, 21.8 %; aminoglycosides
      (streptomycin, gentamicin and tobramycin), 5.2 % each; 5-nitroimidazoles, 0.3 %;
      and triazoles, 18.7 %. There was more than a fourfold-higher frequency of AMR
      genes in pathogens from BV than from non-BV patients for macrolides (58.2 versus
      12.3 %, respectively), lincosamides (58.9 versus 12.3 %) and tetracyclines (35.6
      versus 8.0 %) (Fisher's exact test; all p < 0.001). For each patient with BV, the
      spectrum of resistance genes was matched to the pathogens present. AMR genes were
      present in the majority of vaginal microbiomes of patients with symptoms of BV.

PMID- 26887783
TI  - Vorapaxar and diplopia: Possible off-target PAR-receptor mismodulation.
AB  - Vorapaxar, a novel antiplatelet thrombin PAR-1 inhibitor, has been evaluated in
      the successful TRA2P trial and the failed TRACER trial. The drug is currently
      approved for post myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease indications
      with concomitant use of clopidogrel and/or aspirin. The FDA ruled that the
      vorapaxar safety profile is acceptable. However, both trials revealed excess
      diplopia (double vision) usually reversible after vorapaxar. The diplopia risk
      appears to be small (about 1 extra case per 1,000 treated subjects), but real.
      Overall, there were 10 placebo and 34 vorapaxar diplopia cases (p=0.018)
      consistent for TRACER (2 vs 13 cases; p=0.010) and for TRA2P (8 vs 21 cases;
      p=0.018). Hence, we review the FDA-confirmed evidence and discuss potential
      causes and implications of such a surprising adverse association, which may be
      related to off-target PAR receptor mismodulation in the eye.

PMID- 26887784
TI  - School personnel's self-efficacy in managing food allergy and anaphylaxis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Food allergy affects up to 4-7% European schoolchildren. Studies
      identified important shortcomings on food allergy and anaphylaxis management in
      schools. In social cognitive theory, personal beliefs in own capabilities
      influence choices, effort levels, perseverance and performance accomplishments.
      This study aimed to investigate school personnel's self-efficacy in managing food
      allergy and anaphylaxis, providing a valid instrument to deeply understand how to
      support schools to effectively manage students at risk of food reactions.
      METHODS: A total of 440 schoolteachers and caretakers from north-east Italy
      completed a questionnaire assessing self-efficacy in managing food allergy and
      anaphylaxis at school. Exploratory factor analysis was performed. Factors'
      internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Factors' scores were
      estimated using Bartlett approach, and kernel density estimate of distributions
      was provided. Descriptive statistics explored school personnel's self-efficacy. A
      regression model assessed the influence of gender, school, job and previous
      experience. RESULTS: Two factors emerged from exploratory factor analysis related
      to anaphylaxis management (AM) and food allergy management (FAM). The two
      subscales both showed good internal consistency. School personnel showed lower
      self-efficacy in recognizing symptoms, administering drugs and guaranteeing full
      participation to extra-curricular activities to food-allergic students.
      Participants who previously had food-allergic students showed a significantly
      increased self-efficacy in AM and a significantly decreased self-efficacy in FAM.
      CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the use of self-efficacy scale to identify
      specific areas where teachers' confidence in their ability to care for food
      allergic students is especially weak. This would empower the development of
      training programs specifically tailored to the needs of teachers and caregivers.

PMID- 26887785
TI  - Analysis of Redox Series of Unsymmetrical 1,4-Diamido-9,10-anthraquinone-Bridged
      Diruthenium Compounds.
AB  - The unsymmetrical diruthenium complexes [(bpy)2Ru(II)(MU-H2L(2
      ))Ru(III)(acac)2]ClO4 ([3]ClO4), [(pap)2RuII(MU-H2L(2-))Ru(III)(acac)2]ClO4
      ([4]ClO4), and [(bpy)2Ru(II)(MU-H2L(2-))Ru(II)(pap)2](ClO4)2 ([5](ClO4)2) have
      been obtained by way of the mononuclear precursors [(bpy)2Ru(II)(H3L(-))]ClO4
      ([1]ClO4) and [(pap)2Ru(II)(H3L(-))]ClO4 ([2]ClO4) (where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine,
      pap = 2-phenylazopyridine, acac(-) = 2,4-pentanedionate, and H4L = 1,4-diamino
      9,10-anthraquinone). Structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray
      diffraction and magnetic resonance (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron
      paramagnetic resonance (EPR)) were used to establish the oxidation state
      situation in each of the isolated materials. Cyclic voltammetry, EPR, and
      ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectroelectrochemistry were used
      to analyze the multielectron transfer series of the potentially class I mixed
      valent dinuclear compounds, considering the redox activities of differently
      coordinated metals, of the noninnocent bridge and of the terminal ligands.
      Comparison with symmetrical analogues [L2'Ru(MU-H2L)RuL2'](n) (where L' = bpy,
      pap, or acac(-)) shows that the redox processes in the unsymmetrical dinuclear
      compounds are not averaged, with respect to the corresponding symmetrical
      systems, because of intramolecular charge rearrangements involving the metals,
      the noninnocent bridge, and the ancillary ligands.

PMID- 26887786
TI  - Laser induced mortality of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.
AB  - Small, flying insects continue to pose great risks to both human health and
      agricultural production throughout the world, so there remains a compelling need
      to develop new vector and pest control approaches. Here, we examined the use of
      short (<25 ms) laser pulses to kill or disable anesthetized female Anopheles
      stephensi mosquitoes, which were chosen as a representative species. The
      mortality of mosquitoes exposed to laser pulses of various wavelength, power,
      pulse duration, and spot size combinations was assessed 24 hours after exposure.
      For otherwise comparable conditions, green and far-infrared wavelengths were
      found to be more effective than near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. Pulses with
      larger laser spot sizes required lower lethal energy densities, or fluence, but
      more pulse energy than for smaller spot sizes with greater fluence. Pulse
      duration had to be reduced by several orders of magnitude to significantly lower
      the lethal pulse energy or fluence required. These results identified the most
      promising candidates for the lethal laser component in a system being designed to
      identify, track, and shoot down flying insects in the wild.

PMID- 26887788
TI  - Early life history of three pelagic-spawning minnows Macrhybopsis spp. in the
      lower Missouri River.
AB  - Life-history characteristics of age-0 sturgeon chub Macrhybopsis gelida, shoal
      chub Macrhybopsis hyostoma and sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki were compared
      using several methods. All Macrhybopsis species consumed mostly midge pupae, but
      M. meeki had the most general diet (Levins' index, B = 0.22) compared with M.
      hyostoma (B = 0.02) and M. gelida (B = 0.09). Morisita's diet overlap index among
      species pairs ranged from 0.62 to 0.97 and was highest between M. hyostoma and M.
      gelida. Daily ages estimated from lapilli otoliths for each species ranged from
      15 to 43 days for M. gelida, 19 to 44 for M. hyostoma and from 16 to 64 days for
      M. meeki. Mean growth rates ranged from 0.79 mm day(-1) for M. meeki to 1.39 mm
      day(-1) for M. gelida. Mortality estimates indicated high daily survivorship
      rates for M. meeki (0.985), but could not be estimated for the other two species.
      Hatch date histograms were congruent with the belief that M. hyostoma and M.
      gelida spawn periodically from June to September. Macrhybopsis meeki, however,
      appeared to respond to a specific spawning cue as hatch dates were unimodal with
      a peak in July. These results fill a gap in current knowledge of these imperilled
      species that can be used to guide management decisions.

PMID- 26887787
TI  - GeneiASE: Detection of condition-dependent and static allele-specific expression
      from RNA-seq data without haplotype information.
AB  - Allele-specific expression (ASE) is the imbalance in transcription between
      maternal and paternal alleles at a locus and can be probed in single individuals
      using massively parallel DNA sequencing technology. Assessing ASE within a single
      sample provides a static picture of the ASE, but the magnitude of ASE for a given
      transcript may vary between different biological conditions in an individual.
      Such condition-dependent ASE could indicate a genetic variation with a functional
      role in the phenotypic difference. We investigated ASE through RNA-sequencing of
      primary white blood cells from eight human individuals before and after the
      controlled induction of an inflammatory response, and detected condition
      dependent and static ASE at 211 and 13021 variants, respectively. We developed a
      method, GeneiASE, to detect genes exhibiting static or condition-dependent ASE in
      single individuals. GeneiASE performed consistently over a range of read depths
      and ASE effect sizes, and did not require phasing of variants to estimate
      haplotypes. We observed condition-dependent ASE related to the inflammatory
      response in 19 genes, and static ASE in 1389 genes. Allele-specific expression
      was confirmed by validation of variants through real-time quantitative RT-PCR,
      with RNA-seq and RT-PCR ASE effect-size correlations r = 0.67 and r = 0.94 for
      static and condition-dependent ASE, respectively.

PMID- 26887789
TI  - Surface Functionalization of Titanium Alloy with miR-29b Nanocapsules To Enhance
      Bone Regeneration.
AB  - Titanium and its alloys have been widely used over the past 3 decades as implants
      for healing bone defects. Nevertheless, the bioinert property of titanium alloy
      limits its clinical application and surface modification method is frequently
      performed to improve the biological and chemical properties. Recently, the
      delivery of microRNA with osteogenesis capability has been recognized as a
      promising tool to enhance bone regeneration of implants. Here, we developed a
      biodegradable coating to modify the titanium surface in order to enhance
      osteogenic bioactivity. The previous developed nanocapsules were used as the
      building blocks, and then a bioactive titanium coating was designed to entrap the
      miR-29b nanocapsules. This coating was not only favorable for cell adhesion and
      growth but also provided sufficient microRNA transfection efficacy and
      osteoinductive potential, resulting in a significant enhancement of bone
      regeneration on the surface of bioinert titanium alloy. 

PMID- 26887790
TI  - Thermally robust perpendicular Co/Pd-based synthetic antiferromagnetic coupling
      enabled by a W capping or buffer layer.
AB  - Perpendicularly magnetized tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) that contain synthetic
      antiferromagnetic (SAF) frames show promise as reliable building blocks to meet
      the demands of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA)-based spintronic devices.
      In particular, Co/Pd multilayer-based SAFs have been widely employed due to their
      outstanding PMA features. However, the widespread utilization of Co/Pd multilayer
      SAFs coupled with an adjacent CoFeB reference layer (RL) is still a challenge due
      to the structural discontinuity or intermixing that occurs during high
      temperature annealing. Thus, we address the thermally robust characteristics of
      Co/Pd multilayer SAFs by controlling a W layer as a potential buffer or capping
      layer. The W-capped Co/Pd multilayer SAF, which acts as a pinning layer,
      exhibited a wide-range plateau with sharp spin-flip and near-zero remanence at
      the zero field. Structural analysis of the W-capped multilayer SAF exhibited
      single-crystal-like c-axis oriented crystalline features after annealing at 400 
      degrees C, thereby demonstrating the applicability of these frames. In addition,
      when the W layer serving as a buffer layer in the Co/Pd multilayer SAF was
      coupled with a conventional CoFeB RL, higher annealing stability up to 425 
      degrees C and prominent antiferromagnetic coupling behavior were obtained. 

PMID- 26887793
TI  - Insight into the Reaction of a Dinuclear Phosphinidene Complex with Nitriles.
AB  - The phosphinidene complex [Cp*P{W(CO)5}2] (1; Cp*=C5 Me5 ) reacted with
      malononitrile to give the 1,2-dihydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphinine derivative 2. The
      reaction of 1 with 1,4-benzodinitrile gave [1,4-{{W(CO)5}2 P-N=C(Cp*)}2 (C6 H4)]
      (3), the first example of a cumulene-like aminophosphinidene complex. The
      reaction of 1 with aniline gave the aminophosphinidene complex
      [(Ph)N(H)P{W(CO)5}2] (4). To compare the reactivity of benzonitrile and aniline
      with 1, the phosphinidene complex 1 was reacted with three different isomers of
      aminobenzonitrile (2-, 3-, and 4-aminobenzonitrile). These reactions gave an
      insight into the reaction pathway of 1 with benzonitrile derivatives. Compounds
      5, 6 a, 6 b, and 7, which are derivatives of 1,2-dihydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphinine
      or benzo-2H-1,2-azaphospholes, were, as well as all other products, characterized
      by mass spectrometry, NMR and IR spectroscopy, and X-ray structure analysis.

PMID- 26887792
TI  - Ex vivo expansion of circulating lung tumor cells based on one-step microfluidics
      based immunomagnetic isolation.
AB  - We describe a one-step microfludics-based immunomagnetic isolation method to
      isolate CTCs directly from the whole blood of lung adenocarcinoma patients. This
      method avoids harsh sample preparation and enrichment steps, and therefore
      preserves the viability of CTCs during the in vitro isolation. Importantly,
      isolated, magnetic bead-bearing CTCs are concentrated in a small volume of
      culture medium with a high CTC density. High cell viability and culturing density
      promote the ex vivo expansion of limited numbers of CTCs. Expanded CTCs are
      characterized at the genetic, protein and metabolic levels. 

PMID- 26887794
TI  - Fabrication of Triple-parted Stomata-inspired Membrane with Stimulus-responsive
      Functions.
AB  - Hydrogels with controllable morphologies and functional movements present a wide
      range of practical applications. In this work, a triple-parted stomata-inspired
      membrane (SIM) was fabricated using a UV light cured hydrogel by polymerization
      induced diffusion of reactants. A single UV light illumination yielded the SIM
      that has completely-penetrating pores and semi-penetrated parts. Membranes of
      various shapes can be easily fabricated within a few minutes by changing the
      photomask design and composition of the pre-gel solution. Similar to stomatal
      movement, pores in the fabricated SIM open and close their aperture in response
      to thermal stimuli. The deformability and transparency of the SIM can be easily
      controlled for a given application. This SIM exhibits stimulus-response, and
      therefore has numerous practical applications, such as filter membranes with self
      adjustable pores, membrane-based sensors, and functional smart membranes. 

PMID- 26887791
TI  - Cell surface localization of importin alpha1/KPNA2 affects cancer cell
      proliferation by regulating FGF1 signalling.
AB  - Importin alpha1 is involved in nuclear import as a receptor for proteins with a
      classical nuclear localization signal (cNLS). Here, we report that importin
      alpha1 is localized to the cell surface in several cancer cell lines and detected
      in their cultured medium. We also found that exogenously added importin alpha1 is
      associated with the cell membrane via interaction with heparan sulfate.
      Furthermore, we revealed that the cell surface importin alpha1 recognizes cNLS
      containing substrates. More particularly, importin alpha1 bound directly to FGF1
      and FGF2, secreted cNLS-containing growth factors, and addition of exogenous
      importin alpha1 enhanced the activation of ERK1/2, downstream targets of FGF1
      signalling, in FGF1-stimulated cancer cells. Additionally, anti-importin alpha1
      antibody treatment suppressed the importin alpha1-FGF1 complex formation and
      ERK1/2 activation, resulting in decreased cell growth. This study provides novel
      evidence that functional importin alpha1 is located at the cell surface, where it
      accelerates the proliferation of cancer cells. 

PMID- 26887795
TI  - Enteral nutrition at home and in nursing homes: an 11-year (2002-2012)
      epidemiological analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a well-established extra-hospital
      therapy that can reduce the risk of malnutrition, ensure the rapid discharge of
      patients from hospital and significantly reduce health care expenditure. The data
      reported in this study allow us to understand the relationships between
      mortality, the place of treatment either at patients' homes (PH) or in nursing
      homes (NHR) and nutritional status. METHODS: Patients were analyzed according to
      age, gender, underlying disease, the Karnofsky Index, type of enteral access
      device (nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), weight and Body
      Mass Index (BMI). The duration of HEN therapy was then calculated and the outcome
      was established on patient mortality or survival. RESULTS: Over an 11-year
      period, 3246 subjects were administered HEN therapy. The mean duration of HEN
      therapy was equal to 312+/-487 days at PH and 398+/-573 in NHR. The mean
      incidence is 406+/-58 patients/million inhabitants/year at PH and 319+/-44 in NHR
      (mean prevalence rate: 464+/-129 cases/million inhabitants at PH compared to
      478+/-164 in NHR). Analysis of variance was used for continuous variables. The
      study reveals that >8% (8.6% at PH; 8.5% in NHR) of patients die within 10 days
      of starting HEN therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a progressive increase in
      HEN therapy and highlights clinical, organizational and ethical issues, which
      also need to be analyzed in relation to the progressively aging population.

PMID- 26887796
TI  - Liver hemodynamic patterns in nonalcoholic steatosis: Doppler ultrasonography and
      histological evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic Doppler ultrasound (US)
      indices for steatosis diagnosis and grading, having biopsy as reference. METHODS:
      Doppler and conventional US were performed in 49 healthy volunteers, without risk
      factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and in 49 patients with
      NAFLD and at least one risk factor: obesity, dyslipidemia and/or diabetes
      mellitus. Significant alcohol intake and hepatitis B or C were exclusion
      criteria. NAFLD patients were biopsied, and steatosis severity graded
      histologically. Portal Venous Pulsatility Index (PVI), Hepatic Artery Resistance
      Index (HARI) and Pulsatility Index (HAPI) were analyzed in hilum. Hepatic vein
      waveform pattern (HVWP) was classified as triphasic, biphasic or monophasic. Two
      pathologists analyzed histological samples. ROC curve defined sensitivity and
      specificity and multivariate analysis defined an equation for classifying
      patients. RESULTS: In NAFLD group, 89.79% had histologic criteria for non
      alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Mild steatosis was present in 44.89%, moderate
      steatosis in 38.77% and severe steatosis in 16.32%. In NAFLD group, 65.29% were
      obese and body mass index (BMI) had significant correlation with steatosis
      grading (r=0.77; P<0.0001). PVI correlated with presence of steatosis (r=-0.69,
      P<0.0001) as HVWP (r=-0.61, P< 0.0001). PVI ideal cutoff for predicting steatosis
      was 0.26 (sensitivity, 91%; specificity, 79.6%). The equation 16.15PVI+1.96HVWP
      enables to differentiate the healthy and the steatosis patients. HARI and HAPI
      could not differentiate the healthy from the steatosis group. None of the indices
      correlated with steatosis grading. CONCLUSIONS: Portal and hepatic vein indices
      allow non-invasive steatosis diagnosis but are limited to quantify it. Histology
      remains important for steatohepatitis diagnosis and for steatosis grading.

PMID- 26887797
TI  - Cancer and life-history traits: lessons from host-parasite interactions.
AB  - Despite important differences between infectious diseases and cancers, tumour
      development (neoplasia) can nonetheless be closely compared to infectious disease
      because of the similarity of their effects on the body. On this basis, we predict
      that many of the life-history (LH) responses observed in the context of host
      parasite interactions should also be relevant in the context of cancer. Parasites
      are thought to affect LH traits of their hosts because of strong selective
      pressures like direct and indirect mortality effects favouring, for example,
      early maturation and reproduction. Cancer can similarly also affect LH traits by
      imposing direct costs and/or indirectly by triggering plastic adjustments and
      evolutionary responses. Here, we discuss how and why a LH focus is a potentially
      productive but under-exploited research direction for cancer research, by
      focusing our attention on similarities between infectious disease and cancer with
      respect to their effects on LH traits and their evolution. We raise the
      possibility that LH adjustments can occur in response to cancer via
      maternal/paternal effects and that these changes can be heritable to (adaptively)
      modify the LH traits of their offspring. We conclude that LH adjustments can
      potentially influence the transgenerational persistence of inherited oncogenic
      mutations in populations. 

PMID- 26887798
TI  - Sex-dependent association between erythrocyte n-3 PUFA and type 2 diabetes in
      older overweight people.
AB  - The association between n-3 PUFA intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is unclear, and
      studies relating objective biomarkers of n-3 PUFA consumption to diabetic status
      remain limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether erythrocyte n-3
      PUFA levels (n-3 index; n-3I) are associated with T2D in a cohort of older adults
      (n 608). To achieve this, the n-3I (erythrocyte %EPA+%DHA) was determined by GC
      and associated with fasting blood glucose; HbA1c; and plasma insulin. Insulin
      resistance (IR) was assessed using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin
      resistance (HOMA--IR). OR for T2D were calculated for each quartile of n-3I. In
      all, eighty-two type 2 diabetic (46.3 % female; 76.7 (sd 5.9) years) and 466 non
      diabetic (57.9 % female; 77.8 (sd 7.1) years) individuals were included in the
      analysis. In overweight/obese (BMI>=27 kg/m2), the prevalence of T2D decreased
      across ascending n-3I quartiles: 1.0 (reference), 0.82 (95 % CI 0.31, 2.18), 0.56
      (95 % CI 0.21, 1.52) and 0.22 (95 % CI 0.06, 0.82) (P trend=0.015). A similar but
      non-significant trend was seen in overweight men. After adjusting for BMI, no
      associations were found between n-3I and fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin or
      HOMA-IR. In conclusion, higher erythrocyte n-3 PUFA status may be protective
      against the development of T2D in overweight women. Further research is warranted
      to determine whether dietary interventions that improve n-3 PUFA status can
      improve measures of IR, and to further elucidate sex-dependent differences.

PMID- 26887799
TI  - Some coumarins and benzoxazinones as potent paraoxonase 1 inhibitors.
AB  - In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of some coumarin and
      benzoxazinone derivatives on the activity of human PON1. Human serum paraoxonase
      1 was purified from fresh human serum blood by two-step procedures that are
      ammonium sulfate precipitation (60-80%) and then hydrophobic interaction
      chromatography (Sepharose 4B, L-tyrosine and 1-napthylamine). The enzyme was
      purified 232-fold with a final specific activity of 27.1 U/mg. In vitro effects
      of some previously synthesized ionic coumarin or benzoxazinone derivatives (1-21)
      on purified PON1 activity were investigated. Compound 14 (1-(2,3,4,5,6)
      pentamethylbenzyl-3-(6,8-dimethyl-2H-chromen-2-one-4-yl))benzimidazolium chloride
      was found out as the strongest inhibitor (IC50 = 7.84 MUM) for PON1 among the
      compounds. Kinetic investigation and molecular docking study were evaluated for
      one of the most active compounds (compound 12) and obtained data showed that this
      compound is competitive inhibitor of PON1 and interact with Leu262 and Ser263 in
      the active site of PON1. Moreover, coumarin derivatives were found out as the
      more potent inhibitors for PON1 than benzoxazinone derivatives. 

PMID- 26887800
TI  - Prescription patterns of antiepileptic drugs in young women: development of a
      tool to distinguish between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are also prescribed for therapeutic
      indications other than epilepsy (EPI), namely, psychiatric disorders (PSY). Our
      aim was to develop an algorithm able to distinguish between EPI and PSY among
      childbearing age women based on differences in AED exposure in these patient
      groups. METHODS: Two groups of women (18-45 years) with EPI or PSY treated with
      AEDs in the first semester of 2010 or 2011 were extracted from paper or
      electronic medical charts of specialized centers. Through the prescription
      database of Bologna Local Health Authority (Italy), AEDs, treatment schedule and
      co-treatments were collected for each patient. A prescription-based hierarchical
      classification system was developed. The algorithm obtained was subsequently
      validated on internal and external data. RESULTS: Eighty-one EPI and 94 PSY
      subjects were recruited. AED monotherapy was the most common choice in both
      groups (69% EPI vs 79% PSY). Some AEDs were used only in EPI, others exclusively
      in PSY. Co-treatments with antipsychotics (6% vs 67%), lithium (0% vs 9%), and
      antidepressants (7% vs 70%) were fewer in EPI than in PSY. The hierarchical
      classification system identified antipsychotics, SSRIs (Selective Serotonin
      Reuptake Inhibitors), and number of AEDs as variables to discriminate EPI and
      PSY, with an overall error rate estimate of 9.7% (95%CI: 5.3% to 14.1%).
      CONCLUSION: Among the differences between EPI and PSY, prescription data alone
      allowed an algorithm to be developed to diagnose each childbearing age woman
      receiving AEDs. This approach will be useful to stratify patients for risk
      estimates of AED-treated patients based on administrative databases. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887803
TI  - Color Correlations among Six Types of Permanent Anterior Teeth.
AB  - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: When multiple teeth are missing, the color for missing
      teeth should be estimated based on the color of remaining teeth. PURPOSE: The
      purpose was to determine the strength of color correlations among six types of
      permanent anterior teeth. METHODS: Color of 12 anterior teeth was measured by
      Shade Vision System for 47 volunteers. The color coordinates in each type of
      teeth such as maxillary central incisor (MX1), lateral incisor (MX2), and canine
      (MX3), and mandibular central incisor (MD1), lateral incisor (MD2), and canine
      (MD3) were determined. Correlations and differences among the corresponding color
      coordinates of each type of teeth were determined. RESULTS: Compared with MX1,
      the differences were in the range of -3.2 to -6.5 in L*, 0.5 to 2.7 in a*, -0.7
      to 7.5 in b*, and the color difference (DeltaE*ab ) was 4.5 to 10.3. The color
      difference by DeltaE00 formula was 3.1-6.7. Although the color coordinates were
      different by tooth type, they generally showed correlations (p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: For the color estimation of missing MX1, the color coordinates of
      MD1 were the strongest predictors. In case of missing MX3, L* and a* of MD3 and
      b* of MX1 were the strongest predictors for each corresponding coordinates.
      CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The color for missing teeth, especially for maxillary
      central incisor and maxillary and mandibular canines, could be estimated based on
      those of the same type teeth on the opposing arch. These results should be
      applied for clinical color selection for missing teeth.(J Esthet Restor Dent
      28:S5-S13, 2016).

PMID- 26887802
TI  - Proteomic analysis for the impact of hypercholesterolemia on expressions of
      hepatic drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes.
AB  - 1. Our objective is to investigate the alterations of hepatic drug transporters
      and metabolizing enzymes in hypercholesterolemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were
      fed high-cholesterol chows for 8 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia. Protein
      levels of hepatic drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes were analyzed by
      iTRAQ labeling coupled with LC TRIPLE-TOF. 2. Total 239 differentially expressed
      proteins were identified using proteomic analysis. Among those, protein levels of
      hepatic drug transporters (MRP2, ABCD3, OAT2, SLC25A12, SCL38A3, SLC2A2 and
      SLC25A5) and metabolizing enzymes (CYP2B3, CYP2C7, CYP2C11, CYP2C13, CYP4A2 and
      UGT2B) were markedly reduced, but the levels of CYP2C6 and CYP2E1 were increased
      in hypercholesterolemia group compared to control. Decreased expressions of drug
      transporters MRP2 and OAT2 were further confirmed by real time quantitative PCR
      (RT-qPCR) and western blot. 3. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that these
      differentially expressed proteins were regulated by various signaling pathways
      including nuclear receptors and inflammatory cytokines. One of the nuclear
      receptor candidates, liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha), was further validated by
      RT-qPCR and western blot. Additionally, LXRalpha agonist T0901317 rescued the
      reduced expressions of MRP2 and OAT2 in HepG2 cells in hypercholesterolemic serum
      treatment. 4. Our present results indicated that hypercholesterolemia affected
      the expressions of various drug transporters and metabolizing enzymes in liver
      via nuclear receptors pathway. Especially, decreased function of LXRalpha
      contributes to the reduced expressions of MRP2 and OAT2. 

PMID- 26887801
TI  - Evaluation of lesser metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate tears with contrast
      enhanced and fat-suppressed MRI.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present findings of plantar plate (PP) lesions from MRI with
      administration of gadolinium and to differentiate PP lesions from others causes
      of metatarsalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two musculoskeletal radiologists
      reviewed 249 contrast-enhanced forefoot MRI scans from patients with
      metatarsalgia between June 2012 and June 2013. Evaluations focused on hyper
      vascularized/fibrous tissue and other findings associated with PP tears. RESULTS:
      Fifty-nine patients had PP tears, 59 % were female. Most of these patients, 48/59
      (81.4 %), had a single metatarsophalangeal (MTP) PP lesion in one foot, although
      7/59 patients had one lesion in each foot, 3/59 (5.1 %) had two in one foot, and
      1/59 (1.7 %) had three lesions in one foot. The second MTP joint was the most
      common location for PP tears (n = 56), followed by the third (n = 12) and fourth
      (n = 3) MTP joints. Lateral (n = 33) and full thickness (n = 28) PP lesions were
      the most frequent, and central (n = 3) and lateral/central (n = 7) tears were
      less prevalent. Fifty (70.5 %) PP lesions showed pericapsular fibrosis in pre
      contrast sequences, and 21 (29.5 %) were visible only after administration of
      gadolinium. All PP lesions had collateral ligament involvement. Others findings
      included interosseous tendon lesions (n = 29), interosseous tendon rupture (n =
      29), synovitis (n = 49), flexor tenosynovitis (n = 28), crossover toe (n = 2),
      hammertoe (n = 1), intermetatarsal space (IS) neuromas (n = 11), and third IS
      neuromas (n = 12). CONCLUSION: PP tears are a common cause of metatarsalgia,
      accounting for more than 20 % of cases in our sample. A substantial portion of
      the lesions (29.5 %) became visible only after the administration of gadolinium.

PMID- 26887804
TI  - The N-terminal sequence of the extrinsic PsbP protein modulates the redox
      potential of Cyt b559 in photosystem II.
AB  - The PsbP protein, an extrinsic subunit of photosystem II (PSII) in green plants,
      is known to induce a conformational change around the catalytic Mn4CaO5 cluster
      securing the binding of Ca(2+) and Cl(-) in PSII. PsbP has multiple interactions
      with the membrane subunits of PSII, but how these affect the structure and
      function of PSII requires clarification. Here, we focus on the interactions
      between the N-terminal residues of PsbP and the alpha subunit of Cytochrome (Cyt)
      b559 (PsbE). A key observation was that a peptide fragment formed of the first N
      terminal 15 residues of PsbP, 'pN15', was able to convert Cyt b559 into its HP
      form. Interestingly, addition of pN15 to NaCl-washed PSII membranes decreased
      PSII's oxygen-evolving activity, even in the presence of saturating Ca(2+) and
      Cl(-) ions. In fact, pN15 reversibly inhibited the S1 to S2 transition of the OEC
      in PSII. These data suggest that pN15 can modulate the redox property of Cyt b559
      involved in the side-electron pathway in PSII. This potential change of Cyt b559,
      in the absence of the C-terminal domain of PsbP, however, would interfere with
      any electron donation from the Mn4CaO5 cluster, leading to the possibility that
      multiple interactions of PsbP, binding to PSII, have distinct roles in regulating
      electron transfer within PSII. 

PMID- 26887805
TI  - Serum nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics and outcome in diffuse large
      B-cell lymphoma patients - a pilot study.
AB  - The prognosis for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients with early
      relapse or refractory disease is dismal. To determine if clinical outcome
      correlated to diverse serum metabolomic profiles, we used (1)H nuclear magnetic
      resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and compared two groups of DLBCL patients treated
      with immunochemotherapy: i) refractory/early relapse (REF/REL; n=27) and ii) long
      term progression-free (CURED; n = 60). A supervised multivariate analysis showed
      a separation between the groups. Among discriminating metabolites higher in the
      REF/REL group were the amino acids lysine and arginine, the degradation product
      cadaverine and a compound in oxidative stress (2-hydroxybutyrate). In contrast,
      the amino acids aspartate, valine and ornithine, and a metabolite in the
      glutathione cycle, pyroglutamate, were higher in CURED patients. Together, our
      data indicate that NMR-based serum metabolomics can identify a signature for
      DLBCL patients with high-risk of failing immunochemotherapy, prompting for larger
      validating studies which could lead to more individualized treatment of this
      disease.

PMID- 26887806
TI  - Diabetes Caused by Elastase-Cre-Mediated Pdx1 Inactivation in Mice.
AB  - Endocrine and exocrine pancreas tissues are both derived from the posterior
      foregut endoderm, however, the interdependence of these two cell types during
      their formation is not well understood. In this study, we generated mutant mice,
      in which the exocrine tissue is hypoplastic, in order to reveal a possible
      requirement for exocrine pancreas tissue in endocrine development and/or
      function. Since previous studies showed an indispensable role for Pdx1 in
      pancreas organogenesis, we used Elastase-Cre-mediated recombination to inactivate
      Pdx1 in the pancreatic exocrine lineage during embryonic stages. Along with
      exocrine defects, including impaired acinar cell maturation, the mutant mice
      exhibited substantial endocrine defects, including disturbed tip/trunk patterning
      of the developing ductal structure, a reduced number of Ngn3-expressing endocrine
      precursors, and ultimately fewer beta cells. Notably, postnatal expansion of the
      endocrine cell content was extremely poor, and the mutant mice exhibited impaired
      glucose homeostasis. These findings suggest the existence of an unknown but
      essential factor(s) in the adjacent exocrine tissue that regulates proper
      formation of endocrine precursors and the expansion and function of endocrine
      tissues during embryonic and postnatal stages. 

PMID- 26887807
TI  - Paraneoplastic lipase and amylase production in a patient with small-cell lung
      cancer: case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is known to express antigens of both
      the neural crest and epithelium, and to secrete polypeptide hormones and enzymes.
      Anecdotal reports correlate lung cancer with marked hyperamylasemia, and a review
      of the literature reveals only one case of metastatic SCLC linked to high
      paraneoplastic lipase production. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a
      patient with metastatic SCLC who showed both lipase and pancreatic isoamylase
      elevation in the absence of acute pancreatitis. Chemotherapy resulted in a rapid
      reduction in serum lipase and in pancreatic isoamylase which was correlated with
      the radiological response of the tumor to therapy. Lipase and pancreatic
      isoamylase expression in tumor cells from the lung biopsy was confirmed by
      immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS: This is a very rare case of
      paraneoplastic syndrome linked to metastatic SCLC. The enzymes secreted could be
      used as markers of response to treatment until clonal selection mechanisms and
      intratumor heterogeneity induce changes in biochemical characteristics and
      consequently in tumor behavior.

PMID- 26887808
TI  - Ambulatory Assessment.
AB  - In recent years, significant technological advances have changed our
      understanding of dynamic processes in clinical psychology. A particularly
      important agent of change has been ambulatory assessment (AA). AA is the
      assessment of individuals in their daily lives, combining the twin benefits of
      increased ecological validity and minimized retrospective biases. These benefits
      make AA particularly well-suited to the assessment of dynamic processes, and
      recent advancements in technology are providing exciting new opportunities to
      understand these processes in new ways. In the current article, we briefly detail
      the capabilities currently offered by smartphones and mobile physiological
      devices, as well as some of the practical and ethical challenges of incorporating
      these new technologies into AA research. We then provide several examples of
      recent innovative applications of AA methodology in clinical research,
      assessment, and intervention and provide a case example of AA data generated from
      a study utilizing multiple mobile devices. In this way, we aim to provide a sense
      of direction for researchers planning AA studies of their own.

PMID- 26887809
TI  - Spanish Validation of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y).
AB  - Psychological inflexibility (PI) refers to the overarching and nonadaptive
      avoidance of thoughts and feelings. PI is a transdiagnostic process that is
      present in numerous psychopathologies, such as anxiety and mood disorders,
      addictive behaviors, and chronic pain, as presented by American adults and
      adolescents. Despite the high rates of depression and depressed mood among
      Spanish and Latino adolescents and the observed relation between PI and
      adjustment problems at this age, an instrument assessing PI in Spanish-speaking
      adolescents is lacking. In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of
      a Spanish adaptation of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth with 483
      students from Spain (mean age 13.89 years). The Spanish Avoidance and Fusion
      Questionnaire for Youth proved to be a two-factor psychometrically sound
      instrument. Total PI scores correlated positively with depression and negatively
      with satisfaction with life. The predictive validity results showed cognitive
      fusion and experiential avoidance to be two interrelated but distinct processes
      that characterize PI.

PMID- 26887810
TI  - The CES-D as a Measure of Psychological Distress Among International Students:
      Measurement and Structural Invariance Across Gender.
AB  - Detecting psychological distress among international students can be challenging
      given diverse languages, cultural backgrounds, and lack of refined measurement
      properties of measures tailored to international students. Despite the
      challenges, ensuring that a psychological distress measure works effectively has
      considerable potential value for assessment purposes. The current study evaluates
      the measurement properties of a short 10-item version of Radloff's Center for
      Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Grounded in long-standing
      evidence on gender differences in depressive symptoms, specific attention was
      given to examining measurement invariance of the CES-D Short-form across women
      and men. Based on a large, two-cohort sample of international students ( N =
      468), and through multiple analyses evaluating factor structure and measurement
      invariance, we derived an even briefer, seven-item single-factor form of the CES
      D (CES-D Short-form International) that can be used with international students.

PMID- 26887811
TI  - Convergent and Predictive Validity of the Jesness Inventory in a Sample of
      Juvenile Offenders.
AB  - The present study examined the convergent and predictive validity of the Jesness
      Inventories (JI) in a sample of 138 juvenile offenders, completed in the course
      of routine service delivery. JI profiles were compared with ratings on three
      standardized forensic clinical scales: the Youth Level of Service/Case Management
      Inventory, Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version, and Violence Risk Scale-Youth
      Version. The JI Asocial Index and the Undersocialized Active and Group-Oriented
      Conformist Interpersonal Maturity Level (I-level) subtypes demonstrated the
      strongest pattern of convergence and most consistently predicted recidivism. The
      Asocial Index did not incrementally predict recidivism after controlling for
      scores on the standardized forensic clinical scales; however, meaningful
      differences among broad I-Level groups (I-3 and I-4) remained after controlling
      for risk. Risk-need-responsivity applications of the JI (i.e., in terms of
      treatment dosage, identifying treatment targets, and adaptation of services) are
      discussed within the context of a comprehensive forensic assessment framework to
      inform case formulation, service delivery, and decision making with justice
      involved youth.

PMID- 26887812
TI  - Joint 2D and 3D phase processing for quantitative susceptibility mapping:
      application to 2D echo-planar imaging.
AB  - Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) measures tissue magnetic susceptibility
      and typically relies on time-consuming three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo (GRE)
      MRI. Recent studies have shown that two-dimensional (2D) multi-slice gradient
      echo echo-planar imaging (GRE-EPI), which is commonly used in functional MRI
      (fMRI) and other dynamic imaging techniques, can also be used to produce data
      suitable for QSM with much shorter scan times. However, the production of high
      quality QSM maps is difficult because data obtained by 2D multi-slice scans often
      have phase inconsistencies across adjacent slices and strong susceptibility field
      gradients near air-tissue interfaces. To address these challenges in 2D EPI-based
      QSM studies, we present a new data processing procedure that integrates 2D and 3D
      phase processing. First, 2D Laplacian-based phase unwrapping and 2D background
      phase removal are performed to reduce phase inconsistencies between slices and
      remove in-plane harmonic components of the background phase. This is followed by
      3D background phase removal for the through-plane harmonic components. The
      proposed phase processing was evaluated with 2D EPI data obtained from healthy
      volunteers, and compared against conventional 3D phase processing using the same
      2D EPI datasets. Our QSM results were also compared with QSM values from time
      consuming 3D GRE data, which were taken as ground truth. The experimental results
      show that this new 2D EPI-based QSM technique can produce quantitative
      susceptibility measures that are comparable with those of 3D GRE-based QSM across
      different brain regions (e.g. subcortical iron-rich gray matter, cortical gray
      and white matter). This new 2D EPI QSM reconstruction method is implemented
      within STI Suite, which is a comprehensive shareware for susceptibility imaging
      and quantification. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887813
TI  - Classification of low quality cells from single-cell RNA-seq data.
AB  - Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has broad applications across biomedical
      research. One of the key challenges is to ensure that only single, live cells are
      included in downstream analysis, as the inclusion of compromised cells inevitably
      affects data interpretation. Here, we present a generic approach for processing
      scRNA-seq data and detecting low quality cells, using a curated set of over 20
      biological and technical features. Our approach improves classification accuracy
      by over 30 % compared to traditional methods when tested on over 5,000 cells,
      including CD4+ T cells, bone marrow dendritic cells, and mouse embryonic stem
      cells.

PMID- 26887814
TI  - Quantitative proteomics reveals protein profiles underlying major transitions in
      aspen wood development.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Wood development is of outstanding interest both to basic research
      and industry due to the associated cellulose and lignin biomass production.
      Efforts to elucidate wood formation (which is essential for numerous aspects of
      both pure and applied plant science) have been made using transcriptomic analyses
      and/or low-resolution sampling. However, transcriptomic data do not correlate
      perfectly with levels of expressed proteins due to effects of post-translational
      modifications and variations in turnover rates. In addition, high-resolution
      analysis is needed to characterize key transitions. In order to identify protein
      profiles across the developmental region of wood formation, an in-depth and
      tissue specific sampling was performed. RESULTS: We examined protein profiles,
      using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time of flight mass
      spectrometry system, in high-resolution tangential sections spanning all wood
      development zones in Populus tremula from undifferentiated cambium to mature
      phloem and xylem, including cell expansion and cell death zones. In total, we
      analyzed 482 sections, 20-160 MUm thick, from four 47-year-old trees growing wild
      in Sweden. We obtained high quality expression profiles for 3,082 proteins
      exhibiting consistency across the replicates, considering that the trees were
      growing in an uncontrolled environment. A combination of Principal Component
      Analysis (PCA), Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures (OPLS) modeling and
      an enhanced stepwise linear modeling approach identified several major
      transitions in global protein expression profiles, pinpointing (for example)
      locations of the cambial division leading to phloem and xylem cells, and
      secondary cell wall formation zones. We also identified key proteins and
      associated pathways underlying these developmental landmarks. For example, many
      of the lignocellulosic related proteins were upregulated in the expansion to the
      early developmental xylem zone, and for laccases with a rapid decrease in early
      xylem zones. We observed upregulation of two forms of xylem cysteine protease
      (Potri.002G005700.1 and Potri.005G256000.2; Pt-XCP2.1) in early xylem and their
      downregulation in late maturing xylem. Our data also show that Pt-KOR1.3
      (Potri.003G151700.2) exhibits an expression pattern that supports the hypothesis
      put forward in previous studies that this is a key xyloglucanase involved in
      cellulose biosynthesis in primary cell walls and reduction of cellulose
      crystallinity in secondary walls. CONCLUSION: Our novel multivariate approach
      highlights important processes and provides confirmatory insights into the
      molecular foundations of wood development.

PMID- 26887815
TI  - STAT4-associated natural killer cell tolerance following liver transplantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Natural killer (NK) cells are important mediators of liver
      inflammation in chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate
      why liver transplants (LTs) are not rejected by NK cells in the absence of human
      leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching, and to identify a tolerogenic NK cell
      phenotype. DESIGN: Phenotypic and functional analyses on NK cells from 54 LT
      recipients were performed, and comparisons made with healthy controls. Further
      investigation was performed using gene expression analysis and donor:recipient
      HLA typing. RESULTS: NK cells from non-HCV LT recipients were hypofunctional,
      with reduced expression of NKp46 (p<0.05) and NKp30 (p<0.001), reduced
      cytotoxicity (p<0.001) and interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion (p<0.025). There was
      no segregation of this effect with HLA-C, and these functional changes were not
      observed in individuals with HCV. Microarray and RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated
      downregulation of STAT4 in NK cells from LT recipients (p<0.0001). Changes in the
      expression levels of the transcription factors Helios (p=0.06) and Hobit
      (p=0.07), which control NKp46 and IFNgamma expression, respectively, were also
      detected. Hypofunctionality of NK cells was associated with impaired STAT4
      phosphorylation and downregulation of the STAT4 target microRNA-155. Conversely
      in HCV-LT NK cell tolerance was reversed, consistent with the more aggressive
      outcome of LT for HCV. CONCLUSIONS: LT is associated with transcriptional and
      functional changes in NK cells, resulting in reduced activation. NK cell
      tolerance occurs upstream of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I
      mediated education, and is associated with deficient STAT4 phosphorylation. STAT4
      therefore represents a potential therapeutic target to induce NK cell tolerance
      in liver disease.

PMID- 26887816
TI  - The gut microbial profile in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis is
      distinct from patients with ulcerative colitis without biliary disease and
      healthy controls.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Gut microbiota could influence gut, as well as hepatic and biliary
      immune responses. We therefore thoroughly characterised the gut microbiota in
      primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) compared with healthy controls (HC) and
      patients with ulcerative colitis without liver disease. DESIGN: We prospectively
      collected 543 stool samples. After a stringent exclusion process, bacterial DNA
      was submitted for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. PSC and HC were randomised to an
      exploration panel or a validation panel, and only significant results (p<0.05,
      QFDR<0.20) in both panels were reported, followed by a combined comparison of all
      samples against UC. RESULTS: Patients with PSC (N=85) had markedly reduced
      bacterial diversity compared with HC (N=263, p<0.0001), and a different global
      microbial composition compared with both HC (p<0.001) and UC (N=36, p<0.01). The
      microbiota of patients with PSC with and without IBD was similar. Twelve genera
      separated PSC and HC, out of which 11 were reduced in PSC. However, the
      Veillonella genus showed a marked increase in PSC compared with both HC
      (p<0.0001) and UC (p<0.02). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis,
      Veillonella abundance yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64 to
      discriminate PSC from HC, while a combination of PSC-associated genera yielded an
      AUC of 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PSC exhibited a gut microbial signature
      distinct from both HC and UC without liver disease, but similar in PSC with and
      without IBD. The Veillonella genus, which is also associated with other chronic
      inflammatory and fibrotic conditions, was enriched in PSC.

PMID- 26887817
TI  - Solving a disaster following coronary bypass operation.

PMID- 26887818
TI  - alpha-Conotoxin Vc1.1 inhibits human dorsal root ganglion neuroexcitability and
      mouse colonic nociception via GABAB receptors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: alpha-Conotoxin Vc1.1 is a small disulfide-bonded peptide from the
      venom of the marine cone snail Conus victoriae. Vc1.1 has antinociceptive actions
      in animal models of neuropathic pain, but its applicability to inhibiting human
      dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuroexcitability and reducing chronic visceral pain
      (CVP) is unknown. DESIGN: We determined the inhibitory actions of Vc1.1 on human
      DRG neurons and on mouse colonic sensory afferents in healthy and chronic
      visceral hypersensitivity (CVH) states. In mice, visceral nociception was
      assessed by neuronal activation within the spinal cord in response to noxious
      colorectal distension (CRD). Quantitative-reverse-transcription-PCR, single-cell
      reverse-transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry determined gamma-aminobutyric
      acid receptor B (GABABR) and voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2, CaV2.3)
      expression in human and mouse DRG neurons. RESULTS: Vc1.1 reduced the
      excitability of human DRG neurons, whereas a synthetic Vc1.1 analogue that is
      inactive at GABABR did not. Human DRG neurons expressed GABABR and its downstream
      effector channels CaV2.2 and CaV2.3. Mouse colonic DRG neurons exhibited high
      GABABR, CaV2.2 and CaV2.3 expression, with upregulation of the CaV2.2 exon-37a
      variant during CVH. Vc1.1 inhibited mouse colonic afferents ex vivo and
      nociceptive signalling of noxious CRD into the spinal cord in vivo, with greatest
      efficacy observed during CVH. A selective GABABR antagonist prevented Vc1.1
      induced inhibition, whereas blocking both CaV2.2 and CaV2.3 caused inhibition
      comparable with Vc1.1 alone. CONCLUSIONS: Vc1.1-mediated activation of GABABR is
      a novel mechanism for reducing the excitability of human DRG neurons. Vc1.1
      induced activation of GABABR on the peripheral endings of colonic afferents
      reduces nociceptive signalling. The enhanced antinociceptive actions of Vc1.1
      during CVH suggest it is a novel candidate for the treatment for CVP.

PMID- 26887819
TI  - LncDisease: a sequence based bioinformatics tool for predicting lncRNA-disease
      associations.
AB  - LncRNAs represent a large class of noncoding RNA molecules that have important
      functions and play key roles in a variety of human diseases. There is an urgent
      need to develop bioinformatics tools as to gain insight into lncRNAs. This study
      developed a sequence-based bioinformatics method, LncDisease, to predict the
      lncRNA-disease associations based on the crosstalk between lncRNAs and miRNAs.
      Using LncDisease, we predicted the lncRNAs associated with breast cancer and
      hypertension. The breast-cancer-associated lncRNAs were studied in two breast
      tumor cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The qRT-PCR results showed that 11
      (91.7%) of the 12 predicted lncRNAs could be validated in both breast cancer cell
      lines. The hypertension-associated lncRNAs were further evaluated in human
      vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II). The
      qRT-PCR results showed that 3 (75.0%) of the 4 predicted lncRNAs could be
      validated in Ang II-treated human VSMCs. In addition, we predicted 6 diseases
      associated with the lncRNA GAS5 and validated 4 (66.7%) of them by literature
      mining. These results greatly support the specificity and efficacy of LncDisease
      in the study of lncRNAs in human diseases. The LncDisease software is freely
      available on the Software Page: http://www.cuilab.cn/.

PMID- 26887823
TI  - A latent process model for forecasting multiple time series in environmental
      public health surveillance.
AB  - This paper outlines a latent process model for forecasting multiple health
      outcomes arising from a common environmental exposure. Traditionally,
      surveillance models in environmental health do not link health outcome measures,
      such as morbidity or mortality counts, to measures of exposure, such as air
      pollution. Moreover, different measures of health outcomes are treated as
      independent, while it is known that they are correlated with one another over
      time as they arise in part from a common underlying exposure. We propose
      modelling an environmental exposure as a latent process, and we describe the
      implementation of such a model within a hierarchical Bayesian framework and its
      efficient computation using integrated nested Laplace approximations. Through a
      simulation study, we compare distinct univariate models for each health outcome
      with a bivariate approach. The bivariate model outperforms the univariate models
      in bias and coverage of parameter estimation, in forecast accuracy and in
      computational efficiency. The methods are illustrated with a case study using
      healthcare utilization and air pollution data from British Columbia, Canada, 2003
      2011, where seasonal wildfires produce high levels of air pollution,
      significantly impacting population health. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26887820
TI  - Homologous DNA strand exchange activity of the human mitochondrial DNA helicase
      TWINKLE.
AB  - A crucial component of the human mitochondrial DNA replisome is the ring-shaped
      helicase TWINKLE-a phage T7-gene 4-like protein expressed in the nucleus and
      localized in the human mitochondria. Our previous studies showed that despite
      being a helicase, TWINKLE has unique DNA annealing activity. At the time, the
      implications of DNA annealing by TWINKLE were unclear. Herein, we report that
      TWINKLE uses DNA annealing function to actively catalyze strand-exchange reaction
      between the unwinding substrate and a homologous single-stranded DNA. Using
      various biochemical experiments, we demonstrate that the mechanism of strand
      exchange involves active coupling of unwinding and annealing reactions by the
      TWINKLE. Unlike strand-annealing, the strand-exchange reaction requires
      nucleotide hydrolysis and greatly stimulated by short region of homology between
      the recombining DNA strands that promote joint molecule formation to initiate
      strand-exchange. Furthermore, we show that TWINKLE catalyzes branch migration by
      resolving homologous four-way junction DNA. These four DNA modifying activities
      of TWINKLE: strand-separation, strand-annealing, strand-exchange and branch
      migration suggest a dual role of TWINKLE in mitochondrial DNA maintenance. In
      addition to playing a major role in fork progression during leading strand DNA
      synthesis, we propose that TWINKLE is involved in recombinational repair of the
      human mitochondrial DNA.

PMID- 26887824
TI  - Melatonin mediates the stabilization of DELLA proteins to repress the floral
      transition in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Precise floral transition from vegetative growth phase to reproductive growth
      phase is very important in plant life cycle. In flowering genetic pathways, DELLA
      proteins are master transcriptional regulators of gibberelic acid (GA) pathway,
      and FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) is a core repressor of vernalization pathway as well
      as downstream of DELLAs. As a crucial messenger in plants, the possible
      involvement of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) in flowering and
      underlying molecular mechanism are unknown in Arabidopsis. In this study, we
      found that exogenous melatonin treatment delayed floral transition in
      Arabidopsis. Exogenous melatonin treatment conferred protein stabilizations of
      DELLAs [REPRESSOR of ga1-3 (RGA) and RGA-LIKE3 (RGL3)], without regulating the
      transcripts of DELLAs and endogenous GA level. Notably, exogenous melatonin
      delayed plant flowering and DELLA-activated transcripts of FLC were alleviated in
      della mutants, and those were exacerbated in DELLA overexpressing plants. Taken
      together, this study provides direct link between melatonin and floral
      transition, and indicates the novel involvement of DELLAs-activated FLC in
      melatonin-mediated flowering in Arabidopsis. 

PMID- 26887826
TI  - Knowledge of vitreomacular traction (VMT) scenarios: Is doing nothing still a
      beneficial alternative and, if so, when?

PMID- 26887825
TI  - Pulse waveform analysis in the optic nerve head circulation reflects systemic
      vascular resistance obtained via a Swan-Ganz catheter.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine whether a pulse waveform analysis in the optic nerve head
      (ONH) circulation as determined by laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) can provide
      systemic hemodynamic values - the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in
      particular - similar to those obtained by using a Swan-Ganz catheter, which is an
      invasive method. METHOD: Sixteen consecutive subjects were examined. Hemodynamic
      monitoring was obtained from right heart catheterization with a Swan-Ganz
      catheter and coronary angiography without an intracoronary nitroglycerin
      administration. Direct blood pressure was measured with a trans-radial approach.
      Single regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between the
      blowout score and blowout time, which are the items of the pulse waveform
      analysis in the ONH, by using LSFG and the hemodynamic parameters. RESULTS: The
      blowout time was significantly and negatively correlated with the SVR (r = -0.52,
      p = 0.04), the ocular perfusion pressure with the mean arterial blood pressure of
      the radial artery (r = -0.52, p = 0.04) and the radial artery pulse pressure (r =
      -0.52, p = 0.04).The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r  = -0.44, p = 0.09)
      and the mean arterial blood pressure of the radial artery (r  = -0.44, p = 0.09)
      tended to be correlated with the blowout time, but did not reach significance.
      The blowout score was significantly and negatively correlated with the radial
      artery blood pressure (r = -0.51, p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: A pulse waveform
      analysis in the ONH by LSFG may be one of the useful methods for understanding
      the SVR.

PMID- 26887821
TI  - At the interface of antioxidant signalling and cellular function: Key polyphenol
      effects.
AB  - The hypothesis that dietary (poly)phenols promote well-being by improving chronic
      disease-risk biomarkers, such as endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation
      and plasma uric acid, is the subject of intense current research, involving human
      interventions studies, animal models and in vitro mechanistic work. The original
      claim that benefits were due to the direct antioxidant properties of
      (poly)phenols has been mostly superseded by detailed mechanistic studies on
      specific molecular targets. Nevertheless, many proposed mechanisms in vivo and in
      vitro are due to modulation of oxidative processes, often involving binding to
      specific proteins and effects on cell signalling. We review the molecular
      mechanisms for 3 actions of (poly)phenols on oxidative processes where there is
      evidence in vivo from human intervention or animal studies. (1) Effects of (poly)
      phenols on pathways of chronic inflammation leading to prevention of some of the
      damaging effects associated with the metabolic syndrome. (2) Interaction of
      (poly)phenols with endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, leading to effects
      on blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction, and consequent reduction in
      cardiovascular disease risk. (3) The inhibition of xanthine oxidoreductase
      leading to modulation of intracellular superoxide and plasma uric acid, a risk
      factor for developing type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26887827
TI  - Prospects to regain the ability to accommodate.

PMID- 26887828
TI  - Re: "Incidence of post-cataract endophthalmitis with intracameral cefuroxime"
      letter to the editor.

PMID- 26887829
TI  - Melanocortin 1 receptor agonist protects podocytes through catalase and RhoA
      activation.
AB  - Drugs containing adrenocorticotropic hormone have been used as therapy for
      patients with nephrotic syndrome. We have previously shown that
      adrenocorticotropic hormone and a selective agonist for the melanocortin 1
      receptor (MC1R) exert beneficial actions in experimental membranous nephropathy
      with reduced proteinuria, reduced oxidative stress, and improved glomerular
      morphology and function. Our hypothesis is that MC1R activation in podocytes
      elicits beneficial effects by promoting stress fibers and maintaining podocyte
      viability. To test the hypothesis, we cultured podocytes and used highly specific
      agonists for MC1R. Podocytes were subjected to the nephrotic-inducing agent
      puromycin aminonucleoside, and downstream effects of MC1R activation on podocyte
      survival, antioxidant defense, and cytoskeleton dynamics were studied. To
      increase the response and enhance intracellular signals, podocytes were
      transduced to overexpress MC1R. We showed that puromycin promotes MC1R expression
      in podocytes and that activation of MC1R promotes an increase of catalase
      activity and reduces oxidative stress, which results in the dephosphorylation of
      p190RhoGAP and formation of stress fibers through RhoA. In addition, MC1R
      agonists protect against apoptosis. Together, these mechanisms protect the
      podocyte against puromycin. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that
      selective MC1R-activating agonists protect podocytes and may therefore be useful
      to treat patients with nephrotic syndromes commonly considered as
      podocytopathies.

PMID- 26887830
TI  - Loss of diacylglycerol kinase epsilon in mice causes endothelial distress and
      impairs glomerular Cox-2 and PGE2 production.
AB  - Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a disorder characterized by microvascular
      occlusion that can lead to thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and glomerular
      damage. Complement activation is the central event in most cases of TMA. Primary
      forms of TMA are caused by mutations in genes encoding components of the
      complement or regulators of the complement cascade. Recently, we and others have
      described a genetic form of TMA caused by mutations in the gene diacylglycerol
      kinase-epsilon (DGKE) that encodes the lipid kinase DGKepsilon (Lemaire M,
      Fremeaux-Bacchi V, Schaefer F, Choi MR, Tang WH, Le Quintrec M, Fakhouri F, Taque
      S, Nobili F, Martinez F, Ji WZ, Overton JD, Mane SM, Nurnberg G, Altmuller J,
      Thiele H, Morin D, Deschenes G, Baudouin V, Llanas B, Collard L, Majid MA,
      Simkova E, Nurnberg P, Rioux-Leclerc N, Moeckel GW, Gubler MC, Hwa J, Loirat C,
      Lifton RP. Nat Genet 45: 531-536, 2013; Ozaltin F, Li BH, Rauhauser A, An SW,
      Soylemezoglu O, Gonul II, Taskiran EZ, Ibsirlioglu T, Korkmaz E, Bilginer Y,
      Duzova A, Ozen S, Topaloglu R, Besbas N, Ashraf S, Du Y, Liang CY, Chen P, Lu DM,
      Vadnagara K, Arbuckle S, Lewis D, Wakeland B, Quigg RJ, Ransom RF, Wakeland EK,
      Topham MK, Bazan NG, Mohan C, Hildebrandt F, Bakkaloglu A, Huang CL, Attanasio M.
      J Am Soc Nephrol 24: 377-384, 2013). DGKepsilon is unrelated to the complement
      pathway, which suggests that unidentified pathogenic mechanisms independent of
      complement dysregulation may result in TMA. Studying Dgke knockout mice may help
      to understand the pathogenesis of this disease, but no glomerular phenotype has
      been described in these animals so far. Here we report that Dgke null mice
      present subclinical microscopic anomalies of the glomerular endothelium and basal
      membrane that worsen with age and develop glomerular capillary occlusion when
      exposed to nephrotoxic serum. We found that induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and of
      the proangiogenic prostaglandin E2 are impaired in Dgke null kidneys and are
      associated with reduced expression of the antithrombotic cell adhesion molecule
      platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1/CD31 in the glomerular endothelium.
      Notably, prostaglandin E2 supplementation was able to rescue motility defects of
      Dgke knockdown cells in vitro and to restore angiogenesis in a test in vivo. Our
      results unveil an unexpected role of Dgke in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2
      and in the regulation of glomerular prostanoids synthesis under stress.

PMID- 26887832
TI  - NLRP3 deletion protects against renal fibrosis and attenuates mitochondrial
      abnormality in mouse with 5/6 nephrectomy.
AB  - Progressive fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the well-recognized cause
      leading to the progressive loss of renal function. Emerging evidence indicated a
      pathogenic role of the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)
      inflammasome in mediating kidney injury. However, the role of NLRP3 in the
      remnant kidney disease model is still undefined. The present study was undertaken
      to evaluate the function of NLRP3 in modulating renal fibrosis in a CKD model of
      5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) and the potential involvement of mitochondrial
      dysfunction in the pathogenesis. Employing NLRP3(+/+) and NLRP3(-/-) mice with or
      without 5/6 Nx, we examined renal fibrotic response and mitochondrial function.
      Strikingly, tubulointerstitial fibrosis was remarkably attenuated in NLRP3(-/-)
      mice as evidenced by the blockade of extracellular matrix deposition. Meanwhile,
      renal tubular cells in NLRP3(-/-) mice maintained better mitochondrial morphology
      and higher mitochondrial DNA copy number, indicating an amelioration of
      mitochondrial abnormality. Moreover, NLRP3 deletion also blunted the severity of
      proteinuria and CKD-related hypertension. To further evaluate the direct role of
      NLRP3 in triggering fibrogenesis, mouse proximal tubular cells (PTCs) were
      subjected to transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), and the cellular
      phenotypic changes were detected. As expected, TGF-beta1-induced alterations of
      PTC phenotype were abolished by NLRP3 small interfering RNA, in line with a
      protection of mitochondrial function. Taken together, NLRP3 deletion protected
      against renal fibrosis in the 5/6 Nx disease model, possibly via inhibiting
      mitochondrial dysfunction.

PMID- 26887831
TI  - Angiotensin II-mediated hypertension impairs nitric oxide-induced NKCC2
      inhibition in thick ascending limbs.
AB  - : In thick ascending limbs (THALs), nitric oxide (NO) decreases NaCl reabsorption
      via cGMP-mediated inhibition of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2). In angiotensin
      (ANG II)-induced hypertension, endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced NO production by THALs
      is impaired. However, whether this alters NO's natriuretic effects and the
      mechanisms involved are unknown. In other cell types, ANG II augments
      phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5)-mediated cGMP degradation. We hypothesized that NO
      mediated inhibition of NKCC2 activity and stimulation of cGMP synthesis are
      blunted via PDE5 in ANG II-induced hypertension. Sprague-Dawley rats were infused
      with vehicle or ANG II (200 ng.kg-1.min-1) for 5 days. ET-1 reduced NKCC2
      activity by 38 +/- 13% (P < 0.05) in THALs from vehicle-treated rats but not from
      ANG II-hypertensive rats (Delta: -9 +/- 13%). A NO donor yielded similar results
      as ET-1. In contrast, dibutyryl-cGMP significantly decreased NKCC2 activity in
      both vehicle-treated and ANG II-hypertensive rats (control: Delta-44 +/- 15% vs.
      ANG II: Delta-41 +/- 10%). NO increased cGMP by 2.08 +/- 0.36 fmol/MUg protein in
      THALs from vehicle-treated rats but only 1.06 +/- 0.25 fmol/MUg protein in ANG II
      hypertensive rats (P < 0.04). Vardenafil (25 nM), a PDE5 inhibitor, restored NO's
      ability to inhibit NKCC2 activity in THALs from ANG II-hypertensive rats (Delta: 
      60 +/- 9%, P < 0.003). Similarly, NO's stimulation of cGMP was also restored by
      vardenafil (vehicle-treated: 1.89 +/- 0.71 vs. ANG II-hypertensive: 2.02 +/- 0.32
      fmol/MUg protein). PDE5 expression did not differ between vehicle-treated and ANG
      II-hypertensive rats. We conclude that NO-induced inhibition of NKCC2 and
      increases in cGMP are blunted in ANG II-hypertensive rats due to PDE5 activation.
      Defects in the response of THALs to NO may enhance NaCl retention in ANG II
      induced hypertension.

PMID- 26887833
TI  - Disruption of KCNJ10 (Kir4.1) stimulates the expression of ENaC in the collecting
      duct.
AB  - Kcnj10 encodes the inwardly rectifying K(+) channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) and is expressed
      in the basolateral membrane of late thick ascending limb, distal convoluted
      tubule (DCT), connecting tubule (CNT), and cortical collecting duct (CCD). In the
      present study, we perform experiments in postneonatal day 9 Kcnj10(-/-) or wild
      type mice to examine the role of Kir.4.1 in contributing to the basolateral K(+)
      conductance in the CNT and CCD, and to investigate whether the disruption of
      Kir4.1 upregulates the expression of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC).
      Immunostaining shows that Kir4.1 is expressed in the basolateral membrane of CNT
      and CCD. Patch-clamp studies detect three types of K(+) channels (23, 40, and 60
      pS) in the basolateral membrane of late CNT and initial CCD in wild-type (WT)
      mice. However, only 23- and 60-pS K(+) channels but not the 40-pS K(+) channel
      were detected in Kcnj10(-/-) mice, suggesting that Kir.4.1 is a key component of
      the 40-pS K(+) channel in the CNT/CCD. Moreover, the depletion of Kir.4.1 did not
      increase the probability of finding the 23- and 60-pS K(+) channel in the
      CNT/CCD. We next used the perforated whole cell recording to measure the K(+)
      reversal voltage in the CNT/CCD as an index of cell membrane potential. Under
      control conditions, the K(+) reversal potential was -69 mV in WT mice and -61 mV
      in Kcnj10(-/-) mice, suggesting that Kir4.1 partially participates in generating
      membrane potential in the CNT/CCD. Western blotting and immunostaining showed
      that the expression of ENaCbeta and ENaCgamma subunits from a renal medulla
      section of Kcnj10(-/-) mice was significantly increased compared with that of WT
      mice. Also, the disruption of Kir4.1 increased aquaporin 2 expression. We
      conclude that Kir4.1 is expressed in the CNT and CCD and partially participates
      in generating the cell membrane potential. Also, increased ENaC expression in
      medullary CD of Kcnj10(-/-) mice is a compensatory action in response to the
      impaired Na(+) transport in the DCT.

PMID- 26887835
TI  - Lack of Association of ST-T Wave Abnormalities to Congenital Heart Disease in
      Neonates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: ST-T wave (STTW) abnormalities have been described in 20-40% of
      normal newborns. We sought to describe the associations of these
      Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities to perinatal course and congenital heart
      disease (CHD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all
      neonatal ECGs between January 2008 and March 2013 identified from electronic
      medical records. Electronic medical records were reviewed for perinatal course
      and maternal medical conditions. Neonates <37 weeks gestation, >3 days age,
      requiring hemodynamic support in the first 3 days, with oxygen saturation <90% on
      room air, or with arrhythmias and significant abnormalities of axis and voltage
      were excluded from the analysis. ST segment elevation or depression of >2 mm in
      at least one lead and flat or inverted T waves in at least one lead except aVR
      were considered abnormal. Statistical relationships were explored between STTW
      abnormalities, perinatal variables and CHD. RESULTS: ECGs were performed on 1043
      neonates, of which 664 were included. STTW abnormalities were found in 236
      (35.5%) neonates. T wave abnormalities were identified in 191 (28.7%), ST segment
      abnormalities in 77 (11.6%) and both on 32 (4.8%) neonates. No relationship was
      found between the ECG abnormalities and perinatal variables, except maternal
      cefazolin administration during labor. Noncritical CHD was diagnosed by
      echocardiography in 59/84; STTW abnormalities were seen in 17/59 (29%) patients
      with and 9/25 (34%) without noncritical CHD, P = .6. CONCLUSION: STTW
      abnormalities on ECG are commonly found in 35.5% of normal neonates and do not
      predict noncritical CHD.

PMID- 26887836
TI  - [Clinical manifestations of 5 patients with idiopathic paroxysmal kinesigenic
      choreoathetosis].
AB  - Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) is a rare disorder characterized by
      recurrent and brief attacks of choreoathetoid and/or dystonic movements in trunk
      and limbs triggered by initiation of voluntary movement. Of 5 patients with
      idiopathic PKC in our hospital, four were men and one was with family history.
      Age of onset ranged from 8 to 15 years old. They were consistent with previous
      reports in the characteristics of involuntary movements, normal neurological
      findings, normal laboratory data, no abnormal findings of standard imaging
      studies, and good restraining effects on attacks with carbamazepine. Individual
      body parts where attacks often involved were different among 5 patients. Although
      previous reports which said the prognosis and outcome of PKC were good,
      neuropsychological examinations in our study revealed that 2 patients out of 5
      had certain cortical dysfunction, one patient was with progressive deterioration,
      and the other was with underlying mild abnormalities. Detailed and serial
      neuropsychological examinations might be necessary for some PKC patients. 

PMID- 26887837
TI  - [Intracerebral hemorrhage associated with nephrotic syndrome-Prevalemce and
      clinical characteristics].
AB  - Of the 11,161 cases of stroke observed for over 9 years, 21 cases in which both
      levels of serum albumin and cholesterol were < 3 g/dl and > 250 mg/dl,
      respectively, were identified. Out of these 21 cases, cases of severe
      proteinuria, i.e., nephrotic syndrome were selected. These included 10 cases of
      arterial ischemic thrombosis, 2 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and 4
      cases of intracerebral hemorrhage. The incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage
      associated with nephrotic syndrome was 0.18% of total stroke or 0.036%
      intracerebral hemorrhage. Nephrotic syndrome essentially induced a
      hypercoagulable state. The 4 cases with intracerebral hemorrhage associated with
      nephrotic syndrome, however, had strong risk factors for intracerebral
      hemorrhage, suggesting that they overcame the risk for thrombophilia. The
      diseases associated with the nephrotic syndrome were diabetic nephropathy and
      amyloidosis in 3 cases and in 1 case, respectively. The nephrotic syndrome tends
      to be associated with a risk for venous or arterial thrombosis. In addition, we
      must pay attention to intracerebral hemorrhage associated with nephrotic syndrome
      in cases of stroke. 

PMID- 26887834
TI  - Mechanism of increased clearance of glycated albumin by proximal tubule cells.
AB  - Serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and has a long half-life due to
      neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated transcytosis by many cell types, including
      proximal tubule cells of the kidney. Albumin also interacts with, and is modified
      by, many small and large molecules. Therefore, the focus of the present study was
      to address the impact of specific known biological albumin modifications on
      albumin-FcRn binding and cellular handling. Binding at pH 6.0 and 7.4 was
      performed since FcRn binds albumin strongly at acidic pH and releases it after
      transcytosis at physiological pH. Equilibrium dissociation constants were
      measured using microscale thermophoresis. Since studies have shown that glycated
      albumin is excreted in the urine at a higher rate than unmodified albumin, we
      studied glucose and methylgloxal modified albumins (21 days). All had reduced
      affinity to FcRn at pH 6.0, suggesting these albumins would not be returned to
      the circulation via the transcytotic pathway. To address why modified albumin has
      reduced affinity, we analyzed the structure of the modified albumins using small
      angle X-ray scattering. This analysis showed significant structural changes
      occurring to albumin with glycation, particularly in the FcRn-binding region,
      which could explain the reduced affinity to FcRn. These results offer an
      explanation for enhanced proximal tubule-mediated sorting and clearance of
      abnormal albumins.

PMID- 26887838
TI  - An open framework for automated chemical hazard assessment based on GreenScreen
      for Safer Chemicals: A proof of concept.
AB  - GreenScreen(r) for Safer Chemicals is a framework for comparative chemical hazard
      assessment. It is the first transparent, open and publicly accessible framework
      of its kind, allowing manufacturers and governmental agencies to make informed
      decisions about the chemicals and substances used in consumer products and
      buildings. In the GreenScreen(r) benchmarking process, chemical hazards are
      assessed and classified based on 18 hazard endpoints from up to 30 different
      sources. The result is a simple numerical benchmark score and accompanying
      assessment report that allows users to flag chemicals of concern and identify
      safer alternatives. Although the screening process is straightforward,
      aggregating and sorting hazard data is tedious, time-consuming, and prone to
      human error. In light of these challenges, the present work demonstrates the
      usage of automation to cull chemical hazard data from publicly available internet
      resources, assign metadata, and perform a GreenScreen(r) hazard assessment using
      the GreenScreen(r) "List Translator." The automated technique, written as a
      module in the Python programming language, generates GreenScreen(r) List
      Translation data for over 3000 chemicals in approximately 30 s. Discussion of the
      potential benefits and limitations of automated techniques is provided. By
      embedding the library into a web-based graphical user interface, the
      extensibility of the library is demonstrated. The accompanying source code is
      made available to the hazard assessment community. Integr Environ Assess Manag
      2017;13:167-176. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26887839
TI  - A cost and economic evaluation of the Leeds personality disorder managed clinical
      network-A service and commissioning development initiative.
AB  - In the UK, patients with personality disorders presenting complex needs
      frequently experience an unhelpful pattern of acute treatment followed by
      community care-with associated high cost implications for services. With UK
      mental health resources under severe pressure, this leaves commissioners with
      difficult decisions to make. Yet studies on cost-effectiveness in respect of
      personality disorder treatment are scarce, particularly for treatments taking
      place outside of major teaching hospitals in the USA. This paper studies the
      benefits of an intensive, holistic approach and finds that the Network achieved
      substantial reductions in health care usage and expenditure in the short to
      medium term. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887840
TI  - ydfD encodes a novel lytic protein in Escherichia coli.
AB  - Bacteria carry a number of genes that cause cell growth arrest or cell lysis upon
      expression. Notably, defective prophages retain many lysis proteins. Here, we
      identified a novel lytic gene, ydfD, on the Qin prophage segment of the
      Escherichia coli genome. YdfD lyses 99.9% of cells within 2 h of its induction.
      The co-expression of the upstream gene, dicB, encoding a cell division inhibitor,
      as well as sulA, encoding another cell division inhibitor, abolished YdfD-induced
      cell lysis. These results imply that YdfD-induced lysis is a cell division
      dependent event. We further found that by deleting the hydrophobic 22-residue N
      terminal domain, the resulting 42-residue C-terminal domain was still toxic to
      cause cell lysis. We propose that YdfD, associated with the cytoplasmic membrane,
      inhibits an essential cellular process(s). 

PMID- 26887841
TI  - Experimental evidence for proteins constituting virion components and particle
      morphogenesis of bacteriophage ZF40.
AB  - Bacteriophage ZF40 is the only currently available, temperate Myoviridae phage
      infecting the potato pathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.
      Despite its unusual tail morphology, its major tail sheath and tube proteins
      remained uncharacterized after the initial genome annotation. Using ESI tandem
      mass-spectrometry, 24 structural proteins of the ZF40 virion were identified,
      with a sequence coverage ranging between 15.8% and 87.8%. The putative function
      of 16 proteins could be elucidated based on secondary structure analysis and
      conservative domain searches. The experimental annotation of 35% of the encoded
      gene products within the structural region of the genome represents a complete
      view of the virion structure, which can serve as the basis for future structural
      analysis as a model phage. 

PMID- 26887842
TI  - A topological approach unveils system invariances and broken symmetries in the
      brain.
AB  - Symmetries are widespread invariances underscoring countless systems, including
      the brain. A symmetry break occurs when the symmetry is present at one level of
      observation but is hidden at another level. In such a general framework, a
      concept from algebraic topology, namely, the Borsuk-Ulam theorem (BUT), comes
      into play and sheds new light on the general mechanisms of nervous symmetries.
      The BUT tells us that we can find, on an n-dimensional sphere, a pair of opposite
      points that have the same encoding on an n - 1 sphere. This mapping makes it
      possible to describe both antipodal points with a single real-valued vector on a
      lower dimensional sphere. Here we argue that this topological approach is useful
      for the evaluation of hidden nervous symmetries. This means that symmetries can
      be found when evaluating the brain in a proper dimension, although they disappear
      (are hidden or broken) when we evaluate the same brain only one dimension lower.
      In conclusion, we provide a topological methodology for the evaluation of the
      most general features of brain activity, i.e., the symmetries, cast in a
      physical/biological fashion that has the potential to be operationalized. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26887843
TI  - Relationship between the Infant Feeding Preferences of Chinese Mothers' Immediate
      Social Network and Early Breastfeeding Cessation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relationship between support from members of a mother's social
      network and breastfeeding continuation is receiving increased attention.
      OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to describe the infant feeding
      preferences of Chinese mothers' immediate social network and to examine the
      association between these preferences and early breastfeeding cessation. METHODS:
      In total, 1172 mother-infant pairs were recruited from 4 public hospitals in Hong
      Kong and followed prospectively for 12 months or until breastfeeding stopped.
      RESULTS: Over 40% of participants' partners preferred breastfeeding and half had
      no infant feeding preference. Only about 20% of participants' mothers or mothers
      in-law preferred breastfeeding, and less than 10% reported that all of the 3
      significant family members (partner, mother, and mother-in-law) preferred
      breastfeeding. The partner's preference for infant formula or mixed feeding (odds
      ratio [OR], 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-4.71) or having no
      preference (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.16-2.30) was strongly associated with higher odds
      of stopping breastfeeding before 1 month. For every additional family member who
      preferred breastfeeding, the odds of stopping breastfeeding was reduced by almost
      20% (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.97). However, living with a parent-in-law (OR,
      1.45; 95% CI, 1.02-2.07) was also a predictor of early breastfeeding cessation.
      Knowing someone who had breastfed for >= 1 month (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.97) or
      having been breastfed as a child (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.98) significantly
      lowered the odds of early breastfeeding cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The infant
      feeding preferences of mothers' immediate social network are significantly
      associated with breastfeeding continuation. Prenatal breastfeeding education
      programs should involve significant family members to promote breastfeeding.

PMID- 26887844
TI  - Use of Donor Human Milk and Maternal Breastfeeding Rates: A Systematic Review.
AB  - The number of human milk banks is growing worldwide. The introduction of donor
      human milk (DHM) to neonatal units has been advocated as a strategy to promote
      maternal breastfeeding. However, concern has been raised that the introduction of
      DHM may actually lead to a decrease in maternal breastfeeding. To address this
      question, we conducted a systematic literature review of studies that assessed
      maternal breastfeeding rates before and after the introduction of DHM. We
      searched 7 electronic databases, carried out citation tracking, and contacted
      experts in the field. Where data for breastfeeding rates before and after the
      introduction of DHM were directly comparable, a relative risk was calculated. Our
      search identified 286 studies, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria.
      Definitions of patient populations and study outcomes varied, limiting meaningful
      comparison. Where possible, relative risks (RR) were calculated on aggregated
      data. The introduction of DHM had a significant positive impact on any
      breastfeeding on discharge (RR, 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.35;P=
      .005) but none on exclusive maternal breastfeeding on discharge (RR, 1.12; 95%
      CI, 0.91-1.40;P= .27) or on exclusive administration of own mother's milk (OMM)
      days 1 to 28 of life (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.78-1.49; P= .65). A single-center study
      demonstrated a significant decrease in the percentage of feeds that were OMM
      after the introduction of DHM. In conclusion, the available data demonstrate some
      evidence of positive and negative effects on measures of maternal breastfeeding
      when DHM is introduced to a neonatal unit.

PMID- 26887845
TI  - Impact of operation timing on post-operative infections following colorectal
      cancer surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of operation timing on post-operative
      infections in a cohort of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS:
      We prospectively analysed surgical outcomes in patients who underwent colorectal
      cancer surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang
      University, from January to December in 2014. In this non-randomized trial,
      patients were divided into three groups according to the surgery start time: CT1
      (07:00 to 12:00 h), CT2 (12:01 to 18:00 h), and CT3 (18:01 h to midnight). The
      primary outcome was the proportion of patients developing infections within 4
      weeks of the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Out of 756 patients that were enrolled
      in the study, 118 developed post-operative infections. The results from blood and
      pus culture showed 97.1% specimen as being pathogen-free. The overall incidence
      of post-operative infection was 14.5% (38 of 262), 15.3% (46 of 300) and 17.5%
      (34 of 194) in the CT1, CT2 and CT3 group, respectively, with no significant
      inter-group differences. However, white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein and
      glucose levels at 24 h after the surgical procedure showed significant
      differences between the three groups (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The
      occurrence of post-operative infection in patients undergoing colorectal cancer
      surgery was not associated with operation timing. The expression of several
      inflammatory markers, such as white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein and
      blood glucose levels tended to correlate with the surgery start time.

PMID- 26887846
TI  - High-throughput microfluidic device for single cell analysis using multiple
      integrated soft lithographic pumps.
AB  - The ability to accurately control fluid transport in microfluidic devices is key
      for developing high-throughput methods for single cell analysis. Making small,
      reproducible changes to flow rates, however, to optimize lysis and injection
      using pumps external to the microfluidic device are challenging and time
      consuming. To improve the throughput and increase the number of cells analyzed,
      we have integrated previously reported micropumps into a microfluidic device that
      can increase the cell analysis rate to ~1000 cells/h and operate for over an hour
      continuously. In order to increase the flow rates sufficiently to handle cells at
      a higher throughput, three sets of pumps were multiplexed. These pumps are
      simple, low-cost, durable, easy to fabricate, and biocompatible. They provide
      precise control of the flow rate up to 9.2 nL/s. These devices were used to
      automatically transport, lyse, and electrophoretically separate T-Lymphocyte
      cells loaded with Oregon green and 6-carboxyfluorescein. Peak overlap statistics
      predicted the number of fully resolved single-cell electropherograms seen. In
      addition, there was no change in the average fluorescent dye peak areas
      indicating that the cells remained intact and the dyes did not leak out of the
      cells over the 1 h analysis time. The cell lysate peak area distribution followed
      that expected of an asynchronous steady-state population of immortalized cells.

PMID- 26887847
TI  - A comparison of heterosexual and LGBTQ cancer survivors' outlooks on
      relationships, family building, possible infertility, and patient-doctor
      fertility risk communication.
AB  - PURPOSE: Little research about cancer-related infertility has examined the
      experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ)
      cancer survivors. This research seeks to understand how LGBTQ survivors are
      similar to or different from heterosexual survivors with respect to cancer
      treatments' effects on relationships, plans for parenthood, and fertility
      preservation decision making. METHODS: Semi-structured telephone interviews
      conducted with adolescent or young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (n = 56) were
      coded for themes. Interviews consisted of questions about pre- and post-diagnosis
      thoughts about relationships, parenthood, possible infertility, and how
      information about fertility risks was received. RESULTS: While LGBTQ (n = 22) and
      heterosexual (n = 34) survivors reported similar challenges when dating post
      diagnosis, heterosexual survivors were more likely to report fertility concerns
      as affecting romantic relationships (p < .05). LGBTQ survivors seemed more open
      to raising non-biological children or not becoming a parent than heterosexual
      survivors. LGBTQ survivors generally reported being satisfied with or indifferent
      to the information that they were given regarding fertility loss, despite
      reporting receiving similar amounts of information as compared to heterosexual
      patients (p < .10). CONCLUSIONS: LGBTQ patients' views on relationships,
      parenthood, and family building seemed to result in less distress when faced with
      infertility. However, interventions facilitating information exchange about
      dating, fertility risks, and family building options may be valuable to LGBTQ and
      heterosexual cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: LGBTQ cancer
      survivors may display more adaptive coping with respect to relationships and
      fertility loss. Oncology professionals may want to proactively introduce positive
      coping strategies to reduce distress among AYA cancer survivors at risk for
      infertility.

PMID- 26887848
TI  - Corrigendum: Loess Plateau storage of Northeastern Tibetan Plateau-derived Yellow
      River sediment.

PMID- 26887850
TI  - Seqotron: a user-friendly sequence editor for Mac OS X.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate multiple sequence alignment is central to bioinformatics and
      molecular evolutionary analyses. Although sophisticated sequence alignment
      programs are available, manual adjustments are often required to improve
      alignment quality. Unfortunately, few programs offer a simple and intuitive way
      to edit sequence alignments. RESULTS: We present Seqotron, a sequence editor that
      reads and writes files in a wide variety of sequence formats. Sequences can be
      easily aligned and manually edited using the mouse and keyboard. The program also
      allows the user to estimate both phylogenetic trees and distance matrices.
      CONCLUSIONS: Seqotron will benefit researchers who need to manipulate and align
      complex sequence data. Seqotron is a Mac OS X compatible open source project and
      is available from Github https://github.com/4ment/seqotron/.

PMID- 26887849
TI  - In-line three-dimensional holography of nanocrystalline objects at atomic
      resolution.
AB  - Resolution and sensitivity of the latest generation aberration-corrected
      transmission electron microscopes allow the vast majority of single atoms to be
      imaged with sub-Angstrom resolution and their locations determined in an image
      plane with a precision that exceeds the 1.9-pm wavelength of 300 kV electrons.
      Such unprecedented performance allows expansion of electron microscopic
      investigations with atomic resolution into the third dimension. Here we report a
      general tomographic method to recover the three-dimensional shape of a
      crystalline particle from high-resolution images of a single projection without
      the need for sample rotation. The method is compatible with low dose rate
      electron microscopy, which improves on signal quality, while minimizing electron
      beam-induced structure modifications even for small particles or surfaces. We
      apply it to germanium, gold and magnesium oxide particles, and achieve a depth
      resolution of 1-2 A, which is smaller than inter-atomic distances. 

PMID- 26887851
TI  - Protein aggregation and membrane lipid modifications under lactic acid stress in
      wild type and OPI1 deleted Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lactic acid is a versatile chemical platform with many different
      industrial applications. Yeasts have been demonstrated as attractive alternative
      to natural lactic acid producers since they can grow at low pH, allowing the
      direct purification of the product in the desired acidic form. However, when very
      high concentrations of organic acids are reached, the major limitation for a
      viable production is the toxic effect of the product. The accumulation in the
      cytosol of H(+) and of the weak organic counter-anions triggers a cellular
      reprogramming. Here, the effects of lactic acid exposure on Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae have been evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)
      microspectroscopy. In addition to -omic techniques, describing these responses in
      terms of systems and networks, FTIR microspectroscopy allows a rapid acquisition
      of the cellular biochemical fingerprint, providing information on the major
      classes of macromolecules. RESULTS: FTIR analyses on Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      cells under lactic acid stress at low pH revealed some still uncharacterized
      traits: (1) a direct correlation between lactic acid exposure and a rearrangement
      in lipid hydrocarbon tails, together with a decrease in the signals of
      phosphatidylcholine (PC), one of the main components of cell membrane; (2) a
      rearrangement in the cell wall carbohydrates, including glucans and mannans (3) a
      significant yet transient protein aggregation, possibly responsible for the
      observed transient decrease of the growth rate. When repeated on the isogenic
      strain deleted in OPI1, encoding for a transcriptional repressor of genes
      involved in PC biosynthesis, FTIR analysis revealed that not only the PC levels
      were affected but also the cell membrane/wall composition and the accumulation of
      protein aggregates, resulting in higher growth rate in the presence of the
      stressing agent. CONCLUSIONS: This work revealed novel effects evoked by lactic
      acid on cell membrane/wall composition and protein aggregation in S. cerevisiae
      cells. We consequently demonstrated that the targeted deletion of OPI1 resulted
      in improved lactic acid tolerance. Considering that stress response involves many
      and different cellular networks and regulations, most of which are still not
      implemented in modelling, these findings constitute valuable issues for
      interpreting cellular rewiring and for tailoring ameliorated cell factories for
      lactic acid production.

PMID- 26887852
TI  - Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Status and Treatment Outcome for R0
      Resected Patients with Stage 3 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association of epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status with treatment outcome for patients with
      stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had undergone a complete (R0)
      resection. METHODS: The study identified 3445 NSCLC patients tested for EGFR
      mutations between September 2001 and December 2011 at the Sun Yat-Sen University
      Cancer Center. Of these patients, 224 were stage 3 patients who had undergone R0
      resections. RESULTS: These 224 R0-resected, pathologic stage 3A and 3B patients
      included 150 patients with wild-type EGFR and 74 patients with EGFR mutations.
      During a median follow-up period of 42 months (range, 4-133 months), pathologic
      stage was shown to be the only prognostic factor. The 3-year overall survival
      (OS) rates did not differ significantly from the OS rates for the wild-type and
      mutant EGFR groups (62.0 vs 67.2 %; p = 0.789). Multivariate analyses indicated
      that the patients in the mutant EGFR group with EGFR exon 19 mutations had a
      better OS rate (73.0 vs 61.1 %; p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer stage remained
      the significant prognostic factor in R0-resected stage 3 NSCLC patients. The
      presence of an EGFR mutation is more likely to be a predictive marker for the
      response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In the EGFR mutant group,
      the patients with an exon 19 mutation had better 3-year OS rates. These findings
      might be considered in future study designs.

PMID- 26887853
TI  - Role of Extended Thromboprophylaxis After Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery in Cancer
      Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abdominopelvic cancer surgery increases the risk of postoperative
      venous thromboembolism (VTE). Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)
      thromboprophylaxis is recommended, and the role of extended thromboprophylaxis
      (ETP) is controversial. We performed a systematic review to determine the effect
      of ETP on deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeding,
      and all-cause mortality after abdominal or pelvic cancer surgery. METHODS: A
      search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
      was undertaken, and studies were included if they compared extended duration (2-6
      weeks) with conventional duration of thromboprophylaxis (2 weeks or less) after
      cancer surgery. Pooled relative risk (RR) was estimated using a random effects
      model. RESULTS: Seven randomized and prospective studies were included,
      comprising 4807 adult patients. ETP was associated with a significantly reduced
      incidence of all VTEs [2.6 vs. 5.6 %; RR 0.44, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.28
      0.70, number needed to treat (NNT) = 39] and proximal DVT (1.4 vs. 2.8 %; RR
      0.46, 95 % CI 0.23-0.91, NNT = 71). There was no statistically significant
      difference in the incidence of symptomatic PE (0.8 vs. 1.3 %; RR 0.56, 95 % CI
      0.23-1.40), major bleeding (1.8 vs. 1.0 %; RR 1.19, 95 % CI 0.47-2.97), and all
      cause mortality (4.2 vs. 3.6 %; RR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.47-1.33). None of the outcomes
      differed if randomized trials were analyzed independently. CONCLUSIONS: ETP after
      abdominal or pelvic surgery for cancer significantly decreased the incidence of
      all VTEs and proximal DVTs, but had no impact on symptomatic PE, major bleeding,
      or 3-month mortality. ETP should be routinely considered in the setting of
      abdominal and pelvic surgery for cancer patients.

PMID- 26887854
TI  - Association Between Socio-Demographic Background and Self-Esteem of University
      Students.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to scrutinize self-esteem of university students
      and explore association of self-esteem with academic achievement, gender and
      other factors. A sample of 346 students was selected from Punjab University,
      Lahore Pakistan. Rosenberg self-esteem scale with demographic variables was used
      for data collection. Besides descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression
      and t test were used for analysing the data. Significant gender difference was
      observed, self-esteem was significantly higher in males than females. Logistic
      regression indicates that age, medium of instruction, family income, student
      monthly expenditures, GPA and area of residence has direct effect on self-esteem;
      while number of siblings showed an inverse effect.

PMID- 26887855
TI  - Abuse of Gabapentin is Associated with Opioid Addiction.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of gabapentin misuse in a
      dually diagnosed correctional population, and to evaluate if this abuse is
      specific to the presence of an opioid use disorder (OUD). Two-hundred and fifty
      former inmates, living in a correctional community center, who were referred for
      a psychiatric evaluation, were asked, through a brief written questionnaire,
      whether or not they used the following drugs for non-medical use in the past:
      opiates, gabapentin, buproprion, quetiapine, and fluoxetine. The average age of
      this population was 37.2 +/- 12.1 years (n = 250). Sixty-four percent were male,
      72 % were white, 27 % were black, and 1 % was Hispanic. All patients had
      substance use disorders, the large majority (72 %) to more than one substance.
      Fifty-eight percent had an opioid use disorder, again mostly in combination with
      other drugs and/or alcohol. Depressive disorders and attention deficit
      hyperactivity disorder were the most common psychiatric conditions. Sixty-two
      percent of patients reported prescription drug misuse of any kind. As expected, a
      high percent (55 %) reported opiate misuse. No patient reported fluoxetine
      misuse. Sixteen percent reported having misused gabapentin in the past. Of
      patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD: n = 145), 26 % endorsed gabapentin
      abuse while only 4 % of patients without an OUD (n = 105) endorsed the non
      medical use of gabapentin. This difference was highly statistically significant
      (Chi square chi2 = 21.6, p < 0.0001). A growing concern about gabapentin misuse
      was supported in this study: 26 percent of opiate addicted patients reported
      illegally obtaining, overusing, or malingering problems to obtain gabapentin.
      This study highlights the fact that gabapentin abuse appears specific to an
      opioid addicted population.

PMID- 26887857
TI  - Nano-clustering of ligands on surrogate antigen presenting cells modulates T cell
      membrane adhesion and organization.
AB  - We investigate the adhesion and molecular organization of the plasma membrane of
      T lymphocytes interacting with a surrogate antigen presenting cell comprising
      glass supported ordered arrays of antibody (alpha-CD3) nano-dots dispersed in a
      non-adhesive matrix of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The local membrane adhesion and
      topography, as well as the distribution of the T cell receptors (TCRs) and the
      kinase ZAP-70, are influenced by dot-geometry, whereas the cell spreading area is
      determined by the overall average density of the ligands rather than specific
      characteristics of the dots. TCR clusters are recruited preferentially to the
      nano-dots and the TCR cluster size distribution has a weak dot-size dependence.
      On the patterns, the clusters are larger, more numerous, and more enriched in
      TCRs, as compared to the homogeneously distributed ligands at comparable
      concentrations. These observations support the idea that non-ligated TCRs
      residing in the non-adhered parts of the proximal membrane are able to diffuse
      and enrich the existing clusters at the ligand dots. However, long distance
      transport is impaired and cluster centralization in the form of a central
      supramolecular cluster (cSMAC) is not observed. Time-lapse imaging of early cell
      surface contacts indicates that the ZAP-70 microclusters are directly recruited
      to the site of the antibody dots and this process is concomitant with membrane
      adhesion. These results together point to a complex interplay of adhesion,
      molecular organization and activation in response to spatially modulated
      stimulation. 

PMID- 26887856
TI  - Electroconvulsive Therapy in Women: A Retrospective Study from a Mental Health
      Hospital in Turkey.
AB  - The aim was to evaluate the clinical profile and effectiveness of ECT in women. A
      retrospective chart review was carried out to identify female patients who had
      received ECT during the period September 2013-February 2015. Details regarding
      their sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment data were extracted from these
      records for the present study. The total number of patients, admitted to our
      psychiatry inpatient clinic during the survey period, was 802. During this
      period, 26 (3.24 %) female patients received ECT. Patients who received ECT were
      mostly in age group of 25-44 years (76.9 %). Twenty percent of patients were in
      the postpartum period. Psychotic disorders (46.1 %) was the most common diagnosis
      for which ECT was used, followed by bipolar affective disorder, current episode
      manic (19.2 %). At the end of ECT courses, 70 % of the patients showed good
      response with a CGI-I of 1 or 2, and 30 % showed minimal response with a CGI-I
      score of 3. The most common side effects were post-ECT confusion (15.4 %) and
      prolonged seizure (11.5 %). This rate of prolonged seizure was higher the rates
      reported in the literature. The bronchospasm related with remifentanil, post-ECT
      bradycardia, hypertensive crisis and oligohydramnios were also reported in one
      case each. ECT is a safe and effective treatment option in women with severe
      psychiatric disorders and disorders in the perinatal/postpartum period are a
      major area of ECT use. The female gender may be a contributing factor for the
      higher rates of prolonged seizure.

PMID- 26887858
TI  - Autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa with homozygous rhodopsin mutation E150K
      and non-coding cis-regulatory variants in CRX-binding regions of SAMD7.
AB  - The aim of this study was to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of an unusual
      retinitis pigmentosa (RP) phenotype observed in a Turkish consanguineous family.
      Homozygosity mapping revealed two candidate genes, SAMD7 and RHO. A homozygous
      RHO mutation c.448G > A, p.E150K was found in two affected siblings, while no
      coding SAMD7 mutations were identified. Interestingly, four non-coding homozygous
      variants were found in two SAMD7 genomic regions relevant for binding of the
      retinal transcription factor CRX (CRX-bound regions, CBRs) in these affected
      siblings. Three variants are located in a promoter CBR termed CBR1, while the
      fourth is located more downstream in CBR2. Transcriptional activity of these
      variants was assessed by luciferase assays and electroporation of mouse retinal
      explants with reporter constructs of wild-type and variant SAMD7 CBRs. The
      combined CBR2/CBR1 variant construct showed significantly decreased SAMD7
      reporter activity compared to the wild-type sequence, suggesting a cis-regulatory
      effect on SAMD7 expression. As Samd7 is a recently identified Crx-regulated
      transcriptional repressor in retina, we hypothesize that these SAMD7 variants
      might contribute to the retinal phenotype observed here, characterized by
      unusual, recognizable pigment deposits, differing from the classic spicular
      intraretinal pigmentation observed in other individuals homozygous for p.E150K,
      and typically associated with RP in general.

PMID- 26887859
TI  - The Validation of a Spanish Version of the Multidimensional Inventory of
      Religious/Spiritual Well-Being in Mexican College Students.
AB  - After the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB)
      was validated as a reliable instrument for the Western European context it is
      primarily intended in this study to translate the measure into Spanish and adapt
      it for the Mexican culture. Furthermore we investigate whether
      spirituality/religiosity has a similar impact on indicators of personality and
      subjective well-being in Mexico as it does in samples drawn from Western European
      cultures. 190 students (99 females) from public and private universities in
      Guadalajara, all Mexican citizens, were involved in this study. We found strong
      evidential support for the six factor solution of the Original MI-RSWB in this
      Mexican population. By mirroring previous research the measure showed a highly
      satisfying internal consistency (alpha = .91 for the total score and .75 or
      higher for all six sub dimensions). Furthermore the total RSWB score was observed
      to be related with Eysenck's personality dimensions Extraversion (r = .24, p <
      .01), and Psychoticism (r = -.28, p < .001), although not with Neuroticism. There
      was also a positive correlation with Sense of Coherence (r = .31, p < .001). In
      conclusion, the dimensionality of RSWB and its associations with personality and
      subjective well-being was well supported in this first application within a
      Mexican cultural context. 

PMID- 26887861
TI  - Exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field induced ceramide generation in cultured cells.
AB  - Purpose To investigate the effects of a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure on
      ceramide metabolism, as well as the cascade downstream signaling pathways in
      human amniotic (FL) cells. Materials and methods FL cells were exposed to MF at
      0.4 mT for different durations (from 5-60 min). The ceramides levels were
      analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
      (HPLC-MS/MS). The activity of cathepsin D was assayed using a fluorometric assay
      kit, and the activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) was examined by Western
      blotting. After exposing to MF at 0.4 mT for 60 min with sequential culture for
      different durations (0, 3, 6, 12 or 36 h), the rate of cell apoptosis was
      assessed by flow cytometry. Results Exposing cells to MF at 0.4 mT for different
      durations caused a significant increase in ceramide production via de novo
      synthesis and hydrolysis of sphingomyelin (SM), and the effect was different
      according to the exposure time. However, no significant change in cell apoptosis
      was detected after MF exposure for 60 min with sequentially culturing for up to
      36 h. In addition, increase in ceramide did not activate its downstream signal
      molecules, cathepsin D and PP2A, which are usually closely related to apoptosis
      of cells. Conclusions Exposure to a 50-Hz MF could raise ceramide levels but had
      no significant effect on apoptosis in cultured cells. 

PMID- 26887860
TI  - Follicular regulatory T cells repress cytokine production by follicular helper T
      cells and optimize IgG responses in mice.
AB  - Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells provide crucial help to germinal center B (GCB)
      cells for proper antibody production, and a specialized subset of regulatory T
      cells, follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells, modulate this process. However, Tfr
      cell function in the GC is not well understood. Here, we define Tfr cells as a
      CD4(+) Foxp3(+) CXCR5(hi) PD-1(hi) CD25(low) TIGIT(high) T-cell population.
      Furthermore, we have used a novel mouse model ("Bcl6FC") to delete the Bcl6 gene
      in Foxp3(+) T cells and thus specifically deplete Tfr cells. Following
      immunization, Bcl6FC mice develop normal Tfh- and GCB-cell populations. However,
      Bcl6FC mice produce altered antigen-specific antibody responses, with reduced
      titers of IgG and significantly increased IgA. Bcl6FC mice also developed IgG
      antibodies with significantly decreased avidity to antigen in an HIV-1 gp120
      "prime-boost" vaccine model. In an autoimmune lupus model, we observed strongly
      elevated anti-DNA IgA titers in Bcl6FC mice. Additionally, Tfh cells from Bcl6FC
      mice consistently produce higher levels of Interferon-gamma, IL-10 and IL-21.
      Loss of Tfr cells therefore leads to highly abnormal Tfh-cell and GCB-cell
      responses. Overall, our study has uncovered unique regulatory roles for Tfr cells
      in the GC response.

PMID- 26887862
TI  - Short Communication: Persistence of HIV Antibody Avidity in the Presence of
      Antiretroviral Therapy.
AB  - The effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the performance of HIV incidence
      assays have been well documented. To improve upon current assay approaches or
      focus the development of future assays, studies are needed to characterize the
      effects of ART on all candidate HIV incidence assays. In this study, we compared
      the performance of three antibody avidity-based HIV incidence assays, the
      Limiting Antigen (LAg), Bio-Rad Avidity, and HIV-1 Multiplex assays, using a well
      defined cohort of recent HIV-1 seroconverters composed of ART-naive HIV-1
      infected individuals and those who received ART early or delayed in the course of
      infection. Differences in the performance of all three avidity-based incidence
      assays were noted with study subjects who received ART. The LAg assay and
      Multiplex total antibody measurements (nMFI) exhibited similar kinetics in
      reactivity, as these assays tended to fluctuate with changes in viral load. In
      the early ART group, all seven subjects remained recent by both assays at time
      points >1 year postseroconversion, and assay values declined dramatically
      postdelayed ART initiation. In contrast, the two-well, antibody-dissociation
      avidity assays, Bio-Rad Avidity and Multiplex avidity index (AI) measurements,
      continued to mature in the early ART group, although blunted relative to the ART
      naive group, and assay values remained stable after delayed ART initiation. In
      summary, although the HIV incidence assays evaluated in this study are all
      designed to measure antibody avidity, each assay is affected differently by ART
      induced virus suppression, presumably because of the distinct assay formats and
      procedures for measuring avidity.

PMID- 26887863
TI  - Emerging role of lipid droplets in Aedes aegypti immune response against bacteria
      and Dengue virus.
AB  - In mammals, lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous organelles that modulate immune
      and inflammatory responses through the production of lipid mediators. In insects,
      it is unknown whether LDs play any role during the development of immune
      responses. We show that Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells - an immune responsive cell
      lineage - accumulates LDs when challenged with Enterobacter cloacae, Sindbis, and
      Dengue viruses. Microarray analysis of Aag2 challenged with E.cloacae or infected
      with Dengue virus revealed high transcripts levels of genes associated with lipid
      storage and LDs biogenesis, correlating with the increased LDs numbers in those
      conditions. Similarly, in mosquitoes, LDs accumulate in midgut cells in response
      to Serratia marcescens and Sindbis virus or when the native microbiota
      proliferates, following a blood meal. Also, constitutive activation of Toll and
      IMD pathways by knocking-down their respective negative modulators (Cactus and
      Caspar) increases LDs numbers in the midgut. Our results show for the first time
      an infection-induced LDs accumulation in response to both bacterial and viral
      infections in Ae. Aegypti, and we propose a role for LDs in mosquito immunity.
      These findings open new venues for further studies in insect immune responses
      associated with lipid metabolism. 

PMID- 26887864
TI  - The current role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in the management of intracranial
      haemangiopericytoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Haemangiopericytomas (HPCs) are rare tumours characterised by
      aggressive behaviour with tendency to local recurrence and to metastasise. WHO
      grade II and grade III tumours show different progression-free survival and
      overall survival rates. Gross total tumour resection is still considered the
      treatment of choice. Adjuvant radiation therapies represent an option in the
      treatment strategy regardless the extent of resection. Based on this
      consideration, Gamma Knife radiosurgery has been introduced either as a primary
      treatment or as an adjuvant treatment for residual or recurrent tumours. METHOD:
      A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar
      for clinical series reporting Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Cyberknife and Linear
      Accelerator (LINAC) for the management of intracranial HPCs. RESULTS: Fourteen
      studies focusing on the effects of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for intracranial HPCs
      were included. Four studies reported data on Cyberknife radiosurgery and LINAC. A
      total of 208 patients harbouring 366 tumours have been reported. Patient's
      features, radiosurgical treatment characteristics and follow-up data of the
      pertinent literature have been critically revised. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma Knife
      radiosurgery and the other radiosurgical techniques represent a feasible and
      effective therapy in the management of HPCs. Tumour control and survival rate are
      comparable to those reported for radiotherapy. Further studies should be focused
      to define the exact role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in the management of HPCs.

PMID- 26887865
TI  - Association of mental health disorders and Medicaid with ED admissions for
      ambulatory care-sensitive condition conditions.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Adult Medicaid enrollees are more likely to have mental health
      disorders (MHDs) than privately insured patients and also have high rates of
      emergency department (ED) visits for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions
      (ACSCs). We aimed to evaluate the association of MHD and insurance type with ED
      admissions for ACSC in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional
      study of ED visits made by adults aged 18 to 64 years using the corrected 2011
      National Emergency Department Survey. Using multivariable logistic regression
      analysis, we controlled for sociodemographics and clinical variables to determine
      the association between insurance type, MHD, Medicaid, and MHD (as an interaction
      variable) and ED admissions for ACSC. RESULTS: There were 131 million ED visits
      in 2011; after exclusions, 1.4 million admissions were included in our study. Of
      all ED visits, 44.7% had an MHD, of which 49.9% were covered by Medicaid and
      38.1% were covered by private insurance. A total of 32.6% (95% confidence
      interval, 32.5%-32.7%) of ED admissions were for an ACSC. Medicaid-covered ED
      visits were more likely to result in ACSC hospital admission (odds ratio, 1.32;
      95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.35) compared with visits covered by private
      insurance. Among patients with MHD, those with Medicaid insurance had 1.6 times
      the odds of ACSC admission compared with those privately insured. CONCLUSION:
      Among all ED admissions, patients covered by Medicaid are more likely to be
      admitted for an ACSC when compared with those covered by private insurance, with
      a larger association being present among patients with MHD comorbidities.

PMID- 26887867
TI  - Persistent perceptual grouping effects in the evaluation of simple arithmetic
      expressions.
AB  - Landy and Goldstone (2007a, 2010) demonstrated that an explicit rule, operator
      precedence for simple arithmetic expressions, is enforced in part by perceptual
      processes like unit formation and attention. When perceptual grouping competes
      with operator precedence, errors increase. We replicated this result (Exp. 1) and
      investigated whether perceptual grouping effects persist when the visual stimulus
      is presented briefly and then masked (Exp. 2) and when verbal recoding is
      encouraged through vocal expression (Exp. 3). We found that perceptual-grouping
      effects persisted in the masking condition, suggesting that the mental
      representations of arithmetic expressions retain visuospatial characteristics.
      Similarly, verbalization of the expressions did not eliminate perceptual-grouping
      effects, suggesting that participants were not verbally recoding. In sum, the
      persistent effects of unit formation and spatial attention emphasize the
      importance of perceptual processing in the development of human expertise in this
      domain.

PMID- 26887869
TI  - [Expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of intrauterine adhesions in
      China].

PMID- 26887870
TI  - [Application of laparoscopic surgery on gynecologic malignancies].

PMID- 26887868
TI  - Caveolae Restrict Tiger Frog Virus Release in HepG2 cells and Caveolae-Associated
      Proteins Incorporated into Virus Particles.
AB  - Caveolae are flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. Caveolae play
      important roles in the process of viruses entry into host cells, but the roles of
      caveolae at the late stage of virus infection were not completely understood.
      Tiger frog virus (TFV) has been isolated from the diseased tadpoles of the frog,
      Rana tigrina rugulosa, and causes high mortality of tiger frog tadpoles cultured
      in Southern China. In the present study, the roles of caveolae at the late stage
      of TFV infection were investigated. We showed that TFV virions were localized
      with the caveolae at the late stage of infection in HepG2 cells. Disruption of
      caveolae by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin/nystatin or knockdown of caveolin-1
      significantly increase the release of TFV. Moreover, the interaction between
      caveolin-1 and TFV major capsid protein was detected by co-immunoprecipitation.
      Those results suggested that caveolae restricted TFV release from the HepG2
      cells. Caveolae-associated proteins (caveolin-1, caveolin-2, cavin-1, and cavin
      2) were selectively incorporated into TFV virions. Different combinations of
      proteolytic and/or detergent treatments with virions showed that caveolae
      associated proteins were located in viral capsid of TFV virons. Taken together,
      caveolae might be a restriction factor that affects virus release and caveolae
      associated proteins were incorporated in TFV virions.

PMID- 26887871
TI  - [Summary of the first conference of the twelfth editorial board of Chinese
      Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology].

PMID- 26887872
TI  - [Long-term oncological outcomes after laparoscopic versus abdominal radical
      hysterectomy in stage I a2- II a2 cervical cancer: a matched cohort study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long- term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic
      radical hysterectomy (LRH) plus lymph node dissection (LND) and abdominal radical
      hysterectomy (ARH) plus LND for patients with stage Ia2-IIa2 cervical cancer.
      METHODS: A retrospective review of stage Ia2- II a2 cervical cancer patients who
      underwent LRH + LND (n=372) and ARH + LND (n=434) at the First Affiliated
      Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University from Jan. 2005 to Aug. 2013 was performed.
      Individual patient matching was performed by the risk factors for recurrence
      [tumor size, lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI), depth of cervical stromal
      invasion, lymph node metastasis, parametrial involvement, and resection margin
      involvement] between two groups. After matched, a total of 203 patient pairs (LRH
      ARH) were enrolled. The survival data, surgery data, intraoperative and
      postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. To assess the
      prognosis factors, the univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards
      model analysis were conducted. Stratified analysis was performed based on the
      independent prognosis factors to investigate the survival data between the two
      surgery groups. RESULTS: (1) Surgery data: The operating time [(239+/-44) vs
      (270+/-42) minutes], estimated blood loss [(210+/-129) vs (428+/-320) ml], the
      duration of bowel motility return [(2.0+/-0.8) vs (3.0+/-1.6) days] and hospital
      stay [(11+/-6) vs (13+/-6) days] in the LRH group were significantly shorter than
      those in ARH group (all P<0.01). (2) Intraoperative and postoperative
      complications: The intraoperative complications rate was similar betweentwo
      groups [6.4%(13/203) vs 6.9%(14/203), P=1.000]. The rate of postoperative
      complications (excluded bladder dysfunction) in the LRH group were significantly
      lower than those in the ARH group [9.4% (19/203) vs 20.2% (41/203), P=0.002].
      While there was no significant difference in the rates of bladder dysfunction
      between two groups [36.5% (74/203) vs 37.4% (76/203), P=0.910]. (3) Recurrence
      and survival data: There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates
      between the LRH group and ARH groups [7.9% (16/203) vs 9.4% (19/203), P=0.850].
      There were similar 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS; 92.1% vs 91.1%, P=0.790)
      and 5-year overall survival (OS; 93.7% vs 96.1%, P=0.900). (4) Prognosis factor:
      In univariate analysis, the results showed that tumor size, International
      Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, adjuvant therapy, LVSI,
      stromal invasion, parametrium invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis, and para
      aortic lymph node metastasis were significantly associated with poor prognosis
      (all P<0.01). However, age, body mass index (BMI), surgery type, histological
      type, grade were not significantly associated with poor prognosis (all P>0.05).
      The multivariate analysis results, showed that tumor size, pelvic lymph node
      metastasis,and para- aortic lymph node metastasis were significantly associated
      with poor prognosis (all P<0.01). Stratified analysis showed that, even in
      patients with tumor size >4 cm, pelvic lymph node metastasis positive, and para
      aortic lymph node metastasis positive in all subgroups, there were not
      significant difference for the estimated 5-year RFS and 5-year OS between LRH and
      ARH group (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: For patients with stage Ia2-IIa2 cervical
      cancer, LRH plus lymph node dissection is an oncologically safe and surgical
      feasible alternative to ARH.

PMID- 26887873
TI  - [Comparison of the short-term and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery
      for early-stage endometrial cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short- term and long- term outcomes after laparoscopic
      surgery compared with traditional laparotomy in patients with stage I-II
      endometrial cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study of population among 673
      patientsfor early-stage endometrial cancer between Jan. 2007 and May 2014 was
      involved from 6 third-grade class-A communal hospitals in Guangxi. Three hundred
      and seventy-six cases were performed by laparoscopy, 297 cases by laparotomy. The
      t-test and chi(2) test was used to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes.
      The short-term outcomes including surgical related outcomes and operative
      complications, the long- term outcomes including quality of life (pelvic floor
      functions and sexual functions), survival analysis and recurrence. The
      International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary
      Tract Sympotom (ICIQ- FLUTS) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were
      used to assess pelvic floor function and sexual function. Survival rates were
      estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The survival curves were compared by log-rank
      test. Cox regression analysis was used to select the risk factors for prognosis.
      RESULTS: (1) The short-term outcomes: There were significant difference in
      operative time [(258+/-71) vs (226+/-69) minutes], estimated blood loss [(343+/-
      211) vs (491+/-411) ml], anus exhausting time [(2.3+/-0.9) vs (2.9+/-1.0) days],
      preserved days of installing catheter [(7 +/- 5) vs (10+/-8) days], post-
      operative length of stay [(12 +/- 7) vs (18 +/- 12) days] between laparoscopic
      group andlaparotomy group (all P <0.05). While, there was no significant
      difference in lymph nodes yielded (21+/-8 vs 21+/-11; P>0.05),the intra-operative
      complications occurred [8.5%(32/376) vs 10.4%(31/297); P>0.05], and the post
      operative complications [18.1% (68/376) vs 22.2% (66/297); P>0.05] between
      laparoscopic group and laparotomy group. However, the complications of vascular
      injury and the poor wound healing in laparoscopic group were respectively lower
      than those in laparotomy group [1.9%(7/376) vs 5.4% (16/297), P=0.003; and 0.3%
      (1/376) vs 4.7% (14/297), P<0.01]. (2) The long- term outcomes: There were no
      significant differences in overall survival (OS) and the degree of incontinence
      in ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire between the two groups (all P >0.05). The sexual
      desire and sexual satisfaction scores dimension after 12 months of post-
      operative in FSFI questionnaire in the laparoscopic group were higher than those
      in laparotomy group (all P <0.05). However, there were no significant differences
      in sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm and sexual pain dimension scores
      between the two groups (all P >0.05). The recurrence rate was 12.0%(45/376) in
      laparoscopic group and 14.5%(43/297) in laparotomy group (P= 0.269). The 5-year
      OS was 89.5% in the laparoscopic group and 87.2% in the open group (P >0.05) ,
      and the 5-year free-progression survival rate was 87.9% in the laparoscopic group
      and 85.1% in the open group (P >0.05). (3) Prognostic factors in laparoscopic
      group: The univariate analysis shown that pathological type, surgical
      pathological staging, deep myometrial invasion, and retroperitoneal lymph node
      positive were significantly affected prognosis in laparoscopic group (all
      P<0.01). The multivariate analyses showed that pathological type and surgical
      pathological stage were the independent prognostic factors (all P<0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy could reduce estimated blood loss, accelerate
      postoperative recovery and improve the quality of life after surgery compared to
      laparotomy, also ensure the same oncologically results as that by laparotomy. So,
      laparoscopic approach is a safe and effective treatment method for early- stage
      endometrial cancer.

PMID- 26887874
TI  - [Value of laparoscopic surgery in the diagnosis of suspected gestational
      trophoblastic neoplasia cases with uterine mass].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of laparoscopic surgery in the diagnosis of
      suspected gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) cases with uterine mass.
      METHODS: The clinical characteristics of patients underwent laparoscopic surgery
      for a suspected diagnosis of GTN with uterine mass in Peking Union Medical
      College Hospital from November 2009 to November 2014 were retrospectively
      reviewed and analyzed. GTN and other pregnant-related disease were definitely
      diagnosed by pathological findings. The prognoses of the GTN cases were also
      investigated. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with a suspected diagnosis of GTN with
      uterine mass were studied. Among them, 17 cases were definitely diagnosed as GTN,
      including 8 choriocarcinoma, 5 invasive mole and 4 placental site trophoblastic
      tumor (PSTT). The other 45 cases were diagnosed as benign pregnancy-related
      diseases, including 29 cornual pregnancy, 6 cesarean scar pregnancy, 5 placenta
      accreta, 4 intramural uterine pregnancy and 1 exaggerated placental site. There
      were no significantly differences between the two groups in average age,
      preoperative value or tendency of beta-hCG, and location or size of lesions
      (P>0.05). More GTN patients showed a history of hydatidiform mole [5/17 vs 4%
      (2/45) , P>0.05], and more patients with benign pregnancy-related disease showed
      a history of cesarean section [38% (17/45) vs 1/17, P>0.05]. No serious
      perioperative complication was found in these patients received laparoscopic
      surgery. All GTN patients achieved complete remission by chemotherapy later.
      Except for 1 case loss, no recurrence was found in 11 low-risk stage I cases with
      an average follow-up period of 11- 66 months, 1 high-risk stage I case with a
      follow-up period of 61 months and 4 cases PSTT with a follow-up period of 13-66
      months. CONCLUSIONS: There were some atypical GTN cases with uterine mass, which
      were difficult to be differentiated from benign pregnancy-related diseases
      according to the clinical characteristics. Laparoscopic surgery with a pathologic
      diagnosis could be an essential way with efficiency and safety.

PMID- 26887876
TI  - [Pay attention to the basic and clinicopathologic research of perineural invasion
      of cervical cancer].

PMID- 26887875
TI  - [Comparison of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic versus abdominal radical
      hysterectomy in the treatment of patients with stage I a2-II b cervical cancer].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy after laparoscopic radical
      hysterectomy (LRH) and abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) in the treatment of
      patients with stage I a2-II b cervical cancer. METHODS: In a retrospective study,
      data were analyzed from patients with International Federation of Gynecology and
      Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ia2-II b cervical cancer underwent LRH or ARH at Union
      Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology;
      First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University; and the
      Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital between 2000 and 2015. Perioperative
      outcomes and survival analysis were compared. RESULTS: (1) The FIGO stages,
      histotypes, metastasis of lymph nodes, lymph vascular space invasion and
      neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly differed between the LRH group and the ARH
      group (all P<0.05). In order to eliminate the effects by the unbalanced data,
      stratified analysis was conducted based on FIGO stage. There were 861 patients in
      stage I a2-I b1 group, including 663 patients in LRH group and 198 patients in
      ARH group. And there were 668 patients in stage I b2-IIb group, including 389
      patients in LRH group and 279 patients in ARH group. (2) In the patients with
      stage I a2- I b1 and I b2- II b tumor, there were no significant difference in
      age, histotype, differentiation degree, parametrial invasion, lymphvasular
      invasion space and neoadjvant chemotherapy between the LRH group and the ARH
      group (all P>0.05). For patients with stage I a2- I b1, the operation time in the
      LRH group was longer than that in the ARH group (P=0.027), and it showed less
      blood loss and lower blood transfusion rate in the LRH group than those in the
      ARH group (all P=0.000). The findings were similar in the patients with stage I
      b2-II b (all P=0.000). (3) There were no significant difference in intraoperative
      complications and postoperative complications between the LRH and the ARH group
      in the patients with stage I a2-I b1 and I b2-IIb, respectively (all P>0.05). (4)
      The median follow- up time was 24 months (range: 1 to 177 months), the recurrence
      rate was 3.6% (38/1 052) in LRH group and 3.1% (15/477) in ARH group,there was
      not significant difference (P>0.05). The estimated 3- year overall survival (OS)
      and the free-progression survival time (PFS) were respectively 92.4% and 91.5% in
      LRH group, and 91.8% and 91.5% in ARH group. There was no significant difference
      in the overall survival (P=0.738) or progress free survival (P=0.990) by log-rank
      test. Moreover, there were no significant difference in OS or PFS between the LRH
      group and the ARH group in patients with stage I a2- I b1 and I b2- II b,
      respectively (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: LRH is safe and effective, and it could be
      used a routine way for the treatment of patients with stage I a2-IIb cervical
      cancer.

PMID- 26887877
TI  - [Analysis of serum lipids levels and the establishment of reference intervals for
      serum lipids in middle and late pregnancy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the serum lipids levels in healthy pregnant women, and to
      establish the reference intervals of serum lipids in middle and late pregnancy.
      METHODS: Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCH), high density lipoprotein
      (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), apo-lipoprotein-A(APO-A) and apo
      lipoprotein-B (APO-B) were measured in 3 200 pregnant women and 3 200 healthy
      women of childbearing age(the control group) from January 2014 to Febuary 2015 in
      Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. In the healthy pregnant
      women, serum lipids were measured at 14-20, 24-28 and 37-40 gestational weeks,
      respectively. All the parameters were detected by Hitachi 7180 automatic
      biochemical analyzer. The test results were calculated and determined by the C28
      A3 standard of the National Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. And the
      normal reference intervals of serum lipids in middle and late pregnancy were
      defined as 2.5%-97.5%. RESULTS: (1) The levels of TG, TCH, HDL, LDL, APO-A and
      APO-B in the control group were 0.8, 4.2, 1.0, 2.7 mmol/L and 1.1, 0.8 g/L,
      respectively. The levels of TG, TCH, HDL, LDL, APO-A and APO-B in middle and late
      pregnancy were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). (2)
      The serum lipids levels at 14-20, 24-28 and 37-40 gestational weeks in healthy
      pregnant women were compared with the control group as following. The TG levels
      were 1.9, 3.8 and 4.4 folds of the control group; the TCH levels were 1.1, 1.5
      and 1.5 folds of the control group; the HDL levels were 1.2, 1.6 and 1.5 folds of
      the control group; the LDL levels were 1.1, 1.4 and 1.4 folds of the control
      group; the APO-A levels were 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 folds of the control group; and the
      APO-B levels were 1.1, 1.5 and 1.5 fold of the control group respectively. The TG
      level was the most increased, and it increased gradually with gestational age
      (P<0.01). (3) The median of LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio in the healthy pregnancy
      group at 14-20, 24-28 and 37-40 gestational weeks were 2.7, 2.5, 2.6,
      respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the control group (2.8;
      P<0.05). (4) Reference intervals of serum lipids at 14-20, 24-28 and 37-40
      gestational weeks in healthy pregnant women were as following. The TG levels were
      0.7-3.9, 1.7-6.3 and 1.6-8.1 mmol/L, respectively; the TCH were 3.3-6.9, 4.3-8.3,
      4.3-8.7 mmol/L, respectively; the HDL were 0.8-1.8, 1.0-2.1 and 1.0-2.1 mmol/L,
      respectively; the LDL were 2.1-4.5, 2.7-5.1 and 2.6-5.2 mmol/L, respectively; the
      APO-A were 1.1-1.8, 1.2-1.9 and 1.1-2.4 g/L, respectively; and the APO-B were 0.6
      1.4, 0.9-1.8 and 0.8-2.1 g/L, respectively. The LDL/HDL ratios were 2.3-3.1, 2.2
      2.9 and 2.1-3.0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum lipids increased
      physiologically with gestational age in middle and late pregnancy. The
      establishment of reference intervals for serum lipids in pregnancy will help to
      distinguish abnormal serum lipid levels in middle and late pregnancy.

PMID- 26887878
TI  - [Analysis of risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in women with
      pancytopenia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the pregnancy outcomes of women with pancytopenia and the
      risk factors for the adverse perinatal outcomes. METHODS: A total of 106 pregnant
      women with pancytopenia were admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from
      Jan. 2005 to Sep. 2014. The clinical data and the pregnancy outcomes were
      reviewed retrospectively to investigate the risk factors for the adverse
      perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: (1 ) Eighty-four patients were found pancytopenia
      before pregnancy while 22 were found for the first time during pregnancy. Sixty
      four patients were diagnosed as aplastic anemia; 30 as myelodysplastic syndrome;
      2 as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; 4 as hypersplenism, and 1 as anti
      phospholipid syndrome. Diagnoses of the remaining 5 patients were uncertain. (2)
      Sixty-nine patients received at least one time blood transfusion before delivery.
      (3) As for the complications, nine women developed gestational diabetes; twenty
      two suffered severe preeclampsia (SPE); two were diagnosed as anemic heart
      disease and three experienced respiratory tract infection. The postpartum blood
      loss ranged from 50 ml to 3 800 ml, with the median of 400 ml. And six women had
      the blood loss more than 1 000 ml. The gestational age at delivery ranged from 24
      weeks to 40 weeks, with the median of 37.0 weeks. (4) Thirty-one patients
      suffered adverse perinatal outcomes, including 3 cases of intrauterine death, 4
      therapeutic labor induction before 28 gestational weeks, 6 premature delivery
      before 34 weeks. There were 2 neonates complicated with intracranial hemorrhage,
      2 with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, 3 with hypoxic-ischemic
      encephalopathy, 2 with severe asphyxia and death, and 14 with small for
      gestational age. Among the patients with adverse perinatal outcomes, 26 women
      received blood transfusion during pregnancy and 17 developed SPE. The maximum and
      the minimum value of their white cell count (WBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb)
      and blood platelet count (BPC) were (4.9+/-1.4)*10(9)/L, (2.9+/-0.8)*10(9)/L,
      (88.6+/-14.9) g/L, (57.9+/-14.5) g/L, (47.7+/-27.4)*10(9)/L and (11.9+/
      12.3)*10(9)/L, respectively. For those patients without adverse perinatal
      outcomes, 43 received blood transfusion during pregnancy and 5 developed SPE. The
      maximum and the minimum value of their WBC, Hb and BPC were (5.2+/-1.5)*10(9)/L,
      (3.2+/-0.9)*10(9)/L, (101.4+/-16.2) g/L, (71.9 +/- 14.5) g/L, (52.3 +/- 24.0) *
      10(9)/L and (19.0+/-12.1) * 10(9)/L, respectively. The multivariate regression
      analyses indicated that SPE, Hb less than 70 g/L and BPC less than 20*10(9)/L
      were the independent risk factors for the poor perinatal outcomes in pregnant
      women with pancytopenia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of adverse perinatal
      complications increased dramatically in pregnant women with pancytopenia.
      Concurrent SPE, minimum Hb less than 70 g/L and minimum BPC less than 20 *
      10(9)/L may be the independent risk factors for the adverse perinatal outcomes.

PMID- 26887879
TI  - [Continuous improvement of portable domestic pelvic floor neuromuscular
      electrical stimulation on the pelvic floor function of patients with urinary
      incontinence].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate continuous improvement of portable domestic pelvic floor
      neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the pelvic floor function of patients
      with stress urinary incontinence after short-term pelvic floor
      electrophysiological treatment in hospital. METHODS: Totally 60 women with stress
      urinary incontinence were recruited for this randomized controlled trial. The
      control group including a total of 30 patients, only received 4 weeks pelvic
      floor electrophysiological treatment in the hospital. Family consolidation
      treatment group (experimental group) including 30 patients, after 4-week
      treatment in hospital, received 12-week of pelvic floor neuromuscular electrical
      stimulation using portable electrical stimulator at home under the guidance of
      doctors. In post-treatment 6 months and 9 months, 1-hour pad test was measured
      for urine leakage, pelvic floor electrical physiological parameters were
      assessed, and subjective improvement of symptoms of urinary incontinence were
      evaluated. All these data were analysed to compare the effect of the two groups.
      RESULTS: In 9 months after treatment, average change of urine leakage, the
      control group and experiment group were (75+/-24)% versus (99+/-3)%, the
      difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). In the experiment group,
      strength of type I muscle (4.4+/-0.7), strength of type II muscle (4.8+/-0.4) and
      pelvic floor dynamic pressure [(96+/-12) cmH(2)O, 1 cmH(2)O=0.098 kPa] were
      better than those of control group [3.2+/-1.0, 4.3+/-0.9, (86+/-10) cmH(2)O,
      respectively], the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).
      Subjective outcome, the control group and experiment group were (6.5+/-2.9)
      versus (1.8+/-1.7), subjective outcome between the two groups had significant
      difference (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: After short-term pelvic floor
      electrophysiological treatment in hospital, the portable domestic pelvic floor
      neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with stress urinary incontinence
      is helpful to continuous improvement of pelvic floor function.

PMID- 26887880
TI  - Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the gingiva.

PMID- 26887881
TI  - Management of a severe case of Gitelman syndrome with poor response to standard
      treatment.
AB  - Gitelman syndrome is an autosomal recessive distal renal tubular disorder caused
      by defective sodium chloride transporters. Biochemically, it presents with
      hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalciuria. It is
      usually managed with oral potassium supplements and potassium-sparing diuretics.
      We report a case of a 28-year-old woman whose condition worsened during
      pregnancy; she became resistant to standard management after delivery of her
      second child. She was managed in a specialist metabolic clinic through a
      comprehensive approach including perseverance with oral potassium supplement,
      weekly intravenous potassium and magnesium infusion, correction of vitamin D
      level and the offering of appropriate dietary advice; this controlled the
      patient's symptoms and prevented repeated hospital admissions. In this case
      report, we illustrate a patient's presentation and diagnosis with Gitelman
      syndrome, discuss triggers of exacerbation, review the relevant literature in
      terms of differential diagnoses and provide practical advice on the management of
      difficult cases in a specialist clinic. 

PMID- 26887882
TI  - Anterior subtalar dislocation with comminuted fracture of the anterior calcaneal
      process.
AB  - Anterior subtalar dislocation is a very rare injury. We report a case of an 81
      year-old woman who had her right foot injured during a motor vehicle accident.
      Radiographs showed anterior subtalar dislocation with comminuted fracture of the
      anterior calcaneal process. The dislocation was closely reduced and protected by
      a short leg cast. One year postinjury, the patient had only mild pain when
      walking on uneven ground. There was mild tenderness over the lateral heel.
      Subtalar motion was mildly painful. There was no pain with ankle motion. 

PMID- 26887884
TI  - Coming full circle: an impressive case of Crohn's disease.

PMID- 26887883
TI  - Childhood-onset eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a rare childhood
      vasculitis mimicking anthrax and eosinophilic leukaemia.
AB  - A 14-year-old boy previously misdiagnosed as having cutaneous anthrax was
      referred with a 2-month history of multiple wide and deep ulceronecrotic lesions
      in the lower extremities, which occurred after contact with animals. Skin biopsy
      was compatible with vasculitis. Further examination at our hospital elicited
      eosinophilia and a history of asthma. On the second day of hospitalisation, he
      developed deep vein thrombosis. A diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with
      polyangiitis (EGPA) was established and intravenous methylprednisolone was
      administered. The patient showed remarkable improvement of the cutaneous lesions.
      Diagnosis of EGPA is challenging in the vasculitic phase and necessitates a
      detailed history that specifically questions the patient for an asthma
      background. This case illustrates a severe cutaneous presentation of EGPA and
      emphasises the difficulty of diagnosis as a result of overlapped signs and
      symptoms with cutaneous anthrax and leukaemia. EGPA should be kept in mind in the
      differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions associated with eosinophilia. 

PMID- 26887885
TI  - Paradoxical reaction to antitubercular treatment in a case of pulmonary
      tuberculosis.
AB  - A 51-year-old man presented with intermittent fever, mild cough and loss of
      appetite of 1-month duration. His sputum smear was positive for acid-fast bacilli
      and his chest radiograph revealed apical infiltrations. The patient was treated
      with antitubercular therapy (ATT), recovered and was well for 1 month, after
      which he suddenly developed focal seizures. MRI of the brain with gadolinium
      enhancement showed high intensity nodular foci in the frontal, parietal and
      occipital regions. The patient was diagnosed as a case of paradoxical reaction to
      ATT, and was successfully managed with continued ATT and adjunctive steroid
      therapy.

PMID- 26887886
TI  - Abatacept experience in steroid and rituximab-resistant focal segmental
      glomerulosclerosis.
AB  - Primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), one of the major causes of
      nephrotic syndrome, eventually results in end-stage renal disease. Currently,
      FSGS is treated with immunosuppressive therapies, which include calcinuerin
      inhibitors (cyclosporine), glucocorticoids, B-cell depleting agents (rituximab)
      and, recently, a T-cell co-stimulatory inhibitor (abatacept). Until recently,
      there had been no cases reporting resistance to all current therapies. We report
      a case of a 62-year-old Caucasian man with biopsy-proven FSGS, who responded well
      to oral prednisolone therapy. However, 2 years later, he had a relapse and failed
      to respond to prednisolone. Subsequent treatments then included cyclosporine,
      rituximab and cyclophosphamide, which were not successful. The patient was then
      administered abatacept, a novel T-cell co-stimulatory inhibitor-though he did not
      experience any side effects, there was no change in proteinuria nor in
      creatinine. 

PMID- 26887888
TI  - Inverted hypopyon in the eye.

PMID- 26887887
TI  - Pseudoacromegaly in pachydermoperiostosis.

PMID- 26887889
TI  - Synthesis of magnetofluorescence Gd-doped CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots with enhanced
      longitudinal relaxivity.
AB  - In this paper, we describe the rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of Gd(3+)-doped
      CuInS2 (Gd:CIS) quaternary quantum dots (q-dots), which integrate the functions
      of optical fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging. Through passivation of
      ZnS shells around Gd:CIS cores, high-quality and robust photostable Gd:CIS/ZnS
      core/shell q-dots with enhanced quantum yields were obtained. The intensity and
      peak-to-peak linewidth of the electron spin resonance (EPR) signal were found to
      vary depending on the Gd(3+) concentration of Gd:CIS/ZnS. Benefiting from the
      incorporation of paramagnetic Gd(3+) ions, the formed q-dots exhibited well
      resolved and strong signals of electron paramagnetic resonance and provided
      significant contrast enhancement in T1-weighted images owing to the remarkably
      high longitudinal relaxivity (r1 = 55.90 mM(-1) s(-1)) and low r2/r1 ratio
      (1.42), which are significantly higher than those of commercially available T1
      contrast agents. We expect that this facile one-pot synthetic strategy can be
      extended to the preparation of other Cu-based sulfide quaternary nanomaterials. 

PMID- 26887891
TI  - Mid-infrared surface transmitting and detecting quantum cascade device for gas
      sensing.
AB  - We present a bi-functional surface emitting and surface detecting mid-infrared
      device applicable for gas-sensing. A distributed feedback ring quantum cascade
      laser is monolithically integrated with a detector structured from a bi
      functional material for same frequency lasing and detection. The emitted single
      mode radiation is collimated, back reflected by a flat mirror and detected by the
      detector element of the sensor. The surface operation mode combined with the low
      divergence emission of the ring quantum cascade laser enables for long analyte
      interaction regions spatially separated from the sample surface. The device
      enables for sensing of gaseous analytes which requires a relatively long
      interaction region. Our design is suitable for 2D array integration with multiple
      emission and detection frequencies. Proof of principle measurements with
      isobutane (2-methylpropane) and propane as gaseous analytes were conducted.
      Detectable concentration values of 0-70% for propane and 0-90% for isobutane were
      reached at a laser operation wavelength of 6.5 MUm utilizing a 10 cm gas cell in
      double pass configuration.

PMID- 26887890
TI  - Women in community corrections in New York City: HIV infection and risks.
AB  - Although the incidence of HIV among women on probation, parole and alternatives
      to incarceration programs is significant to public health, drivers of this
      concentrated epidemic among women under community corrections remain
      understudied. This study examined prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted
      infections and the associations between substance use, socio-demographic factors
      and the prevalence of biologically-confirmed HIV and other sexually transmitted
      infections among a sample of 337 substance-using women recruited from community
      correction sites in New York City. Prevalence of HIV was 13% and sexually
      transmitted infections was 26% ( Chlamydia, trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea).
      After adjusting for covariates, HIV-positive women were 1.42 times more likely to
      use crack/cocaine than HIV-negative women (95% CI = 1.05-1.92). HIV-positive
      women were 25% less likely than HIV-negative women to report any unprotected
      vaginal and anal sex with their main partner (95% CI = 0.57-0.99). They were 70%
      less likely than HIV-negative women to report unprotected vaginal sex with a non
      paying casual partner (95% CI = 0.1-0.9) and 22% less likely to report
      unprotected vaginal sex across all partners (95% CI = 0.61-0.99). Community
      corrections settings may be optimal venues to launch HIV/sexually transmitted
      infections prevention that have potential to reach and engage an ever-growing
      number of substance-using women.

PMID- 26887892
TI  - Paper trials: a qualitative study exploring the place of portfolios in making
      revalidation recommendations for Responsible Officers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A portfolio of supporting information (SI) reflecting a doctor's
      entire medical practice is now a central aspect of UK appraisal for revalidation.
      Medical revalidation, introduced in 2012, is an assessment of a doctor's
      competence and passing results in a five yearly license to practice medicine. It
      assesses of a doctor's professional development, workplace performance and
      reflection and aims to provide assurance that doctors are up-to-date and fit to
      practice. The dominant assessment mechanism is a portfolio. The content of the
      revalidation portfolio has been increasingly prescribed and the assessment of the
      SI is a fundamental aspect of the appraisal process which ultimately allows
      Responsible Officers (ROs) to make recommendations on revalidation. ROs,
      themselves doctors, were the first to undergo UK revalidation. This qualitative
      study explored the perceptions of ROs and their appraisers about the use of this
      portfolio of evidence in a summative revalidation appraisal. METHODS: 28
      purposefully sampled London ROs were interviewed following their revalidation
      appraisal and 17 of their appraisers participated in focus groups and interviews.
      Thematic analysis was used to identify commonalities and differences of
      experience. RESULTS: SI was mostly easy to provide but there were challenges in
      gathering certain aspects. ROs did not understand in what quantities they should
      supply SI or what it should look like. Appraisers were concerned about making
      robust judgements based on the evidence supplied. A lack of reflection from the
      process of collating SI and preparing for appraisal was noted and learning came
      more from the appraisal interview itself. CONCLUSIONS: More explicit guidance
      must be available to both appraisee and appraiser about what SI is required, how
      much, how it should be used and, how it will be assessed. The role of SI in
      professional learning and revalidation must be clarified and further empirical
      research is required to examine how best to use this evidence to make judgments
      as part of this type of appraisal.

PMID- 26887893
TI  - Race-based differences in routine cytogenetic profiles of patients with multiple
      myeloma.

PMID- 26887894
TI  - Chemical shift assignment of the alternative scaffold protein IscA.
AB  - The IscA protein (11.5 kDa) is an essential component of the iron sulphur cluster
      biogenesis machine. In bacteria, the machine components are clustered in operons,
      amongst which the most important is the isc operon. Bacterial IscA has direct
      homologues also in eukaryotes. Like the protein IscU, IscA is thought to assist
      cluster formation as an alternative scaffold protein which receives the cluster
      before transferring it further to the final acceptors. Several crystal structures
      have been published. They all report an IscA dimeric form, although the packing
      of the protomers in the dimers differs amongst structures. No solution studies
      have currently been reported. Here we report the (1)H, (13)C and (15)N backbone
      and side-chain chemical shift assignments of the cluster-free E. coli IscA as a
      starting point for further studies of the structure and functions of this still
      poorly characterized protein. We show that IscA exists in solution as an
      equilibrium between different species. Spectrum assignment was thus challenging
      given the heterogeneous nature of the sample but doable through judicious choice
      of selective labelling and concentration dependent studies. 

PMID- 26887895
TI  - Reference-free single-pass EPI Nyquist ghost correction using annihilating filter
      based low rank Hankel matrix (ALOHA).
AB  - PURPOSE: MR measurements from an echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence produce
      Nyquist ghost artifacts that originate from inconsistencies between odd and even
      echoes. Several reconstruction algorithms have been proposed to reduce such
      artifacts, but most of these methods require either additional reference scans or
      multipass EPI acquisition. This article proposes a novel and accurate single-pass
      EPI ghost artifact correction method that does not require any additional
      reference data. THEORY AND METHODS: After converting a ghost correction problem
      into separate k-space data interpolation problems for even and odd phase
      encoding, our algorithm exploits an observation that the differential k-space
      data between the even and odd echoes is a Fourier transform of an underlying
      sparse image. Accordingly, we can construct a rank-deficient Hankel structured
      matrix, whose missing data can be recovered using an annihilating filter-based
      low rank Hankel structured matrix completion approach. RESULTS: The proposed
      method was applied to EPI data for both single and multicoil acquisitions.
      Experimental results using in vivo data confirmed that the proposed method can
      completely remove ghost artifacts successfully without prescan echoes.
      CONCLUSION: Owing to the discovery of the annihilating filter relationship from
      the intrinsic EPI image property, the proposed method successfully suppresses
      ghost artifacts without a prescan step. Magn Reson Med 76:1775-1789, 2016. (c)
      2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26887896
TI  - Tackling the crisis in general practice.

PMID- 26887897
TI  - Genome-wide characterization of monomeric transcriptional regulators in
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - Gene transcription catalysed by RNA polymerase is regulated by transcriptional
      regulators, which play central roles in the control of gene transcription in both
      eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In regulating gene transcription, many regulators
      form dimers that bind to DNA with repeated motifs. However, some regulators
      function as monomers, but their mechanisms of gene expression control are largely
      uncharacterized. Here we systematically characterized monomeric versus dimeric
      regulators in the tuberculosis causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of the
      >160 transcriptional regulators annotated in M. tuberculosis, 154 transcriptional
      regulators were tested, 22 % probably act as monomers and most are annotated as
      hypothetical regulators. Notably, all members of the WhiB-like protein family are
      classified as monomers. To further investigate mechanisms of monomeric
      regulators, we analysed the actions of these WhiB proteins and found that the
      majority interact with the principal sigma factor sigmaA, which is also a
      monomeric protein within the RNA polymerase holoenzyme. Taken together, our study
      for the first time globally classified monomeric regulators in M. tuberculosis
      and suggested a mechanism for monomeric regulators in controlling gene
      transcription through interacting with monomeric sigma factors.

PMID- 26887898
TI  - Case Report: Resolution of Severe Sexual Aggression in a Developmentally Disabled
      Adolescent During Leuprolide Acetate Use.

PMID- 26887899
TI  - The Nature of Secondary Interactions at Electrophilic Metal Sites of Molecular
      and Silica-Supported Organolutetium Complexes from Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.
AB  - Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]3 reacts with [SiO2-700] to give [(=SiO)Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]2] and
      CH2(SiMe3)2. [(=SiO)Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]2] is characterized by solid-state NMR and
      EXAFS spectroscopy, which show that secondary Lu...C and Lu...O interactions,
      involving a gamma-CH3 and a siloxane bridge, are present. From X-ray
      crystallographic analysis, the molecular analogues Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]3-x[O-2,6-tBu
      C6H3]x (x = 0-2) also have secondary Lu...C interactions. The (1)H NMR spectrum
      of Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]3 shows that the -SiMe3 groups are equivalent to -125  degrees C
      and inequivalent below that temperature, DeltaG(?)(Tc = 148 K) = 7.1 kcal mol(
      1). Both -SiMe3 groups in Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]3 have (1)JCH = 117 +/- 1 Hz at -140 
      degrees C. The solid-state (13)C CPMAS NMR spectrum at 20  degrees C shows three
      chemically inequivalent resonances in the area ratio of 4:1:1 (12:3:3); the J
      resolved spectra for each resonance give (1)JCH = 117 +/- 2 Hz. The (29)Si CPMAS
      NMR spectrum shows two chemically inequivalent resonances with different values
      of chemical shift anisotropy. Similar observations are obtained for
      Lu[CH(SiMe3)2]3-x[O-2,6-tBu-C6H3]x (x = 1 and 2). The spectroscopic data point to
      short Lu...Cgamma contacts corresponding to 3c-2e Lu...Cgamma-Sibeta
      interactions, which are supported by DFT calculations. Calculated natural bond
      orbital (NBO) charges show that Cgamma carries a negative charge, while Lu,
      Hgamma, and Sibeta carry positive charges; as the number of O-based ligands
      increases so does the positive charge at Lu, which in turns shortens the
      Lu...Cgamma distance. The change in NBO charges and the resulting changes in the
      spectroscopic and crystallographic properties show how ligands and surface
      support sites rearrange to accommodate these changes, consistent with Pauling's
      electroneutrality concept. 

PMID- 26887900
TI  - Effect of Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation on the Electromechanical Window in
      Patients with either Type 1 or Type 2 Long QT Syndrome: A Pilot Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) exerts significant
      antifibrillatory effects in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS). Recently,
      electromechanical window (EMW) has emerged as a novel torsadogenic marker in
      LQTS, superior to QT interval (QTc) in distinguishing symptomatic from
      asymptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis that LCSD improves
      EMW most favorably in patients with LQT1. DESIGN: From September 2006 to July
      2015, 44 LQT1 and 25 LQT2 patients underwent LCSD. Subset analysis was performed
      on the six LQT1 and seven LQT2 patients who had echocardiograms both pre-LCSD and
      >=3 months post-LCSD. EMW is defined as the time difference (ms) between aortic
      valve closure and the end of the QT interval, measured from an ECG on the
      concurrent echocardiogram. RESULTS: Compared to published normal EMW values of 22
      +/- 19 ms, pre-LCSD EMW mean values were -78 +/- 36 ms in LQT1 and -71 +/- 35 ms
      in LQT2 (P < .001). Following LCSD, there was a 57 +/- 35 ms decrease in QTc in
      LQT1 (P = .16) and 23 +/- 21 ms decrease in QTc in LQT2 (P = .3). Overall, there
      was a 35 +/- 57 ms mean improvement in EMW post-LCSD (P = .04). Five of the 6
      (83%) LQT1 subjects had a favorable EMW change post-LCSD (mean improvement 56 +/-
      25 ms, P = .04). Five of the 7 (71%) LQT2 subjects had a favorable EMW change
      post-LCSD (mean improvement 18 +/- 19 ms, P = .2). CONCLUSIONS: The precise
      mechanism of the LCSD therapeutic effect in LQTS patients is not fully
      understood. This pilot study raises the possibility that LCSD's antitorsadogenic
      effect in patients with LQT1 could be conferred in part by restoration of
      electromechanical order, evidenced by normalization of the EMW.

PMID- 26887901
TI  - Diplopia on vorapaxar: An unexpected side effect emerging only at second glance.

PMID- 26887902
TI  - Hospital at home: home-based end-of-life care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The policy in a number of countries is to provide people with a
      terminal illness the choice of dying at home. This policy is supported by surveys
      indicating that the general public and people with a terminal illness would
      prefer to receive end-of-life care at home. This is the fourth update of the
      original review. OBJECTIVES: To determine if providing home-based end-of-life
      care reduces the likelihood of dying in hospital and what effect this has on
      patients' symptoms, quality of life, health service costs, and caregivers,
      compared with inpatient hospital or hospice care. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the
      following databases until April 2015: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
      Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library), Ovid MEDLINE(R) (from 1950), EMBASE
      (from 1980), CINAHL (from 1982), and EconLit (from 1969). We checked the
      reference lists of potentially relevant articles identified and handsearched
      palliative care publications, clinical trials registries, and a database of
      systematic reviews for related trials (PDQ-Evidence 2015). SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Randomised controlled trials, interrupted time series, or controlled before and
      after studies evaluating the effectiveness of home-based end-of-life care with
      inpatient hospital or hospice care for people aged 18 years and older. DATA
      COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and
      assessed study quality. We combined the published data for dichotomous outcomes
      using fixed-effect Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis. When combining outcome data was
      not possible, we reported the results from individual studies. MAIN RESULTS: We
      included four trials in this review and did not identify new studies from the
      search in April 2015. Home-based end-of-life care increased the likelihood of
      dying at home compared with usual care (risk ratio (RR) 1.33, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.14 to 1.55, P = 0.0002; Chi(2) = 1.72, df = 2, P = 0.42, I(2) =
      0%; 3 trials; N = 652; high quality evidence). Admission to hospital while
      receiving home-based end-of-life care varied between trials, and this was
      reflected by a high level of statistical heterogeneity in this analysis (range RR
      0.62 to RR 2.61; 4 trials; N = 823; moderate quality evidence). Home-based end-of
      life care may slightly improve patient satisfaction at one-month follow-up and
      reduce it at six-month follow-up (2 trials; low quality evidence). The effect on
      caregivers is uncertain (2 trials; low quality evidence). The intervention may
      slightly reduce healthcare costs (2 trials, low quality evidence). No trial
      reported costs to patients and caregivers. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence
      included in this review supports the use of home-based end-of-life care
      programmes for increasing the number of people who will die at home, although the
      numbers of people admitted to hospital while receiving end-of-life care should be
      monitored. Future research should systematically assess the impact of home-based
      end-of-life care on caregivers.

PMID- 26887903
TI  - Supplementation with multiple micronutrients for breastfeeding women for
      improving outcomes for the mother and baby.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Globally, more than two billion people are estimated to be deficient
      in key vitamins and minerals, particularly iodine, iron and zinc. The majority of
      these people live in low-income settings and are typically deficient in more than
      one micronutrient. However, micronutrient deficiency among breastfeeding mothers
      and their infants also remains an issue in high-income settings, specifically
      among women who avoid meat and/or milk, women who may lack sufficient supplies of
      vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and/or women who are iron-deficient. Young children,
      pregnant and lactating women are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient
      deficiencies. They not only have a relatively greater need for vitamins and
      minerals because of their physiological state, but are also more susceptible to
      the harmful consequences of deficiencies. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation
      might be an option to solve these problems. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this
      review was to evaluate the effects of multiple-micronutrient supplementation in
      breastfeeding mothers on maternal and infant outcomes. SEARCH METHODS: We
      searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30
      September 2015) and reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Randomised controlled trials of multiple-micronutrient supplementation of three
      or more micronutrients versus placebo, no supplementation or supplementation with
      two or fewer micronutrients, irrespective of dosage of micronutrients, in
      breastfeeding mothers. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors
      independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and
      checked them for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: We found no studies that compared
      multiple-micronutrient supplementation (with three or more micronutrients) versus
      supplementation with two or fewer micronutrients.Two small studies (involving a
      total of 52 women) were included. One study compared multiple micronutrients with
      placebo and the other study compared multiple micronutrients with a group who
      received no supplementation. The studies were carried out in Brazil (36
      adolescent mothers) and the USA (16 women) and included women with a low
      socioeconomic status. A lack of information in the study reports meant that risk
      of bias could not be adequately assessed (unclear risk of bias for many domains).
      There were no quantitative data for any of this review's outcomes so meta
      analysis was not possible.Neither of the studies reported on the primary outcomes
      of interest in this review: maternal morbidity (febrile illness, respiratory
      tract infection, diarrhoea), adverse effects of micronutrients within three days
      of receiving the supplement, infant mortality (defined as a child dying before
      completing the first year of age).One study reported qualitatively on maternal
      anaemia (a secondary outcome of this review) - the study found that multiple
      micronutrient supplementation was effective for recuperating from anaemia but
      there were no data for inclusion in our analyses. Maternal satisfaction was not
      reported in the included studies. Similarly, none of this review's infant
      secondary outcomes were reported in the included studies: clinical micronutrient
      deficiency; morbidity episodes (febrile illness, respiratory tract infection,
      diarrhoea, other), adverse effects of micronutrients within three days of
      receiving the supplement. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence to
      quantitatively assess the effectiveness of multiple-micronutrient supplementation
      in improving health outcomes in mother and baby. The results of this review are
      limited by the small numbers of studies available, small sample sizes and the
      studies not reporting on the outcomes of interest in this review. There is no
      evidence to evaluate potential adverse effects of multiple-micronutrient
      supplements, particularly excess dosages.There is a need for high-quality studies
      to assess the effectiveness and safety of multiple-micronutrient supplementation
      for breastfeeding women for improving outcomes for the mother and her baby.
      Further research should focus on whether multiple-micronutrient supplementation
      during lactation compared with none, a placebo or supplementation with fewer than
      two micronutrients is beneficial to maternal and infant health outcomes. Future
      studies should collect data on outcomes beyond micronutrient concentrations, for
      example: maternal and infant morbidity, adverse effects, maternal satisfaction,
      the risks of excess supplementation, and potential adverse interactions between
      the micronutrients and the other outcomes. This would help to bridge the gap
      between research on intermediary outcomes and health outcomes in order to develop
      sound policy in this field. Future studies could more precisely assess a variety
      of multiple-micronutrient combinations and different dosages and look at how
      these affect maternal and infant health outcomes. Larger studies with longer
      follow-up would improve the quality of studies and provide stronger evidence. In
      most of the included studies, bias could not be adequately assessed due to lack
      of information, therefore attention should be given to adequate methods of
      randomisation and allocation concealment, adequate methods of blinding of the
      participants, providers and the outcome assessors to improve the methodological
      quality of studies in this field.

PMID- 26887904
TI  - Production of Metal-Free Composites Composed of Graphite Oxide and Oxidized
      Carbon Nitride Nanodots and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Performances.
AB  - A novel metal-free composite (GN) composed of two types of carbon-based
      nanomaterials, graphite oxide (GO) and 2D oxidized carbon nitride (OCN) nanodots
      was produced. Chemical and morphological characterizations reveal that GN
      contains a main component of GO with well-dispersed 2D OCN nanodots. GN shows
      enhanced photocatalytic performance for degrading an organic pollutant, Rhodamine
      B, under visible light.

PMID- 26887905
TI  - How to cope with insufficient pneumoperitoneum and exposure when performing
      laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Despite following international guidelines and conducting routine
      preoperative dietary counseling, every bariatric surgeon will encounter technical
      challenges in laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. We present a series of
      patients in whom the bariatric procedure was stopped after encountering
      insufficient exposure during diagnostic laparoscopy. These patients were sent
      back for dietary counseling and underwent surgery after conservative weight loss.
      The data from this two-step procedure are analyzed and discussed. METHODS: This
      concept was applied and studied in 14 patients from a series of 620 bariatric
      procedures. Patients who underwent a primary laparoscopic gastric bypass (n =
      593) were used as references. RESULTS: The patients in the study group were
      significantly heavier than those in the reference group (165 vs. 127 kg, p <
      0.001), with 79 % having a BMI >50 kg/m(2). The patients lost a median of 11 kg
      after 2 months of conservative treatment, and the mean BMI decreased from 55.7 to
      52.6 kg/m(2). All the patients in the study group underwent laparoscopic surgery
      for the second procedure with no need for conversion. The complication rate was
      not elevated in the study group. Overall hospital costs were higher for the study
      group compared with those for the primary laparoscopic bypass group (27,136 vs.
      19,601 USD, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: The primary laparoscopic procedure can be
      stopped in patients with insufficient exposure instead of having them undergo
      conversion to open surgery. These patients may undergo successful laparoscopic
      procedures after conservative weight loss with no increased risk and with all of
      the possible benefits of a laparoscopic approach. As a result of this study, we
      have established a fixed, preoperative lower limit of 10 % excess weight
      reduction before accepting superobese patients (BMI >50 kg/m(2)) for surgery at
      our hospital.

PMID- 26887906
TI  - The effects of seasonal training on heart rate and oxygen saturation during face
      immersion apnea in elite breath-hold diver: a case report.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to monitor a diver's ability to perform
      maximal face-immersion apnea throughout the competitive season. A male, world
      class apnea diver was followed for 1 year (from March 2012 to March 2013). During
      this period he was tested six times. Each test session involved the measurements
      of the pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength. In addition, the
      ability to perform maximal face-immersion apnea was also explored. The results of
      face-immersion apnea durations showed a continuous improvement throughout the
      preparation period 1 with the peak in the main competition period and a decline
      during the competition period 2 and the transition period. It seemed that the
      training periodization was successful by producing the diver's peak performance
      level at the main diving competition i.e. the 2012 AIDA Freediving World
      Championships. In conclusion, the study shows that changes in training
      interventions due to seasonal training periodization could be accompanied by
      changes in a diver's ability to perform the maximal face-immersion apnea.
      However, further research is needed to establish the influences of individual
      components of apnea training on a diver's performance. 

PMID- 26887907
TI  - Bioreducible Fluorinated Peptide Dendrimers Capable of Circumventing Various
      Physiological Barriers for Highly Efficient and Safe Gene Delivery.
AB  - Polymeric vectors have shown great promise in the development of safe and
      efficient gene delivery systems; however, only a few have been developed in
      clinical settings due to poor transport across multiple physiological barriers.
      To address this issue and promote clinical translocation of polymeric vectors, a
      new type of polymeric vector, bioreducible fluorinated peptide dendrimers
      (BFPDs), was designed and synthesized by reversible cross-linking of fluorinated
      low generation peptide dendrimers. Through masterly integration all of the
      features of reversible cross-linking, fluorination, and polyhedral oligomeric
      silsesquioxane (POSS) core-based peptide dendrimers, this novel vector exhibited
      lots of unique features, including (i) inactive surface to resist protein
      interactions; (ii) virus-mimicking surface topography to augment cellular uptake;
      (iii) fluorination-mediated efficient cellular uptake, endosome escape, cytoplasm
      trafficking, and nuclear entry, and (iv) disulfide-cleavage-mediated polyplex
      disassembly and DNA release that allows efficient DNA transcription. Noteworthy,
      all of these features are functionally important and can synergistically
      facilitate DNA transport from solution to the nucleus. As a consequences, BFPDs
      showed excellent gene transfection efficiency in several cell lines (~95% in
      HEK293 cells) and superior biocompatibility compared with polyethylenimine (PEI).
      Meanwhile BFPDs provided excellent serum resistance in gene delivery. More
      importantly, BFPDs offer considerable in vivo gene transfection efficiency (in
      muscular tissues and in HepG2 tumor xenografts), which was approximately 77-fold
      higher than that of PEI in luciferase activity. These results suggest
      bioreducible fluorinated peptide dendrimers are a new class of highly efficient
      and safe gene delivery vectors and should be used in clinical settings. 

PMID- 26887908
TI  - Protein expression pattern in cerebellum of Cav2.1 mutant, tottering-6j mice.
AB  - Neuronal voltage-gated Cav2.1 channel controls a broad array of functions,
      including neurotransmitter release, neuronal excitability, activity-dependent
      gene expression, and neuronal survival. The Cav2.1 channel is molecular complexes
      consisting of several subunits: alpha1, alpha2/delta, beta, and gamma. The pore
      forming subunit, alpha1, is encoded by the Cacna1a gene. Tottering-6j mice,
      generated by the Neuroscience Mutagenesis Facility at The Jackson Laboratory, are
      a recessive mutant strain in which the mutation has been chemically induced by
      ethylnitrosourea. In tottering-6j mice, mutation in the Cacna1a gene results in a
      base substitution (C-to-A) in the consensus splice acceptor sequence, which
      results in deletion of a part of the S4-S5 linker, S5, and a part of S5-S6 linker
      domain I in the alpha1 subunit of Cav2.1 channel. The mice display motor
      dysfunctions and absence-like seizures. However, protein expression in the
      cerebellum of tottering-6j mice has not been investigated. Real-time quantitative
      reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and histological analyses of the
      cerebellum of tottering-6j mice revealed high expression levels of tyrosine
      hydroxylase, zebrin II, and ryanodine receptor 3 compared with those of wild-type
      mice. Conversely, a low level of calretinin expression was found compared with
      wild-type mice. These results indicate that Cacna1a mutation plays a significant
      role in protein expression patterns and that the tottering-6j mouse is a useful
      model for understanding protein expression mechanisms. 

PMID- 26887910
TI  - Development of the anxiety scale for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASC
      ASD).
AB  - Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high levels of
      anxiety. A widely used measure for typically developing children is the Revised
      Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). However, such anxiety measures may
      require adaptation to accommodate characteristics of those with ASD. An adapted
      version of the RCADS was created based on empirical evidence of anxiety
      phenomenology in ASD, which included additional items related to sensory anxiety,
      intolerance of uncertainty, and phobias. Content validity was refined during
      focus groups with parents. Polychoric factor analysis was undertaken on data from
      170 children with ASD, aged 8-16, and their parents. This process resulted in the
      creation of a new 24 item scale (self and parent report) each with four
      subscales: Performance Anxiety, Uncertainty, Anxious Arousal, and Separation
      Anxiety, with evidence of good reliability and validity. The freely available
      Anxiety Scale for Children - ASD, Parent and Child versions (ASC-ASD) has
      promising psychometric properties including good internal consistency, validity,
      and 1 month test-retest reliability. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1205-1215. (c) 2016
      International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887909
TI  - Enrichment of G2/M cell cycle phase in human pluripotent stem cells enhances HDR
      mediated gene repair with customizable endonucleases.
AB  - Efficient gene editing is essential to fully utilize human pluripotent stem cells
      (hPSCs) in regenerative medicine. Custom endonuclease-based gene targeting
      involves two mechanisms of DNA repair: homology directed repair (HDR) and non
      homologous end joining (NHEJ). HDR is the preferred mechanism for common
      applications such knock-in, knock-out or precise mutagenesis, but remains
      inefficient in hPSCs. Here, we demonstrate that synchronizing synchronizing hPSCs
      in G2/M with ABT phase increases on-target gene editing, defined as correct
      targeting cassette integration, 3 to 6 fold. We observed improved efficiency
      using ZFNs, TALENs, two CRISPR/Cas9, and CRISPR/Cas9 nickase to target five genes
      in three hPSC lines: three human embryonic stem cell lines, neural progenitors
      and diabetic iPSCs. neural progenitors and diabetic iPSCs. Reversible
      synchronization has no effect on pluripotency or differentiation. The increase in
      on-target gene editing is locus-independent and specific to the cell cycle phase
      as G2/M phase enriched cells show a 6-fold increase in targeting efficiency
      compared to cells in G1 phase. Concurrently inhibiting NHEJ with SCR7 does not
      increase HDR or improve gene targeting efficiency further, indicating that HR is
      the major DNA repair mechanism after G2/M phase arrest. The approach outlined
      here makes gene editing in hPSCs a more viable tool for disease modeling,
      regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies. 

PMID- 26887911
TI  - A lack of credible evidence for a relationship between socio-economic status and
      dietary patterns: a response to 'Associations between socio-economic status and
      dietary patterns in US black and white adults'.

PMID- 26887913
TI  - Molecular dynamic simulations and structure-based pharmacophore development for
      farnesyltransferase inhibitors discovery.
AB  - Farnesyltransferase is one of the enzyme targets for the development of drugs for
      diseases, including cancer, malaria, progeria, etc. In the present study, the
      structure-based pharmacophore models have been developed from five complex
      structures (1LD7, 1NI1, 2IEJ, 2ZIR and 2ZIS) obtained from the protein data bank.
      Initially, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed for the complexes
      for 10 ns using AMBER 12 software. The conformers of the complexes (75) generated
      from the equilibrated protein were undergone protein-ligand interaction
      fingerprint (PLIF) analysis. The results showed that some important residues,
      such as LeuB96, TrpB102, TrpB106, ArgB202, TyrB300, AspB359 and TyrB361, are
      predominantly present in most of the complexes for interactions. These residues
      form side chain acceptor and surface (hydrophobic or pi-pi) kind of interactions
      with the ligands present in the complexes. The structure-based pharmacophore
      models were generated from the fingerprint bits obtained from PLIF analysis. The
      pharmacophore models have 3-4 pharmacophore contours consist of acceptor and
      metal ligation (Acc & ML), hydrophobic (HydA) and extended acceptor (Acc2)
      features with the radius ranging between 1-3 A for Acc & ML and 1-2 A for HydA.
      The excluded volumes of the pharmacophore contours radius are between 1-2 A.
      Further, the distance between the interacting groups, root mean square deviation
      (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) and radial distribution function
      (RDF) analysis were performed for the MD-simulated proteins using PTRAJ module.
      The generated pharmacophore models were used to screen a set of natural compounds
      and database compounds to select significant HITs. We conclude that the developed
      pharmacophore model can be a significant model for the identification of HITs as
      FTase inhibitors. 

PMID- 26887914
TI  - Szidat's rule re-tested: relationships between flea and host phylogenetic clade
      ranks in four biogeographic realms.
AB  - We tested Szidat's rule (the more primitive the host, the more primitive the
      parasites it harbours) by analysing the relationships between phylogenetic clade
      ranks of fleas and their small mammalian hosts in four biogeographic realms
      (Afrotropics, Neotropics, Nearctic and Palearctic). From the host perspective, we
      tested the association between host clade rank and the mean clade rank of all
      fleas collected from this host. From the flea perspective, we tested the
      relationships between flea clade rank and the mean clade rank of hosts on which
      this flea was recorded. First, we tested whether the analysis of the
      relationships between host and flea clade ranks should be controlled for
      phylogenetic dependence among either host or flea species. Then, we tested for
      the associations between host and flea clade ranks separately for each realm
      using either a phylogenetic general least-squares analysis or an ordinary least
      squares analysis. In all realms, the mean clade rank of fleas parasitic on a
      given host increased with an increase of this host's clade rank, and the mean
      clade rank of hosts recorded on a given flea increased with an increase of this
      flea's clade rank, suggesting that Szidat's rule, at least to some extent, holds
      for fleas.

PMID- 26887915
TI  - Graduate nurses' experiences of mental health services in their first year of
      practice: An integrative review.
AB  - New graduate nurses have reported negative experiences in mental health settings,
      particularly during the transitional period of practice. Previous research has
      focused on addressing the undergraduate preparation of nurses for practice
      instead of the experiences and outcomes of the transitional period. Recently,
      there has been growing interest in exploring the experiences of graduate nurses
      in transition and the implementation of promising interventions to facilitate new
      graduates' assimilation to practice. Despite these initiatives, the overall
      shortage of mental health nurses continues to rise, and graduates still report
      negative experiences in the mental health setting. The purpose of this study was
      to identify and explore the experiences of new graduate nurses in mental health
      services in their first year of clinical practice. An integrative review was
      conducted with 22 studies sourced from the CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and PsychINFO
      electronic databases, as well as through hand-searching the literature.
      Literature review findings have highlighted negative clinical experiences and
      increased attrition from mental health services for graduate nurses. These
      experiences were closely linked with the changes in the training of mental health
      nurses, role ambiguity, inadequate clinical preceptorship, encountering the
      reality of mental health services, and the role of health services in
      transitioning graduate nurses into clinical practice. Established research into
      organizational cultures demonstrates that negative organizational outcomes result
      from negative workplace experiences. Therefore, further research into new
      graduate nurses' experiences of mental health nursing and its culture might
      clarify the reasons why they might not be attracted to the discipline and/or are
      leaving early in their career. 

PMID- 26887912
TI  - Overlapping 16p13.11 deletion and gain of copies variations associated with
      childhood onset psychosis include genes with mechanistic implications for autism
      associated pathways: Two case reports.
AB  - Copy number variability at 16p13.11 has been associated with intellectual
      disability, autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and attention-deficit hyperactivity
      disorder. Adolescent/adult- onset psychosis has been reported in a subset of
      these cases. Here, we report on two children with CNVs in 16p13.11 that developed
      psychosis before the age of 7. The genotype and neuropsychiatric abnormalities of
      these patients highlight several overlapping genes that have possible mechanistic
      relevance to pathways previously implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorders,
      including the mTOR signaling and the ubiquitin-proteasome cascades. A careful
      screening of the 16p13.11 region is warranted in patients with childhood onset
      psychosis.

PMID- 26887916
TI  - Metonymy as Referential Dependency: Psycholinguistic and Neurolinguistic
      Arguments for a Unified Linguistic Treatment.
AB  - We examine metonymy at psycho- and neurolinguistic levels, seeking to adjudicate
      between two possible processing implementations (one- vs. two-mechanism). We
      compare highly conventionalized systematic metonymy (producer-for-product: "All
      freshmen read O'Connell") to lesser-conventionalized circumstantial metonymy ("[a
      waitress says to another:] 'Table 2 asked for more coffee."'). Whereas these two
      metonymy types differ in terms of contextual demands, they each reveal a similar
      dependency between the named and intended conceptual entities (e.g., Jackendoff,
      1997; Nunberg, 1979, 1995). We reason that if each metonymy yields a distinct
      processing time course and substantially non-overlapping preferential
      localization pattern, it would not only support a two-mechanism view (one
      lexical, one pragmatic) but would suggest that conventionalization acts as a
      linguistic categorizer. By contrast, a similar behavior in time course and
      localization would support a one-mechanism view and the inference that
      conventionalization acts instead as a modulator of contextual felicitousness, and
      that differences in interpretation introduced by conventionalization are of
      degree, not of kind. Results from three paradigms: self-paced reading (SPR),
      event-related potentials (ERP), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),
      reveal the following: no main effect by condition (metonymy vs. matched literal
      control) for either metonymy type immediately after the metonymy trigger, and a
      main effect for only the Circumstantial metonymy one word post-trigger (SPR); a
      N400 effect across metonymy types and a late positivity for Circumstantial
      metonymy (ERP); and a highly overlapping activation connecting the left
      ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
      (fMRI). Altogether, the pattern observed does not reach the threshold required to
      justify a two-mechanism system. Instead, the pattern is more naturally (and
      conservatively) understood as resulting from the implementation of a generalized
      referential dependency mechanism, modulated by degree of context
      dependence/conventionalization, thus supporting architectures of language whereby
      "lexical" and "pragmatic" meaning relations are encoded along a cline of
      contextual underspecification.

PMID- 26887917
TI  - Putting Down Roots: How Nitrate and Abscisic Acid Help Shape Root System
      Architecture.

PMID- 26887918
TI  - The RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Phosphatase-Like Protein FIERY2/CPL1
      Interacts with eIF4AIII and Is Essential for Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay in
      Arabidopsis.
AB  - Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a posttranscriptional surveillance mechanism in
      eukaryotes that recognizes and degrades transcripts with premature translation
      termination codons. The RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain phosphatase-like
      protein FIERY2 (FRY2; also known as C-TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE1 [CPL1])
      plays multiple roles in RNA processing in Arabidopsis thaliana Here, we found
      that FRY2/CPL1 interacts with two NMD factors, eIF4AIII and UPF3, and is involved
      in the dephosphorylation of eIF4AIII. This dephosphorylation retains eIF4AIII in
      the nucleus and limits its accumulation in the cytoplasm. By analyzing RNA-seq
      data combined with quantitative RT-PCR validation, we found that a subset of
      alternatively spliced transcripts and 5'-extended mRNAs with NMD-eliciting
      features accumulated in the fry2-1 mutant, cycloheximide-treated wild type, and
      upf3 mutant plants, indicating that FRY2 is essential for the degradation of
      these NMD transcripts.

PMID- 26887921
TI  - Improving B3LYP heats of formation with three-dimensional molecular descriptors.
AB  - In the present work, we propose the X3D method that extends the B3LYP method by
      correcting its errors on heats of formation of hydrocarbons (HCs) with three
      dimensional (3D) molecular descriptors. Inspired by the widely used Wiener index,
      these 3D descriptors are developed to improve over the original B3LYP method for
      a better description of atom-atom, atom-bond and bond-bond interactions. On top
      of a training set of only 45 species, the X3D method is validated against various
      sets of different chemistry, displaying an overall near chemical accuracy. In
      particular, X3D improves over B3LYP, reducing its mean absolute errors from 28.4
      to 0.3 kcal/mol for (Set 1) 21 n-alkanes up to n-C32 H66 , from 19.3 to 0.6
      kcal/mol for (Set 2) n-C7 H16 and its branched isomers, from 29.5 to 1.6 kcal/mol
      for (Set 3) 36 polycyclic saturated HCs, from 8.6 to 1.1 kcal/mol for (Set 4) 41
      C6 H8 isomers of rings, alkenes, alkynes, and cumulenes, from 20.3 to 0.6
      kcal/mol for (Set 5) 41 benzene-based compounds, and 8.1 to 1.3 kcal/mol for (Set
      6) 66 radicals, etc. Comparisons with the G4 results are also presented. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26887919
TI  - Environmental Nitrate Stimulates Abscisic Acid Accumulation in Arabidopsis Root
      Tips by Releasing It from Inactive Stores.
AB  - Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling plays a major role in root system development,
      regulating growth and root architecture. However, the precise localization of ABA
      remains undetermined. Here, we present a mechanism in which nitrate signaling
      stimulates the release of bioactive ABA from the inactive storage form, ABA
      glucose ester (ABA-GE). We found that ABA accumulated in the endodermis and
      quiescent center of Arabidopsis thaliana root tips, mimicking the pattern of
      SCARECROW expression, and (to lower levels) in the vascular cylinder. Nitrate
      treatment increased ABA levels in root tips; this stimulation requires the
      activity of the endoplasmic reticulum-localized, ABA-GE-deconjugating enzyme b
      GLUCOSIDASE1, but not de novo ABA biosynthesis. Immunogold labeling demonstrated
      that ABA is associated with cytoplasmic structures near, but not within, the
      endoplasmic reticulum. These findings demonstrate a mechanism for nitrate
      regulated root growth via regulation of ABA accumulation in the root tip,
      providing insight into the environmental regulation of root growth.

PMID- 26887920
TI  - No systemic exposure of transtympanic heparin-binding epidermal growth factor
      like growth factor.
AB  - CONTEXT: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor like growth factor (HB-EGF) is
      an emerging therapeutic for the regeneration of the tympanic membrane (TM).
      OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether the doses of HB-EGF delivered in a
      sustained release hydrogel into a middle ear mouse model, would be measurable in
      the systemic circulation. We also aimed to observe, in the scenario that the
      intended dose was absorbed directly into the circulation, whether these levels
      could be measured above the background levels of HB-EGF in the circulation.
      METHODS: A total of 12 mice had transtympanic injections of 5 MUg/ml of HB-EGF
      contained within a previously described novel hydrogel vehicle, while another 12
      mice had intravenous delivery of 10 MUg/kg of HB-EGF. Intravenous blood samples
      were collected at 0-, 3-, 24-, 168-, 288- and 720-h post-injection. A double
      antibody sandwich one-step process enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was
      used to determine the level of HB-EGF in the serum. RESULTS: No mice in the
      transtympanic administration group and no mice in the intravenous administration
      group were found to have blood level measured above that in the controls.
      DISCUSSION: The inability of the positive control to measure levels above
      background, suggest the total dose used in our studies, even if 100% absorbed
      into the system circulation is insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: HB-EGF at the doses
      and delivery method proposed for treatment of chronic TM perforation in a mouse
      model are likely to have no measurable systemic effect.

PMID- 26887922
TI  - Corrigendum: Delivery of crop pollination services is an insufficient argument
      for wild pollinator conservation.

PMID- 26887923
TI  - Photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of rhombohedral CuGaO2
      nanoplates.
AB  - Rhombohedral phase CuGaO2 nanoplates with a diameter of about 10 MUm were
      synthesized via low temperature hydrothermal method. Room temperature and low
      temperature photoluminescence of the obtained CuGaO2 nanoplates were
      characterized. CuGaO2 nanoplates exhibited blue emission at room temperature and
      free exciton emission were appeared at low temperature. The blue emission is
      originated from defects such as Cu vacancies, which is the possible origin of p
      type conductivity. The appearance of free exciton emission can demonstrate the
      direct bandgap transition behavior of CuGaO2 nanoplates. The as-prepared p-type
      CuGaO2 nanoplates were further decorated by n-type ZnO nanoparticles via
      calcination method to fabricate p-n junction nanocomposites. The nanocomposites
      exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity which can be ascribed to the effective
      separation of photogenerated carriers by the internal electrostatic field in the
      p-n junction region, and the enhanced light absorption properties resulted from
      sub-bandgap absorption effect of p-n junction. This work has offered a new
      insight into the design of p-n junction devices using p-type CuGaO2 nanoplates.

PMID- 26887925
TI  - Esterase phenotyping in human liver in vitro: specificity of carboxylesterase
      inhibitors.
AB  - 1. Esterases may play a major role in the clearance of drugs with functional
      groups amenable to hydrolysis, particularly in the case of ester prodrugs. To
      understand the processes involved in the elimination of such drugs, it is
      necessary to determine the esterases involved. However, the tools currently
      available for this enzyme phenotyping are relatively scarce. 2. The work was
      aimed at summarizing the selectivity of esterase inhibitors for carboxylesterases
      1 and 2 (CES1 and CES2) in the human liver to clarify their suitability for
      esterase phenotyping. Eserine, at around 10 MUM, was found to be a highly
      specific CES2 inhibitor, whereas other esterase inhibitors turned out less
      selective. When used together with tacrine, which inhibits cholinesterases but
      not CES, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (inhibitor of paraoxonases), the
      involvement of the hydrolyzing esterases in the hepatic clearance of a drug can
      be elucidated. 3. The second approach to esterase phenotyping is based on data
      from recombinant or isolated esterases, together with relative activity factors,
      which relate their activities to those of the same enzymes in subcellular
      fractions. 4. These two approaches will help to characterize the hydrolytic
      metabolism of drug candidates in a similar manner as practiced routinely for the
      oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes. 

PMID- 26887926
TI  - Inter- and Intra-Operator Reliability of Facial and Dental Measurements Using 3D
      Stereophotogrammetry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the reproducibility of an
      innovative method for facial analysis with three-dimensional-stereophotogrammetry
      (3D-spg). METHODS: Twelve subjects with no obvious malocclusion participated in
      this study. For each of them, four photographs were acquired using the
      LifeViz(TM) , an absolute calibration 3D-spg system. The facial reconstructions
      were analyzed with the DermaPix(TM) image management software. Two different
      operators recorded distances between landmarks and each operator repeated the
      measurements after one week. The intra- and inter-examiner reproducibilities were
      assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: This study
      showed reproducible intra and inter-examiners results for facial measurements
      (ICC comprised between 0.732 and 0.976) except for measurements that involve the
      inner part of the dental corridor (ICC comprised between 0.598 and 0.914).
      CONCLUSION: The measurements recorded by 3D-LifeViz(TM) system are accurate and
      reliable for research and clinical use. Moreover, it is simple and inexpensive
      compared with other 3D methods (laser scanner, 3D Computed Tomography, and 3D
      Cone Beam CT). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The inter- and intra-operator reliability
      of the LifeViz(TM) 3D-spg method was demonstrated. The LifeViz(TM) 3D-spg method
      might be a useful method to accomplish indirect 3D measurements that are relevant
      to dental and facial diagnosis. (J Esthet Restor Dent, 2016).

PMID- 26887927
TI  - Pertrochanteric osteotomy and distraction femoral neck lengthening for treatment
      of proximal hip ischemic deformities in children.
AB  - PURPOSE: Proximal femoral ischemic deformities in the pediatric population is a
      challenging pathological situation. Many surgical techniques have been proposed
      to treat this problem, with variable reported results. We believe that a C-shaped
      pertrochanteric osteotomy plus neck lengthening utilizing distraction
      osteogenesis principles would restore the femoral anatomical ratios between neck,
      shaft, and the head, and redress the biomechanics of the proximal femur with
      resultant sufficient containment of the femoral head within the acetabulum.
      METHODS: We reviewed the results of 19 patients divided into two groups with
      proximal femoral ischemic deformities. Between 2002 and 2009, preoperative and
      postoperative clinical examination and radiographs were assessed measuring the
      neck-shaft angle (NSA), neck-epiphyseal angle (NEA), articulo-trochanteric
      distance (ATD), lateralization of the greater trochanter (LT), the angle of
      Wiberg (CEA), index of lateral head displacement by Reimers (IM), and lateral
      angle of displacement (LDA). RESULTS: All patients were followed prospectively.
      Clinical outcome was assessed using Colton's criteria, which showed average good
      improvement in function (58.9 %). Radiological indicators were assessed using
      Kruczynski's criteria. For group I, the postoperative NSA, NEA, and CEA showed
      significant change (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). For group
      II, the postoperative NSA, NEA, and CEA showed significant change (p < 0.001, p <
      0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The midterm functional results
      are favorable for the implementation of pertrochanteric osteotomy and distraction
      osteogenesis to treat proximal femoral ischemic deformities in the pediatric
      population.

PMID- 26887924
TI  - Differential Rac1 signalling by guanine nucleotide exchange factors implicates
      FLII in regulating Rac1-driven cell migration.
AB  - The small GTPase Rac1 has been implicated in the formation and dissemination of
      tumours. Upon activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), Rac1
      associates with a variety of proteins in the cell thereby regulating various
      functions, including cell migration. However, activation of Rac1 can lead to
      opposing migratory phenotypes raising the possibility of exacerbating tumour
      progression when targeting Rac1 in a clinical setting. This calls for the
      identification of factors that influence Rac1-driven cell motility. Here we show
      that Tiam1 and P-Rex1, two Rac GEFs, promote Rac1 anti- and pro-migratory
      signalling cascades, respectively, through regulating the Rac1 interactome. In
      particular, we demonstrate that P-Rex1 stimulates migration through enhancing the
      interaction between Rac1 and the actin-remodelling protein flightless-1
      homologue, to modulate cell contraction in a RhoA-ROCK-independent manner. 

PMID- 26887928
TI  - Increased isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria among TB suspects in
      Northeastern, Tanzania: public health and diagnostic implications for control
      programmes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly reported
      worldwide associated with human disease. Defining the significance of NTM in
      settings with endemic tuberculosis (TB) requires the discrimination of NTM from
      TB in suspect patients. Correct and timely identification of NTM will impact both
      therapy and epidemiology of TB and TB-like diseases. The present study aimed at
      determining the frequency and diversity of NTM among TB suspects in northeastern
      Tanzania. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2012
      through January 2013. Seven hundred and forty-four sputum samples were collected
      from 372 TB suspects. Detection was done by using phenotypic, GenoType((r))
      Mycobacterium CM/AS kits, 16S rRNA and hsp65 gene sequencing for identification
      of isolates not identified by Hain kits. Binary regression model was used to
      analyse the predictors of NTM detection. RESULTS: The prevalence of NTM was 9.7%
      of the mycobacterial isolates. Out of 36 patients with confirmed NTM infection,
      12 were HIV infected with HIV being a significant predictor of NTM detection (P <
      0.001). Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) was found in five
      patients. Twenty-eight NTM isolates were identified using GenoType((r))
      Mycobacterium CM/AS and eight isolates could not be identified. Identified
      species included M. gordonae and M. interjectum 6 (16.7%), M. intracelullare 4
      (11.1%), M. avium spp. and M. fortuitum 2 (5.5%), M. kansasii, M. lentiflavum, M.
      simiae, M. celatum, M. marinum 1 (2.8%) each. Of isolates not identified to
      subspecies level, we identified M. kumamotonense (2), M. intracellulare/kansasii,
      M. intermedium/triplex, M. acapulcensis/flavescens, M. stomatepiae, M.
      colombiense and M. terrae complex (1) each using 16S rRNA sequencing.
      Additionally, hsp65 gene sequencing identified M. kumamotonense, M.
      scrofulaceum/M. avium, M. avium, M. flavescens/novocastrense, M.
      kumamotonense/hiberniae, M. lentiflavum, M. colombiense/M. avium and M.
      kumamotonense/terrae/hiberniae (1) each. Results of the 16S rRNA and hsp65 gene
      sequencing were concordant in three and discordant in five isolates not
      identified by GenoType((r)) Mycobacterium CM/AS. CONCLUSION: NTM infections may
      play a vital role in causing lung disease and impact management of TB in endemic
      settings. GenoType((r)) Mycobacterium CM/AS represents a useful tool to identify
      clinical NTM infections. However, 16S rRNA gene sequencing should be thought for
      confirmatory diagnosis of the clinical isolates. Due to the complexity and
      inconsistence of NTM identification, we recommend diagnosis of NTM infections be
      centralized by strengthening and setting up quality national and regional
      infrastructure.

PMID- 26887930
TI  - Preparation of magnetic and pH-responsive chitosan microcapsules via sonochemical
      method.
AB  - Magnetic and pH-responsive chitosan microcapsules (MPRCMCs) were prepared by a
      simple sonochemical method. Superparamagnetic oleic acid modified Fe3O4
      nanoparticles (OA-Fe3O4 NPs) and hydrophobic drugs could be directly loaded into
      MPRCMCs during sonication. The obtained microcapsules had a well-defined
      spherical morphology with the average size of 2 MUm. The microcapsules showed an
      excellent magnetic property. In addition, the pH-responsive controlled release of
      coumarin 6 (C6) from MPRCMCs indicated that the developed microcapsules could be
      a promising candidate for drugs carriers.

PMID- 26887929
TI  - Amelioration of intracellular stress and reduction of neural tube defects in
      embryos of diabetic mice by phytochemical quercetin.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus in early pregnancy causes birth defects, including neural tube
      defects (NTDs). Hyperglycemia increases production of nitric oxide (NO) through
      NO synthase 2 (Nos2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), generating nitrosative
      and oxidative stress conditions in the embryo. The present study aimed to target
      nitrosative stress using a naturally occurring Nos2 inhibitor, quercetin, to
      prevent NTDs in the embryos of diabetic mice. Daily administration of quercetin
      to diabetic pregnant mice during the hyperglycemia-susceptible period of
      organogenesis significantly reduced NTDs and cell apoptosis in the embryos,
      compared with those of vehicle-treated diabetic pregnant mice. Using HPLC-coupled
      ESI-MS/MS, quercetin metabolites, including methylated and sulfonylated
      derivatives, were detected in the conceptuses. The methylated metabolite, 3-O
      methylquercetin, was shown to reduce ROS level in embryonic stem cells cultured
      in high glucose. Quercetin treatment decreased the levels of Nos2 expression,
      protein nitrosylation, and protein nitration, alleviating nitrosative stress.
      Quercetin increased the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 and 2, and reduced
      the levels of oxidative stress markers. Expression of genes of redox regulating
      enzymes and DNA damage repair factors was upregulated. Our study demonstrates
      that quercetin ameliorates intracellular stresses, regulates gene expression, and
      reduces embryonic malformations in diabetic pregnancy. 

PMID- 26887932
TI  - Corrigendum: Contractile dynamics change before morphological cues during
      fluorescence illumination.

PMID- 26887931
TI  - Symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy in infancy and pediatric inflammatory
      bowel disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk factors of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) are
      incompletely understood. Recently, we reported that among patients with PIBD, a
      previous diagnosis of cow's milk allergy (CMA) and asthma occurred more
      frequently than among age- and sex-matched peers. We tested at a national level
      the hypothesis that CMA is associated with the risk of contracting PIBD. METHODS:
      A nationwide birth cohort (n = 225,041), including all Finnish children born
      between 1999 and 2002, was followed up until July 1, 2014. We identified all
      children with a diagnosis of CMA, asthma, and PIBD from a national register; the
      data were based on certificates, including diagnostic criteria. The 95%
      confidence intervals (CI) for the incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were
      calculated assuming a Poisson distribution. RESULTS: We identified 7,910 infants
      with CMA yielding a cumulative incidence of 3.5% by 2 years of age. The
      cumulative incidence of PIBD was 0.14% (n = 316) and that of asthma 6.6%
      (14,807). Children with CMA were more likely to develop PIBD than non-CMA
      children, incidence ratio 2.6 (95% CI 1.7-3.8). Children with a diagnosis of CMA
      contracted PIBD at a younger age than the respective non-CMA group (9 vs. 11
      years, p < 0.05). The risk was more evident for ulcerative colitis than for
      Crohn's disease. The association between CMA and asthma was stronger than that
      between CMA and PIBD. CONCLUSIONS: CMA in infancy is associated with subsequent
      development of asthma and PIBD. This suggests that in a subgroup of patients, CMA
      may share underlying background with PIBD, warranting thorough follow-up.

PMID- 26887934
TI  - On micro-electrokinetic scalar turbulence in microfluidics at a low Reynolds
      number.
AB  - We recently demonstrated the direct observation of micro-electrokinetic
      turbulence in a microchannel at a low Reynolds number (Re) when a pressure-driven
      flow was forced electrokinetically. Here, we characterize the corresponding
      scalar turbulence and surprisingly find that the corresponding turbulent mixing
      has some typical and important features of scalar turbulence, such as the Obukhov
      Corrsin (O-C) -5/3 spectrum of concentration fluctuation, which can commonly be
      realized only at high Re in macroflows. This discovery could provide a new
      perspective of scalar turbulence and an avenue for control of transport phenomena
      in lab-on-a-chip platforms. This will deepen our fundamental understanding of
      transport phenomena in microfluidics. 

PMID- 26887933
TI  - Vaccination using melanoma cells treated with p19arf and interferon beta gene
      transfer in a mouse model: a novel combination for cancer immunotherapy.
AB  - Previously, we combined p19(Arf) (Cdkn2a, tumor suppressor protein) and
      interferon beta (IFN-beta, immunomodulatory cytokine) gene transfer in order to
      enhance cell death in a murine model of melanoma. Here, we present evidence of
      the immune response induced when B16 cells succumbing to death due to treatment
      with p19(Arf) and IFN-beta are applied in vaccine models. Use of dying cells for
      prophylactic vaccination was investigated, identifying conditions for tumor-free
      survival. After combined p19(Arf) and IFN-beta treatment, we observed immune
      rejection at the vaccine site in immune competent and nude mice with normal NK
      activity, but not in NOD-SCID and dexamethasone immunosuppressed mice (NK
      deficient). Combined treatment induced IL-15, ULBP1, FAS/APO1 and KILLER/DR5
      expression, providing a mechanism for NK activation. Prophylactic vaccination
      protected against tumor challenge, where markedly delayed progression and
      leukocyte infiltration were observed. Analysis of primed lymphocytes revealed
      secretion of TH1-related cytokines and depletion protocols showed that both
      CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes are necessary for immune protection. However,
      application of this prophylactic vaccine where cells were treated either with IFN
      beta alone or combined with p19(Arf) conferred similar immune protection and
      cytokine activation, yet only the combination was associated with increased
      overall survival. In a therapeutic vaccine protocol, only the combination was
      associated with reduced tumor progression. Our results indicate that by
      harnessing cell death in an immunogenic context, our p19(Arf) and IFN-beta
      combination offers a clear advantage when both genes are included in the vaccine
      and warrants further development as a novel immunotherapy for melanoma. 

PMID- 26887936
TI  - Author's reply to Goldacre.

PMID- 26887935
TI  - Plasmodium vivax mdr1 genotypes in isolates from successfully cured patients
      living in endemic and non-endemic Brazilian areas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed species causing the
      highest number of malaria cases in the world. In Brazil, P. vivax is responsible
      for approximately 84 % of reported cases. In the absence of a vaccine, control
      strategies are based on the management of cases through rapid diagnosis and
      adequate treatment, in addition to vector control measures. The approaches used
      to investigate P. vivax resistance to chloroquine (CQ) were exclusively in vivo
      studies because of the difficulty in keeping parasites in continuous in vitro
      culture. In view of the limitations related to follow-up of patients and to
      assessing the plasma dosage of CQ and its metabolites, an alternative approach to
      monitor chemo-resistance (QR) is to use molecular markers. Single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) in the multidrug resistance gene pvmdr1 are putative
      determinants of CQ resistance (CQR), but such SNPs in P. vivax isolates from
      patients with good response to treatment should be further explored. The aim of
      this study is to investigate the mutations in the gene, supposedly associated to
      QR, in P. vivax isolates from successfully cured patients, living in Brazilian
      endemic and non-endemic areas. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 49
      vivax malaria patients from endemic (Amazon Basin: 45) and non-endemic (Atlantic
      Forest: four) Brazilian regions and analysed for SNPs in the CQR-related P. vivax
      gene (pvmdr1), using PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Among the 49 isolates
      genetically characterized for the gene pvmdr1, 34 (70 %) presented at least one
      mutation. T958M mutant alleles were the most frequent (73 %) followed Y976F (15
      %) and F1076L (12 %). Single mutation was detected in 24 (70.5 %) isolates and
      double mutations in ten (29.5 %). The most common single mutant genotype was the
      958M/Y976/F1076 (79 %), followed by 976F/F1076 (21 %) whereas 958M/Y976/1076L (60
      %) and 976F/1076L (40 %) double mutant genotypes were detected. Single mutant
      profile was observed only in isolates from Amazon Basin, although double mutants
      were found both in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest regions. Interestingly, the
      genotype 958M/Y976/1076L was present in all isolates from the Atlantic Forest in
      the Rio de Janeiro State. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that primaquine (PQ) efficacy
      is highly dependent on concurrent administration of a blood schizontocidal agent
      and that PQ could not circumvent CQR, together with the fact that no pvmdr1
      mutation should be expected in successfully cured patients, these findings seem
      to indicate that the pvmdr1 gene is not a reliable marker of CQR. Further
      investigations are needed to define a reliable molecular marker for monitoring P.
      vivax CQR in P. vivax populations.

PMID- 26887937
TI  - Achieving Precision Mental Health through Effective Assessment, Monitoring, and
      Feedback Processes : Introduction to the Special Issue.

PMID- 26887938
TI  - GIV/Girdin (Galpha-interacting, Vesicle-associated Protein/Girdin) Creates a
      Positive Feedback Loop That Potentiates Outside-in Integrin Signaling in Cancer
      Cells.
AB  - Activation of the tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK) upon cell
      stimulation by the extracellular matrix initiates integrin outside-in signaling.
      FAK is directly recruited to active integrins, which enhances its kinase activity
      and triggers downstream signaling like activation of PI3K. We recently described
      that Galpha-interacting, vesicle-associated protein (GIV), a protein up-regulated
      in metastatic cancers, is also required for outside-in integrin signaling. More
      specifically, we found that GIV is a non-receptor guanine nucleotide exchange
      factor that activates trimeric G proteins in response to integrin stimulation to
      enhance PI3K signaling and tumor cell migration. In contrast, previous reports
      have established that GIV is involved in phosphotyrosine (Tyr(P))-based signaling
      in response to growth factor stimulation;i.e.GIV phosphorylation at Tyr-1764 and
      Tyr-1798 recruits and activates PI3K. Here we show that phosphorylation of GIV at
      Tyr-1764/Tyr-1798 is also required to enhance PI3K-Akt signaling and tumor cell
      migration in response to integrin stimulation, indicating that GIV functions in
      Tyr(P)-dependent integrin signaling. Unexpectedly, we found that activation of
      FAK, an upstream component of the integrin Tyr(P) signaling cascade, was
      diminished in GIV-depleted cells, suggesting that GIV is required to establish a
      positive feedback loop that enhances integrin-FAK signaling. Mechanistically, we
      demonstrate that this feedback activation of FAK depends on both guanine
      nucleotide exchange factor and Tyr(P) GIV signaling as well as on their
      convergence point, PI3K. Taken together, our results provide novel mechanistic
      insights into how GIV promotes proinvasive cancer cell behavior by working as a
      signal-amplifying platform at the crossroads of trimeric G protein and Tyr(P)
      signaling. 

PMID- 26887939
TI  - Protein Kinase C zeta Interacts with a Novel Binding Region of Galphaq to Act as
      a Functional Effector.
AB  - Heterotrimeric G proteins play an essential role in the initiation of G protein
      coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling through specific interactions with a variety of
      cellular effectors. We have recently reported that GPCR activation promotes a
      direct interaction between Galphaq and protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta), leading
      to the stimulation of the ERK5 pathway independent of the canonical effector
      PLCbeta. We report herein that the activation-dependent Galphaq/PKCzeta complex
      involves the basic PB1-type II domain of PKCzeta and a novel interaction module
      in Galphaq different from the classical effector-binding site. Point mutations in
      this Galphaq region completely abrogate ERK5 phosphorylation, indicating that
      Galphaq/PKCzeta association is required for the activation of the pathway.
      Indeed, PKCzeta was demonstrated to directly bind ERK5 thus acting as a scaffold
      between Galphaq and ERK5 upon GPCR activation. The inhibition of these protein
      complexes by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2, a known Galphaq modulator, led
      to a complete abrogation of ERK5 stimulation. Finally, we reveal that
      Galphaq/PKCzeta complexes link Galphaq to apoptotic cell death pathways. Our data
      suggest that the interaction between this novel region in Galphaq and the
      effector PKCzeta is a key event in Galphaq signaling. 

PMID- 26887940
TI  - Multiple Mechanisms Contribute to the Cell Growth Defects Imparted by Human
      Telomerase Insertion in Fingers Domain Mutations Associated with Premature Aging
      Diseases.
AB  - Normal human stem cells rely on low levels of active telomerase to sustain their
      high replicative requirements. Deficiency in telomere maintenance mechanisms
      leads to the development of premature aging diseases, such as dyskeratosis
      congenita and aplastic anemia. Mutations in the unique "insertion in fingers
      domain" (IFD) in the human telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit
      (hTERT) have previously been identified and shown to be associated with
      dyskeratosis congenita and aplastic anemia. However, little is known about the
      molecular mechanisms impacted by these IFD mutations. We performed comparative
      functional analyses of disease-associated IFD variants at the molecular and
      cellular levels. We report that hTERT-P721R- and hTERT-R811C-expressing cells
      exhibited growth defects likely due to impaired TPP1-mediated recruitment of
      these variant enzymes to telomeres. We showed that activity and processivity of
      hTERT-T726M failed to be stimulated by TPP1-POT1 overexpression and that dGTP
      usage by this variant was less efficient compared with the wild-type enzyme.
      hTERT-P785L-expressing cells did not show growth defects, and this variant likely
      confers cell survival through increased DNA synthesis and robust activity
      stimulation by TPP1-POT1. Altogether, our data suggest that multiple mechanisms
      contribute to cell growth defects conferred by the IFD variants. 

PMID- 26887941
TI  - Evidence That the "Lid" Domain of Nicastrin Is Not Essential for Regulating gamma
      Secretase Activity.
AB  - Understanding of the structure of the gamma-secretase complex consisting of
      presenilin (PS), anterior pharynx-defective 1 (APH-1), nicastrin (NCT), and
      presenilin enhancer 2 (PEN-2) is of significant therapeutic interest for the
      design of gamma-secretase modulators for Alzheimer disease. The structure of
      gamma-secretase revealed by cryo-EM approaches suggested a substrate binding
      mechanism for NCT, a bilobar structure that involved rotation of the two lobes
      around a central pivot and opening of a "lid" region that facilitates substrate
      recruitment. To validate this proposal, we expressed NCT that lacks the lid
      entirely, or a variety of NCT variants that harbor mutations at highly conserved
      residues in the lid region inNCT-deficient cells, and then assessed their impact
      on gamma-secretase assembly, activity, and stability. In addition, we assessed
      the impact of mutating a critical residue proposed to be a pivot around which the
      two lobes of NCT rotate. Our results show that neither the mutations on the lid
      tested here nor the entire lid deletion has any significant impact on gamma
      secretase assembly, activity, and stability, and that NCT with the mutation of
      the proposed pivot rescues gamma-secretase activity inNCT-deficient cells in a
      manner indistinguishable from WT NCT. These findings indicate that the NCT lid is
      not an essential element necessary for gamma-secretase assembly, activity, and
      stability, and that rotation of the two lobes appears not to be a prerequisite
      for substrate binding and gamma-secretase function. 

PMID- 26887943
TI  - Differentiated, Promoter-specific Response of [4Fe-4S] NsrR DNA Binding to
      Reaction with Nitric Oxide.
AB  - NsrR is an iron-sulfur cluster protein that regulates the nitric oxide (NO)
      stress response of many bacteria. NsrR from Streptomyces coelicolor regulates its
      own expression and that of only two other genes, hmpA1 and hmpA2, which encode
      HmpA enzymes predicted to detoxify NO. NsrR binds promoter DNA with high affinity
      only when coordinating a [4Fe-4S] cluster. Here we show that reaction of [4Fe-4S]
      NsrR with NO affects DNA binding differently depending on the gene promoter.
      Binding to the hmpA2 promoter was abolished at ~2 NO per cluster, although for
      the hmpA1 and nsrR promoters, ~4 and ~8 NO molecules, respectively, were required
      to abolish DNA binding. Spectroscopic and kinetic studies of the NO reaction
      revealed a rapid, multi-phase, non-concerted process involving up to 8-10 NO
      molecules per cluster, leading to the formation of several iron-nitrosyl species.
      A distinct intermediate was observed at ~2 NO per cluster, along with two further
      intermediates at ~4 and ~6 NO. The NsrR nitrosylation reaction was not
      significantly affected by DNA binding. These results show that NsrR regulates
      different promoters in response to different concentrations of NO. Spectroscopic
      evidence indicates that this is achieved by different NO-FeS complexes. 

PMID- 26887942
TI  - Path to Collagenolysis: COLLAGEN V TRIPLE-HELIX MODEL BOUND PRODUCTIVELY AND IN
      ENCOUNTERS BY MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-12.
AB  - Collagenolysis is essential in extracellular matrix homeostasis, but its
      structural basis has long been shrouded in mystery. We have developed a novel
      docking strategy guided by paramagnetic NMR that positions a triple-helical
      collagen V mimic (synthesized with nitroxide spin labels) in the active site of
      the catalytic domain of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12 or macrophage
      metalloelastase) primed for catalysis. The collagenolytically productive complex
      forms by utilizing seven distinct subsites that traverse the entire length of the
      active site. These subsites bury ~1,080 A(2)of surface area, over half of which
      is contributed by the trailing strand of the synthetic collagen V mimic, which
      also appears to ligate the catalytic zinc through the glycine carbonyl oxygen of
      its scissile G~VV triplet. Notably, the middle strand also occupies the full
      length of the active site where it contributes extensive interfacial contacts
      with five subsites. This work identifies, for the first time, the productive and
      specific interactions of a collagen triple helix with an MMP catalytic site. The
      results uniquely demonstrate that the active site of the MMPs is wide enough to
      accommodate two strands from collagen triple helices. Paramagnetic relaxation
      enhancements also reveal an extensive array of encounter complexes that form over
      a large part of the catalytic domain. These transient complexes could possibly
      facilitate the formation of collagenolytically active complexes via directional
      Brownian tumbling. 

PMID- 26887944
TI  - Redox Control of the Human Iron-Sulfur Repair Protein MitoNEET Activity via Its
      Iron-Sulfur Cluster.
AB  - Human mitoNEET (mNT) is the first identified Fe-S protein of the mammalian outer
      mitochondrial membrane. Recently, mNT has been implicated in cytosolic Fe-S
      repair of a key regulator of cellular iron homeostasis. Here, we aimed to
      decipher the mechanism by which mNT triggers its Fe-S repair capacity. By using
      tightly controlled reactions combined with complementary spectroscopic
      approaches, we have determined the differential roles played by both the redox
      state of the mNT cluster and dioxygen in cluster transfer and protein stability.
      We unambiguously demonstrated that only the oxidized state of the mNT cluster
      triggers cluster transfer to a generic acceptor protein and that dioxygen is
      neither required for the cluster transfer reaction nor does it affect the
      transfer rate. In the absence of apo-acceptors, a large fraction of the oxidized
      holo-mNT form is converted back to reduced holo-mNT under low oxygen tension.
      Reduced holo-mNT, which holds a [2Fe-2S](+)with a global protein fold similar to
      that of the oxidized form is, by contrast, resistant in losing its cluster or in
      transferring it. Our findings thus demonstrate that mNT uses an iron-based redox
      switch mechanism to regulate the transfer of its cluster. The oxidized state is
      the "active state," which reacts promptly to initiate Fe-S transfer independently
      of dioxygen, whereas the reduced state is a "dormant form." Finally, we propose
      that the redox-sensing function of mNT is a key component of the cellular
      adaptive response to help stress-sensitive Fe-S proteins recover from oxidative
      injury. 

PMID- 26887945
TI  - IL23R (Interleukin 23 Receptor) Variants Protective against Inflammatory Bowel
      Diseases (IBD) Display Loss of Function due to Impaired Protein Stability and
      Intracellular Trafficking.
AB  - Genome-wide association studies as well as murine models have shown that the
      interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R) pathway plays a pivotal role in chronic
      inflammatory diseases such as Crohn disease (CD), ulcerative colitis, psoriasis,
      and type 1 diabetes. Genome-wide association studies and targeted re-sequencing
      studies have revealed the presence of multiple potentially causal variants of the
      IL23R. Specifically the G149R, V362I, and R381Q IL23Ralpha chain variants are
      linked to protection against the development of Crohn disease and ulcerative
      colitis in humans. Moreover, the exact mechanism of action of these receptor
      variants has not been elucidated. We show that all three of these IL23Ralpha
      variants cause a reduction in IL23 receptor activation-mediated phosphorylation
      of the signal-transducing activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and
      phosphorylation of signal transducing activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). The
      reduction in signaling is due to lower levels of cell surface receptor
      expression. For G149R, the receptor retention in the endoplasmic reticulum is due
      to an impairment of receptor maturation, whereas the R381Q and V362I variants
      have reduced protein stability. Finally, we demonstrate that the endogenous
      expression of IL23Ralpha protein from V362I and R381Q variants in human
      lymphoblastoid cell lines exhibited lower expression levels relative to
      susceptibility alleles. Our results suggest a convergent cause of IL23Ralpha
      variant protection against chronic inflammatory disease. 

PMID- 26887948
TI  - The Pleckstrin Homology Domain of Diacylglycerol Kinase eta Strongly and
      Selectively Binds to Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate.
AB  - Type II diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isozymes (delta, eta, and kappa) have a
      pleckstrin homology domain (PH) at their N termini. Here, we investigated the
      lipid binding properties of the PHs of type II DGK isozymes using protein-lipid
      overlay and liposome binding assays. The PH of DGKeta showed the most pronounced
      binding activity to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) among
      the various glycero- and sphingolipids including PI 3,4,5-trisphosphate, PI 3,4
      bisphosphate, PI 3-phosphate, PI 4-phosphate, and PI 5-phosphate. Moreover, the
      PI(4,5)P2binding activity of the DGKeta-PH was significantly stronger than that
      of other type II DGK isozymes. Notably, compared with the PH of phospholipase C
      (PLC) delta1, which is generally utilized as a cellular PI(4,5)P2- probe, the
      DGKeta-PH is equal to or superior than the PLCdelta1-PH in terms of affinity and
      selectivity for PI(4,5)P2 Furthermore, in COS-7 cells, GFP-fused wild-type
      DGKeta1 and its PH partly translocated from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane
      where the PLCdelta1-PH was co-localized in response to hyperosmotic stress in an
      inositol 5-phosphatase-sensitive manner, whereas a PH deletion mutant did not.
      Moreover, K74A and R85A mutants of DGKeta-PH, which lack the conserved basic
      amino acids thought to ligate PI(4,5)P2, were indeed unable to bind to
      PI(4,5)P2and co-localize with the PLCdelta1-PH even in osmotically shocked cells.
      Overexpression of wild-type DGKeta1 enhanced EGF-dependent phosphorylation of
      ERK, whereas either K74A or R85A mutant did not. Taken together, these results
      indicate that the DGKeta-PH preferentially interacts with PI(4,5)P2and has
      crucial roles in regulating the subcellular localization and physiological
      function of DGKeta. Moreover, the DGKeta-PH could serve as an excellent cellular
      sensor for PI(4,5)P2. 

PMID- 26887946
TI  - Fungal Chitin Induces Trained Immunity in Human Monocytes during Cross-talk of
      the Host with Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - The immune system is essential to maintain the mutualistic homeostatic
      interaction between the host and its micro- and mycobiota. Living as a
      commensal,Saccharomyces cerevisiaecould potentially shape the immune response in
      a significant way. We observed thatS. cerevisiaecells induce trained immunity in
      monocytes in a strain-dependent manner through enhanced TNFalpha and IL-6
      production upon secondary stimulation with TLR ligands, as well as bacterial and
      fungal commensals. Differential chitin content accounts for the differences in
      training properties observed among strains, driving induction of trained immunity
      by increasing cytokine production and direct antimicrobial activity bothin
      vitroandin vivo These chitin-induced protective properties are intimately
      associated with its internalization, identifying a critical role of phagosome
      acidification to facilitate microbial digestion. This study reveals how commensal
      and passenger microorganisms could be important in promoting health and
      preventing mucosal diseases by modulating host defense toward pathogens and thus
      influencing the host microbiota-immune system interactions. 

PMID- 26887947
TI  - Templated Aggregation of TAR DNA-binding Protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) by Seeding
      with TDP-43 Peptide Fibrils.
AB  - TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) has been identified as the major
      component of ubiquitin-positive neuronal and glial inclusions in frontotemporal
      lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aggregation of TDP-43 to
      amyloid-like fibrils and spreading of the aggregates are suggested to account for
      the pathogenesis and progression of these diseases. To investigate the molecular
      mechanisms of TDP-43 aggregation, we attempted to identify the amino acid
      sequence required for the aggregation. By expressing a series of deletion mutants
      lacking 20 amino acid residues in the C-terminal region in SH-SY5Y cells, we
      established that residues 274-313 in the glycine-rich region are essential for
      aggregation. In vitro aggregation experiments using synthetic peptides of 40
      amino acids from this sequence and adjacent regions showed that peptides 274-313
      and 314-353 formed amyloid-like fibrils. Transduction of these fibrils induced
      seed-dependent aggregation of TDP-43 in cells expressing wild-type TDP-43 or TDP
      43 lacking nuclear localization signal. These cells showed different
      phosphorylated C-terminal fragments of TDP-43 and different trypsin-resistant
      bands. These results suggest that residues 274-353 are responsible for the
      conversion of TDP-43 to amyloid-like fibrils and that templated aggregation of
      TDP-43 by seeding with different peptides induces various types of TDP-43
      pathologies, i.e. the peptides appear to act like prion strains. 

PMID- 26887949
TI  - GSK3beta Overexpression in Dentate Gyrus Neural Precursor Cells Expands the
      Progenitor Pool and Enhances Memory Skills.
AB  - In restricted areas of the adult brain, like the subgranular zone of the dentate
      gyrus (DG), there is continuous production of new neurons. This process, named
      adult neurogenesis, is involved in important cognitive functions such as memory
      and learning. It requires the presence of newborn neurons that arise from
      neuronal stem cells, which divide and differentiate through successive stages in
      adulthood. In this work, we demonstrate that overexpression of glycogen synthase
      kinase (GSK) 3beta in neural precursor cells (NPCs) using the glial fibrillary
      acidic protein promoter during DG development produces an increase in the
      neurogenic process, increasing NPCs numbers. Moreover, the transgenic mice show
      higher DG volume and increased number of mature granule neurons. In an attempt to
      compensate for these alterations, glial fibrillary acidic protein/GSK3beta
      overexpressing mice show increased levels of Dkk1 and sFRP3, two inhibitors of
      the Wnt-frizzled complex. We have also found behavioral differences between wild
      type and transgenic mice, indicating a higher rating in memory tasks for GSK3beta
      overexpressing mice compared with wild type mice. These data indicate that
      GSK3beta is a crucial kinase in NPC physiology and suggest that this molecule
      plays a key role in the correct development of DG and adult neurogenesis in this
      region. 

PMID- 26887950
TI  - Importin alpha1 Mediates Yorkie Nuclear Import via an N-terminal Non-canonical
      Nuclear Localization Signal.
AB  - The Hippo signaling pathway controls organ size by orchestrating cell
      proliferation and apoptosis. When the Hippo pathway was inactivated, the
      transcriptional co-activator Yorkie translocates into the nucleus and forms a
      complex with transcription factor Scalloped to promote the expression of Hippo
      pathway target genes. Therefore, the nuclear translocation of Yorkie is a
      critical step in Hippo signaling. Here, we provide evidence that the N-terminal 1
      55 amino acids of Yorkie, especially Arg-15, were essential for its nuclear
      localization. By mass spectrometry and biochemical analyses, we found that
      Importin alpha1 can directly interact with the Yorkie N terminus and drive Yorkie
      into the nucleus. Further experiments show that the upstream component Hippo can
      inhibit Importin alpha1-mediated Yorkie nuclear import. Taken together, we
      identified a potential nuclear localization signal at the N-terminal end of
      Yorkie as well as a critical role for Importin alpha1 in Yorkie nuclear import. 

PMID- 26887951
TI  - A Point Mutation in the Exon Junction Complex Factor Y14 Disrupts Its Function in
      mRNA Cap Binding and Translation Enhancement.
AB  - Eukaryotic mRNA biogenesis involves a series of interconnected steps mediated by
      RNA-binding proteins. The exon junction complex core protein Y14 is required for
      nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and promotes translation. Moreover, Y14 binds
      the cap structure of mRNAs and inhibits the activity of the decapping enzyme
      Dcp2. In this report, we show that an evolutionarily conserved tryptophan residue
      (Trp-73) of Y14 is critical for its binding to the mRNA cap structure. A Trp-73
      mutant (W73V) bound weakly to mRNAs and failed to protect them from degradation.
      However, this mutant could still interact with the NMD and mRNA degradation
      factors and retained partial NMD activity. In addition, we found that the W73V
      mutant could not interact with translation initiation factors. Overexpression of
      W73V suppressed reporter mRNA translation in vitro and in vivo and reduced the
      level of a set of nascent proteins. These results reveal a residue of Y14 that
      confers cap-binding activity and is essential for Y14-mediated enhancement of
      translation. Finally, we demonstrated that Y14 may selectively and differentially
      modulate protein biosynthesis. 

PMID- 26887952
TI  - Enzyme Activities of the Ceramide Synthases CERS2-6 Are Regulated by
      Phosphorylation in the C-terminal Region.
AB  - Ceramide and complex sphingolipids regulate important cellular functions
      including cell growth, apoptosis, and signaling. Dysregulation of sphingolipid
      metabolism leads to pathological consequences such as sphingolipidoses and
      insulin resistance. Ceramides in mammals vary greatly in their acyl-chain
      composition: six different ceramide synthase isozymes (CERS1-6) that exhibit
      distinct substrate specificity and tissue distribution account for this
      diversity. In the present study, we demonstrated that CERS2-6 were phosphorylated
      at the cytoplasmic C-terminal regions. Most of the phosphorylated residues
      conformed to a consensus motif for phosphorylation by casein kinase 2 (CK2), and
      treatment of cells with the CK2-specific inhibitor CX-4945 lowered the
      phosphorylation levels of CERS2, -4, -5, and -6. Phosphorylation of CERS2 was
      especially important for its catalytic activity, acting mainly by increasing
      itsVmaxvalue. Phosphorylation modestly increased the catalytic activities of
      CERS4 and -5 and mildly increased those of CERS3 and -6. Dephosphorylation of
      endogenous ceramide synthases in the mouse brain led to severely reduced activity
      toward the Cers2 substrates C22:0/C24:0-CoAs and modestly reduced activity toward
      the Cers5/6 substrate C16:0-CoA. These results suggest that the phosphorylation
      of ceramide synthases may be a key regulatory point in the control of the
      distribution and levels of sphingolipids of various acyl-chain lengths. 

PMID- 26887953
TI  - Cholesterol-mediated Degradation of 7-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase Switches the
      Balance from Cholesterol to Vitamin D Synthesis.
AB  - Cholesterol is detrimental to human health in excess but is also essential for
      normal embryogenesis. Hence, enzymes involved in its synthesis possess many
      layers of regulation to achieve balanced cholesterol levels. 7-Dehydrocholesterol
      reductase (DHCR7) is the terminal enzyme of cholesterol synthesis in the
      Kandutsch-Russell pathway, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) to cholesterol.
      In the absence of functional DHCR7, accumulation of 7DHC and a lack of
      cholesterol production leads to the devastating developmental disorder, Smith
      Lemli-Opitz syndrome. This study identifies that statin treatment can ameliorate
      the low DHCR7 expression seen with common Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome mutations.
      Furthermore, we show that wild-type DHCR7 is also relatively labile. In an
      example of end-product inhibition, cholesterol accelerates the proteasomal
      degradation of DHCR7, resulting in decreased protein levels and activity. The
      loss of enzymatic activity results in the accumulation of the substrate 7DHC,
      which leads to an increased production of vitamin D. Thus, these findings
      highlight DHCR7 as an important regulatory switch between cholesterol and vitamin
      D synthesis. 

PMID- 26887955
TI  - Translation, validity and reliability of the British Sign Language (BSL) version
      of the EQ-5D-5L.
AB  - PURPOSE: To translate the health questionnaire EuroQol EQ-5D-5L into British Sign
      Language (BSL), to test its reliability with the signing Deaf population of BSL
      users in the UK and to validate its psychometric properties. METHODS: The EQ-5D
      5L BSL was developed following the international standard for translation
      required by EuroQol, with additional agreed features appropriate to a visual
      language. Data collection used an online platform to view the signed (BSL)
      version of the tests. The psychometric testing included content validity,
      assessed by interviewing a small sample of Deaf people. Reliability was tested by
      internal consistency of the items and test-retest, and convergent validity was
      assessed by determining how well EQ-5D-5L BSL correlates with CORE-10 BSL and
      CORE-6D BSL. RESULTS: The psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L BSL are good,
      indicating that it can be used to measure health status in the Deaf signing
      population in the UK. Convergent validity between EQ-5D-5L BSL and CORE-10 BSL
      and CORE-6D BSL is consistent, demonstrating that the BSL version of EQ-5D-5L is
      a good measure of the health status of an individual. The test-retest reliability
      of EQ-5D-5L BSL, for each dimension of health, was shown to have Cohen's kappa
      values of 0.47-0.61; these were in the range of moderate to good and were
      therefore acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time EQ-5D-5L has been
      translated into a signed language for use with Deaf people and is a significant
      step forward towards conducting studies of health status and cost-effectiveness
      in this population.

PMID- 26887954
TI  - Extracellular RNAs: A Secret Arm of Immune System Regulation.
AB  - The immune system has evolved to protect multicellular organisms from the attack
      of a variety of pathogens. To exert this function efficiently, the system has
      developed the capacity to coordinate the function of different cell types and the
      ability to down-modulate the response when the foreign attack is over. For
      decades, immunologists believed that these two characteristics were primarily
      related to cytokine/chemokine-based communication and cell-to-cell direct
      contact. More recently, it has been shown that immune cells also communicate by
      transferring regulatory RNAs, microRNAs in particular, from one cell to the
      other. Several studies have suggested a functional role of extracellular
      regulatory RNAs in cell-to-cell communication in different cellular contexts.
      This minireview focuses on the potential role of extracellular RNA transfer in
      the regulation of adaptive immune response, also contextualizing it in a broader
      field of what is known of cell-free RNAs in communication among different
      organisms in the evolutionary scale. 

PMID- 26887956
TI  - Phase II study on the efficacy and safety of Lapatinib administered beyond
      disease progression and combined with vinorelbine in HER-2/neu- positive advanced
      breast cancer: results of the CECOG LaVie trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vinorelbine constitutes effective chemotherapy for metastatic breast
      cancer (MBC) and acts synergistically with trastuzumab in HER-2/neu positive
      disease. The present study was set out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of
      vinorelbine when combined with lapatinib, an anti-HER2 tyrosine-kinase inhibitor,
      as late-line regimen administered beyond previous disease progression on prior
      lapatinib in patients with HER-2/neu- positive MBC. METHODS: The CECOG LaVie
      study was designed as open-labeled, single-arm, multicenter phase II trial.
      Patients had to be pretreated with lapatinib plus chemotherapy, and received
      lapatinib at a daily dose of 1250 mg in combination with vinorelbine 20 mg/m(2)
      i.v. on days 1 and 8 of a three-week cycle until disease progression, intolerable
      toxicity or withdrawal of consent. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as
      primary study endpoint; secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS),
      response rate according to RECIST 1.1, and safety. The study was terminated early
      due to poor accrual. RESULTS: A total number of nine patients were included;
      lapatinib administered beyond disease progression combined with vinorelbine
      resulted in a median PFS of 7.7 months (95% CI 0.56-14.91) and a median OS of
      23.4 months (95% CI 16.61-30.13), respectively. Partial remission was seen in one
      of nine patients, three patients had stable disease of > six months, whereas the
      remaining five patients had primary disease progression. In two patients,
      modification of vinorelbine dose due to toxicity became necessary; no dose
      modification was needed for lapatinib. The majority of reported adverse events
      (AE) were grade 1 and 2 in severity with diarrhea being the most commonly
      observed AE CONCLUSION: In this heavily pretreated patient population,
      combination of vinorelbine plus lapatinib showed encouraging activity and was
      characterized by an acceptable safety profile. Despite the low patient number,
      lapatinib plus vinorelbine may constitute a potential treatment option in heavily
      pretreated patients with HER-2/neu-positive MBC previously exposed to lapatinib.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT number 2009-016826-15, (15. 10.2009).

PMID- 26887957
TI  - Liver X receptor alpha is essential for the capillarization of liver sinusoidal
      endothelial cells in liver injury.
AB  - Liver X receptors (LXRs) play essential roles in lipogenesis, anti-inflammatory
      action and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in the liver. However, the
      effects of LXRs on the capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
      (LSECs) in liver fibrosis remain undetermined. Here, we demonstrated that
      LXRalpha plays an important role in LSECs capillarization in a manner that
      involved Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. We found that LXRalpha expression in LSECs was
      increased in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced fibrosis model. LXRalpha
      deletion markedly exacerbated CCl4-induced lesions assessed by histopathology, as
      well as inflammation and collagen deposition. Furthermore, capillarization of the
      sinusoids was aggravated in CCl4 -treated LXRalpha-deficient mice, as evidenced
      by increased CD34 expression, the formation of continuous basement membranes and
      aggravation of the loss of fenestrae. In vitro, LXR agonist could maintain
      freshly isolated LSECs differentiation on day 3. Furthermore, LXRalpha deletion
      led to increased expression of Hedgehog (Hh)-regulated gene in LSECs in the
      injured liver. Conversely, the LXR agonist could inhibit the Hh pathway in
      cultured LSECs. These responses indicated that LXRalpha suppressed the process of
      LSECs capillarization by repressing Hh signaling. Overall, our findings suggest
      that LXRalpha, by restoring the differentiation of LSECs, may be critical for the
      regression of liver fibrosis. 

PMID- 26887960
TI  - Treatment no-show in forensic outpatients with ADHD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: 'No-show' is important in today's mental healthcare services, yet in
      forensic psychiatry, little is known about its relationship to general and
      disorder-specific patient characteristics. AIMS: The aim of this article is to
      determine the prevalence of no-show and any general and disorder-specific
      features associated with no-show in a cohort of offenders with attention deficit
      hyperactivity disorder registered at a specialist forensic mental health clinic.
      METHODS: Participants were 118 adult men with a mean age just over 32 years (SD
      8.75) attending forensic mental health outpatient clinics in the Netherlands who
      had a primary diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and who had
      been aggressive and/or delinquent. RESULTS: Over a 1-year period, most patients
      (101, 86%) missed at least one appointment. The average number of appointments
      offered was 37.88 (SD = 27.27), and the average number of no-shows was 6.53 (SD =
      5.99) per patient. Multivariate linear regressions showed a 10-fold likelihood of
      later no-shows if the first appointment was missed; not showing up after the
      intake procedure was also associated with higher rates of later no-show. None of
      the disorder-specific characteristics contributed to the problem. CONCLUSIONS: No
      show is of particular concern in forensic mental health settings. In the current
      study, no-show was primarily associated with features related to the time of
      initial consultation. More attention should thus be paid at this stage to using a
      standard method of assessing a wider range of variables likely to affect
      attendance. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887959
TI  - Association Between Media Dose, Ad Tagging, and Changes in Web Traffic for a
      National Tobacco Education Campaign: A Market-Level Longitudinal Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2012, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
      launched Tips From Former Smokers (Tips), the first federally funded national
      tobacco education campaign. In 2013, a follow-up Tips campaign aired on national
      cable television networks, radio, and other channels, with supporting digital
      advertising to drive traffic to the Tips campaign website. OBJECTIVE: The
      objective of this study was to use geographic and temporal variability in 2013
      Tips campaign television media doses and ad tagging to evaluate changes in
      traffic to the campaign website in response to specific doses of campaign media.
      METHODS: Linear regression models were used to estimate the dose-response
      relationship between weekly market-level television gross rating points (GRPs)
      and weekly Web traffic to the Tips campaign website. This relationship was
      measured using unique visitors, total visits, and page views as outcomes. Ad GRP
      effects were estimated separately for ads tagged with the Tips campaign website
      URL and 1-800-QUIT-NOW. RESULTS: In the average media market, an increase of 100
      television GRPs per week for ads tagged with the Tips campaign website URL was
      associated with an increase of 650 unique visitors (P<.001), 769 total visits
      (P<.001), and 1255 total page views (P<.001) per week. The associations between
      GRPs for ads tagged with 1-800-QUIT-NOW and each Web traffic measure were also
      statistically significant (P<.001), but smaller in magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: Based
      on these findings, we estimate that the 16-week 2013 Tips television campaign
      generated approximately 660,000 unique visitors, 900,000 total visits, and
      1,390,000 page views for the Tips campaign website. These findings can help
      campaign planners forecast the likely impact of targeted advertising efforts on
      consumers' use of campaign-specific websites.

PMID- 26887958
TI  - Evaluation of an antenatal acupuncture intervention as an adjunct therapy for
      antenatal depression (AcuAnteDep): study protocol for a pragmatic randomised
      controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Depressed pregnant women face difficulty navigating a course between
      the potentially serious consequences of leaving depression untreated and
      significant limitations associated with conventional therapies, such as foetal
      toxicity and teratogenicity. Preliminary evidence is suggestive that acupuncture
      may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment option for antenatal
      depression; however, additional research is required. The purpose of this study
      is to further investigate this treatment possibility, with an additional
      examination of a potential biomechanistic acupuncture effect. METHODS/DESIGN: In
      this pragmatic randomised controlled trial, we will compare individually
      tailored, flexible antenatal depression-oriented acupuncture with equivalent
      attention progressive muscle relaxation and routine antenatal depression hospital
      care. Eligible women at 24 weeks of gestation with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
      Scale scores of 13 or more will be recruited from 2 antenatal clinics in South
      Western Sydney, Australia. The recruitment goal of 96 is powered to demonstrate a
      significant difference in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score severity
      between acupuncture and usual care, with intervention groups receiving weekly 1-h
      treatments for 8 weeks from 24 to 31 weeks of gestation. Mental health and
      quality-of-life assessments will occur at study commencement, intervention weeks
      4 and 8 and 6 weeks post-natally via the collection of completed Edinburgh
      Postnatal Depression Scale scores, Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale scores
      and World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale scores. Adjustment to
      mothering will also be evaluated at 6 weeks post-natally using the Being a Mother
      Scale. A putative biomechanistic effect of acupuncture on the oxytocinergic
      system will additionally be examined by comparing baseline salivary hormone
      levels with those measured at intervention weeks 4 and 8, as well as leucocyte
      oxytocin receptor expression at baseline and intervention week 8. DISCUSSION:
      Ethical approval was received in February 2015, and recruitment is underway and
      expected to be completed in July 2016. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand
      Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000250538, Registered on 19 March 2015.

PMID- 26887962
TI  - A review on ethnobotany, pharmacology and phytochemistry of Tabernaemontana
      corymbosa.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Tabernaemontana is a genus from the plant family, Apocynaceae with
      vast medicinal application and widespread distribution in the tropics and
      subtropics of Africa, Americas and Asia. The objective of this study is to
      critically evaluate the ethnobotany, medicinal uses, pharmacology and
      phytochemistry of the species, Tabernaemontana corymbosa (Roxb. ex Wall.) and
      provide information on the potential future application of alkaloids isolated
      from different parts of the plant. KEY FINDINGS: T. corymbosa (Roxb. ex Wall.)
      parts are used as poultice, boiled juice, decoctions and infusions for treatment
      against ulceration, fracture, post-natal recovery, syphilis, fever, tumours and
      orchitis in Malaysia, China, Thailand and Bangladesh. Studies recorded alkaloids
      as the predominant phytochemicals in addition to phenols, saponins and sterols
      with vast bioactivities such as antimicrobial, analgesic, anthelmintic,
      vasorelaxation, antiviral and cytotoxicity. SUMMARY: An evaluation of scientific
      data and traditional medicine revealed the medicinal uses of different parts of
      T. corymbosa (Roxb. ex Wall.) across Asia. Future studies exploring the structure
      bioactivity relationship of alkaloids such as jerantinine and vincamajicine among
      others could potentially improve the future application towards reversing
      anticancer drug resistance.

PMID- 26887961
TI  - Genomic and transcriptomic comparison of nucleotide variations for insights into
      bruchid resistance of mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] R. Wilczek).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] R. Wilczek) is an important legume crop
      with high nutritional value in South and Southeast Asia. The crop plant is
      susceptible to a storage pest caused by bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.). Some wild
      and cultivated mungbean accessions show resistance to bruchids. Genomic and
      transcriptomic comparison of bruchid-resistant and -susceptible mungbean could
      reveal bruchid-resistant genes (Br) for this pest and give insights into the
      bruchid resistance of mungbean. RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that the genome
      size varied by 61 Mb (mega base pairs) among the tested mungbean accessions. Next
      generation sequencing followed by de novo assembly of the genome of the bruchid
      resistant recombinant inbred line 59 (RIL59) revealed more than 42,000 genes.
      Transcriptomic comparison of bruchid-resistant and -susceptible parental lines
      and their offspring identified 91 differentially expressed genes (DEGs)
      classified into 17 major and 74 minor bruchid-resistance-associated genes. We
      found 408 nucleotide variations (NVs) between bruchid-resistant and -susceptible
      lines in regions spanning 2 kb (kilo base pairs) of the promoters of 68 DEGs.
      Furthermore, 282 NVs were identified on exons of 148 sequence-changed-protein
      genes (SCPs). DEGs and SCPs comprised genes involved in resistant-related,
      transposable elements (TEs) and conserved metabolic pathways. A large number of
      these genes were mapped to a region on chromosome 5. Molecular markers designed
      for variants of putative bruchid-resistance-associated genes were highly
      diagnostic for the bruchid-resistant genotype. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to
      identifying bruchid-resistance-associated genes, we found that conserved
      metabolism and TEs may be modifier factors for bruchid resistance of mungbean.
      The genome sequence of a bruchid-resistant inbred line, candidate genes and
      sequence variations in promoter regions and exons putatively conditioning
      resistance as well as markers detecting these variants could be used for
      development of bruchid-resistant mungbean varieties.

PMID- 26887963
TI  - Associative and Implicit Memory Performance as a Function of Cognitive Reserve in
      Elderly Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment.
AB  - This study aims to analyze implicit and explicit memory performance as a function
      of cognitive reserve (CR) in a healthy control group (N = 39) and a mild
      cognitive impairment (MCI) group (N = 37). Both groups were subdivided into high
      and low cognitive reserve, and were asked to complete an explicit and implicit
      associative recognition tasks. The results showed that the control group was able
      to learn both tasks (eta2 = .19, p < .0001), and the high CR group fared better
      (eta2 = .06, p < .05). The MCI sample, conversely, was unable to learn the
      implicit relationship, and showed very little learning on the explicit
      association task. Participants diagnosed with MCI showed little plasticity in
      learning associations regardless of CR (eta2 = .12, p < .01). 

PMID- 26887964
TI  - Mesenteric lymph nodes contribute to proinflammatory Th17-cell generation during
      inflammation of the small intestine in mice.
AB  - T cells of the small intestine, including Th17 cells, are critically involved in
      host protection from microbial infection, and also contribute to the pathogenesis
      of small bowel inflammatory disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that
      mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) play important roles in gut-tropic T-cell
      generation, although it is still unclear if MLNs are involved in the pathogenesis
      of small intestine inflammation. To address this issue, we analyzed the roles of
      both MLNs and Peyer's patches (PPs) by evaluating MLN- or PP-deficient mice in an
      experimental model of small intestine inflammation, induced by CD3-specific mAb
      injection. Interestingly, MLNs, but not PPs, were essential for the pathogenesis
      of intestinal inflammation, in particular the accumulation and infiltration of
      CD4(+) T-cell populations, including Th17 cells, from the blood. In addition,
      CD4(+) T-cell accumulation was dependent on the function of the alpha4 beta7
      integrin. Furthermore, MLN removal led to a significantly reduced number of
      peripheral alpha4 beta7 (+) CD4(+) effector memory T cells under normal
      conditions, suggesting that MLNs may play a role in maintaining the number of gut
      tropic CD4(+) effector memory T cells circulating in the blood. Taken together,
      the present study highlights the important role of MLNs in contributing to the
      pathogenesis of small intestine inflammation.

PMID- 26887965
TI  - Water fluoridation and ethnic inequities in dental caries profiles of New Zealand
      children aged 5 and 12-13 years: analysis of national cross-sectional registry
      databases for the decade 2004-2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gross and important inequities have historically existed in the oral
      health profiles of New Zealand children. Following the New Zealand Government's
      strategic oral health vision, launched in 2006, nationally collected information
      from 2004 to 2013 was used to analyze patterns in the prevalence of no obvious
      decay experience (caries-free) and mean decayed-missing-filled teeth indices over
      time and by community water fluoridation (CWF) and ethnic classifications in New
      Zealand children aged 5 years and in school year 8 (generally aged 12-13 years).
      METHODS: National aggregated data collected from children's routine child oral
      health service dental examinations were retrieved, and combined with demographic
      information from Statistics New Zealand. Children's CWF status was defined by the
      public water supply status of their school. Crude and standardized population
      estimates of caries-free prevalence and mean decayed-missing-filled teeth indices
      over time were derived. Unweighted linear regression models of main effects and
      two-factor interactions were investigated by age group. RESULTS: Dental
      examination data were available from 417,318 children aged 5 years and 471,333
      year 8 children; of whom 93,715 (22.5 %) and 94,001 (19.9 %), respectively, were
      Maori. Dental examination coverage of Maori children was significantly less than
      their non-Maori counterparts (approximately 11 % and 14 % for aged 5 and year 8
      children, respectively). Regression analysis revealed that caries-free prevalence
      and mean decayed-missing-filled teeth indices significantly improved over the
      study period for both age groups. Significant and sustained differences were
      observed between Maori and non-Maori children, and between CWF and non-CWF
      exposed groups. However, a convergence of dental profiles between non-Maori
      children in CWF and non-CWF regions was observed. DISCUSSION: Significant and
      important gains in New Zealand children's oral health profiles appear to have
      been made over the last decade. Maori children continued to carry a
      disproportionate oral health burden, even for those in CWF regions. The apparent
      profile convergence between non-Maori children in CWF and non-CWF regions is
      noteworthy; although a likely consequence of demographic shifts and unmeasured
      confounders. CONCLUSIONS: CWF itself did not remove disparities in caries levels
      between Maori and non-Maori children. Multiple, multi-pronged strategies are
      needed that overcome the array of factors which disadvantage Maori.

PMID- 26887967
TI  - Genotyping of infectious bronchitis viruses from broiler farms in Iraq during
      2014-2015.
AB  - Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is one of the most critical pathogens in the
      poultry industry, causing serious economic losses in all countries including
      Iraq. IBV has many genotypes that do not confer any cross-protection. This virus
      has been genotyped by sequence analysis of the S1 glycoprotein gene. A total of
      100 tracheal and kidney tissue specimens from different commercial broiler flocks
      in the middle and south of Iraq were collected from September 2013 to September
      2014. Thirty-two IBV-positive samples were selected from among the total and were
      further characterized by nested PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates
      belong to four groups (group I, variant 2 [IS/1494-like]; group II, 793/B-like;
      group III, QX-like; group IV, DY12-2-like). Sequence analysis revealed nucleotide
      sequence identities within groups I, II, and III of 99.68 %-100 %, 99.36 %-100 %,
      and 96.42 %-100 %, respectively. Group I (variant 2) was the dominant IBV
      genotype. One Chinese-like recombinant virus (DY12-2-like) that had not been
      reported in the Middle East was detected. In addition, the presence of QX on
      broiler chicken farms in the area studied was confirmed. This is the first
      comprehensive study on the genotyping of IBV in Iraq with useful information
      regarding the molecular epidemiology of IBV. The phylogenetic relationship of the
      strains with respect to different time sequences and geographical regions
      displayed complexity and diversity. Further studies are needed and should include
      the isolation and full-length molecular characterization of IBV in this region.

PMID- 26887966
TI  - Bioavailability of tomato polyphenols is enhanced by processing and fat addition:
      Evidence from a randomized feeding trial.
AB  - SCOPE: Tomato contains a variety of phenolics associated with health-promoting
      properties. However, the effects of processing and the addition of oil during
      tomato sauce preparation on microbial metabolism of phenolics in the small
      intestine are still unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: An open, controlled,
      randomized, and crossover feeding trial with 40 healthy volunteers was carried
      out to analyze the metabolites in plasma and urine after the consumption of
      tomato and tomato sauces, with tomato sauce enriched with refined olive oil
      (ROOE) and without refined olive oil (oil-free: OF). Ten phenolics in plasma and
      93 metabolites in urine were quantified. Processing tomatoes into sauce enhanced
      the bioavailability of flavanones, flavanols, and some hydroxycinnamic acids, as
      reflected by the increase in the area under the plasma concentration versus time
      curve. An increase in their plasma half-life was also observed, particularly
      after ingestion of ROOE, possibly favored by enterohepatic circulation. A wide
      variety of gut microbial metabolites was also detected, namely flavanones,
      hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, hydroxyphenylpropanoic acids,
      hydroxyphenylacetic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids. CONCLUSIONS: Flavanones and
      flavonols in ROOE presented higher bioavailability, suggesting that the
      processing undergone by the raw tomato improved their absorption.

PMID- 26887968
TI  - Differences in the epidemiology and virology of mild, severe and fatal human
      infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus.
AB  - A novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus caused 5-10 % mild and 30.5 % fatal human
      infections as of December 10, 2015. In order to investigate the reason for the
      higher rate of fatal outcome of this infection, this study compared the molecular
      epidemiology and virology of avian influenza A (H7N9) viruses from mild (N = 14),
      severe (N = 50) and fatal (N = 35) cases, as well as from non-human hosts (N =
      73). The epidemiological results showed that the average age of the people in the
      mild, severe and fatal groups was 27.6, 52 and 62 years old, respectively (p <
      0.001). Males accounted for 42.9 % (6/14), 58.0 % (29/50), and 74.3 % (26/35) of
      cases in the mild, severe and fatal group respectively (p = 0.094). Median days
      from onset to start of antiviral treatment were 2, 5 and 7 days in the mild,
      severe and fatal group, respectively (p = 0.002). The median time from onset to
      discharge/death was 12, 40 and 19 days in the mild, severe and fatal group,
      respectively (p < 0.001). Analysis of whole genome sequences showed that PB2
      (E627K), NA (R294K) and PA (V100A) mutations were markedly associated with an
      increased fatality rate, while HA (N276D) and PB2 (N559T) mutations were clearly
      related to mild cases. There were no differences in the genotypes, adaptation to
      mammalian hosts, and genetic identity between the three types of infection. In
      conclusion, advanced age and delayed confirmation of diagnosis and antiviral
      intervention were risk factors for death. Furthermore, PB2 (E627K), NA (R294K)
      and PA (V100A) mutations might contribute to a fatal outcome in human H7N9
      infection.

PMID- 26887970
TI  - S segment variability during the two first years of the spread of Schmallenberg
      virus.
AB  - A large sheep flock screened over a two-year period showed active spreading of
      Schmallenberg virus (SBV) during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Transplacental
      infections were observed during the two associated lambing periods (the winters
      of 2012 and 2013). Analysis of small (S) segment sequences of 38 SBV-positive
      samples, collected during periods of viral spreading and lambing revealed intra
      herd sequences diversity and sub-consensus variability occurring after
      transplacental infections. In comparison with the nucleoprotein (N), which
      appeared to be conserved, the non-structural protein (NSs) showed the highest
      level of variability at the time of viral emergence and over the two-year
      analysis period.

PMID- 26887969
TI  - Full-length M and L RNA sequences of tospovirus isolate 2009-GZT, which causes
      necrotic ringspot on tomato in China.
AB  - The virus isolate 2009-GZT, collected from tomato in Guizhou province of China,
      was identified as a new member of the genus Tospovirus based on its S RNA
      sequence. Because its provisional name, "tomato necrotic spot virus" (TNSV), was
      identical to an already existing member of the genus Ilarvirus, 2009-GZT was
      renamed "tomato necrotic spot-associated virus" (TNSaV). In this study, the full
      length sequences of the genomic M and L RNAs of TNSaV were determined and
      analyzed. The M RNA has 4,773 nucleotides (nt), encoding the NSm protein of 309
      aa (34.4 kDa) in the viral (v) strand and the glycoprotein precursor (Gn/Gc) of
      1123 aa (128 kDa) in the viral complementary (vc) strand. The NSm and Gn/Gc of
      TNSaV share the highest aa sequence identity (86.2 % and 86.9 %, respectively)
      with those of tomato zonate spot virus. The L RNA contains 8,908 nt and codes for
      the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 2885 aa (332 kDa) in the vc
      strand. The RdRp of TNSaV shares the highest aa sequence identity (85.2 %) with
      that of calla lily chlorotic spot virus (CCSV). Serological assays showed that
      TNSaV cross-reacts with rabbit antisera against watermelon silver mottle virus
      (WSMoV) NP and CCSV NP, indicating that TNSaV is a member of the WSMoV serogroup.

PMID- 26887971
TI  - One-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)
      for detection of tomato torrado virus.
AB  - 'Torrado' disease caused by tomato torrado virus (ToTV) is responsible for
      considerable losses in tomato production. Therefore, a one-step reverse
      transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification protocol for early and fast
      detection of ToTV isolates has been developed. The RNA extracted from ToTV
      infected plants was tested using this protocol with a set of six primers specific
      for the Vp35 coat protein gene sequence. The amplified products were analyzed
      using amplification curves, electrophoresis, and direct staining of DNA. The
      sensitivity of the protocol was tenfold higher than that of conventional RT-PCR.
      This new protocol is inexpensive, rapid, simple, and very sensitive.

PMID- 26887972
TI  - Molecular genetic characterization of rabies virus glycoprotein gene sequences
      from rabid dogs in Bangkok and neighboring provinces in Thailand, 2013-2014.
AB  - Because of its association with dogs, rabies virus (RABV) is still endemic in
      Thailand, where it is a serious public health problem. The genetic
      characterization of RABV in Thailand is limited. Therefore, in this study, we
      investigated the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of RABV in the
      endemic area. Viral RNA from 48 brain specimens from rabid dogs, collected in
      Bangkok and seven neighboring provinces in 2013-2014, was extracted and
      sequenced. The complete rabies glycoprotein (G) gene sequences (1575 nt) were
      aligned, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed using the maximum-likelihood
      method. All of the Thai rabies virus isolates belonged to lyssavirus genotype 1
      and clustered in the same lineage as isolates from South East Asia (SEA) and
      China. The Thai rabies virus isolates formed two distinct clades, THA-1 and THA
      2. Clade THA-1 was the predominant clade and could be divided into two subclades,
      THA-1A and THA-1B. Clade THA-2 was closely associated with human Thai isolates
      collected in a previous study. The overall mean rate of evolution based on the G
      gene was approximately 1.56 * 10(-4) substitutions/site/year. The genetic
      identities among the isolates from Thailand and other SEA countries were >88.4 %
      at the nucleotide sequence level and 95 % at the amino acid sequence level. The
      deduced amino acid sequences of the G proteins of the RABV isolates were
      compared. A single amino acid change (N194T) in subclade THA-1A distinguished the
      Thai RABV isolates from other RABV isolates. Our results suggest that these Thai
      dog RABV isolates share a common ancestor with the RABV isolates circulating in
      the endemic regions of SEA countries and China. Furthermore, there were strong
      genetic relationship to RABV from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. These data extend
      our understanding of the relatedness and genetic variation of RABV in Thailand.

PMID- 26887973
TI  - Short-Term Effects of TNF Inhibitors on Bone Turnover Markers and Bone Mineral
      Density in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - TNFalpha inhibitors (TNFalphaI) exert positive effects on disease activity in
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bone involvement is a major determinant of functional
      impairment in this disease. Here we investigated the short-term effects of
      TNFalphaI therapy on bone metabolism and density. We studied 54 patients with RA
      starting a TNFalphaI biologic drug, in whom any factor known to interfere with
      bone metabolism was excluded or rigorously accounted for. We measured at baseline
      and after 6-month therapy bone turnover markers: N-propeptide of type I collagen
      (P1NP), and bone alkaline phosphates for bone formation and serum C-terminal
      telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) for bone resorption. We also evaluated bone
      mineral density (BMD) at hip and lumbar by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. All
      bone markers rose significantly and these changes were not dependent on steroid
      dosage. A significant decrease in femoral neck BMD was also observed. These
      results indicate that TNFalphaI therapy in RA over 6 months is associated with an
      early increase in bone turnover and a decline in hip BMD. 

PMID- 26887974
TI  - Systemic Inflammation Affects Human Osteocyte-Specific Protein and Cytokine
      Expression.
AB  - Bone remodeling can be disturbed in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), possibly as
      a result of elevated levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines. Osteocyte
      specific proteins and cytokines play a vital role in bone remodeling by
      orchestrating bone formation and/or bone resorption. Therefore, we aimed to
      investigate the effect of RA-serum or inflammatory cytokines on expression of
      human osteocyte-specific proteins and cytokines. Human trabecular bone chips were
      cultured with RA-serum or inflammatory cytokines for 7-days. Live-dead staining
      was performed to assess cell viability. Gene expression of osteocyte-specific
      proteins and cytokines was analyzed by qPCR. Immuno-staining was performed for
      osteocyte-specific markers. Approximately 60 % of the osteocytes on the bone
      chips were alive at day-7. Cells in or on the bone chips did express the gene for
      osteocyte markers SOST, FGF23, DMP1, and MEPE, and the cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6,
      and TNFalpha at day 0 and 7. Active RA-serum treatment enhanced IL-1beta,
      TNFalpha, SOST, and DKK1 gene expression. IL-1beta treatment enhanced IL-1beta,
      TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8, FGF23, and SOST gene expression. TNFalpha treatment
      enhanced IL-1beta, TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8, and FGF23 gene expression. IL-8
      treatment enhanced TNFalpha, IL-8, and FGF23 gene expression. A combination of IL
      1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha treatment synergistically upregulated IL-1beta, IL-6,
      and IL-8 gene expression, as well as enhanced TNFalpha, OPG, SOST, and FGF23, and
      inhibited DKK1 gene expression. In conclusion, gene expression of human osteocyte
      specific proteins and cytokines was affected by RA-serum, and exogenous
      recombinant cytokines treatment suggesting that osteocytes could provide a new
      target to prevent systemic inflammation-induced bone loss in RA.

PMID- 26887976
TI  - Inference on treatment-covariate interaction based on a nonparametric measure of
      treatment effects and censored survival data.
AB  - The investigation of the treatment-covariate interaction is of considerable
      interest in the design and analysis of clinical trials. With potentially censored
      data observed, non-parametric and semi-parametric estimates and associated
      confidence intervals are proposed in this paper to quantify the interactions
      between the treatment and a binary covariate. In addition, comparison of
      interactions between the treatment and two covariates are also considered. The
      proposed approaches are evaluated and compared by Monte Carlo simulations and
      applied to a real data set from a cancer clinical trial. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26887975
TI  - Synergistic anti-oral cancer effects of UVC and methanolic extracts of
      Cryptocarya concinna roots via apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage.
AB  - Purpose Radiation combined with natural products may improve the radiosensitivity
      of cancer cells. This study investigated the potential of a combined modality
      treatment with Ultraviolet C (UVC; wavelength range 200-280 nm) and our
      previously identified anti-oral cancer agent (methanolic extracts of Cryptocarya
      concinna roots; MECCrt) in oral cancer cells. Materials and methods The mechanism
      of the possible synergy of UVC and MECCrt was explored in terms of cell
      viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial
      membrane potential (MitoMP), and DNA damage analyses. Results In cell viability
      (%) at 24 h treatment, the low doses of UVC (14 J/m(2)) and MECCrt (10 MUg/ml)
      resulted in slight damage to human oral cancer Ca9-22 cells (83.2 and 80.4) but
      was less harmful to human oral normal HGF-1 cells (93.4 and 91.8, respectively).
      The combined treatment of UVC and MECCrt (UVC/MECCrt) had a lower viability
      (54.5%) than UVC or MECCrt alone in Ca9-22 cells but no showed significant change
      in HGF-1 cells. In Ca9-22 cells, the expression of flow cytometry-based apoptosis
      (sub-G1 phase, annexin V, and pancaspase assays) was significantly higher in
      UVC/MECCrt than in UVC or MECCrt alone (p < 0.0001). Using flow cytometry,
      intracellular ROS levels of UVC/MECCrt and MECCrt alone were higher than for UVC
      alone. MitoMP change and H2A histone family member X (gammaH2AX; H2AFX)-based DNA
      damage were synergistically inhibited and induced by MECCrt/UVC compared to its
      single treatment in Ca9-22 cells, respectively. Conclusion UVC plus MECCrt
      treatment had selective killing and synergistic anti-proliferative effects
      against oral cancer cells involving apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.
      This combination therapy appears to have a great clinical potential against oral
      cancer cells.

PMID- 26887978
TI  - Short Communication: Hyperthyroidism in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients on
      Combined Antiretroviral Therapy: Case Series and Literature Review.
AB  - We describe an HIV-infected patient initiated on combined antiretroviral therapy
      (cART) who subsequently developed immune restoration disease (IRD)
      hyperthyroidism-this case represents one of five such patients seen at our center
      within the past year. Similar to previous reports of hyperthyroidism due to IRD,
      all of our patients experienced a rapid early recovery in total CD4 count, but
      developed symptoms of hyperthyroidism on average 3 years (38 months) after
      beginning cART, which represents a longer time frame than previously reported.
      Awareness and recognition of this potential complication of cART, which may occur
      years after treatment initiation, will allow patients with immune restorative
      hyperthyroidism to receive timely therapy and avoid the long-term complications
      associated with undiagnosed thyroid disease.

PMID- 26887979
TI  - Congratulations to the 2016 JALA Ten!

PMID- 26887977
TI  - GRHL2-miR-200-ZEB1 maintains the epithelial status of ovarian cancer through
      transcriptional regulation and histone modification.
AB  - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process by which polarized
      epithelial cells convert into a mesenchymal phenotype, has been implicated to
      contribute to the molecular heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
      Here we report that a transcription factor--Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) maintains
      the epithelial phenotype. EOC tumours with lower GRHL2 levels are associated with
      the Mes/Mesenchymal molecular subtype and a poorer overall survival. shRNA
      mediated knockdown of GRHL2 in EOC cells with an epithelial phenotype results in
      EMT changes, with increased cell migration, invasion and motility. By ChIP
      sequencing and gene expression microarray, microRNA-200b/a is identified as the
      direct transcriptional target of GRHL2 and regulates the epithelial status of EOC
      through ZEB1 and E-cadherin. Our study demonstrates that loss of GRHL2 increases
      the levels of histone mark H3K27me3 on promoters and GRHL2-binding sites at miR
      200b/a and E-cadherin genes. These findings support GRHL2 as a pivotal gatekeeper
      of EMT in EOC via miR-200-ZEB1.

PMID- 26887980
TI  - JALA Special Issue: High-Throughput Imaging.

PMID- 26887981
TI  - High serum HCV RNA in chronic hepatitis C patients coinfected with HIV despite
      successful antiretroviral therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Baseline serum HCV RNA predicts treatment success in chronic
      hepatitis C patients. Thresholds at 0.8, 2, 4 and 6 million IU/ml discriminate
      treatment outcomes using distinct antiviral regimens. Compared to the general
      population, immunosuppressed individuals exhibit greater viral load values. This
      has been confirmed in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients, although little is known about
      the influence of antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: Serum HCV RNA results recorded
      from all chronic hepatitis C patients who consecutively attended at our clinic
      were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 813 patients with detectable HCV RNA were
      identified. HIV coinfection was present in 78.7%, of whom 91% were on
      antiretroviral therapy. Overall, 467 (57%), 273 (34%), 170 (21%) and 127 (16%)
      had HCV RNA >0.8, >2, >4 and >6 million IU/ml, respectively. These high viral
      load values were found in 60%/36%/23%/18% of HIV-positive versus 47%/25%/11%/6%
      of HIV-negative individuals (P<0.01), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the
      greatest HCV RNA values were only significantly associated with HIV coinfection
      and HCV genotypes-1 or -4. Greater HCV RNA values were paradoxically found in HIV
      patients on than off antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Serum HCV RNA values
      above 0.8, 2, 4 and 6 million IU/ml are roughly seen in 47%, 25%, 11% and 6% of
      chronic hepatitis C monoinfected patients, respectively. Despite being on
      antiretroviral therapy, the corresponding figures are 1.3- to 3.0-fold greater in
      HIV-HCV-coinfected patients, who may benefit less frequently from shorter oral
      HCV treatment lengths.

PMID- 26887983
TI  - The RelA/cRel nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) dimer, crucial for inflammation
      resolution, mediates the transcription of the key enzyme in melatonin synthesis
      in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
AB  - Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modulates the transcription of the gene that codifies
      the enzyme arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) through nuclear
      translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain
      enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB). AA-NAT converts serotonin to N
      acetylserotonin, the ultimate precursor of melatonin. Activation of kappa B
      elements (aa-nat-kappaB), localized in the promoter (nat-kappaB1 and nat
      kappaB2), leads to Aa-nat transcription in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Competitive
      electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) with oligonucleotide probes
      corresponding to each of the two elements, as well as a NF-kappaB consensus
      corresponding probe, revealed different specificities for each kappaB element. In
      addition, activator protein-1 (AP-1) as well as signal transducers and activator
      of transcription-1 and 3 (STAT-1; STAT-3) competed with NF-kappaB for binding to
      nat-kappaB1, while only STAT-3 competed with NF-kappaB for binding to nat
      kappaB2. According to co-immunoprecipitation (ChiP) assays, these two sites are
      able to distinguish NF-kappaB subunits. The sequence nat-kappaB1 bound dimers
      containing p52, RelA, and cRel, while nat-kappaB2 bound preferentially p50, p52,
      and RelA, and did not bind cRel. The expression of RelA and cRel is essential for
      the induction of Aa-nat expression and melatonin synthesis. Considering that the
      expression of cRel is induced by the earlier expressed p50/RelA, the differential
      effects of NF-kappaB dimers may be intimately associated with the temporal
      regulation of inflammatory responses, with the resolution phase being associated
      with paracrine and autocrine melatonin effects. Such data suggest that the proven
      effects of exogenous melatonin in the resolution phase of inflammation are
      paralleled by the effects of locally synthesized melatonin in immune cells. 

PMID- 26887982
TI  - The cannabinoid quinol VCE-004.8 alleviates bleomycin-induced scleroderma and
      exerts potent antifibrotic effects through peroxisome proliferator-activated
      receptor-gamma and CB2 pathways.
AB  - Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases associated with early and transient
      inflammation and vascular injury, followed by fibrosis affecting the skin and
      multiple internal organs. Fibroblast activation is the hallmark of scleroderma,
      and disrupting the intracellular TGFbeta signaling may provide a novel approach
      to controlling fibrosis. Because of its potential role in modulating inflammatory
      and fibrotic responses, both PPARgamma and CB2 receptors represent attractive
      targets for the development of cannabinoid-based therapies. We have developed a
      non-thiophilic and chemically stable derivative of the CBD quinol (VCE-004.8)
      that behaves as a dual agonist of PPARgamma and CB2 receptors, VCE-004.8
      inhibited TGFbeta-induced Col1A2 gene transcription and collagen synthesis.
      Moreover, VCE-004.8 inhibited TGFbeta-mediated myofibroblast differentiation and
      impaired wound-healing activity. The anti-fibrotic efficacy in vivo was
      investigated in a murine model of dermal fibrosis induced by bleomycin. VCE-004.8
      reduced dermal thickness, blood vessels collagen accumulation and prevented mast
      cell degranulation and macrophage infiltration in the skin. These effects were
      impaired by the PPARgamma antagonist T0070907 and the CB2 antagonist AM630. In
      addition, VCE-004.8 downregulated the expression of several key genes associated
      with fibrosis, qualifying this semi-synthetic cannabinoid as a novel compound for
      the management of scleroderma and, potentially, other fibrotic diseases. 

PMID- 26887984
TI  - Behcet's disease in children, an overview.
AB  - BD is a systemic inflammatory disease with a variable vasculitis. Paediatric
      onset is very rare and carries a strong genetic component. Oral ulcers and fever
      of unknown origin are frequent at onset and difficult to distinguish from other
      inflammatory disorders; therefore, expert opinion is still mandatory to recognize
      the disease early. An international expert consensus has recently proposed new
      classification criteria for children with BD. The clinical spectrum of BD is
      heterogeneous and influenced by gender, ethnicity and country of residence. Young
      males have the worst prognosis with significantly more frequent neurological,
      ocular and vascular involvement. BD treatment is aimed at alleviating
      inflammation. Among all drugs, TNFalpha inhibitors have become a standard to
      control severe ocular, neurological and digestive system involvement. 

PMID- 26887985
TI  - Prognostic role of urinary collecting system invasion in renal cell carcinoma: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - The relationship between urinary collecting system invasion (UCSI) and
      oncological outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients has attracted
      extensive attention recent years. However, the reports were inconsistent and
      remain controversial. Thus, we performed a systematic literature search of
      PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library databases to identify
      relevant studies up to June 2015 and conducted a standard meta-analysis of
      survival outcomes. 17 studies containing 9012 RCC patients satisfied the
      inclusion criteria. Pooled HRs for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free
      survival (RFS) were 1.45 (95%CI, 1.26-1.66, P < 0.001) and 2.27 (95% CI, 1.54
      3.34, P < 0.001), respectively. Further subgroup analysis suggested that UCSI was
      significant associated with poor cancer-specific survival (CSS) in stage T1-T2
      RCC (HR = 2.05, 95%CI: 1.43-2.96, P < 0.001) but not in stage T3-T4 tumors (HR =
      1.08, 95%CI: 0.63-1.85, P = 0.771). Current evidence revealed that UCSI has a
      significant negative impact on OS and RFS in RCC patients and could be used to
      predict CSS especially in localized RCC. Thus, RCC patients with UCSI should be
      paid more attention by clinician and pathologist and require close follow up for
      their poor prognosis.

PMID- 26887986
TI  - Quantitative accuracy of (177)Lu SPECT reconstruction using different
      compensation methods: phantom and patient studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT), accurate quantification using
      SPECT/CT images is important for optimizing radiation dose delivered to both the
      tumour and healthy tissue. Quantitative SPECT images are regularly reconstructed
      using the ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm with various
      compensation methods such as attenuation (A), scatter (S) and detector and
      collimator response (R). In this study, different combinations of the
      compensation methods are applied during OSEM reconstruction and the effect on the
      (177)Lu quantification accuracy is studied in an anthropomorphic torso phantom.
      In addition, the phantom results are reflected to (177)Lu-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate
      ((177)Lu-DOTATATE)-treated patient data and kidney absorbed dose estimates.
      METHODS: The torso phantom was imaged with nine various sized (0.4-104.4 cm(3))
      spherical inserts, filled with known (177)Lu activity ranging from 0.5 to 105.5
      MBq. Images were reconstructed using OSEM algorithm using A, AR and ARS
      compensation method combinations. The compensation method combinations were
      compared by calculating the concentration recovery coefficient (cRC) for each
      insert. In addition, ten (177)Lu-DOTATATE-treated patient's post-therapy
      dosimetry acquisitions were reconstructed, and the absorbed dose to kidneys was
      estimated. RESULTS: cRC values depend on the insert size for all compensation
      methods. AR and ARS produced significantly higher cRC values than attenuation
      correction alone. There were no cRC value differences between the methods for the
      smallest 1-cm-diameter insert, cRC being 0.18. However, the collimator and
      detector response compensation method (R) made the 1.3-cm-diameter insert clearly
      visible and improved cRC estimate from 0.19 to 0.43. ARS produced slightly higher
      cRC values for small- and medium-sized inserts than AR. On the patient data, a
      similar trend could be seen. AR and ARS produced higher kidney activities than
      using attenuation correction alone; the total absorbed doses to the right and
      left kidneys were on average 15 and 20 % higher for AR and 19 and 25 % higher for
      ARS, respectively. The effective half-life decay estimated from time-activity
      curves however showed no notable difference between the compensation methods.
      CONCLUSIONS: The highest cRC values were achieved by applying ARS compensation
      during reconstruction. The results were notably higher than those using
      attenuation correction alone. Similarly, higher activity estimates and thus
      higher absorbed dose estimates were found in patient data when all compensation
      methods were applied. ARS improved cRC especially in small-sized sources, and it
      thus might aid tumour dosimetry for (177)Lu PRRT treatments.

PMID- 26887987
TI  - Genome-wide transcriptional responses of Alteromonas naphthalenivorans SN2 to
      contaminated seawater and marine tidal flat sediment.
AB  - A genome-wide transcriptional analysis of Alteromonas naphthalenivorans SN2 was
      performed to investigate its ecophysiological behavior in contaminated tidal
      flats and seawater. The experimental design mimicked these habitats that either
      added naphthalene or pyruvate; tidal flat-naphthalene (TF-N), tidal flat-pyruvate
      (TF-P), seawater-naphthalene (SW-N), and seawater-pyruvate (SW-P). The
      transcriptional profiles clustered by habitat (TF-N/TF-P and SW-N/SW-P), rather
      than carbon source, suggesting that the former may exert a greater influence on
      genome-wide expression in strain SN2 than the latter. Metabolic mapping of cDNA
      reads from strain SN2 based on KEGG pathway showed that metabolic and regulatory
      genes associated with energy metabolism, translation, and cell motility were
      highly expressed in all four test conditions, probably highlighting the
      copiotrophic properties of strain SN2 as an opportunistic marine r-strategist.
      Differential gene expression analysis revealed that strain SN2 displayed specific
      cellular responses to environmental variables (tidal flat, seawater, naphthalene,
      and pyruvate) and exhibited certain ecological fitness traits -- its notable PAH
      degradation capability in seasonally cold tidal flat might be reflected in
      elevated expression of stress response and chaperone proteins, while fast growth
      in nitrogen-deficient and aerobic seawater probably correlated with high
      expression of glutamine synthetase, enzymes utilizing nitrite/nitrate, and those
      involved in the removal of reactive oxygen species. 

PMID- 26887988
TI  - A 100 kHz Time-Resolved Multiple-Probe Femtosecond to Second Infrared Absorption
      Spectrometer.
AB  - We present a dual-amplifier laser system for time-resolved multiple-probe
      infrared (IR) spectroscopy based on the ytterbium potassium gadolinium tungstate
      (Yb:KGW) laser medium. Comparisons are made between the ytterbium-based
      technology and titanium sapphire laser systems for time-resolved IR spectroscopy
      measurements. The 100 kHz probing system provides new capability in time-resolved
      multiple-probe experiments, as more information is obtained from samples in a
      single experiment through multiple-probing. This method uses the high repetition
      rate probe pulses to repeatedly measure spectra at 10 us intervals following
      excitation allowing extended timescales to be measured routinely along with
      ultrafast data. Results are presented showing the measurement of molecular
      dynamics over >10 orders of magnitude in timescale, out to 20 ms, with an
      experimental time response of <200 fs. The power of multiple-probing is explored
      through principal component analysis of repeating probe measurements as a novel
      method for removing noise and measurement artifacts. 

PMID- 26887989
TI  - Spatially Multiplexed Imaging: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for
      Efficient Measurement of Molecular Diffusion at Solid-Liquid Interfaces.
AB  - Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has become an important technique for
      the characterization of molecular dynamics, especially at interfaces.
      Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy provides both temporal and spatial
      resolution for measuring fast processes at equilibrium through analysis of noise
      in fluorescence intensities from the statistical fluctuations in a small number
      of molecules. The small molecular populations produce very low-level fluorescence
      signals, where time-averaging the fluorescence autocorrelation function is needed
      to generate reasonable signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. Recently imaging cameras
      have been adapted to FCS measurements of molecular dynamics at interfaces
      (membranes and surfaces) through the use of electron-multiplying charge-coupled
      device (EM-CCD) detectors for acquisition of fluorescence from addressable areas
      on the detector. This approach provides a major advantage over traditional
      focused-spot FCS by allowing electronic control over the location and area of the
      acquired region on the sample surface. Imaging-FCS can also provide a spatial
      multiplexing advantage through its ability to measure intensity data from larger
      areas in parallel with no loss of time resolution. In this work, this
      multiplexing advantage is exploited to determine molecular diffusion rates from
      the simultaneous measurement of multiple areas on a surface, the autocorrelation
      traces from which are averaged to improve the S/N ratio. As proof of concept, the
      diffusion of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3'3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate
      (DiI) on a C18-modified interface was measured using this multiplexed method and
      compared to autocorrelation data acquired from a single spot. Due to the slow
      thermal recovery of the EM-CCD that inhibits fast time-averaging, spatial
      multiplexing in imaging-FCS provides an eightyfold time savings to reach the same
      S/N ratio as multiple (time-averaged) measurements from a single spot. 

PMID- 26887990
TI  - [What we have learned from the 25 years of endoscopic sinus surgery].

PMID- 26887991
TI  - [Complications in endoscopic sinus surgery: prevention and management].

PMID- 26887992
TI  - [Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a review of
      71 patients and analysis of the prognostic factors].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic nasopharyngectomy in the
      management of recurrent nasopharyngeal cancers (NPC) and to identify the
      prognostic factors. METHODS: Between January 2006 and March 2014, 71 patients who
      received endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent NPC were retrospectively
      reviewed. The sex and the age of the patients, T stage, and tumor necrosis were
      recorded. Correlation between clinicopathological features and survival time was
      analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the disease overall
      survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival rates. Cox
      multivariate regression analysis and ROC curve analysis were used to determine
      the predictive value of the parameters. RESULTS: The median age of 71 patients
      with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma was 51.0 years old. Male to female ratio
      was 2.9:1 (male: 53, female: 18). The lesions were staged as follows (AJCC, 2010,
      seventh edition): rT1, 27; rT2, 10; rT3, 19 and rT4, 15. All patients underwent
      successful endoscopic nasopharyngectomy. No patient was transferred to open
      approach. The mean operative time was 155 minutes. The average blood loss was 450
      ml. Three patients needed intraoperative blood transfusion. No serious
      postoperative complications occurred. Postoperative follow-up time was 5-96
      months. During follow-up, 48 cases survived, including that 7 patients survived
      with disease, 1 patient had pulmonary metastases, and 1 case had cervical lymph
      node metastasis. Two-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were
      74.0% and 60.5%, respectively. Five-year overall survival and disease-free
      survival rates were 39.0% and 31.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed
      that tumor necrosis was an independent prognostic factor for survival in
      recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic
      nasopharyngectomy is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of
      recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PMID- 26887993
TI  - [Analysis of clinical efficacy and the quality of life after endoscopic
      nasopharyngectomy for residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of patients who underwent endoscopic
      salvage nasopharyngectomy for residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma
      (rNPC) after irradiation failure, and examine the quality of life (QOL) of them
      who were at different tumor stage and given different postoperative treatment.
      METHODS: Ninety-six patients who underwent endoscopic salvage nasopharyngectomy
      for rNPC between June 2009 and March 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. rTNM
      stage: 20 cases were at stage I, 16 at stage II, 44 at stage III, 16 at stage IV;
      rT1 22 cases (22.9%), rT2 16 cases (16.7%), rT3 42 cases (43.8%), rT4 16 cases
      (16.7%); rN0 92 cases (95.8%), rN1 2 cases (2.1%), rN2 2 cases (2.1%); No with
      distance metastasis. All the patients underwent endoscopic resection of lesions,
      and four cases with cervical metastasis received neck dissection at the same
      time.Postoperatively the self-reported, health-related QOL questionnaires were
      used to assess and compare the QOL of survival patients.SPSS 19.0 software was
      used to analyzed the data. RESULTS: The overall 1 year survival rates (SR), 2
      year SR, 3 year SR were 83%, 68%, 63%, respectively. The median follow-up was 43
      months. Cox regression analysis indicated the complete resection for rNPC and
      pathology were two independent factors affecting survival. The QOL of patients
      who received endoscopic salvage nasopharyngectomy only were better than the
      patients who received concurrent chemoradiation therapy or chemotherapy.
      CONCLUSIONS: The patients who underwent endoscopic salvage nasopharyngectomy for
      rNPC had a good survival rates and QOL.

PMID- 26887994
TI  - [Endoscopic transnasal orbital balanced decompression technique for severe
      Graves' orbitopathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of endoscopic transnasal orbital balanced
      decompression technique for the treatment of severe Graves' orbitopathy. METHODS:
      Six cases (12 eyes) of severe Graves'orbitopathy were included in this study. All
      patients were undergone endoscopic transnasal orbital balanced decompression
      technique (orbital inner and lower wall decompression+ lateral orbital
      decompression) for severe Graves'orbitopathy and serious affecting visual
      function or appearance. RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 12 months to 2 years
      and 4 months. Postoperatively, the visual acuity markly improved from 0.23 +/-
      0.08 to 0.48 +/- 0.13 (t=-5.749, P<0.001). Proptosis measured by exophthalmoter
      distictly reduced from (22.08 +/- 1.08) mm to (15.67 +/- 1.44) mm (t=17.924, P<
      0.001). The palpebral fissures obviously reduced from (12.03 +/- 0.91) mm to
      (8.62 +/- 0.75) mm (t=9.600, P< 0.001), and orbital volume evidently increased
      from (26.84 +/- 0.62) cm3 to (31.56 +/- 1.10) cm3 (t=-16.567, P<0.001). Compared
      with the preoperative result, the orbital pressure was significantly decreased
      after operation (t=-6.759 (Y=100 g), t=-11.850 (Y=200 g), t=-6.189 (Y=300 g),
      P<0.001). Diplopia was appeared in 3 cases, and disappeared 3 to 5 months after
      surgery. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transnasal orbital balanced decompression
      technique is effective for the treatment of severe Graves'orbitopathy.

PMID- 26887995
TI  - [Surgical anatomy, technique and application of endoscopic endonasal
      transpterygoid approach in skull base surgery].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the landmarks of transpterygoid approach and to report its
      application in a series of cases. METHODS: Two silicon-injected adult cadaveric
      heads(4 sides) were dissected by performing an endoscopic endonasal
      transpterygoid approach after CT scanning for imaging guidance. High-quality
      pictures were obtained. This approach was used to treat twelve patients with
      skull base lesions including 3 spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in the
      lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus, 2 neurofibromas and 2 Schwannomas involving
      the pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa, 1 dermoid cyst involving the
      middle fossa and infratemporal fossa, 1 invasive fungal sinusitis invading the
      middle fossa base, 1 basal cell adenoma in the upper parapharyngeal space, 1
      chondrosarcoma in the parasellar region and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma. Clinical
      records were reviewed. RESULTS: In terms of approach dissection, important
      landmarks, such as the sphenopalatine foramen and artery, vidian canal and nerve,
      foramen rotundum and maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve, foramen ovale and
      mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve, as well as pterygoid segment of Eustachian
      tube were identified. In terms of clinical data, three patients with spontaneous
      CSF leak underwent repair. Six patients with benign lesions underwent complete
      tumor resection. In the patient with invasive fungal disease, thorough
      debridement was undertaken and antifungal drug was administered for one month.
      For these benign skull base lesions, there was no recurrence during the follow-up
      period. In the patient with chondrosarcoma, most of the tumor was removed in the
      first operation, and was followed by two endoscopic operations because of fast
      growth of the tumor. Final control was achieved with chemotherapy and radiation.
      In the patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma, tumor recurred five years after
      surgery, and was reoperated. CONCLUSION: An understanding of the landmarks of the
      transpterygoid approach is paramount for surgically dealing with disease located
      within and adjacent to the region of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.
      The endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approach is feasible and safe in selected
      patients with skull base lesions.

PMID- 26887996
TI  - [Cinical and genetic characteristics of familial Meniere's disease: three
      families report].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of three
      Chinese Meniere's disease (MD) families and decipher the mechanism of MD further.
      METHODS: Personal and family medical evidence of hearing loss, vestibular
      symptoms, and other clinical abnormalities of the participants were identified,
      clinical and genetic features were analyzed. Targeted 307 genes capture and high
      throughput sequencing were performed on the two ascertained members of family
      1007184. RESULTS: Eight patients from these three families showed post-lingual
      sensorineural hearing loss, six women and two men were involved. Age of onset in
      these affected members concentrated in the middle age, with the average age of
      39.3 years old. Among them, patients from 1407278 were accompanied by migraine.
      All of the three probands presented as recurrent vertigo firstly, and then
      fluctuated hearing loss showed up, accompanying by tinnitus and ear fullness
      feeling. The hearing loss manifested as late-onset, low frequency-involved
      pattern, with subsequent gradual progression from moderate to severe level. Some
      of the patients progressed to severe level involving all frequencies at higher
      ages. In addition, most of the cases showed revitalization. Four cases received
      vestibular function tests, three of which had varying dysfunction of vestibular
      function, while the other one had normal vestibular function. Patients who had
      abnormal vestibular function showed much more severe hearing impairment. The
      three-generation family 1007193 had an autosomal recessive genetic
      characteristics, family 1007184 showed autosomal dominant inheritance of
      characteristics, family 1407278 were either autosomal dominant or X-linked
      dominant pattern. Through target genes capture high-throughput sequencing
      technology, we identified two candidate variants in the two members of family
      1007184, named c. 2057G>A in EGFLAM and c. 1961C>T in ITGA8. CONCLUSION:
      Meniere's disease has some genetic and familial aggregation in Chinese
      population, but its complex genetic pathogenic mechanisms need further study.

PMID- 26887997
TI  - [High-resolution CT with multi-planar reformation in diagnosis of stapedial
      otosclerosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of HRCT with multi-planar reformation (MPR) in
      the diagnosis of otosclerosis. METHODS: 138 ears in 129 patients with
      otosclerosis confirmed by surgery were evaluated retrospectively, using the MPR
      image along stapes as standard image, and 132 normal ears were collected as the
      control group. RESULTS: In the otosclerosis group, HRCT-MPR was positive in 108
      ears, suspicious positive in 12 ears, and negative in 18 ears.In the control
      group, HRCT-MPR was positive in 4 ears, suspicious positive in 9 ears, and
      negative in 119 ears. The sensitivity for HRCT-MPR was 87.0% and the specificity
      was 90.2%. However, with 2 mm axial CT alone, the sensitivity was only 47.8%.The
      positive findings were mainly fenestral foci which related to stapes.
      CONCLUSIONS: HRCT-MPR showed high rate of sensitivity and specificity.We
      recommend the MPR image along stapes as standard image for otosclerosis
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26887998
TI  - [Effect of silencing HIF-1alpha by RNA interference on adhesion and invasion of
      the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of HIF-1alpha on adhesion and invasion of
      human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-1 cells under hypoxia and underlying molecular
      mechanisms. METHODS: CoCl2was used to mimic tumor hypoxic microenvironment. mRNA
      and protein expressions of HIF-1alpha, E-cadherin and CXCR4 in CNE-1 cells at
      different hypoxic time phases were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA respectively. The
      influences of silencing HIF-1alpha using RNA interference on E-cadherin and CXCR4
      expressions were evaluated. Adhesion test Transwell invasion test were used to
      evaluate the effects of HIF-1alpha gene silencing on cell adhesion and invasion.
      RESULTS: Under hypoxia, HIF-1alpha mRNA expression in CNE-1 cells was stable, but
      its protein expression increased obviously (P<0.05). Both mRNA and protein
      expressions of E-cadherin were decreased significantly with prolonged hypoxia,
      while mRNA and protein expressions of CXCR4 increased significantly (P<0.05).
      After silencing HIF-1alpha gene, expression of E-cadherin protein was up
      regulated, but with down-regulated expression of CXCR4 protein, with a decrease
      significantly in adhesion rate or invasive cell number of CNE-1 cells (P<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia can increase HIF-1alpha protein expression in nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma cell line CNE-1. Silencing HIF-1alpha by RNA interference can reduce
      inhesion and invasion abilities of CNE-1 cells, which may be mediated by down
      regulating E-cadherin expression and up-regulating CXCR4 expression.

PMID- 26887999
TI  - [Age-related expression of plasma membrane Ca(2+) -ATPase isoform 2 in the
      cochleas of C57BL/6J mice].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the location and distribution of plasma membrane Ca2+ 
      ATPase isoform 2(PMCA2) in the cochleas of C57BL/6J mice at various ages (4w,
      14w, 22w, 45w), and to reveal the relationship of PMCA2 and age-related hearing
      loss (AHL). METHODS: The distribution of PMCA2 in the cochleas of C57BL/6J mice
      was detected by immunohistochemistry at various ages (4w, 14w, 22w, 45w). Real
      time polymerase chain reaction (Rt-PCR) was used to detect the level of PMCA2
      mRNA in the cochleas of C57BL/6J mice at the ages of 4, 14, 22 and 45 weeks old
      respectively. Using SPSS17.0 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: PMCA2
      was mainly located in the hear cells, stria vascularis, and spiral ganglion
      cells. Faint labeling of PMCA2 was also observed in spiral ligament. Hair cells
      missed and the number of spiral ganglion cells reduced with age. Expression of
      PMCA2 in the cochleas of C57BL/6J mice also showed age-related decreasing. The
      results of Rt-PCR demonstrated the expression of mRNA of gene (Atp2b2) at 14
      weeks age was significantly less than 4 week-old mice cochlears (P<0.05). The
      expression of mRNA of gene (Atp2b2) at 22 weeks age was significantly less than
      14 week-old mice cochlears (P<0.05). The expression of mRNA of gene (Atp2b2) at
      45 weeks age was significantly less than 14 week-old mice cochlears (P<0.01).
      CONCLUSIONS: PMCA2 is mainly located in the hear cells, stria vascularis, and
      spiral ganglion cells. Faint labeling of PMCA2 is also observed in spiral
      ligament. The expression of PMCA2 demonstrates an age-related decrease with age.
      The mRNA expression level of PMCA2 gene(Atp2b2) in the cochleas of C57BL/6J mice
      displayed an age-related decrease. PMCA2 transporters may play a critical role in
      maintaining the normal morphology of the inner ear and it may be related to AHL.

PMID- 26888000
TI  - [Pathological changes of upper and lower respiratory tissue in rats with chronic
      intermittent hypoxia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathological changes of chronic intermittent
      hypoxia on upper and lower respiratory tissue in experimental rats. METHODS: A
      total of 40 female SD rats were divided into 2 groups. Twenty rats were fed in
      normal state (control group), and 20 rats were fed in hypoxia environment
      (hypoxia group). The pathological changes of upper and lower respiratory tissue
      were observed under optical microscope. RESULTS: Chronic intermittent hypoxia
      resulted in irreversible changes both at upper and lower respiratory tract in
      rats. The thickness of the lamina propria in soft palate was significantly
      increased in hypoxia group (125.85 +/- 6.34) um vs. (57.26 +/- 4.67) um
      (t=36.330, P<0.01). Lung pathological examination in hypoxia group showed
      pulmonary interval thickening (2.15 +/- 0.49) um vs. (0.45 +/- 0.12) um
      (t=14.132, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that long-term hypoxia can
      lead to organization reconstruction in upper and lower respiratory tract in rats.
      In OSAHS patients, it is suggested that earlier intervention could alliviate the
      pathological changes in respiratory system.

PMID- 26888001
TI  - [The role of rigid bronchoscope in the diagnosis and treatment of plastic
      bronchitis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of rigid bronchoscope in the diagnosis and
      treatment of plastic bronchitis. METHODS: Various clinical parameters, the key
      points of operation and postoperative recovery were analyzed in 8 patients with
      plastic bronchitis treated in Department and ICU using retrospective analysis.
      RESULTS: All cases demonstrated bronchial lumen stenosis, mucous membrance
      coarse, congestion, edema in the affected side. 2 cases had follicular
      hyperplasia, 1 case had a few ooze after taking out the plastic type. All cases
      had endogenous foreign bodies, taking the shape of the bronchial tree or a
      funicular. Block shape and sites were as follows: right main bronchus 2 cases,
      superior lobe of right lung 1 case, right middle bronchial 1 case, left main
      bronchus 2 cases, 1 case with left lower lobe, right main bronchus and left lower
      lobe bronchus 1 case. The breath sounds of the affected side become more enhanced
      after operation, with the alliviation of dyspnea. All cases recovered after ICU
      treatment. The pathologic examination were all type I plastic bronchitis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Removement of the endogenous foreign body via rigid bronchoscopy is
      the effective method in the treatment of plastic bronchitis. Plastic bronchitis
      is a rapid-developing critical, urgent disease.In order to reduce the mortality,
      early diagnosis and timely surgery are necessary.

PMID- 26888002
TI  - [Application of special larynx polypus forceps for difficult laryngeal exposure
      in microlaryngosurgery].

PMID- 26888003
TI  - [The comprehensive treatment of one case with pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial
      internal carotid artery].

PMID- 26888004
TI  - [Geniculate ganglion meningioma: a case report].

PMID- 26888005
TI  - [Clinical analysis of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma occurring in the
      hypopharynx].

PMID- 26888006
TI  - [Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the head and neck: clinical and imaging features
      in two cases].

PMID- 26888007
TI  - [Advance research of speech elicited auditory brainstem responses].

PMID- 26888008
TI  - [MicroRNAs and allergic rhinitis].

PMID- 26888009
TI  - [Advances in parathyroid carcinoma research].

PMID- 26888010
TI  - Engineering the electronic and magnetic properties of d(0) 2D dichalcogenide
      materials through vacancy doping and lattice strains.
AB  - We have systematically investigated the effects of different vacancy defects in
      2D d(0) materials SnS2 and ZrS2 using first principles calculations. The
      theoretical results show that the single cation vacancy and the vacancy complex
      like V-SnS6 can induce large magnetic moments (3-4 MUB) in these single layer
      materials. Other defects, such as V-SnS3, V-S, V-ZrS3 and V-ZrS6, can result in n
      type conductivity. In addition, the ab initio studies also reveal that the
      magnetic and conductive properties from the cation vacancy and the defect complex
      V-SnS6 can be modified using the compressive/tensile strain of the in-plane
      lattices. Specifically, the V-Zr doped ZrS2 monolayer can be tuned from a
      ferromagnetic semiconductor to a metallic/half-metallic material with
      decreasing/increasing magnetic moments depending on the external
      compressive/tensile strains. On the other hand, the semiconducting and magnetic
      properties of V-Sn doped SnS2 is preserved under different lattice compression
      and tension. For the defect complex like V-SnS6, only the lattice compression can
      tune the magnetic moments in SnS2. As a result, by manipulating the fabrication
      parameters, the magnetic and conductive properties of SnS2 and ZrS2 can be tuned
      without the need for chemical doping. 

PMID- 26888011
TI  - Transdermal Delivery of siRNA through Microneedle Array.
AB  - Successful development of siRNA therapies has significant potential for the
      treatment of skin conditions (alopecia, allergic skin diseases,
      hyperpigmentation, psoriasis, skin cancer, pachyonychia congenital) caused by
      aberrant gene expression. Although hypodermic needles can be used to effectively
      deliver siRNA through the stratum corneum, the major challenge is that this
      approach is painful and the effects are restricted to the injection site.
      Microneedle arrays may represent a better way to deliver siRNAs across the
      stratum corneum. In this study, we evaluated for the first time the ability of
      the solid silicon microneedle array for punching holes to deliver cholesterol
      modified housekeeping gene (Gapdh) siRNA to the mouse ear skin. Treating the ear
      with microneedles showed permeation of siRNA in the skin and could reduce Gapdh
      gene expression up to 66% in the skin without accumulation in the major organs.
      The results showed that microneedle arrays could effectively deliver siRNA to
      relevant regions of the skin noninvasively. 

PMID- 26888012
TI  - Effect of free-breathing on left ventricular rotational mechanics in healthy
      subjects and patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging exams can be performed during
      free-breathing. This may be especially important for boys with Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy (DMD) given their frequently limited breath-hold abilities. The impact
      of the respiratory compensation method on quantitative measurements of left
      ventricular (LV) rotational mechanics is incompletely understood. The purpose of
      this study was to evaluate differences in LV rotational mechanics acquired during
      breath-holding (BH), free-breathing with averaging (AVG), and free-breathing with
      respiratory bellows gating (BEL). METHODS: LV short-axis tagged images from
      healthy subjects (N = 16) and DMD patients (N = 5) were acquired with BH, AVG,
      and BEL. LV twist and circumferential-longitudinal shear (CL-shear) angle were
      measured using the Fourier Analysis of STimulated echoes (FAST) method. RESULTS:
      Peak LV twist estimates using BEL were significantly lower compared with BH in
      both healthy subjects (10.2 +/- 3.6  degrees  versus 12.9 +/- 2.3  degrees , P =
      0.003) and patients with DMD (8.6 +/- 3.6  degrees  versus 10.5 +/- 3.6  degrees
      , P = 0.004). AVG results were in between BEL and BH. No significant differences
      in CL-shear were detected between BEL and BH. CONCLUSION: Breath-holding directly
      affects estimates of peak LV twist, but not CL-shear. Using a free-breathing
      strategy for the evaluation of cardiac function is important for intrasubject
      longitudinal studies, intersubject comparisons, and multicenter trials for
      patients with DMD. Magn Reson Med 77:864-869, 2017. (c) 2016 International
      Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26888013
TI  - Reduced rate of sickle-related complications in Brazilian patients carrying HbF
      promoting alleles at the BCL11A and HMIP-2 loci.
AB  - The presence of high levels of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) provides well-validated
      clinical benefits to patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Nevertheless it has
      been difficult to show clear direct effects of the known genetic HbF modifiers,
      such as the enhancer polymorphisms for haematopoietic transcription factors
      BCL11A and MYB, on SCA severity. Investigating SCA patients from Brazil, with a
      high degree of European genetic admixture, we have detected strong effects of
      these variants on HbF levels. Critically, we have shown, for the first time, that
      the presence of such HbF-promoting variants leads to a reduced rate of SCA
      complications, especially stroke.

PMID- 26888015
TI  - Programmable DNA Hydrogels Assembled from Multidomain DNA Strands.
AB  - Hydrogels are important in biological and medical applications, such as drug
      delivery and tissue engineering. DNA hydrogels have attracted significant
      attention due to the programmability and biocompatibility of the material. We
      developed a series of low-cost one-strand DNA hydrogels self-assembled from
      single-stranded DNA monomers containing multiple palindromic domains. This new
      hydrogel design is simple and programmable. Thermal stability, mechanical
      properties, and loading capacity of these one-strand DNA hydrogels can be readily
      regulated by simply adjusting the DNA domains.

PMID- 26888014
TI  - Structure and biological function of ENPP6, a choline-specific
      glycerophosphodiester-phosphodiesterase.
AB  - Choline is an essential nutrient for all living cells and is produced
      extracellularly by sequential degradation of phosphatidylcholine (PC). However,
      little is known about how choline is produced extracellularly. Here, we report
      that ENPP6, a choline-specific phosphodiesterase, hydrolyzes
      glycerophosphocholine (GPC), a degradation product of PC, as a physiological
      substrate and participates in choline metabolism. ENPP6 is highly expressed in
      liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and developing oligodendrocytes, which
      actively incorporate choline and synthesize PC. ENPP6-deficient mice exhibited
      fatty liver and hypomyelination, well known choline-deficient phenotypes. The
      choline moiety of GPC was incorporated into PC in an ENPP6-dependent manner both
      in vivo and in vitro. The crystal structure of ENPP6 in complex with
      phosphocholine revealed that the choline moiety of the phosphocholine is
      recognized by a choline-binding pocket formed by conserved aromatic and acidic
      residues. The present study provides the molecular basis for ENPP6-mediated
      choline metabolism at atomic, cellular and tissue levels. 

PMID- 26888016
TI  - Deposition Form and Bioaccessibility of Keto-carotenoids from Mamey Sapote
      (Pouteria sapota), Red Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum), and Sockeye Salmon
      (Oncorhynchus nerka) Filet.
AB  - The ultrastructure and carotenoid-bearing structures of mamey sapote (Pouteria
      sapota) chromoplasts were elucidated using light and transmission electron
      microscopy and compared to carotenoid deposition forms in red bell pepper
      (Capsicum annuum) and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Globular-tubular
      chromoplasts of sapote contained numerous lipid globules and tubules embodying
      unique provitamin A keto-carotenoids in a lipid-dissolved and presumably liquid
      crystalline form, respectively. Bioaccessibility of sapotexanthin and
      cryptocapsin was compared to that of structurally related keto-carotenoids from
      red bell pepper and salmon. Capsanthin from bell pepper was the most
      bioaccessible pigment, followed by sapotexanthin and cryptocapsin esters from
      mamey sapote. In contrast, astaxanthin from salmon was the least bioaccessible
      keto-carotenoid. Thermal treatment and fat addition consistently enhanced
      bioaccessibility, except for astaxanthin from naturally lipid-rich salmon, which
      remained unaffected. Although the provitamin A keto-carotenoids from sapote were
      highly bioaccessible, their qualitative and quantitative in vivo bioavailability
      and their conversion to vitamin A remains to be confirmed. 

PMID- 26888017
TI  - Translating a health service intervention into a rural setting: lessons learned.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited research exists on the process of applying knowledge
      translation (KT) methodology to a rural-based population health intervention.
      METHODS: This study reports on the implementation and translational stages of a
      previously described Co-creating KT (Co-KT) framework in the rural town of Port
      Lincoln, South Australia (population: 14,000). The Co-KT framework involves five
      steps: (i) collecting local data; (ii) building stakeholder relationships; (iii)
      designing an evidence-based intervention incorporating local knowledge; (iv)
      implementation and evaluation of the intervention; and (v) translating the
      research into policy and practice. Barriers and enablers to the overall Co-KT
      implementation process were identified. Our intervention focused on
      musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. RESULTS: Although the Co-KT framework was
      valuable in engaging with the community, translating the final intervention into
      daily clinical practice was prevented by a lack of an accessible policy or
      financial framework to anchor the appropriate intervention, a lack of continued
      engagement with stakeholders, access problems to general practitioners (GPs) and
      Allied Health Professionals; and the paucity of referrals from GPs to Allied
      Health Professionals. Consequently, while many aspects of the intervention were
      successful, including the improvement of both function and pain in study
      participants, the full implementation of the Co-KT framework was not possible.
      DISCUSSION: This study implemented and evaluated a Co-KT framework for a
      population with MSK conditions, linking locally generated health care system
      knowledge with academic input. Further policy, health system changes, and on-the
      ground support are needed to overcome the identified implementation challenges in
      order to create sustainable and effective system change.

PMID- 26888018
TI  - Is Leptospira able to survive in raw milk? Study on the inactivation at different
      storage times and temperatures.
AB  - The consumption of raw milk is currently increasing due to several beneficial
      aspects, such as nutritional qualities, taste, and health benefits. However, some
      authors highlight the potential risk associated with raw milk consumption. In
      Italy, while the absence of some pathogen microorganisms is set by the regional
      regulation DGR 381/2007, for other microorganisms, such as Leptospira, no
      recommendations are provided. Leptospira is not ascribed among classical milk
      pathogens; however, it can potentially be present in raw milk. The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the survival in raw milk of six serovars of Leptospira
      after storage at different temperatures (4  degrees C +/- 2  degrees C, 20 
      degrees C +/- 2  degrees C, and 30  degrees C +/- 2  degrees C) for different
      incubation times (20 min, 45 min, 1 h, and 1 h and 30 min), in order to determine
      the potential risk for consumers. Moreover, the immediate effect of bovine, goat,
      and donkey raw milk on tested Leptospira serovars was visually evaluated. After
      incubation, all samples were subcultured in EMJH and incubated aerobically at 30 
      degrees C for 3 months. All inoculated media were weekly examined by dark-field
      microscope in order to assess Leptospira survival. Extemporary observation of
      strains' behavior in milk allowed to detect an almost immediate motility loss,
      and no leptospires were detected by microscopic observations carried out weekly
      during the trial period. According to our results, it could be possible to
      exclude raw milk as a source of Leptospira infection for consumers. 

PMID- 26888019
TI  - Contralateral tension pneumothorax during video-assisted thorascoscopic surgery
      for lung cancer: a case report.
AB  - Contralateral tension pneumothorax during one-lung ventilation is a rare but
      catastrophic surgical complication. A 72-year-old Japanese male with lung cancer
      underwent right upper lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
      Despite use of various methods for maintaining oxygenation during one-lung
      ventilation, percutaneous oxygen saturation was unstable from the start of
      surgery and suddenly decreased with a drop in blood pressure. An intraoperative
      chest X-ray revealed a tension pneumothorax of the dependent lung. Insertion of a
      chest drain saved the patient's life. This case suggests that a contralateral
      tension pneumothorax should be considered as a possible cause when adequate
      oxygenation cannot be maintained during one-lung ventilation.

PMID- 26888020
TI  - Bullying and Other Forms of Peer Victimization in Adolescence and Alcohol Use.
AB  - To examine the relationship between bullying and other forms of peer
      victimization in adolescence and alcohol use or misuse, all the pertinent studies
      were reviewed. Fourteen databases were searched. Blind assessments of study
      eligibility and quality were performed by two independent researchers. Seventy
      four studies including 2,066,131 participants across 56 countries all over the
      world and meeting minimum quality criteria that were enough to ensure objectivity
      and to not invalidate results were analyzed. Across studies, evidence for a
      significant association between peer victimization and alcohol use or misuse was
      conflicting. Results were affected by sample size, definition of victim status,
      specific forms of peer victimization, and specific types of alcohol consumption.
      There was some evidence for a number of mediating or moderating variables, such
      as depression, coping, drinking motives, attachment to school, social support,
      and gender. Findings are discussed according to stress-coping and self-medication
      hypotheses. Alternative etiological mechanisms are also considered.

PMID- 26888021
TI  - Long-term serial xenotransplantation of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
      recapitulates human disease in Rag2-/-gammac-/- mice.
AB  - Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia is a clonal malignant disease affecting young
      children. Current cure rates, even with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation, are no better than 50%-60%. Pre-clinical research on juvenile
      myelomonocytic leukemia is urgently needed for the identification of novel
      therapies but is hampered by the unavailability of culture systems. Here we
      report a xenotransplantation model that allows long-term in vivo propagation of
      primary juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Persistent engraftment of
      leukemic cells was achieved by intrahepatic injection of 1*10(6) cells into
      newborn Rag2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mice or intravenous injection of 5*10(6) cells into
      5-week old mice. Key characteristics of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia were
      reproduced, including cachexia and clonal expansion of myelomonocytic progenitor
      cells that infiltrated bone marrow, spleen, liver and, notably, lung. Xenografted
      leukemia cells led to reduced survival of recipient mice. The stem cell character
      of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia was confirmed by successful serial
      transplantation that resulted in leukemia cell propagation for more than one
      year. Independence of exogenous cytokines, low donor cell number and slowly
      progressing leukemia are advantages of the model, which will serve as an
      important tool to research the pathophysiology of juvenile myelomonocytic
      leukemia and test novel pharmaceutical strategies such as DNA methyltransferase
      inhibition.

PMID- 26888023
TI  - Analysis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Mutant Libraries Reveals
      Loci-dependent Transposition Biases and Strategies to Novel Mutant Discovery.
AB  - Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the etiologic agent of Johne's
      disease, is one of the most important bacterial pathogens in ruminants. A
      thorough understanding of MAP pathogenesis is needed to develop new vaccines and
      diagnostic tests. The generation of comprehensive random transposon mutant
      libraries is a fundamental genetic technology to determine the role of genes in
      physiology and pathogenesis. In this study, whole MAP genome analysis compared
      the insertion sites for the mycobacterial transposon Tn5367 derived from the
      Mycobacterium smegmatis insertion sequence IS1096 and the mariner transposon
      MycoMarT7 carrying the Himar1 transposase. We determined that only MycoMarT7
      provides a random representation of insertions in 99% of all MAP genes. Analysis
      of the MAP K-10 genome indicated that 710 of all open reading frames do not
      possess IS1096 recognition sites, while only 37 do not have the recognition site
      for MycoMarT7. Thus, a significant number of MAP genes remain underrepresented in
      insertion libraries from IS1096 derived transposons. Analysis of MycomarT7 and
      Tn5367 mutants showed that Tn5367 has a predilection to insert within intergenic
      regions, suggesting that MycoMarT7 is more adequate to generate a comprehensive
      library. However, we uncovered the novel finding that both transposons have loci
      dependent biases with Tn5367 being the most skewed. These loci-dependent
      transposition biases lead to an underestimation of the number of independent
      mutants required to generate a comprehensive mutant library, leading to an
      overestimation of essential genes. Herein, we also demonstrated a useful platform
      for gene discovery and analysis by isolating three novel mutants for each
      transposon.

PMID- 26888022
TI  - Imatinib withdrawal syndrome and longer duration of imatinib have a close
      association with a lower molecular relapse after treatment discontinuation: the
      KID study.
AB  - The aim of the Korean Imatinib Discontinuation Study was to identify predictors
      for safe and successful imatinib discontinuation. A total of 90 patients with a
      follow-up of >=12 months were analyzed. After a median follow-up of 26.6 months
      after imatinib discontinuation, 37 patients lost the major molecular response.
      The probability of sustained major molecular response at 12 months and 24 months
      was 62.2% and 58.5%, respectively. All 37 patients who lost major molecular
      response were retreated with imatinib therapy for a median of 16.9 months, and
      all achieved major molecular response again at a median of 3.9 months after
      resuming imatinib therapy. We observed newly developed or worsened
      musculoskeletal pain and pruritus in 27 (30%) patients after imatinib
      discontinuation. Imatinib withdrawal syndrome was associated with a higher
      probability of sustained major molecular response (P=0.003) and showed a trend
      for a longer time to major molecular response loss (P=0.098). Positivity (defined
      as >= 17 positive chambers) of digital polymerase chain reaction at screening and
      longer imatinib duration before imatinib discontinuation were associated with a
      higher probability of sustained major molecular response. Our data demonstrated
      that the occurrence of imatinib withdrawal syndrome after imatinib
      discontinuation and longer duration of imatinib were associated with a lower rate
      of molecular relapse. In addition, minimal residual leukemia measured by digital
      polymerase chain reaction had a trend for a higher molecular relapse. (Trial
      registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01564836).

PMID- 26888024
TI  - The safety of incretin based drug treatments for type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26888025
TI  - IVF results in patients with very low serum AMH are significantly affected by
      chronological age.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to assess the outcome of in vitro
      fertilization (IVF) in women with very low circulating anti-mullerian hormone
      (AMH) and to investigate factors affecting their probability of pregnancy.
      METHODS: The outcome of 448 IVF cycles in 361 women with circulating AMH <0.5
      ng/ml was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Cycle cancellation rate was 14.5 %;
      patients whose cycle was cancelled had significantly lower AMH than women who
      reached oocyte pickup (OPU). Among those who reached OPU, age significantly
      affected the success rate: despite comparable AMH levels, patients below 35 years
      obtained significantly more oocytes and a better clinical pregnancy rate
      (CPR)/OPU than patients aged 35-39 or 40-43 (31 % vs. 23.2 % vs. 10.2 %,
      respectively; p = 0.001). Differently, comparable IVF results were observed
      stratifying patients for AMH levels in the range 0.14-0.49 ng/ml. Multivariable
      logistic regression analysis confirmed that the probability of pregnancy was
      significantly affected by age, but not by small differences in AMH level.
      CONCLUSIONS: Women with very low (<0.5 ng/ml) AMH levels undergoing IVF still
      have reasonable chances of achieving a pregnancy, but their prognosis is
      significantly affected by chronological age. Very low AMH levels are associated
      with a relevant risk of cycle cancellation but should not be considered a reason
      to exclude a couple from IVF.

PMID- 26888026
TI  - Lidocaine for reducing propofol-induced pain on induction of anaesthesia in
      adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pain on propofol injection is an untoward effect and this condition
      can reduce patient satisfaction. Intravenous lidocaine injection has been
      commonly used to attenuate pain on propofol injection. Although many studies have
      reported that lidocaine was effective in reducing the incidence and severity of
      pain, nevertheless, no systematic review focusing on lidocaine for preventing
      high-intensity pain has been published. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review
      was to determine the efficacy and adverse effects of lidocaine in preventing high
      intensity pain on propofol injection. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane
      Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2014, Issue 10), Ovid MEDLINE
      (1950 To October 2014), Ovid EMBASE (1988 to October 2014), LILACS (1992 to
      October 2014) and searched reference lists of articles.We reran the search in
      November 2015. We found 11potential studies of interest, those studies were added
      to the list of 'Studies awaiting classification' and will be fully incorporated
      into the formal review findings when we update the review. SELECTION CRITERIA: We
      included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using intravenous lidocaine
      injection as an intervention to decrease pain on propofol injection in adults. We
      excluded studies without a placebo or control group. DATA COLLECTION AND
      ANALYSIS: We collected selected studies with relevant criteria. We identified
      risk of bias in five domains according to the following criteria: random sequence
      generation, allocation concealment, adequacy of blinding, completeness of outcome
      data and selective reporting. We performed meta-analysis by direct comparisons of
      intervention versus control. We estimated the summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95%
      confidence intervals using the random-effects Mantel-Haenszel method in RevMan
      5.3. We used the I(2) statistic to assess statistical heterogeneity. We assessed
      overall quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included
      87 studies, 84 of which (10,460 participants) were eligible for quantitative
      analysis in the review. All participants, aged 13 years to 89 years, were
      American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-III patients undergoing elective
      surgery. Each study was conducted in a single centre in high- , middle- and low
      income countries worldwide. According to the risk of bias assessment, all except
      five studies were identified as being of satisfactory methodological quality,
      allowing 84 studies to be combined in the meta-analysis. Five of the 84 studies
      were assessed as high risk of bias: one for participant and personnel blinding,
      one for incomplete outcome data, and three for other potential sources of
      bias.The overall incidence of pain and high-intensity pain following propofol
      injection in the control group were 64% (95% CI 60% to 67.9%) and 38.1% (95% CI
      33.4% to 43.1%), respectively while those in the lidocaine group were 30.2% (95%
      CI 26.7% to 33.7%) and 11.8% (95% CI 9.7% to 13.8%). Both lidocaine admixture and
      pretreatment were effective in reducing pain on propofol injection (lidocaine
      admixture OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.25, 31 studies, 4927 participants, high
      quality evidence; lidocaine pretreatment OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.18, 43 RCTs,
      4028 participants, high-quality evidence). Similarly, lidocaine administration
      could considerably decrease the incidence of pain when premixed with the propofol
      (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.24, 36 studies, 5628 participants, high-quality
      evidence) or pretreated prior to propofol injection (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.11 to
      0.18, 52 studies, 4832 participants, high-quality evidence). Adverse effects of
      lidocaine administration were rare. Thrombophlebitis was reported in only two
      studies (OR not estimated, low-quality evidence). No studies reported patient
      satisfaction. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of the evidence was
      high. Currently available data from RCTs are sufficient to confirm that both
      lidocaine admixture and pretreatment were effective in reducing pain on propofol
      injection. Furthermore, there were no significant differences of effect between
      the two techniques.

PMID- 26888027
TI  - Carbon-Coated Hierarchical SnO2 Hollow Spheres for Lithium Ion Batteries.
AB  - Hierarchical SnO2 hollow spheres self-assembled from nanosheets were prepared
      with and without carbon coating. The combination of nanosized architecture,
      hollow structure, and a conductive carbon layer endows the SnO2 -based anode with
      improved specific capacity and cycling stability, making it more promising for
      use in lithium ion batteries. 

PMID- 26888028
TI  - Oxygen-induced social behaviours in Pristionchus pacificus have a distinct
      evolutionary history and genetic regulation from Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Wild isolates of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans perform social behaviours,
      namely clumping and bordering, to avoid hyperoxia under laboratory conditions. In
      contrast, the laboratory reference strain N2 has acquired a solitary behaviour in
      the laboratory, related to a gain-of-function variant in the neuropeptide Y-like
      receptor NPR-1. Here, we study the evolution and natural variation of clumping
      and bordering behaviours in Pristionchus pacificus nematodes in a natural
      context, using strains collected from 22 to 2400 metres above sea level on La
      Reunion Island. Through the analysis of 106 wild isolates, we show that the
      majority of strains display a solitary behaviour similar to C. elegans N2,
      whereas social behaviours are predominantly seen in strains that inhabit high
      altitude locations. We show experimentally that P. pacificus social strains
      perform clumping and bordering to avoid hyperoxic conditions in the laboratory,
      suggesting that social strains may have adapted to or evolved a preference for
      the lower relative oxygen levels available at high altitude in nature. In
      contrast to C. elegans, clumping and bordering in P. pacificus do not correlate
      with locomotive behaviours in response to changes in oxygen conditions.
      Furthermore, QTL analysis indicates clumping and bordering to represent complex
      quantitative traits. Thus, clumping and bordering behaviours represent an example
      of phenotypic convergence with a different evolutionary history and distinct
      genetic control in both nematode species. 

PMID- 26888030
TI  - Predator-guided sampling reveals biotic structure in the bathypelagic.
AB  - We targeted a habitat used differentially by deep-diving, air-breathing predators
      to empirically sample their prey's distributions off southern California. Fine
      scale measurements of the spatial variability of potential prey animals from the
      surface to 1,200 m were obtained using conventional fisheries echosounders aboard
      a surface ship and uniquely integrated into a deep-diving autonomous vehicle.
      Significant spatial variability in the size, composition, total biomass, and
      spatial organization of biota was evident over all spatial scales examined and
      was consistent with the general distribution patterns of foraging Cuvier's beaked
      whales (Ziphius cavirostris) observed in separate studies. Striking differences
      found in prey characteristics between regions at depth, however, did not reflect
      differences observed in surface layers. These differences in deep pelagic
      structure horizontally and relative to surface structure, absent clear physical
      differences, change our long-held views of this habitat as uniform. The
      revelation that animals deep in the water column are so spatially heterogeneous
      at scales from 10 m to 50 km critically affects our understanding of the
      processes driving predator-prey interactions, energy transfer, biogeochemical
      cycling, and other ecological processes in the deep sea, and the connections
      between the productive surface mixed layer and the deep-water column.

PMID- 26888029
TI  - Support for the evolutionary speed hypothesis from intraspecific population
      genetic data in the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius.
AB  - The evolutionary speed hypothesis (ESH) proposes a causal mechanism for the
      latitudinal diversity gradient. The central idea of the ESH is that warmer
      temperatures lead to shorter generation times and increased mutation rates. On an
      absolute time scale, both should lead to an acceleration of selection and drift.
      Based on the ESH, we developed predictions regarding the distribution of
      intraspecific genetic diversity: populations of ectothermic species with more
      generations per year owing to warmer ambient temperatures should be more
      differentiated from each other, accumulate more mutations and show evidence for
      increased mutation rates compared with populations in colder regions. We used the
      multivoltine insect species Chironomus riparius to test these predictions with
      cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequence data and found that populations from warmer
      regions are indeed significantly more differentiated and have significantly more
      derived haplotypes than populations from colder regions. We also found a
      significant correlation of the annual mean temperature with the population
      mutation parameter theta that serves as a proxy for the per generation mutation
      rate under certain assumptions. This pattern could be corroborated with two
      nuclear loci. Overall, our results support the ESH and indicate that the thermal
      regime experienced may be crucially driving the evolution of ectotherms and may
      thus ultimately govern their speciation rate. 

PMID- 26888031
TI  - Information use and resource competition: an integrative framework.
AB  - Organisms may reduce uncertainty regarding how best to exploit their environment
      by collecting information about resource distribution. We develop a model to
      demonstrate how competition can facilitate or constrain an individual's ability
      to use information when acquiring resources. As resource distribution underpins
      both selection on information use and the strength and nature of competition
      between individuals, we demonstrate interdependencies between the two that should
      be common in nature. Individuals in our model can search for resources either
      personally or by using social information. We explore selection on social
      information use across a comprehensive range of ecological conditions,
      generalizing the producer-scrounger framework to a wide diversity of taxa and
      resources. We show that resource ecology--defined by scarcity, depletion rate and
      monopolizability--determines patterns of individual differences in social
      information use. These differences suggest coevolutionary processes linking
      dominance systems and social information use, with implications for the
      evolutionary demography of populations.

PMID- 26888032
TI  - Regime shifts in marine communities: a complex systems perspective on food web
      dynamics.
AB  - Species composition and habitats are changing at unprecedented rates in the
      world's oceans, potentially causing entire food webs to shift to structurally and
      functionally different regimes. Despite the severity of these regime shifts,
      elucidating the precise nature of their underlying processes has remained
      difficult. We address this challenge with a new analytic approach to detect and
      assess the relative strength of different driving processes in food webs. Our
      study draws on complexity theory, and integrates the network-centric exponential
      random graph modelling (ERGM) framework developed within the social sciences with
      community ecology. In contrast to previous research, this approach makes clear
      assumptions of direction of causality and accommodates a dynamic perspective on
      the emergence of food webs. We apply our approach to analysing food webs of the
      Baltic Sea before and after a previously reported regime shift. Our results show
      that the dominant food web processes have remained largely the same, although we
      detect changes in their magnitudes. The results indicate that the reported regime
      shift may not be a system-wide shift, but instead involve a limited number of
      species. Our study emphasizes the importance of community-wide analysis on marine
      regime shifts and introduces a novel approach to examine food webs. 

PMID- 26888033
TI  - Trophic complexity in aqueous systems: bacterial species richness and protistan
      predation regulate dissolved organic carbon and dissolved total nitrogen removal.
AB  - Loading of water bodies with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved total
      nitrogen (DTN) affects their integrity and functioning. Microbial interactions
      mitigate the negative effects of high nutrient loads in these ecosystems. Despite
      numerous studies on how biodiversity mediates ecosystem functions, whether and
      how diversity and complexity of microbial food webs (horizontal, vertical) and
      the underlying ecological mechanisms influence nutrient removal has barely been
      investigated. Using microbial microcosms accommodating systematic combinations of
      prey (bacteria) and predator (protists) species, we showed that increasing
      bacterial richness improved the extent and reliability of DOC and DTN removal.
      Bacterial diversity drove nutrient removal either due to species foraging
      physiology or functional redundancy, whereas protistan diversity affected
      nutrient removal through bacterial prey resource partitioning and changing
      nutrient balance in the system. Our results demonstrate that prey-predator
      diversity and trophic interactions interactively determine nutrient contents,
      thus implying the vital role of microbial trophic complexity as a biological
      buffer against DOC and DTN. 

PMID- 26888034
TI  - Brain size is correlated with endangerment status in mammals.
AB  - Increases in relative encephalization (RE), brain size after controlling for body
      size, comes at a great metabolic cost and is correlated with a host of cognitive
      traits, from the ability to count objects to higher rates of innovation. Despite
      many studies examining the implications and trade-offs accompanying increased RE,
      the relationship between mammalian extinction risk and RE is unknown. I examine
      whether mammals with larger levels of RE are more or less likely to be at risk of
      endangerment than less-encephalized species. I find that extant species with
      large levels of encephalization are at greater risk of endangerment, with this
      effect being strongest in species with small body sizes. These results suggest
      that RE could be a valuable asset in estimating extinction vulnerability.
      Additionally, these findings suggest that the cost-benefit trade-off of RE is
      different in large-bodied species when compared with small-bodied species. 

PMID- 26888035
TI  - Multiple evolutionary origins of Australian soil-burrowing cockroaches driven by
      climate change in the Neogene.
AB  - Parallel evolution is the independent appearance of similar derived phenotypes
      from similar ancestral forms. It is of key importance in the debate over whether
      evolution is stochastic and unpredictable, or subject to constraints that limit
      available phenotypic options. Nevertheless, its occurrence has rarely been
      demonstrated above the species level. Climate change on the Australian landmass
      over the last approximately 20 Myr has provided conditions conducive to parallel
      evolution, as taxa at the edges of shrinking mesic habitats adapted to drier
      biomes. Here, we investigate the phylogeny and evolution of Australian soil
      burrowing and wood-feeding blaberid cockroaches. Soil burrowers (subfamily
      Geoscapheinae) are found in relatively dry sclerophyllous and scrubland habits,
      whereas wood feeders (subfamily Panesthiinae) are found in rainforest and wet
      sclerophyll. We sequenced and analysed mitochondrial and nuclear markers from 142
      specimens, and estimated the evolutionary time scale of the two subfamilies. We
      found evidence for the parallel evolution of soil-burrowing taxa from wood
      feeding ancestors on up to nine occasions. These transitions appear to have been
      driven by periods of aridification during the Miocene and Pliocene across eastern
      Australia. Our results provide an illuminating example of climate-driven parallel
      evolution among species. 

PMID- 26888036
TI  - Age-related declines in immune response in a wild mammal are unrelated to immune
      cell telomere length.
AB  - Senescence has been hypothesized to arise in part from age-related declines in
      immune performance, but the patterns and drivers of within-individual age-related
      changes in immunity remain virtually unexplored in natural populations. Here,
      using a long-term epidemiological study of wild European badgers (Meles meles),
      we (i) present evidence of a within-individual age-related decline in the
      response of a key immune-signalling cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), to ex
      vivo lymphocyte stimulation, and (ii) investigate three putative drivers of
      individual variation in the rate of this decline (sex, disease and immune cell
      telomere length; ICTL). That the within-individual rate of age-related decline
      markedly exceeded that at the population level suggests that individuals with
      weaker IFNgamma responses are selectively lost from this population. IFNgamma
      responses appeared to decrease with the progression of bovine tuberculosis
      infection (independent of age) and were weaker among males than females. However,
      neither sex nor disease influenced the rate of age-related decline in IFNgamma
      response. Similarly, while ICTL also declines with age, variation in ICTL
      predicted neither among- nor within-individual variation in IFNgamma response.
      Our findings provide evidence of within-individual age-related declines in immune
      performance in a wild mammal and highlight the likely complexity of the
      mechanisms that generate them. 

PMID- 26888037
TI  - Opposing phylogenetic diversity gradients of plant and soil bacterial
      communities.
AB  - Plants and soil microbes show parallel patterns of species-level diversity.
      Diverse plant communities release a wider range of organics that are consumed by
      more microbial species. We speculated, however, that diversity metrics accounting
      for the evolutionary distance across community members would reveal opposing
      patterns between plant and soil bacterial phylogenetic diversity. Plant
      phylogenetic diversity enhances plant productivity and thus expectedly soil
      fertility. This, in turn, might reduce bacterial phylogenetic diversity by
      favouring one (or a few) competitive bacterial clade. We collected topsoils in 15
      semi-arid plant patches and adjacent low-cover areas configuring a plant
      phylodiversity gradient, pyrosequenced the 16S rRNA gene to identify bacterial
      taxa and analysed soil fertility parameters. Structural equation modelling showed
      positive effects of both plant richness and phylogenetic diversity on soil
      fertility. Fertility increased bacterial richness but reduced bacterial
      phylogenetic diversity. This might be attributed to the competitive dominance of
      a lineage based on its high relative fitness. This suggests biotic interactions
      as determinants of the soil bacterial community assembly, while emphasizing the
      need to use phylogeny-informed metrics to tease apart the processes underlying
      the patterns of diversity. 

PMID- 26888038
TI  - CFTR channel in oocytes from Xenopus laevis and its regulation by xShroom1
      protein.
AB  - Shroom is a family of related proteins linked to the actin cytoskeleton. xShroom1
      is constitutively expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and it is required for the
      expression of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). As there is a close
      relationship between ENaC and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR),
      we examined the action of xShroom1 on CFTR expression and activity. Biotinylation
      was used to measure CFTR surface expression, and currents were registered with
      voltage clamp when stimulated with forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine.
      Oocytes were coinjected with CFTR complementary RNAs (cRNAs) and xShroom1 sense
      or antisense oligonucleotides. We observed an increment in CFTR currents and CFTR
      surface expression in oocytes coinjected with CFTR and xShroom1 antisense
      oligonucleotides. MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, did not prevent the increment
      in currents when xShroom1 was suppressed by antisense oligonucleotides. In
      addition, we inhibited the delivery of newly synthesized proteins to the plasma
      membrane with BFA and we found that the half-life of plasma membrane CFTR was
      prolonged when coinjected with the xShroom1 antisense oligonucleotides.
      Chloroquine, an inhibitor of the late endosome/lysosome, did not significantly
      increase CFTR currents when xShroom1 expression was inhibited. The higher
      expression of CFTR when xShroom1 is suppressed is in concordance with the
      functional studies suggesting that the suppression of the xShroom1 protein
      resulted in an increment in CFTR currents by promoting the increase of the half
      life of CFTR in the plasma membrane. The role of xShroom1 in regulating CFTR
      expression could be relevant in the understanding of the channel malfunction in
      several diseases.

PMID- 26888039
TI  - Nano-Fenton Reactors as a New Class of Oxidative Stress Amplifying Anticancer
      Therapeutic Agents.
AB  - Cancer cells, compared to normal cells, are under oxidative stress associated
      with an elevated level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are more vulnerable
      to oxidative stress induced by ROS generating agents. Thus, manipulation of the
      ROS level provides a logical approach to kill cancer cells preferentially,
      without significant toxicity to normal cells, and great efforts have been
      dedicated to the development of strategies to induce cytotoxic oxidative stress
      for cancer treatment. Fenton reaction is an important biological reaction in
      which irons convert hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to highly toxic hydroxyl radicals
      that escalate ROS stress. Here, we report Fenton reaction-performing polymer
      (PolyCAFe) micelles as a new class of ROS-manipulating anticancer therapeutic
      agents. Amphiphilic PolyCAFe incorporates H2O2-generating
      benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde and iron-containing compounds in its backbone and self
      assembles to form micelles that serve as Nano-Fenton reactors to generate
      cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals, killing cancer cells preferentially. When
      intravenously injected, PolyCAFe micelles could accumulate in tumors
      preferentially to remarkably suppress tumor growth, without toxicity to normal
      tissues. This study demonstrates the tremendous translatable potential of Nano
      Fenton reactors as a new class of anticancer drugs. 

PMID- 26888040
TI  - Collective chemotaxis and segregation of active bacterial colonies.
AB  - Still recently, bacterial fluid suspensions have motivated a lot of works, both
      experimental and theoretical, with the objective to understand their collective
      dynamics from universal and simple rules. Since some species are active, most of
      these works concern the strong interactions that these bacteria exert on a forced
      flow leading to instabilities, chaos and turbulence. Here, we investigate the
      self-organization of expanding bacterial colonies under chemotaxis, proliferation
      and eventually active-reaction. We propose a simple model to understand and
      quantify the physical properties of these living organisms which either give
      cohesion or on the contrary dispersion to the colony. Taking into account the
      diffusion and capture of morphogens complicates the model since it induces a
      bacterial density gradient coupled to bacterial density fluctuations and
      dynamics. Nevertheless under some specific conditions, it is possible to
      investigate the pattern formation as a usual viscous fingering instability. This
      explains the similarity and differences of patterns according to the physical
      bacterial suspension properties and explain the factors which favor compactness
      or branching. 

PMID- 26888041
TI  - Development and regulation of exosome-based therapy products.
AB  - Recently, various innovative therapies involving the ex vivo manipulation and
      subsequent reintroduction of exosome-based therapeutics into humans have been
      developed and validated, although no exosome-based therapeutics have yet to be
      brought into the clinic. Exosomes are nanosized vesicles secreted by many cells
      that utilize them for cell-to-cell communications to facilitate transport of
      proteins and genetic material. Comprised of cellular membranes with multiple
      adhesive proteins on their surface, exosomes offer distinct advantages that
      exceptionally position them as highly effective drug carriers. Additionally,
      exosomes can exert unique biological activity reflective of their origin that may
      be used for therapy of various diseases. In fact, exosomes have benefits of both
      synthetic nanocarriers and cell-mediated drug delivery systems, and avoid their
      limitations. This concise review highlights the recent developments in exosome
      based drug delivery systems and the main regulatory considerations for using this
      type of therapeutic in clinic. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:744-757. doi:
      10.1002/wnan.1395 For further resources related to this article, please visit the
      WIREs website.

PMID- 26888042
TI  - Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Brain Tumors.
AB  - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using talaporfin sodium together with a semiconductor
      laser was approved in Japan in October 2003 as a less invasive therapy for early
      stage lung cancer. The author believes that the principle of PDT would be
      applicable for controlling the invading front of malignant brain tumors and
      verified its efficacy through experiments using glioma cell lines and glioma
      xenograft models. An investigator-initiated clinical study was jointly conducted
      with Tokyo Women's Medical University with the support of the Japan Medical
      Association. Patient enrollment was started in May 2009 and a total of 27
      patients were enrolled by March 2012. Of 22 patients included in efficacy
      analysis, 13 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma showed progression-free
      survival of 12 months, progression-free survival at the site of laser irradiation
      of 20 months, 1-year survival of 100%, and overall survival of 24.8 months. In
      addition, the safety analysis of the 27 patients showed that adverse events
      directly related to PDT were mild. PDT was approved in Japan for health insurance
      coverage as a new intraoperative therapy with the indication for malignant brain
      tumors in September 2013. Currently, the post-marketing investigation in the
      accumulated patients has been conducted, and the preparation of guidelines,
      holding training courses, and dissemination of information on the safe
      implementation of PDT using web sites and videos, have been promoted. PDT is
      expected to be a breakthrough for the treatment of malignant glioma as a tumor
      cell-selective less invasive therapy for the infiltrated functional brain area. 

PMID- 26888044
TI  - Odontogenic myxoma involving the orbit in a 3-year-old boy: removal,
      reconstruction and review of the literature.
AB  - We present a rare case of a 3-year-old boy with an odontogenic myxoma (OM)
      involving the orbita. Including our case, only nine cases of OM have been
      reported to involve the eye in children.There is no gold standard for treatment
      of OM in children with orbital involvement. The recurrence rate of OM in children
      seems low, which advocates for less invasive surgery. A gentle resection of the
      OM was carried out. The floor and medial wall of the orbit was reconstructed
      immediately using a non-resorbable Medpor implant with passive adaptation.
      Reconstruction with a Medpor implant in children has rarely been reported in the
      literature. No clinical or radiological recurrence was observed 24 months after
      surgical removal, and the patient presented with symmetric appearance and normal
      vision.

PMID- 26888045
TI  - Endoscopic resection of invasive glomangiopericytoma following preoperative
      embolisation.
AB  - We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with a 2-year history of nasal
      obstruction and unilateral recurrent epistaxis. Anterior rhinoscopy identified a
      unilateral hypervascular lobular mass occupying the entire left nasal cavity.
      Imaging studies documented an extensive soft tissue density lesion in the left
      nasal cavity with complete infiltration of the anterior ethmoid, limited
      indentation of the medial wall of the orbit, bone demineralisation of the
      cribriform plate and involvement of the anterior cranial fossa. The diagnosis of
      locally invasive glomangiopericytoma was obtained preoperatively through biopsy
      of the lesion, which resulted in a self-limited epistaxis that was easily
      controlled by nasal packing, confirming the vascular nature of the lesion. We
      discuss the diagnostic work up, imaging and surgical approach of this tumour, and
      review the recent literature on endoscopic treatment of these lesions. 

PMID- 26888043
TI  - History of Neural Stem Cell Research and Its Clinical Application.
AB  - "Once development was ended...in the adult centers, the nerve paths are something
      fixed and immutable. Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated," wrote
      Santiago Ramon y Cajal, a Spanish neuroanatomist and Nobel Prize winner and the
      father of modern neuroscience. This statement was the central dogma in
      neuroscience for a long time. However, in the 1960s, neural stem cells (NSCs)
      were discovered. Since then, our knowledge about NSCs has continued to grow. This
      review focuses on our current knowledge about NSCs and their surrounding
      microenvironment. In addition, the clinical application of NSCs for the treatment
      of various central nervous system diseases is also summarized. 

PMID- 26888046
TI  - Correlates of dietary energy misreporting among European adolescents: the Healthy
      Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study.
AB  - This study examined the correlates of dietary energy under-reporting (UR) and
      over-reporting (OV) in European adolescents. Two self-administered computerised
      24-h dietary recalls and physical activity data using accelerometry were
      collected from 1512 adolescents aged 12.5-17.5 years from eight European
      countries. Objective measurements of height and weight were obtained. BMI was
      categorised according to Cole/International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off
      points. Diet-related attitudes were assessed via self-administered
      questionnaires. Reported energy intake (EI) was compared with predicted total
      energy expenditure to identify UR and OV using individual physical activity
      objective measures. Associations between misreporting and covariates were
      examined by multilevel logistic regression analyses. Among all, 33.3 % of the
      adolescents were UR and 15.6 % were OV when considering mean EI. Overweight (OR
      3.25; 95 % CI 2.01, 5.27) and obese (OR 4.31; 95 % CI 1.92, 9.65) adolescents had
      higher odds for UR, whereas underweight individuals were more likely to over
      report (OR 1.67; 95 % CI 1.01, 2.76). Being content with their own figures (OR
      0.61; 95 % CI 0.41, 0.89) decreased the odds for UR, whereas frequently skipping
      breakfast (OR 2.14; 95 % CI 1.53, 2.99) was linked with higher odds for UR. Those
      being worried about gaining weight (OR 0.55; 95 % CI 0.33, 0.92) were less likely
      to OV. Weight status and psychosocial weight-related factors were found to be the
      major correlates of misreporting. Misreporting may reflect socially desirable
      answers and low ability to report own dietary intakes, but also may reflect real
      under-eating in an attempt to lose weight or real over-eating to reflect higher
      intakes due to growth spurts. Factors influencing misreporting should be
      identified in youths to clarify or better understand diet-disease associations.

PMID- 26888047
TI  - Comparative phylogeography of two monogenean species (Mazocraeidae) on the host
      of chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, along the coast of China.
AB  - In the present paper, the phylogeographies of two monogenean species,
      Pseudokuhnia minor and Kuhnia scombri, on the same species of host, Scomber
      japonicus, were studied. Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase
      subunit 1 gene were sequenced for 264 individuals of P. minor and 224 individuals
      of K. scombri collected from 10 localities along the coast of China. Genetic
      diversity of K. scombri was higher than that of P. minor, which may imply that P.
      minor has a lower evolution rate and/or is a younger species. The neighbour
      joining (NJ) trees of both parasites were comprised of two clades without
      association to sample sites, which is the signature of remixing populations
      following past division. Analyses of molecular variance and pairwise fixation
      index revealed different genetic structures for the populations of these two
      closely related species along the coast of China: P. minor without significant
      genetic structure, while K. scombri has some genetic differentiation. Both
      neutrality tests and mismatch distribution suggested that the populations of
      these two species of parasites experienced population expansion in the late
      Pleistocene era due to the glacial-interglacial cycles induced by climatic
      oscillations. 

PMID- 26888048
TI  - The rare Costello variant HRAS c.173C>T (p.T58I) with severe neonatal
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AB  - We report a 10-year-old girl presenting with severe neonatal hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy (HCM), feeding difficulties, mildly abnormal facial features, and
      progressive skeletal muscle symptoms but with normal cognitive development.
      Targeted oligonucleotide-selective sequencing of 101 cardiomyopathy genes
      revealed the genetic diagnosis, and the mutation was verified by Sanger
      sequencing in the patient and her parents. To offer insights into the potential
      mechanism of patient mutation, protein structural analysis was performed using
      the resolved structure of human activated HRAS protein with bound GTP analogue
      (PDB id 5P21) in Discovery Studio 4.5 (Dassault Systemes Biovia, San Diego, CA).
      The patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and normal cognitive development was
      diagnosed with an HRAS mutation c.173C>T (p.T58I), a milder variant of Costello
      syndrome affecting a highly conserved amino acid, threonine 58. Our analysis
      suggests that the p.G12 mutations slow GTP hydrolysis rendering HRAS unresponsive
      to GTPase activating proteins, and resulting in permanently active state. The
      p.T58I mutation likely affects binding of guanidine-nucleotide-exchange factors,
      thereby promoting the active state but also allowing for slow inactivation.
      Patients with the HRAS mutation c.173C>T (p.T58I) might go undiagnosed because of
      the milder phenotype compared with other mutations causing Costello syndrome. We
      expand the clinical and molecular picture of the rare HRAS mutation by reporting
      the first case in Europe and the fourth case in the literature. Our protein
      structure analysis offers insights into the mechanism of the mildly activating
      p.T58I mutation. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888050
TI  - Pred-binding: large-scale protein-ligand binding affinity prediction.
AB  - Drug target interactions (DTIs) are crucial in pharmacology and drug discovery.
      Presently, experimental determination of compound-protein interactions remains
      challenging because of funding investment and difficulties of purifying proteins.
      In this study, we proposed two in silico models based on support vector machine
      (SVM) and random forest (RF), using 1589 molecular descriptors and 1080 protein
      descriptors in 9948 ligand-protein pairs to predict DTIs that were quantified by
      Ki values. The cross-validation coefficient of determination of 0.6079 for SVM
      and 0.6267 for RF were obtained, respectively. In addition, the two-dimensional
      (2D) autocorrelation, topological charge indices and three-dimensional (3D)-MoRSE
      descriptors of compounds, the autocorrelation descriptors and the amphiphilic
      pseudo-amino acid composition of protein are found most important for Ki
      predictions. These models provide a new opportunity for the prediction of ligand
      receptor interactions that will facilitate the target discovery and toxicity
      evaluation in drug development. 

PMID- 26888051
TI  - Categories of Large Numbers in Line Estimation.
AB  - How do people stretch their understanding of magnitude from the experiential
      range to the very large quantities and ranges important in science, geopolitics,
      and mathematics? This paper empirically evaluates how and whether people make use
      of numerical categories when estimating relative magnitudes of numbers across
      many orders of magnitude. We hypothesize that people use scale words-thousand,
      million, billion-to carve the large number line into categories, stretching
      linear responses across items within each category. If so, discontinuities in
      position and response time are expected near the boundaries between categories.
      In contrast to previous work (Landy, Silbert, & Goldin, 2013) that suggested only
      that a minority of college undergraduates employed categorical boundaries, we
      find that discontinuities near category boundaries occur in most or all
      participants, but that accurate and inaccurate participants respond in opposite
      ways to category boundaries. Accurate participants highlight contrasts within a
      category, whereas inaccurate participants adjust their responses toward category
      centers.

PMID- 26888052
TI  - l-carnitine protects rat hepatocytes from oxidative stress induced by T-2 toxin.
AB  - CONTEXT: Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are thought to be the
      main mechanism of T-2 toxin toxicity. T-2 toxin is the most potent trichothecene
      mycotoxin which is present in agricultural products. L-carnitine, besides its
      anti-oxidative properties, facilitates the transportation of long-chain fatty
      acids in to mitochondrial matrix. OBJECTIVE: In this study we tested whether L
      carnitine, an antioxidant and a facilitator for long-chain fatty acid
      transportation across mitochondrial membranes, could protect rat hepatocytes
      against toxicity induced by T-2 toxin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: L-carnitine in low
      and high doses (50 and 500 mg/kg) was administered for five consecutive days to
      male Wistar rats. Hepatocytes were isolated and freshly exposed to appropriate
      concentration of T-2 toxin for 2 h followed by oxidative stress and cell death
      evaluations. RESULTS: Glutathione depletion, ROS overproduction and mitochondrial
      membrane potential collapse were determined under T-2 toxin exposure.
      Pretreatment with L-carnitine particularly at high-dose reduced toxicity and
      prevented the hepatocytes from abnormal caspase-3 activity and apoptosis.
      CONCLUSION: Low toxicity of L-carnitine and its mitochondrial protective effects
      promises an effective way to reduce or prevent the toxicity induced by certain
      environmental pollutants, including T-2 toxin.

PMID- 26888053
TI  - Ionic liquid electrolytes for reversible magnesium electrochemistry.
AB  - Mg has great potential as the basis for a safe, low cost energy storage
      technology, however, cycling of magnesium is difficult to achieve in most
      electrolytes. We demonstrate cycling of Mg from a novel alkoxyammonium ionic
      liquid. DFT calculations highlight the role that Mg coordination with [BH4](-)
      ions plays in the mechanism.

PMID- 26888054
TI  - Antagonistic activity of endo-beta-1,3-glucanase from a novel isolate,
      Streptomyces sp. 9X166, against black rot in orchids.
AB  - A total of 123 actinomycetes was isolated from 12 varieties of wild orchids and
      screened for potential antagonistic activity against Phytophthora, which causes
      black rot disease in orchids. In vitro and in vivo experimental results revealed
      that Streptomyces sp. strain 9X166 showed the highest antagonistic activity; its
      beta-1,3-glucanase production ability was a key mechanism for growth inhibition
      of the pathogen. PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA
      gene allowed the identification of this strain, with high similarity (99.93%) to
      the novel species Streptomyces similaensis. The glucanase enzyme, purified to
      homogeneity by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, showed a
      specific activity of 58 U mg(-1) (a 3.9-fold increase) and yield of 6.4%. The
      molecular weight, as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, was approximately
      99 and 80 kDa, respectively, suggesting that the enzyme was a monomer. The
      purified enzyme showed the highest substrate specificity to laminarin, indicating
      that it was beta-1,3-glucanase. The hydrolyzed products of cello-oligosaccharides
      suggested that this enzyme was endo-type beta-1,3-glucanase. Streptomyces sp.
      9X166 culture filtrate, possessing beta-1,3-glucanase activity, could degrade
      both freeze-dried and living mycelium. This is the first report on a beta-1,3
      glucanase-producing Streptomyces sp. that could be an effective biocontrol agent
      for black rot disease in orchids. 

PMID- 26888055
TI  - Understanding the Pathogenicity of Noncoding Mismatch Repair Gene Promoter
      Variants in Lynch Syndrome.
AB  - Lynch syndrome is the most common familial cancer condition that mainly
      predisposes to tumors of the colon and endometrium. Cancer susceptibility is
      caused by the autosomal dominant inheritance of a loss-of-function mutation or
      epimutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Cancer risk assessment
      is often possible with nonsynonymous coding region mutations, but in many cases
      patients present with DNA sequence changes within noncoding regions, including
      the promoters, of MMR genes. The pathogenic role of promoter variants, and hence
      clinical significance, is unclear and this hinders the clinical management of
      carriers. In this review, we provide an overview of the classification of MMR
      gene variants, outline the laboratory assays and online resources that can be
      used to assess the causality of promoter variants in Lynch syndrome, and
      highlight some of the practical challenges of demonstrating the pathogenicity of
      these variants. In conclusion, we propose a guide that could be integrated into
      the current InSiGHT classification scheme to help determine if a MMR gene
      promoter variant is pathogenic. 

PMID- 26888058
TI  - Digit-only sauropod pes trackways from China--evidence of swimming or a
      preservational phenomenon?
AB  - For more than 70 years unusual sauropod trackways have played a pivotal role in
      debates about the swimming ability of sauropods. Most claims that sauropods could
      swim have been based on manus-only or manus-dominated trackways. However none of
      these incomplete trackways has been entirely convincing, and most have proved to
      be taphonomic artifacts, either undertracks or the result of differential depth
      of penetration of manus and pes tracks, but otherwise showed the typical pattern
      of normal walking trackways. Here we report an assemblage of unusual sauropod
      tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Hekou Group of Gansu Province, northern China,
      characterized by the preservation of only the pes claw traces, that we interpret
      as having been left by walking, not buoyant or swimming, individuals. They are
      interpreted as the result of animals moving on a soft mud-silt substrate,
      projecting their claws deeply to register their traces on an underlying sand
      layer where they gained more grip during progression. Other sauropod walking
      trackways on the same surface with both pes and manus traces preserved, were
      probably left earlier on relatively firm substrates that predated the deposition
      of soft mud and silt . Presently, there is no convincing evidence of swimming
      sauropods from their trackways, which is not to say that sauropods did not swim
      at all. 

PMID- 26888056
TI  - Blockade of Nicotine and Cannabinoid Reinforcement and Relapse by a Cannabinoid
      CB1-Receptor Neutral Antagonist AM4113 and Inverse Agonist Rimonabant in Squirrel
      Monkeys.
AB  - Nicotine, the main psychoactive component of tobacco, and (-)-Delta(9)
      tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, play
      major roles in tobacco and marijuana dependence as reinforcers of drug-seeking
      and drug-taking behavior. Drugs that act as inverse agonists of cannabinoid CB1
      receptors in the brain can attenuate the rewarding and abuse-related effects of
      nicotine and THC, but their clinical use is hindered by potentially serious side
      effects. The recently developed CB1-receptor neutral antagonists may provide an
      alternative therapeutic approach to nicotine and cannabinoid dependence. Here we
      compare attenuation of nicotine and THC reinforcement and reinstatement in
      squirrel monkeys by the CB1-receptor inverse agonist rimonabant and by the
      recently developed CB1-receptor neutral antagonist AM4113. Both rimonabant and
      AM4113 reduced two effects of nicotine and THC that play major roles in tobacco
      and marijuana dependence: (1) maintenance of high rates of drug-taking behavior,
      and (2) priming- or cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in
      abstinent subjects (models of relapse). In contrast, neither rimonabant nor
      AM4113 modified cocaine-reinforced or food-reinforced operant behavior under
      similar experimental conditions. However, both rimonabant and AM4113 reduced cue
      induced reinstatement in monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine, suggesting
      the involvement of a common cannabinoid-mediated mechanism in the cue-induced
      reinstatement for different drugs of abuse. These findings point to CB1-receptor
      neutral antagonists as a new class of medications for treatment of both tobacco
      dependence and cannabis dependence.

PMID- 26888057
TI  - Reduced Inhibitory Control Mediates the Relationship Between Cortical Thickness
      in the Right Superior Frontal Gyrus and Body Mass Index.
AB  - Unhealthy eating behaviors often develop in the setting of inadequate inhibitory
      control, a function broadly ascribed to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Regulation
      of inhibitory control by the PFC and its anatomical components and their
      contribution to increasing body mass index (BMI) are poorly understood. To study
      the role of PFC in the regulation of inhibitory control and body weight, we
      examined measures of cortical thickness in PFC sub-regions, inhibitory control
      (color-word interference task (CWIT)), and BMI in 91 healthy volunteers. We
      tested the predictive effect of PFC sub-regional cortical thickness on BMI and
      mediation by inhibitory control measured with CWIT. Measures of depression (BDI
      II), anxiety (STAI-T) and trauma-related symptoms (TSC-40) were collected; the
      disinhibition scale of the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to
      assess disinhibited eating. We then tested the relationship between BD-II, STAI
      T, TSC-40, TFEQ, CWIT, and BMI with correlation analyses. Right superior frontal
      gyrus cortical thickness significantly predicted BMI (beta=-0.91; t=-3.2;
      p=0.002). Mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of cortical
      thickness on BMI mediated by inhibitory control (95% CI=-6.1, -0.67). BMI was
      unrelated to BDI-II, STAI-T, TSC-40, or TFEQ scores. We found an inverse
      relationship between cortical thickness in the right-superior frontal gyrus and
      BMI, which was fully mediated by inhibitory control neurocognitive performance.
      Our results suggest possible targets for neuromodulation in obesity (ie superior
      frontal gyrus) and a quantifiable mediator of their effects (ie inhibitory
      control).

PMID- 26888059
TI  - Reexamining the Association Between Positive Surgical Margins and Survival After
      Partial Nephrectomy in a Large American Cohort.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of positive surgical margins (PSM) on overall
      survival (OS) in a large American cohort with intermediate-term follow-up.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the National Cancer Data Base, we identified 6038
      cases of pathological T1-T3a, nonmetastatic renal-cell carcinoma managed with
      partial nephrectomy (PN) from 2003 to 2006. Patients were stratified into two
      groups based on margin status. Predictors of positive margins were evaluated
      using multivariable logistic regression analysis. OS by margin status was
      evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test. A multivariable Cox
      proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the adjusted association between
      margin status and survival. RESULTS: Overall, 302 (5.3%) patients had positive
      margins. On multivariable analysis, higher pathological T stage and higher
      comorbidity score were the only factors significantly associated with positive
      margins (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). At 71-month median follow-up,
      the unadjusted 5-year OS for the entire cohort was 92%. Positive margins were
      significantly associated with decreased 5-year OS (89% vs 92%, p = 0.002), and
      this association remained significant in healthy patients (p = 0.027). On
      multivariable survival analysis, positive margins significantly predicted
      hastened time to all-cause death (hazards ratio 1.34; 95% CI 1.01, 1.78; p =
      0.038). CONCLUSION: In the largest observational study to date, PSM were
      associated with worse OS after PN. Further study on cancer-specific outcomes with
      long-term follow-up is needed.

PMID- 26888062
TI  - Toxic effects of mercury on the cell nucleus of Dictyostelium discoideum.
AB  - Governmental agencies (www.epa.gov/mercury) and the scientific community have
      reported on the high toxicity due to mercury. Indeed, exposure to mercury can
      cause severe injury to the central nervous system and kidney in humans. Beyond
      its recognized toxicity, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms
      involved in the actions of this heavy metal. Mercury has been also observed to
      form insoluble fibrous protein aggregates in the cell nucleus. We used D.
      discoideum to evaluate micronuclei formation and, since mercury is able to induce
      oxidative stress that could bring to protein aggregation, we assessed nuclear
      protein carbonylation by Western Blot. We observed a significant increase in
      micronuclei formation and 14 carbonylated proteins were identified. Moreover, we
      used isotope-coded protein label (ICPL) and mass spectrometry analysis of
      proteins obtained by lysis of purified nuclei, before of tryptic digestion to
      quantify nuclear proteins affected by mercury. In particular, we examined the
      effects of mercury that associate a classical genotoxic assay to proteomic
      effects into the nucleus. The data present direct evidences for mercury
      genotoxicity, nuclear protein carbonylation, quantitative change in core
      histones, and the involvement of pseudouridine synthase in mercury toxicity. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 417-425, 2017.

PMID- 26888060
TI  - Cryo-EM structures of the eukaryotic replicative helicase bound to a
      translocation substrate.
AB  - The Cdc45-MCM-GINS (CMG) helicase unwinds DNA during the elongation step of
      eukaryotic genome duplication and this process depends on the MCM ATPase
      function. Whether CMG translocation occurs on single- or double-stranded DNA and
      how ATP hydrolysis drives DNA unwinding remain open questions. Here we use cryo
      electron microscopy to describe two subnanometre resolution structures of the CMG
      helicase trapped on a DNA fork. In the predominant state, the ring-shaped C
      terminal ATPase of MCM is compact and contacts single-stranded DNA, via a set of
      pre-sensor 1 hairpins that spiral around the translocation substrate. In the
      second state, the ATPase module is relaxed and apparently substrate free, while
      DNA intimately contacts the downstream amino-terminal tier of the MCM motor ring.
      These results, supported by single-molecule FRET measurements, lead us to suggest
      a replication fork unwinding mechanism whereby the N-terminal and AAA+ tiers of
      the MCM work in concert to translocate on single-stranded DNA. 

PMID- 26888063
TI  - Structural and biochemical characterization of an RNA/DNA binding motif in the N
      terminal domain of RecQ4 helicases.
AB  - The RecQ4 helicase belongs to the ubiquitous RecQ family but its exact role in
      the cell is not completely understood. In addition to the helicase domain, RecQ4
      has a unique N-terminal part that is essential for viability and is constituted
      by a region homologous to the yeast Sld2 replication initiation factor, followed
      by a cysteine-rich region, predicted to fold as a Zn knuckle. We carried out a
      structural and biochemical analysis of both the human and Xenopus laevis RecQ4
      cysteine-rich regions, and showed by NMR spectroscopy that the Xenopus fragment
      indeed assumes the canonical Zn knuckle fold, whereas the human sequence remains
      unstructured, consistent with the mutation of one of the Zn ligands. Both the
      human and Xenopus Zn knuckles bind to a variety of nucleic acid substrates, with
      a mild preference for RNA. We also investigated the effect of a segment located
      upstream the Zn knuckle that is highly conserved and rich in positively charged
      and aromatic residues, partially overlapping with the C-terminus of the Sld2-like
      domain. In both the human and Xenopus proteins, the presence of this region
      strongly enhances binding to nucleic acids. These results reveal novel possible
      roles of RecQ4 in DNA replication and genome stability. 

PMID- 26888061
TI  - A Predictive Coexpression Network Identifies Novel Genes Controlling the Seed-to
      Seedling Phase Transition in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - The transition from a quiescent dry seed to an actively growing photoautotrophic
      seedling is a complex and crucial trait for plant propagation. This study
      provides a detailed description of global gene expression in seven successive
      developmental stages of seedling establishment in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis
      thaliana). Using the transcriptome signature from these developmental stages, we
      obtained a coexpression gene network that highlights interactions between known
      regulators of the seed-to-seedling transition and predicts the functions of
      uncharacterized genes in seedling establishment. The coexpressed gene data sets
      together with the transcriptional module indicate biological functions related to
      seedling establishment. Characterization of the homeodomain leucine zipper I
      transcription factor AtHB13, which is expressed during the seed-to-seedling
      transition, demonstrated that this gene regulates some of the network nodes and
      affects late seedling establishment. Knockout mutants for athb13 showed increased
      primary root length as compared with wild-type (Columbia-0) seedlings, suggesting
      that this transcription factor is a negative regulator of early root growth,
      possibly repressing cell division and/or cell elongation or the length of time
      that cells elongate. The signal transduction pathways present during the early
      phases of the seed-to-seedling transition anticipate the control of important
      events for a vigorous seedling, such as root growth. This study demonstrates that
      a gene coexpression network together with transcriptional modules can provide
      insights that are not derived from comparative transcript profiling alone.

PMID- 26888064
TI  - Polyester-based microparticles of different hydrophobicity: the patterns of
      lipophilic drug entrapment and release.
AB  - The paper is devoted to the investigation of the effect of polyester
      hydrophobicity and ability for crystallisation on lipophilic drug loading and
      release from microparticles fabricated on the base of these polymers. Poly(l
      lactic acid), poly(d, l-lactic acid) and poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) were
      synthesised by ring-opening polymerisation using stannous octoate as catalyst,
      while poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(omega-pentadecalactone) (PPDL) formation
      was catalysed by lipase. The particles were formed via single emulsion
      evaporation/diffusion method. The particles obtained were studied using SEM, XRD
      and DSC methods. The degradation of particles based on different polyesters,
      entrapment and release of a model hydrophobic drug (risperidone(r)) were
      thoroughly studied. The effect of particles hydrophobicity and crystallinity on
      these parameters was of most interest. The drug entrapment is greater for the
      hydrophobic polymers. Drug release was more rapid from crystalline particles
      (PLLA, PCL, PPDL), than from amorphous PDLLA and PLGA ones. 

PMID- 26888065
TI  - Epigenetics and Peripheral Artery Disease.
AB  - The term epigenetics is usually used to describe inheritable changes in gene
      function which do not involve changes in the DNA sequence. These typically
      include non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and histone modifications. Smoking and
      older age are recognised risk factors for peripheral artery diseases, such as
      occlusive lower limb artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm, and have been
      implicated in promoting epigenetic changes. This brief review describes studies
      that have associated epigenetic factors with peripheral artery diseases and
      investigations which have examined the effect of epigenetic modifications on the
      outcome of peripheral artery diseases in mouse models. Investigations have
      largely focused on microRNAs and have identified a number of circulating
      microRNAs associated with human peripheral artery diseases. Upregulating or
      antagonising a number of microRNAs has also been reported to limit aortic
      aneurysm development and hind limb ischemia in mouse models. The importance of
      DNA methylation and histone modifications in peripheral artery disease has been
      relatively little studied. Whether circulating microRNAs can be used to assist
      identification of patients with peripheral artery diseases and be modified in
      order to improve the outcome of peripheral artery disease will require further
      investigation. 

PMID- 26888066
TI  - Metformin: an Old Therapy that Deserves a New Indication for the Treatment of
      Obesity.
AB  - Metformin is not currently used for weight loss or diabetes prevention because it
      lacks an FDA indication for obesity and/or pre-diabetes treatment. Based on the
      evidence, metformin has been shown to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes,
      and compares favorably to other weight-loss medications in terms of efficacy as
      well as safety. Thus, metformin should be considered for a treatment indication
      in patients with these conditions.

PMID- 26888067
TI  - The magnitude of severe box jellyfish cases on Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan in the
      Gulf of Thailand.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite recent deaths caused by box jellyfish envenomation occurring
      on the islands of Samui and Pha-ngan in the Gulf of Thailand, many people do not
      believe box jellyfish can kill humans and many people dismiss the problem as
      insignificant. More evidence has been requested from the communities in order to
      evaluate the need for and the implementation of sustainable prevention measures.
      We aimed to determine the magnitude of cases of severe stinging by box jellyfish
      and describe the characteristics of these cases on the islands of Samui and Pha
      ngan in Surat Thani Province from 1997 to 2015. METHODS: Various strategies were
      integrated prospectively. Toxic jellyfish networks and surveillance system were
      established. Outbreak investigations were conducted retrospectively and
      prospectively from 2008 to 2015. RESULTS: There were 15 box jellyfish cases. A
      small majority of them were women (60.0) with a median age of 26.0 years (range
      5.0-45.0 years). The highest incidence by month were August (33.3%), September
      and October (20.0%), and July (13.3%). Eight cases occurred on Samui (53.3%), 6
      cases on Pha-ngan island (40.0%), and one case on the boat. All cases developed
      symptoms and signs immediately after being stung. More than half of the cases
      were unconscious. There were six fatal cases (46.7%). The wound characteristics
      had an appearance similar to caterpillar tracks or step ladder-like burn marks.
      Almost all cases involved Chirodropidae. One fatal case received fresh water and
      ice packs applied to the wounds (16.7%). Among the cases with known first aid,
      only one out of six fatal cases had vinegar applied to the wounds (16.7%), while
      haft of six surviving cases received the vinegar treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The
      islands of Samui and Pha-ngan have the highest incidence of fatal and near fatal
      box jellyfish cases in Thailand. There is an urgent need for informed pre
      clinical emergent care. Optimal pre-clinical care is an area of active research.

PMID- 26888068
TI  - BDNF-induced LTP is associated with rapid Arc/Arg3.1-dependent enhancement in
      adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
AB  - Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus is a remarkable phenomenon involved in
      various aspects of learning and memory as well as disease pathophysiology. Brain
      derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) represents a major player in the regulation of
      this unique form of neuroplasticity, yet the mechanisms underlying its pro
      neurogenic actions remain unclear. Here, we examined the effects associated with
      brief (25 min), unilateral infusion of BDNF in the rat dentate gyrus. Acute BDNF
      infusion induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of medial perforant path-evoked
      synaptic transmission and, concomitantly, enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis
      bilaterally, reflected by increased dentate gyrus BrdU + cell numbers.
      Importantly, inhibition of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein
      (Arc/Arg3.1) translation through local, unilateral infusion of anti-sense
      oligodeoxynucleotides (ArcAS) prior to BDNF infusion blocked both BDNF-LTP
      induction and the associated pro-neurogenic effects. Notably, basal rates of
      proliferation and newborn cell survival were unaltered in homozygous Arc/Arg3.1
      knockout mice. Taken together these findings link the pro-neurogenic effects of
      acute BDNF infusion to induction of Arc/Arg3.1-dependent LTP in the adult rodent
      dentate gyrus.

PMID- 26888069
TI  - Cesarean section delivery and development of food allergy and atopic dermatitis
      in early childhood.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delivery by Cesarean section (CS) may predispose to allergic
      disorders, presumably due to alterations in the establishment of normal gut
      microbiota in early infancy. In this study, we sought to investigate the
      association between CS and physician-diagnosed food allergy and atopic dermatitis
      during the first 3 years of life, using data from a homogeneous, population
      based, birth cohort. METHODS: A total of 459 children born and cared for in the
      same tertiary maternity unit were examined at birth and followed up at 1, 6, 12,
      18, 24, 30 and 36 months of age. Participants with symptoms suggestive of food
      allergy or atopic dermatitis were evaluated by a pediatric allergy specialist to
      confirm the diagnosis based on well-defined criteria. RESULTS: The rate of CS was
      50.8% (n = 233). Food allergy was diagnosed in 24 participants (5.2%) while
      atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 62 children (13.5%). Cesarean section (OR
      3.15; 95% CI 1.14-8.70), atopic dermatitis of the child (OR 3.01; 95% CI 1.18
      7.80), parental atopy (OR 4.33; 95% CI 1.73-12.1), and gestational age (OR 1.57;
      95% CI 1.07-2.37) were significant and independent predictors of food allergy.
      Children with at least one allergic parent delivered by CS had higher probability
      of developing food allergy compared with vaginally delivered children of non
      allergic parents (OR 10.0; 95% CI 3.06-32.7). Conversely, the effect of CS on
      atopic dermatitis was not significant (OR 1.35; 95% CI 0.74-2.47). CONCLUSIONS:
      Delivery by CS predisposes to the development of food allergy but not atopic
      dermatitis in early childhood. Cesarean section delivery seems to upregulate the
      immune response to food allergens, especially in children with allergic
      predisposition.

PMID- 26888071
TI  - Best of BJSM online: highlights from the blog, podcasts, YouTube page, Google+
      and more!

PMID- 26888070
TI  - Cascade of neural processing orchestrates cognitive control in human frontal
      cortex.
AB  - Rapid and flexible interpretation of conflicting sensory inputs in the context of
      current goals is a critical component of cognitive control that is orchestrated
      by frontal cortex. The relative roles of distinct subregions within frontal
      cortex are poorly understood. To examine the dynamics underlying cognitive
      control across frontal regions, we took advantage of the spatiotemporal
      resolution of intracranial recordings in epilepsy patients while subjects
      resolved color-word conflict. We observed differential activity preceding the
      behavioral responses to conflict trials throughout frontal cortex; this activity
      was correlated with behavioral reaction times. These signals emerged first in
      anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) before dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC),
      followed by medial frontal cortex (mFC) and then by orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).
      These results disassociate the frontal subregions based on their dynamics, and
      suggest a temporal hierarchy for cognitive control in human cortex. 

PMID- 26888072
TI  - Time to return to full training is delayed and recurrence rate is higher in
      intratendinous ('c') acute hamstring injury in elite track and field athletes:
      clinical application of the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification describes acute
      muscle injuries and their anatomical site within muscle based on MRI parameters
      of injury extent. It grades injuries from 0 to 4 and classifies location based on
      a myofascial (a), musculotendinous (b) or intratendinous (c) description. This is
      a retrospective cohort study that assessed time to return to full training (TRFT)
      and injury recurrence in the different British Athletics classifications for
      hamstring injuries sustained by elite track and field (T&F) athletes over a 4
      year period. METHODS: The electronic medical records (EMRs) of 230 elite British
      T&F athletes were reviewed. Athletes who sustained an acute hamstring injury,
      with MRI investigation within 7 days of injury, were included. MRI were graded by
      two musculoskeletal radiologists using the British Athletics Muscle Injury
      Classification. The EMRs were reviewed by 2 sports physicians, blinded to the new
      classification; TRFT and injury recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: There were 65
      hamstring injuries in 44 athletes (24+/-4.4 years; 28 male, 16 female). TRFT
      differed among grades (p<0.001). Grade 3 injuries and 'c' injuries took
      significantly longer and grade 0 injuries took less TRFT. There were 12 re
      injuries; the injury recurrence rate was significantly higher in intratendinous
      (c) injuries (p<0.001). There was no difference in re-injury rate between number
      grades 1-3, hamstring muscle affected, location (proximal vs central vs distal),
      age or sex. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the clinical application of the
      British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification. Different categories of hamstring
      injuries had different TRFT and recurrence rate. Hamstring injuries that extend
      into the tendon ('c') are more prone to re-injury and delay TRFT.

PMID- 26888073
TI  - Network-based methods for identifying critical pathways of complex diseases: a
      survey.
AB  - Biological pathways play important roles in the development of complex diseases,
      such as cancers, which are multifactorial complex diseases that are generally
      caused by mutation of multiple genes or dysregulation of pathways. It has become
      one of the most important issues to analyze pathways through combining multiple
      types of high-throughput data, such as genomics and proteomics, to understand the
      mechanisms of complex diseases. Currently, several network-based pathway analysis
      methods have been proposed. In this overview, we review seven major network-based
      pathway analysis methods and enumerate their benefits and limitations from an
      algorithmic perspective to provide a reference for the next generation of pathway
      analysis methods. Finally, we discuss the challenges that the next generation of
      methods faces. 

PMID- 26888074
TI  - Understanding Climate Adaptation on Public Lands in the Upper Midwest:
      Implications for Monitoring and Tracking Progress.
AB  - There are limited examples of efforts to systematically monitor and track climate
      change adaptation progress in the context of natural resource management, despite
      substantial investments in adaptation initiatives. To better understand the
      status of adaptation within state natural resource agencies, we utilized and
      problematized a rational decision-making framework to characterize adaptation at
      the level of public land managers in the Upper Midwest. We conducted in-depth
      interviews with 29 biologists and foresters to provide an understanding of
      managers' experiences with, and perceptions of, climate change impacts, efforts
      towards planning for climate change, and a full range of actions implemented to
      address climate change. While the majority of managers identified climate change
      impacts affecting their region, they expressed significant uncertainty in
      interpreting those signals. Just under half of managers indicated planning
      efforts are underway, although most planning is remote from local management.
      Actions already implemented include both forward-looking measures and those aimed
      at coping with current impacts. In addition, cross-scale dynamics emerged as an
      important theme related to the overall adaptation process. The results hold
      implications for tracking future progress on climate change adaptation. Common
      definitions or measures of adaptation (e.g., presence of planning documents) may
      need to be reassessed for applicability at the level of public land managers. 

PMID- 26888076
TI  - Exploring a New Simulation Approach to Improve Clinical Reasoning Teaching and
      Assessment: Randomized Trial Protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Helping trainees develop appropriate clinical reasoning abilities is
      a challenging goal in an environment where clinical situations are marked by high
      levels of complexity and unpredictability. The benefit of simulation-based
      education to assess clinical reasoning skills has rarely been reported. More
      specifically, it is unclear if clinical reasoning is better acquired if the
      instructor's input occurs entirely after or is integrated during the scenario.
      Based on educational principles of the dual-process theory of clinical reasoning,
      a new simulation approach called simulation with iterative discussions (SID) is
      introduced. The instructor interrupts the flow of the scenario at three key
      moments of the reasoning process (data gathering, integration, and confirmation).
      After each stop, the scenario is continued where it was interrupted. Finally, a
      brief general debriefing ends the session. System-1 process of clinical reasoning
      is assessed by verbalization during management of the case, and System-2 during
      the iterative discussions without providing feedback. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this
      study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Simulation with Iterative Discussions
      versus the classical approach of simulation in developing reasoning skills of
      General Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine residents. METHODS: This will
      be a prospective exploratory, randomized study conducted at Sainte-Justine
      hospital in Montreal, Qc, between January and March 2016. All post-graduate year
      (PGY) 1 to 6 residents will be invited to complete one SID or classical
      simulation 30 minutes audio video-recorded complex high-fidelity simulations
      covering a similar neonatology topic. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires
      will be completed and a semistructured interview will be conducted after each
      simulation. Data analyses will use SPSS and NVivo softwares. RESULTS: This study
      is in its preliminary stages and the results are expected to be made available by
      April, 2016. CONCLUSIONS: This will be the first study to explore a new
      simulation approach designed to enhance clinical reasoning. By assessing more
      closely reasoning processes throughout a simulation session, we believe that
      Simulation with Iterative Discussions will be an interesting and more effective
      approach for students. The findings of the study will benefit medical educators,
      education programs, and medical students.

PMID- 26888077
TI  - Multi-functional reactively-sputtered copper oxide electrodes for supercapacitor
      and electro-catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell applications.
AB  - This work reports on the concurrent electrochemical energy storage and conversion
      characteristics of granular copper oxide electrode films prepared using reactive
      radio-frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature under different oxygen
      environments. The obtained films are characterized in terms of their structural,
      morphological, and compositional properties. X-ray diffraction, X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope studies reveal that
      granular, single-phase Cu2O and CuO can be obtained by controlling the oxygen
      flow rate. The electrochemical energy storage properties of the films are
      investigated by carrying out cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge
      and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests. The electrochemical analysis
      reveals that the Cu2O and CuO electrodes have high specific capacitances of 215
      and 272 F/g in 6 M KOH solution with a capacity retention of about 80% and 85%
      after 3000 cycles, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry are
      used to study the electrochemical energy conversion properties of the films via
      methanol electro-oxidation. The results show that the Cu2O and CuO electrodes are
      electro-catalytically active and highly stable.

PMID- 26888075
TI  - Tafenoquine treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria: suggestive evidence that
      CYP2D6 reduced metabolism is not associated with relapse in the Phase 2b
      DETECTIVE trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tafenoquine (TQ) and primaquine (PQ) are 8-aminoquinolines (8-AQ)
      with anti-hypnozoite activity against vivax malaria. PQ is the only FDA-approved
      medicine for preventing relapsing Plasmodium vivax infection and TQ is currently
      in phase 3 clinical trials for the same indication. Recent studies have provided
      evidence that cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolism via CYP2D6 plays a role in PQ
      efficacy against P. vivax and have suggested that this effect may extend to other
      8-AQs, including TQ. Here, a retrospective pharmacogenetic (PGx) investigation
      was performed to assess the impact of CYP2D6 metabolism on TQ and PQ efficacy in
      the treatment of P. vivax in the DETECTIVE study (TAF112582), a recently
      completed, randomized, phase 2b dose-ranging clinical trial. The impact of CYP2D6
      on TQ pharmacokinetics (PK) was also investigated in TAF112582 TQ-treated
      subjects and in vitro CYP metabolism of TQ was explored. A limitation of the
      current study is that TAF112582 was not designed to be well powered for PGx, thus
      our findings are based on TQ or PQ efficacy in CYP2D6 intermediate metabolizers
      (IM), as there were insufficient poor metabolizers (PM) to draw any conclusion on
      the impact of the PM phenotype on efficacy. METHODS: The impact of genetically
      predicted CYP2D6 reduced metabolism on relapse-free efficacy six months post
      dosing of TQ or PQ, both administered in conjunction with chloroquine (CQ), was
      assessed using exact statistical methods in 198 P. vivax-infected study
      participants comparing IM to extensive metabolizers (EM). The influence of CYP2D6
      metabolizer phenotypes on TQ PK was assessed comparing median TQ area under the
      curve (AUC). In vitro metabolism of TQ was investigated using recombinant, over
      expressed human CYP enzymes and human hepatocytes. Metabolite identification
      experiments were performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
      RESULTS: Reduction of CYP2D6 activity was not associated with an increase in
      relapse-rate in TQ-treated subjects (p = 0.57). In contrast, and in accordance
      with recent literature, CYP2D6 IMs were more common (p = 0.05) in PQ-treated
      subjects who relapsed (50 %) than in subjects who remained relapse-free (17 %).
      Further, CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes had no significant effect on TQ AUC, and
      only minimal metabolism of TQ could be detected in hepatic in vitro systems.
      CONCLUSION: Together, these data provide preliminary evidence that in CYP2D6 IMs,
      TQ efficacy in P. vivax-infected individuals is not diminished to the same extent
      as PQ. As there were no PMs in either the TQ or PQ treatment arms of TAF112582,
      no conclusions could be drawn on potential differences in PMs. These findings
      suggest that differential effects of CYP2D6 metabolism on TQ and PQ efficacy
      could be a differentiation factor between these 8-AQs, but results remain to be
      confirmed prospectively in the ongoing phase 3 studies.

PMID- 26888078
TI  - How planar are planar peptide bonds?

PMID- 26888080
TI  - Inference and Analysis of Population Structure Using Genetic Data and Network
      Theory.
AB  - Clustering individuals to subpopulations based on genetic data has become
      commonplace in many genetic studies. Inference about population structure is most
      often done by applying model-based approaches, aided by visualization using
      distance-based approaches such as multidimensional scaling. While existing
      distance-based approaches suffer from a lack of statistical rigor, model-based
      approaches entail assumptions of prior conditions such as that the subpopulations
      are at Hardy-Weinberg equilibria. Here we present a distance-based approach for
      inference about population structure using genetic data by defining population
      structure using network theory terminology and methods. A network is constructed
      from a pairwise genetic-similarity matrix of all sampled individuals. The
      community partition, a partition of a network to dense subgraphs, is equated with
      population structure, a partition of the population to genetically related
      groups. Community-detection algorithms are used to partition the network into
      communities, interpreted as a partition of the population to subpopulations. The
      statistical significance of the structure can be estimated by using permutation
      tests to evaluate the significance of the partition's modularity, a network
      theory measure indicating the quality of community partitions. To further
      characterize population structure, a new measure of the strength of association
      (SA) for an individual to its assigned community is presented. The strength of
      association distribution (SAD) of the communities is analyzed to provide
      additional population structure characteristics, such as the relative amount of
      gene flow experienced by the different subpopulations and identification of
      hybrid individuals. Human genetic data and simulations are used to demonstrate
      the applicability of the analyses. The approach presented here provides a novel,
      computationally efficient model-free method for inference about population
      structure that does not entail assumption of prior conditions. The method is
      implemented in the software NetStruct (available at
      https://giligreenbaum.wordpress.com/software/).

PMID- 26888079
TI  - A General Approximation for the Dynamics of Quantitative Traits.
AB  - Selection, mutation, and random drift affect the dynamics of allele frequencies
      and consequently of quantitative traits. While the macroscopic dynamics of
      quantitative traits can be measured, the underlying allele frequencies are
      typically unobserved. Can we understand how the macroscopic observables evolve
      without following these microscopic processes? This problem has been studied
      previously by analogy with statistical mechanics: the allele frequency
      distribution at each time point is approximated by the stationary form, which
      maximizes entropy. We explore the limitations of this method when mutation is
      small (4NMU < 1) so that populations are typically close to fixation, and we
      extend the theory in this regime to account for changes in mutation strength. We
      consider a single diallelic locus either under directional selection or with
      overdominance and then generalize to multiple unlinked biallelic loci with
      unequal effects. We find that the maximum-entropy approximation is remarkably
      accurate, even when mutation and selection change rapidly.

PMID- 26888081
TI  - Ticks associated with domestic dogs and cats in Florida, USA.
AB  - Voluntary collections of ticks from domestic dogs and cats by veterinary
      practitioners across Florida, USA, were conducted over a 10 month period. Of the
      1337 ticks submitted, five species of ixodid ticks were identified and included
      Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, Dermacentor
      variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Most ticks were collected from dogs (98.4%)
      with the most predominant species being R. sanguineus (94.3%). Of the ticks
      collected from cats (1.6%), A. americanum were the most common (74%). Only R.
      sanguineus were collected throughout the state, with the other species collected
      only in central and north Florida. The tick species collected from dogs and cats
      represent a risk to these domestic species as well as associated humans for a
      range of tick-borne diseases in Florida.

PMID- 26888082
TI  - Case report: severe asymptomatic hyponatremia in Prader-Willi Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex neurogenetic, multisystem
      disorder. Despite the variable endocrine abnormalities and hypothalamic-pituitary
      axis dysfunction, hyponatremia has been reported in only a few PWS patients. In
      previously reported PWS individuals, hyponatremia was associated with abnormal
      fluid intake or during desmopressin treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an
      infant with Prader-Willi syndrome who had severe, prolonged asymptomatic
      hyponatremia without a history of excessive fluid intake or desmopressin
      treatment. We compare the findings with those of the few other reported cases and
      describe, for the first time, results of a hypertonic saline infusion test and
      studies of adrenal cortical function. CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia should be
      suspected in children with Prader-Willi syndrome, especially in infants with
      severe failure to thrive. Further studies are needed to determine the
      pathophysiology of hyponatremia in this syndrome.

PMID- 26888083
TI  - Margaret McCartney: Mindful of mindfulness.

PMID- 26888084
TI  - Different regulation of P-glycoprotein function between Caco-2 and Caki-1 cells
      by ezrin, radixin and moesin proteins.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediates efflux of many xenobiotics, including
      therapeutic drugs, from normal and tumour tissues, and its functional
      localization on the plasma membrane of cells is regulated by scaffold proteins,
      such as ezrin, radixin and moesin (ERM proteins). We previously reported that
      radixin is involved in post-translational regulation of P-gp in hepatocellular
      carcinoma HepG2 cells and mouse small intestine, but not in mouse kidney.
      METHODS: Here, we investigated whether the role of ERM proteins in regulation of
      P-gp transport activity in cancers is the same as that in the corresponding
      normal tissues, using human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and renal
      carcinoma (Caki-1) cells. KEY FINDINGS: In Caco-2 cells, radixin silencing alone
      reduced the P-gp-mediated intracellular accumulation of rhodamine123 (Rho123),
      while the mRNA level of P-gp was unchanged. Thus, it appears that only radixin
      among the ERMs regulates P-gp activity in Caco-2 cells. On the other hand, none
      of the ERM proteins influenced P-gp activity in Caki-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The
      regulation of P-gp by ERM proteins is different between Caco-2 and Caki-1 cells.
      Moreover, these regulatory properties are the same as those of the corresponding
      normal tissues, and suggest that tissue-specific differences in the regulation of
      P-gp by ERM proteins are retained in cancerous tissues.

PMID- 26888086
TI  - Cognitive Deficits Correlate with White Matter Deterioration in Spinocerebellar
      Ataxia Type 2.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between
      cognitive and white matter deterioration in a group of participants with
      spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). METHODS: Fourteen genetically confirmed
      participants with SCA2 and 14 aged-matched controls participated in the study.
      Diffusion tensor imaging tract-based spatial statistics were performed to analyze
      structural white matter integrity. Significant group differences in the mean
      diffusivity were correlated with SCA2 cognitive deficits. RESULTS: Our analysis
      revealed higher mean diffusivity in the SCA2 group in cerebellar white matter,
      medial lemniscus, and middle cerebellar peduncle, among other regions. Cognitive
      scores correlated with white matter mean diffusivity in the parahippocampal area,
      inferior frontal and supramarginal gyri and the stria terminalis. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our findings show significant correlations between white matter microstructural
      damage in key areas affected in SCA2 and cognitive deficits. These findings
      result in a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of the
      neurodegenerative process in people with SCA2.

PMID- 26888085
TI  - Membrane Oxidation Enables the Cytosolic Entry of Polyarginine Cell-penetrating
      Peptides.
AB  - Arginine-rich peptides can penetrate cells and consequently be used as delivery
      agents in various cellular applications. The activity of these reagents is often
      context-dependent, and the parameters that impact cell entry are not fully
      understood, giving rise to variability and limiting progress toward their usage.
      Herein, we report that the cytosolic penetration of linear polyarginine peptides
      is dependent on the oxidation state of the cell. In particular, we find that
      hypoxia and cellular antioxidants inhibit cell penetration. In contrast, oxidants
      promote cytosolic cell entry with an efficiency proportional to the level of
      reactive oxygen species generated within membranes. Moreover, an antibody that
      binds to oxidized lipids inhibits cell penetration, whereas extracellularly
      administered pure oxidized lipids enhance peptide transport into cells. Overall,
      these data indicate that oxidized lipids are capable of mediating the transport
      of polyarginine peptides across membranes. These data may also explain
      variability in cell-penetrating peptide performance in different experimental
      conditions. These new findings therefore provide new opportunities for the
      rational design of future cell-permeable compounds and for the optimization of
      delivery protocols. 

PMID- 26888089
TI  - Dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by vortex-assisted dispersive liquid
      liquid microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic droplet
      for the determination of benzoylurea insecticides in soil and sewage sludge.
AB  - A novel dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with vortex-assisted
      dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating
      organic droplet was developed for the determination of eight benzoylurea
      insecticides in soil and sewage sludge samples before high-performance liquid
      chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The analytes were first extracted from
      the soil and sludge samples into acetone under optimized pretreatment conditions.
      Clean-up of the extract was conducted by dispersive solid-phase extraction using
      activated carbon as the sorbent. The vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid
      microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet procedure was
      performed by using 1-undecanol with lower density than water as the extraction
      solvent, and the acetone contained in the solution also acted as dispersive
      solvent. Under the optimum conditions, the linearity of the method was in the
      range 2-500 ng/g with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9993-0.9999. The limits
      of detection were in the range of 0.08-0.56 ng/g. The relative standard
      deviations varied from 2.16 to 6.26% (n = 5). The enrichment factors ranged from
      104 to 118. The extraction recoveries ranged from 81.05 to 97.82% for all of the
      analytes. The good performance has demonstrated that the proposed methodology has
      a strong potential for application in the multiresidue analysis of complex
      matrices. 

PMID- 26888088
TI  - Molecular development of fibular reduction in birds and its evolution from
      dinosaurs.
AB  - Birds have a distally reduced, splinter-like fibula that is shorter than the
      tibia. In embryonic development, both skeletal elements start out with similar
      lengths. We examined molecular markers of cartilage differentiation in chicken
      embryos. We found that the distal end of the fibula expresses Indian hedgehog
      (IHH), undergoing terminal cartilage differentiation, and almost no Parathyroid
      related protein (PTHrP), which is required to develop a proliferative growth
      plate (epiphysis). Reduction of the distal fibula may be influenced earlier by
      its close contact with the nearby fibulare, which strongly expresses PTHrP. The
      epiphysis-like fibulare however then separates from the fibula, which fails to
      maintain a distal growth plate, and fibular reduction ensues. Experimental
      downregulation of IHH signaling at a postmorphogenetic stage led to a tibia and
      fibula of equal length: The fibula is longer than in controls and fused to the
      fibulare, whereas the tibia is shorter and bent. We propose that the presence of
      a distal fibular epiphysis may constrain greater growth in the tibia.
      Accordingly, many Mesozoic birds show a fibula that has lost its distal
      epiphysis, but remains almost as long as the tibia, suggesting that loss of the
      fibulare preceded and allowed subsequent evolution of great fibulo-tibial
      disparity. 

PMID- 26888087
TI  - Interventions to improve patients' compliance with therapies aimed at lowering
      glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 1 diabetes: systematic review and meta
      analyses of randomized controlled clinical trials of psychological, telecare, and
      educational interventions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brazilian records on glycemic control in patients with type 1
      diabetes show treatment efficacy. Poor patient adherence to therapeutic proposals
      influences these results and can be associated with social, psychological, and
      economic aspects, besides others factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate
      the efficacy of psychological, telecare, and educational interventions to improve
      treatment compliance among patients with type 1 diabetes. Compliance was assessed
      indirectly using reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as the principal
      outcome measure. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized
      controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were performed using Medline, Embase, Cochrane
      and Scopus databases up to April 2015. The following medical subject headings
      were used: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Patient Compliance or Adherence, Hemoglobin
      A, glycated, and Randomized Controlled Trial. The principal outcome was change in
      HbA1c between baseline and follow-up. Where appropriate, trials were combined in
      meta-analysis using fixed effects models. RESULTS: From 191 articles initially
      identified, 57 were full text reviewed, and 19 articles met the inclusion
      criteria providing data from 1782 patients (49.4 % males, age 18 years). The RCTs
      (2 to 24 months in duration) were divided into four groups according to type of
      intervention: psychology (seven studies; 818 patients), telecare (six studies;
      494 patients); education (five studies; 349 patients), and psychoeducation (one
      study; 153 patients). All studies reported some type of adherence measurement of
      the interventions. Decrease in HbA1c was observed after psychology (MD -0.310; 95
      % CI, -0.599 to -0.0210, P = 0.035) but not after telecare (MD -0.124 %; 95 % CI,
      -0.268, 0.020; P = 0.090) or educational (MD -0.001; 95 % CI, -0.202, 0.200; P =
      0.990) interventions. CONCLUSION: Psychological approaches to improve adherence
      to diabetes care treatment modestly reduced HbA1c in patients with type 1
      diabetes; telecare and education interventions did not change glycemic control.
      However, the limited number of studies included as well as their methodological
      quality should be taken into account.

PMID- 26888090
TI  - Decreasing incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm already before start
      of screening.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether screening for abdominal
      aortic aneurysm (AAA) has led to a decrease in ruptured AAA (rAAA) incidence.
      METHOD: The Malmo population was evaluated regarding the incidence of rAAA and
      elective AAA surgery 4 years before and after start of AAA-screening in 2010.
      Data from 1971 to 1986 (J Vasc Surg 18:74-80, 1993) and 2000-2004 (J Vasc Surg
      44:237-43, 2006), enabled analysis of trends over time. RESULTS: Analysis of time
      periods 1971-1986, 2000-2004, 2006-2010 and 2010-2014 showed an incidence of rAAA
      of 5.6 (4.9-6.3), 10.6 (8.9-12.4), 6.1 (4.6-7.6) and 4.0 (2.9-5.1), respectively.
      In men aged 60-69 years the incidences were 16.0 (10.7-21.3), 45.6 (27.7-63.4),
      19.3 (9.2-35.3) and 8.9 (2.8-20.6), respectively. The incidences of elective AAA
      surgery in men aged 60-69 years were 22.9 (16.5-29.2), 34.6 (19.1-50.2), 9.7 (1.2
      18.5) and 44.2 (27.0-61.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in incidence of
      rAAA in men was evident before the implementation of screening. We were yet not
      able to demonstrate a certain reduction in rAAA incidence after the start of
      screening.

PMID- 26888091
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension in end-stage
      renal disease patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major complication in
      renal failure patients, but very little information is available on the
      cardiovascular parameters in these patients. The prevalence and risk factors for
      PAH were systematically evaluated in patients with end-stage renal diseases
      (ESRD) undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS:
      Between January 2010 and January 2014, 177 ESRD patients (85 males and 92
      females) undergoing CAPD therapy were recruited. General data, biochemical
      parameters and echocardiographic findings were collected and PAH risk factors
      studied. RESULTS: Study participants consisted of 65 patients (36.52%) with PAH
      (PAH group) and 112 patients without PAH (non-PAH group). The interdialytic
      weight gain, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean
      arterial pressure and hypertensive nephropathy incidence in the PAH group were
      significantly higher than the non-PAH group (all p < 0.05). There were
      significant differences between PAH group and non-PAH group in C-reactive protein
      positive rate, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hemoglobin,
      prealbumin and serum albumin levels (all p < 0.05). Compared with non-PAH group,
      PAH group showed significant increases in right ventricular internal diameter
      (RVID), right ventricular outflow tract diameter (RVOTD), main pulmonary artery
      diameter, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,
      interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular mass index, early diastolic
      mitral annulus velocity and valve calcification incidence (all p < 0.05), and
      decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), tricuspid annulus plane
      systolic excursion (TAPSE) and early diastolic blood flow peak and mitral annulus
      velocity (E/E') (all p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that DBP,
      NT-proBNP, LAD, RVID, RVOTD, LVEF, TAPSE and E/E' are major risk factors for PAH.
      CONCLUSION: We observed a high incidence of PAH in ESRD patients undergoing CAPD.
      Logistic regression analysis revealed that DBP, NT-proBNP, LAD, RVID, RVOTD,
      LVEF, TAPSE and E/E' are high-risk factors for PAH in ESRD patients undergoing
      CAPD.

PMID- 26888092
TI  - HSP70 mRNA expression by cells of the epithelial rest of Malassez due to
      mechanical forces in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine the in vitro
      responses of ERM cells under the combination of centrifugal and compression
      forces, in terms of their expression of HSP70 mRNA. METHODS: The ERM cells were
      positive for CK19 indicating that they were derived from the odontogenic
      epithelium. Cultured ERM cells were applied centrifugal force and compressing
      force at one to three times as mechanical forces. After addition of forces, cells
      were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and were measured
      expression of HSP70 mRNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS: SEM observations showed the cells
      were flattened immediately after the application of mechanical force, but nuclear
      protrusions recovered the same as the control 3 h later. A significantly higher
      expression of HSP70 mRNA was observed in ERM cells under mechanical force
      compared with the control, but it gradually decreased with time. No accumulation
      of HSP70 mRNA expression occurred with intermittent force. However, the
      expression of HSP70 mRNA with intermittent force repeated 3 times was
      significantly higher compared with intermittent force applied only once or twice.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ERM cells express HSP70 mRNA in response
      to mechanical force, and that intermittent force maintains the level of HSP70
      mRNA expression.

PMID- 26888093
TI  - Meta-analysis with missing study-level sample variance data.
AB  - We consider a study-level meta-analysis with a normally distributed outcome
      variable and possibly unequal study-level variances, where the object of
      inference is the difference in means between a treatment and control group. A
      common complication in such an analysis is missing sample variances for some
      studies. A frequently used approach is to impute the weighted (by sample size)
      mean of the observed variances (mean imputation). Another approach is to include
      only those studies with variances reported (complete case analysis). Both mean
      imputation and complete case analysis are only valid under the missing-completely
      at-random assumption, and even then the inverse variance weights produced are not
      necessarily optimal. We propose a multiple imputation method employing gamma meta
      regression to impute the missing sample variances. Our method takes advantage of
      study-level covariates that may be used to provide information about the missing
      data. Through simulation studies, we show that multiple imputation, when the
      imputation model is correctly specified, is superior to competing methods in
      terms of confidence interval coverage probability and type I error probability
      when testing a specified group difference. Finally, we describe a similar
      approach to handling missing variances in cross-over studies. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888094
TI  - Higher endogenous methionine in transgenic Arabidopsis seeds affects the
      composition of storage proteins and lipids.
AB  - Previous in vitro studies demonstrate that exogenous application of the sulfur
      containing amino acid methionine into cultured soybean cotyledons and seedlings
      reduces the level of methionine-poor storage proteins and elevates those that are
      methionine-rich. However, the effect of higher endogenous methionine in seeds on
      the composition of storage products in vivo is not studied yet. We have recently
      produced transgenic Arabidopsis seeds having significantly higher levels of
      methionine. In the present work we used these seeds as a model system and
      profiled them for changes in the abundances of 12S-globulins and 2S-albumins, the
      two major groups of storage proteins, using 2D-gels and MALDI-MS detection. The
      findings suggest that higher methionine affects from a certain threshold the
      accumulation of several subunits of 12S-globulins and 2S-albumins, regardless of
      their methionine contents, resulting in higher total protein contents. The mRNA
      abundances of most of the genes encoding these proteins were either correlated or
      not correlated with the abundances of these proteins, implying that methionine
      may regulate storage proteins at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional
      levels. The elevations in total protein contents resulted in reduction of total
      lipids and altered the fatty acid composition. Altogether, the data provide new
      insights into the regulatory roles of elevated methionine levels on seed
      composition.

PMID- 26888095
TI  - Rapamycin attenuates acute lung injury induced by LPS through inhibition of Th17
      cell proliferation in mice.
AB  - Th17 cells have been confirmed to increase neutrophils through cytokine
      secretions. ALI/ARDS are characterized as neutrophil infiltration in inflammation
      cases; however, there is conflicting information concerning the role of Th17
      cells in ALI/ARDS, as well as their potential treatment value. We measured Th17
      linear cytokines in the plasma of patients with sepsis-related ARDS. The
      consistently high levels of IL-17 and IL-22 in the nonsurvivors suggested that
      overreaction of the Th17-mediated immune response may be a risk factor for poor
      outcomes. Th17 linear cytokines were also increased in an LPS-induced murine
      model of acute lung injury, along with neutrophil accumulation. The mice that
      completely lacked IL-17 failed to accumulate and activate neutrophils. Lung
      inflammation was obviously attenuated in the IL-17(-)/(-) mice. Meanwhile, the
      neutrophil count was markedly increased in the healthy WT mice challenged with
      recombinant IL-22 and IL-17. Rapamycin attenuated lung injury by inhibiting the
      differentiation of Th17 cells through RORgammat and STAT3 dysfunction.
      Furthermore, we demonstrated that SOCS3 and Gfi1, which were responsible for the
      molecular suppression of RORgammat and STAT3, were up-regulated by rapamycin.
      These results point toward a pivotal view to treatment of ALI through weakening
      the proliferation of Th17 cells with rapamycin. 

PMID- 26888096
TI  - Bioavailability of paracetamol with/without caffeine in Egyptian patients with
      hepatitis C virus.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study investigates the involvement of liver dysfunction in the
      modulation of paracetamol pharmacokinetic profile in genotype-4 HCV patients
      treated with either paracetamol alone (Para) or in combination with caffeine
      (Para-Caf). METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers and 20 Child-Pugh B HCV patients,
      each divided into two equal subgroups, were examined, whose liver/kidney
      functions were correlated with their main clinical manifestation. After an
      overnight fasting, healthy and hepatic subjects received either a single dose of
      Para (1000 mg paracetamol) or Para-Caf (1000 mg paracetamol/130 mg caffeine). Two
      milliliters of saliva samples were collected prior to and at different time
      intervals after drug administration and analyzed using HPLC. RESULTS: There was a
      noticeable increase in the mean concentration time profile of salivary
      paracetamol concentrations in hepatic patients, with concomitant decrease in
      paracetamol clearance (CLT), along with induction in the primary pharmacokinetic
      (PK) parameters, C max, AUC(0-8 h) and AUC(0-infinity) (by about 95, 82, and 64
      %, respectively, after treatment with Para, and 98, 96, and 101 %, respectively,
      after treatment with Para-Caf), when compared with the corresponding parameters
      in healthy subjects. Additionally, the healthy subjects treated with Para-Caf
      exhibited bioinequivalent increase in C max, K a, and t 1/2 with decrease in T
      max when compared with the healthy individuals treated with Para alone. A similar
      pattern was recorded in hepatic patients after addition of caffeine to
      paracetamol, with even augmented significant increase in K a and t 1/2 (by 100
      and 32 %, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Liver dysfunction modified the PK of
      paracetamol expressed as earlier effective paracetamol concentration, with
      obvious decrease in its clearance. Caffeine induced faster absorption (evidenced
      by shorter T max and higher K a) and prolonged t 1/2 of paracetamol, the effects
      that were more profound in hepatic patients. Further studies are needed to
      evaluate the influence of liver damage on paracetamol pharmacokinetics whenever
      repeated dosing is applied, to avoid possible drug accumulation.

PMID- 26888097
TI  - Influence of vigilance state on physiological consequences of seizures and
      seizure-induced death in mice.
AB  - Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death in
      patients with refractory epilepsy. SUDEP occurs more commonly during nighttime
      sleep. The details of why SUDEP occurs at night are not well understood.
      Understanding why SUDEP occurs at night during sleep might help to better
      understand why SUDEP occurs at all and hasten development of preventive
      strategies. Here we aimed to understand circumstances causing seizures that occur
      during sleep to result in death. Groups of 12 adult male mice were instrumented
      for EEG, EMG, and EKG recording and subjected to seizure induction via maximal
      electroshock (MES) during wakefulness, nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and
      rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Seizure inductions were performed with
      concomitant EEG, EMG, and EKG recording and breathing assessment via whole body
      plethysmography. Seizures induced via MES during sleep were associated with more
      profound respiratory suppression and were more likely to result in death. Despite
      REM sleep being a time when seizures do not typically occur spontaneously, when
      seizures were forced to occur during REM sleep, they were invariably fatal in
      this model. An examination of baseline breathing revealed that mice that died
      following a seizure had increased baseline respiratory rate variability compared
      with those that did not die. These data demonstrate that sleep, especially REM
      sleep, can be a dangerous time for a seizure to occur. These data also
      demonstrate that there may be baseline respiratory abnormalities that can predict
      which individuals have higher risk for seizure-induced death.

PMID- 26888098
TI  - An asymmetric outer retinal response to drifting sawtooth gratings.
AB  - Electroretinogram (ERG) studies have demonstrated that the retinal response to
      temporally modulated fast-ON and fast-OFF sawtooth flicker is asymmetric. The
      response to spatiotemporal sawtooth stimuli has not yet been investigated.
      Perceptually, such drifting gratings or diamond plaids shaded in a sawtooth
      pattern appear brighter when movement produces fast-OFF relative to fast-ON
      luminance profiles. The neural origins of this illusion remain unclear (although
      a retinal basis has been suggested). Thus we presented toad eyecups with
      sequential epochs of sawtooth, sine-wave, and square-wave gratings drifting
      horizontally across the retina at temporal frequencies of 2.5-20 Hz. All ERGs
      revealed a sustained direct-current (DC) transtissue potential during drift and a
      peak at drift offset. The amplitudes of both phenomena increased with temporal
      frequency. Consistent with the human perceptual experience of sawtooth gratings,
      the sustained DC potential effect was greater for fast-OFF cf. fast-ON sawtooth.
      Modeling suggested that the dependence of temporal luminance contrast on stimulus
      device frame rate contributed to the temporal frequency effects but could not
      explain the divergence in response amplitudes for the two sawtooth profiles. The
      difference between fast-ON and fast-OFF sawtooth profiles also remained following
      pharmacological suppression of postreceptoral activity with tetrodotoxin (TTX), 2
      amino-4-phosphonobutric acid (APB), and 2,3 cis-piperidine dicarboxylic acid
      (PDA). Our results indicate that the DC potential difference originates from
      asymmetries in the photoreceptoral response to fast-ON and fast-OFF sawtooth
      profiles, thus pointing to an outer retinal origin for the motion-induced
      drifting sawtooth brightness illusion.

PMID- 26888099
TI  - Neuromagnetic correlates of adaptive plasticity across the hand-face border in
      human primary somatosensory cortex.
AB  - It is well established that permanent or transient reduction of somatosensory
      inputs, following hand deafferentation or anesthesia, induces plastic changes
      across the hand-face border, supposedly responsible for some altered perceptual
      phenomena such as tactile sensations being referred from the face to the phantom
      hand. It is also known that transient increase of hand somatosensory inputs, via
      repetitive somatosensory stimulation (RSS) at a fingertip, induces local
      somatosensory discriminative improvement accompanied by cortical representational
      changes in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). We recently demonstrated that
      RSS at the tip of the right index finger induces similar training-independent
      perceptual learning across the hand-face border, improving somatosensory
      perception at the lips (Muret D, Dinse HR, Macchione S, Urquizar C, Farne A,
      Reilly KT.Curr Biol24: R736-R737, 2014). Whether neural plastic changes across
      the hand-face border accompany such remote and adaptive perceptual plasticity
      remains unknown. Here we used magnetoencephalography to investigate the
      electrophysiological correlates underlying RSS-induced behavioral changes across
      the hand-face border. The results highlight significant changes in dipole
      location after RSS both for the stimulated finger and for the lips. These
      findings reveal plastic changes that cross the hand-face border after an
      increase, instead of a decrease, in somatosensory inputs. 

PMID- 26888100
TI  - Cerebellar contributions to self-motion perception: evidence from patients with
      congenital cerebellar agenesis.
AB  - The cerebellum was historically considered a brain region dedicated to motor
      control, but it has become clear that it also contributes to sensory processing,
      particularly when sensory discrimination is required. Prior work, for example,
      has demonstrated a cerebellar contribution to sensory discrimination in the
      visual and auditory systems. The cerebellum also receives extensive inputs from
      the motion and gravity sensors in the vestibular labyrinth, but its role in the
      perception of head motion and orientation has received little attention. Drawing
      on the lesion-deficit approach to understanding brain function, we evaluated the
      contributions of the cerebellum to head motion perception by measuring perceptual
      thresholds in two subjects with congenital agenesis of the cerebellum. We used a
      set of passive motion paradigms that activated the semicircular canals or otolith
      organs in isolation or combination, and compared results of the agenesis patients
      with healthy control subjects. Perceptual thresholds for head motion were
      elevated in the agenesis subjects for all motion protocols, most prominently for
      paradigms that only activated otolith inputs. These results demonstrate that the
      cerebellum increases the sensitivity of the brain to the motion and orientation
      signals provided by the labyrinth during passive head movements.

PMID- 26888101
TI  - Saccades create similar mislocalizations in visual and auditory space.
AB  - Orienting our eyes to a light, a sound, or a touch occurs effortlessly, despite
      the fact that sound and touch have to be converted from head- and body-based
      coordinates to eye-based coordinates to do so. We asked whether the oculomotor
      representation is also used for localization of sounds even when there is no
      saccade to the sound source. To address this, we examined whether saccades
      introduced similar errors of localization judgments for both visual and auditory
      stimuli. Sixteen subjects indicated the direction of a visual or auditory
      apparent motion seen or heard between two targets presented either during
      fixation or straddling a saccade. Compared with the fixation baseline, saccades
      introduced errors in direction judgments for both visual and auditory stimuli: in
      both cases, apparent motion judgments were biased in direction of the saccade.
      These saccade-induced effects across modalities give rise to the possibility of
      shared, cross-modal location coding for perception and action. 

PMID- 26888102
TI  - Spectral breadth and laminar distribution of thalamocortical inputs to A1.
AB  - The GABAergic agonist muscimol is used to inactivate brain regions in order to
      reveal afferent inputs in isolation. However, muscimol's use in primary auditory
      cortex (A1) has been questioned on the grounds that it may unintentionally
      suppress thalamocortical inputs. We tested whether muscimol can preferentially
      suppress cortical, but not thalamocortical, circuits in urethane-anesthetized
      mice. We recorded tone-evoked current source density profiles to determine
      frequency receptive fields (RFs) for three current sinks: the "layer 4" sink
      (fastest onset, middle-layer sink) and current sinks 100 MUm above ("layer 2/3")
      and 300 MUm below ("layer 5/6") the main input. We first determined effects of
      muscimol dose (0.01-1 mM) on the characteristic frequency (CF) tone-evoked layer
      4 sink. An "ideal" dose (100 MUM) had no effect on CF-evoked sink onset latency
      or initial response but reduced peak amplitude by >80%, implying inhibition of
      intracortical, but not thalamocortical, activity. We extended the analysis to
      current sinks in layers 2/3 and 5/6 and for all three sinks determined RF breadth
      (quarter-octave steps, 20 dB above CF threshold). Muscimol reduced RF breadth 42%
      in layer 2/3 (from 2.4 +/- 0.14 to 1.4 +/- 0.11 octaves), 14% in layer 4 (2.2 +/-
      0.12 to 1.9 +/- 0.10 octaves), and not at all in layer 5/6 (1.8 +/- 0.10 to 1.7
      +/- 0.12 octaves). The results provide an estimate of the laminar and spectral
      extent of thalamocortical projections and support the hypothesis that
      intracortical pathways contribute to spectral integration in A1. 

PMID- 26888104
TI  - A common control signal and a ballistic stage can explain the control of
      coordinated eye-hand movements.
AB  - Voluntary control has been extensively studied in the context of eye and hand
      movements made in isolation, yet little is known about the nature of control
      during eye-hand coordination. We probed this with a redirect task. Here subjects
      had to make reaching/pointing movements accompanied by coordinated eye movements
      but had to change their plans when the target occasionally changed its position
      during some trials. Using a race model framework, we found that separate effector
      specific mechanisms may be recruited to control eye and hand movements when
      executed in isolation but when the same effectors are coordinated a unitary
      mechanism to control coordinated eye-hand movements is employed. Specifically, we
      found that performance curves were distinct for the eye and hand when these
      movements were executed in isolation but were comparable when they were executed
      together. Second, the time to switch motor plans, called the target step reaction
      time, was different in the eye-alone and hand-alone conditions but was similar in
      the coordinated condition under assumption of a ballistic stage of ~40 ms, on
      average. Interestingly, the existence of this ballistic stage could predict the
      extent of eye-hand dissociations seen in individual subjects. Finally, when
      subjects were explicitly instructed to control specifically a single effector
      (eye or hand), redirecting one effector had a strong effect on the performance of
      the other effector. Taken together, these results suggest that a common control
      signal and a ballistic stage are recruited when coordinated eye-hand movement
      plans require alteration.

PMID- 26888103
TI  - Hypergravity within a critical period impacts on the maturation of somatosensory
      cortical maps and their potential for use-dependent plasticity in the adult.
AB  - We investigated experience-dependent plasticity of somatosensory maps in rat S1
      cortex during early development. We analyzed both short- and long-term effects of
      exposure to 2G hypergravity (HG) during the first 3 postnatal weeks on forepaw
      representations. We also examined the potential of adult somatosensory maps for
      experience-dependent plasticity after early HG rearing. At postnatal day 22, HG
      was found to induce an enlargement of cortical zones driven by nail displacements
      and a contraction of skin sectors of the forepaw map. In these remaining zones
      serving the skin, neurons displayed expanded glabrous skin receptive fields
      (RFs). HG also induced a bias in the directional sensitivity of neuronal
      responses to nail displacement. HG-induced map changes were still found after 16
      wk of housing in normogravity (NG). However, the glabrous skin RFs recorded in HG
      rats decreased to values similar to that of NG rats, as early as the end of the
      first week of housing in NG. Moreover, the expansion of the glabrous skin area
      and decrease in RF size normally induced in adults by an enriched environment
      (EE) did not occur in the HG rats, even after 16 wk of EE housing in NG. Our
      findings reveal that early postnatal experience critically and durably shapes S1
      forepaw maps and limits their potential to be modified by novel experience in
      adulthood.

PMID- 26888105
TI  - Synaptic and network consequences of monosynaptic nociceptive inputs of
      parabrachial nucleus origin in the central amygdala.
AB  - A large majority of neurons in the superficial layer of the dorsal horn projects
      to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB). LPB neurons then project to the
      capsular part of the central amygdala (CeA; CeC), a key structure underlying the
      nociception-emotion link. LPB-CeC synaptic transmission is enhanced in various
      pain models by using electrical stimulation of putative fibers of LPB origin in
      brain slices. However, this approach has limitations for examining direct
      monosynaptic connections devoid of directly stimulating fibers from other
      structures and local GABAergic neurons. To overcome these limitations, we
      infected the LPB of rats with an adeno-associated virus vector expressing
      channelrhodopsin-2 and prepared coronal and horizontal brain slices containing
      the amygdala. We found that blue light stimulation resulted in monosynaptic
      excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), with very small latency fluctuations,
      followed by a large polysynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic current in CeC neurons,
      regardless of the firing pattern type. Intraplantar formalin injection at 24 h
      before slice preparation significantly increased EPSC amplitude in late firing
      type CeC neurons. These results indicate that direct monosynaptic glutamatergic
      inputs from the LPB not only excite CeC neurons but also regulate CeA network
      signaling through robust feed-forward inhibition, which is under plastic
      modulation in response to persistent inflammatory pain.

PMID- 26888107
TI  - Odors enhance slow-wave activity in non-rapid eye movement sleep.
AB  - Most forms of suprathreshold sensory stimulation perturb sleep. In contrast,
      presentation of pure olfactory or mild trigeminal odorants does not lead to
      behavioral or physiological arousal. In fact, some odors promote objective and
      subjective measures of sleep quality in humans and rodents. The brain mechanisms
      underlying these sleep-protective properties of olfaction remain unclear. Slow
      oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) are a marker of deep sleep, and K
      complexes (KCs) are an EEG marker of cortical response to sensory interference.
      We therefore hypothesized that odorants presented during sleep will increase
      power in slow EEG oscillations. Moreover, given that odorants do not drive sleep
      interruption, we hypothesized that unlike other sensory stimuli odorants would
      not drive KCs. To test these hypotheses we used polysomnography to measure sleep
      in 34 healthy subjects (19 women, 15 men; mean age 26.5 +/- 2.5 yr) who were
      repeatedly presented with odor stimuli via a computer-controlled air-dilution
      olfactometer over the course of a single night. Each participant was exposed to
      one of four odorants, lavender oil (n = 13), vetiver oil (n = 5), vanillin (n =
      12), or ammonium sulfide (n = 4), for durations of 5, 10, and 20 s every 9-15
      min. Consistent with our hypotheses, we found that odor presentation during sleep
      enhanced the power of delta (0.5-4 Hz) and slow spindle (9-12 Hz) frequencies
      during non-rapid eye movement sleep. The increase was proportionate to odor
      duration. In addition, odor presentation did not modulate the occurrence of KCs.
      These findings imply a sleep-promoting olfactory mechanism that may deepen sleep
      through driving increased slow-frequency oscillations.

PMID- 26888108
TI  - Correlations between prefrontal neurons form a small-world network that optimizes
      the generation of multineuron sequences of activity.
AB  - Sequential patterns of prefrontal activity are believed to mediate important
      behaviors, e.g., working memory, but it remains unclear exactly how they are
      generated. In accordance with previous studies of cortical circuits, we found
      that prefrontal microcircuits in young adult mice spontaneously generate many
      more stereotyped sequences of activity than expected by chance. However, the key
      question of whether these sequences depend on a specific functional organization
      within the cortical microcircuit, or emerge simply as a by-product of random
      interactions between neurons, remains unanswered. We observed that correlations
      between prefrontal neurons do follow a specific functional organization-they have
      a small-world topology. However, until now it has not been possible to directly
      link small-world topologies to specific circuit functions, e.g., sequence
      generation. Therefore, we developed a novel analysis to address this issue.
      Specifically, we constructed surrogate data sets that have identical levels of
      network activity at every point in time but nevertheless represent various
      network topologies. We call this method shuffling activity to rearrange
      correlations (SHARC). We found that only surrogate data sets based on the actual
      small-world functional organization of prefrontal microcircuits were able to
      reproduce the levels of sequences observed in actual data. As expected, small
      world data sets contained many more sequences than surrogate data sets with
      randomly arranged correlations. Surprisingly, small-world data sets also
      outperformed data sets in which correlations were maximally clustered. Thus the
      small-world functional organization of cortical microcircuits, which effectively
      balances the random and maximally clustered regimes, is optimal for producing
      stereotyped sequential patterns of activity.

PMID- 26888106
TI  - Incorporating spike-rate adaptation into a rate code in mathematical and
      biological neurons.
AB  - For a slowly varying stimulus, the simplest relationship between a neuron's input
      and output is a rate code, in which the spike rate is a unique function of the
      stimulus at that instant. In the case of spike-rate adaptation, there is no
      unique relationship between input and output, because the spike rate at any time
      depends both on the instantaneous stimulus and on prior spiking (the "history").
      To improve the decoding of spike trains produced by neurons that show spike-rate
      adaptation, we developed a simple scheme that incorporates "history" into a rate
      code. We utilized this rate-history code successfully to decode spike trains
      produced by 1) mathematical models of a neuron in which the mechanism for
      adaptation (IAHP) is specified, and 2) the gastropyloric receptor (GPR2), a
      stretch-sensitive neuron in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab Cancer
      borealis, that exhibits long-lasting adaptation of unknown origin. Moreover, when
      we modified the spike rate either mathematically in a model system or by applying
      neuromodulatory agents to the experimental system, we found that changes in the
      rate-history code could be related to the biophysical mechanisms responsible for
      altering the spiking.

PMID- 26888109
TI  - Testing the hypothesis of neurodegeneracy in respiratory network function with a
      priori transected arterially perfused brain stem preparation of rat.
AB  - Degeneracy of respiratory network function would imply that anatomically discrete
      aspects of the brain stem are capable of producing respiratory rhythm. To test
      this theory we a priori transected brain stem preparations before reperfusion and
      reoxygenation at 4 rostrocaudal levels: 1.5 mm caudal to obex (n = 5), at obex (n
      = 5), and 1.5 (n = 7) and 3 mm (n = 6) rostral to obex. The respiratory activity
      of these preparations was assessed via recordings of phrenic and vagal nerves and
      lumbar spinal expiratory motor output. Preparations with a priori transection at
      level of the caudal brain stem did not produce stable rhythmic respiratory
      bursting, even when the arterial chemoreceptors were stimulated with sodium
      cyanide (NaCN). Reperfusion of brain stems that preserved the pre-Botzinger
      complex (pre-BotC) showed spontaneous and sustained rhythmic respiratory bursting
      at low phrenic nerve activity (PNA) amplitude that occurred simultaneously in all
      respiratory motor outputs. We refer to this rhythm as the pre-BotC burstlet-type
      rhythm. Conserving circuitry up to the pontomedullary junction consistently
      produced robust high-amplitude PNA at lower burst rates, whereas sequential motor
      patterning across the respiratory motor outputs remained absent. Some of the
      rostrally transected preparations expressed both burstlet-type and regular PNA
      amplitude rhythms. Further analysis showed that the burstlet-type rhythm and high
      amplitude PNA had 1:2 quantal relation, with burstlets appearing to trigger high
      amplitude bursts. We conclude that no degenerate rhythmogenic circuits are
      located in the caudal medulla oblongata and confirm the pre-BotC as the primary
      rhythmogenic kernel. The absence of sequential motor patterning in a priori
      transected preparations suggests that pontine circuits govern respiratory pattern
      formation.

PMID- 26888110
TI  - Decreased heart rate and enhanced sinus arrhythmia during interictal sleep
      demonstrate autonomic imbalance in generalized epilepsy.
AB  - We hypothesized that epilepsy affects the activity of the autonomic nervous
      system even in the absence of seizures, which should manifest as differences in
      heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac cycle. To test this hypothesis, we
      investigated ECG traces of 91 children and adolescents with generalized epilepsy
      and 25 neurologically normal controls during 30 min of stage 2 sleep with
      interictal or normal EEG. Mean heart rate (HR) and high-frequency HRV
      corresponding to respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were quantified and compared.
      Blood pressure (BP) measurements from physical exams of all subjects were also
      collected and analyzed. RSA was on average significantly stronger in patients
      with epilepsy, whereas their mean HR was significantly lower after adjusting for
      age, body mass index, and sex, consistent with increased parasympathetic tone in
      these patients. In contrast, diastolic (and systolic) BP at rest was not
      significantly different, indicating that the sympathetic tone is similar.
      Remarkably, five additional subjects, initially diagnosed as neurologically
      normal but with enhanced RSA and lower HR, eventually developed epilepsy,
      suggesting that increased parasympathetic tone precedes the onset of epilepsy in
      children. ECG waveforms in epilepsy also displayed significantly longer TP
      intervals (ventricular diastole) relative to the RR interval. The relative TP
      interval correlated positively with RSA and negatively with HR, suggesting that
      these parameters are linked through a common mechanism, which we discuss.
      Altogether, our results provide evidence for imbalanced autonomic function in
      generalized epilepsy, which may be a key contributing factor to sudden unexpected
      death in epilepsy. 

PMID- 26888112
TI  - Influence of ADRB2 Gln27Glu and ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphisms on body weight and
      body composition changes after a controlled weight-loss intervention.
AB  - The beta-2 and beta-3 adrenergic receptors (ADRB2 and ADRB3) are thought to play
      a role in energy expenditure and lipolysis. However, the effects of the ADRB2
      glutamine (Gln) 27 glutamic acid (glutamate) (Glu) and ADRB3 tryptophan (Trp) 64
      arginine (Arg) polymorphisms on weight loss remain controversial. The aim of this
      study was to investigate the effect of these polymorphisms on changes in weight
      and body composition during a controlled weight-loss program. One hundred seventy
      three healthy overweight and obese participants (91 women, 82 men) aged 18-50
      years participated in a 22-week-long intervention based on a hypocaloric diet and
      exercise. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: strength, endurance,
      strength and endurance combined, and physical activity recommendations only. Body
      weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition variables were assessed
      before and after the intervention. Genetic analysis was carried out according to
      standard protocols. No effect of the ADRB2 gene was shown on final weight, BMI,
      or body composition, although in the supervised male group, Glu27 carriers tended
      to have greater weight (p = 0.019, 2.5 kg) and BMI (p = 0.019, 0.88 kg/m(2))
      reductions than did noncarriers. There seems to be an individual effect of the
      ADRB3 polymorphism on fat mass (p = 0.004) and fat percentage (p = 0.036), in
      addition to an interaction with exercise for fat mass (p = 0.038). After the
      intervention, carriers of the Arg64 allele had a greater fat mass and fat
      percentage than did noncarriers (p = 0.004, 2.8 kg). In conclusion, the ADRB2
      Gln27Glu and ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphisms may influence weight loss and body
      composition, although the current evidence is weak; however, further studies are
      necessary to clarify their roles. 

PMID- 26888113
TI  - An unsupervised eye blink artifact detection method for real-time
      electroencephalogram processing.
AB  - Electroencephalogram (EEG) is easily contaminated by unwanted physiological
      artifacts, among which electrooculogram (EOG) artifacts due to eye blinking are
      known to be most dominant. The eye blink artifacts are reported to affect theta
      and alpha rhythms of frontal EEG signals, and hard to be accurately detected in
      an unsupervised way due to large individual variability. In this study, we
      propose a new method for detecting eye blink artifacts automatically in real time
      without using any labeled training data. The proposed method combined our
      previous method for detecting eye blink artifacts based on digital filters with
      an automatic thresholding algorithm. The proposed method was evaluated using EEG
      data acquired from 24 participants. Two conventional algorithms were implemented
      and their performances were compared with that of the proposed method. The main
      contributions of this study are (1) confirming that individual thresholding is
      necessary for artifact detection, (2) proposing a novel algorithm structure to
      detect blink artifacts in a real-time environment without any a priori knowledge,
      and (3) demonstrating that the length of training data can be minimized through
      the use of a real-time adaption procedure. 

PMID- 26888114
TI  - BIRC3 is a novel driver of therapeutic resistance in Glioblastoma.
AB  - Genome-wide analysis of glioblastoma (GBM) reveals pervasive aberrations in
      apoptotic signaling pathways that collectively contribute to therapeutic
      resistance. Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) exert critical control on the
      terminal segment of apoptosis leading to apoptosis evasion. In this study, we
      uncover a unique role for BIRC3, as an IAP that is critical in GBM in response to
      therapy. Using the TCGA dataset of 524 unique samples, we identify BIRC3 is the
      only IAP whose differential expression is associated with long-term survival in
      GBM patients. Using patient tissue samples we further show that BIRC3 expression
      increases with recurrence. When extrapolated to a preclinical model of a human
      GBM cell line, we find an increase in BIRC3 expression in response to irradiation
      (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. More importantly, we mechanistically
      implicate STAT3 and PI3K signaling pathways as drivers of RT-induced up
      regulation of BIRC3 expression. Lastly, we demonstrate that both in-vivo and in
      vitro BIRC3 up-regulation results in apoptosis evasion and therapeutic resistance
      in GBM. Collectively, our study identifies a novel translational and targetable
      role for BIRC3 expression as a predictor of aggressiveness and therapeutic
      resistance to TMZ and RT mediated by STAT3 and PI3K signaling in GBM. 

PMID- 26888115
TI  - Oxaliplatin-containing Preoperative Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer:
      Local Response, Toxicity and Long-term Outcome.
AB  - AIMS: This non-randomised study was undertaken to examine oxaliplatin as possibly
      an intensifying component of sequential neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced
      rectal cancer for improved local and metastatic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Ninety-seven patients (57 T2-3 cases, 40 T4 cases) received two cycles of the
      Nordic FLOX regimen (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) day 1 and bolus 5-fluorouracil 500
      mg/m(2) and folinic acid 100 mg days 1 and 2) before long-course
      chemoradiotherapy with concomitant oxaliplatin and capecitabine, followed by
      pelvic surgery. Treatment toxicity, local tumour response and long-term outcome
      were recorded. RESULTS: Good histologic tumour regression was obtained in 72% of
      patients. Implementing protocol-specific dose adjustments, tolerance was
      acceptable and 95% of patients received the total prescribed radiation dose.
      Estimated 5 year progression-free and overall survival were 61% and 83%,
      respectively. T4 stage was associated with an inferior local response rate, which
      again was highly associated with impaired long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this
      cohort of rectal cancer patients dominated by T4 and advanced T3 cases given
      sequential oxaliplatin-containing preoperative therapy with acceptable toxicity,
      high tumour response rates and overall survival were obtained, consistent with
      both local and systemic effects. However, tumour response and long-term outcome
      remained inferior for a significant number of T4 cases, suggesting that the T4
      entity is biologically heterogeneous with subgroups of patients eligible for
      further individualisation of therapy.

PMID- 26888116
TI  - Melatonin alleviates acute lung injury through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome.
AB  - Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are
      clinically severe respiratory disorders, and there are currently no Food and Drug
      Administration-approved drug therapies. Melatonin is a well-known anti
      inflammatory molecule, which has proven to be effective in ALI induced by many
      conditions. Emerging studies suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a critical
      role during ALI. How melatonin directly blocks activation of the NLRP3
      inflammasome in ALI remains unclear. In this study, using an LPS-induced ALI
      mouse model, we found intratracheal (i.t.) administration of melatonin markedly
      reduced the pulmonary injury and decreased the infiltration of macrophages and
      neutrophils into lung. During ALI, the NLRP3 inflammasome is significantly
      activated with a large amount of IL-1beta and the activated caspase-1 occurring
      in the lung. Melatonin inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by both
      suppressing the release of extracellular histones and directly blocking histone
      induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, i.t. route of melatonin
      administration opens a more efficient therapeutic approach for treating ALI. 

PMID- 26888111
TI  - Viral vector-based tools advance knowledge of basal ganglia anatomy and
      physiology.
AB  - Viral vectors were originally developed to deliver genes into host cells for
      therapeutic potential. However, viral vector use in neuroscience research has
      increased because they enhance interpretation of the anatomy and physiology of
      brain circuits compared with conventional tract tracing or electrical stimulation
      techniques. Viral vectors enable neuronal or glial subpopulations to be labeled
      or stimulated, which can be spatially restricted to a single target nucleus or
      pathway. Here we review the use of viral vectors to examine the structure and
      function of motor and limbic basal ganglia (BG) networks in normal and
      pathological states. We outline the use of viral vectors, particularly lentivirus
      and adeno-associated virus, in circuit tracing, optogenetic stimulation, and
      designer drug stimulation experiments. Key studies that have used viral vectors
      to trace and image pathways and connectivity at gross or ultrastructural levels
      are reviewed. We explain how optogenetic stimulation and designer drugs used to
      modulate a distinct pathway and neuronal subpopulation have enhanced our
      mechanistic understanding of BG function in health and pathophysiology in
      disease. Finally, we outline how viral vector technology may be applied to
      neurological and psychiatric conditions to offer new treatments with enhanced
      outcomes for patients. 

PMID- 26888117
TI  - A role for circadian clock in metabolic disease.
AB  - Many human behaviors and physiological activities show circadian rhythms.
      Circadian rhythms generated by central and peripheral clocks maintain
      homeostasis, including the regulation of metabolic processes. Biological
      rhythmicity is important for metabolic health, but circadian rhythms are affected
      and impaired by nocturnal activities and irregular food intake in modern society.
      Disruption of sleep is an established risk factor for diabetes and is known to
      promote systemic metabolic dysfunction in both humans and rodents. Metabolic
      stress promotes circadian clock disorders and modulation of clock gene expression
      has a causal role in the development of metabolic dysfunction. Maintenance of a
      physiological circadian rhythm is crucial for metabolic health and is an
      important strategy for combating obesity. 

PMID- 26888119
TI  - Circadian clock and the onset of cardiovascular events.
AB  - The onset of cardiovascular diseases often shows time-of-day variation. Acute
      myocardial infarction or ventricular arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia
      occurs mainly in the early morning. Multiple biochemical and physiological
      parameters show circadian rhythm, which may account for the diurnal variation of
      cardiovascular events. These include the variations in blood pressure, activity
      of the autonomic nervous system and renin-angiotensin axis, coagulation cascade,
      vascular tone and the intracellular metabolism of cardiomyocytes. Importantly,
      the molecular clock system seems to underlie the circadian variation of these
      parameters. The center of the biological clock, also known as the central clock,
      exists in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In contrast, the molecular clock system is
      also activated in each cell of the peripheral organs and constitute the
      peripheral clock. The biological clock system is currently considered to have a
      beneficial role in maintaining the homeostasis of each organ. Discoordination,
      however, between the peripheral clock and external environment could potentially
      underlie the development of cardiovascular events. Therefore, understanding the
      molecular and cellular pathways by which cardiovascular events occur in a diurnal
      oscillatory pattern will help the establishment of a novel therapeutic approach
      to the management of cardiovascular disorders. 

PMID- 26888118
TI  - Structure and functions of angiotensinogen.
AB  - Angiotensinogen (AGT) is the sole precursor of all angiotensin peptides. Although
      AGT is generally considered as a passive substrate of the renin-angiotensin
      system, there is accumulating evidence that the regulation and functions of AGT
      are intricate. Understanding the diversity of AGT properties has been enhanced by
      protein structural analysis and animal studies. In addition to whole-body genetic
      deletion, AGT can be regulated in vivo by cell-specific procedures, adeno
      associated viral approaches and antisense oligonucleotides. Indeed, the
      availability of these multiple manipulations of AGT in vivo has provided new
      insights into the multifaceted roles of AGT. In this review, the combination of
      structural and functional studies is highlighted to focus on the increasing
      recognition that AGT exerts effects beyond being a sole provider of angiotensin
      peptides. 

PMID- 26888120
TI  - Hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major modifiable risk factor of hypertension
      and hypertensive patients with OSA are at increased risk for cardiovascular
      diseases. A substantial number of studies have revealed that OSA and hypertension
      have synergistic effects on the cardiovascular system and, therefore, it is
      clinically important and relevant to increase our understanding of the
      pathophysiological interactions between OSA and hypertension. In our present
      review, after briefly reviewing the characteristics and pathophysiological
      effects of OSA, we focus on the current understanding of OSA-associated
      hypertension, the potential approaches for treatment of OSA and the effect of OSA
      treatment on hypertension management. We hope our present review will shed light
      for future studies that investigate effective therapeutic strategies to
      simultaneously improve the management of OSA and hypertension. 

PMID- 26888121
TI  - The need for noninvasive methods to monitor hemodynamics in hypertension therapy.

PMID- 26888123
TI  - Demographic differences between funerary caves and megalithic graves of northern
      Spanish Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study focuses on the estimation of demographic parameters of Late
      Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic (mid 4th-early 3rd millenniums cal. BC) burial sites
      from the La Rioja region (Ebro valley, northern Spain) to identify demographic
      characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human remains come from three caves
      (Las Yurdinas II, Pena Larga, and La Pena de Maranon) and three megalithic graves
      (Alto de la Huesera, San Martin, and Pena Guerra II). The total skeletal sample
      consists of a minimum of 261 individuals, 149 being buried in caves and 112 in
      megalithic graves. Data based on age and sex estimation are analyzed using
      abridged life tables, mortality rates, and sex ratios. RESULTS: A systematic bias
      against children under 5 years of age is detected both in caves (5 q0  = 187.92%)
      and megalithic graves (5 q0  = 71.43%) but also against some juveniles and adults
      compared with population models, though a statistically significant greater lack
      of infants is worth noting in the megaliths (t-test, P = 0.012). Moreover, a
      significant divergence in sex ratios (chi(2) , P = 0.002) is also identified
      between site types, clearly prioritizing women in caves (sex ratio = 0.45) and
      men in megalithic graves (sex ratio = 1.33). CONCLUSIONS: This evidence is
      interpreted as the result of different selective burial patterns. The mortuary
      variability could lie behind intragroup differential status relationships, though
      the hypothesis of two populations performing distinct funerary practices in a
      small region cannot be rejected at the present state of the research. Am J Phys
      Anthropol 160:284-297, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888124
TI  - [New insight into phoniatrics in China].

PMID- 26888122
TI  - Topologically nontrivial bismuth(111) thin films.
AB  - Using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the
      topological property of the three-dimensional Bi(111) films grown on the
      Bi2Te3(111) substrate were studied. Very different from the bulk Bi, we found
      another surface band near the point besides the two well-known surface bands on
      the 30 nm films. With this new surface band, the bulk valence band and the bulk
      conduction band can be connected by the surface states in the Bi(111)/Bi2Te3
      films. Our band mapping revealed odd number of Fermi crossings of the surface
      bands, which provided new experimental evidences that Bi(111)/Bi2Te3 films of a
      certain thickness can be topologically nontrivial in three dimension.

PMID- 26888126
TI  - [A retrospective study on the diagnosis and treatment of vocal folds white
      lesions].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pathogenesis and clinical features of the vocal fold
      white lesions, and to investigate the principles of the diagnosis and treatment.
      METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six cases of vocal fold white lesions encountered
      between January 2006 and December 2013 were analyzed. All patients had bilateral
      vocal folds whitening under laryngoscopic examination, and all the patients had
      been observed over three months. There were 135 males and 21 females in the
      study, the age ranged from 18 to 60 years, with the mean age of (38.8+/-8.1)
      years old. All patients had a history of vocal abuse, with moderate-severe degree
      of voice disorder. RESULTS: After a month of voice rest and suitable treatment,
      the result of reexamination showed that the symptoms faded away in 81 cases
      (51.9%), with the voice recuperated; the range of white lesion was reduced with
      the voice improving in 71 cases (45.4%); the range of white lesion was not
      obviously changed in 4 cases (2.6%), the pathological examination in these 4
      cases showed moderate-severe dysplasia in two cases, and the surgical treatment
      was applied for them. Two months later, the reexamination showed 26 male cases
      still had vocal fold white lesion with various degree; and three months later,
      only 7 male cases retained mild vocal fold white lesion. CONCLUSION:
      Histopathologically, not all vocal fold white lesions were laryngeal precancerous
      lesions, and not all of these patients should be treated surgically.

PMID- 26888125
TI  - [Clinical study of the influence of laryngopharyngeal reflux on quality of life
      in patients with dysphonia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the morbidity of laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with
      dysphonic diseases and to investigate the influence of LPR on the patients.
      METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with dysphonic diseases were
      encountered in Peking University of the People Hospital. Under the agreement, the
      patients were asked to fill in the scales of RSI, RFS, VHI and SF-36.24-hour
      ambulatory double pH monitoring was applied to diagnose LPR definitely. 2643
      volunteers were recruited to fill in the RSI scale through physical examination,
      outpatient, the ward and web survey. RESULTS: 46.46% (59/127) patients were
      diagnosed with LPR definitely. 1241 of 2643 volunteer, who filled in the RSI,
      score more than zero in the first entry of hoarseness or dysphonia, 65.0%
      (807/1241) of them, scoring 13 points or higher, were diagnosed with clinically
      suspected LPR. Based on the 24-hour ambulatory double pH monitoring, VHI total
      scores and subscores in the emotional domains were higher in positive group than
      in negative group. There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) in functional and
      physical domains. The SF-36 scale was used to evaluate the quality of life of the
      patients. The difference of 6 dimensionality, scores had statistical significance
      (P<0.05), including role-physical, general health, validity, social function,
      role-emotional and mental health. There was no statistical difference in
      dimensionalities of role-physical and bodily pain. CONCLUSIONS: The volunteers
      who were diagnosed with hoarseness or dysphonia had the higher morbidity rate of
      LPR. At the time of treatment, more attention should be paid to the quality of
      life.

PMID- 26888127
TI  - [Significance of certain experiments relevant to airflow parameters in assessment
      of voice function].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of airflow parameters of some specific
      examinations in voice function assessment. METHODS: The s/z ratio, pulmonary
      function and phonatory aerodynamic parameters were measured in subjects with
      benign vocal fold lesions and with normal voice. The effect of treatment in
      subjects with benign vocal fold lesions was evaluated with the phonatory
      aerodynamic parameters. RESULTS: The value of s/z ratio in the disease group was
      higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05). The value of PEF was significantly
      different between the disease group and the normal group for male (P<0.05). MFR,
      MPT, PTF, SGP, PTP, VE were significantly different between the disease group and
      the normal group (P<0.05). MFR, MPT, PTF, SGP, PTP of the disease group after
      surgery for both sex were significantly different from before surgery (P<0.05).
      The disease group was subdivided into two groups through stroboscopic examination
      before and one month after surgery: the worse group (with some functional
      laryngeal abnormality, or organic abnormality except benign vocal fold lesion)
      and the better group. PTF, PTP, SGP, VE were significantly different between the
      worse group and the normal voice group. There was almost no significant
      difference for aerodynamic parameters between the better group and the normal
      voice group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the worse group
      after 8 weeks'voice training and the normal voice group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      s/z ratio, aerodynamic parameters (MFR, MPT, SGP, PTF, PTP, VE) are valuable for
      the diagnosis and assessment of the voice disorders. Aerodynamic parameters are
      sensitive to the change of glottal function during the treatment. Voice training
      can increase the glottal function of patients after laryngeal microsurgery.

PMID- 26888128
TI  - [Experimental study on the impact of photodynamic therapy on the normal vocal
      cord injury].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reactive characteristics of normal vocal cord
      tissues to photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the damage effects of different
      concentration of photosensitizer and different light on normal rabbit vocal cord.
      Making the preliminary research of PDT in clinical treatment of chronic
      inflammation of the vocal cords and precancerous lesions. METHODS: Twenty-five
      healthy Japanese big ear experimental rabbits were randomly divided into 5
      groups: low work rate low dose group A (100 mW, 10%5-ALA), high work rate low
      dose group B (200 mW, 10%5-ALA), high work rate high dose group C (200 mW, 20%5
      ALA), low work rate high dose group D (100 mW, 20%5-ALA) and normal control group
      E. The issue damage and wound recovery were observed in 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d
      after intervention. RESULTS: A severe inflammation reaction was observed in group
      A, B, C, D after intervened with PDT compared to normal group. The reaction of
      group A was lighter, and the reaction of group C was the most serious. The
      content of collagenous fiber, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin in vocal fold
      lamina layer was significantly higher than that in normal group (P<0.05).
      Different degrees of fiber proliferation were observed in all groups. The content
      of each component of vocal fold lamina layer tended to be normal slightly higher
      level in 28 d. Observation by electron microscope showed that there were no
      significant differences in A, B, C, D, E in 28 d after intervention. CONCLUSION:
      Recoverable damage repair process can be detected in rabbit vocal after
      intervened with PDT, which began in 7 d and basically completed in 28 d. In a
      certain concentration (10%-20%) and dose range (100-200 mW). The higher of
      photodynamic dose, the more serious of the damage. And the damage was basically
      reversible.

PMID- 26888129
TI  - [Clinical features of sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied with inner
      ear hemorrhage].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis and prognosis of
      sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied with inner ear hemorrhage. METHODS:
      Eleven cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied with inner ear
      hemorrhage were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestation,
      hematological and audiological examinations, as well as characteristics of inner
      ear three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance
      imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI). RESULTS: Eleven cases of sudden hearing loss with inner
      ear hemorrhage were accompanied by varying degrees of vertigo, lasting from
      several minutes to several hours, nine of whom had persistent tinnitus. The
      audiometry curves of the 11 cases included total deafness or flat descending
      type. The inner ear 3D-FLAIR MRI studies revealed abnormal high signals at
      different positions of the inner ear, one case with endolymphatic hydrops. After
      the treatment, seven cases were invalid, two cases had notable effect, and two
      cases were effective. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal high signals in the inner ear were
      sensitively detected by 3D-FLAIR MRI sequence, which was applied for the
      diagnosis of the sudden hearing loss accompanied with inner ear hemorrhage. The
      effect of conventional treatment was not good and the appropriate treatments for
      this type of sudden hearing loss need further investigation.

PMID- 26888130
TI  - [The clinical values of VEMP in the diagnosis of vestibular nerve impairment in
      the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the values of vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP)
      in the diagnosis of vestibular nerve impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus
      patients. METHODS: Forty-two cases (84 ears) of diabetes mellitus patients and 42
      cases (84 ears) normal subjects as the control group were enrolled from 2014 to
      2015.Both the patients and normal subjects underwent conventional air-conducted
      ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular
      evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) in bilateral ears.The results were compared
      between the patients and normal subjects. A commercially available software
      package, SPSS19.0, was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In 84 ears of the
      normal subjects, oVEMP was present in 70 ears, the educible rate was 83.3%
      (70/84). cVEMP was present in 74 ears, and the educible rate was 88.1% (74/84).
      In 84 ears of the diabetes mellitus patients, oVEMP was present in 49 ears, with
      the educible rate of 58.3% (49/84). cVEMP was present in 52 ears, with the
      educible rate of 61.9% (52/84). The educible rate in the control group was
      significantly higher than the diabetic group (oVEMP: chi(2)=12.71, P<0.05; cVEMP:
      chi(2)=15.37, P<0.05). In the diabetic group, the mean values of both oVEMP and
      cVEMP P1, N1 latencies were significantly longer when compared to the control
      group (P<0.05). No significantly statistical difference was found in oVEMP and
      cVEMP parameters (threshold, latency interval and amplitude) between groups
      (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular nerve was impaired in diabetes mellitus
      patients in some degree. VEMP examinations could be useful in the diagnosis of
      vestibular nerve impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

PMID- 26888132
TI  - [Expression and prognostic value of MTDH, Bcl-2 and E-cadherin in sinonasal
      malignant mucosal melanoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and predictive value of MTDH, Bcl-2 and E
      cadherin in sinonasal malignant mucosal melanoma (SNM). METHODS: Seventy-four
      formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded SNM specimens were subjected to
      immunohistochemical staining of MTDH, Bcl-2 and E-cadherin. Correlation between
      staining results and disease outcome was analyzed.SPSS 19.0 software was used to
      analyze the data. RESULTS: Positive staining of MTDH, Bcl-2 and E-cadherin was
      observed in 56/74 (75.7%), 18/74 (24.3%) and 21/74 (28.4%) cases, respectively.
      MTDH positive patients had higher metastatic rate than MTDH negative patients
      (67.9% vs. 33.3%, P=0.009, OR=2.037, 95% CI: 1.034-4.016). Negative Bcl-2 was
      correlated with worse overall survival time (HR=2.023, P=0.025). Expression of E
      cadherin was adversely associated with expression of MTDH (r=-0.315, P=0.006).
      CONCLUSION: High MTDH expression and low Bcl-2 expression suggest poor prognosis
      of SNM, while the predictive value of E-cadherin needs further study.

PMID- 26888131
TI  - [Clinical analysis of sphenoid sinusitis after transsphenoidal sellar surgery].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible influence factors of sphenoid sinusitis after
      endoscopic transsphenoidal sellar surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of
      177 patients who underwent transsphenoidal sellar surgery, from January 2009 to
      January 2014 in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital was performed. All patients were followed
      up with nasal endoscope. The risk factors of sphenoid sinusitis after surgery
      were analyzed statistically, such as sex, age, categories of disease, surgical
      produres, tumor size, using artificial or self material repair, with or without
      EC glue intraoperatively, etc. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.
      RESULTS: After surgery, there were 34 (19.2%) patients developed postoperative
      sinusitis. EC glue was the sole risk factor for postoperative sinusitis (34.57%
      vs 6.25%, chi(2)=22.701, P<0.01), but the sex, age, categories of disease,
      surgical produres, tumor size and patching material had no significant difference
      (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with endoscopic transsphenoidal sellar
      surgery, regular postoperative nasal endoscopic follow-up found that the use of
      EC glue was the risk factor for the development of postoperative sphenoid
      sinusitis.

PMID- 26888133
TI  - [The study of acoustically evoked short latency negative responses in normal
      guinea pigs].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare acoustically evoked short latency negative responses (ASNR)
      elicited from normal and profound hearing loss guinea pig ears and to confirm
      their vestibular nuclei origination. METHODS: Forty healthy guinea pigs were
      employed in the experiment, which were randomly divided into the control group (8
      subjects, 16 ears), the masking group (16 subjects, 32 ears) and the deafened
      group (16 subjects, 32 ears). Air conductive white noise was chosen for masking.
      Masking dilemma was avoidable by an appropriate 15 dB gap between stimulus and
      masking sound. Both the masking group and the deafened group were further divided
      into ASNR group and non-ASNR group based on the presence of ASNR. Electrolytic
      lesion was conducted to the vestibular nuclei, followed by ABR/ASNR recording.
      The lesioned brainstem slices were microscopically verified. RESULTS: In the
      masking group, ASNR were present in 24 ears (75.0%, 24/32) and 12 ears (46.2%,
      12/26) in deafened group, showing statistically higher presence rate for masking
      group (chi(2)=5.07, P=0.024). There were no significant differences for the ASNR
      threshold and latency between the masking ASNR group and the deafened ASNR group.
      For the two ASNR groups, electrolytic destruction to the vestibular nuclei
      subsequently eliminated the ASNR. Brainstem slice proved the accurate sites of
      electrolytic lesion. CONCLUSION: Moderate white noise masking prevents hearing
      system potential overlap without affecting vestibular system, therefore, ASNR is
      successfully elicited in normal guinea pigs. Both ASNRs from normal and deafened
      guinea pigs are of similar natures and origination from, the vestibular nuclei.

PMID- 26888134
TI  - [The replacement therapy of rPTH(1-84) in established rat model of
      hypothyroidism].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the replacement therapy of rPTH(1-84) (recombinant
      human parathyroid hormone (1-84)) to hypothyroidism in established rat model.
      METHOD: Rat model of hypothyroidism was established by resecting parathyroids. A
      total of 30 rats with removal of parathyroids were divided into 6 groups
      randomly, 5 in each group, and applied respectively with saline injection
      (negative control group), calcitriol treatment (positive control group) and
      quadripartite PTH administration with dose of 20, 40, 80 and 160 ug/kg
      (experimental groups). Saline and rPTH(1-84) were injected subcutaneously daily.
      Calcitriol was gavaged once a day. Sham-operation was conducted in 5 rats of
      negative control group. To verify the authenticity of the rat model with
      hypothyroidism, the serum was insolated centrifugally from rat blood that was
      obtained from angular vein at specific time to measure calcium and phosphorus
      concentration. Urine in 12 hours was collected by metabolic cages and the calcium
      concentration was measured. After 10-week drug treatment, the experiment was
      terminated and bilateral femoral bone and L2-5 lumbar vertebra were removed from
      rats. Bone mineral density (BMD)of bilateral femoral bone and lumbar vertebra was
      analyzed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The concentration of bone alkaline
      phosphatase (BALP) in serum was determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULT: The rat
      model with hypothyroidism was obtained by excising parathyroid gland and was
      verified by monitoring calcium and phosphorus concentration subsequently.
      Administration of rPTH(1-84) in the dose of 80 or 160 ug/kg made serum calcium
      and phosphorus back to normal levels, with no significant difference between the
      doses (P>0.05). The BMD in each group of rats with rPTH(1-84) administration was
      increased significantly (P<0.05). The levels of urinary calcium and serum BALP in
      rats of maximum rPTH(1-84) injection group (160 ug/kg) were higher than those of
      normal control group (P<0.05). The rats treated with calcitriol had normal
      calcium levels and showed the increase of BMD and phosphorus concentration
      compared with normal control group (P<0.05). The amount of urinary calcium also
      exceeded the other groups (P<0.05), but no with significant difference in BMD of
      bilateral femoral bone and lumbar vertebra between negative control group and
      normal control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Calcium and phosphorus return to
      normal level by administration of rPTH(1-84) in the dose of 80 ug/kg or 160
      ug/kg, with increase in BMD. Calcitriol can return the level of calcium to normal
      and increase BMD, but can not correspondingly decrease the phosphorus
      concentration and increase the excretion of calcium in urine.

PMID- 26888136
TI  - [Cochlear implantation in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients].

PMID- 26888137
TI  - [Observation of 68 cases of auricular pseudo cyst treated with suture and
      compression bandage].

PMID- 26888135
TI  - [Transplantation of free latissimus dorsimyocutaneous flaps for repairing head
      and neck defect after tumor resection].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of free latissimus dorsimyocutaneous flap in
      repairing severe defect of head and neck after resection of tumor. METHODS: Free
      latissimus dorsimyocutaneous flap was used to repair defect after resection of
      tumor in 12 patients (13 sides) with head and neck tumors. Of them 2 cases
      underwent radical radiotherapy before operation. and 3 cases received adjuvant
      radiotherapy postoperatively. RESULTS: Aside from one flap with necrosis, other
      12 flaps survived after operation including 5 cases with radiotherapy.
      CONCLUSION: Free latissimus dorsimyocutaneous flap can afford large tissue, has
      reliable blood supply, is easy to survive, and resist to radiotherapy, which is
      fit for repairing severe defect of head and neck.

PMID- 26888138
TI  - [Comparison of post-operation effect of nasal septal sutures and nasal packing in
      septoplasty].

PMID- 26888139
TI  - [Observation of curative effcet on glottic cancer via minimally invasive surgery
      by PMOD: report of 12 cases].

PMID- 26888140
TI  - [Low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma in infant and the clinical review].

PMID- 26888141
TI  - [Lipoma of the cervical esophagus: a case report].

PMID- 26888142
TI  - [Minutes of the 15th International Thyroid Congress].

PMID- 26888143
TI  - [The value of intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Monitoring for secondary
      hyperparathyroidism].

PMID- 26888144
TI  - [Diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal leukoplakia].

PMID- 26888145
TI  - [Behavioral treatment of glottal incompetence].

PMID- 26888146
TI  - Novel markers to detect recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF
      I)/rhIGF binding protein-3 (rhIGFBP-3) misuse in athletes.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is abused by elite athletes for its
      metabolic and anabolic effects. We have previously shown that it is possible to
      detect IGF-I misuse by measuring serum IGF-I and procollagen type III amino
      terminal propeptide (P-III-NP) but a pilot study suggested measuring IGF-II, IGF
      binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) and acid-labile subunit (ALS) may improve the
      detection of IGF-I administration. The aim of the study was to assess this in a
      randomized controlled trial. Twenty-six female and 30 male recreational athletes
      were randomized to 28 days' treatment with placebo or recombinant human (rh)IGF
      I/rhIGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) complex (30 mg/day or 60 mg/day), followed by
      56 days' washout. IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and ALS (women only) were measured using
      commercial immunoassays. IGFBP-2 increased and IGF-II decreased in response to
      both low and high dose rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 in both women and men while ALS
      decreased in women in response to high dose rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3. Two days after
      discontinuing treatment, significant differences remained between the three
      treatment groups in IGFBP-2 and IGF-II, but not ALS. Thereafter there were no
      significant differences between the three treatment groups in any of the markers.
      Combining IGF-I with IGF-II and/or IGFBP-2 improved the performance of the test
      to detect rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 administration in both women and men. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888147
TI  - Semimetallization of dielectrics in strong optical fields.
AB  - At the heart of ever growing demands for faster signal processing is ultrafast
      charge transport and control by electromagnetic fields in semiconductors. Intense
      optical fields have opened fascinating avenues for new phenomena and applications
      in solids. Because the period of optical fields is on the order of a femtosecond,
      the current switching and its control by an optical field may pave a way to
      petahertz optoelectronic devices. Lately, a reversible semimetallization in fused
      silica on a femtosecond time scale by using a few-cycle strong field (~1 V/A) is
      manifested. The strong Wannier-Stark localization and Zener-type tunneling were
      expected to drive this ultrafast semimetallization. Wider spread of this
      technology demands better understanding of whether the strong field behavior is
      universally similar for different dielectrics. Here we employ a carrier-envelope
      phase stabilized, few-cycle strong optical field to drive the semimetallization
      in sapphire, calcium fluoride and quartz and to compare this phenomenon and show
      its remarkable similarity between them. The similarity in response of these
      materials, despite the distinguishable differences in their physical properties,
      suggests the universality of the physical picture explained by the localization
      of Wannier-Stark states. Our results may blaze a trail to PHz-rate
      optoelectronics.

PMID- 26888148
TI  - Combination of Urinary Biomarkers Improves Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury
      in Patients With Heart Failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with morality and repeated
      hospitalization, and is frequently encountered in patients with acute
      decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, few effective tools exist for early
      AKI identification and risk stratification. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a
      prospective observational study conducted in the coronary care unit (CCU) of a
      tertiary care university hospital. Patients with a diagnosis of ADHF and who were
      using diuretics were enrolled.Samples collected between December 2013 and
      February 2015 were tested for serum cystatin C (Cys-C), urinary neutrophil
      gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1).
      Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were evaluated. A total of 103 adult
      patients with a mean age of 68 years were investigated. AKI was diagnosed in 49
      patients (47.6%). For predicting intrinsic AKI on the first day of CCU admission,
      a combination of Cys-C and urine KIM-1 yielded an excellent area under the
      receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.828, a sensitivity of 71.0%, and
      specificity of 43.0%, for an overall accuracy of 78%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study,
      we found that combinations of the biomarker (Cys-C and KIM-1) were an effective
      clinical model for predicting AKI in patients with ADHF. The biomarker was also
      useful for differentiating subclinical AKI in patients with ADHF.

PMID- 26888149
TI  - Edoxaban vs. Warfarin in East Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation - An ENGAGE
      AF-TIMI 48 Subanalysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the multinational, double-blind, double-dummy ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48
      phase 3 study, once-daily edoxaban was non-inferior to warfarin for prevention of
      stroke or systemic embolism event (SEE) in patients with non-valvular atrial
      fibrillation (AF). Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of edoxaban in
      patients from East Asia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients aged >=21 years with
      documented AF and CHADS score >=2 were randomized to receive once-daily edoxaban
      higher-dose (60 mg) or lower-dose (30 mg) regimen or warfarin dose-adjusted to an
      international normalized ratio of 2.0-3.0. Patients with a creatinine clearance
      of 30-50 ml/min, weighing <=60 kg, or receiving strong p-glycoprotein inhibitors
      at randomization or during the study received a 50% dose reduction of edoxaban or
      matched placebo. This prespecified subanalysis included 1,943 patients from
      Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. The annualized rate of stroke/SEE for
      higher-dose edoxaban was 1.34% vs. 2.62% for warfarin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.53;
      95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-0.90, P=0.02) and 2.52% for lower-dose
      edoxaban (HR, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.63-1.54, P=0.93). Compared with warfarin (4.80%),
      major bleeding was significantly reduced for the higher-dose (2.86%; HR, 0.61;
      95% CI: 0.41-0.89, P=0.011) and lower-dose regimens (1.59%; HR, 0.34; 95% CI:
      0.21-0.54, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily edoxaban provided similar efficacy
      to warfarin while reducing major bleeding risk in the East Asian population.

PMID- 26888150
TI  - Coagulation-Fibrinolysis System and Postoperative Outcomes of Patients With
      Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The postoperative changes in the coagulation-fibrinolysis system and
      the association between the system and postoperative course of patients with
      chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who have undergone
      pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 1986
      and 2013, 117 patients (55.1+/-11.2 years, preoperative mean pulmonary arterial
      pressure 46.5+/-10.5 mmHg) underwent PEA, and 15 patients died during the
      perioperative period. We studied the association between the preoperative
      coagulation-fibrinolysis markers and surgical outcomes of all patients, and the
      long-term outcomes of the 102 survivors from the date of PEA. We also
      investigated the postoperative changes in coagulation-fibrinolysis markers and
      their association with residual pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 20 consecutive
      patients. Only an elevated factor VIII level was associated with perioperative
      death. Thrombomodulin and plasminogen values were significantly increased after
      PEA. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that D-dimer positivity at
      follow-up was a risk factor for residual PH. Patients with both an elevated
      fibrinogen level (>=291 mg/dl [median]) and decreased plasminogen activity (<100%
      [median]) had significantly worse disease-specific survival than the other
      patients (5-year disease-specific survival: 84.0% vs. 100%, respectively;
      P=0.0041 [log-rank test]). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively high fibrinogen and low
      plasminogen values in patients with CTEPH are associated with poor long-term
      postoperative outcome. PEA benefited not only the pulmonary hemodynamics but also
      the coagulation-fibrinolysis system of patients.

PMID- 26888151
TI  - Band engineering and improved thermoelectric performance in M-doped SnTe (M = Mg,
      Mn, Cd, and Hg).
AB  - The electronic structures of M-doped SnTe (M = Mg, Mn, Cd, and Hg) are
      investigated by using first-principles calculations including spin-orbit
      coupling. It is found that Sn vacancy plays an important role in the band
      engineering of SnTe, showing a different property from its related compound PbTe.
      The enlarged band gap and reduced energy separation between two valence bands are
      in good agreement with experimental measurements. Both of the two band
      modifications lead to the increase of Seebeck coefficients, which is explicitly
      confirmed by the followed Boltzmann transport calculations. The calculated
      Seebeck coefficients for Mn-doped SnTe agree well with the experimental data in a
      broad range of carrier concentration. Owing to the improved Seebeck coefficients,
      Mn- and Cd-doped SnTe exhibit promising thermoelectric properties with ZT = 1.32
      and 1.65 at around 800 K, respectively. 

PMID- 26888152
TI  - Facile fabrication of rice husk based silicon dioxide nanospheres loaded with
      silver nanoparticles as a rice antibacterial agent.
AB  - Bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a
      major disease of rice, leading to reduction in production by 10-50%. In order to
      control this disease, various chemical bactericides have been used. Wide and
      prolonged application of chemical bactericides resulted in the resistant strain
      of Xoo that was isolated from rice. To address this problem, we were searching
      for an environmentally friendly alternative to the commonly used chemical
      bactericides. In this work, we demonstrate that silicon dioxide nanospheres
      loaded with silver nanoparticles (SiO2-Ag) can be prepared by using rice husk as
      base material precursor. The results of the antibacterial tests showed that SiO2
      Ag composites displayed antibacterial activity against Xoo. At cellular level,
      the cell wall/membrane was damaged and intercellular contents were leaked out by
      slow-releasing of silver ions from SiO2-Ag composites. At molecular level, this
      composite induced reactive oxygen species production and inhibited DNA
      replication. Based on the results above, we proposed the potential antibacterial
      mechanism of SiO2-Ag composites. Moreover, the cytotoxicity assay indicated that
      the composites showed mild toxicity with rice cells. Thus, this work provided a
      new strategy to develop biocide derived from residual biomass. 

PMID- 26888154
TI  - Modulation of mitochondrial ion transport by inorganic polyphosphate - essential
      role in mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
AB  - Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a biopolymer of phosphoanhydride-linked
      orthophosphate residues. PolyP is involved in multiple cellular processes
      including mitochondrial metabolism and cell death. We used artificial membranes
      and isolated mitochondria to investigate the role of the polyP in mitochondrial
      ion transport and in activation of PTP. Here, we found that polyP can modify ion
      permeability of de-energised mitochondrial membranes but not artificial
      membranes. This permeability was selective for Ba2+ and Ca2+ but not for other
      monovalent and bivalent cations and can be blocked by inhibitors of the
      permeability transition pore - cyclosporine A or ADP. Lower concentrations of
      polyP modulate calcium dependent permeability transition pore opening. Increase
      in polyP concentrations and elongation chain length of the polymer causes calcium
      independent swelling in energized conditions. Physiologically relevant
      concentrations of inorganic polyP can regulate calcium dependent as well calcium
      independent mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. This raises the
      possibility that cytoplasmic polyP can be an important contributor towards
      regulation of the cell death.

PMID- 26888153
TI  - Impact of food supplementation on weight loss in randomised-controlled dietary
      intervention trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Dietary trials provide evidence for practice and policy guidelines, but poor
      adherence may confound results. Food supplementation may improve adherence to
      dietary interventions, but the impact of supplementation on study outcomes is not
      known. The aim of this review was to examine the impact of food supplementation
      on weight loss in dietary intervention trials. The databases Scopus, PubMed and
      the Cochrane Library were searched for dietary intervention trials published
      between January 2004 and March 2015 using the following keyword combinations:
      'trial' OR 'intervention', 'food' OR 'diet', 'weight loss' and 'adherence' OR
      'adherence'. Studies were included if food was provided to at least one study
      group and both 'weight change' and 'adherence' were reported. Random effects meta
      analyses were conducted to assess weighted mean differences (WMD) in body weight
      (change or final mean values). The included studies formed two groups: trials
      involving an intervention group supplemented with a food and a control without
      food supplementation (food v. no food), and trials in which food was provided to
      all subjects (food v. food) (PROSPERO registration: CRD42015017563). In total,
      sixteen studies were included. Significant weight reduction was reported in the
      food v. no food studies (WMD -0.74 kg; 95 % CI -1.40, -0.08; P=0.03, I 2=63 %). A
      non-significant increase in weight was found among the food v. food studies (WMD
      0.84 kg; 95 % CI -0.60, 2.27; P=0.25, I 2=0 %). Food supplementation appeared to
      result in greater weight loss in dietary trials. Energy restrictions and
      intensity of interventions were other significant factors influencing weight
      loss. 

PMID- 26888155
TI  - Soapbox: Class matters in parenting interventions.
AB  - Class and income level influence parenting styles and values, yet are rarely
      discussed in treatment approaches and parenting interventions with families. In
      this soapbox article, I argue that discrepancies in outcome, retention, and
      participation could be fruitfully addressed through a fuller understanding of the
      needs, realities, and parenting goals of families struggling with financial
      disadvantage. I compare and contrast ethnographic studies of parenting in low
      socioeconomic environments with the types of strategies and interventions
      commonly advanced in parent training programs and suggest that clinicians must
      become more aware of the cultural and socioeconomic overtones of those
      interventions in determining whether, how, and when to use them with families. 

PMID- 26888156
TI  - Microarray analysis of transcripts with elevated expressions in the rat medial or
      lateral habenula suggest fast GABAergic excitation in the medial habenula and
      habenular involvement in the regulation of feeding and energy balance.
AB  - In vertebrates the "anti-reward-system" mainly is represented by the habenula and
      its medial (MHb) and especially lateral (LHb) complexes. Considerable knowledge
      has accumulated concerning subnuclear structures and connectivities of MHb and
      LHb subnuclei. The present investigation aimed to obtain novel information,
      whether MHb or LHb or their subnuclei display field-characteristic gene products,
      which may shed light on biological functions of these areas. Unfortunately this
      was not the case. Microarray analysis of mRNAs in microdissected habenular and
      thalamic control areas yielded expression values of 17,745 RNAs representing
      protein-coding genes, to which annotated gene names could be assigned. High
      relative values of genes with known expression in MHb, LHb or thalamus in the
      corresponding areas indicated a high precision of the microdissection procedure.
      Note that the present report emphasizes differences between and not absolute
      expression values in the selected regions. The present investigation disclosed
      that the LHb genetically is much closer related to the thalamus as compared to
      the MHb. The results presented here focuse on gene transcripts related to major
      transmitter systems, catecholamines and neuropeptides. Quite surprisingly, our
      data indicate potentially inhibitory effects of acetylcholine and glutamate in
      the habenula. In addition, the absence of the K-Cl co-transporter 2 supports a
      largely excitatory role of GABAergic transmission especially in the MHb.
      Furthermore, several G-protein related receptors (Gpr83, Gpr139, Gpr149, Gpr151,
      Gpr158) and many neuropeptides related to feeding are differentially expressed in
      the habenular region, indicating that its involvement in the regulation of food
      consumption and energy expenditure may have been underestimated so far.

PMID- 26888157
TI  - Impact of host sex and group composition on parasite dynamics in experimental
      populations.
AB  - To better understand the spread of disease in nature, it is fundamentally
      important to have broadly applicable model systems with readily available species
      which can be replicated and controlled in the laboratory. Here we used an
      experimental model system of fish hosts and monogenean parasites to determine
      whether host sex, group size and group composition (single-sex or mixed-sex)
      influenced host-parasite dynamics at an individual and group level. Parasite
      populations reached higher densities and persisted longer in groups of fish
      compared with isolated hosts and reached higher densities on isolated females
      than on isolated males. However, individual fish within groups had similar
      burdens to isolated males regardless of sex, indicating that females may benefit
      more than males by being in a group. Relative condition was positively associated
      with high parasite loads for isolated males, but not for isolated females or
      grouped fish. No difference in parasite dynamics between mixed-sex groups and
      single-sex groups was detected. Overall, these findings suggest that while host
      sex influences dynamics on isolated fish, individual fish in groups have similar
      parasite burdens, regardless of sex. We believe our experimental results
      contribute to a mechanistic understanding of host-parasite dynamics, although we
      are cautious about directly extrapolating these results to other systems. 

PMID- 26888160
TI  - CAN HALF VALUE LAYER MEASUREMENTS BE USED TOGETHER WITH THE EFFECTIVE ENERGY TO
      OBTAIN CONVERSION COEFFICIENTS FOR X-RAY SPECTRA?
AB  - Conversion coefficients are a substantial vehicle in practical radiation
      protection to determine the dose (rate) of a given radiation field. According to
      ICRU report 57, their values shall be obtained by means of spectrometry. This is,
      however, a time-consuming complicated procedure that cannot be performed by all
      dosimetry laboratories. Therefore, it is desired to find acceptable alternative
      methods to replace spectrometry. One possibility is to set up the X-ray facility
      in accordance with international standard ISO 4037-1:1997 and use the tabulated
      values from that standard. However, this needs to be considered during the
      construction phase of the X-ray facility. In this work, the combined usage of
      half-value layer measurements and the effective energy (both with respect to air
      kerma) to determine the conversion coefficients is investigated and compared with
      the values obtained by spectrometry. The investigations utilise all combinations
      of the H-, W-, N- and L-series, reference distances of 1 and 2.5 m and aluminium
      and copper as attenuation materials. We find that for most of the radiation
      qualities, the investigated method results in conversion coefficients that show
      an unacceptable deviation from the conventionally true values. However, the
      values of conversion coefficients of selected N- and L-qualities could be
      reproduced with high accuracy (within +/-1 %).

PMID- 26888159
TI  - Sulphur Kbeta emission spectra reveal protonation states of aqueous sulfuric
      acid.
AB  - In this paper we report an X-ray emission study of bulk aqueous sulfuric acid.
      Throughout the range of molarities from 1 M to 18 M the sulfur Kbeta emission
      spectra from H2SO4 (aq) depend on the molar fractions and related deprotonation
      of H2SO4. We compare the experimental results with results from emission spectrum
      calculations based on atomic structures of single molecules and structures from
      ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We show that the S Kbeta emission
      spectrum is a sensitive probe of the protonation state of the acid molecules.
      Using non-negative matrix factorization we are able to extract the fractions of
      different protonation states in the spectra, and the results are in good
      agreement with the simulation for the higher part of the concentration range.

PMID- 26888158
TI  - Comparative mRNA analysis of behavioral and genetic mouse models of aggression.
AB  - Mouse models of aggression have traditionally compared strains, most notably
      BALB/cJ and C57BL/6. However, these strains were not designed to study aggression
      despite differences in aggression-related traits and distinct reactivity to
      stress. This study evaluated expression of genes differentially regulated in a
      stress (behavioral) mouse model of aggression with those from a recent genetic
      mouse model aggression. The study used a discovery-replication design using two
      independent mRNA studies from mouse brain tissue. The discovery study identified
      strain (BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J) * stress (chronic mild stress or control)
      interactions. Probe sets differentially regulated in the discovery set were
      intersected with those uncovered in the replication study, which evaluated
      differences between high and low aggressive animals from three strains
      specifically bred to study aggression. Network analysis was conducted on
      overlapping genes uncovered across both studies. A significant overlap was found
      with the genetic mouse study sharing 1,916 probe sets with the stress model.
      Fifty-one probe sets were found to be strongly dysregulated across both studies
      mapping to 50 known genes. Network analysis revealed two plausible pathways
      including one centered on the UBC gene hub which encodes ubiquitin, a protein
      well-known for protein degradation, and another on P38 MAPK. Findings from this
      study support the stress model of aggression, which showed remarkable molecular
      overlap with a genetic model. The study uncovered a set of candidate genes
      including the Erg2 gene, which has previously been implicated in different
      psychopathologies. The gene networks uncovered points at a Redox pathway as
      potentially being implicated in aggressive related behaviors.

PMID- 26888161
TI  - Prediction of clinical and endoscopic responses to anti-tumor necrosis factor
      alpha antibodies in ulcerative colitis.
AB  - Objective In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), the relationship between the
      initial endoscopic findings and the response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      alpha antibodies remains unclear. We herein evaluated the potential of endoscopic
      assessment using the ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) to
      predict the response to anti-TNF-alpha antibodies. Methods We enrolled 64
      patients with UC undergoing anti-TNF-alpha maintenance therapy with infliximab
      (IFX) or adalimumab (ADA) between April 2010 and March 2015. Anti-TNF-alpha
      trough levels were determined by ELISA. Endoscopic disease activity was assessed
      using the UCEIS. Results The clinical response rate at 8 weeks was 77.4% for IFX
      and 66.7% for ADA. Serum albumin levels were significantly higher and the UCEIS
      bleeding descriptor before treatment was significantly lower in the responders
      than in the non-responders (p < 0.05 each). The CRP levels at 2 weeks were
      significantly lower in the responders (p < 0.001). The serum albumin levels
      before treatment were significantly higher and the UCEIS erosions and ulcers
      descriptor was significantly lower in the mucosal healing group than in the non
      mucosal healing group (p < 0.05 each). A significant and negative correlation
      between the trough levels of anti-TNF-alpha antibodies and the UCEIS descriptors
      was observed. The trough levels of anti-TNF-alpha antibodies to achieve mucosal
      healing were 2.7 MUg/mL for IFX and 10.3 MUg/mL for ADA. Conclusions The UCEIS
      score, as well as some clinical markers (serum albumin and CRP levels), is useful
      for the prediction of the treatment outcome of UC patients in response to anti
      TNF-alpha antibodies. 

PMID- 26888162
TI  - Regional T1 relaxation time constants in Ex vivo human brain: Longitudinal
      effects of formalin exposure.
AB  - PURPOSE: Relaxation time constants are useful as markers of tissue properties.
      Imaging ex vivo tissue is done for research purposes; however, T1 relaxation time
      constants are altered by tissue fixation in a time-dependent manner. This study
      investigates regional changes in T1 relaxation time constants in ex vivo brain
      tissue over 6 months of fixation. METHODS: Five ex vivo human brain hemispheres
      in 10% formalin were scanned over 6 months. Mean T1 relaxation time constants
      were measured in regions of interest (ROIs) representing gray matter (GM) and
      white matter (WM) regions and analyzed as a function of fixation time. RESULTS:
      Cortical GM ROIs had longer T1 relaxation time constants than WM ROIs; the
      thalamus had T1 relaxation time constants similar to those of WM ROIs. T1
      relaxation time constants showed rapid shortening within the first 6 weeks after
      fixation followed by a slower rate of decline. CONCLUSION: Both GM and WM T1
      relaxation time constants of fixed brain tissue show rapid decline within the
      first 6 weeks after autopsy and slow by 6 months. This information is useful for
      optimizing MR imaging acquisition parameters according to fixation time for ex
      vivo brain imaging studies. Magn Reson Med 77:774-778, 2017. (c) 2016 The Authors
      Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access
      article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
      NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the
      original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications
      or adaptations are made.

PMID- 26888164
TI  - Effect of chenodeoxycholic acid and the bile acid sequestrant colesevelam on
      glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the effects of the primary human bile acid, chenodeoxycholic
      acid (CDCA), and the bile acid sequestrant (BAS) colesevelam, instilled into the
      stomach, on plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent
      insulinotropic polypeptide, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon,
      cholecystokinin and gastrin, as well as on gastric emptying, gallbladder volume,
      appetite and food intake. METHODS: On four separate days, nine patients with type
      2 diabetes, and 10 matched healthy control subjects received bolus instillations
      of (i) CDCA, (ii) colesevelam, (iii) CDCA + colesevelam or (iv) placebo. At
      baseline and for 180 min after instillation, blood was sampled. RESULTS: In both
      the type 2 diabetes group and the healthy control group, CDCA elicited an
      increase in GLP-1 levels compared with colesevelam, CDCA + colesevelam and
      placebo, respectively (p < 0.05). The interventions did not affect plasma
      glucose, insulin or C-peptide concentrations in any of the groups. CDCA elicited
      a small increase in plasma insulin : glucose ratio compared with colesevelam,
      CDCA + colesevelam and placebo in both groups. Compared with colesevelam, CDCA +
      colesevelam and placebo, respectively, CDCA increased glucagon and delayed
      gastric emptying in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: CDCA increased GLP-1 and glucagon
      secretion, and delayed gastric emptying. We speculate that bile acid-induced
      activation of TGR5 on L cells increases GLP-1 secretion, which, in turn, may
      result in amplification of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Furthermore our
      data suggest that colesevelam does not have an acute effect on GLP-1 secretion in
      humans.

PMID- 26888165
TI  - Information-Theoretic Measures Predict the Human Judgment of Rhythm Complexity.
AB  - To formalize the human judgment of rhythm complexity, we used five measures from
      information theory and algorithmic complexity to measure the complexity of 48
      artificially generated rhythmic sequences. We compared these measurements to
      human prediction accuracy and easiness judgments obtained from a listening
      experiment, in which 32 participants guessed the last beat of each sequence. We
      also investigated the modulating effects of musical expertise and general pattern
      identification ability. Entropy rate and Kolmogorov complexity were correlated
      with prediction accuracy, and highly correlated with easiness judgments. A
      logistic regression showed main effects of musical training, entropy rate, and
      Kolmogorov complexity, and an interaction between musical training and both
      entropy rate and Kolmogorov complexity. These results indicate that information
      theoretic concepts capture some salient features of the human judgment of rhythm
      complexity, and they confirm the influence of musical expertise on complexity
      judgments.

PMID- 26888163
TI  - Distinct activation of primary human BDCA1(+) dendritic cells upon interaction
      with stressed or infected beta cells.
AB  - Derailment of immune responses can lead to autoimmune type 1 diabetes, and this
      can be accelerated or even induced by local stress caused by inflammation or
      infection. Dendritic cells (DCs) shape both innate and adaptive immune responses.
      Here, we report on the responses of naturally occurring human myeloid BDCA1(+)
      DCs towards differentially stressed pancreatic beta cells. Our data show that
      BDCA1(+) DCs in human pancreas-draining lymph node (pdLN) suspensions and blood
      derived BDCA1(+) DCs both effectively engulf beta cells, thus mimicking
      physiological conditions. Upon uptake of enterovirus-infected, but not mock
      infected cells, BDCA1(+) DCs induced interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta responses, co
      stimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Notably,
      induction of stress in beta cells by ultraviolet irradiation, culture in serum
      free medium or cytokine-induced stress did not provoke strong DC activation,
      despite efficient phagocytosis. DC activation correlated with the amount of virus
      used to infect beta cells and required RNA within virally infected cells. DCs
      encountering enterovirus-infected beta cells, but not those incubated with mock
      infected or stressed beta cells, suppressed T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines and
      variably induced IFN-gamma in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Thus,
      stressed beta cells have little effect on human BDCA1(+) DC activation and
      function, while enterovirus-infected beta cells impact these cells significantly,
      which could help to explain their role in development of autoimmune diabetes in
      individuals at risk.

PMID- 26888166
TI  - Identification, Recombinant Expression, and Biochemical Analysis of Putative
      Secondary Product Glucosyltransferases from Citrus paradisi.
AB  - Flavonoid and limonoid glycosides influence taste properties as well as
      marketability of Citrus fruit and products, particularly grapefruit. In this
      work, nine grapefruit putative natural product glucosyltransferases (PGTs) were
      resolved by either using degenerate primers against the semiconserved PSPG box
      motif, SMART-RACE RT-PCR, and primer walking to full-length coding regions;
      screening a directionally cloned young grapefruit leaf EST library; designing
      primers against sequences from other Citrus species; or identifying PGTs from
      Citrus contigs in the harvEST database. The PGT proteins associated with the
      identified full-length coding regions were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia
      coli and/or Pichia pastoris and then tested for activity with a suite of
      substrates including flavonoid, simple phenolic, coumarin, and/or limonoid
      compounds. A number of these compounds were eliminated from the predicted and/or
      potential substrate pool for the identified PGTs. Enzyme activity was detected in
      some instances with quercetin and catechol glucosyltransferase activities having
      been identified. 

PMID- 26888167
TI  - Estradiol modulates Na(+) -dependent HCO3 (-) transporters altering intracellular
      pH and ion transport in human Sertoli cells: A role on male fertility?
AB  - BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Infertile men often present deregulation of serum
      estrogen levels. Notably, high levels of estradiol (E2) are associated with low
      sperm production and quality. Sertoli cells (SCs) are responsible for
      spermatogenesis maintenance and are major targets for the hormonal signalling
      that regulates this complex process. RESULTS: In this study, we used primary
      cultures of human SCs and studied the localisation, expression and functionality
      of the Na(+) -dependent HCO3 (-) transporters by confocal microscopy, immunoblot,
      epifluorescence and voltage clamp after 24 h of exposure to E2 (100 nM). All
      studied transporters were identified in human SCs. In E2-treated human SCs, there
      was an increase in NBCn1, NBCe1 and NDCBE protein levels, as well as an increase
      in intracellular pH and a decrease in transcellular transport. CONCLUSIONS: We
      report an association between increased levels of E2 and the expression/function
      of Na(+) -dependent HCO3 (-) transporters in human SCs. Our results provide new
      evidence on the mechanisms by which E2 can regulate SCs physiology and
      consequently spermatogenesis. These mechanisms may have an influence on male
      reproductive potential and help to explain male infertility conditions associated
      with estrogen deregulation. SIGNIFICANCE: Exposure to E2 increased human SCs
      intracellular pH. E2 is a modulator of ionic transcellular transport in human
      SCs.

PMID- 26888168
TI  - Arrhythmias: IL-6 and risk of atrial fibrillation in chronic kidney disease.

PMID- 26888170
TI  - Vascular disease: Vorapaxar for the treatment of PAD.

PMID- 26888171
TI  - A ratiometric fluorescent formaldehyde probe for bioimaging applications.
AB  - We have described a ratiometric fluorescent formaldehyde probe (RFFP) based on
      the 6-hydroxy naphthalene chromophore for the first time. The probe is suitable
      for ratiometric detection of formaldehyde both in the solution and living
      biological samples with two distinct emission bands. 

PMID- 26888172
TI  - Nanostructuration Effect on the Thermal Behavior of Ionic Liquids.
AB  - This work shows how the nanostructuration of ionic liquids (ILs) governs the
      glass and melting transitions of the bistriflimide imidazolium-based [Cn C1
      im][NTf2 ] and [Cn Cn im][NTf2 ] series, which highlights the trend shift that
      occurs at the critical alkyl size (CAS) of n=6. An initial increase in the glass
      temperature (Tg ) with an increase in the alkyl side chain was observed due to
      the intensification of the dispersive interactions (van der Waals). Above the
      CAS, the -CH2 - increment has the same effect in both glass and liquid states,
      which leads to a plateau in the glass transition after nanostructuration. The
      melting temperature (Tm ) of the [Cn C1 im][NTf2 ] and [Cn Cn im][NTf2 ] series
      presents a V-shaped profile. For the short-alkyl ILs, the -CH2 - increment
      affects the electrostatic ion pair interactions, which leads to an increase in
      the conformational entropy. The -CH2 - increment disturbs the packing ability of
      the ILs and leads to a higher entropy value (DeltaslSm? ) and consequently a
      decrease in Tm . Above the CAS, the -CH2 - contribution to the melting
      temperature becomes more regular, as a consequence of the nanostructuration of
      the IL into polar and nonpolar domains. The dependence of the alkyl chain on the
      temperature, enthalpy, and entropy of melting in the ILs above the CAS is very
      similar to the one observed for the alkane series, which highlights the
      importance of the nonpolar alkyl domains on the ILs thermal behavior.

PMID- 26888173
TI  - Effect of laser preparation on adhesion of a self-adhesive flowable composite
      resin to primary teeth.
AB  - The aim of the study was to evaluate the adhesion of a self-adhering flowable
      composite resin to primary tooth enamel and dentin after silicon carbide paper
      (SiC) and laser pretreatment. Adhesive properties were evaluated as shear bond
      strength (SBS) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) characteristics. A total
      120 primary canine teeth were randomly divided into two groups to study enamel
      and dentin. Each group was divided into 6 subgroups (n = 10) according to type of
      surface preparation (SiC or Er:YAG laser) of enamel or dentin. Three methods were
      used to build cylinders of restoration on tooth surface: OptiBond All-In-One +
      Premise Flowable composite, OptiBond All-In-One + Vertise Flow and Vertise flow.
      After restoration, samples were tested for SBS and failure mode. Twenty eight
      samples were examined by SEM. The results of the study showed SBS of Vertise Flow
      was lower than others in enamel and dentin samples pretreated with SiC and in
      dentin samples pretreated with laser (P < 0.001). Compared to SiC pretreatment,
      laser pretreatment led to a significantly higher SBS with Vertise Flow on enamel
      (P < 0.001). Vertise Flow associated with the adhesive led to a higher SBS in
      enamel and dentin compared to Vertise Flow alone. Adhesive and mixed failure
      modes were observed more frequently in Vertise Flow groups. SEM images showed
      that Vertise Flow led to more irregularities on enamel and more open dentinal
      tubules after laser ablation compared SiC pretreatment.

PMID- 26888174
TI  - Recurrent Spiking Networks Solve Planning Tasks.
AB  - A recurrent spiking neural network is proposed that implements planning as
      probabilistic inference for finite and infinite horizon tasks. The architecture
      splits this problem into two parts: The stochastic transient firing of the
      network embodies the dynamics of the planning task. With appropriate injected
      input this dynamics is shaped to generate high-reward state trajectories. A
      general class of reward-modulated plasticity rules for these afferent synapses is
      presented. The updates optimize the likelihood of getting a reward through a
      variant of an Expectation Maximization algorithm and learning is guaranteed to
      convergence to a local maximum. We find that the network dynamics are
      qualitatively similar to transient firing patterns during planning and foraging
      in the hippocampus of awake behaving rats. The model extends classical attractor
      models and provides a testable prediction on identifying modulating contextual
      information. In a real robot arm reaching and obstacle avoidance task the ability
      to represent multiple task solutions is investigated. The neural planning method
      with its local update rules provides the basis for future neuromorphic hardware
      implementations with promising potentials like large data processing abilities
      and early initiation of strategies to avoid dangerous situations in robot co
      worker scenarios. 

PMID- 26888175
TI  - Incorporating genetic counseling into clinical care for children and adolescents
      with cancer.

PMID- 26888169
TI  - Assessing quality-of-life outcomes in cardiovascular clinical research.
AB  - The field of quality-of-life (QOL) measurement grew out of attempts in the 1960s
      and 1970s to connect the ever-increasing levels of public expenditure on
      technology-based health care for chronic diseases with evidence of the benefits
      and harms to patients. Most of the concepts, methods, and standards for measuring
      QOL were derived from psychometrics, but the degree to which current tools adhere
      to these methods varies greatly. Despite the importance of QOL, patient-reported
      outcomes are not measured in most cardiovascular clinical trials. Lack of
      familiarity with QOL measures and their interpretation, and unrealistic
      expectations about the information these measures can provide, are obstacles to
      their use. Large clinical trials of revascularization therapy for coronary artery
      disease and medical treatments for heart failure show small-to-moderate QOL
      effects, primarily detected with disease-specific instruments. Larger treatment
      effects, seen in trials of device therapy for heart failure and ablation therapy
      for atrial fibrillation, have been detected with both generic and disease
      specific instruments. A large gap remains between the parameters currently being
      measured in clinical research and the data needed to incorporate the 'patient's
      voice' into therapeutic decision-making.

PMID- 26888177
TI  - The Spark of Life: Engaging the Cortico-Truncoreticulo-Propriospinal Pathway by
      Electrical Stimulation.

PMID- 26888176
TI  - Mutations in the nuclear bile acid receptor FXR cause progressive familial
      intrahepatic cholestasis.
AB  - Neonatal cholestasis is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt
      diagnosis. Mutations in several different genes can cause progressive familial
      intrahepatic cholestasis, but known genes cannot account for all familial cases.
      Here we report four individuals from two unrelated families with neonatal
      cholestasis and mutations in NR1H4, which encodes the farnesoid X receptor (FXR),
      a bile acid-activated nuclear hormone receptor that regulates bile acid
      metabolism. Clinical features of severe, persistent NR1H4-related cholestasis
      include neonatal onset with rapid progression to end-stage liver disease, vitamin
      K-independent coagulopathy, low-to-normal serum gamma-glutamyl transferase
      activity, elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein and undetectable liver bile salt
      export pump (ABCB11) expression. Our findings demonstrate a pivotal function for
      FXR in bile acid homeostasis and liver protection. 

PMID- 26888178
TI  - Classification and rates of adverse events in a Malawi male circumcision program:
      impact of quality improvement training.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Assessing safety outcomes is critical to inform optimal scale-up of
      voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs. Clinical trials demonstrated
      adverse event (AE) rates from 1.5 to 8 %, but we have limited data on AEs from
      VMMC programs. METHODS: A group problem-solving, quality improvement (QI) project
      involving retrospective chart audits, case-conference AE classification, and
      provider training was conducted at a VMMC clinic in Malawi. For each identified
      potential AE, the timing, assessment, treatment, and resolution was recorded,
      then a clinical team classified each event for type and severity. During group
      discussions, VMMC providers were queried regarding lessons learned and challenges
      in providing care. After baseline evaluation, clinicians and managers initiated a
      QI plan to improve AE assessment and management. A repeat audit 6 months later
      used similar methods to assess the proportions and severity of AEs after the QI
      intervention. RESULTS: Baseline audits of 3000 charts identified 418 possible AEs
      (13.9 %), including 152 (5.1 %) excluded after determination of provider
      misclassification. Of the 266 remaining AEs, the team concluded that 257 were
      procedure-related (8.6 AEs per 100 VMMC procedures), including 6 (0.2 %)
      classified as mild, 218 (7.3 %) moderate, and 33 (1.1 %) severe. Structural
      factors found to contribute to AE rates and misclassification included: provider
      management of post-operative inflammation was consistent with national guidelines
      for urethral discharge; available antibiotics were from the STI formulary;
      providers felt well-trained in surgical skills but insecure in post-operative
      assessment and care. After implementation of the QI plan, a repeat process
      evaluating 2540 cases identified 115 procedure-related AEs (4.5 AEs per 100 VMMC
      procedures), including 67 (2.6 %) classified as mild, 28 (1.1 %) moderate, and 20
      (0.8 %) severe. Reports of AEs decreased by 48 % (from 8.6 to 4.5 per 100 VMMC
      procedures, p < 0.001). Reports of moderate-plus-severe (program-reportable) AEs
      decreased by 75 % (from 8.4 to 1.9 per 100 VMMC procedures, p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: AE rates from our VMMC program implementation site were within the
      range of clinical trial experiences. A group problem-solving QI intervention
      improved post-operative assessment, clinical management, and AE reporting. Our QI
      process significantly improved clinical outcomes and led to more accurate
      reporting of overall and program-reportable AEs.

PMID- 26888180
TI  - Aging effects in sequential modulations of poorer-strategy effects during
      execution of memory strategies.
AB  - In this study, we asked young adults and older adults to encode pairs of words.
      For each item, they were told which strategy to use, interactive imagery or rote
      repetition. Data revealed poorer-strategy effects in both young adults and older
      adults: Participants obtained better performance when executing better strategies
      (i.e., interactive-imagery strategy to encode pairs of concrete words; rote
      repetition strategy on pairs of abstract words) than with poorer strategies
      (i.e., interactive-imagery strategy on pairs of abstract words; rote-repetition
      strategy on pairs of concrete words). Crucially, we showed that sequential
      modulations of poorer-strategy effects (i.e., poorer-strategy effects being
      larger when previous items were encoded with better relative to poorer
      strategies), previously demonstrated in arithmetic, generalise to memory
      strategies. We also found reduced sequential modulations of poorer-strategy
      effects in older adults relative to young adults. Finally, sequential modulations
      of poorer-strategy effects correlated with measures of cognitive control
      processes, suggesting that these processes underlie efficient trial-to-trial
      modulations during strategy execution. Differences in correlations with cognitive
      control processes were also found between older adults and young adults. These
      findings have important implications regarding mechanisms underlying memory
      strategy execution and age differences in memory performance.

PMID- 26888179
TI  - Development of a Comprehensive Sequencing Assay for Inherited Cardiac Condition
      Genes.
AB  - Inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) are characterised by marked genetic and
      allelic heterogeneity and require extensive sequencing for genetic
      characterisation. We iteratively optimised a targeted gene capture panel for ICCs
      that includes disease-causing, putatively pathogenic, research and phenocopy
      genes (n = 174 genes). We achieved high coverage of the target region on both
      MiSeq (>99.8% at >= 20* read depth, n = 12) and NextSeq (>99.9% at >= 20*, n =
      48) platforms with 100% sensitivity and precision for single nucleotide variants
      and indels across the protein-coding target on the MiSeq. In the final assay, 40
      out of 43 established ICC genes informative in clinical practice achieved
      complete coverage (100 % at >= 20*). By comparison, whole exome sequencing (WES;
      ~ 80*), deep WES (~ 500*) and whole genome sequencing (WGS; ~ 70*) had poorer
      performance (88.1, 99.2 and 99.3% respectively at >= 20*) across the ICC target.
      The assay described here delivers highly accurate and affordable sequencing of
      ICC genes, complemented by accessible cloud-based computation and informatics.
      See Editorial in this issue (DOI: 10.1007/s12265-015-9667-8 ).

PMID- 26888182
TI  - Generation of elliptically polarized nitrogen ion laser fields using two-color
      femtosecond laser pulses.
AB  - We experimentally investigate generation of nitrogen molecular ion (N2+) lasers
      with two femtosecond laser pulses at different wavelengths. The first pulse
      serves as the pump which ionizes the nitrogen molecules and excites the molecular
      ions to excited electronic states. The second pulse serves as the probe which
      leads to stimulated emission from the excited molecular ions. We observe that
      changing the angle between the polarization directions of the two pulses gives
      rise to elliptically polarized N2+ laser fields, which is interpreted as a result
      of strong birefringence of the gain medium near the wavelengths of the N2+ laser.

PMID- 26888181
TI  - Circulating fibroblast growth factor-23 plasma levels predict adverse
      cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus with coronary artery
      disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) plasma levels
      predict adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. However, FGF
      23 has a different behaviour in the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).
      We explored whether the presence of T2D affects the predictive power of FGF-23.
      METHODS: In 704 patients with stable coronary artery disease, FGF-23, calcidiol,
      parathormone (PTH) and phosphate plasma levels were prospectively assessed. The
      primary outcome was the development of acute ischemic events (acute coronary
      syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack), heart failure or death. RESULTS:
      One hundred seventy-three (24.6%) patients had T2D, without differences in age,
      sex or estimated glomerular filtration rate as compared with non-diabetic
      patients. Serum PTH was lower and phosphate higher in T2D than in non-diabetic
      patients, without differences in FGF-23 or calcidiol levels. During follow-up
      (2.15 +/- 0.99 years), 26 (15.2%) T2D and 51 (9.6%) non-diabetic patients
      developed the outcome (p = 0.048). T2D patients who developed the outcome had
      higher FGF-23 [112.0 (59.9, 167.6) vs 68.9 (54.2, 93.0) RU/mL; p = 0.002], PTH
      [71.3 (47.3, 106.6) vs 51.9 (40.8, 66.2) pg/mL; p = 0.004) and phosphate (3.53 +/
      0.71 vs 3.25 +/- 0.50 mg/dL; p = 0.017) levels than T2D subjects who remained
      stable. These differences were not significant in non-diabetic patients. By
      multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, FGF-23 predicted independently the
      outcome in T2D patients [hazard ratio = 1.277; 95% CI (1.132, 1.442)] but not in
      those without T2D. CONCLUSIONS: FGF-23 plasma levels predict adverse
      cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease patients who have T2D but not
      in those without T2D. This finding should be confirmed in larger studies.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888183
TI  - Monoclonal antibody therapy in multiple myeloma: where do we stand and where are
      we going?
AB  - Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy that is characterized by refractory
      and relapsing course of disease. Despite the introduction of high-dose
      chemotherapy in combination with autologous stem cell transplantation and
      innovative agents such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs,
      achieving cure in multiple myeloma is a challenging endeavor. In the last couple
      of years, enormous advances were made in implementing monoclonal antibody therapy
      in multiple myeloma. A large number of preclinical and clinical studies have been
      introduced successfully, demonstrating a safe and efficient administration of
      monoclonal antibodies in multiple myeloma. In particular, the application of
      monoclonal antibodies in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome
      inhibitors, corticosteroids or conventional chemotherapy seem to be promising and
      will expand the treatment arsenal for patients with multiple myeloma. 

PMID- 26888184
TI  - The impact of atrial fibrillation type on the risk of thromboembolism, mortality,
      and bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - AIMS: Thromboembolic risk stratification schemes and clinical guidelines for
      atrial fibrillation (AF) regard risk as independent of classification into
      paroxysmal (PAF) and non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF). The aim of the
      current study was to conduct a systematic review evaluating the impact of AF type
      on thromboembolism, bleeding, and mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: PubMed was
      searched through 27 November 2014 for randomized controlled trials, cohort
      studies, and case series reporting prospectively collected clinical outcomes
      stratified by AF type. The incidence of thromboembolism, mortality, and bleeding
      was extracted. Atrial fibrillation clinical outcome data were extracted from 12
      studies containing 99 996 patients. The unadjusted risk ratio (RR) for
      thromboembolism in NPAF vs. PAF was 1.355 (95% CI: 1.169-1.571, P < 0.001). In
      the study subset off oral anticoagulation, unadjusted RR was 1.689 (95% CI: 1.151
      2.480, P = 0.007). The overall multivariable adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for
      thromboembolism was 1.384 (95% CI: 1.191-1.608, P < 0.001). The overall
      unadjusted RR for all-cause mortality was 1.462 (95% CI: 1.255-1.703, P < 0.001).
      Multivariable adjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 1.217 (95% CI: 1.085-1.365,
      P < 0.001). Rates of bleeding were similar, with unadjusted RR 1.00 (95% CI:
      0.919-1.087, P = 0.994) and adjusted HR 1.025 (95% CI: 0.898-1.170, P = 0.715).
      CONCLUSION: Non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is associated with a highly
      significant increase in thromboembolism and death. These data suggest the need
      for new therapies to prevent AF progression and further studies to explore the
      integration of AF type into models of thromboembolic risk.

PMID- 26888185
TI  - Protective T Cell and Antibody Immune Responses against Hepatitis C Virus
      Achieved Using a Biopolyester-Bead-Based Vaccine Delivery System.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major worldwide problem. Chronic hepatitis
      C is recognized as one of the major causes of cirrhosis, hepatocellular
      carcinoma, and liver failure. Although new, directly acting antiviral therapies
      are suggested to overcome the low efficacy and adverse effects observed for the
      current standard of treatment, an effective vaccine would be the only way to
      certainly eradicate HCV infection. Recently, polyhydroxybutyrate beads produced
      by engineered Escherichia coli showed efficacy as a vaccine delivery system.
      Here, an endotoxin-free E. coli strain (ClearColi) was engineered to produce
      polyhydroxybutyrate beads displaying the core antigen on their surface (Beads
      Core) and their immunogenicity was evaluated in BALB/c mice. Immunization with
      Beads-Core induced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion and a functional T cell
      immune response against the HCV Core protein. With the aim to target broad T and
      B cell determinants described for HCV, Beads-Core mixed with HCV E1, E2, and NS3
      recombinant proteins was also evaluated in BALB/c mice. Remarkably, only three
      immunization with Beads-Core+CoE1E2NS3/Alum (a mixture of 0.1 MUg Co.120, 16.7
      MUg E1.340, 16.7 MUg E2.680, and 10 MUg NS3 adjuvanted in aluminum hydroxide
      [Alum]) induced a potent antibody response against E1 and E2 and a broad IFN
      gamma secretion and T cell response against Core and all coadministered antigens.
      This immunological response mediated protective immunity to viremia as assessed
      in a viral surrogate challenge model. Overall, it was shown that engineered
      biopolyester beads displaying foreign antigens are immunogenic and might present
      a particulate delivery system suitable for vaccination against HCV.

PMID- 26888186
TI  - Kinetics of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Neutralizing and Virus-Specific Antibodies
      after Primary Infection with EBV.
AB  - Prospective studies of antibodies to multiple Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins
      and EBV neutralizing antibodies in the same individuals before, during, and after
      primary EBV infection have not been reported. We studied antibody responses to
      EBV in college students who acquired primary EBV infection during prospective
      surveillance and correlated the kinetics of antibody response with the severity
      of disease. Neutralizing antibodies and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
      antibodies to gp350, the major target of neutralizing antibody, reached peak
      levels at medians of 179 and 333 days after the onset of symptoms of infectious
      mononucleosis, respectively. No clear correlation was found between the severity
      of the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis and the peak levels of antibody to
      individual viral proteins or to neutralizing antibody. In summary, we found that
      titers of neutralizing antibody and antibodies to multiple EBV proteins increase
      over many months after primary infection with EBV. 

PMID- 26888189
TI  - The O-antigen Mediates Differential Survival of Salmonella Against Communities of
      Natural Predators.
AB  - Antigenically-distinct members of bacterial species can be differentially
      distributed in the environment. Predators known to consume antigenically-distinct
      prey with different efficiencies are also differentially distributed. Here we
      show that antigenically-distinct, but otherwise isogenic and physiologically
      indistinct, strains of Salmonella enterica show differential survival in natural
      soil, sediment and intestinal environments where they would face a community of
      predators. Decline in overall cell numbers is attenuated by factors that inhibit
      the action of predators, including heat and antiprotozoal and antihelminthic
      drugs. Moreover, the fitnesses of strains facing these predators - calculated by
      comparing survival with and without treatments attenuating predator activity -
      vary between environments. These results suggest that relative survival in
      natural environments is arbitrated by communities of natural predators whose
      feeding preferences, if not species composition, varies between environments.
      These data support the hypothesis that survival against natural predators may
      drive the differential distribution of bacteria among microenvironments.

PMID- 26888188
TI  - Multimetallic Architectures from the Self-assembly of Amino Acids and Tris(2
      pyridylmethyl)amine Zinc(II) Complexes: Circular Dichroism Enhancement by
      Chromophores Organization.
AB  - Stereodynamic optical probes are becoming very popular for their capability to
      act as molecular sensors for the determination of the enantiomeric excess (ee) of
      chiral compounds. Herein, we describe a new molecular architecture formed by the
      self-assembly of three zinc metal ions, two modified tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine
      ligands, and two amino acids. This system is the structural and functional
      serendipitous evolution of our previous probe for the determination of amino
      acids ee. In the new system, one of the metals templates in close proximity two
      chromophores enhancing their exciton coupling. 

PMID- 26888192
TI  - IgE to novel citrus seed allergens among cashew-allergic children.

PMID- 26888190
TI  - Chronic Meningitis: Simplifying a Diagnostic Challenge.
AB  - Chronic meningitis can be a diagnostic dilemma for even the most experienced
      clinician. Many times, the differential diagnosis is broad and encompasses
      autoimmune, neoplastic, and infectious etiologies. This review will focus on a
      general approach to chronic meningitis to simplify the diagnostic challenges many
      clinicians face. The article will also review the most common etiologies of
      chronic meningitis in some detail including clinical presentation, diagnostic
      testing, treatment, and outcomes. By using a case-based approach, we will focus
      on the key elements of clinical presentation and laboratory analysis that will
      yield the most rapid and accurate diagnosis in these complicated cases. 

PMID- 26888187
TI  - TNFalpha induces co-trafficking of TRPV1/TRPA1 in VAMP1-containing vesicles to
      the plasmalemma via Munc18-1/syntaxin1/SNAP-25 mediated fusion.
AB  - Transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 and V1 channels relay sensory signals, yet
      little is known about their transport to the plasmalemma during inflammation.
      Herein, TRPA1 and TRPV1 were found on vesicles containing calcitonin gene-related
      peptide (CGRP), accumulated at sites of exo- and endo-cytosis, and co-localised
      on fibres and cell bodies of cultured sensory neurons expressing both. A
      proinflammatory cytokine, TNFalpha, elevated their surface content, and both
      resided in close proximity, indicating co-trafficking. Syntaxin 1-interacting
      protein, Munc18-1, proved necessary for the response to TNFalpha, and for TRPV1
      triggered CGRP release. TNFalpha-induced surface trafficking of TRPV1 and TRPA1
      required a synaptic vesicle membrane protein VAMP1 (but not 2/3), which is
      essential for CGRP exocytosis from large dense-core vesicles. Inactivation of two
      proteins on the presynaptic plasma membrane, syntaxin-1 or SNAP-25, by botulinum
      neurotoxin (BoNT)/C1 or /A inhibited the TNFalpha-elevated delivery. Accordingly,
      enhancement by TNFalpha of Ca(2+) influx through the upregulated surface
      expressed TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels was abolished by BoNT/A. Thus, in addition,
      the neurotoxins' known inhibition of the release of pain transmitters, their
      therapeutic potential is augmented by lowering the exocytotic delivery of
      transducing channels and the resultant hyper-sensitisation in inflammation. 

PMID- 26888194
TI  - Effective communication in eliciting and responding to suicidal thoughts: a
      systematic review protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the UK, over 6500 people die by suicide each year. In England
      alone, this is one person every 2 h. Professionals assess risk of suicide in face
      to-face contacts with people potentially at risk. The National Confidential
      Inquiry into Suicide found that most people who took their life were classified
      as 'low risk' in their final contact with mental health services. Training for
      front-line staff in reducing suicide is a NHS priority. While there is
      considerable evidence on what to assess when exploring suicidal ideation, there
      is little evidence on how to ask sensitive questions to effectively identify
      suicide risk and how to respond in the treatment encounter to reduce patient
      distress and suicidal ideation. This is critical for identifying risk and putting
      appropriate care in place. METHODS: An electronic search will be conducted using
      MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases. Controlled
      studies of effectiveness will be identified using a predefined search strategy.
      The focus will be on suicidal thoughts/feelings rather than self-harm without
      intent to die. Two authors will independently screen articles using predefined
      inclusion and exclusion criteria and relevant data will be extracted using the
      Cochrane Collaboration data extraction form for randomised controlled trials
      (RCTs). Discrepancies between the two authors will be resolved by consensus or by
      consulting a third author at all levels of screening. We will assess the quality
      of evidence as well as risk of bias. A meta-analysis will be conducted if
      participants, interventions and comparisons are sufficiently similar, and we will
      perform the meta-analysis using Stata data analysis and statistical software.
      DISCUSSION: The results of this systematic review will be used to guide training
      and practice for health care professionals. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION:
      PROSPERO CRD42015025867.

PMID- 26888195
TI  - Getting to know the extracellular vesicle glycome.
AB  - Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a diverse population of complex biological
      particles with diameters ranging from approximately 20 to 1000 nm. Tremendous
      interest in EVs has been generated following a number of recent, high-profile
      reports describing their potential utility in diagnostic, prognostic, drug
      delivery, and therapeutic roles. Subpopulations, such as exosomes, are now known
      to directly participate in cell-cell communication and direct material transfer.
      Glycomics, the 'omic' portion of the glycobiology field, has only begun to
      catalog the surface oligosaccharide and polysaccharide structures and also the
      carbohydrate-binding proteins found on and inside EVs. The EV glycome undoubtedly
      contains vital clues essential to better understanding the function, biogenesis,
      release and transfer of vesicles, however getting at this information is
      technically challenging and made even more so because of the small physical size
      of the vesicles and the typically minute yield from physiological-scale
      biological samples. Vesicle micro-heterogeneity which may be related to specific
      vesicle origins and functions presents a further challenge. A number of primary
      studies carried out over the past decade have turned up specific and valuable
      clues regarding the composition and roles of glycan structures and also glycan
      binding proteins involved EV biogenesis and transfer. This review explores some
      of the major EV glycobiological research carried out to date and discusses the
      potential implications of these findings across the life sciences. 

PMID- 26888193
TI  - Fasciola hepatica in goats from north-western Spain: Risk factor analysis using a
      capture ELISA.
AB  - In order to study the seroprevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in goats from
      north-western Spain, a total of 603 serum samples from 47 herds were tested using
      a capture ELISA (MM3-SERO). The identification of risk factors was assessed by a
      mixed-effects logistic regression analysis. The results showed that F. hepatica
      is widespread in this area with 57.4% of the herds and 22.7% of the animals
      testing positive. Breed and age were identified as determining factors for
      caprine F. hepatica infection. Seroprevalence in cross-bred animals was
      significantly higher than in the autochthonous Cabra Galega breed. A
      significantly higher seroprevalence was observed in older animals. The use of
      locally adapted breeds and the implementation of suitable management practices
      could provide a substantial improvement over the current F. hepatica control
      measures carried out in goat herds and should be considered when designing new F.
      hepatica control programs. 

PMID- 26888196
TI  - Development, Validation, and Implementation of an Innovative Mobile App for
      Alcohol Dependence Management: Protocol for the SIDEAL Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become one of
      the main pathways to the new paradigm of increased self-management of chronic
      conditions such as alcohol dependence. Validation of some mobile phone apps has
      begun, while validation of many others is forthcoming. OBJECTIVE: To describe the
      protocol for validation of a new app called SIDEAL (an acronym of the Spanish
      name "Soporte Innovador a la persona con DEpendencia del ALcohol," or innovative
      support for people with alcohol dependence). METHODS: The project consists of 3
      complementary, consecutive studies, including a pilot feasibility study, a
      qualitative study using focus groups, and, finally, a randomized controlled trial
      where patients will be randomized to standard treatment or standard treatment
      plus SIDEAL. During the pilot study, feasibility, usability, and acceptance by
      users will be the main outcomes explored. An electronic questionnaire will be
      sent to patients asking for their opinions. Focus groups will be the next step,
      after which improvements and refinements will be implemented in the app. During
      the final phase, consumption variables (heavy drinking days per month, mean
      standard drinks per day) will be investigated, in order to test app efficacy.
      RESULTS: Because of the encouraging results with previous similar apps, we expect
      patients to widely accept and incorporate SIDEAL into their therapeutic options.
      Significant reductions in drinking-related variables are also expected. The pilot
      study has concluded with the inclusion of 29 patients. Results are expected to be
      available soon (expected mid-2016). CONCLUSIONS: SIDEAL may represent a useful,
      reliable, effective, and efficient tool to complement therapeutic options
      available to both patients and professionals.

PMID- 26888198
TI  - Kentucky's Medicaid Expansion Showing Early Promise On Coverage And Access To
      Care.
AB  - Kentucky is one of only two southern states, at the time of this writing, to have
      expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The expansion raised Medicaid
      eligibility levels as a means to make coverage more accessible and make health
      care more affordable for a population likely to face financial barriers in using
      medical care. This article examines the first-year impact of Kentucky's Medicaid
      expansion on insurance coverage and access to care. Focusing on Kentucky's low
      income population, we observed large reductions in the low-income uninsurance
      rate from 35 percent at the end of 2013 to just below 11 percent by the end of
      2014. Other findings revealed declines in unmet medical needs because of cost and
      declines in the number of people without a readily identifiable source of regular
      care among low-income groups. While our results are limited to Kentucky's
      experience with Medicaid expansion, they may hold lessons for other states
      looking to address health care access issues among their historically vulnerable
      and low-income populations. 

PMID- 26888197
TI  - Strong hole-doping and robust resistance-decrease in proton-irradiated graphene.
AB  - Great effort has been devoted in recent years to improve the electrical
      conductivity of graphene for use in practical applications. Here, we demonstrate
      the hole carrier density of CVD graphene on a SiO2/Si substrate increases by more
      than one order of magnitude to n = 3 * 10(13) cm(-2) after irradiation with a
      high energy 5 MeV proton beam. As a result, the dc-resistance (R) of graphene is
      reduced significantly by 60%. Only a negligible amount of defect is created by
      the irradiation. Also the hole-doped low resistance state of graphene remains
      robust against external perturbations. This carrier doping is achieved without
      requiring the bias-gate voltage as is the case for other field effect devices. We
      make two important observations, (i) occurrence of the doping after the
      irradiation is turned off (ii) indispensability of the SiO2-layer in the
      substrate, which leads to a purely electronic mechanism for the doping where
      electron-hole pair creation and interlayer Coulomb attraction play a major role.
      A flux-dependent study predicts that an ultrahigh doping may be obtained by
      longer irradiation. We expect the irradiation doping method could be applied to
      other atomically thin solids, facilitating the fundamental study and application
      of the 2d materials.

PMID- 26888200
TI  - Mortality and Rates of Secondary Intervention After EVAR in an Unselected
      Population: Influence of Simple Clinical Categories and Implications for
      Surveillance.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Post-EVAR surveillance has a major impact upon patients, carers and
      healthcare resources. We hypothesised that elective indication, on-IFU anatomy,
      use of a modern device or normal first CTA, or a combination of these categories,
      might predict a rate of secondary intervention low enough to alter current
      surveillance protocols. METHODS: Patients undergoing EVAR in our institution
      between 01.05.2007 and 28.02.2013 were assessed. Data on indication (elective,
      emergency), anatomy relative to IFU, device, first month CTA result, secondary
      intervention and mortality were obtained. Kaplan-Meier charts of mortality and
      freedom from secondary intervention were produced. Statistical analysis was by
      log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard modelling. RESULTS: 234 patients
      underwent EVAR (188 elective, 208 on-IFU). Most implants were Endurant (106) or
      Talent (98). 151 patients had a normal first CTA. By median follow-up of 38.6
      months, 39 patients underwent secondary intervention. A normal first CTA and
      elective indication were significantly associated with reduced risk of secondary
      intervention (p < 0.001 and p = 0.042 respectively), but device type and
      placement on- or off-IFU were not. Elective placement with a normal first CTA was
      93 % predictive of freedom from secondary intervention by 32 months post-EVAR. Of
      nine patients undergoing secondary intervention in this group, eight presented
      symptomatically. DISCUSSION: In optimal procedural circumstances with normal post
      procedural imaging, only 7 % of patients undergoing EVAR require secondary
      intervention, a minority of which is driven by surveillance. These data support a
      change to surveillance more tailored to the individual patient, and highlight the
      need for further qualitative and quantitative research.

PMID- 26888199
TI  - Depression motivates quit attempts but predicts relapse: differential findings
      for gender from the International Tobacco Control Study.
AB  - AIMS: To determine whether signs of current depression predict attempts to quit
      smoking, and short-term abstinence among those who try, and to test moderating
      effects of gender and cessation support (pharmacological and behavioural).
      DESIGN: Prospective cohort with approximately annual waves. Among smokers at one
      wave we assessed outcomes at the next wave using mixed-effects logistic
      regressions. SETTING: Waves 5-8 of the Four Country International Tobacco Control
      Study: a quasi-experimental cohort study of smokers from Canada, USA, UK and
      Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6811 tobacco smokers who participated in
      telephone surveys. MEASUREMENTS: Three-level depression index: (1) neither low
      positive affect (LPA) nor negative affect (NA) in the last 4 weeks; (2) LPA
      and/or NA but not diagnosed with depression in the last 12 months; and (3)
      diagnosed with depression. Outcomes were quit attempts and 1-month abstinence
      among attempters. FINDINGS: Depression positively predicted quit attempts, but
      not after controlling for quitting history and motivational variables.
      Controlling for all covariates, depression consistently negatively predicted
      abstinence. Cessation support did not moderate this effect. There was a
      significant interaction with gender for quit attempts (P = 0.018) and abstinence
      (P = 0.049) after controlling for demographics, but not after all covariates.
      Depression did not predict abstinence among men. Among women, depressive symptoms
      [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49-0.81] and diagnosis
      (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.34-0.63) negatively predicted abstinence. CONCLUSIONS:
      Smokers with depressive symptoms or diagnosis make more quit attempts than their
      non-depressed counterparts, which may be explained by higher motivation to quit,
      but they are also more likely to relapse in the first month. These findings are
      stronger in women than men.

PMID- 26888201
TI  - Alternative methods for the Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin ring-stage survival
      assay with increased simplicity and parasite stage-specificity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Artemisinin-based combination therapy is recommended to treat
      Plasmodium falciparum worldwide, but observations of longer artemisinin (ART)
      parasite clearance times (PCTs) in Southeast Asia are widely interpreted as a
      sign of potential ART resistance. In search of an in vitro correlate of in vivo
      PCT after ART treatment, a ring-stage survival assay (RSA) of 0-3 h parasites was
      developed and linked to polymorphisms in the Kelch propeller protein (K13).
      However, RSA remains a laborious process, involving heparin, Percoll gradient,
      and sorbitol treatments to obtain rings in the 0-3 h window. Here two alternative
      RSA protocols are presented and compared to the standard Percoll-based method,
      one highly stage-specific and one streamlined for laboratory application.
      METHODS: For all protocols, P. falciparum cultures were synchronized with 5 %
      sorbitol treatment twice over two intra-erythrocytic cycles. For a filtration
      based RSA, late-stage schizonts were passed through a 1.2 MUm filter to isolate
      merozoites, which were incubated with uninfected erythrocytes for 45 min. The
      erythrocytes were then washed to remove lysis products and further incubated
      until 3 h post-filtration. Parasites were pulsed with either 0.1 % dimethyl
      sulfoxide (DMSO) or 700 nM dihydroartemisinin in 0.1 % DMSO for 6 h, washed twice
      in drug-free media, and incubated for 66-90 h, when survival was assessed by
      microscopy. For a sorbitol-only RSA, synchronized young (0-3 h) rings were
      treated with 5 % sorbitol once more prior to the assay and adjusted to 1 %
      parasitaemia. The drug pulse, incubation, and survival assessment were as
      described above. RESULTS: Ring-stage survival of P. falciparum parasites
      containing either the K13 C580 or C580Y polymorphism (associated with low and
      high RSA survival, respectively) were assessed by the described filtration and
      sorbitol-only methods and produced comparable results to the reported Percoll
      gradient RSA. Advantages of both new methods include: fewer reagents, decreased
      time investment, and fewer procedural steps, with enhanced stage-specificity
      conferred by the filtration method. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing P. falciparum ART
      sensitivity in vitro via RSA can be streamlined and accurately evaluated in the
      laboratory by filtration or sorbitol synchronization methods, thus increasing the
      accessibility of the assay to research groups.

PMID- 26888204
TI  - The Rainbow Becomes a Spectrum.

PMID- 26888202
TI  - Fungal-mediated consolidated bioprocessing: the potential of Fusarium oxysporum
      for the lignocellulosic ethanol industry.
AB  - Microbial bioprocessing of lignocellulose to bioethanol still poses challenges in
      terms of substrate catabolism. The most important challenge is to overcome
      substrate recalcitrance and to thus reduce the number of steps needed to
      biorefine lignocellulose. Conventionally, conversion involves chemical
      pretreatment of lignocellulose, followed by hydrolysis of biomass to monomer
      sugars that are subsequently fermented into bioethanol. Consolidated
      bioprocessing (CBP) has been suggested as an efficient and economical method of
      manufacturing bioethanol from lignocellulose. CBP integrates the hydrolysis and
      fermentation steps into a single process, thereby significantly reducing the
      amount of steps in the biorefining process. Filamentous fungi are remarkable
      organisms that are naturally specialised in deconstructing plant biomass and thus
      they have tremendous potential as components of CBP. The fungus Fusarium
      oxysporum has potential for CBP of lignocellulose to bioethanol. Here we discuss
      the complexity and potential of CBP, the bottlenecks in the process, and the
      potential influence of fungal genetic diversity, substrate complexity and new
      technologies on the efficacy of CPB of lignocellulose, with a focus on F.
      oxysporum. 

PMID- 26888203
TI  - Diverse effects of a biosurfactant from Rhodococcus ruber IEGM 231 on the
      adhesion of resting and growing bacteria to polystyrene.
AB  - This study evaluated the effects of a trehalolipid biosurfactant produced by
      Rhodococcus ruber IEGM 231 on the bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on the
      surface of polystyrene microplates. The adhesion of Gram-positive (Arthrobacter
      simplex, Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacterium linens, Corynebacterium glutamicum,
      Micrococcus luteus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
      fluorescencens) bacteria correlated differently with the cell hydrophobicity and
      surface charge. In particular, exponentially growing bacterial cells with
      increased hydrophobicities adhered stronger to polystyrene compared to more
      hydrophilic stationary phase cells. Also, a moderate correlation (0.56) was found
      between zeta potential and adhesion values of actively growing bacteria,
      suggesting that less negatively charged cells adhered stronger to polystyrene.
      Efficient biosurfactant concentrations (10-100 mg/L) were determined, which
      selectively inhibited (up to 76 %) the adhesion of tested bacterial cultures,
      however without inhibiting their growth. The biosurfactant was more active
      against growing bacteria rather than resting cells, thus showing high biofilm
      preventing properties. Contact angle measurements revealed more hydrophilic
      surface of the biosurfactant-covered polystyrene compared to bare polystyrene,
      which allowed less adhesion of hydrophobic bacteria. Furthermore, surface free
      energy calculations showed a decrease in the Wan der Waals (gamma(LW)) component
      and an increase in the acid-based (gamma(AB)) component caused by the
      biosurfactant coating of polysterene. However, our results suggested that the
      biosurfactant inhibited the adhesion of bacteria independently on their surface
      charges. AFM scanning revealed three-type biosurfactant structures (micelles,
      cord-like assemblies and large vesicles) formed on glass, depending on
      concentrations used, that could lead to diverse anti-adhesive effects against
      different bacterial species. 

PMID- 26888205
TI  - The health performance of imported Boer goat (Capra hircus) and their crosses
      with Woito-guji goat breeds in South Omo Zone, South-Western Ethiopia.
AB  - Goat production in Ethiopia is constrained by various bottlenecks and low genetic
      performance of local breeds is among them. Southern Agricultural Research
      Institute had introduced Boer goats, for crossing, evaluate and distribute to
      users. This research was conducted to assess the survivability and productive and
      reproductive performance of Boers and its crosses, on animals managed in on
      station, Jinka Research Center and Key-afer Goat Research Station from January
      2011 to March 2014. The diseases affecting the imported flock were heart water,
      pyogenic infections/caseous lymphadenitis, and wart/orf diseases with crude
      mortality rate of 47.6% and case fatality rates of 40.7, 2.4, and 4.7%,
      respectively. Heart water was responsible for 85% of the overall deaths. The
      twining percentage of Boer goats was found to be 36.3%, which was by far superior
      to that of Woito-guji breeds. The mortality rate in 50% crosses was found to be
      35.2%; 54.5 and 20.6% in Jinka and Key-afer, respectively. The survival rate of
      50% cross kids was found to be associated with birth weight and location. The
      average birth weight and 1 month weight of 75% crosses was found to be 3.25 +/-
      0.43 and 7.12 +/- 1.57 kg, respectively. The 75% crosses survival rate up to
      weaning was found to be 100%. Despite improvement in productive and reproductive
      performance through increased exotic blood level, the survivability was strangely
      questioned for pure and higher blood levels in South Omo Zone. Pure Boer and 75%
      crosses could better adapt and perform in intensive and semi-intensive production
      systems. Small holder and pastoral livestock production systems, like South Omo
      Zone area, should focus on managing 50 % cross sires and rearing 25% crosses for
      market.

PMID- 26888207
TI  - Change in growth performance of crossbred (Ankole * Jersey) dairy heifers fed on
      forage grass diets supplemented with commercial concentrates.
AB  - Rearing heifers for dairy cow replacement is a challenge in smallholder dairy
      farms in the tropics due to feed shortage. The objective of this study was to
      evaluate Brachiaria hybrid cultivar Mulato II as a forage resource for improving
      growth performance of dairy heifers under cut-and-carry feeding system in Rwanda.
      Sixteen crossbred (Ankole * Jersey) heifers (mean weight 203 +/- 35 kg) were
      randomly allocated to two dietary treatments viz: Mulato II with 2 kg/day of
      commercial concentrates (MCC) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with the
      same supplement (NCC), for a period of 12 weeks. Mineral lick and water were
      provided ad libitum. Daily feed intake and fortnightly live weight were measured.
      Average daily gains and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. Results
      showed that absolute daily dry matter intake (g DMI/day) and relative intake
      (g/kg of metabolic body weight--BW(0.75)) were higher in heifers fed on MCC than
      in heifers fed on NCC (P < 0.001). FCR was lower (P < 0.001) in MCC than NCC
      diets. Final body weight (FBW) and body weight gain (BWG) did not differ between
      the two groups of heifers (P > 0.05). Average daily weight gain (ADWG) also not
      differed significantly (P > 0.05). Based on numerical body weight changes and
      nutritive values, Mulato II showed potential to be integrated into local cut-and
      carry feeding systems for better heifer rearing to facilitate dairy cow
      replacement.

PMID- 26888206
TI  - Infections and risk factors for livestock with species of Anaplasma, Babesia and
      Brucella under semi-nomadic rearing in Karamoja Region, Uganda.
AB  - A survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Anaplasma, Babesia and
      Brucella spp. infections in cattle, goats and sheep in the Karamoja Region of
      Uganda and to identify possible risk factors existing in this semi-nomadic and
      pastoral area. Low cost laboratory tests were used to diagnose infections (Rose
      Bengal test for Brucella spp. antibodies and direct microscopic examination for
      Anaplasma and Babesia spp.). Multivariable logistic regression models were
      applied to identify possible risk factors linked to gender, animal species, age
      (only for cattle) and districts. A total of 3935 cattle, 729 goats and 306 sheep
      of five districts of the Karamoja Region were tested. Seroprevalence for Brucella
      was 9.2 % (CI, 95 %: 8.4-10), for Anaplasma 19.5 % (CI 95 %: 18.4-20.6) and for
      Babesia 16 % (CI 95 %: 15-17.1). Significant differences in infections prevalence
      were observed against risk factors associated with districts and species. Cattle
      were the species with higher risk of the infections. Female gender was identified
      as at risk only for Brucella spp. infection. Cattle more than one year old had
      greater likelihood to be Brucella seropositive. Co-infections of Anaplasma and
      Babesia spp. were statistically associated, especially in goats and sheep.
      Further studies to identify risk factors related to host species and geographical
      districts are needed. The influence on the semi-nomadic agro-pastoral system in
      Karamoja of animal raids and animal mixing should be further investigated.
      Findings were important to sensitize Karamojong undertaking measures on infection
      control, especially on cattle, which are their main source of food. 

PMID- 26888208
TI  - The effects of low-intensity narrow-band blue-light treatment compared to bright
      white-light treatment in sub-syndromal seasonal affective disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The discovery of a novel photoreceptor in the retinal ganglion cells
      with a highest sensitivity of 470-490 nm blue light has led to research on the
      effects of short-wavelength light in humans. Several studies have explored the
      efficacy of monochromatic blue or blue-enriched light in the treatment of SAD. In
      this study, a comparison has been made between the effects of broad-wavelength
      light without ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths compared to narrow-band blue light in
      the treatment of sub-syndromal seasonal affective disorder (Sub-SAD). METHOD: In
      a 15-day design, 48 participants suffering from Sub-SAD completed 20-minute
      sessions of light treatment on five consecutive days. 22 participants were given
      bright white-light treatment (BLT, broad-wavelength light without UV 10 000 lux,
      irradiance 31.7 Watt/m(2)) and 26 participants received narrow-band blue light
      (BLUE, 100 lux, irradiance 1.0 Watt/m(2)). All participants completed daily and
      weekly questionnaires concerning mood, activation, sleep quality, sleepiness and
      energy. Also, mood and energy levels were assessed by means of the SIGH-SAD, the
      primary outcome measure. RESULTS: On day 15, SIGH-SAD ratings were significantly
      lower than on day 1 (BLT 54.8 %, effect size 1.7 and BLUE 50.7 %, effect size
      1.9). No statistically significant differences were found on the main outcome
      measures. CONCLUSION: Light treatment is an effective treatment for Sub-SAD. The
      use of narrow-band blue-light treatment is equally effective as bright white
      light treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Dutch Trial
      Register (Nederlands Trial Register TC =  4342 ) (20-12-2013).

PMID- 26888209
TI  - Publication and reporting of clinical trial results: cross sectional analysis
      across academic medical centers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine rates of publication and reporting of results within two
      years for all completed clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov across
      leading academic medical centers in the United States. DESIGN: Cross sectional
      analysis. SETTING: Academic medical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS:
      Academic medical centers with 40 or more completed interventional trials
      registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. METHODS: Using the Aggregate Analysis of
      ClinicalTrials.gov database and manual review, we identified all interventional
      clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with a primary completion date
      between October 2007 and September 2010 and with a lead investigator affiliated
      with an academic medical center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of trials
      that disseminated results, defined as publication or reporting of results on
      ClinicalTrials.gov, overall and within 24 months of study completion. RESULTS: We
      identified 4347 interventional clinical trials across 51 academic medical
      centers. Among the trials, 1005 (23%) enrolled more than 100 patients, 1216 (28%)
      were double blind, and 2169 (50%) were phase II through IV. Overall, academic
      medical centers disseminated results for 2892 (66%) trials, with 1560 (35.9%)
      achieving this within 24 months of study completion. The proportion of clinical
      trials with results disseminated within 24 months of study completion ranged from
      16.2% (6/37) to 55.3% (57/103) across academic medical centers. The proportion of
      clinical trials published within 24 months of study completion ranged from 10.8%
      (4/37) to 40.3% (31/77) across academic medical centers, whereas results
      reporting on ClinicalTrials.gov ranged from 1.6% (2/122) to 40.7% (72/177).
      CONCLUSIONS: Despite the ethical mandate and expressed values and mission of
      academic institutions, there is poor performance and noticeable variation in the
      dissemination of clinical trial results across leading academic medical centers.

PMID- 26888210
TI  - Is the secular trend in height delaying overweight rise among adolescents? The
      Brazilian case.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore if the secular trend in height is contributing to delay
      overweight rise among Brazilian adolescents. DESIGN: Changes in BMI mean over
      time were fitted using linear regression including as independent variables
      survey year, height, survey-specific income quintiles, age and an interaction
      term of height * survey year. Overweight was defined as BMI>=25.0 kg/m2. Changes
      in overweight prevalence over time were fitted using Poisson regression. SETTING:
      Four national household surveys: 1974/5, 1989, 2002/3 and 2008/9. SUBJECTS:
      Brazilian adolescents. RESULTS: Mean values of height and BMI increased over the
      period, for both sexes and in all age ranges, except for girls aged 14-19 years
      from 1989 to 2002/3. The highest average increment and mean rate of height were
      between 1989 and 2002/3 and in 10-15-year-olds. The annual increment of height
      decreased from 2002/3 to 2008/9 in parallel with the increment in BMI rate. After
      fitting the regression model, the height * survey year interaction and per capita
      income were strong vectors to increase BMI mean. Changes in increment rate of
      height played a protective role against overweight in the last two periods for
      both sexes, mainly for girls. The period from 1989 to 2002/3 was the strongest
      vector associated with overweight in boys and the association decreased to the
      next period, from 2002/3 to 2008/9. CONCLUSIONS: BMI and height of adolescents
      have increased in a wavering and alternate way throughout four decades in Brazil.
      The rate of height increment has played a protective role against overweight in
      adolescents.

PMID- 26888211
TI  - The architecture of river networks can drive the evolutionary dynamics of aquatic
      populations.
AB  - It is widely recognized that physical landscapes can shape genetic variation
      within and between populations. However, it is not well understood how
      riverscapes, with their complex architectures, affect patterns of neutral genetic
      diversity. Using a spatially explicit agent-based modeling (ABM) approach, we
      evaluate the genetic consequences of dendritic river shapes on local population
      structure. We disentangle the relative contribution of specific river properties
      to observed patterns of genetic variation by evaluating how different branching
      architectures and downstream flow regimes affect the genetic structure of
      populations situated within river networks. Irrespective of the river length, our
      results illustrate that the extent of river branching, confluence position, and
      levels of asymmetric downstream migration dictate patterns of genetic variation
      in riverine populations. Comparisons between simple and highly branched rivers
      show a 20-fold increase in the overall genetic diversity and a sevenfold increase
      in the genetic differentiation between local populations. Given that most rivers
      have complex architectures, these results highlight the importance of
      incorporating riverscape information into evolutionary models of aquatic species
      and could help explain why riverine fishes represent a disproportionately large
      amount of global vertebrate diversity per unit of habitable area. 

PMID- 26888212
TI  - The anti-inflammation and pharmacokinetics of a novel alkaloid from Portulaca
      oleracea L.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was to elucidate the pharmacokinetics of a novel alkaloid,
      6-acetyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-2,3-dihydrocyclohepta[b]pyrrol-8(1H)-one, named
      oleracone isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and to examine the anti
      inflammatory ability with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages.
      METHODS: The novel alkaloid, oleracone, was isolated from Portulaca oleracea L.,
      and its structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis including HRESIMS, 2D
      NMR spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The activity of anti
      inflammation was assayed via the test with RAW 264.7 activated by LPS, and the
      pharmacokinetics of oleracone in rat plasma after intravenous and oral
      administration at dose of 2.5 mg/kg was, respectively, investigated by a rapid
      and sensitive ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method with
      bergapten as internal standard. KEY FINDINGS: Oleracone was a novel alkaloid
      first isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. and possessed unique structure in
      natural products, whose anti-inflammatory effecting on nitrite oxide production
      and several pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokines was found at the concentration of
      50 MUm, and the pharmacokinetic results indicated that oleracone was rapidly
      distributed with Tmax of 15.7 min after oral administration and presented a
      higher oral absolute bioavailability to be 74.91 +/- 10.7%. CONCLUSIONS:
      Oleracone as novel alkaloid presented remarkably anti-inflammatory effect, which
      was rapid distributed in rat with high bioavailability of 74.91 +/- 10.7%.

PMID- 26888213
TI  - Classification of the medicinal plants of the genus Atractylodes using high
      performance liquid chromatography with diode array and tandem mass spectrometry
      detection combined with multivariate statistical analysis.
AB  - Analytical methods using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array
      and tandem mass spectrometry detection were developed for the discrimination of
      the rhizomes of four Atractylodes medicinal plants: A. japonica, A. macrocephala,
      A. chinensis, and A. lancea. A quantitative study was performed, selecting five
      bioactive components, including atractylenolide I, II, III, eudesma-4(14),7(11)
      dien-8-one and atractylodin, on twenty-six Atractylodes samples of various
      origins. Sample extraction was optimized to sonication with 80% methanol for 40
      min at room temperature. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array
      detection was established using a C18 column with a water/acetonitrile gradient
      system at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and the detection wavelength was set at 236
      nm. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was applied to certify
      the reliability of the quantitative results. The developed methods were validated
      by ensuring specificity, linearity, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision,
      recovery, robustness, and stability. Results showed that cangzhu contained higher
      amounts of atractylenolide I and atractylodin than baizhu, and especially
      atractylodin contents showed the greatest variation between baizhu and cangzhu.
      Multivariate statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and
      hierarchical cluster analysis, were also employed for further classification of
      the Atractylodes plants. The established method was suitable for quality control
      of the Atractylodes plants. 

PMID- 26888214
TI  - Inhalation of mercury vapor can cause the toxic effects on rat kidney.
AB  - Dental amalgam has been used in dentistry as a filling material. The filler
      comprises mercury (Hg). It is considered one of the most important and widespread
      environmental pollutants, which poses a serious potential threat for the humans
      and animals. However, mercury deposition affects the nervous, cardiovascular,
      pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and especially renal systems. In most animals'
      species and humans, the kidney is one of the main sites of deposition of mercury
      and target organ for its toxicity. In this study, the effects of mercury intake
      on kidney in rats were searched. For the this purpose; we used 24 adult female
      Wistar albino rats (200 g in weight) obtained from Experimental Research and
      Application Center of Ataturk University with ethical approval. Besides, they
      were placed into a specially designed glass cage. Along this experiment for 45
      days, subjects were exposed to (1 mg/m(3)/day) mercury vapor. However, no
      application was used for the control subjects. At the end of the experiment,
      kidney samples were obtained from all subjects and processed for routine light
      microscopic level and stereological aspect were assessed. Finally, according to
      our results, mercury affects the histological features of the kidney. That means,
      the severe effects of mercury has been shown using stereological approach, which
      is one of the ideal quantitative methods in the current literature. In this
      study, it was detected that chronic exposure to mercury vapor may lead to renal
      damage and diseases in an experimental rat model. 

PMID- 26888215
TI  - Analyses of regulatory CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T cells and observations from peripheral
      T cell subpopulation markers during the development of type 1 diabetes in
      children.
AB  - Our aim was to study whether the aberrant amount or function of regulatory T
      cells is related to the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children. We also
      set out to investigate the balance of different T cell subtype markers during the
      T1D autoimmune process. Treg cells were quantified with flow cytometric assay,
      and the suppression capacity was analysed with a carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl
      ester (CFSE)-based T cell suppression assay in children in various phases of T1D
      disease process and in healthy autoantibody-negative control children. The mRNA
      expression of different T cell subpopulation markers was analysed with real-time
      qPCR method. The proportion and suppression capacity of regulatory T cells were
      similar in seroconverted children at an early stage of beta cell autoimmunity and
      also in children with T1D when compared to healthy and autoantibody-negative
      children. Significant differences were observed in the mRNA expression of
      different T cell subpopulation markers in prediabetic children with multiple (>=
      2) autoantibodies and in children with newly diagnosed T1D when compared to the
      control children. In conclusion, there were no quantitative or functional
      differences in regulatory T cells between the case and control groups in any
      phase of the autoimmune process. Decreased mRNA expression levels of T cell
      subtype markers were observed in children with multiple islet autoantibodies and
      in those with newly diagnosed T1D, probably reflecting an exhaustion of the
      immune system after the strong immune activation during the autoimmune process or
      a generally aberrant immune response related to the progression of the disease.

PMID- 26888216
TI  - SMARCAD1 is an ATP-dependent stimulator of nucleosomal H2A acetylation via CBP,
      resulting in transcriptional regulation.
AB  - Histone acetylation plays a pivotal role in transcriptional regulation, and ATP
      dependent nucleosome remodeling activity is required for optimal transcription
      from chromatin. While these two activities have been well characterized, how they
      are coordinated remains to be determined. We discovered ATP-dependent histone H2A
      acetylation activity in Drosophila nuclear extracts. This activity was column
      purified and demonstrated to be composed of the enzymatic activities of CREB
      binding protein (CBP) and SMARCAD1, which belongs to the Etl1 subfamily of the
      Snf2 family of helicase-related proteins. SMARCAD1 enhanced acetylation by CBP of
      H2A K5 and K8 in nucleosomes in an ATP-dependent fashion. Expression array
      analysis of S2 cells having ectopically expressed SMARCAD1 revealed up-regulated
      genes. Using native genome templates of these up-regulated genes, we found that
      SMARCAD1 activates their transcription in vitro. Knockdown analysis of SMARCAD1
      and CBP indicated overlapping gene control, and ChIP-seq analysis of these
      commonly controlled genes showed that CBP is recruited to the promoter prior to
      SMARCAD1. Moreover, Drosophila genetic experiments demonstrated interaction
      between SMARCAD1/Etl1 and CBP/nej during development. The interplay between the
      remodeling activity of SMARCAD1 and histone acetylation by CBP sheds light on the
      function of chromatin and the genome-integrity network. 

PMID- 26888217
TI  - Design and rationale of the ATHENA study--A 12-month, multicentre, prospective
      study evaluating the outcomes of a de novo everolimus-based regimen in
      combination with reduced cyclosporine or tacrolimus versus a standard regimen in
      kidney transplant patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors remains the mainstay of
      treatment after kidney transplantation; however, long-term use of these drugs may
      be associated with nephrotoxicity. In this regard, the current approach is to
      optimise available immunosuppressive regimens to reduce the calcineurin inhibitor
      dose while protecting renal function without affecting the efficacy. The ATHENA
      study is designed to evaluate renal function in two regimens: an everolimus and
      reduced calcineurin inhibitor-based regimen versus a standard treatment protocol
      with mycophenolic acid and tacrolimus in de novo kidney transplant recipients.
      METHOD/DESIGN: ATHENA is a 12-month, multicentre, open-label, prospective,
      randomised, parallel-group study in de novo kidney transplant recipients (aged 18
      years or older) receiving renal allografts from deceased or living donors.
      Eligible patients are randomised (1:1:1) prior to transplantation to one of the
      following three treatment arms: everolimus (starting dose 1.5 mg/day; C0 3-8
      ng/mL) with cyclosporine or everolimus (starting dose 3 mg/day; C0 3-8 ng/mL)
      with tacrolimus or mycophenolic acid (enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium at 1.44
      g/day or mycophenolate mofetil at 2 g/day) with tacrolimus; in combination with
      corticosteroids. All patients receive induction therapy with basiliximab. The
      primary objective is to demonstrate non-inferiority of renal function (eGFR by
      the Nankivell formula) in one of the everolimus arms compared with the standard
      group at month 12 post transplantation. The key secondary objective is to assess
      the incidence of treatment failure, defined as biopsy-proven acute rejection,
      graft loss, or death, among the treatment groups. Other objectives include
      assessment of the individual components of treatment failure, incidence and
      severity of viral infections, incidence and duration of delayed graft function,
      incidence of indication biopsies, slow graft function and wound healing
      complications, and overall safety and tolerability. Exploratory objectives
      include evaluation of left ventricular hypertrophy assessed by the left
      ventricular mass index, evolution of human leukocyte antigen and non-human
      leukocyte antigen antibodies, and a cytomegalovirus substudy. DISCUSSION: As one
      of the largest European multicentre kidney transplant studies, ATHENA will
      determine whether a de novo everolimus-based regimen can preserve renal function
      versus the standard of care. This study further assesses a number of clinical
      issues which impact long-term outcomes post transplantation; hence, its results
      will have a major clinical impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov:
      NCT01843348, date of registration--18 April 2013; EUDRACT number: 2011-005238-21,
      date of registration--20 March 2012.

PMID- 26888218
TI  - Multivariable analysis of total cholesterol levels in male Swiss Armed Forces
      conscripts 2006-2012 (N = 174,872).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cholesterol is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality
      risks due to its association with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. A
      system of mandatory military conscription is a useful tool for disease-risk
      monitoring in a given male population. Swiss military conscription data are
      representative for more than 90% of a given male birth cohort (with Swiss
      citizenship). The medical examination also includes voluntary laboratory testing,
      for which approximately 65% of the young men present at conscription give
      consent. METHODS: Here we present the temporal and subgroup analyses of total
      serum cholesterol levels (TCL) among Swiss conscripts from 2006 to 2012 (N =
      174,872; mean age = 19.75 years). The voluntary blood samples were tested by a
      central laboratory (Viollier AG) with identical measurement standards and strict
      quality control. To test differences in TCL by socioeconomic occupational status,
      sports test performance, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, and place of residence of
      the conscripts we used a multivariable regression model with TCL as dependent
      variable. RESULTS: Mean TCL decreased significantly, by 0.125 mmol/l (95% CI
      0.108-0.142, p < 0.001) from 4.225 mmol/l (95% CI 4.210-4.240) in 2006 to 4.100
      mmol/l (95% CI 4.091-4.109) in 2012. Similarly, the prevalence of conscripts with
      an elevated TCL >= 5.17 mmol/l decreased from >= 10.2% prior to 2011 to 6.9% in
      2011 and 8.2% in 2012. Multivariate regression showed an association between
      elevated TCL and lower socioeconomic occupational status, lower sports test
      performance, higher BMI, higher age, and area of residence. There was no longer a
      significant increase in mean TCL among the three grades of obesity (BMI >= 30.0
      kg/m2) as defined by the WHO. Within the BMI categories of normal weight and
      overweight, TCL was stratified by sports performance (better sports performance =
      lower TCL). CONCLUSION: Decreasing TCL in 2011 and 2012 fits the known pattern of
      conscripted persons' stabilizing BMI and sports test performance of the
      conscripts in recent years. However, small temporal drifts within the laboratory
      analyses cannot be ruled out as confounding factors. In conclusion, identifying
      subgroups with unfavorable lipid profiles will contribute to the continuing
      success of intensified public health programs.

PMID- 26888219
TI  - Erratum to: Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of dignity
      therapy for family carers of people with motor neurone disease.

PMID- 26888220
TI  - Oral manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. A cross-sectional study of 73
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A study is made of the main oral manifestations of patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly salivary flow, and of its possible
      association to periodontal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective
      comparative study was made of 146 patients (73 with RA and 73 controls),
      recording pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding index, plaque index,
      and the DMFT index to assess periodontal and dental alterations. Sialometric
      measurements were also made to determine resting, stimulated, and parotid
      salivary flow. RESULTS: The patients with RA had greater periodontal pocket
      depths (with moderate depths in most cases), as well as greater attachment loss
      and more bacterial plaque. The resting whole saliva and stimulated parotid saliva
      rates were also clearly decreased in the RA group compared with the controls.
      CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RA are more likely to present periodontal disease,
      poorer oral hygiene manifesting as an increased accumulation of bacterial plaque,
      and decreased salivary flow rates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Vulnerability to
      periodontitis is confirmed in one of the largest samples ever studied of patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also, there is evidence of hyposialia (decrease
      in salivary rate) in RA patients without Sjogren's syndrome.

PMID- 26888222
TI  - Movement control during aspiration with different injection systems via video
      monitoring-an in vitro model.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was an evaluation of movement during
      double aspiration by different manual syringes and one computer-controlled local
      anesthesia delivery system (C-CLAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: With five different
      devices (two disposable syringes (2, 5 ml), two aspirating syringes (active,
      passive), one C-CLAD), simulation of double aspiration in a phantom model was
      conducted. Two experienced and two inexperienced test persons carried out double
      aspiration with the injection systems at the right and left phantom mandibles in
      three different inclination angles (n = 24 * 5 * 2 for each system). 3D
      divergences of the needle between aspiration procedures (mm) were measured with
      two video cameras. RESULTS: An average movement for the 2-ml disposal syringe of
      2.85 mm (SD 1.63), for the 5 ml syringe of 2.36 mm (SD 0.86), for the active
      aspirating syringe of 2.45 mm (SD 0.9), for the passive-aspirating syringe of
      2.01 mm (SD 0.7), and for the C-CLAD, an average movement of 0.91 mm (SD 0.63)
      was seen. The movement was significantly less for the C-CLAD compared to the
      other systems (p < 0.001). The movement of the needle in the soft tissue was
      significantly less for the C-CLAD compared to the other systems (p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: A difference in involuntary movement of the syringe could be seen in
      comparison between manual and C-CLAD systems. Launching the aspiration by a foot
      pedal in computer-assisted anesthesia leads to a minor movement. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: To solve the problem of movement during aspiration with possibly
      increased false-negative results, a C-CLAD seems to be favorable.

PMID- 26888223
TI  - Tailoring nonlinear optical properties of Bi2Se3 through ion irradiation.
AB  - The nonlinear optical property of topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3)
      is found to be well-tailored through ion irradiation by intentionally introducing
      defects. The increase of the optical modulation depth sensitively depends on the
      careful selection of the irradiation condition. By implementing the ion
      irradiated Bi2Se3 film as an optical saturable absorber device for the Q-switched
      wave-guide laser, an enhanced laser performance has been obtained including
      narrower pulse duration and higher peak power. Our work provides a new approach
      of tailoring the nonlinear optical properties of materials through ion
      irradiation, a well-developed chip-technology, which could find wider
      applicability to other layered two-dimensional materials beyond topological
      insulators, such as graphene, MoS2, black phosphours etc. 

PMID- 26888224
TI  - Interface-Induced Renormalization of Electrolyte Energy Levels in Magnesium
      Batteries.
AB  - A promising strategy for increasing the energy density of Li-ion batteries is to
      substitute a multivalent (MV) metal for the commonly used lithiated carbon anode.
      Magnesium is a prime candidate for such a MV battery due to its high volumetric
      capacity, abundance, and limited tendency to form dendrites. One challenge that
      is slowing the implementation of Mg-based batteries, however, is the development
      of efficient and stable electrolytes. Computational screening for molecular
      species having sufficiently wide electrochemical windows is a starting point for
      the identification of optimal electrolytes. Nevertheless, this window can be
      altered via interfacial interactions with electrodes. These interactions are
      typically omitted in screening studies, yet they have the potential to generate
      large shifts to the HOMO and LUMO of the electrolyte components. The present
      study quantifies the stability of several common electrolyte solvents on model
      electrodes of relevance for Mg batteries. Many-body perturbation theory
      calculations based on the G0W0 method were used to predict shifts in a solvent's
      electronic levels arising from interfacial interactions. In molecules exhibiting
      large dipole moments, our calculations indicate that these interactions reduce
      the HOMO-LUMO gap by ~ 25% (compared to isolated molecules). We conclude that
      electrode interactions can narrow an electrolyte's electrochemical window
      significantly, thereby accelerating redox decomposition reactions. Accounting for
      these interactions in screening studies presents an opportunity to refine
      predictions of electrolyte stability.

PMID- 26888221
TI  - The effect of periodontal scaling and root polishing on serum IL-17E
      concentrations and the IL-17A:IL-17E ratio.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The serum IL-17A:IL-17E ratio has previously been demonstrated to be
      a clinical marker of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine the
      effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the serum IL-17A:IL-17E ratio.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty chronic periodontitis patients completed this study
      and received periodontal treatment comprising scaling and root planing plus
      ultrasonic debridement. Clinical data were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks (R1)
      after treatment completion (full-mouth or quadrant-scaling and root planing) and
      25 weeks after baseline (R2). Serum samples were taken at each time point and
      cytokines concentrations determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Following treatment,
      statistically significant reductions were noted in clinical parameters. However,
      IL-17A and IL-17E concentrations were significantly greater than baseline values
      before- and after-adjusting for smoking. The IL-17A:IL-17E ratio was lower at R1
      and R2. Serum IL-6 and TNF levels were significantly lower at R1 only. Also
      exclusively at R1, serum IL-17A and IL-17E correlated positively with clinical
      parameters, while the IL-17A:IL-17E ratio correlated negatively with probing
      pocket depth and clinical attachment. CONCLUSION: Increased serum IL-17E and a
      reduced IL-17A:IL-17E ratio may be indicative and/or a consequence of periodontal
      therapy. Therefore, the role of IL-17E in periodontal disease progression and the
      healing process is worthy of further investigation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: IL-17E
      may be a valuable biomarker to monitor the healing process following periodontal
      treatment as increased IL-17E levels and a reduced IL-17A:IL-17E ratio could
      reflect clinical improvements post-therapy. Therefore, monitoring serum IL-17E
      might be useful to identify individuals who require additional periodontal
      treatment.

PMID- 26888225
TI  - Impacts of different climate change regimes and extreme climatic events on an
      alpine meadow community.
AB  - Climate variability is expected to increase in future but there exist very few
      experimental studies that apply different warming regimes on plant communities
      over several years. We studied an alpine meadow community under three warming
      regimes over three years. Treatments consisted of (a) a constant level of warming
      with open-top chambers (ca. 1.9  degrees C above ambient), (b) yearly stepwise
      increases in warming (increases of ca. 1.0, 1.9 and 3.5  degrees C), and (c)
      pulse warming, a single first-year pulse event of warming (increase of ca. 3.5 
      degrees C). Pulse warming and stepwise warming was hypothesised to cause distinct
      first-year and third-year effects, respectively. We found support for both
      hypotheses; however, the responses varied among measurement levels (whole
      community, canopy, bottom layer, and plant functional groups), treatments, and
      time. Our study revealed complex responses of the alpine plant community to the
      different experimentally imposed climate warming regimes. Plant cover, height and
      biomass frequently responded distinctly to the constant level of warming, the
      stepwise increase in warming and the extreme pulse-warming event. Notably, we
      found that stepwise warming had an accumulating effect on biomass, the responses
      to the different warming regimes varied among functional groups, and the short
      term perturbations had negative effect on species richness and diversity.

PMID- 26888226
TI  - Geogenic and Anthropogenic Moss Responsiveness to Element Distribution Around a
      Pb-Zn Mine, Toranica, Republic of Macedonia.
AB  - Moss species (Homalothecium lutescens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Brachythecium
      glareosum, and Campthotecium lutescens) were used as suitable sampling media for
      biomonitoring the origin of heavy-metal pollution in the lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine
      "Toranica" near the Kriva Palanka town, Eastern Macedonia. The contents of 20
      elements-silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca),
      cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K),
      lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), nickel (Ni), Pb,
      strontium (Sr), vanadium (V), and (Zn) were determined by atomic emission
      spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Data processing was applied with
      combinations of multivariate statistical methods: factor analysis, principal
      component analysis, and cluster analysis. Moss' responsiveness to the atmospheric
      distribution of the selected elements was investigated in correlation to the
      specific geology of the region (soil dusting). Lithogenic distribution was
      characterized with the distribution of three dominant geochemical associations:
      F1: Al-Li-V-Cr-Ni-Co, F2: Ba-Ca-Sr, and F3: Cd-Zn-Pb-Cu. Spatial distribution was
      constructed for visualization of the factor deposition. Furthermore, air
      distribution (passive biomonitoring) versus soil geochemistry of the analyzed
      elements was examined. Significant correlations were singled out for Pb, Zn, and
      Cd and for Mg(moss)/Na(soil). Characteristic lithological anomaly characterized
      the presence of the oldest geological volcanic rocks. Zone 1 (Pb-Zn mine
      surrounding) presents a unique area with hydrothermal action of Pb-Zn
      mineralization leading to polymetallic enrichments in soil. This phenomenon
      strongly affects the environment, which is a natural geochemical imprint in this
      unique area (described with the strong dominance of the geochemical association
      Cd-Zn-Pb-Cu). 

PMID- 26888228
TI  - Applications of NMR diffusion methods with emphasis on ion pairing in inorganic
      chemistry: a mini-review.
AB  - This mini-review provides a brief overview of the use of NMR diffusion methods in
      connection with estimating molecular weights in solution, recognizing hydrogen
      bonding and encapsulation processes and, primarily, identifying and estimating
      the varying degrees of ion pairing. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888227
TI  - Comparison of the effects of treatment with celecoxib, loxoprofen, and
      acetaminophen on postoperative acute pain after arthroscopic knee surgery: A
      randomized, parallel-group trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, conventional non
      selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen have
      been adopted for the relief of mild to moderate acute and chronic pain. However,
      it remains unclarified whether the therapeutic differences in pain sensation
      exist among these agents. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of
      different types of analgesic agents for postoperative acute pain management.
      METHODS: A single-center, randomized, controlled study was performed in
      consecutive patients who underwent the second-look procedure with removal of
      internal fixation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or arthroscopic
      meniscal repair/meniscectomy. Celecoxib (400 mg for the first dose and then 200
      mg), loxoprofen (60 mg), or acetaminophen (600 mg) was orally administered from
      postoperative 3 h. The pain intensity on a 100-mm VAS scale and subjective
      assessment of therapeutic pain-relief were compared among these three treatment
      groups until postoperative 2 days. The acquired data were analyzed according to
      the per-protocol analysis principle. RESULTS: A total of 432 patients were
      screened, and 160 were enrolled. The VAS score tended to decrease over time in
      all groups. There was a significant improvement in the pain score both at rest
      and on movement, and subjective impression in the celecoxib-treated group
      compared with acetaminophen at postoperative 2 days. On the other hand,
      loxoprofen resulted in the benefit only in the pain score at rest in comparison
      with acetaminophen. Any comparisons between celecoxib and loxoprofen showed
      insignificant differences throughout observations. No adverse effects were
      confirmed in each group. CONCLUSIONS: These obtained findings in our dose setting
      conditions suggest that celecoxib and loxoprofen treatments were superior to
      acetaminophen in pain-relief, though the superiority of loxoprofen over
      acetaminophen was modest. Overall, selective COX-2 inhibitors including
      conventional NSAIDs seem to have a possible advantage in acute pain management of
      relatively less invasive surgery.

PMID- 26888229
TI  - Orchestrating a bold future for IADR.

PMID- 26888230
TI  - Oral squamous cell carcinoma: Advances in management.

PMID- 26888231
TI  - The autologous platelet rich fibrin: A novel approach in osseous regeneration
      after cystic enucleation: A pilot study.
AB  - CONTEXT: The platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is second generation platelet concentrate
      that has been widely used and researched for stimulation and acceleration of soft
      tissue and osseous healing. Its continuous delivery of growth factors and
      proteins mimic the need of physiological wound healing and regenerative tissue
      processes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      efficacy of PRF in osseous regeneration after enucleation of cystic lesions. The
      objectives of this study were: (1) To evaluate osseous regeneration
      radiographically with the use of PRF in intrabony defects after cystic
      enucleation. (2) To evaluate the degree of bone density in intrabony defects with
      the use of PRF postoperatively after 1 st , 3 rd , and 6 th months. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: 10 cases of cystic lesions were treated using PRF after cystic
      enucleation. Follow-up radiographs (orthopantomogram) were taken 1 st , 3 rd ,
      and 6 th months postoperatively. Bone density was measured with grayscale
      histogram using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. RESULTS: The subsequent follow-up
      examinations revealed progressive, predictable, and significant radiographic
      osseous regeneration. CONCLUSION: The use of PRF in management of cystic lesions
      seems to be a novel therapeutic approach promoting faster osseous regeneration
      within 6 months postoperatively however further study is required with larger
      sample size and with a control group.

PMID- 26888232
TI  - Cell cycle aberration in ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: As
      evidenced by the expression of p53 and survivin.
AB  - CONTEXT: p53 and survivin are involved in cell cycle progression and inhibition
      of apoptosis, respectively. Survivin is a unique protein which functions in
      progression of cell division and inhibits apoptosis leading to cell proliferation
      and cell survival. According to the literature, mutation of p53 leads to
      promotion of survivin function. Thus, the importance of cell cycle aberration and
      uncontrolled proliferation resulting from mutation of p53 and up-regulation of
      survivin is discussed. AIMS: To assess the role of p53 and survivin in
      ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The
      percentages of positive tumor cells were considered for statistical evaluation.
      Nuclear labeling index for p53 and nuclear, cytoplasmic and combined labeling
      index for survivin was obtained from the stained slides. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Immunohistochemical expression of p53 and survivin was done qualitatively and
      quantitatively in 25 cases each of ameloblastoma and AOT. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
      USED: Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test and Pearson's correlation
      test. RESULTS: Quantitatively, p53 and survivin expression was statistically
      significant in AOT (P = 0.003) and qualitatively, in ameloblastoma (P = 0.004).
      Survivin expression was significant (P = 0.002) between the study groups unlike
      that of p53 (P = 0.554). CONCLUSIONS: There was no much difference in p53
      expression in ameloblastoma and AOT suggestive of cell cycle aberration in both
      the odontogenic tumors, but significant difference in survivin expression in
      ameloblastoma and AOT with higher percentage of positive cells in ameloblastoma
      may be indicative of an aggressive behavior of ameloblastoma.

PMID- 26888233
TI  - Localization of mandibular foramen relative to landmarks in East Indian
      mandibles.
AB  - CONTEXT: The position of mandibular foramen (MF) is an important anatomical
      landmark for effective anesthesia in dentistry for many procedures, including
      dental extraction from the lower jaw and putting mandibular implants. Several
      causes have been examined in this context, and the uncertainty in the location of
      the MF has been examined to be a major factor for the high failure rate of
      anesthesia and complications of the orthodontic procedure. AIMS: The purpose of
      this study was to examine and analyze the position of the MF relative to six bony
      landmarks on the ramus in the population of Jharkhand. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The
      different parameters were measured in 30 dry adult's mandibles that were obtained
      from the Department of Anatomy. The data were tabulated and statistically
      analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired t-test. RESULTS: The mean distance
      between the MF and the respective landmarks was noted as 16.00 +/- 3.50 mm for
      the anterior border, 10.21 +/- 2.34 mm for the posterior border, 20.48 +/- 3.89
      mm for the superior border, 24.15 +/- 4.97 mm for the inferior border, 33.46 +/-
      6.08 mm for the condyle, and 12.31 +/- 4.88 mm for the internal oblique ridge for
      the right side. On the left side, these distances were 16.27 +/- 3.9 for the
      anterior border, 10.28 +/- 5.24 for the posterior border, 20.15 +/- 3.8 for
      superior border, 24.86 +/- 4.04 for inferior border 32.48 +/- 4.73 for condyle,
      and 10.93 +/- 4.06 for the inferior oblique ridge. Statistically, there was no
      significant difference in the distance to either side from selected 5 landmarks,
      the only exception being the condyle. CONCLUSIONS: Condyle and internal oblique
      ridge have been shown to be two new landmarks that may be used to find MF.
      Bilateral symmetry has been shown for all landmarks except for condyle.

PMID- 26888235
TI  - Analysis of adverse events with use of orthodontic sequential aligners as
      reported in the manufacturer and user facility device experience database.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sequential aligners (SAs) introduced about a decade ago, changed the
      practice of orthodontics as we knew it but the adverse events and reactions (AER)
      associated with SA is not known. The Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer
      and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database is a reliable database that
      has AERs reported. The manuscript attempts to review the AER associated with SA
      using the MAUDE database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors downloaded and
      reviewed the SA-related AER from MAUDE for a period of 5 years. In-depth analysis
      of the site and nature of intraoral and extraoral AERs were performed. We
      attempted to calculate the probability of pathologies being directly related to
      SA use, using Bayes' theorem. RESULTS: In the study period of 5 years, 175 cases
      of AER registered with MAUDE database owing to use of SA. Of the 175 cases, 129
      (73.71%) instances were mandatory reports filed by the manufacturer. Of all AERs,
      32 (18.29%) cases had been diagnosed/suspected to have an allergic reaction, 20
      (11.43%) of them with anaphylactic reaction and 4 (2.29%) of them with
      angioedema. Lesions involving tongue, throat, and lip such as soreness,
      inflammation, and hives were more commonly reported. In addition, 12 cases
      (6.86%) reported of nausea, 11 (6.29%) of gastrointestinal issues (stomach upset,
      diarrhea, and vomiting), 13 (7.43%) of neuromuscular issues (muscle cramps,
      spasm, and pain), 13 (7.43%) of cough, 10 (5.71%) of persistent headache, 3
      (1.71%) of fever, and 12 (6.86%) of cardiac-related issues were identified.
      CONCLUSIONS: The AERs associated with SA has been described. Though the MAUDE
      database is not an exact, wholesome and reliable source to identify the potential
      AER, currently, it is the only available source of AERs associated with SA use.
      The nature of AERs with the use of SA and its potential pathogenesis and
      implications has been discussed.

PMID- 26888234
TI  - To evaluate the accuracy of various dental parameters used for the gender
      determination in Nagpur District population.
AB  - CONTEXT: Gender determination is considered an important step in reconstructing
      the biological profile of unknown individuals from the forensic context.
      Assessment of sex differences from human remains will be of immense help as it
      would narrow down fields of search to 50 %. AIMS: To evaluate the accuracy of
      various dental parameters used for the gender determination. SETTINGS AND DESIGN:
      The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of various methods
      employed in gender determination or personal identification such as mesiodistal
      width of molars, mesiodistal width of canine, mandibular and maxillary canine
      index in age group of 15 to 65 years. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A total of 200
      patients were selected comprising of both the genders in the age group of 15-65
      years belonging to various parts of Nagpur. The mesiodistal crown width of
      mandibular and maxillary permanent molar and canine teeth and the intercanine
      distance was measured and the values were noted. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: the
      data was analysed using SPSS 18 software. RESULTS: The mean of mesio distal width
      of maxillary and mandibular molar in males and females is suggestive of gender
      dimorphism in maxillary molars which was statistically significant.The maxillary
      inter-canine distance was greater in males and was statistically significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: The dental parameters can be used as a tool for accurate gender
      determination in forensic investigations.

PMID- 26888236
TI  - Influence of calcium hydroxide dressing and two irrigants on the filling of
      artificial lateral canals.
AB  - CONTEXT: This study was carried out on the assumption that calcium hydroxide
      [Ca(OH) 2 ] dressing and irrigants may influence the obturation of lateral
      canals. AIMS: To evaluate the influence of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2%
      chlorhexidine (CHX) gel and Ca(OH) 2 on the filling of artificial lateral canals.
      SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Ex vivo quantitative laboratory study. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Forty-two human mandibular premolars were selected. After cavity access,
      six lateral canals were performed, two in each root section, one mesial and one
      on the distal root surface. After preparation, the specimens were randomly
      divided into four groups: Group I: Under irrigation with 2% CHX and saline
      solution and with intracanal dressing Ca(OH) 2 paste; Group II: The same
      preparation as Group I, but without Ca(OH) 2 ; Group III: Under irrigation with
      2.5% NaOCl without Ca(OH) 2 ; and Group IV: The same preparation as Group III,
      but with Ca(OH) 2 . Two teeth without intracanal dressing were used as negative
      controls. Lateral condensation technique was performed. Then, digital
      radiographic images were obtained. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed
      using SPSS 17.0, submitted to Kappa (reliability between examiners) and Kruskal
      Wallis test. RESULTS: No statistical difference was registered between Groups II
      and III in all root sections (P > 0.05), but it was observed between Groups I and
      IV (P < 0.05), except on the apical section (P > 0.05). In all sections, the
      Group I filled more artificial lateral canals than in Group IV. CONCLUSIONS: The
      irrigants tested had no influence on the filling of artificial lateral canals.
      Nevertheless, intracanal dressing of Ca(OH) 2 influenced this filling.

PMID- 26888237
TI  - Assessment of relationship between oral health behavior, oral hygiene and
      gingival status of dental students.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The behavior of oral health providers toward their own oral health
      reflects their understanding of the importance of preventive dental procedures
      and of improving the oral health of their target population. AIM: This study was
      done with an aim to assess the relationship between oral health behavior, oral
      hygiene and gingival status of third and final year dental students from a Dental
      College in Indore City, India. METHODS: A total of 137 dental students
      participated in the study. The students were invited to complete the Hiroshima
      University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire. The HU-DBI
      questionnaire consisted of twenty polar responses (agree/disagree) regarding oral
      health-related behavior. In addition, two further questions about the frequency
      of brushing and flossing were included. Subsequently, oral health examination was
      conducted to assess plaque and gingival status. Data were analyzed using Chi
      square test, Independent sample t-test, and Pearson's correlation. The
      significance level was set at P <= 0.05. RESULT: The results showed that about
      66.6% of the students checked their teeth in the mirror after brushing. Only
      20.1% of the students reported bleeding from gums. The mean oral heath behavior
      score (HU-DBI) was 6.47 +/- 2.0. A negative correlation of HU-DBI scores with
      plaque (r = -0.501) and gingival scores (r = -0.580) was observed. CONCLUSION:
      Thus, it is concluded that there is a significant relationship between the oral
      health behavior, oral hygiene, and gingival status of dental students. Dental
      students with better self-reported oral health behavior had lower plaque and
      gingival scores indicating a better attitude toward oral health.

PMID- 26888238
TI  - Adverse events associated with ultrasonic scalers: A manufacturer and user
      facility device experience database analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to determine the frequency and type
      of adverse events (AEs) associated with ultrasonic scaler reported to the Food
      and Drug Administration manufacturer and user facility device experience (MAUDE)
      database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the ultrasonic scaler units
      (USU) related AEs reported to MAUDE from October 1, 1995, to September 31, 2015.
      Analyses of details collected are presented. RESULTS: MAUDE received a total of
      667 unique USU-related AE reports. Of 667 cases, MAUDE classified 628 instances
      (94.2%) as malfunction 27 (4%) as injurious, 10 (1.5%) as others, and 2 (0.3%)
      claiming the use of USU as cause of death. Of the 667 cases, 511 (76.6%) were
      used for endodontic application, and 147 (22%) as scaler applications. In 512
      (76.8%) instances, there was separation of the tips, posing danger to patients or
      users, and 112 (16.8%) instances of overheating, 12 (1.8%) instances of breakage,
      and electrical issues in 8 (1.2%) instances. These AE resulted in 19 instances of
      thermal injury, 2 suspicious deaths, and hearing loss in 3 cases. In 4 cases,
      patient swallowed broken parts requiring additional medical care. CONCLUSIONS:
      Use of USU, a Class 2 device without exemption, carries a degree of risk to
      patient's safety, if not properly used. As of today, MAUDE data is the only
      reliable source of AE until another database or such study is carried out.
      Certain AE that has been largely anecdotal, such as hearing loss has been
      reported in this study. The findings from study reiterate that more in-depth
      analysis of AE of USU is needed. Until then operator needs to take all
      precautions to avoid AE when using USU.

PMID- 26888239
TI  - Callus molding in external and internal distraction of mandible.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Distraction osteogenesis (DO) emerges to be a promising alternative
      to the traditional method of bone lengthening, by which a significant skeletal
      and soft tissue enlargement can be obtained in the hypoplastic area in a short
      period. Manipulations of the newly created callus (regenerate), during DO or as a
      single step molding procedure at the end of the distraction process, may be
      necessary to correct the mandibular position. AIM: To report the efficacy of
      callus molding (CM) - floating bone concept in the vertical lengthening of ramus
      by DO and creating a gonial angle in the difficult case of vector selection or
      surgically induced asymmetry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of
      patients who underwent DO of mandible followed by CM for correction of mandibular
      asymmetry at authors centers from 2008 to 2014 formed the study group. Only the
      mandibular distraction cases were included in the study. After the 5 days of
      latency period, the mandible was distracted at the rate of 1 mm/day. At the end
      of DO, CM was completed in the 1-3 weeks before consolidation. CM was done either
      by removing the lower screws with distractor in place or after removal of
      distractor based on case selection. Secondary maxillary correction by Le Fort I
      osteotomy using bone graft and further occlusion is corrected by postorthodontics
      if necessary. Splints were used during CM for predetermined occlusion. In all the
      cases, postoperative intermaxillary fixation was maintained for 8 weeks for
      stable ossification of the callus. RESULTS: The study group consist of four and
      five cases of external and internal distraction, respectively. Of the 9 patients
      who underwent DO, 6 were females and 3 were males. The mean age of the population
      ranged from 10 to 21 years with a mean age of 18 years. The average distracted
      length of the mandible was 23.55 mm ranging from 20 to 26 mm with the standard
      deviation of 1.95. The mean deviation of the mandible (crossbite) at the end of
      distraction was around 8.23 mm ranging from 5 to 12 mm with the standard
      deviation of 2.17. Of the total 9 cases, only in 3 cases CM is done during DO and
      the rest 6 cases the CM is done after removal of the distractor. Secondary
      maxillary correction by Le Fort I osteotomy was done for 4 cases, and
      postorthodontic correction was done in 3 cases. In all the 9 cases, 100% results
      (as assessed clinically and radiographically) achieved with the creation of
      perfect gonial angle. CONCLUSIONS: CM plays a crucial role in those cases where
      proper vector orientation is hindered because of anatomical difficulty for
      osteotomy cuts and parallel fixation of the distractor to ramus resulting in
      cross-bite with deviation toward the undistracted side. Manipulation of the
      regenerates would provide a precise achievement of gonial angle, minimizing the
      need for secondary corrections, and diminishing treatment duration and costs.

PMID- 26888240
TI  - Comparison of semilunar coronally advanced flap alone and in combination with
      button technique in the treatment of Miller's Class I and II gingival recessions:
      A pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gingival recession (GR) is one of the most common esthetic and
      functional concerns associated with periodontal disease. A variety of surgical
      procedures has been introduced to the field of cosmetic periodontology for the
      treatment of GR. AIM: To evaluate and compare the clinical outcome of semilunar
      coronally advanced flap (SCAF) with and without button technique in the treatment
      of Miller's Class I and II GRs. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 12 subjects with
      bilateral single Miller's Class I and II recession were selected for the study.
      Split mouth design was used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical sites were randomly
      divided into test and control groups. In control sites, SCAF alone was done
      whereas in test site, a combination of SCAF and button technique was performed.
      The clinical parameters including GR, periodontal pocket depth, clinical
      attachment level (CAL), and width of keratinized gingiva were recorded at
      baseline and 6 months postsurgery. Data so collected were put to statistical
      analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Student's t-test was used to find significance of
      parameters between baseline and 6 months. For inter-group comparisons paired t
      test was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were recorded
      in both groups from baseline to 6 months. Inter-group comparison yielded
      statistically significant differences in GR and CAL in favor of test group.
      CONCLUSION: Combination of SCAF and button technique resulted in statistically
      significant improvements in clinical parameters as compared to SCAF alone. Future
      clinical studies with much larger sample size and longer follow-up periods are
      warranted.

PMID- 26888241
TI  - To comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of chlorhexidine, nisin and
      linezolid as an intracanal medicament on Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro
      study.
AB  - AIM: The present study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of Chlorhexidine,
      Nisin and Linezolid and a control group (Normal saline ) against Enterococcus
      faecalis (EF). METHODS: Human single rooted premolars with type I canal anatomy
      were instrumented with ProTaper using NaOCl as an irrigant. Supension of EF was
      inoculated into each root specimen and incubated. The medicaments were syringed
      into each root and incubated. After 24 hours, 8 samples per group (among the 4
      groups) were retrieved. A hole was drilled on each root, and the dentinal
      shavings obtained were allowed to fall in brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth.
      Dilutions from the broth were plated and spread over blood agar. Colony-forming
      units (CFU) of EF was counted. The procedure was repeated after 72 hrs and 1
      week. RESULTS: In group Nisin, the mean CFU was 10.6250 at 24 hrs, 6.6250 at 72
      hrs and 6.2500 after 1 week respectively (statistically significant). In group
      Chlorhexidine, mean CFU was found to be the lowest of 10.5000 at 24 hrs, with
      further gradual increase to 13.7500 at 72 hrs and further increase to 15.8750 by
      1 week. Similarly, in group linezolid , the mean CFU was found to decrease from
      49.0000 at 24 hrs to 29.8750 at 72 hrs and then increase to 34.8750 in 1 week.

PMID- 26888242
TI  - Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of root perforation, external resorption and
      fractures using cone-beam computed tomography, panoramic radiography and
      conventional & digital periapical radiography.
AB  - CONTEXT: Some radicular changes are challenging for clinicians to diagnose, such
      as of root perforations, external root resorption (ERR), and vertical root
      fractures (VRFs). This study aims to facilitate it by comparing the diagnostic
      accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), orthopantomography, and
      conventional and digital periapical radiography (DPR) in the diagnosis of such
      problems. Is it worth doing CBCT despite the radiation dose? AIMS: To evaluate
      and compare the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT, panoramic radiography, and
      conventional and DPR in the diagnosis of root perforation (RP), ERR, and VRF.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 40 extracted human teeth and 10
      macerated human mandibles. RPs were performed using diamond burs, ERRs using
      spherical carbide burs, and RFs using a universal machine EMIC-DL 1000. The
      images were evaluated by 6 dentomaxillofacial radiologists. RESULTS: Receiver
      operating characteristic (ROC) revealed that CBCT showed the highest area under
      the ROC curve (Az) values for RP, ERR, and VRF (0.903, 0.950, and 0.849,
      respectively). The worst Az values for RP, ERR, and VRF (0.718, 0.494, and 0.611,
      respectively) were for panoramic radiography. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT showed the best
      results in the diagnosis of ERR and VRF. The diagnosis of ERR was the least
      accurate, panoramic radiography being not appropriate for its diagnosis. CBCT and
      conventional periapical radiography obtained similar results for the evaluation
      of RP. So for, RP indicate the conventional periapical radiography because CBCT
      has a higher radiation dose.

PMID- 26888243
TI  - Histological analysis of the biocompatibility of calcium hydroxide associated
      with a new vehicle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several substances have been researched to act as vehicles associated
      with calcium hydroxide. The specific type of vehicle is directly related to the
      effectiveness of the ionic dissociation, antimicrobial action, and
      biocompatibility of this medication. AIM: To make a histological evaluation of
      the biocompatibility of calcium hydroxide associated with a new vehicle
      (triethanolamine), compared with polyethylene glycol, saline solution, and olive
      oil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty mice of guinea pig species were randomly
      divided into five groups (n = 10) according to each vehicle used--Group 1:
      calcium hydroxide, Group 2: triethanolamine, Group 3: polyethylene glycol, Group
      4: saline solution, and Group 5: olive oil--and further divided into subgroups
      according to the two analysis periods--(a) 30 and (b) 90 days. Teflon carriers
      filled with the evaluated substances were placed in standardized bone cavities in
      the anterior mandible region. The animals were euthanized to perform a
      histological analysis after the time periods analyzed. RESULTS: In 30 days,
      specimens from Groups 1, 3, and 5 showed a very pronounced inflammatory response.
      Specimens from Group 2 showed an inflammatory reaction ranging from mild to
      severe, with rapid resorption of the material and progressive advancement of
      osteoid tissue into the teflon carriers. Specimens from Group 4 showed a moderate
      inflammatory reaction. In 90 days, specimens from Group 1 showed a very
      pronounced fibrous replacement. In regard to Group 2 specimens, the tested
      material was solubilized and replaced by newly formed bone tissue. For Groups 3
      and 5 specimens, the inflammatory reaction went from acute to moderate. In
      relation to Group 4 specimens, an organized bone formation process was observed.
      CONCLUSIONS: Specimens from Group 2 showed higher biocompatibility, especially as
      compared with the specimens from Groups 3 and 5.

PMID- 26888244
TI  - Maxillary plexiform ameloblastoma showing basaloid differentiation: Report of a
      rare case with review of literature.
AB  - Ameloblastoma is a benign, locally aggressive tumor originating from the
      odontogenic epithelium. It manifests as a slow growing swelling, causing
      expansion of the jaw bones. Radiologically, it presents as a unilocular or
      multilocular radiolucency exhibiting a characteristic soap bubble or honeycomb
      appearance. Ameloblastoma exhibits several histologic patterns of which basal
      cell variant is a rare entity. The present case report is that of a maxillary
      ameloblastoma exhibiting a basaloid differentiation that may put one in the mind
      of a basaloid squamous cell carcinoma or a basal cell carcinoma. Confirmation of
      such rare variants should be done not only based on histopathology but with the
      help of supplemental immunohistochemical analysis. The present case report helps
      in exposing a rare variant of ameloblastoma and emphasizes the role of advanced
      diagnostic aids such as immunohistochemistry in establishing the diagnosis. 

PMID- 26888245
TI  - Impacted stapler pin in fractured maxillary central incisor with open apex:
      Advanced endodontic management using biodentine as innovative apical matrix.
AB  - The presence of foreign objects in the pulp chamber of fractured permanent teeth
      is a rare phenomenon and often diagnosed accidently .These foreign bodies are
      most commonly self inflicted by young patients and remain impacted within the
      pulp canal thereby acting as potential source of infection and painful
      conditions. In the present case report, we present successful endodontic
      management of stapler pin lodged in fractured maxillary central incisor with
      challenge of open apex in young patient using biodentine as a novel apical
      matrix.

PMID- 26888246
TI  - Extragnathic and gnathic odontome.
AB  - This is a very rare case report of a multiple odontome involving the upper jaws,
      lower jaws and an extragnathic site. A thirty seven year-old male complained of
      missing teeth in his left upper and lower jaw since childhood. Radiographic
      examination revealed multiple calcified teeth like structures in the left side of
      the patient's maxilla, mandible and mastoid region of skull base. We arrived at
      the diagnosis of compound odontome. Patient was otherwise systemically normal and
      with good health. He underwent surgical enucleation of the jaw odontome while the
      extragnathic odontome was left under observation. This rare case report proves
      that the embryonic dental cells might migrate to the primordium of the Rathke's
      pouch and further might be carried towards the site of the developing cranial
      base region. 

PMID- 26888247
TI  - Verrucous hemangioma of the oral cavity: A rare diagnostic dilemma.
AB  - Verrucous hemangioma (VH) is an uncommon, congenital, vascular malformation that
      involves dermis and subcutaneous connective tissue of skin. VH lesions are
      initially present at birth, and therefore, the diagnosis in the elderly may be
      difficult. Review of literature reveals that VH lesions are commonly located
      unilaterally on the lower extremities. VH may clinically present as keratotic,
      papular, nodular, or plaque-like lesions that are reddish-blue in color. VH does
      not resolve spontaneously and has a tendency to relapse. The diagnosis of VH is
      generally done on the basis of histopathology. Early diagnosis is important to
      get a better cosmetic result. VH requires a large, deep excision to avoid
      recurrence because of frequent extension into subcutaneous fat planes. Intra-oral
      lesions of VH have rarely been reported in the literature. We present an
      extremely rare case of VH occurring in the retromolar triangle area of oral
      cavity. 

PMID- 26888248
TI  - In-office technique to fabricate triple tray.
AB  - Dual arch impressions have been in use for many years. Five in-office techniques
      for fabrication of the tray have been suggested, in case the manufactured (stock)
      tray is not available to the clinician. The design consists of two parts of the
      tray (the plastic frame and lattice). Five types of materials for the lattice
      have been described. The indications, advantages, and disadvantages of the
      techniques together with an appraisal of the five different lattice materials
      have been described. Overall the techniques are simple and require materials that
      are easily available. It does not take much time and can be used to attain
      efficient results in case the stock tray is not available in the operatory. 

PMID- 26888249
TI  - Platform switching: Hype or reality?

PMID- 26888250
TI  - Response to editorial on research publication and reward mechanism.

PMID- 26888251
TI  - beta-Adrenergic receptor agonist, compound 49b, inhibits TLR4 signaling pathway
      in diabetic retina.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy has recently become associated with complications similar to
      chronic inflammatory diseases. Although it is clear that tumor necrosis factor
      alpha is increased in diabetes, the role of innate immunity is only recently
      being investigated. As such, we hypothesized that diabetes would increase Toll
      like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling, which could be inhibited by a beta-adrenergic
      receptor agonist (Compound 49b) previously shown to have anti-inflammatory
      actions. In order to investigate beta-adrenergic receptor signaling and TLR4 in
      the diabetic retina, streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice, as well as human
      primary retinal endothelial cells (RECs) and rat retinal Muller cells (rMC-1)
      exposed to high glucose (25 mM), were treated with a novel beta-adrenergic
      receptor agonist, Compound 49b (50 nM), or phosphate-buffered saline (control).
      TLR4 and its downstream signaling partners (MyD88, IL-1 receptor-associated
      kinase 1, TNF receptor-associated factor 6 and total and phosphorylated nuclear
      factor-kappaB) were examined. In addition, we assessed high-mobility group box 1
      (HMGB1) protein levels. Our data showed that diabetes or high-glucose culture
      conditions significantly increased TLR4 and downstream signaling partners.
      Compound 49b was able to significantly reduce TLR4 and related molecules in the
      diabetic animal and retinal cells. HMGB1 was significantly increased in RECs and
      Muller cells grown in high-glucose culture conditions, which was subsequently
      reduced with Compound 49b treatment. Our findings suggest that high glucose may
      increase HMGB1 levels that lead to increased TLR4 signaling. Compound 49b
      significantly inhibited this pathway, providing a potential mechanism for its
      protective actions.

PMID- 26888252
TI  - A naturally occurring transcript variant of MARCO reveals the SRCR domain is
      critical for function.
AB  - Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) is a class A scavenger
      receptor (cA-SR) that recognizes and phagocytoses a wide variety of pathogens.
      Most cA-SRs that contain a C-terminal scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR)
      domain use the proximal collagenous domain to bind ligands. In contrast, the role
      of the SRCR domain of MARCO in phagocytosis, adhesion and pro-inflammatory
      signaling is less clear. The discovery of a naturally occurring transcript
      variant lacking the SRCR domain, MARCOII, provided the opportunity to study the
      role of the SRCR domain of MARCO. We tested whether the SRCR domain is required
      for ligand binding, promoting downstream signaling and enhancing cellular
      adhesion. Unlike cells expressing full-length MARCO, ligand binding was abolished
      in MARCOII-expressing cells. Furthermore, co-expression of MARCO and MARCOII
      impaired phagocytic function, indicating that MARCOII acts as a dominant-negative
      variant. Unlike MARCO, expression of MARCOII did not enhance Toll-like receptor 2
      (TLR2)-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling in response to bacterial stimulation.
      MARCO-expressing cells were more adherent and exhibited a dendritic-like
      phenotype, whereas MARCOII-expressing cells were less adherent and did not
      exhibit changes in morphology. These data suggest the SRCR domain of MARCO is the
      key domain in modulating ligand binding, enhancing downstream pro-inflammatory
      signaling and MARCO-mediated cellular adhesion.

PMID- 26888254
TI  - Biodegradation of DDT by Stenotrophomonas sp. DDT-1: Characterization and genome
      functional analysis.
AB  - A novel bacterium capable of utilizing 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p
      chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated from
      a contaminated soil which was identified as Stenotrophomonas sp. DDT-1 based on
      morphological characteristics, BIOLOG GN2 microplate profile, and 16S rDNA
      phylogeny. Genome sequencing and functional annotation of the isolate DDT-1
      showed a 4,514,569 bp genome size, 66.92% GC content, 4,033 protein-coding genes,
      and 76 RNA genes including 8 rRNA genes. Totally, 2,807 protein-coding genes were
      assigned to Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs), and 1,601 protein-coding genes
      were mapped to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. The
      degradation half-lives of DDT increased with substrate concentration from 0.1 to
      10.0 mg/l, whereas decreased with temperature from 15  degrees C to 35  degrees
      C. Neutral condition was the most favorable for DDT biodegradation. Based on
      genome annotation of DDT degradation genes and the metabolites detected by GC-MS,
      a mineralization pathway was proposed for DDT biodegradation in which it was
      orderly converted into DDE/DDD, DDMU, DDOH, and DDA via dechlorination,
      hydroxylation, and carboxylation, and ultimately mineralized to carbon dioxide.
      The results indicate that the isolate DDT-1 is a promising bacterial resource for
      the removal or detoxification of DDT residues in the environment.

PMID- 26888253
TI  - Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: Safe vascular access
      2016.
AB  - Safe vascular access is integral to anaesthetic and critical care practice, but
      procedures are a frequent source of patient adverse events. Ensuring safe and
      effective approaches to vascular catheter insertion should be a priority for all
      practitioners. New technology such as ultrasound and other imaging has increased
      the number of tools available. This guidance was created using review of current
      practice and literature, as well as expert opinion. The result is a consensus
      document which provides practical advice on the safe insertion and removal of
      vascular access devices. 

PMID- 26888255
TI  - Treasury will take "incredibly dim view" of L2.3bn NHS overspend.

PMID- 26888256
TI  - Novel genetic predictors of venous thromboembolism risk in African Americans.
AB  - Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common life-threatening
      cardiovascular condition in the United States, with African Americans (AAs)
      having a 30% to 60% higher incidence compared with other ethnicities. The
      mechanisms underlying population differences in the risk of VTE are poorly
      understood. We conducted the first genome-wide association study in AAs,
      comprising 578 subjects, followed by replication of highly significant findings
      in an independent cohort of 159 AA subjects. Logistic regression was used to
      estimate the association between genetic variants and VTE risk. Through
      bioinformatics analysis of the top signals, we identified expression quantitative
      trait loci (eQTLs) in whole blood and investigated the messenger RNA expression
      differences in VTE cases and controls. We identified and replicated single
      nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 20 (rs2144940, rs2567617, and rs1998081)
      that increased risk of VTE by 2.3-fold (P< 6 * 10(-7)). These risk variants were
      found in higher frequency among populations of African descent (>20%) compared
      with other ethnic groups (<10%). We demonstrate that SNPs on chromosome 20 are
      cis-eQTLs for thrombomodulin (THBD), and the expression of THBD is lower among
      VTE cases compared with controls (P= 9.87 * 10(-6)). We have identified novel
      polymorphisms associated with increased risk of VTE in AAs. These polymorphisms
      are predominantly found among populations of African descent and are associated
      with THBD gene expression. Our findings provide new molecular insight into a
      mechanism regulating VTE susceptibility and identify common genetic variants that
      increase the risk of VTE in AAs, a population disproportionately affected by this
      disease.

PMID- 26888257
TI  - Galectin-1 drives lymphoma CD20 immunotherapy resistance: validation of a
      preclinical system to identify resistance mechanisms.
AB  - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most commonly diagnosed hematologic cancer of
      adults in the United States, with the vast majority of NHLs deriving from
      malignant B lymphocytes that express cell surface CD20. CD20 immunotherapy
      (rituximab) is widely used to treat NHL, even though the initial effectiveness of
      rituximab varies widely among patients and typically wanes over time. The
      mechanisms through which lymphomas initially resist or gain resistance to
      immunotherapy are not well established. To address this, a preclinical mouse
      model system was developed to comprehensively identify lymphoma transcriptomic
      changes that confer resistance to CD20 immunotherapy. The generation of
      spontaneous primary and familial lymphomas revealed that sensitivity to CD20
      immunotherapy was not regulated by differences in CD20 expression, prior exposure
      to CD20 immunotherapy, or serial in vivo passage. An unbiased forward exome
      screen of these primary lymphomas was used to validate the utility of this
      expansive lymphoma cohort, which revealed that increased lymphoma galectin-1 (Gal
      1) expression strongly correlated with resistance to immunotherapy. Genetically
      induced lymphoma Gal-1 expression ablated antibody-dependent lymphoma
      phagocytosis in vitro and lymphoma sensitivity to CD20 immunotherapy in vivo.
      Human NHLs also express elevated Gal-1 compared with nonmalignant lymphocytes,
      demonstrating the ability of this preclinical model system to identify molecular
      targets that could be relevant to human therapy. This study therefore established
      a powerful preclinical model system that permits the comprehensive identification
      of the dynamic lymphoma molecular network that drives resistance to
      immunotherapy. 

PMID- 26888259
TI  - Interfacial Atomic Structure of Twisted Few-Layer Graphene.
AB  - A twist in bi- or few-layer graphene breaks the local symmetry, introducing a
      number of intriguing physical properties such as opening new bandgaps. Therefore,
      determining the twisted atomic structure is critical to understanding and
      controlling the functional properties of graphene. Combining low-angle annular
      dark-field electron microscopy with image simulations, we directly determine the
      atomic structure of twisted few-layer graphene in terms of a moire superstructure
      which is parameterized by a single twist angle and lattice constant. This method
      is shown to be a powerful tool for accurately determining the atomic structure of
      two-dimensional materials such as graphene, even in the presence of experimental
      errors. Using coincidence-site-lattice and displacement-shift-complete theories,
      we show that the in-plane translation state between layers is not a significant
      structure parameter, explaining why the present method is adequate not only for
      bilayer graphene but also a few-layered twisted graphene. 

PMID- 26888260
TI  - Comparison of two Medication Therapy Management Practice Models on Return on
      Investment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the return on investment (ROI) of an integrated practice
      model versus a "hub and spoke" practice model of pharmacist provided medication
      therapy management (MTM). METHODS: A cohort retrospective analysis of MTM claims
      billed in 76 pharmacies in North Carolina in the 2010 hub and spoke practice
      model and the 2012 "integrated" practice model were analyzed to calculate the
      ROI. RESULTS: In 2010, 4089 patients received an MTM resulting in 8757 claims in
      the hub and spoke model. In 2012, 4896 patients received an MTM resulting in 13
      730 claims in the integrated model. In 2010, US$165 897.26 was invested in
      pharmacist salary and $173 498.00 was received in reimbursement, resulting in an
      ROI of +US$7600.74 (+4.6%). In 2012, US$280 890.09 was invested in pharmacist
      salary and US$302 963 was received in reimbursement, resulting in an ROI of
      +US$22 072.91 or (+7.9%). CONCLUSION: The integrated model of MTM showed an
      increase in number of claims submitted and in number of patients receiving MTM
      services, ultimately resulting in a higher ROI. While a higher ROI was evident in
      the integrated model, both models resulted in positive ROI (1:12-1:21),
      highlighting that MTM programs can be cost effective with different strategies of
      execution.

PMID- 26888258
TI  - Dexamethasone vs prednisone in induction treatment of pediatric ALL: results of
      the randomized trial AIEOP-BFM ALL 2000.
AB  - Induction therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) traditionally
      includes prednisone; yet, dexamethasone may have higher antileukemic potency,
      leading to fewer relapses and improved survival. After a 7-day prednisone
      prephase, 3720 patients enrolled on trial Associazione Italiana di Ematologia e
      Oncologia Pediatrica and Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (AIEOP-BFM) ALL 2000 were
      randomly selected to receive either dexamethasone (10 mg/m(2) per day) or
      prednisone (60 mg/m(2) per day) for 3 weeks plus tapering in induction. The 5
      year cumulative incidence of relapse (+/- standard error) was 10.8 +/- 0.7% in
      the dexamethasone and 15.6 +/- 0.8% in the prednisone group (P < .0001), showing
      the largest effect on extramedullary relapses. The benefit of dexamethasone was
      partially counterbalanced by a significantly higher induction-related death rate
      (2.5% vs 0.9%, P = .00013), resulting in 5-year event-free survival rates of 83.9
      +/- 0.9% for dexamethasone and 80.8 +/- 0.9% for prednisone (P = .024). No
      difference was seen in 5-year overall survival (OS) in the total cohort
      (dexamethasone, 90.3 +/- 0.7%; prednisone, 90.5 +/- 0.7%). Retrospective analyses
      of predefined subgroups revealed a significant survival benefit from
      dexamethasone only for patients with T-cell ALL and good response to the
      prednisone prephase (prednisone good-response [PGR]) (dexamethasone, 91.4 +/-
      2.4%; prednisone, 82.6 +/- 3.2%; P = .036). In patients with precursor B-cell ALL
      and PGR, survival after relapse was found to be significantly worse if patients
      were previously assigned to the dexamethasone arm. We conclude that, for patients
      with PGR in the large subgroup of precursor B-cell ALL, dexamethasone especially
      reduced the incidence of better salvageable relapses, resulting in inferior
      survival after relapse. This explains the lack of benefit from dexamethasone in
      overall survival that we observed in the total cohort except in the subset of T
      cell ALL patients with PGR. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov
      (BFM: NCT00430118, AIEOP: NCT00613457).

PMID- 26888261
TI  - The Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Integration on a Collaborative
      Interdisciplinary Diabetes Management Team.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The national initiative, Project IMProving America's Communities
      Together (IMPACT): Diabetes, was intended to scale a proven American Pharmacists
      Association (APhA) Foundation process model, which integrates pharmacists on the
      collaborative health-care team, in communities greatly affected by diabetes to
      improve key indicators of diabetes. This article discusses the results from 1
      community in Mississippi. METHODS: This national prospective study followed
      patients with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7% from September 2011 to January 2013.
      Pharmacists collaborated with providers and other health-care professionals to
      provide medication therapy management services for a minimum of 3 visits. Outcome
      measures included HbA1c, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP),
      fasting cholesterol panel, body mass index (BMI), influenza vaccine and smoking
      status, and foot and eye examination dates. RESULTS: At this site, there were
      statistically significant outcomes including mean HbA1c decrease of 1.2% in SBP
      and DBP of 8.3 mm Hg and 3.5 mm Hg, respectively, and reduction in low-density
      lipoprotein of 16.6 mg/dL, all of which were greater improvements compared to
      overall results from combined sites. CONCLUSION: Patients in this community who
      received care from the collaborative team, including a pharmacist, had
      improvement in most key indicators of diabetes, with a clinically significant
      reduction in HbA1c.

PMID- 26888263
TI  - Whole-genome sequence analyses of Western Central African Pygmy hunter-gatherers
      reveal a complex demographic history and identify candidate genes under positive
      natural selection.
AB  - African Pygmies practicing a mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle are phenotypically
      and genetically diverged from other anatomically modern humans, and they likely
      experienced strong selective pressures due to their unique lifestyle in the
      Central African rainforest. To identify genomic targets of adaptation, we
      sequenced the genomes of four Biaka Pygmies from the Central African Republic and
      jointly analyzed these data with the genome sequences of three Baka Pygmies from
      Cameroon and nine Yoruba famers. To account for the complex demographic history
      of these populations that includes both isolation and gene flow, we fit models
      using the joint allele frequency spectrum and validated them using independent
      approaches. Our two best-fit models both suggest ancient divergence between the
      ancestors of the farmers and Pygmies, 90,000 or 150,000 yr ago. We also find that
      bidirectional asymmetric gene flow is statistically better supported than a
      single pulse of unidirectional gene flow from farmers to Pygmies, as previously
      suggested. We then applied complementary statistics to scan the genome for
      evidence of selective sweeps and polygenic selection. We found that conventional
      statistical outlier approaches were biased toward identifying candidates in
      regions of high mutation or low recombination rate. To avoid this bias, we
      assigned P-values for candidates using whole-genome simulations incorporating
      demography and variation in both recombination and mutation rates. We found that
      genes and gene sets involved in muscle development, bone synthesis, immunity,
      reproduction, cell signaling and development, and energy metabolism are likely to
      be targets of positive natural selection in Western African Pygmies or their
      recent ancestors. 

PMID- 26888262
TI  - New England harbor seal H3N8 influenza virus retains avian-like receptor
      specificity.
AB  - An influenza H3N8 virus, carrying mammalian adaptation mutations, was isolated
      from New England harbor seals in 2011. We sought to assess the risk of its human
      transmissibility using two complementary approaches. First, we tested the binding
      of recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) proteins of seal H3N8 and human-adapted H3N2
      viruses to respiratory tissues of humans and ferrets. For human tissues, we
      observed strong tendency of the seal H3 to bind to lung alveoli, which was in
      direct contrast to the human-adapted H3 that bound mainly to the trachea. This
      staining pattern was also consistent in ferrets, the primary animal model for
      human influenza pathogenesis. Second, we compared the binding of the recombinant
      HAs to a library of 610 glycans. In contrast to the human H3, which bound almost
      exclusively to alpha-2,6 sialylated glycans, the seal H3 bound preferentially to
      alpha-2,3 sialylated glycans. Additionally, the seal H3N8 virus replicated in
      human lung carcinoma cells. Our data suggest that the seal H3N8 virus has
      retained its avian-like receptor binding specificity, but could potentially
      establish infection in human lungs. 

PMID- 26888264
TI  - Model-based analyses of whole-genome data reveal a complex evolutionary history
      involving archaic introgression in Central African Pygmies.
AB  - Comparisons of whole-genome sequences from ancient and contemporary samples have
      pointed to several instances of archaic admixture through interbreeding between
      the ancestors of modern non-Africans and now extinct hominids such as
      Neanderthals and Denisovans. One implication of these findings is that some
      adaptive features in contemporary humans may have entered the population via gene
      flow with archaic forms in Eurasia. Within Africa, fossil evidence suggests that
      anatomically modern humans (AMH) and various archaic forms coexisted for much of
      the last 200,000 yr; however, the absence of ancient DNA in Africa has limited
      our ability to make a direct comparison between archaic and modern human genomes.
      Here, we use statistical inference based on high coverage whole-genome data
      (greater than 60*) from contemporary African Pygmy hunter-gatherers as an
      alternative means to study the evolutionary history of the genus Homo. Using
      whole-genome simulations that consider demographic histories that include both
      isolation and gene flow with neighboring farming populations, our inference
      method rejects the hypothesis that the ancestors of AMH were genetically isolated
      in Africa, thus providing the first whole genome-level evidence of African
      archaic admixture. Our inferences also suggest a complex human evolutionary
      history in Africa, which involves at least a single admixture event from an
      unknown archaic population into the ancestors of AMH, likely within the last
      30,000 yr. 

PMID- 26888266
TI  - Silent Cerebral Ischemic Lesions After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
      in Patients on 5 Types of Periprocedural Oral Anticoagulation - Predictors of
      Diffusion-Weighted Imaging-Positive Lesions and Follow-up Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of silent
      cerebral ischemic lesions (SCIL) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
      (AF) and to determine whether SCIL develop into cerebral infarcts in patients
      with 5 types of oral anticoagulants (OAC). METHODS AND RESULTS: We
      retrospectively studied 286 consecutive patients (median, 67 years; 208 male;
      paroxysmal/persistent/long-standing persistent AF [LSP-AF], 147/90/49) who
      received periprocedural OAC and underwent MRI after the procedure. Warfarin
      (n=46) was continued, while dabigatran (n=47), rivaroxaban (n=89), apixaban
      (n=87), and edoxaban (n=17) were discontinued on the day of the procedure. I.v.
      heparin was infused to maintain an activated clotting time of 300-350 s during
      the procedure. Fifty-eight SCIL in 40 patients (14.0%) were identified on
      diffusion-weighted MRI. On multivariate logistic analysis, LSP-AF and dabigatran
      use were significant positive predictors of SCIL (OR, 2.912 and 2.287; P=0.006
      and 0.042, respectively). Among 34 patients with 49 SCIL undergoing follow-up
      MRI, 45 (91.8%) of the lesions disappeared and 4 lesions developed into chronic
      cerebral infarcts. The SCIL with development into infarcts had a larger lesion
      diameter than those without (median, 6.55 mm vs. 4.2 mm; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS:
      LSP-AF and dabigatran use were independent risk factors for post-ablation SCIL in
      patients with uninterrupted warfarin and interrupted non-vitamin K antagonist
      OAC, but the majority of SCIL disappeared.

PMID- 26888268
TI  - [Raise awareness of IgG4 relative ocular disease].
AB  - Purpose IgG4-related ocular disease is a chronic systemic disease with lymphocyte
      abnormal. The lacrimal glands, extraocular muscles and infraorbital nerve were
      often involved which was often the first symptom of systemic disease. While
      ophthalmologists did not know this disease well. They usually misdiagnosed it as
      idiopathic inflammatory pseudotumor, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy etc, which
      resulted in delayed treatments. Here pathogenesis, clinical features and
      treatment methods of IgG4-relative ocular disease were described in order to
      improve awareness of this ocular disease, reduce clinical misdiagnosis, improve
      disease prognosis and standardized treatment. As the incidence of this disease
      increased in recent years, it is very necessary to improve awareness of the
      disease for ophthalmologists. 

PMID- 26888265
TI  - Alternative splicing modulated by genetic variants demonstrates accelerated
      evolution regulated by highly conserved proteins.
AB  - Identification of functional genetic variants and elucidation of their regulatory
      mechanisms represent significant challenges of the post-genomic era. A poorly
      understood topic is the involvement of genetic variants in mediating post
      transcriptional RNA processing, including alternative splicing. Thus far, little
      is known about the genomic, evolutionary, and regulatory features of genetically
      modulated alternative splicing (GMAS). Here, we systematically identified
      intronic tag variants for genetic modulation of alternative splicing using RNA
      seq data specific to cellular compartments. Combined with our previous method
      that identifies exonic tags for GMAS, this study yielded 622 GMAS exons. We
      observed that GMAS events are highly cell type independent, indicating that
      splicing-altering genetic variants could have widespread function across cell
      types. Interestingly, GMAS genes, exons, and single-nucleotide variants (SNVs)
      all demonstrated positive selection or accelerated evolution in primates. We
      predicted that GMAS SNVs often alter binding of splicing factors, with SRSF1
      affecting the most GMAS events and demonstrating global allelic binding bias.
      However, in contrast to their GMAS targets, the predicted splicing factors are
      more conserved than expected, suggesting that cis-regulatory variation is the
      major driving force of splicing evolution. Moreover, GMAS-related splicing
      factors had stronger consensus motifs than expected, consistent with their
      susceptibility to SNV disruption. Intriguingly, GMAS SNVs in general do not alter
      the strongest consensus position of the splicing factor motif, except the more
      than 100 GMAS SNVs in linkage disequilibrium with polymorphisms reported by
      genome-wide association studies. Our study reports many GMAS events and enables a
      better understanding of the evolutionary and regulatory features of this
      phenomenon.

PMID- 26888269
TI  - [The role of laser photocoagulation in the anti-vascular endothelial growth
      factor therapy era].
AB  - Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has recently become the
      first-line treatment for wet age related macular degeneration, macular edema
      secondary to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion, retinopathy of
      prematurity and neovascular glaucoma. It is worth thinking about whether laser
      photocoagulation still has its therapeutic value in these diseases. The purpose
      of this article is to discuss the role of laser photocoagulation in the anti-VEGF
      therapy era. And the article also discussed the combined treatment strategy in
      order to avoid clinical errors and to provide a new insight for prevention and
      treatment of ocular neovascular disease in the future. 

PMID- 26888267
TI  - Decreased Defibrillation Threshold and Minimized Myocardial Damage With Left
      Axilla Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To reduce myocardial damage caused by implantable cardioverter
      defibrillator (ICD) shock, the left axilla was studied as an alternative pulse
      generator implantation site, and compared with the traditional implantation site,
      the left anterior chest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Computer simulation was used to
      study the defibrillation conduction pattern and estimate the simulated
      defibrillation threshold (DFT) and myocardial damage when pulse generators were
      placed in the left axilla and left anterior chest, respectively; pulse generators
      were also newly implanted in the left axilla (n=30) and anterior chest (n=40) to
      compare the corresponding DFT. On simulation, when ICD generators were implanted
      in the left axilla, compared with the left anterior chest, the whole heart may be
      defibrillated with a lower defibrillation energy (left axilla 6.4 J vs. left
      anterior chest 12.0 J) and thus the proportion of cardiac myocardial damage may
      be reduced (2.1 vs. 4.2%). Clinically, ventricular fibrillation was successfully
      terminated with a defibrillation output <=5 J in 86.7% (26/30) of the left
      axillary group, and in 27.5% (11/40) of the left anterior group (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Clinically and theoretically, the left axilla was shown to be an
      improved ICD implantation site that may reduce DFT and lessen myocardial damage
      due to shock. Lower DFT also facilitates less myocardial damage, as a result of
      the lower shock required.

PMID- 26888270
TI  - [Ocular syndromes in patients with neurobrucellosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of ocular syndromes in patients
      with neurobrucellosis. METHOD: This is a retrospective series case study. The
      clinical data of 5 patients with neurobrucellosis, who were treated in Department
      of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Captical Medical Uinversity, from May
      2009 to January 2015, were collected. Their epidemiological information, clinical
      manifestation, laboratory and radiologic examination, therapy and prognosis were
      analyzed. RESULTS: Among the five patients, there were 3 males and 2 females, and
      their ages ranged from 20 to 67 years. The median age was 25 years. All patients
      had ever exposed to sheep. 1 patient lived close to a slaughterhouse and 2
      patients lived in epidemic areas of brucellosis. 5 patients presented with
      binocular vision loss, 8 eyes with fundus edema, 3 patients with
      ophthalmoplegia;4 patients with fever,4 patients with headache,3 patients with
      neck stiffness,1 patient with movement and sensation disorders. Cerebrospinal
      fluid (CSF) pressure elevated, white cell number and protein increased with
      glucose reduction were detected respectively in 3 cases. While, CSF chloride
      decreased in 2 cases. Serum agglutination test for brucella was positive in 5
      patients. Serum brucella culture was positive in 1 patient and CSF brucella
      culture was positive in 1 patient. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed
      that the optic nerve was involved in 3 patients,the meninges were involved in 1
      patient and the brain white matter was involved in 1 patient. The combination of
      rifamycin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone sodium or quinolone were given to all
      patients and showed appreciated effects. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of
      ocular syndromes are atypical in patients with neurobrucellosis. Vision loss and
      ophthalmoplegia are more common to be seen. Neurobrucellosis should be considered
      when patients with ocular signs and other system symptoms without a definite
      diagnosis.

PMID- 26888271
TI  - [Relationship between the levels and variation of CXCL12, PDGF, CXCL14 in
      cerebrospinal fluid of optic neuritis and neuromyelitis optica].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the predictive value of the prognosis and outcome for optic
      neuritis (ON) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) by investigating the levels and
      variation of CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 in CSF of patients with ON and NMO. METHODS:
      Retrospective study. Thirty-five patients with ON, 10 patients with NMO and 10
      patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) were scheduled in the
      research unit from September 2012 to September 2013 in Neuro-Ophthalmology
      Department of PLA General Hospital. Clinical data and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      parameters were collected. CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 concentrations were measured
      in CSF using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CXCL12, PDGF and
      CXCL14 levels in CSF were compared by using ANOVA in different diseases with
      different phases and recurrent cases found by MRI. Multiple comparisons were used
      by LSD method. The comparison of positive rate for MRI in ON different phases was
      used by exact probability. Meanwhile, correlation analysis was conducted between
      CXCL12, PDGF, CXCL14 and white blood cells (WBC), IgG and protein in CSF.
      RESULTS: Compared with NMO group (3.69+/-0.35, 2.04+/-0.24, 7.05+/-0.94), the
      CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 levels in CSF were higher in ON (4.39+/-0.51, 2.51+/
      0.39, 8.65+/-1.55) and CVST(4.84+/- 0.49, 2.79+/-0.47, 10.53+/-1.11) group
      (F=14.593, 10.060, 10.003,P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001), especially the CXCL12, PDGF
      and CXCL14 levels in CSF of CVST group patients were higher than that in ON
      group. Among them, the CXCL12 and PDGF levels in CSF were higher in acute phase
      of ON (4.63+/-0.50, 2.65+/-0.40) and CVST(4.84+/-0.49, 2.79+/-0.47) group than
      stationary phase of ON (4.13+/-0.39, 2.34+/-0.32) group (F=8.823, 4.906, P=0.001,
      0.012). In addition, 28 of 35 ON patients were conducted the cerebral or orbital
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The result showed that the CXCL12 and PDGF
      levels in CSF of patients with positive finding in MRI (3.96+/-0.30, 2.23+/-0.16)
      were higher than those patients with negative finding in MRI (4.64+/-0.42, 2.62+/
      0.42) (t=-4.754, -2.977, all P<0.01). Besides that, there was higher correlation
      between the CXCL12 level and PDGF in CSF (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced
      concentration of cytokine that promoted remyelination such as CXCL12 and PDGF in
      cerebrospinal fluid of the ON and NMO patients may predict a bad myelin
      regeneration.

PMID- 26888272
TI  - [Eight cases of cavernous hemangioma of the optic chiasm].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics, neuto-imaging and prognosis of
      cavernous hemangioma of the optic chiasm. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis
      was conducted in 8 patients from Beijing Tongren Hospital and Beijing Tiantan
      Hospital. Patients' clinical characteristics, neuroimaging and prognosis were
      assessed. RESULTS: There were eight patients aging from 16-58 years old including
      3 females and 5 males. The median age was 39.5 years. From the time of onset to
      diagnosis, the shortest time was 25 days and the longest was 2 years and 4
      months. Clinical characteristics of 8 cases were analyzed. Among 8 cases, 3
      patients had acute course, 3 patient had chronic course with acute exacerbation
      and 2 patients had chronic course. All patients presented with decreased visual
      acuity and/or visual field defect and 3 cases had headache. The most common
      initial manifestation was decreased visual acuity and/or visual field defect (4
      cases). Only 4 cases were diagnosed cavernous hemangioma of the optic chiasm
      before surgery. The hemangioma was total resected in 6 patients and other two got
      partly removed. Visual function was improved in 4 cases after surgery. MRI showed
      mixed signal. CONCLUSIONS: All patients presented decreased visual acuity and/or
      visual field defect, often accompanied with headache. It can be misdiagnosed at
      early stage. MRI may be helpful to the diagnosis. Complete resection at early
      stage may improve the visual function.

PMID- 26888273
TI  - [Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax on retinal with a rat model for ocular ischemic
      syndrome].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To tell the difference of Bcl-2 and Bax expression on the retina
      between the ocular ischemic syndrome group and the sham group. METHODS:
      Experimental study. To establish the ocular ischemic syndrome model by bilateral
      common carotid arteries obliteration (BCCAO) in BN rats. Twenty BN rats were
      divided into two groups randomly: 12 in the model group and 8 in the sham group.
      In model group, midline incised in the neck and bilateral common carotid artery
      obliterated. While in the sham group, midline incised in the neck with no
      obliteration. Pupillary reflex were detected in both groups. After 1 month, rats
      underwent fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) examination. Optical coherence
      tomography (OCT) was used to measure and tell the retina thickness difference in
      both groups. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax on rat retina and change of the Bcl
      2/Bax ratio were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Chisquare test was
      used for classification variable, two independent samples T test was used for
      quantitative data. RESULTS: Compared to the sham group, only 1 eye of BCCAO group
      maintained its direct pupillary reflex, other eyes of the group appeared either
      lost or weakened their direct pupillary reflex. However, all rats in the sham
      group maintained their pupillary reflex. FFA showed that in the BCCAO group,
      retinal circulation time was significantly longer than it was in the sham group
      (aterial phase:t=6.19,P<0.01; arteriovenous phase:t=8.24,P<0.01; venous
      phase:t=2.73,P<0.05). And in the model group, the background choroidal patchy
      hypofluorescence and typical arterial forward phenomenon in the early phase of
      arterial time were observed. OCT showed that in the model group, an obvious
      decrease of the thickness of neuroepithelial layer of retina was observed, which
      was (195.67+/-8.84) um in the model group and (219.31+/- 6.92) um in the sham
      group. It had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical
      staining results showed imbalance of Bcl-2, Bax expression on rat retina.
      Compared with the sham group, expression level of bax which was (5.67+/-0.84) um
      in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.05) , while it was (2.34 +/-
      0.57) um in the sham group. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in Bcl-2
      expression in both groups, which was (5.61+/-0.98) um in the model group and
      which was (5.63+/-0.88) um in the sham group. And Bcl-2/Bax ratio was observed
      statistically significant decreased (P<0.05) in the BCCAO group compared with
      that in the sham group, which was (1.01 +/- 0.23) in the model group, and which
      was (2.47+/-0.47) in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: BCCAO of rats lead to the
      injury of retina function, diminish of retinal thickness, imbalance of Bax and
      Bcl-2 expression.

PMID- 26888274
TI  - [Clinical observations of acute-onset endophthalmitis after clear corneal
      phacoemulsification].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of acute-onset endophthalmitis after clear
      corneal phacoemulsification and to report its clinical features, microbiology,
      and therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: It was a retrospective case series study.
      Medical records were reviewed for all patients diagnosed with acuteonset
      postoperative endophthalmitis from 2006 through 2013 associated with cataract
      surgery at Shandong Eye Institute of China. RESULTS: The 8-year frequency of
      acute-onset endophthalmitis after clear corneal phacoemulsification was 0.13%.
      The mean time between cataract extraction and endophthalmitis onset was 6 days
      (median, range 1 to 37 days). Endophthalmitis onset occurred within 7 days in
      57.1%. The incidence was significantly higher in summer (0.25%) than in other
      seasons seasons (F=8.61, P=0.05). The incidence in diabetes was 0.06% , and in
      non-diabetic patients was 0.16% (F=1.51, P=0.23). There were no significantly
      difference (F=0.003, P=0.422, ) in the endophthalmitis rates between those with
      capsular rupture (0.24%)and those without (0.13%). Three of the 21 cases (14.3%)
      were cured by antibiotic agents only. Antibiotic irrigation of the capsular bag
      was taken in 8 patients (38.1%). Six patients (28.6%) had both antibiotic
      irrigation of the capsular bag and intravitreal injection of the antibiotics and
      the other 4 patients (19.0%) were cured by vitreous surgery. Cultures were
      positive in 33.3% of cases with aqueous humor samples and in 16.7% of cases with
      vitreous biopsy. The culture isolates showed Staphylococcus species in 2 eyes,
      while Pseudomonas paucimobilis, Corynebacterium xerose, Neisseria mucosa and
      Enterococcus faecalis in 1 eye respectively. Sixteen patients (76.2%) achieved a
      final visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Five (23.8%) had worse than 20/40 to
      better than 20/200. No eyes were eviscerated. CONCLUSION: Early recognition and
      appropriate treatment are the most important factors in the successful management
      of endophthalmitis.

PMID- 26888276
TI  - [Research progresses of monoclonal antibodies therapy in neuromyelitis optica].
AB  - Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a kind of demyelinating disorder that
      preferentially affects the optic nerves and spinal cord and results in permanent
      vision loss. There is no effective treatment so far. In recent years, monoclonal
      antibodies (mAbs) have been applied in a number of clinical drug trials and basic
      researches in NMO therapy due to its specificity and uniformity. Phase I clinical
      study found that, symptoms significantly improved in some patients after mAbs
      treatment. This review will expound the therapy classification, mechanism of
      action and clinical results involving mAbs, and provide reference for the
      clinical treatments of NMO. 

PMID- 26888277
TI  - [Research status on the epidemiological characteristics of optic neuritis].
AB  - Optic neuritis(ON) is one of common neuro-ophthalmologic diseases which cause
      vision loss in young and middle-aged population. There are obvious differences in
      the incidence and the epidemiological characteristics among different countries
      and regions. A number of studies on ON have been carried out at home and abroad.
      In China, it is still lack of multi-center, prospective, large sample
      epidemiological studies so far. This paper reviews the epidemiological
      characteristics of ON through the related domestic and overseas literatures. 

PMID- 26888275
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of a thermodynamic treatment system for meibomian gland
      dysfunction].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a single thermodynamic
      treatment system (LipiFlow) for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS:
      Retrospective series case study. Forty-eight subjects with meibomian gland
      dysfunction were analyzed before and after 12 minutes LipiFlow system treatment.
      All subjects were examined before, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after this treatment.
      Subjective symptoms, lipid layer thickness (LLT), expressible meibomian gland,
      tear break-up time, meibomian gland assessment and ocular surface staining were
      measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.5 software. Analysis
      included those independent sample two-tailed t-tests for comparison of the mean
      change from baseline to 4 weeks and baseline to 12 weeks after Lipiflow
      treatment. Statistically significant difference was based on alpha=0.05 (P<0.05).
      RESULTS: A total of 48 cases completed the 12-week follow-up. MGD patients with
      LipiFlow treatment had a significant reduction in the Ocular Surface Disease
      Index (OSDI) scores with 45.36+/-19.34 before treatment, 23.82+/-11.94 at 4 weeks
      (t=2.009, P=0.035) and 25.66+/-14.12 at 12 weeks (t=1.976 P=0.038). LipiFlow
      resulted in a higher number of expressible glands from 2.91+/-1.13 (baseline) to
      6.27+/-2.37 (4 weeks, t=3.505, P<0.001) and 5.15+/-2.08 (12 weeks, t=2.004, P=
      0.027) and change of secretion quality from 6.18+/-2.48 (baseline) to 13.55+/
      3.46 (4 weeks,t=2.698,P=0.005) and 12.67+/-3.41 (12 weeks,t=2.403,P=0.009). In
      addition, a single thermodynamic treatment increase the LLT from (42.13+/-9.67)nm
      (baseline) to (59.02+/-16.39)nm (4 weeks, t=2.971, P=0.002) and (54.65+/-12.52)nm
      (12 weeks, t=2.021, P=0.021). The rate of partial blink was relieved from 0.37+/
      0.30 (baseline) to 0.15+/-0.14 (4 weeks, t=3.428, P=0.035) and 0.12+/-0.13 (12
      weeks, t=1.986, P=0.026). BUT was increased from (4.73+/- 2.34)s (baseline) to
      (9.32 +/- 2.18)s (4 weeks, t=3.385, P<0.001) and (9.91 +/- 3.01)s (12 weeks,
      t=3.253, P< 0.001). There were no unanticipated or serious device-related adverse
      events reported. Compared with baseline, there was no statistically significant
      difference in BCVA, corneal staining and intraocular pressure (P=0.141, 0.376,
      0.421). CONCLUSION: The LipiFlow system was a safety and effectiveness treatment
      of MGD in the 12-week study.

PMID- 26888278
TI  - [Progresses of DNA methylation in common ocular tumor].
AB  - DNA methylation is a major event of epigenetic modifications. In the presence of
      DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), the addition of methyl groups from cytosines can
      impact gene expression and alter cell and organism function. Methyl groups of CpG
      sites in the promoter can directly interfere with binding of transcription
      factors to their recognition cis elements or, on the other side, can facilitate
      interaction with a family of methyl-binding proteins and result in gene
      silencing. Analysis of DNA methylation includes genome-wide DNA methylation
      assessment, analysis of gene-specific DNA methylation and finding of new DNA
      methylation sites. The implication of DNA methylation has been suggested with the
      pathogenesis of retinoblastoma, uveal tract melanoma and ocular surface tumor. We
      focus on the progresses of DNA methylation on ocular tumors in this article. 

PMID- 26888279
TI  - Atomic-scale simulation to study the dynamical properties and local structure of
      Cu-Zr and Ni-Zr metallic glass-forming alloys.
AB  - Molecular dynamics simulation with well-developed EAM potentials was carried out
      to investigate the transport properties and local atomic structure of Cu-Zr and
      Ni-Zr metallic glasses and supercooled liquids. It is found that Cu or Ni atoms
      have much faster dynamics than Zr atoms in relaxation timescales, while Zr atoms
      display faster dynamics in the Cu-Zr system than in the Ni-Zr system. A dynamical
      crossover phenomenon from Arrhenius to super-Arrhenius behavior in the transport
      properties was observed for the Cu65Zr35 system at Tx ~ 1250 K and the Ni65Zr35
      system at Tx ~ 1500 K, respectively. Further structural analysis suggests that
      the dominant interconnected clusters in Cu65Zr35 and Ni65Zr35 systems are <0, 0,
      12, 0>, <0, 1, 10, 2>, <0, 2, 8, 2> and <0, 3, 6, 4>. To directly characterize
      and visualize the correlated dynamics, we regard the full icosahedra as the
      microscopic origin responsible for the formation of metallic glasses in the
      Cu65Zr35 system, while the metallic glass formation in the Ni65Zr35 system can be
      attributed to the slow dynamics of <0, 3, 6, 4>, <0, 2, 8, 2> and <0, 1, 10, 2>
      Ni-centered Voronoi polyhedra. The local atomic order and dynamics for Cu65Zr35
      and Ni65Zr35 systems are remarkably different, and these differences are presumed
      to hinder crystal nucleation and growth, hence promoting the largely different
      bulk glass-forming ability.

PMID- 26888280
TI  - Low vitamin D levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, evidence for their
      independent association in men in East China: a cross-sectional study (Survey on
      Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China)).
AB  - Recent studies have suggested an association between vitamin D and non-alcoholic
      fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, some results are subject to debate. This
      study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between NAFLD and vitamin D in
      men and women in East China. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study
      that focused on the health and metabolic status of adults in sixteen areas of
      East China. According to ultrasonic assessments, the patients were divided into
      normal and NAFLD groups. Demographic characteristics and biochemical measurements
      were obtained. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the
      association. In total, 5066 subjects were enrolled, and 2193 (43.3 %) were
      diagnosed with NAFLD; 84.56 % of the subjects showed vitamin D deficiency.
      Subjects with high vitamin D levels had a lower prevalence of NAFLD, particularly
      male subjects. Within the highest quartile of vitamin D levels, the prevalence of
      NAFLD was 40.8 %, whereas the lowest quartile of vitamin D levels showed a
      prevalence of 62.2 %, which was unchanged in women across the vitamin D levels.
      Binary logistic analysis showed that decreased vitamin D levels were associated
      with an increased risk of NAFLD (OR 1.54; 95 % CI 1.26, 1.88). This study
      suggests that vitamin D levels are significantly associated with NAFLD and that
      vitamin D acts as an independent factor for NAFLD prevalence, particularly in
      males in East China. Vitamin D interventional treatment might be a new target for
      controlling NAFLD; elucidating the mechanism requires further research.

PMID- 26888281
TI  - Erratum to: Severe Mycobacterial Diseases in a Patient with GOF IkappaBalpha
      Mutation Without EDA.

PMID- 26888282
TI  - In vitro metabolism of the synthetic cannabinoid 3,5-AB-CHMFUPPYCA and its 5,3
      regioisomer and investigation of their thermal stability.
AB  - Recently, the pyrazole-containing synthetic cannabinoid N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1
      oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide
      (3,5-AB-CHMFUPPYCA) has been identified as a 'research chemical' both in powdered
      form and as an adulterant present in herbal preparations. Urine is the most
      common matrix used for abstinence control and the extensive metabolism of
      synthetic cannabinoids requires implementation of targeted analysis. The present
      study describes the investigation of the in vitro phase I metabolism of 3,5-AB
      CHMFUPPYCA and its regioisomer 5,3-AB-CHMFUPPYCA using pooled human liver
      microsomes. Metabolic patterns of both AB-CHMFUPPYCA isomers were qualitatively
      similar and dominated by oxidation of the cyclohexylmethyl side chain.
      Biotransformation to monohydroxylated metabolites of high abundance confirmed
      that these species might serve as suitable targets for urine analysis.
      Furthermore, since synthetic cannabinoids are commonly administered by smoking
      and because some metabolites can also be formed as thermolytic artefacts, the
      stability of both isomers was assessed under smoking conditions. Under these
      conditions, pyrolytic cleavage of the amide bond occurred that led to
      approximately 3 % conversion to heat-induced degradation products that were also
      detected during metabolism. These artefactual 'metabolites' could potentially
      bias in vivo metabolic profiles after smoking and might have to be considered for
      interpretation of metabolite findings during hair analysis. This might be
      relevant to the analysis of hair samples where detection of metabolites is
      generally accepted as a strong indication of drug use rather than a potential
      external contamination. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888283
TI  - 70S-scanning initiation is a novel and frequent initiation mode of ribosomal
      translation in bacteria.
AB  - According to the standard model of bacterial translation initiation, the small
      ribosomal 30S subunit binds to the initiation site of an mRNA with the help of
      three initiation factors (IF1-IF3). Here, we describe a novel type of initiation
      termed "70S-scanning initiation," where the 70S ribosome does not necessarily
      dissociate after translation of a cistron, but rather scans to the initiation
      site of the downstream cistron. We detailed the mechanism of 70S-scanning
      initiation by designing unique monocistronic and polycistronic mRNAs harboring
      translation reporters, and by reconstituting systems to characterize each
      distinct mode of initiation. Results show that 70S scanning is triggered by fMet
      tRNA and does not require energy; the Shine-Dalgarno sequence is an essential
      recognition element of the initiation site. IF1 and IF3 requirements for the
      various initiation modes were assessed by the formation of productive initiation
      complexes leading to synthesis of active proteins. IF3 is essential and IF1 is
      highly stimulating for the 70S-scanning mode. The task of IF1 appears to be the
      prevention of untimely interference by ternary aminoacyl (aa)-tRNA*elongation
      factor thermo unstable (EF-Tu)*GTP complexes. Evidence indicates that at least
      50% of bacterial initiation events use the 70S-scanning mode, underscoring the
      relative importance of this translation initiation mechanism. 

PMID- 26888284
TI  - ROTUNDA3 function in plant development by phosphatase 2A-mediated regulation of
      auxin transporter recycling.
AB  - The shaping of organs in plants depends on the intercellular flow of the
      phytohormone auxin, of which the directional signaling is determined by the polar
      subcellular localization of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin transport proteins.
      Phosphorylation dynamics of PIN proteins are affected by the protein phosphatase
      2A (PP2A) and the PINOID kinase, which act antagonistically to mediate their
      apical-basal polar delivery. Here, we identified the ROTUNDA3 (RON3) protein as a
      regulator of the PP2A phosphatase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The RON3 gene
      was map-based cloned starting from the ron3-1 leaf mutant and found to be a
      unique, plant-specific gene coding for a protein with high and dispersed proline
      content. The ron3-1 and ron3-2 mutant phenotypes [i.e., reduced apical dominance,
      primary root length, lateral root emergence, and growth; increased ectopic stages
      II, IV, and V lateral root primordia; decreased auxin maxima in indole-3-acetic
      acid (IAA)-treated root apical meristems; hypergravitropic root growth and
      response; increased IAA levels in shoot apices; and reduced auxin accumulation in
      root meristems] support a role for RON3 in auxin biology. The affinity-purified
      PP2A complex with RON3 as bait suggested that RON3 might act in PIN transporter
      trafficking. Indeed, pharmacological interference with vesicle trafficking
      processes revealed that single ron3-2 and double ron3-2 rcn1 mutants have altered
      PIN polarity and endocytosis in specific cells. Our data indicate that RON3
      contributes to auxin-mediated development by playing a role in PIN recycling and
      polarity establishment through regulation of the PP2A complex activity. 

PMID- 26888285
TI  - Targeted axonal import (TAxI) peptide delivers functional proteins into spinal
      cord motor neurons after peripheral administration.
AB  - A significant unmet need in treating neurodegenerative disease is effective
      methods for delivery of biologic drugs, such as peptides, proteins, or nucleic
      acids into the central nervous system (CNS). To date, there are no operative
      technologies for the delivery of macromolecular drugs to the CNS via peripheral
      administration routes. Using an in vivo phage-display screen, we identify a
      peptide, targeted axonal import (TAxI), that enriched recombinant bacteriophage
      accumulation and delivered protein cargo into spinal cord motor neurons after
      intramuscular injection. In animals with transected peripheral nerve roots, TAxI
      delivery into motor neurons after peripheral administration was inhibited,
      suggesting a retrograde axonal transport mechanism for delivery into the CNS.
      Notably, TAxI-Cre recombinase fusion proteins induced selective recombination and
      tdTomato-reporter expression in motor neurons after intramuscular injections.
      Furthermore, TAxI peptide was shown to label motor neurons in the human tissue.
      The demonstration of a nonviral-mediated delivery of functional proteins into the
      spinal cord establishes the clinical potential of this technology for minimally
      invasive administration of CNS-targeted therapeutics. 

PMID- 26888286
TI  - Expression of factor H binding protein in meningococcal strains can vary at least
      15-fold and is genetically determined.
AB  - Factor H binding protein (fHbp) is a lipoprotein of Neisseria meningitidis
      important for the survival of the bacterium in human blood and a component of two
      recently licensed vaccines against serogroup B meningococcus (MenB). Based on 866
      different amino acid sequences this protein is divided into three variants or two
      families. Quantification of the protein is done by immunoassays such as ELISA or
      FACS that are susceptible to the sequence variation and expression level of the
      protein. Here, selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry was used for the
      absolute quantification of fHbp in a large panel of strains representative of the
      population diversity of MenB. The analysis revealed that the level of fHbp
      expression can vary at least 15-fold and that variant 1 strains express
      significantly more protein than variant 2 or variant 3 strains. The
      susceptibility to complement-mediated killing correlated with the amount of
      protein expressed by the different meningococcal strains and this could be
      predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the promoter region. Finally, the
      absolute quantification allowed the calculation of the number of fHbp molecules
      per cell and to propose a mechanistic model of the engagement of C1q, the
      recognition component of the complement cascade. 

PMID- 26888288
TI  - Intraguild predation influences oviposition behavior of blow flies (Diptera:
      Calliphoridae).
AB  - The objective of the present study was to determine whether blow flies (Diptera:
      Calliphoridae) are able to identify larvae of an intraguild predator species in
      the substrate and avoid laying eggs there. Blow flies oviposited in traps with
      different treatments: substrate only and substrate with larvae of Chrysomya
      albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), or Chrysomya
      putoria (Wiedemann, 1830). Ch. megacephala, Ch. putoria, and Lucilia eximia
      (Wiedemann, 1819) avoided laying eggs in the trap containing Ch. albiceps larvae.
      Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) did not oviposit differently in each
      substrate but had overall low abundance. The prevalence of species on corpses may
      be influenced by the ability of the species to detect the presence of other
      species, mainly predators. In this sense, intraguild predation may result in
      misinterpretations of a crime scene and should be considered when assessing the
      minimum postmortem interval. 

PMID- 26888287
TI  - Characterization and small-molecule stabilization of the multisite tandem binding
      between 14-3-3 and the R domain of CFTR.
AB  - Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease, most frequently caused by the
      retention of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator)
      mutant protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The binding of the 14-3-3
      protein to the CFTR regulatory (R) domain has been found to enhance CFTR
      trafficking to the plasma membrane. To define the mechanism of action of this
      protein-protein interaction, we have examined the interaction in vitro. The
      disordered multiphosphorylated R domain contains nine different 14-3-3 binding
      motifs. Furthermore, the 14-3-3 protein forms a dimer containing two amphipathic
      grooves that can potentially bind these phosphorylated motifs. This results in a
      number of possible binding mechanisms between these two proteins. Using multiple
      biochemical assays and crystal structures, we show that the interaction between
      them is governed by two binding sites: The key binding site of CFTR (pS768)
      occupies one groove of the 14-3-3 dimer, and a weaker, secondary binding site
      occupies the other binding groove. We show that fusicoccin-A, a natural-product
      tool compound used in studies of 14-3-3 biology, can stabilize the interaction
      between 14-3-3 and CFTR by selectively interacting with a secondary binding motif
      of CFTR (pS753). The stabilization of this interaction stimulates the trafficking
      of mutant CFTR to the plasma membrane. This definition of the druggability of the
      14-3-3-CFTR interface might offer an approach for cystic fibrosis therapeutics. 

PMID- 26888290
TI  - Letter to the Editor: Should we focus on quality or quantity in meta-analyses?

PMID- 26888289
TI  - A new type of quinoxalinone derivatives affects viability, invasion, and
      intracellular growth of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro.
AB  - Quinoxalinone derivatives, identified as VAM2 compounds (7-nitroquinoxalin-2
      ones), were evaluated against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites of the RH strain. The
      VAM2 compounds were previously synthesized based on the design obtained from an
      in silico prediction with the software TOMOCOMD-CARDD. From the ten VAM2 drugs
      tested, several showed a deleterious effect on tachyzoites. However, VAM2-2
      showed the highest toxoplasmicidal activity generating a remarkable decrease in
      tachyzoite viability (in about 91 %) and a minimal alteration in the host cell.
      An evident inhibition of host cell invasion by tachyzoites previously treated
      with VAM2-2 was observed in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, remarkable
      alterations were observed in the pellicle parasite, such as swelling, roughness,
      and blebbing. Toxoplasma motility was inhibited, and subpellicular cytoskeleton
      integrity was altered, inducing a release of its components to the soluble
      fraction. VAM2-2 showed a clear and specific deleterious effect on tachyzoites
      viability, structural integrity, and invasive capabilities with limited effects
      in host cells morphology and viability. VAM2-2 minimum inhibitory concentration
      (MIC50) was determined as 3.3 MUM +/- 1.8. Effects of quinoxalinone derivatives
      on T. gondii provide the basis for a future therapeutical alternative in the
      treatment of toxoplasmosis. 

PMID- 26888291
TI  - Genetic association between NRG1 and schizophrenia, major depressive disorder,
      bipolar disorder in Han Chinese population.
AB  - Schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder are three major
      psychiatric disorders affecting around 0.66%, 3.3%, and 1.5% of the Han Chinese
      population respectively. Several genetic linkage analyses and genome wide
      association studies identified NRG1 as a susceptibility gene of schizophrenia,
      which was validated by its role in neurodevelopment, glutamate, and other
      neurotransmitter receptor expression regulation. To further investigate whether
      NRG1 is a shared risk gene for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder as
      well as schizophrenia, we performed an association study among 1,248
      schizophrenia cases, 1,056 major depression cases, 1,344 bipolar disorder cases,
      and 1,248 controls. Totally 15 tag SNPs were genotyped and analyzed, and no
      population stratification was found in our sample set. Among the sites, rs4236710
      (corrected Pgenotye  = 0.015) and rs4512342 (Pallele  = 0.03, Pgenotye  = 0.045
      after correction) were associated with schizophrenia, and rs2919375 (corrected
      Pgenotye  = 0.004) was associated with major depressive disorder. The haplotype
      rs4512342-rs6982890 showed association with schizophrenia (P = 0.03 for haplotype
      "TC" after correction), and haplotype rs4531002-rs11989919 proved to be a shared
      risk factor for both major depressive disorder ("CC": corrected P = 0.009) and
      bipolar disorder ("CT": corrected P = 0.003). Our results confirmed that NRG1 was
      a shared common susceptibility gene for major mental disorders in Han Chinese
      population.

PMID- 26888292
TI  - Cigarette smoking lowers blood pressure in adolescents: the Irbid-TRY.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Tobacco consumption adversely affects cardiovascular (CV) disease
      (CVD) and risk profile, including hypertension. The long-term effect of cigarette
      smoking on blood pressure (BP) in adolescents is still, however, equivocal. Thus,
      the current study examined the CV indices in male adolescent cigarette smokers
      versus nonsmokers. METHOD: Resting heart rate, systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP
      (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) and rate pressure
      products (RPP) were examined using automatic oscillatory method, while smoking
      status was determined with Youth Risk Behavior Survey. RESULTS: After controlling
      for cofactors, the ANCOVA showed that CV measures in the male adolescent smokers
      were lower (p < 0.05) than nonsmokers. Additionally, regression showed that
      smoking status explained 20.6% of SBP, 5.0% of DBP, 13.4% of MAP, 7.5% of PP and
      13.4% of RPP. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that cigarette smoking lowers CV
      measures in adolescents. However, more studies are needed to describe the
      mechanism(s) for lowering CV measures and explain the relationship of adolescent
      smoking with adulthood CVDs.

PMID- 26888293
TI  - Comparative genomics of mitochondria in chlorarachniophyte algae: endosymbiotic
      gene transfer and organellar genome dynamics.
AB  - Chlorarachniophyte algae possess four DNA-containing compartments per cell, the
      nucleus, mitochondrion, plastid and nucleomorph, the latter being a relic nucleus
      derived from a secondary endosymbiont. While the evolutionary dynamics of plastid
      and nucleomorph genomes have been investigated, a comparative investigation of
      mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) has not been carried out. We have sequenced the
      complete mtDNA of Lotharella oceanica and compared it to that of another
      chlorarachniophyte, Bigelowiella natans. The linear mtDNA of L. oceanica is 36.7
      kbp in size and contains 35 protein genes, three rRNAs and 24 tRNAs. The codons
      GUG and UUG appear to be capable of acting as initiation codons in the
      chlorarachniophyte mtDNAs, in addition to AUG. Rpl16, rps4 and atp8 genes are
      missing in L.oceanica mtDNA, despite being present in B. natans mtDNA. We
      searched for, and found, mitochondrial rpl16 and rps4 genes with spliceosomal
      introns in the L. oceanica nuclear genome, indicating that mitochondrion-to-host
      nucleus gene transfer occurred after the divergence of these two genera. Despite
      being of similar size and coding capacity, the level of synteny between L.
      oceanica and B. natans mtDNA is low, suggesting frequent rearrangements. Overall,
      our results suggest that chlorarachniophyte mtDNAs are more evolutionarily
      dynamic than their plastid counterparts.

PMID- 26888294
TI  - Migraine biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid: A systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - Objective To perform a meta-analysis of migraine biomarkers in cerebrospinal
      fluid (CSF) and of corresponding blood concentrations. Methods We conducted a
      systematic search for studies that measured biochemical compounds in CSF of
      chronic or episodic migraineurs and non-headache controls. Subsequent searches
      retrieved studies with blood measurements of selected CSF biomarkers. If a
      compound was assessed in three or more studies, results were pooled in a meta
      analysis with standardised mean differences (SMD) as effect measures. Results
      Sixty-two compounds were measured in 40 CSF studies. Most important results
      include: increased glutamate (five studies, SMD 2.22, 95% CI: 1.30, 3.13),
      calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (three studies, SMD: 3.80, 95% CI: 3.19,
      4.41) and nerve growth factor (NGF) (three studies, SMD: 6.47, 95% CI: 5.55,
      7.39) in chronic migraine patients and decreased beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in both
      chronic (four studies, SMD: -1.37, 95% CI: -1.80, -0.94) and interictal episodic
      migraine patients (three studies, SMD: -1.12, 95% CI: -1.65, -0.58). In blood,
      glutamate (interictal) and CGRP (chronic, interictal and ictal) were increased
      and beta-EP (chronic, interictal and ictal) was decreased. Conclusions Glutamate,
      beta-EP, CGRP and NGF concentrations are altered in CSF and, except for NGF, also
      in blood of migraineurs. Future research should focus on the pathophysiological
      roles of these compounds in migraine.

PMID- 26888297
TI  - Big Data Transforms Discovery-Utilization Therapeutics Continuum.
AB  - Enabling omic technologies adopt a holistic view to produce unprecedented
      insights into the molecular underpinnings of health and disease, in part, by
      generating massive high-dimensional biological data. Leveraging these systems
      level insights as an engine driving the healthcare evolution is maximized through
      integration with medical, demographic, and environmental datasets from
      individuals to populations. Big data analytics has accordingly emerged to add
      value to the technical aspects of storage, transfer, and analysis required for
      merging vast arrays of omic-, clinical-, and eco-datasets. In turn, this new
      field at the interface of biology, medicine, and information science is
      systematically transforming modern therapeutics across discovery, development,
      regulation, and utilization. 

PMID- 26888300
TI  - Late anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection in rectal cancer patients:
      clinical characteristics and predisposing factors.
AB  - AIM: The purpose was to examine the clinical characteristics and predisposing
      factors of late anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection for rectal
      cancer. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological features of
      patients who experienced anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for
      rectal cancer. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time to
      leakage: early leakage (within 30 days postoperatively) and late leakage (after
      30 days postoperatively). Clinicopathological characteristics were compared
      between the two groups. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage occurred in 141 patients.
      Anastomotic leakage was diagnosed at a median of 17 (range 0-886) days
      postoperatively; 85 (60.3%) and 56 (39.7%) were categorized as the early and late
      leakage groups, respectively. Radiotherapy (hazard ratio 5.007; 95% CI 2.208
      11.354; P < 0.0001) was the only significant independent predisposing factor for
      late leakage. Diverting stoma did not protect against late leakage. The late
      leakage group more frequently had the fistula type (46.4% vs. 10.6%; P < 0.001)
      and less frequently needed laparotomy (55.4% vs. 78.8%; P = 0.001). The rate of
      long-term stoma over 1 year was greater in the late leakage than the early
      leakage group (51.8% vs. 29.4%; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Late anastomotic leakages
      that develop after 30 days following low anterior resection are not uncommon and
      may be associated with the use of radiotherapy. Late leakage should be a
      different entity from early leakage in terms of the type of leakage, methods of
      management and subsequent sequelae.

PMID- 26888302
TI  - The Interdisciplinarity of Collaborations in Cognitive Science.
AB  - We introduce a new metric for interdisciplinarity, based on co-author publication
      history. A published article that has co-authors with quite different publication
      histories can be deemed relatively "interdisciplinary," in that the article
      reflects a convergence of previous research in distinct sets of publication
      outlets. In recent work, we have shown that this interdisciplinarity metric can
      predict citations. Here, we show that the journal Cognitive Science tends to
      contain collaborations that are relatively high on this interdisciplinarity
      metric, at about the 80th percentile of all journals across both social and
      natural sciences. Following on Goldstone and Leydesdorff (2006), we describe how
      scientometric tools provide a valuable means of assessing the role of cognitive
      science in broader scientific work, and also as a tool to investigate teamwork
      and distributed cognition. We describe how data-driven metrics of this kind may
      facilitate this exploration without relying upon rapidly changing discipline and
      topic keywords associated with publications.

PMID- 26888301
TI  - Development and Pharmacological Characterization of Selective Blockers of 2
      Arachidonoyl Glycerol Degradation with Efficacy in Rodent Models of Multiple
      Sclerosis and Pain.
AB  - We report the discovery of compound 4a, a potent beta-lactam-based
      monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) inhibitor characterized by an irreversible and
      stereoselective mechanism of action, high membrane permeability, high brain
      penetration evaluated using a human in vitro blood-brain barrier model, high
      selectivity in binding and affinity-based proteomic profiling assays, and low in
      vitro toxicity. Mode-of-action studies demonstrate that 4a, by blocking MGL,
      increases 2-arachidonoylglycerol and behaves as a cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) receptor
      indirect agonist. Administration of 4a in mice suffering from experimental
      autoimmune encephalitis ameliorates the severity of the clinical symptoms in a
      CB1/CB2-dependent manner. Moreover, 4a produced analgesic effects in a rodent
      model of acute inflammatory pain, which was antagonized by CB1 and CB2 receptor
      antagonists/inverse agonists. 4a also relieves the neuropathic hypersensitivity
      induced by oxaliplatin. Given these evidence, 4a, as MGL selective inhibitor,
      could represent a valuable lead for the future development of therapeutic options
      for multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.

PMID- 26888295
TI  - Accelerating chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI by combining
      compressed sensing and sensitivity encoding techniques.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of accelerated chemical-exchange-saturation
      transfer (CEST) imaging using a combination of compressed sensing (CS) and
      sensitivity encoding (SENSE) at 3 Tesla. THEORY AND METHODS: Two healthy
      volunteers and six high-grade glioma patients were recruited. Raw CEST image k
      space data were acquired (with varied radiofrequency saturation power levels for
      the healthy volunteer study), and a sequential CS and SENSE reconstruction (CS
      SENSE) was assessed. The MTRasym (3.5 ppm) signals were compared with varied CS
      SENSE acceleration factors. RESULTS: In the healthy volunteer study, a CS-SENSE
      acceleration factor of R = 2 * 2 (CS * SENSE) was achieved without compromising
      the reconstructed MTRasym (3.5 ppm) image quality. The MTRasym (3.5 ppm) signals
      obtained from the CS-SENSE reconstruction with R = 2 * 2 were well preserved
      compared with the reference image (R = 2 for only SENSE). In the glioma patient
      study, the MTRasym (3.5 ppm) signals were significantly higher in the tumor
      region (Gd-enhancing tumor core) than in the normal-appearing white matter (P <
      0.001). There was no significant MTRasym (3.5 ppm) difference between the
      reference image and CS-SENSE-reconstructed image in the acceleration factor of R
      = 2 * 2. CONCLUSION: Combining the SENSE technique with CS (R = 2 * 2) enables
      considerable acceleration of CEST image acquisition and potentially has a wide
      range of clinical applications. Magn Reson Med 77:779-786, 2017. (c) 2016
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26888303
TI  - n-butylparaben induces male reproductive disorders via regulation of estradiol
      and estrogen receptors.
AB  - It is well known that inappropriate exposure to exogenous hormones during fetal
      or neonatal life, such as testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2 ), leads to adverse
      reproductive outcomes. In our previous study, the reproductive dysfunction of
      male rats was characterized by an E2 increase and T decrease after in utero and
      lactation exposures to n-butylparaben (n-BP). In this study, we investigated the
      synthesis and metabolism pathways of steroid hormones, hormone receptors and the
      epigenetic modification of male offspring on postnatal day (PND) 21 and PND90 to
      explore the possible mechanisms of endocrine and reproductive disorders. The
      expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome
      cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), estrogen sulfotransferase
      (SULT1E1) and androgen receptor (AR) in the testes was significantly decreased at
      the transcript and protein levels; in addition, aromatase (CYP19) and estrogen
      receptor alpha (ERalpha) expression was significantly increased and the
      methylation rate of the ERalpha promoter was significantly decreased. These
      results suggest that increased CYP19 expression and decreased SULT1E1 expression
      are responsible for the E2 increase. This effect promotes the expression of
      ERalpha, which plays a pivotal role in regulating reproductive and endocrine
      disorders of male rats exposed to n-BP. Furthermore, the epigenetic
      hypomethylation of ERalpha is involved in this regulation processes. Our study is
      the first to report on the possible mechanism of male rat reproductive disorders
      induced by the xenoestrogenic chemical n-BP. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888305
TI  - The Choroid Plexus in Healthy and Diseased Brain.
AB  - The choroid plexus is composed of epithelial cells resting on a basal lamina.
      These cells produce the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which has many functions
      including rendering mechanical support, providing a route for some nutrients,
      removing by-products of metabolism and synaptic activity, and playing a role in
      hormonal signaling. The choroid plexus synthesizes many growth factors, including
      insulin-like, fibroblast, and platelet-derived growth factors. The tight
      junctions located between the apical parts of the choroid plexus epithelial cells
      form the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB), which is crucial for the homeostatic
      regulation of the brain microenvironment along with the blood-brain barrier
      (BBB). Morphological changes such as atrophy of the epithelial cells and
      thickening of the basement membrane suggest altered CSF production occurs in
      aging and in Alzheimer disease. In brain injuries and infections, leukocytes
      accumulate in the CSF by passing through the choroid plexus. In inflammatory CNS
      diseases (eg, multiple sclerosis), pathogenic autoreactive T lymphocytes may
      migrate through the BBB and BCSFB into the CNS. The development of therapeutic
      strategies to mitigate disruption of the BCSFB may be helpful to curtail the
      entry of inflammatory cells into the CSF and hence reduce inflammation, thereby
      overcoming choroid plexus dysfunction in senescence and in various diseases of
      the CNS. 

PMID- 26888306
TI  - Inflammatory Cytokines Are Involved in Focal Demyelination in Leprosy Neuritis.
AB  - Mycobacterium leprae (ML) infection causes nerve damage that often leads to
      permanent loss of cutaneous sensitivity and limb deformities, but understanding
      of the pathogenesis of leprous neuropathy that would lead to more effective
      treatments is incomplete. We studied reactional leprosy patients with (n = 9) and
      without (n = 8) acute neuritis. Nerve conduction studies over the course of the
      reactional episode showed the findings of demyelination in all patients with
      neuritis. Evaluation of patient sera revealed no correlation of the presence of
      antibodies against gangliosides and the clinical demyelination. In nerve biopsies
      of 3 patients with neuritis, we identified tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF
      receptors, and TNF-converting enzyme in Schwann cells (SCs) using
      immunofluorescence. To elucidate immunopathogenetic mechanisms, we performed
      experiments using a human SC line. ML induced transmembrane TNF and TNF receptor
      1 expression in the SCs; TNF also induced interleukin (IL)- 6 and IL-8 production
      by the SCs; and ML induced IL-23 secretion, indicating involvement of this
      previously unrecognized factor in leprosy nerve damage. These data suggest that
      ML may contribute to TNF-mediated inflammation and focal demyelination by
      rendering SCs more sensitive to TNF within the nerves of patients with leprous
      neuropathy.

PMID- 26888307
TI  - Water-soluble poly(2,7-dibenzosilole) as an ultra-bright fluorescent label for
      antibody-based flow cytometry.
AB  - A series of novel water-soluble PEGylated dibenzosilole-based conjugated polymers
      were prepared as ultra-bright fluorescent labels for biomolecules. Due to their
      superior solubility and brightness, antibody conjugates labeled with
      functionalized polymers showed significantly enhanced signal and sensitivity
      relative to traditional fluorophores in functional flow cytometry applications. 

PMID- 26888304
TI  - Neuropathology of Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease in the National Alzheimer
      Coordinating Center Database.
AB  - Alzheimer disease (AD) represents a genetically heterogeneous entity. To
      elucidate neuropathologic features of autosomal dominant AD ([ADAD] due to PSEN1,
      APP, or PSEN2 mutations), we compared hallmark AD pathologic findings in 60 cases
      of ADAD and 120 cases of sporadic AD matched for sex, race, ethnicity, and
      disease duration. Greater degrees of neuritic plaque and neurofibrillary tangle
      formation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) were found in ADAD (p values <
      0.01). Moderate to severe CAA was more prevalent in ADAD (63.3% vs. 39.2%, p =
      0.003), and persons with PSEN1 mutations beyond codon 200 had higher average
      Braak scores and severity and prevalence of CAA than those with mutations before
      codon 200. Lewy body pathology was less extensive in ADAD but was present in
      27.1% of cases. We also describe a novel pathogenic PSEN1 mutation (P267A). The
      finding of more severe neurofibrillary pathology and CAA in ADAD, particularly in
      carriers of PSEN1 mutations beyond codon 200, warrants consideration when
      designing trials to treat or prevent ADAD. The finding of Lewy body pathology in
      a substantial minority of ADAD cases supports the assertion that development of
      Lewy bodies may be in part driven by abnormal beta-amyloid protein precursor
      processing.

PMID- 26888308
TI  - Psychiatric disorders: Linking genetic risk to pruning.

PMID- 26888310
TI  - Systemic therapies in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer brain
      metastases.
AB  - Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases are common. Even though there
      are various subsets of NSCLC with molecular alterations, there is a common theme
      of brain metastases. Current treatment modalities are suboptimal. Systemic
      therapies for the treatment of NSCLC brain metastases have been explored and
      recent advances may pave the way for their successful employment in this patient
      population. While no specific agents have been associated with a marked benefit,
      stability of disease as well as radiographic responses have been noted in some
      patients. Biological activity of systemic therapies in some patients with NSCLC
      brain metastases raises hope for future advances and supports further
      investigation for this patient population with limited treatment options. 

PMID- 26888311
TI  - Thermodynamics of deposition flux-dependent intrinsic film stress.
AB  - Vapour deposition on polycrystalline films can lead to extremely high levels of
      compressive stress, exceeding even the yield strength of the films. A significant
      part of this stress has a reversible nature: it disappears when the deposition is
      stopped and re-emerges on resumption. Although the debate on the underlying
      mechanism still continues, insertion of atoms into grain boundaries seems to be
      the most likely one. However, the required driving force has not been identified.
      To address the problem we analyse, here, the entire film system using
      thermodynamic arguments. We find that the observed, tremendous stress levels can
      be explained by the flux-induced entropic effects in the extremely dilute adatom
      gas on the surface. Our analysis justifies any adatom incorporation model, as it
      delivers the underlying thermodynamic driving force. Counterintuitively, we also
      show that the stress levels decrease, if the barrier(s) for adatoms to reach the
      grain boundaries are decreased. 

PMID- 26888309
TI  - Addressing the Requirements of High-Sensitivity Single-Molecule Imaging of Low
      Copy-Number Proteins in Bacteria.
AB  - Single-molecule fluorescence super-resolution imaging and tracking provide
      nanometer-scale information about subcellular protein positions and dynamics.
      These single-molecule imaging experiments can be very powerful, but they are best
      suited to high-copy number proteins where many measurements can be made
      sequentially in each cell. We describe artifacts associated with the challenge of
      imaging a protein expressed in only a few copies per cell. We image live Bacillus
      subtilis in a fluorescence microscope, and demonstrate that under standard single
      molecule imaging conditions, unlabeled B. subtilis cells display punctate red
      fluorescent spots indistinguishable from the few PAmCherry fluorescent protein
      single molecules under investigation. All Bacillus species investigated were
      strongly affected by this artifact, whereas we did not find a significant number
      of these background sources in two other species we investigated, Enterococcus
      faecalis and Escherichia coli. With single-molecule resolution, we characterize
      the number, spatial distribution, and intensities of these impurity spots.

PMID- 26888312
TI  - Feasibility and Effects of a Brief Compassion-Focused Imagery Intervention in
      Psychotic Patients with Paranoid Ideation: A Randomized Experimental Pilot Study.
AB  - : Paranoia is characterized by a lack of perceived social safeness and associated
      negative affect. Low self-esteem, negative self-concepts and negative emotions
      have been shown to contribute to paranoid symptom formation. Thus, interventions
      focusing on affiliation and positive affect might be particularly helpful for
      patients with paranoia. The present study experimentally tested the effect of a
      one-session, brief compassion-focused imagery derived from Compassion-Focused
      Therapy (Gilbert, ) versus a control imagery condition in a repeated measures
      randomized design. A negative affective state was induced via in-sensu exposure
      to a recent distressful social situation in order to provide a minimum level of
      threat-related arousal to be down-regulated by the interventions thereafter. The
      sample consisted of psychotic patients with paranoid ideation (N = 51) who were
      randomly assigned to one of the experimental conditions. Effects on postulated
      causal mechanisms, i.e., self-relating (self-reassurance, self-compassion, self
      criticism), and affect (self-reported affective states, skin conductance levels)
      as well as on state paranoia, were tested. Subjective benefit and appraisals of
      the intervention were explored. There were no specific intervention effects on
      negative self-relating, negative affect and skin-conductance or on paranoia.
      However, compassion-focused imagery had significant effects on self-reassurance
      and happiness. Explorative analyses revealed that the majority of the
      participants appraised the intervention in a positive manner, indicating good
      acceptance. The intervention showed an effect on some of the postulated
      mechanisms but not on others, which might have been because of its brevity.
      Further investigation of interventions targeting affiliation for people with
      paranoid experiences appears worthwhile. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Affiliative imagery work is feasible and appraised
      positively in psychotic patients. Brief compassion focused imagery increased
      feelings of happiness and reassurance but did not improve negative self-relating,
      negative affect or paranoia. Further investigation is warranted to identify which
      patients benefit most from affiliative imagery.

PMID- 26888315
TI  - Clinical relevance of antigen spreading pattern induced by CHP-MAGE-A4 cancer
      vaccination.
AB  - AIM: To investigate the antigen spreading pattern in the CHP-MAGE-A4-vaccinated
      patients and analyze the clinical relevance of antigen spreading pattern as a
      surrogate marker of patient survival. MATERIALS & METHODS: 12 patients who had
      been injected with 300 MUg of CHP-MAGE-A4 and 0.5 Klinische Einheit of OK-432 in
      more than five vaccinations were analyzed. RESULTS: Increases in the anti-MAGE-A4
      specific antibody response were observed in eight patients (66.7%), compared with
      six patients (50%) for anti-NY-ESO-1 and five patients (41.7%) for anti-MAGE-A3
      after five vaccinations. We identified frequent antigen spreading following MAGE
      A4 vaccinations without associations with the clinical response or patient
      prognosis. CONCLUSION: Antigen spreading pattern might reflect tumor shrinkage as
      a response to treatment and treatment history (clinical trial registration
      number: UMIN000001999).

PMID- 26888316
TI  - Patient-Centred Care: The Proving Ground for Continuity and Equity in Our Health
      System.

PMID- 26888317
TI  - The Patient Experience in Ontario 2020: What Is Possible?
AB  - Words are important. They signal an intention behind a thought. So when Ontario's
      Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care publishes an action plan (Ontario Ministry
      of Health and Long-Term Care, 2012) that declares itself to be "obsessively
      patient-centred," curiosity ensues and terms abound. Patient-centred care,
      patient engagement and patient experience - all seem to be in the mix in Ontario.
      This paper will propose a set of definitions for these commonly used terms,
      examine the progress being made in Ontario towards a more patient-centred
      healthcare system and suggest where we might aim to be by 2020. 

PMID- 26888313
TI  - Rhus coriaria suppresses angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor growth of breast
      cancer through inhibition of STAT3, NFkappaB and nitric oxide pathways.
AB  - Recently, we reported that Rhus coriaria exhibits anticancer activities by
      promoting cell cycle arrest and autophagic cell death of the metastatic triple
      negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Here, we investigated the effect of Rhus
      coriaria on the migration, invasion, metastasis and tumor growth of TNBC cells.
      Our current study revealed that non-cytotoxic concentrations of Rhus coriaria
      significantly inhibited migration and invasion, blocked adhesion to fibronectin
      and downregulated MMP-9 and prostaglandin E2 (PgE2). Not only did Rhus coriaria
      decrease their adhesion to HUVECs and to lung microvascular endothelial (HMVEC-L)
      cells, but it also inhibited the transendothelial migration of MDA-MB-231 cells
      through TNF-alpha-activated HUVECs. Furthermore, we found that Rhus coriaria
      inhibited angiogenesis, reduced VEGF production in both MDA-MB-231 and HUVECs and
      downregulated the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8. The underlying
      mechanism for Rhus coriaria effects appears to be through inhibiting NFkappaB,
      STAT3 and nitric oxide (NO) pathways. Most importantly, by using chick embryo
      tumor growth assay, we showed that Rhus coriaria suppressed tumor growth and
      metastasis in vivo. The results described in the present study identify Rhus
      coriaria as a promising chemopreventive and therapeutic candidate that modulate
      triple negative breast cancer growth and metastasis. 

PMID- 26888318
TI  - Language that Works for Everyone.
AB  - Efforts to improve quality in healthcare require concerted action on the part of
      clinical and non-clinical staff and everyone who works with them. In complex
      healthcare systems, it is important to frame aspirations and goals in a language
      that works for everyone. The words that work for everyone to describe what good
      patient experience is like are: "warm," "welcoming," "listening," "kind" and
      "friendly." The Change Foundation vision for 2020 is important. Experience in the
      UK suggests that more emphasis should be placed on relationships and culture as
      important levers in engagement with patients and quality improvement as well as
      important barriers to overcome. High-level organizational changes and technical
      solutions make the process of change sound easier than seems likely, given the
      height of some of the barriers. Major changes in healthcare, especially where
      they entail changes in culture, take a long time, not least because of the
      ordinary problems of management and human relationships. The paper anticipates a
      longer journey to reach the destination of a truly patient-centred system and
      full engagement with patients and suggests identifying some staging posts that
      can be celebrated along the way.

PMID- 26888314
TI  - miR-182 Modulates Myocardial Hypertrophic Response Induced by Angiogenesis in
      Heart.
AB  - Myocardial hypertrophy is an adaptive response to hemodynamic demands. Although
      angiogenesis is critical to support the increase in heart mass with matching
      blood supply, it may also promote a hypertrophic response. Previously, we showed
      that cardiac angiogenesis induced by placental growth factor (PlGF), promotes
      myocardial hypertrophy through the paracrine action of endothelium-derived NO,
      which triggers the degradation of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) to
      activate the Akt/mTORC1 pathways in cardiomyocytes. Here, we investigated whether
      miRNAs contribute to the development of hypertrophic response associated with
      myocardial angiogenesis. We show that miR-182 is upregulated concurrently with
      the development of hypertrophy in PlGF mice, but not when hypertrophy was blocked
      by concomitant expression of PlGF and RGS4, or by PlGF expression in eNOS(-/-)
      mice. Anti-miR-182 treatment inhibits the hypertrophic response and prevents the
      Akt/mTORC1 activation in PlGF mice and NO-treated cardiomyocytes. miR-182 reduces
      the expression of Bcat2, Foxo3 and Adcy6 to regulate the hypertrophic response in
      PlGF mice. Particularly, depletion of Bcat2, identified as a new miR-182 target,
      promotes Akt(Ser473)/p70-S6K(Thr389) phosphorylation and cardiomyocyte
      hypertrophy. LV pressure overload did not upregulate miR-182. Thus, miR-182 is a
      novel target of endothelial-cardiomyocyte crosstalk and plays an important role
      in the angiogenesis induced-hypertrophic response.

PMID- 26888319
TI  - Winning Conditions?
AB  - The authors of the paper, "The Patient Experience in Ontario 2020: What is
      Possible?", framed both the current state as well as the future of what patient
      experience might look like in five years. To ensure intention is catalyzed into
      meaningful change to improve experience and outcomes, we suggest four winning
      conditions. The first is to change the language; patients are people too,
      irrespective of their disease or illness; person-centred is inclusive language
      and ought to be the focus. The second condition is focused on leaders who play a
      critical role to establish, build and embed person-centred within the
      organization. The third and fourth winning conditions are building the evidence
      base and using effective and meaningful engagement, moving beyond advice, to
      partnership, respectively. Person-centred care is not the flavour of the month,
      it is here to stay. Ontarians are important actors in the system not only as
      users of the system but owners as well. To those who might argue that it is
      costly to do this work, what are the costs to not engage? Are we satisfied not
      only as administrators, and clinicians, but as patients at some point, to
      maintain the status quo? 

PMID- 26888320
TI  - Finding Common Ground in Patient-Centred Care: Consensus, Communication and
      Conversations for Change.
AB  - Fooks et al. (2015) propose patient-centred care and engagement as "levers for
      change" in a healthcare system increasingly challenged to care for patients
      living with complex chronic illness. Patient-centred care, engagement and
      experience are presented as inherently relational concepts, but who is included
      under that relational umbrella is less clear. Using the rubric of "finding common
      ground" from the model of patient-centred care described by Hudon et al. (2011),
      I argue for including provider perspectives, not just patient/family. Otherwise
      the envisioned conversations of "change" will be missing the voices of those
      expected to facilitate the meaningful relational engagement of patients and the
      process of shared decision-making. I also discuss relational communication
      competence as a key factor in successful patient-engagement, patient-centred care
      and, ultimately, the healthcare experience. Without attention to both these
      elements - broadening the understanding of therapeutic relationship to encompass
      all contributing stakeholders and the relational communication competency so
      necessary to this endeavour - whatever consensus we reach will be missing
      important aspects related to actionable content and process, both of which are
      needed to guide the development of relevant metrics. Without metrics, we will
      lack rigorous "evidence" with which to make the case that patient-centred care
      and engagement are indeed "levers" for positive system reform.

PMID- 26888321
TI  - Patient Engagement: Time to Shake the Foundations.
AB  - Something big is happening in healthcare. It's not the new Apple Watch, 3D
      printing or the advent of personalized medicine. It's people power. And, it is
      starting to shake up the very foundation on which healthcare systems around the
      world have been built. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are iconic features
      on a healthcare landscape that has been purpose-built with castles, moats and
      defence artillery. Turf protection, often under the guise of "patient
      protection," has become so ingrained in the way things are that few recognize
      what it has become. Fooks et al. step gently into this somewhat dangerous
      territory for "insiders" of the system to tread; yet in my view, they do not go
      far enough. 

PMID- 26888322
TI  - A Challenge to Aim Higher and Bolder.
AB  - The paper "The Patient Experience in Ontario 2020: What Is Possible?" provides
      useful context setting, definitions that frame the essential principles of good
      relationships and challenges for outcomes by 2020 for the people of Ontario. The
      question - Is it ambitious enough to achieve a patient-centred healthcare system
      by 2020? Does it build on the deep strengths already evident in Ontario to
      achieve the outcomes essential to a thriving region? Will the challenges
      accelerate dramatically improved outcomes in better health, better care and lower
      costs? The risk of aiming too low is that it allows for an incremental,
      comfortable-for-us-in-healthcare pace when what is required is ambitious,
      disruptive moves. This commentary offers suggestions for Winning Conditions that
      build on those proposed and takes steps beyond - Winning Conditions 2.0 - to
      assure a health system the citizens of Ontario expect and deserve. 

PMID- 26888323
TI  - Patient-Centred Measurement in British Columbia: Statistics without the Tears
      Wiped Off.
AB  - At the heart of every data point in healthcare is a person. British Columbia's
      (BC) province-wide, coordinated survey program, established in 2002, gives people
      who use BC's healthcare services a voice in improving the quality of the care and
      services they receive. Survey data or statistics are presented without the tears
      wiped off by integrating quantitative results along with a "human" voice or story
      annotated directly into reports to illustrate the numerical feedback. In this way
      the data represent the true lived experiences of people who use our healthcare
      services and allow us to evaluate our progress towards providing truly patient
      centred care. After over a decade of measurement and reporting of patient
      experiences, BC will pioneer a new approach. People who receive healthcare
      services in BC will be asked to provide feedback across their entire episode of
      care. And, because routine measurement of patient experiences and patient
      outcomes in healthcare is a provincial strategic objective, patients will be
      asked to assess both their experiences of care (patient self-reported
      experiences) and their outcomes of care (patient self-reported outcomes). This
      change in measurement strategy builds on 13 years of continuous improvement in
      patient-centred data collection, reporting and action based on feedback from BC's
      patients and families. 

PMID- 26888324
TI  - Partnerships with Patients and Family Caregivers.
AB  - This paper discusses six areas of hospital experience that can be improved:
      parking, hospital gowns, visiting hours, emergency room triage, hospital food,
      and care plans and discharge summaries. The areas were identified by a group of
      patients and family caregivers who reviewed large numbers of patient experiences
      and identified simple and easy to measure changes. Their recommended changes are
      called "Key Performance Targets." 

PMID- 26888325
TI  - The Age of Head Transplants.

PMID- 26888326
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of a risk-based secondary screening programme of type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop a long-term economic model
      for type 2 diabetes to describe the entire spectrum of the disease over a wide
      range of healthcare programmes. The model evaluates a public health, risk-based
      screening programme in a country specific setting. METHODS: The lifespan of
      persons and important phases of the disease and related interventions are
      recorded in a Markov model, which first simulates the effect of screening, then
      replicates important complications of diabetes, follows the progression of
      individuals through physiological variables and finally calculates outcomes in
      monetary and naturalistic units. RESULTS: The introduction of the screening
      programme nearly doubled the proportion of diagnosed patients at the age of 50
      and prolonged life expectancy. Three-yearly screening gained 0.0229 quality
      adjusted life years for an additional ?83 per person compared with no screening
      and resulted an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of ?3630/quality adjusted
      life years. CONCLUSION: From the economic perspective introduction of the 3
      yearly screening programme is justifiable and it provides a good value for money.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888327
TI  - Framing preventive care messaging and cervical cancer screening in a health
      insured population in South Africa: Implications for population-based
      communication?
AB  - The impact of health message framing on cervical cancer screening uptake is
      poorly understood. In a prospective randomized control study with 748 females,
      aged 21-65 years with no Pap smear in the previous 3 years, they randomly
      received a loss-framed, gain-framed, or neutral health message (control)
      regarding cervical cancer screening by email. Screening rate in the control group
      was 9.58 percent (CI: 9.29%-9.87%), 5.71 percent (CI: 5.48%-6.98%) in the gain
      framed group, and 8.53 percent (CI: 8.24%-8.81%) in the loss-framed group.
      Statistically there was no difference between the three screening rates. Framing
      of health messages may not be a significant consideration when communicating
      through emails.

PMID- 26888329
TI  - Piling Up Pillar[5]arenes To Self-Assemble Nanotubes.
AB  - New liquid-crystalline pillar[5]arene derivatives have been prepared by grafting
      first-generation Percec-type poly(benzylether) dendrons onto the macrocyclic
      scaffold. The molecules adopt a disc-shaped structure perfectly suited for self
      organization into a columnar liquid-crystalline phase. In this way, the
      pillar[5]arene cores are piled up, thus forming a nanotubular wire encased within
      a shell of peripheral dendrons. The capability of pillar[5]arenes to form
      inclusion complexes has been also exploited. Specifically, detailed binding
      studies have been carried out in solution with 1,6-dicyanohexane as the guest.
      Inclusion complexes have also been prepared in the solid state. Supramolecular
      organization into the Colh mesophase has been deduced from X-ray diffraction data
      and found to be similar to that observed within the crystal lattice of a model
      inclusion complex prepared from 1,4-dimethoxypillar[5]arene and 1,6
      dicyanohexane. 

PMID- 26888331
TI  - Space and time-resolved probing of heterogeneous catalysis reactions using lab-on
      a-chip.
AB  - Probing catalytic reactions on a catalyst surface in real time is a major
      challenge. Herein, we demonstrate the utility of a continuous flow millifluidic
      chip reactor coated with a nanostructured gold catalyst as an effective platform
      for in situ investigation of the kinetics of catalytic reactions by taking 5
      (hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) conversion as
      a model reaction. The idea conceptualized in this paper can not only dramatically
      change the ability to probe the time-resolved kinetics of heterogeneous catalysis
      reactions but also used for investigating other chemical and biological catalytic
      processes, thereby making this a broad platform for probing reactions as they
      occur within continuous flow reactors. 

PMID- 26888328
TI  - MU Opioid receptor: novel antagonists and structural modeling.
AB  - The MU opioid receptor (MOR) is a prominent member of the G protein-coupled
      receptor family and the molecular target of morphine and other opioid drugs.
      Despite the long tradition of MOR-targeting drugs, still little is known about
      the ligand-receptor interactions and structure-function relationships underlying
      the distinct biological effects upon receptor activation or inhibition. With the
      resolved crystal structure of the beta-funaltrexamine-MOR complex, we aimed at
      the discovery of novel agonists and antagonists using virtual screening tools,
      i.e. docking, pharmacophore- and shape-based modeling. We suggest important
      molecular interactions, which active molecules share and distinguish agonists and
      antagonists. These results allowed for the generation of theoretically validated
      in silico workflows that were employed for prospective virtual screening. Out of
      18 virtual hits evaluated in in vitro pharmacological assays, three displayed
      antagonist activity and the most active compound significantly inhibited morphine
      induced antinociception. The new identified chemotypes hold promise for further
      development into neurochemical tools for studying the MOR or as potential
      therapeutic lead candidates. 

PMID- 26888330
TI  - Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy induces eosinophilic esophagitis: three
      pediatric case reports.

PMID- 26888333
TI  - Event-related brain potential and postural muscle activity during standing on an
      oscillating table while the knee, hip, and trunk are fixed.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In this study, a cast brace was used to immobilize the knee, hip, and
      trunk, and relations between the event-related brain potential (ERP) and postural
      muscle activity were investigated while standing on an oscillating table.
      METHODS: Twelve healthy young adults maintained a standing posture for 1 min per
      trial while oscillating in the anteroposterior direction at 0.5 Hz with a 2.5-cm
      amplitude. Trials were performed without and with the cast brace (no-fixation and
      fixation condition, respectively) until the subject had adapted to the floor
      oscillation. The ERP from the Cz electrode, postural muscle activity, and joint
      movement range were analyzed for the first and last two trials (before and after
      adaptation, respectively). RESULTS: Movement range of the hip and knee was lower
      in the fixation condition than in the no-fixation condition, and postural control
      was achieved by pivoting at the ankle. Peak muscle activity was largest in the
      gastrocnemius (GcM) in both conditions. GcM activity significantly increased
      after fixation and then decreased with adaptation. The time of peak erector
      spinae (ES) activity in the fixation condition was significantly earlier than in
      the no-fixation condition and was not significantly different from the time of
      the anterior reversal and peak of triceps surae activity. The negative ERP peaked
      approximately 80 ms after the anterior reversal. Significant correlations between
      the time of the peak negative ERP and the peak GcM, soleus, and ES activity were
      observed only after the adaptation, and were greater in the fixation condition (r
      = 0.83, 0.84, and 0.83, respectively) than in the no-fixation condition (r =
      0.62, 0.73, and 0.51, respectively). CONCLUSION: All joints of the leg and trunk
      except for the ankle were rigidly fixed by the cast brace, and the phase
      differences between body segments were very small in the fixation condition. High
      correlations between the time of the peak negative ERP and the peak GcM, soleus,
      and ES activity after adaptation in the fixation condition suggest that attention
      would be more focused on anticipatory processing of muscle sensory information
      from the triceps surae and/or ES, particularly GcM, which had the greatest
      activation.

PMID- 26888336
TI  - Hydrogen production in microbial reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cells using
      a substrate without buffer solution.
AB  - The aim of this work was to use substrate without buffer solution in a microbial
      reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cell (MREC) for hydrogen production under
      continuous flow condition (10 cell pairs of RED stacks, HRT=5, 7.5, and 15h).
      Decreasing in the HRT (increasing in the organic matter) made cell current stable
      and increased. Hydrogen gas was produced at a rate of 0.61m(3)-H2/m(3)-Van/d in H
      MREC, with a COD removal efficiency of 81% (1.55g/L/d) and a Coulombic efficiency
      of 41%. This MREC system without buffer solution could successfully produce
      hydrogen gas at a consistent rate. 

PMID- 26888335
TI  - Scaled-up dual anode/cathode microbial fuel cell stack for actual ethanolamine
      wastewater treatment.
AB  - The aim of this work was to develop the scale-up microbial fuel cell technology
      for actual ethanolamine wastewater treatment, dual anode/cathode MFC stacks
      connected in series to achieve any desired current, treatment capacity, and
      volume capacity. However, after feeding actual wastewater into the MFC, maximum
      power density decreased while the corresponding internal resistance increased.
      With continuous electricity production, a stack of eight MFCs in series achieved
      96.05% of COD removal and 97.30% of ammonia removal at a flow rate of 15.98L/d
      (HRT 12h). The scaled-up dual anode/cathode MFC stack system in this research was
      demonstrated to treat actual ETA wastewater with the added benefit of harvesting
      electricity energy. 

PMID- 26888332
TI  - Effects of silver nanoparticles and ions on a co-culture model for the
      gastrointestinal epithelium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The increased incorporation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) into
      consumer products makes the characterization of potential risk for humans and
      other organisms essential. The oral route is an important uptake route for NPs,
      therefore the study of the gastrointestinal tract in respect to NP uptake and
      toxicity is very timely. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects
      of Ag NPs and ions on a Caco-2/TC7:HT29-MTX intestinal co-culture model with
      mucus secretion, which constitutes an important protective barrier to exogenous
      agents in vivo and may strongly influence particle uptake. METHODS: The presence
      of the mucus layer was confirmed with staining techniques (alcian blue and
      toluidine blue). Mono and co-cultures of Caco-2/TC7 and HT29-MTX cells were
      exposed to Ag NPs (Ag 20 and 200 nm) and AgNO3 and viability (alamar blue), ROS
      induction (DCFH-DA assay) and IL-8 release (ELISA) were measured. The particle
      agglomeration in the media was evaluated with DLS and the ion release with
      ultrafiltration and ICP-MS. The effects of the Ag NPs and AgNO3 on cells in co
      culture were studied at a proteome level with two-dimensional difference in gel
      electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) followed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization
      - Time Of Flight/ Time Of Flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS).
      Intracellular localization was assessed with NanoSIMS and TEM. RESULTS: The
      presence of mucus layer led to protection against ROS and decrease in IL-8
      release. Both Ag 20 and 200 nm NPs were taken up by the cells and Ag NPs 20 nm
      were mainly localized in organelles with high sulfur content. A dose- and size
      dependent increase in IL-8 release was observed with a lack of cytotoxicity and
      oxidative stress. Sixty one differentially abundant proteins were identified
      involved in cytoskeleton arrangement and cell cycle, oxidative stress, apoptosis,
      metabolism/detoxification and stress. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of mucus layer
      had an impact on modulating the induced toxicity of NPs. NP-specific effects were
      observed for uptake, pro-inflammatory response and changes at the proteome level.
      The low level of overlap between differentially abundant proteins observed in
      both Ag NPs and AgNO3 treated co-culture suggests size-dependent responses that
      cannot only be attributed to soluble Ag.

PMID- 26888337
TI  - Accelerating Gas Adsorption on 3D Percolating Carbon Nanotubes.
AB  - In the field of electronic gas sensing, low-dimensional semiconductors such as
      single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can offer high detection sensitivity
      owing to their unprecedentedly large surface-to-volume ratio. The sensitivity and
      responsivity can further improve by increasing their areal density. Here, an
      accelerated gas adsorption is demonstrated by exploiting volumetric effects via
      dispersion of SWCNTs into a percolating three-dimensional (3D) network in a
      semiconducting polymer. The resultant semiconducting composite film is evaluated
      as a sensing membrane in field effect transistor (FET) sensors. In order to
      attain reproducible characteristics of the FET sensors, a pulsed-gate-bias
      measurement technique is adopted to eliminate current hysteresis and drift of
      sensing baseline. The rate of gas adsorption follows the Langmuir-type isotherm
      as a function of gas concentration and scales with film thickness. This rate is
      up to 5 times higher in the composite than only with an SWCNT network in the
      transistor channel, which in turn results in a 7-fold shorter time constant of
      adsorption with the composite. The description of gas adsorption developed in the
      present work is generic for all semiconductors and the demonstrated composite
      with 3D percolating SWCNTs dispersed in functional polymer represents a promising
      new type of material for advanced gas sensors. 

PMID- 26888338
TI  - A comparison of the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam and cefoperazone
      sulbactam therapies in the empirical treatment of patients with febrile
      neutropenia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Empirical antibiotic therapy in neutropenic patients presenting with
      fever plays a significant role in reducing mortality related to infection.
      Empirical therapies with broad-spectrum intravenous bactericidal, anti
      pseudomonal antibiotics are accepted treatments for febrile neutropenic patients.
      The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam (PIP
      TAZO) and cefoperozone-sulbactam (CS) therapies in adult patients with
      haematological malignancies presenting with neutropenic fever in a prospective
      study design. METHODS: Patients with haematological malignancies (leukaemia,
      lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndrome) were recruited from
      June 2010-May 2013. Participants were over 18 years old, with an absolute
      neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500/mm3 following chemotherapy or expected to
      have an ANC less than 500/mm3 in the first 48 h post-chemotherapy, and with an
      oral body temperature >= 38.3 degrees C at a single measurement or 38.0 degrees C
      after 1-h monitoring. Patients were randomised to the two treatment groups. The
      initial empirical therapy comprised PIP-TAZO (4.5 g/6 h/day, IV) and CS (2 g/8
      h/day, IV). RESULTS: The overall success rate was 61% with CS and 49% with PIP
      TAZO (p =0.247). Factors affecting the treatment success included a neutrophil
      count <100/mm3, being in the relapse/refractory stage of malignancy, and the
      presence of a microbiologically documented infection (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PIP
      TAZO and CS monotherapies are equally effective and safe for the empirical
      treatment of febrile neutropenic patients.

PMID- 26888339
TI  - [Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers towards a suspect case of Ebola
      virus disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The last outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, was a precedent to
      demonstrate the necessary training of healthcare personnel for possible
      eventualities of suspected cases of infectious diseases. It is required to study
      the level of qualification of healthcare workers in such situations. METHODS:
      Descriptive study using post-workshop survey of healthcare workers in a Valencian
      Community health department on acquired knowledge and skills after training.
      CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare personnel received an overall passing score on the post
      workshop survey, but with differences in occupational categories and different
      blocks of training. The ratings could be considered deficient in some cases. It
      should be reviewed periodically training health personnel and calibrate such
      training to the resources available for proper operation.

PMID- 26888340
TI  - [Bicytopenia due to parvovirus b19 infection in octogenarian: a case report].

PMID- 26888341
TI  - Clarithromycin plus linezolid as a sequential therapy for implantable
      cardioverter-defibrillator infection caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.

PMID- 26888343
TI  - Least-Squares Is Not the Only Yardstick for Estimating the Absorption Limit of an
      Infinitely Long Conjugated Chain from Spectra of Oligomers.

PMID- 26888342
TI  - Nurses' attitudes and perceived barriers to the reporting of medication
      administration errors.
AB  - AIMS: (1) To explore the attitudes and perceived barriers to reporting medication
      administration errors and (2) to understand the characteristics of - and nurses'
      feelings - about error reports. BACKGROUND: Under-reporting of medication
      administration errors is a global concern related to the safety of patient care.
      Understanding nurses' attitudes and perceived barriers to error reporting is the
      initial step to increasing the reporting rate. METHODS: A cross-sectional,
      descriptive survey with a self-administered questionnaire was completed by the
      nurses of a medical centre hospital in Taiwan. RESULTS: A total of 306 nurses
      participated in the study. Nurses' attitudes towards medication administration
      error reporting were inclined towards positive. The major perceived barrier was
      fear of the consequences after reporting. The results demonstrated that 88.9% of
      medication administration errors were reported orally, whereas 19.0% were
      reported through the hospital internet system. Self-recrimination was the common
      feeling of nurses after the commission of an medication administration error.
      CONCLUSIONS: Even if hospital management encourages errors to be reported without
      recrimination, nurses' attitudes toward medication administration error reporting
      are not very positive and fear is the most prominent barrier contributing to
      underreporting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers should
      establish anonymous reporting systems and counselling classes to create a secure
      atmosphere to reduce nurses' fear and provide incentives to encourage reporting.

PMID- 26888344
TI  - Nanoparticles at SEA: Seeding, Etching, and Applications.

PMID- 26888345
TI  - Non-Saccharomyces and Saccharomyces strains co-fermentation increases
      acetaldehyde accumulation: effect on anthocyanin-derived pigments in Tannat red
      wines.
AB  - During fermentation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae releases into the medium secondary
      metabolic products, such as acetaldehyde, able to react with anthocyanins,
      producing more stable derived pigments. However, very limited reports are found
      about non-Saccharomyces effects on grape fermentation. In this study, six non
      Saccharomyces yeast strains, belonging to the genera Metschnikowia and
      Hanseniaspora, were screened for their effect on red wine colour and wine-making
      capacity under pure culture conditions and mixed with Saccharomyces. An
      artificial red grape must was prepared, containing a phenolic extract of Tannat
      grapes that allows monitoring changes of key phenol parameters during
      fermentation, but without skin solids in the medium. When fermented in pure
      cultures, S. cerevisiae produced higher concentrations of acetaldehyde and
      vitisin B (acetaldehyde reaction-dependent) compared to M. pulcherrima M00/09G,
      Hanseniaspora guillermondii T06/09G, H. opuntiae T06/01G, H. vineae T02/05F and
      H. clermontiae (A10/82Fand C10/54F). However, co-fermentation of H. vineae and H.
      clermontiae with S. cerevisiae resulted in a significantly higher concentration
      of acetaldehyde compared with the pure S. cerevisiae control. HPLC-DAD-MS
      analysis confirmed an increased formation of vitisin B in co-fermentation
      treatments when compared to pure Saccharomyces fermentation, suggesting the key
      role of acetaldehyde. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888346
TI  - Salivary epigenetic biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
AB  - The early detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) continues to
      be a challenge to the clinician. Saliva as a diagnostic medium carries
      significant advantages including its close proximity to the region of interest,
      ease of collection and noninvasive nature. While the identification of biomarkers
      continues to carry significant diagnostic and prognostic utility in HNSCC,
      epigenetic alterations present a novel opportunity to serve this purpose. With
      the developments of novel and innovative technologies, epigenetic alterations are
      now emerging as attractive candidates in HNSCC. As such, this review will focus
      on two commonly aberrant epigenetic alterations: DNA methylation and microRNA
      expression in HNSCC and their potential clinical utility. Identification and
      validation of these salivary epigenetic biomarkers would not only enable early
      diagnosis but will also facilitate in the clinical management. 

PMID- 26888349
TI  - ERA-NET NEURON: a network with emergent properties.

PMID- 26888350
TI  - More than just a headache.

PMID- 26888347
TI  - Image processing methods to elucidate spatial characteristics of retinal
      microglia after optic nerve transection.
AB  - Microglia are the mononuclear phagocytes with various functions in the central
      nervous system, and the morphologies of microglia imply the different stages and
      functions. In optical nerve transection model of the retina, the retrograde
      degeneration of retinal ganglion cells induces microglial activations to a unique
      morphology termed rod microglia. A few studies described the rod microglia in the
      cortex and retina; however, the spatial characteristic of rod microglia is not
      fully understood. In this study, we built a mathematical model to characterize
      the spatial trait of rod microglia. In addition, we developed a Matlab-based
      image processing pipeline that consists of log enhancement, image segmentation,
      mathematical morphology based cell detection, area calculation and angle
      analysis. This computer program provides researchers a powerful tool to quickly
      analyze the spatial trait of rod microglia. 

PMID- 26888348
TI  - Age-Dependent Changes in Pb Concentration in Human Teeth.
AB  - The result of exposure to Pb is its accumulation in mineralized tissues. In human
      body, they constitute a reservoir of approx. 90 % of the Pb reserve. The
      conducted research aimed at determining the accumulation of Pb in calcified
      tissues of permanent teeth. The concentration of Pb in 390 samples of teeth taken
      from a selected group of Polish people was determined using the AAS method.
      Average concentration of Pb in teeth amounted to 14.3 +/- 8.18 MUg/g, range of
      changes: 2.21-54.8 MUgPb/g. Accumulation of Pb in human body was determined based
      on changes in Pb concentration in teeth of subjects aged 13-84 years. It was
      found that in calcified tissues of teeth, the increase in concentration of Pb
      that occurs with age is a statistically significant process (p = 0.02, the ANOVA
      Kruskal-Wallis test). It was determined that the annual increase in concentration
      of Pb in tissues of teeth is approx. 0.1 MUg/g. Moreover, a different course of
      changes in Pb concentration in tissues of teeth in people born in different years
      was observed. The level of Pb concentration in teeth of the oldest subjects (>60
      years) decreased for those born in the 1930s compared to those in the 1950s.
      Teeth from younger persons (<60 years) were characterized by an increasing level
      of Pb concentration. The analysis of changes of Pb indicates that for low
      exposure, a relatively greater accumulation of Pb concentration in calcified
      tissues of teeth can occur. 

PMID- 26888351
TI  - Orrin Devinsky: breaking through treatment-resistant epilepsy.

PMID- 26888352
TI  - Dante Alighieri's narcolepsy.

PMID- 26888353
TI  - Nanna Finnerup.

PMID- 26888356
TI  - Association of Thrombomodulin Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to
      Atherosclerotic Diseases: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Previous studies have proved that the dysfunction of thrombomodulin (TM) plays an
      important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic diseases. In order to
      reveal their inherent relationship, we conducted a meta-analysis to uncover the
      association between two polymorphisms -33G/A and Ala455Val (c.1418C>T) in the TM
      gene and atherosclerotic diseases. We carried out a systematic search in PubMed,
      Science Direct, BIOSIS Previews, SpringerLink, the Cochrane library, the Chinese
      National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Database, the Wei Pu
      database, and the Wanfang Database. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) were computed to show the association. We included 22 eligible
      studies which involved 5472 patients and 7786 controls. There were statistically
      significant associations between -33G/A polymorphisms in TM and the MI group
      under the Allele and Recessive models in Asians (G vs. A: OR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.56
      0.78, P < 0.00001; GG vs. GA+AA: OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.56-0.78, P < 0.00001).
      However, these findings of the overall and subgroups showed that Ala455Val
      polymorphisms did not have any relationship with atherosclerotic diseases. After
      Bonferroni correction, the above associations remained statistically significant.
      This meta-analysis provides robust evidence of association between the -33G/A
      polymorphism in the TM gene and the risk of myocardial infarction in Asians. The
      A allele may increase the incidence of MI in Asians. However, the Ala455Val
      variant was not associated with atherosclerotic risk. Further studies with
      adequate sample size are needed to verify our findings. 

PMID- 26888358
TI  - Chlorine as a geobarometer for alkaline magmas: Evidence from a systematic study
      of the eruptions of Mount Somma-Vesuvius.
AB  - Defining the magma storage conditions of a volcanic system is a major goal in
      modern volcanology due to its direct implications for the style of a possible
      eruption, and thus on the associated risk of any crisis and the necessary
      management and mitigation strategies. Below 200 MPa and at equivalent depths, the
      strongly non-ideal behaviour of the H-C-O-S-Cl-F system in the silicate melt
      causes unmixing of the fluid phase to form an H2O-rich vapour and a hydrosaline
      phase in equilibrium with the silicate melt, both responsible for buffering the
      chlorine (Cl) concentration. Following this equilibrium, the Cl concentration in
      melts may be used as a geobarometer for alkaline magmas. Systematic application
      of this method to the main explosive eruptions of Mount Somma-Vesuvius highlights
      two main magma ponding zones, at ~180-200 and ~100 MPa. At these pressures, the
      maximum pre-eruptive H2O contents for the different magma compositions can be
      estimated; the results obtained, largely in agreement with the current
      literature, therefore confirm the validity of the method. The Cl geobarometer may
      help scientists to define the variation of the magmatic reservoir location
      through time and thus provide strong constraints on pre-eruptive conditions,
      which are of utmost importance for volcanic crisis management.

PMID- 26888355
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cell-based gene therapy for erectile dysfunction.
AB  - Despite the overwhelming success of PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5I), the demand for novel
      pharmacotherapeutic and surgical options for ED continues to rise owing to the
      increased proportion of elderly individuals in the population, in addition to the
      growing percentage of ED patients who do not respond to PDE5I. Surgical treatment
      of ED is associated with many complications, thus warranting the need for
      nonsurgical therapies. Moreover, none of the above-mentioned treatments
      essentially corrects, cures or prevents ED. Although gene therapy is a promising
      option, many challenges and obstacles such as local inflammatory response and
      random transgene expression, in addition to other safety issues, limit its use at
      the clinical level. The use of stem cell therapy alone also has many
      shortcomings. To overcome these inadequacies, many scientists and clinicians are
      investigating new gene and stem cell therapies. 

PMID- 26888359
TI  - Creating a zero-order resonator using an optical surface transformation.
AB  - A novel zero-order resonator has been designed by an optical surface
      transformation (OST) method. The resonator proposed here has many novel features.
      Firstly, the mode volume can be very small (e.g. in the subwavelength scale).
      Secondly, the resonator is open (no reflecting walls are utilized) and resonant
      effects can be found in a continuous spectrum (i.e. a continuum of eigenmodes).
      Thirdly, we only need one homogenous medium to realize the proposed resonator.
      The shape of the resonator can be a ring structure of arbitrary shape. In
      addition to the natural applications (e.g. optical storage) of an optical
      resonator, we also suggest some other applications of our novel optical open
      resonator (e.g. power combination, squeezing electromagnetic energy in the free
      space). 

PMID- 26888357
TI  - Integrated molecular, physiological and in silico characterization of two
      Halomonas isolates from industrial brine.
AB  - Two haloalkaliphilic bacteria isolated from industrial brine solutions were
      characterized via molecular, physiological, and in silico metabolic pathway
      analyses. Genomes from the organisms, designated Halomonas BC1 and BC2, were
      sequenced; 16S ribosomal subunit-based phylogenetic analysis revealed a high
      level of similarity to each other and to Halomonas meridiana. Both strains were
      moderate halophiles with near optimal specific growth rates (>=60 % MU max)
      observed over <0.1-5 % (w/v) NaCl and pH ranging from 7.4 to 10.2. Isolate BC1
      was further characterized by measuring uptake or synthesis of compatible solutes
      under different growth conditions; in complex medium, uptake and accumulation of
      external glycine betaine was observed while ectoine was synthesized de novo in
      salts medium. Transcriptome analysis of isolate BC1 grown on glucose or citrate
      medium measured differences in glycolysis- and gluconeogenesis-based metabolisms,
      respectively. The annotated BC1 genome was used to build an in silico, genome
      scale stoichiometric metabolic model to study catabolic energy strategies and
      compatible solute synthesis under gradients of oxygen and nutrient availability.
      The theoretical analysis identified energy metabolism challenges associated with
      acclimation to high salinity and high pH. The study documents central metabolism
      data for the industrially and scientifically important haloalkaliphile genus
      Halomonas. 

PMID- 26888361
TI  - The chiasmatic recess of the third ventricle: delineation with magnetic resonance
      imaging.
AB  - PURPOSE: The chiasmatic recess (CR) is a small, downward extension in the most
      rostral third ventricle. Few studies have highlighted its morphology.
      Accordingly, we explored the CR using magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: A
      total of 104 patients were enrolled in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging
      examinations were performed in axial and sagittal sections. Imaging data were
      obtained as thin-sliced, seamless sections. RESULTS: The CR was clearly
      identified in 98 % of axial and 96 % of sagittal sections. The lamina terminalis
      was delineated as a membranous structure with homogenous thickness. The CR was
      consistently delineated as a smoothly tapering, cerebrospinal fluid-filled space.
      The number of axial images required to encompass the entire CR was 1 slice for
      1.9 % of samples, 2 for 32.7 %, 3 for 49 %, 4 for 12.5 %, 5 for 1 %, and 6 for 1
      %. On axial view, the CR generally presented as a long horizontal ellipse. On
      sagittal view, the CR showed variable shape and length. The optic chiasm-lamina
      terminalis angle, formed by the upper surface of the optic chiasm and inner
      surface of the lamina terminalis and measured on midsagittal sections, showed
      considerable variability. CONCLUSIONS: The CR is a hollow structure with various
      contours. Recognition of the morphological characteristics of the CR and lamina
      terminalis may be helpful for safe perforation of the lamina terminalis. Magnetic
      resonance imaging is useful for exploring the CR.

PMID- 26888360
TI  - Targeting the poorest in a performance-based financing programme in northern
      Cameroon.
AB  - Performance-Based Financing (PBF) is a promising approach to improve health
      system performance in developing countries, but there are concerns that it may
      inadequately address inequalities in access to care. Incentives for reaching the
      poor may prove beneficial, but evidence remains limited. We evaluated a system of
      targeting the poorest of society ('indigents') in a PBF programme in Cameroon,
      examining (under)coverage, leakage and perceived positive and negative effects.
      We conducted a documentation review, 59 key informant interviews and 33 focus
      group discussions with community members (poor and vulnerable people-registered
      as indigents and those not registered as such). We found that community health
      workers were able to identify very poor and vulnerable people with a minimal
      chance of leakage to non-poor people. Nevertheless, the targeting system only
      reached a tiny proportion (<=1%) of the catchment population, and other poor and
      vulnerable people were missed. Low a priori set objectives and implementation
      problems-including a focus on easily identifiable groups (elderly, orphans),
      unclarity about pre-defined criteria, lack of transport for identification and
      insufficient motivation of community health workers-are likely to explain the low
      coverage. Registered indigents perceived improvements in access, quality and
      promptness of care, and improvements in economic status and less financial
      worries. However, lack of transport and insufficient knowledge about the
      targeting benefits, remained barriers for health care use. Negative effects of
      the system as experienced by indigents included negative reactions (e.g.
      jealousy) of community members. In conclusion, a system of targeting the poorest
      of society in PBF programmes may help reduce inequalities in health care use, but
      only when design and implementation problems leading to substantial under
      coverage are addressed. Furthermore, remaining barriers to health care use (e.g.
      transport) and negative reactions of other community members towards indigents
      deserve attention. 

PMID- 26888363
TI  - Strategies to deal with comorbid physical illness in psychosis.
AB  - Individuals with serious mental illnesses such as psychosis still experience
      higher mortality rates than the general population, decades after data have
      linked the gap to increased rates of physical illness, delayed diagnosis, low
      treatment rates and worse outcomes from treatment received. The nature of the
      relationship between psychosis and comorbid physical illness is complex. Multiple
      strategies directed at different levels of disease process, health care systems
      and stakeholder culture are likely required to make sustained progress in
      reducing the mortality gap. Evidence for strategies that effectively reduce the
      burden of physical co-morbidity and lead to improved health outcomes are still in
      their infancy but growing at a reassuringly fast rate. This editorial considers
      the existing evidence base and makes suggestions for the development and future
      direction of this urgent research agenda and how this knowledge can be
      implemented in clinical practice. 

PMID- 26888362
TI  - alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) expression in chordomas differentiates them
      from chondrosarcomas.
AB  - AIMS: Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal tumours with
      overlapping morphological and immunohistochemical (IHC) characteristics. Our aim
      was to evaluate the IHC expression of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase
      (AMACR/P504S), beta-catenin and E-cadherin in chordomas relative to
      chondrosarcomas and assess the utility of these markers for differential
      diagnosis. METHODS: Archival sections of 18 chordomas, 19 chondrosarcomas and 10
      mature cartilage samples were immunostained and scored for AMACR, beta-catenin
      and E-cadherin and the relative differential capacity of each marker was
      calculated. In addition, AMACR mRNA level was assessed in 5 chordomas by RT-PCR
      and evaluated by comparative CT method. RESULTS: AMACR and beta-catenin stained
      88.9% and 94.1% of the chordomas respectively, 21.1% and 10.5% of the
      chondrosarcomas correspondingly and none of the mature cartilage samples. E
      cadherin stained positively 82.4% of the chordomas, 36.8% of the chondrosarcomas
      and 42.9% of the mature cartilage cases. Both AMACR and beta-catenin showed
      statistically significant difference between chordomas and chondrosarcomas (p <
      0.001 for both), unlike E-cadherin. AMACR was detected at the mRNA level.
      CONCLUSIONS: AMACR is expressed in most of the chordomas but only in a minority
      of chondrosarcomas. AMACR may serve as IHC marker of chordoma with
      differentiating ability comparable to that of beta-catenin.

PMID- 26888365
TI  - Broadening the absorption bandwidth of metamaterial absorbers by transverse
      magnetic harmonics of 210 mode.
AB  - By investigating a square-shaped metamaterial structure we discover that wave
      diffraction at diagonal corners of such a structure excites transverse magnetic
      harmonics of 210 mode (TM210 harmonics). Multi-layer overlapping and deliberately
      regulating period length between adjacent unit cells can significantly enhance
      TM210 harmonics, leading to a strong absorption waveband. On such a basis, a
      design strategy is proposed to achieve broadband, thin-thickness multi-layered
      metamaterial absorbers (MMAs). In this strategy big pyramidal arrays placed in
      the "white blanks" of a chessboard exhibit two isolated absorption bands due to
      their fundamental and TM210 harmonics, which are further connected by another
      absorption band from small pyramidal arrays in the "black blanks" of the
      chessboard. The as-designed MMA at a total thickness (h) of 4.36 mm shows an
      absorption of above 0.9 in the whole frequency range of 7-18 GHz, which is 38%
      broader with respect to previous design methods at the same h. This strategy
      provides an effective route to extend the absorption bandwidth of MMAs without
      increasing h.

PMID- 26888364
TI  - Elevated Low-Shear Blood Viscosity is Associated with Decreased Pulmonary Blood
      Flow in Children with Univentricular Heart Defects.
AB  - After the Fontan procedure, patients with univentricular hearts can experience
      long-term complications due to chronic low-shear non-pulsatile pulmonary blood
      flow. We sought to evaluate hemorheology and its relationship to hemodynamics in
      children with univentricular hearts. We hypothesized that low-shear blood
      viscosity and red blood cell (RBC) aggregation would be associated with increased
      pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and decreased pulmonary blood flow (PBF). We
      performed a cross-sectional analysis of 62 children undergoing cardiac
      catheterization-20 with isolated atrial septal defect (ASD), 22 status post Glenn
      procedure (Glenn), and 20 status post Fontan procedure (Fontan). Shear-dependent
      blood viscosity, RBC aggregation and deformability, complete blood count,
      coagulation panel, metabolic panel, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation
      rate were measured. PVR and PBF were calculated using the Fick equation. Group
      differences were analyzed by ANOVA and correlations by linear regression. Blood
      viscosity at all shear rates was higher in Glenn and Fontan, partially due to
      normocytic anemia in ASD. RBC aggregation and deformability were similar between
      all groups. Low-shear viscosity negatively correlated with PBF in Glenn and
      Fontan only (R (2) = 0.27, p < 0.001); it also negatively correlated with
      pulmonary artery pressure in Glenn (R (2) = 0.15, p = 0.01), and positively
      correlated with PVR in Fontan (R (2) = 0.28, p = 0.02). Our data demonstrate that
      elevated low-shear blood viscosity is associated with negative hemodynamic
      perturbations in a passive univentricular pulmonary circulation, but not in a
      pulsatile biventricular pulmonary circulation.

PMID- 26888366
TI  - Energy expenditure in critically ill patients estimated by population-based
      equations, indirect calorimetry and CO2-based indirect calorimetry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Indirect calorimetry (IC) is the reference method for measurement of
      energy expenditure (EE) in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. When
      IC is unavailable, EE can be calculated by predictive equations or by VCO2-based
      calorimetry. This study compares the bias, quality and accuracy of these methods.
      METHODS: EE was determined by IC over a 30-min period in patients from a mixed
      medical/postsurgical intensive care unit and compared to seven predictive
      equations and to VCO2-based calorimetry. The bias was described by the mean
      difference between predicted EE and IC, the quality by the root mean square error
      (RMSE) of the difference and the accuracy by the number of patients with
      estimates within 10 % of IC. Errors of VCO2-based calorimetry due to choice of
      respiratory quotient (RQ) were determined by a sensitivity analysis, and errors
      due to fluctuations in ventilation were explored by a qualitative analysis.
      RESULTS: In 18 patients (mean age 61 +/- 17 years, five women), EE averaged 2347
      kcal/day. All predictive equations were accurate in less than 50 % of the
      patients with an RMSE >= 15 %. VCO2-based calorimetry was accurate in 89 % of
      patients, significantly better than all predictive equations, and remained better
      for any choice of RQ within published range (0.76-0.89). Errors due to
      fluctuations in ventilation are about equal in IC and VCO2-based calorimetry, and
      filtering reduced these errors. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the inaccuracy
      of predictive equations and established VCO2-based calorimetry as a more accurate
      alternative. Both IC and VCO2-based calorimetry are sensitive to fluctuations in
      respiration.

PMID- 26888368
TI  - Multi-vessel disease and CZT SPECT. Comparison with coronary angiography.

PMID- 26888370
TI  - Safety of stress testing in patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers: Are all
      modalities created equal?

PMID- 26888369
TI  - Improving cardiac SPECT accuracy: Old robustness for a new gold standard.

PMID- 26888371
TI  - Incidental detection of bronchial carcinoid on Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT/CT
      myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.
AB  - Technetium-99m sestamibi MPS is a commonly employed imaging study for myocardial
      perfusion; however, incidental extracardiac sestamibi uptake requires further
      evaluation, and the tracer uptake in the thorax/mediastinum may be pathological.
      The authors present a case of significant extra-cardiac uptake seen on stress MPS
      images helping in the incidental detection of bronchial carcinoid.

PMID- 26888372
TI  - Software-dependent processing variability in SPECT functional parameters:
      Clinical implications.

PMID- 26888373
TI  - Relationship between residual viable myocardium and LV remodeling post-MI: Only
      part of the story.

PMID- 26888374
TI  - Genetic instability of Japanese encephalitis virus cDNA clones propagated in
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - The genetic instability of Flavivirus cDNA clones in transformed bacteria is a
      common phenomenon. Herein, a cDNA fragment of the nucleotide (nt) 1-2913 of the
      genome of a flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), was used to
      investigate factors that caused the instability of cDNA clones. Several cDNA
      fragments with different 5'- or 3'-termini of the 2913-nt cDNA were obtained by
      PCR amplification or restriction enzyme digestion and cloned into a pCR-Blunt II
      TOPO vector. All the cDNA fragments were stably propagated at 25  degrees C.
      However, the 5'-untranslated region and half of the 3'-E gene could cause the
      instability of the 2913-nt cDNA at 37  degrees C. The 5'-terminus sequences of
      the 2913-nt fragment were subjected to testing of the prokaryotic promoter
      activity by luciferase assay and Western blot. The sequences of 54-120 nt of the
      JEV genome exhibited high prokaryotic promoter activity at 37  degrees C, and the
      activity declined markedly at 25  degrees C. These findings revealed that the
      high prokaryotic promoter activity of the 54-120 nt sequences of the JEV genome
      together with expression of JEV structural genes determined the instability of a
      JEV cDNA clone. Growth at room temperature may reduce the prokaryotic promoter
      activity of 5'-sequences of the JEV genome and could represent an effective way
      to improve the stability of flavivirus cDNA clones in host bacteria.

PMID- 26888375
TI  - Evaluation of the potential synergism of imatinib-related poly kinase inhibitors
      using growth factor stimulated proteoglycan synthesis as a model response.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors were the first class of smart drugs
      being specifically designed to inhibit a disease causing target. There is a very
      important but unresolved question as whether or not the overall therapeutic role
      of an individual tinib results from an action at its primary target, a single
      most likely, tyrosine kinase, or from the combined or aggregate action at the
      multiple targets which each tinib addresses. METHODS: We selected a series of ten
      tinibs (gefitinib, sunitinib, lapatinib, erlotinib, imatinib, sorafenib,
      axitinib, vanitinib, bosutinib, dasatinib) with various known targets and
      investigated their activities in the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis and GAG
      hyperelongation stimulated by a tyrosine kinase receptor agonist, platelet
      derived growth factor (PDGF) and for contrast, a serine/threonine kinase receptor
      agonist, TGF beta and some downstream signalling pathways. RESULTS: The
      inhibitory activity varied from little to total inhibition. The actions of the
      tinibs were directed more towards inhibition of the tyrosine kinase, PDGF
      receptor signalling pathway compared to the TGF beta. CONCLUSION: There was no
      suggestion of any synergistic effect arising from inhibition of multiple kinases
      as the most potent compound, dasatinib, is known to inhibit the broadest spectrum
      of kinases.

PMID- 26888376
TI  - Searching for consensus among physicians involved in the management of sick
      listed workers in the Belgian health care sector: a qualitative study among
      practitioners and stakeholders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In Belgium, the management of sick leave involves general
      practitioners (GPs), occupational health physicians (OPs) and social insurance
      physicians (SIPs). A dysfunctional relationship among these physicians can impede
      a patient's ability to return to work. The objective of this study was to
      identify ways to improve these physicians' mutual collaboration. METHODS: Two
      consensus techniques were successively performed among the three professional
      groups. Eight nominal groups (NGs) gathered 74 field practitioners, and a two
      round Delphi process involved 32 stakeholders. RESULTS: From the results, it
      appears that two areas (reciprocal knowledge and evolution of the legal and
      regulatory framework) are objects of consensus among the three medical group that
      were surveyed. Information transfer, particularly electronic transfer, was
      stressed as an important way to improve. The consensual proposals regarding
      interdisciplinary collaboration indicate specific and practical changes to be
      implemented when professionals are managing workers who are on sick leave. The
      collaboration process appeared to be currently more problematic, but the
      participants correctly identified the need for common training. CONCLUSIONS: The
      three physician groups all agree regarding several inter-physician collaboration
      proposals. The study also revealed a latent conflict situation among the analysed
      professionals that can arise from a lack of mutual recognition. Practical changes
      or improvements must be included in an extended framework that involves the
      different determinants of interdisciplinary collaboration that are shown by
      theoretical models. Collaboration is a product of the actions and behaviours of
      various partners, which requires reciprocal knowledge and trust; collaboration
      also implies political and economic structures that are led by public health
      authorities.

PMID- 26888377
TI  - A new tropane alkaloid from the leaves of Erythroxylum subsessile isolated by pH
      zone-refining counter-current chromatography.
AB  - Tropane alkaloids are bioactive metabolites with great importance in the
      pharmaceutical industry and the most important class of natural products found in
      the Erythroxylum genus. However, these compounds are usually separated by
      traditional chromatographic techniques, in which the sample is progressively
      purified in multiple chromatographic steps, resulting in a time- and solvent
      consuming procedure. In this work we present the isolation of a novel alkaloid,
      6beta,7beta-dibenzoyloxytropan-3alpha-ol, together with the two known 3alpha
      benzoyloxynortropan-6beta-ol and 3alpha,6beta-dibenzoyloxytropane alkaloids,
      directly from the crude alkaloid fraction from the leaves of Erythroxylum
      subsessile, by using a single run pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography
      method. The ethyl acetate/water (1:1, v/v) biphasic solvent system with
      triethylamine and HCl as retention and eluter agents, respectively, was used to
      isolate tropane alkaloids for the first time. The structures of the isolated
      alkaloids were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. 

PMID- 26888378
TI  - Time to abandon three-phase trials?

PMID- 26888379
TI  - Pretransplant uric acid levels may be predictive for prognosis of renal
      transplant donors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The living kidney donor counseling prior to the operation may be
      helpful to learn how to properly care for the remaining single kidney for the
      rest of their lives. Worsening kidney function is associated with elevated serum
      uric acid (UA) levels. In this study, we compared the baseline laboratory
      findings of renal transplant donors with their follow-up laboratory values.
      METHODS: The study consisted of 173 adult donors including 91 females and 82
      males with a mean age of 46.82 +/- 11.31 years. The follow-up clinical and
      laboratory examinations were performed on the third day at the end of the first
      and the sixth months of the surgery. According to donor's creatinine levels we
      constituted two groups: high creatinine and normal creatinine. RESULTS: Patients
      within the high creatinine group had significantly higher mean serum UA levels
      when compared with the normal creatinine group. In multivariate analysis, among
      the other effective variables, UA level alone was found to be the most effective
      parameter predicting the post-transplant creatinine levels (p = 0.004, odds
      ratio: 12.4, 95% CI: 2.3-68.3) at sixth month post-transplantation. In the ROC
      analysis for the effects of UA, the following cutoff values were found: >6 mg/dL
      in men (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 76.9%, positive predictive value 89.7%,
      negative predictive value 62.5%, accuracy 80%) and >=5 mg/dL in women
      (sensitivity 72.2, specificity 74.4%, positive predictive value 89.7%, negative
      predictive value 62.5%, accuracy: 73.7%). CONCLUSION: Pretransplant serum UA
      levels can give important clues regarding the renal functions of the donors
      during the postoperative period.

PMID- 26888380
TI  - Measuring the short-term impact of fluoridation cessation on dental caries in
      Grade 2 children using tooth surface indices.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term impact of fluoridation cessation on
      children's caries experience measured by tooth surfaces. If there is an adverse
      short-term effect of cessation, it should be apparent when we focus on smooth
      tooth surfaces, where fluoride is most likely to have an impact for the age group
      and time frame considered in this study. METHODS: We examined data from
      population-based samples of school children (Grade 2) in two similar cities in
      the province of Alberta, Canada: Calgary, where cessation occurred in May 2011
      and Edmonton where fluoridation remains in place. We analysed change over time
      (2004/2005 to 2013/2014) in summary data for primary (defs) and permanent (DMFS)
      teeth for Calgary and Edmonton, for all tooth surfaces and smooth surfaces only.
      We also considered, for 2013/2014 only, the exposed subsample defined as lifelong
      residents who reported usually drinking tap water. RESULTS: We observed, across
      the full sample, an increase in primary tooth decay (mean defs - all surfaces and
      smooth surfaces) in both cities, but the magnitude of the increase was greater in
      Calgary (F-cessation) than in Edmonton (F-continued). For permanent tooth decay,
      when focusing on smooth surfaces among those affected (those with DMFS>0), we
      observed a non-significant trend towards an increase in Calgary (F-cessation)
      that was not apparent in Edmonton (F-continued). CONCLUSIONS: Trends observed for
      primary teeth were consistent with an adverse effect of fluoridation cessation on
      children's tooth decay, 2.5-3 years post-cessation. Trends for permanent teeth
      hinted at early indication of an adverse effect. It is important that future data
      collection efforts in the two cities be undertaken, to permit continued
      monitoring of these trends.

PMID- 26888381
TI  - Human uterus transplantation in focus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Uterus transplantation (UTx) is introduced as the first treatment
      for absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI), affecting 1:500 fertile aged
      women. This review presents potential patients, research and human UTx cases.
      SOURCES OF DATA: Published articles and our research experience. AREAS OF
      AGREEMENT: The first UTx live births in 2014 established UTx as a possible
      treatment for AUFI. This was proceeded by 15 years of systematic research. AREAS
      OF CONTROVERSY: Is a deceased donor UTx as effective as the proven successful
      live donor UTx?. GROWING POINTS: Human UTx trials will accumulate data on risks,
      effectiveness and long-term consequences for donors, recipients and children.
      These should also include aspects of quality of life, psychological well-being
      and cognitive/neuropsychiatric development of children. AREAS TIMELY FOR
      DEVELOPING RESEARCH: All new activities in human UTx within the coming years
      should be conducted as prospective observational studies, and data should also be
      collected within an international registry.

PMID- 26888384
TI  - [Histologic subtyping and clinicopathologic features of papillary renal cell
      carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the morphologic characteristics and prognostic significance
      of 2 histologic subtypes of papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). METHODS: A
      series of 48 tumors previously diagnosed as PRCC during the period from 2003 to
      2013 were evaluated. All available slides were reviewed and 39 cases were
      confirmed to be PRCC. The detailed histomorphologic features were evaluated. The
      tumors were subtyped using the WHO classification and a novel mechanism suggested
      in recent literature, with prognostic correlation. Type 1 PRCC was assigned for
      tumors demonstrating simple cuboidal epithelium, irrespective of nuclear grade or
      other histomorphologic features. Tumors demonstrating cellular
      pseudostratification and high-grade nuclei were classified as type 2 PRCC.
      RESULTS: The novel subtyping mechanism was more practical and correlated with the
      outcome of patients. The scope of type 1 PRCC was expanded. Type 2 PRCC
      demonstrated high tumor stage and high nuclear grade, and was more likely to have
      perinephric/renal sinus fat invasion and sarcomatoid differentiation. Follow-up
      information was available in 32 patients, including 4 deaths in patients haboring
      type 2 PRCC. The survival rate of patients with type 2 PRCC was significantly
      lower than that of type 1 PRCC. CONCLUSIONS: The novel subtyping mechanism is
      more practical than WHO classification. Type 1 and type 2 PRCCs share many
      overlapping histomorphologic features. Type 2 PRCC is notably associated with
      worse prognosis. Recognizing the histomorphologic diversity of PRCC and
      classifying subtypes accurately are important in predicting the prognosis of
      patients with PRCC.

PMID- 26888382
TI  - Incretin based drugs and the risk of pancreatic cancer: international multicentre
      cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of incretin based drugs compared with
      sulfonylureas is associated with an increased risk of incident pancreatic cancer
      in people with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Population based cohort. SETTING: Large,
      international, multicentre study combining the health records from six
      participating sites in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
      PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 972,384 patients initiating antidiabetic drugs between
      1 January 2007 and 30 June 2013, with follow-up until 30 June 2014. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Within each cohort we conducted nested case-control analyses, where
      incident cases of pancreatic cancer were matched with up to 20 controls on sex,
      age, cohort entry date, duration of treated diabetes, and duration of follow-up.
      Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for incident pancreatic cancer were
      estimated, comparing use of incretin based drugs with use of sulfonylureas, with
      drug use lagged by one year for latency purposes. Secondary analyses assessed
      whether the risk varied by class (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon
      like peptide-1 receptor agonists) or by duration of use (cumulative duration of
      use and time since treatment initiation). Site specific hazard ratios were pooled
      using random effects models. RESULTS: During 2,024,441 person years of follow-up
      (median follow-up ranging from 1.3 to 2.8 years; maximum 8 years), 1221 patients
      were newly diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer (incidence rate 0.60 per 1000
      person years). Compared with sulfonylureas, incretin based drugs were not
      associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (pooled adjusted hazard
      ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.84 to 1.23). Similarly, the risk did not
      vary by class and evidence of a duration-response relation was lacking.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this large, population based study the use of incretin based
      drugs was not associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared
      with sulfonylureas. Although this potential adverse drug reaction will need to be
      monitored long term owing to the latency of the cancer, these findings provide
      some reassurance on the safety of incretin based drugs.

PMID- 26888385
TI  - [Diagnostic utility of S100A1, GLUT-1 and Caveolin-1 in renal tumors with
      oncocytic features: a comparative study].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the immunohistochemical expression of S100A1, GLUT-1 and
      Cavolin-1 and its diagnostic significance in renal tumors with oncocytic
      features. METHODS: Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining for S100A1,
      GLUT-1 and Cavolin-1 were carried out in 59 cases of renal tumors with oncocytic
      features, including 19 cases of renal oncocytoma, 15 cases of clear cell renal
      cell carcinoma (CCRCC) with eosinophilic cells, 11 cases of eosinophilic variant
      of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, 7 cases of oncocytic papillary renal cell
      carcinoma and 7 cases of epithelioid angiomyolipoma. RESULTS: S100A1 was
      expressed in renal oncocytoma, with a positive propotion of 16/19 (including 14
      cases showing widespread and strong positivity). On the other hand, the rate of
      expression of S100A1 was 2/11 in eosinophilic variant of chromophobe renal cell
      carcinoma, 10/15 in CCRCC with eosinophilic cells, 3/7 in oncocytic papillary
      renal cell carcinoma and 6/7 in epithelioid angiomyolipoma (P>0.05). The
      difference of S100A1 expression between renal oncocytoma and eosinophilic variant
      of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma was statistically significant. GLUT-1 was
      located in cell membrane, with a positive rate of 13/15 in CCRCC with
      eosinophilic cells, 7/19 in renal oncocytoma, 4/7 (weak) in oncocytic papillary
      renal cell carcinoma, 1/11 in eosinophilic variant of chromophobe renal cell
      carcinoma and 0/7 in epithelioid angiomyolipoma. The rate of expression of Cav-1
      was 6/15 in CCRCC with eosinophilic cells, 2/7 in oncocytic papillary renal cell
      carcinoma, 5/7 in epithelioid angiomyolipoma, 2/11 (weak) in eosinophilic variant
      of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and 0/19 in renal oncocytoma. S100A1 showed
      high sensitivity and 50% specificity in the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma. GLUT-1
      and Cav-1 showed high specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of CCRCC and
      epithelioid angiomyolipoma. CONCLUSIONS: S100A1 is widely expressed in various
      oncocytic renal neoplasms and helpful in differential diagnosis of renal
      oncocytoma from eosinophilic variant of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, but not
      from other 3 oncocytic renal tumors. Overexpression of GLUT-1 can be used in
      distinction between CCRCC and renal oncocytoma. Cav-1 is widely expressed in
      CCRCC and epithelioid angiomyolipoma but not in renal oncocytoma. Cav-1
      expression thus rules out renal oncocytoma.

PMID- 26888386
TI  - [Clinicopathologic characteristics of unusual rhabdoid glioblastoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinicopathologic features of rhabdoid glioblastoma of
      the brain and its differential diagnoses. METHODS: A 10-year-old and a 45-year
      old female both presented with gradually worsening headache, limbs twitch and
      blurred vision. MRI scan revealed a contrast enhancing tumor in the right
      temporal lobe and left cerebellum respectively. Both patients underwent tumor
      resection, followed by postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. RESULTS:
      Microscopic examination of both tumors showed rhabdoid tumor cells with an
      eccentric nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasms. Both tumors had areas of classic
      glioblastoma with microvascular proliferation and necrosis. Immunohistochemical
      staining showed the rhabdoid tumor cells were positive for vimentin diffusely and
      GFAP, EMA, CK focally. Integrase interactor (INI-1) was expressed in most tumor
      cells, but IDH1 R132H was not detected in both tumors. Fluorescence in situ
      hybridization revealed 1p/19q co-deletion in one case. One patient was alive
      without tumor recurrence after 16 months follow-up, the other patient died of
      intraspinal tumor dissemination 9 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Rhabdoid
      glioblastoma is a rare glial cell tumor with specific rhabdoid tumor cells, a
      highly aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. Combining histological
      features, a panel of selected immunostains including vimentin, GFAP, CK, EMA, SMA
      and INI-1 is helpful in making an accurate diagnosis for those diagnostically
      challenging cases with rhabdoid features in central nervous system.

PMID- 26888383
TI  - Musical Creativity "Revealed" in Brain Structure: Interplay between Motor,
      Default Mode, and Limbic Networks.
AB  - Creative behaviors are among the most complex that humans engage in, involving
      not only highly intricate, domain-specific knowledge and skill, but also domain
      general processing styles and the affective drive to create. This study presents
      structural imaging data indicating that musically creative people (as indicated
      by self-report) have greater cortical surface area or volume in a) regions
      associated with domain-specific higher-cognitive motor activity and sound
      processing (dorsal premotor cortex, supplementary and pre-supplementary motor
      areas, and planum temporale), b) domain-general creative-ideation regions
      associated with the default mode network (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, middle
      temporal gyrus, and temporal pole), and c) emotion-related regions (orbitofrontal
      cortex, temporal pole, and amygdala). These findings suggest that domain-specific
      musical expertise, default-mode cognitive processing style, and intensity of
      emotional experience might all coordinate to motivate and facilitate the drive to
      create music. 

PMID- 26888387
TI  - [Effects of p38 MAPK signaling pathway and aldose reductase on transforming
      growth factor-beta1 induced expression of fibronectin in cultured human mesangial
      cells].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of p38 MAPK signaling pathway and aldose
      reductase (AR) on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-induced expression
      of fibronectin (FN). METHODS: Human mesangial cells (HMCs) were cultured, and
      transfected with pCDNA3-AR. AR gene silencing was induced by small interfering
      RNA (siRNA). AR expression in HMCs was examined by immunofluorescence analysis.
      RT-PCR and real-time PCR were performed to detect the mRNA expression of AR in
      the HMCs and Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of AR, FN
      and p38. AR inhibitors (ARIs), Sorbinil and Zopolrestat were added and co
      incubated, followed by addition of TGF-beta1. Western blotting was used to
      document protein expression of FN and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38
      MAPKs) in the HMCs. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence analysis showed a stronger
      expression of AR in HMCs transfected with AR than that of normal HMCs and HMCs
      transfected with blank vector. In comparison with normal HMCs and those
      transfected with blank vector, HMCs transfected with AR showed stronger protein
      expression of FN (P<0.05). After incubation of ARIs, protein expression of FN
      decreased in HMCs transfected with AR (P<0.05). After stimulation of TGF-beta1,
      FN protein expression increased in both normal HMCs and those transfected with AR
      (P<0.05). After preincubation with ARI, FN protein expression in HMCs transfected
      decreased significantly (P<0.05). After stimulation of TGF-beta1, naive HMCs
      showed increased expression of phosphor-p38. In contrast, HMCs preincubated with
      ARIs showed reduced expression of phosphor-p38, and HMCs transfected with AR
      showed increased expression of phosphor-p38 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AR regulates
      the expression of FN through the stimulation of TGF-beta1, which may involve the
      activation of p38-MAPK signaling pathway. AR may play a role in the pathogenesis
      of glomerulosclerosis.

PMID- 26888389
TI  - [Clinicopathological analysis on renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor].

PMID- 26888388
TI  - [Impact of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) inhibitor on Wnt and NF
      kappaB signal pathways in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) on
      Wnt and NF-kappaB pathways in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS:
      SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), DN model group (DM)
      and GSK-3beta inhibitor group (DI). Blood glucose and 24-hour urine protein were
      monitored in three groups. Renal tissue samples were stained by HE. The
      expression of GSK-3beta and NF-kappaB proteins was studied by
      immunohistochemistry. GSK-3beta and NF-kappaB mRNAs were detected by RT-qPCR.
      RESULTS: Ten weeks after STZ injection, the level of blood glucose increased
      significantly in DM group [(23.2+/-5.4) mmol/L] and DI group [(25.0+/-4.0)
      mmol/L], compared with NC group, and the level of 24-hour urinary protein
      increased significantly in DM group [(185.2+/-35.6) g/24 h] and DI group
      [(179.6+/-44.7) g/24 h], compared with NC group. Two weeks after LiCl injection,
      the level of blood glucose and 24-hour urinary protein decreased in DI group
      (17.6+/-2.1) mmol/L, (106.9+/-30.0) g/24 h], compared with DM Group. Compared
      with NC group, pathological changes of the kidney of DM group aggravated along
      with increased mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3beta and NF-kappaB. But the
      pathological changes of the kidney in DI group alleviated along with declined
      mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3beta and NF-kappaB as compared with DM group
      (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NF-kappaB protein expression positively correlates
      with the GSK3beta expression. Wnt and NF-kappaB signal pathways play an important
      role in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

PMID- 26888390
TI  - [Expression and clinical significance of TLR4 and NF-kappaB in cholesterol
      pneumonia].

PMID- 26888391
TI  - [Mixed squamous cell and glandular papilloma: a report of 4 cases and review of
      literature].

PMID- 26888392
TI  - [Analysis of in-situ mRNA expression of tumor biomarkers using formalin-fixed
      paraffin-embedded samples].

PMID- 26888393
TI  - [Dense deposit disease in a young patient: report of a case].

PMID- 26888394
TI  - [Synchronous pheochromocytoma and adrenal cortical adenoma in ipislateral adrenal
      gland: report of a case].

PMID- 26888395
TI  - [Metastatic ovarian serous adenocarcinoma to clear cell renal cell carcinoma:
      report of a case].

PMID- 26888396
TI  - [Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid transformation:
      report of a case].

PMID- 26888397
TI  - [Cryptogenic multifocal ulcerating and stenosing enteritis with pseudo membranous
      enteritis: report of a case].

PMID- 26888398
TI  - [Epithelial Misplacement with High-Grade Dysplasia in a colonic adenoma: report
      of a case].

PMID- 26888399
TI  - [Liponeurocytoma in petrous bone and supratentorial region of cerebellum: report
      of a case].

PMID- 26888400
TI  - [Tall cell variant of papillary breast carcinoma: report of a case].

PMID- 26888401
TI  - [Thymic Rosai-Dorfman disease: report of a case].

PMID- 26888403
TI  - [Research progress on characteristic MYB-NFIB fusion gene in adenoid cystic
      carcinoma].

PMID- 26888402
TI  - [Adult cystic renal tumors: diagnosis and differential diagnosis].

PMID- 26888405
TI  - [Research progress on telepathology].

PMID- 26888404
TI  - [Research advance on biologic significance of neurogenesis in tumor and its
      underlying molecular mechanisms].

PMID- 26888406
TI  - Silver-catalyzed carboxylation.
AB  - Silver-catalyzed reactions are some of the important methodologies in organic
      chemistry. Since 2007, a new application of silver catalysts has been emerging.
      For the sequential carboxylation and cyclization of alkyne derivatives, such as
      propargyl alcohols and amines, using carbon dioxide, silver catalysts show
      significant reactivity under mild conditions unlike other transition metals.
      These developments have received much attention for the effective utilization of
      carbon dioxide in organic chemistry to synthesize heterocyclic compounds. Related
      silver-catalyzed C-C bond forming reactions with carbon dioxide have also
      provided the synthetic methods of the corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives.
      In this review, the recent studies of the silver-catalyzed carboxylation
      reactions using carbon dioxide are described. 

PMID- 26888407
TI  - Effects of salinity and temperature on in vitro cell cycle and proliferation of
      Perkinsus marinus from Brazil.
AB  - Field and in vitro studies have shown that high salinities and temperatures
      promote the proliferation and dissemination of Perkinsus marinus in several
      environments. In Brazil, the parasite infects native oysters Crassostrea gasar
      and Crassostrea rhizophorae in the Northeast (NE), where the temperature is high
      throughout the year. Despite the high prevalence of Perkinsus spp. infection in
      oysters from the NE of Brazil, no mortality events were reported by oyster
      farmers to date. The present study evaluated the effects of salinity (5, 20 and
      35 psu) and temperature (15, 25 and 35  degrees C) on in vitro proliferation of
      P. marinus isolated from a host (C. rhizophorae) in Brazil, for a period of up to
      15 days and after the return to the control conditions (22 days; recovery).
      Different cellular parameters (changes of cell phase's composition, cell density,
      viability and production of reactive oxygen species) were analysed using flow
      cytometry. The results indicate that the P. marinus isolate was sensitive to the
      extreme salinities and temperatures analysed. Only the highest temperature caused
      lasting cell damage under prolonged exposure, impairing P. marinus recovery,
      which is likely to be associated with oxidative stress. These findings will
      contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of perkinsiosis in tropical
      regions. 

PMID- 26888408
TI  - Drug testing in Europe: monitoring results of the Trans European Drug Information
      (TEDI) project.
AB  - Drug testing is a harm reduction strategy that has been adopted by certain
      countries in Europe. Drug users are able to hand in their drugs voluntarily for
      chemical analysis of composition and dose. Drug users will be alerted about
      dangerous test results by the drug testing systems directly and through warning
      campaigns. An international collaborative effort was launched to combine data of
      drug testing systems, called the Trans European Drug Information (TEDI) project.
      Drug testing systems of Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, and the
      Netherlands participated in this project. This study presents results of some of
      the main illicit drugs encountered: cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamine and also
      comments on new psychoactive substances (NPS) detected between 2008 and 2013. A
      total of 45 859 different drug samples were analyzed by TEDI. The drug markets of
      the distinct European areas showed similarities, but also some interesting
      differences. For instance, purity of cocaine and amphetamine powders was
      generally low in Austria, whilst high in Spain and the Netherlands. And the
      market for ecstasy showed a contrast: whereas in the Netherlands and Switzerland
      there was predominantly a market for ecstasy tablets, in Portugal and Spain MDMA
      (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) crystals were much more prevalent. Also, some
      NPS appearing in ecstasy seemed more specific for one country than another. In
      general, prevalence of NPS clearly increased between 2008 and 2013. Drug testing
      can be used to generate a global picture of drug markets and provides information
      about the pharmacological contents of drugs for the population at risk. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888409
TI  - Status of insecticide resistance in high-risk malaria provinces in Afghanistan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Insecticide resistance seriously threatens the efficacy of vector
      control interventions in malaria endemic countries. In Afghanistan, the status of
      insecticide resistance is largely unknown while distribution of long-lasting
      insecticidal nets has intensified in recent years. The main objective of this
      study was thus to measure the level of resistance to four classes of insecticides
      in provinces with medium to high risk of malaria transmission. METHODS: Adult
      female mosquitoes were reared from larvae successively collected in the provinces
      of Nangarhar, Kunar, Badakhshan, Ghazni and Laghman from August to October 2014.
      WHO insecticide susceptibility tests were performed with DDT (4 %), malathion (5
      %), bendiocarb (0.1 %), permethrin (0.75 %) and deltamethrin (0.05 %). In
      addition, the presence of kdr mutations was investigated in deltamethrin
      resistant and susceptible Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes collected in the eastern
      provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar. RESULTS: Analyses of mortality rates revealed
      emerging resistance against all four classes of insecticides in the provinces
      located east and south of the Hindu Kush mountain range. Resistance is observed
      in both An. stephensi and Anopheles culicifacies, the two dominant malaria
      vectors in these provinces. Anopheles superpictus in the northern province of
      Badakhshan shows a different pattern of susceptibility with suspected resistance
      observed only for deltamethrin and bendiocarb. Genotype analysis of knock down
      resistance (kdr) mutations at the voltage-gated channel gene from An. stephensi
      mosquitoes shows the presence of the known resistant alleles L1014S and L1014F.
      However, a significant fraction of deltamethrin-resistant mosquitoes were
      homozygous for the 1014L wild type allele indicating that other mechanisms must
      be considered to account for the observed pyrethroid resistance. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study confirms the importance of monitoring insecticide resistance for the
      development of an integrated vector management in Afghanistan. The validation of
      the kdr genotyping PCR assay applied to An. stephensi collected in Afghanistan
      paves the way for further studies into the mechanisms of insecticide resistance
      of malaria vectors in this region.

PMID- 26888410
TI  - Optimal Methods for the Management of Iatrogenic Colonoscopic Perforation.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopic perforations have been managed with exploratory
      laparotomy, and have resulted in some morbidity and mortality. Recently,
      laparoscopic surgery is commonly performed for this purpose. The aim of this
      study was to compare the outcomes of several management strategies for iatrogenic
      colonoscopic perforations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical
      records of patients who had been treated for colonoscopic perforation between
      January 2004 and April 2013 at CHA Bundang Medical Center in Korea. RESULTS: A
      total of 41 patients with colonoscopic perforation were enrolled. Twenty patients
      underwent conservative management with a success rate of 90%. Surgical management
      was performed in 23 patients including two patients who were converted to
      surgical management after the failure of the initial conservative management.
      Among 14 patients who underwent surgery at 8 hours after the perforation, there
      was no considerable difference in adverse outcomes between the laparotomy group
      and the laparoscopic surgery group. The medical costs and claim rate were 1.45
      and 1.87 times greater in the exploratory laparotomy group, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management of colonoscopic perforation could be an
      option for patients without overt symptoms of peritonitis or with a small defect
      size. If surgical management is required, laparoscopic surgery may be considered
      as the initial procedure even with a delayed diagnosis.

PMID- 26888411
TI  - Brief encounters: what do primary care professionals contribute to peoples' self
      care support network for long-term conditions? A mixed methods study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary care professionals are presumed to play a central role in
      delivering long-term condition management. However the value of their
      contribution relative to other sources of support in the life worlds of patients
      has been less acknowledged. Here we explore the value of primary care
      professionals in people's personal communities of support for long-term condition
      management. METHODS: A mixed methods survey with nested qualitative study
      designed to identify relationships and social network member's (SNM)
      contributions to the support work of managing a long-term condition conducted in
      2010 in the North West of England. Through engagement with a concentric circles
      diagram three hundred participants identified 2544 network members who
      contributed to illness management. RESULTS: The results demonstrated how primary
      care professionals are involved relative to others in ongoing self-care
      management. Primary care professionals constituted 15.5 % of overall network
      members involved in chronic illness work. Their contribution was identified as
      being related to illness specific work providing less in terms of emotional work
      than close family members or pets and little to everyday work. The qualitative
      accounts suggested that primary care professionals are valued mainly for access
      to medication and nurses for informational and monitoring activities. Overall
      primary care is perceived as providing less input in terms of extended self
      management support than the current literature on policy and practice suggests.
      Thus primary care professionals can be described as providing 'minimally provided
      support'. This sense of a 'minimally' provided input reinforces limited
      expectations and value about what primary care professionals can provide in terms
      of support for long-term condition management. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care was
      perceived as having an essential but limited role in making a contribution to
      support work for long-term conditions. This coalesces with evidence of a
      restricted capacity of primary care to take on the work load of self-management
      support work. There is a need to prioritise exploring the means by which extended
      self-care support could be enhanced out-with primary care. Central to this is
      building a system capable of engaging network capacity to mobilise resources for
      self-management support from open settings and the broader community.

PMID- 26888412
TI  - Allium hookeri root protects oxidative stress-induced inflammatory responses and
      beta-cell damage in pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Water extract from the root of Allium hookeri (AH) shows anti
      inflammatory, antioxidant, and free radical scavenging effects. In this study,
      the ameliorating effects of AH on oxidative stress-induced inflammatory response
      and beta-cell damage in the pancreas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1
      diabetic rats were investigated. METHODS: AH (100 mg/kg body weight/day) was
      orally administered every day for 2 weeks to STZ-induced diabetic rats. After the
      final administration of AH, biochemical parameters including glucose, insulin,
      reactive oxygen species levels, and protein expressions related to antioxidant
      defense system in the pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic rats. RESULTS: The
      diabetic rats showed loss of body weight and increased pancreatic weight, while
      the oral administration of AH attenuated body and pancreatic weight changes.
      Moreover, the administration of AH caused a slightly decrease in the serum
      glucose level and a significant increase in the serum and pancreatic insulin
      levels in the diabetic rats. AH also significantly reduced the enhanced levels of
      reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress biomarker, in the serum and pancreas.
      The diabetic rats exhibited a down-regulation of the protein expression related
      to antioxidant defense system in the pancreas, but AH administration
      significantly up-regulated the expression of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).
      Furthermore, AH treatment was reduced the overexpression of nuclear factor-kappa
      B (NF-kB)p65 and NF-kBp65-induced inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha and interleukin-6. In addition, AH treatment was less pancreatic
      beta-cell damaged compared with those of the diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: These
      results provide important evidence that AH has a HO-1 activity on the oxidative
      stress conditions showing pancreato-protective effects against the development of
      inflammation in the diabetic rats. This study provides scientific evidence that
      AH protects the inflammatory responses by modulated NF-kBp65 signaling pathway
      through activation of HO-1 in the pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

PMID- 26888414
TI  - Physical and verbal aggressive behavior and COMT genotype: Sensitivity to the
      environment.
AB  - Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype has been implicated as a
      vulnerability factor for several psychiatric diseases as well as aggressive
      behavior, either directly, or in interaction with an adverse environment. The
      present study aimed at investigating the susceptibility properties of COMT
      genotype to adverse and favorable environment in relation to physical and verbal
      aggressive behavior. The COMT Val158Met polymorphism was genotyped in a Swedish
      population-based cohort including 1,783 individuals, ages 20-24 years (47%
      males). A significant three-way interaction was found, after correction for
      multiple testing, between COMT genotype, exposure to violence, and parent-child
      relationship in association with physical but not verbal aggressive behavior.
      Homozygous for the Val allele reported lower levels of physical aggressive
      behavior when they were exposed to violence and at the same time experienced a
      positive parent-child relationship compared to Met carriers. Thus, susceptibility
      properties of COMT genotype were observed in relation to physical aggressive
      behavior supporting the hypothesis that COMT genotypes are modifying the
      sensitivity to environment that confers either risk or protection for aggressive
      behavior. As these are novel findings, they warrant further investigation and
      replication in independent samples. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888415
TI  - Distinct neurobiological signatures of brain connectivity in depression subtypes
      during natural viewing of emotionally salient films.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Establishing an evidence-based diagnostic system informed by the
      biological (dys)function of the nervous system is a major priority in psychiatry.
      This objective, however, is often challenged by difficulties in identifying
      homogeneous clinical populations. Melancholia, a biological and endogenous
      subtype for major depressive disorder, presents a canonical test case in the
      search of biological nosology. METHOD: We employed a unique combination of
      naturalistic functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms - resting
      state and free viewing of emotionally salient films - to search for
      neurobiological signatures of depression subtypes. fMRI data were acquired from
      57 participants; 17 patients with melancholia, 17 patients with (non-melancholic)
      major depression and 23 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients with
      melancholia showed a prominent loss of functional connectivity in hub regions
      [including ventral medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and
      superior temporal gyrus] during natural viewing, and in the posterior cingulate
      cortex while at rest. Of note, the default mode network showed diminished
      reactivity to external stimuli in melancholia, which correlated with the severity
      of anhedonia. Intriguingly, the subgenual ACC, a potential target for treating
      depression with deep brain stimulation (DBS), showed divergent changes between
      the two depression subtypes, with increased connectivity in the non-melancholic
      and decreased connectivity in the melancholic subsets. CONCLUSION: These findings
      reveal neurobiological changes specific to depression subtypes during
      ecologically valid behavioural conditions, underscoring the critical need to
      respect differing neurobiological processes underpinning depressive subtypes.

PMID- 26888413
TI  - Do schistosome vaccine trials in mice have an intrinsic flaw that generates
      spurious protection data?
AB  - The laboratory mouse has been widely used to test the efficacy of schistosome
      vaccines and a long list of candidates has emerged from this work, many of them
      abundant internal proteins. These antigens do not have an additive effect when co
      administered, or delivered as SWAP homogenate, a quarter of which comprises
      multiple candidates; the observed protection has an apparent ceiling of 40-50%.
      We contend that the low level of maturation of penetrating cercariae (~32% for
      Schistosoma mansoni) is a major limitation of the model since 68/100 parasites
      fail to mature in naive mice due to natural causes. The pulmonary capillary bed
      is the obstacle encountered by schistosomula en route to the portal system. The
      fragility of pulmonary capillaries and their susceptibility to a cytokine-induced
      vascular leak syndrome have been documented. During lung transit schistosomula
      burst into the alveolar spaces, and possess only a limited capacity to re-enter
      tissues. The acquired immunity elicited by the radiation-attenuated (RA)
      cercarial vaccine relies on a pulmonary inflammatory response, involving
      cytokines such as IFNgamma and TNFalpha, to deflect additional parasites into the
      alveoli. A principal difference between antigen vaccine protocols and the RA
      vaccine is the short interval between the last antigen boost and cercarial
      challenge of mice (often two weeks). Thus, after antigen vaccination, challenge
      parasites will reach the lungs when both activated T cells and cytokine levels
      are maximal in the circulation. We propose that "protection" in this situation is
      the result of physiological effects on the pulmonary blood vessels, increasing
      the proportion of parasites that enter the alveoli. This hypothesis will explain
      why internal antigens, which are unlikely to interact with the immune response in
      a living schistosomulum, plus a variety of heterologous proteins, can reduce the
      level of maturation in a non-antigen-specific way. These proteins are
      "successful" precisely because they have not been selected for immunological
      silence. The same arguments apply to vaccine experiments with S. japonicum in the
      mouse model; this schistosome species seems a more robust parasite, even harder
      to eliminate by acquired immune responses. We propose a number of ways in which
      our conclusions may be tested.

PMID- 26888417
TI  - A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of spirulina supplementation
      on indices of mental and physical fatigue in men.
AB  - Spirulina may increase people's ability to resist mental and physical fatigue.
      This study tested that hypothesis in a randomized, double blinded, placebo
      controlled study in men. After 1 week, a 3 g/day dose of spirulina produced a
      small, but statistically significant increase in exercise output (Kcals consumed
      in 30 min exercise on a cross trainer machine). A mathematical based mental
      fatigue test showed improved performance 4 h after the first time of
      supplementation as well as 8 weeks later. Similarly, a subjective survey for a
      sense of physical and mental fatigue showed improvement within 4 h of the first
      supplementation as well as 8 weeks later. These results show that spirulina
      intake can affect fatigue in men.

PMID- 26888416
TI  - Protective effect of alpha-mangostin against oxidative stress induced-retinal
      cell death.
AB  - It is known that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in age-related macular
      degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis. Alpha-mangostin is the main xanthone purified
      from mangosteen known as anti-oxidative properties. The aim of the study was to
      test the protective effect of alpha-mangostin against oxidative stress both in
      retina of light-damaged mice model and in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-stressed RPE
      cells. We observed that alpha-mangostin significantly inhibited light-induced
      degeneration of photoreceptors and 200 MUM H2O2-induced apoptosis of RPE cells.
      200 MUM H2O2-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and light
      induced generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) were suppressed by alpha-mangostin.
      Alpha-mangostin stimulation resulted in an increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity and glutathione (GSH) content
      both in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, the mechanism of retinal protection against
      oxidative stress by alpha-mangostin involves accumulation and the nuclear
      translocation of the NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) along with up-regulation the
      expression of heme oxygenas-1 (HO-1). Meanwhile, alpha-mangostin can activate the
      expression of PKC-delta and down-regulate the expression of mitogen-activated
      protein kinases (MAPKs), including ERK1/2, JNK, P38. The results suggest that
      alpha-mangostin could be a new approach to suspend the onset and development of
      AMD.

PMID- 26888418
TI  - Amplified magnetic resonance imaging (aMRI).
AB  - PURPOSE: This work describes a new method called amplified MRI (aMRI), which uses
      Eulerian video magnification to amplify the subtle spatial variations in cardiac
      gated brain MRI scans and enables better visualization of brain motion. METHODS:
      The aMRI method takes retrospective cardiac-gated cine MRI data as input, applies
      a spatial decomposition, followed by temporal filtering and frequency-selective
      amplification of the MRI cardiac-gated frames before synthesizing a motion
      amplified cine data set. RESULTS: This approach reveals deformations of the brain
      parenchyma and displacements of arteries due to cardiac pulsatility, especially
      in the brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord. CONCLUSION: aMRI has the potential
      for widespread neuro- and non-neuro clinical use because it can amplify and
      characterize small, often barely perceptible motion and can visualize the
      biomechanical response of tissues using the heartbeat as an endogenous mechanical
      driver. Magn Reson Med 75:2245-2254, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888420
TI  - Long-term exercise maintenance in COPD via telerehabilitation: a two-year pilot
      study.
AB  - Introduction Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an integral part of the management
      of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, many patients do not
      access or complete PR, and long-term exercise maintenance has been difficult to
      achieve after PR. This study aimed to investigate feasibility, long-term exercise
      maintenance, clinical effects, quality of life and use of hospital resources of a
      telerehabilitation intervention. Methods Ten patients with COPD were offered a
      two-year follow-up via telerehabilitation after attending PR. The intervention
      consisted of home exercise, telemonitoring and self-management via a webpage
      combined with weekly videoconferencing sessions. Equipment included a treadmill,
      a pulse oximeter and a tablet. Data collected at baseline, one year and two years
      were six-minute walking distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test (CAT), EuroQol 5
      dimensions (EQ-5D), hospitalisations and outpatient visits. Results No dropout
      occurred. Physical performance, lung capacity, health status and quality of life
      were all maintained at two years. At one year, 6MWD improved by a mean of 40
      metres from baseline, CAT decreased by four points and EQ visual analogue scale
      (EQ VAS) improved by 15.6 points. Discussion Long-term exercise maintenance in
      COPD via telerehabilitation is feasible. Results are encouraging and suggest that
      telerehabilitation can prevent deterioration and improve physical performance,
      health status and quality of life.

PMID- 26888419
TI  - Clinical characteristics and neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with
      tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus.
AB  - AIM: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a lethal and commonly occurring form of
      extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in children, often complicated by hydrocephalus
      which worsens outcome. Despite high mortality and morbidity, little data on the
      impact on neurodevelopment exists. We examined the clinical characteristics, and
      clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes of TBM and hydrocephalus. METHOD:
      Demographic and clinical data (laboratory and radiological findings) were
      prospectively collected on children treated for probable and definite TBM with
      hydrocephalus. At 6 months, clinical outcome was assessed using the Paediatric
      Cerebral Performance Category Scale and neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed
      with the Griffiths Mental Development Scale - Extended Version. RESULTS: Forty
      four patients (median age 3y 3mo, range 3mo-13y 1mo, [SD 3y 5mo]) were enrolled.
      The mortality rate was 16%, three patients (6.8%) were in a persistent vegetative
      state, two were severely disabled (4.5%), and 11 (25%) suffered mild-moderate
      disability. All cases demonstrated neurodevelopmental deficits relative to
      controls. Multiple or large infarcts were prognostic of poor outcome.
      INTERPRETATION: Neurological and neurodevelopmental deficits are common after
      paediatric TBM with hydrocephalus, and appear to be related to ongoing cerebral
      ischaemia and consequent infarction. The impact of TBM on these children is
      multidimensional and presents short- and long-term challenges.

PMID- 26888421
TI  - A systematic review on incentive-driven mobile health technology: As used in
      diabetes management.
AB  - Introduction Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have been shown to improve self
      management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. However, mHealth tools, e.g.
      apps, often have low rates of retention, eroding their potential benefits. Using
      incentives is a common mechanism for engaging, empowering and retaining patients
      that is applied by mHealth tools. We conducted a systematic review aiming to
      categorize the different types of incentive mechanisms employed in mHealth tools
      for diabetes management, which we defined as incentive-driven technologies
      (IDTs). As an auxiliary aim, we also analyzed barriers to adoption of IDTs.
      Methods Literature published in English between January 2008-August 2014 was
      identified through searching leading publishers and indexing databases: IEEE,
      Springer, Science Direct, NCBI, ACM, Wiley and Google Scholar. Results A total of
      42 articles were selected. Of these, 34 presented mHealth tools with IDT
      mechanisms; Education was the most common mechanism ( n = 21), followed by
      Reminder ( n = 11), Feedback ( n = 10), Social ( n = 8), Alert ( n = 5),
      Gamification ( n = 3), and Financial ( n = 2). Many of these contained more than
      one IDT ( n = 19). The remaining eight articles, from which we defined barriers
      for adoption, were review papers and a qualitative study of focus groups and
      interviews. Discussion While mHealth technologies have advanced over the last
      five years, the core IDT mechanisms have remained consistent. Instead, IDT
      mechanisms have evolved with the advances in technology, such as moving from
      manual to automatic content delivery and personalization of content. Conclusion
      We defined the concept of IDT to be core features designed to act as motivating
      mechanisms for retaining and empowering users. We then identified seven core IDT
      mechanisms that are used by mHealth tools for diabetes management and classified
      34 articles into these categories.

PMID- 26888422
TI  - Copper toxicology, oxidative stress and inflammation using zebrafish as
      experimental model.
AB  - Copper is an essential micronutrient and a key catalytic cofactor in a wide range
      of enzymes. As a trace element, copper levels are tightly regulated and both its
      deficit and excess are deleterious to the organism. Under inflammatory
      conditions, serum copper levels are increased and trigger oxidative stress
      responses that activate inflammatory responses. Interestingly, copper
      dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress and inflammation are commonly present in several
      chronic diseases. Copper exposure can be easily modeled in zebrafish; a
      consolidated model in toxicology with increasing interest in immunity-related
      research. As a result of developmental, economical and genetic advantages, this
      freshwater teleost is uniquely suitable for chemical and genetic large-scale
      screenings, representing a powerful experimental tool for a whole-organism
      approach, mechanistic studies, disease modeling and beyond. Copper toxicological
      and more recently pro-inflammatory effects have been investigated in both larval
      and adult zebrafish with breakthrough findings. Here, we provide an overview of
      copper metabolism in health and disease and its effects on oxidative stress and
      inflammation responses in zebrafish models. Copper-induced inflammation is
      highlighted owing to its potential to easily mimic pro-oxidative and pro
      inflammatory features that combined with zebrafish genetic tractability could
      help further in the understanding of copper metabolism, inflammatory responses
      and related diseases. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888424
TI  - Cisplatin encapsulation within a ferritin nanocage: a high-resolution
      crystallographic study.
AB  - Cisplatin (CDDP) can be encapsulated within the central cavity of reconstituted
      (apo)ferritin, (A)Ft, to form a drug-loaded protein of potential great interest
      for targeted cancer treatments. In this study, the interactions occurring between
      cisplatin and native horse spleen Ft in CDDP-encapsulated AFt are investigated by
      high-resolution X-ray crystallography. A protein bound Pt center is unambiguously
      identified in AFt subunits by comparative analysis of difference Fourier electron
      density maps and of anomalous dispersion data. Indeed, a [Pt(NH3)2H2O](2+)
      fragment is found coordinated to the His132 residue located on the inner surface
      of the large AFt spherical cage. Remarkably, Pt binding does not alter the
      overall physicochemical features (shape, volume, polarity/hydrophobicity and
      electrostatic potential) of the outer surface of the AFt nanocage. CDDP
      encapsulated AFt appears to be an ideal nanocarrier for CDDP delivery to target
      sites, as it possesses high biocompatibility and can be internalized by receptor
      mediated endocytosis, thus carrying the drug to tumor tissue with higher
      selectivity than free CDDP. 

PMID- 26888423
TI  - Human amniotic epithelial stem cells promote wound healing by facilitating
      migration and proliferation of keratinocytes via ERK, JNK and AKT signaling
      pathways.
AB  - Wound healing is a highly orchestrated physiological process consisting in a
      complex interaction of cellular and biochemical events. Human amniotic epithelial
      stem cells (HAESCs) have been shown to be an attractive resource for wound
      healing because they are primitive stem cells. However, the exact effects of
      amnion-derived stem cells on the migration or proliferation of keratinocytes and
      their potential mechanism are not fully understood. We have found that HAESCs
      accelerate the migration of keratinocytes and induce a remarkable increase in the
      activity of phospho-ERK, phospho-JNK, and phospho-AKT, the blockade of which by
      their specific inhibitors significantly inhibits migration induced by HAESC
      conditioned medium (CM). Furthermore, the co-culture of keratinocytes with HAESCs
      up-regulates the expression levels of cell proliferation proteins Cyclin D1,
      Cyclin D3 and Mdm2. In vivo animal experiments have shown that HAESC-CM improves
      wound healing, whereas blockade with ERK, JNK and AKT inhibitors significantly
      impairs wound healing. Taken together, these results reveal, for the first time,
      that HAESCs promote wound healing by facilitating the migration and proliferation
      of keratinocytes via ERK, JNK and AKT signaling pathways and might be a potential
      therapy in skin wound healing.

PMID- 26888425
TI  - Clinical characteristics associated with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring ALK
      rearrangements in Chinese patients.
AB  - AIM: The ALK inhibitor, crizotinib, has demonstrated effectiveness in patients
      with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring ALK rearrangements. As few studies of
      the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with ALK rearrangements have
      been reported, we conduct this study to gain more understanding in such area
      among Chinese patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study of
      288 non-small-cell lung cancer patients admitted to our institution over a period
      of 4.5 years. RESULTS: Following testing, 14.9% of the patients (43/288) were
      found to be ALK fusion gene positive. Patient data including gender, age, smoking
      status, EGFR mutation status and medical imaging data were collected and
      analyzed. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that patients with ALK
      rearrangements are more likely to be young, have EGFR wild-type, and more likely
      to exhibit mucus secretion, solid tumor growth, lymph node metastasis and pleural
      metastasis.

PMID- 26888426
TI  - Speciation and Structural Properties of Hydrothermal Solutions of Sodium and
      Potassium Sulfate Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.
AB  - Aqueous solutions of salts at elevated pressures and temperatures play a key role
      in geochemical processes and in applications of supercritical water in waste and
      biomass treatment, for which salt management is crucial for performance. A major
      question in predicting salt behavior in such processes is how different salts
      affect the phase equilibria. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used
      to investigate molecular-scale structures of solutions of sodium and/or potassium
      sulfate, which show contrasting macroscopic behavior. Solutions of Na-SO4 exhibit
      a tendency towards forming large ionic clusters with increasing temperature,
      whereas solutions of K-SO4 show significantly less clustering under equivalent
      conditions. In mixed systems (Nax K2-x SO4 ), cluster formation is dramatically
      reduced with decreasing Na/(K+Na) ratio; this indicates a structure-breaking role
      of K. MD results allow these phenomena to be related to the characteristics of
      electrostatic interactions between K(+) and SO4 (2-) , compared with the
      analogous Na(+) -SO4 (2-) interactions. The results suggest a mechanism
      underlying the experimentally observed increasing solubility in ternary mixtures
      of solutions of Na-K-SO4 . Specifically, the propensity of sodium to associate
      with sulfate, versus that of potassium to break up the sodium-sulfate clusters,
      may affect the contrasting behavior of these salts. Thus, mutual salting-in in
      ternary hydrothermal solutions of Na-K-SO4 reflects the opposing, but
      complementary, natures of Na-SO4 versus K-SO4 interactions. The results also
      provide clues towards the reported liquid immiscibility in this ternary system.

PMID- 26888428
TI  - Deglycosylated bleomycin has the antitumor activity of bleomycin without
      pulmonary toxicity.
AB  - Bleomycin (BLM) is a potent anticancer drug used to treat different malignancies,
      mainly lymphomas, germ cell tumors, and melanomas. Unfortunately, BLM has major,
      dose-dependent, pulmonary toxicity that affects 20% of treated individuals. The
      most severe form of BLM-induced pulmonary toxicity is lung fibrosis. Deglyco-BLM
      is a molecule derived from BLM in which the sugar residue d-mannosyl-l-glucose
      disaccharide has been deleted. The objective of this study was to assess the
      anticancer activity and lung toxicity of deglyco-BLM. We compared the antitumor
      activity and pulmonary toxicity of intraperitoneally administrated deglyco-BLM
      and BLM in three rodent models. Pulmonary toxicity was examined in depth after
      intratracheal administration of both chemotherapeutic agents. The effect of both
      drugs was further studied in epithelial alveolar cells in vitro. We demonstrated
      in rodent cancer models, including a human Hodgkin's lymphoma xenograft and a
      syngeneic melanoma model, that intraperitoneal deglyco-BLM is as effective as BLM
      in inducing tumor regression. Whereas the antitumor effect of BLM was accompanied
      by a loss of body weight and the development of pulmonary toxicity, deglyco-BLM
      did not affect body weight and did not engender lung injury. Both molecules
      induced lung epithelial cell apoptosis after intratracheal administration, but
      deglyco-BLM lost the ability to induce caspase-1 activation and the production of
      ROS (reactive oxygen species), transforming growth factor-beta1, and other
      profibrotic and inflammatory cytokines in the lungs of mice and in vitro. Deglyco
      BLM should be considered for clinical testing as a less toxic alternative to BLM
      in cancer therapy.

PMID- 26888427
TI  - Ndufc2 Gene Inhibition Is Associated With Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Increased
      Stroke Susceptibility in an Animal Model of Complex Human Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The genetic basis of stroke susceptibility remains to be elucidated.
      STR1 quantitative trait locus (STR1/QTL) was identified on rat chromosome 1 of
      stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) upon Japanese-style stroke
      permissive diet (JD), and it contributes to 20% of the stroke phenotype variance.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine hundred eighty-six probe sets mapping on STR1 were
      selected from the Rat RAE230A array and screened through a microarray
      differential expression analysis in brains of SHRSP and stroke-resistant SHR
      (SHRSR) fed with either regular diet or JD. The gene encoding Ndufc2 (NADH
      dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 subunit), mapping 8 Mb apart from STR1/QTL Lod score
      peak, was found significantly down-regulated under JD in SHRSP compared to SHRSR.
      Ndufc2 disruption altered complex I assembly and activity, reduced mitochondrial
      membrane potential and ATP levels, and increased reactive oxygen species
      production and inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. SHRSR carrying
      heterozygous Ndufc2 deletion showed renal abnormalities and stroke occurrence
      under JD, similarly to SHRSP. In humans, T allele variant at NDUFC2/rs11237379
      was associated with significant reduction in gene expression and with increased
      occurrence of early-onset ischemic stroke by recessive mode of transmission (odds
      ratio [OR], 1.39; CI, 1.07-1.80; P=0.012). Subjects carrying TT/rs11237379 and A
      allele variant at NDUFC2/rs641836 had further increased risk of stroke (OR=1.56;
      CI, 1.14-2.13; P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction of Ndufc2
      expression causes complex I dysfunction and contributes to stroke susceptibility
      in SHRSP. Moreover, our current evidence may suggest that Ndufc2 can contribute
      to an increased occurrence of early-onset ischemic stroke in humans.

PMID- 26888431
TI  - Chronic administration of an HDAC inhibitor treats both neurological and systemic
      Niemann-Pick type C disease in a mouse model.
AB  - Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are approved for treating rare cancers and
      are of interest as potential therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. We
      evaluated a triple combination formulation (TCF) comprising the pan-HDACi
      vorinostat, the caging agent 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD), and
      polyethylene glycol (PEG) for treating a mouse model (the Npc1(nmf164) mouse) of
      Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, a difficult-to-treat cerebellar disorder.
      Vorinostat alone showed activity in cultured primary cells derived from
      Npc1(nmf164) mice but did not improve animal survival. However, low-dose, once
      weekly intraperitoneal injections of the TCF containing vorinostat increased
      histone acetylation in the mouse brain, preserved neurites and Purkinje cells,
      delayed symptoms of neurodegeneration, and extended mouse life span from 4 to
      almost 9 months. We demonstrate that the TCF boosted the ability of HDACi to
      cross the blood-brain barrier and was not toxic even when used long term.
      Further, the TCF enabled dose reduction, which has been a major challenge in
      HDACi therapy. TCF simultaneously treats neurodegenerative and systemic symptoms
      of Niemann-Pick type C disease in a mouse model. 

PMID- 26888429
TI  - Human polyclonal immunoglobulin G from transchromosomic bovines inhibits MERS-CoV
      in vivo.
AB  - As of 13 November 2015, 1618 laboratory-confirmed human cases of Middle East
      respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 579 deaths, had
      been reported to the World Health Organization. No specific preventive or
      therapeutic agent of proven value against MERS-CoV is currently available. Public
      Health England and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging
      Infection Consortium identified passive immunotherapy with neutralizing
      antibodies as a treatment approach that warrants priority study. Two experimental
      MERS-CoV vaccines were used to vaccinate two groups of transchromosomic (Tc)
      bovines that were genetically modified to produce large quantities of fully human
      polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Vaccination with a clade A gamma
      irradiated whole killed virion vaccine (Jordan strain) or a clade B spike protein
      nanoparticle vaccine (Al-Hasa strain) resulted in Tc bovine sera with high enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and neutralizing antibody titers in vitro. Two
      purified Tc bovine human IgG immunoglobulins (Tc hIgG), SAB-300 (produced after
      Jordan strain vaccination) and SAB-301 (produced after Al-Hasa strain
      vaccination), also had high ELISA and neutralizing antibody titers without
      antibody-dependent enhancement in vitro. SAB-301 was selected for in vivo and
      preclinical studies. Administration of single doses of SAB-301 12 hours before or
      24 and 48 hours after MERS-CoV infection (Erasmus Medical Center 2012 strain) of
      Ad5-hDPP4 receptor-transduced mice rapidly resulted in viral lung titers near or
      below the limit of detection. Tc bovines, combined with the ability to quickly
      produce Tc hIgG and develop in vitro assays and animal model(s), potentially
      offer a platform to rapidly produce a therapeutic to prevent and/or treat MERS
      CoV infection and/or other emerging infectious diseases.

PMID- 26888430
TI  - Long noncoding RNA Chast promotes cardiac remodeling.
AB  - Recent studies highlighted long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to play an important
      role in cardiac development. However, understanding of lncRNAs in cardiac
      diseases is still limited. Global lncRNA expression profiling indicated that
      several lncRNA transcripts are deregulated during pressure overload-induced
      cardiac hypertrophy in mice. Using stringent selection criteria, we identified
      Chast (cardiac hypertrophy-associated transcript) as a potential lncRNA candidate
      that influences cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Cell fractionation experiments
      indicated that Chast is specifically up-regulated in cardiomyocytes in vivo in
      transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-operated mice. In accordance, CHAST homolog
      in humans was significantly up-regulated in hypertrophic heart tissue from aortic
      stenosis patients and in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes upon
      hypertrophic stimuli. Viral-based overexpression of Chast was sufficient to
      induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. GapmeR-mediated silencing
      of Chast both prevented and attenuated TAC-induced pathological cardiac
      remodeling with no early signs on toxicological side effects. Mechanistically,
      Chast negatively regulated Pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein family M
      member 1 (opposite strand of Chast), impeding cardiomyocyte autophagy and driving
      hypertrophy. These results indicate that Chast can be a potential target to
      prevent cardiac remodeling and highlight a general role of lncRNAs in heart
      diseases.

PMID- 26888432
TI  - Novel targets for mitochondrial medicine.
AB  - Mitochondria-classically viewed as the powerhouses of the cell-have taken center
      stage in disease pathogenesis and resolution. Mitochondrial dysfunction, which
      originates from primary defects within the organelle or is induced by
      environmental stresses, plays a critical role in human disease. Despite their
      central role in human health and disease, there are no approved drugs that
      directly target mitochondria. We present possible new druggable targets in
      mitochondrial biology, including protein modification, calcium ion (Ca(2+))
      transport, and dynamics, as we move into a new era of mitochondrial medicine.

PMID- 26888433
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of the LIFE Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adults at
      Increased Risk for Mobility Disability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Losing the ability to walk safely and independently is a major
      concern for many older adults. The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for
      Elders study recently demonstrated that a physical activity (PA) intervention can
      delay the onset of major mobility disability. Our objective is to examine the
      resources required to deliver the PA intervention and calculate the incremental
      cost-effectiveness compared with a health education intervention. METHODS: The
      Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders study enrolled 1,635 older
      adults at risk for mobility disability. They were recruited at eight field
      centers and randomly assigned to either PA or health education. The PA program
      consisted of 50-minute center-based exercise 2* weekly, augmented with home-based
      activity to achieve a goal of 150 min/wk of PA. Health education consisted of
      weekly workshops for 26 weeks, and monthly sessions thereafter. Analyses were
      conducted from a health system perspective, with a 2.6-year time horizon.
      RESULTS: The average cost per participant over 2.6 years was US$3,302 and
      US$1,001 for the PA and health education interventions, respectively. PA
      participants accrued 0.047 per person more Quality-Adjusted Life-Years (QALYs)
      than health education participants. PA interventions costs were slightly higher
      than other recent PA interventions. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios
      were US$42,376/major mobility disability prevented and US$49,167/QALY.
      Sensitivity analyses indicated that results were relatively robust to varied
      assumptions. CONCLUSIONS: The PA intervention costs and QALYs gained are
      comparable to those found in other studies. The ICERS are less than many commonly
      recommended medical treatments. Implementing the intervention in non-research
      settings may reduce costs further.

PMID- 26888434
TI  - Sarcopenia Is Associated With Lower Skeletal Muscle Capillarization and Exercise
      Capacity in Older Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle capillary rarefaction limits the transcapillary
      transport of nutrients and oxygen to muscle and may contribute to sarcopenia and
      functional impairment in older adults. We tested the hypothesis that skeletal
      muscle capillarization and exercise capacity (VO2max) are lower in sarcopenic
      than in nonsarcopenic older adults and that the degree of sarcopenia is related
      to lower skeletal muscle capillarization. METHODS: Body composition, VO2max, and
      vastus lateralis capillarization were determined in 76 middle-aged and older men
      and women (age = 61+/-1 years, body mass index [BMI] = 30.7+/-0.5kg/m(2) [mean +/
      SEM]). Participants were classified as sarcopenic if appendicular lean mass
      divided by BMI (ALMBMI) was less than 0.789 for men or less than 0.512 for women.
      RESULTS: Sarcopenic subjects (ALMBMI = 0.65+/-0.04, n = 16) had 20% lower
      capillary-to-fiber ratio, as well as 13% and 15% lower VO2max expressed as
      mL/kg/min or L/min, respectively, compared with sex-, race-, and age-matched
      participants without sarcopenia (ALMBMI = 0.81+/-0.05, n = 16; p < .05). In all
      76 subjects, ALMBMI, thigh muscle cross-sectional area, and VO2max correlated
      directly with capillarization (r = .30-.37, p <= .05), after accounting for age,
      sex, and race. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that low skeletal muscle
      capillarization is one factor that may contribute to sarcopenia and reduced
      exercise capacity in older adults by limiting diffusion of substrates, oxygen,
      hormones, and nutrients. Strategies to prevent the aging-related decline in
      skeletal muscle capillarization may help to prevent or slow the progression of
      sarcopenia and its associated functional declines in generally healthy older
      adults.

PMID- 26888435
TI  - Nuclear extrusion precedes discharge of genomic DNA fibers during tunicamycin
      induced neutrophil extracellular trap-osis (NETosis)-like cell death in cultured
      human leukemia cells.
AB  - We previously reported that the nucleoside antibiotic tunicamycin (TN), a protein
      glycosylation inhibitor triggering unfolded protein response (UPR), induced
      neutrophil extracellular trap-osis (NETosis)-like cellular suicide and, thus,
      discharged genomic DNA fibers to extracellular spaces in a range of human myeloid
      cell lines under serum-free conditions. In this study, we further evaluated the
      effect of TN on human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells using time-lapse
      microscopy. Our assay revealed a previously unappreciated early event induced by
      TN-exposure, in which, at 30-60 min after TN addition, the cells extruded their
      nuclei into the extracellular space, followed by discharge of DNA fibers to form
      NET-like structures. Intriguingly, neither nuclear extrusion nor DNA discharge
      was observed when cells were exposed to inducers of UPR, such as brefeldin A,
      thapsigargin, or dithiothreitol. Our findings revealed novel nuclear dynamics
      during TN-induced NETosis-like cellular suicide in HL-60 cells and suggested that
      the toxicological effect of TN on nuclear extrusion and DNA discharge was not a
      simple UPR. 

PMID- 26888438
TI  - An Atomistic-Scale Study for Thermal Conductivity and Thermochemical
      Compatibility in (DyY)Zr2O7 Combining an Experimental Approach with Theoretical
      Calculation.
AB  - Ceramic oxides that have high-temperature capabilities can be deposited on the
      superalloy components in aero engines and diesel engines to advance engine
      efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. This paper aims to study doping effects
      of Dy(3+) and Y(3+)on the thermodynamic properties of ZrO2 synthesized via a sol
      gel route for a better control of the stoichiometry, combined with molecular
      dynamics (MD) simulation for the calculation of theoretical properties. The
      thermal conductivity is investigated by the MD simulation and Clarke's model.
      This can improve the understanding of the microstructure and thermodynamic
      properties of (DyY)Zr2O7 (DYZ) at the atomistic level. The phonon-defect
      scattering and phonon-phonon scattering processes are investigated via the
      theoretical calculation, which provides an effective way to study thermal
      transport properties of ionic oxides. The measured and predicted thermal
      conductivity of DYZ is lower than that of 4 mol % Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (4YSZ). It
      is discovered that DYZ is thermochemically compatible with Al2O3 at 1300  degrees
      C, whereas at 1350  degrees C DYZ reacts with Al2O3 forming a small amount of new
      phases.

PMID- 26888437
TI  - Effects of memory on the shapes of simple outbreak trees.
AB  - Genomic tools, including phylogenetic trees derived from sequence data, are
      increasingly used to understand outbreaks of infectious diseases. One challenge
      is to link phylogenetic trees to patterns of transmission. Particularly in
      bacteria that cause chronic infections, this inference is affected by variable
      infectious periods and infectivity over time. It is known that non-exponential
      infectious periods can have substantial effects on pathogens' transmission
      dynamics. Here we ask how this non-Markovian nature of an outbreak process
      affects the branching trees describing that process, with particular focus on
      tree shapes. We simulate Crump-Mode-Jagers branching processes and compare
      different patterns of infectivity over time. We find that memory (non-Markovian
      ness) in the process can have a pronounced effect on the shapes of the outbreak's
      branching pattern. However, memory also has a pronounced effect on the sizes of
      the trees, even when the duration of the simulation is fixed. When the sizes of
      the trees are constrained to a constant value, memory in our processes has little
      direct effect on tree shapes, but can bias inference of the birth rate from
      trees. We compare simulated branching trees to phylogenetic trees from an
      outbreak of tuberculosis in Canada, and discuss the relevance of memory to this
      dataset. 

PMID- 26888436
TI  - Myosin light-chain phosphatase regulates basal actomyosin oscillations during
      morphogenesis.
AB  - Contractile actomyosin networks generate forces that drive tissue morphogenesis.
      Actomyosin contractility is controlled primarily by reversible phosphorylation of
      the myosin-II regulatory light chain through the action of myosin kinases and
      phosphatases. While the role of myosin light-chain kinase in regulating
      contractility during morphogenesis has been largely characterized, there is
      surprisingly little information on myosin light-chain phosphatase (MLCP) function
      in this context. Here, we use live imaging of Drosophila follicle cells combined
      with mathematical modelling to demonstrate that the MLCP subunit flapwing (flw)
      is a key regulator of basal myosin oscillations and cell contractions underlying
      egg chamber elongation. Flw expression decreases specifically on the basal side
      of follicle cells at the onset of contraction and flw controls the initiation and
      periodicity of basal actomyosin oscillations. Contrary to previous reports, basal
      F-actin pulsates similarly to myosin. Finally, we propose a quantitative model in
      which periodic basal actomyosin oscillations arise in a cell-autonomous fashion
      from intrinsic properties of motor assemblies. 

PMID- 26888439
TI  - PLGA-Listeriolysin O microspheres: Opening the gate for cytosolic delivery of
      cancer antigens.
AB  - Strategies for cancer protein vaccination largely aim to activate the cellular
      arm of the immune system against cancer cells. This approach, however, is limited
      since protein vaccines mostly activate the system's humoral arm instead. One way
      to overcome this problem is to enhance the cross-presentation of such proteins by
      antigen-presenting cells, which may consequently lead to intense cellular
      response. Here we examined the ability of listeriolysin O (LLO) incorporated into
      poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres to modify the cytosolic delivery
      of low molecular weight peptides and enhance their cross-presentation. PLGA
      microspheres were produced in a size suitable for uptake by phagocytic cells. The
      peptide encapsulation and release kinetics were improved by adding NaCl to the
      preparation. PLGA microspheres loaded with the antigenic peptide and incorporated
      with LLO were readily up-taken by phagocytic cells, which exhibited an increase
      in the expression of peptide-MHC-CI complexes on the cell surface. Furthermore,
      this system enhanced the activation of a specific T hybridoma cell line, thus
      simulating cytotoxic T cells. These results establish, for the first time, a
      proof of concept for the use of PLGA microspheres incorporated with a pore
      forming agent and the antigen peptide of choice as a unique cancer protein
      vaccination delivery platform. 

PMID- 26888440
TI  - A dual wedge microneedle for sampling of perilymph solution via round window
      membrane.
AB  - Precision medicine for inner-ear disease is hampered by the absence of a
      methodology to sample inner-ear fluid atraumatically. The round window membrane
      (RWM) is an attractive portal for accessing cochlear fluids as it heals
      spontaneously. In this study, we report on the development of a microneedle for
      perilymph sampling that minimizes the size of RWM perforation, facilitates quick
      aspiration, and provides precise volume control. Here, considering the mechanical
      anisotropy of the RWM and hydrodynamics through a microneedle, a 31G stainless
      steel pipe was machined into wedge-shaped design via electrical discharge
      machining. The sharpness of the needle was evaluated via a surface profilometer.
      Guinea pig RWM was penetrated in vitro, and 1 MUL of perilymph was sampled and
      analyzed via UV-vis spectroscopy. The prototype wedge shaped needle was
      successfully fabricated with the tip curvature of 4.5 MUm and the surface
      roughness of 3.66 MUm in root mean square. The needle created oval perforation
      with minor and major diameter of 143 and 344 MUm (n = 6). The sampling duration
      and standard deviation of aspirated volume were 3 s and 6.8 % respectively. The
      protein concentration was 1.74 mg/mL. The prototype needle facilitated precise
      perforation of RWMs and rapid aspiration of cochlear fluid with precise volume
      control. The needle design is promising and requires testing in human cadaveric
      temporal bone and further optimization to become clinically viable.

PMID- 26888441
TI  - Application of reference point indentation for micro-mechanical surface
      characterization of calcium silicate based dental materials.
AB  - The objective of this study was to elucidate micromechanical properties of
      Biodentine and two experimental calcium silicate cements (CSCs) using Reference
      Point Indentation (RPI). Biomechanical characteristics of the cement type and the
      effects of a radiopacifier, liquid components, acid etching treatment and
      bioactivation in simulated body fluid (SBF) were investigated by measuring the
      microhardness, average unloading slope (Avg US) and indentation distance increase
      (IDI). Biodentine had a greater microhardness than the experimental CSCs, while
      the Avg US and IDI values were not significantly different among investigated
      materials. There was a statistically significant difference in microhardness and
      IDI values between pure CSCs and radiopacified cements (p < 0.05).
      Micromechanical properties were not affected by different liquid components used.
      Acid-etching treatment reduced Biodentine's microhardness while cements'
      immersion in SBF resulted in greater microhardness and higher IDI values compared
      to the control group. Clearly, the physiological environment and the cements'
      composition affect their surface micromechanical properties. The addition of
      calcium chloride and CSCs' immersion in SBF are beneficial for CSCs'
      micromechanical performance, while the addition of radiopacifiers and acid
      etching treatment weaken the CSCs' surface. Application of RPI aids with the
      characterization of micromechanical properties of synthetic materials' surfaces.

PMID- 26888442
TI  - Germicide wound pad with active, in situ, electrolytically produced hypochlorous
      acid.
AB  - We describe a new wound dressing technology that can actively generate an
      inorganic germicide agent, in situ, within the wound pad. The technology provides
      real time control over the quantitative, spatial and temporal delivery of the
      germicide. The identity of the germicide is hypochlorous acid (HClO). The HClO is
      produced in a flexible wound pad, made of a composite of thin (micrometer scale)
      layers of various materials, with different electrochemical properties that
      enhance HClO production. Active control over the production of HClO is achieved
      by control of the pH and of the electric potential across the layers. The
      effectiveness of the Active HClO Pad (AHClOP) concept is demonstrated in a study
      on sterilization of E. coli in a deep wound contamination simulating gel. The
      performance of the AHClOP is compared with that of four commercial wound
      dressings. Results show that the AHClOP can sterilize throughout the gel, while
      the commercial dressings cannot. 

PMID- 26888444
TI  - Correction to "Fossil evidence for open, ?Proteaceae-dominated heathlands and
      fire in ?the Late Cretaceous of Australia".

PMID- 26888445
TI  - Feasibility and Acute Hemodynamic Effect of Left Ventricular Septal Pacing by
      Transvenous Approach Through the Interventricular Septum.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Left ventricular septal (LVS) pacing reduces ventricular dyssynchrony
      and improves cardiac function relative to right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing in
      animals. We aimed to establish permanent placement of an LVS pacing lead in
      patients using a transvenous approach through the interventricular septum.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten patients with sinus node dysfunction scheduled for dual
      chamber pacemaker implantation were prospectively enrolled. A custom pacing lead
      with extended helix was introduced via the left subclavian vein and, after
      positioning against the right ventricular septum (RVS) using a preshaped guiding
      catheter, driven through the interventricular septum to the LVS. The acute
      hemodynamic effect of RVA, RVS, and LVS pacing was evaluated by invasive
      LVdP/dtmax measurements. The lead was successfully delivered to the LVS in all
      patients. Procedure time and fluoroscopy time shortened with experience. QRS
      duration was shorter during LVS pacing (144 +/- 20 ms) than during RVA (172 +/-
      33 ms; P = 0.02 versus LVS) and RVS pacing (165 +/- 17 ms; P = 0.004 versus LVS).
      RVA and RVS pacing reduced LVdP/dtmax compared with baseline atrial pacing (-7.1
      +/- 4.1% and -6.9 +/- 4.3%, respectively), whereas LVS pacing maintained
      LVdP/dtmax at baseline level (1.0 +/- 4.3%; P = 0.001 versus RVA and RVS). R-wave
      amplitude and pacing threshold were 12.2 +/- 6.7 mV and 0.5 +/- 0.2 V at implant
      and remained stable during 6-month follow-up without lead-related complications.
      CONCLUSIONS: Permanent placement of an LVS pacing lead by transvenous approach
      through the interventricular septum is feasible in patients. LVS pacing preserves
      acute left ventricular pump function. This new pacing method could serve as an
      alternative and hemodynamically preferable approach for antibradycardia pacing.

PMID- 26888443
TI  - Impact of the chemical composition of poly-substituted hydroxyapatite particles
      on the in vitro pro-inflammatory response of macrophages.
AB  - To improve the biological properties of calcium phosphate (CaP) bone substitute,
      new chemical compositions are under development. In vivo such materials are
      subject to degradation that could lead to particles release and inflammatory
      reactions detrimental to the bone healing process. This study aimed at
      investigating the interactions between a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7)
      and substituted hydroxyapatite particles presenting promising biological
      properties. Micron size particles of stoichiometric and substituted
      hydroxyapatites (CO3 substitution for PO4 and OH; SiO4 substitution for PO4; CO3
      and SiO4 co-substitution) were obtained by aqueous precipitation followed by
      spray drying. Cells, incubated with four doses of particles ranging from 15 to
      120 MUg/mL, revealed no significant LDH release or ROS production, indicating no
      apparent cytotoxicity and no oxidative stress. TNF-alpha production was
      independent of the chemistry of the particles; however the particles elicited a
      significant dose-dependent pro-inflammatory response. As micron size particles of
      these hydroxyapatites could be at the origin of inflammation, attention must be
      paid to the degradation behavior of substituted hydroxyapatite bone substitute in
      order to limit, in vivo, the generation of particulate debris.

PMID- 26888446
TI  - Early Repolarization in Athletes: A Review.

PMID- 26888447
TI  - Letter by Baartscheer et al Regarding Editorial, "Matter of Fat: Are Lipids
      Antiarrhythmic?".

PMID- 26888448
TI  - The relationship between three eGFR formulas and hospitalization for heart
      failure in 54 486 individuals with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to study the association between renal function and
      hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
      METHODS: Renal function was determined according to three formulas used to
      estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Cockcroft-Gault, modified diet in
      renal disease (MDRD) and chronic kidney disease epidemiology (CKD-EPI).
      Proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age, sex, HbA1c , blood
      pressure, smoking and cardiovascular comorbidities were constructed for each eGFR
      formula to estimate risk of hospitalization for heart failure. Systematic
      pairwise likelihood ratio tests of nested models were used to compare the
      predictive power of each eGFR formula. RESULTS: In 54 486 patients, evaluated
      over a median follow-up of 7.0 years, a total of 5936 (10.9%) developed heart
      failure, with an excess risk in all eGFR categories below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2
      (reference: eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 ). Hazard ratios ranged from 1.25 to 1.35 for
      eGFR 45-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , 1.62 to 1.66 for eGFR 30-45 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 2.18
      to 2.52 for eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the three eGFR formulas. In pairwise
      comparisons, the model with the MDRD variable added significantly more
      information than the Cockcroft-Gault variable. For the model with the CKD-EPI
      variable, no clear differences in predictive power for HF hospitalization existed
      in relation to the other eGFR formulas. CONCLUSION: Patients with type 2
      diabetes, with eGFR 45 to 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , have approximately 25-35% increased
      risk of hospitalization for HF, increasing with lower eGFR, to 2-2.5 times in
      those with eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 . The MDRD formula for calculating eGFR is
      more predictive of hospitalization for heart failure than the Cockcroft-Gault
      formula. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888449
TI  - Parameterizing the Transport Pathways for Cell Invasion in Complex Scaffold
      Architectures.
AB  - Interconnecting pathways through porous tissue engineering scaffolds play a vital
      role in determining nutrient supply, cell invasion, and tissue ingrowth. However,
      the global use of the term "interconnectivity" often fails to describe the
      transport characteristics of these pathways, giving no clear indication of their
      potential to support tissue synthesis. This article uses new experimental data to
      provide a critical analysis of reported methods for the description of scaffold
      transport pathways, ranging from qualitative image analysis to thorough
      structural parameterization using X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography. In the
      collagen scaffolds tested in this study, it was found that the proportion of pore
      space perceived to be accessible dramatically changed depending on the chosen
      method of analysis. Measurements of % interconnectivity as defined in this manner
      varied as a function of direction and connection size, and also showed a
      dependence on measurement length scale. As an alternative, a method for transport
      pathway parameterization was investigated, using percolation theory to calculate
      the diameter of the largest sphere that can travel to infinite distance through a
      scaffold in a specified direction. As proof of principle, this approach was used
      to investigate the invasion behavior of primary fibroblasts in response to
      independent changes in pore wall alignment and pore space accessibility,
      parameterized using the percolation diameter. The result was that both properties
      played a distinct role in determining fibroblast invasion efficiency. This
      example therefore demonstrates the potential of the percolation diameter as a
      method of transport pathway parameterization, to provide key structural criteria
      for application-based scaffold design.

PMID- 26888451
TI  - A Representative Survey of Knowledge, Use, Perceived Benefits, Barriers, and
      Risks of Select Herbal Drugs Among Female Students in Gorgan City (Northeast
      Iran).
AB  - We conducted a representative survey among young women to determine knowledge,
      use, and perceptions on barriers, benefits, and risks related to selected herbal
      drugs ( Crocus sativus, Borago officinalis, Citrus aurantium, Thymus vulgaris,
      Matricaria chamomilla, Lavandula angustifolia, Valeriana officinalis, Hypericum
      perforatum, and Panax ginseng) in Gorgan by using an internally validated
      questionnaire. There were 344 participants (mean age 16.3 years; 16.2% in science
      course). Saffron had most reported knowledge (n = 265, 77.0%) and ever use (n =
      324, 94.1%). The average number of source of knowledge was 2.5; parents (n = 224,
      65.1%) were the single most frequent source. Media (combined magazine, the
      Internet, TV, radio) was the source of knowledge for 283 (82.2%) participants.
      Actual use was "harmful" for the majority (n = 182, 52.9%; no idea n = 83,
      24.1%). Parents and media provided knowledge on herbal drugs for most, supporting
      unsurprisingly high perceived knowledge but harmful actual experience. Programs
      to educate people are needed to not take herbal drugs lightly.

PMID- 26888450
TI  - Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging
      mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Studies have assessed individual components of a western diet, but no study has
      assessed the long-term, cumulative effects of a western diet on aging and
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, we have formulated the first western-style
      diet that mimics the fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and mineral levels of
      western diets. This diet was fed to aging C57BL/6J (B6) mice to identify
      phenotypes that may increase susceptibility to AD, and to APP/PS1 mice, a mouse
      model of AD, to determine the effects of the diet in AD. Astrocytosis and
      microglia/monocyte activation were dramatically increased in response to diet and
      was further increased in APP/PS1 mice fed the western diet. This increase in
      glial responses was associated with increased plaque burden in the hippocampus.
      Interestingly, given recent studies highlighting the importance of TREM2 in
      microglia/monocytes in AD susceptibility and progression, B6 and APP/PS1 mice fed
      the western diet showed significant increases TREM2+ microglia/monocytes.
      Therefore, an increase in TREM2+ microglia/monocytes may underlie the increased
      risk from a western diet to age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as
      Alzheimer's disease. This study lays the foundation to fully investigate the
      impact of a western diet on glial responses in aging and Alzheimer's disease. 

PMID- 26888454
TI  - Segmented Sleep in Preindustrial Societies.

PMID- 26888452
TI  - Whole Genome DNA Methylation Analysis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: IL1R2, NPR2,
      AR, SP140 Methylation and Clinical Phenotype.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that DNA methylation patterns may contribute to
      disease severity or the development of hypertension and excessive daytime
      sleepiness (EDS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS:
      Illumina's (San Diego, CA, USA) DNA methylation 27-K assay was used to identify
      differentially methylated loci (DML). DNA methylation levels were validated by
      pyrosequencing. A discovery cohort of 15 patients with OSA and 6 healthy
      subjects, and a validation cohort of 72 patients with sleep disordered breathing
      (SDB). RESULTS: Microarray analysis identified 636 DMLs in patients with OSA
      versus healthy subjects, and 327 DMLs in patients with OSA and hypertension
      versus those without hypertension. In the validation cohort, no significant
      difference in DNA methylation levels of six selected genes was found between the
      primary snoring subjects and OSA patients (primary outcome). However, a secondary
      outcome analysis showed that interleukin-1 receptor 2 (IL1R2) promoter
      methylation (-114 cytosine followed by guanine dinucleotide sequence [CpG] site)
      was decreased and IL1R2 protein levels were increased in the patients with SDB
      with an oxygen desaturation index > 30. Androgen receptor (AR) promoter
      methylation (-531 CpG site) and AR protein levels were both increased in the
      patients with SDB with an oxygen desaturation index > 30. Natriuretic peptide
      receptor 2 (NPR2) promoter methylation (-608/-618 CpG sites) were decreased,
      whereas levels of both NPR2 and serum C type natriuretic peptide protein were
      increased in the SDB patients with EDS. Speckled protein 140 (SP140) promoter
      methylation (-194 CpG site) was increased, and SP140 protein levels were
      decreased in the patients with SDB and EDS. CONCLUSIONS: IL1R2 hypomethylation
      and AR hypermethylation may constitute an important determinant of disease
      severity, whereas NPR2 hypomethylation and SP140 hypermethylation may provide a
      biomarker for vulnerability to EDS in OSA. COMMENTARY: A commentary on this
      article appears in this issue on page 723.

PMID- 26888453
TI  - Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Ventricular Structure by Age
      and Gender: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: The presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are
      associated with impaired left ventricular (LV) structure and function. Our goal
      was to quantify the associations between LV systolic function and mass with
      severity of OSA in an ethnically diverse cohort, assessing variations by age and
      sex. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 1,412
      racially/ethnically diverse participants across 6 US communities from the Multi
      Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who underwent both overnight polysomnography and
      cardiac magnetic resonance imaging from 2010-2012. We evaluated the association
      between the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by clinical category (< 5, 5
      15, 15-30, 30-50, > 50) and secondary measures of sleep apnea with the outcomes
      left ventricular (LV) mass adjusted for height, LV mass/volume ratio, and LV
      ejection fraction. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders and
      mediators, LV mass was significantly increased with increasing AHI category for
      subjects age 65 y or younger (beta = 1.84 +/- 0.47 g/m, P = 0.0001). The
      association between the AHI and LV mass appeared stronger in whites and Chinese
      compared to blacks and Hispanics, although interaction terms were not
      statistically significant. Additionally, while both LV mass and LV mass/volume
      ratio were significantly associated with hypoxia, ejection fraction was not
      associated with any OSA severity index. Comparable associations were observed in
      men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of confounders, higher levels of AHI are
      significantly associated with increased LV mass in both men and women younger
      than 65 y from a community-based cohort.

PMID- 26888456
TI  - Alkyne Difunctionalization by Dual Gold/Photoredox Catalysis.
AB  - Highly selective tandem nucleophilic addition/cross-coupling reactions of alkynes
      have been developed using visible-light-promoted dual gold/photoredox catalysis.
      The simultaneous oxidation of Au(I) and coordination of the coupling partner by
      photo-generated aryl radicals, and the use of catalytically inactive gold
      precatalysts allows for high levels of selectivity for the cross-coupled products
      without competing hydrofunctionalization or homocoupling. As demonstrated in
      representative arylative Meyer-Schuster and hydration reactions, this work
      expands the scope of dual gold/photoredox catalysis to the largest class of
      substrates for gold catalysts and benefits from the mild and environmentally
      attractive nature of visible-light activation. 

PMID- 26888455
TI  - How Much Day-To-Day Variability in Sleep Timing Is Unhealthy?

PMID- 26888457
TI  - Safety of third-generation artificial turf in male elite professional soccer
      players in Italian major league.
AB  - Our hypothesis is that there are no difference in the injury incidence on
      artificial turf and natural grass. During the 2011/2012 season, we recorded
      injuries which occurred to two Italian stadiums equipped with third-generation
      artificial turf during 36 games (391 players). Data were compared with the
      injuries which occurred in the same season in two stadiums equipped with natural
      grass (372 players). We recorded 43 injuries during the playing time (16.7 per
      1000 h). About 23 (18.1 per 1000 h) injuries occurred on artificial turf, while
      20 (15.2 per 1000 h) on the natural grass with no statistical differences P >
      0.05. We recorded 10 (7.87 per 1000 h) contact and 13 (10.23 per 1000 h) non
      contact injuries on artificial turf, while 5 (3.8 per 1000 h) contact and 15
      (11.4 per 1000 h) non-contact injuries on natural grass P > 0.05. The overall
      relative risk was 1.15; 95% CI: 0.64-2.07). Our study demonstrates a substantial
      equivalence in injury risk on natural grass and artificial turf in elite
      professional soccer athletes during official matches.

PMID- 26888458
TI  - Kinetics of photochemical reactions of biphotochromic compounds based on
      spironaphthopyran and enamine--conjugation effect.
AB  - A novel biphotochromic compound (BPC) with two photochromic fragments, namely
      spironaphthopyran and hydroxyazomethine, was synthesized and studied by
      nanosecond laser flash photolysis using the excitation wavelengths of 337, 430,
      470 and 500 nm in methanol and toluene. The photoexcitation of BPC results in the
      formation of at least two colored transients. The first one is the merocyanine
      form B (the maximum in the absorption spectrum is near 600 nm and the lifetime is
      0.1 and 0.05 s in methanol and toluene, respectively) due to the spiro-bond break
      followed by isomerization. The second one is the trans-keto form A(Kt) (the
      maximum in the absorption spectra is near 480 nm and the lifetime is 0.1 and 5 ms
      in methanol and toluene, respectively) as a result of cis-enol or cis-keto
      tautomer transformations. The relative yields of B and A(Kt) depends essentially
      on the wavelength of excitation. The form A(Kt) is the key transient formed under
      excitation with the visible light, whereas its yield under excitation with UV
      light is comparable with that of B. The specific solvation by methanol molecules
      favors the spirocycle opening even under visible light excitation. The results
      obtained for novel BPC were compared with those for other BPC where the same
      fragments are combined in such a way that the form B is the major one under
      excitation with UV light whereas it virtually is not observed under visible light
      excitation. The difference in both BPC is discussed in terms of conjugation (pi
      coupling) between photochromic fragments. 

PMID- 26888459
TI  - Mobile medical technology: the revolution in medicine is in your smartphone.

PMID- 26888460
TI  - Open heart surgery for a stuck rotablator.

PMID- 26888461
TI  - Can radiological characteristics of preoperative cerebral lesions predict
      postoperative intracranial haemorrhage in endocarditis patients?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high mortality (20
      40%) and neurological complications (20-50%). Postoperative intracranial
      haemorrhage (ICH) is a feared complication especially in patients with
      preoperative cerebral infarcts. The aim of this study was to determine the
      radiological characteristics of cerebral lesions that could predict the
      occurrence of postoperative ICH in IE patients. METHODS: We retrospectively
      reviewed all charts, brain imaging and follow-up data from patients operated for
      left-sided endocarditis between January 2007 and April 2013. RESULTS: A total of
      308 patients (age 62.0 +/- 13.9) underwent surgery for IE. Preoperative
      cerebrovascular complications were present in 122 patients (39.6%), representing
      stroke in 87, silent cerebral infarctions in 31 patients and transient ischaemic
      attacks in 4 patients. Among 118 patients with cerebral lesions, the aetiological
      classification of the lesions was ischaemic in 63.6%, ischaemic with haemorrhagic
      transformation (HT) in 17.8%, ischaemic with concomitant microbleeds in 16.1% and
      intracerebral bleeding in 2.5%. Postoperative ICH occurred in 17 patients and its
      incidence was slightly higher in patients with preoperative cerebral infarcts
      compared with those without preoperative cerebral infarcts [7.6 vs 4.2%,
      respectively, odds ratio (OR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-5.02, P =
      0.21]. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, the
      incidence of postoperative ICH was higher in cases of HT of ischaemic infarcts
      than in cases of ischaemic infarcts not complicated with HT (19.0 vs 5.3%).
      However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). The
      radiological pattern of preoperative cerebral lesions was single in 35.6% and
      multiple in 60.0% of cases. Multiple cerebral lesions were associated with a non
      significantly lower incidence of postoperative ICH than single lesions (5.6 vs
      11.9%, respectively, OR: 0.44, CI: 0.11-1.73, P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that the incidence of postoperative ICH in IE patients was slightly
      higher in the presence of preoperative cerebral infarcts. In addition,
      preoperative cerebral ischaemic infarcts complicated with HT tended to have a
      higher incidence of postoperative ICH than those not complicated with HT.
      However, the difference was not statistically significant. Multiple preoperative
      cerebral infarcts were not associated with higher incidence of postoperative ICH
      compared with single cerebral infarcts.

PMID- 26888462
TI  - Meta-analysis of concomitant mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass
      surgery versus isolated coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with moderate
      ischaemic mitral regurgitation.
AB  - Ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a complication of coronary artery disease
      with normal chordal and leaflet morphology. Controversy surrounds the issue of
      appropriate surgical management of moderate IMR. With the present meta-analysis,
      we aimed to determine whether the addition of mitral valve (MV) repair to
      coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improved clinical outcome over CABG alone
      in patients with moderate IMR. Databases were searched for studies reporting on
      clinical outcomes after CABG and MV repair or CABG alone for moderate IMR.
      Clinical end-points were operative mortality, survival, New York Heart
      Association (NYHA) class >=2 and MR grade >=2 at last follow-up. A total of five
      observational and four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. The
      mean follow-up was 2.7 years. An analysis of all studies revealed increased
      operative risk in the concomitant CABG and MV repair group {risk ratio [RR] 2.02
      [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15, 3.56], P = 0.01, I(2) = 0%}. However, an
      analysis of RCTs only showed that the operative risk was equivalent [RR 1.05 (95%
      CI 0.34, 3.30), P = 0.93, I(2) = 0%]. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) on survival did
      not favour either procedure [all studies: HR 1.08 (95% CI 0.77, 1.50), P = 0.66,
      I(2) = 0%; RCTs only: HR 0.89 (95% CI 0.47, 1.70), P = 0.73, I(2) = 0%]. The
      incidence of exercise intolerance quantified as NYHA class >=2 was similar
      between groups (all studies: RR 0.72 (95% CI 0.42, 1.24), P = 0.24, I(2) = 77%;
      RCTs only: RR 0.61 (95% CI 0.24, 1.55), P = 0.30, I(2) = 83%]. Risk of residual
      MR grade >=2 was higher in the CABG only group [all studies: RR 0.30 (95% CI
      0.16, 0.60), P < 0.001, I(2) = 83%; RCTs only: RR 0.20 (95% CI 0.04, 0.90), P =
      0.04, I(2) = 72%]. There is neither increased operative mortality nor survival
      benefit associated with concomitant CABG and MV repair for IMR of moderate degree
      over CABG alone. Further studies with long-term follow-up data and sub-group
      analyses of current data are needed to define a subset of patients whose survival
      and functional status may improve with the concomitant MV repair. 

PMID- 26888463
TI  - Improving outcomes: case-matched comparison of novel second-generation versus
      first-generation self-expandable transcatheter heart valves.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The published literature has extensively documented clinical benefit
      derived from transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in high-risk patients
      using self-expanding current-generation transfemoral (TF) transcatheter heart
      valves (THVs). However, it has also demonstrated apparent shortcomings such as
      paravalvular leakage (PVL) or need for permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation. We
      here present a case-matched analysis of acute 30-day outcomes using a novel
      nitinol-based THV (Symetis Acurate Neo TFTM), which may overcome some limitations
      of currently used devices. METHODS: From 2012 to 2015, 69 consecutive patients
      (study group, 65.2% female, 81.4 +/- 6.1 years, logEuroSCORE I 19.9 +/- 14.2%)
      received TF-TAVI using the novel Symetis Acurate Neo TFTM THV. A control group of
      patients after TF-TAVI with the CoreValveTM THV was retrieved from our database
      (control group) and matched to the study group utilizing 16 parameters. Data were
      retrospectively analysed according to updated Valve Academic Research Consortium
      (VARC-2) definitions. The 30-day follow-up was completed in all cases. RESULTS:
      Apart from gender (65.2 vs 44.9% females, P = 0.023), matching was successful
      with parameters showing no significant differences. The device success rate was
      95.6% (66/69) and 89.9% (62/69) in the study and control groups, respectively (P
      = 0.20). The all-cause 30-day mortality rate was 5.8% (4/69) vs 10.14% (7/69) (P
      = 0.36), and disabling stroke was observed in 2.9% (2/69) vs 5.8% (4/69) (P =
      0.41), respectively. Resultant transvalvular maximum/mean gradient and effective
      orifice area (EOA) were 13.8 +/- 5.5 vs 18.1 +/- 8.1 mmHg (P = 0.001)/7.0 +/- 2.8
      vs 8.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg (P = 0.006) and 1.9 +/- 0.3 vs 1.8 +/- 0.2 cm(2) (P = 0.015),
      respectively. PVL >=grade II was observed in 2.9% (2/69) and 15.94% (11/69) (P =
      0.013) of patients and the rate of PM implantation was 8.7% (6/69) vs 44.9%
      (31/69) (P < 0.001), respectively. DISCUSSION: TF-TAVI was feasible and safe
      using this new type of nitinol-based THV. Superiority to the current generation
      of self-expanding THVs was achieved regarding post-interventional pressure
      gradients and EOA, severity of residual PVL and rate of PM implantation. Results
      set a promising quality standard for TF-TAVI with a self-expanding THV, but will
      have to be confirmed in a larger patient cohorts for further clinical evaluation.

PMID- 26888464
TI  - New miniplate for osteosynthesis of mandibular angle fractures designed to
      improve formation of new bone.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to present the study of a new miniplate designed
      to keep the maximum strains developed in the cortical bone near the fracture line
      during accidental biting to values below the threshold causing bone resorption.
      Designed to offer maximum fracture stability with minimal implanted volume and
      patient intrusion, the design uses a novel approach to account for the effects of
      the distance from the fracture line to the nearest screws. Its geometry minimizes
      the peak forces that can develop during most cases of mandible biomechanical
      loadings. A three-dimensional (3D) osteosynthesis finite element model for a
      human mandible confirmed the operational effectiveness of the miniplate. It also
      provided numerical estimates for the strains and screw forces in the cortical
      surface during incisor bites with clinically relevant forces of 200 N. Two
      prototypes, 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm in thickness, were repeatedly tested on fractured
      sheep mandibles, fixed in a purpose-built jig, to loads up to 150% of the maximum
      forces developed by human patients. The tests indicated good fracture stability,
      and the proof tests carried for each of the two prototypes terminated at more
      than 350 N due to failure of the loading cable and respectively, secondary
      mandible fractures occurring away from the miniplate. 

PMID- 26888465
TI  - The ideal male jaw angle--An Internet survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The ideal male jaw angle has not been established. With the advent of
      additive manufacturing, precise customized shaping is a reality. This study aimed
      to define the ideal masculine mandibular angle as an aid for 3-dimensional (3D)
      design. METHODS: An Internet survey was conducted using black/white photographs
      of celebrities and non-celebrities. Preferences regarding gonial angle (profile
      and frontal views), intergonial width and vertical jaw angle position (face
      frontal view), and angle curvature and definition in oblique views were obtained
      using simplified, unbalanced Likert scales. Constructs were defined for planning
      3D implant designs. RESULTS: The preferred jaw angle had these characteristics:
      130 degrees  in face profile view, intergonial width similar to facial width,
      vertical position in frontal view at the oral commissure or at least not below
      the lower lip, jawline slope in the face frontal view nearly parallel to (with a
      maximum 15 degrees  downward deviation from) a line extending from the lateral
      canthus to the alare, ascending ramus slope 65 degrees -75 degrees  to the
      Frankfort horizontal, and curvature in the oblique view visible from earlobe to
      chin and not pointy. CONCLUSIONS: Photogrammetric analysis of panel preferences
      lead to constructs with values useful for the design of 3D printed jaw angles.

PMID- 26888466
TI  - Assessing Cell-to-Cell DNA Methylation Variability on Individual Long Reads.
AB  - Understanding cell-to-cell variability in cytosine methylation is essential for
      understanding cellular perturbation and its molecular machinery. However,
      conventional methylation studies have focused on the differences in the average
      levels between cell types while overlooking methylation heterogeneity within cell
      types. Little information has been uncovered using recent single-cell methods
      because of either technical limitations or the great labor required to process
      many single cells. Here, we report the highly efficient detection of cell-to-cell
      DNA methylation variability in liver tissue, based on comparing the methylation
      status of adjacent CpG sites on long sequencing reads. This method provides
      abundant methylation linkage information and enables genome-wide estimation of
      cell-to-cell variability. We observed repressed methylation variability in
      hypomethylated regions compared with the variability in hypomethylated regions
      across the genome, which we confirmed using public human sperm data. A gradual
      change in methylation status at the boundaries of hypomethylated regions was
      observed for the first time. This approach allows the concise, comprehensive
      assessment of cell-to-cell DNA methylation variability. 

PMID- 26888468
TI  - Roles and regulation of the matrix metalloproteinase system in parturition.
AB  - Significant tissue destruction, repair, and remodeling are involved in
      parturition, which involves fetal membrane rupture, cervical ripening, and
      uterine contraction and its subsequent involution. Extracellular matrix
      degradation and remodeling by proteolytic enzymes, such as matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMPs), are required for the final steps of parturition. MMPs
      participate in physiological degradation and remodeling through their proteolytic
      activities on specific substrates, and are balanced by the action of their
      inhibitors. Disruption to this balance can result in pathological stress that
      ends with preterm or post-term birth or pre-eclampsia. In this review, we examine
      the roles and regulation of the MMP system in physiological and pathological
      labor, and propose a model that illustrates the mechanisms by which the MMP
      system contributes to these processes.

PMID- 26888467
TI  - Effect of whole-body vibration on reduction of bone loss and fall prevention in
      postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To examine whole-body vibration (WBV) effect on bone mineral density
      (BMD) and fall prevention in postmenopausal women, we performed a meta-analysis
      and systematic review of prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      comparing change in BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine and related factors
      of falls between WBV group and control group. METHODS: EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane
      Central Register of Controlled Trials, ISI Web of Science, and China National
      Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched up to April 2015; search strategy
      was used as follows: (vibration) AND (osteoporo* OR muscle* OR bone mineral
      density OR BMD). All prospective randomized controlled trials comparing related
      factors of falls and BMD change in the femoral neck and lumbar spine between WBV
      group and control group were retrieved. RESULTS: Eight of 3599 studies with 1014
      patients were included, 477 in the WBV group, and 537 in the control group. We
      found that there was no significant difference in all magnitude groups of the
      femoral neck (N = 936, WMD: 0.00 (-0.00, 0.01); p = 0.18). A statistical
      significance showed in the all magnitude groups (N = 1014, WMD: 0.01 (0.00,
      0.01); p = 0.01) and low-magnitude group (N = 838, WMD: 0.01 (0.00, 0.01); p =
      0.007) of the lumbar spine. No significant difference was found in high-magnitude
      group of the lumbar spine (N = 176, WMD: 0.00 (-0.01, 0.02); p = 0.47), low
      magnitude group (N = 838, WMD: 0.00 (-0.00, 0.00); p = 0.92) and high-magnitude
      group (N = 98, WMD: 0.02 (-0.00, 0.05); p = 0.06) of the femoral neck. All the
      studies provided data of related factors of falls such as strength of the lower
      limb, balance, and fall rate reported effectiveness of WBV therapy. In addition,
      no complication was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Low-magnitude whole-body vibration
      therapy can provide a significant improvement in reducing bone loss in the lumbar
      spine in postmenopausal women. Moreover, whole-body vibration can be used as an
      intervention for fall prevention.

PMID- 26888469
TI  - Virtual screening of the inhibitors targeting at the viral protein 40 of Ebola
      virus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Ebola virus is highly pathogenic and destructive to humans and
      other primates. The Ebola virus encodes viral protein 40 (VP40), which is highly
      expressed and regulates the assembly and release of viral particles in the host
      cell. Because VP40 plays a prominent role in the life cycle of the Ebola virus,
      it is considered as a key target for antiviral treatment. However, there is
      currently no FDA-approved drug for treating Ebola virus infection, resulting in
      an urgent need to develop effective antiviral inhibitors that display good safety
      profiles in a short duration. METHODS: This study aimed to screen the effective
      lead candidate against Ebola infection. First, the lead molecules were filtered
      based on the docking score. Second, Lipinski rule of five and the other drug
      likeliness properties are predicted to assess the safety profile of the lead
      candidates. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations was performed to validate the
      lead compound. RESULTS: Our results revealed that emodin-8-beta-D-glucoside from
      the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (TCMD) represents an active lead
      candidate that targets the Ebola virus by inhibiting the activity of VP40, and
      displays good pharmacokinetic properties. CONCLUSION: This report will
      considerably assist in the development of the competitive and robust antiviral
      agents against Ebola infection.

PMID- 26888470
TI  - Hedonic sensitivity to low-dose ketamine is modulated by gonadal hormones in a
      sex-dependent manner.
AB  - We recently reported a greater sensitivity of female rats to rapid antidepressant
      like effects of ketamine compared to male rats, and that ovarian-derived
      estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) are essential for this response. However, to
      what extent testosterone may also contribute, and whether duration of response to
      ketamine is modulated in a sex- and hormone-dependent manner remains unclear. To
      explore this, we systematically investigated the influence of testosterone,
      estradiol and progesterone on initiation and maintenance of hedonic response to
      low-dose ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) in intact and gonadectomized male and female rats.
      Ketamine induced a sustained increase in sucrose preference of female, but not
      male, rats in an E2P4-dependent manner. Whereas testosterone failed to alter male
      treatment response, concurrent administration of P4 alone in intact males
      enhanced hedonic response low-dose ketamine. Treatment responsiveness in female
      rats only was associated with greater hippocampal BDNF levels, but not activation
      of key downstream signaling effectors. We provide novel evidence supporting
      activational roles for ovarian-, but not testicular-, derived hormones in
      mediating hedonic sensitivity to low-dose ketamine in female and male rats,
      respectively. Organizational differences may, in part, account for the
      persistence of sex differences following gonadectomy and selective involvement of
      BDNF in treatment response.

PMID- 26888472
TI  - Mental health problems in people living with HIV: changes in the last two
      decades: the London experience 1990-2014.
AB  - Mental health problems continue to be a significant comorbidity for people with
      HIV infection, even in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy. Here, we
      report on the changes in the mental health diagnoses based on clinical case
      reports amongst people with HIV referred to a specialist psychological medicine
      department over a 24-year period, which include the relative increase in
      depressive and anxiety disorders, often of a chronic nature, together with a
      decline in acute mental health syndromes, mania, and organic brain disorders. In
      addition, new challenges, like the presence of HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection,
      and the new problems created by recreational drugs, confirm the need for mental
      health services to be closely involved with the general medical services. A
      substantial proportion of people with HIV referred to specialist services suffer
      complex difficulties, which often require the collaboration of both psychiatrists
      and psychologists to deal effectively with their difficulties.

PMID- 26888471
TI  - Energy drink consumption, health complaints and late bedtime among young
      adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine. Their effects on
      adolescent well-being are poorly known. We examined the relationship of energy
      drink consumption with health complaints and late bedtime among 13-year-olds.
      METHODS: A classroom survey was conducted on all 7th graders in the Helsinki
      metropolitan region, Finland (73 % responded; n = 9446). Logistic regression
      analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of health complaints increased as energy drink consumption increased
      from non-consumers to several times/day. Late bedtime (>=11 PM) increased
      correspondingly. Those consuming energy drinks several times/day exhibited
      increased odds of experiencing daily health complaints compared with non
      consumers: headache OR (adjusted) = 4.6 (2.8-7.7), sleeping problems OR = 3.6
      (2.2-5.8), irritation OR = 4.1 (2.7-6.1), tiredness/fatigue OR = 3.7 (2.4-5.7),
      and late bedtime OR = 7.8 (5.7-10.9). In SEM, energy drink consumption had a
      direct effect on health complaints and late bedtime and an indirect effect on
      health complaints via late bedtime. CONCLUSIONS: Energy drinks, late bedtime, and
      health complaints form a behavior pattern that is worth considering in schools,
      home and clinical settings when adolescents complain about headaches, problems
      with sleeping and corresponding symptoms.

PMID- 26888473
TI  - Stepwise increase of hypermetropic correction using contact lenses in
      intermittent partially accommodative esotropia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to present a series of patients with intermittent
      partially accommodative esotropia (pAcc-ET) in evaluating the effect of over-plus
      correcting the hypermetropia relative to the non-cycloplegic refraction using
      contact lenses. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (23.8 +/- 8.9 years) with
      intermittent pAcc-ET were fitted with soft daily single-vision contact lenses and
      the hypermetropia was over-plus corrected relative to the original subjective non
      cycloplegic refraction, reducing distance visual acuity to 0.8 (decimal acuity).
      Hypermetropia correction was increased at follow-ups (every second week) until
      visual acuity stabilised or symptoms ceased. The contact lenses were worn for the
      entire study period. RESULTS: After eight weeks of treatment (two to four follow
      ups) the intermittent esotropia stabilised into esophoria and the magnitude of
      the deviation at distance was reduced in 70 per cent (16/23) of patients and at
      near in 91 per cent (21/23) of patients. As a result calculated accommodative
      convergence and the level of accommodation (stimulus AC/A ratio) was reduced in
      83 per cent (19/23) of patients but still classified as high (less than 5:1).
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared to correction based on original non-cycloplegic subjective
      refraction, increasing correction of hypermetropia with contact lenses in
      partially accommodative esotropia reduced the magnitude of the eso-deviation at
      distance and near. In addition to reducing accommodative demand and stimulus AC/A
      with increasing hyperopic correction, contact lenses may provide additional
      benefit given the increased hyperopic correction and the decreased stimulus for
      accommodation required at the corneal plane.

PMID- 26888474
TI  - A 10-year retrospective analysis of hospital admissions and length of stay among
      a cohort of homeless adults in Vancouver, Canada.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Homelessness is associated with a very high prevalence of substance
      use and mental disorders and elevated levels of acute health service use. Among
      the homeless, little is known regarding the relative impact of specific mental
      disorders on healthcare utilization. The aim of the present study was to examine
      the association between different categories of diagnosed mental disorders with
      hospital admission and length of stay (LOS) in a cohort of homeless adults in
      Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: Participants were recruited as part of an
      experimental trial in which participants met criteria for both homelessness and
      mental illness. Administrative data were obtained (with separate consent)
      including comprehensive records of acute hospitalizations during the 10 years
      prior to recruitment and while participants where experiencing homelessness.
      Generalized Estimating Equations were used to estimate the associations between
      outcome variables (acute hospital admissions and LOS) and predictor variables
      (specific disorders). RESULTS: Among the eligible sample (n = 433) 80 % were
      hospitalized, with an average of 6.0 hospital admissions and 71.4 days per person
      during the 10-year observation period. Of a combined total 2601 admissions to
      hospital, 1982 were psychiatric and 619 were non-psychiatric. Significant (p
      <0.001) independent predictors of hospital admission and LOS included a diagnosis
      of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as well as high (>=32 service contacts) non
      psychiatric medical service use in the community. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      demonstrate that specific mental disorders alongside high non-psychiatric service
      use were significantly associated with hospital admission and LOS. These findings
      suggest the importance of screening within the homeless population to identify
      individuals who may be at risk for acute illness and the implementation of
      services to promote recovery and prevent repeated hospitalization. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ISRCTN57595077 ; ISRCTN66721740.

PMID- 26888475
TI  - Re-Examining Risk of Repeated HLA Mismatch in Kidney Transplantation.
AB  - Kidney retransplantation is a risk factor for decreased allograft survival.
      Repeated mismatched HLA antigens between first and second transplant may be a
      stimulus for immune memory responses and increased risk of alloimmune damage to
      the second allograft. Historical data identified a role of repeated HLA
      mismatches in allograft loss. However, evolution of HLA testing methods and a
      modern transplant era necessitate re-examination of this role to more accurately
      risk-stratify recipients. We conducted a contemporary registry analysis of data
      from 13,789 patients who received a second kidney transplant from 1995 to 2011,
      of which 3868 had one or more repeated mismatches. Multivariable Cox proportional
      hazards modeling revealed no effect of repeated mismatches on all-cause or death
      censored graft loss. Analysis of predefined subgroups, however, showed that any
      class 2 repeated mismatch increased the hazard of death-censored graft loss,
      particularly in patients with detectable panel-reactive antibody before second
      transplant (hazard ratio [HR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02 to
      1.29). Furthermore, in those who had nephrectomy of the first allograft, class 2
      repeated mismatches specifically associated with all-cause (HR, 1.30; 95% CI,
      1.07 to 1.58) and death-censored graft loss (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.78).
      These updated data redefine the effect of repeated mismatches in
      retransplantation and challenge the paradigm that repeated mismatches in
      isolation confer increased immunologic risk. We also defined clear recipient
      categories for which repeated mismatches may be of greater concern in a
      contemporary cohort. Additional studies are needed to determine appropriate
      interventions for these recipients.

PMID- 26888476
TI  - Renal Function Profile in White Kidney Donors: The First 4 Decades.
AB  - Previous studies reported the risk of ESRD after kidney donation, but not the
      renal outcomes that precede ESRD. Here, we estimated the risk of proteinuria,
      reduced GFR, and ESRD in 3956 white kidney donors, assessed the contribution of
      postdonation hypertension and diabetes to these outcomes, and developed a risk
      calculator. After a mean+/-SD follow-up of 16.6+/-11.9 years, 215 (6.1%) donors
      developed proteinuria. Men had a higher risk of proteinuria (hazard ratio [HR],
      1.56; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.18 to 2.05; P<0.001) as did those with
      higher body mass index (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.13; P<0.001). In all, 1410
      (36%) donors reached an eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), and 112 (2.8%) donors had
      either an eGFR<30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or ESRD (28 donors developed ESRD). An
      eGFR<30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or ESRD associated with older age (HR, 1.07; 95% CI,
      1.05 to 1.09; P<0.001), higher body mass index (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.13;
      P<0.001), and higher systolic BP (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.04; P=0.01) at
      donation. Postdonation diabetes and hypertension associated with a fourfold
      higher risk of proteinuria and a >2-fold higher risk of ESRD. Models predicting
      proteinuria and reduced eGFR performed well (C-index 0.77-1.00). In conclusion,
      severe reduction in GFR and ESRD after kidney donation were uncommon and were
      highly associated with postdonation diabetes and hypertension. Furthermore,
      information available before donation may predict long-term renal outcomes in
      white living kidney donors.

PMID- 26888477
TI  - The interpreter as co-interviewer: the role of the interpreter during interviews
      in cross-language health research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Interviews with ethnic minority patients provide a rich source of data
      to understand their perspectives of disease and its management. Language barriers
      are, however, often a problem so interpreters need to be used. We explored the
      impact of the interpreter on cross-language interviews between researchers and
      respondents. METHODS: Secondary analysis of four interviews between researchers
      and patients involving professional interpreters. RESULTS: Interpreters were
      actively involved and influenced the interview in several ways: they assumed the
      interviewer's communicative role, edited information; initiated information
      seeking, took over control of the interview, and took over the respondent's role.
      While the interpreter supported the interviewer, they posed risks to the quality
      of the interview. CONCLUSION: Researchers need to be aware of the influence of
      interpreters. Researchers should instruct interpreters carefully about their
      roles though they may benefit from interpreters' strategies to support them.

PMID- 26888478
TI  - The problem of representativeness of clinical trial participants: understanding
      the role of hidden costs.

PMID- 26888479
TI  - GPER negatively regulates TNFalpha-induced IL-6 production in human breast cancer
      cells via NF-kappaB pathway.
AB  - Estrogen is known to have anti-inflammatory effects, that are thought to be
      mediated by the classical estrogen receptors (ERs), ERalpha and ERbeta. G protein
      coupled estrogen receptor1 (GPER) is a novel membrane-type estrogen receptor that
      can mediate non-genomic estrogenic responses. Although there have been several
      reports asserting that the participation of GPER in anti-inflammatory effects is
      induced by estrogen, the role of GPER remains poorly understood. In this study,
      we investigated the involvement of GPER in the regulation of a representative
      inflammatory cytokine, IL-6. We first examined the expression of IL-6 mRNA by
      TNFalpha stimulation in the transfection of GPER-expression plasmid into HeLa
      cells. Exogenous GPER significantly inhibited TNFalpha-induced IL-6 expression,
      and blocked NF-kappaB promoter activity inducing the expression of IL-6 in a dose
      dependent manner. The promoter activity was restored almost to control level by
      transfection with the C-terminal deletion mutant of GPER. Similar results have
      been observed in endogenous GPER using SKBR3 cells which do not express the
      classical ERs. The data have been validated by treatment of GPER with siRNA.
      These findings indicate that GPER negatively regulates TNFalpha-induced IL-6
      expression, probably through inhibition of NF-kappaB promoter activity by a
      signal(s) derived from the C-terminal region of GPER. 

PMID- 26888481
TI  - Increased biomass productivity in green algae by tuning non-photochemical
      quenching.
AB  - Photosynthetic microalgae have a high potential for the production of biofuels
      and highly valued metabolites. However, their current industrial exploitation is
      limited by a productivity in photobioreactors that is low compared to potential
      productivity. The high cell density and pigment content of the surface layers of
      photosynthetic microalgae result in absorption of excess photons and energy
      dissipation through non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). NPQ prevents
      photoinhibition, but its activation reduces the efficiency of photosynthetic
      energy conversion. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, NPQ is catalyzed by protein
      subunits encoded by three lhcsr (light harvesting complex stress related) genes.
      Here, we show that heat dissipation and biomass productivity depends on LHCSR
      protein accumulation. Indeed, algal strains lacking two lhcsr genes can grow in a
      wide range of light growth conditions without suffering from photoinhibition and
      are more productive than wild-type. Thus, the down-regulation of NPQ appears to
      be a suitable strategy for improving light use efficiency for biomass and biofuel
      production in microalgae. 

PMID- 26888480
TI  - A reductionist metastasis-on-a-chip platform for in vitro tumor progression
      modeling and drug screening.
AB  - Current animal and 2-D cell culture models employed in metastasis research and
      drug discovery remain poor mimics of human cancer physiology. Here we describe a
      "metastasis-on-a-chip" system allowing real time tracking of fluorescent colon
      cancer cells migrating from hydrogel-fabricated gut constructs to downstream
      liver constructs within a circulatory fluidic device system that responds to
      environmental manipulation and drug treatment. Devices consist of two chambers in
      which gut and liver constructs are housed independently, but are connected in
      series via circulating fluid flow. Constructs were biofabricated with a
      hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel system, capable of a variety of customizations,
      inside of which representative host tissue cells were suspended and metastatic
      colon carcinoma tumor foci were created. The host tissue of the constructs
      expressed normal epithelial markers, which the tumor foci failed to express.
      Instead, tumor regions lost membrane-bound adhesion markers, and expressed
      mesenchymal and proliferative markers, suggesting a metastatic phenotype.
      Metastatic tumor foci grew in size, eventually disseminating from the intestine
      construct and entering circulation, subsequently reaching in the liver construct,
      thus mimicking some of the migratory events observed during metastasis. Lastly,
      we demonstrated the ability to manipulate the system, including chemically
      modulating the hydrogel system mechanical properties and administering
      chemotherapeutic agents, and evaluated the effects of these parameters on
      invasive tumor migration. These results describe the capability of this early
      stage metastasis-on-a-chip system to model several important characteristics of
      human metastasis, thereby demonstrating the potential of the platform for making
      meaningful advances in cancer investigation and drug discovery. Biotechnol.
      Bioeng. 2016;113: 2020-2032. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888482
TI  - Milder progressive cerebellar atrophy caused by biallelic SEPSECS mutations.
AB  - Cerebellar atrophy is recognized in various types of childhood neurological
      disorders with clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Genetic analyses such as whole
      exome sequencing are useful for elucidating the genetic basis of these
      conditions. Pathological recessive mutations in Sep (O-phosphoserine) tRNA:Sec
      (selenocysteine) tRNA synthase (SEPSECS) have been reported in a total of 11
      patients with pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2, progressive cerebellocerebral
      atrophy or progressive encephalopathy, yet detailed clinical features are limited
      to only four patients. We identified two new families with progressive cerebellar
      atrophy, and by whole exome sequencing detected biallelic SEPSECS mutations:
      c.356A>G (p.Asn119Ser) and c.77delG (p.Arg26Profs*42) in family 1, and c.356A>G
      (p.Asn119Ser) and c.467G>A (p.Arg156Gln) in family 2. Their development was
      slightly delayed regardless of normal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in
      infancy. The progression of clinical symptoms in these families is evidently
      slower than in previously reported cases, and the cerebellar atrophy milder by
      brain MRI, indicating that SEPSECS mutations are also involved in milder late
      onset cerebellar atrophy. 

PMID- 26888483
TI  - Homozygous mutation in Atlastin GTPase 1 causes recessive hereditary spastic
      paraplegia.
AB  - Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is an extremely heterogeneous disease caused
      by mutations of numerous genes leading to lower limb spasticity (pure forms) that
      can be accompanied by neurological symptoms (complex forms). Despite recent
      advances, many causal mutations in patients remain unknown. We identified a
      consanguineous family with the early-onset HSP. Whole-exome sequencing revealed
      homozygosity for a novel Atlastin GTPase 1 gene stop mutation in three affected
      siblings. Heterozygous parents and siblings were unaffected. This was unexpected
      as mutations in the Atlastin 1 gene are known to cause autosomal dominant HSP.
      But our study showed that Atlastin 1 mutations may cause autosomal recessively
      inherited paraplegia with an underlying loss-of-function mechanism. Hence,
      patients with recessive forms of HSP should also be tested for the Atlastin 1
      gene. 

PMID- 26888484
TI  - Mechanisms and reactivity differences for the cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective
      intramolecular hydroacylation of ketones and alkenes: insights from density
      functional calculations.
AB  - Density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the cobalt(I)-catalyzed
      enantioselective intramolecular hydroacylation of ketones and alkenes. All
      intermediates and transition states were fully optimized at the M06/6-31G(d,p)
      level (LANL2DZ(f) for Co). The results demonstrated that the ketone and alkene
      present different reactivities in the enantioselective hydroacylation. In ketone
      hydroacylation catalyzed by the cobalt(I)-(R,R)-Ph-BPE complex, reaction channel
      "a" to (R)-phthalide was more favorable than channel "b" to (S)-phthalide.
      Hydrogen migration was both the rate-determining and chirality-limiting step, and
      this step was endothermic. In alkene hydroacylation catalyzed by the cobalt(I)
      (R,R)-BDPP complex, reaction channel "c" leading to the formation of (S)-indanone
      was the most favorable, both thermodynamically and kinetically. Reductive
      elimination was the rate-determining step, but the chirality-limiting step was
      hydrogen migration, which occurred easily. The results also indicated that the
      alkene hydroacylation leading to (S)-indanone formation was more energetically
      favorable than the ketone hydroacylation that gave (R)-phthalide, both
      thermodynamically and kinetically.

PMID- 26888486
TI  - Determination of thiol metabolites in human urine by stable isotope labeling in
      combination with pseudo-targeted mass spectrometry analysis.
AB  - Precursor ion scan and multiple reaction monitoring scan (MRM) are two typical
      scan modes in mass spectrometry analysis. Here, we developed a strategy by
      combining stable isotope labeling (IL) with liquid chromatography-mass
      spectrometry (LC-MS) under double precursor ion scan (DPI) and MRM for analysis
      of thiols in 5 types of human cancer urine. Firstly, the IL-LC-DPI-MS method was
      applied for non-targeted profiling of thiols from cancer samples. Compared to
      traditional full scan mode, the DPI method significantly improved identification
      selectivity and accuracy. 103 thiol candidates were discovered in all cancers and
      6 thiols were identified by their standards. It is worth noting that pantetheine,
      for the first time, was identified in human urine. Secondly, the IL-LC-MRM-MS
      method was developed for relative quantification of thiols in cancers compared to
      healthy controls. All the MRM transitions of light and heavy labeled thiols were
      acquired from urines by using DPI method. Compared to DPI method, the sensitivity
      of MRM improved by 2.1-11.3 folds. In addition, the concentration of
      homocysteine, gamma-glutamylcysteine and pantetheine enhanced more than two folds
      in cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Taken together, the method
      demonstrated to be a promising strategy for identification and comprehensive
      quantification of thiols in human urines. 

PMID- 26888485
TI  - Cardioprotective effects of Notoginsenoside R1 against ischemia/reperfusion
      injuries by regulating oxidative stress- and endoplasmic reticulum stress-
      related signaling pathways.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggested the involvement of oxidative stress- and
      endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated pathways in the progression of
      ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is a novel saponin
      isolated from P. notoginseng, which has a history of prevention and treatment of
      cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the cardioprotective
      effects of NGR1 on I/R-induced heart dysfunction ex vivo and in vitro. METHODS:
      H9c2 cadiomyocytes were incubated with NGR1 for 24 h and exposed to
      hypoxia/reoxygenation. Isolated rat hearts were perfused by NGR1 for 15 min and
      then subjected to global ischemia/reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters were
      monitored as left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), heart rate, and maximal
      rate of increase and decrease of left ventricular pressure (+/- dP/dt max/min).
      RESULTS: NGR1 pretreatment prevents cell apoptosis and delays the onset of ERS by
      decreasing the protein expression levels of ERS-responsive proteins GRP78, P
      PERK, ATF6, IRE, and inhibiting the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins CHOP,
      Caspase-12, and P-JNK. Besides, NGR1 scavenges free radical, and increases the
      activity of antioxidase. NGR1 inhibits Tunicamycin-induced cell death and cardiac
      dysfunction. CONCLUSION: We elucidated the significant cardioprotective effects
      of NGR1 against I/R injuries, and demonstrated the involvement of oxidative
      stress and ERS in the protective effects of NGR1.

PMID- 26888487
TI  - Diet supplementation with cinnamon oil, cinnamaldehyde, or monensin does not
      reduce enteric methane production of dairy cows.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of cinnamon
      oil (CIN), cinnamaldehyde (CDH), or monensin (MON) on enteric methane (CH4)
      emission in dairy cows. Eight multiparous lactating Holstein cows fitted with
      ruminal cannulas were used in a replicated 4*4 Latin square design (28-day
      periods). Cows were fed (ad libitum) a total mixed ration ((TMR); 60 : 40 forage
      : concentrate ratio, on a dry matter (DM) basis) not supplemented (CTL), or
      supplemented with CIN (50 mg/kg DM intake), CDH (50 mg/kg DM intake), or monensin
      (24 mg/kg of DM intake). Dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility, N
      retention, and milk performance were measured over 6 consecutive days. Ruminal
      degradability of the basal diet (with no additive) was assessed using in sacco
      incubations (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h). Ruminal fermentation
      characteristics (pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and ammonia (NH3)) and protozoa
      were determined over 2 days. Enteric CH4 emissions were measured over 6
      consecutive days using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer gas technique. Adding
      CIN, CDH or MON to the diet had no effects on DMI, N retention, in sacco ruminal
      degradation and nutrient digestibility of the diet. Ruminal fermentation
      characteristics and protozoa numbers were not modified by including the feed
      additives in the diet. Enteric CH4 emission and CH4 energy losses averaged 491
      g/day and 6.59% of gross energy intake, respectively, and were not affected by
      adding CIN, CDH or MON to the diet. Results of this study indicate that CIN, CDH
      and MON are not viable CH4 mitigation strategies in dairy cows. 

PMID- 26888488
TI  - Role of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 in male infertility.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of infertility with
      metalloproteinases ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5, which are known to be responsible for the
      degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins associated with many diseases.
      ECM is the noncellular component that provides structural and biochemical support
      to the surrounding cells required for tissue morphogenesis, differentiation and
      homoeostasis. Sixty infertile individuals and 10 healthy semen donors were
      included in this study. The infertile individuals were classified as
      normozoospermia (NS; n = 20), oligozoospermia (OS; n = 20), azoospermia (AS; n =
      20) groups. ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 protein levels in semen were analysed by Western
      blot. ADAMTS1 protein level was 3.0-, 3.3- and 1.6-fold lower in the OS, AS and
      NS groups, respectively, than in the control group (P < 0.001). ADAMTS5 protein
      level was 3.2-, 2.7- and 1.4-fold lower in the OS, AS and NS groups,
      respectively, than in the control group (P < 0.001). Sperm count and sperm
      motility showed a negative correlation with the levels of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5
      protein expression: r = -0.477, r = -0.470; and r = -0.332, r = -0.275
      respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 protein expressions
      in semen are significantly related with sperm production. It is very important to
      understand molecular function and organisation of ADAMTSs which will be
      significant in enlightening the process of spermatogenesis in male infertility.

PMID- 26888489
TI  - Influence of berry ripeness on accumulation, composition and extractability of
      skin and seed flavonoids in cv. Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The anthocyanin and tannin concentration and composition of Vitis
      vinifera L. cv. Sangiovese berries were investigated from post-veraison to
      harvest. Exhaustive extraction with methanol and acetone was performed to
      determine the total flavonoid concentration, while a model hydroalcoholic
      solution was used to prepare extracts representing the winemaking process. The
      aim of this study was to improve the knowledge of the phenolic maturity of
      Sangiovese grape. RESULTS: The total anthocyanin concentration increased during
      ripening, but the quantity of extractable anthocyanins increased more rapidly
      than the total. The total skin tannin concentration declined from post-veraison
      to harvest, whereas the extractable portion increased, with little difference in
      the composition of the fractions. Both the total and extractable seed tannin
      concentration diminished rapidly just after veraison, and only small fluctuations
      were detected until harvest. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the
      extractability of anthocyanins and skin tannins increases during ripening,
      whereas there is no clear trend for seed tannins during the same period. This is
      the first survey to study the behavior of phenolic compounds during different
      steps of ripening of Sangiovese grape. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26888491
TI  - Chiral tunneling in gated inversion symmetric Weyl semimetal.
AB  - Based on the chirality-resolved transfer-matrix method, we evaluate the chiral
      transport tunneling through Weyl semimetal multi-barrier structures created by
      periodic gates. It is shown that, in sharp contrast to the cases of three
      dimensional normal semimetals, the tunneling coefficient as a function of
      incident angle shows a strong anisotropic behavior. Importantly, the tunneling
      coefficients display an interesting periodic oscillation as a function of the
      crystallographic angle of the structures. With the increasement of the barriers,
      the tunneling current shows a Fabry-Perot type interferences. For superlattice
      structures, the fancy miniband effect has been revealed. Our results show that
      the angular dependence of the first bandgap can be reduced into a Lorentz
      formula. The disorder suppresses the oscillation of the tunneling conductance,
      but would not affect its average amplitude. This is in sharp contrast to that in
      multi-barrier conventional semiconductor structures. Moreover, numerical results
      for the dependence of the angularly averaged conductance on the incident energy
      and the structure parameters are presented and contrasted with those in two
      dimensional relativistic materials. Our work suggests that the gated Weyl
      semimetal opens a possible new route to access to new type nanoelectronic device.

PMID- 26888492
TI  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and coronary artery dissection or
      aneurysm: a systematic review.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has been
      associated with cardiovascular abnormalities such as intracranial and aortic
      aneurysms. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the case reports and case series
      of ADPKD patients with coronary artery dissection or aneurysm. Evidence review
      Systematic review registration number: CRD42015015723. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Web
      of Science and OpenGrey, reference lists of studies. STUDY SELECTION: Published
      case reports and case series. DATA EXTRACTION: Two parties analyzed the studies.
      Disagreements were solved by consensus or by a third party. FUNDING: none.
      Findings The reports of 23 patients (22 from 17 studies--six with coronary artery
      dissection and 16 with coronary artery aneurysm--and one with coronary
      dissection) were analyzed and reported here. Most patients were symptomatic.
      Coronary dissection showed female and left descending anterior artery
      predominance, features similar to non-ADPKD patients, but a median diagnostic age
      below expected (41 vs. 50 years old). Coronary aneurysms had male and right
      coronary artery predominance but lower median diagnostic age (44 years old) and
      higher rate of multiple vessel affection than reported for non-ADPKD patients.
      CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Clinical disparities may suggest a different mechanism
      of aneurysm formation compared to the population without ADPKD. Nevertheless,
      lack of access to data of one patient and text of one article limited our
      conclusions. Coronary aneurysms and dissections represent a source of coronary
      syndromes and death in ADPKD. Mutation of ADPKD-related genes may predispose to
      coronary abnormalities, especially aneurysms. Further analysis regarding this
      association is necessary.

PMID- 26888490
TI  - Body size in early life and risk of lymphoid malignancies and histological
      subtypes in adulthood.
AB  - Risk of adult lymphoid malignancy is associated with recent adiposity. Some have
      reported apparent associations with adiposity in childhood or early adulthood,
      but whether these associations are independent of recent adiposity is unknown.
      Birth weight, body size at age 10 years, clothes size at age 20 years, and recent
      body mass index (BMI) were recorded in 745,273 UK women, mean age 60.1 (SD 4.9)
      at baseline, without prior cancer. They were followed for 11 years, during which
      time 5,765 lymphoid malignancies occurred. Using Cox regression, a higher risk of
      lymphoid malignancy was strongly associated with higher recent BMI (RR=1.33,
      95%CI 1.17-1.51, for BMI 35+ vs <22.5 kg/m(2)), and this association remained
      essentially unchanged after adjustment for birth weight and body size at 10.
      Higher lymphoid malignancy risk was also associated with large size at birth, at
      age 10, and at age 20 years, but after adjustment for recent BMI, the
      significance of the associations with large size at birth and at age 10 years was
      sufficiently reduced that residual confounding by adult BMI could not be
      excluded; a weak association with large size at 20 years remained (adjusted RR
      =1.17, 95%CI 1.10-1.24 for large size at age 20 vs. medium or small size). We
      found no strong evidence of histological specificity in any of these
      associations. In conclusion, our findings suggest a possible role of adiposity
      throughout adulthood in the risk of lymphoid malignancy, but the independent
      contribution of body size at birth and during childhood appears to be small.

PMID- 26888493
TI  - Highly efficient and selective enrichment of glycopeptides using easily
      synthesized magG/PDA/Au/l-Cys composites.
AB  - Highly selective and efficient enrichment of glycopeptides from complex
      biological samples is necessary. In this study, novel zwitterionic hydrophilic
      polydopamine-coated magnetic graphene composites (magG/PDA/Au/l-Cys) were
      synthesized and applied to the enrichment of glycopeptides. The size, morphology,
      and composition of magG/PDA/Au/l-Cys composites were investigated by transmission
      electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, FT-infrared spectroscopy, and
      X-ray diffraction. The composites possessed a number of desirable
      characteristics, including good biocompatibility easy separation property and
      excellent hydrophilicity. By virtue of the features contributed by different
      ingredients, the prepared composites demonstrated superior performance for
      glycopeptide enrichment with high sensitivity (0.1 fmol), efficiency, selectivity
      (1:100), and repeatability (at least ten times). In addition, the composites were
      successfully applied to the enrichment of glycopeptides from human serum and 40
      unique N-glycosylation peptides from 31 different N-linked glycoproteins were
      identified. The superior hydrophilic material is of great potential for the
      analysis of glycoproteins.

PMID- 26888494
TI  - Major acid endopeptidases of the blood-feeding monogenean Eudiplozoon nipponicum
      (Heteronchoinea: Diplozoidae).
AB  - In parasitic flatworms, acid endopeptidases are involved in crucial processes,
      including digestion, invasion, interactions with the host immune system, etc. In
      haematophagous monogeneans, however, no solid information has been available
      about the occurrence of these enzymes. Here we aimed to identify major cysteine
      and aspartic endopeptidase activities in Eudiplozoon nipponicum, an invasive
      haematophagous parasite of common carp. Employing biochemical, proteomic and
      molecular tools, we found that cysteine peptidase activities prevailed in soluble
      protein extracts and excretory/secretory products (ESP) of E. nipponicum; the
      major part was cathepsin L-like in nature supplemented with cathepsin B-like
      activity. Significant activity of the aspartic cathepsin D also occurred in
      soluble protein extracts. The degradation of haemoglobin in the presence of ESP
      and worm protein extracts was completely inhibited by a combination of cysteine
      and aspartic peptidase inhibitors, and diminished by particular cathepsin L, B
      and D inhibitors. Mass spectrometry revealed several tryptic peptides in ESP
      matching to two translated sequences of cathepsin L genes, which were amplified
      from cDNA of E. nipponicum and bioinformatically annotated. The dominance of
      cysteine peptidases of cathepsin L type in E. nipponicum resembles the situation
      in, e.g. fasciolid trematodes. 

PMID- 26888495
TI  - [Retrospect and prospect on hematolymphoid pathology in last decade of China].

PMID- 26888496
TI  - [Retrospect and prospect on neuropathology in last decade of China].

PMID- 26888497
TI  - [Retrospect and prospect on gynecological pathology in last decade of China].

PMID- 26888498
TI  - [Retrospect and prospect on experimental pathology in last decade of China].

PMID- 26888499
TI  - [Retrospect and prospect on cytopathology in last decade of China].

PMID- 26888500
TI  - [Retrospect on quality control of department of pathology in last six decades of
      China].

PMID- 26888501
TI  - [Small cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type: analysis of clinicopathologic
      characteristics and the diagnostic utility of loss expression of SMARCA4
      protein].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features of small cell carcinoma of
      ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) and to evaluate the diagnostic significance of
      loss of SMARCA4 expression. METHODS: The clinicopathologic characteristics of 5
      cases of SCCOHT were reviewed. The expression of SMARCA4 protein was detected by
      immunohistochemistry in the cases of SCCOHT and 240 cases of other primary
      malignant tumors of ovary and peritoneum. RESULTS: The mean and medium age of
      these patients was 30 years and 28 years, respectively. The presenting symptoms
      included abdominal pain, distention and a pelvic mass. Hypercalcemia was found in
      3 patients. The maximum diameter of tumors ranged from 13.5 to 22.0 cm.
      Extraovarian spread was demonstrated in all of the patients on presentation.
      Histologically, the tumors were composed of closely packed small round cells with
      scanty cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei and irregular chromatin clumps. The tumor
      cells grew in sheets, nests, cords or trabecular pattern. Follicle-like spaces
      were observed in 4 cases. Three of the tumors contained large cells with abundant
      eosinophilic cytoplasm. Spindle cell morphology was found in 1 case. There were 2
      cases with myxoid or hyaline stroma. Four out of five of SCCOHT cases showed loss
      of SMARCA4 protein while only 6.3% (15/240) of the other primary malignant tumors
      of ovary and peritoneum , including undifferentiated carcinoma (1/5), high-grade
      serous carcinoma (4.6%, 5/109), endometrioid carcinoma (7.7%, 2/26), clear cell
      carcinoma (1/9), mucinous carcinoma (1/5), mixed carcinoma (4.9%, 3/61),
      carcinosarcoma (1/9) and high-grade serous carcinoma of peritoneum (1/9), were
      negative. CONCLUSIONS: SCCOHT is a rare malignant tumor and often misdiagnosed as
      other types of ovarian small cell tumor. Loss expression of SMARCA4 protein is
      characteristic and facilitates the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of
      SCCOHT.

PMID- 26888502
TI  - [Pathological change of histologic chorioamnionitis and its association with
      neonatal inflammation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathologic features of histologic chorioamnionitis
      (HCA) and its impact on newborns. METHODS: From Jun.2012 to Dec.2014, 5 810
      placentas delivered in our hospital were collected. There were 898 HCA cases and
      positive rate was 18.3%.Cases with complete clinical data were collected,
      including 308 cases of infected newbon infants (case group), and 120 cases of non
      infected infants(control group). The correlation between pathologic results and
      neonatal outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty nine cases were premature delivery
      (39/428, 9.1%). Twenty one cases were small for gestational age (21/428, 4.9%).
      One hundred and eleven cases were delivered by caesarean section (111/428,
      25.9%). Three hundred and eight cases of neonatal infection included 104 cases of
      hematosepsis, 16 cases of purulent meningitis, 78 cases of infectious pneumonia,
      34 cases of infective enteritis, 18 cases of urinary tract infection and 58 cases
      of skin infection.Placental pathological examination found out 40 cases showed
      mild HCA (18 cases of neonatal infection, and 22 non-neonatal infection cases),
      104 cases showed moderate HCA (88 cases of neonatal infection, and 16 non
      neonatal infection cases), and 183 cases showed severe HCA (172 cases of neonatal
      infection and 11 non-neonatal infection cases). Moderate to severe HCA were
      easily found in premature infants, with higher positive rate of both late
      pregnancy group B streptococcus (P<0.05) and afterbirth blood culture (P<0.05).
      Significantly higher serum C reaction protein (P<0.05) and white-cell
      count(P<0.05) were also found within moderate to severe HCA patients. Moderate to
      severe HCA, funisitis and syncytial nodular hyperplasia were associated with
      neonatal infections (P<0.05), while infarction, intervillous thrombosis and villi
      thrombus were not observed in the inflammation group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HCA
      is often of few clinical symptoms and easily misdiagnosed by placental
      pathological assessment only. HCA is found associated with intrauterine infection
      and neonatal infection. Pathological assessment of placenta is valuable in
      diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine infection.

PMID- 26888503
TI  - [Diagnostic utility of STR genotyping for partial hydatidiform moles].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical utility of short tandem repeats(STR)
      genotyping technique for diagnosis of partial hydatidiform moles (PHM). METHODS:
      Ten cases with the original diagnosis of PHM and six cases diagnosed as "favour
      PHM" or "abnormal villous, PHM not excluded" were selected for the study. The
      clinical information and follow-up data were reviewed. Histopathologic features
      were evaluated along with p57 immunohistochemistry. After DNA extraction from
      each sample, genotyping was performed by AmpFlSTR((r)) IdentifilerTM PCR kit to
      amplify 15 STR polymorphism loci plus the amelogenin gender-determining in a
      single robust PCR. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 18 to 49 years
      (mean=29 years, median=29 years). Two villous populations (7/16), irregular
      villous contour (13/16), at least moderate trophoblastic hyperplasia (2/16),
      cistern formation (8/16), syncytiotrophoblastic knuckles (14/16), trophoblastic
      pseudoinclusions (6/16) and nucleated fetal red blood cells (8/16) were presented
      in these cases. Of the cases in the study, STR genotyping identified 4
      monospermic complete hydatidiform moles (MCM), 3 dispermic partial hydatidiform
      moles (DPM) and 9 hydropic abortions (HA). The misdiagnosis rate was 13/16 only
      relied on morphology evaluation. Immunostaining of p57 showed 3/4 of MCM were
      focally positive (<5%-20%+), 1/4 of MCM were diffusely positive (70%+), 3/3 of
      DPM were diffusely positive (>=50%+), 7/9 of HA were diffusely positive (>=50%+),
      and 2/9 of HA were focally positive (10%+). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of
      histomorphologic evaluation and p57 immunostaining is insufficient for a
      definitive diagnosis of PHM. STR genotyping offers an accurate diagnosis of PHM.

PMID- 26888504
TI  - [Diagnostic value of combined detection of HNF-1beta and Napsin A in the
      diagnosis of ovarian clear cell carcinoma].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic value of HNF-1beta and Napsin A for ovarian
      clear cell carcinomas, serous carcinomas, endometrioid adenocarcinomas and
      metastatic Krukenberg tumors. METHODS: Immunohistochemical EnVision method was
      used to detect the expression of HNF-1beta and Napsin A in 38 cases of ovarian
      clear cell carcinoma, 30 cases of high-grade serous carcinoma, 22 cases of
      endometrioid adenocarcinoma and 16 cases of metastatic Krukenberg tumor.
      Expression of HNF-1beta and Napsin A were compared, and sensitivity and
      specificity of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary were analysed. RESULTS: The
      positive rate of HNF-1beta in the ovarian clear cell carcinoma was 100%(38/38),
      higher than those in high-grade serous carcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma
      (P<0.05), although significant difference was not observed from that of
      metastatic Krukenberg tumor (P>0.05). Napsin A expressed in 97.4% (37/38) of
      ovarian clear cell carcinoma, 6.7% (2/30) of high-grade serous carcinoma, 22.7%
      (5/22) of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Napsin A expression in clear cell
      carcinoma was higher than those in high-grade serous carcinoma and endometrioid
      adenocarcinoma (P<0.01), and no expression of Napsin A was seen in metastatic
      Krukenberg tumor (P>0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of HNF-1beta in the
      diagnosis of ovarian clear cell carcinoma were 100% and 52.9%, those of Napsin A
      were 97.4% and 91.2%, those of both HNF-1beta and Napsin A were 97.4% and 91.2%,
      respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of HNF-1beta or Napsin A in the
      diagnosis of ovarian clear cell carcinoma were 100% and 52.9%, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: HNF-1beta is a more sensitive marker for the diagnosis of ovarian
      clear cell carcinoma, whereas Napsin A is a more specific marker. The combined
      detection of HNF-1beta and Napsin A may be helpful for the diagnosis of clear
      cell carcinoma of the ovary.

PMID- 26888505
TI  - [Early and late onset severe preeclampsia: a clinicopathologic study of 178
      placentas].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathologic features and prognosis of early and late
      onset severe preeclampsia. METHODS: An observational study was conducted in 178
      cases of severe preeclampsia collected during January 2010 to December 2014 from
      Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital.The cases were divided into two groups
      according to the onset of gestational age of the severe preeclampsia, with 54
      cases of namely early onset (onset <= 34 weeks) and 124 cases of late onset
      (onset >34 weeks). Clinical characteristics of the patients, perinatal outcome
      and the pathologic characteristics of the placentas in each group were evaluated.
      RESULTS: Decidual vascular disease, placental infarction, abruptio placentae and
      placental villi dysplasia were seen in both groups. The incidence of placental
      villi dysplasia was the highest, followed by placental infarction. Incidence of
      severe decidual vascular disease of early and late onset severe decidual vascular
      disease were 16.7% (9/54) and 5.6% (7/124), respectively.Incidence of placental
      infarction of early and late onset severe preeclampsia were 48.1% (26/54) and
      61.3% (76/124). Incidence of placental villi dysplasia of early and late onset
      severe preeclampsia were 79.6% (43/54) and 50.8% (63/124). Incidence of Severe
      decidual vascular disease, placental infarction and placental villi dysplasia
      were significantly different between early and late onset severe preeclampsia
      cases (P<0.05), while there was no difference in decidual vascular disease and
      placenta thrombi (P>0.05). Fetal survival rate of every group was 81.5% (44/54)
      and 93.5% (116/124). Incidence of fetal growth retardation was 55.6% (30/54) and
      38.7% (48/124). The fetal survival rate and incidence of fetal growth retardation
      were different between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of
      decidual vascular disease and placental villi dysplasia in early onset severe
      preeclampsia is higher than those in late onset severe preeclampsia. Neonatal
      outcome and prognosis in early onset severe preeclampsia are worse than those in
      late onset severe preeclampsia.

PMID- 26888506
TI  - [Expression of cyclin D1 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell
      carcinoma and its relationship with HPV16 E7 gene].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of cyclin D1 in cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship with human
      papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7 gene expression. METHODS: Both SiHa and Hcc94 cell
      lines were obtained from cervical epithelial cells of squamous cell carcinoma.
      E6/E7 gene was silent in Hcc94 cell line.Expression levels of cyclin D1 mRNA and
      protein in CIN and squamous cell carcinoma were detected by QT-PCR and
      immunohistochemistry (IHC) respectively. SiRNA was constructed for targeting the
      promoter of HPV16 E7 and then transfected into SiHa cells to establish cm-16 line
      with stable silencing of E7. Control cell line B3 was obtained by blank plasmid
      transfection into SiHa cells. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect cyclin
      D1 mRNA and protein expression in the SiHa, B3, and cm-16 cells, respectively.
      RESULTS: Cyclin D1 was expressed in the basal cells of normal cervical squamous
      epithelia and the expression gradually decreased in the progression from CIN1 to
      CIN3. Squamous cell carcinoma showed negative or scattered expression of cyclin
      D1 (P<0.05). Both mRNA and protein of cyclin D1 in E7(+) SiHa cells were lower
      than those in cm-16 and Hcc94 cells. CONCLUSION: Squamous cell carcinoma with
      high HPV E7 expression shows low level of cyclin D1, suggesting that HPV16 E7
      gene inhibits the expression of cyclin D1.

PMID- 26888507
TI  - [Clinicopathologic features of embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes and
      gene analysis on chromosome 19q13.42].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathologic features and 19q13.42 gene
      changes in embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMR). METHODS:
      Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed
      in three ETMRs. RESULTS: The average age of the patients were 34 months. Imaging
      revealed huge masses with inhomogeneous enhancement and two cases showed cystic
      lesions. Follow-up data showed 14 and 38 months survival in two children, the
      third had a recurrence 4 months after operation. Morphologically, the tumor was
      mainly composed of dense small primitive neuroepithelial cells in patchy or
      multilayer rosettes within a background of advanced neuronal differentiation,
      containing neurocytes, ganglion cells, and neuropil-like background.
      Immunohistochemical staining showed the neuronal marker, synaptophysin, was
      positive in differentiated areas. Nestin as a neural stem cell marker was
      immunoreactive in the primitive neuroepithelial cells including multilayered
      rosettes. Neurons with positive expression of NeuN were observed occasionally. Ki
      67 index was up to 40%-80% in the undifferentiated cells and rosettes, but was
      only 1%-3% in the differentiated areas. CD99 was positive in perivascular
      papillary pattern areas in one case. 19q13.42 amplification was detected in more
      than 30% of tumor cells in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: ETMR is a unique entity with
      distinctive clinical and pathological features. Chromosome 19q13.42 abnormality
      is valuable for confirming the diagnosis and for further treatment research.

PMID- 26888508
TI  - [Renal cell carcinoma with t(6;11)(p21.2;q13)/MALAT1-TFEB fusion: a clinical and
      pathological analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, differential
      diagnosis and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) associated with
      t(6;11)(p21.2;q13)/MALAT1-TFEB gene fusion. METHODS: A total of 9 cases of such
      rare tumor were selected for clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular
      analysis, with review of literature. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from
      21 to 42 years (mean=31.3 years). The patients included four men and five women.
      Histologically, 4 of the 9 cases studied showed classic morphologic features of
      TFEB RCC, with hyaline material, pigments and psammoma bodies frequently
      identified. The remaining 5 cases demonstrated uncommon morphology, mimicking
      perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm, clear cell RCC, chromophobe RCC or
      papillary RCC. Immunohistochemical study showed that TFEB and vimentin were
      positive in all cases. Most of the tumors studied also expressed Ksp-cadherin, E
      cadherin, CD117, HMB45, Melan A and Cathepsin K. CKpan showed immunostaining in
      only 1 case. The staining for TFE3, CD10 and CK7 were all negative. TFEB gene
      rearrangement was detected in all the 9 cases studied using fluorescence in-situ
      hybridization. MALAT1-TFEB fusion gene was identified in 2 cases by polymerase
      chain reaction and direct sequencing. TFEB RCC seemed to be an indolent tumor.
      During a mean follow-up of 31 months, none developed tumor recurrence,
      progression, or metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: TFEB fusion-associated RCC is a rare
      neoplasm, tends to occur in young age group and carries an indolent behavior.
      Diagnosis relies on clinicopathologic findings and immunohistochemical analysis.
      TFEB break-apart FISH assay is a reliable tool in confirming the diagnosis.

PMID- 26888509
TI  - [Middle ear adenoma: clinical and pathologic analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and pathologic features of middle ear
      adenoma (MEA). METHODS: Eight cases of MEA were collected from Beijing Tongren
      Hospital, Capital Medical University between 2004 and 2014, and
      immunohistochemical staining was performed. RESULTS: The patients included five
      women and three men (mean age, 37.5 years; median 37 years; range, 21-51 years).
      All patients had unilateral lesions. Five MEA occurred on the left side, and
      three on the right. In seven patients the MEA was primary, and they presented
      with hearing loss (6 cases), tinnitus (5 cases), sense of ear blockage (3 cases),
      otalgia (1 case) and facial nerve paralysis (1 case). The remaining patient had
      recurrent MEA, and presented with otorrhea, aural fullness and tinnitus.
      Histologically, the tumor cells were arranged in a variety of patterns, including
      solid sheets, nests, glands, ribbons or trabeculae. Glandular structures were
      prominent in one case only. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffusely
      positive for keratin (8/8) and vimentin (8/8), and focally positive for CK 7(8/8)
      and CK5/6(8/8). CK7 and CK5/6 were predominantly positive in tumor cells with
      glandular growth pattern; CK7 was positive in the luminal cells while CK5/6 was
      positive in the abluminal cells. Both were also expressed focally in scattered
      tumor cells with non-glandular pattern. The tumor cells were also diffusely
      positive for synaptophysin(8/8), diffusely but weakly positive for NSE (5/8), and
      were diffusely or focally positive for chromogranin A (4/8). Both S-100 protein
      and calponin were negative in all cases. The proliferation rate was low, about 1%
      2%. Six cases were followed up for one year and three months to ten years and six
      months, with an average follow-up period of four years and two months. Two
      patients developed recurrence, but there were no regional or distant metastases.
      CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of MEA requires pathologic confirmation since the clinical
      symptoms are non-specific. MEA can show a variety of histologic patterns, and
      should be distinguished from other space-occupying lesions at this site.
      Immunohistochemical staining has greatly contributed to the diagnosis and
      differential diagnosis of MEA. The prognosis of this tumor is good. Patients with
      MEA require long-term follow-up for recurrences.

PMID- 26888510
TI  - [Expression levels of miR-181c-3p and miR-5692b in esophageal cancer and their
      clinical significance].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the expression level and clinical significance of miR-181c-3p
      and miR-5692b in esophageal cancer. METHODS: The microRNA (miRNA) profiles of
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed by miRNA microarray in 55 cases
      of esophageal cancer. The expression levels of miR-181c-3p and miR-5692b from 55
      pairs of tumor tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were determined by qRT
      PCR analysis. RESULTS: Both miR-181c-3p and miR-5692b were significantly up
      regulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. Their
      expression was also significantly associated with tumor size, depth of invasion
      and clinical tumor stage (P<0.05). High expression of miR-181c-3p and miR-5692b
      were significantly associated with poor prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox
      regression analysis confirmed that high expression of miR-181c-3p and miR-5692b
      was poor prognostic indicators in esophageal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: There are
      significant correlation between miR-181c-3p/miR-5692b expression,
      clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis. They represent potential prognostic
      biomarkers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PMID- 26888511
TI  - [Sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma: reports of two cases and review of the
      literature].

PMID- 26888512
TI  - [NUT midline carcinoma of sinonasal tract: report of a case].

PMID- 26888513
TI  - [Pulmonary fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma: report of a case].

PMID- 26888514
TI  - [Duodenal medullary carcinoma: report of a case].

PMID- 26888515
TI  - [Hepatic desmoid type fibromatosis: report of a case].

PMID- 26888516
TI  - [Gastrointestinal stromal tumor with foam cell-like and micro-capsule structures:
      report of a case].

PMID- 26888517
TI  - [Recent progress in diagnosis and classification of ovarian germ cell tumors].

PMID- 26888518
TI  - [Study of relationship of long noncoding RNA, microRNA and epigenetics].

PMID- 26888519
TI  - Building the Leviathan--Voluntary centralisation of punishment power sustains
      cooperation in humans.
AB  - The prevalence of cooperation among humans is puzzling because cooperators can be
      exploited by free riders. Peer punishment has been suggested as a solution to
      this puzzle, but cumulating evidence questions its robustness in sustaining
      cooperation. Amongst others, punishment fails when it is not powerful enough, or
      when it elicits counter-punishment. Existing research, however, has ignored that
      the distribution of punishment power can be the result of social interactions. We
      introduce a novel experiment in which individuals can transfer punishment power
      to others. We find that while decentralised peer punishment fails to overcome
      free riding, the voluntary transfer of punishment power enables groups to sustain
      cooperation. This is achieved by non-punishing cooperators empowering those who
      are willing to punish in the interest of the group. Our results show how
      voluntary power centralisation can efficiently sustain cooperation, which could
      explain why hierarchical power structures are widespread among animals and
      humans. 

PMID- 26888520
TI  - Urinary deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) as biomarkers of DON and ZEA
      exposure of pigs.
AB  - Four diets contaminated with 1.1 to 5.0 mg/kg deoxynivalenol (DON) and 0.4 to 2.4
      mg/kg zearalenone (ZEA) were fed to four groups of six growing Large White pigs.
      Urine samples were collected after 3 to 4 days and again after 6 to 7 days on the
      diets. On each sampling day, half of the animals were sampled in the morning,
      after an 8-h fast, and the other half were sampled in the afternoon, after 7 h of
      ad libitum access to feed. The urinary concentrations of DON, DON-glucuronide,
      DON-3-sulphate, de-epoxy-DON, as well as of ZEA, ZEA-14-glucuronide, alpha
      zearalenol and alpha-zearalenol-14-glucuronide, analysed using LC-MS/MS, were
      used to calculate urinary DON and ZEA equivalent concentrations (DONe and ZEAe).
      The urinary concentration of DONe (P < 0.001), but not of ZEAe (P = 0.31), was
      lower in the fasted than that in the fed animals. The urinary DONe/creatinine and
      ZEAe/creatinine ratios were highly correlated with DON and ZEA intake per kg body
      weight the day preceding sampling (r = 0.76 and 0.77; P < 0.001). The
      correlations between DON intake during the 7 h preceding urine sampling in the
      afternoon and urinary DONe/creatinine ratio (r = 0.88) as well as between mean
      ZEA intake during 3 days preceding urine sampling and urinary ZEAe/creatinine
      ratio (r = 0.84) were even higher, reflecting the plasma elimination half-time of
      several hours for DON and of more than 3 days for ZEA. ZEAe analysed in
      enzymatically hydrolysed urine using an ELISA kit was highly correlated with the
      LC-MS/MS data (r = 0.94). The urinary DONe and ZEAe to creatinine ratios,
      analysed in pooled urine samples of several pigs fed the same diet, can be used
      to estimate their exposure to DON and ZEA.

PMID- 26888521
TI  - Screening for illicit drugs in pooled human urine and urinated soil samples and
      studies on the stability of urinary excretion products of cocaine, MDMA, and MDEA
      in wastewater by hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques.
AB  - Monitoring population drug use through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a
      useful method to quantitatively follow trends and estimate total drug consumption
      in communities. Concentrations of drug biomarkers might be low in wastewater due
      to dilution; and therefore analysis of pooled urine (PU) is useful to detect
      consumed drugs and identify targets of illicit drugs use. The aims of the study
      were (1) to screen PU and urinated soil (US) samples collected at festivals for
      illicit drug excretion products using hyphenated techniques; (2) to develop and
      validate a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry /
      mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method of quantifying urinary targets of
      identified drugs in wastewater; and (3) to conduct a 24 h stability study, using
      PU and US to better reflect the chemical environment for targets in wastewater.
      Cocaine (COC) and ecstasy-like compounds were the most frequently detected
      illicit drugs; an analytical method was developed to quantify their excretion
      products. Hydroxymethoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
      (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), HMMA sulfate (HMMA-S),
      benzoylecgonine (BE), and cocaethylene (CE) had 85-102% of initial concentration
      after 8 h of incubation, whereas COC and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) had 74 and
      67% after 8 h, respectively. HMMA showed a net increase during 24 h of incubation
      (107% +/- 27, n = 8), possibly due to the cleavage of HMMA conjugates, and
      biotransformation of MDMA. The results suggest HMMA as analytical target for MDMA
      consumption in WBE, due to its stability in wastewater and its excretion as the
      main phase I metabolite of MDMA. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888522
TI  - One-pot environmentally friendly amino acid mediated synthesis of N-doped
      graphene-silver nanocomposites with an enhanced multifunctional behavior.
AB  - The present paper reports the one-pot synthesis of N-doped graphene-Ag
      nanocomposites (N-GrAg) involving the in situ generation of Ag nanoparticles
      (NPs). The simultaneous reduction of GO and Ag(+) to produce N-GrAg has been
      achieved under mild reaction conditions using an environmentally benign reducing
      agent, glycine, in aqueous medium without adding any external stabilizer. XRD and
      SAED analyses revealed the presence of Ag in the fcc structure. HRTEM analysis
      shows a 'd' spacing of 0.236 nm corresponding to the highest intensity (111)
      reflection of Ag which matches the fcc structure. The N-doping of graphene and
      its uniform decoration by Ag NPs (with an av. dia. of 17.5 nm) having a
      relatively low surface atomic % of Ag (0.309) are evidenced by TEM and XPS
      analyses. Raman spectroscopy has also revealed that the decoration of N-Gr with
      Ag NPs resulted in the enhancement of the D and G bands by about 365%. The
      presence of Ag in N-GrAg prevents the folding of the graphene sheet as was
      revealed by TEM analysis. The supramolecular interactions of Ag with different
      moieties of N in N-GrAg were evidenced by IR, (13)C NMR and XPS analyses, which
      resulted in the enhancement of its surface area and electrical conductivity as
      compared to that of N-Gr. The presence of Ag NPs on N-Gr increased the current
      response in cyclic voltammetry by more than seven fold as compared to that of N
      Gr. These nanocomposites exhibited a fairly high SERS activity for 4
      aminothiophenol, employed as the probe molecule, and allowed its detection at a
      50 nM concentration even for the fairly small sized Ag NPs used in the present
      work. 

PMID- 26888523
TI  - Toxicity Overrides Morphology on Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Grazing
      Resistance to the Calanoid Copepod Eudiaptomus gracilis.
AB  - Toxicity and morphology may function as defense mechanisms of bloom-forming
      cyanobacteria against zooplankton grazing. Yet, the relative importance of each
      of these factors and their plasticity remains poorly known. We tested the effects
      of chemical and morphological traits of the bloom-forming cyanobacterium
      Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii on the feeding response of the selective feeder
      Eudiaptomus gracilis (Calanoida, Copepoda), using a saxitoxin-producing strain
      (STX+) and a non-saxitoxin (STX-)-producing strain as food. From these two
      chemotypes, we established cultures of three different morphotypes that differed
      in filament length (short, medium, and long) by incubating the strains at 17, 25,
      and 32  degrees C. We hypothesized that the inhibitory effects of saxitoxins
      determine the avoidance of C. raciborskii, and that morphology would only become
      relevant in the absence of saxitoxins. Temperature affected two traits: higher
      temperature resulted in significantly shorter filaments in both strains and led
      to much higher toxin contents in the STX+ strain (1.7 MUg eq STX L(-1) at 17 
      degrees C, 7.9 MUg eq STX L(-1) at 25  degrees C, and 25.1 MUg eq STX L(-1) at 32
      degrees C). Copepods strongly reduced the ingestion of the STX+ strain in
      comparison with STX- cultures, regardless of filament length. Conversely,
      consumption of shorter filaments was significantly higher in the STX- strain. The
      great plasticity of morphological and chemical traits of C. raciborskii and their
      resultant contrasting effects on the feeding behavior of zooplankton might
      explain the success of this cyanobacterium in a variety of aquatic environments. 

PMID- 26888525
TI  - Erratum to: Development of a magnetic coagulant based on Moringa oleifera seed
      extract for water treatment.

PMID- 26888524
TI  - Functional Analysis of Vibrio vulnificus Orthologs of Escherichia coli RraA and
      RNase E.
AB  - RNase E plays an important role in the degradation and processing of RNA in
      Escherichia coli. The enzymatic activity of RNase E is controlled by the protein
      inhibitors RraA and RraB. The marine pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus also
      contains homologs of RNase E and RraA, designated as RNase EV, RraAV1, and
      RraAV2. Here, we report that RraAV1 actively inhibits the enzymatic activity of
      RNase EV in vivo and in vitro by interacting with the C-terminal domain of RNase
      EV. Coexpression of RraAV1 reduced ribonucleolytic activity in the cells
      overproducing RNase EV and consequently restored normal growth of these cells. An
      in vitro cleavage assay further demonstrated that RraAV1 efficiently inhibits the
      ribonucleolytic activity of RNase EV on BR10 + hpT, a synthetic oligonucleotide
      containing the RNase E cleavage site of RNA I. Our findings suggest that RraAV1
      plays an active role in RNase EV-mediated RNA cleavage in V. vulnificus. 

PMID- 26888526
TI  - Competitive immunoassay for analysis of bisphenol A in children's sera using a
      specific antibody.
AB  - Bisphenol A (BPA) has been reported as a potential estrogenic substance that
      could affect human health and reproduction. In this study, a monoclonal antibody
      (Mab) against BPA was produced after the immunization of Balb/c mice with a
      conjugate of 4,4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid coupling with keyhole limpet
      hemocyanin (BVA-KLH). The obtained Mab showed higher affinity against BPA and
      lower cross-reactivity toward 4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol, diphenolic acid,
      hydroquinone, salicylic acid, and other common phenolic compounds. Basing on the
      Mab, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was
      developed. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was found
      to be 0.1 ng mL(-1) with the linear working range of 0.45-10.56 ng mL(-1). After
      sample extraction, the fortified serum samples were detected with intra- and
      inter-assay recovery ranges of 81.2-92.9 and 84.4-94.4 %, respectively. Then, 100
      children's sera were screened by ic-ELISA. The result showed that 54 % of the
      serum samples were BPA-positive. The positive samples were purified by immuno
      affinity column (IAC) and further confirmed by high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector measured at lambda ex/lambda em
      228/310 nm in acetonitrile-water solution (v:v, 40:60). The analysis of the
      unknown samples showed that ic-ELISA agreed well with the HPLC results. It also
      revealed that the ELISA developed here could be a useful tool for screening BPA
      in children's sera before the validation of HPLC. 

PMID- 26888527
TI  - Comprehensive analysis of PM10 in Belgrade urban area on the basis of long-term
      measurements.
AB  - In this study, we investigated the impact of potential emission sources and
      transport pathways on annual and seasonal PM10 loadings in an urban area of
      Belgrade (Serbia). The analyzed dataset comprised PM10 mass concentrations for
      the period 2003-2015, as well as their chemical composition (organic/elemental
      carbon, benzo[a]pyrene, As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cl(-), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+),
      K(+), NO3 (-), SO4 (2-), and NH4 (+)), meteorological parameters, and
      concentrations of inorganic gaseous pollutants and soot for the period 2011-2015.
      The combination of different methods, such as source apportionment (Unmix),
      ensemble learning method (random forest), and multifractal and inverse
      multifractal analysis, was utilized in order to obtain a detailed description of
      the PM10 origin and spatio-temporal distribution and to determine their
      relationship with other pollutants and meteorological parameters. The
      contribution of long-range and regional transport was estimated by means of
      trajectory sector analysis, whereas the hybrid receptor models were applied to
      identify potential areas of concern. 

PMID- 26888528
TI  - Bacteria-based polythene degradation products: GC-MS analysis and toxicity
      testing.
AB  - Polythene degradation leads to the production of various by-products depending
      upon the type of degradation process. The polythene degradation products (PEDP)
      in the culture supernatant of the two bacteria (Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain
      VASB14/WL and Bacillus cereus strain VASB1/TS) were analyzed with GC-MS
      technique. The major by-products in the PEDP in the culture supernatant of L.
      fusiformis strain VASB14/WL (1,2,3,4 tetra methyl benzene) and B. cereus strain
      VASB1/TS (1,2,3 trimethyl benzene, 1 ethyl 3,5-dimethyl benzene, 1,4 di methyl 2
      ethyl benzene, and dibutyl phthalate) dissolved in diethyl ether were recorded.
      To assess the environmental applicability of polythene degradation using L.
      fusiformis strain VASB14/WL and B. cereus strain VASB1/TS at in vitro level. The
      effect of PEDP produced after 2 months of regular shaking at room temperature on
      both plants and animal system was studied. No significant decrease in the percent
      seed germination was recorded with the PEDP of both the bacteria. PEDP produced
      by L. fusiformis strain VASB14/WL did not report any significant change in
      germination index (GI) at 10 and 25 %, but least GI (39.66 +/- 13.94) was
      documented at 50 % concentration of PEDP. Highest elongation inhibition rate
      (53.83 +/- 15.71) of Sorghum was also recorded with L. fusiformis and at the same
      concentration. 

PMID- 26888529
TI  - Effects of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) on neuronal and muscular
      development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.
AB  - The negative effects of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in humans,
      including sunburn and light-induced cellular injury, are of increasing public
      concern. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), an organic chemical UV filter, is
      an active ingredient in sunscreen products. To date, little information is
      available about its neurotoxicity during early vertebrate development. Zebrafish
      embryos were exposed to various concentrations of 4-MBC in embryo medium for 3
      days. In this study, a high concentration of 4-MBC, which is not being expected
      at the current environmental concentrations in the environment, was used for the
      purpose of phenotypic screening. Embryos exposed to 15 MUM of 4-MBC displayed
      abnormal axial curvature and exhibited impaired motility. Exposure effects were
      found to be greatest during the segmentation period, when somite formation and
      innervation occur. Immunostaining of the muscle and axon markers F59, znp1, and
      zn5 revealed that 4-MBC exposure leads to a disorganized pattern of slow muscle
      fibers and axon pathfinding errors during the innervation of both primary and
      secondary motor neurons. Our results also showed reduction in AChE activity upon
      4-MBC exposure both in vivo in the embryos (15 MUM) and in vitro in mammalian
      Neuro-2A cells (0.1 MUM), providing a possible mechanism for 4-MBC-induced
      muscular and neuronal defects. Taken together, our results have shown that 4-MBC
      is a teratogen and influences muscular and neuronal development, which may result
      in developmental defects. 

PMID- 26888530
TI  - The unphosphorylated form of the PilR two-component system regulates pilA gene
      expression in Geobacter sulfurreducens.
AB  - In Geobacter sulfurreducens, metal reduction and generation of bioelectricity
      require the participation of several elements, and among them, the type IV pili
      has an essential role. The pilus is composed of multiple PilA monomers.
      Expression of pilA gene depends mainly on the sigma54 factor and the response
      regulator protein PilR. In this work, we characterized the role of the PilS-PilR
      two-component system in the regulation of the pilA gene expression. Experimental
      evidence indicates that PilS is autophosphorylated at the His-334 residue, which
      in turn is transferred to the conserved Asp-53 in PilR. Contrary to other PilS
      PilR systems, substitution D53N in PilR resulted in higher activation of the pilA
      gene. By using a pilA::luxCDABE fusion with different promoter fragments and in
      vitro DNA-binding assays, we demonstrated the existence of multiple functional
      PilR binding sites. A regulatory model in which the non-phosphorylated PilR
      protein directs activation of pilA expression by binding to two sites in the
      promoter region of this gene is presented.

PMID- 26888531
TI  - Effect of carbon to nitrogen ratio of feed wastewater and sludge retention time
      on activated sludge in a submerged membrane bioreactor.
AB  - This paper investigated the effects of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
      on the activated sludge rheology in a submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR)
      operated at different sludge retention time (SRT) values and different carbon to
      nitrogen ratios (C/N) of feed wastewater. The C/N ratios of the feed were
      adjusted accordingly so that synthetic wastewaters prepared simulated municipal
      wastewater, non-toxic wastewater with high C/N ratio and non-toxic wastewater
      with low C/N ratio. A number of important operational parameters such as mixed
      liquor suspended solid (MLSS), protein fraction of EPS (EPSp), carbohydrate
      fraction of EPS (EPSc), protein fraction of soluble microbial product (SMPp),
      carbohydrate fraction of SMP (SMPc), apparent viscosity, critical flux and
      hydrophobicity in mixed liquor and their correlations were investigated in the
      sMBR systems operated. The statistical analysis indicated that the C/N ratio of
      feed, SRT, MLSS and SMPc were found to have positive effects on apparent
      viscosity at three different shear rates. On the other hand, a negative impact
      was detected between the apparent viscosities and the critical fluxes. It was
      also observed that there is a significant positive correlation between
      hydrophobicity and both EPSp and SMPp. 

PMID- 26888533
TI  - Clinical and Procedural Predictors of Outcomes From the Endovascular Treatment of
      Posterior Circulation Strokes.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with posterior circulation strokes have been
      excluded from recent randomized endovascular stroke trials. We reviewed the
      recent multicenter experience with endovascular treatment of posterior
      circulation strokes to identify the clinical, radiographic, and procedural
      predictors of successful recanalization and good neurological outcomes. METHODS:
      We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with
      posterior circulation strokes, who underwent thrombectomy with stent retrievers
      or primary aspiration thrombectomy (including A Direct Aspiration First Pass
      Technique [ADAPT] approach). We correlated clinical and radiographic outcomes
      with demographic, clinical, and technical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of
      100 patients were included in the final analysis (mean age, 63.5+/-14.2 years;
      mean admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 19.2+/-8.2).
      Favorable clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale score <=2) was
      achieved in 35% of patients. Successful recanalization and shorter time from
      stroke onset to the start of the procedure were significant predictors of
      favorable clinical outcome at 90 days. Stent retriever and aspiration
      thrombectomy as primary treatment approaches showed comparable procedural and
      clinical outcomes. None of the baseline advanced imaging modalities (magnetic
      resonance imaging, computed tomographic perfusion, or computed tomography
      angiography assessment of collaterals) showed superiority in selecting patients
      for thrombectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Time to the start of the procedure is an important
      predictor of clinical success after thrombectomy in patients with posterior
      circulation strokes. Both stent retriever and aspiration thrombectomy as primary
      treatment approaches are effective in achieving successful recanalization.

PMID- 26888534
TI  - Silent Brain Infarction and Risk of Future Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta
      Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Silent brain infarction (SBI) on magnetic resonance
      imaging has been proposed as a subclinical risk marker for future symptomatic
      stroke. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the
      association between magnetic resonance imaging-defined SBI and future stroke
      risk. METHODS: We searched the medical literature to identify cohort studies
      involving adults with SBI detected by magnetic resonance imaging who were
      subsequently followed up for incident clinically defined stroke. Study data and
      quality assessment were recorded in duplicate with disagreements in data
      extraction resolved by a third reader. Strength association between magnetic
      resonance imaging-detected SBI and future symptomatic stroke was measured by an
      hazard ratio. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 13 studies (14 764 subjects)
      with a mean follow-up ranging from 25.7 to 174 months. SBI predicted the
      occurrence of stroke with a random effects crude relative risk of 2.94 (95%
      confidence interval, 2.24-3.86, P<0.001; Q=39.65, P<0.001). In the 8 studies of
      10 427 subjects providing hazard ratio adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors,
      SBI was an independent predictor of incident stroke (hazard ratio, 2.08 [95%
      confidence interval, 1.69-2.56; P<0.001]; Q=8.99; P=0.25). In a subgroup analysis
      pooling 9483 stroke-free individuals from large population-based studies, SBI was
      present in ~18% of participants and remained a strong predictor of future stroke
      (hazard ratio, 2.06 [95% confidence interval, 1.64-2.59]; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:
      SBI is present in ~1 in 5 stroke-free older adults and is associated with a 2
      fold increased risk of future stroke. Future studies of in-depth stroke risk
      evaluations and intensive prevention measures are warranted in patients with
      clinically unrecognized radiologically evident brain infarctions.

PMID- 26888532
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Solitaire Stent Thrombectomy: Individual Patient Data Meta
      Analysis of Randomized Trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent positive randomized trials of endovascular therapy
      for ischemic stroke used predominantly stent retrievers. We pooled data to
      investigate the efficacy and safety of stent thrombectomy using the Solitaire
      device in anterior circulation ischemic stroke. METHODS: Patient-level data were
      pooled from trials in which the Solitaire was the only or the predominant device
      used in a prespecified meta-analysis (SEER Collaboration): Solitaire FR With the
      Intention for Thrombectomy as Primary Endovascular Treatment (SWIFT PRIME),
      Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion
      With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times (ESCAPE), Extending the
      Time for Thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological Deficits-Intra-Arterial (EXTEND
      IA), and Randomized Trial of Revascularization With Solitaire FR Device Versus
      Best Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke Due to Anterior Circulation
      Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within Eight Hours of Symptom Onset (REVASCAT).
      The primary outcome was ordinal analysis of modified Rankin Score at 90 days. The
      primary analysis included all patients in the 4 trials with 2 sensitivity
      analyses: (1) excluding patients in whom Solitaire was not the first device used
      and (2) including the 3 Solitaire-only trials (excluding ESCAPE). Secondary
      outcomes included functional independence (modified Rankin Score 0-2),
      symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and mortality. RESULTS: The primary
      analysis included 787 patients: 401 randomized to endovascular thrombectomy and
      386 to standard care, and 82.6% received intravenous thrombolysis. The common
      odds ratio for modified Rankin Score improvement was 2.7 (2.0-3.5) with no
      heterogeneity in effect by age, sex, baseline stroke severity, extent of computed
      tomography changes, site of occlusion, or pretreatment with alteplase. The number
      needed to treat to reduce disability was 2.5 and for an extra patient to achieve
      independent outcome was 4.25 (3.29-5.99). Successful revascularization occurred
      in 77% treated with Solitaire device. The rate of symptomatic intracerebral
      hemorrhage and overall mortality did not differ between treatment groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: Solitaire thrombectomy for large vessel ischemic stroke was safe and
      highly effective with substantially reduced disability. Benefits were consistent
      in all prespecified subgroups.

PMID- 26888535
TI  - Inflammatory Markers and Outcomes After Lacunar Stroke: Levels of Inflammatory
      Markers in Treatment of Stroke Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We hypothesized that concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL
      6), serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, CD40 ligand, and
      monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 would predict recurrent ischemic stroke and
      major vascular events after recent lacunar stroke. METHODS: Levels of
      Inflammatory Markers in the Treatment of Stroke (LIMITS) was an international,
      multicenter, prospective ancillary biomarker study nested within the Secondary
      Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) study, a Phase III trial in
      patients with recent lacunar stroke. Crude and Adjusted Cox proportional hazards
      models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals
      (95% CI) for recurrence risks. RESULTS: Among 1244 patients with lacunar stroke
      (mean age, 63.3+/-10.8 years), there were 115 major vascular events (stroke,
      myocardial infarction, and vascular death). The risk of major vascular events
      increased with elevated concentrations of both tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      receptor 1 (adjusted HR per SD, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.41; P=0.01) and IL-6
      (adjusted HR per SD, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19; P=0.008). Compared with the bottom
      quartile (tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 <2.24 ng/L), those in the top
      quartile of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 (>3.63 ng/L) were at twice the
      risk of major vascular events after adjusting for demographics (partially
      adjusted HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.11-3.52), though the effect attenuated after
      adjusting for other risk factors and statin use (adjusted HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 0.93
      3.04). Serum amyloid A, CD40 ligand, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 were
      not associated with prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Among recent lacunar stroke patients,
      IL-6 and TNF receptor concentrations predict risk of recurrent vascular events,
      and they are associated with the effect of antiplatelet therapies. CLINICAL TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00059306.

PMID- 26888536
TI  - Pediatric Cortical Vein Thrombosis: Frequency and Association With Venous
      Infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cortical vein thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon site of
      involvement in cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. Few reports have described
      pediatric CVT, and none has differentiated its unique attributes. This study
      assessed the clinical features and radiographic outcome of a cohort of children
      with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, comparing those with CVT to those without
      CVT. METHODS: Children diagnosed with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis were
      retrospectively reviewed and separated into 2 groups based on the presence or
      absence of cortical vein involvement. RESULTS: Fifty patients met inclusion
      criteria, including 12 with CVT. The CVT group was more likely to present with
      seizure (P=0.0271), altered mental status (P=0.0271), and a family history of
      clotting disorder (P=0.0477). Acute imaging of the CVT group more commonly
      demonstrated concurrent superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (P=0.0024),
      parenchymal hemorrhage (P=0.0141), and restricted diffusion (P<0.0001). At follow
      up, the CVT group more commonly showed headache, seizure, and focal neurological
      deficit (P=0.0449), and venous infarction (P=0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort,
      CVT was significantly associated with seizures at presentation, hemorrhage and
      restricted diffusion on acute imaging, as well as neurological disability and
      venous infarction at follow-up. Involvement of cortical veins in cerebral
      sinovenous thrombosis is associated with an increased risk of infarction and
      adverse outcome in children.

PMID- 26888538
TI  - The alcohol harm paradox: using a national survey to explore how alcohol may
      disproportionately impact health in deprived individuals.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Internationally, studies show that similar levels of alcohol
      consumption in deprived communities (vs. more affluent) result in higher levels
      of alcohol-related ill health. Hypotheses to explain this alcohol harm paradox
      include deprived drinkers: suffering greater combined health challenges (e.g.
      smoking, obesity) which exacerbate effects of alcohol harms; exhibiting more
      harmful consumption patterns (e.g. bingeing); having a history of more harmful
      consumption; and disproportionately under-reporting consumption. We use a bespoke
      national survey to assess each of these hypotheses. METHODS: A national telephone
      survey designed to test this alcohol harm paradox was undertaken (May 2013 to
      April 2014) with English adults (n = 6015). Deprivation was assigned by area of
      residence. Questions examined factors including: current and historic drinking
      patterns; combined health challenges (smoking, diet, exercise and body mass); and
      under-reported consumption (enhanced questioning on atypical/special occasion
      drinking). For each factor, analyses examined differences between deprived and
      more affluent individuals controlled for total alcohol consumption. RESULTS:
      Independent of total consumption, deprived drinkers were more likely to smoke, be
      overweight and report poor diet and exercise. Consequently, deprived increased
      risk drinkers (male >168-400 g, female >112-280 g alcohol/week) were >10 times
      more likely than non-deprived counterparts to drink in a behavioural syndrome
      combining smoking, excess weight and poor diet/exercise. Differences by
      deprivation were significant but less marked in higher risk drinkers (male >400
      g, female >280 g alcohol/week). Current binge drinking was associated with
      deprivation independently of total consumption and a history of bingeing was also
      associated with deprivation in lower and increased risk drinkers. CONCLUSIONS:
      Deprived increased/higher drinkers are more likely than affluent counterparts to
      consume alcohol as part of a suite of health challenging behaviours including
      smoking, excess weight and poor diet/exercise. Together these can have
      multiplicative effects on risks of wholly (e.g. alcoholic liver disease) and
      partly (e.g. cancers) alcohol-related conditions. More binge drinking in deprived
      individuals will also increase risks of injury and heart disease despite total
      alcohol consumption not differing from affluent counterparts. Public health
      messages on how smoking, poor diet/exercise and bingeing escalate health risks
      associated with alcohol are needed, especially in deprived communities, as their
      absence will contribute to health inequalities.

PMID- 26888541
TI  - Proton pump inhibitors may be linked to dementia risk.

PMID- 26888539
TI  - Daptomycin > 6 mg/kg/day as salvage therapy in patients with complex bone and
      joint infection: cohort study in a regional reference center.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Even if daptomycin does not have approval for the treatment of bone
      and joint infections (BJI), the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines
      propose this antibiotic as alternative therapy for prosthetic joint infection.
      The recommended dose is 6 mg/kg/d, whereas recent data support the use of higher
      doses in these patients. METHODS: We performed a cohort study including
      consecutive patients that have received daptomycin >6 mg/kg/d for complex BJI
      between 2011 and 2013 in a French regional reference center. Factors associated
      with treatment failure were determined on univariate Cox analysis and Kaplan
      Meier curves. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (age, 61 +/- 17 years) received a
      mean dose of 8 +/- 0.9 mg/kg/d daptomycin, for a mean 81 +/- 59 days (range, 6
      303 days). Most had chronic (n = 37, 86 %) implant-associated (n = 37, 86 %) BJI
      caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 32, 74 %). A severe adverse event
      (SAE) occurred in 6 patients (14 %), including 2 cases of eosinophilic pneumonia,
      concomitant with daptomycin Cmin >24 mg/L. Outcome was favorable in 30 (77 %) of
      the 39 clinically assessable patients. Predictors for treatment failure were age,
      non-optimal surgery and daptomycin withdrawal for SAE. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged
      high-dose daptomycin therapy was effective in patients with complex BJI. However,
      optimal surgery remains the cornerstone of medico-surgical strategy; and a higher
      incidence of eosinophilic pneumonia than expected was recorded.

PMID- 26888540
TI  - Sixty seconds on . . . bed blockers.

PMID- 26888542
TI  - "I Feel Lucky" - Gratitude Among Young Adults with Phenylketonuria (PKU).
AB  - If persons with phenylketonuria (PKU) do not start a protein restricted diet in
      early infancy, they will suffer severe brain damage. Previous qualitative
      research on adults and adolescents with PKU has identified stigmatization,
      uncertain risk perceptions, considerable time spent on preparing food, and
      incongruence between the PKU diet and certain lifestyle demands. The aim of this
      study was to explore young and early treated Norwegian adults' experiences, by
      conducting in-depth interviews in 2011 with 11 adults with PKU, aged 20-30. Being
      the first qualitative study on people with PKU in Norway, the process was
      inspired by grounded theory. All participants reflected on their own health and
      existence by expressing positive counterfactual thoughts. They considered
      themselves lucky to have had parents who had managed the diet, they were grateful
      for the time and place they were born, and for information and treatment
      availability, although the results also show some ambiguous attitudes towards the
      hospital which provided the treatment. The expression of gratitude in association
      with having PKU suggests a major positive coping strategy. It contributes to a
      more holistic understanding of the experiences and attitudes of young, Norwegian
      adults with PKU, as it provides a counterweight to the negative experiences.

PMID- 26888543
TI  - Nanofiber scaffolds influence organelle structure and function in bone marrow
      stromal cells.
AB  - Recent work demonstrates that osteoprogenitor cell culture on nanofiber scaffolds
      can promote differentiation. This response may be driven by changes in cell
      morphology caused by the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanofibers. We
      hypothesized that nanofiber effects on cell behavior may be mediated by changes
      in organelle structure and function. To test this hypothesis, human bone marrow
      stromal cells (hBMSCs) were cultured on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)
      nanofibers scaffolds and on PCL flat spuncoat films. After 1 day-culture, hBMSCs
      were stained for actin, nucleus, mitochondria, and peroxisomes, and then imaged
      using 3D confocal microscopy. Imaging revealed that the hBMSC cell body (actin)
      and peroxisomal volume were reduced during culture on nanofibers. In addition,
      the nucleus and peroxisomes occupied a larger fraction of cell volume during
      culture on nanofibers than on films, suggesting enhancement of the nuclear and
      peroxisomal functional capacity. Organelles adopted morphologies with greater 3D
      character on nanofibers, where the Z-Depth (a measure of cell thickness) was
      increased. Comparisons of organelle positions indicated that the nucleus,
      mitochondria, and peroxisomes were closer to the cell center (actin) for
      nanofibers, suggesting that nanofiber culture induced active organelle
      positioning. The smaller cell volume and more centralized organelle positioning
      would reduce the energy cost of inter-organelle vesicular transport during
      culture on nanofibers. Finally, hBMSC bioassay measurements (DNA, peroxidase,
      bioreductive potential, lactate, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)) indicated that
      peroxidase activity may be enhanced during nanofiber culture. These results
      demonstrate that culture of hBMSCs on nanofibers caused changes in organelle
      structure and positioning, which may affect organelle functional capacity and
      transport. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the
      public domain in the USA. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2016. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 989
      1001, 2017.

PMID- 26888544
TI  - Epidemic activity of respiratory syncytial virus is related to temperature and
      rainfall in equatorial tropical countries.
AB  - Although viral acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are a major public
      health problem in tropical low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and there is
      growing evidence showing their relationship with meteorological parameters,
      studies performed in these countries are scarce. In an analytical cross-sectional
      study, we determined which of the main meteorological parameters (temperature,
      absolute humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and solar radiation) predicted
      respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in a population of hospitalized
      children with ALRI during a 5-year period, from January 2009 to December 2013.
      Out of a total of 4559 children included in the study (mean age 9.2 +/- 8.5
      months), 2953 (64.8%) presented RSV infection during the 3-month period from
      March to May. In the multivariate analysis, after controlling for absolute
      humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation, temperature [incidence rate ratio
      (IRR) 2.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-4.53, P = 0.024], and rainfall (IRR
      1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02, P = 0.044) were independently associated with the monthly
      number of RSV infections. In conclusion, in Bogota, the capital of a tropical
      LMIC lying slightly above the equator, RSV activity peaks in the 3-month period
      from March to May, the main rainy period of the year in the city. In addition,
      rainfall and temperature are the two most important meteorological parameters
      that are independently associated with RSV activity in hospitalized children with
      ALRI in the city.

PMID- 26888537
TI  - Transmission-blocking strategies: the roadmap from laboratory bench to the
      community.
AB  - Malaria remains one of the most prevalent tropical and infectious diseases in the
      world, with an estimated more than 200 million clinical cases every year. In
      recent years, the mosquito stages of the parasite life cycle have received
      renewed attention with some progress being made in the development of
      transmission-blocking strategies. From gametocytes to late ookinetes, some
      attractive antigenic targets have been found and tested in order to develop a
      transmission blocking vaccine, and drugs are being currently screened for
      gametocytocidal activity, and also some new and less conventional approaches are
      drawing increased attention, such as genetically modified and fungus-infected
      mosquitoes that become refractory to Plasmodium infection. In this review some of
      those strategies focusing on the progress made so far will be summarized, but
      also, the challenges that come from the translation of early promising benchwork
      resulting in successful applications in the field. To do this, the available
      literature will be screened and all the pieces of the puzzle must be combined:
      from molecular biology to epidemiologic and clinical data. 

PMID- 26888545
TI  - Pollinator-prey conflicts in carnivorous plants: When flower and trap properties
      mean life or death.
AB  - Insect-pollinated carnivorous plants are expected to have higher fitness if they
      resolve pollinator-prey conflicts by sparing insects pollinating their flowers
      while trapping prey insects. We examined whether separation between flowers and
      traps of the carnivorous sundew species or pollinator preferences for colours of
      flowers enable these plants to spare pollinators. In addition, we collected
      odours from flowers and traps of each carnivorous species in order to identify
      volatile chemicals that are attractive or repellent to pollinators and prey
      insects. In Drosera spatulata and D. arcturi, no volatiles were detected from
      either their flowers or traps that could serve as kairomone attractants for
      insects. However, behavioural experiments indicated white colour and spatial
      separation between flowers and traps aid in reducing pollinator entrapment while
      capturing prey. In contrast, D. auriculata have flowers that are adjacent to
      their traps. In this species we identified chemical signals emanating from
      flowers that comprised an eight-component blend, while the plant's traps emitted
      a unique four-component blend. The floral odour attracted both pollinator and
      prey insects, while trap odour only attracted prey. This is the first scientific
      report to demonstrate that carnivorous plants utilize visual, spatial, and
      chemical signals to spare flower visitors while trapping prey insects. 

PMID- 26888546
TI  - Vocational rehabilitation case manager factors associated with vocational
      rehabilitation service program outcomes for people with disabilities in Taiwan -
      an exploratory study.
AB  - Purpose The aim of this study is to explore whether/which vocational
      rehabilitation case manager (VRCMer) factors were significantly associated with
      the vocational rehabilitation service (VRS) program outcomes in Taiwan. Method
      This study used the 2011 VRS Program for People with Disabilities Database in a
      metropolitan city in Taiwan (N = 466) to do a secondary data analysis using
      hierarchical logistic regression. Results This study found that the employment
      rate and stable employment rate created by the 2011 VRS program in a metropolitan
      city in Taiwan were 48.7% and 42.1%, respectively. For the predictors of
      employment/stable employment, "occurrences of the services provided by the
      VRCMer" variable was definitely dominant. In addition, "level of the disability"
      was the second-ranking predictor, and was significantly negatively correlated
      with both employment and stable employment outcomes. Conclusions Vocational
      rehabilitation case manager factors in this study were significantly correlated
      with VRS program outcomes for people with disabilities in Taiwan after
      controlling for the clients' socio-demographic variables. The results indicate
      that greater input by VRCMers for people with disabilities equates to better
      employment outcomes in metropolitan Taiwan. Implications for Rehabilitation This
      is the first study to build an inferential statistical model in attempt to
      explain and predict the association between vocational rehabilitation case
      manager factors and vocational rehabilitation service program outcomes for people
      with disabilities in Taiwan. In cases of severe disability, a vocational
      rehabilitation case manager should seek out more in-kind and in-cash resources,
      and choose a suitable job coach to cooperate in assisting the client to become
      employed. Based on the findings, government has to continue implementing
      opportunities for people with disabilities to attain higher and better quality
      educational levels, for increasing their employment rate. Vocational
      rehabilitation case managers should raise the referral rate and cooperation with
      job coaches as this directly affects the quality of services and clients'
      employment rate.

PMID- 26888547
TI  - The use of ayurvedic medicine in the context of health promotion--a mixed methods
      case study of an ayurvedic centre in Sweden.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ayurveda has its historical roots in India, but has also been
      internationalised, partly via migration and partly through an increased interest
      in alternative medicine in the West, where studies point toward increased use.
      However, there is to date scarce knowledge about the use and experiences of
      ayurveda in Sweden. METHODS: We have conducted a case study of a center for
      ayurvedic healthcare in Sweden. We have collected information on client
      background data from the center's documentation, and compiled data from all
      clients who visited the centre for ayurvedic consultation during spring 2014. In
      total, 55 individuals were included in the study, and 18 of them were chosen for
      individual semi-structured interviews, to gain a deeper understanding of their
      motives for seeking, and experiences of ayurvedic health care. The material was
      analysed and compiled through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods.
      RESULTS: Among the 55 clients, 91% were female the mean age was 47 years, and 64%
      gave a specific illness as a reason for seeking ayurveda. The most common
      illnesses were respiratory, musculoskeletal, circulatory, tumor, and cutaneous
      illnesses. The qualitative results showed that ayurveda was being used in
      combination with other methods, including various diets, other alternative
      medicine methods and conventional medicine. Some participants recounted having
      sought ayurveda as a complement to conventional medicine, or in cases when
      conventional medicine had been experienced as insufficient in terms of diagnosis
      or treatment. However, some participants experienced it as difficult to follow
      the ayurvedic life-style advice in the midst of their everyday life. Many
      participants reported positive experiences of pulse diagnostics, which was the
      main diagnostic method used in ayurvedic consultation. Some reported concrete,
      physical improvement of their symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study points towards
      important aspects of participant experience of ayurveda, that may be subject to
      further research. The positive effects experienced by some clients should be
      studied more systematically in order to discern whether they are specific or non
      specific. In addition, interesting knowledge may be gained through further study
      of the reported positive experiences of pulse diagnosis.

PMID- 26888548
TI  - Giocampus school: a "learning through playing" approach to deliver nutritional
      education to children.
AB  - To improve nutritional knowledge of children, single-group educational
      interventions with pre/post knowledge assessment were performed in primary
      schools in Parma, Italy, participating to the Giocampus Program. A total of 8165
      children (8-11 years old) of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of primary school were
      involved in 3 hours per class nutritional lessons, with specifically designed
      games and activities for each school grade. To evaluate children learning, a
      questionnaire was administered before and after three months of educational
      intervention. A total of 16330 questionnaires were analysed. Children nutritional
      knowledge significantly increased (p< 0.001) in all school grades. The integrated
      "learning through playing" approach, including the educational figures, tools and
      games, was successful in improving children's nutritional knowledge. A stable
      integration of this method in primary school settings could prepare a new
      generation of citizens, better educated on health-promotion lifestyles.

PMID- 26888549
TI  - High-resolution dynamic CE-MRA of the thorax enabled by iterative TWIST
      reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical benefit of using a new iterative reconstruction
      technique fully integrated on a standard clinical scanner and reconstruction
      system using a TWIST acquisition for high-resolution dynamic three-dimensional
      contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA). METHODS: Low-dose, high-resolution
      TWIST datasets of 11 patients were reconstructed using both standard GRAPPA-based
      reconstruction for reference and iterative reconstruction, which reduces the
      temporal footprint of reconstructed images. Image quality of both techniques was
      assessed by two experienced readers, as well as quantitatively evaluated using a
      time-signal curve analysis. RESULTS: Image quality scores consistently and
      significantly improved by using iterative reconstruction compared with the
      standard approach. Most notably, the delineation of small to mid-size vasculature
      improved from a mean Likert score between "nondiagnostic" and "poor" for standard
      to between "good" and "excellent" for iterative reconstruction. The full width at
      half maximum of the contrast agent bolus computed from the time-signal curve was
      also reduced by iterative reconstruction, allowing for more precise bolus timing.
      CONCLUSION: Iterative reconstruction can substantially improve high-resolution
      dynamic CE-MRA image quality, most notably in small to mid-size vasculature.
      Dynamic CE-MRA with iterative reconstruction could become an alternative to
      conventional static 3D CE-MRA, thus simplifying the clinical workflow. Magn Reson
      Med 77:833-840, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in
      Medicine.

PMID- 26888550
TI  - Erratum to: signatures of early frailty in the gut microbiota.

PMID- 26888551
TI  - Rater reliability and scoring duration of the Quality Function Measure in
      ambulant children with hyperkinetic movement disorders.
AB  - AIM: To examine intra- and interrater reliability/agreement, and time taken to
      score, when the Quality Function Measure (QFM) is applied to children with
      hyperkinetic movement disorders (HMD; e.g. dystonia, chorea, athetosis, tremor,
      and myoclonus). METHOD: Fifteen ambulant children with HMD participated (eight
      males, seven females; mean age 13y 7mo, SD 3y 7mo). Three trained raters (two
      physiotherapists, one occupational therapist) independently scored the QFM using
      videos of each child performing Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Stand and
      Walk/Run/Jump dimensions. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation
      coefficient (ICC) model 2.1, Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland
      Altman methods. RESULTS: Rater reliability was excellent for all five QFM
      attributes: intrarater ICCs >=0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-1.00), and
      interrater ICCs >=0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1.00). SEM varied from 2.07% to 4.72% points
      for intra- and interrater scores across QFM attributes. Bland-Altman tests
      demonstrated close agreement between ratings, with absolute mean differences
      varying from 0.34% to 3.23% (intrarater) to 1.67% to 3.82% (interrater). Median
      scoring duration time was 83 minutes (range 56-144min, SD 16.02). INTERPRETATION:
      Low measurement error attributable to rater effects suggests the QFM has
      potential as an evaluative measure in research studies involving children with
      HMD, though its lengthy scoring requirements are an important consideration for
      clinical practice. Evaluation of test-retest reliability and responsiveness is
      required.

PMID- 26888552
TI  - Biotic and environmental dynamics through the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous
      transition: evidence for protracted faunal and ecological turnover.
AB  - The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous interval represents a time of environmental
      upheaval and cataclysmic events, combined with disruptions to terrestrial and
      marine ecosystems. Historically, the Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) boundary was
      classified as one of eight mass extinctions. However, more recent research has
      largely overturned this view, revealing a much more complex pattern of biotic and
      abiotic dynamics than has previously been appreciated. Here, we present a
      synthesis of our current knowledge of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous events,
      focusing particularly on events closest to the J/K boundary. We find evidence for
      a combination of short-term catastrophic events, large-scale tectonic processes
      and environmental perturbations, and major clade interactions that led to a
      seemingly dramatic faunal and ecological turnover in both the marine and
      terrestrial realms. This is coupled with a great reduction in global biodiversity
      which might in part be explained by poor sampling. Very few groups appear to have
      been entirely resilient to this J/K boundary 'event', which hints at a 'cascade
      model' of ecosystem changes driving faunal dynamics. Within terrestrial
      ecosystems, larger, more-specialised organisms, such as saurischian dinosaurs,
      appear to have suffered the most. Medium-sized tetanuran theropods declined, and
      were replaced by larger-bodied groups, and basal eusauropods were replaced by
      neosauropod faunas. The ascent of paravian theropods is emphasised by escalated
      competition with contemporary pterosaur groups, culminating in the explosive
      radiation of birds, although the timing of this is obfuscated by biases in
      sampling. Smaller, more ecologically diverse terrestrial non-archosaurs, such as
      lissamphibians and mammaliaforms, were comparatively resilient to extinctions,
      instead documenting the origination of many extant groups around the J/K
      boundary. In the marine realm, extinctions were focused on low-latitude, shallow
      marine shelf-dwelling faunas, corresponding to a significant eustatic sea-level
      fall in the latest Jurassic. More mobile and ecologically plastic marine groups,
      such as ichthyosaurs, survived the boundary relatively unscathed. High rates of
      extinction and turnover in other macropredaceous marine groups, including
      plesiosaurs, are accompanied by the origin of most major lineages of extant
      sharks. Groups which occupied both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including
      crocodylomorphs, document a selective extinction in shallow marine forms, whereas
      turtles appear to have diversified. These patterns suggest that different
      extinction selectivity and ecological processes were operating between marine and
      terrestrial ecosystems, which were ultimately important in determining the fates
      of many key groups, as well as the origins of many major extant lineages. We
      identify a series of potential abiotic candidates for driving these patterns,
      including multiple bolide impacts, several episodes of flood basalt eruptions,
      dramatic climate change, and major disruptions to oceanic systems. The J/K
      transition therefore, although not a mass extinction, represents an important
      transitional period in the co-evolutionary history of life on Earth.

PMID- 26888553
TI  - Implementation and Clinical Outcomes of an Employer-Sponsored, Pharmacist
      Provided Medication Therapy Management Program--Alternative Viewpoint.

PMID- 26888555
TI  - Rheumatoid arthritis: Could glucose metabolism be a sweet target for RA therapy?

PMID- 26888556
TI  - Shedding light on an ultra-bright photoluminescent lamellar gold thiolate
      coordination polymer [Au(p-SPhCO2Me)]n.
AB  - The first structure elucidation of a lamellar gold thiolate coordination polymer
      is described. [Au(p-SPhCO2Me)]n is obtained from the simultaneous esterification
      of mercaptobenzoic acid and reduction of the Au(iii) precursor. Despite the
      presence of aurophilic interactions, the intense phosphorescence (QY ~ 70%)
      originates from intra-ligand and metal-to-ligand transitions. 

PMID- 26888554
TI  - The BAFFling effects of rituximab in lupus: danger ahead?
AB  - Suboptimal trial design and concurrent therapies are thought to account for the
      unexpected failure of two clinical trials of rituximab in patients with systemic
      lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, in this Opinion article we propose an
      alternative explanation: that rituximab can trigger a sequence of events that
      exacerbates disease in some patients with SLE. Post-rituximab SLE flares that are
      characterized by high levels of antibodies to double-stranded DNA are associated
      with elevated circulating BAFF (B-cell-activating factor, also known as TNF
      ligand superfamily member 13B or BLyS) levels, and a high proportion of
      plasmablasts within the B-cell pool. BAFF not only perpetuates autoreactive B
      cells (including plasmablasts), particularly when B-cell numbers are low, but
      also stimulates T follicular helper (TFH) cells. Moreover, plasmablasts and TFH
      cells promote each others' formation. Thus, repeated rituximab infusions can
      result in a feedback loop characterized by ever-rising BAFF levels, surges in
      autoantibody production and worsening of disease. We argue that B-cell depletion
      should be swiftly followed by BAFF inhibition in patients with SLE.

PMID- 26888557
TI  - Evaluation of a wireless activity monitoring system to quantify locomotor
      activity in horses in experimental settings.
AB  - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Methods of evaluating locomotor activity can be
      useful in efforts to quantify behavioural activity in horses objectively.
      OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether an accelerometric device would be adequate to
      quantify locomotor activity and step frequency in horses, and to distinguish
      between different levels of activity and different gaits. STUDY DESIGN:
      Observational study in an experimental setting. METHODS: Dual-mode (activity and
      step count) piezo-electric accelerometric devices were placed at each of 4
      locations (head, withers, forelimb and hindlimb) in each of 6 horses performing
      different controlled activities including grazing, walking at different speeds,
      trotting and cantering. Both the activity count and step count were recorded and
      compared by the various activities. Statistical analyses included analysis of
      variance for repeated measures, receiver operating characteristic curves, Bland
      Altman analysis and linear regression. RESULTS: The accelerometric device was
      able to quantify locomotor activity at each of the 4 locations investigated and
      to distinguish between gaits and speeds. The activity count recorded by the
      accelerometer placed on the hindlimb was the most accurate, displaying a clear
      discrimination between the different levels of activity and a linear correlation
      to speed. The accelerometer placed on the head was the only one to distinguish
      specifically grazing behaviour from standing. The accelerometer placed on the
      withers was unable to differentiate different gaits and activity levels. The step
      count function measured at the hindlimb was reliable but the count was doubled at
      the walk. CONCLUSIONS: The dual-mode accelerometric device was sufficiently
      accurate to quantify and compare locomotor activity in horses moving at different
      speeds and gaits. Positioning the device on the hindlimb allowed for the most
      accurate results. The step count function can be useful but must be manually
      corrected, especially at the walk.

PMID- 26888558
TI  - Apical versus Non-Apical Lead: Is ICD Lead Position Important for Successful
      Defibrillation?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We aim to compare the acute and long-term success of defibrillation
      between non-apical and apical ICD lead position. METHODS AND RESULTS: The
      position of the ventricular lead was recorded by the implanting physician for
      2,475 of 2,500 subjects in the Shockless IMPLant Evaluation (SIMPLE) trial, and
      subjects were grouped accordingly as non-apical or apical. The success of intra
      operative defibrillation testing and of subsequent clinical shocks were compared.
      Propensity scoring was used to adjust for the impact of differences in baseline
      variables between these groups. There were 541 leads that were implanted at a non
      apical position (21.9%). Patients implanted with a non-apical lead had a higher
      rate of secondary prevention indication. Non-apical location resulted in a lower
      mean R-wave amplitude (14.0 vs. 15.2, P < 0.001), lower mean pacing impedance
      (662 ohm vs. 728 ohm, P < 0.001), and higher mean pacing threshold (0.70 V vs.
      0.66 V, P = 0.01). Single-coil leads and cardiac resynchronization devices were
      used more often in non-apical implants. The success of intra-operative
      defibrillation was similar between propensity score matched groups (89%). Over a
      mean follow-up of 3 years, there were no significant differences in the yearly
      rates of appropriate shock (5.5% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.98), failed appropriate first
      shock (0.9% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.66), or the composite of failed shock or arrhythmic
      death (2.8% vs. 2.3% P = 0.35) according to lead location. CONCLUSION: We did not
      detect any reduction in the ICD efficacy at the time of implant or during follow
      up in patients receiving a non-apical RV lead.

PMID- 26888559
TI  - Emerging importance of chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands in cardiovascular
      diseases.
AB  - The CXC chemokines, CXCL4, -9, -10, -11, CXCL4L1, and the CC chemokine CCL21,
      activate CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), a cell-surface G protein-coupled
      receptor expressed mainly by Th1 cells, cytotoxic T (Tc) cells and NK cells that
      have a key role in immunity and inflammation. However, CXCR3 is also expressed by
      vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, and appears to be important in
      controlling physiological vascular function. In the last decade, evidence from
      pre-clinical and clinical studies has revealed the participation of CXCR3 and its
      ligands in multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) of different aetiologies
      including atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure,
      as well as in heart transplant rejection and transplant coronary artery disease
      (CAD). CXCR3 ligands have also proven to be valid biomarkers for the development
      of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, suggesting an underlining
      pathophysiological relation between levels of these chemokines and the
      development of adverse cardiac remodelling. The observation that several of the
      above-mentioned chemokines exert biological actions independent of CXCR3 provides
      both opportunities and challenges for developing effective drug strategies. In
      this review, we provide evidence to support our contention that CXCR3 and its
      ligands actively participate in the development and progression of CVDs, and may
      additionally have utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. 

PMID- 26888561
TI  - Does high-density lipoprotein protect vascular function in healthy pregnancy?
AB  - The maternal adaptation to pregnancy includes hyperlipidaemia, oxidative stress
      and chronic inflammation. In non-pregnant individuals, these processes are
      usually associated with poor vascular function. However, maternal vascular
      function is enhanced in pregnancy. It is not understood how this is achieved in
      the face of the adverse metabolic and inflammatory environment. Research into
      cardiovascular disease demonstrates that plasma HDL (high-density lipoprotein),
      by merit of its functionality rather than its plasma concentration, exerts
      protective effects on the vascular endothelium. HDL has vasodilatory,
      antioxidant, anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects, and can protect
      against endothelial cell damage. In pregnancy, the plasma HDL concentration
      starts to rise at 10 weeks of gestation, peaking at 20 weeks. The initial rise in
      plasma HDL occurs around the time of the establishment of the feto-placental
      circulation, a time when the trophoblast plugs in the maternal spiral arteries
      are released, generating oxidative stress. Thus there is the intriguing
      possibility that new HDL of improved function is synthesized around the time of
      the establishment of the feto-placental circulation. In obese pregnancy and, to a
      greater extent, in pre-eclampsia, plasma HDL levels are significantly decreased
      and maternal vascular function is reduced. Wire myography studies have shown an
      association between the plasma content of apolipoprotein AI, the major protein
      constituent of HDL, and blood vessel relaxation. These observations lead us to
      hypothesize that HDL concentration, and function, increases in pregnancy in order
      to protect the maternal vascular endothelium and that in pre-eclampsia this fails
      to occur. 

PMID- 26888562
TI  - Factors associated with photoprotection by body clothing coverage, particularly
      in non-summer months, among a New Zealand community sample.
AB  - Clothing coverage is important for reducing skin cancer risk, but may also
      influence vitamin D sufficiency, so associated plausible predictors require
      investigation. Volunteers (18 to 85 years), with approximately equal numbers by
      sex and four ethnicity groups, were recruited in cities from two latitude bands:
      Auckland (36.9 degrees S) and Dunedin (45.9 degrees S). Baseline questionnaire,
      anthropometric and spectrophotometer skin colour data were collected and weather
      data obtained. Percent body coverage was calculated from eight week diary
      records. Potential independent predictors (unadjusted p < 0.25) were included in
      adjusted models. Participants (n = 506: Auckland n = 334, Dunedin n = 172; mean
      age 48.4 years) were 62.7% female and had a median body clothing coverage of
      81.6% (IQR 9.3%). Dunedin was cooler, less windy and had lower UVI levels than
      Auckland. From the fully adjusted model, increased coverage occurred in non
      summer months (despite adjusting for weather), among Dunedin residents and Asians
      (compared to Europeans), during the middle of the day, with a dose response
      effect observed for greater age. Reduced coverage was associated with Pacific
      ethnicity and greater time spent outdoors. Additionally, higher temperatures were
      associated with reduced coverage, whereas increased cloud cover and wind speed
      were associated with increased coverage. Although the only potentially modifiable
      factors associated with clothing coverage were the time period and time spent
      outdoors, knowledge of these and other associated factors is useful for the
      framing and targeting of health promotion messages to potentially influence
      clothing coverage, facilitate erythema avoidance and maintain vitamin D
      sufficiency. 

PMID- 26888560
TI  - NOX2-dependent regulation of inflammation.
AB  - NADPH oxidase (NOX) isoforms together have multiple functions that are important
      for normal physiology and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a broad
      range of diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer and neurodegenerative
      diseases. The phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2) is critical for antimicrobial host
      defence. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of NOX2
      characterized by severe life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections and by
      excessive inflammation, including Crohn's-like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
      NOX2 defends against microbes through the direct antimicrobial activity of
      reactive oxidants and through activation of granular proteases and generation of
      neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETosis involves the breakdown of cell
      membranes and extracellular release of chromatin and neutrophil granular
      constituents that target extracellular pathogens. Although the immediate effects
      of oxidant generation and NETosis are predicted to be injurious, NOX2, in several
      contexts, limits inflammation and injury by modulation of key signalling pathways
      that affect neutrophil accumulation and clearance. NOX2 also plays a role in
      antigen presentation and regulation of adaptive immunity. Specific NOX2-activated
      pathways such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a
      transcriptional factor that induces antioxidative and cytoprotective responses,
      may be important therapeutic targets for CGD and, more broadly, diseases
      associated with excessive inflammation and injury. 

PMID- 26888563
TI  - Population structure and minimum core genome typing of Legionella pneumophila.
AB  - Legionella pneumophila is an important human pathogen causing Legionnaires'
      disease. In this study, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to study the
      characteristics and population structure of L. pneumophila strains. We sequenced
      and compared 53 isolates of L. pneumophila covering different serogroups and
      sequence-based typing (SBT) types (STs). We found that 1,896 single-copy
      orthologous genes were shared by all isolates and were defined as the minimum
      core genome (MCG) of L. pneumophila. A total of 323,224 single-nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified among the 53 strains. After excluding
      314,059 SNPs which were likely to be results of recombination, the remaining
      9,165 SNPs were referred to as MCG SNPs. Population Structure analysis based on
      MCG divided the 53 L. pneumophila into nine MCG groups. The within-group
      distances were much smaller than the between-group distances, indicating
      considerable divergence between MCG groups. MCG groups were also supplied by
      phylogenetic analysis and may be considered as robust taxonomic units within L.
      pneumophila. Among the nine MCG groups, eight showed high intracellular growth
      ability while one showed low intracellular growth ability. Furthermore, MCG
      typing also showed high resolution in subtyping ST1 strains. The results obtained
      in this study provided significant insights into the evolution, population
      structure and pathogenicity of L. pneumophila. 

PMID- 26888564
TI  - A Novel Brainstem Hemorrhage Model by Autologous Blood Infusion in Rat: White
      Matter Injury, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Neurobehavioral Features.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary brainstem hemorrhage (BSH) has the highest mortality and
      morbidity as a subtype of intracerebral hemorrhage. A major limitation of BSH
      research is the lack of a corresponding animal model. The purpose of this study
      was to establish a novel rat model of BSH and to characterize the resulting brain
      injury, especially focusing on white matter injury. METHODS: BSH was produced by
      stereotactically injecting autologous whole blood into the pons. Time course of
      hematoma resolution was observed by 7-T magnetic resonance imaging. White matter
      injury was evaluated in detail by multiple parameters including diffuse tensor
      imaging (DTI), demyelination, axonal injury, oligodendrocyte degeneration, and
      oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation. Brain water content and
      neurobehavior were also evaluated. RESULTS: Blood infusion (30 uL) led to a
      stable, reproducible hematoma in the right basotegmental pons. The hematoma
      absorption started, became obvious, and was nearly completed at 7, 14, and 30
      days, respectively. Hematoma caused obvious brain edema at 3 days. White mater
      injury was observed pathologically, which was in line with decreased fractional
      anisotropy (FA) in DTI in the pons. FA reduction was also noticed in the cerebral
      peduncle and medulla. Behavioral abnormality persisted for at least 14 days and
      neurofunction was recovered within 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: This novel model can
      produce a stable hematoma resulting in brain edema, white matter injury, and
      neurofunctional deficits, which could be useful for future investigation of
      pathophysiological mechanisms and new treatment evaluation after BSH.

PMID- 26888565
TI  - Cortical contributions to the flail leg syndrome: Pathophysiological insights.
AB  - Cortical hyperexcitability has been identified as an intrinsic feature of
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Consequently, the aim of the present study
      was to determine whether cortical hyperexcitability formed the pathophysiological
      basis for the flail leg syndrome (FL), an atypical ALS variant. Cortical
      excitability studies were undertaken on 18 FL patients, using the threshold
      tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique, and results were
      compared to healthy controls, upper and lower limb-onset ALS as well as bulbar
      onset and the flail arm variant ALS. Results showed that cortical
      hyperexcitability was a feature of FL and was heralded by a significant reduction
      of short-interval intracortical inhibition (FL 7.2 +/- 1.8%; controls 13.2 +/-
      0.8%, p <0.01) and cortical silent period (CSP) duration (FL 181.7 +/- 10.8ms;
      controls 209.8 +/- 3.4ms; p <0.05) along with an increase in motor evoked
      potential amplitude (FL 29.2 +/- 5.1%; controls 18.9 +/- 1.2%, p <0.05). The
      degree of cortical hyperexcitability was comparable between FL and other ALS
      phenotypes, defined by site of disease onset. In addition, the CSP duration
      correlated with biomarkers of peripheral neurodegeneration in FL. In conclusion,
      cortical hyperexcitability is a feature of the flail leg syndrome, being
      comparable to other ALS phenotypes. Importantly, cortical hyperexcitability
      correlates with neurodegeneration, and as such may contribute to the underlying
      pathophysiology in FL.

PMID- 26888567
TI  - Using (FH)2 and (FH)3 to Bridge the sigma-Hole and the Lone Pair at P in
      Complexes with H2 XP, for X=CH3 , OH, H, CCH, F, Cl, NC, and CN.
AB  - Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations are used to investigate the binary
      complexes H2 XP:HF, the ternary complexes H2 XP:(FH)2 , and the quaternary
      complexes H2 XP:(FH)3 , for X=CH3 , OH, H, CCH, F, Cl, NC, and CN. Hydrogen
      bonded (HB) binary complexes are formed between all H2 XP molecules and FH, but
      only H2 FP, H2 ClP, and H2 (NC)P form pnicogen-bonded (ZB) complexes with FH.
      Ternary complexes with (FH)2 are stabilized by F-H???P and F-H???F hydrogen bonds
      and F???P pnicogen bonds, except for H2 (CH3 )P:(FH)2 and H3 P:(FH)2 , which do
      not have pnicogen bonds. All quaternary complexes H2 XP:(FH)3 are stabilized by
      both F-H???P and F-H???F hydrogen bonds and P???F pnicogen bonds. Thus, (FH)2
      with two exceptions, and (FH)3 can bridge the sigma-hole and the lone pair at P
      in these complexes. The binding energies of H2 XP:(FH)3 complexes are
      significantly greater than the binding energies of H2 XP:(FH)2 complexes, and
      nonadditivities are synergistic in both series. Charge transfer occurs across all
      intermolecular bonds from the lone-pair donor atom to an antibonding sigma*
      orbital of the acceptor molecule, and stabilizes these complexes. Charge-transfer
      energies across the pnicogen bond correlate with the intermolecular P-F distance,
      while charge-transfer energies across F-H???P and F-H???F hydrogen bonds
      correlate with the distance between the lone-pair donor atom and the hydrogen
      bonded H atom. In binary and quaternary complexes, charge transfer energies also
      correlate with the distance between the electron-donor atom and the hydrogen
      bonded F atom. EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants (2h) J(F-P) across F-H???P
      hydrogen bonds, and (1p) J(P-F) across pnicogen bonds in binary, ternary, and
      quaternary complexes exhibit strong correlations with the corresponding
      intermolecular distances. Hydrogen bonds are better transmitters of F-P coupling
      data than pnicogen bonds, despite the longer F???P distances in F-H???P hydrogen
      bonds compared to P???F pnicogen bonds. There is a correlation between the two
      bond coupling constants (2h) J(F-F) in the quaternary complexes and the
      corresponding intermolecular distances, but not in the ternary complexes, a
      reflection of the distorted geometries of the bridging dimers in ternary
      complexes.

PMID- 26888566
TI  - Reduced brain activation in violent adolescents during response inhibition.
AB  - Deficits in inhibitory control have been linked to aggression and violent
      behaviour. This study aimed to observe whether violent adolescents show different
      brain activation patterns during response inhibition and to ascertain the roles
      these brain regions play. A self-report method and modified overt aggression
      scale (MOAS) were used to evaluate violent behaviour. Functional magnetic
      resonance imaging was performed in 22 violent adolescents and 17 matched healthy
      subjects aged 12 to 18 years. While scanning, a go/no-go task was performed.
      Between-group comparisons revealed that activation in the bilateral middle and
      superior temporal gyrus, hippocampus, and right orbitofrontal area (BA11) regions
      were significantly reduced in the violent group compared with the control group.
      Meanwhile, the violent group had more widespread activation in the prefrontal
      cortex than that observed in the control group. Activation of the prefrontal
      cortex in the violent group was widespread but lacking in focus, failing to
      produce intensive activation in some functionally related regions during response
      inhibition. 

PMID- 26888568
TI  - Association of caregiver quality of care with neurocognitive outcomes in HIV
      affected children aged 2-5 years in Uganda.
AB  - Children affected by HIV are at increased risk of developmental and
      neuropsychological disturbances due to direct effects of HIV on the brain and
      direct effects associated with living in poverty. Caregivers can play an
      important role, through quality caregiving, in mitigating the negative effect of
      these stressors. This study used baseline data from an ongoing caregiver training
      intervention trial to evaluate the association between quality of caregiver-child
      interactions and neurocognitive outcomes in rural HIV-infected and HIV-exposed
      but uninfected children in Uganda. We also assessed the extent to which caregiver
      distress moderated this relationship. Data on 329 caregiver-child dyads were
      collected between March 2012 and July 2014, when the children were between 2 and
      5 years of age. Child outcomes include the Mullen Scales of Early Learning to
      assess general cognitive ability and the Color Object Association Test to assess
      immediate memory and total recall. Caregiving quality was assessed using the Home
      Observation for the Measurement of the Environment (HOME) total and subscale
      scores. Caregiver distress was assessed using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist.
      General linear regression models assessed the association between the HOME total
      and subscale scores and child outcomes, with interaction terms used to test
      moderation by caregiver distress. Total HOME scores were positively and
      significantly associated with Mullen scores of cognitive ability; HOME acceptance
      subscale scores were positively and significantly associated with immediate
      recall scores. No other associations were statistically significant. As
      hypothesized, there is a strong association between the HOME and Mullen scores of
      cognitive ability in our study population, such that children who were assessed
      as living in environments with more stimulation also presented with a higher
      level of general neurocognitive development. Our results support the view of
      program guidance for HIV-affected children that suggest family-oriented care with
      emphasis on parent-child relationships for optimal child development.

PMID- 26888569
TI  - PbsP, a cell wall-anchored protein that binds plasminogen to promote hematogenous
      dissemination of group B Streptococcus.
AB  - Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a leading cause of
      invasive infections in neonates whose virulence is dependent on its ability to
      interact with cells and host components. We here characterized a surface protein
      with a critical function in GBS pathophysiology. This adhesin, designated PbsP,
      possesses two Streptococcal Surface Repeat domains, a methionine and lysine-rich
      region, and a LPXTG cell wall-anchoring motif. PbsP mediates plasminogen (Plg)
      binding both in vitro and in vivo and we showed that cell surface-bound Plg can
      be activated into plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator to increase the
      bacterial extracellular proteolytic activity. Absence of PbsP results in a
      decreased bacterial transmigration across brain endothelial cells and impaired
      virulence in a murine model of infection. PbsP is conserved among the main GBS
      lineages and is a major plasminogen adhesin in non-CC17 GBS strains. Importantly,
      immunization of mice with recombinant PbsP confers protective immunity. Our
      results indicate that GBS have evolved different strategies to recruit Plg which
      indicates that the ability to acquire cell surface proteolytic activity is
      essential for the invasiveness of this bacterium.

PMID- 26888570
TI  - Comparison of objective refraction in darkness to cycloplegic refraction: a pilot
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess non-cycloplegic objective refraction in
      darkness using an open-field auto-refractor, and furthermore to compare it with
      distance cycloplegic subjective refraction and distance cycloplegic retinoscopy
      in the light, in children and young adults. METHODS: Twenty-three, visually
      normal, young-adults (46 eyes) ages 23 to 31 years, and five children (10 eyes)
      ages five to 12 years, participated in the study. The spherical component of
      their refraction ranged from -2.25 D to +3.75 D with a mean of +1.80 D, and a
      mean cylinder of -0.70 D. Three techniques were used to assess refractive error.
      An objective measure of the non-cycloplegic refractive state was obtained using
      an open-field autorefractor (WAM-5500) after five minutes in the dark to allow
      for dissipation of accommodative transients and relaxation of accommodation. In
      addition, both distance retinoscopy and subjective distance refraction were
      performed following cycloplegia (Cyclopentolate, 1%) using conventional clinical
      procedures. All measurements were obtained on the same day within a single
      session. The spherical component of the refraction was compared among the three
      techniques in both the children and adults. RESULTS: There was no significant
      difference in spherical refraction among the three techniques: non-cycloplegic
      objective refraction in the dark, distance cycloplegic retinoscopy and distance
      cycloplegic subjective refraction, in either the adults [F(2, 137) = 0.79, p =
      0.45] or the children [F(2, 27) = 0.47, p = 0.62]. Mean difference in the
      spherical component between refraction in the dark and the cycloplegic distance
      retinoscopy was -0.34 D (r = 0.89) in the adults and +0.14 D (r = 0.96) in the
      children. The mean difference in spherical component between refraction in the
      dark and the cycloplegic distance subjective refraction was -0.25 D (r = 0.92) in
      the adults and -0.05 D (r = 0.95) in the children. CONCLUSION: Comparison of the
      spherical refractive component between the three techniques was not significantly
      different and furthermore, they were highly correlated in both the children and
      adults in this pilot study. Non-cycloplegic refraction in the dark may provide a
      reliable adjunct or alternative to conventional cycloplegic refraction in both
      children and young adults.

PMID- 26888571
TI  - Differential migration and the link between winter latitude, timing of migration,
      and breeding in a songbird.
AB  - Patterns of connectivity between breeding and wintering grounds can have
      important implications for individual fitness and population dynamics. Using
      light-level geolocators and stable hydrogen isotopes (delta(2)H) in feathers, we
      evaluated differential migration of Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis)
      breeding on Kent Island in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada in relation to
      sex, age, and body size. Based on geolocators recovered from 38 individuals
      between 2012 and 2014, the winter distribution was centered in North Carolina
      (median latitude 34 degrees , range 26 degrees -41 degrees ), with males
      overwintering, on average, approximately 275 km further north than females. Based
      on analyses of tail feather samples collected from 106 individuals from the same
      population between 2008 and 2012, males and adults had more negative delta(2)H
      values than females and juveniles, respectively, providing additional evidence
      that males wintered north of females and that adults wintered north of juveniles.
      Winter latitude and delta(2)H values within each sex were not found to be related
      to body size. From geolocator data, males returned to the breeding grounds, on
      average, 14 days earlier than females. For males, there was some evidence that
      arrival date on the breeding grounds was negatively correlated with winter
      latitude and that individuals which arrived earlier tended to breed earlier.
      Thus, benefits for males of early arrival on the breeding grounds may have
      contributed to their wintering farther north than females. Social dominance may
      also have contributed to age and sex differences in winter latitude, whereby
      dominant males and adults forced subordinate females and juveniles further south.

PMID- 26888573
TI  - Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic inflammatory
      joint disorders.
AB  - Inflammatory joint disorders (IJD), including rheumatoid arthritis (RA),
      ankylosing spondylitis (ASp) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), are prevalent
      conditions worldwide with a considerable burden on healthcare systems. IJD are
      associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) disease-related morbidity and
      mortality. In this review, we present an overview of the literature. Standardised
      mortality ratios are increased in IJD compared with the general population, that
      is, RA 1.3-2.3, ASp 1.6-1.9 and PsA 0.8-1.6. This premature mortality is mainly
      caused by atherosclerotic events. In RA, this CV risk is comparable to that in
      type 2 diabetes. Traditional CV risk factors are more often present and partially
      a consequence of changes in physical function related to the underlying IJD.
      Also, chronic systemic inflammation itself is an independent CV risk factor.
      Optimal control of disease activity with conventional synthetic, targeted
      synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs decreases this
      excess risk. High-grade inflammation as well as anti-inflammatory treatment alter
      traditional CV risk factors, such as lipids. In view of the above-mentioned CV
      burden in patients with IJD, CV risk management is necessary. Presently, this CV
      risk management is still lacking in usual care. Patients, general practitioners,
      cardiologists, internists and rheumatologists need to be aware of the
      substantially increased CV risk in IJD and should make a combined effort to
      timely initiate CV risk management in accordance with prevailing guidelines
      together with optimal control of rheumatic disease activity. CV screening and
      treatment strategies need to be implemented in usual care.

PMID- 26888572
TI  - Native valve disease in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation on
      warfarin or rivaroxaban.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients with atrial
      fibrillation (AF) and aortic stenosis (AS) with patients with AF with mitral
      regurgitation (MR) or aortic regurgitation (AR) and patients without significant
      valve disease (no SVD). METHODS: Using Rivaroxaban Once-Daily, Oral, Direct
      Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke
      and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF) data, we analysed efficacy
      and safety outcomes, adjusting hazard ratios (HRs) for potential confounders
      using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 14 119 intention-to-treat ROCKET AF
      trial patients, a trial that excluded patients with mitral stenosis or artificial
      valve prosthesis, 214 had AS with or without other valve abnormalities, 1726 had
      MR or AR and 12 179 had no SVD. After adjusting for prognostic factors, the
      composite of stroke, systemic embolism or vascular death increased approximately
      twofold in patients with AS (AS 10.84, MR or AR 4.54 and no SVD 4.31 events per
      100 patient-years, p=0.0001). All-cause death also significantly increased (AS
      11.22, MR or AR 4.90 and no SVD 4.39 events per 100 patient-years, p=0.0003).
      Major bleeding occurred more frequently in AS (adjusted HR 1.61, confidence
      intervals (CI) 1.03 to 2.49, p<0.05) and MR or AR (HR 1.30, 1.07 to 1.57, p<0.01)
      than in no SVD, but there was no difference between AS and MR or AR (HR 1.24,
      0.78 to 1.97). The relative efficacy of rivaroxaban versus warfarin was
      consistent among patients with and without valvular disease. Rivaroxaban was
      associated with higher rates of major bleeding than warfarin in patients with MR
      or AR (HR 1.63, 1.15 to 2.31). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients with AF and AS
      on oral anticoagulants may have distinctly different efficacy and safety outcomes
      than patients with MR or AR or no SVD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00403767;
      Post-results.

PMID- 26888574
TI  - Predominance of synovial sensory nerve fibers in arthrofibrosis following total
      knee arthroplasty compared to osteoarthritis of the knee.
AB  - BACKGROUND: So far, there exists no golden standard for the treatment of
      arthrofibrosis (AF) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although pain is a
      hallmark of AF, nociceptive nerve fibers have never been investigated in affected
      joint tissue. METHODS: A total of 24 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the
      knee (n = 12) and post-TKA AF of the knee (n = 12) were included. Along
      evaluation of typical clinical signs and symptoms by using the Knee Society
      Clinical Rating System (KSS), the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
      (KOOS), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index
      (WOMAC index), the innervation of joint tissue was studied by semiquantitative
      immunofluorescence of nerve fibers. RESULTS: Patients with AF compared to OA had
      a lower KSS and lower KOOS. In all compartments (anterior, medial, and lateral
      recesses), the density of synovial sympathetic nerve fibers was significantly
      higher in OA compared to AF, which was also true for the density of sensory nerve
      fibers in the medial and lateral recesses. In synovial tissue of the anterior
      recess of patients with AF compared to OA, the density of nociceptive sensory
      nerve fibers was significantly higher relative to sympathetic nerve fibers. This
      was similarly observed in the neighboring infrapatellar fat pad of the knee.
      CONCLUSIONS: Similar as in many painful musculoskeletal diseases, this study
      indicates that patients with arthrofibrosis of the knee after TKA demonstrate a
      preponderance of profibrotic sensory nerve fibers over antifibrotic sympathetic
      nerve fibers. This could serve as a starting point for AF therapy with specific
      antifibrotic pain medication or regional anesthetic techniques.

PMID- 26888577
TI  - Breastfeeding in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Breastfeeding is known to improve the well-being of a mother and
      her infant, and about half of all new mothers breastfeed, but it is unknown how
      breastfeeding is pursued in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) patients.
      We sought to determine the rate of breastfeeding and the factors influencing this
      among women with lupus. In addition, we reassessed the current safety data in
      lactation of lupus medications. METHODS: Data were collected from lupus patients
      enrolled in a prospective registry who fulfilled the 2012 SLICC criteria, had a
      live birth, and for whom postpartum breastfeeding status was known. Data included
      physician assessments of lupus activity and medications, breastfeeding intentions
      during pregnancy and practice following pregnancy. The safety of medications in
      breastfed infants was assessed through a comprehensive review of LactMed, a
      national database about medications in lactation. RESULTS: A total of 51
      pregnancies in 84 women with lupus were included in the study. Half of the lupus
      patients (n = 25, 49%) chose to breastfeed. The rate of breastfeeding was not
      significantly affected by socioeconomic factors. In contrast, low postpartum
      lupus activity, term delivery, and a plan to breastfeed early in pregnancy were
      significantly associated with breastfeeding in lupus patients. In reviewing the
      most up-to-date data, the majority of lupus medications appear to have very
      minimal transfer into breast milk and are likely compatible with breastfeeding.
      CONCLUSION: Half of women with lupus breastfed and most desire to breastfeed.
      Hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, methotrexate, and prednisone have very limited
      transfer into breast milk and may be continued while breastfeeding.

PMID- 26888578
TI  - Three-dimensional porous hollow fibre copper electrodes for efficient and high
      rate electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.
AB  - Aqueous-phase electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide requires an active,
      earth-abundant electrocatalyst, as well as highly efficient mass transport. Here
      we report the design of a porous hollow fibre copper electrode with a compact
      three-dimensional geometry, which provides a large area, three-phase boundary for
      gas-liquid reactions. The performance of the copper electrode is significantly
      enhanced; at overpotentials between 200 and 400 mV, faradaic efficiencies for
      carbon dioxide reduction up to 85% are obtained. Moreover, the carbon monoxide
      formation rate is at least one order of magnitude larger when compared with state
      of-the-art nanocrystalline copper electrodes. Copper hollow fibre electrodes can
      be prepared via a facile method that is compatible with existing large-scale
      production processes. The results of this study may inspire the development of
      new types of microtubular electrodes for electrochemical processes in which at
      least one gas-phase reactant is involved, such as in fuel cell technology. 

PMID- 26888576
TI  - Neuroimaging evidence of deficient axon myelination in Wolfram syndrome.
AB  - Wolfram syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by
      insulin dependent diabetes and vision, hearing and brain abnormalities which
      generally emerge in childhood. Mutations in the WFS1 gene predispose cells to
      endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis and may induce myelin degradation
      in neuronal cell models. However, in vivo evidence of this phenomenon in humans
      is lacking. White matter microstructure and regional volumes were measured using
      magnetic resonance imaging in children and young adults with Wolfram syndrome (n
      = 21) and healthy and diabetic controls (n = 50). Wolfram patients had lower
      fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity in major white matter tracts
      and lower volume in the basilar (ventral) pons, cerebellar white matter and
      visual cortex. Correlations were found between key brain findings and overall
      neurological symptoms. This pattern of findings suggests that reduction in myelin
      is a primary neuropathological feature of Wolfram syndrome. Endoplasmic reticulum
      stress-related dysfunction in Wolfram syndrome may interact with the development
      of myelin or promote degeneration of myelin during the progression of the
      disease. These measures may provide objective indices of Wolfram syndrome
      pathophysiology that will be useful in unraveling the underlying mechanisms and
      in testing the impact of treatments on the brain.

PMID- 26888579
TI  - How to be a dioecious fig: Chemical mimicry between sexes matters only when both
      sexes flower synchronously.
AB  - In nursery pollination mutualisms, which are usually obligate interactions,
      olfactory attraction of pollinators by floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
      is the main step in guaranteeing partner encounter. However, mechanisms ensuring
      the evolutionary stability of dioecious fig-pollinator mutualisms, in which
      female fig trees engage in pollination by deceit resulting in zero reproductive
      success of pollinators that visit them, are poorly understood. In dioecious figs,
      individuals of each sex should be selected to produce odours that their
      pollinating wasps cannot distinguish, especially since pollinators have usually
      only one choice of a nursery during their lifetime. To test the hypothesis of
      intersexual chemical mimicry, VOCs emitted by pollen-receptive figs of seven
      dioecious species were compared using headspace collection and gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry analysis. First, fig-flower scents varied significantly among
      species, allowing host-species recognition. Second, in species in which male and
      female figs are synchronous, intersexual VOC variation was not significant.
      However, in species where figs of both sexes flower asynchronously, intersexual
      variation of VOCs was detectable. Finally, with one exception, there was no
      sexual dimorphism in scent quantity. We show that there are two ways to use scent
      to be a dioecious fig based on differences in flowering synchrony between the
      sexes. 

PMID- 26888580
TI  - Adenosine diphosphate platelet dysfunction on thromboelastogram is independently
      associated with increased morality in traumatic brain injury.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine if adenosine diphosphate (ADP)
      platelet dysfunction on thromboelastogram (TEG) is associated with increased in
      hospital mortality in patients with head trauma. The hypothesis is that ADP
      dysfunction is associated with increased mortality. METHODS: This retrospective
      review evaluated trauma patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center from
      February 2011 to October 2013 who received a TEG. Patients were included if the
      TEG was drawn within the first 24 h of admission and the head abbreviated injury
      score was greater than or equal to three. Patients were categorized as severe ADP
      dysfunction if the degree of ADP inhibition on TEG exceeded 60 %. RESULTS: A
      total of 90 patients were included (no ADP dysfunction n = 37; ADP dysfunction n
      = 53). Initial Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS (12 +/- 4 vs. 11 +/- 5; p = 0.26)] and use
      of pre-injury antiplatelet agents (30 vs. 28 %; p = 0.88) were similar. Patients
      with ADP dysfunction on TEG had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (8 vs. 32 %;
      p < 0.01). ADP dysfunction was independently associated with in-hospital
      mortality upon fixed logistic regression (OR 6.2; 95 % CI 1.2-33) while
      controlling for age, gender, hypotension, pre-injury antiplatelet agents, GCS and
      Injury Severity Score. CONCLUSION: ADP dysfunction on TEG is associated with
      increased mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

PMID- 26888581
TI  - Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of feline renal cell
      carcinoma: a case series.
AB  - Four feline renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) were examined using histopathological
      and immunohistochemical procedures. Specimens were classified by predominant
      histological pattern according to WHO criteria. A panel of antibodies including
      beta-catenin, C-KIT, VEGF and VEGF-R2 and double immunostaining for
      vimentin/cytokeratin and for E-cadherin/CD10 was selected to characterize the
      tumors. Neoplasms were classified as tubular (3/4) and papillary (1/4).
      Neoplastic epithelial cells were cytokeratin, vimentin, E-cadherin, VEGF-R2
      positive and C-KIT negative; 3 cases were beta-catenin positive, whereas only 2
      tumors were CD10 and VEGF positive. No correlation with histotype was evident.
      Our results confirm the low frequency of RCCs in cats and suggest a histological
      pattern similar to canine RCCs. In contrast, a peculiar immunohistochemical
      profile different from both canine and human RCCs is identified. 

PMID- 26888582
TI  - Roles of DNA mutation in the coding region and DNA methylation in the 5' flanking
      region of BRCA1 in canine mammary tumors.
AB  - The Breast cancer 1, early onset gene (BRCA1) is known to be significantly
      associated with human familial breast cancer and is identified to play an
      important role in canine mammary tumors. Here, genetic variations in the coding
      region and DNA methylation in the 5' flanking region of BRCA1 in canine mammary
      tumor samples, 15 each of benign and malignant against 10 normal canine mammary
      tissue samples, were analyzed using the direct sequencing method. The results
      indicated two point mutations each in the coding region of canine BRCA1 in one
      benign mammary tumor sample (4702G >T and 4765G >T) and in one malignant canine
      mammary tumor sample (3619A >G and 4006G >A). No mutations were detected in the
      normal canine mammary tissue samples. The 4702G >T mutation was found to
      terminate further translation. The physical effect of the 4765G >T mutation was
      found to be the repalacement of the glutamate residue with glutamine. The
      physical effect of the 3619A >G mutation was found to be the replacement of the
      threonine residue with alanine, and that of mutation 4006G >A was the replacement
      of the valine residue with isoleucine in the BRCA1 protein. Bisulfite sequencing
      detected methylated CpG sites in one canine malignant mammary tumor sample. In
      conclusion, the present study elucidated the mutational status of the BRCA1
      coding region and methylation status of the 5' flanking region of BRCA1 in canine
      mammary tumors. 

PMID- 26888583
TI  - Detection of circulating tumor cells using GeneScan analysis for antigen receptor
      gene rearrangements in canine lymphoma patients.
AB  - The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) serves as a prognostic marker and
      indicator of disease relapse, as well as a means of evaluating treatment efficacy
      in human and canine lymphoma patients. As an extension of our previous study for
      the construction of clinically useful GeneScan system, we utilized the GeneScan
      system for detecting CTCs in canine lymphoma patients. Samples from the primary
      lesion and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 32 dogs
      with lymphoma at initial diagnosis. All samples were subjected to polymerase
      chain reaction (PCR) for antigen receptor gene rearrangements (PARR) followed by
      GeneScan analysis. Common clonal rearrangements with identical amplified
      fragments were detected in both the primary lesion and PBMCs in 19 of the 32 dogs
      (59.4%). However, the detection rate of CTCs varied among the anatomical
      classification of lymphoma studied. GeneScan analysis following PARR would
      facilitate studies on determining the clinical significance of CTCs in canine
      lymphoma patients. 

PMID- 26888584
TI  - Characterization of equine hyalocytes: their immunohistochemical properties,
      morphologies and distribution.
AB  - In horse, the characterizations of hyalocytes under the steady state are still
      unclear. Therefore, we investigated characterizations of hyalocytes in normal
      equine eyes by their immunohistochemical phenotype, histomorphology and
      distribution. Thirty-one eyes from 18 horses, divided into 4 groups (G) by age,
      were used: early (G1) and late gestation (G2) fetuses, 1- to 3-year-old (G3) and
      8- to 24-year-old (G4) horses. Equine hyalocytes were histologically classified
      into 4 types, and they immunohistochemically expressed MHC II and CD163.
      Hyalocytes were detected on and/or around ciliary processes and pars plana in G2,
      G3 and G4, but were not located on retina and optic papilla. A significant
      increase in distribution was found between G2 and both G3 and G4, and the largest
      distribution was found at ciliary processes in these groups. Equine hyalocytes
      were characterized as residential ocular macrophage and MHC II antigen-bearing
      cell, accompanied by a pleomorphic appearance and located in the contiguous
      ciliary body. Our data provided characterizations of hyalocytes in normal equine
      eyes and may well contribute to improving the understanding of pathogenesis of
      equine ocular disease. 

PMID- 26888585
TI  - Persistence of chicken anemia virus antigen and inclusions in spontaneous cases
      of Marek's disease visceral lymphomas in broiler chickens at slaughterhouses.
AB  - The chicken anemia virus (CAV) and Marek's disease virus (MDV) infect chickens
      worldwide; a single or dual infection by these viruses has a great impact on
      poultry production. In the present study, we examined the existence of CAV
      antigen and its inclusions in Marek's disease (MD) lymphomas in chickens in the
      slaughterhouses of Iwate prefecture, Japan. Forty-nine spleens and 13 livers with
      different degrees of nodular lesions were histopathologically examined at our
      laboratory. Grossly, the tested organs showed various sizes and anatomical
      architectures. Based on the cellular morphology and the infiltrative nature of
      the neoplastic lymphocytes, MD was confirmed in 76% (37/49) of the spleens and
      92% (12/13) of the livers. The lesions of MD, according to the pattern of
      lymphocytic accumulation in the affected organs, were divided into multifocal,
      coalesced and diffuse. CAV intranuclear inclusion bodies were detected within the
      small and the large bizarre lymphocytes of the MD lymphomas in 2 livers and 9
      spleens, and the immunostaining test for CAV confirmed the persistence of CAV
      antigens and inclusions in the neoplastic cells. This study demonstrated the
      persistence of CAV infection within the neoplastic cells of naturally occurring
      MD lymphomas in chickens. 

PMID- 26888586
TI  - CBT-I Coach: A Description and Clinician Perceptions of a Mobile App for
      Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: This paper describes CBT-I Coach, a patient-facing smartphone
      app designed to enhance cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). It
      presents findings of two surveys of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) CBT
      I trained clinicians regarding their perceptions of CBT-I Coach before it was
      released (n = 138) and use of it two years after it was released (n = 176).
      METHODS: VA-trained CBT-I clinicians completed web-based surveys before and two
      years after CBT-I Coach was publicly released. RESULTS: Prior to CBT-I Coach
      release, clinicians reported that it was moderately to very likely that the app
      could improve care and a majority (87.0%) intended to use it if it were
      available. Intention to use the app was predicted by smartphone ownership (beta =
      0.116, p < 0.05) and perceptions of relative advantage to existing CBT-I
      practices (beta = 0.286, p < 0.01), compatibility with their own needs and values
      (beta = 0.307, p < 0.01), and expectations about the complexity of the app (beta
      = 0.245, p < 0.05). Two years after CBT-I Coach became available, 59.9% of
      participants reported using it with patients and had favorable impressions of its
      impact on homework adherence and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that
      before release, CBT-I Coach was perceived to have potential to enhance CBT-I and
      address common adherence issues and clinicians would use it. These results are
      reinforced by findings two years after it was released suggesting robust uptake
      and favorable perceptions of its value.

PMID- 26888587
TI  - Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Cognitive and Functional
      Outcome of Stroke Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Controlled
      Trial.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in stroke patients is associated
      with worse functional and cognitive status during inpatient rehabilitation. We
      hypothesized that a four-week period of continuous positive airway pressure
      (CPAP) treatment would improve cognitive and functional outcomes. METHODS: We
      performed a randomized controlled trial in stroke patients admitted to a
      neurorehabilitation unit. Patients were assigned to rehabilitation treatment as
      usual (control group) or to CPAP treatment (CPAP group). Primary outcomes were
      cognitive status measured by neuropsychological examination, and functional
      status measured by two neurological scales and a measure of activities of daily
      living (ADL). Secondary measures included sleepiness, sleep quality, fatigue, and
      mood. Tests were performed at baseline and after the four-week intervention
      period. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 20 patients to the CPAP group and 16
      patients to the control group. The average CPAP compliance was 2.5 hours per
      night. Patients in the CPAP group showed significantly greater improvement in the
      cognitive domains of attention and executive functioning than the control group.
      CPAP compliance was associated with greater improvement in cognitive functioning.
      CPAP did not result in measurable improvement on measures of neurological status
      or ADL, or on any of the secondary measures. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP treatment improves
      cognitive functioning of stroke patients with OSA. COMMENTARY: A commentary on
      this article appears in this issue on page 467.

PMID- 26888588
TI  - High Adherence to CPAP Treatment Does Not Prevent the Continuation of Weight Gain
      among Severely Obese OSAS Patients.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients benefit from
      continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in a dose-response manner.
      We determined adherence and weight control, as well as their predictors, among
      long-term CPAP users. METHODS: Cohort of 1,023 OSAS patients had used CPAP on
      average of 6.6 +/- 1.2 years. BMI was determined at baseline and at follow-up
      visits. There were 7.4 +/- 1.7 BMI and 6.5 +/- 1.8 CPAP usage measurements per
      patient on average. Using the Bayesian hierarchical model, we determined the
      patients' individual trends of BMI and adherence development. Patients with
      significantly increasing or decreasing trends were identified at the posterior
      probability level of > 90%. RESULTS: The mean age in the cohort was 55.6 +/- 9.8
      years, BMI 33.5 +/- 6.4 kg/m(2), apnea-hypopnea index 33.7 +/- 23.1, and CPAP
      usage 6.0 +/- 1.8 h/day. The majority of patients had no significant change in
      BMI (mean annual weight gain 0.04 +/- 0.29 kg/m(2)) or CPAP adherence (mean
      annual increase 11.4 +/- 7.0 min/day). However, at the individual level, 10% of
      the patients showed significant annual weight gain (0.63 +/- 0.35 kg/m(2)) during
      the 5-year follow-up period. At baseline these patients were already more
      severely obese (mean BMI 40.0 +/- 5.9 kg/m(2)) despite being younger (mean 50.9
      +/- 9.5 years) than the rest of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of CPAP
      treated OSAS patients, weight did not significantly change but gained slightly
      slower than in age-matched population in general. However, in 10% of patients,
      high adherence to CPAP treatment did not prevent the continuation of weight gain.
      These patients present a high-risk group for OSAS-related multimorbidity later in
      life.

PMID- 26888589
TI  - Body Position May Influence Oronasal CPAP Effectiveness to Treat OSA.
AB  - CPAP applied by a nasal mask is the gold standard treatment of obstructive sleep
      apnea. Oronasal masks are an alternative interface that can be used, especially
      in subjects with predominant oral breathing. However, oronasal masks have higher
      costs, are associated with larger leaks and higher residual apnea-hypopnea index,
      and in some cases may be ineffective.

PMID- 26888590
TI  - Healthcare Use in Individuals with Obesity and Chronic Hypoxemia Treated for
      Sleep Disordered Breathing.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine if treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and
      obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) among patients with chronic hypoxemia is
      associated with reduced healthcare utilization. METHODS: We performed a
      retrospective cohort study of 129 obese, hypoxemic patients who underwent
      polysomnography and were prescribed positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.
      During a 2-year follow-up period we examined the associations between adherence
      to PAP therapy and rates of hospitalization, emergency room (ER) visits, and
      outpatient visits. RESULTS: Severe OSA and OHS were common, as were hypertension,
      cardiovascular, and pulmonary disease. Forty-nine percent of patients were
      adherent with PAP therapy. Compared to patients who were not adherent to PAP
      therapy, adherent patients had significantly lower rates of all-cause
      hospitalization (incident rate ratio [IRR]:0.55, 95% CI 0.33, 0.93) after
      adjustment for age, sex and hospitalisation rates prior to treatment. Adjustment
      for additional comorbidities attenuated this association (IRR: 0.61, 95% CI 0.35,
      1.06). Adherence with PAP therapy was associated with lower odds of frequent
      hospitalization (odds ratio 0.23, 95% CI 0.07, 0.73). There were no significant
      differences in the rates of ER or outpatient visits between adherent and non
      adherent patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence with PAP treatment in patients with
      chronic hypoxemia and chronic medical disorders is associated with reduced rates
      of hospitalization, which has significant benefit both for patients and the
      healthcare system.

PMID- 26888591
TI  - Influence of a Post-Test Factor on the Results of the Multiple Sleep Latency
      Test.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: The multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is the standard method
      for the objective measurement of excessive daytime sleepiness. It is well
      established that preceding factors may influence the MSLT result. Aim of this
      study was to evaluate the potential influence of a post-test factor on the MSLT
      outcome. METHODS: For this retrospective study we reviewed polysomnography (PSG)
      reports conducted between 2012 and 2013. PSG reports including MSLT with at least
      four runs were included. Patients were stratified into (1) those discharged
      immediately after the MSLT or (2) those discharged on the following day. For
      further analysis, we categorized the patients into three subgroups according to
      mean MSLT sleep latency: < 5, 5-9.9, and 10-19.9 minutes, corresponding to a
      pathological, borderline, and normal MSLT result. RESULTS: A total of 2,749 PSG
      records were reviewed; 262 included MSLT and 241 met inclusion criteria for the
      study. Of those, 152 patients were discharged immediately after the last MSLT
      run, 89 on the following day. MSLT mean sleep latency, and sleep latency of the
      last run only, did not differ between both groups (p = 0.070 and p = 0.065). In
      the subgroup of patients with pathological MSLT, there was a trend towards
      prolonged sleep latency in the last run in patients discharged immediately after
      the test (p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the MSLT post-test
      factor of discharge timing has no major impact on the MSLT outcome.

PMID- 26888593
TI  - Error in Calculation of Predictive Values in Paper on Screening for Sleep
      Bruxism.

PMID- 26888594
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation and Central Apnea Associated with Systolic Heart
      Failure.

PMID- 26888592
TI  - Subjective and Objective Measures of Hypersomnolence Demonstrate Divergent
      Associations with Depression among Participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort
      Study.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of depression with habitual sleep
      duration, daytime sleepiness, and objective sleep propensity in a nonclinical
      population. METHODS: Data from adults participating in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort
      Study were utilized in analyses. There were 1,287 adults (3,324 observations) who
      were used in the analysis of subjective hypersomnolence measures; 1,155 adults
      (2,981 observations) were used in the analysis of objective sleep propensity
      assessed by the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Repeated-measures logistic
      regression estimated associations between presence of depression (defined as
      modified Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale >= 50 or use of antidepressant
      medications) and three primary hypersomnolence measures: subjective excessive
      daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS] >= 11), self-reported sleep
      duration >= 9 h/d, and objective sleep propensity (MSLT mean sleep latency < 8
      min). RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, chronic medical
      conditions, sedative hypnotic medication use, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol use,
      sleep disordered breathing, as well as insomnia and sleep duration when
      appropriate, estimated odd ratios (95% confidence interval) for depression were:
      1.56 (1.31,1.86) for ESS >= 11; 2.01 (1.49, 2.72) for habitual sleep time >= 9 h;
      and 0.76 (0.63-0.92) for MSLT mean sleep latency < 8 min. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results demonstrate divergent associations between subjective and objective
      symptoms of hypersomnolence and depression, with subjective sleepiness and
      excessive sleep duration associated with increased odds of depression, but
      objective sleep propensity as measured by the MSLT associated with decreased odds
      of depression. Further research is indicated to explain this paradox and the
      impact of different hypersomnolence measures on the course of mood disorders.
      COMMENTARY: A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 467.

PMID- 26888595
TI  - How Did It Get Late So Soon?

PMID- 26888596
TI  - CHO cells knocked out for TSC2 display an improved productivity of antibodies
      under fed batch conditions.
AB  - The kinase mTOR operates in two cellular complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. mTORC1
      adjusts metabolic activity according to external growth conditions and nutrients
      availability. When conditions are prosperous, mTOR facilitates protein and lipid
      biosyntheses and inhibits autophagy, while under metabolic constraints, however,
      its attenuation induces a catabolic program, energy preservation and autophagy.
      CHO is a key cell line for manufacturing of biologics owing to its remarkable
      ability to grow to high densities and maintain protein production and secretion
      for extended times. While high mTOR activity has been associated with high
      productivity in CHO cells, its inhibition by rapamycin has also been documented
      to augment productivity via promotion of viability. Here using CRISPR/Cas9
      editing we engineered CHO cells to enforce high mTORC1 activity by knocking-out
      TSC2, a major mTOR inhibitory protein, or PTEN, a phosphatase that attenuates the
      PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Only TSC2-deleted cells exhibited a constitutive
      activation of mTORC1 under fed batch conditions. Cells grew larger in size,
      synthesized more proteins and displayed an over twofold elevation in their
      specific productivity. While peak viable cell density was compromised, overall
      titers increased to an extent dependent upon the parental clone. Our data
      underscore manipulation of TSC as a strategy to improve performance of CHO cell
      in bioreactors. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1942-1952. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888598
TI  - Influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hydrocortisone on the co-culture
      of mature adipocytes and endothelial cells for vascularized adipose tissue
      engineering.
AB  - The composition of vascularized adipose tissue is still an ongoing challenge as
      no culture medium is available to supply adipocytes and endothelial cells
      appropriately. Endothelial cell medium is typically supplemented with epidermal
      growth factor (EGF) as well as hydrocortisone (HC). The effect of EGF on
      adipocytes is discussed controversially. Some studies say it inhibits adipocyte
      differentiation while others reported of improved adipocyte lipogenesis. HC is
      known to have lipolytic activities, which might result in mature adipocyte
      dedifferentiation. In this study, we evaluated the influence of EGF and HC on the
      co-culture of endothelial cells and mature adipocytes regarding their cell
      morphology and functionality. We showed in mono-culture that high levels of HC
      promoted dedifferentiation and proliferation of mature adipocytes, whereas EGF
      seemed to have no negative influence. Endothelial cells kept their typical
      cobblestone morphology and showed a proliferation rate comparable to the control
      independent of EGF and HC concentration. In co-culture, HC promoted
      dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes, which was shown by a higher glycerol
      release. EGF had no negative impact on adipocyte morphology. No negative impact
      on endothelial cell morphology and functionality could be seen with reduced EGF
      and HC supplementation in co-culture with mature adipocytes. Taken together, our
      results demonstrate that reduced levels of HC are needed for co-culturing mature
      adipocytes and endothelial cells. In co-culture, EGF had no influence on mature
      adipocytes. Therefore, for the composition of vascularized adipose tissue
      constructs, the media with low levels of HC and high or low levels of EGF can be
      used. 

PMID- 26888599
TI  - Comparison of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes and low-pressure mercury-arc
      lamps for disinfection of water.
AB  - Ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting at 260 nm were evaluated
      to determine the inactivation kinetics of bacteria, viruses, and spores compared
      to low-pressure (LP) UV irradiation. Test microbes were Escherichia coli B, a non
      enveloped virus (MS-2), and a bacterial spore (Bacillus atrophaeus). For LP UV, 4
      log10 reduction doses were: E. coli B, 6.5 mJ/cm(2); MS-2, 59.3 mJ/cm(2); and B.
      atrophaeus, 30.0 mJ/cm(2). For UV LEDs, the 4-log10 reduction doses were E. coli
      B, 6.2 mJ/cm(2); MS-2, 58 mJ/cm(2); and B. atrophaeus, 18.7 mJ/cm(2). Microbial
      inactivation kinetics of the two UV technologies were not significantly different
      for E. coli B and MS-2, but were different for B. atrophaeus spores. UV LEDs at
      260 nm are at least as effective for inactivating microbes in water as
      conventional LP UV sources and should undergo further development in treatment
      systems to disinfect drinking water. 

PMID- 26888600
TI  - Graphene-philic surfactants for nanocomposites in latex technology.
AB  - Graphene is the newest member of the carbon family, and has revolutionized
      materials science especially in the field of polymer nanocomposites. However,
      agglomeration and uniform dispersion remains an Achilles' heel (even an elephant
      in the room), hampering the optimization of this material for practical
      applications. Chemical functionalization of graphene can overcome these hurdles
      but is often rather disruptive to the extended pi-conjugation, altering the
      desired physical and electronic properties. Employing surfactants as stabilizing
      agents in latex technology circumvents the need for chemical modification
      allowing for the formation of nanocomposites with retained graphene properties.
      This article reviews the recent progress in the use of surfactants and polymers
      to prepare graphene/polymer nanocomposites via latex technology. Of special
      interest here are surfactant structure-performance relationships, as well as
      background on the roles surfactant-graphene interactions for promoting
      stabilization. 

PMID- 26888601
TI  - Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Routes in Water Oxidation Catalysis Starting from
      Cu(II) Complexes with Tetraaza Macrocyclic Ligands.
AB  - Since the first report in 2012, molecular copper complexes have been proposed as
      efficient electrocatalysts for water oxidation reactions, carried out in
      alkaline/neutral aqueous media. However, in some cases the copper species have
      been recognized as precursors of an active copper oxide layer, electrodeposited
      onto the working electrode. Therefore, the question whether copper catalysis is
      molecular or not is particularly relevant in the field of water oxidation. In
      this study, we investigate the electrochemical activity of copper(II) complexes
      with two tetraaza macrocyclic ligands, distinguishing heterogeneous or
      homogeneous processes depending on the reaction media. In an alkaline aqueous
      solution, and upon application of an anodic bias to working electrodes, an active
      copper oxide layer is observed to electrodeposit at the electrode surface.
      Conversely, water oxidation in neutral aqueous buffers is not associated to
      formation of the copper oxide layer, and could be exploited to evaluate and
      optimize a molecular, homogeneous catalysis.

PMID- 26888597
TI  - Scandinavian guidelines for initial management of minor and moderate head trauma
      in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The management of minor and moderate head trauma in children differs
      widely between countries. Presently, there are no existing guidelines for
      management of these children in Scandinavia. The purpose of this study was to
      produce new evidence-based guidelines for the initial management of head trauma
      in the paediatric population in Scandinavia. The primary aim was to detect all
      children in need of neurosurgical intervention. Detection of any traumatic
      intracranial injury on CT scan was an important secondary aim. METHODS: General
      methodology according to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation
      (AGREE) II and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and
      Evaluation (GRADE) system was used. Systematic evidence-based review was
      performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
      Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology and based upon relevant clinical questions
      with respect to patient-important outcomes. Quality ratings of the included
      studies were performed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
      (QUADAS)-2 and Centre of Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM)-2 tools. Based upon the
      results, GRADE recommendations, a guideline, discharge instructions and in
      hospital observation instructions were drafted. For elements with low evidence, a
      modified Delphi process was used for consensus, which included relevant clinical
      stakeholders. RESULTS: The guidelines include criteria for selecting children for
      CT scans, in-hospital observation or early discharge, and suggestions for
      monitoring routines and discharge advice for children and guardians. The
      guidelines separate mild head trauma patients into high-, medium- and low-risk
      categories, favouring observation for mild, low-risk patients as an attempt to
      reduce CT scans in children. CONCLUSIONS: We present new evidence and consensus
      based Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee guidelines for initial management of
      minor and moderate head trauma in children. These guidelines should be validated
      before extensive clinical use and updated within four years due to rapid
      development of new diagnostic tools within paediatric neurotrauma.

PMID- 26888603
TI  - Decrease in serum potassium levels post saline suppression test in primary
      aldosteronism: an under-recognised phenomenon?

PMID- 26888605
TI  - Estimation of emission factor for odorants released from swine excretion
      slurries.
AB  - In this study, the odorant emission rates from excretory wastes collected in
      sealed containers from a large swine facility were determined offsite in a
      laboratory using both raw slurry from ([1] windowless pigpen (WP) and [2] open
      pigpen (OP)) and treated waste samples ([3] composting facility (CF) and [4]
      slurry treatment facility (SF)). The emission rates of up to 41 volatile odorants
      were measured for 100g waste samples (of all four types) in a 0.75L impinger with
      an air change rate of 8h(-1). The initial emission rates (mgkg(-1).h(-1)) for the
      most dominant species from each waste type can be summarized as: (1) WP: NH3
      (16.3) and H2S (0.54); (2) OP: H2S (1.78), NH3 (1.69), and p-cresol (0.36); (3)
      CF: NH3 (7.04), CH3SH (0.30), and DMS (0.12); and (4) SF: NH3 (11.7), H2S (11.7),
      and p-cresol (0.25). Accordingly, the emission factors for the key odorant (mE,
      kg.pig(-1))) for fattening pigs in the WP and OP facilities of S. Korea were
      extrapolated as 3.46 (NH3) and 0.38 (H2S), respectively. The emission factors
      were estimated assuming exponentially decaying emission rates and slurry
      production rates obtained from the literature. 

PMID- 26888606
TI  - Corrigendum to "Ambient volatile organic compounds and their effect on ozone
      production in Wuhan, central China" [Sci. Total Environ. 541 (2016) 200-209].

PMID- 26888602
TI  - Alcoholic hepatitis accelerates early hepatobiliary cancer by increasing stemness
      and miR-122-mediated HIF-1alpha activation.
AB  - Alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops with advanced alcoholic
      liver disease and liver fibrosis. Using adult mice, we evaluate the effect of
      alcoholic steatohepatitis on early hepatobiliary carcinoma after initiation by
      diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN). Here we show that alcohol-fed DEN-injected mice have
      higher ALT and liver-to-body weight ratio compared to pair-fed DEN-injected mice.
      Alcohol feeding results in steatohepatitis indicated by increased pro
      inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic genes. MRI and liver histology of alcohol+DEN
      mice shows hepatobiliary cysts, early hepatic neoplasia and increase in serum
      alpha-fetoprotein. Proliferation makers (BrdU, cyclin D1, p53) and cancer stem
      cell markers (CD133 and nanog) are significantly up-regulated in livers of
      alcohol-fed DEN-injected mice compared to controls. In livers with tumors, loss
      of miR-122 expression with a significant up-regulation of miR-122 target HIF
      1alpha is seen. We conclude that alcoholic steatohepatitis accelerates
      hepatobiliary tumors with characteristic molecular features of HCC by up
      regulating inflammation, cell proliferation, stemness, and miR-122 loss. 

PMID- 26888604
TI  - A novel transcription factor gene FHS1 is involved in the DNA damage response in
      Fusarium graminearum.
AB  - Cell cycle regulation and the maintenance of genome integrity are crucial for the
      development and virulence of the pathogenic plant fungus Fusarium graminearum. To
      identify transcription factors (TFs) related to these processes, four DNA
      damaging agents were applied to screen a F. graminearum TF mutant library.
      Sixteen TFs were identified to be likely involved in DNA damage responses. Fhs1
      is a fungal specific Zn(II)2Cys6 TF that localises exclusively to nuclei. fhs1
      deletion mutants were hypersensitive to hydroxyurea and defective in mitotic cell
      division. Moreover, deletion of FHS1 resulted in defects in perithecia production
      and virulence and led to the accumulation of DNA damage. Our genetic evidence
      demonstrated that the FHS1-associated signalling pathway for DNA damage response
      is independent of the ATM or ATR pathways. This study identified sixteen genes
      involved in the DNA damage response and is the first to characterise the novel
      transcription factor gene FHS1, which is involved in the DNA damage response. The
      results provide new insights into mechanisms underlying DNA damage responses in
      fungi, including F. graminearum. 

PMID- 26888607
TI  - TRPV-1-mediated elimination of residual iPS cells in bioengineered cardiac cell
      sheet tissues.
AB  - The development of a suitable strategy for eliminating remaining undifferentiated
      cells is indispensable for the use of human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell
      derived cells in regenerative medicine. Here, we show for the first time that
      TRPV-1 activation through transient culture at 42  degrees C in combination with
      agonists is a simple and useful strategy to eliminate iPS cells from
      bioengineered cardiac cell sheet tissues. When human iPS cells were cultured at
      42  degrees C, almost all cells disappeared by 48 hours through apoptosis.
      However, iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts maintained
      transcriptional and protein expression levels, and cardiac cell sheets were
      fabricated after reducing the temperature. TRPV-1 expression in iPS cells was
      upregulated at 42  degrees C, and iPS cell death at 42  degrees C was TRPV-1
      dependent. Furthermore, TRPV-1 activation through thermal or agonist treatment
      eliminated iPS cells in cardiac tissues for a final concentration of 0.4% iPS
      cell contamination. These findings suggest that the difference in tolerance to
      TRPV-1 activation between iPS cells and iPS cell-derived cardiac cells could be
      exploited to eliminate remaining iPS cells in bioengineered cell sheet tissues,
      which will further reduce the risk of tumour formation.

PMID- 26888609
TI  - Fatal rhabdomyolysis after torture by reverse hanging.
AB  - PURPOSE: Reverse hanging (also known as Palestinian hanging) is a form of
      positional torture where the victim is suspended for a prolonged period of time
      by the wrists, after the wrists are bound at the back. We report the first
      autopsy case of reverse hanging. We have discovered that fatal myoglobinuric
      renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis can be a complication of Palestinian hanging.
      METHOD: An adult detainee, who underwent interrogation by authorities, was
      admitted to hospital from a prison and died in hospital after a few days. Death
      was due to myoglobinuric renal failure. An autopsy was performed. RESULTS: At
      autopsy, the body showed anasarca due to renal failure. There were healing
      ligature marks on the wrist and forearm, but no blunt impact injury to the
      shoulders or arms. There was extensive necrosis of the pectoralis major, biceps,
      and deltoid muscles, organizing hemoarthrosis of the right glenohumeral joint and
      hemorrhage into the joint capsule of the both glenohumeral joints. The kidneys
      showed evidence of myoglobin deposition grossly. The overstretching of the major
      muscles of the shoulder, in response to the prolonged Palestinian hanging, gave
      rise to the muscle necrosis. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of
      conducting autopsies on people who die in custody, particularly if detained at
      times of political instability when torture may be practiced by state actors and
      others. This case also reveals that fatal rhabdomyolysis can occur by positional
      torture in a stress position, despite the absence of direct trauma due to blunt
      impacts.

PMID- 26888608
TI  - A tRNA methyltransferase paralog is important for ribosome stability and cell
      division in Trypanosoma brucei.
AB  - Most eukaryotic ribosomes contain 26/28S, 5S, and 5.8S large subunit ribosomal
      RNAs (LSU rRNAs) in addition to the 18S rRNA of the small subunit (SSU rRNA).
      However, in kinetoplastids, a group of organisms that include medically important
      members of the genus Trypanosoma and Leishmania, the 26/28S large subunit
      ribosomal RNA is uniquely composed of 6 rRNA fragments. In addition, recent
      studies have shown the presence of expansion segments in the large ribosomal
      subunit (60S) of Trypanosoma brucei. Given these differences in structure,
      processing and assembly, T. brucei ribosomes may require biogenesis factors not
      found in other organisms. Here, we show that one of two putative 3-methylcytidine
      methyltransferases, TbMTase37 (a homolog of human methyltransferase-like 6,
      METTL6), is important for ribosome stability in T. brucei. TbMTase37 localizes to
      the nucleolus and depletion of the protein results in accumulation of ribosomal
      particles lacking srRNA 4 and reduced levels of polysome associated ribosomes. We
      also find that TbMTase37 plays a role in cytokinesis, as loss of the protein
      leads to multi-flagellated and multi-nucleated cells. 

PMID- 26888610
TI  - Meningiomas in three male-to-female transgender subjects using
      oestrogens/progestogens and review of the literature.
AB  - Sex hormones have been proposed as a possible risk factor for the development and
      growth of meningiomas. Hormonal therapy plays a fundamental role in the treatment
      of male-to-female transgenders and needs to be continued after sex reassignment
      surgery. Usually, this treatment leads to no adverse events; however, its impact
      on hormone-related tumours such as meningiomas has not yet been investigated
      thoroughly. We searched our cohort of 2810 male-to-female transgender persons,
      who have been treated between 1975 and 2010, for patients with meningiomas.
      Additionally, we conducted a literature search in PubMed and EMBASE. We found
      three patients who developed a meningioma in male-to-female transgenders in
      addition to five other who have been described in the literature. These findings
      support the role of female sex hormones in the development and growth of
      meningiomas. This might be an underrepresentation, because there is no standard
      protocol for screening for meningiomas in this population and meningiomas can
      remain asymptomatic for several years. We observed regression of multiple
      meningiomas in one of these three cases after discontinuation of hormonal
      treatment. The decision to stop or continue cross-sex hormone therapy in these
      particular patients should be carefully reconsidered individually.

PMID- 26888613
TI  - Measuring Cortical Connectivity in Alzheimer's Disease as a Brain Neural Network
      Pathology: Toward Clinical Applications.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective was to review the literature on diffusion tensor
      imaging as well as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and
      electroencephalography (EEG) to unveil neuroanatomical and neurophysiological
      substrates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a brain neural network pathology
      affecting structural and functional cortical connectivity underlying human
      cognition. METHODS: We reviewed papers registered in PubMed and other scientific
      repositories on the use of these techniques in amnesic mild cognitive impairment
      (MCI) and clinically mild AD dementia patients compared to cognitively intact
      elderly individuals (Controls). RESULTS: Hundreds of peer-reviewed (cross
      sectional and longitudinal) papers have shown in patients with MCI and mild AD
      compared to Controls (1) impairment of callosal (splenium), thalamic, and
      anterior-posterior white matter bundles; (2) reduced correlation of resting state
      blood oxygen level-dependent activity across several intrinsic brain circuits
      including default mode and attention-related networks; and (3) abnormal power and
      functional coupling of resting state cortical EEG rhythms. Clinical applications
      of these measures are still limited. CONCLUSIONS: Structural and functional (in
      vivo) cortical connectivity measures represent a reliable marker of cerebral
      reserve capacity and should be used to predict and monitor the evolution of AD
      and its relative impact on cognitive domains in pre-clinical, prodromal, and
      dementia stages of AD.

PMID- 26888614
TI  - Imaging the "At-Risk" Brain: Future Directions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Clinical neuroscience is increasingly turning to imaging the human
      brain for answers to a range of questions and challenges. To date, the majority
      of studies have focused on the neural basis of current psychiatric symptoms,
      which can facilitate the identification of neurobiological markers for diagnosis.
      However, the increasing availability and feasibility of using imaging modalities,
      such as diffusion imaging and resting-state fMRI, enable longitudinal mapping of
      brain development. This shift in the field is opening the possibility of
      identifying predictive markers of risk or prognosis, and also represents a
      critical missing element for efforts to promote personalized or individualized
      medicine in psychiatry (i.e., stratified psychiatry). METHODS: The present work
      provides a selective review of potentially high-yield populations for
      longitudinal examination with MRI, based upon our understanding of risk from
      epidemiologic studies and initial MRI findings. RESULTS: Our discussion is
      organized into three topic areas: (1) practical considerations for establishing
      temporal precedence in psychiatric research; (2) readiness of the field for
      conducting longitudinal MRI, particularly for neurodevelopmental questions; and
      (3) illustrations of high-yield populations and time windows for examination that
      can be used to rapidly generate meaningful and useful data. Particular emphasis
      is placed on the implementation of time-appropriate, developmentally informed
      longitudinal designs, capable of facilitating the identification of biomarkers
      predictive of risk and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Strategic longitudinal examination
      of the brain at-risk has the potential to bring the concepts of early
      intervention and prevention to psychiatry.

PMID- 26888611
TI  - Modern Methods for Interrogating the Human Connectome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Connectionist theories of brain function took hold with the seminal
      contributions of Norman Geschwind a half century ago. Modern neuroimaging
      techniques have expanded the scientific interest in the study of brain
      connectivity to include the intact as well as disordered brain. METHODS: In this
      review, we describe the most common techniques used to measure functional and
      structural connectivity, including resting state functional MRI, diffusion MRI,
      and electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography coherence. We also review
      the most common analytical approaches used for examining brain interconnectivity
      associated with these various imaging methods. RESULTS: This review presents a
      critical analysis of the assumptions, as well as methodological limitations, of
      each imaging and analysis approach. CONCLUSIONS: The overall goal of this review
      is to provide the reader with an introduction to evaluating the scientific
      methods underlying investigations that probe the human connectome.

PMID- 26888615
TI  - Variation in White Matter Connectivity Predicts the Ability to Remember Faces and
      Discriminate Their Emotions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The extended face network contains clusters of neurons that perform
      distinct functions on facial stimuli. Regions in the posterior ventral visual
      stream appear to perform basic perceptual functions on faces, while more anterior
      regions, such as the ventral anterior temporal lobe and amygdala, function to
      link mnemonic and affective information to faces. Anterior and posterior regions
      are interconnected by a long-range white matter tracts; however, it is not known
      if variation in connectivity of these pathways explains cognitive performance.
      METHODS: Here, we used diffusion imaging and deterministic tractography in a
      cohort of 28 neurologically normal adults ages 18-28 to examine microstructural
      properties of visual fiber pathways and their relationship to certain mnemonic
      and affective functions involved in face processing. We investigated how inter
      individual variability in two tracts, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF)
      and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), related to performance on
      tests of facial emotion recognition and face memory. RESULTS: Results revealed
      that microstructure of both tracts predicted variability in behavioral
      performance indexed by both tasks, suggesting that the ILF and IFOF play a role
      in facilitating our ability to discriminate emotional expressions in faces, as
      well as to remember unique faces. Variation in a control tract, the uncinate
      fasciculus, did not predict performance on these tasks. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results corroborate and extend the findings of previous neuropsychology studies
      investigating the effects of damage to the ILF and IFOF, and demonstrate that
      differences in face processing abilities are related to white matter
      microstructure, even in healthy individuals.

PMID- 26888612
TI  - Traumatic Brain Injury as a Disorder of Brain Connectivity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Recent advances in neuroimaging methodologies sensitive to axonal
      injury have made it possible to assess in vivo the extent of traumatic brain
      injury (TBI) -related disruption in neural structures and their connections. The
      objective of this paper is to review studies examining connectivity in TBI with
      an emphasis on structural and functional MRI methods that have proven to be
      valuable in uncovering neural abnormalities associated with this condition.
      METHODS: We review studies that have examined white matter integrity in TBI of
      varying etiology and levels of severity, and consider how findings at different
      times post-injury may inform underlying mechanisms of post-injury progression and
      recovery. Moreover, in light of recent advances in neuroimaging methods to study
      the functional connectivity among brain regions that form integrated networks, we
      review TBI studies that use resting-state functional connectivity MRI methodology
      to examine neural networks disrupted by putative axonal injury. RESULTS: The
      findings suggest that TBI is associated with altered structural and functional
      connectivity, characterized by decreased integrity of white matter pathways and
      imbalance and inefficiency of functional networks. These structural and
      functional alterations are often associated with neurocognitive dysfunction and
      poor functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: TBI has a negative impact on distributed
      brain networks that lead to behavioral disturbance.

PMID- 26888618
TI  - Altered Effective Connectivity during a Processing Speed Task in Individuals with
      Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Processing speed impairment is the most prevalent cognitive deficit
      in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the neural mechanisms
      associated with processing speed remain under debate. The current investigation
      provides a dynamic representation of the functioning of the brain network
      involved in processing speed by examining effective connectivity pattern during a
      processing speed task in healthy adults and in MS individuals with and without
      processing speed impairment. METHODS: Group assignment (processing speed impaired
      vs. intact) was based on participants' performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities
      test (Parmenter, Testa, Schretlen, Weinstock-Guttman, & Benedict, 2010). First,
      brain regions involved in the processing speed task were determined in healthy
      participants. Time series from these functional regions of interest of each group
      of participants were then subjected to the effective connectivity analysis
      (Independent Multiple-Sample Greedy Equivalence Search and Linear, Non-Gaussian
      Orientation, Fixed Structure algorithms) that showed causal influences of one
      region on another during task performance. RESULTS: The connectivity pattern of
      the processing speed impaired group was significantly different from the
      connectivity pattern of the processing speed intact group and of the healthy
      control group. Differences in the strength of common connections were also
      observed. CONCLUSIONS: Effective connectivity results reveal that MS individuals
      with processing speed impairment not only have connections that differ from
      healthy participants and MS individuals without processing speed impairment, but
      also have increased strengths of connections.

PMID- 26888617
TI  - Salience and Default Mode Network Coupling Predicts Cognition in Aging and
      Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment is common in Parkinson's disease (PD). Three
      neurocognitive networks support efficient cognition: the salience network, the
      default mode network, and the central executive network. The salience network is
      thought to switch between activating and deactivating the default mode and
      central executive networks. Anti-correlated interactions between the salience and
      default mode networks in particular are necessary for efficient cognition. Our
      previous work demonstrated altered functional coupling between the neurocognitive
      networks in non-demented individuals with PD compared to age-matched control
      participants. Here, we aim to identify associations between cognition and
      functional coupling between these neurocognitive networks in the same group of
      participants. METHODS: We investigated the extent to which intrinsic functional
      coupling among these neurocognitive networks is related to cognitive performance
      across three neuropsychological domains: executive functioning, psychomotor
      speed, and verbal memory. Twenty-four non-demented individuals with mild to
      moderate PD and 20 control participants were scanned at rest and evaluated on
      three neuropsychological domains. RESULTS: PD participants were impaired on tests
      from all three domains compared to control participants. Our imaging results
      demonstrated that successful cognition across healthy aging and Parkinson's
      disease participants was related to anti-correlated coupling between the salience
      and default mode networks. Individuals with poorer performance scores across
      groups demonstrated more positive salience network/default-mode network coupling.
      CONCLUSIONS: Successful cognition relies on healthy coupling between the salience
      and default mode networks, which may become dysfunctional in PD. These results
      can help inform non-pharmacological interventions (repetitive transcranial
      magnetic stimulation) targeting these specific networks before they become
      vulnerable in early stages of Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26888616
TI  - Fornix Microstructure and Memory Performance Is Associated with Altered Neural
      Connectivity during Episodic Recognition.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess whether age-related
      differences in white matter microstructure are associated with altered task
      related connectivity during episodic recognition. METHODS: Using functional
      magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging from 282 cognitively
      healthy middle-to-late aged adults enrolled in the Wisconsin Registry for
      Alzheimer's Prevention, we investigated whether fractional anisotropy (FA) within
      white matter regions known to decline with age was associated with task-related
      connectivity within the recognition network. RESULTS: There was a positive
      relationship between fornix FA and memory performance, both of which negatively
      correlated with age. Psychophysiological interaction analyses revealed that
      higher fornix FA was associated with increased task-related connectivity amongst
      the hippocampus, caudate, precuneus, middle occipital gyrus, and middle frontal
      gyrus. In addition, better task performance was associated with increased task
      related connectivity between the posterior cingulate gyrus, middle frontal gyrus,
      cuneus, and hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that age has a
      negative effect on white matter microstructure, which in turn has a negative
      impact on memory performance. However, fornix microstructure did not
      significantly mediate the effect of age on performance. Of interest, dynamic
      functional connectivity was associated with better memory performance. The
      results of the psychophysiological interaction analysis further revealed that
      alterations in fornix microstructure explain-at least in part-connectivity among
      cortical regions in the recognition memory network. Our results may further
      elucidate the relationship between structural connectivity, neural function, and
      cognition.

PMID- 26888619
TI  - Differential Resting State Connectivity Patterns and Impaired Semantically Cued
      List Learning Test Performance in Early Course Remitted Major Depressive
      Disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There is a well-known association between memory impairment and major
      depressive disorder (MDD). Additionally, recent studies are also showing resting
      state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsMRI) abnormalities in active and
      remitted MDD. However, no studies to date have examined both rs connectivity and
      memory performance in early course remitted MDD, nor the relationship between
      connectivity and semantically cued episodic memory. METHODS: The rsMRI data from
      two 3.0 Tesla GE scanners were collected from 34 unmedicated young adults with
      remitted MDD (rMDD) and 23 healthy controls (HCs) between 18 and 23 years of age
      using bilateral seeds in the hippocampus. Participants also completed a
      semantically cued list-learning test, and their performance was correlated with
      hippocampal seed-based rsMRI. Regression models were also used to predict
      connectivity patterns from memory performance. RESULTS: After correcting for sex,
      rMDD subjects performed worse than HCs on the total number of words recalled and
      recognized. rMDD demonstrated significant in-network hypoactivation between the
      hippocampus and multiple fronto-temporal regions, and multiple extra-network
      hyperconnectivities between the hippocampus and fronto-parietal regions when
      compared to HCs. Memory performance negatively predicted connectivity in HCs and
      positively predicted connectivity in rMDD. Conclusions Even when individuals with
      a history of MDD are no longer displaying active depressive symptoms, they
      continue to demonstrate worse memory performance, disruptions in hippocampal
      connectivity, and a differential relationship between episodic memory and
      hippocampal connectivity.

PMID- 26888620
TI  - Graph Metrics of Structural Brain Networks in Individuals with Schizophrenia and
      Healthy Controls: Group Differences, Relationships with Intelligence, and
      Genetics.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: One of the most prominent features of schizophrenia is relatively
      lower general cognitive ability (GCA). An emerging approach to understanding the
      roots of variation in GCA relies on network properties of the brain. In this
      multi-center study, we determined global characteristics of brain networks using
      graph theory and related these to GCA in healthy controls and individuals with
      schizophrenia. METHODS: Participants (N=116 controls, 80 patients with
      schizophrenia) were recruited from four sites. GCA was represented by the first
      principal component of a large battery of neurocognitive tests. Graph metrics
      were derived from diffusion-weighted imaging. RESULTS: The global metrics of
      longer characteristic path length and reduced overall connectivity predicted
      lower GCA across groups, and group differences were noted for both variables.
      Measures of clustering, efficiency, and modularity did not differ across groups
      or predict GCA. Follow-up analyses investigated three topological types of
      connectivity--connections among high degree "rich club" nodes, "feeder"
      connections to these rich club nodes, and "local" connections not involving the
      rich club. Rich club and local connectivity predicted performance across groups.
      In a subsample (N=101 controls, 56 patients), a genetic measure reflecting
      mutation load, based on rare copy number deletions, was associated with longer
      characteristic path length. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the importance of
      characteristic path lengths and rich club connectivity for GCA and provide no
      evidence for group differences in the relationships between graph metrics and
      GCA.

PMID- 26888621
TI  - Brain Network Organization and Social Executive Performance in Frontotemporal
      Dementia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterized
      by early atrophy in the frontotemporoinsular regions. These regions overlap with
      networks that are engaged in social cognition-executive functions, two hallmarks
      deficits of bvFTD. We examine (i) whether Network Centrality (a graph theory
      metric that measures how important a node is in a brain network) in the
      frontotemporoinsular network is disrupted in bvFTD, and (ii) the level of
      involvement of this network in social-executive performance. METHODS: Patients
      with probable bvFTD, healthy controls, and frontoinsular stroke patients
      underwent functional MRI resting-state recordings and completed social-executive
      behavioral measures. RESULTS: Relative to the controls and the stroke group, the
      bvFTD patients presented decreased Network Centrality. In addition, this measure
      was associated with social cognition and executive functions. To test the
      specificity of these results for the Network Centrality of the
      frontotemporoinsular network, we assessed the main areas from six resting-state
      networks. No group differences or behavioral associations were found in these
      networks. Finally, Network Centrality and behavior distinguished bvFTD patients
      from the other groups with a high classification rate. CONCLUSIONS: bvFTD
      selectively affects Network Centrality in the frontotemporoinsular network, which
      is associated with high-level social and executive profile.

PMID- 26888623
TI  - The Lack of Lutein Accelerates the Extent of Light-induced Bleaching of
      Photosynthetic Pigments in Thylakoid Membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - The high light-induced bleaching of photosynthetic pigments and the degradation
      of proteins of light-harvesting complexes of PSI and PSII were investigated in
      isolated thylakoid membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana, wt and lutein-deficient
      mutant lut2, with the aim of unraveling the role of lutein for the degree of
      bleaching and degradation. By the means of absorption spectroscopy and western
      blot analysis, we show that the lack of lutein leads to a higher extent of
      pigment photobleaching and protein degradation in mutant thylakoid membranes in
      comparison with wt. The highest extent of bleaching is suffered by chlorophyll a
      and carotenoids, while chlorophyll b is bleached in lut2 thylakoids during long
      periods at high illumination. The high light-induced degradation of Lhca1, Lhcb2
      proteins and PsbS was followed and it is shown that Lhca1 is more damaged than
      Lhcb2. The degradation of analyzed proteins is more pronounced in lut2 mutant
      thylakoid membranes. The lack of lutein influences the high light-induced
      alterations in organization of pigment-protein complexes as revealed by 77 K
      fluorescence.

PMID- 26888622
TI  - Disrupted Intrinsic Connectivity among Default, Dorsal Attention, and
      Frontoparietal Control Networks in Individuals with Chronic Traumatic Brain
      Injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) often show
      detrimental deficits in higher order cognitive functions requiring coordination
      of multiple brain networks. Although assessing TBI-related deficits in higher
      order cognition in the context of network dysfunction is promising, few studies
      have systematically investigated altered interactions among multiple networks in
      chronic TBI. METHOD: We characterized disrupted resting-state functional
      connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), dorsal attention network (DAN),
      and frontoparietal control network (FPCN) whose interactions are required for
      internally and externally focused goal-directed cognition in chronic TBI.
      Specifically, we compared the network interactions of 40 chronic TBI individuals
      (8 years post-injury on average) with those of 17 healthy individuals matched for
      gender, age, and years of education. RESULTS: The network-based statistic (NBS)
      on DMN-DAN-FPCN connectivity of these groups revealed statistically significant
      (p NBS2.58) reductions in within-DMN, within-FPCN, DMN-DAN, and DMN-FPCN
      connectivity of the TBI group over healthy controls. Importantly, such
      disruptions occurred prominently in between-network connectivity. Subsequent
      analyses further exhibited the disrupted connectivity patterns of the chronic TBI
      group occurring preferentially in long-range and inter-hemispheric connectivity
      of DMN-DAN-FPCN. Most importantly, graph-theoretic analysis demonstrated relative
      reductions in global, local and cost efficiency (p<.05) as a consequence of the
      network disruption patterns in the TBI group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest
      that assessing multiple networks-of-interest simultaneously will allow us to
      better understand deficits in goal-directed cognition and other higher order
      cognitive phenomena in chronic TBI. Future research will be needed to better
      understand the behavioral consequences related to these network disruptions.

PMID- 26888625
TI  - Association of lipid profile with serum PON1 concentration in patients with
      chronic kidney disease.
AB  - Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of atherosclerotic
      events; dyslipoproteinemia and the decrease of the HDL-linked enzyme paraoxonase
      1 (PON1), might have a major role. This study intends to compare the association
      between lipid profile and serum PON1 levels in renal failure (RF) and
      hemodialysis (HD) patients. Serum lipids, HDL-subclasses and PON1 concentration
      were evaluated in 90 patients with CKD, divided into groups: RF (n = 46) and HD
      (n = 44), and in 30 normal individuals (control group). The results showed that
      PON1 was significantly lower in HD patients than in RF and controls (p < 0.001).
      In RF patients under statin therapy, PON1 did not differ from that of patients
      without statins. In HD patients without statins, PON1 was considerably low,
      whereas in HD with statins (30.42 +/- 12.62 MUg/mL) was lower than RF with
      statins (49.31 +/- 14.94, p < 0.001). PON1 concentration was significantly and
      positively associated with HDL-C, HDL3-C and Apo A1 in all groups. Additionally,
      in HD patients PON1 was negatively associated with LDL-C. Multiple regression
      analysis revealed that LDL-C and statin treatment were independently related to
      PON1 concentration in HD patients (beta =  -0.331, p = 0.026 and beta = 0.344, p
      = 0.020, respectively). In RF patients, HDL3-C and Apo A1 are strong determinants
      of PON1 levels. It is concluded that different parameters of lipid profile seem
      to affect serum PON1 concentration of RF and HD patients and probably contribute
      to the delay of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26888624
TI  - Ethnic Disparities in the Onset and Progression of Functional Limitations Among
      Israeli Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Socioeconomic and Health-Related Pathways.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine whether socioeconomic and health-related factors explain
      ethnic disparities in the onset and progression of functional limitations among
      middle-aged and older Israeli adults. METHOD: We used data from Waves I-III of
      the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe in Israel. Logistic and
      multinomial regression models were estimated to examine the association between
      ethnicity and transitions in functional status (onset versus progression) from
      respondents' baseline interview (Wave I or II) to their follow-up interview (Wave
      II or III). RESULTS: Compared to veteran Jews, Arabs and Jewish immigrants from
      the former Soviet Union were more likely to experience an onset of functional
      limitations. Arabs were also more likely to experience worsening functional
      limitations by follow-up. Education and health-related factors attenuated some of
      the ethnic disparities in onset and progression of functional limitations.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the importance of moving beyond traditional
      indicators of socioeconomic status and health-related pathways to fully
      understand the underlying factors that predict ethnic disparities in the onset
      and progression of functional limitations in Israel.

PMID- 26888626
TI  - Change in CD3zeta-chain expression is an independent predictor of disease status
      in head and neck cancer patients.
AB  - CD3zeta has emerged as a clinically important immunological marker in head and
      neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with reduced level of expression reported in
      both tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes. In this
      prospective study (power = 0.99, alpha = 0.05), CD3zeta expression was compared
      in 47 HNSCC patients and 53 controls using standardized flow cytometric method.
      There was no statistical difference in the percentages of the CD3 epsilon+ T-cell
      subset present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the HNSCC patients
      and the healthy controls; however, T cells from the HNSCC patients produced a
      significantly weaker IFN-gamma response in comparison to the healthy controls,
      when they were stimulated by the recall viral CEF peptide antigen. All patients
      were followed up for at least 3 years with a median follow-up of 45 months.
      Levels of CD3zeta-chain expression were measured at 117 follow-up visits at six
      month intervals. Receiver operating characteristic curve identified the optimal
      cut off as a 12% increase in post treatment CD3zeta-chain expression from the
      baseline levels to confirm absence of HNSCC with the area under curve of 0.81
      (95% CI = 0.68-0.94) for predicting absence of HNSCC. The specificity,
      sensitivity and positive predictive value were 81.25% 79.21% and 97.56%,
      respectively. Three-year disease specific survival (DSS) was significantly lower
      (p = 0.007) at 63.2% for patients who showed <12% increase in CD3zeta-chain level
      as compared to 96.2% for patients who had >=12% increase. Our results indicate
      that the change in CD3zeta-chain expression from the baseline is an independent
      predictor of residual and recurrent HNSCC. 

PMID- 26888627
TI  - Dnd knockout ablates germ cells and demonstrates germ cell independent sex
      differentiation in Atlantic salmon.
AB  - Introgression of farmed salmon escapees into wild stocks is a major threat to the
      genetic integrity of wild populations. Using germ cell-free fish in aquaculture
      may mitigate this problem. Our study investigated whether it is possible to
      produce germ cell-free salmon in F0 by using CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out dnd, a
      factor required for germ cell survival in vertebrates. To avoid studying mosaic
      animals, sgRNA targeting alb was simultaneously used as a visual tracer since the
      phenotype of alb KO is complete loss of pigmentation. Induced mutations for the
      tracer (alb) and the target (dnd) genes were highly correlated and produced germ
      cell-less fish lacking pigmentation, underlining the suitability of alb KO to
      serve as tracer for targeted double allelic mutations in F0 animals in species
      with prohibitively long generation times. This is also the first report
      describing dnd knockout in any fish species. Analyzing gene expression and
      histology of dnd KO fish revealed that sex differentiation of the somatic
      compartment does not depend on the presence of germ cells. However, the
      organization of the ovarian somatic compartment seems compromised in mutant fish.

PMID- 26888628
TI  - Development of additional pituitary hormone deficiencies in pediatric patients
      originally diagnosed with isolated growth hormone deficiency due to organic
      causes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics of children initially diagnosed with
      isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) of organic aetiology, who later
      developed multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD). DESIGN: Data were
      analysed for 716 growth hormone-treated children with organic IGHD, who were
      growth hormone-naive at baseline in the multinational, observational Genetics and
      Neuroendocrinology of Short Stature International Study. METHODS: Development of
      MPHD was ascertained from investigator-provided diagnoses, adverse events and
      concomitant medications. Analyses were performed for all patients and separately
      for those who developed MPHD within 4.5 years or had >3.5 years follow-up and
      continued to have IGHD (4-year cohort). RESULTS: MPHD developed in 71/716 (9.9%)
      children overall, and in 60/290 (20.7%) in the 4-year cohort. The most frequent
      additional deficiencies were thyroid-stimulating hormone (47 patients) and
      gonadotropins (23 patients). Compared with those who remained with IGHD, children
      who developed MPHD had more severe GHD at study entry, significantly lower
      baseline insulin-like growth factor1, peak stimulated growth hormone, and more
      frequent diagnosis of intracranial tumour or mutation of gene(s) controlling
      hypothalamic-pituitary development and/or function. Multivariate logistic
      regression analyses identified female gender, longer follow-up, higher baseline
      age and lower peak stimulated growth hormone as predictors of MPHD development.
      CONCLUSIONS: MPHD is more likely to develop in patients with severe organic IGHD,
      especially those with history of intracranial tumour or mutation of gene(s)
      controlling hypothalamic-pituitary development and/or function. Older baseline
      age, female gender and longer follow-up duration were also associated with higher
      incidence of MPHD. Long-term monitoring of pituitary function is recommended,
      irrespective of the aetiology of GHD.

PMID- 26888629
TI  - Low beta-arrestin expression correlates with the responsiveness to long-term
      somatostatin analog treatment in acromegaly.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The high expression of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2 also
      known as sst2) usually present in growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas is the
      rationale for therapy with somatostatin analogs (SSAs) in acromegaly. Although
      SSTR2 expression is a good predictor for biochemical response to SSA treatment,
      we still face tumors resistant to SSAs despite high SSTR2 expression. Recently,
      beta-arrestins (beta-arrestins) have been highlighted as key players in the
      regulation of SSTR2 function. DESIGN: To investigate whether beta-arrestins might
      be useful predictors of responsiveness to long-term SSA treatment in acromegaly,
      we retrospectively evaluated 35 patients with acromegaly who underwent
      adenomectomy in two referral centers in The Netherlands. METHODS: beta-arrestin
      mRNA levels were evaluated in adenoma samples, together with SSTR2 (and SSTR5)
      mRNA and protein expression. Biochemical response to long-term SSA treatment
      (median 12 months) was assessed in 32 patients. RESULTS: beta-arrestin 1 and 2
      mRNA was significantly lower in adenoma tissues from patients who achieved
      insulin-like growth factor 1 normalization (P = 0.024 and P = 0.047) and complete
      biochemical control (P = 0.047 and P = 0.039). The SSTR2 mRNA was higher in SSA
      responder patients compared with the resistant ones (P = 0.026). This difference
      was more evident when analyzing the SSTR2/beta-arrestin 1 and SSTR2/beta-arrestin
      2 ratio (P = 0.011 and P = 0.010). beta-arrestin 1 and 2 expression showed a
      significant trend of higher median values from full responders, partial
      responders to resistant patients (P = 0.045 and P = 0.021, respectively).
      Interestingly, SSTR2 protein expression showed a strong inverse correlation with
      both beta-arrestin 1 and 2 mRNA (rho = -0.69, P = 0.0011 and rho = -0.67, P =
      0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: Low beta-arrestin expression and high SSTR2/beta-arrestin
      ratio correlate with the responsiveness to long-term treatment with SSAs in
      patients with acromegaly.

PMID- 26888631
TI  - The effect of cadence on the muscle-tendon mechanics of the gastrocnemius muscle
      during walking.
AB  - Humans naturally select a cadence that minimizes metabolic cost at a constant
      walking velocity. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cadence on
      the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle and tendon interaction, and examine how this
      might influence lower limb energetics. We hypothesized that cadences higher than
      preferred would increase MG fascicle shortening velocity because of the reduced
      stride time. Furthermore, we hypothesized that cadences lower than preferred
      would require greater MG fascicle shortening to achieve increased muscle work
      requirements. We measured lower limb kinematics and kinetics, surface
      electromyography of the triceps surae and MG fascicle length, via
      ultrasonography, during walking at a constant velocity at the participants'
      preferred cadence and offsets of +/-10%, +/-20%, and +/-30%. There was a
      significant increase in MG fascicle shortening with decreased cadence. However,
      there was no increase in the MG fascicle shortening velocity at cadences higher
      than preferred. Cumulative MG muscle activation per minute was significantly
      increased at higher cadences. We conclude that low cadence walking requires more
      MG shortening work, while MG muscle and tendon function changes little for each
      stride at higher cadences, driving up cumulative activation costs due to the
      increase in steps per minute.

PMID- 26888630
TI  - Impact of chemical structure of flavanol monomers and condensed tannins on in
      vitro anthelmintic activity against bovine nematodes.
AB  - Plants containing condensed tannins (CT) may have potential to control
      gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of cattle. The aim was to investigate the
      anthelmintic activities of four flavan-3-ols, two galloyl derivatives and 14
      purified CT fractions, and to define which structural features of CT determine
      the anti-parasitic effects against the main cattle nematodes. We used in vitro
      tests targeting L1 larvae (feeding inhibition assay) and adults (motility assay)
      of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora. In the larval feeding inhibition
      assay, O. ostertagi L1 were significantly more susceptible to all CT fractions
      than C. oncophora L1. The mean degree of polymerization of CT (i.e. average size)
      was the most important structural parameter: large CT reduced larval feeding more
      than small CT. The flavan-3-ols of prodelphinidin (PD)-type tannins had a
      stronger negative influence on parasite activity than the stereochemistry, i.e.
      cis- vs trans-configurations, or the presence of a gallate group. In contrast,
      for C. oncophora high reductions in the motility of larvae and adult worms were
      strongly related with a higher percentage of PDs within the CT fractions while
      there was no effect of size. Overall, the size and the percentage of PDs within
      CT seemed to be the most important parameters that influence anti-parasitic
      activity. 

PMID- 26888632
TI  - Clinical Outcomes of Implants Placed in Extraction Sockets and Immediately
      Restored: A 7-Year Single-Cohort Prospective Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The placement of implants immediately after tooth extraction has
      proven to be a predictable treatment strategy with a very high success rate.
      PURPOSE: The aim of the present 7-year prospective single cohort study was to
      evaluate the success rate, marginal bone level (MBL), soft tissue stability of
      implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and immediately restored. MATERIAL
      AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 37 implants in 32 patients
      (19 females and 13 males) with an average age of 40.1 +/- 13.3 (range: 21-63
      years) who received immediate implants and immediate single unit restorations.
      Outcome evaluations were: implant failures, complications, MBL, width of
      keratinized gingiva, facial soft tissue (FST) levels, modified Plaque Index and
      modified Bleeding Index. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative survival rate
      was of 94.6% at 7-year visit. The mean MBL was -0.6 +/- 0.49 mm at baseline and 1
      +/- 0.2 mm after 7 years. The FST Level was 0.4 +/- 0.69 mm at baseline and 0.02
      +/- 0.70 mm at the 7-year follow-up. The Width of Keratinazed Gingiva was 3.8 +/-
      0.47 mm at baseline and 3.1 +/- 0.42 mm at 7-year follow-up. Implants placed
      immediately after tooth extraction and immediately restored showed predictable
      clinical outcomes in this prospective study.

PMID- 26888633
TI  - Shade-induced stem elongation in rice seedlings: Implication of tissue-specific
      phytohormone regulation.
AB  - A better understanding of shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is an urgent need
      because of its effect on energy reallocation. Leverage-related mechanism in crops
      is of potential economic interest for agricultural applications. Here we report
      the SAS phenotype at tissue level rice seedlings. Tissue-specific RNA-sequencing
      indicates auxin plays different roles between coleoptile and the first leaf.
      Phenotypes of wild type treated by gibberellin and brassinosteroid biosynthesis
      inhibitors and of related mutants suggest these two hormones positively regulate
      SAS. Our work reveals the diversity of hormone responses in different organs and
      different species in shade conditions. 

PMID- 26888635
TI  - Two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy applied to the identification
      of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in illegally adulterated slimming herbal
      products.
AB  - Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) was employed for the
      identification of ephedrine (Ep) and pseudoephedrine (Ps) present in illegally
      adulterated slimming herbal products (SHPs). Second derivative (SD) spectral
      pretreatment was used prior to 2DCOS analysis to highlight specific features not
      readily observable by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), SD-FTIR, or
      original 2DCOS, leading to enhanced resolution and a reduced lower limit of
      detection (<1% in this study). After examining the power spectra of suspicious
      SHPs, bands containing characteristic peaks for Ep (701, 747, 1042, 1363, 1375,
      1451, 1478 cm-1 etc) and/or Ps (703, 767, 1037, 1375, 1428, 1455, 1590 cm- 1,
      etc.) were selected to construct synchronous and asynchronous maps for further
      analysis, while the latter was applied to discriminate positive SHPs adulterated
      simultaneously with Ep and Ps. The proposed method is simple and economical and
      has the potential to identify other chemicals in illegally adulterated herbal
      products. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888634
TI  - Abnormal tau induces cognitive impairment through two different mechanisms:
      synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss.
AB  - The hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau is present in several
      neurodegenerative diseases, although the causal relationship remains elusive. Few
      mouse models used to study Alzheimer-like dementia target tau phosphorylation. We
      created an inducible pseudophosphorylated tau (Pathological Human Tau, PH-Tau)
      mouse model to study the effect of conformationally modified tau in vivo. Leaky
      expression resulted in two levels of PH-Tau: low basal level and higher upon
      induction (4% and 14% of the endogenous tau, respectively). Unexpectedly, low PH
      Tau resulted in significant cognitive deficits, decrease in the number of
      synapses (seen by EM in the CA1 region), reduction of synaptic proteins, and
      localization to the nucleus. Induction of PH-Tau triggered neuronal death (60% in
      CA3), astrocytosis, and loss of the processes in CA1. These findings suggest,
      that phosphorylated tau is sufficient to induce neurodegeneration and that two
      different mechanisms can induce cognitive impairment depending on the levels of
      PH-Tau expression. 

PMID- 26888637
TI  - Erratum to: Extracranial contamination in the INVOS 5100C versus the FORE-SIGHT
      ELITE cerebral oximeter: a prospective observational crossover study in
      volunteers.
AB  - In the article entitled: "Extracranial contamination in the INVOS 5100C versus
      the FORE-SIGHT ELITE cerebral oximeter: a prospective observational crossover
      study in volunteers" published in the January 2016 issue of theJournal, Can J
      Anesth 2016; 63: 24-30, in the second column of page 29, the second to last
      sentence of the first paragraph should read: "Another study by Sorenson et al.
      examined 15 healthy males under different physiologic conditions". The publisher
      apologizes most sincerely for this error.

PMID- 26888638
TI  - A modified device for removing large regurgitation volume during tracheal
      intubation.

PMID- 26888636
TI  - Cardiac Stem Cell Treatment in Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and
      Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies.
AB  - RATIONALE: Cardiac stem cells (CSC) therapy has been clinically introduced for
      cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI). To date, there has been no
      systematic overview and meta-analysis of studies using CSC therapy for MI.
      OBJECTIVE: Here, we used meta-analysis to establish the overall effect of CSCs in
      preclinical studies and assessed translational differences between and within
      large and small animals in the CSC therapy field. In addition, we explored the
      effect of CSC type and other clinically relevant parameters on functional outcome
      to better predict and design future (pre)clinical studies using CSCs for MI.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic search was performed, yielding 80 studies. We
      determined the overall effect of CSC therapy on left ventricular ejection
      fraction and performed meta-regression to investigate clinically relevant
      parameters. We also assessed the quality of included studies and possible bias.
      The overall effect observed in CSC-treated animals was 10.7% (95% confidence
      interval 9.4-12.1; P<0.001) improvement in ejection fraction compared with
      placebo controls. Interestingly, CSC therapy had a greater effect in small
      animals compared with large animals (P<0.001). Meta-regression indicated that
      cell type was a significant predictor for ejection fraction improvement in small
      animals. Minor publication bias was observed in small animal studies.
      CONCLUSIONS: CSC treatment resulted in significant improvement of ejection
      fraction in preclinical animal models of MI compared with placebo. There was a
      reduction in the magnitude of effect in large compared with small animal models.
      Although different CSC types have overlapping culture characteristics, we
      observed a significant difference in their effect in post-MI animal studies.

PMID- 26888640
TI  - Estimation of NMVOC emissions using artificial neural networks and economical and
      sustainability indicators as inputs.
AB  - This paper describes the development of an artificial neural network (ANN) model
      based on economical and sustainability indicators for the prediction of annual
      non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emissions in China for the period
      2005-2011 and its comparison with inventory emission factor models. The NMVOCs
      emissions in China were estimated using ANN model which was created using
      available data for nine European countries, which NMVOC emission per capita
      approximately correspond to the Chinese emissions, for the period 2004-2012. The
      forward input selection strategy was used to compare the significance of
      particular inputs for the prediction of NMVOC emissions in the nine selected EU
      countries and China. The final ANN model was trained using only five input
      variables, and it has demonstrated similar accuracy in predicting NMVOC emissions
      for the selected EU countries that were used for the development of the model and
      then for China for which the input dataset was previously unknown to the ANN
      model. The obtained mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values were 8 % for EU
      countries and 5 % for China. Also, the temporal trend of NMVOC emissions
      predicted in this study is generally consistent with the trend obtained using
      inventory emission models. The proposed ANN approach can represent a viable
      alternative for the prediction of NMVOC emissions at the national level, in
      particular for developing countries which are usually lacking emission data. 

PMID- 26888639
TI  - The effects of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes on
      susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in the Polish population.
AB  - Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are the most polymorphic
      receptors of natural killer (NK) cells. Their activity diversifies the functions
      of NK cells in the antiviral immune response, so the presence of certain KIR may
      affect transmission of HIV-1. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence
      of KIR genes on the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in the Polish population
      depending on the route of exposure. We determined the frequencies of activating
      (2DS1, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS4f, 2DS4del, 2DS5, 3DS1) and inhibitory (2DL1, 2DL2, 2DL3,
      2DL5, 3DL1) KIRs in HIV-1-positive patients (n = 459), individuals exposed to HIV
      1 but uninfected (EU, n = 118) and in uninfected, healthy blood donors (BD, n =
      98). Analysis was performed using stepwise logistic regression. Apart from KIRs,
      CCR5-?32, and CCR2-64I, alleles were also analyzed, as we knew or suspected that
      these features could affect susceptibility to HIV infection. The regression
      confirmed the protective effect of CCR5-?32 (OR = 0.25, p = 0.006) and CCR2-64I
      (OR = 0.59, p = 0.032) against HIV infection. Among KIR genes, 2DL3 was found to
      be a protective factor (OR = 0.30, p = 0.015). A similar effect was seen for 3DS1
      but only in intravenous drug users (IDUs) (OR = 0.30, p = 0.019), not in sexually
      exposed people. 2DL5 was found to be a factor facilitating HIV infection (OR =
      2.13, p = 0.013). A similar effect was observed for 2DL2 but only in females (OR
      = 2.15, p = 0.040), and 2DS1 in IDUs (OR = 3.03, p = 0.022). Our results suggest
      a beneficial role of KIR3DS1 and 2DL3 supporting resistance to HIV infection and
      a harmful effect of 2DS1, 2DL5, and 2DL2 genes promoting HIV acquisition. 

PMID- 26888641
TI  - Comparison of the chemical, physical and microbial properties of composts
      produced by conventional composting or vermicomposting using the same feedstocks.
AB  - The chemical, physical and microbial properties of thermophilic composts and
      vermicomposts were compared using the same municipal green waste-based
      feedstocks: (i) municipal green waste alone, (ii) 75 % municipal green waste/25 %
      green garden waste and (iii) 75 % municipal green waste/25 % cattle manure.
      Temperatures reached 37  degrees C during composting of municipal green waste
      alone but when garden waste or cattle manure were added, temperatures reached 47
      and 52  degrees C, respectively. At the end of vermicomposting (using Eisenia
      fetida), the number of earthworms present was greater than that added for the
      cattle manure-amended feedstock but much less for both the garden waste and
      municipal green waste alone treatments. The products formed in all treatments
      generally fell within suggested maturity indices for composts. Greater organic
      matter decomposition occurred during composting than vermicomposting resulting in
      composts having a significantly lower organic C content and a greater content of
      total N, extractable Mg, K, Na, P, and mineral N, a higher EC and a lower C/N
      ratio than the vermicomposts. For all three feedstocks, vermicomposts had a lower
      bulk density and greater total porosity and macroporosity than composts. For the
      garden waste- and cattle manure-amended feedstocks, vermicomposts had a higher
      microbial biomass C than the composts and for all three feedstocks, basal
      respiration and metabolic quotient were greatest for vermicomposts. It was
      concluded that composting is a robust process suitable for treatment of a range
      of organic wastes but, because of the nutritional requirements of the earthworms,
      vermicomposting is a much less robust and was only suitable for the cattle manure
      amended feedstock. 

PMID- 26888642
TI  - Selenium catalyzed Fe(III)-EDTA reduction by Na2SO3: a reaction-controlled phase
      transfer catalysis.
AB  - Fe(II)-EDTA, a typical chelated iron, is able to coordinate with nitric oxide
      (NO) which accelerates the rates and kinetics of the absorption of flue gas.
      However, Fe(II)-EDTA can be easily oxidized to Fe(III)-EDTA which is unable to
      absorb NO. Therefore, the regeneration of fresh Fe(II)-EDTA, which actually is
      the reduction of Fe(III)-EDTA to Fe(II)-EDTA, becomes a crucial step in the
      denitrification process. To enhance the reduction rate of Fe(III)-EDTA, selenium
      was introduced into the SO3 (2-)/Fe(III)-EDTA system as catalyst for the first
      time. By comparison, the reduction rate was enhanced by four times after adding
      selenium even at room temperature (25  degrees C). Encouragingly, elemental Se
      could precipitate out when SO3 (2-) was consumed up by oxidation to achieve self
      separation. A catalysis mechanism was proposed with the aid of ultraviolet
      visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Tyndall scattering, horizontal attenuated total
      reflection Fourier transform infrared (HATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray
      diffraction (XRD). In the catalysis process, the interconversion between SeSO3 (2
      ) and nascent Se formed a catalysis circle for Fe(III)-EDTA reduction in SO3 (2-)
      circumstance. 

PMID- 26888643
TI  - Doctor-diagnosed health problems in a region with a high density of concentrated
      animal feeding operations: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in health risks of residents living near
      concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Previous research mostly focused
      on swine CAFOs and self-reported respiratory conditions. The aim was to study the
      association between the presence of swine, poultry, cattle and goat CAFOs and
      health of Dutch neighbouring residents using electronic medical records from
      general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: Data for the year 2009 were collected of
      119,036 inhabitants of a rural region with a high density of CAFOs using
      information from GIAB (high exposed population). A comparison was made with GP
      data from 78,060 inhabitants of rural areas with low densities of CAFOs (low
      exposed population). Associations between the number of CAFOs near residents'
      homes and morbidity were determined by multilevel (cross-classified) logistic
      regression. RESULTS: In 2009, the prevalence of most respiratory and
      gastrointestinal conditions was similar in the high and low exposed population.
      Exceptions were pneumonia, atopic eczema and unspecified infectious diseases with
      an increased prevalence, and sinusitis with a decreased prevalence in the high
      exposed population. Within the high CAFO density region, the number of poultry,
      cattle and swine CAFOs near residents' homes was not associated with allergic,
      respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions. Conversely, each additional goat CAFO
      within the postal code area of residents' homes significantly increased the odds
      of unspecified infectious disease and pneumonia by 87 and 41 percent,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using GP records, pneumonia and unspecified infectious
      diseases were positively associated with the number of goat CAFOs near residents'
      homes, but no association was found between swine, cattle, and poultry CAFOs and
      respiratory, allergic or gastrointestinal conditions.

PMID- 26888645
TI  - Inequalities in perceived health in the Russian Federation, 1994-2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individual characteristics and socioeconomic strata (SES) are
      important determinants of health differences. We examine health inequalities in
      Russia and estimate the association of demography (gender and age) and SES
      (working status, income, geography of residence, living standard, wealth
      possession, and durable asset-holding) with perceived health over the period 1994
      2012. METHODS: This study uses nationally representative datasets from the
      Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS: 1994-2012). We apply a random
      effect GLS model to examine the association of individual characteristics and
      individual heterogeneity in explaining self-perceived health status. In addition,
      we estimate a regression-based concentration index, which we decompose into the
      determinants of health inequalities. RESULTS: The self-perceived health
      differences between the better-off and the worse-off is reduced over the 18 year
      period (1994 - 2012). The individual variances in self-perceived health status
      are higher compared to the variances between the individuals over the period. The
      measure of health inequality index (concentration index) indicates a change for
      better health for the better-off Russians. Being employed matters in perceiving a
      better health status for the Russians in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Self-perceived health
      differences in the Russian Federation has changed over time. Such differences in
      changes are attributable to both changes in the distribution of the determinants
      of health as well as changes in the association between the determinants of
      health with the self-perceived health status. Though this study identifies the
      determinants of health inequalities for the Russians, the future research is to
      examine the in-country distribution of these determinants that produce health
      differences within the Russian Federation.

PMID- 26888647
TI  - Bringing Nature to Schools to Promote Children's Physical Activity.
AB  - Physical activity (PA) is essential for human health and wellbeing across all
      age, socioeconomic, and ethnic groups. Engagement with the natural world is a new
      defining criterion for enhancing the benefits of PA, particularly for children
      and young people. Interacting with nature benefits children's social and
      emotional wellbeing, develops resilience, and reduces the risk of obesity and
      type 2 diabetes mellitus across all population groups. Governments around the
      world are now recognizing the importance of children spending more active time
      outdoors. However, children's outdoor activities, free play, and nature-related
      exploration are often structured and supervised by adults due to safety concerns
      and risks. In this context, schools become more accessible and safe options for
      children to engage in PA outdoors with the presence of nature features. Research
      on school designs involving young children has revealed that children prefer
      nature-related features in school environments. Affordances in nature may
      increase children's interest in physically active behaviors. Given that present
      school campuses are designed for operational efficiency and economic reasons,
      there is a need to re-design schools responding to the positive role of nature on
      human health. If schools were re-designed to incorporate diverse natural
      features, children's PA and consequent health and wellbeing would likely improve
      markedly. 

PMID- 26888651
TI  - Facial surgeons call for review of two week cancer referral system.

PMID- 26888650
TI  - Variations in prebiotic oligosaccharide fermentation by intestinal lactic acid
      bacteria.
AB  - Prebiotic oligosaccharides confer health benefits on the host by modulating the
      gut microbiota. Intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are potential targets of
      prebiotics; however, the metabolism of oligosaccharides by LAB has not been fully
      characterized. Here, we studied the metabolism of eight oligosaccharides by 19
      strains of intestinal LAB. Among the eight oligosaccharides used, 1-kestose,
      lactosucrose and galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) led to the greatest increases in
      the numbers of the strains tested. However, mono- and disaccharides accounted for
      more than half of the GOSs used, and several strains only metabolized the mono-
      and di-saccharides in GOSs. End product profiles indicated that the amounts of
      lactate produced were generally consistent with the bacterial growth recorded.
      Oligosaccharide profiling revealed the interesting metabolic manner in
      Lactobacillus paracasei strains, which metabolized all oligosaccharides, but left
      sucrose when cultured with fructooligosaccharides. The present study clearly
      indicated that the prebiotic potential of each oligosaccharide differs. 

PMID- 26888649
TI  - Calstabin 2: An important regulator for learning and memory in mice.
AB  - Calstabin2, also named FK506 binding protein 12.6 (FKBP12.6), is a subunit of
      ryanodine receptor subtype 2 (RyR2) macromolecular complex, which is an
      intracellular calcium channel and abundant in the brain. Previous studies
      identified a role of leaky neuronal RyR2 in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
      However, the functional role of Calstabin2 in the cognitive function remains
      unclear. Herein, we used a mouse model of genetic deletion of Calstabin2 to
      investigate the function of Calstabin2 in cognitive dysfunction. We found that
      Calstabin2 knockout (KO) mice showed significantly reduced performance in Morris
      Water Maze (MWM), long-term memory (LTM) contextual fear testing, and rotarod
      test when compared to wild type (WT) littermates. Indeed, genetic deletion of
      Calstabin2 reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) at the hippocampal CA3-CA1
      connection, increased membrane excitability, and induced RyR2 leak. Finally, we
      demonstrated that the increase in cytoplasmic calcium activated Ca(2+) dependent
      potassium currents and led to neuronal apoptosis in KO hippocampal neurons. Thus,
      these results suggest that neuronal RyR2 Ca(2+) leak due to Calstabin2 deletion
      contributes to learning deficiency and memory impairment. 

PMID- 26888646
TI  - What are the Physiological Mechanisms for Post-Exercise Cold Water Immersion in
      the Recovery from Prolonged Endurance and Intermittent Exercise?
AB  - Intense training results in numerous physiological perturbations such as muscle
      damage, hyperthermia, dehydration and glycogen depletion. Insufficient/untimely
      restoration of these physiological alterations might result in sub-optimal
      performance during subsequent training sessions, while chronic imbalance between
      training stress and recovery might lead to overreaching or overtraining syndrome.
      The use of post-exercise cold water immersion (CWI) is gaining considerable
      popularity among athletes to minimize fatigue and accelerate post-exercise
      recovery. CWI, through its primary ability to decrease tissue temperature and
      blood flow, is purported to facilitate recovery by ameliorating hyperthermia and
      subsequent alterations to the central nervous system (CNS), reducing
      cardiovascular strain, removing accumulated muscle metabolic by-products,
      attenuating exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and improving autonomic nervous
      system function. The current review aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed
      examination of the mechanisms underpinning acute and longer term recovery of
      exercise performance following post-exercise CWI. Understanding the mechanisms
      will aid practitioners in the application and optimisation of CWI strategies to
      suit specific recovery needs and consequently improve athletic performance. Much
      of the literature indicates that the dominant mechanism by which CWI facilitates
      short term recovery is via ameliorating hyperthermia and consequently CNS
      mediated fatigue and by reducing cardiovascular strain. In contrast, there is
      limited evidence to support that CWI might improve acute recovery by facilitating
      the removal of muscle metabolites. CWI has been shown to augment parasympathetic
      reactivation following exercise. While CWI-mediated parasympathetic reactivation
      seems detrimental to high-intensity exercise performance when performed shortly
      after, it has been shown to be associated with improved longer term physiological
      recovery and day to day training performances. The efficacy of CWI for
      attenuating the secondary effects of EIMD seems dependent on the mode of exercise
      utilised. For instance, CWI application seems to demonstrate limited recovery
      benefits when EIMD was induced by single-joint eccentrically biased contractions.
      In contrast, CWI seems more effective in ameliorating effects of EIMD induced by
      whole body prolonged endurance/intermittent based exercise modalities. 

PMID- 26888652
TI  - Repair of critical size defects using bioactive glass seeded with adipose-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells.
AB  - Bioactive glass has been demonstrated as a biocompatible bone substitute. However
      bone healing process can be prolonged due to late resorption of the material.
      Adipose derived stem cells (ASC) have osteogenic differentiation potential and
      hence can be a cell source for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to
      test whether combination of bioactive glass with ASCs would enhance bone
      regeneration. Following creation of critical sized defects on the calvaria of 32
      Wistar rats, the animals were randomly divided into four groups: Group C
      (control): Defects were left untreated; Group G: Defects were covered with
      autologous bone graft; Group BG: Defects were filled with bioactive glass; Group
      BG/ASC: Defects were filled with bioactive glass seeded with ASCs. The defect
      size was significantly greater in Group C compared to all other groups. Bone
      density was significantly lower in Group C compared to Group G and Group BG/ASC.
      Bone regeneration score of Group C was significantly lower than other groups.
      Group BG/ASC demonstrated lamellar bone and havers canal formation. The results
      of this study demonstrated that bioactive glass implanted with ASC is a
      biocompatible construct stimulating radiologically and histologically evident
      bone regeneration similar to autologous bone grafting. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1002-1008,
      2017.

PMID- 26888653
TI  - Peer volunteer perspectives following a complex social cognitive intervention: a
      qualitative investigation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Peer volunteers can be key to delivering effective social cognitive
      interventions due to increased potential for social modeling. We consulted peer
      volunteers who had just taken part in an 8-week social and nutritional mealtime
      intervention with older adults living alone, to seek their evaluation of the
      intervention. METHODS: Semi-structured focus groups were used with a total of 21
      volunteers (17 female) and two facilitators. Thematic analysis was used to
      interrogate the data. RESULTS: Six themes (16 sub-themes) are discussed. Peer
      volunteers described the importance of the socializing aspect of the
      intervention, of pairing considerations and compatibility in peer interventions,
      of considering the needs of the participant, of benefits to the volunteers, and
      of the practical considerations of conducting an intervention. Volunteers also
      discussed considerations for future research and services for older adults living
      alone. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteers found their involvement in the intervention to be
      personally beneficial, and revealed some valuable considerations for the
      researchers to take forward to future research. Results are pertinent to
      intervention design and could inform future social cognitive and other peer
      oriented interventions for older adults living alone.

PMID- 26888648
TI  - Monitoring Athletic Training Status Through Autonomic Heart Rate Regulation: A
      Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Autonomic regulation of heart rate (HR) as an indicator of the body's
      ability to adapt to an exercise stimulus has been evaluated in many studies
      through HR variability (HRV) and post-exercise HR recovery (HRR). Recently, HR
      acceleration has also been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic
      literature review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of negative
      adaptations to endurance training (i.e., a period of overreaching leading to
      attenuated performance) and positive adaptations (i.e., training leading to
      improved performance) on autonomic HR regulation in endurance-trained athletes.
      METHODS: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and
      Academic Search Premier databases from inception until April 2015. Included
      articles examined the effects of endurance training leading to increased or
      decreased exercise performance on four measures of autonomic HR regulation:
      resting and post-exercise HRV [vagal-related indices of the root-mean-square
      difference of successive normal R-R intervals (RMSSD), high frequency power (HFP)
      and the standard deviation of instantaneous beat-to-beat R-R interval variability
      (SD1) only], and post-exercise HRR and HR acceleration. RESULTS: Of the 5377
      records retrieved, 27 studies were included in the systematic review and 24
      studies were included in the meta-analysis. Studies inducing increases in
      performance showed small increases in resting RMSSD [standardised mean difference
      (SMD) = 0.58; P < 0.001], HFP (SMD = 0.55; P < 0.001) and SD1 (SMD = 0.23; P =
      0.16), and moderate increases in post-exercise RMSSD (SMD = 0.60; P < 0.001), HFP
      (SMD = 0.90; P < 0.04), SD1 (SMD = 1.20; P = 0.04), and post-exercise HRR (SMD =
      0.63; P = 0.002). A large increase in HR acceleration (SMD = 1.34) was found in
      the single study assessing this parameter. Studies inducing decreases in
      performance showed a small increase in resting RMSSD (SMD = 0.26; P = 0.01), but
      trivial changes in resting HFP (SMD = 0.04; P = 0.77) and SD1 (SMD = 0.04; P =
      0.82). Post-exercise RMSSD (SMD = 0.64; P = 0.04) and HFP (SMD = 0.49; P = 0.18)
      were increased, as was HRR (SMD = 0.46; P < 0.001), while HR acceleration was
      decreased (SMD = -0.48; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increases in vagal-related
      indices of resting and post-exercise HRV, post-exercise HRR, and HR acceleration
      are evident when positive adaptation to training has occurred, allowing for
      increases in performance. However, increases in post-exercise HRV and HRR also
      occur in response to overreaching, demonstrating that additional measures of
      training tolerance may be required to determine whether training-induced changes
      in these parameters are related to positive or negative adaptations. Resting HRV
      is largely unaffected by overreaching, although this may be the result of
      methodological issues that warrant further investigation. HR acceleration appears
      to decrease in response to overreaching training, and thus may be a potential
      indicator of training-induced fatigue.

PMID- 26888654
TI  - Universal pulses: A new concept for calibration-free parallel transmission.
AB  - PURPOSE: A calibration-free parallel transmission method is investigated to
      mitigate the radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity problem in brain imaging at
      7 Tesla (T). THEORY AND METHODS: Six volunteers were scanned to build a
      representative database of RF and static field maps at 7T. Small-tip-angle and
      inversion pulses were designed with joint kT -points trajectory optimization to
      work robustly on all six subjects. The returned "universal" pulses were then
      inserted in an MPRAGE sequence implemented on six additional volunteers without
      further field measurements and pulse optimizations. Similar acquisitions were
      performed in the circularly polarized mode and with subject-based optimizations
      for comparison. Performance of the different approaches was evaluated by means of
      image analysis and computation of the flip angle normalized root mean square
      errors (NRMSE). RESULTS: For both the excitation and inversion, the universal
      pulses (NRMSE~11%) outperformed the circularly polarized (NRMSE~28%) and RF shim
      modes (NRMSE~20%) across all volunteers and returned slightly worse results than
      for subject-based optimized pulses (NRMSE~7%). CONCLUSION: RF pulses can be
      designed to robustly mitigate the RF field inhomogeneity problem over a
      population class. This appears as a first step toward another plug and play
      parallel transmission solution where the pulse design can be done offline and
      without measuring subject-specific field maps. Magn Reson Med 77:635-643, 2017.
      (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26888655
TI  - A Review of Simulators with Haptic Devices for Medical Training.
AB  - Medical procedures often involve the use of the tactile sense to manipulate
      organs or tissues by using special tools. Doctors require extensive preparation
      in order to perform them successfully; for example, research shows that a minimum
      of 750 operations are needed to acquire sufficient experience to perform medical
      procedures correctly. Haptic devices have become an important training
      alternative and they have been considered to improve medical training because
      they let users interact with virtual environments by adding the sense of touch to
      the simulation. Previous articles in the field state that haptic devices enhance
      the learning of surgeons compared to current training environments used in
      medical schools (corpses, animals, or synthetic skin and organs). Consequently,
      virtual environments use haptic devices to improve realism. The goal of this
      paper is to provide a state of the art review of recent medical simulators that
      use haptic devices. In particular we focus on stitching, palpation, dental
      procedures, endoscopy, laparoscopy, and orthopaedics. These simulators are
      reviewed and compared from the viewpoint of used technology, the number of
      degrees of freedom, degrees of force feedback, perceived realism, immersion, and
      feedback provided to the user. In the conclusion, several observations per area
      and suggestions for future work are provided. 

PMID- 26888656
TI  - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are clearly brain-based.

PMID- 26888657
TI  - Does knowledge of fetal outcome influence the interpretation of intrapartum
      cardiotocography and subsequent clinical management? A multicentre European
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether knowledge of fetal outcome influences
      retrospective interpretation of cardiotocographic tracings and subsequent
      management recommendations. DESIGN: Prospective online study. SETTING: Seven
      university hospitals in five European countries. POPULATION: Forty-two
      intrapartum tracings from women with singleton pregnancies and uneventful
      antepartum courses. METHODS: Using an online questionnaire, 123 healthcare
      professionals interpreted 42 tracings without any knowledge of fetal outcome and
      provided management recommendations according to the National Institute of
      Clinical Excellence guidelines (intrapartum care). Two months later, 93 of the
      123 participants re-interpreted the same re-ordered tracings, this time with
      information on the newborn's umbilical artery pH. OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of
      the evaluation of tracing features, overall tracing classification, and
      management recommendations between the initial analysis and re-interpretation.
      RESULTS: In newborns with umbilical artery pH <= 7.05, knowledge of the pH value
      led to significant changes in the evaluation of all basic tracing features. In
      this group, classification of tracings as 'normal' decreased 76% (8.8-2.1%, P <
      0.001), whereas classification as 'pathologic' increased 51% (44.7-67.5%, P <
      0.001). In newborns with pH 7.06-7.19, classification of tracings as 'normal'
      decreased 36% (22.4-14.4%, P < 0.001), and in those with pH >= 7.20,
      classification of tracings as 'pathologic' decreased 40% (23.4-14.1%, P < 0.001).
      In the group of newborns with umbilical artery pH <= 7.05, the recommendations
      'no attention needed' decreased 75% (10.2-2.6%, P < 0.001), and the number of
      recommendations 'rapid reversal of hypoxic cause or immediate delivery' increased
      70.3% (42.1-71.7%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: When provided with information on
      adverse fetal outcome, healthcare professionals provide a more pessimistic
      evaluation of basic tracing features, overall classification, and clinical
      management recommendations. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Knowledge of adverse fetal
      outcome leads to more pessimistic CTG evaluation and management recommendations.

PMID- 26888658
TI  - Mass drug administration of azithromycin for trachoma reduces the prevalence of
      genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Solomon Islands.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually
      transmitted infection and is frequently asymptomatic; ocular C. trachomatis
      strains cause trachoma. Mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin for
      trachoma might also reduce the prevalence of genital C. trachomatis. In a survey
      conducted in the Solomon Islands in 2014, prior to MDA, the prevalence of genital
      C. trachomatis was 20.3% (95% CI 15.9% to 25.4%). We conducted a survey to
      establish the impact of MDA with azithromycin on genital C. trachomatis. METHODS:
      Women attending three community outpatient clinics, predominantly for antenatal
      care, 10 months after MDA with azithromycin given for trachoma elimination, were
      enrolled in this survey. Self-taken high vaginal swabs were for C. trachomatis
      and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the BD Probetec strand displacement assay.
      RESULTS: 298 women were enrolled. C. trachomatis infection was diagnosed in 43
      women (14.4%, 95% CI 10.6% to 18.9%) and N. gonorrhoeae in 9 (3%, 95% CI 1.4% to
      5.7%). The age-adjusted OR for C. trachomatis infection was consistent with a
      significant decrease in the prevalence of C. trachomatis following MDA (OR 0.58,
      95% CI 0.37 to 0.94, p=0.027). There was no change in the prevalence of N.
      gonorrhoeae between following MDA (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.22, p=0.13).
      CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a 40% reduction in the age-adjusted
      prevalence of genital C. trachomatis infection following azithromycin MDA for
      trachoma elimination.

PMID- 26888659
TI  - Missed opportunities for HIV testing of patients diagnosed with an indicator
      condition in primary care in Catalonia, Spain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of HIV testing among patients diagnosed
      with an indicator condition (IC) for HIV, seen in primary care (PC) in Catalonia,
      and to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection among those patients. DESIGN:
      Cross-sectional and population-based study in patients aged between 16 and 65
      diagnosed with an IC within PC in Catalonia. METHODS: Data used in this study
      were extracted from a large population-based public health database in Spain, the
      Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP). All
      participants registered in SIDIAP from 1 January 2010 to 31 August 2012 and with
      a diagnosis of an IC were screened to identify those with an HIV test within the
      following 4 months. RESULTS: 99 426 patients were diagnosed with an IC during the
      study period. In these patients, there were 102 647 episodes in which at least
      one IC was diagnosed. An HIV test was performed within 4 months in only 18 515 of
      the episodes in which an IC was diagnosed (18.5%). The prevalence of HIV
      infection was 1.46%. Women (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.39), people aged 50 or over
      (OR 2.85, 95% CI 2.69 to 3.00) and patients having a single IC (OR 3.59. 95% CI
      3.20 to 4.03) had the greatest odds of not having an HIV test. CONCLUSIONS: The
      study highlights the persistence of missed opportunities for HIV testing within
      PC in Catalonia. Urgent engagement with PC professionals is required in order to
      increase HIV testing and prevent late HIV diagnoses.

PMID- 26888660
TI  - Trends in gonorrhoea positivity by nucleic acid amplification test versus culture
      among Australian heterosexual men with a low prevalence of gonorrhoea, 2007-2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Testing for gonorrhoea with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)
      is not recommended in low-prevalence populations as it results in high numbers of
      false positive results. The aim of this study was to examine temporal trends of
      gonorrhoea positivity by NAAT and culture in heterosexual men in Victoria,
      Australia following recent increases in gonorrhoea notifications. METHODS: Three
      data sources between 2007 and 2014 were used in this study: notification data
      from the Victorian Department of Health, Medicare testing numbers of single
      chlamydia and dual NAATs performed, and electronic records on heterosexual men
      attending Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC). RESULTS: Notifications of
      gonorrhoea by NAAT (with/without culture) in heterosexual men in Victoria rose
      threefold from 74 in 2007 to 238 in 2014, while the number of dual NAATs ordered
      over the same period underwent a fivefold increase from 14 061 to 71 860. The
      overall proportion of NAATs that were positive for gonorrhoea in Victoria was low
      and fell from 0.53% in 2007 to 0.33% in 2014 (Ptrend=0.002). Of the 28014 new
      heterosexual men attending MSHC, the gonorrhoea positivity by culture was 0.9%,
      and chlamydia positivity by NAAT was 8.5%. The positivity of both infections did
      not change over time. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that gonorrhoea prevalence
      in heterosexual men is low and stable, despite annual increases in notifications.
      Guidelines in most countries recommend restricting testing to groups or
      populations with prevalence over 1%, symptomatic individuals or those at
      increased epidemiological risk. These data indicate gonorrhoea testing should not
      automatically accompany chlamydia screening in low-risk heterosexual men.

PMID- 26888661
TI  - Analyzing clinical trial outcomes based on incomplete daily diary reports.
AB  - A case study is presented assessing the impact of missing data on the analysis of
      daily diary data from a study evaluating the effect of a drug for the treatment
      of insomnia. The primary analysis averaged daily diary values for each patient
      into a weekly variable. Following the commonly used approach, missing daily
      values within a week were ignored provided there was a minimum number of diary
      reports (i.e., at least 4). A longitudinal model was then fit with treatment,
      time, and patient-specific effects. A treatment effect at a pre-specified
      landmark time was obtained from the model. Weekly values following dropout were
      regarded as missing, but intermittent daily missing values were obscured.
      Graphical summaries and tables are presented to characterize the complex missing
      data patterns. We use multiple imputation for daily diary data to create
      completed data sets so that exactly 7 daily diary values contribute to each
      weekly patient average. Standard analysis methods are then applied for landmark
      analysis of the completed data sets, and the resulting estimates are combined
      using the standard multiple imputation approach. The observed data are subject to
      digit heaping and patterned responses (e.g., identical values for several
      consecutive days), which makes accurate modeling of the response data difficult.
      Sensitivity analyses under different modeling assumptions for the data were
      performed, along with pattern mixture models assessing the sensitivity to the
      missing at random assumption. The emphasis is on graphical displays and
      computational methods that can be implemented with general-purpose software.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26888662
TI  - Interstitial lung abnormalities are linked to increased risk of death.

PMID- 26888663
TI  - A web-oriented software for the optimization of pooled experiments in NGS for
      detection of rare mutations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cost per patient of next generation sequencing for detection of
      rare mutations may be significantly reduced using pooled experiments. Recently,
      some techniques have been proposed for the planning of pooled experiments and for
      the optimal allocation of patients into pools. However, the lack of a user
      friendly resource for planning the design of pooled experiments forces the
      scientists to do frequent, complex and long computations. RESULTS: OPENDoRM is a
      powerful collection of novel mathematical algorithms usable via an intuitive
      graphical user interface. It enables researchers to speed up the planning of
      their routine experiments, as well as, to support scientists without specific
      bioinformatics expertises. Users can automatically carry out analysis in terms of
      costs associated with the optimal allocation of patients in pools. They are also
      able to choose between three distinct pooling mathematical methods, each of which
      also suggests the optimal configuration for the submitted experiment.
      Importantly, in order to keep track of the performed experiments, users can save
      and export the results of their experiments in standard tabular and charts
      contents. CONCLUSION: OPENDoRM is a freely available web-oriented application for
      the planning of pooled NGS experiments, available at: http://www
      labgtp.na.icar.cnr.it/OPENDoRM. Its easy and intuitive graphical user interface
      enables researchers to plan theirs experiments using novel algorithms, and to
      interactively visualize the results.

PMID- 26888664
TI  - A strain or electric field induced direct bandgap in ultrathin silicon film and
      its application in photovoltaics or photocatalysis.
AB  - The indirect bandgap character of silicon greatly limits its applications in
      electronic or optoelectronic devices, and direct bandgaps are highly desirable in
      all silicon allotropes. The successful synthesis of ultrathin or even monolayer
      silicon films experimentally has opened new opportunities to further modulate the
      electronic structure of silicon through external modulation. In this work, strain
      or electric field effects on the electronic structure of ultrathin silicon film
      (USF) are systematically explored. The results demonstrate that all USFs are
      indirect band-gap semiconductors; interestingly, tensile strain or electric field
      efficiently tunes the USFs into direct band gap semiconductors. The indirect to
      direct band gap transition in the USFs not only extends their light adsorption
      spectra into the visible light region but also greatly enhances the adsorption
      intensity. Because of this, strained USFs have great potential to be used as a
      high-performance photovoltaic material. Furthermore, the high stability, moderate
      band-gap and proper band edge positions demonstrate that monolayer and bilayer
      USFs can also be used as photocatalysts for water splitting. 

PMID- 26888667
TI  - Patterns and Rates of Supplementary Venous Drainage to the Internal Jugular
      Veins.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies have found supplemental venous drainage
      channels in addition to bilateral internal jugular veins for cerebral venous
      efflux. We performed this study to characterize the supplemental venous outflow
      patterns in a consecutive series of patients undergoing detailed cerebral
      angiography with venous phase imaging. METHODS: The venographic phase of the
      arteriogram was reviewed to identify and classify supplemental cerebral venous
      drainage into anterior (cavernous venous sinus draining into pterygoid plexus and
      retromandibular vein) and posterior drainage pattern. The posterior drainage
      pattern was further divided into plexiform pattern (with sigmoid venous sinus
      draining into the paravertebral venous plexus), and solitary vein pattern
      (dominant single draining deep cervical vein) drainage. The posterior plexiform
      pattern was further divided into 2 groups: posterior plexiform with or without
      prominent solitary vein. RESULTS: Supplemental venous drainage was seen
      ipsilateral to internal jugular vein in 76 (43.7%) of 174 venous drainages (87
      patients) analyzed. The patterns were anterior (n = 23, 13.2%), posterior
      plexiform without prominent solitary vein (n = 40, 23%), posterior plexiform with
      prominent solitary vein (n = 62, 35.6%), and posterior solitary vein alone (n =
      3, 1.7%); occipital emissary veins and/or transosseous veins were seen in 1
      supplemental venous drainage. Concurrent ipsilateral anterior and posterior
      supplemental drainage was seen in 6 of 174 venous drainages analyzed.
      CONCLUSIONS: We provide an assessment of patterns and rates of supplementary
      venous drainage to internal jugular veins to improve our understanding of
      anatomical and physiological aspects of cerebral venous drainage.

PMID- 26888666
TI  - Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Regulates High Mobility Group A2 Expression in Human
      Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an excellent source for numerous cellular
      therapies due to their simple isolation, low immunogenicity, multipotent
      differentiation potential and regenerative secretion profile. However, over
      expanded MSCs show decreased therapeutic efficacy. This shortcoming may be
      circumvented by identifying methods that promote self-renewal of MSCs in culture.
      HMGA2 is a DNA-binding protein that regulates self-renewal in multiple types of
      stem cells through chromatin remodeling, but its impact on human bone marrow
      derived MSCs is not known. Using an isolation method to obtain pure MSCs within 9
      days in culture, we show that expression of HMGA2 quickly decreases during early
      expansion of MSCs, while let-7 microRNAs (which repress HMGA2) are simultaneously
      increased. Remarkably, we demonstrate that FGF-2, a growth factor commonly used
      to promote self-renewal in MSCs, rapidly induces HMGA2 expression in a time- and
      concentration-dependent manner. The signaling pathway involves FGF-2 receptor 1
      (FGFR1) and ERK1/2, but acts independent from let-7. By silencing HMGA2 using
      shRNAs, we demonstrate that HMGA2 is necessary for MSC proliferation. However, we
      also show that over-expression of HMGA2 does not increase cell proliferation, but
      rather abrogates the mitogenic effect of FGF-2, possibly through inhibition of
      FGFR1. In addition, using different methods to assess in vitro differentiation,
      we show that modulation of HMGA2 inhibits adipogenesis, but does not affect
      osteogenesis of MSCs. Altogether, our results show that HMGA2 expression is
      associated with highly proliferating MSCs, is tightly regulated by FGF-2, and is
      involved in both proliferation and adipogenesis of MSCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 117:
      2128-2137, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888668
TI  - Direct water-phase synthesis of lead sulfide quantum dots encapsulated by beta
      lactoglobulin for in vivo second near infrared window imaging with reduced
      toxicity.
AB  - Compared to conventional fluorescence imaging in the visible (400-700 nm) and NIR
      I regions (700-900 nm), optical fluorescence imaging in the second near infrared
      window (NIR-II, 1000-1400 nm) offers reduced photon scattering, deeper tissue
      penetration and lower auto-fluorescence. Despite excellent imaging capabilities,
      current NIR-II probes have not yet reached their full potential due to weak
      quantum yield, low water solubility and suboptimal biocompatibility. To address
      these problems, we report herein a new NIR-II fluorescent PbS quantum dots (QDs)
      that are fabricated in water using beta-lactoglobulin (LG) as a biological
      template. The LG-PbS QDs exhibit satisfactory dispersibility, relatively high
      quantum yield and favorable biocompatibility, and therefore are suitable for high
      resolution in vivo imaging applications.

PMID- 26888665
TI  - Relationship between total phenolic contents and biological properties of
      propolis from 20 different regions in South Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Propolis (or bee glue), collected from botanical sources by honey
      bee, has been used as a popular natural remedies in folk medicine throughout the
      world. This study was conducted to assess growth inhibitory effects of ethanol
      extracts of propolis (EEPs) from 20 different regions in South Korea on human
      intestinal bacteria as well as their human beta-amyloid precursor cleavage enzyme
      (BACE-1), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory, antioxidant, antiproliferative,
      and anti-human rhinovirus activities. METHODS: The Bonferroni multiple-comparison
      method was used to test for significant differences in total polyphenol and
      flavonoid contents among EEP samples using SAS 9.13 program. Correlation
      coefficient (r) analysis of the biological activities of EEP samples was
      determined using their 50 % inhibition concentration or minimal inhibitory
      concentration values and their polyphenol or flavonoid contents in 20 native
      Korean EEP samples. RESULTS: The amounts of total polyphenol and flavonoids in
      the Korean EEP samples ranged from 49 to 239 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g
      EEP (Brazilian, Chinese, and Australian samples, 127-142 mg GAE/g EEP) and from
      21 to 50 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g EEP (Brazilian, Chinese, and Australian
      samples, 33-53 mg QE/g EEP), respectively. Correlation coefficient analysis
      showed that total polyphenol contents may be negatively correlated with 2,2
      diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (r = -0.872) and total
      flavonoid content has no correlation with the activity (r = 0.071). No direct
      correlation between BACE-1 inhibition, AChE inhibition, or antiproliferative
      activity and total polyphenol or total flavonoid content in Korean EEP samples
      was found. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were observed to have
      different degrees of antimicrobial susceptibility to the EEP samples examined,
      although ciprofloxacin susceptibility among the bacterial groups did not differ
      greatly. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies will warrant possible applications of
      propolis as potential therapeutic BACE-1 blocker, antioxidant, antiproliferative
      agent, and antimicrobial agent.

PMID- 26888670
TI  - Photodistributed telangiectasia following use of escitalopram.

PMID- 26888671
TI  - Unusual presentation of ingested wire bristle extruded through abdominal wall.

PMID- 26888669
TI  - Mark4 promotes oxidative stress and inflammation via binding to PPARgamma and
      activating NF-kappaB pathway in mice adipocytes.
AB  - MAP/Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (Mark4) plays an important role in
      the regulation of microtubule organization, adipogenesis and apoptosis. However,
      the role of Mark4 plays in oxidative stress and inflammation are poorly
      understood. In this study, we found Mark4 was induced by high fat diet (HFD)
      while PPARgamma was elevated significantly in mice adipocytes. Further analyses
      revealed Mark4 impaired mitochondrial oxidative respiration and increased
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. At same time, the activities of
      superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were
      greatly reduced. By treating cells with H2O2 and vitamin E (VE), Mark4
      accentuated oxidative stress along with increased mRNA level of inflammatory
      factor interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decreased leptin mRNA. Furthermore, we found
      PPARgamma bind to Mark4 promoter region and inhibited Mark4 expression. We showed
      PPARgamma interacted with Mark4 and inhibited the stimulating effect of Mark4 on
      oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, we demonstrated that the IKKalpha/NF
      kappaB signal pathway was involved in Mark4 induced oxidative stress and
      inflammation, while PTDC, a special inhibitor of NF-kappaB signal pathway,
      reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, our study indicated that Mark4
      was a potential drug target for treating metabolic diseases. 

PMID- 26888672
TI  - Mental Health Has a Stronger Association with Patient-Reported Shoulder Pain and
      Function Than Tear Size in Patients with Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures have increasingly accompanied
      objective examination findings in the evaluation of orthopaedic interventions.
      Our objective was to determine whether a validated measure of mental health
      (Short Form-36 Mental Component Summary [SF-36 MCS]) or measures of tear severity
      on magnetic resonance imaging were more strongly associated with self-assessed
      shoulder pain and function in patients with symptomatic full-thickness rotator
      cuff tears. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with full-thickness
      rotator cuff tears were prospectively enrolled. Patients completed the Short Form
      36, visual analog scales for shoulder pain and function, the Simple Shoulder Test
      (SST), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) instrument at the time
      of diagnosis. Shoulder magnetic resonance imaging examinations were reviewed to
      document the number of tendons involved, tear size, tendon retraction, and tear
      surface area. Age, sex, body mass index, number of medical comorbidities, smoking
      status, and Workers' Compensation status were recorded. Bivariate correlations
      and multivariate regression models were calculated to identify associations with
      baseline shoulder scores. RESULTS: The SF-36 MCS had the strongest correlation
      with the visual analog scale for shoulder pain (Pearson correlation coefficient, 
      0.48; p < 0.001), the visual analog scale for shoulder function (Pearson
      correlation coefficient, -0.33; p < 0.001), the SST (Pearson correlation
      coefficient, 0.37; p < 0.001), and the ASES score (Pearson correlation
      coefficient, 0.51; p < 0.001). Tear severity only correlated with the visual
      analog scale for shoulder function; the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.19
      for tear size (p = 0.018), 0.18 for tendon retraction (p = 0.025), 0.18 for tear
      area (p = 0.022), and 0.20 for the number of tendons involved (p = 0.011). Tear
      severity did not correlate with other scores in bivariate correlations (all p >
      0.05). In all multivariate models, the SF-36 MCS had the strongest association
      with the visual analog scale for shoulder pain, the visual analog scale for
      shoulder function, the SST, and the ASES score (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      Patient mental health may play an influential role in patient-reported pain and
      function in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Further studies are
      needed to determine its effect on the outcome of the treatment of rotator cuff
      disease.

PMID- 26888673
TI  - Comparison of Whole-Blood Metal Ion Levels Among Four Types of Large-Head, Metal
      on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty Implants: A Concise Follow-up, at Five Years, of
      a Previous Report.
AB  - Few studies of total hip arthroplasty (THA) implants with a large-diameter
      femoral head and metal-on-metal design have directly compared the progression of
      metal ion levels over time and the relationship to complications. As we
      previously reported, 144 patients received one of four types of large-diameter
      head, metal-on-metal THA designs (Durom, Birmingham, ASR XL, or Magnum implants).
      Cobalt, chromium, and titanium ion levels were measured over five years. We
      compared ion levels and clinical results over time. The Durom group showed the
      highest levels of cobalt (p <= 0.002) and titanium ions (p <= 0.03). Both the
      Durom and Birmingham groups demonstrated significant ongoing cobalt increases up
      to five years. Eight patients (seven with a Durom implant and one with a
      Birmingham implant) developed adverse local tissue reaction. Six Durom implants
      and one Birmingham implant required revision, with one pseudotumor under
      surveillance at the time of the most recent follow-up. We found that ion
      generation and related complications varied among designs. More concerning was
      that, for some designs, ion levels continued to increase. Coupling a cobalt
      chromium adapter sleeve to an unmodified titanium femoral trunnion along with a
      large metal-on-metal bearing may explain the poor performances of two of the
      designs in the current study.

PMID- 26888674
TI  - Intramedullary Nailing Compared with Spica Casts for Isolated Femoral Fractures
      in Four and Five-Year-Old Children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Flexible intramedullary nailing (IMN) is a valuable tool in the
      treatment of femoral fractures in school-age children, whereas spica cast
      immobilization has been the standard of care for younger children. We compared
      these treatment modalities in a group of preschool-age children (four to five
      years of age). METHODS: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients, four to
      five years of age, with an isolated, complete femoral shaft or subtrochanteric
      fracture treated with intramedullary nailing or early spica cast immobilization
      and followed until fracture-healing were identified from two centers.
      Radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. Statistical
      methods included chi-square and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables and
      the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty
      two patients followed for a mean of thirty-two weeks were identified. One hundred
      and four patients underwent IMN and 158 patients were treated with immediate
      spica cast immobilization at the surgeon's discretion. The patients who underwent
      IMN were older than those who underwent spica cast immobilization (mean, 5.2
      versus 4.7 years; p < 0.001), were heavier (mean, 21.5 versus 18.0 kg; p <
      0.001), and were more likely to have a higher-energy mechanism of injury (p =
      0.025). At the time of final follow-up, there was no difference between groups
      with regard to the percentages of patients who had acceptable coronal angulation
      (<=15 degrees ), sagittal angulation (<=20 degrees ), and early fracture
      shortening (<=20 mm) (96.2% in the spica group versus 99.0% in the IMN group; p =
      0.09). While there was no significant difference in the percentages who had an
      unplanned return to the operating room (3.8% in the IMN group versus 4.4% in the
      spica group; p > 0.99), the patients in the IMN group had more clinic visits
      (mean, 5.8 versus 4.0; p < 0.001) and longer follow-up (mean, forty-four versus
      twenty-five weeks; p < 0.001) than the patients in the spica group and a higher
      percentage of them underwent repeat procedures (89.4% versus 5.1%; p < 0.001),
      primarily for elective implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool-age children (four
      to five years old) with an isolated femoral fracture have similar clinical and
      radiographic outcomes regardless of whether they are treated with immediate spica
      cast immobilization or IMN.

PMID- 26888675
TI  - Motion Predicts Clinical Callus Formation: Construct-Specific Finite Element
      Analysis of Supracondylar Femoral Fractures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mechanotransduction is theorized to influence fracture-healing, but
      optimal fracture-site motion is poorly defined. We hypothesized that three
      dimensional (3-D) fracture-site motion as estimated by finite element (FE)
      analysis would influence callus formation for a clinical series of supracondylar
      femoral fractures treated with locking-plate fixation. METHODS: Construct
      specific FE modeling simulated 3-D fracture-site motion for sixty-six
      supracondylar femoral fractures (OTA/AO classification of 33A or 33C) treated at
      a single institution. Construct stiffness and directional motion through the
      fracture were investigated to assess the validity of construct stiffness as a
      surrogate measure of 3-D motion at the fracture site. Callus formation was
      assessed radiographically for all patients at six, twelve, and twenty-four weeks
      postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses examined
      the effects of longitudinal motion, shear (transverse motion), open fracture,
      smoking, and diabetes on callus formation. Construct types were compared to
      determine whether their 3-D motion profile was associated with callus formation.
      RESULTS: Shear disproportionately increased relative to longitudinal motion with
      increasing bridge span, which was not predicted by our assessment of construct
      stiffness alone. Callus formation was not associated with open fracture, smoking,
      or diabetes at six, twelve, or twenty-four weeks. However, callus formation was
      associated with 3-D fracture-site motion at twelve and twenty-four weeks.
      Longitudinal motion promoted callus formation at twelve and twenty-four weeks (p
      = 0.017 for both). Shear inhibited callus formation at twelve and twenty-four
      weeks (p = 0.017 and p = 0.022, respectively). Titanium constructs with a short
      bridge span demonstrated greater longitudinal motion with less shear than did the
      other constructs, and this was associated with greater callus formation (p <
      0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of supracondylar femoral fractures treated
      with locking-plate fixation, longitudinal motion promoted callus formation, while
      shear inhibited callus formation. Construct stiffness was found to be a poor
      surrogate of fracture-site motion. Future implant design and operative fixation
      strategies should seek to optimize 3-D fracture-site motion rather than rely on
      surrogate measures such as axial stiffness.

PMID- 26888676
TI  - Particle-Induced Osteolysis Is Mediated by TIRAP/Mal in Vitro and in Vivo:
      Dependence on Adherent Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Proinflammatory signaling by toll-like receptors (TLRs) likely
      contributes to biologic responses to wear particles causing aseptic loosening. We
      recently reported associations with aseptic loosening in patients with
      polymorphisms in the locus encoding an adapter protein specific for TLR-2 and TLR
      4 known as toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter protein/MyD88
      adapter-like (TIRAP/Mal). To directly examine the contribution of TIRAP/Mal, we
      tested the hypothesis that TIRAP/Mal deficiency reduces the activity of wear
      particles. Signaling by TLR-2 and TLR-4 through TIRAP/Mal can be activated by
      bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as
      lipopolysaccharide or endogenous alarmins. To distinguish between those
      possibilities, we tested the hypothesis that the effects of TIRAP/Mal depend on
      the adherence of bacterial PAMPs to the particles. METHODS: In vitro mRNA levels
      and secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6
      were measured after incubating wild-type and TIRAP/Mal(-/-) macrophages in the
      presence or absence of titanium particles with adherent bacterial debris, so
      called endotoxin-free particles, or particles with adherent lipopolysaccharide.
      In vivo osteolysis was measured after implanting titanium particles on the
      calvaria of wild-type and TIRAP/Mal(-/-) mice. RESULTS: TIRAP/Mal deficiency
      significantly inhibited the activity of titanium particles with adherent
      bacterial debris to stimulate in vivo osteolysis and in vitro cytokine mRNAs and
      secretion. Those effects are dependent on adherent PAMPs because removal of >99%
      of the adherent bacterial debris from the particles significantly reduced their
      activity and the remaining activity was not dependent on TIRAP/Mal. Moreover,
      adherence of highly purified lipopolysaccharide to the endotoxin-free particles
      reconstituted the activity and the dependence on TIRAP/Mal. CONCLUSIONS:
      TIRAP/Mal deficiency reduces inflammatory responses and osteolysis induced by
      particles with adherent PAMPs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results, coupled with the
      genetic associations between aseptic loosening and polymorphisms within the
      TIRAP/Mal locus, support TLR signaling through TIRAP/Mal as one of the factors
      that enhances the activity of wear particles and further support the hypothesis
      that bacterial PAMPs likely contribute to aseptic loosening in a subset of
      patients.

PMID- 26888677
TI  - Does Surgical Correction of Right Thoracic Scoliosis in Syringomyelia Produce
      Outcomes Similar to Those in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Practice guidelines for deformity correction in patients with
      syringomyelia-associated scoliosis (SMS) remain ill defined. Although surgeons
      experienced in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are commonly called
      on to treat SMS, no study has directly compared the results of surgical treatment
      between patients with SMS and those with AIS. The present study was performed to
      compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes of posterior spinal fusion between
      patients with right-thoracic SMS and those with right-thoracic AIS. METHODS:
      Sixty-nine adolescents with SMS were matched with patients with AIS for sex, age,
      and curve magnitude. Patients were evaluated before surgery, immediately after
      surgery, and at the latest follow-up examination for changes in curve correction,
      global coronal balance, and scores on the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22
      questionnaire. RESULTS: The preoperative primary curve magnitude was similar
      between the two groups, but a trend toward less flexibility was observed in the
      SMS group. The amount of correction of the thoracic Cobb angles obtained
      surgically (68% compared with 71%) and the ratio of percent correction to
      flexibility (1.80 compared with 1.76) were similar in the SMS and AIS groups. At
      the latest evaluation, eight patients with SMS and five with AIS had lost >10
      degrees  of thoracic spine correction (p = 0.382). The postoperative coronal
      decompensation averaged 13% and 6%, respectively, in the SMS and AIS groups (p =
      0.243). No intergroup differences were noted with respect to the sagittal
      vertical axis or proximal junctional change, with preservation of global sagittal
      balance in both groups during follow-up. There were no neurologic or other major
      complications related to surgery in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the
      differences in preoperative status, adolescents with idiopathic right thoracic
      scoliosis and those with syringomyelia-associated right thoracic scoliosis had
      comparable clinical and radiographic outcomes of pedicle-screw-based posterior
      spinal fusion, without neurologic complications.

PMID- 26888678
TI  - Local Treatment with Adjuvant Therapy for Central Atypical Cartilaginous Tumors
      in the Long Bones: Analysis of Outcome and Complications in One Hundred and Eight
      Patients with a Minimum Follow-up of Two Years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A central atypical cartilaginous tumor (ACT)--formerly known as
      chondrosarcoma grade 1 (CS1)--is a tumor of intermediate-type malignancy, often
      treated with surgery. The extent of surgery remains controversial, as some
      advocate resection and others favor local treatment by curettage. Because of the
      low prevalence of ACT/CS1, the available data are limited and generally not
      uniform. The purpose of this study was to present the outcome for a large cohort
      of patients with ACT/CS1 in the long bones who were treated with curettage and
      adjuvant phenolization and followed for a minimum of two years according to
      national guidelines. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to analyze data
      from 108 patients treated for central ACT/CS1 in the long bones between 2006 and
      2012. All patients were treated with curettage and adjuvant phenolization, and
      defects were filled with polymethylmethacrylate, bone graft, or bone substitutes.
      The primary end point was local recurrence or residual tumor. Secondary end
      points included the type and rate of complications and reoperations. RESULTS: All
      patients were free from local recurrence at a mean follow-up of 48.7 months
      (range, 24.3 to 97.5 months). Residual tumor was suspected in five patients,
      leading to a 95.4% disease-free survival rate. A fracture occurred in eleven
      patients (10.2%). Other complications were osseous penetration during the surgery
      (two patients), wound infection (one patient), arthrofibrosis (one patient), and
      skin necrosis (one patient). Tumor volume was related neither to the risk of
      fracture nor to the occurrence of residual tumor. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience,
      curettage of ACT/CS1 in the long bones with adjuvant phenolization is safe, even
      with large tumors of up to 100 cm(3). Most worrisome is the risk of fracture,
      which occurred in 10.2% of our patients. Considering the relatively mild behavior
      of ACT/CS1, less aggressive treatment, by observation or by minimally invasive
      surgery, could be the next step that should be evaluated prospectively.

PMID- 26888679
TI  - Surgical Repair Did Not Improve Functional Outcomes More Than Conservative
      Treatment for Degenerative Rotator Cuff Tears.

PMID- 26888680
TI  - Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Were Not Better Than Hyaluronic Acid Injections
      for Knee Joint Degeneration.

PMID- 26888681
TI  - Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Did Not Differ from Placebo in Preventing Clinically
      Important Deep Venous Thrombosis After Surgical Repair of Leg Fracture.

PMID- 26888682
TI  - What's New in Pediatric Orthopaedics.

PMID- 26888683
TI  - Orthopaedic Patient Information on the World Wide Web: An Essential Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients increasingly use the Internet to research health-related
      issues. Internet content, unlike other forms of media, is not regulated. Although
      information accessed online can impact patients' opinions and expectations, there
      is limited information about the quality or readability of online orthopaedic
      information. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched using
      anatomic descriptors and three title keywords ("Internet," "web," and "online").
      Articles examining online orthopaedic information from January 1, 2000, until
      April 1, 2015, were recorded. Articles were assessed for the number of reviewers
      evaluating the online material, whether the article examined for a link between
      authorship and quality, and the use of recognized quality and readability
      assessment tools. To facilitate a contemporary discussion, only publications
      since January 1, 2010, were considered for analysis. RESULTS: A total of thirty
      eight peer-reviewed articles published since 2010 examining the quality and/or
      readability of online orthopaedic information were reviewed. For information
      quality, there was marked variation in the quality assessment methods utilized,
      the number of reviewers, and the manner of reporting. To date, the majority of
      examined information is of poor quality. Studies examining readability have
      focused on pages produced by professional orthopaedic societies. CONCLUSIONS: The
      quality and readability of online orthopaedic information are generally poor.
      CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For modern practices to adapt to the Internet and to prevent
      misinformation, the orthopaedic community should develop high-quality, readable
      online patient information.

PMID- 26888684
TI  - Once Again, the Status of the Rotator Cuff Does Not Correlate with Patient
      Symptoms: Commentary on an article by James D. Wylie, MD, MHS, et al.: "Mental
      Health Has a Stronger Association with Patient-Reported Shoulder Pain and
      Function Than Tear Size in Patients with Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears".

PMID- 26888685
TI  - Is There a "Best" Road to Rome? Commentary on an article by Brandon A. Ramo, MD,
      et al.: "Intramedullary Nailing Compared with Spica Casts for Isolated Femoral
      Fractures in Four and Five-Year-Old Children".

PMID- 26888686
TI  - Idiopathic Versus Syrinx-Related Scoliosis: How Different Are They? Commentary on
      an article by Shifu Sha, PhD, et al.: "Does Surgical Correction of Right Thoracic
      Scoliosis in Syringomyelia Produce Outcomes Similar to Those in Adolescent
      Idiopathic Scoliosis?".

PMID- 26888687
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26888688
TI  - Reply to "Nonmotor symptoms in subjects without evidence of dopaminergic deficit"
      authors: "Swallow DMA, Grosset KA, Grosset DG".

PMID- 26888689
TI  - Metabolomics Study of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the AntiDiabetic Effect of
      Berberine in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats Using Uplc-ESI-Hdms.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) and the anti-diabetic effect of berberine in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF)
      rats. A urinary metabolomics analysis was performed with ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography/electrospray ionization synapt high-definition mass spectrometry.
      Pattern recognition approaches were integrated to discover differentiating
      metabolites. We identified 29 ions (13 in negative mode and 16 in positive mode)
      as 'differentiating metabolites' with this metabolomic approach. A functional
      pathway analysis revealed that the alterations were mainly associated with
      glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions
      and sphingolipid metabolism. These results indicated that the dysfunctions of
      glycometabolism and lipometabolism are involved in the pathological process of
      T2DM. Berberine could decrease the serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, total
      cholesterol and triglyceride and increase the secretion of insulin. The urinary
      metabolomics analysis showed that berberine could reduce the concentrations of
      citric acid, tetrahydrocortisol, ribothymidine and sphinganine to a near-normal
      state. These results suggested that the anti-diabetic effect of berberine
      occurred mainly via its regulation of glycometabolism and lipometabolism and
      activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Our work not
      only provides a better understanding of the anti-diabetic effect of berberine in
      ZDF rats but also supplies a useful database for further study in humans and for
      investigating the pharmacological actions of drugs. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley
      & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26888690
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of vertically standing MoS2 nanosheets.
AB  - Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been attracting much attentions due to its
      excellent electrical and optical properties. We report here the synthesis of
      large-scale and uniform MoS2 nanosheets with vertically standing morphology using
      chemical vapor deposition method. TEM observations clearly reveal the growth
      mechanism of these vertical structures. It is suggested that the vertical
      structures are caused by the compression and extrusion between MoS2 islands. More
      importantly, the vertical morphology of two dimensional (2D) materials hold many
      promising potential applications. We demonstrate here the as-synthesized
      vertically standing MoS2 nanosheets could be used for hydrogen evolution
      reaction, where the exchange current density is about 70 times of bulk MoS2. The
      field emission performance of vertically standing MoS2 were also improved due to
      the abundantly exposed edges. 

PMID- 26888691
TI  - Assessing the Eventual Publication of Clinical Trial Abstracts Submitted to a
      Large Annual Oncology Meeting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the ethical imperative to publish clinical trials when human
      subjects are involved, such data frequently remain unpublished. The objectives
      were to tabulate the rate and ascertain factors associated with eventual
      publication of clinical trial results reported as abstracts in the Proceedings of
      the American Society of Clinical Oncology (American Society of Clinical
      Oncology). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abstracts describing clinical trials for
      patients with breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian, and prostate cancer from 2009 to
      2011 were identified by using a comprehensive online database
      (http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/abstracts). Abstracts included reported results
      of a treatment or intervention assessed in a discrete, prospective clinical
      trial. Publication status at 4-6 years was determined by using a standardized
      search of PubMed. Primary outcomes were the rate of publication for abstracts of
      randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials. Secondary outcomes included factors
      influencing the publication of results. RESULTS: A total of 1,075 abstracts
      describing 378 randomized and 697 nonrandomized clinical trials were evaluated.
      Across all years, 75% of randomized and 54% of nonrandomized trials were
      published, with an overall publication rate of 61%. Sample size was a
      statistically significant predictor of publication for both randomized and
      nonrandomized trials (odds ratio [OR] per increase of 100 participants = 1.23
      [1.11-1.36], p < .001; and 1.64 [1.15-2.34], p = .006, respectively). Among
      randomized studies, an industry coauthor or involvement of a cooperative group
      increased the likelihood of publication (OR 2.37, p = .013; and 2.21, p = .01,
      respectively). Among nonrandomized studies, phase II trials were more likely to
      be published than phase I (p < .001). Use of an experimental agent was not a
      predictor of publication in randomized (OR 0.76 [0.38-1.52]; p = .441) or
      nonrandomized trials (OR 0.89 [0.61-1.29]; p = .532). CONCLUSION: This is the
      largest reported study examining why oncology trials are not published. The data
      show that 4-6 years after appearing as abstracts, 39% of oncology clinical trials
      remain unpublished. Larger sample size and advanced trial phase were associated
      with eventual publication; among randomized trials, an industry-affiliated author
      or a cooperative group increased likelihood of publication. Unfortunately, we
      found that, despite widespread recognition of the problem and the creation of
      central data repositories, timely publishing of oncology clinical trials results
      remains unsatisfactory.

PMID- 26888692
TI  - Effects of Dexamethasone and Placebo on Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer
      Patients: A Preliminary Report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Advanced cancer patients frequently experience debilitating symptoms
      that occur in clusters, but few pharmacological studies have targeted symptom
      clusters. Our objective was to examine the effects of dexamethasone on symptom
      clusters in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the data from a
      previous randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of dexamethasone on
      cancer symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified according to baseline symptoms
      by using principal component analysis. Correlations and change in the severity of
      symptom clusters were analyzed after study treatment. RESULTS: A total of 114
      participants were included in this study. Three clusters were identified:
      fatigue/anorexia-cachexia/depression (FAD), sleep/anxiety/drowsiness (SAD), and
      pain/dyspnea (PD). Changes in severity of FAD and PD significantly correlated
      over time (at baseline, day 8, and day 15). The FAD cluster was associated with
      significant improvement in severity at day 8 and day 15, whereas no significant
      change was observed with the SAD cluster or PD cluster after dexamethasone
      treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest significant
      correlation over time and improvement in the FAD cluster at day 8 and day 15
      after treatment with dexamethasone. These findings suggest that fatigue, anorexia
      cachexia, and depression may share a common pathophysiologic basis. Further
      studies are needed to investigate this cluster and target anti-inflammatory
      therapies.

PMID- 26888693
TI  - Awareness, Understanding, and Adoption of Precision Medicine to Deliver
      Personalized Treatment for Patients With Cancer: A Multinational Survey
      Comparison of Physicians and Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Two separate multinational surveys of oncologists and patients with
      cancer were conducted to assess the awareness and use of biomarkers in clinical
      practice. These data explore the self-reported and physician-assessed levels of
      patient cancer literacy and factors affecting physicians' choice to use
      biomarkers in treatment decisions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Interviews were
      conducted via telephone with patients and online with physicians. Physicians had
      3-35 years of experience; were treating more than 15 patients/month; and
      specialized in breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. Patients had received
      treatment for breast, lung, or colorectal cancer within the previous 5 years.
      RESULTS: Interviews with 895 physicians and 811 patients were completed. Most
      patients and physicians reported that patients understood that a tumor could be
      tested to determine what treatment would be most effective (78% and 73%,
      respectively) and that patients would be willing to participate in a personalized
      treatment plan. Whereas 85% of patients felt that they understood their treatment
      when it was explained to them, only 23% of doctors felt that their patients were
      always fully informed. Most physicians (90%) reported using biomarkers; among the
      10% not performing biomarker analysis, the most cited obstacles were local
      availability, speed of obtaining results, and cost. CONCLUSION: These data
      demonstrate wide global use of biomarker testing but with regional variations
      reflecting cultural and local practice. Self-reported and physician-assessed
      cancer literacy, although generally high, highlighted important regional
      variations and the need to provide patients with additional information.

PMID- 26888695
TI  - Erratum to: Ability of vaccine strain induced antibodies to neutralize field
      isolates of caliciviruses from Swedish cats.

PMID- 26888696
TI  - Non-Invasive Techniques for Detection and Diagnosis of Oral Potentially Malignant
      Disorders.
AB  - Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral and maxillofacial
      malignancy, and its morbidity and mortality rates are still high in most
      countries. Oral potentially malignant disorders (PMDs) are used to refer to a
      heterogeneous group of conditions that are characterized by increased risk for
      malignant transformation to OSCC. Currently identified oral PMDs include
      leukoplakia, erythroplakia, palatal lesions associated with reverse smoking, oral
      lichen planus, oral submucous fibrosis, actinic keratosis, and discoid lupus
      erythematosus. The early detection and diagnosis of these lesions are important
      for cancer prevention and disease management. In recent years, there has been a
      growing and persistent demand for new non-invasive, practical diagnostic
      techniques that might facilitate the early detection of oral PMDs. The non
      invasive detection techniques evaluated in this review are divided into four
      categories: vital staining with a solution that can be used as a mouth rinse or
      applied onto a suspected area of the mouth, light-based detection systems,
      optical diagnostic technologies that employ returned optical signals to reflect
      structural and morphological changes within tissues, and salivary biomarkers.
      Most of these techniques have shown great potential for screening and monitoring
      oral PMDs. In this review article, the authors critically assess these non
      invasive detection techniques for oral PMDs. We also provide a summary of the
      sensitivity and specificity of each technique in detecting oral PMDs and oral
      cancer, as well as their advantages, disadvantages, clinical applications, and
      indications. 

PMID- 26888694
TI  - Inhibition of preS1-hepatocyte interaction by an array of recombinant human
      antibodies from naturally recovered individuals.
AB  - Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are being found to be increasingly useful in
      viral infections. In hepatitis B infection, antibodies are proven to be useful
      for passive prophylaxis. The preS1 region (21-47a.a.) of HBV contains the viral
      hepatocyte-binding domain crucial for its attachment and infection of
      hepatocytes. Antibodies against this region are neutralizing and are best suited
      for immune-based neutralization of HBV, especially in view of their not
      recognizing decoy particles. Anti-preS1 (21-47a.a.) antibodies are present in
      serum of spontaneously recovered individuals. We generated a phage-displayed scFv
      library using circulating lymphocytes from these individuals and selected four
      preS1-peptide specific scFvs with markedly distinct sequences from this library.
      All the antibodies recognized the blood-derived and recombinant preS1 containing
      antigens. Each scFv showed a discrete binding signature, interacting with
      different amino acids within the preS1-peptide region. Ability to prevent binding
      of the preS1 protein (N-terminus 60a.a.) to HepG2 cells stably expressing hNTCP
      (HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells), the HBV receptor on human hepatocytes was taken as a
      surrogate marker for neutralizing capacity. These antibodies inhibited preS1
      hepatocyte interaction individually and even better in combination. Such a
      combination of potentially neutralizing recombinant antibodies with defined
      specificities could be used for preventing/managing HBV infections, including
      those by possible escape mutants. 

PMID- 26888697
TI  - Prevalence of Airflow Limitation Defined by Pre- and Post-Bronchodilator
      Spirometry in a Community-Based Health Checkup: The Hisayama Study.
AB  - Spirometry in health checkup may contribute to early diagnosis of chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Although post-bronchodilator
      airflow limitation is essential for definite diagnosis of COPD and post
      bronchodilator normalization of airflow is suggestive of asthma, this test has
      not been prevailed in health checkup. The objective of this study was to estimate
      the prevalence of airflow limitation defined by pre- and post-bronchodilator
      spirometry in health checkup. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was conducted for
      participants with airflow limitation in a town-wide health checkup for residents
      aged 40 years and older in Hisayama, a town in the western part of Japan. The
      prevalence of pre- and post-bronchodilator airway limitation defined by FEV1/FVC
      < 70% were estimated. A total of 2,232 participants underwent pre-bronchodilator
      spirometry. In males, the age of current smokers was significantly younger than
      those of never smokers and former smokers. In females, the ages of current- and
      former smokers were significantly younger than never smokers. The values of %FEV1
      and %FVC in current smokers were significantly lower than those in former smokers
      and never smokers. Two hundred sixty nine subjects, 85% of total subjects with a
      pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70%, completed post-bronchodilator spirometry. The
      prevalence of pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation was 14.6% in males and 13.7%
      in females, and the prevalence of post-bronchodilator airway limitation was 8.7%
      and 8.7%, respectively. Post-bronchodilator spirometry in health checkup would
      reduce the number of subjects with probable COPD to two-third. Recommendation for
      those examinees to take further evaluations may pave the way for early
      intervention. 

PMID- 26888698
TI  - Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: our experience and review of
      literature.
AB  - AIM: After the revolution in the surgery of gallbladder stones represented by the
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we tried a new technique that further maximize the
      aesthetic results and that at the same time is of easy learning for young
      surgeons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2012 we performed
      at our department 320 cholecystectomy: 27 in laparotomy and 293 in laparoscopy.
      Of these, 88 underwent to Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), namely the
      Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILC), in recruited patients aged
      between 19-65 years; 56 patients were females and 32 were males. RESULTS: The
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the SILS methodology is a safe technique.
      Respect to multi-port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC), we have cosmetic
      advances. The pain is less in extraumbilical sites, and the major umbilical pain
      can be prevented by local anaesthesia. The times are slightly longer, especially
      at the beginning of training, but after a few of operations it is reduced to
      about one hour. We didn't found any other difference in vantage and advantage
      between the two technics, only a case of postoperative umbilical hernia in SILS.
      CONCLUSION: We found the SILS a safe and effective technique for the
      cholecystectomy.

PMID- 26888699
TI  - Endoscopic treatment of superficial colorectal neoplasms. Retrospective analysis
      of a single center technique and results.
AB  - Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) is a technique developed in Japan for "en
      bloc" resection of larger superficial neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract as
      an alternative to the traditional Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR), with
      removal of the lesion in multiple fragments ("piecemeal"). ESD offers a lower
      recurrence rate and allows a more accurate histopathological examination. This
      procedure is however considered technically difficult and therefore requires an
      adequate learning curve, it is time consuming with more discomfort for the
      patient, it has a higher complication rate, it is more expensive. To overcome
      these disadvantages, in the Western countries a hybrid technique called
      Circumferential Submucosal Incision - Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (CSI-EMR) has
      been developed and is especially employed for colonic lesions. This article
      analyzes retrospectively the results obtained in a single centre by a single
      operator in the treatment of 23 patients (12 men and 11 women, average age 65,6
      years), all suffering from superficial, larger than >= 20 mm colorectal
      neoplasms: 9 were treated with ESD for rectal lesions and 14 were treated with
      CSI-EMR for colonic lesions. Findings show a technical success rate of 66,6% for
      ESD and 78,5% for CSI-EM, and a 0% recurrence rate during follow-up, 4,3%
      bleeding and 13% perforation complications. The histology of the removed lesions
      showed 13 (56,5%) low grade dysplasia adenomas, 8 (34,7%) high grade dysplasia
      adenomas, one grade 1 sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma infiltrating the submucosal
      layer without lymphovascular invasion, with free margins (R0), treated
      conservatively, and one grade 1 cecum adenocarcinoma, infiltrating the submucosal
      layer, with lymphovascular invasion and involved excision margin, treated
      surgically with no residual neoplastic disease in the surgical specimen. These
      data are in line with the most significant ones in literature, except for the
      higher complication rate, which the authors ascribe to the "learning curve" and
      the smaller number of treated patients.

PMID- 26888701
TI  - Differentiated thyroid cancer: feasibility of loboisthmectomy in an endemic
      region.
AB  - AIM: The aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the feasibility of
      loboisthmectomy for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in a endemic
      area, evaluating the histopathological features and the results of a case series
      of 1154 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 1154 patients
      submitted to total thyroidectomy in our Department were retrospectively reviewed
      to analyze the histopathological characters and the results. RESULTS: In 1044
      cases (90.5%) a papillary cancer was observed, in 110 (9.5%) a follicular
      carcinoma; microcarcinomas were 399 (34.5%). Multifocality was present in 323
      cases (28%), in 142 unilateral (12.3%) and in 181 bilateral (15.7%). Thyroiditis
      coexisted in 472 patients (40.9%), multinodular goiter in 404 (35%), Graves'
      disease in 48 (4.1%), and multinodular toxic goiter in 38 (3.3%). Complications
      were: postoperative bleeding in 20 patients (1.7%), transient unilateral vocal
      cord paralysis in 20 (1.7%) definitive in 10 (0.86%), a transient bilateral
      paralysis in 1 (0.08%), a transient hypoparathyroidism in 351 (30.4%), and a
      definitive in 24 (2.07%). Nodal recurrence occurred in 25 patients (2.16%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy remains the safest treatment in differentiated
      thyroid cancer, especially if performed in high volume centers in which
      complications can be minimized. Loboisthmectomy can be a viable and safe
      alternative in small (< 1 cm) unifocal tumors in patients at low risk.
      Loboisthmectomy is limited in endemic areas by the association with other thyroid
      diseases. A correct and detailed information of the patient is essential before
      planning surgery.

PMID- 26888700
TI  - Hydronephrosis and utero-vaginal prolapse in postmenopausal women: management and
      treatment.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pelvic organ prolapse is a multifactorial disease. Aim was to
      evaluate the effect of the whole surgical correction of pelvic floor on
      hydronephrosis due to severe prolapse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case
      study on 250 patients presenting with severe uterovaginal prolapse was carried
      out. RESULTS: Hydronephrosis was found in 32/234 (13.7 %). All patients underwent
      hysterectomy, vaginal apex axial suspension, posterior and anterior repair,
      vaginally. Prepubic TICT (Tension free Incontinence Cystocoele Treatment) was
      done in 38 cases (3 with hydronephrosis). Of the 32/234 (13.7 %) patients with
      hydronephrosis, 18/32 (56.25%) had complete resolution of hydronephrosis after
      treatment, 14/32 (43.75%) had a reduction of calico-pyelic dilatation, among them
      8 patients had a second degree and 6 a first degree of hydronephrosis.
      CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal-hysterectomy, axial apex suspension, anterior and posterior
      repair resulted in either complete resolution or improvement of hydronephrosis.
      Prepubic TICT did not interfere on mechanical obstruction and maintained
      postoperative continence in the event of occult Stress Urinary Incontinence
      (SUI).

PMID- 26888702
TI  - An audit of consenting practices in a district general hospital. Can we improve?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Informed consent, as the declaration of patients' will, forms the
      basis of legality of medical procedures. A standard form based on the Department
      of Health model is widely used in the National Health Service (NHS). The aim of
      this audit process was to assess the current consent practice in comparison to
      the UK's General Medical Council guidance and local policy and make any
      appropriate improvements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 254 adult consent forms were
      reviewed during the patients' admission. Data collected included legible
      documentation, grade of health professional completing the consent form,
      providing additional written information, use of abbreviations, securing the
      consent form in the medical records and, providing a copy to the patient. After
      initial assessment, interventions in an attempt to improve adherence to
      guidelines were introduced. A repeat audit of a further set of 110 notes was
      completed to assess the effectiveness of our interventions. RESULTS: Our baseline
      assessment of 254 consent forms comprised of 198 (78%) elective and 56 (22%)
      emergency procedures. 87 (34%) consent forms were secure in the medical records.
      Grade of health professional was recorded in 211 (83%). 191 (75%) forms were
      legible. 48 (19%) patients were given copy of the consent. Only 24 (9%) patients
      were given additional written information. Abbreviations were used in 68 (27%)
      forms. Only 12 (5%) of consent forms met all criteria simultaneously. Re-audit
      after intervention assessed 110 consent forms; 30 (27%) for elective and 80 (72%)
      for emergency procedures. 52 (47%) of consent forms were secure in medical
      records, grade of health professional was recorded in 94 (85%), 101 (75%) forms
      were legible, 42 (38%) patients received copy of consent and 41 (37%) of patients
      received additional written information. CONCLUSION: Initially only 5% of consent
      forms completely met GMC guidelines. This demonstrates an alarmingly poor
      adherence to such guidance that plays a vital role in patient safety, patient
      ethics autonomy, not to mention potential medico-legal and clinical governance
      implications for surgical practice. Our intervention has improved the quality of
      consenting within our hospital according to these guidelines. With these
      interventions set to continue and further develop, we expect that the quality of
      the consenting process will continue to provide patients with all that it is
      designed to.

PMID- 26888703
TI  - Arterial endofibrosis in professional cyclists.
AB  - External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis (EIAE) is an uncommon disease usually
      affecting young, otherwise healthy, patients. It usually involves cyclists but
      cases have been reported in other groups of endurance athletes. The external
      iliac artery is the most affected anatomical site but other locations are
      described too. The precise pathophysiology and long-term evolution of the disease
      still remain unknown. The diagnosis may be challenging and delayed as the
      patients usually present symptoms only in extreme conditions and physical and
      instrumental examinations may be normal at rest. We present two cases of young
      professional cyclists who suffered of exercise-induced leg pain which led them to
      reduce running. Both patients were firstly treated with balloon angioplasty that
      rapidly failed to improve their symptoms. The successive open surgery with
      endofibrosectomy and autologous saphenous vein closure patch completely resolved
      physical limitations. EIAE is a rare disease that can induce arterial stenosis,
      thrombosis, dissection and secondary atheroma. After-exercise ankle-brachial
      index represents a useful diagnostic criterion. Careful observation of angio-CT
      may strengthen the suspect. Knowledge of the these features allows a better pre
      operative assessment and an early effective treatment. Surgical revascularization
      remains the gold standard approach. 

PMID- 26888704
TI  - Subcutaneous cervical emphysema and pneumomediastinum due to a diastatic rupture
      of the cecum.
AB  - Pneumomediastinum usually occurs after esophageal or chest trauma. Subcutaneous
      cervical emphysema as a presentation of non-traumatic colonic perforation
      following colorectal cancer or diverticulitis, is very rare. We report a case of
      a patient with rectal cancer who developed a diastatic cecum retroperitoneal
      perforation with a secondary pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema. The
      patient was in treatment with a neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for a low rectal
      cancer. Treatment consisted in an emergency right hemi-colectomy with ileostomy
      and performance of distal colonic fistula. The Authors discuss the occurrence of
      pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema complicating rectal cancer, pointing out
      ethiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The importance
      of performing a diverting colostomy when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is scheduled in
      patients with stenotic rectal cancer, although not clinically occluded. 

PMID- 26888705
TI  - Appendicular mucocele: two case reports and literature review.
AB  - The classification of mucinous tumors of the vermiform appendix is quite
      controversial, and includes a spectrum of neoplastic lesions ranging from benign
      proliferations, intraluminal, to invasive adenocarcinomas. Among the
      complications of appendicular mucinous neoplasms we should mention the
      "pseudomyxoma peritonei", a condition caused by cancerous cells (mucinous
      adenocarcinoma) that produce abundant mucin or gelationous ascites. Mucinous
      neoplasms of the appendix are rare diseases of unknown etiology. The diagnosis is
      difficult because of poorly specific clinical, biochemical and imaging
      parameters, and their detection can be occasional. Most of the reported cases
      involving women of reproductive age (with a history of endometriosis, abdominal
      surgery or pelvic inflammatory disease). The definitive diagnosis requires
      histology and immunohistochemistry. Cytoredutive surgery combined with
      hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoterapy (HIPEC) is now considered the best
      treatment for this disease. We present two cases treated with surgery and HIPEC. 

PMID- 26888707
TI  - [Rectal neuroendocrine tumors: surgical therapy].
AB  - The incidence of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) has increased in recent
      years. Most of these neoplasms are asymptomatic and are diagnosed by colonoscopy
      screening, which could be one of the reasons for the increasing occurrence. As
      less than 1 % of rectal NET produce serotonin they are practically never
      discovered due to a carcinoid syndrome. The current guidelines of the European
      (ENETS) and North American (NANETS) Neuroendocrine Tumor Societies support
      clinicians with useful diagnostic and treatment algorithms. The most important
      criteria for therapy are tumor size and histopathological risk factors for
      metastases. For well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms < 1 cm, local
      endoscopic or surgical excision is recommended. Due to the lack of evidence
      tumors sized 1-2 cm represent a grey area for prognosis and treatment. All NET >
      1.5 cm must be excised by radical surgery as low anterior rectal resection or
      abdominoperineal extirpation with total mesorectal excision (TME). Resectable
      liver and lung metastases of well-differentiated NETs should be surgically
      treated with curative intent. 

PMID- 26888708
TI  - Adipose stem cells differentiated chondrocytes regenerate damaged cartilage in
      rat model of osteoarthritis.
AB  - Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or autologous chondrocytes has
      been shown to repair damages to articular cartilage due to osteoarthritis (OA).
      However, survival of transplanted cells is considerably reduced in the
      osteoarthritic environment and it affects successful outcome of the
      transplantation of the cells. Differentiated chrondroytes derived from adipose
      stem cells have been proposed as an alternative source and our study investigated
      this possibility in rats. We investigated the regenerative potential of ADSCs and
      DCs in osteoarthritic environment in the repair of cartilage in rats. We found
      that ADSCs maintained fibroblast morphology in vitro and also expressed CD90 and
      CD29. Furthermore, ADSCs differentiated into chondrocytes, accompanied by
      increased level of proteoglycans and expression of chondrocytes specific genes,
      such as, Acan, and Col2a1. Histological examination of transplanted knee joints
      showed regeneration of cartilage tissue compared to control OA knee joints.
      Increase in gene expression for Acan, Col2a1 with concomitant decrease in the
      expression of Col1a1 suggested formation of hyaline like cartilage. A significant
      increase in differentiation index was observed in DCs and ADSCs transplanted knee
      joints (P = 0.0110 vs. P = 0.0429) when compared to that in OA control knee
      joints. Furthermore, transplanted DCs showed increased proliferation along with
      reduction in apoptosis as compared to untreated control. In conclusion, DCs
      showed better survival and regeneration potential as compared with ADSCs in rat
      model of OA and thus may serve a better option for regeneration of osteoarthritic
      cartilage.

PMID- 26888709
TI  - Growth monitoring and the prognosis of mortality in low-income settings.

PMID- 26888710
TI  - Intake of whole grains is associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction:
      the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High intake of whole grains has been associated with lower risk of
      coronary heart disease; however, the research that has been used to evaluate
      different effects of different whole-grain cereals (e.g., wheat, rye, and oats)
      has been sparse. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between whole-grain
      intake in terms of total intake and intakes of different cereals and myocardial
      infarction. DESIGN: This prospective study included 54,871 Danish adults aged 50
      64 y, of whom 2329 individuals developed myocardial infarction (13.6 y of follow
      up). Detailed information on daily intake of whole-grain products was available
      from a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire, and intakes of total whole
      grain and whole-grain species (wheat, rye, and oats) were estimated. The
      association between intake of whole grains and risk of myocardial infarction was
      examined with the use of a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for potential
      confounders. RESULTS: For both men and women with total whole-grain intake in the
      highest quartile, lower risks of myocardial infarction were shown [HRs: 0.75 (95%
      CI: 0.65, 0.86) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.91), respectively] than for individuals
      with intake in the lowest quartile. When the specific cereal species were
      considered, rye and oats, but not wheat, were associated with lower myocardial
      infarction risk in men. No significant associations were seen in women. For total
      whole-grain products, significantly lower myocardial infarction risks were seen
      with higher intakes in both men and women. Rye bread (in men and women) and
      oatmeal (in men) were associated with significantly lower risk of myocardial
      infarction, whereas no significant association was shown for whole-grain bread,
      crispbread, and wheat. CONCLUSION: In this study, we provide support for the
      hypothesis that whole-grain intake is related to lower risk of myocardial
      infarction and suggest that the cereals rye and oats might especially hold a
      beneficial effect.

PMID- 26888711
TI  - On the need for improved methodologic quality of published reviews.

PMID- 26888712
TI  - Energy depletion by diet or aerobic exercise alone: impact of energy deficit
      modality on appetite parameters.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Millions of Americans attempt to lose weight each year, and it is
      unclear whether the modality of acute, tightly controlled energy depletions can
      differently affect appetite parameters and olfaction. OBJECTIVE: The objectives
      were to examine how the modality of an acute 3-d isocaloric 25% energy depletion
      by dieting alone or by aerobic exercise alone differently affects appetite and
      appetite-related hormones, ad libitum feeding, food reward (snack points), and
      olfaction. DESIGN: Ten male participants with a mean +/- SD age of 23.7 +/- 5.1 y
      and an initial mean +/- SD body weight of 83.2 +/- 11.5 kg participated in this
      randomized crossover design. Baseline measurement [day 1 of the control condition
      (CON1)] was performed and repeated 3 d later [day 4 of the control condition
      (CON4)], after which randomization was applied to the order of the 2 experimental
      conditions: 25% daily needs energy deficits induced by diet only (DIET) and by
      exercise only (EX) and tested before [day 1 of DIET (DIET1) and day 1 of EX
      (EX1)] and after 3 d [day 4 of DIET (DIET4) and day 4 of EX (EX4)] of the
      intervention. Body weight, leptin and ghrelin concentrations, relative
      reinforcing value of food, and olfaction were measured at days 1 and 4. Body
      composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), ad libitum energy intake (EI;
      buffet), and palatability (visual analog scale) were measured only at day 4.
      RESULTS: Relative to CON4, EI (P= 0.001), palatability (P= 0.01), and odor
      threshold (P= 0.05) were higher at DIET4; relative to CON4, palatability (P=
      0.03) was higher at EX4. Compared with EX4, EI was higher for DIET4 (P= 0.006).
      Relative to CON4, snack points earned were higher at DIET4 (P= 0.03) and EX4 (P=
      0.001); more snack points were earned at EX4 relative to DIET4 (P= 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the control condition, DIET represented a greater
      acute challenge to appetite regulation than EX, as demonstrated by greater
      appetite and ad libitum EI. This study confirms that compared with depletions by
      exercise alone, acute caloric restriction results in rapid changes in appetite
      that result in compensatory eating, which may initially dissuade potential
      success in weight-loss efforts. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov
      as NCT02653378.

PMID- 26888715
TI  - Characterisation and application of Halomonas shantousis SWA25, a halotolerant
      bacterium with multiple biogenic amine degradation activity.
AB  - Biogenic amines are identified as toxicological substances in foods and may have
      detrimental effects on consumers' health. In recent years, the application of
      microorganisms that can degrade biogenic amines has become an emerging method for
      their reduction. The degradation characteristics and application potential of a
      salt-tolerant bacterium Halomonas shantousis SWA25 were investigated in this
      study. H. shantousis SWA25 exhibited degradation activity against eight biogenic
      amines at 10-40 degrees C (optimum, 30-40 degrees C) and pH 3.0-9.0 (optimum, 6.0
      7.0) in the presence of 0-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%). Specifically, H.
      shantousis SWA25 degraded all tryptamine (TRY) and tyramine (TYR) in 6 h, all
      phenethylamine (PHE) in 9 h, 66.7% of histamine (HIM), 52.4% of cadaverine (CAD),
      48.0% of spermidine (SPD), 42.9% of putrescine (PUT) and 42.0% of spermine (SPM)
      in 20 h at 30 degrees C and pH 7.0 with shaking at 120 r min-1. The enzymes from
      H. shantousis SWA25 responsible for degradation of biogenic amines were mainly
      amine oxidases located on the cell membrane. Further studies showed that H.
      shantousis SWA25 effectively degraded TRY, PHE, PUT, CAD, HIM and TYR in
      commercial fish sauce and soy sauce samples. Nevertheless, significant SPD and
      SPM degradation were not observed due to low initial concentrations. Therefore,
      H. shantousis SWA25 can be applied as a potential biogenic amines degradation
      bacterium in foods.

PMID- 26888713
TI  - FTO genotype and weight loss in diet and lifestyle interventions: a systematic
      review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO)
      genotype is associated with individual variability in weight loss in response to
      diet/lifestyle interventions, but results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed
      to provide a summary of the literature evaluating the relation between the FTO
      genotype and weight loss in response to diet/lifestyle interventions. DESIGN: A
      search of English-language articles in the PubMed and Embase databases (through
      30 April 2015) was performed. Eligible studies were diet/lifestyle weight-loss
      intervention studies conducted in adults that reported changes in body weight or
      body mass index (BMI) by the FTO variant rs9939609 (or its proxy). Differences in
      weight loss between FTO genotypes across studies were pooled with the use of
      fixed-effect models. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of 10 studies (comprising 6951
      participants) that reported the results of additive genetic models showed that
      individuals with the FTO TA genotype and AA genotype (those with the obesity
      predisposing A allele) had 0.18-kg (95% CI: -0.09-, 0.45-kg;P= 0.19; NS) and 0.44
      kg (95% CI: 0.09-, 0.79-kg;P= 0.015) greater weight loss, respectively, than
      those with the TT genotype. A meta-analysis of 14 studies (comprising 7700
      participants) that reported the results of dominant genetic models indicated a
      0.20-kg (-0.43-, 0.04-kg) greater weight loss in the TA/AA genotype than in the
      TT genotype (P= 0.10). In addition, differences in weight loss between the AA
      genotype and TT genotype were significant in studies with a diet intervention
      only, adjustment for baseline BMI or body weight, and several other subgroups.
      However, the relatively small number of studies limited these stratified
      analyses, and there was no statistically significant difference between
      subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that individuals carrying the
      homozygous FTO obesity-predisposing allele may lose more weight through
      diet/lifestyle interventions than noncarriers. Our data provide evidence for
      genetic variability in response to diet/lifestyle interventions on weight loss,
      although clinical applications of these findings need further investigations.

PMID- 26888714
TI  - Comparison of multiple methods to measure maternal fat mass in late gestation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Measurements of maternal fat mass (FM) are important for studies of
      maternal and fetal health. Common methods of estimating FM have not been
      previously compared in pregnancy with measurements using more complete body
      composition models. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this pilot study was to compare
      multiple methods that estimate FM, including 2-, 3- and 4-compartment models in
      pregnant women at term, and to determine how these measures compare with FM by
      dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) 2 wk postpartum. DESIGN: Forty-one healthy
      pregnant women with prepregnancy body mass index (in kg/m(2)) 19 to 46 underwent
      skinfold thickness (SFT), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), body density
      (Db) via air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and deuterium dilution of total
      body water (TBW) with and without adjustments for gestational age using van Raaij
      (VRJ) equations at 37-38 wk of gestation and 2 wk postpartum to derive 8
      estimates of maternal FM. Deming regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots were
      used to compare methods of FM assessment. RESULTS: Systematic differences in FM
      estimates were found. Methods for FM estimates from lowest to highest were 4
      compartment, DXA, TBW(VRJ), 3-compartment, Db(VRJ), BIA, air displacement
      plethysmography body density, and SFT ranging from a mean +/- SD of 29.5 +/- 13.2
      kg via 4-compartment to 39.1 +/- 11.7 kg via SFT. Compared with postpartum DXA
      values, Deming regressions revealed no substantial departures from trend lines in
      maternal FM in late pregnancy for any of the methods. The 4-compartment method
      showed substantial negative (underestimating) constant bias, and the air
      displacement plethysmography body density and SFT methods showed positive
      (overestimating) constant bias. ADP via Db(VRJ)and 3-compartment methods had the
      highest precision; BIA had the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: ADP that uses gestational age
      specific equations may provide a reasonable and practical measurement of maternal
      FM across a spectrum of body weights in late pregnancy. SFT would be acceptable
      for use in larger studies. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as
      NCT02586714.

PMID- 26888716
TI  - Development of Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Detection and Typing of Epizootic
      Haemorrhagic Disease Virus.
AB  - Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is an emerging arboviral pathogen of
      wild and domestic ruminants worldwide. It is closely related to bluetongue virus
      (BTV) and is transmitted by adult females of competent Culicoides vector species.
      The EHDV genome consists of ten linear double-stranded (ds)RNA segments, encoding
      five non-structural and seven structural proteins. Genome-segment reassortment
      contributes to a high level of genetic variation in individual virus strains,
      particularly in the areas where multiple and distinct virus lineages co
      circulate. In spite of the relatively close relationship between BTV and EHDV
      herd-immunity to BTV does not appear to protect against the introduction and
      infection of animals by EHDV. Although EHDV can cause up to 80% morbidity in
      affected animals, vaccination with the homologous EHDV serotype is protective.
      Outer-capsid protein VP2, encoded by Seg-2, is the most variable of the EHDV
      proteins and determines both the specificity of reactions with neutralizing
      antibodies and consequently the identity of the eight EHDV serotypes. In
      contrast, VP6 (the viral helicase), encoded by Seg-9, is highly conserved,
      representing a virus species/serogroup-specific antigen. We report the
      development and evaluation of quantitative (q)RT-PCR assays targeting EHDV Seg-9
      that can detect all EHDV strains (regardless of geographic
      origin/topotype/serotype), as well as type-specific assays targeting Seg-2 of the
      eight EHDV serotypes. The assays were evaluated using orbivirus isolates from the
      'Orbivirus reference collection' (ORC) at The Pirbright Institute and were shown
      to be EHDV pan-reactive or type-specific. They can be used for rapid, sensitive
      and reliable detection and identification (typing) of EHDV RNA from infected
      blood, tissue samples, homogenized Culicoides, or tissue culture supernatant.
      None of the assays detected RNA from closely related but heterologous
      orbiviruses, or from uninfected host animals or cell cultures. The techniques
      presented could be used for both surveillance and vaccine matching (serotype
      identification) as part of control strategies for incursions in wild and domestic
      animal species.

PMID- 26888717
TI  - AST: Activity-Security-Trust driven modeling of time varying networks.
AB  - Network modeling is a flexible mathematical structure that enables to identify
      statistical regularities and structural principles hidden in complex systems. The
      majority of recent driving forces in modeling complex networks are originated
      from activity, in which an activity potential of a time invariant function is
      introduced to identify agents' interactions and to construct an activity-driven
      model. However, the new-emerging network evolutions are already deeply coupled
      with not only the explicit factors (e.g. activity) but also the implicit
      considerations (e.g. security and trust), so more intrinsic driving forces behind
      should be integrated into the modeling of time varying networks. The agents
      undoubtedly seek to build a time-dependent trade-off among activity, security,
      and trust in generating a new connection to another. Thus, we reasonably propose
      the Activity-Security-Trust (AST) driven model through synthetically considering
      the explicit and implicit driving forces (e.g. activity, security, and trust)
      underlying the decision process. AST-driven model facilitates to more accurately
      capture highly dynamical network behaviors and figure out the complex evolution
      process, allowing a profound understanding of the effects of security and trust
      in driving network evolution, and improving the biases induced by only involving
      activity representations in analyzing the dynamical processes. 

PMID- 26888720
TI  - Magnetic effects in sulfur-decorated graphene.
AB  - The interaction between two different materials can present novel phenomena that
      are quite different from the physical properties observed when each material
      stands alone. Strong electronic correlations, such as magnetism and
      superconductivity, can be produced as the result of enhanced Coulomb interactions
      between electrons. Two-dimensional materials are powerful candidates to search
      for the novel phenomena because of the easiness of arranging them and modifying
      their properties accordingly. In this work, we report magnetic effects in
      graphene, a prototypical non-magnetic two-dimensional semi-metal, in the
      proximity with sulfur, a diamagnetic insulator. In contrast to the well-defined
      metallic behaviour of clean graphene, an energy gap develops at the Fermi energy
      for the graphene/sulfur compound with decreasing temperature. This is accompanied
      by a steep increase of the resistance, a sign change of the slope in the magneto
      resistance between high and low fields, and magnetic hysteresis. A possible
      origin of the observed electronic and magnetic responses is discussed in terms of
      the onset of low-temperature magnetic ordering. These results provide intriguing
      insights on the search for novel quantum phases in graphene-based compounds. 

PMID- 26888721
TI  - Nitrogen-doped Carbon Microfiber with Wrinkled Surface for High Performance
      Supercapacitors.
AB  - In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon microfiber (NCMF) is fabricated via a facile
      co-assembly of natural silk and graphene oxide (GO) and the following thermal
      treatment. The amphiphilic nature of GO endows NCMF a crumpled surface with a
      high surface area of 115 m(2) g(-1). As the binder-free electrode in electrical
      double-layer capacitors, NCMF shows an excellent capacitance of 196 F g(-1) at
      scan rate of 5 mV s(-1), which is almost four times higher than that of the
      pristine CMF from silk (55 F g(-1)). Additionally, the capacitance of NCMF can be
      kept around 92 F g(-1) at a high scan rate of 300 mV s(-1) even after 10000
      cycles. More importantly, a high energy density (~ 22.7 MUW h cm(-2)) and power
      density (~ 10.26 mW cm(-2)) are achieved by the all-solid-state supercapacitor
      based on NCMF.

PMID- 26888722
TI  - Erratum to: Vaccination with ErbB-2 peptides prevents cancer stem cell expansion
      and suppresses the development of spontaneous tumors in MMTV-PyMT transgenic
      mice.

PMID- 26888719
TI  - Human Vascular Microphysiological System for in vitro Drug Screening.
AB  - In vitro human tissue engineered human blood vessels (TEBV) that exhibit
      vasoactivity can be used to test human toxicity of pharmaceutical drug candidates
      prior to pre-clinical animal studies. TEBVs with 400-800 MUM diameters were made
      by embedding human neonatal dermal fibroblasts or human bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells in dense collagen gel. TEBVs were mechanically strong
      enough to allow endothelialization and perfusion at physiological shear stresses
      within 3 hours after fabrication. After 1 week of perfusion, TEBVs exhibited
      endothelial release of nitric oxide, phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction, and
      acetylcholine-induced vasodilation, all of which were maintained up to 5 weeks in
      culture. Vasodilation was blocked with the addition of the nitric oxide synthase
      inhibitor L-N(G)-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME). TEBVs elicited reversible
      activation to acute inflammatory stimulation by TNF-alpha which had a transient
      effect upon acetylcholine-induced relaxation, and exhibited dose-dependent
      vasodilation in response to caffeine and theophylline. Treatment of TEBVs with 1
      MUM lovastatin for three days prior to addition of Tumor necrosis factor - alpha
      (TNF-alpha) blocked the injury response and maintained vasodilation. These
      results indicate the potential to develop a rapidly-producible, endothelialized
      TEBV for microphysiological systems capable of producing physiological responses
      to both pharmaceutical and immunological stimuli.

PMID- 26888723
TI  - Low prevalence of HER2 positivity amongst BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and
      in primary BRCA screens.
AB  - The aim of this study is to delineate more clearly the prevalence of HER2+ breast
      cancer in women with germline BRCA1/2 mutations. For this purpose, we analysed
      primary mutation screens on women with breast cancer with unequivocal HER2
      amplification and assessed the proportion of BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancers that
      were HER2+ comparing this with the existing literature. The results are that 1063
      primary BRCA screens had confirmed tumour HER2 status. If HER2+ only 2.5 %
      (4/156) and 3.2 % (5/156) of women had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation identified
      respectively; compared to 27.7 % (115/415) and 8.2 % (34/415) with triple
      negative tumours. Only 2.1 % (4/195) women with BRCA1-related breast cancer had
      HER2 amplified breast cancers rising to 6.8 % (n = 12, p = 0.04) in BRCA2. These
      rates are in keeping with most of the existing literature except a recent large
      multicenter report which documented higher rates but with no control group. The
      study concluded that true HER2-amplified breast cancers are rare amongst BRCA1
      mutation carriers and are less common in BRCA2 than background rates. 

PMID- 26888724
TI  - Perspectives on the provision of GDM screening in general practice versus the
      hospital setting: a qualitative study of providers and patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A novel gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening programme which
      involved offering screening at the patient's general practitioner (GP) compared
      with the traditional hospital setting was trialled. This study investigates
      perspectives of involved stakeholders on the provision of GDM screening at both
      settings. DESIGN: Thematic analysis of the perspectives of stakeholders involved
      in the receiving and provision of GDM screening in both the GP and hospital
      settings drawn from focus groups and interviews. PARTICIPANTS: 3 groups of
      participants are included in this research--patient participants, GP screening
      providers and hospital screening providers. All were recruited from a larger
      sample who participated in a randomised controlled screening trial. Purposeful
      sampling was utilised to select participants with a wide variety of perspectives
      on the provision of GDM screening. SETTING: Participants were recruited from a
      geographical area covered by 3 hospitals in Ireland. RESULTS: 4 themes emerged
      from thematic analysis--namely (1) travel distance, (2) best care provision, (3)
      sense of ease created and (4) optimal screening. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of
      travel distance from the screening site is the most important factor influencing
      willingness to attend for GDM screening among women who live a considerable
      distance from the hospital setting. For patients who live equidistance from both
      settings, other factors are important; namely the waiting facilities including
      parking, perceived expertise of screening provider personnel, access to emergency
      treatment if necessary, accuracy of tests and access to timely results and
      treatment. Optimal screening for GDM should be specialist led, incorporate expert
      advice of GDM screening, treatment and management, should be provided locally,
      offer adequate parking and comfort levels, provide accurate tests, and timely
      access to results and treatment. Such a service should result in improved rates
      of GDM screening uptake. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN41202110.

PMID- 26888726
TI  - How do scientists perceive the current publication culture? A qualitative focus
      group interview study among Dutch biomedical researchers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomedical scientist's perception of the prevailing
      publication culture. DESIGN: Qualitative focus group interview study. SETTING:
      Four university medical centres in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Three randomly
      selected groups of biomedical scientists (PhD, postdoctoral staff members and
      full professors). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main themes for discussion were selected
      by participants. RESULTS: Frequently perceived detrimental effects of
      contemporary publication culture were the strong focus on citation measures (like
      the Journal Impact Factor and the H-index), gift and ghost authorships and the
      order of authors, the peer review process, competition, the funding system and
      publication bias. These themes were generally associated with detrimental and
      undesirable effects on publication practices and on the validity of reported
      results. Furthermore, senior scientists tended to display a more cynical
      perception of the publication culture than their junior colleagues. However, even
      among the PhD students and the postdoctoral fellows, the sentiment was quite
      negative. Positive perceptions of specific features of contemporary scientific
      and publication culture were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the
      current publication culture leads to negative sentiments, counterproductive
      stress levels and, most importantly, to questionable research practices among
      junior and senior biomedical scientists.

PMID- 26888725
TI  - Sleep duration and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review with meta
      analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between short
      and long sleep duration and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among elderly
      individuals. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based
      cohort studies. SETTING: Articles were retrieved from international and national
      electronic databases. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were identified in PubMed, EMBASE,
      LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), IBECS
      (Bibliographic Index on Health Sciences from Spain) and CAPES (PhD thesis
      repository) between 1980 and 2015. Studies which met all criteria were eligible:
      participants aged 60 years or over, assessment of sleep duration as 24 h,
      nighttime or daytime sleep, evaluation of all-cause or cause-specific mortality,
      population-based cohort studies conducted on representative samples. There was no
      language restriction and studies published as abstracts were excluded. DATA
      EXTRACTION: Data were analysed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software
      (V.3.3.070), and summary estimates (relative risk (RR), 95% CI) were calculated
      using a random effects model. Heterogeneity and consistency were evaluated
      through Cochran's Q and the I(2) statistics, respectively, and sensitivity
      analyses were conducted. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause and
      cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 27 cohort studies were selected,
      comprising >70,000 elderly individuals, and followed up from 3.4 to 35 years. In
      the pooled analysis, long and short sleep duration were associated with increased
      all-cause mortality (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.43 and RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to
      1.11, respectively), compared with the reference category. For cardiovascular
      mortality, the pooled relative risks were 1.43 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.78) for long
      sleep, and 1.18 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.84) for short sleep. Daytime napping >= 30 min
      was associated with risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.27; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.49),
      compared with no daytime sleep, but longer sleep duration (>= 2.0 h) was not (RR
      1.34; 95% CI 1.95 to 1.90). CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly individuals, long and
      short sleep duration are associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality.
      Long sleep duration is associated with cardiovascular mortality.

PMID- 26888728
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26888727
TI  - Clinical outcomes in 995 unselected real-world patients treated with an ultrathin
      biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stent: 12-month results from the
      FLEX Registry.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, in the FLEX Registry, clinical outcomes of an ultrathin
      (60 um) biodegradable polymer-coated Supraflex sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) for
      the treatment of coronary artery disease. Additionally, to determine the vascular
      response to the Supraflex SES through optical coherence tomography (OCT)
      analysis. SETTING: Multicentre, single-arm, all-comers, observational registry of
      patients who were treated with the Supraflex SES, between July 2013 and May 2014,
      at nine different centres in India. PARTICIPANTS: 995 patients (1242 lesions) who
      were treated with the Supraflex SES, between July 2013 and May 2014, at nine
      different centres in India. A total of 47 participants underwent OCT analysis at
      6 months' follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous coronary intervention with
      Supraflex SES, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint-the
      rate of major adverse cardiac events (defined as a composite of cardiac death,
      myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularisation (TLR))-was analysed
      during 12 months. RESULTS: At 12 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 36
      (3.7%) of 980 patients, consisting of 18 (1.8%) cardiac deaths, 16 (1.6%) MI, 7
      (0.7%) TLR and 2 (0.2%) cases of non-target lesion target vessel
      revascularization. In a subset of 47 patients, 1227 cross-sections (9309 struts)
      were analysed at 6 months by OCT. Overall, a high percentage of struts was
      covered (98.1%), with a mean neointimal thickness of 0.13 +/- 0.06 um.
      CONCLUSIONS: The FLEX Registry evaluated clinical outcomes in real-world and more
      complex cohorts and thus provides evidence that the Supraflex SEX can be used
      safely and routinely in a broader percutaneous coronary intervention population.
      Also, the Supraflex SES showed high percentage of stent strut coverage and good
      stent apposition during OCT follow-up.

PMID- 26888729
TI  - Understanding vulnerability to self-harm in times of economic hardship and
      austerity: a qualitative study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Self-harm and suicide increase in times of economic recession, but
      little is known about why people self-harm when in financial difficulty, and in
      what circumstances self-harm occurs. This study aimed to understand events and
      experiences leading to the episode of self-harm and to identify opportunities for
      prevention or mitigation of distress. SETTING: Participants' homes or university
      rooms. PARTICIPANTS: 19 people who had attended hospital following self-harm in
      two UK cities and who specifically cited job loss, economic hardship or the
      impact of austerity measures as a causal or contributory factor. PRIMARY AND
      SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Semistructured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were
      audio recorded, transcribed and analysed cross-sectionally and as case studies.
      RESULTS: Study participants described experiences of severe economic hardship;
      being unable to find employment or losing jobs, debt, housing problems and
      benefit sanctions. In many cases problems accumulated and felt unresolvable. For
      others an event, such as a call from a debt collector or benefit change triggered
      the self-harm. Participants also reported other current or past difficulties,
      including abuse, neglect, bullying, domestic violence, mental health problems,
      relationship difficulties, bereavements and low self-esteem. These contributed to
      their sense of despair and worthlessness and increased their vulnerability to
      self-harm. Participants struggled to gain the practical help they felt they
      needed for their economic difficulties or therapeutic support that might have
      helped with their other co-existing or historically damaging experiences.
      CONCLUSIONS: Economic hardships resulting from the recession and austerity
      measures accumulated or acted as a 'final straw' to trigger self-harm, often in
      the context of co-existing or historically damaging life-experiences.
      Interventions to mitigate these effects should include providing practical advice
      about economic issues before difficulties become insurmountable and providing
      appropriate psychosocial support for vulnerable individuals.

PMID- 26888730
TI  - Acknowledging unreported problems with active surveillance for prostate cancer: a
      prospective single-centre observational study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report outcomes of patients with localised prostate cancer (PCa)
      managed with active surveillance (AS) in a standard clinical setting. DESIGN:
      Single-centre, prospective, observational study. SETTING: Non-academic, average
      size hospital in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Prospective, observational study at a
      non-academic, average-size hospital in Switzerland. Inclusion and progression
      criteria meet general recommendations. 157 patients at a median age of 67 (61-70)
      years were included from December 1999 to March 2012. Follow-up (FU) ended June
      2013. RESULTS: Median FU was 48 (30-84) months. Overall confirmed
      reclassification rate was 20% (32/157). 20 men underwent radical prostatectomy
      with 1 recurrence, 11 had radiation therapy with 2 prostate-specific antigen
      relapses, and 1 required primary hormone ablation with a fatal outcome. Kaplan
      Meier estimates for those remaining in the study showed an overall survival of
      92%, cancer-specific survival of 99% and reclassification rate of 41%. Dropout
      rate was 36% and occurred at a median of 48 (21-81) months after inclusion. 68
      (43%) men are still under AS. CONCLUSIONS: Careful administration of AS can and
      will yield excellent results in long-term management of PCa, and also helps
      physicians and patients alike to balance quality of life and mortality. Our data
      revealed significant dropout from FU. Patient non-compliance can be a relevant
      problem in AS.

PMID- 26888731
TI  - Treatment of faecal incontinence using allogeneic-adipose-derived mesenchymal
      stem cells: a study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Faecal incontinence is a distressing condition with recurrent
      uncontrolled passage of faecal material. Although faecal incontinence may cause
      psychological depression and social isolation, previous treatments have been
      limited. Recently, regenerative treatment has been developed using mesenchymal
      stem cells. Especially, there are possibilities that adipose-tissue-derived stem
      cells can be effective to treat a degenerated anal sphincter that is causing
      faecal incontinence. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the safety and
      efficacy of using allogeneic-adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the
      treatment of the anal sphincter of patients with faecal incontinence. METHODS AND
      ANALYSIS: This study is a randomised, prospective, dose escalation, placebo
      controlled, single-blinded, single-centre trial with two parallel groups. The
      safety test is performed by an injection of allogeneic-adipose-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells (ALLO-ASCs) into the anal sphincter with dose escalation
      (3 * 10(7), 6 * 10(7) and 9 * 10(7) cells, sequentially). After confirming the
      safety of the stem cells, an efficacy test is performed by this dose in the
      experimental group. The experimental group will receive ALLO-ASCs mixed with
      fibrin glue into the anal sphincter, and the placebo group will receive 0.9%
      normal saline injection mixed with fibrin glue. The primary end point is to
      assess the safety of ALLO-ASCs after the injection into the anal sphincter, and
      the secondary end point is to compare the efficacy of ALLO-ASC injection with
      fibrin glue in patients with faecal incontinence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The
      study protocol was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the
      Ministry of Health & Welfare, in the Republic of Korea. The informed consent form
      was approved by the institutional review board of Gangnam Severance Hospital (IRB
      approval number 3-2014-0271). Dissemination of the results will be presented at a
      conference and in peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:
      NCT02384499; Pre-results.

PMID- 26888733
TI  - Children's experiences about a structured assessment of health-related quality of
      life during a patient encounter.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been stated that care for children with chronic health
      conditions tends to focus on condition-specific issues rather than how these
      children experience their health and everyday life functioning. AIM: The aim of
      this study was to explore children's experiences about a structured assessment of
      health-related quality of life applied during a patient encounter. METHODS: Prior
      to the start of the study, a clinical intervention based on the questionnaire
      DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Measure (DCGM-37) was performed. A qualitative
      explorative design was chosen, and 25 children between 10-17 years of age were
      interviewed after the consultation at four different paediatric outpatient
      clinics. Data were analysed according to qualitative content analysis. RESULTS:
      The results were twofold: children experienced that the assessment was providing
      them with insights about their health, which motivated them to make lifestyle
      changes. When outcomes were discussed and requested, the children felt
      encouraged. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an assessment of health-related quality of
      life may promote insights about health and encourage children with chronic health
      conditions to discuss their outcomes with healthcare professionals.

PMID- 26888732
TI  - Using Monte Carlo simulation to assess variability and uncertainty of tobacco
      consumption in a city by sewage epidemiology.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To use Monte Carlo simulation to assess the uncertainty and
      variability of tobacco consumption through wastewater analysis in a city.
      METHODS: A total of 11 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (serving 2.2 million
      people; approximately 83% of urban population in Dalian) were selected and
      sampled. By detection and quantification of principal metabolites of nicotine,
      cotinine (COT) and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (OH-COT), in raw wastewater, back
      calculation of tobacco use in the population of WWTPs can be realised. RESULTS:
      COT and OH-COT were detected in the entire set of samples with an average
      concentration of 2.33 +/- 0.30 and 2.76 +/- 0.91 ug/L, respectively. The mass
      load of absorbed NIC during the sampling period ranged from 0.25 to 4.22
      mg/day/capita with an average of 1.92 mg/day/capita. Using these data, we
      estimated that smokers in the sampling area consumed an average of 14.6
      cigarettes per day for active smoker. Uncertainty and variability analysis by
      Monte Carlo simulation were used to refine this estimate: the procedure concluded
      that smokers in Dalian smoked between 10 and 27 cigarettes per day. This estimate
      showed good agreement with estimates from epidemiological research. CONCLUSIONS:
      Sewage-based epidemiology may be a useful additional tool for the large-scale
      monitoring of patterns of tobacco use. Probabilistic methods can be used to
      strengthen the reliability of estimated use generated from wastewater analysis.

PMID- 26888734
TI  - The evaluation of myocardial function of patients in the early stage of acute
      ischemic stroke by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the myocardial dysfunction in the early stage of
      nonhemorrhagic stroke and its association with the National Institutes of Health
      Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.
      METHODS: We included 29 patients with acute ischemic stroke, in whom NIHSS scores
      were calculated and stroke infarct volumes recorded. Within 48 hours of
      admission, cardiac evaluation with speckle tracking echocardiography was
      performed and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global
      longitudinal systolic strain rate were obtained. These measurements were repeated
      on the 10th day. RESULTS: NIHSS score improved, but infarct volume increased (p =
      0.011 and 0.065, respectively) from admission to day 10. Ejection fraction was
      53.2% and 55.8%, respectively, at admission and day 10 (p = 0.482), while GLS
      improved from -16.41% to -18.76% (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: GLS and global
      longitudinal systolic strain rate showed significant improvement together with
      NIHSS score. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:305-311, 2016.

PMID- 26888735
TI  - Road safety in an aging population: risk factors, assessment, interventions, and
      future directions.
AB  - With the number of older drivers projected to increase by up to 70% over the next
      20 years, preventing injury resulting from crashes involving older drivers is a
      significant concern for both policy-makers and clinicians. While the total number
      of fatal crashes per annum has steadily decreased since 2005 in Australia, the
      rate of fatalities has demonstrated an upward trend since 2010 in drivers aged 65
      years and above (8.5 per 100,000), such that it is now on par with the fatality
      rate in drivers aged 17-25 years (8.0 per 100,000) (Austroads, 2015). Similar
      statistics are reported for the United States (NHTSA, 2012), implying there is a
      need for better identification of those older drivers who are unsafe and
      implementation of strategies that can enhance mobility while maximizing road
      safety. 

PMID- 26888736
TI  - What is the potential for improving care and lowering cost for persons with
      dementia?
AB  - The increasing prevalence of dementia with population aging has heightened
      interest in understanding patterns of utilization and health expenditures in
      persons with dementia (PWD) among policy officials, practicing physicians, and
      health system. While a substantial part of this interest is concerned with the
      high costs of care for people diagnosed with dementia (Kelley et al., 2015), less
      attention has been focused on the costs and consequences of missed or delayed
      diagnosis in those who screen positive for dementia. The article on "Healthcare
      resource utilization and cost in dementia: are there differences between patients
      screened positive for dementia with and those without a formal diagnosis of
      dementia in primary care in Germany?" by Michalowsky and colleagues (Michalowsky
      et al., 2015) in this issue makes a particularly important contribution in this
      regard. 

PMID- 26888737
TI  - Emotion regulation and psychopathological symptoms of Chinese school-age
      children: A person-centred and multi-informant approach.
AB  - Emotion regulation (ER) is a critical component of children's development. Many
      previous studies have utilised a single-assessment method to reflect child ER,
      which might result in losing important information regarding the unique
      contribution of each informant. With a person-centred approach and multi
      informant reports (mother, teacher and child), the current study examined 196
      children's (age M = 9.21, SD = 1.10, range = 7-11 years; 51% girls) ER patterns
      and their associations with psychopathological symptoms in a Chinese sample. A
      model-based clustering procedure resulted in 3 ER groups: the poor family ER
      group (n = 36), poor school ER group (n = 120), and overall good ER group (n =
      40). Significant differences were found among ER clusters on teacher-reported
      child psychopathological symptoms compared on the levels of withdrawn depression,
      somatic complain, thought problems and attention problems. No significant
      differences were found on the mother-reported psychopathological symptoms.
      Compared with children in the poor school or poor family ER clusters, children in
      the overall good ER group demonstrated fewer psychopathological symptoms at
      school. Our results confirmed the advantage of adopting multi-informant
      assessments to fully capture children's emotional profiles and linked these
      profiles with children's emotional and behavioural functioning at school.

PMID- 26888738
TI  - Association of XPF Levels and Genetic Polymorphism with Susceptibility to
      Ischemic Stroke.
AB  - The xeroderma pigmentosum group F (XPF) gene participates in the
      pathophysiological process of ischemic stroke, and XPF polymorphisms might be
      associated with ischemic stroke susceptibility. This study aimed to investigate
      XPF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and protein
      levels in plasma and to analyze the 30028T/C polymorphism (rs1799801) in ischemic
      stroke patients and controls. Levels of both mRNA and protein in ischemic stroke
      patients were significantly lower than in controls (P < 0.05). The C allele of
      the 30028T/C polymorphism significantly increased the risk of ischemic stroke (OR
      = 1.512, 95 % CI = 1.219-1.875). The CT and CC/CT genotypes of 30028T/C were
      observed significantly more frequently in ischemic stroke patients than in
      controls (CT: OR = 1.916, 95 % CI = 1.446-2.539; CC/CT: OR = 1.877, 95 % CI =
      1.427-2.468). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for age, gender, and
      smoking status. Additionally, XPF plasma protein levels were significantly
      decreased in the CC/CT genotype compared with the TT genotype (P = 0.025). These
      data indicate that XPF might play an important role in the pathophysiological
      process of ischemic stroke, and the 30028T/C polymorphism might be associated
      with ischemic stroke susceptibility in a Chinese Han population.

PMID- 26888739
TI  - Autoantigen-targeting microRNAs in Sjogren's syndrome.
AB  - MicroRNAs are short endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression in
      various physiological and pathological conditions. To characterize autoantigen
      targeting microRNAs in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), a systematic study was carried
      out, in which a candidate microRNA set was first identified by bioinformatics
      analysis and literature search. Then, their gene silencing activities were
      evaluated with fusion reporter gene and endogenous targets, leading to the
      identification of three microRNAs: TRIM21-targeting miR-1207-5p, TRIM21-targeting
      miR-4695-3p, and La autoantigen-targeting miR-299-5p. Compared to healthy
      controls, downregulation of miR-1207-5p and miR-4695-3p expression was further
      revealed in the minor salivary glands of primary SS (pSS) patients. This, on the
      one hand, characterized two autoantigen-targeting microRNAs in Sjogren's syndrome
      and, on the other hand, suggested that downregulation of miR-1207-5p and miR-4695
      3p expression may lead to increased TRIM21 levels in the minor salivary glands,
      which contributes to the development of Sjogren's syndrome. 

PMID- 26888740
TI  - Tolerance of exercise-induced pain at a fixed rating of perceived exertion
      predicts time trial cycling performance.
AB  - To compare the predictive capacity of experimental pain and exercised-induced
      pain (EIP) on exercise performance. Thirty-two recreationally active male (n =
      23) and female (n = 9) participants were recruited. Participants completed
      measures of pain tolerance by cold pressor test (CPT), pain pressure threshold
      via algometry (PPT), and EIP tolerance using an RPE clamp trial. A VO2max test
      provided traditional predictors of performance [VO2max , gas-exchange threshold
      (GET), peak power output (PPO)]. Finally, participants completed a 16.1-km
      cycling time trial (TT). No correlation was found between experimental pain
      measures (CPT, PPT) and TT performance. However, there was a significant
      correlation between EIP tolerance and TT performance (R = -0.83, P < 0.01).
      Regression analysis for pain and physiological predictor variables (mean pain in
      CPT, PPT, EIP tolerance, VO2max , PPO, GET) revealed that a significant model (P
      < 0.01) emerged when only PPO (Adjusted R2  = 0.739) and EIP tolerance (DeltaR2 
      = 0.075) were used to predict TT performance. These findings suggest that EIP
      tolerance is an important factor in endurance performance. However, PPT and CPT
      have limited ability to assess this relationship, and so their use in EIP
      research should be treated with caution.

PMID- 26888741
TI  - Hog1p activation by marasmic acid through inhibition of the histidine kinase
      Sln1p.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The histidine kinase (HK) MoHik1p within the high-osmolarity glycerol
      (HOG) pathway is known to be the target of the fungicide fludioxonil. Treatment
      of the fungus with fludioxonil causes an uncontrolled hyperactivation of the
      pathway and cell death. In this study, we used a target-based in vivo test system
      with mutant strains of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae to search for new
      fungicidal compounds having various target locations within the HOG pathway.
      Mutants with inactivated HOG signalling are resistant to fungicides having the
      target located in the HOG pathway. RESULTS: The HK MoSln1p was identified as
      being involved in the new antifungal mode of action of marasmic acid, as single
      inactivation of the genes MoSLN1, MoSSK1, MoSSK2, MoPBS2 and MoHOG1 resulted in
      mutant strains resistant against the sesquiterpenoid, whereas the wild-type
      strain and the DeltaMohik1 mutant were susceptible. Western blot analysis of
      phosphorylated MoHog1p confirmed the hypothesis that marasmic acid interferes
      with the HOG pathway, as a strong phosphorylation of MoHog1p was detectable after
      sesquiterpenoid treatment in the wild-type strain but not in the DeltaMosln1
      mutant. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for marasmic acid activating the
      HOG pathway via the HK MoSln1p, and we propose that the sesquiterpenoid has a new
      mode of action in M. oryzae that differs from that of known HOG inhibitors, e.g.
      fludioxonil. (c) 2016 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John
      Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID- 26888742
TI  - Lung transplantation for diffuse panbronchiolitis: 5 cases from a single centre.
AB  - Diffuse panbronchiolitis is a rare complex genetic disease predominantly
      affecting East Asians, and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the
      respiratory bronchioles and sinobronchial infection. Although long-term macrolide
      therapy has been shown to significantly improve the survival in patients with
      diffuse panbronchiolitis, some patients continue to deteriorate, eventually
      requiring lung transplantation. However, lung transplantation for diffuse
      panbronchiolitis has rarely been reported and the outcome in these patients
      remains unknown. We describe our experience of lung transplantation for diffuse
      panbronchiolitis. A total of 5 patients received long-term macrolide therapy and
      had airway colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa preoperatively. Three patients
      had undergone sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis before the
      transplantation. Bilateral cadaveric lung transplantation was performed in 4
      patients, and living-donor lung transplantation in 1. After the lung
      transplantation, 1 patient developed an A3 acute rejection episode; however, none
      of the recipients developed severe pneumonia or any fatal infections. One
      recipient developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction 3 years after the
      transplantation; however, none developed recurrence of diffuse panbronchiolitis.
      All of the 5 patients were still surviving after a median follow-up period of 4.9
      years (3.7-12.3 years). Lung transplantation is a viable option for the treatment
      of progressive diffuse panbronchiolitis resistant to long-term macrolide therapy.

PMID- 26888743
TI  - Long-term total cardiac support in a Fontan-type circulation with HeartMate II
      left ventricular assist device.
AB  - Interest in utilizing long-term mechanical circulatory support for Fontan-type
      circulation has been high. Unfortunately, so far such attempts have not been
      successful. Herein, we are presenting the first case of an individual with
      biventricular heart failure and Fontan-type circulation on long-term mechanical
      circulatory support with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device.

PMID- 26888744
TI  - Is off-pump technique a safer procedure for coronary revascularization? A
      propensity score analysis of 20 years of experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe our experience in coronary artery bypass grafting
      (CABG) with or without cardiopulmonary bypass by comparing intraoperative and
      postoperative outcomes. METHODS: From January 1993 to June 2013, 3097 patients
      underwent consecutive emergency and scheduled CABG surgery. A total of 1770
      patients underwent on-pump CABG (ONCABG) and 1327 off-pump CABG (OPCABG). A
      propensity score matching was performed to identify appropriate matched-pair
      patients; univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were
      performed to assess significant predictors of hospital and 30-day morbidity and
      mortality composite end-points. Morbidity composite end-point was defined as any
      renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular and neurological complication that occurred
      during hospital stay. We collected all-cause mortality data during the study
      period. RESULTS: We identified 1004 patients in each group. There were no
      significant differences in thirty day mortality, 2.8 vs 3.8%, in OPCABG and
      ONCABG, respectively (P = 0.21). Cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory and
      renal complications were more frequent in the ONCABG group: 13.9 vs 8.7% (P <
      0.001), 3.9 vs 2.2% (P = 0.03), 13.5 vs 7.5% (P < 0.001), 7.1 vs 5.3% (P =
      0.095), respectively. The long-term all-cause mortality rate was 12.3 vs 12.9% in
      the OPCABG versus ONCABG group (P = 0.42), respectively. In both uni- and
      multivariable analysis preoperative renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease and ONCABG were independent predictors of mortality and morbidity
      composite end-points. CONCLUSIONS: OPCABG is associated with less postoperative
      morbimortality and shorter hospital and intensive care unit length of stay.
      ONCABG resulted as an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality composite
      end-point. No statistically significant differences were observed in long-term
      all-cause mortality between groups.

PMID- 26888745
TI  - Extraction and coordination studies of a carbonyl-phosphine oxide scorpionate
      ligand with uranyl and lanthanide(III) nitrates: structural, spectroscopic and
      DFT characterization of the complexes.
AB  - Hybrid scorpionate ligand (OPPh2)2CHCH2C(O)Me (L) was synthesized and
      characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. The selected
      coordination chemistry of L with UO2(NO3)2 and Ln(NO3)3 (Ln = La, Nd, Lu) has
      been evaluated. The isolated mono- and binuclear complexes, namely, [UO2(NO3)2L]
      (1), [{UO2(NO3)L}2(MU2-O2)].EtOH (2), [La(NO3)3L2].2.33MeCN (3),
      [Nd(NO3)3L2].3MeCN (4), [Nd(NO3)2L2]+.(NO3)-.EtOH (5) and [Lu(NO3)3L2] (6) have
      been characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X
      ray structures have been determined for complexes 1-5. Intramolecular intraligand
      pi-stacking interactions between two phenyl fragments of the coordinated
      ligand(s) were observed in all complexes 1-5. The pi-stacking interaction energy
      was estimated from Bader's AIM theory calculations performed at the DFT level.
      Solution properties have been examined using IR and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C,
      and (31)P) NMR spectroscopy in CD3CN and CDCl3. Coordination modes of L vary with
      the coordination polyhedron of the metal and solvent nature showing many
      coordination modes: P(O),P(O), P(O),P(O),C(O), P(O),C(O), and P(O). Preliminary
      extraction studies of U(VI) and Ln(III) (Ln = La, Nd, Ho, Yb) from 3.75 M HNO3
      into CHCl3 show that scorpionate L extracts f-block elements (especially uranium)
      better than its unmodified prototype (OPPh2)2CH2.

PMID- 26888747
TI  - Three Authors Reply.

PMID- 26888748
TI  - Prediction and Prevention of Autoimmune Disease in the 21st Century: A Review and
      Preview.
AB  - Autoimmune diseases represent a family of at least 80 illnesses that share a
      common pathogenesis: an immune-mediated attack on the body's own organs.
      Collectively, autoimmune diseases affect some 20 million Americans, predominantly
      women. Many of these diseases are increasing in frequency in industrialized
      countries. Treatment of autoimmune diseases improved greatly during the second
      half of the 20th century but has been hampered because the diseases often
      progress before a clinical diagnosis is possible. Research in the 21st century is
      focusing on prospective prediction using the tools of systems biology. 

PMID- 26888749
TI  - Re: "Estimating Causal Associations of Fine Particles With Daily Deaths in
      Boston".

PMID- 26888750
TI  - Editorial: In Celebration of the Centennial of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
      of Public Health.

PMID- 26888751
TI  - Cultivating Hygiene as a Science: The Welch-Rose Report's Influence at Johns
      Hopkins and Beyond.
AB  - In 1915, William Henry Welch and Wickliffe Rose submitted a report to the
      Rockefeller Foundation that became the template for public health professional
      education in the United States and abroad. Based on the Welch-Rose Report's
      recommendations, the Foundation awarded a grant to Johns Hopkins University in
      1916 to establish the first independent graduate school of public health, with
      Welch serving as the founding dean. The Welch-Rose Report and, by extension, the
      Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health established and transmitted a
      new model of scientific training that wove the laboratory mindset together with
      the methods of public health administration and epidemiologic fieldwork. During
      the School's first quarter-century, faculty and alumni were remarkably active in
      frontline public health problem-solving, as well as launching public health
      agencies and schools of all types and sizes. The most lasting contribution of the
      Welch-Rose Report and the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, now
      the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has been to "cultivate the
      science of hygiene" to bring about exponential growth in the evidence base for
      public health. The schools that have adopted the Johns Hopkins model of public
      health education worldwide have produced professionals who have worked to achieve
      wide-ranging reforms dedicated to preserving life, protecting health, and
      preventing injury across populations and continents. 

PMID- 26888752
TI  - Re: "Estimating Causal Associations of Fine Particles With Daily Deaths in
      Boston".

PMID- 26888746
TI  - Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphates-at the interface between cell signalling and
      membrane traffic.
AB  - Phosphoinositides (PIs) form a minor class of phospholipids with crucial
      functions in cell physiology, ranging from cell signalling and motility to a role
      as signposts of compartmental membrane identity. Phosphatidylinositol 3
      phosphates are present at the plasma membrane and within the endolysosomal
      system, where they serve as key regulators of both cell signalling and of
      intracellular membrane traffic. Here, we provide an overview of the metabolic
      pathways that regulate cellular synthesis of PI 3-phosphates at distinct
      intracellular sites and discuss the mechanisms by which these lipids regulate
      cell signalling and membrane traffic. Finally, we provide a framework for how PI
      3-phosphate metabolism is integrated into the cellular network. 

PMID- 26888753
TI  - Hierarchical Distributed-Lag Models: Exploring Varying Geographic Scale and
      Magnitude in Associations Between the Built Environment and Health.
AB  - It is well known that associations between features of the built environment and
      health depend on the geographic scale used to construct environmental attributes.
      In the built environment literature, it has long been argued that geographic
      scales may vary across study locations. However, this hypothesized variation has
      not been systematically examined due to a lack of available statistical methods.
      We propose a hierarchical distributed-lag model (HDLM) for estimating the
      underlying overall shape of food environment-health associations as a function of
      distance from locations of interest. This method enables indirect assessment of
      relevant geographic scales and captures area-level heterogeneity in the
      magnitudes of associations, along with relevant distances within areas. The
      proposed model was used to systematically examine area-level variation in the
      association between availability of convenience stores around schools and
      children's weights. For this case study, body mass index (weight kg)/height (m)2)
      z scores (BMIz) for 7th grade children collected via California's 2001-2009
      FitnessGram testing program were linked to a commercial database that contained
      locations of food outlets statewide. Findings suggested that convenience store
      availability may influence BMIz only in some places and at varying distances from
      schools. Future research should examine localized environmental or policy
      differences that may explain the heterogeneity in convenience store-BMIz
      associations.

PMID- 26888754
TI  - Phantom model and scoring system to assess ability in ultrasound-guided chest
      drain positioning.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chest tube positioning is an invasive procedure associated with
      potentially serious injuries. In the last few years, we have been running a
      project directed at developing a practical simulator of a surgical procedure
      taught on our medical training program. The phantom model reconstructs the
      pleural anatomy, visible by lung ultrasound, used for the assessed performance of
      the Seldinger technique. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      validity of this simulation technology for assessing residents in anesthesia and
      intensive care medicine; specifically, their skill in positioning a US-guided
      chest tube drain was tested using the simulator device. The second aim of the
      paper was to evaluate the learning curve of our residents over their 5-year study
      course and validate the phantom scoring system. METHODS: This was a prospective,
      single-blinded observational study. Participants were recruited from residents in
      anesthesia and intensive care medicine and divided into two groups: 'Novice' and
      'Expert,' based on the course year attended (years 1, 2, and 3 vs. years 4 and 5,
      respectively). We asked them to position a chest tube drain in a phantom model,
      guided by ultrasound, to drain a simulated pleural effusion. Each subject
      performed two tests that simulated pleural effusions of 4 and 2 cm, respectively.
      Every step of the maneuver was constantly monitored and the performance scored by
      the investigators. We then performed a Spearman correlation analysis to evaluate
      the effect of experience level on the performance of the two groups of residents.
      RESULTS: Thirty-one residents were included in this study: 20 in the Novice group
      and 11 in the Expert group. The mean performance rating score was 0.75 +/- 4.38
      for the Novice Group and 5.91 +/- 3.75 for the Expert group (p = 0.0026). The
      Spearman correlation analysis examining the relationship between year of
      residency and performance rating score confirmed a positive correlation (r =
      0.58, p = 0.0006). Post-test trend analysis revealed a statistically significant
      linear trend for skill growth across time, i.e., course year (p = 0.0022).
      CONCLUSIONS: Our simulated procedure using a phantom model of lung anatomy can
      accurately and reliably be used to assess the skill levels of operators in their
      ability to drain pleural effusion.

PMID- 26888756
TI  - Acute knockdown of the insulin receptor or its substrates Irs1 and 2 in 3T3-L1
      adipocytes suppresses adiponectin production.
AB  - Loss of function of the insulin receptor (INSR) in humans produces severe insulin
      resistance. Unlike "common" insulin resistance, this is associated with elevated
      plasma levels of the insulin-sensitising, adipose-derived protein adiponectin.
      The underlying mechanism for this paradox is unclear, and it is at odds with the
      acute stimulation of adiponectin secretion reported on insulin treatment of
      cultured adipocytes. Given recent evidence for ligand-independent actions of the
      INSR, we used a lentiviral system to knock down Insr or its substrates Irs1 and
      Irs2 conditionally in 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes/adipocytes to assess whether
      acute loss of their expression has different consequences to withdrawal of
      insulin. Efficient knockdown of either Insr or Irs1/2 was achieved by conditional
      shRNA expression, severely attenuating insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation and
      glucose uptake. Dual knockdown of Irs1 and Irs2 but not Insr in preadipocytes
      impaired differentiation to adipocytes. Acute knockdown of Insr or both Irs1 and
      Irs2 in adipocytes increased Adipoq mRNA expression but reduced adiponectin
      secretion, assessed by immunoassay. Knockdown sustained for 14 days also reduced
      immunoassay-detected adiponectin secretion, and moreover induced delipidation of
      the cells. These findings argue against a distinct effect of Insr deficiency to
      promote adiponectin secretion as the explanation for paradoxical insulin
      receptoropathy-related hyperadiponectinaemia. 

PMID- 26888758
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26888755
TI  - Expansins: roles in plant growth and potential applications in crop improvement.
AB  - KEY MESSAGE: Results from various expansin related studies have demonstrated that
      expansins present an opportunity to improve various crops in many different
      aspects ranging from yield and fruit ripening to improved stress tolerance. The
      recent advances in expansin studies were reviewed. Besides producing the strength
      that is needed by the plants, cell walls define cell shape, cell size and cell
      function. Expansins are cell wall proteins which consist of four sub families;
      alpha-expansin, beta-expansin, expansin-like A and expansin-like B. These
      proteins mediate cell wall loosening and they are present in all plants and in
      some microbial organisms and other organisms like snails. Decades after their
      initial discovery in cucumber, it is now clear that these small proteins have
      diverse biological roles in plants. Through their ability to enable the local
      sliding of wall polymers by reducing adhesion between adjacent wall
      polysaccharides and the part they play in cell wall remodeling after cytokinesis,
      it is now clear that expansins are required in almost all plant physiological
      development aspects from germination to fruiting. This is shown by the various
      reports from different studies using various molecular biology approaches such as
      gene achieve these many roles through their non-enzymatic wall loosening ability.
      This paper reviews and summarizes some of the reported functions of expansins and
      outlines the potential uses of expansins in crop improvement programs.

PMID- 26888757
TI  - Low Vision Rehabilitation, Age-Related Vision Loss, and Risk: A Critical
      Interpretive Synthesis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Given the centrality of risk in geriatric rehabilitation, it is
      critically important to attend to how conceptualizations of risk shape research,
      policies, and rehabilitation practices. This paper presents a critical
      interpretive synthesis (CIS) of literature addressing risk and low vision
      rehabilitation for older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) to identify
      key guiding assumptions regarding risk and discuss implications for what gets
      attended to, and not attended to, within research and rehabilitation. DESIGN AND
      METHODS: This CIS combined guidelines proposed by Dixon-Woods and colleagues
      (2006-Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to
      healthcare by vulnerable groups. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 6, 35) and
      Alvesson and Sandberg (2011-Generating research questions through
      problematization. Academy of Management Review, 36, 247-271; 2013-Constructing
      research questions: Doing interesting research. London: Sage). The iterative
      review process involved 3 steps: literature search and selection, data
      extraction, and syntheses to identify boundary assumptions. The dataset included
      83 research and practice description articles. RESULTS: Older adults with ARVL
      were constructed as "at risk" for various adverse outcomes, particularly
      dependency and self-harm, and as posing risks to others. An epidemiological
      approach to risk based in assumptions aligned with a technico-scientific
      perspective was dominant, with risk conceptualized as an embodied, individual
      level phenomenon that is to be determined and managed through objective screening
      and expert monitoring. IMPLICATIONS: Key concerns include a lack of: attention to
      the tensions created when rehabilitation research and practice attempt to promote
      independence while simultaneously reducing risk, incorporation of aging adults'
      perspectives on risk, and analysis of environmental factors that shape risks.
      Research that starts by valuing older adults' experiences and attends to context
      can inform rehabilitation practices that support health-promoting, risk-taking,
      and facilitate collaborative approaches to risk management.

PMID- 26888760
TI  - Erratum to: Novel Report of Phosphoserine Phosphatase Deficiency in an Adult with
      Myeloneuropathy and Limb Contractures.

PMID- 26888759
TI  - The extended Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT Extend)
      Program: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of an early intervention to
      prevent childhood obesity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding how we can prevent childhood obesity in scalable and
      sustainable ways is imperative. Early RCT interventions focused on the first two
      years of life have shown promise however, differences in Body Mass Index between
      intervention and control groups diminish once the interventions cease. Innovative
      and cost-effective strategies seeking to continue to support parents to engender
      appropriate energy balance behaviours in young children need to be explored.
      METHODS/DESIGN: The Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Extend
      Program builds on the early outcomes of the Melbourne InFANT Program. This
      cluster randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of an extended (33
      versus 15 month) and enhanced (use of web-based materials, and Facebook(r)
      engagement), version of the original Melbourne InFANT Program intervention in a
      new cohort. Outcomes at 36 months of age will be compared against the control
      group. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide important information regarding
      capacity and opportunities to maximize early childhood intervention effectiveness
      over the first three years of life. This study continues to build the evidence
      base regarding the design of cost-effective, scalable interventions to promote
      protective energy balance behaviors in early childhood, and in turn, promote
      improved child weight and health across the life course. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ACTRN12611000386932. Registered 13 April 2011.

PMID- 26888761
TI  - Preprocessing strategy influences graph-based exploration of altered functional
      networks in major depression.
AB  - Resting-state fMRI studies have gained widespread use in exploratory studies of
      neuropsychiatric disorders. Graph metrics derived from whole brain functional
      connectivity studies have been used to reveal disease-related variations in many
      neuropsychiatric disorders including major depression (MDD). These techniques
      show promise in developing diagnostics for these often difficult to identify
      disorders. However, the analysis of resting-state datasets is increasingly beset
      by a myriad of approaches and methods, each with underlying assumptions. Choosing
      the most appropriate preprocessing parameters a priori is difficult.
      Nevertheless, the specific methodological choice influences graph-theoretical
      network topologies as well as regional metrics. The aim of this study was to
      systematically compare different preprocessing strategies by evaluating their
      influence on group differences between healthy participants (HC) and depressive
      patients. We thus investigated the effects of common preprocessing variants,
      including global mean-signal regression (GMR), temporal filtering, detrending,
      and network sparsity on group differences between brain networks of HC and MDD
      patients measured by global and nodal graph theoretical metrics. Occurrence of
      group differences in global metrics was absent in the majority of tested
      preprocessing variants, but in local graph metrics it is sparse, variable, and
      highly dependent on the combination of preprocessing variant and sparsity
      threshold. Sparsity thresholds between 16 and 22% were shown to have the greatest
      potential to reveal differences between HC and MDD patients in global and local
      network metrics. Our study offers an overview of consequences of methodological
      decisions and which neurobiological characteristics of MDD they implicate, adding
      further caution to this rapidly growing field.

PMID- 26888762
TI  - Multiparametric MRI of the anterior prostate gland: clinical-radiological
      histopathological correlation.
AB  - Anterior prostate cancer (APC) is defined as a tumour in which more than half of
      malignant tissue is located anterior to the urethra. APCs are increasingly
      recognized as clinically important, particularly in patients undergoing active
      surveillance and for patients with negative non-targeted systematic transrectal
      ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies but with persistent clinical suspicion of
      cancer. Multiparametric (mp) MRI has a crucial role for the diagnosis of anterior
      tumours, eventual histological sampling of suspicious lesions using image-guided
      targeted biopsy techniques, and potentially, to improve local staging of disease.
      mpMRI is accurate for the detection of APC and for differentiation of tumour from
      other anterior prostatic structures including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
      and the anterior fibromuscular stroma (AFMS). Characterization and reporting of
      APC should rely on the recently revised Prostate Imaging and Data Reporting
      System (PI-RADS) version 2.0 document. T2-weighted (T2W) imaging is emphasized as
      the determining sequence for assessment of the anterior prostate and specific
      features for APC on T2W imaging include: ill-defined/spiculated margin,
      lenticular shape, anterior/inferior location, and growth pattern (invasion of
      urethra or AFMS and crossing midline). Functional imaging, mainly with diffusion
      weighted imaging, is also contributory and improves the sensitivity for detection
      of APC compared to T2W imaging alone. APCs commonly show positive surgical
      margins after radical prostatectomy and staging of disease extent using
      conventional clinical parameters is limited. mpMRI may have a future role to
      improve local staging of APC. This review illustrates the importance of mpMRI in
      APC using a clinical-radiological-histopathological approach. 

PMID- 26888764
TI  - The recognition of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns is improved by knowledge of
      fetal pH.

PMID- 26888763
TI  - The negative effect of starvation and the positive effect of mild thermal stress
      on thermal tolerance of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.
AB  - The thermal tolerance of a terrestrial insect species can vary as a result of
      differences in population origin, developmental stage, age, and sex, as well as
      via phenotypic plasticity induced in response to changes in the abiotic
      environment. Here, we studied the effects of both starvation and mild cold and
      heat shocks on the thermal tolerance of the red flour beetle, Tribolium
      castaneum. Starvation led to impaired cold tolerance, measured as chill coma
      recovery time, and this effect, which was stronger in males than females,
      persisted for longer than 2 days but less than 7 days. Heat tolerance, measured
      as heat knockdown time, was not affected by starvation. Our results highlight the
      difficulty faced by insects when encountering multiple stressors simultaneously
      and indicate physiological trade-offs. Both mild cold and heat shocks led to
      improved heat tolerance in both sexes. It could be that both mild shocks lead to
      the expression of heat shock proteins, enhancing heat tolerance in the short run.
      Cold tolerance was not affected by previous mild cold shock, suggesting that such
      a cold shock, as a single event, causes little stress and hence elicits only weak
      physiological reaction. However, previous mild heat stress led to improved cold
      tolerance but only in males. Our results point to both hardening and cross
      tolerance between cold and heat shocks. 

PMID- 26888765
TI  - Prediction of First Cardiovascular Disease Event in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The
      Steno Type 1 Risk Engine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of
      developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but they are currently undertreated.
      There are no risk scores used on a regular basis in clinical practice for
      assessing the risk of CVD in type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS: From
      4306 clinically diagnosed adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, we
      developed a prediction model for estimating the risk of first fatal or nonfatal
      CVD event (ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, heart failure, and peripheral
      artery disease). Detailed clinical data including lifestyle factors were linked
      to event data from validated national registers. The risk prediction model was
      developed by using a 2-stage approach. First, a nonparametric, data-driven
      approach was used to identify potentially informative risk factors and
      interactions (random forest and survival tree analysis). Second, based on results
      from the first step, Poisson regression analysis was used to derive the final
      model. The final CVD prediction model was externally validated in a different
      population of 2119 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. During a median follow
      up of 6.8 years (interquartile range, 2.9-10.9) a total of 793 (18.4%) patients
      developed CVD. The final prediction model included age, sex, diabetes duration,
      systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c,
      albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, smoking, and exercise. Discrimination
      was excellent for a 5-year CVD event with a C-statistic of 0.826 (95% confidence
      interval, 0.807-0.845) in the derivation data and a C-statistic of 0.803 (95%
      confidence interval, 0.767-0.839) in the validation data. The Hosmer-Lemeshow
      test showed good calibration (P>0.05) in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This high
      performing CVD risk model allows for the implementation of decision rules in a
      clinical setting.

PMID- 26888766
TI  - The Prediction of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Type 1 Diabetes
      Mellitus: Do We Just Stop Here?

PMID- 26888768
TI  - Lactobacillus acidophilus Restores Functionality in Uremic Macrophages: Plausible
      or Lacking Evidence?

PMID- 26888770
TI  - Gaining an accurate reflection of the reality of palliative care through the use
      of free-text feedback in questionnaires: the AFTER study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In healthcare, many service evaluation questionnaires use free-text
      boxes without formal mechanisms for analysis. Patients and carers spend time
      documenting concerns that are often ignored or managed locally in an ad hoc
      manner. Currently, palliative care experiences of patients and carers in Wales
      are measured using a service evaluation questionnaire, comprising both closed and
      open-ended questions. Previous research, exploring free-text responses from this
      questionnaire, suggests that questionnaire refinement should accommodate service
      users' expressed priorities and concerns, and highlights the need to incorporate
      free-text data analysis strategies during study design. METHODS: Results from a
      previous analysis of 596 free-text responses provided the basis for an expert
      consensus day, where the current service evaluation questionnaire was refined.
      The refined version was tested during cognitive interviews with patients (n=10)
      and carers (n=7) receiving palliative care from 1 of 2 UK hospices. Data were
      analysed thematically. RESULTS: Interviews highlighted minor areas for change
      within the questionnaire and provided broader insight into patients' experiences
      of palliative care services. Patients and carers place an emphasis on simplifying
      language, decreasing the numeric response range and reducing written
      instructions; relying instead on visual cues, including formatting and layout.
      Findings highlighted the importance patients attached to providing meaningful
      free-text contributions. CONCLUSIONS: Questionnaire refinement should use the
      patient perspective to effectively facilitate respondent understanding,
      pertinence and usability. The importance of employing data analysis strategies
      during questionnaire design may reduce research waste, thus enabling a better
      interrogation of service provision.

PMID- 26888771
TI  - Charge-transfer interactions between TCNQ and silver clusters Ag20 and Ag13.
AB  - Interactions between tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and two typical silver
      clusters Ag13 and Ag20 are studied by first-principles DFT calculations. Charge
      transfer (CT) from silver clusters to TCNQ molecules initiates the Ag-N bond
      formation at selective sites resulting in the formation of different isomers of
      Ag13-TCNQ and Ag20-TCNQ complexes. We show here a comprehensive spectroscopic
      analysis for the two CT complexes on the basis of Raman and infrared activities.
      Furthermore, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and natural bond orbital (NBO)
      analysis of the complexes provides a vivid illustration of electron cloud overlap
      and interactions. The behavior of TCNQ adsorbed on the tetrahedral Ag20 cluster
      was even found in good agreement with the experimental measurement of TCNQ
      molecules on a single-crystal Ag(111) surface. This study not only endeavors to
      clarify the charge-transfer interactions of TCNQ with silver, but also presents a
      finding of enhanced charge transfer between Ag13 and TCNQ indicating potential
      for candidate building blocks of granular materials. 

PMID- 26888772
TI  - Health Education England threatens to cut trusts' funding for training if they
      don't impose junior doctor contract.

PMID- 26888767
TI  - Factors Associated with the Success of In Vitro Fertilization in Women with
      Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether certain factors are associated with the success
      of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
      AIM: This study assessed whether certain characteristics are associated with
      greater success of live birth following IVF. METHODS: In a cohort study of 8684
      women with IBD seen at two tertiary care centers, we identified 121 women with
      IBD who underwent IVF. We assessed the effect of numerous factors on likelihood
      of achieving live birth after IVF. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients with ulcerative
      colitis (UC) and 49 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were analyzed. Patients
      with UC who achieved a live birth were younger (p = 0.03), had a shorter duration
      of disease (p = 0.01), and were more likely to be in remission (p = 0.03) versus
      those who did not achieve live birth. Patients with CD who achieved live birth
      were younger (p < 0.001), had lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.02), and had
      lower cycle day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone levels (p = 0.02). There was no
      difference in likelihood of achieving live birth among patients in remission and
      those with mild or unknown disease status (p = 0.69), though most CD patients
      (79.5 %) were in remission. Prior surgery was not associated with live birth in
      patients with UC (p = 0.31) or CD (p = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: As in the general
      infertility population, younger patients and those with lower BMI were more
      likely to achieve live birth. History of surgery was not associated with live
      birth among IBD patients. This is important information for practitioners
      counseling IBD patients.

PMID- 26888773
TI  - Voting for change in Myanmar.

PMID- 26888769
TI  - Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis During Pregnancy.
AB  - There are currently limited data on the management of eosinophilic esophagitis
      (EoE) during pregnancy. At our center, however, we have followed several pregnant
      women with EoE and others have asked pertinent questions in pre-pregnancy
      counseling. The relatively young age of patients with EoE implies that many
      practitioners will also encounter patients with these questions. In this review,
      we use four cases to prompt a discussion about concerns focused on the safety of
      steroids and diet therapy during pregnancy and breast-feeding, potential
      nutritional risks with dietary elimination, how to optimize therapy, and whether
      endoscopic evaluation for monitoring of disease activity is safe during pregnancy
      and breast-feeding. An additional concern is whether the disease could progress
      during pregnancy and breast-feeding if no therapies are used. Although there are
      no studies specifically examining pregnant EoE patients, we have reviewed the
      literature relevant to this population as informed by the treatment of
      inflammatory bowel disease patients during pregnancy, where these issues have
      been studied in more depth. Providers who care for EoE patients who could become
      pregnant should familiarize themselves with these issues.

PMID- 26888774
TI  - Asymmetric optical properties of photocatalytically deposited plasmonic silver
      nanoparticles.
AB  - Ag nanoparticles deposited and grown photocatalytically for a sufficient period
      of time on a TiO2 thin film scatter blue light and reflect reddish light when the
      particles are irradiated directly (i.e. front incidence). On the other hand, they
      scatter reddish light and reflect blue light when the particles are irradiated
      through the TiO2 film (i.e. back incidence). The asymmetric optical behaviour is
      attributed to the asymmetric plasmon resonance, for which a sufficient height and
      a sufficient width at the top and the bottom of the Ag nanoparticles are
      important. 

PMID- 26888775
TI  - Differential Response of Human Hepatocyte Chromatin to HDAC Inhibitors as a
      Function of Microenvironmental Glucose Level.
AB  - Diabetes is a complex multifactorial disorder characterized by chronic
      hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin secretion. Recent observations suggest that
      the complexity of the disease cannot be entirely accounted for genetic
      predisposition and a compelling argument for an epigenetic component is rapidly
      emerging. The use of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) in clinical setting is
      an emerging area of investigation. In this study, we have aimed to understand and
      compare the response of hepatocyte chromatin to valproic acid (VPA) and
      trichostatin A (TSA) treatments under normoglycemic or hyperglycemic conditions
      to expand our knowledge about the consequences of HDACi treatment in a diabetes
      cell model. Under normoglycemic conditions, these treatments promoted chromatin
      remodeling, as assessed by image analysis and H3K9ac and H3K9me2 abundance.
      Simultaneously, H3K9ac marks shifted to the nuclear periphery accompanied by HP1
      dissociation from the heterochromatin and a G1 cell cycle arrest. More striking
      changes in the cell cycle progression and mitotic ratios required drastic
      treatment. Under hyperglycemic conditions, high glucose per se promoted chromatin
      changes similar to those promoted by VPA and TSA. Nonetheless, these results were
      not intensified in cells treated with HDACis under hyperglycemic conditions.
      Despite the absence of morphological changes being promoted, HDACi treatment
      seems to confer a physiological meaning, ameliorating the cellular hyperglycemic
      state through reduction of glucose production. These observations allow us to
      conclude that the glucose level to which the hepatocytes are subjected affects
      how chromatin responds to HDACi and their action under high-glucose environment
      might not reflect on chromatin remodeling. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2257-2265,
      2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26888776
TI  - RNAi-mediated plant protection against aphids.
AB  - Aphids (Aphididae) are major agricultural pests that cause significant yield
      losses of crop plants each year by inflicting damage both through the direct
      effects of feeding and by vectoring harmful plant viruses. Expression of double
      stranded RNA (dsRNA) directed against suitable insect target genes in transgenic
      plants has been shown to give protection against pests through plant-mediated RNA
      interference (RNAi). Thus, as a potential alternative and effective strategy for
      insect pest management in agricultural practice, plant-mediated RNAi for aphid
      control has received close attention in recent years. In this review, the
      mechanism of RNAi in insects and the so far explored effective RNAi target genes
      in aphids, their potential applications in the development of transgenic plants
      for aphid control and the major challenges in this regard are reviewed, and the
      future prospects of using plant-mediated RNAi for aphid control are discussed.
      This review is intended to be a helpful insight into the generation of aphid
      resistant plants through plant-mediated RNAi strategy. (c) 2016 Society of
      Chemical Industry. 

PMID- 26888777
TI  - Sympathomodulatory Effects of Antihypertensive Drug Treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An activation of sympathetic neural influences to the heart and
      peripheral circulation has been shown to represent a hallmark of the essential
      hypertensive state, adrenergic neural factors participating together with other
      variables at the development and progression of the high blood pressure state as
      well as of the hypertension-related target organ damage. This represents the
      rationale for employing in hypertension treatment drugs which combine the blood
      pressure-lowering properties with the modulatory effects on the sympathetic
      neural function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Several studies published during the past
      40 years have investigated the impact of antihypertensive drugs on the
      sympathetic target as assessed by indirect and direct approaches. In the present
      paper, the effects of different monotherapies or combination drug treatment used
      in hypertension to lower elevated blood pressure values on various adrenergic
      markers will be examined. This will be followed by a discussion of the (i)
      hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic consequences of employing antihypertensive drugs
      with sympathomodulatory or sympathoexcitatory properties and (ii) mechanisms
      potentially responsible for the adrenergic responses to a given antihypertensive
      drug. The final part of this review will address the questions still open related
      to the impact of antihypertensive drug treatment on sympathetic function. Two
      questions in particular will be examined, i.e., whether antihypertensive drugs
      with sympathomodulatory properties may be capable to fully restore a "normal"
      adrenergic drive and how far sympathetic activity should be reduced in
      hypertensive patients. CONCLUSION: Future investigations aimed at answering these
      questions will be needed in order to improve cardiovascular protection in treated
      hypertensive patients.

PMID- 26888778
TI  - Clinical Characteristics and Lifestyle Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of
      Chinese and South Asian Immigrants With Hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the
      United States. Chinese Americans and their counterparts in Chinese countries have
      been shown to have an elevated risk of stroke compared to non-Hispanic Whites,
      while South Asian Americans and their counterparts in South Asian countries have
      an elevated risk of heart disease. Exactly how cardiovascular disease morbidity
      varies by Asian subgroup, however, is not well understood. The purpose of this
      analysis was to identify differences in clinical presentation and lifestyle
      behaviors between Chinese and South Asian American immigrants vs. non-Hispanic
      Whites in a representative sample of adults with self-report of physician
      diagnosed hypertension. METHODS: Data on adults with self-reported hypertension
      were obtained from the New York City Community Health Survey 2009-2013 (Chinese:
      n = 555; South Asian: n = 144; non-Hispanic White: n = 5,987). RESULTS: Compared
      to non-Hispanic Whites with hypertension, foreign-born Chinese adults with
      hypertension were of a much lower socioeconomic profile and less likely to have
      private health insurance, and foreign-born Chinese and South Asian adults with
      hypertension had lower body mass index (BMI) values (25.3, 26.0 vs. 28.7kg/m(2);
      P < 0.001). South Asians were younger than non-Hispanic Whites (mean age: 49.5
      vs. 62.1 years; P < 0.001) and had poorer diet quality. BMI and diet quality
      results persisted in multivariable regression models. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from
      this study highlight important clinical distinctions in hypertensive Chinese and
      South Asian immigrant communities with respect to age and body size. Whether
      targeted and culturally appropriate approaches would reduce cardiovascular
      disease-related mortality in these groups needs further study.

PMID- 26888779
TI  - TB in healthcare workers in the UK: a cohort analysis 2009-2013.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe the burden of TB in healthcare workers (HCWs) in the UK
      and determine whether HCWs are at increased risk of TB due to occupational
      exposure. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of national UK TB surveillance
      and genotyping data between 2009 and 2013. The rate of TB in HCWs compared with
      non-HCWs to calculate incidence rate ratios stratified by country of birth.
      RESULTS: 2320 cases of TB in HCWs were notified in the study period, 85% were
      born abroad. The TB rate in HCWs was 23.4 (95% CI 22.5 to 24.4) per 100 000
      compared with 16.2 (95% CI 16.0 to 16.3) per 100 000 in non-HCWs. After
      stratifying by country of birth, there was not an increased TB incidence in HCWs
      for the majority of countries of birth, including in the UK-born. Using combined
      genotyping and epidemiological data, only 10 confirmed nosocomial transmission
      events involving HCWs were identified between 2010 and 2012. Of these, only two
      involved transmission to patients. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of an increased risk of
      TB after stratifying by country of birth, and the very few transmission events
      involving nosocomial transmission in the UK suggests that TB in HCWs in the UK is
      not generally acquired through UK occupational exposure. The majority of cases in
      foreign-born HCWs are likely to result from reactivation of latent TB infection
      (LTBI) acquired abroad, and is not likely to be prevented by BCG vaccination in
      the UK. Testing and treatment of LTBI in HCWs with exposure to high TB burden
      countries should be the focus of occupational health prevention activities.

PMID- 26888780
TI  - Increasing burden of community-acquired pneumonia leading to hospitalisation,
      1998-2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of mortality and
      morbidity in many countries but few recent large-scale studies have examined
      trends in its incidence. METHODS: Incidence of CAP leading to hospitalisation in
      one UK region (Oxfordshire) was calculated over calendar time using routinely
      collected diagnostic codes, and modelled using piecewise-linear Poisson
      regression. Further models considered other related diagnoses, typical
      administrative outcomes, and blood and microbiology test results at admission to
      determine whether CAP trends could be explained by changes in case-mix, coding
      practices or admission procedures. RESULTS: CAP increased by 4.2%/year (95% CI
      3.6 to 4.8) from 1998 to 2008, and subsequently much faster at 8.8%/year (95% CI
      7.8 to 9.7) from 2009 to 2014. Pneumonia-related conditions also increased
      significantly over this period. Length of stay and 30-day mortality decreased
      slightly in later years, but the proportions with abnormal neutrophils, urea and
      C reactive protein (CRP) did not change (p>0.2). The proportion with severely
      abnormal CRP (>100 mg/L) decreased slightly in later years. Trends were similar
      in all age groups. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common causative
      organism found; however other organisms, particularly Enterobacteriaceae,
      increased in incidence over the study period (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      Hospitalisations for CAP have been increasing rapidly in Oxfordshire,
      particularly since 2008. There is little evidence that this is due only to
      changes in pneumonia coding, an ageing population or patients with substantially
      less severe disease being admitted more frequently. Healthcare planning to
      address potential further increases in admissions and consequent antibiotic
      prescribing should be a priority.

PMID- 26888781
TI  - Toll-like receptor 5 and 7 expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of major
      salivary glands.
AB  - Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands has a poor long-term
      prognosis and high metastatic rate. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been related
      to tumour progression but have also tumour growth-inhibiting responses. To the
      best of our knowledge, they have not been studied previously in ACC. We studied
      the immunoexpression of TLR 5 and 7 in ACC of the major salivary glands. From a
      cohort of 54 patients with ACC of the major salivary glands treated at the
      Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University
      Hospital, Helsinki, Finland in 1974-2009, there were 34 primary tumours and six
      metastases available for immunohistochemical analysis. Immunohistochemical
      expression of TLR 5 and 7 were correlated to clinicopathological findings and
      patient survival. Both TLR 5 and 7 were expressed in ACCs and their metastases,
      mostly on the cell membranes. The expression was heterogeneous in individual
      tumours. TLR 5 was expressed less in male samples, and TLR 7 had lower expression
      in ACCs with solid growth pattern. No correlation with survival was found. In the
      normal salivary gland, the TLR 5 and 7 expression was mainly negative. Both TLR 5
      and 7 are expressed in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma on the cell membranes as
      well as in cytoplasm. 

PMID- 26888783
TI  - Malnutrition in rectal cancer patients receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy
      is common and associated with treatment tolerability and anastomotic leakage.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study assessed the incidence of malnutrition caused by preoperative
      chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer patients, which is seemingly
      underestimated; however, malnutrition affects treatment tolerability,
      postoperative complications, including anastomotic leakage (AL), and oncological
      outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2014, 54 consecutive
      patients with T3-4, N0-2, M0-1 resectable rectal cancer received CRT comprising
      45 Gy radiotherapy and S-1 alone or with irinotecan for 5 weeks and then
      underwent curative surgery with diverting or permanent stomas 6-8 weeks after
      CRT. We assessed malnutrition after completion of CRT (5-6 weeks after CRT start
      date) and at surgery (11-14 weeks after CRT start date), defining weight loss as
      >=5 % of pre-CRT weight; this definition differs from commonly used criteria for
      adverse events. We evaluated the incidence of malnutrition associated with CRT
      and influence of malnutrition on treatment tolerability, AL, and disease-free
      survival (DFS). We also assessed the influence of CRT on the rate of
      postoperative complications by comparing the study group with 61 patients who had
      undergone excision with diverting or permanent stomas alone. RESULTS:
      Malnutrition was observed in 51 % of patients after CRT and in 29 % at surgery.
      Malnutrition after CRT was associated with treatment tolerability, and
      malnutrition at surgery was significantly associated with AL, which significantly
      influenced DFS in stage 1-3 patients. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition caused by CRT is
      common and is associated with treatment tolerability and AL. Nutritional
      assessment and support seem indispensable for the rectal cancer patients
      receiving CRT.

PMID- 26888782
TI  - Low temperature plasmas as emerging cancer therapeutics: the state of play and
      thoughts for the future.
AB  - The field of plasma medicine has seen substantial advances over the last decade,
      with applications developed for bacterial sterilisation, wound healing and cancer
      treatment. Low temperature plasmas (LTPs) are particularly suited for medical
      purposes since they are operated in the laboratory at atmospheric pressure and
      room temperature, providing a rich source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
      (RONS). A great deal of research has been conducted into the role of reactive
      species in both the growth and treatment of cancer, where long-established radio-
      and chemo-therapies exploit their ability to induce potent cytopathic effects. In
      addition to producing a plethora of RONS, LTPs can also create strong
      electroporative fields. From an application perspective, it has been shown that
      LTPs can be applied precisely to a small target area. On this basis, LTPs have
      been proposed as a promising future strategy to accurately and effectively
      control and eradicate tumours. This review aims to evaluate the current state of
      the literature in the field of plasma oncology and highlight the potential for
      the use of LTPs in combination therapy. We also present novel data on the effect
      of LTPs on cancer stem cells, and speculatively outline how LTPs could circumvent
      treatment resistance encountered with existing therapeutics. 

PMID- 26888784
TI  - Docking and molecular dynamics simulations of the ternary complex nisin2:lipid
      II.
AB  - Lanthionine antibiotics are an important class of naturally-occurring
      antimicrobial peptides. The best-known, nisin, is a commercial food preservative.
      However, structural and mechanistic details on nisin-lipid II membrane complexes
      are currently lacking. Recently, we have developed empirical force-field
      parameters to model lantibiotics. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations
      have been used to study the nisin2:lipid II complex in bacterial membranes, which
      has been put forward as the building block of nisin/lipid II binary membrane
      pores. An Ile1Trp mutation of the N-terminus of nisin has been modelled and
      docked onto lipid II models; the computed binding affinity increased compared to
      wild-type. Wild-type nisin was also docked onto three different lipid II
      structures and a stable 2:1 nisin:lipid II complex formed. This complex was
      inserted into a membrane. Six independent MD simulations revealed key
      interactions in the complex, specifically the N-terminal engagement of nisin with
      lipid II at the pyrophosphate and C-terminus of the pentapeptide chain. Nisin(2)
      inserts into the membrane and we propose this as the first step in pore
      formation, mediated by the nisin N-terminus-lipid II pentapeptide hydrogen bond.
      The lipid II undecaprenyl chain adopted different conformations in the presence
      of nisin, which may also have implications for pore formation. 

PMID- 26888785
TI  - A qualitative study of the barriers to procedural sedation practices in
      paediatric emergency medicine in the UK and Ireland.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is extensive literature on paediatric procedural sedation
      (PPS) and its clinical applications in emergency departments (EDs). While
      numerous guidance and policy documents exist from international bodies, there
      remains a lack of uniformity and consistency of PPS practices within EDs. PPS is
      now gaining traction in the UK and Ireland and this study aimed to describe
      existing PPS practices and identify any challenges to training and provision of
      ED-based PPS. METHODS: A qualitative approach was employed to capture data
      through a focus group interview. Nine consultants in emergency medicine (EM)
      participated, varying in years of experience, clinical settings (mixed adult and
      paediatric ED or paediatric only) and geographical location (UK and Ireland). The
      focus group was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Attride
      Stirling's framework for thematic network analysis. RESULTS: The global theme
      'The Future of PPS in EM-A UK and Ireland Perspective' emerged from the following
      three organising themes: (1) training and education of ED staff; (2) current
      realities of PPS in EDs and (3) PPS and the wider hospital community. The main
      findings were (1) there is variability in ED PPS practice throughout the UK and
      Ireland; (2) lack of formal PPS training for trainees is a barrier to its
      implementation as a standard treatment and (3) there is a lack of recognition of
      PPS at a College level as a specialised EM skill. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of
      PPS as a standard treatment option in the emergency setting will require
      implementation of robust training into general and paediatric EM training. This
      should be supported and enhanced through national and international collaboration
      in EM-led PPS research and audit.

PMID- 26888786
TI  - Their Hands Have Lost Their Bones: Exploring Cultural Scripts in Two West African
      Affect Lexica.
AB  - Previous research has indicated the importance of embodiment in West African
      emotion lexica. The current study aims to explore the pervasiveness of this
      cultural script through the analysis of the emotional lexica of two West African
      languages (Ga and Ewe) from Southern Ghana that have been featured minimally in
      previous emotion research. The analysis indicated that embodiment was an
      important cultural script in both affective lexica. However, interpersonal
      representations of emotions were also present. Further, emotion words in the two
      languages differed in the more specific loci of emotions.

PMID- 26888787
TI  - Clinical predictors of patient related delay in the VIENNA ST-elevation
      myocardial infarction network and impact on long-term mortality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While contributors to system delay in ST-elevation myocardial
      infarction (STEMI) are well described, predictors of patient-related delays are
      less clear. The aim of this study was to identify predictors that cause delayed
      diagnosis of STEMI in a metropolitan system of care (VIENNA STEMI network) and to
      investigate a possible association with long-term mortality. METHODS: The study
      population investigated consisted of 2366 patients treated for acute STEMI in the
      Vienna STEMI registry from 2003-2009. Multivariable regression modelling was
      performed for (a) onset of pain to first medical contact (FMC) as a categorical
      variable (pain-to-FMC?60 min versus >60 min: 'early presenters' versus 'late
      presenters'); and for (b) onset of pain-to-FMC (min) as a continuous variable.
      RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, female sex (odds ratio (OR) 1.348; 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.013-1.792; p=0.04) and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.355;
      95% CI 1.001-1.835; p=0.05) were independently associated with late presentation
      in STEMI patients, whereas cardiogenic shock (OR 0.582; 95% CI 0.368-0.921;
      p=0.021) was a predictor of early diagnosis. When onset of pain-to-FMC was
      treated as a continuous variable, female sex ( p=0.003), anterior infarction (
      p=0.004) and diabetes mellitus ( p=0.035) were independently associated with
      longer delay, while hyperlipidaemia ( p=0.002) and cardiogenic shock ( p=0.017)
      were strong predictors of short pain-to-FMC times. Three-year-all cause mortality
      was 9.6% and 11.3% ( p=0.289) for early and late presenters, respectively. After
      adjustment for clinical factors (sex, age, diabetes, current smoking,
      hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, cardiogenic shock and location of myocardial
      infarction) only a trend for increased risk of all-cause death was observed for
      longer pain-to-FMC times in a cox regression model (hazard ratio (HR) 1.012; 95%
      CI 0.999-1.025 for every 10 min of delay; p=0.061). Interestingly, early
      presentation within one hour of symptom onset was not associated with three-year
      mortality survival (HR 1.031; 95% CI 0.676-1.573; p=0.886). CONCLUSION: In this
      all-comers study of STEMI patients in the VIENNA STEMI network, cardiogenic shock
      was the strongest predictor of short patient-related delays, whereas a history of
      diabetes and female sex were independent associated with late diagnosis in STEMI.
      After adjustment for clinical confounders, patient related delay did not
      significantly impact on long-term all-cause mortality.

PMID- 26888788
TI  - Impact of triggering event in outcomes of stress-induced (Takotsubo)
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome is also known as stress cardiomyopathy because of
      the regularity with which it has been associated with physical or emotional
      stress. Such stress may well be a "trigger" of the syndrome. AIMS: This analysis
      was undertaken to describe our experience with this disorder and in particular to
      examine the effects of the underlying trigger on outcomes. METHODS: We conducted
      a retrospective review of the medical records of 345 consecutive patients treated
      at our institution from 2006 to 2014. All presented with acute cardiac symptoms,
      a characteristic left ventricular contraction pattern (typical, atypical), and no
      major obstructive coronary artery disease. Patients were grouped based on their
      triggering event: (a) medical illness; (b) post-operative period; (c) emotional
      distress; or (d) no identified trigger. Baseline demographic characteristics,
      death in hospital, length of stay in hospital, and cardiac complications were
      abstracted from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: The mean+/-SD age of the
      population was 72+/-12 years and 91% were women. No significant difference in
      baseline characteristics was noted between the groups except for a higher
      prevalence of African Americans in the group with a medical illness. ST elevation
      was noted in 13.3% of patients and the average peak troponin level was 5+/-12
      ng/dl. An inotropic drug was required in 49 (14.2%) patients, an intra-aortic
      balloon pump in 37 (10.7%) patients, and mechanical ventilation in 54 (15.7%)
      patients; 43.5% required treatment in the intensive care unit. Overall, 12 (3.5%)
      patients died. In only two (16.7%) patients was a there a direct cardiac cause of
      death. In those patients in whom the cardiac manifestations seemed to be
      triggered by a medical illness, the death rate was 7.1% and this was
      significantly higher than in the other groups ( p=0.03). Medical illness (odds
      ratio=6.25, p=0.02) and ST elevation (odds ratio=5.71, p=0.04) were both
      significantly associated with death. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that different
      triggers for Takotsubo syndrome confer different prognoses, with medical illness
      conferring the worst prognosis. Overall, the in-hospital death rate was low and
      mostly related to non-cardiac death secondary to the underlying medical illness.
      Although an unidentified trigger was prevalent in a third of this population,
      efforts should be made to identify the triggering event to classify the risk
      group of patients with Takotsubo syndrome.

PMID- 26888789
TI  - Vinay Prasad on the use of exaggerated language in cancer research, and how it
      can mislead doctors, patients, and the public.

PMID- 26888790
TI  - Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Emerging Insights and Clinical Implications.
AB  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a disorder characterized by lesions that include
      CD207+ dendritic cells along with an inflammatory infiltrate. Langerhans cell
      histiocytosis has a highly variable clinical presentation, ranging from a single
      lesion to potentially fatal disseminated disease. The uncertainty as to whether
      Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a reactive or a neoplastic disease has resulted
      in a long-standing debate on this question, and the limited understanding of the
      pathogenesis of the disease has impeded clinical improvement for patients. The
      current standard of care for multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis,
      empirically derived chemotherapy with vinblastine and prednisone, cures fewer
      than 50% of patients, and optimal therapies for relapse and neurodegenerative
      disease remain uncertain. Recent research advances support a model in which
      Langerhans cell histiocytosis arises due to pathologic activation of the mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in myeloid precursors. Redefinition of
      Langerhans cell histiocytosis as a myeloid neoplastic disorder driven by
      hyperactive ERK supports the potential of chemotherapy with efficacy against
      immature myeloid cells, as well as mutation-specific targeted therapy. 

PMID- 26888791
TI  - Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Enters the Genomics Age.

PMID- 26888792
TI  - The Immunocompromised Traveler.

PMID- 26888793
TI  - Checkpoint Inhibitors and Urothelial Carcinoma: The Translational Paradigm.

PMID- 26888794
TI  - The Evolving Biology of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Review of
      Recommendations From the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 3.
AB  - In 2008, the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 2 (PCWG2) developed
      consensus guidelines for clinical trial design and conduct that redefined trial
      endpoints, with a dual-objective paradigm: to (1) controlling, relieving, or
      eliminating disease manifestations at the start of treatment; and (2) preventing
      or delaying further disease manifestations. Clinical and translational research
      in prostate cancer has expanded our current-day understanding of the mechanisms
      of its pathogenesis, as well as the different clinicopathologic and molecular
      subtypes of the disease, and has improved the therapeutic armamentarium for the
      management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). These new
      advances led to the development of the updated PCWG3 guidelines in 2015. In this
      review, we analyze our evolving understanding of the biology of CRPC, acquired
      resistance mechanisms, and emerging therapeutic targets in light of the updated
      PCWG3 guidelines. We present a joint perspective from the medical oncology and
      urologic disciplines on the ongoing efforts to advance clinical trial performance
      in order to discover new therapies for this fatal disease. 

PMID- 26888795
TI  - Oslerian Genomics for Prostate Cancer Oncology.

PMID- 26888798
TI  - Shrinking meningioma.

PMID- 26888797
TI  - 'The worm that got away': parainfectious atypical optic neuritis associated with
      schistosomiasis infection.
AB  - Although optic neuritis is commonly associated with multiple sclerosis, patients
      with atypical optic neuritis require further investigations to exclude other
      associated conditions. We report a woman presenting with cough, fatigue, atypical
      optic neuritis with chiasmitis. She responded partially to corticosteroids and we
      subsequently found she had a ground-glass lung nodule. Follow-up CT scan of
      thorax at 12 months showed new parenchymal lung lesions that suggested
      schistosomiasis. Further questioning by a respiratory physician identified, in
      retrospect, a previous exposure history; serological testing confirmed
      schistosoma infection. She was treated with praziquantel and slowly improved
      clinically, with radiological improvement in the optic chiasm, regression of the
      parenchymal lung lesions but with the ground glass nodule unchanged. We diagnosed
      parainfectious optic neuritis associated with schistosomiasis, based upon
      exposure history, serological confirmation and radiological features, together
      with the response to treatment, and having excluded other causes of an atypical
      optic neuritis. 

PMID- 26888799
TI  - Junior doctors' contract: the key questions.

PMID- 26888796
TI  - Central Agonism of GPR120 Acutely Inhibits Food Intake and Food Reward and
      Chronically Suppresses Anxiety-Like Behavior in Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: GPR120 (FFAR4) is a G-protein coupled receptor implicated in the
      development of obesity and the antiinflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects
      of omega-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids. Increasing central omega-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acid levels has been shown to have both anorectic and
      anxiolytic actions. Despite the strong clinical interest in GPR120, its role in
      the brain is largely unknown, and thus we sought to determine the impact of
      central GPR120 pharmacological activation on energy balance, food reward, and
      anxiety-like behavior. METHODS: Male C57Bl/6 mice with intracerebroventricular
      cannulae received a single injection (0.1 or 1 uM) or continuous 2-week infusion
      (1 uM/d; mini-pump) of a GPR120 agonist or vehicle. Free-feeding intake, operant
      lever-pressing for palatable food, energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), and
      body weight were measured. GPR120 mRNA expression was measured in pertinent brain
      areas. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed in the elevated-plus maze and open
      field test. RESULTS: GPR120 agonist injections substantially reduced chow intake
      during 4 hours postinjection, suppressed the rewarding effects of high-fat/-sugar
      food, and blunted approach-avoidance behavior in the open field. Conversely,
      prolonged central GPR120 agonist infusions reduced anxiety-like behavior in the
      elevated-plus maze and open field, yet failed to affect free-feeding intake,
      energy expenditure, and body weight on a high-fat diet. CONCLUSION: Acute
      reductions in food intake and food reward suggest that GPR120 could mediate the
      effects of central omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to inhibit appetite. The
      anxiolytic effect elicited by GPR120 agonist infusions favors the testing of
      compounds that can enter the brain to activate GPR120 for the mitigation of
      anxiety.

PMID- 26888801
TI  - [Lipid-lowering guideline related new concepts].

PMID- 26888802
TI  - [Recommendation on non-invasive assessment of patients with suspect coronary
      artery disease].

PMID- 26888800
TI  - Effectiveness of platelet inhibition on major adverse cardiac events in non
      cardiac surgery after percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective cohort
      study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Platelet inhibition is mandatory therapy after percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI). Withdrawal of oral antiplatelet agents has been linked to
      increased incidence of postoperative adverse cardiac events in post-PCI patients
      having non-cardiac surgery (NCS). There is limited knowledge of temporal changes
      in platelet inhibition in this high-risk surgical population. We therefore
      performed a multicentre prospective cohort study evaluating perioperative
      platelet function and its association with postoperative major adverse cardiac
      events (MACE). METHODS: In 201 post-PCI patients having NCS, we assessed the
      association between platelet function and postoperative MACE. We performed
      perioperative platelet function testing using a platelet mapping assay (PMA).
      Troponin-I was measured every 8 h for 2 days, then daily until day 5. Myocardial
      infarction was assessed using the third universal definition. We used
      multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between platelet
      inhibition and MACE. RESULTS: Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 40
      patients within 30 days of surgery. Thirty-two of these events were non-ST
      elevation myocardial infarction, four ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and
      four exacerbation of congestive heart failure. We were unable to show an
      association between platelet inhibition and MACE. The PMA showed declining levels
      of platelet inhibition the longer the antiplatelet therapy was withheld before
      surgery. Logistic regression did not show an association between preoperative
      platelet function or the type of stent and MACE. We found an increased cardiac
      risk of MACE after surgery within 6 weeks of PCI. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of
      MACE in patients undergoing NCS after previous PCI is high in spite of adequate
      perioperative antiplatelet therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT 01707459
      (registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

PMID- 26888804
TI  - [Relationship between hyperhomocysteine and long-term outcome of coronary artery
      disease patients after drug-eluting stent implantation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia (H-Hcy) and
      long-term outcome of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after drug-eluting
      stent (DES) implantation in a single centre. METHODS: A total of 1 408
      consecutive patients implanted with DES in our department between March 2011 and
      January 2013 were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were stratified
      into H-Hcy (Hcy>=10 umol/L, n=798, 56.7%) and non-H-Hcy group (Hcy<10 umol/L,
      n=610, 43.3%). The clinical characteristics, coronary artery lesions, SYNTAX
      score and 1-year major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were
      compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with non-H-Hcy group, coronary
      artery stenosis was severer as shown by higher diseased arteries (2.11+/-0.87 vs.
      1.91+/-0.82, P<0.001), higher incidence of three diseased arteries (39.7% vs.
      29.5%, P<0.001) and higher SYNTAX score (36.99+/-29.66 vs. 27.39+/-22.70,
      P=0.001) in H-Hcy group. The 1-year incidence of MACCE was also higher in H-Hcy
      group compared with non-H-Hcy group(18.4% vs. 8.9%, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox
      analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (OR=1.530, 95%CI 1.142-2.050, P=0.004),
      age (OR=1.065, 95%CI 1.038-1.093; P<0.001), and Hcy (OR=1.019, 95%CI 1.005-1.033,
      P=0.009) are the independent predictors for 1-year MACCE. CONCLUSION: High Hcy
      level is correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis, and serves as
      an independent predictor of MACCE after stenting in CAD patients.

PMID- 26888803
TI  - [Association between very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and cholesterol
      absorption/synthesis markers in patients with moderate and high risk of coronary
      heart disease].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between very low density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (VLDL-C) and cholesterol absorption and synthesis markers in patients
      with moderate and high risk of coronary heart disease. METHODS: A total 363
      statin-naive patients with moderate and high risk of coronary heart disease were
      consecutively recruited from two hospitals in Shanxi and Henan provinces between
      October 2008 and June 2009. A standard questionnaire and physical examination
      were performed at baseline. Atorvastatin (20 mg/day) was administered to patients
      for 4 weeks. Venous blood samples after an overnight fast were collected before
      and after treatment for measuring VLDL-C and cholesterol absorption and synthesis
      markers. In qualitative analyses, the baseline level of cholesterol absorption
      and synthesis markers and their reduction after atorvastatin treatment were
      categorized into 3 tertile groups. RESULTS: (1) Of 363 patients, 283 patients
      with mean age of (55.43+/-9.01)years old with complete data were finally
      analyzed. The median level of baseline VLDL-C was 1.06 (0.65, 1.86) mmol/L. The
      median level of baseline cholesterol absorption marker (Campesterol) and
      cholesterol synthesis marker (Lathosterol) was 6.01 (3.78, 9.45) mg/L and 13.46
      (8.30, 21.07) mg/L, respectively. (2) Partial correlation analysis and multiple
      regression showed the baseline level of VLDL-C was positively correlated with
      Campesterol (r=0.153, P<0.05) but not with Lathosterol(r=0.182, P=0.173).
      Furthermore, baseline VLDL-C level significantly increased with tertile of the
      baseline level of Campesterol in the qualitative analyses(P for trend=0.035). (3)
      Mean reduction in VLDL-C levels was 38.0% after 4 weeks atorvastatin treatment.
      VLDL-C reduction was positively correlated with Campesterol reduction (r=0.331,
      P<0.001). VLDL-C reduction significantly increased with the tertile of
      Campesterol reduction (P for trend=0.032). But this trend was not observed
      between VLDL-C level and Lathosterol (P for trend=0.798). CONCLUSION: The level
      of VLDL-C was closely related to cholesterol absorption marker, and further
      studies are needed to validate if inhibitor of cholesterol absorption (for
      example by Ezetimibe) could bring about more effective VLDL-C lowering effect in
      this patient cohort.

PMID- 26888805
TI  - [Pathological characteristics of coronary artery disease in elderly patients aged
      80 years and over].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the pathological changes of coronary artery and compare the
      clinical diagnosis and pathological diagnosis differences in elderly patients
      aged 80 and over. METHODS: A total of 909 autopsy cases aged 60-100 years in our
      hospital from April 1st 1969 to October 31th 2013 were analyzed. The prevalence
      and pathological features of coronary artery disease (CAD) in cases aged 80 years
      and over were compared with those aged 60-79 years old. The misdiagnosis and
      missed diagnosis rate were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAD by autopsy
      (63.8% (289/453) vs. 39.9% (182/456), P<0.01), old myocardial infarction (OMI) by
      autopsy (63.0% (182/289) vs. 51.6% (94/182), P<0.05) and chronic myocardial
      ischemia by autopsy (22.5% (65/289) vs. 7.1% (13/182), P<0.01) were significantly
      higher while the prevalence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by autopsy was
      significantly lower (22.1% (64/289) vs. 42.9% (78/182), P<0.01) in aged 80 and
      over group compared to 60-79 years old group. The misdiagnosis rate of CAD was
      65.2% (107/164), the missed diagnosis rate of OMI was 62.1% (113/182) and the
      missed diagnosis rate of AMI was 37.5% (24/64) in the aged 80 and over group.
      CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CAD and misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rate are
      high in dead inpatients aged 80 years and over. OMI is more common but often
      missed in this group. Thus, the diagnosis and evaluation of CAD should be
      enhanced in this patient group.

PMID- 26888806
TI  - [Effects of pretreatment with recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide on
      infarct size in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
      undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the administration of recombinant human B-type
      natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) before primary percutaneous coronary intervention
      (PCI) could further limit the infract size, improve left ventricular function,
      and alleviate cardiac dilation in patients with acute ST-segment elevation
      myocardial infarction(STEMI). METHODS: A total of 93 consecutive patients
      presenting chest pain within 12 hours from the onset, suspicious of first STEMI
      located at anterior wall undergoing primary PCI, were eligible for enrollment and
      randomly assigned to either rhBNP group (rhBNP administration starting at 5 min
      before PCI, 1.5 ug/kg bolus intravenous injection followed by 0.007 5-0.03 ug.kg(
      1).min(-1) for up to 120 hours, n=48) or nitroglycerin (NIT) group (NIT treatment
      starting at 5 min before PCI, 10-100 ug/min intravenous infusion for 120 hours,
      n=45). Primary PCI was performed in both groups using post-conditioning (PC)
      technique. TIMI flow grade, corrected TIMI frame count, and TIMI myocardial
      perfusion grade were compared between the two groups at the time of infarct
      related artery (IRA) re-patency. The levels of serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme
      (CK-MB) and troponin I (TnI) were measured. Echocardiography was performed at
      baseline 7 days and 6 months later. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were
      similar between the two groups. The percentage of TIMI grade 3 and TIMI
      myocardial perfusion grade 3 after PCI both tended to be higher in rhBNP group
      than those in NIT group (95.8%(46/48) vs. 86.7%(39/45), P=0.162) and
      (72.9%(35/48) vs. 62.2%(28/45), P=0.500). The corrected TIMI frame count was
      significantly decreased in rhBNP group (21.0+/-8.7 vs. 28.2+/-14.8, P=0.005). The
      myocardial infarct size expressed as the AUC of CK-MB ((3 249+/-1 101) U/L vs. (4
      474+/-1 661)U/L, P=0.010) or AUC of TnI ((3 670+/-942) ug/L vs. (4 541+/-1 098)
      ug/L, P=0.021) was significantly decreased in rhBNP group compared with those in
      NIT group. At 7 days after primary PCI, the left ventricular ejection fraction
      (LVEF) tended to be higher (P>0.05), while the E/e' index and wall motion score
      index (WMSI) ((11.95+/-3.31 vs. 14.60+/-4.09, P=0.030) and (1.74+/-0.17 vs.
      2.40+/-0.55, P<0.001)) were significantly improved in rhBNP group compared with
      those in NIT group. BNP level was also significantly lower in rhBNP group
      compared that in NIT group ((68.3+/-37.8) ng/L vs. (129.4+/-64.4) ng/L, P<0.001).
      During 6-month follow-up, LVEF and WMSI were significantly improved in rhBNP
      group compared those in NIT group(51.7%+/-12.7% vs. 46.9%+/-9.6%, P=0.024 and
      1.69+/-0.35 vs. 1.92+/-0.47, P=0.020). CONCLUSION: Administration of rhBNP before
      PCI with post-conditioning procedure can further improve myocardial perfusion,
      limit myocardial infarct size, ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and postpone left
      ventricular early-stage and long-term remodeling in STEMI patients undergoing
      primary PCI.

PMID- 26888807
TI  - [Clinical characteristics and cardiac imaging features of patients with cardiac
      amyloidosis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characteristics and cardiac imaging features
      by focusing the diagnostic value of MRI in patients with cardiac amyloidosis
      (CA). METHODS: A total of 31 cases with pathologically proven CA from January
      2013 to December 2014 were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS:
      Patients expressed typical disease manifestations at a late age (54+/-11) years.
      Majority patients were male (20 cases, 64.5%) in this cohort. Blood pressure was
      normal, 13 cases (42.9%) presented with edema in lower limbs, 12 cases (38.7%)
      with chest distress and dyspnea and 9 cases (29.0%) with abdominal pain and
      diarrhea. Electrocardiogram (ECG) features were as follows: 20 cases (64.5%) with
      low voltage in limb leads, 20 cases (64.5%) with poor R-wave progression in
      precordial leads, 17 cases (54.8%) with pseudo-necrotic Q wave and 27 cases
      (87.1%) with ST-T changes. Echocardiography examination showed that 25 (80.6%) of
      31 cases were with left atrial enlargement, 22 cases (71%) with increased
      ventricular septal thickness and 12 cases (38.7%) with myocardial ground-glass
      opacity, 24 cases (77.4%) presented restrictive left ventricular filling pattern,
      14 cases (45.2%) showed impaired left ventricular systolic function and 10 cases
      (32.3%) expressed abnormal left ventricular eject function (<50%). Cardiac MRI
      features were as follows: among 31 patients, 7 patients underwent cardiac MRI.
      Left ventricular and interventricular septum hypertrophy were vsulized in 6
      cases, increased thickness of interatrial spetum in 3 cases, left atrial
      enlargement in 4 cases and right atrial enlargement in 3 cases. MRI also revealed
      a distinct diffuse delayed gadolinium enhancement of subendocardial and
      interventricular septum in 3 cases, 1 of which was with delayed enhancement of
      interatrial spetum. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, CA diagnosis should be considered
      for patients with manifestations of chest distress and edema in lower limbs, ECG
      features of low voltage in limb leads, poor R-wave progression and pseudo
      necrotic Q wave, myocardial hypertrophy with myocardial ground-glass opacity in
      echocardiography and a characteristic MRI pattern of diffuse subendocardial
      delayed gadolinium enhancement even without the pathological proof.

PMID- 26888809
TI  - [Value of a novel categorization of congenital double-outlet right ventricle on
      guiding the choice of surgical approaches].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and value of a new categorization of double
      outlet right ventricular (DORV) on guiding the optimal choices of surgical
      approaches. METHODS: Five hundred and twenty one DORV patients diagnosed by
      echocardiography, angiocardiography and CT at Fuwai Hospital from May 2003 to
      September 2014 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Congenital DORV was
      categorized according to three basic factors as follows: the positional
      relationships of great arteries (normal relation or abnormal relation), the
      relationships of the ventricular septal defect (VSD) to the great arteries
      (committed VSD or remote VSD), the presence or absence of pulmonary outflow tract
      obstruction (POTO). Eight types of DORV were established: type I (normal
      relation, committed VSD, without POTO), type II (normal relation, committed VSD,
      POTO), type III (normal relation, remote VSD, without POTO), type IV (normal
      relation, remote VSD, POTO), type V (abnormal relation, committed VSD, without
      POTO), type VI (abnormal relation, committed VSD, POTO), type VII (abnormal
      relation, remote VSD, without POTO), type VIII (abnormal relation, remote VSD,
      POTO). Feasibility of this classification and the value of this classification on
      guiding the choice of surgical approaches were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the five
      hundred and twenty one patients, there were 90 patients (17.3%) with type I DORV,
      94 patients (18.0%) with type II, 33 patients (6.3%) with type III, 34 patients
      (6.5%) with type IV, 64 patients (12.3%) with type V, 61 patients (11.7%) with
      type VI, 33 patients (6.3%) with type VII, 112 patients (21.5%) with type VIII.
      Thus, all patients could be typed by this classification method. The
      echocardiography diagnosis was consistent with the intra-operative and or cardiac
      catheterization/CT findings. Excluding the contraindications of bi-ventricular
      repair, different surgical approaches were performed in every subtype of DORV
      according the classification, which indicated that this novel categorization
      could accurately guide the clinic managements. CONCLUSION: This novel DORV
      categorization can accurately diagnose DORV lesions, and guide the clinic therapy
      choice.

PMID- 26888808
TI  - [Survey and analysis on sources of reference intervals and distribution of
      medical decision levels in NT-proBNP, BNP and homocysteine].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sources of reference intervals and distribution of
      medical decision levels in NT-proBNP, BNP and homocysteine (Hcy) based on the
      feedback of laboratories which participated in the 2014 External Quality
      Assessment (EQA) program in China. METHODS: Information of reference intervals
      and medical decision levels was collected from the 2014 EQA programs in NT
      proBNP, BNP and Hcy.All the abnormal values and errors were eliminated.Data were
      analyzed by SPSS 13.0 and Microsoft Excel 2007 in terms of referring to sources
      of reference intervals and distribution of medical decision levels.Values were
      further grouped based on instrument system for NT-proBNP and BNP, reagent
      manufacturers for Hcy. RESULTS: There were 330, 119 and 339 laboratories
      submitting the data on the reference intervals of NT-proBNP, BNP and Hcy. Only
      133, 54 and 102 laboratories provided information about medical decision
      levels.Most reference sources were derived from reagent manufactures (NT-proBNP
      76.97%(254/330), BNP 89.08%(106/119), Hcy 83.19%(282/339)). Approximately,
      36.53%(122/334), 45.38%(54/119) and 47.95%(164/342) of the laboratories validated
      the reference intervals of NT-proBNP, BNP and Hcy.According to the surveys, the
      mean and median values were not close to each other (NT-proBNP 507.99 ng/L and
      300.00 ng/L, BNP 342.72 ng/L and 100.00 ng/L, Hcy 17.34 umol/L and 15.00 umol/L).
      Variation of P2.5 and P97.5 was as follows: (NT-proBNP 125.00-1 800.00 ng/L, BNP
      87.50-4562.50 ng/L, Hcy 4.15-50.00 umol/L). The ranges were NT-proBNP 60.00-7
      000.00 ng/L, and BNP 80.00-7 000.00 ng/L, and Hcy 1.5-52.00 umol/L.P values of
      rank sum test for NT-proBNP, BNP and Hcy were 0.449, 0.208 and 0.754.
      CONCLUSIONS: Medical decision levels of NT-proBNP, Hcy and BNP showed large
      variation among laboratories and the sources of reference interval were not
      unified.Thus, urgent efforts should be made to establish appropriate reference
      intervals for Chinese people and promote harmonization and standardization of
      reference intervals and medical decision levels on BNP, NT-proBNP and Hcy.

PMID- 26888810
TI  - [Relationship between new-onset atrial fibrillation and sympathetic neural
      remodeling in a canine acute myocardial infarction model].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the canine model of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF)
      after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and explore the relationship between new
      onset AF and sympathetic neural remodeling in this model. METHODS: Twenty four
      adult mongrel dogs were randomly divided into 4 groups by applying random number
      table. Group A (n=6): ligate the left circumflex artery (LCX). Group B (n=6):
      ligate the LCX and right atrial anterior artery and right atrial middle artery.
      Group C (n=6): ligate left anterior descending artery.Group D (n=6): sham
      operation.Sequential electrophysiology study was performed in all dogs to
      determine the AF induction rate, AF duration, effective refractory period (ERP),
      the density of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and norepinephrine transporter (NET)
      before AMI or sham operation, and at 30 min, 2 hours and 4 hours after AMI or
      sham operation. RESULTS: (1) The highest AF induction rate of right atrium and
      left auricle was 96.7%(58/60) and 95.0%(57/60) in group B, 81.7%(49/60) and
      38.3%(23/60) in group A, 28.3%(17/60) and 35.0%(21/60) in group C, 20.0%(12/60)
      and 33.3%(20/60) in group D. (2) At 4 hours after AMI, AF duration was
      significantly prolonged in group B(193.50+/-54.67) s, compared with group
      A(53.83+/-9.37) s, group C(45.00+/-19.50) s, and group D(16.67+/-4.50) s (all
      P<0.05). (3) In group B, the ERP of AF was prolonged at 30 minutes after AMI and
      shortened at 2 hours and 4 hours after AMI compared with baseline level(all
      P<0.05). (4) The TH density of left atrium ((3 485+/-694) um2/mm2) and left
      auricle((2 645+/-454) um2/mm2) in group A and the TH density of left atrium ((7
      873+/-1159) um2/mm2) and left auricle((3 070+/-605) um2/mm2) in group B were
      significantly higher than those in group C ((1 474+/-475) um2/mm2, (1 177+/-277)
      um2/mm2) and group D ((678+/-206) um2/mm2, (489+/-125) um2/mm2) (all P<0.05), and
      the TH density of right atrium and right auricle in group B were higher than
      group A (all P<0.05). The NET density of left atrium((476+/-75) um2/mm2) and left
      auricle ((414+/-52) um2/mm2) in group A and the NET density of left atrium((527+/
      81) um2/mm2) and left auricle((429+/-85) um2/mm2) in group B were lower than that
      in group C ((1 044+/-105) um2/mm2, (867+/-67) um2/mm2) and group D ((1 438+/-60)
      um2/mm2, (1 027+/-119) um2/mm2) (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ligating the LCX,
      right atrial anterior artery and right atrial middle artery at the same time can
      significantly increase the success rate in establishing the canine model of new
      onset atrial fibrillation after acute myocardial infarction and can also increase
      the AF duration.Cardiac sympathetic remodeling after acute myocardial infarction
      is associated with induction and duration of AF.

PMID- 26888811
TI  - [Correlation between long time systolic blood pressure variability and short time
      systolic blood pressure in aged population].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between long time systolic blood
      pressure variability(SBPV)and short time SBPV in aged population. METHODS: A
      total of 752 subjects aged >=60 years of Kailuan Group who took part in 2006
      2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011 and 2012-2013 health examination were included by
      cluster sampling method.Long time SBPV was calculated by standard deviation of
      mean systolic blood pressure measured in 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011 and 2012
      2013, standard deviation represents short time systolic blood pressure which is
      derived from 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The observation
      population was divided into three groups according to the third tertiles of the
      time systolic blood pressure variability: the first point(<9.09 mmHg (1
      mmHg=0.133 kPa)), second point (>=9.09 mmHg, and <14.29 mmHg), and third point
      (>=14.29 mmHg). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the
      correlation between long time systolic blood pressure variability and short time
      systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: (1) The participants' age were (67.0+/-5.7)
      years old (284 women). (2) The 24 hours and daytime SSD were (14.7+/-4.0) mmHg,
      (14.7+/-3.5) mmHg, (15.7+/-4.4) mmHg (P=0.010) and (14.1+/-4.4) mmHg, (14.2+/
      3.5) mmHg and (15.4+/-4.6) mmHg (P<0.001) according to the tertiles of long time
      systolic blood pressure variability, respectively, nighttime SSD were (12.0+/
      4.4) mmHg, (11.8+/-4.8) mmHg and (11.9+/-4.9) mmHg (P=0.900). (3) Multiple
      logistic regression analysis showed that the tertiles of long time SSD was the
      risk factor for increasing daytime SSD>14.00 mmHg (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.03-2.23,
      P=0.037), but not a risk factor for increasing 24 hours SSD>14.41 mmHg (OR=1.10,
      95%CI: 0.75-1.61, P=0.639) and nighttime SSD>11.11 mmHg (OR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.67
      1.42, P=0.899). CONCLUSION: Increased long time SBPV is a risk factor for
      increasing daytime SBPV.

PMID- 26888812
TI  - [Impact of metabolic risk factors and lifestyle on new onset hypertension in
      Beijing community residents].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore if the new onset hypertension was related with metabolic
      risk factors and lifestyle in Beijing community residents to guide the targeted
      prevention of hypertension. METHODS: A population-based survey with a randomly
      cluster sampling was made to observe the relationship between metabolic risk
      factors and lifestyle with new onset hypertension by multivariate and logistic
      regression. RESULTS: A total of 4 034 subjects with normal blood pressure at
      baseline were included and 978 (24.2%) residents developed hypertension two years
      later. Multiple logistic analysis demonstrated that risk factors that contributed
      to new onset hypertension were prehypertension, overweight, obesity, frequent
      alcohol drinking, metabolic syndrome (MS), age and male gender, the respective
      Odds Ratios(OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) are as follows: 3.512 (2.965
      4.168), 1.654 (1.423-1.918), 2.264 (1.633-2.951), 1.493 (1.231-1.775), 1.329
      (1.227-1.414), 1.226 (1.115-1.335), 1.135(1.018-1.221). College education serves
      as the protective factor, and the OR (95%CI) was 0.692 (0.476, 0.897).
      CONCLUSIONS: New onset hypertension in Beijing community residents is mainly
      related with prehypertension, overweight or obesity, MS, frequent alcohol
      drinking and low education level. We should pay more attention to modulating
      metabolic risk factors and lifestyle to reduce the new onset hypertension in
      China.

PMID- 26888813
TI  - [Impact of statin therapy on recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation after
      electrical cardioversion: a meta-analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of statin therapy on the recurrence rate in
      patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after electrical cardioversion.
      METHODS: PubMed, EMBbase, Cochrane central register of controlled trials were
      searched up to February 2015 to identify randomized controlled trials, which
      reported the effect of statin therapy on AF recurrence after electrical
      cardioversion. The data were analyzed by RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software.
      RESULTS: Six trials with 572 patients were included. The result showed that
      statin therapy had no effect on the recurrence rate in patients with persistent
      AF after electrical cardioversion (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.32-1.11, P>0.05) compared
      with controls. Four out of the six trials investigated the effect of atorvastatin
      on the recurrence rate of AF after electrical cardioversion, subgroup analysis of
      these trials showed that compared with controls, atorvastatin had no effect on
      the recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion (OR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.25-1.39,
      P>0.05). Three out of the six trials had high quality (Jadad score>=3), subgroup
      analysis of these trials also showed that statins did not affect the recurrence
      rate of AF after electrical cardioversion (OR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.49-1.16, P>0.05).
      CONCLUSION: This analysis suggested that statin therapy had no effect on the
      recurrence rate in patients with persistent AF after electrical cardioversion.

PMID- 26888814
TI  - [Report of a young patient suffered from acute myocardial infarction post
      methamphetamine inhalation].

PMID- 26888815
TI  - [Loffler endocarditis and cardiac embolism in a patient with eosinophilic
      leukemia].

PMID- 26888816
TI  - [One case of delayed cardiac tamponade after coronary artery bypass grafting].

PMID- 26888817
TI  - [Stress cardiomyopathy in a patient with myasthenia gravis].

PMID- 26888818
TI  - [Update on the efficacy of dual or triple antiplatelet therapy in patients with
      acute coronary syndrome].

PMID- 26888819
TI  - [Progress on the role of long non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular diseases].

PMID- 26888820
TI  - [Autophagy in atherosclerosis: a potential target to alleviate vascular
      endothelial cell dysfunction].

PMID- 26888821
TI  - New life in overactive bladder. Focus on "Novel regulatory mechanism in human
      urinary bladder: central role of transient receptor potential melastatin 4
      channels in detrusor smooth muscle function".

PMID- 26888824
TI  - Correlation between tobacco control policies, consumption of rolled tobacco and e
      cigarettes, and intention to quit conventional tobacco, in Europe.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyse the correlation between the implementation of tobacco
      control policies and tobacco consumption, particularly rolling tobacco,
      electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) users and the intent to quit smoking in 27
      countries of the European Union. DESIGN: Ecological study with the country as the
      unit of analysis. DATA SOURCES: We used the data from tobacco control activities,
      measured by the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS), in 27 European countries, in 2010,
      and the prevalence of tobacco consumption data from the Eurobarometer of 2012.
      ANALYSIS: Spearman correlation coefficients (rsp) and their 95% CIs. RESULTS:
      There was a negative correlation between TCS and prevalence of smoking (rsp=
      0.41; 95% CI -0.67 to -0.07). We also found a negative correlation (rsp=-0.31)
      between TCS and the prevalence of ever e-cigarette users, but it was not
      statistically significant. Among former cigarette smokers, there was a positive
      and statistically significant correlation between TCS and the consumption of hand
      rolled tobacco (rsp=0.46; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.70). We observed a similar correlation
      between TCS and other tobacco products (cigars and pipe) among former cigarette
      smokers. There was a significant positive correlation between TCS and intent to
      quit smoking in the past 12 months (rsp=0.66; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.87). CONCLUSIONS:
      The level of smoke-free legislation among European countries is correlated with a
      decrease in the prevalence of smoking of conventional cigarettes and an increase
      in the intent to quit smoking within the past 12 months. However, the consumption
      of other tobacco products, particularly hand-rolled tobacco, is positively
      correlated with TCS among former cigarette smokers. Therefore, tobacco control
      policies should also consider other tobacco products, such as rolling tobacco,
      cigars and pipes.

PMID- 26888822
TI  - Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and risk of heart failure in type 2 diabetes:
      systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and observational studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)
      inhibitors and the risk of heart failure or hospital admission for heart failure
      in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of
      randomised and observational studies. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Cochrane
      Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov searched up to 25
      June 2015, and communication with experts. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomised
      controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, and case
      control studies that compared DPP-4 inhibitors against placebo, lifestyle
      modification, or active antidiabetic drugs in adults with type 2 diabetes, and
      explicitly reported the outcome of heart failure or hospital admission for heart
      failure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Teams of paired reviewers independently
      screened for eligible studies, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data using
      standardised, pilot tested forms. Data from trials and observational studies were
      pooled separately; quality of evidence was assessed by the GRADE approach.
      RESULTS: Eligible studies included 43 trials (n=68,775) and 12 observational
      studies (nine cohort studies, three nested case-control studies; n=1,777,358).
      Pooling of 38 trials reporting heart failure provided low quality evidence for a
      possible similar risk of heart failure between DPP-4 inhibitor use versus control
      (42/15,701 v 33/12,591; odds ratio 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 1.56);
      risk difference 2 fewer (19 fewer to 28 more) events per 1000 patients with type
      2 diabetes over five years). The observational studies provided effect estimates
      generally consistent with trial findings, but with very low quality evidence.
      Pooling of the five trials reporting admission for heart failure provided
      moderate quality evidence for an increased risk in patients treated with DPP-4
      inhibitors versus control (622/18,554 v 552/18,474; 1.13 (1.00 to 1.26); 8 more
      (0 more to 16 more)). The pooling of adjusted estimates from observational
      studies similarly suggested (with very low quality evidence) a possible increased
      risk of admission for heart failure (adjusted odds ratio 1.41, 95% confidence
      interval 0.95 to 2.09) in patients treated with DPP-4 inhibitors (exclusively
      sitagliptin) versus no use. CONCLUSIONS: The relative effect of DPP-4 inhibitors
      on the risk of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes is uncertain, given
      the relatively short follow-up and low quality of evidence. Both randomised
      controlled trials and observational studies, however, suggest that these drugs
      may increase the risk of hospital admission for heart failure in those patients
      with existing cardiovascular diseases or multiple risk factors for vascular
      diseases, compared with no use.

PMID- 26888825
TI  - Tackling the public health needs of refugees.

PMID- 26888826
TI  - How effective are platelet rich plasma injections in treating musculoskeletal
      soft tissue injuries?

PMID- 26888827
TI  - The First-in-class Anti-EGFR Antibody Mixture Sym004 Overcomes Cetuximab
      Resistance Mediated by EGFR Extracellular Domain Mutations in Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: Approved anti-EGFR antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab provide
      significant clinical benefit in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
      (MCRC). However, patients ultimately develop disease progression, often driven by
      acquisition of mutations in the extracellular domain (ECD) of EGFR. Sym004 is a
      novel 1:1 mixture of two nonoverlapping anti-EGFR mAbs that recently showed
      promising clinical activity in a phase I trial in MCRC. Our aim was to determine
      the efficacy of Sym004 to circumvent cetuximab resistance driven by EGFR ECD
      mutations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Functional studies were performed to assess drug
      receptor binding as well as ligand-dependent activation of individual EGFR
      mutants in the presence of cetuximab, panitumumab, and Sym004. Cell viability and
      molecular effects of the drugs were assayed in cetuximab-resistant cell lines and
      in tumor xenograft models. Efficacy of Sym004 was evaluated in patients
      progressing to cetuximab that harbored EGFR mutation in the post-cetuximab tumor
      sample. RESULTS: Contrary to cetuximab and panitumumab, Sym004 effectively bound
      and abrogated ligand-induced phosphorylation of all individual EGFR mutants.
      Cells resistant to cetuximab harboring mutations in EGFR maintained sensitivity
      to Sym004, which was consistent with an effective suppression of EGFR downstream
      signaling, translating into profound and sustained tumor regression in the
      xenograft model. As proof-of-principle, a patient with a tumor harboring an EGFR
      mutation (G465R) following cetuximab therapy benefited from Sym004 therapy.
      CONCLUSIONS: Sym004 is an active drug in MCRC resistant to cetuximab/panitumumab
      mediated by EGFR mutations. EGFR mutations are potential biomarkers of response
      to Sym004 to be evaluated in ongoing large clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res;
      22(13); 3260-7. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26888828
TI  - Research Priorities, Measures, and Recommendations for Assessment of Tobacco Use
      in Clinical Cancer Research.
AB  - There is strong evidence that cigarette smoking causes adverse outcomes in people
      with cancer. However, more research is needed regarding those effects and the
      effects of alternative tobacco products and of secondhand smoke, the effects of
      cessation (before diagnosis, during treatment, or during survivorship), the
      biologic mechanisms, and optimal strategies for tobacco dependence treatment in
      oncology. Fundamentally, tobacco is an important source of variation in clinical
      treatment trials. Nevertheless, tobacco use assessment has not been uniform in
      clinical trials. Progress has been impeded by a lack of consensus regarding
      tobacco use assessment suitable for cancer patients. The NCI-AACR Cancer Patient
      Tobacco Use Assessment Task Force identified priority research areas and
      developed recommendations for assessment items and timing of assessment in cancer
      research. A cognitive interview study was conducted with 30 cancer patients at
      the NIH Clinical Center to evaluate and improve the measurement items. The
      resulting Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Questionnaire (C-TUQ) includes "Core" items
      for minimal assessment of tobacco use at initial and follow-up time points, and
      an "Extension" set. Domains include the following: cigarette and other tobacco
      use status, intensity, and past use; use relative to cancer diagnosis and
      treatment; cessation approaches and history; and secondhand smoke exposure. The
      Task Force recommends that assessment occur at study entry and, at a minimum, at
      the end of protocol therapy in clinical trials. Broad adoption of the recommended
      measures and timing protocol, and pursuit of the recommended research priorities,
      will help us to achieve a clearer understanding of the significance of tobacco
      use and cessation for cancer patients.

PMID- 26888829
TI  - Mitochondrial Reprogramming Regulates Breast Cancer Progression.
AB  - PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to understand the role of altered
      mitochondrial function in breast cancer progression and determine the potential
      of the molecular alteration signature in developing exosome-based biomarkers.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This study was designed to characterize the critical
      components regulating mitochondrial function in breast tumorigenesis. Experiments
      were conducted to assess the potential of these molecules for exosome-based
      biomarker development. RESULTS: We observed a remarkable reduction in spontaneous
      metastases through the interplay in mitochondria by SH3GL2, vesicular endocytosis
      associated protein and MFN2, an important regulator of mitochondrial fusion.
      Following its overexpression in breast cancer cells, SH3GL2 translocated to
      mitochondria and induced the production of superoxide and release of cytochrome C
      from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. These molecular changes were accompanied by
      decreased lung and liver metastases and primary tumor growth. SH3GL2 depletion
      reversed the above phenotypic and associated molecular changes in nontumorigenic
      and tumorigenic breast epithelial cells. Loss of SH3GL2 and MFN2 expression was
      evident in primary human breast cancer tissues and their positive lymph nodes,
      which was associated with disease progression. SH3GL2 and MFN2 expression was
      detected in sera exosomes of normal healthy women, but barely detectable in the
      majority of the women with breast cancer exhibiting SH3GL2 and MFN2 loss in their
      primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a new mitochondria
      reprogramming pathway influencing breast cancer progression through SH3GL2 and
      MFN2. These proteins were frequently lost in breast cancer, which was traceable
      in the circulating exosomes. Clin Cancer Res; 22(13); 3348-60. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26888830
TI  - Facial soft tissue changes during the pre-pubertal and pubertal growth phase: a
      mixed longitudinal laser-scanning study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Facial soft tissues changes during growth roughly tend to
      mimic the underlying hard tissues, but not completely. The aim of this mixed
      longitudinal study was to assess facial growth among pre-pubertal and pubertal
      subjects without malocclusion using a non-invasive three-dimensional laser
      scanning system. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty-nine subjects (30 females and 29 males)
      aged at baseline 5.4-8.9 years with normal occlusion were clustered into the
      younger, older pre-pubertal, and pubertal groups according to age and the
      absence/presence of a standing height growth spurt. Three-dimensional facial
      images were obtained using laser scanners for five consecutive years. Several
      transversal, sagittal, and vertical parameters were assessed for between and
      within group comparisons. RESULTS: Significant overall changes of almost all
      parameters were seen within each group (P < 0.05) without any group differences
      (P > 0.05). The younger pre-pubertal group showed greater annual growth rates of
      lip prominence; both pre-pubertal groups showed greater rates in facial middle
      third height. The pubertal group showed greater annual rates in facial profile
      angle changes during the growth peak. LIMITATIONS: A high standing height
      increment (7cm) was used as the threshold for subject allocation in the pubertal
      group. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue facial growth has generally similar amounts and
      rates irrespective of the pubertal growth spurt. Pre-pubertal subjects show
      greater annual rates of facial middle third height changes while pubertal
      subjects show greater annual rates of chin protrusion.

PMID- 26888831
TI  - Disease and functional loading effect on the structural conformation and
      mechanical properties of the mandibular condyle in a transgenic rheumatoid
      arthritis murine model: an experimental study.
AB  - AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) and functional loading through diet modification on the structural
      conformation and the mechanical properties of the mandibular condyle in a
      transgenic mouse model and compare to healthy littermates. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Four-week-old hybrid male mice from mixed background CBAxC57BL/6 were used. Four
      groups of animals were formed consisting of five animals each, either presenting
      RA (transgenic line hTNF 197), or wild-type (control), half receiving ordinary
      (hard) diet and half receiving soft diet within each category. Following
      sacrifice, resin-embedded and metallographically polished condylar specimens were
      evaluated employing scanning electron microscopy/ Energy dispersive x-ray
      spectroscopy and also tested for mechanical properties, through Vickers
      microhardness (HV100) measurements. RESULTS: The multivariable analysis revealed
      significantly lower HV100 values for the RA groups after adjusting for diet (beta
      = -10; 95% confidence interval: -16, -4; P = 0.001), while functional loading
      through diet modification did not appear as a significant predictor of the
      outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There was evidence of compromised mechanical properties of
      the mandibular condylar bone for the diseased animals, whereas no association
      between functional loading and mechanical properties of the condyle could be
      established.

PMID- 26888832
TI  - [The epidemiological profile of heart failure patients in China].

PMID- 26888833
TI  - [Clinical application of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide measurements
      in heart failure patients].

PMID- 26888834
TI  - [A novel therapy option for heart failure with dual angiotensin receptor and
      neprilysin inhibition].

PMID- 26888835
TI  - [Correlation between VE/VCO2slope and echocardiographic derived systolic
      pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between ventilator efficiency of
      cardiopulmonary exercising test (the slope of the relation between ventilation
      and carbon dioxide production, VE/VCO(2)slope) and systolic pulmonary artery
      pressure (sPAP) measured by echocardiography in patients with chronic heart
      failure (HF). METHODS: Data from 86 HF patients who were treated in Fuwai
      Hospital between December 2012 and July 2014 and performed the symptom limited
      maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and echocardiography were
      retrospectively analyzed.H F patients were divided into 3 groups (mild, moderate
      and severe) according to the maximum oxygenconsumption (peakVO(2)). RESULTS:
      There is a significant linear correlation between VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP
      (r=0.260, P=0.016). Using VE/VCO(2)slope>34.2 as a cutoff value to predict
      patients with sPAP>50 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) yielded a sensitivity of 70.0% and
      a specificity of 64.3%. The degree of the linear correlation between
      VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP is stronger in mild HF patients (peakVO(2)>14 ml.kg(
      1).min(-1), r=0.686, P<0.001). Using VE/VCO(2) slope>34.2 as a cutoff value to
      predict sPAP>50 mmHg in mild HF patients, the sensitivity is 71.4% and the
      specificity is 93.8%. CONCLUSION: There is a significant linear correlation
      between VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP in HF patients. VE/VCO(2)slope>34.2 is linked
      with a high possibility of sPAP>50 mmHg in HF patients, especially for patients
      with mild HF. Invasive hemodynamic examination and impact of special therapy are
      warranted in future studies to veryfy present results.

PMID- 26888836
TI  - [Recovery and relapse of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hospitalized
      patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: frequency and related factors].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and predictors of recovery and relapse of
      left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in hospitalized patients with
      dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Patients with DCM hospitalized in Fuwai
      Hospital from October 2008 to December 2013 with repeat echocardiography results
      after discharge were reviewed and followed to December 2014 or until all-cause
      death or cardiac transplantation. Rate of recovery of LVSD, defined as an
      absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of >10% to a level
      of >50% on follow-up, and those with relapse of LVSD, defined as a decrease in
      LVEF to a level of <45% after initial recovery was obtained and related factors
      affecting LVSD recovery and relapse were analyzed. RESULTS: After a mean follow
      up of (28 +/- 17) months, recovery of LVSD was evidenced in 114 of 382 patients
      (29.8%), LVEF increased from (31.6 +/- 6.0) % to (55.8 +/- 3.7) % (P<0.01) and
      left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) decreased from (65.1 +/- 6.7) mm
      to (53.5 +/- 4.9) mm (P<0.01) in these patients. Multiple logistic regression
      analysis showed that symptom duration of heart failure (OR=0.986, P<0.01),
      systolic blood pressure (SBP) (OR=1.026, P<0.01), LVEDD (OR=0.938, P<0.01) and
      LVEF (OR=1.038, P<0.05) at admission were independent predictors of LVSD
      recovery. During the subsequent follow-up of (24 +/-1 3) months after initial
      recovery, 17 of 88 patients (19.3%) suffered a relapse of LVSD, LVEF decreased
      from (54.3 +/- 2.6) % to (36.6 +/- 5.1) % (P<0.01), LVEDD increased from (57.5 +/
      4 .2) mm to (62.8 +/- 6.8) mm (P<0.01) in these patients. Multiple logistic
      regression analysis showed that less decrease in LVEDD at initial recovery of
      LVSD was independent predictor of LVSD relapse. CONCLUSIONS: About 30%
      hospitalized patients with DCM experienced LVSD recovery in this patient cohort.
      Symptom duration of heart failure, SBP, LVEDD and LVEF on admission were
      predictors of LVSD recovery. Moreover, LVSD relapse was observed in around 20%
      patients after initial LVSD recovery and less decrease in LVEDD at initial
      recovery serves as an independent risk factor for LVSD relapse.

PMID- 26888837
TI  - [Effects of renal denervation on left atrial fibrosis in rats with isoproterenol
      induced chronic heart failure].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of renal denervation (RDN) on left atrial
      fibrosis in rats with chronic heart failure. METHODS: Sixty healthy male Sprague
      Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control group (n=10, intraperitoneal
      injection with 5 mg/kg normal saline daily for 3 consecutive weeks), sham group
      (n=25) and RDN group (n=25). Rats in sham and RDN group were intraperitoneally
      injected with 5 mg/kg isoproterenol daily for 3 consecutive weeks. RDN and sham
      RDN procedure was implemented at week 5. The renal arteries and veins were not
      isolated and the nerves were left intact in sham group. The experiment ended at
      week 10. Cardiac function, diastolic interventricular septal thickness (IVSD) and
      left atrial dimension (LAD) were evaluated by echocardiography at baseline, week
      5 and 10. The rats of all three groups were sacrificed at week 10 and the left
      atrial tissue was used for following analysis: fibrosis was detected by Masson
      staining, plasma BNP was measured by ELISA kit, the protein expression of AngII,
      TGF-beta1, MMP2 and collagen I was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: (1)
      Cardiac function: compared with control group, LVEF decreased (P<0.01), IVSD
      (P<0.01) and LAD (P<0.01) increased significantly in the sham and RDN group at
      week 5. Compared with sham group at week 10, LVEF and IVSD significantly improved
      (P<0.05) and LAD tended to be smaller (P>0.05) in RDN group. (2) The degree of
      left atrial tissue fibrosis: Masson staining (collagen volume fraction, CVF)
      showed significantly decreased fibrosis of left atrial tissue in RDN group
      compared with that in sham group (P<0.01). (3) Plasma BNP level: ELISA assay
      revealed that plasma BNP in sham group was significantly increased compared with
      that in control group (P<0.05) and was similar between RND group and control
      group at week 10. (4) Protein expression of AngII, TGF-beta1, MMP2 and collagen I
      in rats left atrial: Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of
      AngII, TGF-beta1, MMP2 and collagen I was significantly down-regulated in RDN
      group compared to sham group (all P<0.05) but still significantly higher than in
      control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RDN can effectively attenuate the left
      atrial fibrosis in rats with isoproterenol induced chronic heart failure. The
      attenuation of left atrial fibrosis by RDN in these rats may be attributed to
      improved cardiac function and downregulated pro-fibrogenic factors (AngII, TGF
      beta1, MMP2 and collagen I).

PMID- 26888838
TI  - [High incidence of sudden cardiac death in one family with type-3 long QT
      syndrome: molecular genetics and electrophysiology mechanism analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We identified the long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients, and detected the
      potential risk of LQTS in family members by using genetic testing and
      electrophysiological analysis, which helped provide clinical evaluation and
      appropriate treatment. METHODS: Detailed clinical characteristics and familiar
      history were obtained from the whole family members of an idiopathic pediatric
      LQTS patient. Two hundred healthy subjects with the same ethnic background were
      recruited as controls. The entire coding sequences of three candidate genes
      including KCNQ1, KCNH2 and SCN5A were screened for mutations in the proband. The
      function of the mutation was then explored by whole-cell patch clamp techniques,
      and the genetic testing and risk assessment of the family members were performed.
      RESULTS: The proband was clinically preliminary diagnosed as LQTS by 12-lead
      electrocardiogram. On the third day of metoprolol intake (25 mg, bid), she died
      suddenly at lunch. One heterozygous missense mutation (SCN5A-V411M) was
      identified in this proband, but the mutation was absent in 200 healthy subjects.
      The electrophysiological analysis indicated that SCN5A-V411M significantly
      increased the peak current density ((230.8 +/- 27.6)pA/pF vs. (101.2 +/-
      10.9)pA/pF, n=10, P<0.01) and the late sodium current ((156.6 +/- 13.6)pA/pF vs.
      (95.9 +/- 7.9)pA/pF, n=12, P<0.01) of sodium channel compared to wide type. The
      enhanced sodium channel activation with a negative shift in the peak I-V
      relationship was significantly higher by -50 mV than wide type (85.0%+/- 7.4% vs.
      41.5% +/- 2.6%, P<0.01), while the steady-state inactivation curves remained
      unchanged. Additionally, mother and grandmother of the proband were the silent
      mutation carriers with no symptoms, who needed the appropriate clinical
      assessment and follow-up. The proband's twin sister and aunt died of sudden
      infant death syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: We firstly reported a heterozygote missense
      mutation (SCN5A-V411M) in this Chinese family. V411M induced "gain of function"
      of sodium channel and formed the basis of type-3 LQTS. Genetic testing could help
      to increase the diagnostic accuracy, and facilitate clinical assessment and
      appropriate therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death of individuals with SCN5A
      V411M mutation.

PMID- 26888839
TI  - [Radiofrequency ablation can reverse the abnormal circulating microRNA expression
      changes in patients with atrial fibrillation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of circulating microRNAs(miRNAs), regulatory
      mechanism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) before and after
      radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2013,
      peripheral blood samples were taken from 30 AF patients (10 paroxysmal, 10
      persistent and 10 permanent AF) before and 3 months after RFA. The total RNA was
      extracted and hybridized with the miRNA chips, and the differential expression of
      miRNA and clustering analysis in whole genome were made with Volcano Plot and
      tMEV software respectively, and validated by real-time PCR. The target gene
      analysis of miRNAs was predicted through the Mirbase, Miranda and Targetscan
      databases. Results were compared with those from 10 healthy subjects (control
      group). RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expressions of 25 miRNAs were
      down-regulated before RFA and up-regulated after RFA in AF group, while other 40
      miRNAs expression changed in the opposite way; among them, the expressions of 7
      miRNAs including miR-199a-3p/miR-199b-3p were down- regulated >1.5-fold before
      RFA and up-regulated>100-fold after RFA; oppositely, 6 miRNAs including miR-BART8
      3p were up-regulated>1.5-fold before RFA and down-regulated>10-fold after RFA.
      Interestingly, 6 miRNAs including miR-30b-5p, which were involved in AF-related
      electrical and structural remodeling, were down-regulated>5-fold before RFA, but
      up-regulated>50-fold after RFA. Four miRNAs including miR-377-5p, which were
      involved in the regulation of CACNA1C ICaL channel protein, were different before
      and after RFA. CONCLUSION: miRNAs regulate the occurrence and development of AF.
      RFA can change the expression of miRNAs in AF patients, which may be important
      for reversing the electrical and structural remodeling and maintaining sinus
      rhythm after RFA. miRNAs, such as miR-30b-5p, miR-377-5p and miR-199a-3p/miR-199b
      3p etc., might become the target markers for early diagnosis and intervention of
      AF in future.

PMID- 26888840
TI  - [Concentration of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and related factors
      in patients with unstable angina pectoris].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe plasma vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) levels and
      related factors in patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP). METHODS: A total
      of 108 consecutive patients with chest pain hospitalized in our department from
      October to December 2014 were included. They were divided into UAP (n=78) and non
      CHD group (n=30) by the result of coronary angiography(CAG). Coronary artery
      lesion was assessed according to the Gensini score, serum lipids,
      homocysteine(Hcy) levels and other biochemical indicators were also determined.
      The peripheral arterial tonometry was evaluated by reactive hyperemia index(RHI)
      measured by Endo-PAT2000 Noninvasive Diagnostic System.The level of plasma VEGF
      was detected in patients with unstable angina pectoris. Multiple linear
      regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations between VEGF and various
      related factors. RESULTS: Percent of male gender, triglyceride (TG) and Hcy
      levels were significantly higher in UAP group than in no-CHD group(all P<0.05).
      VEGF values was significantly higher ((102.1 +/- 55.7)ng/L vs.(80.9 +/-
      38.1)ng/L, P<0.05), while RHI was significantly lower (1.53 +/- 0.27 vs.1.65 +/-
      0.32, P<0.05) in UAP group than in no-CHD group. Multiple linear regression
      analysis showed that VEGF value was significantly correlated with degree of
      coronary artery stenosis, Gensini score and RHI (beta=38.03, P<0.01; beta=0.51,
      P<0.01; beta=-69.30, P=0.03; respectively). CONCLUSION: VEGF levels are
      significantly increased in patients with unstable angina pectoris, and VEGF level
      is significantly associated with the degree of coronary artery stenosis, Gensini
      score and RHI. V EGF level might serve as a new biochemical indicator for
      coronary artery lesion in patients with UAP.

PMID- 26888841
TI  - [Value of intravascular ultrasound in the assessment of pulmonary vascular
      properties and mortality in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension
      associated with connective tissue diseases].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on
      assessing pulmonary vascular properties (PVPs) and its relationship with
      hemodynamics, and mortality rate in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
      associated with connective tissue disease (PAH-CTD). METHODS: Patients (n=51)
      with highly suspected PAH-CTD were prospectively enrolled in our department
      between July 2011 and March 2014. All patients underwent right heart
      catheterization (RHC) and IVUS, and were divided into 3 groups: PAH-CTD (n=25),
      PAH due to other reasons (n=15), and non-PAH control group (n=11). Based on IVUS,
      PAH patients were divided into distal (n=22) and proximal (n=18) remodeling
      subtypes.A total of 408 pulmonary segments were detected by IVUS, and all
      patients were followed up to (19 +/- 10) months. RESULTS: IVUS evidenced higher
      mean wall thickness (MWT) ((0.30 +/- 0.02) mm and (0.33 +/- 0.02) mm vs. (0.21 +/
      0.02) mm) and percentage of MWT (WTP) ((13.62 +/- 0.59)% and (14.39 +/- 0.77)%
      vs. (9.57 +/- 0.97)%) values in PAH patients compared to control patients (all
      P<0.01). Pulmonary vascular mechanical properties (PVMPs) including compliance
      ((8.85 +/- 0.82) * 10(-2)mm(2)/mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (6.28 +/- 0.65) * 10(
      2)mm(2)/mmHg vs. (41.59 +/- 5.02) * 10(-2) mm(2)/mmHg, all P<0.01),
      distensibility ((0.83 +/- 0.09)%/mmHg and (0.55 +/- 0.06)%/mmHg vs. (3.16 +/-
      0.38) %/mmHg, all P<0.01), elastic modulus ((169.25 +/- 15.10) mmHg and (253.00
      +/- 22.11) mmHg vs.(43.78 +/- 4.27) mmHg, all P<0.01) and stiffness index beta
      (4.19 +/- 0.41 and 5.18 +/- 0.34 vs. 2.39 +/- 0.27, P<0.05 or 0.01) in PAH groups
      were all significantly worse than in control group (all P<0.01). An inverse
      exponential association was found between PVMPs and hemodynamics with R(2)
      ranging from 0.544 to 0.777 (P<0.001). PVMPs tended to be better in group PAH-CTD
      than in PAH group due to other reasons.Mortality rate was similar between the two
      PAH groups, while PAH with distal remodeling subtype was linked with
      significantly higher mortality rate than PAH with the proximal remodeling subtype
      (23 % vs. 0, HR=10.14, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IVUS plays an important role in the
      assessment of PAH-CTD patients in terms of evaluating PVPs and predicting
      mortality rate. PAH patients have deteriorated PVPs, but PVMPs tended to be
      better in PAH-CTD than in PAH patients due to other reasons. The mortality rate
      was similar between PAH groups, while PAH patients with the distal remodeling
      subtype is linked with a higher mortality rate than PAH patients with the
      proximal remodeling subtype.

PMID- 26888843
TI  - [Culture effects of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells by three-dimensional
      films in vitro].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the proliferation and differentiation capacities of mouse
      induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) cultured in 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3
      hydroxyhexanoate(PHBHHx) three-dimensional films three-dimension films for the
      purpose of finding a suitable polymeric biomaterials for forming myocardial
      patches. METHODS: miPSCs were recovered, passaged, cultured and identified, then
      miPSCs divided into the experimental and control groups. MiPSCs in the
      experimental group were cultured with PHBHHx three-dimension films. MiPSCs in the
      control group were cultured with traditional culture dish. Stem cell culture
      medium or differential medium were added to miPSCs to detecte cell vitality by
      CCK-8 after 72 hours or to measure the cTnT expression of miPSCs through
      immunofluorescence or the cTnT expression quantity through flow cytometry after
      15 days. RESULTS: Cell activity assay showed that the absorbance values were
      0.836 +/- 0.038 in the experimental group, 0.312 +/- 0.004 in the control group
      (P<0.05). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that miPSCs grew
      well on the PHBHHx dimensional films with normal shape. Immunofluorescence
      results demonstrated positive cTnT expression in both groups and flow cytometry
      measured cTnT expression was (60.32 +/- 1.76)% in the experimental group and
      (47.54 +/- 1.46)% in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miPSCs can survive,
      proliferate and differentiate on PHBHHx dimensional films. miPSCs proliferation
      and differentiation capacities are significantly higher in PHBHHx three
      dimensional films culture compared with the traditional cell culture.

PMID- 26888844
TI  - [The relationship between changes in ideal cardiovascular health score and the
      carotid intima-media thickness among the middle age and elderly population].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between changes in ideal cardiovascular
      health score(DeltaICHS) and the carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT) among the
      middle age and elderly population. METHODS: A total of 5 852 cases were enrolled
      from 101 510 Kailuan Group employees who participated in the health examination
      in 2006-2007 and 2010-2011 through stratified random sampling. A total of 5 440
      individuals met the inclusion criteria (>=40 years old; no history of stroke,
      transient ischemic attack, or myocardial infarction). CIMT was measured by
      ultrasound during 2010-2011 examination. Excluding individuals with incomplete
      data, 4 367 cases were included for the final analysis. According to the AHA
      definition of ideal cardiovascular health metric, individual DeltaICHS was
      evaluated and the subjects were divided into 3 groups: group reduced
      (DeltaICHS<0, n=1 355), invariant group (DeltaICHS=0, n=1 451) and elevated group
      (DeltaICHS>0, n=1 561). DeltaICHS was derived from the difference between 2010
      2011 and 2006-2007. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression
      analysis were used to analysis the relationship between DeltaICHS and CIMT.
      RESULTS: The ICHS was 3.03 +/- 1.27 in 2006-2007 study population and 3.09 +/-
      1.40 (P<0.01) in 2010-2011 study population. Multivariate linear regression
      analysis showed that DeltaICHS was inversely related to CIMT. For every 1 score
      increase in DeltaICHS, CIMT decreased by 0.009 mm(B=-0.009, P<0.01). Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for multiple confounding
      factors, the risk of CIMT wall thickening was lower in the DeltaICHS invariant
      group (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.59-0.91) and in DeltaICHS elevated group(OR=0.66, 95%CI:
      0.52-0.82) compared to the DeltaICHS reduce group. CONCLUSION: Elevated DeltaICHS
      is an independent protective factors of CIMT increase in the middle age and
      elderly population.

PMID- 26888845
TI  - [Relationship between alcohol dependence and new detected hypertension in adult
      residents of Xuzhou city].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between alcohol dependence and new
      detected hypertension in adult residents of Xuzhou city. METHODS: Participants
      were sampled by stratified multi-stage randomly cluster sampling method from
      February 2013 to June 2013 among permanent residents aged 18 and more in Xuzhou
      city. The alcohol dependence was defined with Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test
      (MAST). Other information was obtained by questionnaire. Spearman correlation
      analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify
      the relationship between alcohol dependence and new detected hypertension.
      RESULTS: The alcohol dependence rate was 11.56% on the whole cohort (n=36 157),
      and 22.02%(3 854/17 501) for male and 1.74%(324/18 656) for female(P<0.01). The
      new detected hypertension rate was 9.46%(3 422/36 157) in the whole cohort. The
      new detected hypertension rate increased in proportion with the severity of
      alcohol dependence (P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that alcohol
      dependence was positively correlated with systemic blood pressure(r=0.071,
      P<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.077, P<0.01). After adjusting for
      gender, age, marital status, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity
      level, educational level, income level and region, multivariate logistic
      regression analysis showed that alcohol dependence was an independent risk factor
      for hypertension (low alcohol dependence: OR=1.44, 95%CI 1.14-1.81, P<0.01; light
      alcohol dependence: OR=1.35, 95%CI 1.11-1.64, P<0.01; medium alcohol dependence:
      OR=1.83, 95%CI 1.40-2.41, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The alcohol dependence is an
      independent risk factor for new detected hypertension in adult residents of
      Xuzhou city. Intensive hypertension prevention and treatment strategies should be
      performed on this population based on our results.

PMID- 26888842
TI  - [Clinicopathological characteristics of aortic aneurysm in elderly patients].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence and clinicopathological features of aortic
      aneurysm (AA) in elderly inpatients at autopsy. METHODS: All the AA cases were
      retrospectively analyzed in 909 autopsy cases aged 60-100 years in our hospital.
      The pathological changes, comorbidities and death reasons were evaluated.
      RESULTS: AA was diagnosed pathologically in 59 patients (6.5%), clinical
      diagnosis was not made in 37(62.7%) cases. The AA prevalence in patients aged >=
      80 years was significantly higher than patients <80 years (10.2% vs. 2.9%,
      chi(2)=19.97, P<0.01). Abdominal AA was more common (91.5%) and the prevalence of
      multiple AA was 20.3%. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed in 44 AA
      patients (74.6%) including 21(35.6%) with severe coronary artery stenosis and
      7(11.9%) with three-vessel disease, 31 patients (52.5%) died of cardiac-cerebral
      diseases, including 7(11.9%) with ruptured AA. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AA
      was high in elderly inpatients aged >=80 years with a relatively high missed
      diagnosis rate. AA was often complicated with CAD. The main cause of death of AA
      patients was cardiac-cerebral diseases. The screening, evaluation and treatment
      of AA should be enhanced in elderly patients, especially in patients aged 80
      years and over.

PMID- 26888846
TI  - [Epidemiological survey on hypertension among Tibetan monks in Gannan Tibetan
      Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of
      hypertension among Tibetan monks in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu
      Province, and to analyze risk factors of hypertension in this population.
      METHODS: A total of 984 (aged 18 and over) Tibetan monks in Gannan Tibetan
      Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province were included with cluster sampling
      method from March to June, 2014. General information was obtained by
      questionnaire and blood pressure was measured. Multivariate logistic regression
      analysis was applied to analyze the risk factors of blood pressure. RESULTS:
      Prevalence of hypertension in this population was 19.3% (190/984), and
      standardized prevalence rate was 21.7%. The prevalence of hypertension were 16.3%
      (82/502), 21.0% (60/286) and 24.5% (48/196), and standardized prevalence rate was
      17.8%, 22.1% and 26.6% among Tibetan monks aged 18-39, 40-59 and >=60 years,
      respectively. Rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in
      Tibetan monks were 9.5% (18/984), 4.2% (8/984)and 1.6% (3/984), respectively.
      Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, body mass index and
      family history of hypertension were independent risk factors of hypertension in
      this population (P<0.01 or 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence, awareness, treatment
      and control rates of hypertension among Tibetan monks in Gannan Tibetan
      Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province are relatively low. Age, body mass index
      and family history of hypertension are risk factors of hypertension in this
      population.

PMID- 26888847
TI  - [Association between heat wave and stroke mortality in Jiang'an District of
      Wuhan, China during 2003 to 2010: a time-series analysis].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between heat wave and stroke mortality in
      Jiang'an District of Wuhan, China during 2003 to 2010. METHODS: Daily data of
      stroke mortality, meteorological factor and ambient pollution were collected from
      June to September during 2003 to 2010 in Jiang'an District of Wuhan.Quasi-Poisson
      regression in generalized additive model was applied to evaluate the impact of
      heat wave on stroke mortality on different lag days. RESULTS: During the study
      period, a total of 38 heat wave events and 191 heat wave days were registered.
      The total stroke death was 2 455 (1 182 women and 1 998 people aged 65 years old
      and over). Quasi-Poisson regression in generalized additive model showed that
      after controlling for long-term trend and seasonal trend, weekday, holiday, and
      relative humidity, heat wave was associated with stroke mortality on current day
      with relative risk of 1.15 (95%CI 1.01-1.30). Heat wave was not significantly
      associated with stroke mortality on current day among men (RR= 0.98, 95%CI 0.82
      1.18, P=0.848) and people aged below 65 years old (RR=0.90, 95%CI 0.67-1.22,
      P=0.500), but relative risk increased to 1.34 (95%CI 1.12-1.62, P=0.002) and 1.20
      (95%CI 1.04-1.39, P=0.002) for women and elderly (>=65 years old) people,
      respectively. When ambient pollutants (PM(10), sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
      dioxide) were involved into the models, the impacts of heat wave on stroke
      mortality almost remained unchanged. Lagged effects were found in the association
      between heat wave and stroke mortality, relative risks reached the highest on lag
      of 2 days and the effects of heat wave usually lasted for 3 to 5 days. Moreover,
      lagged patterns of the effects of heat wave on stroke mortality were different
      between female and male and people of different age groups.significantly
      increased relative risks were found on current day in the elderly (>=65 years
      old) people and women, while significant associations occurred on lag of 2 days
      for men and people aged below 65 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Heat wave increased the
      risk of stroke mortality in Jiang'an District of Wuhan. The effect of heat wave
      lasted for several days and lagged patterns of the effects of heat wave on stroke
      mortality were different between females and males and people of different age
      groups.

PMID- 26888848
TI  - [Treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated with cardiac shock by
      primary percutaneous coronary intervention with the assistance of extracorporeal
      membrane oxygenation: a case report].

PMID- 26888849
TI  - [One case of third-degree atrioventricular block post transcatheter aortic valve
      implantation].

PMID- 26888850
TI  - [Clinical value of nutritional assessment in patients with chronic heart
      failure].

PMID- 26888851
TI  - [Research update on IgG4-related cardiovascular disorders].

PMID- 26888852
TI  - Performance of Gout Impact Scale in a longitudinal observational study of
      patients with gout.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness
      to change of the Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a disease-specific measure of patient
      reported outcomes, in a multicentre longitudinal prospective cohort of gout
      patients. METHODS: Subjects completed the GIS, a 24-item instrument with five
      scales: Concern Overall, Medication Side Effects, Unmet Treatment Need, Well
      Being during Attack, and Concern Over Attack. The total GIS score was calculated
      by averaging the GIS scale scores. HAQ-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Short Form (SF)
      36 physical and mental component summaries (PCS and MCS) and physician and
      patient gout severity assessments were also completed. Reliability was assessed
      with Cronbach's alpha. Baseline GIS scores were compared in subjects with and
      without gout attacks in the past 3 months using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.
      Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate predictors of total GIS.
      Pearson's correlation coefficients 0.24-0.36 were considered moderate and >0.37
      considered large. The effect size for responsiveness to change was interpreted as
      follows: 0.20-0.49 small, 0.50-0.79 medium and >0.79 large. RESULTS: In 147
      subjects, reliability was acceptable for total GIS (0.93) and all GIS scales
      (0.82-0.94) except Medication Side Effects and Unmet Treatment Need. Total GIS
      and all scales except Medication Side Effects discriminated between subjects with
      and without recent gout attacks (P < 0.05). Total GIS showed moderate-to-large
      correlations with HAQ-DI, SF-36 PCS and MCS (0.33-0.46). Improvement in total GIS
      tracked with improved physician and patient severity scores. Worsening physician
      severity score and recent gout attack predicted worsening total GIS. CONCLUSION:
      Total GIS score is reliable, valid and responsive to change in patients with
      gout, and differentiates between subjects with and without recent gout attacks.

PMID- 26888853
TI  - Predictors of disease relapse in IgG4-related disease following rituximab.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a relapsing-remitting condition
      responsible for fibroinflammatory lesions that can lead to organ damage and life
      threatening complications at nearly any anatomical site. The duration of
      remission following treatment varies and predictors of relapse are unclear. The
      objectives of this study were to review our experience with rituximab as
      remission induction in IgG4-RD, to clarify the duration of efficacy and to
      identify predictors of flare following treatment. METHODS: In this retrospective
      cohort study, all patients were treated with two doses of rituximab (1 g)
      separated by 15 days. Clinical, radiographic and laboratory data pertaining to
      rituximab response and disease relapse were collected from the electronic medical
      record. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to estimate the time to disease
      relapse. Log-rank analyses were performed to compare times to relapse among
      subgroups. Potential relapse predictors were evaluated with Cox regression
      analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-seven of 60 patients (95%) had clinical responses to
      rituximab. Forty-one patients (68%) were treated without glucocorticoids. Twenty
      one patients (37%) experienced relapses following treatment at a median time from
      the first infusion of 244 days. Baseline concentrations of serum IgG4, IgE and
      circulating eosinophils predicted subsequent relapses, with hazard ratios of 6.2
      (95% CI: 1.2, 32.0), 8.2 (95% CI: 1.4, 50.0) and 7.9 (95% CI: 1.8, 34.7),
      respectively. The higher the baseline values, the greater the risk of relapse and
      the shorter the time to relapse. Only 10% of the patients had elevations of all
      three major risk factors, underscoring the importance of measuring all three at
      baseline. CONCLUSION: Baseline elevations in serum IgG4, IgE and blood eosinophil
      concentrations all predict IgG4-RD relapses independently.

PMID- 26888854
TI  - Autoantibody levels in myositis patients correlate with clinical response during
      B cell depletion with rituximab.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the longitudinal trends in serum levels of four myositis
      associated autoantibodies: anti-Jo-1, -transcription intermediary factor 1 gamma
      (TIF1-gamma), -signal recognition particle (SRP) and -Mi-2, after B cell
      depletion with rituximab, and to determine the longitudinal association of these
      autoantibody levels with disease activity as measured by myositis core-set
      measures (CSMs). METHODS: Treatment-resistant adult and pediatric myositis
      subjects (n = 200) received rituximab in the 44-week Rituximab in Myositis Trial.
      CSMs [muscle enzymes, manual muscle testing (MMT), physician and patient global
      disease activity, HAQ, and extramuscular disease activity] were evaluated monthly
      and anti-Jo-1 (n = 28), -TIF1-gamma (n = 23), -SRP (n = 25) and -Mi-2 (n = 26)
      serum levels were measured using validated quantitative ELISAs. Temporal trends
      and the longitudinal relationship between myositis-associated autoantibodies
      levels and CSM were estimated using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Following
      rituximab, anti-Jo-1 levels decreased over time (P < 0.001) and strongly
      correlated with all CSMs (P < 0.008). Anti-TIF1-gamma levels also decreased over
      time (P < 0.001) and were only associated with HAQ, MMT and physician and patient
      global disease activity. Anti-SRP levels did not change significantly over time,
      but were significantly associated with serum muscle enzymes. Anti-Mi-2 levels
      significantly decreased over time and were associated with muscle enzymes, MMT
      and the physician global score. CONCLUSION: Anti-Jo-1, anti-TIF1-gamma and anti
      Mi-2 levels in myositis subjects decreased after B cell depletion and were
      correlated with changes in disease activity, whereas anti-SRP levels were only
      associated with longitudinal muscle enzyme levels. The strong association of anti
      Jo-1 levels with clinical outcomes suggests that anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies may be
      a good biomarker for disease activity.

PMID- 26888856
TI  - To Eat or Not to Eat: A Commentary on Eating Issues That Affect Home Parenteral
      Nutrition and Home Enteral Nutrition Consumers.

PMID- 26888855
TI  - Comparison Between Premixed and Compounded Parenteral Nutrition Solutions in
      Hospitalized Patients Requiring Parenteral Nutrition.
AB  - RATIONALE: Parenteral nutrition (PN) may be provided through compounded or
      premixed solutions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of stable custom
      compounded PN prescriptions that would fit within a 20% deviance of an existing
      premixed PN solution. METHODS: A retrospective study design was used. Inpatients
      who received PN in non-critical care units in the preceding year were screened
      for eligibility. Results are reported descriptively as means (95% confidence
      intervals) and proportions. RESULTS: We reviewed 97 PN prescriptions that met
      inclusion criteria. Stable hospital PN prescriptions compared with the reference
      premixed prescription provided 1838 (1777-1898) vs 1843 (1781-1905) kcal/d, P =
      .43; dextrose, 266 (254-277) vs 225 (216-234) g/d, P < .001; amino acids, 100
      (95.9-104) vs 95.2 (91.7-98.7) g/d, P < .001; and lipids, 53.2 (51.3-55.1) vs
      76.5 (73.8-79.2) g/d, P < .001. Fifty-eight of 97 (59.8%) matched for 2 of 3
      macronutrients. Hospital compared with premixed lipid was lower 53.6 (43-64.2)
      g/d vs 75.5 (60.5-90.5) g/d, P < .001. Electrolytes differed between hospital and
      premixed solutions: sodium, 98.6 (95.0-102) vs 66.9 (64.6-69.9) mmol/L, P < .001;
      potassium, 93.7 (89.0-98.3) vs 57.4 (55.4-59.4) mmol/L, P < .001; and magnesium,
      5.4 (4.8-5.4) vs 7.6 (7.4-7.9) mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Calories and protein were
      remarkably similar, but dextrose, lipid, and electrolytes differed between
      hospital PN and the reference premixed prescription. We believe that there may be
      a role for premixed solutions in quaternary centers in stable non-critically ill
      patients.

PMID- 26888857
TI  - Effects of Posture and Body Mass Index on Body Girth Assessment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of posture on body
      girth assessment among hospitalized adults and older adults. We further explored
      the influence of body mass index (BMI) on this effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      cross-sectional study was conducted among hospitalized adult patients. Arm,
      waist, hip, and calf girths were obtained for each patient in standing and supine
      positions. Body girths were obtained in the 2 body positions, and differences
      were compared according to BMI normal-weight and overweight categories. RESULTS:
      In total, 123 patients (27.6% aged >=65 years) composed the study sample.
      Significant differences were found between measurements obtained in standing and
      supine positions, ranging from 0.6-1.1 cm. Intraclass correlation coefficient
      (ICC) values were >=0.97, and agreement ranged from 81.3%-87% (weighted kappa >=
      0.84). Similar results were found when differences were stratified by BMI
      categories. CONCLUSION: Although body girth assessment in standing and supine
      positions in hospitalized adults and older adults differs, these differences are
      small and are not dependent on BMI categories.

PMID- 26888858
TI  - Incorporating Palliative Care Concepts Into Nutrition Practice: Across the Age
      Spectrum.
AB  - A practice gap exists between published guidelines and recommendations and actual
      clinical practice with life-sustaining treatments not always being based on the
      patient's wishes, including the provision of nutrition support therapies. Closing
      this gap requires an interdisciplinary approach that can be enhanced by
      incorporating basic palliative care concepts into nutrition support practice. In
      the fast-paced process of providing timely and effective medical treatments,
      communication often suffers and decision making is not always reflective of the
      patient's quality-of-life goals. The current healthcare clinical ethics model
      does not yet include optimum use of advance directives and early communication
      between patients and family members and their healthcare providers about
      treatment choices, including nutrition support. A collaborative, proactive,
      integrated process in all healthcare facilities and across levels of care and age
      groups, together with measurable sustained outcomes, shared best practices, and
      preventive ethics, will be needed to change the culture of care. Implementation
      of a better process, including basic palliative care concepts, requires improved
      communication skills by healthcare professionals. Formalized palliative care
      consults are warranted early in complex cases. An education technique, as
      presented in this article, of how clinicians can engage in critical and crucial
      conversations early with patients and family members, by incorporating the
      patient's values and cultural and religious diversity in easily understood
      language, is identified as an innovative tool. 

PMID- 26888860
TI  - Involve clinicians to avert a digital disaster.

PMID- 26888859
TI  - Minimum Time to Achieve the Steady State and Optimum Abbreviated Period to
      Estimate the Resting Energy Expenditure by Indirect Calorimetry in Healthy Young
      Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The optimum abbreviated period for measurement by indirect
      calorimetry (IC) to estimate the resting energy expenditure (REE), including the
      acclimation period, in healthy individuals has not been established. This study
      aimed to determine the acclimation time required to achieve the REE steady state
      during a 30-minute IC measurement and to define the optimum abbreviated
      measurement period in the steady state to estimate the REE in healthy young
      adults. METHODS: Thirty-nine volunteers (27 men and 12 women; age, 18-31 years)
      were recruited. The REE was obtained by IC over 30 minutes. Friedman's test was
      used to compare the coefficient of variation (CV%) among all 5-minute intervals
      (REE5). To compare the REE values obtained during the first REE5 interval in the
      steady state with the REE average values of the subsequent measurements, Student
      paired t test, linear regression, and Bland-Altman test were used. RESULTS: The
      CV% of the first REE5 (mean +/- standard deviation: 19.9% +/- 13.2%) was
      significantly higher (P < .0001) than that of all other REE5 (second REE5: 7.4%
      +/- 3.8%; third: 7.8% +/- 5.2%; fourth: 7.1% +/- 3.9%; fifth: 8.0% +/- 5.7%;
      sixth: 8.0% +/- 4.5%). No significant difference was found between the second
      REE5 and the REE average values of the last 20 minutes. The second REE5 explained
      90% of the REE average of the last 20 minutes, with the 95% limits of agreement
      by the Bland-Altman test ranging from -142.92 to 150.44 kcal/d. CONCLUSION: Ten
      minutes can be used as an abbreviated alternative for IC measurements in healthy
      young adults, and values of the first 5-minute interval should be discarded.

PMID- 26888861
TI  - Cryoablation-induced phrenic nerve dysfunction with preserved inspiratory
      function of the diaphragm.

PMID- 26888862
TI  - Younger Onset Dementia.
AB  - This literature review focused on the experience, care, and service requirements
      of people with younger onset dementia. Systematic searches of 10 relevant
      bibliographic databases and a rigorous examination of the literature from
      nonacademic sources were undertaken. Searches identified 304 articles assessed
      for relevance and level of evidence, of which 74% were academic literature. The
      review identified the need for (1) more timely and accurate diagnosis and
      increased support immediately following diagnosis; (2) more individually tailored
      services addressing life cycle issues; (3) examination of the service needs of
      those living alone; (4) more systematic evaluation of services and programs; (5)
      further examination of service utilization, costs of illness, and cost
      effectiveness; and (6) current Australian clinical surveys to estimate
      prevalence, incidence, and survival rates. Although previous research has
      identified important service issues, there is a need for further studies with
      stronger research designs and consideration of the control of potentially
      confounding factors.

PMID- 26888863
TI  - Depression in the Family of Patients With Dementia in Korea.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dementia is the leading cause of disability worldwide in the
      elderly individuals. Although prior studies have examined psychiatric symptoms in
      dementia caregivers, few studies have examined physician-diagnosed depression in
      the family caregiver of a patient with dementia. METHODS: We used data from 457
      864 respondents from the Korea Community Health Survey. We used logistic
      regression to examine the relationship between physician-diagnosed depression and
      cohabitation with a patient with dementia. RESULTS: Cohabitation with a patient
      with dementia (1.2% of the Korean population) was significantly associated with
      physician-diagnosed depression. The significance remained in females when the
      data were stratified by sex. A significant association also occurred among males
      with low family income. CONCLUSION: To reduce the burden of dementia, we need a
      management policy that includes the caregiver as well as the patient with
      dementia. In particular, political management for the vulnerable population, male
      caregiver in low-income family and female caregiver in high-income family, should
      be prepared.

PMID- 26888864
TI  - Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning in Alzheimer's Disease: A Case-Control Study
      in Comparison to Normal Aging, Parkinson's Disease, and Non-Alzheimer's Dementia.
AB  - Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness,
      and macular volume (MV) utilizing spectral domain optical coherence tomography
      (SD-OCT) were compared among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, non
      Alzheimer's disease (non-AD) dementia, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI),
      Parkinson's disease (PD), and age- and sex-matched controls in a cross-sectional
      cohort study. A total of 116 participants were diagnosed and evaluated (21 AD, 20
      aMCI, 20 non-AD, 20 PD, and 34 controls) after comprehensive neurological,
      neuropsychology, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric evaluations.
      Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, GCL thickness, and MV were measured.
      Analysis of variance models were used to compare groups on MRI volumetric
      measures, cognitive test results, and SD-OCT measures. Associations between SD
      OCT measures and other measures were performed using mixed-effect models.
      Spectral domain optical coherence tomography analysis of retinal markers,
      including RNFL thickness, GCL thickness, and MV, did not differ between amnestic
      MCI, AD dementia, PD, non-AD, dementia, and age- and sex-matched controls in a
      well-characterized patient cohort.

PMID- 26888865
TI  - Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 Signaling in Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Promotes
      Gastric Tumorigenesis by Generation of Inflammatory Microenvironment.
AB  - It has been established that COX-2 and downstream signaling by prostaglandin E2
      (PGE2) play a key role in tumorigenesis through generation of inflammatory
      microenvironment. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling through myeloid
      differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) also regulates inflammatory responses in
      tumors. However, the relationship between these distinct pathways in
      tumorigenesis is not yet fully understood. We herein investigated the role of
      MyD88 in gastric tumorigenesis using Gan mice, which develop inflammation
      associated gastric tumors due to the simultaneous activation of the COX-2/PGE2
      pathway and Wnt signaling. Notably, the disruption of Myd88 in Gan mice resulted
      in the significant suppression of gastric tumorigenesis with the inhibition of
      inflammatory responses, even though COX-2/PGE2 pathway is constitutively
      activated. Moreover, Myd88 disruption in bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) in Gan
      mice also suppressed inflammation and tumorigenesis, indicating that MyD88
      signaling in BMDCs regulates the inflammatory microenvironment. We also found
      that expression of Tlr2 and its coreceptor Cd14 was induced in tumor epithelial
      cells in Gan mice, which was suppressed by the disruption of Myd88. It has
      already been shown that TLR2/CD14 signaling is important for stemness of
      intestinal epithelial cells. These results indicate that MyD88 in BMDCs, together
      with COX-2/PGE2 pathway, plays an essential role in the generation of the
      inflammatory microenvironment, which may promote tumorigenesis through induction
      of TLR2/CD14 pathway in tumor epithelial cells. These results suggest that
      inhibition of TLR/MyD88 signaling together with COX-2/PGE2 pathway will be an
      effective preventive strategy for gastric cancer.

PMID- 26888866
TI  - Large-Scale Survey of Intraspecific Fitness and Cell Morphology Variation in a
      Protoploid Yeast Species.
AB  - It is now clear that the exploration of the genetic and phenotypic diversity of
      nonmodel species greatly improves our knowledge in biology. In this context, we
      recently launched a population genomic analysis of the protoploid yeast Lachancea
      kluyveri (formerly Saccharomyces kluyveri), highlighting a broad genetic
      diversity (pi = 17 * 10(-3)) compared to the yeast model organism, S. cerevisiae
      (pi = 4 * 10(-3)). Here, we sought to generate a comprehensive view of the
      phenotypic diversity in this species. In total, 27 natural L. kluyveri isolates
      were subjected to trait profiling using the following independent approaches: (i)
      analyzing growth in 55 growth conditions and (ii) investigating 501 morphological
      changes at the cellular level. Despite higher genetic diversity, the fitness
      variance observed in L. kluyveri is lower than that in S. cerevisiae However,
      morphological features show an opposite trend. In addition, there is no
      correlation between the origins (ecological or geographical) of the isolate and
      the phenotypic patterns, demonstrating that trait variation follows neither
      population history nor source environment in L. kluyveri Finally, pairwise
      comparisons between growth rate correlation and genetic diversity show a clear
      decrease in phenotypic variability linked to genome variation increase, whereas
      no such a trend was identified for morphological changes. Overall, this study
      reveals for the first time the phenotypic diversity of a distantly related
      species to S. cerevisiae Given its genetic properties, L. kluyveri might be
      useful in further linkage mapping analyses of complex traits, and could
      ultimately provide a better insight into the evolution of the genotype-phenotype
      relationship across yeast species.

PMID- 26888868
TI  - Genome-Based Selection and Characterization of Fusarium circinatum-Specific
      Sequences.
AB  - Fusarium circinatum is an important pathogen of pine trees and its management in
      the commercial forestry environment relies largely on early detection,
      particularly in seedling nurseries. The fact that the entire genome of this
      pathogen is available opens new avenues for the development of diagnostic tools
      for this fungus. In this study we identified open reading frames (ORFs) unique to
      F. circinatum and determined that they were specific to the pathogen. The ORF
      identification process involved bioinformatics-based screening of all the
      putative F. circinatum ORFs against public databases. This was followed by
      functional characterization of ORFs found to be unique to F. circinatum. We used
      PCR- and hybridization-based approaches to confirm the presence of selected
      unique genes in different strains of F. circinatum and their absence from other
      Fusarium species for which genome sequence data are not yet available. These
      included species that are closely related to F. circinatum as well as those that
      are commonly encountered in the forestry environment. Thirty-six ORFs were
      identified as potentially unique to F. circinatum. Nineteen of these encode
      proteins with known domains while the other 17 encode proteins of unknown
      function. The results of our PCR analyses and hybridization assays showed that
      three of the selected genes were present in all of the strains of F. circinatum
      tested and absent from the other Fusarium species screened. These data thus
      indicate that the selected genes are common and unique to F. circinatum. These
      genes thus could be good candidates for use in rapid, in-the-field diagnostic
      assays specific to F. circinatum. Our study further demonstrates how genome
      sequence information can be mined for the identification of new diagnostic
      markers for the detection of plant pathogens. 

PMID- 26888870
TI  - Why do we think we know what we know? A metaknowledge analysis of the salt
      controversy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although several public health organizations have recommended
      population-wide reduction in salt intake, the evidence on the population benefits
      remains unclear. We conducted a metaknowledge analysis of the literature on salt
      intake and health outcomes. METHODS: We identified reports--primary studies,
      systematic reviews, guidelines and comments, letters or reviews--addressing the
      effect of sodium intake on cerebro-cardiovascular disease or mortality. We
      classified reports as supportive or contradictory of the hypothesis that salt
      reduction leads to population benefits, and constructed a network of citations
      connecting these reports. We tested for citation bias using an exponential random
      graph model. We also assessed the inclusion of primary studies in systematic
      reviews on the topic. RESULTS: We identified 269 reports (25% primary studies, 5%
      systematic reviews, 4% guidelines and 66% comments, letters, or reviews) from
      between 1978 and 2014. Of these, 54% were supportive of the hypothesis, 33% were
      contradictory and 13% were inconclusive. Reports were 1.51 [95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.38 to 1.65] times more likely to cite reports that drew a similar
      conclusion, than to cite reports drawing a different conclusion. In all, 48
      primary studies were selected for inclusion across 10 systematic reviews. If any
      given primary study was selected by a review, the probability that a further
      review would also have selected it was 27.0% (95% CI 20.3% to 33.7%).
      CONCLUSIONS: We documented a strong polarization of scientific reports on the
      link between sodium intake and health outcomes, and a pattern of uncertainty in
      systematic reviews about what should count as evidence.

PMID- 26888867
TI  - Mapping of Variable DNA Methylation Across Multiple Cell Types Defines a Dynamic
      Regulatory Landscape of the Human Genome.
AB  - DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification involved in many
      biological processes and diseases. Many studies have mapped DNA methylation
      changes associated with embryogenesis, cell differentiation, and cancer at a
      genome-wide scale. Our understanding of genome-wide DNA methylation changes in a
      developmental or disease-related context has been steadily growing. However, the
      investigation of which CpGs are variably methylated in different normal cell or
      tissue types is still limited. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of 54 single
      CpG-resolution DNA methylomes of normal human cell types by integrating high
      throughput sequencing-based methylation data. We found that the ratio of
      methylated to unmethylated CpGs is relatively constant regardless of cell type.
      However, which CpGs made up the unmethylated complement was cell-type specific.
      We categorized the 26,000,000 human autosomal CpGs based on their methylation
      levels across multiple cell types to identify variably methylated CpGs and found
      that 22.6% exhibited variable DNA methylation. These variably methylated CpGs
      formed 660,000 variably methylated regions (VMRs), encompassing 11% of the
      genome. By integrating a multitude of genomic data, we found that VMRs enrich for
      histone modifications indicative of enhancers, suggesting their role as
      regulatory elements marking cell type specificity. VMRs enriched for
      transcription factor binding sites in a tissue-dependent manner. Importantly,
      they enriched for GWAS variants, suggesting that VMRs could potentially be
      implicated in disease and complex traits. Taken together, our results highlight
      the link between CpG methylation variation, genetic variation, and disease risk
      for many human cell types.

PMID- 26888871
TI  - Commentary: Salt and the assault of opinion on evidence.

PMID- 26888872
TI  - Commentary: The salt wars described but not explained--an invited commentary on
      'Why do we think we know what we know? A metaknowledge analysis of the salt
      controversy'.

PMID- 26888869
TI  - Microarray Analysis of Gene Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae kap108Delta
      Mutants upon Addition of Oxidative Stress.
AB  - Protein transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is
      tightly regulated, providing a mechanism for controlling intracellular
      localization of proteins, and regulating gene expression. In this study, we have
      investigated the importance of nucleocytoplasmic transport mediated by the
      karyopherin Kap108 in regulating cellular responses to oxidative stress in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae We carried out microarray analyses on wild-type and
      kap108 mutant cells grown under normal conditions, shortly after introduction of
      oxidative stress, after 1 hr of oxidative stress, and 1 hr after oxidative stress
      was removed. We observe more than 500 genes that undergo a 40% or greater change
      in differential expression between wild-type and kap108Delta cells under at least
      one of these conditions. Genes undergoing changes in expression can be
      categorized in two general groups: 1) those that are differentially expressed
      between wild-type and kap108Delta cells, no matter the oxidative stress
      conditions; and 2) those that have patterns of response dependent upon both the
      absence of Kap108, and introduction or removal of oxidative stress. Gene ontology
      analysis reveals that, among the genes whose expression is reduced in the absence
      of Kap108 are those involved in stress response and intracellular transport,
      while those overexpressed are largely involved in mating and pheromone response.
      We also identified 25 clusters of genes that undergo similar patterns of change
      in gene expression when oxidative stresses are added and subsequently removed,
      including genes involved in stress response, oxidation-reduction processing, iron
      homeostasis, ascospore wall assembly, transmembrane transport, and cell fusion
      during mating. These data suggest that Kap108 is important for regulating
      expression of genes involved in a variety of specific cell functions.

PMID- 26888873
TI  - Commentary: Accepting what we don't know will lead to progress.

PMID- 26888875
TI  - Sharp spike in deaths in England and Wales needs investigating, says public
      health expert.

PMID- 26888874
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Parenteral Nutrition in Older Patients: A
      Prospective Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many patients who cannot tolerate adequate enteral nutrition could
      benefit from parenteral nutrition support but fail to receive it due to difficult
      intravenous (IV) access. The objective of this study was to compare the safety
      and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) administration of parenteral nutrition with the
      peripheral IV route. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective randomized
      multicenter study of 121 older hospitalized patients. The primary outcome was the
      composite end point of major local side effects, defined as local edema,
      blistering, erythema, phlebitis, cellulitis, unbearable pain, or route failure
      requiring a switch in route. Secondary outcomes were nutrition parameters,
      biochemical parameters, clinical outcomes, and safety. RESULTS: The SC route (n =
      59) was noninferior to the IV route (n = 61) for major local side effects. Major
      local side effects trended higher in the IV group ( P = .059). Local edema was
      more common in the SC group ( P < .05), while route failure was more common in
      the IV group ( P < .001). Nutrition and biochemical parameters, safety, and
      clinical outcomes were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The SC route of
      nutrient administration was better tolerated than the peripheral IV route. SC
      administration of parenteral nutrition represents a safe alternative to IV
      nutrition.

PMID- 26888878
TI  - Survivorship of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in an Athletic Patient
      Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are limited data evaluating the clinical outcomes of meniscal
      allograft transplantation (MAT) in physically active cohorts. PURPOSE: To
      determine the survivorship, complication rates, and functional outcomes of MAT in
      an active military population. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
      METHODS: All military patients undergoing MAT between 2007 and 2013 were
      identified from the Military Health System. Previous/concomitant procedures,
      perioperative complications, reoperation rate, revision, and initiation of
      medical discharge for persistent knee disability were recorded. Univariate
      analysis was performed to identify associations between patient-based and
      surgical variables on selected endpoints. RESULTS: A total of 230 MATs (227
      patients; 228 knees) were identified; the mean patient age was 27.2 years (range,
      18-46 years), and the cohort was predominately male (89%). Approximately half
      (51%) of the patients had undergone prior, nonmeniscal knee procedures. Medial
      MATs were performed in 160 (69%) cases, and isolated MATs were most common (60%).
      A total of 51 complications occurred in 46 (21.1%) patients, including a
      secondary tear or extrusion (9%). At a mean clinical follow-up of 2.14 years, 10
      (4.4%) patients required secondary meniscal debridement, while 1 (0.4%) patient
      required revision MAT and 2 (0.9%) patients underwent total knee arthroplasty.
      After MAT, 50 (22%) patients underwent knee-related military discharge at a mean
      of 2.49 years postoperatively. Tobacco use (P = .028) was associated with
      significantly increased risk of failure, and operation by fellowship-trained
      surgeons trended toward significance as a protective factor (P = .078).
      Furthermore, high-volume surgeons (>=1 MAT/year; range, 9-35) had significantly
      reduced rates of failure (P = .046). CONCLUSION: While reporting low reoperation
      and revision rates, this investigation indicates that 22% of patients with MAT
      were unable to return to military duty due to persistent knee limitations at
      short-term follow-up. Increased surgical experience may decrease rates of failure
      after MAT. Careful patient selection and referral to subspecialty-trained, higher
      volume surgeons should be considered to optimize clinical outcomes after MAT.

PMID- 26888876
TI  - Subradiographic Foot and Ankle Fractures and Bone Contusions Detected by MRI in
      Elite Ice Hockey Players.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In ice hockey players, serious bone injuries in the foot and ankle,
      especially those attributed to impact from the moving puck, may be
      radiographically occult and underrecognized. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of
      this research was to study foot and ankle bone injuries detected with magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) that occurred in elite hockey players. The hypothesis was
      that these injuries predominate medially, especially when caused by the impact
      from the puck, and are associated with prolonged lost playing time. STUDY DESIGN:
      Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Three independent observers, blinded
      to the mechanism of injury, retrospectively reviewed foot and ankle MRI
      examinations acquired after 31 acute injuries that occurred in 27 elite ice
      hockey players who had no radiographically visible fractures. Bone abnormalities
      were classified as fractures or varying degrees of contusion based on
      predetermined definitions. Interobserver agreement was analyzed with kappa
      statistics. The association between the injury mechanism and the bones involved
      was examined with the Fisher exact test. A t test was applied to determine if MRI
      evidence of a severe bone injury (defined as either a fracture or a high-grade
      bone contusion) was associated with longer recovery times, when return-to-play
      information was available. RESULTS: The observers identified at least 1 bone
      injury in 27 of the 31 MRI examinations, including 10 with radiographically
      occult fractures. Agreement among the 3 observers for injury categorization was
      substantial (kappa = 0.76). Seventeen injuries were caused by a direct blow (15
      from a moving puck, 2 from an uncertain source), resulting in 6 fractures and 6
      high-grade bone contusions, with 14 of the 17 involving a medial bone (medial
      malleolus, navicular, or first metatarsal base). Compared with other mechanisms,
      direct impaction was statistically more likely to result in a severe bone injury
      and to involve the medial foot and ankle. In 20 injuries where return-to-play
      information was available, players with severe bone injuries missed a mean of
      10.6 games compared with 2.4 games for other players (P = .05). CONCLUSION: MRI
      can show severe bone injuries that are not visible radiographically in ice hockey
      players. Most fractures and high-grade contusions involve the medial ankle and
      midfoot bones, can be caused by direct blows from the puck, and are associated
      with prolonged recovery times.

PMID- 26888877
TI  - Participation in Pre-High School Football and Neurological, Neuroradiological,
      and Neuropsychological Findings in Later Life: A Study of 45 Retired National
      Football League Players.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A recent study found that an earlier age of first exposure (AFE) to
      tackle football was associated with long-term neurocognitive impairment in
      retired National Football League (NFL) players. PURPOSE: To assess the
      association between years of exposure to pre-high school football (PreYOE) and
      neuroradiological, neurological, and neuropsychological outcome measures in a
      different sample of retired NFL players. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study;
      Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Forty-five former NFL players were included in
      this study. All participants prospectively completed extensive history taking, a
      neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and a comprehensive
      battery of neuropsychological tests. To measure the associations between PreYOE
      and these outcome measures, multiple regression models were utilized while
      controlling for several covariates. RESULTS: After applying a Bonferroni
      correction for multiple comparisons, none of the neurological, neuroradiological,
      or neuropsychological outcome measures yielded a significant relationship with
      PreYOE. A second Bonferroni-corrected analysis of a subset of these athletes with
      self-reported learning disability yielded no significant relationships on paper
      and-pencil neurocognitive tests but did result in a significant association
      between learning disability and computerized indices of visual motor speed and
      reaction time. CONCLUSION: The current study failed to replicate the results of a
      prior study, which concluded that an earlier AFE to tackle football might result
      in long-term neurocognitive deficits. In 45 retired NFL athletes, there were no
      associations between PreYOE and neuroradiological, neurological, and
      neuropsychological outcome measures.

PMID- 26888879
TI  - Influence of Bony Defects on Preoperative Shoulder Function in Recurrent
      Anteroinferior Shoulder Instability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recurrent anteroinferior shoulder dislocations are often associated
      with bony glenoid and humeral defects. The influence of those bony lesions on the
      postoperative outcomes after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization procedures has
      been the subject of many studies. Little is known about the influence of those
      lesions on preoperative function. PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of glenoid
      and humeral bony defects on preoperative shoulder function in recurrent
      anteroinferior shoulder instability. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level
      of evidence, 3. METHODS: Included in the study were 90 patients (70 men, 20
      women; mean age, 27.1 years; 24 patients with prior failed stabilization) with
      posttraumatic recurrent anteroinferior shoulder instability who underwent
      preoperative computed tomography (CT) of both shoulders. The glenoid index was
      used to measure glenoid defect on a 3-dimensional CT. Humeral head defect was
      measured on a 2-dimensional CT with evaluation of the Hill-Sachs quotient,
      product, sum, and difference. Preoperative evaluation also included the Rowe
      score, Constant score, Walch-Duplay score, Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score
      (MISS), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), and Subjective
      Shoulder Value (SSV). RESULTS: There was a weak but significant correlation of
      the Hill-Sachs quotient and the glenoid index with the Rowe score (P = .03, r = 
      0.22 and P = .03, r = 0.23, respectively). Furthermore, the Hill-Sachs product
      significantly correlated with the WOSI (P = .02); in particular, the physical
      symptoms subscore showed a significant correlation (P = .04). The glenoid index
      showed a significant correlation with the SSV (P < .01). No significant
      correlation was found between the Walch-Duplay score, Constant score, or MISS and
      bony defects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that objective and
      subjective scoring systems correlate significantly with the clinical condition of
      patients with recurrent shoulder instability and associated bony defects. It is
      recommended that clinicians use the Rowe score, WOSI, and SSV for the clinical
      evaluation of patients with recurrent anteroinferior shoulder instability and
      associated bony defects. These evaluation systems may provide an early clinical
      indication of bony defects. Furthermore, very poor results on these evaluations
      could underline the necessity of a CT scan for the diagnosis of bony defects in
      recurrent shoulder instability and might be helpful for decision making
      concerning the indication of a CT.

PMID- 26888880
TI  - Fasciotomy for Deep Posterior Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg: A
      Prospective Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with exercise-induced lower leg pain may suffer from deep
      posterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome (dp-CECS). Current evidence for
      the efficacy of surgery is based on retrospective studies. Effects of fasciotomy
      on symptoms associated with dp-CECS have not been systematically studied, and
      reasons for unsuccessful surgery are unknown. PURPOSE: To report the short- and
      long-term effects of fasciotomy on pain, tightness, and cramps in a prospective
      cohort of patients with isolated dp-CECS. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of
      evidence, 4. METHODS: Between September 2011 and January 2015, pain, tightness,
      cramps, muscle weakness, and diminished sensation were scored (5-item verbal
      rating scale ranging from very severe [5 points] to absent [1 point]) in patients
      with dp-CECS before and after fasciotomy. Outcomes were graded as excellent,
      good, moderate, fair, or poor. Fair and poor cases were again analyzed during a
      follow-up visit in the outpatient department. RESULTS: Forty-four patients
      underwent surgery for isolated dp-CECS. Short-term follow-up (median, 4 months;
      range, 3-7 months) was complete in 42 of the 44 patients (95%; median patient
      age, 23 years; 23 male; 64 operated legs). Long-term follow-up (median, 27
      months; range, 12-42 months) was complete in 34 of 37 eligible patients (92%).
      Before surgery, exertional pain was very severe (27%) or severe (61%). Fasciotomy
      improved all symptoms, both in the short term (preoperative vs postoperative
      pain, 4.1 +/- 0.6 vs 2.3 +/- 1.1; P < .001) and the long term (pain, 4.2 +/- 0.6
      vs 2.7 +/- 1.3; P < .001). Levels of tightness, cramps, muscle weakness, and
      diminished sensation demonstrated similar significant improvements. Short- and
      long-term symptom scores did not differ. The short-term outcome was excellent in
      29%, good in 29%, moderate in 21%, fair in 12%, and poor in 10% of patients. In
      the long term, outcomes were similar (excellent, 12%; good, 35%; moderate, 24%;
      fair, 18%; and poor, 12%). An unsatisfactory outcome (fair or poor) was often
      caused by alternative types of CECS (eg, anterior or lateral CECS) or to medial
      tibial stress syndrome. Based on their outcome, 76% of patients would opt for
      surgery again. CONCLUSION: Fasciotomy was beneficial in 71% of patients with dp
      CECS in the lower leg; 47% of study patients experienced a good to excellent
      outcome. Outcomes were stable in the long term. Persistent complaints were often
      caused by other untreated conditions.

PMID- 26888881
TI  - Outcomes of the Remplissage Procedure and Its Effects on Return to Sports:
      Average 5-Year Follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Short-term outcomes for patients with large, engaging Hill-Sachs
      lesions who underwent remplissage have demonstrated good results. However,
      limited data are available for longer term outcomes. PURPOSE: To evaluate the
      long-term outcomes of remplissage and determine the long-term rate of return to
      specific sports postoperatively. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
      METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients treated with the remplissage
      procedure from 2007 to 2013. All underwent preoperative magnetic resonance
      imaging demonstrating large Hill-Sachs lesions by the Rowe criteria and glenoid
      bone loss <20%. All Hill-Sachs lesions were "off track" by an arthroscopic
      examination and preoperative imaging. At final follow-up, patients underwent a
      range of motion evaluation and were administered a detailed outcome survey, which
      included Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and American Shoulder
      and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores as well as questions regarding sports,
      employment, physical activities, and dislocation events. RESULTS: A total of 50
      patients (51 shoulders) were included in the study. The average patient age at
      surgery was 29.8 years (range, 15.0-72.4 years), and the average follow-up time
      was 60.7 months (range, 25.5-97.6 months); 20.0% of patients underwent previous
      surgery on their shoulder. The average postoperative WOSI score was 79.5%, and
      the average ASES score was 89.3. Six shoulders had dislocation events (11.8%)
      postoperatively: 3 were traumatic, and 3 were atraumatic. Increased preoperative
      dislocations led to a greater risk of a postoperative dislocation (P < .001).
      There was also a trend toward higher postoperative dislocation rates in patients
      who underwent revision (P = .062). The average loss of external rotation was 5.26
      degrees  (P = .13). The rate of return to >=1 sports was 95.5% of patients at an
      average of 7.0 months postoperatively; 81.0% returned to their previous intensity
      and level of sport. Of patients who played a throwing sport, 65.5% (n = 19)
      stated that they had problems throwing, and 58.6% (n = 17) felt that they could
      not normally wind up throwing a ball. Direct rates of return to overhead sports
      were volleyball, 100%; basketball, 69%; baseball, 50%; and football, 50%.
      CONCLUSION: The redislocation rate after remplissage was 11.8% at an average of 5
      years, with 95.5% of patients returning to full sports at an average of 7 months.
      For throwing sports, 65.5% of patients complained of decreased range of motion
      during throwing. The results should be considered preoperatively in candidates
      for remplissage who are engaged in throwing sports.

PMID- 26888882
TI  - Establishing and sustaining health observatories serving urbanized populations
      around the world: scoping study and survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The 'health observatory' model has successfully proliferated across
      several world regions, this study being conducted to define the geographical and
      physical bases and main functions of health observatories serving largely
      urbanized populations and the support needed for set-up and sustainability.
      METHODS: A scoping study of literature and observatory websites was undertaken to
      identify health observatories, main functions, year established and publications,
      followed by a self-completion survey to further investigate these
      characteristics, define the help observatories would have liked at set-up and
      later on, and how such help might effectively be accessed. RESULTS: Of 69 health
      observatories contacted, 27 (39%) mainly established since 2000 completed the
      survey. Most responding observatories had a sub-national/regional or sub
      regional/local geographical base and no one type of physical or organizational
      base predominated. Nearly all observatories undertook preparation of population
      based health reports and intelligence, data analysis and interpretation services,
      and a primary commitment to working with local/regional partners to support
      evidence-based decision-making. Most prioritized help with deciding and defining
      the scope of the observatory, estimating the core resources required for
      establishing/developing it, addressing sustainability issues, identifying
      knowledge, skills and skill-mix required to undertake the health
      intelligence/analytic functions, accessing data/IT expertise and developing
      training and capacity-building programmes. The preferred means of accessing this
      support was a virtual network(s) of experts on particular topics to support
      mutual learning and toolboxes developed for specific observatory functions.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although the health observatory as an organizational model is
      maturing, the learning derived from sharing structured guidance and support is
      regarded as invaluable.

PMID- 26888883
TI  - Unmet Needs of African Americans and Whites at the Time of Palliative Care
      Consultation.
AB  - CONTEXT: Differences among patient populations that present to consultative
      palliative care are not known. Such an appreciation would inform health-care
      delivery tailored to unique populations. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare
      characteristics and palliative care needs of African Americans (AAs) and whites
      during initial palliative care consultation. METHODS: We analyzed patient
      reported, clinician-entered clinical encounter data from a large, multisite
      community-based, nonhospice palliative care collaborative. We included first
      specialty palliative care consultations from January 1, 2014, to July 2, 2015,
      across 15 sites within the Global Palliative Care Quality Alliance registry.
      Demographics, disease, performance status, advance care planning, and symptom
      prevalence/severity were compared. RESULTS: Of 775 patients, 12.9% (N = 100) were
      AA. African Americans were younger (63 vs 75.4 years, P < .0001). A larger
      proportion of AAs had a diagnosis of cancer (45.0% vs 36.3%, P = .09) and in the
      hospital (71% vs 61.8%, P = .07). African Americans were more likely to have a
      Palliative Performance Score of 0 to 30 (35.6% vs 23.7%, P = .049). Around 50% in
      both racial groups were full code; slightly more than 40% had an advance
      directive. Nearly two-thirds in both racial groups reported 3 or more symptoms of
      any severity; one-third reported 3 or more moderate or severe symptoms. A larger
      proportion of Africans than whites reported pain of any severity (66.0% vs 56.1%,
      P = .06). CONCLUSION: All patients present to palliative care consultations with
      significant symptom and advance care planning needs. Further research is needed
      to identify how to deliver palliative care: earlier, in noncancer conditions, and
      improve pain management in AA populations.

PMID- 26888885
TI  - A Study of the Association Between Multidisciplinary Home Care and Home Death
      Among Thai Palliative Care Patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: Many terminally ill patients would prefer to stay and die in their own
      homes, but unfortunately, some may not be able to do so. Although there are many
      factors associated with successful home deaths, receiving palliative home visits
      from the multidisciplinary care teams is one of the key factors that enable
      patients to die at home. Our study was aimed to find whether there was any
      association between our palliative home care program and home death. METHODS: A
      retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Family Medicine at
      Ramathibodi Hospital between January 2012 and May 2014. All of the patients who
      were referred to multidisciplinary palliative care teams were included. The data
      set comprised of patient's profile, disease status, functional status, patient's
      symptoms, preferred place of death, frequency of home visits, types of team
      interventions, and patient's actual place of death. Multiple logistic regression
      was applied in order to determine the association between the variables and the
      probability of dying at home. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included into
      the study. At the end of the study, 50 (35.2%) patients died at home and 92
      (64.8%) patients died in the hospital. The multivariate logistic regression
      analysis demonstrated a strong association between multidisciplinary home care
      and home death (odds ratio 6.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.48-17.38).
      CONCLUSION: Palliative home care was a significant factor enabling patients who
      want to die at home. We encourage health policy makers to promote the development
      of community-based palliative care programs in Thailand.

PMID- 26888886
TI  - Measurement outcomes from hip simulators.
AB  - Simulation of wear in total hip replacements has been recognised as an important
      factor in determining the likelihood of clinical success. However, accurate
      measurement of wear can be problematic with factors such as number and morphology
      of wear particles produced as well as ion release proving more important in the
      biological response to hip replacements than wear volume or wear rate alone. In
      this study, hard-on-hard (CoCr alloy, AgCrN coating) and hard-on-soft (CoCr alloy
      and CrN coating on vitamin E blended highly cross-linked polyethylene) bearing
      combinations were tested in an orbital hip simulator under standard and some
      adverse conditions. Gravimetric wear rates were determined for all bearings, with
      cobalt and where applicable, silver release determined throughout testing.
      Isolation of wear particles from the lubricating fluid was used to determine the
      influence of different bearing combinations and wear conditions on particle
      morphology. It was found that cobalt and silver could be measured in the
      lubricating fluid even when volumetric wear was not detectable. In hard-on-hard
      bearings, Pearson's correlation of 0.98 was established between metal release
      into the lubricating fluid and wear volume. In hard-on-soft bearings, coating the
      head did not influence the polyethylene wear rates measured under standard
      conditions but did influence the cobalt release; the diameter influenced both
      polyethylene wear and cobalt release, and the introduction of adverse testing
      generated smaller polyethylene particles. While hip simulators can be useful to
      assess the wear performance of a new material or design, measurement of other
      outcomes may yield greater insight into the clinical behaviour of the bearings in
      vivo. 

PMID- 26888884
TI  - Investigation of Optimal Time for Starting Betamethasone Using Fatigue Scores and
      Prognostic Nutritional Index in Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer-Related
      Fatigue.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are frequently used to treat cancer-related fatigue
      (CRF), but it is yet to be established as standard care, and few reports have
      defined the appropriate time to start treatment. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the
      optimal time for starting betamethasone and evaluated the clinical validity of
      using the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for this purpose. METHODS: Data were
      retrospectively collected for patients with terminal cancer receiving
      betamethasone for palliative care. Fatigue strength was evaluated by the daily
      occurrence of fatigue, using proportion of adequate fatigue, AF(%), defined as
      the average of the daily score for all treatment days, AF(%)all, the initial 5
      days, AF(%)initi5, or the last 5 days, AF(%)last5. We examined (1) the
      relationship between survival time and adequate fatigue for CRF and (2) the
      correlation between survival time and PNI (based on serum albumin and
      lymphocytes). RESULTS: Data from 24 patients were included. The AF(%)all was
      approximately 50% at 42 days before death and gradually decreased as the survival
      time shortened ( R2 =.41, P <.001). There was a clear positive correlation
      between AF(%)all and AF(%)initi5 ( R2 =.84, P <.001). At 42 days before death,
      PNI was approximately 30 and significantly correlated with the survival time ( R2
      = .873, P <.001). CONCLUSION: The adequate fatigue appears to be dependent on
      survival time, and PNI might be useful for identifying patients that will benefit
      from betamethasone use. It is hoped that these results will contribute to
      individualized pharmacotherapy of terminally ill patients with CRF.

PMID- 26888887
TI  - Acetabular shell deformation as a function of shell stiffness and bone strength.
AB  - Press-fit acetabular shells used for hip replacement rely upon an interference
      fit with the bone to provide initial stability. This process may result in
      deformation of the shell. This study aimed to model shell deformation as a
      process of shell stiffness and bone strength. A cohort of 32 shells with two
      different wall thicknesses (3 and 4 mm) and 10 different shell sizes (44- to 62
      mm outer diameter) were implanted into eight cadavers. Shell deformation was then
      measured in the cadavers using a previously validated ATOS Triple Scan III
      optical system. The shell-bone interface was then considered as a spring system
      according to Hooke's law and from this the force exerted on the shell by the bone
      was calculated using a combined stiffness consisting of the measured shell
      stiffness and a calculated bone stiffness. The median radial stiffness for the 3
      mm wall thickness was 4192 N/mm (range, 2920-6257 N/mm), while for the 4-mm wall
      thickness the median was 9633 N/mm (range, 6875-14,341 N/mm). The median
      deformation was 48 um (range, 3-187 um), while the median force was 256 N (range,
      26-916 N). No statistically significant correlation was found between shell
      stiffness and deformation. Deformation was also found to be not fully symmetric
      (centres 180 degrees  apart), with a median angle discrepancy of 11.5 degrees 
      between the two maximum positive points of deformation. Further work is still
      required to understand how the bone influences acetabular shell deformation. 

PMID- 26888888
TI  - The Australian Work Exposures Study: Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to
      Respirable Crystalline Silica.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a biologically active dust
      that can accumulate in the lung and induce silicosis and lung cancer. Despite
      occupational exposure being the predominant source, no study has described
      current occupational RCS exposure on a national scale in Australia. The aim of
      this study is to estimate the characteristics of those exposed and the
      circumstances of RCS exposure in Australian workplaces. METHODS: A cross
      sectional survey of the Australian working population (18-65 years old) was
      conducted. Information about the respondents' current job and their demographic
      characteristics was collected in a telephone interview. Occupational exposure to
      RCS was determined based on preprogrammed decision rules regarding potential
      levels of exposure associated with self-reported tasks. RESULTS: Overall, 6.4% of
      respondents were deemed exposed to RCS at work in 2012 (3.3% were exposed at a
      high level). The exposure varied with sex, state of residence, and socioeconomic
      status. Miners and construction workers were most likely to be highly exposed to
      RCS when performing tasks with concrete or cement or working near crushers that
      create RCS-containing dusts. When extrapolated to the entire Australian working
      population, 6.6% of Australian workers were exposed to RCS and 3.7% were highly
      exposed when carrying out tasks at work. CONCLUSION: This is the first study
      investigating occupational RCS exposure in an entire national working population.
      The information about occupational tasks that lead to high level RCS exposure
      provided by this study will inform the direction of occupational interventions
      and policies.

PMID- 26888889
TI  - Comparison of Multiple Measures of Noise Exposure in Paper Mills.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Noise exposures are associated with a host of adverse health effects,
      yet these exposures remain inadequately characterized in many industrial
      operations, including paper mills. We assessed noise at four paper mills using
      three measures: (i) personal noise dosimetry, (ii) area noise measurements, and
      (iii) questionnaire items addressing several different aspects of perceived noise
      exposure. METHODS: We assessed exposures to noise characterized using the three
      measures and compared the relationships between them. We also estimated the
      validity of each of the three measures using a novel application of the Method of
      Triads, which does not appear to have been used previously in the occupational
      health literature. RESULTS: We collected 209 valid dosimetry measurements and
      collected perceived noise exposure survey items from 170 workers, along with 100
      area measurements. We identified exposures in excess of 85 dBA at all mills. The
      dosimetry and area noise measurements assigned to individual subjects generally
      showed good agreement, but for some operations within mill, large differences
      between the two measures were observed, and a substantial fraction of paired
      measures differed by >5 dB. Perceived noise exposures varied greatly between the
      mills, particularly for an item related to difficulty speaking in noise. One
      perceived noise exposure item related to difficulty hearing due to noise showed
      strong and significant correlations with both dosimetry and area measurements.
      The Method of Triads analysis showed that dosimetry measures had the highest
      estimated validity coefficient (0.70), and that the best performing perceived
      exposure measure had validity that exceeded that of area measurements (0.48
      versus 0.40, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Workers in Swedish pulp mills have the
      potential for exposures to high levels of noise. Our results suggest that, while
      dosimetry remains the preferred approach to exposure assessment, perceived noise
      exposures can be used to evaluate potential exposures to noise in epidemiological
      studies.

PMID- 26888890
TI  - Changes in fine-root production, phenology and spatial distribution in response
      to N application in irrigated sweet cherry trees.
AB  - Factors regulating fine-root growth are poorly understood, particularly in fruit
      tree species. In this context, the effects of N addition on the temporal and
      spatial distribution of fine-root growth and on the fine-root turnover were
      assessed in irrigated sweet cherry trees. The influence of other exogenous and
      endogenous factors was also examined. The rhizotron technique was used to measure
      the length-based fine-root growth in trees fertilized at two N rates (0 and 60 kg
      ha(-1)), and the above-ground growth, leaf net assimilation, and air and soil
      variables were simultaneously monitored. N fertilization exerted a basal effect
      throughout the season, changing the magnitude, temporal patterns and spatial
      distribution of fine-root production and mortality. Specifically, N addition
      enhanced the total fine-root production by increasing rates and extending the
      production period. On average, N-fertilized trees had a length-based production
      that was 110-180% higher than in control trees, depending on growing season.
      Mortality was proportional to production, but turnover rates were inconsistently
      affected. Root production and mortality was homogeneously distributed in the soil
      profile of N-fertilized trees while control trees had 70-80% of the total fine
      root production and mortality concentrated below 50 cm depth. Root mortality
      rates were associated with soil temperature and water content. In contrast, root
      production rates were primarily under endogenous control, specifically through
      source-sink relationships, which in turn were affected by N supply through
      changes in leaf photosynthetic level. Therefore, exogenous and endogenous factors
      interacted to control the fine-root dynamics of irrigated sweet cherry trees.

PMID- 26888891
TI  - Fast acclimation of freezing resistance suggests no influence of winter minimum
      temperature on the range limit of European beech.
AB  - Low temperature extremes drive species distribution at a global scale. Here, we
      assessed the acclimation potential of freezing resistance in European beech
      (Fagus sylvaticaL.) during winter. We specifically asked (i) how do beech
      populations growing in contrasting climates differ in their maximum freezing
      resistance, (ii) do differences result from genetic differentiation or phenotypic
      plasticity to preceding temperatures and (iii) is beech at risk of freezing
      damage in winter across its distribution range. We investigated the genetic and
      environmental components of freezing resistance in buds of adult beech trees from
      three different populations along a natural large temperature gradient in north
      western Switzerland, including the site holding the cold temperature record in
      Switzerland. Freezing resistance of leaf primordia in buds varied significantly
      among populations, with LT50values (lethal temperature for 50% of samples)
      ranging from -25 to -40  degrees C, correlating with midwinter temperatures of
      the site of origin. Cambial meristems and the pith of shoots showed high freezing
      resistance in all three populations, with only a trend to lower freezing
      resistance at the warmer site. After hardening samples at -6  degrees C for 5
      days, freezing resistance of leaf primordia increased in all provenances by up to
      4.5 K. After additional hardening at -15  degrees C for 3 days, all leaf
      primordia were freezing resistant to -40  degrees C. We demonstrate that freezing
      resistance ofF. sylvaticahas a high ability to acclimate to temperature changes
      in winter, whereas the genetic differentiation of freezing resistance among
      populations seems negligible over this small geographic scale but large climatic
      gradient. In contrast to the assumption made in most of the species distribution
      models, we suggest that absolute minimum temperature in winter is unlikely to
      shape the cold range limit of beech. We conclude that the rapid acclimation of
      freezing resistance to winter temperatures allows beech to track changing
      climatic conditions, especially during unusually warm winters interrupted by very
      cold weather. 

PMID- 26888892
TI  - Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the
      PREDIMED Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in cardiovascular
      disease (CVD) remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that baseline BCAA
      concentrations predict future risk of CVD and that a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet)
      intervention may counteract this effect. METHODS: We developed a case-cohort
      study within the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (PREDIMED), with 226 incident
      CVD cases and 744 noncases. We used LC-MS/MS to measure plasma BCAAs (leucine,
      isoleucine, and valine), both at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up. The
      primary outcome was a composite of incident stroke, myocardial infarction, or
      cardiovascular death. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders,
      baseline leucine and isoleucine concentrations were associated with higher CVD
      risk: the hazard ratios (HRs) for the highest vs lowest quartile were 1.70 (95%
      CI, 1.05-2.76) and 2.09 (1.27-3.44), respectively. Stronger associations were
      found for stroke. For both CVD and stroke, we found higher HRs across successive
      quartiles of BCAAs in the control group than in the MedDiet groups. With stroke
      as the outcome, a significant interaction (P = 0.009) between baseline BCAA score
      and intervention with MedDiet was observed. No significant effect of the
      intervention on 1-year changes in BCAAs or any association between 1-year changes
      in BCAAs and CVD were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Higher concentrations of baseline
      BCAAs were associated with increased risk of CVD, especially stroke, in a high
      cardiovascular risk population. A Mediterranean-style diet had a negligible
      effect on 1-year changes in BCAAs, but it may counteract the harmful effects of
      BCAAs on stroke.

PMID- 26888893
TI  - Minimizing Matrix Effects for the Accurate Quantification of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
      Metabolites in Dried Blood Spots by LC-MS/MS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The noncalcemic actions of vitamin D in multiple organs are now
      widely recognized. Vitamin D status has been linked with a wide variety of
      conditions, which has led to an increasing demand for vitamin D screening. In
      particular, there is intense interest in the impact of vitamin D on a variety of
      developmental conditions. The most readily accessible pediatric samples are dried
      blood spots, and health organizations are increasingly archiving such samples for
      later assessment of the antecedents of disease. METHODS: In 2009, we developed a
      method to quantify the major circulatory form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D,
      in archived dried blood spots. Over the last 6 years, we have made substantial
      alterations to the published method to enhance throughput, sensitivity, and assay
      robustness. RESULTS: With the alterations, the assay was 3 times faster than the
      previously published assay and had a >10-fold increase in signal strength.
      Intraassay imprecision decreased from 13.4% to 6.9%, and there was a 5-fold
      reduction in interfering phospholipids. In actual use over 2 years, the assay
      showed an interassay imprecision of 11.6%. CONCLUSIONS: This assay has performed
      reliably over the past 6 years. The practical changes we have made should allow
      clinical chemists to successfully adapt this method.

PMID- 26888894
TI  - Increased Remnant Cholesterol Explains Part of Residual Risk of All-Cause
      Mortality in 5414 Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increased concentrations of remnant cholesterol are causally
      associated with increased risk of ischemic heart disease. We tested the
      hypothesis that increased remnant cholesterol is a risk factor for all-cause
      mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: We included 5414
      Danish patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. Patients on statins were
      not excluded. Calculated remnant cholesterol was nonfasting total cholesterol
      minus LDL and HDL cholesterol. During 35836 person-years of follow-up, 1319
      patients died. RESULTS: We examined both calculated and directly measured remnant
      cholesterol; importantly, however, measured remnant cholesterol made up only 9%
      of calculated remnant cholesterol at nonfasting triglyceride concentrations <1
      mmol/L (89 mg/dL) and only 43% at triglycerides >5 mmol/L (443 mg/dL).
      Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality compared with
      patients with calculated remnant cholesterol concentrations in the 0 to 60th
      percentiles were 1.2 (95% CI, 1.1-1.4) for patients in the 61st to 80th
      percentiles, 1.3 (1.1-1.5) for the 81st to 90th percentiles, 1.5 (1.1-1.8) for
      the 91st to 95th percentiles, and 1.6 (1.2-2.0) for patients in the 96th to 100th
      percentiles (trend, P < 0.001). Corresponding values for measured remnant
      cholesterol were 1.0 (0.8-1.1), 1.2 (1.0-1.4), 1.1 (0.9-1.5), and 1.3 (1.1-1.7)
      (trend, P = 0.006), and for measured LDL cholesterol 1.0 (0.9-1.1), 1.0 (0.8
      1.2), 1.0 (0.8-1.3), and 1.1 (0.8-1.4) (trend, P = 0.88). Cumulative survival was
      reduced in patients with calculated remnant cholesterol >=1 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) vs
      <1 mmol/L [log-rank, P = 9 * 10(-6); hazard ratio 1.3 (1.2-1.5)], but not in
      patients with measured LDL cholesterol >=3 mmol/L (116 mg/dL) vs <3 mmol/L [P =
      0.76; hazard ratio 1.0 (0.9-1.1)]. CONCLUSIONS: Increased concentrations of both
      calculated and measured remnant cholesterol were associated with increased all
      cause mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease, which was not the case
      for increased concentrations of measured LDL cholesterol. This suggests that
      increased concentrations of remnant cholesterol explain part of the residual risk
      of all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease.

PMID- 26888895
TI  - Plasma Levels of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Results
      of a Cohort Study.
AB  - Previous research analyzed the level of plasma inflammatory markers in patients
      with coronary disease, but very few studies have evaluated these markers in
      patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The objective of this study was
      to investigate the plasma levels of inflammatory markers in patients with PAD and
      in healthy controls. The following plasma levels of biomarkers were measured in
      80 patients with PAD (mean age 68 +/- 5 years) and in 72 healthy participants
      (mean age 67 +/- 6 years): interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha), L-selectin (LS), neopterin (N), P-selectin (PS), E-selectin (ES),
      vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1
      (ICAM-1), and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and 9 (MMP-9). Significantly
      higher levels of IL-6 (P < .001), TNF-alpha (P < .0001), ES (P < .0001), LS (P <
      .0001), PS (P < .0001), ICAM-1 (P < .001), VCAM-1 (P < .001), N (P < .001), MMP-2
      (P < .001), and MMP-9 (P < .005) were found in the patients with PAD. Patients
      with PAD show a inflammation marker profile different from that of control
      participants. Reducing the high plasma levels of inflammatory markers could be a
      new therapeutic approach both for the prevention and the treatment of PAD.

PMID- 26888896
TI  - State-of-the-Art Microbiologic Testing for Community-Acquired Meningitis and
      Encephalitis.
AB  - Meningitis and encephalitis are potentially life-threatening diseases with a wide
      array of infectious, postinfectious, and noninfectious causes. Diagnostic testing
      is central to determining the underlying etiology, treatment, and prognosis, but
      many patients remain undiagnosed due to suboptimal testing and lack of tests for
      all pathogens. In this article, we summarize the epidemiology, barriers to
      diagnosis, and current best tests for meningitis and encephalitis in developed
      countries. We end with a brief discussion of new test methods, such as multiplex
      panel-based tests and metagenomic sequencing, which are likely to alter
      diagnostic strategies for these conditions in the near future.

PMID- 26888897
TI  - Zika Virus: Diagnostics for an Emerging Pandemic Threat.
AB  - Zika virus (ZIKV) is anAedesmosquito-borne flavivirus that emerged in Brazil in
      2015 and then rapidly spread throughout the tropical and subtropical Americas.
      Based on clinical criteria alone, ZIKV cannot be reliably distinguished from
      infections with other pathogens that cause an undifferentiated systemic febrile
      illness, including infections with two common arboviruses, dengue virus and
      chikungunya virus. This minireview details the methods that are available to
      diagnose ZIKV infection. 

PMID- 26888898
TI  - Detection and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Carbapenemase-Producing Aeromonas
      hydrophila Isolates from Routine Perirectal Surveillance Culture.
AB  - Perirectal surveillance cultures and a stool culture grew Aeromonas species from
      three patients over a 6-week period and were without epidemiological links.
      Detection of the blaKPC-2 gene in one isolate prompted inclusion of non
      Enterobacteriaceae in our surveillance culture workup. Whole-genome sequencing
      confirmed that the isolates were unrelated and provided data for Aeromonas
      reference genomes.

PMID- 26888899
TI  - Seeded Amplification of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Nasal Brushings and
      Recto-anal Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissues from Elk by Real-Time Quaking
      Induced Conversion.
AB  - Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of
      cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has
      since been detected across North America and the Republic of Korea. The expansion
      of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and
      antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of its spread; this is
      especially true in cases of relocation/reintroduction or prevalence studies of
      large or protected herds, where depopulation may be contraindicated. This study
      evaluated the sensitivity of the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC)
      assay of recto-anal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsy specimens
      and nasal brushings collected antemortem. These findings were compared to results
      of immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of ante- and postmortem samples. RAMALT
      samples were collected from populations of farmed and free-ranging Rocky Mountain
      elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni;n= 323), and nasal brush samples were collected from
      a subpopulation of these animals (n= 205). We hypothesized that the sensitivity
      of RT-QuIC would be comparable to that of IHC analysis of RAMALT and would
      correspond to that of IHC analysis of postmortem tissues. We found RAMALT
      sensitivity (77.3%) to be highly correlative between RT-QuIC and IHC analysis.
      Sensitivity was lower when testing nasal brushings (34%), though both RAMALT and
      nasal brush test sensitivities were dependent on both thePRNPgenotype and disease
      progression determined by the obex score. These data suggest that RT-QuIC, like
      IHC analysis, is a relatively sensitive assay for detection of CWD prions in
      RAMALT biopsy specimens and, with further investigation, has potential for large
      scale and rapid automated testing of antemortem samples for CWD. 

PMID- 26888900
TI  - Multicenter Assessment of Gram Stain Error Rates.
AB  - Gram stains remain the cornerstone of diagnostic testing in the microbiology
      laboratory for the guidance of empirical treatment prior to availability of
      culture results. Incorrectly interpreted Gram stains may adversely impact patient
      care, and yet there are no comprehensive studies that have evaluated the
      reliability of the technique and there are no established standards for
      performance. In this study, clinical microbiology laboratories at four major
      tertiary medical care centers evaluated Gram stain error rates across all
      nonblood specimen types by using standardized criteria. The study focused on
      several factors that primarily contribute to errors in the process, including
      poor specimen quality, smear preparation, and interpretation of the smears. The
      number of specimens during the evaluation period ranged from 976 to 1,864
      specimens per site, and there were a total of 6,115 specimens. Gram stain results
      were discrepant from culture for 5% of all specimens. Fifty-eight percent of
      discrepant results were specimens with no organisms reported on Gram stain but
      significant growth on culture, while 42% of discrepant results had reported
      organisms on Gram stain that were not recovered in culture. Upon review of
      available slides, 24% (63/263) of discrepant results were due to reader error,
      which varied significantly based on site (9% to 45%). The Gram stain error rate
      also varied between sites, ranging from 0.4% to 2.7%. The data demonstrate a
      significant variability between laboratories in Gram stain performance and affirm
      the need for ongoing quality assessment by laboratories. Standardized monitoring
      of Gram stains is an essential quality control tool for laboratories and is
      necessary for the establishment of a quality benchmark across laboratories.

PMID- 26888901
TI  - Detection of Human Herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) Reactivation in Hematopoietic Cell
      Transplant Recipients with Inherited Chromosomally Integrated HHV-6A by Droplet
      Digital PCR.
AB  - The presence of inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus 6 (ciHHV-6)
      in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) donors or recipients confounds molecular
      testing for HHV-6 reactivation, which occurs in 30 to 50% of transplants. Here we
      describe a multiplex droplet digital PCR clinical diagnostic assay that
      concurrently distinguishes between HHV-6 species (A or B) and identifies
      inherited ciHHV-6. By applying this assay to recipient post-HCT plasma and serum
      samples, we demonstrated reactivation of HHV-6B in 25% (4/16 recipients) of HCT
      recipients with donor- or recipient-derived inherited ciHHV-6A, underscoring the
      need for diagnostic testing for HHV-6 infection even in the presence of ciHHV-6.

PMID- 26888903
TI  - Biographical Feature: Alexander C. Sonnenwirth, Ph.D.

PMID- 26888902
TI  - Newcastle Disease Viruses Causing Recent Outbreaks Worldwide Show Unexpectedly
      High Genetic Similarity to Historical Virulent Isolates from the 1940s.
AB  - Virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) cause Newcastle disease (ND), a
      devastating disease of poultry and wild birds. Phylogenetic analyses clearly
      distinguish historical isolates (obtained prior to 1960) from currently
      circulating viruses of class II genotypes V, VI, VII, and XII through XVIII.
      Here, partial and complete genomic sequences of recent virulent isolates of
      genotypes II and IX from China, Egypt, and India were found to be nearly
      identical to those of historical viruses isolated in the 1940s. Phylogenetic
      analysis, nucleotide distances, and rates of change demonstrate that these recent
      isolates have not evolved significantly from the most closely related ancestors
      from the 1940s. The low rates of change for these virulent viruses (7.05 * 10(-5)
      and 2.05 * 10(-5) per year, respectively) and the minimal genetic distances
      existing between these and historical viruses (0.3 to 1.2%) of the same genotypes
      indicate an unnatural origin. As with any other RNA virus, Newcastle disease
      virus is expected to evolve naturally; thus, these findings suggest that some
      recent field isolates should be excluded from evolutionary studies. Furthermore,
      phylogenetic analyses show that these recent virulent isolates are more closely
      related to virulent strains isolated during the 1940s, which have been and
      continue to be used in laboratory and experimental challenge studies. Since the
      preservation of viable viruses in the environment for over 6 decades is highly
      unlikely, it is possible that the source of some of the recent virulent viruses
      isolated from poultry and wild birds might be laboratory viruses.

PMID- 26888905
TI  - Evaluation of the Check-Points Check MDR CT103 and CT103 XL Microarray Kits by
      Use of Preparatory Rapid Cell Lysis.
AB  - Using a rapid bacterial lysis method, the Check MDR CT103 and CT103 XL
      microarrays demonstrated accuracies of 98.1% and 94.2%, respectively, for
      detection of known resistance genes in 108 multidrug-resistant Gram-negative
      bacilli. In 45 isolates, 49 previously unrecognized extended-spectrum beta
      lactamase or plasmid AmpC targets were detected and confirmed by conventional
      PCR.

PMID- 26888904
TI  - Prospective Evaluation of a New Aspergillus IgG Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for
      Diagnosis of Chronic and Allergic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
AB  - Anti-Aspergillus IgG antibodies are important biomarkers for the diagnosis of
      chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
      (ABPA). We compared the performance of a new commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
      (Bordier Affinity Products) with that of the Bio-Rad and Virion?Serion EIAs. This
      assay is novel in its association of two recombinant antigens with somatic and
      metabolic antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus In a prospective multicenter study,
      436 serum samples from 147 patients diagnosed with CPA (136 samples/104 patients)
      or ABPA (94 samples/43 patients) and from 205 controls (206 samples) were tested.
      We obtained sensitivities of 97%, 91.7%, and 86.1%, and specificities of 90.3%,
      91.3%, and 81.5% for the Bordier, Bio-Rad, and Virion?Serion tests, respectively.
      The Bordier kit was more sensitive than the Bio-Rad kit (P < 0.01), which was
      itself more sensitive than the Virion?Serion kit (P = 0.04). The Bordier and Bio
      Rad kits had similar specificity (P = 0.8), both higher than that of the
      Virion?Serion kit (P = 0.02). The area under the receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) curves confirmed the superiority of the Bordier kit over the
      Bio-Rad and the Virion?Serion kits (0.977, 0.951, and 0.897, respectively; P <
      0.01 for each comparison). In a subset analysis of 279 serum samples tested with
      the Bordier and Bio-Rad kits and an in-house immunoprecipitin assay (IPD), the
      Bordier kit had the highest sensitivity (97.7%), but the IPD tended to be more
      specific (71.2 and 84.7%, respectively; P = 0.10). The use of recombinant,
      somatic, and metabolic antigens in a single EIA improved the balance of
      sensitivity and specificity, resulting in an assay highly suitable for use in the
      diagnosis of chronic and allergic aspergillosis.

PMID- 26888906
TI  - Comparison of the Copan eSwab System with an Agar Swab Transport System for
      Maintenance of Fastidious Anaerobic Bacterium Viability.
AB  - We compared the eSwab system to a swab with an anaerobic transport semisolid agar
      system for their capacities to maintain the viability of 20 species of fastidious
      anaerobes inoculated on the bench and held at ambient or refrigerator temperature
      for 24 or 48 h. On average, both systems maintained similar viabilities among
      analogous groups of organisms at both temperatures, although there were
      quantitative differences among some species.

PMID- 26888909
TI  - Atypical epidemiology of CTX-M-15 among Enterobacteriaceae from a high diversity
      of non-clinical niches in Angola.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution and
      molecular epidemiology of ESBLs, acquired AmpCs and carbapenemases in
      Enterobacteriaceae from non-clinical niches in Angola, an under-researched sub
      Saharan country. METHODS: Eighty-one samples were recovered from healthy persons
      (n = 18), healthy animals (n = 33) and their environments (n = 10) or aquatic
      settings (n = 20) in south Angola (2013). Samples were plated onto CHROMagarTM
      Orientation with/without antibiotics. Standard methods were used for bacterial
      identification, characterization of bla genes, antibiotic susceptibility testing
      and conjugation assays. Clonal analysis (XbaI-PFGE, MLST and Escherichia coli
      phylogroups), location of bla and plasmid characterization (S1-PFGE, I-CeuI-PFGE,
      replicon typing and hybridization) were also performed. RESULTS: ESBLs (almost
      exclusively CTX-M-15, 98%) were detected in 21% (45/216) of the isolates,
      recovered from diverse non-clinical niches and belonging to different
      Enterobacteriaceae species (mainly E. coli). Acquired AmpCs or carbapenemases
      were not found. The pandemic B2-ST131 E. coli clone was not identified, but some
      widespread clonal complexes (CCs) from A (CC10 and CC168), B1 (CC156) or D (CC38)
      phylogroups were detected. blaCTX-M-15 was variably identified on typeable (29%;
      100-335 kb; IncFII, IncFIIK6, IncHI2 and IncY) or non-typeable (16%; 70-330 kb)
      plasmids or on the chromosome (14%), while for 41% of the isolates its specific
      location was not determined. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports, for the first time
      in Angola, an unexpected high occurrence of CTX-M-15 in diverse non-clinical
      niches and Enterobacteriaceae species, and uncovers novel plasmid replicons in
      under-researched geographical regions. The diffusion of blaCTX-M-15 through such
      a high diversity of genetic backgrounds (clones, typeable/non-typeable plasmids
      and genetic environments) unveils an extraordinary ability for blaCTX-M-15
      acquisition and mobilization favoured by unrecognized ecological factors.

PMID- 26888908
TI  - Ertapenem versus piperacillin/tazobactam for diabetic foot infections in China: a
      Phase 3, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, non
      inferiority trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Few randomized controlled studies have compared antibiotic regimens
      against diabetic foot infections (DFIs) in Chinese patients. We evaluated the
      efficacy and safety of ertapenem versus piperacillin/tazobactam for the treatment
      of DFIs in Chinese patients. METHODS: Patients with moderate to severe DFIs
      requiring parenteral antibiotics were randomized in a 1 : 1 ratio to receive
      ertapenem (1.0 g once daily) or piperacillin/tazobactam (4.5 g every 8 h) by 30
      min intravenous (iv) infusions for >=5 days. The primary outcome was favourable
      clinical response at discontinuation of iv therapy (DCIV). An evaluable-patient
      population was identified for primary analysis of non-inferiority at -15%. Safety
      was assessed. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01370616. RESULTS: Of 565 patients
      randomized, 443 patients (ertapenem = 219 and piperacillin/tazobactam = 224) were
      clinically evaluable for primary analysis. In the clinically evaluable
      population, the proportions of patients with favourable clinical response at DCIV
      were 93.6% (205/219) and 97.3% (218/224) in the ertapenem and
      piperacillin/tazobactam groups, respectively (difference: -3.8%, 95% CI: -8.3%,
      0.0%). Ertapenem had a significantly lower favourable clinical response rate
      (91.5% versus 97.2%, 95% CI for difference: -12.1%, -0.3%) at DCIV in severe DFI
      patients. In the modified ITT population, 88.8% (237/267) and 90.6% (241/266) of
      patients in the ertapenem and piperacillin/tazobactam groups, respectively, had
      favourable clinical responses at DCIV (difference: -1.9%, 95% CI: -7.3%, 3.3%).
      Microbiological eradications of causative pathogens and adverse events were
      similar between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ertapenem was non
      inferior to piperacillin/tazobactam in Chinese patients with DFIs. Ertapenem
      treatment resulted in a markedly lower rate of clinical resolution in severe
      DFIs.

PMID- 26888907
TI  - Ensembl regulation resources.
AB  - New experimental techniques in epigenomics allow researchers to assay a diversity
      of highly dynamic features such as histone marks, DNA modifications or chromatin
      structure. The study of their fluctuations should provide insights into gene
      expression regulation, cell differentiation and disease. The Ensembl project
      collects and maintains the Ensembl regulation data resources on epigenetic marks,
      transcription factor binding and DNA methylation for human and mouse, as well as
      microarray probe mappings and annotations for a variety of chordate genomes. From
      this data, we produce a functional annotation of the regulatory elements along
      the human and mouse genomes with plans to expand to other species as data becomes
      available. Starting from well-studied cell lines, we will progressively expand
      our library of measurements to a greater variety of samples. Ensembl's regulation
      resources provide a central and easy-to-query repository for reference
      epigenomes. As with all Ensembl data, it is freely available at
      http://www.ensembl.org, from the Perl and REST APIs and from the public Ensembl
      MySQL database server at ensembldb.ensembl.org. Database URL:
      http://www.ensembl.org.

PMID- 26888911
TI  - Soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) as an inflammatory biomarker in
      naive HIV-infected patients during ART.
AB  - BACKGROUND: After the advent of ART, non-AIDS-related comorbidities are the main
      causes of death in HIV patients. Multiple biomarkers have been studied as markers
      of disease. We wanted to test soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) in
      an HIV setting. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to determine whether sEPCR
      decreases after 48 weeks of ART in naive HIV patients. Secondary objectives were
      to compare sEPCR levels between patients with chronic HIV infection (CHI) and
      primary HIV infection (PHI) and to analyse if there is a correlation between
      sEPCR and both immunovirological parameters and different markers of
      inflammation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed sEPCR in 33 patients with CHI and
      19 patients with PHI naive to ART. sEPCR was compared together with
      immunovirological parameters (HIV RNA and CD4 cell count) and IL-6 or D-dimer
      (DD). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After 48 weeks of ART, in CHI, the sEPCR decrease
      was significant (P = 0.0006) and sEPCR at baseline was correlated with both CD4
      cell increase (r = +0.463, P = 0.007) and HIV RNA decrease (r = -0.363, P =
      0.038). In PHI, sEPCR was stable (P = 0.35); there was a correlation between 48
      week DD change and IL-6 change (r = +0.696, P = 0.0009) and also between 48 week
      DD change and sEPCR change (r = +0.553, P = 0.014). Despite the small sample
      size, we hypothesize that sEPCR levels reflect coagulant pathway activation
      caused by the endothelial damage during chronic infection more than a marker of
      the cytokine storm that occurs during PHI. Alternatively, in PHI, the link found
      between sEPCR and DD secondary to IL-6 suggests sEPCR is an indirect marker of
      inflammation.

PMID- 26888910
TI  - Dolutegravir as maintenance monotherapy: first experiences in HIV-1 patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir is recommended as part of combination ART (cART) for HIV
      1-infected patients. Toxicities, drug interactions and costs related to cART
      still warrant the search for improved treatment options. Dolutegravir's high
      resistance barrier might make it suitable as antiretroviral maintenance
      monotherapy. The feasibility of this strategy is currently unknown. METHODS: This
      is a prospective case series on five consecutive HIV-1-infected patients on cART
      without previous virological failure who switched to dolutegravir monotherapy.
      All were HIV-RNA suppressed <50 copies/mL and had contraindications to current
      and alternative combinations of antiretroviral drugs. HIV-RNA was measured at
      baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12 and every 6 weeks thereafter. Patients would be
      switched back to their original cART upon confirmed HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL.
      RESULTS: The five patients had been HIV-RNA suppressed <50 copies/mL for >=1.5
      years prior to the initiation of dolutegravir monotherapy. All were on NNRTI
      containing regimens at the switch. HIV-RNA remained <50 copies/mL at all
      timepoints in four patients. One patient, with end-stage renal disease and on
      calcium supplements, had a pre-cART HIV-RNA of 625 000 copies/mL with a CD4 nadir
      of 120 cells/mm(3) and had HIV-RNA of 8150 copies/mL at week 30. The dolutegravir
      Ctrough was 0.18 mg/L. This patient did not have acquired resistance or evidence
      of adherence problems and HIV-RNA was resuppressed after switching to his former
      cART. CONCLUSIONS: This case series indicates that dolutegravir monotherapy might
      be a valuable maintenance option in selected HIV-infected patients who are well
      suppressed on cART, if confirmed by future randomized clinical trials.

PMID- 26888912
TI  - A chemical susceptibility profile of the Plasmodium falciparum transmission
      stages by complementary cell-based gametocyte assays.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: As most available antimalarial drugs are ineffective against the
      Plasmodium falciparum transmission stages, new drugs against the parasite's
      gametocytes are urgently needed to combat malaria globally. The unique biology of
      gametocytes requires assays that need to be specific, to faithfully monitor anti
      gametocyte activity, and to be easy to perform, cheap and scalable to high
      throughput screening (HTS). METHODS: We developed an HTS cell-based assay with P.
      falciparum gametocytes specifically expressing a potent luciferase. To confirm
      HTS hit activity for several parasite genotypes, the luciferase assay and the
      gametocyte lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, usable on any parasite isolate,
      were compared by screening antimalarial drugs and determining IC50 values of anti
      gametocyte hits from the 'Malaria Box' against early- and late-stage gametocytes.
      RESULTS: Comparison of the two assays, conducted on the early and on late
      gametocyte stages, revealed an excellent correlation (R(2) > 0.9) for the IC50
      values obtained by the respective readouts. Differences in susceptibility to
      drugs and compounds between the two parasite developmental stages were
      consistently measured in both assays. CONCLUSIONS: This work indicates that the
      luciferase and gametocyte LDH assays are interchangeable and that their specific
      advantages can be exploited to design an HTS pipeline leading to new transmission
      blocking compounds. Results from these assays consistently defined a gametocyte
      chemical susceptibility profile, relevant to the planning of future drug
      discovery strategies.

PMID- 26888913
TI  - Alien species as a driver of recent extinctions.
AB  - We assessed the prevalence of alien species as a driver of recent extinctions in
      five major taxa (plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), using data
      from the IUCN Red List. Our results show that alien species are the second most
      common threat associated with species that have gone completely extinct from
      these taxa since AD 1500. Aliens are the most common threat associated with
      extinctions in three of the five taxa analysed, and for vertebrate extinctions
      overall. 

PMID- 26888915
TI  - Patterns of philopatry and longevity contribute to the evolution of post
      reproductive lifespan in mammals.
AB  - While menopause has long been known as a characteristic trait of human
      reproduction, evidence for post-reproductive lifespan (PRLS) has recently been
      found in other mammals. Adaptive and non-adaptive hypotheses have been proposed
      to explain the evolution of PRLS, but formal tests of these are rare. We use a
      phylogenetic approach to evaluate hypotheses for the evolution of PRLS among
      mammals. In contrast to theoretical models predicting that PRLS may be promoted
      by male philopatry (which increases relatedness between a female and her group in
      old age), we find little evidence that male philopatry led to the evolution of a
      post-reproductive period. However, the proportion of life spent post-reproductive
      was related to lifespan and patterns of philopatry, suggesting that the duration
      of PRLS may be impacted by both non-adaptive and adaptive processes. Finally, the
      proportion of females experiencing PRLS was higher in species with male philopaty
      and larger groups, in accordance with adaptive models of PRLS. We suggest that
      the origin of PRLS primarily follows the non-adaptive 'mismatch' scenario, but
      that patterns of philopatry may subsequently confer adaptive benefits of late
      life helping.

PMID- 26888914
TI  - Adaptation to abiotic conditions drives local adaptation in bacteria and viruses
      coevolving in heterogeneous environments.
AB  - Parasite local adaptation, the greater performance of parasites on their local
      compared with foreign hosts, has important consequences for the maintenance of
      diversity and epidemiology. While the abiotic environment may significantly
      affect local adaptation, most studies to date have failed either to incorporate
      the effects of the abiotic environment, or to separate them from those of the
      biotic environment. Here, we tease apart biotic and abiotic components of local
      adaptation using the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and its viral parasite
      bacteriophage Phi2. We coevolved replicate populations of bacteria and phages at
      three different temperatures, and determined their performance against
      coevolutionary partners from the same and different temperatures. Crucially, we
      measured performance at different assay temperatures, which allowed us to
      disentangle adaptation to biotic and abiotic habitat components. Our results show
      that bacteria and phages are more resistant and infectious, respectively, at the
      temperature at which they previously coevolved, confirming that local adaptation
      to abiotic conditions can play a crucial role in determining parasite infectivity
      and host resistance. Our work underlines the need to assess host-parasite
      interactions across multiple relevant abiotic environments, and suggests that
      microbial adaption to local temperatures can create ecological barriers to
      dispersal across temperature gradients.

PMID- 26888916
TI  - Ontogeny and the fossil record: what, if anything, is an adult dinosaur?
AB  - Identification of the ontogenetic status of an extinct organism is complex, and
      yet this underpins major areas of research, from taxonomy and systematics to
      ecology and evolution. In the case of the non-avialan dinosaurs, at least some
      were reproductively mature before they were skeletally mature, and a lack of
      consensus on how to define an 'adult' animal causes problems for even basic
      scientific investigations. Here we review the current methods available to
      determine the age of non-avialan dinosaurs, discuss the definitions of different
      ontogenetic stages, and summarize the implications of these disparate definitions
      for dinosaur palaeontology. Most critically, a growing body of evidence suggests
      that many dinosaurs that would be considered 'adults' in a modern-day field study
      are considered 'juveniles' or 'subadults' in palaeontological contexts.

PMID- 26888917
TI  - Light at night, clocks and health: from humans to wild organisms.
AB  - The increasing use of electric lights has modified the natural light environment
      dramatically, posing novel challenges to both humans and wildlife. Indeed,
      several biomedical studies have linked artificial light at night to the
      disruption of circadian rhythms, with important consequences for human health,
      such as the increasing occurrence of metabolic syndromes, cancer and reduced
      immunity. In wild animals, light pollution is associated with changes in
      circadian behaviour, reproduction and predator-prey interactions, but we know
      little about the underlying physiological mechanisms and whether wild species
      suffer the same health problems as humans. In order to fill this gap, we advocate
      the need for integrating ecological studies in the field, with chronobiological
      approaches to identify and characterize pathways that may link temporal
      disruption caused by light at night and potential health and fitness
      consequences.

PMID- 26888919
TI  - Has Contemporary Academia Outgrown the Carl Sagan Effect?

PMID- 26888918
TI  - Usual alcohol consumption and suicide mortality among the Korean elderly in rural
      communities: Kangwha Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The evidence from prospective studies on whether greater usual
      alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of death by suicide in the
      general population is inconclusive. METHODS: 6163 participants (2635 men; 3528
      women) in a 1985 survey among rural residents in Korea aged 55 years and above
      were followed until 2008. A Cox model was used to calculate HRs of suicide death
      after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic and health-related confounders.
      RESULTS: 37 men and 24 women died by suicide. Elderly persons who consumed
      alcohol daily, 70 g alcohol (5 drinks) or more per drinking day, or 210 g alcohol
      (15 drinks) or more per week had higher suicide mortality (p<0.05), compared with
      non-drinkers. An increase of one drinking day per week (HR=1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to
      1.31), 70 g (5 drinks) additional alcohol intake per drinking day (HR=1.38, 95%
      CI 1.13 to 1.70), and 140 g (10 drinks) additional alcohol intake per week was
      associated with a 17%, 38% and 12% higher risk of suicide death, respectively.
      Women had a higher relative risk of suicide death associated with alcohol
      consumption, compared with men. CONCLUSIONS: A greater frequency and amount of
      usual alcohol consumption was linearly associated with higher suicide death.
      Given the same amount of alcohol consumption, women might have a higher relative
      risk of suicide than men. Our findings support 'the lower the better' for alcohol
      intake, no protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption, and a sex-specific
      guideline (lower alcohol threshold for women) as actions to prevent suicide
      death.

PMID- 26888920
TI  - A Cellular Mechanism for Main and Accessory Olfactory Integration at the Medial
      Amygdala.

PMID- 26888922
TI  - Cue Reliability Represented in the Shape of Tuning Curves in the Owl's Sound
      Localization System.
AB  - Optimal use of sensory information requires that the brain estimates the
      reliability of sensory cues, but the neural correlate of cue reliability relevant
      for behavior is not well defined. Here, we addressed this issue by examining how
      the reliability of spatial cue influences neuronal responses and behavior in the
      owl's auditory system. We show that the firing rate and spatial selectivity
      changed with cue reliability due to the mechanisms generating the tuning to the
      sound localization cue. We found that the correlated variability among neurons
      strongly depended on the shape of the tuning curves. Finally, we demonstrated
      that the change in the neurons' selectivity was necessary and sufficient for a
      network of stochastic neurons to predict behavior when sensory cues were
      corrupted with noise. This study demonstrates that the shape of tuning curves can
      stand alone as a coding dimension of environmental statistics. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: In natural environments, sensory cues are often corrupted by noise and
      are therefore unreliable. To make the best decisions, the brain must estimate the
      degree to which a cue can be trusted. The behaviorally relevant neural correlates
      of cue reliability are debated. In this study, we used the barn owl's sound
      localization system to address this question. We demonstrated that the mechanisms
      that account for spatial selectivity also explained how neural responses changed
      with degraded signals. This allowed for the neurons' selectivity to capture cue
      reliability, influencing the population readout commanding the owl's sound
      orienting behavior.

PMID- 26888923
TI  - Maturation of NaV and KV Channel Topographies in the Auditory Nerve Spike
      Initiator before and after Developmental Onset of Hearing Function.
AB  - Auditory nerve excitation and thus hearing depend on spike-generating ion
      channels and their placement along the axons of auditory nerve fibers (ANFs). The
      developmental expression patterns and native axonal locations of voltage-gated
      ion channels in ANFs are unknown. Therefore, we examined the development of
      heminodes and nodes of Ranvier in the peripheral axons of type I ANFs in the rat
      cochlea with immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Nodal structures
      presumably supporting presensory spiking formed between postnatal days 5 (P5) and
      P7, including Ankyrin-G, NaV1.6, and Caspr. These immature nodal structures
      lacked low-voltage-activated KV1.1 which was not enriched at juxtaparanodes until
      approximately P13, concurrent with the developmental onset of acoustic hearing
      function. Anatomical alignment of ANF spike-initiating heminodes relative to
      excitatory input from inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses continued until
      approximately P30. High-voltage-activated KV3.1b and KV2.2 were expressed in
      mutually exclusive domains: KV3.1b was strictly localized to nodes and heminodes,
      whereas KV2.2 expression began at the juxtaparanodes and continued centrally
      along the first internode. At spike-initiating heminodes in the distal osseous
      spiral lamina, NaV1.1 partly overlapped NaV1.6 and ankyrin-G. ANFs displayed
      KV7.2 and KV7.3 at heminodes, nodes, internodes, and the unmyelinated synaptic
      terminal segments beneath IHCs in the organ of Corti. In response to sound,
      spikes are initiated at the heminode, which is tightly coupled to the IHC ribbon
      synapse ~20-40 MUm away. These results show that maturation of nodal alignment
      and ion channel content may underlie postnatal improvements of ANF excitability
      and discharge synchrony. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Acoustic and electrical hearing
      depends on rapid, reliable, and precise spike generation in auditory nerve
      fibers. A limitation of current models and therapies is a lack of information on
      the identities and topographies of underlying ion channels. We report the
      developmental profile of the auditory nerve spike generator with a focus on
      NaV1.1, NaV1.6, KV1.1, KV2.2, KV3.1b, KV7.2, and KV7.3 in relation to the
      scaffold ankyrin-G. Molecular anatomy of the spike generator matures in the weeks
      after developmental onset of hearing function. Subcellular positioning of voltage
      gated ion channels will enable multicompartmental modeling of auditory nerve
      responses elicited by afferent chemical neurotransmission from hair cells and
      modulated by efferent neurotransmitters or evoked by extracellular field
      stimulation from a cochlear implant.

PMID- 26888921
TI  - Tau-Driven Neuronal and Neurotrophic Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Early
      Tauopathy.
AB  - Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by intraneuronal
      inclusions of hyperphosphorylated tau protein and abnormal expression of brain
      derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key modulator of neuronal survival and
      function. The severity of both these pathological hallmarks correlate with the
      degree of cognitive impairment in patients. However, how tau pathology
      specifically modifies BDNF signaling and affects neuronal function during early
      prodromal stages of tauopathy remains unclear. Here, we report that the mild
      tauopathy developing in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of the P301S tau transgenic
      (P301S) mouse induces functional retinal changes by disrupting BDNF signaling via
      the TrkB receptor. In adult P301S mice, the physiological visual response of RGCs
      to pattern light stimuli and retinal acuity decline significantly. As a
      consequence, the activity-dependent secretion of BDNF in the vitreous is impaired
      in P301S mice. Further, in P301S retinas, TrkB receptors are selectively
      upregulated, but uncoupled from downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase
      (ERK) 1/2 signaling. We also show that the impairment of TrkB signaling is
      triggered by tau pathology and mediates the tau-induced dysfunction of visual
      response. Overall our results identify a neurotrophin-mediated mechanism by which
      tau induces neuronal dysfunction during prodromal stages of tauopathy and define
      tau-driven pathophysiological changes of potential value to support early
      diagnosis and informed therapeutic decisions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work
      highlights the potential molecular mechanisms by which initial tauopathy induces
      neuronal dysfunction. Combining clinically used electrophysiological techniques
      (i.e., electroretinography) and molecular analyses, this work shows that in a
      relevant model of early tauopathy, the retina of the P301S mutant human tau
      transgenic mouse, mild tau pathology results in functional changes of neuronal
      activity, likely due to selective impairment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor
      signaling via its receptor, TrkB. These findings may have important translational
      implications for early diagnosis in a subset of Alzheimer's disease patients with
      early visual symptoms and emphasize the need to clarify the pathophysiological
      changes associated with distinct tauopathy stages to support informed therapeutic
      decisions and guide drug discovery.

PMID- 26888924
TI  - Histone Modification of Nedd4 Ubiquitin Ligase Controls the Loss of AMPA
      Receptors and Cognitive Impairment Induced by Repeated Stress.
AB  - Stress and the major stress hormone corticosterone induce profound influences in
      the brain. Altered histone modification and transcriptional dysfunction have been
      implicated in stress-related mental disorders. We previously found that repeated
      stress caused an impairment of prefrontal cortex (PFC)-mediated cognitive
      functions by increasing the ubiquitination and degradation of AMPA-type glutamate
      receptors via a mechanism depending on the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4. Here, we
      demonstrated that in PFC of repeatedly stressed rats, active glucocorticoid
      receptor had the increased binding to the glucocorticoid response element of
      histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) promoter, resulting in the upregulation of HDAC2.
      Inhibition or knock-down of HDAC2 blocked the stress-induced impairment of
      synaptic transmission, AMPAR expression, and recognition memory. Furthermore, we
      found that, in stressed animals, the HDAC2-dependent downregulation of histone
      methyltransferase Ehmt2 (G9a) led to the loss of repressive histone methylation
      at the Nedd4-1 promoter and the transcriptional activation of Nedd4. These
      results have provided an epigenetic mechanism and a potential treatment strategy
      for the detrimental effects of chronic stress. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Prolonged
      stress exposure can induce altered histone modification and transcriptional
      dysfunction, which may underlie the profound influence of stress in regulating
      brain functions. We report an important finding about the epigenetic mechanism
      controlling the detrimental effects of repeated stress on synaptic transmission
      and cognitive function. First, it has revealed the stress-induced alteration of
      key epigenetic regulators HDAC2 and Ehmt2, which determines the synaptic and
      behavioral effects of repeated stress. Second, it has uncovered the stress
      induced histone modification of the target gene Nedd4, an E3 ligase that is
      critically involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of AMPA receptors and
      cognition. Third, it has provided the epigenetic approach, HDAC2 inhibition or
      knock-down, to rescue synaptic and cognitive functions in stressed animals.

PMID- 26888926
TI  - REM Sleep Is Causal to Successful Consolidation of Dangerous and Safety Stimuli
      and Reduces Return of Fear after Extinction.
AB  - Sleep has a profound impact on memory consolidation. In this study, human
      participants underwent Pavlovian conditioning and extinction before we
      manipulated nocturnal memory consolidation by a split-night protocol with 80
      healthy male participants in four groups. Recall after a second (recovery) night
      of sleep revealed that sleeping the first half of the night, which is dominated
      by slow-wave sleep, did not improve recall. Conversely, sleeping the second half
      of the night, which is dominated by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, led to better
      discrimination between fear-relevant and neutral stimuli in behavioral and
      autonomic measures. Meanwhile, staying awake in the second half of the night led
      to an increase of discrimination between extinguished and neutral stimuli, which
      was paralleled by an activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and
      amygdala. We conclude that sleep, especially REM sleep, is causal to successful
      consolidation of dangerous and safety stimuli and reduces return of fear after
      extinction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We use a split-night protocol to investigate
      the influence of different sleep phases on successful consolidation of
      conditioned fear and extinction. Such a protocol uses the fact that in humans the
      first half of the night is dominated by slow-wave sleep, whereas during the
      second half, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is more predominant. Our data show
      that only REM-rich sleep during the second half of the night promoted good
      discrimination between fear-relevant and neutral stimuli during recall, while
      staying awake led to a recovery of discrimination between extinguished and
      neutral stimuli. This suggests that sleep following extinction contributes
      independently to successful extinction memory consolidation.

PMID- 26888927
TI  - Preferential Inhibition of Tonically over Phasically Activated NMDA Receptors by
      Pregnane Derivatives.
AB  - Postsynaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) phasically activated by
      presynaptically released glutamate are critical for synaptic transmission and
      plasticity. However, under pathological conditions, excessive activation of
      NMDARs by tonically increased ambient glutamate contributes to excitotoxicity
      associated with various acute and chronic neurological disorders. Here, using
      heterologously expressed GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/GluN2B receptors and rat autaptic
      hippocampal microisland cultures, we show that pregnanolone sulfate inhibits
      NMDAR currents induced by a prolonged glutamate application with a higher potency
      than the NMDAR component of EPSCs. For synthetic pregnanolone derivatives
      substituted with a carboxylic acid moiety at the end of an aliphatic chain of
      varying length and attached to the steroid skeleton at C3, the difference in
      potency between tonic and phasic inhibition increased with the length of the
      residue. The steroid with the longest substituent, pregnanolone hemipimelate, had
      no effect on phasically activated receptors while inhibiting tonically activated
      receptors. In behavioral tests, pregnanolone hemipimelate showed neuroprotective
      activity without psychomimetic symptoms. These results provide insight into the
      influence of steroids on neuronal function and stress their potential use in the
      development of novel therapeutics with neuroprotective action. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: Synaptic activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) plays a
      key role in synaptic plasticity, but excessive tonic NMDAR activation mediates
      excitotoxicity associated with many neurological disorders. Therefore, there is
      much interest in pharmacological agents capable of selectively blocking tonically
      activated NMDARs while leaving synaptically activated NMDARs intact. Here, we
      show that an endogenous neurosteroid pregnanolone sulfate is more potent at
      inhibiting tonically than synaptically activated NMDARs. Further, we report that
      a novel synthetic analog of pregnanolone sulfate, pregnanolone hemipimelate,
      inhibits tonic NMDAR currents without inhibiting the NMDAR component of the EPSC
      and shows neuroprotective activity in vivo without inducing psychomimetic side
      effects. These results suggest steroids may have a clinical advantage over other
      known classes of NMDAR inhibitors.

PMID- 26888925
TI  - Selective Disruption of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5-Homer Interactions
      Mimics Phenotypes of Fragile X Syndrome in Mice.
AB  - Altered function of the Gq-coupled, Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors,
      specifically mGlu5, is implicated in multiple mouse models of autism and
      intellectual disability. mGlu5 dysfunction has been most well characterized in
      the fragile X syndrome mouse model, the Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mouse, where
      pharmacological and genetic reduction of mGlu5 reverses many phenotypes. mGlu5 is
      less associated with its scaffolding protein Homer in Fmr1 KO mice, and
      restoration of mGlu5-Homer interactions by genetic deletion of a short, dominant
      negative of Homer, H1a, rescues many phenotypes of Fmr1 KO mice. These results
      suggested that disruption of mGlu5-Homer leads to phenotypes of FXS. To test this
      idea, we examined mice with a knockin mutation of mGlu5 (F1128R; mGlu5(R/R)) that
      abrogates binding to Homer. Although FMRP levels were normal, mGlu5(R/R) mice
      mimicked multiple phenotypes of Fmr1 KO mice, including reduced mGlu5 association
      with the postsynaptic density, enhanced constitutive mGlu5 signaling to protein
      synthesis, deficits in agonist-induced translational control, protein synthesis
      independent LTD, neocortical hyperexcitability, audiogenic seizures, and altered
      behaviors, including anxiety and sensorimotor gating. These results reveal new
      roles for the Homer scaffolds in regulation of mGlu5 function and implicate a
      specific molecular mechanism in a complex brain disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT:
      Abnormal function of the metabotropic, or Gq-coupled, glutamate receptor 5
      (mGlu5) has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, including a genetic
      cause of intellectual disability and autism called fragile X syndrome. In brains
      of a mouse model of fragile X, mGlu5 is less associated with its binding partner
      Homer, a scaffolding protein that regulates mGlu5 localization to synapses and
      its ability to activate biochemical signaling pathways. Here we show that a mouse
      expressing a mutant mGlu5 that cannot bind to Homer is sufficient to mimic many
      of the biochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioral symptoms observed in the
      fragile X mouse. This work provides strong evidence that Homer-mGlu5 binding
      contributes to symptoms associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

PMID- 26888928
TI  - Dopaminergic Contributions to Vocal Learning.
AB  - Although the brain relies on auditory information to calibrate vocal behavior,
      the neural substrates of vocal learning remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that
      lesions of the dopaminergic inputs to a basal ganglia nucleus in a songbird
      species (Bengalese finches, Lonchura striata var. domestica) greatly reduced the
      magnitude of vocal learning driven by disruptive auditory feedback in a negative
      reinforcement task. These lesions produced no measureable effects on the quality
      of vocal performance or the amount of song produced. Our results suggest that
      dopaminergic inputs to the basal ganglia selectively mediate reinforcement-driven
      vocal plasticity. In contrast, dopaminergic lesions produced no measurable
      effects on the birds' ability to restore song acoustics to baseline following the
      cessation of reinforcement training, suggesting that different forms of vocal
      plasticity may use different neural mechanisms. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: During
      skill learning, the brain relies on sensory feedback to improve motor
      performance. However, the neural basis of sensorimotor learning is poorly
      understood. Here, we investigate the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in
      regulating vocal learning in the Bengalese finch, a songbird with an extremely
      precise singing behavior that can nevertheless be reshaped dramatically by
      auditory feedback. Our findings show that reduction of dopamine inputs to a
      region of the songbird basal ganglia greatly impairs vocal learning but has no
      detectable effect on vocal performance. These results suggest a specific role for
      dopamine in regulating vocal plasticity.

PMID- 26888929
TI  - Amygdala Modulation of Cerebellar Learning.
AB  - Previous studies showed that amygdala lesions or inactivation slow the
      acquisition rate of cerebellum-dependent eyeblink conditioning, a type of
      associative motor learning. The current study was designed to determine the
      behavioral nature of amygdala-cerebellum interactions, to identify the neural
      pathways underlying amygdala-cerebellum interactions, and to examine how the
      amygdala influences cerebellar learning mechanisms in rats. Pharmacological
      inactivation of the central amygdala (CeA) severely impaired acquisition and
      retention of eyeblink conditioning, indicating that the amygdala continues to
      interact with the cerebellum after conditioning is consolidated (Experiment 1).
      CeA inactivation also substantially reduced stimulus-evoked and learning-related
      neuronal activity in the cerebellar anterior interpositus nucleus during
      acquisition and retention of eyeblink conditioning (Experiment 2). A very small
      proportion of cerebellar neurons responded to the conditioned stimulus (CS)
      during CeA inactivation. Finally, retrograde and anterograde tracing experiments
      identified the basilar pontine nucleus at the confluence of outputs from CeA that
      may support amygdala modulation of CS input to the cerebellum (Experiment 3).
      Together, these results highlight a role for the CeA in the gating of CS-related
      input to the cerebellum during motor learning that is maintained even after the
      conditioned response is well learned. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The current study
      is the first to demonstrate that the amygdala modulates sensory-evoked and
      learning-related neuronal activity within the cerebellum during acquisition and
      retention of associative learning. The findings suggest a model of amygdala
      cerebellum interactions in which the amygdala gates conditioned stimulus inputs
      to the cerebellum through a direct projection from the medial central nucleus to
      the basilar pontine nucleus. Amygdala gating of sensory input to the cerebellum
      may be an attention-like mechanism that facilitates cerebellar learning. In
      contrast to previous theories of amygdala-cerebellum interactions, the sensory
      gating hypothesis posits that the gating mechanism continues to be necessary for
      retrieval of cerebellar memory after learning is well established.

PMID- 26888931
TI  - Distinct beta Band Oscillatory Networks Subserving Motor and Cognitive Control
      during Gait Adaptation.
AB  - Everyday locomotion and obstacle avoidance requires effective gait adaptation in
      response to sensory cues. Many studies have shown that efficient motor actions
      are associated with MU rhythm (8-13 Hz) and beta band (13-35 Hz) local field
      desynchronizations in sensorimotor and parietal cortex, whereas a number of
      cognitive task studies have reported higher behavioral accuracy to be associated
      with increases in beta band power in prefrontal and sensory cortex. How these two
      distinct patterns of beta band oscillations interplay during gait adaptation,
      however, has not been established. Here we recorded 108 channel EEG activity from
      18 participants (10 males, 22-35 years old) attempting to walk on a treadmill in
      synchrony with a series of pacing cue tones, and quickly adapting their step rate
      and length to sudden shifts in pacing cue tempo. Independent component analysis
      parsed each participant's EEG data into maximally independent component (IC)
      source processes, which were then grouped across participants into distinct
      spatial/spectral clusters. Following cue tempo shifts, mean beta band power was
      suppressed for IC sources in central midline and parietal regions, whereas mean
      beta band power increased in IC sources in or near medial prefrontal and
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex IC
      cluster, the beta band power increase was stronger during (more effortful) step
      shortening than during step lengthening. These results thus show that two
      distinct patterns of beta band activity modulation accompany gait adaptations:
      one likely serving movement initiation and execution; and the other, motor
      control and inhibition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding brain dynamics
      supporting gait adaptation is crucial for understanding motor deficits in
      walking, such as those associated with aging, stroke, and Parkinson's. Only a few
      electromagnetic brain imaging studies have examined neural correlates of human
      upright walking. Here, application of independent component analysis to EEG data
      recorded during treadmill walking allowed us to uncover two distinct beta band
      oscillatory cortical networks that are active during gait adaptation to shifts in
      the tempo of an auditory pacing cue: (8-13 Hz) MU rhythm and (13-35 Hz) beta band
      power decreases in central and parietal cortex and (14-20 Hz) beta band power
      increases in frontal brain areas. These results provide a fuller framework for
      electrophysiological studies of cortical gait control and its disorders.

PMID- 26888930
TI  - Phasic Dopamine Transmission Reflects Initiation Vigor and Exerted Effort in an
      Action- and Region-Specific Manner.
AB  - Initiating a reward-seeking behavior involves deciding on an action, how fast to
      initiate the action (initiation vigor), as well as how much effort to exert.
      These processes are thought to involve the mesolimbic dopamine system. Dopamine
      levels in the ventral striatum rise before initiating a reliably reinforced
      behavior. However, it is unknown whether dopamine is similarly involved with
      unreinforced actions (inactive lever presses, premature food port entries,
      insufficient number of active lever presses). Furthermore, does the dopamine
      response when initiating an action reflect specific aspects of motivated
      behavior, such as initiation vigor and exerted effort? Here, we analyzed
      voltammetry recordings of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core
      and shell in rats working for food under a progressive ratio reinforcement
      schedule. We examined dopamine levels when rats initiated distinct actions
      (active lever presses, inactive lever presses, food port entries) that were
      temporally separated from cue- and reward-evoked dopamine release. Active lever
      pressing bouts were preceded by elevated dopamine release in the NAcc shell, as
      well as in the NAcc core, although only when rats exhibited high initiation
      vigor. Dopamine levels were transiently reduced in the NAcc core following an
      unreinforced food port entry and were unchanged throughout the NAcc when
      initiating inactive lever presses. The effort exerted and vigor to initiate a
      bout of active lever presses were signaled by dopamine transmission in the NAcc
      core, but not in the NAcc shell. These results demonstrate that the dopamine
      response when initiating a behavior is both region- and action-specific.
      SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Exogenous activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system
      facilitates motivated behavior. However, a direct relationship has not been
      established between endogenous phasic dopamine transmission and measures of
      motivation, such as the vigor to initiate an action and the effort exerted in a
      bout of activity. The present work demonstrates that the dopamine response when
      initiating an action depends both upon where dopamine is released and what action
      is performed. Furthermore, dopamine reflects measures of motivated behavior
      selectively within the nucleus accumbens core.

PMID- 26888932
TI  - Distorted Tonotopic Coding of Temporal Envelope and Fine Structure with Noise
      Induced Hearing Loss.
AB  - People with cochlear hearing loss have substantial difficulty understanding
      speech in real-world listening environments (e.g., restaurants), even with
      amplification from a modern digital hearing aid. Unfortunately, a disconnect
      remains between human perceptual studies implicating diminished sensitivity to
      fast acoustic temporal fine structure (TFS) and animal studies showing minimal
      changes in neural coding of TFS or slower envelope (ENV) structure. Here, we used
      general system-identification (Wiener kernel) analyses of chinchilla auditory
      nerve fiber responses to Gaussian noise to reveal pronounced distortions in
      tonotopic coding of TFS and ENV following permanent, noise-induced hearing loss.
      In basal fibers with characteristic frequencies (CFs) >1.5 kHz, hearing loss
      introduced robust nontonotopic coding (i.e., at the wrong cochlear place) of low
      frequency TFS, while ENV responses typically remained at CF. As a consequence,
      the highest dominant frequency of TFS coding in response to Gaussian noise was
      2.4 kHz in noise-overexposed fibers compared with 4.5 kHz in control fibers.
      Coding of ENV also became nontonotopic in more pronounced cases of cochlear
      damage. In apical fibers, more classical hearing-loss effects were observed,
      i.e., broadened tuning without a significant shift in best frequency. Because
      these distortions and dissociations of TFS/ENV disrupt tonotopicity, a
      fundamental principle of auditory processing necessary for robust signal coding
      in background noise, these results have important implications for understanding
      communication difficulties faced by people with hearing loss. Further, hearing
      aids may benefit from distinct amplification strategies for apical and basal
      cochlear regions to address fundamentally different coding deficits. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: Speech-perception problems associated with noise overexposure are
      pervasive in today's society, even with modern digital hearing aids.
      Unfortunately, the underlying physiological deficits in neural coding remain
      unclear. Here, we used innovative system-identification analyses of auditory
      nerve fiber responses to Gaussian noise to uncover pronounced distortions in
      coding of rapidly varying acoustic temporal fine structure and slower envelope
      cues following noise trauma. Because these distortions degrade and diminish the
      tonotopic representation of temporal acoustic features, a fundamental principle
      of auditory processing, the results represent a critical advancement in our
      understanding of the physiological bases of communication disorders. The detailed
      knowledge provided by this work will help guide the design of signal-processing
      strategies aimed at alleviating everyday communication problems for people with
      hearing loss.

PMID- 26888933
TI  - Perceptual Learning at a Conceptual Level.
AB  - Humans can learn to abstract and conceptualize the shared visual features
      defining an object category in object learning. Therefore, learning is
      generalizable to transformations of familiar objects and even to new objects that
      differ in other physical properties. In contrast, visual perceptual learning
      (VPL), improvement in discriminating fine differences of a basic visual feature
      through training, is commonly regarded as specific and low-level learning because
      the improvement often disappears when the trained stimulus is simply relocated or
      rotated in the visual field. Such location and orientation specificity is taken
      as evidence for neural plasticity in primary visual cortex (V1) or improved
      readout of V1 signals. However, new training methods have shown complete VPL
      transfer across stimulus locations and orientations, suggesting the involvement
      of high-level cognitive processes. Here we report that VPL bears similar
      properties of object learning. Specifically, we found that orientation
      discrimination learning is completely transferrable between luminance gratings
      initially encoded in V1 and bilaterally symmetric dot patterns encoded in higher
      visual cortex. Similarly, motion direction discrimination learning is
      transferable between first- and second-order motion signals. These results
      suggest that VPL can take place at a conceptual level and generalize to stimuli
      with different physical properties. Our findings thus reconcile perceptual and
      object learning into a unified framework. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Training in
      object recognition can produce a learning effect that is applicable to new
      viewing conditions or even to new objects with different physical properties.
      However, perceptual learning has long been regarded as a low-level form of
      learning because of its specificity to the trained stimulus conditions. Here we
      demonstrate with new training tactics that visual perceptual learning is
      completely transferrable between distinct physical stimuli. This finding
      indicates that perceptual learning also operates at a conceptual level in a
      stimulus-invariant manner.

PMID- 26888935
TI  - Live Imaging of Kv7.2/7.3 Cell Surface Dynamics at the Axon Initial Segment: High
      Steady-State Stability and Calpain-Dependent Excitotoxic Downregulation Revealed.
AB  - The voltage-gated K(+) channels Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 are located at the axon initial
      segment (AIS) and exert strong control over action potential generation.
      Therefore, changes in their localization or cell surface numbers are likely to
      influence neuronal signaling. However, nothing is known about the cell surface
      dynamics of Kv7.2/7.3 at steady state or during short-term neuronal stimulation.
      This is primarily attributable to their membrane topology, which hampers
      extracellular epitope tagging. Here we circumvent this limitation by fusing an
      extra phluorin-tagged helix to the N terminus of human Kv7.3. This seven
      transmembrane chimera, named super ecliptic phluorin (SEP)-TAC-7.3, functions and
      traffics as a wild-type (WT) channel. We expressed SEP-TAC-7.3 in dissociated rat
      hippocampal neurons to examine the lateral mobility, surface numbers, and
      localization of AIS Kv7.2/7.3 heteromers using live imaging. We discovered that
      they are extraordinarily stable and exhibit a very low surface mobility both
      during steady state and neuronal stimulation. In the latter case, we also found
      that neither localization nor cell surface numbers were changed. However, at high
      glutamate loads, we observed a rapid irreversible endocytosis of Kv7.2/7.3, which
      required the activation of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, Ca(2+) influx, and
      calpain activation. This excitotoxic mechanism may be specific to ankyrin G-bound
      AIS proteins because Nav1.2 channels, but not AIS GABAA receptors, were also
      endocytosed. In conclusion, we have, for the first time, characterized the cell
      surface dynamics of a full-length Kv7 channel using a novel chimeric strategy.
      This approach is likely also applicable to other Kv channels and thus of value
      for the additional characterization of this ion channel subfamily. SIGNIFICANCE
      STATEMENT: The voltage-gated K(+) channels Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 exert strong control
      over action potential generation, but little is known about their cell surface
      dynamics. Using a novel phluorin-based approach, we here show that these channels
      are highly stable at steady state and different types of neuronal stimulation.
      However, at high glutamate loads, they undergo a rapid calpain-dependent
      endocytosis that likely represents an early response during excitotoxic states.

PMID- 26888934
TI  - Impaired Dendritic Development and Memory in Sorbs2 Knock-Out Mice.
AB  - Intellectual disability is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by
      impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning. Both environmental insults and
      genetic defects contribute to the etiology of intellectual disability. Copy
      number variations of SORBS2 have been linked to intellectual disability. However,
      the neurobiological function of SORBS2 in the brain is unknown. The SORBS2 gene
      encodes ArgBP2 (Arg/c-Abl kinase binding protein 2) protein in non-neuronal
      tissues and is alternatively spliced in the brain to encode nArgBP2 protein. We
      found nArgBP2 colocalized with F-actin at dendritic spines and growth cones in
      cultured hippocampal neurons. In the mouse brain, nArgBP2 was highly expressed in
      the cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, and enriched in the outer one-third of the
      molecular layer in dentate gyrus. Genetic deletion of Sorbs2 in mice led to
      reduced dendritic complexity and decreased frequency of AMPAR-miniature
      spontaneous EPSCs in dentate gyrus granule cells. Behavioral characterization
      revealed that Sorbs2 deletion led to a reduced acoustic startle response, and
      defective long-term object recognition memory and contextual fear memory.
      Together, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, an important role for
      nArgBP2 in neuronal dendritic development and excitatory synaptic transmission,
      which may thus inform exploration of neurobiological basis of SORBS2 deficiency
      in intellectual disability. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Copy number variations of the
      SORBS2 gene are linked to intellectual disability, but the neurobiological
      mechanisms are unknown. We found that nArgBP2, the only neuronal isoform encoded
      by SORBS2, colocalizes with F-actin at neuronal dendritic growth cones and
      spines. nArgBP2 is highly expressed in the cortex, amygdala, and dentate gyrus in
      the mouse brain. Genetic deletion of Sorbs2 in mice leads to impaired dendritic
      complexity and reduced excitatory synaptic transmission in dentate gyrus granule
      cells, accompanied by behavioral deficits in acoustic startle response and long
      term memory. This is the first study of Sorbs2 function in the brain, and our
      findings may facilitate the study of neurobiological mechanisms underlying SORBS2
      deficiency in the development of intellectual disability.

PMID- 26888937
TI  - Cell-Type Specific Phase Precession in Layer II of the Medial Entorhinal Cortex.
AB  - The identity of phase-precessing cells in the entorhinal cortex is unknown. Here,
      we used a classifier derived from cell-attached recordings to separate putative
      pyramidal cells and putative stellate cells recorded extracellularly in layer II
      of the medial entorhinal cortex in rats. Using a novel method to identify single
      runs as temporal periods of elevated spiking activity, we find that both cell
      types show phase precession but putative stellate cells show steeper slopes of
      phase precession and larger phase ranges. As the two classes of cells have
      different projection patterns, phase precession is differentially passed on to
      different subregions of the hippocampal formation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: It is
      a great challenge for neuroscience to reveal the cellular basis of cognitive
      functions. One such function is the ability to learn and recollect temporal
      sequences of events. The representation of sequences in the brain is thought to
      require temporally structured activity of nerve cells. How different types of
      neurons generate temporally structured activity is currently unknown. In the
      present study, we use a computational classification procedure to separate
      different cell types and find that a subpopulation of cells, so-called stellate
      neurons, exhibits clear temporal coding. Contrary to the stellate cells,
      pyramidal cells show weaker temporal coding. This discovery sheds light on the
      cellular basis of temporal coding in the brain.

PMID- 26888936
TI  - Guidance of Axons by Local Coupling of Retrograde Flow to Point Contact
      Adhesions.
AB  - Growth cones interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) through integrin
      receptors at adhesion sites termed point contacts. Point contact adhesions link
      ECM proteins to the actin cytoskeleton through numerous adaptor and signaling
      proteins. One presumed function of growth cone point contacts is to restrain or
      "clutch" myosin-II-based filamentous actin (F-actin) retrograde flow (RF) to
      promote leading edge membrane protrusion. In motile non-neuronal cells, myosin-II
      binds and exerts force upon actin filaments at the leading edge, where clutching
      forces occur. However, in growth cones, it is unclear whether similar F-actin
      clutching forces affect axon outgrowth and guidance. Here, we show in Xenopus
      spinal neurons that RF is reduced in rapidly migrating growth cones on laminin
      (LN) compared with non-integrin-binding poly-d-lysine (PDL). Moreover, acute
      stimulation with LN accelerates axon outgrowth over a time course that correlates
      with point contact formation and reduced RF. These results suggest that RF is
      restricted by the assembly of point contacts, which we show occurs locally by two
      channel imaging of RF and paxillin. Further, using micropatterns of PDL and LN,
      we demonstrate that individual growth cones have differential RF rates while
      interacting with two distinct substrata. Opposing effects on RF rates were also
      observed in growth cones treated with chemoattractive and chemorepulsive axon
      guidance cues that influence point contact adhesions. Finally, we show that RF is
      significantly attenuated in vivo, suggesting that it is restrained by molecular
      clutching forces within the spinal cord. Together, our results suggest that local
      clutching of RF can control axon guidance on ECM proteins downstream of axon
      guidance cues. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Here, we correlate point contact adhesions
      directly with clutching of filamentous actin retrograde flow (RF), which our
      findings strongly suggest guides developing axons. Acute assembly of new point
      contact adhesions is temporally and spatially linked to attenuation of RF at
      sites of forward membrane protrusion. Importantly, clutching of RF is modulated
      by extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and soluble axon guidance cues, suggesting
      that it may regulate axon guidance in vivo. Consistent with this notion, we found
      that RF rates of spinal neuron growth cones were slower in vivo than what was
      observed in vitro. Together, our study provides the best evidence that growth
      cone-ECM adhesions clutch RF locally to guide axons in vivo.

PMID- 26888938
TI  - Functional Architecture of the Rat Parasubiculum.
AB  - The parasubiculum is a major input structure of layer 2 of medial entorhinal
      cortex, where most grid cells are found. Here we investigated parasubicular
      circuits of the rat by anatomical analysis combined with juxtacellular
      recording/labeling and tetrode recordings during spatial exploration. In
      tangential sections, the parasubiculum appears as a linear structure flanking the
      medial entorhinal cortex mediodorsally. With a length of ~5.2 mm and a width of
      only ~0.3 mm (approximately one dendritic tree diameter), the parasubiculum is
      both one of the longest and narrowest cortical structures. Parasubicular neurons
      span the height of cortical layers 2 and 3, and we observed no obvious
      association of deep layers to this structure. The "superficial parasubiculum"
      (layers 2 and 1) divides into ~15 patches, whereas deeper parasubicular sections
      (layer 3) form a continuous band of neurons. Anterograde tracing experiments show
      that parasubicular neurons extend long "circumcurrent" axons establishing a
      "global" internal connectivity. The parasubiculum is a prime target of GABAergic
      and cholinergic medial septal inputs. Other input structures include the
      subiculum, presubiculum, and anterior thalamus. Functional analysis of identified
      and unidentified parasubicular neurons shows strong theta rhythmicity of spiking,
      a large fraction of head-direction selectivity (50%, 34 of 68), and spatial
      responses (grid, border and irregular spatial cells, 57%, 39 of 68).
      Parasubicular output preferentially targets patches of calbindin-positive
      pyramidal neurons in layer 2 of medial entorhinal cortex, which might be relevant
      for grid cell function. These findings suggest the parasubiculum might shape
      entorhinal theta rhythmicity and the (dorsoventral) integration of information
      across grid scales. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Grid cells in medial entorhinal
      cortex (MEC) are crucial components of an internal navigation system of the
      mammalian brain. The parasubiculum is a major input structure of layer 2 of MEC,
      where most grid cells are found. Here we provide a functional and anatomical
      characterization of the parasubiculum and show that parasubicular neurons display
      unique features (i.e., strong theta rhythmicity of firing, prominent head
      direction selectivity, and output selectively targeted to layer 2 pyramidal cell
      patches of MEC). These features could contribute to shaping the temporal and
      spatial code of downstream grid cells in entorhinal cortex.

PMID- 26888939
TI  - Neural Correlates of Vocal Production and Motor Control in Human Heschl's Gyrus.
AB  - The present study investigated how pitch frequency, a perceptually relevant
      aspect of periodicity in natural human vocalizations, is encoded in Heschl's
      gyrus (HG), and how this information may be used to influence vocal pitch motor
      control. We recorded local field potentials from multicontact depth electrodes
      implanted in HG of 14 neurosurgical epilepsy patients as they vocalized vowel
      sounds and received brief (200 ms) pitch perturbations at 100 Cents in their
      auditory feedback. Event-related band power responses to vocalizations showed
      sustained frequency following responses that tracked voice fundamental frequency
      (F0) and were significantly enhanced in posteromedial HG during speaking compared
      with when subjects listened to the playback of their own voice. In addition to
      frequency following responses, a transient response component within the high
      gamma frequency band (75-150 Hz) was identified. When this response followed the
      onset of vocalization, the magnitude of the response was the same for the
      speaking and playback conditions. In contrast, when this response followed a
      pitch shift, its magnitude was significantly enhanced during speaking compared
      with playback. We also observed that, in anterolateral HG, the power of high
      gamma responses to pitch shifts correlated with the magnitude of compensatory
      vocal responses. These findings demonstrate a functional parcellation of HG with
      neural activity that encodes pitch in natural human voice, distinguishes between
      self-generated and passively heard vocalizations, detects discrepancies between
      the intended and heard vocalization, and contains information about the resulting
      behavioral vocal compensations in response to auditory feedback pitch
      perturbations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The present study is a significant
      contribution to our understanding of sensor-motor mechanisms of vocal production
      and motor control. The findings demonstrate distinct functional parcellation of
      core and noncore areas within human auditory cortex on Heschl's gyrus that
      process natural human vocalizations and pitch perturbations in the auditory
      feedback. In addition, our data provide evidence for distinct roles of high gamma
      neural oscillations and frequency following responses for processing periodicity
      in human vocalizations during vocal production and motor control.

PMID- 26888940
TI  - Enhancing GABA Signaling during Middle Adulthood Prevents Age-Dependent GABAergic
      Interneuron Decline and Learning and Memory Deficits in ApoE4 Mice.
AB  - Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) is the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's
      disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. We
      previously reported that female apoE4 knock-in (KI) mice had an age-dependent
      decline in hilar GABAergic interneurons that correlated with the extent of
      learning and memory deficits, as determined by Morris water maze (MWM), in aged
      mice. Enhancing GABA signaling by treating aged apoE4-KI mice with the GABAA
      receptor potentiator pentobarbital (PB) for 4 weeks before and during MWM rescued
      the learning and memory deficits. Here, we report that withdrawal of PB treatment
      for 2 weeks before MWM abolished the rescue in aged apoE4-KI mice, suggesting the
      importance of continuously enhancing GABA signaling in the rescue. However,
      treating apoE4-KI mice during middle adulthood (9-11 months of age) with PB for 6
      weeks prevented age-dependent hilar GABAergic interneuron decline and learning
      and memory deficits, when examined at 16 month of age. These data imply that
      increasing inhibitory tone after substantial GABAergic interneuron loss may be an
      effective symptomatic, but not a disease-modifying, treatment for AD related to
      apoE4, whereas a similar intervention before substantial interneuron loss could
      be a disease-modifying therapeutic. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We previously
      reported that female apoE4-KI mice had an age-dependent decline in hilar
      GABAergic interneurons that correlated with the extent of cognitive deficits in
      aged mice. The current study demonstrates that enhancing GABA signaling by
      treating aged apoE4-KI mice with a GABAA receptor potentiator pentobarbital (PB)
      before and during behavioral tests rescued the cognitive deficits; but withdrawal
      of PB treatment for 2 weeks before the tests abolished the rescue, suggesting the
      importance of continuously enhancing GABA signaling. However, treating apoE4-KI
      mice during middle adulthood with PB for a short period of time prevented age
      dependent hilar GABAergic interneuron decline and cognitive deficits late in
      life, suggesting early intervention by enhancing GABA signaling as a potential
      strategy to prevent AD related to apoE4.

PMID- 26888942
TI  - "One and the Same the World Over": The International Culture of Surgical Exchange
      in an Age of Globalization, 1870-1914.
AB  - This paper examines the international exchange in surgery in the decades before
      World War I, a period of growing globalization in communication and transport.
      Focusing on Europe and North America, it looks first at the various means of
      exchange, especially surgical travel and the culture emerging around it and
      follows specific directions of exchange, from France and Britain, first to the
      German-speaking countries and finally to North America. Subsequently, the account
      turns to international organizations as an important means of exchange in this
      time period. The International Society of Surgery, in particular, provided a
      forum for a vivid internationalist discourse, which, however, stood in tension
      with simultaneous nationalist tendencies leading up to World War I. The paper
      finally discusses how the international exchange and communication at the time
      can be seen as an instance of modern surgeons claiming-and simultaneously trying
      to create-the global universality of surgical knowledge and practices, making
      sure that surgery is the same the world over. 

PMID- 26888941
TI  - The Antimicrobial Agent Fusidic Acid Inhibits Organic Anion Transporting
      Polypeptide-Mediated Hepatic Clearance and May Potentiate Statin-Induced
      Myopathy.
AB  - Chronic treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains with the
      bacteriostatic agent fusidic acid (FA) is frequently associated with myopathy
      including rhabdomyolysis upon coadministration with statins. Because adverse
      effects with statins are usually the result of drug-drug interactions, we
      evaluated the inhibitory effects of FA against human CYP3A4 and clinically
      relevant drug transporters such as organic anion transporting polypeptides
      OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, multidrug resistant protein 1, and breast cancer resistance
      protein, which are involved in the oral absorption and/or systemic clearance of
      statins including atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin. FA was a weak
      reversible (IC50= 295 +/- 1.0MUM) and time-dependent (KI= 216 +/- 41MUM and
      kinact= 0.0179 +/- 0.001 min(-1)) inhibitor of CYP3A4-catalyzed midazolam-1'
      hydroxylase activity in human liver microsomes. FA demonstrated inhibition of
      multidrug resistant protein 1-mediated digoxin transport with an IC50 value of
      157 +/- 1.0MUM and was devoid of breast cancer resistance protein inhibition
      (IC50> 500MUM). In contrast, FA showed potent inhibition of OATP1B1- and OATP1B3
      specific rosuvastatin transport with IC50 values of 1.59MUM and 2.47MUM,
      respectively. Furthermore, coadministration of oral rosuvastatin and FA to rats
      led to an approximately 19.3-fold and 24.6-fold increase in the rosuvastatin
      maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve,
      respectively, which could be potentially mediated through inhibitory effects of
      FA on rat Oatp1a4 (IC50= 2.26MUM) and Oatp1b2 (IC50= 4.38MUM) transporters, which
      are responsible for rosuvastatin uptake in rat liver. The potent inhibition of
      human OATP1B1/OATP1B3 by FA could attenuate hepatic uptake of statins, resulting
      in increased blood and tissue concentrations, potentially manifesting in
      musculoskeletal toxicity.

PMID- 26888943
TI  - My First Hundred Manuscripts / Mes 100 premiers manuscrits.

PMID- 26888944
TI  - Manuscript Submission Guidelines: Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.

PMID- 26888945
TI  - Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy: A Case to Remember.

PMID- 26888946
TI  - Patients' access to biological therapy in chronic inflammatory conditions; per
      capita GDP does not explain the intercountry differences.

PMID- 26888947
TI  - Response to: 'Reporting of potential immunogenicity with biologic drugs: clarity
      and accuracy required' by Moots et al.

PMID- 26888948
TI  - The EULAR points to consider for use of antirheumatic drugs before pregnancy, and
      during pregnancy and lactation.
AB  - A European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) task force was established to define
      points to consider on use of antirheumatic drugs before pregnancy, and during
      pregnancy and lactation. Based on a systematic literature review and pregnancy
      exposure data from several registries, statements on the compatibility of
      antirheumatic drugs during pregnancy and lactation were developed. The level of
      agreement among experts in regard to statements and propositions of use in
      clinical practice was established by Delphi voting. The task force defined 4
      overarching principles and 11 points to consider for use of antirheumatic drugs
      during pregnancy and lactation. Compatibility with pregnancy and lactation was
      found for antimalarials, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, ciclosporin, tacrolimus,
      colchicine, intravenous immunoglobulin and glucocorticoids. Methotrexate,
      mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide require discontinuation before
      conception due to proven teratogenicity. Insufficient documentation in regard to
      fetal safety implies the discontinuation of leflunomide, tofacitinib as well as
      abatacept, rituximab, belimumab, tocilizumab, ustekinumab and anakinra before a
      planned pregnancy. Among biologics tumour necrosis factor inhibitors are best
      studied and appear reasonably safe with first and second trimester use.
      Restrictions in use apply for the few proven teratogenic drugs and the large
      proportion of medications for which insufficient safety data for the fetus/child
      are available. Effective drug treatment of active inflammatory rheumatic disease
      is possible with reasonable safety for the fetus/child during pregnancy and
      lactation. The dissemination of the data to health professionals and patients as
      well as their implementation into clinical practice may help to improve the
      management of pregnant and lactating patients with rheumatic disease. 

PMID- 26888949
TI  - Surface strain measurements of fingertip skin under shearing.
AB  - The temporal evolution of surface strain, resulting from a combination of normal
      and tangential loading forces on the fingerpad, was calculated from high
      resolution images. A customized robotic device loaded the fingertip with varying
      normal force, tangential direction and tangential speed. We observed strain waves
      that propagated from the periphery to the centre of the contact area.
      Consequently, different regions of the contact area were subject to varying
      degrees of compression, stretch and shear. The spatial distribution of both the
      strains and the strain energy densities depended on the stimulus direction.
      Additionally, the strains varied with the normal force level and were
      substantial, e.g. peak strains of 50% with a normal force of 5 N, i.e. at force
      levels well within the range of common dexterous manipulation tasks. While these
      observations were consistent with some theoretical predictions from contact
      mechanics, we also observed substantial deviations as expected given the complex
      geometry and mechanics of fingertips. Specifically, from in-depth analyses, we
      conclude that some of these deviations depend on local fingerprint patterns. Our
      data provide useful information for models of tactile afferent responses and
      background for the design of novel haptic interfaces. 

PMID- 26888950
TI  - Finite-element model of the active organ of Corti.
AB  - The cochlear amplifier that provides our hearing with its extraordinary
      sensitivity and selectivity is thought to be the result of an active
      biomechanical process within the sensory auditory organ, the organ of Corti.
      Although imaging techniques are developing rapidly, it is not currently possible,
      in a fully active cochlea, to obtain detailed measurements of the motion of
      individual elements within a cross section of the organ of Corti. This motion is
      predicted using a two-dimensional finite-element model. The various solid
      components are modelled using elastic elements, the outer hair cells (OHCs) as
      piezoelectric elements and the perilymph and endolymph as viscous and nearly
      incompressible fluid elements. The model is validated by comparison with existing
      measurements of the motions within the passive organ of Corti, calculated when it
      is driven either acoustically, by the fluid pressure or electrically, by
      excitation of the OHCs. The transverse basilar membrane (BM) motion and the
      shearing motion between the tectorial membrane and the reticular lamina are
      calculated for these two excitation modes. The fully active response of the BM to
      acoustic excitation is predicted using a linear superposition of the calculated
      responses and an assumed frequency response for the OHC feedback. 

PMID- 26888951
TI  - Host trait combinations drive abundance and canopy distribution of atmospheric
      bromeliad assemblages.
AB  - Epiphytes are strongly dependent on the conditions created by their host's traits
      and a certain degree of specificity is expected between them, even if these
      species are largely abundant in a series of tree hosts of a given environment, as
      in the case of atmospheric bromeliads. Despite their considerable abundance in
      these environments, we hypothesize that stochasticity alone cannot explain the
      presence and abundance of atmospheric bromeliads on host trees, since host traits
      could have a greater influence on the establishment of these bromeliads. We used
      secondary and reforested seasonal forests and three distinct silvicultures to
      test whether species richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity of
      trees can predict the differential presence, abundance and distribution of
      atmospheric bromeliads on hosts. We compared the observed parameters of their
      assemblage with null models and performed successive variance hierarchic
      partitions of abundance and distribution of the assemblage to detect the
      influence of multiple traits of the tree hosts. Our results do not indicate
      direct relationships between the abundance of atmospheric bromeliads and
      phylogenetic or functional diversity of trees, but instead indicate that
      bromeliads occurred on fewer tree species than expected by chance. We
      distinguished functional tree patterns that can improve or reduce the abundance
      of atmospheric bromeliads, and change their distribution on branches and trunk.
      While individual tree traits are related to increased abundance, species traits
      are related to the canopy distribution of atmospheric bromeliad assemblages. A
      balance among these tree functional patterns drives the atmospheric bromeliad
      assemblage of the forest patches. 

PMID- 26888952
TI  - Time to redefine success? TICI 3 versus TICI 2b recanalization in middle cerebral
      artery occlusion treated with thrombectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale is the most
      widely applied scoring system to grade technical results of recanalizing
      therapies in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). TICI 2b and TICI 3 are conventionally
      subsumed as 'successful recanalization'. Previous studies reported conflicting
      results for the clinical relevance of achieving complete (TICI 3) versus 'almost'
      complete reperfusion (TICI 2b). OBJECTIVE: To examine if neurologic outcome
      differs significantly between TICI 2b and TICI 3 in patients with AIS with middle
      cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion treated 'successfully' with mechanical
      thrombectomy (MTE). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected
      data from 352 consecutive patients with isolated MCA occlusion subjected to MTE
      between January 2007 and July 2015. RESULTS: 262 of the 277 successfully treated
      patients had adequate follow-up and were included. Patients (n=119) in the TICI 3
      group had a lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge
      (NIHSS-DIS; median 5 vs 7, p=0.005), and showed higher rates of strong neurologic
      improvement (DeltaNIHSS>=8 or NIHSS-DIS<=1, 68.4% vs 37.1%, p=0.002) and
      favorable NIHSS outcome (NIHSS-DIS<=5, 49.2% vs 31.9%, p=0.005). Hospital stays
      were shorter in the TICI 3 group (median 10 vs 12 days, p=0.014). After adjusting
      for relevant baseline and treatment parameters, TICI 3 was independently
      associated with strong neurologic improvement (OR=4.3, 95% CI 2.2 to 8.3,
      p<0.001) and favorable NIHSS outcome (OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.3, p=0.003).
      CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic outcome is substantially better in TICI 3 than TICI 2b
      patients, and hospital stays are shorter. Endovascular strategies that
      consequently strive to achieve TICI 3 may be warranted and cost-effective, and
      should be examined by future research. TICI 3 rates should be included as a
      safety measure in studies evaluating MTE devices and techniques.

PMID- 26888953
TI  - ASPECTS discrepancies between CT and MR imaging: analysis and implications for
      triage protocols in acute ischemic stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Optimal imaging triage for intervention for large vessel occlusions
      remains unclear. MR-based imaging provides ischemic core volumes at the cost of
      increased imaging time. CT Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS)
      estimates are faster, but may be less sensitive. OBJECTIVE: To assesses the rate
      at which MRI changed management in comparison with CT imaging alone. METHODS:
      Retrospective analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing imaging
      triage for endovascular therapy was performed between 2008 and 2013. Univariate
      and multivariate analyses were performed. Multivariate logistic regression was
      used to evaluate the effect of time on disagreement in MRI and CT ASPECTS scores.
      RESULTS: A total of 241 patients underwent both diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)
      and CT. Six patients with DWI ASPECTS >=6 and CT ASPECTS <6 were omitted, leaving
      235 patients. For 47 patients, disagreement between the two modalities resulted
      in different treatment recommendations. The estimated probability of disagreement
      was 20.0% (95% CI 15.4% to 25.6%). In a multivariate logistic regression, CT
      ASPECTS >7 (p=0.004) and admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale
      (NIHSS) score <16 (p=0.008) were simultaneously significant predictors of
      agreement in ASPECTS. The time between modalities was a marginally significant
      predictor (p=0.080). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that patients with NIHSS
      scores at admission of <16 and patients with CT ASPECTS >7 have a higher
      likelihood of agreement between CT and DWI based on an ASPECTS cut-off value of
      6. Additional MRI for triage in patients with NIHSS at admission of >16, and
      ASPECTS of 6 or 7 may be more likely to change management. Unsurprisingly,
      patients with low CT ASPECTS had good correlation with MRI ASPECTS.

PMID- 26888954
TI  - Training Guidelines for Endovascular Ischemic Stroke Intervention: An
      International multi-society consensus document.

PMID- 26888955
TI  - Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Arising Adjacent to a Breast Implant.
AB  - Breast implant-associated lymphoma has recently gained wide recognition.
      Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is the most frequently diagnosed subtype in
      this setting but the spectrum is broadening. A 66-year-old woman developed
      swelling and itch around her saline implant 6 years after its insertion. Imaging
      revealed a fluid collection surrounding the implant with an adjacent mass.
      Microscopy showed sclerotic tissue punctuated by discrete cellular nodules
      comprising small lymphocytes, eosinophils and interspersed large atypical Hodgkin
      Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells. The HRS-like cells stained positively for CD30
      and CD15 by immunohistochemistry. Small T-lymphocytes formed rosettes around HRS
      like cells. Appearances were consistent with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).
      Multiplex polymerase chain reaction demonstrated no clonal rearrangements of
      immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor genes, however, a t(14;18)(q32;q21)BCL2-JH
      translocation involving the major breakpoint region of the bcl2 gene was present.
      Staging positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan revealed FDG-avid
      masses in the right axilla and pelvis. Subsequent pathological examination
      identified low-grade follicular lymphoma (FL) with a t(14;18) translocation at
      these sites. To our knowledge, this is the first case of HL arising adjacent to a
      breast implant. An awareness of this diagnosis is important as classical HL, with
      its prominent mixed inflammatory background, may be overlooked as a reactive
      process when histologically assessing capsulectomy specimens. It is also
      important in the differential diagnosis for implant-associated ALCL as both
      contain large atypical CD30-positive cells highlighting the need for full
      immunohistochemical and molecular workup in such cases. This case also adds to
      the large body of literature regarding the association between HL and FL. 

PMID- 26888956
TI  - Assessment of CD-105 as an Angiogenic Modulator in Odontogenic Myxomas and Dental
      Follicles.
AB  - Aim Odontogenic myxoma is a benign intraosseous neoplasm of the jaws, with a
      locally aggressive behavior and a high recurrence rate. CD-105 is a homodimeric
      cell membrane glycoprotein and is a component of the TGF-beta1 growth factor
      receptor complex that modulates angiogenesis by regulating the proliferation,
      differentiation and cellular migration. The aim of this study is to quantify the
      microvascular density of the odontogenic myxoma based on the expression of CD
      105. Materials and Methods The analysis included 18 odontogenic myxoma and 18
      dental follicles as controls. A standard immunohistochemical procedure was
      performed with the CD-105 antibody. Five representative fields (40*) of the
      odontogenic myxoma and the dental follicles were selected to determine the
      microvascular density, which was then followed by a descriptive and comparative
      statistical analysis. Results Dental follicles presented a significantly higher
      microvascular density compared with odontogenic myxoma (P = .001). The
      odontogenic myxoma smaller than 3 cm showed a greater microvascular density than
      those larger than 3 cm in size (P > .05), and the microvascular density was lower
      in large odontogenic myxomas as compared with the dental follicles (P = .003).
      Conclusion A weaker expression of CD-105 in odontogenic myxoma might indicate a
      lower angiogenic activity, suggesting that vascular proliferation has a limited
      role in the growth mechanisms and in the aggressive behavior of this neoplasm. 

PMID- 26888957
TI  - Bizarre Stromal Cells in an Endometrial Polyp.
AB  - Bizarre stromal cells have been reported in vulvovaginal polyps, as well as in
      nongynecologic sites, with caution not to mistake them for malignancy. Similar
      atypical stromal cells have only rarely been reported in the endometrium. We
      present a case found incidentally in a postmenopausal woman, and review the
      literature. 

PMID- 26888958
TI  - Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor With Osseous Heterologous Differentiation
      in Uncommon Locations (Heart and Retropharynx).
AB  - We report two cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) in an
      uncommon location (heart and retropharynx) both with divergent osseous
      heterologous differentiation. We present the pathological and immunohistochemical
      studies that confirmed the neurogenic origin. The histopathology of the tumor
      arising in the retropharynx showed a transition from a neurofibroma to MPNST,
      making this a new report of an MPNST arising from a plexiform neurofibroma
      without neurofibromatosis. Primary cardiac MPNST with osseous differentiation has
      never been reported before. In conclusion, the histology of MPNSTs is very
      heterogeneous, showing no specific diagnostic immunoprofile or genetic
      alteration. Thus, it is important to rule out other histologically similar
      tumors, particularly in cases arising in uncommon locations or tumors with
      divergent heterologous differentiation. 

PMID- 26888959
TI  - Post-traumatic amnesia and confusional state: hazards of retrospective
      assessment.
AB  - Retrospective assessment of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) must take into account
      factors other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) which may impact on memory both
      at the time of injury and subsequent to the injury. These include analgesics,
      anaesthesia required for surgery, and the development of acute or post-traumatic
      stress disorder. This is relevant in clinical and medicolegal settings. Repeated
      assessments of the post-injury state, involving tests for continuing amnesia,
      risk promoting recall of events suggested by the examiner, or generating
      confabulations. The PTA syndrome affects the categorical autobiographical memory,
      and is accompanied by confusion as an essential component; this should be
      suspected from the initial or early Glasgow Coma Scale score (13-14/15) if not
      directly recorded by clinical staff. PTA by itself is only one of several indices
      of severity of TBI. The nature of the head injury, including observers' accounts,
      clinical and neuroimaging data, the possible role of other external injuries,
      blood loss, acute stress disorder and the potential for hypoxic brain injury,
      must be taken into account as well as concomitant alcohol or substance abuse, and
      systemic shock. A plausible mechanism for a TBI must be demonstrable, and other
      causes of amnesia excluded.

PMID- 26888961
TI  - Sex differences in symptom severity and clusters in patients with stage C4 and
      stage C5 chronic venous disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Multiple symptoms associated with chronic venous disease (CVD) are
      poorly understood, under-recognized, and ill-managed. AIMS: The aim of this study
      was to determine whether there are differences in symptoms and symptom clusters
      between men and women with stage C4 and stage C5 CVD. METHODS: Data were
      collected via interviews with 264 patients using a demographic survey and an 11
      item VEINES-SYM questionnaire. ANALYSIS: An intrinsic scoring algorithm was
      developed to calculate the overall t scores for each item by sex. Exploratory
      factor analysis identified symptom clusters using oblique rotation to account for
      correlations between factors. RESULTS: The average age was 61.7 years; 54.5% of
      the patients were women, 58% were African American or black, and 60.6% had
      diabetes. The top three symptoms for women in order of frequency were achy legs,
      swelling, and pain; for men, these were swelling, achy legs, and heavy legs. For
      the total group, two symptom clusters emerged: distressful and discomfort. There
      was no statistically significant difference in factor score between the sexes.
      Different factor loadings for symptom clusters were observed: women reported
      hurting and annoying clusters; and men reported nagging and irritating clusters.
      CONCLUSION: The data suggest differences in CVD symptoms and clusters by sex.
      Symptoms in the two clusters were different; however, there was consistency in
      the factors associated with each cluster. Co-morbid conditions and sex
      differences in pain responses may play a part in symptom presentation. This study
      supports the need for increased sex-delineated clinical assessment and
      consideration of the potential differences between the sexes in the management of
      CVD symptoms.

PMID- 26888960
TI  - Evolving evidence in adult idiopathic intracranial hypertension: pathophysiology
      and management.
AB  - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare but important disease
      associated with significant morbidity. There is an expected rise in prevalence in
      line with the escalating global burden of obesity. Modern revisions in the
      terminology and diagnostic criteria for IIH help guide clinicians in
      investigations and researchers in standardising recruitment criteria for clinical
      trials. The pathophysiology of IIH is incompletely characterised; suggested
      underpinning mechanisms include the role of cerebrospinal fluid regulation as
      well as metabolic and endocrinological perspectives. Recent treatment trials are
      providing insights into the management but debate still surrounds key areas in
      treatment. This review will provide an up-to-date discussion on the potential
      pathogenic mechanisms and management of IIH. 

PMID- 26888962
TI  - Combined effect of left ventricular ejection fraction and post-cardiac depressive
      symptoms on major adverse cardiac events after successful primary percutaneous
      coronary intervention: a 12-month follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the technical advancement of percutaneous coronary
      intervention, major adverse cardiac events after percutaneous coronary
      intervention are still a critical issue in Korea as well as in western society.
      Recently, low left ventricular ejection fraction and depressive symptoms have
      been regarded as independent predictors of adverse outcomes after successful
      primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, there are few studies on the
      combined effect of left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline and post
      cardiac depressive symptoms on major adverse cardiac events after percutaneous
      coronary intervention. AIM: The aim of the current study is to examine the
      combined effect of low left ventricular ejection fraction and post-cardiac
      depressive symptoms on major adverse cardiac events after successful primary
      percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: A total of 221 patients who
      underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention were assessed for left
      ventricular ejection fraction and depressive symptoms at baseline and 1 month
      after discharge, using the patient health questionnaire 9. Major adverse cardiac
      event-free survival rates during the 12-month follow-up period were analysed by
      Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard regression methods.
      RESULTS: We found that the combined effect of baseline left ventricular ejection
      fraction less than 60% and depressive symptoms at 1 month after discharge were
      significantly correlated with increased incidence of major adverse cardiac events
      after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (hazard ratio 4.049;
      95% confidence interval 1.365-12.011) after adjusting for sex, high sensitivity C
      reactive protein, depressive symptoms at baseline and comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results suggest that healthcare professionals should be aware of the
      necessity of early screening for post-cardiac depressive symptoms after discharge
      in percutaneous coronary intervention patients with a low left ventricular
      ejection fraction.

PMID- 26888963
TI  - "Two-coil technique" for embolization of small internal carotid artery aneurysms
      incorporating the origin of the anterior choroidal artery.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and
      stability of the "two-coil technique." MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated a
      single-center experience by using a two-coil technique, which is a variation of
      the multiple-microcatheter technique in the treatment of a small internal carotid
      artery aneurysm with its sac incorporated with the origin of the anterior
      choroidal artery. Six consecutive patients with small ICA aneurysms with its sac
      incorporated with origin of the anterior choroidal artery and treated with the
      two-coil technique were included in this study. We finished the embolization with
      only two coils introduced via two different microcatheters without any other
      device assistance in all cases. Embolization status was determined at immediate
      postoperative and follow-up angiography after six months. RESULTS: The two-coil
      technique was technically successful in five of six cases; one case was converted
      to surgical clipping because of persistent occlusion of the anterior choroidal
      artery after several attempts. On follow-up study, all five cases showed stable
      occlusion status without recanalization or residual aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The
      two-coil technique has potential to be used for coiling small aneurysms,
      particularly where there is an important branch incorporated into the sac or neck
      of the aneurysm.

PMID- 26888965
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preventive Care: An Analysis of Routine Physical
      Examination Among Adolescents, 1998-2010.
AB  - Routine health care plays a central role in health promotion and disease
      prevention for children and in reducing health disparities. The purpose of this
      study is to examine the prevalence of routine physical examination among racially
      and ethnically diverse adolescents at 5 different time points. The study used
      data from the Minnesota Student Survey. Measures include frequency of physical
      examination by race/ethnicity, poverty status, and family structure. The analytic
      sample included 351 510 adolescents (1998, n = 67 239; 2001, n = 69 177; 2004, n
      = 71 084; 2007, n = 72 312; and 2010, n = 71 698). There were significant
      differences by racial/ethnic group at each time point. For example, in 2010,
      never having a physical examination was reported by 9.2% American Indian, 8.7%
      Asian American/Pacific Islander, 7.0% Hispanic/Latino, 4.3% Black/African
      American, 3.7% mixed race, and 2.6% of White respondents ( P < .001). Patterns of
      association emerged when the measure of routine physical examination was
      stratified by poverty and family structure.

PMID- 26888964
TI  - Src kinases central to T-cell receptor signaling regulate TLR-activated innate
      immune responses from human T cells.
AB  - TLRs have a fundamental role in immunity. We have recently reported that
      stimulation of TLR2 and TLR5 in freshly isolated and activated human T cells with
      microbial ligands without concomitant activation through the TCR brings about
      secretion of neutrophil chemoattractant, CXCL8, and effector cytokine, IFN-gamma,
      respectively. However, the mechanism of TLR signaling in T cells has not been
      worked out. Here, we show that the Src family kinases, p56(lck)(Lck) and
      p59(fyn)(Fyn), which are essential for activation of T cells through the TCR, are
      also critical for signal transduction through TLRs in human T cells. The
      secretion of CXCL8 following stimulation of the model human T cell line, Jurkat,
      with the TLR5 ligand, flagellin, was reduced in presence of the Src-kinase
      inhibitor, PP2 and specific inhibitors of Lck and Fyn. These inhibitors
      suppressed generation of activated JNK and p38, which were both required for TLR
      induced CXCL8 production. The Lck-deficient derivative of Jurkat, JCam1.6,
      responded poorly to TLR2, TLR5 and TLR7 agonists, and did not generate active
      signaling intermediates. Lck and Fyn inhibitors also reduced TLR5-induced IFN
      gamma secretion from the activated T cell phenotype-representing T cell line,
      HuT78, without modulating JNK and p38 activation. These results reveal that TCR
      and TLRs share key proximal signaling regulators in T cells. 

PMID- 26888966
TI  - Systematic review of the prevalence of mental illness stigma within the Greek
      culture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A number of primary studies have now assessed mental illness stigma
      within the Greek culture. A synthesis and appraisal of all available evidence is
      now required and will contribute to our growing understanding of the relationship
      between the cultural context and the formation of stigmatising attitudes. AIM: To
      systematically review the prevalence of mental illness public stigma within the
      Greek and Greek Cypriot culture. METHOD: Empirical articles with primary data
      pertaining to the prevalence of mental illness public stigma among Greek and/or
      Greek Cypriot populations were retrieved. Included studies were assessed for
      quality and extracted data were narratively synthesised. RESULTS: A total of 18
      studies met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was highly variable;
      only 1 study was adequately statistically powered, 10 studies employed at least
      some element of probability sampling and obtained response rates of at least 70%,
      while 10 and 13 studies employed reliable and validated prevalence tools,
      respectively. Studies sampled the general population (n = 11), students (n = 4),
      healthcare professionals (n = 2), police officers, employers and family members
      (all n = 1). Stigma was consistently identified in moderate and high proportions
      across all of these groups, particularly in terms of social discrimination and
      restrictiveness, social distance and authoritarianism. However, some evidence of
      benevolence and positivity towards high-quality social care was also identified.
      CONCLUSION: The review highlights the wide-scale prevalence of mental illness
      stigma within the Greek culture and the need for further rigorous research
      including culturally tailored stigma interventions.

PMID- 26888967
TI  - Intimate partner violence-related experiences and mental health among college
      students in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health threat
      that contributes to a wide range of mental and physical health problems for
      victims. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine IPV-related experiences
      and mental health outcomes among college students in Japan, Singapore, South
      Korea and Taiwan. METHODS: The data were obtained from the Inter-University
      Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the International Dating
      Violence Study (IDVS) 2001-2006 (ICPSR 29583; N = 981; Japan n = 207; Singapore n
      = 260; South Korea n = 256; Taiwan n = 258). RESULTS: Co-experience of physical
      IPV victimization and perpetration was associated with borderline personality
      traits and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not with depression.
      Childhood sexual abuse, gender hostility and violence socialization were
      significant predictors of borderline personality traits, depression and PTSD.
      While country and gender variations in mental health are noted, there are two
      specific populations that may need special attention for mental health
      interventions: Taiwanese women especially for borderline personality traits and
      PTSD, and Japanese men especially for depression. CONCLUSION: IPV victimization
      and perpetration, childhood sexual abuse, gender hostility and violence
      socialization have a significant impact on the mental health of college students
      in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Since IPV and mental health are
      significant public health issues, research on IPV and mental health consequences
      of IPV victimization and perpetration in these countries should be further
      expanded in order to better understand the interventions that will be effective
      in treating victims, perpetrators and victim/perpetrators of IPV.

PMID- 26888968
TI  - Cholesterol-Loaded Cyclodextrin Increases the Cholesterol Content of Goat Sperm
      to Improve Cold and Osmotic Resistance and Maintain Sperm Function after
      Cryopreservation.
AB  - The success of semen cryopreservation depends on sperm membrane integrity and
      function after thawing. Cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) is used for in
      vitro incorporation of cholesterol to protect cells against cold temperatures. We
      hypothesized that CLC treatment also enhances sperm cholesterol content to
      increase tolerance to osmotic shock and cryoresistance, thereby improving
      fertility. We confirmed the fact that treatment of goat semen with 3 mg/ml CLC
      increases sperm cholesterol content using both the Liebermann-Burchard approach
      and filipin III labeling of membrane cholesterol. Sperm were then treated with or
      without CLC and cryopreserved. After thawing, sperm cholesterol dramatically
      fell, even in the presence of CLC, which explains the mechanism of
      cryocapacitation. CLC treatment, however, maintained a normal prefreeze
      cholesterol level in sperm after cryopreservation. Furthermore, fresh sperm
      treated with CLC and subjected to either cold shock or incubated in hypo-, iso-,
      and hyperosmotic media, designed to mimic stresses associated with
      freezing/thawing, displayed increased temperature and osmotic tolerance. CLC
      treatment also improved sperm viability, motility, and acrosome integrity after
      thawing. Furthermore, CLC treatment did not affect the sperm's ability to undergo
      in vitro capacitation according to chlortetracycline fluorescence and protein
      tyrosine phosphorylation. A pilot field trial demonstrated that artificial
      insemination with sperm that underwent increased cholesterol levels following CLC
      treatment yielded higher fertility ( ITALIC! P< 0.1) and proliferation ( ITALIC!
      P< 0.05) rates in vivo than untreated semen from the same ejaculate samples.
      These observations suggest that CLC treatment could be used to improve
      cryoprotection during the freezing and thawing of goat sperm. 

PMID- 26888969
TI  - Intracellular Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling Underlying 17beta-Estradiol-Induced
      Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Expression in Human Endometriosis.
AB  - Extracellular matrix remodeling is necessary for ectopic endometrium
      implantation. Many studies have shown an increased expression of matrix
      metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in the ectopic endometrium of endometriosis. However,
      the signaling pathways and cellular effects related to this process remain
      incompletely elucidated. The objective of our study was to investigate the
      association between MMP9 and the Wnt signaling pathway under the regulation of
      17beta-estradiol (E2) in endometrial stromal cells. We found that MMP9 was
      elevated in tissues from women with endometriosis compared with normal women.
      Furthermore, MMP9 and beta-catenin increased concurrently in a time- and dose
      dependent manner after E2 treatment. To clarify the relationship between MMP9 and
      beta-catenin, we performed luciferase promoter reporter and chromatin
      immunoprecipitation assays. A beta-catenin/TCF3/LEF1 complex bound to a specific
      site on the MMP9 promoter that promoted MMP9 gene and protein expression. The
      promotion of MMP9 by the Wnt signaling pathway under the regulation of E2 may
      contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease.

PMID- 26888970
TI  - The Polycomb Group Protein EZH2 Impairs DNA Damage Repair Gene Expression in
      Human Uterine Fibroids.
AB  - Uterine fibroids are benign, smooth muscle tumors that occur in approximately 70%
      80% of women by age 50 yr. The cellular and molecular mechanism(s) by which
      uterine fibroids (UFs) develop are not fully understood. Accumulating evidence
      demonstrates that several genetic abnormalities, including deletions,
      rearrangements, translocations, as well as mutations, have been found in UFs.
      These genetic anomalies suggest that low DNA damage repair capacity may be
      involved in UF formation. The objective of this study was to determine whether
      expression levels of DNA damage repair-related genes were altered, and how they
      were regulated in the pathogenesis of UFs. Expression levels of DNA repair
      related genes RAD51 and BRCA1 were deregulated in fibroid tissues as compared to
      adjacent myometrial tissues. Expression levels of chromatin protein enhancer of
      zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) were higher in a subset of fibroids as compared to
      adjacent myometrial tissues by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot
      analysis. Treatment with an inhibitor of EZH2 markedly increased expression
      levels of RAD51 and BRCA1 in fibroid cells and inhibited cell proliferation
      paired with cell cycle arrest. Restoring the expression of RAD51 and BRCA1 by
      treatment with EZH2 inhibitor was dependent on reducing the enrichment of
      trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 27 epigenetic mark in their promoter regions.
      This study reveals the important role of EZH2-regulated DNA damage-repair genes
      via histone methylation in fibroid biology, and may provide novel therapeutic
      targets for the medical treatment of women with symptomatic UFs.

PMID- 26888971
TI  - AP@home: The Artificial Pancreas Is Now at Home.
AB  - In the past years the development of an artificial pancreas (AP) has made great
      progress and many activities are ongoing in this area of research. The major step
      forward made in the last years was moving the evaluation of AP systems from
      highly controlled experimental conditions to daily life conditions at the home of
      patients with diabetes; this was also the aim of the European Union-funded
      AP@home project. Over a time period of 5 years a series of clinical studies were
      performed that culminated in 2 "final studies" during which an AP system was used
      by patients in their home environment for 2 or 3 months without supervision by a
      physician, living their normal lives. Two different versions of the AP system
      developed within this project were evaluated. A significant improvement in
      glycated hemoglobin was observed during closed-loop conditions despite the fact
      that during the control period the patients used the best currently available
      therapeutic option. In addition, a "single-port AP system" was developed within
      the project that combines continuous glucose monitoring and insulin infusion at a
      single tissue site. By using such a combined device the patients not only have to
      carry one less device around, the number of access points through the skin is
      also reduced from 2 to 1. In summary, close cooperation of 12 European partners,
      both academic centers and industry, enabled the development and evaluation of AP
      systems under daily life conditions. The next step is to develop these into
      products in cooperation with commercial partners.

PMID- 26888973
TI  - Current and Next Generation Portable Screening Devices for Diabetic Retinopathy.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of legal blindness in the United
      States, and with the growing epidemic of diabetes, a global increase in the
      incidence of DR is inevitable, so it is of utmost importance to identify the most
      cost-effective tools for DR screening. Emerging technology may provide
      advancements to offset the burden of care, simplify the process, and provide
      financially responsible methods to safely and effectively optimize care for
      patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We review here currently available
      technology, both in production and under development, for DR screening.
      Preliminary results of smartphone-based devices, "all-in-one" devices, and
      alternative technologies are encouraging, but are largely pending verification of
      utility when used by nonophthalmic personnel. Further research comparing these
      devices to current nonportable telemedicine strategies and clinical fundus
      examination is necessary to validate these techniques and to potentially overcome
      the poor compliance around the globe of current strategies for DR screening. 

PMID- 26888974
TI  - Differential Effects of Sex Pheromone Compounds on Adult Female Sea Lamprey
      (Petromyzon marinus) Locomotor Patterns.
AB  - Synchronization of male and female locomotor activity plays a critical role in
      ensuring reproductive success, especially in semelparous species. The goal of
      this study was to elucidate the effects of individual chemical signals, or
      pheromones, on the locomotor activity in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). In
      their native habitat, adult preovulated females (POF) and ovulated females (OF)
      are exposed to sex pheromone compounds that are released from spermiated males
      and attract females to nests during their migration and spawning periods. In this
      study, locomotor activity of individual POF and OF was measured hourly in
      controlled laboratory conditions using an automated video-tracking system.
      Differences in the activity between a baseline day (no treatment exposure) and a
      treatment day (sex pheromone compound or control exposure) were examined for
      daytime and nighttime periods. Results showed that different pheromone compound
      treatments affected both POF and OF sea lamprey (p < 0.05) but in different ways.
      Spermiated male washings (SMW) and one of its main components, 7alpha,12alpha,24
      trihydroxy-5alpha-cholan-3-one 24 sulfate (3kPZS), decreased activity of POF
      during the nighttime. SMW also reduced activity in POF during the daytime. In
      contrast, SMW increased activity of OF during the daytime, and an additional
      compound found in SMW, petromyzonol sulfate (PZS), decreased the activity during
      the nighttime. In addition, we examined factors that allowed us to infer the
      overall locomotor patterns. SMW increased the maximum hourly activity during the
      daytime, decreased the maximum hourly activity during the nighttime, and reduced
      the percentage of nocturnal activity in OF. Our findings suggest that adult
      females have evolved to respond to different male compounds in regards to their
      locomotor activity before and after final maturation. This is a rare example of
      how species-wide chemosensory stimuli can affect not only the amounts of activity
      but also the overall locomotor pattern in a vertebrate species.

PMID- 26888972
TI  - Automated Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Monitoring Using Retinal Fundus
      Image Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR)-a common complication of diabetes-is the
      leading cause of vision loss among the working-age population in the western
      world. DR is largely asymptomatic, but if detected at early stages the
      progression to vision loss can be significantly slowed. With the increasing
      diabetic population there is an urgent need for automated DR screening and
      monitoring. To address this growing need, in this article we discuss an automated
      DR screening tool and extend it for automated estimation of microaneurysm (MA)
      turnover, a potential biomarker for DR risk. METHODS: The DR screening tool
      automatically analyzes color retinal fundus images from a patient encounter for
      the various DR pathologies and collates the information from all the images
      belonging to a patient encounter to generate a patient-level screening
      recommendation. The MA turnover estimation tool aligns retinal images from
      multiple encounters of a patient, localizes MAs, and performs MA dynamics
      analysis to evaluate new, persistent, and disappeared lesion maps and estimate MA
      turnover rates. RESULTS: The DR screening tool achieves 90% sensitivity at 63.2%
      specificity on a data set of 40 542 images from 5084 patient encounters obtained
      from the EyePACS telescreening system. On a subset of 7 longitudinal pairs the MA
      turnover estimation tool identifies new and disappeared MAs with 100% sensitivity
      and average false positives of 0.43 and 1.6 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The
      presented automated tools have the potential to address the growing need for DR
      screening and monitoring, thereby saving vision of millions of diabetic patients
      worldwide.

PMID- 26888975
TI  - Clinical correlation to differences in ranibizumab and aflibercept vascular
      endothelial growth factor suppression times.
AB  - AIM: To determine clinical correlations to intraocular vascular endothelial
      growth factor A (VEGF-A) suppression times (VSTs) on the treatment of neovascular
      age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with ranibizumab (Lucentis) or
      aflibercept (Eylea). METHODS: Seven of 89 treatment-naive nAMD eyes showed
      persistent choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) activity throughout a spectral
      domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-driven pro re nata (PRN) regimen of
      intravitreal ranibizumab injections over 28+/-4 months. The treatment was
      switched to PRN aflibercept injections and patients were followed for another
      15+/-2 months. A total of 160 aqueous humour specimens were collected before the
      intravitreal injections, and their VEGF-A concentrations were assayed by Luminex
      multiplex bead analysis (Luminex, Austin, Texas, USA). Intraocular VEGF-A
      concentrations were correlated to CNV activity shown by SD-OCT. RESULTS: The mean
      duration of suppression of VEGF-A concentrations in aqueous humour below the
      lower limit of quantification of our assay was 34+/-5 (26-69) days for
      ranibizumab and 67+/-14 (49-89) days for aflibercept (p<0.001). The percentual
      reduction of central retinal volume (CRV) 6 weeks after injection was higher for
      aflibercept compared with ranibizumab (p=0.009). The time point of clinical re
      activity occurred about 50% earlier than the respective VST for each ranibizumab
      and aflibercept. CONCLUSIONS: The VST under aflibercept treatment exceeded that
      under ranibizumab treatment by a factor of 2. This difference correlated with
      differential clinical CRV reduction 6 weeks after the respective injection. For
      both medications, clinical activity was found at a time point as early as 50% of
      the individual VST. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01213667, post-results.

PMID- 26888976
TI  - Scleritis associated with relapsing polychondritis.
AB  - AIMS: To evaluate ocular disease characteristics and successful therapeutic
      regimens in patients with scleritis associated with relapsing polychondritis
      (RP). To compare these features with those seen in patients with scleritis
      associated with other systemic immune-mediated diseases (SIMD). METHODS:
      Electronic health records of 13 scleritis patients associated with RP were
      analysed and compared with those of 113 scleritis patients associated with other
      SIMD seen at two tertiary referral centres. RESULTS: Scleritis in patients with
      RP was often bilateral (92.3%), diffuse (76.9%), recurrent (84.6%), sometimes
      with decreased vision (46.2%), anterior uveitis (38.5%), peripheral keratitis
      (15.4%) and ocular hypertension (30.8%). Patients with scleritis associated with
      RP more often had bilateral scleritis (p=0.001), necrotising scleritis (23.1%;
      p=0.02), recurrences (p=0.001) and decreased vision (three of the six with legal
      blindness; p=0.012), as compared with patients who had scleritis associated with
      other SIMD. Nine patients (69.2%) had one or more SIMD other than RP, including
      systemic vasculitis (4) or other autoimmune disease (8); they antedated RP by 9
      years (range 2-21 years). Successful therapy included cyclophosphamide (5),
      methotrexate (3), azathioprine (3), mycophenolate mofetil (2), infliximab (2) and
      adalimumab (1). CONCLUSIONS: Scleritis may be the first manifestation whose study
      leads to the diagnosis of RP. Scleritis associated with RP is more often
      bilateral, necrotising, recurrent and associated with decrease of vision than
      scleritis associated with other SIMD. About 69.2% of patients will have an
      additional SIMD disorder. Scleritis associated with RP most often will require
      immunomodulatory therapy. Occasionally, scleritis with RP may appear while using
      antitumor necrosis factor alpha agents.

PMID- 26888977
TI  - Established and emerging ancillary techniques in management of microbial
      keratitis: a review.
AB  - Microbial keratitis is a sight-threatening condition and an ocular emergency,
      because of the potential for rapid progression. Intensive topical antimicrobials
      are the mainstay and the gold standard of treatment for microbial keratitis.
      However, despite appropriate diagnosis and therapy, treatment failure is still
      common, and can result in significant morbidity due to corneal perforation and/or
      scarring. For this reason, clinicians continue to seek novel treatment techniques
      in order to expand the armamentarium of tools available to manage microbial
      keratitis, and in doing so improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we examine
      the evidence for some established, as well as a few emerging ancillary techniques
      used to manage microbial keratitis. These include topical corticosteroids,
      corneal collagen cross-linking, intrastromal antimicrobials, amniotic membrane
      transplantation and miscellaneous other techniques. Of these, collagen cross
      linking shows some promise for selected cases of infectious keratitis, although
      more research in the area is required before it is accepted as mainstream
      treatment for this potentially blinding condition.

PMID- 26888978
TI  - Clocks for all seasons: unwinding the roles and mechanisms of circadian and
      interval timers in the hypothalamus and pituitary.

PMID- 26888981
TI  - Dorsal horn circuitry: Complexity and implications for mechanisms of neuropathic
      pain.

PMID- 26888980
TI  - Multiple sclerosis prevalence in the United States commercially insured
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the US commercially insured multiple sclerosis (MS) annual
      prevalence from 2008 to 2012. METHODS: The study was a retrospective analysis
      using PharMetrics Plus, a nationwide claims database for over 42 million covered
      US representative lives. Annual point prevalence required insurance eligibility
      during an entire year. Our primary annual MS identification algorithm required 2
      inpatient claims coded ICD-9 340 or 3 outpatient claims coded ICD-9 340 or 1 MS
      indicated disease-modifying therapy claim. Age-adjusted annual prevalence
      estimates were extrapolated to the US population using US Census data. RESULTS:
      The 2012 MS prevalence was 149.2 per 100,000 individuals (95% confidence interval
      147.6-150.9). Prevalence was consistent over 2008-2012. Female participants were
      3.13 times more likely to have MS. The highest prevalence was in participants
      aged 45-49 years (303.5 per 100,000 individuals [295.6-311.5]). The East Census
      region recorded the highest prevalence (192.1 [188.2-196.0]); the West Census
      region recorded the lowest prevalence (110.7 [105.5-116.0]). The US annual 2012
      MS extrapolated population was 403,630 (387,445-419,833). CONCLUSIONS: MS
      prevalence rates from a representative commercially insured database were higher
      than or consistent with prior US estimates. For further accuracy improvement of
      US prevalence estimates, results should be confirmed after validation of MS
      identification algorithms, and should be expanded to other US populations,
      including the government-insured and the uninsured.

PMID- 26888979
TI  - Reducing low birth weight: prioritizing action to address modifiable risk
      factors.
AB  - Background: Low birth weight (LBW) affects 6.9% of all UK births and has remained
      largely unchanged for many years. The United Nations and the World Health
      Assembly have set targets to substantially reduce global incidence. Understanding
      the contribution of modifiable risk factors to the burden of LBW is required to
      ensure appropriate interventions are in place to achieve this reduction. Methods:
      Data from published studies on the risks from key modifiable factors were used
      alongside prevalence data from the Welsh population to calculate the population
      attributable risk for each factor individually and in combination. Results:
      Fourteen risk factors accounted for nearly half of LBW births, and 60% of those
      to younger mothers (<25 years). Tobacco smoke exposure was the largest
      contributor. We estimated that smoking in pregnancy was a factor in one in eight
      LBW births, increasing to one in five for women aged under 25. Conclusions: Risk
      factors are interrelated and inequitably distributed within the population.
      Exposure to one factor increases the likelihood of exposure to a constellation of
      factors further increasing risk. Action to address LBW must consider groups where
      the risk factors are most prevalent and address these risk factors together using
      multi-component interventions.

PMID- 26888982
TI  - Stage-dependent loss of cortical gyrification as Parkinson disease "unfolds".
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Nigrostriatal terminal losses are known to progress most rapidly in
      early-stage Parkinson disease (PD) and then plateau, whereas cortical pathology
      continues and may provide a better marker of PD progression in later stages. We
      investigated cortical gyrification indices in patients with different durations
      of PD, since cortical folding may capture complex processes involving transverse
      forces of neuronal sheets or underlying axonal connectivity. METHODS:
      Longitudinal cohort structural MRI were obtained at baseline, 18 months, and 36
      months from 70 patients with PD without dementia and 70 control participants.
      Cortical local gyrification index (LGI) was compared between controls and PD
      subgroups based upon duration of illness (DOI, <1 year [PDE, n = 17], 1-5 years
      [PDM, n = 19], >5 years [PDL, n = 24]) and adjusted using false discovery rate.
      Associations between LGI and clinical measurements were assessed using multiple
      linear regression. Areas having significantly reduced LGI also were analyzed
      using baseline data from a newly established cohort (PD n = 87, control n = 66)
      to validate our findings. RESULTS: In the longitudinal cohort, PDL had
      significantly reduced overall gyrification, and bilaterally in the inferior
      parietal, postcentral, precentral, superior frontal, and supramarginal areas,
      compared to controls (p < 0.05). Longitudinally, loss of gyrification was
      accelerated in PDM participants, compared to controls. LGI showed robust
      correlations with DOI and also was correlated with PD-related clinical
      measurements. Similar results were obtained in the validation sample.
      CONCLUSIONS: Loss of cortical gyrification may be accelerated within the first
      few years after PD diagnosis, and become particularly prominent in later stages.
      Thus, it may provide a metric for monitoring progression in vivo.

PMID- 26888983
TI  - Structural network efficiency predicts conversion to dementia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine whether structural network connectivity at baseline
      predicts incident all-cause dementia in a prospective hospital-based cohort of
      elderly participants with MRI evidence of small vessel disease (SVD). METHODS: A
      total of 436 participants from the Radboud University Nijmegen Diffusion Tensor
      and Magnetic Resonance Cohort (RUN DMC), a prospective hospital-based cohort of
      elderly without dementia with cerebral SVD, were included in 2006. During follow
      up (2011-2012), dementia was diagnosed. The structural network was constructed
      from baseline diffusion tensor imaging followed by deterministic tractography and
      measures of efficiency using graph theory were calculated. Cox proportional
      regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: During 5 years of follow-up, 32
      patients developed dementia. MRI markers for SVD were strongly associated with
      network measures. Patients with dementia showed lower total network strength and
      global and local efficiency at baseline as compared with the group without
      dementia. Lower global network efficiency was independently associated with
      increased risk of incident all-cause dementia (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence
      interval 0.42-0.96, p = 0.032); in contrast, individual SVD markers including
      lacunes, white matter hyperintensities volume, and atrophy were not independently
      associated. CONCLUSIONS: These results support a role of network disruption
      playing a pivotal role in the genesis of dementia in SVD, and suggest network
      analysis of the connectivity of white matter has potential as a predictive marker
      in the disease.

PMID- 26888984
TI  - Comment: Network disruption as a common framework for factors contributing to
      dementia.

PMID- 26888988
TI  - 10-Second heart rate variability and cognitive function in old age.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of 10
      second heart rate variability (HRV) with various domains of cognitive function in
      older participants at risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We studied 3,583
      participants, mean age of 75.0 years, who were enrolled in the Prospective Study
      of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk. From baseline 10-second ECGs, standard
      deviation of normal-to-normal intervals was calculated as the index of HRV. Four
      cognitive domains were assessed at baseline and repeated during a mean follow-up
      period of 3.2 years. RESULTS: Lower HRV at baseline was associated with worse
      performance in reaction time (mean difference between low third vs high third of
      HRV = 1.96 seconds, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 to 3.71) and processing
      speed (-0.57 digits coded, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.05). During follow-up, participants
      with lower HRV had a steeper decline in processing speed (mean annual change
      between low third vs high third of HRV = -0.16 digits coded, 95% CI -0.28 to 
      0.04). There was no difference in annual changes of reaction time or immediate
      and delayed memory among HRV thirds during follow-up. All these associations
      remained unchanged after adjustment for medications, cardiovascular risk factors,
      and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with lower 10-second HRV have worse
      performance in reaction time and processing speed and experience steeper decline
      in their processing speed, independent of medications, cardiovascular risk
      factors, and comorbidities.

PMID- 26888987
TI  - Longitudinal functional and NMR assessment of upper limbs in Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and
      functional assessments for follow-up of ambulatory and nonambulatory patients
      with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS: Twenty-five 53-skippable
      patients with DMD were included in this study; 15 were nonambulatory at baseline.
      All patients underwent clinical and functional assessments every 6 months using
      the Motor Function Measure (MFM), hand grip and key pinch strength, MoviPlate,
      and NMR spectroscopy and imaging studies. RESULTS: Upper limb distal strength
      decreased in nonambulatory patients over the period of 1 year; ambulatory
      patients showed improvement during the same period. The same applied for several
      NMRS indices, such as phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate, which decreased in
      older patients but increased in younger ambulatory patients. Fat infiltration in
      the upper limbs increased linearly with age. Almost all NMR and functional
      assessment results correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underscore
      complementarity of functional and NMR assessments in patients with DMD.
      Sensitivity to change of various indices may differ according to disease stage.

PMID- 26888986
TI  - The challenge of comorbidity in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide recommendations for addressing comorbidity in
      clinical trial design and conduct in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We held an
      international workshop, informed by a systematic review of the incidence and
      prevalence of comorbidity in MS and an international survey about research
      priorities for studying comorbidity including their relation to clinical trials
      in MS. RESULTS: We recommend establishing age- and sex-specific incidence
      estimates for comorbidities in the MS population, including those that commonly
      raise concern in clinical trials of immunomodulatory agents; shifting phase III
      clinical trials of new therapies from explanatory to more pragmatic trials;
      describing comorbidity status of the enrolled population in publications
      reporting clinical trials; evaluating treatment response, tolerability, and
      safety in clinical trials according to comorbidity status; and considering
      comorbidity status in the design of pharmacovigilance strategies. CONCLUSION: Our
      recommendations will help address knowledge gaps regarding comorbidity that
      interfere with the ability to interpret safety in monitored trials and will
      enhance the generalizability of findings from clinical trials to "real world"
      settings where the MS population commonly has comorbid conditions.

PMID- 26888989
TI  - How best to obtain consent to thrombolysis: Individualized decision-making.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors that influence the preferences of patients
      and their proxies concerning thrombolytic therapy and to determine how best to
      convey information. METHODS: A total of 613 participants were randomly assigned
      to a positively or negatively framed group. Each participant completed a series
      of surveys. We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to explore participants'
      patterns of choices of thrombolysis and to classify the participants into
      different subgroups. Then we performed regression analyses to investigate
      predictors of classification of the participants into each subgroup and to
      establish a thrombolytic decision-making model. RESULTS: LCA indicated an optimal
      3-subgroup model comprising intermediate, favorable to thrombolysis, and aversion
      to thrombolysis subgroups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 10 factors
      predicted assignment to the intermediate subgroup and 4 factors predicted
      assignment to the aversion to thrombolysis subgroup compared with the favorable
      to thrombolysis subgroup. The chi(2) tests indicated that the information
      presentation format and the context of thrombolysis influenced participants'
      choices of thrombolysis and revealed a framing effect in different subgroups.
      CONCLUSIONS: The preference for thrombolysis was influenced by the positive vs
      negative framing scenarios, the format of item presentation, the context of
      thrombolysis, and individual characteristics. Inconsistent results may be due to
      participant heterogeneity and the evaluation of limited factors in previous
      studies. Based on a decision model of thrombolysis, physicians should consider
      the effects of positive vs negative framing and should seek a neutral tone when
      presenting the facts, providing an important reference point for health
      persuasion in other clinical domains.

PMID- 26888990
TI  - A new scale for prognostication in Parkinson disease: Of animals and men.

PMID- 26888992
TI  - Real-world cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic screening for epilepsy
      treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of the HLA-B*15:02 screening policy
      for the treatment of epilepsy in Hong Kong. METHODS: From all public hospitals
      and clinics in Hong Kong, 13,231 patients with epilepsy who started their first
      antiepileptic drug (AED) between September 16, 2005, and September 15, 2011 (3
      years before and 3 years after policy implementation on September 16, 2015), were
      identified retrospectively. A decision tree model was constructed to incorporate
      the real-world data on AED prescription patterns, incidences of AED-induced
      Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), costs of AED
      treatments, SJS/TEN treatment, and HLA-B*15:02 testing, and quality of life. Cost
      effectiveness of the screening policy was analyzed for 3 scenarios: (1) current
      real-world situation, (2) "ideal" situation assuming full policy adherence and
      preferable testing practices, and (3) "extended" situation simulating the
      extension of HLA-B*15:02 screening to phenytoin in ideal practice. RESULTS: The
      current screening policy was associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness
      ratio of US $85,697 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) compared with no
      screening. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was estimated to be US
      $11,090/QALY in the ideal situation and US $197,158/QALY in the extended
      situation. CONCLUSIONS: The HLA-B*15:02 screening policy, as currently practiced,
      is not cost-effective. Its cost-effectiveness may be improved by enhancing policy
      adherence and by low-cost point-of-care genotyping. Extending the screening to
      phenytoin would not be cost-effective because of the low incidence of phenytoin
      SJS/TEN among HLA-B*15:02 carriers.

PMID- 26888991
TI  - Development and external validation of a prognostic model in newly diagnosed
      Parkinson disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To develop a prognostic model to predict disease outcomes in
      individual patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and perform an external
      validation study in an independent cohort. METHODS: Model development was done in
      the Comorbidity and Aging in Rehabilitation Patients: The Influence on Activities
      (CARPA) cohort (Netherlands). External validation was performed using the
      Cambridgeshire Parkinson's Incidence from GP to Neurologist (CamPaIGN) cohort
      (UK). Both are longitudinal incident cohort studies that prospectively followed
      up patients with PD from the time of diagnosis. A composite outcome measure was
      made in which patients were classified as having an unfavorable prognosis when
      they had postural instability or dementia at the 5-year assessment (or at the
      last assessment before loss to follow-up), or had died before this time. The
      final model was derived with a backward selection strategy from candidate
      predictor variables that were measured at baseline. RESULTS: In the resulting
      model, higher patient age, higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor
      examination axial score, and a lower animal fluency score were all associated
      with a higher probability of an unfavorable outcome. External validation
      confirmed good discriminative ability between favorable and unfavorable outcomes
      with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95%
      confidence interval 0.77-0.93) and a well-calibrated model with a calibration
      slope of 1.13 and no significant lack of fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: p = 0.39).
      CONCLUSION: We constructed a model that allows individual patient prognostication
      at 5 years from diagnosis, using a small set of predictor variables that can
      easily be obtained by clinicians or research nurses.

PMID- 26888994
TI  - Metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 autoimmunity: Clinical features and
      treatment outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe retrospectively the clinical associations of
      immunoglobulin G (IgG) targeting metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1-IgG).
      METHODS: Specimens of 9 patients evaluated on a service basis in the Mayo Clinic
      Neuroimmunology Laboratory by tissue-based immunofluorescence assay (IFA) yielded
      a robust, synaptic immunostaining pattern consistent with mGluR1-IgG (serum, 9;
      CSF, 2 available). Transfected HEK293 cell-based assay (CBA) confirmed mGluR1
      specificity in all 11 specimens. A further 2 patients were detected in Germany
      primarily by CBA. RESULTS: The median symptom onset age for the 11 patients was
      58 years (range 33-81 years); 6 were male. All 9 Mayo Clinic patients had
      subacute onset of cerebellar ataxia, 4 had dysgeusia, 1 had psychiatric symptoms,
      and 1 had cognitive impairment. All were evaluated for malignancy, but only 1 was
      affected (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma). One developed ataxia post-herpes zoster
      infection. Head MRIs were generally atrophic or normal-appearing, and CSF was
      inflammatory in just 1 of 5 tested, though mGluR1-IgG was detected in both
      specimens submitted. Five patients improved (attributable to immunotherapy in 4,
      spontaneously in 1), 3 stabilized (attributable to immunotherapy in 2, cancer
      therapy in 1), and 1 progressively declined (untreated). The 2 German patients
      had ataxia, but fulfilled multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria (1 relapsing
      remitting, 1 progressive). However, both had histories of hematologic malignancy
      (acute lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma), and had mGluR1-IgG
      detected in serum by CBA (weakly positive on tissue-based IFA). CONCLUSIONS:
      mGluR1 autoimmunity represents a treatable form of cerebellar ataxia. Dysgeusia
      may be a diagnostic clue. Paraneoplastic, parainfectious, or idiopathic causes
      may occur.

PMID- 26888995
TI  - Depression in ALS in a large self-reporting cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report an observational study of depression in a large cohort of
      patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including its prevalence,
      associations, longitudinal course, and effect on survival. METHODS: The Patient
      Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (a validated depression instrument) and other self
      reported measures were obtained from patients with ALS as part of routine
      clinical care via tablet devices using a software system (Knowledge Program). Cox
      proportional hazard models, linear models, mixed effects models, and logistic
      regression were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of 1,067 patients seen
      over an 8-year period, 964 had at least one PHQ-9 recorded. Initially, at least
      moderate (PHQ-9 >= 10), moderately severe (PHQ-9 >= 15), and severe depression
      (PHQ-9 >= 20) were found in about 33%, 14%, and 5% of patients, respectively.
      Higher initial PHQ-9 was significantly predictive of mortality (hazard ratio
      1.041 per increasing point, 95% confidence interval 1.018-1.065) after
      controlling for covariates. PHQ-9 was also associated with poorer quality of
      life. More advanced disease initially and pseudobulbar affect were associated
      with depression. In 587 patients with repeated PHQ-9 measures, worsening
      depression was not observed. CONCLUSION: Depression is prevalent in ALS and is
      associated with disease severity at initial assessment. Paradoxically, however,
      worsening depression is not observed during follow-up despite motor progression.
      Most importantly, depression has detrimental effects on survival and quality of
      life. Treatment of depression is recommended in ALS, although it is unknown if
      this would improve survival.

PMID- 26888993
TI  - Neuropathologic comorbidity and cognitive impairment in the Nun and Honolulu-Asia
      Aging Studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine frequencies and relationships of 5 common neuropathologic
      abnormalities identified at autopsy with late-life cognitive impairment and
      dementia in 2 different autopsy panels. METHODS: The Nun Study (NS) and the
      Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS) are population-based investigations of brain
      aging that included repeated cognitive assessments and comprehensive brain
      autopsies. The neuropathologic abnormalities assessed were Alzheimer disease (AD)
      neuropathologic changes, neocortical Lewy bodies (LBs), hippocampal sclerosis,
      microinfarcts, and low brain weight. Associations with screening tests for
      cognitive impairment were examined. RESULTS: Neuropathologic abnormalities
      occurred at levels ranging from 9.7% to 43%, and were independently associated
      with cognitive impairment in both studies. Neocortical LBs and AD changes were
      more frequent among the predominantly Caucasian NS women, while microinfarcts
      were more common in the Japanese American HAAS men. Comorbidity was usual and
      very strongly associated with cognitive impairment. Apparent cognitive resilience
      (no cognitive impairment despite Braak stage V) was strongly associated with
      minimal or no comorbid abnormalities, with fewer neocortical AD lesions, and
      weakly with longer interval between final testing and autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Total
      burden of comorbid neuropathologic abnormalities, rather than any single lesion
      type, was the most relevant determinant of cognitive impairment in both cohorts,
      often despite clinical diagnosis of only AD. These findings emphasize challenges
      to dementia pathogenesis and intervention research and to accurate diagnoses
      during life.

PMID- 26888996
TI  - Testing HLA-B*15:02: Is it worth it?

PMID- 26888997
TI  - Antibiotic-associated encephalopathy.
AB  - Delirium is a common and costly complication of hospitalization. Although
      medications are a known cause of delirium, antibiotics are an underrecognized
      class of medications associated with delirium. In this article, we
      comprehensively review the clinical, radiologic, and electrophysiologic features
      of antibiotic-associated encephalopathy (AAE). AAE can be divided into 3 unique
      clinical phenotypes: encephalopathy commonly accompanied by seizures or myoclonus
      arising within days after antibiotic administration (caused by cephalosporins and
      penicillin); encephalopathy characterized by psychosis arising within days of
      antibiotic administration (caused by quinolones, macrolides, and procaine
      penicillin); and encephalopathy accompanied by cerebellar signs and MRI
      abnormalities emerging weeks after initiation of antibiotics (caused by
      metronidazole). We correlate these 3 clinical phenotypes with underlying
      pathophysiologic mechanisms of antibiotic neurotoxicity. Familiarity with these
      types of antibiotic toxicity can improve timely diagnosis of AAE and prompt
      antibiotic discontinuation, reducing the time patients spend in the delirious
      state.

PMID- 26888998
TI  - A. V. Hill sticks his neck out.

PMID- 26888999
TI  - Warm acclimation improves hypoxia tolerance in Fundulus heteroclitus.
AB  - Human activities are increasing both the frequency of hypoxic episodes and the
      mean temperature of aquatic ecosystems, but few studies have considered the
      possibility that acclimation to one of these stressors could improve the ability
      to cope with the other stressor. Here, we used Atlantic killifish, Fundulus
      heteroclitus, to test this hypothesis. Hypoxia tolerance was measured as time to
      loss of equilibrium in hypoxia (LOEhyp) at 0.4 kPa oxygen. Time to LOEhyp
      declined from 73.3 +/- 6.9 min at 15  degrees C to 2.6 +/- 3.8 min at 23  degrees
      C, and at 30  degrees C no fish could withstand this level of hypoxia. Prior
      acclimation to warm temperatures significantly increased time to LOEhyp. Hypoxia
      tolerance of the southern subspecies of killifish, F. heteroclitus heteroclitus,
      was greater than that of the northern subspecies, F. heteroclitus macrolepidotus,
      measured both as critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) and as time to LOEhyp. Warm
      acclimation offset the negative effects of temperature on time to LOEhyp to a
      similar extent in the two subspecies. Warm acclimation increased total lamellar
      surface area of the gill in both subspecies as a result of regression of an
      interlamellar cell mass (ILCM). However, differences in total lamellar surface
      area could not explain differences in time to LOEhyp between the subspecies,
      suggesting that the lower time to LOEhyp of northern fish is related to their
      higher routine metabolic rate. These data suggest that thermal plasticity in gill
      morphology can improve the capacity of this species to tolerate hypoxia, and
      shows how existing plasticity may help organisms to cope with the complex
      interacting stressors that they will encounter with increasing frequency as our
      climate changes.

PMID- 26889001
TI  - FRET analysis using sperm-activating peptides tagged with fluorescent proteins
      reveals that ligand-binding sites exist as clusters.
AB  - Long-range cellular communication between the sperm and egg is critical for
      external fertilization. Sperm-activating peptides (SAPs) are diffusible
      components of the outer layer of eggs in echinoderms, and function as
      chemoattractants for spermatozoa. The decapeptide named speract is the best
      characterized sea urchin SAP. Biochemical and physiological actions of speract
      have been studied with purified or chemically synthesized peptides. In this work,
      we prepared recombinant speract fused to a fluorescent protein (FP; FP-speract)
      using three color variants: a cyan (eCFP), a yellow (mVenus) and a large Stokes
      shift yellow (mAmetrine) FP. Although these fluorescence tags are 20 times larger
      than speract, competitive binding experiments using mAmetrine-speract revealed
      that this FP-speract has binding affinity to the receptor that is comparable (7.6
      fold less) to that of non-labeled speract. Indeed, 10 nmol l(-1) eCFP-speract
      induces physiological sperm responses such as membrane potential changes and
      increases in intracellular pH and Ca(2+) concentrations similar to those
      triggered by 10 nmol l(-1) speract. Furthermore, FP-speract maintains its
      fluorescence upon binding to its receptor. Using this property, we performed
      fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements with eCFP-speract and
      mVenus-speract as probes and obtained a positive FRET signal upon binding to the
      receptor, which suggests that the speract receptor exists as an oligomer, at
      least as a dimer, or alternatively that a single speract receptor protein
      possesses multiple binding sites. This property could partially account for the
      positive and/or negative cooperative binding of speract to the receptor.

PMID- 26889000
TI  - Silicon-based plant defences, tooth wear and voles.
AB  - Plant-herbivore interactions are hypothesized to drive vole population cycles
      through the grazing-induced production of phytoliths in leaves. Phytoliths act as
      mechanical defences because they deter herbivory and lower growth rates in
      mammals. However, how phytoliths impair herbivore performance is still unknown.
      Here, we tested whether the amount of phytoliths changes tooth wear patterns. If
      confirmed, abrasion from phytoliths could play a role in population crashes. We
      applied dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) to laboratory and wild voles.
      Lab voles were fed two pelleted diets with differing amounts of silicon, which
      produced similar dental textures. This was most probably due to the loss of food
      mechanical properties through pelletization and/or the small difference in
      silicon concentration between diets. Wild voles were trapped in Poland during
      spring and summer, and every year across a population cycle. In spring, voles
      feed on silica-rich monocotyledons, while in the summer they also include silica
      depleted dicotyledons. This was reflected in the results; the amount of silica
      therefore leaves a traceable record in the dental microwear texture of voles.
      Furthermore, voles from different phases of population cycles have different
      microwear textures. We tentatively propose that these differences result from
      grazing-induced phytolith concentrations. We hypothesize that the high amount of
      phytoliths in response to intense grazing in peak years may result in
      malocclusion and other dental abnormalities, which would explain how these
      silicon-based plant defences help provoke population crashes. DMTA could then be
      used to reconstruct vole population dynamics using teeth from pellets or
      palaeontological material. 

PMID- 26889002
TI  - Underwater flight by the planktonic sea butterfly.
AB  - In a remarkable example of convergent evolution, we show that the zooplanktonic
      sea butterfly Limacina helicina 'flies' underwater in the same way that very
      small insects fly in the air. Both sea butterflies and flying insects stroke
      their wings in a characteristic figure-of-eight pattern to produce lift, and both
      generate extra lift by peeling their wings apart at the beginning of the power
      stroke (the well-known Weis-Fogh 'clap-and-fling' mechanism). It is highly
      surprising to find a zooplankter 'mimicking' insect flight as almost all
      zooplankton swim in this intermediate Reynolds number range (Re=10-100) by using
      their appendages as paddles rather than wings. The sea butterfly is also unique
      in that it accomplishes its insect-like figure-of-eight wing stroke by extreme
      rotation of its body (what we call 'hyper-pitching'), a paradigm that has
      implications for micro aerial vehicle (MAV) design. No other animal, to our
      knowledge, pitches to this extent under normal locomotion. 

PMID- 26889003
TI  - Zebrafish learn to forage in the dark.
AB  - A large diversity of fishes struggle early in life to forage on zooplankton while
      under the threat of predation. Some species, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio),
      acquire an ability to forage in the dark during growth as larvae, but it is
      unclear how this is achieved. We investigated the functional basis of this
      foraging by video-recording larval and juvenile zebrafish as they preyed on
      zooplankton (Artemia sp.) under infrared illumination. We found that foraging
      improved with age, to the extent that 1-month-old juveniles exhibited a capture
      rate that was an order of magnitude greater than that of hatchlings. At all ages,
      the ability to forage in the dark was diminished when we used a chemical
      treatment to compromise the cranial superficial neuromasts, which facilitate flow
      sensing. However, a morphological analysis showed no developmental changes in
      these receptors that could enhance sensitivity. We tested whether the improvement
      in foraging with age could instead be a consequence of learning by raising fish
      that were naive to the flow of prey. After 1 month of growth, both groups foraged
      with a capture rate that was significantly less than that of fish that had the
      opportunity to learn and indistinguishable from that of fish with no ability to
      sense flow. This suggests that larval fish learn to use water flow to forage in
      the dark. This ability could enhance resource acquisition under reduced
      competition and predation. Furthermore, our findings offer an example of learning
      in a model system that offers promise for understanding its neurophysiological
      basis.

PMID- 26889004
TI  - Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Air Laws in North Dakota on Restaurants and Bars.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In late 2012, North Dakota expanded its statewide smoke-free air
      law to cover all restaurants and bars in the state. Several North Dakota
      communities also had local ordinances that prohibited smoking in restaurants and
      bars prior to the statewide law. Previous work found no effect of the initial
      statewide law or several local laws on restaurant and bar sales. METHODS: Using
      quarterly county-level employment data from 1990 to 2014, we examined whether the
      expanded statewide law or pre-existing local laws were associated with
      significant changes in employment in restaurants and bars in North Dakota.
      Separate models were estimated for restaurant and bar employment using two
      methods of controlling for smoke-free air law coverage. RESULTS: We found no
      evidence of a significant association between employment in restaurants and bars
      in North Dakota and the expanded statewide law or pre-existing local laws. Prior
      employment levels in restaurants and bars and prevailing economic conditions were
      the main drivers of restaurant and bar employment, not smoke-free air laws.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study examines the economic impact of smoke-free air laws in
      North Dakota on restaurant and bar employment following the expansion of the
      statewide law in late 2012 to cover all restaurants and bars. We find no
      significant adverse effect of smoke-free air laws on restaurants and bars,
      consistent with results from previous studies conducted in North Dakota and
      throughout the United States. IMPLICATIONS: This study is the first to analyze
      the economic impact of smoke-free air laws in North Dakota on restaurant and bar
      employment following the 2012 expansion of the statewide law to cover all
      restaurants and bars. We find no evidence of a significant adverse effect of
      smoke-free air laws on restaurants and bars, consistent with results from
      previous studies conducted in North Dakota and throughout the United States.
      Prior employment levels and prevailing economic conditions proved to be the main
      drivers of restaurant and bar employment, not smoke-free air laws.

PMID- 26889006
TI  - Screening for drought tolerance of maize hybrids by multi-scale analysis of root
      and shoot traits at the seedling stage.
AB  - We studied the drought response of eight commercial hybrid maize lines with
      contrasting drought sensitivity together with the reference inbred line B73 using
      a non-invasive platform for root and shoot phenotyping and a kinematics approach
      to quantify cell level responses in the leaf. Drought treatments strongly reduced
      leaf growth parameters including projected leaf area, elongation rate, final
      length and width of the fourth and fifth leaf. Physiological measurements
      including water use efficiency, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis were
      also significantly affected. By performing a kinematic analysis, we show that
      leaf growth reduction in response to drought is mainly due to a decrease in cell
      division rate, whereas a marked reduction in cell expansion rate is compensated
      by increased duration of cell expansion. Detailed analysis of root growth in
      rhizotrons under drought conditions revealed a strong reduction in total root
      length as well as rooting depth and width. This was reflected by corresponding
      decreases in fresh and dry weight of the root system. We show that phenotypic
      differences between lines differing in geographic origin (African vs. European)
      and in drought tolerance under field conditions can already be identified at the
      seedling stage by measurements of total root length and shoot dry weight of the
      plants. Moreover, we propose a list of candidate traits that could potentially
      serve as traits for future screening strategies. 

PMID- 26889005
TI  - Interactions between ethylene, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids in the
      development of rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses of pea.
AB  - The regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal development and nodulation involves
      complex interactions between the plant and its microbial symbionts. In this
      study, we use the recently identified ethylene-insensitive ein2 mutant in pea
      (Pisum sativum L.) to explore the role of ethylene in the development of these
      symbioses. We show that ethylene acts as a strong negative regulator of
      nodulation, confirming reports in other legumes. Minor changes in gibberellin1
      and indole-3-acetic acid levels in ein2 roots appear insufficient to explain the
      differences in nodulation. Double mutants produced by crosses between ein2 and
      the severely gibberellin-deficient na and brassinosteroid-deficient lk mutants
      showed increased nodule numbers and reduced nodule spacing compared with the na
      and lk single mutants, but nodule numbers and spacing were typical of ein2
      plants, suggesting that the reduced number of nodules innaandlkplants is largely
      due to the elevated ethylene levels previously reported in these mutants. We show
      that ethylene can also negatively regulate mycorrhizae development when ethylene
      levels are elevated above basal levels, consistent with a role for ethylene in
      reducing symbiotic development under stressful conditions. In contrast to the
      hormone interactions in nodulation, ein2 does not override the effect of lk or na
      on the development of arbuscular mycorrhizae, suggesting that brassinosteroids
      and gibberellins influence this process largely independently of ethylene.

PMID- 26889008
TI  - NB-LRR signaling induces translational repression of viral transcripts and the
      formation of RNA processing bodies through mechanisms differing from those
      activated by UV stress and RNAi.
AB  - Plant NB-LRR proteins confer resistance to multiple pathogens, including viruses.
      Although the recognition of viruses by NB-LRR proteins is highly specific,
      previous studies have suggested that NB-LRR activation results in a response that
      targets all viruses in the infected cell. Using an inducible system to activate
      NB-LRR defenses, we find that NB-LRR signaling does not result in the degradation
      of viral transcripts, but rather prevents them from associating with ribosomes
      and translating their genetic material. This indicates that defense against
      viruses involves the repression of viral RNA translation. This repression is
      specific to viral transcripts and does not involve a global shutdown of host cell
      translation. As a consequence of the repression of viral RNA translation, NB-LRR
      responses induce a dramatic increase in the biogenesis of RNA processing bodies
      (PBs). We demonstrate that other pathways that induce translational repression,
      such as UV irradiation and RNAi, also induce PBs. However, by investigating the
      phosphorylation status of eIF2alpha and by using suppressors of RNAi we show that
      the mechanisms leading to PB induction by NB-LRR signaling are different from
      these stimuli, thus defining a distinct type of translational control and anti
      viral mechanism in plants. 

PMID- 26889007
TI  - Tissue-specific root ion profiling reveals essential roles of the CAX and ACA
      calcium transport systems in response to hypoxia in Arabidopsis.
AB  - Waterlogging is a major abiotic stress that limits the growth of plants. The
      crucial role of Ca(2+) as a second messenger in response to abiotic and biotic
      stimuli has been widely recognized in plants. However, the physiological and
      molecular mechanisms of Ca(2+) distribution within specific cell types in
      different root zones under hypoxia is poorly understood. In this work, whole
      plant physiological and tissue-specific Ca(2+) changes were studied using several
      ACA (Ca(2+)-ATPase) and CAX (Ca(2+)/proton exchanger) knock-out Arabidopsis
      mutants subjected to waterlogging treatment. In the wild-type (WT) plants,
      several days of hypoxia decreased the expression of ACA8, CAX4, and CAX11 by 33%
      and 50% compared with the control. The hypoxic treatment also resulted in an up
      to 11-fold tissue-dependent increase in Ca(2+) accumulation in root tissues as
      revealed by confocal microscopy. The increase was much higher in stelar cells in
      the mature zone of Arabidopsis mutants with loss of function for ACA8, ACA11,
      CAX4, and CAX11 In addition, a significantly increased Ca(2+) concentration was
      found in the cytosol of stelar cells in the mature zone after hypoxic treatment.
      Three weeks of waterlogging resulted in dramatic loss of shoot biomass in cax11
      plants (67% loss in shoot dry weight), while in the WT and other transport
      mutants this decline was only 14-22%. These results were also consistent with a
      decline in leaf chlorophyll fluorescence (F v/F m). It is suggested that CAX11
      plays a key role in maintaining cytosolic Ca(2+) homeostasis and/or signalling in
      root cells under hypoxic conditions.

PMID- 26889010
TI  - Enhancing cytokinin synthesis by overexpressing ipt alleviated drought inhibition
      of root growth through activating ROS-scavenging systems in Agrostis stolonifera.
AB  - Drought stress limits root growth and inhibits cytokinin (CK) production.
      Increases in CK production through overexpression of isopentenyltransferase (ipt)
      alleviate drought damages to promote root growth. The objective of this study was
      to investigate whether CK-regulated root growth was involved in the alteration of
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS scavenging capacity under
      drought stress. Wild-type (WT) creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.
      'Penncross') and a transgenic line (S41) overexpressing ipt ligated to a
      senescence-activated promoter (SAG12) were exposed to drought stress for 21 d in
      growth chambers. SAG12-ipt transgenic S41 developed a more extensive root system
      under drought stress compared to the WT. Root physiological analysis (electrolyte
      leakage and lipid peroxidation) showed that S41 roots exhibited less cellular
      damage compared to the WT under drought stress. Roots of SAG12-ipt transgenic S41
      had significantly higher endogenous CK content than the WT roots under drought
      stress. ROS (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide) content was significantly lower
      and content of total and free ascorbate was significantly higher in S41 roots
      compared to the WT roots under drought stress. Enzymatic assays and transcript
      abundance analysis showed that superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and
      dehydroascorbate reductase were significantly higher in S41 roots compared to the
      WT roots under drought stress. S41 roots also maintained significantly higher
      alternative respiration rates compared to the WT under drought stress. The
      improved root growth of transgenic creeping bentgrass may be facilitated by CK
      enhanced ROS scavenging through antioxidant accumulation and activation of
      antioxidant enzymes, as well as higher alternative respiration rates when soil
      water is limited.

PMID- 26889009
TI  - TPR5 is involved in directional cell division and is essential for the
      maintenance of meristem cell organization in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Root growth in plants is achieved through the co-ordination of cell division and
      expansion. In higher plants, the radial structure of the roots is formed during
      embryogenesis and maintained thereafter throughout development. Here we show that
      the tetratricopeptide repeat domain protein TPR5 is necessary for maintaining
      radial structure and growth rates in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. We isolated an
      A. thaliana mutant with reduced root growth and determined that TPR5 was the gene
      responsible for the phenotype. The root growth rate of the tpr5-1 mutant was
      reduced to ~60% of that in wild-type plants. The radial structure was disturbed
      by the occurrence of occasional extra periclinal cell divisions. While the number
      of meristematic cells was reduced in the tpr5 mutants, the cell length in the
      mature portion of the root did not differ from that of the wild type, suggesting
      that TPR5 is required for proper cell division but dispensable for cell
      elongation. Expression of the TPR5-GFP fusion protein driven by the TPR5 promoter
      displayed fluorescence in the cytoplasm of root meristems, but not in mature root
      regions. DNA staining revealed that frequencies of micronuclei were increased in
      root meristems of tpr5 mutants. From this study, we concluded that TPR5 is
      involved in preventing the formation of micronuclei and is necessary for both the
      activity and directionality of cell division in root meristems.

PMID- 26889011
TI  - Reduced mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase activity has a strong effect on
      photorespiratory metabolism as revealed by 13C labelling.
AB  - Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) catalyses the interconversion of malate
      and oxaloacetate (OAA) in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Its activity is
      important for redox control of the mitochondrial matrix, through which it may
      participate in regulation of TCA cycle turnover. In Arabidopsis, there are two
      isoforms of mMDH. Here, we investigated to which extent the lack of the major
      isoform, mMDH1 accounting for about 60% of the activity, affected leaf
      metabolism. In air, rosettes of mmdh1 plants were only slightly smaller than wild
      type plants although the fresh weight was decreased by about 50%. In low CO2 the
      difference was much bigger, with mutant plants accumulating only 14% of fresh
      weight as compared to wild type. To investigate the metabolic background to the
      differences in growth, we developed a (13)CO2 labelling method, using a custom
      built chamber that enabled simultaneous treatment of sets of plants under
      controlled conditions. The metabolic profiles were analysed by gas- and liquid-
      chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to investigate the metabolic
      adjustments between wild type and mmdh1 The genotypes responded similarly to high
      CO2 treatment both with respect to metabolite pools and (13)C incorporation
      during a 2-h treatment. However, under low CO2 several metabolites differed
      between the two genotypes and, interestingly most of these were closely
      associated with photorespiration. We found that while the glycine/serine ratio
      increased, a concomitant altered glutamine/glutamate/alpha-ketoglutarate relation
      occurred. Taken together, our results indicate that adequate mMDH activity is
      essential to shuttle reductants out from the mitochondria to support the
      photorespiratory flux, and strengthen the idea that photorespiration is tightly
      intertwined with peripheral metabolic reactions.

PMID- 26889012
TI  - The banana fruit Dof transcription factor MaDof23 acts as a repressor and
      interacts with MaERF9 in regulating ripening-related genes.
AB  - The DNA binding with one finger (Dof) proteins, a family of plant-specific
      transcription factors, are involved in a variety of plant biological processes.
      However, little information is available on their involvement in fruit ripening.
      We have characterized 25 MaDof genes from banana fruit (Musa acuminata),
      designated as MaDof1-MaDof25 Gene expression analysis in fruit subjected to
      different ripening conditions revealed that MaDofs were differentially expressed
      during different stages of ripening. MaDof10, 23, 24, and 25 were ethylene
      inducible and nuclear-localized, and their transcript levels increased during
      fruit ripening. Moreover, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence
      complementation analyses demonstrated a physical interaction between MaDof23 and
      MaERF9, a potential regulator of fruit ripening reported in a previous study. We
      determined that MaDof23 is a transcriptional repressor, whereas MaERF9 is a
      transcriptional activator. We suggest that they might act antagonistically in
      regulating 10 ripening-related genes, including MaEXP1/2/3/5, MaXET7, MaPG1,
      MaPME3, MaPL2, MaCAT, and MaPDC, which are associated with cell wall degradation
      and aroma formation. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into the
      transcriptional regulation network controlling banana fruit ripening.

PMID- 26889013
TI  - Grain protein concentration and harvestable protein under future climate
      conditions. A study of 108 spring barley accessions.
AB  - In the present study a set of 108 spring barley (H. vulgare L.) accessions were
      cultivated under predicted future levels of temperature and [CO2] as single
      factors and in combination (IPCC, AR5, RCP8.5). Across all genotypes, elevated
      [CO2] (700 ppm day/night) slightly decreased protein concentration by 5%, while
      elevated temperature (+5  degrees C day/night) substantially increased protein
      concentration by 29%. The combined treatment increased protein concentration
      across accessions by 8%. This was an increase less than predicted from strictly
      additive effects of the individual treatments. Despite the increase in grain
      protein concentration, the decrease in grain yield at combined elevated
      temperature and elevated [CO2] resulted in 23% less harvestable protein. There
      was variation in the response of the 108 accessions, which might be exploited to
      at least maintain if not increase harvestable grain protein under future climate
      change conditions.

PMID- 26889014
TI  - Principles of Motor Unit Physiology Evolve With Advances in Technology.
AB  - Movements are generated by the coordinated activation of motor units. Recent
      technological advances have made it possible to identify the concurrent activity
      of several tens of motor units, in contrast with much smaller samples available
      in classic studies. We discuss how these advances in technology have enabled the
      development of a population perspective of how the central nervous system
      controls motor unit activity and thereby the forces exerted by muscles. 

PMID- 26889017
TI  - Obesity Impacts Fever and Sickness Behavior During Acute Systemic Inflammation.
AB  - Obesity is reaching dramatic proportions in humans and is associated with a
      higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive alterations, and
      a higher mortality during infection and inflammation. The focus of the present
      review is on the influence of obesity on the presentation of fever, sickness
      behavior, and inflammatory responses during acute systemic inflammation. 

PMID- 26889015
TI  - Neural Control of Walking in People with Parkinsonism.
AB  - People with Parkinson's disease exhibit debilitating gait impairments, including
      gait slowness, increased step variability, and poor postural control. A
      widespread supraspinal locomotor network including the cortex, cerebellum, basal
      ganglia, and brain stem contributes to the control of human locomotion, and
      altered activity of these structures underlies gait dysfunction due to
      Parkinson's disease. 

PMID- 26889019
TI  - Physiology Of Drowning: A Review.
AB  - Drowning physiology relates to two different events: immersion (upper airway
      above water) and submersion (upper airway under water). Immersion involves
      integrated cardiorespiratory responses to skin and deep body temperature,
      including cold shock, physical incapacitation, and hypovolemia, as precursors of
      collapse and submersion. The physiology of submersion includes fear of drowning,
      diving response, autonomic conflict, upper airway reflexes, water aspiration and
      swallowing, emesis, and electrolyte disorders. Submersion outcome is determined
      by cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological injury. Knowledge of drowning physiology
      is scarce. Better understanding may identify methods to improve survival,
      particularly related to hot-water immersion, cold shock, cold-induced physical
      incapacitation, and fear of drowning. 

PMID- 26889016
TI  - Obesity, Asthma, and the Microbiome.
AB  - Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, but standard asthma drugs have reduced
      efficacy in the obese. Obesity alters the gastrointestinal microbial community
      structure. This change in structure contributes to some obesity-related
      conditions and also could be contributing to obesity-related asthma. Although
      currently unexplored, obesity may also be altering lung microbiota. Understanding
      the role of microbiota in obesity-related asthma could lead to novel treatments
      for these patients. 

PMID- 26889020
TI  - Night shift work and incidence of diabetes in the Danish Nurse Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Night shift work has been associated with poor sleep, weight gain,
      metabolic syndrome, which are recognised risk factor for diabetes. However, only
      a few studies have examined the effect of shift work on diabetes risk. Here, we
      study the association between shift work and incidence of diabetes in Danish
      nurses. METHODS: We used the Danish Nurse Cohort with 28,731 participating female
      nurses recruited in 1993 (19,898) or 1999 (8833), when self-reported baseline
      information on diabetes prevalence, lifestyle and working time were collected,
      and followed them in the Danish Diabetes Register for incidence of diabetes until
      2013. Nurses reported whether they worked night, evening, rotating or day shifts.
      We analysed the association between working time and diabetes incidence using a
      Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for diabetes risk factors, separately
      with and without adjustment for body mass index (BMI) which might be an
      intermediate variable. RESULTS: Of 19,873 nurses who worked and were diabetes
      free at recruitment, 837 (4.4%) developed diabetes during 15 years of follow-up.
      The majority of nurses (62.4%) worked day shifts, 21.8% rotating shift, 10.1%
      evening and 5.5% night shifts. Compared with nurses who worked day shifts, we
      found statistically significantly increased risk of diabetes in nurses who worked
      night (1.58; 1.25 to 1.99) or evening shifts (1.29; 1.04 to 1.59) in the fully
      adjusted models including BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Danish nurses working night and
      evening shifts have increased risk for diabetes, with the highest risk associated
      with current night shift work.

PMID- 26889018
TI  - Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Hungry for an Answer.
AB  - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been defined in several ways, but in
      general describes a condition in which the fetus exhibits poor growth in utero.
      This complication of pregnancy poses a significant public health burden as well
      as increased morbidity and mortality for the offspring. In human IUGR, alteration
      in fetal glucose and insulin homeostasis occurs in an effort to conserve energy
      and survive at the expense of fetal growth in an environment of inadequate
      nutrient provision. Several animal models of IUGR have been utilized to study the
      effects of IUGR on fetal glucose handling, as well as the postnatal reprogramming
      of energy metabolite handling, which may be unmasked in adulthood as a
      maladaptive propensity for cardiometabolic disease. This developmental
      programming may be mediated in part by epigenetic modification of essential
      regulators of glucose homeostasis. Several pharmacological therapies and
      nonpharmacological lifestyle modifications have shown early promise in mitigating
      the risk for or severity of adult metabolic phenotypes but still require further
      study of unanticipated and/or untoward side effects. 

PMID- 26889022
TI  - Differential Expression of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
      Receptor in the Upper Respiratory Tracts of Humans and Dromedary Camels.
AB  - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is not efficiently
      transmitted between humans, but it is highly prevalent in dromedary camels. Here
      we report that the MERS-CoV receptor--dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4)--is expressed
      in the upper respiratory tract epithelium of camels but not in that of humans.
      Lack of DPP4 expression may be the primary cause of limited MERS-CoV replication
      in the human upper respiratory tract and hence restrict transmission.

PMID- 26889023
TI  - Structural Basis for Norovirus Inhibition by Human Milk Oligosaccharides.
AB  - Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are important binding factors for norovirus
      infections. We show that two human milk oligosaccharides, 2'-fucosyllactose
      (2'FL) and 3-fucosyllactose (3FL), could block norovirus from binding to
      surrogate HBGA samples. We found that 2'FL and 3FL bound at the equivalent HBGA
      pockets on the norovirus capsid using X-ray crystallography. Our data revealed
      that 2'FL and 3FL structurally mimic HBGAs. These results suggest that 2'FL and
      3FL might act as naturally occurring decoys in humans. 

PMID- 26889021
TI  - Linear Epitopes in Vaccinia Virus A27 Are Targets of Protective Antibodies
      Induced by Vaccination against Smallpox.
AB  - Vaccinia virus (VACV) A27 is a target for viral neutralization and part of the
      Dryvax smallpox vaccine. A27 is one of the three glycosaminoglycan (GAG) adhesion
      molecules and binds to heparan sulfate. To understand the function of anti-A27
      antibodies, especially their protective capacity and their interaction with A27,
      we generated and subsequently characterized 7 murine monoclonal antibodies
      (MAbs), which fell into 4 distinct epitope groups (groups I to IV). The MAbs in
      three groups (groups I, III, and IV) bound to linear peptides, while the MAbs in
      group II bound only to VACV lysate and recombinant A27, suggesting that they
      recognized a conformational and discontinuous epitope. Only group I antibodies
      neutralized the mature virion in a complement-dependent manner and protected
      against VACV challenge, while a group II MAb partially protected against VACV
      challenge but did not neutralize the mature virion. The epitope for group I MAbs
      was mapped to a region adjacent to the GAG binding site, a finding which suggests
      that group I MAbs could potentially interfere with the cellular adhesion of A27.
      We further determined the crystal structure of the neutralizing group I MAb 1G6,
      as well as the nonneutralizing group IV MAb 8E3, bound to the corresponding
      linear epitope-containing peptides. Both the light and the heavy chains of the
      antibodies are important in binding to their antigens. For both antibodies, the
      L1 loop seems to dominate the overall polar interactions with the antigen, while
      for MAb 8E3, the light chain generally appears to make more contacts with the
      antigen. IMPORTANCE: Vaccinia virus is a powerful model to study antibody
      responses upon vaccination, since its use as the smallpox vaccine led to the
      eradication of one of the world's greatest killers. The immunodominant antigens
      that elicit the protective antibodies are known, yet for many of these antigens,
      little information about their precise interaction with antibodies is available.
      In an attempt to better understand the interplay between the antibodies and their
      antigens, we generated and functionally characterized a panel of anti-A27
      antibodies and studied their interaction with the epitope using X-ray
      crystallography. We identified one protective antibody that binds adjacent to the
      heparan sulfate binding site of A27, likely affecting ligand binding. Analysis of
      the antibody-antigen interaction supports a model in which antibodies that can
      interfere with the functional activity of the antigen are more likely to confer
      protection than those that bind at the extremities of the antigen.

PMID- 26889024
TI  - Analyses of Coronavirus Assembly Interactions with Interspecies Membrane and
      Nucleocapsid Protein Chimeras.
AB  - The coronavirus membrane (M) protein is the central actor in virion
      morphogenesis. M organizes the components of the viral membrane, and interactions
      of M with itself and with the nucleocapsid (N) protein drive virus assembly and
      budding. In order to further define M-M and M-N interactions, we constructed
      mutants of the model coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) in which all or part
      of the M protein was replaced by its phylogenetically divergent counterpart from
      severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We were able to obtain
      viable chimeras containing the entire SARS-CoV M protein as well as mutants with
      intramolecular substitutions that partitioned M protein at the boundaries between
      the ectodomain, transmembrane domains, or endodomain. Our results show that the
      carboxy-terminal domain of N protein, N3, is necessary and sufficient for
      interaction with M protein. However, despite some previous genetic and
      biochemical evidence that mapped interactions with N to the carboxy terminus of
      M, it was not possible to define a short linear region of M protein sufficient
      for assembly with N. Thus, interactions with N protein likely involve multiple
      linearly discontiguous regions of the M endodomain. The SARS-CoV M chimera
      exhibited a conditional growth defect that was partially suppressed by mutations
      in the envelope (E) protein. Moreover, virions of the M chimera were markedly
      deficient in spike (S) protein incorporation. These findings suggest that the
      interactions of M protein with both E and S protein are more complex than
      previously thought. IMPORTANCE: The assembly of coronavirus virions entails
      concerted interactions among the viral structural proteins and the RNA genome.
      One strategy to study this process is through construction of interspecies
      chimeras that preserve or disrupt particular inter- or intramolecular
      associations. In this work, we replaced the membrane (M) protein of the model
      coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus with its counterpart from a heterologous
      coronavirus. The results clarify our understanding of the interaction between the
      coronavirus M protein and the nucleocapsid protein. At the same time, they reveal
      unanticipated complexities in the interactions of M with the viral spike and
      envelope proteins.

PMID- 26889025
TI  - Novel Feline Leukemia Virus Interference Group Based on the env Gene.
AB  - Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) subgroups have emerged in infected cats via the
      mutation or recombination of the env gene of subgroup A FeLV (FeLV-A), the
      primary virus. We report the isolation and characterization of a novel env gene,
      TG35-2, and report that the TG35-2 pseudotype can be categorized as a novel FeLV
      subgroup. The TG35-2 envelope protein displays strong sequence identity to FeLV-A
      Env, suggesting that selection pressure in cats causes novel FeLV subgroups to
      emerge.

PMID- 26889026
TI  - Single-Particle Tracking Shows that a Point Mutation in the Carnivore Parvovirus
      Capsid Switches Binding between Host-Specific Transferrin Receptors.
AB  - Determining how viruses infect new hosts via receptor-binding mechanisms is
      important for understanding virus emergence. We studied the binding kinetics of
      canine parvovirus (CPV) variants isolated from raccoons-a newly recognized CPV
      host-to different carnivore transferrin receptors (TfRs) using single-particle
      tracking. Our data suggest that CPV may utilize adhesion-strengthening mechanisms
      during TfR binding and that a single mutation in the viral capsid at VP2 position
      300 can profoundly alter receptor binding and infectivity. 

PMID- 26889027
TI  - The C-Terminal Tail of TRIM56 Dictates Antiviral Restriction of Influenza A and B
      Viruses by Impeding Viral RNA Synthesis.
AB  - Accumulating data suggest that tripartite-motif-containing (TRIM) proteins
      participate in host responses to viral infections, either by acting as direct
      antiviral restriction factors or through regulating innate immune signaling of
      the host. Of >70 TRIMs, TRIM56 is a restriction factor of several positive-strand
      RNA viruses, including three members of the family Flaviviridae(yellow fever
      virus, dengue virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus) and a human coronavirus
      (OC43), and this ability invariably depends upon the E3 ligase activity of
      TRIM56. However, the impact of TRIM56 on negative-strand RNA viruses remains
      unclear. Here, we show that TRIM56 puts a check on replication of influenza A and
      B viruses in cell culture but does not inhibit Sendai virus or human
      metapneumovirus, two paramyxoviruses. Interestingly, the anti-influenza virus
      activity was independent of the E3 ligase activity, B-box, or coiled-coil domain.
      Rather, deletion of a 63-residue-long C-terminal-tail portion of TRIM56 abrogated
      the antiviral function. Moreover, expression of this short C-terminal segment
      curtailed the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full
      length TRIM56. Mechanistically, TRIM56 was found to specifically impede
      intracellular influenza virus RNA synthesis. Together, these data reveal a novel
      antiviral activity of TRIM56 against influenza A and B viruses and provide
      insights into the mechanism by which TRIM56 restricts these medically important
      orthomyxoviruses. IMPORTANCE: Options to treat influenza are limited, and drug
      resistant influenza virus strains can emerge through minor genetic changes.
      Understanding novel virus-host interactions that alter influenza virus fitness
      may reveal new targets/approaches for therapeutic interventions. We show here
      that TRIM56, a tripartite-motif protein, is an intrinsic host restriction factor
      of influenza A and B viruses. Unlike its antiviral actions against positive
      strand RNA viruses, the anti-influenza virus activity of TRIM56 was independent
      of the E3 ligase activity. Rather, expression of a short segment within the very
      C-terminal tail of TRIM56 inhibited the replication of influenza viruses as
      effectively as that of full-length TRIM56 by specifically targeting viral RNA
      synthesis. These data reveal the remarkable multifaceted activity of TRIM56,
      which has developed multiple domains to inhibit multiple viral families. They
      also raise the possibility of developing a broad-spectrum, TRIM56-based antiviral
      approach for addition to influenza prophylaxis and/or control strategies.

PMID- 26889028
TI  - Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Genotype 3 Infection of Human Liver Chimeric Mice as a
      Model for Chronic HEV Infection.
AB  - Genotype 3 (gt3) hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are emerging in Western
      countries. Immunosuppressed patients are at risk of chronic HEV infection and
      progressive liver damage, but no adequate model system currently mimics this
      disease course. Here we explore the possibilities of in vivo HEV studies in a
      human liver chimeric mouse model (uPA(+/+)Nod-SCID-IL2Rgamma(-/-)) next to the
      A549 cell culture system, using HEV RNA-positive EDTA-plasma, feces, or liver
      biopsy specimens from 8 immunocompromised patients with chronic gt3 HEV. HEV from
      feces- or liver-derived inocula showed clear virus propagation within 2 weeks
      after inoculation onto A549 cells, compared to slow or no HEV propagation of HEV
      RNA-positive, EDTA-plasma samples. These in vitro HEV infectivity differences
      were mirrored in human-liver chimeric mice after intravenous (i.v.) inoculation
      of selected samples. HEV RNA levels of up to 8 log IU HEV RNA/gram were
      consistently present in 100% of chimeric mouse livers from week 2 to week 14
      after inoculation with human feces- or liver-derived HEV. Feces and bile of
      infected mice contained moderate to large amounts of HEV RNA, while HEV viremia
      was low and inconsistently detected. Mouse-passaged HEV could subsequently be
      propagated for up to 100 days in vitro In contrast, cell culture-derived or
      seronegative EDTA-plasma-derived HEV was not infectious in inoculated animals. In
      conclusion, the infectivity of feces-derived human HEV is higher than that of
      EDTA-plasma-derived HEV both in vitro and in vivo Persistent HEV gt3 infections
      in chimeric mice show preferential viral shedding toward mouse bile and feces,
      paralleling the course of infection in humans. IMPORTANCE: Hepatitis E virus
      (HEV) genotype 3 infections are emerging in Western countries and are of great
      concern for immunosuppressed patients at risk for developing chronic HEV
      infection. Lack of adequate model systems for chronic HEV infection hampers
      studies on HEV infectivity and transmission and antiviral drugs. We compared the
      in vivo infectivity of clinical samples from chronic HEV patients in human liver
      chimeric mice to an in vitro virus culture system. Efficient in vivo HEV
      infection is observed after inoculation with feces- and liver-derived HEV but not
      with HEV RNA-containing plasma or cell culture supernatant. HEV in chimeric mice
      is preferentially shed toward bile and feces, mimicking the HEV infection course
      in humans. The observed in vivo infectivity differences may be relevant for the
      epidemiology of HEV in humans. This novel small-animal model therefore offers new
      avenues to unravel HEV's pathobiology.

PMID- 26889030
TI  - Expression of Oncogenic Alleles Induces Multiple Blocks to Human Cytomegalovirus
      Infection.
AB  - In contrast to many viruses, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is unable to
      productively infect most cancer-derived cell lines. The mechanisms of this
      restriction are unclear. To explore this issue, we tested whether defined
      oncogenic alleles, including the simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen (TAg) and
      oncogenic H-Ras, inhibit HCMV infection. We found that expression of SV40 TAg
      blocks HCMV infection in human fibroblasts, whereas the replication of a related
      herpesvirus, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), was not impacted. The earliest
      restriction of HCMV infection involves a block of viral entry, as TAg expression
      prevented the nuclear delivery of viral DNA and pp65. Subsequently, we found that
      TAg expression reduces the abundance of platelet-derived growth factor receptor
      alpha (PDGFRalpha), a host protein important for HCMV entry. Viral entry into TAg
      immortalized fibroblasts could largely be rescued by PDGFRalpha overexpression.
      Similarly, PDGFRalpha overexpression in HeLa cells markedly increased the levels
      of HCMV gene expression and DNA replication. However, the robust production of
      viral progeny was not restored by PDGFRalpha overexpression in either HeLa cells
      or TAg-immortalized fibroblasts, suggesting additional restrictions associated
      with transformation and TAg expression. In TAg-expressing fibroblasts, expression
      of the immediate early 2 (IE2) protein was not rescued to the same extent as that
      of the immediate early 1 (IE1) protein, suggesting that TAg expression impacts
      the accumulation of major immediate early (MIE) transcripts. Transduction of IE2
      largely rescued HCMV gene expression in TAg-expressing fibroblasts but did not
      rescue the production of infectious virions. Collectively, our data indicate that
      oncogenic alleles induce multiple restrictions to HCMV replication. IMPORTANCE:
      HCMV cannot replicate in most cancerous cells, yet the causes of this restriction
      are not clear. The mechanisms that restrict viral replication in cancerous cells
      represent viral vulnerabilities that can potentially be exploited therapeutically
      in other contexts. Here we found that SV40 T antigen-mediated transformation
      inhibits HCMV infection at multiple points in the viral life cycle, including
      through inhibition of proper viral entry, normal expression of immediate early
      genes, and viral DNA replication. Our results suggest that the SV40 T antigen
      could be a valuable tool to dissect cellular activities that are important for
      successful infection, thereby potentially informing novel antiviral development
      strategies. This is an important consideration, given that HCMV is a leading
      cause of birth defects and causes severe infection in immunocompromised
      individuals.

PMID- 26889029
TI  - The Proteolytic Activation of (H3N2) Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin Is
      Facilitated by Different Type II Transmembrane Serine Proteases.
AB  - Cleavage of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) by host cell proteases is
      necessary for viral activation and infectivity. In humans and mice, members of
      the type II transmembrane protease family (TTSP), e.g., TMPRSS2, TMPRSS4, and
      TMPRSS11d (HAT), have been shown to cleave influenza virus HA for viral
      activation and infectivity in vitro Recently, we reported that inactivation of a
      single HA-activating protease gene,Tmprss2, in knockout mice inhibits the spread
      of H1N1 influenza viruses. However, after infection of Tmprss2 knockout mice with
      an H3N2 influenza virus, only a slight increase in survival was observed, and
      mice still lost body weight. In this study, we investigated an additional trypsin
      like protease, TMPRSS4. Both TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 are expressed in the same cell
      types of the mouse lung. Deletion of Tmprss4 alone in knockout mice does not
      protect them from body weight loss and death upon infection with H3N2 influenza
      virus. In contrast,Tmprss2(-/-)Tmprss4(-/-)double-knockout mice showed a
      remarkably reduced virus spread and lung pathology, in addition to reduced body
      weight loss and mortality. Thus, our results identified TMPRSS4 as a second host
      cell protease that, in addition to TMPRSS2, is able to activate the HA of H3N2
      influenza virus in vivo IMPORTANCE: Influenza epidemics and recurring pandemics
      are responsible for significant global morbidity and mortality. Due to high
      variability of the virus genome, resistance to available antiviral drugs is
      frequently observed, and new targets for treatment of influenza are needed. Host
      cell factors essential for processing of the virus hemagglutinin represent very
      suitable drug targets because the virus is dependent on these host factors for
      replication. We reported previously that Tmprss2-deficient mice are protected
      against H1N1 virus infections, but only marginal protection against H3N2 virus
      infections was observed. Here we show that deletion of two host protease
      genes,Tmprss2 and Tmprss4, strongly reduced viral spread as well as lung
      pathology and resulted in increased survival after H3N2 virus infection. Thus,
      TMPRSS4 represents another host cell factor that is involved in cleavage
      activation of H3N2 influenza viruses in vivo.

PMID- 26889033
TI  - Highly Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Cloning and Functional Characterization of
      Gastric Cancer-Derived Epstein-Barr Virus Strains.
AB  - The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is etiologically linked to approximately 10% of
      gastric cancers, in which viral genomes are maintained as multicopy episomes. EBV
      positive gastric cancer cells are incompetent for progeny virus production,
      making viral DNA cloning extremely difficult. Here we describe a highly efficient
      strategy for obtaining bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones of EBV
      episomes by utilizing a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated strand break of the viral genome and
      subsequent homology-directed repair. EBV strains maintained in two gastric cancer
      cell lines (SNU719 and YCCEL1) were cloned, and their complete viral genome
      sequences were determined. Infectious viruses of gastric cancer cell-derived EBVs
      were reconstituted, and the viruses established stable latent infections in
      immortalized keratinocytes. While Ras oncoprotein overexpression caused massive
      vacuolar degeneration and cell death in control keratinocytes, EBV-infected
      keratinocytes survived in the presence of Ras expression. These results implicate
      EBV infection in predisposing epithelial cells to malignant transformation by
      inducing resistance to oncogene-induced cell death. IMPORTANCE: Recent progress
      in DNA-sequencing technology has accelerated EBV whole-genome sequencing, and the
      repertoire of sequenced EBV genomes is increasing progressively. Accordingly, the
      presence of EBV variant strains that may be relevant to EBV-associated diseases
      has begun to attract interest. Clearly, the determination of additional disease
      associated viral genome sequences will facilitate the identification of any
      disease-specific EBV variants. We found that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of EBV
      episomal DNA enabled the cloning of disease-associated viral strains with
      unprecedented efficiency. As a proof of concept, two gastric cancer cell-derived
      EBV strains were cloned, and the infection of epithelial cells with reconstituted
      viruses provided important clues about the mechanism of EBV-mediated epithelial
      carcinogenesis. This experimental system should contribute to establishing the
      relationship between viral genome variation and EBV-associated diseases.

PMID- 26889031
TI  - Increasing Clinical Severity during a Dengue Virus Type 3 Cuban Epidemic: Deep
      Sequencing of Evolving Viral Populations.
AB  - During the dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) epidemic that occurred in Havana in 2001
      to 2002, severe disease was associated with the infection sequence DENV-1
      followed by DENV-3 (DENV-1/DENV-3), while the sequence DENV-2/DENV-3 was
      associated with mild/asymptomatic infections. To determine the role of the virus
      in the increasing severity demonstrated during the epidemic, serum samples
      collected at different time points were studied. A total of 22 full-length
      sequences were obtained using a deep-sequencing approach. Bayesian phylogenetic
      analysis of consensus sequences revealed that two DENV-3 lineages were
      circulating in Havana at that time, both grouped within genotype III. The
      predominant lineage is closely related to Peruvian and Ecuadorian strains, while
      the minor lineage is related to Venezuelan strains. According to consensus
      sequences, relatively few nonsynonymous mutations were observed; only one was
      fixed during the epidemic at position 4380 in the NS2B gene. Intrahost genetic
      analysis indicated that a significant minor population was selected and became
      predominant toward the end of the epidemic. In conclusion, greater variability
      was detected during the epidemic's progression in terms of significant minority
      variants, particularly in the nonstructural genes. An increasing trend of genetic
      diversity toward the end of the epidemic was observed only for synonymous variant
      allele rates, with higher variability in secondary cases. Remarkably, significant
      intrahost genetic variation was demonstrated within the same patient during the
      course of secondary infection with DENV-1/DENV-3, including changes in the
      structural proteins premembrane (PrM) and envelope (E). Therefore, the dynamic of
      evolving viral populations in the context of heterotypic antibodies could be
      related to the increasing clinical severity observed during the epidemic.
      IMPORTANCE: Based on the evidence that DENV fitness is context dependent, our
      research has focused on the study of viral factors associated with intraepidemic
      increasing severity in a unique epidemiological setting. Here, we investigated
      the intrahost genetic diversity in acute human samples collected at different
      time points during the DENV-3 epidemic that occurred in Cuba in 2001 to 2002
      using a deep-sequencing approach. We concluded that greater variability in
      significant minor populations occurred as the epidemic progressed, particularly
      in the nonstructural genes, with higher variability observed in secondary
      infection cases. Remarkably, for the first time significant intrahost genetic
      variation was demonstrated within the same patient during the course of secondary
      infection with DENV-1/DENV-3, including changes in structural proteins. These
      findings indicate that high-resolution approaches are needed to unravel molecular
      mechanisms involved in dengue pathogenesis.

PMID- 26889032
TI  - Emerging Roles of Protein Deamidation in Innate Immune Signaling.
AB  - Protein deamidation has been considered a nonenzymatic process associated with
      protein functional decay or "aging." Recent studies implicate protein deamidation
      in regulating signal transduction in fundamental biological processes, such as
      innate immune responses. Work investigating gammaherpesviruses and bacterial
      pathogens indicates that microbial pathogens deploy deamidases or enzyme
      deficient homologues (pseudoenzymes) to induce deamidation of key signaling
      components and evade host immune responses. Here, we review studies on protein
      deamidation in innate immune signaling and present several imminent questions
      concerning the roles of protein deamidation in infection and immunity. 

PMID- 26889034
TI  - VP8, the Major Tegument Protein of Bovine Herpesvirus 1, Interacts with Cellular
      STAT1 and Inhibits Interferon Beta Signaling.
AB  - The UL47 gene product, VP8, is the most abundant tegument protein of bovine
      herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). Previously, we demonstrated that a UL47-deleted BoHV-1
      mutant (BoHV1-DeltaUL47) exhibits 100-fold-reduced virulence in vitro and is
      avirulent in vivo In this study, we demonstrated that VP8 expression or BoHV-1
      infection inhibits interferon beta (IFN-beta) signaling by using an IFN
      alpha/beta-responsive plasmid in a luciferase assay. As transducer and activator
      of transcription (STAT) is an essential component in the IFN-signaling pathways,
      the effect of VP8 on STAT was investigated. An interaction between VP8 and STAT1
      was established by coimmunoprecipitation assays in both VP8-transfected and BoHV
      1-infected cells. Two domains of VP8, amino acids 259 to 482 and 632 to 686, were
      found to be responsible for its interaction with STAT1. The expression of VP8 did
      not induce STAT1 ubiquitination or degradation. Moreover, VP8 did not reduce
      STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation to downregulate IFN-beta signaling. However, the
      expression of VP8 or a version of VP8 (amino acids 219 to 741) that contains the
      STAT1-interacting domains but not the nuclear localization signal prevented
      nuclear accumulation of STAT1. Inhibition of nuclear accumulation of STAT1 also
      occurred during BoHV-1 infection, while nuclear translocation of STAT1 was
      observed in BoHV1-DeltaUL47-infected cells. During BoHV-1 infection, VP8 was
      detected in the cytoplasm at 2 h postinfection without any de novo protein
      synthesis, at which time STAT1 was already retained in the cytoplasm. These
      results suggest that viral VP8 downregulates IFN-beta signaling early during
      infection, thus playing a role in overcoming the antiviral response of BoHV-1
      infected cells. IMPORTANCE: Since VP8 is the most abundant protein in BoHV-1
      virions and thus may be released in large amounts into the host cell immediately
      upon infection, we proposed that it might have a function in the establishment of
      conditions suitable for viral replication. Indeed, while nonessential in vitro,
      it is critical for BoHV-1 replication in vivo In this study, we determined that
      VP8 plays a role in downregulation of the antiviral host response by inhibiting
      IFN-beta signaling. VP8 interacted with and prevented nuclear accumulation of
      STAT1 at 2 h postinfection in the absence of de novo viral protein synthesis. Two
      domains of VP8, amino acids 259 to 482 and 632 to 686, were found to be
      responsible for this interaction. These results provide a new functional role for
      VP8 in BoHV-1 infection and a potential explanation for the lack of viral
      replication of the UL47 deletion mutant in cattle.

PMID- 26889035
TI  - Viral Persistence Induces Antibody Inflation without Altering Antibody Avidity.
AB  - Antibodies are implicated in long-term immunity against numerous pathogens, and
      because of this property, antibody induction is the basis for many vaccines.
      Little is known about the influence of viral persistence on the evolving antibody
      response. Here, we examined the characteristics of antibody responses to
      persistent infection by employing the prototypic betaherpesvirus family member
      cytomegalovirus (CMV) in experimental mouse models. During the course of
      infection, mouse CMV (MCMV)-specific IgM and IgG responses are elicited; however,
      IgG levels gradually inflate in the persistent phase of infection while IgM
      levels are stably maintained. Whereas CD27-CD70 interactions are dispensable, the
      CD28/B7 costimulatory pathway is critical for the class switching of MCMV
      specific IgM-to-IgG B cell responses, which corresponds to the CD28/B7-dependent
      formation of CD4(+)T follicular helper cells (TFH) and germinal center (GC) B
      cells. Furthermore, the initial viral inoculum dose dictates the height of the
      antibody levels during IgG antibody inflation and relates to the induction of
      long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells. Antibody avidity nonetheless is not
      altered after the establishment of viral persistence and occurs independently of
      the inoculum doses. However, repetitive challenge with intact viral particles,
      accompanied by increased GC reactivity, promotes the development of high-avidity
      IgG responses with neutralizing capacity. These insights can be used for the
      rational design of CMV-based vaccines aimed at inducing antibody responses.
      IMPORTANCE: Antibodies provide long-term protection to different pathogens.
      However, how antibody responses develop during persistent virus infection is not
      entirely clear. Here, we characterize factors that influence the virus-specific
      antibody response to persistent CMV. This study describes that during persistent
      infection, CMV-specific IgM antibody levels are stably maintained while IgG2b and
      IgG2c levels gradually inflate over time. In contrast, the IgG avidity remains
      similar after the establishment of viral persistence. The induction of T
      follicular helper cells and GC B cells requires CD4(+)T cell help and CD28/B7
      costimulation signals and is essential for the development of CMV-specific IgG
      antibody responses. Furthermore, neutralizing CMV-specific antibodies appear to
      develop late after infection, yet the neutralizing capacity can be improved upon
      repetitive viral challenge that is associated with increased GC reactivity. The
      results described here could inform the use of CMV-based vaccines and may help to
      understand how our immune system copes with this persistent virus.

PMID- 26888985
TI  - Prespecified dose-response analysis for A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial
      (AVERT).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our prespecified dose-response analyses of A Very Early Rehabilitation
      Trial (AVERT) aim to provide practical guidance for clinicians on the timing,
      frequency, and amount of mobilization following acute stroke. METHODS: Eligible
      patients were aged >=18 years, had confirmed first (or recurrent) stroke, and
      were admitted to a stroke unit within 24 hours of stroke onset. Patients were
      randomized to receive very early and frequent mobilization, commencing within 24
      hours, or usual care. We used regression analyses and Classification and
      Regression Trees (CART) to investigate the effect of timing and dose of
      mobilization on efficacy and safety outcomes, irrespective of assigned treatment
      group. RESULTS: A total of 2,104 patients were enrolled, of whom 2,083 (99.0%)
      were followed up at 3 months. We found a consistent pattern of improved odds of
      favorable outcome in efficacy and safety outcomes with increased daily frequency
      of out-of-bed sessions (odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09
      to 1.18, p < 0.001), keeping time to first mobilization and mobilization amount
      constant. Increased amount (minutes per day) of mobilization reduced the odds of
      a good outcome (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97, p < 0.001). Session frequency was
      the most important variable in the CART analysis, after prognostic variables age
      and baseline stroke severity. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that shorter, more
      frequent mobilization early after acute stroke is associated with greater odds of
      favorable outcome at 3 months when controlling for age and stroke severity.
      CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that shorter,
      more frequent early mobilization improves the chance of regaining independence
      after stroke.

PMID- 26889037
TI  - SUMO Modification Stabilizes Dengue Virus Nonstructural Protein 5 To Support
      Virus Replication.
AB  - Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) participates in a reversible
      posttranslational modification process (SUMOylation) that regulates a wide
      variety of cellular processes and plays important roles for numerous viruses
      during infection. However, the roles of viral protein SUMOylation in dengue virus
      (DENV) infection have not been elucidated. In this study, we found that the
      SUMOylation pathway was involved in the DENV life cycle, since DENV replication
      was reduced by silencing the cellular gene Ubc9, which encodes the sole E2
      conjugating enzyme required for SUMOylation. By in vivo and in vitro SUMOylation
      assays, the DENV NS5 protein was identified as an authentic SUMO-targeted
      protein. By expressing various NS5 mutants, we found that the SUMO acceptor sites
      are located in the N-terminal domain of NS5 and that a putative SUMO-interacting
      motif (SIM) of this domain is crucial for its SUMOylation. A DENV replicon
      harboring the SUMOylation-defective SIM mutant showed a severe defect in viral
      RNA replication, supporting the notion that NS5 SUMOylation is required for DENV
      replication. SUMOylation-defective mutants also failed to suppress the induction
      of STAT2-mediated host antiviral interferon signaling. Furthermore, the
      SUMOylation of NS5 significantly increased the stability of NS5 protein, which
      could account for most of the biological functions of SUMOylated NS5.
      Collectively, these findings suggest that the SUMOylation of DENV NS5 is one of
      the mechanisms regulating DENV replication. IMPORTANCE: SUMOylation is a common
      posttranslational modification that regulates cellular protein functions but has
      not been reported in the proteins of dengue virus. Here, we found that the
      replicase of DENV, nonstructural protein 5 (NS5), can be SUMOylated. It is well
      known that providing RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and antagonizing host
      antiviral IFN signaling are a "double indemnity" of NS5 to support DENV
      replication. Without SUMOylation, NS5 fails to maintain its protein stability,
      which consequently disrupts its function in viral RNA replication and innate
      immunity antagonism. DENV threatens billions of people worldwide, but no licensed
      vaccine or specific therapeutics are currently available. Thus, our findings
      suggest that rather than specifically targeting NS5 enzyme activity, NS5 protein
      stability is a novel drug target on the growing list of anti-DENV strategies.

PMID- 26889036
TI  - A Novel Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist, MGN1703, Enhances HIV-1 Transcription and
      NK Cell-Mediated Inhibition of HIV-1-Infected Autologous CD4+ T Cells.
AB  - Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are potent enhancers of innate antiviral
      immunity and may also reverse HIV-1 latency. Therefore, TLR agonists have a
      potential role in the context of a "shock-and-kill" approach to eradicate HIV-1.
      Our extensive preclinical evaluation suggests that a novel TLR9 agonist, MGN1703,
      may indeed perform both functions in an HIV-1 eradication trial. Peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from aviremic HIV-1-infected donors on antiretroviral
      therapy (ART) that were incubated with MGN1703 ex vivo exhibited increased
      secretion of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) (P= 0.005) and CXCL10 (P= 0.0005) in
      culture supernatants. Within the incubated PBMC pool, there were higher
      proportions of CD69-positive CD56(dim)CD16(+)NK cells (P= 0.001) as well as
      higher proportions of CD107a-positive (P= 0.002) and IFN-gamma-producing (P=
      0.038) NK cells. Incubation with MGN1703 also increased the proportions of CD69
      expressing CD4(+)and CD8(+)T cells. Furthermore, CD4(+)T cells within the pool of
      MGN1703-incubated PBMCs showed enhanced levels of unspliced HIV-1 RNA (P= 0.036).
      Importantly, MGN1703 increased the capacity of NK cells to inhibit virus spread
      within a culture of autologous CD4(+)T cells assessed by using an HIV-1 p24
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (P= 0.03). In conclusion, we show that
      MGN1703 induced strong antiviral innate immune responses, enhanced HIV-1
      transcription, and boosted NK cell-mediated suppression of HIV-1 infection in
      autologous CD4(+)T cells. These findings support clinical testing of MGN1703 in
      HIV-1 eradication trials. IMPORTANCE: We demonstrate that MGN1703 (a TLR9 agonist
      currently undergoing phase 3 clinical testing for the treatment of metastatic
      colorectal cancer) induces potent antiviral responses in immune effector cells
      from HIV-1-infected individuals on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. The
      significantly improved safety and tolerability profiles of MGN1703 versus TLR9
      agonists of the CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) family are due to its novel
      "dumbbell-shape" structure made of covalently closed, natural DNA. In our study,
      we found that incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with MGN1703
      results in natural killer cell activation and increased natural killer cell
      function, which significantly inhibited the spread of HIV in a culture of
      autologous CD4(+)T cells. Furthermore, we discovered that MGN1703-mediated
      activation can enhance HIV-1 transcription in CD4(+)T cells, suggesting that this
      molecule may serve a dual purpose in HIV-1 eradication therapy: enhanced immune
      function and latency reversal. These findings provide a strong preclinical basis
      for the inclusion of MGN1703 in an HIV eradication clinical trial.

PMID- 26889039
TI  - Phosphorylation of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 VP8 Plays a Role in Viral DNA
      Encapsidation and Is Essential for Its Cytoplasmic Localization and Optimal
      Virion Incorporation.
AB  - VP8 is a major tegument protein of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and is essential
      for viral replication in cattle. The protein undergoes phosphorylation after
      transcription through cellular casein kinase 2 (CK2) and a viral kinase, US3. In
      this study, a virus containing a mutated VP8 protein that is not phosphorylated
      by CK2 and US3 (BoHV-1-YmVP8) was constructed by homologous recombination in
      mammalian cells. When BoHV-1-YmVP8-infected cells were observed by transmission
      electron microscopy, blocking phosphorylation of VP8 was found to impair viral
      DNA encapsidation, resulting in release of incomplete viral particles to the
      extracellular environment. Consequently, less infectious virus was produced by
      the mutant virus than by wild-type (WT) virus. A comparison of mutant and WT VP8
      by confocal microscopy revealed that mutant VP8 is nuclear throughout infection
      while WT VP8 is nuclear early during infection and is associated with the Golgi
      apparatus at later stages. This, together with the observation that mutant VP8 is
      present in virions, albeit in smaller amounts, suggests that the incorporation of
      VP8 may occur at two stages. The first takes place without the need for
      phosphorylation and before or during nuclear egress of capsids, whereas the
      second occurs in the Golgi apparatus and requires phosphorylation of VP8. The
      results indicate that phosphorylated VP8 plays a role in viral DNA encapsidation
      and in the secondary virion incorporation of VP8. To perform these functions, the
      cellular localization of VP8 is adjusted based on the phosphorylation status.
      IMPORTANCE: In this study, phosphorylation of VP8 was shown to have a function in
      BoHV-1 replication. A virus containing a mutated VP8 protein that is not
      phosphorylated by CK2 and US3 (BoHV-1-YmVP8) produced smaller numbers of
      infectious virions than wild-type (WT) virus. The maturation and egress of WT and
      mutant BoHV-1 were studied, showing a process similar to that reported for other
      alphaherpesviruses. Interestingly, lack of phosphorylation of VP8 by CK2 and US3
      resulted in reduced incorporation of viral DNA into capsids during mutant BoHV-1
      infection, as well as lower numbers of extracellular virions. Furthermore, mutant
      VP8 remained nuclear throughout infection, in contrast to WT VP8, which is
      nuclear at early stages and Golgi apparatus associated late during infection.
      This correlates with smaller amounts of mutant VP8 in virions and suggests for
      the first time that VP8 may be assembled into the virions at two stages, with the
      latter dependent on phosphorylation.

PMID- 26889038
TI  - Guanylate-Binding Protein 1, an Interferon-Induced GTPase, Exerts an Antiviral
      Activity against Classical Swine Fever Virus Depending on Its GTPase Activity.
AB  - Many viruses trigger the type I interferon (IFN) pathway upon infection,
      resulting in the transcription of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs),
      which define the antiviral state of the host. Classical swine fever virus (CSFV)
      is the causative agent of classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious viral
      disease endangering the pig industry in many countries. However, anti-CSFV ISGs
      are poorly documented. Here we screened 20 ISGs that are commonly induced by type
      I IFNs against CSFV in lentivirus-delivered cell lines, resulting in the
      identification of guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) as a potent anti-CSFV ISG.
      We observed that overexpression of GBP1, an IFN-induced GTPase, remarkably
      suppressed CSFV replication, whereas knockdown of endogenous GBP1 expression by
      small interfering RNAs significantly promoted CSFV growth. Furthermore, we
      demonstrated that GBP1 acted mainly on the early phase of CSFV replication and
      inhibited the translation efficiency of the internal ribosome entry site of CSFV.
      In addition, we found that GBP1 was upregulated at the transcriptional level in
      CSFV-infected PK-15 cells and in various organs of CSFV-infected pigs.
      Coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assays
      revealed that GBP1 interacted with the NS5A protein of CSFV, and this interaction
      was mapped in the N-terminal globular GTPase domain of GBP1. Interestingly, the
      K51 of GBP1, which is crucial for its GTPase activity, was essential for the
      inhibition of CSFV replication. We showed further that the NS5A-GBP1 interaction
      inhibited GTPase activity, which was critical for its antiviral effect. Taking
      our findings together, GBP1 is an anti-CSFV ISG whose action depends on its
      GTPase activity. IMPORTANCE: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is the causative
      agent of classical swine fever (CSF), an economically important viral disease
      affecting the pig industry in many countries. To date, only a few host
      restriction factors against CSFV, including interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs),
      have been characterized. Using a minilibrary of porcine ISGs, we identify porcine
      guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) as a potent antiviral ISG against CSFV. We
      further show that the anti-CSFV action of GBP1 depends on its GTPase activity.
      The K51 of GBP1, critical for its GTPase activity, is essential for the antiviral
      action of GBP1 against CSFV replication, and the binding of the NS5A protein to
      GBP1 antagonizes the GTPase activity and thus the antiviral effect. This study
      will facilitate the development of anti-CSFV therapeutic agents by targeting host
      factors and may provide a new strategy for the control of CSF.

PMID- 26889040
TI  - Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Transcriptome in Abortively Infected Cultured Cells
      and a Human Skin Lesion.
AB  - Molluscum contagiosum virus (MOCV), the only circulating human-specific poxvirus,
      has a worldwide distribution and causes benign skin lesions that may persist for
      months in young children and severe infections in immunosuppressed adults.
      Studies of MOCV are restricted by the lack of an efficient animal model or a cell
      culture replication system. We used next-generation sequencing to analyze and
      compare polyadenylated RNAs from abortive MOCV infections of several cell lines
      and a human skin lesion. Viral RNAs were detected for 14 days after MOCV
      infection of cultured cells; however, there was little change in the RNA species
      during this time and a similar pattern occurred in the presence of an inhibitor
      of protein synthesis, indicating a block preventing postreplicative gene
      expression. Moreover, a considerable number of MOCV RNAs mapped to homologs of
      orthopoxvirus early genes, but few did so to homologs of intermediate or late
      genes. The RNAs made during in vitro infections represent a subset of RNAs
      detected in human skin lesions which mapped to homologs of numerous
      postreplicative as well as early orthopoxvirus genes. Transfection experiments
      using fluorescent protein and luciferase reporters demonstrated that vaccinia
      virus recognized MOCV intermediate and late promoters, indicating similar gene
      regulation. The specific recognition of the intermediate promoter in MOCV
      infected cells provided evidence for the synthesis of intermediate transcription
      factors, which are products of early genes, but not for late transcription
      factors. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and reporter gene assays may be
      useful for testing engineered cell lines and conditions that ultimately could
      provide an in vitro replication system. IMPORTANCE: The inability to propagate
      molluscum contagiosum virus, which causes benign skin lesions in young children
      and more extensive infections in immunosuppressed adults, has constrained our
      understanding of the biology of this human-specific virus. In the present study,
      we characterized the RNAs synthesized in abortively infected cultured cells and a
      human skin lesion by next-generation sequencing. These studies provided an
      initial transcription map of the MOCV genome, suggested temporal regulation of
      gene expression, and indicated that the in vitro replication block occurs prior
      to intermediate and late gene expression. RNA-seq and reporter assays, as
      described here, may help to further evaluate MOCV gene expression and define
      conditions that could enable MOCV replication in vitro.

PMID- 26889043
TI  - Splenic RNA and MicroRNA Mimics Promote Complement Factor B Production and
      Alternative Pathway Activation via Innate Immune Signaling.
AB  - Complement factor B (cfB) is an essential component of the alternative pathway
      (AP) and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of polymicrobial sepsis.
      However, the mechanism leading to cfB production and AP activation during sepsis
      remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that plasma cell-free RNA was
      significantly increased following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), an animal
      model of polymicrobial sepsis, and was closely associated with sepsis severity.
      Quantitative RT-PCR and microRNA (miRNA) array analysis revealed an increase in
      bacterial RNA and multiple host miRNAs (miR-145, miR-146a, miR-122, miR-210) in
      the blood following CLP. Treatment with tissue RNA or synthetic miRNA mimics (miR
      145, miR-146a, miR-122, miR-34a) induced a marked increase in cfB production in
      cardiomyocytes or macrophages. The newly synthesized cfB released into medium was
      biologically active because it participated in AP activation initiated by cobra
      venom factor. Genetic deletion of TLR7 or MyD88, but not TLR3, and inhibition of
      the MAPKs (JNK and p38) or NF-kappaB abolished miR-146a-induced cfB production.
      In vivo, CLP led to a significant increase in splenic cfB expression that
      correlated with the plasma RNA or miRNA levels. Peritoneal injection of RNA or
      miR-146a led to an increase in cfB expression in the peritoneal space that was
      attenuated in MyD88-knockout or TLR7-knockout mice, respectively. These findings
      demonstrate that host cellular RNA and specific miRNAs are released into the
      circulation during polymicrobial sepsis and may function as extracellular
      mediators capable of promoting cfB production and AP activation through specific
      TLR7 and MyD88 signaling. 

PMID- 26889041
TI  - The Attenuation Phenotype of a Ribavirin-Resistant Porcine Reproductive and
      Respiratory Syndrome Virus Is Maintained during Sequential Passages in Pigs.
AB  - In a previous study, ribavirin-resistant porcine reproductive and respiratory
      syndrome virus (PRRSV) mutants (RVRp13 and RVRp22) were selected, and their
      resistance against random mutation was shown in cultured cells. In the present
      study, these ribavirin-resistant mutants were evaluated in terms of their genetic
      and phenotypic stability during three pig-to-pig passages in comparison with
      modified live virus (MLV) (Ingelvac PRRS MLV). Pigs challenged with RVRp22 had
      significantly lower (P< 0.05) viral loads in sera and tissues than pigs
      challenged with MLV or RVRp13 at the first passage, and the attenuated
      replication of RVRp22 was maintained until the third passage. Viral loads in sera
      and tissues dramatically increased in pigs challenged with MLV or RVRp13 during
      the second passage. Consistently, all five sequences associated with the
      attenuation of virulent PRRSV in RVRp13 and MLV quickly reverted to wild-type
      sequences during the passages, but two attenuation sequences were maintained in
      RVRp22 even after the third passage. In addition, RVRp22 showed a significantly
      lower (P< 0.001) mutation frequency in nsp2, which is one of the most variable
      regions in the PRRSV genome, than MLV. Nine unique mutations were found in open
      reading frames (ORFs) 1a, 2, and 6 in the RVRp22 genome based on full-length
      sequence comparisons with RVRp13, VR2332 (the parental virus of RVRp13 and
      RVRp22), and MLV. Based on these results, it was concluded that RVRp22 showed
      attenuated replication in pigs; further, because of the high genetic stability of
      RVRp22, its attenuated phenotype was stable even after three sequential passages
      in pigs. IMPORTANCE: PRRSV is a rapidly evolving RNA virus. MLV vaccines are
      widely used to control PRRS; however, there have been serious concerns regarding
      the use of MLV as a vaccine virus due to the rapid reversion to virulence during
      replication in pigs. As previously reported, ribavirin is an effective antiviral
      drug against many RNA viruses. Ribavirin-resistant mutants reemerged by escaping
      lethal mutagenesis when the treatment concentration was sublethal, and those
      mutants were genetically more stable than parental viruses. In a previous study,
      two ribavirin-resistant PRRSV mutants (RVRp13 and RVRp22) were selected, and
      their higher genetic stability was shown in vitro Consequently, in the present
      study, both of the ribavirin-resistant mutants were evaluated in terms of their
      genetic and phenotypic stability in vivo RVRp22 was found to exhibit higher
      genetic and phenotypic stability than MLV, and nine unique mutations were
      identified in the RVRp22 genome based on a full-length sequence comparison with
      the RVRp13, VR2332, and MLV genomes.

PMID- 26889042
TI  - Range of CD4-Bound Conformations of HIV-1 gp120, as Defined Using Conditional CD4
      Induced Antibodies.
AB  - The HIV envelope binds cellular CD4 and undergoes a range of conformational
      changes that lead to membrane fusion and delivery of the viral nucleocapsid into
      the cellular cytoplasm. This binding to CD4 reveals cryptic and highly conserved
      epitopes, the molecular nature of which is still not fully understood. The atomic
      structures of CD4 complexed with gp120 core molecules (a form of gp120 in which
      the V1, V2, and V3 loops and N and C termini have been truncated) have indicated
      that a hallmark feature of the CD4-bound conformation is the bridging sheet
      minidomain. Variations in the orientation of the bridging sheet hairpins have
      been revealed when CD4-liganded gp120 was compared to CD4-unliganded trimeric
      envelope structures. Hence, there appears to be a number of conformational
      transitions possible in HIV-1 monomeric gp120 that are affected by CD4 binding.
      The spectrum of CD4-bound conformations has been interrogated in this study by
      using a well-characterized panel of conditional, CD4-induced (CD4i) monoclonal
      antibodies (MAbs) that bind HIV-1 gp120 and its mutations under various
      conditions. Two distinct CD4i epitopes of the outer domain were studied: the
      first comprises the bridging sheet, while the second contains elements of the V2
      loop. Furthermore, we show that the unliganded extended monomeric core of gp120
      (coree) assumes an intermediate CD4i conformation in solution that further
      undergoes detectable rearrangements upon association with CD4. These discoveries
      impact both accepted paradigms concerning gp120 structure and the field of HIV
      immunogen design. IMPORTANCE: Elucidation of the conformational transitions that
      the HIV-1 envelope protein undergoes during the course of entry into CD4(+)cells
      is fundamental to our understanding of HIV biology. The binding of CD4 triggers a
      range of gp120 structural rearrangements that could present targets for future
      drug design and development of preventive vaccines. Here we have systematically
      interrogated and scrutinized these conformational transitions using a panel of
      antibody probes that share a specific preference for the CD4i conformations.
      These have been employed to study a collection of gp120 mutations and
      truncations. Through these analyses, we propose 4 distinct sequential steps in
      CD4i transitions of gp120 conformations, each defined by antibody specificities
      and structural requirements of the HIV envelope monomer. As a result, we not only
      provide new insights into this dynamic process but also define probes to further
      investigate HIV infection.

PMID- 26889044
TI  - BCG Vaccination Induces Robust CD4+ T Cell Responses to Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis Complex-Specific Lipopeptides in Guinea Pigs.
AB  - A new class of highly antigenic, MHC-II-restricted mycobacterial lipopeptides
      that are recognized by CD4-positive T lymphocytes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      infected humans has recently been described. To investigate the relevance of this
      novel class of mycobacterial Ags in the context of experimental bacille Calmette
      Guerin (BCG) vaccination, Ag-specific T cell responses to mycobacterial lipid and
      lipopeptide-enriched Ag preparations were analyzed in immunized guinea pigs.
      Lipid and lipopeptide preparations as well as complex Ag mixtures, such as
      tuberculin, mycobacterial lysates, and culture supernatants, all induced a
      similar level of T cell proliferation. The hypothesis that lipopeptide-specific T
      cells dominate the early BCG-induced T cell response was corroborated in
      restimulation assays by the observation that Ag-expanded T cells specifically
      responded to the lipopeptide preparation. A comparative analysis of the responses
      to Ag preparations from different mycobacterial species revealed that the
      antigenic lipopeptides are specific for strains of the M. tuberculosis complex.
      Their intriguing conservation in pathogenic tuberculous bacteria and the fact
      that these highly immunogenic Ags seem to be actively released during in vitro
      culture and intracellular infection prompt the urgent question about their role
      in the fine-tuned interplay between the pathogen and its mammalian host, in
      particular with regard to BCG vaccination strategies. 

PMID- 26889047
TI  - Marchantia: Past, Present and Future.

PMID- 26889046
TI  - Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Min System of Escherichia coli
      Modulates Reversible Protein Association with the Inner Membrane.
AB  - The Min system of Escherichia coli mediates placement of the division septum at
      the midcell. It oscillates from pole to pole to establish a concentration
      gradient of the division inhibition that is high at the poles but low at the
      midcell; the cell middle thereby becomes the most favorable site for division.
      Although Min oscillation is well studied from molecular and biophysical
      perspectives, it is still an enigma as to whether such a continuous, energy
      consuming, and organized movement of the Min proteins would affect cellular
      processes other than the division site selection. To tackle this question, we
      compared the inner membrane proteome of the wild-type and Deltamin strains using
      a quantitative approach. Forty proteins that showed differential abundance on the
      inner membrane of the mutant cells were identified and defined as proteins of
      interest (POIs). More than half of the POIs were peripheral membrane proteins,
      suggesting that the Min system affects mainly reversible protein association with
      the inner membrane. In addition, 6 out of 10 selected POIs directly interacted
      with at least one of the Min proteins, confirming the correlation between POIs
      and the Min system.Further analysis revealed a functional relationship between
      metabolism and the Min system. Metabolic enzymes accounted for 45% of the POIs,
      and there was a change of metabolites in the related reactions. We hypothesize
      that the Min system could alter the membrane location of proteins to modulate
      their enzymatic activity. Thus, the metabolic modulation in the Deltamin mutant
      is likely an adaptive phenotype in cells of abnormal size and chromosome number
      due to an imbalanced abundance of proteins on the inner membrane. Taken together,
      the current work reports novel interactions of the Min system and reveals a
      global physiological impact of the Min system in addition to the division site
      placement.

PMID- 26889048
TI  - Metastasis-associated protein 2 (MTA2) promotes the metastasis of non-small-cell
      lung cancer through the inhibition of the cell adhesion molecule Ep-CAM and E
      cadherin.

PMID- 26889049
TI  - Assessment of quality of life of children and adolescents with cancer during
      their treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of
      children and adolescents with any type of cancer in all phases of their
      treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six newly diagnosed patients diagnosed with malignancy
      and hospitalized in a Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit in Athens were included
      in the study. Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument was used for data
      collection from July 2010 to December 2012. The assessment of children and
      adolescents' quality of life who were under treatment was performed in three
      different stages of treatment. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the
      quality of life of children and adolescents with cancer did not change notably
      during their treatment (F = 0.16, P = 0.86 and F = 0.03, P = 0.97). For the first
      measurement, at the beginning of the therapy, the score on the scale for quality
      of life for children and adolescents was 3.44 and 3.88, respectively, in the
      middle of the treatment 3.36 and 3.89, respectively, and 3.43 and 3.89,
      respectively, when therapy was completed. Children and adolescents diagnosed with
      hematologic cancer stated higher quality of life scores (z = -1.61, P = 0.05 and
      t = 2.64, P = 0.007). Moreover, teenage patients (F = 13.22, P = 0.001) and male
      patients (t = 2.31, P = 0.02 and t = 2.27, P = 0.02) expressed better quality-of
      life scores. CONCLUSION: According to the results, children and adolescents with
      any kind of cancer have better quality-of-life scores at the end of their
      treatment, and when they are supported by their family.

PMID- 26889051
TI  - War on Cancer Redux.

PMID- 26889045
TI  - An M1-like Macrophage Polarization in Decidual Tissue during Spontaneous Preterm
      Labor That Is Attenuated by Rosiglitazone Treatment.
AB  - Decidual macrophages are implicated in the local inflammatory response that
      accompanies spontaneous preterm labor/birth; however, their role is poorly
      understood. We hypothesized that decidual macrophages undergo a proinflammatory
      (M1) polarization during spontaneous preterm labor and that PPARgamma activation
      via rosiglitazone (RSG) would attenuate the macrophage-mediated inflammatory
      response, preventing preterm birth. In this study, we show that: 1) decidual
      macrophages undergo an M1-like polarization during spontaneous term and preterm
      labor; 2) anti-inflammatory (M2)-like macrophages are more abundant than M1-like
      macrophages in decidual tissue; 3) decidual M2-like macrophages are reduced in
      preterm pregnancies compared with term pregnancies, regardless of the presence of
      labor; 4) decidual macrophages express high levels of TNF and IL-12 but low
      levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) during
      spontaneous preterm labor; 5) decidual macrophages from women who underwent
      spontaneous preterm labor display plasticity by M1<->M2 polarization in vitro; 6)
      incubation with RSG reduces the expression of TNF and IL-12 in decidual
      macrophages from women who underwent spontaneous preterm labor; and 7) treatment
      with RSG reduces the rate of LPS-induced preterm birth and improves neonatal
      outcomes by reducing the systemic proinflammatory response and downregulating
      mRNA and protein expression of NF-kappaB, TNF, and IL-10 in decidual and
      myometrial macrophages in C57BL/6J mice. In summary, we demonstrated that
      decidual M1-like macrophages are associated with spontaneous preterm labor and
      that PPARgamma activation via RSG can attenuate the macrophage-mediated
      proinflammatory response, preventing preterm birth and improving neonatal
      outcomes. These findings suggest that the PPARgamma pathway is a new molecular
      target for future preventative strategies for spontaneous preterm labor/birth. 

PMID- 26889050
TI  - Lipoprotein apheresis to treat elevated lipoprotein (a).
AB  - An elevated plasma concentration of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is an independent
      risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Life style modification and currently
      available drugs either fail to effectively lower plasma Lp(a) levels or do not
      result in clinical benefit. However, lipoprotein apheresis is very efficient in
      decreasing Lp(a) concentrations. A single apheresis session can acutely decrease
      Lp(a) by approximately 60-75%, and apheresis performed weekly or biweekly results
      in considerably decreased mean interval concentrations (approximately 25-40%
      reduction). While most apheresis systems (heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL
      precipitation, direct adsorption of lipoproteins, lipoprotein apheresis with
      dextran-sulfate, lipid filtration, immunoadsorption) decrease LDL and Lp(a),
      Lipopac is specific and only decreases Lp(a). Lp(a) apheresis is expensive and
      time consuming, but associated with very few side effects. Two randomized
      controlled trials give conflicting consults with respect to the effect on
      angiographic changes. Retrospective analyses indicate that regular apheresis
      translates into clinical benefit in patients with elevated Lp(a), but adequate
      randomized controlled trials are lacking.

PMID- 26889052
TI  - Integration of Regulatory Guidelines into Protein Drug Product Development.
AB  - The drug product development process for proteins went through its infancy in the
      early eighties of last century and is in its maturity today. This has been driven
      largely by the rapid growth of the biotechnology industry, which led to the
      development and issuance of many regulatory guidelines/directories, especially
      those through the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH). These
      guidelines have certainly guided different aspects of a drug product development
      process. On the other hand, they were issued separately on different topics and
      in different time periods. An integration of all relevant guidelines into the
      corresponding areas in drug product development would greatly facilitate the
      development process. The purpose of this short review is to integrate the
      relevant (mainly ICH) regulatory guidelines into protein drug product development
      and to discuss remaining issues, which may lead to further revision of existing
      guidelines or development of new ones. Drug product development scientists need
      to collect adequate and relevant development data for a successful product
      registration. The key is the ability to justify the final drug product in terms
      of choice of the drug product formulation, container closure system, and
      manufacturing process. LAY ABSTRACT: The drug product development process for
      proteins has matured today, largely due to the rapid growth of the biotechnology
      industry. In this process, many regulatory guidelines/directories were developed
      and issued, especially through the International Conference of Harmonization
      (ICH). However, they were issued separately on different topics and in different
      time periods. An integration of all relevant guidelines into the corresponding
      areas in drug product development would greatly facilitate the development
      process. The purpose of this short review is to integrate the relevant (mainly
      ICH) regulatory guidelines into protein drug product development and to discuss
      remaining issues, which may lead to further revision of existing guidelines or
      development of new ones. Drug product development scientists need to collect
      adequate and relevant development data for a successful product registration. The
      key is the ability to justify the final drug product in terms of choice of the
      product formulation, container closure system, and manufacturing process.

PMID- 26889053
TI  - Impact of Vial Capping on Residual Seal Force and Container Closure Integrity.
AB  - The vial capping process is a critical unit operation during drug product
      manufacturing, as it could possibly generate cosmetic defects or even affect
      container closure integrity. Yet there is significant variability in capping
      equipment and processes, and their relation to potential defects or container
      closure integrity has not been thoroughly studied. In this study we applied
      several methods-residual seal force tester, a self-developed system of a piezo
      force sensor measurement, and computed tomography-to characterize different
      container closure system combinations that had been sealed using different
      capping process parameter settings. Additionally, container closure integrity of
      these samples was measured using helium leakage (physical container closure
      integrity) and compared to characterization data. The different capping equipment
      settings lead to residual seal force values from 7 to 115 N. High residual seal
      force values were achieved with high capping pre-compression force and a short
      distance between the capping plate and plunge. The choice of container closure
      system influenced the obtained residual seal force values. The residual seal
      force tester and piezoelectric measurements showed similar trends. All vials
      passed physical container closure integrity testing, and no stopper rupture was
      seen with any of the settings applied, suggesting that container closure
      integrity was warranted for the studied container closure system with the chosen
      capping setting ranges. LAY ABSTRACT: The vial capping process is a critical unit
      operation during drug product manufacturing, as it could possibly generate
      cosmetic defects or even affect container closure integrity. Yet there is
      significant variability in capping equipment and processes, and their relation to
      potential defects or container closure integrity has not been thoroughly studied.
      In this study we applied several methods-residual seal force tester, a self
      developed system of a piezo force sensor measurement, and computed tomography-to
      characterize different container closure system combinations that had been sealed
      using different capping process parameter settings. The residual seal force
      tester can analyze a variety of different container closure systems independent
      of the capping equipment. An adequate and safe residual seal force range for each
      container closure system configuration can be established with the residual seal
      force tester and additional methods like computed tomography scans and leak
      testing. In the residual seal force range studied, the physical container closure
      integrity of the container closure system was warranted.

PMID- 26889054
TI  - Evaluation of Bacillus oleronius as a Biological Indicator for Terminal
      Sterilization of Large-Volume Parenterals.
AB  - In the production of large-volume parenterals in Japan, equipment and devices
      such as tanks, pipework, and filters used in production processes are
      exhaustively cleaned and sterilized, and the cleanliness of water for injection,
      drug materials, packaging materials, and manufacturing areas is well controlled.
      In this environment, the bioburden is relatively low, and less heat resistant
      compared with microorganisms frequently used as biological indicators such as
      Geobacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953) and Bacillus subtilis 5230 (ATCC
      35021). Consequently, the majority of large-volume parenteral solutions in Japan
      are manufactured under low-heat sterilization conditions of F0 <2 min, so that
      loss of clarity of solutions and formation of degradation products of
      constituents are minimized. Bacillus oleronius (ATCC 700005) is listed as a
      biological indicator in "Guidance on the Manufacture of Sterile Pharmaceutical
      Products Produced by Terminal Sterilization" (guidance in Japan, issued in 2012).
      In this study, we investigated whether B. oleronius is an appropriate biological
      indicator of the efficacy of low-heat, moist-heat sterilization of large-volume
      parenterals. Specifically, we investigated the spore-forming ability of this
      microorganism in various cultivation media and measured the D-values and z-values
      as parameters of heat resistance. The D-values and z-values changed depending on
      the constituents of large-volume parenteral products. Also, the spores from B.
      oleronius showed a moist-heat resistance that was similar to or greater than many
      of the spore-forming organisms isolated from Japanese parenteral manufacturing
      processes. Taken together, these results indicate that B. oleronius is suitable
      as a biological indicator for sterility assurance of large-volume parenteral
      solutions subjected to low-heat, moist-heat terminal sterilization.

PMID- 26889057
TI  - Pharmacy is Right for Me.

PMID- 26889055
TI  - Feasibility of Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry to Develop a Sensitive Dye
      Immersion Method for Container Closure Integrity Testing of Prefilled Syringes.
AB  - A feasibility study was conducted for a sensitive and robust dye immersion method
      for the measurement of container closure integrity of unopened prefilled syringes
      using fluorescence spectrophotometry as the detection method. A Varian Cary
      Eclipse spectrofluorometer was used with a custom-made sample holder to position
      the intact syringe in the sample compartment for fluorescence measurements.
      Methylene blue solution was initially evaluated as the fluorophore in a syringe
      with excitation at 607 nm and emission at 682 nm, which generated a limit of
      detection of 0.05 MUg/mL. Further studies were conducted using rhodamine 123, a
      dye with stronger fluorescence. Using 480 nm excitation and 525 nm emission, the
      dye in the syringe could be easily detected at levels as low as 0.001 MUg/mL. The
      relative standard deviation for 10 measurements of a sample of 0.005 MUg/mL (with
      repositioning of the syringe after each measurement) was less than 1.1%. A number
      of operational parameters were optimized, including the photomultiplier tube
      voltage, excitation, and emission slit widths. The specificity of the testing was
      challenged by using marketed drug products and a protein sample, which showed no
      interference to the rhodamine detection. Results obtained from this study
      demonstrated that using rhodamine 123 for container closure integrity testing
      with in-situ (in-syringe) fluorescence measurements significantly enhanced the
      sensitivity and robustness of the testing and effectively overcame limitations of
      the traditional methylene blue method with visual or UV-visible absorption
      detection. LAY ABSTRACT: Ensuring container closure integrity of injectable
      pharmaceutical products is necessary to maintain quality throughout the shelf
      life of a sterile drug product. Container closure integrity testing has routinely
      been used to evaluate closure integrity during product development and production
      line qualification of prefilled syringes, vials, and devices. However, container
      closure integrity testing has recently gained industry attention due to increased
      regulatory agency scrutiny regarding the analytical rigor of container closure
      integrity testing methods and expectations to use container closure integrity
      testing in lieu of sterility tests in stability programs. Methylene blue dye is
      often used for dye ingress testing of container closure integrity, but we found
      it unsuitable for reliable detection of small breaches in prefilled syringes of
      drug product. This work describes the suitability and advantages of using a
      fluorescent dye and spectroscopic detection for a robust, sensitive, and quality
      control-friendly container closure integrity testing method for prefilled
      syringes.

PMID- 26889056
TI  - Particulate Study on NeoProfen, a Neonatal Injectable Product.
AB  - NeoProfen or sterile ibuprofen L-lysine at 10 mg/mL ibuprofen, in 2 mL single-use
      Type I glass vials is often a first choice medication used to close a patent
      ductus arteriosus in neonatal patients from 500 to 1500 g body weight. Visible
      particulate matter was found in vials that were placed on a commercial stability
      program prior to the approved expiration date of 2 years. A combination of
      instrumental techniques including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, x
      ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive x
      ray spectrometry, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy was
      used to evaluate stability, pilot batch and packaging samples in a root cause
      investigation. The particulate matter was shown to consist largely of ibuprofen
      aluminum salts of various stoichiometries. It developed over time by a
      substitution mechanism, in which the ibuprofen anion in solution reacts with the
      aluminum oxide network of the borosilicate glass giving the ibuprofen aluminum
      salt with =Al-OH remaining in the network. For corrective action an alternate
      Type I borosilicate glass vial with interior coating, not found in the original
      vial, was chosen for the product to prevent this occurrence. LAY ABSTRACT:
      NeoProfen (sterile preservative-free ibuprofin L-lysine at 17 mg/mL in a single
      use glass vial) is used to close a clinically significant patent ductus
      arteriosus in premature infants no more than 32 weeks gestational age. The
      neonatal population is especially sensitive to outside chemical, physical and
      environmental conditions because of incompletely developed organ systems, low
      birth weight and other underlying conditions. Two batches of this product were
      voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Lundbeck, and investigated for the
      source of particulate matter observed during a commercial stability testing
      program. This was found to result from an interaction between the product and the
      Type I borosilicate glass vial where ibuprofen substitutes for the aluminum oxide
      network in the glass, forming an ibuprofen aluminum hydroxide salt as
      particulate. In order to prevent this salt formation an alternate glass vial was
      chosen which had interiors treated using a chemical vapor deposition technique.
      These vials were found to preserve NeoProfen quality properties during short term
      stress and medium term stability studies.

PMID- 26889058
TI  - The Disconnect.

PMID- 26889059
TI  - Do We Need More Utility Infielders?

PMID- 26889060
TI  - Rethinking the Role of Clinical Practice Guidelines in Pharmacy Education.
AB  - Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) play a major role in pharmacy education.
      Students learn to locate, retrieve, and apply CPGs in didactic coursework and
      practice experiences. However, they often memorize and quote recommendations
      without critical analysis, which tends to undermine their clinical growth.
      Students should become genuine drug experts, based on strong critical-thinking
      skills and the ability to assimilate extensive clinical and scientific knowledge.
      Clinical practice guidelines improve health care, and students should be familiar
      with them, but there are legitimate criticisms of CPGs, stemming largely from
      potential conflicts of interest and limitations in the quality and scope of
      available evidence. Despite such flaws, CPGs can be used to facilitate the
      clinical growth of students if the emphasis is placed on critically analyzing and
      evaluating CPG recommendations, as opposed to blindly accepting them. From that
      perspective, the role that CPGs have come to play in education may need to be
      reconsidered. 

PMID- 26889061
TI  - Practical Team-Based Learning from Planning to Implementation.
AB  - Team-based learning (TBL) helps instructors develop an active teaching approach
      for the classroom through group work. The TBL infrastructure engages students in
      the learning process through the Readiness Assessment Process, problem-solving
      through team discussions, and peer feedback to ensure accountability. This
      manuscript describes the benefits and barriers of TBL, and the tools necessary
      for developing, implementing, and critically evaluating the technique within
      coursework in a user-friendly method. Specifically, the manuscript describes the
      processes underpinning effective TBL development, preparation, implementation,
      assessment, and evaluation, as well as practical techniques and advice from
      authors' classroom experiences. The paper also highlights published articles in
      the area of TBL in education, with a focus on pharmacy education. 

PMID- 26889062
TI  - Development and Implementation of an Advising Program's Meet-and-Greet Session.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation and perceptions of an advising
      program's meet-and-greet session on student/faculty interactions. DESIGN: Student
      advisees and faculty advisors attended a meet-and-greet program designed to
      facilitate introductions. Two online surveys evaluating program perceptions were
      electronically distributed to participants. ASSESSMENT: Twenty-eight advisors and
      226 students attended; 17 faculty members and 42% (n=95) of students completed
      the survey. Advisors and advisees found the program valuable (100%, 85%) and
      recommended holding it again (100%, 93%), respectively. Most advisors agreed that
      the event improved success in meeting advisees while reducing time needed to
      schedule and meet with advisees. Students felt more comfortable contacting
      advisors after participating, with 83% agreeing it was more convenient than
      scheduling separate meeting times. CONCLUSION: An advising meet-and-greet program
      facilitated initial advisee/advisor meetings while reducing self-reported faculty
      time/resources. This activity could be implemented by other institutions seeking
      to promote student advising relationships.

PMID- 26889064
TI  - Creating and Assessing Student Perception of an Examination Mastery Score Report
      for a Pharmacotherapy Course.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare student-perceived utility of two types of score reports.
      METHODS: Assessment standards were followed to create a new examination score
      report for pharmacotherapy coursework. Student examination scores were returned
      using the traditional score report, the utility of which students rated along 9
      dimensions. A mastery score report was also distributed, and students rated it on
      the same 9 dimensions. The ratings were compared to determine which the students
      perceived as more useful. RESULTS: The students rated the mastery score report
      significantly better on each of the 9 dimensions and in aggregate. CONCLUSION:
      Pharmacy students perceived the mastery score report as more useful in helping
      them improve their achievement of educational outcomes.

PMID- 26889063
TI  - Student-Valued Measurable Teaching Behaviors of Award-Winning Pharmacy
      Preceptors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify specific preceptor teaching-coaching, role modeling, and
      facilitating behaviors valued by pharmacy students and to develop measures of
      those behaviors that can be used for an experiential education quality assurance
      program. METHODS: Using a qualitative research approach, we conducted a thematic
      analysis of student comments about excellent preceptors to identify behaviors
      exhibited by those preceptors. Identified behaviors were sorted according to the
      preceptor's role as role model, teacher/coach, or learning facilitator;
      measurable descriptors for each behavior were then developed. RESULTS: Data
      analysis resulted in identification of 15 measurable behavior themes, the most
      frequent being: having an interest in student learning and success, making time
      for students, and displaying a positive preceptor attitude. Measureable
      descriptors were developed for 5 role-modeling behaviors, 6 teaching-coaching
      behaviors, and 4 facilitating behaviors. CONCLUSION: Preceptors may need to be
      evaluated in their separate roles as teacher-coach, role model, and learning
      facilitator. The developed measures in this report could be used in site quality
      evaluation.

PMID- 26889065
TI  - Using Bourdieu's Theoretical Framework to Examine How the Pharmacy Educator Views
      Pharmacy Knowledge.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore how different pharmacy educators view pharmacy knowledge
      within the United Kingdom MPharm program and to relate these findings to Pierre
      Bourdieu's theoretical framework. METHODS: Twelve qualitative interviews were
      conducted with 4 faculty members from 3 different types of schools of pharmacy in
      the United Kingdom: a newer school, an established teaching-based school, and an
      established research-intensive school. Selection was based on a representation of
      both science-based and practice-based disciplines, gender balance, and teaching
      experience. RESULTS: The interview transcripts indicated how these members of the
      academic community describe knowledge. There was a polarization between science
      based and practice-based educators in terms of Bourdieu's description of field,
      species of capital, and habitus. CONCLUSION: A Bourdieusian perspective on the
      differences among faculty member responses supports our understanding of
      curriculum integration and offers some practical implications for the future
      development of pharmacy programs.

PMID- 26889066
TI  - Relationship of Prepharmacy Repeat Course History to Students' Early Academic
      Difficulty in a Pharmacy Curriculum.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between students' prepharmacy repeat
      course history and their academic difficulties early in a professional pharmacy
      program in conjunction with other prerequisite success variables known to predict
      academic difficulty. METHODS: For students admitted to a pharmacy program in 2010
      and 2011 (n=160), admission variables [eg, prepharmacy coursework, grade point
      average (GPA)] and pharmacy program academic difficulty data (ie, academic
      difficulty defined as a pharmacy GPA in the bottom quartile of the class after 3
      semesters of pharmacy course work) were extracted. Regression analysis was
      employed to examine the relationship between admission variables and academic
      difficulty. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of the students (n=42) repeated a course,
      and 50% of these students (n=21) repeated more than one course. All of the
      admissions variables studied were found to individually increase the odds of a
      student having academic difficulty early in the pharmacy program. Specifically,
      repeat of a prepharmacy course increased the odds of academic difficulty
      threefold. CONCLUSION: Repeating prepharmacy coursework appears to be a strong
      indicator of future academic difficulties early in a professional pharmacy
      program.

PMID- 26889067
TI  - Interprofessional Peer Teaching of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy Students.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an interprofessional peer-teaching activity during which
      physical therapy students instructed undergraduate pharmacy students on 3
      ambulatory devices (canes, crutches, walkers). DESIGN: The pre/post evaluation of
      2 pharmacy undergraduate classes included 220 students, 110 per year. After
      pharmacy students completed a 10-point, knowledge-based pretest, they
      participated in a hands-on activity with physical therapy students teaching them
      about sizing, use, and safety of canes, crutches, and walkers. A 10-point
      posttest was completed immediately afterward. ASSESSMENT: The mean difference of
      pre/post scores was 3.5 (SD 1.9) for the peer-led teaching, and 3.8 (SD 2.2) for
      the peer learning group. Students had positive responses regarding the learning
      exercise and recommended further peer teaching. CONCLUSION: The peer-learning
      activity involving physical therapy students teaching pharmacy students was an
      effective method of improving knowledge and skills regarding basic ambulatory
      devices.

PMID- 26889068
TI  - Early Introduction to Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in a Pharmaceutical Care
      Laboratory Course.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of an early professional development series in a
      pharmaceutical care laboratory (PCL) course on first-year pharmacy students'
      perceptions of the importance of professional attitudes and action. DESIGN: Three
      hundred thirty-four first-year students enrolled in a PCL course participated in
      a new required learning activity centered on development of professional
      attitudes and behaviors. Students discussed situational dilemmas in pharmacy
      practice in small groups, highlighting application of the Oath of a Pharmacist
      and the Pharmacists' Code of Ethics. ASSESSMENT: Students completed an optional
      questionnaire at the beginning and end of the semester to assess change in their
      attitudes and behaviors related to professionalism in pharmacy practice.
      CONCLUSION: While students entered their training with a strong appreciation for
      professionalism, they felt more confident in applying the Oath of a Pharmacist
      and the Pharmacists Code of Ethics to dilemmas in practice following the new
      learning activity.

PMID- 26889069
TI  - An Elective Course on Antimicrobial Stewardship.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To implement an antimicrobial stewardship (AS) elective course for
      second-year and third-year pharmacy students and to assess its impact on
      students' perceptions regarding the application of AS principles. DESIGN: A 2
      credit elective course focusing on principles of AS incorporated prelecture
      didactic recordings with primary literature and guideline-based reading
      assignments, in-class active-learning group work and student-led presentations,
      and student-generated examination items. ASSESSMENT: Perceptions were assessed by
      precourse and postcourse survey items. Graded course assessments included
      completion of preclass assignments (readings, prerecorded lecture and writing
      assessment items), in-class active participation and group presentations, a
      midpoint examination, and a final examination. CONCLUSION: An AS-themed elective
      course in a doctor of pharmacy curriculum incorporating preclass, self-directed
      learning and in-class group-based active-learning strategies positively impacted
      students' perceived understanding of AS strategies.

PMID- 26889071
TI  - Letters.

PMID- 26889070
TI  - Comparison of Aseptic Compounding Errors Before and After Modified Laboratory and
      Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether aseptic compounding errors were reduced at the
      end of the third professional year after modifying pharmacy practice laboratories
      and implementing an institutional introductory pharmacy practice experience
      (IPPE). DESIGN: An aseptic compounding laboratory, previously occurring during
      the third-year spring semester, was added to the second-year spring semester. An
      80-hour institutional IPPE was also added in the summer between the second and
      third years. Instructors recorded aseptic compounding errors using a grading
      checklist for second-year and third-year student assessments. Third-year student
      aseptic compounding errors were assessed prior to the curricular changes and for
      2 subsequent years for students on the Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses of the
      University of Oklahoma. ASSESSMENT: Both third-year cohorts committed fewer
      aseptic technique errors than they did during their second years, and the
      probability was significantly lower for students on the Oklahoma City campus. The
      probability of committing major aseptic technique errors was significantly lower
      for 2 consecutive third-year cohorts after the curricular changes. CONCLUSION:
      The addition of second-year aseptic compounding laboratory experiences and third
      year institutional IPPE content reduced instructor-assessed errors at the end of
      the third year.

PMID- 26889072
TI  - A New Practitioner's Perspective on Combining Interprofessional and Cultural
      Competence Instruction in Pharmacy School Curriculum.

PMID- 26889078
TI  - Pharmacy Practice, Education, and Research in the Era of Big Data: 2014-15 Argus
      Commission Report.

PMID- 26889079
TI  - Assessing the Impact of Drug Use and Drug Selling on Violent Offending in a Panel
      of Delinquent Youth.
AB  - Despite a vast number of empirical studies arguing for or against a causal
      relationship between illegal drug use and selling and violent behavior, the
      debate continues. In part this is due to methodological weaknesses of previous
      research. Using data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, the current
      study seeks to improve on prior research designs to allow for a more precise
      examination of the mechanisms that lead from an individual's drug use (chiefly,
      marijuana use in the current sample) and drug selling to violent action. Results
      will allow for greater confidence in making causal inference regarding a long
      standing concern in the discipline.

PMID- 26889080
TI  - Preparation and characterization of silymarin synchronized-release microporous
      osmotic pump tablets.
AB  - The pharmacological activity of herbal medicine is an overall action of each
      component in accordance with their original proportion. An efficient, sustained,
      and controlled-release drug delivery system of herbal medicine should ensure the
      synchronized drug release of each active component during the entire release
      procedure. In this study, silymarin (SM), a poorly soluble herbal medicine, was
      selected as a model drug to develop a synchronized-release drug delivery system:
      an SM microporous osmotic pump (MPOP) tablet. The SM was conjugated with
      phospholipid (SM phytosome complex, SM-PC) to improve the solubility, and the
      difference in the apparent octanol-water partition coefficient between the two
      components was significantly reduced. The dissolution rate of SM-PC was
      significantly higher than SM active pharmaceutical ingredients and was the same
      as that of the commercial SM capsule. The SM-PC was used to generate the MPOP
      tablet. SM was mixed with poly(ethylene) oxide and sodium chloride (an osmotic
      agent) to form the MPOP core, followed by coating with cellulose acetate and
      poly(ethylene) oxide to generate the SM MPOP. The results demonstrated that SM
      MPOP could synchronically and sustainably release the five active components
      within 12 hours (the similar coefficient f 2 between two components was >65), and
      the average cumulative release rate was 85%. Fitting of the drug-release curve
      showed a zero-order release profile for SM MPOP. Our study showed that the
      phytosome complex technique combined with the MPOP system will achieve
      synchronized release of the various active components of herbal medicine and have
      potential applications in developing sustained release preparations in herbal
      medicine. 

PMID- 26889083
TI  - Erratum: Development of an integral assessment approach of health status in
      patients with obstructive airway diseases: the CORONA study [Corrigendum].
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 2413 in vol. 10, PMID: 26609228.]. 

PMID- 26889081
TI  - Profile of tofacitinib citrate and its potential in the treatment of moderate-to
      severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
AB  - The outlook for patients with psoriasis has improved significantly over the last
      10 years with the introduction of targeted therapies. Cytokines exert their
      effects by activating intracellular signaling and transcription pathways, among
      which there are Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of
      transcription (STAT) pathways. JAKs are intracellular second messengers that are
      crucial for transmitting extracellular cytokine signals to the cell. JAK
      inhibition interrupts intracellular signaling and can suppress immune cell
      activation and inflammation in T-cell-mediated disorders, such as psoriasis.
      Consequently, JAKs are the subject of intensive research activity, since they
      represent possible therapeutic targets. Tofacitinib is an orally available
      compound belonging to a novel category of nonbiologic drugs, the "JAK
      inhibitors", which target JAKs. Recently, oral and topical formulations of
      tofacitinib have been demonstrated to be safe and effective for the treatment of
      plaque psoriasis in randomized clinical trials. In particular, a 10 mg bid dose
      of tofacitinib was shown to be noninferior to etanercept 50 mg subcutaneously
      twice weekly. Questions remain unresolved regarding the safety risk beyond the 5
      mg bid dose. This review, assessing the available scientific literature, focuses
      on the profile of tofacitinib, as investigational compound in the treatment of
      plaque psoriasis. An overview of the efficacy and safety data from randomized
      clinical trials is provided. In addition, the authors highlight future potential
      applications of tofacitinib in other skin diseases, in particular alopecia areata
      and vitiligo. 

PMID- 26889082
TI  - Relationship of coronary collateral circulation with eosinophils in patients with
      unstable angina pectoris.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eosinophils (EOS) have been associated with prognosis of patients
      with coronary artery disease, and those who showed plenitudinous coronary
      collateral circulation (CCC) often have good clinical consequences. However, the
      relationship between EOS and CCC was seldom reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate
      the relationship between EOS and CCC development in patients with unstable angina
      pectoris (UAP). METHODS: The study population consisted of 502 consecutive
      patients with UAP who underwent coronary angiography and coronary stenosis >=80%.
      CCC was graded according to the Rentrop grading system of 0-3. Rentrop grades of
      0 and 1 indicated low-grade CCC group, whereas grades 2 and 3 indicated high
      grade CCC group. RESULTS: The EOS was significantly higher in the high-grade CCC
      group compared with the low-grade CCC group. In multiple logistic regression
      analysis, EOS (odds ratio: 1.969; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.210-3.3205;
      P=0.006) and neutrophil count (odds ratio: 0.757; 95% CI: 0.584-0.981; P=0.035)
      were predictors of high-grade CCC development. EOS of >0.12*10(9)/L could
      independently predict high-grade CCC with 72.5% sensitivity and 58.4% specificity
      (area under the curve: 0.681; 95% CI: 0.632-0.729). CONCLUSION: EOS were
      associated with high-grade CCC in patients with UAP with coronary stenosis >=80%.
      Increased EOS count may play an important role in the development of CCC in
      patients with UAP.

PMID- 26889086
TI  - Abnormal expression of calcyphosine is associated with poor prognosis and cell
      biology function in colorectal cancer.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the calcyphosine (CAPS) expression in
      human colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore its clinical and prognostic
      significances. CAPS expression was measured by Western blot, real-time polymerase
      chain reaction analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between the
      CAPS expression levels and the clinicopathological factors were investigated. The
      Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to investigate the overall
      survival of the patients. Moreover, the effects of CAPS on biological roles of
      CRC cells were also evaluated by MTT assay, colony formation assay, and transwell
      assay. CAPS was significantly overexpressed in cancerous tissue and CRC cell
      lines compared with adjacent nontumor tissue and a normal human intestinal
      epithelial cell line. Overexpression of CAPS was significantly associated with
      histological grade (P=0.004), invasive depth (P<0.001), lymph node metastasis
      (P=0.003), tumor node metastasis stage (P=0.017), and distant metastasis
      (P=0.042). Furthermore, silencing of CAPS expression in CRC cells inhibited their
      proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Kaplan-Meier survival
      analysis showed that high CAPS expression might demonstrate poor prognosis in CRC
      patients. Cox regression analysis revealed that CAPS expression was an
      independent prognostic factor of CRC. Our data suggested that the upregulation of
      CAPS might play a role in the carcinogenesis and progression of CRC. CAPS could
      be used as a potential diagnostic factor and be an independent good prognostic
      indicator for CRC patients. 

PMID- 26889085
TI  - Interprofessional teamwork innovations for primary health care practices and
      practitioners: evidence from a comparison of reform in three countries.
AB  - CONTEXT: A key aim of reforms to primary health care (PHC) in many countries has
      been to enhance interprofessional teamwork. However, the impact of these changes
      on practitioners has not been well understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of
      reform policies and interventions that have aimed to create or enhance teamwork
      on professional communication relationships, roles, and work satisfaction in PHC
      practices. DESIGN: Collaborative synthesis of 12 mixed methods studies. SETTING:
      Primary care practices undergoing transformational change in three countries:
      Australia, Canada, and the USA, including three Canadian provinces (Alberta,
      Ontario, and Quebec). METHODS: We conducted a synthesis and secondary analysis of
      12 qualitative and quantitative studies conducted by the authors in order to
      understand the impacts and how they were influenced by local context. RESULTS:
      There was a diverse range of complex reforms seeking to foster interprofessional
      teamwork in the care of patients with chronic disease. The impact on
      communication and relationships between different professional groups, the roles
      of nursing and allied health services, and the expressed satisfaction of PHC
      providers with their work varied more within than between jurisdictions. These
      variations were associated with local contextual factors such as the size, power
      dynamics, leadership, and physical environment of the practice. Unintended
      consequences included deterioration of the work satisfaction of some team members
      and conflict between medical and nonmedical professional groups. CONCLUSION: The
      variation in impacts can be understood to have arisen from the complexity of
      interprofessional dynamics at the practice level. The same characteristic could
      have both positive and negative influence on different aspects (eg, larger
      practice may have less capacity for adoption but more capacity to support
      interprofessional practice). Thus, the impacts are not entirely predictable and
      need to be monitored, and so that interventions can be adapted at the local
      level.

PMID- 26889084
TI  - Association of nuclear and mitochondrial genes with audiological examinations in
      Iranian patients with nonaminoglycoside antibiotics-induced hearing loss.
AB  - Mitochondrial DNA mutations play an important role in causing sensorineural
      hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the
      mitochondrial genes RNR1, MT-TL1, and ND1 as well as the nuclear genes GJB2 and
      GJB6 with audiological examinations in nonfamilial Iranians with cochlear
      implants, using polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and RNA secondary
      structure analysis. We found that there were no novel mutations in the
      mitochondrial gene 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) in patients with and without GJB2 mutation
      (GJB2(+) and GJB2(-), respectively), but a total of six polymorphisms were found.
      No mutations were observed in tRNA(Leu) (() (UUR) ()) (MT-TL1). Furthermore,
      eight polymorphisms were found in the mitochondrial ND1 gene. Additionally, no
      mutations were observed in the nuclear GJB6 gene in patients in the GJB2(-) and
      GJB2(+) groups. The speech intelligibility rating and category of auditory
      perception tests were statistically assessed in patients in the GJB2(-) and
      GJB2(+) groups. The results indicated that there was a significant difference
      (P<0.05) between the categories of auditory perception score in the GJB2(-) group
      compared to that in the GJB2(+) group. Successful cochlear implantation was
      observed among individuals with GJB2 mutations (GJB2(+)) and mitochondrial
      polymorphisms compared to those without GJB2 mutations (GJB2(-)). In conclusion,
      the outcome of this study suggests that variation in the mitochondrial and
      nuclear genes may influence the penetrance of deafness. Therefore, further
      genetic and functional studies are required to help patients in making the best
      choice for cochlear implants. 

PMID- 26889087
TI  - PD-1/PD-L1 blockades in non-small-cell lung cancer therapy.
AB  - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in males and the second leading
      cause of death in females worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the
      main pathological type of lung cancer, and most newly diagnosed NSCLC patients
      cannot undergo surgery because the disease is already locally advanced or
      metastatic. Despite chemoradiotherapy and targeted therapy improving clinical
      outcomes, overall survival remains poor. Immune checkpoint blockade, especially
      blockade of programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand PD-L1, achieved
      robust responses and improved survival for patients with locally
      advanced/metastatic NSCLC in preclinical and clinical studies. However, with
      regard to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade as monotherapy or in combination with
      other antitumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy (including
      conventional irradiation and stereotactic body radiotherapy), and target therapy,
      there are still many unknowns in treating patients with NSCLC. Despite this
      limited understanding, checkpoint blockade as a novel therapeutic approach may
      change the treatment paradigm of NSCLC in the future. Here we review the main
      results from completed and ongoing studies to investigate the feasibility of PD
      1/PD-L1 inhibitors, as monotherapy or combinatorial agents in patients with
      locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC, and explore optimal strategy in such
      patients. 

PMID- 26889088
TI  - Long-term gene therapy with Del1 fragment using nonviral vectors in mice with
      explanted tumors.
AB  - Cancer gene therapy using nonviral vectors is useful for long periods of
      treatment because such vectors are both safe and inexpensive, and thus can be
      used repeatedly. It has been reported that gene therapy with an E3C1 fragment of
      Del1 in a mouse explanted tumor model improved prognosis. The present study aimed
      to analyze the long-term effects of repeated non-viral gene transfer of E3C1.
      Mice with explanted tumors of SCCKN cells, a human squamous carcinoma, were
      treated with a plasmid encoding E3C1. Plasmids were injected locally every week
      using a transfection reagent. Control mice treated with mock DNA started to be
      euthanized on day 18, because the tumors had grown to over 15% of the body
      weight, and all of them had died by day 43. On the other hand, the tumors in two
      of ten mice treated with E3C1 had disappeared. The other eight mice started to be
      euthanized on day 46 and eight of ten mice had been euthanized by day 197. After
      18 days of therapy, the tumor volume of control mice was 2,804+/-829 mm(3) and
      that of the E3C1 mice was 197+/-159 mm(3). Histochemical studies showed enhanced
      apoptosis in the E3C1-treated tumors, as compared with controls. Changes in cell
      morphology and decreased polymerized actin induced by E3C1 indicated disturbed
      cell adhesion to the matrix. In in vitro studies of SCCKN cells, prolonged
      administration of an E3C1 recombinant protein to cultured cells reduced adhesion
      independent growth of cancer cells, as compared with control cells. These data
      suggest that E3C1 treatment induces anoikis. 

PMID- 26889089
TI  - Tumor heterogeneity as a rationale for a multi-epitope approach in an autologous
      renal cell cancer tumor vaccine.
AB  - PURPOSE: An autologous tumor vaccine already used successfully in the immune
      therapy of renal cell carcinoma was investigated in detail. The evaluation of
      potential tumor markers should allow for the assessment of potency according to
      pharmaceutical regulations. METHODS: A panel of 36 tumor-associated antigens and
      cellular marker proteins was characterized in a total of 133 tumor cell lysates
      by methods such as ELISA, Western blots, and topological proteomics. The
      induction of tumor-associated antigen-specific antibodies was demonstrated by
      immunization in mice. RESULTS: Tumor heterogeneity was demonstrated: none of the
      tumor-associated antigens investigated were detectable in each tumor lysate. In
      parallel, the coincidental presence of potential danger signals was shown for HSP
      60 and HSP-70. The presence of both antigen and danger signal allowed a
      successful induction of an immune response in a murine model. CONCLUSION: The
      verified tumor heterogeneity indicates the need for a multi-epitope approach for
      the successful immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma.

PMID- 26889091
TI  - Challenging hepatitis C-infected liver transplant patients.
AB  - Caring for liver transplant patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C virus
      (HCV) infection is a challenging task for transplant surgeons and primary
      physicians alike. HCV is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the USA
      and comes with a myriad of complications that increase morbidity and mortality.
      This review focuses on patient follow-up, spanning from before the liver
      transplant occurs to the patient's long-term health. Pretransplant, both donor
      and recipient variables, must be carefully chosen to ensure optimal surgical
      success. Risk factors must be identified and HCV viral load must be reduced to a
      minimum. In addition to standard transplant complications, HCV patients suffer
      from additional problems, such as fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis and widespread
      viremia. Physicians must focus on the balance of immunosuppressive and antiviral
      medications, while considering possible side effects from these potent drugs.
      Over the years following surgery, physicians must identify any signs of failing
      liver health, as HCV-positive patients have an increased risk for cirrhosis and
      certain life-threatening malignancies. 

PMID- 26889092
TI  - Solamargine triggers cellular necrosis selectively in different types of human
      melanoma cancer cells through extrinsic lysosomal mitochondrial death pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous reports showed that the Steroidal Glycoalkaloid Solamargine
      inhibited proliferation of non-melanoma skin cancer cells. However, Solamargine
      was not tested systematically on different types of melanoma cells and was not
      simultaneously tested on normal cells either. In this study we aimed to
      investigate the effect of Solamargine and the mechanism involved in inhibiting
      the growth of different types of melanoma cells. METHODS: Solamargine effect was
      tested on normal cells and on another three melanoma cell lines. Vertical growth
      phase metastatic and primary melanoma cell lines WM239 and WM115, respectively
      and the radial growth phase benign melanoma cells WM35 were used. The half
      inhibitory concentration IC50 of Solamargine was determined using Alamarblue
      assay. The cellular and subcellular changes were assessed using light and
      Transmission Electron Microscope, respectively. The percentage of cells
      undergoing apoptosis and necrosis were measured using Flow cytometry. The
      different protein expression was detected and measured using western blotting.
      The efficacy of Solamargine was determined by performing the clonogenic assay.
      The data collected was analyzed statistically on the means of the triplicate of
      at least three independent repeated experiments using one-way ANOVA test for
      parametric data and Kruskal-Wallis for non-parametric data. Differences were
      considered significant when the P values were less than 0.05. RESULTS: Hereby, we
      demonstrate that Solamargine rapidly, selectively and effectively inhibited the
      growth of metastatic and primary melanoma cells WM239 and WM115 respectively,
      with minimum effect on normal and benign WM35 cells. Solamargine caused cellular
      necrosis to the two malignant melanoma cell lines (WM115, WM239), by rapid
      induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization as confirmed by cathepsin B
      upregulation which triggered the extrinsic mitochondrial death pathway
      represented by the release of cytochrome c and upregulation of TNFR1. Solamargine
      disrupted the intrinsic apoptosis pathway as revealed by the down regulation of
      hILP/XIAP, resulting in caspase-3 cleavage, upregulation of Bcl-xL, and Bcl2, and
      down regulation of Apaf-1 and Bax in WM115 and WM239 cells only. Solamargine
      showed high efficacy in vitro particularly against the vertical growth phase
      melanoma cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Solamargine is a promising
      anti-malignant melanoma drug which warrants further attention.

PMID- 26889090
TI  - Wheat allergy: diagnosis and management.
AB  - Triticum aestivum (bread wheat) is the most widely grown crop worldwide. In
      genetically predisposed individuals, wheat can cause specific immune responses. A
      food allergy to wheat is characterized by T helper type 2 activation which can
      result in immunoglobulin E (IgE) and non-IgE mediated reactions. IgE mediated
      reactions are immediate, are characterized by the presence of wheat-specific IgE
      antibodies, and can be life-threatening. Non-IgE mediated reactions are
      characterized by chronic eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration of the
      gastrointestinal tract. IgE mediated responses to wheat can be related to wheat
      ingestion (food allergy) or wheat inhalation (respiratory allergy). A food
      allergy to wheat is more common in children and can be associated with a severe
      reaction such as anaphylaxis and wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
      An inhalation induced IgE mediated wheat allergy can cause baker's asthma or
      rhinitis, which are common occupational diseases in workers who have significant
      repetitive exposure to wheat flour, such as bakers. Non-IgE mediated food allergy
      reactions to wheat are mainly eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or eosinophilic
      gastritis (EG), which are both characterized by chronic eosinophilic
      inflammation. EG is a systemic disease, and is associated with severe
      inflammation that requires oral steroids to resolve. EoE is a less severe
      disease, which can lead to complications in feeding intolerance and fibrosis. In
      both EoE and EG, wheat allergy diagnosis is based on both an elimination diet
      preceded by a tissue biopsy obtained by esophagogastroduodenoscopy in order to
      show the effectiveness of the diet. Diagnosis of IgE mediated wheat allergy is
      based on the medical history, the detection of specific IgE to wheat, and oral
      food challenges. Currently, the main treatment of a wheat allergy is based on
      avoidance of wheat altogether. However, in the near future immunotherapy may
      represent a valid way to treat IgE mediated reactions to wheat. 

PMID- 26889093
TI  - KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES REGARDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and attitude of dentists
      in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) regarding signs and symptoms of child abuse and
      neglect (CAN), reporting procedure and level of education. METHODS: Data were
      collected through a self-administrated structured questionnaire adopted and
      modified from previous studies. It was administrated to 300 dentists out of which
      a total number of 210 subjects were in final sample for statistical analyses.
      Response rate was seventy percent. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Kruskal
      Wallis H test were used to analyze statistical differences in responses. The
      level of significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Dentists in BH are very rarely
      provided (80%) with training related to recognition and reporting of CAN. Sixty
      six percent of dentists had never suspected CAN in their practice. Only nine
      percent of dentists would report suspicious of CAN. Prevailing reasons for not
      reporting suspected case of CAN was lack of knowledge of the reporting procedure
      (43%), and combination of indicated answers that never had a case and lack of
      knowledge about the procedure (31%). CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest
      that dentists need an effective education to increase their knowledge and
      awareness of all aspects of CAN.

PMID- 26889095
TI  - OUTCOME OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPLINTING IN HAND BURNS INJURY. OUR LAST FOUR
      YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Burn injuries in hands are much more complex and the appearance of
      contractures is a common complication. Hand burn injuries often result in limited
      functionality, flexion and extension of fingers and present a major hindrance in
      rehabilitation. The aim of physical therapy and splinting after hand burn injury
      is to maintain mobility, prevent the development of the contracture and to
      promote the functionality of hand and good cosmetic results. The purpose of this
      study is to presents our experience of 38 children with hand burn injuries,
      admitted and treated at the Department of Plastic Surgery, UCCK-Pristina, Kosovo,
      during the years 2012-2015. METHODS: Physical therapy is focused on
      active/passive range of motion in affected joints, management of cicatrix,
      strengthening exercise, coordination and use of splints for correction
      contractures. Patients were evaluated in three, six months and the definitive
      evaluation is done after 9 months of physical therapy and splinting. RESULTS: We
      have improvement in range of motion (ROM), functionality, coordination, muscle
      force, decrease of keloids scars. CONCLUSION: This study shows the importance of
      physical therapy and splinting, achieving good results in preventing contracture,
      improving range of motion, muscle force and good cosmetic results.

PMID- 26889094
TI  - INCIDENCE OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN ALBANIAN POPULATION.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory pathology with large
      regional variations in incidence and etiology. AIM: The aim of the study was to
      provide a description of the epidemiologic situation of AP in Albanian
      population, regarding incidence, etiology and severity of the disease. METHODS:
      We have studied all the files of all patients with acute pancreatitis admitted at
      the UHC 'Mother Theresa" during an eight year period (2005-2012). THE RESULTS: We
      had 964 admissions with the diagnosis acute pancreatitis, making an incidence of
      5.64 per 100 000 inhabitants per year. Mean age of patients was 54.5 +/- 16.93
      years old. Among risk factors, alcohol consumption was found in 382 patients
      (39.6%), gallstone in 362 patients (37.6%), and others in 220 patients (22.8%).
      CONCLUSION: The incidence of acute pancreatitis in Albania ranges from 3.6 - 5.64
      new cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year, with an increasing trend during the
      last years. The incidence of AP among females almost doubles during 2005-2012.
      Alcohol consumption is the predominating etiologic factor among young males.

PMID- 26889096
TI  - BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE IN WOMEN: A NARRATIVE
      REVIEW.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As a mental response to sexual stimuli, sexual desire determines
      human sexual behavior and represents the cognitive capacity of sexual
      stimulation, so that avoiding sexual activity has a very negative effect on the
      discharge of intimacy and joy in couple's relationship and threatens the
      stability relationship, which can finally end in sexual dissatisfaction and
      divorce; it may even affect the reproduction. This study, reviews the literature
      on biopsychosocial determinants of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women in
      childbearing ages. METHOD: The search was done from January to March 2015 by the
      use of the data bases ProQuest, Pubmed, CINAHL, Ovid and Medline and the words
      sexual desire, related factors and biopsychosocial determinants were used as free
      text words. The words reduce sexual desire, hypoactive sexual desire disorder,
      dyadic relationship, biopsychosocial factors and women were used as keywords in
      the search. Also, the articles focusing on any aspects of sexual desire such as
      biological, social and psychological factors and relationship factors alone or
      integrated, were included in the study. The articles which specifically targeted
      the hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pregnant and lactating women and also
      the articles targeting biopsychosocial factors related to other types of sexual
      function disorder such as arousal disorder, orgasm disorder and dyspareunia, were
      all excluded from this study. FINDINGS: After reviewing the literature, the
      findings were categorized in three main class of effect of biologic factors on
      sexual desire and sexual hypoactivity, the effect of psychological factors on
      sexual desire and the effect of cultural factors and couple's relationship on
      sexual desire, each of these domains cover a wide range (such as hormonal
      changes, chronic diseases, psychological difficulties (perceived stress, anxiety,
      depression). Incompatibility of couples, the spouse's sexual function disorder)
      which may overlap. Because of the complexity of etiology and the difficulty of
      treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder, it is necessary to use
      biopsychosocial approaches to diagnose and treat the disorder. CONCLUSION:
      According to the findings of this reviewing study, the factors able to affect
      sexual desire and activity are not distinct and often overlap, therefore, the
      complicated etiology of hypoactive sexual desire disorder often needs
      multidimensional intervention to use biopsychosocial approach; Multi factor
      assessment with a combination of psychological, physical, social and hormonal
      intervention can be effective in making strategies to treat the symptoms of HSDD.

PMID- 26889098
TI  - IMPACT OF FLUORIDE ON DENTAL HEALTH QUALITY.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fluoride is natural element that strengthens teeth and prevents
      their decay. Experts believe that the best way to prevent cavities is the use of
      fluoride from multiple sources. Studies even show that in some cases, fluoride
      can stop already started damage of the teeth. In children younger than 6 years
      fluoride is incorporated into the enamel of permanent teeth, making the teeth
      more resistant to the action of bacterial and acids in food. GOAL: The aim of
      this study is to determine the effects of improving the health status of teeth
      after six months treatment with the use of topical fluoridation 0.5% NaF, and the
      level and quality of the impact of treatment with chemical 0.5% NaF on the dental
      health of children at age from 8 to 15 years, in relation to gender and
      chronological age. This study included school children aged 8 to 15 years who
      visited health and dental services dependent in Mostar. RESULTS: It is obvious
      that after the implementation of treatment with 5% NaF by the method of topical
      fluoridation, health status of subjects from the experimental group significantly
      improved, so that at the final review 89.71% or 61 subjects of the experimental
      group had healthy (cured teeth), tooth with dental caries only 5.88% or 4
      respondents tooth with dental caries and filling 4.41% or 3 respondents,
      extracted baby tooth 14.71% or 10 respondents, while for 13.24% of respondents
      was identified state with still unerupted teeth. Our findings are indirectly
      confirmed that the six-month treatment of fluoridation with 5% NaF, contributed
      to statistically significant improvement in overall oral health of the
      experimental group compared to the control group which was not treated by any
      dental treatment. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that there is a statistically
      significant difference in the evaluated parameters of oral health of children in
      the control group compared to the studied parameters of oral health the
      experimental group of children at the final dental examination.

PMID- 26889097
TI  - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AMONG INTENSIVE CARE NURSES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nurses are the main users of supplies and equipment applied in the
      Intensive Care Units (ICUs) which are high-priced and costly. Therefore,
      understanding ICU nurses' experiences about resource management contributes to
      the better control of the costs. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the
      culture of nurses' working environment regarding the resource management in the
      ICUs in Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, a focused ethnographic method
      was used. Twenty-eight informants among ICU nurses and other professional
      individuals were purposively selected and interviewed. As well, 400 hours of
      ethnographic observations as a participant observer was used for data gathering.
      Data analysis was performed using the methods described by Miles and Huberman
      (1994). RESULTS: Two main themes describing the culture of ICU nurses regarding
      resource management included (a) consumption monitoring and auditing, and (b)
      prudent use. The results revealed that the efforts for resource management are
      conducted in the conditions of scarcity and uncertainty in supply. ICU nurses had
      a sense of futurism in the supply and use of resources in the unit and do the
      planning through taking the rules and guidelines as well as the available
      resources and their values into account. Improper storage of some supplies and
      equipment was a reaction to this uncertain condition among nurses. CONCLUSIONS:
      To manage the resources effectively, improvement of supply chain management in
      hospital seems essential. It is also necessary to hold educational classes in
      order to enhance the nurses' awareness on effective supply chain and storage of
      the items in the unit stock.

PMID- 26889099
TI  - BURNOUT SYNDROME AMONG EDUCATORS IN PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of burnout syndrome (BS) has been recognized in many
      professions (pilots, firefighters, police officers, doctors...) that during their
      work are subjected to high levels of stress. For educators in preschool
      institutions stress level is very high thus creating the possibility of
      developing BS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this research is selected preschool
      institution - kindergarten "Radost" (Joy) in Split, in which by use of
      questionnaires (modified scale by Freudenberger and modified scales by Girdin,
      Everly and Dusek) during 2014 among educators (100 respondents) is conducted a
      survey regarding the frequency of burnout syndrome. RESEARCH RESULTS: According
      to questionnaires by Girdin, Everly and Dusek there is no statistically
      significant difference between the number of educators who feel good and those
      that are under significant stress (chi2=1.04; p=0.307). According to
      questionnaire by Freudenberg educators are classified into 3 categories and
      distribution of educators by the groups is almost uniform (chi2=2.76; p=0.250),
      which means that one third of a teacher is in good condition, a third is in the
      risk area for burn-out syndrome, while one third are candidates for development
      of this syndrome. Comparing a teacher in good condition compared to other (at
      risk and those who are candidates for the burn-out syndrome) is up to 1.5 times
      higher in those who are at risk and the candidates for development of this
      syndrome than in others (chi2=4.5; p=0.033). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of
      burnout syndrome is very high for the group of educators (half of the educators!)
      in pre-school institutions which should be taken into account by the institutions
      management. For this purpose, it is necessary to organize regular medical check
      ups with particular reference to burnout syndrome with signs of the syndrome to
      prevent its further development.

PMID- 26889100
TI  - COMPARATIVE OF DISTRACTION FACTORS AMONG MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS OF SARI ALLIED
      MEDICAL SCIENCES' STUDENTS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Distraction is nothing but internal intension of the mind towards
      involvement of the person. This research studied classroom distractions factors
      among students of Faculty of Allied medical Sciences in year 2014-2015, so that
      with the findings of the research about classroom distractors' factors and to
      present proposed suggestions for decreasing and removing of distractions.
      METHODS: This is an exploratory study. Data collection in this study was the
      researcher made questionnaire based on Likert-type scales. SPSS software was used
      for analyzing the data statistics such as mean, standard deviation and frequency
      ratings, each subset of the elements associated with distraction Friedman test
      has been used to determine the ranking of each of the components. RESULTS: 139
      people participated in the six majors in this study which 91 people (65.5%) was
      female, and 48 people (34.5%) was male. Maximum number of 31 people (22.3) was in
      laboratory science, Lowest number of 15 (10.08 percent) in medical records, 25
      (18%) people in Radiology, health information technology and medical emergencies
      which each of above course studies with 23 people (16.5 %), Anesthesiology 22
      (15.8 percent) participated in this study. Among the internal factors of
      distraction between male and female students, the sleeping factor was in first
      priority and "My phone / pager ringing or answering the mobile" was in last
      priority. Among distraction external factors in male students, the factor
      "Adornment of professors" with mean 3.27 and SD=1.30 and Mean Rank=23.06 was in
      first priority, and among external distraction factors in girl students, the
      factor, "Used clothing and exotic costumes of Classmates" with mean=3.21, SD=1.30
      and mean rank=22.66 was in first priority and factor of "Surroundings Noise
      (mowing, drilling, construction, and ...)" for male and female students was in
      last priority. CONCLUSIONS: Attention and concentration are crucial to effective
      accomplishment. If a teacher is not proficient in controlling attention, focusing
      and refocusing when things go awry, this can cause loss of focus and in turn
      create a variety of problems.

PMID- 26889101
TI  - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH RELIGIOUS COPING AND GENERAL
      HEALTH OF STUDENTS.
AB  - AIM: This research organized to determine the relationship between Emotional
      Intelligence (EI) with Religious Coping and Mental Health of students at
      Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. METHOD: This descriptive and
      analytical study was conducted in 2014 on 335 students at Mazandaran University
      of Medical Sciences. Students were selected by stratified random sampling method.
      The instruments to gather data were Bradberry and Greaves Standard Emotional
      Intelligence Questionnaire, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, and the
      Pargament's Religious Coping. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21 via descriptive and
      inferential statistics (Pearson and Spearman's correlation). RESULTS: Among 335
      students under investigation, 144 students were male (43%) and 191 ones were
      female (57%). Their ages were ranging from 17 to 34 years old (21.02+/-2.014).
      Average EI scores, positive religious coping, negative religious coping, and
      mental health were 91.27, 14.91, 4.86, 5.34, respectively. Moreover, there was a
      direct and significant relationship between EI and positive religious coping
      (r=0.282, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, there is
      a direct correlation between positive religious coping and emotional
      intelligence. So Strengthening religious coping can promote emotional
      intelligence that is one component of mental health.

PMID- 26889102
TI  - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MU SUPPRESSION AND NURSES' EMPATHY WITH THE DIFFERENCE OF
      THREE YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nurse's empathy is one of the major parameters to improve the quality
      of provided health care known for the patient and it has a significant effect on
      reducing physical and psychological symptoms in patients. However, it has shown
      that over time and by increasing the background of nurses, their empathy is
      reducing. However, there is no research to investigate the Mu Suppression that is
      an indicator of the performance of mirror neurons that is a basis of empathy
      sense in the brain. So, the aim of this study is to investigate the difference
      between reported empathy and Mu suppression among nurses with three years of work
      background. METHODS: So, a total of 39 male nurse were chosen by available
      sampling that 15 of them has about 3 years working experience more than other's
      15 people, Data collection tool was empathy questionnaire of Jefferson's health
      professionals. Mirror neurons' activation was investigated by Mu suppression. So,
      EEG was recorded in three situations including: 1) watching a video of a
      motionless hand, 2) watching a video of a hand that is opening and closing and 3)
      moving their own hand. RESULTS: The results of MANOVA analysis indicated that
      although Mu suppression among nurses with more background is less, but this
      difference is not significant. Also, there is no significant difference between
      the reported empathy scores by nurses among two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results indicate that three years of work experience don't have an effect on
      empathy reduction.

PMID- 26889103
TI  - THE DETERMINANTS OF NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH AND NON MEDICAL STAFFS' HEALTH
      LITERACY IN HOSPITALS OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Given the role of personnel working in hospitals in promoting
      health, there is a clear need for a study to clarify the level of health literacy
      and affecting factors on it among the non medical and medical staffs working in
      hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed on 389 employees who
      were working in hospitals affiliated to Semnan University of Medical Sciences of
      Iran in 2013. RESULTS: There were significant relationships among the use of TV
      (P=0.044, CI=95%, Odd's Ratio= 1.825), the use of books and journals (P<0.0001,
      CI=95%, Odd's Ratio= 5.551), the use of internet (P<0.039, CI=95%, Odd's Ratio=
      0.641), the use of physicians (P<0.0001, CI=95%, Odd's Ratio=0.070) and the
      nonmedical and medical staffs' health literacy level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings
      indicate media and print information resources more than physicians and
      electronic information sources affect on the increase of nonmedical and medical
      staffs' health literacy of hospitals of Iran. It also is better to train Iranian
      physicians more about the skills required for transferring health concepts. Given
      the important role of medical staffs in the increase of health literacy level in
      other members of the community, it is better to use other suitable information
      sources to transfer health information to all individuals in the community.

PMID- 26889104
TI  - INFLUENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN CHILDREN ON ANESTHESIOLOGICAL
      COMPLICATIONS APPEARANCE DURING ADENOIDECTOMY AND ADENOTONSILLECTOMY.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Obesity in children is becoming from year to year enormous medical
      and socio-epidemilogical problem according to increasing number of overweight and
      obese children. Overweight and obesity in children mostly affects on
      cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine system disturbances. Adenoidectomy and
      adenotonsillectomy belong to group of most often done operation in children
      population. Anesthesiology complications during adenodecotomy and
      adenotonsillectomy in children are known as very disturbing and dramatic.
      METHODS: Retrospective-prospective study includes 162 children, both genders, 3
      to 12 years old, who are hospitalized and operated (adenoidectomies and
      adenotonsillectomies) on Otorihinolaryngolic clinic of University clinical centre
      Tuzla in the four year period. Purpose of the study is to show the influence of
      overweight in children on appearance of anesthesiology complications such as
      difficult intubation, bronchospasm and laryngospasm. Body mass index (BMI), which
      is used as universal measure, is adapted with gender specific scales of National
      statistic centre of United States of America. All children with BMI over 25 are
      referred as overweight and those over 30 as obese. These children categories were
      compared to those with normal BMI according to anesthesiology complications
      incidence. RESULTS: Overweight in operated children is noticed in 21%, and 11% of
      children was obese and there wasn't distinction between boys and girls.
      Anesthesiology complications are evaluated in 12 of them (7.4%). Total analyzed
      sample show significant connection and influence of overweight with appearance of
      anesthesiology complications. Separate comparison for two types of operations is
      indicating that during adenoidectomies there hasn't been noticed connection
      between overweight and anestehesiological complications, while in case of
      adenotonsillectomies direct and significant correlation is proven. CONCLUSIONS:
      According to increased risk of anesthesiology complications in overweight and
      obese children during adenodectomies and adenotonsillectomies it is important for
      anesthesiologists to do much serious preoperative evaluation of obese children,
      and to be more prepared for every of possible unwished supersize during
      perioperative period.

PMID- 26889105
TI  - TEAM ATTITUDE EVALUATION: AN EVALUATION IN HOSPITAL COMMITTEES.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Patients' health and safety is not only a function of complex
      treatments and advanced therapeutic technologies but also a function of a degree
      based on which health care professionals fulfill their duties effectively as a
      team. The aim of this study was to determine the attitude of hospital committee
      members about teamwork in Kerman hospitals. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted
      in 2014 on 171 members of clinical teams and committees of four educational
      hospitals in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. To collect data, the standard
      "team attitude evaluation" questionnaire was used. This questionnaire consisted
      of five domains which evaluated the team attitude in areas related to the team
      structure, leadership, situation monitoring, mutual support, and communication in
      the form of a 5-point Likert type scale. To analyze data, descriptive statistical
      tests, T-test, ANOVA, and linear regression were used. RESULTS: The average score
      of team attitude for hospital committee members was 3.9 out of 5. The findings
      showed that leadership had the highest score among the subscales of team work
      attitude, while mutual support had the lowest score. We could also observe that
      responsibility was an important factor in participants' team work attitude (beta
      = -0.184, p = 0.024). Comparing data in different subgroups revealed that
      employment, marital status, and responsibility were the variables affecting the
      participants' attitudes in the team structure domain. Marital status played a
      role in leadership; responsibility had a role in situation monitoring; and work
      experience played a role in domains of communication and mutual support.
      CONCLUSIONS: Hospital committee members had a positive attitude towards teamwork.
      Training hospital staff and paying particular attention to key elements of
      effectiveness in a health care team can have a pivotal role in promoting the team
      culture.

PMID- 26889106
TI  - CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF HARM REDUCTION SERVICES IN WOMEN'S DROP-IN CENTRES:
      PERSPECTIVE OF VULNERABLE WOMEN.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to shed light on the challenges and
      successes of HIV/AIDS services delivery as perceived by Sex workers. METHODS:
      Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 IDUs and Sex
      workers in drop-in centers in Shiraz. A thematic analysis of these qualitative
      data was conducted by the authors. RESULTS: Participants identified major
      challenges and successes of HIV/AIDS services delivery. Access services, services
      delivery in terms of challenges and the successes concept were classified.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that while there is greater availability of
      HIV/AIDS services, this does not equate with greater accessibility because
      multiple, complex and interrelated barriers to HIV/AIDS service utilization at
      the service delivery level such as Stigma, discrimination, violence, harassment
      and social equity issues are critical concerns of FSW.

PMID- 26889107
TI  - THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY DURING HOSPITALIZATION OF CHILDREN.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Play constitutes an essential parameter of the normal psychosomatic
      development of children, as well as their statutory right. It is also an
      important means of communication in childhood. OBJECTIVE: To review, detect and
      highlight all data cited regarding the role of play during the hospitalization of
      children. METHODOLOGY: Literature review was achieved by searching the databases
      Scopus, PubMed, Cinhal in English, using the following key words: therapeutic
      play, play therapy, hospitalized child, therapist. RESULTS: During
      hospitalization, play either in the form of therapeutic play, or as in the form
      of play therapy, is proven to be of high therapeutic value for ill children, thus
      contributing to both their physical and emotional well-being and to their
      recovery. It helps to investigate issues related to the child's experiences in
      the hospital and reduce the intensity of negative feelings accompanying a child's
      admission to hospital and hospitalization. Play is widely used in pre-operative
      preparation and invasive procedures, while its use among children hospitalized
      for cancer is beneficial. CONCLUSION: The use of play in hospital may become a
      tool in the hands of healthcare professionals, in order to provide substantial
      assistance to hospitalized children, as long as they have appropriate training,
      patience, and will to apply it during hospitalization.

PMID- 26889108
TI  - INTRAVENOUS MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION ERRORS AND THEIR CAUSES IN CARDIAC CRITICAL
      CARE UNITS IN IRAN.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The dangerous events caused by medication errors are
      one of the main challenges faced in critical care units. The present study was
      conducted to determine the frequency of intravenous medication administration
      errors and their causes in cardiac critical care units in Iran. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The present descriptive study was conducted in the critical care units
      (CCUs and cardiac surgery intensive care units) of 12 teaching hospitals. Of the
      total of 240 nurses working in these departments, 190 participated in the present
      study. The data collection tools used in this study included the "nurses'
      demographic data questionnaire", the "patients' medical and demographic data
      questionnaire" and the "nurses' self-reporting questionnaire about the frequency
      of intravenous medication administration errors and their causes". The data
      obtained were analyzed in SPSS-20 using descriptive statistics such as the
      absolute and relative frequency. FINDINGS: During the 2 months in which this
      study was being conducted, 2542 patients were admitted to these departments and
      20240 doses of intravenous medications were administered to these patients. The
      nurses reported 262 intravenous medication administration errors. The most common
      intravenous medication error pertained to administering the wrong medication
      (n=71 and 27.1%). As for the causes of intravenous medication administration
      errors, 51.5% of the errors were associated with work conditions, 24% with
      packaging, 13.4% with communication, 9.9% with transcription and 1.2% with
      pharmacies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: According to the results, strategies are
      recommended to be adopted for reducing or limiting medication errors, such as
      building a stronger pharmacology knowledge base in nurses and nursing students,
      improving work conditions and improving communication between the nurses and
      physicians.

PMID- 26889109
TI  - Effects of Interrupted Wetness Periods on Conidial Germination, Germ Tube
      Elongation and Infection Periods of Botryosphaeria dothidea Causing Apple White
      Rot.
AB  - Responses of Botryosphaeria dothidea to interrupted wetness periods were
      investigated under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Conidia of B. dothidea were
      allowed to germinate on apple fruits under wetting condition at 25oC for 5 hr.
      They were air-dried for 0, 1, 2 or 4 hr, and then rewetted at 25oC for 5 hr.
      Following an initial wetness period of 5 hr, 83% of the conidia germinated. The
      percent conidial germination increased to 96% when wetting was extended
      continuously another 5 hr. However, no further conidial germination was observed
      when wetting was interrupted by dry periods of 1, 2 and 4 hr, resulting in 83, 81
      and 82%, respectively. The mean length of the germ tubes was 37 MUm after 5 hr of
      wetting and elongated to 157 MUm after 10 hr of continuous wetting. On the other
      hand, interruption of wetting by a dry period of 1 hr or longer after the 5 hr of
      initial wetting arrested the germ tube elongation at approximately 42 MUm long.
      Prolonged rewetting up to 40 hr did not restore germ tube elongation on slide
      glasses under substrate treatments. Model simulation using weather data sets
      revealed that ending infection periods by a dry period of at least 1 hr decreased
      the daily infection periods, avoiding the overestimation of infection warning.
      This information can be incorpo- rated into infection models for scheduling
      fungicide sprays to control apple white rot with fewer fungicide applications. 

PMID- 26889110
TI  - Lysimachia foenum-graecum Herba Extract, a Novel Biopesticide, Inhibits ABC
      Transporter Genes and Mycelial Growth of Magnaporthe oryzae.
AB  - To identify a novel biopesticide controlling rice blast disease caused by
      Magnaporthe oryzae, 700 plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory
      effects on mycelial growth of M. oryzae. The L. foenum-graecum Herba extract
      showed the lowest inhibition concentration (IC50) of 39.28 MUg/ml, which is lower
      than the IC50 of blasticidin S (63.06 MUg/ml), a conventional fungicide for rice
      blast disease. When treatments were combined, the IC50 of blasticidin S was
      dramatically reduced to 10.67 MUg/ml. Since ABC transporter genes are involved in
      fungicide resistance of many organisms, we performed RT-PCR to investigate the
      transcriptional changes of 40 ABC transporter family genes of M. oryzae treated
      with the plant extract, blasticidin S, and tetrandrine, a recognized ABC
      transporter inhibitor. Four ABC transporter genes were prominently activated by
      blasticidin S treatment, but were suppressed by combinational treatment of
      blasticidin S with the plant extract, or with tetrandrine that didn't show
      cellular toxicity by itself in this study. Mycelial death was detected via
      confocal microscopy at 24 h after plant extract treatment. Finally, subsequent
      rice field study revealed that the plant extract had high control efficacy of
      63.3% and should be considered a biopesticide for rice blast disease. These
      results showed that extract of L. foenum graecum Herba suppresses M. oryzae ABC
      transporter genes inducing mycelial death and therefore may be a potent novel
      biopesticide. 

PMID- 26889111
TI  - Antifungal Effect of Plant Essential Oils on Controlling Phytophthora Species.
AB  - In this study, antifungal activity of essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus and
      Ocimum basilicum and two fungicides Mancozeb and Metalaxyl-Mancozeb in six
      different concentrations were investigated for controlling three species of
      Phytophthora, including P. capsici, P. drechsleri and P. melonis on pepper,
      cucumber and melon under in vitro and greenhouse conditions, respectively. Under
      the in vitro condition, the median effective concen- tration (EC50) values (ppm)
      of plant essential oils and fungicides were measured. In greenhouse, soil
      infested with Phytophthora species was treated by adding 50 ml of essential oils
      and fungicides (100 ppm). Disease severity was determined after 28 days. Among
      two tested plant essential oils, C. citratus had the lowest EC50 values for
      inhibition of the mycelial growth of P. capsici (31.473), P. melonis (33.097) and
      P. drechsleri (69.112), respectively. The mean EC50 values for Metalaxyl-Mancozeb
      on these pathogens were 20.87, 20.06 and 17.70, respectively. Chemical analysis
      of plant essential oils by GC-MS showed that, among 42 compounds identified from
      C. citratus, two compounds beta-geranial (alpha-citral) (39.16%) and z-citral
      (30.95%) were the most abundant. Under the greenhouse condition, Metalaxyl
      Mancozeb caused the greatest reduction in disease severity, 84.2%, 86.8% and
      92.1% on melon, cucumber, and pepper, respectively. The C. citratus essential oil
      reduced disease severity from 47.4% to 60.5% compared to the untreated control
      (p<=0.05). Essential oils of O. basilicum had the lowest effects on the pathogens
      under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. These results show that essential oils
      may contribute to the development of new antifungal agents to protect the crops
      from Phytophthora diseases. 

PMID- 26889112
TI  - Proteome Analysis of Disease Resistance against Ralstonia solanacearum in Potato
      Cultivar CT206-10.
AB  - Potato is one of the most important crops worldwide. Its commercial cultivars are
      highly susceptible to many fungal and bacterial diseases. Among these, bacterial
      wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum causes significant yield loss. In the
      present study, integrated proteomics and genomics approaches were used in order
      to identify bacterial wilt resistant genes from Rs resistance potato cultivar CT
      206-10. 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS analysis identified eight differentially
      abundant proteins including glycine-rich RNA binding protein (GRP), tomato stress
      induced-1 (TSI-1) protein, pathogenesis-related (STH-2) protein and
      pentatricopeptide repeat containing (PPR) protein in response to Rs infection.
      Further, semi-quantitative RT-PCR identified up-regulation in transcript levels
      of all these genes upon Rs infection. Taken together, our results showed the
      involvement of the identified proteins in the Rs stress tolerance in potato. In
      the future, it would be interesting to raise the transgenic plants to further
      validate their involvement in resistance against Rs in potato. 

PMID- 26889113
TI  - Population Analysis of Iranian Potato virus Y Isolates Using Complete Genome
      Sequence.
AB  - In this study, the full-length nucleotide sequences of four Iranian PVY isolates
      belonging to PVY(N) strain were determined. The genome of Iranian PVY isolates
      were 9,703-9,707 nucleotides long encoding all potyviral cistrons including P1,
      HC-Pro, P3, 6K1, CI, 6K2, VPg, NIa-Pro, NIb and CP with coding regions of 825,
      1,395, 1,095, 156, 1,902, 156, 564, 732, 1,557 and 801 nucleotides in length,
      respectively. The length of pipo, embedded in the P3 cistron, was 231
      nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Iranian isolates clustered
      with European recombinant NTN isolates in the N lineage. Recombination analysis
      demonstrated that Iranian PVY(N) isolates had a typical European PVY(NTN) genome
      having three recombinant junctions while PVY(N) and PVY(O) were identified as the
      parents. We used dN/dS methods to detect candidate amino acid positions for
      positive selection in viral proteins. The mean omega ratio differed among
      different genes. Using model M0, omega values were 0.267 (P1), 0.085 (HC-Pro),
      0.153 (P3), 0.050 (CI), 0.078 (VPg), 0.087 (NIa-pro), 0.079 (NIb) and 0.165 (CP).
      The analysis showed different sites within P1, P3 and CP were under positive
      selection pressure, however, the sites varied among PVY populations. To the best
      of our knowledge, our analysis provides the first demonstration of population
      structure of PVY(N) strain in mid-Eurasia Iran using complete genome sequences
      and highlights the importance of recombination and selection pressure in the
      evolution of PVY. 

PMID- 26889114
TI  - Diversity in Betasatellites Associated with Cotton Leaf Curl Disease During
      Source-To-Sink Movement Through a Resistant Host.
AB  - Cotton leaf curl is devastating disease of cotton characterized by leaf curling,
      vein darkening and enations. The disease symptoms are induced by DNA satellite
      known as Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB), dominant betasatellite
      in cotton but another betasatellite known as Chili leaf curl betasatellite
      (ChLCB) is also found associated with the disease. Grafting experiment was
      performed to determine if host plant resistance is determinant of dominant
      population of betasatellite in cotton (several distinct strains of CLCuMuB are
      associated with the disease). Infected scion of Gossypium hirsutum collected from
      field (the source) was grafted on G. arboreum, a diploid cotton species,
      resistant to the disease. A healthy scion of G. hirsutum (sink) was grafted at
      the top of G. arboreum to determine the movement of virus/betasatellite to upper
      susceptible scion of G. hirsutum. Symptoms of disease appeared in the upper scion
      and presence of virus/betasatellite in the upper scion was confirmed via
      molecular techniques, showing that virus/betasatellite was able to move to upper
      scion through resistant G. arboreum. However, no symptoms appeared on G.
      arboreum. Betasatelites were cloned and sequenced from lower scion, upper scion
      and G. arboreum which show that the lower scion contained both CLCuMuB and ChLCB,
      however only ChLCB was found in G. arboreum. The upper scion contained CLCuMuB
      with a deletion of 78 nucleotides (nt) in the non-coding region between A-rich
      sequence and betaC1 gene and insertion of 27 nt in the middle of betaC1 ORF. This
      study may help in investigating molecular basis of resistance in G. arboreum. 

PMID- 26889115
TI  - Development of a Multiplex PCR Method to Detect Fungal Pathogens for Quarantine
      on Exported Cacti.
AB  - Major diseases in grafted cacti have been reported and Fusarium oxysporum,
      Bipolaris cactivora, Phytophthora spp. and Collectotrichum spp. are known as
      causal pathogens. These pathogens can lead to plant death after infection.
      Therefore, some European countries have quarantined imported cacti that are
      infected with specific fungal pathogens. Consequently, we developed PCR detection
      methods to identify four quarantined fungal pathogens and reduce export rejection
      rates of Korean grafted cacti. The pathogen specific primer sets F.oF-F.oR, B.CF
      B.CR, P.nF-P.nR, and P.cF-P.CR were tested for F. oxysporum, B. cactivora, P.
      nicotinae, and P. cactorum, respectively. The F.oF-F.oR primer set was designed
      from the Fusarium ITS region; the B.CF-B.CR and P.nF-P.nR primers respectively
      from Bipolaris and Phytophthora ITS1; and the P.cF-P.CR primer set from the
      Ypt1protein gene region. The quarantine fungal pathogen primer pairs were
      amplified to the specific number of base pairs in each of the following fungal
      pathogens: 210-bp (F. oxysporum), 510-bp (B. cactivora), 313-bp (P. nicotinae),
      and 447-bp (P. cactorum). The detection limit for the mono- and multiplex PCR
      primer sets was 0.1 ng of template DNA under in vitro conditions. Therefore, each
      primer set successfully diagnosed contamination of quarantine pathogens in export
      grafted cacti. Consequently, our methodology is a viable tool to screen
      contamination of the fungal pathogen in exported grafted cacti. 

PMID- 26889116
TI  - Evaluation of Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in Tomato Genetic Resources at
      Seedling Stage.
AB  - Bacterial wilt of tomatoes caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating
      disease that limits the production of tomato in Korea. The best way to control
      this disease is using genetically resistant tomato plant. The resistance degree
      to R. solanacearum was evaluated for 285 tomato accessions conserved in the
      National Agrobiodiversity Center of Rural Development Administration. These
      accessions of tomato were originated from 23 countries. Disease severity of
      tomato accessions was investigated from 7 days to 14 days at an interval of 7
      days after inoculation of R. solanacearum under greenhouse conditions. A total of
      279 accessions of tomato germplasm were susceptible to R. solanacearum, resulting
      in wilt and death in 70 to 90% of these plants. Two tomato accessions were
      moderately resistant to R. solanacearum. Only four accessions showed high
      resistance against R. solanacearum. No distinct symptom of bacterial wilt
      appeared on the resistant tomato germplasms for up to 14 days after inoculation
      of R. solanacearum. Microscopy of resistant tomato stems infected with R.
      solanacearum revealed limited bacterial spread with thickening of pit membrane
      and gum production. Therefore, these four resistant tomato germplasms could be
      used in tomato breeding program against bacterial wilt. 

PMID- 26889117
TI  - Identification of Leonurus sibiricus as a Weed Reservoir for Three Pepper
      Infecting Viruses.
AB  - In plant virus ecology, weeds are regarded as wild reservoirs of viruses and as
      potential sources for insect-mediated transmission of viruses. During field
      surveys in 2013-2014, three Leonurus sibiricus plants showing virus-like symptoms
      were collected from pepper fields in Daegu, Seosan, and Danyang in Korea.
      Molecular diagnosis assays showed that the collected L. sibiricus samples were
      infected with either Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Pepper mild mottle virus
      (PMMoV), or Beet western yellow virus (BWYV), respectively. Since this is the
      first identification of TSWV, PMMoV, and BWYV from L. sibiricus, complete genome
      sequences of three virus isolates were determined to examine their phylogenetic
      relationships with the previously reported strains and isolates. Phylogenetic
      analyses performed using full genome sequences of the viruses showed the isolates
      of TSWV and PMMoV obtained from L. sibiricus are closely related to the pepper
      isolates of the corresponding viruses. Our results suggest that L. sibiricus
      could act an alternative host and reservoir of viruses that cause damages in
      pepper fields. 

PMID- 26889118
TI  - Establishment of a Simple and Rapid Gene Delivery System for Cucurbits by Using
      Engineered of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus.
AB  - The infectious full-length cDNA clone of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV)
      isolate PA (pZYMV-PA), which was isolated from pumpkin, was constructed by
      utilizing viral transcription and processing signals to produce infectious in
      vivo transcripts. Simple rub-inoculation of plasmid DNAs of pZYMV-PA was
      successful to cause infection of zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo L.). We further
      engineered this infectious cDNA clone of ZYMV as a viral vector for systemic
      expression of heterologous proteins in cucurbits. We successfully expressed two
      reporter genes including gfp and bar in zucchini plants by simple rub-inoculation
      of plasmid DNAs of the ZYMV-based expression constructs. Our method of the ZYMV
      based viral vector in association with the simple rub-inoculation provides an
      easy and rapid approach for introduction and evaluation of heterologous genes in
      cucurbits. 

PMID- 26889119
TI  - Urological Manifestations of Placenta Percreta.
AB  - Placenta percreta is a condition of pregnancy associated with abnormal decidua
      placenta. It is characterized by invasion of chorionic villi past the myometrium
      and serosa, towards urogenital organs. Complications include massive hemorrhage,
      bladder dysfunction, and severe infections during delivery. Reports suggest an
      increasing prevalence of this condition. From a urological perspective, this
      review suggests how early diagnostic modalities, effective treatment plans, and
      appropriate surgical methods may aid in decreasing the morbidity and mortality of
      placenta percreta. The importance of maintaining bladder integrity during
      hysterectomy is emphasized. 

PMID- 26889121
TI  - Additional Midline Biopsies of the Peripheral Zone Associated with the First
      Endorectal Standard Sextant Pattern Improves the Accuracy of Prostate Cancer
      Detection in Japanese Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to estimate the improved accuracy of prostate
      cancer (PCa) detection resulting from additional midline biopsies of the
      peripheral zone in first standard biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were
      classified into 3 groups: 402 cases of sextant biopsies (1995-2002), 488 cases of
      8-core biopsies with 2 additional midline biopsies (2003-2006), and 391 cases of
      10-core biopsies with 4 additional midline biopsies (2007-2012). The positive
      rate of each number of biopsies and changes in positive rates associated with
      prostate specific antigen (PSA) ranges were estimated. RESULTS: The positive rate
      of core biopsy significantly improved with increasing numbers of core biopsies
      (30.1% for sextant, 43.4% for 8-core biopsies, and 53.1% for 10-core biopsies).
      The accuracy of biopsies for each PSA range also significantly improved (22.3%
      for sextant, 30.0% for 8-core biopsies, and 43.2% for 10-core biopsies in the PSA
      gray zone [4.01-10 ng/ml]; and 26.5% for sextant, 52.9% for 8-core biopsies, and
      71.8% for 10-core biopsies in the intermediate PSA range [10.1-20 ng/ml]). In the
      208 cases with positive results using the 10-core biopsy method, the distribution
      of Gleason scores did not differ between the sextant only group and the midline
      site only group. CONCLUSIONS: Additional midline biopsy was associated with
      improved accuracy of positive core biopsies in Japanese patients with a PSA range
      of 4.01-20 ng/ml. (c) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID- 26889120
TI  - Urological Manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura: A Review.
AB  - Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immune-mediated systemic vasculitis
      generally found in children. The standard manifestations of HSP are palpable
      purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain, and renal complications. Although less
      common, there are significant urological manifestations associated with HSP. The
      primary objective of this review is to encourage better understanding and
      management of HSP by emphasizing the common and rare manifestations of HSP, how
      they are diagnosed, and the latest treatment options for mild to severe
      complications. Medline searches of HSP and its urological manifestations were
      conducted along with searches on current diagnostic and treatment methods.
      Urological manifestations of HSP involve the kidney, ureter, bladder, prostate,
      scrotum, testicle, and penis. Diagnosis and management of HSP are not always
      clear due to differential diagnosis and diversity of symptom presentation.
      Treatment for HSP is mainly supportive and includes use of nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs for pain relief. In more severe cases, glucocorticoids,
      methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, and peritoneal and hemodialysis are reported
      successful. It is important to note different symptoms of HSP in order to
      distinguish HSP from other diseases. Early diagnosis may prevent severe
      complications. Treatment options vary from conservative to invasive depending on
      the severity of the disease and time frame of diagnosis. 

PMID- 26889122
TI  - Predicting Acute Urinary Retention in Patients with Elevated Post-Void Residuals.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To perform a retrospective analysis evaluating factors that may
      predict which men with elevated post-void residuals (PVRs) that were at increased
      risk to develop acute urinary retention (AUR). METHODS: We retrospectively
      analyzed the records of 44 male patients who had 2 consecutive PVRs greater than
      100 ml over a 6-month period. Using regression analysis, we evaluated patient's
      age, PVR volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasound
      prostate volume with respect to development of AUR over 24 months. RESULTS: Of
      the 44 patients, 4 developed AUR. When all factors were considered, prostate
      volume was determined to be the only that was statistically significant (p =
      0.003). A 1-SD increase in prostate volume (12 ml) led to a 19.6% increased risk
      of developing AUR. There was a strong correlation between PSA and prostate volume
      (0.787). A regression analysis was then repeated excluding prostate volume. PSA
      then became a statistically significant predictor of AUR (p = 0.007). A 1-SD
      increase in PSA (1.377 ng/ml) increased the patients' risk of developing AUR by
      12.3%. CONCLUSION: In men with an elevated PVR, increased transrectal ultrasound
      prostate volume or PSA may help predict which patients have an elevated risk of
      developing AUR within the next 24 months. This information may influence which
      patients need early surgical intervention versus medical therapy.

PMID- 26889123
TI  - Oncological Outcomes in Japanese Men Undergoing Orchiectomy for Stage I
      Testicular Germ Cell Tumor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to retrospectively review oncological
      outcomes in patients with stage I testicular germ cell tumor (GCT). PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: This study included 265 consecutive Japanese men undergoing orchiectomy
      for stage I testicular GCT, and a retrospective review of their records was
      performed. RESULTS: Of these 265 patients, 192 and 73 were pathologically
      classified with seminoma and nonseminoma, respectively. Prophylactic radiation
      and chemotherapy were performed in 62 patients with seminoma and 6 with
      nonseminoma, respectively. Disease recurrence occurred in 12 seminoma patients,
      of whom 11 had not received prophylactic radiation therapy; however, all 12
      achieved a complete response to bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin therapy. Of
      the nonseminoma patients, 19 experienced disease recurrence and were then treated
      with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin followed additionally by the surgical
      resection of residual tumors and salvage chemotherapy in 7 and 4, respectively.
      There was no cancer-specific death in the 265 patients, and 5-year recurrence
      free survival rates in patients with seminoma and nonseminoma were 92.6 and
      72.8%, respectively. Furthermore, following factors appeared to be significantly
      associated with recurrence-free survival in these patients: age, T
      classification, microvascular invasion and adjuvant therapy for those with
      seminoma, and microvascular invasion for those with nonseminoma. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite a generally favorable prognosis in Japanese men with stage I testicular
      GCT, intensive follow-up or prophylactic therapy should be considered for men
      with possible risk factors of disease recurrence.

PMID- 26889124
TI  - Detection of Significant Prostate Cancer According to Anatomical Areas of
      Sampling Cores Obtained with Transrectal Systematic 12-Core Biopsy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To analyze the diagnostic performance of 12-core biopsy in detecting
      significant prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thisstudy included 206
      PCa patients who underwent transrectal 12-core biopsy followed by radical
      prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy specimens were anatomically divided into 12
      areas according to the sampling cores, and the existence of significant cancer,
      defined by a tumor volume > 0.5 ml, was investigated. The detection rate of
      significant cancer in each area was calculated as follows: the number of positive
      core biopsies/the number of areas containing significant cancer * 100. RESULTS:
      The overall detection rate of significant cancer in all areas was 53.6%. The
      detection rate was significantly higher in the standard sextant cores than in the
      additional 6 cores in patients with prostate-specific antigen >= 10 ng/ml,
      clinical stage >= T2, or biopsy Gleason score >= 7, but not in those with
      prostate-specific antigen < 10 ng/ml, clinical stage T1c, or biopsy Gleason score
      <= 6. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the significant cancers were not
      accurately detected, and the detection rates in biopsy cores other than the
      sextant cores appeared to be significantly lower in PCa patients with aggressive
      features.

PMID- 26889125
TI  - mp-MRI Prostate Characterised PIRADS 3 Lesions are Associated with a Low Risk of
      Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer - A Retrospective Review of 92 Biopsied
      PIRADS 3 Lesions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prostate image reporting and data system (PIRADS)
      3 lesions as assessed by a 3T multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      represent clinically significant prostate cancer. METHOD: A retrospective review
      was performed on a series of consecutive patients who underwent MRI guided biopsy
      of the prostate for clinical suspicion of prostate cancer between January 2013
      and March 2014. Demographic, clinical, MRI and biopsy data were reviewed and
      compared. The same 3T MRI without the use of an endo-rectal coil was employed to
      assess each patient, obtaining high resolution T2 weighted images, diffusion
      weighted imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement. The MRI data was sent to
      Dynacad software for analysis. A single experienced radiologist reported all the
      studies from this series using a modified PIRADS scoring system. Subsequently,
      all the lesions marked PIRADS 3 or above were targeted with 18G core biopsy using
      DynaTrim in-gantry MRI guidance system. Needle position targeting the lesion was
      recorded prior to each biopsy. All core biopsy samples were sent to one of two
      pathology laboratories where they were processed and reported as per the
      International Society of Urological Pathology protocols. RESULTS: One hundred and
      eighteen patients comprising a total of 215 lesions were reviewed. Amongst this
      cohort, 92 PIRADS 3 lesions were identified and biopsied. The mean age of
      patients in this cohort was 62.6 years. Median prostate specific antigen (PSA)
      was 6.5 ng/ml and median prostate size was 78.4 ml. Eightysix (93.5%) of biopsied
      PIRADS 3 lesions were benign and 6 (6.5%) lesions were found to be malignant. Of
      these 6 malignant lesions, 4 (66%) were Gleason score 6 (3 + 3) and 2 (33%) were
      Gleason score 7 (3 + 4). Of the 86 non-malignant lesions, 1 (1.2%) represented
      high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and 2 (2.4%) represented atypical
      small acinar proliferation. PIRADS 3 lesions within the peripheral zone were more
      likely to be associated with malignant disease compared with lesions identified
      within the transition zone (10.8 vs. 3.8%). Those with malignant disease had a
      higher median PSA (8.1 vs. 6.4 ng/ml) and higher median PSA density (0.12 vs.
      0.08) than those without malignant disease. Those with benign pathology had a
      higher prevalence of inflammation (31.4 vs. 16.7%). As per Epstein's criteria, 4
      (4.3%) of the biopsied lesions represented clinically significant disease.
      CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated in our series, that prostate lesions
      characterized on a 3T multiparametric MRI examination of the prostate as PIRADS
      3, according to the current prevalent scoring systems, are associated with a low
      likelihood of the presence of clinically significant prostate cancer.

PMID- 26889126
TI  - Case Report: Conversion of a Low-Flow to High-Flow Priapism.
AB  - Priapism is defined as an erection lasting for more than 4 hours and can be
      grouped into 3 distinct subtypes: ischemic (low-flow), stuttering and non
      ischemic (high-flow). Herein, we present an interesting case of conversion from a
      low-flow to high-flow priapism after a distal shunting procedure. This is a rare
      phenomenon that has a paucity of documented cases. Diagnosis requires prompt
      clinical suspicion and confirmatory testing including penile cavernosal blood
      gases and Doppler ultrasound. 

PMID- 26889127
TI  - Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Bladder Diverticulectomy and Ureteral Re-Implantation
      for a Diverticulum Containing High Grade Transitional Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - We present a case of an 84-year-old man presenting with painless visible
      hematuria. Further investigation revealed a primary G3pT1 transitional cell
      carcinoma confined to a bladder diverticulum. In view of bladder-sparing therapy,
      he underwent a robot-assisted laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy with ureteral
      re-implantation. This report demonstrates a minimally invasive approach offering
      radical treatment without having to recur to partial or radical cystectomy. We
      discuss the operative steps, the significance of this case with a review of the
      literature, and the future potential this may represent for the treatment of
      tumor-containing bladder diverticula. 

PMID- 26889128
TI  - Angiosarcoma of the Prostate Gland following Brachytherapy for Prostatic
      Adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Prostatic adenocarcinoma is the most common cancer in men, but only a handful of
      cases of prostatic angiosarcoma have been reported in the literature. Prior
      radiation therapy for prostatic adenocarcinoma has been hypothesized to be a risk
      factor for angiosarcoma. The increasing practice of prostate cancer screening and
      the use of radiation therapy for management of prostatic adenocarcinoma will
      likely lead to more cases of prostatic angiosarcoma. Diagnosis is made by tissue
      sampling. Optimal management of these aggressive tumors remains to be defined and
      outcomes are poor with a high 1-year mortality. Primary care physicians and
      urologists should be aware of this rare entity and refer these patients to
      specialist centers where they can be managed by a multidisciplinary team. We
      report a case of angiosarcoma of the prostate gland diagnosed in a male
      presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms 5 years after brachytherapy for
      prostate adenocarcinoma. 

PMID- 26889129
TI  - Melatonin and Its Role in Lower Urinary Tract Function: An Article Review.
AB  - This article reviewed the results of studies done on animals that assessed
      effects of melatonin on bladder function. Melatonin does not change strip
      relaxation on its own. However, pre-treatment with melatonin decreases
      contractile responses induced by phenylephrine, acetylcholine, bethanechol and
      KCl in a dose-dependent manner. The contractile responses induced by the direct
      calcium channel openers are significantly decreased by melatonin pre-treatment.
      It also binds to Ca(2+)-activated calmodulin, and prevents it from activating
      myosin light-chain kinase. It may have direct effects on ion channels which are
      responsible for regulating bladder contraction. Its other mode of action on
      bladder occurs via the brain GABAA receptor. Melatonin is an antioxidant. In
      bladder, treatment with melatonin prevents elevations in malondialdehyde levels,
      reverses changes in glutathione levels, and decreases myeloperoxidase levels
      compared with oxidative injury. It can normalize age induced bladder dysfunction
      through its antioxidant effects, inhibiting smooth muscle contractility directly
      and restoring impaired contractility via normalization of Ca(2+) handling and
      sensitizations pathways. It attenuates the severity of cystitis and inflammation.
      Mast cell proliferation and activation are increased in cystitis, but decrease by
      melatonin treatment. Also, there is a decrease in expression levels of pro
      inflammatory cytokines after melatonin treatment. 

PMID- 26889130
TI  - Effect of Polyuria on Bladder Function in Diabetics versus Non-Diabetics: An
      Article Review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To review studies that investigated the role of polyuria on bladder
      function. METHODS: We performed a search of the English literature through
      PubMed. We only included animal studies that assessed parameters of bladder
      function and had compared diabetic and non-diabetic polyuric animals. RESULTS:
      Fluid intake and urine output were increased in diabetic and polyuric animals;
      failure to appropriately gain weight was seen in diabetics only. All but 1 study
      reported increase in bladder weight in both groups. In cystometrograms, control
      mice showed reductions in basal bladder pressure over time, whereas diabetic and
      diuretic groups stabilized or increased. Both groups showed larger bladder
      capacity. Overall, many characteristic changes in cystometrographic studies in
      diabetic animals could be attributed to polyuria. In histological studies,
      bladder hypertrophy, increase in smooth muscle and urothelium, and increase in
      protein and DNA content per bladder were observed in diuretic and diabetic rats.
      Actual collagen cross-sectional area did not change during the progression of
      diabetes or diuresis but decreased over time in both groups as a percentage of
      total tissue area. Both groups expressed less type I collagen mRNA and TGF-beta-1
      mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: Although lower urinary tract changes in anatomy and function
      in diabetic patients might arise from a number of causes, polyuria seems to play
      an important causative role.

PMID- 26889131
TI  - Influence of Demographic and Clinical Factors on Surgical Outcomes of the
      Transobturator Tape Procedure in Patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a prevalent problem within the
      female population with associated high psycho-social impact. Transobturator tape
      procedure is a well-established procedure to treat the same, but the results may
      be influenced by various preoperative demographic and clinical factors. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 50 female patients with genuine SUI,
      who were then divided into subgroups based on demographic and clinical factors.
      Outcomes were compared between these subgroups at 6 and 12 months using self
      reported questionnaires and provocative stress test. RESULTS: Our results show
      positive correlation with statistically significant better surgical outcomes in
      premenopausal patients, patients aged <50 years and those having urethral
      mobility > 30 degrees. Statistically significant poor outcomes were seen in those
      having undergone hysterectomy or Caesarean section. No correlation was found with
      history of smoking or the patient's body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion,
      the transobturator tape procedure appears to be more effective in premenopausal
      women, women aged < 50 years, women without history of hysterectomy/lower section
      Caesarean section, and presence of urethral hypermobility > 30 degrees. On the
      other hand, outcomes do not appear to be influenced by the patient's body mass
      index or smoking status.

PMID- 26889132
TI  - Renal Trauma: The Rugby Factor.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Renal trauma accounts for 5% of all trauma cases. Rare mechanisms
      of injuries including sports participation are increasingly common. Rugby-related
      trauma poses a conundrum for physicians and players due to the absence of clear
      guidelines and a paucity of evidence. Our series highlights traumatic rugby
      related renal injuries in our institution, and emphasize the need for
      international guidelines on management. METHODS: A retrospective review of all
      abdominal traumas between January 2006 and April 2013, specifically assessing for
      renal related trauma that were secondary to rugby injuries was performed. All
      patients' demographics, computerized tomography results, hematological and
      biochemical results and subsequent management were recorded. RESULTS: Five male
      patients presented with rugby-related injuries. Mean age was 21 years old. All
      patients were hemodynamically stable and managed conservatively in acute setting.
      One patient was detected to have an unknown pre-existing atrophic kidney that had
      been subsequently injured, and was booked for an elective nephrectomy an 8-week
      interval. CONCLUSION: Rugby-related trauma has generated essential attention.
      This paper serves to highlight this type of injury and the need for defined
      guidelines on role of imaging and international consensus on timing of return to
      contact sport, in both professional and amateur settings.

PMID- 26889133
TI  - Molecular Evidence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Prostate Tumors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is detectable in
      both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa).
      Epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between infective
      chronic prostatitis and prostatic carcinoma. Many bacteria have been found in the
      prostate of patients with chronic prostatitis, BPH, and PCa. METHODS: One hundred
      consecutive patients with prostate diseases were enrolled in the study. Detection
      of H. pylori DNA in prostate tissue from patients with BPH and PCa was performed
      using both immunohistochemistry and PCR, and the results were confirmed by DNA
      sequencing. Odds ratios and the Fisher Exact test were used for the analysis of
      the associations between the variables. RESULTS: Among the patients, 78% had BPH
      and 19% had PCa. While immunohistochemistry showed no positive sample for H.
      pylori, PCR combined with sequencing detected H. pylori DNA in prostate tissue
      samples from 5 patients. However, statistical analysis of the data showed that
      BPH and PCa are not significantly associated with the presence of H. pylori DNA
      in prostate tissue (odds ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.09-23.34, one
      tailed Chi-square value = 0.660, p > 0.05). The limitation of this study was the
      small number of PCa patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides, for the first
      time, molecular evidence of the presence of H. pylori DNA in prostatic tissue of
      patients with BPH and PCa. It paves the way for further comprehensive studies to
      examine the association of H. pylori infection with BPH and PCa.

PMID- 26889134
TI  - Changes in Urolithiasis Referral Patterns for Shock Wave Lithotripsy over a
      Decade: Was There Adherence to AUA/EAU Guidelines?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to assess changes in referral patterns of
      urolithiasis for shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) over a decade. The secondary
      objective was to evaluate the effect of the number of years of practice of
      referring physicians on these referral patterns. METHODS: A retrospective review
      of SWL database was performed for consecutive referrals for SWL at a tertiary
      stone center between December 1999 and December 2013. Patient demographics and
      stone characteristics were assessed. The stone location at the time of referral
      was used as the reference. Retreatments were excluded. In addition, years of
      practice of the referring physicians were calculated. The 2007 AUA/EAU guidelines
      on urolithiasis were considered as a reference. RESULTS: A total of 8,992 SWL
      treatments were included. After December 2007, there was a significant increase
      in the percentage of renal pelvic stones referred for SWL (23.0 vs. 27.1%, p <
      0.001). Conversely, proximal ureteral stones significantly decreased after 2007
      (24 vs. 18.2%, p < 0.001) including stones > 10 mm (5.1 vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001).
      Otherwise, there were no changes in the referral patterns for SWL of other stone
      locations before and after December 2007 (p > 0.05). Furthermore, percentage of
      stones referred for SWL by urologists practicing for less than 10 years
      significantly decreased after December 2007 (29.5 vs. 22.8%, p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: The significant reduction in the referral of proximal ureteral
      stones after December 2007 corresponds to the latest AUA/EAU guidelines on
      management of ureteral stones.

PMID- 26889135
TI  - Impact of Obesity on Complications of Laparoscopic Simple or Radical Nephrectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of obesity on complications in laparoscopic
      simple or radical nephrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical files of 215
      patients who underwent laparoscopic simple or radical nephrectomy in our center
      between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed. A body mass index of 30 kg/m2 was used to
      divide the patients into obese and non-obese groups. Pre-operative data and intra
      and post-operative complications were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS:
      There were respectively 163 and 52 patients in the non-obese and obese groups,
      which were comparable in terms of age, sex, and history of surgery. In the obese
      group, operative specimens were significantly heavier (772 vs. 534 g in the non
      obese group; p = 0.005) and durations of surgery was significantly longer (244
      vs. 216 minutes; p = 0.003). However no significant differences were found
      between the 2 groups for duration of hospitalization, surgical conversion,
      estimated blood loss, or intra- or post-operative complications. CONCLUSION:
      Laparoscopic simple or radical nephrectomy is technically feasible in obese
      patients but the surgery may take more time, notably due to dissection
      difficulties. Our results showed that the risk of intra- and post-operative
      complications is not higher in obese patients compared to non-obese patients,
      except for a possible, but statistically undemonstrated, higher risk of abdominal
      wall complications, and that the laparoscopic approach should be the preferred
      technique in patients with high body mass index.

PMID- 26889137
TI  - Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis with Staghorn Calculus, Acute Gangrenous
      Appendicitis and Enterocolitis: A Multidisciplinary Challenge of Kidney
      Preserving Conservative Therapy.
AB  - Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XP) is a rare form of pyelonephritis and
      without treatment destructive to the kidney. We describe a 74-year-old Caucasian
      immunocompetent female patient with XP and multiple abscesses on the upper pole
      of the right kidney and several impacted obstructing renal calculi in the middle
      calyx that developed severe colitis and gangrenous appendicitis during therapy.
      Proteus mirabilis was detected as the major pathogen in the urine culture. Kidney
      preserving therapy was carried out by intensive parenteral bacterial eradication,
      CT-guided abscess drainage and stone destruction by 3 sessions of extracorporeal
      shock wave lithotripsy under ureteral stenting. Large tumor masses in XP are
      often daunting and may lead to a nephrectomy. However, kidney-preserving therapy
      is possible and should be considered in non-septic patients or in case of a
      solitary kidney. 

PMID- 26889138
TI  - Incidentally-Discovered Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Endoscopic Sphincterotomy.
AB  - The association between the development of bladder cancer and chronic bladder
      irritation is well established in the literature. Chronic urinary tract
      irritation can be the result of bacterial infections, foreign bodies, trauma of
      repeated catheterization, neurogenic bladder, urolithiasis, or chronic bladder
      outlet obstruction, all which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of non
      bilharzial squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder (SCC). With many of the
      aforementioned factors present in patients with spinal cord injury, several
      retrospective studies have demonstrated a 16-28 fold increased relative risk of
      bladder cancer, with SCC accounting for 10 times more cases of bladder cancer
      compared to the general population. In this report, we present the case of
      incidentally-discovered SCC of the bladder found within sphincter/prostate chips
      of a patient with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury n clean
      intermittent catheterization ho underwent sphincterotomy with negative
      cystoscopic findings. 

PMID- 26889136
TI  - Open Versus Robotic Radical Prostatectomy in Obese Men.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been shown to
      reduce blood loss, peri-operative complications and length of stay when compared
      to open radical prostatectomy (ORP). We sought to determine whether the reported
      benefits of RARP over ORP translate to obese patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We
      utilized the 2009-2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify all obese men with
      prostate cancer who underwent ORP and RARP. Our primary outcome was the presence
      of a peri-operative adverse event (i.e. blood transfusion, complication,
      prolonged length of stay). We fit multivariable logistic regression models to
      examine whether RARP in obese patients was independently associated with
      decreased odds of all three outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 9,108 obese patients
      who underwent radical prostatectomy. On multivariable analysis, the use of RARP
      in the obese population was not independently associated with decreased odds of
      developing a peri-operative complication (OR = 0.81, CI: 0.58-1.13, p = 0.209).
      RARP was, however, associated with decreased odds of blood transfusion (OR =
      0.17, CI: 0.10-0.30, p < 0.001) and prolonged length of stay (OR = 0.28, CI: 0.20
      0.40, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in obese patients, the
      use of RARP may reduce length of stay and blood transfusions compared to ORP.
      Both approaches, however, are associated with similar odds of developing a
      complication.

PMID- 26889139
TI  - Scald-Induced Necrobiosis Lipoidica in a Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and
      Psoriasis.
AB  - The Koebner phenomenon (KP) was first introduced by Heinrich Koebner in the 1870s
      to describe the appearance of psoriatic lesions following trauma in psoriasis
      patients. KP has since been defined in numerous diseases, including necrobiosis
      lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD). Since most Koebnerized dermatological lesions can
      localise to a site of previous trauma, Weiss et al. (Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
      2002;16:241-248) classified them into four categories (I-IV) according to the
      Boyd-Nelder classification (Int J Dermatol 1990;29:401-410) system. In this
      system, necrobiosis lipoidica is classified as category III, which includes
      diseases that occasionally localise at the site of trauma. We report a case of
      NLD that developed after scald in a psoriasis patient. NLD after trauma has often
      been reported, but this is the first case of NLD that coincidentally occurred at
      a scald site in a psoriasis patient. 

PMID- 26889140
TI  - Treatment of Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases.

PMID- 26889141
TI  - Morphologic and Functional Imaging of Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases.
AB  - Liver metastases are the most frequent malignant liver lesions. Besides
      colorectal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, breast cancer,
      lung cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors are the most common entities that
      metastasize to the liver. The morphology of these metastases depends on the
      primary tumor. For morphologic and functional imaging of non-colorectal liver
      metastases, multiple imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed
      tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission
      tomography coupled with CT or MRI are available. This review summarizes
      morphologic and functional characteristics of different non-colorectal liver
      metastases. 

PMID- 26889143
TI  - Is There a Role for Liver Transplantation in Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases?
AB  - Due to the high blood flow, especially blood from the intestinal tract via the
      portal vein, the liver is a preferred organ for metastases. In case of advanced,
      irresectable liver metastases liver transplantation (LTX) remains an attractive
      option. However, due to high recurrence rates or a lack of data, up to date,
      metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are the only accepted indication for
      LTX in non-colorectal liver metastases. In this regard, LTX is only justified in
      patients in which complete tumor resection (R0 resection) of the NET is
      achievable. A literature review revealed no clear patient selection criteria but
      transplantation should definitively achieve an R0 resection with complete freedom
      of tumor. The available data regarding the outcome following LTX for NETs show a
      comparable short- and long-term outcome for patients transplanted for other
      malignancies, e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma, or also benign indications in the
      high MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) era. Thus, most data prove a better
      post-transplant outcome and a lower recurrence rate in patients with a good
      differentiation of the tumor, a low proliferation index (Ki67), and a portal
      drainage of the NET. 

PMID- 26889142
TI  - Liver Resection for Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases - Standards and Extended
      Indications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Due to the uncertain benefit of liver resection for non-colorectal
      liver metastases (NCLM), patient selection for surgery is generally difficult.
      Therefore, the aim of this article was to propose standard and extended
      indications for liver resection in this heterogeneous disease collective.
      METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS: The myriad of biologically different
      primary tumor entities as well as the mostly small and retrospective studies
      investigating the benefit of surgery for NCLM limits the proposal of general
      recommendations. Only resection of neuroendocrine liver metastases (NELM) appears
      to offer a clear benefit with a 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) of 74 and
      51%, respectively, in the largest series. Resection of liver metastases from
      genitourinary primaries might offer reasonable benefit in selected cases - with a
      5-year OS of up to 61% for breast cancer and of 38% for renal cell cancer. The
      long-term outcome following surgery for other entities was remarkably poorer,
      e.g., gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma reached a 5-year OS of 20
      42, 17-25, and about 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Liver resection for NELM can
      be defined as a standard indication for the resection of NCLM while lesions of
      genitourinary origin might be defined as an extended indication.

PMID- 26889144
TI  - How Effective Are Percutaneous Liver-Directed Therapies in Patients with Non
      Colorectal Liver Metastases?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review is to demonstrate the clinical
      indications, technical developments, and outcome of liver-directed therapies in
      interventional oncology of non-colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Liver
      directed therapies are classified into vascular transarterial techniques such as
      chemoperfusion (TACP), chemoembolization (TACE), radioembolization (selective
      internal radiation therapy (SIRT)), and chemosaturation, as well as thermal
      ablation techniques like microwave ablation (MWA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA),
      laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), cryotherapy, and irreversible electroporation
      (IRE). The authors searched the database PubMed using the following terms: 'image
      guided tumor ablation', 'thermal ablation therapies', 'liver metastases of uveal
      melanoma', 'neuroendocrine carcinoma', 'breast cancer', and 'non-colorectal liver
      metastases'. RESULTS: Various combinations of the above-mentioned therapy
      protocols are possible. In neuroendocrine carcinomas, oligonodular liver
      metastases are treated successfully via thermal ablation like RFA, LITT, or MWA,
      and diffuse involvement via TACE or SIRT. Although liver involvement in breast
      cancer is a systemic disease, non-responding nodular metastases can be controlled
      via RFA or LITT. In ocular or cutaneous melanoma, thermal ablation is rarely
      considered as an interventional treatment option, as opposed to TACE, SIRT, or
      chemosaturation. Rarely liver-directed therapies are used in pancreatic cancer,
      most likely due to problems such as biliary digestive communications after
      surgery and the risk of infections. Rare indications for thermal ablation are
      liver metastases of other primary cancers like non-small cell lung, gastric, and
      ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: Interventional oncological techniques play a role in
      patients with liver-dominant metastases.

PMID- 26889145
TI  - Arterial Therapies of Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The unique situation of the liver with arterial and venous blood
      supply and the dependency of the tumor on the arterial blood flow make this organ
      an ideal target for intrahepatic catheter-based therapies. Main forms of
      treatment are classical bland embolization (TAE) cutting the blood flow to the
      tumors, chemoembolization (TACE) inducing high chemotherapy concentration in
      tumors, and radioembolization (TARE) without embolizing effect but very high
      local radiation. These different forms of therapies are used in different centers
      with different protocols. This overview summarizes the different forms of
      treatment, their indications and protocols, possible side effects, and available
      data in patients with non-colorectal liver tumors. METHODS: A research in PubMed
      was performed. Mainly clinical controlled trials were reviewed. The search terms
      were 'embolization liver', 'TAE', 'chemoembolization liver', 'TACE',
      'radioembolization liver', and 'TARE' as well as 'chemosaturation' and 'TACP' in
      the indications 'breast cancer', 'neuroendocrine', and 'melanoma'. All reported
      studies were analyzed for impact and reported according to their clinical
      relevance. RESULTS: The main search criteria revealed the following results:
      'embolization liver + breast cancer', 122 results, subgroup clinical trials 16;
      'chemoembolization liver + breast cancer', 62 results, subgroup clinical trials
      11; 'radioembolization liver + breast cancer', 37 results, subgroup clinical
      trials 3; 'embolization liver + neuroendocrine', 283 results, subgroup clinical
      trials 20; 'chemoembolization liver + neuroendocrine', 202 results, subgroup
      clinical trials 9; 'radioembolization liver + neuroendocrine', 64 results,
      subgroup clinical trials 9; 'embolization liver + melanoma', 79 results, subgroup
      clinical trials 15; 'chemoembolization liver + melanoma', 60 results, subgroup
      clinical trials 14; 'radioembolization liver + melanoma', 18 results, subgroup
      clinical trials 3. The term 'chemosaturation liver' was tested without indication
      since only few publications exist and provided us with five results and only one
      clinical trial. CONCLUSION: Despite many years of clinical use and documented
      efficacy on intra-arterial treatments of the liver, there are still only a few
      prospective multicenter trials with many different protocols. To guarantee the
      future use of these efficacious therapies, especially in the light of many
      systemic or surgical therapies in the treatment of non-colorectal liver
      metastases, further large randomized trials and transparent guidelines need to be
      established.

PMID- 26889146
TI  - Current Medical Treatment of Patients with Non-Colorectal Liver Metastases:
      Primary Tumor Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: (Metastatic) breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity in which every
      disease subtype requires an individualized systemic treatment approach. METHODS:
      We reviewed the currently available data regarding systemic therapy of breast
      cancer and present a review of historical and current treatment approaches, with
      the publications cited covering a time span from 1896 to the last ASCO 2015.
      RESULTS: Systemic therapy of metastatic breast cancer may include chemotherapy,
      endocrine therapy, and targeted therapies (e.g. antibody-based approaches). Based
      on the patient's breast cancer subtype, these agents may be employed alone or in
      combination. Therefore, characterization of the phenotype of the disease is
      necessary and may include biopsy of the metastatic site. Novel therapeutic
      approaches include immunologic therapies as well as PARP, PI3K and CDK 4/6
      inhibitors, which are currently under investigation in clinical trials.
      CONCLUSION: Systemic therapy of metastatic breast cancer requires complex and
      individualized treatment approaches that are best offered in an interdisciplinary
      setting.

PMID- 26889147
TI  - Precision Medicine and Non-Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Fiction or
      Reality?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-colorectal liver metastases (nCRLM) constitute a variety of
      heterogeneous diseases and a considerable therapeutic challenge. Management is
      based on the primary tumor and the clinical course. In the era of precision
      medicine (PM) we know that cancer is heterogeneous within the tumor and across
      different sites. METHODS: We give an overview of the path to PM through 'omics'
      beyond genomics. We refer to the experience gained to date from models such as
      colorectal cancer and we discuss the opportunity offered by PM for the management
      of nCRLM. RESULTS: In order to best characterize and track tumor biological
      behaviors as well as to understand mechanisms of response to therapy and survival
      we suggest the application of novel clinical trial designs, a dynamic approach
      with serial monitoring involving evaluation of primary and metastatic sites.
      Quality and standardization of tissue acquisition and biobanking is a
      precondition for the reliability of this approach. CONCLUSION: The application of
      PM is increasingly becoming a reality. Elucidating the mysteries of tumors in
      complex settings can only be achieved with the approach PM offers. nCRLM may
      serve as a model for the application of PM principles and techniques in
      understanding individual diseases and also cancer as an entity and therapeutic
      challenge.

PMID- 26889148
TI  - Ectopic Spleen Tissue - an Underestimated Differential Diagnosis of a
      Hypervascularised Liver Tumour.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased risk of developing
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Implantation metastasis following diagnostic
      biopsy is a well-known complication. Therefore, primary resection of a
      hypervascularised tumour suspicious for HCC is often performed with curative
      intent. CASE REPORT: An exophytically growing mass was diagnosed between liver
      segments III and IVb by means of ultrasound in a 53-year old male patient with
      decompensated liver cirrhosis. Computed tomography confirmed a 3.5 cm large
      hypervascularised tumour with given resectability. Intraoperatively, the tumour
      appeared like a HCC. Thus, an atypical resection was performed. Histopathology
      revealed ectopic spleen tissue without any signs of malignancy. As enquiries
      revealed, the patient had undergone splenectomy after a blunt abdominal trauma 9
      years prior to admission. CONCLUSION: In the present patient, hepatic splenosis
      in a cirrhotic liver was misinterpreted as HCC. In patients with a history of
      traumatic rupture of the spleen or splenectomy, splenosis has to be considered as
      a potential differential diagnosis of a hypervascularised tumour. Specific
      diagnostics should be performed to rule out splenosis.

PMID- 26889149
TI  - Treatment with Tumor-Treating Fields Therapy and Pulse Dose Bevacizumab in
      Patients with Bevacizumab-Refractory Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Case Series.
AB  - Patients with bevacizumab-refractory recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have
      a poor prognosis. We propose that instead of continuing on bevacizumab, patients
      should switch to treatment with OptuneTM, a novel antimitotic Tumor-Treating
      Fields (TTFields) therapy approved in the United States for newly diagnosed and
      recurrent GBM. This would reserve bevacizumab for subsequent disease progression.
      In this case series, we describe 8 patients with recurrent GBM who had disease
      progression on bevacizumab, discontinued bevacizumab treatment, and were treated
      with TTFields therapy alone. After subsequent radiographic or clinical
      progression, 5 patients were rechallenged with bevacizumab in a 'pulse dose'
      fashion, an approach not previously described. Following treatment with TTFields
      therapy, median overall survival (OS) was 216 days (7.2 months). Median OS from
      last dose of initial bevacizumab was 237 days (7.9 months), twice that of
      historical controls for bevacizumab failures, and median OS from the first dose
      of bevacizumab rechallenge was 172 days (5.7 months). TTFields therapy was well
      tolerated, with a mean adherence rate of 74.2% (range, 48.2-92.9%). These results
      support the use of TTFields therapy with pulse dose bevacizumab as an option in
      patients with refractory GBM. 

PMID- 26889151
TI  - Paraneoplastic Choreoathetosis in a Patient with Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and
      Anti-CRMP5/CV2: A Case Report.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of more or less monosymptomatic paraneoplastic
      choreoathetosis associated with anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies is rare. Typically,
      such autoantibodies are associated with a more classical syndrome -
      paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. Frequently, small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is
      the related neoplastic finding. CASE REPORT: We present a 71-year-old woman who
      developed visual symptoms with papilledema and chorea. Anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies
      were a feature of both the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Although SCLC was
      suspected already at the time of the initial examinations, no signs of primary or
      metastatic tumors were revealed on chest X-ray, MRI or whole-body PET scan. EEG
      and bronchoscopy were also unremarkable. However, 6 months after the onset, a
      repeated PET scan and subsequent bronchoscopic biopsy revealed SCLC. In spite of
      chemotherapy, the SCLC progressed, and the patient died 14 months after the onset
      of the symptoms. CONCLUSION: We report paraneoplastic choreoathetosis associated
      with anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies. Such published case histories are rare. Although
      expected, we did not find any reduced signal intensity at the basal ganglia on
      the T1-weighted or increased intensity on the T2-weighted MRI scans.

PMID- 26889150
TI  - Intracranial Hypertension as an Acute Complication of Aseptic Meningoencephalitis
      with Leptomeningeal Contrast Enhancement on FLAIR MRI.
AB  - We report a case of a 19-year-old woman who developed intracranial hypertension
      as an unusual clinical complication of severe aseptic meningoencephalitis
      probably due to a diminished cerebrospinal fluid reabsorption capacity or
      leptomeningeal transudation as a consequence of blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
      These severe inflammatory changes were accompanied by prominent leptomeningeal
      contrast enhancement best visualized on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
      magnetic resonance imaging. In such a prolonged course, a continuous lumbar
      drainage might be a temporary option to provide rapid symptom relief to the
      patient. 

PMID- 26889152
TI  - Pars Plana Vitrectomy Combined with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling to Treat
      Persistent Macular Edema after Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment
      in Cases of Ischemic Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with
      internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in cases of ischemic central retinal
      vein occlusion (CRVO) where macular edema (ME) persisted after anti-vascular
      endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment. METHODS: Fifteen eyes with
      ischemic CRVO-related ME were included in the study. Nine were treated with
      panretinal photocoagulation after initial examination. Anti-VEGF agents were
      injected intravitreally. Persistent ME was treated with PPV combined with ILM
      peeling. During surgery, laser photocoagulation was further applied to the non
      perfused area. RESULTS: Mean retinal thickness gradually decreased after surgery
      (p = 0.024 at 6 months), although visual acuity did not improve significantly
      during the follow-up period (14.7 +/- 11.6 months). Neovascular glaucoma
      subsequently developed in three cases and a trabeculectomy was performed in one
      case. CONCLUSION: In eyes with ischemic CRVO, PPV combined with ILM peeling
      contributed to a reduction in persistent ME. However, there was no significant
      improvement in visual acuity.

PMID- 26889153
TI  - Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis following Laser in situ Keratomileusis.
AB  - PURPOSE: We report a case of a patient with a history of glomerulonephropathy,
      not disclosed prior to laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), who developed severe
      postoperative peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) soon after surgery. METHOD:
      Case report. RESULTS: Within a week of surgery, the patient, who had no
      blepharitis or ocular surface disease, also developed diffuse lamellar keratitis
      (DLK) that was not contiguous with the PUK. Microbiologic evaluation of the flap
      interface disclosed no organisms, and no epithelial ingrowth was found. Both PUK
      and DLK resolved with topical and oral steroid therapy, and the patient's induced
      refractive error improved over the 12 months following LASIK. CONCLUSIONS:
      Necrotizing keratitis has been described after LASIK surgery in patients with or
      without autoimmune disease. However, to our knowledge, there has been no case of
      PUK following LASIK. As shown by our patient's clinical course and the typical
      association of PUK with systemic conditions, patients with a history of atypical
      postinfectious sequelae may require additional preoperative counseling, vigilant
      postoperative monitoring, and possibly additional intervention. Because patients
      do not always divulge medical details, especially if an extraocular site was
      involved or illness occurred many years prior, this case demonstrates the
      importance of performing a diligent history that excludes autoimmune disorders or
      atypical postinfectious sequelae prior to proceeding with keratorefractive
      intervention.

PMID- 26889154
TI  - Right Homonymous Hemianopia: A Clinical Case Report of Schizencephaly.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report a case of a 56-year-old male with right homonymous hemianopia.
      METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of a case report based on information
      from clinical records, patient observation and analysis of complementary
      diagnostic tests. RESULTS: An asymptomatic 56-year-old male presented to our
      hospital for a routine ophthalmic examination. The best-corrected visual acuity
      was 20/20 in the right eye (RE) and in the left eye (LE). Pupillary function,
      intraocular pressure, external segment examinations and slit-lamp biomicroscopy
      were normal, bilaterally. Fundoscopy showed a cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio in the RE
      of 0.3 and of 0.4 in the LE. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured
      by spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed thinning of the
      superior, temporal and nasal RNFL in the RE and thinning of the superior,
      inferior and temporal RNFL in the LE. Automated static perimetry showed right
      homonymous hemianopia. Brain computed tomography (CT) showed an open-lip
      schizencephaly with a significant reduction of the left brain parenchyma.
      CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large visual defect, the patient was unaware of it and
      had an active professional life. This is an interesting case because despite the
      extensive morphological abnormalities seen on brain CT there is a relatively
      small functional repercussion.

PMID- 26889155
TI  - Rhizopus Keratitis Associated with Poor Contact Lens Hygiene.
AB  - We report a case of Rhizopus keratitis in a young woman with poor contact lens
      hygiene. The mold was highly sensitive to treatment with amphotericin 0.15%
      drops, after a relatively prompt diagnosis. Obtaining cultures of both corneal
      infiltrates and presumably infected contact lenses may help to avoid a delay in
      proper treatment. 

PMID- 26889156
TI  - Myeloid Sarcoma in an Eyelid That Developed during Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid
      Leukemia.
AB  - An 80-year-old female presented with a mass in the left upper eyelid margin that
      had developed during chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. The mass was
      elastic, hard, and pinkish, with a relatively smooth surface but without
      madarosis. The histopathological findings corresponded to a myeloid sarcoma. No
      blast cells were shown in the peripheral blood at the time of biopsy, and she
      subsequently underwent an azacitidine injection regimen. The size of the eyelid
      tumor decreased 3 months after the biopsy, when the course of azacitidine
      injections was completed. However, acute myeloid leukemia recurred, and the
      patient died. 

PMID- 26889157
TI  - Anterior Segment Scleral Fluorescein Angiography in the Evaluation of Ciliary
      Body Neoplasm: Two Case Reports.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Anterior segment tumors can be difficult to detect until tumor
      growth is substantial enough to cause local signs or symptoms. Earlier detection
      may result in improved outcomes, particularly the ability to option for globe
      conserving therapy. Multiple diagnostic modalities such as ultrasound or optical
      coherence tomography exist to aid for earlier detection of ciliary body tumors,
      but they also have limitations. Here we describe the potential for scleral
      angiography as an adjunctive modality to assist in evaluating anterior segment
      ciliary body tumors. CASE PRESENTATIONS: A 61-year-old Caucasian male and a 57
      year-old Hispanic female presented for ciliary body tumor evaluation. The
      Caucasian male notably had abnormal scleral, episcleral, and conjunctival vessels
      in the affected eye. Scleral angiography was performed in both cases with the
      abnormal vasculature highlighted in the Caucasian male. The Hispanic female did
      not demonstrate abnormal scleral angiographic patterns. Notably, the Caucasian
      male also had regions of abnormal scleral angiography arising in locations of
      otherwise normal appearing sclera. Both patients had the affected eyes
      enucleated. Histology of the enucleated eyes demonstrated a ciliary body melanoma
      in the Caucasian male associated with abnormal vascular and tumor infiltration of
      the scleral bed. The Hispanic female had a pigmented ciliary body adenoma without
      involvement of the scleral bed. CONCLUSION: With limited sample size, scleral
      angiography has the potential to detect abnormal scleral vascular patterns in
      otherwise normal appearing sclera in cases of ciliary body tumor with scleral
      vascular invasion.

PMID- 26889158
TI  - Multimodal Imaging and Clinicopathologic Correlation in Primary Uveal Lymphoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: We report a rare case of primary uveal lymphoma and characterize it
      using histopathology and multimodal imaging. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 41-year-old
      male presented with a 2-year history of increasingly blurry vision in his right
      eye and no systemic symptoms. Examination revealed a retinal detachment and mass
      lesion in the right eye. Radiologic and histologic testing was performed.
      RESULTS: Multimodal imaging localized the lesion to the choroid, and fine needle
      aspiration biopsy diagnosed the lesion as a low-grade B-cell lymphoma. The
      patient was treated with external beam radiation, resulting in regression of the
      mass and resolution of the retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Primary uveal
      lymphoma is a rare, usually indolent tumor that carries a good prognosis. In this
      case, we show that primary uveal lymphoma has distinct findings via
      histopathology and multimodal imaging, and that imaging after radiation treatment
      documents disease regression.

PMID- 26889159
TI  - Treatment of Dropped Nucleus with a 27-Gauge Twin Duty Cycle Vitreous Cutter.
AB  - We report herein a method for the treatment of dropped nucleus during cataract
      surgery with a 27-gauge twin duty cycle (TDC) vitreous cutter. When a TDC
      vitreous cutter is used, suction flow volume is maintained even when the cutter
      is driven at a high speed. This enables an Emery-Little grade 3 nucleus that had
      been difficult to treat with a conventional 27-gauge cutter to be successfully
      excised using only a vitreous cutter, with no intra- or postoperative
      complications. A dropped lens during cataract surgery of up to moderate hardness
      can be removed using a TDC cutter alone with a 27-gauge cutter system. 

PMID- 26889160
TI  - Spontaneous Corneal Hydrops in a Patient with a Corneal Ulcer.
AB  - PURPOSE: We report the case of a 77-year-old man with no history of keratoconus
      or other ectatic disorders who presented with corneal hydrops in the setting of a
      corneal ulcer. The risk factors, pathogenesis and treatment options of corneal
      hydrops are discussed. METHOD: This is an observational case report study.
      RESULTS: A 77-year-old man presented with a 1-day history of severe pain,
      redness, mucous discharge and photophobia in the right eye. A slit-lamp
      examination of the right eye showed an area of focal corneal edema and
      protrusion. Within the area of edema and protrusion, there was an infiltrate with
      an overlying epithelial defect consistent with an infectious corneal ulcer. The
      Seidel test showed no leakage, so a clinical diagnosis of corneal hydrops
      associated with nonperforated corneal ulcer was made. With appropriate antibiotic
      treatment, the corneal ulcer and hydrops both resolved over a 1-month period.
      CONCLUSION: Corneal hydrops can occur in the setting of corneal infections.

PMID- 26889161
TI  - Target morphology and cell memory: a model of regenerative pattern formation.
AB  - Despite the growing body of work on molecular components required for
      regenerative repair, we still lack a deep understanding of the ability of some
      animal species to regenerate their appropriate complex anatomical structure
      following damage. A key question is how regenerating systems know when to stop
      growth and remodeling - what mechanisms implement recognition of correct
      morphology that signals a stop condition? In this work, we review two conceptual
      models of pattern regeneration that implement a kind of pattern memory. In the
      first one, all cells communicate with each other and keep the value of the total
      signal received from the other cells. If a part of the pattern is amputated, the
      signal distribution changes. The difference fromthe original signal distribution
      stimulates cell proliferation and leads to pattern regeneration, in effect
      implementing an error minimization process that uses signaling memory to achieve
      pattern correction. In the second model, we consider a more complex pattern
      organization with different cell types. Each tissue contains a central
      (coordinator) cell that controls the tissue and communicates with the other
      central cells. Each of them keeps memory about the signals received from other
      central cells. The values of these signals depend on the mutual cell location,
      and the memory allows regeneration of the structure when it is modified. The
      purpose of these models is to suggest possible mechanisms of pattern regeneration
      operating on the basis of cell memory which are compatible with diverse molecular
      implementation mechanisms within specific organisms. 

PMID- 26889163
TI  - Dental pulp stem cells for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 26889162
TI  - Rethinking the standard trans-cortical approaches in the light of superficial
      white matter anatomy.
AB  - A better comprehension of the superficial white matter organization is important
      in order to minimize potential and avoidable damage to long or intermediate
      association fibre bundles during every step of a surgical approach. We recently
      proposed a technique for cadaver specimen preparation, which seems able to
      identify a more systematic organization of the superficial white matter
      terminations. Moreover, the use of the physiological intracranial vascular
      network for the fixation process allowed us to constantly show main vascular
      landmarks associated with white matter structures. Hence three examples of
      standard approaches to eloquent areas are herein reanalyzed starting from the
      first superficial layer. New insights into the possible surgical trajectories and
      subsequent quantitative damages of both vessels and white matter fibres can help
      readapt even the most standard and widely accepted approach trough the brain
      cortex. A more detailed study of these fine anatomical details may become in the
      near future a fundamental part of the neurosurgical training and the preoperative
      planning. 

PMID- 26889164
TI  - Regenerative potential of targeting glycogen synthase kinase-3 signaling in
      neural tissues.

PMID- 26889165
TI  - Deriving striatal projection neurons from human pluripotent stem cells with
      Activin A.

PMID- 26889166
TI  - What can Drosophila axonal development teach us about nerve regeneration?

PMID- 26889167
TI  - Purinergic signalling in neuroregeneration.

PMID- 26889168
TI  - Platelet-rich plasma: the role in neural repair.

PMID- 26889169
TI  - Self-healing hydrogel for tissue repair in the central nervous system.

PMID- 26889170
TI  - Pharmacological inhibition of cation-chloride cotransporters for neurological
      diseases.

PMID- 26889171
TI  - All roads go to Salubrinal: endoplasmic reticulum stress, neuroprotection and
      glial scar formation.

PMID- 26889172
TI  - The inositol metabolism pathway as a target for neuroprotective strategies.

PMID- 26889173
TI  - Attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress as a treatment strategy against
      ischemia/reperfusion injury.

PMID- 26889174
TI  - Interferon beta (IFN-beta) treatment exerts potential neuroprotective effects
      through neurotrophic factors and novel neurotensin/neurotensin high affinity
      receptor 1 pathway.

PMID- 26889175
TI  - Releasing Nrf2 to promote neurite outgrowth.

PMID- 26889176
TI  - To myelinate or not to myelinate: fine tuning cAMP signaling in Schwann cells to
      balance cell proliferation and differentiation.

PMID- 26889177
TI  - Hypertonic saline: a brief overview of hemodynamic response and anti-inflammatory
      properties in head injury.

PMID- 26889178
TI  - Metabolic recruitment of spinal locomotion: intracellular neuromodulation by
      trace amines and their receptors.

PMID- 26889179
TI  - Enhanced motor cortex excitability after spinal cord injury.

PMID- 26889180
TI  - Dental pulp stem cells-derived schwann cells for peripheral nerve injury
      regeneration.

PMID- 26889181
TI  - N-Propionylmannosamine: using biochemical glycoengineering to promote peripheral
      nerve regeneration.

PMID- 26889182
TI  - ROCK inhibition as a novel potential strategy for axonal regeneration in optic
      neuropathies.

PMID- 26889183
TI  - The role of Islet-1 in cell specification, differentiation, and maintenance of
      phenotypes in the vertebrate neural retina.

PMID- 26889185
TI  - Lycium barbarum polysaccharides promotes in vivo proliferation of adult rat
      retinal progenitor cells.
AB  - Lycium barbarum is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine prescription for
      protection of optic nerve. However, it remains unclear regarding the effects of
      Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, the main component of Lycium barbarum, on in
      vivo proliferation of adult ciliary body cells. In this study, adult rats were
      intragastrically administered low- and high-dose Lycium barbarum polysaccharides
      (1 and 10 mg/kg) for 35 days and those intragastrically administered phosphate
      buffered saline served as controls. The number of Ki-67-positive cells in rat
      ciliary body in the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides groups, in particular low
      dose Lycium barbarum polysaccharides group, was significantly greater than that
      in the phosphate buffered saline group. Ki-67-positive rat ciliary body cells
      expressed nestin but they did not express glial fibrillary acidic protein. These
      findings suggest that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides can promote the
      proliferation of adult rat retinal progenitor cells and the proliferated cells
      present with neuronal phenotype. 

PMID- 26889184
TI  - Repair, protection and regeneration of spinal cord injury.

PMID- 26889187
TI  - Correction: Prevention against diffuse spinal cord astrocytoma: can the Notch
      pathway be a novel treatment target?
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 244 in vol. 10, PMID: 25883623.]. 

PMID- 26889186
TI  - Exogenous nerve growth factor protects the hypoglossal nerve against crush
      injury.
AB  - Studies have shown that sensory nerve damage can activate the p38 mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, but whether the same type of nerve
      injury after exercise activates the p38MAPK pathway remains unclear. Several
      studies have demonstrated that nerve growth factor may play a role in the repair
      process after peripheral nerve injury, but there has been little research
      focusing on the hypoglossal nerve injury and repair. In this study, we designed
      and established rat models of hypoglossal nerve crush injury and gave
      intraperitoneal injections of exogenous nerve growth factor to rats for 14 days.
      p38MAPK activity in the damaged neurons was increased following hypoglossal nerve
      crush injury; exogenous nerve growth factor inhibited this increase in acitivity
      and increased the survival rate of motor neurons within the hypoglossal nucleus.
      Under transmission electron microscopy, we found that the injection of nerve
      growth factor contributed to the restoration of the morphology of hypoglossal
      nerve after crush injury. Our experimental findings indicate that exogenous nerve
      growth factor can protect damaged neurons and promote hypoglossal nerve
      regeneration following hypoglossal nerve crush injury. 

PMID- 26889188
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of salidroside on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion
      injury involve the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway.
AB  - Salidroside, the main active ingredient extracted from Rhodiola crenulata, has
      been shown to be neuroprotective in ischemic cerebral injury, but the underlying
      mechanism for this neuroprotection is poorly understood. In the current study,
      the neuroprotective effect of salidroside on cerebral ischemia-induced oxidative
      stress and the role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)
      pathway was investigated in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion.
      Salidroside (30 mg/kg) reduced infarct size, improved neurological function and
      histological changes, increased activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione
      S-transferase, and reduced malon-dialdehyde levels after cerebral ischemia and
      reperfusion. Furthermore, salidroside apparently increased Nrf2 and heme
      oxygenase-1 expression. These results suggest that salidroside exerts its
      neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia through anti-oxidant mechanisms
      and that activation of the Nrf2 pathway is involved. The Nrf2/antioxidant
      response element pathway may become a new therapeutic target for the treatment of
      ischemic stroke. 

PMID- 26889189
TI  - Acupuncture for ischemic stroke: cerebellar activation may be a central mechanism
      following Deqi.
AB  - The needling sensation of Deqi during acupuncture is a key factor of influencing
      acupuncture outcome. Recent studies have mainly focused on the brain function
      effects of Deqi in a physiological state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging
      (fMRI) on the effects of acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) in pathological and
      physiological states is controversial. In this study, 12 patients with ischemic
      stroke received acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) and simultaneously underwent fMRI
      scanning of the brain, with imaging data of the activated areas obtained. Based
      on the patient's sensation, imaging data were allocated to either the Deqi group
      or non-Deqi group. In the Deqi group, the activated/deactivated areas were the
      left superior temporal gyrus (BA39)/right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and
      left thalamus. In the non-Deqi group, the activated areas included the medial
      frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe (BA11), right limbic lobe (BA30, 35), and
      left frontal lobe (BA47), while the only deactivated area was the right parietal
      lobe (BA40). Compared with the non-Deqi group, the Deqi group exhibited marked
      activation of the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and right limbic lobe
      (BA30). These findings confirm that the clinical effect of Deqi during
      acupuncture is based on brain functional changes. Cerebellar activation may be
      one of the central mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

PMID- 26889190
TI  - Constraint-induced movement therapy promotes motor function recovery and
      downregulates phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase expression in
      ischemic brain tissue of rats.
AB  - Motor function impairment is a common outcome of stroke. Constraint-induced
      movement therapy (CIMT) involving intensive use of the impaired limb while
      restraining the unaffected limb is widely used to overcome the effects of
      'learned non-use' and improve limb function after stroke. However, the underlying
      mechanism of CIMT remains unclear. In the present study, rats were randomly
      divided into a middle cerebral artery occlusion (model) group, a CIMT + model
      (CIMT) group, or a sham group. Restriction of the affected limb by plaster cast
      was performed in the CIMT and sham groups. Compared with the model group, CIMT
      significantly improved the forelimb functional performance in rats. By western
      blot assay, the expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein
      kinase in the bilateral cortex and hippocampi of cerebral ischemic rats in the
      CIMT group was significantly lower than that in the model group, and was similar
      to sham group levels. These data suggest that functional recovery after CIMT may
      be related to decreased expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated
      protein kinase in the bilateral cortex and hippocampi. 

PMID- 26889192
TI  - Correction: Curcumin and Apigenin - novel and promising therapeutics against
      chronic neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 1181 in vol. 10, PMID: 26487830.]. 

PMID- 26889191
TI  - In vitro model of the blood-brain barrier established by co-culture of primary
      cerebral microvascular endothelial and astrocyte cells.
AB  - Drugs for the treatment and prevention of nervous system diseases must permeate
      the blood-brain barrier to take effect. In vitro models of the blood-brain
      barrier are therefore important in the investigation of drug permeation
      mechanisms. However, to date, no unified method has been described for
      establishing a blood-brain barrier model. Here, we modified an in vitro model of
      the blood-brain barrier by seeding brain microvascular endothelial cells and
      astrocytes from newborn rats on a polyester Transwell cell culture membrane with
      0.4-um pores, and conducted transepithelial electrical resistance measurements,
      leakage tests and assays for specific blood-brain barrier enzymes. We show that
      the permeability of our model is as low as that of the blood-brain barrier in
      vivo. Our model will be a valuable tool in the study of the mechanisms of action
      of neuroprotective drugs. 

PMID- 26889193
TI  - Mononuclear cells from the cord blood and granulocytecolony stimulating factor
      mobilized peripheral blood: is there a potential for treatment of cerebral palsy?
AB  - To investigate a possible therapeutic mechanism of cell therapy in the field of
      cerebral palsy using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mPBMCs), we compared the expression of
      inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors in PBMCs and mPBMCs from children
      with cerebral palsy to those from healthy adult donors and to cord blood
      mononuclear cells donated from healthy newborns. No significant differences in
      expression of neurotrophic factors were found between PBMCs and mPBMCs. However,
      in cerebral palsy children, the expression of interleukin-6 was significantly
      increased in mPBMCs as compared to PBMCs, and the expression of interleukin-3 was
      significantly decreased in mPBMCs as compared to PBMCs. In healthy adults, the
      expression levels of both interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 were significantly
      increased in mPBMCs as compared to PBMCs. The expression of brain-derived
      neurotrophic factors in mPBMC from cerebral palsy children was significantly
      higher than that in the cord blood or mPBMCs from healthy adults. The expression
      of G-CSF in mPBMCs from cerebral palsy children was comparable to that in the
      cord blood but significantly higher than that in mPBMCs from healthy adults.
      Lower expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta, interleukin-3,
      and -6) and higher expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-8 and
      interleukin-9) were observed from the cord blood and mPBMCs from cerebral palsy
      children rather than from healthy adults. These findings indicate that mPBMCs
      from cerebral palsy and cord blood mononuclear cells from healthy newborns have
      the potential to become seed cells for treatment of cerebral palsy. 

PMID- 26889194
TI  - A novel method for evaluating brain function and microstructural changes in
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - In this study, microstructural brain damage in Parkinson's disease patients was
      examined using diffusion tensor imaging and tract-based spatial statistics. The
      analyses revealed the presence of neuronal damage in the substantia nigra and
      putamen in the Parkinson's disease patients. Moreover, disease symptoms worsened
      with increasing damage to the substantia nigra, confirming that the substantia
      nigra and basal ganglia are the main structures affected in Parkinson's disease.
      We also found that microstructural damage to the putamen, caudate nucleus and
      frontal lobe positively correlated with depression. Based on the tract-based
      spatial statistics, various white matter tracts appeared to have microstructural
      damage, and this correlated with cognitive disorder and depression. Taken
      together, our results suggest that diffusion tensor imaging and tract-based
      spatial statistics can be used to effectively study brain function and
      microstructural changes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Our novel findings
      should contribute to our understanding of the histopathological basis of
      cognitive dysfunction and depression in Parkinson's disease. 

PMID- 26889196
TI  - Transplantation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene-transfected
      Schwann cells for repairing spinal cord injury.
AB  - Transfection of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene has been
      shown to increase cell proliferation and enhance tissue repair. In the present
      study, hTERT was transfected into rat Schwann cells. A rat model of acute spinal
      cord injury was established by the modified free-falling method. Retrovirus PLXSN
      was injected at the site of spinal cord injury as a vector to mediate hTERT gene
      transfected Schwann cells (1 * 10(10)/L; 10 MUL) or Schwann cells (1 * 10(10)/L;
      10 MUL) without hTERT gene transfection. Between 1 and 4 weeks after model
      establishment, motor function of the lower limb improved in the hTERT-transfected
      group compared with the group with non-transfected Schwann cells. Terminal
      deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction results revealed that the number of
      apoptotic cells, and gene expression of aquaporin 4/9 and matrix
      metalloproteinase 9/2 decreased at the site of injury in both groups; however,
      the effect improved in the hTERT-transfected group compared with the Schwann
      cells without hTERT transfection group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, PKH26
      fluorescent labeling, and electrophysiological testing demonstrated that compared
      with the non-transfected group, spinal cord cavity and motor and sensory evoked
      potential latencies were reduced, while the number of PKH26-positive cells and
      the motor and sensory evoked potential amplitude increased at the site of injury
      in the hTERT-transfected group. These findings suggest that transplantation of
      hTERT gene-transfected Schwann cells repairs the structure and function of the
      injured spinal cord. 

PMID- 26889195
TI  - Electroacupuncture promotes the recovery of motor neuron function in the anterior
      horn of the injured spinal cord.
AB  - Acupuncture has been shown to lessen the inflammatory reaction after acute spinal
      cord injury and reduce secondary injury. However, the mechanism of action remains
      unclear. In this study, a rat model of spinal cord injury was established by
      compressing the T8-9 segments using a modified Nystrom method. Twenty-four hours
      after injury, Zusanli (ST36), Xuanzhong (GB39), Futu (ST32) and Sanyinjiao (SP6)
      were stimulated with electroacupuncture. Rats with spinal cord injury alone were
      used as controls. At 2, 4 and 6 weeks after injury, acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
      activity at the site of injury, the number of medium and large neurons in the
      spinal cord anterior horn, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)
      mRNA expression, and Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores
      were greater in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group.
      These results demonstrate that electroacupuncture increases AChE activity, up
      regulates GDNF mRNA expression, and promotes the recovery of motor neuron
      function in the anterior horn after spinal cord injury. 

PMID- 26889197
TI  - Polyurethane/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel coating improves the cytocompatibility
      of neural electrodes.
AB  - Neural electrodes, the core component of neural prostheses, are usually
      encapsulated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, PDMS can generate a tissue
      response after implantation. Based on the physicochemical properties and
      excellent biocompatibility of polyurethane (PU) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
      when used as coating materials, we synthesized PU/PVA hydrogel coatings and
      coated the surface of PDMS using plasma treatment, and the cytocompatibility to
      rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was assessed. Protein adsorption tests
      indicated that the amount of protein adsorption onto the PDMS substrate was
      reduced by 92% after coating with the hydrogel. Moreover, the PC12 cells on the
      PU/PVA-coated PDMS showed higher cell density and longer and more numerous
      neurites than those on the uncoated PDMS. These results indicate that the PU/PVA
      hydrogel is cytocompatible and a promising coating material for neural electrodes
      to improve their biocompatibility. 

PMID- 26889199
TI  - Neglected corticospinal tract injury for 10 months in a stroke patient.

PMID- 26889198
TI  - Activation of less affected corticospinal tract and poor motor outcome in
      hemiplegic pediatric patients: a diffusion tensor tractography imaging study.
AB  - The less affected hemisphere is important in motor recovery in mature brains.
      However, in terms of motor outcome in immature brains, no study has been reported
      on the less affected corticospinal tract in hemiplegic pediatric patients.
      Therefore, we examined the relationship between the condition of the less
      affected corticospinal tract and motor function in hemiplegic pediatric patients.
      Forty patients with hemiplegia due to perinatal or prenatal injury (13.7 +/- 3.0
      months) and 40 age-matched typically developing controls were recruited. These
      patients were divided into two age-matched groups, the high functioning group (20
      patients) and the low functioning group (20 patients) using functional level of
      hemiplegia scale. Diffusion tensor tractography images showed that compared with
      the control group, the patient group of the less affected corticospinal tract
      showed significantly increased fiber number and significantly decreased
      fractional anisotropy value. Significantly increased fiber number and
      significantly decreased fractional anisotropy value in the low functioning group
      were observed than in the high functioning group. These findings suggest that
      activation of the less affected hemisphere presenting as increased fiber number
      and decreased fractional anisotropy value is related to poor motor function in
      pediatric hemiplegic patients. 

PMID- 26889201
TI  - Correction: Gene therapy in Parkinson's disease: targeting the endoplasmic
      reticulum proteostasis network.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 1053 in vol. 10, PMID: 26330821.]. 

PMID- 26889200
TI  - Structural and functional connectivity in traumatic brain injury.
AB  - Traumatic brain injury survivors often experience cognitive deficits and
      neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying
      specific impairments are not fully understood. Advances in neuroimaging
      techniques (such as diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI) have given us
      new insights on structural and functional connectivity patterns of the human
      brain in both health and disease. The connectome derived from connectivity maps
      reflects the entire constellation of distributed brain networks. Using these
      powerful neuroimaging approaches, changes at the microstructural level can be
      detected through regional and global properties of neuronal networks. Here we
      will review recent developments in the study of brain network abnormalities in
      traumatic brain injury, mainly focusing on structural and functional
      connectivity. Some connectomic studies have provided interesting insights into
      the neurological dysfunction that occurs following traumatic brain injury. These
      techniques could eventually be helpful in developing imaging biomarkers of
      cognitive and neurobehavioral sequelae, as well as predicting outcome and
      prognosis. 

PMID- 26889203
TI  - Assessing the sensitivity and specificity of First Response HIV-1-2 test kit with
      whole blood and serum samples: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Rapid diagnostic Test (RDT) kits
      are the preferred assays for HIV testing in many countries. Prevention of Mother
      to-Child Transmission, Know Your Status Campaigns, Blood-Safety, Voluntary
      Counseling and Testing are major strategies adapted to control transmission of
      the virus and the pivot of these interventions is either screening or diagnosing
      individuals through testing. There are reports of inconsistent sensitivity and
      specificity with whole blood and serum samples collected from the same
      individual. Little is known about the diagnostic characteristics of First
      Response HIV-1-2 RDT kit, used as a single test kit in national HIV prevention
      and control programmes. The debate has always centered on choosing between whole
      blood and serum in a case where a single test kit that runs on only blood
      specimen will be used for testing. The variations in specificities and
      sensitivities with whole blood and serum samples imply that some individuals who
      might be true positives will be missed and elude care. This study determined the
      best blood-based specimen type (whole blood or serum) that improves performance
      of First Response HIV RDT kit in detecting HIV-specific antibodies. METHODS: A
      hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 HIV infected and non
      infected patients from May 2015 to June 2015. Blood samples from each participant
      were separated into whole blood and serum, and tested on First Response HIV-1-2
      kits (Premier Medical Corporation Ltd., Kachigam, India) using Electro-chemi
      luminescence assay (ECLIA) as reference assay. RESULTS: First Response HIV-1-2
      RDT kit showed 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity with whole blood specimen
      and 100 % sensitivity and 82.86 % specificity with serum specimen for the
      detection of HIV-1. The positive and negative predictive values were 100, 100 and
      85.35, 82.86 % for whole blood and serum respectively. CONCLUSION: Whole blood
      specimen(s) from an individual have higher specificity, positive and negative
      predictive values than serum. Whole blood is the primary specimen to use on First
      Response HIV-1-2 RDT kit when screening peripheral blood for HIV-1-specific
      antibodies.

PMID- 26889202
TI  - Neuroplasticity in post-stroke gait recovery and noninvasive brain stimulation.
AB  - Gait disorders drastically affect the quality of life of stroke survivors, making
      post-stroke rehabilitation an important research focus. Noninvasive brain
      stimulation has potential in facilitating neuroplasticity and improving post
      stroke gait impairment. However, a large inter-individual variability in the
      response to noninvasive brain stimulation interventions has been increasingly
      recognized. We first review the neurophysiology of human gait and post-stroke
      neuroplasticity for gait recovery, and then discuss how noninvasive brain
      stimulation techniques could be utilized to enhance gait recovery. While post
      stroke neuroplasticity for gait recovery is characterized by use-dependent
      plasticity, it evolves over time, is idiosyncratic, and may develop maladaptive
      elements. Furthermore, noninvasive brain stimulation has limited reach capability
      and is facilitative-only in nature. Therefore, we recommend that noninvasive
      brain stimulation be used adjunctively with rehabilitation training and other
      concurrent neuroplasticity facilitation techniques. Additionally, when
      noninvasive brain stimulation is applied for the rehabilitation of gait
      impairment in stroke survivors, stimulation montages should be customized
      according to the specific types of neuroplasticity found in each individual. This
      could be done using multiple mapping techniques. 

PMID- 26889204
TI  - Rate of initial highly active anti-retroviral therapy regimen change and its
      predictors among adult HIV patients at University of Gondar Referral Hospital,
      Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective follow up study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Regimen change is a major challenge for the sustainability of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment program. In a resource limited setting
      where treatment options are limited, designing strategies to increase the
      durability of original regimen are essential. However, information's on rate of
      initial regimen change and its predictors is scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, the
      purpose of this study was to assess the rate of initial highly active anti
      retroviral therapy (HAART) regimen change and its predictors among adult HIV
      patients at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
      METHODS: An institutional based retrospective follow up study was conducted among
      410 adult HIV patients started HAART from January 2010 to December 2014. Simple
      random sampling technique was used to select patient records using computer
      generated random number. Data were collected from patient chart using data
      extraction tool. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the median duration
      of regimen change. Life table was used to estimate the cumulative survival for
      initial regimen change and log rank test to compare regimen change survival
      curves between the different categories of explanatory variables. Bivariate and
      multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to identify predictors of
      initial regimen change. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of initial regimen
      change was 10.11 (95 % CI 8.29, 12.6) per 100 person years (PY). Baseline WHO
      clinical stage III (AHR = 1.92, 95 % CI 1.12-3.35), occurrence of tuberculosis
      (TB) on the initial regimen (AHR = 8.33, 95 % CI 4.47-15.53), side effect on the
      initial regimen (AHR = 25.27, 95 % CI 15.12-42.00) and co-medication with ART
      (AHR = 2.5, 95 % CI 1.46-4.34) were significant predictors of initial regimen
      change. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of initial HAART regimen change was found to be
      high. Having WHO clinical stage III, co-medication with ART, occurrence of
      tuberculosis and side effect on initial regimen were independent predictors of
      regimen change. Hence, close follow-up and screening of patient for side effect
      and tuberculosis is important.

PMID- 26889205
TI  - Simultaneous knockdown of six non-family genes using a single synthetic RNAi
      fragment in Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genetic engineering of plants that results in successful
      establishment of new biochemical or regulatory pathways requires stable
      introduction of one or more genes into the plant genome. It might also be
      necessary to down-regulate or turn off expression of endogenous genes in order to
      reduce activity of competing pathways. An established way to knockdown gene
      expression in plants is expressing a hairpin-RNAi construct, eventually leading
      to degradation of a specifically targeted mRNA. Knockdown of multiple genes that
      do not share homologous sequences is still challenging and involves either
      sophisticated cloning strategies to create vectors with different serial
      expression constructs or multiple transformation events that is often restricted
      by a lack of available transformation markers. RESULTS: Synthetic RNAi fragments
      were assembled in yeast carrying homologous sequences to six or seven non-family
      genes and introduced into pAGRIKOLA. Transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana and
      subsequent expression analysis of targeted genes proved efficient knockdown of
      all target genes. CONCLUSIONS: We present a simple and cost-effective method to
      create constructs to simultaneously knockdown multiple non-family genes or genes
      that do not share sequence homology. The presented method can be applied in plant
      and animal synthetic biology as well as traditional plant and animal genetic
      engineering.

PMID- 26889206
TI  - Prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) and its genotypes in cervical specimens
      of Egyptian women by linear array HPV genotyping test.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with cervical cancer is
      well established. AIM: To investigate HPV genotype distribution and co-infection
      occurrence in cervical specimens from a group of Egyptian women. METHODS: A group
      of 152 women with and without cervical lesions were studied. All women had
      cervical cytology and HPV testing. They were classified according to cytology
      into those with normal cytology, with squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and
      invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cervical samples were analyzed to
      identify the presence of HPV by PCR, and all positive HPV-DNA samples underwent
      viral genotype analysis by means of LINEAR ARRAY HPV Genotyping assay. RESULTS: A
      total of 26 HPV types with a prevalence of 40.8 % were detected. This prevalence
      was distributed as follows: 17.7 % among cytologically normal females, 56.5, 3.2,
      and 22.6 % among those with LSIL, HSIL and invasive SCC respectively. Low-risk
      HPV types were detected in 81.8 % of the cytologically-normal women, in 5.7 % of
      those in LSIL women, and in 14.3 % of infections with invasive SCC, while no low
      risk types were detected in HSIL. High-risk HPV types were detected in 18.2 % of
      infections in the cytologically normal women, 14.3 % of infections in LSIL, and
      in 21.4 % of invasive lesions. The probable and possible carcinogenic HPV were
      not detected as single infections. Mixed infection was present in 80 % of women
      with LSIL, in 100 % of those with HSIL, and in 64.3 % of those with invasive SCC.
      This difference was statistically significant. HPV 16, 18 and 31 were the most
      prevalent HR HPV types, constituting 41.9, 29.03 and 12.9 % respectively, and HPV
      6, 62 and CP6108 were the most prevalent LR HPV types constituting 11.3, 9.7 and
      9.7 % respectively. CONCLUSION: These data expand the knowledge concerning HPV
      prevalence and type distribution in Egypt which may help to create a national HPV
      prevention program. HPV testing using the LINEAR ARRAY HPV Genotyping assay is a
      useful tool when combined with cytology in the diagnosis of mixed and non
      conventional HPV viral types.

PMID- 26889207
TI  - Profiling placental and fetal DNA methylation in human neural tube defects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) declined by about 40 % in
      Canada with the introduction of a national folic acid (FA) fortification program.
      Despite the fact that few Canadians currently exhibit folate deficiency, NTDs are
      still the second most common congenital abnormality. FA fortification may have
      aided in reducing the incidence of NTDs by overcoming abnormal one carbon
      metabolism cycling, the process which provides one carbon units for methylation
      of DNA. We considered that NTDs persisting in a folate-replete population may
      also occur in the context of FA-independent compromised one carbon metabolism,
      and that this might manifest as abnormal DNA methylation (DNAm). Second trimester
      human placental chorionic villi, kidney, spinal cord, brain, and muscle were
      collected from 19 control, 22 spina bifida, and 15 anencephalic fetuses in
      British Columbia, Canada. DNA was extracted, assessed for
      methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype and for genome-wide DNAm
      using repetitive elements, in addition to the Illumina Infinium
      HumanMethylation450 (450k) array. RESULTS: No difference in repetitive element
      DNAm was noted between NTD status groups. Using a false discovery rate <0.05 and
      average group difference in DNAm >=0.05, differentially methylated array sites
      were identified only in (1) the comparison of anencephaly to controls in
      chorionic villi (n = 4 sites) and (2) the comparison of spina bifida to controls
      in kidney (n = 3342 sites). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the distinctive DNAm of
      spina bifida kidneys may be consequent to the neural tube defect or reflective of
      a common etiology for abnormal neural tube and renal development. Though there
      were some small shifts in DNAm in the other tested tissues, our data do not
      support the long-standing hypothesis of generalized altered genome-wide DNAm in
      NTDs. This finding may be related to the fact that most Canadians are not folate
      deficient, but it importantly opens the field to the investigation of other
      epigenetic and non-epigenetic mechanisms in the etiology of NTDs.

PMID- 26889209
TI  - Effects of different exercise programs and minimal detectable changes in
      hemoglobin A1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide, resulting
      in a global epidemic. The most common type, the type 2 diabetes mellitus,
      constitutes of 90-95 % of the cases and is characterized by the action of and/or
      impaired insulin secretion. Regular exercise is a recommended strategy in several
      studies and guidelines for type 2 diabetes control and complications associated
      with it. Therefore, we evaluated and compared the effects of aerobic and strength
      exercise programs on the glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
      METHODS: The selected patients were divided into groups which performed moderate
      strength training (ST) and aerobic training (AT). The study lasted 20 weeks and
      was divided into two 10 week phases with anthropometric (body mass index, waist,
      abdomen and hips circumferences, waist/hip ratio) and biochemical (glycemic and
      lipid profile) assessments at baseline, 10 weeks and 20 weeks. For intra and
      inter analyses a mixed ANOVA model was used. Individual changes were calculated
      using the minimum detectable change, based on a 90 % confidence interval.
      RESULTS: Eleven patients (five men and six women) completed the 20 weeks of
      training; five from the ST group and six from the AT. No significant changes were
      observed in any anthropometric variable in either group. Statistically
      significant differences were found in mean hemoglobin A1c in both groups between
      baseline (AT: 8.6 +/- 2.5; ST: 9.2 +/- 1.9) and 10 weeks (AT: 7.2 +/- 1.7; ST:
      7.9 +/- 1.2) (p = 0.03), and baseline (AT: 8.6 +/- 2.5; ST: 9.2 +/- 1.9) and 20
      weeks (AT: 7.5 +/- 1.7; ST: 7.4 +/- 0.9) (p = 0.01). For the minimal detectable
      changes, 40 % of the ST and 33 % of AT achieved these changes for hemoglobin A1c.
      CONCLUSION: Both aerobic and strength exercises can help the metabolic control in
      patients with type 2 diabetes, even without significant changes in anthropometry
      over the 20 weeks of training. However, this period was sufficient to cause
      changes in hemoglobin A1c values and the estimated average glucose, which are
      important parameters in controlling diabetes, thus signaling an important
      consequence of adhering to an exercise routine for type 2 diabetic patients.

PMID- 26889208
TI  - Oestrogen receptor beta regulates epigenetic patterns at specific genomic loci
      through interaction with thymine DNA glycosylase.
AB  - BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is one way to encode epigenetic information and plays
      a crucial role in regulating gene expression during embryonic development. DNA
      methylation marks are established by the DNA methyltransferases and, recently, a
      mechanism for active DNA demethylation has emerged involving the ten-eleven
      translocator proteins and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). However, so far it is
      not clear how these enzymes are recruited to, and regulate DNA methylation at,
      specific genomic loci. A number of studies imply that sequence-specific
      transcription factors are involved in targeting DNA methylation and demethylation
      processes. Oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) is a ligand-inducible transcription
      factor regulating gene expression in response to the female sex hormone
      oestrogen. Previously, we found that ERbeta deficiency results in changes in DNA
      methylation patterns at two gene promoters, implicating an involvement of ERbeta
      in DNA methylation. In this study, we set out to explore this involvement on a
      genome-wide level, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this function.
      RESULTS: Using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, we compared genome
      wide DNA methylation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from wildtype and
      ERbeta knock-out mice, and identified around 8000 differentially methylated
      positions (DMPs). Validation and further characterisation of selected DMPs showed
      that differences in methylation correlated with changes in expression of the
      nearest gene. Additionally, re-introduction of ERbeta into the knock-out cells
      could reverse hypermethylation and reactivate expression of some of the genes. We
      also show that ERbeta is recruited to regions around hypermethylated DMPs.
      Finally, we demonstrate here that ERbeta interacts with TDG and that TDG binds
      ERbeta-dependently to hypermethylated DMPs. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that
      ERbeta plays a role in regulating DNA methylation at specific genomic loci,
      likely as the result of its interaction with TDG at these regions. Our findings
      imply a novel function of ERbeta, beyond direct transcriptional control, in
      regulating DNA methylation at target genes. Further, they shed light on the
      question how DNA methylation is regulated at specific genomic loci by supporting
      a concept in which sequence-specific transcription factors can target factors
      that regulate DNA methylation patterns.

PMID- 26889210
TI  - Paediatric Virology: A new paediatric subspecialty? A proposal at the Workshop on
      Paediatric Virology, Athens, October 10, 2015.

PMID- 26889212
TI  - Fluoro-edenite and carbon nanotubes: The health impact of 'asbestos-like' fibres.
AB  - Several decades have passed since Wagner et al demonstrated a causal link between
      asbestos fibre inhalation and the development of pleural mesothelioma in 1960. It
      was later suggested that pleural plaques are a benign consequence of exposure to
      these fibres. Most recently, a significant association between exposure to
      asbestos and cancer diagnosed at various sites, such as the peritoneum, stomach,
      pharynx, colon and ovaries has been demonstrated. The great concerns about public
      health that arose from the scientific evidence presented above have led to the
      banning of asbestos in several countries. Over the years, the suspicion that
      particles with a high aspect ratio may have asbestos-like pathogenicity has been
      supported by increasing evidence. Natural occurring minerals, as well as man-made
      fibres, have proven capable of inducing either chronic inflammation of serous
      membranes, or, in some cases, the development of peritoneal and pleural
      mesothelioma. The pathogenic role of both fluoro-edenite and carbon nanotubes,
      two 'asbestos-like' fibres is summarized and discussed in this review. The data
      presented herein support the notion that occupational exposure to these two types
      of fibre contributes to the development of different types of cancer.

PMID- 26889213
TI  - Association of Notch3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and lacunar infarctions in
      patients.
AB  - Cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,
      which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The aim of the present
      study was to examine the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms
      (SNPs) in Notch3 exons 3-6 and lacunar infarction by comparing SNPs between
      control subjects and those with lacunar infarction. A single-center case-control
      study was conducted to investigate the association between Notch3 SNPs and risk
      of stroke. A total of 140 patients were included in the study, 30 of whom had no
      infarction (control) and 110 had lacunar infarction. Lacunar patients were
      divided into the 'pure lacunar' and 'lacunar + leukoarasis' groups based on brain
      imaging. All the patients were of Chinese Han ethnicity, and the male to female
      ratio was 84:56. Patient clinical histories included hypertension, diabetes
      mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, and heart disease were recorded. The Notch3
      sequence was obtained from the National Centser for Biotechnology Information
      database. Notch3 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from whole blood
      samples, and exons 3-6 were sequenced to identify SNPs. The result showed that
      there was no significant difference in the prevalence of hypertension, DM,
      hyperlipidemia, and heart disease between the control and lacunar infarction
      patients. Notabley, the age of the lacunar + leukoarasis patients was
      significantly higher than that of the control and pure lacunar patients (P<0.05).
      Eight SNPs were detected at low frequencies, and only rs3815388 and rs1043994
      exhibited slightly higher frequencies. A chi2 test indicated that Notch3 SNPs,
      particularly rs1043994, were associated with lacunar infarction (P<0.05). In
      conclusion, the result of the present study have shown that Notch3 SNPs,
      particularly rs1043994, are associated with lacunar infarction.

PMID- 26889211
TI  - Current views and advances on Paediatric Virology: An update for paediatric
      trainees.
AB  - Paediatric Virology is a bold new scientific field, which combines Paediatrics
      with Virology, Epidemiology, Molecular Medicine, Evidence-based Medicine,
      Clinical Governance, Quality Improvement, Pharmacology and Immunology. The
      Workshop on Paediatric Virology, which took place on Saturday October 10, 2015 in
      Athens, Greece, provided an overview of recent views and advances on viral
      infections occurring in neonates and children. It was included in the official
      programme of the 20th World Congress on Advances in Oncology and the 18th
      International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, which attracted over 500 delegates
      from the five continents. During the Workshop, the topics covered included the
      challenges of vaccine implementation against human papillomaviruses in countries
      under financial crisis, strategies for eradicating poliomyelitis and its 60th
      vaccine anniversary, as well as the debate on the association between autism and
      vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella. Among the non-vaccine related
      topics, emphasis was given to viral infections in prematurely born infants and
      their long-term outcomes, new paediatric intensive care management options for
      bronchiolitis related to respiratory syncytial virus, the clinical implications
      of hepatitis B virus and cytomegalovirus genotyping, the Ebola virus threat and
      preparedness in Paediatric Emergency Departments, oral, oropharynx, laryngeal,
      nasal and ocular viral infections and Merkel cell polyomavirus as a novel
      emerging virus of infancy and childhood. In this review, we provide selected
      presentations and reports discussed at the Workshop.

PMID- 26889214
TI  - Effect of cold stress on immunity in rats.
AB  - An increase in the morbidity of upper respiratory tract infections and the attack
      and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases has been observed to occur in the few
      days following sudden environmental temperature decreases, but the mechanisms for
      these phenomena are not well understood. To determine the effect of a sudden
      ambient temperature drop on the levels of stress hormones and T-lymphocyte
      cytokines in the plasma, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression of
      immunocompetent cells in rat spleens and the levels of regulatory T (Treg) cells
      in the peripheral blood, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of
      different ambient temperatures (20, 4 and -12 degrees C). In each group, there
      were four observation time-points (1, 12, 24 and 48 h). Each ambient temperature
      group was subdivided into non-stimulation, lipopolysaccharide-stimulation and
      concanavalin A-stimulation groups. The levels of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH),
      epinephrine (EPI), angiotensin-II (ANG-II), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon
      gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-4 and IL-10 in the plasma were determined using ELISA. The
      cellular expression levels of TLR4 and the presence of cluster of differentiation
      (CD)4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25+Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells were determined using
      flow cytometry. The experiments demonstrated that the ACTH, EPI, ANG-II and IL-10
      levels in the plasma were significantly increased at 4 and -12 degrees C compared
      with those at 20 degrees C, while the plasma levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-4,
      the TLR4 expression rates of immunocompetent cells in the rat spleen and the
      percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells among the CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in the
      peripheral blood were decreased at 4 and -12 degrees C compared with those at 20
      degrees C. These data indicate that cold stress affects the stress hormones and
      the innate and adaptive immunity functions in rats.

PMID- 26889216
TI  - Immunosuppressive agents versus steroids in the treatment of IgA nephropathy
      induced proteinuria: A meta-analysis.
AB  - Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common types of primary
      glomerular disease. Immunosuppressive treatment for patients with IgAN remains
      controversial. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety
      of various immunosuppressive agents compared with steroids in patients with IgAN
      and moderate to severe proteinuria. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese
      National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Weipu, Chinese Biomedical Literature
      Database and Qinghuatongfang were searched for relevant randomized controlled
      trials (RCTs) published between 1990 and September 2013. All eligible studies
      (biopsy proven IgA nephropathy, use of immunosuppressive agents) measured urinary
      protein excretion and proteinuria remission. Data were analyzed with the random
      effects model using Review Manager. A total of 29 RCTs were included, involving
      1,466 patients. Compared with steroids, immunosuppressive agents, including
      acetazolamide (AZA) [complete response (CR)/partial response (PR); relative risk
      (RR), 3.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92-6.12; P<0.0001], mycophenolate
      mofetil (MMF) (CR/PR; RR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.25-3.85; P=0.006) and leflunomide (LET)
      (CR/PR; RR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.80-3.86; P<0.00001) resulted in increased partial or
      complete proteinuria remission. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) resulted in a higher
      reduction of urinary protein excretion than steroids (SMD, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.41
      1.41; P=0.0004)). Compared to CTX, LET showed higher effectiveness (CR/PR; RR,
      2.01; 95% CI, 1.08-3.75; P=0.03) with a lower incidence of adverse events. The
      present meta-analysis, which is based on IgAN patients, suggested that AZA, MMF,
      LET and CTX are effective in reducing proteinuria levels, with acceptable side
      effects. Therefore, immunosuppressive agents may be considered promising
      therapeutic agents for the treatment of IgAN and should be investigated further
      in large sample size, high-quality studies.

PMID- 26889215
TI  - Analysis of the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in hepatic alveolar
      echinococcosis before and after autologous liver transplantation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of 18F
      fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography
      (PET/CT) in advanced liver alveolar echinococcosis (LAE) prior to and following
      autologous liver transplantation (ALT). The biodistribution of lesions in 8
      patients was recorded using 18F-FDG PET/CT prior to and following surgery. The
      maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the lesions was also measured and
      compared with the pathological results. The overall hepatic peri-lesion SUVmax of
      the patients was 3.57+/-1.21, and the delayed SUVmax was 4.19+/-1.70. The
      diagnostic sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET/CT in LAE was 91.67%, with a specificity of
      60.00% and accuracy of 82.35%. The positive predictive value was 84.62%, and the
      negative predictive value was 75.00%. SUVmax values of the surviving liver were
      1.23+/-0.78 after 1 month, 1.15+/-0.67 after 3 months and 0.85+/-0.35 after 6
      months. Compared with normal liver values (0.95+/-0.19), the 1-month SUVmax was
      significantly different. The SUVmax in 3 patients with high-lividity lesions was
      2.05+/-0.72, and the delayed SUVmax was 3.15+/-0.83; 3 months after
      transplantation, the SUVmax was 1.85+/-0.62, and the delayed SUVmax was 2.95+/
      0.79, revealing no significant difference. In conclusion, 18F-FDG PET/CT is
      effective for determining the biological boundary of LAE and shows important
      clinical value in determining the metabolic activities of the surviving liver
      following ALT.

PMID- 26889217
TI  - Asiatic acid inhibits left ventricular remodeling and improves cardiac function
      in a rat model of myocardial infarction.
AB  - Left ventricular remodeling results in cardiac dysfunction and accounts for the
      majority of the morbidity and mortality following myocardial infarction (MI). The
      aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of asiatic acid (AA) on
      cardiac function and left ventricular remodeling in a rat model of MI and explore
      the underlying mechanisms. Rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation to
      model MI and orally treated with AA. After 4 weeks, cardiac function was assessed
      by echocardiography. Cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area was recorded, and the
      expression levels of a number of inflammatory cytokines were detected using
      ELISA. The degree of interstitial fibrosis was determined by evaluating the mRNA
      expression levels of collagen II and III. Western blot analysis was performed to
      detect the expression levels of total and phosphorylated p38 MAPK and ERK1/2, to
      investigate whether they are involved in the mechanism underlying the effect of
      AA on the heart. Rats subjected to MI displayed significantly impaired cardiac
      function compared with those subjected to a sham procedure, while this change was
      reversed by treatment with AA. Furthermore, AA markedly inhibited cardiac
      hypertrophy, reduced the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and
      decreased interstitial fibrosis in the infarct border zone of MI model rats
      compared with those in vehicle-treated MI model rats. Furthermore, the
      phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 was blocked by AA in the MI rats but not
      in the sham rats. In summary, AA treatment preserved cardiac function and
      inhibited left ventricular remodeling, potentially by blocking the
      phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in the infarct border zone of the ischemic
      myocardium, indicating that AA may be a novel candidate for development as a
      therapy for MI.

PMID- 26889218
TI  - Laryngeal mask airway without muscle relaxant in femoral head replacement in
      elderly patients.
AB  - The number of elderly patients undergoing femoral head replacement surgeries is
      on the increase. These patients often suffer from comorbidity such as
      cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, which limits the ability of
      medical teams to employ anesthesia. Thus, alternative methods are required. The
      aim of this study was to examine the advantage of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in
      the absence of muscle relaxant in elderly patients undergoing femoral head
      replacement operations. Fifty patients (27 males and 23 females) undergoing
      femoral head replacements were selected for the study between March 2013 and May
      2014. The mean value for the age in this group was 74.6+/-12.5 years. The
      patients were randomly distributed into two groups of 25. One group was
      designated as the treatment group and the second group as the control group. For
      the treatment group, LMA without muscle relaxant was used, and the control group
      received routine anesthesia. Variations in heart rate (HR), mean arterial
      pressure (MAP) and oxygen saturation (SPO2) in the two groups were monitored at
      different times. Clinical efficacy and muscle relaxation effects were also
      analyzed. For the treatment group, the HR, MAP and SPO2 measurements did not
      reveal any significant variation while these values in the control group
      demonstrated important dissimilarities. Time to recovery, time to extubation and
      incidence of throat pain in the treatment group were all markedly decreased as
      compared to those in control group. The operation time in the treatment group was
      not significantly different to that of control group. The satisfaction of the
      muscle relaxation effect in the treatment group was significantly higher than
      that in the control group while the incidence of adverse reactions was not
      considerably different. In conclusion, the use of LMA without using muscle
      relaxant in femoral head replacement surgeries performed on elderly patients
      showed to be effective and safe.

PMID- 26889219
TI  - Pterygium concomitant with other ocular surface lesions: Clinical implications
      and pathogenetic links.
AB  - In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the co-existence of ophthalmic
      pterygium with other ocular surface lesions in a cohort of patients from the
      Cretan population. This is a retrospective evaluation of all pterygia in patients
      examined and treated at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University
      Hospital of Heraklion, Greece during an 8-year period (from June 2006 to June
      2014). A total of 158 cases was examined. Ocular surface images and medical
      history were evaluated in order to detect concomitant ocular surface pathological
      conditions. Concomitant lesions included conjunctival nevi (5 cases, 3.16%), iris
      nevi (4 cases, 2.53%), conjunctival papillomas (8 cases, 5.06%), conjunctival
      intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN; 4 cases, 2.53%) and 6 cases of hypertophy of the
      plica semilunaris (3.79%). Of note, pterygium was overlying the iris which was
      occupied by the iris nevus in 2 out of the 4 cases of iris nevus. Overall, our
      data indicate that ophthalmic pterygium may often co-exist with other clinically
      significant ocular surface lesions. The association of ophthalmic pterygium with
      conjunctival papillomas or CIN stresses the potential involvement of human
      papilloma virus in the pathogenesis of ophthalmic pterygium, whereas the
      topographical association of pterygium with iris nevus may offer support to the
      transcameral light pathway pathogenetic mechanism.

PMID- 26889220
TI  - Hepcidin in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease regulated by the TLR4/NF-kappaB
      signaling pathway.
AB  - The aim of our study was to analyze the role of toll-like receptor 4
      (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB signal pathway on Hepcidin regulation in non
      alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats
      were randomly divided into the control, NAFLD and intervention groups. Rats in
      the control group were fed with standard laboratory diet, and rats in the NAFLD
      and intervention groups were fed with a high-fat diet. A final volume of 2 ml of
      pathenolide (10 umol/l) was administered intraperitoneally only to the rats in
      the intervention group. The tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and
      eosin and the pathological changes in liver tissues were observed and scored. The
      levels of TLR4 and NF-kappaB in liver tissues were quantified by western
      blotting. NAFLD rats appeared to have typical liver fatty degeneration and the
      expression of TLR4/NF-kappaB proteins and Hepcidin mRNA was significantly higher
      than that in the control group (P<0.05). However, the pathological changes
      observed in the intervention group had a marked improvement with a significant
      reduction in the TLR4/NF-kappaB protein and Hepcidin mRNA expression (P<0.05). In
      conclusion, the abnormal activation of the TLR4/NF-kappaB signaling pathway may
      cause NAFLD through the overexpression of Hepcidin.

PMID- 26889221
TI  - High-frequency ultrasound as an adjunct to neural electrophysiology: Evaluation
      and prognosis of Bell's palsy.
AB  - Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial nerve paralysis that occurs primarily
      in young adults. Previously, various methods were used to assess outcomes in
      facial nerve disease. The aim of the present study was to characterize the main
      branches of the normal and abnormal facial nerve using high-frequency
      ultrasonography (HFUS). A total of 104 healthy volunteers, 40 patients with acute
      onset of Bell's palsy and 30 patients who underwent 3-month routine therapy for
      Bell's palsy disease were included in the study. The healthy volunteers and
      patients were selected for HFUS examination and VII nerve conduction. The results
      showed significant differences in nerve diameter, echogenicity, delitescence and
      amplitude in different groups. Statistically significant correlations were
      identified for severity grading in one of the experimental groups during HFUS
      examinations. In conclusion, HFUS as a complementary technique paired with neural
      electrophysiology may establish the normal values of facial nerve. Additionally,
      HFUS was beneficial in the process of evaluation and prognosis of Bell's palsy
      disease.

PMID- 26889222
TI  - Early prediction of death in acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.
AB  - Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) has been on the decline. However,
      mortality at long-term follow up is on the increase. The aim of the present study
      was to investigate early warning signals of death in patients with acute HICH.
      The medical records of 128 patients with acute HICH within 6 h of onset were
      retrospectively analyzed. For these patients, systolic blood pressure (BP) was
      recorded at different time points (emergency, admission, every 6 h within 24 h
      and twice daily after 24 h) within 1 week. Computed tomography scanning was
      performed at emergency and the following 24+/-3 h to assess the hematoma volume.
      Neurological impairment was evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale and National
      Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Outcomes were death, defined as a modified
      Rankin scale score 6, at 90 days. The results showed that at 90 days, 15 HICH
      patients succumbed (mortality of 11.7%). Of the 15 patients, 1 patient (6.7%)
      sucumbed within 24 h and 6 patients (40%) within 1 week. HICH mortality was
      closely associated with age (P<0.001) but not with gender. A significant
      association was detected between mortality and high BP taken at 30 min, 45 min
      and 6 h after admission (P=0.003), albeit not at emergency and admission
      (P>0.05). Death was also correlated with hematoma volume at 24 h but not with the
      site. Results from the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed
      that age and hematoma volume were independent risk factors of death of HICH. In
      conclusion, age and hematoma volume may be important early predictors of death in
      HICH. Proactive control and management of hematoma may reduce the mortality of
      HICH.

PMID- 26889223
TI  - Ovarian hormones ameliorate memory impairment, cholinergic deficit, neuronal
      apoptosis and astrogliosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Ovarian hormones, including progesterone (P4) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2), have
      been shown to affect memory functions; however, the underlying mechanism whereby
      ovarian hormone replacement therapy may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease
      (AD) is currently unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of
      P4 and E2 on spatial and learning memory in an ovariectomized rat model of AD.
      beta-amyloid (Abeta) or saline were stereotaxically injected into the hippocampus
      of the rats and, after 1 day, ovariectomy or sham operations were performed.
      Subsequently, the rats were treated with P4 alone, E2 alone, or a combination of
      P4 and E2. Treatment with E2 and/or P4 was shown to improve the learning and
      memory functions of the rats, as demonstrated by the Morris water maze test. In
      addition, treatment with E2 and P4 was associated with increased expression
      levels of choline acetyltransferase and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (5-HT2A),
      and decreased expression levels of the glial fibrillary acidic protein in the
      hippocampus of the rats. Furthermore, E2 and P4 treatment significantly
      attenuated neuronal cell apoptosis, as demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl
      transferase dUTP nick end labeling assays; thus suggesting that the ovarian
      hormones were able to protect against Abeta-induced neuronal cell toxicity. The
      results of the present study suggested that the neuroprotective effects of P4 and
      E2 were associated with amelioration of the cholinergic deficit, suppression of
      apoptotic signals and astrogliosis, and upregulation of 5-HT2A expression levels.
      Therefore, hormone replacement therapy may be considered an effective strategy
      for the treatment of patients with cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative
      diseases.

PMID- 26889224
TI  - Lung cancer in which the hypothesis of multi-step progression is confirmed by
      array-CGH results: A case report.
AB  - The pathogenesis of lung cancer has not been fully elucidated and biological
      markers acting as predictors of tumor evolution and aggressiveness remain
      unidentified. The multi-step hypothesis, suggesting a progression from
      adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) to adenocarcinoma (AC) through bronchioalveolar
      carcinoma (BAC), was highlighted in a previous cytogenetic study performed in a
      single case. The present study reports the results of an array-comparative
      genomic hybridization (a-CGH) analysis performed on the DNA obtained from the
      previously reported case that presented AAH, BAC and AC in one lung. The a-CGH
      results confirm and support the previous cytogenetic observations with new data,
      clearly supporting the hypothesis of a multi-step carcinogenic process in the
      lung.

PMID- 26889225
TI  - Evaluation of the early response and mechanism of treatment of Parkinson's
      disease with L-dopa using 18F-fallypride micro-positron emission tomography
      scanning.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of 18F-fallypride micro
      positron emission tomography (micro-PET) imaging in the evaluation of the early
      therapeutic efficacy of L-dopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and
      the underlying mechanism. 18F-fallypride was synthesized and its specific binding
      with dopamine (DA) receptors in normal mouse brain was studied. Following the
      establishment of a mouse model of PD, the animals were divided into normal
      control, PD model and L-dopa treatment groups. General behavior, swimming test,
      locomotor activity counts, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemical
      analysis, high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection and
      18F-fallypride micro-PET imaging were used to study intergroup differences and
      the correlation between the changes of striatal uptake of 18F-fallypride and the
      therapeutic efficacy. The general behavioral features of PD model mice were
      similar to the clinical symptoms of PD patients and were alleviated after
      treatment. The swimming time, locomotor activity and frequency of standing
      posture of PD model mice were lower than those of the control mice, but had no
      difference from those of the control mice after L-dopa treatment. The number of
      tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and the striatal contents of glutathione
      peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, DA and its metabolites 3,5
      dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid in the PD group were lower than
      those in the control group, but were significantly improved following the
      treatment; the significant reduction in DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios post treatment
      suggested that the rate of DA metabolism decreased significantly. The striatal
      malondialdehyde content in the PD group increased compared with that in the
      control group, but was reduced after L-dopa treatment. Micro-PET imaging
      indicated that the uptake of 18F-fallypride in the mouse striatum of the PD group
      was lower than that of the control group and was significantly increased after
      the treatment. The mechanism of treatment of PD with L-dopa in mice may involve
      increasing the number of TH-positive cells and DA receptor levels, as well as
      reducing the rate of DA metabolism; such changes can be noninvasively observed in
      vitro by 18F-fallypride imaging.

PMID- 26889226
TI  - Effect of acute hypervolemic hemodilution of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 on
      the EC50 of propofol at two clinical endpoints in patients.
AB  - Preoperative acute hypervolemic hemodilution (AHHD) is a technique used in
      anesthesia to reduce the number of blood cells lost during intraoperative
      bleeding. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the
      hypervolemic hemodilution of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 on the EC50 of
      propofol at two clinical endpoints. A total of 20 patients undergoing AHHD
      following epidural anesthesia were studied, and 20 patients who did not receive
      hemodilution were used as a control group. All patients were American Society of
      Anesthesiologists grade I, aged 20-40 years and undergoing hip arthroplasty
      surgery. In the AHHD group, 10 ml/kg lactated Ringer's solution was infused over
      20 min at the same time as the epidural test dose. The infusion was followed by
      the infusion of 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 over 30 min. Patients in the
      control group received 10 ml/kg Ringer's solution over 50 min. Propofol was then
      delivered by a Diprifusor target-controlled infusion. The predicted blood and
      effect-site propofol concentrations were recorded at loss of consciousness (LOC)
      and return of consciousness (ROC). Probit analysis was used to estimate the
      values for predicted blood and effect-site concentrations at the two clinical
      endpoints. The results showed that the potency of propofol was decreased during
      AHHD. Compared with the controls, the predicted blood and effect-site
      concentrations of propofol at LOC were higher in patients of the hemodilution
      group, resulting in higher EC50 values (P=0.001 and 0.025, respectively). At ROC,
      the effect-site EC50 was 2.9 ug/ml [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.8-3.0] in
      hemodilution patients and 2.5 ug/ml (95% CI, 2.2-2.6) in control patients
      (P=0.001). With AHHD, the LOC time was significantly longer and the propofol dose
      was higher, while ROC times were comparable. In conclusion, AHHD increases the
      requirement for propofol at LOC and prolongs LOC time. Patients with AHHD
      recovered consciousness at higher effect-site concentrations of propofol. Thus,
      the induction dose of propofol should be increased during AHHD.

PMID- 26889227
TI  - Evolution of entecavir-resistant hepatitis B virus during entecavir and adefovir
      dipivoxil combination therapy.
AB  - The emergence of entecavir (ETV) resistance is rare, particularly in a
      longitudinal study. The aim of the present study was to characterize the
      evolution of ETV-resistant variants during antiviral therapy using entecavir
      monotherapy followed by ETV-adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) combination therapy. The
      study included a prospective cohort of 53 consecutive chronic hepatitis B (CHB)
      patients. During the 60-month period of ETV therapy, 2 patients exhibited ETV
      resistance and their medical records were comprehensively reviewed. A total of 25
      consecutive serum samples were regularly collected from the 2 patients. All the
      samples were used to characterize the evolution of the polymerase gene mutations
      using pyrosequencing. The linkage of the variants was analyzed from 87 reverse
      transcriptase sequences of 3 selective samples using clone sequencing. The 2
      patients presented with viral breakthrough during ETV monotherapy. In patient A,
      the rtL180M, rtS202G and rtM204V mutant variants were detected using
      pyrosequencing prior to virological breakthrough. Although the viral load
      declined following the administration of ADV, the ETV-resistant variants were
      persistently dominant in the viral populations. In patient B, the rtL180M,
      rtM204I and rtM204V mutants were present in ~70, 30 and 10% of the viral
      populations, respectively, at the time of study entry. In addition, rtT184F was
      present in ~20% of the viral population during virological breakthrough, at month
      24. The rtL180M, rtT184F and rtM204V were predominant during the combination
      treatment. Clonal analysis further revealed that the rtS202G or rtT184F was in
      all cases co-localized with rtL180M and rtM204V in any single virus isolate
      clone. The results of the present study indicate that the addition of ADV therapy
      with ETV for treating ETV-resistant mutation may not inhibit the replication of
      ETV-resistant variants that developed previously in lamivudine-treated CHB
      patients.

PMID- 26889228
TI  - Effect of Chaihu-Shugan-San on the mRNA expression of the 5-HT1A receptor and
      cellular proliferation in the hippocampus of epileptic rats with depression.
AB  - Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS) is a herbal preparation that has been shown to
      effectively relieve neurologic impairment and reduce depression. However, the
      efficacy of CHSGS in the treatment of patients with epilepsy with depression is
      unknown. Therefore, in the present study, adult rats were exposed to chronic mild
      stress following the establishment of chronic pilocarpine-induced epilepsy.
      Subsequently, a sucrose consumption test and open-field test (OFT) were performed
      to assess depression-like behavior. Rats were randomly divided into four groups:
      Control, model, fluoxetine (1.8 g/kg) and CHSGS (2.7 g/kg) groups. The control
      and model groups received normal saline. The mRNA expression levels of the 5
      hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor and the number of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine
      (BrdU)-labeled cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were detected using reverse
      transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical
      analysis, respectively. Treatment administration was conducted by once daily
      intragastric perfusion for 28 days. The mRNA expression levels of the 5-HT1A
      receptor, the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, the
      consumption of sucrose, and frequency of vertical and horizontal movement scores
      in the OFT were enhanced in the fluoxetine and CHSGS groups compared with the
      model group (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was
      detected between the fluoxetine and CHSGS groups. These data suggest that CHSGS
      is able to increase the expression of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA and cellular
      proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in epileptic rats with depression,
      and thus effectively improve certain symptoms of depression.

PMID- 26889229
TI  - The influence of genetic polymorphisms in TLR4 and TIRAP, and their expression
      levels in peripheral blood, on susceptibility to sepsis.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in the Toll
      like receptor (TLR)-4 and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-associated protein
      (TIRAP) genes, and/or their expression levels, influence the susceptibility of a
      patient to sepsis. A total of 106 patients with sepsis were divided into two
      groups on the basis of their acute physiology and chronic health evaluation
      (APACHE) II scores: i) Sepsis group A (APACHE II <20) and ii) Sepsis group B
      (APACHE II >20). In addition, 100 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the
      control group. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism
      assay was used to detect the following genetic polymorphisms: The Ser180Leu
      allele of the TIRAP gene and the Asp299Gly and Thr399I1e alleles of the TLR4
      gene. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of TLR4 and TIRAP were analyzed
      using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genetic polymorphisms were not
      detected for the TLR4 and TIRAP genes; however, the protein expression levels of
      TLR4 and TIRAP differed significantly between the control, sepsis A and sepsis B
      groups (P<0.01). An APACHE II score of 20 was used as a baseline in order to
      differentiate sepsis severity. Pearson analysis demonstrated that TLR4 and TIRAP
      protein expression levels were positively correlated with sepsis severity
      (r=0.931 and 0.972; P<0.05), and TLR4 protein expression levels were positively
      correlated with those of TIRAP (r=0.936; P<0.05). The results of the present
      study suggested that the protein expression levels of, but not genetic
      polymorphisms in, TLR4 and TIRAP were associated with the severity of sepsis.

PMID- 26889230
TI  - Characteristic expression and significance of CCL19 in different tissue types in
      chronic rhinosinusitis.
AB  - Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogeneous disease, with varying
      immunological and histopathological features. The CC chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19)
      can stimulate T cells and antigen-presenting cells into secondary lymphoid node
      formation, as observed in allergic rhinitis, inflammatory bowel disease and other
      inflammatory disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
      expression and significance of CCL19 in CRS. Samples of uncinate process mucosa
      or nasal polyps were taken from patients with CRS (without or with nasal polyps)
      and normal controls during surgery. Hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff
      and Masson trichrome staining were used for analysis of the nasal polyps. Western
      blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect CCL19 expression in the nasal
      polyps and normal nasal mucosa tissues. Spearman correlation analysis was used to
      analyze the association between CCL19 and blood eosinophil counts. The results
      showed that CCL19 protein levels in CRS (with or without nasal polyps) were
      significantly upregulated compared with those in controls. CCL19 expression in
      eosinophilic CRS was significantly higher than in non-eosinophilic CRS. CCL19
      expression in fibroinflammatory and edematous type CRS with nasal polyps was
      higher than in controls; the upregulation was greater in the edematous type.
      Immunofluorescence assays showed that CCL19 was mainly expressed by CD68+
      macrophages. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation
      between CCL19 and blood eosinophils. The upregulation of CCL19 in CRS may play a
      protective role by limiting eosinophil infiltration and the extent of edema to
      exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

PMID- 26889232
TI  - Clinical significance of plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and cardiac
      troponin T in patients with sepsis.
AB  - Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response of the body to an antigen and can
      become a life-threatening condition by triggering a cascade of changes leading to
      multiple organ failure such as heart failure. The aim of the present study was to
      examine the changes of the plasma levels of N-terminal of the prohormone brain
      natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with
      sepsis and to analyze their prognostic significance. A total of 38 hospitalized
      patients with sepsis were included in the present study. The patients were
      divided into the survival and death groups, based on their prognosis. The plasma
      levels of NT-proBNP and cTnT for the two groups were measured for all the
      patients on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day of admission. The plasma levels of NT-proBNP
      and cTnT between the two groups were compared and their association with
      prognosis were analyzed. The plasma levels of NT-proBNP and cTnT in the death
      group were significantly higher than those in the survival group (P<0.05).
      Additionally, a positive assocciation of the plasma levels of NT-proBNP and cTnT
      was identified (P<0.05). In conclusion, the plasma levels of NT-proBNP and cTnT
      may be used as routine clinical biomarkers to assess the prognosis of patients
      with sepsis.

PMID- 26889231
TI  - Variations in oxidative stress markers in elite basketball players at the
      beginning and end of a season.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to examine the changes occuring in the redox
      status in male basketball players at the beginning and end of a highly
      competitive season. For this purpose, the redox status of 14 professional
      athletes of a European basketball club was examined at 2 different time points,
      at the beginning (phase 1) and at the end of the season (phase 2). The redox
      status was assessed in blood using conventional oxidative stress markers, such as
      thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (CARB) and the
      total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma, as well as glutathione (GSH) levels
      and catalase (CAT) activity in erythrocytes. Moreover, a new static oxidation
      reduction potential marker (sORP) was assessed in plasma. Our results revealed
      that sORP was significantly increased by 9.6% and GSH levels were significantly
      decreased by 35.0% at phase 2 compared to phase 1, indicating the induction of
      oxidative stress due to excessive exercise. Moreover, TAC was significantly
      increased by 12.9% at phase 2 compared to phase 1, indicating the activation of
      adaptive responses for counteracting oxidative stress. The CARB and TBARS levels
      were not significantly altered between the 2 phases, although there was a
      significant correlation (r=0.798) between the sORP and CARB levels. Furthermore,
      the variations in these markers between athletes were examined. We found that 3
      markers exhibited a similar response between athletes, that is, sORP was
      increased in all 14 athletes, TAC was increased in 13 and the GSH levels were
      decreased in 14. However, the other 3 markers (i.e., TBARS, CARB and CAT)
      exhibited marked variations between the athletes, suggesting that the optimal
      approach with which to counteract (e.g., antioxidant supplementation) the
      observed increase in oxidative stress is the individualized examination of the
      redox status of athletes using a series of markers. This would allow the
      identification of athletes affected by severe oxidative stress and inflammation,
      and would thus indicate when necessary intervention measures are required to
      improve their health and performance.

PMID- 26889233
TI  - Association between postoperative thromboembolism prophylaxis and complications
      following urological surgery.
AB  - Thromboembolism represents the most significant complication and cause of non
      surgical mortality in major urological surgery. The aim of the present study was
      to assess the association between the type of pharmacological thromboembolism
      prophylaxis and the postoperative complication rate in a cohort of patients
      undergoing major urological surgery. All consecutive patients treated with major
      urological surgery between December 2011 and March 2013 were evaluated. For each
      patient, clinical and demographic data, as well as information on the post
      surgical complications and the type of pharmacological thromboembolism
      prophylaxis, were collected. In total, 453 patients (mean age, 63.36+/-12.05
      years) were recruited (43.5% for prostate surgery, 33.1% for renal surgery, 12.1%
      for bladder surgery and 11.3% for other surgery). Postoperative blood
      transfusions were required in 50 cases (11.0%). A total of 32 patients (7.1%)
      underwent re-intervention due to the occurrence of grade >=3 complications, with
      a readmission rate of 2.0%. According to the Clavien-Dindo Classification, the
      complications were grade 1 in 36.0% of the cases, grade 2 in 19.4%, grade 3 in
      6.0%, grade 4 in 2.0% and grade 5 (mortality) in 0.7%. Only 1 case of deep venous
      thrombosis not associated with pulmonary thromboembolism was observed. Univariate
      analyses showed a significant negative association (higher risk of complications)
      between the use of >4,000 IU enoxaparin as the thromboembolism prophylaxis and
      postoperative blood transfusion rate (P=0.045), re-intervention rate (P=0.001)
      and the occurrence of grade >=3 complications (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis
      confirmed the significant association between the use of >4,000 IU enoxaparin and
      both re-intervention rate (P=0.013) and occurrence of grade >=3 complications
      (P=0.002). High doses of enoxaparin (>4,000 IU) may lead to an increased risk of
      re-intervention and severe postoperative complications following major urological
      surgery. Randomised, controlled trials comparing the effect of different types of
      pharmacological thromboembolism prophylaxis on postoperative complications
      following major urological surgery are required.

PMID- 26889234
TI  - Bioavailability and safety study of resveratrol 500 mg tablets in healthy male
      and female volunteers.
AB  - Over the past few decades, trans-resveratrol has received widespread attention as
      a preventive agent for numerous diseases. Several studies have demonstrated that
      it has significant biological and pharmacological properties. Trans-resveratrol
      has been reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic,
      antidiabetic, anti-aging, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, which
      can be relevant in chronic diseases and longevity in humans. The aim of the
      present study was to investigate the rate and extend of absorption, and also the
      safety of resveratrol following a single 500 mg oral dose. This was an open
      label, single dose, one period, bioavailability study in 15 healthy volunteers
      under fasting conditions. Blood samples were collected at predefined time points
      up to 24 h after resveratrol administration, and plasma concentrations of
      resveratrol and its conjugated (glucuronated and sulphated) metabolites were
      determined using a validated high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass
      spectrometry method. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0
      inf, Tmax, T1/2 and MRT, were determined from plasma concentration-time profiles
      and found to be in good agreement with previously reported data. Cmax and AUC0
      inf were lower for resveratrol when compared with the values for its glucuronated
      and sulphated metabolites. Cmax for resveratrol, glucuronated resveratrol and
      sulphated resveratrol were 71.2+/-42.4 ng/ml, 4,083.9+/-1,704.4 ng/ml and
      1,516.0+/-639.0 ng/ml, respectively, while the AUC0-inf values were 179.1+/-79.1
      ng/ml, 39,732.4+/-16,145.6 ng/ml and 14,441.7+/-7,593.2 ng/ml, respectively. No
      adverse reactions associated with resveratrol were reported during the study. The
      plasma concentrations of resveratrol (free and conjugated) were in agreement with
      those mentioned in the literature, and were adequate to promote the
      pharmacological activities of resveratrol. In conclusion, resveratrol 500 mg
      tablets were well-tolerated by all participants of the study.

PMID- 26889236
TI  - Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates steroid-associated femoral head necrosis through
      inhibition of oxidative stress in a rabbit model.
AB  - A growing body of evidence suggests that hydrogen is a novel, selective
      antioxidant that exerts a protective effect against organ damage. The present
      study investigated the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on corticosteroid-induced
      necrosis of the femoral head in an animal model established using prednisolone. A
      total of 30 healthy, male, adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided
      into two groups: Hydrogen-rich saline (treated with hydrogen-rich saline via
      intraperitoneal injection) and placebo (treated with normal saline). At the set
      time-points, the structure of the femoral head was examined using a microscope;
      the concentrations of glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxide (LPO), vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombomodulin (TM) in the plasma were
      measured and the microvessel density was quantified. The results showed that
      hydrogen-rich saline significantly decreased the levels of VEGF, TM and LPO and
      increased the GSH level in steroid-associated necrosis of the femoral head in the
      rabbit model. A significant increase in the microvessel density was observed in
      the hydrogen-rich saline group. Histopathological staining confirmed the results
      of the biochemical analysis. The present study demonstrates that hydrogen
      treatment may alleviate steroid-associated osteonecrosis by inhibiting oxidative
      stress. Hydrogen-rich saline may provide an alternative treatment for steroid
      associated necrosis of the femoral head.

PMID- 26889235
TI  - Vagus nerve stimulation attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by
      inhibiting the expression of interleukin-17A.
AB  - Interleukin (IL)-17A has an important role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion
      (I/R) injury, and vagal stimulation (VS) has been demonstrated to exert
      cardioprotective effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of
      VS on a rat model of myocardial I/R injury, and detected an association between
      VS and IL-17A. Anesthetized rats underwent VS (2 msec; 10 Hz) or were treated
      with anti-IL-17A neutralized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (200 ug; iv), and
      subjected to ischemia for 30 min prior to 4 h reperfusion. The following
      parameters were measured: Infarct size; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine
      kinase (CK), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and caspase-3
      activity levels; tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-6 expression levels;
      and the percentage of terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP nick
      end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1)
      and IL-17A expression levels were assessed by immunoblotting. Following 4 h
      reperfusion, VS was able to significantly decrease the infarct size and the
      activity levels of LDH and CK (P<0.05). Furthermore, VS administration
      significantly suppressed the increased MDA and decreased SOD activity levels, and
      significantly reduced caspase-3 activity and the percentage of TUNEL-positive
      cells (P<0.05). Treatment with anti-IL-17A mAbs demonstrated the same effects as
      VS. Furthermore, VS was able to significantly inhibit the increased expression
      levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, HMGB1 and IL-17A induced by I/R (P<0.05). The results
      of the present study suggested that VS may attenuate myocardial I/R injury by
      reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and the
      apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, VS may induce cardioprotective effects,
      which may be associated with the inhibition of IL-17A expression.

PMID- 26889237
TI  - Effects of a combination of puerarin, baicalin and berberine on the expression of
      proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and insulin receptor in a rat model of
      nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
AB  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent disease, with a clinical
      spectrum ranging from simple fatty liver disease to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
      and cirrhosis. Puerarin, baicalin and berberine are herbal products widely used
      in Asia, which are believed to possess therapeutic benefits for alleviating the
      symptoms of NAFLD. In the present study, a rat model of NAFLD, induced by a high
      fat diet, was established and orthographical experimentation was used to
      investigate the effects of various combinations of puerarin, baicalin and
      berberine on the hepatic expression of proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)
      gamma and insulin receptor (IR). The present study demonstrated that serum levels
      of total cholesterol, alanine transaminase and low-density lipoproteins were
      significantly decreased in the puerarin-dominated groups (P<0.05 vs. the model
      group), whereas the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin
      6 were significantly improved in the baicalin- and berberine-dominated groups
      (P<0.05 vs. the model group). Furthermore, as compared with the control group,
      the levels of PPAR-gamma/IR mRNA and protein expression were significantly
      decreased in the model group (P<0.01), and significantly increased in the
      rosiglitazone group and some of the orthogonal experiment groups (P<0.01). In
      conclusion, a combination of puerarin, baicalin and berberine induced favorable
      effects on NAFLD by upregulating hepatic PPAR-gamma and IR expression levels, and
      different proportions of monomer compositions exerted variable positive effects
      on various stages of NAFLD.

PMID- 26889238
TI  - Fat-1 gene inhibits human oral squamous carcinoma cell proliferation through
      downregulation of beta-catenin signaling pathways.
AB  - The omega-3 fatty acid desaturase (fat-1) gene encodes the enzyme that converts
      omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to omega-3 PUFAs. Numerous studies
      have suggested that the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs has an impact on
      tumorigenesis. To investigate the biological function of the fat-1 gene in human
      oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the fat-1 gene was introduced into OSCC
      cells by transfection. The uptake of the gene was confirmed by reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction and analyzed using gas chromatography.
      The antitumor effects and mechanisms of the fat-1 gene were evaluated by studying
      cell survival and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Gas chromatography results
      revealed that the cells transfected with the fat-1 gene had a higher omega
      3/omega-6 PUFA ratio than cells transfected with the control vector. An MTT and
      DNA fragmentation assay indicated that the presence of the fat-1 gene in vitro
      significantly decreased OSCC cell proliferation and significantly increased the
      rate of apoptosis. Similar antitumor effects of the fat-1 gene were also observed
      in vivo. Immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that Tca8113 cell tumors
      displayed a significant reduction in cell growth and cell survival following the
      introduction of the fat-1 gene. The current study suggests that the inhibitory
      effect of the fat-1 gene on tumor growth may be a result of a reduction in the
      expression of the tumor survival protein beta-catenin. The results also support
      the theory that the ratio of omega-3/omega-6 PUFAs has an impact on OSCC tumor
      growth. The findings of the study provide notable molecular insight into the
      theory suggesting that omega-3 PUFAs are an intermediate for the chemoprevention
      and treatment of human OSCC.

PMID- 26889239
TI  - Atypical skin reaction in a patient treated with gefitinib for advanced lung
      cancer: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Gefitinib is a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase
      inhibitor utilized for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.
      The most commonly reported adverse event during gefitinib therapy is skin rash,
      particularly a papulopustular acne-like eruption. Cutaneous toxicities can affect
      treatment compliance and the quality of life of the patient. The present study
      reports a case of gefitinib-induced atypical skin reaction in a 73-year-old woman
      with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, who developed a squamous-crusted
      eruption on her face after 4 weeks of oral treatment with gefitinib at a dose of
      250 mg/day. The patient was treated with 100 mg minocyclin (2 tablets/day,
      orally) and with ryfamicin topically. A complete resolution of the lesions was
      observed 2 weeks later. The present case report explored the pathogenesis of this
      skin manifestation, focusing on the underlying immunological mechanisms. A review
      of the literature concerning skin reactions to gefitinib was also conducted.

PMID- 26889240
TI  - Clinicopathological observation of primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma and its
      response to chemotherapy: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma is a rare type of invasive lung carcinoma.
      Its morphology and immunohistochemistry are those of colorectal carcinoma, but
      there is no associated primary colorectal carcinoma. The present study describes
      the case of a 53-year-old female who presented with an irritating cough and a
      mass around the right sternoclavicular joint. Comprehensive evaluation revealed
      involvement of the mediastinum, lungs, right sternoclavicular joint and right
      kidney. Biopsies from the mediastinal and right sternoclavicular joint tumors
      showed features of adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was positive for
      cytokeratin (CK)20 and caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2, and negative
      for CK7, thyroid transcription factor-1 and napsin A. Genotypic analysis
      identified the expression of wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor, Kirsten
      rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf and UDP
      glucuronosyltransferase 1-1. There was no expression of echinoderm microtubule
      associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase and a moderate expression of
      excision repair cross-complementation group 1, ribonucleoside-diphosphate
      reductase large subunit and tubulin beta-3 chain. A strong expression of
      thymidylate synthase and 677TC genotype expression of methylenetetrahydrofolate
      reductase was observed. Gastroscopy, enteroscopy, colorectal colonoscopy and
      positron emission tomography-computed tomography failed to find evidence of a
      gastrointestinal malignancy and primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma was
      diagnosed. The presence of multiple metastases did not permit curative surgery.
      The patient was treated with 3 monthly cycles of the XELOX chemotherapy regimen;
      the response was poor with progression of supraclavicular lesions. Treatment was
      switched to the TP regimen for 4 monthly cycles, which resulted in a significant
      reduction in the size of the lung lesions; however, the supraclavicular lesion
      responded poorly to the treatment. The patient then received 2 cycles of the
      FOLFIRI regimen; however, the lung and right supraclavicular lesions progressed,
      causing increased right upper limb pain. The pain was alleviated by palliative
      surgery. Following surgery, the DP regimen was employed. Follow-up of the patient
      remains ongoing. The present findings suggest that the early diagnosis and
      treatment of primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma is likely to improve patient
      outcome.

PMID- 26889241
TI  - Esophageal mucosa exfoliation induced by oxalic acid poisoning: A case report.
AB  - This study reports the case of a 44-year-old woman with oral oxalic acid
      poisoning. As the illness progressed, the patient exhibited severe metabolic
      acidosis, large-area esophageal mucosa injury and acute kidney injury, which
      required dialysis. A guide wire slipped out of position during the process of
      hemodialysis and moved back and forth in the veins, but was removed successfully
      by interventional endovascular treatment. However, the patient's esophageal
      mucosa exfoliated, which lead to severe benign esophageal stenosis and dysphagia.
      Balloon distention was conducted twice in the upper digestive tract using X-ray
      location in combination with a dumb-bell bladder and interventional wire. The
      patient exhibited convulsions, shock, embolism and loss of consciousness while
      undergoing the second balloon distention procedure. Following symptomatic
      treatment, the patient eventually remained in a stable condition, the digestive
      tract expansion procedure was not resumed and a jejunostomy was performed in
      order to facilitate enteral nutrition, which was administered via the jejunum and
      had little stimulatory effect on the pancreas. Following various treatments, the
      patient's condition improved markedly, with renal function returning to normal.

PMID- 26889242
TI  - Suppression of SIPA-1 expression may reduce bladder cancer invasion and
      metastasis via the downregulation of E-cadherin and ZO-1.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the capacity of signal-induced
      proliferation-associated protein 1 (SIPA-1) to regulate bladder cancer cell
      invasion and metastasis. BIU-87 and T24 cells were transfected with the SIPA gene
      and SIPA short hairpin (sh)RNA, respectively. Western blot analysis was conducted
      to analyze the expression levels of SIPA-1, Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1), Rap1
      guanosine triphosphate (Rap1GTP), E-cadherin and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1). Cell
      motility and invasion were evaluated in vitro using wound and Transwell assays.
      Transfected cells were inoculated into the pelvic region of BALB/c nude mice, and
      the number of resulting tumors was recorded after 6 weeks. Western blot analysis
      revealed that expression levels of E-cadherin and ZO-1 were reduced in the cells
      with enhanced levels of SIPA-1. By contrast, the levels of E-cadherin and ZO-1
      were elevated in the cells in which SIPA-1 was knocked down. In comparison with
      untransfected cells, the cells with reduced levels of SIPA-1 exhibited reduced
      wound closure and fewer cells crossed the chamber in the Transwell experiment,
      whereas the cells with enhanced levels of SIPA-1 exhibited increased migration
      and invasion In vivo, an increased tumor count was obtained in the mice with
      elevated levels of SIPA-1. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate
      that SIPA-1 is able to regulate bladder cancer cell metastasis and invasion by
      reducing the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1.

PMID- 26889243
TI  - Kimura's disease of the right cheek: A case report.
AB  - Kimura's disease (KD), a chronic inflammatory disease of uncertain etiology,
      manifests as a painless subcutaneous swelling in the head and neck region that
      involves major salivary glands and regional lymph nodes. To date, the majority of
      cases of KD have been documented in Asian males aged 20-30 years. However, the
      number of reported cases of KD involving the oral and maxillofacial area is
      limited, and since the masses appear similar to cysts or benign tumors, the
      establishment of an accurate pre-operative diagnosis is challenging. The accurate
      diagnosis of KD is considered to require surgical excision followed by
      histopathological examination. In the current case, a 39-year-old man was
      admitted to hospital in October 2011 with a swelling evident on his right cheek.
      Surgical excision was performed, and histopathological observation was carried
      out. The formation of a lymphoid nodule accompanied by the vigorous proliferation
      of small blood vessels, eosinophilic infiltration and thickened cell walls were
      observed. No sign of recurrence of the mass has yet been observed, on the basis
      of the telephone follow-up interviews. These findings provide a novel insight
      useful in the diagnosis of KD in the oral and maxillofacial area.

PMID- 26889244
TI  - siRNA-mediated downregulation of GluN2B in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex
      attenuates mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in a rat model of pain
      associated with bone cancer.
AB  - It has previously been suggested that the upregulation of GluN2B-containing N
      methyl D-aspartate receptors (GluN2B) within the rostral anterior cingulate
      cortex (rACC) may contribute to the development of chronic pain. The present
      study used a rat model of bone cancer pain in order to investigate whether
      lentiviral-mediated delivery of small interfering RNAs targeting GluN2B (LV
      GluN2B) could attenuate pain associated with bone cancer, by selectively
      decreasing GluN2B expression within the rACC. Sprague Dawley rats were inoculated
      with osteosarcoma cells into the intramedullary space of the right tibia in order
      to induce persistent bone cancer-associated pain. Intra-rACC administration of
      the lentiviral siRNA was performed in the tumor bearing rats; and reverse
      transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were
      performed in order to detect the expression levels of GluN2B. Pain behavior
      changes were evaluated via paw withdrawal threshold and latency determinations.
      Marked and region-selective decreases in the mRNA and protein expression levels
      of GluN2B were detected in the rACC following the intra-rACC administration of LV
      GluN2B. Furthermore, the rats also exhibited pain behavior changes corresponding
      to the decreased levels of GluN2B. By post-operative day 14, inoculation of
      osteosarcoma cells had significantly enhanced mechanical allodynia and thermal
      hyperalgesia in the rats, which were subsequently attenuated by the intra-rACC
      administration of LV-GluN2B. Notably, the paw withdrawal threshold and latency of
      the tumor-bearing rats had recovered to normal levels, by day 14 post
      administration. The results of the present study suggest that GluN2B within the
      rACC may be a potential target for RNA interference therapy for the treatment of
      pain associated with bone cancer. Furthermore, the lentiviral vector delivery
      strategy may be a promising novel approach for the treatment of bone cancer pain.

PMID- 26889245
TI  - Apigenin protects against bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats.
AB  - Apigenin is a non-toxic and non-mutagenic flavone that exists abundantly in
      numerous herbs and vegetables. Apigenin exerts anti-proliferative and anti
      inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      effects of apigenin on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats. A single
      intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) was administered and rats were
      sacrificed on 7 and 28 days post bleomycin instillation. The instillation of
      bleomycin resulted in decreased body weight and an increase in the lung index. In
      addition, bleomycin administration increased the hydroxyproline content,
      myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and
      transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta levels and decreased the superoxide
      dismutase (SOD) activity in the rat lung tissues. Excessive collagen deposits
      were detected in the lung tissues in bleomycin-treated rats compared with normal
      control rats. Notably, the oral administration of apigenin (10, 15 and 20
      mg/kg/day) appeared to prevent the fibrotic process. The treatment suppressed the
      increases in hydroxyproline content, MPO activity, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels
      and attenuated the reduction of SOD activity that were induced by bleomycin.
      Furthermore, excessive collagen deposition was inhibited by the apigenin
      treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that apigenin may function as a
      potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic agent against bleomycin-induced lung
      fibrosis.

PMID- 26889247
TI  - Treatment of choroid metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma with bevacizumab
      containing chemotherapy: A case report.
AB  - The occurrence of ocular metastasis from lung cancer is uncommon. The present
      study reports the case of a 69-year-old female patient with lung adenocarcinoma
      who was found to have a metastatic lesion in the left choroid at the time of
      presentation. As the patient was found to have a mutation in the epidermal growth
      factor receptor, treatment with gefitinib was administered; however, the response
      was evaluated as a progressive disease. Thereafter, the patient received
      chemotherapy with carboplatin, pemetrexed and bevacizumab. Radiological imaging
      revealed shrinkage of the primary lesion and choroidal metastasis, and the visual
      power of the left eye was also shown to improve. Therefore, the present case
      report demonstrated the efficacy and safety of systemic bevacizumab therapy in
      combination with a platinum doublet for the treatment of choroid metastasis, with
      morphological and functional improvements observed with regard to the choroidal
      metastatic tumor.

PMID- 26889246
TI  - Infantile Pompe disease: A case report and review of the Chinese literature.
AB  - Pompe disease, also known as glycogen storage disease type II, is caused by acid
      maltase deficiency, and can lead to lysosomal glycogen storage. The primal
      manifestations may be observed in children and adults, and also in infants. In
      general, the clinical spectrum in infants is more progressive and lethal than
      that in older patients. This case report describes the case of a newborn who was
      found to have cardiac hypertrophy, hepatomegaly and elevated serum enzyme levels,
      which was characterized by an aspartate aminotransferase level of 95 U/l, lactate
      dehydrogenase level of 778 U/l and creatine kinase level of 1,299 U/l. On the
      basis of the clinical signs and laboratory results, dried blood spots from the
      baby were tested to determine the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity, and the
      result confirmed that the GAA activity was only 0.10 pmol/punch/h (normal
      reference range, 2.88-89.02 pmol/punch/h) at pH 3.8, which was clearly lower than
      the normal range, leading to a diagnosis of Pompe disease. Pompe disease is
      incurable, and before the introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), pain
      relief was the main treatment. Recognizing this disease earlier and starting ERT
      in infants prior to the development of clinical symptoms is likely to improve the
      quality of life of patients.

PMID- 26889249
TI  - Effect of the topical application of calcipotriol on the expression levels of
      zinc finger protein A20 and nuclear factor-kappaB in the skin lesions of patients
      with psoriasis vulgaris.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of the topical application
      of calcipotriol on the expression levels of zinc finger protein A20 and nuclear
      factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis
      vulgaris. The calcipotriol ointment was topically applied twice a day for 6 weeks
      by 26 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. At the end of weeks 2, 4 and 6 after the
      first application of calcipotriol ointment, the clinical efficacy and Psoriasis
      Area and Severity Index (PASI) score were compared with those prior to treatment.
      The expression of zinc finger protein A20 and NF-kappaB in the skin lesions prior
      to and following treatment with calcipotriol was measured by immunohistochemical
      staining and western blotting. At the end of week 6, the clinical effectiveness
      rate of calcipotriol was higher compared with that at the end of weeks 2 and 4
      (chi2=8.12 and 9.06, respectively; P<0.05). The PASI score declined significantly
      at the end of weeks 2, 4 and 6 (t=9.37, 10.54 and 12.43; P<0.05, 0.05 and 0.001,
      respectively). At the end of week 6, the expression levels of zinc finger protein
      A20 and NF-kappaB were significantly lower compared with those prior to treatment
      (chi2=3.65 and 4.17, respectively; P<0.01). The expression levels of the two
      proteins were higher in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris
      prior to the initiation of treatment than in the skin of a normal control group.
      Following the 6-week treatment with calcipotriol, the expression levels of the
      two proteins in the psoriasis skin lesions were significantly lower than they
      were prior to treatment (P<0.01). Thus, the present study found that in addition
      to the typical pathway of NF-kappaB being targeted in the treatment of psoriasis
      with calcipotriol, the zinc finger protein A20 may also modulate the inflammatory
      response of psoriasis.

PMID- 26889248
TI  - Effect of rikkunshi-to treatment on chemotherapy-induced appetite loss in
      patients with lung cancer: A prospective study.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rikkunshi-to, a
      Japanese herbal medicine, on post-chemotherapeutic appetite loss. Patients with
      unresectable lung cancer, who were treated with carboplatin (CBDCA)-containing,
      cisplatin (CDDP)-containing or non-platinum chemotherapy between 2011 and 2014,
      were recruited for the prospective study. For each course of chemotherapy, the
      patients were randomized into two groups, with or without a rikkunshi-to
      prescription. In patients treated with CBDCA-containing chemotherapy, food intake
      at day 7 following the initiation of chemotherapy in the rikkunshi-to treatment
      group was significantly higher compared with the group not treated with rikkunshi
      to (P=0.0078). However, a significant improvement in food intake with rikkunshi
      to treatment was not observed in the CDDP-containing and non-platinum
      chemotherapy groups. An improved assessment of the incidence rate of chemotherapy
      induced appetite loss is essential for achieving adequate control. The results of
      the present study indicated the possibility of the clinical application of
      rikkunshi-to for improving post-chemotherapeutic appetite loss.

PMID- 26889250
TI  - Role of soluble programmed death-1 (sPD-1) and sPD-ligand 1 in patients with
      cystic echinococcosis.
AB  - The programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling pathway is a negative
      regulatory mechanism that inhibits T cell proliferation and cytokine production.
      Soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) and soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1), are also involved in regulation
      of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway. In the present study, the expression levels
      of sPD-1 and sPD-L1, as well as those of T helper (Th)1 [including interleukin
      (IL)-2 and interferon gamma], Th2 (including IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) and Th17
      (including interleukin 17) cell cytokines, were measured in the sera of patients
      with cystic echinococcosis (CE). Measurements were performed prior to and
      following after surgery and treatment with cyclic albendazole to investigate the
      effects of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in patients with CE. Cytokine expression levels were
      measured using cytokine bead array and the expression levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1
      were measured using ELISA. In addition, in vitro stimulation was used to detect
      whether sPD-L1 has a negative regulatory effect on cytokine secretion or
      homeostasis. The present study observed significantly higher levels of sPD-L1 in
      patients with CE compared with healthy controls. Significantly elevated levels of
      Th2 cytokines in the sera of patients with CE were also observed. The results
      also suggest that there is an imbalanced expression of Th1 and Th2 cells during
      CE. In addition, it was demonstrated that sPD-1 and sPD-L1 are regulatory factors
      to the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway, each having opposite effect, suggesting that
      they regulate the immune response to CE infection by creating a dynamic balance.
      In conclusion, sPD-L1 may play an important role in maintaining homeostasis in
      hosts with CE.

PMID- 26889251
TI  - Protective effects of SIRT1 in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy
      via the inhibition of IL-17 expression.
AB  - Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic microvascular complication of diabetes
      that may lead to loss of vision. The pathogenesis of DR is complex and elevated
      expression levels of T helper (Th)17 cells and interleukin (IL)-17 have been
      suggested to be associated with the development and progression of DR. Sirtuin 1
      (SIRT1) is a nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide+-dependent histone deacetylase
      that is downregulated in patients with DR. Previous studies have demonstrated
      that SIRT1 is capable of inhibiting the production of IL-17. In the present
      study, 19 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 20 non
      diabetic controls with idiopathic macular epiretinal membranes were recruited and
      the SIRT1 expression levels of excised specimens were analyzed using
      immunohistochemistry. IL-17 expression levels in the sera from patients with PDR
      and controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
      Furthermore, SIRT1 mRNA and protein expression levels in peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the two groups were analyzed following culture
      with or without a SIRT1 activator, resveratrol. IL-17 expression levels in the
      supernatants of PBMCs were determined using ELISA and the results demonstrated
      that IL-17 expression levels were increased in the sera of patients with PDR, as
      compared with the controls. Furthermore, increased expression levels of SIRT1 and
      IL-17 were detected in fibrovascular membranes and PBMCs harvested from patients
      with PDR, respectively. Notably, SIRT1 mRNA and protein expression levels were
      decreased in the PBMCs of patients with PDR and IL-17 production was inhibited
      following SIRT1 activation. The results of the present study indicated that
      imbalanced IL-17 and SIRT1 expression levels may contribute to the pathogenesis
      of DR, and SIRT1 may have a protective role in PDR by inhibiting the production
      of IL-17.

PMID- 26889252
TI  - Paeoniflorin attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury via anti-oxidative,
      anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways.
AB  - During liver surgery, hepatic blood flow needs to be blocked in order to reduce
      bleeding, which inevitably results in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HI/R).
      Paeoniflorin (PF) is the main active ingredient of the traditional Chinese herbal
      medicine peony, which has been shown to exert anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic
      properties. In the present study, a mouse model of HI/R was generated by clamping
      the hepatoportal vein, hepatic artery, and hepatic duct of BALB/c mice with a
      vascular clamp for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 6 h under anesthesia. Six
      mice in the three PF treatment groups (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) were then injected
      with PF, via the tail vein. A sham group, consisting of six mice that did not
      undergo the procedure, and a vehicle group, consisting of 6 mice that underwent
      the procedure but subsequently received injections of physiological saline only,
      were used as controls. Liver injury was indicated by serum levels of the enzymes
      alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). The activities of
      oxidative stress biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione
      (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were also
      measured. Furthermore, the activity of caspase-3 was analyzed in hepatic tissue
      using a commercial kit. Treatment with PF significantly attenuated HI/R injury
      histologically, as compared with the vehicle group. In addition, significant
      reductions in the serum levels of ALT and AST were observed in the PF-treated
      ischemic mice. Furthermore, treatment with PF enhanced the activities of hepatic
      tissue SOD, GSH and GSH-PX, but decreased the MDA content. Treatment of ischemic
      mice with PF markedly reduced the expression levels of inflammatory mediators,
      including nuclear factor-kappaB, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6,
      and IL-1beta, and decreased the HI/R injury-induced expression of caspase-3. The
      results of the present study suggest that PF attenuates the HI/R injury of mice
      via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

PMID- 26889253
TI  - Association of antibiotic resistance with SHV-12 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
      in Enterobacter cloacae.
AB  - The association between antibiotic resistance and SHV-12 extended-spectrum beta
      lactamase (ESBL) in Enterobacter cloacae remains unknown. The aim of the present
      study was to investigate the prevalence of both chromosome- and plasmid-borne SHV
      12 ESBL genes in Enterobacter cloacae. Transmission of the SHV-12 ESBL gene was
      explored, and the risk factors for antibiotic resistance in E. cloacae were
      analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed that 58 out of the 100
      isolates carried the SHV-12 ESBL gene: 34.48% of them occurred in the chromosome,
      48.28% were plasmid-borne and 17.24% appeared in both. Enterobacterial repetitive
      intergenic consensus-PCR tests detected 82 chromosomal genotypes. Conjugation
      assays showed that 70.00% of plasmid-borne SHV-12 ESBL genes were successfully
      transconjugated into E. coli C600 and that the antibiotic resistance phenotype of
      E. cloacae was partially (84%) or completely (10%) transferred. A significantly
      higher SHV-12 ESBL detection rate was found in patients with underlying
      conditions and/or complications compared with those without (P<0.05). The
      detection of SHV-12 ESBL-producing E. cloacae from vertical transmission varied
      significantly across clinical departments and age groups (P<0.05), with the
      highest rates in the intensive care unit and the group of patients aged >=60
      years. The present results indicate that the location and transmission efficiency
      of SHV-12 ESBL are closely correlated with the antibiotic resistance of E.
      cloacae.

PMID- 26889254
TI  - Protocatechuic aldehyde inhibits TNF-alpha-induced fibronectin expression in
      human umbilical vein endothelial cells via a c-Jun N-terminal kinase dependent
      pathway.
AB  - Fibronectin (FN) is one of the most important extracellular matrix proteins and
      plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). The aim of
      the present study was to evaluate the effect of a potent, water-soluble
      antioxidant, protocatechuic aldehyde (PA), which is derived from the Chinese herb
      Salvia miltiorrhiza, on the expression of FN in human umbilical vein endothelial
      cells (HUVECs) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The
      pharmacological effects of PA on the production of FN were investigated using
      ELISA and western blot analysis. In addition, ELISA and western blot analysis
      were used to examine the activation and suppression of the mitogen-activated
      protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in TNF-alpha
      stimulated HUVECs, in order to explore the underlying pharmacological mechanism
      of PA. The inhibitory effect of PA on the total generation of reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) in TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVECs was assessed using 2',7'
      dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Pretreatment of HUVECs with PA (0.15, 0.45 and
      1.35 mM) for 18 h markedly attenuated the TNF-alpha-stimulated FN surface
      expression and secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Intracellular ROS generation
      and the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c
      Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK (p38) were significantly induced by TNF
      alpha (2 ng/ml) in HUVECs. TNF-alpha-induced ROS generation and JNK activation
      were inhibited by PA in a concentration-dependent manner. By contrast, ERK1/2 and
      p38 activation was not significantly affected by PA. Pretreatment of HUVECs with
      PA for 18 h markedly attenuated TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activation. In
      conclusion, the present findings suggest that PA inhibits TNF-alpha-induced FN
      expression in HUVECs through a mechanism that involves ROS/JNK and NF-kappaB.

PMID- 26889255
TI  - Clinical observation of the application of autologous peripheral blood stem cell
      transplantation for the treatment of diabetic foot gangrene.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the optimal mobilization plan in
      autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for the treatment of
      diabetic foot and to observe its clinical curative effect. A total of 127
      patients with diabetic foot were treated with different doses of granulocyte
      colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize their hematopoietic stem cells.
      Subsequently, the extracted stem cell suspension was injected into the ischemic
      lower extremities along the blood vessels in the areas presenting with
      pathological changes. Following the treatment, the intermittent claudication
      distance, skin temperature, ankle brachial index and pain scores of the patients
      were evaluated. In addition, the associations among the mobilization time, doses
      and peripheral blood CD34+ level were analyzed. The collection efficiency of the
      stem cells was associated with the dose of G-CSF and the mobilization time.
      Following the injection of the autologous peripheral blood stem cell suspension,
      the ischemic area of the patients was improved significantly. In conclusion,
      autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation can promote the
      establishment of collateral circulation in patients with diabetic foot, and the
      optimal time for gathering stem cells is closely correlated with the peripheral
      blood CD34+ level.

PMID- 26889256
TI  - Upper gastrointestinal safety and tolerability of oral alendronate: A meta
      analysis.
AB  - Osteoporosis (OP), which is a common bone disease associated with reduced bone
      mineral density and disordered bone microstructure, may result in an increased
      risk of bone fracture. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of
      alendronate (Aln)-associated upper gastrointestinal tract adverse events (GIAEs)
      in postmenopausal women with OP. The following databases were searched in order
      to identify relevant studies: Medline (using PubMed as the search engine),
      Embase, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
      (up to December 2014). Studies were selected for inclusion if they were
      randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, which had investigated the
      safety of Aln versus a placebo for the treatment of postmenopausal women with OP.
      The primary outcomes of the included studies were total adverse events (AEs) and
      upper GIAEs, whereas individual upper GIAEs were considered as secondary
      outcomes. The general characteristics and outcomes of each study were abstracted
      by two independent researchers, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used for data
      syntheses and the meta-analysis. A total of nine studies, including 15,192
      randomized patients, met the inclusion criteria and contributed to some or all of
      the meta-analysis outcomes. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to calculate risk
      ratios, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined using either the
      fixed or random effects model, depending on the level of heterogeneity. The
      relative risk (95% CI) of AEs associated with Aln treatment, as compared with the
      placebo group, was 1.01 (0.97-1.06), and the relative risk (95% CI) of
      discontinued Aln treatment due to AEs was 1.04 (0.91-1.19). In addition, the
      relative risk (95% CI) of upper GIAEs was 1.02 (0.99-1.06), and the relative risk
      (95% CI) of discontinued Aln treatment due to upper GIAEs was 1.23 (0.97-56). In
      addition, these results remained robust to sensitivity analyses. The results of
      the present study suggested that Aln has a good GI tract tolerability, and that
      daily treatment with 10 mg Aln sodium does not increase the risk of GIAEs in
      postmenopausal women with OP.

PMID- 26889257
TI  - Adrenergic stimulation alters the expression of inflammasome components and
      interleukins in primary human monocytes.
AB  - Prior to their release, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18 are cleaved to their
      bioactive forms by a multiprotein complex known as an inflammasome, which is
      comprised of a number of elements that are subject to nuclear factor-kappaB
      dependent transcription. Catecholamines have been indicated to exert an enhancing
      effect on the IL-1beta release. The aim of the present study was to determine
      whether alterations in inflammasome gene expression may be responsible for the
      modified IL-1beta and IL-18 secretion following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and
      catecholamine co-stimulation. Monocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood
      of 21 healthy volunteers using CD14+ microbeads. Following stimulation with LPS
      (2 ug/ml) and/or phenylephrine (PE; 10 uM) for 24 h, the supernatants were
      subjected to ELISA to evaluate the ex vivo protein expression levels of IL-1beta
      and IL-18. In addition, the gene expression levels of inflammasome components
      associated with the cleavage of IL-1beta and IL-18, including NLRP1, NLRP3,
      caspase-1 and PYCARD were determined using polymerase chain reaction. The results
      indicated that LPS significantly increased IL-1beta expression compared with the
      unstimulated control samples. Co-stimulation with LPS + PE significantly enhanced
      IL-1beta expression compared with LPS alone. Furthermore, IL-18 expression was
      significantly reduced by LPS and LPS + PE co-stimulation. The gene expression
      levels of IL-18, NLRP1, caspase-1 and PYCARD were comparable in the LPS- and LPS
      + PE-stimulated cells. LPS significantly induced the expression levels of IL
      1beta and NLRP3, and to a lesser degree, the expression of NLRP1, compared with
      the control. By contrast, PE markedly induced the expression levels of IL-18 and
      NLRP1, while LPS reduced the gene expression of IL-18. In conclusion, adrenergic
      stimulation suppressed NLRP3 expression and enhanced NLRP1 expression, indicating
      that NLRP3 may regulate IL-1beta secretion and NLRP1 may regulate the release of
      IL-18.

PMID- 26889259
TI  - Inhibitory effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on the proliferation of giant
      cell tumor of bone stromal cells in vitro.
AB  - The inhibitory effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on the
      proliferation of giant cell tumor of bone stromal cells (GCTSCs) has not been
      fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of
      recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) in the growth of GCTSCs. The effects of
      exposure to different concentrations of rhBMP-2 (0, 10, 100 and 300 ng/ml) for 1,
      3, 5 and 7 days on GCTSC proliferation were examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2
      yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, the effect of
      treatment with rhBMP-2 (0 or 10 ng/ml) for 48 h on the cell cycle pattern of
      GCTSCs was examined by flow cytometry. The apoptosis-inducing effect of rhBMP-2
      (0 or 10 ng/ml) in GCTSCs was also determined by flow cytometry after 48 and 72
      h. In addition, western blot assays were conducted to determine whether rhBMP-2
      acts on non-Smad mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways,
      namely extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), p38 and c-jun-N-terminal
      kinase (JNK) pathways. The proliferation of GCTSCs treated with rhBMP-2 (10, 100
      or 300 ng/ml) for 5 or 7 days was significantly inhibited in a non dose-dependent
      and non-time-dependent manner (P<0.05). The treatment of GCTSCs with rhBMP-2 (10
      ng/ml) for 48 h had no effect on cell cycle distribution. The apoptosis of GCTSCs
      induced by exposure to rhBMP-2 (10 ng/ml) for 48 or 72 h was significant
      (P<0.05). Expression levels of phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-p38 and phospho-JNK
      increased significantly when GCTSCs were treated with rhBMP-2 (10 ng/ml) for 72 h
      (P<0.05). The results indicate that rhBMP-2 has no stimulatory effect on GCTSC
      growth. However, it may lead to the apoptosis of GCTSCs by non-Smad MAPK
      signaling pathways.

PMID- 26889258
TI  - Effects of rhein lysinate on D-galactose-induced aging mice.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-aging effects of rhein
      lysinate (RHL), and to explore its mechanism of action in a D-galactose-induced
      aging mouse model. Aging was induced by D-galactose (100 mg/kg/day) that was
      subcutaneously injected to animals for 8 weeks. RHL was simultaneously
      administered once a day by intragastric gavage. The appetite, mental condition,
      body weight and organ index of the mice were monitored. Superoxide dismutase
      (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined, and the
      levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver, kidney and serum were measured by
      appropriate assay kits. Western blot analysis was used to detect proteins
      associated with age. The results indicated that RHL may improve the appetite,
      mental state and organ conditions of the model mice, improve the activities of
      SOD and GSH-Px, reduce MDA levels and modulate the expression of age-associated
      proteins (Sirtuin 1, p21 and p16) in D-galactose-induced mice. Therefore, RHL may
      be effective at suppressing the aging process through a combination of enhancing
      antioxidant activity, scavenging free radicals and modulating aging-associated
      gene expression.

PMID- 26889260
TI  - Anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 limbic encephalitis: A case report and
      literature review.
AB  - This study describes the case of a 41-year-old woman admitted for anterograde
      memory loss, right facial grimacing and right arm posturing that had begun 1
      month previously. Cranial magnetic resonance-diffusion weighted imaging and 
      fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging revealed a hyperintense signal in the
      left hippocampus and right basal ganglia, but no contrast enhancement. An
      electroencephalogram revealed rhythmic sharp and slow waves and rhythmic theta
      build-ups in the left temporal area. Single-photon emission computed tomography
      showed increased regional blood flow perfusion in the left cerebral frontal lobe
      and the right basal ganglia. The cerebrospinal fluid was normal, with the
      exception of the presence of leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibodies,
      and LGI1 antibodies were also found in the blood serum. The presence of the
      antibodies, the faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDSs) and the memory loss
      indicated limbic encephalitis. After 3 months of immunotherapy, the patient was
      free from epileptic seizures and had undergone a partial memory restoration.
      FBDSs alone justify the immediate initiation of immunotherapy, even prior to
      laboratory confirmation of the disease, as early treatment limits the duration of
      the illness.

PMID- 26889262
TI  - Endoscopic biopsy of a B-cell lymphoma involving the entire ventricular system: A
      case report.
AB  - A 62-year-old male suffering from vomiting and mild preceding nausea for 15 days
      was examined in the present case report. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a
      homogeneously enhancing cluster-like lesion involving the lateral, third and
      fourth ventricles. An endoscopic biopsy was performed, and histopathological
      examination led to the diagnosis of a high-grade diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
      To the best of our knowledge, the present study reports the first case of a
      primary lymphoma involving the entire ventricular system. Therefore, primary
      lymphomas should be considered in the list of ventricular tumors. An endoscopic
      biopsy requires minimal invasion to obtain an adequate tissue sample, and
      frequently leads to the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment protocols.

PMID- 26889261
TI  - Effects of preserving different veins on flow-through flap survival: An
      experimental study.
AB  - Flow-through skin flap grafting is becoming widely used for the reconstruction of
      skin and soft tissue defects, particularly for patients with poor blood supply
      around the defect. However, the treatment of the veins remains controversial. In
      the present study, 5*2-cm skin flaps were created on the left inner thighs of
      rabbits in order to investigate the effects of various treatments of the veins on
      the survival of a flow-through skin flap. A femoral artery perforator running
      through the flap was preserved. Five groups were established in which no veins,
      one superficial vein (SV), one accompanying vein (AV), one SV plus one AV, or all
      trunk veins (control) were retained. The percentage of flap area survival was
      determined on day 10. On days 3, 5, 7 and 9, tissues were harvested from the skin
      flaps and immunohistochemical analysis was performed in order to count the number
      of microvessels. Western blot analysis was subsequently completed in order to
      determine the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The
      flap areas in which no veins were retained demonstrated significantly reduced
      survival rates on day 10, as compared with those in the other four groups
      (P<0.01). Furthermore, flaps with the retention of a SV also demonstrated reduced
      survival rates, as compared with the AV, AV plus SV and all veins groups
      (P<0.01); however, there no significant differences were detected between the
      latter three groups (P>0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis on day 3 detected a
      greater number of microvessels in the flaps of the control group, as compared
      with the flaps of the other groups. Furthermore, the AV and AV plus SV groups
      demonstrated a greater number of microvessels, as compared with the SV and no
      vein groups, and he no vein group demonstrated the fewest microvessels. No
      significant differences were found between the AV, AV plus SV and control groups
      on day 5, 7 and 9. Western blot analysis on day 5 demonstrated that the
      expression levles of VEGF were significantly increased in the flaps of the AV, AV
      plus SV and control groups, as compared with those in the SV and no vein groups.
      No significant differences were detected between the former three groups, and
      increased VEGF expression levels were detected in the flaps of the SV group, as
      compared with the no vein group. The flow-through flap grafts with no retained
      veins barely survived. Anastomosing one AV was adequate for flap survival;
      however, further studies are required in order to investigate the survival of
      flow-through flaps in more detail.

PMID- 26889263
TI  - Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI serves as a predictor of HIFU treatment outcome for
      uterine fibroids with hyperintensity in T2-weighted images.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of dynamic contrast
      enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the outcome of using
      ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) ablation for the
      treatment of uterine fibroids with T2 hyperintensity under MRI. A total of 131
      uterine fibroids from 131 patients that appeared hyperintense under T2-weighted
      MRI were analyzed. The uterine fibroids were subjectively categorized into
      slight, irregular or regular enhancement groups, according to pretreatment
      dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the arterial phase within 60 sec after the
      injection of gadolinium. The non-perfused volume (NPV), which is indicative of
      successful ablation, was represented as the non-perfused area inside the uterine
      fibroids on enhanced MRI scans following treatment. Additionally, the treatment
      duration, treatment efficiency, sonication duration, energy efficiency ratio and
      any adverse events were recorded. The results indicated that the average NPV
      ratio for all the treated fibroids was 68.5%, while the average NPV ratios for
      fibroids with slight, irregular or regular enhancement were 84.7, 70.6 and 57.1%,
      respectively. Fibroids with regular enhancement were associated with the lowest
      NPV ratio and the lowest treatment efficiency, but exhibited the highest energy
      effect ratio and an elevated risk of severe adverse effects. The results of the
      present study indicate that hyperintense uterine fibroids with slight and
      irregular enhancement in the arterial phase of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI are
      suitable for USgHIFU treatment. By contrast, uterine fibroids with regular
      enhancement were associated with the lowest treatment efficacy and safety.

PMID- 26889264
TI  - Recurrent sialoliths after excision of the bilateral submandibular glands for
      sialolithiasis treatment: A case report.
AB  - Sialolithiasis is a common disease that is characterized by the obstruction of
      the salivary gland. Sialolithiasis mainly affects the submandibular glands and
      the Wharton's duct. However, bilateral sialolithiasis is a rare condition. In
      addition, recurrence of sialoliths subsequent to surgical excision of the
      submandibular gland for the treatment of sialolithiasis has been rarely reported.
      The present study reported a case presenting with recurrent sialoliths with
      sialadenitis in the residual Wharton's duct following the excision of bilateral
      submandibular glands. An 81-year-old man presented with a solid and painful mass
      in the left submandibular area. The patient had a history of bilateral
      submandibular sialolithiasis, and had undergone excision of bilateral
      submandibular glands with the right Wharton's duct 4 years earlier. Computed
      tomography scans demonstrated two calculi in the residual Wharton's duct, which
      were surgically removed without any complications. The present study discussed
      the mechanisms underlying sialolith formation subsequent to the excision of
      submandibular glands.

PMID- 26889265
TI  - Combination of deep sea water and Sesamum indicum leaf extract prevents high-fat
      diet-induced obesity through AMPK activation in visceral adipose tissue.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of a
      combination of deep sea water (DSW) and Sesamum indicum leaf extract (SIE)
      against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and investigate its molecular
      mechanisms in adipose tissue. ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups:
      HFD control (HFC), DSW and DSW + 125 mg/kg SIE (DSS) groups. The mice in the HFC
      group had free access to drinking water while those in the DSW and DSS groups had
      free access to DSW. The mice in the DSS group were treated with SIE once per day
      for 8 weeks. The mice in all three groups were allowed to freely access a HFD.
      Compared with the HFC group, the DSS group showed lower body weight gain and
      serum levels of glucose, triglycerides and leptin. Histological analyses of the
      epididymal white, retroperitoneal white and scapular brown adipose tissue of mice
      in the DSS group revealed that the adipocytes were markedly decreased in size
      compared with those in the HFC group. Moreover, DSS significantly increased the
      levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
      and its substrate, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in mice epididymal adipose
      tissues. Furthermore, DSS upregulated the expression levels of lipolysis
      associated mRNA, specifically peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha
      (PPAR-alpha) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and energy expenditure
      associated mRNA, namely uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and carnitine
      palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) in the epididymal adipose tissues. By contrast, DSS
      suppressed the expression of the lipogenesis-related gene sterol regulatory
      element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1) at the mRNA level. These results suggest that
      DSS is effective for suppressing body weight gain and enhancing the lipid
      profile.

PMID- 26889267
TI  - Palliation double stenting for malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction.
AB  - The surgical management of patients with malignant biliary and duodenal
      obstruction is complex. Tumor excision is no longer possible in the majority of
      patients with malignant obstructive jaundice and duodenal obstruction. The aim of
      the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intraluminal dual stent
      placement in malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction. In total, 20 patients
      with malignant obstructive jaundice and duodenal obstruction, including 6 with
      pancreatic carcinoma, 11 with cholangiocarcinoma, 1 with duodenal carcinoma and 2
      with abdominal lymph node metastasis, were treated with intraluminal stent
      placement. Bile duct obstruction with late occurrence of duodenal obstruction was
      observed in 16 cases, and duodenal obstruction followed by a late occurrence of
      bile duct obstruction was observed in 3 cases, while, in 1 case, bile duct
      obstruction and duodenal obstruction occurred simultaneously. After X-ray
      fluoroscopy revealed obstruction in the bile duct and duodenum, stents were
      placed into the respective lumens. Percutaneous transhepatic placement was
      employed for the biliary stent, while the duodenal stent was placed perioraly.
      The clinical outcomes, including complications associated with the procedures and
      patency of the stents, were evaluated. The biliary and duodenal stents were
      successfully implanted in 18 patients and the technical success rate was 90%
      (18/20). A total of 39 stents were implanted in 20 patients. In 2 cases, duodenal
      stent placement failed following biliary stent placement. Duodenal obstruction
      remitted in 15 patients, and 1 patient succumbed to aspiration pneumonia 5 days
      after the procedure. No severe complications were observed in any other patient.
      The survival time of the 18 patients was 5-21 months (median, 9.6 months), and 6
      of those patients survived for >12 months. The present study suggests that X-ray
      fluoroscopy-guided intraluminal stent implantation is an effective procedure for
      the treatment of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction.

PMID- 26889266
TI  - Pyogenic granuloma in a patient with psoriasis successfully treated by 5
      aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy: A case report.
AB  - Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is an acquired benign vascular tumor of unknown etiology.
      In the present case report, PG was detected in a 49-year-old Chinese male patient
      with chronic plaque psoriasis. The psoriasis lesions on the finger where the
      granuloma had developed had been scratched excessively, as declared by the
      patient. No retinoid therapeutic agents were used during treatment. The patient
      responded poorly to cryotherapy and surgical curettage. However, following one
      session of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT), signs of
      improvement were demonstrated 1 week after the treatment, and 1 month following
      treatment, there were no signs of reoccurrence. Although a report demonstrating
      treatment success in one patient may be inadequate to estimate the true
      efficiency of ALA-PDT, dermatologists may consider ALA-PDT as an alternative
      therapy for stubborn PG.

PMID- 26889268
TI  - Schisandra chinensis and Rhodiola rosea exert an anti-stress effect on the HPA
      axis and reduce hypothalamic c-Fos expression in rats subjected to repeated
      stress.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Schisandra
      chinensis (S. chinensis) and Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) on rats subjected to 5 h
      of stress, induced by water-floating followed by treadmill exercise. Hypothalamus
      pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity and c-Fos and Fos-related antigen 2 (Fra-2) mRNA
      expression levels in the hypothalamus of the rats were evaluated. Rats were
      distributed into four groups: S. chinensis (n=12), R. rosea (n=10), stress
      control (n=10) and quiet control (n=8). Following a training period of 6
      consecutive days, the S. chinensis, R. rosea and stress control groups underwent
      a 3-h water-floating session in the presence of feline predators immediately
      followed by 2 h treadmill running to induce psychological and physical stress.
      Following compound stress induction, the serum levels of corticosterone (CORT),
      adrenocorticotropic hormone and interleukin-1beta and the mRNA expression levels
      of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), neuropeptide-Y, c-Fos and
      Fra-2 were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunoassay
      and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The results indicated
      that S. chinensis and R. rosea markedly decreased the stress-induced elevation of
      CRH and peripheral CORT levels. The mRNA expression levels of c-Fos and Fra-2 in
      the hypothalamus were significantly increased after 5 h compound stress, and
      reduced levels of c-Fos expression were detected in rats treated with R. rosea.
      Thus, S. chinensis and R. rosea exert an anti-stress effect in rats subjected to
      stress by balancing the HPA axis, and possibly by reducing the expression of c
      Fos in the hypothalamus.

PMID- 26889269
TI  - Effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine on heart rate and blood pressure in
      intensive care unit patients.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to observe and compare the sedative effect of
      different doses of DEX on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in critically
      ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The study included patients
      that were retained in ICUs and required sedation between January and March 2014.
      Patients were excluded if they had a BP of >200 mmHg, a HR of <60 bpm or were in
      a state of shock. The included patients were randomized into three groups: Group
      A, 1.0 ug/kg/10 min DEX; group B, 0.5 ug/kg/10 min DEX; and group C, 0.4 ug/kg/h
      DEX. After receiving these initial designated doses of DEX via an intravenous
      (IV) infusion pump for 10 min, the patients were maintained continuously at an
      identical dose of 0.4 ug/kg/h DEX. Ramsay score, HR, systolic blood pressure
      (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), breathing rate (BR) and peripheral
      capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded prior to the IV pump infusion
      and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min following infusion. Patients in
      groups A and B achieved sedation more rapidly compared with those in group C
      (P<0.05). HR decreased more significantly at 8 and 60 min after the initial IV
      pump infusion with DEX in groups A and B compared with group C (P<0.05). SBP
      decreased significantly at 10 min after IV pump infusion in group A compared with
      groups B and C (P<0.05). No significant difference existed in the SBP reduction
      trend between the three groups during the maintenance period. Therefore, the
      routine dose of DEX (0.4 ug/kg/h) provides an ideal sedative effect in ICU
      patients. The recommended loading dose for a more rapid sedation is 0.5 ug/kg/h.
      High loading doses of DEX via IV pump infusion should be avoided in elderly
      individuals, patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease and anemic patients, in whom combination medication, such as midazolam or
      propofol, may be considered when necessary.

PMID- 26889270
TI  - Snail mediates invasion through uPA/uPAR and the MAPK signaling pathway in
      prostate cancer cells.
AB  - Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which cancer cells
      acquire mesenchymal properties, such as induction of vimentin, while epithelial
      associated genes like E-cadherin are lost. This enables cells to be more
      metastatic. Factors that are able to induce EMT include growth factors such as
      transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and epidermal growth factor, and
      transcription factors such as Snail. Snail-induced EMT promotes migration and
      invasion and we hypothesized that this may be mediated by the activity of
      urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR). LNCaP, 22Rv1
      and ARCaP human prostate cancer (CaP) cells stably transfected with empty vector
      control (Neo) or constitutively active Snail exhibited increased cell invasion.
      Superarray analysis revealed an upregulation in uPA and uPAR RNA expression in
      Snail-transfected ARCaP cells compared with that of a Neo control. In addition,
      the protein expression levels of Snail, uPA and uPAR were measured by western
      blot analysis which showed that overexpression of Snail increased uPA and uPAR
      protein levels. The activity of uPA in conditioned media was measured using an
      ELISA which revealed that uPA activity was elevated in LNCaP, 22Rv1 and ARCaP
      cells overexpressing Snail. Additionally, transient silencing of uPAR in ARCaP
      cells overexpressing Snail using short interfering RNA resulted in abrogation of
      Snail-mediated invasion. Snail overexpression was associated with increased
      extracellular-signal-regulated kinase activity, and antagonism of this activity
      with mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) inhibitor, UO126, inhibited cell invasion
      and decreased uPA activity. Therefore, Snail-mediated cell invasion in human CaP
      cells may occur via the regulation of uPA/uPAR and the MAPK signaling pathway.

PMID- 26889271
TI  - Endoscopic inter laminar management of lumbar disease.
AB  - Discectomy for lumbar disc provides faster relief in acute attack than does
      conservative management. Long-term results of open, microscopy-, and endoscopy
      assisted discectomy are same. Early results of endoscopy-assisted surgery are
      better as compared to that of open surgery in terms of better visualization,
      smaller incision, reduced hospital stay, better education, lower cost, less pain,
      early return to work, and rehabilitation. Although microscopic discectomy also
      has comparable advantages, endoscopic-assisted technique better addresses
      opposite side pathology. Inter laminar technique (ILT) and trans foraminal
      technique (TFT) are two main endoscopic approaches for lumbar pathologies.
      Endoscopy-assisted ILT can be performed in recurrent, migrated, and calcified
      discs. All lumbar levels including L5-S1 level, intracanalicular, foraminal disc,
      lumbar canal and lateral recess stenosis, multiple levels, and bilateral lesions
      can be managed by ILT. Migrated, calcified discs, L5-S1 pathology, lumbar canal,
      and lateral recess stenosis can be better approached by ILT than by TFT. Most
      spinal surgeons are familiar with anatomy of ILT. It can be safely performed in
      foramen stenosis and in uncooperative and anxious patients. There is less risk of
      exiting nerve root damage, especially in short pedicles and in presence of facet
      osteophytes as compared to TFT. On the other hand, ILT is more invasive than TFT
      with more chances of perforations of the dura matter, pseudomeningocele
      formation, and cerebrospinal fluid fistula in early learning curve. Obtaining
      microsurgical experience, attending workshops, and suitable patient selection can
      help shorten the learning curve. Once adequate skill is acquired, this procedure
      is safe and effective. The surgeon must be prepared to convert to an open
      procedure, especially in early learning curve. Spinal endoscopy is likely to
      achieve more roles in future. Endoscopy-assisted ILT is a safer alternative to
      the microscopic technique. 

PMID- 26889273
TI  - The impact of cranioplasty on cerebral blood flow and its correlation with
      clinical outcome in patients underwent decompressive craniectomy.
AB  - CONTEXT: Decompressive craniectomy is commonly use as the treatment for medically
      refractory intracranial hypertension. Unexpected improvement in patient's
      neurological status has been observed among patients that underwent cranioplasty.
      Restoration of cerebral blood flow (CBF) hemodynamics is one of the contributing
      factors. This study was conducted to determine the impact of cranioplasty on CBF
      and its correlation with clinical outcome. AIMS: This study was done to evaluate
      the effect of cranioplasty on CBF with computed tomography perfusion (CTP). It
      also aimed to determine the correlation between postcranioplasty CBF and clinical
      outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SUBJECTS AND
      METHODS: All patients had CTP done to determine precranioplasty CBF. CTP was
      repeated at 6 weeks postcranioplasty and clinical assessment at 6 and 24 weeks
      postcranioplasty. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data analysis was done using
      Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 12.0.1. RESULTS: The median value
      of the ipsilateral CBF was 48.87 and 61.10 ml/min/100 g at precranioplasty and 6
      weeks postcranioplasty (P < 0.001). Contralateral CBF also showed improvement
      from 60.55 to 71.84 ml/min/100 g (P < 0.001). Median value for mini mental state
      examination showed a significant difference with value of 22, 25, and 25.5 at
      precranioplasty, 6 and 24 weeks postcranioplasty (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001).
      Median value for frontal assessment battery was 12, 14.5, and 15 (P = 0.002 and P
      = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cranioplasty can remarkably improve cortical perfusion for
      both ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere. Though we are unable to establish
      strong correlation, between CBF and clinical outcome, cranioplasty was observed
      to have a therapeutic role in terms of clinical outcome improvement.

PMID- 26889272
TI  - Supratentorial haemangioblastoma without von Hippel-Lindau syndrome in an adult:
      A rare tumor with review of literature.
AB  - Supratentorial hemangioblastomas (HBLs) are rare, benign vascular tumors of the
      central nervous system neoplasms. Very scarce literature is available regarding
      supratentorial HBL without von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome in an adult. We
      reviewed the literature and PubMed advanced search showed only a few results of
      supratentorial HBL without VHL syndrome. We reported a rare case of cystic
      supratentorial HBL in 39-year-old male affecting the parietal lobe without VHL
      syndrome. Supratentorial HBL is a rare tumor and supratentorial HBL without VHL
      syndrome are even rarer. Being a rare entity, not much clinical data is currently
      available regarding supratentorial HBLs, thus necessitating the need for further
      reporting and review of such cases. 

PMID- 26889274
TI  - Comparing monomodality treatments of low-grade intracranial arteriovenous
      malformation at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 2008 and 2011: A retrospective
      study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of Spetzler-Martin
      grades (SMGs) I-III are treated using either monomodality treatments of
      microsurgical excision, embolization or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or a
      combination of two or more of these treatment options. At Hospital Kuala Lumpur,
      we still practice monomodality treatments for AVMs of these three grades. In this
      study, we wanted to achieve an understanding whether monomodality treatments can
      achieve a satisfactory outcome of AVM nidi for patients, for up to 3 years, and
      to gather an objective data for AVM treatment for the Malaysian population.
      SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of records study. The data
      are acquired from case notes of patients with intracranial AVM of SMGs I to III
      who underwent monomodality treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 2008 and
      2011. The patients were followed up with imaging for up to 3 years from the date
      of treatment. A total of 81 patients were recruited in this study, where 30
      underwent microsurgical treatment, 27 underwent embolization, and 24 underwent
      SRS. RESULTS: Total obliteration of AVM nidus was achieved in 96.7% of patients
      who underwent microsurgery, 8.7% of patients who underwent embolization, and
      79.2% of patients who underwent SRS. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) for all
      three groups showed an improving trend, with the microsurgery group showing the
      best improvement (from 70% at 3 months to 92.3% at 3 years showing favorable mRS
      scores). CONCLUSIONS: The AVM nidus obliteration for each treatment group is
      comparable to the meta-analysis published in 2011. Each modality had its own set
      of complications; however, most of the patients in all three groups had either
      static or improved mRS at the end of the 3-year follow-up.

PMID- 26889275
TI  - Impact of electrolyte imbalances on the outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid
      hemorrhage: A prospective study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electrolyte disturbances are frequently observed during the acute and
      subacute period after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and may potentially worsen
      therapeutic outcome. This study was conducted to determine the pattern of
      electrolyte disturbance in the acute and subacute phase after SAH and their
      effect on the long-term outcome of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty
      three patients were prospectively enrolled. The standards of care for all
      patients were uniformly performed. The serum levels of electrolytes (sodium,
      potassium and magnesium) were determined with measurements obtained on admission,
      3-5 and 7-10 days after SAH. Radiographic intensity of hemorrhage (Fisher's
      scale), and the clinical grading (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies
      grade) were documented in the first visit. The outcomes were evaluated using
      Glasgow outcome scale at 3 months after discharge. RESULTS: Hyponatremia was the
      most common electrolyte imbalance among the patients but did not worsen the
      outcome. Although less common, hypernatremia in the subacute phase was
      significantly associated with poor outcome. Both hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia
      were predictive of poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Because electrolyte abnormalities
      can adversely affect the outcome, the serum levels of electrolytes should be
      closely monitored with serial measurements and treated properly in patients with
      aneurysmal SAH.

PMID- 26889276
TI  - Histopathological study of the outer membrane of the dura mater in chronic sub
      dural hematoma: Its clinical and radiological correlation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A chronic subdural hematoma is an old clot of blood on the surface of
      the brain between dura and arachnoid membranes. These liquefied clots most often
      occur in patients aged 60 and older with brain atrophy. When the brain shrinks
      inside the skull over time, minor head trauma can cause tearing of blood vessels
      over the brain surface, resulting in a slow accumulation of blood over several
      days to weeks. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the role of membrane in hematoma
      evaluation and to correlate its histopathology with clinic-radiological aspects
      of the condition and overall prognosis of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The
      study incorporated all cases of chronic SDH admitted to the Neurosurgery
      department of JLN Hospital and Research Centre, Bhilai, between November 2011 and
      November 2013. All such cases were analyzed clinically, radiologically like site,
      size, thickness in computed tomography, the attenuation value, midline shift and
      histopathological features were recorded. CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION: All cases of
      chronic subdural haematoma irrespective of age and sex were incorporated into the
      study. CRITERIA FOR EXCLUSION: All cases of acute subdural haematoma and cases of
      chronic sub dural hematoma which were managed conservatively irrespective of age
      and sex were excluded from the study. RESULTS: In our series of cases, the most
      common histopathological type of membrane was the inflammatory membrane (Type II)
      seen in 42.30% of cases followed by hemorrhagic inflammatory membrane (Type III)
      seen in 34.62% of cases while scar inflammatory type of membrane (Type IV) was
      seen in 23.08% of cases. No case with noninflammatory type (Type I) was
      encountered.

PMID- 26889277
TI  - A novel technique to practice using a high-speed burr for spinal anterior
      cervical discectomy and fusion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has been a successful
      procedure in terms of patient satisfaction in the management of cervical
      myelopathy and radiculopathy. The procedure involves an anterior approach to the
      cervical vertebral column and decompression of the neural elements. AIM: A key
      part of the procedure is the removal of the posterior osteophyte. This is usually
      performed using a high-speed burr. In inexperienced hands, this part of the
      procedure can be a challenging one. MATERIALS: Egg, egg cup, zinc oxide tape and
      high-speed burr. CONCLUSION: We describe a simple and cost effective method of
      practicing this manoeuver, enabling the trainee to gain sufficient confidence in
      handling the tool around delicate tissues.

PMID- 26889278
TI  - Relationship between demography, etiology, level of consciousness, and outcome of
      surgical intracranial suppurations of bacterial origin in a tropical tertiary
      center.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Intracranial suppurations (ICS) of bacterial origin are associated
      with significant mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to review demography,
      etiology, level of consciousness, and outcome of surgical ICS in a tropical
      tertiary hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients admitted to the
      neurosurgical unit within the study period of 7 years that had a surgical
      intervention for their ICS were prospectively included in the study. In
      accordance with the unit protocol, all patients in whom there was clinical
      suspicion of ICS had a preoperative computed tomography scan and/or magnetic
      resonance imaging done. The following data among others were documented and
      recorded electronically: demography, clinical and radiological diagnosis,
      etiology of ICS, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, type of neurosurgical
      intervention, mode of anesthesia, and outcome. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were
      included in the study. There were 33 males with a male-to-female ratio of 2.1:1.
      All patients presented at least a week after the use of antibiotics. The most
      common type of ICS was cerebral abscess (33 patients, 67.3%). There was no
      statistical significant association between outcome and age group (P = 0.630),
      gender (P = 0.999), diagnosis (P = 0.464), etiology of ICS (P = 0.169), solitary
      or multiplicity of ICS (P = 0.485), or type of offending organism (P = 0.278).
      CONCLUSIONS: ICS usually follows otorhinological infections in our center. The
      surgical outcome is dependent on the admission GCS score.

PMID- 26889279
TI  - Correlation between Glasgow Coma Scale and brain computed tomography-scan
      findings in head trauma patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the relationship between computed
      tomography (CT) scan findings and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score with the purpose
      of introducing GCS scoring system as an acceptable alternative for CT scan to
      clinically management of brain injuries in head trauma patients. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: This study was conducted on hospitalized patients with the complaints of
      head trauma. The severity of the head injury was assessed on admission by the GCS
      score and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe head injury. RESULTS: Of all
      study subjects, 80.5% had GCS 13-15 that among those, 45% had GCS 15.
      Furthermore, 10.5% had GCS ranged 9-12 and 9% had GCS <8. Of all subjects, 54.5%
      had abnormal CT findings that of them, 77.1% categorized as mild head injury,
      11.0% had a moderate head injury, and 11.9% had a severe head injury.
      Furthermore, of those with GCS 15, 41.0% had abnormal CT scan. Of all patients
      with abnormal CT findings, 33.0% underwent surgery that 61.1% categorized in mild
      head injury group, 13.9% categorized in moderate head injury group, and 22.2%
      categorized in severe head injury group. Of those with GCS equal to 15, only
      27.0% underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: The use of GCS score for assessing the level
      of injury may not be sufficient and thus considering CT findings as the gold
      standard, the combination of this scoring system and other applicable scoring
      systems may be more applicable to stratify brain injury level.

PMID- 26889280
TI  - Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: Etiologies, risk factors, and
      necessity of the second angiogram.
AB  - AIM: In this paper, we aim to present our experience with a series of patients
      with PMSAH. In addition, the clinical course of perimesencephalic subarachnoid
      hemorrgade (PMSAH) is discussed with an evaluation of etiologies, risk factors,
      and the necessity for a second angiogram on follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      data for this study were obtained retrospectively from patients who were treated
      at the Uludag University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery,
      Division of Neurovascular Surgery's clinic with a diagnosis of PMSAH between
      January 1980 and March 2002. RESULTS: We identified a total of 24 patients, 12
      male. The mean age at the time of hemorrhage was 53 +/- 12 years. In all
      patients, the onset was typical with a sudden severe headache. Five of the
      patients were Hunt-Hess Grade I, 15 were Grade II, and 4 were Grade III. The
      initial 4-vessel angiography was normal in 23 cases. Twenty-two had a second 4
      vessel angiography, and all were normal. We observed acute hydrocephalus in 5
      patients (20.8%). We did not observe re-bleeding during the follow-up of our
      patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with PMSAH have a particularly excellent outcome,
      and there is no need to evaluate these patients with repeat angiography.

PMID- 26889282
TI  - Comparison of intravenous labetalol and bupivacaine scalp block on the
      hemodynamic and entropy changes following skull pin application: A randomized,
      open label clinical trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The application of skull pins in neurosurgical procedures is a highly
      noxious stimulus that causes hemodynamic changes and a rise in spectral entropy
      levels. We designed a study to compare intravenous (IV) labetalol and bupivacaine
      scalp block in blunting these changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients
      undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures were randomized into two groups, L
      (labetalol) and B (bupivacaine) of 33 each. After a standard induction sequence
      using fentanyl, propofol and vecuronium, patients were intubated. Baseline
      hemodynamic parameters and entropy levels were noted. Five minutes before,
      application of the pins, group L patients received IV labetalol 0.25 mg/kg and
      group B patients received scalp block with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. Following
      application of the pins, heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP),
      diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and response
      entropy (RE)/state entropy (SE) were noted at regular time points up to 5 min.
      RESULTS: The two groups were comparable with respect to their demographic
      characteristics. Baseline hemodynamic parameters and entropy levels were also
      similar. After pinning, the HR, SAP, DAP, MAP, and RE/SE all increased in both
      groups but were lower in the scalp block group patients. HR increased by 19.8% in
      group L and by 11% in group B. SAP increased by 11.9% in group L and remained
      unchanged in group B. DAP increased by 19.7% in group L and by 9.9% in group B,
      MAP increased by 15.6% in group L and 5% in group B (P < 0.05). No adverse
      effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Scalp block with bupivacaine is more effective
      than IV labetalol in attenuating the rise in hemodynamic parameters and entropy
      changes following skull pin application.

PMID- 26889283
TI  - Ventriculoperitoneal shunting.

PMID- 26889284
TI  - Idarucizumab: A novel antidote for reversal of dabigatran.

PMID- 26889281
TI  - Need for a hands-on approach to hand-offs: A study of nursing handovers in an
      Indian Neurosciences Center.
AB  - CONTEXT: Standardized nursing handovers have been known to improve outcome,
      reduce error, and enhance communication. Few, if any, studies on nursing
      handovers have been conducted in the India. AIM: The aim was to study nursing
      handover practices in a Neurosciences Center in India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This
      study was conducted in a 200 bedded public sector Neurosciences Center in New
      Delhi, to assess nursing handover practices across five wards, all shifts,
      weekdays, and weekends using a pretested checklist. Ten elements were observed
      under the categories of time, duration, process, nurse interaction, and patient
      communication. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Analysis of variance, Z-test, and Spearman's
      correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Totally, 525 nursing handovers revealed varying
      compliance levels among (63%) time, place (76%), process (82%), staff interaction
      (53%), and patient communication (44%) related elements. Poorer compliance was
      seen in morning shifts and weekends; the difference being statistically
      significant. Bedside handovers were more frequent during weekends and night
      shifts and were positively correlated with increased staff interaction and
      patient communication and negatively related to handover duration. Though nurses
      showed better adherence to process related elements, background patient
      information, and assessment was explained less frequently. Differences between
      wards were insignificant except in categories of nurse interaction and patient
      communication which was better in the neurosurgery than neurology wards.
      CONCLUSION: Study revealed a need for a system change and standardization of
      handovers. Greater administrative commitment, use of technology, training, and
      leadership development will aid in continuity of care, promote patient safety,
      and ensure better outcomes.

PMID- 26889285
TI  - Tuberculosis of the skull mimicking a bony tumor.
AB  - We present a rare case of calvarial tuberculosis mimicking a solitary bone tumor,
      which was surgically removed. A 52-year-old female presented with a right
      forehead swelling, which gradually enlarged over the course of 2 years, with no
      symptoms or raised intracranial pressure or neurological deficits. Plain and
      contrast-enhanced brain computed tomography scans were done, revealing a punched
      out lesion of the right frontal bone, with a nonenhancing lytic mass. With an
      initial diagnosis of an intraosseous meningioma, and later on intraoperatively
      thought to be a metastatic tumor, the mass was excised along with a rim of bone.
      Histopathological examination results came back as caseous necrosis, highly
      suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient was then treated with a 1 year regimen of
      anti-tuberculous medications. Tuberculosis of the cranium is a rare entity, and
      can mimic tumors or multiple myeloma. A high index of suspicion and knowledge is
      required for an early diagnosis. A combined surgical and medical therapy is
      curative. 

PMID- 26889286
TI  - Cavernous malformation of the optic chiasm: Neuro-endoscopic removal.
AB  - Cavernous malformations (CMs) arising from the optic nerve and chiasm are
      extremely rare. In large autopsy series, CMs were estimated to range from 0.02 to
      0.13% in the general population. However, with introduction of MRI, these lesions
      were found more often than previously thought, ranging from 0.2% to 0.4%. Only 29
      cases have been reported according to our knowledge. Most patients present with
      drop in visual acuity and visual field. Although MRI findings of cavernous
      malformations have been reported, they may not be diagnostic enough. Among the 29
      reported, 16 underwent total resection with good results. In some, resection was
      complicated by damage to the surrounding neural tissue. Surgical removal is the
      recommended treatment to restore or preserve vision and to eliminate the risk of
      future hemorrhage. However, the anatomical location and eloquence of nearby
      neural structures can make these lesions difficult to access and remove. CMs
      appear to occur in every age group (range 4 months to 84 years mean-34.6 years)
      ith an approximately equal male to female ratio. They typically present with
      chiasmal apoplexy, characterized by sudden visual loss, acute headaches, retro
      orbital pain, and nausea. 

PMID- 26889287
TI  - Spontaneous thrombosis of a vein of galen malformation.
AB  - Vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly,
      comprising about 1% of all intracranial vascular anomalies, predominantly
      affecting the children less than 1 year of age. A 6-month-old infant presented
      with complaints of increasing head size of 3 months duration and multiple
      episodes of vomiting associated with refusal to feed since 7 days. He was a known
      case of VOGM who had initially refused treatment. Investigations revealed a
      spontaneously thrombosed VOGM with obstructive hydrocephalous. Child improved
      uneventfully with ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Spontaneous thrombosis of a VOGM is
      a rare occurrence and carries a better prognosis. The relevant literature is
      discussed with emphasis on etiopathogenesis, mechanism, and management of
      spontaneous thrombosis of the malformation. 

PMID- 26889288
TI  - Intramedullary arachnoid cyst in an adult: Case report and review.
AB  - Arachnoid cysts in the spine are a rare entity with extradural occurrence being
      the commonest. Arachnoid cysts in intramedullary location are sparingly reported
      in elderly. We herein report a case of intramedullary arachnoid cyst in an adult
      female who presented with features of compressive myelopathy. 

PMID- 26889289
TI  - Perineurioma of scalp in an infant: A case report with short review of
      literature.
AB  - Perineuriomas are rare benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor composed exclusively
      of perineurial cells. They have been classified into two main types according to
      their location - intraneural and extraneural (soft-tissue). Extraneural
      perineurioma are uncommon, found mostly in the soft tissue of the extremities and
      trunk, rare at other site. They mainly affect adults and have been sometimes
      described in children but are extremely rare in infants. We present a case of
      extraneural (soft-tissue) perineurioma of scalp in a 3-month-old infant,
      highlighting clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features along with a
      discussion of the main differential diagnosis of this tumor. This is also the
      youngest case ever reported in the literature. 

PMID- 26889290
TI  - Transdural retrieval of a retropulsed lumbar interbody cage: Technical case
      report.
AB  - The purpose of this case report was to describe a novel method to retrieve a
      herniated lumbar interbody cage. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is
      an increasingly popular method of spinal fixation and fusion. Unexpected
      retropulsion of an interbody is a rare event that can result in intractable pain
      or motor compromise necessitating surgical retrieval of the interbody. Both
      anterior and posterior approaches to removing migrated cages may be associated
      with significant surgical morbidity and mortality. A 60-year-old woman underwent
      an L4-S1 TLIF coupled with pedicle screw fixation at a previous hospital 5 years
      prior to admission. She noted sudden-onset bilateral lower extremity weakness and
      right-sided foot drop. Magnetic resonance imaging and radiographs were notable
      for purely centrally herniated interbody. A posterior, midline transdural
      approach was used to retrieve the interbody. Situated in between nerve rootlets
      to the ventral canal, this virgin corridor allowed us to easily visualize and
      protect neurological structures while safely retrieving the interbody. The
      patient experienced an immediate improvement in symptoms and was discharged on
      postoperative day 3. At 12-month follow-up, she had no evidence of cerebrospinal
      fluid (CSF) leak and had returned to normal activities of daily living. While the
      risk of CSF leak may be higher with a transdural approach, we maintain that
      avoiding unnecessary retraction of the nerve roots may outweigh this risk. To our
      knowledge, this is the first case report of a transdural approach for the
      retrieval of a retropulsed lumbar interbody cage. 

PMID- 26889291
TI  - Unusual cord transection in a patient with traumatic spondylolisthesis.
AB  - Spinal cord injury is one of the most debilitating injuries in patients with
      spinal trauma. Cord injury may range from simple cord edema to frank transection.
      Cord transection is the most severe form of cord injury as it results in complete
      and irreversible loss of all neural functions. Generally, it is a result of
      unstable spinal fractures with associated spondylolisthesis or spondyloptosis.
      Generally, the level of cord transection corresponds to the level of spinal
      fracture/spondylolisthesis. However, here we are presenting a case having a
      traumatic spinal fracture with spondylolisthesis where the level of cord
      transection was much higher than the level of the spinal fracture. Due to the
      traumatic traction, the cord distal to transection is displaced inferior leaving
      behind a long segment of the empty thecal sac. 

PMID- 26889292
TI  - Intracranial plasmacytomas mimicking epidural hematoma and revealed by head
      trauma.
AB  - Presenting a case of 27-year-old female presented in our OPD on 6-12-2013 with
      severe headache and vomiting and no history of LOC/seizure. There was H/O head
      trauma 2 month back. O/E pupil of normal size and normal reaction to light and
      neurological status with GCS-14. CT scan showed a hyperdense left frontal chronic
      extradural/subdural mass lesion and midline shift of 8 mm. Peroperative there was
      intradural lesion as nonvascular, greyish white gelatinous solid tissue without
      evidence of EDH. The lesion was completely excised, and the skull the bone flap
      was replaced. Uneventful post operative recovery with GCS-15. Histopathological
      report was plasmacytoma. 

PMID- 26889293
TI  - Lymphoma relapse presenting as neurolymphomatosis.
AB  - Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is a rare neurological manifestation of lymphoma
      characterized by malignant lymphoma cells infiltrating cranial or peripheral
      nerve, or their roots. We present the first reported Australian case of a patient
      whose initial presentation of relapsed mantle cell lymphoma was NL. Our case
      highlights that clinical and imaging findings of NL often mimic other
      neuropathies, and hence presents unique challenges that may lead to delayed
      diagnosis and management. We emphasize the importance of considering NL in the
      differential diagnosis and combining imaging with other diagnostic modalities
      such as lumbar puncture (LP) to aid in the diagnosis of NL particularly where
      there is acute neurological deterioration. 

PMID- 26889294
TI  - Grossly calcified choroid plexus concealing foramen of Monro meningiomas as an
      unusual cause of obstructive hydrocephalus.
AB  - Various intraventricular tumors can present with calcifications; however, the
      choroid plexus can also have physiological calcifications. This is the first case
      report of meningiomas located at the bilateral foramen of Monro (FOM), concealed
      by a grossly calcified choroid plexus, presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus.
      A 60-year-old woman with disturbed consciousness was admitted by ambulance. Head
      computed tomography revealed significantly high-density lesions that smoothly
      extended from the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles to the third
      ventricle. They occupied both sides of the FOM, resulting in obstructive
      hydrocephalus. The diagnostic endoscopic biopsy was performed using a flexible
      neuroendoscopic system, and an egg shell-like grossly calcified choroid plexus
      was found to smoothly extend toward the FOM. Resection was not selected because
      the calcified lesions had tightly adhered to the veins and fornix; therefore, the
      patient underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. The lesions were histologically
      identified as psammomatous meningiomas with low proliferation potential (the Ki
      67 labeling index was lower than 1%). She was discharged 10 days after surgery
      without neurological deficits. As calcifications can have tumoral and nontumoral
      origins, we considered neuroendoscopic exploration to be essential in order to
      achieve an accurate diagnosis and select optimal management. 

PMID- 26889295
TI  - Misery of neurosurgeon: Gauzoma causing foreign body granuloma-role of
      radiologist.
AB  - Materials used in neurosurgery to achieve hemostasis may be of resorbable or
      nonresorbable substance and may cause foreign body granuloma if left at the
      operative site. Foreign body granuloma depending on clinical history may be
      indistinguishable from an abscess, resolving infarction, and hematoma. Here we
      present two cases, who had decompressive craniectomy following road traffic
      accident. Follow-up computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed hyperdense
      lobulated lesion with peripheral rim enhancement. On magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI), lesions were predominantly hypointense on T1-weighted images, and
      hyperintense on T2-weighted images and showed a lack of restricted diffusion. In
      view of recent craniectomy and imaging findings diagnosis of foreign body
      granuloma was made. Both patients underwent surgery, intraoperatively gauze
      pieces were retrieved from lesions which confirmed preoperative diagnosis. The
      combination of CT and MRI can diagnose foreign body granuloma, especially in
      trauma settings. Thus, we can help the surgeon by providing the probable
      diagnosis for proper management. 

PMID- 26889296
TI  - Elevated fracture of skull in pediatric age group: A series of five patients with
      review of literature.
AB  - Elevated fractures of skull in pediatric age group are rarely reported in the
      literature. In view of rarity, we present a series of five cases of elevated
      skull fracture in pediatric age group. Over a period of 1-year, we operated on
      five such cases. In this article, we have discussed the mode, mechanism and
      extent of injury, its clinico-radiological findings, course of the disease, and
      the management outcome. Four out of five cases improved after surgery and did not
      suffer any complications. Early recognition and appropriate management of
      compound elevated fracture in pediatric age group comes with good outcome and
      prevents unwanted morbidity and mortality. 

PMID- 26889297
TI  - A curious case of spontaneously resolving closed "jigsaw" depressed skull
      fracture in an adolescent.
AB  - Spontaneously resolving depressed skull fractures have been previously reported
      in the pediatric age group, however they are very rare in adolescents. We report
      a case of spontaneously elevating depressed fracture in a 13 year old boy.
      Depressed skull fractures in this age group might resolve on its own but may also
      complicate during its course of non-operative self elevation. In the reported
      case, the child developed gliosis and suffered seizures two years after the
      trauma. Repeat scans showed almost normal skull topography with underlying
      gliotic changes. Although all depressed skull fractures won't complicate as such,
      patients without neurological deficits should also be operated to prevent any
      delayed complications. 

PMID- 26889298
TI  - True aneurysm of superficial temporal artery accompanying multiple intracranial
      aneurysm.
AB  - Superficial temporal artery (STA) aneurysms are very infrequent. Moreover, true
      aneurysms, which are not pseudoaneurysms associated with trauma or previous
      surgery are even rarer. With this manuscript, authors present a case of a 79-year
      old woman suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage whose radiological examinations
      revealed multiple intracranial aneurysms along with an STA aneurysm. This very
      rare case, to the best of our knowledge, the second case reported so far, might
      contribute to the literature and lead further investigations toward the rare
      association between intracranial aneurysms and STA aneurysms. 

PMID- 26889299
TI  - Blast phase transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia presenting with
      central nervous system manifestation.
AB  - Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is the most common of all leukemia
      constituting 15-20% of all leukemia. The clinical course of the diseases runs in
      two to three phases, initial chronic phase followed by accelerated phase or blast
      phase. Blast phase most commonly presents clinically as fever, splenomegaly, and
      bone pain. Here, we present a case of CML in blast phase presenting with central
      nervous system manifestation in a 55-year-old patient with a brief review of the
      literature. 

PMID- 26889300
TI  - Solitary fibrous tumor of the orbit.
AB  - Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare spindle-cell neoplasm originating from the
      mesenchyme. It was originally thought to occur exclusively in the intrathoracic
      region but has been recently described in extrapleural sites including the orbit.
      SFT of the orbit is a rare lesion, which can be misdiagnosed as
      hemangiopericytoma, fibrous histiocytoma, meningioma, or neurofibroma.
      Immunohistochemistry plays an important role. We report an orbital SFT in a 39
      year-old female presented with painless, progressive proptosis, and diminished
      vision in the right eye for the duration of 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging
      demonstrated well-defined enhancing mass lesion. The patient underwent complete
      tumor removal through a right fronto-orbital approach, and a pathological
      diagnosis of the solitary fibrous tumor was made. Postoperatively, the patient
      was symptom-free. Clinical and pathological findings including
      immunohistochemistry are presented along with a brief discussion of literature. 

PMID- 26889301
TI  - Papillary tumor of pineal region with an unusual clinical presentation: Case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a newly described entity, which
      has been recently included in the World Health Organization classification of
      central nervous system tumors. We report an unusual presentation of PTPR in a 17
      year-old girl, which was extending into the third ventricle, along with a
      detailed description of morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of
      PTPRs. The diagnosis of PTPR was established on immunohistopathological
      examination. 

PMID- 26889302
TI  - Understanding How Intimate Partner Violence Impacts School Age Children's
      Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviors: A Secondary Analysis of Hawaii
      Healthy Start Program Evaluation Data.
AB  - We examined the role of maternal depression and parenting stress in the
      relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child internalizing and
      externalizing problems, and explored whether child gender modified these
      pathways. This secondary analysis used data from the Hawaii Healthy Start
      Program. Logistic regression models examined the associations between IPV in 1st
      grade and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
      grades. Mediation models used bootstrapping methodology and stratified models
      examined effect modification. Adjusted models with 214 mothers demonstrated
      associations between IPV and internalizing (adjusted odds ratios (aOR)=2.62; 95%
      CI 1.11, 6.21) and externalizing (aOR=4.16; 95% CI 1.55, 11.19) behaviors. The
      association with externalizing behaviors was mediated by maternal depression and
      parenting stress, while internalizing behaviors was mediated by depression only.
      Stratified models found the association between IPV and externalizing behaviors
      was significant for girls only. Our results support the importance of
      multicomponent maternal IPV interventions.

PMID- 26889303
TI  - [Neurobrucellosis: a treatable cause of sensorineural hearing loss not to
      ignore].

PMID- 26889304
TI  - [Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: about four cases and review of the
      literature].

PMID- 26889305
TI  - [Poland syndrome].

PMID- 26889306
TI  - [Extended deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb complicating medically assisted
      procreation : about an observation].

PMID- 26889307
TI  - [Medulloblastoma in adults: report of 13 cases and literature review].

PMID- 26889308
TI  - [Sign of the " molar tooth ": characteristic MRI appearance of Joubert syndrome].

PMID- 26889310
TI  - Conjunctival venous malformations: a case report.

PMID- 26889309
TI  - Recurrent spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage associated with polyglobulia.

PMID- 26889311
TI  - [The nodule of Sister Mary Joseph, a rare contributory metastasis].

PMID- 26889312
TI  - Cavernous hemangioma of the bladder: an additional case managed by partial
      cystectomy and augmentation cystoplasty.
AB  - Cavernous Hemangioma of the Bladder (CHB) is benign and rare lesions. Clinical
      presentation has no pathognomonic signs although gross painless hematuria is the
      most frequent complain. CHB is suspected by cystoscopy and radiologic findings
      and confirmed by pathologic examinations. Management is controversial due to the
      bleeding risk of this highly vascularized lesion. Partial cystectomy is the
      treatment of choice for surgically accessible lesions. However, it appears that
      small lesions could be treated using transurethral resection. Since CHB is a rare
      case, we report another case treated successfully with a partial cystectomy
      associated with an augmentation cystoplasy. 

PMID- 26889313
TI  - Chronic tophaceous gout with unusual large tophi: case report.
AB  - Gout is a metabolic disease, which is characterized by acute or chronic
      arthritis, and deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joint, bones, soft
      tissues, and kidneys. But large tophi are unusual in chronic gout. We report the
      case of a 67-year-oldArabman presenting chronic tophaceous gout with unusual
      large tophi involving multiple joints: hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Laboratory
      workup revealed elevated serum uric acid (96 mg/l, normal: 20-74 mg/l), with
      normal renal function test. In untreated patients, chronic tophaceous gout may
      develop, which is characterized by chronic destructive polyarticular involvement
      and tophi. The treatment consists to decrease serum uric acid level which
      eventually allows the regression of tophi. 

PMID- 26889314
TI  - [Vulvo-clitoral elephantiasis: report of a new case].

PMID- 26889315
TI  - [cutaneous leiomyoma: another cause of leg ulcers].

PMID- 26889316
TI  - [Adrenal pheochromocytoma: diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties].

PMID- 26889317
TI  - The status of medical laboratory towards of AFRO-WHO accreditation process in
      government and private health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO)
      introduces a step wise incremental accreditation approach to improving quality of
      laboratory and it is a new initiative in Ethiopia and activities are performed
      for implementation of accreditation program. METHODS: Descriptive cross sectional
      study was conducted in 30 laboratory facilities including 6 laboratory sections
      to determine their status towards of accreditation using WHO AFRO accreditation
      checklist and 213 laboratory professionals were interviewed to assess their
      knowledge on quality system essentials and accreditation in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
      RESULTS: Out of 30 laboratory facilities 1 private laboratory scored 156 (62%)
      points, which is the minimum required point for WHO accreditation and the least
      score was 32 (12.8%) points from government laboratory. The assessment finding
      from each section indicate that 2 Clinical chemistry (55.2% & 62.8%), 2
      Hematology (55.2% & 62.8%), 2 Serology (55.2% & 62.8%), 2 Microbiology (55.2% &
      62.4%), 1 Parasitology (62.8%) & 1 Urinalysis (61.6%) sections scored the minimum
      required point for WHO accreditation. The average score for government
      laboratories was 78.2 (31.2%) points, of these 6 laboratories were under
      accreditation process with 106.2 (42.5%) average score, while the private
      laboratories had 71.2 (28.5%) average score. Of 213 respondents 197 (92.5%)
      professionals had a knowledge on quality system essentials whereas 155 (72.8%)
      respondents on accreditation. CONCLUSION: Although majority of the laboratory
      professionals had knowledge on quality system and accreditation, laboratories
      professionals were not able to practice the quality system properly and most of
      the laboratories had poor status towards the WHO accreditation process. Thus
      government as well as stakeholders should integrate accreditation program into
      planning and health policy.

PMID- 26889318
TI  - [Serious materno-fetal alloimmunization: about a case and review of the
      literature].

PMID- 26889319
TI  - Survival and determinants of mortality in adult HIV/Aids patients initiating
      antiretroviral therapy in Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown high initial mortality in Antiretroviral Therapy
      (ART) programs from resource-limited settings. However, there is dearth of
      evidence on treatment outcomes and associated determinant factors in public
      hospitals. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess survival and
      identify predictors of death in adult HIV-infected patients initiating ART at a
      public hospital in Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was
      conducted by reviewing baseline and follow-up records of patients who started ART
      between December 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011 at Kharamara hospital. Time to
      death was the main outcome measure. Kaplan-Meier models were used to estimate
      mortality and Cox proportional hazards models to identify predictors of
      mortality. RESULTS: A total of 784 patients (58.4% females) were followed for a
      median of 60 months. There were 87 (11.1%) deaths yielding an overall mortality
      rate of 5.15/100 PYO (95% CI: 4.73-6.37). The estimated mortality was 8.4%, 9.8%,
      11.3%, 12.7% and 14.1% at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months respectively. The
      independent predictors of death were single marital status (AHR: 2.31; 95%CI:
      1.18-4.50), a bedridden functional status (AHR: 5.91; 95%CI: 2.87-12.16),
      advanced WHO stage (AHR: 7.36; 95%CI: 3.17-17.12), BMI < 18.5 Kg/m2 (AHR: 2.20;
      95%CI: 1.18-4.09), CD4 count < 50 cells/uL (AHR: 2.70; 95%CI: 1.26-5.80), severe
      anemia (AHR: 4.57; 95%CI: 2.30-9.10), and TB co-infection (AHR: 2.30; 95%CI: 1.28
      4.11). CONCLUSION: Improved survival was observed in patients taking ART in
      Somali region of Ethiopia. The risk for death was higher in patients with
      advanced WHO stage, low CD4 count, low Hgb, low BMI, and concomitant TB
      infection. Intensive case management is recommended for patients with the
      prognostic factors. Optimal immunologic and weight recoveries in the first 6
      months suggest increased effort to retain patients in care at this period.

PMID- 26889321
TI  - Adenocarcinoma arising from chronic perianal crohn's disease: a case report.
AB  - Malignant transformation of perineal fistula in Crohn's disease has rarely been
      reported. We report a case of Crohn's disease with recurrent perineal fistulas. A
      36-year-old male, diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 24, developed
      adenocarcinoma in an anorectal fistula that had existed for years. He was treated
      with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy but died. A high index of suspicion and regular
      surveillance is recommended in chronic anorectal fistulas in Crohn's disease. The
      shorter duration of Crohn's fistulas prior to malignant degeneration necessitates
      an aggressive approach to rule out cancer. 

PMID- 26889322
TI  - [Senior Loken syndrome].

PMID- 26889320
TI  - Seven year review of retention in HIV care and treatment in federal medical
      centre Ido-Ekiti.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Poor retention of patients in care is a major driver of poor
      performance and increased morbidity and mortality in HIV/AIDS programme despite
      the expansion and advancement Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART). The objective of
      this study is to assess retention rates and possible determining factors in
      People Living with HIV (PLHIV) on ART. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross
      sectional study conducted in Federal Medical Center, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Medical
      records of clients who were enrolled in ART Care and support unit (HIV Clinic) of
      the health facility from 2005 to 2012 were reviewed and analyzed using SPSS
      version 16. A total of 621 client records were reviewed for basic demographic
      information, CD4 count, WHO stage, number of follow-up visit, client ART status
      and client retention status (defined as client attending at least one clinic
      visit in 2012. RESULTS: A total of 347(63%) patients were retained in care and
      208(37%) were not retained over the seven year review period. Retention was
      statistically significant with age (P-value 0.031), ART status (P-value 0.000)
      baseline CD4 (P-value 0.004), year of diagnosis and ART initiation (P-value=
      0.027). Poor retention was associated decreasing age, pre-ART client, HIV stage
      1&IV client and baseline CD4 above 400cell/mm(3). CONCLUSION: Retention in care
      of PLHIV is a minimum necessary condition for maintaining or restoring health in
      the long run. The strategies to sustain and improve retention rate should be
      adopted to maximize ART benefits. A follow-up study on other factors affecting
      retention from diagnosis to long term retention ART programme is recommended.

PMID- 26889324
TI  - Reexpansion pulmonary edema after drainage of tension pneumothorax.

PMID- 26889323
TI  - [Ischemic stroke in young patients: about 6 cases].

PMID- 26889325
TI  - [Acute coronary syndrome following intravenous accidental injection with
      Bupivacaine].

PMID- 26889326
TI  - [Laparoscopic resection of gastric duplication in adults: successful treatment
      for a rare disease].

PMID- 26889327
TI  - [Predictive factors of TB treatment failure in Guinea Conakry].

PMID- 26889328
TI  - [Visual ability to driving: example of candidates for the driving license in
      Libreville].

PMID- 26889329
TI  - [Bone disease mimicking multiple myeloma in a octogenarian].

PMID- 26889330
TI  - [A rare muscular complication of hemophilia: Myositis ossificans].

PMID- 26889331
TI  - Intra and latero-sellar carotid aneurysm mimicking a pituitary adenoma.

PMID- 26889332
TI  - [Acute coronary syndrome: a mode of uncommon revelation of pheochromocytoma].

PMID- 26889333
TI  - [Prevalence of hypertension in the population of the millers of the city of
      Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo].

PMID- 26889334
TI  - [Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the cavum: prognostic factors and therapeutic
      protocols].

PMID- 26889335
TI  - [Purtscher retinopathy in Lupus].

PMID- 26889336
TI  - [Upper gastrointestinal bleeding revealing a leech].

PMID- 26889338
TI  - The "phantom" rash of Still's disease.

PMID- 26889339
TI  - Desmoid tumour: a rare etiology of intestinal obstruction.
AB  - Intestinal obstruction is a frequently encountered entity in surgical practice.
      The signs & symptoms, many a times, are suggestive of the level of obstruction,
      making the diagnosis of obstruction evident. There are various causes of
      intestinal obstruction which diversify to an enormous extent, stamping on the
      famous paradigm for the mysterious nature of the abdomen being referred to as the
      Pandora's Box. In accordance with the above saying, we report a rare case of a
      desmoid tumour, presenting as intestinal obstruction, which entices us to
      strongly believe the same. 

PMID- 26889340
TI  - [Secondary chondrosarcoma of rare fibular location: report of a case].

PMID- 26889337
TI  - An assessment of priority setting process and its implication on availability of
      emergency obstetric care services in Malindi District, Kenya.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In spite of the critical role of Emergency Obstetric Care in
      treating complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth, very few facilities
      are equipped in Kenya to offer this service. In Malindi, availability of EmOC
      services does not meet the UN recommended levels of at least one comprehensive
      and four basic EmOC facilities per 500,000 populations. This study was conducted
      to assess priority setting process and its implication on availability, access
      and use of EmOC services at the district level. METHODS: A qualitative study was
      conducted both at health facility and community levels. Triangulation of data
      sources and methods was employed, where document reviews, in-depth interviews and
      focus group discussions were conducted with health personnel, facility committee
      members, stakeholders who offer and/ or support maternal health services and
      programmes; and the community members as end users. Data was thematically
      analysed. RESULTS: Limitations in the extent to which priorities in regard to
      maternal health services can be set at the district level were observed. The
      priority setting process was greatly restricted by guidelines and limited
      resources from the national level. Relevant stakeholders including community
      members are not involved in the priority setting process, thereby denying them
      the opportunity to contribute in the process. CONCLUSION: The findings illuminate
      that consideration of all local plans in national planning and budgeting as well
      as the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the priority setting exercise
      is essential in order to achieve a consensus on the provision of emergency
      obstetric care services among other health service priorities.

PMID- 26889341
TI  - [Surgical treatment of palmar carpometacarpal dislocation: report of a case].

PMID- 26889343
TI  - Mandibular Symphyseal/Parasymphyseal Fracture with Incisor Tooth Loss: Preventing
      Lower Arch Constriction.
AB  - Mandibular fractures are the second most common fractures of the face after the
      nasal bone. Mandibular symphyseal/parasymphyseal fracture comprises 15.6 to 29.3%
      of mandibular fractures. Tooth loss in the fracture line is a known phenomenon,
      but space loss has not been evaluated comprehensively in the literature. In a
      retrospective study, patients with mandibular symphyseal/parasymphyseal
      fractures, who had been treated from 2012 to 2013 in Mashhad University, Iran,
      Emdadi Hospital, were recalled. Patients with mandibular incisor tooth/teeth loss
      were included in the study. Space loss, the technique used to replace the lost
      tooth/teeth, upper and lower dental midline relationship, combination fracture or
      fractures in other facial skeleton, and type of treatment were evaluated. Of 98
      patients with mandibular symphyseal/parasymphyseal fractures, 22.5% had incisor
      tooth/teeth loss. In this group, 73% had space loss. Only four patients had
      replaced the lost tooth/teeth. Dental midlines did not match each other in
      patients whose feature was evaluated. Open reduction and internal fixation with
      miniplates were used in symphyseal/parasymphyseal fractures except one. Space
      loss after mandibular symphyseal/parasymphyseal fracture with incisor tooth loss
      is a common error. The most important factor to prevent complications related to
      space loss following mandibular symphyseal/parasymphyseal fracture accompanying
      incisor tooth loss is space preservation. 

PMID- 26889342
TI  - Bioactive-glass in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
AB  - The use of synthetic materials to repair craniofacial defects is increasing today
      and will increase further in the future. Because of the complexity of the anatomy
      in the head and neck region, reconstruction and augmentation of this area pose a
      challenge to the surgeon. This review discusses key facts and applications of
      traditional reconstruction bone substitutes, also offering comparative
      information. It then describes the properties and clinical applications of
      bioactive-glass (B-G) and its variants in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and
      provides clinical findings. The discussion of each compound includes a
      description of its composition and structure, the advantages and shortcomings of
      the material, and its current uses in the field of osteoplastic and
      reconstructive surgery. With a better understanding of the available alloplastic
      implants, the surgeon can make a more informed decision as to which implant would
      be most suitable in a particular patient. 

PMID- 26889344
TI  - The Role of a Conservative Minimal Interventional Management Protocol in the
      Fractures of the Dentate Portion of the Adult Mandible.
AB  - Mandibular fractures are commonly encountered by the maxillofacial surgeon.
      Maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF),
      or a combination of both, are the accepted standard treatments. This study aims
      to assess the role of a conservative minimal intervention protocol in the
      management of undisplaced/minimally displaced fractures of the dentate portion of
      the adult mandible and the complications associated with such minimalistic
      intervention. Thirty-four patients with undisplaced/minimally displaced fractures
      of the dentate portion of the adult mandible were advised to restrict mouth
      opening and limit themselves to a soft diet for a minimum of 4 weeks. All
      patients were advised follow-up at regular intervals for at least 3 months. Five
      patients were lost to follow-up. Symphysis and parasymphysis fractures were the
      most common fracture locations. Fourteen patients needed tension band
      stabilization with a mandibular arch bar/bridle wiring and three patients
      required extraction of luxated teeth. All patients showed satisfactory healing
      except three in whom additional intervention (ORIF) was performed. The
      improvement in mouth opening was statistically significant. Complications were
      seen more frequently among smokers and alcoholics. For patients with minimally
      displaced mandibular fractures, it is necessary to consider if the perceived
      benefits of intervention justify the associated added costs and possible
      complications. Patients have to be fully informed about the possible
      complications while using this minimal intervention protocol. This study
      concludes that a conservative minimal intervention management protocol for such
      fractures of the dentate portion of the mandible can produce satisfactory
      results. 

PMID- 26889346
TI  - Patterns of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Pediatric Patients with Facial Fractures.
AB  - Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a potentially fatal injury accompanying
      fractures of the cranium and facial skeleton. When occurring at a young age, ICH
      can lead to developmental delay, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and death. It is
      therefore important for clinicians to recognize the presence of ICH early, and
      understand the factors that affect its prognosis. In this study, we aim to
      identify diagnostic and prognostic signs for ICH in pediatric facial fracture
      patients by examining aspects of patient presentation, concomitant injuries, and
      fracture patterns. Data were collected for all radiologically diagnosed facial
      fractures between January 2000 and December 2012 at a level I trauma center in
      Newark, NJ. This was then further refined to include only patients 18 years of
      age or younger who had a documented ICH. Patient age, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) on
      presentation, fracture location, type of hemorrhage, and certain aspects of
      management were collected from these records. Data were then analyzed by either
      Pearson chi-square test or a t-test to determine significant relationships. A
      total of 285 pediatric patients were found to have sustained a facial fracture
      during this time period, 67 of which had concomitant ICH; 46 of these patients
      were male and 21 were female, with average ages of 14.26 and 9.52 (p < 0.01),
      respectively. Causes of injury included motor vehicle accidents, pedestrians
      struck, assault, falls, gunshot injuries, and sports-related injuries. All
      patients who suffered injuries as a result of violent crimes (assault and gunshot
      injuries) were male. Although nearly all fracture patterns were significantly
      associated with the presence of ICH, mandibular fractures showed a significant
      negative association with the presence of ICH. In addition, patients who received
      surgical intervention were significantly younger than those who did not (7.7 vs.
      13.7, p < 0.05). The GCS was significantly lower in patients who underwent ICP
      (intracranial pressure) monitoring or EVD (external ventricular drain) placement,
      suffered intraventricular hemorrhage, experienced worsening of hemorrhage on
      repeat imaging, and suffered fatal injuries. Our data also showed a significant
      association between the need for intubation in the emergency department and
      fatality. Because the consequence of ICH can be life threatening, proper
      diagnosis and management are imperative. The purpose of this study is to describe
      patterns associated with ICH in pediatric facial fracture patients to promote
      early recognition of the injury and understanding of poor prognostic signs. 

PMID- 26889345
TI  - Modified Transconjunctival Approach to the Lower Eyelid: Technical Details for
      Predictable Results.
AB  - The transconjunctival approach to the lower orbit is well described in the
      literature and has been used for both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes. When
      properly performed, it allows access to the orbital floor and inferior orbital
      rim with minimal lower lid morbidity and an inconspicuous scar. Many variations
      of this approach have been described and these can lead to confusion and
      uncertainty regarding the surgical technique including when and how to best
      utilize this approach in the traumatized eyelid. Residents and less experienced
      attendings employing this approach often fail to fully understand the technical
      and anatomic details that can make this a very fast and simple way to gain
      complete access to the inferior, medial, and lateral orbit while minimizing
      complications such as postoperative lid malposition and canthal deformities. We
      describe our method for transconjunctival access to the inferior orbital rim and
      orbital floor with specific attention to several precise surgical aspects that
      make this a fast and reliable technique with low morbidity and predictable
      architecture of closure. 

PMID- 26889348
TI  - Transcaruncular Approach for Treatment of Medial Wall and Large Orbital Blowout
      Fractures.
AB  - We evaluate the safety and efficacy of the transcaruncular approach for
      reconstruction of medial orbital wall fractures and the combined transcaruncular
      transconjunctival approach for reconstruction of large orbital defects involving
      the medial wall and floor. A retrospective review of the clinical and
      radiographic data of patients who underwent either a transcaruncular or a
      combined transcaruncular-transconjunctival approach by a single surgeon for
      orbital fractures between June 2007 and June 2013 was undertaken. Seven patients
      with isolated medial wall fractures underwent a transcaruncular approach, and
      nine patients with combined medial wall and floor fractures underwent a
      transcaruncular-transconjunctival approach with a lateral canthotomy.
      Reconstruction was performed using a porous polyethylene implant. All patients
      with isolated medial wall fractures presented with enophthalmos. In the combined
      medial wall and floor group, five out of eight patients had enophthalmos with two
      also demonstrating hypoglobus. The size of the medial wall defect on preoperative
      computed tomography (CT) scan ranged from 2.6 to 4.6 cm(2); the defect size of
      combined medial wall and floor fractures was 4.5 to 12.7 cm(2). Of the 11
      patients in whom postoperative CT scans were obtained, all were noted to have
      acceptable placement of the implant. All patients had correction of enophthalmos
      and hypoglobus. One complication was noted, with a retrobulbar hematoma having
      developed 2 days postoperatively. The transcaruncular approach is a safe and
      effective method for reconstruction of medial orbital floor fractures. Even large
      fractures involving the orbital medial wall and floor can be adequately exposed
      and reconstructed with a combined transcaruncular-transconjunctival-lateral
      canthotomy approach. The level of evidence of this study is IV (case series with
      pre/posttest). 

PMID- 26889347
TI  - Reconstructive Indications of Anterolateral Thigh Free Flaps in Head and Neck
      Reconstruction.
AB  - Anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap is a common flap with multitude of
      indications. The purpose of this article is to review the reconstructive
      indications of the flap in head and neck defects. This is a retrospective study
      of 194 consecutive ALT flaps. Data including patient characteristics (age, sex,
      comorbidities), disease characteristics (histology, T stage), and flap
      characteristics (size of the flap, type of closure of ALT donor site) were
      collected. The outcome in terms of flap success rate, surgical, and donor site
      morbidity were studied. A total of 194 flaps were performed in 193 patients over
      a period of 10 years. Mean age of the patients was 55 years (range 16-80 years).
      Out of the 193 patients, 91 (47.1%) patients had oromandibular defects, 52
      (26.9%) had tongue defects, 15 (7.7%) had pharyngeal defects, 17 (8.8%) had skull
      base defects, 4 (2%) had scalp defects, and 14 (7.2%) had contour defects of the
      neck. The overall flap success rate was 95.8% (8 total flap loss out of 194).
      Hypertrophic scar was the commonest donor site problem seen in 20 (10.3%)
      patients. This study shows the versatility of free ALT flap in head and neck
      reconstruction. It is a reliable and safe. Donor site morbidity is minimal. 

PMID- 26889349
TI  - Orbital Wall Reconstruction with Two-Piece Puzzle 3D Printed Implants: Technical
      Note.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to describe a technique for secondary
      reconstruction of traumatic orbital wall defects using titanium implants that act
      as three-dimensional (3D) puzzle pieces. We present three cases of large defect
      reconstruction using implants produced by Xilloc Medical B.V. (Maastricht, the
      Netherlands) with a 3D printer manufactured by LayerWise (3D Systems; Heverlee,
      Belgium), and designed using the biomedical engineering software programs ProPlan
      and 3-Matic (Materialise, Heverlee, Belgium). The smaller size of the implants
      allowed sequential implantation for the reconstruction of extensive two-wall
      defects via a limited transconjunctival incision. The precise fit of the implants
      with regard to the surrounding ledges and each other was confirmed by
      intraoperative 3D imaging (Mobile C-arm Systems B.V. Pulsera, Philips Medical
      Systems, Eindhoven, the Netherlands). The patients showed near-complete
      restoration of orbital volume and ocular motility. However, challenges remain,
      including traumatic fat atrophy and fibrosis. 

PMID- 26889350
TI  - Assessment of Bite Force in Patients Treated with 2.0-mm Traditional Miniplates
      versus 2.0-mm Locking Plates for Mandibular Fracture.
AB  - The objective of this study is to analyze the difference in bite forces in
      patients treated for mandibular fractures with 2.0 mm conventional and locking
      titanium plating system. A randomized study was performed for the treatment of
      fractures of mandible. In this study, 20 adult patients with isolated mandibular
      fracture were included. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups,
      that is, Group I-2.0 mm nonlocking (traditional) and Group II-2.0 mm locking
      plates. Bite force was evaluated at 1st, 3rd, and 6th weeks. Comparison of all
      the assessed parameters between both the groups depicted no significant
      difference in terms of pain, swelling including the incidence of infection,
      paresthesia, and hardware failure. Although same was true in case of bite force
      between both the groups at various time intervals, there was statistically
      significant increase in the bite force within the group comprising patients in
      whom locking plates was used between 1st and 3rd weeks follow-up period and
      highly significant increase in bite force between 1st and 6th weeks of follow-up
      period. The rapid improvement of bite force values when locking plates were used
      implies that the locking plate can be used in preference to conventional plates
      to achieve early mobilization with assured stability in the treatment of
      mandibular fractures. 

PMID- 26889351
TI  - Assessment of Mandibular Distraction Regenerate Using Ultrasonography and Cone
      Beam Computed Tomography: A Clinical Study.
AB  - Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is becoming a popular method of reconstruction for
      maxillofacial bony deformities or defects secondary to trauma or surgical tumor
      ablation. However, the technique is very sensitive in terms of the rate and
      rhythm of distraction. Because of this, there is a need for monitoring of the
      distraction regenerate during the distraction as well as the consolidation
      period. The present study was conducted to assess the regenerate using two
      imaging modalities, namely, ultrasonography (USG) and cone beam computed
      tomography (CBCT) to determine their relative efficacies and to weigh their
      clinical usefulness in assessment of DO regenerate. The study was conducted on 12
      patients (18 sites) who underwent mandibular distraction for correction of facial
      deformities. The results showed that overall USG correlated better with the
      condition of regenerate (r = 0.606) as compared with CBCT (r = 0.476). However,
      USG was less effective as compared with CBCT in assessing the regenerate once
      corticomedullary differentiation occurred in the bone. 

PMID- 26889352
TI  - Opportunity Cost of Surgical Management of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma.
AB  - The provision of trauma care is a financial burden, continually associated with
      low reimbursement, and shifts the economic burden to major trauma centers and
      providers. Meanwhile, the volume of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma and the
      number of surgically managed facial fractures are unchanged. Past financial
      analyses of cost and reimbursement for facial trauma are limited to mandibular
      and midface injuries, consistently revealing low reimbursement. The incurred
      financial burden also coincides with the changing landscape of health insurance.
      The goal of this study is to determine the opportunity cost of operative
      management of facial trauma at our institution. From our CMF database of greater
      than 3,000 facial fractures, the physician charges, collections, and relative
      value units (RVUs) for CMF trauma per year from 2007 to 2013 were compared with a
      general plastic surgery and otolaryngology population undergoing operative
      management during this same period. Collection rates were analyzed to assess if a
      significant difference exists between reimbursement for CMF and non-CMF cases.
      Results revealed a significant difference between the professional collection
      rate for operative CMF trauma and that for other operative procedures (17.25 vs.
      29.61%, respectively; p < 0.0001). The average number of RVUs billed per provider
      for CMF trauma declines significantly, from greater than 700 RVUs to 300 over the
      study period, despite a stable volume. Surgical management of CMF trauma
      generates an unfavorable financial environment. The large opportunity cost
      associated with offering this service is a potential threat to the sustainability
      of providing care for this population. 

PMID- 26889353
TI  - Custom Anatomical 3D Spacer for Temporomandibular Joint Resection and
      Reconstruction.
AB  - Two cases are presented using a two-stage approach and a custom antibiotic spacer
      placement. Temporomandibular reconstruction can be very demanding and
      accomplished with a variety of methods in preparation of a total joint and ramus
      reconstruction with total joint prostheses (TMJ Concepts, Ventura, CA). Three
      dimensional reconstructions from diagnostic computed tomography were used to
      establish a virtually planned resection which included the entire condyle-ramus
      complex. From these data, digital designs were used to manufacture molds to
      facilitate intraoperative fabrication of precise custom anatomic spacers from
      rapidly setting antibiotic-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate. Molds were
      manufactured using vat polymerization (stereolithography) with a photopolymer in
      the first case and powder bed fusion (electron beam melting) with Ti6AL4V for the
      second. Surgical methodology and the use of molds for intraoperative spacer
      fabrication for each case are discussed. 

PMID- 26889354
TI  - Guided Bone Regeneration of an Atrophic Mandible with a Heterologous Bone Block.
AB  - The aim of this work was to test the effectiveness of using enzymatically
      deantigenated equine bone block as a scaffold for guided bone regeneration (GBR)
      during a horizontal augmentation of the lower jaw. A partially edentulous
      atrophic mandible was augmented using an equine-derived block with an expanded
      polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. After 8.5 months, two bone core samples were
      collected at the augmentation site, and implants were placed. A definitive
      prosthesis delivered 6 months after implant placement provided excellent
      functional and aesthetic rehabilitation throughout the follow-up period.
      Histological and histomorphometrical analysis of the biopsies showed newly formed
      bone to be present and the residual biomaterial was still undergoing remodeling.
      Comparison of cone beam computed tomography scans taken before augmentation and
      26 months later showed maintenance of ridge width and possible corticalization of
      the vestibular augmented ridge side. The equine-derived bone block placed in
      accordance with GBR principles provided a successful clinical, radiographic, and
      histological outcome. 

PMID- 26889356
TI  - Effect of Temperature, Concentration and Contact Time of Sodium Hypochlorite on
      the Treatment and Revitalization of Oral Biofilms.
AB  - Background and aims. Increasing the temperature of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
      enhances its dissolution and antibacterial properties. However, the high
      resistance of multi-species biofilms could restrict the effect of the solution
      regardless of its temperature, enabling the long-term recovery of the surviving
      bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate if the increase of temperature
      of NaOCl improves its antibacterial and dissolution ability on oral biofilms and
      if the post-treatment remaining bacteria were capable of growing in a nutrient
      rich medium. Materials and methods. Forty dentin blocks were infected intra
      orally for 48 hours. Then, the specimens were treated with 1% and 2.5% NaOCl at
      room temperature (22oC) and body temperature (37oC) for 5 and 20 min. The
      percentage of live cells and the biovolume were measured pre- (control) and post
      treatment and after the biofilm revitalization. Four confocal 'stacks' were
      chosen from random areas of each sample. Statistical analysis was performed using
      Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Statistical significance was defined at P <0.05.
      Results. All the NaOCl groups were effective in dissolving the biofilm at any
      temperature, concentration and contact time without statistical differences among
      them (P >0.05). The 1%-NaOCl for 5min was not able to significantly kill the
      bacteria, regardless of its temperature and contact time (P >0.05). Conclusion.
      The temperature variation of the NaOCl was not relevant in killing or dissolving
      bacterial biofilms. Twenty-four hours of reactivation did not appear to be enough
      time to induce a significant bacterial growth. 

PMID- 26889357
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Manufacturing Process on Distortion of
      Rotary ProFile and Twisted File: An in Vitro SEM Study.
AB  - Background and aims. The manufacturing process of rotary Ni-Ti file can influence
      its resistance to fracture. The rotary ProFile (Dentsply-Maillefer, Baillagues,
      Switzerland) is manufactured by grinding mechanism whereas Twisted File (Sy-bron
      Endo, USA) is manufactured with a twisting method. The purpose of this study was
      to comparatively evaluate the effect of manufacturing process on distortion of
      rotary ProFile and Twisted files using scanning electron microscopy after in
      vitro use. Materials and methods. Five sets of each type of file were used for
      this study -rotary ProFile (group A) and Twisted file (group B). Each set was
      used according to manufacturer's instructions to prepare 5 mesial canals of
      extracted mandibular molars. The changes in files were observed under a scanning
      electron microscope at *18, *100, *250 and *500 magnifications. Observations were
      classified as intact with no discernible distortion, intact but with unwinding,
      and fractured. Group A and B were then compared for deformation and fracture
      using two-proportion z-test. Results. On SEM observation, used rotary ProFile
      showed microfractures along the machining grooves whereas Twisted file showed
      crack propagation that was perpendicular to the machining marks. On statistical
      analysis, no significant difference was found between ProFile and Twisted file
      for deformation (P=0.642) and fracture (P=0.475). Conclusion. Within the
      experimental protocol of this study, it was concluded that both ProFile and
      Twisted files exhibited visible sign of distortion before fracture. But Twisted
      file gained edge over ProFile because of its manufacture design and unparalleled
      resistance to breakage. 

PMID- 26889355
TI  - Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome: A Long-Term Study in a Family.
AB  - We present a family case series with 10 individuals having nevoid basal cell
      carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) with a 10-year follow-up. All articles published in
      the literature between 1967 and 2011 on familial Gorlin-Goltz syndrome in any
      language were surveyed to determine the mapping of cases per country of
      occurrence of this disease. All patients in the present series were presented
      with calcification of the falx cerebri, mild hypertelorism, and frontal bossing.
      Odontogenic keratocystic tumors, palmar and plantar pits, and multiple basal cell
      carcinomas occurred in 90, 40, and 20%, respectively, of the patients. One of the
      patients died of skin cancer. Diagnosis of odontogenic keratocyst tumors was
      confirmed by histopathological examination. NBCCS is a rare autosomal dominant
      cancer predisposition syndrome; it is important to recognize it when a patient
      has multiple odontogenic keratocyst tumors because life-long monitoring is
      essential for patient management. 

PMID- 26889358
TI  - Comparison of Push-out Bond Strength of Gutta-percha to Root Canal Dentin in
      Single-cone and Cold Lateral Compaction Techniques with AH Plus Sealer in
      Mandibular Premolars.
AB  - Background and aims. The single-cone technique has gained some popularity in some
      European countries. The aim of the present study was to compare the push-out bond
      strength of gutta-percha to root canal dentin with the single-cone and cold
      lateral compaction canal obturation techniques. Materials and methods . The root
      canals of 58 human mandibular premolars were prepared using modified crown-down
      technique with ProTaper rotary files up to #F3as a master apical file (MAF) and
      divided randomly into groups A and B based on canal obturation technique. In
      group A (n = 29) the root canals were obturated with single-cone technique with
      #F3(30/.09) ProTaper gutta-percha, which was matched with MAF in relation to
      diameter, taper and manufacturer; in group B (n = 29) the canals were obturated
      with gutta-percha using cold lateral compaction technique. In both groups AH plus
      sealer were used. After two weeks of incubation, three 2-mm slices were prepared
      at a distance of 2 mm from the coronal surface and push-out test was carried out.
      Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using independent samples t-test.
      Results. There were statistically significant differences between two groups. The
      mean push-out bond strength was higher in group B (lateral compaction technique)
      compared to group A (single-cone technique; P < 0.05). Conclusion . Use of single
      cone technique for obturation of root canals resulted in a lower bond strength
      compared to cold lateral compaction technique. 

PMID- 26889359
TI  - Evaluation of Polymerization Efficacy in Composite Resins via FT-IR Spectroscopy
      and Vickers Microhardness Test.
AB  - Background and aims. Polymerization efficacy affects the properties and
      performance of composite resin restorations.The purpose of this study was to
      evaluate the effectiveness of polymerization of two micro-hybrid, two nano-hybrid
      and one nano-filled ormocer-based composite resins, cured by two different light
      curing systems, using Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and
      Vickers microhardness testing at two different depths (top surface, 2 mm).
      Materials and methods. For FT-IR spectrometry, five cylindrical specimens (5mm in
      diameter * 2 mm in length) were prepared from each composite resin using Teflon
      molds and polymerized for 20 seconds. Then, 70-MUm wafers were sectioned at the
      top surface and at2mm from the top surface. The degree of conversion for each
      sample was calculated using FT-IR spectroscopy. For Vickers micro-hardness
      testing, three cylindrical specimens were prepared from each composite resin and
      polymerized for 20 seconds. The Vickers microhardness test (Shimadzu, Type M,
      Japan) was performed at the top and bottom (depth=2 mm) surfaces of each
      specimen. Three-way ANOVA with independent variables and Tukey tests were
      performed at 95% significance level. Results. No significant differences were
      detected in degree of conversion and microhardness between LED and QTH light
      curing units except for the ormocer-based specimen, CeramX, which exhibited
      significantly higher DC by LED. All the composite resins showed a significantly
      higher degree of conversion at the surface. Microhardness was not significantly
      affected by depth, except for Herculite XRV Ultra and CeramX, which showed higher
      values at the surface. Conclusion. Composite resins containing nano-particles
      generally exhibited more variations in degree of conversion and microhardness. 

PMID- 26889360
TI  - Effect of Resin Cement Pre-heating on the Push-out Bond Strength of Fiber Post to
      Root Canal Dentin.
AB  - Background and aims. Various factors influence the interfacial bond between the
      fiber posts and root canal dentin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate
      the effect of pre-warming of resin cement on the push-out bond strength of fiber
      posts to various segments of root canal dentin. Materials and methods . In this
      in vitro study, 40 single-rooted human premolars were decoronated and underwent
      root canal treatment along with post space preparation. The samples were randomly
      divided into two groups: In group 1, Panavia F 2.0 cement was used at room
      temperature; in group 2, the same cement was warmed to 55-60 degrees C before
      mixing. After fiber posts were placed and cemented in the root canals, 3
      dentin/post sections (coronal, middle and apical) with a thickness of 3 mm were
      prepared. A universal testing machine was used to measure push-out bond strength
      in MPa. Data was analyzed using two-factor ANOVA and a post hoc Tukey test at
      alpha=0.05. Results. The mean value of push-out bond strength was high at room
      temperature, and the differences in the means of push-out bond strength values
      between the resin cement temperatures and between different root segments in each
      temperature were significant (P<0.05). Conclusion. Pre-warming of Panavia F 2.0
      resin cement up to 55-60 degrees C reduced push-out bond strength to root canal
      dentin. In addition, in each temperature group bond strengths decreased from
      coronal to apical segments. 

PMID- 26889361
TI  - Effects of Treatment with Various Remineralizing Agents on the Microhardness of
      Demineralized Enamel Surface.
AB  - Background and aims. Remineralization of incipient caries is one of the goals in
      dental health care. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of casein
      phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate complex (CPP-ACP), Remin Pro((r)), and
      5% sodium fluoride varnish on remineralization of enamel lesions. Materials and
      methods. In this in vitro study, 60 enamel samples were randomly allocated to six
      groups of 10. After four days of immersion in demineralizing solution,
      microhardness of all samples was measured. Afterward, groups 1-3 underwent one
      time treatment with fluoride varnish, CPP-ACP, and Remin Pro((r)), respectively.
      Microhardness of groups 4-6 was measured not only after one-month treatment with
      the above-mentioned materials (for eight hours a day), but also after re-exposing
      to the demineralizing solution. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of
      variance (ANOVA), repeated measures ANOVA, and Fisher's least significant
      difference (LSD) test. Results . None of the regimens could increase
      microhardness in groups 1-3. However, one-month treatment regimens in groups 4-6
      caused a significant increase in microhardness. The greatest microhardness was
      detected in the group treated with CPP-ACP (P = 0.001). In addition, although
      microhardness reduced following re-demineralization in all three groups, the mean
      reduction was minimum in the CPP-ACP-treated group (P < 0.001). Conclusion. While
      long-term repeated application of all compounds improved microhardness, the
      remineralization potential of CPP-ACP was significantly higher than that of Remin
      Pro((r)) and sodium fluoride varnish. 

PMID- 26889363
TI  - Evaluation of Force Degradation Pattern of Elastomeric Ligatures and Elastomeric
      Separators in Active Tieback State.
AB  - Background and aims. The purpose of this study was to evaluate initial force and
      force decay of commercially available elastomeric ligatures and elastomeric
      separators in active tieback state in a simulated oral environment. Materials and
      methods. A total of 288 elastomeric ligatures and elastomeric separators from
      three manufacturers (Dentaurum, RMO, 3M Unitek) were stretched to 100% and 150%
      of their original inner diameter. Force levels were measured initially and at 3
      minute, 24-hour, and 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week intervals. Data were analyzed by
      univariate analysis of variance and a post hoc Tukey test. Results. The means of
      initial forces of elastomeric ligatures and separators from three above-mentioned
      companies, when stretched to 100% of their inner diameters, were 199, 305 and 284
      g, and 330, 416, 330 g; when they were stretched to 150% of their inner diameters
      the values were 286, 422 and 375 g, and 433, 540 and 504 g, respectively. In
      active tieback state, 11-18% of the initial force of the specimens was lost
      within the first 3 minutes and 29-63% of the force decay occurred in the first 24
      hours; then force decay rate decreased. 62-81% of the initial force was lost in 4
      weeks. Although force decay pattern was identical in all the products, the
      initial force and force decay of Dentaurum elastomeric products were less than
      the similar products of other companies (P<0.05). Under the same conditions, the
      force of elastomeric separators was greater than elastomeric ligatures of the
      same company. Conclusion. Regarding the force pattern of elastomeric ligatures
      and separators and optimal force for tooth movement, many of these products can
      be selected for applying orthodontic forces in active tieback state. 

PMID- 26889362
TI  - The Comparison of Stress Distribution with Different Implant Numbers and
      Inclination Angles In All-on-four and Conventional Methods in Maxilla: A Finite
      Element Analysis.
AB  - Background and aims. All-on-four technique involves the use of tilted implants to
      allow for shorter cantilevers. This finite element analysis aimed at
      investigating the amount and distribution of stress in maxillary bone surrounding
      the implants with all-on-four vs. frequently used method with six implants
      technique using different numbers and inclination angles. Materials and methods.
      A 3D edentulous maxillary model was created and implants were virtually placed
      anterior to the maxillary sinus and splinted with a superstructure. In total,
      five models were designed. In the first to the fourth models, four implants were
      placed with distal implants inclined 0, 15, 30, and 45 degrees, respectively. In
      the fifth model, six vertical implants were placed. 100 N loading was placed in
      the left most distal region of the superstructure. Maximum von Mises stress
      values were evaluated in cancellous and cortical bone. Results. The maximum
      stress values recorded in cancellous and cortical bone were 7.15 MPa and 51.69
      MPa, respectively (model I). The reduction in stress values in models II to V 6%,
      18%, 54%, and 24% in cancellous bone and 12%, 36%,62%, and 62% in cortical bone,
      respectively. Conclusion. Increasing the inclination in posterior implants
      resulted in reduction of cantilever length and maximum stress decline in both
      cancellous and cortical bone. The effect of cantilever length seems to be a
      dominant factor which can diminish stress even with less number of implants. 

PMID- 26889364
TI  - Evaluation of the Relationship between Serum Lipid Profile andOral Lichen Planus.
AB  - Background and aims. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunologic disorder. A large
      number of studies have reported that lipid rafts have a key role in receptor
      signaling of lymphocytes. Here, we explore the potential of lipid rafts as
      targets for the development of a new class of agents to down-modulate immune
      responses and treat autoimmune diseases. Materials and methods. The present cross
      sectional study evaluated 88 patients referring to the Department of Oral
      Medicine in 3 groups (Group 1: erosive OLP; Group 2: non-erosive OLP; Group 3:
      healthy). A total of 3 mL of blood sample was taken from each subject and the
      serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL were determined. The mean
      outcomes of each group were compared with each other and analyzed two by two.
      Results. The results of statistical analyses showed no significant differences in
      mean HDL and LDL serum levels between the three groups. The results of post hoc
      LSD test showed that mean serum levels of subjects with erosive and non-erosive
      lichen planus were higher than those in healthy subjects. In relation to
      triglyceride serum levels, the mean serum levels of triglycerides were higher in
      erosive and non-erosive OLP patients compared to healthy subjects. Conclusion.
      Triglyceride and cholesterol can be considered to have a critical role in the
      incidence of lichen planus and in its manifestations as predisposing factors. 

PMID- 26889365
TI  - Garlic ((Allium sativum)) Fresh Juice Induces Apoptosis in Human Oral Squamous
      Cell Carcinoma: The Involvement of Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2.
AB  - Background and aims. There is no report on the apoptotic impact of Allium sativum
      L.(Garlic) on the oral squamous cell carcinoma (KB); hence, this study was
      designed to survey the apoptotic effects of garlic fresh juice (GFJ) on the KB
      cells. Materials and methods. MTTassay (MicrocultureTetrazolium Assay) was
      carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity of GFJ on KB cells. Furthermore,
      TUNEL(Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling)and
      DNA fragmentation tests were performed to determine if GFJ is able to induce
      apoptosis in KB cells. Also a standard kit was used to assess caspase-3 activity
      in KB cells. Also western blotting was employed to evaluate the effect of GFJ on
      Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. Results. Significant cytotoxic effects were observed for the
      minimum used concentration (1MUg/mL) as calculated to be 77.97+/-2.3% for 24 h
      and 818+/-3.1% for 36h of incubation (P < 0.001). Furthermore, TUNEL and DNA
      fragmentation tests corroborated the apoptosis inducing activity of GFJ.
      Consistently, after treating KB cells with GFJ(1MUg/mL), caspase-3 activity and
      Bax:Bcl-2 ratio were raised by 7.3+/-0.6 and (P <0.001) folds, respectively.
      Conclusion. The results of this study advanced that GFJ induces apoptosis in the
      KB cells through increasing caspase-3 activity and Bax:Bcl2 ratio which could be
      attributed to its organo-sulfurcomponents. 

PMID- 26889366
TI  - Candida Carriage Rate and Growth Characteristics of Saliva in Diabetes Mellitus
      Patients: A Case-Control Study.
AB  - Background and aims. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship
      between salivary glucose levels and Candida carriage rate in type 2 diabetes
      mellitus patients and assess the growth characteristics and acid production of
      Candida in glucose-supplemented saliva. Materials and methods . A total of 90
      subjects, 30 with controlled type 2 diabetes, 30 with uncontrolled type 2
      diabetes and 30 without diabetes (control subjects), aged 30-60 years,
      participated in the study. Unstimulated saliva was collected and investigated for
      glucose levels (GOD-POD method), colony-forming units (CFU) of Candida and
      salivary pH, using Indikrom paper strips). Analysis of statistical significance
      of salivary glucose and PH levels was carried out using post hoc Tukey HSD test.
      Correlation of Candida carriage rate with salivary glucose and salivary PH in the
      study groups and control group was made using Pearson's correlation. Results.
      Candida CFUs were significantly higher in diabetic subjects, with a significant
      and positive correlation with salivary glucose levels. There was a negative
      correlation between salivary PH levels and Candida carriage rate. Conclusion.
      Increased salivary glucose was associated with increased prevalence of oral
      Candida in diabetic subjects. The growth of Candida in saliva was accompanied by
      a rapid decline in PH, which in turn favored their growth. 

PMID- 26889367
TI  - Effect of Cigarette Smoke on Salivary Total Antioxidant Capacity.
AB  - Background and aims. Cigarette smoke can induce oral cancer by its free radicals
      and oxidative damage. Salivary anti-oxidants system is believed to have an
      important role in defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. This study was
      compared total antioxidant capacity (TAoC) of saliva in smokers and nonsmokers.
      Materials and methods . In this cross-sectional study, 30 male smokers with mean
      age of 45.23 years and 30 nonsmokers with mean age of 45.30 years participated.
      Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected in the morning in two groups by
      spitting method. TAoC of saliva was measured with the special kit in two groups
      at the same time. Statistical analysis was performed by covariance test. Results.
      The mean salivary TAoC in nonsmokers (0.741+/-0.123 U/ml) was higher than that in
      smokers (0.529+/-0.167 U/ml). This difference was statistically significant
      (P<0.001). Conclusion. Smoking can alter salivary antioxidant capacity. 

PMID- 26889368
TI  - Variations in Practice to Therapeutic Monitoring of Tacrolimus following Primary
      Adult Liver Transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is limited clinical evidence evaluating the correlation between
      immunosuppressant monitoring practice and transplant outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To
      assess current practice of tacrolimus trough monitoring in early post-operative
      period following liver transplantation (LT), and its impact on outcomes. METHODS:
      The duration to trough levels (DTT) were calculated in patients undergoing
      primary LT. The impact of variability in DTT on graft rejection episodes, serum
      tacrolimus level and renal function was assessed. These results were converted
      into a drug level estimation tool, which was validated in a prospective cohort of
      patients. RESULTS: 2946 events in 274 patients were evaluated. The median DTT was
      7:19 hrs (range: 27 min to 19:38 hrs). In 72% (2140 events) of the occasions, DTT
      was <8 hrs. There was a significant (p=0.022) correlation between DTT and
      tacrolimus level. Despite clinical decisions were taken to modify the dose of
      tacrolimus based on trough level, neither did DTT affect the average creatinine
      levels (p=0.923), nor the variability in DTT did affect acute rejection (p=0.914,
      and 0.712, respectively). A dose estimation tool was developed and applied to
      validation cohort (n=612), and returned a moderate R(2) value of 0.50.
      CONCLUSION: There is a significant variation in the "real world" monitoring of
      tacrolimus with DTT in majority of measurements falling below recommendations;
      reassuringly, this did not lead to adverse transplant sequelae.

PMID- 26889369
TI  - Histopathological Comparison between Bone Marrow- and Periodontium-derived Stem
      Cells for Bone Regeneration in Rabbit Calvaria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an important oral disease. Stem cell therapy has
      found its way in treatment of many diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the
      regenerative potential of periodontal ligament-derived stem cells (PDLSCs) and
      osteoblast differentiated from PDLSC in comparison with bone marrow-derived
      mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and pre-osteoblasts in calvarial defects.
      METHODS: After proving the existence of surface markers by flow cytometry, BM
      MSCs were differentiated into osteoblasts. 5 defects were made on rabbit
      calvaria. 3 of them were first covered with collagen membrane and then with BM
      MSCs, PDLSCs, and pre-osteoblasts. The 4(th) defect was filled with collagen
      membrane and the 5(th) one was served as control. After 4 weeks, histological
      (quantitative) and histomorphological (qualitative) surveys were performed.
      RESULTS: Both cell lineages were positive for CD-90 cell marker, which was
      specifically related to stem cells. Alizarin red staining was done for showing
      mineral material. RT-PCR set up for the expression of Cbfa1 gene, BMP4 gene, and
      PGLAP gene, confirmed osteoblast differentiation. The findings indicated that
      although PDLSCs and pre-osteoblasts could be used for bone regeneration, the rate
      of regeneration in BM-MSCs-treated cavities was more significant (p<0.0001).
      CONCLUSION: The obtained results are probably attributable to the effective micro
      environmental signals caused by different bone types and the rate of cell
      maturation.

PMID- 26889371
TI  - Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Organ Donation among Indian Dental
      Students.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Of the overall 9.5 million deaths annually in India, nearly 100,000
      are due to organ failure. To save and extend lives, organ donation and organ
      transplantation have become the only hope. Health care professionals (HCPs) are a
      key element in facilitating cadaveric organ donation process. OBJECTIVE: To
      assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding organ donation
      among undergraduate dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was
      conducted among 298 undergraduate dental students of the Panineeya Institute of
      Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India. A 27-item self-administered
      questionnaire, which assessed the levels of knowledge (Q1-13), positive attitude
      (Q14-24) and practice habits (Q25-27) regarding organ donation with dichotomous
      scale (Yes/No). RESULTS: As compared to males, females reported better mean+/-SD
      scores in knowledge (8.22+/-1.51) and practice (0.91+/-0.8); higher mean+/-SD
      attitude scores (8.55+/-1.56) were reported among males (p<0.001). While second
      year dental students had higher scores for their knowledge (8.55+/-1.56) and
      practice (1.02+/-0.44) compared to other year of training, third year students
      showed a significant higher mean attitude score (1.73+/-1.17) (p=0.02). Hindus
      and Muslims scored significantly lower mean knowledge, attitude and practice
      habits compared to others (Christians, Jains and Athesists) (p<0.001). There was
      a positive correlation between mean knowledge, attitude, and practice habits.
      CONCLUSION: There are an average level of knowledge and low levels of positive
      attitude and practice habits among studied dental students towards organ donation
      and transplantation.

PMID- 26889370
TI  - Knowledge Regarding Organ Donation and Willingness to Donate among Health Workers
      in South-West Nigeria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation program in developing countries is still
      significantly dwarfed. Health workers are undeniably important in the success of
      transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and attitude of health
      workers toward organ donation in South-West Nigeria with a view to explaining
      reasons for these shortcomings. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study conducted on
      850 health care workers, self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain
      information from participants. RESULTS: Of 850 participants, 766 (90.1%) returned
      their completed questionnaires. The mean+/-SD age of participants was 36.7+/-9.2
      years. Majority (93.3%) of participants had heard of organ donation; 82.5% had
      desirable knowledge. Only 29.5% and 39.4% would be willing to donate and counsel
      potential organ donors, respectively; 36.5% would consider signing organ donation
      cards. Only 19.4% believed that organ transplantation is often effective and
      63.4% believed they were permitted by their religion to donate. Permission by
      religion (OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.3 to 5.3), good knowledge (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.4 to 5.7),
      readiness to sign donation cards (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.8), discuss organ
      donation (OR 2.7; 95%CI 8.0 to 63.8), and knowing somebody who had donated (OR
      2.9) independently influenced willingness to donate organ. CONCLUSION: There is
      disparity in knowledge of organ donation and willingness to donate among health
      care workers. Efforts should be intensified to give comprehensive and appropriate
      education to health care workers about organ donation to bridge this gap.

PMID- 26889372
TI  - Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir for the Treatment of Recurrent Hepatitis C with
      Fibrosing Cholestatic Hepatitis after Liver Transplantation.
AB  - Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) is an aggressive form of hepatitis C virus
      (HCV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), which frequently
      results in graft failure and death. Treatment of FCH remains challenging, and the
      optimal antiviral therapy is yet to be determined. Between November 2013 and
      early 2015, 62 patients with HCV cirrhosis underwent OLT at our transplant
      center, of whom, 5 patients developed recurrence HCV in the form of severe FCH
      and were treated with sofosbuvir and simeprevir (SOF-SMV) for 24 weeks. All
      patients achieved significant improvement of HCV viral load and had undetectable
      viral PCR at 6-8 week of treatment. The HCV RNA remained undetectable throughout
      treatment course. The first two patients achieved SVR at week 12 after completion
      of the treatment. There were significant histologic and biomarkers improvements
      after initiation of the treatment. One patient developed refractory pruritus and
      acute pancreatitis. The second, fourth and fifth patients had very benign
      treatment courses with no side effects recorded. The third patient was starting
      the treatment with multiple comorbid conditions. His course was complicated with
      hepatic artery thrombosis, and later developed sepsis and renal failure.
      Therefore, it seems that the combination of SOF-SMV is an efficacious oral
      regimen in OLT recipient with recurrent hepatitis C and FCH. However, safety
      profile needs to be carefully evaluated. 

PMID- 26889373
TI  - NO2- Mediates the Heart Protection of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning.

PMID- 26889374
TI  - Post-renal Transplantation de novo Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Middle-aged Man.
AB  - Renal cell carcinoma is usually seen in the native kidney but may be seen in the
      renal allograft. We report a rare case of renal cell carcinoma in a 56-year-old
      renal allograft recipient who was transplanted for end-stage renal disease
      induced by analgesic nephropathy. This complication developed after 13 years of
      renal transplantation. Patient was investigated for hematuria and abdominal pain
      with a normal renal function. Computed tomography depicted a mass sized
      9.0*7.3*6.8 cm that involved the upper pole of the transplant. There was no
      metastasis. The patient underwent radical allograft nephrectomy for the carcinoma
      that had extended up to the renal hilum. Histopathological examination revealed
      Furhman grade-1, clear cell variant, stage pT2 N0 M0. In the last visit, the
      patient was on maintenance hemodialysis via arterio-venous fistula and planned
      for cadaveric renal transplantation. Computed tomography could facilitate early
      diagnosis and proper management of patients with post-renal allograft renal cell
      carcinoma. 

PMID- 26889375
TI  - Croup as Unusual Presentation of Post-transplantation Lymphoproliferative
      Disorder after Liver Transplantation in an 18-month-old Child.
AB  - Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious
      complication of solid organ transplantation that occurs due to immunosuppression
      and other risk factors. PTLD may present with involvement of other organs and
      with unusual presentation. The presentation is often extranodal (e.g., in the
      gastrointestinal tract, lung, or the central nervous system). Herein, we report
      on a 1.5-year-old girl who underwent liver transplantation almost 5 months prior
      to admission. She was on medications such as tacrolimus and prednisolone. Her
      presentation was started with symptoms of the upper respiratory infection
      followed by croupy cough and respiratory distress with no response to usual
      treatments. She had respiratory arrest during broncoscopy. Therefore, emergency
      tracheostomy was done. Biopsy from the paratracheal mass revealed large B cell
      non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PTLD, monomorphic and high grade). This case presentation
      shows that persistent upper airway symptoms, particularly stridor and croupy
      cough, in children who underwent liver transplant should be further evaluated;
      the physician needs to have a high degree of clinical suspicion for the diagnosis
      of PTLD in this situation. 

PMID- 26889376
TI  - Voluntary language switching in English-Spanish bilingual children.
AB  - Although bilingual children frequently switch between languages, the
      psycholinguistic mechanisms underlying the emerging ability to control language
      choice are unknown. We examined the mechanisms of voluntary language switching in
      English-Spanish bilingual children during a picture-naming task under two
      conditions: 1) single-language naming in English and in Spanish; 2) either
      language naming, when the children could use whichever language they wanted. The
      mechanism of inhibitory control was examined by analyzing local switching costs
      and global mixing costs. The mechanism of lexical accessibility was examined by
      analyzing the properties of the items children chose to name in their non
      dominant language. The children exhibited significant switching costs across both
      languages and asymmetrical mixing costs; they also switched into their non
      dominant language most frequently on highly accessible items. These findings
      suggest that both lexical accessibility and inhibition contribute to language
      choice during voluntary language switching in children.

PMID- 26889377
TI  - Universal minicircle sequence binding protein of Leishmania donovani regulates
      pathogenicity by controlling expression of cytochrome-b.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Leishmania contains a concatenated mitochondrial DNA, kDNA. Universal
      minicircle sequence binding protein (UMSBP), a mitochondrial protein, initiates
      kDNA replication by binding with a conserved universal minicircle sequence (UMS)
      of kDNA. Here, we describe first time in L. donovani the regulation of DNA
      binding activity of UMSBP and the role of UMSBP in virulence. METHODS: Insilco
      and EMSA study were performed to show UMS-binding activity of UMSBP.
      Tryparedoxin(TXN)-tryparedoxin peroxidase(TXNPx) assay as well as co
      overexpression of cytochrome-b5 reductase-like protein (CBRL) and tryparedoxin in
      L. donovani were done to know the regulation of DNA binding activity of UMSBP.
      Knockout and episomal-expression constructs of UMSBP were transfected in L.
      donovani. The cell viability assay and immunofluorescence study to know the
      status of kDNA were performed. Macrophages were infected with transfected
      parasites. mRNA level of cytochrome b, activity of complex-III, intracellular ATP
      level of both transfected promastigotes and amastigotes as well as ROS
      concentration and the level of apoptosis of transfected promastigotes were
      measured. Level of oxidative phosphorylation of both transfected and un
      transfected amastigotes were compared. Burden of transfected amastigotes in both
      macrophages and BALB/c mice were measured. RESULTS: L. donovani UMSBP is capable
      of binding with UMS, regulated by redox through mitochondrial enzymes, TXN, TXNPx
      and CBRL. Depletion of UMSBP (LdU(-/-)) caused kDNA loss, which decreased
      cytochrome-b expression [component of complex-III of electron transport chain
      (ETC)] and leads to the disruption of complex-III activity, decreased ATP
      generation, increased ROS level and promastigotes exhibited apoptosis like death.
      Interestingly, single knockout of UMSBP (LdU(-/+)) has no effect on promastigotes
      survival. However, single knockout in intracellular amastigotes demonstrate loss
      of mRNA level of cytochrome-b, disruption in the activity of complex-III and
      reduced production of ATP in amastigotes than wild type. This process interfere
      with the oxidative-phosphorylation and thereby completely inhibit the
      intracellular proliferation of LdU(-/+) amastigotes in human macrophages and in
      BALB/c mice. Amastigotes proliferation was restored as wild type after episomal
      expression of LdUMSBP in LdU(-/+) parasites (LdU(-/+)AB). CONCLUSION: The LdUMSBP
      regulates leishmanial mitochondrial respiration and pathogenesis. So, LdUMSBP may
      be an attractive target for rational drug designing and LdU(-/+) parasites could
      be considered as a live attenuated vaccine candidate against visceral
      leishmaniasis.

PMID- 26889379
TI  - Erratum to: Usability study of a simplified electroencephalograph as a health
      care system.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13755-015-0012-z.]. 

PMID- 26889378
TI  - Morphological Evolution of Noble Metal Nanoparticles in Chloroform: Mechanism of
      Switching on/off by Protic Species.
AB  - The morphological stability/morphological reshaping of noble metal nanoparticles
      are studied experimentally in order to unravel the chemical mechanisms lying
      beneath. Gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs, respectively) formed in
      chloroformic environment are used, as model synthetic systems, to study phenomena
      of morphological change. The morphological evolution of NPs that follows their
      formation, is characterized by spectroscopy (UV-Visible, Raman and FTIR) and TEM
      (Transmission Electron Microscopy). The change of NP morphology involves the
      increase of the average NP size and the broadening of size distribution, in a
      close resemblance with the effect characteristically obtained from the Ostwald
      ripening. The effect of the poor solvating properties of chloroform in
      stabilizing small charged species (H+, Ag+, Au+) as well as the principle of
      electroneutrality of matter are analyzed in order to formulate a feasible
      reaction scheme consisting of a three-step processes: the generation of soluble
      intermediary species by corrosion of nanoparticles, the diffusion of intermediary
      species from one nanoparticle to another, and the re-deposition process involving
      the reduction of intermediary species. This basic reaction scheme is used as
      hypothesis to plan and perform experiments, which reveal that molecular oxygen
      dissolved in the dispersive medium can drive NP corrosion, however, protic
      species are also required as co-reactant. The polarity of the hydrogen bond and
      the ligand properties of the anions produced by deprotonation are feature of the
      protic species that enable/disable the corrosion and, in turn, the NP
      morphological evolution.

PMID- 26889380
TI  - Lactogenic hormones alter cellular and extracellular microRNA expression in
      bovine mammary epithelial cell culture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bovine milk contains not only a variety of nutritional ingredients
      but also microRNAs (miRNAs) that are thought to be secreted by the bovine mammary
      epithelial cells (BMECs). The objective of this study was to elucidate the
      production of milk-related miRNAs in BMECs under the influence of lactogenic
      hormones. RESULTS: According to a microarray result of milk exosomal miRNAs prior
      to cellular analyses, a total of 257 miRNAs were detected in a Holstein cow milk.
      Of these, 18 major miRNAs of interest in the milk were selected for an expression
      analysis in BMEC culture that was treated with or without dexamethasone, insulin,
      and prolactin (DIP) to induce a lactogenic differentiation. Quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed that the expressions of miR-21-5p
      (P = 0.005), miR-26a (P = 0.016), and miR-320a (P = 0.011) were lower in the DIP
      treated cells than in the untreated cells. In contrast, the expression of miR
      339a (P = 0.017) in the cell culture medium were lower in the DIP-treated culture
      than in the untreated culture. Intriguingly, the miR-148a expression in cell
      culture medium was elevated by DIP treatment of BMEC culture (P = 0.018). The
      medium-to-cell expression ratios of miR-103 (P = 0.025), miR-148a (P < 0.001),
      and miR-223 (P = 0.013) were elevated in the DIP-treated BMECs, suggesting that
      the lactogenic differentiation-induced secretion of these three miRNAs in BMECs.
      A bioinformatic analysis showed that the miRNAs down-regulated in the BMECs were
      associated with the suppression of genes related to transcriptional regulation,
      protein phosphorylation, and tube development. CONCLUSION: The results suggest
      that the miRNAs changed by lactogenic hormones are associated with milk protein
      synthesis, and mammary gland development and maturation. The elevated miR-148a
      level in DIP-treated BMECs may be associated with its increase in milk during the
      lactation period of cows.

PMID- 26889381
TI  - The role of HIF-1 in oncostatin M-dependent metabolic reprogramming of hepatic
      cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypoxia and inflammation have been identified as hallmarks of cancer.
      A majority of hepatocellular carcinomas are preceded by hepatitis B- or C-related
      chronic infections suggesting that liver cancer development is promoted by an
      inflammatory microenvironment. The inflammatory cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) was
      shown to induce the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha)
      under normoxic conditions in hepatocytes and hepatoma cells. HIF-1 alpha is known
      to orchestrate the expression of numerous genes, many of which code for metabolic
      enzymes that play key roles in the adaptation of cellular metabolism to low
      oxygen tension. RESULTS: Here, we show that OSM-induced upregulation of HIF-1
      alpha reprograms cellular metabolism in three clones of the human hepatocyte cell
      line PH5CH (PH5CH1, PH5CH7, and PH5CH8) towards a hypoxia-like metabolic
      phenotype but has no significant effect on cellular metabolism of HepG2 and JHH-4
      hepatoma cells. Although we observed only minor changes in glucose uptake and
      lactate secretion in PH5CH8 upon OSM treatment, we identified more pronounced
      changes in intracellular fluxes based on stable isotope labeling experiments. In
      particular, glucose oxidation in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is reduced
      through pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1)-mediated inhibition of the
      pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, thereby reducing the oxidative TCA cycle flux. As
      a result of the impaired mitochondrial glucose and glutamine oxidation, the
      reductive isocitrate dehydrogenase flux was increased. CONCLUSIONS: We provide
      evidence that connects the inflammatory mediator OSM to a hypoxia-like metabolic
      phenotype. In the human hepatocyte cell line PH5CH, OSM-mediated upregulation of
      HIF-1 alpha and PDK1 can induce hypoxia-like metabolic changes, although to a
      lesser extent than hypoxia itself. Since PDK1 is overexpressed in several
      cancers, it might provide a causal link between chronic inflammation and
      malignant cellular transformation.

PMID- 26889384
TI  - Experiences of Iranian Nursing Faculty Members on Working in Conflict Climate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies have been conducted on role conflict in nursing faculty
      in the world. This research reports the first study about this subject in Iran.
      OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of role
      conflict in Iranian nursing faculty members. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted
      a qualitative study using a conventional content analysis approach. We used semi
      structured and in-depth interviews by purposive sampling of 19 (15 instructors,
      three group managers and one educational assistant) participants to identify the
      influential factors of role conflict among nurse faculty members, working in
      seven nursing colleges in Iran. RESULTS: The three following categories emerged
      from data analysis: "roles Interference"; "role ambiguity", and "conflicting
      expectations". The main theme was "working in conflict climate". CONCLUSIONS:
      This study highlighted the influential factors that could produce role conflict
      for nursing faculty members. The results can help university leaders to improve
      nursing faculty working conditions.

PMID- 26889382
TI  - Objective and subjective sleep disorders in automated peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) is one of the fastest growing
      dialysis modalities. It is unknown whether sleep and mood are disturbed while
      performing repeated overnight exchanges. OBJECTIVES: In this report, we aim to
      describe and compare the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), periodic
      limb movements (PLMS), poor sleep quality (SQ), and depression among APD patients
      compared with stages 3b-5 (estimated glomerular filtration rate <=44 ml/min/1.73
      m2) chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. DESIGN: This is
      a cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: Study participants were recruited
      from outpatient nephrology clinics, local dialysis centers, and the Thomas E.
      Starzl Transplant Institute in Western Pennsylvania between April 2004 and July
      2009. PATIENTS: There were 186 participants in this study including 22 APD
      patients, 89 CKD patients, and 75 HD patients. MEASUREMENTS: In-home
      polysomnography was performed and two questionnaires were completed, the
      Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ
      9). METHODS: SDB and PLMS were quantified by in-home unattended polysomnography;
      poor SQ was defined by a score >5 on the PSQI, and the presence of moderate to
      severe depression was defined by a score >5 on the PHQ-9. RESULTS: The APD
      patients had a median age of 37.5 years, were predominantly female (72.7 %), and
      had a median body mass index (BMI) of 23.8 kg/m2. In univariate analyses, APD
      patients had significantly lower apnea-hypopnea index compared to HD patients by
      12.2 points (likelihood ratio test p = 0.008) and revealed the least percent of
      TST with nocturnal hypoxemia compared to CKD patients by 2.7 points, respectively
      (likelihood ratio test p = 0.01). The APD group had also significantly greater
      stages 3 to 4 sleep compared to the CKD patients by 8.6 points (likelihood ratio
      test p = 0.009). In multivariate analyses and after adjustment for age, gender,
      race, and BMI, both APD and HD patients had higher average PSQI scores than CKD
      patients by 2.54 and 2.22 points, respectively (likelihood ratio test p = 0.005).
      No other comparisons of sleep parameters among groups reached statistical
      significance. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of this study are the small sample
      size of the APD population and the demographic and clinical differences among the
      three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in univariate analyses,
      after multivariate adjustment, APD patients had similar sleep parameters and
      sleep architecture and as poor SQ and symptoms of depression as HD patients.
      Future studies with larger APD cohorts are needed.

PMID- 26889385
TI  - Factors Associated With Serum Albumin in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 With
      Microalbuminuria Using Non-Normal Mixed Models: A Prospective Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The globally increasing epidemic of diabetes will lead to serious
      problems including diabetic nephropathy and kidney diseases in near future. The
      first clinical diagnosable stage in a diabetic kidney disease is microalbuminuria
      (urinary albumin excretion of 30 - 300 g/24 hours). OBJECTIVES: This prospective
      cohort study investigated the risk factors of microalbuminuria in patients with
      type 2 diabetes who had been registered in endocrine and metabolism research
      center in Isfahan city, Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study
      was performed on 90 diabetic type 2 patients with microalbuminuria, who were
      selected according to the consecutive sample selection method during 6 years.
      Data were collected through regular and systematic measurements of serum albumin
      as the response variable and body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood
      pressure, the duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total
      cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density
      lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as the related factors. Non
      normal mixed models were used to investigate the impact of effective factors on
      the amount of excreted serum albumin. RESULTS: According to the deviance
      information criterion (DIC = 56.2), the non-normal mixed effects model with the
      skewed t distribution had a best fit and indicated that HbA1c, HDL and total
      cholesterol had a significant effect on the amount of albumin in urine (P <
      0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using nonnormal mixed models may lead to the best results as
      compared to common normality assumption.

PMID- 26889386
TI  - Effects of Coriandrum sativum Syrup on Migraine: A Randomized, Triple-Blind,
      Placebo-Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Migraine is one of the most common and debilitating neurological
      problems. Although numerous preventive drugs are used to treat migraine, their
      complications are unavoidable. Application of herbal medicine, especially well
      known medicinal plants, to treatment of chronic diseases, like migraine, could be
      effective. Coriandrum sativum L. (C. sativum) fruit is one of the most commonly
      prescribed herbs in Persian medicine, which has been used to treat headache.
      OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of C. sativum syrup
      on duration, severity and frequency of migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of
      68 migraineurs, who had the eligibility criteria, according to international
      headache society diagnostic criteria, were randomly assigned to intervention
      group (n = 34) or control group (n = 34). In addition to 500 mg of sodium
      valproate per day, in intervention group, they received 15 mL of Coriander fruit
      syrup and 15 mL of placebo syrup, in control group, three times a day, during a
      month. The subjects were followed for clinical efficacy at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4.
      The number of migraine attacks per week, as well as the duration and severity of
      attacks, were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 68 patients randomized, 66 were included in
      analysis. The generalized estimating equations analysis showed that the Coriander
      fruit syrup decreased duration, severity and frequency of migraine, in the
      intervention group (P < 0.001). To be more precise, the mean migraine duration,
      severity and frequency, in the intervention group, were 5.7 hours, 3.65 units and
      about 50% less than control group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this
      study showed that C. sativum fruit is efficient in reduction of the duration and
      frequency of migraine attacks and in diminishing pain degree.

PMID- 26889387
TI  - Frequency of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Chronic Venous
      Insufficiency.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is estimated that about 15% (10% - 30% in most of the studies) of
      the total adult population has some aspects of the Chronic Venous Insufficiency
      (CVI). Frequency of the Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in the adult population
      is 3% - 4%. Studies dealing with etiopathogenesis of leg ulcers show that between
      10% and 18% of all ulcers are of mixed, arterial-venous origin. OBJECTIVES: The
      purpose of this study was to find out if there is a higher frequency of PAD among
      CVI patients in comparison with the control group, as well as to discover some
      common risk factors for CVI and PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional
      descriptive study was conducted at the dermatovenereological clinic, clinical
      center of Vojvodina, Serbia. A total of 162 examinees were included. All patients
      were examined for the existence of CVI and staged according to CEAP (Clinical,
      etiology, anatomy and patophysiology) classification. In this way, 3 groups were
      formed: Patients with the mild forms of CVI (stage 1 - 4 by CEAP classification),
      57 patients; patients with the severe forms of CVI (stage 5 and 6 by CEAP
      classification), 55 patients; control group (no CVI), 50 patients. Also, the
      Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) was assessed in all subjects, and its value
      of <= 0.9 was set as criteria for diagnosis of PAD. The same sample was divided
      according to the presence of PAD into two groups. The most important risk factors
      for CVI and PAD were identified for each patient through complete examination,
      medical record and appropriate questionnaire. RESULTS: Our results showed that
      the risk factors for CVI were high Body Mass Index (BMI), hypertension,
      predominantly standing position during work and positive family history for CVI.
      In the same sample it was found that 28 (17.28%) patients had PAD. Relevant risk
      factors for PAD in the present study were: high BMI, hypertension, diabetes and a
      positive family history for PAD. Comparison of frequency of PAD among patients
      with severe forms of CVI and control group showed that this difference was
      statistically significant (P = 0.0275; OR 3.375; 95% CI 1.125 - 10.12). After
      multivariate analyses, adjusted odds ratio OR was still statistically
      significant. CONCLUSIONS: The peripheral arterial disease is more frequent in
      patients with the severe form of CVI, than in patients without CVI. Concomitant
      risk factors for CVI and PAD were high BMI and hypertension. In each patient with
      severe CVI it is necessary to determine the ABPI, in order to exclude the
      presence of PAD.

PMID- 26889388
TI  - Typical Absence Seizure Similarity to "Shokhous" in Iranian Traditional Medicine.

PMID- 26889389
TI  - Strategy for Mental Health Improvement of Iranian Stillborn Mothers From Their
      Perspective: A Qualitative Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mothers got stressed when they are informed about the occurrence of
      stillbirth. Many researchers believe that the failure to provide the required
      care by health teams during this hard time is the main determinant of maternal
      mental health in the future. In other words, psychosocial support by medical care
      providers can significantly improve mental outcomes of mother after stillbirth.
      OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore stillborn mothers' suggested strategies
      to provide maternal mental health in the experience of stillbirth. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Twenty women who had experienced stillbirths participated in this
      qualitative content analysis study. They were selected through purposeful
      sampling method. Data were gathered by individual interviews recorded on
      audiotapes, transcripted and then analyzed. Then, transcriptions were coded and
      classified. Finally, 3 main categories and 9 subcategories were emerged. RESULTS:
      Analysis of participants' viewpoints and their opinions about strategies to
      provide maternal mental health in the experience of stillbirth lead to
      development of 3 main categories: "before delivery strategies" with 3
      subcategories, "during labor strategies" with 3 subcategories, and "postpartum
      strategies" with 3 subcategories. Analyses of findings showed that, health care
      providers can mitigate some of the long-term negative mental outcomes of
      stillborn mothers by spending extra time with grieving mothers, facilitating
      bonding, and validating their emotional expressions. CONCLUSIONS: According to
      the results, revision and modification of the care plan in the experience of
      stillbirth seems necessary to improve mental health in these mothers. According
      to suggested strategies, midwives and health care providers are health
      professionals who can effectively and properly care for stillborn mothers.

PMID- 26889390
TI  - The Effectiveness of Assertiveness Training on the Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and
      Depression of High School Students.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to early adulthood.
      Because of the immense pressure imposed on adolescents due to the complications
      and ambiguities of this transition, their level of excitement increases and
      sometimes it appears in the form of sensitivity and intense excitement.
      OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of assertiveness
      training on the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression of high school
      students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on
      high school students of Isfahan in academic year 2012 - 13. A total of 126 second
      grade high school students were collected according to simple random sampling
      method and divided into two groups: experimental with 63 participants and control
      with the same number. Data gathering instruments included a demographic
      questionnaire, Gambill-Richey assertiveness scale, and depression anxiety stress
      scales (DASS-21). Assertiveness training was carried out on the experimental
      group in 8 sessions; after 8 weeks, posttest was carried out on both groups.
      Statistical tests such as independent t test, repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square
      test, and the Mann-Whitney test were used to interpret and analyze the data.
      RESULTS: The Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests did not show significant
      statistical differences between the two groups in terms of demographic variables
      (P >= 0.05). Repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant difference between the
      mean scores for assertiveness before (100.23 +/- 7.37), immediately after (101.57
      +/- 16.06), and 2 months after (100.77 +/- 12.50) the intervention in the control
      group. However, the same test found a significant difference between the mean
      score for assertiveness in the experimental group before (101.6 +/- 9.1),
      immediately after (96.47 +/- 10.84), and 2 months after (95.41 +/- 8.37)
      implementing the training program (P = 0.002). The independent t test showed no
      significant difference in the mean score for anxiety and stress between two
      groups before the assertiveness training program; however, 2 months after the
      intervention, the mean score for anxiety in the experimental group was found
      significantly lower than the control group. As for the mean score for depression,
      the independent t test showed no significant difference between two groups before
      training; however, despite the decrease in the mean scores for depression in the
      experimental group following the intervention, the difference was not significant
      (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study show that conducting
      assertive training in high school students decreases their anxiety, stress, and
      depression. Given that high school years are among the most sensitive stages of
      one's life plus the fact that conducting such training programs besides their
      safe and low cost nature are effective and practical, it is highly recommended
      that such programs be carried out among high school adolescents.

PMID- 26889391
TI  - Is Routine Iron Supplementation Necessary in Pregnant Women With High Hemoglobin?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Iron supplementation is a chief component in prenatal care, with the
      aim of preventing anemia; however, extreme maternal iron status may adversely
      affect the birth outcome. Given the negative consequences of high maternal iron
      concentrations on pregnancy outcomes, it seems that iron supplementation in women
      with high hemoglobin (Hb) should be limited. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study
      was to examine the effect of iron supplementation on iron status markers in
      pregnant women with high Hb. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled trial, 86 pregnant women with Hb > 13.2 g/dL and ferritin > 15
      MUg/l in the 16th - 20th week of pregnancy were randomized into experimental and
      control groups. From the 20th week until the end of pregnancy, the experimental
      group received one ferrous sulfate tablet containing 50 mg of elemental iron
      daily, while the control group received a placebo. Hb and ferritin levels at 37 -
      39 weeks of pregnancy were evaluated and compared. In addition, after delivery
      the birth weight was measured in two groups and compared. RESULTS: There were
      statistically significant differences between the two groups in Hb (p = 0/03) and
      ferritin (p = 0/04) levels at the end of pregnancy, but the incidence of anemia
      exhibited no difference in either group (p < 0/001). In addition, the mean of
      birth weight in experimental group and control group were 3391/56 +/- 422,
      3314/06 +/- 341, respectively and it was not significant difference (p = 0.2).
      CONCLUSIONS: Not using iron supplementation did not cause of anemia in women with
      Hb concentrations greater than 13.2 g/dL during pregnancy; thus, the systematic
      care and control of iron status markers without iron supplementation is
      recommended for these women.

PMID- 26889392
TI  - Expression and Clinical Significance of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated
      Factor 6 in Patients With Colon Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) has been
      reported to be highly expressed in many tumor tissues, but it is still of value
      to detect its expression in patients with colon cancer and to clarify its
      clinical significance. OBJECTIVES: To study the expression and clinical
      significance of TRAF6 in patients with colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A
      total of 135 patients with colon cancer who underwent surgery at our hospital
      from February 2008 to March 2013 were selected. The expression levels of TRAF6
      protein in tumor and paracancerous tissues were detected with the
      immunohistochemical method to evaluate their clinical significance. RESULTS: The
      positive expression rate of TRAF6 in tumor tissues was 66.7%, which was
      significantly higher than in normal paracancerous tissues (18.5%). The positive
      expression rate of TRAF6 was significantly correlated with Dukes' staging, degree
      of differentiation, and lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05), but not gender or age (P
      > 0.05). The expression level of TRAF6 was negatively correlated with the 5-year
      survival rate; patients with high TRAF6 expression levels had significantly
      decreased survival compared to those with low levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      TRAF6 plays an important role in the onset of colon cancer; therefore, drugs
      targeting it may have great clinical significance in the treatment of this
      disease.

PMID- 26889393
TI  - An Unusual Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Urinary Bladder Stone Case
      Report and Literature Review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt surgery is the most common
      technique used for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The migration of
      ventriculoperitoneal shunt to the bladder is rare. Only two cases have been
      previously reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a 38-year
      old male who had hydrocephalus and V-P shunt for 12 years. Two years ago, he
      found himself with recurrent urinary tract infections, haematuria and urges
      incontinence, and then he was diagnosed with bladder perforation and merge
      stones. The patient had an abdominal operation to cut off and take out the shunt
      catheter, as well as a transurethral holmium laser lithotripsy. CONCLUSIONS:
      Bladder perforation and stones are rare examples of complications in V-P surgical
      procedures. Controlling the effective length of the terminal V-P shunt and
      modifying it appropriately can effectively reduce these complications.

PMID- 26889394
TI  - Effects of a New Metabolic Conditioning Supplement on Perioperative Metabolic
      Stress and Clinical Outcomes: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance is a measure of metabolic stress in the
      perioperative period. Before now, no clinical trial has determined the summative
      effects of glutamine, L-carnitine, and antioxidants as metabolic conditioning
      supplements in the perioperative period. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study
      was to determine the effects of a new conditioning supplement on perioperative
      metabolic stress and clinical outcomes in non-diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 89 non-diabetic patients scheduled
      for coronary artery bypass grafting, with ejection fractions above 30%, were
      selected. Using the balanced block randomization method, the patients were
      allocated to one of four study arms: 1) SP (supplement/placebo): supplement seven
      days before and placebo 30 days after the surgery; 2) PS: placebo before and
      supplement after the surgery; 3) SS: supplement before and after the surgery; and
      4) PP: placebo before and after the surgery. The supplement was composed of
      glutamine, L-carnitine, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, which was
      manufactured for the first time by this research team. Five blood samples were
      drawn: seven days preoperatively, at the entrance to the operating room, while
      leaving the operating room, seven days postoperatively, and 30 days
      postoperatively. Levels of glucose, insulin, and HbA1c were measured in blood
      samples. Insulin resistance and sensitivity were calculated using a formula.
      Surgical complications were assessed 30 days postoperatively. Data analysis was
      done using one-way ANOVA, the Chi-square test, and a general linear model
      repeated-measures analysis with Bonferroni adjustment. RESULTS: Blood glucose
      levels were increased postoperatively in the four groups (< 0.001), but a
      significantly higher increase occurred in the PP group compared to the SP
      (0.027), PS (0.026), and SS (0.004) groups. The superficial wound infection rate
      was significantly different between the four groups (0.021): 26.08% in PP, 9.09%
      in SP, 4.54% in PS, and 0% in SS. CONCLUSIONS: Our new metabolic conditioning
      supplement, whether given pre- or postoperatively, led to better perioperative
      glycemic control and decreased postsurgical wound infections in non-diabetic
      patients.

PMID- 26889395
TI  - High Frequency of Class 1 Integrons in Escherichia coli Isolated From Patients
      With Urinary Tract Infections in Yasuj, Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by Escherichia coli.
      Integrons have an important role in distributing antibiotic resistance genes
      among bacteria. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence
      of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons and their association with antibiotic resistance in
      E. coli isolated from patient with UTI in Yasuj, Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In
      this cross-sectional study a total of 200 E. coli were collected from 1820
      patients diagnosed with UTI that had been referred to two clinical laboratories
      between February 2013 and November 2014 in Yasuj city, southwest of Iran.
      Susceptibility of isolates to 11 different antibiotics was determined by the disk
      agar diffusion method. multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for
      detection of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons. The data were analyzed using the SPSS
      software (version 16) and the chi-square test. A P value of < 0.05 was considered
      statistically significant. RESULTS: The highest rate of resistance was observed
      toward cephalothin (99%) and amoxicillin (76%) while only two (1%) isolates
      showed resistance to imipenem. Overall, 79% of isolates were multi drug resistant
      (MDR). Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected in 104 (52%) and 5 (2.5%) isolates
      respectively, while none of the isolates were positive for class 3 integrons. A
      significant association was observed between the presence of integrons and
      resistance to co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin,
      ceftazidime and tetracycline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High MDR isolates of E.
      coli were observed in this study. The significant association between class 1
      integrons and resistance to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, co-trimoxazole,
      amoxicillin, ceftazidime and tetracycline showed that class 1 integrons have an
      important role in resistance to these antibiotics in this region.

PMID- 26889397
TI  - Leisure Activity Patterns and Marital Conflict in Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, the association between leisure activity
      patterns and marital conflict or satisfaction has been studied extensively.
      However, most studies to date have been limited to middle-class families of
      developed societies, and an investigation of the issue, from a developing country
      perspective like Iran, is non-existent. OBJECTIVES: In an observational,
      analytical, cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the relationship
      between leisure activity patterns and marital conflict in a nationally
      representative sample of Iranian married males. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the
      cluster sampling method, a representative sample of 400 Iranian married
      individuals from seven provinces of Iran was surveyed. Self-administered surveys
      included a checklist collecting demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of
      the enrolled participants, leisure time questionnaire, and marital conflict
      questionnaire. The main patterns of leisure activity were derived from principal
      component analysis. For each pattern, factor scores were calculated. The
      relationship between factor scores and marital conflict were assessed using
      multivariate linear regression models accounting for the potential confounding
      effects of age, education, socioeconomic status, job status, number of children,
      duration of marriage, and time spent for leisure. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety
      nine respondents completed the leisure time and marital conflict questionnaires.
      Five major leisure patterns were identified accounting for 60.3% of the variance
      in data. The most dominant pattern was family-oriented activities (e.g. spending
      time with family outdoors and spending time with family indoors) and was
      negatively linked to marital conflict (standardized beta= -0.154, P = 0.013). Of
      the four remaining patterns, three only included individual activities and one
      was a family-individual composite. Individual patterns exhibited discrepant
      behavior; while the pattern involving activities like 'watching TV', 'non
      purposive time spending', and 'napping' was positively associated with conflict
      (standardized beta = 0.165, P = 0.009) and the other two were not. The mixed
      family-individual pattern was also positively associated with marital conflict
      (standardized beta = 0.240, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among Iranian married men,
      family-based leisure activities are linked to a lower level of marital conflict.
      The associations for individual patterns are less congruent.

PMID- 26889396
TI  - Adolescents' Experiences When Living With a Parent With Cancer: A Qualitative
      Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cancer affects not only the patient but also their entire family,
      especially adolescents. Adolescents whose parents are ill may manifest their
      distress through changes in school performance, physical complaints of pain and
      discomfort, as well as changes in social and interpersonal relations. There has
      been very little research about the effects of cancer on adolescents in Iran.
      OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the Iranian
      adolescents' experiences when living with a parent with cancer. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: In this research, the descriptive-explorative approach was used. There
      were a total of 27 participants. Purposeful sampling was used and data collection
      methods were semi-structured deep interviews. Constant comparative analysis was
      used to study the data. RESULTS: The findings of this study showed that the main
      experiences of these adolescents were categorized into seven themes: 1-
      psychological problems of adolescents; 2- supportive-educative needs; 3- cancer
      as a two edged sword in family relationships; 4- stages of confrontation with the
      parent's cancer; 5- effect of cancer on social dimensions; 6- affective and
      helpful supportive agents; 7- Need of support for education under special
      conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed that Iranian adolescents had the
      same experiences as other adolescents in other countries in many aspects yet in
      some issues, such as religious strategy, they had strong religious beliefs that
      would help them cope with their parents' cancer. Also it was shown that we must
      plan a program in which education and support should be provided to enable
      adolescents to cope with this detrimental situation with minimal disruption.

PMID- 26889398
TI  - Rectal Diclofenac Versus Rectal Paracetamol: Comparison of Antipyretic
      Effectiveness in Children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fever is the most common complaint in pediatric medicine and its
      treatment is recommended in some situations. Paracetamol is the most common
      antipyretic drug, which has serious side effects such as toxicity along with its
      positive effects. Diclofenac is one of the strongest non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory (NSAID) drugs, which has received little attention as an antipyretic
      drug. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the antipyretic
      effectiveness of the rectal form of Paracetamol and Diclofenac. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: This double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 children
      aged six months to six years old. One group was treated with rectal Paracetamol
      suppositories at 15 mg/kg dose and the other group received Diclofenac at 1 mg/kg
      by rectal administration (n = 40). Rectal temperature was measured before and one
      hour after the intervention. Temperature changes in the two groups were compared.
      RESULTS: The average rectal temperature in the Paracetamol group was 39.6 +/-
      1.13 degrees C, and 39.82 +/- 1.07 degrees C in the Diclofenac group (P = 0.37).
      The average rectal temperature, one hour after the intervention, in the
      Paracetamol and the Diclofenac group was 38.39 +/- 0.89 degrees C and 38.95 +/-
      1.09 degrees C, respectively (P = 0.02). Average temperature changes were 0.65 +/
      0.17 degrees C in the Paracetamol group and 1.73 +/- 0.69 degrees C in the
      Diclofenac group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the first one hour, Diclofenac
      suppository is able to control the fever more efficient than Paracetamol
      suppositories.

PMID- 26889399
TI  - Evaluation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Toxicity on Liver Cells of BALB/c Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because of their unique magnetic properties, Fe3O4 nanoparticles
      (Fe3O4-NPs) have extensive applications in various biomedical aspects.
      Investigation of the possible adverse aspects of these particles has lagged far
      behind their fast growing application. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to
      evaluate the toxicity of Fe3O4-NPs in the liver of mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      In the present clinical trial, 90 BALB/c mice were randomly divided in 15 groups.
      Five control groups were fed by usual water and food. Five placebo groups were
      gavaged with physiological serum in doses of 25, 50, 75, 150, and 300 micrograms
      per gram of body weight (MUg/gr). Five experimental groups were gavaged with
      Fe3O4-NPs, in doses of 25, 50, 75, 150, and 300 MUg/gr. This pattern was repeated
      every other day, for 3 days. Then, the levels of liver enzymes [alanine
      transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase
      (ALP)] were compared between these groups. The histological alterations of livers
      were examined, as well. For statistical analysis, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann
      Whitney, with type I Bonferroni correction, as post-hoc, have been used. RESULTS:
      The administration of 150 and 300 MUg/gr doses of Fe3O4-NPs were associated with
      significant elevation in liver enzymes, compared to controls (P < 0.0001).
      Furthermore, the histopathological effects were observed in the liver tissue of
      these groups. However, in groups treated with lower doses of Fe3O4-NPs, no
      significant adverse effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the
      administration of Fe3O4-NPs causes dose dependent adverse effects on liver.

PMID- 26889400
TI  - Central Nervous System Depressants Poisoning and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia:
      An Underrated Risk Factor at the Toxicological Intensive Care Unit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the main cause of nosocomial
      infection at intensive care units (ICUs), which causes high mortality and
      morbidity. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present survey was to identify the
      VAP risk and prognostic factors among poisoned patients, who were admitted to the
      toxicological ICU (TICU), especially central nervous system (CNS) depressants due
      to their prevalence and importance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A case-control study
      was conducted at the Loghman Hakim hospital between March 2013 and March 2014.
      Among 300 poisoned patients with mechanical ventilator >= 48 hours, 150 patients,
      who had developed microbiologically-confirmed VAP were considered as the VAP
      group and 150 without VAP were defined as the control group. The following data
      were collected; age, gender, type of poisoning, glasgow coma score, Acute
      physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, length of hospital
      stay, previous antibiotic use, microbial culture of the trachea, body
      temperature, leukocyte count, and patients' outcome. Based on the type of
      poisoning, patients were divided into three groups including: opioid, CNS
      depressants and others. All data were expressed as means (SD) for continuous
      variables and frequencies for categorical variables. Logistic regression was used
      to determine the relationship between risk factors and VAP. RESULTS: The mean age
      of the patients was 33.9 +/- 14.3 years. The probable VAP incidence and mortality
      were 22% and 18.6%, respectively. The rate of CNS depressant versus opioid use
      (odds ratio, 3.74; P < 0.027), APACHE II (odds ratio, 1.28; P < 0.000) and length
      of hospital stay (odds ratio, 2.15; P < 0.000) were the independent risk factors
      for VAP. While, the APACHE II score (odds ratio, 1.12; P < 0.044) and length of
      hospital stay (odds ratio, 2.15; P < 0.000) were the independent predictors of
      VAP mortality among these patients. The most common microorganisms in VAP cases
      were Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter sp.
      (56.7% and 12.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system depressant
      was an important risk factor for VAP among poisoned patients. Hypoventilation due
      to CNS depression can lead to VAP. The APACHE II and length of hospital stay were
      shown as independent predictors of VAP and mortality among these patients.

PMID- 26889402
TI  - Adolescent Substance Use and Comorbid Psychopathology: Emotion Regulation
      Deficits as a Transdiagnostic Risk Factor.
AB  - Rates of substance use and comorbid psychopathology peak during adolescence,
      highlighting the need to identify transdiagnostic risk processes that cut across
      conditions and elucidate early embedded risk factors for comorbidity across
      development. The current review highlights emotion regulation deficits as a core
      transdiagnostic risk factor underlying the development of substance use,
      addiction, and comorbid psychopathology in adolescence. We present the dual
      systems model of neurological development to highlight adolescence as a critical
      period of increased risk for emotion regulation difficulties, corresponding risk
      behaviors, and psychopathology. We describe malfunction in the neurobiological
      regulation system underlying the relationship between emotion regulation and risk
      for addiction and comorbidity. We pull from two established developmental
      theories including both the externalizing pathway and the internalizing pathway
      to substance use disorders, which together highlight how early embedded risk in
      the form of emotion regulation deficits can explain mechanisms underlying the
      development of addiction and comorbid psychiatric disorders.

PMID- 26889401
TI  - Bivariate Trajectories of Substance Use and Antisocial Behavior: Associations
      with Emerging Adult Outcomes in a High-Risk Sample.
AB  - Substance use and antisocial behavior are complex, interrelated behaviors. The
      current study identified model trajectory classes defined by concurrent substance
      use and antisocial behavior and examined trajectory associations with emerging
      adult outcomes. Participants from a high-risk sample of youth (n=536; 73% male)
      completed interviews at baseline (mean age= 16.1 years) and followup (mean age=
      22.6 years). Latent class growth analyses identified five trajectory classes
      based on alcohol/drug use (AOD) and antisocial behavior (ASB): Dual Chronic,
      Increasing AOD/Persistent ASB, Persistent AOD/Adolescent ASB, Decreasing
      Drugs/Persistent ASB, and Resolved. Many individuals (56%) exhibited
      elevated/increasing AOD, and most (91%) reported ASB decreases. Those associated
      with the Dual Chronic class had the highest rates of substance dependence,
      antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and negative psychosocial outcomes. There
      were no differences in adult role attainment across classes. Conjoint examination
      of these behaviors provides greater detail regarding clinical course and can
      inform secondary prevention and intervention efforts.

PMID- 26889403
TI  - Vitamin C and functional iron deficiency anemia in hemodialysis.

PMID- 26889404
TI  - Smads as therapeutic targets for chronic kidney disease.
AB  - Renal fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is generally
      thought that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a key mediator of
      fibrosis and mediates renal scarring positively by Smad2 and Smad3, but
      negatively by Smad7. Our recent studies found that in CKD, TGF-beta1 is not a
      sole molecule to activate Smads. Many mediators such as angiotensin II and
      advanced glycation end products can also activate Smads via both TGF-beta
      dependent and independent mechanisms. In addition, Smads can interact with other
      signaling pathways, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear
      factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathways, to regulate renal inflammation and fibrosis.
      In CKD, Smad2 and Smad3 are highly activated, while Smad7 is reduced or lost. In
      the context of fibrosis, Smad3 is pathogenic and mediates renal fibrosis by
      upregulating miR-21 and miR-192, but down-regulating miR-29 and miR-200 families.
      By contrast, Smad2 and Smad7 are protective. Overexpression of Smad7 inhibits
      both Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis and NF-kappaB-driven renal inflammation.
      Interestingly, Smad4 has diverse roles in renal fibrosis and inflammation. The
      complexity and distinct roles of individual Smads in CKD suggest that treatment
      of CKD should aim to correct the imbalance of Smad signaling or target the Smad3
      dependent genes related to fibrosis, rather than to block the general effect of
      TGF-beta1. Thus, treatment of CKD by overexpression of Smad7 or targeting Smad3
      dependent miRNAs such as downregulation of miR-21 or overexpression of miR-29 may
      represent novel therapeutic strategies for CKD. 

PMID- 26889407
TI  - Association between vascular access failure and microparticles in hemodialysis
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vascular access failure, a major cause of morbidity in hemodialysis
      (HD) patients, occurs mainly at stenotic endothelium following an acute
      thrombotic event. Microparticles (MPs) are fragments derived from injured cell
      membrane and are closely associated with coagulation and vascular inflammatory
      responses. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between levels of
      circulating MPs and vascular access patency in HD patients. A total of 82 HD
      patients and 28 healthy patients were enrolled. We used flow cytometry to measure
      endothelial MPs (EMPs) identified by CD31+CD42- or CD51+ and platelet-derived MPs
      (PMPs) identified by CD31+CD42+ in plasma samples of participants. Vascular
      access patency was defined as an interval from the time of access formation to
      the time of first access stenosis in each patient. MP counts were compared
      according to access patent duration. RESULTS: The levels of EMP (both CD31+CD42-
      and CD51+) and CD31+CD42+PMP were significantly higher in patients than in
      healthy participants. Levels of CD31+CD42-EMP and CD31+CD42+PMP showed a positive
      correlation. In non-diabetic HD patients, CD31+CD42-EMPs and CD31+CD42+PMPs were
      more elevated in the shorter access survival group (access survival <1 year) than
      in the longer survival group (access survival >= 4 years). CONCLUSION: Elevated
      circulating EMP or PMP counts are influenced by end-stage renal disease and
      increased levels of EMP and PMP may be associated with vascular access failure in
      HD patients.

PMID- 26889408
TI  - The effect of intravenous ascorbic acid in hemodialysis patients with
      normoferritinemic anemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis (HD) patients with functional iron deficiency often
      develop resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). Recent studies
      have shown that intravenous ascorbic acid (IVAA) administration could override
      rhEPO resistance in HD patients. This study was undertaken to test the effects of
      IVAA in HD patients with normoferritinemic functional iron deficiency accompanied
      by EPO-hyporesponsive anemia. METHODS: Fifty-eight HD patients with
      normoferritinemic anemia (between 100 and 500 MUg/L) were included and divided
      into the control (N=25) and IVAA (N=33) groups. IVAA patients received 500 mg of
      IVAA with each dialysis session for 3 months and an additional 4-month follow-up
      after the end of the therapy. RESULTS: Twenty patients had a response to IVAA
      with a significant increase in hemoglobin level (Hgb>1.0 g/dL) and reduction of
      weekly rhEPO dosage compared with the control group after 3 months of treatment
      (P<0.05). Compared with non-responders, transferrin saturation (TSAT) was
      significantly decreased in the responders group (26+/-11 vs. 35+/-14%, P<0.05) on
      baseline data. There was a significant increase in serum iron and TSAT (baseline
      vs. 3 months, serum iron 57+/-22 vs. 108+/-22 MUg/dL, TSAT 26+/-11 vs. 52+/-7%,
      P<0.05) and a decrease in serum ferritin (377+/-146 vs. 233+/-145 ng/mL, P<0.05)
      in the responders group (N=20), but no significant changes in the control and non
      responders groups (N=13) at 3-month treatment. CONCLUSION: IVAA can be a potent
      and effective adjuvant therapy for HD patients with rhEPO-resistant
      normoferritinemic anemia. In addition, IVAA can reduce the dosage of rhEPO for
      anemia correction.

PMID- 26889409
TI  - The effect of depression and health-related quality of life on the outcome of
      hemodialysis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, traditional risk factors cannot
      explain all of the mortality and morbidity. This study was designed to
      investigate the effect of depression and health-related quality of life (HRQOL)
      on prognosis in maintenance HD patients. METHODS: In February 2008, the Beck's
      Depression Inventory and the Kidney Dialysis Quality of Life-Short Form were
      utilized to measure depression and HRQOL. Until February 2011, the mortality,
      cardiovascular events, infection, and hospitalization were investigated,
      retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 166 patients, the 3-year cumulative survival
      rate was 88.8%, and the depression did not affect survival (depression vs.
      nondepression: 91.8% vs. 87.2%, P=0.437). The upper tertiles in physical
      component summary (PCS) were correlated with lower mortality (OR, 0.12; P=0.05)
      and fewer cardiovascular events (OR, 0.09; P=0.024) than the lower tertiles. The
      upper tertiles in kidney disease component summary (KDCS) were associated with
      less hospitalization than the lower tertiles (OR, 0.38; P=0.024). After adjusting
      for multiple variables including age, comorbidity index, and albumin, upper
      tertiles in PCS were correlated with fewer cardiovascular events than the lower
      tertiles (OR, 0.08; P=0.038). CONCLUSION: The cross-sectional survey of whether
      HD patients had depression was not significantly associated with mortality and
      morbidity. HRQOL was correlated with mortality, cardiovascular events and
      hospitalization.

PMID- 26889405
TI  - Cardiorenal syndrome and vitamin D receptor activation in chronic kidney disease.
AB  - Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) refers to a constellation of conditions whereby heart
      and kidney diseases are pathophysiologically connected. For clinical purposes, it
      would be more appropriate to emphasize the pathophysiological pathways to
      classify CRS into: (1) hemodynamic, (2) atherosclerotic, (3) uremic, (4)
      neurohumoral, (5) anemic-hematologic, (6) inflammatory-oxidative, (7) vitamin D
      receptor (VDR) and/or FGF23-, and (8) multifactorial CRS. In recent years, there
      have been a preponderance data indicating that vitamin D and VDR play an
      important role in the combination of renal and cardiac diseases. This review
      focuses on some important findings about VDR activation and its role in CRS,
      which exists frequently in chronic kidney disease patients and is a main cause of
      morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiological pathways related to suboptimal or
      defective VDR activation may play a role in causing or aggravating CRS. VDR
      activation using newer agents including vitamin D mimetics (such as paricalcitol
      and maxacalcitol) are promising agents, which may be related to their selectivity
      in activating VDR by means of attracting different post-D-complex cofactors.
      Some, but not all, studies have confirmed the survival advantages of D-mimetics
      as compared to non-selective VDR activators. Higher doses of D-mimetic per unit
      of parathyroid hormone (paricalcitol to parathyroid hormone ratio) is associated
      with greater survival, and the survival advantages of African American dialysis
      patients could be explained by higher doses of paricalcitol (>10 MUg/week). More
      studies are needed to verify these data and to explore additional avenues for CRS
      management via modulating VDR pathway. 

PMID- 26889411
TI  - Inherited protein S deficiency due to a novel nonsense mutation in the PROS1 gene
      in the patient with recurrent vascular access thrombosis: A case report.
AB  - Vascular access thrombosis is one of the major causes of morbidity in patients
      maintained on chronic hemodialysis. Thrombophilia has been recognized as a risk
      factor of vascular access thrombosis. The authors report a case of inherited
      protein S deficiency associated with vascular access thrombotic events. DNA
      sequence analysis of the PROS1 gene identified a novel heterozygous nonsense
      mutation in exon 10 by transition of AAG (lysine) to TAG (stop codon) at codon
      473 (c.1417A>T, p.K473X). Results from the study suggest that the inherited
      protein S deficiency due to a PROS1 gene mutation may cause vascular access
      thrombosis in hemodialysis patients. 

PMID- 26889410
TI  - Brief Report: Renal replacement therapy in Korea, 2010.
AB  - The Korean Society of Nephrology (KSN) launched the official End-Stage Renal
      Disease (ESRD) Patient Registry in 1985 and the Internet online registry program
      was opened in 2001. The ESRD Registry Committee of KSN has collected data on
      dialysis therapy in Korea through the online registry program in the KSN Internet
      website. The increasing number of elderly people and diabetic patients in Korea
      has resulted in a very rapid increase in the number of ESRD patients. The total
      number of ESRD patients was 58,860 (hemodialysis [HD], 39,509; peritoneal
      dialysis [PD], 7309; and functioning kidney transplant [KT], 12,042). The
      prevalence of ESRD was 1144.4 patients per million population (PMP), and the
      proportion of renal replacement therapy was HD, 67.1%; PD, 12.4%; and KT, 20.5%.
      The number of new ESRD patients in 2010 was 9335 (HD, 7204; PD, 867; and KT,
      1264; the incidence rate was 181.5 PMP). The primary causes of ESRD were diabetic
      nephropathy (45.2%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (19.2%), and chronic
      glomerulonephritis (11.3%). The mean urea reduction ratio was 67.9% in male HD
      patients and 73.9% in female HD patients. The mean Kt/V was 1.394 in male
      patients and 1.659 in female patients. Five-year survival rates of male and
      female dialysis patients were 64.9% and 67.3%, respectively. 

PMID- 26889413
TI  - Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic
      kidney disease.

PMID- 26889406
TI  - The insulin-like growth factor system in chronic kidney disease: Pathophysiology
      and therapeutic opportunities.
AB  - The growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-insulin-like growth factor binding
      protein (GH-IGF-IGFBP) axis plays a critical role in the maintenance of normal
      renal function and the pathogenesis and progression of chronic kidney disease
      (CKD). Serum IGF-I and IGFBPs are altered with different stages of CKD, the speed
      of onset, the amount of proteinuria, and the potential of remission. Recent
      studies demonstrate that growth failure in children with CKD is due to a relative
      GH insensitivity and functional IGF deficiency. The functional IGF deficiency in
      CKD results from either IGF resistance due to increased circulating levels of
      IGFBPs or IGF deficiency due to increased urinary excretion of serum IGF-IGFBP
      complexes. In addition, not only GH and IGFs in circulation, but locally produced
      IGFs, the high-affinity IGFBPs, and low-affinity insulin-like growth factor
      binding protein-related proteins (IGFBP-rPs) may also affect the kidney. With
      respect to diabetic kidney disease, there is growing evidence suggesting that GH,
      IGF-I, and IGFBPs are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN).
      Thus, prevention of GH action by blockade either at the receptor level or along
      its signal transduction pathway offers the potential for effective therapeutic
      opportunities. Similarly, interrupting IGF-I and IGFBP actions also may offer a
      way to inhibit the development or progression of DN. Furthermore, it is well
      accepted that the systemic inflammatory response is a key player for progression
      of CKD, and how to prevent and treat this response is currently of great
      interest. Recent studies demonstrate existence of IGF-independent actions of high
      affinity and low-affinity-IGFBPs, in particular, antiinflammatory action of IGFBP
      3 and profibrotic action of IGFBP-rP2/CTGF. These findings reinforce the concept
      in support of the clinical significance of the IGF-independent action of IGFBPs
      in the assessment of pathophysiology of kidney disease and its therapeutic
      potential for CKD. Further understanding of GH-IGF-IGFBP etiopathophysiology in
      CKD may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies for this devastating
      disease. It would hold promise to use of GH, somatostatin analogs, IGFs, IGF
      agonists, GHR and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) antagonists,
      IGFBP displacer, and IGFBP antagonists as well as a combination treatment as
      therapeutic agents for CKD. 

PMID- 26889412
TI  - A case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a patient on hemodialysis.
AB  - We report an unusual case of probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in
      hemodialysis patient. A woman 59 years of age with a past history of hypertension
      and end-stage renal disease presented with a stuporous state preceded by rapidly
      progressive cognitive dysfunction, myoclonus, and akinetic mutism. At first, the
      cause of the altered mental status was assumed to be uremic or hypertensive
      encephalopathy combined with fever. Proper managements, however, did not improve
      the neurologic symptoms. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed
      bilaterally asymmetric high signal intensity in both basal ganglia and cerebral
      cortices. Electroencephalography showed diffuse generalized theta-to-delta range
      slow wave and intermittent medium-to-high voltage complexes with a characteristic
      triphasic pattern on both hemispheres. Cerebrospinal fluid assay for the 14-3-3
      protein was positive and diagnostic of CJD. 

PMID- 26889414
TI  - Current concepts of the podocyte in nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder of the glomerular filtration barrier, and
      central to the filtration mechanism of the glomerular filtration barrier is the
      podocyte. We are starting to better understand how this cell, with its unique
      architectural features, fulfils its exact filtration properties. The multiprotein
      complex between adjacent podocyte foot processes, the slit diaphragm, is
      essential to the control of the actin cytoskeleton and cell morphology. Many of
      the proteins within the slit diaphragm, including nephrin, podocin, transient
      receptor potential-6 channel, and alpha-actinin-4, have been identified via
      genetic studies of inherited nephrotic syndromes. Signaling from slit diaphragm
      proteins to the actin cytoskeleton is mediated via the Rho GTPases. These are
      thought to be involved in the control of podocyte motility, which has been
      postulated as a focus of proteinuric pathways. Nephrotic syndrome is currently
      treated with immunosuppressive therapy, with significant adverse effects. These
      therapies may work in nephrotic syndrome due to specific effects on the
      podocytes. This review aims to describe our current understanding of the cellular
      pathways and molecules within the podocyte relevant to nephrotic syndrome and its
      treatment. With our current knowledge of the cellular biology of the podocyte,
      there is much hope for targeted therapies for nephrotic syndromes. 

PMID- 26889417
TI  - Complete remission induced by tacrolimus and low-dose prednisolone in adult
      minimal change nephrotic syndrome: A pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few clinical trials have examined the replacement of steroids with
      other immunosuppressive drugs as a primary treatment modality for minimal change
      disease (MCD) in adults. We studied the efficacy of tacrolimus to induce complete
      remission (CR) in adults with MCD. METHODS: We enrolled 14 adults with MCD and
      nephrotic-range proteinuria. All patients were treated with oral tacrolimus 0.05
      mg/kg twice daily and prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg/day. CR was defined as a urine
      protein to creatinine ratio of<0.2 g protein/g creatinine (g/g cr). The primary
      outcome was cumulative percentage of CR during 16 weeks. RESULTS: The mean urine
      protein to creatinine ratio at enrollment was 10.9 g/g cr (range: 4.2-18.1 g/g
      cr). The trough tacrolimus level was maintained at 5.99+/-2.63 ng/mL. CR was
      achieved by 13/14 (92.8%) patients within 8 weeks. The cumulative CR rate was
      7.7% (1/14), 64.2% (9/14), 71.3% (10/14), and 92.9% (13/14) at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4
      weeks, and 8 weeks, respectively. The one remaining patient achieved CR at 20
      weeks after treatment, who was followed up for a further 4 weeks. The mean time
      to achieve CR in the 14 patients was 4.64+/-5.11 (1-20) weeks. Three cases
      suffered adverse events of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or new-onset diabetes
      mellitus. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus and low-dose prednisolone therapy induced CR
      rapidly (71.3% by 4 weeks and 100% by 20 weeks) and effectively in adult patients
      with MCD.

PMID- 26889418
TI  - Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and coexisting hantavirus pulmonary
      syndrome.
AB  - Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an acute viral disease with
      fever, hemorrhage and renal failure caused by hantavirus infection. Hantavirus
      induces HFRS or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS progression to a life
      threatening pulmonary disease is found primarily in the USA and very rarely in
      South Korea. Here, we report a case of HFRS and coexisting HPS. 

PMID- 26889415
TI  - TGF-beta-activated kinase-1: New insights into the mechanism of TGF-beta
      signaling and kidney disease.
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that
      regulates a wide variety of cellular functions, including cell growth, cellular
      differentiation, apoptosis, and wound healing. TGF-beta1, the prototype member of
      the TGF-beta superfamily, is well established as a central mediator of renal
      fibrosis. In chronic kidney disease, dysregulation of expression and activation
      of TGF-beta1 results in the relentless synthesis and accumulation of
      extracellular matrix proteins that lead to the development of glomerulosclerosis
      and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and ultimately to end-stage renal disease.
      Therefore, specific targeting of the TGF-beta signaling pathway is seemingly an
      attractive molecular therapeutic strategy in chronic kidney disease. Accumulating
      evidence demonstrates that the multifunctionality of TGF-beta1 is connected with
      the complexity of its cell signaling networks. TGF-beta1 signals through the
      interaction of type I and type II receptors to activate distinct intracellular
      pathways. Although the Smad signaling pathway is known as a canonical pathway
      induced by TGF-beta1, and has been the focus of many previous reviews,
      importantly TGF-beta1 also induces various Smad-independent signaling pathways.
      In this review, we describe evidence that supports current insights into the
      mechanism and function of TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which has emerged
      as a critical signaling molecule in TGF-beta-induced Smad-independent signaling
      pathways. We also discuss the functional role of TAK1 in mediating the
      profibrotic effects of TGF-beta1. 

PMID- 26889416
TI  - Intravenous albumin for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in
      patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease undergoing contrast
      enhanced CT.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contrast
      induced nephropathy (CIN), and the effect of intravenous albumin for prophylaxis
      of CIN in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
      METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 81 subjects with LC and CKD
      (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) who underwent
      contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Patients received either isotonic
      sodium bicarbonate solution (3 mL/kg for 1 h before CT and 1 mL/kg/h for 6 h
      after CT) or albumin (20% albumin, 25 mL for 1 h before CT and 75 mL for 6 h
      after CT). CIN was defined as an increase of >=25% or >=0.5 mg/dL in serum
      creatinine level. RESULTS: Overall, CIN developed in three patients (3.7%). Of
      the 81 subjects, 43 received sodium bicarbonate solution and 38 received albumin.
      Both groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and
      baseline eGFR. The albumin group showed a significantly poorer liver function
      profile. CIN incidence did not differ significantly between the groups: it
      occurred in one (2.3%) of the 43 subjects receiving sodium bicarbonate and two
      (5.3%) of the 38 subjects receiving albumin (P=0.6). However, the albumin group
      showed a significantly smaller increase in body weight (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: The
      incidence of CIN in patients with LC and CKD undergoing contrast-enhanced CT
      after preventive measures was relatively low. The incidence of CIN was not
      significantly different between sodium bicarbonate and albumin groups.

PMID- 26889419
TI  - Consecutive episodes of peritonitis in a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis
      caused by unusual organisms: Brevibacterium and Pantoea agglomerans.
AB  - A 52-year-old man undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis presented
      with two consecutive episodes of peritonitis caused by unusual organisms, namely,
      Brevibacterium and Pantoea agglomerans. The patient was successfully treated with
      a 2-week course of cefazolin and ceftazidime for the Brevibacterium-associated
      peritonitis, and a 3-week course of gentamicin for the P. agglomerans-associated
      peritonitis. Although these environmental organisms are rarely responsible for
      human infection, the number of reported cases of human infection by these unusual
      organisms has increased. This report emphasizes the potential for infection by
      environmental organisms in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. 

PMID- 26889421
TI  - Hyperuricemia: A non-traditional risk factor for development and progression of
      chronic kidney disease?

PMID- 26889420
TI  - A case of biopsy-proven chronic kidney disease on progression from acute
      phosphate nephropathy.
AB  - Acute phosphate nephropathy (APhN) following oral sodium phosphate solution (OSP)
      ingestion as a bowel purgative has been frequently reported. It was recently
      suggested that APhN could progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a history
      of APhN might be considered as one of the causes of CKD. However, there are few
      reports proving APhN as a cause of CKD. Here, we report a case of APhN that
      progressed to CKD, as proven by renal biopsy. 

PMID- 26889422
TI  - Renal infarction caused by paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale.
AB  - A 48-year-old man presented with acute right flank pain. A computed tomography
      scan revealed right renal infarction. Because he had no thrombosis in the renal
      vessels and no clear embolic source, a further examination was performed to find
      the cause of the renal infarction. On transesophageal echocardiography, a right
      to-left shunt during the Valsalva maneuver established a diagnosis of patent
      foramen ovale. This is a case of paradoxical embolism through a PFO leading to
      renal infarction. 

PMID- 26889424
TI  - Risk factors for mortality in patients with acute kidney injury and hypotension
      treated with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) is a preferred
      treatment modality in hemodynamically unstable acute kidney injury (AKI)
      patients, because it has advantages over intermittent dialysis in terms of
      hemodynamic stability. However, this patient group still shows a significantly
      high mortality rate. To aid in the management of these high-risk patients, we
      evaluated the risk factors for mortality in CVVHDF-treated hypotensive AKI
      patients. METHODS: We studied 67 patients with AKI and hypotension who were
      treated with CVVHDF from February 2008 to August 2010. We reviewed patient
      characteristics and laboratory parameters to evaluate the risk factors for 90-day
      mortality. RESULTS: Of the 67 enrolled patients (male:female=42:25; mean age=69+/
      14 years), 18 (27%) survived until 90 days after the initiation of CVVHDF. There
      was no significant difference in survival rates according to the etiology of AKI
      [hypovolemic shock 2/10 (20%), cardiogenic shock 4/20 (20%), septic shock 12/37
      (32%)]. Univariate analysis did show significant differences between survivors
      and non-survivors in the frequency of ventilator use (44% vs. 76%, respectively;
      P=0.02), APACHE II score (29+/-7 vs. 34+/-7, respectively; P=0.01), SOFA score
      (11+/-4 vs. 13+/-4, respectively; P=0.03), blood pH (7.3+/-0.1 vs. 7.2+/-0.1,
      respectively; P=0.03), and rate of urine output <500 mL for 12 hours (50% vs.
      80%, respectively; P=0.03). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed
      that a urine output<500 mL for 12 hours was the only significant risk factor for
      90-day mortality following CVVHDF treatment (odds ratio=2.1, confidence
      interval=1.01-4.4, P=0.048). CONCLUSION: A urine output<500 mL for 12 hours
      before the initiation of CVVHDF is an independent risk factor for 90-day
      mortality in hypotensive AKI patients treated with CVVHDF.

PMID- 26889426
TI  - Endothelium-dependent vasodilation by ferulic acid in aorta from chronic renal
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid (FA) is a naturally occurring nutritional compound.
      Although it has been shown to have antihypertensive effects, its effects on
      vascular function have not been intensively established. The aim of this study
      was to assess the vasoreactivity of FA in chronic two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C)
      renal hypertensive rats. METHODS: Hypertension was induced in 2K1C rats by
      clipping the left renal artery and age-matched rats that received a sham
      treatment served as a control. Thoracic aortas were mounted in tissue baths to
      measure isometric tension. The effects of FA on vasodilatory responses were
      evaluated based on contractile responses induced by phenylephrine in the aortic
      rings obtained from both 2K1C and sham rats. Basal nitric oxide (NO)
      bioavailability in the aorta was determined by the contractile response induced
      by NO synthase inhibitor N (G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). RESULTS:
      FA induced concentration-dependent relaxation responses which were greater in
      2K1C hypertensive rats than in sham-clipped control rats. This relaxation induced
      by FA was partially blocked by the removal of endothelium or by pretreating with
      l-NAME. l-NAME-induced contractile responses were augmented by FA in 2K1C rats,
      while no significant differences were noted in sham rats. FA improved
      acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in 2K1C rats, but not in
      sham rats. The simultaneous addition of hydroxyhydroquinone significantly
      inhibited the increase in acetylcholine-induced vasodilation by FA. CONCLUSION:
      These results suggest that FA restores endothelial function by altering the
      bioavailability of NO in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The results explain, in part,
      the mechanism underlying the vascular effects of FA in chronic renal
      hypertension.

PMID- 26889425
TI  - Incidence of post-transplant glomerulonephritis and its impact on graft outcome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Herein, the significance of post-transplant glomerulonephritis (PTGN)
      has been revisited to investigate whether PTGN induces allograft failure. The aim
      of this study was to identify the incidence of PTGN and its association with
      allograft failure, as well as to analyze the risk factors for PTGN. METHODS:
      Among the 996 Korean patients who underwent kidney transplantation in a
      multicenter cohort from 1995 to 2010, 764 patients were enrolled in this study.
      RESULTS: The incidence rate of PTGN was 9.7% and 17.0% at 5 and 10 years of
      follow-up, respectively. PTGN was diagnosed in 17.8% of the recipients with
      results of biopsy tests or clinical diagnosis identifying glomerular diseases as
      the underlying cause, compared with 0.0%, 4.4%, 4.9%, 5.5%, and 5.7% of the
      recipients with renal vascular diseases, renal interstitial
      diseases/pyelonephritis/uropathy, diabetic renal disease, hereditary renal
      diseases, and diseases with unknown etiologies, respectively. Allograft survival
      was significantly decreased in patients with PTGN. PTGN was associated with a
      fourfold increase in graft failure with a hazard ratio of 7.11 for both acute
      rejection and PTGN. Results of the risk factor analysis for PTGN revealed that
      the underlying glomerular renal diseases and treatment methods using drugs such
      as tacrolimus and basiliximab significantly increased PTGN development, after
      adjusting for other risk factors. CONCLUSION: We conclude that PTGN is strongly
      associated with poor kidney allograft survival. Therefore, optimal management of
      recurrent or de novo GN should be the critical focus of post-transplant care.

PMID- 26889423
TI  - Permeability factors in nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental
      glomerulosclerosis.
AB  - Circulating permeability factors have been identified in the plasma of patients
      with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Post-transplant recurrence of
      proteinuria, improvement of proteinuria after treatment with plasmapheresis, and
      induction of proteinuria in experimental animals by plasma fractions each provide
      evidence for such plasma factors. Advanced proteomic methods have identified
      candidate molecules in recurrent FSGS. We have proposed cardiotrophin-like
      cytokine-1 as an active factor in FSGS. Another potential permeability factor in
      FSGS is soluble urokinase receptor. In our studies, in vitro plasma permeability
      activity is blocked by substances that may decrease active molecules or block
      their effects. We have shown that the simple sugar galactose blocks the effect of
      FSGS serum in vitro and decreases permeability activity when administered to
      patients. Since the identities of permeability factors and their mechanisms of
      action are not well defined, treatment of FSGS is empiric. Corticosteroids are
      the most common agents for initial treatment. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as
      cyclosporine A, and tacrolimus and immunosuppressive medications, including
      mycophenylate, induce remission is some patients with steroid-resistant or 
      dependent nephrotic syndrome. Therapies that diminish proteinuria and slow
      progression in FSGS as well as other conditions include renin-angiotensin
      blockade, blood pressure lowering and plasma lipid control. Use of findings from
      in vitro studies, coupled with definitive identification of pathogenic molecules,
      may lead to new treatments to arrest FSGS progression and prevent recurrence
      after transplantation. 

PMID- 26889427
TI  - Impact of gene polymorphisms of interleukin-18, transforming growth factor-beta,
      and vascular endothelial growth factor on development of IgA nephropathy and thin
      glomerular basement membrane disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of gene polymorphisms on the development
      of IgA nephropathy and thin glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease by
      analyzing polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-18, transforming growth factor
      (TGF)-beta, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes in Korean
      patients. METHODS: This study included 146 normal individuals and 69 biopsy
      proven IgA nephropathy and 44 thin GBM disease patients. The gene polymorphisms 
      607 A/C and -137 G/C in IL-18, -509C/T and T869C in TGF-beta, and -2578C/A and
      405C/G in VEGF were investigated in DNA extracted from peripheral blood. RESULTS:
      The frequencies of the IL-18 -607CC genotype (43.5% vs. 21.2%, P=0.002, P
      corrected=0.012) and the VEGF 405 GG genotype (37.7% vs. 21.2%, P=0.002, P
      corrected=0.012) were significantly increased in the IgA nephropathy group
      compared with the control group, whereas no significant differences in genotype
      frequency were observed between the thin GBM disease and control groups. However,
      there were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies between
      the IgA nephropathy and thin GBM disease groups. CONCLUSION: This study did not
      show any statistically significant differences of six selected gene polymorphisms
      of the IL-18, TGF-beta, and VEGF genes between IgA nephropathy and thin GBM
      disease. Additional extensive studies are required to clarify the potential role
      of gene polymorphism to discriminate IgA nephropathy and thin GBM disease without
      renal biopsy.

PMID- 26889428
TI  - Renal artery thrombosis secondary to sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular
      coagulation in acute pyelonephritis.
AB  - There are some reports of renal vein thrombosis associated with acute
      pyelonephritis, but a case of renal artery thrombosis in acute pyelonephritis has
      not been reported yet. Here we report a case of renal artery thrombosis which
      developed in a patient with acute pyelonephritis complicated with sepsis-induced
      disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A 65-year-old woman with diabetes
      was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis complicated with sepsis. Escherichia coli
      was isolated from both blood and urine cultures. When treated with antibiotics,
      her condition gradually improved. She suddenly complained of severe right flank
      pain without fever in the recovery phase. A computed tomography scan revealed
      right renal artery thrombosis with concomitant renal infarction. Prophylactic
      anticoagulation therapy was not suggested because of sustained thrombocytopenia
      and increased risk of bleeding. Flank pain resolved with conservative treatment
      and perfusion of infarcted kidney improved at the time of discharge. To our
      knowledge, this is the first case of renal artery thrombosis related to acute
      pyelonephritis with sepsis-induced DIC. 

PMID- 26889429
TI  - Bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome complicated by rhabdomyolysis and acute
      kidney injury in a patient with alcohol intoxication.
AB  - Bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome is a rare clinical entity that can be
      complicated by rhabdomyolysis or acute kidney injury (AKI). We report the a case
      of a 30-year-old woman without any comorbid diseases who was diagnosed with
      bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome complicated by rhabdomyolysis and dialysis
      requiring AKI, which was caused by prolonged immobilization under the influence
      of alcohol. Although the patient's renal function recovered fully after 5
      sessions of hemodialysis, sciatic neuropathy caused by gluteal compartment
      syndrome led to permanent foot drop. 

PMID- 26889430
TI  - Acute oxalate nephropathy caused by ethylene glycol poisoning.
AB  - Ethylene glycol (EG) is a sweet-tasting, odorless organic solvent found in many
      agents, such as anti-freeze. EG is composed of four organic acids: glycoaldehyde,
      glycolic acid, glyoxylic acid and oxalic acid in vivo. These metabolites are
      cellular toxins that can cause cardio-pulmonary failure, life-threatening
      metabolic acidosis, central nervous system depression, and kidney injury. Oxalic
      acid is the end product of EG, which can precipitate to crystals of calcium
      oxalate monohydrate in the tubular lumen and has been linked to acute kidney
      injury. We report a case of EG-induced oxalate nephropathy, with the diagnosis
      confirmed by kidney biopsy, which showed acute tubular injury of the kidneys with
      extensive intracellular and intraluminal calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal
      depositions. 

PMID- 26889431
TI  - Niacin in patients with chronic kidney disease: Is it effective and safe?

PMID- 26889432
TI  - Effect of intradialytic change in blood pressure and ultrafiltration volume on
      the variation in access flow measured by ultrasound dilution.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prospective access flow measurement is the preferred method for
      vascular access surveillance in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We studied the effect
      of intradialytic change in blood pressure and ultrafiltration volume on the
      variation in access flow measured by ultrasound dilution. METHODS: Access flow
      was measured 30 minutes, 120 minutes, and 240 minutes after the start of HD by
      ultrasound dilution in 30 patients during 89 HD sessions and evaluated for
      variation. RESULTS: The mean age of the 30 patients was 62+/-11 years: 19 were
      male. The accesses comprised 16 fistulae and 14 grafts. The mean access flow over
      all sessions decreased by 6.1% over time (1265+/-568 mL/min after 30 minutes,
      1260+/-599 mL/min after 120 minutes, and 1197+/-576 mL/min after 240 minutes,
      P<0.01 by repeated measures ANOVA). In addition, a>=5% decrease in mean arterial
      pressure during HD significantly reduced access flow (P=0.014). However, no other
      variable (ultrafiltration volume, sex, age, presence of diabetes, type or
      location of access, body surface area, hemoglobin, serum albumin level)
      interacted significantly with the effect of time on access flow. Furthermore,
      mean arterial pressure did not correlate with ultrafiltration volume. CONCLUSION:
      We conclude that the variation in access flow during HD is relatively small.
      Decreased blood pressure is a risk factor for variation in access flow measured
      by ultrasound dilution. In most patients whose blood pressures are stable during
      HD, the access flow can be measured at any time during the HD treatment.

PMID- 26889433
TI  - Effects of low-dose niacin on dyslipidemia and serum phosphorus in patients with
      chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Niacin supplementation improves dyslipidemia and lowers serum
      phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated
      whether low-dose niacin supplementation can improve dyslipidemia, lower serum
      phosphorus levels, and be administered with a low frequency of adverse effects in
      patients with CKD. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of
      patients with CKD who had taken niacin from January 2009 to June 2011. We
      excluded patients with CKD stage 1 and 5. We then enrolled 31 patients with CKD
      who had taken niacin at a fixed dose of 500 mg/day for 6 months. We also randomly
      selected 30 patients with CKD who had been taking statin for 9 months as a
      control group. RESULTS: Among the 34 patients with CKD who were prescribed
      niacin, five (14%) complained of adverse effects, and three (8%) discontinued
      niacin. The proportion of patients in the niacin group who had been taking a
      statin or omega-3 fatty acids was 67.7% and 48.8%, respectively. In the niacin
      group, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly increased and
      triglyceride level was significantly decreased at 12 and 24 weeks compared with
      baseline levels (P<0.05). In the niacin group, phosphorous level (P<0.05) was
      significantly decreased, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was significantly
      increased (P<0.05) at 24 weeks compared with baseline values. CONCLUSION: Low
      dose niacin had a low frequency of adverse effects and also improved
      dyslipidemia, lowered serum phosphorus level, and increased GFR in patients with
      CKD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of low-dose
      niacin for renal progression of CKD.

PMID- 26889434
TI  - Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in dialysis patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients have impaired host defense mechanisms and
      frequently require antibiotics for various infective complications. In this
      study, we investigated whether dialysis patients have greater risk for
      Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). METHODS: During the 4-year
      study period (2004-2008), 85 patients with CDAD were identified based on a
      retrospective review of C difficile toxin assay or histology records. Nosocomial
      diarrheal patients without CDAD were considered as controls (n=403). We assessed
      the association between renal function and the prevalence and clinical outcomes
      of CDAD. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of
      chronic kidney disease (CKD) between CDAD and non-CDAD patients (P<0.001).
      Sixteen patients (18.8%) of the CDAD group were treated with dialysis, whereas 21
      patients (5.2%) of the non-CDAD group were treated with dialysis. There was a
      significant association between renal function and CDAD in patients on dialysis
      [odds ratio (OR)=4.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.19-8.99, P<0.001], but not
      in patients with CKD stage 3-5 (OR=1.10, 95% CI 0.63-1.92, P=0.73). In
      multivariate analysis, CKD stage 5D was an independent risk factor for the
      development of CDAD (OR=13.36, 95% CI 2.94-60.67, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data
      indicate that dialysis patients might be at a greater risk of developing CDAD,
      which suggests that particular attention should be provided to CDAD when
      antibiotic treatment is administered to dialysis patients.

PMID- 26889435
TI  - Correlation between peripheral venous and arterial blood gas measurements in
      patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A single-center study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between
      arterial blood gas (ABG) and peripheral venous blood gas (VBG) samples for all
      commonly used parameters in patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit
      (ICU). METHODS: A single-center, prospective trial was carried out in a medical
      ICU in order to determine the level of correlation of ABG and peripheral VBG
      measurements. A maximum of five paired ABG-VBG samples were obtained per patient
      to prevent a single patient from dominating the data set. RESULTS: Regression
      equations were derived to predict arterial values from venous values as follows:
      arterial pH=-1.108+1.145*venous pH+0.008*PCO2-0.012*venous HCO3+0.002*venous
      total CO2 (R(2)=0.655), arterial PCO2=88.6-10.888*venous
      pH+0.150*PCO2+0.812*venous HCO3+0.124*venous total CO2 (R(2)=0.609), arterial
      HCO3=-89.266+12.677*venous pH+0.042*PCO2+0.675*venous HCO3+0.185*venous total CO2
      (R(2)=0.782). The mean ABG minus peripheral VBG differences for pH, PCO2, and
      bicarbonates were not clinically important for between-person heterogeneity.
      CONCLUSION: Peripheral venous pH, PCO2, bicarbonates, and total CO2 may be used
      as alternatives to their arterial equivalents in many clinical contexts
      encountered in the ICU.

PMID- 26889436
TI  - A case of membranous nephropathy as a manifestation of graft-versus-host disease.
AB  - Nephrotic syndrome (NS) rarely occurs after hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation (HSCT) as a late manifestation of graft-versus-host disease
      (GVHD). Herein, we report a case of HSCT-associated membranous nephropathy in a
      female patient with aplastic anemia. The patient received an allogeneic HSCT from
      her human leukocyte antigen-identical brother following myeloablative
      conditioning chemotherapy. NS occurred 21 months after HSCT without any
      concurrent features of chronic GVHD. The patient was treated with prednisolone
      and cyclosporine after renal biopsy confirmed membranous nephropathy, and
      achieved complete remission. Our report contradicts previous assumptions that
      concomitant chronic GVHD is responsible for the development of NS, suggesting
      that NS can develop as a new, independent manifestation of GVHD. 

PMID- 26889438
TI  - Sulodexide in IgA nephropathy.

PMID- 26889437
TI  - Association of acute tubular necrosis with gross hematuria in cirrhosis-related
      immunoglobulin A nephropathy.
AB  - Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy associated with cirrhosis is the most common
      form of secondary IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Cirrhosis-related IgAN is usually
      clinically silent with a rare occurrence of gross hematuria, unlike in cases of
      idiopathic IgAN. Especially, acute tubular necrosis (ATN) associated with gross
      hematuria is very rare in cirrhosis-related IgAN, although acute renal failure is
      a frequently reported complication in advanced cirrhosis. Herein, we report an
      unusual case of ATN requiring renal replacement therapy, associated with gross
      hematuria in a patient with nonalcoholic, hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis.
      Results of a histopathological analysis revealed obstruction of the lumen of
      renal tubules by red blood cell casts, a marked tubular necrosis, and IgA
      deposition in the mesangium. The patient's renal function and gross hematuria
      were clearly improved after lamivudine treatment. 

PMID- 26889439
TI  - The Role of Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Rib Fixation: A Review.
AB  - More than a century ago, the first scientific report was published about fracture
      fixation with plates. During the 1950's, open reduction and plate fixation for
      fractures were standardized by the founders of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur
      osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation. Since the
      introduction of plate fixation for fractures, several plates and screws have been
      developed, all with their own characteristics. To accomplice more fracture
      stability, it was thought the bigger the plate, the better. The counter side was
      a compromised blood supply of the bone, often resulting in bone necrosis and
      ultimately delayed or non-union. With the search and development of new materials
      and techniques for fracture fixation, less invasive procedures have become
      increasingly popular. This resulted in the minimally invasive plate
      osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique for fracture fixation. With the MIPO technique,
      procedures could be performed with smaller incisions and thus with less soft
      tissue damage and a better preserved blood supply. The last 5 years rib fixation
      has become increasingly popular, rising evidence has become available suggesting
      that surgical rib fixation improves outcome of patients with a flail chest or
      isolated rib fractures. Many surgical approaches for rib fixation have been
      described in the old literature, however, most of these techniques are obscure
      nowadays. Currently mostly large incisions with considerable surgical insult are
      used to stabilize rib fractures. We think that MIPO deserves a place in the
      surgical treatment of rib fractures. We present the aspects of diagnosis,
      preoperative planning and operative techniques in regard to MIPO rib fixation. 

PMID- 26889440
TI  - Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in Infancy via the Atrioventricular Approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a well-recognized congenital heart
      disease. Despite improvements in the outcomes of surgical repair, the optimal
      timing of surgery and type of surgical management of patients with TOF remains
      controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes following the
      repair of TOF in infants depending on the surgical procedure used. METHODS: This
      study involved the retrospective review of 120 patients who underwent TOF repair
      between 2010 and 2013. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the
      surgical procedure that they underwent. Corrective surgery was done via the
      transventricular approach (n=40), the transatrial approach (n=40), or a combined
      atrioventricular approach (n=40). Demographic data and the outcomes of the
      surgical procedures were compared among the groups. RESULTS: In the
      atrioventricular group, the incidence of the following complications was found to
      be significantly lower than in the other groups: complete heart block (p=0.034),
      right ventricular failure (p=0.027) and mediastinal bleeding (p=0.007). Patients
      in the atrioventricular group had a better postoperative right ventricular
      ejection fraction (p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were
      observed among the three surgical groups in the occurrence of tachycardia, renal
      failure, and tricuspid incompetence. The one-year survival rates in the three
      groups were 95%, 90%, and 97.5%, respectively (p=0.395). CONCLUSION: Combined
      atrioventricular repair of TOF in infancy can be safely performed, with
      acceptable surgical risk, a low incidence of reoperation, good ventricular
      function outcomes, and an excellent survival rate.

PMID- 26889441
TI  - The Risk Factors and Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury after Thoracic Endovascular
      Aortic Repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the incidence, predictive factors, and impact of
      acute kidney injury (AKI) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).
      METHODS: A total of 53 patients who underwent 57 TEVAR operations between 2008
      and 2015 were reviewed for the incidence of AKI as defined by the RIFLE (risk,
      injury, failure, loss, and end-stage kidney disease risk) consensus criteria. The
      estimated glomerular filtration rate was determined in the perioperative period.
      Comorbidities and postoperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS:
      Underlying aortic pathologies included 21 degenerative aortic aneurysms, 20 blunt
      traumatic aortic injuries, six type B aortic dissections, five type B intramural
      hematomas, three endoleaks and two miscellaneous diseases. The mean age of the
      patients was 61.2+/-17.5 years (range, 15 to 85 years). AKI was identified in 13
      (22.8%) of 57 patients. There was an association of preoperative stroke and
      postoperative paraparesis and paraplegia with AKI. The average intensive care
      unit (ICU) stay in patients with AKI was significantly longer than in patients
      without AKI (5.3 vs. 12.7 days, p=0.017). The 30-day mortality rate in patients
      with AKI was significantly higher than patients without AKI (23.1% vs. 4.5%,
      p=0.038); however, AKI did not impact long-term survival. CONCLUSION:
      Preoperative stroke and postoperative paraparesis and paraplegia were identified
      as predictors for AKI. Patients with AKI experienced longer average ICU stays and
      greater 30-day mortality than those without AKI. Perioperative identification of
      high-risk patients, as well as nephroprotective strategies to reduce the
      incidence of AKI, should be considered as important aspects of a successful TEVAR
      procedure.

PMID- 26889442
TI  - Selective Carotid Shunting Based on Intraoperative Transcranial Doppler Imaging
      during Carotid Endarterectomy: A Retrospective Single-Center Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with selective shunting is the surgical
      method currently used to treat patients with carotid artery disease. We evaluated
      the incidence of major postoperative complications in patients who underwent CEA
      with selective shunting under transcranial Doppler (TCD) at our institution.
      METHODS: The records of 45 patients who underwent CEA with TCD-based selective
      shunting under general anesthesia from November 2009 to June 2015 were reviewed.
      The risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate
      and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative atrial fibrillation was observed
      in three patients. Plaque ulceration was detected in 10 patients (22.2%) by
      preoperative computed tomography imaging. High-level stenosis was observed in 16
      patients (35.5%), and 18 patients had contralateral stenosis. Twenty patients
      (44.4%) required shunt placement due to reduced TCD flow or a poor temporal
      window. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2%. No cases of major stroke were
      observed in the 30 days after surgery, but four cases of minor stroke were noted.
      Univariate analysis showed that preoperative atrial fibrillation (odds ratio
      [OR], 40; p=0.018) and ex-smoker status (OR, 17.5; p=0.021) were statistically
      significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period.
      Analogously, multivariate analysis also found that atrial fibrillation (p<0.001)
      and ex-smoker status (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for a minor stroke
      in the 30-day postoperative period. No variables were identified as risk factors
      for 30-day major stroke or death. No wound complications were found, although one
      (2.2%) of the patients suffered from a hypoglossal nerve injury. CONCLUSION: TCD
      based CEA is a safe and reliable method to treat patients with carotid artery
      disease. Preoperative atrial fibrillation and ex-smoker status were found to
      increase the postoperative risk of a small embolism leading to a minor neurologic
      deficit.

PMID- 26889443
TI  - Pectus Excavatum and Pectus Carinatum: Associated Conditions, Family History, and
      Postoperative Patient Satisfaction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) are the most common
      chest wall deformities. In this study, we aimed to characterize how patients
      obtained information about these deformities, as well as patients' family
      history, associated medical problems, and postoperative satisfaction after the
      Nuss and Abramson procedures. METHODS: This cross-sectional retrospective study
      included patients who were operated by a single surgeon between 2006 and 2013.
      Follow-up calls were made after approval of our institution's ethics committee.
      We reached 207 of the 336 PE patients (61.6%) and 73 of the 96 PC patients (76%).
      RESULTS: The majority of the patients were male (85% of the PE patients and 91.8%
      of the PC patients). The age of diagnosis of PE was 14.52+/-0.51 years and the
      age at the time of operation was 17.89+/-0.42 years; for PC patients, the
      corresponding ages were 15.23+/-0.55 years and 16.77+/-0.55 years, respectively.
      A total of 70% of the PE patients and 63.8% of the PC patients obtained
      information about pectus deformities through the Internet. In 27.1% of the PE
      patients with an associated anomaly, 57.1% (n=13) had scoliosis, while 41.1% of
      the PC patients with an associated anomaly had kyphosis (n=5). Postoperative
      satisfaction, as evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10, was 8.17+/-0.15 for PE
      patients and 8.37+/-0.26 for PC patients. The postoperative pain duration was
      51.93+/-5.18 days for PE patients and 38.5+/-6.88 days for PC patients.
      CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that most patients with pectus deformities
      were male. The Internet was an important resource for patients to learn about
      their deformities. Family history and associated anomalies were identified as
      important aspects for consideration in the clinical setting. The patients
      reported high levels of postoperative satisfaction, and pain management was found
      to be one of the most important elements of postoperative care.

PMID- 26889444
TI  - Tricuspid Valve Re-Repair in Ebstein Anomaly Using the Cone Technique.
AB  - The management of recurrent tricuspid regurgitation after tricuspid valve repair
      in patients with Ebstein anomaly is difficult, and tricuspid valve replacement is
      most commonly performed in such patients. We report two cases of recurrent
      tricuspid regurgitation in patients with Ebstein anomaly that were successfully
      re-repaired using the cone technique. The cone repair technique is a useful
      surgical method for reconstructing a competent tricuspid valve, and can be
      applied in patients who have undergone previous tricuspid valve repair. 

PMID- 26889446
TI  - Organizing Thrombus Mimicking a Cardiac Tumor Located at the Mitral-Aortic
      Intervalvular Fibrosa.
AB  - Thrombosis at the left ventricular outflow tract occurs without any detectable
      heart disease or predisposing factors only extremely rarely. A 48-year-old male
      visited Konkuk University Medical Center with loss of consciousness one month
      prior to presentation. Before he visited our hospital, he had been diagnosed with
      a cardiac tumor, which was located between the left atrium and posterior aortic
      root, and which was adjacent to both the aortic and mitral valves. Cardiac
      transplantation was recommended at the other hospital because of the high risk of
      cardiac dysfunction induced by both aortic and mitral valvular dysfunction after
      surgical resection. Based on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac
      computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and intra-operative
      transesophageal echocardiography, we considered it to be a benign tumor. Complete
      resection was achieved and the pathology confirmed organizing thrombus. We report
      a case of organizing thrombus mimicking a cardiac tumor, which was located at the
      mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa of the left ventricular outflow tract without
      any heart disease. 

PMID- 26889445
TI  - Persistent Fifth Aortic Arch with Coarctation.
AB  - Persistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA) is a rare congenital anomaly of the aortic
      arch frequently associated with other cardiovascular anomalies, such as tetralogy
      of Fallot and aortic arch coarctation or interruption. We report the case of a
      neonate with PFAA with coarctation who successfully underwent surgical repair. 

PMID- 26889447
TI  - Modified Surgical Intervention for Extensive Mitral Valve Endocarditis and
      Posterior Mitral Annular Calcification.
AB  - The concomitant presence of posterior mitral annular calcification and infectious
      mitral valve lesions poses a technical challenge with considerable perioperative
      risk when using previously proposed techniques for mitral valve surgery. Herein,
      we report a case of the use of a modified surgical technique to successfully
      treat a patient with mitral infective endocarditis complicated by a
      subendocardial abscess and extensive posterior mitral annular calcification. 

PMID- 26889448
TI  - A Case of Recurrent Aortic Rupture Associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae
      Pericarditis Treated by Two Separate Aortic Operations.
AB  - A 49-year-old female presented with severe dyspnea. She was diagnosed with
      cardiac tamponade combined with ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm and rupture,
      which was caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. This extremely rare
      condition was managed by an emergency pericardiostomy and two separate aortic
      operations. Antibiotics active for the K. pneumoniae isolate were used
      throughout. The patient was well for nine months after discharge and continues to
      be followed up for signs of possible reinfection. 

PMID- 26889449
TI  - Surgical Management of Aorto-Esophageal Fistula as a Late Complication after
      Graft Replacement for Acute Aortic Dissection.
AB  - A 49-year-old male presented with chills and a fever. Five years previously, he
      underwent ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement using the elephant trunk
      technique for DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection. The preoperative evaluation found
      an esophago-paraprosthetic fistula between the prosthetic graft and the
      esophagus. Multiple-stage surgery was performed with appropriate antibiotic and
      antifungal management. First, we performed esophageal exclusion and drainage of
      the perigraft abscess. Second, we removed the previous graft, debrided the
      abscess, and performed an in situ re-replacement of the ascending aorta, aortic
      arch, and proximal descending thoracic aorta, with separate replacement of the
      innominate artery, left common carotid artery, and extra-anatomical bypass of the
      left subclavian artery. Finally, staged esophageal reconstruction was performed
      via transthoracic anastomosis. The patient's postoperative course was
      unremarkable and the patient has done well without dietary problems or recurrent
      infections over one and a half years of follow-up. 

PMID- 26889450
TI  - Diaphragm Translocation as Surgical Treatment for Agenesis of the Right Lung and
      Secondary Tracheal Compression.
AB  - A 12-month-old boy was diagnosed with agenesis of the right lung. Mediastinal
      deviation progressed to the diseased side as the patient matured; therefore,
      tracheal distortion developed. As a result, tracheal compression developed
      between the vertebral body and aorta. The patient was repeatedly admitted to the
      hospital because of recurrent pulmonary infection and combined severe respiratory
      distress. Diaphragm translocation was performed to treat the patient. The
      postoperative course was favorable, and computed tomography scan findings and
      symptoms had improved at 1 year after surgery. 

PMID- 26889451
TI  - Malignant Schwannoma of the Esophagus: A Rare Case Report.
AB  - Neurogenic tumors are the most prevalent tumors of the mediastinum, and
      schwannomas are the most common type of neurogenic tumor. Primary neurogenic
      neoplasm of the esophagus is uncommon and malignant schwannoma of the esophagus
      is extremely rare. We report a case of a 27-year-old female presenting with
      dysphagia and palpitations who was found to have a lobulated tumor in the
      mediastinum that was compressing the esophageal lumen. The tumor was successfully
      treated surgically without recurrence. The final diagnosis, on histopathological
      examination of the specimen, was malignant schwannoma. 

PMID- 26889452
TI  - Nodular Fasciitis of the Chest in a Young Woman.
AB  - Nodular fasciitis is a benign reactive proliferation that usually involves the
      deep fascia. Although it is relatively common in the adult population, it is
      often misdiagnosed as sarcoma due to its rapid growth and pathological features.
      It rarely presents as a chest wall tumor in young patients. Here, we report a
      case of nodular fasciitis involving the chest wall of an 18-year-old woman and
      its surgical management. This case underscores the need to consider nodular
      fasciitis in the differential diagnosis of chest wall tumors in young patients. 

PMID- 26889453
TI  - Single-Suture Neochorda-Folding Plasty for Mitral Regurgitation.
AB  - The single-suture neochorda-folding plasty technique is a modification of
      existing mitral valve repair techniques. In the authors' experience, its
      simplicity, reliability, and versatility make it a useful technique for mitral
      valve repair, especially when a minimally invasive approach is used. 

PMID- 26889454
TI  - Changes of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein During Clopidogrel Therapy in
      Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The crucial role of inflammation in the development and progression
      of atherosclerosis has been previously described. However, there is insufficient
      data available to demonstrate the changes in high sensitivity C-reactive protein
      (hs-CRP) during clopidogrel therapy. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we aimed
      to assess the changes in the inflammatory marker of coronary heart disease, i.e.,
      hs-CRP during clopidogrel therapy, in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI). We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of
      clopidogrel, if any, in different groups of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The
      study population included 650 consecutive patients who underwent elective,
      urgent, or emergent PCI. Patients received a 300-mg loading dose of clopidogrel
      (Plavix((r))) and aspirin either 24 hours before the planned PCI, or immediately
      before the procedure in patients with urgent or emergent PCI, followed by a 75-mg
      daily maintenance dose for up to 12 weeks. At the end of the 12(th) week, hs-CRP
      was re-assessed. RESULTS: Six hundred-fifty patients including 386 (59.4%) male
      and 264 (40.6%) female subjects were enrolled in the study. The mean hs-CRP level
      was 15.36 +/- 9.83 mg/L with a median of 14 mg/L (interquartile range 8 to 19.6
      mg/L). Female, hypertensive, diabetic, and non-smoking patients had higher
      reductions in hs-CRP in response to clopidogrel therapy compared to male, non
      hypertensive, non-diabetic and smoker patients, respectively (all P < 0.005). The
      changes in the hs-CRP levels were also statistically different in patients with
      various index events before PCI (P < 0.001). No significant differences were
      observed in the mean reduction of hs-CRP between the patients without stent
      implantation and those with bare metal or drug-eluting stents (P = 0.07),
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the use of clopidogrel in patients
      undergoing PCI had favorable effects on the suppression of hs-CRP. This effect
      appears to be heightened and more apparent in some group of patients with co
      morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.

PMID- 26889456
TI  - Oral L-Arginine Administration Improves Anthropometric and Biochemical Indices
      Associated With Cardiovascular Diseases in Obese Patients: A Randomized, Single
      Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recently, the potential of L-arginine supplementation as a novel and
      effective strategy for weight loss and improving biochemical parameters in obese
      patients has been under consideration. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of 8
      week oral L-arginine supplementation on body mass index (BMI), waist
      circumference (WC), triceps skinfold (TS), subscapular skinfold (SS), systolic
      blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), plasma fasting blood sugar
      (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC),
      low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with BMI values > 29.9 or visceral obesity (WC
      > 102 cm in men or > 88 cm in women). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety obese patients
      were included in a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Patients were
      randomized to receive either L-arginine (3 or 6 g thrice daily) or placebo for 8
      weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical indices, dietary intake, and blood pressure
      values were measured at the baseline and after the 8-week intervention. RESULTS:
      Significant decreases in anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (SBP, DBP),
      FBS, HbA1c, LDL, MDA (P < 0.001), TG (P = 0.02), and TC (P = 0.002) and a
      significant increase in HDL (P < 0.001) were observed in the intervention group,
      compared to the control group. In the control group, no significant differences
      were found between the baseline and end-of-intervention measurements.
      CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, oral L-Arginine supplementation appears to improve
      anthropometric parameters, blood pressure values, and some blood biochemical
      indices associated with cardiovascular disease prevention.

PMID- 26889455
TI  - Comparison of Gated SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with Echocardiography for
      the Measurement of Left Ventricular Volumes and Ejection Fraction in Patients
      With Severe Heart Failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial
      perfusion imaging (MPI) is known as a feasible tool for the measurement of left
      ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and volumes, which are of great importance in
      the management and follow-up of patients with coronary artery diseases. However,
      considering the technical shortcomings of SPECT in the presence of perfusion
      defect, the accuracy of this method in heart failure patients is still
      controversial. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the
      results from gated SPECT MPI with those from echocardiography in heart failure
      patients to compare echocardiographically-derived left ventricular dimension and
      function data to those from gated SPECT MPI in heart failure patients. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with severely reduced left ventricular systolic
      function (EF <= 35%) who were referred for gated SPECT MPI were prospectively
      enrolled. Quantification of EF, end-diastolic volume (EDV), and end-systolic
      volume (ESV) was performed by using quantitative gated spect (QGS) (QGS, version
      0.4, May 2009) and emory cardiac toolbox (ECTb) (ECTb, revision 1.0, copyright
      2007) software packages. EF, EDV, and ESV were also measured with two-dimensional
      echocardiography within 3 days after MPI. RESULTS: A good correlation was found
      between echocardiographically-derived EF, EDV, and ESV and the values derived
      using QGS (r = 0.67, r = 0.78, and r = 0.80 for EF, EDV, and ESV, respectively; P
      < 0.001) and ECTb (r = 0.68, 0.79, and r = 0.80 for EF, EDV, and ESV,
      respectively; P < 0.001). However, Bland-Altman plots indicated significantly
      different mean values for EF, 11.4 and 20.9 using QGS and ECTb, respectively, as
      compared with echocardiography. ECTb-derived EDV was also significantly higher
      than the EDV measured with echocardiography and QGS. The highest correlation
      between echocardiography and gated SPECT MPI was found for mean values of ESV
      different. CONCLUSIONS: Gated SPECT MPI has a good correlation with
      echocardiography for the measurement of left ventricular EF, EDV, and ESV in
      patients with severe heart failure. However, the absolute values of these
      functional parameters from echocardiography and gated SPECT MPI measured with
      different software packages should not be used interchangeably.

PMID- 26889457
TI  - Conduction Disorders in Continuous Versus Interrupted Suturing Technique in
      Ventricular Septal Defect Surgical Repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ventricular septal defects (VSD) is one of the most frequent
      congenital cardiac malformations and cardiac conduction disorders are still one
      of the serious postoperative complications in this surgery. OBJECTIVES: This
      study aimed to compare the incidence of conduction disorders with the use of
      continuous compared to interrupted suturing techniques in VSD surgical repair.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Previously recorded data of 231 patients who underwent
      surgical closure of VSD between January 2009 and January 2012 at the Rajaie
      cardiovascular medical and research center were retrospectively reviewed. VSD
      surgical repair was performed using continues suturing technique in group A
      patients (n = 163, 70.6%) and interrupted suturing technique in group B patients
      (n = 68, 29.4%). RESULTS: The most common concomitant congenital anomaly was
      Tetralogy of Fallot (27.3%). Twenty-four (10.4%) patients had intraoperative
      cardiac arrhythmia, including 19 (8.2%) transient and 5 (2.2 %) permanent
      arrhythmia. During their ICU stay, ventricular arrhythmia and complete heart
      block were observed in 34 (14.7%) and 5 patients (2.2%), respectively. At the
      time of the last follow-up, incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB), complete
      RBBB, RBBB with left anterior hemi-block, and complete heart block were
      identified in 84 (36.4%), 42 (18.2%), 29 (12.6%), and 5 patients (2.2%),
      respectively. The results revealed that group A patients were most likely to have
      had cardiac arrhythmias during their ICU stay and at the time of last follow-up
      (P < 0.001), while the intraoperative incidence of cardiac arrhythmia during
      surgery was not statistically significant between the two groups (P = 0.06).
      CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of any statistical differences in the other risk
      factors between the two groups, the difference in the incidence of conduction
      disorders can be attributed to the type of suturing used during the procedure.

PMID- 26889458
TI  - Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon Clinical Findings and Predictors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In some patients with chest pain, selective coronary angiography
      reveals slow contrast agent passage through the epicardial coronary arteries in
      the absence of stenosis. This phenomenon has been designated the slow coronary
      flow (SCF) phenomenon. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to describe the
      demographic and clinical findings and presence of common atherosclerosis risk
      factors in patients with the SCF phenomenon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between
      October 2014 and March 2015, demographic data, clinical histories,
      atherosclerosis risk factors, and laboratory and angiographic findings were
      recorded for all consecutive patients scheduled for coronary angiography and
      diagnosed with the SCF phenomenon, as well as a control group (patients with
      normal epicardial coronary arteries; NECA). SCF was diagnosed based on the
      thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC). A TFC > 27 indicated a
      diagnosis of SCF phenomenon. RESULTS: Among the 3600 patients scheduled for
      selective coronary angiography, 75 (2%) met the SCF criteria. SCF and NECA
      patients did not exhibit statistically significant differences in traditional
      risk factors except for hypertension, which was more prevalent in SCF than NECA
      patients (52% versus 31%, P = 0.008). A multivariable analysis indicated a low
      body mass index, presence of hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-c) level, and high hemoglobin level as independent predictors of
      the SCF phenomenon; of these, hypertension was the strongest predictor (odds
      ratio = 6.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.2 - 17.9, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The
      SCF phenomenon is relatively frequent, particularly among patients with acute
      coronary syndrome who are scheduled for coronary angiography. Hypertension, a low
      HDL-c level, and high hemoglobin level can be considered independent predictors
      of this phenomenon.

PMID- 26889460
TI  - Comparison of the Effects of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Versus Medical
      Therapy on Short and Long Term Outcomes in Octogenarian Patients With Multi
      Vessel Coronary Artery Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Appropriate treatment methods lead to a reduced rate of mortality and
      morbidity, and an improved quality of life, in patients with multi-vessel
      coronary artery disease. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we compared short and long
      term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus medical therapy in
      patients 80 years of age and older with multi-vessel coronary artery disease
      (MVCAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 50 octogenarian
      patients with MVCAD who underwent CABG were compared with 50 patients in the same
      condition who were treated with medical therapy during the same time. The primary
      objective was to compare mortality and morbidity rates, as well as other factors
      such as the occurrence of chest pain, deterioration of the NYHA functional class,
      and re-hospitalization, between the two groups. The comparison was made using
      medical records from the five years post-treatment. RESULTS: After five years,
      the overall mortality rate included 11 patients (22%) in the CABG group versus 18
      patients (36%) in the medical therapy group; this difference was not significant
      between the two groups (P = 0.186). Regarding short-term outcomes, in the CABG
      group, cardiogenic shock occurred in 9 patients (18%), renal failure in 13
      patients (26%), pulmonary complications in 9 patients (18%) and neurologic
      complications in 3 patients (6%); in the medical therapy group, these same
      complications occurred, respectively, in 6 patients (12%), 7 patients (14%), 10
      patients (20%) and 1 patient (2%). In addition to these factors, freedom from
      chest pain and improvement in the functional class among the CABG group was
      significantly higher than among the medical therapy group (P = <0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: CABG may be the superior form of treatment for long-term outcomes in
      terms of the relief of chest pain, improvement of the functional class, reduced
      need for re-admission, and later death for octogenarians. However, short-term
      morbidity may be higher among the CABG group, but the mortality rate after 30
      days is quite similar.

PMID- 26889459
TI  - The Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children Under 5 Years in Tehran,
      Iran, in 2012: A Population-Based Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity in children are a serious problem. They are
      increasingly prevalent and associated with a wide range of health problems in
      adulthood. Monitoring their status is essential for effective planning in the
      health system. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of
      overweight and obesity in children below 5 years in Tehran in 2012. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed data provided by the urban health
      equity assessment in Tehran. The sample comprised a total of 4656 children under
      5 years, recruited via multistage sampling. Data were collected through
      questionnaires and anthropometric measures of height and weight. The WHO child
      growth standards were used to determine overweight and obesity. Data were
      analyzed using chi-square tests, with SPSS version 11.5. RESULTS: The prevalence
      of overweight and obesity in children were 12% and 23.7% respectively. The
      prevalence of overweight was significantly higher in girls than boys and the
      prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in boys than girls (P = 0.001).
      Obesity was more prevalent in children from high economic percentiles, but this
      finding was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of
      overweight and obesity in children under 5 years is high. Overweight and obesity
      should be considered an epidemic and serious health problem in Tehran. They
      certainly require more attention and intervention.

PMID- 26889462
TI  - Percutaneous Retrieval of an Embolized Catheter Tip With the Balloon Dilatation
      Technique.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Increasing numbers of complex percutaneous coronary interventions
      have been accompanied by various intra-procedural complications. The fracture and
      embolization of devices or their fragments are potentially life-threatening
      situations, depending on the site of embolization. Different non-surgical methods
      to handle embolic complications have been proposed for different clinical
      situations. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a distally embolized catheter
      fragment that was percutaneously retrieved. The catheter fragment was tightly
      held by the inflated balloon, moved together with the system, and successfully
      retrieved out of the circulation via the femoral sheath. Considerable distal
      embolization of the foreign body and retrieval with the balloon dilatation
      technique are the unique features of this case. CONCLUSIONS: The present case
      appears to offer a safe and relatively simple method of balloon dilatation inside
      the lumen of the embolized fragment when the foreign body is too distal to
      retrieve with conventional snare systems.

PMID- 26889461
TI  - Do Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Relative Risks Differ for the Occurrence of
      Ischemic Heart Disease and Stroke?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effects of the risk factors of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and
      stroke on the occurrence of these diseases differ between different populations.
      OBJECTIVES: To study the difference in the effects of different cardiovascular
      (CVD) risk factors on the incidence of IHD and stroke in an Iranian adult
      population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) is a
      longitudinal study that followed up 6323 subjects older than 35 years with no
      history of CVD since 2001. Of the original sample, only 5431 participants were
      contacted and followed up until 2011. The end points were the occurrence of IHD
      (defined as fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and
      sudden cardiac death) and stroke. After 10 years of follow-up, 564 new cases of
      IHD and 141 new cases of stroke were detected. The relative risks (RRs) of
      cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes,
      hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C) level, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
      level, current smoking, obesity, high waist-to-hip ratio, family history of CVD,
      and metabolic syndrome were compared between IHD and stroke patients. The ratio
      of relative risks (RRR) was calculated for comparing two RRs and estimated
      adjusted RRR was calculated by using generalized linear regression with a log
      link and binomial distribution. RESULTS: The RRs of the occurrence of IHD and
      stroke in diabetic patients were 1.94 and 3.26, respectively, and the difference
      was statistically different (P = 0.016). The RR of high LDL-C was significantly
      higher for IHD than for stroke (P = 0.045), while all the other risk factors
      showed similar RRs for IHD and stroke, with no significant difference in their
      RRR, including hypertension. Diabetes and hypertension had the highest RRs for
      IHD, followed by diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension for stroke.
      CONCLUSIONS: The effect of diabetes mellitus on stroke was more significant than
      on IHD, and the effect of high LDL-C level was more significant on IHD than on
      stroke, other risk factors, including hypertension, have similar RRs for IHD and
      stroke. Health care professionals need more training regarding the RRs of these
      risk factors in the Iranian society, and health decision makers should consider
      it in their future policies.

PMID- 26889463
TI  - RISK FACTORS FOR SLOW GAIT SPEED: A NESTED CASE-CONTROL SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF THE
      MEXICAN HEALTH AND AGING STUDY.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Physical performance tests play a major role in the geriatric
      assessment. In particular, gait speed has shown to be useful for predicting
      adverse outcomes. However, risk factors for slow gait speed (slowness) are not
      clearly described. OBJECTIVES: To determine risk factors associated with slowness
      in Mexican older adults. DESIGN: A two-step process was adopted for exploring the
      antecedent risk factors of slow gait speed. First, the cut-off values for gait
      speed were determined in a representative sample of Mexican older adults. Then,
      antecedent risk factors of slow gait speed (defined using the identified cut
      points) were explored in a nested, cohort case-control study. SETTING
      PARTICIPANTS: One representative sample of a cross-sectional survey for the first
      step and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (a cohort characterized by a 10-year
      follow-up). MEASUREMENTS: A 4-meter usual gait speed test was conducted. Lowest
      gender and height-stratified groups were considered as defining slow gait speed.
      Sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, psychological and health-care
      related variables were explored to find those associated with the subsequent
      development of slow gait speed. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression
      models were performed. RESULTS: In the final model, age, diabetes, hypertension,
      and history of fractures were associated with the development of slow gait speed.
      CONCLUSIONS: Early identification of subjects at risk of developing slow gait
      speed may halt the path to disability due to the robust association of this
      physical performance test with functional decline.

PMID- 26889464
TI  - The hierarchy of the evidence-based medicine pyramid: classification beyond
      ranking.

PMID- 26889465
TI  - Secure fixation of femoral bone plug with a suspensory button in anatomical
      anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft.
AB  - PURPOSE: the efficacy and safety of using a suspensory button for femoral
      fixation in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone
      patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft have not been established. The purpose of the
      current study was to evaluate bone plug integration onto the femoral socket and
      migration of the bone plug and the EndoButton (EB) (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA,
      USA) after rectangular tunnel ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft. METHODS:
      thirty-four patients who underwent anatomical rectangular ACL reconstruction with
      BPTB graft using EB for femoral fixation and in whom three-dimensional (3D)
      computed tomography (CT) was performed one week and one year after surgery were
      included in this study. Bone plug integration onto the femoral socket, bone plug
      migration, soft tissue interposition, EB migration and EB rotation were evaluated
      on 3D CT. The clinical outcome was also assessed and correlated with the imaging
      outcomes. RESULTS: the bone plug was integrated onto the femoral socket in all
      cases. The incidence of bone plug migration, soft tissue interposition, EB
      migration and EB rotation was 15, 15, 9 and 56%, respectively. No significant
      association was observed between the imaging outcomes. The postoperative mean
      Lysholm score was 97.1 +/- 5.0 points. The postoperative side-to-side difference,
      evaluated using a KT-2000 arthrometer, averaged 0.5 +/- 1.3 mm. There were no
      complications associated with EB use. Imaging outcomes did not affect the
      postoperative KT side-to-side difference. CONCLUSIONS: the EB is considered a
      reliable device for femoral fixation in anatomical rectangular tunnel ACL
      reconstruction with BPTB autograft. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case
      series.

PMID- 26889466
TI  - Repair versus shaving of partial-thickness articular-sided tears of the upper
      subscapularis tendon. A prospective randomized controlled trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether treating partial
      thickness articular-sided tears of the upper subscapularis (SSC) tendon with a
      dedicated suture anchor would result in an internal rotation strength improvement
      compared with simple shaving of the SSC tendon and footprint. METHODS: twenty-six
      patients with a limited SSC tendon tear (equal or inferior to the most superior
      centimeter) in association with a posterosuperior cuff lesion were prospectively
      randomized to two treatments: repair with a dedicated suture anchor versus
      shaving of the tendon and footprint. The patients also underwent long head of the
      biceps (LHB) treatment and posterosuperior cuff tear repair. In each patient the
      following parameters were measured both preoperatively and at a minimum follow-up
      of 2.5 years: strength in internal rotation in the bear-hug testing position
      (using a digital tensiometer), DASH score and Constant scores. MRI assessment of
      tendon healing was performed at the final follow-up. RESULTS: twenty of the 26
      patients (76%) were reviewed after a mean follow-up time of 42 months: 11
      patients had undergone SSC tendon repair and nine simple shaving. At final follow
      up no significant differences were found between the repaired and shaving group
      in strength in internal rotation (9.5 +/- 3.8 kg versus 10.3+/-5.4 kg; p=0.7).
      The DASH score and Constant score also failed to show significant differences
      between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in SSC tendon
      healing rate was observed on MRI evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: partial-thickness
      articular-sided tear of the upper SSC tendon in association with a
      posterosuperior rotator cuff repair and LHB treatment, when limited to the
      superior centimeter of the SSC tendon, shows a comparable performance in terms of
      strength in internal rotation either after simple shaving or a tendon-to-bone
      repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study.

PMID- 26889467
TI  - Intra-articular glenohumeral injections of HYADD(r)4-G for the treatment of
      painful shoulder osteoarthritis: a prospective multicenter, open-label trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: numerous experimental and clinical studies in osteoarthritis (OA) have
      demonstrated that intra-articular (IA) administration of hyaluronic acid can
      improve the altered rheological properties of the synovial fluid and exert
      protective and reparative effects on the joint structure. The objective of this
      study was to evaluate the safety and performance of HYADD(r)4-G (Hymovis(r)) in
      patients with glenohumeral joint OA. METHODS: forty-one patients with shoulder
      pain and limited shoulder function resulting from concentric glenohumeral joint
      OA were enrolled in a multicenter clinical trial. Patients received two HYADD(r)4
      G injections administered one week apart. The main outcome measure was
      improvement in shoulder pain on movement at six months as assessed through a 100
      mm visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM) values, and Constant-Murley
      Shoulder Outcome Score (CS). RESULTS: two IA injections of HYADD(r)4-G
      (Hymovis(r)) significantly decreased pain and improved shoulder function for up
      to six months from the first injection. The VAS score decreased (from 66.1 mm to
      37.7 mm at six months) and improvements were recorded in the total CS and in the
      ROM values ( rotation decreased from a mean value of 54.2 degrees  at baseline to
      63.2 degrees  at six months and internal rotation from a mean value of 44.0
      degrees  at baseline to 45.7 degrees  at 26 weeks). No serious adverse events
      occurred. CONCLUSIONS: the study results demonstrated that two IA injections of
      HYADD(r)4-G (Hymovis(r)) may be a safe and effective treatment option for
      shoulder pain associated with glenohumeral OA and that the effects of the
      injections are still present for up to six months after the treatment. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

PMID- 26889468
TI  - Early joint degeneration and antagonism between growth factors and reactive
      oxygen species. Is non-surgical management possible?
AB  - PURPOSE: in pathological conditions such as osteo-arthritis (OA), overproduction
      of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may overwhelm the antioxidant defenses of
      chondrocytes, thus promoting oxidative stress and cell death. It can be
      hypothesized that increasing the antioxidant machinery of chondrocytes may
      prevent the age-associated progression of this disease. Growth factors (GFs) play
      an important role in promoting both the resolution of inflammatory processes and
      tissue repair. In view of these considerations, we set out to investigate the
      protective effect, against H2O2-induced oxidative cell death, potentially exerted
      by fluid drained from the joint postoperatively. METHODS: the present study was
      conducted in 20 patients diagnosed with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and
      treated, between January 2013 and June 2014, with prosthetic knee implantation on
      the side more affected by the arthritic process, together with intraoperative
      placement of a closed-circuit drainage aspiration system. As a result, 20
      different serum samples were collected from the drained articular fluid, prepared
      using two different methodologies. In addition, forty blood serum samples were
      obtained and prepared: 20 from the surgically treated patients and 20 from
      healthy controls. The present work was undertaken to investigate the potential
      protective effect of sera obtained from articular fluid drainage against hydrogen
      peroxide-induced oxidative stress in cultured human chondrocytes. RESULTS:
      exposure of chondrocytes to hydrogen peroxide elicited a dose-dependent increase
      in oxidative stress and chondrocyte cell death, phenomena that were significantly
      counteracted by the pre-treatment of cell cultures with sera from articular fluid
      drainage. CONCLUSIONS: oxidatively stressed chondrocytes treated with sera
      obtained from articular fluid drainage lived longer than those treated with blood
      serum samples and longer than untreated ones. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: synovial fluids
      are usually discarded once the drainage reservoir is full; instead they could
      benefit the patients from whom they are collected, as they are rich in growth
      factors and they may act as antagonists of ROS effects. Accordingly, they could
      be used to treat chondropathies, early OA, and mild OA located in other sites.

PMID- 26889469
TI  - Use of the KineSpring system in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis:
      preliminary results.
AB  - PURPOSE: the purpose of this study was to analyze our preliminary results
      obtained with the KineSpring system in patients suffering from medial compartment
      knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: between September 2012 and May 2014, 53
      patients underwent treatment with the KineSpring system. Patient self-assessment
      was performed pre-operatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and
      included the KOOS, Tegner activity score, Lysholm functional knee score, VAS knee
      pain score, and IKDC score. Device- and procedure-related adverse events were
      recorded. RESULTS: mean KOOS subscales, except for the Sport/Recreation subscale
      at six months, improved over time. Mean WOMAC Pain and Function domains, Lysholm
      score, IKDC score and VAS knee pain score improved over the follow-up period and
      were significantly improved at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively compared to
      baseline. Mean Tegner score improved slightly over time. In 5 of the 53 (9.4%)
      patients re-operation was necessary. In 3 patients the device was removed due to
      infection (one case) or persistent knee pain (two cases). Surgical arthrolysis
      was performed in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: in our preliminary experience, the
      KineSpring system gave good short-term clinical results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level
      IV, therapeutic case series.

PMID- 26889470
TI  - A new hydrogel for the conservative treatment of meniscal lesions: a randomized
      controlled study.
AB  - PURPOSE: this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intra-articular (IA)
      administration of a hydrogel formulation obtained from a hyaluronic acid (HA)
      derivative (HYADD4((r))) in the management of meniscal tears and in meniscal tear
      repair. METHODS: fifty subjects with degenerative meniscal tears were enrolled
      into this single-site, observer-blind, parallel-group study. Clinical evaluations
      were performed at baseline and after 14, 30 and 60 days. Clinical outcomes
      included: pain reduction (Visual Analog Scale), improvement of knee functionality
      (WOMAC questionnaire), reduction in length and depth of the meniscal lesion (MRI
      confirmed) and SF-36 questionnaire scores. Local tolerability and safety were
      also investigated. RESULTS: a significant reduction in VAS pain (p< 0.001) in
      favor of HYADD4((r)) was recorded at day 14 and maintained at all the follow-up
      assessments. Data on knee functionality were in line with the VAS pain assessment
      results. A significant reduction in length and depth of the meniscal lesion,
      assessed using MRI, was found in the HYADD4((r)) group compared to the control
      group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the results of this study may indicate a new
      treatment option in the conservative management of patients complaining of pain
      due to meniscal tears. The MRI data suggest that the hydrogel formulation of HA
      used in this study may also play a role in the healing process of the lesion.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, prospective randomized clinical trial.

PMID- 26889471
TI  - The management of chronic osteoarticular pain in the outpatient setting: results
      of an ASON audit.
AB  - The management of patients with chronic osteoarticular pain requires a
      comprehensive clinical evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach. Thirty
      specialists (orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, physiatrists), members of
      the National Association of Osteoarticular Specialists (ASON), attended a
      specific training course in the use of a standardized medical record designed for
      the management of osteoarticular pain in outpatients. An audit on 888 medical
      records was later conducted and it showed that use of this instrument led to an
      improvement in the diagnostic-therapeutic approach. A complete and accurate
      medical record compilation process may also promote collaborative interaction
      among the healthcare practitioners involved and this can result in greater
      efficiency and continuity of care. ASON recommends expediting the use of
      electronic tools to facilitate information-sharing among pain care specialists.
      This study shows that the use of electronic tools facilitates the exchange of
      information between healthcare providers. ASON supports the adoption of similar
      instruments in order to improve the management of chronic pain. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III, cross-sectional survey.

PMID- 26889473
TI  - Postoperative pectoral swelling after shoulder arthroscopy.
AB  - Fluid extravasation is possibly the most common complication of shoulder
      arthroscopy. Shoulder arthroscopy can lead to major increases in the compartment
      pressure of adjacent muscles and this phenomenon is significant when an infusion
      pump is used. This article describes a case of pectoral swelling due to fluid
      extravasation after shoulder arthroscopy. A 24-year-old male underwent an
      arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent shoulder dislocation. The surgery was
      performed in the beach chair position and lasted two hours. At the end of the
      procedure, the patient was found to have left pectoral swelling. A chest
      radiography showed no abnormality. Pectoral swelling due to fluid extravasation
      after shoulder arthroscopy has not previously been documented. 

PMID- 26889472
TI  - Results of meniscectomy and meniscal repair in anterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction.
AB  - Meniscal tears are commonly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
      injuries. A deficient medial meniscus results in knee instability and could lead
      to higher stress forces on the ACL reconstruction. Comparison of results in
      meniscectomy and meniscal repairs revealed worse clinical outcomes in
      meniscectomy, but higher re-operation rates in meniscal repairs. Our aim was to
      review the results of ACL reconstruction associated with meniscectomy or meniscal
      repair. 

PMID- 26889474
TI  - Successful Treatment of Dual-Positive Anti-Myeloperoxidase and Anti-Glomerular
      Basement Membrane Antibody Vasculitis with Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome.
AB  - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and anti
      glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease are two separate diseases, while
      sometimes they can coexist together. The exact mechanisms are not clear, but due
      to the rapid progression and poor prognosis, prompt and aggressive treatment is
      usually required. We treated with steroids combined with cyclophosphamide and
      rituximab an 84-year-old man with ANCA-associated vasculitis and anti-GBM disease
      who had prior pulmonary fibrosis and a coexisting anterosuperior mediastinal
      mass. Conventional therapy including steroids, plasmapheresis and
      cyclophosphamide failed to attenuate the anti-GBM disease, yet he responded to an
      alternative treatment of rituximab. This case suggests the efficacy of steroids
      and immunosuppressant for the treatment of a dual-positive case with an
      anterosuperior mediastinal mass. 

PMID- 26889475
TI  - Benefits of the Nephros Dual Stage Ultrafilter in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients:
      Evidence for Improved ESA Responsiveness.
AB  - Installation of the Nephros Dual Stage Ultrafilter (DSU) added to a conventional
      hemodialysis unit to achieve ultrapure dialysate was tested in a group of 23
      stable outpatients on chronic hemodialysis. Comparing the 6-month period prior to
      the installation of the filters (as baseline) to the 6-month period after the
      installation of the filters, we found a significant 40% reduction in the
      darbepoetin dose needed to maintain a stable hemoglobin level (p < 0.001). In
      addition, surrogate inflammatory markers, WBC count and serum albumin level,
      showed small but statistically significant improvements (p = 0.008 and p = 0.042,
      respectively). In conclusion, the use of the Nephros DSU to further reduce
      endotoxin exposure in chronic hemodialysis patients can result in improved
      erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) responsiveness and a lower ESA dose. 

PMID- 26889476
TI  - Nephrotic Syndrome without Hematuria due to Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis
      Mimicking Minimal-Change Disease in a Child.
AB  - Nephrotic syndrome without hematuria due to infection-related glomerulonephritis
      is uncommon. The present report describes a case of nephrotic syndrome due to
      infection-related glomerulonephritis without hematuria and hypertension in an
      older child. A 14-year-old boy was referred to our hospital because of a 5-day
      history of fever, nausea, weight gain and recent leg edema without hypertension.
      Laboratory data showed nephrotic-range proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, mild
      hypocomplementemia and acute renal injury without hematuria. Although, due to the
      clinical presentation, minimal-change nephrotic syndrome was mostly suspected, a
      renal biopsy showed endocapillary hypercellularity mainly of mononuclear cells
      with segmental mesangiolytic changes. Fine granular IgG and C3 deposits were
      noted by an immunofluorescent study; many relatively small electron-dense
      deposits were observed electron-microscopically. These findings led to the
      diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to infection-related endocapillary
      proliferative glomerulonephritis, although the causative organism of his
      nephritis was not detected. He recovered with rest and dietary cure. When we
      examine an acute nephrotic child, infection-related glomerulonephritis should be
      considered as the differential diagnosis to avoid unnecessary use of
      corticosteroids. 

PMID- 26889477
TI  - Towards precision medicine in epilepsy surgery.
AB  - Up to a third of all patients with epilepsy are refractory to medical therapy
      even in the context of the introduction of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with
      considerable advantages in safety and tolerability over the last two decades. It
      has been widely accepted that epilepsy surgery is a highly effective therapeutic
      option in a selected subset of patients with refractory focal seizure. There is
      no doubt that accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) is crucial to
      the success of resection surgery for intractable epilepsy. The pre-surgical
      evaluation requires a multimodality approach wherein each modality provides
      unique and complimentary information. Accurate localization of EZ still remains
      challenging, especially in patients with normal features on MRI. Whereas
      substantial progress has been made in the methods of pre-surgical assessment in
      recent years, which widened the applicability of surgical treatment for children
      and adults with refractory seizure. Advances in neuroimaging including voxel
      based morphometric MRI analysis, multimodality techniques and computer-aided
      subtraction ictal SPECT co-registered to MRI have improved our ability to
      identify subtle structural and metabolic lesions causing focal seizure.
      Considerable observations from animal model with epilepsy and pre-surgical
      patients have consistently found a strong correlation between high frequency
      oscillations (HFOs) and epileptogenic brain tissue that suggest HFOs could be a
      potential biomarker of EZ. Since SEEG emphasizes the importance to study the
      spatiotemporal dynamics of seizure discharges, accounting for the dynamic,
      multidirectional spatiotemporal organization of the ictal discharges, it has
      greatly deep our understanding of the anatomo-electro-clinical profile of
      seizure. In this review, we focus on some state-of-the-art pre-surgical
      investigations that contribute to the precision medicine. Furthermore, advances
      also provide opportunity to achieve the minimal side effects and maximal benefit
      individually, which meets the need for the current concept of precision medicine
      in epilepsy surgery. 

PMID- 26889478
TI  - Precision medicine in spinocerebellar ataxias: treatment based on common
      mechanisms of disease.
AB  - Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of dominantly inherited
      neurodegenerative disorders affecting the cerebellum and its associated pathways.
      There are no available symptomatic or disease-modifying therapies available for
      any of the over 30 known causes of SCA. In order to develop precise treatments
      for SCAs, two strategies can be employed: (I) the use of gene-targeting
      strategies to silence disease-causing mutant protein expression; and (II) the
      identification and targeting of convergent mechanisms of disease across SCAs as a
      basis for treatment. Gene targeting strategies include RNA interference and
      antisense oligonucleotides designed to silence mutant genes in order to prevent
      mutant protein expression. These therapies can be precise, but delivery is
      difficult and many disease-causing mutations remain unknown. Emerging evidence
      suggests that several common disease mechanisms may exist across SCAs. Disrupted
      protein homeostasis, RNA toxicity, abnormal synaptic signaling, altered
      intracellular calcium handling, and altered Purkinje neuron membrane excitability
      are all disease mechanisms which are seen in multiple etiologies of SCA and could
      potentially be targeted for treatment. Clinical trials with drugs such as
      riluzole, a potassium channel activator, show promise for multiple SCAs and
      suggest that convergent disease mechanisms do exist and can be targeted. Precise
      treatment of SCAs may be best achieved through pharmacologic agents targeting
      specific disrupted pathways. 

PMID- 26889479
TI  - Toward precision medicine in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Precision medicine refers to an innovative approach selected for disease
      prevention and health promotion according to the individual characteristics of
      each patient. The goal of precision medicine is to formulate prevention and
      treatment strategies based on each individual with novel physiological and
      pathological insights into a certain disease. A multidimensional data-driven
      approach is about to upgrade "precision medicine" to a higher level of greater
      individualization in healthcare, a shift towards the treatment of individual
      patients rather than treating a certain disease including Parkinson's disease
      (PD). As one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, PD is a lifelong
      chronic disease with clinical and pathophysiologic complexity, currently it is
      treatable but neither preventable nor curable. At its advanced stage, PD is
      associated with devastating chronic complications including both motor
      dysfunction and non-motor symptoms which impose an immense burden on the life
      quality of patients. Advances in computational approaches provide opportunity to
      establish the patient's personalized disease data at the multidimensional levels,
      which finally meeting the need for the current concept of precision medicine via
      achieving the minimal side effects and maximal benefits individually. Hence, in
      this review, we focus on highlighting the perspectives of precision medicine in
      PD based on multi-dimensional information about OMICS, molecular imaging, deep
      brain stimulation (DBS) and wearable sensors. Precision medicine in PD is
      expected to integrate the best evidence-based knowledge to individualize optimal
      management in future health care for those with PD. 

PMID- 26889482
TI  - The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer and their relationship to
      development in Asia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is the most common cancer in less developed
      countries. It is necessary to understand epidemiology of the cancer for planning.
      The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and mortality of esophageal
      cancer, and its relationship with Human Development Index (HDI) and its
      components in Asia in 2012. METHODS: This study was an Ecological study, which
      conducted based on GLOBOCAN project of WHO for Asian counters. We assess the
      correlation between standardized incidence rates (SIR) and standardized mortality
      rates (SMR) of esophageal cancer with HDI and its components with using of
      SPSS18. RESULTS: A total of 337,698 incidence (70.33% were males and 29.87%
      females. Sex ratio was 2.37) and 296,734 death (69.45% in men and 30.54% in
      women. The sex ratio was 2.27) esophageal cancer was recorded in Asian countries
      in 2012. Five countries with the highest SIR and SMR of esophageal cancer were
      Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Tajikistan, Bangladesh and China respectively.
      Correlation between HDI and SIR was -0.211 (P=0.159), in men -0.175 (P=0.244) and
      in women -0.231 (P=0.123). Also between HDI and SMR -0.250 (P=0.094) in men 
      0.226 (P=0.131) and in women -0.251 (P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of
      esophageal cancer is more in less developed and developing countries.
      Statistically significant correlation was not found between standardized
      incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer, and HDI and its dimensions,
      except for life expectancy at birth.

PMID- 26889483
TI  - Multiple imputation with multivariate imputation by chained equation (MICE)
      package.
AB  - Multiple imputation (MI) is an advanced technique for handing missing values. It
      is superior to single imputation in that it takes into account uncertainty in
      missing value imputation. However, MI is underutilized in medical literature due
      to lack of familiarity and computational challenges. The article provides a step
      by-step approach to perform MI by using R multivariate imputation by chained
      equation (MICE) package. The procedure firstly imputed m sets of complete dataset
      by calling mice() function. Then statistical analysis such as univariate analysis
      and regression model can be performed within each dataset by calling with()
      function. This function sets the environment for statistical analysis. Lastly,
      the results obtained from each analysis are combined by using pool() function. 

PMID- 26889480
TI  - Toward precision medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - Precision medicine is an innovative approach that uses emerging biomedical
      technologies to deliver optimally targeted and timed interventions, customized to
      the molecular drivers of an individual's disease. This approach is only just
      beginning to be considered for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The
      clinical and biological complexities of ALS have hindered development of
      effective therapeutic strategies. In this review we consider applying the key
      elements of precision medicine to ALS: phenotypic classification, comprehensive
      risk assessment, presymptomatic period detection, potential molecular pathways,
      disease model development, biomarker discovery and molecularly tailored
      interventions. Together, these would embody a precision medicine approach, which
      may provide strategies for optimal targeting and timing of efforts to prevent,
      stop or slow progression of ALS. 

PMID- 26889481
TI  - Merging technology and clinical research for optimized post-surgical
      rehabilitation of lung cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The 21(st) century has ushered in an age of wireless communication
      and technological breakthroughs providing researchers with opportunities and
      challenges as they incorporate this technology into their research. This paper
      presents the challenges our team encountered introducing new technologies and how
      they were overcome for an intervention for post-thoracotomy non-small cell lung
      cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: Our intervention incorporated the Nintendo Wii
      Fit Plus virtual-reality walking and balance exercise into a home-based
      rehabilitation program. The intervention is novel and innovative in that the
      intervention provides light-intensity exercise post-thoracotomy for NSCLC
      patients immediately after return to home from the hospital. The intervention
      overcomes the barriers of conventional exercise programs that require travel,
      conventional exercise equipment, and begin months after surgery. RESULTS: When
      translating new technology to research, researchers need to consider a number of
      factors that need to be addressed. Institutional Review Boards may need further
      explanation as to why the technology is safe, potential participants may need to
      have unfounded concerns explained before enrolling, and the research team needs a
      plan for introducing the technology to participants with a vast range of skill
      sets and environments in which they will be using technology. In our study, we
      addressed each of these factors using varying approaches as we translated how the
      Wii would be used in a home-based exercise intervention by a highly vulnerable,
      post-thoracotomy NSCLC population. CONCLUSIONS: While technology brings with it
      multiple barriers for successful implementation, our team showed that with proper
      planning and teamwork, researchers can navigate these issues bringing the full
      benefit of technology to even the most vulnerable of patient populations.

PMID- 26889484
TI  - Newer therapeutics for hepatitis C.

PMID- 26889485
TI  - Bladder wall thickness in the assessment of neurogenic bladder: a translational
      discussion of current clinical applications.
AB  - The prospective trial by Kim et al. "Can Bladder Wall Thickness Predict
      Videourodynamic Findings in Children with Spina Bifida?" published in Journal of
      Urology investigated the measurement of bladder wall thickness (BWT) as a non
      invasive assessment tool for lower urinary tract changes in neurogenic bladder
      (NGB). In this study, no significant association was observed between BWT and
      high-risk urodynamic parameters. This editorial discusses the basic science of
      bladder wall thickening as well as prior studies relating wall thickness to
      clinical parameters. Although Kim et al. provide a unique literature contribution
      in terms of assessment of BWT at defined percent cystometric capacity, specific
      aspects of study methodology and population may have contributed to a lack of
      correlation with high-risk urodynamic findings. The application of non-invasive
      modalities to lower urinary tract assessment of NGB remains a promising and
      relevant area of future research to prevent progression to end stage lower
      urinary tract changes for all individuals with spina bifida. 

PMID- 26889487
TI  - Sedative choice and ventilator-associated patient outcomes: don't sleep on
      delirium.

PMID- 26889488
TI  - The best sedation drug-a quest for the holy grail?

PMID- 26889486
TI  - The impact of sedation protocols on outcomes in critical illness.

PMID- 26889489
TI  - Integrating bevacizumab and radiation treatment of brain metastasis: is there
      sense and sensibility in this approach?
AB  - The incidence of brain metastasis has increased over the past decade. Standard
      treatment options for brain metastases include whole brain radiation therapy
      (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and surgery for patients with operable
      lesions and either mass effect or need for histologic confirmation of the
      diagnosis. Patients are living longer due to improvements in systemic therapeutic
      approaches, included targeted therapies such as inhibition of vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Bev).
      A recent phase I trial (REBECA) investigated adding Bev to whole-brain radiation
      for patients with brain metastasis from solid tumors. In this Perspectives
      article, we discuss the results of the REBECA trial in context of advancements in
      radiation and medical oncology in the era of targeted therapies, and discuss
      pertinent questions of interest in this field. 

PMID- 26889490
TI  - Venous-to-arterial CO2 differences and the quest for bedside point-of-care
      monitoring to assess the microcirculation during shock.
AB  - The microcirculation is the anatomical location of perfusion and substrate
      exchange, and its functional impairment is of paramount importance during the
      state of shock. The difference in venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide partial
      pressures (Pv-aCO2) has recently been reported to correlate with microcirculatory
      dysfunction during early septic shock with greater fidelity than global
      hemodynamic parameters. This makes it a potential candidate as a point-of-care
      test in goal directed therapy that aims to restore microcirculatory function in
      an emergency clinical context. This early work needs to be explored further, and
      a better understanding of Pv-aCO2 during the resuscitation and subsequent patient
      progression is required. The quest for an ideal bedside point-of-care test for
      microcirculatory behavior is ongoing, and is likely to consist of a combination
      of non-invasive sublingual microcirculatory monitoring and biochemical tests that
      reflect tissue perfusion. These tools have the potential to provide more accurate
      and clinically relevant data with regards to the microcirculation that more
      conventional resuscitative monitoring such as blood pressure, cardiac output, and
      serum lactate. 

PMID- 26889491
TI  - The best timing for administering systemic chemotherapy in patients with locally
      advanced rectal cancer.
AB  - Over the past several decades, outcomes for patients with rectal cancer have
      improved considerably. However, several questions have emerged as survival times
      have lengthened and quality of life has improved for these patients. Currently
      patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are often recommended
      multimodality therapy with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy (CT) and radiation
      followed by total mesorectal excision (TME), with consideration given to FOLFOX
      before chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Recently, Garcia-Aguilar and colleagues reported
      in Lancet Oncology that the addition of mFOLFOX6 administered between CRT and
      surgery affected the number of patients achieving pathologic complete response
      (pathCR), which is of great interest from the standpoint of pursuit of optimal
      timing of systemic CT delivery. This was a multicenter phase II study consisting
      of 4 sequential treatment groups of patients with LARC, and they reported that
      patients given higher number CT cycles between CRT and surgery achieved higher
      rates of pathCR than those given standard treatment. There was no association
      between response improvement and tumor progression, increased technical
      difficulty, or surgical complications. Ongoing phase III clinical trial further
      assessing this strategy might result in a paradigm shift. 

PMID- 26889492
TI  - Multiple pulmonary cavitary nodules with pyoderma gangrenosum in patient with
      rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare ulcerative neutrophilic disorder of skin. Its
      pulmonary manifestations are uncommon and only less than forty cases have been
      reported in the literature previously. PG is associated with variable systemic
      diseases, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease and hematologic malignancies.
      It reported rarely in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We report a case of PG lung
      involvement in patient with RA associated interstitial lung disease. A 66-year
      old woman presented with productive cough and recurrent ulcerative lesion on her
      left ankle. She had a 15-year history of RA associated interstitial lung disease
      and treated with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine and
      methylprednisolone. On physical examination, there were a few tender,
      erythematous subcutaneous nodules ranging from 1 to 3 cm in diameter on her left
      thigh and left elbow. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) are
      negative. Her chest CT scan demonstrated multifocal cavitary consolidations on
      the background of reticular opacity and honeycombing. Punch biopsy of
      erythematous nodule on thigh showed neutrophilic abscess with necrotic debris.
      The skin and lung lesions were rapidly improved with 0.5 mg/kg/day of
      prednisolone. 

PMID- 26889493
TI  - Peripherally located endobronchial hamartoma mimicking aspergilloma: a case
      report.
AB  - We herein report the case of a 75-year-old man with a pulmonary hamartoma that
      mimicked aspergilloma on chest computed tomography (CT). A CT scan performed to
      assess an asymptomatic lesion detected on a screening chest radiograph showed a
      1.3-cm diameter nodule with an air crescent sign in the left lower lobe. A
      diagnosis of aspergilloma was made and the patient treated with an antifungal
      agent for 1 year, following which he underwent radical surgery because of failure
      of the radiologic lesion to resolve. Pathologic examination of the resected
      specimen showed an endobronchial hamartoma within the B9 periphery. Peripherally
      located hamartomas can develop within the peripheral bronchi resulting in an air
      crescent appearance on radiological images. 

PMID- 26889494
TI  - Reply to Editorial by Mamarelis et al.

PMID- 26889495
TI  - Erratum: Superficial vessel reconstruction with a Multiview camera system.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1117/1.JMI.3.1.015001.]. 

PMID- 26889496
TI  - Ocular palatal tremor plus dystonia - new syndromic association.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Ocular palatal tremor typically develops after a breach in the
      Guillian-Mollaret triangle. We herein describe a variant of this syndrome in
      which dystonia is also present, hence called, here, ocular palatal tremor plus
      dystonia. METHODS: We assessed eye-head movements and dystonia in six patients
      with ocular palatal plus dystonia. RESULTS: Among six patients with ocular
      palatal tremor two had focal dystonia, three had multifocal dystonia, and one had
      generalized dystonia. The dystonia affected the upper extremities and neck in
      four patients, the lower extremities in three and the face in two. Three out of
      four cervical dystonia patients had head tremor. Two patients also had speech
      involvement. Lack of correlation between eye and head oscillations suggested that
      head oscillations were not compensatory or secondary to the eye oscillations and
      vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a novel variant of ocular palatal tremor
      with dystonia. We speculate that in such variant the dystonia is possibly could
      be a result of abnormal cerebellar outflow in patients with a breach in Guillain
      Mollaret triangle.

PMID- 26889498
TI  - Interactive Whole-Heart Segmentation in Congenital Heart Disease.
AB  - We present an interactive algorithm to segment the heart chambers and epicardial
      surfaces, including the great vessel walls, in pediatric cardiac MRI of
      congenital heart disease. Accurate whole-heart segmentation is necessary to
      create patient-specific 3D heart models for surgical planning in the presence of
      complex heart defects. Anatomical variability due to congenital defects precludes
      fully automatic atlas-based segmentation. Our interactive segmentation method
      exploits expert segmentations of a small set of short-axis slice regions to
      automatically delineate the remaining volume using patch-based segmentation. We
      also investigate the potential of active learning to automatically solicit user
      input in areas where segmentation error is likely to be high. Validation is
      performed on four subjects with double outlet right ventricle, a severe
      congenital heart defect. We show that strategies asking the user to manually
      segment regions of interest within short-axis slices yield higher accuracy with
      less user input than those querying entire short-axis slices.

PMID- 26889499
TI  - A Latent Source Model for Patch-Based Image Segmentation.
AB  - Despite the popularity and empirical success of patch-based nearest-neighbor and
      weighted majority voting approaches to medical image segmentation, there has been
      no theoretical development on when, why, and how well these nonparametric methods
      work. We bridge this gap by providing a theoretical performance guarantee for
      nearest-neighbor and weighted majority voting segmentation under a new
      probabilistic model for patch-based image segmentation. Our analysis relies on a
      new local property for how similar nearby patches are, and fuses existing lines
      of work on modeling natural imagery patches and theory for nonparametric
      classification. We use the model to derive a new patch-based segmentation
      algorithm that iterates between inferring local label patches and merging these
      local segmentations to produce a globally consistent image segmentation. Many
      existing patch-based algorithms arise as special cases of the new algorithm.

PMID- 26889500
TI  - Dr Richard Popp speaks of his 'scientific  journey' presentation in the
      prestigious,  Meet the Legends lecture at ESC  Congress 2015 to Mark Nicholls.

PMID- 26889501
TI  - Heart failure in the Middle East  An Emerging Challenge in a Diverse Environment.

PMID- 26889502
TI  - Standing is better than sitting while activity  is better for the waistline.

PMID- 26889503
TI  - Removing reimbursement barriers to increase the use of  screening, brief
      intervention, and referral to treatment to  prevent risky alcohol use.

PMID- 26889497
TI  - Virological and immunological characteristics of HIV-infected individuals at the
      earliest stage of infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The challenges of identifying acute HIV infection (AHI) have resulted
      in a lack of critical information on early AHI that constrains the development of
      therapeutics that are designed to eradicate HIV from the infected host. METHODS:
      AHI participants were recruited from the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic in
      Bangkok, Thailand into the RV254/SEARCH010 protocol and categorised according to
      Fiebig stages as follows: Fiebig I (HIV-RNA+, p24 Ag-, HIV IgM-) and Fiebig II-IV
      (HIV-RNA+, p24 Ag + or -, HIV IgM- or +, Western blot- or indeterminate).
      Proviral and viral burden and immune activation levels were compared between
      Fiebig stage groups at the time of AHI. CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were also compared
      between groups before and up to 96 weeks of ART. RESULTS: Median age was 27 years
      and 96% were male. Fiebig I individuals had lower median HIV-DNA in mononuclear
      cells from blood (3 vs. 190 copies/106 cells) and gut (0 vs. 898 copies/106
      cells), and lower HIV-RNA in blood (4.2 vs. 6.2 log10 copies/mL), gut (1.7 vs.
      3.1 log10 copies/mg) and cerebrospinal fluid (2.0 vs. 3.8 log10 copies/mL), when
      compared to Fiebig II-IV individuals (all P<0.01). Median plasma sCD14 level was
      lower (1.1 vs. 1.6 MUg/mL) in Fiebig I individuals as was the frequency of
      CD8+HLADR+CD38+ T cells in blood (7.6 vs. 14.9%, both P<0.05). The median plasma
      interleukin 6 levels were similar between stages (0.6 in Fiebig I vs. 0.5 pg/mL
      in Fiebig II-IV, P>0.05). The frequencies of CD4+HLA-DR+CD38+ T cells were also
      similar between these stages (2.1 vs. 2.6%, P>0.05). Median CD4 count and CD4/CD8
      ratio were higher in Fiebig I: 508 vs. 340 cells/mm3 and 1.1 vs. 0.7,
      respectively (both P<0.001). After ART, CD4 cell count normalised by week 24 in
      Fiebig I and week 48 in Fiebig II-IV. However, CD4/CD8 ratio was lower in both
      groups after 96 weeks of ART compared to healthy Thais (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS:
      Compared to later AHI stages, Fiebig I was associated with lower HIV burden in
      blood and tissue compartments, lower immune activation and higher CD4 and CD4/CD8
      ratio. ART in Fiebig I-IV resulted in normalisation of CD4 cell count within the
      first year, supporting the benefit of early ART. However, the CD4/CD8 ratio was
      not normalised after 2 years of ART in all AHI stages, suggesting some degree of
      persistent immunological dysfunction even when ART was instituted as early as
      Fiebig I.

PMID- 26889504
TI  - Preface.

PMID- 26889505
TI  - Does the presence of learners affect family medicine obstetric outcomes?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare patient outcomes and complications before and after
      involvement of family medicine residents in intrapartum care. DESIGN: Secondary
      data analysis. SETTING: London, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: Obstetric patients of a family
      physician with a special interest in obstetrics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total
      number of births attended and births missed, as well as rates of inductions,
      augmentations for dystocia, augmentations for prelabour ruptured membranes, types
      of births (ie, normal vaginal, vacuum-assisted, low and outlet forceps
      deliveries; cesarean sections; and obstetrician-assisted vaginal births), and
      perineal outcomes (ie, intact; first-, second-, third-, or fourth-degree tears;
      episiotomies; and episiotomies with third-or fourth-degree extensions). RESULTS:
      During the period of time when family medicine residents were involved in
      intrapartum care, women sustained slightly more second-degree tears, and more
      cesarean sections were performed. Fewer women had vacuum-assisted births or
      unmedicated births. There were no significant differences in rates of normal
      vaginal births, low and outlet forceps deliveries, and perineal trauma (other
      than second-degree tears) including episiotomies. CONCLUSION: Women experienced
      slightly more second-degree tears when residents were involved in their
      deliveries. The increased number of second-degree tears might be because of
      residents' limited experience in providing intrapartum care. More important,
      there was no increase in other serious perineal trauma or episiotomy when
      residents provided supervised intrapartum care. This should reassure women and
      family practice obstetricians who choose to receive and provide obstetric care in
      a family practice teaching unit. The increase in rates of epidural use and
      cesarean sections and the decrease in rates of vacuum-assisted births reflect
      obstetric trends in Canada over the past decade.

PMID- 26889506
TI  - Reasons for delays in diagnosis of anal cancer and the effect on patient
      satisfaction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To quantify the time to diagnosis of anal cancer after onset of
      symptoms, to identify reasons for delays in diagnosis, and to identify the effect
      of delays on patient satisfaction. DESIGN: Retrospective questionnaire. SETTING:
      Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alta. PARTICIPANTS: Patients newly diagnosed
      with anal cancer on their first visit to the centre. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Timeline from first symptoms to first access to medical care and to diagnosis,
      and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients completed the survey.
      Although most sought medical attention promptly, 19% waited for more than 6
      months. At first visits after symptom onset, a rectal examination was performed
      in only 54% of patients, a diagnosis of hemorrhoids was given in 27% of patients,
      and further investigations were ordered in only 54% of patients. If a
      misdiagnosis of hemorrhoids was made, substantially more visits were required to
      diagnose the cancer. An average of 3.2 months after the first visit to a
      physician and 7.4 months after onset of symptoms was needed to obtain a
      diagnosis. Overall, 28% of patients believed there were no diagnostic delays and
      40% of patients thought they were responsible for the delay. Overall, 72% of
      patients were satisfied with the care they received. Patients who were
      dissatisfied perceived the delay in diagnosis to be because no action was taken
      by a physician or the wait was too long for tests or referrals. CONCLUSION: To
      reduce delays in diagnosis, it might be important to educate relevant populations
      about symptoms of anal cancer. In addition, primary care physicians must maintain
      a high index of suspicion of anal cancer in high-risk populations. Finally, there
      must be a system-wide increase in access to further investigations through
      gastroenterologists and general surgeons.

PMID- 26889507
TI  - Physician Enabling Skills Questionnaire:   Validation of a newly developed
      instrument in primary health care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the newly developed
      Physician Enabling Skills Questionnaire (PESQ) by assessing its internal
      consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity with patient-centred
      care, and predictive validity with patient activation and patient enablement.
      DESIGN: Validation study. SETTING: Saguenay, Que. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred
      patients with at least 1 chronic disease who presented in a waiting room of a
      regional health centre family medicine unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Family
      physicians' enabling skills, measured with the PESQ at 2 points in time (ie,
      while in the waiting room at the family medicine unit and 2 weeks later through a
      mail survey); patient-centred care, assessed with the Patient Perception of
      Patient-Centredness instrument; patient activation, assessed with the Patient
      Activation Measure; and patient enablement, assessed with the Patient Enablement
      Instrument. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the 6 subscales of the PESQ was
      adequate (Cronbach alpha = .69 to .92). The test-retest reliability was very good
      (r = 0.90; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.93). Concurrent validity with the Patient Perception
      of Patient-Centredness instrument was good (r = -0.67; 95% CI -0.78 to -0.53; P <
      .001). The PESQ accounts for 11% of the total variance with the Patient
      Activation Measure (r2 = 0.11; P = .002) and 19% of the variance with the Patient
      Enablement Instrument (r2 = 0.19; P < .001). CONCLUSION: The newly developed PESQ
      presents good psychometric properties, allowing for its use in practice and
      research.

PMID- 26889508
TI  - Family medicine residents' practice intentions: Theory of planned behaviour
      evaluation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess residents' practice intentions since the introduction of the
      College of Family Physicians of Canada's Triple C curriculum, which focuses on
      graduating family physicians who will provide comprehensive care within
      traditional and newer models of family practice. DESIGN: A survey based on
      Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour was administered on 2 occasions. SETTING:
      McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: Residents (n = 135) who were
      enrolled in the Department of Family Medicine Postgraduate Residency Program at
      McMaster University in July 2012 and July 2013; 54 of the 60 first-year residents
      who completed the survey in 2012 completed it again in 2013. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The survey was modeled so as to measure the respondents' intentions to
      practise with a comprehensive scope; determine the degree to which their
      attitudes, subjective norms, and perceptions of control about comprehensive
      practice influence those intentions; and investigate how these relationships
      change as residents progress through the curriculum. The survey also queried the
      respondents about their intentions with respect to particular medical services
      that underpin comprehensive practice. RESULTS: The responses indicate that the
      factors modeled by the theory of planned behaviour survey account for 60% of the
      variance in the residents' intentions to adopt a comprehensive scope of practice
      upon graduation, that there is room for curricular improvement with respect to
      encouraging residents to practise comprehensive care, and that targeting
      subjective norms about comprehensive practice might have the greatest influence
      on improving resident intentions. CONCLUSION: The theory of planned behaviour
      presents an effective approach to assessing curricular effects on resident
      practice intentions while also providing meaningful information for guiding
      further program evaluation efforts in the Department of Family Medicine at
      McMaster University.

PMID- 26889510
TI  - Orbital Analysis of Molecular Optical Activity Based on Configuration  Rotatory
      Strength.
AB  - We present a method to analyze the origin of molecular optical activity in terms
      of orbital contributions and rotatory strength in configuration space. The method
      uses quantities already available at completion of standard linear-response
      calculations of specific rotation and requires minimal manipulation. Preliminary
      application to (1S,4S)-norborne-none and (P)-2,3-pentadiene shows that only a few
      orbitals (6 and 4, respectively) contribute significantly to the specific
      rotation and can be used directly for a qualitative interpretation of this
      fundamental property.

PMID- 26889509
TI  - Are primary care providers implementing evidence-based care for breast cancer
      survivors?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation of key best practice guideline
      recommendations for posttreatment breast cancer survivorship care by primary care
      providers (PCPs). DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional survey. SETTING:
      Southeastern Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two PCPs: 62 family physicians (FPs)
      and 20 primary health care nurse practitioners (PHCNPs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Twenty-one "need-to-know" breast cancer survivorship care guideline
      recommendations rated by participants as "implemented routinely," "aware of
      guideline recommendation but not implemented routinely," or "not aware of
      guideline recommendation." RESULTS: Overall, FPs and PHCNPs in our sample
      reported similar practice patterns in terms of implementation of breast cancer
      survivorship guideline recommendations. The PCPs reported routinely implementing
      approximately half (46.4%, 9.7 of 21) of the key guideline recommendations with
      breast cancer survivors in their practices. Implementation rates were higher for
      recommendations related to prevention and surveillance aspects of survivorship
      care, such as mammography and weight management. Knowledge and practice gaps were
      highest for recommendations related to screening for and management of long-term
      effects such as fatigue and distress. There were only a few minor differences
      reported between FPs and PHCNPs. CONCLUSION: There are knowledge and practice
      gaps related to implementation of the key guideline recommendations for breast
      cancer survivorship care in the primary care setting that could be targeted for
      improvement through educational or other interventions.

PMID- 26889511
TI  - Exploring the Accuracy Limits of Local Pair Natural Orbital Coupled-Cluster
      Theory.
AB  - The domain based local pair natural orbital coupled cluster method with single-,
      double-, and perturbative triple excitations (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) is an efficient
      quantum chemical method that allows for coupled cluster calculations on molecules
      with hundreds of atoms. Because coupled-cluster theory is the method of choice if
      high-accuracy is needed, DLPNO-CCSD(T) is very promising for large-scale chemical
      application. However, the various approximations that have to be introduced in
      order to reach near linear scaling also introduce limited deviations from the
      canonical results. In the present work, we investigate how far the accuracy of
      the DLPNO-CCSD(T) method can be pushed for chemical applications. We also address
      the question at which additional computational cost improvements, relative to the
      previously established default scheme, come. To answer these questions, a series
      of benchmark sets covering a broad range of quantum chemical applications
      including reaction energies, hydrogen bonds, and other noncovalent interactions,
      conformer energies, and a prototype organometallic problem were selected. An
      accuracy of 1 kcal/mol or better can readily be obtained for all data sets using
      the default truncation scheme, which corresponds to the stated goal of the
      original implementation. Tightening of the three thresholds that control DLPNO
      leads to mean absolute errors and standard deviations from the canonical results
      of less than 0.25 kcal/mol (<1 kJ/mol). The price one has then to pay is an
      increased computational time by a factor close to 3. The applicability of the
      method is shown to be independent of the nature of the reaction. On the basis of
      the careful analysis of the results, three different sets of truncation
      thresholds (termed "LoosePNO", "NormalPNO", and "TightPNO") have been chosen for
      "black box" use of DLPNO-CCSD(T). This will allow users of the method to
      optimally balance performance and accuracy.

PMID- 26889512
TI  - Hydrated Electrons in Water Clusters: Inside or Outside, Cavity or  Noncavity?
AB  - In this work, we compare the applicability of three electron-water molecule
      pseudopotentials in modeling the physical properties of hydrated electrons.
      Quantum model calculations illustrate that the recently suggested Larsen-Glover
      Schwartz (LGS) model and its modified m-LGS version have a too-attractive
      potential in the vicinity of the oxygen. As a result, LGS models predict a
      noncavity hydrated electron structure in clusters at room temperature, as seen
      from mixed one-electron quantum-classical molecular dynamics simulations of water
      cluster anions, with the electron localizing exclusively in the interior of the
      clusters. Comparative calculations using the cavity-preferring Turi-Borgis (TB)
      model predict interior-state and surface-state cluster isomers. The computed
      associated physical properties are also analyzed and compared to available
      experimental data. We find that the LGS and m-LGS potentials provide results that
      appear to be inconsistent with the size dependence of the experimental data. The
      simulated TB tendencies are qualitatively correct. Furthermore, ab initio
      calculations on static LGS noncavity structures indicate weak stabilization of
      the excess electron in regions where the LGS potential preferably and strongly
      binds the electron. TB calculations give stabilization energies that are in line
      with the ab initio results. In conclusion, we observe that the cavity-preferring
      pseudopotential model predicts cluster physical properties in better agreement
      with experimental data and ab initio calculations than the models predicting
      noncavity structures for the hydrated electron.

PMID- 26889513
TI  - Building Markov State Models for Periodically Driven  Non-Equilibrium Systems.
AB  - Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations have seen increased
      interest the past few years, especially for molecular systems with periodic
      forcing by external fields (e.g., in the context of studying the effects of
      electromagnetic radiation on human body tissues). Recently, an NEMD method with
      local thermostatting has been proposed that allows for the study of non
      equilibrium processes in a statistically reliable and thermodynamically
      consistent way. In this article, we demonstrate how to construct Markov state
      models (MSMs) for such NEMD simulations. MSM building is well-established for
      systems in equilibrium, where MSMs with only a few (macro-)states allow for
      accurate reproduction of the essential kinetics of the molecular system under
      consideration. Non-equilibrium MSMs have not yet been established. This article
      presents a method for constructing such MSMs and illustrates their validity and
      usefulness through conformation dynamics of an alanine dipeptide in an external
      electric field.

PMID- 26889514
TI  - PREFACE.

PMID- 26889515
TI  - Parameterization of the DFTB3 method for Br, Ca, Cl, F, I, K, and Na in organic
      and biological systems.
AB  - We present an extension to the recent 3OB parametrization of the Density
      Functional Tight Binding Model DFTB31,2 for biological and organic systems.
      Parameters for the halogens F, Cl, Br, and I have been developed for use in
      covalently bound systems and benchmarked on a test set of 106 molecules (the
      'OrgX' set), using bonding distances, bonding angles, atomization energies, and
      vibrational frequencies to assess the performance of the parameters. Additional
      testing has been done with the X40 set of 40 supramolecular systems containing
      halogens,3 adding a simple correction for the halogen bonds that are strongly
      overbound in DFTB3. Furthermore, parameters for Ca, K, and Na as counterions in
      biological systems have been created. To benchmark geometries as well as ligand
      binding energies a test set 'BioMe' of 210 molecules has been created that cover
      coordination to various functional groups frequently occurring in biological
      systems. The new DFTB3/3OB parameter set outperforms DFT calculations with a
      double-zeta basis set in terms of energies and can reproduce DFT geometries, with
      some minor deviations in bond distances and angles due to the use of a minimal
      basis set.

PMID- 26889516
TI  - Merging metadynamics into hyperdynamics: accelerated molecular simulations
      reaching time scales from microseconds to seconds.
AB  - The hyperdynamics method is a powerful tool to simulate slow processes at the
      atomic level. However, the construction of an optimal hyperdynamics potential is
      a task that is far from trivial. Here, we propose a generally applicable
      implementation of the hyperdynamics algorithm, borrowing two concepts from
      metadynamics. First, the use of a collective variable (CV) to represent the
      accelerated dynamics gives the method a very large flexibility and simplicity.
      Second, a metadynamics procedure can be used to construct a suitable history
      dependent bias potential on-the-fly, effectively turning the algorithm into a
      self-learning accelerated molecular dynamics method. This collective variable
      driven hyperdynamics (CVHD) method has a modular design: both the local system
      properties on which the bias is based, as well as the characteristics of the
      biasing method itself, can be chosen to match the needs of the considered system.
      As a result, system-specific details are abstracted from the biasing algorithm
      itself, making it extremely versatile and transparent. The method is tested on
      three model systems: diffusion on the Cu(001) surface and nickel-catalyzed
      methane decomposition, as examples of "reactive" processes with a bond-length
      based CV, and the folding of a long polymer-like chain, using a set of dihedral
      angles as a CV. Boost factors up to 109, corresponding to a time scale of
      seconds, could be obtained while still accurately reproducing correct dynamics.

PMID- 26889517
TI  - Estimating error in diffusion coefficients derived from molecular dynamics
      simulations.
AB  - The computationally expensive nature of molecular dynamics simulation limits the
      access to length (nanometer) and time scales (nanosecond) that are orders of
      magnitude smaller than the experiment it models. This limitation warrants a
      careful estimation of statistical uncertainty associated with the properties
      calculated from these simulations. The assumption that a simulation is long
      enough so that the ergodic hypothesis applies is often invoked in the literature
      for the computation of properties of interest from a single molecular dynamics
      simulation. Here, we demonstrate that making this assumption without validation
      results in poor estimates of the self-diffusion coefficient from a single
      molecular dynamics simulation of Lennard-Jones fluid. This problem is shown to be
      even more severe when the diffusion coefficient of macromolecules is calculated
      from a single molecular dynamics simulation. We have shown that conducting
      multiple independent simulations is necessary to obtain reliable estimates of
      diffusion coefficients and their associated statistical uncertainties. We show
      that even a "routine" calculation of the self-diffusion coefficient for a Lennard
      Jones fluid, as determined from a linear fit of the mean squared displacement of
      particles as a function of time, violates the key assumptions of linear
      regression. A rigorous approach for addressing these issues is presented.

PMID- 26889518
TI  - Laser-induced demagnetization at ultrashort time scales: predictions of TDDFT.
AB  - Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is implemented in an all
      electron solid-state code for the case of fully unconstrained noncollinear spins.
      We use this to study intense, short, laser pulse-induced demagnetization in bulk
      Fe, Co, Ni and find that demagnetization can take place on time scales of <20 fs.
      It is demonstrated that this form of demagnetization is a two-step process:
      excitation of a fraction of electrons followed by spin-flip transitions mediated
      by spin-orbit coupling of the remaining localized electrons. We further show that
      it is possible to control the moment loss by tunable laser parameters, including
      frequency, duration, and intensity.

PMID- 26889519
TI  - A Chemically Meaningful Measure of Electron Localization.
AB  - Electron localization and delocalization are commonly invoked in the day-to-day
      rationalization of chemistry. This work addresses the challenges of quantifying
      this elusive concept in a chemically useful manner. A general principle,
      requiring the simultaneous quantification of (1) a limited physical volume
      (classical criterion) and (2) same-spin loneliness (quantum criterion), is
      introduced. It is demonstrated how, by beginning with the Electron Localization
      Function (ELF) scalar field, one can choose to discard all points in space where
      the same-spin loneliness is lower than a certain value. Such a partitioning
      approach ensures that both criteria for quantifying localization (1 and 2) are
      simultaneously met. The most chemically instructive results arise when the
      dividing boundary condition is set by the local behavior of a homogeneous
      electron gas. The High Electron Localization domain Population (HELP) is
      introduced and applied for quantifying the localization of individual domains
      within molecules, as well as a measure of total electron localization in atoms
      and molecules. Several striking agreements with chemical intuition, experimental
      measurable quantities, and quantum chemical constructs are demonstrated along
      with understandable differences. Studies of diatomic molecules agree with current
      ideas on chemical bonding. The size-dependence and magnitude of localization in
      linear hydrocarbons is studied and compared to cyclic systems, such as benzene.
      The proposed methodology offers a straightforward measure for direct and
      quantitative comparisons between atoms, molecules, and extended condensed matter.

PMID- 26889520
TI  - Fetal molecular diagnostics from maternal peripheral blood.

PMID- 26889563
TI  - Modified technique to improve fabrication and outcome of definitive orbital
      prosthesis.
AB  - Facial prostheses are generally fabricated from silicones, which provide life
      like appearance and flexibility. The longevity of silicone, however, is limited
      because of its tendency to support fungal growth, absorb oils and grease, and
      edge-tearing susceptibility. Polyurethane (PU) liners have been used on the
      tissue-bearing surface of such prosthesis to improve tear resistance and fungal
      resistance. Technique sensitivity, discoloration and metamerism are significant
      limitations of urethane lining. Further, this liner is incorporated during
      processing of definitive prosthesis, which precludes try-in of tissue surface of
      prosthesis. This article describes an alternative lining material for fitting
      surface of definitive orbital prostheses, which could overcome limitations
      associated with all silicone or PU lined silicone prostheses. 

PMID- 26889562
TI  - Precise Polymerization of a Highly Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Nanoplatform
      for Strongly Enhanced Intracellular Drug Release.
AB  - The importance of achieving a high content of responsive groups of drug carriers
      is well-known for achieving rapid intracellular drug release; however, very
      little research has been published on this subject. Here, we present an entirely
      new strategy to synthesize a highly reduction-sensitive polymer-drug conjugate
      with one disulfide bond corresponding to each resultant copolymer through a
      precise ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone that is initiated by
      a monoprotected cystamine. Simultaneously, the anticancer drug doxorubicin is
      chemically conjugated to the polymer via pH-responsive hydrazone bonds, which
      effectively prevent premature drug release in the blood circulation. The 3
      aminophenylboronic acid (PBA) targeting ligands endow an active-targeting ability
      that significantly prompts the specific internalization of nanocarriers by tumor
      cells and thus results in excellent cytotoxicity against tumor cells. The concept
      of precise polymerization is put forward to achieve multifunctional nanocarriers
      for the first time. This study is expected to inspire the development of a highly
      environment-responsive nanoplatform for drug delivery in future clinical
      applications. 

PMID- 26889564
TI  - Synergetic Effects of Inorganic Components in Solid Electrolyte Interphase on
      High Cycle Efficiency of Lithium Ion Batteries.
AB  - The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), a passivation layer formed on electrodes,
      is critical to battery performance and durability. The inorganic components in
      SEI, including lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and lithium fluoride (LiF), provide
      both mechanical and chemical protection, meanwhile control lithium ion transport.
      Although both Li2CO3 and LiF have relatively low ionic conductivity, we found,
      surprisingly, that the contact between Li2CO3 and LiF can promote space charge
      accumulation along their interfaces, which generates a higher ionic carrier
      concentration and significantly improves lithium ion transport and reduces
      electron leakage. The synergetic effect of the two inorganic components leads to
      high current efficiency and long cycle stability. 

PMID- 26889565
TI  - Selective Transformation of Various Nitrogen-Containing Exhaust Gases toward N2
      over Zeolite Catalysts.
AB  - In this review we focus on the catalytic removal of a series of N-containing
      exhaust gases with various valences, including nitriles (HCN, CH3CN, and C2H3CN),
      ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), and nitric oxides (NO(x)), which can cause
      some serious environmental problems, such as acid rain, haze weather, global
      warming, and even death. The zeolite catalysts with high internal surface areas,
      uniform pore systems, considerable ion-exchange capabilities, and satisfactory
      thermal stabilities are herein addressed for the corresponding depollution
      processes. The sources and toxicities of these pollutants are introduced. The
      important physicochemical properties of zeolite catalysts, including shape
      selectivity, surface area, acidity, and redox ability, are described in detail.
      The catalytic combustion of nitriles and ammonia, the direct catalytic
      decomposition of N2O, and the selective catalytic reduction and direct catalytic
      decomposition of NO are systematically discussed, involving the catalytic
      behaviors as well as mechanism studies based on spectroscopic and kinetic
      approaches and molecular simulations. Finally, concluding remarks and
      perspectives are given. In the present work, emphasis is placed on the structure
      performance relationship with an aim to design an ideal zeolite-based catalyst
      for the effective elimination of harmful N-containing compounds.

PMID- 26889566
TI  - Computational Insights into the Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Coupling of Benzamides and
      1,6-Enynes via a Tunable Arylative Cyclization.
AB  - A density functional theory (DFT) study has been conducted to elucidate the
      mechanism of the rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of O-substituted N
      hydroxybenzamides and cyclohexadienone-containing 1,6-enynes. The impact of
      different O-substituted internal oxidants (OPiv versus OMe) on the arylative
      cyclization (i.e., N-Michael addition versus C-Michael addition) has been
      evaluated in detail. The N-Michael addition pathway proceeded via a Rh(I)
      species, while Rh(III) remained unchanged throughout the C-Michael addition
      pathway. The Rh(III)/Rh(I) catalytic cycle in the N-Michael addition pathway was
      different from those reported previously where the Rh(III)/Rh(V) catalytic cycle
      was favored for the Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of O-substituted N
      hydroxybenzamides. The first three steps were similar for the OPiv- and OMe
      substituted substrates, which involved sequential N-H deprotonation, C-H
      activation (a concerted metalation-deprotonation process), and 1,6-enyne
      insertion steps. Starting from a seven-membered rhodacycle, the alternative
      mechanism would be controlled by the OR substituent. When the substituent was
      OMe, the unstable seven-membered rhodacycle was readily coordinated by a double
      bond of the cyclohexadienone which enabled the C-Michael addition reaction.
      However, the presence of an N-OPiv moiety stabilized the seven-membered
      rhodacycle through a bidentate coordination which facilitated the N-Michael
      addition process. 

PMID- 26889567
TI  - Clinical, Refractive and Histological Reversibility of Corneal Additive Surgery
      in Deep Stroma in an Animal Model.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the reversibility of the clinical and
      histological changes induced in the corneas of an animal model after removing an
      intracorneal ring segment (ICRS). METHODS: Surgery for this study was performed
      in 38 eyes of an experimental animal model (Gallus domesticus) for ICRS surgery
      (Ferrara technique). The animals without complications were randomized to two
      groups; in all of them, 1 segment was implanted in each eye and later removed at
      different times (1 and 3 months after implantation). In each group, after
      explantation, corneas were processed at different times for histological analysis
      with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and electronic microscopy. The refractive
      state of the eyes was also measured. RESULTS: In corneas without complications
      (88.23%), explantation was performed correctly. During the first few days, around
      the area where the ICRS was implanted we observed deposits of cells and a
      moderate degree of corneal opacity (haze). These signs decreased progressively
      without disappearing completely. Histologically, at 7 days, we observed
      hyperplasia and abnormal arrangement of collagen fibers. Later, these findings
      also decreased in both groups, albeit at a faster rate in group 1. Minimal
      changes were observed in electron microscopy up to the end of the study in both
      groups. Preoperative refractive state was achieved at 1 month after explantation
      in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: ICRS can safely be explanted from the cornea.
      Refractive reversibility was achieved at 1 month after explantation. However, the
      clinical and histological findings after ICRS explantation depend on the time
      from implantation to explantation.

PMID- 26889570
TI  - Designing a Beryllium-Free Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Material without a
      Structural Instability Problem.
AB  - A beryllium-free deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) material
      K3Ba3Li2Al4B6O20F is developed mainly by the element substitution of Be for Al
      and Li from Sr2Be2B2O7 that was considered as one of the most promising deep-UV
      NLO materials. K3Ba3Li2Al4B6O20F preserves the structural merits of Sr2Be2B2O7
      and thus exhibits no layering growth tendency and possesses the optical
      properties required for deep-UV NLO applications, including deep-UV transparency,
      phase-matchability, and sufficiently large second-harmonic generation (1.5 *
      KH2PO4). Furthermore, it overcomes the structural instability problem of
      Sr2Be2B2O7, which is confirmed by the obtainment of large single crystals and
      phonon dispersion calculations. These attributes make it very attractive for next
      generation deep-UV NLO materials. The substitution of Be for Al and Li in
      beryllium borates provides a new opportunity to design beryllium-free deep-UV NLO
      materials with good performance. 

PMID- 26889568
TI  - Evaluation of recent New Vaccine Surveillance Network data regarding respiratory
      syncytial virus hospitalization rates in US preterm infants.
AB  - In July 2014, the Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) updated their guidance
      on the use of palivizumab, recommending against use in preterm infants 29 to 35
      weeks' gestational age (wGA). A primary data source cited to support this
      significant change was the low respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization
      rate observed in the subpopulation of preterm (<37 wGA) infants evaluated from
      2000 to 2005 through the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN). Here we
      critically appraise the preterm infant data from the NVSN in the context of data
      regarding the use of palivizumab in this same time period. Data from the NVSN, an
      analysis of Florida Medicaid data, and a national survey of US in-hospital
      palivizumab administration demonstrated that during 2001 to 2007, palivizumab was
      administered to 59% to 83% of preterm infants born at <32 wGA and 21% to 27% of
      all preterm infants (<37 wGA). When the NVSN data regarding incidence of RSV
      hospitalization in preterm infant subgroups were evaluated as a function of
      chronologic age, preterm infants <32 wGA showed a paradoxical increase in RSV
      hospitalization with older age, with the highest risk of RSV hospitalization
      occurring at 18 to 23 months of age. This pattern is most consistent with a
      reduction in RSV hospitalizations in <32 wGA infants in the first 12 to 18 months
      of life due to high palivizumab use at these young ages. The NVSN data were not
      designed to and cannot accurately describe RSV disease burden in preterm infants
      given the small size of the analyzed subpopulation and the high use of
      palivizumab during the study period.

PMID- 26889569
TI  - Cross-sectional study of road accidents and related law enforcement efficiency
      for 10 countries: A gap coherence analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Road crashes are considered as the eighth leading causes of death.
      There is a wide disparity in crash severity and law enforcement efficiency among
      low-, medium-, and high-income countries. It would be helpful to review the crash
      severity trends in these countries, identify the vulnerable road users, and
      understand the law enforcement effectiveness in devising efficient road safety
      improvement strategies. METHOD: The crash severity, fatality rate among various
      age groups, and law enforcement strategies of 10 countries representing low
      income (i.e., India and Morocco), medium-income (i.e. Argentina, South Korea, and
      Greece), and high-income (i.e., Australia, Canada, France, the UK, and the United
      States) are studied and compared for a period of 5 years (i.e., 2008 to 2012).
      The critical parameters affecting road safety are identified and correlated with
      education, culture, and basic compliance with traffic safety laws. In the
      process, possible road safety improvement strategies are identified for low
      income countries. RESULTS: The number of registered vehicles shows an increasing
      trend for low-income countries as do the crash rate and crash severity.
      Compliance related to seat belt and helmet laws is high in high-income countries.
      In addition, recent seat belt- and helmet-related safety programs in middle
      income countries helped to curb fatalities. Noncompliance with safety laws in low
      income countries is attributed to education, culture, and inefficient law
      enforcement. CONCLUSION: Efficient law enforcement and effective safety education
      taking into account cultural diversity are the key aspects to reduce traffic
      related injuries and fatalities in low-income countries like India.

PMID- 26889571
TI  - Reflex Seizures Triggered by Diaper Change in Dravet Syndrome.
AB  - Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe epilepsy syndrome characterized by early onset
      of multiple types of seizures. We report the first case of reflex seizures
      triggered by diaper change in a girl at 9 months old and 2 years old with a
      mutation in the SCN1A gene causing DS. Reflex seizures have been reported in
      patients with DS provoked by increased body temperature or visual stimulation.
      The case we report widens the spectrum of triggers causing reflex seizures in
      children with DS. Cortical hyperexcitability resulting from the genetic defect
      explains the tendency to experience such reflex seizures. 

PMID- 26889572
TI  - Dynamic Electrochemical Measurement of Chloride Ions.
AB  - This protocol describes the dynamic measurement of chloride ions using the
      transition time of a silver silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode. Silver silver
      chloride electrode is used extensively for potentiometric measurement of chloride
      ions concentration in electrolyte. In this measurement, long-term and continuous
      monitoring is limited due to the inherent drift and the requirement of a stable
      reference electrode. We utilized the chronopotentiometric approach to minimize
      drift and avoid the use of a conventional reference electrode. A galvanostatic
      pulse is applied to an Ag/AgCl electrode which initiates a faradic reaction
      depleting the Cl- ions near the electrode surface. The transition time, which is
      the time to completely deplete the ions near the electrode surface, is a function
      of the ion concentration, given by the Nernst equation. The square root of the
      transition time is in linear relation to the chloride ion concentration. Drift of
      the response over two weeks is negligible (59 uM/day) when measuring 1 mM [Cl
      ]using a current pulse of 10 Am(-2). This is a dynamic measurement where the
      moment of transition time determines the response and thus is independent of the
      absolute potential. Any metal wire can be used as a pseudo-reference electrode,
      making this approach feasible for long-term measurement inside concrete
      structures. 

PMID- 26889574
TI  - Development of CNC prototype for the characterization of the nanoparticle release
      during physical manipulation of nanocomposites.
AB  - This work focuses on the release of nanoparticles from commercially used
      nanocomposites during machining operations. A reliable and repeatable method was
      developed to assess the intentionally exposure to nanoparticles, in particular
      during drilling. This article presents the description and validation of results
      obtained from a new prototype used for the measurement and monitoring of
      nanoparticles in a controlled environment. This methodology was compared with the
      methodologies applied in other studies. Also, some preliminary experiments on
      drilling nanocomposites are included. Size, shape and chemical composition of the
      released nanoparticles were investigated in order to understand their hazard
      potential. No significant differences were found in the amount of nanoparticles
      released between samples with and without nanoadditives. Also, no chemical
      alteration was observed between the dust generated and the bulk material.
      Finally, further developments of the prototype are proposed. 

PMID- 26889575
TI  - Monochromatic filter with multiple manipulation approaches by the layered all
      dielectric patch array.
AB  - Monochromatic filtering with ultra-narrowband and high spectral contrast is
      desirable for wide applications in display, image, and other optoelectronics.
      However, owing to the inherent omhic losses in the metallic materials, a
      broadband spectrum with a low Q-factor down to 10 inevitably limits the device
      performance. Herein, we for the first time theoretically propose and demonstrate
      an ultra-narrowband color-filtering platform based on the layered all-dielectric
      meta-material (LADM), which consists of a triple-layer high/low/high-index
      dielectrics cavity structure. Owing to the lossless dielectric materials used,
      sharp resonances with the bandwidth down to sub-10 nm are observed in the sub
      wavelength LADM-based filters. A spectral Q-factor of 361.6 is achieved, which is
      orders of magnitude larger than that of the plasmonic resonators. Moreover, for
      the other significant factor for evaluation of filtering performance, the
      spectral contrast reaches 94.5%. These optical properties are the main results of
      the excitation of the resonant modes in the LADMs. Furthermore, polarization
      manipulated light filtering is realized in this LADM. The classical Malus law is
      also confirmed in the reflective spectrum by tuning the polarization state. More
      interestingly and importantly, the filtering phenomenon shows novel features of
      the wavelength-independent and tunable resonant intensity for the reflective
      spectrum when the LADM-based filter is illuminated under an oblique state. High
      scalability of the sharp reflective spectrum is obtained by tuning the structural
      parameters. A single-wavelength reflective filtering window is also achieved in
      the visible frequencies. These features hold promise for the LADM-based filter
      with wide applications in color engineering, displaying, imaging, etc. 

PMID- 26889573
TI  - Validating the disruption of proliferating cell nuclear antigen interactions in
      the development of targeted cancer therapeutics.
AB  - Human DNA replication and repair is a highly coordinated process involving the
      specifically timed actions of numerous proteins and enzymes. Many of these
      proteins require interaction with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for
      activation within the process. The interdomain connector loop (IDCL) of PCNA
      provides a docking site for many of those proteins, suggesting that this region
      is critically important in the regulation of cellular function. Previous work in
      this laboratory has demonstrated that a peptide mimicking a specific region of
      the IDCL (caPeptide) has the ability to disrupt key protein-protein interactions
      between PCNA and its binding partners, thereby inhibiting DNA replication within
      the cells. In this study, we confirm the ability of the caPeptide to disrupt DNA
      replication function using both intact cell and in vitro DNA replication assays.
      Further, we were able to demonstrate that treatment with caPeptide results in a
      decrease of polymerase delta activity that correlates with the observed decrease
      in DNA replication. We have also successfully developed a surface plasmon
      resonance (SPR) assay to validate the disruption of the PCNA-pol delta
      interaction with caPeptide. 

PMID- 26889576
TI  - Understanding How the "Open" of Open Source Software (OSS) Will Improve Global
      Health Security.
AB  - Improving global health security will require bold action in all corners of the
      world, particularly in developing settings, where poverty often contributes to an
      increase in emerging infectious diseases. In order to mitigate the impact of
      emerging pandemic threats, enhanced disease surveillance is needed to improve
      early detection and rapid response to outbreaks. However, the technology to
      facilitate this surveillance is often unattainable because of high costs,
      software and hardware maintenance needs, limited technical competence among
      public health officials, and internet connectivity challenges experienced in the
      field. One potential solution is to leverage open source software, a concept that
      is unfortunately often misunderstood. This article describes the principles and
      characteristics of open source software and how it may be applied to solve global
      health security challenges. 

PMID- 26889577
TI  - Contextual Factors Among Indiscriminate or Large Attacks on Food or Water
      Supplies, 1946-2015.
AB  - This research updates previous inventories of malicious attacks on food and water
      and includes data from 1946 through mid-2015. A systematic search of news
      reports, databases, and previous inventories of poisoning events was undertaken.
      Incidents that threatened or were intended to achieve direct harm to humans and
      that were either relatively large (more than 4 victims) or indiscriminate in
      intent or realization were included. Agents could be chemical, biological, or
      radionuclear. Reports of candidate incidents were subjected to systematic
      inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as validity analysis (not always clearly
      undertaken in previous inventories of such attacks). We summarize contextual
      aspects of the attacks that may be important for scenario prioritization,
      modelling, and defensive preparedness. Opportunity, and particularly access to
      dangerous agents, is key to most realized attacks. The most common motives and
      relative success rate in causing harm were very different between food and water
      attacks. The likelihood that people were made ill or died also varied by food or
      water mode and according to motive and opportunity for delivery of the hazardous
      agent. Deaths and illness associated with attacks during food manufacture and
      prior to sale have been fewer than those in some other contexts. Valuable
      opportunities for food defense improvements are identified in other contexts,
      especially food prepared in private or community settings. 

PMID- 26889578
TI  - Structural Expression of Exo-Anomeric Effect.
AB  - Structural signatures for exo-anomeric effect have been extracted from the
      archetypal methyl-beta-D-xyloside using broadband Fourier transform microwave
      spectroscopy combined with laser ablation. Spectrum analysis allows the
      determination of a set of rotational constants, which has been unequivocally
      attributed to conformer cc-beta-(4)C1 g-, corresponding to the global minimum of
      the potential energy surface, where the aglycon residue (CH3) orientation
      contributes to maximization of the exo-anomeric effect. Further analysis allowed
      the determination of the rs structure, based on the detection of 11 isotopologues
      -derived from the presence of six (13)C and five (18)O atoms--observed in their
      natural abundances. The observed glycosidic C1-O1 bond length decrease (1.38 A)
      can be interpreted in terms of the exo-anomeric effect. As such, the exo-anomeric
      effect presents itself as one of the main driving forces controlling the shape of
      many biologically important oligosaccharides.

PMID- 26889580
TI  - Design and Evaluation of the NFL PLAY 60 FITNESSGRAM Partnership Project.
AB  - This article describes the conceptual design and evaluation strategies used in
      the NFL PLAY 60 FITNESSGRAM Partnership Project, a large participatory research
      network focused on building effective school physical education programming. The
      article summarizes the unique participatory design, recruitment methods,
      programming strategies, and analytical plans used to evaluate this large project.
      The study provides unique insight into how to effectively deliver large-scale
      school-based physical fitness and physical activity programming to support and
      enhance physical education programming in schools.

PMID- 26889579
TI  - TNF-alpha Blockade Efficiently Reduced Severe Intestinal Damage in Necrotizing
      Enterocolitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the beneficial effects of infliximab an inhibitor of
      tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on the development of NEC in an
      experimental NEC rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty newborn Sprague-Dawley
      rats were randomly divided into three groups as NEC, NEC+ infliximab, and
      control. NEC was induced by enteral formula feeding, exposure to hypoxia
      hyperoxia and cold stress. Pups in the NEC+ infliximab group were administered
      infliximab at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily by intraperitoneal route from the first
      day until the end of the study. All pups were sacrificed on the 5th day. Proximal
      colon and ileum were excised for histopathologic, immunohistochemical (TUNEL and
      caspase-3), and biochemical evaluation, including, total antioxidant status
      (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malonaldehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxdase (MPO)
      and TNF-alpha activities. RESULTS: We observed better clinical sickness scores,
      weight gain, and survival rate in the NEC+ infliximab group compared to the NEC
      group (p < .05). Histopathological and apoptosis examination (TUNEL and
      immunohistochemical evaluation for caspase-3) revealed lower damage in the NEC+
      infliximab group compared to the damage in the NEC group (p < .01). Tissue MDA,
      MPO, TNF-alpha levels, and TOS were significantly decreased in the NEC+infliximab
      group, whereas TAS was significantly increased in the NEC + infliximab group (p <
      .01). CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha blockade with infliximab efficiently reduced the
      intestinal injury and preserve the intestinal tissues from severe intestinal
      damage by its complex mechanisms on NEC. Therefore, it may be an alternative
      option for the treatment of NEC.

PMID- 26889581
TI  - Implications of Physical Literacy for Research and Practice: A Commentary.
AB  - Physical literacy is a term that has increasingly gained popularity in recent
      years. A variety of individuals and organizations have promoted the use of the
      term internationally, and a variety of claims have been made for the benefits of
      using the term. A historical overview allows the reader to consider physical
      literacy as one of many terms that have gained popularity in the field and
      describes divergent views as well as areas of agreement concerning the term
      physical literacy. Three North American institutional approaches to physical
      literacy are discussed. Other issues are also discussed, including assessment and
      other literacy types (e.g., health, sports). The article is designed to provoke
      thought among professionals and representatives of institutions concerning
      physical literacy. 

PMID- 26889582
TI  - Top 10 Research Questions Related to Physical Literacy.
AB  - The term physical literacy is relatively new, and its definition, conceptual
      underpinning, how it is measured, how to change it, and its relationship with
      holistic health and wellness across the life span are a few of many foundational
      issues that lack consensus. At present, there are more questions than answers.
      The purpose of this article is to highlight 10 important research questions
      related to physical literacy with the hope of fueling future research activity
      and debate. Input was sought from international experts and practitioners on
      priorities and research gaps related to physical literacy. This list was
      supplemented by personal experience and research priorities identified in
      published manuscripts. From these various sources, the top 10 research questions
      related to physical literacy were compiled. Research related to physical literacy
      is in its infancy, and many important, even fundamental research questions and
      priorities remain unanswered. Research needs are summarized within 4 themes:
      monitoring physical literacy, understanding the physical literacy journey,
      enhancing physical literacy, and the benefits of physical literacy. Specific
      research questions relate to identifying measurable aspects of physical literacy
      and how they change across cultures and throughout the life span, as well as
      understanding the individual and environmental factors that describe the physical
      literacy journey and are effective targets for interventions. Physical literacy
      is increasingly recognized as the foundation for a healthy active lifestyle;
      however, robust research demonstrating its constitution, its relationship with
      health-related outcomes, and intervention strategies for its improvement remains
      to be completed. 

PMID- 26889583
TI  - Corrective Equations to Self-Reported Height and Weight for Obesity Estimates
      Among U.S. Adults: NHANES 1999-2008.
AB  - PURPOSE: Estimating obesity prevalence using self-reported height and weight is
      an economic and effective method and is often used in national surveys. However,
      self-reporting of height and weight can involve misreporting of those variables
      and has been found to be associated to the size of the individual. This study
      investigated the biases in self-reporting of height and weight in the U.S. adult
      population and generated age-adjusted correction equations for self-reported
      height and weight separately for each ethnic group's specific height and weight
      quartile sample. Validity of the body mass index (BMI) classification calculated
      from corrected self-reported height and weight was also examined. METHOD: Data on
      self-reporting and direct measurement of height and weight from National Health
      and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008 were analyzed. The final sample
      included 11,521 men and 10,905 nonpregnant women who were all U.S. citizens aged
      20 years or older. RESULTS: A variation in misreporting of self-reported height
      and weight depended on the gender, ethnicity, age, and size of the individual.
      The results from sensitivity and specificity analyses showed that the BMI
      calculated from corrected values of self-reported height and weight provided more
      accurate estimations of overweight and obesity than did BMI calculated from self
      reported height and weight. CONCLUSION: In spite of some methodological concerns,
      the correction equation of self-reported height and weight generated in this
      study can be utilized as a method for quick assessment of estimating the obesity
      and overweight prevalence in the U.S. adult population.

PMID- 26889584
TI  - Locomotor, Heart-Rate, and Metabolic Power Characteristics of Youth Women's Field
      Hockey: Female Athletes in Motion (FAiM) Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the locomotor, heart-rate, and
      metabolic power characteristics of high-level youth female field hockey matches.
      METHOD: Players from the U21 and U17 Canadian women's national teams were
      monitored during a 4-match test series using Global Positioning System
      technology. Position (forward, midfielder, defender) and age-group (U21, U17)
      comparisons were made using 2-way analyses of variance. RESULTS: Forwards played
      12 min to 22 min fewer than midfielders and defenders and consequently had lower
      amounts of total, low-intensity, and moderate-intensity distances. Yet, forwards
      covered similar amounts of high-intensity running and sprinting distances despite
      the deficit in playing time. Only 10% to 15% of total distance was characterized
      by high-intensity running and sprinting, yet the majority of time was spent above
      90% maximum heart rate. The distances in high, elevated, and maximal metabolic
      power categories were greater for U21 than U17 players. Yo-Yo Intermittent
      Recovery Test performance was related to high-intensity running and maximal
      metabolic power distance. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings highlight positional
      specificity as well as developmental gaps between age groups for youth female
      field hockey matches. These match characteristics should be used to assist in
      establishing appropriate training strategies through the developmental pathway
      and to assist player achievement to higher standards.

PMID- 26889585
TI  - A Qualitative Investigation of Need Fulfillment and Motivational Profiles in
      Collegiate Cheerleading.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cheerleading is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
      Members of spirit squads play an undeniable role in developing a university's
      athletic image, and participation in cheer has the potential to affect
      adolescents and young adults in a positive manner. Yet, cheerleaders also
      encounter stereotypes, constant trivialization, and a relative lack of external
      rewards. Given this complex contextual and situational environment, the current
      investigation was designed to better understand why people are motivated to
      participate in collegiate cheerleading. More specifically, guided by the premises
      of self-determination theory (SDT), this study explored motivational profiles and
      basic psychological need satisfaction (i.e., competence, autonomy, and
      relatedness) across different contexts and situations that comprise the
      collegiate cheerleading environment. METHOD: Consistent with established
      guidelines for qualitative inquiry, 12 collegiate cheerleaders were interviewed
      at 3 separate time points during the course of 1 academic semester. RESULTS:
      Deductive and inductive qualitative analyses yielded 3 higher-order themes,
      including: (a) context specificity of basic psychological need satisfaction, (b)
      contribution of performance to motivation, and (c) occurrences of intrinsic
      motivation. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlighted the complex nature of
      motivation and basic psychological need fulfillment, including a potential
      synergism between relatedness and competence fulfillment as well as an influence
      of academics on sport motivation. These nuances add to the theoretical
      understanding of SDT and offer valuable insight for coaches and sport psychology
      professionals working with collegiate spirit squads.

PMID- 26889586
TI  - Prediction of VO2max in Children and Adolescents Using Exercise Testing and
      Physical Activity Questionnaire Data.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a treadmill walk
      jog-run exercise test previously validated in adults and physical activity
      questionnaire data to estimate maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) in boys (n =
      62) and girls (n = 66) aged 12 to 17 years old. METHODS: Data were collected from
      Physical Activity Rating (PA-R) and Perceived Functional Ability (PFA)
      questionnaires, a walk-jog-run submaximal treadmill exercise test, and a maximal
      graded exercise test. RESULTS: Regression analysis resulted in the development of
      2 models to predict VO2max. Submaximal exercise test data were used to build the
      following model (R2 = .73; SEE = 4.59 mL + kg(- 1) + min(- 1)): VO2max (mL + kg(-
      1) + min(- 1)) = 26.890+(5.877 * Gender; 0 = female; 1 = male) - (0.782 * Body
      Mass Index [BMI])+(0.438 * PFA Score) +(2.712 * Treadmill Speed; mph) +(0.746 *
      Age) +(0.449 * PA-R Score). Maximal exercise test data were used to build the
      following model (R2 = .83; SEE = 3.63 mL + kg(- 1) + min(- 1)): VO2max (mL + kg(-
      1) + min(- 1)) = 10.716+(1.334 * Maximal Treadmill Grade) +(5.203 * Treadmill
      Speed; mph) +(3.494 * Gender; 0 = female; 1 = male) - (0.413 * BMI) +(0.249 *
      PFA). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate, for the first time,
      that regression equations that use both exercise data and physical activity
      questionnaire data can accurately predict VO2max in youth. The submaximal and
      maximal exercise tests that use self-selected treadmill speeds can be used to
      assess cardiorespiratory fitness of youth with a wide range of fitness levels.

PMID- 26889587
TI  - Development and Testing of the Observational System for Recording Physical
      Activity in Children: Elementary School.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study describes the development and pilot testing of the
      Observational System for Recording Physical Activity-Elementary School (OSRAC-E)
      Version. METHOD: This system was developed to observe and document the levels and
      types of physical activity and physical and social contexts of physical activity
      in elementary school students during the school day. Interobserver agreement
      scores and summary data were calculated. RESULTS: All categories had Kappa
      statistics greater than .80, with the exception of the activity initiator
      category. Interobserver agreement scores were 96% or greater. The OSRAC-E was
      shown to be a reliable observation system that allows researchers to assess
      physical activity behaviors, the contexts of those behaviors, and the
      effectiveness of physical activity interventions in the school environment.
      CONCLUSION: The OSRAC-E can yield data with high interobserver reliability and
      provide relatively extensive contextual information about the physical activity
      of students in elementary schools.

PMID- 26889588
TI  - The Influence of Epoch Length on Physical Activity Patterns Varies by Child's
      Activity Level.
AB  - PURPOSE: Patterns of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time, including volume
      of bouted activity, are important health indicators. However, the effect of
      accelerometer epoch length on measurement of these patterns and associations with
      health outcomes in children remain unknown. METHOD: We measured activity patterns
      in 308 children (52% girls, age range = 8-11 years) using ActiGraph GT1M
      accelerometers with 15-s epochs and reintegrated to 60-s epochs. We calculated
      the volume (minutes per day) of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), sedentary time,
      light, moderate, and vigorous PA, as well as bouted MVPA and sedentary time (0-5
      min, 5-10 min, 10-20 min, and > 20 min). RESULTS: The difference between 15-s and
      60-s epochs was statistically significant for all outcomes; however, effect sizes
      were small or negligible in 30% of comparisons. Bias ranged from 1.9 min/day
      (total MVPA) to 102.7 min/day (0-5 min sedentary bouts). Regression-based
      estimates of bias and 95% limits of agreement illustrated that the magnitude, and
      in some cases, the direction, of between-epoch differences varied with activity
      level. Correlations with body mass index and cardiovascular fitness were similar
      for 15-s (r = -.19 to .20) and 60-s (r = -.16 to .29) epochs. Estimated 15-s data
      (predicted from 60-s) were similar to measured data and had similar relationships
      with health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Epoch length influences measurement of PA and
      sedentary patterns and the effect is modified by activity level. However,
      associations with health outcomes were similar and epoch differences can be
      adjusted. Future research should clarify the accuracy of different epoch lengths
      for measuring bouted activity and evaluate whether epoch length alters
      relationships with additional health outcomes.

PMID- 26889590
TI  - Maintained Stemness of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Isolated After
      Prolonged Storage of Extracted Teeth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) are readily
      accessible and represent a promising source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for
      therapies. For expected clinical applications of stem cell therapies, prolonged
      maintenance of stemness of hPDLSCs after storage is crucial. Likewise,
      optimization of cell quality and standardization of manufacturing protocols
      require evaluation of hPDLSC characteristics after storage. The aim of this study
      is to evaluate maintenance of stemness of hPDLSCs isolated after prolonged
      storage of the periodontal ligament (PDL), by studying: 1) growth and
      proliferation; 2) immunophenotypes; and 3) differentiation capabilities of
      hPDLSCs. METHODS: After extraction of premolars (N = 10), hPDLSCs were isolated
      immediately (n = 5) or after 1 week of tooth storage in growth medium (n = 5).
      Both groups were evaluated for: 1) colony formation; 2) proliferation; and 3)
      immunophenotypes. Osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation
      capabilities of hPDLSCs were evaluated at different times and by real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Storing PDLs attached to teeth did not
      affect stemness of hPDLSCs. Colony formation and proliferation properties of
      hPDLSCs from PDLs harvested immediately after extraction or after storage for 1
      week were comparable, and there were no significant differences in
      immunophenotypic markers between the two groups. Osteogenic, adipogenic, and
      chondrogenic differentiation capabilities of hPDLSCs were unaltered after PDL
      storage. Real-time PCR analyses indicated that the expression of: 1) osteogenic
      (runt-related transcription factor 2, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin); 2)
      adipogenic (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and lipoprotein
      lipase); and 3) chondrogenic (aggrecan, collagen Type 2, and collagen Type 10)
      differentiation markers were similar for both groups. CONCLUSION: Within the
      limitations of the study, hPDLSCs stored for 1 week maintain the important
      characteristics of MSCs.

PMID- 26889591
TI  - Patenting drug delivery technology: tips for formulating practical and effective
      patent portfolio.

PMID- 26889592
TI  - The temporal trends of incidence, treatment, and in-hospital mortality of acute
      myocardial infarction over 15years in a Taiwanese population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to examine the nationwide temporal trends of
      incidence, treatment, and short-term outcomes for acute myocardial infarction
      (AMI) over a 15-year period in Taiwan. METHODS: We identified patients who were
      hospitalized for incident AMI between 1997 and 2011 from the inpatient medical
      claim dataset of the National Health Insurance Research Database. Age- and sex
      adjusted incidence and in-hospital mortality rates were calculated for AMI, and
      separately for ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial
      infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI). RESULTS: A total of 144,634 patients were
      identified. The incidence rates (per 100,000 population) of AMI increased from 30
      in 1997 to 42 in 2011, which was mainly driven by the increase of NSTEMI. The in
      hospital mortality rate after AMI decreased from 9.1% in 1997 to 6.5% in 2011,
      which was also driven by the case mortality rate for NSTEMI. Although the in
      hospital mortality rates significantly decreased from 7.3% to 5.1% between 1997
      and 2003 for STEMI, it did not change significantly from 2004 to 2011. Moreover,
      AMI patients undergoing revascularization treatment, particularly PCI, was the
      most important independent predictor for improved in-hospital survival.
      CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated a recent dramatic increase in
      the incidence rates and a decrease in short-term mortality in patients with
      NSTEMI; while the incidence and in-hospital morality of STEMI only modestly
      changed over time in Taiwan. Further quality improvement approaches for AMI
      prevention and treatment to favorably affect the incidence and outcomes from both
      major types of AMI are highly recommended.

PMID- 26889593
TI  - Detectable interleukin-9 plasma levels are associated with impaired
      cardiopulmonary functional capacity and all-cause mortality in patients with
      chronic heart failure.

PMID- 26889595
TI  - Coronary Sinus Reducer systemTM: A new therapeutic option in refractory angina
      patients unsuitable for revascularization.
AB  - A challenge of modern cardiovascular medicine is to find new, effective
      treatments for patients with refractory angina pectoris (RAP), a clinical
      condition characterized by severe angina despite optimal medical therapy and "no
      option" for a surgical or percutaneous revascularization. Although the relevant
      advance of both pharmaceutical and interventional treatments for patients
      affected by symptomatic coronary artery disease has greatly contributed to
      prolong survival, the increasing number of patients experimenting persistent and
      invalidating angina symptoms, highlights that quality of life of these patients
      has not been equally improved. Clinical limitations of the efficiency of
      conventional and relatively new approaches justify the search for new therapeutic
      options. In this review, we will focus on the epidemiology of RAP, and we will
      provide a brief update on the different options actually available to these
      patients with particular interest to an innovative device that narrow the
      coronary sinus: the Reducer system (Neovasc Inc., Richmond B.C., Canada). The
      efforts of present and future clinical studies will ultimately answer the
      question of whether this intriguing therapy is a suitable strategy for treatment
      of patients with RAP. 

PMID- 26889594
TI  - Uhl's anomaly: Clinical spectrum and pathophysiology.

PMID- 26889596
TI  - Monitoring of high-dose fosfomycin guided by NT-proBNP.

PMID- 26889597
TI  - Enhanced oxidative stress is associated with sleep-disordered breathing and
      obesity in patients with heart failure.

PMID- 26889598
TI  - Papillary muscle or leaflet rupture of the tricuspid valve in arrhythmogenic
      cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 26889599
TI  - Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis in dextrocardia
      with situs inversus: First reported case in the United States.

PMID- 26889600
TI  - Metabolic syndrome predicts plaque rupture in patients with acute myocardial
      infarction. An optical coherence study.

PMID- 26889601
TI  - The Palladium Way to N-Heteroacenes.
AB  - Novel synthetic methodologies allow increasingly efficient access to known
      organic materials, as well as the preparation of otherwise inaccessible species.
      Pd-catalyzed coupling of aromatic dihalides to ortho-diaminoarenes furnishes
      embedded stable N,N'-dihydropyrazines expediently and in often excellent yields.
      The embedded N,N'-dihydropyrazines can then be oxidized by MnO2 to give
      substituted azatetracenes, azapentacenes, azahexacenes, and azaheptacenes, which
      are soluble, processable, and stable. This powerful Pd-catalyzed methodology
      allows the preparation of azaacenes, including diaza-, tetraaza- and
      hexaazaacenes. In combination with a suitable Pd precursor, Buchwald-type
      biarylphosphines have been shown to give excellent results. Activated dihalides
      such as 2,3-dihaloquinoxalines are coupled easily under simplified conditions,
      whereas 2,3-dibromoacenes require more stringent conditions and advanced catalyst
      precursors. Pd catalysts effect the assembly of azaacenes with otherwise
      difficult to obtain substitution patterns. High yields and flexibility make this
      method most attractive. 

PMID- 26889602
TI  - Proteomic analysis of native cerebellar iFGF14 complexes.
AB  - Intracellular Fibroblast Growth Factor 14 (iFGF14) and the other intracellular
      FGFs (iFGF11-13) regulate the properties and densities of voltage-gated neuronal
      and cardiac Na(+) (Nav) channels. Recent studies have demonstrated that the iFGFs
      can also regulate native voltage-gated Ca(2+) (Cav) channels. In the present
      study, a mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic approach was used to identify the
      components of native cerebellar iFGF14 complexes. Using an anti-iFGF14 antibody,
      native iFGF14 complexes were immunoprecipitated from wild type adult mouse
      cerebellum. Parallel control experiments were performed on cerebellar proteins
      isolated from mice (Fgf14(-/-)) harboring a targeted disruption of the Fgf14
      locus. MS analyses of immunoprecipitated proteins demonstrated that the vast
      majority of proteins identified in native cerebellar iFGF14 complexes are Nav
      channel pore-forming (alpha) subunits or proteins previously reported to interact
      with Nav alpha subunits. In contrast, no Cav channel alpha or accessory subunits
      were revealed in cerebellar iFGF14 immunoprecipitates. Additional experiments
      were completed using an anti-PanNav antibody to immunoprecipitate Nav channel
      complexes from wild type and Fgf14(-/-) mouse cerebellum. Western blot and MS
      analyses revealed that the loss of iFGF14 does not measurably affect the protein
      composition or the relative abundance of Nav channel interacting proteins in
      native adult mouse cerebellar Nav channel complexes. 

PMID- 26889603
TI  - Mental imagery of speech implicates two mechanisms of perceptual reactivation.
AB  - Sensory cortices can be activated without any external stimuli. Yet, it is still
      unclear how this perceptual reactivation occurs and which neural structures
      mediate this reconstruction process. In this study, we employed fMRI with mental
      imagery paradigms to investigate the neural networks involved in perceptual
      reactivation. Subjects performed two speech imagery tasks: articulation imagery
      (AI) and hearing imagery (HI). We found that AI induced greater activity in
      frontal-parietal sensorimotor systems, including sensorimotor cortex, subcentral
      (BA 43), middle frontal cortex (BA 46) and parietal operculum (PO), whereas HI
      showed stronger activation in regions that have been implicated in memory
      retrieval: middle frontal (BA 8), inferior parietal cortex and intraparietal
      sulcus. Moreover, posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and anterior superior
      temporal gyrus (aSTG) was activated more in AI compared with HI, suggesting that
      covert motor processes induced stronger perceptual reactivation in the auditory
      cortices. These results suggest that motor-to-perceptual transformation and
      memory retrieval act as two complementary mechanisms to internally reconstruct
      corresponding perceptual outcomes. These two mechanisms can serve as a
      neurocomputational foundation for predicting perceptual changes, either via a
      previously learned relationship between actions and their perceptual consequences
      or via stored perceptual experiences of stimulus and episodic or contextual
      regularity. 

PMID- 26889605
TI  - Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Methyl B12 for Children with Autism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported to
      have reduced ability to methylate DNA and elevated markers of oxidative stress.
      We sought to determine if methyl B12, a key metabolic cofactor for cellular
      methylation reactions and antioxidant defense, could improve symptoms of ASD.
      METHODS: A total of 57 children with ASD were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of
      treatment with methyl B12 (75 MUg/kg) or saline placebo every 3 days in a
      subcutaneous injection. The primary outcome measure was overall improvement in
      symptoms of ASD as measured by the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI
      I) score. Secondary outcome measures included changes in the Aberrant Behavior
      Checklist (ABC) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Laboratory measures of
      methionine methylation and antioxidant glutathione metabolism were assessed at
      baseline and 8 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 50 children (mean age 5.3 years, 79%
      male) completed the study. The primary outcome measure - the clinician rated CGI
      I score - was statistically significantly better (lower) in the methyl B12 group
      (2.4) than in the placebo group (3.1) (0.7 greater improvement in the methyl B12
      group, 95% CI 1.2-0.2, p = 0.005). Clinical improvement among children treated
      with methyl B12 was positively correlated with increases in plasma methionine (p
      = 0.05), decreases in S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) (p = 0.007) and
      improvements in the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to SAH (p = 0.007),
      indicating an improvement in cellular methylation capacity. No improvements were
      observed in the parent-rated ABC or SRS. CONCLUSIONS: Methyl B12 treatment
      improved clinician-rated symptoms of ASD that were correlated with improvements
      in measures of methionine metabolism and cellular methylation capacity. Clinical
      Trial Registry: Efficacy Study of Subcutaneous Methyl B12 in Children with
      Autism: NCT01039792 ( clinicaltrials.gov1 ).

PMID- 26889606
TI  - Topologically controlled tensile behaviour of braided prostheses for anterior
      cruciate ligaments.
AB  - Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most susceptible ligaments of the
      knee that can suffer injury. These ruptured ligaments can be treated through
      surgical intervention using a braided structure that either acts as a substitute
      graft in isolation or an augmentation device alongside the biological tissue.
      Therefore, the main objective of the research work is to present an analytical
      model for predicting the complete set of tensile properties of braided prosthesis
      consisting of multifilament strands based upon predefined braid geometry and
      constituent material properties. The model has also accounted for the kinematical
      changes under defined loading conditions. The research findings have been
      confirmed by making a comparison between the theoretical and experimental
      results. The tensile properties of braided prostheses predicted via analytical
      route matched reasonably well with the experimental results. 

PMID- 26889604
TI  - A physiological signature of sound meaning in dementia.
AB  - The meaning of sensory objects is often behaviourally and biologically salient
      and decoding of semantic salience is potentially vulnerable in dementia. However,
      it remains unclear how sensory semantic processing is linked to physiological
      mechanisms for coding object salience and how that linkage is affected by
      neurodegenerative diseases. Here we addressed this issue using the paradigm of
      complex sounds. We used pupillometry to compare physiological responses to real
      versus synthetic nonverbal sounds in patients with canonical dementia syndromes
      (behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia - bvFTD, semantic dementia - SD;
      progressive nonfluent aphasia - PNFA; typical Alzheimer's disease - AD) relative
      to healthy older individuals. Nonverbal auditory semantic competence was assessed
      using a novel within-modality sound classification task and neuroanatomical
      associations of pupillary responses were assessed using voxel-based morphometry
      (VBM) of patients' brain MR images. After taking affective stimulus factors into
      account, patients with SD and AD showed significantly increased pupil responses
      to real versus synthetic sounds relative to healthy controls. The bvFTD, SD and
      AD groups had a nonverbal auditory semantic deficit relative to healthy controls
      and nonverbal auditory semantic performance was inversely correlated with the
      magnitude of the enhanced pupil response to real versus synthetic sounds across
      the patient cohort. A region of interest analysis demonstrated neuroanatomical
      associations of overall pupil reactivity and differential pupil reactivity to
      sound semantic content in superior colliculus and left anterior temporal cortex
      respectively. Our findings suggest that autonomic coding of auditory semantic
      ambiguity in the setting of a damaged semantic system may constitute a novel
      physiological signature of neurodegenerative diseases. 

PMID- 26889607
TI  - Hydrogen bonding to carbonyl oxygen of nitrogen-pyramidalized amide - detection
      of pyramidalization direction preference by vibrational circular dichroism
      spectroscopy.
AB  - Nitrogen-pyramidalization of amide increases electron density on nitrogen and
      decreases that on carbonyl oxygen. We identified hydrogen-bonding to carbonyl of
      nitrogen-pyramidalized bicyclic beta-proline derivatives by crystallography, and
      by NMR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy in solution. Such
      hydrogen-bonding can switch the preferred nitrogen-pyramidalization direction, as
      detected by VCD spectroscopy.

PMID- 26889609
TI  - Jordanian Nurses' involvement in health policy: perceived benefits and barriers.
AB  - AIM: To examine (1) the level of involvement of Jordanian nurses in health policy
      development and (2) perceived benefits, barriers and impacts on health outcomes
      of involvement in health policy process. BACKGROUND: Lack of nurses' political
      involvement may result in self-serving policies by policymakers who are in power
      and passing policies that are less than optimum. METHOD: A descriptive cross
      sectional design was adopted in this study. A convenience sample of 231 nurses
      was recruited with a response rate of 77%. The instrument of Registered Nurses'
      Involvement in Health Policies was used in this study. RESULTS: The results
      revealed that participants were most frequently involved in the health policy
      activity 'voting for a candidate or a health policy proposal'. The mean scores
      for involvement of participants as nurses and as citizens were low. The most
      perceived frequent barrier to involvement in health policy was lack of time.
      DISCUSSION: The low rate of Jordanian nurses' involvement in health policy could
      be explained by the fact that most participants had family roles in addition to
      work roles, which might leave little time for health policy activities. Lack of
      mentoring for nurses by nursing leaders could also negatively affect their
      involvement in health policy development. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH
      POLICY: Results of this study could be baseline information for Jordanian nurse
      leaders to enhance the level of nurses' involvement in health policy development.
      Such findings could also add knowledge to the existing literature about nurses'
      involvement in health policy.

PMID- 26889608
TI  - Decreased Time to Treatment Initiation for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
      Patients after Use of Xpert MTB/RIF Test, Latvia.
AB  - Few studies have examined whether the Xpert MTB/RIF test improves time to
      treatment initiation for persons with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB).
      We determined the impact of this test in Latvia, where it was introduced in 2010.
      After descriptive analyses of pulmonary MDR TB patients in Latvia during 2009
      2012, time to treatment initiation was calculated, and univariate and
      multivariable accelerated failure time models were constructed. Univariate
      results showed strong evidence of an association between having rifampin
      resistant TB detected by Xpert MTB/RIF and reduced time to treatment initiation
      versus the test not being used. A multivariable model stratifying by previous TB
      showed similar results. Our finding that in Latvia, time to treatment initiation
      was decreased for MDR TB cases that were rifampin-resistant TB by XpertMTB/RIF
      has implications for the use of this test in other settings with a high burden of
      MDR TB in which rifampin resistance is highly predictive of MDR TB.

PMID- 26889610
TI  - Feasibility and Utility of the Individualized Hydrocodone Therapy Based on
      Phenotype, Pharmacogenetics, and Pharmacokinetic Dosing.

PMID- 26889611
TI  - The Effect of Medicinal Cannabis on Pain and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Chronic
      Pain: A Prospective Open-label Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this prospective, open-label study was to determine
      the long-term effect of medicinal cannabis treatment on pain and functional
      outcomes in participants with treatment-resistant chronic pain. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The primary outcome was the change in the pain symptom score on the S
      TOPS (Treatment Outcomes in Pain Survey-Short Form) questionnaire at the 6-month
      follow-up in an intent-to-treat population. Secondary outcomes included the
      change in S-TOPS physical, social, and emotional disability scales, the pain
      severity, and pain interference on the Brief Pain Inventory, sleep problems, and
      the change in opioid consumption. RESULTS: A total of 274 participants were
      approved for treatment; complete baseline data were available for 206 (intent-to
      treat), and complete follow-up data for 176 participants. At follow-up, the pain
      symptom score improved from median 83.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.2-87.5)
      to 75.0 (95% CI, 70.8-79.2) (P<0.001). The pain severity score (7.50 [95% CI,
      6.75-7.75] to 6.25 [95% CI, 5.75-6.75]) and the pain interference score (8.14
      [95% CI, 7.28-8.43] to 6.71 [95% CI, 6.14-7.14]) improved (both P<0.001),
      together with most social and emotional disability scores. Opioid consumption at
      follow-up decreased by 44% (P<0.001). Serious adverse effects led to treatment
      discontinuation in 2 participants. DISCUSSION: The treatment of chronic pain with
      medicinal cannabis in this open-label, prospective cohort resulted in improved
      pain and functional outcomes, and a significant reduction in opioid use. Results
      suggest long-term benefit of cannabis treatment in this group of patients, but
      the study's noncontrolled nature should be considered when extrapolating the
      results.

PMID- 26889612
TI  - Isometric Exercise Above but not Below an Individual's Pain Threshold Influences
      Pain Perception in People With Lateral Epicondylalgia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the acute effects of isometric exercise of different
      intensities on pain perception in individuals with chronic lateral
      epicondylalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants performed 3 experimental
      tasks completed in a randomized order on separate days: control (no exercise) and
      isometric wrist extension (10*15 s) at load 20% below (infrathreshold), and 20%
      above (suprathreshold) an individual's pain threshold. Self-reported pain
      intensity (11-point numeric rating scales), pressure pain threshold, and pain
      free grip were assessed by a blinded examiner before, immediately after, and 30
      minutes after task performance. Relation analysis between pain ratings and
      clinical variables, including pain and disability and kinesiophobia was
      performed. RESULTS: Twenty-four individuals with unilateral lateral
      epicondylalgia of median 3-month duration participated. Pain intensity during
      contraction was significantly higher during suprathreshold exercise than
      infrathreshold exercise (mean difference in numeric rating scale 1.0; 95%
      confidence interval, 0.4-1.5; P=0.002). Pain intensity during suprathreshold
      exercise was significantly correlated with pain and disability (R=0.435, P=0.034)
      and kinesiophobia (R=0.556, P=0.005). Pain intensity was significantly higher
      immediately after performance of suprathreshold exercise, compared with
      infrathreshold exercise (P=0.01) and control (P<0.001) conditions, whereas
      infrathreshold exercise and control conditions were comparable. Thirty minutes
      later, pain levels remained significantly higher for suprathreshold exercise
      compared with infrathreshold exercise (P=0.043). Pressure pain threshold and pain
      free grip showed no significant effects of time, condition, or time*condition
      (P>0.05). DISCUSSION: Individuals with lateral epicondylalgia demonstrated
      increased pain intensity after an acute bout of isometric exercise performed at
      an intensity above, but not below, their individual pain threshold. Further
      investigation is needed to determine whether measurement of an individual's
      exercise induced pain threshold may be important in reducing symptom flares
      associated with exercise.

PMID- 26889613
TI  - Differing Psychologically Derived Clusters in People With Chronic Low Back Pain
      are Associated With Different Multidimensional Profiles.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the existence of subgroups in a cohort with chronic low
      back pain (n=294) based upon data from multiple psychological questionnaires, and
      profile subgroups on data from multiple dimensions. METHODS: Psychological
      questionnaires considered as indicator variables entered into latent class
      analysis included: Depression, Anxiety, Stress scales, Thought Suppression and
      Behavioural Endurance subscales (Avoidance Endurance questionnaire), Chronic Pain
      Acceptance Questionnaire (short-form), Pain Catastrophising Scale, Pain Self
      Efficacy Questionnaire, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire.
      Multidimensional profiling of derived clusters included: demographics, pain
      characteristics, pain responses to movement, behaviors associated with pain, body
      perception, pain sensitivity, and health and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Three
      clusters were derived. Cluster 1 (23.5%) was characterized by low Cognitive and
      Affective Questionnaire scores, with the exception of fear-avoidance beliefs.
      Cluster 2 (58.8%) was characterized by relatively elevated thought suppression,
      catastrophizing, and fear-avoidance beliefs, but lower pain self-efficacy,
      depression, anxiety, and stress. Cluster 3 (17.7%) had the highest scores across
      cognitive and affective questionnaires.Cluster 1 reported significantly lower
      pain intensity and bothersomeness than other clusters. Disability, stressful life
      events, and low back region perceptual distortion increased progressively from
      cluster 1 to cluster 3, whereas mindfulness progressively decreased. Clusters 2
      and 3 had more people with an increase in pain following repeated forward and
      backward spinal bending, and more people with increasing pain following bending,
      than cluster 1. Cluster 3 had significantly greater lumbar pressure pain
      sensitivity, more undiagnosed comorbid symptoms, and more widespread pain than
      other clusters. DISCUSSION: Clinical implications relating to presentations of
      each cluster are postulated.

PMID- 26889614
TI  - Chronic Pain Following Motor Vehicle Collision: A Systematic Review of Outcomes
      Associated With Seeking or Receiving Compensation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Motor vehicle collisions (MVC) are a major cause of injury, which
      frequently lead to chronic pain and prolonged disability. Several studies have
      found that seeking or receiving financial compensation following MVC leads to
      poorer recovery and worse pain. We evaluated the evidence for the relationship
      between compensation and chronic pain following MVC within a biopsychosocial
      framework. METHOD: A comprehensive search of 5 computerized databases was
      conducted. Methodological quality was evaluated independently by 2 researchers
      according to formal criteria, and discrepancies were resolved with a third
      reviewer. RESULTS: We identified 5619 studies, from which 230 full-text articles
      were retrieved and 27 studies were retained for appraisal. A third of studies
      (37%) were of low quality, and 44% did not measure or control for factors such as
      injury severity or preinjury pain and disability. Most studies (70%) reported
      adverse outcomes, including all of the highest quality studies. Engagement with
      compensation systems was related to more prevalent self-reported chronic pain,
      mental health disorders, and reduced return to work. Recovery was poorer when
      fault was attributed to another, or when a lawyer was involved. Five studies
      compared Tort "common law" and No-Fault schemes directly and concluded that Tort
      claimants had poorer recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Although causal relationships cannot
      be assumed, the findings imply that aspects of loss, injustice, and secondary
      mental health outcomes lead to chronic pain following MVC. Further robust
      prospective research is required to understand the complex relationship between
      compensation systems and pain following road trauma, particularly the role of
      secondary mental health outcomes.

PMID- 26889616
TI  - Randomized Sham-controlled Double-Blind Multicenter Clinical Trial to Ascertain
      the Effect of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Treatment for Sacroiliac Joint Pain:
      Three-month Results.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of a percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) heat
      lesion compared with a sham procedure, applied to the lateral branches of L5, S1,
      S2, S3, and S4 nerve roots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients aged 18 years
      and above with a medical history and physical examination suggestive for
      sacroiliac joint pain and a reduction of 2 or more on a numerical rating scale
      (NRS, 0 to 10) after a sacroiliac joint test block were included in this study.
      Treatment group: percutaneous RF heat lesion at the lateral branches of S1, S2,
      S3, and S4 nerve roots and the posterior ramus dorsalis of L5; sham group: same
      procedure as the treatment group except for the RF heat lesion. PRIMARY OUTCOME
      MEASURE: pain reduction (NRS). Secondary outcome measure: Global Perceived
      Effect. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in pain level over time
      between the groups (Group*Period) (F1,58=0.353; P=0.56) nor within the treatment
      Group (F1,58=0.212; P=0.65) were found. The Period factor, however, yielded a
      significant difference (F1,58=61.67; P<0.001), that is, when pooled together the
      mean pain level of the patients was significantly reduced at T1 compared with T0.
      In the crossover group, 42.1% experienced a reduction in NRS of 2 or more at 1
      month (P=0.65). No statistically significant difference in satisfaction over time
      between the groups was found (F1,50=2.1; P=0.15). The independent factors Group
      (F1,50=2.02; P=0.16) and Period (F1,50=0.95; P=0.33) also showed no statistically
      significant difference. The same applies to recovery: no statistically
      significant Group*Period effect (F1,51=0.09; P=0.77) was found, neither an effect
      of Group (F1,51=0.004; P=0.95) nor of Period (F1,51=0.27; P=0.60). DISCUSSION:
      The hypothesis of no difference in pain reduction or in Global Perceived Effect
      between the treatment and sham group cannot be rejected. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level
      1A.

PMID- 26889615
TI  - Multiple Levels of Suffering: Discrimination in Health-Care Settings is
      Associated With Enhanced Laboratory Pain Sensitivity in Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: People living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience severe
      episodic and chronic pain and frequently report poor interpersonal treatment
      within health-care settings. In this particularly relevant context, we examined
      the relationship between perceived discrimination and both clinical and
      laboratory pain. METHODS: Seventy-one individuals with SCD provided self-reports
      of experiences with discrimination in health-care settings and clinical pain
      severity, and completed a psychophysical pain testing battery in the laboratory.
      RESULTS: Discrimination in health-care settings was correlated with greater
      clinical pain severity and enhanced sensitivity to multiple laboratory-induced
      pain measures, as well as stress, depression, and sleep. After controlling for
      relevant covariates, discrimination remained a significant predictor of
      mechanical temporal summation (a marker of central pain facilitation), but not
      clinical pain severity or suprathreshold heat pain response. Furthermore, a
      significant interaction between experience with discrimination and clinical pain
      severity was associated with mechanical temporal summation; increased experience
      with discrimination was associated with an increased correlation between clinical
      pain severity and temporal summation of pain. DISCUSSION: Perceived
      discrimination within health-care settings was associated with pain facilitation.
      These findings suggest that discrimination may be related to increased central
      sensitization among SCD patients, and more broadly that health-care social
      environments may interact with pain pathophysiology.

PMID- 26889617
TI  - Efficacy of Cabbage Leaf Wraps in the Treatment of Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of
      the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic
      diseases among older adults. This study aimed to test the effects of cabbage leaf
      wraps (CLWs) in the treatment of symptomatic OA. METHODS: Patients with OA of the
      knee at stages II to III (Kellgren-Lawrence) were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of
      treatment with CLWs (daily for at least 2h), topical pain gel (TPG) (10 mg
      diclofenac/g, at least once daily), or usual care (UC). The primary outcome
      measure was pain intensity (VAS) after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included
      functional disability Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index
      (WOMAC), quality of life (SF-36), self-efficacy (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale
      D), physical function (30 s Chair Stand Test), pressure pain sensitivity (PPT),
      satisfaction, and safety after 4 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: In total, 81 patients
      were included in this study (42 women, 65.9+/-10.3 y). After 4 weeks patients in
      the CLW group reported significantly less pain compared with those in the UC
      group (difference, -12.1; 95% [confidence interval] CI, -23.1, -1.0; P=0.033) but
      not when compared with the TPG group (difference, -8.6; 95% CI, -21.5, 4.4;
      P=0.190). Significant effects were also found in WOMAC, SF-36, 30-second Chair
      Stand Test, and PPT scores in the CLW group compared with the UC group. Compared
      with TPG, effects from CLW were found for WOMAC after 4 weeks and for quality of
      life after 12 weeks. Patients were satisfied with both active interventions, and
      except for 2 adverse events in both groups the applications were well tolerated.
      CONCLUSIONS: CLWs are more effective for knee OA than UC, but not compared with
      diclofenac gel. Therefore, they might be recommended for patients with OA of the
      knee. Further research is warranted.

PMID- 26889618
TI  - Assessment of Procedural Pain in Children Using Analgesia Nociception Index: A
      Pilot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI), based on heart rate (HR)
      variability analysis, is known to decrease after a painful stimulus during
      surgery under general anesthesia in adults. It is measured continuously and
      noninvasively. We studied ANI response to procedural pain in a pediatric
      population and ANI measurement's feasibility in this context, across age.
      METHODS: A prospective, noninterventional pilot study was performed. All children
      (between 6 mo and under 18 y) undergoing muscle biopsy conducted under analgesia
      and light sedation were included. Medical staff was blind to the ANI monitor. HR
      and ANI were recorded and analyzed during 2 periods: T1 before incision and T2
      after incision. Pain was assessed by the FLACC scale at T2. We observed ANI and
      HR variations after incision. ANI, HR, and FLACC were compared between children
      younger or older than 6 years. Enrollment or technical issues were reported.
      RESULTS: A total of 26 children were included (median age, 6 y; ranging from 6 mo
      to 16 y; 16 male). ANI decreased from T1 to T2. HR, ANI, or FLACC values were not
      different in children younger or older than 6 years. No parents or children
      refused to take part in the study. No technical issues was reported. DISCUSSION:
      In this pilot study, ANI measurement seems relevant in pediatric procedural pain,
      across age. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

PMID- 26889619
TI  - The Association Between Chronic Pain and Cardiac Disease: A Cross-sectional
      Population Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain may increase the risk of cardiac disease, but the extent
      to which confounding variables account for this association has yet to be
      satisfactorily established. This study aims to examine the possibility of an
      independent association between these 2 variables. METHODS: We applied logistic
      regression analysis to data from 8596 adults surveyed in a population study of
      the health of the population of England. The association between cardiac disease
      (angina and/or myocardial infarction) and chronic pain (pain lasting >3 months)
      was explored, taking account of 10 potentially confounding variables including
      the regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. RESULTS: Participants
      reporting chronic pain (n=3023) were more likely to experience cardiac disease
      than those without pain: odds ratio (OR), 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI),
      1.15-2.07. Subsets of participants fulfilling various criteria for high-intensity
      chronic pain demonstrated stronger associations with cardiac disease suggesting a
      "dose-response" element to the relationship: chronic widespread pain (OR, 3.3;
      95% CI, 1.42-7.68); higher-disability chronic pain (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.71-3.23);
      and higher average chronic pain score (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.40-2.71). Adjustment
      for regular prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not reduce
      the association of chronic pain with cardiac disease. DISCUSSION: Patients
      reporting chronic pain, in particular those most severely affected, may be at
      significantly increased risk of cardiac disease. Future studies should focus on
      determining whether reducing the impact of chronic pain can improve cardiac
      health.

PMID- 26889621
TI  - Quadriceps Muscle Strength Correlates With Serum Vitamin D and Knee Pain in Knee
      Osteoarthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Quadriceps muscle weakness and vitamin D deficiency are associated
      with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed to investigate the relationship
      between quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and vitamin D in KOA. METHODS: Patients
      with KOA aged 40 years and above were studied. QMS was assessed by the
      dynanometry method and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) by the ELISA method.
      Serum 25-OHD<20 ng/mL was considered as a deficiency. The intensity of knee pain
      was determined by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis
      Index Pain Scale. The Pearson test was used for correlation analysis between QMS
      and serum 25-OHD as well as knee pain. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients (female,
      80%) with a mean age of 49.6+/-11.7 years were studied. QMS was correlated
      positively with serum 25-OHD (r=0.304, r=9.24%, P=0.005) and negatively with knee
      pain (r=-0.232, r=5.3%, P=0.034). After adjustment for age, sex, and body mass
      index, the positive correlation increased to a higher level (r=0.496, r=24.9%,
      P=0.01). For each 1 ng/mL increase in serum 25-OHD, the value of QMS increased by
      14.2%+/-3.5% (P=0.014). There was no significant correlation between serum 25-OHD
      and knee pain (P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated a significant
      correlation between QMS with both serum vitamin D and knee pain, indicating a
      confounding role for quadriceps muscle in the association between serum vitamin D
      and osteoarthritis knee pain. On the basis of the findings of this study, vitamin
      D supplementation may affect pain by strengthening quadriceps muscle in KOA.

PMID- 26889622
TI  - Assessing Pain Anxiety in Adolescents: Further Evidence for the Utility of the
      Child Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Emotional responses to pain are known to play an important role in
      the development and maintenance of pain. To better understand the role that pain
      anxiety plays in chronic pain, as well as to evaluate treatments that might treat
      it effectively, reliable and valid measures of pain anxiety are needed. Thus, the
      aim of this study was to provide additional evidence regarding the psychometric
      properties of the Child Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS) in a sample of
      adolescents. METHODS: A total of 357 adolescents ages 12 to 19 years completed
      measures of pain anxiety (CPASS), pain-related catastrophizing (PCS-C), anxiety
      sensitivity (CASI), and sleep quality (NRS-Sleep). We used confirmatory factor
      analyses to evaluate the factor structure of CPASS items. We also tested the
      reliability and the validity of CPASS scores. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor
      analyses suggested a 4-factor structure with a single higher-order factor
      (CFI=0.91, TLI=0.95, RMSEA=0.078). The total score of CPASS showed good internal
      consistency (alpha=0.87) and adequate validity as evidenced by (1) moderate to
      high correlations between CPASS-PCS-C (r=0.74, P<0.001) and CPASS-CASI (r=0.48,
      P<0.001) and (2) the magnitude of the correlations between CPASS-PCS-C and CPASS
      CASI being significantly greater than that between CPASS and NRS-Sleep (z=14.70
      and 8.96, respectively; P<0.001). DISCUSSION: The findings support the
      reliability and the validity of CPASS as a measure of pain-related anxiety in
      adolescents.

PMID- 26889620
TI  - Affect and Low Back Pain: More to Consider Than the Influence of Negative Affect
      Alone.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Affect balance style, a measure of trait positive affect (PA) and
      negative affect (NA), is predictive of pain and functioning in fibromyalgia and
      healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution
      of affect balance styles and the relationship between these styles and clinical
      factors in low back pain. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with
      low back pain (N=443) completed questionnaires and were categorized as having 1
      of 4 distinct affect balance styles: Healthy (high levels of PA and low levels of
      NA), Low (low PA/low NA), Reactive (high PA/high NA), and Depressive (low PA/high
      NA). Comparisons between groups were made in regard to pain, functioning, and
      psychiatric comorbidity. RESULTS: High NA was observed in 63% (n=281), whereas
      low PA was present in 81% (n=359). We found that having a Depressive style was
      associated with greater pain severity, increased odds for comorbid fibromyalgia,
      and worse functioning compared with having a Healthy or Low style. Yet, those
      with a Low style were at increased risk for depression compared with a Healthy
      style, whereas patients with a Reactive style had similar levels of pain,
      functioning, and depression as those with a Healthy affective style. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our study revealed that there are important differences between trait affect
      balance styles in regard to pain, mood, and functioning in low back pain.
      Findings related to Reactive and Low affective styles suggest that relationships
      between affect, pain, and disability in low back pain extend beyond considering
      NA alone.

PMID- 26889623
TI  - Does Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjuvant of Local Anesthetics Facilitate Better
      Effect of Perineural Nerve Blocks?: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled
      Trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulfate as an
      adjuvant of local anesthetics in perineural nerve blocks. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Randomized controlled trials studying the effect and safety of magnesium sulfate
      in perineural nerve blocks were retrieved from online databases. The mean
      difference (MD), risk ratio, and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals
      (CIs) were calculated using RevMan 5.3 statistical software. RESULTS: Seven
      trials evaluating 493 patients were included. The pooled results from our meta
      analysis showed that a combination of magnesium sulfate and local anesthetics in
      nerve blocks could result in longer postoperative duration time of analgesia
      (MD=124.66; 95% CI, 65.09-184.23; P<0.0001), longer duration time of sensory
      (MD=106.69; 95% CI, 60.93-152.45; P<0.00001) and motor block (MD=89.95; 95% CI,
      50.89-129.00; P<0.0001). In addition, magnesium sulfate in nerve blocks was also
      associated with significantly quick onset of motor block (MD=-1.17; 95% CI, -1.73
      to -0.60; P<0.0001). For onset time of sensory block, number of patients
      requiring supplementary analgesics, and incidence of postoperative nausea and
      vomiting, no statistically differences were observed between the 2 groups.
      DISCUSSION: The present study suggests that combined magnesium sulfate and local
      anesthetics in perineural nerve blocks provided better analgesic efficacy. For it
      prolongs the postoperative duration time of analgesia, sensory and motor block
      without increasing the short-term side effects. Magnesium sulfate may be a
      promising analgesic for perineural nerve blocks, but further studies are required
      to validate our results.

PMID- 26889624
TI  - Implant Vertical Fractures Provoked by Laboratory Procedures: A Finite Element
      Analysis Inspired from Clinical Cases.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the causes for internal implant fractures, which is
      suggested to be one of the reasons for marginal bone loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      From a 14-year database of 6051 implants, 10 single implant vertical fractures
      were identified and the abutments were all castable abutments. The abutments
      presented contamination and irregularities at the internal connecting areas. The
      hypothesis was that perfect fit was disturbed by laboratory polishing procedures,
      and finite element analysis (FEA) using overcorrected and undercorrected castable
      abutment models were created and tested against a perfect fit model. RESULTS: The
      results from the FEA presented that both overcorrected and undercorrected models
      presented nonuniform excessive plastic strain distribution in the neck portion of
      the implants where clinically an implant fracture was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The
      results suggested that laboratory procedures could induce plastic strain of the
      implant-abutment complex, which increases the risk of fracture.

PMID- 26889625
TI  - Trends in Liver Transplantation in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Persons, United
      States.

PMID- 26889626
TI  - Towards a revised Spetzler-Martin arteriovenous malformation grading scale:
      redefining the "eloquent brain areas".

PMID- 26889628
TI  - Risk factors and sources of foodborne hepatitis E virus infection in the United
      States.
AB  - Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important human pathogen with pigs and other
      species serving as natural animal reservoirs. Ample evidence documents sporadic
      cases of hepatitis E acquired via consumption of undercooked meat. Chronic
      hepatitis E cases in immunosuppressed individuals are mostly caused by zoonotic
      HEV of swine origin. We report here the identification of genotype 3 HEV from non
      liver commercial pork from local grocery stores in southwest Virginia, and
      association of HEV seropositivity to the consumption of undercooked meat in
      healthy young adults at a university in the United States. These results raise
      concerns about foodborne HEV transmission in the United States. J. Med. Virol.
      88:1641-1645, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26889627
TI  - Perioperative dexmedetomidine for acute pain after abdominal surgery in adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute postoperative pain is still an issue in patients undergoing
      abdominal surgery. Postoperative pain and side effects of analgesic treatment, in
      particular those of opioids, need to be minimized. Opioid-sparing analgesics,
      possibly including dexmedetomidine, seem a promising avenue by which to improve
      postoperative outcomes. OBJECTIVES: Our primary aim was to determine the
      analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine for
      acute pain after abdominal surgery in adults.Secondary aims were to establish
      effects of dexmedetomidine on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV),
      gastrointestinal function and mobilization, together with the side effect profile
      of dexmedetomidine. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases: Cochrane
      Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Institute for Scientific
      Information (ISI), Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied
      Health Literature (CINAHL), and reference lists of articles to May 2014. We
      searched the Science Citation Index, ClinicalTrials.gov and Current Controlled
      Trials, and we contacted pharmaceutical companies to identify unpublished and
      ongoing studies. We applied no language restrictions. We reran the search in May
      2015 and found nine studies of interest. We will deal with the studies of
      interest when we update the review. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized,
      controlled trials of perioperative dexmedetomidine versus placebo or other drug
      during abdominal surgery in adults. Trials included one of the following
      outcomes: amount of 'rescue' opioid, postoperative pain, time to 'rescue'
      analgesia, participants requiring 'rescue' analgesia, postoperative sedation,
      PONV, time to first passage of flatus and stool or time to first out-of-bed
      mobilization. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently
      screened the titles and abstracts for eligibility. We retrieved full trial
      reports if necessary, and we extracted relevant data from the included studies
      using a data collection form and assessed risk of bias. We resolved disagreements
      by discussion with the third review author. We sought additional information of
      relevance for risk of bias assessment or extraction of data by contacting study
      authors or, if necessary, co-authors from present or former studies. MAIN
      RESULTS: Our systematic review included seven studies with a total of 492
      participants. We included 422 participants in our analysis. Thirteen studies are
      awaiting classification. For the comparison dexmedetomidine versus placebo (six
      studies, 402 participants), most studies found a reduction in 'rescue' opioid
      consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery, together with in general no
      clinically important differences in postoperative pain (visual analogue scale
      (VAS) 0 to 100 mm, where 0 = no pain and 100 = worst imaginable pain) in the
      first 24 hours after surgery - except for one study (80 participants) with a
      reduction in VAS pain at two hours after surgery in favour of dexmedetomidine,
      with a mean difference of -30.00 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) -38.25 to 
      21.75). As the result of substantial heterogeneity, pooling of data in
      statistical meta-analyses was not appropriate. The quality of evidence was very
      low for our primary outcomes because of imprecision of results and risk of bias.
      Regarding our secondary aims, evidence was too scant in general to allow robust
      conclusions, or the estimates too imprecise or of poor methodological quality.
      Regarding adverse effects, low quality data (one study, 80 participants) suggest
      that the proportion of participants with hypotension requiring intervention was
      slightly higher in the high-dose dexmedetomidine group with a risk ratio of 2.50
      (95% CI 0.94 to 6.66), but lower doses of dexmedetomidine led to no differences
      compared with control. Evidence for the comparison dexmedetomidine versus
      fentanyl was insufficient to permit robust conclusions (one study, 20
      participants). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine, when administered
      perioperatively for acute pain after abdominal surgery in adults, seemed to have
      some opioid-sparing effect together with in general no important differences in
      postoperative pain when compared with placebo. However the quality of the
      evidence was very low as the result of imprecision, methodological limitations
      and substantial heterogeneity among the seven included studies. The clinical
      importance for patients is uncertain, in as much as the influence of
      dexmedetomidine on patient-important outcomes such as gastrointestinal function,
      mobilization and adverse effects could not be satisfactorily determined. All
      included studies were relatively small, and publication bias could not be ruled
      out. Applicability of evidence was limited to middle-aged participants who were
      relatively free of co-morbidity and were undergoing elective abdominal surgery. A
      potential bias was a considerable quantity of unobtainable data from studies with
      mixed surgery. To detect and investigate patient-important outcomes, larger
      studies with longer periods of follow-up are needed.

PMID- 26889629
TI  - Quantitative STIR of muscle for monitoring nerve regeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess whether short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MRI sequences can
      provide a tool for monitoring peripheral nerve regeneration, by comparing signal
      intensity changes in reinnervated muscle over time, and to determine potential
      clinical time points for monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this prospective
      study, 29 patients with complete traumatic transection of the ulnar or median
      nerves in the forearm were followed up to 45 months postsurgery. Standardized 1.5
      Tesla STIR-MRI scans of hand muscles were obtained at fixed time intervals.
      Muscle signal intensities were measured semi-quantitatively and correlated to
      functional outcome. RESULTS: For the patients with good function recovery, mean
      signal intensity ratios of 1.179 +/- 0.039, 1.304 +/- 0.180, 1.154 +/- 0.121,
      1.105 +/- 0.046 and 1.038 +/- 0.047 were found at 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month
      follow-up, respectively. In the group with poor function recovery, ratios of
      1.240 +/- 0.069, 1.374 +/- 0.144, 1.407 +/- 0.127, 1.386 +/- 0.128 and 1.316 +/-
      0.116 were found. Comparing the groups showed significant differences from 6
      months onward (P < 0.001), with normalizing signal intensities in the group with
      good function recovery and sustained elevated signal intensity in the group with
      poor function recovery. CONCLUSION: MRI of muscle can be used as a tool for
      monitoring motor nerve regeneration, by comparing STIR muscle signal intensities
      over time. A decrease in signal intensity ratio of 50% (as compared to the
      initial increase) seems to predict good function recovery. Long-term follow-up
      shows that STIR MRI can be used for at least 15 months after nerve transection to
      differentiate between denervated and (re)innervated muscles. J. Magn. Reson.
      Imaging 2016;44:401-410.

PMID- 26889630
TI  - Reception of Communicative Functions of Prosody in Hypokinetic Dysarthria due to
      Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mapping adequacy of receptive prosodic abilities in speakers with
      hypokinetic dysarthria due to Parkinson's disease (PD) is useful, because therapy
      of disturbed production of prosody relies on adequate reception of prosody. There
      is evidence for a deficit of reception of emotional prosody in PD. OBJECTIVE: The
      present study aims at presenting a comprehensive picture of the reception of
      various communicative functions of prosody in hypokinetic dysarthria due to PD.
      METHODS: We assessed perception (using a discrimination task) and comprehension
      (using an identification task) of five communicative functions of Dutch prosody
      (lexical stress, boundary marking, focus, sentence mode, and emotional prosody)
      in a group of adults with hypokinetic dysarthria due to PD (n = 22) and a gender
      and age matched group of unimpaired adults (n = 22). We also investigated the
      relationship between age and global test score, and the effect of perception and
      comprehension subtest sequence on the global test score. RESULTS: Between groups,
      no significant differences in receptive prosodic abilities were found. Within
      both groups, the comprehension subtest was significantly more difficult than the
      perception subtest, and there was a significant negative correlation between age
      and global test score. No subtest sequence effect could be demonstrated.
      CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the older speakers with hypokinetic dysarthria due
      to PD had receptive prosodic skills inferior to those of the younger speakers,
      notwithstanding apparently intact cognition and hearing, the findings suggest
      that age is a factor to be reckoned with in prosody assessment and management in
      this population.

PMID- 26889631
TI  - Profile of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: Surgical Candidates
      Compared to Controls.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) improves motor
      symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor complications of dopaminergic
      treatment. Whether STN-DBS should be considered when PD patients experience
      neuropsychiatric symptoms is controversial. Lack of systematic behavioral
      evaluation at baseline hampers the understanding of postoperative
      neuropsychiatric outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study compares the behavioral profile
      of a surgical population to that in general PD. METHODS: Single center data from
      234 PD surgical candidates were compared to data from 260 non-demented PD
      patients consulting in 13 PD expert centers at different stages of disease. The
      latter were considered representative of the general PD population.
      Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Ardouin Scale of Behavior in
      PD, a guided interview quantifying changes in severity of 21 neuropsychiatric
      symptoms, classified into psychic non-motor fluctuations, hypo- and
      hyperdopaminergic behaviors. Multivariate analyses were performed to study
      differences in behavioral items between the two groups. RESULTS: Surgical
      candidates were younger, had longer disease duration and used significantly
      higher doses of dopaminergic drugs. After adjustment for covariates, dopaminergic
      addiction (OR 10.83; p = 0.002), nocturnal hyperactivity (OR 1.87; p = 0.04),
      excessive hobbyism (OR 2.37; p = 0.008), "excess in motivation" (OR 4.02; p < 
      .001), psychic OFF (2.87; p < 0.001) and psychic ON (2.10; p = 0.001)
      fluctuations were more frequent in the surgical candidates. Depressed mood
      prevailed in the general PD population (OR 0.53; p = 0.045). CONCLUSION:
      Behavioral complications of dopaminergic treatment are frequent in PD patients
      candidates for STN-DBS. They cannot be considered as contraindications for STN
      DBS but must be taken into account in postoperative management.

PMID- 26889632
TI  - Safinamide as Add-On Therapy to Levodopa in Mid- to Late-Stage Parkinson's
      Disease Fluctuating Patients: Post hoc Analyses of Studies 016 and SETTLE.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Studies 016 and SETTLE showed that safinamide was safe and effective
      as adjunct therapy in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor
      fluctuations. The addition of safinamide to a stable dose of levodopa alone or
      with other antiparkinsonian medications significantly increased ON time with
      no/non-troublesome dyskinesia, decreased OFF time and improved Parkinson's
      symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of safinamide 100 mg/day on
      motor fluctuations and cardinal Parkinson's symptoms in specific patient
      subgroups using pooled data from Studies 016 and SETTLE. METHODS: Both studies
      were double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, phase 3 trials which enrolled
      patients with mid- to late-stage PD experiencing motor fluctuations while
      receiving optimized and stable doses of levodopa, alone or with other
      dopaminergic treatments. The present post-hoc analyses assessed the change from
      baseline in ON time (with no or non-troublesome dyskinesia) and OFF time in
      subgroups of patients who were receiving only levodopa at baseline, who were
      classified as "mild fluctuators" (daily OFF time <=4 h), and who were receiving
      concomitant dopaminergic therapy, with or without amantadine, and the effects of
      safinamide versus placebo on individual cardinal PD symptoms during ON time.
      RESULTS: Safinamide significantly increased mean ON time (with no or non
      troublesome dyskinesia) and reduced mean OFF time when used as first adjunct
      therapy in levodopa-treated patients and patients with mild motor fluctuations.
      Mean daily ON time (with no or non-troublesome dyskinesia) and OFF time were
      favorably changed, compared with placebo, to similar extents regardless of
      whether patients were receiving concomitant dopamine agonists, catechol-O
      methyltransferase inhibitors and amantadine. Additionally, safinamide improved
      bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and gait. CONCLUSIONS: Safinamide was a safe and
      effective first adjunct therapy in levodopa-treated patients and improved 4/5
      cardinal symptoms of PD while providing benefits to mild and non-mild fluctuators
      and patients receiving other concomitant dopaminergic therapies.

PMID- 26889633
TI  - Improvement in Language Function Correlates with Gait Improvement in Drug-naive
      Parkinson's Disease Patients Taking Dopaminergic Medication.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dopaminergic drugs, the gold standard for motor symptoms, are known
      to affect cognitive function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. OBJECTIVE: We
      compared the effects of dopaminergic treatment on motor and cognitive function in
      drug-naive patients. METHODS: Dopaminergic medication (levodopa, dopamine
      agonist, selegiline) was given to 27 drug-naive PD patients and increased to a
      dose optimal for improved motor symptoms. Patients were tested prior to, and 4-7
      months after, drug initiation. Motor function was assessed using the Unified
      Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Cognitive function was assessed using
      both the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) and the
      Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (COGNISTAT-J). Improvements from
      baseline for both motor and cognitive assessment were compared. RESULTS: Mean
      score of all motor assessments (UPDRS total score of Parts II and III, and sub
      scores of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, gait, and postural instability) and
      certain cognitive assessments (MoCA-J total score and subscore of delayed recall)
      significantly improved with dopaminergic medication. Gait score improvement
      showed significant positive correlation with improvement in MoCA-J language
      domain and in language-comprehension subtests of COGNISTAT-J using Spearman's
      correlation coefficients. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed gait
      score improvement significantly correlated with improvements in the subtests of
      language-comprehension in COGNISTAT-J. CONCLUSION: There is correlated
      improvement in both gait and language function in de novo PD patients in response
      to dopaminergic drugs. Gait and language dysfunction in these patients may share
      a common pathophysiology linked to dopamine deficits.

PMID- 26889634
TI  - Investigation of Genetic Variants Associated with Alzheimer Disease in Parkinson
      Disease Cognition.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies have implicated
      multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and associated genes with
      Alzheimer disease. The role of these SNPs in cognitive impairment in Parkinson
      disease (PD) remains incompletely evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this
      study was to test alleles associated with risk of Alzheimer disease for
      association with cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: Two
      datasets with PD subjects accessed through the NIH database of Genotypes and
      Phenotypes contained both single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and mini
      mental state exam (MMSE) scores. Genetic data underwent rigorous quality control
      and we selected SNPs for genes associated with AD other than APOE. We constructed
      logistic regression and ordinal regression models, adjusted for sex, age at MMSE,
      and duration of PD, to assess the association between selected SNPs and MMSE
      score. RESULTS: In one dataset, PICALM rs3851179 was associated with cognitive
      impairment (MMSE <  24) in PD subjects > 70 years old (OR = 2.3; adjusted p-value
      = 0.017; n = 250) but not in PD subjects <= 70 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      finding suggests that PICALM rs3851179 could contribute to cognitive impairment
      in older patients with PD. It is important that future studies consider the
      interaction of age and genetic risk factors in the development of cognitive
      impairment in PD.

PMID- 26889635
TI  - Risk Factor Profile in Parkinson's Disease Subtype with REM Sleep Behavior
      Disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous large-scale studies have found diverse risk factors for
      Parkinson's disease (PD), including caffeine non-use, non-smoking, head injury,
      pesticide exposure, and family history. These studies assessed risk factors for
      PD overall; however, PD is a heterogeneous condition. One of the strongest
      identifiers of prognosis and disease subtype is the co-occurrence of rapid eye
      movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD).In previous studies, idiopathic RBD was
      associated with a different risk factor profile from PD and dementia with Lewy
      bodies, suggesting that the PD-RBD subtype may also have a different risk factor
      profile. OBJECTIVE: To define risk factors for PD in patients with or without
      associated RBD. METHODS: In a questionnaire, we assessed risk factors for PD,
      including demographic, medical, environmental, and lifestyle variables of 189 PD
      patients with or without associated polysomnography-confirmed RBD. The risk
      profile of patients with vs. without RBD was assessed with logistic regression,
      adjusting for age, sex, and disease duration. RESULTS: PD-RBD patients were more
      likely to have been a welder (OR = 3.11 (1.05-9.223), and to have been regular
      smokers (OR = 1.96 (1.04-3.68)). There were no differences in use of caffeine or
      alcohol, other occupations, pesticide exposure, rural living, or well water use.
      Patients with RBD had a higher prevalence of the combined family history of both
      dementia and parkinsonism (13.3% vs. 5.5% , OR = 3.28 (1.07-10.0). CONCLUSION:
      The RBD-specific subtype of PD may also have a different risk factor profile.

PMID- 26889636
TI  - Lille Apathy Rating Scale and MDS-UPDRS for Screening Apathy in Parkinson's
      Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Apathy is a syndrome characterized primarily by lack of motivation
      which may be associated with cognitive, affective and behavioral changes.
      Although the Lille Apathy Scale (LARS) has been extensively utilized in PD for
      detecting apathy and testing the effectiveness of specific therapeutic
      interventions, the highly variable cut-off values (between -11 and -22 points)
      ensures the applicability of the LARS degree of difficulty as a superb screening
      tool. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine more reliable threshold
      values based on the neuropsychiatric status of patients. METHODS: Depression was
      assessed utilizing the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and
      neurocognitive status by Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination. The presence of
      apathy was assessed by the proposed diagnostic criteria of Drijgers et al, and
      graded by both LARS and the 'Apathy' item of MDS-UPDRS. RESULTS: Based on
      multivariate regression analysis, we revealed the neurocognitive status, severity
      of depression, and also gender while applying dosage of dopamine agonists to
      determine the degree of patient apathy. Based on whether or not depression and
      neurocognitive disorders were indeed present, we established four different
      threshold values for the LARS: patients with normal cognition and without
      depression: -22.5; patients with normal cognition and with depression: -18.5;
      patients with NCD and without depression: -19.5; patients with NCD and with
      depression: -14.5. CONCLUSIONS: The LARS and the 'Apathy' item of MDS-UPDRS were
      confirmed to be potentially operational, beneficial and easy-to-assess
      instruments for detecting apathy syndrome in PD. However, there is no universal
      threshold value for the LARS suitable in all types of Parkinson's patients.

PMID- 26889637
TI  - Transcriptomic Profiling of Extracellular RNAs Present in Cerebrospinal Fluid
      Identifies Differentially Expressed Transcripts in Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder for
      which prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers are lacking. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      is an accessible body fluid that comes into direct contact with the central
      nervous system (CNS) and acts as a nuclease-free repository where RNA transcripts
      shed by brain tissues can reside for extended periods of time. OBJECTIVE: We
      studied the RNA species present in the CSF of PD patients to identify novel
      diagnostic biomarkers. METHODS: Small volumes of CSF from 27 PD patients and 30
      healthy age- and sex-matched controls were used for RNA extraction followed by
      next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq) using the Illumina platform. CSF contains a
      number of fragmented RNA species that were individually sequenced and analyzed.
      Comparing PD to control subjects, we observed a pool of dysregulated sequencing
      tags that were further analyzed and validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT
      PCR). RESULTS: A total of 201 differentially expressed sequencing tags (DETs),
      including 92 up-regulated and 109 down-regulated DETs were identified. We
      validated the following DETs by real time PCR in the patient samples: Dnmt1,
      Ezh2, CCR3, SSTR5,PTPRC, UBC, NDUFV2, BMP7, SCN9, SCN9 antisense (AC010127.3),
      and long noncoding RNAs AC079630 and UC001lva.4 (close to the LRRK2 gene locus),
      as potential PD biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: The CSF is a unique environment that
      contains many species of RNA. Our work demonstrates that CSF can potentially be
      used to identify biomarkers for the detection and tracking of disease progression
      and evaluation of therapeutic outcomes.

PMID- 26889638
TI  - Decoding Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis: The Role of Deregulated mRNA
      Translation.
AB  - Mutations in a number of genes cause rare familial forms of Parkinson's disease
      and provide profound insight into potential mechanisms governing disease
      pathogenesis. Recently, a role for translation and metabolism of mRNA has emerged
      in the development of various neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's
      disease (PD). In PD, preliminary evidence supports a role for aberrant
      translation in the disease process stemming from mutations in several genes.
      Translation control is central to maintaining organism homeostasis under variable
      environmental conditions and deregulation of this may predispose to certain
      stressors. Hypothetically, deregulated translation may be detrimental to neuronal
      viability in PD through the misexpression of a subset of transcripts or through
      the impact of excessive bulk translation on energy consumption and burden on
      protein homeostatic mechanisms. While compelling preliminary evidence exists to
      support a role for translation in PD, much more work is required to identify
      specific mechanisms linking altered translation to the disease process. 

PMID- 26889641
TI  - Photomultiplication photodetectors with P3HT:fullerene-free material as the
      active layers exhibiting a broad response.
AB  - A series of polymer photodetectors (PPDs) are fabricated based on P3HT as an
      electron donor and fullerene-free material DC-IDT2T as an electron acceptor. The
      only difference among these PPDs is the P3HT:DC-IDT2T doping weight ratios from 2
      : 1 to 150 : 1. The PPDs with P3HT:DC-IDT2T (100 : 1, w/w) as the active layers
      exhibit champion external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 28 000% and 4000%
      corresponding to 390 nm and 750 nm light illumination at -20 V bias,
      respectively. The photomultiplication (PM) phenomenon should be attributed to the
      enhanced hole tunneling injection due to the interfacial band bending, which is
      induced by the trapped electrons in DC-IDT2T near the Al cathode. The high EQE
      value in the long wavelength range is due to the effect of DC-IDT2T photon
      harvesting and exciton dissociation on the interfacial trap-assisted hole
      tunneling injection. Meanwhile, the PPDs with DC-IDT2T as the electron acceptor
      exhibit superior stability compared with the PPDs with PC71BM as the electron
      acceptor.

PMID- 26889639
TI  - On the formulation of environmental fugacity models and their numerical
      solutions.
AB  - Multimedia models based on chemical fugacity, solved numerically, play an
      important role in investigating and quantifying the environmental fate of
      chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants. These models have been used
      extensively in studying the local and global distribution of chemicals in the
      environment. The present study describes potential sources of error that may
      arise from the formulation and numerical solution of environmental fugacity
      models. The authors derive a general fugacity equation for the rate of change of
      mass in an arbitrary volume (e.g., an environmental phase). Deriving this general
      equation makes clear several assumptions that are often not articulated but can
      be important for successfully applying multimedia fugacity models. It shows that
      the homogeneity of fugacity and fugacity capacity in a volume (the homogeneity
      assumption) is fundamental to formulating discretized fugacity models. It also
      shows that when using the fugacity rather than mass as the state-variable,
      correction terms may be necessary to accommodate environmental factors such as
      varying phase temperatures and volume. Neglecting these can lead to conservation
      errors. The authors illustrate the manifestation of these errors using heuristic
      multimedia fugacity models. The authors also show that there are easily avoided
      errors that can arise in mass state-variable models if variables are not updated
      appropriately in the numerical integration scheme. Environ Toxicol Chem
      2016;35:2182-2191. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26889642
TI  - Radiotherapy for persistent malignant transformation from mature cystic teratoma
      of the ovary.
AB  - Malignant transformations of mature cystic teratomas (MCT) are extremely rare and
      most of them are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Therefore no effective
      postoperative treatment has been established. In this article, we report two
      cases in which radiotherapy was effective for SCC arising from MCT. Case 1 was a
      64-year-old woman with stage IIA of this tumor. After primary surgery,
      chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery were performed. She received
      radiotherapy for relapsed tumors, and has been well for 36 months since the
      initial diagnosis. Case 2 was a 37-year-old woman with stage IIB of this tumor.
      After primary debulking surgery, she received chemoradiotherapy for a residual
      tumor and has been well for 27 months since the surgery. Although there is no
      established therapy, radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy might have
      beneficial effects on this tumor, similarly to those on SCC from other tissue.

PMID- 26889643
TI  - Three cases of symmetrical nevus of Ota and a brief literature review.

PMID- 26889640
TI  - Psychotropic use and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with
      dementia in the USA.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the national prevalence of psychotropic use and
      association with neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with dementia. METHODS:
      Participants diagnosed with dementia (n = 414) in the Aging, Demographics, and
      Memory Study, a nationally representative survey of US adults >70 years old.
      Diagnosis was based on in-person clinical assessment and informant interview.
      Information collected included demographics, place of residence, 10-item
      Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and prescribed medications (antipsychotic,
      sedative-hypnotic, antidepressant, mood stabilizer). RESULTS: Of 414 participants
      with dementia, 41.4% were prescribed a psychotropic medication, including 84.0%
      of nursing home residents and 28.6% of community-dwellers. Of participants, 23.5%
      were prescribed an antidepressant. Compared with the total NPI score of those on
      no medication (4.5), those on antipsychotics and those on sedative-hypnotics had
      much higher scores (respectively: 12.6, p < 0.001; 11.8, p = 0.03), although
      those antidepressants did not (6.9, p = 0.15). A larger proportion of patients on
      antipsychotics exhibited psychosis and agitation compared with those on no
      medication, while those on antidepressants exhibited more depressive symptoms. In
      multivariable logistic regression that included dementia severity and nursing
      home residence, nursing home residence was the characteristic most strongly
      associated with psychotropic use (odds ratio ranging from 8.96 [p < 0.001] for
      antipsychotics to 15.59 [p < 0.001] for sedative-hypnotics). More intense
      psychotic symptoms and agitation were associated with antipsychotic use; more
      intense anxiety and agitation were associated with sedative-hypnotic use. More
      intense depression and apathy were not associated with antidepressant use.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative sample, 41.4% of patients were
      taking psychotropic medication. While associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms,
      nursing home residence was most strongly tied to use. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26889645
TI  - WiJ 2016 (March/April).

PMID- 26889644
TI  - Confirmed inguinal lymphogranuloma venereum genovar L2c in a man who had sex with
      men, Slovenia, 2015.
AB  - A laboratory-confirmed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) case in Slovenia was
      reported in 2015, in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative man presenting
      with inguinal lymphadenopathy. He reported unprotected insertive anal intercourse
      with two male partners in Croatia. Variant L2c of Chlamydia trachomatis was
      detected in clinical samples. Although the patient was eventually cured, the
      recommended treatment regimen with doxycycline had to be prolonged. 

PMID- 26889646
TI  - The 4S approach: a potential framework for supporting critical care nurses'
      patient assessment and interprofessional communication.

PMID- 26889652
TI  - A Strategy for Configuration of an Integrated Flexible Sulfur Cathode for High
      Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
AB  - Lithium-sulfur batteries are regarded as promising candidates for energy storage
      devices owing to their high theoretical energy density. The practical application
      is hindered, however, by low sulfur utilization and unsatisfactory capacity
      retention. Herein, we present a strategy for configuration of the sulfur cathode,
      which is composed of an integrated carbon/sulfur/carbon sandwich structure on
      polypropylene separator that is produced using the simple doctor-blade technique.
      The integrated electrode exhibits excellent flexibility and high mechanical
      strength. The upper and bottom carbon layers of the sandwich-structured electrode
      not only work as double current collectors, which effectively improve the
      conductivity of the electrode, but also serve as good barriers to suppress the
      diffusion of the polysulfide and buffer the volume expansion of the active
      materials, leading to suppression of the shuttle effect and low self-discharge
      behavior. 

PMID- 26889650
TI  - A comparative study of rhodopsin function in the great bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus
      nuchalis): Spectral tuning and light-activated kinetics.
AB  - Rhodopsin is the visual pigment responsible for initiating the phototransduction
      cascade in vertebrate rod photoreceptors. Although well-characterized in a few
      model systems, comparative studies of rhodopsin function, particularly for
      nonmammalian vertebrates are comparatively lacking. Bowerbirds are rare among
      passerines in possessing a key substitution, D83N, at a site that is otherwise
      highly conserved among G protein-coupled receptors. While this substitution is
      present in some dim-light adapted vertebrates, often accompanying another unusual
      substitution, A292S, its functional relevance in birds is uncertain. To
      investigate functional effects associated with these two substitutions, we use
      the rhodopsin gene from the great bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis) as a
      background for site-directed mutagenesis, in vitro expression and functional
      characterization. We also mutated these sites in two additional rhodopsins that
      do not naturally possess N83, chicken and bovine, for comparison. Both sites were
      found to contribute to spectral blue-shifts, but had opposing effects on kinetic
      rates. Substitutions at site 83 were found to primarily affect the kinetics of
      light-activated rhodopsin, while substitutions at site 292 had a larger impact on
      spectral tuning. The contribution of substitutions at site 83 to spectral tuning
      in particular depended on genetic background, but overall, the effects of
      substitutions were otherwise surprisingly additive, and the magnitudes of
      functional shifts were roughly similar across all three genetic backgrounds. By
      employing a comparative approach with multiple species, our study provides new
      insight into the joint impact of sites 83 and 292 on rhodopsin structure-function
      as well as their evolutionary significance for dim-light vision across
      vertebrates.

PMID- 26889653
TI  - Documentary analysis of risk-assessment and safety-planning policies and tools in
      a mental health context.
AB  - Despite the articulated need for policies and processes to guide risk assessment
      and safety planning, limited guidance exists on the processes or procedures to be
      used to develop such policies, and there is no body of research that examines the
      quality or content of the risk-management policies developed. The aim of the
      present study was to analyse the policies of risk and safety management used to
      guide mental health nursing practice in Ireland. A documentary analysis was
      performed on 123 documents received from 22 of the 23 directors of nursing
      contacted. Findings from the analysis revealed a wide variation in how risk, risk
      assessment, and risk management were defined. Emphasis within the risk
      documentation submitted was on risk related to self and others, with minimal
      attention paid to other types of risks. In addition, there was limited evidence
      of recovery-focused approaches to positive risk taking that involved service
      users and their families within the risk-related documentation. Many of the risk
      assessment tools had not been validated, and lacked consistency or guidance in
      relation to how they were to be used or applied. The tick-box approach and
      absence of space for commentary within documentation have the potential to impact
      severely on the quality of information collected and documented, and subsequent
      clinical decision-making. Managers, and those tasked with ensuring safety and
      quality, need to ensure that policies and processes are, where possible, informed
      by best evidence and are in line with national mental health policy on recovery. 

PMID- 26889654
TI  - Does plant apparency matter? Thirty years of data provide limited support but
      reveal clear patterns of the effects of plant chemistry on herbivores.
AB  - According to the plant-apparency hypothesis, apparent plants allocate resources
      to quantitative defenses that negatively affect generalist and specialist
      herbivores, while unapparent plants invest more in qualitative defenses that
      negatively affect nonadapted generalists. Although this hypothesis has provided a
      useful framework for understanding the evolution of plant chemical defense, there
      are many inconsistencies surrounding associated predictions, and it has been
      heavily criticized and deemed obsolete. We used a hierarchical Bayesian meta
      analysis model to test whether defenses from apparent and unapparent plants
      differ in their effects on herbivores. We collected a total of 225 effect sizes
      from 158 published papers in which the effects of plant chemistry on herbivore
      performance were reported. As predicted by the plant-apparency hypothesis, we
      found a prevalence of quantitative defenses in woody plants and qualitative
      defenses in herbaceous plants. However, the detrimental impacts of qualitative
      defenses were more effective against specialists than generalists, and the
      effects of chemical defenses did not significantly differ between specialists and
      generalists for woody or herbaceous plants. A striking pattern that emerged from
      our data was a pervasiveness of beneficial effects of secondary metabolites on
      herbivore performance, especially generalists. This pattern provides evidence
      that herbivores are evolving effective counteradaptations to putative plant
      defenses.

PMID- 26889651
TI  - International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The body of knowledge regarding rhinosinusitis(RS) continues to
      expand, with rapid growth in number of publications, yet substantial variability
      in the quality of those presentations. In an effort to both consolidate and
      critically appraise this information, rhinologic experts from around the world
      have produced the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology:
      Rhinosinusitis (ICAR:RS). METHODS: Evidence-based reviews with
      recommendations(EBRRs) were developed for scores of topics, using previously
      reported methodology. Where existing evidence was insufficient for an EBRR, an
      evidence-based review (EBR)was produced. The sections were then synthesized and
      the entire manuscript was then reviewed by all authors for consensus. RESULTS:
      The resulting ICAR:RS document addresses multiple topics in RS, including acute
      RS (ARS), chronic RS (CRS)with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP),
      recurrent acute RS (RARS), acute exacerbation of CRS (AECRS), and pediatric RS.
      CONCLUSION: As a critical review of the RS literature, ICAR:RS provides a
      thorough review of pathophysiology and evidence-based recommendations for medical
      and surgical treatment. It also demonstrates the significant gaps in our
      understanding of the pathophysiology and optimal management of RS. Too often the
      foundation upon which these recommendations are based is comprised of lower level
      evidence. It is our hope that this summary of the evidence in RS will point out
      where additional research efforts may be directed.

PMID- 26889656
TI  - The expression dynamics of mechanosensitive genes in extra-embryonic vasculature
      after heart starts to beat in chick embryo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fluid flow plays an important role in vascular development. However,
      the detailed mechanisms, particularly the link between flow and modulation of
      gene expression during vascular development, remain unexplored. In chick embryo,
      the key events of vascular development from initiation of heart beat to
      establishment of effective blood flow occur between the stages HH10 and HH13.
      Therefore, we propose a novel in vivo model to study the flow experienced by
      developing endothelium. OBJECTIVE: Using this model, we aimed to capture the
      transcriptome dynamics of the pre- and post-flow conditions. METHODS: RNA was
      isolated from extra embryonic area vasculosa (EE-AV) pooled from three chick
      embryos between HH10-HH13 and RNA sequencing was performed. RESULTS: The whole
      transcriptome sequencing of chick identified up-regulation of some of the
      previously well-known mechanosensitive genes including NFR2, HAND1, CTGF and KDR.
      GO analyses of the up-regulated genes revealed enrichment of several biological
      processes including heart development, extracellular matrix organization, cell
      matrix adhesion, cell migration, blood vessel development, patterning of blood
      vessels, collagen fibril organization. Genes encoding for gap junctions proteins
      which are involved in vascular remodeling and arterial-venous differentiation,
      and genes involved in cell-cell adhesion, and ECM interactions were significantly
      up-regulated. Validation of selected genes through semi quantitative PCR was
      performed. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that shear stress plays a major role
      in development. Through appropriate validation, this platform can serve as an in
      vivo model to study conditions of disturbed flow in pathology as well as normal
      flow during development.

PMID- 26889655
TI  - Protective effects of drag-reducing polymers in a rat model of monocrotaline
      induced pulmonary hypertension.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) are blood-soluble macromolecules which
      may increase blood flow and reduce vascular resistance. The purpose of the
      present study was to observe the effect of DRPs on monocrotaline-induced
      pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the rat model. METHODS: A total of 64 male Wistar
      rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (pulmonary hypertension
      model + DRP treatment); Group II (pulmonary hypertension model + saline
      treatment); Group III (control + DRP treatment); Group IV (control + saline
      treatment). After five weeks, comparisons were made of the following indices:
      survival rate, body weight, blood pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure,
      right ventricular hypertrophy, wall thickness of pulmonary arteries, the internal
      diameter of small pulmonary arteries, plasma IL-1beta and IL-6. RESULTS: The
      survival rate after 5 weeks varied significantly across all groups (P=0.013), but
      the survival rates of Groups I and II were not statistically significantly
      different. Administration of DRP (intravenous injection twice weekly) attenuated
      the PH-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure and suppressed the
      increases in right ventricular (RV) weight and the ratio of right ventricular
      weight to left ventricle plus septum weight (RV/LV + S). DRP treatment also
      significantly decreased the wall thickness of pulmonary arteries, augmented the
      internal diameter of small pulmonary arteries, and suppressed increases in the
      plasma levels of IL-1beta and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: DRP treatment with intravenous
      injection effectively inhibited the development of monocrotaline-induced
      pulmonary hypertension in the rat model. DRPs may have potential application for
      the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

PMID- 26889657
TI  - Biotransformation of three phosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in primary
      human hepatocytes: untargeted metabolite screening and quantitative assessment.
AB  - Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and tris(1
      chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) are current high-volume organophosphate flame
      retardants/plasticizers (PFRs) and are abundant in the indoor environment. While
      recent in vitro research has indicated potential toxic effects in the endocrine
      system, biotransformation of these compounds is still underexplored. In this
      study, we aimed to characterize the metabolite formation for three PFRs in
      primary human hepatocytes, an in vitro system that mimics in vivo liver
      metabolism more closely than hepatic subcellular fractions or cell lines.
      Cryopreserved human hepatocytes were thawed and suspended in media with 50 MUm
      TBOEP or TCIPP, or 20 MUm TPHP up to 2 h. Extracts were analyzed by liquid
      chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. Quantification of
      biotransformation products in hepatocytes exposed for 2 h revealed that bis(1
      chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and diphenyl phosphate corresponded to less than half
      of the depletion of TCIPP and TPHP, respectively, while bis(2-butoxyethyl) 2
      hydroxyethyl phosphate compared to 40-66% of the depletion of TBOEP. Other
      metabolite structures of these PFRs were produced at 4- to 10-fold lower rates.
      These findings help interpret biological levels of the major metabolites and
      relate it to levels of their parent PFR. Percentage of substrate depletion was
      largest for TBOEP followed by comparable values for TPHP and TCIPP, indicating
      that hepatic clearance of TPHP and TCIPP would be slower than that of TBOEP. The
      resulting higher levels and longer presence of TPHP in the circulation after
      exposure, would allow TPHP a larger time window to exert its suspected adverse
      effects compared to TBOEP. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26889659
TI  - Novel strategies for molecular targeting to cancer.
AB  - This editorial draws attention to the work published by CEPP in 2014-2015 on
      mechanisms underlying cancer drug resistance, invasion and metastasis. Genetic,
      genomic and immunological changes in platinum drug resistance and new drug
      candidates for cancer metastasis are highlighted. Attention is paid to the
      Epimedium plant drug icariin in glioblastoma invasion, the plant Avicennia marina
      bioactive compound Naphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione in breast cancer metastasis, the
      PI3K inhibitor BEZ235 in colon cancer stem cells, the histone methyltransferase
      EZH1 inhibitor GSK343 in cervical cancer, and vitamin D3 in prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26889658
TI  - alpha-Ketobenzothiazole Serine Protease Inhibitors of Aberrant HGF/c-MET and
      MSP/RON Kinase Pathway Signaling in Cancer.
AB  - Upregulation of the HGF and MSP growth-factor processing serine endopeptidases
      HGFA, matriptase and hepsin is correlated with increased metastasis in multiple
      tumor types driven by c-MET or RON kinase signaling. We rationally designed P1'
      alpha-ketobenzothiazole mechanism-based inhibitors of these proteases. Structure
      activity studies are presented, which resulted in the identification of potent
      inhibitors with differential selectivity. The tetrapeptide inhibitors span the P1
      P1' substrate cleavage site via a P1' amide linker off the benzothiazole,
      occupying the S3' pocket. Optimized inhibitors display sub-nanomolar enzyme
      inhibition against one, two, or all three of HGFA, matriptase, and hepsin.
      Several compounds also have good selectivity against the related trypsin-like
      proteases, thrombin and Factor Xa. Finally, we show that inhibitors block the
      fibroblast (HGF)-mediated migration of invasive DU145 prostate cancer cells. In
      addition to prostate cancer, breast, colon, lung, pancreas, gliomas, and multiple
      myeloma tumors all depend on HGF and MSP for tumor survival and progression.
      Therefore, these unique inhibitors have potential as new therapeutics for a
      diverse set of tumor types.

PMID- 26889660
TI  - Renal risk-benefit determinants of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in
      the remnant kidney rat model - hypertension, anaemia, inflammation and drug dose.
AB  - Clinical studies showed that high doses of recombinant human erythropoietin
      (rHuEPO) used to correct anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) hyporesponsive
      patients may lead to deleterious effects. The aim of this study was to analyze
      the effects of rHuEPO in doses usually used to correct CKD-anaemia (100, 200
      IU/kg body weight (BW) per week) and in higher doses used in the treatment of
      hyporesponsive patients (400, 600 IU/kg BW per week), focusing on renal damage,
      hypoxia, inflammation and fibrosis. Male Wistar rats with chronic renal failure
      (CRF) induced by 5/6 nephrectomy were treated with rHuEPO or with vehicle, over a
      3-week period. Haematological, biochemical and renal function analyses were
      performed. Kidney and liver mRNA levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and protein expression by Western blot and
      immunohistochemistry. Kidney histopathological evaluations were also performed.
      The CRF group developed anaemia, hypertension and a high score of renal
      histopathologic lesions. Correction of anaemia was achieved with all rHuEPO
      doses, with improvement in hypertension, renal function and renal lesions. In
      addition, the higher rHuEPO doses also improved inflammation. Blood pressure was
      reduced in all rHuEPO-treated groups, compared to the CRF group, but increased in
      a dose-dependent manner. The current study showed that rHuEPO treatment corrected
      anaemia and improved urinary albumin excretion, particularly at lower doses. In
      addition, it is suggested that a short-term treatment with high doses, used to
      overcome an episode of hyporesponsiveness to rHuEPO therapy, can present benefits
      by reducing inflammation, without worsening of renal lesions; however, the pro
      hypertensive effect should be considered, and carefully managed to avoid a
      negative cardiorenal impact. 

PMID- 26889661
TI  - Intercellular Connections Related to Cell-Cell Crosstalk Specifically Recognized
      by an Aptamer.
AB  - Intercellular connections are an important pathway for cell-cell crosstalk.
      However, their formation mechanism and functions are far from being understood.
      The lack of molecular probes hampers the research in this area. Herein, we report
      a kind of intercellular connection that is specifically recognized by aptamer
      M17A2 generated by cell-SELEX against MCF-7R cells. These connections have
      different morphologies, but have the same skeleton composed of F-actin. The long
      filamentous connections were identified to be tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), a
      recently discovered cell-cell communication route. These connections could be
      built not only between MCF-7R cells, but also from MCF-7R to other cells after co
      culture. Proteins could be transported between cells through these connections,
      suggesting their cell communication function. Aptamer M17A2 shows the potential
      to act as a new probe for investigating this kind of intercellular connection, as
      well as for studying cell-cell communication. 

PMID- 26889662
TI  - Zika Virus and Pregnancy: What Obstetric Health Care Providers Need to Know.
AB  - Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) species of
      mosquitoes. In May 2015, the World Health Organization confirmed the first local
      transmission of Zika virus in the Americas in Brazil. The virus has spread
      rapidly to other countries in the Americas; as of January 29, 2016, local
      transmission has been detected in at least 22 countries or territories, including
      the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Zika virus can
      infect pregnant women in all three trimesters. Although pregnant women do not
      appear to be more susceptible to or more severely affected by Zika virus
      infection, maternal-fetal transmission has been documented. Several pieces of
      evidence suggest that maternal Zika virus infection is associated with adverse
      neonatal outcomes, most notably microcephaly. Because of the number of countries
      and territories with local Zika virus transmission, it is likely that obstetric
      health care providers will care for pregnant women who live in or have traveled
      to an area of local Zika virus transmission. We review information on Zika virus,
      its clinical presentation, modes of transmission, laboratory testing, effects
      during pregnancy, and methods of prevention to assist obstetric health care
      providers in caring for pregnant women considering travel or with a history of
      travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission and pregnant women residing
      in areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. 

PMID- 26889664
TI  - Assessment of short-term variability in human spontaneous blink rate during video
      observation with or without head / chin support.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the variability of spontaneous blink rate (SBR)
      with and without a chin and forehead support. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy non
      contact lens wearers, aged from 20 to 39 years, had five-minute video recordings
      made under ambient lighting of 350 to 400 lux, while directing their gaze to a
      distant target at head height. Half the subjects (group 1) were seated resting
      against the chair head rest and the other half (group 2) seated but with chin and
      forehead at a slitlamp. The first 35 blinks were analysed in detail. RESULTS: As
      assessed over five minutes, 35 to 111 blinks were counted, with SBR between 6.9
      and 21.8 blinks per min (average 13.9 per min). Over the initial 35 blinks, the
      average momentary SBR values (calculated from the inter-blink intervals) averaged
      24.8 blinks per minute in group 1 and 19.3 blinks per minute in group 2 (not
      significantly different, p = 0.273) but a statistically significant (p < 0.001)
      decrease in SBR was observed over the initial 10 to 15 blinks in group 2. The
      variability in momentary SBR values, as assessed from successive blinks, had
      coefficient of variation (COV) values of 80 and 78 per cent, respectively over 35
      blinks. CONCLUSIONS: Averaged spontaneous blink rates over short time periods
      (that is, five minutes) should be suitable to compare various experimental
      paradigms but if very short periods are used (for example one minute or less),
      then there could be significant time-related changes, especially when a subject
      is seated with chin and forehead support.

PMID- 26889663
TI  - Far-Field Spectroscopy and Near-Field Optical Imaging of Coupled Plasmon-Phonon
      Polaritons in 2D van der Waals Heterostructures.
AB  - A new hybridized plasmon-phonon polariton mode in graphene/h-BN van der Waals
      heterostructures is presented, featuring the ultrahigh field confinement
      characteristic of the graphene plasmon and the long lifetime property of the h-BN
      transverse optical phonon. This enables an ultralong hybrid plasmon lifetime of
      up to 1.6 ps (with ultrahigh mode confinement up to >l0(2)/7000 and ultrasmall
      group velocity down to 0.001c, where c is the speed of light in vacuum), superior
      to any localized plasmon ever demonstrated.

PMID- 26889665
TI  - Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer
      Nanocomposites.
AB  - LCEs are shape-responsive materials with fully reversible shape change and
      potential applications in medicine, tissue engineering, artificial muscles, and
      as soft robots. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of shape-responsive liquid
      crystal elastomers (LCEs) and LCE nanocomposites along with characterization of
      their shape-responsiveness, mechanical properties, and microstructure. Two types
      of LCEs - polysiloxane-based and epoxy-based - are synthesized, aligned, and
      characterized. Polysiloxane-based LCEs are prepared through two crosslinking
      steps, the second under an applied load, resulting in monodomain LCEs.
      Polysiloxane LCE nanocomposites are prepared through the addition of conductive
      carbon black nanoparticles, both throughout the bulk of the LCE and to the LCE
      surface. Epoxy-based LCEs are prepared through a reversible esterification
      reaction. Epoxy-based LCEs are aligned through the application of a uniaxial load
      at elevated (160  degrees C) temperatures. Aligned LCEs and LCE nanocomposites
      are characterized with respect to reversible strain, mechanical stiffness, and
      liquid crystal ordering using a combination of imaging, two-dimensional X-ray
      diffraction measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic
      mechanical analysis. LCEs and LCE nanocomposites can be stimulated with heat
      and/or electrical potential to controllably generate strains in cell culture
      media, and we demonstrate the application of LCEs as shape-responsive substrates
      for cell culture using a custom-made apparatus. 

PMID- 26889667
TI  - Isolation of microsatellite loci and reliable genotyping using noninvasive
      samples of a critically endangered primate, Trachypithecus leucocephalus.
AB  - Genetic information can be critical in identifying conservation priorities and
      developing conservation strategies. There is an urgent need for noninvasive
      genetic tools to study the wild populations of Asian colobine monkeys. The
      majority of these species are threatened with habitat destruction, population
      reduction and even extinction, but generally lack information on their genetic
      diversity and population structure. Genetic sampling and tissue collection have
      been scarce in these species owing to strict regulations on manipulation of
      endangered species, and the difficulties and risks associated with capturing
      these arboreal and fast-moving monkeys in the challenging environments that they
      inhabit. These difficulties have hindered the development of molecular genetic
      markers, which are usually derived from tissues or blood. In this study, we
      present a method for de novo microsatellite isolation and genotyping using DNA
      from noninvasive origins of a critically endangered Asian colobine, the white
      headed langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus). Genomic DNA isolated from hair was
      shown to be sufficient for microsatellite enrichment and isolation, with similar
      isolation efficiencies as from tissue DNA. We identified and characterized 20
      polymorphic microsatellite loci, and evaluated their amplification success and
      genotyping reliability with 86 field-collected fecal samples. These results show
      that this panel of loci can produce reliable genotypes from fecal samples, and
      represent a useful tool for noninvasive investigation of genetic structure,
      individual identification and kinship assessment in this highly endangered
      species. Our approach can be applied to conservation genetic studies of other
      wild species that lack sequence information and tissue samples. 

PMID- 26889669
TI  - Debate surrounds state laws for Down syndrome fact sheets: Controversy revolves
      around whether states are attempting to intrude too much in the communication
      between patients and providers.

PMID- 26889666
TI  - Concise Review: Control of Cell Fate Through Cell Cycle and Pluripotency
      Networks.
AB  - Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) proliferate rapidly with a characteristic cell
      cycle structure consisting of short G1- and G2-gap phases. This applies broadly
      to PSCs of peri-implantation stage embryos, cultures of embryonic stem cells,
      induced pluripotent stem cells, and embryonal carcinoma cells. During the early
      stages of PSC differentiation however, cell division times increase as a
      consequence of cell cycle remodeling. Most notably, this is indicated by
      elongation of the G1-phase. Observations linking changes in the cell cycle with
      exit from pluripotency have raised questions about the role of cell cycle control
      in maintenance of the pluripotent state. Until recently however, this has been a
      difficult question to address because of limitations associated with experimental
      tools. Recent studies now show that pluripotency and cell cycle regulatory
      networks are intertwined and that cell cycle control mechanisms are an integral,
      mechanistic part of the PSC state. Studies in embryonal carcinoma, some 30 years
      ago, first suggested that pluripotent cells initiate differentiation when in the
      G1-phase. More recently, a molecular "priming" mechanism has been proposed to
      explain these observations in human embryonic stem cells. Complexity in this area
      has been increased by the realization that pluripotent cells exist in multiple
      developmental states and that in addition to each having their own characteristic
      gene expression and epigenetic signatures, they potentially have alternate modes
      of cell cycle regulation. This review will summarize current knowledge in these
      areas and will highlight important aspects of interconnections between the cell
      cycle, self-renewal, pluripotency, and cell fate decisions. Stem Cells
      2016;34:1427-1436.

PMID- 26889670
TI  - Noninvasive prenatal testing can detect gene deletions, duplications: Use of cell
      free fetal DNA for NIPT promising but not yet ready for clinical use.

PMID- 26889668
TI  - Selective association of electrocardiographic abnormalities with insulin
      sensitivity and beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We investigated the association of electrocardiographic (ECG)
      abnormalities with markers of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell
      dysfunction in a cross-sectional study of type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS:
      Electrocardiographic criteria were evaluated in the Penn Diabetes Heart Study
      participants (n = 1671; 64% male; 61% Caucasian), including a sub-sample (n =
      710) that underwent oral glucose tolerance testing. The Matsuda Insulin
      Sensitivity Index and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA
      IR) estimated insulin sensitivity; Insulinogenic Index and homeostasis model
      assessment of beta-cell function assessed beta-cell function. Multivariable
      regression modelling was used to analyse associations of ECG changes with these
      indices. RESULTS: In unadjusted analyses, subjects in the highest quartile of
      Matsuda index had the lowest prevalence of Q-waves (6.3% versus 15.3%, p =
      0.005). In adjusted models, an inverse association was seen between Q-waves and
      log Matsuda index [one standard deviation increase; OR = 0.59 (95% CI 0.43-0.87 p
      = 0.001)]. In the full Penn Diabetes Heart Study, there was a direct association
      between Q-waves and HOMA-IR [one standard deviation increase; OR = 1.43 (95% CI
      1.13-1.81, p = 0.003)]. In adjusted models, left ventricular hypertrophy also was
      inversely associated with Matsuda index and directly with HOMA-IR. Higher
      Insulinogenic Index scores were associated with a lower prevalence of nonspecific
      ST changes [OR = 0.78 (95% CI 0.62-0.98, p = 0.032)]. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2
      diabetic patients, both oral glucose tolerance testing-derived and HOMA-derived
      measures of insulin resistance were associated with pathologic Q-waves and left
      ventricular hypertrophy on ECGs. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26889671
TI  - Noninvasive prenatal testing spots Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

PMID- 26889674
TI  - Combining QMRA and Epidemiology to Estimate Campylobacteriosis Incidence.
AB  - The disease burden of pathogens as estimated by QMRA (quantitative microbial risk
      assessment) and EA (epidemiological analysis) often differs considerably. This is
      an unsatisfactory situation for policymakers and scientists. We explored methods
      to obtain a unified estimate using campylobacteriosis in the Netherlands as an
      example, where previous work resulted in estimates of 4.9 million (QMRA) and
      90,600 (EA) cases per year. Using the maximum likelihood approach and considering
      EA the gold standard, the QMRA model could produce the original EA estimate by
      adjusting mainly the dose-infection relationship. Considering QMRA the gold
      standard, the EA model could produce the original QMRA estimate by adjusting
      mainly the probability that a gastroenteritis case is caused by Campylobacter. A
      joint analysis of QMRA and EA data and models assuming identical outcomes, using
      a frequentist or Bayesian approach (using vague priors), resulted in estimates of
      102,000 or 123,000 campylobacteriosis cases per year, respectively. These were
      close to the original EA estimate, and this will be related to the dissimilarity
      in data availability. The Bayesian approach further showed that attenuating the
      condition of equal outcomes immediately resulted in very different estimates of
      the number of campylobacteriosis cases per year and that using more informative
      priors had little effect on the results. In conclusion, EA was dominant in
      estimating the burden of campylobacteriosis in the Netherlands. However, it must
      be noted that only statistical uncertainties were taken into account here. Taking
      all, usually difficult to quantify, uncertainties into account might lead to a
      different conclusion.

PMID- 26889673
TI  - Generating a taxonomy for genetic conditions relevant to reproductive planning.
AB  - As genome or exome sequencing (hereafter genome-scale sequencing) becomes more
      integrated into standard care, carrier testing is an important possible
      application. Carrier testing using genome-scale sequencing can identify a large
      number of conditions, but choosing which conditions/genes to evaluate as well as
      which results to disclose can be complicated. Carrier testing generally occurs in
      the context of reproductive decision-making and involves patient values in a way
      that other types of genetic testing may not. The Kaiser Permanente Clinical
      Sequencing Exploratory Research program is conducting a randomized clinical trial
      of preconception carrier testing that allows participants to select their
      preferences for results from among broad descriptive categories rather than
      selecting individual conditions. This paper describes (1) the criteria developed
      by the research team, the return of results committee (RORC), and stakeholders
      for defining the categories; (2) the process of refining the categories based on
      input from patient focus groups and validation through a patient survey; and (3)
      how the RORC then assigned specific gene-condition pairs to taxonomy categories
      being piloted in the trial. The development of four categories (serious,
      moderate/mild, unpredictable, late onset) for sharing results allows patients to
      select results based on their values without separately deciding their interest
      in knowing their carrier status for hundreds of conditions. A fifth category,
      lifespan limiting, was always shared. The lessons learned may be applicable in
      other results disclosure situations, such as incidental findings.

PMID- 26889675
TI  - The Interplay between Myc and CTP Synthase in Drosophila.
AB  - CTP synthase (CTPsyn) is essential for the biosynthesis of pyrimidine
      nucleotides. It has been shown that CTPsyn is incorporated into a novel
      cytoplasmic structure which has been termed the cytoophidium. Here, we report
      that Myc regulates cytoophidium formation during Drosophila oogenesis. We have
      found that Myc protein levels correlate with cytoophidium abundance in follicle
      epithelia. Reducing Myc levels results in cytoophidium loss and small nuclear
      size in follicle cells, while overexpression of Myc increases the length of
      cytoophidia and the nuclear size of follicle cells. Ectopic expression of Myc
      induces cytoophidium formation in late stage follicle cells. Furthermore, knock
      down of CTPsyn is sufficient to suppress the overgrowth phenotype induced by Myc
      overexpression, suggesting CTPsyn acts downstream of Myc and is required for Myc
      mediated cell size control. Taken together, our data suggest a functional link
      between Myc, a renowned oncogene, and the essential nucleotide biosynthetic
      enzyme CTPsyn. 

PMID- 26889676
TI  - The Responses of Medical General Practitioners to Unreasonable Patient Demand for
      Antibiotics--A Study of Medical Ethics Using Immersive Virtual Reality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dealing with insistent patient demand for antibiotics is an all too
      common part of a General Practitioner's daily routine. This study explores the
      extent to which portable Immersive Virtual Reality technology can help us gain an
      accurate understanding of the factors that influence a doctor's response to the
      ethical challenge underlying such tenacious requests for antibiotics (given the
      threat posed by growing anti-bacterial resistance worldwide). It also considers
      the potential of such technology to train doctors to face such dilemmas.
      EXPERIMENT: Twelve experienced GPs and nine trainees were confronted with an
      increasingly angry demand by a woman to prescribe antibiotics to her mother in
      the face of inconclusive evidence that such antibiotic prescription is necessary.
      The daughter and mother were virtual characters displayed in immersive virtual
      reality. The specific purposes of the study were twofold: first, whether
      experienced GPs would be more resistant to patient demands than the trainees, and
      second, to investigate whether medical doctors would take the virtual situation
      seriously. RESULTS: Eight out of the 9 trainees prescribed the antibiotics,
      whereas 7 out of the 12 GPs did so. On the basis of a Bayesian analysis, these
      results yield reasonable statistical evidence in favor of the notion that
      experienced GPs are more likely to withstand the pressure to prescribe
      antibiotics than trainee doctors, thus answering our first question positively.
      As for the second question, a post experience questionnaire assessing the
      participants' level of presence (together with participants' feedback and body
      language) suggested that overall participants did tend towards the illusion of
      being in the consultation room depicted in the virtual reality and that the
      virtual consultation taking place was really happening.

PMID- 26889677
TI  - Surveillance of the Sensitivity towards Antiparasitic Bath-Treatments in the
      Salmon Louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis).
AB  - The evolution of drug resistant parasitic sea lice is of major concern to the
      salmon farming industry worldwide and challenges sustainable growth of this
      enterprise. To assess current status and development of L. salmonis sensitivity
      towards different pesticides used for parasite control in Norwegian salmon
      farming, a national surveillance programme was implemented in 2013. The programme
      aims to summarize data on the use of different pesticides applied to control L.
      salmonis and to test L. salmonis sensitivity to different pesticides in farms
      along the Norwegian coast. Here we analyse two years of test-data from biological
      assays designed to detect sensitivity-levels towards the pesticides azamethiphos
      and deltamethrin, both among the most common pesticides used in bath-treatments
      of farmed salmon in Norway in later years. The focus of the analysis is on how
      different variables predict the binomial outcome of the bioassay tests, being
      whether L. salmonis are immobilized/die or survive pesticide exposure. We found
      that local kernel densities of bath treatments, along with a spatial geographic
      index of test-farm locations, were significant predictors of the binomial outcome
      of the tests. Furthermore, the probability of L. salmonis being immobilized/dead
      after test-exposure was reduced by odds-ratios of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.42-0.86) for
      2014 compared to 2013 and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.36-0.42) for low concentration compared
      to high concentration exposure. There were also significant but more marginal
      effects of parasite gender and developmental stage, and a relatively large random
      effect of test-farm. We conclude that the present data support an association
      between local intensities of bath treatments along the coast and the outcome of
      bioassay tests where salmon lice are exposed to azamethiphos or deltamethrin.
      Furthermore, there is a predictable structure of L. salmonis phenotypes along the
      coast in the data, characterized by high susceptibility to pesticides in the far
      north and far south, but low susceptibility in mid Norway. The study emphasizes
      the need to address local susceptibility to pesticides and the need for
      restrictive use of pesticides to preserve treatment efficacy. 

PMID- 26889678
TI  - The ABC of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Validated Glossary on how to Name Lesions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The precise clinical description of skin lesions observed in some
      patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be extremely difficult.
      OBJECTIVE: Establishing a validated glossary of terms allowing the best possible
      description of lesions observed in HS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five
      international experts of HS were to assess a series of 25 photos representing
      typical lesions of this disorder. For each photo, the experts were asked whether
      naming of the lesions was possible or not and, if yes, by using which noun.
      Agreement of their responses was calculated using Fleiss's kappa index. Using a
      Delphi strategy, photos with disagreement were discussed, and photos were
      reevaluated on the next day. In case of agreement on the impossibility of naming
      some clinical situations, new terms, to be included into the glossary, were
      agreed upon. RESULTS: After the first round of photos, agreement between the
      experts was poor with a kappa index of only 0.33 (95% CI 0.22-0.46). After
      extensive discussion of cases with disagreement, the kappa index increased on day
      2 to 0.75 (95% CI 0.60-0.87), allowing to conclude on good interobserver
      agreement on terminology. Furthermore, a few clinical situations were identified
      in which naming with established semantics is so far not possible. For these
      situations, the terms 'multicord', 'multipore', 'multitunnel' and 'retraction'
      were defined. DISCUSSION: This is the first validation of clinical terms used to
      describe lesions in patients with HS. This should be helpful in better defining
      the clinical phenotypes observed in this disorder.

PMID- 26889679
TI  - The Trypanosome Nuclear Pore Reveals 1.5 Billion Years of Similarities and
      Differences.

PMID- 26889681
TI  - Concepts of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Pathogenesis: DNA Damage Response and
      Tumor Microenvironment.
AB  - Pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by specific
      genetic aberrations and alterations of cellular signaling pathways. In
      particular, a disturbed DNA damage response (DDR) and an activated B-cell
      receptor signaling pathway play a major role in promoting CLL cell survival.
      External stimuli are similarly essential for CLL cell survival and lead to
      activation of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. Activation of nuclear factor-kappa
      B (NFkB) influences the disturbed anti-apoptotic balance of CLL cells. Losses or
      disabling mutations in TP53 and ATM are frequent events in chemotherapy-naive
      patients and are further enriched in chemotherapy-resistant patients. As these
      lesions define key regulatory elements of the DDR pathway, they also determine
      treatment response to genotoxic therapy. Novel therapeutic strategies therefore
      try to circumvent defective DDR signaling and to suppress the pro-survival
      stimuli received from the tumor microenvironment. With increasing knowledge on
      specific genetic alterations of CLL, we may be able to target CLL cells more
      efficiently even in the situation of mutated DDR pathways or protection by
      microenvironmental stimuli. 

PMID- 26889680
TI  - Analytical Performance of ELISA Assays in Urine: One More Bottleneck towards
      Biomarker Validation and Clinical Implementation.
AB  - ELISA is the main approach for the sensitive quantification of protein biomarkers
      in body fluids and is currently employed in clinical laboratories for the
      measurement of clinical markers. As such, it also constitutes the main
      methodological approach for biomarker validation and further qualification. For
      the latter, specific assay performance requirements have to be met, as described
      in respective guidelines of regulatory agencies. Even though many clinical ELISA
      assays in serum are regularly used, ELISA clinical applications in urine are
      significantly less. The scope of our study was to evaluate ELISA assay analytical
      performance in urine for a series of potential biomarkers for bladder cancer, as
      a first step towards their large scale clinical validation. Seven biomarkers
      (Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, Survivin, Slit homolog 2 protein,
      NRC-Interacting Factor 1, Histone 2B, Proteinase-3 and Profilin-1) previously
      described in the literature as having differential expression in bladder cancer
      were included in the study. A total of 11 commercially available ELISA tests for
      these markers were tested by standard curve analysis, assay reproducibility,
      linearity and spiking experiments. The results show disappointing performance
      with coefficients of variation>20% for the vast majority of the tests performed.
      Only 3 assays (for Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, Survivin and
      Slit homolog 2 protein) passed the accuracy thresholds and were found suitable
      for further application in marker quantification. These results collectively
      reflect the difficulties in developing urine-based ELISA assays of sufficient
      analytical performance for clinical application, presumably attributed to the
      urine matrix itself and/or presence of markers in various isoforms. 

PMID- 26889682
TI  - Malignant Potential of Gastrointestinal Cancers Assessed by Structural Equation
      Modeling.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parameters reported in pathologic reviews have been failing to assess
      exactly the malignant potential of gastrointestinal cancers. We hypothesized that
      malignant potential could be defined by common latent variables (hypothesis I),
      but there are substantial differences in the associations between malignant
      potential and pathologic parameters according to the origin of gastrointestinal
      cancers (hypothesis II). We shed light on these issues by structural equation
      modeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 217
      esophageal, 192 gastric, and 175 colorectal cancer patients who consecutively
      underwent curative surgery for their pathologic stage I cancers at Keiyukai
      Sapporo Hospital. Latent variables identified by factor analysis and seven
      conventional pathologic parameters were introduced in the structural equation
      modeling analysis. RESULTS: Because latent variables were disparate except for
      their number, 'three' in the examined gastrointestinal cancers, the first
      hypothesis was rejected. Because configural invariance across gastrointestinal
      cancers was not approved, the second hypothesis was verified. We could trace the
      three significant paths on the causal graph from latent variables to lymph node
      metastasis, which were mediated through depth, lymphatic invasion, and matrilysin
      expression in esophageal cancer, whereas only one significant path could be
      traced in both gastric and colorectal cancer. Two of the three latent variables
      were exogenous in esophageal cancer, whereas one factor was exogenous in the
      other gastrointestinal cancers. Cancer stemness promoted viability in esophageal
      cancer, but it was suppressed in others. CONCLUSION: These results reflect the
      malignant potential of esophageal cancer is higher than that of the other
      gastrointestinal cancers. Such information might contribute to refining clinical
      treatments for gastrointestinal cancers.

PMID- 26889684
TI  - Mentally simulating narrative perspective is not universal or necessary for
      language comprehension.
AB  - Readers differentially adopt an agent's perspective as a function of pronouns
      encountered during reading. The present study assessed the reliability of this
      effect across narrative contexts and self-reported variation in levels of
      engagement during reading. Experiment 1 used an extended sample (N = 263) and
      replicated an interactive influence of pronouns on perspectives adopted during
      reading simple action sentences (e.g., You are peeling the cucumber.), with You
      promoting an agent's perspective, and He promoting an onlooker's external
      perspective. The magnitude of this effect was partially accounted for by
      individual differences in the tendency to get actively engaged during reading.
      Specifically, readers who self-reported greater empathic engagement during
      reading also showed a higher likelihood to adopt an agent's perspective when
      sentences used the pronoun You or I. Experiment 2 (N = 217) examined whether
      these influences of pronouns and individual differences would emerge with
      relatively realistic, extended narratives; effects were generally less robust
      than with single sentence scenarios, though empathic engagement still predicted
      adopting an agent's perspective with the pronoun You or I. Furthermore, even in
      the absence of perspective modulation in response to pronouns, comprehension was
      maintained. These results demonstrate that differentially adopting perspectives
      as a function of pronouns is not universal or necessary for comprehension, but
      rather influenced by narrative context and individuals' propensity to find
      themselves immersed in described events. Results are considered within the
      framework of embodied cognition, representational pluralism, individual
      differences, and high-powered replication projects. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26889683
TI  - Beyond Knowledge and Awareness: Addressing Misconceptions in Ghana's Preparation
      towards an Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is not new to the world. However, the West
      African EVD epidemic which started in 2014 evolved into the largest, most severe
      and most complex outbreak in the history of the disease. The three most-affected
      countries faced enormous challenges in stopping the transmission and providing
      care for all patients. Although Ghana had not recorded any confirmed Ebola case,
      social factors have been reported to hinder efforts to control the outbreak in
      the three most affected countries. This qualitative study was designed to explore
      community knowledge and attitudes about Ebola and its transmission. METHODS: This
      study was carried out in five of the ten regions in Ghana. Twenty-five focus
      group discussions (N = 235) and 40 in-depth interviews were conducted across the
      five regions with community members, stakeholders and opinion leaders. The
      interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. Framework analysis
      was adopted in the analysis of the data using Nvivo 10. RESULTS: The results
      showed a high level of awareness and knowledge about Ebola. The study further
      showed that knowledge on how to identify suspected cases of Ebola was also high
      among respondents. However, there was a firm belief that Ebola was a spiritual
      condition and could also be transmitted through air, mosquito bites and
      houseflies. These misconceptions resulted in perceptions of stigma and
      discrimination towards people who may get Ebola or work with Ebola patients.
      CONCLUSION: We conclude that although knowledge and awareness about Ebola is high
      among Ghanaians who participated in the study, there are still misconceptions
      about the disease. The study recommends that health education on Ebola disease
      should move beyond creating awareness to targeting the identified misconceptions
      to improve future containment efforts.

PMID- 26889685
TI  - Logic brightens my day: Evidence for implicit sensitivity to logical validity.
AB  - A key assumption of dual process theory is that reasoning is an explicit,
      effortful, deliberative process. The present study offers evidence for an
      implicit, possibly intuitive component of reasoning. Participants were shown
      sentences embedded in logically valid or invalid arguments. Participants were not
      asked to reason but instead rated the sentences for liking (Experiment 1) and
      physical brightness (Experiments 2-3). Sentences that followed logically from
      preceding sentences were judged to be more likable and brighter. Two other
      factors thought to be linked to implicit processing-sentence believability and
      facial expression-had similar effects on liking and brightness ratings. The
      authors conclude that sensitivity to logical structure was implicit, occurring
      potentially automatically and outside of awareness. They discuss the results
      within a fluency misattribution framework and make reference to the literature on
      discourse comprehension. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26889686
TI  - Effects of morphology and semantic transparency on typing latencies in english
      compound and pseudocompound words.
AB  - We used a typing task to measure the written production of compounds,
      pseudocompounds, and monomorphemic words on a letter-by-letter basis to determine
      whether written production (as measured by interletter typing speed) was affected
      by morphemic structure and semantic transparency of the constituents. Semantic
      transparency was analyzed using a dichotomous classification (opaque vs.
      transparent) as well as participant ratings. Our results indicate that written
      production is sensitive to morphemic structure and to the semantic transparency
      of the first constituent. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26889688
TI  - Mass Spectrometry in Plant-omics.
AB  - Plant-omics is rapidly becoming an important field of study in the scientific
      community due to the urgent need to address many of the most important questions
      facing humanity today with regard to agriculture, medicine, biofuels,
      environmental decontamination, ecological sustainability, etc. High-performance
      mass spectrometry is a dominant tool for interrogating the metabolomes,
      peptidomes, and proteomes of a diversity of plant species under various
      conditions, revealing key insights into the functions and mechanisms of plant
      biochemistry. 

PMID- 26889689
TI  - Flexible resistive switching memory with a Ni/CuO x /Ni structure using an
      electrochemical deposition process.
AB  - Flexible resistive switching memory (ReRAM) devices were fabricated with a Ni/CuO
      x /Ni structure. Fabrication involved simple and low-cost electrochemical
      deposition of electrodes and resistive switching layers on a polyethylene
      terephthalate substrate. The devices exhibited reproducible and reliable ReRAM
      characteristics. Bipolar resistive switching was observed in flexible Ni/CuO x
      /Ni-based ReRAM devices with low operation voltages. The reliability of the
      devices was confirmed by data retention, endurance, and cyclic bending
      measurements. The processes for fabrication of flexible ReRAM devices were based
      on simple-solution, bottom-up growth and they can be performed at low
      temperatures. Therefore, the methods presented in this work could be a viable
      solution for fabricating flexible non-volatile memory devices in the future. 

PMID- 26889687
TI  - Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor
      Function.
AB  - Non-invasive electrical brain stimulation (NEBS) is used to modulate brain
      function and behavior, both for research and clinical purposes. In particular,
      NEBS can be applied transcranially either as direct current stimulation (tDCS) or
      alternating current stimulation (tACS). These stimulation types exert time-, dose
      and in the case of tDCS polarity-specific effects on motor function and skill
      learning in healthy subjects. Lately, tDCS has been used to augment the therapy
      of motor disabilities in patients with stroke or movement disorders. This article
      provides a step-by-step protocol for targeting the primary motor cortex with tDCS
      and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a specific form of tACS using
      an electrical current applied randomly within a pre-defined frequency range. The
      setup of two different stimulation montages is explained. In both montages the
      emitting electrode (the anode for tDCS) is placed on the primary motor cortex of
      interest. For unilateral motor cortex stimulation the receiving electrode is
      placed on the contralateral forehead while for bilateral motor cortex stimulation
      the receiving electrode is placed on the opposite primary motor cortex. The
      advantages and disadvantages of each montage for the modulation of cortical
      excitability and motor function including learning are discussed, as well as
      safety, tolerability and blinding aspects. 

PMID- 26889690
TI  - Development of cycling skills in 7- to 12-year-old children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Cycling is a complex skill consisting of motor skills such as
      pedalling, braking, and steering. Because the ability to perform cycling skills
      is based on the age-related development of the child, experience and age-related
      reference values are of interest in light of customized testing and training.
      METHODS: One hundred thirty-eight children from the second (7-8 years), fourth (9
      10 years), and sixth (11-12 years) grades performed a practical bicycle test
      consisting of 13 test items with specific points of interest. Moreover, age at
      onset of cycling, cycling to and from school, independent mobility, and minutes
      cycling per week were estimated using a parental questionnaire. RESULTS: It is
      found that cycling skills are strongly related to age with 11- to 12-year-old
      children outperforming 7- to 8-year-old children for 11 test items and 9- to 10
      year-old children for 8 test items. CONCLUSIONS: Next to age, age at onset of
      cycling also contributed to cycling skills. Therefore, our results suggest that
      cycling skills are associated with physical and mental maturation. Subsequently,
      age-related reference values are provided to customize testing and training.

PMID- 26889691
TI  - Short-term balance training with computer-based feedback in children with
      cerebral palsy: A feasibility and pilot randomized trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using short-term balance training with
      computer-based visual feedback (BTVF) and its effect on standing balance in
      children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). METHODS: Out of the
      fourteen children with BSCP (mean age = 10.31 years), seven children received
      four sessions of BTVF (two such sessions/day, each session = 15 min) in
      comparison to the control group that received standard care. Feasibility was
      measured as percentages of recruitment, retention and safety and balance was
      measured using a posturography machine as sway velocity (m/s) and velocity moment
      (m/s2) during quiet standing. RESULTS: No serious adverse events occurred in
      either group. There were no differences in the retention percentages and in any
      clinical outcome measure between both groups. CONCLUSION: Use of BTVF is feasible
      in children with BSCP but further investigation is required to estimate a dose
      effect relationship.

PMID- 26889693
TI  - Pan-proteomics, a concept for unifying quantitative proteome measurements when
      comparing closely-related bacterial strains.
AB  - The comparison of proteomes between genetically heterogeneous bacterial strains
      may offer valuable insights into physiological diversity and function,
      particularly where such variation aids in the survival and virulence of
      clinically-relevant strains. However, reports of such comparisons frequently fail
      to account for underlying genetic variance. As a consequence, the current
      knowledge regarding bacterial physiological diversity at the protein level may be
      incomplete or inaccurate. To address this, greater consideration must be given to
      the impact of genetic heterogeneity on proteome comparisons. This may be possible
      through the use of pan-proteomics, an analytical concept that permits the ability
      to qualitatively and quantitatively compare the proteomes of genetically
      heterogeneous organisms. Limited examples of this emerging technology highlight
      currently unmet analytical challenges. In this article we define pan-proteomics,
      where its value lies in microbiology, and discuss the technical considerations
      critical to its successful execution and potential future application. 

PMID- 26889692
TI  - Hexavalent chromium removal and bioelectricity generation by Ochrobactrum sp.
      YC211 under different oxygen conditions.
AB  - Bioremediation is an environmentally friendly method of reducing heavy metal
      concentration and toxicity. A chromium-reducing bacterial strain, isolated from
      the vicinity of an electroplate factory, was identified as Ochrobactrum sp.
      YC211. The efficiency and capacity per time of Ochrobactrum sp. YC211 for
      hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal under anaerobic conditions were superior to
      those under aerobic conditions. An acceptable removal efficiency (96.5 +/- 0.6%)
      corresponding to 30.2 +/- 0.8 mg-Cr (g-dry cell weight-h)(-1) was achieved by
      Ochrobactrum sp. YC211 at 300 mg L(-1) Cr(VI). A temperature of 30 degrees C and
      pH 7 were the optimal parameters for Cr(VI) removal. By examining reactivated
      cells, permeabilized cells, and cell-free extract, we determined that Cr(VI)
      removal by Ochrobactrum sp. YC211 under anaerobic conditions mainly occurred in
      the soluble fraction of the cell and can be regarded as an enzymatic reaction.
      The results also indicated that an Ochrobactrum sp. YC211 microbial fuel cell
      (MFC) with an anaerobic anode was considerably superior to that with an aerobic
      anode in bioelectricity generation and Cr(VI) removal. The maximum power density
      and Cr(VI) removal efficiency of the MFC were 445 +/- 3.2 mW m(-2) and 97.2 +/-
      0.3%, respectively. Additionally, the effects of coexisting ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+),
      Ni(2+), SO4(2-), and Cl(-)) in the anolyte on the MFC performance and Cr(VI)
      removal were nonsignificant (P > 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first
      report to compare Cr(VI) removal by different cells and MFC types under aerobic
      and anaerobic conditions.

PMID- 26889694
TI  - The role of B. pertussis vaccine antigen gene variants in pertussis resurgence
      and possible consequences for vaccine development.
AB  - Whooping cough, or pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis is considered
      resurgent in a number of countries world-wide, despite continued high level
      vaccine coverage. Among a number of causes for this that have been proposed, is
      the emergence of B. pertussis strains expressing variants of the antigens
      contained in acellular pertussis vaccines; i.e. the evolution of B. pertussis
      toward vaccine escape. This commentary highlights the contradictory nature of
      evidence for this but also discusses the importance of understanding the role of
      B. pertussis adaptation to vaccine-mediated immune selection pressures for
      vaccine-mediated pertussis control strategies.

PMID- 26889695
TI  - Effects of mechanical stresses on sperm function and fertilization rate in mice.
AB  - In this study, we investigated whether any of the observed changes in mouse sperm
      function tests secondary to mechanical stresses (centrifugation and pipetting)
      correlate with sperm fertilization ability. Chinese Kunming mice were used as
      sperm and oocyte donors. Sperm samples were allocated evenly into centrifugation,
      pipette, and control groups. Sperm plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial
      membrane permeability (MMP), baseline and stimulated intracellular ROS, and sperm
      fertilization ability were measured by hypo-osmotic swelling, flow cytometry, and
      fertilization tests. Parallel studies were conducted and all tests were repeated
      six times. Our results showed that after centrifugation, the progressive
      motility, average path velocity, and overall sperm motility and PMI decreased
      significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, the MMP level decreased significantly in
      viable sperm when the centrifugation condition reached 1,400 g * 15 minutes (p <
      0.05). When pipetting was performed two or more times, progressive motility,
      average path velocity, and overall sperm motility decreased significantly (p <
      0.05); when it was performed four or more times, sperm membrane integrity and
      intracellular basal ROS level of viable sperm was also significantly decreased (p
      < 0.05). In conclusion, various mechanical stresses seem to affect sperm
      function, however this does not appear to alter fertilization rate. Laboratory
      handling steps should be minimized to avoid unnecessary mechanical stresses being
      applied to sperm samples. 

PMID- 26889696
TI  - Function of B-cell lymphoma 6 in trophoblast cells.

PMID- 26889702
TI  - Intellectual property management in academic drug discovery: what are the
      challenges?

PMID- 26889697
TI  - The Swedish joint action method against drink driving-a study of suspected drink
      drivers' own experiences.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In Sweden, a joint action method called SMADIT is in use, where the
      police quickly offer help from the social services or the dependency care and
      treatment service to suspected drink drivers. The objective of this article is to
      analyze the experiences of suspected drink drivers who accepted the offer of help
      and what it meant for them. The knowledge can be used to improve procedures and
      consultations. Furthermore, it can allow the basic premises of the method to be
      examined; for example, the importance of offering help quickly. METHODS: To
      enable comparisons over time, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12
      suspected drink drivers on 2 occasions with 1 year between. RESULTS: To varying
      degrees the informants knew about their alcohol problems but were unsure whether
      they would have sought help by themselves. Therefore, the original ideas of the
      method with an initial contact with the social services or the dependency care
      and treatment service within 24 h was found to be important. However, the results
      also showed that some of the informants needed some time before the first meeting
      because they were in shock from the drink driving incident or in need of sleep.
      Therefore, the drink driver's situation and individual wishes always have to be
      considered. The article also shows that an encouraging attitude among the police,
      the social services, and the dependency care and treatment service is important
      for the success of the SMADIT method. The informants are satisfied with the
      method and in retrospect the incident and the SMADIT offer of help are described
      as a turning point in their lives. One year after being offered help the
      informants were no longer focused solely on the personal consequences of drink
      driving, as they were shortly after the incident. Instead, they had gained
      insights into the harm they could have done to other road users when they drove
      while drunk. CONCLUSIONS: One conclusion from this article is that SMADIT, as an
      innovative method that can be deployed more rapidly than other alcohol-impaired
      driving countermeasures, should be considered as a good complement to
      conventional methods to deal with drink driving. Based on the results, we
      recommend a trial of the joint action method against drink driving in other
      jurisdictions.

PMID- 26889698
TI  - Increase in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Incidence Is Accompanied by Changes in the
      Frequency of the BRAF V600E Mutation: A Single-Institution Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (TC) has one of the fastest increasing incidences
      worldwide and primarily involves papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The BRAF(V600E)
      mutation is the most common genetic alteration identified in PTC. There are few
      data concerning an association between the rising incidence of PTC and the
      increasing prevalence of BRAF-positive cases. Environmental factors such as
      iodine intake may be responsible for the changing molecular features of PTC. The
      aim of this study was to evaluate probable variations in the frequency of the
      BRAF(V600E) mutation in PTC that were diagnosed at a single institution over 14
      years in Poland, a country with a demonstrated improvement in iodine
      supplementation in the early 21st century. METHODS: Time-dependent trends in the
      prevalence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation during three time periods (2000-2004, 2005
      2009, and 2010-2013) were analyzed. The BRAF mutation was genotyped using direct
      sequencing, allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR in
      723 unselected cases of PTC that were diagnosed in 2000-2013. Trends in the
      clinicopathologic characteristics of all PTCs and BRAF(V600E)-positive PTCs were
      also analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of PTCs with mutations significantly
      increased over the study period (54.8% vs. 70.6%; p = 0.001). The median tumor
      size of all and BRAF-positive tumors decreased (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001,
      respectively) and correlated with an increase in the proportion of all and
      mutated microcarcinomas (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). A decrease in
      all and mutated tumors between 2 and 4 cm was also observed (p = 0.002 and p =
      0.006, respectively). A significant decrease in tumors >= 4 cm in size was only
      observed in BRAF-positive cases (p = 0.017). The proportion of classic PTC with
      BRAF(V600E) mutation was observed to increase (57.6% vs. 74.4%; p = 0.001) and
      was stable for the follicular variant of PTC (p = 0.336). CONCLUSIONS: The
      prevalence of the BRAF(V600E)mutation increased significantly in PTCs diagnosed
      in the authors' institution. Improved detection and several causative factors,
      most likely environmental and changes in iodine intake, may contribute to the
      increasing occurrence of TC.

PMID- 26889703
TI  - Potential pathogenicity of Aeromonas hydrophila complex strains isolated from
      clinical, food, and environmental sources.
AB  - Aeromonas are autochthonous inhabitants of aquatic environments, including
      chlorinated and polluted waters, although they can also be isolated from a wide
      variety of environmental and clinical sources. They cause infections in
      vertebrates and invertebrates and are considered to be an emerging pathogen in
      humans, producing intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. Most of the clinical
      isolates correspond to A. hydrophila, A. caviae, and A. veronii bv. Sobria, which
      are described as the causative agents of wound infections, septicaemia, and
      meningitis in immunocompromised people, and diarrhoea and dysenteric infections
      in the elderly and children. The pathogenic factors associated with Aeromonas are
      multifactorial and involve structural components, siderophores, quorum-sensing
      mechanisms, secretion systems, extracellular enzymes, and exotoxins. In this
      study, we analysed a representative number of clinical and environmental strains
      belonging to the A. hydrophila species complex to evaluate their potential
      pathogenicity. We thereby detected their enzymatic activities and antibiotic
      susceptibility pattern and the presence of virulence genes (aer, alt, ast, and
      ascV). The notably high prevalence of these virulence factors, even in
      environmental strains, indicated a potential pathogenic capacity. Additionally,
      we determined the adhesion capacity and cytopathic effects of this group of
      strains in Caco-2 cells. Most of the strains exhibited adherence and caused
      complete lysis. 

PMID- 26889704
TI  - Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Therapies in Combination with Substrate for the
      Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
AB  - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the
      western world, which severely decreases the quality of life in the patients and
      places an economic burden on their families and society. The disease is caused by
      the dysfunction of a specialized cell layer in the back of the eye called the
      retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Pluripotent stem cells can provide an
      unlimited source of RPE, and laboratories around the world are investigating
      their potential as therapies for AMD. To ensure the precise delivery of
      functional RPE to the diseased site, some groups are developing a therapy
      composed of mature RPE monolayers on a supportive scaffold for transplantation as
      an alternative to injecting a single-cell suspension. This review summarizes
      methods of generating RPE from pluripotent stem cells, compares biodegradable and
      biostable materials as scaffolds, and describes the specific combination of human
      embryonic stem cell-derived RPE on Parylene-C membranes, which is scheduled to
      begin clinical trials in the United Sates in 2016. Stem cell-derived RPE
      monolayers on scaffolds hold great promise for the treatment of AMD and other
      retinal diseases.

PMID- 26889706
TI  - Temperature-Responsive Switch Constructed from an Anthracene-Functionalized
      Pillar[5]arene-Based Host-Guest System.
AB  - A monofunctionalized anthracene pillar[5]arene (MAP5) was designed and
      synthesized by a click reaction. MAP5 was bound to an ionic liquid through host
      guest interactions to modify a gold interface. The bonding and release of MAP5
      was readily and reversibly controlled by temperature regulation. The developed
      temperature-responsive switch at an interface can be used in memory storage, drug
      delivery, and sensing. 

PMID- 26889705
TI  - Priming for tolerance and cohesion at replication forks.
AB  - Genome duplication is coupled with DNA damage tolerance (DDT) and chromatin
      structural changes. Recently we reported that mutations in Primase subunits or
      factors that bridge Polalpha/Primase with the replicative helicase, Ctf4, caused
      abnormal usage of DDT pathways, negatively influenced sister chromatid cohesion
      (SCC), and associated with increased fork reversal. (1) We also found that
      cohesin, which is paradigmatic for SCC, facilitates recombination-mediated DDT.
      However, only the recombination defects of cohesin, but not of cohesion-defective
      Polalpha/Primase/Ctf4 mutants, were rescued by artificial tethering of sister
      chromatids. Genetic tests and electron microscopy analysis of replication
      intermediates made us propose that management of single-stranded DNA forming
      proximal to the fork is a critical determinant of chromosome and replication fork
      structure, and influences DDT pathway choice. Here we discuss the implications of
      our findings for understanding DDT regulation and cohesion establishment during
      replication, and outline directions to rationalize the relationship between these
      chromosome metabolism processes. 

PMID- 26889707
TI  - Excavating the Role of Aloe Vera Wrapped Mesoporous Hydroxyapatite Frame
      Ornamentation in Newly Architectured Polyurethane Scaffolds for Osteogenesis and
      Guided Bone Regeneration with Microbial Protection.
AB  - Guided bone regeneration (GBR) scaffolds are unsuccessful in many clinical
      applications due to a high incidence of postoperative infection. The objective of
      this work is to fabricate GBR with an anti-infective electrospun scaffold by
      ornamenting segmented polyurethane (SPU) with two-dimensional Aloe vera wrapped
      mesoporous hydroxyapatite (Al-mHA) nanorods. The antimicrobial characteristic of
      the scaffold has been retrieved from the prepared Al-mHA frame with high aspect
      ratio (~14.2) via biosynthesis route using Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
      extract. The Al-mHA frame was introduced into an unprecedented SPU matrix
      (solution polymerized) based on combinatorial soft segments of poly(epsilon
      caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC), and poly(dimethylsiloxane)
      (PDMS), by an in situ technique followed by electrospinning to fabricate
      scaffolds. For comparison, pristine mHA nanorods are also ornamented into it. An
      enzymatic ring-opening polymerization technique was adapted to synthesize soft
      segment of (PCL-PEC-b-PDMS). Structure elucidation of the synthesized polymers is
      established by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Sparingly, Al-mHA
      ornamented scaffolds exhibit tremendous improvement (175%) in the mechanical
      properties with promising antimicrobial activity against various human pathogens.
      After confirmation of high osteoconductivity, improved biodegradation, and
      excellent biocompatibility against osteoblast-like MG63 cells (in vitro), the
      scaffolds were implanted in rabbits as an animal model by subcutaneous and
      intraosseous (tibial) sites. Improved in vivo biocompatibilities, biodegradation,
      osteoconductivity, and the ability to provide an adequate biomimetic environment
      for biomineralization for GBR of the scaffolds (SPU and ornamented SPUs) have
      been found from the various histological sections. Early cartilage formation,
      endochondral ossification, and rapid bone healing at 4 weeks were found in the
      defects filled with Al-mHA ornamented scaffold compared to pristine SPU scaffold.
      Organ toxicity studies further confirm the absence of appreciable tissue
      architecture abnormalities in the renal hepatic and cardiac tissue sections. The
      entire results of this study manifest the feasibility of fabricating a
      mechanically adequate tailored nanofibrous SPU scaffold based on combinatorial
      soft segments of PCL, PEC, and PDMS by a biomimetic approach and the advantages
      of an Aloe vera wrapped mHA frame in promoting osteoblast phenotype progression
      with microbial protection for potential GBR applications. 

PMID- 26889709
TI  - Aquatic Exposure Predictions of Insecticide Field Concentrations Using a
      Multimedia Mass-Balance Model.
AB  - Highly complex process-driven mechanistic fate and transport models and
      multimedia mass balance models can be used for the exposure prediction of
      pesticides in different environmental compartments. Generally, both types of
      models differ in spatial and temporal resolution. Process-driven mechanistic fate
      models are very complex, and calculations are time-intensive. This type of model
      is currently used within the European regulatory pesticide registration (FOCUS).
      Multimedia mass-balance models require fewer input parameters to calculate
      concentration ranges and the partitioning between different environmental media.
      In this study, we used the fugacity-based small-region model (SRM) to calculate
      predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) for 466 cases of insecticide field
      concentrations measured in European surface waters. We were able to show that the
      PECs of the multimedia model are more protective in comparison to FOCUS. In
      addition, our results show that the multimedia model results have a higher
      predictive power to simulate varying field concentrations at a higher level of
      field relevance. The adaptation of the model scenario to actual field conditions
      suggests that the performance of the SRM increases when worst-case conditions are
      replaced by real field data. Therefore, this study shows that a less complex
      modeling approach than that used in the regulatory risk assessment exhibits a
      higher level of protectiveness and predictiveness and that there is a need to
      develop and evaluate new ecologically relevant scenarios in the context of
      pesticide exposure modeling. 

PMID- 26889708
TI  - The Role of Protein Loops and Linkers in Conformational Dynamics and Allostery.
AB  - Proteins are dynamic entities that undergo a plethora of conformational changes
      that may take place on a wide range of time scales. These changes can be as small
      as the rotation of one or a few side-chain dihedral angles or involve concerted
      motions in larger portions of the three-dimensional structure; both kinds of
      motions can be important for biological function and allostery. It is becoming
      increasingly evident that "connector regions" are important components of the
      dynamic personality of protein structures. These regions may be either disordered
      loops, i.e., poorly structured regions connecting secondary structural elements,
      or linkers that connect entire protein domains. Experimental and computational
      studies have, however, revealed that these regions are not mere connectors, and
      their role in allostery and conformational changes has been emerging in the last
      few decades. Here we provide a detailed overview of the structural properties and
      classification of loops and linkers, as well as a discussion of the main
      computational methods employed to investigate their function and dynamical
      properties. We also describe their importance for protein dynamics and allostery
      using as examples key proteins in cellular biology and human diseases such as
      kinases, ubiquitinating enzymes, and transcription factors.

PMID- 26889710
TI  - Differential Binding Models for Direct and Reverse Isothermal Titration
      Calorimetry.
AB  - Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a technique to measure the
      stoichiometry and thermodynamics from binding experiments. Identifying an
      appropriate mathematical model to evaluate titration curves of receptors with
      multiple sites is challenging, particularly when the stoichiometry or binding
      mechanism is not available. In a recent theoretical study, we presented a
      differential binding model (DBM) to study calorimetry titrations independently of
      the interaction among the binding sites (Herrera, I.; Winnik, M. A. J. Phys.
      Chem. B 2013, 117, 8659-8672). Here, we build upon our DBM and show its practical
      application to evaluate calorimetry titrations of receptors with multiple sites
      independently of the titration direction. Specifically, we present a set of
      ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with the general form d[S]/dV that can be
      integrated numerically to calculate the equilibrium concentrations of free and
      bound species S at every injection step and, subsequently, to evaluate the volume
      normalized heat signal (deltaQ(V) = deltaq/dV) of direct and reverse calorimetry
      titrations. Additionally, we identify factors that influence the shape of the
      titration curve and can be used to optimize the initial concentrations of titrant
      and analyte. We demonstrate the flexibility of our updated DBM by applying these
      differentials and a global regression analysis to direct and reverse calorimetric
      titrations of gadolinium ions with multidentate ligands of increasing denticity,
      namely, diglycolic acid (DGA), citric acid (CIT), and nitrilotriacetic acid
      (NTA), and use statistical tests to validate the stoichiometries for the metal
      ligand pairs studied.

PMID- 26889711
TI  - Global Introduction of New Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Drugs-Balancing
      Regulation with Urgent Patient Needs.
AB  - New treatments for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) are urgently needed.
      Two new drugs, bedaquiline and delamanid, have recently been released, and
      several new drugs and treatment regimens are in the pipeline. Misuse of TB drugs
      is a principal cause of drug resistance. As new drugs and regimens reach the
      market, the need to make them available to patients must be balanced with
      regulation of their use so that resistance to the new drugs can be prevented. To
      foster the rational use of new drugs, we propose 1) expanding/strengthening the
      capacity for drug susceptibility testing, beginning with countries with a high TB
      burden; 2) regulating prescribing practices by banning over-the-counter sale of
      TB drugs and enacting an accreditation system whereby providers must be certified
      to prescribe new drugs; and 3) decentralizing MDR TB care in rural communities by
      employing trained community health workers, using promising mobile technologies,
      and enlisting the aid of civil society organizations.

PMID- 26889712
TI  - Tuberculosis Risk among Medical Trainees, Pune, India.
AB  - During 2012-2013, at a public hospital in Pune, India, 26 (3.9%) cases of
      tuberculosis were reported among 662 medical trainees, representing an estimated
      incidence of 3,279 cases/100,000 person-years. Three of these infections were
      isoniazid-resistant, 1 was multidrug-resistant, and 1 occurred in a trainee who
      had fulminant hepatitis after starting treatment for TB. 

PMID- 26889713
TI  - Subclinical target organ damage in normotensive and prehypertensive patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prehypertension is a risk factor for the development of hypertension
      and other cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate
      for the evidence of subclinical target organ damage in two groups of subjects
      without hypertension. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study.
      Subjects seeking care for various clinical conditions in the hospital were
      invited for the survey. The subjects' were divided in to two groups according to
      their blood pressure: prehypertension (systolic blood pressure 120 to 139 mm Hg
      or diastolic blood pressure, 80 to 89 mm Hg) and normotension (systolic blood
      pressure, <120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure, <80 mm Hg). Urine albumin
      excretion and other biochemical analyses were performed using standard methods.
      RESULTS: We recruited a total of 3300 subjects, the prehypertension group
      included 1100 individuals and the normotension group was composed of 2200
      persons. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in subjects in the prehypertension
      group was 6.8% and in those who are the in the optimal BP group was 3.6%
      (P<0.001). Subjects in the prehypertension group had a mean B-type natriuretic
      peptide (BNP) level of 98 (72) pg/mL compared with 43.6 (20) pg/mL found among
      subjects in the normotension group (<0.001). In the logistic regression model,
      tobacco smoking aOR 2.7 (95% CI.; 1.7-5.8), higher uric acid level aOR 2.2 (1.7
      3.2), microalbuminuria 7.6 (4.9-14.7) and a higher BNP level aOR 2.5 (1.8-7.6)
      were significantly associated with the occurrence of prehypertension.
      CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria, BNP level and hyperuricemia were significantly
      associated with prehypertension.

PMID- 26889714
TI  - Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, White Matter, and Cognitive Function in Diabetes
      Patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)-lysine level
      (CML) with microstructure changes of white matter (WM), and cognitive impairment
      in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to discuss the potential
      mechanism underlying T2DM-associated cognitive impairment. METHODS: The study was
      performed in T2DM patients (n=22) with disease course >=5 years and age ranging
      from 65 to 75 years old. A control group consisted of 25 sex- and age-matched
      healthy volunteers. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of several WM regions was analyzed
      by diffusion tensor imaging scan. Plasma CML levels were measured by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay, and cognitive function was assessed by Mini-Mental
      State Examination and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: The total
      Mini-Mental State Examination score in the patient group (25.72+/-3.13) was
      significantly lower than the control group (28.16+/-2.45) (p<0.05). In addition,
      the total MoCA score in the patient group (22.15+/-3.56) was significantly lower
      than the control group 25.63+/-4.12) (p<0.01). In the patient group, FA values
      were significantly decreased in the corpus callosum, cingulate fasciculus,
      inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, parietal WM, hippocampus, and temporal
      lobes relative to corresponding regions of healthy controls (p<0.05). Plasma CML
      level was negatively correlated with average FA values in the global brain (r=
      0.58, p<0.01) and MoCA scores (r=-0.47, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In T2DM, WM
      microstructure changes occur in older patients, and elevations in CML may play a
      role in the development of cognitive impairment.

PMID- 26889717
TI  - Sulfuration of the C(sp(2))-H bond of enaminones: a protocol for the synthesis of
      thioether using elemental sulfur as a sulfurating reagent.
AB  - Sulfuration reaction of the C(sp(2))-H bond of enaminones with elemental sulfur
      in the presence of CuBr/K3PO4 was carried out. It provided an efficient method
      for the synthesis of thioethers in moderate to good yields. The protocol was also
      applicable to synthesize selenides when selenium powder was used instead of
      sulfur powder. 

PMID- 26889716
TI  - Quantification of Filamentous Actin (F-actin) Puncta in Rat Cortical Neurons.
AB  - Filamentous actin protein (F-actin) plays a major role in spinogenesis, synaptic
      plasticity, and synaptic stability. Changes in dendritic F-actin rich structures
      suggest alterations in synaptic integrity and connectivity. Here we provide a
      detailed protocol for culturing primary rat cortical neurons, Phalloidin staining
      for F-actin puncta, and subsequent quantification techniques. First, the frontal
      cortex of E18 rat embryos are dissociated into low-density cell culture, then the
      neurons grown in vitro for at least 12-14 days. Following experimental treatment,
      the cortical neurons are stained with AlexaFluor 488 Phalloidin (to label the
      dendritic F-actin puncta) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2; to validate
      the neuronal cells and dendritic integrity). Finally, specialized software is
      used to analyze and quantify randomly selected neuronal dendrites. F-actin rich
      structures are identified on second order dendritic branches (length range 25-75
      um) with continuous MAP2 immunofluorescence. The protocol presented here will be
      a useful method for investigating changes in dendritic synapse structures
      subsequent to experimental treatments. 

PMID- 26889718
TI  - Application of Biologically Based Lumping To Investigate the Toxicokinetic
      Interactions of a Complex Gasoline Mixture.
AB  - People are often exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals such as
      gasoline, tobacco smoke, water contaminants, or food additives. We developed an
      approach that applies chemical lumping methods to complex mixtures, in this case
      gasoline, based on biologically relevant parameters used in physiologically based
      pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Inhalation exposures were performed with rats to
      evaluate the performance of our PBPK model and chemical lumping method. There
      were 109 chemicals identified and quantified in the vapor in the chamber. The
      time-course toxicokinetic profiles of 10 target chemicals were also determined
      from blood samples collected during and following the in vivo experiments. A
      general PBPK model was used to compare the experimental data to the simulated
      values of blood concentration for 10 target chemicals with various numbers of
      lumps, iteratively increasing from 0 to 99. Large reductions in simulation error
      were gained by incorporating enzymatic chemical interactions, in comparison to
      simulating the individual chemicals separately. The error was further reduced by
      lumping the 99 nontarget chemicals. The same biologically based lumping approach
      can be used to simplify any complex mixture with tens, hundreds, or thousands of
      constituents. 

PMID- 26889719
TI  - Computational Revisit to the beta-Carbon Elimination Step in Rh(III)-Catalyzed C
      H Activation/Cycloaddition Reactions of N-Phenoxyacetamide and Cyclopropenes.
AB  - This computational study uncovered the origin of the contradicting results in two
      recent DFT studies of the Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/cycloaddition
      reactions between N-phenoxyacetamide and cyclopropenes. It was found that the
      beta-carbon elimination of the tricyclic intermediate occurs very faciely via a
      conformer in which the opening of the three-membered ring is trans to the Cp*
      ligand so that the steric repulsion between the two moieties is avoided. Thus,
      the conclusions of our previous study were reconfirmed. 

PMID- 26889720
TI  - Metabolomics Study of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery (RYGB) to Treat Type 2
      Diabetes Patients Based on Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography-Mass
      Spectrometry.
AB  - Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most effective treatments for long
      term weight loss and diabetes remission; however, the mechanisms underlying these
      changes are not clearly understood. In this study, the serum metabolic profiles
      of 23 remission and 12 nonremission patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
      were measured at baseline, 6- and 12-months after RYGB. A metabolomics analysis
      was performed based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
      Clinical improvements in insulin sensitivity, energy metabolism, and inflammation
      were related to metabolic alterations of free fatty acids (FFAs), acylcarnitines,
      amino acids, bile acids, and lipids species. Differential metabolic profiles were
      observed between the two T2DM subgroups, and patients with severity fat
      accumulation and oxidation stress may be more suitable for RYGB. Baseline levels
      of tryptophan, bilirubin, and indoxyl sulfate measured prior to surgery as well
      as levels of FFA 16:0, FFA 18:3, FFA 17:2, and hippuric acid measured at 6 months
      after surgery best predicted the suitability and efficacy of RYGB for patients
      with T2DM. These metabolites represent potential biomarkers that may be
      clinically helpful in individualized treatment for T2DM patients by RYGB. 

PMID- 26889721
TI  - Lyme Disease in Hispanics, United States, 2000-2013.
AB  - Hispanics comprise a growing portion of the US population and might have distinct
      risk factors for tickborne diseases. During 2000-2013, a total of 5,473 Lyme
      disease cases were reported among Hispanics through national surveillance.
      Hispanics were more likely than non-Hispanics to have signs of disseminated
      infection and onset during fall months.

PMID- 26889722
TI  - Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica Infections in 2 Elderly Patients, Hawaii.

PMID- 26889723
TI  - Cancer surveillance series: role of demographic aspects, altitude and latitude in
      the extracutaneous malignant melanoma in a residential study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extracutaneous melanoma (ECM) is a very rare malignancy and its
      biology differs from that of cutaneous melanoma. Residential studies can offer an
      important contribution to the study of this disease. METHODS: We characterized
      the distribution of ECM according to residential and demographic baseline
      characteristics. We computer-searched patients that removed an ECM, and we
      analyzed all demographic and residential parameters. Disease free survival (DFS),
      date of death or last follow-ups were evaluated. The same parameters were
      analyzed using hazards-regression. Finally, we used the multiple regressions
      between DFS and the predictors. RESULTS: A total of 44 ECM patients were included
      in our analysis. Median DFS was of 10 months; at Log-Rank Test and Cox-hazard
      regression, the variable age (P<0.01; P<0.004) and latitude (P<0.02; P<0.006)
      reached a statistical significance; at multiple logistic regression, the
      significance was instead maintained only for the variable age. General OS was of
      42 months at Log-Rank Test age (P<0.001), as well as latitude (P<0.006)
      maintained its significance at hazard-regression. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and
      residential aspects can play an important role in the study of this rare disease,
      supporting the assumption that ECM are generated by processes actually unknown,
      as demonstrated in our results compared with those of the literature.

PMID- 26889724
TI  - Efficacy and safety of a 12-month treatment with a combination of
      hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol glycospheres as maintenance therapy in
      acne patients after oral isotretinoin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A correct therapeutic management of acne should include a maintenance
      therapy to prevent recurrences after discontinuing a successful treatment. The
      aim of this study is to investigate efficacy and safety of a 12-month maintenance
      treatment with a product, based on Retinsphere technology that combines retinol
      encapsulated in glycospheres and hydroxypinacolone retinoate (Biretix gel(r)), to
      control acne relapse after a treatment with oral isotretinoin (O.I.). METHODS:
      The study consisted of 2 phases: active treatment phase (AP) and maintenance
      phase (MP). In the AP, 40 consecutive patients with moderate facial acne were
      treated with O.I. until acne remission. Then, the patients entered in the MP and
      were treated with Biretix gel(r) once-daily for 12 months. The efficacy parameter
      was the relapse rate during MP. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients completed the
      study. Relapse appeared in 6 patients (15.38%). The new product with Retinsphere
      technology was well tolerated and none of the subjects complained of adverse
      events. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings seems to provide favorable evidence of the
      efficacy and the safety of this new product in the maintenance treatment after
      O.I. in patient with moderate acne. The efficacy is maintain for a period as long
      as a year after O.I. suspension.

PMID- 26889725
TI  - Etiopathogenesis of rosacea: a prospective study with a three-year follow-up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Demodex
      folliculorum (DF), Helicobacter pylori (HP), and small intestine bacterial
      overgrowth (SIBO) in the development of rosacea. METHODS: A case-control study
      including 60 patients with rosacea and 40 healthy controls was performed. All the
      patients underwent standardized skin surface biopsy to investigate DF, urea
      breath test for HP and lactulose breath test and glucose breath test for SIBO.
      Etiological therapy was started in the following order: acaricidal treatment,
      antibiotics for SIBO and HP. These exams were repeated after 3 years. Statistical
      analysis was performed. RESULTS: As regards the 88 patients who completed the
      entire follow-up, DF positivity was found in 47.7% of the patients, SIBO in
      25.0%, and HP in 21.6%. SIBO significantly prevailed in papulopustular rosacea,
      while HP in erythrosis. At the 6-month follow up, the 61% of patients were in
      remission. After 3 years, 18% of patients dropped out, while the remaining
      patients repeated all the investigations. The majority of patients were still in
      remission and negative for HP while only 5 were positive for DF and 4 for SIBO.
      CONCLUSIONS: SIBO was the most relevant factor in papulopustular rosacea. Its
      treatment was crucial in improvement and in maintaining the clinical remission.

PMID- 26889726
TI  - Non-melanoma skin cancer of the head and neck: the aid of reflectance confocal
      microscopy for the accurate diagnosis and management.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) represents the most common cutaneous
      neoplasms of the head and neck. In recent years, novel non-invasive diagnostic
      tool have been developed, and among these we have the reflectance confocal
      microscopy (RCM), that offers the evaluation of the skin at real time with
      cellular resolution. Numerous studies have identified the main confocal features
      of skin tumours, demonstrating the good correlation of these features with
      certain dermatoscopic patterns and histologic findings. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The
      aim of this analysis was to provide new insight into the role of RCM in the
      diagnosis and management of NMSC of the head and neck. Data comes from the most
      recent literature, taking into account previous essential reported information in
      this field. The study eligibility criteria were: studies providing update
      information, focusing on RCM findings in NMSC, without restrictions for age, sex,
      ethnicity. A search concerning the role of dermoscopy and RCM in the diagnosis of
      NMSC was performed on Medline. Duplicated studies, single case report and papers
      with language other than English were excluded from this study. EVIDENCE
      SYNTHESIS: RCM clues were analysed for NMSC in association with clinical,
      dermoscopic and histopathologic findings. Moreover, some new findings have been
      described and possible applications for NMSC of the head and neck have been
      discussed. CONCLUSIONS: RCM allows tissue imaging in vivo contributing to a more
      accurate diagnosis of NMSC of the head and neck, sparing time for the patient and
      costs for the public health system. RCM can also be used for selection of the
      biopsy site and it is helpful in defining the surgical safety margins to keep
      during the excision of skin cancers.

PMID- 26889727
TI  - A review of clinical trials of biologic agents and small molecules for psoriasis
      in Asian subjects.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Biologics are increasingly used in the treatment of moderate to
      severe psoriasis. However, most of the pivotal studies were performed mainly in
      western countries. The purpose of this review article was to compare the
      differences of clinical trial results between Asian and Western subjects of
      psoriasis regarding baseline demographics, efficacy, dermatology life quality
      index, safety and antidrug antibodies. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: In this review
      article, we searched the PubMed/Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov, and posters from
      main dermatologic meetings. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Only randomized controlled trial
      results or trial results for registration purposes of etanercept, adalimumab,
      infliximab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab,
      tofacitinib, and apremilast are included. CONCLUSIONS: Asian subjects were
      generally 15-20 Kgs lighter, with fewer psoriatic arthritis, shorter disease
      duration since diagnosis, and higher baseline severity compared to western
      subjects. Better efficacy had been found in some studies such as secukinumab,
      brodalumab, ixekizumab, and tofacitinib in Japanese groups. The safety in Asian
      trials was generally compatible with the pivotal studies, except for the
      occurrence of active tuberculosis in the infliximab trial in China. Additional
      indications of pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis are approved in Japan for
      some of the agents based on phase II/III studies.

PMID- 26889728
TI  - Improved Detection of Tuberculosis and Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis among
      Tibetan Refugees, India.
AB  - The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among Tibetan refugees in India is 431
      cases/100,000 persons, compared with 181 cases/100,000 persons overall in India
      in 2010. More than half of TB cases in these refugees occur among students,
      monks, and nuns in congregate settings. We sought to increase TB case detection
      rates for this population through active case finding and rapid molecular
      diagnostics. We screened 27,714 persons for symptoms of TB and tested 3,830
      symptomatic persons by using an algorithm incorporating chest radiography, sputum
      smear microscopy, culture, and a rapid diagnostic test; 96 (2.5%) cases of TB
      were detected (prevalence 346 cases/100,000 persons). Of these cases, 5% were
      multidrug-resistant TB. Use of the rapid diagnostic test and active case finding
      enabled rapid detection of undiagnosed TB cases in congregate living settings,
      which would not have otherwise been identified. The burden of TB in the Tibetan
      exile population in India is extremely high and requires urgent attention.

PMID- 26889729
TI  - Environmental analysis of the life cycle emissions of 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran
      solvent manufactured from renewable resources.
AB  - An environmental analysis has been conducted to determine the cradle to gate life
      cycle emissions to manufacture the green solvent, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran. The
      solvent is considered a greener chemical since it can be manufactured from
      renewable resources with a lower life cycle footprint. Analyses have been
      performed using different methods to show greenness in both its production and
      industrial use. This solvent can potentially be substituted for other ether and
      chlorinated solvents commonly used in organometallic and biphasic reactions steps
      in pharmaceutical and fine chemical syntheses. The 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran made
      from renewable agricultural by-products is marketed by Penn A Kem under the name
      ecoMeTHFTM. The starting material, 2-furfuraldehyde (furfural), is produced from
      corn cob waste by converting the available pentosans by acid hydrolysis. An
      evaluation of each step in the process was necessary to determine the overall
      life cycle and specific CO2 emissions for each raw material/intermediate
      produced. Allocation of credits for CO2 from the incineration of solvents made
      from renewable feedstocks significantly reduced the overall carbon footprint.
      Using this approach, the overall life cycle emissions for production of 1 kg of
      ecoMeTHFTM were determined to be 0.191 kg, including 0.150 kg of CO2. Life cycle
      emissions generated from raw material manufacture represents the majority of the
      overall environmental impact. Our evaluation shows that using 2-methyl
      tetrahydrofuran in an industrial scenario results in a 97% reduction in
      emissions, when compared to typically used solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, made
      through a conventional chemical route.

PMID- 26889730
TI  - Bio-psycho-social effects of a coordinated neurorehabilitation programme: A
      naturalistic mixed methods study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Best practice guidelines for neurorehabilitation recommend coordinated
      rehabilitation programmes to ensure seamless service transitions and
      comprehensive rehabilitation practices. However, this recommendation for practice
      and the evidence informing its advancement is based on unexamined assumptions.
      Therefore, this study investigates bio-psycho-social outcomes and perceptions of
      a coordinated rehabilitation programme. METHOD: In a prospective, naturalistic
      mixed methods study, rehabilitation outcomes for 82 adults (18-66 years) with
      moderate to severe acquired brain injury were investigated. Clients who received
      the coordinated rehabilitation programme KORE (n = 27) were compared to clients
      from the same area who received standard rehabilitation prior to the
      implementation of the KORE programme (n = 37) and clients who received other
      coordinated efforts elsewhere (n = 18). The study employed quantitative data from
      standardized tests (Functional Independence Measure, Major Depression Inventory,
      Quality of life, and Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire, as well
      as information on return to work and qualitative interviews with clients (n = 82)
      and their relatives (n = 40). RESULTS: Outcomes did not improve from hospital
      discharge to two years later. Notably, physiological recovery had probably been
      achieved to the extent possible, but depression and reduced psychological well
      being remained prevalent across groups. Qualitative interviews suggested several
      barriers to improvement, such as identity dilemmas and unmet needs for
      psychological support, while rehabilitation services focused on physical and
      practical training. CONCLUSION: Coordinated interventions do not guarantee
      comprehensive rehabilitation and better outcomes for clients with acquired brain
      injury. Psychological support seems to be important and largely unaddressed.

PMID- 26889731
TI  - Functional cerebral space theory: Towards an integration of theory and mechanisms
      of left hemineglect, anosognosia, and anosodiaphoria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The current case study presents a 43 year old African American woman
      admitted to a Tertiary Care Rehabilitation unit at a major medical center for
      concerns over left-sided anesthesia and weakness. Head scans indicate a right
      middle cerebral arterial distribution infarct altering blood flow in temporal,
      parietal, and occipital regions in the right cerebral hemisphere. OBJECTIVE:
      Physician and therapist reports (i.e., speech and occupational therapists)
      referred the patient for a neuropsychological evaluation for concerns over the
      patient's capacity to recognize the severity of her deficits and self-care, with
      potential rule-outs indicated by the extant literature on right CVA for
      anosognosia, anosodiaphoria, and left hemibody/hemispace neglect. METHODS: The
      current case integrates interdisciplinary physician notation, magnetic resonance
      imaging and magnetic resonance angiogram, observations and reports from speech
      and occupational therapy, and neuropsychological assessment via standardized
      tests and neurobehavioral syndrome analysis. RESULTS: Evidence was found for co
      occurring syndromes of moderate anosognosia, anosodiaphoria, and left
      hemibody/hemispatial neglect derived from shared functional cerebral space with
      overlapping temporal, parietal, and occipital damage. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical
      implications are discussed, including recommendations for therapy approaches
      based on functional cerebral space theory that may indicate the use of known
      techniques (e.g., for left hemibody neglect) that may also have therapeutic
      implications for treating other, more mercurial co-occurring syndromes of
      anosognosia and anosodiaphoria.

PMID- 26889732
TI  - Effect of normal-walking-pattern-based functional electrical stimulation on gait
      of the lower extremity in subjects with ischemic stroke: A self controlled study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Functional electrical stimulation is a widely used technique for
      rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of walking-pattern-based four
      channel functional electric stimulation and its influence on the gait features of
      stroke patients with hemiplegia. METHODS: A total of 21 stroke patients with
      hemiplegia were enrolled into the study. The walking gaits of patients were
      investigated before, during and after walking-pattern-based FES treatment using
      the gait analysis system. The changes of gait indexes were comparatively
      analyzed. RESULTS: After walking-pattern-based FES therapy, the pace, stride
      rate, gait cycle, and step length of stroke patients with hemiplegia were 50.19
      +/- 14.45 cm/s, 36.85 +/- 5.85 time/min, 1.6643 +/- 0.2626 sec, 80.3333 +/-
      15.1438 cm, respectively. The motion range of hip and knee joint were 47.5238 +/-
      10.7453, 56.7619 +/- 14.5255, respectively. We found these indexes were
      significantly improved compared with those before FES treatment (P <  0.05). The
      single swing rate (injured extremity/uninjured extremity) after FES treatment was
      1.5589 +/- 0.4550. The statistical results showed that the gait cycle, pace,
      stride rat, and single swing rate (injured extremity/uninjured extremity) were
      significantly improved after FES treatment (P <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      demonstrate that walking-paradigm based FES we developed is effective for
      treating stroke patients during rehabilitation.

PMID- 26889734
TI  - Cross-validation of oxygen uptake prediction during walking in ambulatory persons
      with multiple sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An equation for predicting the gross oxygen uptake (gross-VO2) during
      walking for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been developed. Predictors
      included walking speed and total score from the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis
      Walking Scale (MSWS-12). OBJECTIVE: This study examined the validity of this
      prediction equation in another sample of persons with MS. METHODS: Participants
      were 18 persons with MS with limited mobility problems (42 +/- 13 years; 14
      women). Participants completed the MSWS-12. Gross-VO2 was measured with open
      circuit spirometry during treadmill walking at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph (0.89, 1.34,
      and 1.79 m.s(-1)). REULTS: Absolute percent error was small: 8.3 +/- 6.1% , 8.0
      +/- 5.6% , and 12.2 +/- 9.0% at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mph, respectively. Actual gross
      VO2 did not differ significantly from predicted gross-VO2 at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but
      was significantly higher than predicted gross-VO2 at 4.0 mph (p <  0.001). Bland
      Altman plots indicated nearly zero mean difference between actual and predicted
      gross-VO2 with modest 95% confidence intervals at 2.0 and 3.0 mph, but there was
      some underestimation at 4.0 mph. CONCLUSIONS: Speed and MSWS-12 score provide
      valid prediction of gross-VO2 during treadmill walking at slow and moderate
      speeds in ambulatory persons with MS. However, there is a possibility of small
      underestimation for walking at 4.0 mph.

PMID- 26889733
TI  - A durable gain in motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease following
      repeated caloric vestibular stimulation: A single-case study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To gain 'first-in-man' evidence that repeated caloric vestibular
      stimulation (CVS), a non-invasive form of neuro-modulation, can induce a lasting
      and clinically-relevant reduction in Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms. METHODS:
      A 70  yr old male, diagnosed with PD 7 years prior to study enrolment, self
      administered CVS at home 2*20 minutes per day for three months using a solid
      state portable device. Standardised neuropsychological assessments of motor,
      cognitive, affective and independent function were carried out prior to
      stimulation, at the start and end of the sham (month 1) and active (months 2-3)
      phases, and 5 months post-stimulation. RESULTS: Relative to the pre-stimulation
      baseline, behavioural improvements that exceeded the minimal detectable change
      were observed on the EQ5D, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Schwab and
      England scale, 2 minute walk, Timed up and go, Non-motor symptom assessment scale
      for PD, Montreal cognitive assessment, Hospital depression scale and Epworth
      sleepiness scale. The level of change exceeded the threshold for a minimal
      clinically important difference on all scales for which a threshold has been
      published. By contrast, little improvement was seen during the sham (i.e.,
      placebo) phase. CONCLUSION: Caloric vestibular stimulation may offer a novel,
      home-based method of relieving everyday symptoms of PD, and merits further
      evaluative study.

PMID- 26889736
TI  - Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms.
AB  - Masking, in which one stimulus affects the detection of another, is a classic
      technique that has been used in visual, auditory, and tactile research, usually
      using stimuli that are close together to reveal local interactions. Masking
      effects have also been demonstrated in which a tactile stimulus alters the
      perception of a touch at a distant location. Such effects can provide insight
      into how components of the body's representations in the brain may be linked.
      Occasional reports have indicated that touches on one hand or forearm can affect
      tactile sensitivity at corresponding contralateral locations. To explore the
      matching of corresponding points across the body, we can measure the spatial
      tuning and effect of posture on contralateral masking. Careful controls are
      required to rule out direct effects of the remote stimulus, for example by
      mechanical transmission, and also attention effects in which thresholds may be
      altered by the participant's attention being drawn away from the stimulus of
      interest. The use of this technique is beneficial as a behavioural measure for
      exploring which parts of the body are functionally connected and whether the two
      sides of the body interact in a somatotopic representation. This manuscript
      describes a behavioural protocol that can be used for studying contralateral
      tactile masking. 

PMID- 26889738
TI  - Phage-displayed macrocyclic glycopeptide libraries.
AB  - In this report, we describe an efficient way to generate libraries of macrocyclic
      glycopeptides in one step by reacting phage-displayed libraries of peptides with
      dichloro-oxime derivatives. We showed that the reactions do not interfere with
      the ability of phage to replicate in bacteria. The reactions are site-selective
      for phage-displayed peptides and they do not modify any other proteins of phage.
      The technology described in this report will be instrumental for genetic
      selection of macrocyclic glycopeptides for diverse glycan-binding proteins. 

PMID- 26889735
TI  - BDNF rs6265 methylation and genotype interact on risk for schizophrenia.
AB  - Epigenetic mechanisms can mediate gene-environment interactions relevant for
      complex disorders. The BDNF gene is crucial for development and brain plasticity,
      is sensitive to environmental stressors, such as hypoxia, and harbors the
      functional SNP rs6265 (Val(66)Met), which creates or abolishes a CpG dinucleotide
      for DNA methylation. We found that methylation at the BDNF rs6265 Val allele in
      peripheral blood of healthy subjects is associated with hypoxia-related early
      life events (hOCs) and intermediate phenotypes for schizophrenia in a distinctive
      manner, depending on rs6265 genotype: in ValVal individuals increased methylation
      is associated with exposure to hOCs and impaired working memory (WM) accuracy,
      while the opposite is true for ValMet subjects. Also, rs6265 methylation and hOCs
      interact in modulating WM-related prefrontal activity, another intermediate
      phenotype for schizophrenia, with an analogous opposite direction in the 2
      genotypes. Consistently, rs6265 methylation has a different association with
      schizophrenia risk in ValVals and ValMets. The relationships of methylation with
      BDNF levels and of genotype with BHLHB2 binding likely contribute to these
      opposite effects of methylation. We conclude that BDNF rs6265 methylation
      interacts with genotype to bridge early environmental exposures to adult
      phenotypes, relevant for schizophrenia. The study of epigenetic changes in
      regions containing genetic variation relevant for human diseases may have
      beneficial implications for the understanding of how genes are actually
      translated into phenotypes. 

PMID- 26889737
TI  - Low antibody titers 5 years after vaccination with the CYD-TDV dengue vaccine in
      both pre-immune and naive vaccinees.
AB  - Globally, dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most widespread vector-borne viruses.
      Dengue disease affects populations in endemic areas and, increasingly, tourists
      who travel to these countries, but there is currently no approved vaccine for
      dengue. A phase 3 efficacy trial with Sanofi-Pasteur's recombinant, live
      attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) conducted in South East Asia
      showed an overall efficacy of 56% against virologically confirmed dengue
      infections of any severity and any of the 4 serotypes, but the long-term
      protection of the vaccine has yet to be demonstrated. To address longevity of
      antibody titers and B cell memory, we recalled study participants from an earlier
      CYD immunogenicity study (Phase 2) conducted in Singapore that enrolled healthy
      volunteers in the year 2009. Depending on the age group, 57-84% of the
      participants initially generated a neutralizing antibody titer >= 10 to all 4
      DENV serotypes 28 d after the third and final dose. We observed very low antibody
      titers in blood samples collected from 23 vaccinees 5 y after the first dose,
      particularly titers of antibodies binding to virus particles compared with those
      binding to recombinant E protein. The in vivo efficacy of plasma antibodies
      against DENV-2 challenge was also tested in a mouse model, which found that only
      2 out of 23 samples were able to reduce viremia. Although the sample size is too
      small for general conclusions, dengue immune memory after vaccination with CYD
      TDV appears relatively low.

PMID- 26889739
TI  - Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: changing trends in the current
      literature.
AB  - Background Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (SmCC), also known as oat cell
      carcinoma or small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, is characterized by an
      aggressive clinical course with early metastasis pattern and a short life
      expectancy. So far, there is no prospective, data-based case-control study due to
      its low incidence. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the epidemiology,
      morphopathology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis and treatment
      of bladder SmCC in the light of the literature. Scope PubMed and American Society
      of Clinical Oncology Meeting abstracts were searched according to the following
      keywords: 'extrapulmonary SmCC', 'bladder cancer', and 'therapeutic approach'.
      The last search was performed on 1 October 2015. Some additional papers were
      determined by reviewing references of the appropriate articles. Most of the data
      regarding small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SmCCB) were found to be
      based on the retrospective trials. Findings Bladder SmCC is more frequent in men
      and usually appears in the seventh to eighth decades. Macroscopic hematuria is
      the most common clinical symptom. The diagnosis of SmCCB is performed based on
      the same criteria determined by the WHO classification for the diagnosis of small
      cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Prognosis is closely correlated with the stage at
      presentation. Although the prognosis of the disease is poor, a long survival can
      be achieved particularly by radical surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in
      patients with early stage tumors. Cystectomy is still the current standard local
      treatment. However, cystectomy alone is not sufficient. Chemotherapy and
      definitive radiotherapy should be preferred for limited disease in patients who
      are not candidate for surgery. Conclusion Considering the poor prognosis of the
      disease, further studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment options
      and new molecular markers in the way of early diagnosis and favorable outcomes.
      Prospective, multicenter, randomized studies are required to evaluate the role of
      neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed either by surgery or radiotherapy.

PMID- 26889740
TI  - Oral aspirin for treating venous leg ulcers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) or varicose ulcers are the final stage of
      chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and are the most common type of leg ulcer.
      The development of VLUs on ankles and lower legs can occur spontaneously or after
      minor trauma. The ulcers are often painful and exudative, healing is often
      protracted and recurrence is common. This cycle of healing and recurrence has a
      considerable impact on the health and quality of life of individuals, and
      healthcare and socioeconomic costs. VLUs are a common and costly problem
      worldwide; prevalence is estimated to be between 1.65% to 1.74% in the western
      world and is more common in adults aged 65 years and older. The main treatment
      for a VLU is a firm compression bandage. Compression assists by reducing venous
      hypertension, enhancing venous return and reducing peripheral oedema. However,
      studies show that it only has moderate effects on healing, with up to 50% of VLUs
      unhealed after two years of compression. Non-adherence may be the principal cause
      of these poor results, but presence of inflammation in people with CVI may be
      another factor, so a treatment that suppresses inflammation (healing ulcers more
      quickly) and reduces the frequency of ulcer recurrence (thereby prolonging time
      between recurrent episodes) would be an invaluable intervention to complement
      compression treatments. Oral aspirin may have a significant impact on VLU
      clinical practice worldwide. Evidence for the effectiveness of aspirin on ulcer
      healing and recurrence in high quality RCTs is currently lacking. OBJECTIVES: To
      assess the benefits and harms of oral aspirin on the healing and recurrence of
      venous leg ulcers. SEARCH METHODS: In May 2015 we searched: The Cochrane Wounds
      Specialised Register; The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
      (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other
      Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE and EBSCO CINAHL. Additional searches were
      made in trial registers and reference lists of relevant publications for
      published or ongoing trials. There were no language or publication date
      restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
      that compared oral aspirin with placebo or no drug intervention (in the presence
      or absence of compression therapy) for treating people with venous leg ulcers.
      Our main outcomes were time to complete ulcer healing, rate of change in the area
      of the ulcer, proportion of ulcers healed in the trial period, major bleeding,
      pain, mortality, adverse events and ulcer recurrence (time for recurrence and
      proportion of recurrence). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors
      independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, assessed the risk
      of bias of each included trial and assessed overall quality of evidence for the
      main outcomes in the 'Summary of findings' table. MAIN RESULTS: The electronic
      search located 62 studies. We included two RCTs of oral aspirin (300 mg/daily)
      given in addition to compression compared with compression and placebo, or
      compression alone. To date, the impact of aspirin on VLUs has been examined by
      only two randomised clinical trials, both with a small number of participants.
      The first RCT was conducted in the United Kingdom (n=20) and reported that daily
      administration of aspirin (300mg) in addition to compression bandages increased
      both the rate of healing, and the number of participants healed when compared to
      placebo in addition to compression bandaging over a four month period. Thirty
      eight per cent of the participants given aspirin reported complete healing
      compared with 0% in the placebo group . Improvement (assessed by reduction in
      wound size) occurred in 52% of the participants taking aspirin compared with 26%
      in those taking placebo). The study identified potential benefits of taking
      aspirin as an adjunct to compression but the sample size was small, and neither
      the mechanism by which aspirin improved healing nor its effects on recurrence
      were investigated.In 2012 an RCT in Spain (n=51) compared daily administration of
      aspirin (300mg) in addition to compression bandages with compression alone over a
      five month period. There was little difference in complete healing rates between
      groups (21/28 aspirin and 17/23 compression bandages alone) but the average time
      to healing was shorter (12 weeks in the treated group vs 22 weeks in the
      compression only group) and the average time for recurrence was longer in the
      aspirin group (39 days: [SD 6.0] compared with 16.3 days [SD 7.5] in the
      compression only group). Although this trial provides some limited data about the
      potential use of aspirin therapy, the sample size (only 20 patients) was too
      small for us to draw meaningful conclusions. In addition, patients were only
      followed up for 4 months and no information on placebo was reported. AUTHORS'
      CONCLUSIONS: Low quality evidence from two trials indicate that there is
      currently insufficient evidence for us to draw definitive conclusions about the
      benefits and harms of oral aspirin on the healing and recurrence of venous leg
      ulcers. We downgraded the evidence to low quality due to potential selection bias
      and imprecision due to the small sample size. The small number of participants
      may have a hidden real benefit, or an increase in harm. Due to the lack of
      reliable evidence, we are unable to draw conclusions about the benefits and harms
      of oral daily aspirin as an adjunct to compression in VLU healing or recurrence.
      Further high quality studies are needed in this area.

PMID- 26889741
TI  - Clinical outcomes of frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer in patients
      requiring whole embryo freezing.
AB  - We compared clinical outcomes amongst frozen-thawed cleavage-stage embryo, double
      and single blastocyst transfers in patients requiring whole embryo freezing. Data
      of infertile patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF
      ET) in our Reproductive Medicine Center from January 2010 to December 2012 were
      retrospectively analyzed. According to patients' wishes, patients were divided
      into cleavage-stage embryo transfer groups (group A, n = 456), double blastocyst
      transfer group (group B, n = 106), and single blastocyst transfer group (group C,
      n = 402). We found that the number of frozen embryos was significantly less in
      groups B and C than in group A (all p < 0.05), but the implantation rate was
      significantly higher in groups B and C as compared to group A (all p < 0.05). The
      clinical pregnancy rate and pregnancy rate per included cycle were significantly
      higher in group B than in groups A and C (all p < 0.05). The multiple pregnancy
      rate was significantly lower in group C than in groups A and B (all p < 0.05).
      The rate of early abortion was significantly lower in group C as compared to
      group A (p < 0.05). The data support the view that it may be the best clinical
      strategy for patients who require whole embryo freezing and have four or more Day
      3 embryos available, to incubate Day 3 embryos into blastocysts, which are then
      vitrified for elective single blastocyst transfer. 

PMID- 26889743
TI  - Treatment of ichthyosis and hypernatremia in a patient with Netherton syndrome
      with a SPINK5 c.153delT mutation using kallikrein inhibiting ointment.

PMID- 26889744
TI  - Early and Late Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement Using Bioprosthetic Versus
      Mechanical Valve in Elderly Patients: A Propensity Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: There is still controversy on the use of
      mechanical valves to treat elderly patients with a small aortic annulus who
      require aortic valve replacement (AVR). We compared our results in elderly
      patients who underwent AVR with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve. Propensity
      matching adjusted for baseline differences in this study. METHODS: Between
      January 2001 and July 2014, 277 patients aged >=75 years old who underwent AVR
      were enrolled. Of 277 patients, 104 patients were selected using propensity score
      matching analysis. Out of this cohort, 52 patients underwent AVR with a
      bioprosthetic valve (B group) and the remainder AVR with a mechanical valve (M
      group). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the B and M groups
      in 30 days mortality (1.9% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.618). The incidence of patient
      prosthesis mismatch (PPM) after AVR tended to be lower in the M group than in the
      B group. The overall survival rates in the B and M groups at eight years were
      72.8% and 73.3%, respectively (p = 0.473). No significant differences between the
      two groups were observed in freedom from valve-related death, cardiac events,
      bleeding events, or stroke events. CONCLUSIONS: AVR in elderly patients achieved
      relatively good short-term and long-term outcomes, and the incidence rates of
      valve-related complications after using a mechanical valve were low. In a
      selected population of elderly patients, a mechanical valve may be acceptable.
      doi: 10.1111/jocs.12719 (J Card Surg 2016;31:195-202).

PMID- 26889745
TI  - Correlation between transvaginal ultrasound measured endometrial thickness and
      histopathological findings in Turkish women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
AB  - AIM: The present study aims to determine how transvaginal ultrasonography and
      histopathological examination findings are correlated in a cohort of
      premenopausal and postmenopausal Turkish women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
      METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 350 Turkish women who underwent
      transvaginal ultrasonography and suction curettage as a result of abnormal
      uterine bleeding. RESULTS: Sonographic appearance of the endometrium was normal
      in 244 patients (69.7%), while homogeneous thickening was detected in 47 patients
      (13.4%) and cystic thickening in 21 patients (6.0%). A sonographic diagnosis of
      endometrial polyp was made in 38 patients (10.9%). Histopathological analysis of
      endometrial samplings revealed proliferative endometrium (36%), secretory
      endometrium (24.6%), decidualization (10.9%), endometrial polyp (8.3%),
      endometritis (6.8%), endometrial hyperplasia (4.6%), irregular shedding (3.7%),
      atrophic endometrium (3.1%), endometrial cancer (1.1%) and placental retention
      (0.9%). The sonographic and histopathological findings correlated significantly
      (chi(2) = 122 768, P = 0.001; r = 0.215, P = 0.001). Approximately 51% of the
      women with homogeneous endometrial thickening had proliferative endometrium. Only
      44.7% of the women with ultrasonographically visualized endometrial polyps had
      histopathologically diagnosed endometrial polyps. Nearly 57% of the women with
      cystic endometrial thickening had proliferative endometrium. CONCLUSION: If there
      is no facility for hysteroscopy or hysteroscopy-guided endometrial biopsy for
      women with abnormal uterine bleeding, transvaginal ultrasonography findings can
      be efficiently used to make a preliminary diagnosis and, thus, notify the
      pathologists.

PMID- 26889742
TI  - 'She believed in me'. What patients with depression value in their relationship
      with practitioners. A secondary analysis of multiple qualitative data sets.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical guidance promotes the practitioner-patient relationship as
      integral to good quality person-centred care for patients with depression.
      However, patients can struggle to engage with practitioners and practitioners
      have indicated that they want more guidance on how to establish effective
      relationships with their patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify what practitioner
      attributes patients with depression particularly value or find problematic.
      METHOD: A secondary analysis of data collected during four qualitative studies,
      all of which entailed interviewing patients diagnosed with depression about their
      treatment experiences. Patients in the four studies had received different
      treatments. These included antidepressants, cognitive behaviour therapy,
      facilitated physical activity and listening visits. We thematically analysed 32
      patient accounts. RESULTS: We identified two complimentary sets of important
      practitioner attributes: the first based on the practitioner's bearing; the
      second based on the practitioner's enabling role. We found that patients value
      practitioners who consider their individual manner, share relevant personal
      information, show interest and acceptance, communicate clearly and listen
      carefully, collaborate on manageable goals and sanction greater patient self-care
      and self-compassion. It was also evident that patients receiving different
      treatments value the same practitioner attributes and that when these key
      practitioner qualities were not evident, patients were liable not to re-attend or
      comply with treatment. CONCLUSION: The practitioner attributes that patients with
      depression most value have a positive impact on their engagement with treatment.
      Patients emphasise the importance of a practitioner's demeanour and
      encouragement, rather than the amount of time or specific treatment a
      practitioner is able to provide.

PMID- 26889746
TI  - Z-Shaped Pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles and Their Transformation into pi-Expanded
      Indolo[3,2-b]indoles.
AB  - Sterically hindered 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles possessing ortho
      (arylethynyl)phenyl substituents at positions-2 and -5 were efficiently
      synthesized through a sila-Sonogashira reaction. These unique Z-shaped dyes
      showed relatively strong fluorescence in solution. Detailed optimization revealed
      that, in the presence of InCl3, these alkynes readily undergo an intramolecular
      double cyclization to give hexacyclic products bearing an indolo[3,2-b]indole
      skeleton in remarkable yields. Steady-state UV-visible spectroscopy revealed that
      upon photoexcitation, the prepared Z-shaped alkynes undergo mostly radiative
      relaxation leading to high fluorescence quantum yields. In the case of 7,14
      dihydrobenzo[g]benzo[6,7]indolo[3,2-b]indoles, we believe that the substantial
      planarization of geometry in the excited state, is the underlying reason for the
      observed large Stokes shifts. The presence of additional electron-withdrawing
      groups makes it possible to further alter the photophysical properties. The two
      photon absorption cross-section values of both families of dyes were found to be
      modest and the nature of the excited state responsible for two-photon absorption
      appeared to be strongly affected by the presence of peripheral groups.
      Serendipitous synthesis of unusual double-Z-shaped alkyne by Sonogashira and
      Glaser coupling is also reported.

PMID- 26889748
TI  - Differential association of STAT3 and HK-II expression in hepatitis B virus- and
      hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - STAT3 and hexokinase II (HK-II) are involved in viral infection and
      carcinogenesis of various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The
      roles of STAT3 and HK-II in hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
      related HCC remain largely unclear. This study examined STAT3 and HK-II
      expression in HBV- and HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and normal
      control liver by using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical method. Results
      showed that STAT3 expression in HBV-related HCC, HCV-related HCC, and HBV-related
      liver fibrosis was significantly higher than in control liver (P < 0.001, P =
      0.016, and P = 0.005, respectively) and had no significant differences between
      these three diseased liver tissues. The HK-II expression in HBV-related HCC was
      significantly higher than that in HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis,
      and control liver (P = 0.007, P = 0.029, and P = 0.008, respectively) but had no
      significant elevation in and no significant differences between HCV-related HCC,
      HBV-related liver fibrosis, and control liver. The HK-II expression was
      significantly correlated to STAT3 expression in HBV-related HCC (P = 0.022), but
      no correlation was observed in HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and
      control liver. In conclusion, STAT3 expression is upregulated in both HBV- and
      HCV-related HCC, while HK-II is predominantly upregulated and correlated to STAT3
      in HBV-related HCC. These differential expression and association may suggest the
      distinct roles of STAT3 and HK-II in hepatocarcinogenesis of HBV and HCV
      infection. Studies are needed to confirm the relationship of STAT3 and HK-II and
      to examine the underlying mechanisms. J. Med. Virol. 88:1552-1559, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26889747
TI  - Inhibition of ice recrystallization and cryoprotective activity of wheat proteins
      in liver and pancreatic cells.
AB  - Efficient cryopreservation of cells at ultralow temperatures requires the use of
      substances that help maintain viability and metabolic functions post-thaw. We are
      developing new technology where plant proteins are used to substitute the
      commonly-used, but relatively toxic chemical dimethyl sulfoxide. Recombinant
      forms of four structurally diverse wheat proteins, TaIRI-2 (ice recrystallization
      inhibition), TaBAS1 (2-Cys peroxiredoxin), WCS120 (dehydrin), and TaENO (enolase)
      can efficiently cryopreserve hepatocytes and insulin-secreting INS832/13 cells.
      This study shows that TaIRI-2 and TaENO are internalized during the freeze-thaw
      process, while TaBAS1 and WCS120 remain at the extracellular level. Possible
      antifreeze activity of the four proteins was assessed. The "splat cooling" method
      for quantifying ice recrystallization inhibition activity (a property that
      characterizes antifreeze proteins) revealed that TaIRI-2 and TaENO are more
      potent than TaBAS1 and WCS120. Because of their ability to inhibit ice
      recrystallization, the wheat recombinant proteins TaIRI-2 and TaENO are promising
      candidates and could prove useful to improve cryopreservation protocols for
      hepatocytes and insulin-secreting cells, and possibly other cell types. TaENO
      does not have typical ice-binding domains, and the TargetFreeze tool did not
      predict an antifreeze capacity, suggesting the existence of nontypical antifreeze
      domains. The fact that TaBAS1 is an efficient cryoprotectant but does not show
      antifreeze activity indicates a different mechanism of action. The cryoprotective
      properties conferred by WCS120 depend on biochemical properties that remain to be
      determined. Overall, our results show that the proteins' efficiencies vary
      between cell types, and confirm that a combination of different protection
      mechanisms is needed to successfully cryopreserve mammalian cells. 

PMID- 26889749
TI  - Myocardial T1 rho mapping of patients with end-stage renal disease and its
      comparison with T1 mapping and T2 mapping: A feasibility and reproducibility
      study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of T1 rho mapping in myocardium at 3T and to
      determine whether T1 rho mapping could better characterize myocardial injury in
      end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients compared to T1 and T2 mapping. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: T1 rho mapping, T1 mapping, and T2 mapping were performed at 3T on
      35 healthy volunteers (15 males, 20 females, 40.7 +/- 13.6 years) and 32 ESRD
      patients (16 males, 16 females, 48.6 +/- 11.9 years). The mean T1 rho, T1 , and
      T2 values were compared using Student's t-test and correlated with cardiac
      function parameters, including peak ejection rate (PER), short-axis percent
      thickening (SAPT), peak filling rate (PFR), and time to peak filling (TTPF).
      RESULTS: The mean T1 rho values (49.4 +/- 2.6 msec vs. 52.2 +/- 4.0 msec, P =
      0.001) and T2 values (50.5 +/- 2.5 msec vs. 54.1 +/- 4.0 msec, P < 0.001) were
      significantly different between the volunteers and patients, but there were no
      significant differences between the two groups in the T1 values (1253.1 +/- 71.6
      msec vs. 1273.4 +/- 41.7 msec, P = 0.157). The mean T1 rho values were negatively
      correlated with the PER (r = -0.397; P = 0.03), SAPT (r = -0.688; P < 0.001), and
      PFR (r = -0.537; P = 0.002), whereas positively correlated with the TTPF (r =
      0.677; P < 0.001). The mean T2 values were negatively correlated only with the
      SAPT (r = -0.427; P = 0.019) in the ESRD patients. CONCLUSION: T1 rho mapping of
      the myocardium is feasible at 3T. T1 rho values are higher in ESRD patients and
      relate to cardiac function, which may better characterize myocardial injury than
      can T1 and T2 . J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:723-731.

PMID- 26889751
TI  - Assessing atmospheric concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls by evergreen
      Rhododendron maximum next to a contaminated stream.
AB  - Conifers are often used as an air passive sampler, but few studies have focused
      on the implication of broadleaf evergreens to monitor atmospheric semivolatile
      organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In the present study,
      the authors used Rhododendron maximum (rhododendron) growing next to a
      contaminated stream to assess atmospheric PCB concentrations. The present study
      area was located in a rural setting and approximately 2 km downstream of a former
      capacitor plant. Leaves from the same mature shrubs were collected in late fall
      2010 and winter and spring 2011. Polychlorinated biphenyls were detected in the
      collected leaves, suggesting that rhododendron can be used as air passive
      samplers in rural areas where active sampling is impractical. Estimated SigmaPCB
      (47 congeners) concentrations in the atmosphere decreased from fall 2010 to
      spring 2011 with concentration means at 3990 pg m(-3) , 2850 pg m(-3) , and 931
      pg m(-3) in fall 2010, winter 2011, and spring 2011, respectively. These results
      indicate that the atmospheric concentrations at this location continue to be high
      despite termination of active discharge from the former industrial source. Leaves
      had a consistent pattern of high concentrations of tetra-CBs and penta-CBs
      similar to the congener distribution in polyethylene passive samplers deployed in
      the water column, suggesting that volatilized PCBs from the stream were the
      primary source of contaminants in rhododendron leaves. Environ Toxicol Chem
      2016;35:2192-2198. (c) 2016 SETAC.

PMID- 26889750
TI  - Changes in dermal matrix in the absence of Rac1 in keratinocytes.
AB  - Keratinocytes, in response to irritants, secrete pro-inflammatory mediators which
      recruit and activate immune and mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts, to
      repair the skin. Fibroblasts respond by synthesising collagen and promoting the
      crosslinking extracellular matrix (ECM). We recently showed that the deletion of
      Rac1 in keratinocytes causes heightened inflammation due to aberrant crosstalk
      with immune cells. Indeed, the skin of these mice shows a higher inflammatory
      response to the induction of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and also even to
      treatment with a vehicle alone, compared with controls. As inflammation is
      intimately linked with fibrotic disease in the skin, this raised the question as
      to whether this deletion may also affect the deposition and arrangement of the
      dermal ECM. This study assessed the effects of Rac1 deletion in keratinocytes and
      of the heightened inflammatory status by induction of ICD on the tissue
      localisation and arrangements of dermal collagen. Qualitative analysis did not
      reveal evidence for the formation of pathologies in the dermis. However,
      quantitative analysis did reveal some perturbations in the dermal matrix, namely
      that only the combination of the lack of Rac1 and ICD affects the architectural
      organisation of the dermal collagen, and that a higher inflammatory state in the
      tissue (i.e. when Rac1 is deleted in the keratinocytes or ICD is induced in the
      skin, or a combination of both) influences the diameter of the collagen fibrils.
      It is proposed that this increase in the diameter of collagen fibrils due to
      inflammation may serve as pre-fibrotic marker enabling earlier determination of
      fibrosis and earlier treatment. This study has revealed previously unknown
      effects on the ECM due to the deletion of Rac1 in keratinocytes. 

PMID- 26889753
TI  - The analysis of influence of individual and environmental factors on 2-wheeled
      users' injuries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Powered 2-wheeled motor vehicles (PTWs) are one of the most vulnerable
      categories of road users. Bearing that fact in mind, we have researched the
      effects of individual and environmental factors on the severity and type of
      injuries of PTW users. The aim was to recognize the circumstances that cause
      these accidents and take some preventive actions that would improve the level of
      road safety for PTWs. METHODS: In the period from 2001 to 2010, an analysis of
      139 road accidents involving PTWs was made by the Faculty of Transport and
      Traffic Engineering in Belgrade. The effects of both individual (age, gender,
      etc.) and environmental factors (place of an accident, time of day, etc.) on the
      cause of accidents and severity and type of injuries of PTWs are reported in this
      article. Analyses of these effects were conducted using logistic regression, chi
      square tests, and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: Factors such as categories of
      road users, pavement conditions, place of accident, age, and time of day have a
      statistically significant effect on PTW injuries, whereas other factors (gender,
      road type; that is, straight or curvy) do not. The article also defines the
      interdependence of the occurrence of particular injuries at certain speeds. The
      results show that if PTW users died of a head injury, these were usually
      concurrent with chest injuries, injuries to internal organs, and limb injuries.
      CONCLUSIONS: It has been shown that there is a high degree of influence of
      individual factors on the occurrence of accidents involving 2-wheelers
      (PTWs/bicycles) but with no statistically significant relation. Establishing the
      existence of such conditionalities enables identifying and defining factors that
      have an impact on the occurrence of traffic accidents involving bicyclists or
      PTWs. Such a link between individual factors and the occurrence of accidents
      makes it possible for system managers to take appropriate actions aimed at
      certain categories of 2-wheelers in order to reduce casualties in a particular
      area. The analysis showed that most of the road factors do not have a
      statistically significant effect on either category of 2-wheeler. Namely, the
      logistic regression analysis showed that there is a statistically significant
      effect of the place of accident on the occurrence of accidents involving
      bicyclists.

PMID- 26889754
TI  - 'People look down on you when you tell them how he died': Qualitative insights
      into stigma as experienced by suicide survivors.
AB  - This paper aims to present findings that convey how people felt stigmatized after
      the loss of a loved one to suicide. A qualitative design was used for the purpose
      of this study. Data were collected using in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Audio
      recordings of the interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Ten
      people bereaved by suicide participated in the study. Four themes emerged from
      the data namely: Feeling blamed, shamed and judged; Feeling isolated/rejected by
      friends and community; Feeling silenced and Feeling the burden of others'
      discomfort. Findings show that stigmatization of the bereaved by suicide had
      detrimental effects on their relationships and their help seeking behaviours.
      Further, due to stigma imposed on them by others, participants were denied the
      opportunity to tell their stories which further complicated their grieving
      process. Further education and training is required for health professionals to
      enhance understanding of the specific needs of those bereaved by suicide. 

PMID- 26889752
TI  - Abscisic acid regulates root growth under osmotic stress conditions via an
      interacting hormonal network with cytokinin, ethylene and auxin.
AB  - Understanding the mechanisms regulating root development under drought conditions
      is an important question for plant biology and world agriculture. We examine the
      effect of osmotic stress on abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin and ethylene responses
      and how they mediate auxin transport, distribution and root growth through
      effects on PIN proteins. We integrate experimental data to construct hormonal
      crosstalk networks to formulate a systems view of root growth regulation by
      multiple hormones. Experimental analysis shows: that ABA-dependent and ABA
      independent stress responses increase under osmotic stress, but cytokinin
      responses are only slightly reduced; inhibition of root growth under osmotic
      stress does not require ethylene signalling, but auxin can rescue root growth and
      meristem size; osmotic stress modulates auxin transporter levels and
      localization, reducing root auxin concentrations; PIN1 levels are reduced under
      stress in an ABA-dependent manner, overriding ethylene effects; and the interplay
      among ABA, ethylene, cytokinin and auxin is tissue-specific, as evidenced by
      differential responses of PIN1 and PIN2 to osmotic stress. Combining experimental
      analysis with network construction reveals that ABA regulates root growth under
      osmotic stress conditions via an interacting hormonal network with cytokinin,
      ethylene and auxin.

PMID- 26889755
TI  - Comparison of outcome of patients with CLL who are referred or nonreferred to a
      specialized CLL clinic: a Canadian population-based study.
AB  - Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) patients in
      Manitoba are either referred to the CLL Clinic at CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) or
      are followed by other hematologists and general practitioners. However, it has
      been unclear whether referral to the CLL clinic influences patient outcome.
      Overall survival (OS) was assessed for all CLL/SLL patients diagnosed in Manitoba
      between 2007 and 2011. Of 555 patients, 281 (51%) were referred to the CLL
      clinic. Patients seen in this clinic had a twofold increased OS compared to
      patients who were managed by other hematologists and general practitioners (HR
      2.375, P 0.0002) when adjusted for age, gender, presence of pre- or post-CLL
      cancer, treatment and urban/rural location. In the nonreferred population there
      was a striking correlation between advancing age and decreasing OS. However, this
      correlation was almost eliminated in the referred population who were more likely
      to receive chemotherapy. Patients referred and seen in the CLL clinic have an
      improved OS compared to nonreferred patients and this appears to be primarily
      related to improved OS in the elderly. Possible explanations for this finding are
      discussed.

PMID- 26889758
TI  - Synergistic Kinetic Resolution and Asymmetric Propargyl Claisen Rearrangement for
      the Synthesis of Chiral Allenes.
AB  - The asymmetric propargyl Claisen rearrangement provides a convenient entry to
      chiral allene motifs. Herein, we describe the development of a kinetic resolution
      and asymmetric rearrangement of racemic propargyl vinyl ethers. This
      transformation afforded chiral allene products along with the enantiomerically
      enriched substrate in good yields with excellent diastereo- and
      enantioselectivity. The complete chirality transfer and facially selective
      rearrangement enabled the simultaneous construction of an axially chiral allenic
      unit and a quaternary carbon stereocenter. 

PMID- 26889759
TI  - Does patent protection for personalized medicine still exist in the USA?

PMID- 26889757
TI  - Bioinspired Alkenyl Amino Alcohol Ionizable Lipid Materials for Highly Potent In
      Vivo mRNA Delivery.
AB  - Thousands of human diseases could be treated by selectively controlling the
      expression of specific proteins in vivo. A new series of alkenyl amino alcohol
      (AAA) ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) capable of delivering human mRNA with
      unprecedented levels of in vivo efficacy is demonstrated. This study highlights
      the importance of utilizing synthesis tools in tandem with biological inspiration
      to understand and improve nucleic acid delivery in vivo. 

PMID- 26889756
TI  - Antineoplastic Isoflavonoids Derived from Intermediate ortho-Quinone Methides
      Generated from Mannich Bases.
AB  - The regioselective condensations of various 7-hydroxyisoflavonoids with bis(N,N
      dimethylamino)methane in a Mannich reaction provided C-8 N,N-dimethylaminomethyl
      substituted isoflavonoids in good yield. Similar condensations of 7-hydroxy-8
      methylisoflavonoids led to the C-6-substituted analogs. Thermal eliminations of
      dimethylamine from these C-6 or C-8 N,N-dimethylaminomethyl-substituted
      isoflavonoids generated ortho-quinone methide intermediates within isoflavonoid
      frameworks for the first time. Despite other potential competing outcomes, these
      ortho-quinone methide intermediates trapped dienophiles including 2,3
      dihydrofuran, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran, 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-5,5-dimethyl-2
      cyclohexen-1-one, 1-morpholinocyclopentene, and 1-morpholinocyclohexene to give
      various inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder adducts. Several adducts derived from
      8-N,N-dimethylaminomethyl-substituted isoflavonoids displayed good activity in
      the 1-10 MUm concentration range in an in vitro proliferation assay using the PC
      3 prostate cancer cell line.

PMID- 26889760
TI  - Color polymorphs of aldose reductase inhibitor epalrestat: configurational,
      conformational and synthon differences.
AB  - We report five crystalline polymorphs and an amorphous phase of epalrestat
      together with configurational isomerism and color behavior: form I (deep red),
      form II (deep orange), form III (bright yellow), form IV (yellow), and form V
      (orange) are in the E,Z configuration of the drug, and a Z,Z isomer (bright
      yellow). Two pathways are identified for polymorph conversion: direct
      transformation of the E,Z isomer and another pathway via the Z,Z isomer to the
      E,Z polymorphs. From a pharmaceutical perspective, the stability of polymorphs
      was established under grinding, solvent slurry and thermal conditions: form I
      (thermodynamic) > form II > form V > form III > form IV (least stable). 

PMID- 26889761
TI  - Analysis of HIV models with two time delays.
AB  - Time delays can affect the dynamics of HIV infection predicted by mathematical
      models. In this paper, we studied two mathematical models each with two time
      delays. In the first model with HIV latency, one delay is the time between viral
      entry into a cell and the establishment of HIV latency, and the other delay is
      the time between cell infection and viral production. We defined the basic
      reproductive number and showed the local and global stability of the steady
      states. Numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the influence of time
      delays on the dynamics. In the second model with HIV immune response, one delay
      is the time between cell infection and viral production, and the other delay is
      the time needed for the adaptive immune response to emerge to control viral
      replication. With two positive delays, we obtained the stability crossing curves
      for the model, which were shown to be a series of open-ended curves.

PMID- 26889762
TI  - Measurement of extracellular vesicles and other submicron size particles by flow
      cytometry.

PMID- 26889765
TI  - Proton Transport in a Highly Conductive Porous Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic
      Framework: Molecular Insight.
AB  - The water stable UiO-66(Zr)-(CO2H)2 MOF exhibits a superprotonic conductivity of
      2.3*10(-3)  S cm(-1) at 90  degrees C and 95 % relative humidity. Quasi-elastic
      neutron scattering measurements combined with aMS-EVB3 molecular dynamics
      simulations were able to probe individually the dynamics of both confined protons
      and water molecules and to further reveal that the proton transport is assisted
      by the formation of a hydrogen-bonded water network that spans from the
      tetrahedral to the octahedral cages of this MOF. This is the first joint
      experimental/modeling study that unambiguously elucidates the proton-conduction
      mechanism at the molecular level in a highly conductive MOF.

PMID- 26889764
TI  - Practitioner perspectives on extended clinical placement programs in optometry.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some universities are looking to provide a more diverse range of
      clinical learning experiences through extended clinical placement programs. This
      approach will potentially have a significant impact on practitioners. The aim of
      this study was to conduct a national survey of optometrists to ascertain their
      perspectives on participating in extended clinical placement programs. METHODS:
      Members of Optometry Australia were invited to participate in a survey conducted
      during June and July 2014. RESULTS: A total of 268 practitioners participated
      (six per cent of registered Australian optometrists): 159 were predominantly
      employees or locums and 109 were owners or managers who identified as the key
      representative of a practice or organisation for the purpose of this survey.
      Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of participants, who were employees or locums
      were supportive of extended clinical placement programs. Among this group,
      females were more likely to be supportive than males (p = 0.033). In comparison,
      just over one-third (34 per cent) of participants who were key decision-makers
      were supportive, with 30 per cent possibly supportive and 36 per cent not
      supportive. Among key decision-makers, males were more likely to be supportive (p
      = 0.009). The top three perceived advantages of supervising a student were:
      opportunity to mentor early career development, opportunity to give back to the
      profession and future recruitment. The top three perceived disadvantages were:
      burden on time, decrease in number of patients examined and burden on support
      staff. Suggested incentives for supervising students were credit for continuing
      professional development and financial remuneration. CONCLUSION: There appears to
      be moderate support for extended clinical placement programs; however, there are
      incentives that might engage a larger proportion of the profession in the future.
      These findings can inform the development of effective and sustainable clinical
      training programs for optometry students. Additionally, the findings might be
      used as evidence to seek Government support for clinical placement training in
      optometry.

PMID- 26889766
TI  - Moving Toward a Field of Palliative Psychology.

PMID- 26889767
TI  - ECDC expert opinion on efficacy and effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors
      published for public consultation.

PMID- 26889768
TI  - Attacker Deterrence and Perceived Risk in a Stackelberg Security Game.
AB  - In Stackelberg security games, a defender must allocate scarce resources to
      defend against a potential attacker. The optimal defense involves the
      randomization of scarce security resources, yet how attackers perceive the risk
      given randomized defense is not well understood. We conducted an experiment where
      attackers chose whether to attack or not attack targets protected by randomized
      defense schemes, the key treatment variable being whether the defender picks one
      target at random to guard or imperfectly guards all targets. The two schemes are
      expected-payoff equivalent, and when provided separately we found no effect of
      having one scheme or the other. Yet, when both are present, we found that
      subjects had a preference for the fixed scheme, a preference that cannot be
      reduced to differences in beliefs. Overall, our results suggest that
      understanding how individuals perceive risk is vital to understand the behavior
      of attackers.

PMID- 26889763
TI  - Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of coadministered
      azithromycin and piperaquine in pregnant Papua New Guinean women.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety, tolerability
      and pharmacokinetics of coadministered azithromycin (AZI) and piperaquine (PQ)
      for treating malaria in pregnant Papua New Guinean women. METHODS: Thirty
      pregnant women (median age 22 years; 16-32 weeks' gestation) were given three
      daily doses of 1 g AZI plus 960 mg PQ tetraphosphate with detailed
      monitoring/blood sampling over 42 days. Plasma AZI and PQ were assayed using
      liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid
      chromatography, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis was by population-based
      compartmental models. RESULTS: The treatment was well tolerated. The median
      (interquartile range) increase in the rate-corrected electrocardiographic QT
      interval 4 h postdose [12 (6-26) ms(0) (.5) ] was similar to that found in
      previous studies of AZI given in pregnancy with other partner drugs. Six women
      with asymptomatic malaria cleared their parasitaemias within 72 h. Two
      apararasitaemic women developed late uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum
      infections on Days 42 and 83. Compared with previous pregnancy studies, the area
      under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-infinity ) for PQ [38818 (24354-52299)
      MUg h l(-1) ] was similar to published values but there was a 52% increase in
      relative bioavailability with each dose. The AUC0-infinity for AZI [46799 (43526
      49462) MUg h l(-1) ] was at least as high as reported for higher-dose regimens,
      suggesting saturable absorption and/or concentration-dependent tissue uptake and
      clearance from the central compartment. CONCLUSIONS: AZI-PQ appears to be well
      tolerated and safe in pregnancy. Based on the present/other data, total AZI doses
      higher than 3 g for the treatment and prevention of malaria may be unnecessary in
      pregnant women, while clearance of parasitaemia could improve the relative
      bioavailability of PQ.

PMID- 26889769
TI  - Cannabis effects on driving longitudinal control with and without alcohol.
AB  - Although evidence suggests cannabis impairs driving, its driving-performance
      effects are not fully characterized. We aimed to establish cannabis' effects on
      driving longitudinal control (with and without alcohol, drivers' most common drug
      combination) relative to psychoactive ?(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) blood
      concentrations. Current occasional (>=1*/last 3 months, <=3 days per week)
      cannabis smokers drank placebo or low-dose alcohol, and inhaled 500 mg placebo,
      low (2.9%), or high (6.7%) THC vaporized cannabis over 10 min ad libitum in
      separate sessions (within-subject, six conditions). Participants drove (National
      Advanced Driving Simulator, University of Iowa) simulated drives 0.5-1.3 h post
      inhalation. Blood and breath alcohol samples were collected before (0.17 and 0.42
      h) and after (1.4 and 2.3 h) driving. We evaluated the mean speed (relative to
      limit), standard deviation (SD) of speed, percent time spent >10% above/below the
      speed limit (percent speed high/percent speed low), longitudinal acceleration,
      and ability to maintain headway relative to a lead vehicle (headway maintenance)
      against blood THC and breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC). In N=18 completing
      drivers, THC was associated with a decreased mean speed, increased percent speed
      low and increased mean following distance during headway maintenance. BrAC was
      associated with increased SD speed and increased percent speed high, whereas THC
      was not. Neither was associated with altered longitudinal acceleration. A less
      than-additive THC*BrAC interaction was detected in percent speed high
      (considering only non-zero data and excluding an outlying drive event),
      suggesting cannabis mitigated drivers' tendency to drive faster with alcohol.
      Cannabis was associated with slower driving and greater headway, suggesting a
      possible awareness of impairment and attempt to compensate. Copyright (c) 2016
      John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26889770
TI  - l-carnitine protects human hepatocytes from oxidative stress-induced toxicity
      through Akt-mediated activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.
AB  - In our previous study, l-carnitine was shown to have cytoprotective effect
      against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in human normal HL7702
      hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the protective
      effect of l-carnitine was associated with the nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)
      related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Our results showed that pretreatment with l
      carnitine augmented Nrf2 nuclear translocation, DNA binding activity and heme
      oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in H2O2-treated HL7702 cells, although l-carnitine
      treatment alone had no effect on them. Analysis using Nrf2 siRNA demonstrated
      that Nrf2 activation was involved in l-carnitine-induced HO-1 expression. In
      addition, l-carnitine-mediated protection against H2O2 toxicity was abrogated by
      Nrf2 siRNA, indicating the important role of Nrf2 in l-carnitine-induced
      cytoprotection. Further experiments revealed that l-carnitine pretreatment
      enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt in H2O2-treated cells. Blocking Akt pathway
      with inhibitor partly abrogated the protective effect of l-carnitine. Moreover,
      our finding demonstrated that the induction of Nrf2 translocation and HO-1
      expression by l-carnitine directly correlated with the Akt pathway because Akt
      inhibitor showed inhibitory effects on the Nrf2 translocation and HO-1
      expression. Altogether, these results demonstrate that l-carnitine protects
      HL7702 cells against H2O2-induced cell damage through Akt-mediated activation of
      Nrf2 signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26889772
TI  - Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) Informed Modeling of Aquatic Toxicology: QSARs,
      Read-Across, and Interspecies Verification of Modes of Action.
AB  - Alternative approaches have been promoted to reduce the number of vertebrate and
      invertebrate animals required for the assessment of the potential of compounds to
      cause harm to the aquatic environment. A key philosophy in the development of
      alternatives is a greater understanding of the relevant adverse outcome pathway
      (AOP). One alternative method is the fish embryo toxicity (FET) assay. Although
      the trends in potency have been shown to be equivalent in embryo and adult
      assays, a detailed mechanistic analysis of the toxicity data has yet to be
      performed; such analysis is vital for a full understanding of the AOP. The
      research presented herein used an updated implementation of the Verhaar scheme to
      categorize compounds into AOP-informed categories. These were then used in
      mechanistic (quantitative) structure-activity relationship ((Q)SAR) analysis to
      show that the descriptors governing the distinct mechanisms of acute fish
      toxicity are capable of modeling data from the FET assay. The results show that
      compounds do appear to exhibit the same mechanisms of toxicity across life
      stages. Thus, this mechanistic analysis supports the argument that the FET assay
      is a suitable alternative testing strategy for the specified mechanisms and that
      understanding the AOPs is useful for toxicity prediction across test systems. 

PMID- 26889771
TI  - The diffusive way out: Herpesviruses remodel the host nucleus, enabling capsids
      to access the inner nuclear membrane.
AB  - Herpesviruses are large DNA viruses that utilize the host nucleus for genome
      replication as well as capsid assembly. After maturation, these 125 nm large
      capsid assemblies must cross the nucleoplasm to engage the nuclear envelope and
      bud into the cytoplasm. Here we summarize our recent findings how this motility
      is facilitated. We suggest that herpesvirus induced nuclear remodeling allows
      capsids to move by diffusion in the nucleus and not by motor-dependent transport.

PMID- 26889773
TI  - Clam Ruditapes philippinarum recovery from short-term exposure to the combined
      effect of salinity shifts and Arsenic contamination.
AB  - The current study assessed the biochemical alterations induced in the clam
      species Ruditapes philippinarum after exposure to salinity shifts (14, 28 and 42)
      and arsenic (As) contamination (0 and 2mg/L). The capacity of this species to
      recover (96h and 28 days) after exposure (96h) to both stressors, acting alone
      and in combination, was also evaluated. After exposure, regardless of the
      salinity tested, clams contaminated with As showed higher concentrations than non
      contaminated specimens. After recovery, As concentration in clams decreased, with
      contaminated and non-contaminated specimens presenting similar values. The
      results obtained further demonstrated that exposure to As (2mg/L) at different
      salinities (salinities 14, 28 and 42) and salinity 42 (As 0mg/L) lead to an
      increase of lipid peroxidation and detoxification mechanisms in clams, compared
      with non-contaminated clams at salinities of 14 and 28. After recovery, at
      salinities 14 and 28, clams previously exposed to As were capable to decrease
      their oxidative stress to levels found in non-contaminated clams. Nevertheless,
      at salinity 42 both contaminated and non-contaminated clams did not survive.
      Overall results of measured energy-related parameters, indicators of oxidative
      stress, antioxidant and biotransformation enzymes indicated that As exposure and
      salinity shifts caused biochemical alterations in R. philippinarum, with stronger
      impacts when both stressors were acting in combination. 

PMID- 26889774
TI  - Involvement of Drug Transporters in Organ Toxicity: The Fundamental Basis of Drug
      Discovery and Development.
AB  - Membrane transporters play a pivotal role in many organs to maintain their normal
      physiological functions and contribute significantly to drug absorption,
      distribution, and elimination. Knowledge gained from gene modified animal models
      or human genetic disorders has demonstrated that interruption of the transporter
      activity can lead to debilitating diseases or organ toxicities. Herein we
      describe transporter associated diseases and organ toxicities resulting from
      transporter gene deficiency or functional inhibition in the liver, kidney,
      gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and central nervous system (CNS). While proposing
      additional transporters as targets for drug-induced organ toxicity, strategies
      and future perspectives are discussed for transporter risk assessment in drug
      discovery and development. 

PMID- 26889775
TI  - "Collaborative-ready" students: Exploring factors that influence collaboration
      during a longitudinal interprofessional education practice experience.
AB  - A goal of interprofessional education (IPE) is to prepare "collaborative-ready"
      healthcare professionals to ultimately improve health outcomes. The objective of
      our study was to explore student-reported factors that influence collaboration
      within our longitudinal IPE experience. Twenty-five first-year pharmacy students
      and 50 first-year medical students enrolled in IPE courses were invited to
      participate in three focus groups. Focus group responses were audio-recorded,
      transcribed verbatim, and applied to a qualitative thematic analysis. Eighteen
      students participated with six students in each group. Compared to the medical
      students, the pharmacy students were younger (22 vs. 26 years), had earned only a
      high school diploma, and had less healthcare experience. Emergent themes that
      students reported revealed various factors that can facilitate and inhibit
      collaboration among student participants. These findings can inform curricular
      redesign to focus on: clarifying provider roles, requiring ongoing preceptor
      development, enhancing course orientation, and coordinating student schedules to
      better prepare "collaborative-ready" students. 

PMID- 26889776
TI  - Fabrication of an integrated cartilage/bone joint prosthesis and its potential
      application in joint replacement.
AB  - An integrated cartilage/bone joint prosthesis was designed and fabricated using a
      two-step molding injection method, in which ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
      (EVA) was used as the upper cartilage layer, and hydroxyapatite/polyamide66
      (HA/PA66) composites as the underlying bone layer. Holes punched in the
      underlying layer improved the interfacial bonding strength between the two layers
      by means of the mechanical interlocking obviously. Then, the physicochemical
      properties and in vivo behaviors of the integrated joint prosthesis were
      investigated. The results showed that the upper layer displayed good bio
      tribological properties which were suitable for the articular cartilage
      replacement, while the underlying layer demonstrated good mechanical performance,
      excellent biocompatibility and high bioactivity, and could accelerate bone
      regeneration and the early bio-fixation of the prosthesis. Therefore, the
      prosthesis prepared here will have a wide prospect to be used in joint
      replacement.

PMID- 26889777
TI  - A Au(I)-Precatalyst with a Cyclopropenium Counterion: An Unusual Ion Pair.
AB  - The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a novel Au(I)-precatalyst applied to
      intermolecular alkyne hydroamination is reported. Density functional theory (DFT)
      calculations revealed the cyclopropenium counterion of this Au(I)-precatalyst
      imparts stability through H-bonding and other noncovalent interactions. 

PMID- 26889778
TI  - Clinical profile and outcome of refractory convulsive status epilepticus in older
      children from a developing country.
AB  - PURPOSE: The current study evaluates the etiology, clinical course and outcome of
      refractory convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in older children. METHODS:
      Retrospective analysis of data of 73 children with CSE, aged >=2 and <=12 years
      was performed. Odds ratios were calculated between variables for clinical course
      and outcome. Mortality of the group was analyzed using survival analysis.
      RESULTS: Thirty three (45.2%) children progressed to refractory status
      epilepticus (RSE). The most common etiology for CSE was acute symptomatic in 44
      (60.3%) of which 37 had presumed CNS infections. The odds of progressing to RSE
      were higher in children with acute symptomatic etiology (OR 2.62; CI - 95%; 0.99
      7.14; p=0.041). Progression to RSE increased the chances of severe sepsis by six
      times (OR 6.08; CI - 95%; 1.19-31.02; p=0.036) and acidosis by nearly 15 times
      (OR 14.77; CI - 95%; 1.19-31.02; p=0.020). Overall mortality was 13.7%, higher in
      RSE (21.2% vs.7.5%). Amongst the 63 surviving children followed for 1 year from
      discharge, progression to RSE increased the odds of disability by seven times (OR
      7.08; CI 29.31; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Acute symptomatic etiology was the
      commonest cause of CSE among older children from developing country and increased
      the odds of progressing to RSE. RSE was significantly associated with disability
      at 1 year from discharge.

PMID- 26889779
TI  - Levocarnitine induced seizures in patients on valproic acid: A negative
      systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Warnings of L-carnitine induced seizures are recorded on product
      monographs and pharmacy databases, without any referenced literature. This
      medication can potentially improve the hospital course in those patients with
      valproic acid (VPA) induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy, but may be withheld
      because of this warning. The goal was to perform an extensive systematic review
      of the literature to document the incidence of levocarnitine (L-carnitine)
      induced seizures in those patients on VPA therapy. METHODS: Articles from
      MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the
      International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov (inception to
      June 2015), and reference lists of relevant articles were searched. The strength
      of evidence was to be adjudicated using both the Oxford and GRADE methodology by
      two independent reviewers. RESULTS: We failed to identify a single study
      implicating L-carnitine supplementation leading to seizures in any patient on VPA
      therapy. This contradicts all quoted, but unsubstantiated, concerns on product
      monographs and pharmacy databases related to seizure induction/propagation with L
      carnitine supplementation. CONCLUSION: There is no literature available to
      support claims of L-carnitine induced seizures during supplementation in patients
      on VPA therapy for seizures. This contradicts quoted, but not referenced,
      concerns on the product monograph. In patients suffering from hypocarnitinemia or
      hyperammonemic encephalopathy while on VPA, L-carnitine supplementation can be
      considered knowing there is no data to support seizure propagation or induction
      with administration of this supplement.

PMID- 26889780
TI  - Band-Edge Exciton Fine Structure and Recombination Dynamics in InP/ZnS Colloidal
      Nanocrystals.
AB  - We report on a temperature-, time-, and spectrally resolved study of the
      photoluminescence of type-I InP/ZnS colloidal nanocrystals with varying core
      size. By studying the exciton recombination dynamics we assess the exciton fine
      structure in these systems. In addition to the typical bright-dark doublet, the
      photoluminescence stems from an upper bright state in spite of its large energy
      splitting (~100 meV). This striking observation results from dramatically
      lengthened thermalization processes among the fine structure levels and points to
      optical-phonon bottleneck effects in InP/ZnS nanocrystals. Furthermore, our data
      show that the radiative recombination of the dark exciton scales linearly with
      the bright-dark energy splitting for CdSe and InP nanocrystals. This finding
      strongly suggests a universal dangling bonds-assisted recombination of the dark
      exciton in colloidal nanostructures. 

PMID- 26889781
TI  - MYC and PVT1 synergize to regulate RSPO1 levels in breast cancer.
AB  - Copy number gain of the 8q24 region including the v-myc avian myelocytomatosis
      viral oncogene homolog (MYC) oncogene has been observed in many different cancers
      and is associated with poor outcomes. While the role of MYC in tumor formation
      has been clearly delineated, we have recently shown that co-operation between
      adjacent long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant transcription 1 (PVT1) and MYC
      is necessary for tumor promotion. Chromosome engineered mice containing an
      increased copy of Myc-Pvt1 (Gain Myc-Pvt1) accelerates mammary tumors in MMTV-Neu
      mice, while single copy increase of each is not sufficient. In addition, mammary
      epithelium from the Gain Myc-Pvt1 mouse show precancerous phenotypes, notably
      increased DNA replication, elevated -H2AX phosphorylation and increased ductal
      branching. In an attempt to capture the molecular signatures in pre-cancerous
      cells we utilized RNA sequencing to identify potential targets of supernumerary
      Myc-Pvt1 cooperation in mammary epithelial cells. In this extra view we show that
      an extra copy of both Myc and Pvt1 leads to increased levels of Rspo1, a crucial
      regulator of canonical beta-catenin signaling required for female development.
      Human breast cancer tumors with high levels of MYC transcript have significantly
      more PVT1 transcript and RSPO1 transcript than tumors with low levels of MYC
      showing that the murine results are relevant to a subset of human tumors. Thus,
      this work identifies a key mechanism in precancerous and cancerous tissue by
      which a main player in female differentiation is transcriptionally activated by
      supernumerary MYC and PVT1, leading to increased premalignant features, and
      ultimately to tumor formation.

PMID- 26889782
TI  - Exploiting Bacterial Operons To Illuminate Human Iron-Sulfur Proteins.
AB  - Organisms from all kingdoms of life use iron-sulfur proteins (FeS-Ps) in a
      multitude of functional processes. We applied a bioinformatics approach to
      investigate the human portfolio of FeS-Ps. Sixty-one percent of human FeS-Ps bind
      Fe4S4 clusters, whereas 39% bind Fe2S2 clusters. However, this relative ratio
      varies significantly depending on the specific cellular compartment. We compared
      the portfolio of human FeS-Ps to 12 other eukaryotes and to about 700
      prokaryotes. The comparative analysis of the organization of the prokaryotic
      homologues of human FeS-Ps within operons allowed us to reconstruct the human
      functional networks involving the conserved FeS-Ps common to prokaryotes and
      eukaryotes. These functional networks have been maintained during evolution and
      thus presumably represent fundamental cellular processes. The respiratory chain
      and the ISC machinery for FeS-P biogenesis are the two conserved processes that
      involve the majority of human FeS-Ps. Purine metabolism is another process
      including several FeS-Ps, in which BOLA proteins possibly have a regulatory role.
      The analysis of the co-occurrence of human FeS-Ps with other proteins highlighted
      numerous links between the iron-sulfur cluster machinery and the response
      mechanisms to cell damage, from repair to apoptosis. This relationship probably
      relates to the production of reactive oxygen species within the biogenesis and
      degradation of FeS-Ps. 

PMID- 26889784
TI  - Synthesis of Oxadiazol-5-imines via the Cyclizative Capture of in Situ Generated
      Cyanamide Ions and Nitrile Oxides.
AB  - An unprecedented intermolecular cyclizative capture of the cyanamide anion and
      several nitrile oxides enables the synthesis of oxadiazol-5-imines. 

PMID- 26889783
TI  - Virgin Olive Oil Enriched with Its Own Phenols or Complemented with Thyme Phenols
      Improves DNA Protection against Oxidation and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in
      Hyperlipidemic Subjects.
AB  - The effects of virgin olive oil (VOO) enriched with its own phenolic compounds
      (PC) and/or thyme PC on the protection against oxidative DNA damage and
      antioxidant endogenous enzymatic system (AEES) were estimated in 33
      hyperlipidemic subjects after the consumption of VOO, VOO enriched with its own
      PC (FVOO), or VOO complemented with thyme PC (FVOOT). Compared to pre
      intervention, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a marker for DNA damage) decreased in
      the FVOO intervention and to a greater extent in the FVOOT with a parallel
      significant increase in olive and thyme phenolic metabolites. Superoxide
      dismutase (AEES enzyme) significantly increased in the FVOO intervention and to a
      greater extent in the FVOOT with a parallel significant increase in thyme
      phenolic metabolites. When all three oils were compared, FVOOT appeared to have
      the greatest effect in protecting against oxidative DNA damage and improving
      AEES. The sustained intake of a FVOOT improves DNA protection against oxidation
      and AEES probably due to a greater bioavailability of thyme PC in hyperlipidemic
      subjects. 

PMID- 26889785
TI  - Unique Core-Shell Nanorod Arrays with Polyaniline Deposited into Mesoporous
      NiCo2O4 Support for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.
AB  - Polyaniline (PANI), one of the most attractive conducting polymers for
      supercapacitors, demonstrates a great potential as high performance
      pseudocapacitor materials. However, the poor cycle life owing to structural
      instability remains as the major hurdle for its practical application; hence,
      making the structure-to-performance design on the PANI-based supercapacitors is
      highly desirable. In this work, unique core-shell NiCo2O4@PANI nanorod arrays
      (NRAs) are rationally designed and employed as the electrode material for
      supercapacitors. With highly porous NiCo2O4 as the conductive core and strain
      buffer support and nanoscale PANI layer as the electrochemically active
      component, such a heterostructure achieves favorably high capacitance while
      maintaining good cycling stability and rate capability. By adopting the optimally
      uniform and intimate coating of PANI, the fabricated electrode exhibits a high
      specific capacitance of 901 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte and
      outstanding capacitance retention of ~91% after 3000 cycles at a high current
      density of 10 A g(-1), which is superior to the electrochemical performance of
      most reported PANI-based pseudocapacitors in literature. The enhanced
      electrochemical performance demonstrates the complementary contributions of both
      componential structures in the hybrid electrode design. Also, this work propels a
      new direction of utilizing porous matrix as the highly effective support for
      polymers toward efficient energy storage. 

PMID- 26889786
TI  - Factors Associated with Loss to Follow-up during Treatment for Multidrug
      Resistant Tuberculosis, the Philippines, 2012-2014.
AB  - To identify factors associated with loss to follow-up during treatment for
      multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines, we conducted a
      case-control study of adult patients who began receiving treatment for rifampin
      resistant TB during July 1-December 31, 2012. Among 91 case-patients (those lost
      to follow-up) and 182 control-patients (those who adhered to treatment),
      independent factors associated with loss to follow-up included patients' higher
      self-rating of the severity of vomiting as an adverse drug reaction and alcohol
      abuse. Protective factors included receiving any type of assistance from the TB
      program, better TB knowledge, and higher levels of trust in and support from
      physicians and nurses. These results provide insights for designing interventions
      aimed at reducing patient loss to follow-up during treatment for MDR TB.

PMID- 26889787
TI  - Absence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Camelids, Kazakhstan,
      2015.

PMID- 26889788
TI  - Hysteroscopic treatment of Mullerian duct anomalies.
AB  - Mullerian duct anomalies are a broad and complex spectrum of abnormalities that
      are often associated with infertility, obstetric complications as well as
      gynecological disorders among women of reproductive age. Operative hysteroscopy
      is the gold standard in the treatment of most of those anomalies amenable to
      surgical correction. The evidence to date shows an ongoing increase in the
      release of recommendations in favour of operative hysteroscopic treatment, in
      concert with the progressive refinement of hysteroscopic technologies and
      techniques. The aim of this paper was to describe and critically evaluate the
      role of the currently available hysteroscopic techniques for treating Mullerian
      duct anomalies, taking into account their indications, feasibility and efficacy
      as well as their impact on the reproductive outcome. Special attention will be
      paid to the most recently developed minimally invasive treatments for uterine and
      vaginal anomalies. 

PMID- 26889789
TI  - Borrelia miyamotoi and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes ricinus
      Ticks, Romania.

PMID- 26889790
TI  - Use of the SPARC software program to calculate hydrolysis rate constants for the
      polymeric brominated flame retardants BC-58 and FR-1025.
AB  - The SPARC software program was used to estimate the acid-catalyzed, neutral, and
      base-catalyzed hydrolysis rate constants for the polymeric brominated flame
      retardants BC-58 and FR-1025. Relatively rapid hydrolysis of BC-58, producing
      2,4,6-tribromophenol-and ultimately tetrabromobisphenol A-as the hydrolytically
      stable end products from all potential hydrolysis reactions, is expected in both
      environmental and biological systems with starting material hydrolytic half-lives
      (t(1/2,hydr)) ranging from less than 1 h in marine systems, several hours in
      cellular environments, and up to several weeks in slightly acid fresh waters.
      Hydrolysis of FR-1025 to give 2,3,4,5,6-pentabromobenzyl alcohol is expected to
      be slower (t(1/2,hydr) less than 0.5 years in marine systems up to several years
      in fresh waters) than BC-58, but is also expected to occur at rates that will
      contribute significantly to environmental and in vivo loadings of this compound.

PMID- 26889792
TI  - Factors influencing the desire to provide MS patient care in clinical practice
      among physiatrists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation care is an important part of care for individuals with
      multiple sclerosis (MS). Little is known about factors influencing physiatrists'
      desire to provide MS care. OBJECTIVE: This study examines factors associated with
      physiatrists' attitudes towards providing MS care. METHODS: We collaborated with
      the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to survey a sample
      of 300 U.S. physiatrists. Analyses examined the association of exposure to MS
      care resources during residency, physician demographic and practice
      characteristics with attitudes toward providing MS care. RESULTS: Physiatrists
      indicating negative factors limiting the number of MS patients seen in clinical
      practice were more likely to practice in a setting other than a major city and
      less likely to have interacted with MS specialists during residency. Physiatrists
      indicating factors having a positive influence on providing MS patient care were
      more likely to practice within a major city, see one or more MS patients per
      week, and serve as the primary physiatrist directing care for one or more MS
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Physiatrists indicated positive and negative attitudes
      towards MS care. Increasing exposure to MS patients, providing resources for MS
      care, and participating in continuing education on MS, may encourage physiatrists
      to provide MS patient care.

PMID- 26889791
TI  - Glucocorticoids accelerate maturation of the heme pathway in fetal liver through
      effects on transcription and DNA methylation.
AB  - Glucocorticoids are widely used in threatened preterm labor to promote maturation
      in many organ systems in preterm babies and have significant beneficial effects
      on morbidity and mortality. We performed transcriptional profiling in fetal liver
      in a rat model of prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and identified marked gene
      expression changes in heme biosynthesis, utilization, and degradation pathways in
      late gestation. These changes in gene expression associated with alterations in
      DNA methylation and with a reduction in hepatic heme concentration. There were no
      persistent differences in gene expression, DNA methylation, or heme
      concentrations at 4 weeks of age, suggesting that these are transient effects.
      Our findings are consistent with glucocorticoid-induced accelerated maturation of
      the haematopoietic system and support the hypothesis that glucocorticoids can
      drive changes in gene expression in association with alterations in DNA
      methylation. 

PMID- 26889793
TI  - Utilization of the Expanded Disability Status Scale as a distinctive instrument
      for walking impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis with mild disability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a well-established
      clinical measure to assess disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Gait
      dysfunction is primarily considered for scoring only above EDSS 3.5. However, the
      changes in functional systems in below EDSS 3.5 may result gait disturbances.
      OBJECTIVE: To determine the distinctive ability of the EDSS 2.0 in terms of
      walking impairment as well as fatigue, depression, and quality of life in persons
      with MS with mild disability. METHODS: All participants underwent the
      neurological examination for generating an EDSS score and completed the measures
      of walking performance, as well as other measures of fatigue, depression, and
      quality of life. The participants were divided into two groups according to the
      EDSS scores (i.e. EDSS <2.0 and 2.0-3.5). RESULTS: Participants with EDSS 2.0-3.5
      had significantly worse walking performance, as well as fatigue, depression, and
      quality of life levels than the participants with EDSS <2.0 (p <  0.05). The EDSS
      significantly correlated with the measures of walking performance, as well as
      other measures of fatigue, depression, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The EDSS
      2.0 has a distinctive ability in terms of walking impairment as well as fatigue,
      depression, and quality of life.

PMID- 26889794
TI  - Non-invasive brain stimulation and robot-assisted gait training after incomplete
      spinal cord injury: A randomized pilot study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Locomotor training with a robot-assisted gait orthosis (LT-RGO) and
      transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are interventions that can
      significantly enhance motor performance after spinal cord injury (SCI). No
      studies have investigated whether combining these interventions enhances lower
      extremity motor function following SCI. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether active tDCS
      paired with LT-RGO improves lower extremity motor function more than a sham
      condition, in subjects with motor incomplete SCI. METHODS: Fifteen adults with
      SCI received 36 sessions of either active (n = 9) or sham (n = 6) tDCS (20
      minutes) preceding LT-RGO (1 hour). Outcome measures included manual muscle
      testing (MMT; primary outcome measure); 6-Minute Walk Test (6MinWT); 10-Meter
      Walk Test (10MWT); Timed Up and Go Test (TUG); Berg Balance Scale (BBS); and
      Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III). RESULTS: MMT showed significant
      improvements after active tDCS, with the most pronounced improvement in the right
      lower extremity. 10MWT, 6MinWT, and BBS showed improvement for both groups. TUG
      and SCIM-III showed improvement only for the sham tDCS group. CONCLUSION: Pairing
      tDCS with LT-RGO can improve lower extremity motor function more than LT-RGO
      alone. Future research with a larger sample size is recommended to determine
      longer-term effects on motor function and activities of daily living.

PMID- 26889795
TI  - Transvertebral direct current stimulation paired with locomotor training in
      chronic spinal cord injury: A case study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: This double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover case study combined
      transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS) and locomotor training on a
      robot-assisted gait orthosis (LT-RGO). OBJECTIVE: Determine whether cathodal
      tvDCS paired with LT-RGO leads to greater changes in function and neuroplasticity
      than sham tvDCS paired with LT-RGO. SETTING: University of Kentucky (UK)
      HealthCare Stroke and Spinal Cord Neurorehabilitation Research at HealthSouth
      Cardinal Hill Hospital. METHODS: A single subject with motor incomplete spinal
      cord injury (SCI) participated in 24 sessions of sham tvDCS paired with LT-RGO
      before crossover to 24 sessions of cathodal tvDCS paired with LT-RGO. Functional
      outcomes were measured with 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), 6 Minute Walk Test
      (6MWT), Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III) mobility component, lower
      extremity manual muscle test (MMT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Corticospinal
      changes were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. RESULTS:
      Improvement in 10MWT speed, SCIM-III mobility component, and BBS occurred with
      both conditions. 6MWT worsened after sham tvDCS and improved after cathodal
      tvDCS. MMT scores for both lower extremities improved following sham tvDCS but
      decreased following cathodal tvDCS. Corticospinal excitability increased
      following cathodal tvDCS but not sham tvDCS. CONCLUSION: These results suggest
      that combining cathodal tvDCS and LT-RGO may improve functional outcomes,
      increase corticospinal excitability, and possibly decrease spasticity. Randomized
      controlled trials are needed to confirm these conclusions. SPONSORSHIP: This
      publication was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the
      National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of
      Health, through Grant UL1TR000117, and the HealthSouth Cardinal Hill Stroke and
      Spinal Cord Endowment (1215375670).

PMID- 26889796
TI  - Factors influencing acceptance of disability among stroke patients in Tianjin,
      China:A cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stroke has become the leading cause of acquired disability worldwide.
      Psychological maladjustment and related reactions for stroke disability has
      subsequently revealed a negative impact on stroke rehabilitation process.
      Acceptance of disability (AOD) is widely confirmed as a critical factor for
      psychosocial regulation and disability acceptance. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to
      investigate acceptance of disability and its influencing factors among stroke
      patients in China. METHODS: A total of 220 hospitalized stroke patients were
      investigated using questionnaire on demographics and disease characters,
      Adaptation Of Disability Scale-Revised, and other psychological instruments:
      Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), Functional Activities Questionnaire
      (FAQ), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Perceived Social Support Scale
      (PSSS). RESULTS: The mean score of AOD is 74.15 (range 32~128), which reflected a
      moderate level of disability acceptance among stroke patients in China.
      Statistical analysis showed that confrontation, the understanding of stroke, self
      rating depression, ability of functional activities and family support were major
      factors affecting acceptance of disability among disabled stroke patients, which
      explained 49.6% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice,
      professionals should identify patients with low levels of disability acceptance
      and explore effective psychological intervention model on the theoretical
      foundation of different dimensions in AOD theory and related predictors.

PMID- 26889797
TI  - Participation in leisure activities after stroke: A survey of community-residing
      stroke survivors in Nigeria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Leisure provides pleasure and relaxation, and has health benefits
      even after a stressful and life-changing event such as a stroke. OBJECTIVE: This
      study examined leisure participation among a sample of community-residing stroke
      survivors in Nigeria. METHODS: Fifty-five stroke survivors undergoing
      rehabilitation were consecutively recruited from two government hospitals in
      Northern Nigeria. Data on pre- and post-stroke participation, and socio
      demographic (age, sex, marital, employment, and educational status) and clinical
      (level of disability, post-stroke duration, stroke type and side of
      hemiplegia/hemiparesis) attributes of the stroke survivors were obtained. Leisure
      participation was assessed in four domains of recreational, social, cognitive,
      and productive/creative activities. Associations between leisure participation
      and the socio-demographic and clinical variables were examined using bivariate
      analysis. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age of the stroke survivors was 53.55 (14.39) years.
      Prevalence of leisure participation was 89.1%. Participation in specific leisure
      domains however varied thus: social (83.6%), cognitive (60%), recreational
      (41.8%), productive/creative activities (30.9%). Significant associations were
      observed between participation in cognitive, productive/creative, and
      recreational leisure activities, and specific socio-demographic and clinical
      attributes. CONCLUSIONS: Leisure participation was high in a general sense but
      marginal in recreational and productive/creative activities. The observed socio
      demographic and clinical associations with post-stroke leisure participation may
      assist in providing effective leisure rehabilitation strategies.

PMID- 26889798
TI  - Is non-invasive neuromuscular electrical stimulation effective in severe chronic
      neurogenic dysphagia? Reporton a post-traumatic brain injury patient.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neurogenic dysphagia is a difficulty in swallowing induced by nervous
      system disease. It often causes serious complications, which are preventable if
      dysphagia is properly managed. There is growing debate concerning the usefulness
      of non-invasive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in treating
      swallowing dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to assess the
      effectiveness of Vitalstim(c) device, and to investigate the neurophysiological
      mechanisms underlying functional recovery. METHODS: A 34-year-old man, affected
      by severe chronic dysphagia following traumatic brain injury, underwent two
      different intensive rehabilitation trainings, including either conventional
      rehabilitation alone or coupled to Vitalstim training. We evaluated patient
      swallowing function in two separate sessions (i.e. before and after the two
      trainings) by means of ad hoc swallowing function scales and electrophysiological
      parameters (rapid paired associative stimulation). The overall Vitalstim program
      was articulated in 6 weekly sessions for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The patient did not
      report any side-effect either during or following both the intensive
      rehabilitation trainings. We observed an important improvement in swallowing
      function only after Vitalstim training. In fact, the patient was eventually able
      to safely eat even solid food. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report objectively
      suggesting (by means of rPAS) a correlation between the brain neuroplastic
      changes induced by Vitalstim and the swallowing function improvement. It is
      hypothesizable that Vitalstim may have targeted cortical (and maybe subcortical)
      brain areas that are recruited during the highly coordinated function of
      swallowing, and it may have thus potentiated the well-known neuroplastic changes
      induced by repetitive and intensive swallowing exercises, probably thanks to
      metaplasticity phenomena.

PMID- 26889799
TI  - Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia also treat fatigue, pain, and mood
      symptoms in individuals with traumatic brain injury? - A multiple case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often develop sleep
      disorders post-injury. The most common one is insomnia, which can exacerbate
      other post-injury symptoms, including fatigue, impaired cognition, depression,
      anxiety, and pain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a
      manualized treatment that effectively treats insomnia with secondary effects on
      cognition, mood, and pain in various populations. OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews
      the use of CBT-I for three participants with TBI of different severities.
      METHODS: Pre- and post-treatment assessments of insomnia, fatigue, depression,
      anxiety, and pain were conducted. Mood was further assessed at follow-up. Minimal
      clinically important difference (MCID) scores derived from the research
      literature were used to establish clinically meaningful symptom improvement on
      self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: The reduction in insomnia severity scores
      for all three participants were not large enough to be considered a clinically
      significant improvement following CBT-I, although trends toward improvement were
      observed. However, all participants showed clinically significant reductions in
      anxiety at post-treatment; the effects persisted for 2 participants at follow-up.
      Reductions in depression symptoms were observed for 2 participants at post
      treatment, and treatment effects persisted for 1 participant at follow-up. One
      participant endorsed clinically significant improvements in fatigue and pain
      severity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CBT-I may provide secondary benefits for
      symptoms commonly experienced by individuals with TBI, especially mood
      disturbances.

PMID- 26889800
TI  - Cognitive functioning following traumatic brain injury: A five-year follow-up.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term prevalence and severity of cognitive
      deficits following significant (i.e., ventilation required for >24 hours)
      traumatic brain injury. To assess a comprehensive range of cognitive functions
      using psychometric measures with established normative, reliability, and validity
      data. METHODS: A group of 71 adults was assessed at approximately five years
      (mean = 66 months) following injury. Assessment of cognitive functioning covered
      the domains of intelligence, attention, verbal and visual memory, visual-spatial
      construction, and executive functions. RESULTS: Impairment was evident across all
      domains but prevalence varied both within and between domains. Across aspects of
      intelligence clinical impairment ranged from 8-25% , attention 39-62% , verbal
      memory 16-46% , visual memory 23-51% , visual-spatial construction 38% , and
      executive functions (verbal fluency) 13% . In addition, 3-23% of performances
      across the measures were in the borderline range, suggesting a high prevalence of
      subclinical deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of impairment may vary
      across cognitive domains, long-term follow-up documented deficits in all six
      domains. These findings provide further evidence that while improvement of
      cognitive functioning following significant traumatic brain injury may be
      possible, recovery of function is unlikely.

PMID- 26889801
TI  - Transfer effects of errorless Goal Management Training on cognitive function and
      quality of life in brain-injured persons.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous findings had shown that the addition of errorless learning
      to traditional Goal Management Training (GMT) resulted in superior results when
      training everyday tasks in persons with executive deficits after brain injury.
      OBJECTIVE: To investigate the additional effects of an errorless GMT on cognitive
      function and quality of life after acquired brain injury. METHODS: This is a
      supplementary analysis of findings from an RCT in which 67 patients with
      executive impairments after acquired brain injury were randomly allocated to an
      experimental errorless GMT (n = 33) or conventional GMT (n = 34) to train two
      individually chosen everyday tasks. Objective cognitive function using
      neuropsychological tests, subjective cognitive complaints and quality of life
      using questionnaires were assessed before and after training. RESULTS: No
      significant interaction effects between these three types of outcome measures and
      the two forms of GMT were found. Irrespective of treatment, performance on two
      executive tests (Modified Six Elements Test; p = 0.006, Zoo Map test; p = 0.001)
      improved and daily executive function problems as reported by the participants
      (EFI; p = 0.001) and proxies (DEX; p = 0.01) diminished. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the
      previously found superiority of errorless GMT when training everyday tasks,
      additional improvements in cognition and quality of life did not differ between
      the two treatments.

PMID- 26889802
TI  - Swallowing in primary progressive aphasia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies have described characteristics of swallowing in primary
      progressive aphasia (PPA) and its variants. OBJECTIVE: To describe and
      characterize swallowing and eating behaviors of patients with PPA, as well as
      their correlates with neuropsychiatric symptoms and patterns of communication.
      METHODS: We studied 16 patients with PPA and 16 their caregivers. PPA was
      subdivided in agrammatic variant (PPA-G), semantic variant (PPA-S) and logopenic
      variant (PPA-L). All patients and their caregivers were screened with the
      following scales: "Assessment of Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties in
      Dementia", "Neuropsychiatric Inventory", and "Functional Outcome Questionnaire
      for Aphasia". RESULTS: Patients with PPA-S had diverse swallowing problems such
      as drooling of saliva or food, multiple swallows, delayed swallow and choking,
      all of which correlated with anxiety, apathy and aberrant motor behavior.
      Patients with PPA-G and PPA-L had choking and delayed swallow, respectively.
      Disturbances in eating behaviors were more frequent in the group with PPA-L, and
      they correlated with difficulties in patterns of communication. CONCLUSIONS: All
      variants showed swallowing difficulties and they were more frequent in PPA-S.
      Further studies with larger samples of patients are needed to better characterize
      swallowing problems and their consequences in the different variants of PPA.

PMID- 26889803
TI  - Using reliability of change analysis to evaluate post-acute neuro-rehabilitation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is important to evaluate change in order to re-assure
      commissioners, staff and patients of the effectiveness of interventions, but also
      in order to identify areas for improvement. OBJECTIVE: To consider whether
      analysis of improvement at the level of the individual, taking into account
      measurement error, may offer a further valuable way to assess change and inform
      service development over considering change at the group level in a post-acute
      neuro-rehabilitation unit. METHOD: Pre and post intervention Scores on the
      FIM+FAM Full Scale and Cognitive and Motor subscales were considered for eighteen
      patients aged between 35 and 81 with mixed diagnoses who attended a post-acute
      inpatient neuro-rehabilitation unit for treatment. RESULTS: Statistically
      significant improvements were achieved on the FIM+FAM Full Scale and Cognitive
      and Motor subscales in a whole group analysis. Reliable change analyses for each
      patient within each subscale however identified only half of the sample achieved
      reliable improvement within the Motor domain and just one person within the
      Cognitive domain (5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings are consistent with the emphasis
      of the rehabilitation unit on physical/motor function, and unsurprising as many
      of those assessed had multiple sclerosis, an often deteriorative condition. Use
      of reliable change analysis allowed a more detailed understanding of intervention
      impact, potentially identifying what services reliably work for whom, thereby
      informing future planning.

PMID- 26889804
TI  - Surgical Placement of Catheters for Long-term Cardiovascular Exercise Testing in
      Swine.
AB  - This protocol describes the surgical procedure to chronically instrument swine
      and the procedure to exercise swine on a motor-driven treadmill. Early
      cardiopulmonary dysfunction is difficult to diagnose, particularly in animal
      models, as cardiopulmonary function is often measured invasively, requiring
      anesthesia. As many anesthetic agents are cardiodepressive, subtle changes in
      cardiovascular function may be masked. In contrast, chronic instrumentation
      allows for measurement of cardiopulmonary function in the awake state, so that
      measurements can be obtained under quiet resting conditions, without the effects
      of anesthesia and acute surgical trauma. Furthermore, when animals are properly
      trained, measurements can also be obtained during graded treadmill exercise. Flow
      probes are placed around the aorta or pulmonary artery for measurement of cardiac
      output and around the left anterior descending coronary artery for measurement of
      coronary blood flow. Fluid-filled catheters are implanted in the aorta, pulmonary
      artery, left atrium, left ventricle and right ventricle for pressure measurement
      and blood sampling. In addition, a 20 G catheter is positioned in the anterior
      interventricular vein to allow coronary venous blood sampling. After a week of
      recovery, swine are placed on a motor-driven treadmill, the catheters are
      connected to pressure and flow meters, and swine are subjected to a five-stage
      progressive exercise protocol, with each stage lasting 3 min. Hemodynamic signals
      are continuously recorded and blood samples are taken during the last 30 sec of
      each exercise stage. The major advantage of studying chronically instrumented
      animals is that it allows serial assessment of cardiopulmonary function, not only
      at rest but also during physical stress such as exercise. Moreover,
      cardiopulmonary function can be assessed repeatedly during disease development
      and during chronic treatment, thereby increasing statistical power and hence
      limiting the number of animals required for a study. 

PMID- 26889805
TI  - Zebrafish Reel in Phenotypic Suppressors of Autism.
AB  - Chemical genetics can help decipher novel pathways underlying neurodevelopmental
      psychiatric impairments. Hoffman et al. (2016) utilized behavioral profiling of
      psychoactive compounds in zebrafish and identified estrogens as suppressors of a
      phenotype resulting from loss of an autism risk gene.

PMID- 26889806
TI  - Parkinson's Disease: A Thalamostriatal Rebalancing Act?
AB  - Motor impairments in Parkinson's disease are thought to result from
      hypoactivation of striatal projection neurons in the direct pathway. In this
      issue of Neuron, Parker et al. (2016) report that dopamine depletion selectively
      weakens thalamic but not cortical afferents onto these neurons, implicating the
      thalamus as playing a key role in Parkinsonian motor symptoms.

PMID- 26889807
TI  - Four to Foxtrot: How Visual Motion Is Computed in the Fly Brain.
AB  - In this issue of Neuron, Serbe et al. (2016) use cell-type-specific genetic tools
      to record and manipulate all major inputs to directionally selective neurons in
      Drosophila. Their results localize the site of motion computation and reveal
      unexpected complexity of temporal tuning in the underlying neural circuit.

PMID- 26889808
TI  - The Ying and Yang of Auditory Nerve Damage.
AB  - Chambers et al. investigate consequences in the central auditory system after
      profound cochlear denervation. They observed gains in firing rate in auditory
      cortex despite nearly absent auditory nerve and brainstem responses, suggesting
      an important role of central plasticity and its clinical implications.

PMID- 26889811
TI  - Membrane Potential Dynamics of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons during Hippocampal Ripples
      in Awake Mice.
AB  - Ripples are high-frequency oscillations associated with population bursts in area
      CA1 of the hippocampus that play a prominent role in theories of memory
      consolidation. While spiking during ripples has been extensively studied, our
      understanding of the subthreshold behavior of hippocampal neurons during these
      events remains incomplete. Here, we combine in vivo whole-cell and multisite
      extracellular recordings to characterize the membrane potential dynamics of
      identified CA1 pyramidal neurons during ripples. We find that the subthreshold
      depolarization during ripples is uncorrelated with the net excitatory input to
      CA1, while the post-ripple hyperpolarization varies proportionately. This
      clarifies the circuit mechanism keeping most neurons silent during ripples. On a
      finer timescale, the phase delay between intracellular and extracellular ripple
      oscillations varies systematically with membrane potential. Such smoothly varying
      delays are inconsistent with models of intracellular ripple generation involving
      perisomatic inhibition alone. Instead, they suggest that ripple-frequency
      excitation leading inhibition shapes intracellular ripple oscillations.

PMID- 26889813
TI  - MiR-218 inhibits the tumorgenesis and proliferation of glioma cells by targeting
      Robo1.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumors directly
      correlated with the high mortality and poor prognosis in clinical practice.
      MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) influence numerous cancer-relevant processes including
      cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism. However, the role of microRNA
      in malignant glioma is largely unknown. This study aimed to study the role of miR
      218, a tumor-suppressive microRNA, in glioma development both in vivo and in
      vitro. METHODS: The expression level of miR-218, Slit2 and Robo1 was examined by
      either quantitative (polymerase chain reaction) or western-blotting from both
      human glioma tissue and glioma cell lines. U87 cells were transfected with miR
      218 and then the expression levels of Slit2 and Robo1 were quantified. Cell
      proliferation was measured both by the in vitro proliferation assay and in vivo
      graft studies. The luciferase reporter assay was employed to validate the
      downstream target of miR-218. RESULTS: The expression of miR-218 was lower in
      glioma cell lines and glioma tissues from the patients with decreased Slit2 and
      increased Robo1 protein levels. The over-expression of miR-218 inhibited the
      tumorgenesis and proliferation of glioma cells remarkably. Furthermore, the over
      expressing miR-218 in glioma cells results in the downregulation of Robo1 and
      upregulation of Slit2. Using luciferase reporter assays, we found that Robo1 was
      a direct downstream target of miR-218. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of miR-218 in
      glioma cells may inhibit the proliferation and tumorigenicity through targeting
      Robo1, suggesting that miR-218 could be a potential target for developing
      therapies in treating glioma.

PMID- 26889810
TI  - Dopamine Does Double Duty in Motivating Cognitive Effort.
AB  - Cognitive control is subjectively costly, suggesting that engagement is modulated
      in relationship to incentive state. Dopamine appears to play key roles. In
      particular, dopamine may mediate cognitive effort by two broad classes of
      functions: (1) modulating the functional parameters of working memory circuits
      subserving effortful cognition, and (2) mediating value-learning and decision
      making about effortful cognitive action. Here, we tie together these two lines of
      research, proposing how dopamine serves "double duty", translating incentive
      information into cognitive motivation. 

PMID- 26889814
TI  - Novel SYK gene variations and changes in binding sites of miRs in breast cancer
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK) belongs to non-receptor tyrosine Kinase
      family, which normally expresses in epithelial breast tissues and acts as a tumor
      suppressor gene. OBJECTIVE: Analysis of mutations in the SYK gene and
      deregulation of SYK transcripts by miRNA in breast cancer was studied. METHODS:
      All exons and exon/intron boundaries of SYK gene were amplified and sequenced in
      blood samples of 207 breast cancer cases and 200 matched controls using PCR
      single stranded conformational polymorphism method. RESULTS: Sequence analysis
      revealed 10 novel mutations in breast cancer patients. Among these 6 mutations
      (Ala 161Pro, His162Tyr, Phe191Tyr, Val 535Gly, Ser 556lIe and Lys536Gln) were
      found in exonic region and 4 (26249 T>A, 63941 G>A, 63981G>C and 86548T>A) were
      found in intronic region. All of these mutations are associated with ~ 5 folds
      (p< 0.0001) increase in breast cancer risk in present study cohort. Regulation of
      SYK transcripts by miRNA was also analyzed using in silico bioinformatics tools,
      exon 6's mutation (Phe191Tyr) was found to have altered interaction with miR-873.
      CONCLUSION: Overall novel mutations in SYK gene and in silico analysis revealed
      that these mutations are crucial and might be responsible for altered expression
      of SYK.

PMID- 26889812
TI  - A Zebrafish Genetic Screen Identifies Neuromedin U as a Regulator of Sleep/Wake
      States.
AB  - Neuromodulation of arousal states ensures that an animal appropriately responds
      to its environment and engages in behaviors necessary for survival. However, the
      molecular and circuit properties underlying neuromodulation of arousal states
      such as sleep and wakefulness remain unclear. To tackle this challenge in a
      systematic and unbiased manner, we performed a genetic overexpression screen to
      identify genes that affect larval zebrafish arousal. We found that the
      neuropeptide neuromedin U (Nmu) promotes hyperactivity and inhibits sleep in
      zebrafish larvae, whereas nmu mutant animals are hypoactive. We show that Nmu
      induced arousal requires Nmu receptor 2 and signaling via corticotropin releasing
      hormone (Crh) receptor 1. In contrast to previously proposed models, we find that
      Nmu does not promote arousal via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, but
      rather probably acts via brainstem crh-expressing neurons. These results reveal
      an unexpected functional and anatomical interface between the Nmu system and
      brainstem arousal systems that represents a novel wake-promoting pathway.

PMID- 26889815
TI  - Clustering of self-organizing map identifies five distinct medulloblastoma
      subgroups.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma is one the most malignant paediatric brain tumours.
      Molecular subgrouping these medulloblastomas will not only help identify specific
      cohorts for certain treatment but also improve confidence in prognostic
      prediction. OBJECTIVE: Currently, there is a consensus of the existences of four
      distinct subtypes of medulloblastoma. We proposed a novel bioinformatics method,
      clustering of self-organizing map, to determine the subgroups and their molecular
      diversity. METHODS: Microarray expression profiles of 46 medulloblastoma samples
      were analysed and five clusters with distinct demographics, clinical outcome and
      transcriptional profiles were identified. RESULTS: The previously reported Wnt
      subgroup was identified as expected. Three other novel subgroups were proposed
      for later investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the value of SOM
      clustering for discovering the medulloblastoma subgroups. When the suggested
      subdivision has been confirmed in large cohorts, this method should serve as a
      part of routine classification of clinical samples.

PMID- 26889809
TI  - DREADDs for Neuroscientists.
AB  - To understand brain function, it is essential that we discover how cellular
      signaling specifies normal and pathological brain function. In this regard,
      chemogenetic technologies represent valuable platforms for manipulating neuronal
      and non-neuronal signal transduction in a cell-type-specific fashion in freely
      moving animals. Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs
      (DREADD)-based chemogenetic tools are now commonly used by neuroscientists to
      identify the circuitry and cellular signals that specify behavior, perceptions,
      emotions, innate drives, and motor functions in species ranging from flies to
      nonhuman primates. Here I provide a primer on DREADDs highlighting key technical
      and conceptual considerations and identify challenges for chemogenetics going
      forward. 

PMID- 26889816
TI  - MiR-155 expression level changes might be associated with initial phases of
      breast cancer pathogenesis and lymph-node metastasis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Breast carcinoma is heterogeneous disease. Understanding the process
      of invasion and metastasis and the selection of the therapy for patients with
      breast carcinomas still remains difficult. MicroRNAs are powerful gene expression
      regulators. Because of inconsistent findings, we have analyzed potential
      difference in miR-155 levels in three breast cancer groups. OBJECTIVES: Our goals
      were to examine miR-155 expression levels in normal tissue, non-invasive and
      invasive breast carcinomas, and their association with standard clinical and
      pathological parameters and oncomiR-21, and to investigate the ability of miR-155
      to separate invasive breast carcinomas with non-invasive component from pure
      invasive. METHODS: In the group of 40 breast tissue samples, relative expression
      levels of miR-155 were examined with stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR using
      TaqMan technology. RESULTS: The significant difference among four examined groups
      of the breast tissue was detected (p = 0.001). In the group of pure invasive
      tumors, patients with positive nodal status had significantly higher miR-155
      levels (p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that miR-155 might be
      involved in breast cancer pathogenesis and in tumor spreading to the lymph nodes,
      and that it might be used as biomarker for additional stratification of patients
      with invasive breast carcinomas with non-invasive component.

PMID- 26889817
TI  - Musculoskeletal Injury in Professional Dancers: Prevalence and Associated
      Factors: An International Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors
      associated with injury in professional ballet and modern dancers, and assess if
      dancers are reporting their injuries and explore reasons for not reporting
      injuries. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Participants were recruited
      from nine professional ballet and modern dance companies in Canada, Denmark,
      Israel, and Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Professional ballet and modern dancers.
      INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Sociodemographic variables included age, sex, height,
      weight, and before-tax yearly or monthly income. Dance specific characteristics
      included number of years in present dance company, number of years dancing
      professionally, number of years dancing total, and rank in the company. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported injury and Self-Estimated Functional Inability
      because of Pain. RESULTS: A total of 260 dancers participated in the study with
      an overall response rate of 81%. The point prevalence of self-reported injury in
      professional ballet and modern dancers was 54.8% (95% CI, 47.7-62.1) and 46.3%
      (95% CI, 35.5-57.1), respectively. Number of years dancing professionally (OR =
      4.4, 95% CI, 1.6-12.3) and rank (OR = 2.4, 95% CI, 1.2-4.8) were associated with
      injury in ballet dancers. More than 15% of all injured dancers had not reported
      their injury and their reasons for not reporting injury varied. CONCLUSIONS: The
      prevalence of injury is high in professional dancers with a significant
      percentage not reporting their injuries for a variety of reasons. Number of years
      dancing and rank are associated with injury in professional ballet dancers.

PMID- 26889819
TI  - Cigarette Smoking and Pterygium: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the association between smoking and pterygium among elderly
      adults by applying a propensity score matching (PSM) approach and to examine a
      potential dose-response relationship. METHODS: The study was designed as a
      community-based cross-sectional study based on a Chinese cohort aged 60 years or
      older in China. Anterior segment examination was performed without pupil dilation
      using a slitlamp. Pterygium was defined as a raised fleshy triangular
      fibrovascular tissue growth of the conjunctiva encroaching onto the clear cornea.
      Information regarding smoking history was collected via a structured interviewer
      administered questionnaire. The propensity scores for myopia were formulated
      using seven potential confounders. We matched the propensity scores for smokers
      and nonsmokers within a caliper of 0.01 of logit function of propensity scores.
      RESULTS: Slitlamp examination was successfully performed in 4567 adults. The odds
      ratio of pterygium for cigarette smoking before matching was 0.65 (95% confidence
      interval, 0.56 to 0.75; p < 0.001). There were significant covariate imbalances
      between comparison groups, and after PSM, covariate imbalances were significantly
      reduced. After PSM, the magnitude of association was slightly reduced (odds
      ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.89; p = 0.004). Adults with more
      daily cigarette consumption were less likely to be affected by pterygium in
      multivariate analysis (p for trend = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Smokers were less likely
      to be affected by pterygium. The PSM approach may be a useful method to address
      selection bias in observational studies when randomized trials cannot ethically
      be conducted.

PMID- 26889820
TI  - New Perspective on Myopia Control with Orthokeratology.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare peripheral refraction along both the horizontal and vertical
      retinal meridians before and after orthokeratology (OK) lens wear. METHODS:
      Nineteen young adult myopic subjects (mean age, 28 +/- 7 years) were fitted with
      OK lenses in both eyes. Central and peripheral refraction and corneal topography
      measurements were taken before and after 14 nights of OK. All measurements were
      taken with no correction or OK lens in place. RESULTS: At baseline before OK,
      peripheral spherical equivalent refraction (M) across the horizontal meridian did
      not vary significantly from center. M across the vertical meridian was more
      myopic than the center (p < 0.05). After OK, there was a significant hyperopic
      shift in M (p < 0.001); both meridians now experienced myopic peripheral
      refraction. At baseline, J180 across the horizontal meridian was more negative
      than the center, and along the vertical meridian, it was more positive than the
      center (all p < 0.05). At baseline, J45 was more positive than center with
      increased eccentricity in the temporal and inferior retina and more negative than
      center with increased eccentricity in the nasal and superior retina.
      Orthokeratology caused greater rate of change of peripheral J180 across both
      retinal meridians (p < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with baseline, J45 became
      more positive in the nasal and superior retina and more negative in the temporal
      and inferior retina (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Orthokeratology lenses induced
      significant changes in peripheral refraction along the horizontal and vertical
      meridians. As peripheral myopia was measured at baseline along the vertical
      meridian, the results of our study suggest that inducing greater degrees of
      myopic defocus on to the peripheral retina, more than habitually experienced, may
      be required for effective myopia control. Further investigation into the critical
      threshold of retinal area receiving myopic defocus and the impact of duration of
      exposure is necessary to improve the efficacy of current myopia control
      treatments.

PMID- 26889821
TI  - Visual Dysfunctions at Different Stages after Blast and Non-blast Mild Traumatic
      Brain Injury.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of visual dysfunctions and associated symptoms
      in war fighters at different stages after non-blast- or blast-induced mild
      traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS: A comprehensive retrospective review of
      the electronic health records of 500 U.S. military personnel with a diagnosis of
      deployment-related mTBI who received eye care at the Landstuhl Regional Medical
      Center. For analysis, the data were grouped by mechanism of injury, and each
      group was further divided in three subgroups based on the number of days between
      injury and initial eye examination. RESULTS: The data showed a high frequency of
      visual symptoms and visual dysfunctions. However, the prevalence of visual
      symptoms and visual dysfunctions did not differ significantly between mechanism
      of injury and postinjury stage, except for eye pain and diplopia. Among visual
      symptoms, binocular dysfunctions were more common, including higher near vertical
      phoria, reduced negative fusional vergence break at near, receded near point of
      convergence, decreased stereoacuity, and reduced positive relative accommodation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The lack of difference in terms of visual sequelae between subgroups
      (blast vs. nonblast) suggests that research addressing the assessment and
      management of mTBI visual sequelae resulting from civilian nonblast events is
      relevant to military personnel where combat injury results primarily from a blast
      event.

PMID- 26889822
TI  - Choice of Grating Orientation for Evaluation of Peripheral Vision.
AB  - PURPOSE: Peripheral resolution acuity depends on the orientation of the stimuli.
      However, it is uncertain if such a meridional effect also exists for peripheral
      detection tasks because they are affected by optical errors. Knowledge of the
      quantitative differences in acuity for different grating orientations is crucial
      for choosing the appropriate stimuli for evaluations of peripheral resolution and
      detection tasks. We assessed resolution and detection thresholds for different
      grating orientations in the peripheral visual field. METHODS: Resolution and
      detection thresholds were evaluated for gratings of four different orientations
      in eight different visual field meridians in the 20-deg visual field in white
      light. Detection measurements in monochromatic light (543 nm; bandwidth, 10 nm)
      were also performed to evaluate the effects of chromatic aberration on the
      meridional effect. A combination of trial lenses and adaptive optics system was
      used to correct the monochromatic lower- and higher-order aberrations. RESULTS:
      For both resolution and detection tasks, gratings parallel to the visual field
      meridian had better threshold compared with the perpendicular gratings, whereas
      the two oblique gratings had similar thresholds. The parallel and perpendicular
      grating acuity differences for resolution and detection tasks were 0.16 logMAR
      and 0.11 logMAD, respectively. Elimination of chromatic errors did not affect the
      meridional preference in detection acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to peripheral
      resolution, detection also shows a meridional effect that appears to have a
      neural origin. The threshold difference seen for parallel and perpendicular
      gratings suggests the use of two oblique gratings as stimuli in alternative
      forced-choice procedures for peripheral vision evaluation to reduce measurement
      variation.

PMID- 26889826
TI  - Unified Saliency Detection Model Using Color and Texture Features.
AB  - Saliency detection attracted attention of many researchers and had become a very
      active area of research. Recently, many saliency detection models have been
      proposed and achieved excellent performance in various fields. However, most of
      these models only consider low-level features. This paper proposes a novel
      saliency detection model using both color and texture features and incorporating
      higher-level priors. The SLIC superpixel algorithm is applied to form an over
      segmentation of the image. Color saliency map and texture saliency map are
      calculated based on the region contrast method and adaptive weight. Higher-level
      priors including location prior and color prior are incorporated into the model
      to achieve a better performance and full resolution saliency map is obtained by
      using the up-sampling method. Experimental results on three datasets demonstrate
      that the proposed saliency detection model outperforms the state-of-the-art
      models. 

PMID- 26889818
TI  - Ipilimumab (Anti-Ctla-4 Mab) in the treatment of metastatic melanoma:
      Effectiveness and toxicity management.
AB  - In the last years the onset of new therapies changed the management of malignant
      melanoma. Anti CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab was the first drug to achieve a
      significant improvement in survival of advanced stage melanoma. This new
      therapeutic agent is characterized by a number of side effects that are totally
      different from those of traditional chemotherapy, mainly caused by the immune
      system activation. The purpose of this paper is to underline the central role of
      ipilimumab in the treatment of metastatic melanoma and to characterize related
      adverse events in terms of incidence, duration and severity of presentation. The
      early recognition of these side effects is crucial in order to ensure an
      appropriate management of the toxicities, thus reducing the long term clinical
      sequelae and the inappropriate treatment discontinuation.

PMID- 26889828
TI  - Epidemiological Study of RRT-Treated ESRD in Nanjing - A Ten-Year Experience in
      Nearly Three Million Insurance Covered Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The growing burden of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been a great
      challenge to the health care system of China. However, the exact epidemiological
      data for ESRD in China remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology
      of ESRD treated by renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Nanjing based on analysing
      ten-year data of Nanjing three million insurance covered population. METHODS:
      Using the electronic registry system of Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance
      (UEBMI), we included all subjects insured by UEBMI in Nanjing from 2005 to 2014
      and identified subjects who developed ESRD and started RRT in this cohort.
      RESULTS: The UEBMI population in Nanjing increased from 1,301,882 in 2005 to
      2,921,065 in 2014, among which a total of 5,840 subjects developed ESRD and
      received RRT. Over the 10-year period, the adjusted incidence rates of RRT in the
      UEBMI cohort gradually decreased from 289.3pmp in 2005 to 218.8pmp in 2014.
      However, the adjusted prevalence rate increased steadily from 891.7pmp in 2005 to
      1,228.6pmp in 2014. The adjusted annual mortality rate decreased from 138.4 per
      1000 patient-years in 2005 to 97.8 per 1000 patient-years in 2014. The long-term
      survival rate fluctuated over the past decade, with the 1-year survival rate
      ranging from 85.1% to 91.7%, the 3-year survival rate from 69.9% to 78.3% and the
      5-year survival rate from 58% to 65.4%. CONCLUSION: Nanjing is facing an
      increasing burden of ESRD with its improvement of medical reform. The ten-year
      complete registry data on RRT in urban employees in Nanjing provided a unique
      opportunity to understand the real threat of ESRD confronting China during its
      process of health care transition.

PMID- 26889827
TI  - Proteome Based Construction of the Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen 1 (LFA
      1) Interactome in Human Dendritic Cells.
AB  - The beta2-integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) plays an
      important role in the migration, adhesion and intercellular communication of
      dendritic cells (DCs). During the differentiation of human DCs from monocyte
      precursors, LFA-1 ligand binding capacity is completely lost, even though its
      expression levels were remained constant. Yet LFA-1-mediated adhesive capacity on
      DCs can be regained by exposing DCs to the chemokine CCL21, suggesting a high
      degree of regulation of LFA-1 activity during the course of DC differentiation.
      The molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation of LFA-1 function in DCs,
      however, remain elusive. To get more insight we attempted to identify specific
      LFA-1 binding partners that may play a role in regulating LFA-1 activity in DCs.
      We used highly sensitive label free quantitative mass-spectrometry to identify
      proteins co-immunoprecipitated (co-IP) with LFA-1 from ex vivo generated DCs.
      Among the potential binding partners we identified not only established
      components of integrin signalling pathways and cytoskeletal proteins, but also
      several novel LFA-1 binding partners including CD13, galectin-3, thrombospondin-1
      and CD44. Further comparison to the LFA-1 interaction partners in monocytes
      indicated that DC differentiation was accompanied by an overall increase in LFA-1
      associated proteins, in particular cytoskeletal, signalling and plasma membrane
      (PM) proteins. The here presented LFA-1 interactome composed of 78 proteins thus
      represents a valuable resource of potential regulators of LFA-1 function during
      the DC lifecycle. 

PMID- 26889829
TI  - Structural Study of Cell Attachment Peptide Derived from Laminin by Molecular
      Dynamics Simulation.
AB  - Peptides with cell attachment activity are beneficial component of biomaterials
      for tissue engineering. Conformational structure is one of the important factors
      for the biological activities. The EF1 peptide (DYATLQLQEGRLHFMFDLG) derived from
      laminin promotes cell spreading and cell attachment activity mediated by
      alpha2beta1 integrin. Although the sequence of the EF2 peptide
      (DFATVQLRNGFPYFSYDLG) is homologous sequence to that of EF1, EF2 does not promote
      cell attachment activity. To determine whether there are structural differences
      between EF1 and EF2, we performed replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD)
      simulations and conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We found that
      EF1 and EF2 had beta-sheet structure as a secondary structure around the global
      minimum. However, EF2 had variety of structures around the global minimum
      compared with EF1 and has easily escaped from the bottom of free energy. The
      structural fluctuation of the EF1 is smaller than that of the EF2. The structural
      variation of EF2 is related to these differences in the structural fluctuation
      and the number of the hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). From the analysis of H-bonds in
      the beta-sheet, the number of H-bonds in EF1 is larger than that in EF2 in the
      time scale of the conventional MD simulation, suggesting that the formation of H
      bonds is related to the differences in the structural fluctuation between EF1 and
      EF2. From the analysis of other non-covalent interactions in the amino acid
      sequences of EF1 and EF2, EF1 has three pairs of residues with hydrophobic
      interaction, and EF2 has two pairs. These results indicate that several non
      covalent interactions are important for structural stabilization. Consequently,
      the structure of EF1 is stabilized by H-bonds and pairs of hydrophobic amino
      acids in the terminals. Hence, we propose that non-covalent interactions around N
      terminal and C-terminal of the peptides are crucial for maintaining the beta
      sheet structure of the peptides. 

PMID- 26889831
TI  - Therapeutic vaccines for prostate cancer: recent advances and future directions.
AB  - In recent years, therapeutic cancer vaccines have emerged as a viable and
      promising treatment for prostate cancer. Beyond sipuleucel-T, phase III trials
      are evaluating multiple vaccine platforms in men with this disease. Growing data
      evaluating vaccine therapies suggests that these agents are more effective in
      patients with more indolent and possibly also earlier stages of disease. In
      addition, a wealth of preclinical data has shown that traditional prostate cancer
      treatments including anti androgens, cytotoxic and radiation therapies may
      provide immunologic synergy when given in combination with vaccine platforms.
      Building off this data, numerous clinical trials are evaluating therapeutic
      cancer vaccines in early stage prostate cancer and also in combination with
      traditional prostate cancer therapies. In addition, in order to optimize immune
      responses, ongoing trials are evaluating vaccines in combination with immune
      checkpoint inhibitors. Preliminary data from these trials have been promising and
      are offering an exciting glimpse at the future of immunotherapy for this disease.

PMID- 26889834
TI  - Temperature-dependent luminescence properties of lanthanide(III) beta-diketonate
      complex-doped LAPONITE(r).
AB  - In this work, by doping the lanthanide(III)-hexafluoroacetylacetone complex into
      LAPONITE(r), we obtained a lanthanide-based organic-inorganic hybrid material.
      The resulting hybrid materials were fully characterized with elementary analysis,
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD)
      techniques. The Ln(3+) and HFA loadings were experimentally determined to be
      roughly 0.3 per u.c. and 0.72 per u.c. by analyzing the supernatant (titration
      against EDTA) and elemental analysis, respectively. XRD patterns suggest that at
      least partial complexes are intercalated within the interlayers of the
      LAPONITE(r). The in situ formation of luminescent Ln(3+) complexes is confirmed
      by the luminescence data. Furthermore, the emission intensity ratio of the (5)D4
      >(7)F5 transition (Tb(3+)) to the (5)D0->(7)F2 transition (Eu(3+)) of the hybrid
      material containing both Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) can be linearly related to temperature
      in the range from 197 K to 287 K (temperature sensitivity: 1.107% per K), which
      will be an appealing alternative for in situ and real time detection of
      temperature in many special areas. This strategy presents new opportunities for
      the development of highly sensitive and stable thermo sensors.

PMID- 26889832
TI  - Road traffic accidents and self-reported Portuguese car driver's attitudes,
      behaviors, and opinions: Are they related?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize Portuguese car drivers in terms of
      demographic characteristics, driving experience, and attitudes, opinions, and
      behaviors concerning road traffic safety. Furthermore, associations between these
      characteristics and self-reported involvement in a road traffic accident as a
      driver in the last 3 years were analyzed. A final goal was to develop a final
      predictive model of the risk of suffering a road traffic accident. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional analytic study was developed, based on a convenience sample of
      612 car drivers. A questionnaire was applied by trained interviewers, embracing
      various topics related to road safety such as driving under the influence of
      alcohol or drugs, phone use while driving, speeding, use of advanced driver
      assistance systems, and the transport infrastructure and environment (European
      Project SARTRE 4, Portuguese version). From the 52 initial questions, 19
      variables were selected through principal component analysis. Then, and in
      addition to the usual descriptive measures, logistic binary regression models
      were used in order to describe associations and to develop a predictive model of
      being involved in a road traffic accident. RESULTS: Of the 612 car drivers, 37.3%
      (228) reported being involved in a road traffic accident with damage or injury in
      the past 3 years. In this group, the majority were male, older than 65, with no
      children, not employed, and living in an urban area. In the multivariate model,
      several factors were identified: being widowed (vs. single; odds ratio [OR] =
      3.478, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.159-10.434); living in a suburban area
      (vs. a rural area; OR = 5.023, 95% CI, 2.260-11.166); having been checked for
      alcohol once in the last 3 years (vs. not checked; OR = 3.124, 95% CI, 2.040
      4,783); and seldom drinking an energetic beverage such as coffee when tired (vs.
      always do; OR = 6.822, 95% CI, 2.619-17.769) all suffered a higher risk of being
      involved in a car accident. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained with regard to
      behavioral factors meet the majority of the risk factors associated with car
      accidents referred to in the literature. This study highlights the relation of
      relatively minor accidents (the majority with no injuries) with an urban (or semi
      urban) context and involving older drivers. These accidents are not usually the
      focus of road safety literature (mainly death and serious health loss) but, in
      addition to the economic costs involved, they can have a huge impact on road
      safety (e.g., pedestrian). Specifically, the following interventions can be
      proposed: more detailed clinical examinations to identify real competencies to
      drive especially in older drivers (active aging can constitute a new challenge in
      road safety and new paradigms can arise) and education campaigns on how to cope
      with fatigue. Future studies in large samples and not based on self-reported
      behaviors should be developed.

PMID- 26889833
TI  - Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Engineered Micromass Cartilage Pellet
      Cultures: Measurements and Modelling.
AB  - This article explores possible mechanisms governing extracellular matrix
      deposition in engineered cartilaginous cell pellets. A theoretical investigation
      is carried out alongside an experimental study measuring proteoglycan and
      collagen volume fractions within murine chondrogenic (ATDC-5) cell pellets. The
      simple mathematical model, which adopts a nutrient-dependent proteoglycan
      production rate, successfully reproduces the periphery-dominated proteoglycan
      deposition, characteristic of the growth pattern observed experimentally within
      pellets after 21 days of culture. The results suggest that this inhomogeneous
      proteoglycan production is due to nutrient deficiencies at the pellet centre. Our
      model analysis further indicates that a spatially uniform distribution of
      proteoglycan matrix could be maintained by initiating the culture process with a
      smaller-sized pellet. Finally, possible extensions are put forward with an aim to
      improve the model predictions for the early behaviour, where different mechanisms
      appear to dominate the matrix production within the pellets. 

PMID- 26889830
TI  - A Novel Epigenetic Silencing Pathway Involving the Highly Conserved 5'-3'
      Exoribonuclease Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
AB  - Epigenetic gene silencing plays a critical role in regulating gene expression and
      contributes to organismal development and cell fate acquisition in eukaryotes. In
      fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heterochromatin-associated gene
      silencing is known to be mediated by RNA processing pathways including RNA
      interference (RNAi) and a 3'-5' exoribonuclease complex, the exosome. Here, we
      report a new RNA-processing pathway that contributes to epigenetic gene silencing
      and assembly of heterochromatin mediated by 5'-3' exoribonuclease Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2.
      Dhp1 mutation causes defective gene silencing both at peri-centromeric regions
      and at the silent mating type locus. Intriguingly, mutation in either of the two
      well-characterized Dhp1-interacting proteins, the Din1 pyrophosphohydrolase or
      the Rhn1 transcription termination factor, does not result in silencing defects
      at the main heterochromatic regions. We demonstrate that Dhp1 interacts with
      heterochromatic factors and is essential in the sequential steps of establishing
      silencing in a manner independent of both RNAi and the exosome. Genomic and
      genetic analyses suggest that Dhp1 is involved in post-transcriptional silencing
      of repetitive regions through its RNA processing activity. The results describe
      the unexpected role of Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 in chromatin-based silencing and elucidate
      how various RNA-processing pathways, acting together or independently, contribute
      to epigenetic regulation of the eukaryotic genome. 

PMID- 26889835
TI  - mTORC1 in Thymic Epithelial Cells Is Critical for Thymopoiesis, T-Cell
      Generation, and Temporal Control of gammadeltaT17 Development and TCRgamma/delta
      Recombination.
AB  - Thymus is crucial for generation of a diverse repertoire of T cells essential for
      adaptive immunity. Although thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are crucial for
      thymopoiesis and T cell generation, how TEC development and function are
      controlled is poorly understood. We report here that mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) in
      TECs plays critical roles in thymopoiesis and thymus function. Acute deletion of
      mTORC1 in adult mice caused severe thymic involution. TEC-specific deficiency of
      mTORC1 (mTORC1KO) impaired TEC maturation and function such as decreased
      expression of thymotropic chemokines, decreased medullary TEC to cortical TEC
      ratios, and altered thymic architecture, leading to severe thymic atrophy,
      reduced recruitment of early thymic progenitors, and impaired development of
      virtually all T-cell lineages. Strikingly, temporal control of IL-17-producing
      gammadeltaT (gammadeltaT17) cell differentiation and TCRVgamma/delta
      recombination in fetal thymus is lost in mTORC1KO thymus, leading to elevated
      gammadeltaT17 differentiation and rearranging of fetal specific TCRVgamma/delta
      in adulthood. Thus, mTORC1 is central for TEC development/function and
      establishment of thymic environment for proper T cell development, and modulating
      mTORC1 activity can be a strategy for preventing thymic involution/atrophy. 

PMID- 26889836
TI  - Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 and Frailty in Elderly Community-Dwelling
      Individuals: The Cardiovascular Health Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) is related
      to frailty and to characterize the nature of their joint association with
      mortality. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis for frailty and longitudinal cohort
      analysis for mortality. SETTING: Cardiovascular Health Study. PARTICIPANTS:
      Community-dwelling individuals (N = 2,977; mean age 77.9 +/- 4.7, 40% male, 83%
      white). MEASUREMENTS: The predictor was serum FGF-23 concentration (C-terminal
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and the outcomes were frailty status
      (determined according to frailty phenotype criteria of weight loss, weakness,
      exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity) and mortality. Multinomial
      logistic regression was used to assess the cross-sectional association between
      FGF-23 and frailty and prefrailty, adjusting for demographic characteristics,
      cardiovascular disease and risk factors, and kidney markers. Proportional hazards
      Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association between
      FGF-23, frailty, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Mean estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (eGFR) was 64 +/- 17 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) . Median FGF-23 was
      70.3 RU/mL (interquartile range 53.4-99.2); 52% were prefrail, and 13% were
      frail. After multivariate adjustment, each doubling in FGF-23 concentration was
      associated with 38% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 17-62%) higher odds of
      frailty than of nonfrailty and 16% (95% CI = 3-30%) higher odds of prefrailty.
      FGF-23 (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.10-1.23) and frailty (HR = 1.82, 95%
      CI = 1.57-2.12) were independently associated with mortality, but neither
      association was meaningfully attenuated when adjusted for the other. CONCLUSION:
      In a large cohort of older adults, higher FGF-23 was independently associated
      with prevalent frailty and prefrailty. FGF-23 and frailty were independent and
      additive risk factors for mortality. FGF-23 may be a marker for functional
      outcomes.

PMID- 26889837
TI  - Association Between Anthropometric Measures and Long-Term Survival in Frail Older
      Women: Observations from the Women's Health Initiative Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between currently recommended guidelines
      and commonly used clinical criteria for body mass index (BMI), waist
      circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and all-cause mortality in frail
      older women. DESIGN: Longitudinal prospective cohort study. SETTING: Women's
      Health Initiative (WHI)-Observational Study. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of women aged
      65-84 with complete data to characterize frailty in the third year of WHI follow
      up (N = 11,070). MEASUREMENTS: Frailty phenotype was determined using the
      modified Fried criteria. Information on anthropometric measures (BMI, WC, WHR)
      was collected in clinical examinations. Cox proportional hazards models were used
      to estimate the effect of BMI, WC, and WHR on mortality adjusted for demographic
      characteristics and health behaviors. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 11.5
      years, there were 2,911 (26%) deaths in the sample. Women with a BMI from 25.0 to
      29.9 kg/m(2) (hazard rate ratio (HR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.73
      0.88) and those with a BMI from 30.0 to 34.9 kg/m(2) (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.71
      0.88) had lower mortality than those with a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2) . Women
      with a WHR greater than 0.8 had higher mortality (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07-1.26)
      than those with a WHR of 0.8 or less. No difference in mortality was observed
      according to WC. Stratifying according to chronic morbidity or smoking status or
      excluding women with early death and unintentional weight loss did not
      substantially change these findings. CONCLUSION: In frail, older women, having a
      BMI between 25.0 and 34.9 kg/m(2) or a WHR of 0.8 or less was associated with
      lower mortality. Currently recommended healthy BMI guidelines should be
      reevaluated for frail older women.

PMID- 26889838
TI  - Frailty Trajectories in an Elderly Population-Based Cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To identify distinct frailty trajectories (clusters of individuals
      following a similar progression of frailty over time) in an aging population and
      to estimate associations between frailty trajectories and emergency department
      visits, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. DESIGN: Population-based
      cohort study. SETTING: Olmsted County, Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: Olmsted County,
      Minnesota residents aged 60-89 in 2005. MEASUREMENTS: Longitudinal changes in
      frailty between 2005 and 2012 were measured by constructing a yearly Rockwood
      frailty index incorporating body mass index, 17 comorbidities, and 14 activities
      of daily living. The frailty index measures variation in health status as the
      proportion of deficits present of the 32 considered (range 0-1). RESULTS: Of the
      16,443 Olmsted County residents aged 60-89 in 2005, 12,270 (74.6%) had at least 3
      years of frailty index measures and were retained for analysis. The median
      baseline frailty index increased with age (0.11 for 60-69, 0.14 for 70-79, 0.19
      for 80-89). Three distinct frailty trajectories were identified in individuals
      aged 60-69 at baseline and two trajectories in those aged 70-79 and 80-89. Within
      each decade of age, increasing frailty trajectories were associated with greater
      risks of emergency department visits, hospitalization, and all-cause mortality,
      even after adjustment for baseline frailty index. CONCLUSION: The number of
      frailty trajectories differed according to age. Within each age group, those in
      the highest frailty trajectory had greater healthcare use and worse survival.
      Frailty trajectories may offer a way to target aging individuals at high risk of
      hospitalization or death for therapeutic or preventive interventions.

PMID- 26889839
TI  - Antipsychotic Use in Hospitalized Adults: Rates, Indications, and Predictors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate patterns and predictors of use of antipsychotics in
      hospitalized adults. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic
      medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 18 and older hospitalized from
      August 2012 to August 2013, excluding those admitted to obstetrics and gynecology
      or psychiatry or with a psychotic disorder. MEASUREMENTS: Use was ascertained
      from pharmacy charges. Potentially excessive dosing was defined using guidelines
      for long-term care facilities. A review of 100 records was performed to determine
      reasons for use. RESULTS: The cohort included 17,775 admissions with a median age
      64; individuals could have been admitted more than once during the study period.
      Antipsychotics were used in 9%, 55% of which were initiations. The most common
      reasons for initiation were delirium (53%) and probable delirium (12%).
      Potentially excessive dosing occurred in 16% of admissions exposed to an
      antipsychotic. Of admissions with antipsychotic initiation, 26% were discharged
      on these medications. Characteristics associated with initiation included age 75
      and older (relative risk (RR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-1.7),
      male sex (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.4), black race (RR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.6-0.96),
      delirium (RR = 4.8, 95% CI = 4.2-5.7), dementia (RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.7-2.6),
      admission to a medical service (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.4), intensive care unit
      stay (RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.8-2.4), and mechanical ventilation (RR = 2.0, 95% CI =
      1.7-2.4). In individuals who were initiated on an antipsychotic, characteristics
      associated with discharge on antipsychotics were age 75 and older (RR = 0.6, 95%
      CI = 0.4-0.7), discharge to any location other than home (RR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.8
      3.3), and class of in-hospital antipsychotic exposure (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.3
      for atypical vs typical; RR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.9-3.8 for both vs typical).
      CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic initiation and use were common during hospitalization,
      most often for delirium, and individuals were frequently discharged on these
      medications. Several predictors of use on discharge were identified, suggesting
      potential targets for decision support tools that would be used to prompt
      consideration of ongoing necessity.

PMID- 26889842
TI  - Beyond Enrollment: Providing the Highest-Quality Care within Hospice.

PMID- 26889840
TI  - Global Sensory Impairment in Older Adults in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there may be a common mechanism resulting in
      global sensory impairment of the five classical senses (vision, smell, hearing,
      touch, and taste) in older adults. DESIGN: Representative, population-based
      study. SETTING: National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. PARTICIPANTS:
      Community-dwelling U.S. adults aged 57 to 85. MEASUREMENTS: The frequency with
      which impairment co-occurred across the five senses was estimated as an
      integrated measure of sensory aging. It was hypothesized that multisensory
      deficits would be common and reflect global sensory impairment that would largely
      explain the effects of age, sex, and race on sensory dysfunction. RESULTS: Two
      thirds of subjects had two or more sensory deficits, 27% had just one, and 6% had
      none. Seventy-four percent had impairment in taste, 70% in touch, 22% in smell,
      20% in corrected vision, and 18% in corrected hearing. Older adults, men, African
      Americans, and Hispanics had greater multisensory impairment (all P < .01).
      Global sensory impairment largely accounted for the effects of age, sex, and race
      on the likelihood of impairment in each of the five senses. CONCLUSION:
      Multisensory impairment is prevalent in older U.S. adults. These data support the
      concept of a common process that underlies sensory aging across the five senses.
      Clinicians assessing individuals with a sensory deficit should consider further
      evaluation for additional co-occurring sensory deficits.

PMID- 26889841
TI  - Transitions Between Healthcare Settings of Hospice Enrollees at the End of Life.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To characterize the number and types of care transitions in the last
      6 months of life of individuals who used hospice and to examine factors
      associated with having multiple transitions in care. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort
      study. SETTING: One hundred percent fee-for-service Medicare decedent claims
      data. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older who died between
      July 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011, and were enrolled in hospice at some time
      during the last 6 months of life. MEASUREMENTS: Hierarchical generalized linear
      modeling was used to identify individual, hospice, and regional factors
      associated with transitions. The sequence of transitions across healthcare
      settings was described. Healthcare transitions after hospice enrollment included
      from and to the hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency program,
      hospice, or home without receiving any service in these four healthcare settings.
      RESULTS: Of 311,090 hospice decedents, 31,675 (10.2%) had at least one transition
      after hospice enrollment, and this varied substantially across the United States;
      6.6% of all decedents had more than one transition in care after hospice
      enrollment (range 2-19 transitions). Of hospice users with transitions, 53.4%
      were admitted to hospitals, 17.7% were admitted to skilled nursing facilities,
      9.6% used home health agencies, and 25.8% had transitions to home without
      receiving the services from the healthcare settings examined. In adjusted
      analyses, decedents who were younger, nonwhite, enrolled in a for-profit or small
      hospice program, or had less access to hospital-based palliative care had
      significantly higher odds of having at least one transition. CONCLUSION: A
      notable proportion of hospice users experience at least one transition in care in
      the last 6 months of life, suggesting that further research on the effect of
      transitions on users and families is warranted.

PMID- 26889845
TI  - Evolving Demand for Critical Care Services for Elderly Adults with Dementia in
      Texas: A Population-Based Study.

PMID- 26889844
TI  - Anticholinergic Medication Use and Risk of Pneumonia in Elderly Adults: A Nested
      Case-Control Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated
      with the use of anticholinergic medications in elderly adults. DESIGN: Nested
      case-control study. SETTING: A regional Medicare Advantage healthcare plan (2009
      2010). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees aged 65
      and older with at least one inpatient and one outpatient claim with no history of
      CAP between January 1 and June 30, 2009. Cases were identified as enrollees with
      an incident diagnosis of CAP, between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010 (n =
      291). Four age- and sex-matched controls (n = 1,164) were identified per case
      using incidence density sampling. MEASUREMENTS: Anticholinergic prescription 30
      days preceding the event date was the primary exposure. Anticholinergic exposure
      was defined based on the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS). A conditional logistic
      regression model stratified on matched case-control sets was used, with exposure
      to a Level 1, 2, or 3 anticholinergic on the ADS as the main independent
      variable; CAP as the main outcome variable; and risk factors for CAP as
      additional explanatory variables. RESULTS: After controlling for risk factors,
      overall use of anticholinergic medications was significantly associated with risk
      of pneumonia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20-2.28).
      The risk of pneumonia remained significant across the different exposure periods,
      although use of higher-level (ADS Level 2 or 3) anticholinergics was not
      associated with pneumonia risk (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.70-1.96). CONCLUSION:
      Overall use of anticholinergic medications, but not higher-level drugs, was
      associated with greater risk of CAP compared to no use after controlling for
      other factors. More research is needed to better understand the role of potent
      anticholinergic medications on pneumonia risk in elderly adults.

PMID- 26889843
TI  - Elder-Clowning in Long-Term Dementia Care: Results of a Pilot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of elder-clowning on moderate to severe
      behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in nursing home
      residents with dementia, primarily of the Alzheimer's type. DESIGN: Before-and
      after study. SETTING: Nursing home. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home residents with
      moderate to severe BPSD, as defined according to a Neuropsychiatric Inventory
      Nursing Home version (NPI-NH) score of 10 or greater (N = 23), and their care
      aides. INTERVENTION: A pair of elder-clowns visited all residents twice weekly
      (~10 minutes per visit) for 12 weeks. They used improvisation, humor, empathy,
      and expressive modalities such as song, musical instruments, and dance to
      individualize resident engagement. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were BPSD
      measured using the the NPI-NH, quality of life measured using Dementia Care
      Mapping (DCM), and nursing burden of care measured using the Modified Nursing
      Care Assessment Scale (M-NCAS). Secondary outcomes were occupational
      disruptiveness measured using the NPI-NH, agitation measured using the Cohen
      Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), and psychiatric medication use. RESULTS:
      Over 12 weeks, NPI-NH scores declined significantly (t22 = -2.68, P = .01), and
      DCM quality-of-life scores improved significantly (F1,50 = 23.09, P < .001). CMAI
      agitation scores decreased nominally, but the difference was not statistically
      significant (t22 = -1.86, P = .07). Occupational disruptiveness score
      significantly improved (t22 = -2.58, P = .02), but there was no appreciable
      change in M-NCAS scores of staff burden of care. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that
      elder-clowning reduced moderate to severe BPSD of nursing home residents with
      dementia, primarily of the Alzheimer's type. Elder-clowning is a promising
      intervention that may improve Alzheimer's disease care for nursing home
      residents.

PMID- 26889846
TI  - Burden of Transitions After Invasive Mechanical Ventilation for U.S. Individuals
      with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Opportunity to Prepare for
      Preference-Congruent End-of-Life Care?

PMID- 26889847
TI  - Influence of Barefoot, Minimalist, and Standard Footwear Conditions on Gait and
      Balance in Healthy Older Adults.

PMID- 26889848
TI  - Gait Cost of Using a Mobility Aid in Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease.

PMID- 26889849
TI  - Pattern of Emotional Benefits Induced by Regular Singing and Music Listening in
      Dementia.

PMID- 26889850
TI  - Comparison of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy and Medical Therapy
      in Individuals Aged 75 and Older.

PMID- 26889851
TI  - Sensory Impairments and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Mortality in Older
      British Community-Dwelling Men: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

PMID- 26889852
TI  - Sex-Related Differences in Centenarians and Their Hearts.

PMID- 26889853
TI  - Radio Surgical Ablation of Acoustic Neuromas: A Unique Treatment Modality for an
      Elderly Woman.

PMID- 26889854
TI  - Gallstone Ileus in an Older Nursing Home Resident.

PMID- 26889855
TI  - When Symptomatic Treatment Becomes Antitumor Treatment for Vipoma: Opportunity
      for Frail Elderly Adults.

PMID- 26889856
TI  - Alpha-Fetoprotein Producing Gastric Adenocarcinoma in an Elderly Adult.

PMID- 26889857
TI  - Fatal Cardiac Arrest Associated with Concomitant Bisoprolol and Verapamil
      Overdose.

PMID- 26889858
TI  - Learn from Your Elders: Why We Need to Increase Exposure to Geriatrics in Medical
      Training.

PMID- 26889859
TI  - Age Discrimination, Eppur Si Muove (Yet It Moves).

PMID- 26889860
TI  - The Healthy and Successful Aging of Our Discipline.

PMID- 26889861
TI  - Study of Factors Associated with Incomplete Bladder Emptying in Older Women.

PMID- 26889862
TI  - Response to Cosco and Kuh.

PMID- 26889863
TI  - Response to Sumer and Colleagues.

PMID- 26889865
TI  - Effect of Multimodal Exercise Program on Physical Function, Falls, and Injuries
      in Older Women.

PMID- 26889864
TI  - Response to Aycicek and Colleagues.

PMID- 26889867
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26889866
TI  - A Macro Role for Microglia in Poststroke Depression.

PMID- 26889870
TI  - Adhesion modification of neural stem cells induced by nanoscale ripple patterns.
AB  - We have studied the influence of anisotropic nanopatterns (ripples) on the
      adhesion and morphology of mouse neural stem cells (C17.2) on glass substrates
      using cell viability assay, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The
      ripples were produced by defocused ion beam sputtering with inert Ar ions, which
      physically remove atoms from the surface at the energy of 800 eV. The ripple
      periodicity (~200 nm) is comparable to the thickness of the cytoplasmatic
      microspikes (filopodia) which link the stem cells to the substrate. All methods
      show that the cell adhesion is significantly lowered compared to the same type of
      cells on flat glass surfaces. Furthermore, the AFM analysis reveals that the
      filopodia tend to be trapped parallel or perpendicular to the ripples, which
      limits the spreading of the stem cell on the rippled substrate. This opens the
      perspective of controlling the micro-adhesion of stem cells and the orientation
      of their filopodia by tuning the anisotropic substrate morphology without
      chemical reactions occurring at the surface. 

PMID- 26889871
TI  - Potential Modulation on Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry.
AB  - Electrochemical-total internal reflection ellipsometry (EC-TIRE) has been
      proposed as a technique to observe the redox reactions on the electrode surface
      due to its high phase sensitivity to the electrolyte/electrode interface. In this
      paper, we mainly focus on the influence of the potential modulation on the TIRE
      response. The analysis suggests that both dielectric constant variation of gold
      and the electric double layer transformation would modulate the reflection
      polarization of the surface. For a nonfaradaic process, the signal of TIRE would
      be proportional to the potential modulation. To testify the analysis, linear
      sweep voltammetry and open circuit measurement have been performed. The results
      strongly support the system analysis. 

PMID- 26889872
TI  - Selective attention impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - Objective of this study was to evaluate attentional control mechanisms in
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using an auditory event-related potentials
      (ERPs) paradigm. Fifteen mild to moderate ALS patients and 15 healthy controls
      were administered a brief neuropsychological test battery and an ERPs paradigm
      assessing selective attention. Four types of auditory stimuli were presented in
      random order: short standard (200 Hz, 200 ms), long standard (200 Hz, 500 ms),
      short deviant (1000 Hz, 200 ms) and long deviant (1000 Hz, 500 ms). Participants
      had to respond to the long deviant stimuli only. During the task the
      electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. The N200, P300 and re-orienting
      negativity (RON) ERP components were analysed. Compared to controls ALS patients
      showed reduced amplitudes and delayed latencies of N200, P300 and RON. These
      results could be attributable to both an alteration in change detection resulting
      in a reduction of the allocation and re-orientation of attentional resources or a
      general slowing or reduction of neural processing efficiency in the same system.
      The ERPs results support the hypothesis that ALS involves extramotor cognitive
      functions including auditory attentional processing at all processing stages,
      early (200 ms) and late (300-600 ms). These data prove the usefulness and
      sensitivity of the auditory ERPs in detection of cognitive functions in ALS
      patients. 

PMID- 26889873
TI  - Significant motor improvement in an infant with congenital heart disease and a
      rolandic stroke: The impact of early intervention.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the impact of early motor intervention in an infant with
      congenital heart disease (CHD) and a stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 35-week
      newborn with a complex CHD and a normal MRI presented with early motor
      developmental delay at 2 months. She began an intervention program, which
      included biweekly motor developmental therapy with a physiotherapist, parental
      education, and daily home exercises. At 4 months, she underwent cardiac surgery.
      Following surgery, she was diagnosed with a stroke involving the right sylvian
      artery territory. She continued her intensive intervention program. The 12-month
      assessment revealed an evident gain of motor function. Despite MRI evidence of a
      chronic infarct involving the primary motor cortex, the child had normal motor
      functions. CONCLUSION: This case report supports the positive impact of early
      intervention in infants with CHD and its potential effect on enhancing
      neuroplasticity, even in children with cerebro-vascular accidents involving areas
      of motor function.

PMID- 26889874
TI  - Patient involvement in the development of patient-reported outcome measures: a
      scoping review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) measure patients'
      perspectives on health outcomes and are increasingly used in health care. To
      capture the patient's perspective, it is essential that patients are involved in
      PROM development OBJECTIVE: This article reviews in what ways and to what extent
      patients are involved in PROM development and whether patient involvement has
      increased over time. SEARCH STRATEGY: Literature was searched in PubMed, EMBASE,
      MEDLINE and the Cochrane Methodology Register. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies were
      included if they described a new PROM development. DATA EXTRACTION: Basic
      information and information regarding patient involvement in development phases
      was recorded. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 189 studies, describing the development of
      193 PROMs, were included. Most PROMs were meant for chronic disease patients (n =
      59) and measured quality of life (n = 28). In 25.9% of the PROM development
      studies, no patients were involved. Patients were mostly involved during item
      development (58.5%), closely followed by testing for comprehensibility (50.8%),
      while patient involvement in determining which outcome to measure was minimal
      (10.9%). Some patient involvement took place in the development of most PROMs,
      but in only 6.7% patients were involved in all aspects of the development.
      Patient involvement did not increase with time. CONCLUSIONS: Although patient
      involvement in PROM development is essential to develop valid patient-centred
      PROMs, patients are not always involved. When patients are involved, their level
      of involvement varies considerably. These variations suggest that further
      attention to building and/or disseminating consensus on requirements for patient
      involvement in PROM development is necessary.

PMID- 26889875
TI  - Assessment of CASP11 contact-assisted predictions.
AB  - We present an overview of contact-assisted predictions in the eleventh round of
      critical assessment of protein structure prediction (CASP11), which included four
      categories: predicted contacts (Tp), correct contacts (Tc), simulated sparse NMR
      contacts (Ts), and cross-linking contacts (Tx). Comparison of assisted to
      unassisted model quality highlighted a relatively poor overall performance in
      CASP11 using predicted Tp and crosslinked Tx contact information. However,
      average model quality significantly improved in the correct Tc and simulated NMR
      Ts categories for most targets, where maximum improvement of unassisted models
      reached an impressive 70 GDT_TS. Comparison of the performance in the correct Tc
      category to CASP10 suggested the improvement in CASP11 model quality originated
      from an increased number of provided contacts per target. Group rankings based on
      a combination of scores used in the CASP11 free modeling (FM) assessment for each
      category highlight four top-performing groups, with three from the Lee lab and
      one from the Baker lab. We used the overall performance of these groups in each
      category to develop hypotheses for their relative outperformance in the correct
      Tc and simulated NMR Ts categories, which stemmed from the fraction of correct
      contacts provided (correct Tc category) and a reduced fraction of correct
      contacts offset by an increased coverage of the correct contacts (simulated NMR
      Ts category). Proteins 2016; 84(Suppl 1):164-180. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26889876
TI  - Comparison of fetal cartilage-derived progenitor cells isolated at different
      developmental stages in a rat model.
AB  - Fetal cartilage-derived progenitor cells (FCPCs) could be a useful cell source in
      cell-based therapies for cartilage disorders. However, their characteristics can
      vary depending on the developmental stages. The aim of this study was to compare
      the characteristics of rat FCPCs from the hind limb on embryonic day 14 (E14),
      E16 and E20 regarding proliferation, pluripotency, and differentiation.
      Morphologically, rat fetal cartilage tissue showed an increase in cartilaginous
      differentiation features (Safranin-O, type II collagen) and decrease in
      pluripotency marker (Sox2) in the order of E14, E16 and E20. E14 FCPCs showed
      significantly higher doubling time compared to E16 and E20 FCPCs. While the E14
      FCPCs expressed pluripotent genes (Sox2, Oct4, Nanog), the E16 and E20 FCPCs
      expressed chondrogenic markers (Sox9, Col2a1, Acan). E20 FCPCs showed the highest
      ability to both chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation and E14 FCPCs showed
      relatively better activity in osteogenic differentiation. Further analysis showed
      that E20 FCPCs expressed both adipogenic (C/ebpbeta) and osteogenic (Runx2, Sp7,
      Taz) transcription factors as well as chondrogenic transcription factors. Our
      results show an inverse relationship overall between the expression of
      pluripotency genes and that of chondrogenic and lineage-specific genes in FCPCs
      under development. Due to its exceptional proliferation and chondrogenic
      differentiation ability, fetal cells from epiphyseal cartilage (E20 in rats) may
      be a suitable cell source for cartilage regeneration.

PMID- 26889877
TI  - A rare case of leiomyosarcoma localized in the Bartholin's gland area and review
      of the literature.
AB  - Sarcomas of the vulva in the Bartholin's gland area are extremely rare in adults
      and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. A 65-year-old female
      patient without any previous complaint presented to our hospital complaining of a
      genital lump with progressive enlargement over the last six months. Pelvic
      examination revealed a 6 * 5 cm solid mass lesion with irregular margins
      localized in the left Bartholin's gland. Preoperative pathology results indicated
      a benign lesion, which was subsequently totally excised. Histopathological
      examination of the lesion revealed leiomyosarcoma. When a lesion is localized in
      the Bartholin's gland area, preoperative biopsy may suggest benign cytology,
      which can lead to a delay in diagnosis and curative treatment. Total local
      excision is the first choice for vulvar-complicated masses in the Bartholin's
      gland area. The present case is the ninth well-documented case reported in the
      literature.

PMID- 26889878
TI  - Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Exciting
      Times.

PMID- 26889879
TI  - Recurrences and Ongoing Complaints of Diverticulitis; Results of a Survey among
      Gastroenterologists and Surgeons.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the current opinion of
      gastroenterologists and surgeons on treatment strategies for patients, with
      recurrences or ongoing complaints of diverticulitis. BACKGROUND: Treatment of
      recurrences and ongoing complaints remains a point of debate. No randomized
      trials have been published yet and guidelines are not uniform in their advice.
      DESIGN: A web-based survey was conducted among gastroenterologists and GE
      surgeons. Questions were aimed at the treatment options for recurrent
      diverticulitis and ongoing complaints. RESULTS: In total, 123 surveys were filled
      out. The number of patients with recurrent or ongoing diverticulitis who were
      seen at the outpatient clinic each year was 7 (0-30) and 5 (0-115) respectively.
      Surgeons see significantly more patients on an annual basis 20 vs. 15% (p =
      0.00). Both surgeons and gastroenterologists preferred to treat patients in a
      conservative manner using pain medication and lifestyle advise (64.4 vs. 54.0, p
      = 0.27); however, gastroenterologists would treat patients with mesalazine
      medication, which is significantly more (28%, p = 0.04) than in the surgical
      group. Surgeons are inclined more towards surgery (31.5%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:
      Both surgeons and gastroenterologists prefer to treat recurrent diverticulitis
      and ongoing complaints in a conservative manner. Quality of life, the risk of
      complications and the viewpoint of the patient are considered important factors
      in the decision to resect the affected colon.

PMID- 26889880
TI  - Long-term Effects of Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Versus Conventional Coronary Bypass
      Grafting on Renal Function.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of
      conventional on-pump coronary bypass grafting (cCABG) compared with off-pump
      coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) on renal function. METHODS: A retrospective review
      of patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting from 2004 through 2013 at a
      single center was conducted. Preoperative renal function, perioperative acute
      kidney injury, and long-term glomerular filtration were evaluated. Multivariable
      analyses were used to determine factors contributing to short- and long-term
      renal impairment. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients underwent cCABG, and 582
      underwent OPCAB. Patients undergoing OPCAB were significantly older, had greater
      preoperative renal dysfunction, had greater functional dependence, and took more
      hypertension medications. Multivariable analyses found that 30-day acute kidney
      injury was an independent risk factor for a 10% decline in glomerular filtration
      rate at 1 and 5 years (P < 0.0001 and 0.002, respectively). However, the use of
      cardiopulmonary bypass was not found to influence long-term renal function (P =
      0.78 at 1 year, P = 0.76 at 5 years). The percentage of patients experiencing a
      10% drop in renal function from baseline at 1 year (33% OPCAB, 35% cCABG; P =
      0.73) and 5 years (16% OPCAB, 16% cCABG; P = 0.93) were not significantly
      different. Independent predictors of acute kidney injury included baseline kidney
      function (P = 0.04) and age (P < 0.0001), whereas cardiopulmonary bypass did not
      affect the incidence (P = 0.17). A propensity-matched analysis confirmed these
      findings. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kidney injury is a risk factor for long-term renal
      dysfunction after either bypass method and was not greater after cCABG compared
      with OPCAB. Patients undergoing OPCAB did not experience greater decrease in long
      term kidney function despite having worse baseline kidney function.

PMID- 26889881
TI  - First-in-Man Transcervical Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Using the CoreVista
      System.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate a novel device system for surgical aortic
      valve replacement (SAVR) using a unique new less invasive access approach. The
      hypothesis is that SAVR can be performed through a short transverse incision in
      the neck, similar to that used for transcervical thymectomy avoiding chest
      disruption. METHODS: A new device system was developed to provide retraction,
      step-by-step illumination, and on-screen visualization for the new approach.
      Preliminary feasibility studies were performed in cadavers. Comprehensive risk
      analysis was performed, and training was implemented in Thiel preserved cadavers.
      For the first-in-man clinical case, a 63-year-old woman with symptomatic critical
      aortic stenosis (The Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk, 11%) and heavily
      calcified aortic valve was selected. A short transverse incision was made in the
      neck; the device was introduced, and the sternum was elevated; femorofemoral
      cardiopulmonary bypass was established; substernal dissection was guided by the
      sequenced illumination, and high-definition visualization was provided by the
      device, allowing for optimal exposition of the aorta and aortic valve; and a 23
      mm Medtronic ENABLE sutureless valve prosthesis was implanted. Procedure success
      was evaluated according to the standardized composite end point definition of
      "device success" proposed by the Valve Academic Research Consortium. RESULTS:
      Access, delivery, and deployment of the valve prosthesis were successful. The
      correct position and intended performance of the valve were demonstrated (mean
      gradient, 6 mm Hg; aortic valve area, 2.5 cm) with the absence of moderate or
      severe prosthetic aortic regurgitation. Only one valve prosthesis was used.
      CONCLUSIONS: Transcervical SAVR with sutureless valve is feasible using this
      novel access system. The new approach has potential to offer patients
      substantially shorter stay and fewer, less serious complications, as has been
      observed in transcervical thymectomy. Further studies are merited.

PMID- 26889882
TI  - A Simple Porcine Model of Inducible Sustained Atrial Fibrillation.
AB  - The surgical management of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an evolving field with a
      history of testing various lesion sets and ablation technologies. Previous animal
      models of AF require a chronic intervention to make AF reliably inducible. Our
      objective was to create an acute, reliable, and reproducible porcine model of
      sustained AF. To accomplish this, 21 adult domestic pigs underwent median
      sternotomy. Methods to induce AF were then performed sequentially: manual
      stimulation, rapid pacing (200 beats per minute), and then rapid pacing of 8
      beats with a cycle length of 300 milliseconds, followed by an extra stimulus at
      decreasing cycle lengths. If AF was not induced, burst pacing was performed at a
      cycle length of 90 milliseconds for 30 seconds. If AF was still not induced,
      intravenous neostigmine was administered, and the process was repeated. Atrial
      fibrillation was considered sustained after 1 minute. Attempts at AF induction
      were successful in 18 (86%) of 21. Atrial fibrillation was induced during manual
      stimulation in four (19%), during rapid pacing in five (24%), during burst pacing
      in five (24%), and after the administration of neostigmine in four (19%). Mean
      (SD) duration of AF was 3.6 (2.6) minutes. Of the 18, 14 (78%) reverted to sinus
      rhythm spontaneously and 4 (22%) required an antiarrhythmic. This technique of
      inducing AF can easily be used to evaluate new technologies and lesion sets
      without the need for creating a chronic animal model. 

PMID- 26889883
TI  - Single-Incision Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for an Extralobar Sequestration
      in a Child.
AB  - Uniportal or single-incision video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been
      performed successfully in adult patients with different intrathoracic pathologies
      for years. However, no report in uniportal/single-incision VATS in pediatric
      patients in the English literature has been published up to date. This may be
      explained by the limited number of patients and the difficulties in working in
      very narrow thoracic cavity of babies and children. For these reasons, all the
      published cases of VATS for extralobar sequestration in infants or children were
      performed through the three-port approach. We report herein a case of single
      incision VATS in a child for the resection of an extralobar sequestration. 

PMID- 26889884
TI  - Synthesis of Redshifted Azobenzene Photoswitches by Late-Stage Functionalization.
AB  - Azobenzenes are versatile photoswitches that can be cycled between their trans-
      and cis-configuration with light. The wavelengths required for this isomerization
      are substantially shifted from the UV to the visible range through tetra-ortho
      chlorination. These halogenated azobenzenes display unique photoswitching
      characteristics, but their syntheses remain limited and inefficient. A new
      general method for the synthesis of tetra-ortho-chloro azobenzenes has been
      developed, which relies on direct palladium(II)-catalyzed C-H activation of pre
      existing standard azobenzenes. This late-stage functionalization has a broad
      substrate scope and can be used to create a variety of useful building blocks for
      the construction of more elaborate redshifted photopharmaceuticals. This method
      is used to prepare red-AzCA-4, a photoswitchable vanilloid that enables optical
      control of the cation channel TRPV1 with visible light. 

PMID- 26889886
TI  - The mechanism of controllable dehydrogenation: CPMD study of M(BH4)x(NH3)y (M =
      Li, Mg) decomposition.
AB  - Amine metallic borohydrides were synthesized as a new series of hydrogen-storage
      materials. Their dehydrogenation can be controlled if appropriate metal centres
      are chosen. A typical example is LiBH4NH3 (ALB) and Mg(BH4)2(NH3)2 (AMgB) adopt
      the same symmetries but show totally different appearances when decomposed. Both
      ALB and AMgB are relatively new compounds designed as candidates for solid-state
      hydrogen storage. In this study, we have applied a Car-Parrinello molecular
      dynamic (CPMD) method to simulate the overall processes of their decomposition to
      figure out the mechanisms behind the difference in post-decomposition
      appearances. The polarization of Mg(2+) is almost two times larger than that of
      Li(+), making the Mg(2+) bond with nitrogen and boron stronger compared to that
      of Li(+), which improves the appearance of dehydrogenation of AMgB over that of
      ALB. 

PMID- 26889885
TI  - Gradual neofunctionalization in the convergent evolution of trichomonad lactate
      and malate dehydrogenases.
AB  - Lactate and malate dehydrogenases (LDH and MDH) are homologous, core metabolic
      enzymes common to nearly all living organisms. LDHs have evolved convergently
      from MDHs at least four times, achieving altered substrate specificity by a
      different mechanism each time. For instance, the LDH of anaerobic trichomonad
      parasites recently evolved independently from an ancestral trichomonad MDH by
      gene duplication. LDH plays a central role in trichomonad metabolism by
      catalyzing the reduction of pyruvate to lactate, thereby regenerating the NAD+
      required for glycolysis. Using ancestral reconstruction methods, we identified
      the biochemical and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for this convergent
      event. The last common ancestor of these enzymes was a highly specific MDH,
      similar to modern trichomonad MDHs. In contrast, the LDH lineage evolved
      promiscuous activity by relaxing specificity in a gradual process of
      neofunctionalization involving one highly detrimental substitution at the
      "specificity residue" (R91L) and many additional mutations of small effect. L91
      has different functional consequences in LDHs and in MDHs, indicating a prominent
      role for epistasis. Crystal structures of modern-day and ancestral enzymes show
      that the evolution of substrate specificity paralleled structural changes in
      dimerization and alpha-helix orientation. The relatively small "specificity
      residue" of the trichomonad LDHs can accommodate a range of substrate sizes and
      may permit solvent to access the active site, both of which promote substrate
      promiscuity. The trichomonad LDHs present a multi-faceted counterpoint to the
      independent evolution of LDHs in other organisms and illustrate the diverse
      mechanisms by which protein function, structure, and stability coevolve.

PMID- 26889887
TI  - Development and validation of an algorithm for identifying urinary retention in a
      cohort of patients with epilepsy in a large US administrative claims database.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop and validate an insurance claims
      based algorithm for identifying urinary retention (UR) in epilepsy patients
      receiving antiepileptic drugs to facilitate safety monitoring. METHODS: Data from
      the HealthCore Integrated Research Database(SM) in 2008-2011 (retrospective) and
      2012-2013 (prospective) were used to identify epilepsy patients with UR. During
      the retrospective phase, three algorithms identified potential UR: (i) UR
      diagnosis code with a catheterization procedure code; (ii) UR diagnosis code
      alone; or (iii) diagnosis with UR-related symptoms. Medical records for 50
      randomly selected patients satisfying >=1 algorithm were reviewed by urologists
      to ascertain UR status. Positive predictive value (PPV) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CI) were calculated for the three component algorithms and the overall
      algorithm (defined as satisfying >=1 component algorithms). Algorithms were
      refined using urologist review notes. In the prospective phase, the UR algorithm
      was refined using medical records for an additional 150 cases. RESULTS: In the
      retrospective phase, the PPV of the overall algorithm was 72.0% (95%CI: 57.5
      83.8%). Algorithm 3 performed poorly and was dropped. Algorithm 1 was unchanged;
      urinary incontinence and cystitis were added as exclusionary diagnoses to
      Algorithm 2. The PPV for the modified overall algorithm was 89.2% (74.6-97.0%).
      In the prospective phase, the PPV for the modified overall algorithm was 76.0%
      (68.4-82.6%). Upon adding overactive bladder, nocturia and urinary frequency as
      exclusionary diagnoses, the PPV for the final overall algorithm was 81.9% (73.7
      88.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The current UR algorithm yielded a PPV > 80% and could be
      used for more accurate identification of UR among epilepsy patients in a large
      claims database.

PMID- 26889888
TI  - The effect of helmets on motorcycle outcomes in a level I trauma center in
      Connecticut.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The State of Connecticut has a partial motorcycle helmet law, which
      has been linked to one of the lowest helmet compliance rates in the Northeast. We
      examine the clinical and financial impact of low motorcycle helmet use in the
      State of Connecticut. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study comparing the
      outcomes between helmeted and nonhelmeted motorcycle crash victims over a 12.5
      year period, from July 2, 2002, to December 31, 2013. All patients who were
      admitted to the hospital after a motorcycle crash were included in the study.
      Patients were stratified into helmeted and nonhelmeted cohorts. Group differences
      were compared using t-test or Wilcoxon rank test for continuous variables and chi
      square test for dichotomous outcomes. Regression models were created to evaluate
      predictors of helmet use, alcohol and drugs as confounding variables, and factors
      that influenced hospital costs. RESULTS: The registry included 986 eligible
      patients. Of this group, 335 (34%) were helmeted and 651 (66%) were nonhelmeted.
      Overall, nonhelmeted patients had a worse clinical presentation, with lower
      Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS; P <.01), higher Injury Severity Score (ISS; P <.01),
      higher incidence of loss of consciousness (LOC; P <.01), longer intensive care
      unit (ICU; P <.01) admissions, and higher incidence of head (P <.01) or face
      injuries (P <.01). Nonhelmeted patients were also twice as more likely to die
      from their injuries (P =.04, odds ratio [OR] = 1.89, 95% confidence interval
      [CI], 1.02-3.45). Financially, nonhelmeted patients incurred mean hospital costs
      of $18,458, whereas helmeted patients incurred $14,970 (P =.18). ISS, GCS, and
      ICU length of stay were significantly correlated with increased hospital costs (P
      <.01). Not using a helmet was a significant predictor of mortality (P =.04) after
      adjusting for alcohol/drug use and age. CONCLUSIONS: Helmet use is associated
      with lower injury severity and increased survival after a motorcycle crash. These
      outcomes remained consistent even after controlling for age and alcohol and drug
      use. The medical and financial impact of Connecticut's partial helmet law should
      be carefully evaluated to petition for increased education and enforcement of
      helmet use.

PMID- 26889889
TI  - Maternity Outcomes in Manitoba Women: A Comparison between Midwifery-led Care and
      Physician-led Care at Birth.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Registered midwives, obstetricians/gynecologists, and general or
      family practice physicians (GPs) provide maternity care across Canada. Few North
      American studies have assessed whether maternity outcomes differ across these
      three groups. This study compared maternal and neonatal outcomes of low-risk
      pregnant women whose birth was attended by registered midwives,
      obstetricians/gynecologists, and family practice physicians in Winnipeg, Manitoba
      from 2001/02 to 2012/13. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression
      were used to examine differences in types of intervention, mode of delivery, and
      outcomes by provider type among low-risk women. Logistic regression models
      controlled for socio-demographic and birth-related covariates. RESULTS: Low-risk
      births comprised 83,774 (48.7%) of total births (n = 171,910). The adjusted odds
      ratio (aOR), (95% confidence interval) for midwife vs OB/GYN showed women who had
      a midwife attend the birth had reduced odds of having an episiotomy 0.47 (0.40
      0.54), epidural 0.25 (0.23-0.27), and cesarean delivery 0.13 (0.10-0.16) and
      their infants had less Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admissions 0.28 (0.18-0.43).
      The aOR for GP versus OB/GYN showed women who had a GP had reduced odds of having
      an epidural/spinal 0.83 (0.79-0.88) and cesarean delivery 0.44 (0.40-0.48).
      CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of Manitoba maternity services can be improved
      with increased use of integrated midwifery services. Future research should
      examine how midwifery and physician-led models of care differ, and the influence
      of these differences on birth outcomes and cost-effectiveness to the health care
      system. Improvement of data tracking systems is also needed.

PMID- 26889890
TI  - Editorial: Looking beyond the horizon--innovation in child psychology and
      psychiatry.
AB  - As readers will no doubt be well aware, the Journal of Child Psychology and
      Psychiatry dedicates an entire issue, once a year, to state-of-the-art
      authoritative reviews of research on some of the central issues in our field.(1)
      I like to think that in doing so we have been quietly undertaking a giant
      Pavlovian conditioning experiment: every year, as the spring flowers start to
      blossom (in the northern hemisphere at least), the nucleus accumbens of child
      psychologists and psychiatrists around the world begin to glow in anticipation of
      intellectual reward. 

PMID- 26889891
TI  - Commentary: Finding out the best way to tailor psychological interventions for
      children and families--a commentary on Ng and Weisz (2016).
AB  - The article by Ng and Weisz () on how to build a science of personalized
      intervention for youth mental health is ambitious and wide-ranging, being packed
      with penetrating analyses and imaginative proposals that set the agenda for
      psychotherapeutic research for years to come. It is driven by the desire to make
      therapy more effective, and underpinned by the notion that if therapy can be
      fitted more closely to individual characteristics, results will be better. 

PMID- 26889892
TI  - Commentary: The devastating effects of ignoring child maltreatment in psychiatry-
      a commentary on Teicher and Samson 2016.
AB  - Despite the numerous studies over the past 30 years that have clarified the
      devastating effects of child maltreatment on mental and physical health, the role
      of trauma within the caregiving system remains unrecognized both in our
      diagnostic systems and in our dominant treatment paradigms. Research of people
      with histories of caregiver abuse and neglect consistently demonstrates problems
      with concentration, anger, panic, depression, food intake, drugs, and sleep, as
      well as decreased Heart RateVariability, higher levels of stress hormones, and
      reduced or impaired immune response. Their relationship between documented brain
      changes and psychopathology is complex. Traumatic life experiences during
      childhood and adolescence are far more common than expected. The Centers for
      Disease Control and Prevention estimates that child maltreatment may be the most
      costly public health issue in the United States, Eradicating child abuse in
      America would reduce the overall rate of depression by more than half, alcoholism
      by two-thirds, and suicide, serious drug abuse, and domestic violence by three
      quarters. It would also have a significantly positive effect on workplace
      performance, and vastly decrease the need for incarceration. The current practice
      of applying multiple distinct comorbid diagnoses to traumatized children prevents
      a comprehensive treatment approach. Approaching their problems from a framework
      of memories of discreet traumatic ignores the fact that the damage affects the
      brain's neural circuitry and goes well beyond dealing with discrete painful
      events. Our great challenge is to learn to utilize the brain's neuroplasticity to
      reorganize defective brain circuits. 

PMID- 26889893
TI  - Commentary: Not just genes--reclaiming a role for environmental influences on
      aetiology and outcome in autism. A commentary on Mandy and Lai (2016).
AB  - Mandy and Lai (2015) do the field a service in 'reclaiming' the role of pre- and
      postnatal environmental influences on the aetiology and course of autism spectrum
      conditions (ASC). This follows several decades where now discredited theories
      about putative psychogenic and biological disease models held sway, not least in
      the public mind. We discuss issues that arise from their review; including the
      need to identify how large the environmental influences on ASC are likely to be;
      the specificity of these environmental influences to ASC as opposed to a broader
      range of neurodevelopmental conditions and outcomes; how best to study complex
      interactions between genetic and environmental influences; and the promise of
      novel insights into their mechanisms of action. The review highlights current
      research that aims to better our understanding of the role of environmental
      factors in the aetiology and course of ASC and, in the near future, may offer the
      potential for personalised medicine approaches to intervention based on these
      discoveries. 

PMID- 26889894
TI  - Commentary: Thinking outside the box about children's sleep--a commentary on
      Gregory and Sadeh (2016).
AB  - This commentary is intended to supplement the accompanying review of sleep
      problems in childhood psychiatric disorders by Gregory and Sadeh. A number of
      considerations are outlined because of their relevance to both clinical practice
      and research concerning assessment and treatment of sleep disturbance in children
      in general and especially those with psychiatric and/or neurological conditions.
      These considerations (which illustrate the importance of combined medical and
      psychological involvement) are as follows: the importance of screening for sleep
      disturbance which otherwise may well be overlooked; the need to specify sleep
      disorders rather than simply nonspecific sleep problems as this will guide choice
      of appropriate advice and treatment; the risk of sleep disorders being
      misdiagnosed because of clinicians' unfamiliarity with the sleep disorders field;
      the possibility that a child's sleep disturbance is of multiple aetiology; a wide
      range of treatments for disturbed sleep is now described from which a choice is
      possible given an accurate diagnosis; sleep problems may be intensified if a
      child's condition is complicated by intellectual disability but the same
      principles of assessment and management apply as in other children in the
      expectation that treatment can be effective. 

PMID- 26889895
TI  - Commentary: Transdiagnostic neuroscience of child and adolescent mental disorders
      -differentiating decision-making in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
      conduct disorder, depression and anxiety. A commentary on Sonuga-Barke et al.
      (2016).
AB  - Sonuga-Barke, Cortese, Fairchild, and Stringaris offer us new insights not only
      on the neuropsychological processes and neurobiological mechanisms involved in
      the decision-making process but also how some of the most relevant child mental
      disorders might impact this process through a very comprehensive review of the
      pertinent literature. Although it is difficult to select specific points for
      discussing in a so dense review, I would like to highlight some aspects for
      'whetting readers appetite' and seduce them to be in contact with the fascinating
      neurobiology behind an essential aspect of our lives. 

PMID- 26889896
TI  - Annual Research Review: Neural contributions to risk-taking in adolescence-
      developmental changes and individual differences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk-taking, which involves voluntary choices for behaviors where
      outcomes remain uncertain, undergoes considerable developmental changes during
      childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. In addition, risk-taking is thought
      to be a key element of many externalizing disorders, such as ADHD, delinquency,
      conduct disorder, and substance abuse. In this review, we will discuss the
      potential adaptive and nonadaptive properties of risk-taking in childhood and
      adolescence. FINDINGS: We propose that the changes in brain architecture and
      function are a crucial element underlying these developmental trajectories. We
      first identify how subcortical and cortical interactions are important for
      understanding risk-taking behavior in adults. Next, we show how developmental
      changes in this network underlie changes in risk-taking behavior. Finally, we
      explore how these differences can be important for understanding externalizing
      behavioral disorders in childhood and adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
      longitudinal studies are of crucial importance for understanding these
      developmental trajectories, and many of these studies are currently underway.

PMID- 26889897
TI  - Commentary: Risk taking, impulsivity, and externalizing problems in adolescent
      development--commentary on Crone et al. 2016.
AB  - This commentary supports several important themes. These include the value in
      seeing risk taking as multicomponential (affective vs. deliberative risk taking),
      the importance of evaluating risk taking in relation to outcome, the necessity of
      expanding the brain networks studied in relation to risk taking, and the crucial
      interactions of risk taking with psychosocial context. We argue that more careful
      distinctions are needed between risk taking and different forms of impulsivity.
      Clearer differentiation of these constructs and their study together in brain
      imaging studies will clarify components of adolescent development and risk for
      externalizing behavior problems. 

PMID- 26889898
TI  - Annual Research Review: On the developmental neuropsychology of substance use
      disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adolescence represents a period of development during which critical
      biological, as well as social and cognitive, changes occur that are necessary for
      the transition into adulthood. A number of researchers have suggested that the
      pattern of normative brain changes that occurs during this period not only
      predisposes adolescents to engage in risk behaviours, such as experimentation
      with drugs, but that they additionally make the adolescent brain more vulnerable
      to the direct pharmacological impact of substances of abuse. The neural circuits
      that we examine in this review involve cortico-basal-ganglia/limbic networks
      implicated in the processing of rewards, emotion regulation, and the control of
      behaviour, emotion and cognition. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identify certain
      neurocognitive and personality/comorbidity-based risk factors for the onset of
      substance misuse during adolescence, and summarise the evidence suggesting that
      these risk factors may be further impacted by the direct effect of drugs on the
      underlying neural circuits implicated in substance misuse vulnerability.

PMID- 26889900
TI  - Commentary: Surveying normal science for children's mental health--expanding
      reconnaissance to strong inference, trans-syndromal risk and social transactions.
      A response to Rutter & Pickles (2016).

PMID- 26889899
TI  - Commentary: Making the brain matter in assessing and treating adolescent
      substance use--a commentary on Conrod and Nikolaou (2016).
AB  - Adolescence represents a period of vulnerability to psychiatric problems due to a
      range of factors, including advances in social and cognitive abilities, increased
      levels of autonomy in decision-making and behavioral governance, and greater
      exposure to opportunities for risk-taking behavior. Adding to these psychological
      and social challenges, adolescence also is marked by robust maturational changes
      affecting both the microcircuitry and connectivity between widely distributed
      brain systems. These changes alter the communication among parallel, distributed
      brain networks, have implications for one's vulnerability to engage in risk
      behavior and make the brain particularly susceptible to external perturbations,
      such as exposure to neurotoxic substances. 

PMID- 26889901
TI  - Commentary: Leveraging discovery science to advance child and adolescent
      psychiatric research--a commentary on Zhao and Castellanos 2016.
AB  - 'Big Data' and 'Population Imaging' are becoming integral parts of inspiring
      research aimed at delineating the biological underpinnings of psychiatric
      disorders. The scientific strategies currently associated with big data and
      population imaging are typically embedded in so-called discovery science, thereby
      pointing to the hypothesis-generating rather than hypothesis-testing nature of
      discovery science. In this issue, Yihong Zhao and F. Xavier Castellanos provide a
      compelling overview of strategies for discovery science aimed at progressing our
      understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. In particular, they focus on efforts
      in genetic and neuroimaging research, which, together with extended behavioural
      testing, form the main pillars of psychopathology research. 

PMID- 26889902
TI  - Immunogenetics of prostate cancer and benign hyperplasia--the potential use of an
      HLA-G variant as a tag SNP for prostate cancer risk.
AB  - Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is an immunomodulatory molecule with important
      roles both physiologically as well as an escape mechanism of cancer cells. In
      this study, we evaluated the impact of eight polymorphisms at the 3' untranslated
      region (3'UTR) of the HLA-G gene in the development of prostate cancer (PCa) and
      benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 468 DNA samples of Brazilian men
      predominantly Euro-descendant with PCa (N = 187), BPH (N = 152) and healthy
      control individuals (N = 129) were evaluated. The HLA-G 3'UTR region was
      amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequenced and genotyped to identify
      the 14 bp insertion/deletion (rs371194629), +3003T/C (rs1707), +3010C/G (rs1710),
      +3027A/C (rs17179101), +3035C/T (rs17179108), +3142G/C (rs1063320), +3187A/G
      (rs9380142) and +3196C/G (rs1610696) polymorphisms. Regression logistic and chi
      square tests were performed to verify the influence of single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) in PCa and/or BPH susceptibility, as well as in PCa
      progression (clinicopathological status). Our data showed the UTR-4 haplotype as
      a risk factor to PCa in comparison with control [odds ratio (OR) 2.35, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.39-3.96, P adjusted = 0.003) and BPH groups (OR 1.82,
      95% CI 1.15-2.86, P adjusted = 0.030). Further, the 'non-14bp Ins_ +
      3142G_+3187A' haplotype (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.10-2.20, P adjusted = 0.036), the
      +3003CT genotype (OR 4.44, 95% CI 1.33-4.50, P adjusted = 0.032) and the +3003C
      allele (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.38-3.92, P adjusted = 0.016) also conferred
      susceptibility to PCa. Our data suggest an important influence of HLA-G 3'UTR
      polymorphisms in PCa susceptibility and support the use of the +3003 variant as a
      tag SNP for PCa risk.

PMID- 26889903
TI  - Characterization of the novel HLA-A*02:431 allele identified in a Chinese Han
      individual.
AB  - HLA-A*02:431 differs from the closest allele HLA-A*02:03:01 by a nonsynonymous
      mutation at nucleotide 317 in exon 2. 

PMID- 26889904
TI  - Identification of a new HLA-A*24 allele, A*24:309, in an Italian bone marrow
      donor.
AB  - A novel class I human leukocyte antigen allele HLA-A*24:309 is described. 

PMID- 26889905
TI  - A novel null HLA-B allele, B*15:375N, due to a seven base pair deletion within
      exon 3.
AB  - Characterization of a novel HLA-B null allele, B*15:375N, with a seven base pair
      deletion in exon 3. 

PMID- 26889906
TI  - Identification of a novel HLA-B*40 allele, HLA-B*40:324, by sequence-based
      typing, in a Chinese individual.
AB  - The new allele, HLA-B*40:324 differs from B*40:63 by two nucleotide changes in
      exon 3. 

PMID- 26889907
TI  - Genomic sequence of HLA-B*41:43, a new HLA-B allele generated by an intralocus
      recombination mechanism.
AB  - HLA-B*41:43 has been generated by an intralocus recombination comprising
      B*41:02:01 and a B*14, 38, or 67 allele. 

PMID- 26889908
TI  - Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, update October 2015.

PMID- 26889909
TI  - Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, update November 2015.

PMID- 26889910
TI  - Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, update December 2015.

PMID- 26889911
TI  - Switching from sulphonylurea to a sodium-glucose cotransporter2 inhibitor in the
      fasting month of Ramadan is associated with a reduction in hypoglycaemia.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to assess the hypoglycaemia risk and safety of
      dapagliflozin compared with sulphonylurea during the fasting month of Ramadan. In
      this 12-week, randomized, open-label, two-arm parallel group study, 110 patients
      with type 2 diabetes who were receiving sulphonylurea and metformin were
      randomized either to receive 10 mg (n = 58) of dapagliflozin daily or to continue
      receiving sulphonylurea (n = 52). The primary outcome was to compare the effects
      of dapagliflozin and sulphonylurea on the proportions of patients with at least
      one episode of hypoglycaemia during Ramadan, as well as to assess the safety of
      dapagliflozin when used to treat patients observing Ramadan. A lower proportion
      of patients had reported or documented hypoglycaemia in the dapagliflozin group
      than in the sulphonylurea group: 4 (6.9%) versus 15 (28.8%); p = 0.002. The
      relative risk of any reported or documented hypoglycaemia in the 4th week of
      Ramadan was significantly lower in the dapagliflozin group: RR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.09,
      0.68; p=0.002. No significance differences were observed between the two groups
      regarding postural hypotension (13.8 vs 3.8%; p = 0.210) or urinary tract
      infections (10.3 vs 3.8%; p = 0.277). In conclusion, fewer patients exhibited
      hypoglycaemia in the dapagliflozin group than in the sulphonylurea group.

PMID- 26889912
TI  - Mitochondrial gamma carbonic anhydrases are required for complex I assembly and
      plant reproductive development.
AB  - Complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) in plants contains
      an extra domain that is made up from proteins homologous to prokaryotic gamma
      carbonic anhydrases (gammaCA). This domain has been suggested to participate in
      complex I assembly or to support transport of mitochondrial CO2 to the
      chloroplast. Here, we generated mutants lacking CA1 and CA2 - two out of three CA
      proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. Double mutants were characterized at the
      developmental and physiological levels. Furthermore, the composition and activity
      of the mETC were determined, and mutated CA versions were used for
      complementation assays. Embryo development of double mutants was strongly delayed
      and seed development stopped before maturation. Mutant plants could only be
      rescued on sucrose media, showed severe stress symptoms and never produced viable
      seeds. By contrast, callus cultures were only slightly affected in growth.
      Complex I was undetectable in the double mutants, but complex II and complex IV
      were upregulated concomitant with increased oxygen consumption in mitochondrial
      respiration. Ectopic expression of inactive CA variants was sufficient to
      complement the mutant phenotype. Data indicate that CA proteins are structurally
      required for complex I assembly and that reproductive development is dependent on
      the presence of complex I.

PMID- 26889913
TI  - Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Water Oxidation by Persulfate.
AB  - Photocatalytic water oxidation by persulfate (Na2 S2 O8 ) with [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+)
      (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) as a photocatalyst provides a standard protocol to study
      the catalytic reactivity of water oxidation catalysts. The yield of evolved
      oxygen per persulfate is regarded as a good index for the catalytic reactivity
      because the oxidation of bpy of [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) and organic ligands of catalysts
      competes with the catalytic water oxidation. A variety of metal complexes act as
      catalysts in the photocatalytic water oxidation by persulfate with [Ru(bpy)3
      ](2+) as a photocatalyst. Herein, the catalytic mechanisms are discussed for
      homogeneous water oxidation catalysis. Some metal complexes are converted to
      metal oxide or hydroxide nanoparticles during the photocatalytic water oxidation
      by persulfate, acting as precursors for the actual catalysts. The catalytic
      reactivity of various metal oxides is compared based on the yield of evolved
      oxygen and turnover frequency. A heteropolynuclear cyanide complex is the best
      catalyst reported so far for the photocatalytic water oxidation by persulfate and
      [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) , affording 100 % yield of O2 per persulfate.

PMID- 26889914
TI  - 3D Nanoporous Metal Phosphides toward High-Efficiency Electrochemical Hydrogen
      Production.
AB  - Free-standing nanoporous metal phosphides are fabricated by a novel top-down
      method, by selectively leaching less-stable metal phases from rapidly solidified
      two-phase metal-phosphorus alloys. The phosphide phases with relatively high
      electrochemical stability are left as the skeletons of nanoporous structures. The
      resultant nanoporous phosphides with tunable pore size and porosity show superior
      catalytic activities toward electrochemical hydrogen production. 

PMID- 26889915
TI  - The air quality forecast rote: Recent changes and future challenges.
AB  - Air quality forecasting is a recent development, with most programs initiated
      only in the last 20 years. During the last decade, forecast preparation procedure
      the forecast rote-has changed dramatically. This paper summarizes the unique
      challenges posed by air quality forecasting, details the current forecast rote,
      and analyzes prospects for future improvements. Because air quality forecasts
      must diagnose and predict several pollutants and their precursors in addition to
      standard meteorological variables, it is, compared with weather forecasts, a
      higher-uncertainty forecast. Forecasters seek to contain the uncertainty by
      "anchoring" the forecast, using an a priori field, and then "adjusting" the
      forecast using additional information. The air quality a priori, or first guess,
      field is a blend of past, current, and near-term future observations of the
      pollutants of interest, on both local and regional scales, and is typically
      coupled with predicted air parcel trajectories. Until recently, statistical
      methods, based on long-term training data sets, were used to adjust the first
      guess. However, reductions in precursor emissions in the United States, beginning
      in the late 1990s and continuing to the present, eroded the stationarity
      assumption for the training data sets and degraded forecast skill. Beginning in
      the mid-2000s, output from modified numerical air quality prediction (NAQP)
      models, originally developed to test pollution control strategies, became
      available in near real time for forecast support. The current adjustment process
      begins with the analyses and postprocessing of individual NAQP models and their
      ad hoc ensembles, often in concert with new statistical techniques. The final
      adjustment step uses forecaster expertise to assess the impact of mesoscale
      features not resolved by the NAQP models. It is expected that advances in model
      resolution, chemical data assimilation, and the formulation of emissions fields
      will improve mesoscale predictions by NAQP models and drive future changes in the
      forecast rote. IMPLICATIONS: Routine air quality forecasts are now issued for
      nearly all the major U.S. metropolitan areas. Methods of forecast preparation-the
      forecast rote-have changed significantly in the last decade. Numerical air
      quality models have matured and are now an indispensable part of the forecasting
      process. All forecasting methods, particularly statistically based models, must
      be continually calibrated to account for ongoing local- and regional-scale
      emission reductions.

PMID- 26889916
TI  - Cardiac troponin in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure:
      A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) is often observed in patients with
      acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We assessed the magnitude of
      association and quality of supporting evidence between cTn and clinically
      important outcomes in persons hospitalized for ADHF. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE
      In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central
      Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and
      Scopus from inception through February 28, 2015. The outcomes analyzed included
      hospital length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and mortality. Random effects meta
      analysis was used to combine outcomes across studies. RESULTS: We included 26
      clinical studies. A detectable or elevated cTn was associated with increased LOS
      (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.10), increased in
      hospital mortality (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 2.27-2.91), and a composite of mortality
      and major adverse events (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03-1.71) during hospitalization.
      ADHF patients with a detectable or elevated cTn were at increased risk for
      mortality and composite of mortality and readmission over the short term
      (mortality OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.43-3.12; composite OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.60-4.92),
      intermediate term (mortality OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.46-3.35; composite OR: 2.30; 95%
      CI: 1.78-2.99), and long term (mortality OR: 3.69; 95% CI: 2.64-5.18; composite
      OR: 3.49; 95% CI: 2.08-5.84). The overall confidence in estimates was moderate.
      CONCLUSIONS: Among ADHF patients, a detectable or elevated cTn identifies
      subjects at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes during acute
      hospitalization and those at higher risk for postdischarge mortality and
      composite of readmission and mortality. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:446
      454. 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.

PMID- 26889917
TI  - Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering.
AB  - Electrospinning, due to its versatility and potential for applications in various
      fields, is being frequently used to fabricate nanofibers. Production of these
      porous nanofibers is of great interest due to their unique physiochemical
      properties. Here we elaborate on the fabrication of keratin containing poly
      (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers (i.e., PCL/keratin composite fiber).
      Water soluble keratin was first extracted from human hair and mixed with PCL in
      different ratios. The blended solution of PCL/keratin was transformed into
      nanofibrous membranes using a laboratory designed electrospinning set up. Fiber
      morphology and mechanical properties of the obtained nanofiber were observed and
      measured using scanning electron microscopy and tensile tester. Furthermore,
      degradability and chemical properties of the nanofiber were studied by FTIR. SEM
      images showed uniform surface morphology for PCL/keratin fibers of different
      compositions. These PCL/keratin fibers also showed excellent mechanical
      properties such as Young's modulus and failure point. Fibroblast cells were able
      to attach and proliferate thus proving good cell viability. Based on the
      characteristics discussed above, we can strongly argue that the blended
      nanofibers of natural and synthetic polymers can represent an excellent
      development of composite materials that can be used for different biomedical
      applications. 

PMID- 26889918
TI  - The trials and tribulations of repurposing metformin and other generic drugs for
      tuberculosis.
AB  - There are a number of generic drugs that might be useful in treating
      tuberculosis, but will they ever get to the patients who need them? They might,
      but not without a lot of help. There are intellectual property issues, endpoint
      issues, cost of research issues, economic incentive issues, preclinical
      validation issues, "who is in charge" issues and many more. It is clear that
      repurposed generic drugs have the potential to make a safe, effective, quick and
      affordable impact on a global disease of poverty such as tuberculosis. But
      without the economic incentives that are usually in place for drug development,
      can we muster the scientific, economic and governmental support to bring them to
      the patients? 

PMID- 26889919
TI  - Formation of Hybrid Perovskite Tin Iodide Single Crystals by Top-Seeded Solution
      Growth.
AB  - Hybrid perovskites have generated a great deal of interest because of their
      potential in photovoltaic applications. However, the toxicity of lead means that
      there is interest in finding a nontoxic substitute. Bulk single crystals of both
      cubic CH3NH3 SnI3 and CH(NH2)2 SnI3 were obtained by using the top-seeded
      solution growth method under an ambient atmosphere. Structural refinement, band
      gap, thermal properties, and XPS measurements of CH3NH3 SnI3 and CH(NH2)2 SnI3
      single crystals are also reported in detail. These results should pave the way
      for further applications of CH3NH3 SnI3 and CH(NH2)2 SnI3.

PMID- 26889920
TI  - Visual demands in modern Australian primary school classrooms.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The visual demands of modern classrooms are poorly understood yet are
      relevant in determining the levels of visual function required to perform
      optimally within this environment. METHODS: Thirty-three Year 5 and 6 classrooms
      from eight south-east Queensland schools were included. Classroom activities
      undertaken during a full school day (9 am to 3 pm) were observed and a range of
      measurements recorded, including classroom environment (physical dimensions,
      illumination levels), text size and contrast of learning materials, habitual
      working distances (distance and estimated for near) and time spent performing
      various classroom tasks. These measures were used to calculate demand-related
      minimum criteria for distance and near visual acuity, contrast and sustained use
      of accommodation and vergence. RESULTS: The visual acuity demands for distance
      and near were 0.33 +/- 0.13 and 0.72 +/- 0.09 logMAR, respectively (using
      habitual viewing distances and smallest target sizes) or 0.33 +/- 0.09 logMAR
      assuming a 2.5 times acuity reserve for sustained near tasks. The mean contrast
      levels of learning materials at distance and near were greater than 70 per cent.
      Near tasks (47 per cent) dominated the academic tasks performed in the classroom
      followed by distance (29 per cent), distance to near (15 per cent) and computer
      based (nine per cent). On average, children engaged in continuous near fixation
      for 23 +/- 5 minutes at a time and during distance-near tasks performed fixation
      changes 10 +/- 1 times per minute. The mean estimated habitual near working
      distance was 23 +/- 1 cm (4.38 +/- 0.24 D accommodative demand) and the vergence
      demand was 0.86 +/- 0.07(Delta) at distance and 21.94 +/- 1.09(Delta) at near
      assuming an average pupillary distance of 56 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively high
      levels of visual acuity, contrast demand and sustained accommodative-convergence
      responses are required to meet the requirements of modern classroom environments.
      These findings provide an evidence base to inform prescribing guidelines and
      develop paediatric vision screening protocols and referral criteria.

PMID- 26889923
TI  - Cationic Cobalt(III) Catalyzed Indole Synthesis: The Regioselective
      Intermolecular Cyclization of N-Nitrosoanilines and Alkynes.
AB  - The unique regioselectivity and reactivity of cobalt(III) in the direct
      cyclization of N-nitrosoanilines with alkynes for the expedient synthesis of N
      substituted indoles is demonstrated. In the presence of a cobalt(III) catalyst,
      high regioselectivity was observed when using unsymmetrical meta-substituted N
      nitrosoanilines. Moreover, internal alkynes bearing electron-deficient groups,
      which are almost unreactive in the [Cp*Rh(III)]-catalyzed system, display good
      reactivity in this transformation.

PMID- 26889924
TI  - Gender Disparities in Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Cardiovascular Disease: Insights
      from a Managed Care Population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have documented the strong inverse relationship
      between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, women are less likely to be screened for
      hypercholesterolemia, receive lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), and achieve optimal
      LDL-C levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from a U.S.
      administrative claims database between January 2008 and December 2012 for
      patients with established ASCVD. The earliest date of valid LDL-C value was
      defined as the index date. Patients were followed for +/-12 months from the index
      date and were stratified by gender, by baseline LDL-C level, and whether they
      were initially treated with a LLT then propensity score matched by gender using
      demographic and clinical characteristics. Both descriptive statistics and
      logistic regression models were used to explore the association of gender with
      the frequency of LDL-C monitoring, LLT treatment initiation in initially
      untreated patients, and prescribing patterns in initially treated patients.
      RESULTS: A total of 76,414 subjects with established ASCVD were identified; 42%
      of the sample was women. In the unmatched cohort, 50.3% of men and 32.0% of women
      were prescribed a preindex statin (p < 0.0001). Among matched patients (n =
      51,764), women initially treated with LLT were significantly less likely to
      receive a prescription for a higher potency LLT. Even among those with LDL-C
      levels above 160 mg/dL, women were more likely to discontinue LLT, odds ratio
      (95% confidence interval) 1.8 (1.2-2.3). Female gender and older age were
      significant predictors of discontinuation, and the potency of the index
      medication was the strongest predictor of dose titration. Initially untreated
      women were less likely to initiate LLT treatment than men, irrespective of index
      LDL-C levels (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The observed disparities further
      reinforce the need for targeted efforts to reduce the gender gap for secondary
      prevention in women at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26889922
TI  - The association between non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and
      gastrointestinal bleeding: a meta-analysis of observational studies.
AB  - Particular concerns have been raised regarding the association between non
      vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and the risk of gastrointestinal
      bleeding (GIB); however, current findings are still inconclusive. We conducted a
      systematic review with a meta-analysis to examine the association between NOACs
      and GIB in real-life settings. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE
      and CINAHL Plus up to September 2015. Observational studies that evaluated
      exposure to NOACs reporting GIB outcomes were included. The inverse variance
      method using the random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimates.
      Eight cohort studies were included in the primary meta-analysis, enrolling 1442
      GIB cases among 106 626 dabigatran users (49 486 patient-years), and 184 GIB
      cases among 10 713 rivaroxaban users (4046 patient-years). The pooled incidence
      rates of GIB were 4.50 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.17, 5.84] and 7.18 (95% CI
      2.42, 12.0) per 100 patient-years among dabigatran and rivaroxaban users,
      respectively. The summary risk ratio (RR) was 1.21 (95% CI 1.05, 1.39) for
      dabigatran compared with warfarin, and 1.09 (95% CI 0.92, 1.30) for rivaroxaban.
      Subgroup analyses showed a dose-related effect of dabigatran, with a
      significantly higher risk of GIB for 150 mg b.i.d. (RR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.34, 1.70)
      but not for 75 mg b.i.d. or 110 mg b.i.d.. In addition, the use of proton pump
      inhibitors (PPIs)/histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) influenced the
      association in dabigatran users, whereas this effect was modest among rivaroxaban
      users. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested a slightly higher risk of GIB
      with dabigatran use compared with warfarin, whereas no significant difference was
      found between rivaroxaban and warfarin for GIB risk.

PMID- 26889925
TI  - Rapid identification of pesticides in human oral fluid for emergency management
      by thermal desorption electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry.
AB  - Self-poisoning with pesticides accounts for approximately one-third of all
      suicides worldwide. To expedite rescue in the emergency department, it is
      essential to develop a point-of-care analytical method for rapid identification
      of ingested pesticides. In this study, five of the most common pesticides
      ingested by self-poisoning patients in Taiwan were analyzed from oral fluid
      samples. Pesticide-oral fluid mixtures were applied on a cotton swab and then
      transferred into methanol. A metallic probe was used to sample the methanol
      solution for subsequent thermal desorption-electrospray ionization mass
      spectrometry analysis. Altogether, pesticide sampling, transfer, desorption,
      ionization, and detection took less than 1 min. The reproducibility of this
      method (n = 6) was shown in the observed low-relative standard deviation (<7%) in
      the detection of pesticide in oral fluid. The detection limits of the pesticides
      in oral fluid obtained from four human subjects by thermal desorption
      electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were between 1-10 ppb with relative
      standard deviation 10.7%. Moreover, in this study, linear responses of five
      pesticides in oral fluid with concentrations between 1 ppb-1 ppm (R2 between
      0.9938 and 0.9988) were observed. As the whole analytical process is extremely
      short, this technique allows for early non-invasive point-of-care identification
      of pesticides in the oral fluid of self-poisoning patients in the emergency room,
      providing important toxicological information for decision-making during critical
      resuscitation.

PMID- 26889926
TI  - Effects of peptide acetylation and dimethylation on electrospray ionization
      efficiency.
AB  - Peptide acetylation and dimethylation have been widely used to derivatize primary
      amino groups (peptide N-termini and the epsilon-amino group of lysines) for
      chemical isotope labeling of quantitative proteomics or for affinity tag labeling
      for selection and enrichment of labeled peptides. However, peptide acetylation
      results in signal suppression during electrospray ionization (ESI) due to charge
      neutralization. In contrast, dimethylated peptides show increased ionization
      efficiency after derivatization, since dimethylation increases hydrophobicity and
      maintains a positive charge on the peptide under common LC conditions. In this
      study, we quantitatively compared the ESI efficiencies of acetylated and
      dimethylated model peptides and tryptic peptides of BSA. Dimethylated peptides
      showed higher ionization efficiency than acetylated peptides for both model
      peptides and tryptic BSA peptides. At the proteome level, peptide dimethylation
      led to better protein identification than peptide acetylation when tryptic
      peptides of mouse brain lysate were analyzed with LC-ESI-MS/MS. These results
      demonstrate that dimethylation of tryptic peptides enhanced ESI efficiency and
      provided up to two-fold improved protein identification sensitivity in comparison
      with acetylation.

PMID- 26889927
TI  - Negative ion MALDI-TOF MS, ISD and PSD of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides
      without anionic dopant strategies, using 2,5-DHAP as a matrix.
AB  - Oligosaccharides represent complex class of analytes for mass spectrometric
      analysis due to the high variety of structural isomers concerning glycosidic
      linkages and possible branching. A systematic study of the negative ion mode
      matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry of various
      neutral oligosaccharides under selection of an appropriate matrix, like 2,5
      dihydroxyacetophenone (2,5-DHAP) is reported here, without commonly used anion
      dopant strategies. Nevertheless, we were able to generate relevant in-source
      decay (ISD) cross-ring fragment ions, typically obtained in the negative ion
      mode. Data observed indicate that the intrinsic property of the terminal non
      reduced aldose is crucial for this behavior. A systematic study of the post
      source decay (PSD) of molecular, pseudomolecular and ISD cross-ring cleavage
      precursor ions is reported here. A direct comparison of the positive and negative
      ion mode MALDI MS1 and PSD behavior of neutral oligosaccharides could also be
      performed under the use of the same matrix preparation, because 2,5-DHAP is fully
      compatible with positive ion mode acquisition. We found that PSD spectra of
      deprotonated neutral oligosaccharides obtained in the negative ion mode are
      richer, because they contained both glycosidic and cross-ring fragment ions.
      However, we also found that cross-ring fragment ions are readily produced in the
      positive ion mode when potassiated precursor ions were selected. In addition, we
      show evidence that non-anionic dopants and specific instrumental parameters can
      also significantly influence the ISD fragmentation. Taken together, our results
      should increase our understanding of oligosaccharide behavior in the negative ion
      mode as well as increase our knowledge regarding many aspects of in-source MALDI
      chemistry.

PMID- 26889928
TI  - A novel method for determination of inorganic oxyanions by electrospray
      ionization mass spectrometry using dehydration reactions.
AB  - Novel methods for the determination of inorganic oxyanions by electrospray (ES)
      ionization mass spectrometry have been developed using dehydration reactions
      between oxyanions and carboxylic acids at the ES interface. Twelve oxyanions (VO3
      (-) , CrO4 (2-) , MoO4 (2-) , WO4 (2-) , BO3 (3-) , SiO3 (2-) , SiO4 (4-) , AsO4
      (4-) , AsO2 (-) , SeO4 (2-) , SeO3 (2-) and NO2 (-) ), out of 16 tested, reacted
      with at least one of four aminopolycarboxylic acids, i.e. iminodiacetic acid
      (IDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N',N'
      tetraacetic acid and triethylenetetramine-N,N,N',N",N'",N'"-hexaacetic acid, at
      the ES interface to produce the dehydration products that gave intense mass ion
      responses, sufficient for trace analysis. As examples, trace determinations of
      Cr(VI) and silica in water samples were achieved after online ion exchange
      chromatography, where the dehydration product of CrO4 (2-) and NTA (m/z 290) and
      that of SiO4 (4-) and IDA (m/z 192) were measured. The limits of detection of the
      respective methods were 17 nM (0.83 ng Cr/ml) for Cr(VI) and 0.17 MUM (4.8 ng
      Si/mL) for SiO4 (4-) .

PMID- 26889929
TI  - Low-pressure barrier discharge ion source using air as a carrier gas and its
      application to the analysis of drugs and explosives.
AB  - In this work, a low-pressure air dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) ion source
      using a capillary with the inner diameter of 0.115 and 12 mm long applicable to
      miniaturized mass spectrometers was developed. The analytes, trinitrotoluene
      (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 1,3,5,7-tetranitroperhydro
      1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), nitroglycerine
      (NG), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), caffeine, cocaine and morphine,
      introduced through the capillary, were ionized by a low-pressure air DBD. The ion
      source pressures were changed by using various sizes of the ion sampling orifice.
      The signal intensities of those analytes showed marked pressure dependence. TNT
      was detected with higher sensitivity at lower pressure but vice versa for other
      analytes. For all analytes, a marked signal enhancement was observed when a
      grounded cylindrical mesh electrode was installed in the DBD ion source. Among
      nine analytes, RDX, HMX, NG and PETN could be detected as cluster ions [analyte +
      NO3 ](-) even at low pressure and high temperature up to 180  degrees C. The
      detection indicates that these cluster ions are stable enough to survive under
      present experimental conditions. The unexpectedly high stabilities of these
      cluster ions were verified by density functional theory calculation.

PMID- 26889930
TI  - Critical assessment of ionization patterns and applications of ambient
      desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using FAPA-MS.
AB  - Ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MS) has gained growing interest
      during the last decade due to its high analytical performance and yet simplicity.
      Here, one of the recently developed ambient desorption/ionization MS sources, the
      flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) source, was investigated in detail
      regarding background ions and typical ionization patterns in the positive as well
      as the negative ion mode for a variety of compound classes, comprising alkanes,
      alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, organic peroxides and alkaloids.
      A broad range of signals for adducts and losses was found, besides the usually
      emphasized detection of quasimolecular ions, i.e. [M + H](+) and [M - H](-) in
      the positive and the negative mode, respectively. It was found that FAPA-MS is
      best suited for polar analytes containing nitrogen and/or oxygen functionalities,
      e.g. carboxylic acids, with low molecular weights and relatively high vapor
      pressures. In addition, the source was used in proof-of-principle studies,
      illustrating the capabilities and limitations of the technique: Firstly, traces
      of cocaine were detected and unambiguously identified on euro banknotes using
      FAPA ionization in combination with tandem MS, suggesting a correlation between
      cocaine abundance and age of the banknote. Secondly, FAPA-MS was used for the
      identification of acidic marker compounds in organic aerosol samples, indicating
      yet-undiscovered matrix and sample surface effects of ionization pathways in the
      afterglow region.

PMID- 26889931
TI  - Independent highly sensitive characterization of asparagine deamidation and
      aspartic acid isomerization by sheathless CZE-ESI-MS/MS.
AB  - Amino acids residues are commonly submitted to various physicochemical
      modifications occurring at physiological pH and temperature. Post-translational
      modifications (PTMs) require comprehensive characterization because of their
      major influence on protein structure and involvement in numerous in vivo process
      or signaling. Mass spectrometry (MS) has gradually become an analytical tool of
      choice to characterize PTMs; however, some modifications are still challenging
      because of sample faint modification levels or difficulty to separate an intact
      peptide from modified counterparts before their transfer to the ionization
      source. Here, we report the implementation of capillary zone electrophoresis
      coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-MS/MS) by
      the intermediate of a sheathless interfacing for independent and highly sensitive
      characterization of asparagine deamidation (deaN) and aspartic acid isomerization
      (isoD). CZE selectivity regarding deaN and isoD was studied extensively using
      different sets of synthetic peptides based on actual tryptic peptides. Results
      demonstrated CZE ability to separate the unmodified peptide from modified
      homologous exhibiting deaN, isoD or both independently with a resolution
      systematically superior to 1.29. Developed CZE-ESI-MS/MS method was applied for
      the characterization of monoclonal antibodies and complex protein mixture.
      Conserved CZE selectivity could be demonstrated even for complex samples, and
      foremost results obtained showed that CZE selectivity is similar regardless of
      the composition of the peptide. Separation of modified peptides prior to the MS
      analysis allowed to characterize and estimate modification levels of the sample
      independently for deaN and isoD even for peptides affected by both modifications
      and, as a consequence, enables to distinguish the formation of l-aspartic acid or
      d-aspartic acid generated from deaN. Separation based on peptide modification
      allowed, as supported by the ESI efficiency provided by CZE-ESI-MS/MS properties,
      and enabled to characterize and estimate studied PTMs with an unprecedented
      sensitivity and proved the relevance of implementing an electrophoretic driven
      separation for MS-based peptide analysis.

PMID- 26889932
TI  - Detection of uranium in industrial and mines samples by microwave plasma torch
      mass spectrometry.
AB  - Microwave plasma torch (MPT), traditionally used as the light source for atomic
      emission spectrophotometry, has been employed as the ambient ionization source
      for sensitive detection of uranium in various ground water samples with widely
      available ion trap mass spectrometer. In the full-scan mass spectra obtained in
      the negative ion detection mode, uranium signal was featured by the uranyl
      nitrate complexes (e.g. [UO2 (NO3 )3 ](-) ), which yielded characteristic
      fragments in the tandem mass spectrometry experiments, allowing confident
      detection of trace uranium in water samples without sample pretreatment. Under
      the optimal experimental conditions, the calibration curves were linearly
      responded within the concentration levels ranged in 10-1000 ug.l(-1) , with the
      limit of detection (LOD) of 31.03 ng.l(-1) . The relative standard deviations
      (RSD) values were 2.1-5.8% for the given samples at 100 ug.l(-1) . The newly
      established method has been applied to direct detection of uranium in practical
      mine water samples, providing reasonable recoveries 90.94-112.36% for all the
      samples tested. The analysis of a single sample was completed within 30 s,
      showing a promising potential of the method for sensitive detection of trace
      uranium with improved throughput.

PMID- 26889933
TI  - Gas phase conversion of triphosphate to trimetaphosphate.

PMID- 26889934
TI  - Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometric study of cyclohexene.
AB  - In this work, photoionization and dissociation of cyclohexene have been studied
      by means of coupling a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer with the
      tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. The adiabatic ionization
      energy of cyclohexene as well as the appearance energies of its fragment ions C6
      H9 (+) , C6 H7 (+) , C5 H7 (+) , C5 H5 (+) , C4 H6 (+) , C4 H5 (+) , C3 H5 (+)
      and C3 H3 (+) were derived from the onset of the photoionization efficiency (PIE)
      curves. The optimized structures for the transition states and intermediates on
      the ground state potential energy surfaces related to photodissociation of
      cyclohexene were characterized at the omegaB97X-D/6-31+g(d,p) level. The coupled
      cluster method, CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ, was employed to calculate the corresponding
      energies with the zero-point energy corrections by the omegaB97X-D/6-31+g(d,p)
      approach. Combining experimental and theoretical results, possible formation
      pathways of the fragment ions were proposed and discussed in detail. The retro
      Cope rearrangement was found to play a crucial role in the formation of C4 H6 (+)
      , C4 H5 (+) and C3 H5 (+) . Intramolecular hydrogen migrations were observed as
      dominant processes in most of the fragmentation pathways of cyclohexene. The
      present research provides a clear picture of the photoionization and dissociation
      processes of cyclohexene in the 8- to 15.5-eV photon energy region.

PMID- 26889935
TI  - Low C24-OH and C22-OH sulfatides in human renal cell carcinoma.

PMID- 26889937
TI  - Dose-Response Modeling for Inhalational Anthrax in Rabbits Following Single or
      Multiple Exposures.
AB  - There is a need to advance our ability to characterize the risk of inhalational
      anthrax following a low-dose exposure. The exposure scenario most often
      considered is a single exposure that occurs during an attack. However, long-term
      daily low-dose exposures also represent a realistic exposure scenario, such as
      what may be encountered by people occupying areas for longer periods. Given this,
      the objective of the current work was to model two rabbit inhalational anthrax
      dose-response data sets. One data set was from single exposures to aerosolized
      Bacillus anthracis Ames spores. The second data set exposed rabbits repeatedly to
      aerosols of B. anthracis Ames spores. For the multiple exposure data the
      cumulative dose (i.e., the sum of the individual daily doses) was used for the
      model. Lethality was the response for both. Modeling was performed using
      Benchmark Dose Software evaluating six models: logprobit, loglogistic, Weibull,
      exponential, gamma, and dichotomous-Hill. All models produced acceptable fits to
      either data set. The exponential model was identified as the best fitting model
      for both data sets. Statistical tests suggested there was no significant
      difference between the single exposure exponential model results and the multiple
      exposure exponential model results, which suggests the risk of disease is similar
      between the two data sets. The dose expected to cause 10% lethality was 15,600
      inhaled spores and 18,200 inhaled spores for the single exposure and multiple
      exposure exponential dose-response model, respectively, and the 95% lower
      confidence intervals were 9,800 inhaled spores and 9,200 inhaled spores,
      respectively.

PMID- 26889938
TI  - Photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance properties of a potential
      phototherapic agent: MMgF4 :Gd3+ (M = Ba, Sr) sub-microphosphors.
AB  - Novel narrow band UVB-emitting phosphors, BaMgF4 :Gd3+ and SrMgF4 :Gd3+
      phosphors, were synthesized using a co-precipitation synthesis method. X-Ray
      diffraction analysis was carried out to confirm compound formation, phase purity
      and crystallinity of the phosphor. At 274 nm excitation, phosphors show a sharp
      narrow band emission at 313 nm that can be assigned to 6 P7/2  -> 8 S7/2
      transition of the Gd3+ ion. With increasing dopant concentration, intensity
      enhances and then decreases after a certain concentration, which is an indication
      of concentration quenching taking place in the phosphor. Scanning electron
      microscopy images of the phosphor show agglomerated particles in the sub-micron
      range. Particles range in size from 600 to 800 nm. Electron paramagnetic
      resonance studies of the phosphors were carried out to detect radicals present in
      the prepared phosphor. With narrow band UVB emission, phosphor seems to be a good
      candidate for UV phototherapy application. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26889939
TI  - Cytotoxicity of various chemicals and mycotoxins in fresh primary duck embryonic
      fibroblasts: a comparison to HepG2 cells.
AB  - To screen cost-effectively the overall toxicity of a sample, particularly in the
      case of food and feed ingredient quality control, a sensitive bioassay is
      necessary. With the wide variety of cytotoxicity assays, performance comparison
      between assays using different cells has become of interest. Fresh primary duck
      embryonic fibroblasts (DEF) were hypothesized to be a sensitive tool for in vitro
      cytotoxicity screening; cell viability of DEF in response to various cytotoxins
      was determined and compared with response of HepG2 cells. The IC50 values by the
      alamar blue assay in the DEF cells had a high correlation (R(2)  = 0.96) with
      those obtained in HepG2 cells. Within the same toxin, primary DEF yielded
      significantly lower IC50 values than that obtained from HepG2 cells using the MTT
      and alamar blue assay. Additionally, primary DEF responded to all mycotoxins
      tested using the alamar blue assay, while HepG2 was less sensitive, particularly
      at short exposure times. The estimated IC50 for aflatoxin B1 , fumonisins B1 and
      deoxynivalenol in DEF after 72 h incubation were 3.69, 4.19 and 1.26 MUg ml(-1) ,
      respectively. Results from the current study suggest that primary DEF are more
      sensitive to cytotoxins and mycotoxins compared to HepG2, and thus may have great
      potential as an effective tool for cytotoxicity assessment. The question remains
      whether in vitro IC50 values can accurately predict in vivo toxicity; however,
      the current study accentuates the need for further attention to identify
      sensitive cell models for in vitro cytotoxicity screening and subsequent
      exploration of species-specific prediction models for in vivo toxicity. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26889940
TI  - AgRP Neuron-Specific Deletion of Glucocorticoid Receptor Leads to Increased
      Energy Expenditure and Decreased Body Weight in Female Mice on a High-Fat Diet.
AB  - Agouti-related protein (AgRP) expressed in the arcuate nucleus is a potent
      orexigenic neuropeptide, which increases food intake and reduces energy
      expenditure resulting in increases in body weight (BW). Glucocorticoids, key
      hormones that regulate energy balance, have been shown in rodents to regulate the
      expression of AgRP. In this study, we generated AgRP-specific glucocorticoid
      receptor (GR)-deficient (knockout [KO]) mice. Female and male KO mice on a high
      fat diet (HFD) showed decreases in BW at the age of 6 weeks compared with wild
      type mice, and the differences remained significant until 16 weeks old. The
      degree of resistance to diet-induced obesity was more robust in female than in
      male mice. On a chow diet, the female KO mice showed slightly but significantly
      attenuated weight gain compared with wild-type mice after 11 weeks, whereas there
      were no significant differences in BW in males between genotypes. Visceral fat
      pad mass was significantly decreased in female KO mice on HFD, whereas there were
      no significant differences in lean body mass between genotypes. Although food
      intake was similar between genotypes, oxygen consumption was significantly
      increased in female KO mice on HFD. In addition, the uncoupling protein-1
      expression in the brown adipose tissues was increased in KO mice. These data
      demonstrate that the absence of GR signaling in AgRP neurons resulted in
      increases in energy expenditure accompanied by decreases in adiposity in mice fed
      HFD, indicating that GR signaling in AgRP neurons suppresses energy expenditure
      under HFD conditions. 

PMID- 26889941
TI  - Effect of n-3 and n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Microsomal P450
      Steroidogenic Enzyme Activities and In Vitro Cortisol Production in Adrenal
      Tissue From Yorkshire Boars.
AB  - Dysregulation of adrenal glucocorticoid production is increasingly recognized to
      play a supportive role in the metabolic syndrome although the mechanism is ill
      defined. The adrenal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, CYP17 and CYP21, are
      essential for glucocorticoid synthesis. The omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated
      fatty acids (PUFA) may ameliorate metabolic syndrome, but it is unknown whether
      they have direct actions on adrenal CYP steroidogenic enzymes. The aim of this
      study was to determine whether PUFA modify adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis using
      isolated porcine microsomes. The enzyme activities of CYP17, CYP21, 11beta
      hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH),
      and CYP2E1 were measured in intact microsomes treated with fatty acids of
      disparate saturated bonds. Cortisol production was measured in a cell-free in
      vitro model. Microsomal lipid composition after arachidonic acid (AA) exposure
      was determined by sequential window acquisition of all theoretical spectra-mass
      spectrometry. Results showed that adrenal microsomal CYP21 activity was decreased
      by docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic
      acid, alpha-linolenic acid, AA, and linoleic acid, and CYP17 activity was
      inhibited by DPA, DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid, and AA. Inhibition was associated
      with the number of the PUFA double bonds. Similarly, cortisol production in vitro
      was decreased by DPA, DHA, and AA. Endoplasmic enzymes with intraluminal activity
      were unaffected by PUFA. In microsomes exposed to AA, the level of AA or
      oxidative metabolites of AA in the membrane was not altered. In conclusion, these
      observations suggest that omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA, especially those with 2 or
      more double bonds (DPA, DHA, and AA), impede adrenal glucocorticoid production. 

PMID- 26889943
TI  - Correction to First Step into Space: Performance and Morphological Evolution of
      P3HT:PCBM Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells under AM0 Illumination.

PMID- 26889942
TI  - Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Marine Mammals from the South China Sea and
      Their Temporal Changes 2002-2014: Concern for Alternatives of PFOS?
AB  - Perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluorinated carboxylic acids
      (PFCAs), as well as the replacement for the phase-out C8 PFSAs were determined in
      the liver samples of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless
      porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea between 2002 and
      2014. Levels of total perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in samples ranged from
      136-15,300 and 30.5-2,720 ng/g dw for dolphin and porpoise, respectively.
      Significant increasing trends of several individual PFCAs and perfluorobutane
      sulfonate (PFBS) were found in cetacean samples from 2002 to 2014, whereas no
      significant temporal trends of ?PFASs appeared over the sampling period. This
      pattern may be attributed to the increasing usage of PFCAs and C4-based PFSAs
      following the restriction/voluntary withdrawal of the production and use of
      perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) related products. In addition, significantly
      increasing temporal shifting trends of PFOS to PFBS were observed in the dolphin
      liver samples. This pattern may be attributed to the substitution of PFOS by its
      alternative, PFBS. The highest levels of PFOS were observed in the liver samples
      of dolphin as compared with other marine mammal studies published since 2006,
      indicating high contamination of PFAS in the South China region. An assessment of
      relatively high concentrations of C8-based PFASs in the liver samples of
      cetaceans predicted that concentrations of PFOS would be expected to affect some
      proportion of the cetacean populations studied, based on the toxicity thresholds
      derived.

PMID- 26889945
TI  - Using a real-life case scenario to integrate additional health professions
      students into an existing interprofessional team seminar.
AB  - The World Health Organization stated that the goal of interprofessional education
      (IPE) is to prepare students as collaboration-ready members of interprofessional
      care teams. Educators try to create meaningful and relevant learning experiences
      for multiple health professions students. A longitudinal Interprofessional Team
      Seminar (IPTS) course includes over 650 students from seven health professions at
      the professional training level. Recommendations from the National Athletic
      Trainers' Association (NATA) promote the inclusion of athletic training (AT)
      students in IPE initiatives. A new IPTS module included AT students focusing on
      the attributes of rapidly forming and different care teams as the patient
      transitions from an on-field injury, to acute care, inpatient care, and
      rehabilitative care, and back to activities of daily living. Qualitative review
      of reflections from the students assessed the impact of these IPTS modules. The
      intentional design of this course, focusing on behaviours of collaborative
      practice and supporting students to be collaboration ready, effectively
      introduced and highlighted profession-specific strengths and unique contributions
      to team-based care. 

PMID- 26889944
TI  - Protection or resection: BOD1L as a novel replication fork protection factor.
AB  - Replication stress, defined as the slowing or stalling of cellular DNA
      replication forks, represents a serious threat to genome stability. Numerous
      cellular pathways protect against replication stress and maintain genomic
      integrity. Among these, the Fanconi Anemia/homologous recombination pathways are
      critical for recognizing and repairing stalled replication forks. Members of
      these pathways play a vital role in protecting damaged forks from uncontrolled
      attack from cellular nucleases, which would otherwise render these irreparable.
      Recent studies have begun to shed light on the protective factors necessary to
      suppress nucleolytic over-processing of nascent DNA, and on the different
      cellular nucleases involved. Here, we review our recent identification of a novel
      fork protection factor, BOD1L, and discuss its role in preventing the processing
      of stalled replication forks within the context of current knowledge of the
      replication fork 'protectosome'. 

PMID- 26889947
TI  - Mineralogical control on arsenic release during sediment-water interaction in
      abandoned mine wastes from the Argentina Puna.
AB  - The sulfide-rich residues of La Concordia mine, Argentina Puna, are accumulated
      in tailing dams that remained exposed to the weathering agents for almost
      30years. In such period of time, a complex sequence of redox and
      dissolution/precipitation reactions occurred, leading to the gradual oxidation of
      the wastes and the formation of weathering profiles. The sources of arsenic in
      the wastes were analyzed by XRD and SEM/EDS analysis while a standardized
      sequential extraction procedure was followed to define solid As associations. In
      addition, the release of As during sediment-water interaction was analyzed in a
      period of 10months. The results indicate that primary As-bearing minerals are
      arsenian pyrite and polymetallic sulfides. As-jarosite and scarce arsenates are
      the only secondary As-bearing minerals identified by XRD and SEM/EDS. However,
      the rapid release (i.e., <1h) of arsenic from suspensions of the studied
      sediments in water, seems to be associated to the dissolution of highly soluble
      (hydrous)sulfates, as it was determined in samples of the efflorescences that
      cover the entire site. Contributions from the more abundant As-jarosite are also
      expected in longer periods of sediment-water interaction, due to its low rate of
      dissolution in acid and oxic conditions. Finally, near 30% of As remains adsorbed
      onto Fe (hydr)oxides thus representing a hazardous reservoir with the potential
      of mobilizing As into porewaters and streamwaters if the acidic and oxidizing
      conditions that predominate in the region are altered. 

PMID- 26889946
TI  - A fundamental study on the dynamics of multiple biomarkers in mouse excisional
      wounds for wound age estimation.
AB  - Wound age estimation is a classic but still modern theme in forensic practice.
      More experiments on different types of wound are needed to further improve its
      accuracy. In this study, mouse skin excisional wounds were created to simulate
      dermal defective injury. The neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, fibroblast
      and fibrocyte accumulation as well as their myofibroblastic transformation were
      examined. In addition, some wound healing-related molecules, including IL-1beta,
      IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, MCP-1, CXCL12, VEGF-A, EGF, KGF, pro-col Ialpha2 and
      pro-col IIIalpha1, were quantified by Western blotting and real-time quantitative
      PCR. Neutrophils and macrophages profoundly infiltrated in the wound at 12 h-1 d
      and 3 d-10 d respectively. Fibroblasts and fibrocytes accumulated in the wound
      from 3 d, and transformed into contractile myofibroblasts from 5 d post injury.
      The transformation ratios of fibroblasts and fibrocytes were highest at 7 d-10 d
      and 10 d respectively (over 50%). MCP-1 and CXCL12 increased from 12 h to 5 d,
      and IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and pro-col IIIalpha1 up to 7 d. IL-6 and VEGF-A
      increased from 12 h to 1 d-10 d. Pro-col Ialpha2 increased from 7 d to 21 d. IFN
      gamma decreased from 12 h to 10 d. By comprehensive analysis of these factors
      from the perspective of morphometrics, protein and gene expressions, this study
      provided us with fundamental information for wound age estimation, especially in
      the wounds with full-thickness defection.

PMID- 26889948
TI  - What determines PCB concentrations in soils in rural and urban areas? Insights
      from a multi-media fate model for Switzerland as a case study.
AB  - Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are banned worldwide under the Stockholm
      Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. However, PCBs are still emitted in
      appreciable amounts from remaining primary sources in urban areas or landfills
      and are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, inter alia in soil and air.
      Concentrations of PCBs have been measured in various media by numerous studies
      worldwide. However, monitoring data do not always provide quantitative
      information about transport processes between different media, deposition fluxes
      to ground, or distribution of PCBs between environmental compartments. Also
      future trends in environmental contamination by PCBs cannot be predicted from
      monitoring data, but such information is highly relevant for decision-makers.
      Here, we present a new regionally resolved dynamic multimedia mass balance model
      for Switzerland to investigate the origin of PCBs in air and to investigate their
      long-term fate and mass balance in the environment. The model was validated with
      existing field data for PCBs. We find that advective inflow of PCBs from outside
      Switzerland into the atmospheric boundary layer is responsible for 80% of PCBs
      present in air in Switzerland, whereas Swiss emissions cause the remaining 20%.
      Furthermore, we show that the atmospheric deposition of the higher-chlorinated
      PCBs is dominated by particle-bound deposition, whereas the deposition of the
      lower-chlorinated PCBs is a combination of particle-bound and gaseous deposition.
      The volume fraction of particles in air is in both cases an important factor
      driving the deposition of PCBs to ground and, thus, contributing to the higher
      concentrations of PCBs generally observed in populated and polluted areas.
      Regional emissions influence the deposition fluxes only to a limited extent. We
      also find that secondary emissions from environmental reservoirs do not exceed
      primary emissions for all PCB congeners until at least 2036. Finally, we use our
      model to evaluate the effect of chemical regulation on future environmental
      contamination by PCBs. 

PMID- 26889950
TI  - "Socioeconomic inequalities in children's accessibility to food retailing:
      Examining the roles of mobility and time".
AB  - Childhood overweight and obesity rates in Canada are at concerning levels, more
      apparently so for individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Accessibility
      to food establishments likely influences patterns of food consumption, a
      contributor to body weight. Previous work has found that households living in
      lower income neighbourhoods tend to have greater geographical accessibility to
      unhealthy food establishments and lower accessibility to healthy food stores.
      This study contributes to the literature on neighbourhood inequalities in
      accessibility to healthy foods by explicitly focusing on children, an
      understudied population, and by incorporating mobility and time into metrics of
      accessibility. Accessibility to both healthy and unhealthy food retailing is
      measured within children's activity spaces using Road Network and Activity
      Location Buffering methods. Weekday vs. weekend accessibility to food
      establishments is then compared. The results suggest that children attending
      lower SES schools had almost two times the density of fast food establishments
      and marginally higher supermarket densities in their activity spaces. Children
      attending higher SES schools also had much larger activity spaces. All children
      had higher supermarket densities during weekdays than on weekend days. 

PMID- 26889949
TI  - The 2008 financial crisis: Changes in social capital and its association with
      psychological wellbeing in the United Kingdom - A panel study.
AB  - The global financial crisis of 2008 was described by the IMF as the worst
      recession since the Great Depression. This historic event provided the backdrop
      to this United Kingdom (UK) longitudinal study of changes in associations between
      social capital and psychological wellbeing. Past longitudinal studies have
      reported that the presence of social capital may buffer against adverse mental
      health outcomes. This study adds to existing literature by employing data from
      the British Household Panel Survey and tracking the same individuals (N = 11,743)
      pre- and immediately post-crisis (years 2007-09). With longitudinal, multilevel
      logistic regression modelling, we aimed to compare the buffering effects of
      individual-level social capital (generalised trust and social participation)
      against worse psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12) during and immediately after the
      2008 financial crisis. After comparing the same individuals over time, results
      showed that stocks of social capital (generalised trust) were significantly
      depleted across the UK during the crisis, from 40% trusting others in 2007 to 32%
      in 2008. Despite this drop, the buffering effect of trust against worse
      psychological wellbeing was pronounced in 2008; those not trusting had an
      increased risk of worse psychological wellbeing in 2008 compared with the
      previous year in fully adjusted models (OR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.34-1.65). Levels of
      active participation increased across the timeframe of this study but were not
      associated with psychological health. From our empirical evidence, decision
      makers should be made aware of how events such as the crisis (and the measures
      taken to counter its effects) could negatively impact on a Nation's trust levels.
      Furthermore, past research implies that the positive effects of trust on
      psychological wellbeing evident in this study may only be short-term; therefore,
      decision makers should also prioritise policies that restore trust levels to
      improve the psychological wellbeing of the population.

PMID- 26889951
TI  - Employment insecurity and mental health during the economic recession: An
      analysis of the young adult labour force in Italy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A growing body of scientific literature highlights the
      negative consequences of employment insecurity on several life domains. This
      study focuses on the young adult labour force in Italy, investigating the
      relationship between employment insecurity and mental health and whether this has
      changed after years of economic downturn. It enhances understanding by addressing
      differences in mental health according to several employment characteristics; and
      by exploring the role of respondents' economic situation and educational level.
      DATA AND METHODS: Data from a large-scale, nationally representative health
      survey are used to estimate the relationship between employment insecurity and
      the Mental Health Inventory (MHI), by means of multiple linear regressions.
      RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that employment insecurity is
      associated with poorer mental health. Moreover, neither temporary workers nor
      unemployed individuals are a homogeneous group. Previous job experience is
      important in differentiating the mental health risks of unemployed individuals;
      and the effects on mental health vary according to occupational status and to the
      amount of time spent in a condition of insecurity. Further, the experience of
      financial difficulties partly explains the relationship between employment
      insecurity and mental health; and different mental health outcomes depend on
      respondents' educational level. Lastly, the risks of reporting poorer mental
      health were higher in 2013 than in 2005.

PMID- 26889952
TI  - Polio vaccine hesitancy in the networks and neighborhoods of Malegaon, India.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Eradication and control of childhood diseases through immunization
      can only work if parents allow their children to be vaccinated. To learn about
      social network factors associated with polio vaccine hesitancy, we investigated
      social and spatial clustering of households by their vaccine acceptance status in
      Malegaon, India, an area known for vaccine refusal and repeated detection of
      polio cases. METHODS: We interviewed family heads from 2462 households in 25
      neighborhoods in July 2012 and constructed social networks based on advice
      seeking from other households. We restricted our main analyses to surveyed
      households for which we also had data on whether they accepted the polio vaccine
      for their eligible children or not. RESULTS: Data from 2452 households was
      retained and these households made 2012 nominations to 830 households. Vaccine
      refusing households had fewer outgoing ties than vaccine-accepting households.
      After excluding 24 isolated households, vaccine-refusing households had 189% more
      nominations to other vaccine-refusing households (93% more in the largest
      component of the network) compared to vaccine-accepting households, revealing
      that vaccine-refusing households cluster in the social network. Since roughly
      half of all ties connect households within neighborhoods, vaccine-refusing
      clusters lie in spatially localized "pockets". CONCLUSIONS: The social (and
      spatial) clustering of vaccine-refusing households could be leveraged to tailor
      communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance and community perceptions
      of immunization programs for polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

PMID- 26889954
TI  - Tissue Distribution and Transfer to Eggs of Ingested alpha-Hexabromocyclododecane
      (alpha-HBCDD) in Laying Hens (Gallus domesticus).
AB  - The aim of the current study was to describe the fate of ingested alpha
      hexabromocyclododecane (alpha-HBCDD) in laying hens. Individuals were exposed to
      two dietary concentrations of alpha-HBCDD (50 and 5 ng g(-1) feed) for 18 or 11
      weeks followed by a 7-week decontamination period. The results show that no
      isomerization of alpha- to beta- or gamma-HBCDD forms occurred, whereas OH-HBCDD
      was identified as a product of alpha-HBCDD metabolism. Irrespective of the level
      of feed contamination, estimates of steady-state accumulation ratios were 5.2,
      3.6, and 9.2 and half-lives were estimated at 17.4, 22.8, and 35.3 days in egg
      yolk, liver tissue, and abdominal fat, respectively. The steady-state carry-over
      rate to eggs was 22.9%. Thus, alpha-HBCDD ingested by laying hens is readily
      transferred to eggs and significantly accumulates in adipose tissue. 

PMID- 26889955
TI  - Reorientational Relaxation of Small Solutes in Viscoelastic Liquids.
AB  - The reorientational relaxation times of some small aromatic solutes are
      determined with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and time-resolved
      fluorescence anisotropy measurements in various solvents that exhibit
      viscoelasticity in the megahertz region. All the reorientational relaxation times
      in viscoelastic liquids are shorter than those predicted by the hydrodynamic
      Stokes-Einstein-Debye (SED) relation using the steady-state shear viscosity. The
      deviation from the SED relation becomes larger in solvents whose shear relaxation
      is slower. When the reorientational relaxation times in a solvent are compared,
      the deviation from the SED relation tends to decrease when the reorientational
      relaxation time increases. From a comparison with the shear relaxation spectra,
      it is demonstrated that the deviation from the SED relation can be ascribed to
      the effective reduction of the viscous friction on fast reorientation, reflecting
      the decrease in shear viscosity with increasing frequency. 

PMID- 26889953
TI  - Hmga1 null mouse embryonic fibroblasts display downregulation of spindle assembly
      checkpoint gene expression associated to nuclear and karyotypic abnormalities.
AB  - The High Mobility Group A1 proteins (HMGA1) are nonhistone chromatinic proteins
      with a critical role in development and cancer. We have recently reported that
      HMGA1 proteins are able to increase the expression of spindle assembly checkpoint
      (SAC) genes, thus impairing SAC function and causing chromosomal instability in
      cancer cells. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between HMGA1 and SAC
      genes expression in human colon carcinomas. Here, we report that mouse embryonic
      fibroblasts null for the Hmga1 gene show downregulation of Bub1, Bub1b, Mad2l1
      and Ttk SAC genes, and present several features of chromosomal instability, such
      as nuclear abnormalities, binucleation, micronuclei and karyotypic alterations.
      Interestingky, also MEFs carrying only one impaired Hmga1 allele present
      karyotypic alterations. These results indicate that HMGA1 proteins regulate SAC
      genes expression and, thereby, genomic stability also in embryonic cells. 

PMID- 26889956
TI  - The Alga Ochromonas danica Produces Bromosulfolipids.
AB  - Many halogenases interchangeably incorporate chlorine and bromine into organic
      molecules. On the basis of an unsubstantiated report that the alga Ochromonas
      danica, a prodigious producer of chlorosulfolipids, was able to produce
      bromosulfolipids, we have investigated the promiscuity of its halogenases toward
      bromine incorporation. We have found that bromosulfolipids are produced with the
      exact positional and stereochemical selectivity as in the chlorosulfolipid
      danicalipin A when this alga is grown under modified conditions containing excess
      bromide ion. 

PMID- 26889957
TI  - Investigation of the Na Intercalation Mechanism into Nanosized V2O5/C Composite
      Cathode Material for Na-Ion Batteries.
AB  - There is a significant interest to develop high-performance and cost-effective
      electrode materials for next-generation sodium ion batteries. Herein, we report a
      facile synthesis method for nanosized V2O5/C composite cathodes and their
      electrochemical performance as well as energy storage mechanism. The composite
      exhibits a discharge capacity of 255 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 0.05 C,
      which surpasses that of previously reported layered oxide materials. Furthermore,
      the electrode shows good rate capability; discharge capacity of 160 mAh g(-1) at
      a current density of 1 C. The reaction mechanism of V2O5 upon sodium
      insertion/extraction is investigated using ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
      synchrotron based near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS)
      spectroscopy. Ex situ XRD result of the fully discharged state reveals the
      appearance of NaV2O5 as a major phase with minor Na2V2O5 phase. Upon insertion of
      sodium into the array of parallel ladders of V2O5, it was confirmed that lattice
      parameter of c is increased by 9.09%, corresponding to the increase in the unit
      cell volume of 9.2%. NEXAFS results suggest that the charge compensation during
      de/sodiation process accompanied by the reversible changes in the oxidation state
      of vanadium (V(4+) <-> V(5+)). 

PMID- 26889959
TI  - Human Lymphadenopathy Caused by Ratborne Bartonella, Tbilisi, Georgia.
AB  - Lymphadenopathy and fever that developed in a woman in Tbilisi, Georgia, most
      likely were caused by a ratborne Bartonella strain related B. tribocorum and B.
      elizabethae. The finding suggests that this Bartonella strain could be spread by
      infected rats and represents a potential human risk.

PMID- 26889960
TI  - Novel Reassortant Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Human, Southern Vietnam, 2014.

PMID- 26889961
TI  - Far East Scarlet-Like Fever Caused by a Few Related Genotypes of Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis, Russia.
AB  - We used multivirulence locus sequence typing to analyze 68 Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis isolates from patients in Russia during 1973-2014, including
      41 isolates from patients with Far East scarlet-like fever. Four genotypes were
      found responsible, with 1 being especially prevalent. Evolutionary analysis
      suggests that epidemiologic advantages could cause this genotype's dominance.

PMID- 26889962
TI  - Development and application of monoclonal antibodies for detection and analysis
      of aquareoviruses.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) play an important role in detection of
      aquareoviruses. Three mAbs against grass carp reovirus (GCRV) were prepared.
      Isotyping revealed that all three mAbs were of subclass IgG2b. Western blot assay
      showed that all three mAbs reacted with GCRV 69 kDa protein (the putative VP5).
      In addition to the 69 kDa protein of GCRV, mAb 4B6 also recognize a 54 kDa
      protein. All three mAbs were used for detecting aquareovirus by Western blot
      assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). All of them reacted with GCRV,
      and mAb 4A3 could also react with turbot Scophthalmus maximus reovirus (SMReV)
      and largemouth bass Microptererus salmonides reovirus (MsReV). Viral antigens
      were only observed in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Finally, syncytia
      formation was observed with light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy using
      fluorescein labelled 4A3 mAb at various times post-infection. Syncytia were
      observed at 36 hr post-infection (hpi) by light microscopy and at 12 hpi by
      fluorescence microscopy. The immunofluorescence based assay allowed earlier
      detection of virus than observation of virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE)
      assay in inoculated cell cultures. The sensitivity and specificity of these mAbs
      may be useful for diagnosis and monitoring of aquareoviruses. 

PMID- 26889963
TI  - Adherence to treatment and monitoring tools: what's new.
AB  - Asthma is a serious global health problem affecting all age groups, with global
      prevalence. Although controller medications are usually highly effective asthma
      treatments, patient adherence remains poor, and under-use is associated with
      greater health resource use, morbidity, and mortality. Up to 70-80% of patients
      cannot use their inhaler correctly, and similar proportions of health
      professionals are unable to demonstrate correct use. A recent paper of Foster and
      colleagues explored the effectiveness of 2 briefs GPs delivered intervention in
      improving adherence to asthma treatment and diseases control in patients with
      uncontrolled moderate/severe persistent asthma, in real-community setting. The
      results suggested that inhaler reminders may represent an effective strategy for
      improving adherence in primary care compared with a behavioral intervention or
      usual care, although this may not be reflected in differences in levels of asthma
      control. Studies in larger population are needed in order to test the efficacy of
      available technology on asthma outcomes in all age stages.

PMID- 26889964
TI  - Asthma in pregnancy: one more piece of the puzzle.
AB  - Asthma is the most common respiratory disorder complicating pregnancy, and is
      associated with a range of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. There is
      strong evidence however, that the adequate control of asthma can improve health
      outcomes for mothers and their babies. Despite known risks of poorly controlled
      asthma during pregnancy, a large proportion of women have sub- optimal asthma
      control, due to concerns surrounding risks of pharmacological agents, and
      uncertainties regarding the effectiveness and safety of different management
      strategies. A recent retrospective study showed that step up therapy with low
      dose ICS/LABA or high dose ICS presents the same risk profile in terms of major
      congenital malformations. These results are consistent with asthma management
      guidelines and provide scientific evidence to help physicians and mothers make
      evidence-based treatment decisions during pregnancy, particularly when a step up
      to higher doses of ICS or addition of a LABA is required. These reassuring
      results should encourage women to continue their asthma medications when required
      to control their asthma during pregnancy and increase the likelihood of healthy
      pregnancies and newborns. This commentary focuses on some critical issues of this
      recent work and to the need of future study to evaluate the safety during
      pregnancy of novel molecules recently introduced for asthma treatment.

PMID- 26889958
TI  - High-Density Lipoproteins: Nature's Multifunctional Nanoparticles.
AB  - High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are endogenous nanoparticles involved in the
      transport and metabolism of cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides. HDL is
      well-known as the "good" cholesterol because it not only removes excess
      cholesterol from atherosclerotic plaques but also has anti-inflammatory and
      antioxidative properties, which protect the cardiovascular system. Circulating
      HDL also transports endogenous proteins, vitamins, hormones, and microRNA to
      various organs. Compared with other synthetic nanocarriers, such as liposomes,
      micelles, and inorganic and polymeric nanoparticles, HDL has unique features that
      allow them to deliver cargo to specific targets more efficiently. These
      attributes include their ultrasmall size (8-12 nm in diameter), high tolerability
      in humans (up to 8 g of protein per infusion), long circulating half-life (12-24
      h), and intrinsic targeting properties to different recipient cells. Various
      recombinant ApoA proteins and ApoA mimetic peptides have been recently developed
      for the preparation of reconstituted HDL that exhibits properties similar to
      those of endogenous HDL and has a potential for industrial scale-up. In this
      review, we will summarize (a) clinical pharmacokinetics and safety of
      reconstituted HDL products, (b) comparison of HDL with inorganic and other
      organic nanoparticles, 

PMID- 26889965
TI  - Pre-conditioning with transcranial low-level light therapy reduces
      neuroinflammation and protects blood-brain barrier after focal cerebral ischemia
      in mice.
AB  - PURPOSE: Transcranial low-level light therapy (LLLT) has gained interest as a non
      invasive, inexpensive and safe method of modulating neurological and
      psychological functions in recent years. This study was designed to examine the
      preventive effects of LLLT via visible light source against cerebral ischemia at
      the behavioral, structural and neurochemical levels. METHODS: The mice received
      LLLT twice a day for 2 days prior to photothrombotic cortical ischemia. RESULTS:
      LLLT significantly reduced infarct size and edema and improved neurological and
      motor function 24 h after ischemic injury. In addition, LLLT markedly inhibited
      Iba-1- and GFAP-positive cells, which was accompanied by a reduction in the
      expression of inflammatory mediators and inhibition of MAPK activation and NF
      kappaB translocation in the ischemic cortex. Concomitantly, LLLT significantly
      attenuated leukocyte accumulation and infiltration into the infarct perifocal
      region. LLLT also prevented BBB disruption after ischemic events, as indicated by
      a reduction of Evans blue leakage and water content. These findings were
      corroborated by immunofluorescence staining of the tight junction-related
      proteins in the ischemic cortex in response to LLLT. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive
      intervention of LLLT in ischemic brain injury may provide a significant
      functional benefit with an underlying mechanism possibly being suppression of
      neuroinflammation and reduction of BBB disruption.

PMID- 26889966
TI  - The dynamic motor imagery of locomotion is task-dependent in patients with
      stroke.
AB  - PURPOSE: Recently, Motor Imagery (MI) has been associated with the execution of
      movements miming in part the mentally represented action (dynamic MI, dMI).
      Preliminary studies have reported as dMI may improve trainings in sport, with
      imagery timing close to the physical execution one. This study was aimed to
      investigate time and spatial parameters of dMI with actual locomotion in people
      with stroke. METHODS: Twelve patients (stroke group, SG) were compared with
      twelve healthy elderly (elderly group, EG) and twenty young adults (young group,
      YG). Subjects performed mental representations of different walking (forward, FW;
      lateral, LW, backward, BW), accompanied or not by movements imitating walking
      (dMI and static MI, sMI). Then, they performed actual locomotion (AL). Outcome
      measures were related to the time and the number of steps spent for completing
      the tasks for all the given locomotor conditions. RESULTS: Significant
      differences were found in patients with respect to healthy subjects, with time in
      sMI significantly shorter than in dMI (p < 0.004) and AL (p < 0.002), but not
      between dMI and AL in FW (p = 0.806). In patients, times obtained in sMI and dMI
      was significantly shorter with respect to those of AL in LW and BW. Patients
      performed imagery tasks with similar times in all locomotion. Healthy groups did
      not reveal differences among tasks in BW, while significant differences were
      found in LW. Analogous results were found in terms of number of performed steps.
      CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stroke, a spatiotemporal functional equivalence
      with AL was found only for dMI, and not for sMI, in forward walking. This could
      be due to familiarity with this task. These results might have implications for
      the rehabilitative techniques based on MI.

PMID- 26889967
TI  - Ultrasonic vocalization in murine experimental stroke: A mechanistic model of
      aphasia.
AB  - PURPOSE: Approximately one-fourth of stroke survivors are aphasic. Speech therapy
      is the main treatment approach but leaves most patients with chronic disability.
      Attempts to improve this situation are hampered by a lack of mechanistic
      understanding of the disability and treatments, reflecting the neglect of this
      impairment modality in pre-clinical research. Accordingly, we devised a novel
      murine model of speech-related impairment after stroke to investigate the role of
      language- and plasticity-associated molecules. Rodents communicate socially with
      ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), conveying semantic and semiotic information with
      complex frequency modulated "songs" and alarm calls. METHODS: Transient focal
      cerebral ischemia was induced in male C57BL6 mice via either 30 or 45 minutes of
      reversible right MCAO using the intraluminal filament technique. Nine days post
      operatively brains are stained with TTC and analyzed for infarct volume. For
      behavioral measures health scores are taken (days 1-4), cylinder tests and USV
      recordings performed at days 3 and 7 post operatively. Real time PCR was
      performed at 24 and 48 hour and 7 day time points to quantify mRNA expression of
      communication-related genes (Foxp2, Foxp1, Srpx2, Cntnap2 and Gapdh).
      Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize FOXP2 protein. RESULTS: After
      middle cerebral artery occlusion of either 30 or 45 minutes duration, mice
      demonstrate profoundly impaired socially evoked USVs. In addition, there is
      suppression of the language-associated transcription factor, Forkhead box protein
      2 (Foxp2), and its downstream binding partner, contactin-associated protein 2
      (Cntnap2). CONCLUSION: These findings set a foundation for further studies of
      mechanisms and novel treatment strategies for post-stroke vocalization
      impairments.

PMID- 26889968
TI  - L1.2, the zebrafish paralog of L1.1 and ortholog of the mammalian cell adhesion
      molecule L1 contributes to spinal cord regeneration in adult zebrafish.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the functional role of L1.2, the
      zebrafish paralog of L1.1 and ortholog of mammalian L1CAM in adult zebrafish
      spinal cord regeneration after injury. L1CAM and L1.1 have shown beneficial
      features in ameliorating nervous system dysfunctions in different experimental
      paradigms. It thus deemed important to characterize the L1.2 member of the L1CAM
      family, the functions of which are unknown. METHODS: Spinal cord transection of
      adult zebrafish, application of anti-sense morpholino to reduce L1.2 expression,
      qPCR, immunohistology, immunoblotting, in situ hybridization, retrograde tracing,
      anterograde tracing. RESULTS: Similar to L1.1, L1.2 expression in adult zebrafish
      is upregulated after spinal cord transection. By co-localization of in situ
      hybridization and immunohistology, L1.2 is expressed in neurons and, in contrast
      to L1.1, it is also expressed in GFAP-immunoreactive glia. Reducing L1.2 protein
      levels leads to impaired locomotor recovery and reduction of regrowth of severed
      descending axons from a brain stem nucleus which is composed of neurons innately
      capable of axonal regrowth. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the speculation
      that paralogs of duplicated genes can exert similar functions and may thus
      represent an advantage over other species that do not carry duplicated genes.

PMID- 26889971
TI  - Definition of giant ventral hernias: Development of standardization through a
      practice survey.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Giant ventral hernias represent a real handicap for patients and
      constitute a challenge for surgeons. European Hernia Society classification
      defines all ventral hernia over 10 cm in the same group. However, this group
      represents different clinical entities with numerous therapeutic possibilities,
      and no standardized recommendation has been made. The objective of our work was
      to define consensual criteria that define giant ventral hernias requiring
      specific management and determine management modalities. METHODS: A national
      survey consisting of 21 questions was proposed through a secure, anonymous
      internet interface and on a voluntary basis to all surgeons practising in France
      involved in care of patients affected by giant ventral hernias. RESULTS: For more
      than 68% of respondents, loss of domain and a hernia volume greater than 30% of
      abdominal volume were mandatory to define giant ventral hernias. Pre-operative
      screening should include abdominal CT scan, functional respiratory exploration,
      and a cardiology consultation for 98%, 71% and 50% of the respondents
      respectively. Respiratory and cutaneous preparations were systematically proposed
      before surgery by 91% and 56% of respondents. Regarding surgical techniques, none
      has gained the support of the majority of respondents. However, 71% of
      respondents use a non-resorbable mesh in retro muscular position for more than
      70% of their patients treated for giant ventral hernias. CONCLUSION: Giant
      ventral hernias could be defined as ventral hernia larger than 10 cm with loss of
      domain. A specific management is advocated.

PMID- 26889970
TI  - Experience of damage control trauma laparotomy in a limited resource healthcare
      setting: A retrospective Cohort Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Damage control surgery (DCS) is an established option for managing
      severely injured trauma patients. However, its role in the management of similar
      patients in the developing world is debatable. The purpose of this study is to
      describe characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing DCS. METHODS: All
      trauma patients requiring laparotomies from 1996 to 2011 at a tertiary care
      hospital in South Asia were reviewed. DCS was defined in a patient who underwent
      a truncated laparotomy where the fascia was primarily left open, with the
      intention of physiological optimization in the Intensive Care Unit, followed by
      definitive surgery. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate
      logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of mortality
      after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 258 patients, 47
      underwent DCS. 40% patients were transferred from other hospitals. The time
      between injury and operation was 152 minutes (IQR: 90-330). Intra-operative
      laboratory parameters revealed a median pH of 7.16 (IQR: 7.10-7.27), median
      temperature of 34.7 (IQR: 34.0-35.4) and median PT of 15.9 (IQR: 12.4-21.2). 55%
      of the patients survived to discharge from hospital. Of those who died, 86% died
      before the first take back operation. Packed red blood cell transfusion and
      vascular injury were independently associated with mortality. DISCUSSION: Damage
      control surgery is feasible in developing countries, with more than 50% survival
      reported at one hospital. Future research should focus on critical care
      management. CONCLUSION: Damage Control trauma laparotomy is feasible in tertiary
      care hospitals with multidisciplinary trauma teams in lesser-developed countries.

PMID- 26889969
TI  - An epigenome-wide association meta-analysis of prenatal maternal stress in
      neonates: A model approach for replication.
AB  - Prenatal maternal stress exposure has been associated with neonatal differential
      DNA methylation. However, the available evidence in humans is largely based on
      candidate gene methylation studies, where only a few CpG sites were evaluated.
      The aim of this study was to examine the association between prenatal exposure to
      maternal stress and offspring genome-wide cord blood methylation using different
      methods. First, we conducted a meta-analysis and follow-up pathway analyses.
      Second, we used novel region discovery methods [i.e., differentially methylated
      regions (DMRs) analyses]. To this end, we used data from two independent
      population-based studies, the Generation R Study (n = 912) and the Avon
      Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, n = 828), to (i) measure
      genome-wide DNA methylation in cord blood and (ii) extract a prenatal maternal
      stress composite. The meta-analysis (ntotal = 1,740) revealed no epigenome-wide
      (meta P <1.00e-07) associations of prenatal maternal stress exposure with
      neonatal differential DNA methylation. Follow-up analyses of the top hits derived
      from our epigenome-wide meta-analysis (meta P <1.00e-04) indicated an over
      representation of the methyltransferase activity pathway. We identified no
      Bonferroni-corrected (P <1.00e-06) DMRs associated with prenatal maternal stress
      exposure. Combining data from two independent population-based samples in an
      epigenome-wide meta-analysis, the current study indicates that there are no large
      effects of prenatal maternal stress exposure on neonatal DNA methylation. Such
      replication efforts are essential in the search for robust associations, whether
      derived from candidate gene methylation or epigenome-wide studies. 

PMID- 26889972
TI  - Current status of surgical treatment of gastric cancer in the era of minimally
      invasive surgery in China: Opportunity and challenge.
AB  - Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in China. In the past decade,
      with the developments in surgical instruments and technologies, minimally
      invasive surgery has rapidly become an accepted treatment for gastric cancer in
      China. Many Chinese surgeons and researchers have contributed to the rapid
      evolution of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. Their efforts have
      transformed into unique laparoscopic technique, workshops, academic
      communications, education and international communications in China. Meanwhile,
      many retrospective comparative trials and randomized controlled trials have
      revealed the advantages in minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer.
      However, multicenter randomized controlled trials are still needed to delineate
      significantly quantifiable differences between laparoscopic and open gastrectomy.
      With more and more experience has accumulated, laparoscopic gastrectomy has been
      performed on older and overweight patients. Moreover, advanced minimally invasive
      techniques, such as modified laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilum
      lymphadenectomy, various laparoscopic gastric reconstruction methods and robotic
      gastrectomy have been developed. It seems that China owns the potential to keep
      up with her neighbor, Japan and Korea, to become one of leading countries
      utilizing minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. 

PMID- 26889973
TI  - Clinical impact of mutation fraction in epidermal growth factor receptor mutation
      positive NSCLC patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We examined clinical outcomes in a population-based cohort of EGFR
      mutant advanced NSCLC patients, exploring the potential role of factors including
      tumour EGFR mutation fraction and cellularity in predicting outcomes. METHODS: A
      cohort of patients with EGFR mutant advanced NSCLC was identified (N =2 93);
      clinical outcomes, pathologic and treatment details were collected. Tumour
      response was determined from radiology and clinical notes. Association between
      demographic and pathologic variables EGFR TKI response, time to treatment failure
      (TTF) and overall survival (OS) was examined using logistic regression and
      proportional hazards regression. EGFR TKI response rates were summarised by
      percent mutation fraction to explore their association. RESULTS: Higher mutation
      fraction was associated with greater EGFR TKI response rate (odds ratio 1.58, 95%
      CI = 1.21-2.07, P = 0.0008), longer TTF (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68-0.92, P
      = 0.003) and better OS (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% CI = 0.67-0.99, P = 0.04).
      However, even in patients with ? 5% mutation fraction, response rate was 34%.
      Females had longer TTF (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutation fraction in tumour
      samples was significantly associated with response, TTF and OS. Despite this, no
      lower level of mutation fraction was detected for which EGFR TKI should be
      withheld in those with activating EGFR mutations.

PMID- 26889974
TI  - Derived neutrophil lymphocyte ratio is predictive of survival from intermittent
      therapy in advanced colorectal cancer: a post hoc analysis of the MRC COIN study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The phase III COntinuous or INtermittent (COIN) trial failed to show
      non-inferiority of intermittent compared with continuous chemotherapy for
      advanced colorectal cancer in overall survival (OS). The present analysis
      evaluated whether the derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) could predict
      the effect of intermittent vs continuous chemotherapy on OS in patients with
      advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: A post hoc exploratory analysis of COIN arms
      A and C was performed. Landmark analysis was conducted on all patients with
      available WBC and neutrophils data. The dNLR was calculated using a formula which
      has previously demonstrated predictive power in cancer patients: dNLR = ANC/(WBC
      ANC). A high dNLR was defined using a cut-off value of ? 2.22. Derived neutrophil
      to lymphocyte ratio was then correlated with clinical outcomes. Survival curves
      were generated based on dNLR using the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison between
      groups was performed using Cox regression. RESULTS: A total of 1630 patients were
      assigned to the continuous (N = 815) or intermittent (N = 815) arms. There was a
      strong association between dNLR level and OS. The median survival times in the
      ITT population were 18.6 months and 12.5 months for patients with low and high
      dNLR, respectively (HR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.52-1.90; P < 0.001). The estimate of
      the hazard ratio did not alter substantially (HR = 1.54) after adjusting for
      treatment, tumour status, number of metastatic sites, alkaline phosphate and
      platelet count. CONCLUSIONS: Derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is strongly
      prognostic for survival in the COIN intermittent vs continuous treatment arms.
      Derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio does not predict for detrimental survival
      in patients treated with intermittent therapy.

PMID- 26889976
TI  - A proteomics-based approach identifies secreted protein acidic and rich in
      cysteine as a prognostic biomarker in malignant pleural mesothelioma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify prognostic blood biomarkers using proteomics
      based approaches in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). METHODS: Plasma samples
      from 12 MPM patients were used for exploratory mass spectrometry and ELISA
      analyses. The significance of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine
      (SPARC) was examined in sera from a Dutch series (n=97). To determine the source
      of the circulating SPARC, we investigated SPARC expression in MPM tumours and
      healthy controls, as well as the expression and secretion from cell lines and
      xenografts. RESULTS: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine was identified
      as a putative prognostic marker in plasma. Validation in the Dutch series showed
      that the median survival was higher in patients with low SPARC compared with
      those with high SPARC (19.0 vs 8.8 months; P=0.01). In multivariate analyses,
      serum SPARC remained as an independent predictor (HR 1.55; P=0.05). In MPM tumour
      samples, SPARC was present in the tumour cells and stromal fibroblasts. Cellular
      SPARC expression was higher in 5 out of 7 cell lines compared with two
      immortalized mesothelial lines. Neither cell lines nor xenograft tumours secreted
      detectable SPARC. CONCLUSIONS: Low circulating SPARC was associated with
      favourable prognosis. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine was present in
      both tumour cells and stromal fibroblasts; and our in vitro and in vivo
      experiments suggest that stromal fibroblasts are a potential source of
      circulating SPARC.

PMID- 26889977
TI  - Ectopic expression of the chemokine CXCL17 in colon cancer cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The novel chemokine CXCL17 acts as chemoattractant for monocytes,
      macrophages and dendritic cells. CXCL17 also has a role in angiogenesis of
      importance for tumour development. METHODS: Expression of CXCL17, CXCL10, CXCL9
      and CCL2 was assessed in primary colon cancer tumours, colon carcinoma cell lines
      and normal colon tissue at mRNA and protein levels by real-time qRT-PCR,
      immunohistochemistry, two-colour immunofluorescence and immunomorphometry.
      RESULTS: CXCL17 mRNA was expressed at 8000 times higher levels in primary tumours
      than in normal colon (P < 0.0001). CXCL17 protein was seen in 17.2% of cells in
      tumours as compared with 0.07% in normal colon (P = 0.0002). CXCL10, CXCL9 and
      CCL2 mRNAs were elevated in tumours but did not reach the levels of CXCL17.
      CXCL17 and CCL2 mRNA levels were significantly correlated in tumours. Concordant
      with the mRNA results, CXCL10- and CXCL9-positive cells were detected in tumour
      tissue, but at significantly lower numbers than CXCL17. Two-colour
      immunofluorescence and single-colour staining of consecutive sections for CXCL17
      and the epithelial cell markers carcinoembryonic antigen and BerEP4 demonstrated
      that colon carcinoma tumour cells indeed expressed CXCL17. CONCLUSIONS: CXCL17 is
      ectopically expressed in primary colon cancer tumours. As CXCL17 enhances
      angiogenesis and attracts immune cells, its expression could be informative for
      prognosis in colon cancer patients.

PMID- 26889975
TI  - Therapeutic interactions of autophagy with radiation and temozolomide in
      glioblastoma: evidence and issues to resolve.
AB  - Glioblastoma is a unique model of non-metastasising disease that kills the vast
      majority of patients through local growth, despite surgery and local irradiation.
      Glioblastoma cells are resistant to apoptotic stimuli, and their death occurs
      through autophagy. This review aims to critically present our knowledge regarding
      the autophagic response of glioblastoma cells to radiation and temozolomide (TMZ)
      and to delineate eventual research directions to follow, in the quest of
      improving the curability of this incurable, as yet, disease. Radiation and TMZ
      interfere with the autophagic machinery, but whether cell response is driven to
      autophagy flux acceleration or blockage is disputable and may depend on both cell
      individuality and radiotherapy fractionation or TMZ schedules. Potent agents that
      block autophagy at an early phase of initiation or at a late phase of
      autolysosomal fusion are available aside to agents that induce functional
      autophagy, or even demethylating agents that may unblock the function of
      autophagy-initiating genes in a subset of tumours. All these create a maze, which
      if properly investigated can open new insights for the application of novel radio
      and chemosensitising policies, exploiting the autophagic pathways that
      glioblastomas use to escape death. 

PMID- 26889979
TI  - Relationship between ambient ultraviolet radiation and Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes
      in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are few modifiable risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), the
      most common cancer among young adults in Western populations. Some studies have
      found a reduced risk with exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), but findings
      have been inconsistent and limited to HL as a group or the most common subtypes.
      METHODS: We evaluated UVR and incidence of HL subtypes using data from 15
      population-based cancer registries in the United States from 2001 to 2010 (n=20
      021). Ground-based ambient UVR estimates were linked to county of diagnosis.
      Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated
      for UVR quintiles using Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex,
      race/ethnicity, diagnosis year, and registry. RESULTS: Hodgkin lymphoma incidence
      was lower in the highest UVR quintile for nodular sclerosis (IRR=0.84, 95%
      CI=0.75-0.96, P-trend<0.01), mixed cellularity/lymphocyte-depleted (IRR=0.66, 95%
      CI=0.51-0.86, P-trend=0.11), lymphocyte-rich (IRR=0.71, 95% CI=0.57-0.88, P
      trend<0.01), and nodular lymphocyte predominant HL (IRR=0.74, 95% CI=0.56-0.97, P
      trend<0.01), but 'not otherwise specified' HL (IRR=1.19, 95% CI=0.96-1.47, P
      trend=0.11). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study of UVR and HL subtypes
      covering a wide range of UVR levels; however, we lack information on personal UVR
      and other individual risk factors. These findings support an inverse association
      between UVR and HL.

PMID- 26889978
TI  - Long working hours and cancer risk: a multi-cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Working longer than the maximum recommended hours is associated with
      an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but the relationship of excess
      working hours with incident cancer is unclear. METHODS: This multi-cohort study
      examined the association between working hours and cancer risk in 116 462 men and
      women who were free of cancer at baseline. Incident cancers were ascertained from
      national cancer, hospitalisation and death registers; weekly working hours were
      self-reported. RESULTS: During median follow-up of 10.8 years, 4371 participants
      developed cancer (n colorectal cancer: 393; n lung cancer: 247; n breast cancer:
      833; and n prostate cancer: 534). We found no clear evidence for an association
      between working hours and the overall cancer risk. Working hours were also
      unrelated the risk of incident colorectal, lung or prostate cancers. Working ?55
      h per week was associated with 1.60-fold (95% confidence interval 1.12-2.29)
      increase in female breast cancer risk independently of age, socioeconomic
      position, shift- and night-time work and lifestyle factors, but this observation
      may have been influenced by residual confounding from parity. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings suggest that working long hours is unrelated to the overall cancer risk
      or the risk of lung, colorectal or prostate cancers. The observed association
      with breast cancer would warrant further research.

PMID- 26889981
TI  - Overexpression of Cdc20 in clinically localized prostate cancer: Relation to high
      Gleason score and biochemical recurrence after laparoscopic radical
      prostatectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to explore Cdc20 expression and its correlation
      with clinicopathological characteristics and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after
      laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in clinically localized prostate cancer
      (PCa). METHODS: Cdc20 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 166
      cases, including 60 cases of benign hyperplasia of prostate (BPH) patients
      treated by transurethral resection and 106 cases of consecutive PCa patients
      treated by LRP without neoadjuvant therapy in a single Chinese institution. The
      correlation with clinicopathological features and the predictive value for BCR
      were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Cdc20 expression was detected in 52 (86.7%)
      BPH and 97 (91.5%) PCa samples, which was statistically insignificant (P= 0.675).
      The rate of patients with high expression of Cdc20 was 21.7% in BPH and 37.7% in
      PCa (P= 0.033). A correlation was revealed between Cdc20 expression and
      postoperative Gleason scores (P= 0.046), positive surgical margin (P< 0.001). BCR
      free survival was significantly lower in patients with high Cdc20 expression than
      those with low Cdc20 expression (P= 0.018). Univariate analysis indicated
      pTstage, post operative Gleason score, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node
      invasion, surgical margin and Cdc20 expression significantly influenced BCR.
      Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative Gleason score, seminal vesicle
      invasion, lymph node invasion, surgical margin and Cdc20 expression were
      independent predictors for BCR. After stratified by Gleason score and surgical
      margin status, Cdc20 expression and lymph node invasion remained significant in
      Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of Cdc20 may serve as an
      independent predictor for BCR in patients of clinically localized PCa undergoing
      LRP without neoadjuvant therapy.

PMID- 26889980
TI  - Similar protein expression profiles of ovarian and endometrial high-grade serous
      carcinomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ovarian and endometrial high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) have
      similar clinical and pathological characteristics; however, exhaustive protein
      expression profiling of these cancers has yet to be reported. METHODS: We
      performed protein expression profiling on 14 cases of HGSCs (7 ovarian and 7
      endometrial) and 18 endometrioid carcinomas (9 ovarian and 9 endometrial) using
      iTRAQ-based exhaustive and quantitative protein analysis. RESULTS: We identified
      828 tumour-expressed proteins and evaluated the statistical similarity of protein
      expression profiles between ovarian and endometrial HGSCs using unsupervised
      hierarchical cluster analysis (P<0.01). Using 45 statistically highly expressed
      proteins in HGSCs, protein ontology analysis detected two enriched terms and
      proteins composing each term: IMP2 and MCM2. Immunohistochemical analyses
      confirmed the higher expression of IMP2 and MCM2 in ovarian and endometrial HGSCs
      as well as in tubal and peritoneal HGSCs than in endometrioid carcinomas
      (P<0.01). The knockdown of either IMP2 or MCM2 by siRNA interference
      significantly decreased the proliferation rate of ovarian HGSC cell line
      (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the statistical similarity of the protein
      expression profiles of ovarian and endometrial HGSC beyond the organs. We suggest
      that increased IMP2 and MCM2 expression may underlie some of the rapid HGSC
      growth observed clinically.

PMID- 26889982
TI  - An insertion/deletion polymorphism in the interleukin-1A 3'untranslated region
      confers risk for gastric cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the insertion/deletion
      polymorphism (rs3783553) locating in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTRs) of IL-1A
      was related to the risk of gastric cancer (GC) in a Chinese population and
      explore the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from
      peripheral venous blood of 519 GC patients and 536 healthy control individuals.
      The IL-1A rs3783553 polymorphism was genotyped by using a polymerase chain
      reaction assay. The vectors containing the insertion or deletion allele were
      constructed, and luciferase assay was used to detect the effect of the
      polymorphism on the transcriptional activity of IL-1A. RESULTS: Strong evidence
      of association was observed between the IL-1A rs3783553 polymorphism and
      susceptibility to GC in the study. In addition, the 'TTCA' insertion allele of
      rs3783553 disrupts the binding site for miR-122 and miR-378, thereby increasing
      transcription of IL-1alpha in vitro. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that
      functional polymorphism rs3783553 in IL-1A could contribute to GC susceptibility,
      possibly or at least partially through affecting the transcriptional activity of
      IL-1A.

PMID- 26889983
TI  - MicroRNAs contribution in tumor microenvironment of esophageal cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: miRNAs have recently been implicated in tumor's microenvironment
      remodeling and tumor-stromal cells interactions. We have previously reported a
      signaling role for miR-21, as a secretory molecule released by cancer associated
      fibroblasts (CAF) adjacent to esophagus tumor cells. OBJECTIVE: To discover other
      potential signaling miRNAs, we employed a co-culture system of esophageal cancer
      cell line and normal fibroblasts to mimic the tumor microenvironment. METHODS: We
      measured the expression profile of secretory miRNAs in the conditioned media (CM)
      of our co-culture system using a panel PCR array. We used pathway enrichment
      analysis to define potential pathways regulated by these miRNAs. Then using
      ultracentrifugation, we purified exosomes secreted to the CM of co-cultured cell
      lines and evaluated exosomal secretion of these miRNAs. RESULTS: We found 18
      miRNAs which were significantly up/down-regulated in the CM of co-culture system.
      Pathways related to cell adhesion, endocytosis and cell junctions were among the
      enriched pathways that might be related to CAF phenotype and tumor progression.
      Moreover, we detected higher exosomal levels of miR-33a and miR-326 in the
      purified exosomes both in co-cultured and untreated CM. So, these miRNAs are
      mainly secreted into the CM by means of exosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Briefly, our data
      shed more light on the role of CAFs through secretion of miRNAs within tumor
      microenvironment and propose novel therapeutic targets for esophageal and
      probably other cancer types.

PMID- 26889984
TI  - Novel mutations of PIK3CA gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: HNSCC is the sixth most common human cancer globally. In Saudi
      Arabia, HNSCC accounts for seven percent of all newly diagnosed cancer cases. The
      PIK3CA is one of the most commonly mutated oncogene in human malignancies,
      including HNSCC. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify mutations
      in exon 9 and exon 20 of the PIK3CA gene among Saudi HNSCC patients, determine
      the frequency of these mutations and correlate with clinical and pathological
      findings. METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed paraffin embedded HNSCC tumor
      tissues from 48 patients were obtained. Capillary sequencing method was used to
      sequence exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene. Concurrently, the expression analysis
      of the PIK3CA and PTEN genes were performed using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Sixty
      percent of the samples studied were of pharyngeal cancer. A total of seven
      mutations were identified in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene in 14 HNSCC tumor
      tissue specimens. The seven mutations encompassed one hot spot mutation E542K, a
      common mutation T1025T and the five novel mutation comprising three missense and
      two silent mutations. Interestingly, eight out of the 14 samples with a mutation
      were of patients with pharyngeal cancer. CONCLUSION: PIK3CA gene plays a crucial
      role in carcinogenesis in general and HNSCC in particular. The identification of
      five novel mutations suggest that Saudis may have different frequencies of
      somatic genetic alterations that may influence HNSCC compared to other
      populations.

PMID- 26889985
TI  - Sacroiliac Joint Pain and Its Treatment.
AB  - The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) as a source of symptoms has been controversial;
      however, as knowledge about the joint increased, its role as a pain generator in
      patients complaining of symptoms that are often attributed to spinal pathology
      has become better appreciated. The literature reports that the SIJ is the pain
      origin in as many as 30% of patients presenting with low back pain. Clinically,
      the SIJ can be challenging to evaluate; however, assessing pain location, patient
      posture/movement, and provocative manual testing are useful in making the
      presumptive diagnosis of SIJ disruption. The most definitive evaluation is image
      guided injection of anesthetic solutions into the joint which is diagnostic if
      there is at least 75% symptom relief acutely. Treatment begins with nonoperative
      intervention including physical therapy and/or chiropractic care. If these fail,
      the next option is generally radiofrequency denervation (rhizotomy) of the joint.
      If this does not provide adequate relief, surgical intervention, in the form of
      minimally invasive SIJ fusion may be considered. The literature increasingly
      supports favorable results of SIJ fusion in appropriately selected patients. The
      purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current literature on the
      SIJ, with focus on its surgical treatment. 

PMID- 26889986
TI  - Obtuse-angled Laminotomy as a Modification of Multilevel Laminectomy for Spinal
      Cord Decompression.
AB  - The purpose of this note is to describe an obtuse-angled laminotomy of C7 during
      cervical decompression that aims to preserve cervicothoracic junction stability
      and potentially reduce pain. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy can result from
      degenerative cervical spinal disease including, herniated disk material,
      osteophytes, redundant ligamentum flavum, or ossification of the posterior
      longitudinal ligament. Surgical intervention for multilevel myelopathy aims to
      decompress the spinal cord and maintain stability of the cervical spine.
      Multilevel laminectomy is traditionally used when degenerative changes affect 3
      or more levels and when there is primarily dorsal compressive disease.
      Traditional laminectomy can result in instability and kyphosis. The C7 lamina can
      be particularly vulnerable given the location at cervicothoracic junction. We
      describe an obtuse-angled laminotomy for the most caudal lamina in a planned
      decompression. This lamina is left attached to ligamentum nuchea, adjacent
      fascia, and paravertebral muscles. Only the base of spinous process and ventral
      portion of lamina's cortical and cancellous bone are removed in an obtuse angle
      through the opening. This variation is aimed to preserve as much of the cervical
      stability while still achieving the goal of decompression. 

PMID- 26889987
TI  - How High Are Radiation-related Risks in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar
      Interbody Fusion Compared With Traditional Open Surgery?: A Meta-analysis and
      Dose Estimates of Ionizing Radiation.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis and dose estimation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study
      was to estimate radiation dose during minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar
      interbody fusion (MiTLIF) compared with open transforaminal lumbar interbody
      fusion (OTLIF) and evaluate the risk of radiation-related disease. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: MiTLIF was introduced to reduce soft tissue injury and shows
      favorable perioperative outcomes. However, the disadvantage of MiTLIF is that,
      compared with OTLIF, it involves high radiation exposure because MiTLIF usually
      depends on a fluoroscopic guide. The additional cancer risk due to medical
      radiation exposure during the MiTLIF procedure has not yet been assessed.
      METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials in June 2014 for studies directly comparing MiTLIF and OTLIF.
      Patient demographics, fluoroscopy time, intraoperative bleeding, and
      hospitalization period were extracted. The effective dose was converted from
      fluoroscopy time using formulas from prior studies. RESULTS: Eight cohort studies
      with a total of 619 patients were identified. Mean fluoroscopy time was 39.42
      seconds [95% confidence interval (CI), 38.01-40.83] during OTLIF and 94.21
      seconds (95% CI, 91.51-96.91) during MiTLIF according to the meta-analysis. The
      pooled data revealed that patients who underwent MiTLIF were exposed to 2.4-fold
      more radiation than those who underwent OTLIF. Patients who underwent OTLIF and
      MiTLIF were exposed to 0.66 mSv (95% CI, 0.64-0.69) and 1.58 mSv (95% CI, 1.54
      1.63) during the surgery, respectively. The lifetime risk of cancer was
      theoretically increased by 36.4*10 and 87.0*10 after OTLIF and MiTLIF,
      respectively. The risk of detrimental hereditary disorders associated with OTLIF
      and MiTLIF is 1.32*10 and 3.16*10, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who
      underwent MiTLIF were exposed to 2.4-fold more radiation than those who underwent
      OTLIF. Although the theoretical cancer risk associated with radiation exposure
      may be tolerable, stochastic effects should not be disregarded.

PMID- 26889988
TI  - Understanding Time-driven Activity-based Costing.
AB  - Transitioning to a value-based health care system will require providers to
      increasingly scrutinize their outcomes and costs. Although there has been a great
      deal of effort to understand outcomes, cost accounting in health care has been a
      greater challenge. Currently the cost accounting methods used by hospitals and
      providers are based off a fee-for-service system. As resources become
      increasingly scarce and the health care system attempts to understand which
      services provide the greatest value, it will be critically important to
      understand the true costs of delivering a service. An understanding of the true
      costs of a particular service will help providers make smarter decisions on how
      to allocate and utilize resources as well as determine which activities are
      nonvalue added. Achieving value will require providers to have a greater focus on
      accurate outcome data as well as better methods of cost accounting. 

PMID- 26889990
TI  - Long-term Outcome After Monosegmental L4/5 Stabilization for Degenerative
      Spondylolisthesis With the Dynesys Device.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical data.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term outcome of patients with monosegmental L4/5
      degenerative spondylolisthesis treated with the dynamic Dynesys device. SUMMARY
      OF BACKGROUND DATA: The Dynesys system has been used as a semirigid, lumbar
      dorsal pedicular stabilization device since 1994. Good short-term results have
      been reported, but little is known about the long-term outcome after treatment
      for degenerative spondylolisthesis at the L4/5 level. METHODS: A total of 39
      consecutive patients with symptomatic degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis at
      the L4/5 level were treated with bilateral decompression and Dynesys
      instrumentation. At a mean follow-up of 7.2 years (range, 5.0-11.2 y), they
      underwent clinical and radiographic evaluation and quality of life assessment.
      RESULTS: At final follow-up, back pain improved in 89% and leg pain improved in
      86% of patients compared with preoperative status. Eighty-three percent of
      patients reported global subjective improvement. Ninety-two percent would undergo
      the surgery again. Eight patients (21%) required further surgery because of
      symptomatic adjacent segment disease (6 cases), late-onset infection (1 case),
      and screw breakage (1 case). In 9 cases, radiologic progression of
      spondylolisthesis at the operated segment was found. Seventy-four percent of
      operated segments showed limited flexion-extension range of <4 degrees. Adjacent
      segment pathology, although without clinical correlation, was diagnosed at the
      L5/S1 (17.9%) and L3/4 (28.2%) segments. In 4 cases, asymptomatic screw loosening
      was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Monosegmental Dynesys instrumentation of degenerative
      spondylolisthesis at L4/5 shows good long-term results. The rate of secondary
      surgeries is comparable to other dorsal instrumentation devices. Residual range
      of motion in the stabilized segment is reduced, and the rate of radiologic and
      symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration is low. Patient satisfaction is high.
      Dynesys stabilization of symptomatic L4/5 degenerative spondylolisthesis is a
      possible alternative to other stabilization devices.

PMID- 26889989
TI  - Three-Dimensional Isotropic MRI of the Cervical Spine: A Diagnostic Comparison
      With Conventional MRI.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective diagnostic trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine the
      diagnostic performance of 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo (3D-TSE) isotropic
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of cervical spine pathology.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MRI is the imaging modality of choice for many
      cervical spine pathologies. However, axial imaging may be suboptimal if the image
      plane is oriented differently than the plane of interest, due to lordosis,
      kyphosis, or deformity. 3D-TSE isotropic MRI is a promising novel technology that
      bypasses this limitation by enabling dynamic image reformation in any desired
      orientation. METHODS: Forty-eight patients who underwent 3D-TSE and conventional
      2-dimensional fast spin-echo (2D-FSE) T2-weighted cervical spine MRI at our
      institution were randomly selected. 3D-TSE and 2D-FSE sequences from each subject
      were independently evaluated by 2 orthopedic spine surgeons and 4 musculoskeletal
      radiologists. Images were assessed using specific pilot-tested criteria for
      stenosis, herniation, and degenerative changes. Intermethod, interrater, and
      intrarater agreements for 3D-TSE and 2D-FSE, and Fleiss kappa coefficients were
      determined. RESULTS: The overall intermethod agreement was 80.7%. The interrater
      agreement was 75.9% for 3D-TSE and 75.7% for 2D-FSE (P=0.47). The intrarater
      agreement was 82.2% for 3D-TSE and 81.5% for 2D-FSE (P=0.71). Fleiss kappa
      coefficients were 0.42 for 3D-TSE and 0.43 for 2D-FSE (P=0.62), indicating
      moderate interrater reliability. The intermethod agreement and the 2D-FSE
      intrarater agreement were statistically similar (P=0.49). CONCLUSIONS: There is a
      high degree of agreement between 3D-TSE and 2D-FSE MRI in assessing the cervical
      spine. The intermethod variability was statistically similar to the intrinsic
      intrarater variability of 2D-FSE MRI. This study demonstrates that 3D-TSE yields
      at least equivalent diagnostic information as conventional 2D-FSE in the cervical
      spine. In addition, reviewers noted subjective advantages of 3D-TSE image
      reprocessing, especially when evaluating greater pathology or deformity, with a
      simplified image acquisition process.

PMID- 26889991
TI  - The Biomechanical Properties of Pedicle Screw Fixation Combined With Trajectory
      Bone Cement Augmentation in Osteoporotic Vertebrae.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: The biomechanics of pedicle screw fixation combined with trajectory
      cement augmentation with various filling volumes were measured by pull-out,
      periodic antibending, and compression fatigue tests. OBJECTIVE: To investigate
      the biomechanical properties of the pedicle screw fixation combined with
      trajectory bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate) augmentation in osteoporotic
      vertebrae and to explore the optimum filling volume of the bone cement. SUMMARY
      OF BACKGROUND DATA: Pedicle screw fixation is considered to be the most effective
      posterior fixation method. The decrease of the bone mineral density apparently
      increases the fixation failure risk caused by screw loosening and displacement.
      Trajectory bone cement augmentation has been confirmed to be an effective method
      to increase the bone intensity and could markedly increase the stability of the
      fixation interface. METHODS: Sixteen elderly cadaveric 1-5 lumbar vertebral
      specimens were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The left and right vertebral pedicles
      were alternatively randomized for treatment in all groups, with the contralateral
      pedicles as control. The study groups included: group A (pedicle screw fixation
      with full trajectory bone cement augmentation), group B (75% filling), group C
      (50% filling), and group D (25% filling). Finally, the bone cement leakage and
      dispersion were assessed and the mechanical testing was conducted. RESULTS: The
      bone cement was well dispersed around the pedicle screw. The augmented bone
      intensity, pull-out strength, periodic loading times, and compression fatigue
      performance were markedly higher than those of the control groups. With the
      increase in trajectory bone cement, the leakage was also increased (P<0.05). The
      pull-out strength of the pedicle screw was increased with an increase in bone
      mineral density and trajectory bone cement. It peaked at 75% filling, with the
      largest power consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal filling volume of the bone
      cement was 75% of the trajectory volume (about 1.03 mL). The use of excessive
      bone cement did not increase the fixation intensity but increased the risk of
      leakage.

PMID- 26889992
TI  - Bipolar Sealer Device Reduces Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirements in
      Posterior Spinal Fusion for Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis: A Randomized Control
      Trial.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine the efficacy of bipolar sealer device in reducing perioperative blood
      loss and transfusions in degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients undergoing
      primary posterior spinal fusion. BACKGROUND: It has recently been used
      successfully in pediatric spine surgery, particularly in idiopathic and
      neuromuscular deformities. However, there is a dearth of literature on
      prospective study of the efficacy of bipolar sealer device in reducing
      perioperative blood loss and transfusions in patients undergoing degenerative
      lumbar scoliosis surgery. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive degenerative lumbar
      scoliosis patients who had undergone primary decompression and posterior spinal
      fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation between June 2010 and June 2012 were
      prospectively randomized into 1 of 2 groups according to whether bipolar sealer
      device for intraoperative/postoperative blood management was used or not.
      Demographic distribution, perioperative blood loss, blood transfusion rate, the
      length of stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The
      operation time was significantly shorter in the study group than in the control
      group, 223.4 versus 248.9 minutes (P=0.026). There was significantly lower
      intraoperative estimated blood loss in the bipolar sealer group, 407 versus 696
      mL (P=0.000). Of the patients with the use of bipolar sealer device, the mean red
      blood cell transfusion requirement during hospitalization was significantly less
      than the control group, 0.4 versus 1.1 U/patient (P=0.003). Furthermore,
      significant difference existed in allogenic blood transfusion rate between the 2
      cohorts. Within the study group (with the use of bipolar sealer device), the
      entire perioperative allogenic blood transfusion rate was 18.0% compared with
      40.0% of the control group (P=0.015). There were no complications related
      directly to the use of the bipolar sealer. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of a bipolar
      sealer during correction of lumbar degenerative scoliosis may offer comparable
      hemostatic effects, without prohibitive cost or adverse drug-related risks.

PMID- 26889993
TI  - A Comparison of Zero-Profile Devices and Artificial Cervical Disks in Patients
      With 2 Noncontiguous Levels of Cervical Spondylosis.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized and controlled study of 30 patients with 2
      noncontiguous levels of cervical spondylosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical
      outcome between zero-profile devices and artificial cervical disks for
      noncontiguous cervical spondylosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Noncontiguous
      cervical spondylosis is an especial degenerative disease of the cervical spine.
      Some controversy exists over the choice of surgical procedure and fusion levels
      for it because of the viewpoint that the stress at levels adjacent to a fusion
      mass will increase. The increased stress will lead to the adjacent segment
      degeneration (ASD). According to the viewpoint, the intermediate segment will
      bear more stress after both superior and inferior segments' fusion. Cervical disk
      arthroplasty is an alternative to fusion because of its motion-preserving. Few
      comparative studies have been conducted on arthrodesis with zero-prolife devices
      and arthroplasty with artificial cervical disks for noncontiguous cervical
      spondylosis. METHODS: Thirty patients with 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical
      spondylosis were enrolled and assigned to either group A (receiving arthroplasty
      using artificial cervical disks) and group Z (receiving arthrodesis using zero
      profile devices). The clinical outcomes were assessed by the mean operative time,
      blood loss, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Dysfunction Index
      (NDI), cervical lordosis, fusion rate, and complications. RESULTS: The mean
      follow-up was 32.4 months. There were no significant differences between the 2
      groups in the blood loss, JOA score, NDI score, and cervical lordosis except
      operative time. The mean operative time of group A was shorter than that of group
      Z. Both the 2 groups demonstrated a significant increase in JOA score, NDI score,
      and cervical lordosis. The fusion rate was 100% at 12 months postoperatively in
      group Z. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in
      complications except the ASD. Three patients had radiologic ASD at the final
      follow-up in group Z, and none in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Both zero-prolife devices
      and artificial cervical disks are generally effective and safe in the treatment
      of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical spondylosis. However, in view of occurrence
      of the radiologic ASD and operative time, we prefer to artificial cervical disks
      if indications are well controlled.

PMID- 26889994
TI  - Cost-Utility Analysis of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With Plating
      (ACDFP) Versus Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy (PCF) for Patients With Single
      level Cervical Radiculopathy at 1-Year Follow-up.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective 1-year cost-utility analysis. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine the cost-effectiveness of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with
      plating (ACDFP) in comparison with posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) for
      patients with single-level cervical radiculopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:
      Cervical radiculopathy due to cervical spondylosis is commonly treated by either
      PCF or ACDFP for patients who are refractory to nonsurgical treatment. Although
      some have suggested superior outcomes with ACDFP as compared with PCF, the former
      is also associated with greater costs. The present study analyzes the cost
      effectiveness of ACDFP versus PCF for patients with single-level cervical
      radiculopathy. METHODS: Forty-five patients who underwent ACDFP and 25 patients
      who underwent PCF for single-level cervical radiculopathy were analyzed. One-year
      postoperative health outcomes were assessed based on Visual Analogue Scale, Pain
      Disability Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, and EuroQOL-5 Dimensions
      questionnaires to analyze the comparative effectiveness of each procedure. Direct
      medical costs were estimated using Medicare national payment amounts and indirect
      costs were based on patient missed work days and patient income. Postoperative 1
      year cost/utility ratios and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were
      calculated to assess for cost-effectiveness using a threshold of $100,000/QALY
      gained. RESULTS: The 1-year cost-utility ratio for the PCF cohort was
      significantly lower ($79,856/QALY gained) than that for the ACDFP cohort
      ($131,951/QALY gained) (P<0.01). In calculating the 1-year ICER, as the ACDFP
      cohort showed lower QALY gained than the PCF cohort, the ICER was negative and is
      not reported, meaning that ACDFP was dominated by PCF. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically
      significant and clinically relevant improvements (through minimum clinically
      important differences) were seen in both cohorts. Although both cohorts showed
      improved health outcomes, ACDFP was not cost-effective relative to the threshold
      of $100,000/QALY gained at 1-year postoperatively, whereas PCF was. The
      durability of these results must be analyzed with long-term cost-utility analysis
      studies.

PMID- 26889995
TI  - Early Clinical Outcomes and Radiographic Features After Treatment of Cervical
      Degenerative Disk Disease With the New Zero-Profile Implant: A 1-Year Follow-up
      Retrospective Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 52 patients who underwent anterior cervical
      fusion with the new implant. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical outcomes and
      complications of the new implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and
      evaluate the radiographic features in the treatment of cervical degenerative
      diseases. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although high fusion rates can be achieved
      with the anterior cervical plate, plate-related morbidity affects the patient's
      satisfaction with the surgical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was
      performed in 52 consecutive patients who used the new implant at 106 levels. The
      clinical outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using the
      visual analog scale score for neck and arm pain and the Japanese Orthopedic
      Association and ASIA motor score for myelopathy preoperatively and
      postoperatively. The cervical curvature, the segment height, and fusion status
      were assessed on radiographs during a mean 12-month follow-up period. RESULTS:
      There was statistically significant difference in perioperative neck and arm
      visual analog scale pain score. The preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association
      and ASIA motor scores were significantly lower than those before surgery
      (P<0.05), and this difference was maintained at the last follow-up. The
      occurrence of dysphagia was 11.5%, which was significantly lower than that
      reported in the previous literature. There was significant difference in lordosis
      before and after surgery (10.9+/-12.2 vs. 23.7+/-11.3, P<0.01) in the
      trisegmental group. The anterior disk height and interbody height of targeting
      segments increased from preoperative 5.1+/-1.56 and 31.9+/-3.43 to postoperative
      9.1+/-1.02 and 36.7+/-2.44, respectively. Firm fusion was observed in all
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigations suggest that this new implant
      facilitates anterior cervical surgery with satisfactory clinical outcomes and a
      low rate of dysphagia. Our study has demonstrated that this new implant is able
      to restore and maintain physiological lordosis and segment height of the cervical
      spine postoperatively.

PMID- 26889996
TI  - Cost-Utility Analysis of Instrumented Fusion Versus Decompression Alone for Grade
      I L4-L5 Spondylolisthesis at 1-Year Follow-up: A Pilot Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective 1-year cost-utility analysis. OBJECTIVE: To determine
      the cost-effectiveness of decompression with and without instrumented fusion for
      patients with grade I degenerative L4-L5 spondylolisthesis at 1-year follow-up.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite its benefits to health outcomes, lumbar
      fusion is associated with substantial costs. This study analyzed the cost
      effectiveness of instrumented fusion for grade I L4-L5 spondylolisthesis at 1
      year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four cohorts of 25 patients with grade I
      L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis were analyzed: cohort 1 (decompression),
      cohort 2 (decompression with instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF), cohort 3
      (decompression with instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion/transforaminal
      lumbar interbody fusion), and cohort 4 (decompression with instrumented PLF and
      posterior lumbar interbody fusion/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion). One
      year postoperative health outcomes were assessed based on Visual Analogue Scale,
      Pain Disability Questionnaire, and EuroQol 5 Dimensions questionnaires. Direct
      medical costs were estimated using Medicare national payment amounts and indirect
      costs were based on patient missed work days. Postoperative 1-year cost/utility
      ratios and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. Cost
      effectiveness was assessed using a threshold of $100,000/QALY gained. RESULTS:
      Compared with preoperative health states, EuroQol 5 Dimensions QALY scores
      improved for all cohorts (P<0.01). The 1-year cost-utility ratio for cohort 1 was
      significantly lower ($56,610/QALY gained; P<0.01) than that for cohorts 2
      ($116,991/QALY gained), 3 ($109,740/QALY gained), and 4 ($107,546/QALY gained).
      The 1-year ICERs relative to cohort 1 were: cohort 2 (dominated), cohort 3
      ($1,060,549/QALY gained), and cohort 4 ($830,047/QALY gained). CONCLUSIONS:
      Decompression without fusion is cost-effective for patients with grade I L4-L5
      spondylolisthesis. Decompression with fusion is not cost effective in a 1-year
      timeframe for these patients based on the threshold. Accordingly, although fusion
      is beneficial for improving health outcomes in patients with spondylolisthesis,
      it is not cost-effective when analyzing a 1-year timeframe based on the
      threshold. The durability of these results must be analyzed with longer term cost
      utility analysis studies.

PMID- 26889997
TI  - Radiographic Restoration of Sagittal Spinopelvic Alignment After Posterior Lumbar
      Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to analyze
      the changes in spinopelvic parameters after surgical correction of degenerative
      spondylolisthesis and to determine which deformity is most responsible for
      changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The basic
      deformities of degenerative spondylolisthesis are forward slippage of the
      vertebral body, segmental kyphotic angle, and loss of disk height. Correction of
      those deformities during surgery will subsequently affect the spinopelvic
      parameters. A few studies have reported the changes of sagittal spinopelvic
      alignment after surgical treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis. However, there
      appears to be relatively little information regarding degenerative
      spondylolisthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients with L4-L5
      degenerative spondylolisthesis were included. All patients underwent posterior
      lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation. Back pain, as the clinical
      outcome, was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). The preoperative and
      postoperative spinopelvic parameters, including sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt
      (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), and L1 axis S1 distance were measured, and then the
      correlations between spinopelvic parameters and local deformity parameters such
      as slip degree, slip angle (SA), and height of the intervertebral disk were
      evaluated. RESULTS: After surgical correction of local deformity, all spinopelvic
      parameters changed subsequently: PT and L1 axis S1 distance had a decrease, SS
      and LL had an increase. VAS score decreased from 6.1+/-2.3 before surgery to
      2.4+/-1.7 at the final follow-up assessment. Patients with VAS score changes >=3
      showed significantly higher SS and LL, and lower PT compared with those with VAS
      score changes <3. Among deformity parameters, restoration of the SA revealed
      significant correlation with improvement of LL (r=0.32, P=0.02), increase of SS
      (r=0.29, P=0.03), and decrease of PT (r=-0.29, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical
      correction of degenerative spondylolisthesis with posterior lumbar interbody
      fusion and posterior instrumentation resulted in relief of back pain, which may
      be associated with improvement of sagittal spinopelvic alignment. Surgeons should
      consider deformity parameters, especially the SA, in the surgical treatment of
      degenerative spondylolisthesis.

PMID- 26889999
TI  - Indications and Techniques for Spinal Instrumentation in Thoracic Disk Surgery.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To identify the indications,
      techniques, and outcomes for instrumented fusion during thoracic discectomy.
      SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Thoracic discectomy may require extensive bone
      removal to avoid spinal cord manipulation, but the indications and techniques for
      instrumented fusion during thoracic discectomy remain poorly delineated. METHODS:
      The authors identified 220 consecutive patients who underwent thoracic discectomy
      between 1992 and 2012. Clinical and radiographic variables were compared between
      patients who underwent instrumented fusion and patients without instrumentation,
      and among surgical approaches utilized for discectomy. RESULTS: Patient age for
      the entire cohort averaged 49+/-13.01 years, and mean clinical follow-up was 45
      months (range, 1-218 mo). Patients underwent 226 thoracic discectomy procedures,
      including 48 thoracotomy, 136 thoracoscopy, and 42 posterolateral approaches.
      Seventy-eight patients required instrumented fusion and, compared with patients
      without instrumentation, were more likely to present with myelopathy (P<0.0001)
      and harbor giant (P=0.0012), calcified (P=0.019), or transdural (P=0.0004)
      herniated disks. Surgery with instrumentation resulted in greater blood loss
      (P<0.0001), longer hospital stay (P<0.0001), and a higher complication rate (22%
      vs. 9.9%), yet patients in both cohorts had similar rates of symptom resolution
      postoperatively. Of the patients who underwent thoracic discectomy without
      instrumentation, 3 (2.1%) developed delayed deformity or instability and required
      subsequent surgery for fixation and fusion at an average 6.3 months
      postoperatively (range, 4-8 mo). Patients who underwent instrumented fusion
      exhibited no nonunions or delayed deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic discectomy
      without fixation is a reasonable clinical option in carefully selected patients,
      but instrumented fusion is safe and effective in other patients. Indications for
      fixation and fusion are thus proposed.

PMID- 26889998
TI  - Increased Preoperative Narcotic Use and Its Association With Postoperative
      Complications and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort analysis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of
      preoperative narcotic use on the incidence of 30- and 90-day postoperative
      complications, as well as length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients undergoing
      spine surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous work has associated an
      increased incidence of complications and length of stay following surgery in
      patients with increased preoperative narcotic use. Despite this and recent
      national attention highlighting the negative effects of narcotics, they remain
      commonly used for the management of pain in patients undergoing spine surgery.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 583 patients undergoing spine surgery for a
      structural lesion were evaluated. Self-reported preoperative narcotic consumption
      was obtained and converted to morphine equivalents at the initial preoperative
      visit. LOS was recorded upon discharge and presence/type of a postoperative
      complication within 30/90 days was obtained. A multivariable logistic and linear
      regression analysis was performed for the incidence of complications and length
      of stay controlling for clinically important covariates. RESULTS: Narcotic use
      was not associated with 30- or 90-day complications; however, smoking status was
      significantly associated with 30-day complications. Increased preoperative
      narcotic use was significantly associated with increased LOS, as was age, type of
      surgery, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Increased preoperative narcotic use and
      depression are associated with increased LOS in patients undergoing spine
      surgery. We calculated that for every 100 morphine equivalents a patient is
      taking preoperatively; their stay is extended 1.1 days. Narcotic use was not
      associated with 30- or 90-day postoperative complications. As reimbursement is
      bundled before surgery, providing interventions for patients with treatable
      causes for increased length of stay can save cost overall.

PMID- 26890001
TI  - Cost-Effectiveness of Combined Sexual and Injection Risk Reduction Interventions
      among Female Sex Workers Who Inject Drugs in Two Very Distinct Mexican Border
      Cities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of combined single session brief
      behavioral intervention, either didactic or interactive (Mujer Mas Segura, MMS)
      to promote safer-sex and safer-injection practices among female sex workers who
      inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) in Tijuana (TJ) and Ciudad-Juarez (CJ) Mexico. Data for
      this analysis was obtained from a factorial RCT in 2008-2010 coinciding with
      expansion of needle exchange programs (NEP) in TJ, but not in CJ. METHODS: A
      Markov model was developed to estimate the incremental cost per quality adjusted
      life year gained (QALY) over a lifetime time frame among a hypothetical cohort of
      1,000 FSW-IDUs comparing a less intensive didactic vs. a more intensive
      interactive format of the MMS, separately for safer sex and safer injection
      combined behavioral interventions. The costs for antiretroviral therapy was not
      included in the model. We applied a societal perspective, a discount rate of 3%
      per year and currency adjusted to US$2014. A multivariate sensitivity analysis
      was performed. The combined and individual components of the MMS interactive
      behavioral intervention were compared with the didactic formats by calculating
      the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER), defined as incremental unit of
      cost per additional health benefit (e.g., HIV/STI cases averted, QALYs) compared
      to the next least costly strategy. Following guidelines from the World Health
      Organization, a combined strategy was considered highly cost-effective if the
      incremental cost per QALY gained fell below the gross domestic product per capita
      (GDP) in Mexico (equivalent to US$10,300). FINDINGS: For CJ, the mixed
      intervention approach of interactive safer sex/didactic safer injection had an
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$4,360 ($310-$7,200) per QALY
      gained compared with a dually didactic strategy. Using the dually interactive
      strategy had an ICER of US$5,874 ($310-$7,200) compared with the mixed approach.
      For TJ, the combination of interactive safer sex/didactic safer injection had an
      ICER of US$5,921 ($104-$9,500) per QALY compared with dually didactic. Strategies
      using the interactive safe injection intervention were dominated due to lack of
      efficacy advantage. The multivariate sensitivity analysis showed a 95% certainty
      that in both CJ and TJ the ICER for the mixed approach (interactive safer sex
      didactic safer injection intervention) was less than the GDP per capita for
      Mexico. The dual interactive approach met this threshold consistently in CJ, but
      not in TJ. INTERPRETATION: In the absence of an expanded NEP in CJ, the combined
      interactive formats of the MMS behavioral intervention is highly cost-effective.
      In contrast, in TJ where NEP expansion suggests that improved access to sterile
      syringes significantly reduced injection-related risks, the interactive safer-sex
      combined didactic safer-injection was highly cost-effective compared with the
      combined didactic versions of the safer-sex and safer-injection formats of the
      MMS, with no added benefit from the interactive safer-injection component.

PMID- 26890000
TI  - Copper Nanoparticles and Copper Sulphate Induced Cytotoxicity in Hepatocyte
      Primary Cultures of Epinephelus coioides.
AB  - Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) were widely used in various industrial and
      commercial applications. The aim of this study was to analyze the cytotoxicity of
      Cu-NPs on primary hepatocytes of E.coioides compared with copper sulphate
      (CuSO4). Cultured cells were exposed to 0 or 2.4 mg Cu L-1 as CuSO4or Cu-NPs for
      24-h. Results showed either form of Cu caused a dramatic loss in cell viability,
      more so in the CuSO4 than Cu-NPs treatment. Compared to control, either CuSO4 or
      Cu-NPs significantly increased reactive oxygen species(ROS) and
      malondialdehyde(MDA) concentration in hepatocytes by overwhelming total
      superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, catalase(CAT) activity and
      glutathione(GSH) concentration. In addition, the antioxidative-related genes [SOD
      (Cu/Zn), SOD (Mn), CAT, GPx4] were also down-regulated. The apoptosis and
      necrosis percentage was significantly higher after the CuSO4 or Cu-NPs treatment
      than the control. The apoptosis was induced by the increased cytochrome c
      concentration in the cytosol and elevated caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9
      activities. Additionally, the apoptosis-related genes (p53, p38beta and TNF
      alpha) and protein (p53 protein) were up-regulated after the CuSO4 or Cu-NPs
      treatment, with CuSO4 exposure having a greater effect than Cu-NPs. In
      conclusion, Cu-NPs had similar types of toxic effects as CuSO4 on primary
      hepatocytes of E.coioides, but toxicity of CuSO4 was more severe than that of Cu
      NPs. 

PMID- 26890002
TI  - Role of UBIAD1 in Intracellular Cholesterol Metabolism and Vascular Cell
      Calcification.
AB  - Vascular calcification is an important risk factor associated with mortality
      among patients with chronic kidney disease. Intracellular cholesterol metabolism
      is involved in the process of vascular cell calcification. In this study, we
      investigated the role of UbiA prenyltransferase domain containing 1 (UBIAD1) in
      intracellular cholesterol metabolism and vascular cell calcification, and
      identified its subcellular location. Primary human umbilical vein smooth muscle
      cells (HUVSMCs) were incubated with either growth medium (1.4 mmol/L Pi) or
      calcification medium (CM) (3.0 mmol/L Pi). Under treatment with CM, HUVSMCs were
      further incubated with exogenous cholesterol, or menaquinone-4, a product of
      UBIAD1. The plasmid and small interfering RNA were transfected in HUVSMCs to
      alter the expression of UBIAD1. Matrix calcium quantitation, alkaline phosphatase
      activity, intracellular cholesterol level and menaquinone-4 level were measured.
      The expression of several genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were analyzed.
      Using an anti-UBIAD1 antibody, an endoplasmic reticulum marker and a Golgi
      marker, the subcellular location of UBIAD1 in HUVSMCs was analyzed. CM increased
      matrix calcium, alkaline phosphatase activity and intracellular cholesterol
      level, and reduced UBIAD1 expression and menaquinone-4 level. Addition of
      cholesterol contributed to increased matrix calcification and alkaline
      phosphatase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Elevated expression of UBIAD1 or
      menaquinone-4 in HUVSMCs treated with CM significantly reduced intracellular
      cholesterol level, matrix calcification and alkaline phosphatase activity, but
      increased menaquinone-4 level. Elevated expression of UBIAD1 or menaquinone-4
      reduced the gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2, and
      increased gene expression of ATP binding cassette transporters A1, which are in
      charge of cholesterol synthesis and efflux. UBIAD1 co-localized with the
      endoplasmic reticulum marker and the Golgi marker in HUVSMCs. In conclusion, high
      intracellular cholesterol content contributes to phosphate-induced vascular cell
      differentiation and calcification. UBIAD1 or menaquinone-4 could decrease
      vascular cell differentiation and calcification, probably via its potent role of
      inversely modulating cellular cholesterol. 

PMID- 26890003
TI  - The Potential Biomarkers to Identify the Development of Steatosis in
      Hyperuricemia.
AB  - Hyperuricemia (HU) often progresses to combine with non-alcoholic fatty liver
      disease (NAFLD) in the clinical scenario, which further exacerbates metabolic
      disorders; early detection of biomarkers, if obtained during the HU progression,
      may be beneficial for preventing its combination with NAFLD. This study aimed to
      decipher the biomarkers and mechanisms of the development of steatosis in HU.
      Four groups of subjects undergoing health screening, including healthy subjects,
      subjects with HU, subjects with HU combined with NAFLD (HU+NAFLD) and subjects
      with HU initially and then with HU+NAFLD one year later (HU->HU+NAFLD), were
      recruited in this study. The metabolic profiles of all subjects' serum were
      analyzed by liquid chromatography quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The
      metabolomic data from subjects with HU and HU+NAFLD were compared, and the
      biomarkers for the progression from HU to HU+NAFLD were predicted. The
      metabolomic data from HU->HU+NAFLD subjects were collected for further
      verification. The results showed that the progression was associated with
      disturbances of phospholipase metabolism, purine nucleotide degradation and Liver
      X receptor/retinoic X receptor activation as characterized by up-regulated
      phosphatidic acid, cholesterol ester (18:0) and down-regulated inosine. These
      metabolic alterations may be at least partially responsible for the development
      of steatosis in HU. This study provides a new paradigm for better understanding
      and further prevention of disease progression. 

PMID- 26890005
TI  - A comprehensive review of the epidemiology and disease burden of Influenza B in 9
      European countries.
AB  - This review was undertaken to consolidate information on the epidemiology and
      burden of influenza B, as well as the circulation patterns of influenza B lineage
      in 9 European countries. Following a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and
      gray literature sources, we found that published data on influenza B epidemiology
      and burden are scarce. Surveillance data show frequent co-circulation of both
      influenza B lineages during influenza seasons, but little is known about its
      impact, especially in adults and the clinical burden of influenza B remains
      unknown. Mismatch between the circulating influenza B lineage and vaccine
      recommendations has been seen in at least one influenza season in every country.
      Such observations could impact the effectiveness of seasonal influenza
      vaccination programs using trivalent vaccines, which contain only one influenza B
      lineage (B/Yamagata or B/Victoria) and highlight the need for local studies to
      better understand the epidemiology and burden of influenza B in these countries.

PMID- 26890007
TI  - State-of-the-Art Treatment and Novel Agents in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
AB  - Chemoimmunotherapy is the established first-line treatment of patients with
      chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who do not display the high-risk genetic
      features del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation: Physically fit patients without or with
      only mild comorbidities should receive fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and
      rituximab, while bendamustine and rituximab can be considered in fit elderly
      patients of over 65 years and in patients with a higher risk of infections.
      Patients with relevant coexisting conditions should receive chlorambucil with a
      CD20 antibody, preferably obinutuzumab. Patients with a del(17p) and/or TP53
      mutation respond poorly to conventional chemo(immuno)therapies. However, the
      recently approved BTK and PI3K inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib have the best
      efficacy ever documented in patients with these high-risk genomic alterations
      and/or refractory CLL. The choice between ibrutinib and idelalisib should be
      based on the patients' comorbidities and concomitant medications since both
      agents have a distinct toxicity profile, although they are generally well
      tolerated in the majority of patients. For treatment of patients with a late
      relapse, chemoimmunotherapy instead of kinase inhibitors is still a reasonable
      approach, but has to be determined for every patient individually. Further
      targeted drugs and their combinations are currently being evaluated in clinical
      trials and have the potential to eradicate all residual CLL cells and thus lead
      to a cure of CLL. 

PMID- 26890006
TI  - Clinical Nomograms to Predict Stone-Free Rates after Shock-Wave Lithotripsy:
      Development and Internal-Validation.
AB  - PURPOSE: Shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) is accepted as the first line treatment
      modality for uncomplicated upper urinary tract stones; however, validated
      prediction models with regards to stone-free rates (SFRs) are still needed. We
      aimed to develop nomograms predicting SFRs after the first and within the third
      session of SWL. Computed tomography (CT) information was also modeled for
      constructing nomograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2006 to December 2013,
      3028 patients were treated with SWL for ureter and renal stones at our three
      tertiary institutions. Four cohorts were constructed: Total-development, Total
      validation, CT-development, and CT-validation cohorts. The nomograms were
      developed using multivariate logistic regression models with selected significant
      variables in a univariate logistic regression model. A C-index was used to assess
      the discrimination accuracy of nomograms and calibration plots were used to
      analyze the consistency of prediction. RESULTS: The SFR, after the first and
      within the third session, was 48.3% and 68.8%, respectively. Significant
      variables were sex, stone location, stone number, and maximal stone diameter in
      the Total-development cohort, and mean Hounsfield unit (HU) and grade of
      hydronephrosis (HN) were additional parameters in the CT-development cohort. The
      C-indices were 0.712 and 0.723 for after the first and within the third session
      of SWL in the Total-development cohort, and 0.755 and 0.756, in the CT
      development cohort, respectively. The calibration plots showed good
      correspondences. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed and validated nomograms to predict
      SFR after SWL. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first graphical
      nomograms to be modeled with CT information. These may be useful for patient
      counseling and treatment decision-making.

PMID- 26890004
TI  - Gbeta Regulates Coupling between Actin Oscillators for Cell Polarity and
      Directional Migration.
AB  - For directional movement, eukaryotic cells depend on the proper organization of
      their actin cytoskeleton. This engine of motility is made up of highly dynamic
      nonequilibrium actin structures such as flashes, oscillations, and traveling
      waves. In Dictyostelium, oscillatory actin foci interact with signals such as Ras
      and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) to form protrusions. However,
      how signaling cues tame actin dynamics to produce a pseudopod and guide cellular
      motility is a critical open question in eukaryotic chemotaxis. Here, we
      demonstrate that the strength of coupling between individual actin oscillators
      controls cell polarization and directional movement. We implement an inducible
      sequestration system to inactivate the heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gbeta and
      find that this acute perturbation triggers persistent, high-amplitude cortical
      oscillations of F-actin. Actin oscillators that are normally weakly coupled to
      one another in wild-type cells become strongly synchronized following acute
      inactivation of Gbeta. This global coupling impairs sensing of internal cues
      during spontaneous polarization and sensing of external cues during directional
      motility. A simple mathematical model of coupled actin oscillators reveals the
      importance of appropriate coupling strength for chemotaxis: moderate coupling can
      increase sensitivity to noisy inputs. Taken together, our data suggest that Gbeta
      regulates the strength of coupling between actin oscillators for efficient
      polarity and directional migration. As these observations are only possible
      following acute inhibition of Gbeta and are masked by slow compensation in
      genetic knockouts, our work also shows that acute loss-of-function approaches can
      complement and extend the reach of classical genetics in Dictyostelium and likely
      other systems as well. 

PMID- 26890008
TI  - Exciton and charge carrier dynamics in few-layer WS2.
AB  - Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been applied as the
      active layer in photodetectors and solar cells, displaying substantial charge
      photogeneration yields. However, their large exciton binding energy, which
      increases with decreasing thickness (number of layers), as well as the strong
      resonance peaks in the absorption spectra suggest that excitons are the primary
      photoexcited states. Detailed time-domain studies of the photoexcitation dynamics
      in TMDs exist mostly for MoS2. Here, we use femtosecond optical spectroscopy to
      study the exciton and charge dynamics following impulsive photoexcitation in few
      layer WS2. We confirm excitons as the primary photoexcitation species and find
      that they dissociate into charge pairs with a time constant of about 1.3 ps. The
      better separation of the spectral features compared to MoS2 allows us to resolve
      a previously undetected process: these charges diffuse through the samples and
      get trapped at defects, such as flake edges or grain boundaries, causing an
      appreciable change of their transient absorption spectra. This finding opens the
      way to further studies of traps in TMD samples with different defect contents. 

PMID- 26890009
TI  - A relapsed aggressive NK-cell leukemia with CNS involvement diagnosed by
      cerebrospinal fluid examination.

PMID- 26890010
TI  - Oxygen-binding Protein Fiber and Microgel: Supramolecular Myoglobin
      Poly(acrylate) Conjugates.
AB  - A supramolecular conjugate of myoglobin (Mb) and water-soluble poly(acrylate),
      (PA5k and PA25k , where 5k and 25k represent the molecular weight of the
      polymers, respectively), is constructed on the basis of a noncovalent heme-heme
      pocket interaction. The modified heme with an amino group linked to the terminus
      of one of the heme-propionates is coupled to the side-chain carboxyl groups of
      poly(acrylate) activated by N-hydroxysuccinimide. The ratios of the heme-modified
      monomer unit and the unmodified monomer unit (m:n) in the polymer chains of Heme
      PA5k and Heme-PA25k were determined to be 4.5:95.5 and 3.1:96.9, respectively.
      Subsequent addition of apoMb to the conjugated polymers provides Mb-connected
      fibrous nanostructures confirmed by atomic force microscopy. A mixture of the
      heme-modified polymer and dimeric apomyoglobin as a cross-linker forms a microgel
      in which the reconstituted myoglobin retains its native exogenous ligand binding
      activity. 

PMID- 26890011
TI  - Correlation of clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in Thai women with
      polycystic ovary syndrome.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of clinical
      hyperandrogenism and biochemical hyperandrogenism (hyperandrogenemia) in Thai
      women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study
      was conducted at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. Subjects were 145 women with PCOS
      who were diagnosed in accordance with the revised Rotterdam 2003 criteria and
      registered during January to July 2008. Clinical hyperandrogenism was assessed
      using the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score for hirsutism, the American Academy of
      Dermatology criteria for severity of acne, and the Ludwig scale for androgenic
      alopecia and virilization. Biochemical hyperandrogenism was determined from serum
      concentration of total testosterone (TT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and free
      testosterone (FT). RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 25.5 +/- 6.5 years
      and a body mass index of 26.2 +/- 6.9 kg/m(2) . The most common presenting
      symptom was oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea. The most common expression of clinical
      hyperandrogenism was acne (56.6%). Most of the participants (84.8%) had high
      serum-FT. There was a statistically significant correlation between clinical and
      biochemical hyperandrogenism in the following pairs: hirsutism and FT (r = 0.3, P
      < 0.001); hirsutism and TT (r = 0.26, P < 0.001); and acne and TT (r = 0.26, P =
      0.002). The others had little or no correlations. CONCLUSION: Clinical
      hyperandrogenism is not a good predictor for biochemical hyperandrogenism in Thai
      women with PCOS. A modified Ferriman-Gallwey score cut-off point of 8 has low
      sensitivity but high specificity for hyperandrogenemia; therefore, it is useful
      for the diagnosis but not useful for the exclusion of hyperandrogenemia in Thai
      women with PCOS.

PMID- 26890013
TI  - Aggregation-Induced Emission Active Probe for Light-Up Detection of Anionic
      Surfactants and Wash-Free Bacterial Imaging.
AB  - Anionic surfactants are widely used in daily life and industries, but their
      residues can cause serious damage to the environment. The current detection
      methods for anionic surfactants suffer from various limitations and a new
      detection strategy is highly desirable. Based on 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole
      fluorogen with aggregation-induced emission characteristics, we have developed a
      fluorescent probe HBT-C18 for selective and sensitive detection of anionic
      surfactants. By in situ formation of catanionic aggregates or micelles with
      anionic surfactants, the emission intensity of the HBT-C18 probe can increase
      with increasing keto/enol emission ratio through restriction of intramolecular
      motion and excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer mechanisms. The probe can
      also be used for wash-free imaging of bacteria enveloped by a negatively charged
      outer membrane. The results of this study provide a new strategy for sensitive
      detection of anionic surfactants and wash-free bacterial imaging. 

PMID- 26890014
TI  - Subcutaneous Stimulation as ADD-ON Therapy to Spinal Cord Stimulation Is
      Effective in Treating Low Back Pain in Patients With Failed Back Surgery
      Syndrome: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Suppression of back pain with traditional spinal cord stimulation
      (SCS) in failed back surgery syndrome patients is often insufficient. The
      objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of subcutaneous
      stimulation (SubQ) as ADD-ON therapy to SCS in treating back pain in failed back
      surgery syndrome patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a minimal pain
      score of 50 on a 100 mm visual analog scale for both leg and back pain were
      eligible. If pain reduction after trial SCS was >=50% for the leg but <50% for
      the back, patients received additional SubQ leads and were randomized in a 1:1
      ratio in a study arm with subcutaneous leads switched on (SubQ ADD-ON) and an arm
      with subcutaneous leads switched off (Control). The primary outcome was the
      percentage of the patients, at three months since implantation, with >=50%
      reduction of back pain. RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were treated with SCS for
      leg and back pain. Of these, 52 patients were randomized and allocated to the
      Control group (n = 24) or to the SubQ ADD-ON group (n = 28). The percentage of
      patients with >=50% reduction of back pain was significantly higher in the SubQ
      ADD-ON group (42.9%) compared to the Control group (4.2%). Mean visual analog
      scale for back pain, at three months, was a statistically significant 28.1 mm
      lower in the SubQ ADD-ON group compared to the Control group. CONCLUSION:
      Subcutaneous stimulation as an ADD-ON therapy to SCS is effective in treating
      back pain in failed back surgery syndrome patients where SCS is only effective
      for pain in the leg.

PMID- 26890012
TI  - Acceptability and Feasibility of Human Papilloma Virus Self-Sampling for Cervical
      Cancer Screening.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Women in safety-net institutions are less likely to receive cervical
      cancer screening. Human papilloma virus (HPV) self-sampling is an alternative
      method of cervical cancer screening. We examine the acceptability and feasibility
      of HPV self-sampling among patients and clinic staff in two safety-net clinics in
      Miami. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Haitian and Latina women aged 30-65 years with no
      Pap smear in the past 3 years were recruited. Women were offered HPV self
      sampling or traditional Pap smear screening. The acceptability of HPV self
      sampling among patients and clinic staff was assessed. If traditional screening
      was preferred the medical record was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 180 women were
      recruited (134 Latinas and 46 Haitian). HPV self-sampling was selected by 67%
      women. Among those selecting traditional screening, 22% were not screened 5
      months postrecruitment. Over 80% of women agreed HPV self-sampling was faster,
      more private, easy to use, and would prefer to use again. Among clinic staff, 80%
      agreed they would be willing to incorporate HPV self-sampling into practice.
      CONCLUSIONS: HPV self-sampling was both acceptable and feasible to participants
      and clinic staff and may help overcome barriers to screening.

PMID- 26890015
TI  - Results From the Partnership for Advancement in Neuromodulation Registry: A 24
      Month Follow-Up.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal, clinical outcome study was a multicenter,
      prospective, observational, registry with a 24-month assessment of patients
      implanted with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems for the management of
      chronic pain of the trunk and/or limbs. METHODS: On informed consent and
      institutional review board approval, 614 patients from 39 sites were enrolled
      within 30 days following permanent SCS system implantation. Medication usage,
      patient-reported pain relief (PRP), categorical ratings of pain relief, pain
      disability index scores (PDI), quality of life (QoL), and patient satisfaction
      were assessed at enrollment, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month postimplant. Device
      related adverse events (AEs) were recorded and reported. RESULTS: Across all
      visits, statistically significant improvements were reported on all outcome
      measures. Mean PRP was 58.5% (+/- 26.4) at 3 months, 56.8% (+/- 29.2) at 6
      months, 57.7% (+/- 28.9) at 12 months, 55.6% (+/- 29.8) at 18 months, and 56.3%
      (+/- 30.3) at 24 months. More than 65% of patients at any visit reported a PRP >=
      50%. Mean PDI scores reduced from 46.9 points at baseline to 32.7, 31.8, 31.5,
      32.1, 32.1 points at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (p <= 0.0001), respectively.
      Greater than 76% of patients at any visit were satisfied with their therapy. The
      majority of patients categorized pain relief as excellent or good on a 5-item
      scale and reported overall QoL as greatly improved or improved on a 5-item scale.
      An average of 88% of patients stopped, decreased, or did not change dose of
      narcotics/opioids. The most common AE was diminished or loss of pain relief in
      11.4% of enrolled patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients experienced substantial
      pain relief and a significant improvement in all outcome measures. These results
      further support the safety, efficacy, and sustainability of SCS in clinical
      practice.

PMID- 26890017
TI  - Does Tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation Really Influence the Medial Pain System?

PMID- 26890016
TI  - Sensory Barrage Stimulation in the Treatment of Elbow Spasticity: A Crossover
      Double Blind Randomized Pilot Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using a novel form of multichannel
      electrical stimulation, termed Sensory Barrage Stimulation (SBS) for the
      treatment of spasticity affecting the elbow flexor muscles and to compare this
      with conventional single-channel TENS stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Altogether ten participants with spasticity of the flexor muscles of the elbow of
      Grade 2 or above on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were recruited to this
      crossover double blind randomized trial. The participants received two
      intervention sessions (SBS and TENS), one week apart in a randomized order. Both
      interventions were applied over the triceps brachii on the affected arm for a
      duration of 60 minutes. Spasticity was measured using the MAS. Secondary outcome
      measures were self-reported change in spasticity, measured on a visual analog
      scale (VAS, 0-100), and therapist-rated strength of elbow extension and strength
      of elbow flexion. Measurements were taken immediately before each intervention
      was applied, immediately after the intervention, and one hour after the
      intervention. RESULTS: Immediately after stimulation spasticity showed a
      significant reduction for both TENS and SBS groups assessed by MAS -0.9 +/- 0.2
      vs. -1.1 +/- 0.2 and by VAS -15 +/- 3 vs. -31 +/- 8. For SBS this improvement in
      MAS was still present at one hour after the stimulation, but not for TENS.
      Altogether seven SBS responders and four TENS responders were identified.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility and practicality of applying
      the new concept of SBS. Promising results indicate it causes a reduction in
      spasticity.

PMID- 26890018
TI  - Where motor disability and elite sports science meet.

PMID- 26890019
TI  - Advance care planning matters.

PMID- 26890020
TI  - Fatigue in childhood multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 26890021
TI  - Testing two screening instruments for autism spectrum disorder.

PMID- 26890022
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26890023
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26890024
TI  - Child restraint use and parental perceptions of comfort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Suboptimal child restraint use includes incorrect and/or inappropriate
      restraint use and increases the risk of injury. Comfort has been suggested as an
      important factor impacting on optimal use of restraints by children. This article
      aims to examine the relationships between parent reported comfort and restraint
      misuse and age-appropriate restraint choice. METHODS: This is an analysis of data
      from a cross sectional observation study of child restraint use in New South
      Wales. Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between parent
      reported comfort and restraint misuse and age-appropriate restraint choice.
      RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between either parent-reported
      comfort and restraint misuse or parent-reported comfort and age-appropriate
      restraint choice. CONCLUSIONS: Parent perceptions of comfort of children in child
      restraints do not appear to be associated with incorrect child restraint use or
      age appropriate restraint choice. It is possible that the actual comfort of the
      child may be related to incorrect use but this remains to be tested. Further
      investigation of the relationship between parent-perceived comfort and the actual
      comfort of the child, as well as the impact of child comfort on optimal child
      restraint use is warranted.

PMID- 26890026
TI  - Factors influencing the formation of polybromide monoanions in solutions of ionic
      liquid bromide salts.
AB  - Six different bromide salts - tetraethylammonium bromide ([N2,2,2,2]Br, Br), 1
      ethyl-1-methylpiperidinium bromide ([C2MPip]Br, Br), 1-ethyl-1
      methylpyrrolidinium bromide ([C2MPyrr]Br, Br), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium
      bromide ([C2MIm]Br, Br), 1-ethylpyridinium bromide ([C2Py]Br, Br), and 1-(2
      hydroxyethyl)pyridinium bromide ([C2OHPy]Br, Br) - were studied in regards to
      their capacity to form polybromide monoanion products on addition of molecular
      bromine in acetonitrile solutions. Using complementary spectroscopic and
      computational methods for the examination of tribromide and pentabromide anion
      formation, key factors influencing polybromide sequestration were identified.
      Here, we present criteria for the targeted synthesis of highly efficient bromine
      sequestration agents. 

PMID- 26890025
TI  - 'Well, if the kids can do it, I can do it': older rehabilitation patients'
      experiences of telerehabilitation.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although trials continue to emerge supporting the role
      of telerehabilitation, implementation has been slow. Key users include older
      people living with disabilities who are frequent users of hospital rehabilitation
      services but whose voices are rarely heard. It is unclear whether the use of
      technologies and reduced face-to-face contact is acceptable to these people. We
      report on a qualitative study of community dwelling participants who had received
      a home telerehabilitation programme as an alternative to conventional
      rehabilitation. DESIGN: Thirteen older participants, three spouses and one carer
      were interviewed. All had participated in an individualized therapy programme,
      using a combination of face-to-face and video consults with therapists. The
      programme used 'off-the-shelf' technologies including iPads for videoconferencing
      and electronic FitBitR devices. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim
      and analysed using NVivo software. RESULTS: Thematic analysis resulted in five
      emergent themes: (i) telerehabilitation is convenient; (ii) telerehabilitation
      promotes motivation and self-awareness; (iii) telerehabilitation fosters positive
      therapeutic relationships; (iv) mastering technologies used by younger relatives
      is a valued aspect of telerehabilitation; and (v) Telerehabilitation does not
      replace traditional face-to-face rehabilitation therapies. CONCLUSIONS:
      Participants found telerehabilitation convenient and motivating, coped well with
      the technology and developed positive therapeutic relationships. The learning and
      practice aspects sat well in the context of a rehabilitation programme. The use
      of commercially available technologies may have contributed to respondents' high
      levels of acceptability. The perception of telerehabilitation as complementary to
      in-person care and the expectation of technological support have implications for
      the implementation and delivery of telerehabilitation services to older people.

PMID- 26890027
TI  - From 1D to 3D: Tunable Sub-10 nm Gaps in Large Area Devices.
AB  - Tunable sub-10 nm 1D nanogaps are fabricated based on nanoskiving. The electric
      field in different sized nanogaps is investigated theoretically and
      experimentally, yielding nonmonotonic dependence and an optimized gap-width (5
      nm). 2D nanogap arrays are fabricated to pack denser gaps combining surface
      patterning techniques. Innovatively, 3D multistory nanogaps are built via a
      stacking procedure, processing higher integration, and much improved electric
      field. 

PMID- 26890028
TI  - Correction: PAF Complex Plays Novel Subunit-Specific Roles in Alternative
      Cleavage and Polyadenylation.

PMID- 26890029
TI  - Bark thickness across the angiosperms: more than just fire.
AB  - Global variation in total bark thickness (TBT) is traditionally attributed to
      fire. However, bark is multifunctional, as reflected by its inner living and
      outer dead regions, meaning that, in addition to fire protection, other factors
      probably contribute to TBT variation. To address how fire, climate, and plant
      size contribute to variation in TBT, inner bark thickness (IBT) and outer bark
      thickness (OBT), I sampled 640 species spanning all major angiosperm clades and
      18 sites with contrasting precipitation, temperature, and fire regime. Stem size
      was by far the main driver of variation in thickness, with environment being less
      important. IBT was closely correlated with stem diameter, probably for metabolic
      reasons, and, controlling for size, was thicker in drier and hotter environments,
      even fire-free ones, probably reflecting its water and photosynthate storage
      role. OBT was less closely correlated with size, and was thicker in drier,
      seasonal sites experiencing frequent fires. IBT and OBT covaried loosely and both
      contributed to overall TBT variation. Thickness variation was higher within than
      across sites and was evolutionarily labile. Given high within-site diversity and
      the multiple selective factors acting on TBT, continued study of the different
      drivers of variation in bark thickness is crucial to understand bark ecology.

PMID- 26890030
TI  - Importance of anisotropy in detachment rates for force production and cargo
      transport by a team of motor proteins.
AB  - Many cellular processes are driven by collective forces generated by a team
      consisting of multiple molecular motor proteins. One aspect that has received
      less attention is the detachment rate of molecular motors under mechanical
      force/load. While detachment rate of kinesin motors measured under backward force
      increases rapidly for forces beyond stall-force; this scenario is just reversed
      for non-yeast dynein motors where detachment rate from microtubule decreases,
      exhibiting a catch-bond type behavior. It has been shown recently that yeast
      dynein responds anisotropically to applied load, i.e. detachment rates are
      different under forward and backward pulling. Here, we use computational modeling
      to show that these anisotropic detachment rates might help yeast dynein motors to
      improve their collective force generation in the absence of catch-bond behavior.
      We further show that the travel distance of cargos would be longer if detachment
      rates are anisotropic. Our results suggest that anisotropic detachment rates
      could be an alternative strategy for motors to improve the transport properties
      and force production by the team. 

PMID- 26890031
TI  - Differences in homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) values and insulin levels
      after vitamin D supplementation in healthy men: a double-blind randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - Vitamin D is thought to play a role in glucose metabolism. The aim of the present
      study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers of
      insulin sensitivity and inflammation in men without diabetes with vitamin D
      deficiency/insufficiency. In this 1-year double-blind randomized controlled
      trial, 130 men aged 20-65 years (mean age 47.52 +/- 11.84 years) with serum 25
      hydroxyvitamin D levels <50 nmol/l (mean 38.89 +/- 8.64 nmol/l) were randomized
      to treatment (100 000 IU vitamin D bimonthly) or placebo. Anthropometric
      measurements, demographic questionnaires, and blood indices (fasting glucose,
      insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipids) were collected and repeated
      after 6 and 12 months. The compliance rate was 98.5%. Multivariate models,
      adjusted for baseline levels, age, body mass index, sun exposure, physical
      activity and LDL, showed significant differences in insulin and homeostatic model
      assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values between groups. Levels of
      insulin and HOMA-IR values remained steady during the study period in the
      treatment group but increased by 16% in the control group (p = 0.038 and p =
      0.048, respectively). Vitamin D supplementation administered for 12 months in
      healthy men maintained insulin levels and HOMA-IR values relative to the increase
      in the control group. Further studies are needed to establish the long-term
      effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of diabetes.

PMID- 26890032
TI  - A Simple Method for the Size Controlled Synthesis of Stable Oligomeric Clusters
      of Gold Nanoparticles under Ambient Conditions.
AB  - Reducing dilute aqueous HAuCl4 with sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) under alkaline
      conditions produces 2 to 3 nm diameter nanoparticles. Stable grape-like
      oligomeric clusters of these yellow nanoparticles of narrow size distribution are
      synthesized under ambient conditions via two methods. The delay-time method
      controls the number of subunits in the oligoclusters by varying the time between
      the addition of HAuCl4 to alkaline solution and the subsequent addition of
      reducing agent, NaSCN. The yellow oligoclusters produced range in size from ~3 to
      ~25 nm. This size range can be further extended by an add-on method utilizing
      hydroxylated gold chloride (Na(+)[Au(OH4-x)Clx](-)) to auto-catalytically
      increase the number of subunits in the as-synthesized oligocluster nanoparticles,
      providing a total range of 3 nm to 70 nm. The crude oligocluster preparations
      display narrow size distributions and do not require further fractionation for
      most purposes. The oligoclusters formed can be concentrated >300 fold without
      aggregation and the crude reaction mixtures remain stable for weeks without
      further processing. Because these oligomeric clusters can be concentrated before
      derivatization they allow expensive derivatizing agents to be used economically.
      In addition, we present two models by which predictions of particle size can be
      made with great accuracy.

PMID- 26890034
TI  - A Phytic Acid Induced Super-Amphiphilic Multifunctional 3D Graphene-Based Foam.
AB  - Surfaces with super-amphiphilicity have attracted tremendous interest for
      fundamental and applied research owing to their special affinity to both oil and
      water. It is generally believed that 3D graphenes are monoliths with strongly
      hydrophobic surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a 3D super
      amphiphilic (that is, highly hydrophilic and oleophilic) graphene-based assembly
      in a single-step using phytic acid acting as both a gelator and as a dopant. The
      product shows both hydrophilic and oleophilic intelligence, and this overcomes
      the drawbacks of presently known hydrophobic 3D graphene assemblies. It can
      absorb water and oils alike. The utility of the new material was demonstrated by
      designing a heterogeneous catalytic system through incorporation of a zeolite
      into its amphiphilic 3D scaffold. The resulting bulk network was shown to enable
      efficient epoxidation of alkenes without prior addition of a co-solvent or
      stirring. This catalyst also can be recovered and re-used, thereby providing a
      clean catalytic process with simplified work-up. 

PMID- 26890033
TI  - Protection against oxidative stress by vitamin D in cone cells.
AB  - Photoreceptor degeneration (PD) refers to a group of heterogeneous outer retinal
      dystrophies characterized by the death of photoreceptors. Both oxidative stress
      and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. We investigate whether
      vitamin D has a potential for the treatment of PD by evaluating the anti
      oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory properties of the active form of vitamin
      D3 , 1,alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 , in a mouse cone cell line, 661W. Mouse
      cone cells were treated with H2 O2 or a mixture of H2 O2 and vitamin D; cell
      viability was determined. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in
      treated and untreated cells was measured. The expression of key anti-oxidative
      stress and inflammatory genes in treated and untreated cells was determined.
      Treatment with vitamin D significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS
      production in 661W cells under oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 . H2 O2
      treatment in 661W cells can significantly down-regulate the expression of
      antioxidant genes and up-regulate the expression of neurotoxic cytokines. Vitamin
      D treatment significantly reversed these effects and restored the expression of
      antioxidant genes. Vitamin D treatment also can block H2 O2 induced oxidative
      damages. The data suggested that vitamin D may offer a therapeutic potential for
      patients with PD. 

PMID- 26890035
TI  - Comparison of Surgical Techniques for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in
      Overhead Athletes.
AB  - Several surgical techniques and modifications for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)
      reconstruction have been proposed since this procedure was first performed in
      1974. The goal of these techniques has been restoration of stability to the
      medial elbow with minimal alteration to the surrounding anatomy. Outcome studies
      and systematic reviews on modified techniques for UCL reconstruction have shown a
      trend toward increased return to play in patients, particularly overhead
      athletes. Abandonment of flexor pronator mass detachment in favor of a muscle
      splitting or muscle-elevating approach, minimal handling of the ulnar nerve, and
      the docking technique may result in improved outcomes and decreased complications
      without diminished performance. Several biomechanical studies have compared the
      structural properties of these techniques with those of the native UCL. However,
      a clear, concise surgical algorithm for UCL reconstruction is lacking. Additional
      studies that use sport-specific outcome measures and performance metrics may
      better demonstrate the true return to preinjury performance after UCL
      reconstruction in overhead athletes. 

PMID- 26890036
TI  - Integrative Medicine in the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans
      Affairs: Cautious Steps Forward.

PMID- 26890037
TI  - Janus gold nanoparticles obtained via spontaneous binary polymer shell
      segregation.
AB  - Janus gold nanoparticles are of high interest because they allow directed self
      assembly and display plasmonic properties. We succeeded in coating gold
      nanoparticles with two different polymers that form a Janus shell. The
      spontaneous segregation of two immiscible polymers at the surface of the
      nanoparticles was verified by NOESY NMR and most importantly by electron
      microscopy analysis in two and three dimensions. The Janus structure is
      additionally shown to affect the aggregation behavior of the nanoparticles. 

PMID- 26890038
TI  - Multi-stage inhibition in breast cancer metastasis by orally active triple
      conjugate, LHTD4 (low molecular weight heparin-taurocholate-tetrameric
      deoxycholate).
AB  - Targeting multiple stages in metastatic breast cancer is one of the effective
      ways to inhibit metastatic progression. To target human metastatic breast cancer
      as well as improving patient compliance, we developed an orally active low
      molecular weight heparin (LMWH)-taurocholate conjugated with tetrameric
      deoxycholic acid, namely LHTD4, which followed by physical complexation with a
      synthetic bile acid enhancer, DCK. In breast cancer, both transforming growth
      factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and CXCL12 exhibit enhanced metastatic activity during
      the initiation and progression stages of breast cancer, thus we direct the focus
      on investigating the antimetastatic effect of LHTD4/DCK complex by targeting TGF
      beta1 and CXCL12. Computer simulation study and SPR analysis were performed for
      the binding confirmation of LHTD4 with TGF-beta1 and CXCL12. We carried out in
      vitro phosphorylation assays of the consecutive receptors of TGF-beta1 and CXCL12
      (TGF-beta1R1 and CXCR4, respectively). Effects of LHTD4 on in vitro cell
      migration (induced by TGF-beta1) and chemotaxis (mediated by CXCL12) were
      investigated. The in vivo anti-metastatic effect of LHTD4 was evaluated in an
      accelerated metastasis model and an orthotopic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer model.
      The obtained KD values of TGF-beta1 and CXCL12 with LHTD4 were 0.85 and 0.019 MUM
      respectively. The simulation study showed that binding affinities of LHTD4
      fragment with either TGF-beta1 or CXCL12 through additional electrostatic
      interaction was more stable than that of LMWH fragment. In vitro phosphorylation
      assays of TGF-beta1R1 and CXCR4 showed that the effective inhibition of receptor
      phosphorylation was observed with the treatment of LHTD4. The expressions of
      epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins such as vimentin and
      Snail were prevented by LTHD4 treatment in in vitro studies with TGF-beta1
      treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, we observed that LHTD4 negatively regulated
      the functions of TGF-beta1 and CXCL12 on migration and invasion of breast cancer
      cell. In several advanced orthotopic and experimental breast cancer metastasis
      murine models, the treatment with LHTD4 (5 mg/kg daily, p.o.) significantly
      inhibited metastasis compared to the control. Overall, LHTD4 exhibited anti
      metastatic effects by inhibiting TGF-beta1 and CXCL12, and the clinically
      relevant dose of orally active LHTD4 was found to be effective in preclinical
      studies without any apparent toxicity. 

PMID- 26890040
TI  - Pre-Stent or Not Pre-Stent: That Is the Question!, Editorial Comment for Jessen
      et al.

PMID- 26890042
TI  - Parent-informed test-control functional analysis and treatment of problem
      behavior related to combined establishing operations.
AB  - PURPOSE: Analog functional analysis (FA) represents the gold standard practice in
      the functional assessment of problem behavior. In some cases, modifications to
      typical FA test conditions are required to isolate the environmental variables
      that evoke and maintain problem behavior. The purpose of the current study was to
      describe the development of an individualized FA test condition that included
      combined establishing operations (EOs). METHODS: After an inconclusive standard
      FA, an individualized FA was conducted based on semi-structured descriptive
      assessment data collected by parents in the home setting. RESULTS: The
      individualized test-control combined EO FA produced clearly differentiated
      results that informed a function-based treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the
      results of the current study and other similar lines of contemporary research on
      FA methodology, strategies are discussed for gathering data to inform
      individualized FA test conditions and derived treatments.

PMID- 26890041
TI  - Patient-Centered Home Care Using Digital Medicine and Telemetric Data for
      Hypertension: Feasibility and Acceptability of Objective Ambulatory Assessment.
AB  - Objective information that can be passively obtained in an ambulatory setting
      could be potentially useful for determining appropriate care in blood pressure
      (BP) management. This study utilized digital medicine (DM) prototypes and
      telemetric data acquisition to directly confirm medication use and to assess
      habits of daily living in a hypertensive population. Thirty-seven patients (23
      men age 62+/-9 years) used the system for 6 weeks. DM prototypes consisted of
      valsartan 80 mg or 160 mg placed in a gelatin hemicapsule with an excipient
      tablet as a "stopper," with a poppy seed-sized ingestible sensor (IS) made of
      foodstuff on its external surface and capable of creating a biogalvanic current
      on ingestion to alert a wearable sensor (WS) that was worn on the torso. Passive
      data collection included IS ingestion dates and times, daily step count, BP, and
      weight. Automatic short message service (SMS) reminders were sent whenever BP or
      weight values were not received. Passive detection of DM ingestion was 98% when
      compared with directly observed dosing. Mean taking and timing adherence rates
      were 90% and 83%, respectively, and the average step count at a pace of >=60
      steps per minute was 2.0+/-1.5 h/d. An automatic SMS was sent and 100% confirmed
      for 251 BP and 14 weight values that were not received. Mild and transient WS
      related skin irritation was the most common device-related adverse event. There
      were no serious or unanticipated adverse events. Ninety percent of patients did
      not mind swallowing a DM capsule, and 75% had a positive overall experience with
      the system. Ambulatory evaluation of medication adherence and habits of daily
      living appear to be feasible and acceptable using DM and passive acquisition of
      telemetric data.

PMID- 26890043
TI  - Mandarin Tone Identification in Cochlear Implant Users Using Exaggerated Pitch
      Contours.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exaggerating the variations in fundamental
      frequency (F0) contours of Mandarin-based pitch fluctuations could improve tone
      identification by cochlear implant (CI) users. METHODS: Twelve normal-hearing
      (NH) listeners and 11 CI users were tested for their ability to recognize F0
      contours modeled after Mandarin tones, in 4- or 5-alternatives forced-choice
      paradigms. Two types of stimuli were used: computer-generated complex tones and
      voice recordings. Four contours were tested with voice recordings: flat, rise,
      fall, and dip. A fifth contour, peak, was added for complex tones. The F0 range
      of each contour was varied in an adaptive manner. A maximum-likelihood technique
      was used to fit a psychometric function to the performance data and extract
      threshold at 70% accuracy. RESULTS: As F0 range increased, performance in tone
      identification improved but did not reach 100% for some CI users, suggesting that
      confusions between contours could always be made even with extremely exaggerated
      contours. Compared with NH participants, CI users required substantially larger
      F0 ranges to identify tones, on the order of 9.3 versus 0.4 semitones. CI users
      achieved better performance for complex tones than for voice recordings, whereas
      the reverse was true for NH participants. Confusion matrices showed that the
      "flat" tone was often a default option when the tone contour's F0 range presented
      was too narrow for participants to respond correctly. CONCLUSION: These results
      demonstrate markedly impaired ability for CI users to identify tonal contours,
      but suggest that the use of exaggerated pitch contours may be helpful for tonal
      language perception.

PMID- 26890044
TI  - "Physiological" Ear Clicking: Its Origin and Potential Usability as a Test Tool
      for the Eustachian Tube Function.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the origin of "physiological" ear clicks during deglutition
      or other pharyngeal movements, which, in contrast to disturbing frequent clicks
      under pathologic conditions, mostly remain unnoticed by the patient. STUDY
      DESIGN: Clinical experimental study at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Ear
      clicks were recorded by a microphone sealing the external ear canal parallel to
      endoscopic or manometric evaluations of the Eustachian tube function. RESULTS:
      Obviously, the acoustic signals (clicks) appear when the tube opens. The clicks
      might be explained by a disruption of fluid or mucus films covering the mucosa.
      As in our tests clicks could be recorded regularly, they might potentially be
      used as indicators in a new tube function test, which has to be elaborated.

PMID- 26890039
TI  - Extracellular matrix-based biomaterial scaffolds and the host response.
AB  - Extracellular matrix (ECM) collectively represents a class of naturally derived
      proteinaceous biomaterials purified from harvested organs and tissues with
      increasing scientific focus and utility in tissue engineering and repair. This
      interest stems predominantly from the largely unproven concept that processed ECM
      biomaterials as natural tissue-derived matrices better integrate with host tissue
      than purely synthetic biomaterials. Nearly every tissue type has been
      decellularized and processed for re-use as tissue-derived ECM protein implants
      and scaffolds. To date, however, little consensus exists for defining ECM
      compositions or sources that best constitute decellularized biomaterials that
      might better heal, integrate with host tissues and avoid the foreign body
      response (FBR). Metrics used to assess ECM performance in biomaterial implants
      are arbitrary and contextually specific by convention. Few comparisons for in
      vivo host responses to ECM implants from different sources are published. This
      review discusses current ECM-derived biomaterials characterization methods
      including relationships between ECM material compositions from different sources,
      properties and host tissue response as implants. Relevant preclinical in vivo
      models are compared along with their associated advantages and limitations, and
      the current state of various metrics used to define material integration and
      biocompatibility are discussed. Commonly applied applications of these ECM
      derived biomaterials as stand-alone implanted matrices and devices are compared
      with respect to host tissue responses. 

PMID- 26890045
TI  - Prevalence of psoriasis phenotypes among men and women in the USA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We present the largest set of US prevalence data for psoriasis to
      date, obtained from three prospective cohort studies describing validated
      clinical phenotypes of psoriasis, including novel data about the prevalence of
      inverse (intertriginous) psoriasis in these groups. Nonplaque psoriasis
      phenotypes have been largely unmeasured in observational and interventional
      studies, and this has led to an under-recognition of this aspect of psoriatic
      disease. AIM: To describe the prevalence of nonplaque psoriasis phenotypes in a
      large prospective cohort. METHODS: We included 3179 women and 646 men in the
      analysis. Participants in the Nurses Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals
      Follow-up Study (HPFS) with physician-diagnosed psoriasis completed a validated,
      self-administered questionnaire to assess plaque and nonplaque subsets of
      psoriasis. RESULTS: Psoriasis phenotypes were as follows: plaque 55%, scalp 52%,
      palmar-plantar 14%, nail 23% and inverse 21% in the NHS (n = 1604); plaque 60%,
      scalp 56%, palmar-plantar 16%, nail 27% and inverse 24% in the second NHS study
      (NHS II) (n = 1575); and plaque 55%, scalp 45%, palmar-plantar 12%, nail 27% and
      inverse 30% in the HPFS (n = 646). Scalp, nail, palmar-plantar and inverse
      disease represent highly prevalent phenotypes of psoriasis in the USA.
      CONCLUSION: Scalp, nail, palmar-plantar and inverse disease represent highly
      prevalent phenotypes of psoriasis.

PMID- 26890047
TI  - Uranyl Ion Complexes with Long-Chain Aliphatic alpha,omega-Dicarboxylates and 3d
      Block Metal Counterions.
AB  - Twelve new complexes were obtained from reaction of uranyl ions with the
      aliphatic dicarboxylic acids HOOC-(CH2)n-2-COOH (H2Cn; n = 7-10 and 12) under
      solvo-hydrothermal conditions, in the presence of 3d-block metal ions (Mn(2+),
      Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), and Cu(2+)) and 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10
      phenanthroline (phen). In contrast to previously reported triple-stranded
      helicates obtained with C9(2-) and C12(2-), all these complexes crystallize as
      polymeric one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) species.
      [Fe(bipy)3][(UO2)2(C7)3].3H2O (1), [Cu(phen)2]2[(UO2)3(C7)4(H2O)2].2H2O (2), and
      [Cu(bipy)2]2[(UO2)2(C9)3] (6), in which the 3d cation was reduced in situ, are 1D
      ladderlike polymers displaying tetra- or hexanuclear rings, of sufficient width
      to encompass two counterions in 2 and 6. The three complexes
      [Co(phen)3][(UO2)3(C8)3(O)].H2O (3), [Ni(phen)3][(UO2)3(C8)3(O)].H2O (4) and
      [Co(phen)3][(UO2)3(C9)3(O)].H2O (5) contain bis(MU3-oxo)-bridged tetranuclear
      secondary building units, and they crystallize as deeply furrowed 2D assemblies.
      Depending on the nature of the counterion, C10(2-) gives
      [Ni(bipy)3][(UO2)2(C10)3].2H2O (7), a 2D network displaying elongated decanuclear
      rings containing the counterions, or [Mn(phen)3][(UO2)2(C10)3].6H2O (8),
      [Co(phen)3][(UO2)2(C10)3].7H2O (9), and [Ni(phen)3][(UO2)2(C10)3].7H2O (10),
      which consist of 2D assemblies with honeycomb topology; the hexanuclear rings in
      8-10 are chairlike and occupied by one counterion and two uranyl groups from
      neighboring layers. Two complexes of the ligand with the longest chain, C12(2-),
      are reported. [UO2(C12)(bipy)] (11) is a neutral 1D species in which bipy
      chelates the uranyl ion and plays an important role in the packing through pi
      stacking interactions. Two polymeric units, 1D and 2D, coexist in the complex
      [Ni(bipy)3][(UO2)2(C12)3][UO2(C12)(H2O)2].H2O (12); the 2D network has the
      honeycomb topology, but the hexanuclear rings are markedly convoluted, with local
      features akin to those in helicates, and the counterions are embedded in
      intralayer cavities. Emission spectra measured in the solid state show in most
      cases various degrees of quenching, with intense and well-resolved uranyl
      emission being observed only for complexes 2 and 11. 

PMID- 26890048
TI  - Chelonian perivitelline membrane-bound sperm detection: A new breeding management
      tool.
AB  - Perivitelline membrane (PVM)-bound sperm detection has recently been incorporated
      into avian breeding programs to assess egg fertility, confirm successful
      copulation, and to evaluate male reproductive status and pair compatibility. Due
      to the similarities between avian and chelonian egg structure and development,
      and because fertility determination in chelonian eggs lacking embryonic growth is
      equally challenging, PVM-bound sperm detection may also be a promising tool for
      the reproductive management of turtles and tortoises. This study is the first to
      successfully demonstrate the use of PVM-bound sperm detection in chelonian eggs.
      Recovered membranes were stained with Hoechst 33342 and examined for sperm
      presence using fluorescence microscopy. Sperm were positively identified for up
      to 206 days post-oviposition, following storage, diapause, and/or incubation, in
      52 opportunistically collected eggs representing 12 species. However, advanced
      microbial infection frequently hindered the ability to detect membrane-bound
      sperm. Fertile Centrochelys sulcata, Manouria emys, and Stigmochelys pardalis
      eggs were used to evaluate the impact of incubation and storage on the ability to
      detect sperm. Storage at -20 degrees C or in formalin were found to be the best
      methods for egg preservation prior to sperm detection. Additionally, sperm
      derived mtDNA was isolated and PCR amplified from Astrochelys radiata, C.
      sulcata, and S. pardalis eggs. PVM-bound sperm detection has the potential to
      substantially improve studies of artificial incubation and sperm storage, and
      could be used to evaluate the success of artificial insemination in chelonian
      species. Mitochondrial DNA from PVM-bound sperm has applications for parentage
      analysis, the study of sperm competition, and potentially species identification.

PMID- 26890049
TI  - Measuring older women's resilience: Evaluating the suitability of the Connor
      Davidson Resilience Scale and the Resilience Scale.
AB  - The author provides conceptual and operational definitions of the construct of
      resilience in the context of research with older adults (aged 60 years or older).
      Two psychometric instruments (the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the
      Resilience Scale) are described. The psychometric properties of each instrument
      are discussed in relation to the research of the original developers of the tools
      and research conducted by other investigators. Research on the resilience of
      older women has yet to be initiated. The author evaluated the psychometric
      properties of both instruments to determine their suitability for investigation
      of resilience in older women. 

PMID- 26890050
TI  - The spatial distribution of the photostability of thionine in zeolite L
      nanochannels investigated by Photobleaching Lifetime Imaging Microscopy.
AB  - Dye photobleaching is a photochemical reaction that can be investigated locally
      using fluorescence microscopy techniques. In this study, a user-friendly
      computational tool to assist photobleaching experiments called Photobleaching
      Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (PbLIM) is presented. With this tool it is possible
      to recover the photobleaching kinetics spatially, where a photobleaching lifetime
      is generated for each pixel of the image. Our model was applied to the
      photobleaching process of thionine encapsulated into the one-dimensional nano
      channels of Zeolite L (ZL), from where we gained insight into the molecular
      oxygen distribution inside the ZL channels, as well as the detailed
      photobleaching of the confined thionine. 

PMID- 26890051
TI  - Definitions.

PMID- 26890046
TI  - Value of the 8-oxodG/dG ratio in chronic liver inflammation of patients with
      hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the role of oxidative DNA damage in chronic
      liver inflammation in the evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma. The accumulated
      data demonstrated that oxidative DNA damage and chronic liver inflammation are
      involved in the transformation of normal hepatocytes and their evolution towards
      hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the levels of 8-oxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (8
      oxodG), a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, were overestimated and
      underestimated in previous reports due to various technical limitations. The
      current techniques are not suitable to analyze the 8-oxodG levels in the non
      malignant liver tissues and tumors of hepatocellular carcinoma patients unless
      they are modified. Therefore, in this study, the protocols for extraction and
      hydrolysis of DNA were optimized using 54 samples from hepatocellular carcinoma
      patients with various risk factors, and the 8-oxodG and 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG)
      levels were measured. The patients enrolled in the study include 23 from The
      Princess Alexandra Hospital and The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospitals,
      Brisbane, Australia, and 31 from South Africa. This study revealed that the 8
      oxodG/dG ratios tended to be higher in most non-malignant liver tissues compared
      to hepatocellular carcinoma tissue (p=0.2887). It also appeared that the ratio
      was higher in non-malignant liver tissue from Southern African patients
      (p=0.0479), but there was no difference in the 8-oxodG/dG ratios between non
      malignant liver tissues and tumors of Australian hepatocellular carcinoma
      patients (p=0.7722). Additionally, this study also revealed a trend for a higher
      8-oxodG/dG ratio in non-malignant liver tissues compared to tumoural tissues of
      patients with HBV. Significant differences were not observed in the 8-oxodG/dG
      ratios between non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic non-malignant liver tissues.

PMID- 26890053
TI  - Faster Detection of Poliomyelitis Outbreaks to Support Polio Eradication.
AB  - As the global eradication of poliomyelitis approaches the final stages, prompt
      detection of new outbreaks is critical to enable a fast and effective outbreak
      response. Surveillance relies on reporting of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases
      and laboratory confirmation through isolation of poliovirus from stool. However,
      delayed sample collection and testing can delay outbreak detection. We
      investigated whether weekly testing for clusters of AFP by location and time,
      using the Kulldorff scan statistic, could provide an early warning for outbreaks
      in 20 countries. A mixed-effects regression model was used to predict background
      rates of nonpolio AFP at the district level. In Tajikistan and Congo, testing for
      AFP clusters would have resulted in an outbreak warning 39 and 11 days,
      respectively, before official confirmation of large outbreaks. This method has
      relatively high specificity and could be integrated into the current polio
      information system to support rapid outbreak response activities.

PMID- 26890054
TI  - Ontogeny of 3D rib curvature and its importance for the understanding of human
      thorax development.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sagittal and axial rib orientation relative to the spine are two
      factors that modify rib cage morphology during ontogeny. Some studies suggest
      that these factors do not operate in the same way at the upper (ribs 1-5) and
      lower thorax (ribs 6-10) during postnatal growth, but it is unknown if the
      ontogenetic thoracic changes are produced by morphological changes of the ribs
      (intrinsic rib factors) or by external factors related to costal joints
      (extrinsic rib factors). MATERIAL AND METHODS: To clarify these questions, we
      applied 3D geometric morphometrics of landmarks and sliding semilandmarks (N =
      20/rib) to 280 individual ribs (1-10) of Homo sapiens comprising the entire human
      ontogeny and growth simulations were carried out. RESULTS: PCA shows that
      intrinsic rib factors (rib torsion and axial rib curvature) are ontogenetic
      factors of variability that contribute to configuring the adult thorax shape.
      Moreover, growth simulations and regression slopes suggest that the upper thorax
      unit is comprised by ribs 1-7 and the lower unit at least by ribs 8-10.
      DISCUSSION: These results suggest anatomical constraints for ontogenetic rib
      variation, since ribs 1-7 (true ribs) are directly linked to the sternum.
      Moreover, these results are supported by functional anatomy because pulmonary
      kinematics would influence the upper unit and diaphragmatic kinematics would
      influence the lower one. Our findings are relevant not only to understanding how
      changes at individual ribs contribute to the adult thorax morphology, but also to
      the development and evolution of the modern human rib cage.

PMID- 26890055
TI  - Erratum: Body mass estimation from knee breadth, with application to early
      hominins. By Nicole Squyres and Christopher B. Ruff Am J Phys Anthropol 158:198
      208, 2015. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22789.
AB  - In the above-referenced article, on p. 200, it was stated that data were natural
      log-transformed for RMA regressions. In fact, all regressions - RMA as well as LS
      - were carried out on raw data, as stated earlier in the paper.We apologize for
      any confusion this error might have caused.

PMID- 26890056
TI  - Proceedings of the Eighty-Fourth Business Meeting of the American Association of
      Physical Anthropologists St. Louis, Missouri March 25-28, 2015.

PMID- 26890058
TI  - Analyzing the relationships between travel mode indicators and the number of
      passenger transport fatalities at the city level.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A number of efforts have been conducted on travel behavior and
      transport fatalities at the neighborhood or street level, and they have
      identified different factors such as roadway characteristics, personal
      indicators, and design indicators related to transport safety. However, only a
      limited number of studies have considered the relationship between travel
      behavior indicators and the number of transport fatalities at the city level.
      Therefore, this study explores this relationship and how to fill the mentioned
      gap in current knowledge. METHOD: A generalized linear model (GLM) estimates the
      relationships between different travel mode indicators (e.g., length of motorway
      per inhabitants, number of motorcycles per inhabitant, percentage of daily trips
      on foot and by bicycle, percentage of daily trips by public transport) and the
      number of passenger transport fatalities. Because this city-level model is
      developed using data sets from different cities all over the world, the impacts
      of gross domestic product (GDP) are also included in the model. CONCLUSIONS:
      Overall, the results imply that the percentage of daily trips by public
      transport, the percentage of daily trips on foot and by bicycle, and the GDP per
      inhabitant have negative relationships with the number of passenger transport
      fatalities, whereas motorway length and the number of motorcycles have positive
      relationships with the number of passenger transport fatalities.

PMID- 26890059
TI  - Notes from the Field: Evidence of Zika Virus Infection in Brain and Placental
      Tissues from Two Congenitally Infected Newborns and Two Fetal Losses--Brazil,
      2015.
AB  - Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is related to dengue virus and
      transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, with humans acting as the
      principal amplifying host during outbreaks. Zika virus was first reported in
      Brazil in May 2015 (1). By February 9, 2016, local transmission of infection had
      been reported in 26 countries or territories in the Americas.* Infection is
      usually asymptomatic, and, when symptoms are present, typically results in mild
      and self-limited illness with symptoms including fever, rash, arthralgia, and
      conjunctivitis. However, a surge in the number of children born with microcephaly
      was noted in regions of Brazil with a high prevalence of suspected Zika virus
      disease cases. More than 4,700 suspected cases of microcephaly were reported from
      mid-2015 through January 2016, although additional investigations might
      eventually result in a revised lower number (2). In response, the Brazil Ministry
      of Health established a task force to further investigate possible connections
      between the virus and brain anomalies in infants (3). 

PMID- 26890061
TI  - Mycobacterium microti Infection in Dairy Goats, France.

PMID- 26890060
TI  - Patient Report and Review of Rapidly Growing Mycobacterial Infection after
      Cardiac Device Implantation.
AB  - Mycobacterial infections resulting from cardiac implantable electronic devices
      are rare, but as more devices are implanted, these organisms are increasingly
      emerging as causes of early-onset infections. We report a patient with an
      implantable cardioverter-defibrillator pocket and associated bloodstream
      infection caused by an organism of the Mycobacterium fortuitum group, and we
      review the literature regarding mycobacterial infections resulting from cardiac
      device implantations. Thirty-two such infections have been previously described;
      most (70%) were caused by rapidly growing species, of which M. fortuitum group
      species were predominant.When managing such infections, clinicians should
      consider the potential need for extended incubation of routine cultures or
      dedicated mycobacterial cultures for accurate diagnosis; combination
      antimicrobial drug therapy, even for isolates that appear to be macrolide
      susceptible, because of the potential for inducible resistance to this drug
      class; and the arrhythmogenicity of the antimicrobial drugs traditionally
      recommended for infections caused by these organisms.

PMID- 26890062
TI  - Graphene engineering by neon ion beams.
AB  - Achieving the ultimate limits of lithographic resolution and material performance
      necessitates engineering of matter with atomic, molecular, and mesoscale
      fidelity. With the advent of scanning helium ion microscopy, maskless He(+) and
      Ne(+) beam lithography of 2D materials, such as graphene-based nanoelectronics,
      is coming to the forefront as a tool for fabrication and surface manipulation.
      However, the effects of using a Ne focused-ion-beam on the fidelity of structures
      created out of 2D materials have yet to be explored. Here, we will discuss the
      use of energetic Ne ions in engineering graphene nanostructures and explore their
      mechanical, electromechanical and chemical properties using scanning probe
      microscopy (SPM). By using SPM-based techniques such as band excitation (BE)
      force modulation microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and Raman
      spectroscopy, we are able to ascertain changes in the mechanical, electrical and
      optical properties of Ne(+) beam milled graphene nanostructures and surrounding
      regions. Additionally, we are able to link localized defects around the milled
      graphene to ion milling parameters such as dwell time and number of beam passes
      in order to characterize the induced changes in mechanical and electromechanical
      properties of the graphene surface. 

PMID- 26890063
TI  - CCL20/CCR6 Signaling Regulates Bone Mass Accrual in Mice.
AB  - CCL20 is a member of the macrophage inflammatory protein family and is reported
      to signal monogamously through the receptor CCR6. Although studies have
      identified the genomic locations of both Ccl20 and Ccr6 as regions important for
      bone quality, the role of CCL20/CCR6 signaling in regulating bone mass is
      unknown. By micro-computed tomography (MUCT) and histomorphometric analysis, we
      show that global loss of Ccr6 in mice significantly decreases trabecular bone
      mass coincident with reduced osteoblast numbers. Notably, CCL20 and CCR6 were co
      expressed in osteoblast progenitors and levels increased during osteoblast
      differentiation, indicating the potential of CCL20/CCR6 signaling to influence
      osteoblasts through both autocrine and paracrine actions. With respect to
      autocrine effects, CCR6 was found to act as a functional G protein-coupled
      receptor in osteoblasts and although its loss did not appear to affect the number
      or proliferation rate of osteoblast progenitors, differentiation was
      significantly inhibited as evidenced by delays in osteoblast marker gene
      expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralization. In addition, CCL20
      promoted osteoblast survival concordant with activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway.
      Beyond these potential autocrine effects, osteoblast-derived CCL20 stimulated the
      recruitment of macrophages and T cells, known facilitators of osteoblast
      differentiation and survival. Finally, we generated mice harboring a global
      deletion of Ccl20 and found that Ccl20(-/-) mice exhibit a reduction in bone mass
      similar to that observed in Ccr6(-/-) mice, confirming that this phenomenon is
      regulated by CCL20 rather than alternate CCR6 ligands. Collectively, these data
      indicate that CCL20/CCR6 signaling may play an important role in regulating bone
      mass accrual, potentially by modulating osteoblast maturation, survival, and the
      recruitment of osteoblast-supporting cells. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone
      and Mineral Research.

PMID- 26890064
TI  - Solitary cannabis use frequency mediates the relationship between social anxiety
      and cannabis use and related problems.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individuals with elevated social anxiety are seven
      times more likely to meet criteria for cannabis use disorders, yet social anxiety
      is unrelated to more frequent cannabis use. The lack of relation to cannabis use
      frequency may be at least partially due to lack of attention to cannabis use
      context. It may be that socially anxious persons engage in frequent solitary
      cannabis use, perhaps using before social situations in the hope that being
      intoxicated during the social event will help them feel less anxious. In fact,
      using cannabis alone has been associated with experiencing more cannabis-related
      problems in prior work. METHODS: The current study sought to identify whether
      solitary cannabis use frequency mediated the relationship between social anxiety
      and cannabis-related problems among 276 current cannabis using undergraduates who
      completed an online survey of putative predictors of substance use. RESULTS:
      Social anxiety was robustly related to more frequent solitary (but not social)
      cannabis use and solitary cannabis use frequency uniquely mediated the relation
      of social anxiety to cannabis use and related problems. DISCUSSION AND
      CONCLUSIONS: Frequent solitary use appears to play an important role in the
      experience of cannabis-related problems among socially anxious persons.
      SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Intervention strategies may benefit from targeting
      frequent solitary cannabis use, particularly among at-risk users such as those
      with elevated social anxiety.

PMID- 26890065
TI  - Interprofessional education in an enrichment programme for prospective health
      sciences students.
AB  - Effective and meaningful interprofessional education opportunities for
      prospective health sciences students are important to prepare students for the
      work environment they will encounter after training. This article briefly
      describes the Summer Academic Enrichment Program, a programme for students
      pursuing entry to dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and physical therapy schools.
      The programme evaluation includes investigation of the programme's effectiveness
      to impact attitudes towards interprofessional teams and collaboration. The
      Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale and the Revised Readiness for
      Interprofessional Learning Scale were administered at the beginning and the end
      of the programme. Statistical analysis of pre-assessment subscale scores
      indicated that pre-pharmacy students reported significantly more positive
      attitudes towards team value than pre-dental students at the beginning of the
      programme, with post-assessment results indicating that these differences had
      been eliminated. Additionally, all students demonstrated significantly more
      positive attitudes towards interprofessional teams during the post-assessment. 

PMID- 26890066
TI  - Self-report depressive symptoms do not directly predict suicidality in
      nonclinical individuals: Contributions toward a more psychosocial approach to
      suicide risk.
AB  - Although suicidality is associated with mental illness in general and depression
      in particular, many depressed individuals do not attempt suicide and some
      individuals who attempt to or do die by suicide do not present depressive
      symptoms. This article aims to contribute to a more psychosocial approach to
      understanding suicide risk in nonclinical populations. In advocating a
      psychosocial perspective rather than a depression-focused approach, this article
      presents four diverse studies that demonstrate sampling and measurement
      invariance in findings across different populations and specific measures. Study
      1 tests the mediation effects of 2 interpersonal variables, thwarted
      belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, in the association between depressive
      symptoms and recent suicidality. Studies 2 and 3 evaluate the contribution of
      hopelessness and psychache, beyond depressive symptoms, to suicidality. Study 4
      tests the contribution of life events behind depressive symptoms, and other
      relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables, to the estimation of "future
      suicidality." Overall, results demonstrate that depressive symptoms do not
      directly predict suicidality in nonclinical individuals, but that other
      psychosocial variables mediate the association between depressive symptoms and
      suicidality or predict suicidality when statistically controlling for depressive
      symptoms. The article contributes to understanding some of the
      nonpsychopathological factors that potentially link depressive symptoms to
      suicide risk and that might themselves contribute to suicidality, even when
      controlling for depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26890067
TI  - Implications of plant glycans in the development of innovative vaccines.
AB  - Plant glycans play a central role in vaccinology: they can serve as adjuvants
      and/or delivery vehicles or backbones for the synthesis of conjugated vaccines.
      In addition, genetic engineering is leading to the development of platforms for
      the production of novel polysaccharides in plant cells, an approach with relevant
      implications for the design of new types of vaccines. This review contains an
      updated outlook on this topic and provides key perspectives including a
      discussion on how the molecular pharming field can be linked to the production of
      innovative glycan-based and conjugate vaccines.

PMID- 26890068
TI  - A link between the driver mutations and dysregulated apoptosis in BCR-ABL1
      negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.
AB  - The current understanding of BCR-ABL1 negative myeloproliferative neoplasms
      pathogenesis is centred on the phenotypic driver mutations in JAK2, MPL, or CALR
      genes, and the constitutive activation of JAK-STAT pathway. Nonetheless, there is
      still a need to better characterize the cellular processes that are triggered by
      these genetic alterations, such as apoptosis that might play a role in the
      pathological expansion of the myeloid lineages and, especially, in the
      morphological anomalies of the bone marrow megakaryocytes. In this article we
      will explore the connection between the driver mutations in MPN and the abnormal
      apoptosis that might be translated in new therapeutic strategies. 

PMID- 26890069
TI  - Fuzhuan tea consumption imparts hepatoprotective effects and alters intestinal
      microbiota in high saturated fat diet-fed rats.
AB  - SCOPE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an obesity-related disorder
      characterized by lipid infiltration of the liver. Management is limited to
      lifestyle modifications, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic
      options. The objective of this study was to examine if fermented Fuzhuan tea
      prevents metabolic impairments associated with development of hepatic steatosis.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Rats consumed control (CON) or high saturated fat (SAT)
      diets with or without Fuzhuan tea for 8 weeks. Outcomes included enzymatic and
      gene expression measures of metabolic dysregulation in liver and adipose tissue.
      Pyrosequencing was used to assess intestinal microbiota adaptations. Fuzhuan tea
      prevented diet-induced inflammation in the liver. Liver triglycerides of ~18 mg/g
      were observed in SAT-fed animals, but remained similar to CON diet levels (~12
      mg/g) when supplemented with Fuzhuan tea. In adipose tissue, tea treatment
      prevented SAT-induced inflammation and reduced plasma leptin approximately
      twofold. Fuzhuan tea also altered intestinal function and was associated with a
      threefold increase in two Lactobacillus spp. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that
      Fuzhuan tea protects against liver and adipose tissue stress induced by a high
      SAT diet and positively influences intestinal function. Further investigation of
      the molecular targets of Fuzhuan tea is warranted.

PMID- 26890070
TI  - Cytokinetic effects of Wee1 disruption in pancreatic cancer.
AB  - The Wee1 kinase, which is activated in response to DNA damage, regulates exit
      from G2 through inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdk1/Cdc2, and is an attractive
      drug target. However, recent work has highlighted effects of Cdk2 phosphorylation
      by Wee1 on movement through S-phase, suggesting the potential to sensitize to S
      phase specific agents by Wee1 inhibitors. In this paper we applied
      multiparametric flow cytometry to patient-derived pancreatic cancer xenograft
      tumor cells to study the cell cycle perturbations of Wee1 disruption via the
      small molecule inhibitor MK-1775, and genetic knockdown. We find that in vitro
      treatment with MK-1775, and to a lesser degree, Wee1 RNA transcript knockdown,
      results in the striking appearance of S-phase cells prematurely entering into
      mitosis. This effect was not seen in vivo in any of the models tested. Here,
      although we noted an increase of S-phase cells expressing the damage response
      marker gammaH2AX, treatment with MK-1775 did not significantly sensitize cells to
      the cytidine analog gemcitabine. Treatment with MK-1775 did result in a transient
      but large increase in cells expressing the mitotic marker phosphorylated H3S10
      that reached a peak 4 hours after treatment. This suggests a role for Wee1
      regulating the progression of genomically unstable cancer cells through G2 in the
      absence of extrinsically-applied DNA damage. A single dose of 8Gy ionizing
      radiation resulted in the time-dependent accumulation of Cyclin A2
      positive/phosphorylated H3S10 negative cells at the 4N position, which was
      abrogated by treatment with MK-1775. Consistent with these findings, a genome
      scale pooled RNA interference screen revealed that toxic doses of MK-1775 are
      suppressed by CDK2 or Cyclin A2 knockdown. These findings support G2 exit as the
      more significant effect of Wee1 inhibition in pancreatic cancers. 

PMID- 26890072
TI  - Short Flow-Photochemistry Enabled Synthesis of the Cytotoxic Lactone (+)
      Goniofufurone.
AB  - A photochemical approach to the cytotoxic lactone (+)-goniofufurone (1) is
      reported. Paterno-Buchi [2 + 2] photocycloaddition from known enol ether 4,
      derived from the readily available sugar d-isosorbide, yielded oxetane 7. This
      slow, dilute reaction was scaled up by using flow photochemistry to yield >40 g
      of 7. Installation of the key lactone ring was achieved via a unique Wacker-style
      oxidation of an enol-ether bond. Acid-catalyzed aqueous ring opening provided 1
      in five steps from 4 (11.5% overall). 

PMID- 26890071
TI  - Optimizing Mouse Surgery with Online Rectal Temperature Monitoring and
      Preoperative Heat Supply. Effects on Post-Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury.
AB  - Body temperature affects outcomes of tissue injury. We hypothesized that online
      body core temperature recording and selective interventions help to standardize
      peri-interventional temperature control and the reliability of outcomes in
      experimental renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). We recorded core
      temperature in up to seven mice in parallel using a Thermes USB recorder and ret
      3-iso rectal probes with three different protocols. Setup A: Heating pad during
      ischemia time; Setup B: Heating pad from incision to wound closure; Setup C: A
      ventilated heating chamber before surgery and during ischemia time with surgeries
      performed on a heating pad. Temperature profile recording displayed significant
      declines upon installing anesthesia. The profile of the baseline experimental
      setup A revealed that <1% of the temperature readings were within the target
      range of 36.5 to 38.5 degrees C. Setup B and C increased the target range
      readings to 34.6 +/- 28.0% and 99.3 +/- 1.5%, respectively. Setup C significantly
      increased S3 tubular necrosis, neutrophil influx, and mRNA expression of kidney
      injury markers. In addition, using setup C different ischemia times generated a
      linear correlation with acute tubular necrosis parameters at a low variability,
      which further correlated with the degree of kidney atrophy 5 weeks after surgery.
      Changing temperature control setup A to C was equivalent to 10 minutes more
      ischemia time. We conclude that body temperature drops quickly in mice upon
      initiating anesthesia. Immediate heat supply, e.g. in a ventilated heating
      chamber, and online core temperature monitoring can help to standardize and
      optimize experimental outcomes. 

PMID- 26890073
TI  - Genetic Analysis of IL-17 Gene Polymorphisms in Gout in a Male Chinese Han
      Population.
AB  - Interleukin (IL)-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine mainly secreted by activated T
      helper 17 cells and involved in inflammatory immune responses. This study aimed
      to investigate the association between IL-17 variants as well as serum IL-17
      levels with gout in male Chinese Han individuals. A total of 1,101 male gout
      patients and 1,239 ethic-matched controls were enrolled. Genetic distributions of
      three variants (rs2275913 in IL-17A, rs763780 in IL-17F, and rs4819554 in IL
      17RA) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the Taqman probe
      method. The plasma concentrations of IL-17A and IL-17F were measured in 228 gout
      patients and 198 controls that came from above samples by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. No significant differences were observed in the genetic
      distribution of these polymorphisms between cases and controls (rs2275913: chi2 =
      0.15, p = 0.928 by genotype, chi2 = 0.14, p = 0.711 by allele; rs763780: chi2 =
      2.24, p = 0.326 by genotype, chi2 = 0.26, p = 0.609 by allele; rs4819554: chi2 =
      1.79, p = 0.409 by genotype, chi2 = 1.46, p = 0.227 by allele). Levels of serum
      IL-17A and IL-17F were significantly decreased in gout patients (both p<0.001).
      However, no difference was observed in acute gout patients between different
      genotypic carriers of rs2275913 and rs763780 regarding serum IL-17A and IL-17F
      levels (p>0.05). Although the genetic variants in IL-17 we studied in this
      research do not appear to be involved in the development of gout in male Chinese
      Han individuals, the IL-17 cytokine family may participate in gouty inflammation
      in an undefined way, which requires further validation. 

PMID- 26890074
TI  - Variations in T Cell Transcription Factor Sequence and Expression Associated with
      Resistance to the Sheep Nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta.
AB  - This study used selected lambs that varied in their resistance to the
      gastrointestinal parasite Teladorsagia circumcincta. Infection over 12 weeks
      identified susceptible (high adult worm count, AWC; high fecal egg count, FEC;
      low body weight, BW; low IgA) and resistant sheep (no/low AWC and FEC, high BW
      and high IgA). Resistance is mediated largely by a Th2 response and IgA and IgE
      antibodies, and is a heritable characteristic. The polarization of T cells and
      the development of appropriate immune responses is controlled by the master
      regulators, T-bet (TBX21), GATA-3 (GATA3), RORgammat (RORC2) and RORalpha (RORA);
      and several inflammatory diseases of humans and mice are associated with allelic
      or transcript variants of these transcription factors. This study tested the
      hypothesis that resistance of sheep to T. circumcincta is associated with
      variations in the structure, sequence or expression levels of individual master
      regulator transcripts. We have identified and sequenced one variant of sheep
      TBX21, two variants of GATA3 and RORC2 and five variants of RORA from lymph node
      mRNA. Relative RT-qPCR analysis showed that TBX21, GATA3 and RORC2 were not
      significantly differentially-expressed between the nine most resistant (AWC, 0;
      FEC, 0) and the nine most susceptible sheep (AWC, mean 6078; FEC, mean 350).
      Absolute RT-qPCR on 29 all 45 animals identified RORAv5 as being significantly
      differentially-expressed (p = 0.038) 30 between resistant, intermediate and
      susceptible groups; RORAv2 was not differentially- 31 expressed (p = 0.77).
      Spearman's rank analysis showed that RORAv5 transcript copy number 32 was
      significantly negatively correlated with parameters of susceptibility, AWC and
      FEC; and 33 was positively correlated with BW. RORAv2 was not correlated with
      AWC, FEC or BW but 34 was significantly negatively correlated with IgA antibody
      levels [corrected]. This study identifies the full length RORA variant (RORAv5)
      as important in controlling the protective immune response to T. circumcincta
      infection in sheep.

PMID- 26890077
TI  - A comprehensive conceptual framework for road safety strategies.
AB  - Road safety strategies (generally called Strategic Highway Safety Plans in the
      USA) provide essential guidance for actions to improve road safety, but often
      lack a conceptual framework that is comprehensive, systems theory based, and
      underpinned by evidence from research and practice. This paper aims to
      incorporate all components, policy tools by which they are changed, and the
      general interactions between them. A framework of nine mutually interacting
      components that contribute to crashes and ten generic policy tools which can be
      applied to reduce the outcomes of these crashes was developed and used to assess
      58 road safety strategies from 22 countries across 15 years. The work identifies
      the policy tools that are most and least widely applied to components,
      highlighting the potential for improvements to any individual road safety
      strategy, and the potential strengths and weaknesses of road safety strategies in
      general. The framework also provides guidance for the development of new road
      safety strategies, identifying potential consequences of policy tool based
      measures with regard to exposure and risk, useful for both mobility and safety
      objectives. 

PMID- 26890076
TI  - Glycation Reactivity of a Quorum-Sensing Signaling Molecule.
AB  - Reported herein is that (4S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) can undergo a
      previously undocumented non-enzymatic glycation reaction. Incubation of DPD with
      viral DNA or the antibiotic gramicidin S resulted in significant biochemical
      alterations. A protein-labeling method was consequently developed that
      facilitated the identification of unrecognized glycation targets of DPD in a
      prokaryotic system. These results open new avenues toward tracking and
      understanding the fate and function of the elusive quorum-sensing signaling
      molecule. 

PMID- 26890079
TI  - Without Binding ATP, Human Rad51 Does Not Form Helical Filaments on ssDNA.
AB  - Construction of the presynaptic filament (PSF) of proper helical structure by
      Rad51 recombinases is a prerequisite of the progress of homologous recombination
      repair. We studied the contribution of ATP-binding to this structure of wt human
      Rad51 (hRad51). We exploited the protein-dissociation effect of high hydrostatic
      pressure to determine the free energy of dissociation of the protomer interfaces
      in hRad51 oligomer states and used electron microscopy to obtain topological
      parameters. Without cofactors ATP and Ca(2+) and template DNA, hRad51 did not
      exist in monomer form, but it formed rodlike long filaments without helical
      order. DeltaG(diss) indicated a strong inherent tendency of aggregation. Binding
      solely ssDNA left the filament unstructured with slightly increased DeltaG(diss).
      Adding only ATP and Ca(2+) to the buffer disintegrated the self-associated rods
      into rings and short helices of further increased DeltaG(diss). Rad51 binding to
      ssDNA only with ATP and Ca bound could lead to ordered helical filament formation
      of proper pitch size with interface contacts of K(d) ~ 2 * 10(-11) M, indicating
      a structure of outstanding stability. ATP/Ca binding increased the DeltaG(diss)
      of protomer contacts in the filament by 16 kJ/mol. The results emphasize that ATP
      binding in the PSF of hRad51 has an essential, yet purely structural, role.

PMID- 26890084
TI  - More effort - more results: recent advances in integrative 'omics' data analysis.
AB  - The development of 'omics' technologies has progressed to address complex
      biological questions that underlie various plant functions thereby producing
      copious amounts of data. The need to assimilate large amounts of data into
      biologically meaningful interpretations has necessitated the development of
      statistical methods to integrate multidimensional information. Throughout this
      review, we provide examples of recent outcomes of 'omics' data integration
      together with an overview of available statistical methods and tools.

PMID- 26890078
TI  - The role of Body Mass Index in child pedestrian injury risk.
AB  - The goal of the current investigation was to examine obesity as a potential risk
      factor for childhood pedestrian injury. A racially diverse sample of 7- and 8
      year-old children completed a road-crossing task in a semi-immersive virtual
      environment and two pedestrian route selection tasks. Multiple linear regression
      analyses revealed that children with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) waited less
      before crossing, had a smaller temporal buffer between themselves and oncoming
      traffic while crossing, and had more collisions with traffic. Girls were more
      cautious than boys when crossing the virtual roadway. Unlike the results from the
      virtual road-crossing task, BMI was not associated with risky route selection.
      Instead, race emerged as the strongest predictor, with African-American children
      selecting riskier routes for crossing. Together, these findings suggest
      overweight and obese children may be at increased risk for pedestrian injury. The
      discussion considers explanations for why obese children may exhibit riskier road
      crossing behavior. 

PMID- 26890085
TI  - Patient-centered care for left ventricular assist device therapy: current
      challenges and future directions.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Discuss the current status and obstacles that need to be
      overcome in the future to provide patient-centered care with left ventricular
      assist device (LVAD) therapy. RECENT FINDINGS: LVADs offer both longer survival
      and improvements in quality of life for carefully selected patients with inotrope
      dependent heart failure. Yet, this technology does not come without significant
      risk of adverse effects and burdens. Recent observational data comparing LVAD
      with medical therapy in ambulatory, noninotrope-dependent patients with advanced
      heart failure suggest that survival may be similar and changes in quality of life
      may depend on baseline status. As both LVAD technology and medical therapy
      continue to evolve, there are many unanswered questions regarding the benefits,
      risks, and burdens of LVAD therapies in less severe heart failure populations.
      SUMMARY: Further research is needed to ensure the optimal delivery of LVAD
      therapy, including improved patient selection, implantation timing, device type,
      and decision support. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

PMID- 26890087
TI  - Topographical and Chemical Imaging of a Phase Separated Polymer Using a Combined
      Atomic Force Microscopy/Infrared Spectroscopy/Mass Spectrometry Platform.
AB  - In this paper, the use of a hybrid atomic force microscopy/infrared
      spectroscopy/mass spectrometry imaging platform was demonstrated for the
      acquisition and correlation of nanoscale sample surface topography and chemical
      images based on infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The infrared
      chemical imaging component of the system utilized photothermal expansion of the
      sample at the tip of the atomic force microscopy probe recorded at infrared wave
      numbers specific to the different surface constituents. The mass spectrometry
      based chemical imaging component of the system utilized nanothermal analysis
      probes for thermolytic surface sampling followed by atmospheric pressure chemical
      ionization of the gas phase species produced with subsequent mass analysis. The
      basic instrumental setup, operation, and image correlation procedures are
      discussed, and the multimodal imaging capability and utility are demonstrated
      using a phase separated poly(2-vinylpyridine)/poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer
      thin film. The topography and both the infrared and mass spectral chemical images
      showed that the valley regions of the thin film surface were comprised primarily
      of poly(2-vinylpyridine) and hill or plateau regions were primarily poly(methyl
      methacrylate). The spatial resolution of the mass spectral chemical images was
      estimated to be 1.6 MUm based on the ability to distinguish surface features in
      those images that were also observed in the topography and infrared images of the
      same surface. 

PMID- 26890086
TI  - Methylation and expression analyses of Pallister-Killian syndrome reveal partial
      dosage compensation of tetrasomy 12p and hypomethylation of gene-poor regions on
      12p.
AB  - To ascertain the epigenomic features, i.e., the methylation, non-coding RNA, and
      gene expression patterns, associated with gain of i(12p) in Pallister-Killian
      syndrome (PKS), we investigated single cell clones, harboring either disomy 12 or
      tetrasomy 12p, from a patient with PKS. The i(12p)-positive cells displayed a
      characteristic expression and methylation signature. Of all the genes on 12p, 13%
      were overexpressed, including the ATN1, COPS7A, and NECAP1 genes in 12p13.31, a
      region previously implicated in PKS. However, the median expression fold change
      (1.3) on 12p was lower than expected by tetrasomy 12p. Thus, partial dosage
      compensation occurs in cells with i(12p). The majority (89%) of the significantly
      deregulated genes were not situated on 12p, indicating that global perturbation
      of gene expression is a key pathogenetic event in PKS. Three genes-ATP6V1G1 in
      9q32, GMPS in 3q25.31, and TBX5 in 12q24.21-exhibited concomitant
      hypermethylation and decreased expression. The i(12p)-positive cells displayed
      global hypomethylation of gene-poor regions on 12p, a footprint previously
      associated with constitutional and acquired gains of whole chromosomes as well as
      with X-chromosome inactivation in females. We hypothesize that this non-genic
      hypomethylation is associated with chromatin processing that facilitates cellular
      adaptation to excess genetic material.

PMID- 26890089
TI  - A Game-Theoretical Model to Improve Process Plant Protection from Terrorist
      Attacks.
AB  - The New York City 9/11 terrorist attacks urged people from academia as well as
      from industry to pay more attention to operational security research. The
      required focus in this type of research is human intention. Unlike safety-related
      accidents, security-related accidents have a deliberate nature, and one has to
      face intelligent adversaries with characteristics that traditional probabilistic
      risk assessment techniques are not capable of dealing with. In recent years, the
      mathematical tool of game theory, being capable to handle intelligent players,
      has been used in a variety of ways in terrorism risk assessment. In this article,
      we analyze the general intrusion detection system in process plants, and propose
      a game-theoretical model for security management in such plants. Players in our
      model are assumed to be rational and they play the game with complete
      information. Both the pure strategy and the mixed strategy solutions are explored
      and explained. We illustrate our model by an illustrative case, and find that in
      our case, no pure strategy but, instead, a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium
      exists.

PMID- 26890088
TI  - Metabolic Response of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) Leaves Exposed to the
      Angular Leaf Spot Bacterium (Xanthomonas fragariae).
AB  - Plants have evolved various defense mechanisms against biotic stress. The most
      common mechanism involves the production of metabolites that act as defense
      compounds. Bacterial angular leaf spot disease (Xanthomonas fragariae) of the
      strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) has become increasingly destructive to
      strawberry leaves and plant production. In this study, we examined metabolic
      changes associated with the establishment of long-term bacterial disease stress
      using UPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry. Infected leaves showed decreased levels of
      gallic acid derivatives and ellagitannins, which are related to the plant defense
      system. The levels of phenylalanine, tryptophan, and salicylic acid as precursors
      of aromatic secondary metabolites were increased in inoculated leaves, whereas
      levels of coumaric acid, quinic acid, and flavonoids were decreased in infected
      plants, which are involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway. In addition,
      phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, a key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid
      pathway, was decreased following infection. These results suggest that long-term
      bacterial disease stress may lead to down-regulation of select molecules of the
      phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in strawberry leaves. This approach could be
      applied to explore the metabolic pathway associated with plant
      protection/breeding in strawberry leaves. 

PMID- 26890090
TI  - Fatty acid vesicles acting as expanding horizon for transdermal delivery.
AB  - The body is protected against the external environment by the skin due to its
      physical barrier nature. Stratum corneum composed of corneocytes surrounded by
      lipid region performs a major barrier function as it lies in the uppermost area
      of skin. Alteration in barrier function, increase in permeability, and
      disorganization of stratum corneum represent diseased skin. Drugs applied to the
      diseased skin should induce a local effect at the site of application or area
      close to it along with cutaneous absorption rather than percutaneous absorption.
      Conventional formulations like ointments, gels, and creams suffer from the
      drawback of limited local activity. For the enhancement of drug penetration and
      localization of the drug at the site of action approaches explored are liposomes,
      niosomes, ethosomes microparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles. Vesicles
      composed of fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid represent the new
      approach used for transdermal penetration and localization. In this review
      article, our major aim was to explore the applications of fatty acid vesicles for
      transdermal delivery of various bioactives.

PMID- 26890091
TI  - Development and optimization of a sensitive TaqMan(r) real-time PCR with
      synthetic homologous extrinsic control for quantitation of Human cytomegalovirus
      viral load.
AB  - Human cytomegalovirus (Human herpesvirus 5, HCMV) causes frequent asymptomatic
      infections in the general population. However, in immunosuppressed patients or
      congenitally infected infants, HCMV is related to high morbidity and mortality.
      In such cases, a rapid viral detection is crucial for monitoring the clinical
      outcome and the antiviral treatment. In this study, we optimized a sensitive
      biplex TaqMan(r) real-time PCR for the simultaneous detection and differentiation
      of a partial HCMV UL97 sequence and homologous extrinsic control (HEC) in the
      same tube. HEC was represented by a plasmid containing a modified HCMV sequence
      retaining the original primer binding sites, while the probe sequence was
      substituted by a phylogenetically divergent one (chloroplast CF0 subunit plant
      gene). It was estimated that the optimal HEC concentration, which did not
      influence the HCMV amplification is 1,000 copies/reaction. The optimized
      TaqMan(r) PCR demonstrated high analytical sensitivity (6.97 copies/reaction, CI
      = 95%) and specificity (100%). Moreover, the reaction showed adequate precision
      (repeatability, CV = 0.03; reproducibility, CV = 0.0027) and robustness (no carry
      over or cross-contamination). The diagnostic sensitivity (100%) and specificity
      (97.8%) were adequate for the clinical application of the molecular platform. The
      optimized TaqMan(r) real-time PCR is suitable for HCMV detection and quantitation
      in predisposed patients and monitoring of the applied antiviral therapy. J. Med.
      Virol. 88:1604-1612, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890092
TI  - Self-Assembly of Polyethylene Glycol-Grafted Carbon Nanotube/Sulfur Composite
      with Nest-like Structure for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
AB  - The novel polyethylene glycol-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube/sulfur (PEG
      CNT/S) composite cathodes with nest-like structure are fabricated through a
      facile combination process of liquid phase deposition and self-assembly, which
      consist of the active material core of sulfur particle and the conductive shell
      of PEG-CNT network. The unique architecture not only provides a short and rapid
      charge transfer pathway to improve the reaction kinetics but also alleviates the
      volume expansion of sulfur during lithiation and minimizes the diffusion of
      intermediate polysulfides. Such an encouraging electrochemical environment
      ensures the excellent rate capability and high cycle stability. As a result, the
      as-prepared PEG-CNT/S composite with sulfur content of 75.9 wt % delivers an
      initial discharge capacity of 1191 and 897 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles at 0.2 C
      with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.5%. Even at a high rate of 2 C, an
      appreciable capacity of 723 mAh g(-1) can still be obtained. 

PMID- 26890093
TI  - Grasping objects by former amputees: The visuo-motor control of allografted
      hands.
AB  - PURPOSE: Hand allograft has recently emerged as a therapeutic option for upper
      limb amputees. Functional neuroimaging studies have progressively revealed
      sensorimotor cortices plasticity following both amputation and transplantation.
      The purpose of our study was to assess and characterize the functional recovery
      of the visuo-motor control of prehension in bilateral hand transplanted patients.
      METHODS: Using kinematics recordings, we characterized the performance of
      prehension with or without visual feed-back for object of different position and
      size, in five bilateral hand allograft recipients and age-matched control
      subjects. Both hands were assessed, separately. RESULTS: Despite an overall
      slower execution, allografted patients succeeded in grasping for more than 90% of
      the trials. They exhibited a preserved hand grip scaling according to object
      size, and preserved prehension performances when tested without visual feedback.
      These findings highlight the allograft recipients' abilities to produce an
      effective motor program, and a good proprioceptive-dependent online control.
      Nevertheless, the maximum grip aperture was reduced and delayed, the coupling
      between Transport and Grasp components was altered, and the final phase of the
      movement was lengthened. CONCLUSION: Hand allotransplantation can offer
      recipients a good recovery of the visuo-motor control of prehension, with slight
      impairments likely attributable to peripheral neuro-orthopedic limitations.

PMID- 26890094
TI  - Neuronavigated left temporal continuous theta burst stimulation in chronic
      tinnitus.
AB  - PURPOSE: Clinical effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
      in chronic tinnitus are moderate. More precise coil localisation strategies,
      innovative stimulation protocols, and identification of predictors for treatment
      response were proposed as promising attempts to enhance treatment efficacy. In
      this pilot study we investigated neuronavigated continuous theta burst TMS
      (cTBS). METHODS: Twenty-three patients received neuronavigated cTBS over the left
      primary auditory cortex in a randomized sham-controlled trial (verum = 12; sham =
      11). Treatment response was evaluated with tinnitus questionnaires and numeric
      rating scales. Immediate change in numeric rating scales during the first session
      was used as predictor for treatment response. RESULTS: Tinnitus was significantly
      reduced after treatment, but there were no superior effects between verum vs.
      sham treatment. Immediate change in the first treatment session predicted the
      response to treatment only in the verum group. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, verum
      cTBS was not superior to sham which highlights the persistent need for improving
      non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of tinnitus. Future
      research should focus on the transfer of positive single session effects to daily
      treatment trials.

PMID- 26890095
TI  - Effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on affect, pain and
      attention in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: Pain and cognitive impairment are frequent symptoms in patients with
      multiple sclerosis (MS). Neglecting experimental pain and paying attention to
      demanding tasks is reported to decrease the pain intensity. Little is known about
      the interaction between chronic neuropathic pain and attention disorders in MS.
      Recently, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was used to modulate
      various cognitive and motor symptoms in MS. We aimed to study the effects of
      transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a form of transcranial electric
      stimulation, over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on attention
      and neuropathic pain in MS patients. METHODS: 16 MS patients were included in a
      randomized, sham-controlled, cross-over study. Each patient randomly received two
      tRNS blocks, separated by three weeks of washout interval. Each block consisted
      of three consecutive daily sessions of either active or sham tRNS. The patients
      were evaluated for pain, attention and mood and further underwent an
      electrophysiological evaluation. RESULTS: Compared to sham, tRNS showed a trend
      to decrease the N2-P2 amplitudes of pain related evoked potentials and improve
      pain ratings. Attention performance and mood scales did not change after
      stimulations. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the role of tRNS in pain
      modulation, which could have been more evident with longer stimulation protocols.

PMID- 26890096
TI  - Evidence for reading improvement following tDCS treatment in children and
      adolescents with Dyslexia.
AB  - PURPOSE: There is evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation transitorily
      modulates reading by facilitating the neural pathways underactive in individuals
      with dyslexia. The study aimed at investigating whether multiple sessions of
      transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) would enhance reading abilities of
      children and adolescents with dyslexia and whether the effect is long-lasting.
      METHODS: Eighteen children and adolescents with dyslexia received three 20-minute
      sessions a week for 6 weeks (18 sessions) of left anodal/right cathodal tDCS set
      at 1 mA over parieto-temporal regions combined with a cognitive training. The
      participants were randomly assigned to the active or the sham treatment; reading
      tasks (text, high and low frequency words, non-words) were used as outcome
      measures and collected before treatment, after treatment and one month after the
      end of treatment. The tolerability of tDCS was evaluated. RESULTS: The active
      group showed reduced low frequency word reading errors and non-word reading
      times. These positive effects were stable even one month after the end of
      treatment. None reported adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows
      preliminary evidence of tDCS feasibility and efficacy in improving non-words and
      low frequency words reading of children and adolescents with dyslexia and it
      opens new rehabilitative perspectives for the remediation of dyslexia.

PMID- 26890098
TI  - Kinematic measures for upper limb motor assessment during robot-mediated training
      in patients with severe sub-acute stroke.
AB  - PURPOSE: Kinematic assessments are increasingly used as motor outcome measures
      during upper limb robot-assisted training, in addition to clinical scales.
      However, their relevance has not been evaluated much. METHODS: Thirty-eight
      patients with severe sub-acute stroke (age 56 +/- 17 [19-87] years; time since
      stroke, 55 +/- 22 days) carried out 16 sessions (average 3/week, 35 +/- 15 days)
      of upper limb robot-assisted training combined with standard therapy. Pre/post
      motor performance was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale, Motor
      Status Scale (MSS) and kinematic measures. Motor outcomes were compared and
      relationships between clinical and kinematic outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: All
      clinical and kinematic outcomes improved after training (p <  0.01). FM score
      increased from 17.7 +/- 10.0 to 28.6 +/- 15.4. All baseline kinematic measures
      were strongly correlated with clinical scores. Correlations between clinical and
      kinematic changes were moderate (r = -0.65 for change in FM Proximal score and
      change in accuracy measure). However, smoothness and accuracy indicators were
      shown to be responsive measures. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that
      baseline kinematic measures and their pre/post training changes were
      significantly correlated with clinical motor outcome measures. However, even if
      kinematic measures are valid for the evaluation of motor impairment we cannot
      propose to substitute common clinical measures of motor function which also
      evaluate functional abilities of the upper limb.

PMID- 26890097
TI  - Interactive virtual feedback improves gait motor imagery after spinal cord
      injury: An exploratory study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Motor imagery can improve motor function and reduce pain. This is
      relevant to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in whom motor dysfunction
      and neuropathic pain are prevalent. However, therapy efficacy could be dependent
      on motor imagery ability, and a clear understanding of how motor imagery might be
      facilitated is currently lacking. Thus, the aim of the present study was to
      assess the immediate effects of interactive virtual feedback on motor imagery
      performance after SCI. METHODS: Nine individuals with a traumatic SCI
      participated in the experiment. Motor imagery tasks consisted of forward (i.e.
      simpler) and backward (i.e. more complex) walking while receiving interactive
      versus static virtual feedback. Motor imagery performance (vividness, effort and
      speed), neuropathic pain intensity and feasibility (immersion, distraction, side
      effects) were assessed. RESULTS: During interactive feedback trials, motor
      imagery vividness and speed were significantly higher and effort was
      significantly lower as compared static feedback trials. No change in neuropathic
      pain was observed. Adverse effects were minor, and immersion was reported to be
      good. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study showed that interactive virtual walking
      was feasible and facilitated motor imagery performance. The response to motor
      imagery interventions after SCI might be improved by using interactive virtual
      feedback.

PMID- 26890099
TI  - Neuroprotection and anti-seizure effects of levetiracetam in a rat model of
      penetrating ballistic-like brain injury.
AB  - PURPOSE: We assessed the therapeutic efficacy of FDA-approved anti-epileptic drug
      Levetiracetam (LEV) to reduce post-traumatic nonconvulsive seizure (NCS) activity
      and promote neurobehavioral recovery following 10% frontal penetrating ballistic
      like brain injury (PBBI) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Experiment 1 anti
      seizure study: 50 mg/kg LEV (25 mg/kg maintenance doses) was given twice daily
      for 3 days (LEV3D) following PBBI; outcome measures included seizures incidence,
      frequency, duration, and onset. Experiment 2 neuroprotection studies: 50 mg/kg
      LEV was given twice daily for either 3 (LEV3D) or 10 days (LEV10D) post-injury;
      outcome measures include motor (rotarod) and cognitive (water maze) functions.
      RESULTS: LEV3D treatment attenuated seizure activity with significant reductions
      in NCS incidence (54%), frequency, duration, and delayed latency to seizure onset
      compared to vehicle treatment. LEV3D treatment failed to improve cognitive or
      motor performance; however extending the dosing regimen through 10 days post
      injury afforded significant neuroprotective benefit. Animals treated with the
      extended LEV10D dosing regimen showed a twofold improvement in rotarod task
      latency to fall as well as significantly improved spatial learning performance
      (24%) in the MWM task. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the dual anti- seizure
      and neuroprotective role of LEV, but more importantly identify the importance of
      an extended dosing protocol which was specific to the therapeutic targets
      studied.

PMID- 26890100
TI  - Vascular insufficiency, not inflammation, contributes to chronic gliosis in a rat
      CNS transplantation model.
AB  - PURPOSE: There is considerable variability in the extent and nature of the glial
      response to injury and neurodegeneration. Transplantation of fetal cortical
      tissue onto the brain of neonatal host rats or mice results in region-specific
      changes dependent on where the fetal tissue is placed. These changes include
      chronic astrocytic and microglial gliosis, oxidative stress, and altered
      metabolism of a number of proteins associated with the pathogenesis of
      Alzheimer's disease. Such changes are only observed in heterotopic (cortex-to
      midbrain) grafts and are not observed in homotopic cortex-to-cortex grafts. We
      investigated two possible triggers for the region-specific gliosis observed in
      our transplant model hypothesizing that either i) poor vascularization and lack
      of blood brain barrier integrity or ii) an inflammatory response initiated by the
      transplantation process, contributed to establishing chronic pathological
      changes. METHODS: We analyzed the time course of neovascularization, blood brain
      barrier permeability and inflammation using a combination of
      immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and Evan's blue dye
      extravasation techniques. RESULTS: Blood brain barrier permeability and altered
      neovascularization occurred prior to the onset of gliosis in heterotopic grafts.
      CONCLUSION: These data suggest that ischemic conditions and blood brain barrier
      damage can be a primary mechanism that initiates chronic gliosis and associated
      inflammatory changes in central nervous system tissue.

PMID- 26890101
TI  - Oxidative stress in the red blood cells of patients with primary open-angle
      glaucoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine oxidative and antioxidative
      changes in the red blood cells (RBCs) of patients presenting with glaucomatous
      degeneration. METHODS: The experimental design was a case-control study of
      strictly selected patients who required antiglaucomatous surgery during primary
      open-angle glaucoma despite relatively regulated intraocular pressure (IOP) (POAG
      group, n = 30) and patients who underwent an operation for nonpathological
      cataracts (cataract group, n = 25). The activities of total superoxide dismutase
      (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT), as well as the
      concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. Glaucomatous damage was
      estimated from a transient pattern electroretinogram. RESULTS: Significant
      increases in GPX (p = 0.026) and CAT (p = 0.000) activity were noted in the RBCs
      of POAG patients compared to those of cataract patients. Although SOD was
      elevated in patients with POAG, the differences compared to cataract controls
      were not significant (p = 0.079). MDA concentrations were significantly increased
      in the glaucoma group compared to the cataract controls. CONCLUSION: An oxidative
      disorder primarily represented by catalase upregulation was observed during the
      course of glaucoma.

PMID- 26890102
TI  - Effect of encapsulation on plasminogen activator delivery to the microcirculation
      and its implications for bleeding.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is known that encapsulation can alter the delivery of
      plasminogen activators by flow to accelerate fibrinolysis while other
      experimental studies suggest encapsulation may reduce the risk of hemorrhage with
      administration of the agent. The aim of this research is to resolve the effect of
      encapsulation on fibrinolysis and bleeding in the microcirculation. METHODS: An
      established rabbit model of fibrinolytic hemorrhage was utilized to explore the
      potential of encapsulation to limit bleeding. Equal dosages of free or
      microencapsulated streptokinase (MESK) were infused to initiate thrombolysis of
      small vessel clots while tracking blood loss. RESULTS: Compared to free
      streptokinase, significant improvements in bleeding were observed with MESK as
      demonstrated by (1) delayed onset of bleeding, (2) shortened duration, and (3)
      reduction in the volume of lost blood, consistent with less systemic fibrinogen
      degradation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that encapsulation of
      streptokinase can inhibit clot lysis in small vessels. Combined with prior work
      on accelerated thrombolysis, results suggest a time-based regimen for avoiding
      bleeding complications during thrombolytic therapy with encapsulated agent.

PMID- 26890103
TI  - Interspecies diversity of erythrocyte mechanical stability at various
      combinations in magnitude and duration of shear stress, and osmolality.
AB  - We hypothesized that the results of red blood cell mechanical stability test show
      interspecies differences. The comparative investigations were performed on blood
      samples obtained from rats, beagle dogs, pigs and healthy volunteers. Mechanical
      stress was applied in nine combinations: 30, 60 or 100 Pa shear stress for 100,
      200 or 300 seconds. Generally, rat erythrocytes showed the highest capability of
      resistance. With the applied combinations of mechanical stress pig erythrocytes
      were the most sensitive. On human erythrocytes 60 Pa for 200 s was the minimum
      combination to result significant deformability deterioration. By increasing the
      magnitude and duration of the applied mechanical stress we experienced escalating
      deformability impairment in all species. 100 Pa shear stress for 300 seconds on
      human erythrocytes showed the largest deformability impairment. The mechanical
      stability test results were also dependent on osmolality. At hypoosmolar range
      (200 mOsmol/kg) the mechanical stress improved EI data mostly in rat and porcine
      blood. At higher osmolality (500 mOsmol/kg), the test did not show detectable
      difference, while in 250-300 mOsmol/kg range the differences were well
      observable. In summary, erythrocytes' capability of resistance against mechanical
      stress shows interspecies differences depending on the magnitude and duration of
      the applied stress, and on the osmolality.

PMID- 26890104
TI  - Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood rheology in NOS inhibition-induced
      hypertension model.
AB  - This study investigated the effects of magnesium on blood rheological properties
      and blood pressure in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition-induced hypertension
      model. Hypertension was induced by oral administration of the nonselective NOS
      inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 25 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks and
      systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. The groups
      receiving magnesium supplementation were fed with rat chow containing 0.8%
      magnesium oxide during the experiment. At the end of experiment, blood samples
      were obtained from abdominal aorta, using ether anesthesia. Plasma and
      erythrocyte magnesium levels were determined by the atomic absorption
      spectrometer. RBC deformability and aggregation were determined by rotational
      ektacytometry. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was evaluated by ELISA. Whole
      blood and plasma viscosities were determined by viscometer and intracellular free
      Ca++ level was measured by using spectroflurometric method. Blood pressure was
      elevated in hypertensive groups and suppressed by magnesium therapy. Plasma
      viscosity and RBC aggregation were found to be higher in hypertensive rats than
      control animals and these parameters significantly decreased in magnesium
      supplemented hypertensive animals. Other measurements were not different between
      experimental groups. These results confirm that blood pressure, plasma viscosity
      and RBC aggregation increased in NOS inhibition-induced hypertension model and
      oral magnesium supplementation improved these parameters. 

PMID- 26890105
TI  - Hemorheological parameters better classify metabolic syndrome than novel
      cardiovascular risk factors and peripheral vascular disease marker.
AB  - The present study compares the association of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with
      hemorheological parameters, oxidative stress, inflammation and peripheral
      arterial disease markers. 100 participants were recruited and participants were
      divided into three groups on the basis of absence or presence of MetS and its
      components. Odds ratio for correctly predicting MetS was highest for erythrocyte
      aggregation followed by erythrocyte deformability. ROC curve analysis
      demonstrated that all the hemorheological components significantly classified
      MetS participants. Area Under Curve was higher for the hemorheological parameters
      (erythrocyte aggregation and erythrocyte deformability) than for the oxidative
      stress, inflammation and peripheral arterial disease markers. The possibilities
      of the hemorheological components to be identified as better cardiovascular risk
      markers due to their strong association with MetS cannot be precluded from the
      present findings.

PMID- 26890106
TI  - Erythrocyte deformability, plasma lipid peroxidation and plasma protein oxidation
      in a group of OSAS subjects.
AB  - Considering that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is usually associated
      with endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders, our
      aim was to examine the erythrocyte deformability and the oxidative status in a
      group of OSAS subjects. We consecutively enrolled 48 subjects with OSAS defined
      after a 1-night cardiorespiratory sleep study, subsequently subdivided according
      to the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) value in two subgroups: Low (L = 21 subjects
      with AHI<30) and High (H = 27 subjects with AHI>30). We evaluated the erythrocyte
      deformability, expressed as elongation index (EI) and the parameters of the
      oxidative status, such as lipid peroxidation (expressed as thiobarbituric acid
      reactive substances - TBARS) and protein oxidation (measured as carbonyl groups -
      PC). In the entire group and in the two subgroups of OSAS subjects we found a
      decreased erytrocyte deformability at all shear stresses, not correlated with the
      plasmatic oxidative stress nor with the polysomnographic parameters. Lipid
      peroxidation was increased in the whole group and in the H subgroup of OSAS while
      protein oxidation showed a different trend. As in OSAS the osmotic fragility and
      the metabolism of the red cells seem to be not impaired, the oxidative damage to
      the red cell membrane proteins might be responsible for the reduced erythrocyte
      deformability. This rheological alteration, in addition to the increase in whole
      blood and plasma viscosity and to the erythrocyte hyperaggregation, could
      influence the microcircolatory profile in OSAS subjects.

PMID- 26890107
TI  - Hypobaric hypoxia in 3000 m altitude leads to a significant decrease in
      circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in humans.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypoxia is known to affect the immune system. It leads to an
      increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and influences the
      number of different inflammatory cells. This study investigates the effect of
      hypoxia on the number of different subsets of circulating human dendritic cells
      (DCs) as professional antigen-presenting cells. METHODS: The number of
      circulating DCs was determined via Fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis
      in peripheral blood of 17 healthy volunteers (age 35.9+/-2.6 years) in normoxia
      (baseline, BL), hypoxia (altitude 3000 m, alpine passive escalation), and again
      normoxia (follow-up, FU). RESULTS: Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia in high
      altitude, 3000 m, led to a significant decrease in the participants' oxygen
      saturation, and an increase in the breathing frequency whereas blood pressure and
      heart rate were not significantly altered. FACS analysis revealed a significant
      hypoxia induced decrease in circulating plasmacytoid (p) DCs compared to baseline
      levels (BL: 0.10 [0.08-0.18] % of white blood cell count (WBC), 3000 m: 0.03
      [0.02-0.06] % WBC, p < 0.001). During follow up, again a significant
      reconstitution of circulating pDCs was observed (FU: 0.16+/-[0.11-0.26] % WBC, p
      = 0.0013). CONCLUSION: Hypobaric hypoxia caused by exposure to altitude results
      in a significant reduction in the number of circulating pDCs.

PMID- 26890108
TI  - Hemorheology in kidney transplantation: A role for cardiovascular risk?
AB  - Uremic patients undergoing dialysis (HD) present a cardiovascular risk of death
      10-20 fold higher than general population, but also kidney transplantation keeps
      considerable cardiovascular burden.Hemorheologic profile alterations have been
      described in HD; comprehensive data on kidney transplant recipients (KT) are
      missing. Aim of our study is to characterize the hemorheological profile in KT,
      and to compare these data with HD and healthy volunteers (HV).We investigated 47
      HV, 90 HD and 108 KT.We confirm hemorheological alterations in HD. KT, when
      compared to HD, normalizes many parameters: plasma viscosity, whole blood
      viscosity at 1-Hz and 200-Hz shear rate, erythrocyte aggregation index and yield
      stress. KT show a markedly lower erythrocyte deformability (ED). We found no
      differences among hemorheological parameters between the different classes of
      immunosuppressive drugs used.In conclusion, HD show various hemorheological
      defects; this could support the high incidence of cardiovascular complications.
      KT improves most hemorheological alterations; nevertheless, ED is reduced in KT,
      maintaining a detrimental injury at microcirculatory level and leading to the
      progression of fibrosis till to end-stage injury. Impaired ED in KT could also
      contribute to progression of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) in
      grafts.

PMID- 26890109
TI  - Impact of environment on Red Blood Cell ability to withstand mechanical stress.
AB  - Susceptibility of red blood cells (RBC) to hemolysis under mechanical stress is
      represented by RBC mechanical fragility (MF), with different types or intensities
      of stress potentially emphasizing different perturbations of RBC membranes. RBC
      membrane mechanics were shown to depend on cell environment, with many details
      not yet understood. Here, stress was applied to RBC using a bead mill with
      oscillation up to 50 Hz, over durations up to 50 minutes. MF profiles plot
      percent lysis upon stresses of progressive durations. Supplementing media with
      polyethylene glycol (PEG) which interacts with the cell membrane, but not Dextran
      which does not, resulted in higher resistance to hemolysis. Albumin, and to a
      lesser extent fibrinogen and globulins (at physiological concentrations),
      significantly increased cell ability to withstand mechanical stress versus with
      un-supplemented buffer solution and with PEG. This is partly due to changes in
      rheology, per tests done including (PEG) and Dextran, but is mostly due to cell
      protein interaction, noting the effect of pH on RBC MF with albumin but not with
      buffer. Presence of lipids reduced RBC resistance to potentially hemolytic stress
      with lypemic plasma effecting lower "protection" from induced hemolysis than
      essentially fatty-acid free plasma. This effect was less dependent on incubation
      than on fatty-acid presence during stressing. The reduced propensity for
      hemolysis afforded by plasma proteins also depended markedly on the speed of the
      bead, potentially reflecting changes from a predominantly Von Karman trail at
      lower frequencies to an increasingly disorganized turbulent wake at higher
      frequencies.

PMID- 26890110
TI  - Controlled reperfusion decreased reperfusion induced oxidative stress and evoked
      inflammatory response in experimental aortic-clamping animal model.
AB  - Revascularization after long term aortic ischaemia in vascular surgery induces
      reperfusion injury accompanied with oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
      The hypothesis of this study was that the aortic occlusion followed by controlled
      reperfusion (CR) can reduce the ischaemia-reperfusion injury, the systemic and
      local inflammatory response induced by oxidative stress.Animal model was used.
      CONTROL GROUP: animals underwent a 4-hour infrarenal aortic occlusion followed by
      continuous reperfusion. Treated group: animals were treated with CR: after a 4
      hour infrarenal aortic occlusion we made CR for 30 minutes with the crystalloid
      reperfusion solution (blood: crystalloid solution ratio 1:1) on pressure 60 Hgmm.
      Blood samples were collected different times. The developing oxidative stress was
      detected by the plasma levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathion, thiol
      groups and superoxide dismutase. The inflammatory response was measured by
      phorbol myristate acetate-induced leukocyte reactive oxygen species production
      and detection of change in myeloperoxidase levels. The animals were anaesthetized
      one week after terminating ligation and biopsy was taken from quadriceps muscle
      and large parenchymal organs.CR significantly reduced the postischaemic oxydative
      stress and inflammatory responses in early reperfusion period. Pathophysiological
      results: The rate of affected muscle fibers by degeneration was significantly
      higher in the untreated animal group. The infiltration of leukocytes in muscle
      and parenchymal tissues was significantly lower in the treatedgroup.CR can
      improve outcome after acute lower-limb ischaemia. The results confirm that CR
      might be also a potential therapeutic approach in vascular surgery against
      reperfusion injury in acute limb ischaemia. Supported by OTKA K108596.

PMID- 26890111
TI  - Remote ischemia preconditioning increases red blood cell deformability through
      red blood cell-nitric oxide synthase activation.
AB  - Remote ischemia preconditioning (rIPC), short cycles of ischemia (I) and
      reperfusion (R) of a region remote from the heart, protects against myocardial
      I/R injury. This effect is triggered by endothelial derived nitric oxide (NO)
      production. Red blood cells (RBC) are also capable of NO production and it is
      hypothesized that the beneficial effect of rIPC in terms of cardioprotection is
      strengthened by increased RBC dependent NO production and improved RBC function
      after rIPC maneuver. For this purpose, twenty male participants were subjected to
      four cycles of no-flow ischemia with subsequent reactive hyperemia within the
      forearm. Blood sampling and measurement of blood pressures and heart rate were
      carried out pre intervention, after each cycle and 15 min post intervention at
      both the non-treated and treated arm. These are the first results that show
      improved RBC deformability in the treated arm after rIPC cycles 1- 4 caused by
      significantly increased RBC-NO synthase activation. This in turn was associated
      to increased NO production in both arms after rIPC cycles 3 + 4. Also, systolic
      and diastolic blood pressures were decreased after rIPC. The findings lead to the
      conclusion that the cardioprotective effects associated with rIPC include
      improvement of the RBC-NOS/NO signaling in RBC. 

PMID- 26890112
TI  - Azide-enolate 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition in the synthesis of novel triazole-based
      miconazole analogues as promising antifungal agents.
AB  - Seven miconazole analogs involving 1,4,5-tri and 1,5-disubstituted triazole
      moieties were synthesized by azide-enolate 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The
      antifungal activity of these compounds was evaluated in vitro against four
      filamentous fungi, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichosporon cutaneum,
      Rhizopus oryzae, and Mucor hiemalis as well as three species of Candida spp. as
      yeast specimens. These pre-clinical studies suggest that compounds 4b, 4d and 7b
      can be considered as drug candidates for future complementary biological studies
      due to their good/excellent antifungal activities.

PMID- 26890113
TI  - Tricyclic pyrazoles. Part 8. Synthesis, biological evaluation and modelling of
      tricyclic pyrazole carboxamides as potential CB2 receptor ligands with
      antagonist/inverse agonist properties.
AB  - Previous studies have investigated the relevance and structure-activity
      relationships (SARs) of pyrazole derivatives in relation with cannabinoid
      receptors, and the series of tricyclic 1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazoles emerged
      as potent CB2 receptor ligands. In the present study, novel 1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2
      c]pyrazole and 1H-benzo[g]indazole carboxamides containing a cyclopropyl or a
      cyclohexyl substituent were designed and synthesized to evaluate the influence of
      these structural modifications towards CB1 and CB2 receptor affinities. Among
      these derivatives, compound 15 (6-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-(adamantan
      1-yl)-1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide) showed the highest CB2
      receptor affinity (Ki = 4 nM) and remarkable selectivity (KiCB1/KiCB2 = 2232),
      whereas a similar affinity, within the nM range, was seen for the fenchyl
      derivative (compound 10: Ki = 6 nM), for the bornyl analogue (compound 14: Ki =
      38 nM) and, to a lesser extent, for the aminopiperidine derivative (compound 6:
      Ki = 69 nM). Compounds 10 and 14 were also highly selective for the CB2 receptor
      (KiCB1/KiCB2 > 1000), whereas compound 6 was relatively selective (KiCB1/KiCB2 =
      27). The four compounds were also subjected to GTPgammaS binding analysis showing
      antagonist/inverse agonist properties (IC50 for compound 14 = 27 nM, for 15 = 51
      nM, for 10 = 80 nM and for 6 = 294 nM), and this activity was confirmed for the
      three more active compounds in a CB2 receptor-specific in vitro bioassay
      consisting in the quantification of prostaglandin E2 release by LPS-stimulated
      BV2 cells, in the presence and absence of WIN55,212-2 and/or the investigated
      compounds. Modelling studies were also conducted with the four compounds, which
      conformed with the structural requirements stated for the binding of antagonist
      compounds to the human CB2 receptor.

PMID- 26890115
TI  - Design, synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and docking study of new acridone
      based 1,2,4-oxadiazoles as potential anticonvulsant agents.
AB  - A number of acridone-based oxadiazoles 11a-n have been synthesized and evaluated
      for their anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- and maximal
      electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice. Also, their neurotoxicity was
      evaluated by the rotarod test. Most of the compounds exhibited better
      anticonvulsant activity and higher safety respect to the standard drug,
      phenobarbital. Among the tested derivatives, compounds 11l with ED50 value of
      2.08 mg/kg was the most potent compound in the PTZ test. The anticonvulsant
      effect of compound 11l was blocked by flumazenil, suggesting the involvement of
      benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors in the anticonvulsant activity of prototype
      compound 11l. Also, docking study of compound 11l in the BZD-binding site of
      GABAA receptor confirms possible binding of compound 11l with BZD receptors.

PMID- 26890114
TI  - Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of bisthiazole-based trifluoromethyl
      ketone derivatives as potent HDAC inhibitors with improved cellular efficacy.
AB  - Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of epigenetic modulators with complex
      functions in histone post-translational modifications and are well known targets
      for antineoplastic drugs. We have previously developed a series of bisthiazole
      based hydroxamic acids as novel potent HDAC inhibitors. In the present work, a
      new series of bisthiazole-based compounds with different zinc binding groups
      (ZBGs) have been designed and synthesized. Among them is compound 7, containing a
      trifluoromethyl ketone as the ZBG, which displays potent inhibitory activity
      towards human HDACs and improved antiproliferative activity in several cancer
      cell lines. 

PMID- 26890116
TI  - Biphenyl-4-yl-acrylohydroxamic acids: Identification of a novel indolyl
      substituted HDAC inhibitor with antitumor activity.
AB  - Modification of the cap group of biphenylacrylohydroxamic acid-based HDAC
      inhibitors led to the identification of a new derivative (3) characterized by an
      indolyl-substituted 4-phenylcinnamic skeleton. Molecular docking was used to
      predict the optimal conformation in the class I HDACs active site. Compound 3
      showed HDAC inhibitory activity and antiproliferative activity against a panel of
      tumor cell lines, in the low MUM range. The compound was further tested in vitro
      for acetylation of histone H4 and other non-histone proteins, and in vivo in a
      colon carcinoma model, showing significant proapoptotic and antitumor activities.

PMID- 26890117
TI  - Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of trimethoxyanilides based on 4(3H)
      quinazolinone scaffolds.
AB  - A novel series of 2-[(3-substituted-4(3H)-quinazolin-2-yl)thio]-N-(3,4,5
      trimethoxyphenyl)acetamide (15-21) and 3-[(3-substituted-4(3H)-quinazolin-2
      yl)thio])-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propanamide (23-29) were designed, prepared
      and estimated for their anticancer activity in a solo dose 10 MUM of the test
      compounds in the NCI 57 cell lines panel assay. Compounds 20, 23, 26, 27 and 28
      revealed extensive-spectrum antitumor efficiency to numerous cell lines that
      belong to various tumor subpanels, while compounds 15, 16 and 19 possessed
      perceptive activity toward A498 and UO-31 renal cancer cell lines, and compound
      17 showed selective effectiveness against NSC lung cancer NCI-H522 cell line.
      Additionally, compound 18 showed advanced activity against SR leukemia cell line,
      NSC lung cancer HOP-92 and renal cancer UO-31 cell lines.

PMID- 26890118
TI  - Discovery of antitumor anthra[2,3-b]furan-3-carboxamides: Optimization of
      synthesis and evaluation of antitumor properties.
AB  - Anthraquinones and their analogues, in particular heteroarene-fused
      anthracendiones, are prospective scaffolds for new compounds with improved
      antitumor characteristics. We herein report the use of a 'scaffold hopping'
      approach for the replacement of the core structure in the previously discovered
      hit compound naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-dione 2 with an alternative anthra[2,3
      b]furan-5,10-dione scaffold. Among 13 newly synthesized derivatives the majority
      of 4,11-dihydroxy-2-methyl-5,10-dioxoanthra[2,3-b]furan-3-carboxamides
      demonstrated a high antiproliferative potency against a panel of wild type and
      drug resistant tumor cell lines, a property superior over the reference drug
      doxorubicin or lead naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-dione 2. At low micromolar
      concentrations the selected derivative of (R)-3-aminopyrrolidine 3c and its
      stereoisomer (S)-3-aminopyrrolidine 3d caused an apoptotic cell death preceded by
      an arrest in the G2/M phase. Studies of intracellular targets showed that 3c and
      3d formed stable intercalative complexes with the duplex DNA as determined by
      spectral analysis and molecular docking. Both 3c and 3d attenuated topoisomerase
      1 and 2 mediated unwinding of the supercoiled DNA via a mechanism different from
      conventional DNA-enzyme tertiary complex formation. Furthermore, 3d decreased the
      activity of selected human protein kinases in vitro, indicating multiple
      targeting by the new chemotype. Finally, 3d demonstrated an antitumor activity in
      a model of murine intraperitoneally transplanted P388 leukemia, achieving the
      increase of animal life span up to 262% at tolerable doses. Altogether, the
      'scaffold hopping' demonstrated its productivity for obtaining new perspective
      antitumor drug candidates. 

PMID- 26890120
TI  - Synthesis and anti-cancer activity evaluation of 5-(2-carboxyethenyl)-isatin
      derivatives.
AB  - A series of novel di- or trisubstituted isatin derivatives were designed and
      synthesized in 5-6 steps in 25-45% overall yields. Their structures were
      confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR as well as LC-MS. The anticancer activity of the
      fourty-three new isatin derivatives against human T lymphocyte cells Jurkat was
      evaluated by MTT assay in vitro. SAR study suggested that the combination of 1
      benzyl and 5-[trans-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethen-1-yl] substitution greatly enhanced
      their cytotoxic activity. Among them, compound 2h was shown to have a significant
      cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 0.03 MUM, more than 330-fold higher than
      that of it's mother molecule isatin. Investigation of the cell morphology changes
      and annexin-V/PI staining study demonstrated that compound 2h inhibited the
      proliferation of Jurkat cells by inducing apoptosis. Since compound 2h induced
      the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and the activation of caspase
      3, it was obvious that compound 2h inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells
      through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Other than this, compound 2h exerted
      inhibition effect to many other tumor cells and only showed weak cytotoxic to
      human normal cells suggesting that compound 2h possessed a broad range of
      anticancer spectrum and high safety to normal cells.

PMID- 26890121
TI  - Critical kinetic control of non-stoichiometric intermediate phase transformation
      for efficient perovskite solar cells.
AB  - Organometal trihalide perovskites (OTP) have attracted significant attention as a
      low-cost and high-efficiency solar cell material. Due to the strong coordination
      between lead iodide (PbI2) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent, a non
      stoichiometric intermediate phase of MA2Pb3I8(DMSO)2 (MA = CH3NH3(+)) usually
      forms in the one-step deposition method that plays a critical role in attaining
      high power conversion efficiency. However, the kinetic understanding of how the
      non-stoichiometric intermediate phase transforms during thermal annealing is
      currently absent. In this work, we investigated such a phase transformation and
      provided a clear picture of three phase transition pathways as a function of
      annealing conditions. The interdiffusion of MAI and DMSO varies strongly with the
      annealing temperature and time, thus determining the final film composition and
      morphology. A surprising finding reveals that the best performing cells contain
      ~18% of the non-stoichiometric intermediate phase, instead of pure phase OTP. The
      presence of such an intermediate phase enables smooth surface morphology and
      enhances the charge carrier lifetime. Our results highlight the importance of the
      intermediate phase growth kinetics that could lead to large-scale production of
      efficient solution processed perovskite solar cells. 

PMID- 26890119
TI  - Small molecule glycoconjugates with anticancer activity.
AB  - Glycoconjugates are combinations of sugar moieties with organic compounds. Due to
      their biological resemblance, such structures often have properties that are
      desirable for drugs. In this study we designed and synthesised several
      glycoconjugates from small molecular quinolines and substituted gluco- and
      galactopyranosyl amines. Although the parent quinoline compounds were inactive in
      affordable concentrations, the glycoconjugates that were obtained appeared to be
      cytotoxic against cancer cells at the micromolar level. When combined with copper
      ions, their activity increased even further. Their mechanism of action is
      connected to the formation of reactive oxygen species and the intercalation of
      DNA. 

PMID- 26890122
TI  - Behcet's: A Disease or a Syndrome? Answer from an Expression Profiling Study.
AB  - Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, multisystemic inflammatory
      disorder with unanswered questions regarding its etiology/pathogenesis and
      classification. Distinct manifestation based subsets, pronounced geographical
      variations in expression, and discrepant immunological abnormalities raised the
      question whether Behcet's is "a disease or a syndrome". To answer the preceding
      question we aimed to display and compare the molecular mechanisms underlying
      distinct subsets of BD. For this purpose, the expression data of the gene
      expression profiling and association study on BD by Xavier et al (2013) was
      retrieved from GEO database and reanalysed by gene expression data
      analysis/visualization and bioinformatics enrichment tools. There were 15 BD
      patients (B) and 14 controls (C). Three subsets of BD patients were generated: MB
      (isolated mucocutaneous manifestations, n = 7), OB (ocular involvement, n = 4),
      and VB (large vein thrombosis, n = 4). Class comparison analyses yielded the
      following numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs); B vs C: 4, MB vs C:
      5, OB vs C: 151, VB vs C: 274, MB vs OB: 215, MB vs VB: 760, OB vs VB: 984. Venn
      diagram analysis showed that there were no common DEGs in the intersection "MB vs
      C" ? "OB vs C" ? "VB vs C". Cluster analyses successfully clustered distinct
      expressions of BD. During gene ontology term enrichment analyses, categories with
      relevance to IL-8 production (MB vs C) and immune response to microorganisms (OB
      vs C) were differentially enriched. Distinct subsets of BD display distinct
      expression profiles and different disease associated pathways. Based on these
      clear discrepancies, the designation as "Behcet's syndrome" (BS) should be
      encouraged and future research should take into consideration the immunogenetic
      heterogeneity of BS subsets. Four gene groups, namely, negative regulators of
      inflammation (CD69, CLEC12A, CLEC12B, TNFAIP3), neutrophil granule proteins (LTF,
      OLFM4, AZU1, MMP8, DEFA4, CAMP), antigen processing and presentation proteins
      (CTSS, ERAP1), and regulators of immune response (LGALS2, BCL10, ITCH, CEACAM8,
      CD36, IL8, CCL4, EREG, NFKBIZ, CCR2, CD180, KLRC4, NFAT5) appear to be
      instrumental in BS immunopathogenesis. 

PMID- 26890123
TI  - Membrane Potential Dynamics of Spontaneous and Visually Evoked Gamma Activity in
      V1 of Awake Mice.
AB  - Cortical gamma activity (30-80 Hz) is believed to play important functions in
      neural computation and arises from the interplay of parvalbumin-expressing
      interneurons (PV) and pyramidal cells (PYRs). However, the subthreshold dynamics
      underlying its emergence in the cortex of awake animals remain unclear. Here, we
      characterized the intracellular dynamics of PVs and PYRs during spontaneous and
      visually evoked gamma activity in layers 2/3 of V1 of awake mice using targeted
      patch-clamp recordings and synchronous local field potentials (LFPs). Strong
      gamma activity patterned in short bouts (one to three cycles), occurred when PVs
      and PYRs were depolarizing and entrained their membrane potential dynamics
      regardless of the presence of visual stimulation. PV firing phase locked
      unconditionally to gamma activity. However, PYRs only phase locked to visually
      evoked gamma bouts. Taken together, our results indicate that gamma activity
      corresponds to short pulses of correlated background synaptic activity
      synchronizing the output of cortical neurons depending on external sensory drive.

PMID- 26890124
TI  - Vocalisation Repertoire of Female Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) in
      Captivity: Sound Structure, Context and Vocal Activity.
AB  - Fish vocalisation is often a major component of underwater soundscapes.
      Therefore, interpretation of these soundscapes requires an understanding of the
      vocalisation characteristics of common soniferous fish species. This study of
      captive female bluefin gurnard, Chelidonichthys kumu, aims to formally
      characterise their vocalisation sounds and daily pattern of sound production.
      Four types of sound were produced and characterised, twice as many as previously
      reported in this species. These sounds fit two aural categories; grunt and growl,
      the mean peak frequencies for which ranged between 129 to 215 Hz. This species
      vocalized throughout the 24 hour period at an average rate of (18.5 +/- 2.0
      sounds fish-1 h-1) with an increase in vocalization rate at dawn and dusk.
      Competitive feeding did not elevate vocalisation as has been found in other
      gurnard species. Bluefin gurnard are common in coastal waters of New Zealand,
      Australia and Japan and, given their vocalization rate, are likely to be
      significant contributors to ambient underwater soundscape in these areas. 

PMID- 26890125
TI  - A Comparison of Pig Farmers' and Veterinarians' Perceptions and Intentions to
      Reduce Antimicrobial Usage in Six European Countries.
AB  - Antimicrobial (AM) resistance is an increasing problem in human and veterinary
      medicine. To manage this problem, the usage of AM should be reduced in pig
      farming, as well as in other areas. It is important to investigate the factors
      that influence both pig farmers' and veterinarians' intentions to reduce AM
      usage, which is a prerequisite for developing intervention measures. We conducted
      a mail survey among pig farmers (N = 1,294) and an online survey among
      veterinarians (N = 334) in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and
      Switzerland. The farmers' survey assessed the perceived risks and benefits of and
      need for AM usage; the intention to reduce AM usage; farmers' efficacy (i.e.
      perception of their ability to reduce AM usage); support from their veterinarian;
      and the future reduction potential of AM usage. Additionally, self-reported
      reduction behaviours, the perceived farmers' barriers to reduce AM usage and
      relationships with farmers were assessed in the veterinarians' survey. The
      results showed that farmers and veterinarians had similar perceptions of the
      risks and benefits of AM usage. Veterinarians appeared to be more optimistic than
      pig farmers about reducing AM usage in pig farming. Farmers believed that their
      efficacy over AM reduction was relatively high. Farmers' intention to reduce AM
      usage and veterinarians' self-reported reduction behaviours were mainly
      associated with factors concerning the feasibility of reducing AM usage. To
      promote prudent AM usage, pig farmers should learn and experience how to reduce
      usage by applying alternative measures, whereas veterinarians should strengthen
      their advisory role and competencies to support and educate farmers.

PMID- 26890126
TI  - Genomic Features: Impact on Pathogenesis and Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic
      Leukemia.
AB  - Genomic markers are among the strongest prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic
      leukemia (CLL). Chromosomal aberrations, IGHV and TP53 mutation status are well
      established and essential to discriminate between a more indolent course of
      disease and a high-risk CLL, which requires an alternative treatment regimen. In
      addition, a variety of gene mutations with unclear prognostic value have been
      identified: SF3B1, ATM, and BIRC3 may describe CLL with adverse outcome, whereas
      NOTCH1 is predictive for resistance against CD20 antibodies. Integration of novel
      drivers into a small set of key pathways forms the basis for future pathogenetic
      and therapeutic implications. 

PMID- 26890127
TI  - Prevalence of very low birthweight, malformation, and low Apgar score among
      newborns in Brazil according to maternal urban or rural residence at birth.
AB  - AIM: Adverse birth outcomes are a major public health issue in rural areas, where
      several environmental risk factors, including pesticides, may endanger the health
      of women of reproductive age. We investigated the prevalence of selected birth
      outcomes among newborns from mothers living in urban and rural areas of a
      Brazilian municipality. METHODS: Information about all live births that occurred
      between 2004 and 2006 in the Municipality of Nova Friburgo, Brazil, was retrieved
      from the Live Birth Information System. Newborns were classified as rural or
      urban, according to the mother's residence address. RESULTS: Newborns from rural
      areas had a higher prevalence of very low-birthweight, low Apgar score, and
      malformation. On Poisson regression with adjustment for several confounders,
      rural offspring were more likely to have the aforementioned outcomes.
      CONCLUSIONS: Women in rural areas are at higher risk of giving birth to an infant
      with very low-birthweight, low 5-min Apgar score and malformations detectable at
      birth, regardless of socioeconomic and gestational conditions.

PMID- 26890130
TI  - Why Are Women Underrepresented in STEM Fields?
AB  - Women are still underrepresented in the so-called "hard" fields of science,
      technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In this Guest Editorial, H.
      Nimmesgern, Chairwoman of the Arbeitskreis Chancengleichheit in der Chemie
      (AKCC), a working group of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), describes the
      challenges women in science face and organizations that have been set up to help
      them in their research careers.

PMID- 26890128
TI  - Economic evaluation of vaccines in Canada: A systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Economic evaluations should form part of the basis for public health
      decision making on new vaccine programs. While Canada's national immunization
      advisory committee does not systematically include economic evaluations in
      immunization decision making, there is increasing interest in adopting them. We
      therefore sought to examine the extent and quality of economic evaluations of
      vaccines in Canada. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review of economic
      evaluations of vaccines in Canada to determine and summarize: comprehensiveness
      across jurisdictions, studied vaccines, funding sources, study designs, research
      quality, and changes over time. METHODS: Searches in multiple databases were
      conducted using the terms "vaccine," "economics" and "Canada." Descriptive data
      from eligible manuscripts was abstracted and three authors independently
      evaluated manuscript quality using a 7-point Likert-type scale scoring tool based
      on criteria from the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes
      Research (ISPOR). RESULTS: 42/175 articles met the search criteria. Of these,
      Canada-wide studies were most common (25/42), while provincial studies largely
      focused on the three populous provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
      The most common funding source was industry (17/42), followed by government
      (7/42). 38 studies used mathematical models estimating expected economic benefit
      while 4 studies examined post-hoc data on established programs. Studies covered
      10 diseases, with 28/42 addressing pediatric vaccines. Many studies considered
      cost-utility (22/42) and the majority of these studies reported favorable
      economic results (16/22). The mean quality score was 5.9/7 and was consistent
      over publication date, funding sources, and disease areas. CONCLUSIONS: We
      observed diverse approaches to evaluate vaccine economics in Canada. Given the
      increased complexity of economic studies evaluating vaccines and the impact of
      results on public health practice, Canada needs improved, transparent and
      consistent processes to review and assess the findings of the economic
      evaluations of vaccines.

PMID- 26890129
TI  - Predictors of Delayed Healthcare Seeking Among American Muslim Women.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delayed care seeking is associated with adverse health outcomes. For
      Muslim women, delayed care seeking might include religion-related motivations,
      such as a preference for female clinicians, concerns about preserving modesty,
      and fatalistic beliefs. Our study assesses associations between religion-related
      factors and delayed care seeking due to a perceived lack of female clinicians.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveys were distributed to Muslim women attending mosque
      and community events in Chicago. Survey items included measures of religiosity,
      religious fatalism, discrimination, modesty, and alternative medicine utilization
      and worship practices. The outcome measure asked for levels of agreement to the
      statement "I have delayed seeking medical care when no woman doctor is available
      to see me." RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-four women completed the survey with
      nearly equal numbers of African Americans (26%), Arab Americans (33%), and South
      Asians (33%). Fifty-three percent reported delays in care seeking due to a
      perceived lack of female clinicians. In multivariate analysis adjusting for
      sociodemographic factors, higher religiosity (odds ratio [OR] = 5.2, p < 0.01)
      and modesty levels (OR = 1.4, p < 0.001) were positively associated with delayed
      care seeking. Having lived in the United States for >20 years (OR = 0.22, p <
      0.05) was negatively associated with delayed care seeking. CONCLUSION: Many
      American Muslim women reported delays in care seeking due to a perceived lack of
      female clinicians. Women with higher levels of modesty and self-rated religiosity
      had higher odds of delaying care. Women who had lived in the United States for
      longer durations had lower odds of delaying care. Our research highlights the
      need for gender-concordant providers and culturally sensitive care for American
      Muslims.

PMID- 26890131
TI  - Comparisons of body sizes at sexual maturity and at sex change in the
      parrotfishes of Hawaii: input needed for management regulations and stock
      assessments.
AB  - First estimates of sex allocation patterns and body size-at-sexual maturity and
      at protogynous sex change are presented for the five major (including one
      endemic) species of parrotfishes of Hawaii. Median body size at initial
      maturation as a female (LM50) and at protogynous sex change from adult female to
      adult male (LDelta50) varied greatly among the five species. Estimates of LM50
      were about 14, 17, 24, 34 and 35 cm fork length (LF) in palenose Scarus
      psittacus, Pacific bullethead Chlorurus spilurus, stareye Calotomus carolinus,
      spectacled Chlorurus perspicillatus and redlip parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus.
      Values of LDelta50 were c. 23, 27, 37, 46 and 47 cm LF in the respective species.
      Length at female maturation was proportional to maximum body size (Lmax) of the
      respective species, ranging from 50 to 72% and averaging 62% of Lmax across
      species. LDelta50 was also proportional to Lmax, ranging from 82 to 97% and
      averaging 92%. Males of both pairs of Scarus and Chlorurus spp. reported here are
      diandric. Only one of the five major species (C. carolinus) is functionally
      monandric, with either all or nearly all males secondarily derived from adult
      females. The broadly differing absolute body sizes at sexual maturation and at
      sex change among the five species have important implications for improving
      regulatory size limits for parrotfishes in the State of Hawaii, where parrotfish
      species have historically been managed based on a single minimum size limit of
      30.5 cm LF. This study provides a model demonstration of why catch data for
      parrotfishes, and other size-structured reef-fish populations, should be recorded
      either by species or by functional size-groups of species that allow setting more
      meaningful minimum size limits.

PMID- 26890132
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26890134
TI  - Altered Hepatic Transport by Fetal Arsenite Exposure in Diet-Induced Fatty Liver
      Disease.
AB  - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can result in changes to drug metabolism and
      disposition potentiating adverse drug reactions. Furthermore, arsenite exposure
      during development compounds the severity of diet-induced fatty liver disease.
      This study examines the effects of arsenite potentiated diet-induced fatty liver
      disease on hepatic transport in male mice. Changes were detected for Mrp2/3/4
      hepatic transporter gene expression as well as for Oatp1a4/2b1/1b2. Plasma
      concentrations of Mrp and Oatp substrates were increased in arsenic exposure
      groups compared with diet-only controls. In addition, murine embryonic
      hepatocytes and adult primary hepatocytes show significantly altered transporter
      expression after exposure to arsenite alone: a previously unreported phenomenon.
      These data indicate that developmental exposure to arsenite leads to changes in
      hepatic transport which could increase the risk for ADRs during fatty liver
      disease. 

PMID- 26890136
TI  - Extracellular ATP and P2X7 receptor exert context-specific immunogenic effects
      after immunogenic cancer cell death.

PMID- 26890135
TI  - Caspase-2 promotes obesity, the metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver
      disease.
AB  - Obesity and its resulting metabolic disturbances are major health threats. In
      response to energy surplus, overtaxed adipocytes release fatty acids and pro
      inflammatory factors into the circulation, promoting organ fat accumulation
      (including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease), insulin resistance and the
      metabolic syndrome. Recently, caspase-2 was linked to lipoapoptosis, so we
      hypothesized that caspase-2 might be a critical determinant of metabolic syndrome
      pathogenesis. Caspase-2-deficient and wild-type mice were fed a Western diet
      (high-fat diet, enriched with saturated fatty acids and 0.2% cholesterol,
      supplemented with fructose and glucose in the drinking water) for 16 weeks.
      Metabolic and hepatic outcomes were evaluated. In vitro studies assessed the role
      of caspase-2 in adipose tissue proliferative properties and susceptibility for
      lipoapoptosis. Caspase-2-deficient mice fed a Western diet were protected from
      abdominal fat deposition, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis.
      Adipose tissue in caspase-2-deficient mice was more proliferative, upregulated
      mitochondrial uncoupling proteins consistent with browning, and was resistant to
      cell hypertrophy and cell death. The liver was protected from steatohepatitis
      through a decrease in circulating fatty acids and more efficient hepatic fat
      metabolism, and from fibrosis as a consequence of reduced fibrogenic stimuli from
      fewer lipotoxic hepatocytes. Caspase-2 deficiency protected mice from diet
      induced obesity, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Further
      studies are necessary to assess caspase-2 as a therapeutic target for those
      conditions. 

PMID- 26890137
TI  - The anticancer effect of chaetocin is enhanced by inhibition of autophagy.
AB  - Chaetocin is a fungal metabolite that possesses a potent antiproliferative
      activity in solid tumors by inducing cell death. Although recent studies have
      extended the role of chaetocin in tumors, the underlying molecular mechanisms
      such as the downstream cascade that induces cell death has not clearly been
      elucidated. In this study, we show that chaetocin is able to induce both
      apoptosis and autophagy in several hepatoma cell lines including HepG2, Hep3B and
      Huh7 cell lines. Moreover, we found that the inhibition of caspase-3/7 activity
      by z-VAD-fmk treatment was able to block chaetocin-mediated cell death, whereas
      blocking autophagy by Bafilomycin A1 or the knockdown of autophagy protein 5
      enhanced cell death mediated by chaetocin. These findings suggest that chaetocin
      has a potent anticancer effect against hepatoma. Inhibition of autophagy may
      potentiate anticancer effects of chaetocin thus providing evidence that combined
      treatment with chaetocin and autophagy inhibitors will be an effective strategy
      for treating cancer. 

PMID- 26890138
TI  - AIMP1 downregulation restores chondrogenic characteristics of
      dedifferentiated/degenerated chondrocytes by enhancing TGF-beta signal.
AB  - Dedifferentiation and degeneration of chondrocytes critically influences the
      efficiency of cartilage repair. One of the causes is the defect of transforming
      growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling that promotes chondrogenic differentiation and
      degeneration. In the present study, we found that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
      interacting multifunctional protein 1 (AIMP1) negatively regulates TGF-beta
      signaling via interactions with Smad2 and Smad3 in immunoprecipitation assay and
      luciferase assay. In addition, we observed that the AIMP1 expression level was
      significantly increased in osteoarthritis (OA) patient-derived degenerated
      chondrocytes compared with healthy control. So, we hypothesized that
      downregulation of AIMP1 using small-interfering RNA (siRNA) technology in
      dedifferentiated (collected at passage #6) and degenerated (obtained from OA
      affected areas) chondrocytes could lead to recover TGF-beta signaling in both
      chondrocytes. Indeed, AIMP1 downregulation restored TGF-beta signaling by
      promoting phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, which shows redifferentiated
      characteristics in both dedifferentiated and degenerated chondrocytes.
      Additionally, implantation analyses using in vivo mouse model clearly showed that
      AIMP1 downregulation resulted in the increased chondrogenic potential as well as
      the enhanced cartilage tissue formation in both dedifferentiated and degenerated
      chondrocytes. Histological analyses clarified that AIMP1 downregulation increased
      expression levels of collagen type II (Col II) and aggrecan, but not Col I
      expression. Taken together, these data indicate that AIMP1 downregulation using
      siRNA is a novel tool to restore TGF-beta signaling and thereby increases the
      chondrogenic potential of dedifferentiated/degenerated chondrocytes, which could
      be further developed as a therapeutic siRNA to treat OA. 

PMID- 26890139
TI  - Altered Kv2.1 functioning promotes increased excitability in hippocampal neurons
      of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.
AB  - Altered neuronal excitability is emerging as an important feature in Alzheimer's
      disease (AD). Kv2.1 potassium channels are important modulators of neuronal
      excitability and synaptic activity. We investigated Kv2.1 currents and its
      relation to the intrinsic synaptic activity of hippocampal neurons from 3xTg-AD
      (triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease) mice, a widely employed
      preclinical AD model. Synaptic activity was also investigated by analyzing
      spontaneous [Ca(2+)]i spikes. Compared with wild-type (Non-Tg (non-transgenic
      mouse model)) cultures, 3xTg-AD neurons showed enhanced spike frequency and
      decreased intensity. Compared with Non-Tg cultures, 3xTg-AD hippocampal neurons
      revealed reduced Kv2.1-dependent Ik current densities as well as normalized
      conductances. 3xTg-AD cultures also exhibited an overall decrease in the number
      of functional Kv2.1 channels. Immunofluorescence assay revealed an increase in
      Kv2.1 channel oligomerization, a condition associated with blockade of channel
      function. In Non-Tg neurons, pharmacological blockade of Kv2.1 channels
      reproduced the altered pattern found in the 3xTg-AD cultures. Moreover, compared
      with untreated sister cultures, pharmacological inhibition of Kv2.1 in 3xTg-AD
      neurons did not produce any significant modification in Ik current densities.
      Reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote Kv2.1 oligomerization, thereby acting as
      negative modulator of the channel activity. Glutamate receptor activation
      produced higher ROS levels in hippocampal 3xTg-AD cultures compared with Non-Tg
      neurons. Antioxidant treatment with N-Acetyl-Cysteine was found to rescue Kv2.1
      dependent currents and decreased spontaneous hyperexcitability in 3xTg-AD
      neurons. Analogous results regarding spontaneous synaptic activity were observed
      in neuronal cultures treated with the antioxidant 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8
      tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox). Our study indicates that AD
      related mutations may promote enhanced ROS generation, oxidative-dependent
      oligomerization, and loss of function of Kv2.1 channels. These processes can be
      part on the increased neuronal excitability of these neurons. These steps may set
      a deleterious vicious circle that eventually helps to promote excitotoxic damage
      found in the AD brain. 

PMID- 26890140
TI  - Angiopoietin 2 induces astrocyte apoptosis via alphavbeta5-integrin signaling in
      diabetic retinopathy.
AB  - The vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy leads to macular edema and vision
      loss. Although astrocyte play an important role in regulating blood-brain barrier
      integrity in the brain, the precise role of astrocyte in blood-retinal barrier
      was yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of
      angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) in astrocyte loss and vascular leakage in the early
      streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy. We demonstrated that vascular
      leakage occurred with astrocyte loss in early diabetic mice retina as Ang2
      increased. The astrocyte loss and vascular leakage were inhibited by intravitreal
      injection of Ang2-neutralizing antibody. In vitro, Ang2 aggravated high glucose
      induced astrocyte apoptosis via GSK-3beta activation. Ang2 directly bound to
      alphavbeta5 integrin, which was abundant in astrocyte, and the blockade of
      alphavbeta5 integrin, in vitro, effectively attenuated Ang2-induced astrocyte
      apoptosis. In vivo, intravitreal injection of anti-alphavbeta5-integrin antibody
      inhibited astrocyte loss in early diabetic retinopathy. Taken together, Ang2
      induced astrocyte apoptosis under high glucose via alphavbeta5-integrin/GSK
      3beta/beta-catenin pathway. Therefore, we suggest that Ang2/integrin signaling
      could be a potential therapeutic target to prevent the vascular leakage by
      astrocyte loss in early diabetic retinopathy. 

PMID- 26890141
TI  - The transcriptional coactivator PGC1alpha protects against hyperthermic stress
      via cooperation with the heat shock factor HSF1.
AB  - Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are required for the clearance of damaged and
      aggregated proteins and have important roles in protein homeostasis. It has been
      shown that the heat shock transcription factor, HSF1, orchestrates the
      transcriptional induction of these stress-regulated chaperones; however, the
      coregulatory factors responsible for the enhancement of HSF1 function on these
      target genes have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that the cold
      inducible coactivator, PGC1alpha, also known for its role as a regulator of
      mitochondrial and peroxisomal biogenesis, thermogenesis and cytoprotection from
      oxidative stress, regulates the expression of HSPs in vitro and in vivo and
      modulates heat tolerance. Mechanistically, we show that PGC1alpha physically
      interacts with HSF1 on HSP promoters and that cells and mice lacking PGC1alpha
      have decreased HSPs levels and are more sensitive to thermal challenges. Taken
      together, our findings suggest that PGC1alpha protects against hyperthermia by
      cooperating with HSF1 in the induction of a transcriptional program devoted to
      the cellular protection from thermal insults. 

PMID- 26890143
TI  - Role of apoptosis-related miRNAs in resveratrol-induced breast cancer cell death.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and one of the
      leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Recent evidences indicate that
      dietary agents such as resveratrol may inhibit cancer progression through
      modulation of microRNAs (miRNAs). We demonstrate that resveratrol regulates
      apoptotic and cell cycle machinery in breast cancer cells by modulating key tumor
      suppressive miRNAs including miR-125b-5p, miR-200c-3p, miR-409-3p, miR-122-5p and
      miR-542-3p. Resveratrol-mediated miRNA modulation regulates key anti-apoptotic
      and cell cycle proteins including Bcl-2, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein
      and CDKs, which are critical for its activity. Modulating miRNAs with mimics or
      inhibitors further validated a key role for miR-542-3p in MCF-7 and miR-122-5p in
      MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell death in response to resveratrol. In conclusion,
      this study reveals novel miRNAs modulated by resveratrol that have a key role in
      breast cancer cell death. 

PMID- 26890142
TI  - The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein A1/Bfl-1 regulates neutrophil survival
      and homeostasis and is controlled via PI3K and JAK/STAT signaling.
AB  - Neutrophil granulocytes are innate effector cells of the first line of defense
      against pyogenic bacteria. Neutrophil lifespan is short, is prolonged by pro
      inflammatory stimuli, controls functionality of the cells and can determine
      tissue damage. Experimental analysis of primary neutrophils is difficult because
      of their short lifespan and lack of possibilities of genetic manipulation. The
      Hoxb8 system of neutrophil differentiation from immortalized progenitor cells
      offers the advantage of unlimited production of neutrophils in vitro as well as
      easy genetic modification. We here use this system to analyze the role of the
      poorly characterized anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family
      member A1/Bfl-1 (Bcl-2-related protein A1) for survival and homeostasis of
      neutrophils and of neutrophil progenitors. Low constitutive mRNA and protein
      expression of A1 was detected, while A1 was transiently upregulated early during
      differentiation. Pro-inflammatory stimuli caused strong, mainly transcriptional,
      A1 upregulation, in contrast to posttranscriptional regulation of Mcl-1 (induced
      myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein). Inhibitor studies showed that
      phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and
      activator of transcription (STAT) is required for A1 expression and survival of
      progenitors and mature neutrophils. ShRNA-mediated constitutive A1 knockdown (KD)
      impaired maintenance of progenitors. ShRNA experiments further showed that A1 was
      required early during neutrophil differentiation as well as in mature neutrophils
      upon pro-inflammatory stimulation. Our data further indicate differential
      regulation of the two anti-apoptotic proteins A1 and Mcl-1. Relevant findings
      were confirmed in primary human neutrophils. Our data indicate that A1, in
      addition to the well-established Mcl-1, substantially contributes to neutrophil
      survival and homeostasis. A1 may thus be a promising target for anti-inflammatory
      therapy. 

PMID- 26890147
TI  - From gene discovery to precision intervention in epilepsy: almost the end of the
      beginning.

PMID- 26890144
TI  - Drug screening on Hutchinson Gilford progeria pluripotent stem cells reveals
      aminopyrimidines as new modulators of farnesylation.
AB  - Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disorder
      characterized by a dramatic appearance of premature aging. HGPS is due to a
      single-base substitution in exon 11 of the LMNA gene (c.1824C>T) leading to the
      production of a toxic form of the prelamin A protein called progerin. Because
      farnesylation process had been shown to control progerin toxicity, in this study
      we have developed a screening method permitting to identify new pharmacological
      inhibitors of farnesylation. For this, we have used the unique potential of
      pluripotent stem cells to have access to an unlimited and relevant biological
      resource and test 21,608 small molecules. This study identified several
      compounds, called monoaminopyrimidines, which target two key enzymes of the
      farnesylation process, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase and farnesyl transferase,
      and rescue in vitro phenotypes associated with HGPS. Our results opens up new
      therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of HGPS by identifying a new family
      of protein farnesylation inhibitors, and which may also be applicable to cancers
      and diseases associated with mutations that involve farnesylated proteins.

PMID- 26890145
TI  - Low nanomolar concentrations of Cucurbitacin-I induces G2/M phase arrest and
      apoptosis by perturbing redox homeostasis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and in
      vivo.
AB  - Cucurbitacin-I (Cu-I, also known as Elatericin B or JSI-124) is developed to
      inhibit constitutive and abnormal activation of STAT3 in many cancers,
      demonstrating a potent anticancer activity by targeting disruption of STAT3
      function. Here, we for the first time systematically studied the underlying
      molecular mechanisms of Cu-I-induced gastric cancer cell death both in vitro and
      in vivo. In our study, we show that Cu-I markedly inhibits gastric cancer cell
      growth by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis at low nanomolar
      concentrations via a STAT3-independent mechanism. Notably, Cu-I significantly
      decreases intracellular GSH/GSSG ratio by inhibiting NRF2 pathway to break
      cellular redox homeostasis, and subsequently induces the expression of
      GADD45alpha in a p53-independent manner, and activates JNK/p38 MAPK signaling.
      Interestingly, Cu-I-induced GADD45alpha and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling form a
      positive feedback loop and can be reciprocally regulated by each other.
      Therefore, the present study provides new insights into the mechanisms of
      antitumor effects of Cu-I, supporting Cu-I as an attractive therapeutic drug in
      gastric cancer by modulating the redox balance. 

PMID- 26890146
TI  - Loss of Merlin/NF2 protects pancreatic beta-cells from apoptosis by inhibiting
      LATS2.

PMID- 26890148
TI  - Spatial patterns of off-the-system traffic crashes in Miami-Dade County, Florida,
      during 2005-2010.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the spatial distribution of
      the vehicles involved in crashes in Miami-Dade County. In addition, we analyzed
      the role of time of day, day of the week, seasonality, drivers' age in the
      distribution of traffic crashes. METHOD: Off-the-system crash data acquired from
      the Florida Department of Transportation during 2005-2010 were divided into
      subcategories according to the risk factors age, time of day, day of the week,
      and travel season. Various spatial statistics methods, including nearest neighbor
      analysis, Getis-Ord hot spot analysis, and kernel density analysis revealed
      substantial spatial variations, depending on the subcategory in question.
      RESULTS: Downtown Miami and South Beach showed up consistently as hotspots of
      traffic crashes in all subcategories except fatal crashes. However, fatal crashes
      were concentrated in residential areas in inland areas. CONCLUSION: This
      understanding of patterns can help the county target high-risk areas and help to
      reduce crash fatalities to create a safer environment for motorists and
      pedestrians.

PMID- 26890149
TI  - Nanoparticles of gadolinium-incorporated Prussian blue with PEG coating as an
      effective oral MRI contrast agent for gastrointestinal tract imaging.
AB  - Biocompatible nanoparticles of gadolinium-incorporated Prussian blue with the
      empirical formula K(0.94)Gd(0.02)Fe[Fe(CN)6] exhibit extremely high stability
      against the release of Gd(3+) and CN(-) ions under the acidic conditions similar
      to stomach juice. The high r1 relaxivity, low cytotoxicity and the ability of
      such nanoparticles to penetrate the cell membrane suggest that this coordination
      polymer structural platform offers a unique opportunity for developing the next
      generation of T1-weighted oral cellular MRI probes for the early detection of
      tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.

PMID- 26890151
TI  - Calorimetric and spectroscopic studies on solvation energetics for H2 storage in
      the CO2/HCOOH system.
AB  - Solvents playing a crucial role in many chemical reactions and additives can be
      used to shift the reaction equilibrium. Herein we study the enthalpy of mixing
      for selected solvents (aqueous, organic) and basic additives (amines, aqueous
      KOH) when mixed with formic acid with the aim to optimize hydrogen
      storage/delivery in the CO2/HCOOH system. Formic acid, resulting from carbon
      dioxide hydrogenation, reaches highest yields when effectively "removed" from the
      reaction equilibrium. In terms of energy efficiency, any heat released during CO2
      hydrogenation has to be reused in the reverse reaction, during the production of
      hydrogen. In any scenario, the usage of basic chemicals, non-innocent solvents,
      causes higher energy release in CO2 hydrogenation, which has to be reused in the
      hydrogen delivery process. Therefore, the enthalpy of mixing is a valuable
      parameter for designing hydrogen storage devices since it allows the estimation
      of energy balance for the CO2 hydrogenation/H2 liberation cycle. The highest
      formic acid concentrations in direct catalytic CO2 hydrogenation under acidic
      conditions were reached in DMSO. DMSO exhibits considerably stronger interactions
      with formic acid compared to water as was observed in calorimetric measurements.
      This difference can be ascribed, at least partly, to stronger hydrogen bonding of
      FA to DMSO than to water in the corresponding solutions, examined by a
      combination of IR spectroscopic and quantum chemical studies. Furthermore, the
      investigation of DMSO/FA- and water/FA systems by (1)H- and (13)C-NMR
      spectroscopy revealed that only 1 : 1 aggregates are formed in the DMSO solutions
      of FA in a broad concentration range, while the stoichiometry and the number of
      the FA-water aggregates essentially depend on the concentration of aqueous
      solutions.

PMID- 26890150
TI  - The use of decision aids on early detection of prostate cancer: views of men and
      general practitioners.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: While decision support tools such as decision aids can
      contribute to shared decision making, implementing these tools in daily practice
      is challenging. To identify and address issues around the use of decision support
      tools in routine care, this study explores the views of men and general
      practitioners on using a DA for early detection of prostate cancer. METHODS,
      SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Group discussions and semi-structured interviews were
      carried out with 43 men and 16 general practitioners familiar with a previously
      developed decision aid. Data were analysed using qualitative description.
      RESULTS: Views on using the decision support tool could be classified into four
      categories: no need for decision making, need for support, perceived benefit and
      practical barriers. For each category, several underlying themes could be
      identified that reflect the absence or presence of prerequisites to successful
      decision support delivery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: While men and general
      practitioners generally have positive attitudes to shared decision making, for
      both parties attitudes such as not agreeing that there is a decision to be made
      and doubts on the beneficence of using DAs were identified as factors that may
      hinder the use of a DA in clinical practice. Participants formulated strategies
      to support the use of DAs, mainly supplementing DAs with short tools and
      investing in both training programmes and large-scale awareness raising of the
      general public.

PMID- 26890152
TI  - Modified Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Siloxane Capture.
AB  - In this study, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) was removed by using a novel
      modified solid adsorbent of mesoporous silica. The adsorbent was synthesized
      using inverse micelles with some modifications in the synthesis process
      (temperature of gelation) and in the post treatment conditions (calcination
      temperature and heating rate) with a concomitant improvement of D4 uptake. This
      is the first report on regulating the textural properties of the mesoporous
      silica material UCT-14 to develop an active silica adsorbent. These adjustments
      resulted in an increase of the silica surface area from 391 to 798 m(2).g(-1),
      which leads to a high capacity (686 mg.g(-1)) of D4-capture for the silica
      synthesized at 80  degrees C, calcined at 450  degrees C with the heating rate of
      100  degrees C.min(-1) (Si-Syn80). This adsorbent showed comparable adsorption
      performance with the widely used commercial silica gel under dry and humid
      condition. Recyclability tests on the commercial silica gel and mesoporous silica
      synthesized at 120  degrees C and calcined at 450  degrees C with a heating rate
      of 100  degrees C.min(-1) (called Si-Syn120 or Si-450 or Si-100  degrees C.min(
      1)) indicated that the Si-Syn120 (capacity drop 10%) is more efficient than
      silica gel (capacity drop 15%) after three cycles. Although, the presence of
      moisture (25%) in the nitrogen gas stream led to capacity reduction in both Si
      Syn120 and commercial silica gel, the modified UCT-14 shows slightly better
      resistance to humid condition.

PMID- 26890153
TI  - Fully Integrated Organic Nanocrystal Diode as High Performance Room Temperature
      NO2 Sensor.
AB  - Organic diodes consisting of molecular nano-pyramid structures sandwiched between
      metal and strained nano-membrane electrodes are created. The robust and smooth
      contacts provided by self-curled metal layers render the molecular nano-pyramids
      efficent channels for detecting nitrogen dioxide airflow. 

PMID- 26890155
TI  - Clinical outcomes of patients infected with HIV through use of injected drugs
      compared to patients infected through sexual transmission: late presentation,
      delayed anti-retroviral treatment and higher mortality.
AB  - AIMS: To compare patients who acquired HIV infection through use of injected
      drugs (HIV-IDU) with patients who acquired HIV by sexual transmission (HIV-ST) in
      terms of late presentation (LP), delay in anti-retroviral treatment (ART)
      initiation, virological and immunological response to ART, mortality and
      progression to AIDS. DESIGN: Prospective multi-centre cohort study of HIV
      infected subjects naive to ART at entry (Cohort of the Spanish HIV Research
      Network: CoRIS). SETTING: Thirty-one centres from the Spanish public health-care
      system. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 9355 patients were included (1064 HIV-IDU and
      8291 HIV-ST) during 2004-13. MEASUREMENTS: We compared LP (defined as
      presentation for care with a CD4 cell count < 350/MUl and/or AIDS-defining
      illness), delayed ART initiation (defined as initiating treatment more than 6
      months after the date when treatment was indicated by the guidelines, or not
      initiating treatment at all when it was indicated), virological and immunological
      response to ART (defined as viral load < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml and a CD4 count
      increase of at least 100 cells/MUl, respectively, after 1 year of treatment),
      mortality and progression to AIDS in HIV-IDU and HIV-ST. FINDINGS: Compared with
      HIV-ST, HIV-IDU had higher risk of LP [odds ratio (OR) = 1.76; 95% confidence
      interval (CI) = 1.41-2.18], delayed ART initiation (OR 1.87; 95% CI = 1.46-2.40)
      and higher mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.03-2.01] and risk of
      progression to AIDS [subhazard ratio (SHR) = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.29-2.18].
      Virological suppression due to ART was lower in HIV-IDU than in patients with HIV
      ST only among patients without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [adjusted OR
      (aOR) = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.36-0.95]; among patients with HCV infection, virological
      suppression due to ART did not show significant differences between HIV-IDU and
      HIV-ST. There were no significant differences in immunological response after
      adjusting by HCV (aOR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.52-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain,
      patients who acquire HIV infection through use of injected drugs appear to have a
      higher risk of late presentation, delayed initiation of anti-retroviral treatment
      and progression to AIDS and death than patients who acquire HIV by sexual
      transmission.

PMID- 26890157
TI  - Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes.
AB  - The testis, and in particular the male gamete, challenges the immune system in a
      unique way because differentiated sperm first appear at the time of puberty -
      more than ten years after the establishment of systemic immune tolerance.
      Spermatogenic cells express a number of proteins that may be seen as non-self by
      the immune system. The testis must then be able to establish tolerance to these
      neo-antigens on the one hand but still be able to protect itself from infections
      and tumor development on the other hand. Therefore the testis is one of a few
      immune privileged sites in the body that tolerate foreign antigens without
      evoking a detrimental inflammatory immune response. Sertoli cells play a key role
      for the maintenance of this immune privileged environment of the testis and also
      prolong survival of cotransplanted cells in a foreign environment. Therefore
      primary Sertoli cells are an important tool for studying the immune privilege of
      the testis that cannot be easily replaced by established cell lines or other
      cellular models. Here we present a detailed and comprehensive protocol for the
      isolation of Sertoli cells - and peritubular cells if desired - from rat testes
      within a single day. 

PMID- 26890158
TI  - Drawing from a culture of active learning: Student-initiated peer education.

PMID- 26890159
TI  - Correction: Preferential Allele Expression Analysis Identifies Shared Germline
      and Somatic Driver Genes in Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

PMID- 26890160
TI  - Helicobacter-negative gastritis: polymerase chain reaction for Helicobacter DNA
      is a valuable tool to elucidate the diagnosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Helicobacter-negative gastritis has been increasingly reported.
      Molecular techniques as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may detect bacterial
      DNA in histologically negative gastritis. AIM: To evaluate of Helicobacter PCR in
      gastric biopsies for the daily diagnostics of Helicobacter-negative gastritis.
      METHODS: Over a 5-year period, routine biopsies with chronic gastritis
      reminiscent of Helicobacter infection, but negative by histology, were tested by
      using a H. pylori specific PCR. Subsequently, PCR-negative samples were re
      evaluated using PCR for other Helicobacter species. RESULTS: Of the 9184 gastric
      biopsies, 339 (3.7%) with histological-negative gastritis and adequate material
      were forwarded to PCR analysis for H. pylori and 146 (43.1%) revealed a positive
      result. In 193 H. pylori DNA-negative biopsies, re-analysis using PCR primers for
      other Helicobacter species, revealed further 23 (11.9%) positive biopsies,
      including 4 (2.1%) biopsies with H. heilmannii sensu lato. PCR-positive biopsies
      showed a higher overall inflammatory score, more lymphoid follicles/aggregates
      and neutrophils (P < 0.05). No Helicobacter DNA was found in control biopsies of
      48 patients with neither primer set (P < 0.0001). In 274 patients with an
      endoscopic description, detection of H. pylori DNA was associated with ulcers and
      erosions (P < 0.01). Over all, in 339 histologically-negative gastric biopsies,
      Helicobacter DNA was detected in 169 (49.9%) samples with at least one primer
      set. CONCLUSION: Molecular testing offers a sensitive and specific diagnosis to a
      selected group of patients, in whom adequate searches for bacteria by
      conventional histology have resulted in the unsatisfactory diagnosis of H. pylori
      negative gastritis.

PMID- 26890162
TI  - Spinal Fractures in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Etiology, Diagnosis,
      and Management.
AB  - In patients with ankylosing spondylitis, the altered biomechanics of the spine
      increase the incidence of spinal fractures and the risk of subsequent
      displacement and neurologic injury. Radiographic evaluation is difficult and
      requires imaging of the entire spine and the use of advanced imaging. Nonsurgical
      treatment has a high rate of complications and is typically pursued only when
      surgical intervention would carry unacceptably high perioperative risks. The
      surgical approach depends on the fracture location and any deformity present.
      Anterior fixation alone has been associated with high failure rates; therefore,
      posterior or combined anterior-posterior fixation should be considered. With
      either nonsurgical or surgical management, complications are frequent and can
      result in high mortality rates; however, good outcomes can be achieved if an
      appropriate level of suspicion of fracture is maintained and care is taken to
      avoid complications related to patient transport, transfer, and positioning. 

PMID- 26890163
TI  - Capacity Building for Rare Bleeding Disorders in the Remote Commonwealth of the
      Northern Mariana Islands.
AB  - The US Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is home to an
      underserved hemophilia population. We developed a strategy in 2014 to build
      sustainable island-wide medical, patient and family, and community support for
      this rare disease. Collaboration with regional bleeding disorder leadership
      galvanized a weeklong conference series. More than 200 participants attended
      discipline-specific seminars; pre-post test evaluations documented educational
      benefits. This time-concentrated island-wide education intervention promoted the
      rapid identification of new cases and stimulated sustainable bleeding disorder
      care development. The education series proved feasible, efficient, and effective
      in increasing knowledge and reducing patient and professional isolation, serving
      as a model for improving capacity for orphan diseases (those that affect fewer
      than 200 000 people in any particular country) in underresourced areas.

PMID- 26890161
TI  - Iron-catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Propargyl Carboxylates and Grignard Reagents:
      Synthesis of Substituted Allenes.
AB  - Presented herein is a mild, facile, and efficient iron-catalyzed synthesis of
      substituted allenes from propargyl carboxylates and Grignard reagents. Only 1-5
      mol % of the inexpensive and environmentally benign [Fe(acac)3 ] at -20  degrees
      C was sufficient to afford a broad range of substituted allenes in excellent
      yields. The method tolerates a variety of functional groups. 

PMID- 26890156
TI  - Infection-related and -unrelated malignancies, HIV and the aging population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: HIV-positive people have increased risk of infection-related
      malignancies (IRMs) and infection-unrelated malignancies (IURMs). The aim of the
      study was to determine the impact of aging on future IRM and IURM incidence.
      METHODS: People enrolled in EuroSIDA and followed from the latest of the first
      visit or 1 January 2001 until the last visit or death were included in the study.
      Poisson regression was used to investigate the impact of aging on the incidence
      of IRMs and IURMs, adjusting for demographic, clinical and laboratory
      confounders. Linear exponential smoothing models forecasted future incidence.
      RESULTS: A total of 15 648 people contributed 95 033 person-years of follow-up,
      of whom 610 developed 643 malignancies [IRMs: 388 (60%); IURMs: 255 (40%)]. After
      adjustment, a higher IRM incidence was associated with a lower CD4 count
      [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) CD4 count < 200 cells/MUL: 3.77; 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 2.59, 5.51; compared with >= 500 cells/MUL], independent
      of age, while a CD4 count < 200 cells/MUL was associated with IURMs in people
      aged < 50 years only (aIRR: 2.51; 95% CI 1.40-4.54). Smoking was associated with
      IURMs (aIRR: 1.75; 95% CI 1.23, 2.49) compared with never smokers in people aged
      >= 50 years only, and not with IRMs. The incidences of both IURMs and IRMs
      increased with older age. It was projected that the incidence of IRMs would
      decrease by 29% over a 5-year period from 3.1 (95% CI 1.5-5.9) per 1000 person
      years in 2011, whereas the IURM incidence would increase by 44% from 4.1 (95% CI
      2.2-7.2) per 1000 person-years over the same period. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and
      HIV-related risk factors for IURMs (aging and smoking) and IRMs (immunodeficiency
      and ongoing viral replication) differ markedly and the contribution from IURMs
      relative to IRMs will continue to increase as a result of aging of the HIV
      infected population, high smoking and lung cancer prevalence and a low prevalence
      of untreated HIV infection. These findings suggest the need for targeted
      preventive measures and evaluation of the cost-benefit of screening for IURMs in
      HIV-infected populations.

PMID- 26890164
TI  - Community Health Center Utilization Following the 2008 Medicaid Expansion in
      Oregon: Implications for the Affordable Care Act.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess longitudinal patterns of community health center (CHC)
      utilization and the effect of insurance discontinuity after Oregon's 2008
      Medicaid expansion (the Oregon Experiment). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective
      cohort study with electronic health records and Medicaid data. We divided
      individuals who gained Medicaid in the Oregon Experiment into those who
      maintained (n = 788) or lost (n = 944) insurance coverage. We compared these
      groups with continuously insured (n = 921) and continuously uninsured (n = 5416)
      reference groups for community health center utilization rates over a 36-month
      period. RESULTS: Both newly insured groups increased utilization in the first 6
      months. After 6 months, use among those who maintained coverage stabilized at a
      level consistent with the continuously insured, whereas it returned to baseline
      for those who lost coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who maintained coverage
      through Oregon's Medicaid expansion increased long-term utilization of CHCs,
      whereas those with unstable coverage did not. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: This study
      predicts long-term increase in CHC utilization following Affordable Care Act
      Medicaid expansion and emphasizes the need for policies that support insurance
      retention.

PMID- 26890165
TI  - Increasing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions and Overdose Mortality in the United
      States, 1996-2013.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe trends in benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose
      mortality involving benzodiazepines among US adults. METHODS: We examined data
      from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and multiple-cause-of-death data from
      the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2013,
      the percentage of adults filling a benzodiazepine prescription increased from
      4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.8%, 4.5%) to 5.6% (95% CI = 5.2%, 6.1%),
      with an annual percent change of 2.5% (95% CI = 2.1%, 3.0%). The quantity of
      benzodiazepines filled increased from 1.1 (95% CI = 0.9, 1.2) to 3.6 (95% CI =
      3.0, 4.2) kilogram lorazepam equivalents per 100 000 adults (annual percent
      change = 9.0%; 95% CI = 7.6%, 10.3%). The overdose death rate increased from 0.58
      (95% CI = 0.55, 0.62) to 3.07 (95% CI = 2.99, 3.14) per 100 000 adults, with a
      plateau seen after 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose
      mortality have increased considerably. Fatal overdoses involving benzodiazepines
      have plateaued overall; however, no evidence of decreases was found in any group.
      Interventions to reduce the use of benzodiazepines or improve their safety are
      needed.

PMID- 26890166
TI  - Corporate Funding for Schools of Public Health: Confronting the Ethical and
      Economic Challenges.
AB  - We discuss the public and private sponsoring of university research and the
      issues it raises in a context of diminished federal funding. We consider research
      funding at schools of public health and why these schools have historically had
      weaker links to industry than have other academic units. We argue that the
      possibility of enhanced links with industry at schools of public health may raise
      specific concerns beyond those facing universities generally. Six issues should
      be considered before entering into these relationships: (1) the effects on
      research orientation, (2) unacceptability of some funders, (3) potential threats
      to objectivity and academic freedom, (4) effects on academic standards, (5) the
      effects on dissemination of knowledge, and (6) reputational risks.

PMID- 26890167
TI  - Total Duration of Breastfeeding, Vitamin D Supplementation, and Serum Levels of
      25-Hydroxyvitamin D.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between total breastfeeding duration and
      serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and to explore whether vitamin D
      supplementation influences this association. METHODS: We conducted a cross
      sectional study of healthy children between September 2011 and August 2013
      through the TARGet Kids! primary health care research network. Of the 4533
      eligible children, we included only the 2508 who had 25-OHD measured. We assessed
      adjusted associations of total breastfeeding duration (in months) with serum 25
      OHD and in supplemented versus nonsupplemented children, with the odds of 25-OHD
      less than 20 nanograms per milliliter. RESULTS: Each 1-month increase in total
      breastfeeding duration was associated with a 0.12 nanograms per milliliter lower
      median serum 25-OHD (95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.21 ng/mL, -0.02 ng/mL)
      among children who were not supplemented. The odds of serum 25-OHD less than 20
      nanograms per milliliter increased by 6% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03,
      1.10) for every 1-month increase in total breastfeeding duration among
      nonsupplemented children. The interaction between vitamin D supplementation,
      duration of breastfeeding, and median serum 25-OHD was statistically significant
      (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfed children who were not supplemented,
      particularly those breastfed more than 1 year, appear to have lower vitamin D
      status. Vitamin D supplementation may mitigate this risk. These findings support
      recommendations for supplementation during breastfeeding of any duration.

PMID- 26890168
TI  - Causes and Disparities in Death Rates Among Urban American Indian and Alaska
      Native Populations, 1999-2009.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To characterize the leading causes of death for the urban American
      Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population and compare with urban White and rural
      AI/AN populations. METHODS: We linked Indian Health Service patient registration
      records with the National Death Index to reduce racial misclassification in death
      certificate data. We calculated age-adjusted urban AI/AN death rates for the
      period 1999-2009 and compared those with corresponding urban White and rural
      AI/AN death rates. RESULTS: The top-5 leading causes of death among urban AI/AN
      persons were heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, diabetes, and chronic
      liver disease and cirrhosis. Compared with urban White persons, urban AI/AN
      persons experienced significantly higher death rates for all top-5 leading
      causes. The largest disparities were for diabetes and chronic liver disease and
      cirrhosis. In general, urban and rural AI/AN persons had the same leading causes
      of death, although urban AI/AN persons had lower death rates for most conditions.
      CONCLUSIONS: Urban AI/AN persons experience significant disparities in death
      rates compared with their White counterparts. Public health and clinical
      interventions should target urban AI/AN persons to address behaviors and
      conditions contributing to health disparities.

PMID- 26890170
TI  - "Unleashed on an Unsuspecting World": The Asbestos Information Association and
      Its Role in Perpetuating a National Epidemic.
AB  - Examining previously underused corporate documents, we revisit the story of the
      Asbestos Information Association/North America, an industry trade group that
      sought in the early 1970s to counteract the growing public attention to, and
      government regulation of, asbestos as a serious threat to workers and consumers.
      From the mid-1960s through the early 1970s, according to its own spokesperson,
      asbestos was exposed as "probably the most hazardous industrial material ever
      unleashed on an unsuspecting world." In retrospect, thousands of lives may have
      been saved if the Asbestos Information Association had publicly acknowledged this
      earlier. 

PMID- 26890169
TI  - Inequalities in Hospitalized Unintentional Injury Between Aboriginal and Non
      Aboriginal Children in New South Wales, Australia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To quantify inequalities in rates of unintentional injury-related
      hospitalizations between Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
      METHODS: We used linked hospital and mortality data to construct a retrospective
      whole-of-population birth cohort including 1,124,717 children born in the state
      of New South Wales, Australia, between July 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012. We
      adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of first injury hospitalization for geographic
      clustering and individual- and area-level factors. RESULTS: Aboriginal children
      were 1.6 times more likely than were non-Aboriginal children to be hospitalized
      for an unintentional injury. The largest inequalities were for poisoning (HR =
      2.7; 95% CI = 2.4, 3.0) and injuries stemming from exposure to fire, flames,
      heat, and hot substances (HR = 2.4; 95% CI = 2.1, 2.7). Adjustment reduced the
      inequality for all unintentional injury overall (HR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.3, 1.4) and
      within leading injury mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Australian Aboriginal children
      suffer a disproportionately high burden of unintentional injury.

PMID- 26890171
TI  - Comparison of Commercial and Self-Initiated Weight Loss Programs in People With
      Prediabetes: A Randomized Control Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine if a widely available weight-management program (Weight
      Watchers) could achieve sufficient weight loss in persons with prediabetes
      compared with a Diabetes Prevention Program-based individual counseling program
      supported by National Diabetes Education Program materials. METHODS: We conducted
      an individual, randomized intervention trial in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2013 to
      2014, in 225 persons with prediabetes. We compared the Weight Watchers weight
      management program (n = 112) with Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes, a
      program developed by the National Diabetes Education Program. Outcomes were
      weight and metabolic markers measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
      RESULTS: Intervention participants lost significantly more weight than controls
      at 6 months (5.5% vs 0.8%) and 12 months (5.5% vs 0.2%; both P < .001). The
      intervention group also had significantly greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c
      and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level than did controls. CONCLUSIONS: A
      large weight-management program is effective for achieving lifestyle changes
      associated with diabetes prevention. Such programs could significantly increase
      the availability of diabetes prevention programs worldwide making an immediate
      and significant public health impact.

PMID- 26890173
TI  - Tobacco-Free Pharmacy Laws and Trends in Tobacco Retailer Density in California
      and Massachusetts.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of local laws prohibiting tobacco sales in
      pharmacies in California and Massachusetts, the only 2 US states in which such
      municipal laws exist. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinally the tobacco retailer
      density at the city level from tobacco retailer license data in California (2005
      2013) and Massachusetts (2004-2014). RESULTS: After adjustments, the reduction in
      tobacco retailer density over time was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37,
      1.51) to 3.18 (95% CI = 1.11, 5.25) times greater in cities with a tobacco-free
      pharmacy law than in cities without such a law. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco-free
      pharmacy laws are associated with a greater reduction in tobacco retailer density
      over time in California and Massachusetts.

PMID- 26890172
TI  - Impact of Universal Health Coverage on Child Growth and Nutrition in Argentina.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To estimate trends of undernutrition (stunting and underweight) among
      children younger than 5 years covered by the universal health coverage programs
      Plan Nacer and Programa Sumar. METHODS: From 2005 to 2013, Plan Nacer and
      Programa Sumar collected high-quality information on birth and visit dates, age
      (in days), gender, weight (in kg), and height (in cm) for 1.4 million children in
      6386 health centers (13 million records) with broad coverage of vulnerable
      populations in Argentina. RESULTS: The prevalence of stunting and underweight
      decreased 45.0% (from 20.6% to 11.3%) and 38.0% (from 4.0% to 2.5%),
      respectively, with differences between rural versus urban areas, gender, regions,
      age, and seasons. CONCLUSIONS: Undernutrition prevalence substantially decreased
      in 2 programs in Argentina as a result of universal health coverage.

PMID- 26890174
TI  - Increase in Naloxone Prescriptions Dispensed in US Retail Pharmacies Since 2013.
AB  - Distribution of naloxone, traditionally through community-based naloxone
      programs, is a component of a comprehensive strategy to address the epidemic of
      prescription opioid and heroin overdose deaths in the United States. Recently,
      there has been increased focus on naloxone prescription in the outpatient
      setting, particularly through retail pharmacies, yet data on this practice are
      sparse. We found an 1170% increase in naloxone dispensing from US retail
      pharmacies between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the second quarter of 2015.
      These findings suggest that prescribing naloxone in the outpatient setting
      complements traditional community-based naloxone programs.

PMID- 26890175
TI  - Reconciling Epidemiology and Social Justice in the Public Health Discourse Around
      the Sexual Networks of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men.
AB  - Several studies have implicated the sexual networks of Black men who have sex
      with men (MSM) as facilitating disproportionally high rates of new HIV infections
      within this community. Although structural disparities place these networks at
      heightened risk for infection, HIV prevention science continues to describe
      networks as the cause for HIV disparities, rather than an effect of structures
      that pattern infection. We explore the historical relationship between public
      health and Black MSM, arguing that the current articulation of Black MSM networks
      is too often incomplete and counterproductive. Public health can offer a
      counternarrative that reconciles epidemiology with the social justice that
      informs our discipline, and that is required for an effective response to the
      epidemic among Black MSM. 

PMID- 26890178
TI  - Quantifying Distance Overestimation From Global Positioning System in Urban
      Spaces.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate accuracy of distance measures computed from Global
      Positioning System (GPS) points in New York City. METHODS: We performed
      structured walks along urban streets carrying Globalsat DG-100 GPS Data Logger
      devices in highest and lowest quartiles of building height and tree canopy cover.
      We used ArcGIS version 10.1 to select walks and compute the straight-line
      distance (Geographic Information System-measured) and sum of distances between
      consecutive GPS waypoints (GPS-measured) for each walk. RESULTS: GPS distance
      overestimates were associated with building height (median overestimate = 97% for
      high vs 14% for low building height) and to a lesser extent tree canopy (43% for
      high vs 28% for low tree canopy). CONCLUSIONS: Algorithms using distances between
      successive GPS points to infer speed or travel mode may misclassify trips
      differentially by context. Researchers studying urban spaces may prefer
      alternative mode identification techniques.

PMID- 26890176
TI  - The Effect of Community-Based Prevention and Care on Ebola Transmission in Sierra
      Leone.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the acceptability, use, effects on early isolation, and
      contribution to Ebola virus disease (EVD) transmission of Community Care Centers
      (CCCs), which were rapidly deployed in Sierra Leone during an accelerated phase
      of the 2014-2015 EVD epidemic. METHODS: Focus group discussions, triads, and key
      informant interviews assessed acceptability of the CCCs. Facility registers,
      structured questionnaires, and laboratory records documented use, admission, and
      case identification. We estimated transmission effects by comparing time between
      symptom onset and isolation at CCCs relative to other facilities with the
      national Viral Hemorrhagic Fever data set. RESULTS: Between November 2014 and
      January 2015, 46 CCCs were operational. Over 13 epidemic weeks, 6129 patients
      were triaged identifying 719 (12%) EVD suspects. Community acceptance was high
      despite initial mistrust. Nearly all patients presented to CCCs outside the
      national alert system. Isolation of EVD suspects within 4 days of symptoms was
      higher in CCCs compared with other facilities (85% vs 49%; odds ratio = 6.0; 95%
      confidence interval = 4.0, 9.1), contributing to a 13% to 32% reduction in the
      EVD reproduction number (Ro). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based approaches to
      prevention and care can reduce Ebola transmission.

PMID- 26890180
TI  - National Needs of Family Planning Among US Men Aged 15 to 44 Years.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To estimate national need for family planning services among men in
      the United States according to background characteristics, access to care,
      receipt of services, and contraception use. METHODS: We used weighted data from
      the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth to estimate the percentage of men
      aged 15 to 44 years (n = 10 395) in need of family planning, based on sexual
      behavior, fecundity, and not trying to get pregnant with his partner. RESULTS:
      Overall, 60% of men were in need of family planning, defined as those who ever
      had vaginal sex, were fecund, and had fecund partner(s) who were not trying to
      get pregnant with partner or partner(s) were not currently pregnant. The greatest
      need was among young and unmarried men. Most men in need of family planning had
      access to care, but few reported receiving family planning services (< 19%),
      consistently using condoms (26%), or having partners consistently using
      contraception (41%). CONCLUSIONS: The need for engaging men aged 15 to 44 years
      in family planning education and care is substantial and largely unmet despite
      national public health priorities to include men in reducing unintended
      pregnancies.

PMID- 26890179
TI  - Homeopathy Use by US Adults: Results of a National Survey.
AB  - We used the 2012 National Health Interview Survey to compare homeopathy users
      with supplement users and those using other forms of complementary and
      integrative medicine. Among US adults, 2.1% used homeopathy within the past 12
      months. Respiratory and otorhinolaryngology complaints were most commonly treated
      (18.5%). Homeopathy users were more likely to use multiple complementary and
      integrative medicine therapies and to perceive the therapy as helpful than were
      supplement users. US homeopathy use remains uncommon; however, users perceive it
      as helpful.

PMID- 26890181
TI  - Evaluation of the Evidence Base for the Alcohol Industry's Actions to Reduce
      Drink Driving Globally.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the evidence base for the content of initiatives that the
      alcohol industry implemented to reduce drink driving from 1982 to May 2015.
      METHODS: We systematically analyzed the content of 266 global initiatives that
      the alcohol industry has categorized as actions to reduce drink driving. RESULTS:
      Social aspects public relations organizations (i.e., organizations funded by the
      alcohol industry to handle issues that may be damaging to the business) sponsored
      the greatest proportion of the actions. Only 0.8% (n = 2) of the sampled industry
      actions were consistent with public health evidence of effectiveness for reducing
      drink driving. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of the alcohol industry's actions
      to reduce drink driving does not reflect public health evidenced-based
      recommendations, even though effective drink-driving countermeasures exist, such
      as a maximum blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.05 grams per deciliter for
      drivers and widespread use of sobriety checkpoints.

PMID- 26890177
TI  - Effects of Community-Based Health Worker Interventions to Improve Chronic Disease
      Management and Care Among Vulnerable Populations: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Community-based health workers (CBHWs) are frontline public health
      workers who are trusted members of the community they serve. Recently,
      considerable attention has been drawn to CBHWs in promoting healthy behaviors and
      health outcomes among vulnerable populations who often face health inequities.
      OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review to synthesize evidence concerning
      the types of CBHW interventions, the qualification and characteristics of CBHWs,
      and patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness of such interventions in vulnerable
      populations with chronic, noncommunicable conditions. SEARCH METHODS: We
      undertook 4 electronic database searches-PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to
      Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane-and hand searched reference
      collections to identify randomized controlled trials published in English before
      August 2014. SELECTION: We screened a total of 934 unique citations initially for
      titles and abstracts. Two reviewers then independently evaluated 166 full-text
      articles that were passed onto review processes. Sixty-one studies and 6
      companion articles (e.g., cost-effectiveness analysis) met eligibility criteria
      for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Four trained research assistants
      extracted data by using a standardized data extraction form developed by the
      authors. Subsequently, an independent research assistant reviewed extracted data
      to check accuracy. Discrepancies were resolved through discussions among the
      study team members. Each study was evaluated for its quality by 2 research
      assistants who extracted relevant study information. Interrater agreement rates
      ranged from 61% to 91% (average 86%). Any discrepancies in terms of quality
      rating were resolved through team discussions. MAIN RESULTS: All but 4 studies
      were conducted in the United States. The 2 most common areas for CBHW
      interventions were cancer prevention (n = 30) and cardiovascular disease risk
      reduction (n = 26). The roles assumed by CBHWs included health education (n =
      48), counseling (n = 36), navigation assistance (n = 21), case management (n =
      4), social services (n = 7), and social support (n = 18). Fifty-three studies
      provided information regarding CBHW training, yet CBHW competency evaluation (n =
      9) and supervision procedures (n = 24) were largely underreported. The length and
      duration of CBHW training ranged from 4 hours to 240 hours with an average of
      41.3 hours (median: 16.5 hours) in 24 studies that reported length of training.
      Eight studies reported the frequency of supervision, which ranged from weekly to
      monthly. There was a trend toward improvements in cancer prevention (n = 21) and
      cardiovascular risk reduction (n = 16). Eight articles documented cost analyses
      and found that integrating CBHWs into the health care delivery system was
      associated with cost-effective and sustainable care. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions
      by CBHWs appear to be effective when compared with alternatives and also cost
      effective for certain health conditions, particularly when partnering with low
      income, underserved, and racial and ethnic minority communities. Future research
      is warranted to fully incorporate CBHWs into the health care system to promote
      noncommunicable health outcomes among vulnerable populations.

PMID- 26890183
TI  - Hepatitis C Screening Rate Among Underserved Adults With Serious Mental Illness
      Receiving Care in California Community Mental Health Centers.
AB  - Although HCV is more prevalent among people with severe mental illness (SMI;
      e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) than in the general population (17% vs
      1%), no large previous studies have examined HCV screening in this population. In
      this cross-sectional study, we examined administrative data for 57 170 California
      Medicaid enrollees with SMI to identify prevalence and predictors of HCV
      screening from October 2010 through September 2011. Only 4.7% (2674 of 57 170)
      received HCV screening, with strongest predictors being nonpsychiatric health
      care utilization and comorbid substance abuse.

PMID- 26890182
TI  - Disability and Risk of Recent Sexual Violence in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the relative prevalence of recent (past 12 months)
      penetrative and nonpenetrative sexual violence comparing men and women with and
      without a disability. METHODS: Data are from the 2010 National Intimate Partner
      and Sexual Violence Survey, a national telephone survey of US adults, and
      includes an expansive measure of sexual violence victimization. A total of 9086
      women and 7421 men completed the telephone survey in 2010. RESULTS: Compared with
      persons without a disability, persons with a disability were at increased risk
      for recent rape for women (adjusted odds ratio = 3.3; 95% confidence interval =
      1.6, 6.7), and being made to penetrate a perpetrator for men (adjusted odds ratio
      = 4.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.6, 10.8). An estimated 39% of women raped in
      the 12 months preceding the survey had a disability at the time of the rape. For
      women and men, having a disability was associated with an increased risk of
      sexual coercion and noncontact unwanted sexual experiences. CONCLUSIONS: In this
      nationally representative sample, men and women with a disability were at
      increased risk for recent sexual violence, compared to those without a
      disability.

PMID- 26890184
TI  - Gender-Specific Jealousy and Infidelity Norms as Sources of Sexual Health Risk
      and Violence Among Young Coupled Nicaraguans.
AB  - Gender inequity negatively affects health in Central America. In 2011, we
      conducted 60 semistructured interviews and 12 photovoice focus groups with young
      coupled men and women in Leon, Nicaragua, to explore the ways in which social
      norms around marriage and gender affect sexual health and gender-based violence.
      Participants' depictions of their experiences revealed gendered norms around
      infidelity that provided a narrative to justify male expressions of jealousy,
      which included limiting partner autonomy, sexual coercion, and physical violence
      against women, and resulted in increased women's risk of sexually transmitted
      infections, including HIV. By understanding and taking account of these different
      narratives and normalized beliefs in developing health- and gender-based violence
      interventions, such programs might be more effective in promoting gender
      equitable attitudes and behaviors among young men and women in Nicaragua.

PMID- 26890185
TI  - Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in the United States: Uneven Uptake by Gender,
      Race/Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess national differences in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
      uptake among young adults in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and
      sexual orientation. METHODS: We tested group differences in initiation and
      completion of the HPV vaccine series (i.e., 3 doses) by Rao-Scott chi(2) test
      among 6444 respondents aged 18 to 30 years from the 2013 National Health
      Interview Survey. RESULTS: Among men, 5% reported receiving the HPV vaccine, with
      no differences in uptake by race/ethnicity or sexual orientation. By contrast,
      30% of the women reported receiving the HPV vaccine, with women of color having
      lower odds of initiating and completing the vaccine series compared with White
      women. CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, HPV vaccine rates are lagging in men
      and show disparities among women. Increasing HPV vaccine uptake and series
      completion among women of color and all men may provide considerable long-term
      public health benefits.

PMID- 26890186
TI  - Refugee Resettlement Patterns and State-Level Health Care Insurance Access in the
      United States.
AB  - We sought to evaluate the relationship between state-level implementation of the
      Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and resettlement patterns among
      refugees. We linked federal refugee resettlement data to ACA expansion data and
      found that refugee resettlement rates are not significantly different according
      to state-level insurance expansion or cost. Forty percent of refugees have
      resettled to states without Medicaid expansion. The wide state-level variability
      in implementation of the ACA should be considered by federal agencies seeking to
      optimize access to health insurance coverage among refugees who have resettled to
      the United States.

PMID- 26890187
TI  - Chemical fragment arrays for rapid druggability assessment.
AB  - Incorporation of early druggability assessment in the drug discovery process
      provides a means to prioritize target proteins for high-throughput screening. We
      present chemical fragment arrays as a method that is capable of determining the
      druggability of a given target with low protein and compound consumption,
      enabling rapid decision making during early phases of drug discovery. 

PMID- 26890188
TI  - Synthesis, characterization and toxicological evaluation of Cr2O3 nanoparticles
      using Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri.
AB  - Chromium III oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in pigments for ceramics,
      dyes, paints and cosmetics. However, few studies addressing the toxic potential
      of these NPs have been reported in the literature. Thus, this research aimed to
      evaluate the acute and chronic effects of Cr2O3 NPs through acute toxicity tests
      with Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri and chronic toxicity tests with
      Daphnia magna. Cr2O3 NPs were synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized
      through TEM, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential (ZP) and surface area
      analysis. In the acute toxicity tests the EC(50,48h) value obtained with D. magna
      was 6.79 mg L(-1) and for A. fischeri the EC(50,15min) value was 16.10 mg L(-1)
      and the EC(50,30min) value was 12.91 mg L(-1). Regarding the chronic toxicity
      tests with D. magna, effects on longevity (OEC=1.00 mg L(-1)), reproduction
      (OEC=1.00 mg L(-1)) and growth (OEC=0.50 mg L(-1)) were observed. On the SEM and
      TEM images, ultrastructural alterations in the organelles of exposed organisms
      were also observed. Thus, toxicological studies with NPs are of great importance
      in order to reduce the risk of environmental contamination.

PMID- 26890189
TI  - Landfill leachate treatment using bacto-algal co-culture: An integrated approach
      using chemical analyses and toxicological assessment.
AB  - The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of leachate treatment using a
      synergistic approach by microalgae and bacteria. Leachate from one of the
      landfill of Northern India showed the presence of various toxic organic
      contaminants like naphthalene, benzene, phenol and their derivatives, napthols,
      pesticides, epoxides, phthalates and halogenated organic compounds. ICP-AES
      analysis revealed high concentrations of Zn, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Pb beyond the
      maximum permissible limit of discharge. Bacto-algal co-culture was found to be
      the most efficient in removal of toxic organic contaminants and heavy metals.
      Further, detoxification efficiency of bacto-algal treatment was evaluated by
      Methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay for cytotoxicity and alkaline comet assay for
      genotoxicity using hepatoma HepG2 cells. Reduction in toxicity was confirmed by
      an increase in LC50 by 1.9 fold and reduction in Olive Tail Moment by 40.6 fold
      after 10 days of treatment. Results of the study indicate bioremediation and
      detoxification potency of bacto-algal co-culture for leachate treatment. 

PMID- 26890191
TI  - Re: Assessment of Stone Complexity for PCNL: A Systematic Review of the
      Literature, How Best Can We Record Stone Complexity in PCNL? (From: Withington J,
      Armitage J, Finch W, et al. J Endourol 2016;30:13-23).

PMID- 26890190
TI  - Application of quantitative structure-property relationship analysis to estimate
      the vapor pressure of pesticides.
AB  - The application of molecular descriptors in describing Quantitative Structure
      Property Relationships (QSPR) for the estimation of vapor pressure (VP) of
      pesticides is of ongoing interest. In this study, QSPR models were developed
      using multiple linear regression (MLR) methods to predict the vapor pressure
      values of 162 pesticides. Several feature selection methods, namely the
      replacement method (RM), genetic algorithms (GA), stepwise regression (SR) and
      forward selection (FS), were used to select the most relevant molecular
      descriptors from a pool of variables. The optimum subset of molecular descriptors
      was used to build a QSPR model to estimate the vapor pressures of the selected
      pesticides. The Replacement Method improved the predictive ability of vapor
      pressures and was more reliable for the feature selection of these selected
      pesticides. The results provided satisfactory MLR models that had a satisfactory
      predictive ability, and will be important for predicting vapor pressure values
      for compounds with unknown values. This study may open new opportunities for
      designing and developing new pesticide. 

PMID- 26890192
TI  - Nocturnal Hypertension and Subclinical Cardiac and Carotid Damage: An Updated
      Review and Meta-Analysis of Echocardiographic Studies.
AB  - Evidence on the association of nocturnal hypertension (NH) with subclinical
      cardiac and vascular damage is scanty. The authors performed a meta-analysis to
      provide comprehensive information on this clinically relevant issue. Full
      articles providing data on subclinical cardiac and carotid damage as assessed by
      ultrasonographic methods in patients with NH as compared with patients with
      nocturnal normotension (NN) were considered. A total of 3657 patients (NH=2083,
      NN=1574) of both sexes were included in seven studies. Left ventricular mass
      index was higher in individuals with NH than in those with NN (112+/-4.7 g/m(2)
      vs 98+/-4.8 g/m(2) ; standard mean difference [SMD], 0.54+/-0.16; confidence
      interval [CI], 0.23-0.85; P<.01). Similarly, common carotid intima-media
      thickness was greater in patients with NH than in those with NN (751+/-34 MUm vs
      653+/-14 MUm; SMD, 0.44+/-0.08; CI, 0.29-0.59; P<.01). The present meta-analysis
      shows an association between NH pattern and increased likelihood of cardiac and
      carotid structural alterations.

PMID- 26890193
TI  - Sonographic and clinical effects of botulinum toxin Type A combined with
      extracorporeal shock wave therapy on spastic muscles of children with cerebral
      palsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the combined sonographic and
      clinical effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) and extracorporeal shock wave
      therapy (ESWT) versus BoNT-A alone in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Ten
      children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to one of two groups.
      Group 1 received BoNT-A injection into the spastic muscles of the affected limbs
      plus three ESWT sessions. Group 2 received BoNT-A alone. Assessment was performed
      before and 1 month after injection. Sonographic outcomes were injected muscles
      echo intensity and their hardness percentage, and clinical outcomes the modified
      Ashworth scale and the Tardieu scale. RESULTS: At 1-month evaluation, significant
      differences in the injected muscles percentage of hardness (P = 0.021) and the
      modified Ashworth scale (P = 0.001) were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results support the hypothesis that the combined effects of BoNT-A and ESWT
      derive from their respective action on neurological and non-neural rheological
      components in spastic muscles.

PMID- 26890194
TI  - Continuous Infusion Vancomycin Through the Addition of Vancomycin to the
      Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Solution in the PICU: A Case Series.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience with achieving therapeutic serum
      vancomycin concentrations in pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy by
      using continuous infusion vancomycin by mixing vancomycin into the continuous
      renal replacement therapy solution. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING:
      A 189-bed, freestanding children's tertiary care teaching hospital in
      Philadelphia, PA. PATIENTS: Pediatric patients receiving continuous renal
      replacement therapy from April 1, 2009, through December 31, 2014. INTERVENTIONS:
      None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were a total of 21 patients who
      received continuous renal replacement therapy during the study period. Of these,
      11 (52.3%) received vancomycin in the continuous renal replacement therapy
      solution. The median (range) concentration of vancomycin added to the continuous
      renal replacement therapy solution was 25 mg/L (18-35 mg/L). The mean vancomycin
      plateau level was 22.8 +/- 3.3 mg/L. All patients achieved a serum vancomycin
      plateau level that was greater than 15 mg/L. There were no adverse events related
      to the addition of vancomycin to the continuous renal replacement therapy
      solution. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of vancomycin to the continuous renal
      replacement therapy solution(s) is an effective modality that is used for
      delivering vancomycin continuous infusion and for ensuring therapeutic vancomycin
      serum plateau levels in the setting of pediatric continuous renal replacement
      therapy. Further studies are required to evaluate whether this delivery method
      can lead to improved patient outcomes.

PMID- 26890195
TI  - Neonatal Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cell Transplant Facilitates Lung Reparation
      in Piglets With Acute Lung Injury and Extracorporeal Life Support.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Type II alveolar epithelial cells have potential for lung growth and
      reparation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used as life support for lung
      impairment resulting from acute respiratory distress syndrome. We hypothesized
      that intratracheal transplantation of isogeneic primary type II alveolar
      epithelial cells in combination with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may
      facilitate lung reparation for acute lung injury (ALI). DESIGN: A randomized,
      controlled experiment. SETTING: An animal laboratory in a university pediatric
      center. SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight 4- to 6-week young piglets, weighing 7-8 kg.
      INTERVENTIONS: Type II alveolar epithelial cells from neonatal male piglet lungs
      were isolated, purified, cultured, and labeled with chemical stain PKH26. After 3
      6 hours of induction of ALI by IV endotoxin and mechanical ventilation (MV),
      young female piglets were allocated to five groups (n = 5): ALI-MV, ALI treated
      with MV; ALI-EC, ALI treated with both MV and venovenous extracorporeal membrane
      oxygenation; ALI-EC-T, ALI-EC protocol plus intratracheal type II alveolar
      epithelial cell transplant; CON-MV, healthy animals treated with MV; and CON-EC
      T, healthy animals treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
      After 24 hours, animals were weaned from treatment for recovery in the ensuing 14
      days, with their lungs assessed for injury and reparation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: Lung injury for animals in ALI-MV was moderate to severe, whereas much
      milder injuries in ALI-EC-T and ALI-EC were found. More PKH26-labeled type II
      alveolar epithelial cells were detected by fluorescence in the lungs of ALI-EC-T
      than in CON-EC-T as further verified by the expression of messenger RNA of sex
      determining region of Y chromosome. Electromicroscopically intact type II
      alveolar epithelial cells and prominent lattice-like tubular myelin were also
      found in ALI-EC-T and CON-MV but not in ALI-EC. The hydroxyproline level in lung
      tissue was significantly lower in ALI-EC-T than in ALI-EC and ALI-MV, with most
      of the lung histopathologic and pathobiologic manifestations in favor of ALI-EC
      T. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary data suggested that type II alveolar epithelial
      cell transplant facilitated lung reparation for ALI in this model.

PMID- 26890196
TI  - The Impact of Observed Trauma on Parents in a PICU.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore parents' experiences of "observed trauma," defined as
      traumatic events, unrelated to their own child, that parents/carers witness while
      in a PICU. DESIGN: Exploratory qualitative study. SETTING: Nineteen-bed mixed
      surgical/medical PICU in a tertiary university-affiliated children's hospital.
      PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 11 children, screened from a total sample of 100
      children admitted to the PICU for greater than 48 hours. INTERVENTIONS: Face-to
      face screening interviews were conducted with parents following their child's
      discharge from PICU. Parents who reported observed trauma were interviewed a
      second time to explore their experiences. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two
      questionnaires were designed, one to screen for observed trauma and a second one
      to guide semistructured interviews. Of 100 parents who participated in a
      structured screening interview, 19% reported observed trauma. Of the 19 parents,
      11 completed the second interview. Significant themes included: involuntary
      exposure; privacy and confidentiality; empathy for children and their families;
      reflection and personal growth; and staff communication. CONCLUSIONS: Observed
      trauma is not uncommon in the PICU. The results suggest that timely support may
      alleviate the short-term negative impact. Furthermore, some parents have reported
      positive aspects to their experience.

PMID- 26890197
TI  - Parental Physical Proximity in End-of-Life Care in the PICU.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Health professionals in PICUs support both child and parents when a
      child's death is imminent. Parents long to stay connected to their dying child
      but the high-tech environment and treatment implications make it difficult to
      stay physically close. This study explores in what sense physical aspects of end
      of-life care in the PICU influence the parent-child relationship. DESIGN:
      Retrospective, qualitative interview study. SETTING: Level 3 PICU in Erasmus
      Medical Center in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six parents of 20
      children who had died in this unit 5 years previously. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: Parents vividly remembered the damage done to the child's physical
      appearance, an inevitable consequence of medical treatment. They felt frustrated
      and hurt when they could not hold their child. Yet they felt comforted if
      facilitated to be physically close to the dying child, like lying with the child
      in one bed, holding the child in the hour of death, and washing the child after
      death. CONCLUSIONS: End-of-life treatment in the PICU presents both a barrier and
      an opportunity for parents to stay physically connected to their child. Parents'
      experiences suggest that aspects of physicality in medical settings deserve more
      attention. Better understanding of the significance of bodily aspects-other than
      pain and symptom management-improves end-of-life support and should be part of
      the humane approach to families.

PMID- 26890198
TI  - Epidemiology and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury According to Pediatric Risk,
      Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Disease: Improving
      Global Outcomes Criteria in Critically Ill Children-A Prospective Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors, and short- and
      medium-term outcome of acute kidney injury classified according to pediatric
      Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Renal Disease, and Kidney Disease:
      Improving Global Outcomes criteria in critically ill children. DESIGN:
      Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Two eight-bed PICUs of a
      tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS: A heterogeneous population of
      critically ill children. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were collected on all
      patients admitted to the PICUs from August 2011 to January 2012, with at least 24
      hours of PICU stay. Of the 214 consecutive admissions, 160 were analyzed. The
      prevalence of acute kidney injury according to pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure,
      Loss, End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes
      criteria was 49.4% vs. 46.2%, respectively. A larger proportion of acute kidney
      injury episodes was categorized as Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes
      stage 3 (50%) compared with pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage
      Renal Disease F (39.2%). Inotropic score greater than 10 was a risk factor for
      acute kidney injury severity. About 35% of patients with acute kidney injury who
      survived were discharged from the PICU with an estimated creatinine clearance
      less than 75 mL/min/1.73 m and one persisted with altered renal function 6 months
      after PICU discharge. Age 12 months old or younger was a risk factor for
      estimated creatinine clearance less than 75 mL/min/1.73 m at PICU discharge.
      Acute kidney injury and its severity were associated with increased PICU length
      of stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. Eleven patients died; nine
      had acute kidney injury (p < 0.05). The only risk factor associated with death
      after multivariate adjustment was Pediatric Risk of Mortality score greater than
      or equal to 10. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kidney injury defined by both pediatric Risk,
      Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Disease: Improving
      Global Outcomes criteria was associated with increased morbidity and mortality,
      and may lead to long-term renal dysfunction.

PMID- 26890199
TI  - Optimal Chest Compression Position for Patients With a Single Ventricle During
      Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Few studies have examined cardiopulmonary resuscitation for patients
      with congenital heart disease, although they are at a high risk of cardiac
      arrest. Therefore, this study investigated the optimal chest compression position
      in patients with a single ventricle while providing them with basic life support.
      DESIGN: This is a retrospective study of patients with a single ventricle who are
      undergoing chest CT. SETTING: Tertiary teaching children's hospital. PATIENTS: A
      total of 185 patients with a single ventricle, including 73 patients before a
      bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, 61 patients after a bidirectional
      cavopulmonary shunt, and 51 patients after the Fontan operation. INTERVENTIONS:
      Chest CT scans were reviewed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sternal length was
      defined as the distance from the suprasternal notch to the xiphisternal junction.
      The optimal level of external cardiac compression was defined as the level at
      which the cross-sectional area of the systemic ventricle was the largest. The
      distance from the suprasternal notch to this level over the sternum was
      calculated. The structures below the intermammary line, the lower half and the
      lower third of the sternum, and the optimal level were determined. The level with
      the largest cross-sectional area of the ventricle was approximately the lower
      fourth of the sternum in all surgical stages: 86.5% +/- 4.9% of the sternal
      length from the suprasternal notch before bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt,
      85.9% +/- 4.8% after bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, and 86.4% +/- 6.3% after
      the Fontan operation. The liver was not identified at any level, whereas the
      ascending aorta was detected in 2.2%, 3.8%, and 24.9% at the level of the lower
      third of the sternum, the intermammary line, and the lower half of the sternum,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal compression position in patients with a
      single ventricle is approximately 5-25% of the lower sternum. The optimal
      compression level for patients with a single ventricle is lower than that
      suggested in current guidelines for the normal population.

PMID- 26890201
TI  - Instantiating informatics in nursing practice for integrated patient centred
      holistic models of care: a discussion paper.
AB  - AIM: A discussion on how informatics knowledge and competencies can enable
      nursing to instantiate transition to integrated models of care. BACKGROUND: Costs
      of traditional models of care are no longer sustainable consequent to the
      spiralling incidence and costs of chronic illness. The international community
      looks towards technology-enabled solutions to support a shift towards integrated
      patient-centred models of care. DESIGN: Discussion paper. DATA SOURCES: A search
      of the literature was performed dating from 2000-2015 and a purposeful data
      sample based on relevance to building the discussion was included. DISCUSSION:
      The holistic perspective of nursing knowledge can support and advance integrated
      healthcare models. Informatics skills are key for the profession to play a
      leadership role in design, implementation and operation of next generation health
      care. However, evidence suggests that nursing engagement with informatics
      strategic development for healthcare provision is currently variable.
      IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: A statistically significant need exists to progress
      health care towards integrated models of care. Strategic and tactical plans that
      are robustly pragmatic with nursing insights and expertise are an essential
      component to achieve effective healthcare provision. To avoid exclusion in the
      discourse dominated by management and technology experts, nursing leaders must
      develop and actively promote the advancement of nursing informatics skills. For
      knowledge in nursing practice to flourish in contemporary health care, nurse
      leaders will need to incorporate informatics for optimal translation and
      interpretation. CONCLUSION: Defined nursing leadership roles informed by
      informatics are essential to generate concrete solutions sustaining nursing
      practice in integrated care models.

PMID- 26890200
TI  - Diagnosis and Treatment of Ventilator-Associated Infection: Review of the
      Critical Illness Stress-Induced Immune Suppression Prevention Trial Data.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The Critical Illness Stress-Induced Immune Suppression prevention
      trial was a randomized, masked trial of zinc, selenium, glutamine, and
      metoclopramide compared with whey protein in delaying nosocomial infection in
      PICU patients. One fourth of study subjects were diagnosed with nosocomial lower
      respiratory infection, which contributed to subjects receiving antibiotics 74% of
      all patient days in the PICU. We analyzed diagnostic and treatment variability
      among the participating institutions and compared outcomes between nosocomial
      lower respiratory infection subjects (n = 74) and intubated subjects without
      nosocomial infection (n = 1 55). DESIGN: Post hoc analysis. SETTING: Eight
      hospitals in the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network.
      PATIENTS: Critical Illness Stress-Induced Immune Suppression study subjects.
      INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Variability across
      institutions existed in the frequency and manner by which respiratory secretion
      cultures were obtained, processed, and results reported. Most results were
      reported semiquantitatively, and both Gram stains and antibiotic sensitivities
      were frequently omitted. The nosocomial lower respiratory infection diagnosis was
      associated with increased PICU lengths of stay compared with those who were
      intubated without nosocomial infection (24 +/- 19 vs 9 +/- 6 d; p < 0.001) and
      antibiotic use (38 +/- 29 vs 15 +/- 20 antibiotics days; p < 0.001). Despite
      antibiotic treatment, the same bacteria persisted in 45% of follow-up cultures.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Critical Illness Stress-Induced Immune Suppression data
      demonstrate that the nosocomial lower respiratory infection diagnosis is
      associated with longer lengths of stay and increased antibiotic use, but there is
      considerable diagnostic and treatment variability across institutions. More
      rigorous standards for when and how respiratory cultures are obtained, processed,
      and reported are necessary. Bacterial persistence also complicates the
      interpretation of follow-up cultures.

PMID- 26890202
TI  - Metallic Ternary Telluride with Sphalerite Superstructure.
AB  - A new ternary compound with composition Cu5Sn2Te7 has been synthesized using the
      stoichiometric reaction of Cu, Sn, and Te. The compound crystallizes in C2 space
      group with unit cell parameters of a = 13.549(2) A, b = 6.0521(11) A, c =
      9.568(2) A, and beta = 98.121(2) degrees . Cu5Sn2Te7 is a superstructure of
      sphalerite and exhibits tetrahedral coordination of Cu, Sn, and Te atoms,
      containing a unique adamantane-like arrangement. The compound is formally mixed
      valent with a high electrical conductivity of 9.8 * 10(5) S m(-1) at 300 K and
      exhibits metallic behavior having p-type charge carriers as indicated from the
      positive Seebeck coefficient. Hall effect measurements further confirm holes as
      charge carriers with a carrier density of 1.39 * 10(21) cm(-3) and Hall mobility
      of 4.5 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at 300 K. The electronic band structure calculations
      indicate the presence of a finite density of states around the Fermi level and
      agree well with the p-type metallic conductivity. Band structure analysis
      suggests that the effective mass of the hole state is small and could be
      responsible for high electronic conductivity and Hall mobility. The high thermal
      conductivity of 15.1 W m(-1) K(-1) at 300 K coupled with the low Seebeck
      coefficient results in a poor thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) for this
      compound. Theoretical calculations indicate that if Cu5Sn2Te7 is turned into a
      valence precise compound by substituting one Cu by a Zn, a semiconducting
      material, Cu4ZnSn2Te7, with a direct band gap of ~ 0.5 eV can be obtained.

PMID- 26890204
TI  - Structural characterization and vibrational studies of human urinary stones from
      Istanbul, Turkey.
AB  - Seven human urinary stones were collected from urinary bladders of patients
      hailing from Istanbul, Turkey. Their XRD, EDX, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra as well
      as SEM images have been recorded to determine their chemical compositions,
      morphologies, crystal structures, and crystallite sizes. XRD and vibrational (FT
      IR and FT-Raman) analyses indicate that six out of the seven stones have
      identical contents. The ratios of organic and inorganic contents of the stones
      have been determined by their thermogravimetric analyses. The stones have been
      found to contain calcium oxalate monohydrate and apatite as the major components.

PMID- 26890205
TI  - Competitive removal of hazardous dyes from aqueous solution by MIL-68(Al):
      Derivative spectrophotometric method and response surface methodology approach.
AB  - MIL-68(Al) as a metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized and characterized
      by different techniques such as SEM, BET, FTIR, and XRD analysis. This material
      was then applied for simulations removal of malachite green (MG) and methylene
      blue (MB) dyes from aqueous solutions using second order derivative
      spectrophotometric method (SODS) which was applied to resolve the overlap between
      the spectra of these dyes. The dependency of dyes removal efficiency in binary
      solutions was examined and optimized toward various parameters including initial
      dye concentration, pH of the solution, adsorbent dosage and ultrasonic contact
      time using central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology
      (RSM) approach. The optimized experimental conditions were set as pH7.78, contact
      time 5min, initial MB concentration 22mgL(-1), initial MG concentration 12mgL(-1)
      and adsorbent dosage 0.0055g. The equilibrium data was fitted to isotherm models
      such as Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin and the results revealed the suitability
      of the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of 666.67 and 153.85mgg(
      1) was obtained for MB and MG removal respectively. Kinetics data fitting to
      pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models confirmed the
      applicability of pseudo-second order kinetic model for description of the
      mechanism and adsorption rate. Dye-loaded MIL-68(Al) can be easily regenerated
      using methanol and applied for three frequent sorption/desorption cycles with
      high performance. The impact of ionic strength on removal percentage of both dyes
      in binary mixture was studied by using NaCl and KCl soluble salts at different
      concentrations. According to our findings, only small dosage of the proposed MOF
      is considerably capable to remove large amounts of dyes at room temperature and
      in very short time that is a big advantage of MIL-68(Al) as a promising adsorbent
      for adsorptive removal processes. 

PMID- 26890207
TI  - Pharmacologic approaches to the prevention and management of low bone mineral
      density in HIV-infected patients.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoporosis is a growing concern among people living with HIV
      (PLWH) because of the recognized risk of fractures, which bring with them
      morbidity and mortality. New evidence is helping clinicians understand how to
      prevent and manage osteoporosis in this subpopulation. RECENT FINDINGS: The
      benefit of calcium and vitamin D is variable in osteoporosis literature in
      general, but evidence supports the use of these supplements in PLWH to prevent
      the loss of bone mineral density when initiating antiretroviral therapy and in
      enhancing the effectiveness of antiosteoporosis treatments. Of the osteoporosis
      treatments, alendronate and zoledronate are the only two with substantial
      evidence of safety and effectiveness in PLWH, but the studies have been small and
      of limited duration. There are no randomized controlled studies of raloxifene,
      denosumab or teriparatide in PLWH. Of increasing interest is the possible benefit
      of statins on bone health through decreased inflammation. SUMMARY: Osteoporosis
      is recognized as an issue for PLWH. Although some of the available osteoporosis
      treatments have proven safe and effective, future studies of the novel
      treatments, such as statins, along with well-designed studies of established
      osteoporosis treatments for use in PLWH are needed to further guide the clinical
      management of osteoporosis in this population.

PMID- 26890206
TI  - Hepatitis C virus coinfection as a risk factor for osteoporosis and fracture.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With increased survival of HIV-infected patients, osteoporotic
      fractures have developed as a major cause of morbidity in these patients, and
      chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection has emerged as a significant
      contributor to this increased fracture risk. The present article reviews the
      epidemiologic and clinical evidence for osteoporosis and increased fracture risk
      among HIV/HCV coinfected patients, and potential mechanisms for these outcomes
      with HCV coinfection. RECENT FINDINGS: Epidemiologic studies suggest that HIV/HCV
      coinfected patients exhibit a three-fold increased fracture incidence compared
      with uninfected controls, and 1.2-2.4-fold increased fracture risk compared with
      HIV monoinfected patients. Recent reports suggest that chronic HCV coinfection is
      independently associated with reduced bone mineral density in HIV, but that it is
      not associated with significantly increased bone turnover. The deleterious impact
      of chronic HCV on BMD and fracture risk occurs even in the absence of advanced
      liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. New tools to assess bone quality, including the
      trabecular bone score, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed
      tomography, and in-vivo microindentation, may help improve understanding of the
      mechanisms of HCV-associated skeletal fragility. The impact of approved
      antiosteoporosis medications and direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of
      chronic HCV infection on patients' bone health remain to be studied. SUMMARY:
      Chronic HCV infection is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis and
      fractures among HIV-infected patients, even before the development of cirrhosis.
      The underlying mechanisms are being unraveled, but major questions persist
      regarding the optimal evaluation and management of bone health in HIV/HCV
      coinfected patients.

PMID- 26890203
TI  - Molecular mechanisms of biological aging in intervertebral discs.
AB  - Advanced age is the greatest risk factor for the majority of human ailments,
      including spine-related chronic disability and back pain, which stem from age
      associated intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Given the rapid global rise in
      the aging population, understanding the biology of intervertebral disc aging in
      order to develop effective therapeutic interventions to combat the adverse
      effects of aging on disc health is now imperative. Fortunately, recent advances
      in aging research have begun to shed light on the basic biological process of
      aging. Here we review some of these insights and organize the complex process of
      disc aging into three different phases to guide research efforts to understand
      the biology of disc aging. The objective of this review is to provide an overview
      of the current knowledge and the recent progress made to elucidate specific
      molecular mechanisms underlying disc aging. In particular, studies over the last
      few years have uncovered cellular senescence and genomic instability as important
      drivers of disc aging. Supporting evidence comes from DNA repair-deficient animal
      models that show increased disc cellular senescence and accelerated disc aging.
      Additionally, stress-induced senescent cells have now been well documented to
      secrete catabolic factors, which can negatively impact the physiology of
      neighboring cells and ECM. These along with other molecular drivers of aging are
      reviewed in depth to shed crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms of age
      related disc degeneration. We also highlight molecular targets for novel
      therapies and emerging candidate therapeutics that may mitigate age-associated
      IDD. (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
      J Orthop Res 34:1289-1306, 2016.

PMID- 26890208
TI  - Bone health in HIV-infected children and adolescents.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic HIV infection and exposure to antiretroviral therapy
      compromises bone health in children and adolescents, potentially impacting their
      long-term quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this article is to review the
      most recent literature on this topic in HIV-infected children and adolescents.
      RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies continue to demonstrate bone abnormalities in HIV
      infected children and adolescents, whether HIV is acquired perinatally or during
      adolescence. Researchers have employed new modalities, both high tech and those
      that can be utilized in resource-limited settings, to better assess bone health.
      New data suggest that this population may also be experiencing an increase
      incidence of fractures, and they may not acquire the same peak bone mass as their
      HIV-uninfected counterparts. Reassuringly, however, in-utero tenofovir exposure
      does not appear to have a significant impact on bone health in HIV-exposed,
      uninfected infants. SUMMARY: HIV-infected children and adolescents are exposed to
      HIV and antiretroviral therapy for many decades starting early in life and during
      the most critical time for skeletal growth and bone mass accrual. Recent findings
      underscore the need for further research on bone in this population. Longitudinal
      studies are especially needed to evaluate long-term risk of osteoporosis and
      fracture.

PMID- 26890211
TI  - Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Infection.
AB  - Mycobacterium abscessus is often resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs, and
      data supporting effective drugs or dosing regimens are limited. To better
      identify treatment approaches and associated toxicities, we collected a series of
      case reports from the Emerging Infections Network. Side effects were common and
      often led to changing or discontinuing therapy.

PMID- 26890210
TI  - Genome-wide methylation analysis of retrocopy-associated CpG islands and their
      genomic environment.
AB  - Gene duplication by retrotransposition, i.e., the reverse transcription of an
      mRNA and integration of the cDNA into the genome, is an important mechanism in
      evolution. Based on whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of monocyte DNA, we have
      investigated the methylation state of all CpG islands (CGIs) associated with a
      retrocopy (n = 1,319), their genomic environment, as well as the CGIs associated
      with the ancestral genes. Approximately 10% of retrocopies are associated with a
      CGI. Whereas almost all CGIs of the human genome are unmethylated, 68% of the
      CGIs associated with a retrocopy are methylated. In retrocopies resulting from
      multiple retrotranspositions of the same ancestral gene, the methylation state of
      the CGI often differs. There is a strong positive correlation between the
      methylation state of the CGI/retrocopy and their genomic environment, suggesting
      that the methylation state of the integration site determined the methylation
      state of the CGI/retrocopy, or that methylation of the retrocopy by a host
      defense mechanism has spread into the adjacent regions. Only a minor fraction of
      CGI/retrocopies (n = 195) has intermediate methylation levels. Among these, the
      previously reported CGI/retrocopy in intron 2 of the RB1 gene (PPP1R26P1) as well
      as the CGI associated with the retrocopy RPS2P32 identified in this study carry a
      maternal methylation imprint. In conclusion, these findings shed light on the
      evolutionary dynamics and constraints of DNA methylation.

PMID- 26890212
TI  - Scenario Discovery with Multiple Criteria: An Evaluation of the Robust Decision
      Making Framework for Climate Change Adaptation.
AB  - There is increasing concern over deep uncertainty in the risk analysis field as
      probabilistic models of uncertainty cannot always be confidently determined or
      agreed upon for many of our most pressing contemporary risk challenges. This is
      particularly true in the climate change adaptation field, and has prompted the
      development of a number of frameworks aiming to characterize system
      vulnerabilities and identify robust alternatives. One such methodology is robust
      decision making (RDM), which uses simulation models to assess how strategies
      perform over many plausible conditions and then identifies and characterizes
      those where the strategy fails in a process termed scenario discovery. While many
      of the problems to which RDM has been applied are characterized by multiple
      objectives, research to date has provided little insight into how treatment of
      multiple criteria impacts the failure scenarios identified. In this research, we
      compare different methods for incorporating multiple objectives into the scenario
      discovery process to evaluate how they impact the resulting failure scenarios. We
      use the Lake Tana basin in Ethiopia as a case study, where climatic and
      environmental uncertainties could impact multiple planned water infrastructure
      projects, and find that failure scenarios may vary depending on the method used
      to aggregate multiple criteria. Common methods used to convert multiple
      attributes into a single utility score can obscure connections between failure
      scenarios and system performance, limiting the information provided to support
      decision making. Applying scenario discovery over each performance metric
      separately provides more nuanced information regarding the relative sensitivity
      of the objectives to different uncertain parameters, leading to clearer insights
      on measures that could be taken to improve system robustness and areas where
      additional research might prove useful.

PMID- 26890213
TI  - Development and evaluation of targeting ligand-anchored CNTs as prospective
      targeted drug delivery system.
AB  - Our main investigation in the present research was to developt and evaluate
      targeting ligand-anchored multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as prospective
      targeted drug delivery system, with a special focus on the MWCNTs surface
      functionalization (FA-PEG bis-amine functionalized, carboxylated MWCNTs). In
      vitro release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was studied at pH 7.4 phosphate buffer and
      5.5 acetate buffer, which displayed initial faster followed by sustained release
      up to 900 min. Further, 5-FU/FA-PEG bis amine-MWCNTs was found to be long
      circulating, prolonged half-life and increased drug accumulation in target
      tissue.

PMID- 26890214
TI  - Prevalence of Healthy Sleep Duration among Adults--United States, 2014.
AB  - To promote optimal health and well-being, adults aged 18-60 years are recommended
      to sleep at least 7 hours each night (1). Sleeping <7 hours per night is
      associated with increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure,
      coronary heart disease, stroke, frequent mental distress, and all-cause mortality
      (2-4). Insufficient sleep impairs cognitive performance, which can increase the
      likelihood of motor vehicle and other transportation accidents, industrial
      accidents, medical errors, and loss of work productivity that could affect the
      wider community (5). CDC analyzed data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor
      Surveillance System (BRFSS) to determine the prevalence of a healthy sleep
      duration (>= 7 hours) among 444,306 adult respondents in all 50 states and the
      District of Columbia. A total of 65.2% of respondents reported a healthy sleep
      duration; the age-adjusted prevalence of healthy sleep was lower among non
      Hispanic blacks, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific
      Islanders, and multiracial respondents, compared with non-Hispanic whites,
      Hispanics, and Asians. State-based estimates of healthy sleep duration prevalence
      ranged from 56.1% in Hawaii to 71.6% in South Dakota. Geographic clustering of
      the lowest prevalence of healthy sleep duration was observed in the southeastern
      United States and in states along the Appalachian Mountains, and the highest
      prevalence was observed in the Great Plains states. More than one third of U.S.
      respondents reported typically sleeping <7 hours in a 24-hour period, suggesting
      an ongoing need for public awareness and public education about sleep health;
      worksite shift policies that ensure healthy sleep duration for shift workers,
      particularly medical professionals, emergency response personnel, and
      transportation industry personnel; and opportunities for health care providers to
      discuss the importance of healthy sleep duration with patients and address
      reasons for poor sleep health.

PMID- 26890209
TI  - Vitamin D and bone loss in HIV.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bone health has become an increasingly important aspect of the
      care of HIV-infected patients as bone loss with antiretroviral therapy (ART)
      initiation is significant and osteopenia and osteoporosis are highly prevalent.
      Vitamin D is tightly linked to calcium balance and bone health, and vitamin D
      deficiency is common in HIV. This review outlines the epidemiology of vitamin D
      deficiency in HIV, summarizes our current understanding of the relationship
      between vitamin D and bone loss in HIV and the impact of vitamin D
      supplementation in this patient group. RECENT FINDINGS: Although data are
      conflicting as to whether vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent among HIV
      infected individuals than in the general population, there are several reasons
      for why this patient group may be at heightened risk. Studies linking vitamin D
      deficiency to bone loss in HIV are limited; however, data from randomized
      clinical trials suggest a benefit of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention
      of bone loss with ART initiation and for the treatment of bone loss with
      bisphosphonate therapy. SUMMARY: There are too limited data to recommend
      universal screening of vitamin D status or supplementation to all HIV-infected
      individuals. However, testing 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in those at risk for
      deficiency and treating patients found to be deficient or initiating ART or
      bisphosphonate therapy should be considered. Further study on vitamin D
      supplementation is needed regarding the potential benefit on immune activation
      and restoration in this patient group.

PMID- 26890216
TI  - Ordered La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanohole arrays fabricated on a nanoporous alumina
      template by pulsed laser ablation.
AB  - Highly ordered nanohole arrays of [Formula: see text] manganite have been
      synthesized using pulsed laser deposition on nanoporous alumina template. Their
      structure and phase formation were characterized by scanning electron microscopy
      (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX)
      and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The magnetic measurements were performed with
      respect to temperature and field and exhibit a ferromagnetic to paramagnetic
      transition at 284 K. In addition, the temperature dependence of electrical
      resistance was measured at different magnetic fields and an insulating phase
      throughout all the temperatures was observed. The low temperature ferromagnetic
      insulating state is discussed by the presence of a canted ferromagnetic state
      induced by the nanoholes. The present work shows the feasibility of combining
      both the nanoporous alumina template and pulsed laser ablation for the
      fabrication of perovskite manganite nanohole arrays which can also be extended to
      fabricate other multicomponent oxide nanohole materials. 

PMID- 26890215
TI  - Tuberculosis, Fiji, 2002-2013.
AB  - During 2002-2013, a total of 1,890 tuberculosis cases were recorded in Fiji.
      Notification rates per 100,000 population increased from 17.4 cases in 2002 to
      28.4 in 2013. Older persons were most affected, but tuberculosis also increased
      sharply in persons 25-44 years of age.

PMID- 26890217
TI  - MicroRNA profile analysis of host cells before and after wild human rotavirus
      infection.
AB  - Rotavirus infection is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in children,
      but the interaction between rotavirus and host cells is not completely
      understood. We isolated a wildtype (wt) rotavirus strain, ZTR-68(P [8] G1), which
      is derived from an infant with diarrhea in southwest China in 2010. In this
      study, we investigated host cellular miRNA expression profiles changes in
      response to ZTR-68 in early stage of infection to investigate the role of miRNAs
      upon rotavirus infection. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by deep
      sequencing and qRT-PCR and the function of their targets predicted by Gene
      Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway
      annotation. A total of 36 candidate miRNAs were identified. Comparative analysis
      indicated that 29 miRNAs were significantly down-regulated and 7 were up
      regulated after infection. The data were provided contrasting the types of
      microRNAs in two different permissive cell lines (HT29 and MA104). The target
      assays results showed that mml-miR-7 and mml-miR-125a are involved in anti
      rotavirus and virus-host interaction in host cells. These results offer clues for
      identifying potential candidates in vector-based antiviral strategies. J. Med.
      Virol. 88:1497-1510, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890221
TI  - Effects of artificial tears on rabbit ocular surface healing after exposure to
      benzalkonium chloride.
AB  - The aim of the study was to observe the effect of different artificial tears on
      healing the drug-induced keratopathy. To this aim, 64 rabbits received topical
      administration of 0.01% benzalkonium chloride to establish models and were
      divided into four groups. The control group received ocular saline solution
      (Saline), while the others were treated with Refresh Plus(r) (RF), Hycosan(r) (H)
      and Systane(r) Ultra (SU). Surface abnormalities were examined daily using slit
      lamp. Fluorescein staining, histopathological and transmission electron
      microscopic (TEM) examination were performed at day 0, 2 weeks, and 1 and 2
      months. A significant difference was observed between RF and SU, but not between
      H and SU at 2 weeks. TEM examination revealed new microvilli close to the cavity
      surface, and the number of microvilli in SU was greater than in H at 2 weeks and
      1 month. Based on the results, the effect in the SU group was the most
      significant. Eye drops with nontoxic preservative such as SU are an alternative
      to treat drug-induced keratopathy. 

PMID- 26890219
TI  - Cbfb2 Isoform Dominates More Potent Cbfb1 and Is Required for Skeletal
      Development.
AB  - Cbfb is a cotranscription factor that forms a heterodimer with Runx proteins
      Runx1, Runx2, and Runx3. It is required for fetal liver hematopoiesis and
      skeletal development. Cbfb has two functional isoforms, Cbfb1 and Cbfb2, which
      are formed by alternative splicing. To address the biological functions of these
      isoforms in skeletal development, we examined Cbfb1(-/-) and Cbfb2(-/-) mouse
      embryos. Intramembranous and endochondral ossification was retarded and
      chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation was inhibited in Cbfb2(-/-) embryos
      but not in Cbfb1(-/-) embryos. Cbfb2 mRNA was upregulated in calvariae, limbs,
      livers, thymuses, and hearts of Cbfb1(-/-) embryos but Cbfb1 mRNA was not in
      those of Cbfb2(-/-) embryos, and the total amount of Cbfb1 and Cbfb2 mRNA in
      Cbfb1(-/-) embryos was similar to that in wild-type embryos but was severely
      reduced in Cbfb2(-/-) embryos. The absolute numbers of Cbfb2 mRNA in calvariae,
      limbs, livers, thymuses, and brains in wild-type embryos were about three times
      higher than those of Cbfb1 in the respective tissue. The levels of Runx proteins
      were reduced in calvariae, limbs, and primary osteoblasts from Cbfb2(-/-)
      embryos, but the reduction in Runx2 protein was very mild. Furthermore, the
      amounts of Runx proteins and Cbfb in Cbfb2(-/-) embryos differed similarly among
      skeletal tissues, livers, and thymuses, suggesting that Runx proteins and Cbfb
      are mutually required for their stability. Although Cbfb1(-/-) embryos developed
      normally, Cbfb1 induced chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation and enhanced
      DNA binding of Runx2 more efficiently than Cbfb2. Our results indicate that
      modulations in the relative levels of the isoforms may adjust transcriptional
      activation by Runx2 to appropriate physiological levels. Cbfb2 was more abundant,
      but Cbfb1 was more potent for enhancing Runx2 activity. Although only Cbfb2 loss
      generated overt skeletal phenotypes, both may play major roles in skeletal
      development with functional redundancy. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone and
      Mineral Research.

PMID- 26890220
TI  - Healthcare professionals' views on discussing fertility preservation with young
      cancer patients: a mixed method systematic review of the literature.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In spite of efforts to guarantee patients are adequately informed
      about their risk of fertility loss and offered treatment for fertility
      preservation (FP), previous studies have reported that this topic is not
      routinely discussed with patients, especially with younger patient populations. A
      mixed method systematic review was undertaken to explore the factors shaping the
      discussion of FP with children (0-15 years) and adolescents/young adults (16-24
      years) with cancer. METHODS: Six databases were searched independently using a
      combination of keywords and controlled vocabulary/subject headings relating to
      cancer and fertility. Inclusion criteria consisted of: (a) being published in a
      peer-reviewed journal, (b) a focus on healthcare professionals' (HCPs') beliefs,
      attitudes, or practices regarding fertility issues in cancer patients, (c)
      primary data collection from HCPs, and (d) a focus on HCPs who provide services
      to young patients. Of the 6276 articles identified in the search, 16 articles
      presenting the results of 14 studies were included in the final review. RESULTS:
      Common themes reported across studies indicate that five main factors influence
      HCPs' discussion of FP with young cancer patients: (a) HCPs' knowledge, (b) HCPs'
      sense of comfort, (c) patient factors (i.e., sexual maturity, prognosis,
      partnership status, and whether or not they initiate the conversation), (d)
      parent factors (i.e., HCPs' perception of the extent of their involvement), and
      (e) availability of educational materials. CONCLUSIONS: Future work should ensure
      that HCPs possess knowledge of cancer-related FP and that they receive adequate
      training on how to consent and discuss information with young patients and their
      parents.

PMID- 26890218
TI  - Functions of the cellular prion protein, the end of Moore's law, and Ockham's
      razor theory.
AB  - Since its discovery the cellular prion protein (encoded by the Prnp gene) has
      been associated with a large number of functions. The proposed functions rank
      from basic cellular processes such as cell cycle and survival to neural functions
      such as behavior and neuroprotection, following a pattern similar to that of
      Moore's law for electronics. In addition, particular interest is increasing in
      the participation of Prnp in neurodegeneration. However, in recent years a
      redefinition of these functions has begun, since examples of previously
      attributed functions were increasingly re-associated with other proteins. Most of
      these functions are linked to so-called "Prnp-flanking genes" that are close to
      the genomic locus of Prnp and which are present in the genome of some Prnp mouse
      models. In addition, their role in neuroprotection against convulsive insults has
      been confirmed in recent studies. Lastly, in recent years a large number of
      models indicating the participation of different domains of the protein in
      apoptosis have been uncovered. However, after more than 10 years of molecular
      dissection our view is that the simplest mechanistic model in PrP(C)-mediated
      cell death should be considered, as Ockham's razor theory suggested. 

PMID- 26890222
TI  - The organic and strategic growth of interprofessionalism in athletic training.

PMID- 26890224
TI  - Facile Synthesis of Fe3O4/GCs Composites and Their Enhanced Microwave Absorption
      Properties.
AB  - Graphene has good stability and adjustable dielectric properties along with
      tunable morphologies, and hence can be used to design novel and high-performance
      functional materials. Here, we have reported a facile synthesis method of
      nanoscale Fe3O4/graphene capsules (GCs) composites using the combination of
      catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) and hydrothermal process. The
      resulting composite has the advantage of unique morphology that offers better
      synergism among the Fe3O4 particles as well as particles and GCs. The microwave
      absorbing characteristics of developed composites were investigated through
      experimentally measured electromagnetic properties and simulation studies based
      on the transmission line theory, explained on the basis of eddy current, natural
      and exchange resonance, as well as dielectric relaxation processes. The
      composites bear minimum RL value of -32 dB at 8.76 GHz along with the absorption
      bandwidth range from 5.4 to 17 GHz for RL lower than -10 dB. The better
      performance of the composite based on the reasonable impedance characteristic,
      existence of interfaces around the composites, and the polarization of free
      carriers in 3D GCs that make the as-prepared composites capable of absorbing
      microwave more effectively. These results offer an effective way to design high
      performance functional materials to facilitate the research in electromagnetic
      shielding and microwave absorption. 

PMID- 26890223
TI  - Geographic variation in suicide rates in Australian farmers: Why is the problem
      more frequent in Queensland than in New South Wales?
AB  - Research on farmer suicide is limited in explaining the variations in farmers'
      demographic characteristics. This study examines farmer suicides in two
      Australian states: Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW). Standardized
      suicide rates over 2000-2009 showed a 2 times higher prevalence of suicide in QLD
      than NSW (147 vs. 92 cases, respectively). Differences in age and suicide method
      were observed between states, although they do not appear to account for the
      sizeable intra- and interstate variations. Suicide prevention initiatives for
      farmers should account for different age groups and also specific place-based
      risk factors that may vary between and within jurisdictions.

PMID- 26890225
TI  - Assessment of Chromosomal DNA Fragmentation by Quinolones in an Isogenic
      Collection of Escherichia coli with Defined Resistance Mechanisms.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the potential usefulness of DNA
      fragmentation as a quick and simple procedure for detecting resistance to
      fluoroquinolones (FQ) in isogenic Escherichia coli strains harboring defined and
      multiple quinolone resistance mechanisms, including low-level quinolone
      resistance (LLQR) phenotypes. DNA fragmentation assay (Micromax((r))) was
      evaluated for detecting resistance to FQ in 71 isogenic strains of E. coli
      harboring specific quinolone resistance mechanisms frequently found in clinical
      isolates. These isogenic strains represent a consistent and reliable model of
      increasing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ciprofloxacin (CIP),
      ranging from 0.004 to 16 mg/L. According to CLSI criteria, the assay correctly
      identified all CIP-resistant strains (MIC >=4 mg/L). As regards susceptible
      strains, 96% of bacterial strains were correctly assigned as susceptible to CIP.
      Moreover, the procedure enabled LLQR phenotypes to be efficiently identified;
      this subset may show different levels of DNA damage depending on the strain, even
      with similar MIC. Interestingly, despite increasing the dose according to the
      MIC, a lower response to quinolones occurs in strains with higher MIC values.
      This is a simple, rapid, and reliable test for evaluating susceptibility to FQ of
      E. coli, including the detection of strains harboring LLQR mechanisms. 

PMID- 26890226
TI  - Current methods to diagnose small airway disease in patients with COPD.
AB  - The small airways are characterized by an internal diameter < 2 mm and absence of
      cartilage. Approximately 10-25% of total airway resistance in healthy lungs is
      due to the small airways, with their contribution to total airway resistance
      increasing substantially in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As the
      small airways are located in the lung periphery, they are not easily evaluable,
      which can potentially interfere with the diagnosis (especially at early stages),
      monitoring, detection of responses to clinical interventions, and prognostic
      evaluation in COPD. Here, we will discuss the currently available methods in
      clinical practice to evaluate small airway disease in COPD, focusing on the
      concept, advantages, and disadvantages of each method.

PMID- 26890227
TI  - The 'WikiGuidelines' smartphone application: Bridging the gaps in availability of
      evidence-based smartphone mental health applications.
AB  - Over the past decade, there have been massive advances in technology. These
      advances in technology have significantly transformed various aspects of
      healthcare. The advent of E-health and its influence on healthcare practice also
      implies that there is a paradigm shift in the way healthcare professionals work.
      Conventionally, healthcare professionals would have to refer to books and
      journals for updates in treatment algorithms, but with the advent of technology,
      they could access this information via the web or via various smartphone
      applications on the go. In the field of Psychiatry, one of the commonest mental
      health disorder to date, with significant morbidity and mortality is that of
      Major depressive disorder. Routinely, clinicians and healthcare professionals are
      advised to refer to standard guidelines in guiding them with regards to their
      treatment options. Given the high prevalence of conditions like Major Depressive
      Disorder, it is thus of importance that whatever guidelines that clinicians and
      healthcare professionals refer to are constantly kept up to date, so that
      patients could benefit from latest evidence based therapy and treatment. A review
      of the current literature highlights that whilst there are a multitude of
      smartphone applications designed for mental health care, previous systematic
      review has highlighted a paucity of evidence based applications. More
      importantly, current literature with regards to provision of treatment
      information to healthcare professionals and patients are limited to web-based
      interventions. It is the aim of this technical note to highlight a methodology to
      which the authors have conceptualized in the implementation of an evidence based
      mental health guideline applications, known as the 'Wiki Guidelines' smartphone
      application. The authors hope to illustrate the algorithms behind the development
      of the application, and how it could be easily updated by the guidelines working
      group. 

PMID- 26890228
TI  - Analytical and computational modeling of early penetration of non-enveloped
      icosahedral viruses into cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As obligate intracellular parasites, all viruses penetrate target
      cells to initiate replication and infection. OBJECTIVE: This study introduces two
      approaches for evaluating the contact loads applied to a cell during early
      penetration of non-enveloped icosahedral viruses. METHODS: The first approach is
      analytical modeling which is based on Hertz's theory for the contact of two
      elastic bodies; here we model the virus capsid as a triangle and the cell as an
      order-of-magnitude larger sphere. The second approach is finite element modeling,
      where we simulate three types of viruses: adeno-, papilloma- and polio- viruses,
      each interacting with a cell section. RESULTS: We find that the peak contact
      pressures and forces generated at the initial virus-cell contact depend on the
      virus geometry - that is both size and shape. With respect to shape, we show that
      the icosahedral virus shape induces greater peak pressures compared to a
      spherical virus shape. With respect to size, it is shown that the larger the
      virus is the greater are the contact loads in the attacked cell. CONCLUSION:
      Utilization of our modeling can be substantially useful not only for basic
      science studies, but also in other, more applied fields, such as in the field of
      gene therapy, or in 'phage' virus studies.

PMID- 26890229
TI  - Global outreach and user preferences of a smartphone application developed for
      drinkers.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Alcohol use disorders has been known and recently highlighted by
      the World Health Organization as a major worldwide problem. Harmful usage of
      alcohol has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality arising from common
      alcohol related disorders, such as liver disease, hypertension and violent
      deaths. Looking at the current literature, there have been previous peer reviewed
      publications about how technology has helped alcohol users. Of significance, a
      previous content analysis showed that the vast majority of the applications
      catered for alcohol use disorder which are currently available on the stores are
      not only not supported by evidence-base, but some of them seemed to be promoting
      drinking instead. Zhang et al. have described how they have attempted to overcome
      the limitations of current alcohol applications in their video feature recently
      published. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to evaluate (a) the
      receptiveness of the general population toward an alcohol tracker application and
      to determine (b) user preferences with regards to the different features present
      in an alcohol tracker. METHODS: Android Java Developmental kit (ADK) was utilized
      to program the core functions of the applications. The entire developmental
      process took approximately 6 weeks to complete and the android version of the
      application was launched and offered for free download on the android play store
      since the 4th of February 2015. The utilization of the application was then
      monitored and recorded using Google analytics. User perspectives with regards to
      the individual features of the application were collated via an application
      feedback survey embedded within the application. RESULTS: Based on the analytics,
      a total of 339 users have had access to the application. A cumulative total of
      2029 downloads of the application have been made to date. Most of the
      participants are male (66%) and are of the age group of 30-39 years old (34%).
      The vast majority of the participants (94%) do not have any prior treatment for
      alcohol. Interestingly, the vast majority of the users have indicated that they
      have a drink 4 or more times a week (61%) and tend to drink between 3 to 4 drinks
      on a typical day they are out drinking. the vast majority reported that they were
      slightly and moderately comfortable with managing their alcohol use problem
      (25%). After the usage of the application, 27% of the individuals were moderately
      comfortable with managing their alcohol use problems and 20% of individuals were
      extremely comfortable with managing their alcohol use problems. CONCLUSION: In
      conclusion, this is perhaps one of the first few studies to demonstrate the
      receptiveness of an alcohol tracker that has included other behavioral change
      methods within as well as a variant of the conventional methodology of tracking
      alcohol consumption. The current study shows the receptiveness of global users as
      well as how such an intervention could help them gain more control about managing
      their underlying alcohol issue.

PMID- 26890230
TI  - Mirror Therapy with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for improving motor
      function of stroke survivors: A pilot randomized clinical study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the effects of Mirror Therapy (MT)
      combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength and
      tone, motor function, balance, and gait ability in stroke survivors with
      hemiplegia. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-seven
      hemiplegic stroke survivors from a rehabilitation center participated in the
      study. The participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a
      control group. The experimental group (n = 14) underwent MT combined with NMES
      and conventional physical therapy, and the control group (n = 13) underwent
      conventional physical therapy alone. Muscle strength and tone, balance, and gait
      ability were examined at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. A hand-held
      dynamometer was used to assess muscle strength, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)
      was used to assess muscle tone, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go
      test (TUG) were used to ascertain balance, and the 6-m Walk Test (6mWT) was used
      to examine gait ability. RESULTS: After the intervention, compared to baseline
      values, there were significant improvements in muscle strength and MAS, BBS, TUG,
      and 6mWT values in the experimental group (P< 0.05). In addition, at post
      intervention, there were significant differences between the two groups in muscle
      strength and BBS (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: MT combined with NMES may effectively
      improve muscle strength and balance in hemiplegic stroke survivors. However,
      further studies are necessary to demonstrate brain reorganization after MT
      combined with NMES.

PMID- 26890231
TI  - A portable respiratory rate estimation system with a passive single-lead
      electrocardiogram acquisition module.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Among vital signs of acutely ill hospital patients, respiratory rate
      (RR) is a highly accurate predictor of health deterioration. OBJECTIVE: This
      study proposes a system that consists of a passive and non-invasive single-lead
      electrocardiogram (ECG) acquisition module and an ECG-derived respiratory (EDR)
      algorithm in the working prototype of a mobile application. METHOD: Before
      estimating RR that produces the EDR rate, ECG signals were evaluated based on the
      signal quality index (SQI). The SQI algorithm was validated quantitatively using
      the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge 2011 training data set. The RR
      extraction algorithm was validated by adopting 40 MIT PhysioNet Multiparameter
      Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II data set. RESULTS: The estimated RR
      showed a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.4 compared with the ''gold standard'' RR.
      The proposed system was used to record 20 ECGs of healthy subjects and obtained
      the estimated RR with MAE of 0.7 bpm. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the
      proposed hardware and algorithm could replace the manual counting method,
      uncomfortable nasal airflow sensor, chest band, and impedance pneumotachography
      often used in hospitals. The system also takes advantage of the prevalence of
      smartphone usage and increase the monitoring frequency of the current ECG of
      patients with critical illnesses.

PMID- 26890234
TI  - Intracoronary platelet and monocyte activation status within platelet-monocyte
      complexes are determinants of inflammation in ST elevation myocardial
      infarction1.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Platelet Monocyte Complexes (PMCs) are commonly expressed in
      coronary artery disease but their pathologic significance in ST elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. This study evaluates the relationship
      between locally activated PMCs and intracoronary inflammation in stable and
      unstable coronary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Micro catheter aspirated blood
      samples of 15 STEMI and 7 stable angina patients are collected from the coronary
      artery (CA), aorta (AO) and right atrium (RA). Samples are labelled with
      monoclonal antibodies and prepared for flow cytometry. CD 14 and CD 61 double
      positive cells are identified as PMC. P-selectin expression is identified by
      additional CD62P positivity and TF expression by additional CD142 positivity.
      Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 are measured using ELISA and CRP is measured in plasma
      using a high sensitivity automated microparticle enhanced latex turbidimetric
      immunoassay. RESULTS: No site-specific difference is seen in overall PMC
      expression in STEMI or stable angina. Surface P-selectin expression in STEMI
      [median (IQR)] is significantly higher in CA [35.01 (23.15-56.99)] compared with
      AO [15.99 (10.3-18.85)] or RA [14.02 (10.42-26.08)] (p = 0.003). Intracoronary
      PMC correlates significantly with intracoronary TNF-alpha (r = 0.87, p = 0.001)
      and intracoronary IL-6 (r = 0.76, p = 0.03). Bound monocytes within P-selectin
      positive and tissue factor positive complexes correlate positively with
      intracoronary TNF-alpha (r = 0.81, p = 0.008 & r = 0.80, p = 0.009 respectively)
      and IL-6 (r = 0.54, p = 0.16 & r = 0.71, p = 0.05 respectively). No such
      correlation is observed in the peripheral circulation of STEMI and stable angina
      patients. CONCLUSION: Inflammation is not attributable to PMC formation per se.
      However, increased intracoronary P-selectin expression by activated platelets and
      tissue factor expression by activated monocytes within the complexes are
      determinants of local intracoronary inflammatory burden in STEMI.

PMID- 26890232
TI  - Lingonberries reduce atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice in association with
      altered gut microbiota composition and improved lipid profile.
AB  - SCOPE: To investigate the efficacy of lingonberries in prevention of
      atherosclerosis, using atherosclerosis-prone Apoe(-/-) mice and to clarify
      whether effects were associated with changes in the gut microbiota, gut
      metabolites, and lipid metabolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Apoe(-/-) mice were
      fed either low-fat diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet with 44% lingonberries
      for 8 weeks. Blood lipid profiles, hepatic gene expression, atherosclerotic
      plaques in the aortic root region of the heart, bacterial 16S rRNA gene profiles,
      and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed. Triglyceride levels and
      amount of atherosclerotic plaques decreased in the group fed lingonberries in
      comparison to the high-fat group. Hepatic expression of the bile acid synthesis
      gene Cyp7a1 was significantly upregulated in the lingonberry group. Lingonberries
      increased the cecal relative abundance of bacterial genera Bacteroides,
      Parabacteroides and Clostridium. The cecal levels of total SCFAs were
      significantly lower in the lingonberry group, while the cecal proportion of
      propionic acid was higher in mice fed lingonberries. CONCLUSION: Intake of
      lingonberries resulted in decreased triglyceridemia and reduced atherosclerosis.
      The altered gut microbiota composition and SCFA profile was associated with
      increased hepatic bile acid gene expression in mice fed lingonberries.

PMID- 26890235
TI  - Retinal vessel regulation at high altitudes1.
AB  - PURPOSE: To measure static and dynamic changes of retinal vessels in response to
      normobaric hypoxia (NH, study A) and hypobaric hypoxia (HH, study B). METHODS:
      Study A included 10 healthy individuals exposed to a simulated altitude of 5500
      meters in a NH chamber; study B included 17 individuals studied after ascent to
      3000-meter altitude. Retinal vessel diameter, response to flicker light, retinal
      oxygen saturation and retinal venous pressure were measured at baseline, under
      the corresponding hypoxia condition. The effects of macitentan, an endothelin
      receptor antagonist, were examined in study B. RESULTS: The mean age of
      participants was 34.6+/-9.3 years in study A and 36.7+/-10.8 years in study B.
      Retinal arterial and venous diameter increased, arterial and venous response to
      flicker light decreased, while retinal oxygen saturation remained stable under
      both experimental conditions. Retinal venous pressure increased in six
      individuals after ascent to 3000 meters and normalized after macitentan
      treatment. The occurrence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) correlated only with
      the decrease of arterial constriction after ascent to 3000 meters. CONCLUSIONS:
      Retinal arterial and venous vessels react to NH and HH with a diameter increase
      and an impaired response to flicker light. Macitentan was capable to normalize
      the increased retinal venous pressure observed at high altitudes.

PMID- 26890236
TI  - Red blood cell nitric oxide synthase modulates red blood cell deformability in
      sickle cell anemia.
AB  - Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited red blood cells (RBC) disorder
      characterized by significantly decreased RBC deformability. The present study
      aimed to assess whether modulation of RBC Nitric Oxide Synthase (RBC-NOS)
      activation could affect RBC deformability in SCA.Blood of twenty-five SCA
      patients was treated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C with Phosphate Buffered Saline
      (PBS) or PBS containing 1% of Dimethylsulfoxyde as control, L-arginine or N(5)-(1
      Iminoethyl)-L-ornithine (L-NIO) to directly stimulate or inhibit RBC-NOS, insulin
      or wortmannin to indirectly stimulate or inhibit RBC-NOS through their effects on
      the PI3 Kinase/Akt pathway, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and 2-(4
      Carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO) as NO donor
      and NO scavenger, respectively. RBC deformability was measured by ektacytometry
      at 3 Pa.RBC deformability significantly increased after insulin treatment and
      significantly decreased after L-NIO and wortmannin incubation. The other
      conditions did not affect deformability. Significantly increased nitrotyrosine
      levels, a marker of enhanced free radical generation, were detected by
      immunohistochemistry in SNP and insulin treated samples.These data suggest that
      RBC deformability of SCA can be modulated by RBC-NOS activity but also that
      oxidative stress may impair effectiveness of RBC-NOS produced NO.

PMID- 26890237
TI  - Hemorheological alterations in carotid artery stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is not only an important risk factor of
      cerebrovascular events but it can also indicate generalized atherosclerosis.
      Hemorheological parameters are altered in CAS and in chronic cerebrovascular
      disorders as well, but it is controversial if hemorheological parameters could be
      markers of stenosis or atherosclerosis. METHODS: 107 patients were investigated,
      40% of them had stroke or TIA in case history and 48% had CAS. Routine lab
      parameters were determined and hemorheological variables were measured:
      hematocrit, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, red blood cell aggregation,
      and deformability. RESULTS: In the stenotic group whole blood viscosity and red
      blood cell aggregation were deteriorated (p < 0.05). Whole blood and plasma
      viscosity were higher and red blood cell deformability was lower in the
      symptomatic group (p < 0.05). Plasma viscosity and red blood cell deformability
      were altered in the evolving atherosclerosis group and the CAS groups compared to
      patients having no signs of stenosis (p < 0.05), but there was no difference
      among the CAS groups. CONCLUSION: Although hemorheological parameters are
      impaired both in CAS and chronic cerebrovascular disorders, the severity of
      stenosis cannot be detected based on hemorheological parameters. Our
      investigation suggests that alteration of hemorheological parameters could
      indicate carotid atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26890238
TI  - Regulation of red blood cell deformability is independent of red blood cell
      nitric oxide synthase under hypoxia.
AB  - The aim was to study impacts of mild to severe hypoxia on human red blood cell
      (RBC)-nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent NO production, protein S
      nitrosylation and deformability.Ambient air oxygen concentration of 12 healthy
      subjects was step-wisely reduced from 20.95% to 16.21%, 12.35%, 10% and back to
      20.95%. Additional in vitro experiments involved purging of blood (+/-sodium
      nitrite) with gas mixtures corresponding to in vivo intervention.Vital and
      hypoxia-associated parameters showed physiological adaptation to changing
      demands. Activation of RBC-NOS decreased with increasing hypoxia. RBC
      deformability, which is influenced by RBC-NOS activation, decreased under mild
      hypoxia, but surprisingly increased at severe hypoxia in vivo and in vitro. This
      was causatively induced by nitrite reduction to NO which increased S
      nitrosylation of RBC alpha- and beta-spectrins -a critical step to improve RBC
      deformability. The addition of sodium nitrite prevented decreases of RBC
      deformability under hypoxia by sustaining S-nitrosylation of spectrins suggesting
      compensatory mechanisms of non-RBC-NOS-produced NO.The results first time
      indicate a direct link between maintenance of RBC deformability under severe
      hypoxia by non-enzymatic NO production because RBC-NOS activation is reduced.
      These data improve our understanding of physiological mechanisms supporting
      adequate blood and, thus, oxygen supply to different tissues under severe
      hypoxia. 

PMID- 26890239
TI  - The responses of glabrous and nonglabrous skin microcirculation to graded dynamic
      exercise and its recovery.
AB  - This study investigated the responses of skin blood flow (SkBF) in glabrous and
      nonglabrous skin to graded submaximal dynamic exercise and its recovery. We
      enrolled eight healthy young men with comparable maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).
      Laser-Doppler flux (LDF) was assessed on the finger pulp (glabrous site) and the
      volar forearm (nonglabrous site) simultaneously with skin temperature, heart rate
      and blood pressure; cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated. Subjects
      were monitored before (baseline), during and 25 minutes after incremental
      cycling. CVC in the pulp decreased with the onset of exercise (0.53+/-0.09AUmmHg
      1 vs. baseline 1.23+/-0.25AUmmHg-1, p = 0.006), and persisted low until exercise
      cessation, whereas CVC in the forearm started to increase at 60% of subjects'
      VO2max, attaining its maximum at the highest exercise load (0.44+/-0.11AUmmHg-1
      vs. baseline 0.12+/-0,03AUmmHg-1, p = 0.017). In the recovery, CVC in the pulp
      attained a higher plateau value compared to baseline (1.51+/-0.22AUmmHg-1, p =
      0.021), interrupted by abrupt transient falls of CVC. On the forearm, CVC
      subsequently returned to its baseline. SkBF of glabrous and nonglabrous sites
      adjust in an opposite manner to graded exercise load and also differ during
      recovery.

PMID- 26890240
TI  - Shear-wave elastography of the testis in the healthy man - determination of
      standard values.
AB  - PURPOSE: Real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) is a newly developed technique
      for the sonographic quantification of tissue elasticity, which already is used in
      the assessment of breast and thyroid lesions. Due to limited overlying tissue,
      the testes are ideally suited for assessment using shear wave elastography. To
      our knowledge, no published data exist on real-time SWE of the testes. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Sixty six male volunteers (mean age 51.86+/-18.82, range 20-86) with
      no known testicular pathology underwent normal B-mode sonography and multi-frame
      shear-wave elastography of both testes using the Aixplorer (r) ultrasound system
      (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix en Provence, France). Three measurements were performed
      for each testis; one in the upper pole, in the middle portion and in the lower
      pole respectively. The results were statistically evaluated using multivariate
      analysis. RESULTS: Mean shear-wave velocity values were similar in the inferior
      and superior part of the testicle (1.15 m/s) and were significantly lower in the
      centre (0.90 m/s). These values were age-independent. Testicular stiffness was
      significantly lower in the upper pole than in the rest of the testis with
      increasing volume (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Real-time shear-wave elastography
      proved to be feasible in the assessment of testicular stiffness. It is important
      to consider the measurement region as standard values differ between the centre
      and the testicular periphery. Further studies with more subjects may be required
      to define the normal range of values for each age group. Useful clinical
      applications could include the diagnostic work-up of patients with scrotal masses
      or male infertility.

PMID- 26890241
TI  - Substrate stiffness modulates mRNA expression profiling in breast cancer cells.
AB  - Identifying effective targets induced by ECM stiffness is of critical importance
      for treating metastatic cancer diseases, which are followed by changes in the
      mechanical microenvironment in cancer cells. In this study, polyacrylamide
      hydrogel substrates with different stiffnesses were prepared and mRNA microarrays
      were performed to analyze the mRNA expression profiles in breast cancer cell line
      SK-BR-3 grown on different stiffness substrates. The results indicated that the
      expressions of 1831 genes were changed significantly in the SK-BR-3 cells on the
      different stiffness substrates. GO and KEGG pathway analyses of the differently
      expressed genes in five significant profiles annotated that the most significant
      pathways were cell cycle, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis RNA transport and
      pathways in cancer. Finally, the network of genes and gene interaction based on
      these differently expressed genes was established, and the phosphorylation of AKT
      and ERK, respectively the downstreams of the PI3K and Ras signal pathways, was
      further validated. The genes identified in this study may represent good
      therapeutic targets, and further study of these targets may help to increase our
      understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathological processes and therapy
      for metastatic breast cancer disease.

PMID- 26890242
TI  - Camera-based photoplethysmography in critical care patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Camera-based photoplethysmography (cbPPG) is an optical measurement
      technique that reveals pulsatile blood flow in cutaneous microcirculation from a
      distance. cbPPG has been shown to reflect pivotal haemodynamic events like
      cardiac ejection in healthy subjects. In addition, it provides valuable insight
      into intrinsic microcirculatory regulation as it yields dynamic, two-dimensional
      perfusion maps. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of a clinical cbPPG
      application in critical care patients. METHODS: A mobile camera set-up to record
      faces of patients at the bed site was constructed. Videos were made during the
      immediate recovery after cardiac surgery under standard critical care conditions
      and were processed offline. Major motion artefacts were detected using an optical
      flow technique and suitable facial regions were manually annotated. cbPPG signals
      were highpass filtered and Fourier spectra out of consecutive 10s signal segments
      calculated for heart rate detection. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) of the Fourier
      spectra were derived as a quality measure. Reference data of vital parameters
      were synchronously acquired from the bed site monitoring system. RESULTS: Seventy
      patient videos of an average time of 28.6+/-2.8 min were analysed. Heart rate
      (HR) was detected within a+/-5 bpm range compared to reference in 83% of total
      recording time. Low SNR and HR detection failure were mostly, but not
      exclusively, attributed to non-physiological events like patient motion,
      interventions or sudden changes of illumination. SNR was reduced by low arterial
      blood pressure, whereas no impact of other perioperative or disease-related
      parameters was identified. CONCLUSION: Cardiac ejection is detectable by cbPPG
      under pathophysiologic conditions of cardiovascular disease and perioperative
      medicine. cbPPG measurements can be seamlessly integrated into the clinical work
      flow of critical care patients.

PMID- 26890243
TI  - Hydroxyethyl starch solution for extracorporeal tissue perfusion.
AB  - In the field of free flap transfer in reconstructive surgery, the trans- or
      replanted tissue always undergoes cell damage during ischemia to a more or less
      strong extent. In previous studies we already showed that conserving muscle
      transplants by means of extracorporeal perfusion over a period of 6 hours by
      using a crystalloid solution for perfusion. However, we observed significant
      edema formation. In this study we aimed at reducing the edema formation by using
      an iso-oncotic colloid as perfusion solution. This way we wanted to evaluate a
      possible new application of hydroxyl-ethyl starch in an extracorporeal setup to
      exploit potential benefits of the colloid.Examined parameters include the
      muscles' functionality with external field stimulation, histological examination
      and edema formation. Perfused muscles showed a statistically significant higher
      ability to exert force compared to nonperfused ones. These findings can be
      confirmed using Annexin V as marker for cell damage, as perfusion of muscle
      tissue limits damage significantly compared to nonperfused tissue. Substituting
      the electrolyte perfusion solution with a colloidal one shows the tendency to
      reduce the edema formation however without statistical significance.

PMID- 26890244
TI  - Effects of acute and chronic hematocrit modulations on blood viscosity in
      endurance athletes.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of manipulating
      hematocrit by different methods (acute exercise, training or isovolumic
      hemodilution) on blood viscosity in high-level aerobic endurance athletes. We
      hypothesized than increasing hematocrit does not always cause a rise in blood
      viscosity.Sixteen endurance athletes underwent maximal exercise before and after
      4 weeks of training with (LHTL; n = 10) or without (placebo; n = 6) Live High
      Train Low modalities. Total hemoglobin mass was measured before and after
      training by a carbon monoxide rebreathing technique. After training, subjects
      performed two maximal exercise bouts separated by isovolumic hemodilution
      (phlebotomy and/or plasma volume expander) to readjust red blood cell volume and
      plasma volume to baseline values. Blood samples were obtained before and after
      exercise to assess hematocrit and blood and plasma viscosity.Training session
      (LHTL and placebo) increased hematocrit (Hct) in all subjects but without any
      significant change in blood viscosity. The decrease in plasma viscosity in all
      groups may explain this result. Isovolumic hemodilution caused a drop of Hct
      without any significant change in blood viscosity at rest. Maximal exercise
      increased Hct, blood and plasma viscosities in both groups, regardless of
      isovolumic hemodilution. However, peak hemorheological values after exercise were
      lower after isovolumic hemodilution.In conclusion, while acute increase in Hct
      during exercise caused an increase of blood viscosity, the chronic increase of
      Hct induced by training session did not result in a rise in blood viscosity. The
      lowering of plasma viscosity during training may compensate for the increase of
      Hct, hence limiting its impact on blood viscosity.

PMID- 26890245
TI  - Alcohol mixed with energy drink: Use may be a consequence of heavy drinking.
AB  - AIMS: In recent years, studies have indicated that consumers of alcohol mixed
      with energy drink (AmED) are more likely to drink heavily and experience more
      negative consequences than consumers who avoid these beverages. Although
      researchers have identified a number of plausible hypotheses that explain how
      alcohol-energy drink co-ingestion could cause greater alcohol consumption, there
      has been no postulation about reverse causal relations. This paper identifies
      several plausible hypotheses for the observed associations between AmED
      consumption and greater alcohol consumption, and provides initial evidence for
      one such hypothesis suggesting that heavy drinking may be a determinant of AmED
      use. METHOD: Data collected from 511bar patrons were used to examine the
      plausibility of one of the proposed hypotheses, i.e., AmED is an artifact of
      heavy drinking. Associations between the consumption of an assortment of
      alcoholic beverage types and total alcohol consumption were examined at the event
      level, to assess whether AmED is uniquely related with greater alcohol
      consumption. RESULTS: Increased alcohol consumption was associated with greater
      odds of consuming most alcoholic beverage types; this association was not unique
      to AmED. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the overlooked hypothesis that AmED use is
      an artifact of heavy drinking. Thus, AmED consumption may be a consequence or
      marker of heavier drinking. Much of the existing research on alcoholic beverage
      types is limited in its ability to implicate any specific type of drink,
      including AmED, as a cause of increased alcohol consumption and related harm.
      More rigorous study designs are needed to examine causal relationships.

PMID- 26890247
TI  - Short-term total sleep deprivation alters delay-conditioned memory in the rat.
AB  - Short-term sleep deprivation soon after training may impair memory consolidation.
      Also, a particular sleep stage or its components increase after learning some
      tasks, such as negative and positive reinforcement tasks, avoidance tasks, and
      spatial learning tasks, and so forth. It suggests that discrete memory types may
      require specific sleep stage or its components for their optimal processing. The
      classical conditioning paradigms are widely used to study learning and memory but
      the role of sleep in a complex conditioned learning is unclear. Here, we have
      investigated the effects of short-term sleep deprivation on the consolidation of
      delay-conditioned memory and the changes in sleep architecture after
      conditioning. Rats were trained for the delay-conditioned task (for conditioning,
      house-light [conditioned stimulus] was paired with fruit juice [unconditioned
      stimulus]). Animals were divided into 3 groups: (a) sleep deprived (SD); (b)
      nonsleep deprived (NSD); and (c) stress control (SC) groups. Two-way ANOVA
      revealed a significant interaction between groups and days (training and testing)
      during the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus presentation. Further,
      Tukey post hoc comparison revealed that the NSD and SC animals exhibited
      significant increase in performances during testing. The SD animals, however,
      performed significantly less during testing. Further, we observed that
      wakefulness and NREM sleep did not change after training and testing.
      Interestingly, REM sleep increased significantly on both days compared to
      baseline more specifically during the initial 4-hr time window after
      conditioning. Our results suggest that the consolidation of delay-conditioned
      memory is sleep-dependent and requires augmented REM sleep during an explicit
      time window soon after training. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26890248
TI  - Conditioned social preference, but not place preference, produced by intranasal
      oxytocin in female mice.
AB  - Oxytocin (OT) has been implicated in a variety of mammalian reproductive and
      social behaviors, and the use of intranasal OT for clinical purposes is on the
      rise. However, basic actions of OT, including the rewarding or reinforcing
      properties of the drug, are currently not fully understood. In this study, the
      authors investigated whether intranasally administered OT has different
      reinforcing properties for social and nonsocial stimuli and whether such effects
      are variable between male and female subjects. Conditioned social preference
      (CSP) and conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigms were used to examine
      social and nonsocial reinforcing properties of OT. In CSP, the presence of a same
      sex unfamiliar conspecific was repeatedly paired with intranasal OT, while a
      different conspecific was associated with saline. The reinforcing effect of OT
      was assessed in a postconditioning choice test under a drug-free condition. In
      CPP, the 2 conspecifics were replaced with nonsocial black and white
      compartments. The authors found that intranasal OT (12 MUg) in females supported
      the formation of CSP (Experiment 1) but not CPP (Experiment 3). Neither CSP
      (Experiment 2) nor CPP (Experiment 4) was formed in males. Extended conditioning
      with higher dose OT (36 MUg), however, abolished the initial CSP in females and
      produced an aversion to the OT-paired stimulus mouse. Experiment 5 indicated that
      it was the repeated administrations rather than the higher dose that produced the
      abolition of the original preference. Overall, the current results demonstrate
      for the first time a sex- and stimulus-dependent reinforcing property of
      intranasal OT in mice. (PsycINFO Database Record 

PMID- 26890246
TI  - Overexpression of cyclin D1 induces the reprogramming of differentiated epidermal
      cells into stem cell-like cells.
AB  - It has been reported that Wnt/beta-catenin is critical for dedifferentiation of
      differentiated epidermal cells. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a beta-catenin target gene.
      In this study, we provide evidence that overexpression of CCND1 induces
      reprogramming of epidermal cells into stem cell-like cells. After introducing
      CCND1 gene into differentiated epidermal cells, we found that the large flat
      shaped cells with a small nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio changed into small round
      shaped cells with a large nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. The expressions of CK10,
      beta1-integrin, Oct4 and Nanog in CCND1 induced cells were remarkably higher than
      those in the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, the induced cells exhibited a
      high colony-forming ability and a long-term proliferative potential. When the
      induced cells were implanted into a wound of laboratory animal model, the wound
      healing was accelerated. These results suggested that overexpression of CCND1
      induced the reprogramming of differentiated epidermal cells into stem cell-like
      cells. This study may also offer a new approach to yield epidermal stem cells for
      wound repair and regeneration. 

PMID- 26890249
TI  - Rapid and label-free detection and assessment of bacteria by terahertz time
      domain spectroscopy.
AB  - Here we demonstrated the potential and applicability of terahertz (THz)
      spectroscopy to detect four commonly found bacteria in the infectious diseases.
      Besides the different spectral characteristics between bacterial species, THz
      absorption differences for living bacteria, dead bacteria and bacterial powder of
      the same species were also investigated. Our results revealed that small
      differences in water contents between bacterial cells account for distinct
      discrepancies of the absorption coefficients, which can be used for bacterial
      species identification. Furthermore, living and dead bacteria showed different
      absorption coefficients as a result of their different hydration levels,
      suggesting that THz spectroscopy can be used to rapidly assess the living state
      of bacteria under test. Our results clearly demonstrated the ability of THz
      spectroscopy for time-saving and label-free detection of bacteria with minimal
      sample preparation, potentially to be utilized for point-of-care tests in the
      near future. Schematic representation of bacterial detection by THz spectroscopy.
      Different bacteria have distinctive absorption coefficients as a result of their
      different water contents.

PMID- 26890250
TI  - Association between Birth Interval and Cardiovascular Outcomes at 30 Years of
      Age: A Prospective Cohort Study from Brazil.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Birth interval is an important and potentially modifiable factor that
      is associated with child health. Whether an association exists with longer-term
      outcomes in adults is less well known. METHODS: Using the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil)
      Birth Cohort Study, the association of birth interval with markers of
      cardiovascular health at 30 years of age was examined. Multivariable linear
      regression was used with birth interval as a continuous variable and categorical
      variable, and effect modification by gender was explored. RESULTS: Birth interval
      and cardiovascular data were present for 2,239 individuals. With birth interval
      as a continuous variable, no association was found but stratification by gender
      tended to show stronger associations for girls. When compared to birth intervals
      of <18 months, as binary variable, longer intervals were associated with
      increases in height (1.6 cm; 95% CI: 0.5, 2.8) and lean mass (1.7 kg; 95% CI:
      0.2, 3.2). No difference was seen with other cardiovascular outcomes.
      CONCLUSIONS: An association was generally not found between birth interval and
      cardiovascular outcomes at 30 years of age, though some evidence existed for
      differences between males and females and for an association with height and lean
      mass for birth intervals of 18 months and longer.

PMID- 26890253
TI  - Survey of prenatal testing for genetic disorders in Japan: Recent report.
AB  - AIM: In order to investigate the current status of prenatal testing for genetic
      disorders, we conducted a multicenter retrospective questionnaire survey.
      METHODS: The questionnaire was sent to 105 facilities with genetic counseling
      systems. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: (i) the number of prenatal
      tests conducted for genetic disorders from January 2010 to December 2012, whether
      the laboratory was combined with the counseling facility or separate, the
      sampling procedure method, the testing results, and the outcomes of the affected
      fetus in addition to treatment; and (ii) a survey of personal comments regarding
      prenatal testing for genetic disorders. RESULTS: We received responses from 69 of
      the 105 facilities (65.7%), and genetic testing was performed at 26 of these
      facilities. Nucleic acid sequential testing was performed on 45 disorders and 252
      cases during a three-year period. There were 67 cases of affected fetuses. Six
      cases continued pregnancy and were treated. The comment survey highlighted
      difficulties in locating a laboratory to assess prenatal samples, as well as
      inadequate counseling and preparation for genetic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      study revealed that a number of prenatal testing for genetic disorders are
      conducted in Japan; however, it is difficult for counselors to locate a
      laboratory capable of testing for specific genetic disorders. Inadequate
      counseling and healthcare providers' lack of knowledge is a current problem. A
      well-established system of prenatal testing for genetic disorders and the further
      education of general physicians is required.

PMID- 26890252
TI  - SETD7 Regulates the Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells.
AB  - The successful use of specialized cells in regenerative medicine requires an
      optimization in the differentiation protocols that are currently used.
      Understanding the molecular events that take place during the differentiation of
      human pluripotent cells is essential for the improvement of these protocols and
      the generation of high quality differentiated cells. In an effort to understand
      the molecular mechanisms that govern differentiation we identify the
      methyltransferase SETD7 as highly induced during the differentiation of human
      embryonic stem cells and differentially expressed between induced pluripotent
      cells and somatic cells. Knock-down of SETD7 causes differentiation defects in
      human embryonic stem cell including delay in both the silencing of pluripotency
      related genes and the induction of differentiation genes. We show that SETD7
      methylates linker histone H1 in vitro causing conformational changes in H1. These
      effects correlate with a decrease in the recruitment of H1 to the pluripotency
      genes OCT4 and NANOG during differentiation in the SETD7 knock down that might
      affect the proper silencing of these genes during differentiation. 

PMID- 26890255
TI  - Organocatalytic, Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Haliclonin A.
AB  - The first total synthesis of the alkaloid (-)-haliclonin A is reported. The
      asymmetric synthesis relied on a novel organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate
      addition of nitromethane with 3-alkenyl cyclohex-2-enone to set the
      stereochemistry of the all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center. The synthesis
      also features a Pd-promoted cyclization to form the 3-azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane
      core, a SmI2 -mediated intermolecular reductive coupling of enone with aldehyde
      to form the requisite secondary chiral alcohol, ring-closing alkene and alkyne
      metathesis reactions to build the two aza-macrocyclic ring systems, and an
      unprecedented direct transformation of enol into enone. 

PMID- 26890254
TI  - Coherence between Rat Sensorimotor System and Hippocampus Is Enhanced during
      Tactile Discrimination.
AB  - Rhythms with time scales of multiple cycles per second permeate the mammalian
      brain, yet neuroscientists are not certain of their functional roles. One leading
      idea is that coherent oscillation between two brain regions facilitates the
      exchange of information between them. In rats, the hippocampus and the vibrissal
      sensorimotor system both are characterized by rhythmic oscillation in the theta
      range, 5-12 Hz. Previous work has been divided as to whether the two rhythms are
      independent or coherent. To resolve this question, we acquired three measures
      from rats--whisker motion, hippocampal local field potential (LFP), and barrel
      cortex unit firing--during a whisker-mediated texture discrimination task and
      during control conditions (not engaged in a whisker-mediated memory task).
      Compared to control conditions, the theta band of hippocampal LFP showed a marked
      increase in power as the rats approached and then palpated the texture. Phase
      synchronization between whisking and hippocampal LFP increased by almost 50%
      during approach and texture palpation. In addition, a greater proportion of
      barrel cortex neurons showed firing that was phase-locked to hippocampal theta
      while rats were engaged in the discrimination task. Consistent with a behavioral
      consequence of phase synchronization, the rats identified the texture more
      rapidly and with lower error likelihood on trials in which there was an increase
      in theta-whisking coherence at the moment of texture palpation. These results
      suggest that coherence between the whisking rhythm, barrel cortex firing, and
      hippocampal LFP is augmented selectively during epochs in which the rat collects
      sensory information and that such coherence enhances the efficiency of
      integration of stimulus information into memory and decision-making centers.

PMID- 26890257
TI  - STK38 at the crossroad between autophagy and apoptosis.
AB  - We describe the STK38 protein kinase as a conserved regulator of autophagy. We
      discovered STK38 as a novel binding partner of Beclin1, a key regulator of
      autophagy. By combining molecular, cell biological and genetic approaches, we
      show that STK38 promotes autophagosome formation in human cells and in
      Drosophila. Furthermore, we also provide evidence demonstrating that STK38 with
      the small GTPase RalB, assist the co-ordination between autophagic and apoptotic
      events upon autophagy induction, hence proposing a role for STK38 in determining
      cellular fate in response to autophagic conditions. 

PMID- 26890256
TI  - Immunization coverage among splenectomized patients: Results of an ad hoc survey
      in Puglia Region (South of Italy).
AB  - Patients with anatomic or functional asplenia have a 10-50 times higher risk than
      general population to develop Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection. Evidences
      are unanimous in recommending splenectomised patients to receive meningococcal,
      antipneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccinations according to a
      specific timing. In Italy there are no current data on the immunisation coverage
      in these patients. This study aims to investigate immunisation coverage in
      patients undergoing elective or urgent splenectomy for 2012-2013 in the 3 Apulian
      hospitals. The patients discharged with the code ICD-9-CM 41.5 - "Total
      splenectomy" were enrolled. The administration of vaccines was verified through
      consultation of medical records, archives of general practitioners and
      vaccination offices. In the study period, 166 subjects underwent splenectomy and
      none of them received vaccinations during hospitalization. 25 splenectomised
      patients (15.1%) received at least one of the recommended vaccinations. 21
      patients (12.6%) received vaccine against Streptococcus pneumonia, 13 (7.8%)
      meningococcal vaccine, 10 patients (6%) Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.
      The low vaccination coverage could be due both to poor perception of the risk of
      infection and to a lack of knowledge on vaccinations by surgeons. For this reason
      it is necessary to draw up and share operational protocols that establish the
      administration of vaccines.

PMID- 26890259
TI  - Urinary bisphenol A concentrations positively associated with glycated hemoglobin
      and other indicators of diabetes in Canadian men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), may pose a
      risk to human health, including diabetes. However, epidemiological studies from
      the U.S., China and South Korea showed inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE: To
      examine the associations between BPA and indicators of diabetes in the general
      Canadian population. METHODS: The analysis was based on cross-sectional data from
      the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) Cycle 2 (2009-2011). We included 1915
      participants with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement and 2405 participants
      with serum glucose (SG) measurement aged 3-79 years, respectively. Multiple
      linear regression analyses were performed to model HbA1c and log-transformed SG
      levels associated with quartiles of urinary BPA concentrations controlling for
      potential confounders. Further, in adults (age>=18 years), logistic regression
      analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between BPA and physician
      diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM). Bootstrap weights were applied to all the
      analyses to account for the complex survey design. RESULTS: The geometric mean of
      urinary BPA was 1.21 (+/-0.05)ug/L. Overall, a positive association was observed
      between urinary BPA quartiles and HbA1c levels in men after controlling for
      potential confounders (P<0.05), but not in women and children. Similar patterns
      were found for the associations of BPA with log-transformed SG levels and doctor
      diagnosed DM. CONCLUSIONS: Higher urinary BPA levels were associated with adverse
      glucose homeostasis in Canadian men, independent of major covariates. Prospective
      studies with longitudinal design are needed to further investigate the causality.

PMID- 26890258
TI  - Thickness Mismatch of Coexisting Liquid Phases in Noncanonical Lipid Bilayers.
AB  - Lipid composition dictates membrane thickness, which in turn can influence
      membrane protein activity. Lipid composition also determines whether a membrane
      demixes into coexisting liquid-crystalline phases. Previous direct measurements
      of demixed lipid membranes have always found a liquid-ordered phase that is
      thicker than the liquid-disordered phase. Here we investigated noncanonical
      ternary lipid mixtures designed to produce bilayers with thicker disordered
      phases than ordered phases. The membranes were composed of short, saturated
      (ordered) lipids; long, unsaturated (disordered) lipids; and cholesterol. We
      found that few of these systems yield coexisting liquid phases above 10  degrees
      C. For membranes that do demix into two liquid phases, we measured the thickness
      mismatch between the phases by atomic force microscopy and found that not one of
      the systems yields thicker disordered than ordered phases under standard
      experimental conditions. We found no monotonic relationship between demixing
      temperatures of these ternary systems and either estimated thickness mismatches
      between the liquid phases or the physical parameters of single-component
      membranes composed of the individual lipids. These results highlight the
      robustness of a membrane's liquid-ordered phase to be thicker than the liquid
      disordered phase, regardless of the membrane's lipid composition. 

PMID- 26890263
TI  - Hybridizing Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and Plasmonic Titanium Nitride
      Nanoparticles for Broadband Photoresponsive Shape Memory Films.
AB  - Plasmonic nanoparticles can confine light in nanoscale and locally heat the
      surrounding. Here we use titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles as broadband
      plasmonic light absorbers and synthesized a highly photoresponsive hybrid cross
      linked polymer from shape memory polymer poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). The
      TiN-PCL hybrid is responsive to sunlight and the threshold irradiance was among
      the lowest when compared with other photoresponsive shape memory polymers studied
      previously. Sunlight heating with TiN NPs can be applied to other heat responsive
      smart polymers, thereby contributing to energy-saving smart polymers research for
      a sustainable society. 

PMID- 26890262
TI  - Digit Sucking Habit and Association with Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status of
      Children Aged 6 Months to 12 Years Resident in Semi-Urban Nigeria.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is a common behavior in childhood. The
      association between digit sucking, dental caries and oral health has been studied
      with inconclusive results. The objectives of this study were to determine the
      prevalence of, and the association between digit sucking, caries and oral hygiene
      status of children age six months to 12 years, resident in Ile-Ife, Osun State,
      Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ife Central Local
      Government Area of Osun State. Data were collected through a household survey
      using a multi-stage sampling procedure from children between six months and 12
      years. Details of each child's socio-demographic characteristics, digit sucking
      habits, caries status and oral health status were collected. The association
      between digit sucking, caries status and oral hygiene status was determined using
      Chi square and Logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the 992 study
      participants was 5.8 +/- (3.2) years. The prevalence of digit sucking, caries and
      poor oral hygiene were 7.2%, 10.5% and 2.4% respectively. The mean dmft score was
      0.22 +/- (0.80), mean DMFT score was 0.04 +/- (0.30) while mean Oral Hygiene
      Index score was 1.27 +/- (0.73). Digit sucking increased the odds of having
      caries (OR: 1.28; CI: 0.58-2.81) but decreased the odds of having poor oral
      hygiene (OR: 0.58; CI: 0.34-1.01) insignificantly. CONCLUSIONS: Digit sucking was
      not a significant predictor of caries and oral hygiene status, although the odds
      of having caries increased while the odds of having poor oral hygiene decreased
      with digit sucking.

PMID- 26890261
TI  - Analysis of Osteoclastogenesis/Osteoblastogenesis on Nanotopographical Titania
      Surfaces.
AB  - A focus of orthopedic research is to improve osteointegration and outcomes of
      joint replacement. Material surface topography has been shown to alter cell
      adhesion, proliferation, and growth. The use of nanotopographical features to
      promote cell adhesion and bone formation is hoped to improve osteointegration and
      clinical outcomes. Use of block-copolymer self-assembled nanopatterns allows
      nanopillars to form via templated anodization with control over height and order,
      which has been shown to be of cellular importance. This project assesses the
      outcome of a human bone marrow-derived co-culture of adherent osteoprogenitors
      and osteoclast progenitors on polished titania and titania patterned with 15 nm
      nanopillars, fabricated by a block-copolymer templated anodization technique.
      Substrate implantation in rabbit femurs is performed to confirm the in vivo
      bone/implant integration. Quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate
      increased osteogenesis on the nanopillar substrate with scanning electron
      microscopy, histochemical staining, and real-time quantitative reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis performed. Osteoblast/osteoclast
      co-culture analysis shows an increase in osteoblastogenesis-related gene
      expression and reduction in osteoclastogenesis. Supporting this in vitro finding,
      in vivo implantation of substrates in rabbit femora indicates increased
      implant/bone contact by ~20%. These favorable osteogenic characteristics
      demonstrate the potential of 15 nm titania nanopillars fabricated by the block
      copolymer templated anodization technique. 

PMID- 26890264
TI  - Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Its Receptors in Human
      Neointima.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The potential contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) in neointima development has been evaluated in numerous animal studies.
      However, its role remains controversial. Moreover, little is known about
      neointima formation in humans. In this study we assessed the expression of VEGF-A
      and its receptors in the human neointima formed within vascular anastomosis.
      METHODS: The studied material comprised neointima samples harvested during
      secondary vascular operations from patients with chronic limb ischemia after
      aorto-/iliofemoral bypass grafting who developed vascular graft occlusion at 6-18
      months after the initial surgical treatment. The control material consisted of
      segments of femoral arteries without visible macroscopic lesions collected from
      organ donors. The expression and content of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were
      analyzed with PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. RESULTS: We observed a
      significantly increased expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 mRNA in neointima
      compared to the normal aorta. A significantly higher protein content of VEGF-A
      and VEGFR-2 in neointima samples compared to the controls was also observed. No
      significant difference of VEGFR-1 content and VEGFR-1 mRNA expression was found
      in the studied material. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a possible
      involvement of the VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 system in the pathologic process of human
      neointima formation after vascular interventions.

PMID- 26890260
TI  - SIRT1 Disruption in Human Fetal Hepatocytes Leads to Increased Accumulation of
      Glucose and Lipids.
AB  - There are unprecedented epidemics of obesity, such as type II diabetes and non
      alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) in developed countries. A concerning
      percentage of American children are being affected by obesity and NAFLD. Studies
      have suggested that the maternal environment in utero might play a role in the
      development of these diseases later in life. In this study, we documented that
      inhibiting SIRT1 signaling in human fetal hepatocytes rapidly led to an increase
      in intracellular glucose and lipids levels. More importantly, both de novo
      lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis related genes were upregulated upon SIRT1
      inhibition. The AKT/FOXO1 pathway, a major negative regulator of gluconeogenesis,
      was decreased in the human fetal hepatocytes inhibited for SIRT1, consistent with
      the higher level of gluconeogenesis. These results indicate that SIRT1 is an
      important regulator of lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms within human fetal
      hepatocytes, acting as an adaptive transcriptional response to environmental
      changes. 

PMID- 26890266
TI  - Helical Oligoenes: Conformations, Bond Alternation, and Competing Through-Bond
      and Through-Space Transmission.
AB  - There is a consensus that long-range electron transfer/transport occurs by a
      through-bond rather than through-space mechanism. In helical all-Z, all-s-cis
      oligoenes, one can set up an interesting competition in the medium-separation
      regime between a closer (in distance) through-space path and a more distant
      through-bond one. Although such oligoene conformations/isomers are unstable (by
      around 4 kcal mol(-1) per double bond relative to all-E, all-s-trans isomers),
      recent synthetic efforts on truncated helicenes and oligothiophenes have provided
      related molecules. On the way to transmission calculations with electrodes
      attached to the termini of helical oligoenes, we uncover an interesting
      conformational ambiguity in all-Z, all-s-cis oligoenes, the existence of a broad
      conformational minimum for helical compression, with hints of end-to-end frontier
      orbital-caused stabilization. There is relationship between helical oligoene
      structures and the corresponding substructure of a helicene, but there are also
      significant differences in the number of olefin subunits per helix turn. In
      Huckel transport calculations, the role of TB or TS mechanisms is obscured to an
      extent by variations in bond alternation and dihedral angle along the oligomer
      chain. However, the operation of a dominant through bond mechanism emerges
      clearly in local transmission plots. In moving the electrodes to carbon position
      related by quantum interference, it is possible to uncover a through space
      mechanism. 

PMID- 26890265
TI  - Matricellular Protein Periostin Mediates Intestinal Inflammation through the
      Activation of Nuclear Factor kappaB Signaling.
AB  - Periostin is a matricellular protein that interacts with various integrin
      molecules on the cell surface. Although periostin is expressed in inflamed
      colonic mucosa, its role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation remains
      unclear. We investigated the role of periostin in intestinal inflammation using
      Postn-deficient (Postn-/-) mice. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were
      transfected by Postn small interfering RNAs. Periostin expression was determined
      in colon tissue samples from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Oral
      administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or rectal administration of
      trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, induced severe colitis in wild-type mice, but not
      in Postn-/- mice. Administration of recombinant periostin induced colitis in
      Postn-/- mice. The periostin neutralizing-antibody ameliorated the severity of
      colitis in DSS-treated wild-type mice. Silencing of Postn inhibited inteleukin
      (IL)-8 mRNA expression and NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in IECs. Tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF)-alpha upregulated mRNA expression of Postn in IECs, and recombinant
      periostin strongly enhanced IL-8 expression in combination with TNF-alpha, which
      was suppressed by an antibody against integrin alphav (CD51). Periostin and CD51
      were expressed at significantly higher levels in UC patients than in controls.
      Periostin mediates intestinal inflammation through the activation of NF-kappaB
      signaling, which suggests that periostin is a potential therapeutic target for
      inflammatory bowel disease. 

PMID- 26890268
TI  - Quelling Inflammation with Ketosis and Steric Chemistry.

PMID- 26890267
TI  - Randomized controlled trial on preemptive analgesia for acute postoperative pain
      management in children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preemptive analgesia is an anti-nociceptive treatment that starts
      before surgery and prevents the establishment of central sensitization. Whether
      preemptive analgesia is more effective than conventional regimens for managing
      postoperative pain remains controversial. This study evaluated the efficacy of
      intravenous preemptive analgesia for acute postoperative pain control in
      pediatric patients. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 51
      children aged 3-7 years, scheduled for corrective osteotomy were randomized into
      control (group C) or preemptive (group P) group. Both groups received
      standardized general anesthesia, including intravenous patient-controlled
      analgesia (IV-PCA) with fentanyl, which was started before skin incision in group
      P or 5 min thereafter in group C. IV-PCA data, pain scores using verbal rating
      scale (VRS) and Wong-Baker FACES((r)) pain rating scale (WBFS), emergence
      agitation score (EAS) using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED)
      scale, analgesic requirements, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The
      primary outcome, pain score at postoperative 1 h, showed no difference between
      the groups. Both groups did not demonstrate emergence agitation (PAED cutoff
      value >= 12), although the EAS at admission to the postanesthetic care unit
      (PACU) was lower in group P than in group C (P = 0.002; mean difference 4.85, 95%
      CI 1.97-7.73). There were no differences in the delivered volume of IV-PCA,
      frequency of pushing the IV-PCA button, effective push attempts, VRS, WBFS, EAS
      at discharge from the PACU, additional analgesic requirements, and complications.
      CONCLUSION: Preemptive analgesia using IV-PCA with fentanyl showed no significant
      advantages for postoperative analgesia after corrective osteotomy in pediatric
      patients.

PMID- 26890269
TI  - The conservation of aquatic ecosystems of the Orinoco River basin.

PMID- 26890270
TI  - Dissecting the clinical outcome and cause of abnormalities of the corpus
      callosum.

PMID- 26890271
TI  - A metal-responsive interdigitated bilayer for selective quantification of
      mercury(ii) traces by surface plasmon resonance.
AB  - Reusable surface plasmon resonance chips allowing the quantitative and selective
      detection of mercury(ii) ions in water at the 0.01 nM level are reported. The
      surface-modified gold sensor consists of a rarefied self-assembled monolayer of
      octanethiol topped with a Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer of an amphiphilic and
      highly-specific chelator. The interdigitated architecture confers to the bilayer
      a high packing density, surface coverage, and binding-group accessibility. 

PMID- 26890273
TI  - Potentially preventable prehospital deaths from motor vehicle collisions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2011, about 30,000 people died in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs)
      in the United States. We sought to evaluate the causes of prehospital deaths
      related to MVCs and to assess whether these deaths were potentially preventable.
      METHODS: Miami-Dade Medical Examiner records for 2011 were reviewed for all
      prehospital deaths of occupants of 4-wheeled motor vehicle collisions. Injuries
      were categorized by affected organ and anatomic location of the body. Cases were
      reviewed by a panel of 2 trauma surgeons to determine cause of death and whether
      the death was potentially preventable. Time to death and hospital arrival times
      were determined using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from
      2002 to 2012, which allowed comparison of our local data to national prevalence
      estimates. RESULTS: Local data revealed that 39% of the 98 deaths reviewed were
      potentially preventable (PPD). Significantly more patients with PPD had
      neurotrauma as a cause of death compared to those with a nonpreventable death
      (NPD) (44.7% vs. 25.0%, P =.049). NPDs were significantly more likely to have
      combined neurotrauma and hemorrhage as cause of death compared to PPDs (45.0% vs.
      10.5%, P <.001). NPDs were significantly more likely to have injuries to the
      chest, pelvis, or spine. NPDs also had significantly more injuries to the
      following organ systems: lung, cardiac, and vascular chest (all P <.05). In the
      nationally representative FARS data from 2002 to 2012, 30% of deaths occurred on
      scene and another 32% occurred within 1 h of injury. When comparing the 2011 FARS
      data for Miami-Dade to the remainder of the United States in that year,
      percentage of deaths when reported on scene (25 vs. 23%, respectively) and within
      1 h of injury (35 vs. 32%, respectively) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Nationally,
      FARS data demonstrated that two thirds of all MVC deaths occurred within 1 h of
      injury. Over a third of prehospital MVC deaths were potentially preventable in
      our local sample. By examining injury patterns in PPDs, targeted intervention may
      be initiated.

PMID- 26890272
TI  - Subclinical cardiovascular changes in pediatric solid organ transplant
      recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - CV disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following solid organ
      transplantation in adults. While the prevalence of multiple cardiometabolic risk
      factors is increased in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, it is not
      clear whether they have subclinical CV changes. cIMT, central pWV, and CAC are
      indicative of subclinical CV disease, and, in adults, predict future CV events.
      The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the
      prevalence of subclinical CV changes, as measured by cIMT, pWV, and CAC among
      pediatric solid organ transplant recipients. We searched MEDLINE((r)) and EMBASE
      and conducted meta-analysis for studies that evaluated cIMT, central pWV, and CAC
      among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients (kidney, lung, intestine and
      liver). The search identified nine eligible studies that included a total of 259
      patients and 685 healthy controls. Eight studies reported on kidney transplant
      recipients and one study on a combined cohort of kidney and liver transplant
      recipients. The mean cIMT of transplant recipients was significantly higher than
      that of healthy controls (mean difference = 0.05 mm, 95% CI 0.02-0.07; p <
      0.0001) with an estimated pooled prevalence of elevated cIMT of 56.0% (95% CI
      17.0-95.0). The one study that assessed pWV showed increased vascular stiffness
      in transplant recipients compared to healthy controls. No studies assessing for
      CAC were found. There were limited data regarding subclinical CV disease
      following pediatric solid organ transplantation. In conclusion, kidney
      transplantation in childhood is associated with a higher prevalence of
      subclinical CV changes compared to healthy children. Longitudinal studies are
      needed to determine whether children have increased CV morbidity and mortality
      after transplantation.

PMID- 26890274
TI  - Corona Yank in Edged Cathode Particles for Li-Ion Batteries.
AB  - In a heuristic endeavor based on electrostatics-dynamics considerations, an
      attempt has been made to explain the significant enhancement (~20%) observed in
      initial capacity for the as-synthesized, sharp-edged cathode particles of lithium
      nickel manganese cobalt oxide, and lithium nickel manganese oxide cathode systems
      which are considered here as illustrative examples. Also, the impressive capacity
      retention (~90%) observed for the milled blend of these, comprising smooth
      surfaced particles with cells made using respective cathode particles, has been
      explained. Enhancement in initial capacity observed for the edged particles can
      be squarely attributed to a corona-gain process. On the contrary, impressive
      capacity retention possible for the milled blend (of near-spherical particles)
      can be rationalized in terms of the absence of predominant energy drain
      encountered while shuttling charges across edges of the as-synthesized cathode
      particles, a process described as corona yank.

PMID- 26890275
TI  - In vitro Developmental Competence of Adult Sheep Oocytes Treated with
      Roscovitine.
AB  - The efficiency of in vitro sheep embryo production is still low compared to that
      observed in vivo and in other species. In this context, meiotic inhibition
      strategies emerged as a promising alternative to improve this biotechnology. So,
      this study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the effects of roscovitine on
      in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and their subsequent embryo development. For
      this, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 6 h in the presence
      (Rosco) or absence (Control) of 75 MUm roscovitine and, subsequently, in vitro
      matured (IVM) for 18 h with gonadotropins. At 0 (Immature), 6 and 24 h of
      culture, the nuclear status of oocytes was evaluated by Hoechst staining. Embryo
      cleavage and blastocyst formation were recorded 30 h after in vitro fertilization
      and on day 7 of culture, respectively. Blastocyst quality was evaluated by
      differential staining. At 6 h, the GV rate in the Rosco treatment (93.8%) was
      similar to that observed in the Immature oocytes (94.9%) and significantly higher
      compared to Control (41.3%). After IVM for 18 h, a high and similar proportion of
      oocytes from Rosco (93.6%) and Control (88.4%) reached the MII stage. In both
      treatments, approximately 70% of oocytes cleaved and 50% of them developed up to
      blastocyst. The mean percentage of blastocyst cells, embryoblast, trophoblast and
      pyknosis did also not differ between Control and Rosco. In conclusion,
      roscovitine, at the studied experimental conditions, was efficient to reversibly
      inhibit the meiosis of adult sheep oocytes without detrimental effect on
      development and quality of the in vitro produced embryos.

PMID- 26890276
TI  - Efficiencies of thermodynamics when temperature-dependent energy levels exist.
AB  - Based on a generalized form of the second law of thermodynamics, in which the
      temperature-dependent energy levels of a system are appropriately included in
      entropy generation, we show that the effect reasonably appears in efficiencies of
      thermodynamic processes. 

PMID- 26890277
TI  - A comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography (MRI/US)-fusion
      guided prostate biopsy devices: too many uncontrolled variables.

PMID- 26890280
TI  - A Quantitative Summary of The Listening Program (TLP) Efficacy Studies: What
      Areas Were Found to Improve by TLP Intervention?
AB  - A quantitative summary of existing research examining the effects of The
      Listening Program (TLP) on various functions in children is presented. Nine
      studies were used, looking at TLP intervention effects across studies, within
      each study and for various outcome measures. The studies looked at TLP
      intervention on children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, learning
      disabilities, auditory processing disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity
      disorders, Rhett syndrome, dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, arthritis and
      stroke. The magnitude of the TLP effect size revealed a mean value of 0.41 across
      all studies. For each individual study, effect size ranged from 0.23 to 1.28. Two
      studies yielded significantly larger effect size than the other studies. One of
      these studies (effect size 1.19) examined the improvement in auditory processing
      for children identified with autism. The other study (effect size 1.28) examined
      improvement in academically related skills of underachieving school children.
      Larger effect sizes were obtained for research that examined auditory
      processing/listening skills (mean effect size 0.72) than for research looking at
      non-auditory areas (mean effect size 0.31), although all revealed positive
      changes. The effect size of various outcome measures is discussed in order to
      identify variables that might affect the outcomes as well as what these results
      mean to occupational therapists who would consider TLP intervention for clients.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26890278
TI  - Amiloride Analogs as ASIC1a Inhibitors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: ASIC1a, the predominant acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), is
      implicated in neurological disorders including stroke, traumatic spinal cord
      injury, and ALS. Potent ASIC1a inhibitors should have promising therapeutic
      potential for ASIC1a-related diseases. AIMS: We examined the inhibitory effects
      of a number of amiloride analogs on ASIC1a currents, aimed at understanding the
      structure-activity relationship and identifying potent ASIC1a inhibitors for
      stroke intervention. METHODS: Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques and a mouse model
      of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced focal ischemia were used.
      Surflex-Dock was used to dock the analogs into the pocket with default
      parameters. RESULTS: Amiloride and its analogs inhibit ASIC1a currents expressed
      in Chinese hamster ovary cells with a potency rank order of benzamil > phenamil >
      5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride (DMA) > amiloride > 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride
      (HMA) >= 5-(N-methyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (MIA) > 5-(N-ethyl-N
      isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA). In addition, amiloride and its analogs inhibit ASIC
      currents in cortical neurons with the same potency rank order. In mice, benzamil
      and EIPA decreased MCAO-induced infarct volume. Similar to its effect on the ASIC
      current, benzamil showed a much higher potency than EIPA. CONCLUSION: Addition of
      a benzyl group to the terminal guanidinyl group resulted in enhanced inhibitory
      activity on ASIC1a. On the other hand, the bulky groups added to the 5-amino
      residues slightly decreased the activity. Among the tested amiloride analogs,
      benzamil is the most potent ASIC1a inhibitor.

PMID- 26890279
TI  - Predonation finger lancet punctures: a potential risk factor for interdonor
      pathogen transmission in the blood donor clinic.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Point-of-care testing using capillary blood from a
      finger prick is widely used for predonation haemoglobin testing of blood donors.
      It is common practice to cover the finger prick with a cotton swab and to
      instruct the donor to press for few minutes. The finger prick can cause blood
      contamination of surfaces in contact with the lanced finger, especially door
      handles, risking infectious disease transmission, particularly if another person
      touching the contaminated door handle also has a punctured fingertip. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: First, we investigated contamination by blood (benzidine assay) of
      the door handles of our blood donor clinic, taking 175 samples 3 h after opening
      of the donation centre (baseline). We then introduced band-aids to cover the
      finger prick and started an information campaign using educational flyers to
      sensitize blood donors and staff to this problem (period-1). Thereafter, the
      staff was instructed to use the non-dominant hand for blood sampling and mandated
      to replace any discarded band-aids immediately (period-2). RESULTS: At baseline,
      82% of the nurse room door handles showed contamination with blood. This
      decreased somewhat (10-40%) after period-1, but only after immediate mandatory
      band-aid replacement on any donor finger without a band-aid (period-2), no
      further blood contaminations were detected. CONCLUSION: Blood contamination of
      shared surfaces can occur after finger prick for capillary blood sampling.
      Application of a band-aid and use of the non-dominant hand for fingertip incision
      are easy to apply and effective in reducing this iatrogenic health hazard.

PMID- 26890282
TI  - Endoscopic double stenting for afferent and efferent loop stenosis in a patient
      with recurrent gastric carcinoma after Billroth II reconstruction.

PMID- 26890281
TI  - Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune
      Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice.
AB  - Development of recombinant oral therapy would allow for more direct targeting of
      the mucosal immune system and improve the ability to combat gastrointestinal
      disorders. Adapting probiotic yeast in particular for this approach carries
      several advantages. These strains have not only the potential to synthesize a
      wide variety of complex heterologous proteins but are also capable of surviving
      and protecting those proteins during transit through the intestine. Critically,
      however, this approach requires expertise in many diverse laboratory techniques
      not typically used in tandem. Furthermore, although individual protocols for
      yeast transformation are well characterized for commonly used laboratory strains,
      emphasis is placed here on alternative approaches and the importance of
      optimizing transformation for less well characterized probiotic strains.
      Detailing these methods will help facilitate discussion as to the best approaches
      for testing probiotic yeast as oral drug delivery vehicles and indeed serve to
      advance the development of this novel strategy for gastrointestinal therapy. 

PMID- 26890284
TI  - A Successful Strategy to Reduce Loss to Follow-Up in HIV Outpatient Care:
      Experiences of a Large Urban Clinic in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 26890283
TI  - Population-Based Estimates of Life Expectancy After HIV Diagnosis: United States
      2008-2011.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Using National HIV surveillance system data, we estimated life
      expectancy and average years of life lost (AYLL) among persons diagnosed with HIV
      infection during 2008-2011. METHODS: Population-based surveillance data,
      restricted to persons with diagnosed HIV infection aged 13 years or older, from
      all 50 states and Washington, D.C. were used to estimate life expectancy after
      HIV diagnosis using the life table method. Generated estimates were compared with
      life expectancy in the general population in the same calendar year to calculate
      AYLL. Life expectancy and AYLL were also estimated for subgroups by age, sex, and
      race/ethnicity. RESULTS: The overall life expectancy after HIV diagnosis in the
      United States increased by 3.43 years from 25.43 (95% CI: 25.37 to 25.49) in 2008
      to 28.86 (95% CI: 28.80 to 28.92) in 2011. Improvements were observed
      irrespective of sex, race/ethnicity, transmission category, and stage of disease
      at diagnosis, though the extent of improvement varied by different
      characteristics. Based on the life expectancy in the general population, in 2010,
      the AYLL were 12.8 years for males and 16.5 years for females. By race/ethnicity,
      on average, blacks (13.3 years) and whites (13.4 years) had fewer AYLL than
      Hispanics/Latinos (14.7). CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in life expectancy
      among people diagnosed with an HIV infection during 2008-2011, disparities by sex
      and by race/ethnicity persist. Targeted efforts should continue to further reduce
      disparities and improve life expectancy after HIV diagnosis.

PMID- 26890286
TI  - Selective Dinitrogen Conversion to Ammonia Using Water and Visible Light through
      Plasmon-induced Charge Separation.
AB  - The generation of ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen and water using sunlight is a
      preferable approach to obtaining ammonia as an energy carrier and potentially
      represents a new paradigm for achieving a low-carbon and sustainable-energy
      society. Herein, we report the selective conversion of dinitrogen into ammonia
      through plasmon-induced charge separation by using a strontium titanate (SrTiO3)
      photoelectrode loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and a zirconium/zirconium
      oxide (Zr/ZrOx ) thin film. We observed the simultaneous stoichiometric
      production of ammonia and oxygen from nitrogen and water under visible-light
      irradiation.

PMID- 26890285
TI  - Culex pipiens and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) populations as vectors
      for lineage 1 and 2 West Nile virus in Europe.
AB  - The emerging disease West Nile fever is caused by West Nile virus (WNV), one of
      the most widespread arboviruses. This study represents the first test of the
      vectorial competence of European Culex pipiens Linnaeus 1758 and Stegomyia
      albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) (both: Diptera: Culicidae) populations for lineage
      1 and 2 WNV isolated in Europe. Culex pipiens and S. albopicta populations were
      susceptible to WNV infection, had disseminated infection, and were capable of
      transmitting both WNV lineages. This is the first WNV competence assay to
      maintain mosquito specimens under environmental conditions mimicking the field
      (day/night) conditions associated with the period of maximum expected WNV
      activity. The importance of environmental conditions is discussed and the issue
      of how previous experiments conducted in fixed high temperatures may have
      overestimated WNV vector competence results with respect to natural environmental
      conditions is analysed. The information presented should be useful to
      policymakers and public health authorities for establishing effective WNV
      surveillance and vector control programmes. This would improve preparedness to
      prevent future outbreaks.

PMID- 26890287
TI  - Enhancing Decision Support for Vector-Borne Disease Control Programs--The Disease
      Data Management System.

PMID- 26890288
TI  - Binge eating and emotional eating behaviors among adolescents and young adults
      with bipolar disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigates nutritional behavior among adolescents and
      young adults with bipolar disorder (BP) in comparison to those without history of
      major psychiatric disorder. METHODS: 131 participants (82 BP, 49 controls) with a
      mean age of 16.11 +/- 1.61 years were included. The self-reported Quick Weight,
      Activity, Variety & Excess (WAVE) Screener was used to assess dietary habits,
      yielding a total nutritional score as well as Excess, Variety, and Household Food
      Insecurity subscale scores. Specifically, the Variety subscale was used to
      measure daily consumption of essential nutrients; the Excess subscale measured
      unhealthy eating behaviors such as binge eating and excessive intake of fat and
      sugar; and the Household Food Insecurity subscale was used to detect food
      insecurity. Within-group analysis was conducted on participants with BP to
      identify correlates of unhealthy diet. RESULTS: BP participants scored
      significantly lower than controls on the WAVE (t=2.62, p=0.010), specifically the
      Excess subscale (t=3.26, p=0.001). This was related to higher prevalence of binge
      eating and emotional eating behaviors among participants with BP compared to
      controls. Within-group analyses showed that self-reported emotional
      dysregulation/impulsivity was associated with maladaptive nutritional behaviors
      (t=3.38, p=0.035). LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design. Within-group analyses
      were underpowered. Diet quality was measured using a brief self-report screener.
      CONCLUSION: Adolescents and young adults with BP have poorer nutritional
      behaviors compared to controls, and this difference is related to stress-induced
      eating. This demonstrates the need to screen for stress-induced eating and to
      intervene when needed in order to optimize nutritional behaviors among
      adolescents and young adults with BP.

PMID- 26890289
TI  - Impact of diagnosed depression on healthcare costs in adults with and without
      diabetes: United States, 2004-2011.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study used the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) to
      estimate the cost of diabetes, depression, and comorbid diabetes and depression
      over 8 years. METHODS: An 8-year pooled dataset was created using the household
      and medical provider components of MEPS. Medical expenditures were adjusted to a
      common 2014 dollar value. Analyses used responses of 147,095 individuals >=18
      years of age for the years 2004-2011. The dependent variable in this study was
      total healthcare expenditure and the primary independent variables were diabetes
      and depression status. A two-part (probit/GLM) model was used to estimate the
      annual medical spending and marginal effects were calculated for incremental
      cost. RESULTS: In the pooled sample, after adjusting for socio-demographic
      factors, comorbidities and time trend covariates, the incremental cost of
      depression only was $2654 (95% CI 2343-2966), diabetes was $2692 (95% CI 2338
      3046), and both was $6037 (CI 95% 5243-6830) when compared to patients with none.
      Based on the unadjusted mean, annual average aggregate cost of depression only
      was estimated at $238.3 billion, diabetes only $150.1 billion and depression and
      diabetes together was $77.6 billion. CONCLUSION: Costs at both the individual and
      aggregate level are significant, with comorbid diagnoses resulting in higher
      incremental costs than the sum of the costs for each diagnosis alone. In
      addition, while the cost of depression increased over time, the cost of diabetes
      decreased over time, much due to decreased inpatient costs. This study highlights
      the tremendous cost savings possible through more aggressive screening,
      diagnosis, and treatment of depression.

PMID- 26890290
TI  - Metformin with everolimus and octreotide in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
      patients with diabetes.
AB  - A bidirectional relationship seems to exist between diabetes mellitus and
      development of pancreatic tumors. Metformin, the most widely used drug in the
      treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, has recently emerged as a potentially
      active agent in cancer chemoprevention and treatment. In this article, we discuss
      the potential correlation between glycemic status, administration of antiglycemic
      treatments, such as metformin or insulin, and prognosis of pancreatic
      neuroendocrine tumors patients treated with everolimus and octreotide, on the
      basis of existing evidence and our experience. 

PMID- 26890291
TI  - Association between Severity of MERS-CoV Infection and Incubation Period.
AB  - We analyzed data for 170 patients in South Korea who had laboratory-confirmed
      infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. A longer incubation
      period was associated with a reduction in the risk for death (adjusted odds
      ratio/1-day increase in incubation period 0.83, 95% credibility interval 0.68
      1.03).

PMID- 26890292
TI  - Combination of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is associated with improved
      survival at early stage type II endometrial cancer and carcinosarcoma.
AB  - AIMS: The aim of this study was to describe the impact of postoperative adjuvant
      treatment modalities and identify risk factors associated with recurrence and
      survival rates in women diagnosed with early stage type II endometrial cancer and
      carcinosarcoma. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with
      early stage (stages I-II) carcinosarcoma and type II endometrial cancer were
      reviewed. All women underwent comprehensive surgical staging. Postoperative
      treatment options of chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), observation (OBS) and
      chemotherapy-radiotherapy (CT-RT) combination were compared in terms of
      recurrence and survival outcome. RESULTS: In CT-RT treatment arm, recurrence rate
      was found as 12.5% and this result is significantly lower than the other
      treatment approaches (P = 0.01 CT alone: 33.3%, RT alone: 26.7%, OBS: 62.5%).
      Three-year disease free survival(DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were
      statistically higher for the group of women treated with combination of CT-RT (92
      95%) compared to the women treated with RT alone (65-72%), treated with CT alone
      (67-74%) and women who received no adjuvant therapy (38-45%). The multivariate
      analysis revealed that carcinosarcoma histology was associated with shortened DFS
      and OS (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). On the other hand, being at stage Ia (P = 0.01, P
      = 0.04) and receiving adjuvant treatment of CT-RT combination (P = 0.005, P =
      0.002) appeared to lead to increased DFS and OS rates. CONCLUSIONS: We identified
      that a combination treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is superior
      compared to other postoperative adjuvant treatment approaches concerning PFS, OS
      and recurrence rates in stages I-II of type II endometrial cancers and uterine
      carcinosarcoma.

PMID- 26890293
TI  - Short-Term and Long-Term Reproducibility of Hypertension Phenotypes Obtained by
      Office and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements.
AB  - The authors aimed to assess the reproducibility of normotension and white-coat,
      masked, and sustained hypertension in 839 untreated patients who underwent two
      separate assessments (median, 3; interquartile range, 0-13 months) by both office
      and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM). The proportion of patients
      falling into the same category in the two assessments was: 52% normotension and
      55% white-coat, 47% masked, and 82% sustained hypertension. The most frequent
      switch was to sustained hypertension (26% of white-coat and 33% of masked
      hypertension). No clinical factors predicted the change in category, except for
      higher office diastolic BP in patients with masked hypertension who developed
      sustained hypertension, compared with those who remained with masked hypertension
      (84+/-4 mm Hg vs 80+/-5 mm Hg; P=.006). The reproducibility of hypertension
      phenotypes was highly dependent on the time between assessments. The authors
      conclude that white-coat and masked hypertension phenotypes are only reproducible
      in the short-term, while they frequently shift towards sustained hypertension in
      the long-term.

PMID- 26890294
TI  - Cervical Spine pain as a presenting complaint in metastatic pancreatic cancer: a
      case report.
AB  - A 48 year-old female presented to her primary care physician with a two-month
      history of neck pain with negative cervical spine x-rays. During that office
      visit, the patient was noted to be tachycardic with EKG revealing ST depressions,
      which led to hospital admission. Acute coronary syndrome was ruled out, however,
      persistent neck pain warranted inpatient MRI of the cervical spine, which
      revealed a cervical spine lesion. Extensive investigation and biopsy ultimately
      confirmed stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma with metastases to the bone, liver,
      and likely lung. In the literature, the findings of a primary metastatic site
      being bone is rare with only a few case reports showing vertebral or sternal
      metastasis as the first clinical manifestation of pancreatic cancer. The
      uniqueness of this case lies in the only presenting complaint being cervical
      spine pain in the setting of extensive metastases to the liver, bone, and likely
      lung. 

PMID- 26890295
TI  - h-index or G-spot: Female nursing researchers' conditions for an academic career.

PMID- 26890296
TI  - Evaluation and Monitoring of a Child With Hydrocarbon Pneumonitis Using Point-of
      Care Lung Ultrasound in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
AB  - A well-appearing 3-year-old boy presented to the pediatric emergency department 2
      hours after a presumed hydrocarbon ingestion. He was referred to the emergency
      department by his pediatrician after consultation with the local poison control
      center after possibly ingesting ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) fragrance oil. The
      child was asymptomatic with a normal physical examination. Point-of-care lung
      ultrasound identified focal hydrocarbon pneumonitis in the right lung and
      demonstrated resolution of these findings. Utilization of point-of-care
      ultrasound resulted in a shorter emergency department length of stay and the
      avoidance of radiation exposure from serial chest x-rays. 

PMID- 26890297
TI  - Point-of-Care Ultrasonography for the Rapid Diagnosis of Intussusception: A Case
      Series.
AB  - We present a case series describing an infant and a child who presented with
      abdominal discomfort and their conditions were diagnosed with intussusception by
      point-of-care ultrasound. These cases illustrate how point-of-care ultrasound led
      to the expeditious diagnosis of intussusception. 

PMID- 26890298
TI  - Neonatal Gallstones Serendipitously Discovered by Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the
      Pediatric Emergency Department.
AB  - Cholelithiasis in children was once thought to be uncommon, but the prevalence
      has increased in recent years. We present a case of a 3-month-old infant brought
      to the pediatric emergency department for vomiting and increased fussiness. A
      point-of-care ultrasound was performed to rule out pyloric stenosis but revealed
      multiple stones within the gallbladder. Ultrasound findings and a review of
      technique for ultrasound of the gallbladder are presented.

PMID- 26890299
TI  - Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Bilateral Retinal Detachment Associated
      With Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
AB  - We report a case of a 16-year-old girl with acute visual complaints who was
      diagnosed with bilateral retinal detachment using point-of-case ultrasound and
      ultimately was diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. This case illustrates
      the use of point-of-care ultrasound by the pediatric emergency physician to
      recognize the ocular abnormality associated with this rare disease. 

PMID- 26890300
TI  - James William Osborne, PhD 1928-2015.

PMID- 26890301
TI  - Errata.

PMID- 26890302
TI  - Regulation of BMP2-induced intracellular calcium increases in osteoblasts.
AB  - Although bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) is a well-characterized regulator
      that stimulates osteoblast differentiation, little is known about how it
      regulates intracellular Ca2+ signaling. In this study, intracellular Ca2+
      concentration ([Ca2+ ]i ) upon BMP2 application, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and
      Src activities were measured in the MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell line using
      fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based biosensors. Increase in [Ca2+ ]i ,
      FAK, and Src activities were observed during BMP2 stimulation. The removal of
      extracellular calcium, the application of membrane channel inhibitors
      streptomycin or nifedipine, the FAK inhibitor PF-573228 (PF228), and the alkaline
      phosphatase (ALP) siRNA all blocked the BMP2-stimulated [Ca2+ ]i increase, while
      the Src inhibitor PP1 did not. In contrast, a gentle decrease of endoplasmic
      reticulum calcium concentration was found after BMP2 stimulation, which could be
      blocked by both streptomycin and PP1. Further experiments revealed that BMP2
      induced FAK activation could not be inhibited by PP1, ALP siRNA or the calcium
      channel inhibitor nifedipine. PF228, but not PP1 or calcium channel inhibitors,
      suppressed ALP elevation resulting from BMP2 stimulation. Therefore, our results
      suggest that BMP2 can increase [Ca2+ ]i through extracellular calcium influx
      regulated by FAK and ALP and can deplete ER calcium through Src signaling
      simultaneously. (c) 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1725-1733, 2016.

PMID- 26890303
TI  - New and old agents in the management of diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetic nephropathy is a long-standing complication of
      diabetes mellitus and is responsible for more than 40% of end-stage renal disease
      cases in developed countries. Unfortunately, conventional renin-angiotensin
      aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor medications only partially protect against
      the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, RAAS
      inhibitors have failed as primary prevention therapy in type 1 diabetes. Thus,
      agents targeting alternative pathogenic mechanisms leading to diabetic
      nephropathy have been intensively investigated, which is the topic of this
      review. RECENT FINDINGS: Promising emerging agents have targeted neurohormonal
      activation (alternative components of the RAAS and neprilysin inhibition),
      tubuloglomerular feedback mechanisms (sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition
      and incretin-based therapy) and renal inflammation/fibrosis. SUMMARY: Evidence
      demonstrating the potential of these agents to protect and prevent progression of
      diabetic nephropathy is summarized in this review. There are dedicated clinical
      trials ongoing with these therapies, which have the potential to change the
      clinical practice.

PMID- 26890305
TI  - Underestimation of Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Italy.
AB  - Knowing the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is essential for
      planning appropriate vaccination policies. However, IMD may be underestimated
      because of misdiagnosis or insufficiently sensitive laboratory methods. Using a
      national molecular surveillance register, we assessed the number of cases
      misdiagnosed and diagnoses obtained postmortem with real-time PCR (rPCR), and we
      compared sensitivity of rPCR versus culture-based testing. A total of 222 IMD
      cases were identified: 11 (42%) of 26 fatal cases had been misdiagnosed or
      undiagnosed and were reclassified as IMD after rPCR showed meningococcal DNA in
      all available specimens taken postmortem. Of the samples tested with both rPCR
      and culture, 58% were diagnosed by using rPCR alone. The underestimation factor
      associated with the use of culture alone was 3.28. In countries such as Italy,
      where rPCR is in limited use, IMD incidence may be largely underestimated; thus,
      assessments of benefits of meningococcal vaccination may be prone to error.

PMID- 26890304
TI  - Methylation profiling identified novel differentially methylated markers
      including OPCML and FLRT2 in prostate cancer.
AB  - To develop new methods to distinguish indolent from aggressive prostate cancers
      (PCa), we utilized comprehensive high-throughput array-based relative methylation
      (CHARM) assay to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) throughout the
      genome, including both CpG island (CGI) and non-CGI regions in PCa patients based
      on Gleason grade. Initially, 26 samples, including 8 each of low [Gleason score
      (GS) 6] and high (GS >=7) grade PCa samples and 10 matched normal prostate
      tissues, were analyzed as a discovery cohort. We identified 3,567 DMRs between
      normal and cancer tissues, and 913 DMRs distinguishing low from high-grade
      cancers. Most of these DMRs were located at CGI shores. The top 5 candidate DMRs
      from the low vs. high Gleason comparison, including OPCML, ELAVL2, EXT1, IRX5,
      and FLRT2, were validated by pyrosequencing using the discovery cohort. OPCML and
      FLRT2 were further validated in an independent cohort consisting of 20 low
      Gleason and 33 high-Gleason tissues. We then compared patients with biochemical
      recurrence (n=70) vs. those without (n=86) in a third cohort, and they showed no
      difference in methylation at these DMR loci. When GS 3+4 cases and GS 4+3 cases
      were compared, OPCML-DMR methylation showed a trend of lower methylation in the
      recurrence group (n=30) than in the no-recurrence (n=52) group. We conclude that
      whole-genome methylation profiling with CHARM revealed distinct patterns of
      differential DNA methylation between normal prostate and PCa tissues, as well as
      between different risk groups of PCa as defined by Gleason scores. A panel of
      selected DMRs may serve as novel surrogate biomarkers for Gleason score in PCa.

PMID- 26890306
TI  - Modeling level-of-safety for bus stops in China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Safety performance at bus stops is generally evaluated by using
      historical traffic crash data or traffic conflict data. However, in China, it is
      quite difficult to obtain such data mainly due to the lack of traffic data
      management and organizational issues. In light of this, the primary objective of
      this study is to develop a quantitative approach to evaluate bus stop safety
      performance. METHODS: The concept of level-of-safety for bus stops is introduced
      and corresponding models are proposed to quantify safety levels, which consider
      conflict points, traffic factors, geometric characteristics, traffic signs and
      markings, pavement conditions, and lighting conditions. Principal component
      analysis and k-means clustering methods were used to model and quantify safety
      levels for bus stops. RESULTS: A case study was conducted to show the
      applicability of the proposed model with data collected from 46 samples for the 7
      most common types of bus stops in China, using 32 of the samples for modeling and
      14 samples for illustration. Based on the case study, 6 levels of safety for bus
      stops were defined. Finally, a linear regression analysis between safety levels
      and the number of traffic conflicts showed that they had a strong relationship
      (R(2) value of 0.908). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the method was
      well validated and could be practically used for the analysis and evaluation of
      bus stop safety in China. The proposed model was relatively easy to implement
      without the requirement of traffic crash data and/or traffic conflict data. In
      addition, with the proposed method, it was feasible to evaluate countermeasures
      to improve bus stop safety (e.g., exclusive bus lanes).

PMID- 26890307
TI  - Selecting Optimal Random Forest Predictive Models: A Case Study on Predicting the
      Spatial Distribution of Seabed Hardness.
AB  - Spatially continuous predictions of seabed hardness are important baseline
      environmental information for sustainable management of Australia's marine
      jurisdiction. Seabed hardness is often inferred from multibeam backscatter data
      with unknown accuracy and can be inferred from underwater video footage at
      limited locations. In this study, we classified the seabed into four classes
      based on two new seabed hardness classification schemes (i.e., hard90 and
      hard70). We developed optimal predictive models to predict seabed hardness using
      random forest (RF) based on the point data of hardness classes and spatially
      continuous multibeam data. Five feature selection (FS) methods that are variable
      importance (VI), averaged variable importance (AVI), knowledge informed AVI
      (KIAVI), Boruta and regularized RF (RRF) were tested based on predictive
      accuracy. Effects of highly correlated, important and unimportant predictors on
      the accuracy of RF predictive models were examined. Finally, spatial predictions
      generated using the most accurate models were visually examined and analysed.
      This study confirmed that: 1) hard90 and hard70 are effective seabed hardness
      classification schemes; 2) seabed hardness of four classes can be predicted with
      a high degree of accuracy; 3) the typical approach used to pre-select predictive
      variables by excluding highly correlated variables needs to be re-examined; 4)
      the identification of the important and unimportant predictors provides useful
      guidelines for further improving predictive models; 5) FS methods select the most
      accurate predictive model(s) instead of the most parsimonious ones, and AVI and
      Boruta are recommended for future studies; and 6) RF is an effective modelling
      method with high predictive accuracy for multi-level categorical data and can be
      applied to 'small p and large n' problems in environmental sciences.
      Additionally, automated computational programs for AVI need to be developed to
      increase its computational efficiency and caution should be taken when applying
      filter FS methods in selecting predictive models. 

PMID- 26890309
TI  - Synthesis of graphitic ordered mesoporous carbon with cubic symmetry and its
      application in lithium-sulfur batteries.
AB  - The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery faces a couple of major problems in practical
      applications, including the low conductivity of sulfur and the dissolution of
      polysulfides. A cathode constructed using a composite of sulfur and ordered
      mesoporous carbon (OMC) is a promising solution to both problems, as OMCs can
      have high conductivity and a complex pore structure to trap polysulfides. In this
      work, we demonstrate that performance of the Li-S battery can be significantly
      enhanced by using an OMC with a high degree of graphitization and a pore network
      with cubic symmetry. This graphitic OMC (GOMC) can be produced in a single step
      using iron phthalocyanine precursor and a silica template with cubic Ia3d
      symmetry. The GOMC-sulfur (GOMC/S) composite is 175% higher in electrical
      conductivity compared to the typical OMC-sulfur (OMC/S) composite. In addition,
      the three-dimensional pore network in GOMC prevents the migration of dissolved
      polysulfides. These characteristics of GOMC contribute to the improved rate
      capability and cyclability of the corresponding Li-S battery. 

PMID- 26890308
TI  - Heterozygous PTCH1 Mutations Impact the Bone Metabolism in Patients With Nevoid
      Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome Likely by Regulating SPARC Expression.
AB  - Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder
      characterized by bone and skin abnormalities and a predisposition to various
      tumors. Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs), which are common tumors of the
      jaw that cause extensive damage to the jawbone, are usually accompanied with
      NBCCS. Germline PTCH1 mutations in NBCCS tumorigenesis have been frequently
      studied; however, little is known regarding the pathogenesis of bone
      abnormalities in this disease. This study sought to investigate the mechanism
      underlying heterozygous PTCH1 mutation-mediated abnormal bone metabolism in
      patients with NBCCS. Stromal cells were isolated from the fibrous capsules of
      patients with NBCCS-associated or non-syndromic keratocystic odontogenic tumors
      and non-syndromic tumor stromal cells without PTCH1 mutations served as controls.
      Germline PTCH1 heterozygous mutations were confirmed in all NBCCS samples and
      differential protein expression was identified using tandem mass tag-labeled
      proteomics analysis. Our findings revealed that osteonectin/SPARC expression was
      significantly downregulated in syndromic stromal cells compared with non
      syndromic stromal cells. SPARC expression was even lower in stromal cells
      carrying PTCH1 protein truncation mutations. PTCH1 siRNA transfection
      demonstrated that SPARC downregulation correlates with decreased PTCH1
      expression. Furthermore, exogenous SPARC promoted osteogenic differentiation of
      syndromic stromal cells with enhanced development of calcium nodules. In
      addition, bone mineral density tests showed that patients with NBCCS exhibit weak
      bone mass compared with sex- and age-matched controls. This study indicates that
      germline PTCH1 heterozygous mutations play a major role in bone metabolism in
      patients with NBCCS, in particular in those with PTCH1 protein truncation
      mutations. SPARC may represent an important downstream modulator of PTCH1
      mediation of bone metabolism. Thus, bone mineral density monitoring is critical
      for patients with NBCCS for prevention of osteoporosis. In addition, surgical
      procedures on syndromic-associated KCOTs should be performed with consideration
      of the weaker bone mass in such patients. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone and
      Mineral Research.

PMID- 26890311
TI  - Tuning polymer-surface chemistries and interfacial interactions with UV
      irradiated polystyrene chains to control domain orientations in thin films of PS
      b-PMMA.
AB  - We demonstrate a simple, rapid, cost-effective and robust approach to modify the
      surface of a solid substrate, based on a UV-irradiated film of a general plastic
      polymer. Thin films of homopolymer polystyrene (PS) of controlled thickness were
      spin-coated on diverse metal, semiconductor and polymeric surfaces. Specific
      surface chemistry was tuned with UV irradiation in air (UVIA); interactions at
      the PS/substrate interface were enhanced with UV irradiation in nitrogen (UVIN).
      Oxidized and cross-linked PS served as a neutral surface on various metal,
      quartz, semiconductor and polymeric substrates to induce perpendicularly oriented
      cylinders or lamellae in a self-assembled block copolymer. 

PMID- 26890310
TI  - Mycobacterium orygis-Associated Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging Rhinoceros, Nepal,
      2015.

PMID- 26890313
TI  - Dysfunctional autophagy is a driver of muscle stem cell functional decline with
      aging.
AB  - Regeneration of skeletal muscle relies on its resident stem cells, also known as
      satellite cells, which are normally quiescent. With aging, satellite cell
      quiescence is lost concomitant with a muscle regenerative decline. Here we
      demonstrate that autophagy sustains quiescence over time and that its failure
      with age drives senescence, which accounts for stem cell loss of function.
      Pharmacological and genetic reestablishment of autophagy restores homeostasis and
      regenerative functions in geriatric satellite cells, which has relevance for the
      elderly population. 

PMID- 26890312
TI  - Pharmacological considerations in the use of stiripentol for the treatment of
      epilepsy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Despite the fact that more than 20 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are
      currently available, about one-third of patients still present drug resistance.
      Further efforts are required to develop novel and more efficacious therapeutic
      strategies, especially for refractory epileptic syndromes showing few and
      anecdotic therapeutic options. AREAS COVERED: Stiripentol (STP) is a second
      generation AED that shows GABAergic activity, with immature brain selectivity,
      and an indirect metabolic action on co-administered AEDs. Two pivotal studies
      demonstrated STP efficacy in patients with Dravet syndrome with refractory
      partial seizures, and marketing authorization in Europe, Canada and Japan was
      granted thereafter. Post-marketing surveys reported a good efficacy and
      tolerability profile. In addition, interesting data is currently emerging
      regarding off-label experimentation of STP in other forms of epilepsy. EXPERT
      OPINION: STP is an important addition to the limited treatment options available
      for patients resistant to common AEDs. The possibility to inhibit seizures
      through the metabolic pathway of lactate dehydrogenase and the inhibitory effects
      on the entry of Na(+) and Ca(2+) are the most recent findings to emerge about STP
      and could be proof of its neuroprotective action. Moreover, its positive effects
      on cognitive function, its good safety and tolerability profile and the
      increasing data about STP efficacy on other refractory epileptic syndromes may
      prove to be fertile grounds for further investigation.

PMID- 26890314
TI  - Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis Contributing to High Glucose
      Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification.
AB  - Vascular calcification (VC) is a common feature in patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus, a metabolic disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood
      glucose) in the context of insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin.
      Recently, a few studies have indicated that a high concentration of glucose
      amplifies the osteogenesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Some previous
      reports state that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis was
      activated in and contributed to VC. However, whether or not high glucose could
      induce ER stress-mediated apoptosis and then involve the pathogenesis of VC
      remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether high
      blood glucose-induced VC in diabetes mellitus is caused by the ER response and
      subsequent apoptosis. We examined the effects of high glucose on the ER stress
      response of VSMCs. High glucose treatment drastically increased the ER stress
      response in VSMCs. The high glucose-induced osteoblastic differentiation of VSMCs
      was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with 500 MUM of 4-PBA (an ER stress
      inhibitor) prior to the exposure to high glucose, as evidenced by decreases in
      the expression of Runx2 and activity of alkaline phosphatase, as well as calcium
      nodules. These results suggest that high glucose induces the ER stress response
      and apoptosis, leading to high glucose-elicited VC. 

PMID- 26890315
TI  - The role of social-cognitive and emotional factors on testicular self
      examination.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study determined the role of social-cognitive and affective
      factors in promoting testicular self-examination. METHODS: Male participants (N =
      115) rated their perceptions of testicular cancer, social-cognitive variables
      (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived control), and their emotions towards
      testicular cancer (anxiety and shame) and testicular self-examination
      (anticipated regret and relief). Participants also stated whether or not they had
      performed a testicular self-examination within the last month. RESULTS: Perceived
      control and anticipated relief positively predicted testicular self-examination
      within the last month. Both these factors also positively predicted the intention
      to self-examine in the future. Intention was also positively predicted by
      attitude and negatively predicted by shame. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight
      the importance of social-cognitive and emotional factors in promoting health
      screening. Targeting these factors might improve the effectiveness of testicular
      self-examination interventions. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26890316
TI  - Can Belief in a Just World Buffer Mood and Career Prospects of People in Need of
      Risk Protection? First Experimental Evidence.
AB  - Research indicates that individuals high in belief in a just world (BJW) are
      confident that they will not fall victim to unforeseeable disasters. The current
      study tested the hypothesis that BJW acts as buffer that serves to sustain mood
      and career prospects of those in need of risk protection. Threat was manipulated
      by confronting participants with risks regarding their career outlook, and
      individual differences in threat perception were measured by degree of
      uncertainty tolerance. As hypothesized, BJW helped protect the mood of
      participants threatened by serious career-related risks who were unable to
      tolerate uncertainty. The finding supported the buffer hypothesis regarding mood,
      but not career prospects, possibly due to a more conscious mindset or variability
      in self-efficacy. However, BJW was overall positively associated with career
      prospects. Moreover, it was suggested that BJW can also serve as a personal
      resource, not only protecting from risk, but also enhancing mood among those with
      high uncertainty tolerance.

PMID- 26890317
TI  - Comparison of use of diabetic medication and clinical guidelines in four Nordic
      countries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines form one of the cornerstones for providing high
      quality care for patients with diabetes. We compare the national guidelines and
      the use of glucose lowering medication for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Denmark,
      Finland, Norway and Sweden. METHODS: We compared how guidelines take
      comprehensive care into consideration, what treatment targets and what
      antihyperglycemic medication was recommended. The use of glucose-lowering
      medication was based on the sales of diabetes drugs in these countries. RESULTS:
      All guidelines stress the importance of comprehensive diabetes care.
      Individualized glycemic targets are emphasized especially in the Danish and
      Finnish guidelines. In 2013, sulfonylureas were the most common second-line
      treatment after metformin in Denmark, Norway and Sweden; in Finland, this
      position was taken by DPP-4 inhibitors. Recommended initial insulin type for
      patients with T2D differs between the four countries. Danish, Norwegian and
      Swedish guidelines also take economic aspects into account. CONCLUSIONS: All
      guidelines stress regular and comprehensive diabetes care. Danish and Finnish
      guidelines strongly underline the importance of individualized glycemic targets.
      All guidelines recommend metformin as the initial oral antihyperglycemic drug. In
      relation to recommended second line drug therapy and initial insulin type for
      patients with T2D, the guidelines vary largely between the four countries.

PMID- 26890318
TI  - Can new passenger cars reduce pedestrian lower extremity injury? A review of
      geometrical changes of front-end design before and after regulatory efforts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pedestrian lower extremity represents the most frequently injured body
      region in car-to-pedestrian accidents. The European Directive concerning
      pedestrian safety was established in 2003 for evaluating pedestrian protection
      performance of car models. However, design changes have not been quantified since
      then. The goal of this study was to investigate front-end profiles of
      representative passenger car models and the potential influence on pedestrian
      lower extremity injury risk. METHODS: The front-end styling of sedans and sport
      utility vehicles (SUV) released from 2008 to 2011 was characterized by the
      geometrical parameters related to pedestrian safety and compared to
      representative car models before 2003. The influence of geometrical design change
      on the resultant risk of injury to pedestrian lower extremity-that is, knee
      ligament rupture and long bone fracture-was estimated by a previously developed
      assessment tool assuming identical structural stiffness. Based on response
      surface generated from simulation results of a human body model (HBM), the tool
      provided kinematic and kinetic responses of pedestrian lower extremity resulted
      from a given car's front-end design. RESULTS: Newer passenger cars exhibited a
      "flatter" front-end design. The median value of the sedan models provided 87.5 mm
      less bottom depth, and the SUV models exhibited 94.7 mm less bottom depth. In the
      lateral impact configuration similar to that in the regulatory test methods,
      these geometrical changes tend to reduce the injury risk of human knee ligament
      rupture by 36.6 and 39.6% based on computational approximation. The geometrical
      changes did not significantly influence the long bone fracture risk. CONCLUSIONS:
      The present study reviewed the geometrical changes in car front-ends along with
      regulatory concerns regarding pedestrian safety. A preliminary quantitative
      benefit of the lower extremity injury reduction was estimated based on these
      geometrical features. Further investigation is recommended on the structural
      changes and inclusion of more accident scenarios.

PMID- 26890319
TI  - Suicide attempt with a mix of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones:
      Case report of non-fatal intoxication with AB-CHMINACA, AB-FUBINACA, alpha-PHP,
      alpha-PVP and 4-CMC.
AB  - We report on a case of intoxication with a mix of new psychoactive substances. A
      38-year-old male was brought to the emergency department (ED) following the
      ingestion of an unknown drug in a suicide attempt. During the transport, he
      became progressively more somnolent and unresponsive to painful stimuli. Urine
      and stomach content were collected on admission to be screened for drugs of abuse
      and medicinal drugs. After admission, the patient's next of kin presented five
      small grip seal plastic bags containing different powders/crystals, and they were
      sent for analysis along with urine and stomach content to the toxicology
      laboratory. An easy and rapid sample preparation technique was applied for the
      extraction of urine and stomach content. Samples were extracted with liquid
      liquid extraction (LLE) technique and analysed using gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry (GC-MS). A small amount of powder material from the bags was diluted
      in methanol and injected directly into the GC-MS instrument. Obtained spectra
      (EI) were evaluated against SWGDRUG library. Five different designer drugs were
      identified in the powder material, including synthetic cannabinoids (AB-CHMINACA,
      AB-FUBINACA) and synthetic cathinones (alpha-PHP, alpha-PVP and 4-CMC). With the
      exception of 4-CMC, all of these substances were also detected in the stomach
      content along with the prescription drugs. This is the first time that a positive
      identification of these five drugs has been made by a clinical laboratory in
      Slovenia. 

PMID- 26890320
TI  - Men presenting with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values of over 100 ng/mL.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate overall survival and prostate cancer-specific
      mortality in men with prostate cancer presenting with a PSA level <100 ng/mL at
      the time of diagnosis. PATIENTS: Five-thousand seven hundred and sixteen patients
      with prostate cancer and a recorded diagnostic PSA level extracted from the South
      Australian Prostate Cancer Clinical Outcomes Collaborative (SA-PCCOC) database.
      Men included were diagnosed between January 1998 and August 2013. METHODS:
      Patients were divided into groups according to diagnostic PSA level: <20, 20
      <=100, 100-<=200 ng/mL, 200-<=500 ng/mL, and >500 ng/mL. Outcomes measured
      include overall survival and prostate cancer-specific mortality. Clinical stage,
      Gleason score and the presence of bony metastasis was evaluated to determine if
      they were prognostic factors in patients with PSA over 100 at diagnosis. Cox
      proportional hazards and competing risks regression were used to model overall
      survival and prostate cancer-specific mortality outcomes respectively. RESULTS:
      Of this cohort, 241 patients (4.2%) had a diagnostic PSA level >100 ng/mL.
      Patients with PSA >100 ng/mL have a significant reduction in five (29.1% vs 62.5%
      vs 87%) and ten-year (18.2% vs 36.7% vs 70.7%) overall survival when compared to
      men with diagnostic PSA 20-100 and <20 ng/mL respectively. In this group,
      prostate cancer-specific mortality was associated with Gleason score and
      metastases, but not PSA level at diagnosis. Overall survival was associated with
      PSA level, Gleason score and age. There was a linear increase in risk (overall
      survival) as PSA increased until 200 and no association thereafter. Models of
      overall survival and prostate cancer-specific mortality incorporating a risk
      stratification developed by Izumi et al. predicted overall survival but not
      prostate cancer-specific mortality. The use of this stratification did not
      improve model accuracy. CONCLUSION: Only a small number of men (4.2%) with
      prostate cancer present with PSA >100 ng/mL at diagnosis. Overall survival at
      five and ten years was significantly poorer in patients with PSA >100 ng/mL. In
      this cohort of men presenting with PSA >100 at diagnosis, PSA level was not
      associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality. Gleason score and metastases
      are significant prognostic factors in this group of men.

PMID- 26890321
TI  - Sodium Chloride, NaCl/epsilon: New Force Field.
AB  - A new computational model for sodium chloride, the NaCl/epsilon, is proposed. The
      force field employed for the description of the NaCl is based on a set of radial
      particle-particle pair potentials involving Lennard-Jones (LJ) and Coulombic
      forces. The parametrization is obtained by fitting the density of the crystal and
      the density and the dielectric constant of the mixture of the salt with water at
      a diluted solution. Our model shows good agreement with the experimental values
      for the density and for the surface tension of the pure system, and for the
      density, the viscosity, the diffusion, and the dielectric constant for the
      mixture with water at various molal concentrations. The NaCl/epsilon together
      with the water TIP4P/epsilon models provide a good approximation for studying
      electrolyte solutions. 

PMID- 26890322
TI  - Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol by Direct Injection of
      Electrons into Immobilized Enzymes on a Modified Electrode.
AB  - We present results for direct bio-electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to C1
      products using electrodes with immobilized enzymes. Enzymatic reduction reactions
      are well known from biological systems where CO2 is selectively reduced to
      formate, formaldehyde, or methanol at room temperature and ambient pressure. In
      the past, the use of such enzymatic reductions for CO2 was limited due to the
      necessity of a sacrificial co-enzyme, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
      (NADH), to supply electrons and the hydrogen equivalent. The method reported here
      in this paper operates without the co-enzyme NADH by directly injecting electrons
      from electrodes into immobilized enzymes. We demonstrate the immobilization of
      formate, formaldehyde, and alcohol dehydrogenases on one-and-the-same electrode
      for direct CO2 reduction. Carbon felt is used as working electrode material. An
      alginate-silicate hybrid gel matrix is used for the immobilization of the enzymes
      on the electrode. Generation of methanol is observed for the six-electron
      reduction with Faradaic efficiencies of around 10%. This method of immobilization
      of enzymes on electrodes offers the opportunity for electrochemical application
      of enzymatic electrodes to many reactions in which a substitution of the
      expensive sacrificial co-enzyme NADH is desired.

PMID- 26890324
TI  - Spinal Cord Stimulation and Augmentative Control Strategies for Leg Movement
      after Spinal Paralysis in Humans.
AB  - Severe spinal cord injury is a devastating condition, tearing apart long white
      matter tracts and causing paralysis and disability of body functions below the
      lesion. But caudal to most injuries, the majority of neurons forming the
      distributed propriospinal system, the localized gray matter spinal interneuronal
      circuitry, and spinal motoneuron populations are spared. Epidural spinal cord
      stimulation can gain access to this neural circuitry. This review focuses on the
      capability of the human lumbar spinal cord to generate stereotyped motor output
      underlying standing and stepping, as well as full weight-bearing standing and
      rhythmic muscle activation during assisted treadmill stepping in paralyzed
      individuals in response to spinal cord stimulation. By enhancing the excitability
      state of the spinal circuitry, the stimulation can have an enabling effect upon
      otherwise "silent" translesional volitional motor control. Strategies for
      achieving functional movement in patients with severe injuries based on minimal
      translesional intentional control, task-specific proprioceptive feedback, and
      next-generation spinal cord stimulation systems will be reviewed. The role of
      spinal cord stimulation can go well beyond the immediate generation of motor
      output. With recently developed training paradigms, it can become a major
      rehabilitation approach in spinal cord injury for augmenting and steering trans-
      and sublesional plasticity for lasting therapeutic benefits. 

PMID- 26890325
TI  - A Semi-automated Approach to Preparing Antibody Cocktails for Immunophenotypic
      Analysis of Human Peripheral Blood.
AB  - Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood by flow cytometry determines changes in the
      frequency and activation status of peripheral leukocytes during disease and
      treatment. It has the potential to predict therapeutic efficacy and identify
      novel therapeutic targets. Whole blood staining utilizes unmanipulated blood,
      which minimizes artifacts that can occur during sample preparation. However,
      whole blood staining must also be done on freshly collected blood to ensure the
      integrity of the sample. Additionally, it is best to prepare antibody cocktails
      on the same day to avoid potential instability of tandem-dyes and prevent reagent
      interaction between brilliant violet dyes. Therefore, whole blood staining
      requires careful standardization to control for intra and inter-experimental
      variability. Here, we report deployment of an automated liquid handler equipped
      with a two-dimensional (2D) barcode reader into a standard process of making
      antibody cocktails for flow cytometry. Antibodies were transferred into 2D
      barcoded tubes arranged in a 96 well format and their contents compiled in a
      database. The liquid handler could then locate the source antibody vials by
      referencing antibody names within the database. Our method eliminated tedious
      coordination for positioning of source antibody tubes. It provided versatility
      allowing the user to easily change any number of details in the antibody
      dispensing process such as specific antibody to use, volume, and destination by
      modifying the database without rewriting the scripting in the software method for
      each assay. A proof of concept experiment achieved outstanding inter and intra-
      assay precision, demonstrated by replicate preparation of an 11-color, 17
      antibody flow cytometry assay. These methodologies increased overall throughput
      for flow cytometry assays and facilitated daily preparation of the complex
      antibody cocktails required for the detailed phenotypic characterization of
      freshly collected anticoagulated peripheral blood. 

PMID- 26890326
TI  - Outcomes and Predictors of Rebleeding After 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate Injection in
      Acute Gastric Variceal Hemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic injection of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (2-OCA) is used
      on an off-label basis for gastric variceal hemorrhage (GVH) in the United States.
      We assessed the efficacy, safety, and predictors of rebleeding after gastric
      variceal obturation (GVO) with 2-OCA in patients with acute GVH. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with GVH who
      underwent 2-OCA injection for GVO over a 15-year period. Rates of acute
      hemostasis, predictors of rebleeding, and cyanoacrylate-related adverse events
      were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients (63 males, median age 59+/-14 y)
      were analyzed. Gastric varices were categorized as GOV-1 (3%), GOV-2 (61%), and
      isolated gastric varices type 1 (36%) per Sarin classification. Initial
      hemostasis was achieved in all patients. Successful GVO, defined as sustained
      hemostasis within a month after injection, was achieved in 87 (92%) patients.
      Failed GVO with in-hospital rebleeding was observed in 8 (8%) patients. On
      univariate analysis, only the model for end-stage liver disease score was
      associated with an increased risk of rebleeding (odds ratio 1.2; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.1-1.4; P<0.01). Glue-related adverse events consisted of pulmonary
      emboli in 2 patients (2.1%), resulting in death in 1 patient. All cause in
      hospital mortality was 13% due to uncontrolled gastric variceal rebleeding (n=3),
      renal failure (n=6), metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (n=1), hemorrhagic
      stroke (n=1), and pulmonary embolism (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Injection of 2-OCA was
      effective at achieving hemostasis in a high proportion of patients (92%) admitted
      for acute GVH. The risk of glue-related pulmonary embolism approximated 2% in our
      patient cohort, including 1 fatality.

PMID- 26890327
TI  - Cost Averted With Timely Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Management of
      Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Alberta, Canada.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is highly effective in
      treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI). However, the ideal
      timing for offering FMT remains to be determined. Furthermore, the direct medical
      costs averted with timely FMT have not been examined. METHODS: A retrospective
      review of the Edmonton FMT program database included patients who received FMT
      for RCDI (October 2012 to September 2014). They were divided into 2 groups: those
      who received FMT after 2 recurrences (the timely FMT group) and those who
      received FMT after at least 3 recurrences (the delayed FMT group). The primary
      outcome was the difference in direct medical costs related to hospital admissions
      and emergency room visits due to CDI between the 2 groups. The secondary outcomes
      were RCDI cure rate and duration of RCDI in each group. RESULTS: A total of 75
      patients were included: 30 received timely FMT, whereas 45 received delayed FMT.
      The mean difference in hospital length of stay and emergency room visits related
      to CDI were 13.8 days shorter and 1.3 visits fewer with timely FMT, associated
      with a mean cost saving of $29,842 per patient. Sensitivity analysis was
      performed to examine the effect of outliers and comorbities on the differential
      costs, and it was found that the differences in average cost per patient were
      more pronounced in those with Charlson comorbidity index >=3 compared with those
      with scores of 0 to 2. The cure rate was 94% (timely FMT group) and 93% (delayed
      FMT group). The mean duration of RCDI was 109 days (timely FMT group) and 281
      days (delayed FMT group). CONCLUSIONS: Timely FMT can provide significant cost
      savings to health-care systems, especially for patients with multiple
      comorbidities.

PMID- 26890328
TI  - Comparison of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Hispanic and Asian
      Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in Southern California.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: There are few data regarding the clinical and serologic features of
      chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection among Hispanics in the United States. The
      aims of this study were to compare and contrast clinical characteristics of
      Hispanic and Asian CHB patients. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory
      data were collected from Hispanic and Asian CHB patients seen between January
      2013 and May 2014 at Los Angeles County Hepatitis Clinic. RESULTS: A total of 55
      Hispanic and 342 Asian CHB patients were identified. Almost all were foreign
      born. Compared with Asians, Hispanics were more likely to report heterosexual
      transmission (P<0.0001) and blood transfusion history (P<0.0001) as risk factors.
      Overall, 31% of Hispanics had HBV>2000 IU/mL compared with 54% of Asians
      (P=0.004).Significantly more Asian HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe-positive CHB patients
      had high HBV DNA levels (>2000 IU/mL) with elevated ALT compared with Hispanic
      patients (P=0.04). Compared with Asians, Hispanic CHB patients were more likely
      to have elevated ALT and low HBV DNA levels (P=0.001). Among CHB patients who
      received antiviral therapy, response was comparable among Hispanics and Asians.
      There were no Hispanic CHB patients who experienced spontaneous reactivation or
      developed hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: There were important differences
      in the clinical, demographic, and serologic characteristics between Hispanic and
      Asian CHB. Response rate to antiviral therapy was comparable. Further studies of
      Hispanic CHB patients in the United States are warranted.

PMID- 26890330
TI  - Target-controlled Infusion Sedation for Colonoscopy Interventions.

PMID- 26890329
TI  - Trends in the Use of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for the
      Management of Chronic Pancreatitis in the United States.
AB  - GOALS: The aim of this study was to characterize current trends in the use of
      endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the United States for
      patients hospitalized with chronic pancreatitis. BACKGROUND: Historically, ERCP
      was the primary tool for diagnostic and therapeutic management of chronic
      pancreatitis. With increased availability of magnetic resonance imaging and
      endoscopic ultrasound, indications for ERCP are being redefined. STUDY: We
      performed a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from
      1998 to 2010. We identified patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of
      chronic pancreatitis who underwent ERCP. We excluded patients diagnosed with
      biliary, gallbladder, or pancreatic neoplasm and patients who underwent
      gallbladder or pancreatic operation during the same admission. We analyzed
      patient and hospital characteristics, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality,
      and adjusted for weighted sample schema. RESULTS: During the study period, 29,318
      patients with chronic pancreatitis (mean age 52 y, 57.2% female) underwent ERCP
      during their hospitalization. The majority of patients were white (56.1%). The
      majority of procedures were performed at large (72.4%), urban (95.2%), and
      academic (69.0%) hospitals. Mean hospital charges were $32,929 (SE= $1605). Mean
      length of stay was 6 days (SE=0.3), with in-hospital mortality of 0.76%. Over the
      study period, the number of procedures has decreased significantly (P<0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, ERCP has been an important diagnostic and
      therapeutic tool for chronic pancreatitis. Over the last decade, ERCP has become
      an uncommon inpatient procedure for chronic pancreatitis.

PMID- 26890331
TI  - Abdominal Paracentesis Drainage Does Not Bring Extra Risk to Patients With Severe
      Acute Pancreatitis.

PMID- 26890334
TI  - Bimetallic Au2 Cu6 Nanoclusters: Strong Luminescence Induced by the Aggregation
      of Copper(I) Complexes with Gold(0) Species.
AB  - The concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has been exploited to render
      non-luminescent Cu(I) SR complexes strongly luminescent. The Cu(I) SR complexes
      underwent controlled aggregation with Au(0) . Unlike previous AIE methods, our
      strategy does not require insoluble solutions or cations. X-ray crystallography
      validated the structure of this highly fluorescent nanocluster: Six thiolated Cu
      atoms are aggregated by two Au atoms (Au2 Cu6 nanoclusters). The quantum yield of
      this nanocluster is 11.7 %. DFT calculations imply that the fluorescence
      originates from ligand (aryl groups on the phosphine) to metal (Cu(I) ) charge
      transfer (LMCT). Furthermore, the aggregation is affected by the restriction of
      intramolecular rotation (RIR), and the high rigidity of the outer ligands
      enhances the fluorescence of the Au2 Cu6 nanoclusters. This study thus presents a
      novel strategy for enhancing the luminescence of metal nanoclusters (by the
      aggregation of active metal complexes with inert metal atoms), and also provides
      fundamental insights into the controllable synthesis of highly luminescent metal
      nanoclusters. 

PMID- 26890332
TI  - DNA demethylation of the TIM-3 promoter is critical for its stable expression on
      T cells.
AB  - The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3) is
      selectively expressed on terminally differentiated T helper 1 (Th1) cells and
      acts as a negative regulator that terminates Th1 responses. The dysregulation of
      TIM-3 expression on T cells is associated with several autoimmune phenotypes and
      with chronic viral infections; however, the mechanism of this regulation is
      unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of DNA methylation on the
      expression of TIM-3. By analyzing the sequences of TIM-3 promoter regions in
      human and mouse, we identified a CpG island within the TIM-3 promoter and
      demonstrated that the promoter activity was controlled by DNA methylation.
      Furthermore, treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine enhanced TIM-3 expression on
      mouse primary CD4(+) T cells under Th0-, Th1- or Th2-polarizing conditions.
      Finally, pyrosequencing analysis revealed that the methylation level of the TIM-3
      promoter gradually decreased after each round of T-cell polarization, and this
      decrease was inversely correlated with TIM-3 expression. These data suggest that
      the DNA methylation of the TIM-3 promoter cooperates with lineage-specific
      transcription factors in the control of Th-cell development. In conclusion, DNA
      methylation-based regulation of TIM-3 may provide novel insights into
      understanding the dysregulation of TIM-3 expression under pathogenic conditions.

PMID- 26890333
TI  - The early onset of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis has a strong genetic influence:
      role of HLA and KIR genes.
AB  - We have previously reported a strong association between HLA-DRB1*1301 and type 1
      pediatric autoimmune hepatitis (PAH) and between HLA-DR*0405 and adult autoimmune
      hepatitis (AAH). Because human killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors are
      known to be associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, we
      investigated the frequencies of HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and KIR genes in 144 type 1 PAH
      and 86 AAH patients, which were compared with 273 healthy controls. We
      demonstrated in PAH the increased frequency of the functional form of KIR2DS4
      Full Length (KIR2DS4-FL), which in combination with HLA-DRB1*1301 revealed a
      strong synergistic effect (odds ratio=36.5). PAH-KIR2DS4-FL+ subjects have shown
      an increased frequency of their putative HLA-C*02, 04 and 06 ligands. KIR
      analysis of PAH also revealed a decreased frequency of KIR2DL2 gene and its
      ligand. In contrast, AAH cases have shown a weaker increased frequency of KIR2DS4
      FL, a lack of synergistic effect with HLA class II antigens and a moderate
      association with HLA-DRB1*0405. Of note, we demonstrated that liver T cells have
      a unique pattern of KIR expression. These results show a KIR gene involved in
      autoimmune hepatitis and suggest a stronger genetic influence for the early onset
      type I autoimmune hepatitis.

PMID- 26890335
TI  - Living with bipolar disorder: the impact on patients, spouses, and their marital
      relationship.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Patients with bipolar disorder are characterized by an unusually high
      divorce rate. As such, the purpose of the present study was to uncover
      information relating specifically to the impact of bipolar disorder on patients
      and spouses individually, and on the marital relationship from the perspectives
      of both patients and spouses. METHODS: Eleven patients with bipolar disorder and
      ten spouses were interviewed separately about the impact of bipolar disorder on
      their lives and on their marital relationship. Data were analyzed using the
      grounded theory method. RESULTS: The impact of bipolar disorder for spouses
      included self-sacrifice, caregiving burden, emotional impact, and a sense of
      personal evolution. The impact of bipolar disorder on patients included an
      emotional impact, responsibility for self-care, and struggling socially and
      developmentally. When comparing patient and spouse perspectives on the impact of
      the disorder, neither the patient nor the spouse was able to accurately assess
      the impact of the disorder on their partner's lives. The impact of bipolar
      disorder on the relationship included volatility in the relationship,
      strengthening the relationship, weakening the relationship, and family planning.
      CONCLUSIONS: The research indicated that patients and partners alike struggle
      with the tremendous impact of bipolar disorder on their lives and on their
      relationships. Given the high rates of divorce and volatility in these
      relationships, healthcare professionals can provide (or refer to) emotional and
      practical support both to patients and spouses on their own, and as a couple in
      their clinics.

PMID- 26890336
TI  - Nano- and micro-based systems for immunotolerance induction in multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - It is estimated that more than 2.5 million individuals worldwide have multiple
      sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease resulting from the
      destruction of the myelin sheath that enwraps axons driven by an immune cell
      attack to the central nervous system. Current therapeutic programs for MS focus
      in immunosuppression and more recently in the use of immunomodulatory molecules.
      These therapeutic approaches provide significant improvements in the management
      of the disease, but are frequently associated with an increased susceptibility of
      opportunistic infection. In this commentary, we highlight the application of nano
      and micro-technologies as emerging and innovative solutions for MS therapy with
      the potential to restore immune homeostasis via antigen-specific interactions.
      Furthermore, we propose and discuss the usage of a minimally invasive approach,
      namely microneedle patches, as a new therapeutic route. Microneedle patches for
      the delivery of specific antigens to restore immunotolerance in the context of
      multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 26890337
TI  - Buckwheat and Millet Affect Thermal, Rheological, and Gelling Properties of Wheat
      Flour.
AB  - Buckwheat (BF) and millet (MF) are recommended as healthy foods due to their
      unique chemical composition and health benefits. This study investigated the
      thermal and rheological properties of BF-WF (wheat flour) and MF-WF flour blends
      at various ratios (0:100 to 100:0). Increasing BF or MF concentration led to
      higher cold paste viscosity and setback viscosity of pasting properties gel
      adhesiveness, storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") of dynamic oscillatory
      rheology, and yield stress (sigma0 ) of flow curve of WF. BF and MF addition
      decreased peak viscosity and breakdown of pasting, gel hardness, swelling volume,
      and consistency coefficient (K) of flow curve of WF. Thermal properties of the
      blends appeared additive of that of individual flour. Nonadditive effects were
      observed for some property changes in the mixtures, and indicated interactions
      between flour components. This may provide a physicochemical basis for using BF
      and MF in formulating novel healthy products. 

PMID- 26890338
TI  - Endoplasmic reticulum stress participates in inflammation-accelerated, lipid
      mediated injury of human glomerular mesangial cells.
AB  - AIM: The mechanism of lipid-mediated injury of human glomerular mesangial cells
      (HMCs) remains unclear. We investigated the association between endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) stress and lipid-mediated injury in HMCs in vitro and the
      potential efficacy of a therapeutic approach targeting ER stress. METHODS: Human
      glomerular mesangial cells were exposed to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and/or
      interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). For evaluation of whether ER stress participates in
      lipid-mediated injury to HMCs, HMCs were pretreated with tunicamycin or treated
      with sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA). RESULTS: Incubation of HMCs with LDL + IL
      1beta significantly increased lipid accumulation and induced phenotypic changes.
      ER stress was induced in lipid-loaded HMCs, as indicated by upregulation of
      glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)
      proteins. Moreover, persistent ER stress increased expression of nuclear factor
      (NF)-kappaB p65 protein, fibronectin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA)
      mRNA partly through the PERK - eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha (eIF2alpha)
      pathway. Preconditioning with ER stress by tunicamycin and inhibition of ER
      stress by 4-PBA both reversed the phenotypic changes and decreased lipid
      accumulation and inflammatory cytokine secretion by the PERK - eIF2alpha pathway.
      CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that ER stress participates in
      inflammation associated with lipid-induced injury of HMCs. Modulation of ER
      stress may be a novel therapeutic approach for combating lipid-induced injury of
      HMCs.

PMID- 26890339
TI  - Polarized Neutron Diffraction to Probe Local Magnetic Anisotropy of a Low-Spin
      Fe(III) Complex.
AB  - We have determined by polarized neutron diffraction (PND) the low-temperature
      molecular magnetic susceptibility tensor of the anisotropic low-spin complex PPh4
      [Fe(III) (Tp)(CN)3]?H2O. We found the existence of a pronounced molecular easy
      magnetization axis, almost parallel to the C3 pseudo-axis of the molecule, which
      also corresponds to a trigonal elongation direction of the octahedral
      coordination sphere of the Fe(III) ion. The PND results are coherent with
      electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, magnetometry, and ab initio
      investigations. Through this particular example, we demonstrate the capabilities
      of PND to provide a unique, direct, and straightforward picture of the magnetic
      anisotropy and susceptibility tensors, offering a clear-cut way to establish
      magneto-structural correlations in paramagnetic molecular complexes.

PMID- 26890340
TI  - Cluster of HIV Infections Attributed to Unsafe Injection Practices--Cambodia,
      December 1, 2014-February 28, 2015.
AB  - In December 2014, local health authorities in Battambang province in northwest
      Cambodia reported 30 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a
      rural commune (district subdivision) where only four cases had been reported
      during the preceding year. The majority of cases occurred in residents of Roka
      commune. The Cambodian National Center for HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome), Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (NCHADS) investigated
      the outbreak in collaboration with the University of Health Sciences in Phnom
      Penh and members of the Roka Cluster Investigation Team. By February 28, 2015,
      NCHADS had confirmed 242 cases of HIV infection among the 8,893 commune
      residents, an infection rate of 2.7%. Molecular investigation of the HIV strains
      present in this outbreak indicated that the majority of cases were linked to a
      single HIV strain that spread quickly within this community. An NCHADS case
      control study identified medical injections and infusions as the most likely
      modes of transmission. In response to this outbreak, the Government of Cambodia
      has taken measures to encourage safe injection practices by licensed medical
      professionals, ban unlicensed medical practitioners, increase local capacity for
      HIV testing and counseling, and expand access to HIV treatment in Battambang
      province. Measures to reduce the demand for unnecessary medical injections and
      the provision of unsafe injections are needed. Estimates of national HIV
      incidence and prevalence might need to be adjusted to account for unsafe
      injection as a risk exposure. 

PMID- 26890341
TI  - Stability of organic solar cells: challenges and strategies.
AB  - Organic solar cells (OSCs) present some advantages, such as simple preparation,
      light weight, low cost and large-area flexible fabrication, and have attracted
      much attention in recent years. Although the power conversion efficiencies have
      exceeded 10%, the inferior device stability still remains a great challenge. In
      this review, we summarize the factors limiting the stability of OSCs, such as
      metastable morphology, diffusion of electrodes and buffer layers, oxygen and
      water, irradiation, heating and mechanical stress, and survey recent progress in
      strategies to increase the stability of OSCs, such as material design, device
      engineering of active layers, employing inverted geometry, optimizing buffer
      layers, using stable electrodes and encapsulation. Some research areas of device
      stability that may deserve further attention are also discussed to help readers
      understand the challenges and opportunities in achieving high efficiency and high
      stability of OSCs towards future industrial manufacture.

PMID- 26890342
TI  - Isolated pregnancy-induced anti-thrombin deficiency in a woman with twin
      pregnancy.
AB  - A woman with twin pregnancy had a gradual decline in anti-thrombin (AT) activity
      from 72% at gestational week (GW) 29-3/7 , to 53% at GW31-2/7 , and to 41% at
      GW32-2/7 , at which time hypertension (148/90 mmHg) and proteinuria (protein-to
      creatinine ratio [P/Cr], 0.79 mg/mg) developed in the presence of normal platelet
      count (159 * 109 /L) and serum aspartate aminotransferase/lactate dehydrogenase
      (22/164 IU/L). AT product was given three times to maintain AT activity >50% and
      blood pressure was maintained below 155/95 mmHg with no treatment, but
      generalized edema with a weekly weight gain of 4.9 kg and increased proteinuria
      (to P/Cr, 7.6 mg/mg) required cesarean section at GW33-3/7 . This case highlights
      the occurrence of pregnancy-induced AT deficiency alone in the absence of any
      other abnormality, including hypertension, proteinuria, or thrombocytopenia.
      Measurement of AT activity was considered helpful for determination of the
      appropriate time for delivery in this patient.

PMID- 26890343
TI  - Bimodal Functionality in a Porous Covalent Triazine Framework by Rational
      Integration of an Electron-Rich and -Deficient Pore Surface.
AB  - A porous covalent triazine framework (CTF) consisting of both an electron
      deficient central triazine core and electron-rich aromatic building blocks is
      reported. Taking advantage of the dual nature of the pore surface, bimodal
      functionality has been achieved. The electron deficiency in the central core has
      been utilized to address one of the pertinent problems in chemical industries,
      namely separation of benzene from its cyclic saturated congener, that is,
      cyclohexane. Also, by virtue of the electron-rich aromatic rings with Lewis basic
      sites, aqueous-phase chemical sensing of a nitroaromatic compound of highly
      explosive nature (2,4,6-trinitrophenol; TNP) has been achieved. The present
      compound supersedes the performance of previously reported COFs in both the
      aspects. Notably, this reports the first example of pore-surface engineering
      leading to bimodal functionality in CTFs. 

PMID- 26890345
TI  - Recurrent Neural Network for Computing Outer Inverse.
AB  - Two linear recurrent neural networks for generating outer inverses with
      prescribed range and null space are defined. Each of the proposed recurrent
      neural networks is based on the matrix-valued differential equation, a
      generalization of dynamic equations proposed earlier for the nonsingular matrix
      inversion, the Moore-Penrose inversion, as well as the Drazin inversion, under
      the condition of zero initial state. The application of the first approach is
      conditioned by the properties of the spectrum of a certain matrix; the second
      approach eliminates this drawback, though at the cost of increasing the number of
      matrix operations. The cases corresponding to the most common generalized
      inverses are defined. The conditions that ensure stability of the proposed neural
      network are presented. Illustrative examples present the results of numerical
      simulations. 

PMID- 26890344
TI  - Causal Inference on Discrete Data via Estimating Distance Correlations.
AB  - In this article, we deal with the problem of inferring causal directions when the
      data are on discrete domain. By considering the distribution of the cause
      [Formula: see text] and the conditional distribution mapping cause to effect
      [Formula: see text] as independent random variables, we propose to infer the
      causal direction by comparing the distance correlation between [Formula: see
      text] and [Formula: see text] with the distance correlation between [Formula: see
      text] and [Formula: see text]. We infer that X causes Y if the dependence
      coefficient between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is smaller.
      Experiments are performed to show the performance of the proposed method. 

PMID- 26890346
TI  - Feature-Based Attention by Lateral Spike Synchronization.
AB  - We introduce a neural model capable of feature selectiveness by spike-mediated
      synchronization through lateral synaptic couplings. For a stimulus containing two
      features, the attended one elicits a higher response. In the case of sequential
      single-feature stimuli, repetition of the attended feature also results in an
      enhanced response, exhibited by greater synchrony and higher spiking rates. 

PMID- 26890348
TI  - A Mathematical Motivation for Complex-Valued Convolutional Networks.
AB  - A complex-valued convolutional network (convnet) implements the repeated
      application of the following composition of three operations, recursively
      applying the composition to an input vector of nonnegative real numbers: (1)
      convolution with complex-valued vectors, followed by (2) taking the absolute
      value of every entry of the resulting vectors, followed by (3) local averaging.
      For processing real-valued random vectors, complex-valued convnets can be viewed
      as data-driven multiscale windowed power spectra, data-driven multiscale windowed
      absolute spectra, data-driven multiwavelet absolute values, or (in their most
      general configuration) data-driven nonlinear multiwavelet packets. Indeed,
      complex-valued convnets can calculate multiscale windowed spectra when the
      convnet filters are windowed complex-valued exponentials. Standard real-valued
      convnets, using rectified linear units (ReLUs), sigmoidal (e.g., logistic or
      tanh) nonlinearities, or max pooling, for example, do not obviously exhibit the
      same exact correspondence with data-driven wavelets (whereas for complex-valued
      convnets, the correspondence is much more than just a vague analogy). Courtesy of
      the exact correspondence, the remarkably rich and rigorous body of mathematical
      analysis for wavelets applies directly to (complex-valued) convnets. 

PMID- 26890347
TI  - Optimal Schedules in Multitask Motor Learning.
AB  - Although scheduling multiple tasks in motor learning to maximize long-term
      retention of performance is of great practical importance in sports training and
      motor rehabilitation after brain injury, it is unclear how to do so. We propose
      here a novel theoretical approach that uses optimal control theory and
      computational models of motor adaptation to determine schedules that maximize
      long-term retention predictively. Using Pontryagin's maximum principle, we
      derived a control law that determines the trial-by-trial task choice that
      maximizes overall delayed retention for all tasks, as predicted by the state
      space model. Simulations of a single session of adaptation with two tasks show
      that when task interference is high, there exists a threshold in relative task
      difficulty below which the alternating schedule is optimal. Only for large
      differences in task difficulties do optimal schedules assign more trials to the
      harder task. However, over the parameter range tested, alternating schedules
      yield long-term retention performance that is only slightly inferior to
      performance given by the true optimal schedules. Our results thus predict that in
      a large number of learning situations wherein tasks interfere, intermixing tasks
      with an equal number of trials is an effective strategy in enhancing long-term
      retention. 

PMID- 26890349
TI  - Sampled-Data State Feedback Stabilization of Boolean Control Networks.
AB  - In this letter, we investigate the sampled-data state feedback control (SDSFC)
      problem of Boolean control networks (BCNs). Some necessary and sufficient
      conditions are obtained for the global stabilization of BCNs by SDSFC. Different
      from conventional state feedback controls, new phenomena observed the study of
      SDSFC. Based on the controllability matrix, we derive some necessary and
      sufficient conditions under which the trajectories of BCNs can be stabilized to a
      fixed point by piecewise constant control (PCC). It is proved that the global
      stabilization of BCNs under SDSFC is equivalent to that by PCC. Moreover,
      algorithms are given to construct the sampled-data state feedback controllers.
      Numerical examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of the obtained
      results. 

PMID- 26890351
TI  - Vector Symbolic Spiking Neural Network Model of Hippocampal Subarea CA1 Novelty
      Detection Functionality.
AB  - A neural network model is presented of novelty detection in the CA1 subdomain of
      the hippocampal formation from the perspective of information flow. This
      computational model is restricted on several levels by both anatomical
      information about hippocampal circuitry and behavioral data from studies done in
      rats. Several studies report that the CA1 area broadcasts a generalized novelty
      signal in response to changes in the environment. Using the neural engineering
      framework developed by Eliasmith et al., a spiking neural network architecture is
      created that is able to compare high-dimensional vectors, symbolizing semantic
      information, according to the semantic pointer hypothesis. This model then
      computes the similarity between the vectors, as both direct inputs and a recalled
      memory from a long-term memory network by performing the dot-product operation in
      a novelty neural network architecture. The developed CA1 model agrees with
      available neuroanatomical data, as well as the presented behavioral data, and so
      it is a biologically realistic model of novelty detection in the hippocampus,
      which can provide a feasible explanation for experimentally observed dynamics.

PMID- 26890350
TI  - Downstream Effect of Ramping Neuronal Activity through Synapses with Short-Term
      Plasticity.
AB  - Ramping neuronal activity refers to spiking activity with a rate that increases
      quasi-linearly over time. It has been observed in multiple cortical areas and is
      correlated with evidence accumulation processes or timing. In this work, we
      investigated the downstream effect of ramping neuronal activity through synapses
      that display short-term facilitation (STF) or depression (STD). We obtained an
      analytical result for a synapse driven by deterministic linear ramping input that
      exhibits pure STF or STD and numerically investigated the general case when a
      synapse displays both STF and STD. We show that the analytical deterministic
      solution gives an accurate description of the averaging synaptic activation of
      many inputs converging onto a postsynaptic neuron, even when fluctuations in the
      ramping input are strong. Activation of a synapse with STF shows an initial
      cubical increase with time, followed by a linear ramping similar to a synapse
      without STF. Activation of a synapse with STD grows in time to a maximum before
      falling and reaching a plateau, and this steady state is independent of the slope
      of the ramping input. For a synapse displaying both STF and STD, an increase in
      the depression time constant from a value much smaller than the facilitation time
      constant tau(F) to a value much larger than tau(F) leads to a transition from
      facilitation dominance to depression dominance. Therefore, our work provides
      insights into the impact of ramping neuronal activity on downstream neurons
      through synapses that display short-term plasticity. In a perceptual decision
      making process, ramping activity has been observed in the parietal and prefrontal
      cortices, with a slope that decreases with task difficulty. Our work predicts
      that neurons downstream from such a decision circuit could instead display a
      firing plateau independent of the task difficulty, provided that the synaptic
      connection is endowed with short-term depression.

PMID- 26890352
TI  - Online Pairwise Learning Algorithms.
AB  - Pairwise learning usually refers to a learning task that involves a loss function
      depending on pairs of examples, among which the most notable ones are bipartite
      ranking, metric learning, and AUC maximization. In this letter we study an online
      algorithm for pairwise learning with a least-square loss function in an
      unconstrained setting of a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) that we refer
      to as the Online Pairwise lEaRning Algorithm (OPERA). In contrast to existing
      works (Kar, Sriperumbudur, Jain, & Karnick, 2013 ; Wang, Khardon, Pechyony, &
      Jones, 2012 ), which require that the iterates are restricted to a bounded domain
      or the loss function is strongly convex, OPERA is associated with a non-strongly
      convex objective function and learns the target function in an unconstrained
      RKHS. Specifically, we establish a general theorem that guarantees the almost
      sure convergence for the last iterate of OPERA without any assumptions on the
      underlying distribution. Explicit convergence rates are derived under the
      condition of polynomially decaying step sizes. We also establish an interesting
      property for a family of widely used kernels in the setting of pairwise learning
      and illustrate the convergence results using such kernels. Our methodology mainly
      depends on the characterization of RKHSs using its associated integral operators
      and probability inequalities for random variables with values in a Hilbert space.

PMID- 26890353
TI  - Feature Selection for Ridge Regression with Provable Guarantees.
AB  - We introduce single-set spectral sparsification as a deterministic sampling-based
      feature selection technique for regularized least-squares classification, which
      is the classification analog to ridge regression. The method is unsupervised and
      gives worst-case guarantees of the generalization power of the classification
      function after feature selection with respect to the classification function
      obtained using all features. We also introduce leverage-score sampling as an
      unsupervised randomized feature selection method for ridge regression. We provide
      risk bounds for both single-set spectral sparsification and leverage-score
      sampling on ridge regression in the fixed design setting and show that the risk
      in the sampled space is comparable to the risk in the full-feature space. We
      perform experiments on synthetic and real-world data sets; a subset of TechTC-300
      data sets, to support our theory. Experimental results indicate that the proposed
      methods perform better than the existing feature selection methods. 

PMID- 26890354
TI  - Theoretical and Experimental Analyses of Tensor-Based Regression and
      Classification.
AB  - We theoretically and experimentally investigate tensor-based regression and
      classification. Our focus is regularization with various tensor norms, including
      the overlapped trace norm, the latent trace norm, and the scaled latent trace
      norm. We first give dual optimization methods using the alternating direction
      method of multipliers, which is computationally efficient when the number of
      training samples is moderate. We then theoretically derive an excess risk bound
      for each tensor norm and clarify their behavior. Finally, we perform extensive
      experiments using simulated and real data and demonstrate the superiority of
      tensor-based learning methods over vector- and matrix-based learning methods. 

PMID- 26890355
TI  - Outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter placement in octogenarians.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of patient age on device outcomes among
      patients undergoing primary artificial urinary sphincter. METHODS: A total of
      1081 male patients who underwent primary artificial urinary sphincter placement
      from 1983 to 2011 were analyzed, including 91 men (8%) who were aged >80 years at
      the time of surgery. Revisions and explanations were compared between men
      stratified by decade of life. Hazard ratios adjusting for competing risks were
      used to determine the association with age and artificial urinary sphincter
      device outcomes (infection/erosion, urethral atrophy and malfunction), while
      overall device failure was estimated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression
      analysis. RESULTS: Patients aged >80 years were more likely to have coronary
      disease (P = 0.009), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.04), hypertension (P = 0.002) and
      lower body mass index (P < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, patients aged >80
      years were significantly more likely to experience device erosion or infection
      compared with a reference of patients aged <60 years (hazard ratio 4.13; P =
      0.046), whereas there was no difference in those patients aged 60-70 years or 70
      80 years compared with the reference group (P = 0.56 and 0.45). There was no
      significant difference in overall device survival between the age-stratified
      groups (P = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: Although overall artificial urinary sphincter
      device survival is similar, patients aged >80 years are more likely to experience
      erosion or infection compared with younger patients. Despite this, the overall
      device failure rate is low, and artificial urinary sphincter might be considered
      for appropriately selected and counseled octogenarians.

PMID- 26890357
TI  - Forensic Occupational Therapy in Canada: The Current State of Practice.
AB  - Although occupational therapists have been practicing in forensic settings for
      many years, there is a paucity of literature regarding the nature of this
      practice in Canada. The purpose of this study was to describe the practices of
      Canadian occupational therapists in forensic mental health. An online survey was
      designed based on the Canadian Practice Process Framework. Following purposive
      and snowball sampling, responses were analysed with descriptive statistics and
      content analysis. Twenty-seven clinicians responded (56% response rate).
      Respondents indicated commonalities in workplaces, client caseloads and practice
      challenges. The outstanding need in Canada to demonstrate client outcomes through
      the use of evaluation instruments reflects those practice gaps identified
      internationally. Education, advocacy and research are critical areas for the
      development of Canadian forensic occupational therapy. Although findings heavily
      reflect one provincial context and may not be generalizable to nonhospital
      settings, a number of priority areas were identified. Future efforts should
      clarify the role of forensic occupational therapy to stakeholders, and validate
      their contributions through research that evaluates intervention efficacy and
      meaningful outcomes. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26890356
TI  - Repression of Wnt/beta-catenin response elements by p63 (TP63).
AB  - Submitted: TP63 (p63), a member of the tumor suppressor TP53 (p53) gene family,
      is expressed in keratinocyte stem cells and well-differentiated squamous cell
      carcinomas to maintain cellular potential for growth and differentiation.
      Controversially, activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by p63 (Patturajan
      M. et al., 2002, Cancer Cells) and inhibition of the target gene expression
      (Drewelus I. et al., 2010, Cell Cycle) have been reported. Upon p63 RNA-silencing
      in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lines, a few Wnt target gene expression
      substantially increased, while several target genes moderately decreased.
      Although DeltaNp63alpha, the most abundant isoform of p63, appeared to interact
      with protein phosphatase PP2A, neither GSK-3beta phosphorylation nor beta-catenin
      nuclear localization was altered by the loss of p63. As reported earlier,
      DeltaNp63alpha enhanced beta-catenin-dependent luc gene expression from pGL3-OT
      having 3 artificial Wnt response elements (WREs). However, this activation was
      detectable only in HEK293 cells examined so far, and involved a p53 family
      related sequence 5' to the WREs. In Wnt3-expressing SAOS-2 cells, DeltaNp63alpha
      rather strongly inhibited transcription of pGL3-OT. Importantly, DeltaNp63alpha
      repressed WREs isolated from the regulatory regions of MMP7. DeltaNp63alpha-TCF4
      association occurred in their soluble forms in the nucleus. Furthermore, p63 and
      TCF4 coexisted at a WRE of MMP7 on the chromatin, where beta-catenin recruitment
      was attenuated. The combined results indicate that DeltaNp63alpha serves as a
      repressor that regulates beta-catenin-mediated gene expression.

PMID- 26890359
TI  - Strategies to increase the hygienic and economic value of fresh fish:
      Biopreservation using lactic acid bacteria of marine origin.
AB  - In this work we describe the development of a biopreservation strategy for fresh
      fish based on the use of bacteriocinogenic LAB of marine origin. For this
      purpose, two multibacteriocinogenic LAB strains, Lactobacillus curvatus BCS35 and
      Enterococcus faecium BNM58, previously isolated from fish and fish products were
      selected owing to their capability to inhibit the growth of several fish-spoilage
      and food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Two commercially important fish species were
      chosen, young hake (Merluccius merluccius) and megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), and
      the specimens were acquired at the Marin (Pontevedra, Spain) retail fish market,
      after one night in the chilled hold of a near-shore fishing vessel. The
      biopreservation potential and the application strategies of these two LAB strains
      were first tested at a laboratory scale, where several batches of fresh fish were
      inoculated with: (i) the multibacteriocinogenic LAB culture(s) as protective
      culture(s); and/or (ii) their cell-free culture supernatant(s) as food
      ingredient(s), and (iii) the lyophilized bacteriocin preparation(s) as
      lyophilized food ingredient(s). All batches were stored in polystyrene boxes,
      permanently filled with ice at 0-2  degrees C, for 14 days. Microbiological
      analyses, as well as sensorial analyses, were carried out during the
      biopreservation trials. Subsequently, Lb. curvatus BCS35 was selected to up-scale
      the trials, and combinations of the three application methods were assayed. For
      this purpose, this strain was grown in a semi-industrial scale fermentor (150l)
      in modified MRS broth, and three batches of fresh fish were inoculated with the
      protective culture and/or food ingredient, and stored on ice in a chilled chamber
      at 0-2  degrees C at the Marin retail fish market for 14 days. Microbiological
      analyses were carried out during the storage period, showing that when Lb.
      curvatus BCS35 culture or the corresponding cell-free culture supernatant was
      used as protective culture or food ingredient, respectively, bacterial counts
      were significantly lower than those of the untreated control batches, both for
      young hake and megrim. In addition, the presence of Listeria spp. in megrim was
      inhibited in both analyses. The effect of protective culture or food ingredient
      on the sensory characteristics of fish was evaluated by an official fish
      appraiser from the Marin retail fish market, who concluded that all the
      biopreserved batches were worth a higher price in the fish market than the
      respective control batches, demonstrating that the multibacteriocinogenic strain
      of marine origin Lb. curvatus BCS35 may be considered as a suitable candidate for
      its application as fresh fish biopreservative.

PMID- 26890358
TI  - alpha-Galactosidase-A Loaded-Nanoliposomes with Enhanced Enzymatic Activity and
      Intracellular Penetration.
AB  - Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are caused by lysosomal dysfunction usually as
      a consequence of deficiency of a single enzyme required for the metabolism of
      macromolecules, such as lipids, glycoproteins, and mucopolysaccharides. For
      instance, the lack of alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) activity in Fabry disease
      patients causes the accumulation of glycosphingolipids in the vasculature leading
      to multiple organ pathology. Enzyme replacement therapy, which is the most common
      treatment of LSD, exhibits several drawbacks mainly related to the instability
      and low efficacy of the exogenously administered therapeutic enzyme. In this
      work, the unprecedented increased enzymatic activity and intracellular
      penetration achieved by the association of a human recombinant GLA to
      nanoliposomes functionalized with Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD) peptides
      is reported. Moreover, these new GLA loaded nanoliposomes lead to a higher
      efficacy in the reduction of the GLA substrate named globotriasylceramide in a
      cellular model of Fabry disease, than that achieved by the same concentration of
      the free enzyme. The preparation of these new liposomal formulations by DELOS
      SUSP, based on the depressurization of a CO2 -expanded liquid organic solution,
      shows the great potential of this CO2 -based methodology for the one-step
      production of protein-nanoliposome conjugates as bioactive nanomaterials with
      therapeutic interest. 

PMID- 26890360
TI  - A Capped Dipeptide Which Simultaneously Exhibits Gelation and Crystallization
      Behavior.
AB  - Short peptides capped at their N-terminus are often highly efficient gelators,
      yet notoriously difficult to crystallize. This is due to strong unidirectional
      interactions within fibers, resulting in structure propagation only along one
      direction. Here, we synthesize the N-capped dipeptide, benzimidazole
      diphenylalanine, which forms both hydrogels and single crystals. Even more
      remarkably, we show using atomic force microscopy the coexistence of these two
      distinct phases. We then use powder X-ray diffraction to investigate whether the
      single crystal structure can be extrapolated to the molecular arrangement within
      the hydrogel. The results suggest parallel beta-sheet arrangement as the dominant
      structural motif, challenging existing models for gelation of short peptides, and
      providing new directions for the future rational design of short peptide
      gelators. 

PMID- 26890361
TI  - Whisking, Sniffing, and the Hippocampal theta-Rhythm: A Tale of Two Oscillators.
AB  - The hippocampus has unique access to neuronal activity across all of the
      neocortex. Yet an unanswered question is how the transfer of information between
      these structures is gated. One hypothesis involves temporal-locking of activity
      in the neocortex with that in the hippocampus. New data from the Matthew E.
      Diamond laboratory shows that the rhythmic neuronal activity that accompanies
      vibrissa-based sensation, in rats, transiently locks to ongoing hippocampal theta
      rhythmic activity during the sensory-gathering epoch of a discrimination task.
      This result complements past studies on the locking of sniffing and the theta
      rhythm as well as the relation of sniffing and whisking. An overarching
      possibility is that the preBotzinger inspiration oscillator, which paces
      whisking, can selectively lock with the theta-rhythm to traffic sensorimotor
      information between the rat's neocortex and hippocampus. 

PMID- 26890362
TI  - Concerted Efforts to Control or Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases: How Much
      Health Will Be Gained?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The London Declaration (2012) was formulated to support and focus the
      control and elimination of ten neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with targets
      for 2020 as formulated by the WHO Roadmap. Five NTDs (lymphatic filariasis,
      onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths and trachoma) are to
      be controlled by preventive chemotherapy (PCT), and four (Chagas' disease, human
      African trypanosomiasis, leprosy and visceral leishmaniasis) by innovative and
      intensified disease management (IDM). Guinea worm, virtually eradicated, is not
      considered here. We aim to estimate the global health impact of meeting these
      targets in terms of averted morbidity, mortality, and disability adjusted life
      years (DALYs). METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 study provides
      prevalence and burden estimates for all nine NTDs in 1990 and 2010, by country,
      age and sex, which were taken as the basis for our calculations. Estimates for
      other years were obtained by interpolating between 1990 (or the start-year of
      large-scale control efforts) and 2010, and further extrapolating until 2030, such
      that the 2020 targets were met. The NTD disease manifestations considered in the
      GBD study were analyzed as either reversible or irreversible. Health impacts were
      assessed by comparing the results of achieving the targets with the
      counterfactual, construed as the health burden had the 1990 (or 2010 if higher)
      situation continued unabated. PRINCIPLE FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS: Our calculations
      show that meeting the targets will lead to about 600 million averted DALYs in the
      period 2011-2030, nearly equally distributed between PCT and IDM-NTDs, with the
      health gain amongst PCT-NTDs mostly (96%) due to averted disability and amongst
      IDM-NTDs largely (95%) from averted mortality. These health gains include about
      150 million averted irreversible disease manifestations (e.g. blindness) and 5
      million averted deaths. Control of soil-transmitted helminths accounts for one
      third of all averted DALYs. We conclude that the projected health impact of the
      London Declaration justifies the required efforts.

PMID- 26890365
TI  - Plagiarism: A Shared Responsibility of All, Current Situation, and Future Actions
      in Yemen.
AB  - As combating plagiarism is a shared responsibility of all, this article focuses
      on presenting the current situation of higher education in Yemen. The critical
      review of four implementable policy documents and interviews revealed the absence
      of research ethics code, research misconduct policy, and institutional policies
      in the country. This led to the presence of several acts of research dishonesty.
      The article concludes with an initiative for necessary future actions in the
      nation.

PMID- 26890364
TI  - Differential Evolutionary Selection and Natural Evolvability Observed in ALT
      Proteins of Human Filarial Parasites.
AB  - The abundant larval transcript (ALT-2) protein is present in all members of the
      Filarioidea, and has been reported as a potential candidate antigen for a subunit
      vaccine against lymphatic filariasis. To assess the potential for vaccine escape
      or heterologous protection, we examined the evolutionary selection acting on ALT
      2. The ratios of nonsynonymous (K(a)) to synonymous (K(s)) mutation frequencies
      (omega) were calculated for the alt-2 genes of the lymphatic filariasis agents
      Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti and the agents of river blindness and
      African eyeworm disease Onchocerca volvulus and Loa loa. Two distinct Bayesian
      models of sequence evolution showed that ALT-2 of W. bancrofti and L. loa were
      under significant (P<0.05; P < 0.001) diversifying selection, while ALT-2 of B.
      malayi and O. volvulus were under neutral to stabilizing selection. Diversifying
      selection as measured by omega values was notably strongest on the region of ALT
      2 encoding the signal peptide of L. loa and was elevated in the variable acidic
      domain of L. loa and W. bancrofti. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the ALT-2
      consensus sequences formed three clades: the first consisting of B. malayi, the
      second consisting of W. bancrofti, and the third containing both O. volvulus and
      L. loa. ALT-2 selection was therefore not predictable by phylogeny or pathology,
      as the two species parasitizing the eye were selected differently, as were the
      two species parasitizing the lymphatic system. The most immunogenic regions of L.
      loa and W. bancrofti ALT-2 sequence as modeled by antigenicity prediction
      analysis did not correspond with elevated levels of diversifying selection, and
      were not selected differently than predicted antigenic epitopes in B. malayi and
      O. volvulus. Measurements of ALT-2 evolvability made by chi2 analysis between
      alleles that were stable (O. volvulus and B. malayi) and those that were under
      diversifying selection (W. bancrofti and L. loa) indicated significant (P<0.01)
      deviations from a normal distribution for both W. bancrofti and L. loa. The
      relationship between evolvability and selection in L. loa followed a second order
      polynomial distribution (R2 = 0.89), indicating that the two factors relate to
      one another in accordance with an additional unknown factor. Taken together,
      these findings indicate discrete evolutionary drivers acting on ALT-2 of the four
      organisms examined, and the described variation has implications for design of
      novel vaccines and diagnostic reagents. Additionally, this represents the first
      mathematical description of evolvability in a naturally occurring setting. 

PMID- 26890363
TI  - Iron and cancer: recent insights.
AB  - Iron is an essential dietary element. However, the ability of iron to cycle
      between oxidized and reduced forms also renders it capable of contributing to
      free radical formation, which can have deleterious effects, including
      promutagenic effects that can potentiate tumor formation. Dysregulation of iron
      metabolism can increase cancer risk and promote tumor growth. Cancer cells
      exhibit an enhanced dependence on iron relative to their normal counterparts, a
      phenomenon we have termed iron addiction. Work conducted in the past few years
      has revealed new cellular processes and mechanisms that deepen our understanding
      of the link between iron and cancer. Control of iron efflux through the combined
      action of ferroportin, an iron efflux pump, and its regulator hepcidin appears to
      play an important role in tumorigenesis. Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent
      cell death involving the production of reactive oxygen species. Specific
      mechanisms involved in ferroptosis, including depletion of glutathione and
      inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4, have been uncovered. Ferritinophagy is a
      newly identified mechanism for degradation of the iron storage protein ferritin.
      Perturbations of mechanisms that control transcripts encoding proteins that
      regulate iron have been observed in cancer cells, including differences in miRNA,
      methylation, and acetylation. These new insights may ultimately provide new
      therapeutic opportunities for treating cancer.

PMID- 26890366
TI  - Does Temporal Integration Occur for Unrecognizable Words in Visual Crowding?
AB  - Visual crowding-the inability to see an object when it is surrounded by flankers
      in the periphery-does not block semantic activation: unrecognizable words due to
      visual crowding still generated robust semantic priming in subsequent lexical
      decision tasks. Based on the previous finding, the current study further explored
      whether unrecognizable crowded words can be temporally integrated into a phrase.
      By showing one word at a time, we presented Chinese four-word idioms with either
      a congruent or incongruent ending word in order to examine whether the three
      preceding crowded words can be temporally integrated to form a semantic context
      so as to affect the processing of the ending word. Results from both behavioral
      (Experiment 1) and Event-Related Potential (Experiment 2 and 3) measures showed
      congruency effect in only the non-crowded condition, which does not support the
      existence of unconscious multi-word integration. Aside from four-word idioms, we
      also found that two-word (modifier + adjective combination) integration-the
      simplest kind of temporal semantic integration-did not occur in visual crowding
      (Experiment 4). Our findings suggest that integration of temporally separated
      words might require conscious awareness, at least under the timing conditions
      tested in the current study. 

PMID- 26890367
TI  - Plant endosomal NHX antiporters: Activity and function.
AB  - The Arabidopsis NHX antiporter family contains eight members that are divided
      into three subclasses: vacuolar, endosomal, and plasma membrane. While the plasma
      membrane and vacuolar NHXs have been studied extensively, the activity and
      function of the endosomal NHXs are beginning to be discovered. AtNHX5 and AtNHX6
      are endosomal Na(+),K(+)/H(+) antiporters that share high sequence similarity.
      They are localized in the Golgi, trans-Golgi network (TGN), and prevacuolear
      compartment (PVC). Studies have shown that AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 mediate K(+) and
      Na(+) transport, and regulate cellular pH homeostasis. Sequence alignment has
      found that AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 contain four conserved acidic amino acid residues in
      transmembrane domains that align with yeast and human NHXs. Three of these
      conserved acidic residues are critical for K(+) transport and seedling growth in
      Arabidopsis. Moreover, studies have shown that the precursors of the seed storage
      proteins are missorted to the apoplast in the nhx5 nhx6 knockout mutant,
      suggesting that AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 regulate protein transport into the vacuole.
      Further analysis found that AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 regulated the binding of VSR to its
      cargoes. Taken together, AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 play an important role in cellular ion
      and pH homeostasis, and are essential for protein transport into the vacuole.

PMID- 26890368
TI  - TNF-alpha and IL-10 polymorphisms increase the risk to hepatocellular carcinoma
      in HCV infected individuals.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The
      risk to develop HCC increases with the severity of liver inflammation and hepatic
      fibrosis. It is believed that a balance between the releases of pro- and anti
      inflammatory cytokines will determine the clinical course of HCV and the risk to
      develop HCC. The inteleukin-10 (IL-10) and the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha) play key roles in the Th1 and Th2 balance during the inflammatory response
      against HCV. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association
      between polymorphisms in TNF-alpha -308 G>A (rs1800629), IL-10 -1082 G>A
      (rs1800896) and -819/-592 (rs1800871/rs1800872) with HCC risk in individuals with
      HCV. The present study evaluated 388 chronic HCV patients. Polymorphisms were
      determined by real-time PCR. Diplotypes associated with low IL-10 production and
      the TNF-alpha GG genotype were significantly associated with HCC occurrence after
      multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = 0.027 and P = 0.029,
      respectively). Additionally, the IL-10 -819 (-592) TT (AA) genotype was
      significantly associated with multiple nodules and HCC severity according to BCLC
      staging (P = 0.044 and P = 0.025, respectively). Patients carrying low production
      haplotypes of IL-10 and the TNF-alpha GG genotype have higher risk to develop
      HCC. J. Med. Virol. 88:1587-1595, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890369
TI  - Novel real-time PCR assays for the specific detection of human infective
      Cryptosporidium species.

PMID- 26890370
TI  - Assessing agreement with multiple raters on correlated kappa statistics.
AB  - In clinical studies, it is often of interest to see the diagnostic agreement
      among clinicians on certain symptoms. Previous work has focused on the agreement
      between two clinicians under two different conditions or the agreement among
      multiple clinicians under one condition. Few have discussed the agreement study
      with a design where multiple clinicians examine the same group of patients under
      two different conditions. In this paper, we use the intraclass kappa statistic
      for assessing nominal scale agreement with such a design. We derive an explicit
      variance formula for the difference of correlated kappa statistics and conduct
      hypothesis testing for the equality of kappa statistics. Simulation studies show
      that the method performs well with realistic sample sizes and may be superior to
      a method that did not take into account the measurement dependence structure. The
      practical utility of the method is illustrated on data from an eosinophilic
      esophagitis (EoE) study. 

PMID- 26890371
TI  - Liver Abscess Caused by Infection with Community-Acquired Klebsiella
      quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae.
AB  - We report a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by community-acquired
      Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae. The infecting isolate had 2
      prominent features of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains: the capsular
      polysaccharide synthesis region for K1 serotype and the integrative and
      conjugative element ICEKp1, which encodes the virulence factors yersiniabactin,
      salmochelin, and RmpA.

PMID- 26890375
TI  - Microglia Response and In Vivo Therapeutic Potential of Methylprednisolone-Loaded
      Dendrimer Nanoparticles in Spinal Cord Injury.

PMID- 26890372
TI  - Validity and Responsiveness of the Trunk Impairment Scale and Trunk Control
      Measurement Scale in Young Individuals with Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - AIM: This study examines construct validity and responsiveness of the Trunk
      Impairment Scale (TIS) and Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) in individuals
      with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Twenty-six individuals with CP (nine males), 8
      29 years (mean age 17.6) with gross motor function corresponding to GMFCS I-IV,
      participated in three weeks of intensive and varied physical training at a health
      sports center. Trunk control was assessed with the TIS (includes three subscales)
      and TCMS (includes three subscales), and gross motor function with the Gross
      Motor Function Measure 66 item set (GMFM-66-IS), before and after the training
      period. The GMFM-66-IS was used as a comparison measure. RESULTS: The median
      score of the TCMS subscale dynamic sitting balance, reaching (DSB-R), increased
      from 6 to 7 (range: 1-10; p = .031), and there was a median change of 3 points in
      GMFM-66-IS score (p = .036). There were no significant changes in the TIS. The
      correlations (Spearman's rho), between the TIS, TCMS, and the GMFM-66-IS (pre
      scores), ranged between 0.57 and 0.75 (p< .003). Correlations between change
      scores (pre- and post-scores) were low, and not statistically significant.
      However, the TCMS DSB-R change score correlated significantly with hours spent on
      "trunk-targeted training" like paddling/rowing (rho = 0.66; p = .003) and
      horseback riding (rho = 0.54; p = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support
      construct validity of the TIS and TCMS in young individuals with CP, whereas
      responsiveness could not be documented. However, the correlations between the
      TCMS DSB-R change score and hours spent on ''trunk-targeted training'' suggest
      that this subscale may have the potential to be used in intervention studies.

PMID- 26890379
TI  - Suicidality among immigrants: Application of the interpersonal-psychological
      theory.
AB  - Immigrants constitute a significant percentage of the total population living in
      the United States; however, there is a paucity of research unique to suicidality
      among immigrants. The present article examines the applicability of the three
      variables of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior-acquired
      capability for suicide, sense of thwarted belongingness, and perceived
      burdensomeness-to conceptualize, assess, and treat suicidality among immigrants.
      Risk and protective factors and mechanisms are discussed in the context of 2 case
      studies and immigrant paradox. Clinical implications include assessment and
      treatment of immigrant-specific experiences. Obstacles to treatment and future
      research directions are presented.

PMID- 26890381
TI  - Joint model for left-censored longitudinal data, recurrent events and terminal
      event: Predictive abilities of tumor burden for cancer evolution with application
      to the FFCD 2000-05 trial.
AB  - In oncology, the international WHO and RECIST criteria have allowed the
      standardization of tumor response evaluation in order to identify the time of
      disease progression. These semi-quantitative measurements are often used as
      endpoints in phase II and phase III trials to study the efficacy of new
      therapies. However, through categorization of the continuous tumor size,
      information can be lost and they can be challenged by recently developed methods
      of modeling biomarkers in a longitudinal way. Thus, it is of interest to compare
      the predictive ability of cancer progressions based on categorical criteria and
      quantitative measures of tumor size (left-censored due to detection limit
      problems) and/or appearance of new lesions on overall survival. We propose a
      joint model for a simultaneous analysis of three types of data: a longitudinal
      marker, recurrent events, and a terminal event. The model allows to determine in
      a randomized clinical trial on which particular component treatment acts mostly.
      A simulation study is performed and shows that the proposed trivariate model is
      appropriate for practical use. We propose statistical tools that evaluate
      predictive accuracy for joint models to compare our model to models based on
      categorical criteria and their components. We apply the model to a randomized
      phase III clinical trial of metastatic colorectal cancer, conducted by the
      Federation Francophone de Cancerologie Digestive (FFCD 2000-05 trial), which
      assigned 410 patients to two therapeutic strategies with multiple successive
      chemotherapy regimens.

PMID- 26890380
TI  - Evidence for Inbreeding and Genetic Differentiation among Geographic Populations
      of the Saprophytic Mushroom Trogia venenata from Southwestern China.
AB  - During the past 40 years, more than 400 Sudden Unexplained Deaths (SUDs) have
      occurred in Yunnan, southwestern China. Epidemiological and toxicological
      analyses suggested that a newly discovered mushroom called Trogia venenata was
      the leading culprit for SUDs. At present, relatively little is known about the
      genetics and natural history of this mushroom. In this study, we analyzed the
      sequence variation at four DNA fragments among 232 fruiting bodies of T. venenata
      collected from seven locations. Our ITS sequence analyses confirmed that all the
      isolates belonged to the same species. The widespread presence of sequence
      heterozygosity within many strains at each of three protein-coding genes
      suggested that the fruiting bodies were diploid, dikaryotic or heterokaryotic.
      Within individual geographic populations, we found significant deviations of
      genotype frequencies from Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with the overall observed
      heterozygosity lower than that expected under random mating, consistent with
      prevalent inbreeding within local populations. The geographic populations were
      overall genetically differentiated. Interestingly, while a positive correlation
      was found between population genetic distance and geographic distance, there was
      little correlation between genetic distance and barium concentration difference
      for the geographic populations. Our results suggest frequent inbreeding,
      geographic structuring, and limited gene flow among geographic populations of T.
      venenata from southwestern China. 

PMID- 26890382
TI  - Perioperative management of penile transplantation.

PMID- 26890383
TI  - Polyelectrolytes to produce nanosized polydopamine.
AB  - "Polydopamine" (PDA) is the oxidation product of dopamine and can be obtained as
      thin films covering the surface of all kinds of known materials and
      simultaneously as insoluble and useless precipitates from dopamine solutions in
      the presence of appropriate oxidants. The valorization of such precipitates to
      obtain stable suspensions of functional nanomaterials is highly desirable owing
      to the chemical and optical properties of PDA. We show that a vast repertoire of
      polyelectrolytes polycations as well as polyanions, allow to control the size of
      PDA particles in the 10-100 nm size range. Simultaneously to the production of
      smaller nanoparticles, a progressive inhibition of PDA deposition on the surface
      of quartz plates (as well as on the surface of the reaction vessel) is found as
      the concentration of the polyelectrolytes is increased in the dopamine solution.
      The mechanism of size control-inhibition of film deposition is investigated in
      the particular case of poly(allylamine) but remains not understood in the case of
      polyanions.

PMID- 26890384
TI  - Green synthesis of Pd nanoparticles mediated by Euphorbia thymifolia L. leaf
      extract: Catalytic activity for cyanation of aryl iodides under ligand-free
      conditions.
AB  - Pd nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using aqueous extract of leaves of
      Euphorbia thymifolia L., a non-toxic ecofriendly material. The catalytic activity
      of the Pd NPs was investigated in the cyanation of aryl iodides using K4Fe(CN)6
      as the cyanating agent under ligand-free conditions. The nitriles were obtained
      in good to excellent yield and the catalyst can be recovered and reused for five
      times without significant loss of catalytic activity. 

PMID- 26890385
TI  - Foam stabilisation using surfactant exfoliated graphene.
AB  - Liquid-air foams have been stabilised using a suspension of graphene particles at
      very low particle loadings. The suspension was prepared through the liquid phase
      exfoliation of graphite in the presence of the non-ionic tri-block surfactant,
      Pluronic(r) F108. The graphene particles possess an extremely high aspect ratio,
      with lateral dimensions of between 0.1 and 1.3 MUm as evidenced by TEM imaging.
      The particles were shown to exhibit a number of other properties known to favour
      stabilisation of foam structures. Particle surface activity was confirmed through
      surface tension measurements, suggesting the particles favour adsorption at the
      air-water interface. The evolution of bubble size distributions over time
      indicated the presence of particles yielded improvements to foam stability due to
      a reduction in disproportionation. Foam stability measurements showed a non
      linear relationship between foam half-life and graphene concentration, indicative
      of the rate at which particles adsorb at bubble surfaces. The wettability of the
      graphene particles was altered upon addition of alkali metal chlorides, with the
      stability of the foams being enhanced according to the series
      Na(+)>Li(+)>K(+)>Cs(+). This effect is indicative of the relative hydration
      capacity of each salt with respect to the surfactant, which is adsorbed along the
      graphene plane as a result of the exfoliation process. Thus, surfactant
      exfoliated graphene particles exhibit a number of different features that
      demonstrate efficient application of high-aspect ratio particles in the
      customisation and enhancement of foams.

PMID- 26890386
TI  - Influence of pore size distribution on the adsorption of phenol on PET-based
      activated carbons.
AB  - The role of pore size distribution in the adsorption of phenol in aqueous
      solutions on polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based activated carbons (ACs) has
      been analyzed. The ACs were prepared from PET and mixtures of PET with coal-tar
      pitch (CTP) by means of carbonization and subsequent steam and carbon dioxide
      activation at 850 and 950  degrees C, respectively. The resultant ACs were
      characterized on the basis of similarities in their surface chemical features and
      differences in their micropore size distributions. The adsorption of phenol was
      carried out in static conditions at ambient temperature. The pseudo-second order
      kinetic model and Langmuir model were found to fit the experimental data very
      well. The different adsorption capacities of the ACs towards phenol were
      attributed to differences in their micropore size distributions. Adsorption
      capacity was favoured by the volume of pores with a size smaller than 1.4 nm; but
      restricted by pores smaller than 0.8 nm.

PMID- 26890387
TI  - Controlling particle size in the Stober process and incorporation of calcium.
AB  - The Stober process is commonly used for synthesising spherical silica particles.
      This article reports the first comprehensive study of how the process variables
      can be used to obtain monodispersed particles of specific size. The modal
      particle size could be selected within in the range 20-500 nm. There is great
      therapeutic potential for bioactive glass nanoparticles, as they can be
      internalised within cells and perform sustained delivery of active ions.
      Biodegradable bioactive glass nanoparticles are also used in nanocomposites.
      Modification of the Stober process so that the particles can contain cations such
      as calcium, whilst maintaining monodispersity, is desirable. Here, whilst calcium
      incorporation is achieved, with a homogenous distribution, careful
      characterisation shows that much of the calcium is not incorporated. A maximum of
      10 mol% CaO can be achieved and previous reports are likely to have overestimated
      the amount of calcium incorporated.

PMID- 26890388
TI  - "The Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Anti-Depressive Treatment is
      Falling: A Meta-Analysis": Correction to Johnsen and Friborg (2015).
AB  - Reports an error in "The effects of cognitive behavioral therapy as an anti
      depressive treatment is falling: A meta-analysis" by Tom J. Johnsen and Oddgeir
      Friborg (Psychological Bulletin, 2015[Jul], Vol 141[4], 747-768). There are
      several numerical errors in the flowchart summarizing the selection and exclusion
      of studies as contained in Figure 1. The correct number of titles not further
      investigated should be 27,381; abstracts rejected should be 1,181; Excluded,
      different treatment form should be (94). The errors do not affect the results or
      conclusions of the study as the final number of meta-analysable studies are the
      same as originally reported. (The following abstract of the original article
      appeared in record 2015-20361-001.) A meta-analysis examining temporal changes
      (time trends) in the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment
      for unipolar depression was conducted. A comprehensive search of psychotherapy
      trials yielded 70 eligible studies from 1977 to 2014. Effect sizes (ES) were
      quantified as Hedge's g based on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the
      Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Rates of remission were also
      registered. The publication year of each study was examined as a linear
      metaregression predictor of ES, and as part of a 2-way interaction with other
      moderators (Year * Moderator). The average ES of the BDI was 1.58 (95% CI [1.43,
      1.74]), and 1.69 for the HRSD (95% CI [1.48, 1.89]). Subgroup analyses revealed
      that women profited more from therapy than did men (p < .05). Experienced
      psychologists (g = 1.55) achieved better results (p < .01) than less experienced
      student therapists (g = 0.98). The metaregressions examining the temporal trends
      indicated that the effects of CBT have declined linearly and steadily since its
      introduction, as measured by patients' self-reports (the BDI, p < .001),
      clinicians' ratings (the HRSD, p < .01) and rates of remission (p < .01).
      Subgroup analyses confirmed that the declining trend was present in both within
      group (pre/post) designs (p < .01) and controlled trial designs (p = .02). Thus,
      modern CBT clinical trials seemingly provided less relief from depressive
      symptoms as compared with the seminal trials. Potential causes and possible
      implications for future studies are discussed.

PMID- 26890389
TI  - Cerebrovascular disease in children with HIV-1 infection.
AB  - An estimated 3.2 million children worldwide have human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in prolonged survival,
      leading to an increase in complications previously recognized in adults. Children
      with HIV infection have increased risk of cerebrovascular disease from multiple
      aetiologies including HIV-associated vasculopathy, opportunistic vasculitis,
      cardioembolism or coagulopathy, all of which may be secondary to the infection.
      Prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in HIV-infected children is underestimated
      because of limited neuroimaging in low and middle income countries, silent events
      without overt motor manifestations, and mislabeling as HIV encephalopathy for non
      motor manifestations such as behavioural and cognitive difficulties. No
      management guidelines for cerebrovascular disease in HIV-infected children exist
      but common practices target risk factors for stroke in low and middle income
      countries. Where capacity permits, screening for opportunistic infections,
      vasculitis, coagulopathy and cardioembolism is important. Optimising virological
      suppression, correction of anaemia, control of seizures and aspirin prophylaxis
      are management priorities. Neurosurgical interventions may have a role.

PMID- 26890390
TI  - The use of the impedance measurements to distinguish between fresh and frozen
      thawed chicken breast muscle.
AB  - An impedance system was built to differentiate fresh chicken breasts from those
      that had been frozen and thawed. Inserting needle electrode pairs of the
      detecting probe aligned with the longitudinal direction of muscle myofibers (PL)
      gave more satisfactory results. Learning vector quantization neural network
      (LVQNN) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were employed to
      acquire the prediction accuracy. The results demonstrated that the model using
      LVQNN achieved a satisfactory prediction accuracy, with a discrimination accuracy
      for fresh breasts of 100%. Additionally, the recognition results for a single
      frozen-thawed cycle were greater than 90%, and for two cycles were greater than
      88%. The values obtained from PLS-DA were somewhat lower than for LVQNN, being
      100% for fresh samples, in excess of 90% for single frozen-thawed cycle and more
      than 84% for those that had been multiple frozen-thawed. In conclusion, these
      results showed that the impedance system is a simple and effective application
      for the discrimination of fresh chicken breasts from frozen-thawed ones. 

PMID- 26890391
TI  - Effect of different aging temperatures prior to freezing on meat quality
      attributes of frozen/thawed lamb loins.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different aging
      temperatures prior to freezing on quality attributes of frozen/thawed lamb loins.
      The loins (M. longissimus lumborum; n=32) were randomly allocated to one of the
      four different aging/freezing treatments: aged only (-1.5 degrees C for 14 days)
      and aged (-1.5 degrees C for 14 days, 3 degrees C for 8 days, or 7 degrees C for
      8days) then frozen/thawed loins. The loins aged at elevated temperatures (3
      degrees C or 7 degrees C) for 8 days had equivalent shear force, protein
      degradation and purge loss values compared to the loins aged at -1.5 degrees C
      for 14 days (P>0.05). However, significantly higher drip loss and less color
      stability were observed in the loins with increasing aging temperatures compared
      to the loins aged at -1.5 degrees C. These results suggest that application of
      elevated aging temperatures could shorten required aging periods prior to
      freezing, while not adversely affecting tenderness and purge loss of
      frozen/thawed meat.

PMID- 26890392
TI  - Mitochondrial abundance and efficiency contribute to lean color of dark cutting
      beef.
AB  - Beef carcasses exhibiting four levels of dark cutting severity (DCS): Severe,
      Moderate, Mild, and Shady were compared to Control carcasses to investigate
      biochemical traits contributing to the dark cutting condition. Color attributes
      of Longissimus lumborum (LL) were measured after grading and during simulated
      retail display. Mitochondrial abundance and efficiency, bloomed oxymyoglobin,
      reducing ability, glycolytic potential, myoglobin concentration, and protein
      solubility and oxidation were determined. Glycolytic potential and lactate
      concentrations decreased (P<0.05) as DCS increased. Residual glycogen was greater
      (P<0.05) in steaks from Control carcasses compared to DCS classes. Generally, as
      DCS increased, LL steaks were darker and less red in color (P<0.05). Increased
      (P<0.05) oxygen consumption and reducing ability coincided with greater myoglobin
      concentration and greater abundance of less efficient mitochondria as DCS
      increased (P<0.05). These data suggest the dark cutting condition is associated
      with greater oxidative metabolism coupled with less efficient mitochondria
      resulting in depletion of glycogen during stress. 

PMID- 26890393
TI  - The effect of skatole and androstenone on consumer response towards fresh pork
      from m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum and m. semimembranosus.
AB  - Consumer liking was assessed for boneless chops (m. longissimus thoracis et
      lumborum) and schnitzels (m. semimembranosus) from castrates and entire male pigs
      with an androstenone content of up to 9.4 ppm and a skatole content of up to 0.92
      ppm in the back fat. Skatole affected both odour and flavour as assessed by
      trained sensory panellists (P<0.05-P<0.001), while androstenone particularly
      affected flavour (P<0.01-P<0.001). Furthermore, the skatole compound seemed to be
      more important in explaining the presence of boar taint in the chops, while
      androstenone seemed to be more important for the schnitzels. For the chops,
      tenderness was the most important attribute for consumer liking independently of
      both the androstenone and skatole contents (P<0.001). Furthermore, increasing
      contents of both androstenone (P=0.05) and skatole (P=0.04) resulted in a
      decreased liking of the chops. Skatole was the most important factor regarding
      consumer response towards the schnitzels (P=0.03). The very low liking scores for
      both chops and schnitzels were mainly attributable to the androstenone content.

PMID- 26890394
TI  - Synthesis, Photophysical, and Biological Evaluation of Sulfated Polyglycerol
      Dendronized Perylenebisimides (PBIs)--A Promising Platform for Anti-Inflammatory
      Theranostic Agents?
AB  - A set of four water-soluble perylene bisimides (PBI) based on sulfated
      polyglycerol (PGS) dendrons were developed, their photophysical properties
      determined via UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and their performance as
      possible anti-inflammatory agents evaluated via biological in vitro studies. It
      could be shown that in contrast to charge neutral PG-PBIs the introduction of the
      additional electrostatic repulsion forces leads to a decrease in the dendron
      generation necessary for aggregation suppression, allowing the preparation of
      PBIs with fluorescence quantum yields of >95% with a considerable decreased
      synthetic effort. Furthermore, the values determined for L-selectin binding down
      to the nanomolar range, their limited impact on blood coagulation, and their
      minor activation of the complement system renders these systems ideal for anti
      inflammatory purposes. 

PMID- 26890395
TI  - Quantitative analysis of iontophoretic drug delivery from micropipettes.
AB  - Microiontophoresis is a drug delivery method in which an electric current is used
      to eject molecular species from a micropipette. It has been primarily utilized
      for neurochemical investigations, but is limited due to difficulty controlling
      and determining the ejected quantity. Consequently the concentration of an
      ejected species and the extent of the affected region are relegated to various
      methods of approximation. To address this, we investigated the principles
      underlying ejection rates and examined the concentration distribution in
      microiontophoresis using a combination of electrochemical, chromatographic, and
      fluorescence-based approaches. This involved a principal focus on how the
      iontophoretic barrel solution affects ejection characteristics. The ion ejection
      rate displayed a direct correspondence to the ionic mole fraction, regardless of
      the ejection current polarity. In contrast, neutral molecules are ejected by
      electroosmotic flow (EOF) at a rate proportional to the barrel solution
      concentration. Furthermore, the presence of EOF was observed from barrels
      containing high ionic strength solutions. In practice, use of a retaining current
      draws extracellular ions into the barrel and will alter the barrel solution
      composition. Even in the absence of a retaining current, diffusional exchange at
      the barrel tip will occur. Thus behavior of successive ejections may slightly
      differ. To account for this, electrochemical or fluorescence markers can be
      incorporated into the barrel solution in order to compare ejection quantities.
      These may also be used to provide an estimate of the ejected amount and
      distribution provided accurate use of calibration procedures. 

PMID- 26890397
TI  - Genomics Politics through Space and Time: The Case of Bioinformatics in Brazil.
AB  - The emergence of scientific disciplines, as well as the policies aimed to steer
      them, have geographical implications. This becomes visible in areas such as
      genomics and related fields. In this paper, the relation between scientific
      evolution, political decisions and geographical configuration is studied. The
      recent formation of bioinformatics in Brazil is focused on. The study involves an
      analysis of data collected on the website of CNPq, a funding agency attached to
      the Ministry of Science and Technology. Furthermore, I conducted fieldwork in
      four cities, interviewing 15 bioinformaticians. In the history of Brazilian
      bioinformatics, three periods can be identified. In the first period (1900-1996),
      bioinformatics was actually absent, but biology research groups were formed which
      would subsequently explore bioinformatics. The second period (1997-2006) was
      marked by the emergence of the discipline and geographical concentration of major
      research groups in the southern part of Brazil. A third period can be pointed to
      (2007-2014), in which political choices have turned geographical diffusion and
      institutional equality into a national target. As a consequence of the recent
      shifts, genomics and bioinformatics researchers have been involved in a debate,
      some defending the existence of few specialized research and sequencing
      platforms, whereas others welcoming the constitution of a scientific scenario
      based on decentralized platforms. I defend an intermediate solution, whereby some
      places would be selected to be genomics hubs. This would fit the regional
      diversity of this vast country, in addition to tackling the scientific weaknesses
      of the northern area.

PMID- 26890398
TI  - A meta-review of school-based disaster interventions for child and adolescent
      survivors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents are among the most vulnerable groups
      affected by natural and man-made disaster. To better understand research and
      practice concerning mental health and psychosocial support efforts in
      humanitarian settings, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of all
      intervention programmes within the past decade that universally targeted children
      and adolescents who were exposed to a natural and/or man-made disaster. METHODS:
      We searched PubMed, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library and CINAHL for mental health and
      psychosocial interventions (MHPSS) involving children and adolescents. A total of
      11 studies, 4 from natural disasters and 7 from conflict-affected areas met the
      inclusion criteria. Effect sizes were calculated using a random effects model for
      studies in post-natural disaster and war/terrorist-affected settings separately.
      RESULTS: The weighted mean effect sizes for interventions in both settings were
      statistically significant: -0.308, 95% CI=-0.54- -0.07, z=-2.58, p=0.010 after a
      natural disaster, and -0.514, 95% CI=-0.80 to -0.23, z=-3.57, p<0.001 in conflict
      areas. This indicates that MHPSS interventions in both disaster settings resulted
      in a reduction in PTSD symptoms compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: This review
      suggests that school-based, universal programmes that are conducted by teachers
      or local paraprofessionals are effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in children
      and adolescents. The few studies meeting the inclusion criteria of this study
      demonstrate the need for further expansion of statistical methods and study
      designs to test for the effects of interventions in challenging humanitarian
      settings.

PMID- 26890396
TI  - Differentially methylated genes and androgen receptor re-expression in small cell
      prostate carcinomas.
AB  - Small cell prostate carcinoma (SCPC) morphology is rare at initial diagnosis but
      often emerges during prostate cancer progression and portends a dismal prognosis.
      It does not express androgen receptor (AR) or respond to hormonal therapies.
      Clinically applicable markers for its early detection and treatment with
      effective chemotherapy are needed. Our studies in patient tumor-derived
      xenografts (PDX) revealed that AR-negative SCPC (AR(-)SCPC) expresses neural
      development genes instead of the prostate luminal epithelial genes characteristic
      of AR-positive castration-resistant adenocarcinomas (AR(+)ADENO). We hypothesized
      that the differences in cellular lineage programs are reflected in distinct
      epigenetic profiles. To address this hypothesis, we compared the DNA methylation
      profiles of AR(-) and AR(+) PDX using methylated CpG island amplification and
      microarray (MCAM) analysis and identified a set of differentially methylated
      promoters, validated in PDX and corresponding donor patient samples. We used the
      Illumina 450K platform to examine additional regions of the genome and the
      correlation between the DNA methylation profiles of the PDX and their
      corresponding patient tumors. Struck by the low frequency of AR promoter
      methylation in the AR(-)SCPC, we investigated this region's specific histone
      modification patterns by chromatin immunoprecipitation. We found that the AR
      promoter was enriched in silencing histone modifications (H3K27me3 and H3K9me2)
      and that EZH2 inhibition with 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) resulted in AR
      expression and growth inhibition in AR(-)SCPC cell lines. We conclude that the
      epigenome of AR(-) is distinct from that of AR(+) castration-resistant prostate
      carcinomas, and that the AR(-) phenotype can be reversed with epigenetic drugs.

PMID- 26890400
TI  - A validational study of the Ironson-Woods Spirituality/Religiousness Index in
      Nigerian adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The mental health impact of spirituality/religiousness is widely
      recognised and studied in Western countries, but less so in developing nations,
      partly because of lack of valid instruments for such studies. OBJECTIVES: The
      objective of the study was to determine the convergent validity of the Ironson
      Woods Spirituality/Religiousness Index (IWSRI) in school attending Nigerian
      adolescents, and any relationship between spirituality/religiousness and mental
      health status. METHODS: The 25-item IWSRI, the "Age Universal" Religious
      Orientation Scale (ROS) and the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were
      administered to 300 randomly selected final year senior secondary students, aged
      16 to 19 years, in Benin City. Responses were analysed using SPSS version 16 to
      determine the internal consistency for reliability, and correlation scores for
      convergent validity, of the IWSRI. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for the total IWSRI
      scale was 0.91; and for each of the two spirituality and two religiousness
      subscales of the IWSRI, these were quite high as well. The correlation of IWSRI
      with ROS intrinsic (r=0.47, p=0.00) and extrinsic personal religiosity (r=0.22,
      p=0.00) were significant. There was a significant difference in the IWSRI mean
      scores of GHQ cases and non-cases (t=4.30, p=0.00). CONCLUSION: IWSRI has
      acceptable psychometric properties, and therefore applicable in measuring
      spirituality and religiousness in Nigerian adolescents.

PMID- 26890399
TI  - "Wine you get every day, but a child you can't replace": The perceived impact of
      parental drinking on child outcomes in a South African township.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study explored the perceived impact of parental drinking on
      children in a South African township where alcohol abuse is prevalent and high
      levels of existing poverty and violence may exacerbate potential consequences on
      children. METHOD: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 92 male and
      female participants recruited from alcohol-serving venues in Cape Town, South
      Africa. RESULTS: Grounded theory analyses revealed three major aspects of
      parental drinking - intoxication, venue attendance and expenditures on alcohol -
      which participants linked to negative proximal outcomes (e.g., child neglect,
      abuse and exposure to alcohol culture) and long-term outcomes (e.g., fractured
      parent-child relationships and problematic youth behaviours). In addition,
      preliminary accounts from some participants suggested that parents may experience
      tensions between desires to reduce drinking for child-related reasons and complex
      factors maintaining their drinking behaviour, including the use of alcohol to
      cope with stressors and trauma. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel insights
      into the consequences and motivations of parental drinking in a high-risk
      context. Contextual risks (e.g., poverty and violence) that exacerbate the impact
      of parental drinking on children may be the same factors that continue to shape
      intergenerational alcohol use in this community. Findings highlight opportunities
      for further research and interventions to support child protection in South
      Africa.

PMID- 26890401
TI  - An expressive art group intervention for sexually abused adolescent females.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: South Africa has a high prevalence of sexual abuse of children and
      adolescents. Among the numerous adverse consequences of sexual abuse is the
      difficulty survivors may experience in developing positive self-esteem and
      maintaining positive relationships. In a low resource setting, an expressive art
      group intervention tailored to female adolescents who have been sexually abused
      was implemented and its value explored. METHOD: Six adolescents met for 10 weekly
      sessions which included expressive art activities, followed by reflective group
      discussions. The value of the intervention was explored using a qualitative
      research design with limited quantitative data. RESULTS: The participants
      reported that the group intervention relieved their sense of isolation and
      contributed to their ability to express emotions and develop self-awareness.
      Participants reported more positive self-esteem and improved interpersonal
      closeness. The intervention helped participants to find new meaning in painful
      experiences which contributed to personal growth. CONCLUSIONS: The group
      dynamics, expressive art activities and reflective group discussions contributed
      to the therapeutic value of the intervention. The expressive art group
      intervention showed value as an alternative therapeutic strategy in a low
      resource setting for female adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse. An
      experimental design could follow to confirm the effectiveness of the
      intervention.

PMID- 26890402
TI  - Prodromal psychotic symptoms and psychological distress among secondary school
      students in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prodromal
      psychotic symptoms and psychological distress among Nigerian adolescents. METHOD:
      Students (n=508) were randomly selected from secondary schools in Abeokuta,
      Nigeria. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief
      Version (PQ-B) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were
      administered to each student. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 15.4
      years (SD 1.3), with most (63%) being female. More than half (55.3%) reported
      having had a lifetime experience of major life event (20.9% in the preceding 6
      months) while 13.9% had experienced bullying or abuse (5.1% in the preceding 6
      months). The prevalence of prodromal symptoms was 20.9% (95% CI 0.174-0.244).
      Abnormal scores in emotional and conduct problems were seen in 11.8% and 6%
      respectively, while 7.3% had abnormal scores in each of the hyperactivity and
      peer problems subscales of the SDQ. Abnormality in prosocial behaviour was found
      in 1.8% of students, with overall abnormality in 4.9%. Regression analysis showed
      that prodromal symptoms were predicted by female sex, lifetime and 6 month
      history of major life event, and lifetime and 6 month history of bullying or
      abuse. Prodromal symptoms were also predicted by higher total SDQ scores and
      higher scores in all domains of psychological distress except the prosocial
      domain. CONCLUSION: The study showed a relationship between reported prodromal
      symptoms and the occurrence of psychological distress. It also showed that early
      childhood trauma may be a predisposing factor to the early stages of development
      of psychosis, with female children being especially prone in the years of
      adolescence.

PMID- 26890404
TI  - Anion Sensors as Logic Gates: A Close Encounter?
AB  - Computers have become smarter, smaller, and more efficient due to the downscaling
      of silicon-based components. Top-down miniaturisation of silicon-based computer
      components is fast reaching its limitations because of physical constraints and
      economical non-feasibility. Therefore, the possibility of a bottom-up approach
      that uses molecules to build nano-sized devices has been initiated. As a result,
      molecular logic gates based on chemical inputs and measurable optical outputs
      have captured significant attention very recently. In addition, it would be
      interesting if such molecular logic gates could be developed by making use of ion
      sensors, which can give significantly sensitive output information. This review
      provides a brief introduction to anion receptors, molecular logic gates, a
      comprehensive review on describing recent advances and progress on development of
      ion receptors for molecular logic gates, and a brief idea about the application
      of molecular logic gates. 

PMID- 26890405
TI  - Different preferences between United States and European vitreoretinal surgeons:
      personal observations.
AB  - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article describes the author's personal observations on
      different preferences in surgical technique and surgical setting between
      vitreoretinal specialists in the USA and Europe. These impressions, although
      clearly subjective, derive from the author's extensive experience with, and
      connection to, many vitreoretinal centers and surgeons around the world in a wide
      variety of venues. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the results of surgery and the
      availability of information and instrumentation are quite comparable on both
      sides, vitreoretinal surgeons in the USA are more likely to use local anesthesia,
      an outpatient setting, perform phakic vitrectomy, use gas as opposed to oil as a
      tamponade, use pneumatic retinopexy for certain cases, place an anterior chamber
      lens for secondary implantation, and perform intravitreal injections in the
      office or exam room. In addition, European colleagues more commonly perform
      combined phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation at the time of
      vitrectomy, use perfluorochemicals during retinal detachment surgery, and utilize
      heavy silicone oils. SUMMARY: These observations suggest that many factors, both
      medical and nonmedical, influence vitreoretinal surgeons and result in differing
      preferences for surgical techniques and surgical setting.

PMID- 26890406
TI  - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Viruses Reintroduced into South Korea
      by Migratory Waterfowl, 2014-2015.
AB  - Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses were isolated from migratory
      waterfowl in South Korea during fall 2014-winter 2015, a recurrence after initial
      introduction in winter 2014. These reappeared viruses were phylogenetically
      distinct from isolates circulating in poultry farms in South Korea.

PMID- 26890407
TI  - Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking and Susceptibility to Cigarette Smoking Among Young
      Adults in the United States, 2012-2013.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Waterpipe tobacco smoking, also known as hookah and shisha, has
      surged in popularity among young people in the United States. Waterpipe is also
      increasingly becoming the first tobacco product that young people try. Given the
      limited access to and limited portability of waterpipes, waterpipe smokers who
      become more nicotine dependent over time may be more likely to turn to
      cigarettes. This study examined the relationship between waterpipe tobacco
      smoking and susceptibility to cigarette smoking among young adults in the United
      States. METHODS: Using data from the 2012-2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a
      nationally representative sample of US adults, we reported rates of current
      waterpipe smoking and susceptibility to cigarette smoking by demographic
      characteristics and by use of other tobacco products among survey participants
      aged 18 to 24 years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the
      relationship between current waterpipe smoking and susceptibility to cigarette
      smoking, defined as the lack of a firm intention not to smoke soon or within the
      next year. RESULTS: Of 2,528 young adults who had never established cigarette
      smoking, 15.7% (n = 398) reported being waterpipe smokers (every day or some days
      [n = 97; 3.8%] or rarely [n = 301; 11.9%]); 44.2% (176/398) of waterpipe smokers
      reported being susceptible to cigarette smoking. Those who smoked waterpipe
      rarely were 2.3 times as susceptible to cigarette smoking as those who were not
      current waterpipe smokers (OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4). CONCLUSION: Current
      waterpipe smoking is associated with susceptibility to cigarette smoking among
      young adults in the United States. Longitudinal studies are needed to demonstrate
      causality between waterpipe smoking and initiation of cigarette smoking.

PMID- 26890408
TI  - How to Conduct Store Observations of Tobacco Marketing and Products.
AB  - As tobacco companies continue to heavily market their products at the point of
      sale, tobacco control groups seek strategies to combat the negative effects of
      this marketing. Store observations, which have been widely used by researchers
      and practitioners alike, are an excellent surveillance tool. This article
      provides a guide for public health practitioners interested in working in the
      tobacco retail environment by detailing the steps involved in conducting store
      observations of tobacco marketing and products including 1) obtaining tobacco
      product retailer lists, 2) creating measures, 3) selecting a mode of data
      collection, 4) training data collectors, and 5) analyzing data. We also highlight
      issues that may arise while in the field and provide information on disseminating
      results of store observations, including the potential policy implications. 

PMID- 26890409
TI  - Legal Regulation of Sodium Consumption to Reduce Chronic Conditions.
AB  - In the United States, tens of thousands of Americans die each year of heart
      disease, stroke, or other chronic conditions tied to hypertension from long-term
      overconsumption of sodium compounds. Major strides to lower dietary sodium have
      been made over decades, but the goal of reducing Americans' daily consumption is
      elusive. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been urged to consider
      stronger regulatory limits on sodium, especially in processed and prepared foods.
      Still, FDA categorizes salt (and many other sodium compounds) as "generally
      recognized as safe," meaning they can be added to foods when ingested in
      reasonable amounts. Legal reforms or actions at each level of government offer
      traditional and new routes to improving chronic disease outcomes. However, using
      law as a public health tool must be assessed carefully, given potential trade
      offs and unproven efficacy. 

PMID- 26890410
TI  - Cryopreservation of Endothelial Cells in Various Cryoprotective Agents and Media 
      Vitrification versus Slow Freezing Methods.
AB  - Vitrification of endothelial cells (MHECT-5) has not previously been compared
      with controlled slow freezing methods under standardized conditions. To identify
      the best cryopreservation technique, we evaluated vitrification and standardized
      controlled-rate -1 degrees C/minute cell freezing in a -80 degrees C freezer and
      tested four cryoprotective agents (CPA), namely dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO),
      ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), and glycerol (GLY), and two media,
      namely Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium Ham's F-12 (DMEM)and K+-modified TiProtec
      (K+TiP), which is a high-potassium-containing medium. Numbers of viable cells in
      proliferation were evaluated by the CellTiter 96(r) AQueous One Solution Cell
      Proliferation Assay (Promega Corporation, Mannheim, Germany). To detect the exact
      frozen cell number per cryo vial, DNA content was measured by using Hoechst 33258
      dye prior to analysis. Thus, results could be evaluated unconstrained by absolute
      cell number. Thawed cells were cultured in 25 cm2 cell culture flasks to
      confluence and examined daily by phase contrast imaging. With regard to cell
      recovery immediately after thawing, DMSO was the most suitable CPA combined with
      K+TiP in vitrification (99 +/-0.5%) and with DMEM in slow freezing (92 +/-1.6%).
      The most viable cells in proliferation after three days of culture were obtained
      in cells vitrificated by using GLY with K+TiP (308 +/-34%) and PG with DMEM in
      slow freezing (280 +/-27%). 

PMID- 26890411
TI  - Small Players Ruling the Hard Game: siRNA in Bone Regeneration.
AB  - Silencing gene expression through a sequence-specific manner can be achieved by
      small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The discovery of this process has opened the
      doors to the development of siRNA therapeutics. Although several preclinical and
      clinical studies have shown great promise in the treatment of neurological
      disorders, cancers, dominant disorders, and viral infections with siRNA, siRNA
      therapy is still gaining ground in musculoskeletal tissue repair and bone
      regeneration. Here we present a comprehensive review of the literature to
      summarize different siRNA delivery strategies utilized to enhance bone
      regeneration. With advancement in understanding the targetable biological
      pathways involved in bone regeneration and also the rapid progress in siRNA
      technologies, application of siRNA for bone regeneration has great therapeutic
      potential. High rates of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, and their
      inevitable consequences, impose a huge financial burden on individuals and
      healthcare systems worldwide.

PMID- 26890412
TI  - Driver's obesity and road crash risks in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We assessed obesity trends in U.S. drivers involved in fatal crashes
      since 1999 and distinguished whether crash risk factors were different between
      obese and nonobese drivers. METHODS: We included only drivers of passenger cars
      involved in fatal traffic crashes between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2012.
      Obesity was classified according to the World Health Organization guidelines and
      profiled between 1999 and 2012 using the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) from log
      binomial regression models. Differences in crash risks (e.g., driver's fatality,
      drunk driving, seat belt nonuse) between obese and nonobese drivers were
      estimated as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using logistic regression models.
      RESULTS: A total of 753,024 U.S. drivers were involved in fatal crashes, for
      which obesity information was available for 534,887. About 56% (n = 299,078) were
      driving passenger cars. The prevalence of class I obesity increased from 10% in
      1999 to 14% in 2012 (aPR = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-1.58), class
      II obesity from 3 to 5% (aPR = 2.22, 95% CI, 2.05-3.01), and class III obesity
      from 1 to 2% (aPR = 2.65; 95% CI, 2.27-3.10). Compared to nonobese controls,
      obese drivers had significantly higher risks for fatality (1.10 <= aOR <= 1.47),
      seat belt nonuse (1.00 <= aOR <= 1.21), need for extrication (1.01 <= aOR <=
      1.23), and ambulance transport time >=30 min (1.01 <= aOR <= 1.28). Compared to
      nonobese controls, obese drivers were less likely to drink drive (0.41 <= aOR <=
      0.72) or speed >65 mph (0.78 <= aOR <= 0.93). CONCLUSION: The rising national
      prevalence of obesity extends to U.S. drivers involved in fatal crashes and
      indicates the need to improve seat belt use, vehicle design, and postcrash care
      for this vulnerable population.

PMID- 26890413
TI  - Enhanced autophagy as a potential mechanism for the improved physiological
      function by simvastatin in muscular dystrophy.
AB  - Autophagy has recently emerged as an important cellular process for the
      maintenance of skeletal muscle health and function. Excessive autophagy can
      trigger muscle catabolism, leading to atrophy. In contrast, reduced autophagic
      flux is a characteristic of several muscle diseases, including Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy, the most common and severe inherited muscle disorder. Recent evidence
      demonstrates that enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by CYBB/NOX2
      impairs autophagy in muscles from the dmd/mdx mouse, a genetic model of Duchenne
      muscular dystrophy. Statins decrease CYBB/NOX2 expression and activity and
      stimulate autophagy in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we treated dmd/mdx mice with
      simvastatin and showed decreased CYBB/NOX2-mediated oxidative stress and enhanced
      autophagy induction. This was accompanied by reduced muscle damage, inflammation
      and fibrosis, and increased muscle force production. Our data suggest that
      increased autophagy may be a potential mechanism by which simvastatin improves
      skeletal muscle health and function in muscular dystrophy. 

PMID- 26890414
TI  - Mask-less deposition of Au-SnO2 nanocomposites on CMOS MEMS platform for ethanol
      detection.
AB  - Here we report on the mask-less deposition of Au-SnO2 nanocomposites with a
      silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) micro
      electro mechanical system (MEMS) platform through the use of dip pen
      nanolithography (DPN) to create a low-cost ethanol sensor. MEMS technology is
      used in order to achieve low power consumption, by the employment of a membrane
      structure formed using deep reactive ion etching technique. The device consists
      of an embedded tungsten micro-heater with gold interdigitated electrodes on top
      of the SOI membrane. The tungsten micro-heater is used to raise the membrane
      temperature up to its operating temperature and the electrodes are used to
      measure the resistance of the nanocomposite sensing layer. The CMOS MEMS devices
      have high electro-thermal efficiency, with 8.2  degrees C temperature increase
      per mW power of consumption. The sensing material (Au-SnO2 nanocomposite) was
      synthesised starting from SnO nanoplates, then Au nanoparticles were attached
      chemically to the surface of SnO nanoplates, finally the mixture was heated at
      700  degrees C in an oven in air for 4 h. This composite material was sonicated
      for 2 h in terpineol to make a viscous homogeneous slurry and then 'written'
      directly across the electrode area using the DPN technique without any mask. The
      devices were characterised by exposure to ethanol vapour in humid air in the
      concentration range of 100-1000 ppm. The sensitivity varied from 1.2 to 0.27 ppm(
      1) for 100-1000 ppm of ethanol at 10% relative humid air. Selectivity
      measurements showed that the sensors were selective towards ethanol when they
      were exposed to acetone and toluene. 

PMID- 26890415
TI  - Revealing the signature of dipolar interactions in dynamic spectra of
      polydisperse magnetic nanoparticles.
AB  - We investigate, via a modified mean field approach, the dynamic magnetic response
      of a polydisperse dipolar suspension to a weak, linearly polarised, AC field. We
      introduce an additional term into the Fokker-Planck equation, which takes into
      account dipole-dipole interaction in the form of the first order perturbation,
      and allows for particle polydispersity. The analytical expressions, obtained for
      the real and imaginary dynamic susceptibilities, predict three measurable
      effects: the increase of the real part low-frequency plateaux; the enhanced
      growth of the imaginary part in the low-frequency range; and the shift of the
      imaginary part maximum. Our theoretical predictions find an experimental
      confirmation and explain the changes in the spectrum. 

PMID- 26890417
TI  - Large-quantity and continuous preparation of two-dimensional nanosheets.
AB  - With the increasing demand for two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, such as graphene,
      hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets, finding a simple and
      feasible method to obtain nanosheets is crucial. Here, we present a high
      efficiency exfoliation method to obtain abundant and superior graphene, h-BN,
      MoS2, and WS2 nanosheets in aqueous solution. The obtained 2D nanosheets are very
      thin, especially MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets which are below 1 nm. 

PMID- 26890418
TI  - Linking adult hippocampal neurogenesis with human physiology and disease.
AB  - We here review the existing evidence linking adult hippocampal neurogenesis and
      human brain function in physiology and disease. Furthermore, we aim to point out
      where evidence is missing, highlight current promising avenues of investigation,
      and suggest future tools and approaches to foster the link between life-long
      neurogenesis and human brain function. Developmental Dynamics 245:702-709, 2016.
      (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890419
TI  - PKCalpha Deficiency in Mice Is Associated with Pulmonary Vascular
      Hyperresponsiveness to Thromboxane A2 and Increased Thromboxane Receptor
      Expression.
AB  - Pulmonary vascular hyperresponsiveness is a main characteristic of pulmonary
      arterial hypertension (PAH). In PAH patients, elevated levels of the
      vasoconstrictors thromboxane A2 (TXA2), endothelin (ET)-1 and serotonin further
      contribute to pulmonary hypertension. Protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme alpha
      (PKCalpha) is a known modulator of smooth muscle cell contraction. However, the
      effects of PKCalpha deficiency on pulmonary vasoconstriction have not yet been
      investigated. Thus, the role of PKCalpha in pulmonary vascular responsiveness to
      the TXA2 analog U46619, ET-1, serotonin and acute hypoxia was investigated in
      isolated lungs of PKCalpha-/- mice and corresponding wild-type mice, with or
      without prior administration of the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I or
      Go6976. mRNA was quantified from microdissected intrapulmonary arteries. We found
      that broad-spectrum PKC inhibition reduced pulmonary vascular responsiveness to
      ET-1 and acute hypoxia and, by trend, to U46619. Analogously, selective
      inhibition of conventional PKC isozymes or PKCalpha deficiency reduced ET-1
      evoked pulmonary vasoconstriction. The pulmonary vasopressor response to
      serotonin was unaffected by either broad PKC inhibition or PKCalpha deficiency.
      Surprisingly, PKCalpha-/- mice showed pulmonary vascular hyperresponsiveness to
      U46619 and increased TXA2 receptor (TP receptor) expression in the intrapulmonary
      arteries. To conclude, PKCalpha regulates ET-1-induced pulmonary
      vasoconstriction. However, PKCalpha deficiency leads to pulmonary vascular
      hyperresponsiveness to TXA2, possibly via increased pulmonary arterial TP
      receptor expression. 

PMID- 26890416
TI  - Quality Evaluation of Potentilla fruticosa L. by High Performance Liquid
      Chromatography Fingerprinting Associated with Chemometric Methods.
AB  - The present study was performed to assess the quality of Potentilla fruticosa L.
      sampled from distinct regions of China using high performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting coupled with a suite of chemometric methods.
      For this quantitative analysis, the main active phytochemical compositions and
      the antioxidant activity in P. fruticosa were also investigated. Considering the
      high percentages and antioxidant activities of phytochemicals, P. fruticosa
      samples from Kangding, Sichuan were selected as the most valuable raw materials.
      Similarity analysis (SA) of HPLC fingerprints, hierarchical cluster analysis
      (HCA), principle component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis (DA) were
      further employed to provide accurate classification and quality estimates of P.
      fruticosa. Two principal components (PCs) were collected by PCA. PC1 separated
      samples from Kangding, Sichuan, capturing 57.64% of the variance, whereas PC2
      contributed to further separation, capturing 18.97% of the variance. Two kinds of
      discriminant functions with a 100% discrimination ratio were constructed. The
      results strongly supported the conclusion that the eight samples from different
      regions were clustered into three major groups, corresponding with their
      morphological classification, for which HPLC analysis confirmed the considerable
      variation in phytochemical compositions and that P. fruticosa samples from
      Kangding, Sichuan were of high quality. The results of SA, HCA, PCA, and DA were
      in agreement and performed well for the quality assessment of P. fruticosa.
      Consequently, HPLC fingerprinting coupled with chemometric techniques provides a
      highly flexible and reliable method for the quality evaluation of traditional
      Chinese medicines. 

PMID- 26890420
TI  - Subjective visual and haptic vertical in young and elderly.
AB  - Perception of verticality can be assessed in two different ways: measuring of
      subjective visual vertical (SVV) and subjective haptic vertical (SHV). The
      evidence on aging of SVV and SVH is not conclusive and there is just little
      knowledge focused on this issue. The aim of this study was to compare accuracy of
      perception of SVV and SHV between groups of young and elderly healthy subjects.
      SVV examination was performed using the bucket test. An experimental tactile
      device was used to assess perceived SHV. Measurements of SVV and SHV were made in
      27 young healthy and 30 elderly healthy subjects, both groups were right-handed
      due to self-report. SHV estimated position was significantly different (p< 0.01)
      in young and elderly (counterclockwise shift of 0.72 +/- 3.70 degrees  and 3.51
      +/- 3.99 degrees , respectively) and the SHV range (4.17 +/- 5.40 degrees  and
      9.64 +/- 7.42 degrees , respectively) was also different (p< 0.01). The
      differences were caused by significant difference in the supination maneuver
      (clockwise rod rotation, p< 0.001) which resulted in counterclockwise shift of
      2.80 +/- 4.90 degrees  and 8.33 +/- 4.62 degrees  in young and elderly
      respectively. Pronation part of the SHV task (counterclockwise rod rotation) did
      not significantly differ between groups. SVV estimated position and range were
      not statistically different between young and elderly. These results provide
      evidence that the ability to detect SVV is not impaired, SHV seems also not to be
      affected by aging but there may be methodologic issues in SHV testing in elderly
      which should be controlled for in future studies. Results of both pronation and
      supination maneuvers should be provided along with SHV position.

PMID- 26890421
TI  - Visual perception of upright: Head tilt, visual errors and viewing eye.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perception of upright is often assessed by aligning a luminous line
      to the subjective visual vertical (SVV). OBJECTIVE: Here we investigated the
      effects of visual line rotation and viewing eye on SVV responses and whether
      there was any change with head tilt. METHODS: SVV was measured using a forced
      choice paradigm and by combining the following conditions in 22 healthy subjects:
      head position (20 degrees  left tilt, upright and 20 degrees  right tilt),
      viewing eye (left eye, both eyes and right eye) and direction of visual line
      rotation (clockwise [CW] and counter clockwise [CCW]). RESULTS: The accuracy and
      precision of SVV responses were not different between the viewing eye conditions
      in all head positions (P> 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The accuracy of SVV
      responses was % significantly different between the CW and CCW line rotations (p
      ~ 0.0001; Kruskal-Wallis test) and SVV was tilted in the same direction as the
      line rotation. This effect of line rotation was however not consistent across
      head tilts and was only present in the upright and right tilt head positions. The
      accuracy of SVV responses showed a higher variability among subjects in the left
      head tilt position with no significant difference between the CW and CCW line
      rotations (P> 0.05; post-hoc Dunn's test). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the
      challenges to the estimate of upright with head tilt, normal subjects did
      remarkably well irrespective of the viewing eye. The physiological significance
      of the asymmetry in the effect of line rotation between the head tilt positions
      is unclear but it %may suggest suggests a lateralizing effect of head tilt on the
      visual perception of upright.

PMID- 26890422
TI  - Variants in the KCNE1 or KCNE3 gene and risk of Meniere's disease: A meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Meniere's disease (MD) is defined as an idiopathic disorder of the
      inner ear characterized by the triad of tinnitus, vertigo, and sensorineural
      hearing loss. Although many studies have evaluated the association between
      variants in the KCNE1 or KCNE3 gene and MD risk, debates still exist. OBJECTIVE:
      Our aim is to evaluate the association between KCNE gene variants, including
      KCNE1 rs1805127 and KCNE3 rs2270676, and the risk of MD by a systematic review.
      METHODS: We searched the literature in PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE through May
      2015. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
      using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model for the risk to MD
      associated with different KCNE gene variants. The heterogeneity assumption
      decided the effect model. RESULTS: A total of three relevant studies, with 302 MD
      cases and 515 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The results
      indicated that neither the KCNE1 rs1805127 variant (for G vs. A: OR = 0.724,
      95%CI 0.320, 1.638, P= 0.438), nor the KCNE3 rs2270676 variant (for T vs. C: OR =
      0.714, 95%CI 0.327, 1.559, P = 0.398) was associated with MD risk. CONCLUSIONS:
      Based on current evidence from published studies, neither of the two variants
      from KCNE was significantly associated with the risk of MD. Larger studies with
      mixed ethnicity subjects and stratified by clinical and sub-clinical
      characteristics are needed to validate our findings.

PMID- 26890423
TI  - Recovery times of stance and gait balance control after an acute unilateral
      peripheral vestibular deficit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit (aUPVD) patients have
      balance deficits that can improve after several weeks. Determining differences in
      vestibulo-spinal reflex (VSR) influences on balance control and vestibular ocular
      reflex (VOR) responses with peripheral recovery and central compensation would
      provide insights into CNS plasticity mechanisms. Also, clinically, knowing when
      balance control is approximately normal again should contribute to decisions
      about working ability after aUPVD. Usually VORs are employed for this purpose,
      despite a lack of knowledge about correlations with balance control. Given this
      background, we examined whether balance and VOR measures improve similarly and
      are correlated. Further whether balance improvements are different for stance and
      gait. METHODS: 26 patients were examined at onset of aUPVD, and 3, 6 and 13 weeks
      later. To measure balance control and thereby assess the contribution of VSR
      influences during stance and gait, body-worn gyroscopes mounted at lumbar 1-3
      recorded the angular velocity of the lower trunk in the roll (lateral) and pitch
      (anterior-posterior) directions. These signals were integrated to yield angle
      deviations. To measure VOR function, rotating chair (ROT) tests were performed
      with triangular velocity profiles with accelerations of 20 degrees /s(2) and 5
      degrees /s(2), and caloric tests with bithermal (44 and 30 degrees C) water
      irrigation of the external auditory meatus. Changes in average balance and VOR
      measures at the 4 examination time points were modelled with exponential decays.
      Improvements were assumed to plateau when model values were to within 10% of
      steady state. RESULTS: Balance improvement rates were task and direction
      dependent, ranging from 3-9 weeks post aUPVD, similar to the range of ROT VOR
      improvement rates. Stance balance control improved similarly in the pitch and
      roll directions. Both reached steady state at 7.5 weeks. However, changes in
      visual and proprioceptive influences on stance sway velocities continued to
      decrease in favour of vestibular influences for over 10 weeks with the visual
      influence being correlated with ROT deficit side responses (R= 0.475).
      Spontaneous nystagmus and stance roll velocity were weakly correlated (R= 0.24).
      Pitch control during gait tests improved faster than roll. Gait speed was slower
      and only recovered normal velocity at 6-9 weeks. Pitch velocity when walking eyes
      closed was correlated (R= 0.38) with ROT asymmetry. Other balance and VOR
      measures were more weakly correlated (R< 0.2) even if these had similar
      improvement rates. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that balance control for
      stance improves equally fast in the pitch and roll directions. For gait, pitch
      control improves faster than roll. On average, stance and gait tests show normal
      balance control at 6-9 weeks post aUPVD onset. As few balance measures are
      correlated with those of VOR function and then with low (R< 0.5) coefficients, we
      suggest that VOR tests should not be used to assess improvements in balance
      control after aUPVD. The lack of strong correlations between balance and VOR
      measures included in this study during peripheral recovery and central
      compensation of aUPVD supports the hypothesis that recovery of balance function
      after an aUPVD involves different CNS pathways and neural plasticity mechanisms.

PMID- 26890425
TI  - Falls and fear of falling in vertigo and balance disorders: A controlled cross
      sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vertigo and dizziness are among the most prevalent symptoms in
      neurologic disorders. Although many of these patients suffer from postural
      instability and gait disturbances, there is only limited data on their risk of
      falling. METHODS: We conducted a controlled cross-sectional study at the tertiary
      care outpatient clinic of the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders
      using a self-administered questionnaire to assess falls, fall-related injuries,
      and fear of falling. The recruitment period was 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 569
      patients (mean age 59.6 +/- 17.1 years, 55% females) and 100 healthy participants
      were included (response rate > 90%). Dizzy patients with central balance
      disorders (Parkinsonian, cerebellar, and brainstem oculomotor syndromes) had the
      highest fall rates (> 50% recurrent fallers, odds ratio > 10). The rate of
      recurrent fallers was 30% in bilateral vestibular failure and peripheral
      neuropathy (odds ratio > 5). Patients with functional dizziness (somatoform or
      phobic vertigo) were concerned about falling but did not fall more often than
      healthy controls (odds ratio 0.87). CONCLUSION: Falls are common in patients
      presenting to a dizziness unit. Those with central syndromes are at risk of
      recurrent and injurious falling. Fall rates and fear of falling should be
      assessed in balance disorders and used to guide the regimen of rehabilitation
      therapy. The identification of risk factors would help provide protective
      measures to these groups of patients.

PMID- 26890424
TI  - Retrospective data suggests that the higher prevalence of benign paroxysmal
      positional vertigo in individuals with type 2 diabetes is mediated by
      hypertension.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) has been linked to
      comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. However, the relationship between
      type 2 diabetes (DM) and BPPV is unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study
      was to examine the relationship between DM and BPPV in the presence of known
      contributors like age, gender and hypertension. METHODS: A retrospective review
      of the records of 3933 individuals was categorized by the specific vestibular
      diagnosis and for the presence of type 2 DM and hypertension. As the prevalence
      of BPPV was higher in people with type 2 DM compared to those without DM,
      multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify variables predictive of
      BPPV. The relationship between type 2 DM, hypertension and BPPV was analyzed
      using mediation analysis. RESULTS: BPPV was seen in 46% of individuals with type
      2 DM, compared to 37% of individuals without DM (p< 0.001). Forty two percent of
      the association between type 2 DM and BPPV was mediated by hypertension, and
      supported hypertension as a complete mediator in the relationship between type 2
      DM and BPPV. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension may provide the mediating pathway by which
      diabetes affects the vestibular system. Individuals with complaints of dizziness,
      with comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes, may benefit from a
      screening for BPPV.

PMID- 26890426
TI  - The activities-specific balance confidence scale and berg balance scale:
      Reliability and validity in Arabic-speaking vestibular patients.
AB  - Persons with vestibular disorders are susceptible to imbalance. The Activities
      specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) have been
      validated in persons with vestibular disorders. The purpose of this study was to
      examine the reliability and validity of the Arabic versions of ABC and BBS among
      Arabic-speaking persons with vestibular disorders in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
      Therefore, the A-ABC and A-BBS were administered to a convenience sample of 82
      persons with vestibular disorders (age = 43 +/- 14), (56% female). The test
      retest reliability of the A-ABC item and total score as well as the inter-rater
      and intra-rater reliability of the A-BBS total score reflected high agreement.
      Significant and large correlations were found between the A-ABC and the A-BBS (r=
      0.54, P< 0.05), the A-ABC and the Arabic Dizziness Handicap Inventory (A-DHI) (r=
      -0.76, P< 0.05), and the A-BBS and the A-DHI (r= -0.56, P< 0.05). The A-ABC and
      the A-BBS demonstrated good reliability and validity and can be utilized with
      Arabic-speaking persons with vestibular disorders. 

PMID- 26890427
TI  - Diagnostic value of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in Meniere's disease
      and vestibular migraine.
AB  - Overlaps can be seen between vestibular migraine (VM) Meniere's Disease (MD) and
      diagnosis is difficult if hearing is normal. We aimed to investigate the sacculo
      collic pathway in VM patients, MD patients, and healthy controls to define the
      diagnostic role of cervical VEMP (cVEMP). VEMP testing in response to 500 Hz and
      1000 Hz air-conducted tone burst (TB) stimulation was studied prospectively in 22
      subjects with definite VM (according to Barany nomenclature), 30 subjects with
      unilateral definite MD, and 18 volunteers matched healthy controls. In VM
      subjects, response rate, p13 and n23 latencies were similar to healthy controls,
      but peak-to-peak amplitudes were bilaterally reduced at 500 Hz TBs (p= 0.005).
      cVEMP differentiated MD patients from VM and healthy controls with asymmetrically
      reduced amplitudes on affected ears with low response rates at 500 Hz TBs, and
      alteration of frequency dependent responses at 500 and 1000 Hz TBs. These
      findings suggest that cVEMP can be used as a diagnostic test to differentiate MD
      from VM. On the other hand, VEMP responses are symmetrically reduced on both
      sides in VM patients, suggesting that otolith organs might be affected by
      migraine-induced ischemia. 

PMID- 26890428
TI  - Anticompensatory quick eye movements after head impulses: A peripheral vestibular
      sign in spontaneous nystagmus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Differentiating central from peripheral origins of spontaneous
      nystagmus (SN) is challenging. Looking for a simple sign of peripheral disease
      with the video Head Impulsive Test we noticed anti-compensatory eye movements
      (AQEM) in patients with peripheral etiologies of spontaneous nystagmus (SN). Here
      we assess the diagnostic accuracy of AQEM in differentiating peripheral from
      central vestibular disorders. METHODS: We recorded the eye movements in response
      to horizontal head impulses in a group of 43 consecutive patients with acute
      vestibular syndrome (12 with central, 31 with peripheral disorders), 5 patients
      after acute vestibular neurectomy (positive controls) and 39 healthy subjects
      (negative controls). AQEM were defined as quick eye movements (peak velocity
      above 50 degrees /s) in the direction of the head movement. RESULTS: All patients
      with peripheral disorders and positive controls had AQEM (latency 231 +/- 53 ms,
      amplitude 3.4 +/- 1.4 degrees , velocity 166 +/- 55 degrees /s) when their head
      was moved to the opposite side of the lesion. Central patients did not have AQEM.
      AQEM occurrence rate was higher in peripheral patients with contralesional (74 +/
      4%, mean +/- SD) in comparison to ipsilesional (1 +/- 4%) impulses (p< 0.001).
      Overall diagnostic accuracy for differentiating central from peripheral patients
      was 96% (95% CI for AUC ROC curve: 0.90 to 1.0) for VOR gain and 100% (95% CI:
      1.0 to 1.0) for AQEM occurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that
      AQEM are a sign of vestibular imbalance in a peripheral deficit. In addition to
      VOR gain they should be added to the evaluation of the head impulse test.

PMID- 26890431
TI  - The ties that bind: Maternal kin bias in a multilevel primate society despite
      natal dispersal by both sexes.
AB  - In many social animals, individuals derive fitness benefits from close social
      bonds, which are often formed among kin of the philopatric sex. Hamadryas
      baboons, however, exhibit a hierarchical, multilevel social system where both
      sexes disperse from their natal one-male-unit (OMU). Although this would seem to
      hinder maintenance of kin ties, both sexes appear largely philopatric at the
      higher order band and clan levels, possibly allowing for bonds with same sex kin
      by both males and females. In order to investigate the possibility of kin bonds
      in hamadryas baboons, we identified kin dyads in a band without known pedigree
      information using a large panel of genetic markers: 1 Y-linked, 4 X-linked, and
      23 autosomal microsatellites and part of the mitochondrial hypervariable region
      I. With these data, we performed a kinship analysis while accounting for
      misclassification rates through simulations and determined kinship among two
      types of dyads: leader and follower males and female dyads within OMUs. Leader
      and follower males were maternal relatives more often than expected by chance,
      suggesting that kinship plays a role in the formation of these relationships.
      Moreover, maternal female relatives were found in the same OMU more often than
      expected by chance, indicating that females may be motivated to maintain post
      dispersal contact with maternal female kin. Our results suggest that hamadryas
      baboons can recognize maternal kin and that kin selection has contributed to
      shaping their complex social system. This implies that an ancestral maternal kin
      bias has been retained in hamadryas society. Am. J. Primatol. 78:731-744, 2016.
      (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890432
TI  - The effects of acupuncture point Pericardium 6 on hydromorphone-induced nausea
      and vomiting in healthy dogs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of needling at acupuncture point Pericardium 6
      on hydromorphone-induced nausea and vomiting. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled
      clinical study. ANIMALS: Eighty-one mixed-breed, healthy dogs aged 1.8 +/- 1.6
      years and weighing 14.5 +/- 5.6 kg, admitted for elective ovariohysterectomy (n =
      75) or castration (n = 6). METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to one of three
      groups: acupuncture at Pericardium 6 (AT, n = 27); alternative acupuncture at
      Lung 5 (ST, n = 27), and no acupuncture (CT, n = 27). During time 0-30 minutes
      (baseline), occurrences of hypersalivation, vomiting and licking were recorded.
      At 30 minutes, subjects were administered hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg(-1) ) in
      combination with acepromazine (0.03 mg kg(-1) ) intramuscularly. During time 30
      45 minutes (post-injection), occurrences of hypersalivation, vomiting and licking
      were recorded by an observer unaware of group assignment. Groups were compared
      using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a Dunn's post-test, or Fisher's exact
      tests when appropriate. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age,
      weight or baseline observations among groups. Vomiting incidence post-injection
      was higher in the CT (20/27, 74.1%) and ST (22/27, 81.5%) groups than in the AT
      (10/27, 37.0%) group (p = 0.0129 and p = 0.002, respectively). The number of
      vomiting episodes [median (range)] after opioid administration was higher in the
      ST [1 (1-6)] than the AT [0 (0-2)] group (p = 0.0040). There were no differences
      in the median number of vomiting episodes between the ST and CT [1 (0-3)] or AT
      and CT groups. There were no differences in hypersalivation or licking among
      groups after hydromorphone-acepromazine administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Pericardium 6 acupuncture reduced the incidence of hydromorphone
      induced vomiting in healthy dogs. This cost-effective technique can improve
      patient well-being and comfort during the perioperative period.

PMID- 26890433
TI  - Evidence for Vertical Transmission of Novel Duck-Origin Goose Parvovirus-Related
      Parvovirus.
AB  - In 2015, novel duck-origin goose parvovirus-related parvovirus (N-GPV) infection
      progressively appeared in commercial Cherry Valley duck flocks in North China.
      Diseased ducks were observed to have beak atrophy and dwarfism syndrome (BADS). A
      previous study showed that a high seropositive rate for N-GPV indicated a latent
      infection in most breeder duck flocks. To investigate this possibility in
      hatching eggs collected from N-GPV-infected breeder ducks, 120 eggs were
      collected at various stages of embryonic development for viral DNA detection and
      an N-GPV-specific antibody test. N-GPV DNA was present in nine hatching eggs,
      eleven duck embryo and eight newly hatched ducklings. Of the newly hatched
      ducklings, 58.33% (21/36) were seropositive. Further, two isolates were obtained
      from a 12-day-old duck embryo and a newly hatched duckling. N-GPV infection did
      not reduce the fertilization rate and hatchability. These results indicate
      possible vertical transmission of N-GPV and suggest that it may be transmitted
      from breeder ducks to ducklings in ovo. 

PMID- 26890434
TI  - Seeing Their Children in Pain: Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in
      Mothers of Children with an Anomaly Requiring Surgery at Birth.
AB  - Objective Assess the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in
      mothers of newborns requiring early surgery. Study Design Mothers of newborns
      operated on for a congenital anomaly underwent a semi-structured interview on
      their experience 6 months postpartum. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed
      verbatim, and analyzed for symptoms of the three major criteria of PTSD: re
      experiencing, avoidance, and heightened arousal. Results A total of 120 mothers
      took part in the study; their children were affected by one of the following
      congenital anomaly: esophageal atresia (n = 29); congenital diaphragmatic hernia
      (n = 38); midgut malformations (n = 38); and abdominal wall defects (n = 15). Two
      mothers did not show any symptoms; 12 mothers (10%) had one posttraumatic
      symptom, 77 (64.2%) had two, and 29 (24.2%) had three. Overall, 106 mothers
      (88.4%) presented at least two symptoms. Conclusion PTSD can be considered a
      useful model to describe and comprehend mothers' reactions in this specific
      population. Preventive interventions and dedicated follow-up program should be
      offered to these families.

PMID- 26890435
TI  - Persistence of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy Associated with Maternally Reported
      Route of Delivery: Review of 387 Cases.
AB  - Objective The factors associated with persistent neonatal brachial plexus palsy
      (PNBPP) are unknown. Our objectives are to compare PNBPP at 1 and 2 years in
      children delivered via vaginal delivery (VD) versus cesarean delivery (CD) and in
      children delivered via VD with or without reported shoulder dystocia (SD). Study
      Design Retrospective cohort of children diagnosed with neonatal brachial plexus
      palsy (NBPP). Maternally reported delivery history and presence of SD were
      recorded with Student t-test, chi-square test, and odds ratio (OR) with 95%
      confidence intervals (CI) calculated for comparisons. Results Of 387 cases of
      NBPP, 8% (30) delivered via CD. Rates of PNBPP were higher in the VD group at 1
      and 2 years (60% of CD and 85% of VD; OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11-0.62 at 1 year; 33%
      of CD and 73% of VD; OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.39 at 2 years). There was no
      difference in PNBPP in women with VD with or without maternally reported SD (87
      vs. 85%, p = 0.68 at 1 year; 64 vs. 61%, p = 0.61 at 2 years). Conclusion PNBPP
      is possible with CD, and there is no difference in PNBPP in VD with or without
      maternally reported SD. A prospective study is warranted to ascertain associative
      factors.

PMID- 26890436
TI  - Impact of Early Screening for Gestational Diabetes on Perinatal Outcomes in High
      Risk Women.
AB  - Objective To examine the benefits of early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
      screening in a high-risk population. Study Design Retrospective cohort of all
      singletons diagnosed with GDM with indications for early screening: GDM or
      macrosomia in a prior pregnancy or obesity. Subjects were classified as early
      (<20 weeks) or routine (>24 weeks) screening. Patients diagnosed with GDM were
      managed according to standard institutional protocols. Outcomes examined were
      cesarean delivery (CD), preeclampsia, large for gestational age (LGA), small for
      gestational age (SGA), macrosomia, and preterm birth (PTB). Results Subjects
      screened early were more likely to have had GDM in a prior pregnancy,
      hypertension, higher body mass index, and higher fasting glucose. Early and
      routine screening groups had similar incidences of CD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]
      0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-1.64), preeclampsia (AOR 0.84, 95% CI
      0.38-1.83), LGA (AOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.51-1.72), SGA (AOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.13-1.13),
      and macrosomia (AOR 1.00, 95% CI 0.53-1.87). Subjects in the early screening
      group had a higher incidence of PTB (AOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.08-2.99). Conclusion We
      did not detect a benefit to early screening for women who met the criteria. The
      utility of early GDM screening requires evaluation in a prospective trial.

PMID- 26890437
TI  - Estimating Length of Stay by Patient Type in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
AB  - Objective Develop length of stay prediction models for neonatal intensive care
      unit patients. Study Design We used data from 2008 to 2010 to construct length of
      stay models for neonates admitted within 1 day of age to neonatal intensive care
      units and surviving to discharge home. Results Our sample included 23,551
      patients. Median length of stay was 79 days when birth weight was < 1,000 g, 46
      days for 1,000 to 1,500 g, 21 days for 1,500 to 2,500 g, and 8 days for >=2,500
      g. Risk factors for longer length of stay varied by weight. Units with shorter
      length of stay for one weight group had shorter lengths of stay for other groups.
      Conclusion Risk models for comparative assessments of length of stay need to
      appropriately account for weight, particularly considering the cutoff of 1,500 g.
      Refining prediction may benefit counseling of families and health care systems to
      efficiently allocate resources.

PMID- 26890438
TI  - Rate of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with
      Chronic Hypertension.
AB  - Objective This study aims to determine the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus
      (GDM) in pregnancies complicated by chronic hypertension and to compare the
      adverse outcomes in chronic hypertensive pregnancies with and without GDM. Study
      Design A secondary analysis from a multicenter trial of low-dose aspirin for
      preeclampsia prevention in women with chronic hypertension. The rate of GDM was
      evaluated among singleton pregnancies complicated with chronic hypertension and
      grouped according to their GDM status. Pregnancy outcomes and rates of preterm
      delivery < 35 weeks and < 32 weeks, preeclampsia, indicated preterm birth, small
      for gestational age, abruptio placentae, and perinatal death were compared
      between those with and without GDM. A subgroup analysis comparing women who
      developed superimposed preeclampsia with and without GDM was studied.
      Multivariate logistic-regression analysis was used to adjust for potentially
      confounding factors. Results A total of 763 women met the inclusion criteria: 129
      (17%) developed GDM. Parity, race, maternal baseline blood pressure,
      antihypertensive drug use, and assignment to low-dose aspirin were not
      significantly different between the groups with and without GDM. Using univariate
      analysis, maternal age (33 vs. 24%, p = 0.03) and body mass index (88 vs. 57%, p
      < 0.001) were higher in those who had GDM, whereas the rate of preterm delivery <
      32 weeks (12 vs. 5%, p = 0.02) was higher among those without GDM. Using logistic
      regression analysis, the rate of composite adverse outcomes (adjusted odds ratio
      [aOR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-1.47) that included indicated
      preterm birth, small for gestational age, abruptio placentae, and perinatal death
      showed no significant differences.Superimposed preeclampsia developed in 34 (26%)
      women with GDM and in 182 (29%) without GDM. When superimposed preeclampsia was
      present, it developed at an earlier gestational age among the group without GDM
      (35 +/- 5 vs. 37 +/- 3 weeks, p = 0.003), and had higher rates of small for
      gestational age infants (18 vs. 3%, p = 0.03). After adjustment for confounders,
      only length of stay in neonatal intensive care unit was longer for those without
      GDM who developed superimposed preeclampsia (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.2-0.93).
      Conclusion Women with chronic hypertension are at a high risk for developing GDM.
      Outcomes in patients with chronic hypertension and GDM are not significantly
      different from those with chronic hypertension only.

PMID- 26890439
TI  - Maternal Education Level Predicts Cognitive, Language, and Motor Outcome in
      Preterm Infants in the Second Year of Life.
AB  - Objective To evaluate the relative impact of maternal education level (MEL) on
      cognitive, language, and motor outcomes at 20 months' corrected age (CA) in
      preterm infants. Study Design A total of 177 preterm infants born between 2008
      and 2010 were tested at 20 months' CA using the Bayley Scales of Infant and
      Toddler Development-III. Multiple regression analyses were done to determine the
      relative impact of MEL on cognitive, language, and motor scores. Results Infants
      born to mothers with high school MEL were 3.74 times more likely to have a
      subnormal motor index, while those born to mothers with some college and graduate
      school MEL had reduced odds (0.36 and 0.12, respectively) of having subnormal
      language index at 20 months. In linear regression, MEL was the strongest
      predictor of cognitive, language, and motor scores, and graduate school MEL was
      associated with increases in cognitive, motor, and language scores of 8.49, 8.23,
      and 15.74 points, respectively. Conclusions MEL is the most significant predictor
      of cognitive, language, and motor outcome at 20 months' CA in preterm infants.
      Further research is needed to evaluate if targeted interventions that focus on
      early childhood learning and parenting practices can ameliorate the impact of low
      MEL.

PMID- 26890440
TI  - Treatment Utility of Postpartum Antibiotics in Chorioamnionitis Study.
AB  - Objective To determine if postpartum antibiotics are necessary for patients with
      chorioamnionitis after a cesarean delivery (CD). Study Design Multicenter
      randomized controlled trial. Laboring patients with singleton gestations and
      chorioamnionitis who underwent CD were eligible. Patients were treated with
      ampicillin and gentamicin per standard protocol, then given clindamycin prior to
      skin incision. Patients were randomized to either postpartum antibiotic
      prophylaxis or no treatment following delivery. The primary outcome was the rate
      of endometritis. Assuming a 30% risk of endometritis in patients with
      chorioamnionitis who undergo CD, 119 patients per arm would be required to detect
      a 50% decrease in endometritis. Results The trial was stopped for futility
      following a planned interim analysis after 80 patients were randomized. There was
      no difference in the rate of the primary outcome between the two groups (9.8 vs.
      7.7%, relative risk [RR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30, 5.31). A meta
      analysis comparing post-CD antibiotics versus no treatment did not find a
      statistically significant difference between the groups (16.7 vs. 12.0%, pooled
      RR: 1.43; 95% CI: 0.72, 2.84). Conclusion Additional postpartum antibiotics do
      not decrease the rate of endometritis in patients with chorioamnionitis who
      undergo CD. The current preoperative antibiotic regimen including clindamycin
      should remain the standard of care in these patients.

PMID- 26890441
TI  - Trends and Variations in the Use of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Preterm Infants in
      Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
AB  - Objective To determine the proportion of infants who receive inhaled nitric oxide
      (iNO), and to characterize the variations in its use by gestational age (GA) and
      center in infants <34 weeks' gestation. Design Retrospective analysis was
      performed in infants born at <34 weeks' gestation and admitted to neonatal
      intensive care units participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network between
      January 2010 and December 2013. Results Of 19,525 infants, 831 (4.2%) received
      iNO. A total of 369 infants (44%) received iNO during the first 2 days after
      birth. The proportion of neonates who received iNO in the 22 to 25, 26 to 29, and
      30 to 33 weeks' GA groups was 16.1, 6.0, and 1.3%, respectively. Infants in whom
      iNO was initiated in the first 2 days of age received it for a shorter duration
      (median, 3 days; interquartile range [IQR], 2-5) as compared with those who
      started after 2 days (median, 5 days; IQR, 2-11). The use of iNO varied by
      center, ranging from 0 to 15.5% (p < 0.001). Conclusion Out of every 25 infants
      born at <34 weeks' gestation in Canada received iNO, with the highest rate of use
      in infants born at lower gestation. Further research to identify reasoning,
      efficacy, and safety of iNO in preterm infants is warranted.

PMID- 26890442
TI  - IL-1beta (interleukin-1beta) stimulates the production and release of multiple
      cytokines and chemokines by human preadipocytes.
AB  - The effect of IL-1beta on cytokine and chemokine production by human
      preadipocytes has been examined. Preadipocytes were incubated with IL-1beta, and
      cytokine and chemokine release was measured at 24 h by protein arrays, while the
      expression of cytokine/chemokine genes was assessed by qPCR at 4 and 24 h. IL
      1beta stimulated the secretion of multiple cytokines/chemokines, including IL-6,
      IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, MCP-4, TNFalpha and IP-10. IL-10 was not released by un
      stimulated preadipocytes, while IL-6 exhibited the greatest response to IL-1beta
      (453-fold increase). IL-16 and IL-12p40 did not respond to IL-1beta. qPCR
      demonstrated that IL-1beta markedly stimulated CCL3, CSF3 and CXCL10 expression
      at 4 h (>900-fold mRNA increase). A time-course indicated that while CCL13
      (encoding MCP-4) exhibited minimal basal expression in preadipocytes, expression
      increased progressively following differentiation. Human preadipocytes are highly
      sensitive to IL-1beta, the cytokine stimulating a major inflammatory response in
      these cells similar to that in mature adipocytes. 

PMID- 26890445
TI  - John Porter Lecture: Liberal Nationalisms Revisited.
AB  - Liberal Nationalisms: Empire, State and Civil Society in Scotland and Quebec
      argues that the emergence and character of nationalism are directly related to
      changes in patterns of political rule and the liberal settlements that underlay
      that rule. The focus is on the emergence of two nationalist groups in Scotland
      and Quebec at the beginning of the twentieth century: the Young Scots' Society
      and Ligue nationaliste canadienne. They exhibited liberal nationalisms
      differently (1) in response to the British Empire's predatory imperial policies,
      (2) in the perception that their states had failed to effectively accommodate the
      Scottish and French Canadian nations, and more problematically (3) on the place
      of organized religion in civil society. Their responses suggest the emergence of
      two quite distinct liberal nationalisms: one in which the emphasis was on
      universal individual rights, and the other in which particular group rights were
      more clearly favored. The article offers some further reflection on the
      relationship between nationalism and liberalism, specifically on the existence of
      a symbiotic relationship and more generally that liberalism is successful when
      embedded in nationalism. 

PMID- 26890443
TI  - Detection of beta-Thalassemia Mutations Using TaqMan Single Nucleotide
      Polymorphism Genotyping Assays.
AB  - AIMS: Sickle-cell anemia and beta-thalassemia are two of the most common
      autosomal recessive disorders in the developing world. The severity of the
      problem and the pressure it exerts on the health services in the Kingdom of Saudi
      Arabia forced the introduction of a national premarital screening program to
      lessen its impact on the society. Furthermore, a significant effort has been
      exerted in the elucidation of the genetic causes of such diseases to facilitate
      diagnosis and detection of carriers. METHODS: We have designed and validated the
      use of custom TaqMan((r)) genotyping assays for the rapid detection of IVS-I-1
      (G>A), IVS-I-5 (G>C), codon 39 (C>T), and IVS-I-110 (G>A) mutations in
      transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients' cohort. RESULTS: We demonstrated
      that IVS-I-5 (rs33915217) is the most common single-nucleotide variant in our
      cohort, with the variant allele constituting 26% of the total alleles
      investigated. However, this variant was not found in 352 alleles screened from
      buccal swab DNA obtained from healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: The TaqMan single
      nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays are a rapid, accurate, and cost
      effective method for the initial screening of beta-thalassemia cases, which will
      minimize the need for direct sequencing of the HBB gene, thus reducing detection
      costs and increasing throughput.

PMID- 26890446
TI  - "More Normal than Welfare": The Mincome Experiment, Stigma, and Community
      Experience.
AB  - This paper examines the impact of a social experiment from the 1970s called the
      Manitoba Basic Annual Income Experiment (Mincome). I examine Mincome's
      "saturation" site located in Dauphin, Manitoba, where all town residents were
      eligible for guaranteed annual income payments for three years. Drawing on
      archived qualitative participant accounts I show that the design and framing of
      Mincome led participants to view payments through a pragmatic lens, rather than
      the moralistic lens through which welfare is viewed. Consistent with prior
      theory, this paper finds that Mincome participation did not produce social
      stigma. More broadly, this paper bears on the feasibility of alternative forms of
      socioeconomic organization through a consideration of the moral aspects of
      economic policy. The social meaning of Mincome was sufficiently powerful that
      even participants with particularly negative attitudes toward government
      assistance felt able to collect Mincome payments without a sense of
      contradiction. By obscuring the distinctions between the "deserving" and
      "undeserving" poor, universalistic income maintenance programs may weaken social
      stigmatization and strengthen program sustainability.

PMID- 26890447
TI  - What Gets Covered? An Examination of Media Coverage of the Environmental Movement
      in Canada.
AB  - This article analyzes press releases from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and
      Greenpeace (GP) to assess how their tactics and frames affect the amount of
      coverage they receive in The Globe and Mail and National Post from 2000 to 2010.
      While it is clear that some tactics are more likely to garner media coverage, the
      full range of tactics and frames are not effective for all groups. For example,
      calling to the public to engage in a social issue leads to increased media
      coverage for GP but not WWF. And, using research does not affect media coverage
      for WWF, but decreases coverage for GP. This study demonstrates that the effect
      of tactical choices on media coverage is contingent on the identity of the group
      using them. 

PMID- 26890448
TI  - Motherhood as a Gendered Entitlement: Intentionality, "Othering," and
      Homosociality in the Online Infertility Community.
AB  - Motherhood is one of the most enduring rites of passage to adult femininity for
      women. However, not all women have access to motherhood. In this paper, I explore
      the online infertility community wherein women blog to process their exclusion,
      expressing incredulity about the prospect of never having a biological child of
      their own. Women understand their infertility as an injustice, leading them to
      lay claim to motherhood. I argue that how women lay claim to motherhood changes
      our understanding of motherhood as a gendered norm. Motherhood is more than a
      pursuit of a gender identity; it is also a gendered entitlement. This research
      pushes analytic conceptualizations of motherhood forward, while also empirically
      enriching our knowledge about women's homosociality.

PMID- 26890449
TI  - What the Polls Do Show: Toward Enhanced Survey Readings of Religion in Canada.
AB  - Over the past two decades or so, survey research findings on religious activities
      and beliefs have been confusing, with the results of researchers and private
      pollsters frequently differing from those of Statistics Canada. In this research
      note, the authors use four national omnibus surveys conducted in 2012 to explore
      the extent to which such differences are due to measurement variations. Finding
      few noteworthy differences, they proceed to focus on the samples being used, and
      draw on illustrative data from 2012 and 2015 to argue that the differences in
      findings may in large part be due to differences in samples. The resolution of
      sampling problems, they acknowledge, is extremely difficult, but nonetheless is a
      goal that has to be pursued. 

PMID- 26890450
TI  - Generation of Zerovalent Metal Core Nanoparticles Using n-(2-aminoethyl)-3
      aminosilanetriol.
AB  - In this work, a facile one-pot reaction for the formation of metal nanoparticles
      in a water solution through the use of n-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminosilanetriol is
      presented. This compound can be used to effectively reduce and complex metal
      salts into metal core nanoparticles coated with the compound. By controlling the
      concentrations of salt and silane one is able to control reaction rates, particle
      size, and nanoparticle coating. The effects of these changes were characterized
      through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectrometry (UV-Vis),
      Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared
      spectroscopy (FTIR). A unique aspect to this reaction is that usually silanes
      hydrolyze and cross-link in water; however, in this system the silane is water
      soluble and stable. It is known that silicon and amino moieties can form
      complexes with metal salts. The silicon is known to extend its coordination
      sphere to form penta- or hexa-coordinated species. Furthermore, the silanol group
      can undergo hydrolysis to form a Si-O-Si silica network, thereby transforming the
      metal nanoparticles into a functionalized nanocomposites. 

PMID- 26890451
TI  - Implementation of the 21-gene recurrence score test in the United States in 2011.
AB  - PURPOSE: We examined hospital use of the 21-gene breast cancer test in the United
      States. We report state-level differences in utilization and propose a model for
      predicting implementation of guideline-recommended genomic testing. METHODS:
      Genomic Health provided test orders for calendar year 2011.We summarized
      utilization at the hospital and state levels. Using logistic regression, we
      analyzed the association between the likelihood to order the test and the
      hospital's institutional and regional characteristics. RESULTS: In 2011, 45% of
      4,712 acute-care hospitals ordered the test, which suggests that 25% of newly
      diagnosed invasive female breast cancer cases were tested. Significant predictors
      of testing included participation in National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical
      research cooperative groups (odds ratio (OR) 3.73; 95% confidence interval, 2.96
      4.70), advanced imaging (OR, 2.19; CI, 1.78-2.68), high-complexity laboratory
      (OR, 2.15; CI, 1.24-3.70), affiliation with a medical school (OR, 1.57; CI, 1.31
      1.88), and reconstructive surgery (OR, 1.23; CI, 1.01-1.50). Significant regional
      predictors included metropolitan county (OR, 3.77; CI, 2.83-5.03), above-mean
      income (OR, 1.37; CI, 1.11-1.69), and education (OR, 1.26; CI, 1.03-1.54).
      Negative predictors included designation as a critical-access hospital (OR, 0.10;
      CI, 0.07-0.14) and distance from an NCI cancer center (OR, 0.998; CI, 0.997
      0.999), with a 15% decrease in likelihood for every 100 miles. CONCLUSION:
      Despite considerable market penetration of the test, there are significant
      regional and site-of-care differences in implementation, particularly in rural
      states.Genet Med 18 10, 982-990.

PMID- 26890453
TI  - Recontact in clinical practice: a survey of clinical genetics services in the
      United Kingdom.
AB  - PURPOSE: To ascertain whether and how recontacting occurs in the United Kingdom.
      METHOD: A Web-based survey was administered online between October 2014 and July
      2015. A link to the survey was circulated via an e-mail invitation to the
      clinical leads of the United Kingdom's 23 clinical genetics services, with follow
      up with senior clinical genetics staff. RESULTS: The majority of UK services
      reported that they recontact patients and their family members. However,
      recontacting generally occurs in an ad hoc fashion when an unplanned event causes
      clinicians to review a file (a "trigger"). There are no standardized recontacting
      practices in the United Kingdom. More than half of the services were unsure
      whether formalized recontacting systems should be implemented. Some suggested
      greater patient involvement in the process of recontacting. CONCLUSION: This
      research suggests that a thorough evaluation of the efficacy and sustainability
      of potential recontacting systems within the National Health Service would be
      necessary before deciding whether and how to implement such a service or to
      create guidelines on best-practice models.Genet Med 18 9, 876-881.

PMID- 26890452
TI  - Establishing the precise evolutionary history of a gene improves prediction of
      disease-causing missense mutations.
AB  - PURPOSE: Predicting the phenotypic effects of mutations has become an important
      application in clinical genetic diagnostics. Computational tools evaluate the
      behavior of the variant over evolutionary time and assume that variations seen
      during the course of evolution are probably benign in humans. However, current
      tools do not take into account orthologous/paralogous relationships. Paralogs
      have dramatically different roles in Mendelian diseases. For example, whereas
      inactivating mutations in the NPC1 gene cause the neurodegenerative disorder
      Niemann-Pick C, inactivating mutations in its paralog NPC1L1 are not disease
      causing and, moreover, are implicated in protection from coronary heart disease.
      METHODS: We identified major events in NPC1 evolution and revealed and compared
      orthologs and paralogs of the human NPC1 gene through phylogenetic and protein
      sequence analyses. We predicted whether an amino acid substitution affects
      protein function by reducing the organism's fitness. RESULTS: Removing the
      paralogs and distant homologs improved the overall performance of categorizing
      disease-causing and benign amino acid substitutions. CONCLUSION: The results show
      that a thorough evolutionary analysis followed by identification of orthologs
      improves the accuracy in predicting disease-causing missense mutations. We
      anticipate that this approach will be used as a reference in the interpretation
      of variants in other genetic diseases as well.Genet Med 18 10, 1029-1036.

PMID- 26890454
TI  - The Use of Piezosurgery in Genioplasty.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative complications during
      genioplasty using piezosurgery devices or traditional rotating drills. Forty
      patients underwent genioplasty to solve their chin anomalies. This study showed
      that, using piezosurgery, pain and swelling were reduced compared to the
      traditional technique in the immediate postoperative period of healing (within 15
      days). Paresthesia was observed in all patients up to 15th postoperative day,
      independently of the used surgical technique, but at the sixth postoperative
      month it was completely absent. 

PMID- 26890455
TI  - Synthesis of the New-Type Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Silk Fibroin
      Chitosan Three-Dimensional Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering and In Vitro
      Evaluation.
AB  - The objective of the study was to discuss the biocompatibility of the vascular
      endothelial growth factor-silk fibroin-chitosan (VEGF-SF-CS) scaffolds. To offer
      an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering, the author added vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into silk fibroin-chitosan (SF-CS) scaffold
      directly to reconstruct a three-dimensional scaffold for the first time, SF-CS
      scaffold was loaded with VEGF and evaluated as a growth factor-delivery device.
      Human fetal osteoblast cell was seeded on the VEGF-SF-CS scaffolds and SF-CS
      scaffolds. On VEGF-SF-CS and SF-CS scaffolds, the cell adhesion rate was
      increased as time went on. Scanning electron microscopy: the cells grew actively
      and had normal multiple fissions, granular and filamentous substrates could be
      seen around the cells, and cell microfilaments were closely connected with the
      scaffolds. The cells could not only show the attached growth on surfaces of the
      scaffolds, but also extend into the scaffolds. Cell Counting Kit-8 and alkaline
      phosphatase analysis proved that the VEGF could significantly promote human fetal
      osteoblast1.19 cells growth and proliferation in the SF-CS scaffolds, but the
      enhancement of osteoblasts cell proliferation and activity by VEGF was dependent
      on time. 

PMID- 26890456
TI  - Navigation-Assisted Bone Grafting for Blowout Fracture.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Treatment of orbital floor fracture accompanied by extensive bone
      defect requires orbital floor reconstruction using a bone graft, but graft may
      deviate into the maxillary sinus when no bone capable of supporting the graft
      remains around the defect. In such cases, it is necessary to fix the grafted bone
      to the orbital margin, but the grafted bone placement site is subjectively
      decided based on inspection through a small incision in many cases, being
      dependent on the experience of operators, and it has been difficult to accurately
      determine the placement angle. METHODS: The authors applied a navigation system
      in 4 patients with orbital blowout fracture, and evaluated for the exact bone
      graft placement angle and orbital floor form during surgery. RESULTS: The bone
      graft placement angle was evaluated by comparison with a mirror image of the
      nonaffected side. The angle could be confirmed during surgery, as well as the
      lateral symmetry of the orbital form. On postoperative computed tomography, the
      grafted bone was retained at a favorable placement site. CONCLUSIONS: The
      navigation system may be useful to support the treatment of orbital blowout
      fracture, as it facilitates safe dissection around orbital floor bone defects,
      confirmation of the positional relationship between the bone fragment and orbital
      tissue and bone graft fixation position, and evaluation of lateral symmetry of
      the orbital floor form during surgery.

PMID- 26890457
TI  - Evaluation of Volumetric Changes of Augmented Maxillary Sinus With Different Bone
      Grafting Biomaterials.
AB  - Extensive alveolar bone resorption because of pneumatized maxillary sinus is a
      common problem that limits dental implant placement. Maxillary sinus floor
      augmentation (MSFA) is an accepted treatment protocol that provides sufficient
      bone volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of graft volume
      reduction following MSFA using cone beam computed tomography. In this
      retrospective study, cone beam computed tomography scans of MSFA were measured to
      evaluate the volume of the grafted sinus with deproteinized bovine bone (DBB),
      mineralized allograft (MA), or a mixture of MA and demineralized allograft as a
      composite. The volumetric changes in sinus augmentation between 2 weeks (T-I) and
      6 months (T-II) after operation were analyzed. Thirty-nine patients were included
      in this study. The average percent volume reduction was 8.14 +/- 3.76%, 19.38 +/-
      9.22%, and 24.66 +/- 4.68% for DBB, MA, and composite graft, respectively. A
      significant graft volume reduction was found between T-I and T-II for all groups
      (P < 0.01). The DBB group showed the least volume reduction (P < 0.01).
      Biomaterials can influence the bone graft volume change before implant placement.
      Deproteinized bovine bone may offer greater volume stability during healing than
      mineralized and composite allografts. 

PMID- 26890458
TI  - Craniosynostosis Following Fetal Methotrexate Exposure.
AB  - Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite, folic acid antagonist that inhibits
      purine nucleotide production, DNA synthesis, and cellular proliferation. Despite
      widespread therapeutic uses, MTX remains a potent teratogen. Methotrexate
      embryopathy encompasses multiorgan system dysfunction, including intrauterine
      growth restriction as well as cardiac, craniofacial, renal, genital, and skeletal
      abnormalities. Effects of MTX exposure on fetal development continue to be
      described. This series of 4 patients with MTX-associated craniosynostosis
      represents the largest published association between prenatal MTX exposure and
      premature cranial suture closure. 

PMID- 26890459
TI  - Study of Genial Tubercles of Craniofacial Anomalies Individuals on Cone Beam
      Computed Tomography Scans.
AB  - PURPOSE: Genial tubercles (GTs) are bony protuberances on the lingual aspect of
      the mandible symphysis, where genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles are inserted.
      In the literature, few papers report their real dimensions. Cleft lip and palate
      are craniofacial anomalies involving the maxilla, but the anatomical structures
      of the mandible can be altered when these have associated with the cleft, some
      syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the GTs of 30 individuals and to make
      their measurements in cone beam computed tomography examinations. METHODS: A
      sample of 30 individuals, 19 of them with cleft lip and palate, 6 individuals
      with Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS), and 5 individuals with Pierre Robin
      sequence, was used. The GTs were evaluated about the amount and the following
      measurements were performed: A--distance from the apex of the central incisors to
      GT, B--mandibular thickness in the region of GT, C-GT height, D-GT width, and E-
      distance from inferior border of mandible to GT. RESULTS: The individuals
      presented since the absence of GTs to 3. The TCS group had the highest average of
      the measurements A, D, and E with statistical difference (P = 0.006) (P = 0.011)
      and (P = 0.017), respectively. The Pierre Robin sequence group had the highest
      average measurement of B and C, but there was no statistical difference.
      CONCLUSIONS: The difference in the measurements can be explained perhaps because
      individuals with TCS have glossoptosis and changes on retrognathic mandible,
      which would affect the position of the GT.

PMID- 26890460
TI  - Orthognathic Surgery in Patients With Large Condylar Destructions.
AB  - Condylar resorption is understood as changes in shape and volume of the condylar
      bone, due to local, systemic, and iatrogenic factors. The occurrence of condylar
      resorption after orthognathic surgery can occur when the condylar repositioning
      in mandibular fossa is performed improperly. In addition, systemic diseases such
      as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis seem to influence this process. The
      aim of this study was to report 3 cases of patients with severe condylar
      alterations, submitted to orthognathic surgery for treatment of dentofacial
      deformities. Considerations regarding the diagnosis, surgical planning
      (counterclockwise rotation), surgical techniques (bilateral sagittal split
      osteotomy, bimaxillary osteotomies, rigid fixation, maxillomandibular fixation
      period), and results (short terms) are discussed. 

PMID- 26890461
TI  - A Huge Ancient Schwannoma of the Epiglottis.
AB  - Ancient schwannoma of the epiglottis is extremely rare. The authors report the
      first case of a patient with a huge ancient schwannoma of the epiglottis.
      Clinicians should consider the possibility that ancient schwannoma may originate
      in the epiglottis mimicking the other more frequently observed lesions. 

PMID- 26890462
TI  - Anteriorly Based Galeo-Pericranial Frontalis Flap: A Novel Application in
      Secondary Rhinoplasty With Atrophic Skin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nasomaxillary dysplasia (Binder syndrome) and cleft are congenital
      malformations of the midface. Ideally, the nasal deformity is treated from
      childhood. This approach leads to the need for several surgeries and revisions
      until full growth is reached. As a result of multiples procedures, the skin over
      the nasal dorsum sometimes becomes thin, atrophic and could be strongly attached
      to underlying grafts. For this setting of patients when another rhinoplasty is
      required, it becomes a technical challenge. The authors describe their experience
      in complex secondary rhinoplasty performed in patients with thin atrophic skin
      using the anteriorly based galeo-pericranial frontalis flap (GPFF) to improve the
      quality of the covering soft tissue along the whole nose skeleton area. RESULTS:
      Since 2013, 3 female patients; 2 of them with Binder syndrome and 1 cleft
      lip/palate patient (average 18 years) with previous rhinoplasty (3-6 procedures)
      are subjected to secondary rhinoplasty using GPFF turning it over the
      osteochondral nasal framework. Postoperative follow-up was 3 to 18 months. There
      were no viability complications of the dorsum skin flap in the immediate
      postoperative period. At long-term follow-up, a visible improvement of local skin
      conditions and restoration of the nasal contour was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The
      anteriorly based GPFF is a well-vascularized versatile flap used extensively in
      anterior cranial fossa surgery and frontal sinus trauma. Given its known and
      constant vascular anatomy, this flap is adapted to a new application in complex
      secondary rhinoplasty, in the presence of atrophic skin with good aesthetic
      outcomes.

PMID- 26890463
TI  - Enhanced Electron Transfer Reactivity of a Nonheme Iron(IV)-Imido Complex as
      Compared to the Iron(IV)-Oxo Analogue.
AB  - Reactions of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) with nonheme iron(IV)-oxo and iron(IV)
      tosylimido complexes occur via different mechanisms, such as an N-demethylation
      of DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex or an electron transfer dimerization of
      DMA by a nonheme iron(IV)-tosylimido complex. The change in the reaction
      mechanism results from the greatly enhanced electron transfer reactivity of the
      iron(IV)-tosylimido complex, such as the much more positive one-electron
      reduction potential and the smaller reorganization energy during electron
      transfer, as compared to the electron transfer properties of the corresponding
      iron(IV)-oxo complex. 

PMID- 26890464
TI  - Quality of care metrics in chronic hepatitis B.

PMID- 26890465
TI  - Nationwide and population-based prescription patterns in bipolar disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to describe prescription patterns
      and changes in these patterns over the last decade for patients diagnosed with
      bipolar disorder in mental healthcare, using population-based and nationwide
      data, and to relate the findings to recommendations from international
      guidelines. METHODS: A population-based, nationwide study was carried out. It
      included register-based longitudinal data on all patients with a first-ever
      contact with mental healthcare with a diagnosis of mania/bipolar disorder from
      the entire Danish population, and all prescription data for this population
      during the decade from 2000 to 2011, inclusive. RESULTS: A total of 3,205
      patients were included in the study. Lithium was prescribed less, and
      antiepileptic and atypical antipsychotic agents were prescribed substantially
      more during the study period. Lithium went from being the first drug prescribed
      to being the last, and was replaced by atypical antipsychotic agents.
      Antiepileptic agents went from being the fourth to the second drug class
      prescribed, and the prescription of antidepressants was virtually unchanged, at a
      high level, during the decade (one-year value 40-60%). The prescription of
      lamotrigine and quetiapine increased substantially. Combination therapy increased
      for all drug combinations, except for lithium combined with antidepressants.
      CONCLUSIONS: Major changes took place in drug prescriptions during the study
      period. The decrease in the use of lithium and the constant high use of
      antidepressants do not align with recommendations from international guidelines.

PMID- 26890467
TI  - RETRACTION.

PMID- 26890468
TI  - Muscle strength, mobility, quality of life and falls in patients on maintenance
      haemodialysis: A prospective study.
AB  - AIM: The aim is to explore (i) the relationship between quality of life and
      physical parameters (muscle strength and mobility) among people undergoing
      maintenance haemodialysis; (ii) changes in strength and mobility over time and
      predictors of changes; and (iii) whether strength and mobility were associated
      with falls. METHODS: We recruited 51 maintenance haemodialysis patients to a
      prospective longitudinal study. Baseline quality of life was assessed using the
      SF-36 physical component summary and mental component summary scores. Muscle
      strength (ankle dorsiflexion strength measured with a hand-held dynamometer),
      mobility (short physical performance battery) and falls history were assessed at
      baseline, 12 and 36 months. Associations between variables at baseline were
      assessed with linear regression models. Changes in physical parameters were
      evaluated with paired t-tests and prediction of falls assessed by negative
      binominal regression. RESULTS: Fifty and 34 patients completed 12 and 36 month
      follow-ups, respectively. Baseline mobility but not muscle strength correlated
      with physical component summary (P = 0.01 and P = 0.23, respectively). Neither
      baseline mobility nor muscle strength correlated with mental component summary.
      At 12 months, muscle strength and mobility had significantly deteriorated (mean
      ankle dorsiflexion strength 11.0 lb (SD 1.5) from 14.0 lb (SD 2.2), P < 0.01;
      short physical performance battery 8.5 (SD 2.8) from 9.3 (SD 2.6), P < 0.01).
      Falls at 12 and 36 months were predicted by baseline mobility (P = 0.06 and P =
      0.02, respectively) but not muscle strength. CONCLUSION: Physical parameters
      appear to be associated with meaningful patient outcomes and showed measurable
      deterioration over relatively short time frames. Interventions, with the
      potential to slow physical decline in people receiving maintenance dialysis, such
      as exercise programmes, warrant further investigation.

PMID- 26890470
TI  - Local Transmission of Zika Virus--Puerto Rico, November 23, 2015-January 28,
      2016.
AB  - Zika virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, spread to the Region of the Americas
      (Americas) in mid-2015, and appears to be related to congenital microcephaly and
      Guillain-Barre syndrome (1,2). On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization
      (WHO) declared the occurrence of microcephaly cases in association with Zika
      virus infection to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.* On
      December 31, 2015, Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) reported the first
      locally acquired (index) case of Zika virus disease in a jurisdiction of the
      United States in a patient from southeastern Puerto Rico. During November 23,
      2015-January 28, 2016, passive and enhanced surveillance for Zika virus disease
      identified 30 laboratory-confirmed cases. Most (93%) patients resided in eastern
      Puerto Rico or the San Juan metropolitan area. The most frequently reported signs
      and symptoms were rash (77%), myalgia (77%), arthralgia (73%), and fever (73%).
      Three (10%) patients were hospitalized. One case occurred in a patient
      hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome, and one occurred in a pregnant woman.
      Because the most common mosquito vector of Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is present
      throughout Puerto Rico, Zika virus is expected to continue to spread across the
      island. The public health response in Puerto Rico is being coordinated by PRDH
      with assistance from CDC. Clinicians in Puerto Rico should report all cases of
      microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and suspected Zika virus disease to PRDH.
      Other adverse reproductive outcomes, including fetal demise associated with Zika
      virus infection, should be reported to PRDH. To avoid infection with Zika virus,
      residents of and visitors to Puerto Rico, particularly pregnant women, should
      strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing pants and long
      sleeved shirts, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, using an
      Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, and ensuring
      that windows and doors have intact screens. 

PMID- 26890466
TI  - A therapeutic nanoparticle vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi in a BALB/c mouse
      model of Chagas disease.
AB  - Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, results in an acute febrile illness
      that progresses to chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy in 30% of patients. Current
      treatments have significant side effects and poor efficacy during the chronic
      phase; therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatment modalities. A robust
      TH1-mediated immune response correlates with favorable clinical outcomes. A
      therapeutic vaccine administered to infected individuals could bolster the immune
      response, thereby slowing or stopping the progression of chagasic cardiomyopathy.
      Prior work in mice has identified an efficacious T. cruzi DNA vaccine encoding
      Tc24. To elicit a similar protective cell-mediated immune response to a Tc24
      recombinant protein, we utilized a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle
      delivery system in conjunction with CpG motif-containing oligodeoxynucleotides as
      an immunomodulatory adjuvant. In a BALB/c mouse model, the vaccine produced a TH1
      biased immune response, as demonstrated by a significant increase in antigen
      specific IFNgamma-producing splenocytes, IgG2a titers, and proliferative capacity
      of CD8(+) T cells. When tested for therapeutic efficacy, significantly reduced
      systemic parasitemia was seen during peak parasitemia. Additionally, there was a
      significant reduction in cardiac parasite burden and inflammatory cell
      infiltrate. This is the first study demonstrating immunogenicity and efficacy of
      a therapeutic Chagas vaccine using a nanoparticle delivery system.

PMID- 26890469
TI  - A Poly(cobaloxime)/Carbon Nanotube Electrode: Freestanding Buckypaper with
      Polymer-Enhanced H2-Evolution Performance.
AB  - A freestanding H2-evolution electrode consisting of a copolymer-embedded
      cobaloxime integrated into a multiwall carbon nanotube matrix by pi-pi
      interactions is reported. This electrode is straightforward to assemble and
      displays high activity towards hydrogen evolution in near-neutral pH solution
      under inert and aerobic conditions, with a cobalt-based turnover number (TON(Co))
      of up to 420. An analogous electrode with a monomeric cobaloxime showed less
      activity with a TON(Co) of only 80. These results suggest that, in addition to
      the high surface area of the porous network of the buckypaper, the polymeric
      scaffold provides a stabilizing environment to the catalyst, leading to further
      enhancement in catalytic performance. We have therefore established that the use
      of a multifunctional copolymeric architecture is a viable strategy to enhance the
      performance of molecular electrocatalysts.

PMID- 26890471
TI  - Incidence and causes of maternal mortality in the USA.
AB  - AIM: To characterize the most common causes and risk factors of maternal
      mortality in the USA and observe trends over the past 9 years. METHODS: We
      carried out a population-based retrospective cohort study using data from the
      Health Care Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Women who
      were pregnant between 2003 and 2011 were identified. Baseline characteristics of
      pregnant women who died and those who lived were measured. ICD-9 codes for each
      cause of death were examined by up to three independent reviewers. Causes of
      death were categorized into the nine most common subgroups and trends were
      examined by tertiles of the period 2003-2011. RESULTS: During this 9-year period,
      there were approximately 7 million births and 1102 maternal deaths, for an
      overall incidence of 14.2 per 100 000 births. Primary causes of maternal death
      included sepsis (20.6%), cardiac disease (17.8%), hemorrhage (16.2%), venous
      thromboembolism (15.2%), and hypertensive disorders (9.4%). During the study
      period, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of sepsis from 33.2% to
      10.0% and a non-significant decrease in venous thromboembolism from 19.1% to
      12.9%. There were increases noted in all other groups, notably in terms of
      hemorrhage from 8.2% to 22.0% and hypertensive disorders from 2.1% to 16.4%.
      CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality remains a rare event. Although sepsis was the
      overall predominant cause of mortality during the study period, frequency
      declined over time and it was surpassed by hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders
      as the leading causes of maternal mortality.

PMID- 26890473
TI  - Endarterectomy, Stenting, or Neither for Asymptomatic Carotid-Artery Stenosis.

PMID- 26890474
TI  - Drain placement can safely be omitted for open partial nephrectomy: Results from
      a prospective randomized trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the benefit of drain placement during open partial
      nephrectomy. METHODS: Overall, 106 patients treated with open partial nephrectomy
      were enrolled in a prospective randomized trial. Based on the randomization, a
      drain was placed or omitted. Complications were assessed according to the Clavien
      classification. Pain level and requirement for analgesics was evaluated according
      to a customized pattern. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the two
      groups regarding age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists
      score, tumor size and nephrometry (preoperative aspects and dimensions used for
      an anatomical classification). In terms of overall and drain-related
      complications, no advantage of placing a drain could be proven (P = 0.249).
      Patients with a drain suffered from a significantly higher pain level (P = 0.01)
      and showed prolonged mobilization (P < 0.001). There was no difference in bowel
      movements and requirement of additional analgesics (P = 0.347 and 0.11).
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that drain placement during open
      partial nephrectomy can safely be omitted, even in cases with violation of the
      collecting system.

PMID- 26890475
TI  - Effect of Embelin Against Lipopolysaccharide-induced Sickness Behaviour in Mice.
AB  - Sickness behaviour is a coordinated set of adaptive behavioural changes that
      develop in ill individuals during the course of an infection. It is relevant to
      understanding depression and some aspects of the suffering that in cancer.
      Embelin has been reported to possess antiinflammatory, neuroprotective and
      anxiolytic assets and has been shown to inhibit nuclear factor kappaB pathway and
      cytokine production. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect
      of embelin isolated from Embelia ribes Burm in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
      sickness behaviour in mice. Adult male Swiss albino mice were pre-treated with
      embelin (10 and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days and
      then challenged with LPS (400 ug/kg, i.p.). At different time intervals of post
      LPS challenge, sickness behaviour was evaluated in the animals by battery of
      behavioural tests (plus maze, open field, light-dark box, forced swim, social
      behaviour assessment, sucrose preference and food and water intake). Levels of
      oxidative stress makers (reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation) in mice
      brain were also analysed. LPS induced behavioural alterations, anhedonia and
      anorexia, in mice. Pre-treatment with embelin attenuated behavioural changes
      induced by LPS. In addition, embelin prevented anhedonia, anorexia and
      ameliorated brain oxidative stress markers. The experimental outcomes of the
      present study demonstrated protective effect of embelin in LPS-induced sickness
      behaviour in mice. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26890476
TI  - Natural product modulators of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels as
      potential anti-cancer agents.
AB  - Treatment of cancer is a significant challenge in clinical medicine, and its
      research is a top priority in chemical biology and drug discovery. Consequently,
      there is an urgent need for identifying innovative chemotypes capable of
      modulating unexploited drug targets. The transient receptor potential (TRPs)
      channels persist scarcely explored as targets, despite intervening in a plethora
      of pathophysiological events in numerous diseases, including cancer. Both
      agonists and antagonists have proven capable of evoking phenotype changes leading
      to either cell death or reduced cell migration. Among these, natural products
      entail biologically pre-validated and privileged architectures for TRP
      recognition. Furthermore, several natural products have significantly contributed
      to our current knowledge on TRP biology. In this Tutorial Review we focus on
      selected natural products, e.g. capsaicinoids, cannabinoids and terpenes, by
      highlighting challenges and opportunities in their use as starting points for
      designing natural product-inspired TRP channel modulators. Importantly, the de
      orphanization of natural products as TRP channel ligands may leverage their
      exploration as viable strategy for developing anticancer therapies. Finally, we
      foresee that TRP channels may be explored for the selective pharmacodelivery of
      cytotoxic payloads to diseased tissues, providing an innovative platform in
      chemical biology and molecular medicine.

PMID- 26890472
TI  - Long-Term Results of Stenting versus Endarterectomy for Carotid-Artery Stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting
      Trial, we found no significant difference between the stenting group and the
      endarterectomy group with respect to the primary composite end point of stroke,
      myocardial infarction, or death during the periprocedural period or any
      subsequent ipsilateral stroke during 4 years of follow-up. We now extend the
      results to 10 years. METHODS: Among patients with carotid-artery stenosis who had
      been randomly assigned to stenting or endarterectomy, we evaluated outcomes every
      6 months for up to 10 years at 117 centers. In addition to assessing the primary
      composite end point, we assessed the primary end point for the long-term
      extension study, which was ipsilateral stroke after the periprocedural period.
      RESULTS: Among 2502 patients, there was no significant difference in the rate of
      the primary composite end point between the stenting group (11.8%; 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 9.1 to 14.8) and the endarterectomy group (9.9%; 95% CI, 7.9 to
      12.2) over 10 years of follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.44). With
      respect to the primary long-term end point, postprocedural ipsilateral stroke
      over the 10-year follow-up occurred in 6.9% (95% CI, 4.4 to 9.7) of the patients
      in the stenting group and in 5.6% (95% CI, 3.7 to 7.6) of those in the
      endarterectomy group; the rates did not differ significantly between the groups
      (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.52). No significant between-group
      differences with respect to either end point were detected when symptomatic
      patients and asymptomatic patients were analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS: Over 10
      years of follow-up, we did not find a significant difference between patients who
      underwent stenting and those who underwent endarterectomy with respect to the
      risk of periprocedural stroke, myocardial infarction, or death and subsequent
      ipsilateral stroke. The rate of postprocedural ipsilateral stroke also did not
      differ between groups. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and Abbott
      Vascular Solutions; CREST ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00004732.).

PMID- 26890477
TI  - Latent Tuberculosis Infection Test Agreement in the National Health and Nutrition
      Examination Survey.
AB  - RATIONALE: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) test discordance is poorly
      understood. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and predictors of tuberculin
      skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT) discordance in the
      U.S. METHODS: We analyzed data from a representative sample of the U.S.
      population ages 6 years and older who participated in the 2011-2012 National
      Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We determined prevalence estimates of
      test positivity, calculated test agreement and kappa statistics, and performed
      multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors of discordance.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: LTBI prevalence among the U.S. born ranged from
      0.6% to 2.8%, depending on how LTBI was defined, with test agreement 97.0% and
      kappa 0.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.36). Prevalence among the foreign
      born ranged from 9.1% to 20.3%, depending on how LTBI was defined, with test
      agreement 81.6% and kappa 0.38 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.44). TST(+)/QFT(
      ) discordance was associated with age, male sex, black race, Mexican-American
      ethnicity, previous TB exposure, and past LTBI treatment in U.S.-born
      participants, but only with higher lymphocyte count in foreign-born participants.
      TST(-)/QFT(+) discordance was associated with older age, previous TB exposure,
      and past LTBI treatment in U.S.-born participants and with older age, male sex,
      and past LTBI treatment in foreign-born participants. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest
      population-based sample of concurrently performed TST and QFT tests in a low
      tuberculosis incidence population, prevalence estimates depended heavily on how
      LTBI was defined and test agreement was only fair. We identified several
      predictors of discordance warranting further study.

PMID- 26890479
TI  - Reduction-Responsive Sheddable Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in Aqueous Solution.
AB  - A new approach to stabilize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous solution with a
      reduction-responsive water-soluble polymer is reported. The novel polymer
      synthesized by a controlled radical polymerization is functionalized with pendant
      pyrene groups capable of adhering to the surface of CNTs through pi-pi
      noncovalent interactions, and labeled with disulfide linkages to exhibit
      reduction-responsive cleavage. Upon the cleavage of junction disulfide linkages
      in a reducing environment, water-soluble polymers are shed, retaining clean CNT
      surfaces for electrochemical catalytic reactions.

PMID- 26890478
TI  - Dissociation of gemcitabine chemosensitization by CHK1 inhibition from cell cycle
      checkpoint abrogation and aberrant mitotic entry.
AB  - In order to determine the relative contribution of checkpoint abrogation and
      subsequent aberrant mitotic entry to gemcitabine chemosensitization by CHK1
      inhibition, we established a model utilizing the CDK inhibitors roscovitine or
      purvalanol A to re-establish cell cycle arrest and prevent aberrant mitotic entry
      in pancreatic cancer cells treated with gemcitabine and the CHK inhibitor
      AZD7762. In this study, we report that the extent of aberrant mitotic entry, as
      determined by flow cytometry for the mitotic marker phospho-Histone H3 (Ser10),
      did not reflect the relative sensitivities of pancreatic cancer cell lines to
      gemcitabine chemosensitization by AZD7762. In addition, re-establishing
      gemcitabine-induced cell cycle arrest either pharmacologically, with roscovitine
      or purvalanol A, or genetically, with cyclin B1 siRNA, did not inhibit
      chemosensitization uniformly across the cell lines. Furthermore, we found that
      AZD7762 augmented high-intensity gammaH2AX signaling in gemcitabine-treated
      cells, suggesting the presence of replication stress when CHK1 is inhibited.
      Finally, the ability of roscovitine to prevent chemosensitization correlated with
      its ability to inhibit AZD7762-induced high-intensity gammaH2AX, but not aberrant
      pHH3, suggesting that the effects of AZD7762 on DNA replication or repair rather
      than aberrant mitotic entry determine gemcitabine chemosensitization in
      pancreatic cancer cells. 

PMID- 26890481
TI  - Characterization of Polyketide Synthase Machinery from the pks Island Facilitates
      Isolation of a Candidate Precolibactin.
AB  - Colibactin is a human gut bacterial genotoxin of unknown structure that has been
      linked to colon cancer. The biosynthesis of this elusive metabolite is directed
      by the pks gene cluster, which encodes a hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase
      polyketide synthase (NRPS-PKS) assembly line that is hypothesized to use the
      unusual polyketide building block aminomalonate. This biosynthetic pathway is
      thought to initially produce an inactive intermediate (precolibactin) that is
      processed to the active toxin. Here, we report the first in vitro biochemical
      characterization of the PKS components of the pks enzymatic assembly line. We
      evaluate PKS extender unit utilization and show that ClbG, a freestanding
      acyltransferase (AT) from the pks gene cluster, recognizes aminomalonyl-acyl
      carrier protein (AM-ACP) and transfers this building block to multiple PKS
      modules, including a cis-AT PKS ClbI. We also use genetics to explore the in vivo
      role of ClbG in colibactin and precolibactin biosynthesis. Unexpectedly,
      production of previously identified pks-associated metabolites is dramatically
      increased in a DeltaclbP/DeltaclbG mutant strain, enabling the first structure
      elucidation of a bithiazole-containing candidate precolibactin. This work
      provides new insights into the unusual biosynthetic capabilities of the pks gene
      cluster, offers further support for the hypothesis that colibactin directly
      damages DNA, and suggests that additional, uncharacterized pks-derived
      metabolites containing aminomalonate play critical roles in genotoxicity.

PMID- 26890480
TI  - Poly(Limonene Thioether) Scaffold for Tissue Engineering.
AB  - A photocurable thiol-ene network polymer, poly(limonene thioether) (PLT32o), is
      synthesized, characterized, fabricated into tissue engineering scaffolds, and
      demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Micromolded PLT32o grids exhibit compliant,
      elastomeric mechanical behavior similar to grids made of poly(glycerol sebacate)
      (PGS), an established biomaterial. Multilayered PL32o scaffolds with regular,
      geometrically defined pore architectures support heart cell seeding and culture
      in a manner similar to multilayered PGS scaffolds. Subcutaneous implantation of
      multilayered PLT32o scaffolds with cultured heart cells provides long-term 3D
      structural support and retains the exogenous cells, whereas PGS scaffolds lose
      both their structural integrity and the exogenous cells over 31 d in vivo. PLT32o
      membrane implants retain their dry mass, whereas PGS implants lose 70 percent of
      their dry mass by day 31. Macrophages are initially recruited to PLT32o and PGS
      membrane implants but are no longer present by day 31. Facile synthesis and
      processing in combination with the capability to support heart cells in vitro and
      in vivo suggest that PLT32o can offer advantages for tissue engineering
      applications where prolonged in vivo maintenance of 3D structural integrity and
      elastomeric mechanical behavior are required. 

PMID- 26890482
TI  - High-throughput profiling of antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water
      treatment plants and distribution systems.
AB  - Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present in surface water and often cannot
      be completely eliminated by drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Improper
      elimination of the ARG-harboring microorganisms contaminates the water supply and
      would lead to animal and human disease. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to
      determine the most effective ways by which DWTPs can eliminate ARGs. Here, we
      tested water samples from two DWTPs and distribution systems and detected the
      presence of 285 ARGs, 8 transposases, and intI-1 by utilizing high-throughput
      qPCR. The prevalence of ARGs differed in the two DWTPs, one of which employed
      conventional water treatments while the other had advanced treatment processes.
      The relative abundance of ARGs increased significantly after the treatment with
      biological activated carbon (BAC), raising the number of detected ARGs from 76 to
      150. Furthermore, the final chlorination step enhanced the relative abundance of
      ARGs in the finished water generated from both DWTPs. The total enrichment of
      ARGs varied from 6.4-to 109.2-fold in tap water compared to finished water, among
      which beta-lactam resistance genes displayed the highest enrichment. Six
      transposase genes were detected in tap water samples, with the transposase gene
      TnpA-04 showing the greatest enrichment (up to 124.9-fold). We observed
      significant positive correlations between ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs)
      during the distribution systems, indicating that transposases and intI-1 may
      contribute to antibiotic resistance in drinking water. To our knowledge, this is
      the first study to investigate the diversity and abundance of ARGs in drinking
      water treatment systems utilizing high-throughput qPCR techniques in China. 

PMID- 26890483
TI  - Are intertidal soft sediment assemblages affected by repeated oil spill events? A
      field-based experimental approach.
AB  - This study investigates the impact of repeated diesel spills on the structure of
      intertidal macrofaunal assemblages of a subtropical estuary. Three frequencies of
      exposure events were compared against two dosages of oil in a factorial
      experiment with asymmetrical controls. Hypotheses were tested to distinguish
      between (i) the overall effect of oil spills, (ii) the effect of diesel dosage
      via different exposure regimes, and (iii) the effect of time since last spill.
      Repeated oil spills dramatically altered the overall structure of assemblages and
      reduced the total density of macrofauna and densities of dominant taxa.
      Increasing the frequency of oil spills negatively affected macrofauna. In
      general, frequent low-dosage oil spills were more deleterious than infrequent
      high-dosage ones. However, increases in densities of some taxa, mainly the
      gastropod Heleobia australis, were observed in response to infrequent spills. Our
      results highlight the importance of repeated exposure events in determining the
      extent of oil impacts. 

PMID- 26890484
TI  - Effects of diuron and carbofuran pesticides in their pure and commercial forms on
      Paramecium caudatum: The use of protozoan in ecotoxicology.
AB  - Toxic effects of diuron and carbofuran on Paramecium caudatum were evaluated.
      Acute and chronic tests were conducted with diuron and carbofuran active
      ingredients and their commercial formulations, Diuron Nortox((r)) 500 SC and
      Furadan((r)) 350 SC, respectively. The sensitivity range of P. caudatum to
      reference substance sodium chloride was established. A preliminary risk
      assessment of diuron and carbofuran for Brazilian water bodies was performed. The
      tests indicated that toxicity of pure diuron and its commercial formulation was
      similar, while the commercial product carbofuran was more toxic than its pure
      form. In acute tests, readings were carried out at 2, 3, 4 and 6 h and showed an
      increase of mortality with increasing exposure time. The sensitivity of P.
      caudatum to NaCl ranged from 3.31 to 4.44 g L(-1), averaging 3.88 g L(-1). For
      diuron, the 6 h LC50 was 64.6 +/- 3.3 mg L(-1) for its pure form and 62.4 +/- 2.5
      mg L(-1) for its commercial formulation. Carbofuran active ingredient was less
      toxic than that of diuron, presenting a 6 h LC50 of 142.0 +/- 2.4 mg L(-1) for
      its pure form and 70.4 +/- 2.2 mg L(-1) for its commercial product. Chronic tests
      showed that these pesticides cause significant decrease on population growth,
      generation number and biomass of P. caudatum. The 24 h IC50 was 7.10 +/- 0.58 mg
      L(-1) for pure diuron, 6.78 +/- 0.92 mg L(-1) for commercial diuron, 22.95 +/-
      3.57 mg L(-1) for pure carbofuran and 4.98 +/- 0.62 mg L(-1) for commercial
      carbofuran. Preliminary risk assessment indicated that diuron and carbofuran
      present potential ecological risks for Brazilian water bodies. P. caudatum was a
      suitable and sensitive test organism to evaluate diuron and carbofuran toxicity
      to freshwater protozooplankton and, taking into account the relevant role of
      protozoans in aquatic environments, we strongly recommend its inclusion in
      ecotoxicological studies. 

PMID- 26890485
TI  - Quantifying Transmission Investment in Malaria Parasites.
AB  - Many microparasites infect new hosts with specialized life stages, requiring a
      subset of the parasite population to forgo proliferation and develop into
      transmission forms. Transmission stage production influences infectivity, host
      exploitation, and the impact of medical interventions like drug treatment.
      Predicting how parasites will respond to public health efforts on both
      epidemiological and evolutionary timescales requires understanding transmission
      strategies. These strategies can rarely be observed directly and must typically
      be inferred from infection dynamics. Using malaria as a case study, we test
      previously described methods for inferring transmission stage investment against
      simulated data generated with a model of within-host infection dynamics, where
      the true transmission investment is known. We show that existing methods are
      inadequate and potentially very misleading. The key difficulty lies in separating
      transmission stages produced by different generations of parasites. We develop a
      new approach that performs much better on simulated data. Applying this approach
      to real data from mice infected with a single Plasmodium chabaudi strain, we
      estimate that transmission investment varies from zero to 20%, with evidence for
      variable investment over time in some hosts, but not others. These patterns
      suggest that, even in experimental infections where host genetics and other
      environmental factors are controlled, parasites may exhibit remarkably different
      patterns of transmission investment. 

PMID- 26890486
TI  - Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with virtual touch tissue
      quantification in the evaluation of focal liver lesions.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of virtual touch tissue
      quantification (VTQ) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), separately and
      in combination, in diagnosing malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs). METHODS:
      Forty-six patients with 55 FLLs (28 benign and 27 malignant) underwent both VTQ
      and CEUS. The diagnostic values of VTQ and CEUS, alone and in combination, were
      compared. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive
      predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of CEUS were 92.6%
      (25/27), 96.4% (27/28), 94.5% (52/55), 96.2% (25/26), and 93.1% (27/29),
      respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of
      VTQ with a cutoff of 2.22 m/s were 51.9% (14/27), 85.7% (24/28), 69.1% (38/55),
      77.8% (14/18), and 64.9% (24/37), respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity,
      specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of VTQ and CEUS combined were 96.3% (26/27),
      82.1% (23/28), 89.1% (49/55), 83.9% (26/31), and 95.8% (23/24), respectively.
      Comparing the accuracies of the three methods, the diagnostic values of CEUS and
      of the combination of CEUS with VTQ were significantly higher than those of VTQ
      alone (p <= 0.01). There was no significant difference between the combination of
      CEUS with VTQ and CEUS (p = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is superior to VTQ in
      diagnosing malignant FLLs. Adding VTQ to CEUS did not improve the diagnosis of
      FLLs. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:347-353, 2016.

PMID- 26890488
TI  - Under the Influence: The Interplay among Industry, Publishing, and Drug
      Regulation.
AB  - The relationships among academe, publishing, and industry can facilitate
      commercial bias in how drug efficacy and safety data are obtained, interpreted,
      and presented to regulatory bodies and prescribers. Through a critique of
      published and unpublished trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration
      (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval of a new
      antidepressant, vortioxetine, we present a case study of the "ghost management"
      of the information delivery process. We argue that currently accepted practices
      undermine regulatory safeguards aimed at protecting the public from unsafe or
      ineffective medicines. The economies of influence that may intentionally and
      unintentionally produce evidence-biased-rather than evidence-based-medicine are
      identified. This is not a simple story of author financial conflicts of interest,
      but rather a complex tale of ghost management of the entire process of bringing a
      drug to market. This case study shows how weak regulatory policies allow for
      design choices and reporting strategies that can make marginal products look
      novel, more effective, and safer than they are, and how the selective and
      imbalanced reporting of clinical trial data in medical journals results in the
      marketing of expensive "me-too" drugs with questionable risk/benefit profiles. We
      offer solutions for neutralizing these economies of influence.

PMID- 26890487
TI  - Productivity Loss Related to Neglected Tropical Diseases Eligible for Preventive
      Chemotherapy: A Systematic Literature Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) not only cause health and life
      expectancy loss, but can also lead to economic consequences including reduced
      ability to work. This article describes a systematic literature review of the
      effect on the economic productivity of individuals affected by one of the five
      worldwide most prevalent NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis,
      schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths (ascariasis, trichuriasis, and
      hookworm infection) and trachoma. These diseases are eligible to preventive
      chemotherapy (PCT). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Eleven bibliographic
      databases were searched using different names of all NTDs and various keywords
      relating to productivity. Additional references were identified through reference
      lists from relevant papers. Of the 5316 unique publications found in the database
      searches, thirteen papers were identified for lymphatic filariasis, ten for
      onchocerciasis, eleven for schistosomiasis, six for soil-transmitted helminths
      and three for trachoma. Besides the scarcity in publications reporting the degree
      of productivity loss, this review revealed large variation in the estimated
      productivity loss related to these NTDs. CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that
      productivity is affected by NTDs, although the actual impact depends on the type
      and severity of the NTD as well as on the context where the disease occurs. The
      largest impact on productivity loss of individuals affected by one of these
      diseases seems to be due to blindness from onchocerciasis and severe
      schistosomiasis manifestations; productivity loss due to trachoma-related
      blindness has never been studied directly. However, productivity loss at an
      individual level might differ from productivity loss at a population level
      because of differences in the prevalence of NTDs. Variation in estimated
      productivity loss between and within diseases is caused by differences in
      research methods and setting. Publications should provide enough information to
      enable readers to assess the quality and relevance of the study for their
      purposes.

PMID- 26890489
TI  - Complete genome analysis of hepatitis B virus in human immunodeficiency virus
      infected and uninfected South Africans.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are
      highly endemic in South Africa. Data on the complete genome sequences of HBV in
      HIV-positive patients in South Africa are scanty. This study characterized the
      complete HBV genome isolated from both HIV-positive and negative patients at the
      Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), Pretoria. Serum samples from nine
      (five HIV-positive and four HIV-negative) patients attending the DGMAH from 2007
      to 2011 were serologically tested, amplified, and sequenced for complete genome.
      Phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA6.0. Mutations were analyzed by
      comparing the sequences with genotype-matched GenBank references. Eight patients
      were HBsAg positive, with only one from the HIV positive group being negative.
      Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome sequences classified them into five
      genotypes; A1 (n = 4), A2 (n = 1), C1 (n = 2), D1 (n = 1), and D3 (n = 1).
      Deletions up to 35 nucleotides in length were identified in this study. No drug
      resistance mutations were identified in the P ORF, while the L217R mutation was
      identified in one subgenotype A2 sequence. The double (A1762T/G1764A) and triple
      (T1753C/A1762T/G1764A) mutations in the Basal core promoter were identified in
      four and two sequences, respectively. In the core region, mutation G1888A was
      identified in four of the subgenotype A1 sequences. In conclusion, this study has
      added to the limited South African data on HBV genotypes and mutations in HBV/HIV
      co-infected and HBV mono-infected patients, based on complete HBV genome
      analysis. Subgenotype A1 was predominant, and no drug-resistant mutants were
      detected in the study. J. Med. Virol. 88:1560-1566, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890491
TI  - Co-designing technologies in the context of hypertension care: Negotiating
      participation and technology use in design meetings.
AB  - : Research Interest: In this article, we take an interest in the new kind of
      relation that has been claimed to be urgently required between health services
      and patients. Co-production of health services implies fundamental changes in the
      ways medical care is organized and delivered. Usually, technologies are put forth
      as potential solutions to problems that might occur when establishing such new
      relations. AIMS: The aim of this study is to scrutinize how different
      perspectives were brought into the discussions as the concrete design and use of
      a mobile phone application were introduced, and how participants anticipated and
      negotiated their own participation in the design project. METHODS: This article
      reports results from an explorative study of a co-design project in hypertension
      care wherein health professionals and patients were invited to co-design some
      features of the application they were later to use. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The
      study shows that new practices of self-treatment are not likely to take place
      without the cooperation of patients, since they are to provide the observational
      data necessary for the professionals' work. The negotiations are needed to
      balance patients' concerns of being monitored by technology and their needs of
      being in control of their everyday lives and activities.

PMID- 26890490
TI  - Daily rhythmicity of high affinity copper transport.
AB  - A differential demand for copper (Cu) of essential cupro-proteins that act within
      the mitochondrial and chloroplastal electronic transport chains occurs along the
      daily light/dark cycles. This requires a fine-tuned spatiotemporal regulation of
      Cu delivery, becoming especially relevant under non-optimal growth conditions.
      When scarce, Cu is imported through plasma membrane-bound high affinity Cu
      transporters (COPTs) whose coding genes are transcriptionally induced by the SPL7
      transcription factor. Temporal homeostatic mechanisms are evidenced by the
      presence of multiple light- and clock-responsive regulatory cis elements in the
      promoters of both SPL7 and its COPT targets. A model is presented here for such
      temporal regulation that is based on the synchrony between the basal oscillatory
      pattern of SPL7 and its targets, such as COPT2. Conversely, Cu feeds back to
      coordinate intracellular Cu availability on the SPL7-dependent regulation of
      further Cu acquisition. This occurs via regulation at COPT transporters.
      Moreover, exogenous Cu affects several circadian-clock components, such as the
      timing of GIGANTEA transcript abundance. Together we propose that there is a
      dynamic response to Cu that is integrated over diurnal time to maximize metabolic
      efficiency under challenging conditions.

PMID- 26890492
TI  - Genome-Wide Chromatin Landscape Transitions Identify Novel Pathways in Early
      Commitment to Osteoblast Differentiation.
AB  - Bone continuously undergoes remodeling by a tightly regulated process that
      involves osteoblast differentiation from Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC). However,
      commitment of MSC to osteoblastic lineage is a poorly understood process.
      Chromatin organization functions as a molecular gatekeeper of DNA functions.
      Detection of sites that are hypersensitive to Dnase I has been used for detailed
      examination of changes in response to hormones and differentiation cues. To
      investigate the early steps in commitment of MSC to osteoblasts, we used a model
      human temperature-sensitive cell line, hFOB. When shifted to non-permissive
      temperature, these cells undergo "spontaneous" differentiation that takes several
      weeks, a process that is greatly accelerated by osteogenic induction media. We
      performed Dnase I hypersensitivity assays combined with deep sequencing to
      identify genome-wide potential regulatory events in cells undergoing early steps
      of commitment to osteoblasts. Massive reorganization of chromatin occurred within
      hours of differentiation. Whereas ~30% of unique DHS sites were located in the
      promoters, the majority was outside of the promoters, designated as enhancers.
      Many of them were at novel genomic sites and need to be confirmed experimentally.
      We developed a novel method for identification of cellular networks based solely
      on DHS enhancers signature correlated to gene expression. The analysis of
      enhancers that were unique to differentiating cells led to identification of bone
      developmental program encompassing 147 genes that directly or indirectly
      participate in osteogenesis. Identification of these pathways provided an
      unprecedented view of genomic regulation during early steps of differentiation
      and changes related to WNT, AP-1 and other pathways may have therapeutic
      implications. 

PMID- 26890493
TI  - The Relationship between Mental and Somatic Practices and Wisdom.
AB  - In this study we sought to explore how experience with specific mental and
      somatic practices is associated with wisdom, using self-report measures of
      experience and wisdom. We administered standard surveys to measure wisdom and
      experience among four groups of practitioners of mental and somatic practices,
      namely, meditators, practitioners of the Alexander Technique, practitioners of
      the Feldenkrais Method, and classical ballet dancers. We additionally
      administered surveys of trait anxiety and empathy to all participants to explore
      possible mediating relationships of experience and wisdom by characteristics
      thought to be components of wisdom. Wisdom was higher on average among meditation
      practitioners, and lowest among ballet dancers, and this difference held when
      controlling for differences in age between practices, supporting the view that
      meditation is linked to wisdom and that ballet is not. However, we found that
      increased experience with meditation and ballet were both positively associated
      with wisdom, and that lowered trait anxiety mediated this positive association
      among meditation practitioners, and, non-significantly, among ballet dancers.
      These results suggest that not all practices that are purported to affect mental
      processing are related to wisdom to the same degree and different kinds of
      experience appear to relate to wisdom in different ways, suggesting different
      mechanisms that might underlie the development of wisdom with experience. 

PMID- 26890494
TI  - Meeting report: Adaptation and communication of bacterial pathogens.
AB  - Bacteria usually live in complex environments, sharing niche and resources with
      other bacterial species, unicellular eukaryotic cells or complex organisms. Thus,
      they have evolved mechanisms to communicate, to compete and to adapt to changing
      environment as diverse as human tissues, animals or plants. Understanding the
      molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptation processes is therefore of
      primary importance for epidemiology and human health protection, and was the
      focus of a Current Trends in Biomedicine workshop organized by the International
      University of Andalucia in late October 2015 in Baeza (Spain). The topic was
      covered by complementary sessions: (i) interbacterial communication and
      competition that enable a better access to nutrients or a more efficient
      colonization of the ecological niche, (ii) adaptation of intracellular pathogens
      to their host, focusing on metabolic pathways, adaptive mechanisms and
      populational heterogeneity, and (iii) adaptation of animal and plant pathogens as
      well as plant-associated bacteria to a plant niche. This workshop emphasized the
      broad repertoire of mechanisms and factors bacteria have evolved to become
      efficient pathogens.

PMID- 26890495
TI  - Bortezomib-based triplets are associated with a high probability of dialysis
      independence and rapid renal recovery in newly diagnosed myeloma patients with
      severe renal failure or those requiring dialysis.
AB  - Renal failure (RF) is a common and severe complication of symptomatic myeloma,
      associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Such patients are commonly
      excluded from clinical trials. Bortezomib/dexamethasone (VD)-based regimens are
      the backbone of the treatment of newly diagnosed MM patients who present with
      severe RF even those requiring dialysis. We analyzed the outcomes of 83
      consecutive bortezomib-treated patients with severe RF (eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73
      m(2) ), of which 31 (37%) required dialysis. By IMWG renal response criteria, 54
      (65%) patients achieved at least MRrenal, including CRrenal in 35% and PRrenal in
      12%. Triplet combinations (i.e., VD plus a third agent) versus VD alone were
      associated with higher rates of renal responses (72 vs. 50%; P = 0.06). Fifteen
      of the 31 (48%) patients became dialysis independent within a median of 217 days
      (range 11-724). Triplets were associated with a higher probability of dialysis
      discontinuation (57 vs. 35%). Serum free light chain (sFLC) level >=11,550 mg/L
      was associated with lower rates of major renal response, longer time to major
      renal response, lower probability, and longer time to dialysis discontinuation.
      Rapid myeloma response (>=PR within the first month) was also associated with
      higher rates of renal response. Patients who became dialysis-independent had
      longer survival than those remaining on dialysis. In conclusion, VD-based
      triplets are associated with a significant probability of renal response and
      dialysis discontinuation, improving the survival of patients who became dialysis
      independent. Rapid disease response is important for renal recovery and sFLCs are
      predictive of the probability and of the time required for renal response.

PMID- 26890496
TI  - Quantitative Magnetic Separation of Particles and Cells Using Gradient Magnetic
      Ratcheting.
AB  - Extraction of rare target cells from biosamples is enabling for life science
      research. Traditional rare cell separation techniques, such as magnetic activated
      cell sorting, are robust but perform coarse, qualitative separations based on
      surface antigen expression. A quantitative magnetic separation technology is
      reported using high-force magnetic ratcheting over arrays of magnetically soft
      micropillars with gradient spacing, and the system is used to separate and
      concentrate magnetic beads based on iron oxide content (IOC) and cells based on
      surface expression. The system consists of a microchip of permalloy micropillar
      arrays with increasing lateral pitch and a mechatronic device to generate a
      cycling magnetic field. Particles with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along
      the miropillar array at larger pitches. A semi-analytical model is developed that
      predicts behavior for particles and cells. Using the system, LNCaP cells are
      separated based on the bound quantity of 1 MUm anti-epithelial cell adhesion
      molecule (EpCAM) particles as a metric for expression. The ratcheting cytometry
      system is able to resolve a +/-13 bound particle differential, successfully
      distinguishing LNCaP from PC3 populations based on EpCAM expression, correlating
      with flow cytometry analysis. As a proof-of-concept, EpCAM-labeled cells from
      patient blood are isolated with 74% purity, demonstrating potential toward a
      quantitative magnetic separation instrument. 

PMID- 26890497
TI  - Marginal mean models for zero-inflated count data.
AB  - Zero-inflated regression models have emerged as a popular tool within the
      parametric framework to characterize count data with excess zeros. Despite their
      increasing popularity, much of the literature on real applications of these
      models has centered around the latent class formulation where the mean response
      of the so-called at-risk or susceptible population and the susceptibility
      probability are both related to covariates. While this formulation in some
      instances provides an interesting representation of the data, it often fails to
      produce easily interpretable covariate effects on the overall mean response. In
      this article, we propose two approaches that circumvent this limitation. The
      first approach consists of estimating the effect of covariates on the overall
      mean from the assumed latent class models, while the second approach formulates a
      model that directly relates the overall mean to covariates. Our results are
      illustrated by extensive numerical simulations and an application to an oral
      health study on low income African-American children, where the overall mean
      model is used to evaluate the effect of sugar consumption on caries indices.

PMID- 26890498
TI  - Dual C-F, C-H Functionalization via Photocatalysis: Access to Multifluorinated
      Biaryls.
AB  - Multifluorinated biaryls are challenging to synthesize and yet are an important
      class of molecules. Because of the difficulty associated with selective
      fluorination, this class of molecules represent a formidable synthetic challenge.
      An alternative approach to selective fluorination of biaryls is to couple an
      arene that already possesses C-F bonds in the desired location. This strategy has
      been regularly utilized and relies heavily on traditional cross-coupling
      strategies that employ organometallics and halides (or pseudohalides) in order to
      achieve the coupling. Herein we report conditions for the photocatalytic coupling
      via direct functionalization of the C-F bond of a perfluoroarene and C-H bond of
      the other arene to provide an expedient route to multifluorinated biaryls. The
      mild conditions and good functional group tolerance enable a broad scope,
      including access to the anti-Minisci product of basic heterocycles. Finally, we
      demonstrate the value of the C-F functionalization approach by utilizing the high
      fluorine content to systematically build complex biaryls containing between two
      and five Caryl-F bonds via the synergistic use of photocatalysis and SNAr
      chemistry. 

PMID- 26890500
TI  - Negative outcomes of unbalanced opioid policy supported by clinicians,
      politicians, and the media.
AB  - Harmful and nonmedical use of prescription opioids has increased precipitously in
      the United States and some other countries in recent years, but not everywhere
      around the world. Addressing this problem requires attention to scientific data
      and to objective and balanced consideration of factors driving the problems.
      Unfortunately, the situation has been blurred by some politicians, health
      professionals, and the media by their using inadequate concepts, misrepresenting
      and exaggerating facts, and demonizing pain patients. In this article, we analyze
      what has occurred and present what we believe to be a balanced view of the
      problems. We advocate comprehensive drug control policies implemented in a way to
      reduce harmful use and diversion problems balancing the public health benefits
      and risks of opioid medications. We make recommendations for responsible
      prescribing, including implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) policy
      guidelines and similar United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC), which we
      believe can contribute measurably to the prevention of diversion of prescription
      opioids while ensuring patient access to the most appropriate medicines. Measures
      to reduce the risks of nonmedical use of opioid medicines should be based to the
      greatest extent possible on accurate evaluation of the mechanisms leading to such
      use, including diversion activities. 

PMID- 26890501
TI  - Mycobacterium arupense as an Emerging Cause of Tenosynovitis.

PMID- 26890502
TI  - Getting and Staying Active.

PMID- 26890503
TI  - PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RESVERATROL AND COUMARIC ACID ON TWO MAJOR GROUNDNUT
      PESTS AND THEIR EGG PARASITOID BEHAVIOR.
AB  - Groundnut, Arachis hypogea L., is one of the plant species that synthesizes
      phenolic compounds, resveratrol and coumaric acid. They are induced as a defense
      strategy in plant in response to feeding lepidopterans. The present study
      investigated the role of resveratrol and coumaric acid in producing antiherbivore
      effects as a direct defense against two major groundnut pests, Spodoptera litura
      F. and Amsacta albistriga W., and in indirect defense by attracting the egg
      parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii under laboratory conditions. The phenolic
      compounds deterred the feeding of both pests and caused reduction in the larval
      weights in a dose-dependent manner in leaf disk bioassays. Antioxidant mechanisms
      of larvae fed with these phenols were measured by estimating the activities of
      superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), and catalase (CAT).
      Enzyme activities increased significantly in experimental larvae, more so in
      resveratrol-treated than in coumaric acid treated larvae. Feeding larvae with
      resveratrol and coumaric acid resulted in enhanced activities of detoxifying
      enzymes, carboxyl esterase (EST), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the
      midgut tissues of both species, indicating the toxic nature of these compounds.
      Trichogramma chilonis was more attracted toward coumaric acid treatments in Y
      olfactometer tests than to resveratrol. This study contributes to the
      understanding of the roles of resveratrol and coumaric acid in direct as well as
      indirect defense, we infer a possible utilization of these compounds in alternate
      measures of groundnut pest control in future. 

PMID- 26890505
TI  - Local Free-Style Perforator Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstruction: An Update and
      a Useful Classification.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Any standard skin flap of the body including a detectable or
      identified perforator at its axis can be safely designed and harvested in a free
      style fashion. METHODS: Fifty-six local free-style perforator flaps in the head
      and neck region, 33 primary and 23 recycle flaps, were performed in 53 patients.
      The authors introduced the term "recycle" to describe a perforator flap harvested
      within the borders of a previously transferred flap. A Doppler device was
      routinely used preoperatively for locating perforators in the area adjacent to a
      given defect. The final flap design and degree of mobilization were decided
      intraoperatively, depending on the location of the most suitable perforator and
      the ability to achieve primary closure of the donor site. Based on clinical
      experience, the authors suggest a useful classification of local free-style
      perforator flaps. RESULTS: All primary and 20 of 23 recycle free-style perforator
      flaps survived completely, providing tension-free coverage and a pleasing final
      contour for patients. In the remaining three recycle cases, the skeletonization
      of the pedicle resulted in pedicle damage, because of surrounding
      postradiotherapy scarring and flap failure. All donor sites except one were
      closed primarily, and all of them healed without any complications. CONCLUSIONS:
      The free-style concept has significantly increased the potential and versatility
      of the standard local and recycled head and neck flap alternatives for moderate
      to large defects, providing a more robust, custom-made, tissue-sparing, and
      cosmetically superior outcome in a one-stage procedure, with minimal donor-site
      morbidity. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, V.

PMID- 26890506
TI  - Bacterial Biofilm Infection Detected in Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic
      Large-Cell Lymphoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A recent association between breast implants and the development of
      anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been observed. The purpose of this
      study was to identify whether bacterial biofilm is present in breast implant
      associated ALCL and, if so, to compare the bacterial microbiome to nontumor
      capsule samples from breast implants with contracture. METHODS: Twenty-six breast
      implant-associated ALCL samples were analyzed for the presence of biofilm by real
      time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing,
      fluorescent in situ hybridization, and scanning electron microscopy, and compared
      to 62 nontumor capsule specimens. RESULTS: Both the breast implant-associated
      ALCL and nontumor capsule samples yielded high mean numbers of bacteria (breast
      implant-associated ALCL, 4.7 * 10 cells/mg of tissue; capsule, 4.9 * 10 cells/mg
      of tissue). Analysis of the microbiome in breast implant-associated ALCL
      specimens showed significant differences with species identified in nontumor
      capsule specimens. There was a significantly greater proportion of Ralstonia spp.
      present in ALCL specimens compared with nontumor capsule specimens (p < 0.05). In
      contrast, significantly more Staphylococcus spp. were found associated with
      nontumor capsule specimens compared with breast implant-associated ALCL specimens
      (p < 0.001). Bacterial biofilm was visualized both on scanning electron
      microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: This novel finding
      of bacterial biofilm and a distinct microbiome in breast implant-associated ALCL
      samples points to a possible infectious contributing cause. Breast implants are
      widely used in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, and strategies to
      reduce their contamination should be more widely studied and practiced. CLINICAL
      QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, V.

PMID- 26890507
TI  - A Comparison of the Full and Short-Scar Face-Lift Incision Techniques in Multiple
      Sets of Identical Twins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Choosing the ideal face-lift technique for a patient presents an
      added challenge for the plastic surgeon. With the multitude of well-established
      variations of this procedure, it would be beneficial to define which facioplasty
      technique produces the optimal result. By comparing the postoperative results
      from two of the most popularized face-lift incision techniques in monozygotic
      twins, it is hypothesized that the "best" technique may be determined. METHODS:
      Four sets of identical twins and one set of identical triplets underwent face
      lift surgery performed by the senior author (D.E.A.). Incision technique
      selection was randomized, with the first-born twin undergoing the full-incision
      operation. Short- and long-term postoperative photographs were taken at
      approximately 1 and 5 years and subsequently graded by eight board-certified
      plastic surgeons with over 100 years of combined experience. RESULTS: Data
      obtained from this study suggest that no difference between these incisions
      exists at the shorter term follow-up. However, analysis of the long-term follow
      up revealed a significant difference between the average scores assigned to the
      neck region, with the full-incision technique receiving a higher score.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that at the short-term follow-up, both the
      short-scar and full-incision techniques yield comparable results. However, at the
      longer term follow-up, a significant difference appears between the two
      procedures exclusively in the neck region. Although a shorter incision is
      appealing to the patient and surgeon, this study suggests that the full incision
      may offer a superior long-term result in the neck. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

PMID- 26890508
TI  - Which Factors Are Associated with Open Reduction of Adult Mandibular Condylar
      Injuries?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the
      decision to perform open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular condylar
      fractures. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with
      mandibular condylar fractures managed by the plastic and reconstructive surgery,
      oral and maxillofacial surgery, and otorhinolaryngology services over a 15-year
      period. Bivariate associations and a multiple logistic regression model were
      computed for injury characteristics that were associated with open reduction and
      internal fixation. For all analyses, a value of p <= 0.05 was considered
      significant. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-four condylar injuries were identified in
      547 patients. The sample's mean age was 36.0 +/- 16.5 years, 20.5 percent were
      women, and 63 percent were Caucasian. The most common mechanisms of injury were
      motor vehicle collisions (49 percent), 53.4 percent involved the subcondylar
      region and 20 percent were bilateral injuries. Associated noncondylar mandibular
      fractures were present in 60 percent of cases; 20.7 percent were managed with
      open reduction and internal fixation. The overall complication rate was 21.6
      percent. In a multiple logistic regression model, factors associated with an
      increased likelihood of open reduction and internal fixation were the presence of
      extracondylar mandibular injuries, condylar neck or subcondylar region injuries,
      increasing dislocation, and treatment by plastic and reconstructive surgery/oral
      and maxillofacial surgery (p <= 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing severity of
      mandibular injury, lower level of fracture, joint dislocation, and treatment by
      plastic and reconstructive surgery/oral and maxillofacial surgery are associated
      with open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular condylar injuries.
      CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

PMID- 26890509
TI  - Midcarpal and Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid Arthritis in Patients with Carpometacarpal
      Arthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Carpometacarpal arthroplasty provides well-documented pain relief
      with preservation of thenar function in basal joint arthritis treatment.
      Nevertheless, some patients continue to have pain following surgery. The authors
      hypothesize that unrecognized midcarpal (capitolunate) arthritis is a contributor
      to persistent pain after carpometacarpal arthroplasty. The prevalence of
      midcarpal arthritis in patients with basal joint arthritis is unknown. This
      article establishes the radiographic prevalence of midcarpal arthritis in
      patients with carpometacarpal arthritis. METHODS: Patients with basal joint
      arthritis were identified from a search using International Classification of
      Diseases, Ninth Revision code 716.94. Hand radiographs were reviewed and graded
      using the Eaton classification and Sodha classification for carpometacarpal
      arthritis. Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid arthritis and midcarpal arthritis were graded
      using the Sodha classification for arthritis as follows: grade 1, no or nearly no
      arthrosis; grade 2, definite arthrosis but not severe; and grade 3, severe
      arthrosis. RESULTS: Eight hundred ninety-six radiographs were reviewed. The
      prevalence of scaphotrapeziotrapezoid arthritis in this population was 64
      percent. The prevalence of midcarpal arthritis in this population was 23.5
      percent. The prevalence of midcarpal arthritis in patients with radiologic
      evidence of carpometacarpal arthritis was 25.4 percent. The prevalence of severe
      midcarpal arthritis was 7 percent. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of midcarpal
      arthritis in patients with basal joint arthritis is 24 percent. The presence of
      two locations of arthritis may explain persistent hand and wrist pain in this
      population despite carpometacarpal arthroplasty. Clinically, these data will
      allow hand surgeons to better educate patients with basal joint arthritis
      regarding the possibility of incomplete pain relief following carpometacarpal
      arthroplasty.

PMID- 26890510
TI  - Growth Hormone Therapy Accelerates Axonal Regeneration, Promotes Motor
      Reinnervation, and Reduces Muscle Atrophy following Peripheral Nerve Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Therapies to improve outcomes following peripheral nerve injury are
      lacking. Prolonged denervation of muscle and Schwann cells contributes to poor
      outcomes. In this study, the authors assess the effects of growth hormone therapy
      on axonal regeneration, Schwann cell and muscle maintenance, and end-organ
      reinnervation in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sciatic nerve
      transection and repair and femoral nerve transection without repair and received
      either daily subcutaneous growth hormone (0.4 mg/day) or no treatment (n = 8 per
      group). At 5 weeks, the authors assessed axonal regeneration within the sciatic
      nerve, muscle atrophy within the gastrocnemius muscle, motor endplate
      reinnervation within the soleus muscle, and Schwann cell proliferation within the
      denervated distal femoral nerve. RESULTS: Growth hormone-treated animals
      demonstrated greater percentage increase in body mass (12.2 +/- 1.8 versus 8.5 +/
      1.5; p = 0.0044), greater number of regenerating myelinated axons (13,876 +/-
      2036 versus 8645 +/- 3279; p = 0.0018) and g-ratio (0.64 +/- 0.11 versus 0.51 +/-
      0.06; p = 0.01), greater percentage reinnervation of motor endplates (75.8 +/-
      8.7 versus 38.2 +/- 22.6; p = 0.0008), and greater muscle myofibril cross
      sectional area (731.8 +/- 157 MUm versus 545.2 +/- 144.3 MUm; p = 0.027).
      CONCLUSIONS: In male rats, growth hormone therapy accelerates axonal
      regeneration, reduces muscle atrophy, and promotes muscle reinnervation. Growth
      hormone therapy may also maintain proliferating Schwann cells in the setting of
      prolonged denervation. These findings suggest potential for improved outcomes
      with growth hormone therapy after peripheral nerve injuries.

PMID- 26890511
TI  - A New Technique to Improve Velopharyngeal Dysfunction by Combining the Radical
      Intravelar Veloplasty and Overlapping Intravelar Veloplasty for Primary
      Palatoplasty.

PMID- 26890512
TI  - Fibrous Dysplasia: Management of the Optic Canal.

PMID- 26890513
TI  - Abdominoplasty: Risk Factors, Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined
      Procedures.

PMID- 26890514
TI  - Labia Minora Reduction: A Growing Female Need.

PMID- 26890515
TI  - Dynamics of Gluteal Cleft Morphology in Lower Body Lift: Predictors of
      Unfavorable Outcomes.

PMID- 26890516
TI  - Reply: Progressive Tightening of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle Improves
      Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Early Outcomes of Primary Palatoplasty.

PMID- 26890517
TI  - Reply: Dynamics of Gluteal Cleft Morphology in Lower Body Lift: Predictors of
      Unfavorable Outcomes.

PMID- 26890518
TI  - Reply: Growing Body of Evidence Supports Safety of Female Genital Cosmetic
      Surgery.

PMID- 26890519
TI  - Comparison of Outcomes for Normal Saline and an Antiseptic Solution for Negative
      Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation.

PMID- 26890521
TI  - Reply: Fibrous Dysplasia: Management of the Optic Canal.

PMID- 26890520
TI  - Reply: Abdominoplasty: Risk Factors, Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined
      Procedures.

PMID- 26890522
TI  - Activity capacity and activity performance: time to be specific?

PMID- 26890524
TI  - Utilizing stem cells for three-dimensional neural tissue engineering.
AB  - Three-dimensional neural tissue engineering has made great strides in developing
      neural disease models and replacement tissues for patients. However, the need for
      biomimetic tissue models and effective patient therapies remains unmet. The
      recent push to expand 2D neural tissue engineering into the third dimension shows
      great potential to advance the field. Another area which has much to offer to
      neural tissue engineering is stem cell research. Stem cells are well known for
      their self-renewal and differentiation potential and have been shown to give rise
      to tissues with structural and functional properties mimicking natural organs.
      Application of these capabilities to 3D neural tissue engineering may be highly
      useful for basic research on neural tissue structure and function, engineering
      disease models, designing tissues for drug development, and generating
      replacement tissues with a patient's genetic makeup. Here, we discuss the vast
      potential, as well as the current challenges, unique to integration of 3D
      fabrication strategies and stem cells into neural tissue engineering. We also
      present some of the most significant recent achievements, including nerve
      guidance conduits to facilitate better healing of nerve injuries, functional 3D
      biomimetic neural tissue models, physiologically relevant disease models for
      research purposes, and rapid and effective screening of potential drugs. 

PMID- 26890523
TI  - Universal Molecular Scaffold for Facile Construction of Multivalent and
      Multimodal Imaging Probes.
AB  - Multivalent and multimodal imaging probes are rapidly emerging as powerful
      chemical tools for visualizing various biochemical processes. Herein, we
      described a bifunctional chelator (BFC)-based scaffold that can be used to
      construct such promising probes concisely. Compared to other reported similar
      scaffolds, this new BFC scaffold demonstrated two major advantages: (1)
      significantly simplified synthesis due to the use of this new BFC that can serve
      as chelator and linker simultaneously; (2) highly efficient synthesis rendered by
      using either click chemistry and/or total solid-phase synthesis. In addition, the
      versatile utility of this molecular scaffold has been demonstrated by
      constructing several multivalent/multimodal imaging probes labeled with various
      radioisotopes, and the resulting radiotracers demonstrated substantially improved
      in vivo performance compared to the two individual monomeric counterparts. 

PMID- 26890525
TI  - Full Genome Sequence-Based Comparative Study of Wild-Type and Vaccine Strains of
      Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus from Italy.
AB  - Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an acute and highly contagious respiratory
      disease of chickens caused by an alphaherpesvirus, infectious laryngotracheitis
      virus (ILTV). Recently, full genome sequences of wild-type and vaccine strains
      have been determined worldwide, but none was from Europe. The aim of this study
      was to determine and analyse the complete genome sequences of five ILTV strains.
      Sequences were also compared to reveal the similarity of strains across time and
      to discriminate between wild-type and vaccine strains. Genomes of three ILTV
      field isolates from outbreaks occurred in Italy in 1980, 2007 and 2011, and two
      commercial chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccines were sequenced using the 454 Life
      Sciences technology. The comparison with the Serva genome showed that 35 open
      reading frames (ORFs) differed across the five genomes. Overall, 54 single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 27 amino acid differences in 19 ORFs and two
      insertions in the UL52 and ORFC genes were identified. Similarity among the field
      strains and between the field and the vaccine strains ranged from 99.96% to
      99.99%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship among them, as well.
      This study generated data on genomic variation among Italian ILTV strains
      revealing that, even though the genetic variability of the genome is well
      conserved across time and between wild-type and vaccine strains, some mutations
      may help in differentiating among them and may be involved in ILTV
      virulence/attenuation. The results of this study can contribute to the
      understanding of the molecular bases of ILTV pathogenicity and provide genetic
      markers to differentiate between wild-type and vaccine strains. 

PMID- 26890527
TI  - Slope Transit Time (STT): A Pulse Transit Time Proxy requiring Only a Single
      Signal Fiducial Point.
AB  - A novel pulse transit time proxy measurement, slope transit time (STT), is
      proposed in this letter. STT is based on geometrical considerations of the
      arriving photoplethysmographic cardiac waveform and its computation requires only
      the measurement of a single point on each cardiac beat arriving at the peripheral
      site. This novel transit time is explained conceptually and its implementation
      illustrated through its application to signals from respiratory effort, Muller
      maneuver, and obstructive sleep apnea trials.

PMID- 26890528
TI  - Computer-Aided Endoscopic Diagnosis Without Human-Specific Labeling.
AB  - GOAL: Most state-of-the-art computer-aided endoscopic diagnosis methods require
      pixelwise labeled data to train various supervised machine learning models.
      However, it is a tedious and time-consuming work to collect sufficient precisely
      labeled image data. Fortunately, we can easily obtain huge endoscopic medical
      reports including the diagnostic text and images, which can be considered as
      weakly labeled data. METHODS: In this paper, our motivation is to design a new
      computer-aided endoscopic diagnosis system without human specific labeling; in
      comparison with most state of the arts, ours only depends on the endoscopic
      images with weak labels mined from the diagnostic text. To achieve this, we first
      cast the endoscopic image folder and included images as bag and instances and
      represent each instance based on the global bag-of-words model. We then adopt a
      feature mapping scheme to represent each bag by mining the most suspicious lesion
      instance from each positive bag automatically. In order to achieve self-online
      updating from sequential new coming data, an online metric learning method is
      used to optimize the bag-level classification. RESULTS: Our computer-aided
      endoscopic diagnosis system achieves an AUC of 0.93 on a new endoscopic image
      dataset captured from 424 volunteers with more than 12k images. CONCLUSION: The
      system performance outperforms other state of the arts when we mine the most
      positive instances from positive bags and adopt the online phase to mine more
      information from the unseen bags. SIGNIFICANCE: We present the first weakly
      labeled endoscopic image dataset for computer-aided endoscopic diagnosis and a
      novel system that is suitable for use in clinical settings.

PMID- 26890526
TI  - DNA methylation variation of human-specific Alu repeats.
AB  - DNA methylation is the major repression mechanism for human retrotransposons,
      such as the Alu family. Here, we have determined the methylation levels
      associated with 5238 loci belonging to 2 Alu subfamilies, AluYa5 and AluYb8,
      using high-throughput targeted repeat element bisulfite sequencing (HT-TREBS).
      The results indicate that ~90% of loci are repressed by high methylation levels.
      Of the remaining loci, many of the hypomethylated elements are found near gene
      promoters and show high levels of DNA methylation variation. We have
      characterized this variation in the context of tumorigenesis and interindividual
      differences. Comparison of a primary breast tumor and its matched normal tissue
      revealed early DNA methylation changes in ~1% of AluYb8 elements in response to
      tumorigenesis. Simultaneously, AluYa5/Yb8 elements proximal to promoters also
      showed differences in methylation of up to one order of magnitude, even between
      normal individuals. Overall, the current study demonstrates that early loss of
      methylation occurs during tumorigenesis in a subset of young Alu elements,
      suggesting their potential clinical relevance. However, approaches such as deep
      bisulfite-sequencing of individual loci using HT-TREBS are required to
      distinguish clinically relevant loci from the background observed for AluYa5/Yb8
      elements in general with regard to high levels of interindividual variation in
      DNA methylation. 

PMID- 26890529
TI  - A Quaternion Weighted Fourier Linear Combiner for Modeling Physiological Tremor.
AB  - GOAL: This paper offers a new approach to model physiological tremor aiming at
      attenuating undesired vibrations of the tip of microsurgical instruments. METHOD:
      Several tremor modeling algorithms, such as the weighted Fourier linear combiner
      (wFLC), have proved effective. They, however, treat the three-dimensional (3-D)
      tremor signal as three independent 1-D signals in the x-, y-, and z-axes. In
      addition, the force f by which a surgeon holds the instrument has never been
      taken into account in modeling. Hence, conventional algorithms are inherently
      blind to any potential multidimensional couplings. RESULTS: We first show that
      there exists statistically significant subject- and task-dependent coherence
      between data in the x-, y-, z -, and f-axes. We hypothesize that a filter that
      models the tremor in 4-D ( x , y, z, and f ) yields a more accurate model of
      tremor. We, therefore, developed a quaternion version of the wFLC algorithm and
      termed it QwFLC. We tested the proposed QwFLC algorithm with real physiological
      tremor data that were recorded from five novice subjects and four experienced
      microsurgeons. Although compared to wFLC, QwFLC requires six times larger
      computational resources, we showed that QwFLC can improve the modeling by up to
      67% and that the improvement is proportional to the total coherence between the
      tremor in xyz and the force signal. CONCLUSION: By taking into account
      interactions of the 3-D tremor and the force data, the tremor modeling
      performance enhances significantly.

PMID- 26890533
TI  - The changing 'face' of wait-listed patients in the USA.

PMID- 26890530
TI  - A Probabilistic Analysis of Muscle Force Uncertainty for Control.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We control the movements of our body and limbs through our muscles.
      However, the forces produced by our muscles depend unpredictably on the commands
      sent to them. This uncertainty has two sources: irreducible noise in the motor
      system's processes (i.e., motor noise) and variability in the relationship
      between muscle commands and muscle outputs (i.e., model uncertainty). Any
      controller, neural or artificial, benefits from estimating these uncertainties
      when choosing commands. METHODS: To examine these benefits, we used an
      experimental preparation of the rat hindlimb to electrically stimulate muscles
      and measure the resulting isometric forces. We compare a functional electric
      stimulation (FES) controller that represents and compensates for uncertainty in
      muscle forces with a standard FES controller that neglects uncertainty. RESULTS:
      Accounting for uncertainty substantially increased the precision of force
      control. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the theoretical and practical
      benefits of representing muscle uncertainty when computing muscle commands.
      SIGNIFICANCE: The findings are relevant beyond FES as they highlight the benefits
      of estimating statistical properties of muscles for both artificial controllers
      and the nervous system.

PMID- 26890532
TI  - Optical Input/Electrical Output Memory Elements based on a Liquid Crystalline
      Azobenzene Polymer.
AB  - Responsive polymer materials can change their properties when subjected to
      external stimuli. In this work, thin films of thermotropic
      poly(metha)acrylate/azobenzene polymers are explored as active layer in light
      programmable, electrically readable memories. The memory effect is based on the
      reversible modifications of the film morphology induced by the photoisomerization
      of azobenzene mesogenic groups. When the film is in the liquid crystalline phase,
      the trans -> cis isomerization induces a major surface reorganization on the
      mesoscopic scale that is characterized by a reduction in the effective thickness
      of the film. The film conductivity is measured in vertical two-terminal devices
      in which the polymer is sandwiched between a Au contact and a liquid compliant E
      GaIn drop. We demonstrate that the trans -> cis isomerization is accompanied by a
      reversible 100-fold change in the film conductance. In this way, the device can
      be set in a high- or low-resistance state by light irradiation at different
      wavelengths. This result paves the way toward the potential use of
      poly(metha)acrylate/azobenzene polymer films as active layer for optical
      input/electrical output memory elements. 

PMID- 26890534
TI  - Efficacy of MLC601 on functional recovery after stroke: A systematic review and
      meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) MLC601 has shown
      promising results on functional recovery of patients after stroke. This study
      aimed to evaluate the pooled effect of its efficacy. METHODS: Systematic review
      and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing efficacy of
      MLC601 vs other TCM compounds or placebo. The pooled effect was the relative risk
      (RR) combined by random effects model. A prediction effect interval was estimated
      for new studies and a cumulative meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four
      studies comprising five RCTs were included. The pooled RR was 1.64 (95% CI = 1.05
      2.57; p-value = 0.031) favouring MLC601, but heterogeneity was large (I(2) = 80%;
      Q-test p-value = 0.0005). Therefore, the prediction interval was wide and
      consistent with a null effect (RR range = 0.36-7.45). The cumulative meta
      analysis showed a decreasing pattern of effect size through time, with higher
      effects for trials comparing MLC601 vs other TCM and a systematic decrease of the
      pooled effect when including later trials comparing MLC601 vs placebo.
      CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on the efficacy of MLC601 has decreased over time and when
      the comparison arm is placebo instead of other TCM compound. Current evidence
      suggests MLC601 does not outperform placebo on functional recovery after stroke.

PMID- 26890535
TI  - Trait and State Variance in Multi-Informant Assessments of ADHD and Academic
      Impairment in Spanish First-Grade Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the stable trait and variable state components of ADHD
      inattention (IN), ADHD-hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), and academic impairment
      (AI) dimensions using mothers', fathers', primary and secondary teachers' ratings
      of children's behavior at home and school. We also examined between-informant
      agreement with regard to trait and state components. METHOD: Mothers, fathers,
      primary and secondary teachers rated HI, IN, and AI in N = 758 Spanish first
      grade children (55% boys) over three measurement occasions across 12 months.
      RESULTS: Latent state-trait analyses revealed that mothers', fathers', and
      primary teachers' (but not secondary teachers') ratings reflected more trait
      variance for ADHD-HI (M = 73%), ADHD-IN (M = 74%), and AI (M = 76%) than occasion
      specific variance (M = 27%, M = 26%, and M = 24%, respectively). Fathers' ratings
      shared a meaningful level of trait variance with mothers' ratings of ADHD-HI and
      ADHD-IN (range 78% to 82%), whereas primary and secondary teachers' ratings
      shared lower levels of trait variance with mothers' ratings (range 41% to 63%).
      The trait components of fathers', primary teachers', and secondary teachers'
      ratings of AI showed high levels of convergence with mothers' ratings (88%, 70%,
      and 59% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ADHD symptom reports reflect both trait (48
      to 86%) and state (14 to 53%) variance components. The lower amount of shared
      variability between home and school suggests the setting-specificity of trait and
      state components of ADHD symptoms. Our findings indicate that ADHD symptom
      reports may reflect context-specific traits, suggesting the importance of
      differentiating and targeting ADHD behaviors across different settings.

PMID- 26890536
TI  - Is laparoscopic live donor hepatectomy justified ethically?
AB  - Live donor liver transplant (LDLT) was first reported in the 1990s and quickly
      raised ethical considerations, mainly related to the risk brought to the donor.
      The question of donor safety was even more accurate with the occurrence of
      laparoscopy, a technique which could allegedly increase the risk of severe
      intraoperative complications. Besides the questions of justice and autonomy,
      donor safety remains the main ethical debate of LDLT. Considering the lack of
      comparative assessment of postoperative outcomes, the Jury of the last Consensus
      meeting held in Japan in 2014 called for the creation of international registries
      to help to determine the benefit/risk ratio of laparoscopic donor hepatectomy.
      Since randomized studies are very unlikely to occur, benchmarking comparisons,
      between liver and kidney donors for instance, may also help to define standard
      practice. At last, donors' points of view should also be taken into account in
      the evaluation of those innovative procedures. 

PMID- 26890538
TI  - Multiple Gongylonema pulchrum worms in a human esophagus.

PMID- 26890537
TI  - The impact of introducing biologics to patients with rheumatoid arthritis in
      Taiwan: a population-based trend study.
AB  - AIM: The biologics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with a
      catastrophic illness certificate have been free without co-payment since 2003 in
      Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to explore the trend of health care
      expenditures and the cost of biologics for the treatment of RA patients between
      1999 and 2009. METHODS: This study used a specially requested nation-wide RA
      patient claim dataset from National Health Insurance program. We identified all
      patients by both the primary diagnosis code ICD-9-CM 714.0 and the catastrophic
      illness certificate for RA. A total of 30 013 patients were recorded in the
      treated RA cohort from 1999 to 2009.The growth rates before and after introducing
      biologics were compared and tested. RESULTS: We found that from 1999 to 2009 the
      adjusted incidence rate for RA stably increased. Drug costs accounted for 53.2
      70.3% of the total medical cost during the study period. There was a significant
      increase in biologics cost, climbing rapidly from 2.8% in 2003 to 60.4% of the
      total drug cost in 2009. The growth rate of outpatient drug costs was much higher
      after the introduction of biologics (2003-2009), which was 207.8% versus 42.0% as
      compared to the earlier period (1999-2002). Biologics such as etanercept,
      adalimumab and rituximab, were the crucial factors responsible for this increase
      in drug cost. CONCLUSIONS: The financial impact of adopting new biologics on
      healthcare costs is a critical issue that needs to be addressed by the National
      Health Insurance.

PMID- 26890539
TI  - Simultaneous side-by-side self-expanding metal stent placement using a two
      channel endoscope for a bilioenteric stricture after Child's resection.

PMID- 26890540
TI  - Serrated polyposis syndrome: a silent killer when undetected.

PMID- 26890541
TI  - Robotic double-loop reconstruction method following total gastrectomy.

PMID- 26890542
TI  - Endoscopic submucosal dissection of a nonpolypoid superficial neoplasm of the
      terminal ileum.

PMID- 26890543
TI  - Over-the-scope clip-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection after incomplete
      resection of rectal adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 26890544
TI  - Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding caused by intestinal lipomatosis: double
      balloon endoscopic and laparoscopic views.

PMID- 26890545
TI  - Endoscopic Zenker diverticulotomy using the window technique: a technical trick
      to improve the field of view.

PMID- 26890546
TI  - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy allows successful endoscopic removal of a
      fractured stone basket trapped in the pancreatic duct.

PMID- 26890547
TI  - "Underwater" endoscopic submucosal dissection: a novel technique for complete
      resection of a rectal neuroendocrine tumor.

PMID- 26890548
TI  - Endoscopic resection of a giant esophageal fibrovascular polyp.

PMID- 26890549
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transesophageal pericardiocentesis: an alternative
      approach to a pericardial effusion.

PMID- 26890550
TI  - Transversal spin freezing and re-entrant spin glass phases in chemically
      disordered Fe-containing perovskite multiferroics.
AB  - We propose experimental verification and theoretical explanation of magnetic
      anomalies in the complex Fe-containing perovskite multiferroics like
      PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3 and PbFe1/2Ta1/2O3. The theoretical part is based on our model of
      coexistence of the long-range magnetic order and spin glass in the above
      compounds. In our model, the exchange interaction is anisotropic, coupling
      antiferromagnetically z spin components of Fe(3+) ions. At the same time, the xy
      components are coupled by much weaker exchange interaction of ferromagnetic sign.
      In the system with spatial disorder (half of the corresponding lattice sites are
      occupied by spinless Nb(5+) ions) such frustrating interaction results in the
      fact that the antiferromagnetic order is formed by the z projection of the spins,
      while their xy components contribute to spin glass behaviour. Our theoretical
      findings are supported by the experimental evidence of such a coexistence of
      antiferromagnetic and spin glass phases in chemically disordered Fe-containing
      complex perovskite multiferroics. 

PMID- 26890551
TI  - Imaging Membrane Potential with Two Types of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent
      Voltage Sensors.
AB  - Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) have improved to the point where
      they are beginning to be useful for in vivo recordings. While the ultimate goal
      is to image neuronal activity in vivo, one must be able to image activity of a
      single cell to ensure successful in vivo preparations. This procedure will
      describe how to image membrane potential in a single cell to provide a foundation
      to eventually image in vivo. Here we describe methods for imaging GEVIs
      consisting of a voltage-sensing domain fused to either a single fluorescent
      protein (FP) or two fluorescent proteins capable of Forster resonance energy
      transfer (FRET) in vitro. Using an image splitter enables the projection of
      images created by two different wavelengths onto the same charge-coupled device
      (CCD) camera simultaneously. The image splitter positions a second filter cube in
      the light path. This second filter cube consists of a dichroic and two emission
      filters to separate the donor and acceptor fluorescent wavelengths depending on
      the FPs of the GEVI. This setup enables the simultaneous recording of both the
      acceptor and donor fluorescent partners while the membrane potential is
      manipulated via whole cell patch clamp configuration. When using a GEVI
      consisting of a single FP, the second filter cube can be removed allowing the
      mirrors in the image splitter to project a single image onto the CCD camera. 

PMID- 26890552
TI  - The impact of low-dose aspirin on preterm birth: secondary analysis of a
      randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether low-dose aspirin
      (LDA) reduced the rate of preterm birth (PTB) in a cohort of women at high risk
      for preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine
      Units High-Risk Aspirin trial. Preterm births were categorized by phenotype:
      indicated, spontaneous or due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROMs).
      RESULTS: Of 1789 randomized women, 30.5% delivered before 37 weeks (18.5%
      indicated, 5.8% spontaneous and 6.2% following preterm PPROMs). Among women
      randomized to LDA, we observed a trend favoring fewer PTBs due to spontaneous
      preterm labor and preterm PPROMs, odds ratio (OR: 0.826 (0.620, 1.099)); the
      incidence of indicated PTBs appeared unchanged, OR: 0.999 (0.787, 1.268).
      CONCLUSION: Although not reaching significance, we observed an effect size
      similar to other studies of both low- and high-risk women. These results support
      findings from other studies assessing LDA as a PTB prevention strategy.

PMID- 26890553
TI  - Hemodynamic reference for neonates of different age and weight: a pilot study
      with electrical cardiometry.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Electrical cardiometry (EC) is an impedance-based monitor that
      provides noninvasive, real-time hemodynamic assessment. However, the reference
      values for neonates have not been established. STUDY DESIGN: EC (Aesculon) was
      applied to hemodynamically stable preterm and term infants. Hemodynamic variables
      included cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) and heart
      rate (HR). Their gestational age (GA), weight and body surface area (BSA) were
      recorded. RESULTS: A total of 280 neonates were studied. Their GA ranged from
      26(5/7) to 41(4/7) weeks, weight 800 to 4420 g and BSA 0.07 to 0.26 m(2). CO was
      positively correlated to GA, weight and BSA (r=0.681, 0.822, 0.830, respectively;
      all P<0.001). Using regression analysis, CO was most significantly correlated to
      BSA. Mean CI was 2.55+/-0.37 l min(-1) per m(2). CONCLUSION: Hemodynamic
      reference by EC is notably distinct among neonates of diverse maturity. CO is
      most closely correlated to BSA.

PMID- 26890554
TI  - Effects of standardized acoustic stimulation in premature infants: a randomized
      controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of recorded
      lullabies and taped maternal voice in premature infants. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-two
      preterm infants in a stable condition with 30<37 weeks of gestation and <10 days
      of postnatal age were randomly assigned to hear (A) recorded lullabies or (B)
      taped maternal voice for 30 min each evening during 14 consecutive days or (C)
      receive no standardized acoustic stimulation (control group). Heart rate and
      respiratory rate were recorded daily before, during and after the intervention (A
      and B) or a comparable period with no intervention (C), whereas activity was
      measured on days 1, 7 and 14 of the intervention using accelerometers. RESULTS:
      Both interventions led to a significant decrease in heart rate and respiratory
      rate during and after the stimulation when compared with the control group. The
      changes were more pronounced in infants with higher gestational ages (P=0.001).
      Lower activity was measured during the intervention when compared with the
      control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized acoustic stimulation with
      recorded lullabies and taped maternal voice led to a decrease in heart rate and
      respiratory rate, and was associated with lower activity. Whether this indicates
      a reduced stress reaction needs to be investigated in further studies.

PMID- 26890555
TI  - Response to dopamine in prematurity: a biomarker for brain injury?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with responsiveness to dopamine therapy
      for hypotension and the relationship to brain injury in a cohort of preterm
      infants. STUDY DESIGN: The pharmacy database at St Louis Children's Hospital was
      retrospectively queried to identify infants who (a) were born <28 weeks gestation
      between 2012 and 2014, (b) received dopamine and (c) had blood pressure
      measurements from an umbilical arterial catheter. A control group was constructed
      from contemporaneous infants who did not receive dopamine. Mean arterial blood
      pressure (MABP) at baseline, 1 h and 3 h after initiating dopamine were obtained
      for each dopamine-exposed infant. MABP measurements at matched time points were
      obtained in the control group. RESULT: Sixty-nine dopamine-treated and 45 control
      infants were included. Mean DeltaMABP at 3 h was 4.5+/-6.3 mm of Hg for treated
      infants vs 1+/-2.9 for the control. Median dopamine starting dose was 2.5 MUg kg(
      1) min(-1). Dopamine-treated infants were less mature and of lower birth weight
      while also more likely to be intubated at 72 h, diagnosed with intraventricular
      hemorrhage (IVH) and to die. Failure to respond to dopamine was associated with
      greater likelihood of developing IVH (odds ratio (OR) 5.8, 95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.1-42.3), while a strong response (DeltaMABP>10 mm Hg) was
      associated with a reduction in risk of IVH (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.01-0.8). CONCLUSION:
      Low-moderate dose dopamine administration results in modest blood pressure
      improvements. A lack of response to dopamine is associated with a greater risk of
      IVH, whereas a strong response is associated with a decreased risk. Further
      research into underlying mechanisms and management strategies is needed.

PMID- 26890556
TI  - Factors associated with high-risk rural women giving birth in non-NICU hospital
      settings.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for childbirth in a facility without neonatal
      intensive care unit (NICU) capacity among high-risk rural women. STUDY DESIGN:
      Using data on all maternal hospitalizations for rural residents in nine states
      (2010, 2012), we performed logit regression, focusing on women with multiple
      gestation and preterm birth. We defined a 'local' hospital as any maternity
      hospital within 30 miles (or the nearest hospital). RESULTS: Rural women with
      preterm births and multiple gestation pregnancies were less likely to give birth
      in a hospital with NICU capacity if no local hospital had this capacity. Adjusted
      odds of giving birth in a NICU hospital were lower among women ?age 20 (AOR 0.87
      (95% CI 0.77, 0.98)), Medicaid beneficiaries (0.81 (0.75, 0.89)), uninsured women
      (0.44 (0.32, 0.61)) and black women (0.60 (0.50, 0.71)). CONCLUSIONS: Among high
      risk rural pregnant women without local NICU access, younger, low-income, and
      black women had lower odds of using NICU hospitals.

PMID- 26890558
TI  - Circumferential strain of carotid arteries does not differ between patients with
      advanced coronary artery disease and group without coronary stenoses.
AB  - PURPOSE: Speckle tracking echocardiography is widely used for the analysis of
      myocardial function. Recently, circumferential strain (CS) of carotid arteries
      was postulated as novel indicator of vascular function. Our aim was to
      characterize and compare CS of carotid arteries in patients with advanced
      coronary artery disease and controls without significant coronary stenoses.
      PATIENTS/METHODS: We compared CS of both common carotid arteries (CCA) in the 25
      patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease (3VD) (mean age 69+/-9 years,
      9 male) and in 16 age-matched subjects without significant coronary lesions (C)
      (69+/-8 years, 7 male). Additionally in 11 patients we estimated pulse wave
      velocity (PWV) and assessed the correlation between PWV and CS. Short-axis images
      of arteries were acquired for strain analysis with linear probe of
      echocardiograph. The assessment of CS was performed off-line by two observers.
      RESULTS: The intraobserver variability for the CS (coefficient of variation) were
      4.9 and 5.4% for left and right CCA and interobserver variability were 11.7% and
      12.5%, respectively. The mean CS for left and right CCA did not differ between
      compared groups. We did not find correlation between CS strain and PWV. The only
      difference was related to the more prevalent plaque presence and thicker intima
      media complex (IMT) in 3VD (p=0.0039 for IMT of left CCA and p=0.016 for IMT of
      right CCA). CONCLUSIONS: The global CS of CCA, contrary to IMT, did not allow for
      differentiation between 3VD and C subjects. Despite good feasibility and
      concordance of CS measurements its clinical significance remains to be
      established.

PMID- 26890557
TI  - Maternal apolipoprotein E genotype as a potential risk factor for poor birth
      outcomes: The Bogalusa Heart Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the association between
      apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and preterm birth (PTB) and small for
      gestational age (SGA). STUDY DESIGN: ApoE phenotyping was performed on 680 women
      linked to 1065 births. Allele frequencies were compared and PTB and SGA risk was
      estimated using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: The E2 allele was more common
      in SGA births (P<0.01). SGA risk was increased among E2 carriers compared with
      genotype E3/E3, though associations were attenuated following adjustment for
      maternal age, education, race, smoking and prenatal visits. Stronger associations
      were observed for term SGA (first birth: adjusted relative risk (aRR)=1.78, 95%
      confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 2.98; any birth: aRR=1.52, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.40)
      and among whites specifically (first: aRR=2.88, 95% CI 1.45 to 5.69; any:
      aRR=2.75, 95% CI 1.46 to 5.22). CONCLUSIONS: Associations between maternal apoE
      genotype and SGA may represent decreased fetal growth in women with lower
      circulating cholesterol levels.

PMID- 26890560
TI  - Impact of Autism Navigator on Access to Services.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether access to an Autism Patient Navigator (APN) for
      children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at <48 months of age would
      be useful and lead to more appointments with needed services. METHOD:
      Participants included parents of 39 children diagnosed with ASD in a
      multidisciplinary clinic. After diagnosis, the patients were randomized to 4
      groups: Medicaid early (n = 9) or late support (n = 9) and non-Medicaid early (n
      = 11) or late support (n = 10). Early access to the APN was at the family meeting
      and later at 3 months after diagnosis. Data included demographic information and
      completion by phone interview at 3 months postdiagnosis of a questionnaire on the
      usefulness of the assessment and parent's desire or ability to obtain recommended
      services. RESULTS: Demographically, the groups were not different. Children were
      most frequently male, white, non-Hispanic, and non-Medicaid with a mean age of 35
      months. In comparison with the non-Medicaid groups, the Medicaid groups more
      often endorsed the 9 questions on the usefulness of the assessment as being "A
      Great Deal" useful (p = .022). Groups with early support were more successful in
      scheduling or completing appointments for recommended services overall including
      medical, educational, therapeutic, and parent resource appointments (p = .031).
      Barriers to services or resources were reported by 35.9%. CONCLUSION: Parents of
      young children with Medicaid with a recent diagnosis of ASD found the assessment
      "very useful" compared with non-Medicaid group. The groups with immediate access
      to an APN were more successful with scheduling and completing appointments.

PMID- 26890559
TI  - Neurocognitive, Social-Behavioral, and Adaptive Functioning in Preschool Children
      with Mild to Moderate Kidney Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The negative impact of end-stage kidney disease on cognitive function
      in children is well established, but no studies have examined the neurocognitive,
      social-behavioral, and adaptive behavior skills of preschool children with mild
      to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHOD: Participants included 124
      preschool children with mild to moderate CKD, aged 12 to 68 months (median = 3.7
      years), and an associated mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 50.0
      mL.min.1.73 m. In addition to level of function and percent of participants
      scoring >=1 SD below the test mean, regression models examined the associations
      between biomarkers of CKD (GFR, anemia, hypertension, seizures, and abnormal
      birth history), and developmental level/IQ, attention regulation, and parent
      ratings of executive functions, social-behavior, and adaptive behaviors. RESULTS:
      Median scores for all measures were in the average range; however, 27% were
      deemed at risk for a developmental level/IQ <85, 20% were at-risk for attention
      variability, and parent ratings indicated 30% and 37% to be at risk for executive
      dysfunction and adaptive behavior problems, respectively. Approximately 43% were
      deemed at risk on 2 or more measures. None of the disease-related variables were
      significantly associated with these outcomes, although the presence of
      hypertension approached significance for attention variability (p < .09).
      Abnormal birth history and lower maternal education were significantly related to
      lower developmental level/IQ; seizures were related to lower parental ratings of
      executive function and adaptive behavior; and abnormal birth history was
      significantly related to lower ratings of adaptive behavior. When predicting risk
      status, the logistic regression did evidence both higher GFR and the lack of
      anemia to be associated with more intact developmental level/IQ. CONCLUSION:
      These findings suggest relatively intact functioning for preschool children with
      mild to moderate CKD, but the need for ongoing developmental surveillance in this
      population remains warranted, particularly for those with abnormal birth
      histories, seizures, and heightened disease severity.

PMID- 26890561
TI  - Early Predictors of Childhood Restrictive Eating: A Population-Based Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Childhood eating problems, in particular restrictive eating, are
      common. Knowledge and understanding of risk mechanisms is still scarce. We aimed
      to investigate prospective early risk factors for restrictive eating across
      child, maternal, obstetric, and sociodemographic domains in a population-based
      sample of Danish 5 to 7 year olds. METHOD: Data on restrictive eating patterns
      (picky eating, slow/poor eating, and emotional undereating) collected on 1327
      children from the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000 were linked with registered and
      routinely collected health nurse data (during the first year of life).
      Prospective risk factors were investigated in univariable and multivariable
      regression models. RESULTS: Feeding problems in infancy were prospectively
      associated with childhood picky eating (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02, 95% confidence
      interval [CI], 1.20-3.40) and emotional undereating (OR = 1.49, 95% CI, 1.05
      2.11). A high thriving index in infancy was inversely associated with both picky
      and slow/poor eating. Having 2 non-Danish-born parents predicted slow/poor eating
      (OR = 5.29, 95% CI, 1.16-24.09) in multivariable analyses, as did maternal
      diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder before child age 5 years in univariable
      analyses (OR = 6.08, 95% CI, 1.70-21.72). CONCLUSIONS: Feeding problems and poor
      growth in the first year of life show high continuity into childhood restrictive
      eating. Maternal psychopathology is an important and modifiable risk factor.
      These findings confirm that early signs of poor eating and growth are persistent
      and might be useful in predicting eating problems in mid-childhood.

PMID- 26890563
TI  - Transportation-Related Safety Behaviors in Top-Grossing Children's Movies from
      2008 to 2013.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Children regularly imitate behavior from movies. The authors assessed
      injury risk behaviors in top-grossing children's films. METHODS: The 5 top
      grossing G- or PG-rated movies annually from 2008 to 2013 were included,
      including animated movies and those set in the past/future. Researchers coded
      transportation scenes for risk taking in 3 domains: protection/equipment, unsafe
      behaviors, and distraction/attention. RESULTS: Safe and risky behaviors were
      recorded across the 3 domains. With regard to protection and equipment, 20% of
      motor vehicle scenes showed characters riding without seat belts and 27% of
      scenes with motorcycles showed characters riding without helmets. Eighty-nine
      percent of scenes with horses showed riders without helmets and 67% of boat
      operators failed to wear personal flotation devices. The most common unsafe
      behaviors were speeding and unsafe street-crossing. Twenty-one percent of scenes
      with motor vehicles showed drivers speeding and 90% of pedestrians in films
      failed to wait for signal changes. Distracted and inattentive behaviors were
      rare, with distracted driving of motor vehicles occurring in only approximately
      2% of total driving scenes. CONCLUSION: Although many safe transportation
      behaviors were portrayed, the film industry continues to depict unsafe behaviors
      in movies designed for pediatric audiences. There is a need for the film industry
      to continue to balance entertainment and art with modeling of safe behavior for
      children.

PMID- 26890562
TI  - Youth Screen Time and Behavioral Health Problems: The Role of Sleep Duration and
      Disturbances.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the indirect effect of youth
      screen time (e.g., television, computers, smartphones, video games, and tablets)
      on behavioral health problems (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and peer
      problems) through sleep duration and disturbances. METHODS: The authors assessed
      a community sample of parents with a child in one of the following three
      developmental stages: young childhood (3-7 yrs; N = 209), middle childhood (8-12
      yrs; N = 202), and adolescence (13-17 yrs; N = 210). Path analysis was used to
      test the hypothesized indirect effect model. RESULTS: Findings indicated that,
      regardless of the developmental stage of the youth, higher levels of youth screen
      time were associated with more sleep disturbances, which, in turn, were linked to
      higher levels of youth behavioral health problems. CONCLUSION: Children who have
      increased screen time are more likely to have poor sleep quality and problem
      behaviors.

PMID- 26890565
TI  - Characterization of the Oxygen Binding Motif in a Ruthenium Water Oxidation
      Catalyst by Vibrational Spectroscopy.
AB  - For homogeneous mononuclear ruthenium water oxidation catalysts, the Ru-O2
      complex plays a crucial role in the rate determining step of the catalytic cycle,
      but the exact nature of this complex is unclear. Herein, the infrared spectra of
      the [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(O2)](2+) complex (tpy=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; bpy=2,2'
      bipyridine) are presented. The complex [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(O2)](2+), formed by gas
      phase reaction of [Ru(tpy)(bpy)](2+) with molecular O2, was isolated by using
      mass spectrometry and was directly probed by cryogenic ion IR predissociation
      spectroscopy. Well-resolved spectral features enable a clear identification of
      the O-O stretch using (18) O2 substitution. The band frequency and intensity
      indicate that the O2 moiety binds to the Ru center in a side-on, bidentate
      manner. Comparisons with DFT calculations highlight the shortcomings of the B3LYP
      functional in properly depicting the Ru-O2 interaction.

PMID- 26890566
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26890567
TI  - Associations of growth patterns and islet autoimmunity in children with increased
      risk for type 1 diabetes: a functional analysis approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies indicate associations between early growth and type 1
      diabetes (T1D). However, it remains an open question whether these findings can
      be translated to typical growth patterns associated with increased risk for T1D
      associated islet autoimmunity. METHODS: We analyzed pooled data from 2236
      children followed up in two large prospective German birth cohorts with a
      genetically increased risk for T1D including 18 564 measurements of height and
      weight, which were transformed to sex- and age-specific standard deviation scores
      (SDS). A total of 191 children developed any islet autoantibodies, 101 multiple
      islet autoantibodies. We applied a model-based clustering technique to derive
      typical height and body mass index (BMI) growth patterns, stratified for maternal
      T1D status. These patterns were used to predict islet autoimmunity in logistic
      regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Growth patterns
      were not associated with islet autoimmunity in the whole dataset and in children
      of diabetic mothers, respectively. In children of non-diabetic mothers ,however,
      islet autoimmunity was associated with rapidly increasing BMI SDS values until
      the age of 3 yr [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.02 (1.03, 3.73)
      for development of any islet autoantibodies) and with consistently above average
      height SDS values [odds ratio: 2.21 (1.15, 4.17)]. In contrast, a pattern of high
      height SDS values at birth followed by a decrease to average values after 3 yr
      was associated with a reduced rate of islet autoimmunity [odds ratio: 0.16 (0.01,
      0.62)]. CONCLUSION: Early growth patterns may be associated with T1D-related
      islet autoimmunity risk in children of non-diabetic mothers.

PMID- 26890568
TI  - Logic Gate Operation by DNA Translocation through Biological Nanopores.
AB  - Logical operations using biological molecules, such as DNA computing or
      programmable diagnosis using DNA, have recently received attention. Challenges
      remain with respect to the development of such systems, including label-free
      output detection and the rapidity of operation. Here, we propose integration of
      biological nanopores with DNA molecules for development of a logical operating
      system. We configured outputs "1" and "0" as single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that is
      or is not translocated through a nanopore; unlabeled DNA was detected
      electrically. A negative-AND (NAND) operation was successfully conducted within
      approximately 10 min, which is rapid compared with previous studies using
      unlabeled DNA. In addition, this operation was executed in a four-droplet
      network. DNA molecules and associated information were transferred among droplets
      via biological nanopores. This system would facilitate linking of molecules and
      electronic interfaces. Thus, it could be applied to molecular robotics, genetic
      engineering, and even medical diagnosis and treatment. 

PMID- 26890570
TI  - High Serum Sclerostin Levels Are Associated with a Better Outcome in
      Haemodialysis Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sclerostin is an osteocyte hormone that decreases osteoblastogenesis.
      Sclerostin may play a key role in osteoporosis and also in vascular calcification
      (VC). In chronic kidney disease and haemodialysis (HD) patients, serum sclerostin
      levels are high. AIM: To assess the correlation of serum sclerostin levels with
      VC, bone mineral density (BMD), and survival rate in HD patients. METHODS: A
      cross-sectional study was conducted in prevalent HD patients to correlate serum
      sclerostin tertiles with the Kauppila aortic calcification score, BMD scores and
      survival rate. RESULTS: We studied 207 patients who had a mean serum sclerostin
      level of 1.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml. Compared to patients in the 1st tertile of serum
      sclerostin levels (0.6-1.53 ng/ml), patients in the 3rd tertile (2.2-4.6 ng/ml)
      were significantly older (73.7 +/- 12 vs. 64.7 +/- 18 years), more frequently of
      the male gender (74 vs. 48%), had lower serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatases
      values (14 +/- 9 vs. 20.4 +/- 13 ug/l), were less frequently treated with
      alfacalcidol, displayed lower aortic calcification scores (9.5 +/- 5 vs. 12.5 +/-
      7/24) and had higher BMD scores. Furthermore, patients of the 3rd tertile
      displayed a lower mortality rate compared to tertile 1 using multivariable
      adjusted Cox model (hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.25-0.93, p = 0.03). The main
      factors associated with VC score were age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, CRP
      level and Warfarin use. CONCLUSION: Our study of HD patients shows that higher
      serum sclerostin levels are associated with higher BMD, lower aortic
      calcification scores, and a better survival rate.

PMID- 26890569
TI  - Hirsutella sinensis Attenuates Aristolochic Acid-Induced Renal Tubular Epithelial
      Mesenchymal Transition by Inhibiting TGF-beta1 and Snail Expression.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Hirsutella sinensis (HS) on
      epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells induced
      by aristolochic acid (AA) and its possible mechanism. METHODS: 18 male Sprague
      Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into the following 3 groups: AA
      group, AA+HS group and control group. Urinary protein excretion and creatinine
      clearance (CCr) were measured. All rats were sacrificed at the end of 12th week.
      The pathological examination of renal tissue was performed and the mRNA and
      protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth
      muscle actin (alpha-SMA), cytokeratin-18 and Snail in renal cortex were
      determined by real time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining
      respectively. In addition, human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells line
      (HKC) was divided into the following 4 groups: AA group, AA+HS group, HS control
      group and control group. The above mRNA and protein expression in HKC was
      determined by real time quantitative PCR and Western blot respectively. RESULTS:
      (1) CCr was significantly decreased, and the urinary protein excretion and
      relative area of renal interstitial fibrosis were significantly increased in the
      rats of AA and AA+HS group compared to those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01);
      all the above abnormalities significantly lightened in the rats of AA+HS group
      compared to those in AA group (P<0.05). (2) The mRNA and protein expression of
      TGF-beta1, alpha-SMA and Snail was significantly up-regulated and the expression
      of cytokeratin-18 was significantly down-regulated in the rat renal cortex as
      well as in the cultured HKC cells in AA and AA+HS groups compared to those in
      control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); all the above abnormalities significantly
      alleviated in AA+HS group compared to those in AA group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (3)
      Knockdown endogenous Snail expression by siRNA could ameliorate AA-induced EMT of
      HKC cells, while overexpression of Snail by plasmid transfection diminished the
      antagonistic effect of HS on AA-induced EMT. These results suggest Snail might be
      a potential target of HS effect. CONCLUSION: HS is able to antagonize, to some
      extent, tubular EMT and renal interstitial fibrosis caused by AA, which might be
      related to its inhibitory effects on the TGF-beta1 and Snail expression.

PMID- 26890571
TI  - Relationship between uric acid levels and progressive supranuclear palsy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The pathophysiology of both PD and PSP is characterized by a pro
      oxidant state. Uric acid is an oxidative stress marker. High uric acid blood
      levels have been associated with a reduced risk of PD and a decreased rate of
      disease progression. We investigated whether a low serum concentration of uric
      acid is also associated with PSP. METHODS: We measured serum uric acid
      concentrations in a subsample of the ENGENE PSP Cohort that included 75 cases and
      75 frequency-matched-by-sex healthy controls (69 spouses, 6 in-laws) from four
      centers willing to participate (Case Western, Rush University, University of
      Utah, and University of Louisville). Case severity was characterized using the
      total PSP-Rating Scale, UPDRS, and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. Unconditional
      logistic regression, Pearson's chi-squared test, and analysis of variance were
      used, as appropriate. RESULTS: The mean uric acid level among cases (4.0 mg/dL)
      was not significantly lower than that of controls (4.1 mg/dL). When controlling
      for sex, there were no between-group statistical differences in uric acid levels.
      Uric acid levels were not correlated with disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: The
      results of this study do not provide evidence of uric acid having a protective
      role in PSP, even if oxidative injury is important in the pathophysiology of this
      disorder. The lack of statistical significance suggests that there is no direct
      association between uric acid levels and PSP. However, a small inverse
      association cannot be excluded. (c) 2016 Movement Disorder Society.

PMID- 26890572
TI  - Establishment of the 3rd national standard for lot release testing of the
      Japanese encephalitis vaccine (Nakayama-NIH strain) in Korea.
AB  - In Korea, 2 inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccines from Nakayama-NIH and
      Beijing-1 strain have been utilized to date. The 1(st) national standard for lot
      release testing of the JE vaccine was established in 2002. The 2(nd) national
      standard, established in 2007, is currently in use for JE vaccine (Nakayama-NIH
      strain) potency testing. However, the supply of this standard is expected to be
      exhausted by 2015, necessitating the establishment of a new national standard
      with quality equivalent to that of the existing standard. Quality control tests
      were performed to verify that the new standard candidate material was equivalent
      to that of the 2(nd) national standard, proving its appropriateness for potency
      testing of JE vaccine. In addition, based on the results of a collaborative study
      conducted among 4 institutions including Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the
      potency of the new national standard material was determined to be 2.69
      neutralizing-antibody titer (log10) per vial. Therefore, the newly established
      national standard material is expected to be used for the Japanese encephalitis
      vaccine lot release in Korea.

PMID- 26890574
TI  - Monosaccharides as Versatile Units for Water-Soluble Supramolecular Polymers.
AB  - We introduce monosaccharides as versatile water-soluble units to compatibilise
      supramolecular polymers based on the benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) moiety
      with water. A library of monosaccharide-based BTAs is evaluated, varying the
      length of the alkyl chain (hexyl, octyl, decyl and dodecyl) separating the BTA
      and saccharide units, as well as the saccharide units (alpha-glucose, beta
      glucose, alpha-mannose and alpha-galactose). In all cases, the monosaccharides
      impart excellent water compatibility. The length of the alkyl chain is the
      determining factor to obtain either long, one-dimensional supramolecular polymers
      (dodecyl spacer), small aggregates (decyl spacer) or molecularly dissolved (octyl
      and hexyl) BTAs in water. For the BTAs comprising a dodecyl spacer, our results
      suggest that a cooperative self-assembly process is operative and that the
      introduction of different monosaccharides does not significantly change the self-
      assembly behaviour. Finally, we investigate the potential of post-assembly
      functionalisation of the formed supramolecular polymers by taking advantage of
      dynamic covalent bond formation between the monosaccharides and benzoxaboroles.
      We observe that the supramolecular polymers readily react with a fluorescent
      benzoxaborole derivative permitting imaging of these dynamic complexes by
      confocal fluorescence microscopy. 

PMID- 26890573
TI  - Prescriptions, nonmedical use, and emergency department visits involving
      prescription stimulants.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding the temporal trends in prescriptions,
      nonmedical use, and emergency department (ED) visits involving prescription
      stimulants in the United States. Our aim was to examine these 3 national trends
      involving dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and methylphenidate in adults and
      adolescents. METHOD: Three national surveys conducted between 2006-2011 were
      used: National Disease and Therapeutic Index, a survey of office-based practices;
      National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a population survey of substance use; and
      Drug Abuse Warning Network, a survey of ED visits. Ordinary least squares
      regression was used to examine temporal changes over time and the associations
      between the 3 trends. RESULTS: In adolescents, treatment visits involving
      dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and methylphenidate decreased over time; nonmedical
      dextroamphetamine-amphetamine use remained stable, while nonmedical
      methylphenidate use declined by 54.4% in 6 years. ED visits involving either
      medication remained stable. In adults, treatment visits involving
      dextroamphetamine-amphetamine remained unchanged, while nonmedical use went up by
      67.1% and ED visits went up by 155.9%. These 3 trends involving methylphenidate
      remained unchanged. Across age groups, the major source for nonmedical use of
      both medications was a friend or relative; two-thirds of these friends and
      relatives had obtained the medication from a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Trends in
      prescriptions for stimulants do not correspond to trends in reports of nonmedical
      use and ED visits. Increased nonmedical stimulant use may not be simply
      attributed to increased prescribing trends. Future studies should focus on deeper
      understanding of the proportion of, risk factors for, and motivations for drug
      diversions.

PMID- 26890575
TI  - Road traffic mortality in the Slovak Republic in 1996-2014.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Road traffic mortality takes an enormous toll in every society.
      Transport safety interventions play a crucial role in improving the situation. In
      the period 1996-2014 several road safety measures, including a complex new road
      traffic law in 2009, were implemented in the Slovak Republic, introducing
      stricter conditions for road users. The aim of this study is to describe and
      analyze the trends in road user mortality in the Slovak Republic in individual
      age groups by sex during the study period 1996-2014. METHODS: Data on overall
      mortality in the Slovak Republic for the period 1996-2014 were obtained from the
      Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Mortality rates were age-adjusted to
      the European standard population. Joinpoint regression was used to assess the
      statistical significance of change in time trends of calculated standardized
      mortality rates. RESULTS: Mortality rates of all types of road users as well as
      all age groups and both sexes in the Slovak Republic in the period 1996-2014 are
      decreasing. The male : female ratio decreased from 4:1 in 1996 to 2:1 in 2014.
      Motor vehicle users (other than motorcyclists) and pedestrians have the highest
      mortality rates among road user groups. Both of these groups show a significant
      decline in mortality rates over the study period. Within the age groups, people
      age 65 years and over have the highest mortality rates, followed by the age
      groups 25-64 and 15-24 years old. Joinpoint regression confirmed a steady,
      significant decline in all mortality rates over the study period. A statistically
      significant decrease in mortality rates in the last years of the study period was
      observed in the age group 25-64 and in male motorcycle users. Assessing the
      impact of the 2009 road traffic law, a drop was observed in the average
      standardized mortality rate of all road traffic users from 14.56 per 100,000
      person years in the period 1996-2008 to 7.69 per 100,000 person years in the
      period 2009-2014. A similar drop in the average standardized mortality rate was
      observed in all individual road user groups. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of
      the new traffic regulations may have contributed significantly to the observed
      decrease in mortality rates of road users in the Slovak Republic. A significant
      decrease in mortality was observed in all population groups and in all groups of
      road users. The introduction of a new comprehensive road traffic law may have
      expedited the decrease of road fatalities, especially in the age group 25-64
      years old. This type of evidence-based epidemiology data can be used for improved
      targeting of future public health measures for road traffic injury prevention.

PMID- 26890576
TI  - Navigating the labyrinth of cardiac regeneration.
AB  - Heart disease is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and
      is a major health and economic burden, costing the United States Health Care
      System more than $200 billion annually. A major cause of heart disease is the
      massive loss or dysfunction of cardiomyocytes caused by myocardial infarctions
      and hypertension. Due to the limited regenerative capacity of the heart, much
      research has focused on better understanding the process of differentiation
      toward cardiomyocytes. This review will highlight what is currently known about
      cardiac cell specification during mammalian development, areas of controversy,
      cellular sources of cardiomyocytes, and current and potential uses of stem cell
      derived cardiomyocytes for cardiac therapies. Developmental Dynamics 245:751-761,
      2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890578
TI  - Behavioral thermoregulation in Lemur catta: The significance of sunning and
      huddling behaviors.
AB  - Regulation of body temperature poses significant problems for organisms that
      inhabit environments with extreme and seasonally fluctuating ambient
      temperatures. To help alleviate the energetic costs of autonomic responses, these
      organisms often thermoregulate through behavioral mechanisms. Among primates,
      lemurs in Madagascar experience uncharacteristically seasonal and unpredictable
      climates relative to other primate-rich regions. Malagasy primates are
      physiologically flexible, but different species use different mechanisms to
      influence their body temperatures. Lemur catta, the ring-tailed lemur,
      experiences particularly acute diurnal temperature fluctuations in its mostly
      open-canopy habitat in south and southwest Madagascar. Ring-tailed lemurs are
      also atypical among lemurs in that they appear to use both sun basking postures
      and huddling to maintain body temperature when ambient temperatures are cold. To
      our knowledge, however, no one has systematically tested whether these behaviors
      function in thermoregulation. We present evidence that ring-tailed lemurs use
      these postures as behavioral thermoregulation strategies, and that different
      environmental variables are associated with the use of each posture. Major
      predictors of sunning included ambient temperature, time of day, and season.
      Specifically, L. catta consistently assumed sunning postures early after daybreak
      when ambient temperatures were <13 degrees C, and ceased sunning around
      10:00a.m., after ambient temperatures approached 26 degrees C. Sunning occurred
      more often during austral winter months. Huddling was associated with time of
      day, but not with ambient temperature or season. We conclude that L. catta tend
      to sun, rather than huddle, under cold weather conditions when sunning is
      possible. However, both sunning and huddling are important behavioral adaptations
      of L. catta that augment chemical thermoregulation and the absence of a dynamic,
      insulating pelage. Sunning and huddling help to account for the great ecological
      flexibility of the species, but these adaptations may be insufficient in the face
      of future changes in protective vegetation and temperature. Am. J. Primatol.
      78:745-754, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890579
TI  - An Alignment Medium for Measuring Residual Dipolar Couplings in Pure DMSO: Liquid
      Crystals from Graphene Oxide Grafted with Polymer Brushes.
AB  - Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) have attracted attention in light of their
      great impact on the structural elucidation of organic molecules. However, the
      effectiveness of RDC measurements is limited by the shortage of alignment media
      compatible with widely used organic solvents, such as DMSO. Herein, we present
      the first liquid crystal (LC) based alignment medium that is compatible with pure
      DMSO, thus enabling RDC measurements of polar and intermediate polarity
      molecules. The liquid crystals were obtained by grafting polymer brushes onto
      graphene oxide (GO) using free radical polymerization. The resulting new medium
      offers several advantages, such as absence of background signals, narrow line
      shapes, and tunable alignment. Importantly, this medium is compatible with pi
      conjugated molecules. Moreover, sonication-induced fragmentation can reduce the
      size of GO sheets. The resulting anisotropic medium has moderate alignment
      strength, which is a prerequisite for an accurate RDC measurement. 

PMID- 26890577
TI  - Donor brain death leads to differential immune activation in solid organs but
      does not accelerate ischaemia-reperfusion injury.
AB  - A comparative analysis of inflammation between solid organs following donor brain
      death (BD) is still lacking and the detailed influence of BD accelerating
      ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) post-transplantation remains to be addressed.
      Applying a murine model of BD, we demonstrated that 4 h after BD organs were
      characterized by distinct inflammatory expression patterns. For instance,
      lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a marker of acute kidney injury, was selectively induced in
      BD livers but not in kidneys. BD further resulted in significantly reduced
      frequencies of CD3(+) CD4(+) , CD3(+) CD8(+) T cells and NKp46(+) NK cells in the
      liver, whereas BD kidneys and hearts were characterized by significantly lower
      frequencies of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). Syngeneic models of kidney
      (KTx) and heart transplantation (HTx) illustrated stronger gene expression in
      engrafted BD hearts only, but 20 h post-transplantation both organs displayed
      comparable intragraft lymphocyte frequencies, except for NK cells and graft
      function. Moreover, the complement factor C3d deposit detected in small vessels
      and capillaries in cardiac syngrafts did not significantly differ between BD and
      sham-transplanted groups. Finally, no further influence of donor BD on graft
      survival was detected in an allogeneic heart transplantation setting (C57BL/6
      grafts into BALB/c recipients). We show for the first time that BD organs are
      characterized by a varying inflammatory profile; however, BD does not accelerate
      IRI in syngeneic KTx and HTx.

PMID- 26890581
TI  - "Active" drops as phantom models for living cells: a mesoscopic particle-based
      approach.
AB  - Drops and biological cells share some morphological features and visco-elastic
      properties. The modelling of drops by mesoscopic non-atomistic models has been
      carried out to a high degree of success in recent years. We extend such treatment
      and discuss a simple, drop-like model to describe the interactions of the outer
      layer of cells with the surfaces of materials. Cells are treated as active
      mechanical objects that are able to generate adhesion forces. They appear with
      their true size and are made of "parcels of fluids" or beads. The beads are
      described by (very) few quantities/parameters related to fundamental chemical
      forces such as hydrophilicity and lipophilicity that represent an average of the
      properties of a patch of material or an area of the cell(s) surface. The
      investigation of adhesion dynamics, motion of individual cells, and the
      collective behavior of clusters of cells on materials is possible. In the
      simulations, the drops become active soft matter objects and different from
      regular droplets they do not fuse when in contact, their trajectories are not
      Brownian, and they can be forced "to secrete" molecules, to name some of the
      properties targeted by the modeling. The behavior that emerges from the
      simulations allows ascribing some cell properties to their mechanics, which are
      related to their biological features. 

PMID- 26890580
TI  - Effects of 6-month soccer and traditional physical activity programmes on body
      composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory, oxidative stress markers
      and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese boys.
AB  - Physical activity is important in obesity prevention, but the effectiveness of
      different physical activity modalities remains to be determined among children.
      The main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 6-month soccer
      programme and a traditional physical activity programme on changes in body
      composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory and oxidative markers,
      cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived psychological status in obese boys.
      Eighty-eight boys (8-12 years; BMI > +2 standard deviations of WHO reference
      values) participated in one of three groups: soccer, traditional activity and
      control. Soccer and traditional activity programmes involved 3 sessions per week
      for 60-90 min at an average intensity of 70-80% of maximal heart rate. Control
      group participated in activities of normal daily living. All boys participated in
      school physical education, two sessions per week of 45-90-min. Measurements were
      taken at baseline and after 6 months, and included body size and composition,
      cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory and oxidative markers,
      cardiorespiratory fitness and perceived psychological status. Physical activity
      and dietary intake were assessed before and immediately following the
      intervention. The three groups had similar characteristics at baseline. After 6
      months, both intervention groups had significantly lower relative fatness (%
      fat), waist circumference and total cholesterol, and higher cardiorespiratory
      fitness, self-esteem, perceived physical competence and attraction to physical
      activity compared with control group. In conclusion, physical activity
      interventions over 6 months positively influenced several indicators of health
      status among obese boys. The results also suggested that soccer has the potential
      as an effective tool for the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity and
      associated consequences. 

PMID- 26890582
TI  - Editorial Comment to Should patients newly diagnosed with bladder cancer be
      screened for lung cancer?

PMID- 26890583
TI  - Possible Formation of Metastable PAH Dimers upon Pickup by Helium Droplets.
AB  - Using path-integral molecular dynamics simulations and two quantum-mechanical
      based force fields, we have investigated the conformational stability of dimers
      of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, perylene (C20H12), produced under typical
      experimental conditions of successive pick-up under helium nanodroplet
      environment. The most stable configurations are found to be of the stacked form
      with different relative orientations of the main molecular axes, perpendicular or
      T-shaped dimers being energetically much disfavored; however, in the presence of
      helium our simulations suggest that the time for rearrangement and pi-stacking
      may be rather long and exceed hundreds of picoseconds. In addition, highly
      metastable dimers that are stacked but with a helium monolayer sandwiched between
      the two molecules are also found as likely products upon successive pickup. This
      stabilization occurs owing to the stronger localization of the helium atoms
      facing the aromatic rings, which is further enhanced in the dimer. The
      implications of the present results are discussed in the perspective of possible
      identification by spectroscopic methods. 

PMID- 26890585
TI  - Controlled growth of Cu-Ni nanowires and nanospheres for enhanced microwave
      absorption properties.
AB  - Copper is a good dielectric loss material but has low stability, whereas nickel
      is a good magnetic loss material and is corrosion resistant but with low
      conductivity, therefore Cu-Ni hybrid nanostructures have synergistic advantages
      as microwave absorption (MA) materials. Different Cu/Ni molar ratios of
      bimetallic nanowires (Cu13@Ni7, Cu5@Ni5 and Cu7@Ni13) and nanospheres (Cu13@Ni7,
      Cu5@Ni5 and Cu1@Ni3) have been successfully synthesized via facile reduction of
      hydrazine under similar reaction conditions, and the morphology can be easily
      tuned by varying the feed ratio or the complexing agent. Apart from the
      concentrations of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+), the reduction parameters are similar for all
      samples to confirm the effects of the Cu/Ni molar ratio and morphology on MA
      properties. Ni is incorporated into the Cu-Ni nanomaterials as a shell over the
      Cu core at low temperature, as proved by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS. Through the
      complex relative permittivity and permeability, reflection loss was evaluated,
      which revealed that the MA capacity greatly depended on the Cu/Ni molar ratio and
      morphology. For Cu@Ni nanowires, as the molar ratio of Ni shell increased the MA
      properties decreased accordingly. However, for Cu@Ni nanospheres, the opposite
      trend was found, that is, as the molar ratio of the Ni shell increased the MA
      properties increased. 

PMID- 26890584
TI  - A Feedback Model of Attention Explains the Diverse Effects of Attention on Neural
      Firing Rates and Receptive Field Structure.
AB  - Visual attention has many effects on neural responses, producing complex changes
      in firing rates, as well as modifying the structure and size of receptive fields,
      both in topological and feature space. Several existing models of attention
      suggest that these effects arise from selective modulation of neural inputs.
      However, anatomical and physiological observations suggest that attentional
      modulation targets higher levels of the visual system (such as V4 or MT) rather
      than input areas (such as V1). Here we propose a simple mechanism that explains
      how a top-down attentional modulation, falling on higher visual areas, can
      produce the observed effects of attention on neural responses. Our model requires
      only the existence of modulatory feedback connections between areas, and short
      range lateral inhibition within each area. Feedback connections redistribute the
      top-down modulation to lower areas, which in turn alters the inputs of other
      higher-area cells, including those that did not receive the initial modulation.
      This produces firing rate modulations and receptive field shifts. Simultaneously,
      short-range lateral inhibition between neighboring cells produce competitive
      effects that are automatically scaled to receptive field size in any given area.
      Our model reproduces the observed attentional effects on response rates (response
      gain, input gain, biased competition automatically scaled to receptive field
      size) and receptive field structure (shifts and resizing of receptive fields both
      spatially and in complex feature space), without modifying model parameters. Our
      model also makes the novel prediction that attentional effects on response curves
      should shift from response gain to contrast gain as the spatial focus of
      attention drifts away from the studied cell. 

PMID- 26890586
TI  - Evaluation of estrogen in endometriosis patients: Regulation of GATA-3 in
      endometrial cells and effects on Th2 cytokines.
AB  - AIMS: Endometriosis (EM) is a hormone-dependent chronic inflammatory disease,
      usually accompanied by a high level of localized estrogen and abnormal levels of
      cytokines, which are regulated by GATA-3 in lymphocytes. This study aimed to
      investigate the role of estrogen on GATA-3 expression and the relationship
      between GATA-3 and cytokine response. METHODS: Endometrial tissues collected from
      20 patients who underwent laparoscopic or open surgery were used.
      Immunohistochemistry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot
      analysis, cell transfection, estrogen treatments and enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assays were performed to evaluate the effects of estrogen on GATA-3 expression
      and the relationship between estrogen-induced GATA-3 and the Th2 immune status of
      EM. RESULTS: Estrogen regulated the expression of GATA-3 in a dose and time
      dependent manner. GATA-3 was relocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus.
      Estrogen and GATA-3 regulated Th2 cytokine expression in eutopic endometrial
      cells, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10. Moreover, interferon-gamma
      and IL-2 were highly expressed in the GATA-3 knockdown groups. CONCLUSION: In
      summary, GATA-3 was induced by estrogen and may promote the occurrence and
      development of EM by regulating the secretion of cytokines in the eutopic
      endometrial cells of EM patients.

PMID- 26890588
TI  - Exploring work-related issues on corporate sustainability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a research project about work-related issues and corporate
      sustainability conducted in Brazil, the goal was to better understand how work
      related issues were addressed in the corporate context. Particularly, there are
      some specific initiatives that serve as guides to organizational decisions, which
      make their performance indicators for the context of corporate sustainability.
      OBJECTIVE: 1) To explore the presence of work-related issues and their origins in
      corporate sustainability approach, analyzing a) corporate disclosures; b)
      sustainability guidelines that are identified as relevant in corporate
      disclosures; c) documents that are related to sustainable development and also
      identified as key-documents for these guidelines and initiatives. 2) To present
      the activity-centered ergonomics and psychodynamics of work contributions to work
      related issues in a corporate sustainability approach. METHODS: An exploratory
      study based on multiple sources of evidence that were performed from 2012 to
      2013, including interviews with companies that engaged in corporate
      sustainability and document analysis using the content analysis approach.
      RESULTS: Work-related issues have been presented since the earliest sustainable
      development documents. It is feasible to construct an empirical framework for
      work-related issues and corporate sustainability approaches. CONCLUSIONS: 1)
      Although some authors argue that corporate sustainability has its roots based
      only on the environmental dimension, there is strong empirical evidence showing
      that social dimension aspects such as work-related issues have been present since
      the beginning. 2) Some indicators should be redesigned to more precisely
      translate the reality of some workplaces, particularly those indicators related
      to organizational design and mental health.

PMID- 26890589
TI  - Musculoskeletal disorders and their influence on the quality of life of the
      dockworker: A cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dockworkers are subjected to intense physical labor which leads to
      frequent occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to
      measure the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) of
      temporary dockworkers and its influence on their quality of life. METHODS: This
      was a cross-sectional study developed with temporary dockworkers in Brazil.
      Recruitment was done by inviting workers when they presented themselves for work
      at the trade union. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Short-Form
      Health Survey were used. The association between the outcome and the different
      investigated factors was analyzed through Poisson Regression with robust
      variance. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the data from the Short-Form
      Health Survey scale among the groups both with and without work-related
      musculoskeletal disorders. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 318 temporary
      dockworkers with a mean age of 48 years. WMSD prevalence was 37.4%. WMSD was
      associated with not practicing physical activity (PR = 2.03; p = 0.005),
      participation in housework (PR = 1.88; p = 0.029), taking care of preschool
      children (PR = 1.65; p <  0.000) and handling heavy objects (PR = 1.83; p =
      0.007). The lumbar spine was the most frequently mentioned area of the body
      (22.5%) in the WMSD analysis. Workers without WMSD had higher (p <  0.00) quality
      of life scale scores in relation to functional capacity, physical and social
      aspects, pain and vitality. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the relevance of
      developing action plans regarding the needs of this specific population of
      workers, especially concerning the reduction of risk factors.

PMID- 26890587
TI  - Work-related back discomfort and associated factors among automotive maintenance
      mechanics in Eastern Nigeria: A cross sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Back pain has been identified as a common cause of disability in the
      working population. Automotive mechanics habitually use awkward back posture in
      their course of manual activity and hence may be at risk of work-related back
      pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, pattern and severity of back pain
      among automotive maintenance mechanics, as well as the personal and job variables
      associated with or predicting occurrence of back pain. METHOD: Using a cross
      sectional design, information about self-reported back pain and the associated
      variables were collected among 684 randomly recruited automotive mechanics.
      RESULT: Prevalence of back pain was 76.02%; with the majority experiencing low
      back pain. 63.3% of the workers reported they limited their activity due to the
      back pain. Older workers (>50 years), daily work lasting >=5 hours duration, no
      more than primary education, being normal weight, frequent use of kneeling and
      sustained postures, and lack of knowledge of ergonomic postures were associated
      with increased prevalence of back pain. Lack of job autonomy, inadequate task
      clarity, heavy physical work load, manual material handling, strenuous posture,
      noisy environment, vibrations, work schedule and inadequate auxiliary support
      were also associated with increased prevalence of back pain among the mechanics.
      CONCLUSION: Work-related back pain is prevalent among automotive maintenance
      mechanics. Work-related back pain is high among automotive maintenance mechanics.
      Workstation policy and legislation on reduction of risks with combined health
      literacy and ergonomic education programs in this occupational group are
      imperative.

PMID- 26890590
TI  - Increased errors and decreased performance at night: A systematic review of the
      evidence concerning shift work and quality.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Shift workers have worse health outcomes than employees who work
      standard business hours. However, it is unclear how this poorer health shift may
      be related to employee work productivity. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this
      systematic review is to assess the relationship between shift work and errors and
      performance. METHODS: Searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, EBSCOhost, and CINAHL were
      conducted to identify articles that examined the relationship between shift work,
      errors, quality, productivity, and performance. All articles were assessed for
      study quality. RESULTS: A total of 435 abstracts were screened with 13 meeting
      inclusion criteria. Eight studies were rated to be of strong, methodological
      quality. Nine studies demonstrated a positive relationship that night shift
      workers committed more errors and had decreased performance. CONCLUSIONS: Night
      shift workers have worse health that may contribute to errors and decreased
      performance in the workplace.

PMID- 26890592
TI  - Personal experiences of people with serious mental illness when seeking,
      obtaining and maintaining competitive employment in Queensland, Australia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High non-participation in the labour force and unemployment remain
      challenging for adults with serious mental illness. OBJECTIVES: This study
      examined the personal experiences of people with serious mental illness when
      seeking, obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. The aim was to
      increase understanding of personal experiences of employment and how these
      experiences can be used to inform the assistance provided in support of clients'
      competitive employment goals. METHODS: Qualitative data from a two-year period
      were thematically analysed from one participating site in a multi-site trial of
      employment services integrated with public funded community mental health
      treatment and care. RESULTS: Both positive and negative themes arose. Positive
      themes included: Aspirations for a better life, receiving feedback on good job
      performance, employment displacing preoccupation with illness, and employment
      improving self-esteem and reducing financial stress. Negative themes included
      stigma experiences, stress, and health difficulties. Both positive and negative
      experiences did not depend on type of employment service assistance nor key
      client characteristics such as age, sex, and diagnostic category. CONCLUSIONS:
      Despite its many benefits, employment can also increase the risk of negative
      personal experiences. These findings suggest that employment service providers
      could do more to assist people who commence employment, to reduce the risk of
      negative personal experiences and to enhance the benefits of competitive
      employment.

PMID- 26890591
TI  - An examination of concepts in vocational rehabilitation that could not be linked
      to the ICF based on an analysis of secondary data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the last few years the International Classification of
      Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has become a widely known and useful
      reference classification in vocational rehabilitation. It would be equally
      important to know which aspects of work-related health information cannot be
      assigned to distinct ICF categories. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to
      examine the concepts derived from three studies conducted within the ICF Core Set
      for vocational rehabilitation project, which could not be linked to distinct ICF
      codes in order to complement the current understanding of functioning in
      vocational rehabilitation. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of the concepts from
      the systematic literature review, expert survey and patient focus group study of
      the ICF Core Set for vocational rehabilitation project that were marked as nd =
      not definable, nc = not covered or pf = personal factor. Nd-concepts were
      assigned to the biopsychosocial model of the ICF; additional ICF categories were
      formulated where needed. Nc-concepts were grouped into common themes not covered
      by the ICF. Pf-categories were linked to a proposed personal factors
      classification. RESULTS: 1093 nd-concepts were matched to overarching terms in
      the ICF, and "other specified"-categories were detailed. 1924 pf-concepts were
      linked to 31 second level categories of a proposed personal factors
      classification. 441 nc-concepts were grouped into six themes including the
      concept of well-being and attributes related to processes and time. CONCLUSIONS:
      With concepts that emerged from the secondary analysis of data gathered during
      the vocational rehabilitation ICF Core Set project, we have enriched the ICF
      model with constructs specific to vocational rehabilitation. However, additional
      research is needed to further explore personal factors specific to vocational
      rehabilitation. The influence of themes complementary to the ICF such as well
      being and quality of life on return-to-work should be further investigated.

PMID- 26890593
TI  - The effect of loupes on neck pain and disability among dental hygienists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders represent a significant occupational health
      issue in dental hygiene, with high prevalence rates documented. Despite this
      fact, there have been few advancements in the application of ergonomic principles
      in the dental hygiene profession. While the use of loupes is often promoted as an
      ergonomic solution, there is little published research to support this claim.
      OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate the
      effect of the use of loupes on neck pain and disability in dental hygienists.
      METHODS: The study was conducted using an exploratory pre-test post-test design,
      comparing musculoskeletal measures in dental hygienists wearing loupes with final
      year dental hygiene students who do not wear loupes. Pre- and post-test measures
      included the Neck Pain and Disability Scale and a standardised physical
      assessment using previously validated measures. Statistical analysis was
      conducted as a series of mixed ANOVAs with time and treatment as the independent
      variables. RESULTS: While the analyses revealed no significant interactions
      between time and treatment (p <  0.05), there were general trends of improvement
      or deterioration for outcome measures. Improvements over time were noted in the
      treatment group for cervical range of motion and deep neck muscle endurance;
      however deteriorations were noted for forward head posture and cervical
      kinaesthetic sense. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, despite no statistically significant
      differences being detected, this study suggests that wearing loupes appears to
      have both positive and negative outcomes with regards to physical well-being. As
      such, further studies are required to more precisely determine the effects of
      loupes on MSD among dental hygienists, particularly long-term. Dental hygienists
      with existing neck pain exploring ergonomic equipment may reflect on the findings
      and consider the potential benefits and risks of wearing loupes.

PMID- 26890594
TI  - Joint health and safety committees - What is their impact in the acute care
      hospital?
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is very little in the literature on the effectiveness of Joint
      Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs) in the healthcare sector and a paucity of
      information on how JHSCs are perceived in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: This study
      was carried out to explore hospital worker, hospital management, and healthcare
      sector stakeholder views on the effectiveness of JHSCs in the acute healthcare
      setting. METHODS: The study used a qualitative descriptive design with: (1)
      nineteen focus groups and twenty two individual interviews in three hospitals of
      different sizes; and (2) eight individual interviews with external stakeholders.
      RESULTS: Study findings showed gaps in awareness and understanding of the role
      and responsibilities of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. Some participants
      indicated that JHSCs lacked profile and had low visibility in the organization.
      Facilitators and barriers to JHSC effectiveness were investigated and measures to
      assess effectiveness identified. The attributes of a "gold standard" JHSC were
      outlined by respondents and can be used to develop an evidence-driven assessment
      tool to evaluate JHSCs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate both a
      continuing need for education and training related to JHSCs and the need to
      develop better tools to assess JHSC functioning and effectiveness.

PMID- 26890595
TI  - Firefighting and mental health: Experiences of repeated exposure to trauma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Firefighters must be ready to respond to a broad range of emergencies
      every duty day. In the course of many of these emergencies, firefighters witness
      events which have the potential to induce emotional trauma, such as badly injured
      people, deceased children, and individuals who are highly distraught. Previous
      research suggests that repeated exposure to these traumas (RET) may have negative
      impacts on the emotional and mental health of fire service personnel. Research on
      the mental health of firefighters has been limited to small surveys reporting the
      prevalence of specific mental health problems such as depression and post
      traumatic stress disorder among firefighters. OBJECTIVE: Despite the likelihood
      that RET leads to negative outcomes in firefighters, data is lacking on how
      exposure impacts fire service personnel. The current study examines the
      experiences of firefighters related to RET. METHODS: Using formative research
      methods, we examined the beliefs and experiences of firefighters and
      administrators from across the United States regarding the impact of RET on
      firefighter health. RESULTS: Study findings highlight the cumulative
      psychological toll of repeated exposure to traumatic events including
      desensitization, flashbacks, and irritability. CONCLUSION: Results of the current
      study suggest that RET is a significant concern for emergency responders that
      warrants additional research and attention. It is likely that the long term
      consequences of RET are closely intertwined with other mental health outcomes and
      general well-being of this important occupational group.

PMID- 26890596
TI  - "The Florence Experience": A multimedia and multisensory guidebook for cultural
      towns inspired by Universal Design approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In order to plan a trip, tourists with disabilities need to gather
      and analyse a broad range of information concerning the features of the places
      and services with which they are going to interact. For these people, guidebooks
      may represent an important source of information for gaining prior knowledge
      about the various critical situations they may experience as tourists. Generally,
      disabled people find tourist information on dedicated communication tools;
      guidebooks for the disabled often provide information for wheelchair users only.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of the research project was to develop a mainstream guidebook
      with supplementary tourist information both for people with impaired vision and
      for people with reduced mobility. METHODS: The communication project behind "The
      Florence Experience" guidebook is inspired by both the Universal Design approach
      and the Performance Design approach. This article describes a case study and
      provides suggestions for planning in similar situations. It is also part of a
      broader research project relating to the communication about urban spaces
      accessibility. RESULTS: The main outcome of the research project is a multimedia
      and multisensory bilingual guidebook (in Italian and English) that provides
      information in four separate coordinated forms: a paper-based guidebook, web
      pages, MP3 audio files, and portable tactile maps. CONCLUSIONS: Creating a
      guidebook for all is a tough challenge that requires a highly articulated vision
      and the cooperation of different fields of knowledge and skills. Despite the
      limits described in the paper, "The Florence Experience" guidebook is, in our
      opinion, a considerable step forward with respect to the majority of available
      guidebooks both because it is a unique information tool for disabled and non
      disabled people and because, unlike the majority of the guidebooks for disabled
      people, it does not only consider the needs of wheelchair users.

PMID- 26890597
TI  - Work family conflict in its relations to perceived working situation and work
      engagement.
AB  - BACKGROUND: These days physicians' work is characterized by an increase in
      economic demands, pressure and challenges in establishing a balance between work
      and family life. The current study investigates the relationship between
      physicians' job demands and resources, perceived job stress, work-family
      conflict, work engagement and job satisfaction. METHODS: 564 clinicians
      specialising in different medical fields participated in the cross-sectional
      study. Self-administered questionnaires, including the COPSOQ and the UWES- Scale
      were administered. RESULTS: Our results illustrated significant relationships
      between physicians' work engagement and their job satisfaction as well as between
      job stress and work family conflict. Moreover, perceived job stress moderated the
      effect of high job demands on work family conflict. In addition, significant
      gender differences have been found in perceived stress levels, work family
      conflict and work engagement. CONCLUSION: This study proves and verified
      associations between work engagement, work-family conflict, job demands and
      resources that may influence employees' satisfaction. Implications for both
      working physicians and hospital management are given.

PMID- 26890598
TI  - French good practice guidelines for management of the risk of low back pain among
      workers exposed to manual material handling: Hierarchical strategy of risk
      assessment of work situations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Manual material handling remains a major cause of occupational
      accidents and diseases in various sectors and occupations. OBJECTIVE: This paper
      summarizes the main recommendations of the good practice guidelines of the French
      Society of Occupational Medicine for the risk assessment for back disorders in
      workers exposed to manual handling of loads. METHODS: The guidelines were written
      by a multidisciplinary working group of 24 experts, according to the Clinical
      Practice Guidelines method proposed by French National Health Authority, and
      reviewed by a multidisciplinary peer review committee of 50 experts.
      Recommendations were based on a large systematic review of the international
      literature carried out from 1990 to March 2012 and classified (Grade A, B, C or
      expert consensus) according to their level of evidence. RESULTS: The main
      recommendations are a three-level hierarchical method of risk assessment based on
      participatory ergonomics and suggested assessment tools that can be used
      routinely by professionals of occupational health, workers themselves and their
      supervisors. CONCLUSION: These French guidelines are intended for professionals
      of occupational health in charge of the prevention of low back disorders. The
      recommended methods are applicable to other countries than France.

PMID- 26890599
TI  - Effects of an expressive writing intervention on a group of public employees
      subjected to work relocation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pennebaker's writing technique has yielded good results on health,
      psychological and performance dimensions. In spite of the positive outcomes, the
      technique has rarely been applied directly within the workplace and its effects
      on burnout have never been tested. METHOD: 18 public employees subjected to work
      relocation were asked to write about their present work situation or another
      difficult event of their life (Writing Group), while another 17 were not assigned
      any writing task (Control Group). OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there was an
      improvement in burnout, alexithymia and psychological well-being in the Writing
      Group compared with the baseline measurement and the Control Group. RESULTS:
      While the baseline levels in the Writing and Control Groups in the 3 dimensions
      considered were similar, scores in the Writing Group at both a second (1 month
      after the end of the procedure) and third measurement (7 months after the end)
      improved when compared with the baseline, whereas those in the Control Group
      worsened. CONCLUSIONS: Pennebaker's writing technique appears to promote adaptive
      coping strategies in stressful situations, and to increase occupational and
      psychological well-being as well as the ability to process emotions. It also
      appears to buffer the negative effects of work-related stress.

PMID- 26890600
TI  - Guidelines for schoolbag carriage: An appraisal of safe load limits for schoolbag
      weight and duration of carriage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is no global agreement on a schoolbag weight limit and little
      assessment of its utility. The duration of carriage is another factor yet there
      is no previous systematic assessment of the utility of cut-off values for it in
      identifying schoolbag-related discomfort. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to
      establish if there was a threshold for musculoskeletal discomfort based on (i)
      percentage bodyweight (% BW) of the schoolbag; (ii) duration of carriage; or
      (iii) combined % BW and duration. METHODS: Using data from 462 primary school
      children, a novel experimental approach was used to explore the utility of
      conventional schoolbag weight limit guidelines and duration of carriage. A
      receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to examine the
      predictive performance of schoolbag weight and duration of carriage. RESULTS: The
      mean schoolbag weight (4.8+/-1.43  kg) represented a mean 12.4+/-4.18% BW. Only
      30.7% of the sample carried schoolbags that were <=10% BW. The majority (76%)
      carried schoolbags to school for <=10 minutes. No % BW, duration of carriage or
      mechanical burden criterion provided a threshold cut-off point for accurately
      predicting schoolbag-related discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines for safe
      schoolbag carriage that are based on mechanical factors alone could not be
      upheld. The association between duration of carriage and back discomfort warrants
      further investigation.

PMID- 26890604
TI  - Notes from the Field: Administration Error Involving a Meningococcal Conjugate
      Vaccine--United States, March 1, 2010-September 22, 2015.
AB  - Menveo (GlaxoSmithKline, previously Novartis AG) is a conjugate vaccine that was
      recommended in October 2010 for routine use in adolescents (preferably aged 11 or
      12 years, with a booster at 16 years), and among persons aged 2 through 54 years
      with certain immunosuppressive conditions, to prevent invasive meningococcal
      disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 (1). These
      recommendations have since been updated (2). Menveo is supplied in two vials that
      must be combined before administration. The MenA lyophilized (freeze-dried)
      component must be reconstituted with the MenCYW-135 liquid component (Figure). To
      administer the vaccine, the liquid component is drawn into a syringe, and used to
      reconstitute the lyophilized component. The resulting solution is administered by
      intramuscular injection. Failure to prepare Menveo as directed by the
      manufacturer's instructions can lead to lack of protection against the intended
      pathogens (N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and/or W-135) (3). Recently, an
      immunization provider administered only the lyophilized component of Menveo,
      subsequently administered a properly prepared dose of Menveo to the same patient,
      and asked CDC if this practice was safe. This question prompted CDC to search the
      Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database for reports during March
      1, 2010-September 22, 2015, of only one component of Menveo being administered.
      Additionally, to more broadly identify disproportional reporting of adverse
      events in general following Menveo immunization compared with other vaccines in
      VAERS (including errors in vaccine preparation and administration), the Food and
      Drug Administration performed data mining with empiric Bayesian methods (4). 

PMID- 26890605
TI  - Recent advances in enantioselective gold catalysis.
AB  - Interest in homogeneous gold catalysis has undergone a marked increase. As strong
      yet air- and moisture-tolerant pi-acids, cationic gold(i) complexes have been
      shown to catalyze diverse transformations of alkenes, alkynes and allenes,
      opening new opportunities for chemical synthesis. The development of efficient
      asymmetric variants is required in order to take full advantage of the
      preparative potential of these transformations. During the last few years, the
      chemical community has achieved tremendous success in the area. This review
      highlights the updated progress (2011-2015) in enantioselective gold catalysis.
      The discussion is classified according to the pi-bonds activated by gold(i), in
      an order of alkynes, allenes and alkenes. Other gold activation modes, such as
      sigma-Lewis acid catalyzed reactions and transformations of diazo compounds are
      also discussed.

PMID- 26890606
TI  - Arterial stiffness evaluated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity increases the
      risk of chronic kidney disease in a Chinese population-based cohort.
AB  - AIM: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for
      cardiovascular disease. Although pulse wave velocity (PWV), which reflects
      arterial stiffness, was increased in subjects with CKD, little is known regarding
      whether arterial stiffness can increase the risk of CKD. To help clarify this we
      conducted a prospective cohort study to measure the association of arterial
      stiffness with CKD. METHODS: A total of 7154 adults aged 54.8 +/- 10.6 years
      undergoing physical examinations without CKD at baseline were enrolled. Arterial
      stiffness was evaluated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). CKD was
      defined as decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR < 60 mL/min per
      1.73 m2 ) or presence of proteinuria (urine protein >= 1+) assessed using a
      repeated dipstick method. RESULTS: During 3 years of follow-up, 167 (2.3%)
      patients developed CKD, 101 (1.4%) patients with proteinuria and 68 (1.0%)
      patients with decreased eGFR. After adjusted for potential confounders, either
      cfPWV (per 1 m/s increase) or the highest quartile of cfPWV (increased cfPWV) was
      independently associated with increased risk of proteinuria, with a fully
      adjusted OR of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.23) and 1.93 (95% CI, 1.15 to 3.25),
      respectively. By contrast, neither cfPWV (per 1 m/s increase) nor increased cfPWV
      was associated with decreased eGFR in the multivariable logistic regression
      analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that arterial stiffness increases the
      risk of proteinuria. This suggests that vascular stiffness could be considered as
      a target for delaying the development of CKD.

PMID- 26890603
TI  - Ocimum sanctum leaf extract induces drought stress tolerance in rice.
AB  - Ocimum leaves are highly enriched in antioxidant components. Thus, its leaf
      extract, if applied in plants, is believed to efficiently scavenge ROS, thereby
      preventing oxidative damage under drought stress. Thus, the present study was
      performed in kharif 2013 and rabi 2014 season to evaluate the effect of aqueous
      leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum against drought stress in 2 rice genotype under
      glass house conditions. Here we show that various morpho- physiological
      (chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf rolling score, leaf tip burn, number of senesced
      leaves and total dry matter) and biochemical parameters (proline, malondialdehyde
      and superoxide dismutase content) were amended by Ocimum treatment in both the
      seasons. Application of Ocimum extract increased expression of dehydrin genes,
      while reducing expression of aquaporin genes in drought stressed rice plant.
      Thus, application of Ocimum leaf extract under drought stress can be suggested as
      a promising strategy to mitigate drought stress in economical, accessible and
      ecofriendly manner.

PMID- 26890602
TI  - AMPK activation protects cells from oxidative stress-induced senescence via
      autophagic flux restoration and intracellular NAD(+) elevation.
AB  - AMPK activation is beneficial for cellular homeostasis and senescence prevention.
      However, the molecular events involved in AMPK activation are not well defined.
      In this study, we addressed the mechanism underlying the protective effect of
      AMPK on oxidative stress-induced senescence. The results showed that AMPK was
      inactivated in senescent cells. However, pharmacological activation of AMPK by
      metformin and berberine significantly prevented the development of senescence
      and, accordingly, inhibition of AMPK by Compound C was accelerated. Importantly,
      AMPK activation prevented hydrogen peroxide-induced impairment of the autophagic
      flux in senescent cells, evidenced by the decreased p62 degradation, GFP-RFP-LC3
      cancellation, and activity of lysosomal hydrolases. We also found that AMPK
      activation restored the NAD(+) levels in the senescent cells via a mechanism
      involving mostly the salvage pathway for NAD(+) synthesis. In addition, the
      mechanistic relationship of autophagic flux and NAD(+) synthesis and the
      involvement of mTOR and Sirt1 activities were assessed. In summary, our results
      suggest that AMPK prevents oxidative stress-induced senescence by improving
      autophagic flux and NAD(+) homeostasis. This study provides a new insight for
      exploring the mechanisms of aging, autophagy and NAD(+) homeostasis, and it is
      also valuable in the development of innovative strategies to combat aging.

PMID- 26890607
TI  - Cervical metastases of oral maxillary squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic
      review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Cervical treatment of oral maxillary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains
      controversial. We determined the metastases incidence and evaluated its
      predictive factors. Systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of 23
      Chinese and English-language articles retrieved from PubMed, Ovid, Embase,
      Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Scientific
      and Technological Journal databases. Total cervical metastases and occult
      metastases rate was 32% and 21%, respectively. Positive lymph node detection was
      likeliest from levels I to III. The maxillary gingival metastases rate was higher
      than that of the hard palate. Advanced-stage tumors had higher metastatic risk
      than early-stage tumors. Well-differentiated tumors had a significantly higher
      metastases rate than medium and poor-differentiation tumors. N0 cases had
      survival benefit compared with N+ cases. Metastases rate of oral maxillary SCC
      correlates significantly with T classification and pathological stage. T and N
      classifications impact outcome significantly. Therefore, levels I to III
      selective neck dissection is recommended for patients with T3/4 cN0 disease. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2335-E2342, 2016.

PMID- 26890608
TI  - A functional genome-wide genetic screening identifies new pathways controlling
      the G1/S transcriptional wave.
AB  - The Schizosaccharomyces pombe MBF complex activates the transcription of genes
      required for DNA synthesis and S phase. The MBF complex contains several
      proteins, including the core components Cdc10, Res1 and Res2, the co-repressor
      proteins Yox1 and Nrm1 and the co-activator Rep2. It has recently been shown how
      MBF is regulated when either the DNA damage or the DNA synthesis checkpoints are
      activated. However, how MBF is regulated in a normal unperturbed cell cycle is
      still not well understood. We have set up a genome-wide genomic screen searching
      for global regulators of MBF. We have crossed our knock-out collection library
      with a reporter strain that allows the measurement of MBF activity in live cells
      by flow cytometry. We confirm previously known regulators of MBF and show that
      COP9/signalosome and tRNA methyltransferases also regulate MBF activity. 

PMID- 26890610
TI  - Autophagic vacuoles in cardiomyocytes of dilated cardiomyopathy with initially
      decompensated heart failure predict improved prognosis.
AB  - Autophagy is a process of bulk protein degradation and organelle turnover, and is
      a current therapeutic target in several diseases. The present study aimed to
      clarify the significance of myocardial autophagy of patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy (DCM). Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 250
      consecutive patients with DCM (54.9+/-13.9 years; male, 79%), initially
      presenting with decompensated heart failure (HF). The association of these
      findings with HF mortality or recurrence was examined. Myofilament changes, which
      are apparent in the degenerated cardiomyocytes of DCM, were recognized in 164
      patients (66%), and autophagic vacuoles in cardiomyocytes were identified in or
      near the area of myofilament changes in 86 patients (34%). Morphometrically,
      fibrosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 0.99) and
      mitochondrial abnormality (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.23 to 4.08) were independently
      related with autophagic vacuoles. During the follow-up period of 4.9+/-3.9 y, 24
      patients (10%) died, including 10 (4%) who died of HF, and 67 (27%) were
      readmitted for HF recurrence. Multivariate analysis identified a family history
      of DCM (hazard ratio [HR], 2.117; 95% CI, 1.199 to 3.738), hemoglobin level (HR,
      0.845; 95% CI, 0.749 to 0.953), myofilament changes (HR, 13.525; 95% CI, 5.340 to
      34.255), and autophagic vacuoles (HR, 0.214; 95% CI, 0.114 to 0.400) as
      independent predictors of death or readmission due to HF recurrence. In
      conclusion, autophagic vacuoles in cardiomyocytes are associated with a better HF
      prognosis in patients with DCM, suggesting autophagy may play a role in the
      prevention of myocardial degeneration. 

PMID- 26890611
TI  - Course and Determinants of Anosognosia in Alzheimer's Disease: A 12-Month Follow
      up.
AB  - Anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been associated with greater
      cognitive impairment and more behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
      (BPSD). This study examines the incidence, persistence, and remission rates of
      anosognosia over a 12-month period, as well as the related risk factors. This was
      an observational 12-month prospective study. The longitudinal sample comprised
      177 patients with mild or moderate AD, and their respective caregivers.
      Anosognosia was assessed using the Anosognosia Questionnaire in Dementia, and we
      also evaluated cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination), functional
      disability (Disability Assessment in Dementia), and the presence of BPSD
      (Neuropsychiatric Inventory). Multinomial logistic regression was used to
      determine the variables associated with the incidence, persistence and remission
      of anosognosia. The prevalence of anosognosia was 39.5% (95% CI = 32.1-47.1) at
      baseline. At 12 months, incidence was 38.3% (95% CI = 28.6-48.0), persistence was
      80.0% (95% CI = 69.9-90.1) and remission was 20.0% (95% CI = 9.9-30.1). The
      regression model identified lower age, more education, and the presence of
      delusions as variables associated with incidence, and more education, lower
      instrumental DAD score, and disinhibition as variables associated with
      persistence. No variables were associated with remission (n = 14). The presence
      of anosognosia in AD patients is high. Education and certain neuropsychiatric
      symptoms may explain a greater and earlier incidence of anosognosia. However,
      anosognosia also increases with greater cognitive impairment and disease
      severity. 

PMID- 26890612
TI  - Sisymbrium Officinale (L.) Scop. and its Polyphenolic Fractions Inhibit the
      Mutagenicity of Tert-Butylhydroperoxide in Escherichia Coli WP2uvrAR Strain.
AB  - One Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. aqueous dry extract (SOE) and its
      polyphenolic fractions (Fb, Fc, Fd and Fe) were evaluated for their ability to
      inhibit the oxidative mutagenicity of tert-butylhydroperoxide in the Ames test.
      The possible involvement of desmutagenic and/or bioantimutagenic mechanisms was
      evaluated by applying a three-time based protocol (pre-treatment, co-treatment
      and post-treatment). Furthermore, some protective antioxidant mechanisms were
      investigated. The total polyphenol and flavonol amount was also determined, and
      the fingerprint was outlined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography and
      densitometry. SOE, Fb and Fe exhibited strong antimutagenicity against tert
      butylhydroperoxide in all treatment protocols, this suggesting the involvement of
      both desmutagenic and bioantimutagenic mechanisms. These samples also showed
      antioxidant properties, including neutralization of the superoxide anion, lipid
      peroxidation inhibition and chelation and reduction of iron. Fb and Fe were rich
      in polyphenols and flavonols, so suggesting a possible role of these compounds in
      the antimutagenicity. Taking into account that oxidative stress is responsible
      for the damage of various environmental toxicants, particularly tobacco smoke,
      present results can support the traditional use of hedge mustard by smokers to
      restore the vocal cord function affected by the oxidative damage and suggest a
      possible application of SOE and its fractions as food supplements. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26890613
TI  - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus during Pregnancy, Abu Dhabi, United
      Arab Emirates, 2013.
AB  - As of June 19, 2015, the World Health Organization had received 1,338
      notifications of laboratory-confirmed infection with Middle East respiratory
      syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Little is known about the course of or treatment
      for MERS-CoV in pregnant women. We report a fatal case of MERS-CoV in a pregnant
      woman administered combination ribavirin-peginterferon-alpha therapy.

PMID- 26890614
TI  - Paul Allan Levine, M.D. (1944-2015).

PMID- 26890615
TI  - Decoupling Activation of Heme Biosynthesis from Anaerobic Toxicity in a Molecule
      Active in Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - Small molecules active in the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus are
      valuable tools for the study of its basic biology and pathogenesis, and many
      molecules may provide leads for novel therapeutics. We have previously reported a
      small molecule, 1, which activates endogenous heme biosynthesis in S. aureus,
      leading to an accumulation of intracellular heme. In addition to this novel
      activity, 1 also exhibits toxicity towards S. aureus growing under fermentative
      conditions. To determine if these activities are linked and establish what
      features of the molecule are required for activity, we synthesized a library of
      analogs around the structure of 1 and screened them for activation of heme
      biosynthesis and anaerobic toxicity to investigate structure-activity
      relationships. The results of this analysis suggest that these activities are not
      linked. Furthermore, we have identified the structural features that promote each
      activity and have established two classes of molecules: activators of heme
      biosynthesis and inhibitors of anaerobic growth. These molecules will serve as
      useful probes for their respective activities without concern for the off target
      effects of the parent compound.

PMID- 26890617
TI  - Evidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Spread by Aerosol. Time to Revisit
      Infection Control Strategies?
AB  - RATIONALE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious pathogen with
      a huge global health impact. It is a major cause of hospital-acquired infection;
      a large number of those exposed develop infection. Those infected in hospital are
      at increased risk of a severe clinical course. Prevention of nosocomial spread
      currently focuses on spread by hand and large droplets. There is little research
      evidence to determine if aerosol spread of infectious RSV is possible.
      OBJECTIVES: To determine if the air surrounding infants with RSV-positive
      bronchiolitis contains RSV in aerosolized particles that remain capable of
      causing infection. METHODS: The amount of RSV contained in aerosolized particles
      produced by infants with bronchiolitis due to RSV was measured using viable
      impactor sampling. The ability of RSV contained in these particles to infect
      healthy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) human ciliated
      respiratory epithelium was determined. RESULTS: We showed for the first time that
      infants with RSV-positive bronchiolitis nursed in a ward setting or ventilated in
      intensive care produced large numbers of aerosol particles containing RSV that
      remained infectious and were capable of infecting healthy and COPD human ciliated
      epithelium. A significant amount of RSV was found in particles with aerodynamic
      diameters less than 5 MUm. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the aerosolized particles that
      contained RSV in the air surrounding infants with bronchiolitis were sufficiently
      small to remain airborne for a significant length of time and small enough to be
      inhaled and deposited throughout the respiratory tract. It is likely that this
      leads to spread of infection to others, with dissemination of infection
      throughout the respiratory tract.

PMID- 26890616
TI  - Renal sonography in bipolar patients on long-term lithium treatment.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to analyze sonographic (US) renal findings in
      lithium-treated bipolar patients and to correlate them with renal function.
      METHODS: Renal US and renal function tests were performed on 120 patients with
      bipolar disorder. Ninety patients (30 males, 60 females), aged 36-82 years, had
      received lithium therapy for an average of 16 years, whereas 30 patients (10
      males, 20 females), aged 35-85 years, who had never been exposed to lithium,
      served as controls. RESULTS: In the lithium-treated group, patients with
      macrocysts (22%) had poorer renal function with higher creatinine serum
      concentrations, lower estimated glomerular filtration rates, and lower urine
      specific gravity, compared with the patients without macrocysts. The US changes
      characteristic for lithium nephropathy (punctate hyperechoic foci, microcysts < 2
      mm, and increased echogenicity) were seen in three patients. These patients had
      been treated with lithium for more than 20 years and had impaired renal function.
      Sixteen percent of patients in the control group had macrocysts; however, no
      correlation between their presence and impaired renal function was found.
      CONCLUSIONS: The presence of macrocysts in the kidneys of lithium-treated bipolar
      patients is associated with impaired renal function. The US changes
      characteristic for lithium nephropathy are rare, and in our study, were only
      found in patients treated with lithium for 20 years or more. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:354-359, 2016.

PMID- 26890609
TI  - What Makes a Bacterial Species Pathogenic?:Comparative Genomic Analysis of the
      Genus Leptospira.
AB  - Leptospirosis, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, is a globally
      widespread, neglected and emerging zoonotic disease. While whole genome analysis
      of individual pathogenic, intermediately pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira
      species has been reported, comprehensive cross-species genomic comparison of all
      known species of infectious and non-infectious Leptospira, with the goal of
      identifying genes related to pathogenesis and mammalian host adaptation, remains
      a key gap in the field. Infectious Leptospira, comprised of pathogenic and
      intermediately pathogenic Leptospira, evolutionarily diverged from non
      infectious, saprophytic Leptospira, as demonstrated by the following
      computational biology analyses: 1) the definitive taxonomy and evolutionary
      relatedness among all known Leptospira species; 2) genomically-predicted
      metabolic reconstructions that indicate novel adaptation of infectious Leptospira
      to mammals, including sialic acid biosynthesis, pathogen-specific porphyrin
      metabolism and the first-time demonstration of cobalamin (B12) autotrophy as a
      bacterial virulence factor; 3) CRISPR/Cas systems demonstrated only to be present
      in pathogenic Leptospira, suggesting a potential mechanism for this clade's
      refractoriness to gene targeting; 4) finding Leptospira pathogen-specific
      specialized protein secretion systems; 5) novel virulence-related genes/gene
      families such as the Virulence Modifying (VM) (PF07598 paralogs) proteins and
      pathogen-specific adhesins; 6) discovery of novel, pathogen-specific protein
      modification and secretion mechanisms including unique lipoprotein signal peptide
      motifs, Sec-independent twin arginine protein secretion motifs, and the absence
      of certain canonical signal recognition particle proteins from all Leptospira;
      and 7) and demonstration of infectious Leptospira-specific signal-responsive gene
      expression, motility and chemotaxis systems. By identifying large scale changes
      in infectious (pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic) vs. non-infectious
      Leptospira, this work provides new insights into the evolution of a genus of
      bacterial pathogens. This work will be a comprehensive roadmap for understanding
      leptospirosis pathogenesis. More generally, it provides new insights into
      mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens adapt to mammalian hosts. 

PMID- 26890618
TI  - Clinical background affecting pregnancy outcome following local endometrial
      injury in infertile patients with repeated implantation failure.
AB  - Local endometrial injury (LEI) has been performed as a promising medical
      intervention to improve the pregnancy outcome in infertile women suffering from
      repeated implantation failure (RIF) in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer
      cycles. The effect of LEI, however, remains controversial. The aim of this
      retrospective study was to identify the subgroups of patients with RIF who
      benefit from LEI. We compared the clinical parameters between the patients who
      had had a clinical pregnancy in the subsequent embryo transfer cycle following
      the LEI cycle (LEI-CP group, n = 94) and those who had resulted in negative
      pregnancy test (LEI-NP group, n = 114). The female age, basal follicle
      stimulating hormone concentration, number of past oocyte pickup cycles, and
      embryos/blastocysts transferred in the past three RIF cycles were significantly
      (p < 0.047) lower in the LEI-CP group than the LEI-NP group. The prevalence of
      polycystic ovarian syndrome was significantly (p = 0.0059) higher in the LEI-CP
      group than in the LEI-NP group. These findings suggest that LEI is most effective
      to improve the pregnancy outcome in patients undergoing RIF with uncompromised
      ovarian reserve, particularly in those with polycystic ovarian syndrome. 

PMID- 26890620
TI  - A second retrospective database analysis confirms prior findings of apparent
      increased cardiovascular comorbidities in hemophilia A in the United States.

PMID- 26890619
TI  - A Patient-Inspired Ex Vivo Liver Tissue Engineering Approach with Autologous
      Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hepatogenic Serum.
AB  - Design and development of ex vivo bioengineered liver tissue substitutes intended
      for subsequent in vivo implantation has been considered therapeutically relevant
      to treat many liver diseases that require whole-organ replacement on a long-term
      basis. The present study focus on patient-inspired ex vivo liver tissue
      engineering strategy to generate hepatocyte-scaffold composite by combining bone
      marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived from cardiac failure patients with
      secondary hyperbilirubinemia as primers of hepatic differentiation and hepatocyte
      growth factor (HGF)-enriched sera from same individuals as hepatic inducer. A
      biodegradable and implantable electrospun fibrous mesh of poly-l-lactic acid
      (PLLA) and gelatin is used as supporting matrix (average fiber diameter = 285 +/-
      64 nm, porosity = 81 +/- 4%, and average pore size = 1.65 +/- 0.77 MUm). The
      fibrous mesh supports adhesion, proliferation, and hepatic commitment of patient
      derived BMSCs of adequate stemness using HGF-enriched sera generating
      metabolically competent hepatocyte-like cells, which is comparable to the hepatic
      induction with defined recombinant growth factor cocktail. The observed results
      confirm the combinatorial effects of nanofiber topography and biochemical cues in
      guiding hepatic specification of BMSCs. The fibrous mesh-hepatocyte construct
      developed in this study using natural growth factors and BMSCs of same individual
      is promising for future therapeutic applications in treating damaged livers.

PMID- 26890621
TI  - Acceptance of clinical decision support surveillance technology in the clinical
      pharmacy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There are clinical and economic benefits to incorporating clinical
      decision support systems (CDSSs) in patient care interventions in the clinical
      pharmacy setting. However, user dissatisfaction and resistance to HIT can prevent
      optimal use of such systems, particularly when users employ system workarounds
      and overrides. OBJECTIVES: The present study applied a modified version of the
      unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to evaluate the
      disposition and satisfaction with CDSS among clinical pharmacists who perform
      surveillance to identify potential medication therapy interventions on patients
      in the hospital setting. METHODS: A survey of clinical pharmacists (N = 48) was
      conducted. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to analyze the
      influence of the UTAUT-related variables on behavioral intention and satisfaction
      with CDSS among clinical pharmacists. RESULTS: While behavioral intention did not
      predict actual use of HIT, facilitating conditions had a direct effect on
      pharmacists' use of CDSS. Likewise, satisfaction with CDSS was found to have a
      direct effect on use, with more satisfied users being less inclined to employ
      workarounds or overrides of the system. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings,
      organizational structures that facilitate CDSS use and user satisfaction affect
      the extent to which pharmacy and health care management maximize use in the
      clinical pharmacy setting.

PMID- 26890623
TI  - Laplace Approximation for Divisive Gaussian Processes for Nonstationary
      Regression.
AB  - The standard Gaussian Process regression (GP) is usually formulated under
      stationary hypotheses: The noise power is considered constant throughout the
      input space and the covariance of the prior distribution is typically modeled as
      depending only on the difference between input samples. These assumptions can be
      too restrictive and unrealistic for many real-world problems. Although
      nonstationarity can be achieved using specific covariance functions, they require
      a prior knowledge of the kind of nonstationarity, not available for most
      applications. In this paper we propose to use the Laplace approximation to make
      inference in a divisive GP model to perform nonstationary regression, including
      heteroscedastic noise cases. The log-concavity of the likelihood ensures a
      unimodal posterior and makes that the Laplace approximation converges to a unique
      maximum. The characteristics of the likelihood also allow to obtain accurate
      posterior approximations when compared to the Expectation Propagation (EP)
      approximations and the asymptotically exact posterior provided by a Markov Chain
      Monte Carlo implementation with Elliptical Slice Sampling (ESS), but at a reduced
      computational load with respect to both, EP and ESS. 

PMID- 26890622
TI  - Bloodstream Infections: The peak of the iceberg.

PMID- 26890624
TI  - An Early-Stage Atherosclerosis Research Model Based on Microfluidics.
AB  - The arterial microenvironment plays a vital role in the pathology of
      atherosclerosis (AS). However, the interplay between the arterial
      microenvironment and atherogenesis remains unclear, partially due to the gap
      between cell culture and animal experiments. Addressing this problem, the present
      study reports a microfluidic AS model reconstituting early-stage AS.
      Physiological or AS-prone hemodynamic conditions are recapitulated on the model.
      The on-chip model recaptures the atherogenic responses of endothelial cells (ECs)
      in ways that the Petri dish could not. Significant cytotoxicity of a clinical
      anti-atherosclerotic drug probucol is discovered on the model, which does not
      appear on Petri dish but is supported by previous clinical evidence. Moreover,
      the anti-AS efficiency of platinum-nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on the model shows
      excellent consistency with animal experiments. The early-stage AS model shows an
      excellent connection between Petri dish and animal experiments and highlights its
      promising role in bridging fundamental AS research, drug screening, and clinical
      trials. 

PMID- 26890626
TI  - Encephalitis, Ontario, Canada, 2002-2013.
AB  - Encephalitis, a brain inflammation leading to severe illness and often death, is
      caused by >100 pathogens. To assess the incidence and trends of encephalitis in
      Ontario, Canada, we obtained data on 6,463 Ontario encephalitis hospitalizations
      from the hospital Discharge Abstract Database for April 2002-December 2013 and
      analyzed these data using multiple negative binomial regression. The estimated
      crude incidence of all-cause encephalitis in Ontario was ~4.3 cases/100,000
      persons/year. Incidence rates for infants <1 year of age and adults >65 years
      were 3.9 and 3.0 times that of adults 20-44 years of age, respectively. Incidence
      peaks during August-September in 2002 and 2012 resulted primarily from
      encephalitis of unknown cause and viral encephalitis. Encephalitis occurred more
      frequently in older age groups and less frequently in women in Ontario when
      compared to England, but despite differences in population, vector-borne
      diseases, climate, and geography, the epidemiology was overall remarkably similar
      in the two regions.

PMID- 26890627
TI  - Reliability and Validity of a Treatment Barriers Scale for Individuals With
      Alcohol Use Disorder.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies have measured addiction-specific barriers to treatment. A
      measurement of barriers with psychometric support that has been tested in diverse
      samples and that assesses multiple components of addiction treatment barriers is
      needed to inform providers and treatment programs. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to
      provide an initial psychometric investigation of a measure of barriers to seeking
      addictions treatment. METHODS: Data were collected from 196 Veterans Affairs
      primary care patients with Alcohol Use Disorder that participated in a randomized
      clinical trial. RESULTS: A Principal Components Analysis revealed that the 32
      item Treatment Barriers Scale (TBS) can be reduced to 14 items, measuring 4
      factors: stigma, dislike of the treatment process, alcohol problem
      identification, and logistical concerns. Acceptable internal consistent
      reliability (alpha = .64-.76) and excellent precision of alpha (alpha = 0.001
      0.009) was found for each subscale. Support for the measure's concurrent validity
      was found, for example, participants who reported more motivation to reduce their
      drinking perceived significantly fewer barriers to care. Support for the
      measure's predictive validity was also found, including that more barriers were
      related to future drinking among all participants and less mental health and
      addictions treatment visits among participants in one treatment condition.
      Conclusions/ Importance: Our results provide initial support for the utility of
      the TBS-14 among primary care patients with Alcohol Use Disorder. Use of the TBS
      14 could enable healthcare providers to better understand patient-specific
      treatment barriers, provide corrective information on treatment misconceptions,
      and inform individualized treatment plans that increase patient engagement in
      addiction services.

PMID- 26890628
TI  - Estimating optimal shared-parameter dynamic regimens with application to a
      multistage depression clinical trial.
AB  - A dynamic treatment regimen consists of decision rules that recommend how to
      individualize treatment to patients based on available treatment and covariate
      history. In many scientific domains, these decision rules are shared across
      stages of intervention. As an illustrative example, we discuss STAR*D, a
      multistage randomized clinical trial for treating major depression. Estimating
      these shared decision rules often amounts to estimating parameters indexing the
      decision rules that are shared across stages. In this article, we propose a novel
      simultaneous estimation procedure for the shared parameters based on Q-learning.
      We provide an extensive simulation study to illustrate the merit of the proposed
      method over simple competitors, in terms of the treatment allocation matching of
      the procedure with the "oracle" procedure, defined as the one that makes
      treatment recommendations based on the true parameter values as opposed to their
      estimates. We also look at bias and mean squared error of the individual
      parameter-estimates as secondary metrics. Finally, we analyze the STAR*D data
      using the proposed method.

PMID- 26890630
TI  - WASP-ASSOCIATED FACTORS ACT IN INTERSPECIES COMPETITION DURING MULTIPARASITISM.
AB  - Coexistence or displacement of parasitoids in hosts during intrinsic competitive
      interactions between different parasitoid species (multiparasitism) may depend on
      their life history traits and behavior. Intense competition for possession of
      hosts may lead to the elimination of the inferior competitor through physical
      attack and/or physiological suppression. However, the mechanisms of physiological
      suppression during multiparasitism remain unclear. Previous work has shown that
      first instar larvae of the solitary endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis possess
      well-developed mandibles that are used to kill competitors. Two gregarious
      endoparasitoids, Cotesia kariyai and C. rufricus, share host resources especially
      when the time gap of oviposition is short. Here, we investigated the
      physiological influence of wasp-regulatory factors of the three endoparasitoids,
      M. pulchricornis, C. kariyai, and C. ruficrus, in their common host Mythimna
      separata. We found that MpVLP alone (or with venom) deleteriously affected the
      development of the two gregarious species. Similarly, CkPDV plus venom had toxic
      effect on M. pulchricornis eggs and immature larvae, although they were not
      harmful to immature stages of C. ruficrus. Cotesia kariyai and C. ruficrus were
      able to coexist mainly through the expression of regulatory factors and both
      could successfully emerge from a multiparasitized host. The injection of CkPDV
      plus venom after oviposition in L5 host larvae facilitated C. ruficrus
      development and increased the rate of successful parasitism from 9% to 62%. This
      suggests that the two gregarious parasitoid wasps exhibit strong phylogenetic
      affinity, favoring their coexistence and success in multiparasitized hosts. 

PMID- 26890631
TI  - Age-Related Changes in the Processing of Emotional Faces in a Dual-Task Paradigm.
AB  - Background/ Study Context: Age-related changes appear to affect the ability to
      identify emotional facial expressions in dual-task conditions (i.e., while
      simultaneously performing a second visual task). The level of interference
      generated by the secondary task depends on the phase of emotional processing
      affected by the interference and the nature of the secondary task. The aim of the
      present study was to investigate the effect of these variables on age-related
      changes in the processing of emotional faces. METHODS: The identification of
      emotional facial expressions (EFEs) was assessed in a dual-task paradigm using
      the following variables: (a) the phase during which interference was applied
      (encoding vs. retrieval phase); and (b) the nature of the interfering stimulus
      (visuospatial vs. verbal). The sample population consisted of 24 healthy aged
      adults (mean age = 75.38) and 40 younger adults (mean age = 26.90). The accuracy
      of EFE identification was calculated for all experimental conditions. RESULTS:
      Consistent with our hypothesis, the performance of the older group was poorer
      than that of the younger group in all experimental conditions. Dual-task
      performance was poorer when the interference occurred during the encoding phase
      of emotional face processing and when both tasks were of the same nature (i.e.,
      when the experimental condition was more demanding in terms of attention).
      CONCLUSIONS: These results provide empirical evidence of age-related deficits in
      the identification of emotional facial expressions, which may be partially
      explained by the impairment of cognitive resources specific to this task. These
      findings may account for the difficulties experienced by the elderly during
      social interactions that require the concomitant processing of emotional and
      environmental information.

PMID- 26890629
TI  - Daclatasvir combined with sofosbuvir or simeprevir in liver transplant recipients
      with severe recurrent hepatitis C infection.
AB  - Daclatasvir (DCV) is a potent, pangenotypic nonstructural protein 5A inhibitor
      with demonstrated antiviral efficacy when combined with sofosbuvir (SOF) or
      simeprevir (SMV) with or without ribavirin (RBV) in patients with chronic
      hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Herein, we report efficacy and safety data for
      DCV-based all-oral antiviral therapy in liver transplantation (LT) recipients
      with severe recurrent HCV. DCV at 60 mg/day was administered for up to 24 weeks
      as part of a compassionate use protocol. The study included 97 LT recipients with
      a mean age of 59.3 +/- 8.2 years; 93% had genotype 1 HCV and 31% had biopsy
      proven cirrhosis between the time of LT and the initiation of DCV. The mean Model
      for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 13.0 +/- 6.0, and the proportion
      with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) A/B/C was 51%/31%/12%, respectively. Mean HCV RNA
      at DCV initiation was 14.3 * 6 log10 IU/mL, and 37% had severe cholestatic HCV
      infection. Antiviral regimens were selected by the local investigator and
      included DCV+SOF (n = 77), DCV+SMV (n = 18), and DCV+SMV+SOF (n = 2); 35% overall
      received RBV. At the end of treatment (EOT) and 12 weeks after EOT, 88 (91%) and
      84 (87%) patients, respectively, were HCV RNA negative or had levels <43 IU/mL.
      CTP and MELD scores significantly improved between DCV-based treatment initiation
      and last contact. Three virological breakthroughs and 2 relapses occurred in
      patients treated with DCV+SMV with or without RBV. None of the 8 patient deaths
      (6 during and 2 after therapy) were attributed to therapy. In conclusion, DCV
      based all-oral antiviral therapy was well tolerated and resulted in a high
      sustained virological response in LT recipients with severe recurrent HCV
      infection. Most treated patients experienced stabilization or improvement in
      their clinical status.

PMID- 26890632
TI  - Joint Attention is Slowed in Older Adults.
AB  - BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The automatic propensity to orient to the location
      where other people are looking is the main way of establishing joint attention
      with others. Whereas joint attention has been mostly investigated with young
      adults, the present study examines age-related differences in the magnitude and
      time course of joint attention. METHODS: Forty-three community-dwelling seniors
      and 43 younger adults performed a visuospatial task. The procedures closely
      follow those of gaze-cueing tasks commonly used to investigate joint attention.
      RESULTS: The findings revealed that a gaze-cueing effect occurs for both younger
      and older adults, with an equivalent average magnitude but with different time
      courses. The effect peaks later in older adults. CONCLUSION: Age-related
      differences in joint attention could be linked to a more general cognitive
      slowing rather than to poorer basic social skills. The present study adds to the
      growing interest in gerontological research regarding social attention.

PMID- 26890633
TI  - Predicting Value of Nine-Item Berg Balance Scale Among the Aged: A 3-Year
      Prospective Follow-Up Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The aim was to assess the predicting value of the nine
      item Berg Balance Scale (BBS-9) for falls among the community-dwelling aged.
      METHODS: The participants (N = 298) were divided according to BBS-9 (range: 0-36)
      into those scoring 0-32 sum points (risk group [RG]; n = 158) and those scoring
      33-36 (non-risk group [non-RG]; n = 140). Falls were recorded by fall diaries,
      which subjects were asked to mail to the research assistants (RAs) monthly during
      the 12-month follow-up. The occurrences of falls requiring treatment were
      collected from the health center and hospital registers during the 12- and 36
      month follow-ups. RESULTS: During the 12-month follow-up, 271 falls (171 in RG
      and 100 in non-RG) and 29 falls requiring treatment (22 in RG and 7 in non-RG)
      occurred. During 36 months, there were 98 falls that required treatment (72 in RG
      and 26 in non-RG). The incidence of falls was higher in RG compared with non-RG
      (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-2.01)
      during the 12-month follow-up (p < .001). Also, the incidence of falls requiring
      treatment was significantly higher in RG than in non-RG during 12 months (IRR:
      2.82, 95% CI: 1.20-6.59; p = .017) and 36 months (IRR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.63-4.01; p
      < .001). CONCLUSION: BBS-9 with a cutoff score of 32/33 is an applicable tool for
      predicting risk of falls among the community-dwelling aged. Future studies are
      needed to assess the predicting value of BBS-9 among different age groups in the
      elderly population.

PMID- 26890634
TI  - The Emotional Stroop as an Emotion Regulation Task.
AB  - BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The present studies investigate age differences
      observed when performing the emotional Stroop task considered as an expression of
      emotion regulation. Previous studies employing this task showed mixed findings
      regarding age differences, with a lack of evidence for positivity effects.
      However, moderating factors such as arousal or dispositional (emotion) regulation
      strategies were mostly not taken into account. Moreover, relations between Stroop
      effects and emotional reactions were not examined. METHODS: In two studies (Study
      1/2: nyoung = 26/41; nold = 19/39), an emotional Stroop task was employed and
      valence (negative, neutral, positive [Study 2 only]) and arousal of the word
      stimuli were varied. Additionally, flexible goal adjustment (FGA), positive and
      negative affect in the last 12 months, and change in momentary affect (Study 2
      only) were measured. RESULTS: Study 1 showed larger emotional Stroop effects
      (ESE) in older than younger adults with medium arousing negative words. We also
      found correlations between FGA (positive correlation) as well as negative affect
      (negative correlation) and the ESE with medium arousing negative words. Study 2
      corroborates these findings by exhibiting positive change in momentary affect
      with larger ESEs for medium arousing negative words in the older age group.
      CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the importance of including arousal level and
      dispositional regulation measures (such as FGA) as moderating factors in age
      differences and within-group differences in emotion regulation. Although we did
      not find evidence for a positivity effect, processing in the emotional Stroop
      task was related to positive change in momentary affect and less negative affect
      in the older age group. Taken together, our experiments demonstrate that the
      emotional Stroop task is suited as a measure for emotion induction and related
      emotion regulation mechanisms.

PMID- 26890635
TI  - Implicit and Explicit Age Stereotypes for Specific Life Domains Across the Life
      Span: Distinct Patterns and Age Group Differences.
AB  - BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Drawing on research that shows the importance of age
      stereotypes across the life span, the authors investigated domain-specific
      implicit and explicit age stereotypes in different age groups. METHODS: Implicit
      (Implicit Association Test [IAT]; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998, Journal of
      Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1464-1480) and explicit age stereotypes
      were assessed for the domains of family and health in a sample of N = 90 younger,
      middle-aged, and older adults. RESULTS: Overall, age stereotypes were negative
      for the health domain but not for the family domain. Distinct patterns of age
      group differences emerged depending on domain and assessment method. In the
      family domain, older participants held the least positive explicit age
      stereotypes, whereas implicit stereotypes in this domain were most positive for
      this age group compared with the young and middle-aged groups. For the health
      domain, implicit and explicit age associations indicated that middle-aged
      participants showed the most negative age-associations. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest that implicit and explicit age stereotypes in different life
      domains represent largely independent constructs. Differential age group effects
      are assumed to reflect the result of accommodative and assimilative processes
      that are used to cope with age-related changes. Implications for future studies
      of implicit and explicit age stereotypes and their influence on developmental
      regulation are discussed.

PMID- 26890636
TI  - Aging and Self-Discrepancy: Evidence for Adaptive Change Across the Life Span.
AB  - BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Higgins' self-discrepancy theory (SDT; Higgins, 1987,
      Psychological Review, 94, 319-340) postulates that individuals are motivated to
      decrease the discrepancy between their current and future selves. The objective
      of the current research was to investigate adult age differences in quantitative
      and qualitative aspects of self-discrepancy. METHODS: Higgins' self-guide
      strength measure (Higgins et al., 1997, Journal of Personality and Social
      Psychology, 72, 515-525) was utilized to compare self-discrepancy in older (aged
      65-84) and younger (aged 17-30) healthy, community-dwelling adults. Additionally,
      the possible selves generated in the task were analyzed thematically. RESULTS:
      Age was associated with lowered expectations concerning both current and future
      selves, but the magnitude of self-discrepancy remained constant across the life
      span. Thematically, interpersonal-related possible selves were important for both
      age groups, whereas significant age differences emerged in several other thematic
      domains: younger adults generated significantly more related to achievement,
      whereas older adults were significantly more concerned with duties, obligations,
      and health. DISCUSSION: These findings reflect adaptive age-related changes in
      expectations and motivational priorities in line with life span theories of
      development.

PMID- 26890637
TI  - Pilot Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of (4S)-4-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-L
      Glutamate (18F-FSPG) for PET/CT Imaging of Intracranial Malignancies.
AB  - PURPOSE: (S)-4-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid (18F-FSPG) is a novel
      radiopharmaceutical for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. It is a
      glutamate analogue that can be used to measure xC- transporter activity. This
      study was performed to assess the feasibility of 18F-FSPG for imaging orthotopic
      brain tumors in small animals and the translation of this approach in human
      subjects with intracranial malignancies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: For the small
      animal study, GS9L glioblastoma cells were implanted into brains of Fischer rats
      and studied with 18F-FSPG, the 18F-labeled glucose derivative 18F-FDG and with
      the 18F-labeled amino acid derivative 18F-FET. For the human study, five subjects
      with either primary or metastatic brain cancer were recruited (mean age 50.4
      years). After injection of 300 MBq of 18F-FSPG, 3 whole-body PET/Computed
      Tomography (CT) scans were obtained and safety parameters were measured. The
      three subjects with brain metastases also had an 18F-FDG PET/CT scan.
      Quantitative and qualitative comparison of the scans was performed to assess
      kinetics, biodistribution, and relative efficacy of the tracers. RESULTS: In the
      small animals, the orthotopic brain tumors were visualized well with 18F-FSPG.
      The high tumor uptake of 18F-FSPG in the GS9L model and the absence of background
      signal led to good tumor visualization with high contrast (tumor/brain ratio:
      32.7). 18F-FDG and 18F-FET showed T/B ratios of 1.7 and 2.8, respectively. In the
      human pilot study, 18F-FSPG was well tolerated and there was similar distribution
      in all patients. All malignant lesions were positive with 18F-FSPG except for one
      low-grade primary brain tumor. In the 18F-FSPG-PET-positive tumors a similar T/B
      ratio was observed as in the animal model. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FSPG is a novel PET
      radiopharmaceutical that demonstrates good uptake in both small animal and human
      studies of intracranial malignancies. Future studies on larger numbers of
      subjects and a wider array of brain tumors are planned. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01186601.

PMID- 26890639
TI  - "A test of core psychopathic traits as a moderator of the efficacy of a brief
      motivational intervention for substance-using offenders": Correction to Swogger
      et al. (2016).
AB  - Reports an error in "A Test of Core Psychopathic Traits as a Moderator of the
      Efficacy of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Substance-Using Offenders" by
      Marc T. Swogger, Kenneth R. Conner, Eric D. Caine, Nicole Trabold, Melissa N.
      Parkhurst, Laurel M. Prothero and Stephen A. Maisto (Journal of Consulting and
      Clinical Psychology, Advanced Online Publication, Jan 4, 2016, np). The sentence
      in the 1st paragraph of the Intervention and Control Conditions section, "Over
      the course of the study, individuals in the intervention condition averaged 3.8
      (SD 0.40) sessions." It should read, "2.5 (SD 1.1) sessions." (The following
      abstract of the original article appeared in record 2015-58971-001.) OBJECTIVE:
      In a randomized controlled trial we studied a brief motivational intervention
      (BMI) for substance use, examining core psychopathic traits as a moderator of
      treatment efficacy. METHOD: Participants were 105 males and females who were 18
      years of age and older and in a pretrial jail diversion program. The sample was
      approximately 52% Black and other minorities and 48% White. Outcome variables at
      a 6-month follow-up were frequency of substance use (assessed with the Timeline
      Follow-back Interview and objective toxicology screens), substance use
      consequences (Short Inventory of Problems-Alcohol and Drug version), and self
      reported participation in nonstudy mental health and/or substance use treatment.
      Psychopathy was assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).
      RESULTS: BMI interacted with core psychopathic traits to account for 7% of the
      variance in substance use at follow-up. Treatment was associated with greater use
      among individuals with high levels of core psychopathic traits. Toxicology
      screening results were consistent with self-report data. The treatment and
      standard care groups did not differ on substance use consequences or nonstudy
      treatment participation at follow-up, and no moderation was found with these
      outcomes. An exploratory analysis indicated that low levels of affective traits
      of psychopathy were associated with benefit from the BMI in terms of decreased
      substance use. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that caution is warranted when
      applying BMIs among offenders; individuals with high levels of core psychopathic
      traits may not benefit and may be (PsycINFO Database Record).

PMID- 26890640
TI  - Automatic Segmentation of Wrist Bones in CT Using a Statistical Wrist Shape +
      Pose Model.
AB  - Segmentation of the wrist bones in CT images has been frequently used in
      different clinical applications including arthritis evaluation, bone age
      assessment and image-guided interventions. The major challenges include non
      uniformity and spongy textures of the bone tissue as well as narrow inter-bone
      spaces. In this work, we propose an automatic wrist bone segmentation technique
      for CT images based on a statistical model that captures the shape and pose
      variations of the wrist joint across 60 example wrists at nine different wrist
      positions. To establish the correspondences across the training shapes at neutral
      positions, the wrist bone surfaces are jointly aligned using a group-wise
      registration framework based on a Gaussian Mixture Model. Principal component
      analysis is then used to determine the major modes of shape variations. The
      variations in poses not only across the population but also across different
      wrist positions are incorporated in two pose models. An intra-subject pose model
      is developed by utilizing the similarity transforms at all wrist positions across
      the population. Further, an inter-subject pose model is used to model the pose
      variations across different wrist positions. For segmentation of the wrist bones
      in CT images, the developed model is registered to the edge point cloud extracted
      from the CT volume through an expectation maximization based probabilistic
      approach. Residual registration errors are corrected by application of a non
      rigid registration technique. We validate the proposed segmentation method by
      registering the wrist model to a total of 66 unseen CT volumes of average voxel
      size of 0.38 mm. We report a mean surface distance error of 0.33 mm and a mean
      Jaccard index of 0.86.

PMID- 26890641
TI  - Real-Time Visualization of Tissue Surface Biochemical Features Derived From
      Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements.
AB  - Fiber based fluorescence lifetime imaging has shown great potential for
      intraoperative diagnosis and guidance of surgical procedures. Here we describe a
      novel method addressing a significant challenge for the practical implementation
      of this technique, i.e., the real-time display of the quantified biochemical or
      functional tissue properties superimposed on the interrogated area. Specifically,
      an aiming beam (450 nm) generated by a continuous-wave laser beam was merged with
      the pulsed fluorescence excitation light in a single delivery/collection fiber
      and then imaged and segmented using a color-based algorithm. We demonstrate that
      this approach enables continuous delineation of the interrogated location and
      dynamic augmentation of the acquired frames with the corresponding fluorescence
      decay parameters. The method was evaluated on a fluorescence phantom and fresh
      tissue samples. Current results demonstrate that 34 frames per second can be
      achieved for augmenting videos of 640 * 512 pixels resolution. Also we show that
      the spatial resolution of the fluorescence lifetime map depends on the tissue
      optical properties, the scanning speed, and the frame rate. The dice similarity
      coefficient between the fluorescence phantom and the reconstructed maps was
      estimated to be as high as 93%. The reported method could become a valuable tool
      for augmenting the surgeon's field of view with diagnostic information derived
      from the analysis of fluorescence lifetime data in real-time using handheld,
      automated, or endoscopic scanning systems. Current method provides also a means
      for maintaining the tissue light exposure within safety limits. This study
      provides a framework for using an aiming beam with other point spectroscopy
      applications.

PMID- 26890638
TI  - T47D Cells Expressing Myeloperoxidase Are Able to Process, Traffic and Store the
      Mature Protein in Lysosomes: Studies in T47D Cells Reveal a Role for Cys319 in
      MPO Biosynthesis that Precedes Its Known Role in Inter-Molecular Disulfide Bond
      Formation.
AB  - Among the human heme-peroxidase family, myeloperoxidase (MPO) has a unique
      disulfide-linked oligomeric structure resulting from multi-step processing of the
      pro-protein monomer (proMPO) after it exits the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
      Related family members undergo some, but not all, of the processing steps
      involved with formation of mature MPO. Lactoperoxidase has its pro-domain
      proteolytically removed and is a monomer in its mature form. Eosinophil
      peroxidase undergoes proteolytic removal of its pro-domain followed by
      proteolytic separation into heavy and light chains and is a heterodimer. However,
      only MPO undergoes both these proteolytic modifications and then is further
      oligomerized into a heterotetramer by a single inter-molecular disulfide bond.
      The details of how and where the post-ER processing steps of MPO occur are
      incompletely understood. We report here that T47D breast cancer cells stably
      transfected with an MPO expression plasmid are able to efficiently replicate all
      of the processing steps that lead to formation of the mature MPO heterotetramer.
      MPO also traffics to the lysosome granules of T47D cells where it accumulates,
      allowing in-depth immunofluorescent microscopy studies of MPO trafficking and
      storage for the first time. Using this novel cell model we show that formation of
      MPO's single inter-molecular disulfide bond can occur normally in the absence of
      the proteolytic events that lead to separation of the MPO heavy and light chains.
      We further demonstrate that Cys319, which forms MPO's unique inter-molecular
      disulfide bond, is important for events that precede this step. Mutation of this
      residue alters the glycosylation and catalytic activity of MPO and blocks its
      entry into the endocytic pathway where proteolytic processing and disulfide
      bonding occur. Finally, using the endocytic trafficking of lysosomal hydrolases
      as a guide, we investigate the role of candidate receptors in the endocytic
      trafficking of MPO. 

PMID- 26890642
TI  - Spatial Angular Compounding of Photoacoustic Images.
AB  - Photoacoustic (PA) images utilize pulsed lasers and ultrasound transducers to
      visualize targets with higher optical absorption than the surrounding medium.
      However, they are susceptible to acoustic clutter and background noise artifacts
      that obfuscate biomedical structures of interest. We investigated three spatial
      angular compounding methods to improve PA image quality for biomedical
      applications, implemented by combining multiple images acquired as an ultrasound
      probe was rotated about the elevational axis with the laser beam and target
      fixed. Compounding with conventional averaging was based on the pose information
      of each PA image, while compounding with weighted and selective averaging
      utilized both the pose and image content information. Weighted-average
      compounding enhanced PA images with the least distortion of signal size,
      particularly when there were large (i.e., 2.5 mm and 7 ( degrees )) perturbations
      from the initial probe position. Selective-average compounding offered the best
      improvement in image quality with up 181, 1665, and 1568 times higher contrast,
      CNR, and SNR, respectively, compared to the mean values of individual PA images.
      The three presented spatial compounding methods have promising potential to
      enhance image quality in multiple photoacoustic applications.

PMID- 26890643
TI  - Improvements in RF Shimming in High Field MRI Using High Permittivity Materials
      With Low Order Pre-Fractal Geometries.
AB  - Ultra-high field MRI is an area of great interest for clinical research and basic
      science due to the increased signal-to-noise, spatial resolution and magnetic
      susceptibility-based contrast. However, the fact that the electromagnetic
      wavelength in tissue is comparable to the relevant body dimensions means that the
      uniformity of the excitation field is much poorer than at lower field strengths.
      In addition to techniques such as transmit arrays, one simple but effective
      method to counteract this effect is to use high permittivity "pads". Very high
      permittivities enable thinner, flexible pads to be used, but the limiting factor
      is wavelength effects within the pads themselves, which can lead to image
      artifacts. So far, all studies have used simple continuous rectangular/circular
      pad geometries. In this work we investigate how the wavelength effects can be
      partially mitigated utilizing shaped pad with holes. Several arrangements have
      been simulated, including low order pre-fractal geometries, which maintain the
      overall coverage of the pad, but can provide better image homogeneity in the
      region of interest or higher sensitivity depending on the setup. Experimental
      data in the form of in vivo human images at 7T were acquired to validate the
      simulation results.

PMID- 26890644
TI  - Accidental Dural Puncture and Postdural Puncture Headache: What Are Our Options?

PMID- 26890645
TI  - Direct Oral Anticoagulants: Correlation of Laboratory Monitoring With Safe
      Interventional Pain Procedures.

PMID- 26890646
TI  - Vigilance to Medical Device Failures.

PMID- 26890647
TI  - Unintended Impact of New Guidelines for Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures
      in Patients on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications.

PMID- 26890648
TI  - Reply to Drs Guffey and Fingerman.

PMID- 26890649
TI  - The Ultrasound-Guided Retroclavicular Block: Comparison With a Novel Subpectoral
      Approach.

PMID- 26890650
TI  - Reply to Dr Vaghadia and Colleagues.

PMID- 26890651
TI  - Dueling Guidelines.

PMID- 26890652
TI  - Reply to Dr Norris.

PMID- 26890653
TI  - Redirecting Efforts to Achieve Patient Satisfaction in the Chronic Pain Clinic.

PMID- 26890654
TI  - Application of and Choice of Nerves Determine the Success of Regional Anesthesia
      at the Ankle.

PMID- 26890655
TI  - Tuberculous meningitis: a diagnostic challenge and a devastating outcome.

PMID- 26890657
TI  - Hybrid feedback feedforward: An efficient design of adaptive neural network
      control.
AB  - This paper presents an efficient hybrid feedback feedforward (HFF) adaptive
      approximation-based control (AAC) strategy for a class of uncertain Euler
      Lagrange systems. The control structure includes a proportional-derivative (PD)
      control term in the feedback loop and a radial-basis-function (RBF) neural
      network (NN) in the feedforward loop, which mimics the human motor learning
      control mechanism. At the presence of discontinuous friction, a sigmoid-jump
      function NN is incorporated to improve control performance. The major difference
      of the proposed HFF-AAC design from the traditional feedback AAC (FB-AAC) design
      is that only desired outputs, rather than both tracking errors and desired
      outputs, are applied as RBF-NN inputs. Yet, such a slight modification leads to
      several attractive properties of HFF-AAC, including the convenient choice of an
      approximation domain, the decrease of the number of RBF-NN inputs, and semiglobal
      practical asymptotic stability dominated by control gains. Compared with previous
      HFF-AAC approaches, the proposed approach possesses the following two distinctive
      features: (i) all above attractive properties are achieved by a much simpler
      control scheme; (ii) the bounds of plant uncertainties are not required to be
      known. Consequently, the proposed approach guarantees a minimum configuration of
      the control structure and a minimum requirement of plant knowledge for the AAC
      design, which leads to a sharp decrease of implementation cost in terms of
      hardware selection, algorithm realization and system debugging. Simulation
      results have demonstrated that the proposed HFF-AAC can perform as good as or
      even better than the traditional FB-AAC under much simpler control synthesis and
      much lower computational cost. 

PMID- 26890658
TI  - Measuring the Thickness and Potential Profiles of the Space-Charge Layer at
      Organic/Organic Interfaces under Illumination and in the Dark by Scanning Kelvin
      Probe Microscopy.
AB  - Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy was used to measure band-bending at the model
      donor/acceptor heterojunction poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/fullerene (C60).
      Specifically, we measured the variation in the surface potential of C60 films
      with increasing thicknesses grown on P3HT to produce a surface potential profile
      normal to the substrate both in the dark and under illumination. The results
      confirm a space-charge carrier region with a thickness of 10 nm, consistent with
      previous observations. We discuss the possibility that the domain size in bulk
      heterojunction organic solar cells, which is comparable to the space-charge layer
      thickness, is actually partly responsible for less than expected electron/hole
      recombination rates. 

PMID- 26890659
TI  - Characterization of Ocular Biomechanics in Pellucid Marginal Degeneration.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study sought to investigate the diagnostic capacity of corneal
      biomechanical response parameters in a group of patients with pellucid marginal
      degeneration (PMD) using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and Corvis ST
      devices. METHODS: In this prospective clinical study, we used the Corvis ST and
      ORA devices to investigate the ocular biomechanics of patients with PMD. Eighty
      one eyes were included, and 2 study groups were formed: the PMD group (the study
      group, n = 29) and the control group (n = 52). We focused on 13 biomechanical
      parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Biomechanical
      parameters for the 2 groups were compared using analysis of covariance. RESULTS:
      The ORA results demonstrated that the Keratoconus Match Index was significantly
      lower in the PMD group than in the control group (0.031 +/- 0.37 vs. 0.79 +/-
      0.33; P = 0.001). The 2 groups did not significantly differ with respect to
      intraocular pressure- and central corneal thickness-adjusted values for corneal
      hysteresis or corneal resistance factor. Regarding the Corvis parameters,
      differences between the control and PMD groups were detected for CorWmax amp
      (control 1.01 +/- 0.01, PMD 1.06 +/- 0.01; P = 0.020) and CorA2 t (control 21.78
      +/- 0.03, PMD 21.66 +/- 0.04; P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: We identified 2 Corvis
      parameters that could be used to characterize PMD and differentiate PMD corneas
      from normal corneas. These parameters support the hypothesis that there is
      significantly less deformation of the central cornea in PMD corneas than in
      healthy corneas. However, because useful "first-line" diagnostic devices for
      diagnosing PMD (such as Pentacam and the ORA) exist, the Corvis ST serves as an
      additional diagnostic tool that can also be used for long-term monitoring after
      diagnosis confirmation.

PMID- 26890660
TI  - Manual Provocation Test for Intermittent Involutional Entropion.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the manual provocation test (MPT), a novel test for
      intermittent involutional entropion of the lower eyelid. METHODS: Retrospective
      review of patients with intermittent entropion who presented with ocular
      irritation and documented inward eyelid rotation by them or their referring
      physicians, but who had no apparent entropion at the time of initial
      consultation. Results of the MPT were recorded for this group, and then evaluated
      prospectively in an age-matched comparison group of patients presenting for
      blepharoplasty who had no history of entropion. The essential steps of the MPT
      are as follows. Step 1: the lower eyelid skin is grasped below the inferior
      border of the tarsal plate. Step 2: the lid is drawn anteriorly as with the
      eyelid distraction test. Step 3: the patient is directed to forcefully close the
      eyelids. Step 4: the eyelid is released and the result is observed for manifest
      entropion. RESULTS: Thirteen eyelids in 12 patients with intermittent
      involutional lower eyelid entropion were included in this study. Average patient
      age was 77.3 years (+/-9.5 SD). The MPT elicited entropion in all 13 eyelids. Of
      the 12 patients, 9 elected to pursue surgery and, of these patients, all eyelids
      were successfully treated with subsequent improvement of symptoms. The MPT was
      thereafter negative in these patients. None of the 20 patients in the
      blepharoplasty comparison group (average age 71.6 years) demonstrated a positive
      MPT. CONCLUSIONS: The MPT can be a valuable and straightforward test in the
      clinical evaluation of patients with a history of intermittent entropion.

PMID- 26890661
TI  - Corneal Sensitivity and Presence of Pathogenic Organisms Among Participants Who
      Have Undergone Trichiasis Surgery Differ by Surgical Outcome.
AB  - PURPOSE: To explore the potential association between reduced corneal sensation
      and/or conjunctival bacterial colonization and postoperative trichiasis and
      eyelid contour abnormalities after corrective eyelid surgery among participants
      with a history of trachomatous trichiasis. METHODS: As an ancillary study to the
      Partnership for Rapid Elimination of Trachoma (PRET) Surgery Trial in southern
      Tanzania, we collected data on 580 PRET participants who had undergone trichiasis
      surgery 1 year earlier and 200 age-group-matched individuals without trichiasis.
      Assessments included eyelid status evaluation (presence and severity of
      postoperative trichiasis and/or eyelid contour abnormality), corneal sensitivity
      by Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer, a questionnaire on symptoms of ocular
      irritation, and conjunctival microbiology. We divided PRET participants based on
      their eyelid status and compared results across PRET groups and versus normals.
      RESULTS: PRET participants had reduced corneal sensitivity compared with age
      matched normals (mean sensitivity ranged from 2.8 to 3.8 cm in PRET participants
      vs. 5.9 cm in normals), and increasing severity of postoperative trichiasis was
      associated in a stepwise fashion with reduced corneal sensitivity (mean = 3.5 cm
      for mild and 2.6 cm for severe postoperative trichiasis). Conjunctival
      colonization with pathogenic bacteria was also associated with more severe
      postoperative trichiasis (Cochran-Armitage trend test P = 0.001) and with reduced
      corneal sensitivity (trend test P < 0.0001). Symptoms of ocular irritation were
      not associated with previous trichiasis surgery, postoperative trichiasis, or
      eyelid contour abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that reduced
      corneal sensitivity accompanies trachomatous trichiasis and suggest that reduced
      corneal sensitivity may play an important role in the harboring of pathogenic
      bacteria on the ocular surface.

PMID- 26890656
TI  - Gestational stress induces depressive-like and anxiety-like phenotypes through
      epigenetic regulation of BDNF expression in offspring hippocampus.
AB  - Exposure to stressful life events during pregnancy exerts profound effects on
      neurodevelopment and increases the risk for several neurodevelopmental disorders
      including major depression. The mechanisms underlying the consequences of
      gestational stress are complex and remain to be elucidated. This study
      investigated the effects of gestational stress on depressive-like behavior and
      epigenetic modifications in young adult offspring. Gestational stress was induced
      by a combination of restraint and 24-hour light disturbance to pregnant dams
      throughout gestation. Depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors of young adult
      offspring were examined. The expression and promoter methylation of brain derived
      neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured using RT-qPCR, Western blot, methylated
      DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). In
      addition, the expressions of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and acetylated histone
      H3 lysine 14 (AcH3K14) were also analyzed. Our results show that offspring from
      gestational stress dams exhibited depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors.
      Biochemically, stress-offspring showed decreased expression of BDNF, increased
      expression of DNMT1, HDAC1, and HDAC2, and decreased expression of AcH3K14 in the
      hippocampus as compared to non-stress offspring. Data from MeDIP and ChIP assays
      revealed an increased methylation as well as decreased binding of AcH3K14 on
      specific BDNF promoters. Pearson analyses indicated that epigenetic changes
      induced by gestational stress were correlated with depressive-like and anxiety
      like behaviors. These data suggest that gestational stress may be a suitable
      model for understanding the behavioral and molecular epigenetic changes observed
      in patients with depression. 

PMID- 26890662
TI  - Comparison of Moderate- to High-Astigmatism Corrections Using WaveFront-Guided
      Laser In Situ Keratomileusis and Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare refractive outcomes of moderate- and high
      astigmatism correction after wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis
      (LASIK) and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). METHODS: This
      comparative study enrolled a total of 64 eyes that had undergone SMILE (42 eyes)
      and wavefront-guided LASIK (22 eyes). Preoperative cylindrical diopters were <=
      2.25 D in moderate- and >-2.25 D in high-astigmatism subgroups. The refractive
      results were analyzed based on the Alpins vector method that included target
      induced astigmatism, surgically induced astigmatism, difference vector,
      correction index, index of success, magnitude of error, angle of error, and
      flattening index. All subjects completed the 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: No
      significant differences were found in the target-induced astigmatism, surgically
      induced astigmatism, and difference vector between SMILE and wavefront-guided
      LASIK. However, the average angle of error value was -1.00 +/- 3.16 after
      wavefront-guided LASIK and 1.22 +/- 3.85 after SMILE with statistical
      significance (P < 0.05). The absolute angle of error value was statistically
      correlated with difference vector and index of success after both procedures. In
      the moderate-astigmatism group, correction index was 1.04 +/- 0.15 after
      wavefront-guided LASIK and 0.88 +/- 0.15 after SMILE (P < 0.05). However, in the
      high-astigmatism group, correction index was 0.87 +/- 0.13 after wavefront-guided
      LASIK and 0.88 +/- 0.12 after SMILE (P = 0.889). CONCLUSIONS: Both procedures
      showed preferable outcomes in the correction of moderate and high astigmatism.
      However, high astigmatism was undercorrected after both procedures. Axial error
      of astigmatic correction may be one of the potential factors for the
      undercorrection.

PMID- 26890663
TI  - Surgery Versus Interferon Alpha-2b Treatment Strategies for Ocular Surface
      Squamous Neoplasia: A Literature-Based Decision Analysis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare treatment strategies for ocular surface squamous neoplasia
      (OSSN), ranging from surgical excision to empiric topical interferon alpha-2b
      (IFN-alpha2b). METHODS: A decision model was constructed to determine which of 4
      treatment strategies minimized expected persistence/recurrence of disease in
      patients with OSSN: excision followed by repeat excision for positive surgical
      margins, excision followed by IFN-alpha2b for positive margins, incisional biopsy
      followed by IFN-alpha2b for positive biopsies, and empiric treatment with IFN
      alpha2b. Probabilities were estimated from literature published between 1983 and
      2015. Expected values for the probability of recurrence could range from 0 (no
      persistence/recurrence) to 1 (persistence/recurrence). Sensitivity analyses were
      performed for each variable. RESULTS: Excision followed by IFN-alpha2b for
      positive margins was estimated to minimize persistence/recurrence of OSSN
      (expected value 0.13 versus 0.17 for empiric IFN-alpha2b, 0.22 for excision-only,
      and 0.30 for incisional biopsy-directed IFN-alpha2b). The optimal strategy was
      sensitive to 3 variables: efficacy of IFN-alpha2b, recurrence after negative
      surgical margins, and accuracy of excisional biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: In our decision
      analysis using studies published between 1983 and 2015, surgical excision
      followed by IFN-alpha2b for positive margins is the favored strategy for
      minimizing persistence/recurrence of OSSN. Future prospective studies would add
      to the certainty of these conclusions.

PMID- 26890664
TI  - Impact of Eyelid Laxity on Symptoms and Signs of Dry Eye Disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study the relationship between eyelid laxity and ocular symptoms and
      signs of dry eye (DE). METHODS: A total of 138 patients with normal external
      anatomy were prospectively recruited from a Veterans Administration hospital.
      Symptoms (via the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 and Ocular Surface Disease Index) and
      signs of DE were assessed along with presence or absence of eyelid laxity.
      RESULTS: It was observed that 71% of participants (n = 98) had clinical evidence
      of eyelid laxity (upper and/or lower) compared with 29% (n = 40) with no eyelid
      laxity. Individuals with eyelid laxity were older (67 +/- 10 vs. 55 +/- 8 years
      without laxity, P < 0.005) and more frequently male (76% of males had laxity vs.
      18% females, P < 0.005). Patients with eyelid laxity had increased symptoms and
      signs of DE compared with their counterparts without laxity including ocular pain
      described as grittiness (63% vs. 45%, P = 0.049), decreased tear break-up time
      (8.6 +/- 3 vs. 10.3 +/- 4 seconds, P = 0.02), increased corneal staining (2.5 +/-
      3 vs. 1 +/- 2, P = 0.002), decreased Schirmer score (14+/-6 vs. 17+/-7 mm, P =
      0.01), increased meibomian gland drop out (2 +/- 1 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.8, P < 0.005),
      increased eyelid vascularity (0.8 +/- 0.8 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.5, P < 0.005), and more
      abnormal meibum quality (2 +/- 1.3 vs. 1.4 +/- 1.2, P = 0.02). In a multivariable
      analysis considering both signs of DE and laxity, lower eyelid laxity remained
      significantly associated with ocular surface disease index scores, suggesting a
      direct effect of laxity on symptoms of DE. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of eyelid
      laxity associates with abnormal tear parameters compared with the absence of
      eyelid laxity. Based on these data, it is important for clinicians to test for
      eyelid laxity in patients with symptoms and/or signs of DE.

PMID- 26890665
TI  - Candida Interface Infections After Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial
      Keratoplasty.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe 2 Candida interface keratitis infections occurring in the
      setting of positive donor rim cultures from precut corneal tissue used for
      Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and the ensuing
      public health investigation. METHODS: Following 2 clinical Candida interface
      keratitis infections, patients from 2012 to 2014 in the same surgical center were
      evaluated for bacterial and fungal rim cultures and subsequent infection. All
      cases of fungal infections occurring post-DSAEK were analyzed. Data included
      patient demographics, surgical technique, donor rim cultures, donor mate
      outcomes, clinical courses, and outcomes. A review of the relevant literature was
      also undertaken. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2014, among 99 DSAEK procedures performed,
      7 (7.1%) donor rim cultures were positive for fungi. Use of this tissue with
      positive donor rim cultures resulted in 2 (28.6%) episodes of confirmed fungal
      interface keratitis, both Candida species, and presumptive treatment in an
      additional 2 patients. An investigation did not identify any breach in sterile
      technique or procedures by the surgeon or surgery center. Our literature review
      identified 15 reports of postoperative fungal infection associated with DSAEK, of
      which 11 involved Candida spp. CONCLUSIONS: While postoperative infection remains
      rare, our 2 additional cases along with those previously reported suggest that
      DSAEK may be susceptible to infection with Candida spp. Furthermore, this report
      of correlated rim cultures and clinical infection suggests a need for
      reevaluation of the utility of obtaining routine corneoscleral donor rim fungal
      culture.

PMID- 26890666
TI  - "Salt and Pepper Endothelium" Recurring After Descemet Membrane Endothelial
      Keratoplasty.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the presence of "salt and pepper endothelium", that is,
      typical cellular inclusion bodies in a patient with Fuchs endothelial corneal
      dystrophy (FECD), that recurred in the donor corneal endothelial cells after
      Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). METHODS: A 76-year-old man
      underwent DMEK for FECD in his left eye. Routine specular microscopy imaging,
      best-corrected visual acuity measurements, and pachymetry measurements were
      performed before and after surgery. RESULTS: Besides large guttae indicating
      FECD, preoperative specular microscopy images showed variable-sized dark cellular
      inclusion bodies in the endothelial cells. One month after DMEK, donor
      endothelial cells appeared normal; however, at 3 months, the typical inclusion
      bodies reappeared and progressed slowly within a 4-year follow-up period. Both
      best-corrected visual acuity and pachymetry were stable throughout the study
      period. CONCLUSIONS: "Salt and pepper endothelium" recurred after the host tissue
      was exchanged by donor Descemet membrane, that is, a DMEK graft. These changes
      may indicate that either the donor corneal endothelial cell morphology is
      modified by adjacent tissue structures or that it is completely replaced by
      recipient endothelium within the first months after surgery.

PMID- 26890667
TI  - Deep Laser-Assisted Lamellar Anterior Keratoplasty With Microkeratome-Cut Grafts.
AB  - PURPOSE: The goals of this laboratory study were to evaluate the interface
      quality in laser-assisted lamellar anterior keratoplasty (LALAK) with
      microkeratome-cut grafts and achieve good graft-host apposition. METHODS:
      Simulated LALAK surgeries were performed on 6 pairs of eye-bank corneoscleral
      discs. Anterior lamellar grafts were precut with microkeratomes. Deep femtosecond
      (FS) laser cuts were performed on host corneas followed by excimer laser
      smoothing. Different parameters of FS laser cuts and excimer laser smoothing were
      tested. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure corneal pachymetry and
      evaluate graft-host apposition. The interface quality was quantified in a masked
      fashion using a 5-point scale based on scanning electron microscopy images.
      RESULTS: Deep FS laser cuts at 226 to 380 MUm resulted in visible ridges on the
      host bed. Excimer laser smoothing with a central ablation depth of 29 MUm and
      saline as a smoothing agent did not adequately reduce ridges (score = 4.0).
      Deeper excimer laser ablation of 58 MUm and Optisol-GS as a smoothing agent
      smoothed ridges to an acceptable level (score = 2.1). Same sizing of the graft
      and host cut diameters with an approximately 50-MUm deeper host side cut relative
      to the central graft thickness provided the best graft-host fit. CONCLUSIONS:
      Deep excimer laser ablation with a viscous smoothing agent was needed to remove
      ridges after deep FS lamellar cuts. The host side cut should be deep enough to
      accommodate thicker graft peripheral thickness compared with the center. This
      LALAK design provides smooth lamellar interfaces, moderately thick grafts, and
      good graft-host fits.

PMID- 26890668
TI  - Restoration of Fornix Tear Reservoir in Conjunctivochalasis With Fornix
      Reconstruction.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine whether conjunctivochalasis (CCh) obliterates the fornix
      tear reservoir and to discern whether there is concomitant aqueous tear
      deficiency (ATD) dry eye. METHODS: Retrospective review of 18 eyes of 12 patients
      with CCh and ATD (CCh + ATD) and 18 eyes of 13 patients with CCh without ATD (CCh
      - ATD). Changes were compared before and after fornix reconstruction regarding
      symptoms, basal tear volumes, use of medications, conjunctival inflammation, and
      corneal staining. RESULTS: Fornix reconstruction with conjunctival recession and
      amniotic membrane transplantation effectively restored the fornix tear reservoir
      as evidenced by a significant increase of the basal tear volume in both CCh - ATD
      and CCh + ATD groups. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that such
      improvement was significantly correlated with symptomatic resolution (r = 1, P <
      0.001), which was also accompanied by significant resolution of corneal staining,
      conjunctival inflammation, and reduction of topical medications. Intriguingly,
      the prior diagnosis of ATD was no longer existent in 10 of the 18 eyes (56%) with
      CCh + ATD suggesting that ATD could be secondary to obliteration of the fornix
      tear reservoir by CCh. CONCLUSIONS: Obliteration of the fornix tear reservoir is
      a common pathogenic process regardless of whether CCh is associated with ATD dry
      eye. Restoration of the tear reservoir by fornix reconstruction with conjunctival
      recession and amniotic membrane transplantation results in significant resolution
      of symptoms and signs associated with ATD that is secondary to CCh and helps
      identify genuine ATD dry eye that is independent of CCh.

PMID- 26890669
TI  - Bowman Break and Subbasal Nerve Plexus Changes in a Patient With Dry Eye
      Presenting With Chronic Ocular Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency.
AB  - PURPOSE: To report the case of a 40-year-old patient with persistent bilateral
      ocular pain and discomfort for 2 years in whom conventional management of dry eye
      had failed. Detailed ocular examination, meibography, and tear film evaluation
      were suggestive of bilateral meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye.
      Topical medication failed to alleviate the patient's symptoms. To identify the
      cause of pain, imaging was performed with in vivo confocal microscopy and
      anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Systemic
      evaluation revealed severe vitamin D deficiency with a value of 5.86 ng/mL.
      METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: In vivo confocal microscopy showed abnormal
      subbasal nerve plexus morphology, increased dendritic cell density, and enlarged
      terminal nerve sprouts. A breach in the Bowman layer was detected in both eyes on
      spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Conventional management having
      failed, LipiFlow treatment (TearScience, Morrisville, NC) was performed and
      topical therapy with cyclosporine 0.05%, steroids, and lubricating eye drops was
      initiated with incomplete symptomatic relief. However, with parenteral therapy
      for vitamin D deficiency, there was a dramatic improvement in the patient's
      symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation aggravated by vitamin D deficiency results in
      an altered epithelial profile, Bowman layer damage, recruitment of dendritic
      cells, and altered subbasal nerve plexus features in patients with chronic dry
      eye disease. These can serve as potential imaging markers for studying the
      underlying mechanisms in patients with dry eye disease with persisting symptoms
      despite aggressive conventional treatment.

PMID- 26890670
TI  - Structural brain injury in patients with disorders of consciousness: A voxel
      based morphometry study.
AB  - MAIN OBJECTIVE: Disorders of consciousness (DOC; encompassing coma, vegetative
      state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious state
      minus/plus (MCS-/+)) are associated with structural brain injury. The extent of
      this damage remains poorly understood and merits a detailed examination using
      novel analysis techniques. Research design/methods and procedures: This study
      used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) on structural magnetic resonance imaging scans
      of 61 patients with DOC to examine grey and white matter injury associated with
      DOC, time spent in DOC, aetiology and diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: DOC
      and time spent in DOC were found to be associated with widespread structural
      brain injury, although the latter did not correlate strongly with injury in the
      right cerebral hemisphere. Traumatic, as compared to non-traumatic aetiology, was
      related to more injury in the brainstem, midbrain, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal
      forebrain, cerebellum, and posterior corpus callosum. Potential structural
      differences were found between VS/UWS and MCS and between MCS- and MCS+, but need
      further examination. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that both traumatic and
      non-traumatic DOC are associated with widespread structural brain injury,
      although differences exist that could lead to aetiology-specific treatment
      strategies. Furthermore, the high degree of atrophy occurring after initial brain
      injury prompts the development and use of neuroprotective techniques to
      potentially increase patients' chances of recovery.

PMID- 26890671
TI  - Trajectories of Callous-Unemotional Traits in Childhood Predict Different Forms
      of Peer Victimization in Adolescence.
AB  - Callous-unemotional (CU) traits (e.g., lack of empathy and guilt) differentiate a
      group of children at particularly high risk for engaging in aggressive behavior,
      notably bullying. However, little is known about whether youths with CU traits
      are at risk for being victimized by their peers. We examined the associations
      between trajectories of CU traits in childhood (between 7 and 12 years old) and
      peer victimization in adolescence (14 years old). The participants were drawn
      from the Twins Early Development Study, a longitudinal population-based study of
      twins born in England and in Wales. The trajectories of CU traits (i.e., stable
      high, increasing, decreasing and stable low) were identified through general
      growth mixture modeling. Four forms of peer victimization were considered:
      physical victimization, verbal victimization, social manipulation, and attacks on
      property. We found that youths with stable high levels, increasing levels, and
      decreasing levels of CU traits in childhood had higher levels of physical
      victimization in adolescence, not explained by other predictors at age 7 (e.g.,
      conduct problems). Youths with increasing levels of CU traits, compared with the
      ones with stable low levels, also had higher levels of verbal victimization,
      social manipulation, and attacks on property. Our findings highlight the
      importance of distinct trajectories of CU traits in accounting for the experience
      of different forms of peer victimization. Youths with CU traits may benefit from
      bullying prevention programs, as they are likely to be the targets of peer
      victimization.

PMID- 26890673
TI  - Assessment of Cognitive Functioning after Pallidotomy in Patients with Primary
      Dystonia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stereotactic pallidotomy in the treatment of primary dystonia results
      in permanent damage to the posteroventral region of the internal globus pallidus.
      Lesions within the basal ganglia may change cognitive functioning. Subcortical
      structures interact with the frontal cortex, which plays an important role in
      cognition. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of
      stereotactic pallidotomy on cognitive function in patients with primary dystonia.
      METHODS: Thirty patients with primary dystonia who qualified for pallidotomy were
      tested 1-2 days before surgery, 2 days after surgery and a third time after about
      6 months from the date of surgery. Cognitive functioning was assessed by the
      following tests: Benton visual short-term memory, auditory verbal learning test,
      trail making test, Stroop color word interference test and Wisconsin card sorting
      test. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed the deterioration of the auditory
      verbal learning process in the early postoperative period of patients with
      primary dystonia, but after 6 months there was a significant improvement. After
      pallidotomy there were no significant differences in the efficiency of short-term
      visual memory, verbal and visual-spatial working memory, psychomotor speed and
      executive functions. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic pallidotomy used in the treatment
      of primary dystonia is a safe treatment for the cognitive functioning of
      patients.

PMID- 26890672
TI  - High-fat diet feeding alters olfactory-, social-, and reward-related behaviors of
      mice independent of obesity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: High-fat diet (HFD) consumption causes obesity, which is associated
      with well-known increased health risks. Moreover, obesity has been associated
      with altered sensorimotor and emotional behaviors of humans and mice. This study
      attempted to dissociate the influence of HFD-induced obesity on behaviors from
      the influence of HFD consumption itself. METHODS: C57BL male mice were randomly
      allocated to a low-fat diet (LFD) group, an HFD-induced obesity (DIO) group, or a
      pair-fed HFD-feeding nonobese (HFD) group. A comprehensive behavioral test
      battery was performed on all three groups to assess sensorimotor functions,
      anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, reward-related behaviors, social
      behaviors, and learning/memory functions. RESULTS: Both the DIO and HFD groups
      exhibited disturbed olfaction, blunted ethanol preference, and enhanced social
      interactions. The DIO group exhibited blunted sucrose preference, shorter latency
      before falling off during the rotarod test, and a lower response to mechanical
      stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: The HFD-fed nonobese mice showed altered behaviors related
      to olfaction, social interactions, and rewards that were similar to those of the
      DIO mice. This finding suggests that HFD consumption alters a variety of
      behaviors independent of obesity.

PMID- 26890674
TI  - Recent advances in pediatric rheumatology: January-March 2015.

PMID- 26890676
TI  - Endoscopy in patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, including direct
      oral anticoagulants: British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and European
      Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines.
AB  - The risk of endoscopy in patients on antithrombotics depends on the risks of
      procedural haemorrhage vs. thrombosis due to discontinuation of therapy. P2Y12
      receptor antagonists (clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor): For low-risk
      endoscopic procedures we recommend continuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists as
      single or dual antiplatelet therapy (low quality evidence, strong
      recommendation);For high-risk endoscopic procedures in patients at low thrombotic
      risk, we recommend discontinuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists five days before the
      procedure (moderate quality evidence, strong recommendation). In patients on dual
      antiplatelet therapy, we suggest continuing aspirin (low quality evidence, weak
      recommendation).For high-risk endoscopic procedures in patients at high
      thrombotic risk, we recommend continuing aspirin and liaising with a cardiologist
      about the risk/benefit of discontinuation of P2Y12 receptor antagonists (high
      quality evidence, strong recommendation). Warfarin: The advice for warfarin is
      fundamentally unchanged from BSG 2008 guidance. Direct Oral Anticoagulants
      (DOAC): For low-risk endoscopic procedures we suggest omitting the morning dose
      of DOAC on the day of the procedure (very low quality evidence, weak
      recommendation). For high-risk endoscopic procedures, we recommend that the last
      dose of DOAC be taken >= 48 hours before the procedure (very low quality
      evidence, strong recommendation). For patients on dabigatran with CrCl (or
      estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) of 30 - 50 mL/min we recommend that
      the last dose of DOAC be taken 72 hours before the procedure (very low quality
      evidence, strong recommendation). In any patient with rapidly deteriorating renal
      function a haematologist should be consulted (low quality evidence, strong
      recommendation). 

PMID- 26890677
TI  - Effects of the position and number of bromine substituents on the concentration
      mediated 2D self-assembly of phenanthrene derivatives.
AB  - The effects of the position and number of bromine substituents on the self
      assembled patterns of phenanthrene derivatives by changing multiple weak
      intermolecular interactions were investigated at the 1-octanoic acid/graphite
      interface at different concentrations by scanning tunneling microscopy. Two Br
      substituted DBHP molecules (2,7-DBHP, 3,6-DBHP) and BHP without a Br group formed
      a linear lamellar pattern by the van der Waals interactions between the alkoxyl
      chains in each lamella at high concentrations, which forces the phenanthrene
      derivatives to self-organize in a pi-pi stacked edge-on conformation. On
      decreasing the solution concentration, owing to the molecule-molecule van der
      Waals force and BrBr halogen bonds or the molecule-solvent cooperative BrO
      (C[double bond, length as m-dash]O) hydrogen and BrHO-hydrogen bonds, 2,7-DBHP
      molecules were found to form two kinds of network structures, whereas 3,6-DBHP
      molecules formed only a zigzag pattern due to the intermolecular BrBr van der
      Waals type interactions. One bromine substituted phenanthrene derivative (3-DBHP)
      formed a dislocated linear pattern by two C-HBr hydrogen bonds in each dimer.
      These observations revealed that an important modification of the position and
      number of halogen substituents might dramatically change the self-assembly
      behaviors by different intermolecular interactions including BrBr and BrO halogen
      bonding, BrBr van der Waals type interactions, and HBr hydrogen bonding. DFT
      calculations were explored to unravel how slightly tuning the molecular structure
      defines the geometry of a 2D self-assembled nanoarchitecture through the
      different elementary structural units having BrBr and BrH interactions. 

PMID- 26890675
TI  - Whole-Genome Sequencing of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Resistant
      to Fifth-Generation Cephalosporins Reveals Potential Non-mecA Mechanisms of
      Resistance.
AB  - Fifth-generation cephalosporins, ceftobiprole and ceftaroline, are promising
      drugs for treatment of bacterial infections from methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These antibiotics are able to bind native PBP2a,
      the penicillin-binding protein encoded by the mecA resistance determinant that
      mediates broad class resistance to nearly all other beta-lactam antibiotics, at
      clinically achievable concentrations. Mechanisms of resistance to ceftaroline
      based on mecA mutations have been previously described. Here we compare the
      genomes of 11 total parent-daughter strains of Staphylococcus aureus for which
      specific selection by serial passaging with ceftaroline or ceftobiprole was used
      to identify novel non-mecA mechanisms of resistance. All 5 ceftaroline-resistant
      strains, derived from 5 different parental strains, contained mutations directly
      upstream of the pbp4 gene (coding for the PBP4 protein), including four with the
      same thymidine insertion located 377 nucleotides upstream of the promoter site.
      In 4 of 5 independent ceftaroline-driven selections, we also isolated mutations
      to the same residue (Asn138) in PBP4. In addition, mutations in additional
      candidate genes such as ClpX endopeptidase, PP2C protein phosphatase and
      transcription terminator Rho, previously undescribed in the context of resistance
      to ceftaroline or ceftobiprole, were detected in multiple selections. These
      genomic findings suggest that non-mecA mechanisms, while yet to be encountered in
      the clinical setting, may also be important in mediating resistance to 5th
      generation cephalosporins. 

PMID- 26890678
TI  - Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats.
AB  - Cues that are contingently paired with unconditioned, rewarding stimuli can
      acquire rewarding properties themselves through a process known as the
      attribution of incentive salience, or the transformation of neutral stimuli into
      attractive, "wanted' stimuli capable of motivating behavior. Pavlovian
      conditioned approach (PCA) develops after the response-independent presentation
      of a conditioned stimulus (CS; e.g., a lever) that predicts the delivery of an
      unconditioned stimulus (US; e.g., a food pellet) and can be used to measure
      incentive salience. During training, three patterns of conditioned responses
      (CRs) can develop: sign-tracking behavior (CS-directed CR), goal-tracking
      behavior (US-directed CR), and an intermediate response (both CRs). Sign-trackers
      attribute incentive salience to reward-related cues and are more vulnerable to
      cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking as well as other addiction-related
      behaviors, making PCA a potentially valuable procedure for studying addiction
      vulnerability. Here, we describe materials and methods used to elicit PCA
      behavior from rats as well as analyze and interpret PCA behavior in individual
      experiments. 

PMID- 26890679
TI  - Using single nuclei for RNA-seq to capture the transcriptome of postmortem
      neurons.
AB  - A protocol is described for sequencing the transcriptome of a cell nucleus.
      Nuclei are isolated from specimens and sorted by FACS, cDNA libraries are
      constructed and RNA-seq is performed, followed by data analysis. Some steps
      follow published methods (Smart-seq2 for cDNA synthesis and Nextera XT barcoded
      library preparation) and are not described in detail here. Previous single-cell
      approaches for RNA-seq from tissues include cell dissociation using protease
      treatment at 30  degrees C, which is known to alter the transcriptome. We isolate
      nuclei at 4  degrees C from tissue homogenates, which cause minimal damage.
      Nuclear transcriptomes can be obtained from postmortem human brain tissue stored
      at -80  degrees C, making brain archives accessible for RNA-seq from individual
      neurons. The method also allows investigation of biological features unique to
      nuclei, such as enrichment of certain transcripts and precursors of some
      noncoding RNAs. By following this procedure, it takes about 4 d to construct cDNA
      libraries that are ready for sequencing. 

PMID- 26890680
TI  - Study of in vivo catheter biofilm infections using pediatric central venous
      catheter implanted in rat.
AB  - Venous access catheters used in clinics are prone to biofilm contamination,
      contributing to chronic and nosocomial infections. Although several animal models
      for studying device-associated biofilms were previously described, only a few
      detailed protocols are currently available. Here we provide a protocol using
      totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) implanted in rats. This model
      recapitulates all phenomena observed in the clinic, and it allows bacterial
      biofilm development and physiology to be studied. After TIVAP implantation and
      inoculation with luminescent pathogens, in vivo biofilm formation can be
      monitored in situ, and biofilm biomass can be recovered from contaminated TIVAP
      and organs. We used this protocol to study host responses to biofilm infection,
      to evaluate preventive and curative antibiofilm strategies and to study
      fundamental biofilm properties. For this procedure, one should expect ~3 h of
      hands-on time, including the implantation in one rat followed by in situ
      luminescence monitoring and bacterial load estimation. 

PMID- 26890682
TI  - A rare gallbladder ciliated foregut cyst in chronic cholecystitis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Ciliated foregut cysts (CFC) are rare anomalies due to aberrant
      embryological development. It is thought to arise from a remnant of the
      embryologic foregut. The solitary cysts are characterised by ciliated
      pseudostratified columnar epithelium. They are usually located above the
      diaphragm but they can also arise in relation to the liver, gallbladder and
      pancreas. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present the first ciliated foregut cyst of the
      gallbladder case reported in Australia, and the ninth known case to be reported
      worldwide. A 61-year-old male with chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis
      underwent an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and intraoperative
      cholangiogram. Intraoperatively, 'out-pouching' was noted on the lateral border
      of the gallbladder. Microscopically the histopathology showed that the cyst was
      lined by ciliated columnar epithelium the characteristic feature of a ciliated
      foregut cyst. DISCUSSION: To date only 8 cases of these ciliated foregut cysts in
      the gallbladder have been reported in literature. Our case is the first reported
      in Australia. It is unique in that the patient was an older male as opposed to
      most other previous cases, which were younger females. These cysts can be
      difficult to distinguish from neoplasms clinically and radiographically. Reports
      have shown that these cysts may become dysplastic and is best excised when
      discovered. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of CFCs and their potential to mimic
      malignancy, we propose awareness and understanding of the management for them
      being excision and hopefully not cause any confusion or devastatingly allow it to
      become malignant.

PMID- 26890681
TI  - A cryoinjury model in neonatal mice for cardiac translational and regeneration
      research.
AB  - The introduction of injury models for neonatal mouse hearts has accelerated
      research on the mechanisms of cardiac regeneration in mammals. However, some
      existing models, such as apical resection and ligation of the left anterior
      descending artery, produce variable results, which may be due to technical
      difficulties associated with these methods. Here we present an alternative model
      for the study of cardiac regeneration in neonatal mice in which cryoinjury is
      used to induce heart injury. This model yields a reproducible injury size, does
      not induce known mechanisms of cardiac regeneration and leads to a sustained
      reduction of cardiac function. This protocol uses reusable cryoprobes that can be
      assembled in 5 min, with the entire procedure taking 15 min per pup. The
      subsequent heart collection and fixation takes 2 d to complete. Cryoinjury
      results in a myocardial scar, and the size of injury can be scaled by the use of
      different cryoprobes (0.5 and 1.5 mm). Cryoinjury models are medically relevant
      to diseases in human infants with heart disease. In summary, the myocardial
      cryoinjury model in neonatal mice described here is a useful tool for cardiac
      translational and regeneration research. 

PMID- 26890684
TI  - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur Co-Doped Hollow Carbon Shell as Superior Metal
      Free Catalyst for Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Alkanes.
AB  - Metal-free heteroatom-doped carbocatalysts with a high surface area are desirable
      for catalytic reactions. In this study, we found an efficient strategy to prepare
      nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur co-doped hollow carbon shells (denote as NPS
      HCS) with a surface area of 1020 m(2)  g(-1). Using a poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co
      4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol) (PZS) shell as carbon source and N, P, S-doping source,
      and the ZIF-67 core as structural template as well as extra N-doping source, NPS
      HCS were obtained with a high surface area and superhydrophilicity. All these
      features render the prepared NPS-HCS a superior metal-free carbocatalyst for the
      selective oxidation of aromatic alkanes in aqueous solution. This study provides
      a reliable and facile route to prepare doped carbocatalysts with enhanced
      catalytic properties.

PMID- 26890683
TI  - Introducing a High-Risk HPV DNA Test Into a Public Sector Screening Program in El
      Salvador.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In a primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening program, we compared
      the 6-month follow-up among colposcopy and noncolposcopy-based management
      strategies for screen-positive women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 30 to 49
      years were screened with HPV DNA tests using both self-collection and provider
      collection of samples. Women testing positive received either (1) colposcopy
      management (CM) consisting of colposcopy and management per local guidelines or
      (2) screen-and-treat (ST) management using visual inspection with acetic acid to
      determine cryotherapy eligibility, with eligible women undergoing immediate
      cryotherapy. One thousand women were recruited in each cohort. Of these, 368
      (18.4%) of 2000 women were recruited using a more intensive outreach strategy.
      Demographics, HPV positivity, and treatment compliance were compared across
      recruitment and management strategies. RESULTS: More women in the ST cohort
      received treatment within 6 months compared with those in the CM cohort (117/119
      [98.3%] vs 64/93 [68.8%]; p < .001). Women recruited through more intensive
      outreach were more likely to be HPV positive, lived in urban areas, were more
      educated, and had higher numbers of lifetime sexual partners and fewer children.
      CONCLUSIONS: Women in the CM arm were less likely to complete care than women in
      the ST arm. Targeted outreach to underscreened women successfully identified
      women with higher prevalence of HPV and possibly higher disease burden.

PMID- 26890686
TI  - Hydrogen sensing characteristics from carbon nanotube field emissions.
AB  - An innovative hydrogen sensing concept is demonstrated based on the field
      emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes, where the low emission currents rise
      in proportion to hydrogen partial pressures above 10(-9) Torr. Experimental and
      first principles studies reveal that the sensing mechanism is attributed to the
      effective work function reduction from dissociative hydrogen chemisorption. The
      embedded Ni catalyst would assist both the hydrogen dissociation and work
      function reduction. This technique is promising to build miniature low cost
      hydrogen sensors for multiple applications. This work is valuable for studies of
      nanocarbon-gas reaction mechanisms and the work function properties in adsorption
      related applications, including field emission, hydrogen storage, energy cells,
      and gas sensing. 

PMID- 26890685
TI  - HPV vaccination: Population approaches for improving rates.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on interventions to increase HPV vaccinations
      and assess whether The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations
      are supported by current evidence. METHODS: We used a PubMed search to identify
      studies that assessed interventions that looked at provider assessment and
      feedback, provider reminders, client reminder and recall, and clinic based
      education programs. RESULTS: Of the 13 studies identified, 8 included client
      reminder and recall interventions, 4 included provider assessment and feedback
      and/or provider reminders and 2 included clinic based education. 11 of the 13
      studies demonstrated a positive effect on HPV vaccine initiation or completion.
      Provider assessment and feedback studies were more likely to report a positive
      effect on HPV vaccine initiation than on series completion, while client reminder
      recall interventions more frequently produced an effect on series completion than
      on initiation. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence to support the application of the
      Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations specifically to HPV
      vaccination both for client reminder and recall programs and for provider
      assessment and feedback interventions. Multiple targeted approaches will be
      needed to substantially impact HPV vaccine rates.

PMID- 26890689
TI  - Beta-blockers in 2016: Still the safest and most useful drugs for portal
      hypertension?

PMID- 26890687
TI  - How compensation breaks down in Parkinson's disease: Insights from modeling of
      denervated striatum.
AB  - The bradykinesia and other motor signs of Parkinson's disease (PD) are linked to
      progressive loss of substantia nigra dopamine (DA) neurons innervating the
      striatum. However, the emergence of idiopathic PD is likely preceded by a
      prolonged subclinical phase, which may be masked by a variety of pre- and
      postsynaptic compensatory mechanisms. It is often considered self-evident that
      the signs of PD manifest only when nigrostriatal degeneration has proceeded to
      such an extent that putative compensatory mechanisms fail to accommodate the
      depletion of striatal DA levels. However, the precise nature of the compensatory
      mechanisms, and the reason for their ultimate failure, has been elusive. In a
      recent computational study we modeled the effects of progressive denervation,
      including changes in the dynamics of interstitial DA and also adaptive or
      compensatory changes in postsynaptic responsiveness to DA signaling in the course
      of progressive nigrostriatal degeneration. In particular, we found that failure
      of DA signaling can occur by different mechanisms at different disease stages. We
      review these results and discuss their relevance for clinical and translational
      research, and we draw a number of predictions from our model that might be tested
      in preclinical experiments.

PMID- 26890690
TI  - How age and gender predict illness course in a first-episode nonaffective
      psychosis cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Male gender and young age at onset of schizophrenia are traditionally
      associated with poor treatment outcome and often used to determine prognosis.
      However, many studies use nonincident samples and fail to adjust for symptom
      severity at onset. We hypothesized that age and gender would influence severity
      of presentation but would not predict outcome after adjustment for symptoms at
      presentation. METHOD: 628 people with first-episode ICD-9 and DSM-IV nonaffective
      psychosis from 2 historical cohorts recruited from sequential presentations in
      Canada and the United Kingdom (1996-1998) were assessed prospectively at
      presentation and over 12-18 months using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
      (PANSS). RESULTS: Models of the age-at-onset distributions with 2 underlying
      modes at similar ages in women (ages 23 years and 47 years) and men (ages 22
      years and 46 years) had relatively good fits compared to single-mode models
      (chi(2)1 better by 9.2 for females, 8.0 for males, both P < .05). At
      presentation, scores for negative symptoms were 1.84 points worse for males (95%
      CI, 1.05 to 2.58; P < .001) in a mixed effects model. Younger age also predicted
      higher negative scores at presentation (partial correlation r = -0.18, P < .01; P
      < .001 in the mixed effects model). Findings were similar for cognitive
      disorganized symptoms. However, after controlling for baseline symptoms, age at
      onset and gender did not significantly predict subsequent symptom course in the
      mixed effects models. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and age at onset are independently
      associated with symptoms at presentation but not with medium-term course of
      schizophrenia. This finding reinforces the importance of early identification and
      prevention of severe negative symptoms at first episode, whatever an individual's
      age and gender.

PMID- 26890691
TI  - Ultrastable polyethyleneimine-stabilized gold nanoparticles modified with
      polyethylene glycol for blood pool, lymph node and tumor CT imaging.
AB  - Development of new long-circulating contrast agents for computed tomography (CT)
      imaging of different biological systems still remains a great challenge. Here, we
      report the design and synthesis of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI)-stabilized
      gold nanoparticles (Au PSNPs) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for blood
      pool, lymph node, and tumor CT imaging. In this study, thiolated PEI was first
      synthesized and used as a stabilizing agent to form AuNPs. The formed Au PSNPs
      were then grafted with PEG monomethyl ether via PEI amine-enabled conjugation
      chemistry, followed by acetylation of the remaining PEI surface amines. The
      formed PEGylated Au PSNPs were characterized via different methods. We show that
      the PEGylated Au PSNPs with an Au core size of 5.1 nm have a relatively long half
      decay time (7.8 h), and display a better X-ray attenuation property than
      conventionally used iodine-based CT contrast agents (e.g., Omnipaque), and are
      hemocompatible and cytocompatible in a given concentration range. These
      properties of the Au PSNPs afford their uses as a contrast agent for effective CT
      imaging of the blood pool and major organs of rats, lymph node of rabbits, and
      the xenografted tumor model of mice. Importantly, the PEGylated Au PSNPs could be
      excreted out of the body with time and also showed excellent in vivo stability.
      These findings suggest that the formed PEGylated Au PSNPs may be used as a
      promising contrast agent for CT imaging of different biological systems. 

PMID- 26890692
TI  - Supramolecular Columnar Liquid Crystals with Tapered-Shape Simple Pyrazoles
      Obtained by Efficient Henry/Michael Reactions.
AB  - A straightforward synthesis of mesogenic pyrazoles starting from benzaldehydes by
      a combination of efficient Henry and Michael reactions led to novel
      supramolecular liquid crystals. The mesogens are fluorescent 3,5-dimethyl-4-(di
      or trialkoxyphenyl)pyrazoles and, in spite of the tapered shape of these
      molecules and their structural simplicity (only one phenyl ring), columnar liquid
      crystal phases were formed that are stable at room temperature. The self
      assembled structure was studied by XRD and the columnar cross section contains
      two molecules on average with an antiparallel arrangement of pyrazoles
      interacting through hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the single-crystal structure of
      a trimethoxy analog did not show hydrogen-bonded pyrazoles but chains of head-to
      tail arranged molecules. 

PMID- 26890693
TI  - A data-driven allocation tool for in-kind resources distributed by a state health
      department.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to leverage a state health
      department's operational data to allocate in-kind resources (children's car
      seats) to counties, with the proposition that need-based allocation could
      ultimately improve public health outcomes. METHODS: This study used a
      retrospective analysis of administrative data on car seats distributed to
      counties statewide by the Georgia Department of Public Health and development of
      a need-based allocation tool (presented as interactive supplemental digital
      content, adaptable to other types of in-kind public health resources) that relies
      on current county-level injury and sociodemographic data. RESULTS: Car seat
      allocation using public health data and a need-based formula resulted in
      substantially different recommended allocations to individual counties compared
      to historic distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that making an in-kind
      public health resource like car seats universally available results in a less
      equitable distribution of that resource compared to deliberate allocation
      according to public health need. Public health agencies can use local data to
      allocate in-kind resources consistent with health objectives; that is, in a
      manner offering the greatest potential health impact. Future analysis can
      determine whether the change to a more equitable allocation of resources is also
      more efficient, resulting in measurably improved public health outcomes.

PMID- 26890695
TI  - How Protective Mechanisms Interact to Prevent Overnight Calcium Phosphate
      Precipitation - An Observational Study to Determine Factors Against Calcium
      Phosphate Lithogenesis in a Healthy Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: As restful, non-interrupted sleep is essential for normal mental
      and physical functioning, the urine flow rate (UFR) overnight remains low. Due to
      this reduced UFR, the kidneys produce a lower urine volume, which may lead to
      supersaturation of lithogens in the renal collecting system. The protective
      mechanisms that prevent the rise in the concentration of the lithogenic
      substances in urine, such as calcium phosphate, are explored. METHODS: Urine
      samples were collected from 26 subjects every 2-3 h during daylight with one
      nocturnal collection; the UFR was calculated in the median time for each
      collection period. Urinary constituents for calcium phosphate precipitation
      including electrolytes, calcium, phosphate, citrate, and pH were measured.
      Comparisons within individuals were done by paired t test. RESULTS: The calcium
      excretion rate fell significantly overnight (from 2.4 +/- 0.2 umol/min during the
      daytime to 1.5 +/- 0.3 umol/min, p < 0.05), in parallel with sodium excretion (54
      +/- 16 umol/min from its daytime 127 +/- 12 umol/min, p < 0.05), preventing
      nocturnal calcium concentration from increasing (3.0 +/- 0.3 mmol/l daytime to
      2.5 +/- 0.5 mmol/l overnight), while citrate concentration did not change
      significantly. The total urine phosphate concentration rose significantly
      overnight (daytime 18.7 +/- 1.4 umol/min vs. nocturnal 20.9 +/- 1.7 umol/min),
      but the concentration of divalent phosphate did not increase in the overnight
      period. CONCLUSIONS: Although the UFR was lower overnight, there was no evidence
      that the risk of calcium phosphate precipitate formation in healthy subjects was
      increased.

PMID- 26890694
TI  - Objective Assessment of Nuclear and Cortical Cataracts through Scheimpflug
      Images: Agreement with the LOCS III Scale.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess nuclear and cortical opacities through the objective analysis
      of Scheimpflug images, and to check the correlation with the Lens Opacity
      Classification System III (LOCS III). METHODS: Nuclear and cortical opacities
      were graded according to the LOCS III rules after pupil dilation. The maximum and
      average pixel intensity values along an elliptical mask within the lens nucleus
      were taken to analyse nuclear cataracts. A new metric based on the percentage of
      opaque pixels within a region of interest was used to analyse cortical cataracts.
      The percentage of opaque pixels was also calculated for half, third and quarter
      areas from the region of interest's periphery. RESULTS: The maximum and average
      intensity values along the nucleus were directly proportional to the LOCS III
      grade: The larger the LOCS III value, the larger maximum and average intensity
      ones. These metrics showed a positive and significant correlation with the LOCS
      grade: The larger the LOCS grade, the higher was percentage of opaque pixels
      along the cortex within the same mask's size. This metric showed a significant
      correlation to the LOCS grade. CONCLUSION: The metrics used to assess nuclear
      opacities showed good correlation with the LOCS III. The percentage of opaque
      pixels showed to be a useful metric to measure objectively the severity of the
      cortical opacity. These metrics could be implemented in an algorithm to detect
      and grade lens opacities automatically and objectively.

PMID- 26890696
TI  - Ivabradine Prevents Low Shear Stress Induced Endothelial Inflammation and
      Oxidative Stress via mTOR/eNOS Pathway.
AB  - Ivabradine not only reduces heart rate but has other cardiac and vascular
      protective effects including anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Since
      endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a crucial enzyme in maintaining
      endothelial activity, we aimed to investigate the impact of ivabradine in low
      shear stress (LSS) induced inflammation and endothelial injury and the role of
      eNOS played in it. Endothelial cells (ECs) were subjected to LSS at 2dyne/cm2,
      with 1 hour of ivabradine (0.04MUM) or LY294002 (10MUM) pre-treatment. The mRNA
      expression of IL-6, VCAM-1 along with eNOS were measured by QPCR. Reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) was detected by dihydroethidium (DHE) and DCF, and protein
      phosphorylation was detected by western blot. It demonstrated that ivabradine
      decreased LSS induced inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells.
      Western blot showed reduced rictor and Akt-Ser473 as well as increased eNOS
      Thr495 phosphorylation. However, mTORC1 pathway was only increased when LSS
      applied within 30 minutes. These effects were reversed by ivabradine. It would
      appear that ivabradine diminish ROS generation by provoking mTORC2/Akt
      phosphorylation and repressing mTORC1 induced eNOS-Thr495 activation. These
      results together suggest that LSS induced endothelial inflammation and oxidative
      stress are suppressed by ivabradine via mTORC2/Akt activation and mTORC1/eNOS
      reduction. 

PMID- 26890697
TI  - Automated, high-throughput, in vivo analysis of visual function using the
      zebrafish.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Modern genomics has enabled the identification of an unprecedented
      number of genetic variants, which in many cases are extremely rare, associated
      with blinding disorders. A significant challenge will be determining the
      pathophysiology of each new variant. The Zebrafish is an excellent model for the
      study of inherited diseases of the eye. By 5 days post-fertilization (dpf), they
      have quantifiable behavioral responses to visual stimuli. However, visual
      behavior assays can take several hours to perform or can only be assessed one
      fish at a time. RESULTS: To increase the throughput for vision assays, we used
      the Viewpoint Zebrabox to automate the visual startle response and created
      software, Visual Interrogation of Zebrafish Manipulations (VIZN), to automate
      data analysis. This process allows 96 Zebrafish larvae to be tested and resultant
      data to be analyzed in less than 35 minutes. We validated this system by
      disrupting function of a gene necessary for photoreceptor differentiation and
      observing decreased response to visual stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: This automated
      method along with VIZN allows rapid, high-throughput, in vivo testing of
      Zebrafish's ability to respond to light/dark stimuli. This allows the rapid
      analysis of novel genes involved in visual function by morpholino, CRISPRS, or
      small-molecule drug screens. Developmental Dynamics 245:605-613, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890699
TI  - Taking care of the future for contact lenses.

PMID- 26890700
TI  - Effects of multipurpose solutions on the adhesion of Acanthamoeba to rigid gas
      permeable contact lenses.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of multipurpose contact lens care solutions
      (MPSs) on the adhesion of Acanthamoeba to rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact
      lenses. METHODS: Acanthamoeba castellanii (AC) trophozoites were inoculated onto
      untreated RGP contact lenses (FP, Extra, or Menicon Z), and numbers of
      trophozoites adhering to lenses were counted under a phase contrast microscope at
      18 h post-inoculation (controls). Similarly, adhering trophozoites were counted
      at 6 h post-inoculation on each of the three RGP lens types with one of three
      MPSs (Boston Simplus, Menicare Plus, and O2 Care). Scanning electron microscopic
      examinations were performed to compare lens surfaces. RESULTS: Adhesion of AC
      trophozoites to untreated FP was greater than to untreated Extra or Menicon Z.
      Surfaces of Extra and Menicon Z lenses were waxier, smoother, and more
      homogeneous than those of FP lenses. After treatment with Boston Simplus,
      adhesion of AC trophozoites was significantly reduced for all lens types as
      compared with controls (p < 0.0001). Treatments with Menicare Plus or O2 Care
      reduced the number of adherent AC trophozoites significantly on FP lenses only as
      compared with controls (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The adhesion rates of AC
      trophozoites to RGP lenses depended on lens surfaces. Boston Simplus reduced the
      adhesion rate of AC trophozoites more than Menicare Plus or O2 Care. Appropriate
      RGP lens and MPS selection could decrease the prevalence of Acanthamoeba
      keratitis.

PMID- 26890701
TI  - Impact of duration of contact lens wear on the structure and function of the
      meibomian glands.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of the duration of contact lens (CL) wear on
      the meibomian glands (MGs), eyelid and tear film. METHODS: This was a cross
      sectional study of CL wearers and non-wearers (NWs) aged between 18 and 35 years.
      The sample comprised of: (i) Three groups of CL wearers of different duration
      profiles (short, moderate and long experience of CL wear); (ii) a group of
      previous CL wearers (PWs) who had ceased wear for at least 6 months prior to the
      present study; (iii) healthy non-wearers as a control group. Study procedures
      were conducted in the order from least invasive to most invasive as follows:
      symptom assessment, lipid assessment, non-invasive break-up time, tear meniscus
      area, tear osmolarity and evaporation, Phenol red thread, MG expressibility,
      ocular surface and eyelid assessments, meibography, Marx line and lid wiper
      assessment using lissamine green. For statistical comparison of continuous data,
      one-way analysis of variance was used with Bonferroni post-hoc correction, where
      appropriate. Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson Chi-Square respectively were used
      for ordinal and categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 100 participants (49
      males and 51 females; mean age +/- SD: 25.4 +/- 4.1) were enrolled across the
      five groups, such that each was composed of 20 age/sex matched individuals.
      Significant differences between the study groups were found for MG expressibility
      (p < 0.001), number of plugged orifices (p = 0.001), number of expressed orifices
      (p < 0.001), MG dropout (p = 0.001), Marx line score (p < 0.001), palpebral
      redness (p = 0.003), and roughness (p = 0.002), non-invasive break-up time (p <
      0.001), Phenol red thread (p = 0.005), and tear meniscus area (p = 0.029). For
      all these variables, the NW group was statistically different from all other
      groups. Duration of wear was not a significant factor, except for Marx line score
      which was different in PWs compared to those with longer experience of CL wear (p
      = 0.03) CONCLUSION: Alterations to MG morphology and function accompany contact
      lens wear. Although these changes onset during the first 2 years of wear,
      prolonged CL exposure beyond this point does not appear to be associated with
      further modification. Cessation of wear for at up to 6 months does not lead to
      resolution.

PMID- 26890702
TI  - Assessing ocular bulbar redness: a comparison of methods.
AB  - PURPOSE: We consider whether quantification of ocular bulbar redness, using image
      processing of relative Red-channel activity (Red-value), can be applied to a
      clinical sample and how this approach compares to an automated bulbar redness
      grading technique (Oculus Keratograph 5M, R-scan). METHODS: Red-values from dry
      eye patients (n = 25) were determined using image processing of digital
      photographs over the nasal bulbar conjunctiva. Red-values were compared with
      subjective grades from six clinicians who graded the images using the IER scale.
      We considered the level of agreement between the Red-value and automated bulbar
      redness scores from the commercial instrument (R-scan). Scoring variability for
      each technique was assessed using the geometric coefficient of variation (gCoV,
      %). Agreement between techniques was considered with Bland-Altman analyses.
      RESULTS: Red-values showed a strong linear relationship (R(2) = 0.99) to the R
      scan. The Red-value had least variability (gCoV = 0.97%, 95% CI: 0.76-1.35%). The
      IER grade showed a linear relationship with Red-value (R(2) = 0.99), bound by a
      floor effect; it did not discriminate changes in redness below a threshold of
      1.75 units (Red-value = 33.0%), after which it paralleled the redness returned by
      the R-scan. Intra-method variability for the redness returned by the R-scan (gCoV
      = 9.84%, 95% CI: 7.60-13.94%) and IER grades (gCoV = 7.30%, 95% CI: 1.73-10.31%)
      was similar (p > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis showed the R-scan was consistently
      biased towards lower absolute redness scores than the IER. CONCLUSIONS: Digital
      imaging processing, using relative Red-channel activity, was the least variable
      of the three techniques. The R-scan and IER showed similar intra-observer
      variability. The linear relationship between R-scan and Red-value suggests that
      the R-scan could be derived using similar methods.

PMID- 26890703
TI  - Comparing self-reported optometric dry eye clinical practices in Australia and
      the United Kingdom: is there scope for practice improvement?
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the self-reported clinical practice
      behaviours of optometrists in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) with respect
      to the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease (DED). We also sought to
      examine whether the reported practices of clinicians in each region were
      consistent with current evidence-based recommendations for DED. METHODS: An
      online survey was distributed to optometrists (Australia, n = 654; UK, n = 1006).
      Respondents provided information about practice modality, years of optometric
      experience, preferred diagnostic and management strategies (stratified by DED
      severity) and the information/evidence base used to guide patient care. RESULTS:
      A total of 317 completed surveys were received (response rates, Australia: 21%,
      UK: 17%). Optometrists in both regions demonstrated similarly strong knowledge of
      tear film assessment and adopted both subjective and objective techniques to
      diagnose DED. Patient symptoms were considered the most important, valuable and
      commonly performed assessment by both Australian and UK respondents. UK
      practitioners valued and utilised conjunctival signs and tear meniscus height
      assessments more than Australian optometrists (p < 0.05), who placed relatively
      greater emphasis on sodium fluorescein tear break-up time to diagnose DED (p <
      0.05). Clinicians in both locations tailored DED therapy to severity. While
      practitioners in both regions predominantly managed mild DED with eyelid hygiene
      and tear supplementation, Australian optometrists indicated prescribing topical
      corticosteroid therapy significantly more often than UK practitioners for
      moderate (14% vs 6%) and severe (52% vs 8%) disease (p < 0.05). The major source
      of information used to guide practitioners' dry eye management practices was
      continuing education conferences. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a range of
      parallels and divergences in dry eye clinical practice between Australian and UK
      optometrists. Our data identify both areas of strength in the adoption of
      evidence-based practice, as well as some potential to improve international
      translation of dry eye research evidence into practice.

PMID- 26890704
TI  - Correction to: The short-term accommodation response to aniso-accommodative
      stimuli in isometropia.

PMID- 26890698
TI  - Mechanisms of microglial activation in models of inflammation and hypoxia:
      Implications for chronic intermittent hypoxia.
AB  - Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a hallmark of sleep apnoea, a condition
      associated with diverse clinical disorders. CIH and sleep apnoea are
      characterized by increased reactive oxygen species formation, peripheral and CNS
      inflammation, neuronal death and neurocognitive deficits. Few studies have
      examined the role of microglia, the resident CNS immune cells, in models of CIH.
      Thus, little is known concerning their direct contributions to neuropathology or
      the cellular mechanisms regulating their activities during or following
      pathological CIH. In this review, we identify gaps in knowledge regarding CIH
      induced microglial activation, and propose mechanisms based on data from related
      models of hypoxia and/or hypoxia-reoxygenation. CIH may directly affect
      microglia, or may have indirect effects via the periphery or other CNS cells.
      Peripheral inflammation may indirectly activate microglia via entry of pro
      inflammatory molecules into the CNS, and/or activation of vagal afferents that
      trigger CNS inflammation. CIH-induced release of damage-associated molecular
      patterns from injured CNS cells may also activate microglia via interactions with
      pattern recognition receptors expressed on microglia. For example, Toll-like
      receptors activate mitogen-activated protein kinase/transcription factor pathways
      required for microglial inflammatory gene expression. Although epigenetic effects
      from CIH have not yet been studied in microglia, potential epigenetic mechanisms
      in microglial regulation are discussed, including microRNAs, histone
      modifications and DNA methylation. Epigenetic effects can occur during CIH, or
      long after it has ended. A better understanding of CIH effects on microglial
      activities may be important to reverse CIH-induced neuropathology in patients
      with sleep disordered breathing. 

PMID- 26890705
TI  - Direct Acylation of C(sp(3))-H Bonds Enabled by Nickel and Photoredox Catalysis.
AB  - Using nickel and photoredox catalysis, the direct functionalization of C(sp(3))-H
      bonds of N-aryl amines by acyl electrophiles is described. The method affords a
      diverse range of alpha-amino ketones at room temperature and is amenable to late
      stage coupling of complex and biologically relevant groups. C(sp(3))-H activation
      occurs by photoredox-mediated oxidation to generate alpha-amino radicals which
      are intercepted by nickel in catalytic C(sp(3))-C coupling. The merger of these
      two modes of catalysis leverages nickel's unique properties in alkyl cross
      coupling while avoiding limitations commonly associated with transition-metal
      mediated C(sp(3))-H activation, including requirements for chelating directing
      groups and high reaction temperatures.

PMID- 26890706
TI  - A methodological approach to short-term tracking of youth physical fitness: the
      Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study.
AB  - In this paper, three different statistical approaches were used to investigate
      short-term tracking of cardiorespiratory and performance-related physical fitness
      among adolescents. Data were obtained from the Oporto Growth, Health and
      Performance Study and comprised 1203 adolescents (549 girls) divided into two age
      cohorts (10-12 and 12-14 years) followed for three consecutive years, with annual
      assessment. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed with 1-mile run/walk test; 50
      yard dash, standing long jump, handgrip, and shuttle run test were used to rate
      performance-related physical fitness. Tracking was expressed in three different
      ways: auto-correlations, multilevel modelling with crude and adjusted model (for
      biological maturation, body mass index, and physical activity), and Cohen's Kappa
      (kappa) computed in IBM SPSS 20.0, HLM 7.01 and Longitudinal Data Analysis
      software, respectively. Tracking of physical fitness components was (1) moderate
      to-high when described by auto-correlations; (2) low-to-moderate when crude and
      adjusted models were used; and (3) low according to Cohen's Kappa (kappa). These
      results demonstrate that when describing tracking, different methods should be
      considered since they provide distinct and more comprehensive views about
      physical fitness stability patterns. 

PMID- 26890708
TI  - Effect of laryngopharyngeal reflux on the improvement of chronic rhinosinusitis
      without polyposis after primary endoscopic sinus surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the influence of laryngopharyngeal
      reflux on the improvement of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients who
      underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 48
      patients (28 males, 20 females; mean age 41.6+/-15.1 years; range 18 to 75 years)
      with CRS without polyposis were assessed for the presence of gastric reflux with
      Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Scores (RFS) before undergoing
      primary ESS. Patients with a RSI >12 and RFS >7 were included in the reflux(+)
      and those with either score under these cutoffs in the reflux(-) group.
      Improvement scores were accepted as the difference between preoperative scores
      and postoperative sixth-month Lund-Mackay Radiology Scores, Lund-Kennedy
      Endoscopy Scores (LKES), and Sinusitis Symptom Scores (SSS). RESULTS: There was
      no significant difference between improvements of the reflux(+) and reflux(-)
      groups in terms of radiology, endoscopy, and symptom scores (p>0.05). However,
      preoperative and postoperative six-month radiology scores were significantly
      higher in reflux(+) patients (p<0.01). Also, postoperative six-month LKES were
      significantly higher in reflux(+) patients. No statistically significant
      differences were detected between preoperative and postoperative six-month SSS in
      reflux(+) or reflux(-) patients. CONCLUSION: Laryngopharyngeal reflux was
      associated with worse radiology and endoscopy scores in CRS without polyposis;
      however, it had no role on the improvement scores after primary ESS.

PMID- 26890707
TI  - Purine (N)-Methanocarba Nucleoside Derivatives Lacking an Exocyclic Amine as
      Selective A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonists.
AB  - Purine (N)-methanocarba-5'-N-alkyluronamidoriboside A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR)
      agonists lacking an exocyclic amine resulted from an unexpected reaction during a
      Sonogashira coupling and subsequent aminolysis. Because the initial C6-Me and C6
      styryl derivatives had unexpectedly high A3AR affinity, other rigid nucleoside
      analogues lacking an exocyclic amine were prepared. Of these, the C6-Me-(2
      phenylethynyl) and C2-(5-chlorothienylethynyl) analogues were particularly
      potent, with human A3AR Ki values of 6 and 42 nM, respectively. Additionally, the
      C2-(5-chlorothienyl)-6-H analogue was potent and selective at A3AR (MRS7220, Ki
      60 nM) and also completely reversed mouse sciatic nerve mechanoallodynia (in
      vivo, 3 MUmol/kg, po). The lack of a C6 H-bond donor while maintaining A3AR
      affinity and efficacy could be rationalized by homology modeling and docking of
      these hypermodified nucleosides. The modeling suggests that a suitable
      combination of stabilizing features can partially compensate for the lack of an
      exocyclic amine, an otherwise important contributor to recognition in the A3AR
      binding site. 

PMID- 26890709
TI  - Pepsinogen identification in the middle ear fluid of children with otitis media
      with effusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the presence and concentration of
      pepsin/pepsinogen in middle ear fluid and to discuss the potential mechanisms
      involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of
      33 children (21 boys, 12 girls; mean age 5.7+/-2.4 years; range 3 to 13 years)
      diagnosed with otitis media with effusion and scheduled for operation were
      enrolled into the study. Fluids aspirated from the middle ear were assessed for
      the presence of pepsinogen and albumin and blood samples were drawn
      simultaneously for comparison. RESULTS: Mean pepsinogen concentration was
      statistically significantly higher in middle ear fluids compared with serum
      samples (262.4 ng/mL [range: 211.7 ng/mL - 301.1 ng/mL] versus 102.6 ng/mL
      [range: 80.7 ng/mL - 134.5 ng/mL], respectively) (p<0.001). On the other hand,
      mean albumin concentration was significantly lower (1.1 g/dL [range: 0.01 g/dL -
      9.5 g/dL] versus 5.8 g/dL [range: 0.9 - 9.5 g/dL], respectively) (p<0.001). The
      highest pepsinogen concentration was detected in patients with purulent effusion
      (275.3 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the theory of gastro-esophageal
      reflux related pepsinogen transition to the middle ear and indicate that
      pepsinogen may a reliable biochemical marker for the assessment of gastro
      esophageal reflux.

PMID- 26890710
TI  - [Relationship between preoperative patient learning need and anxiety of patients
      hospitalized at Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery clinic for surgical
      treatment].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between preoperative
      patient learning need and anxiety in patients hospitalized at Ear Nose Throat and
      Head Neck Surgery (ENT and HNS) clinic for surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The study sample comprised 98 patients (56 males, 42 females; mean age
      44.4+/-15.2 years; range 18 to 76 years) hospitalized at ENT and HNS clinic for
      surgical treatment. A question form prepared based on the literature, Patient
      Learning Needs Scale (PLNS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used
      in the study which was planned as a descriptive-analytical study. RESULTS:
      Education level of 72.5% of the patients was until high school at the furthest.
      The most frequent operation indications were chronic otitis media (28.6%) and
      vocal cord mass/paralysis (18.4%). We detected that, of the patients, 26.5%
      received training only from their doctors preoperatively, 74.5% did not find the
      given training sufficient, and 87.8% requested to receive the training
      preoperatively. Patients' total PLNS score was mean 30.6+/-5.4. Scores obtained
      from all sub-scales were within the very significant and extremely significant
      categories according to the scale's Likert structure. A comparison of anxiety
      state with learning needs dimension scores revealed a significant relationship
      only between trait anxiety score and emotions dimension related to the state in
      univariate analysis (r=0.21, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We detected a relationship
      between some dimensions of patient learning needs and anxiety level. Considering
      these findings, we advise that patient training programs and materials are
      developed and preoperative planned patient trainings are conducted.

PMID- 26890711
TI  - Assessment of nasal airway patency during pregnancy and postpartum period:
      correlation between subjective and objective techniques.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the physiological changes in a pregnant
      woman's nasal airway, the frequency of pregnancy rhinitis, and the correlation
      among anterior rhinoscopy (AnR), anterior rhinomanometry (ARM), and subjective
      nasal obstruction score as she progresses through pregnancy into the postpartum
      period (PPP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty non-smoking healthy pregnant women
      aged 19-35 (average 27.5+/-4.7) without a history of either respiratory allergy
      or chronic nasal or sinus problems were included in the study. Detailed history
      taking, AnR, and ARM were performed by the same ear nose and throat specialist at
      each trimester and postpartum second week. From then on, the participants scored,
      subjectively, morning levels of nasal obstruction (0= none, 1= slight, 2=
      moderate, 3= severe, 4= total obstruction). RESULTS: The AnR scores were low and
      the ARM findings were in normal range in the first trimester. Increasing AnR
      scores through pregnancy and decreasing AnR scores at PPP were statistically
      significant. Similarly, the ARM findings increased through pregnancy and
      decreased to normal levels at PPP; however, these changes among trimesters and
      PPP were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Anterior rhinomanometry and
      AnR are useful tools in the determination of nasal physiological changes as
      pregnancy progresses to PPP.

PMID- 26890712
TI  - Voice evaluation in asthma patients using inhaled corticosteroids.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess voice changes and laryngeal abnormalities
      in asthmatic patients using inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      This study included 30 patients (15 females; mean age 21.3+/-2.6 years; range, 17
      to 26 years and 15 males; mean age 20.7+/-2.3 years; range, 16 to 27 years) with
      bronchial asthma treated with ICSs between May 2013 and December 2013. A speech
      sample from each patient was evaluated by two phoniatricians and the degrees of
      dysphonia were scored. Each patient's voice was acoustically analyzed using the
      multidimensional voice program software. Videolaryngoscopy was used to detect
      laryngeal abnormalities including the vocal folds. RESULTS: A total of 53.3% of
      ICSs users had dysphonia; most of them had a mild degree dysphonia. Of patients,
      vocal folds erythema was present in 56.7%, interarytenoid thickening in 56.7%,
      vocal folds bowing in 5.3% and vocal fold atrophy in 5.5%. A total of 36.7%
      patients had manifestations of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The presence of vocal
      fold bowing and atrophy was significantly related to the duration of ICS use
      (p=0.048). Soft phonation index values were positively associated with the
      duration of the ICS use (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Inhaled corticosteroids have
      abnormally adverse effects both on the function and the structure of the vocal
      folds.

PMID- 26890713
TI  - Well differentiated papillary carcinoma of thyroid presenting as metastatic liver
      mass.
AB  - Well differentiated papillary carcinoma of thyroid frequently metastasizes to
      regional lymph nodes and the patients usually present with cervical or
      mediastinal lymphadenopathy. In this article, we report a case of papillary
      thyroid carcinoma with hepatic metastasis presenting as liver mass in absence of
      lymph nodal metastasis, a presentation not previously reported to the best of our
      knowledge. 

PMID- 26890714
TI  - Unilateral sudden hearing loss: a rare symptom of Moyamoya disease.
AB  - A 38-year-old female patient experienced a sudden onset of unilateral
      sensorineural hearing loss due to Moyamoya disease. A detailed summary of
      audiological and neurological findings indicated that the sudden hearing loss
      might be due to Moyamoya disease resulting in occlusion of posterior and middle
      cerebral arteries. Intravenous prednisolone and trimetazidine dihydrochloride may
      improve hearing thresholds and speech understanding. To our knowledge, this is
      the first article in the literature reporting a case of sudden hearing loss as
      the first manifestation of Moyamoya disease in a young adult. 

PMID- 26890715
TI  - Rare cases of benign tumors of the head and neck: lipoma of larynx and
      sternocleidomastoid muscle.
AB  - In this article, we report two rare cases of lipoma in the head and neck region.
      Thirty-four-year-old case 1 presented with hoarseness and sensation of foreign
      body in throat. While 54-year-old case 2 presented with complaint of a mass in
      left side of neck. The imaging methods showed the masses in false vocal fold and
      the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Diagnosis and treatment of the masses were
      discussed in light of the literature. 

PMID- 26890716
TI  - [Outpatient surgical practices in otorhinolaryngology].
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In this study, we report outpatient surgical procedures in an ear
      nose and throat (ENT) clinic of a university hospital for the first time in
      Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients who were operated between January 2012
      and December 2013 by our ENT surgeons either in central operating room or in
      outpatient surgery unit were retrospectively analyzed. Age of the patients, type
      of operation, type of anesthesia, and the time of discharge were recorded.
      RESULTS: The highest number of outpatient surgical procedures was in the 1-18 age
      group. The most widely used type of anesthesia was general anesthesia, while
      adeno/tonsillectomy and tympanostomy tube insertion were the most commonly
      performed operations. The total number of surgeries was 2,714 and 379 (13.96%) of
      these patients were discharged on the same day. CONCLUSION: Outpatient surgery
      has become widespread in the past three decades, particularly. However, in our
      study, the ratio of outpatient surgery to all surgical interventions was very
      low, compared to developed countries.

PMID- 26890717
TI  - Deep-Sea DuraFET: A Pressure Tolerant pH Sensor Designed for Global Sensor
      Networks.
AB  - Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is driving a long-term decrease in ocean pH
      which is superimposed on daily to seasonal variability. These changes impact
      ecosystem processes, and they serve as a record of ecosystem metabolism. However,
      the temporal variability in pH is observed at only a few locations in the ocean
      because a ship is required to support pH observations of sufficient precision and
      accuracy. This paper describes a pressure tolerant Ion Sensitive Field Effect
      Transistor pH sensor that is based on the Honeywell Durafet ISFET die. When
      combined with a AgCl pseudoreference sensor that is immersed directly in
      seawater, the system is capable of operating for years at a time on platforms
      that cycle from depths of several km to the surface. The paper also describes the
      calibration scheme developed to allow calibrated pH measurements to be derived
      from the activity of HCl reported by the sensor system over the range of ocean
      pressure and temperature. Deployments on vertical profiling platforms enable self
      calibration in deep waters where pH values are stable. Measurements with the
      sensor indicate that it is capable of reporting pH with an accuracy of 0.01 or
      better on the total proton scale and a precision over multiyear periods of 0.005.
      This system enables a global ocean observing system for ocean pH. 

PMID- 26890718
TI  - Complex link between male lower urinary tract symptoms and metabolic syndrome:
      More than ethnic disparity.

PMID- 26890719
TI  - Estimating the Compressibility of Osmium from Recent Measurements of Ir-Os Alloys
      under High Pressure.
AB  - Several fcc- and hcp-structured Ir-Os alloys have been recently studied up to 30
      GPa at room temperature by means of synchrotron-based X-ray powder diffraction in
      diamond anvil cells. Using their bulk moduli, which increase with increasing
      osmium content, showing a deviation from linearity, and after employing a
      thermodynamical model, it was concluded that the bulk modulus for osmium is
      slightly smaller than that for diamond. Here, a similar conclusion is obtained
      upon employing an alternative model, thus strengthening the conclusion that
      osmium is the densest but not the most incompressible element. This is
      particularly interesting for Earth Sciences because it may be of key importance
      toward clarifying the anomalous elastic properties of the Earth's core. 

PMID- 26890720
TI  - Understanding the sensory irregularities of esophageal disease.
AB  - Symptoms relating to esophageal sensory abnormalities can be encountered in the
      clinical environment. Such sensory abnormalities may be present in demonstrable
      disease, such as erosive esophagitis, and in the ostensibly normal esophagus,
      such as non-erosive reflux disease or functional chest pain. In this review, the
      authors discuss esophageal sensation and the esophageal pain system. In addition,
      the authors provide a primer concerning the techniques that are available for
      investigating the autonomic nervous system, neuroimaging and neurophysiology of
      esophageal sensory function. Such technological advances, whilst not readily
      available in the clinic may facilitate the stratification and individualization
      of therapy in disorders of esophageal sensation in the future. 

PMID- 26890721
TI  - Three-dimensional structures of magnesium nanopores.
AB  - The optimization of nanopore-based devices is closely related to the nanopore
      three-dimensional (3D) structures. In this paper, faceted nanopores were
      fabricated in magnesium (Mg) by aligning the electron beam (e-beam) along the
      [0001] direction. Detailed structural characterization by transmission electron
      microscopy reveals the existence of two 3D structures: hexagonal prism-shaped and
      hourglass-shaped 3D morphologies. Moreover, the 3D structures of nanopores are
      also found to depend on the widest nanopore diameter-to-thickness ratio (D/t). A
      plausible formation mechanism for different 3D structures is discussed. Our
      results incorporate a critical piece of information regarding the nanopore 3D
      structures in Mg and may serve as an important design guidance for the size- and
      shape-controllable fabrication of solid-state nanopores applying the e-beam
      sculpting technique. 

PMID- 26890723
TI  - From the Editor.

PMID- 26890722
TI  - Changes of microbial spoilage, lipid-protein oxidation and physicochemical
      properties during post mortem refrigerated storage of goat meat.
AB  - Examined was the effect of post mortem refrigerated storage on microbial
      spoilage, lipid-protein oxidation and physicochemical traits of goat meat. Seven
      Boer bucks were slaughtered, eviscerated and aged for 24 h. The Longissimus
      lumborum (LL) and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles were excised and subjected to 13
      days post mortem refrigerated storage. The pH, lipid and protein oxidation,
      tenderness, color and drip loss were determined in LL while microbiological
      analysis was performed on ST. Bacterial counts generally increased with
      increasing aging time and the limit for fresh meat was reached at day 14 post
      mortem. Significant differences were observed in malondialdehyde (MDA) content at
      day 7 of storage. The thiol concentration significantly reduced as aging time
      increased. The band intensities of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and troponin-T
      significantly decreased as storage progressed, while actin remained relatively
      stable. After 14 days of aging, tenderness showed significant improvement while
      muscle pH and drip loss reduced with increase in storage time. Samples aged for
      14 days had higher lightness (P < 0.05) and lower (P < 0.05) yellowness and
      redness. Post mortem refrigerated storage influenced oxidative and microbial
      stability and physico-chemical properties of goat meat. 

PMID- 26890724
TI  - Unemployment, perceived health status and coping: A study in Southern Italy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Unemployment is a very stressful experience that significantly
      impairs an individual's perception of their overall wellbeing. Interaction
      between unemployment and physical health is complex. OBJECTIVE: To analyze how
      specific coping strategies and socio-demographic variables may influence the
      level of physical and mental health perceived by those searching for work at an
      employment centre in Catanzaro, Italy. METHODS: Participants completed a set of
      self-administrated questionnaires including a socio-demographic questionnaire,
      the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and the SF-12 Health Survey
      (SF-12). A forward stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to ascertain
      those coping strategies significantly associated with participants' perceived
      health status. RESULTS: Complete documentation was received from 113 registered
      unemployed participants, (61 men and 52 women) giving a response rate of 45%
      .Physical health status was significantly and positively associated with age and
      task-oriented coping, while the perception of mental health was associated not
      only with age, but also by lower emotion-oriented coping and a low number of
      previous job losses. CONCLUSION: The perception of health status is reduced among
      unemployed. Age is the only socio demographic variable that influences the
      perception of health status. Adaptive Task-oriented coping strategies are related
      to better physical health perception, whereas Emotion-oriented coping makes
      people prone to poorer mental health perception.

PMID- 26890725
TI  - Association between work ability and fatigue in Brazilian nursing workers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Impaired work ability is associated with work-related illnesses,
      early retirement and rising pension costs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the
      association between work ability and fatigue in nursing workers. METHODS: Cross
      sectional study conducted with 100 nursing workers from two inpatient units at a
      public teaching hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The data were collected by means
      of a socio-demographic profile questionnaire, Work Ability Index (WAI) and
      Chalder Fatigue Scale. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive and
      analytical statistical methods, tests of association and multiple linear
      regression. RESULTS: The study population was mainly composed of women (88% ),
      exhibited a high educational level (76% ), average age 39.4 years old (SD = 9.5)
      and 15 years of professional experience, on average. The average score on WAI was
      good (39.4 points, SD = 6.0) but surprisingly, 35% of the participants exhibited
      moderate to poor work ability. Fatigue was found in 52% of the participants. The
      score on WAI decreased in association with fatigue (p <  0.001) and longer length
      of work in the same workplace (p = 0.001), as well as among nursing technicians
      compared to nurses (p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue, longer length of work in
      the same workplace and work category nursing technician were associated with
      decreased work ability, which emphasizes the need for investment in health and
      quality of work life.

PMID- 26890726
TI  - Assessment of hemostatic changes in a model of acute hemorrhage in dogs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hemostatic changes following experimental acute hemorrhage
      in dogs using traditional coagulation tests (eg, platelet count, prothrombin time
      [PT], and activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), kaolin-activated
      thromboelastography (TEG), and whole blood multiple electrode impedance platelet
      aggregometry. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Research laboratory. ANIMALS:
      Five Beagles. INTERVENTIONS: Dogs were anesthetized prior to obtaining blood
      samples for baseline PCV, total plasma protein (TPP), arterial blood-gas,
      platelet count, PT, aPTT, TEG, fibrinogen, and aggregometry. Blood was obtained
      at 4 additional time points, following 20% blood volume loss, 40% blood volume
      loss, 60 minutes of sustained hypotension, and after autologous blood
      transfusion. In addition, heart rate and direct arterial blood pressure were
      measured at each time point. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Significant decreases
      were noted for PCV (P = 0.048), TPP (P < 0.0001), and arterial blood pressures (P
      < 0.0001) over time. Platelet count did not change significantly (P = 0.879), but
      platelet function was decreased following hemorrhage when arachidonic acid (P =
      0.004) and ADP (P = 0.008) were used as agonists. The TEG variables R (P =
      0.030), MA (P = 0.043), and G (P = 0.037) were significantly, albeit mildly,
      changed following hemorrhage. Significant prolongations in PT (P < 0.0001) and
      aPTT (P = 0.041), and decreases in fibrinogen concentration (P = 0.002) were also
      seen. CONCLUSION: Platelet dysfunction occurred following hemorrhage in this
      model, despite a stable platelet count. Additionally, significant changes
      associated with hemorrhage were documented in aPTT, fibrinogen, and MA. Platelet
      function testing in dogs with naturally occurring hemorrhage warrants further
      investigation.

PMID- 26890727
TI  - Correction: Rich RNA Structure Landscapes Revealed by Mutate-and-Map Analysis.

PMID- 26890729
TI  - A Historical Perspective on the Development of the Allan Variances and Their
      Strengths and Weaknesses.
AB  - Over the past 50 years, variances have been developed for characterizing the
      instabilities of precision clocks and oscillators. These instabilities are often
      modeled as nonstationary processes, and the variances have been shown to be well
      behaved and to be unbiased, efficient descriptors of these types of processes.
      This paper presents a historical overview of the development of these variances.
      The time-domain and frequency-domain formulations are presented and their
      development is described. The strengths and weaknesses of these characterization
      metrics are discussed. These variances are also shown to be useful in other
      applications, such as in telecommunication. 

PMID- 26890731
TI  - P Matrix Analysis of Surface Acoustic Waves in Piezoelectric Phononic Crystals.
AB  - Large time/memory costs have constituted a significant obstacle for accurately
      analyzing surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in large size two-dimensional (2-D)
      piezoelectric phononic crystals (PnCs). To overcome this obstacle, this study
      introduces the unit P matrix and its associated cascading. To obtain an accurate
      unit P matrix, the Y parameters of the SAW delay lines were derived using a three
      dimensional (3-D) finite element model (FEM) with and without 2-D piezoelectric
      PnCs, respectively, on the transmitting path. A time window function was adopted
      to extract the desired signals from the P matrix analysis. Then, unit P matrix
      cascading was used to obtain SAW propagation parameters for the large size
      piezoelectric PnCs. Using this method, the SAW in aluminum (Al) /128o-YXLiNbO3
      PnCs was analyzed over 150 periods. Experiments were also conducted. To choose
      the appropriate size of the unit P matrix, the variance between experimental
      results and theoretical results, and time/memory cost were compared for different
      periods. The results indicate that cascading by unit P matrix of 25 PnCs periods
      can be appropriately adopted to accurately derive the SAW propagation parameters
      over 150 periods. This indicates the accuracy of the unit P matrix derived by 3-D
      FEM and the effectiveness of P matrix analysis.

PMID- 26890728
TI  - "Quantum Leap" in Photobiomodulation Therapy Ushers in a New Generation of Light
      Based Treatments for Cancer and Other Complex Diseases: Perspective and Mini
      Review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Set within the context of the 2015 International Year of Light and
      Light-Based Technologies,and of a growing and aging world population with ever
      rising healthcare needs, this perspective and mini-review focuses on
      photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy as an emerging, cost-effective, treatment option
      for cancer (i.e., solid tumors) and other complex diseases, particularly, of the
      eye (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma,
      retinitis pigmentosa) and the central nervous system (e.g., Alzheimer's and
      Parkinson's disease). BACKGROUND DATA: Over the last decades, primary and
      secondary mechanisms of PBM have been revealed. These include oxygen-dependent
      and oxygen-independent structural and functional action pathways. Signal and
      target characteristics determine biological outcome, which is optimal (or even
      positive) only within a given set of parameters. METHODS: This study was a
      perspective and nonsystematic literature mini-review. RESULTS: Studies support
      what we describe as a paradigm shift or "quantum leap" in the understanding and
      use of light and its interaction with water and other relevant photo-cceptors to
      restore physiologic function. CONCLUSIONS: Based on existing evidence, it is
      argued that PBM therapy can raise the standard of care and improve the quality of
      life of patients for a fraction of the cost of many current approaches. PBM
      therapy can, therefore,benefit large, vulnerable population groups, including the
      elderly and the poor, whilehaving a major impact on medical practice and public
      finances.

PMID- 26890730
TI  - Ultrafast Harmonic Coherent Compound (UHCC) Imaging for High Frame Rate
      Echocardiography and Shear-Wave Elastography.
AB  - Transthoracic shear-wave elastography (SWE) of the myocardium remains very
      challenging due to the poor quality of transthoracic ultrafast imaging and the
      presence of clutter noise, jitter, phase aberration, and ultrasound
      reverberation. Several approaches, such as diverging-wave coherent compounding or
      focused harmonic imaging, have been proposed to improve the imaging quality. In
      this study, we introduce ultrafast harmonic coherent compounding (UHCC), in which
      pulse-inverted diverging waves are emitted and coherently compounded, and show
      that such an approach can be used to enhance both SWE and high frame rate (FR) B
      mode Imaging. UHCC SWE was first tested in phantoms containing an aberrating
      layer and was compared against pulse-inversion harmonic imaging and against
      ultrafast coherent compounding (UCC) imaging at the fundamental frequency. In
      vivo feasibility of the technique was then evaluated in six healthy volunteers by
      measuring myocardial stiffness during diastole in transthoracic imaging. We also
      demonstrated that improvements in imaging quality could be achieved using UHCC B
      mode imaging in healthy volunteers. The quality of transthoracic images of the
      heart was found to be improved with the number of pulse-inverted diverging waves
      with a reduction of the imaging mean clutter level up to 13.8 dB when compared
      against UCC at the fundamental frequency. These results demonstrated that UHCC B
      mode imaging is promising for imaging deep tissues exposed to aberration sources
      with a high FR.

PMID- 26890732
TI  - Targeted Lesion Generation Through the Skull Without Aberration Correction Using
      Histotripsy.
AB  - This study demonstrates the ability of histotripsy to generate targeted lesions
      through the skullcap without using aberration correction. Histotripsy therapy was
      delivered using a 500 kHz, 256-element hemispherical transducer with an aperture
      diameter of 30 cm and a focal distance of 15 cm fabricated in our lab. This
      transducer is theoretically capable of producing peak rarefactional pressures,
      based on linear estimation, (p-)LE, in the free field in excess of 200MPa with
      pulse durations 2 acoustic cycles. Three excised human skullcaps were used
      displaying attenuations of 73-81% of the acoustic pressure without aberration
      correction. Through all three skullcaps, compact lesions with radii less than 1mm
      were generated in red blood cell (RBC) agarose tissue phantoms without aberration
      correction, using estimated (p-)LE of 28-39MPa, a pulse repetition frequency of
      1Hz, and a total number of 300 pulses. Lesion generation was consistently
      observed at the geometric focus of the transducer as the position of the skullcap
      with respect to the transducer was varied, and multiple patterned lesions were
      generated transcranially by mechanically adjusting the position of the skullcap
      with respect to the transducer to target different regions within. These results
      show that compact, targeted lesions with sharp boundaries can be generated
      through intact skullcaps using histotripsy with very short pulses without using
      aberration correction. Such capability has the potential to greatly simplify
      transcranial ultrasound therapy for non-invasive transcranial applications, as
      current ultrasound transcranial therapy techniques all require sophisticated
      aberration correction.

PMID- 26890733
TI  - Sex Differences in Hookah-Related Images Posted on Tumblr: A Content Analysis.
AB  - Hookah tobacco smoking is prevalent, widespread, and associated with large
      amounts of toxicants. Hookah tobacco smoking may be viewed differently by males
      and females. For example, females have been drawn to types of tobacco that are
      flavored, milder, and marketed as more social and exotic. Individuals often use
      the growing segment of anonymous social networking sites, such as Tumblr, to
      learn about potentially dangerous or harmful behaviors. We used a systematic
      process involving stratification by time of day, day of week, and search term to
      gather a sample of 140 Tumblr posts related to hookah tobacco smoking. After a
      structured codebook development process, 2 coders independently assessed all
      posts in their entirety, and all disagreements were easily adjudicated. When data
      on poster sex and age were available, we found that 77% of posts were posted by
      females and 35% were posted by individuals younger than 18. The most prominent
      features displayed in all posts were references to or images of hookahs
      themselves, sexuality, socializing, alcohol, hookah smoke, and tricks performed
      with hookah smoke. Compared with females, males more frequently posted images of
      hookahs and alcohol-related images or references. This information may help guide
      future research in this area and the development of targeted interventions to
      curb this behavior. 

PMID- 26890734
TI  - Altered directed functional connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy in the absence
      of interictal spikes: A high density EEG study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In patients with epilepsy, seizure relapse and behavioral impairments
      can be observed despite the absence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs).
      Therefore, the characterization of pathologic networks when IEDs are not present
      could have an important clinical value. Using Granger-causal modeling, we
      investigated whether directed functional connectivity was altered in
      electroencephalography (EEG) epochs free of IED in left and right temporal lobe
      epilepsy (LTLE and RTLE) compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty LTLE, 20
      RTLE, and 20 healthy controls underwent a resting-state high-density EEG
      recording. Source activity was obtained for 82 regions of interest (ROIs) using
      an individual head model and a distributed linear inverse solution. Granger
      causal modeling was applied to the source signals of all ROIs. The directed
      functional connectivity results were compared between groups and correlated with
      clinical parameters (duration of the disease, age of onset, age, and learning and
      mood impairments). RESULTS: We found that: (1) patients had significantly reduced
      connectivity from regions concordant with the default-mode network; (2) there was
      a different network pattern in patients versus controls: the strongest
      connections arose from the ipsilateral hippocampus in patients and from the
      posterior cingulate cortex in controls; (3) longer disease duration was
      associated with lower driving from contralateral and ipsilateral mediolimbic
      regions in RTLE; (4) aging was associated with a lower driving from regions in or
      close to the piriform cortex only in patients; and (5) outflow from the anterior
      cingulate cortex was lower in patients with learning deficits or depression
      compared to patients without impairments and to controls. SIGNIFICANCE: Resting
      state network reorganization in the absence of IEDs strengthens the view of
      chronic and progressive network changes in TLE. These resting-state connectivity
      alterations could constitute an important biomarker of TLE, and hold promise for
      using EEG recordings without IEDs for diagnosis or prognosis of this disorder.

PMID- 26890735
TI  - The Disconnection Hypothesis in Alzheimer's Disease Studied Through Multimodal
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Structural, Perfusion, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging.
AB  - According to the so-called disconnection hypothesis, the loss of synaptic inputs
      from the medial temporal lobes (MTL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may lead to
      reduced activity of target neurons in cortical areas and, consequently, to
      decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in those areas. The aim of this study was to
      assess whether hypoperfusion in parietotemporal and frontal cortices of patients
      with mild cognitive impairment who converted to AD (MCI-c) and patients with mild
      AD is associated with atrophy in the MTL and/or microstructural changes in the
      white matter (WM) tracts connecting these areas. We assessed these relationships
      by investigating correlations between CBF in hypoperfused areas, mean cortical
      thickness in atrophied regions of the MTL, and fractional anisotropy (FA) in WM
      tracts. In the MCI-c group, a strong correlation was observed between CBF of the
      superior parietal gyri and FA in the parahippocampal tracts (left: r = 0.90, p < 
      0.0001; right: r = 0.597, p = 0.024), and between FA in the right parahippocampal
      tract and the right precuneus (r = 0.551, p = 0.041). No significant correlations
      between CBF in hypoperfused regions and FA in the WM tract were observed in the
      AD group. These results suggest an association between perfusion deficits and
      altered WM tracts in prodromal AD, while microvasculature impairments may have a
      greater influence in more advanced stages. We did not find correlations between
      cortical thinning in the medial temporal lobes and decreased FA in the WM tracts
      of the limbic system in either group. 

PMID- 26890737
TI  - Puerarin Ameliorates D-Galactose Induced Enhanced Hippocampal Neurogenesis and
      Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Rat Brain.
AB  - Enhanced neurogenesis has been reported in the hippocampus of patients with
      Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disorder
      characterized with amyloid-beta (Abeta) aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation,
      and progressive neuronal loss. Previously we reported that tau phosphorylation
      played an essential role in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and activation of
      glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3), a crucial tau kinase, could induce increased
      hippocampal neurogenesis. In the present study, we found that treatment of D
      galactose rats with Puerarin could significantly improve behavioral performance
      and ameliorate the enhanced neurogenesis and microtubule-associated protein tau
      hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus of D-galactose rat brains. FGF-2/GSK-3
      signaling pathway might be involved in the effects of Puerarin on hippocampal
      neurogenesis and tau hyperphosphorylation. Our finding provides primary in vivo
      evidence that Puerarin can attenuate AD-like enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis
      and tau hyperphosphorylation. Our finding also suggests Puerarin can be served as
      a treatment for age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD.

PMID- 26890738
TI  - A TgCRND8 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Exhibits Sexual Dimorphisms in
      Behavioral Indices of Cognitive Reserve.
AB  - Cognitive decline is sexually dimorphic in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Men show
      higher incidences of amnestic mild cognitive impairment yet women
      disproportionally phenoconvert to AD. It is hypothesized that men maintain
      greater cognitive reserve than women under comparable amyloid-beta (Abeta)
      challenge. One behavioral aspect of cognitive reserve in mice is the capacity to
      cope with Abeta-associated stereotypies by switching to increasingly effective
      navigational search strategies in the Morris water maze. To explore inherent sex
      differences in this paradigm, however, we require an AbetaPP mouse model wherein
      behavioral flexibility is impaired earlier in females than males despite
      equivalent Abeta load. Here, we show that when F1 C57Bl/6*C3H/HeJ TgCRND8 mice
      are placed on C57Bl/6 background, N5 Tg males and females exhibit equivalent
      Abeta pathologies at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of age yet females display learning
      and memory deficits earlier than males. We further show that this N5 line does
      not carry the autosomal recessive pde6brd1 mutation that impairs visual acuity
      and that the estrous cycle is not disrupted on this genetic background. At 5.5
      months of age, Tg males, but not females, compensate for Abeta-associated
      stereotypic behaviors (i.e., hyperactive tight circling) by alternating
      navigational search strategies and adopting increasingly productive spatial
      search strategies. Females fail to overcome Abeta-associated stereotypies and do
      not efficiently switch from systematic to spatial learning strategies. Together,
      these data identify a novel AbetaPP mouse model that can be used for preclinical
      testing of interventions targeting sexual dimorphisms in behavioral indices of
      cognitive reserve. 

PMID- 26890739
TI  - A History of In Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis in Measurement of Aluminum in
      Human Subjects.
AB  - Aluminum, as an abundant metal, has gained widespread use in human life, entering
      the body predominantly as an additive to various foods and drinking water. Other
      major sources of exposure to aluminum include medical, cosmetic, and occupational
      routes. As a common environmental toxin, with well-known roles in several medical
      conditions such as dialysis encephalopathy, aluminum is considered a potential
      candidate in the causality of Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum mostly accumulates in
      the bone, which makes bone an indicator of the body burden of aluminum and an
      ideal organ as a proxy for the brain. Most of the techniques developed for
      measuring aluminum include bone biopsy, which requires invasive measures, causing
      inconvenience for the patients. There has been a considerable effort in
      developing non-invasive approaches, which allow for monitoring aluminum levels
      for medical and occupational purposes in larger populations. In vivo neutron
      activation analysis, a method based on nuclear activation of isotopes of elements
      in the body and their subsequent detection, has proven to be an invaluable tool
      for this purpose. There are definite challenges in developing in vivo non
      invasive techniques capable of detecting low levels of aluminum in healthy
      individuals and aluminum-exposed populations. The following review examines the
      method of in vivo neutron activation analysis in the context of aluminum
      measurement in humans focusing on different neutron sources, interference from
      other activation products, and the improvements made in minimum detectable limits
      and patient dose over the past few decades. 

PMID- 26890736
TI  - Metformin in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a Pilot Randomized
      Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial.
AB  - Diabetes and hyperinsulinemia may be risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
      We conducted a pilot study of metformin, a medication efficacious in treating and
      preventing diabetes while reducing hyperinsulinemia, among persons with amnestic
      mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) with the goal of collecting preliminary data on
      feasibility, safety, and efficacy. Participants were 80 men and women aged 55 to
      90 years with aMCI, overweight or obese, without treated diabetes. We randomized
      participants to metformin 1000 mg twice a day or matching placebo for 12 months.
      The co-primary clinical outcomes were changes from baseline to 12 months in total
      recall of the Selective Reminding Test (SRT) and the score of the Alzheimer's
      Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). The secondary outcome was
      change in relative glucose uptake in the posterior cingulate-precuneus in brain
      fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Change in plasma Abeta42 was an
      exploratory outcome. The mean age of participants was 65 years. Fifty percent of
      participants were women. The only baseline variable that was different between
      the arms was the ADAS-Cog. Metformin could not be tolerated by 7.5% of
      participants; 15% tolerated 500 mg/day, 35% tolerated 1000 mg/day, 32.5%
      tolerated 1500 mg/day, and only 10% tolerated the maximum dose. There were no
      serious adverse events related to metformin. The 7.5% of persons who did not
      tolerate metformin reported gastrointestinal symptoms. After adjusting for
      baseline ADAS-cog, changes in total recall of the SRT favored the metformin group
      (9.7+/-8.5 versus 5.3+/-8.5; p = 0.02). Differences for other outcomes were not
      significant. A larger trial seems warranted to evaluate the efficacy and
      cognitive safety of metformin in prodromal AD. 

PMID- 26890740
TI  - Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment
      Subtypes to Alzheimer's Disease: A Community-Based Longitudinal Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While longitudinal studies have investigated the relationships
      between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes and dementia subtypes, the
      results have been contradictory. In addition, some research shows that depression
      accompanied by MCI might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to longitudinally investigate the
      relationships between MCI subtypes and dementia subtypes, with special attention
      to the effect of comorbid depressive symptoms in a Japanese rural community.
      METHODS: Non-demented participants (n = 802) completed a baseline and follow-up
      study. Outcomes were conversion to dementia especially AD, MCI, or no conversion.
      A complementary log-log analysis was conducted to investigate the risk of
      dementia and AD in amnestic MCI (aMCI) compared to nonamnestic MCI (naMCI)
      groups. The impact of depressive symptoms on the transition from MCI to AD and
      from cognitively normal to MCI or AD was also analyzed. RESULTS: The risk of
      developing dementia, in particular AD, for the aMCI group was significantly
      higher than that for the naMCI group. In the aMCI group, the presence of
      depressive symptoms increased the risk of developing AD, but depressive symptoms
      in the naMCI group did not. In the cognitively normal group, the presence of
      depressive symptoms increased the risk of aMCI but not naMCI or AD. CONCLUSION:
      MCI subtyping could be useful in finding a prodrome for dementia and in
      particular for AD. The differing impacts of depressive symptoms on the
      development of AD suggest that the relationship between depressive symptoms and
      cognitive impairment could differ in aMCI and naMCI patients.

PMID- 26890741
TI  - Vascular Risk Factors and Cognition in Parkinson's Disease.
AB  - Vascular risk factors have been associated with cognitive deficits and incident
      dementia in the general population, but their role on cognitive dysfunction in
      Parkinson's disease (PD) is still unclear. The present study addresses the single
      and cumulative effect of vascular risk factors on cognition in PD patients,
      taking clinical confounders into account. Standardized neuropsychological
      assessment was performed in 238 consecutive PD patients. We evaluated the
      association of single and cumulative vascular risk factors (smoking, diabetes,
      hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and heart disease), with the diagnosis of PD
      normal cognition (PDNC, n = 94), mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI, n = 111), and
      dementia (PDD, n = 33). The association between single neuropsychological tests
      and vascular risk factors was evaluated with covariance analyses adjusted for age
      at onset, educational levels, gender, disease duration, and motor performance.
      Age, educational levels, disease duration, and motor function were significantly
      different between PDNC, PD-MCI, and PDD. Heart disease was the only vascular
      factor significantly more prevalent in PDD compared with PDNC in adjusted
      analyses. Performance of tests assessing executive and attention functions were
      significantly worse in patients with hypertension, heart disease, and/or diabetes
      (p <  0.05). Heart disease is associated with dementia in PD, suggesting a
      potential window of intervention. Vascular risk factors act especially on
      attention and executive functions in PD. Vascular risk stratification may be
      useful in order to identify PD patients with a greater risk of developing
      dementia. These findings need to be verified in longitudinal studies. 

PMID- 26890743
TI  - Meta-Analysis of Transcriptome Data Related to Hippocampus Biopsies and iPSC
      Derived Neuronal Cells from Alzheimer's Disease Patients Reveals an Association
      with FOXA1 and FOXA2 Gene Regulatory Networks.
AB  - Although the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is continuously increasing in
      the aging population worldwide, effective therapies are not available. The
      interplay between causative genetic and environmental factors is partially
      understood. Meta-analyses have been performed on aspects such as polymorphisms,
      cytokines, and cognitive training. Here, we propose a meta-analysis approach
      based on hierarchical clustering analysis of a reliable training set of
      hippocampus biopsies, which is condensed to a gene expression signature. This
      gene expression signature was applied to various test sets of brain biopsies and
      iPSC-derived neuronal cell models to demonstrate its ability to distinguish AD
      samples from control. Thus, our identified AD-gene signature may form the basis
      for determination of biomarkers that are urgently needed to overcome current
      diagnostic shortfalls. Intriguingly, the well-described AD-related genes APP and
      APOE are not within the signature because their gene expression profiles show a
      lower correlation to the disease phenotype than genes from the signature. This is
      in line with the differing characteristics of the disease as early-/late-onset or
      with/without genetic predisposition. To investigate the gene signature's systemic
      role(s), signaling pathways, gene ontologies, and transcription factors were
      analyzed which revealed over-representation of response to stress, regulation of
      cellular metabolic processes, and reactive oxygen species. Additionally, our
      results clearly point to an important role of FOXA1 and FOXA2 gene regulatory
      networks in the etiology of AD. This finding is in corroboration with the
      recently reported major role of the dopaminergic system in the development of AD
      and its regulation by FOXA1 and FOXA2. 

PMID- 26890742
TI  - A Mercaptoacetamide-Based Class II Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Increases
      Dendritic Spine Density via RasGRF1/ERK Pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Abeta) leads to the loss of
      dendritic spines and synapses, which is hypothesized to cause cognitive
      impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. In our previous study, we
      demonstrated that a novel mercaptoacetamide-based class II histone deacetylase
      inhibitor (HDACI), known as W2, decreased Abeta levels and improved learning and
      memory in mice. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect is unknown.
      OBJECTIVE: Because dendritic spine formation is associated with cognitive
      performance, here we investigated whether HDACI W2 regulates dendritic spine
      density and its molecular mechanism of action. METHODS: To examine the effect of
      HDACI W2 on dendritic spine density, we conducted morphological analysis of
      dendritic spines using GFP transfection and Golgi staining. In addition, to
      determine the molecular mechanism of W2 effects on spines, we measured the levels
      of mRNAs and proteins involved in the Ras signaling pathway using quantitative
      real-time PCR, immunocytochemistry, and western analysis. RESULTS: We found that
      HDACI W2 altered dendritic spine density and morphology in vitro and in vivo.
      Additionally, W2 increased the mRNA or protein levels of Ras GRF1 and phospho
      ERK. Moreover, knockdown of RasGRF1 and inhibition of ERK activity prevented the
      W2-mediated spinogenesis in primary hippocampal neurons. CONCLUSION: Our Class II
      selective HDACI W2 promotes the formation and growth of dendritic spines in a
      RasGRF1 and ERK dependent manner in primary hippocampal neurons.

PMID- 26890744
TI  - miR-302 Attenuates Amyloid-beta-Induced Neurotoxicity through Activation of Akt
      Signaling.
AB  - Deficiency of insulin signaling has been linked to diabetes and ageing-related
      neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this regard,
      brains exhibit defective insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and hence result in
      alteration of insulin signaling in progression of AD, the most common cause of
      dementia. Consequently, dysregulation of insulin signaling plays an important
      role in amyloid-beta (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity. As the derivation of induced
      pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) involves cell reprogramming, it may provide a means
      for regaining the control of ageing-associated dysfunction and neurodegeneration
      via affecting insulin-related signaling. To this, we found that an embryonic stem
      cell (ESC)-specific microRNA, miR-302, silences phosphatase and tensin homolog
      (PTEN) to activate Akt signaling, which subsequently stimulates nuclear factor
      erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) elevation and hence
      inhibits Abeta-induced neurotoxicity. miR-302 is predominantly expressed in iPSCs
      and is known to regulate several important biological processes of anti-oxidative
      stress, anti-apoptosis, and anti-aging through activating Akt signaling. In
      addition, we also found that miR-302-mediated Akt signaling further stimulates
      Nanog expression to suppress Abeta-induced p-Ser307 IRS-1 expression and thus
      enhances tyrosine phosphorylation and p-Ser 473-Akt/p-Ser 9-GSK3beta formation.
      Furthermore, our in vivo studies revealed that the mRNA expression levels of both
      Nanog and miR-302-encoding LARP7 genes were significantly reduced in AD patients'
      blood cells, providing a novel diagnosis marker for AD. Taken together, our
      findings demonstrated that miR-302 is able to inhibit Abeta-induced cytotoxicity
      via activating Akt signaling to upregulate Nrf2 and Nanog expressions, leading to
      a marked restoration of insulin signaling in AD neurons. 

PMID- 26890745
TI  - Non-Verbal Episodic Memory Deficits in Primary Progressive Aphasias are Highly
      Predictive of Underlying Amyloid Pathology.
AB  - Diagnostic distinction of primary progressive aphasias (PPA) remains challenging,
      in particular for the logopenic (lvPPA) and nonfluent/agrammatic (naPPA)
      variants. Recent findings highlight that episodic memory deficits appear to
      discriminate these PPA variants from each other, as only lvPPA perform poorly on
      these tasks while having underlying amyloid pathology similar to that seen in
      amnestic dementias like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most memory tests are, however,
      language based and thus potentially confounded by the prevalent language deficits
      in PPA. The current study investigated this issue across PPA variants by
      contrasting verbal and non-verbal episodic memory measures while controlling for
      their performance on a language subtest of a general cognitive screen. A total of
      203 participants were included (25 lvPPA; 29 naPPA; 59 AD; 90 controls) and
      underwent extensive verbal and non-verbal episodic memory testing, with a subset
      of patients (n = 45) with confirmed amyloid profiles as assessed by Pittsburgh
      Compound B and PET. The most powerful discriminator between naPPA and lvPPA
      patients was a non-verbal recall measure (Rey Complex Figure delayed recall),
      with 81% of PPA patients classified correctly at presentation. Importantly, AD
      and lvPPA patients performed comparably on this measure, further highlighting the
      importance of underlying amyloid pathology in episodic memory profiles. The
      findings demonstrate that non-verbal recall emerges as the best discriminator of
      lvPPA and naPPA when controlling for language deficits in high load amyloid PPA
      cases. 

PMID- 26890747
TI  - Anthocyanins Protect SK-N-SH Cells Against Acrolein-Induced Toxicity by
      Preserving the Cellular Redox State.
AB  - In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, by
      products of lipid peroxidation such as acrolein accumulated in vulnerable regions
      of the brain. We have previously shown that acrolein is a highly reactive and
      neurotoxic aldehyde and its toxicity involves the alteration of several redox
      sensitive pathways. Recently, protein-conjugated acrolein in cerebrospinal fluid
      has been proposed as a biomarker to distinguish between MCI and AD. With growing
      evidence of the early involvement of oxidative stress in AD etiology, one would
      expect that a successful therapy should prevent brain oxidative damage. In this
      regard, several studies have demonstrated that polyphenol-rich extracts exert
      beneficial effect on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress. We have recently
      demonstrated the efficacy of an anthocyanin formulation (MAF14001) against
      amyloid-beta-induced oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to investigate
      the neuroprotective effect of MAF14001 as a mixture of anthocyanins, a particular
      class of polyphenols, against acrolein-induced oxidative damage in SK-N-SH
      neuronal cells. Our results demonstrated that MAF14001, from 5MUM, was able to
      efficiently protect SK-N-SH cells against acrolein-induced cell death. MAF14001
      was able to lower reactive oxygen species and protein carbonyl levels induced by
      acrolein. Moreover, MAF1401 prevented glutathione depletion and positively
      modulated, in the presence of acrolein, some oxidative stress-sensitive pathways
      including the transcription factors NF-kappaB and Nrf2, the proteins gamma-GCS
      and GSK3beta, and the protein adaptator p66Shc. Along with its proven protective
      effect against amyloid-beta toxicity, these results demonstrate that MAF14001
      could target multiple mechanisms and could be a promising agent for AD
      prevention. 

PMID- 26890748
TI  - Iron Regulates Apolipoprotein E Expression and Secretion in Neurons and
      Astrocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is strong evidence that iron homeostasis is impaired in the
      aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and that this contributes to
      neurodegeneration. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) has been identified as the strongest
      genetic risk factor for AD. However, the interaction between the two has yet to
      be fully explored. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship
      between exogenous iron levels and ApoE in neurons and astrocytes. METHODS: Our
      study used primary cultured cortical neurons and astrocytes to investigate the
      changes in ApoE caused by iron. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to measure
      ApoE. RESULTS: We observed that iron upregulated intracellular ApoE levels in
      both neurons and astrocytes at the post-transcriptional and transcriptional
      level, respectively. However, there was less full-length ApoE secreted by neurons
      and astrocytes after iron treatment. We speculate that this might impair brain
      lipid metabolism and amyloid-beta clearance. In terms of ApoE receptors, we
      observed that neuronal LRP-1 levels were increased by the addition of exogenous
      iron, which could contribute to AbetaPP endocytosis in neurons. However, there
      were no significant changes in neuronal LDLR, astrocyte LDLR, or astrocyte LRP-1.
      CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that iron may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD
      by affecting ApoE and its receptors and supports the notion that iron chelation
      should be investigated as a therapeutic strategy for AD.

PMID- 26890746
TI  - STX, a Novel Membrane Estrogen Receptor Ligand, Protects Against Amyloid-beta
      Toxicity.
AB  - Because STX is a selective ligand for membrane estrogen receptors, it may be able
      to confer the beneficial effects of estrogen without eliciting the deleterious
      side effects associated with activation of the nuclear estrogen receptors. This
      study evaluates the neuroprotective properties of STX in the context of amyloid
      beta (Abeta) exposure. MC65 and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as
      primary hippocampal neurons from wild type (WT) and Tg2576 mice, were used to
      investigate the ability of STX to attenuate cell death, mitochondrial
      dysfunction, dendritic simplification, and synaptic loss induced by Abeta. STX
      prevented Abeta-induced cell death in both neuroblastoma cell lines; it also
      normalized the decrease in ATP and mitochondrial gene expression caused by Abeta
      in these cells. Notably, STX also increased ATP content and mitochondrial gene
      expression in control neuroblastoma cells (in the absence of Abeta). Likewise in
      primary neurons, STX increased ATP levels and mitochondrial gene expression in
      both genotypes. In addition, STX treatment enhanced dendritic arborization and
      spine densities in WT neurons and prevented the diminished outgrowth of dendrites
      caused by Abeta exposure in Tg2576 neurons. These data suggest that STX can act
      as an effective neuroprotective agent in the context of Abeta toxicity, improving
      mitochondrial function as well as dendritic growth and synaptic differentiation.
      In addition, since STX also improved these endpoints in the absence of Abeta,
      this compound may have broader therapeutic value beyond Alzheimer's disease. 

PMID- 26890749
TI  - Longitudinal Memory Profiles in Behavioral-Variant Frontotemporal Dementia and
      Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and behavioral-variant of frontotemporal
      dementia (bvFTD) can present with an overlapping neuropsychological profile,
      which often hinders their clinical differentiation. OBJECTIVE: To compare changes
      over time in memory, general cognition tasks, and functional scales between bvFTD
      and AD. METHODS: Consecutive cases diagnosed with probable bvFTD (n = 22) and
      typical AD (n = 31) with at least two clinical visits were selected. Of these, 13
      (9 AD, 4 bvFTD) underwent Pittsburgh compound B PET scan, which supported the
      clinical diagnosis in all cases. Mixed-model regressions were used to estimate
      the differential rate of decline on selected tasks between cohorts. RESULTS:
      Analyses demonstrated that, despite equivalent baseline performance, bvFTD
      patients experienced a more rapid functional deterioration and a steeper decline
      in global cognition than AD patients. At baseline, both groups were impaired on
      executive function and memory tasks compared to controls, but these deficits were
      more marked in the bvFTD group. In addition, performance on these domains
      continued to decline more rapidly in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the initial
      neuropsychological assessment nor projected performances can reliably distinguish
      the totality of bvFTD and AD individuals. Nevertheless, annual rates of
      progression on cognitive tasks provide valuable information and will potentially
      help establish the impact of future therapeutic treatments in these dementia
      syndromes.

PMID- 26890750
TI  - Integrated Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease and Schizophrenia Dataset Revealed
      Different Expression Pattern in Learning and Memory.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are both accompanied by impaired
      learning and memory functions. This study aims to explore the expression profiles
      of learning or memory genes between AD and SZ. We downloaded 10 AD and 10 SZ
      datasets from GEO-NCBI for integrated analysis. These datasets were processed
      using RMA algorithm and a global renormalization for all studies. Then Empirical
      Bayes algorithm was used to find the differentially expressed genes between
      patients and controls. The results showed that most of the differentially
      expressed genes were related to AD whereas the gene expression profile was little
      affected in the SZ. Furthermore, in the aspects of the number of differentially
      expressed genes, the fold change and the brain region, there was a great
      difference in the expression of learning or memory related genes between AD and
      SZ. In AD, the CALB1, GABRA5, and TAC1 were significantly downregulated in whole
      brain, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and hippocampus. However, in SZ, only two
      genes CRHBP and CX3CR1 were downregulated in hippocampus, and other brain regions
      were not affected. The effect of these genes on learning or memory impairment has
      been widely studied. It was suggested that these genes may play a crucial role in
      AD or SZ pathogenesis. The different gene expression patterns between AD and SZ
      on learning and memory functions in different brain regions revealed in our study
      may help to understand the different mechanism between two diseases. 

PMID- 26890751
TI  - Heterogeneous Language Profiles in Patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia due
      to Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The logopenic variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (lvPPA) is
      associated with underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and characterized
      by impaired single word retrieval and repetition of phrases and sentences.
      OBJECTIVE: We set out to study whether logopenic aphasia is indeed the prototypic
      language profile in PPA patients with biomarker evidence of underlying AD
      pathology and to correlate language profiles with cortical atrophy patterns on
      MRI. METHODS: Inclusion criteria: (I) clinical diagnosis of PPA; (II) CSF profile
      and/or PiB-PET scan indicative for amyloid pathology; (III) availability of
      expert language evaluation. Based on language evaluation, patients were
      classified as lvPPA (fulfilling lvPPA core criteria), lvPPA extended (fulfilling
      core criteria plus other language disturbances), or PPA unclassifiable (not
      fulfilling lvPPA core criteria). Cortical atrophy patterns on MRI were visually
      rated and quantitative measurements of cortical thickness were performed using
      FreeSurfer. RESULTS: We included 22 patients (age 67+/-7 years, 50% female, MMSE
      21+/-6). 41% were classified as lvPPA, 36% as lvPPA extended with additional
      deficits in language comprehension and/or confrontation naming, and 23% as PPA
      unclassifiable. By both qualitative and quantitative measurements, patients with
      lvPPA showed mild global cortical atrophy on MRI, whereas patients with lvPPA
      extended showed more focal cortical atrophy, predominantly at the left tempo
      parietal side. For PPA unclassifiable, qualitative measurements revealed a
      heterogeneous atrophy pattern. CONCLUSION: Although most patients fulfilled the
      lvPPA criteria, we found that their language profiles were heterogeneous. The
      clinical and radiological spectrum of PPA due to underlying AD pathology is
      broader than pure lvPPA.

PMID- 26890752
TI  - Late-Onset Metachromatic Leukodystrophy with Early Onset Dementia Associated with
      a Novel Missense Mutation in the Arylsulfatase A Gene.
AB  - A 48-year-old male patient presented with personality changes and progressive
      memory loss over 2 years with initially suspected Hashimoto's encephalopathy.
      Strategy of diagnostic workup of early onset dementia included dementia from
      neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, metabolic/toxic, and psychiatric origin.
      The patient's neurological exam was normal. MRI revealed a leukencephalopathy,
      predominantly in the frontal periventricular white matter, without notable
      changes over 2 years. On neurophysiological examination, prolonged central
      conduction times and a sensorimotor polyneuropathy were noted. Neuropsychological
      impairment included disorientation in place and a reduced short time memory.
      Behavioral alterations were predominated by sudden mood changes and
      disinhibition. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Despite presence of thyroid
      autoantibodies, glucocorticosteroid treatment did not improve the dementia. A
      metachromatic leukodystrophy was diagnosed by decreased arylsulfatase-A activity
      in leucocytes/fibroblasts and identification of a compound heterozygous mutation
      in the ARSA gene: c.542T>G (exon 3) and the novel mutation c.1013T>C (exon 6).
      Pathogenic function was suggested by bioinformatic mutation search. In a patient
      with early onset dementia, strategic diagnostic workup including genetic
      assessment revealed an adult-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy with a novel
      mutation in the arylsulfatase A gene. 

PMID- 26890754
TI  - Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease in Different
      German Health Care Settings.
AB  - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health-related quality of life
      (HrQoL) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in different care settings
      (institutionalized versus community-dwelling) across all severity stages of
      dementia. Patients were consecutively recruited with their primary caregivers
      (123 inpatients and 272 outpatients), and the impact of patient-related
      parameters such as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
      (Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS] and Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]) and
      functional capacity (Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily
      Living [ADCS-ADL]) on HrQoL was analyzed. Patients' HrQoL was assessed using self
      reported and caregiver-rated generic (EuroQoL Instrument) and dementia-specific
      (Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease [Qol-AD]) scales. Patients reported a
      considerably higher HrQoL than their caregivers on the QoL-AD, EQ-5D, and EQ VAS
      (p <  0.001). Different dementia severity groups showed significantly worse
      results in HrQoL for patients with lower MMSE scores. The mean self-reported QoL
      AD decreased from 32.3+/-5.7 in the group with the highest MMSE scores to 27.1+/
      5.5 in patients with the lowest MMSE scores (p <  0.001). A considerably lower
      HrQoL was shown for institutionalized patients versus participants in outpatient
      settings (proxy-rated QoL-AD 19.7+/-4.6 versus 26.0+/-7.1, p <  0.001).
      Depressive symptoms (GDS), BPSD (NPI), and reduced functional capacity (ADCS-ADL)
      were evaluated for their impact on patients' HrQoL. Multivariate models explained
      between 22% and 54% of the variance in patients' HrQoL. To analyze the causative
      direction of the reported associations, further longitudinal studies should be
      conducted. 

PMID- 26890753
TI  - AZD3293: A Novel, Orally Active BACE1 Inhibitor with High Potency and
      Permeability and Markedly Slow Off-Rate Kinetics.
AB  - A growing body of pathological, biomarker, genetic, and mechanistic data suggests
      that amyloid accumulation, as a result of changes in production, processing,
      and/or clearance of brain amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) concentrations, plays a
      key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beta-secretase 1
      (BACE1) mediates the first step in the processing of amyloid-beta protein
      precursor (AbetaPP) to Abeta peptides, with the soluble N terminal fragment of
      AbetaPP (sAbetaPPbeta) as a direct product, and BACE1 inhibition is an attractive
      target for therapeutic intervention to reduce the production of Abeta. Here, we
      report the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of AZD3293, a potent,
      highly permeable, orally active, blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrating, BACE1
      inhibitor with unique slow off-rate kinetics. The in vitro potency of AZD3293 was
      demonstrated in several cellular models, including primary cortical neurons. In
      vivo in mice, guinea pigs, and dogs, AZD3293 displayed significant dose- and time
      dependent reductions in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain concentrations of
      Abeta40, Abeta42, and sAbetaPPbeta. The in vitro potency of AZD3293 in mouse and
      guinea pig primary cortical neuronal cells was correlated to the in vivo potency
      expressed as free AZD3293 concentrations in mouse and guinea pig brains. In mice
      and dogs, the slow off-rate from BACE1 may have translated into a prolongation of
      the observed effect beyond the turnover rate of Abeta. The preclinical data
      strongly support the clinical development of AZD3293, and patients with AD are
      currently being recruited into a combined Phase 2/3 study to test the disease
      modifying properties of AZD3293. 

PMID- 26890755
TI  - Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase 3 Restores Amyloid-beta Oligomer-Induced
      Plasticity Deficit in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons.
AB  - Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with
      alterations in epigenetic factors leading to cognitive decline. Histone
      deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is a known critical epigenetic negative regulator of
      learning and memory. In this study, attenuation of long-term potentiation by
      amyloid-beta oligomer, and its reversal by specific HDAC3 inhibitor RGFP966, was
      performed in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons using whole cell voltage-clamp and field
      recording techniques. Our findings provide the first evidence that amyloid-beta
      oligomer-induced synaptic plasticity impairment can be prevented by inhibition of
      HDAC3 enzyme both at the single neuron as well as in a population of neurons,
      thus identifying HDAC3 as a potential target for ameliorating AD related
      plasticity impairments. 

PMID- 26890757
TI  - Performance on Specific Cognitive Domains and Cause of Death: A Prospective
      Population-Based Study in Non-Demented Older Adults (NEDICES).
AB  - Evidence regarding the relationship between performance on specific cognitive
      domains and cause of death is scarce. We assessed whether specific cognitive
      domains predicted mortality and the presence of any association with specific
      causes of death in a population-dwelling sample of non-demented older adults. In
      this population-based, prospective study (NEDICES), 2,390 non-demented subjects
      >=65 years completed a brief neuropsychological battery. Cox's proportional
      hazards models, adjusted by sociodemographic and comorbidity factors, global
      cognitive performance, educational level, and premorbid intelligence were used to
      assess the risk of death. Participants were followed for a median of 9.2 years
      (range 0.01-10.7), after which the death certificates of those who died were
      examined. 880 (36.8%) of 2,390 participants died over a median follow-up of 5.5
      years (range 0.01-10.5). Using adjusted Cox regression models, we found that
      hazard ratios for mortality in participants within the lowest tertiles (worse
      performance) were 1.31 (speed of cognitive processing, p = 0.03); 1.22 (semantic
      fluency, p = 0.04), 1.32 (delayed free recall, p = 0.003), and 1.23 (delayed
      logical memory, p = 0.03). Poor performance on delayed recall and speed of
      cognitive processing tests were associated with dementia and cerebrovascular
      disease mortality, respectively. Further, poor performance on semantic fluency
      was associated with decreased cancer mortality. In this study of community
      dwelling non-demented older adults, worse neuropsychological performance was
      associated with increased risk of mortality. Performance on specific cognitive
      domains were related to different causes of death. Of particular note there
      appears to be an inverse association between poor semantic fluency and cancer
      mortality. 

PMID- 26890756
TI  - The Presence of Select Tau Species in Human Peripheral Tissues and Their Relation
      to Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Tau becomes excessively phosphorylated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is widely
      studied within the brain. Further examination of the extent and types of tau
      present in peripheral tissues and their relation to AD is warranted given recent
      publications on pathologic spreading. Cases were selected based on the presence
      of pathological tau spinal cord deposits (n = 18). Tissue samples from sigmoid
      colon, scalp, abdominal skin, liver, and submandibular gland were analyzed by
      western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for certain tau
      species; frontal cortex gray matter was used for comparison. ELISAs revealed
      brain to have the highest total tau levels, followed by submandibular gland,
      sigmoid colon, liver, scalp, and abdominal skin. Western blots with antibodies
      recognizing tau phosphorylated at threonine 231(pT231), serine 396 and 404 (PHF
      1), and an unmodified total human tau between residues 159 and 163 (HT7) revealed
      multiple banding patterns, some of which predominated in peripheral tissues. As
      submandibular gland had the highest levels of peripheral tau, a second set of
      submandibular gland samples were analyzed (n = 36; 19 AD, 17 non-demented
      controls). ELISAs revealed significantly lower levels of pS396 (p = 0.009) and
      pT231 (p = 0.005) in AD cases but not total tau (p = 0.18). Furthermore, pT231
      levels in submandibular gland inversely correlated with Braak neurofibrillary
      tangle stage (p = 0.04), after adjusting for age at death, gender, and postmortem
      interval. These results provide evidence that certain tau species are present in
      peripheral tissues. Of potential importance, submandibular gland pT231 is
      progressively less abundant with increasing Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage. 

PMID- 26890758
TI  - Screening for Mild Cognitive Impairment: Comparison of "MCI Specific" Screening
      Instruments.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sensitive and specific instruments are required to screen for
      cognitive impairment (CI) in busy clinical practice. The Montreal Cognitive
      Assessment (MoCA) is widely validated but few studies compare it to tests
      designed specifically to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE:
      Comparison of two "MCI specific" screens: the Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment
      screen (Qmci) and MoCA. METHODS: Patients with subjective memory complaints (SMC;
      n = 73), MCI (n = 103), or dementia (n = 274), were referred to a university
      hospital memory clinic and underwent comprehensive assessment. Caregivers,
      without cognitive symptoms, were recruited as normal controls (n = 101). RESULTS:
      The Qmci was more accurate than the MoCA in differentiating MCI from controls,
      area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90 versus 0.80, p = 0.009. The Qmci had greater
      (AUC 0.81), albeit non-significant, accuracy than the MoCA (AUC 0.73) in
      separating MCI from SMC, p = 0.09. At its recommended cut-off (<62/100), the Qmci
      had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 87% for CI (MCI/dementia). Raising
      the cut-off to <65 optimized sensitivity (94%), reducing specificity (80%). At
      <26/30 the MoCA had better sensitivity (96%) but poor specificity (58%). A MoCA
      cut-off of <24 provided the optimal balance. Median Qmci administration time was
      4.5 (+/-1.3) minutes compared with 9.5 (+/-2.8) for the MoCA. CONCLUSIONS:
      Although both tests distinguish MCI from dementia, the Qmci is particularly
      accurate in separating MCI from normal cognition and has shorter administration
      times, suggesting it is more useful in busy hospital clinics. This study
      reaffirms the high sensitivity of the MoCA but suggests a lower cut-off (<24) in
      this setting.

PMID- 26890759
TI  - Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Memory Functions in Healthy Older
      Adults.
AB  - As the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins years before disease onset,
      searching for prevention strategies is of major medical and economic importance.
      Nutritional supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids
      (LC-n3-FA) may exert beneficial effects on brain structure and function. However,
      experimental evidence in older adults without clinical dementia is inconsistent,
      possibly due to low sensitivity of previously employed test batteries for
      detecting subtle improvements in cognition in healthy individuals. Here we used
      LOCATO, recently described as a robust and sensitive tool for assessing object
      location memory (OLM) in older adults, to evaluate the impact of LC-n3-FA
      supplementation on learning and memory formation. In a double-blind placebo
      controlled proof-of-concept study, 44 (20 female) cognitively healthy individuals
      aged 50-75 years received either LC-n3-FA (2,200 mg/day, n = 22) or placebo (n =
      22) for 26 weeks. Before and after intervention, memory performance in the OLM
      task (primary) was tested. As secondary outcome parameters, performance in Rey
      Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), dietary habits, omega-3-index, and other
      blood-derived parameters were assessed. Omega-3 index increased significantly in
      the LC-n3-FA group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, recall of object
      locations was significantly better after LC-n3-FA supplementation compared with
      placebo. Performance in the AVLT was not significantly affected by LC-n3-FA. This
      double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study provides further
      experimental evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on memory functions in
      healthy older adults. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive
      functions into old age.

PMID- 26890761
TI  - Differential Membrane Toxicity of Amyloid-beta Fragments by Pore Forming
      Mechanisms.
AB  - A major characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of amyloid
      beta peptide (Abeta) oligomers and aggregates in the brain. It is known that
      Abeta oligomers interact with the neuronal membrane and induce perforations that
      cause an influx of calcium ions and enhance the release of synaptic vesicles
      leading to a delayed synaptic failure by vesicle depletion. To better understand
      the mechanism by which Abeta exerts its effect on the plasma membrane, we
      evaluated three Abeta fragments derived from different regions of Abeta(1-42);
      Abeta(1-28) from the N-terminal region, Abeta(25-35) from the central region, and
      Abeta(17-42) from the C-terminal region. The neuronal activities of these
      fragments were examined with patch clamp, immunofluorescence, transmission
      electron microscopy, aggregation assays, calcium imaging, and MTT reduction
      assays. The present results indicate that the fragment Abeta(1-28) contributes to
      aggregation, an increase in intracellular calcium and synaptotoxicity, but is not
      involved in membrane perforation; Abeta(25-35) is important for membrane
      perforation, calcium increase, and synaptotoxicity; and Abeta(17-42) induced
      mitochondrial toxicity similar to the full length Abeta(1-42), but was unable to
      induce membrane perforation and calcium increase, supporting the idea that it is
      less toxic in the non-amyloidogenic pathway.

PMID- 26890762
TI  - Japanese Care Location and Medical Procedures for People with Dementia in the
      Last Month of Life.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dementia-related societies worldwide have called for palliative end
      of-life care for those suffering dementia; meanwhile, the Japanese dementia plan
      was revised on January 2015 to introduce into its objectives the support for end
      of-life care via increased social and health care collaboration. OBJECTIVE: The
      study focus was the use of medical procedures in the last month of life among
      dementia patients in different care locations in Japan. METHODS: This study was
      conducted using a retrospective study design. Data from the Survey of
      Institutions and Establishments for Long-Term Care, which is a nationally
      representative cross-sectional survey of the public long-term care insurance
      services, were used. The 6,148 patients who received end-of-life care in their
      own home, nursing homes, or hospitals in September 2007, 2010, and 2013 were
      included for analysis. The primary disease of each patient was based on the ICD
      10 code; a diagnosis of dementia included F00 (Alzheimer's), F01 (vascular), F02
      (other), and F03 (unspecified). RESULTS: Of 6,148 patients, 886 (14.4%) had
      dementia as a primary disease; most received care in the last month of life in
      nursing homes (48.0%) or hospitals (44.8%) rather than in their own home (7.2%).
      Patients were less likely to undergo pain management when their primary disease
      was dementia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.91).
      CONCLUSION: Education and policy efforts are required to provide palliative end
      of-life care to people with dementia at home. The national dementia plan should
      also explore possible approaches regarding pain management for dying people who
      have dementia.

PMID- 26890760
TI  - Self-Reported Traumatic Brain Injury and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Increased
      Risk and Earlier Age of Diagnosis.
AB  - This study examined whether history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated
      with increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
      Subjects with MCI (n = 3,187) and normal cognition (n = 3,244) were obtained from
      the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database. TBI was categorized based
      on lifetime reported TBI with loss of consciousness (LOC) without chronic
      deficit. Logistic regression was used to examine TBI history as a predictor of
      MCI, adjusted for demographics, apolipoprotein E-E4 (ApoE4), a composite vascular
      risk score, and history of psychiatric factors. ANCOVA was used to examine
      whether age at MCI diagnosis and estimated age of onset differed between those
      with (TBI+) and without (TBI-) a history of TBI. TBI history was a significant
      predictor (p <  0.01) and associated with increased odds of MCI diagnosis in
      unadjusted (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.05-1.49) and adjusted models, accounting for
      age, education, ApoE4, and a composite vascular score (OR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.10
      1.58). This association, however, was largely attenuated (OR = 1.14; 95% CI =
      0.94-1.37; p = 0.18) after adjustment for reported history of depression. MCI was
      diagnosed a mean of 2.3 years earlier (p <  0.001) in the TBI+ group, and
      although TBI+ subjects had an estimated mean of decline 1.7 years earlier,
      clinician-estimated age of onset failed to differ (p = 0.13) when gender and
      psychiatric factors were controlled. This is the first report of a possible role
      for TBI as a risk factor in MCI, but its association may be related to other
      factors such as gender and depression and requires further investigation. 

PMID- 26890764
TI  - Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Participates in Amyloid-beta Processing in a Mouse Model
      of Alzheimer's Disease but Plays a Minor Role in the Therapeutic Properties of a
      Cannabis-Based Medicine.
AB  - The endogenous cannabinoid system represents a promising therapeutic target to
      modify neurodegenerative pathways linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of
      the present study was to evaluate the specific contribution of CB2 receptor to
      the progression of AD-like pathology and its role in the positive effect of a
      cannabis-based medicine (1:1 combination of Delta9-tetrahidrocannabinol and
      cannabidiol) previously demonstrated to be beneficial in the AbetaPP/PS1
      transgenic model of the disease. A new mouse strain was generated by crossing
      AbetaPP/PS1 transgenic mice with CB2 knockout mice. Results show that lack of CB2
      exacerbates cortical Abeta deposition and increases the levels of soluble
      Abeta40. However, CB2 receptor deficiency does not affect the viability of
      AbetaPP/PS1 mice, does not accelerate their memory impairment, does not modify
      tau hyperphosphorylation in dystrophic neurites associated to Abeta plaques, and
      does not attenuate the positive cognitive effect induced by the cannabis-based
      medicine in these animals. These findings suggest a minor role for the CB2
      receptor in the therapeutic effect of the cannabis-based medicine in AbetaPP/PS1
      mice, but also constitute evidence of a link between CB2 receptor and Abeta
      processing. 

PMID- 26890763
TI  - Associations between Serum Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels and Cognitive Functions
      among Community-Dwelling Octogenarians in Okinawa, Japan: The KOCOA Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have found frequent consumption of fatty fish
      is protective against cognitive decline. However, the association between
      circulating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and cognitive
      functions among the oldest old is not well known. OBJECTIVE: To examine the
      association between serum PUFA levels and cognitive function among community
      dwelling, non-demented elderly aged over 80 years old. METHODS: The data came
      from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging (KOCOA) study; an ongoing cohort of
      relatively healthy volunteers aged over 80 years old, living in Okinawa, Japan.
      One hundred eighty five participants (mean age 84.1+/-3.4 years) assessed in 2011
      who were free from frank dementia (defined as Clinical Dementia Rating <1.0) were
      used for the current cross-sectional study. We examined whether serum omega-3
      PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), arachidonic
      acid (AA), EPA/AA ratio, DHA/AA ratio, and DHA+EPA are associated with (1) age
      and (2) global cognitive function (Japanese MMSE) and executive function (Verbal
      Fluency Letter). Data was analyzed univariately by t-test and multivariately by
      cumulative logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, years of
      education, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Serum DHA
      levels decreased with increasing age (p = 0.04). Higher global cognitive function
      was associated with higher levels of serum EPA (p = 0.03) and DHA + EPA (p =
      0.03) after controlling for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum EPA and DHA +
      EPA levels were independently associated with better scores on global cognitive
      function among the oldest old, free from dementia. Longitudinal follow-up studies
      are warranted.

PMID- 26890766
TI  - The Societal Cost of Dementia in Singapore: Results from the WiSE Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is currently limited evidence on the economic burden that
      dementia exerts on multi-ethnic Asian populations. OBJECTIVE: The present study
      aimed to estimate the economic cost of dementia in Singapore. METHODS: We used
      data from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study, a nationally
      representative survey of the older Singapore Resident population aged 60 years
      and above. Generalized linear modeling was used to estimate factors associated
      with costs. RESULTS: The total cost of dementia in 2013 was estimated at S$532
      million (95% CI, S$361 million to S$701 million) while the annual cost per person
      was estimated at S$10,245 per year (95% CI, S$6,954 to S$12,495). Apart from
      dementia, higher total societal cost were also significantly associated with
      older age, Indian ethnicity, and those who were diagnosed with heart problems,
      stroke, diabetes or depression, whereas being divorced/separated, lower
      education, and those who were diagnosed with hypertension were significantly
      associated with lower total societal cost. CONCLUSION: The study provides a rich
      body of information on healthcare utilization and cost of dementia, which is
      essential for future planning of services for the elderly population.

PMID- 26890767
TI  - Unmet Needs of Community-Dwelling Primary Care Patients with Dementia in Germany:
      Prevalence and Correlates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To provide an optimal care for persons with dementia (PWD), their
      individual unmet needs have to be identified and comprehensively addressed.
      OBJECTIVES: Present analyses aim to describe the number and types of unmet needs
      of German primary care patients screened positive for dementia and factors
      associated with the number of unmet needs. METHODS: DelpHi-MV (Dementia: life-
      and person-centered help in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) is a general
      practitioner-based, cluster-randomized controlled intervention trial. Analyses
      are based on the baseline data of 227 PWD (>=70 years, living at home) of the
      intervention group who had screened positive for dementia (DemTect<9) and
      received a standardized computer-assisted needs assessment. RESULTS: PWD had on
      average 8.77+/-5.04 unmet needs (Range = 0-31). More than 90% of the PWD had
      three or more unmet needs. Unmet needs were identified across all predefined 26
      subcategories. The majority of unmet needs occurred in the domains "nursing
      treatment and care" (38%), "social counseling and legal support" (20%), and
      "pharmacological treatment and care" (15%). More impairment in the activities of
      daily living was the only factor that was significantly associated with a higher
      number of unmet needs, independent of age, gender, living situation, presence of
      an informal caregiver, cognitive impairment, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Present
      results demonstrate that community-dwelling PWD had a broad range of varying
      unmet needs. These findings emphasize the importance of a comprehensive needs
      assessment that allows the identification of individual needs as the basis for a
      tailored intervention- such as Dementia Care Management- that can address these
      needs.

PMID- 26890765
TI  - Increased Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Signal Correlates with Mitochondrial
      Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in an Alzheimer's disease Mouse Brain.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized
      clinically by cognitive decline and memory loss. The pathological features are
      amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.
      Many studies have suggested that oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) is an important mechanism for AD progression. Our recent study
      demonstrated that oxidative stress could further impair mitochondrial function.
      In the present study, we adopted a transgenic mouse model of AD (mAPP,
      overexpressing AbetaPP/Abeta in neurons) and performed redox measurements using
      in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging with methoxycarbamyl-proxyl
      (MCP) as a redox-sensitive probe for studying oxidative stress in an early stage
      of pathology in a transgenic AD mouse model. Through assessing oxidative stress,
      mitochondrial function and cognitive behaviors of mAPP mice at the age of 8-9
      months, we found that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction appeared in
      the early onset of AD. Increased ROS levels were associated with defects of
      mitochondrial and cognitive dysfunction. Notably, the in vivo EPR method offers a
      unique way of assessing tissue oxidative stress in living animals under
      noninvasive conditions, and thus holds a potential for early diagnosis and
      monitoring the progression of AD. 

PMID- 26890768
TI  - Delusions in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Multidimensional Approach.
AB  - In Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with delusions, clinical outcomes and
      mortality result from a combination of psychological, biological, functional, and
      environmental factors. We determined the effect of delusions on mortality risk,
      clinical outcomes linked to comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), cognitive,
      depressive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in 380 consecutive AD patients
      with Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, 15-item
      Geriatric Depression Scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), assessing one
      year mortality risk using the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). We
      included 121 AD patients with delusions (AD-D) and 259 AD patients without
      delusions (AD-noD). AD-D patients were significantly older, with higher age at
      onset and cognitive impairment, a more severe stage of dementia, and more
      depressive symptoms than AD-noD patients. Disease duration was slightly higher in
      AD-D patients than in those without delusions, although this difference was not
      statistically significant. At CGA, AD-D patients showed a higher grade of
      disability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and an increased
      risk of malnutrition and bedsores. The two groups of patients significantly
      differed in MPI score (AD-D: 0.65 versus AD-noD: 0.51, p <  0.0001) and MPI
      grade. AD-D patients showed also a significant higher score in NPI of the
      following NPS than AD-noD patients: hallucinations, agitation/aggression,
      depression mood, apathy, irritability/lability, aberrant motor activity, sleep
      disturbances, and eating disorders. Therefore, AD-D patients showed higher
      dementia severity, and higher impairment in cognitive and depressive symptoms,
      and several neuropsychiatric domains than AD-noD patients, and this appeared to
      be associated with higher multidimensional impairment and increased risk of
      mortality. 

PMID- 26890769
TI  - Longitudinal Changes in Functional Brain Connectivity Predicts Conversion to
      Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - This longitudinal study investigates the modifications in structure and function
      occurring to typical Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains over a 2-year follow-up,
      from pre-dementia stages of disease, with the aim of identifying biomarkers of
      prognostic value. Thirty-one patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
      were recruited and followed-up with clinical, neuropsychological, and MRI
      assessments. Patients were retrospectively classified as AD Converters or Non
      Converters, and the data compared between groups. Cross-sectional MRI data at
      baseline, assessing volume and functional connectivity abnormalities, confirmed
      previous findings, showing a more severe pattern of regional grey matter atrophy
      and default-mode network disconnection in Converters than in Non-Converters.
      Longitudinally, Converters showed more grey matter atrophy in the frontotemporal
      areas, accompanied by increased connectivity in the precuneus. Discriminant
      analysis revealed that functional connectivity of the precuneus within the
      default mode network at baseline is the parameter able to correctly classify
      patients in Converters and Non-Converters with high sensitivity, specificity, and
      accuracy. 

PMID- 26890771
TI  - Association of Serum Vitamin D with the Risk of Incident Dementia and Subclinical
      Indices of Brain Aging: The Framingham Heart Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identifying nutrition- and lifestyle-based risk factors for cognitive
      impairment and dementia may aid future primary prevention efforts. OBJECTIVE: We
      aimed to examine the association of serum vitamin D levels with incident all
      cause dementia, clinically characterized Alzheimer's disease (AD), MRI markers of
      brain aging, and neuropsychological function. METHODS: Framingham Heart Study
      participants had baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations
      measured between 1986 and 2001. Vitamin D status was considered both as a
      continuous variable and dichotomized as deficient (<10 ng/mL), or at the cohort
      specific 20th and 80th percentiles. Vitamin D was related to the 9-year risk of
      incident dementia (n = 1663), multiple neuropsychological tests (n = 1291) and
      MRI markers of brain volume, white matter hyperintensities and silent cerebral
      infarcts (n = 1139). RESULTS: In adjusted models, participants with vitamin D
      deficiency (n = 104, 8% of the cognitive sample) displayed poorer performance on
      Trail Making B-A (beta= -0.03 to -0.05+/-0.02) and the Hooper Visual Organization
      Test (beta= -0.09 to -0.12+/-0.05), indicating poorer executive function,
      processing speed, and visuo-perceptual skills. These associations remained when
      vitamin D was examined as a continuous variable or dichotomized at the cohort
      specific 20th percentile. Vitamin D deficiency was also associated with lower
      hippocampal volumes (beta= -0.01+/-0.01) but not total brain volume, white matter
      hyperintensities, or silent brain infarcts. No association was found between
      vitamin D deficiency and incident all-cause dementia or clinically characterized
      AD. CONCLUSIONS: In this large community-based sample, low 25(OH)D concentrations
      were associated with smaller hippocampal volume and poorer neuropsychological
      function.

PMID- 26890770
TI  - Characteristics of Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Severe Executive Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Executive dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been assessed
      using variable batteries and/or in selected populations. OBJECTIVE: The primary
      objective of this observational study was to determine the prevalence and
      severity of executive dysfunction in AD patients using a previously validated
      battery. The secondary objective was to determine the characteristics including
      treatment outcomes of AD patients with severe executive dysfunction. METHODS: The
      study included AD patients with mild-to-moderate dementia aged 60 or over,
      consulting in various clinical settings including memory clinics and requiring
      the introduction of an antidementia drug. Executive dysfunction was examined
      using a validated, shortened executive battery. RESULTS: 381 patients were
      included. Executive dysfunctions were observed in 88.2% of the patients (95% CI:
      84.9-91.4) and were severe (defined as >=2/3 impaired scores) in 80.4% (95% CI:
      76.9-84.8). Global hypoactivity with apathy was more frequent (p = 0.0001) than
      impairment in executive function tests. The 308 patients with severe executive
      dysfunction were older (p = 0.003) and had more severe dementia (p = 0.0001).
      Similarly, in the subset of 257 patients with mild dementia, individuals with
      severe executive dysfunction were older (p = 0.003) and had more severe dementia.
      Global hypoactivity was independently associated with difficulties in IADL and a
      higher caregiver burden (p = 0.0001 for both). The severity of executive
      dysfunction did not significantly influence the patients' outcomes at 6 months.
      CONCLUSIONS: Executive dysfunction is a very common disorder in a representative
      population of patients with mild-to-moderate AD. It was independently correlated
      with impaired autonomy and increased caregiver burden but did not significantly
      influence treatment outcomes.

PMID- 26890774
TI  - Apathy and Attentional Biases in Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Apathy, one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric symptoms in
      Alzheimer's disease (AD), can be difficult to assess as cognition deteriorates.
      There is a need for more objective assessments that do not rely on patient
      insight, communicative capacities, or caregiver observation. OBJECTIVE: We
      measured visual scanning behavior, using an eye-tracker, to explore attentional
      bias in the presence of competing stimuli to assess apathy in AD patients.
      METHODS: Mild-to-moderate AD patients (Standardized Mini-Mental Status
      Examination, sMMSE >10) were assessed for apathy (Neuropsychiatric Inventory
      [NPI] apathy, Apathy Evaluation Scale [AES]). Participants were presented with 16
      slides, each containing 4 images of different emotional themes (2 neutral, 1
      social, 1 dysphoric). The duration of time spent, and fixation frequency on
      images were measured. RESULTS: Of the 36 AD patients (14 females, age = 78.2+/
      7.8, sMMSE = 22.4+/-3.5) included, 17 had significant apathy (based on NPI apathy
      >=4) and 19 did not. These groups had comparable age and sMMSE. Repeated-measures
      analysis of covariance models, controlling for total NPI, showed group (apathetic
      versus non-apathetic) by image (social versus dysphoric) interactions for
      duration (F(1,32) = 4.31, p = 0.046) and fixation frequency (F(1,32) = 11.34, p =
      0.002). Apathetic patients demonstrated reduced duration and fixation frequency
      on social images compared with non-apathetic patients. Additionally, linear
      regression models suggest that more severe apathy predicted decreasing fixation
      frequency on social images (R2 = 0.26, Adjusted R2 = 0.19, F(3,32) = 3.65, p =
      0.023). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that diminished attentional bias toward
      social-themed stimuli is a marker of apathy in AD. Measurements of visual
      scanning behavior may have the potential to predict and monitor treatment
      response in apathy.

PMID- 26890773
TI  - Clearing Amyloid-beta through PPARgamma/ApoE Activation by Genistein is a
      Treatment of Experimental Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Amyloid-beta (Abeta) clearance from brain, which is decreased in Alzheimer's
      disease, is facilitated by apolipoprotein E (ApoE). ApoE is upregulated by
      activation of the retinoid X receptor moiety of the RXR/PPARgamma dimeric
      receptor. Genistein, a non-toxic, well-tested, and inexpensive drug activates the
      other moiety of the receptor PPARgamma. Treatment of an Alzheimer's disease mouse
      model with genistein results in a remarkable and rapid improvement in various
      parameters of cognition, such as hippocampal learning, recognition memory,
      implicit memory, and odor discrimination. This is associated with a lowering of
      Abeta levels in brain, in the number and the area of amyloid plaques (confirmed
      in vivo by positron emission tomography) as well as in microglial reactivity.
      Finally, incubation of primary astrocytes with genistein results in a PPARgamma
      mediated increased release of ApoE. Our results strongly suggest that controlled
      clinical trials should be performed to test the effect of genistein as treatment
      of human Alzheimer's disease. 

PMID- 26890772
TI  - Characterization of Amyloid-beta Deposits in Bovine Brains.
AB  - Amyloid-beta (Abeta) deposits are seen in aged individuals of many mammalian
      species that possess the same aminoacid sequence as humans. This study describes
      Abeta deposition in 102 clinically characterized cattle brains from animals aged
      0 to 20 years. Extracellular and intracellular Abeta deposition was detected with
      4G8 antibody in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. X-34 staining failed to
      stain Abeta deposits, indicating the non beta-pleated nature of these deposits.
      Western blot analysis and surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of
      flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry revealed in Tris, Triton, and formic acid
      fractions the presence of different Abeta peptides, characterized mainly by C
      terminally truncated forms. Exploration of the genetic variability of APOE,
      PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes involved in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis revealed
      several previously unreported polymorphisms. This study demonstrates certain
      similarities between Abeta deposition patterns exhibited in cattle brains and
      those in the human brain in early stages of aging. Furthermore, the
      identification of the same Abeta peptides reported in humans, but unable to form
      aggregates, supports the hypothesis that cattle may be protected against amyloid
      plaque formation. 

PMID- 26890776
TI  - Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)-Related Inflammation: Comparison of
      Inflammatory CAA and Amyloid-beta-Related Angiitis.
AB  - Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) is a relatively rare
      syndrome of reversible encephalopathy and could be divided into two subtypes of
      inflammatory CAA (ICAA) and amyloid-beta-related angiitis (ABRA) according to
      histopathology. We present a case of pathologically proved ABRA with partial
      seizures and headache, and a focal lesion in the right temporal lobes on magnetic
      resonance imaging. Summarized from previous 139 ABRA and ICAA cases, ABRA is
      preferred when the lesion is enhanced on MRI and requires combination drug
      therapy, while ICAA is highly suspected with ApoE genotype of E4/E4. More
      clinical markers for diagnosis of CAA-ri warrant further researches. 

PMID- 26890775
TI  - Preliminary Study of Plasma Exosomal Tau as a Potential Biomarker for Chronic
      Traumatic Encephalopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a tauopathy associated with
      prior exposure to repetitive head impacts, such as those incurred through
      American football and other collision sports. Diagnosis is made through
      neuropathological examination. Many of the clinical features of CTE are common in
      the general population, with and without a history of head impact exposure,
      making clinical diagnosis difficult. As is now common in the diagnosis of other
      neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, there is a need for
      methods to diagnose CTE during life through objective biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: The
      aim of this study was to examine tau-positive exosomes in plasma as a potential
      CTE biomarker. METHODS: Subjects were 78 former National Football League (NFL)
      players and 16 controls. Extracellular vesicles were isolated from plasma.
      Fluorescent nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to determine the number of
      vesicles staining positive for tau. RESULTS: The NFL group had higher exosomal
      tau than the control group (p <  0.0001). Exosomal tau discriminated between the
      groups, with 82% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value,
      and 53% negative predictive value. Within the NFL group, higher exosomal tau was
      associated with worse performance on tests of memory (p = 0.0126) and psychomotor
      speed (p = 0.0093). CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings suggest that exosomal
      tau in plasma may be an accurate, noninvasive CTE biomarker.

PMID- 26890777
TI  - Patterns of Brain Iron Accumulation in Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Dementia
      Using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that the excessive accumulation of iron in
      subcortical and deep gray matter has been related to dementia. However, the
      presence and pattern of iron accumulation in vascular dementia (VaD) and
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) are rarely investigated. OBJECTIVE: To examine and
      compare the pattern and presence of brain iron accumulation of VaD and AD using
      quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients
      with VaD, 27 patients with AD, and 18 control subjects were recruited in this
      institutional review-board approved study. Susceptibility maps were reconstructed
      from a three-dimensional multiecho spoiled gradient-echo sequence. Four regions
      of interest were drawn manually on QSM images, namely the globus pallidus,
      putamen, caudate nucleus, and pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus. Comparisons of
      patient demographics, and iron concentrations among the VaD, AD, and control
      subjects were assessed using analysis of variance and post-hoc analyses. The
      relationships of age and cognitive state with susceptibility values were assessed
      using partial correlation analysis. RESULTS: In VaD and AD, overall
      susceptibility values were higher than those of control subjects. A significant
      difference in susceptibility values was found in the putamen and caudate nucleus
      (p <  0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, susceptibility values did not
      differ between VaD and AD. Age and cognitive deficit severity were not related to
      susceptibility values in the VaD and AD groups. CONCLUSION: Increased iron
      deposition in the putamen and caudate nucleus in VaD and AD patients was not
      associated with age or the severity of cognitive deficits. Further evaluations
      are needed to determine the temporal changes in iron load and their diagnostic
      role in dementia pathology.

PMID- 26890779
TI  - Tau Accumulation in Primary Motor Cortex of Variant Alzheimer's Disease with
      Spastic Paraparesis.
AB  - We studied topographic distribution of tau and amyloid-beta in a patient with
      variant Alzheimer's disease with spastic paraparesis (VarAD) by comparing AD
      patients. The proband developed progressive memory impairment, dysarthria, and
      spastic paraparesis at age 23. Heterozygous missense mutation (L166P) was found
      in exon 6 of presenilin-1 gene. The proband showed prominently increased amyloid
      binding in striatum and cerebellum and asymmetrical tau binding in the primary
      sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the side more affected by spasticity. We
      suspect that upper motor neuron dysfunctions may be attributed to excessive
      abnormal tau accumulation rather than amyloid-beta in the primary motor cortex. 

PMID- 26890778
TI  - Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Assay Variability in Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Studies of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have
      indicated that much of the variability observed in the biomarkers may be due to
      measurement error. Biomarkers are often obtained with measurement error, which
      may make the diagnostic biomarker appear less effective than it truly is. In the
      Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, technical replicates
      of CSF biomarkers are available; the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
      database contains longitudinal replicates of CSF biomarkers. We focus on the area
      under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) as the measure of
      diagnostic effectiveness for differentiating AD from normal cognition using CSF
      biomarkers and compare AUC estimates obtained by a more standard, naive method
      (which uses a single observation per subject and ignores measurement error) to a
      maximum likelihood (ML) based method (which uses all replicates per subject and
      adjusts for measurement error). The choice of analysis method depends upon the
      noise to signal ratio (i.e., the magnitude of the measurement error variability
      relative to the true biomarker variability); moderate to high ratios may
      significantly bias the naive AUC estimate, and the ML-based method would be
      preferred. The noise to signal ratios were low for the ADNI biomarkers but high
      for the tTau and pTau biomarkers in NACC. Correspondingly, the naive and ML-based
      AUC estimates were nearly identical in the ADNI data but dissimilar for the tTau
      and pTau biomarkers in the NACC data. Therefore, using the naive method is
      adequate for analysis of CSF biomarkers in the ADNI study, but the ML method is
      recommended for the NACC data. 

PMID- 26890780
TI  - Low Plasma Cholinesterase Activities are Associated with Deficits in Spatial
      Orientation, Reduced Ability to Perform Basic Activities of Daily Living, and Low
      Body Mass Index in Patients with Progressed Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative
      disorder characterized by a central cholinergic deficit. Non-neuronal cholinergic
      changes are, however, described as well. Here we focused on possible changes in
      the activity of the plasma cholinesterases, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and
      butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), in hospitalized AD patients. We analyzed plasma
      AChE and BChE activities with regards to age, gender, body mass index (BMI),
      cognitive functions, and ability to perform activities of daily living in AD
      patients in comparison to healthy subjects. We observed lower AChE activity and
      trend toward lower BChE activity in AD patients, which both correlated with low
      BMI. AD patients unable to perform basic activities of daily living (feeding,
      bathing, dressing, and grooming) showed reduced plasma AChE activities, while
      worse spatial orientation was linked to lower BChE activities. Three out of four
      AD patients with the lowest BChE activities died within one year. In conclusion,
      progressed AD was accompanied by lower plasma AChE activity and trend toward
      lower BChE activity, which correlated with BMI and deficits in different
      components of the AD. 

PMID- 26890781
TI  - Fluoxetine Treatment Induces Seizure Behavior and Premature Death in
      APPswe/PS1dE9 Mice.
AB  - Treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with the antidepressant fluoxetine
      is known to improve memory and cognitive function. However, the mechanisms
      underlying these effects are largely unknown. To unravel these mechanisms, we
      aimed to treat APPswe/PS1dE9 mice with fluoxetine. Unexpectedly, with time, an
      increased number of animals displayed seizure behavior and died. Although
      spontaneous behavioral seizures have been reported previously in this mouse
      model, the observation of seizures and death consequential to fluoxetine
      treatment is new. Our results warrant further research on the underlying
      mechanisms as this may refine the treatment of AD patients. 

PMID- 26890783
TI  - The Role of Ethnicity in Alzheimer's Disease: Findings From The C-PATH Online
      Data Repository.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ethnic minorities seem to be at an increased risk of Alzheimer's
      disease (AD). However, little is known about ethnic differences and the risks of
      early onset AD (EOAD). OBJECTIVE: Cognitive function changes over time and odds
      of EOAD by ethnicity were analyzed by the mixed model and the logistic
      regression. METHODS: Information on demographics, self-reported co-morbidities,
      cognitive functions (MMSE and ADAS-COG), and ApoE genotypes were collected for
      6,500 subjects with AD obtained from the placebo arm of clinical trials; this
      data was examined by ethnicities: Caucasian, Asian, African American, Hispanic,
      and other minorities--including Native Alaskans, Americans, and Hawaiians.
      RESULTS: Of the total subjects, Caucasians accounted for 89.0% , followed by 4.7%
      Asians, 2.7% African Americans, 2.4% Hispanics, and 1.2% Native Americans,
      Alaskans, and Hawaiians. Age, gender, EOAD status, co-morbidities, family history
      of AD, and ApoE genotypes were significantly different by ethnicity. ApoE E2
      allele is possibly overrepresented in the Native Americans, Africans, Hawaiians,
      and African Americans. A significant interaction with time, ethnicity, and
      cognitive performance was found, indicating more cognitive deterioration in other
      minorities than Caucasians for mini-mental state (p <  0.01). After adjusting for
      co-morbidities and gender, the odds of EOAD among African Americans (OR: 1.6, 95%
      CI: 1.1-2.4) and Native Alaskans, Americans, and Hispanics (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2
      3.5) were significantly higher, compared with Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity
      may impact AD through age of onset, co-morbidities, family history, ApoE gene
      status, and cognitive change over time. The greater odds of EOAD among African
      Americans, Alaskans, and Hawaiians suggest that some ethnicities may be at risk
      of AD at a younger age.

PMID- 26890785
TI  - Differential Diagnosis of Dementia with High Levels of Cerebrospinal Fluid Tau
      Protein.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Total Tau concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is widely used
      as a biomarker in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative process primarily in
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). A particularly high Tau level may indicate AD but may
      also be associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). In such situations
      little is known about the distribution of differential diagnoses. OBJECTIVE: Our
      study aimed to describe the different diagnoses encountered in clinical practice
      for patients with dementia and CSF Tau levels over 1000 pg/ml. We studied the p
      Tau/Tau ratio to specify its ability to distinguish AD from CJD. METHODS:
      Patients (n = 202) with CSF Tau levels over 1000 pg/ml were recruited in three
      memory clinics in France. All diagnoses were made using the same diagnostic
      procedure and criteria. RESULTS: Patients were diagnosed with AD (n = 148,
      73.2%), mixed dementia (n = 38, 18.8%), CJD, vascular dementia (n = 4, 2.0% for
      each), Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia (n = 3, 1.5% for each).
      Dispersion of CSF Tau levels clearly showed an overlap between all diagnoses.
      Using the p-Tau/Tau ratio suggestive of CJD (<0.075), all CJD patients were
      correctly categorized and only two AD patients were miscategorized. This ratio
      was highly associated with CJD compared to AD (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study
      showed that in clinical practice, extremely high CSF Tau levels are mainly
      related to diagnosis of AD. CJD patients represent a minority. Our results
      support a sequential interpretation algorithm for CSF biomarkers in dementia.
      High CSF Tau levels should alert clinicians to check the p-Tau/Tau ratio to
      consider a probable diagnosis of CJD.

PMID- 26890782
TI  - Do Microglia Default on Network Maintenance in Alzheimer's Disease?
AB  - Although the cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unknown, a number of new
      findings suggest that the immune system may play a critical role in the early
      stages of the disease. Genome-wide association studies have identified a wide
      array of risk-associated genes for AD, many of which are associated with abnormal
      functioning of immune cells. Microglia are the brain's immune cells. They play an
      important role in maintaining the brain's extracellular environment, including
      clearance of aggregated proteins such as amyloid-beta (Abeta). Recent studies
      suggest that microglia play a more active role in the brain than initially
      considered. Specifically, microglia provide trophic support to neurons and also
      regulate synapses. Microglial regulation of neuronal activity may have important
      consequences for AD. In this article we review the function of microglia in AD
      and examine the possible relationship between microglial dysfunction and network
      abnormalities, which occur very early in disease pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26890784
TI  - Discrepancy in Expression of beta-Secretase and Amyloid-beta Protein Precursor in
      Alzheimer-Related Genes in the Rat Medial Temporal Lobe Cortex Following
      Transient Global Brain Ischemia.
AB  - Brain ischemia may be causally related with Alzheimer's disease. Presumably, beta
      secretase and amyloid-beta protein precursor gene expression changes may be
      associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Consequently, we have
      examined quantitative changes in both beta-secretase and amyloid-beta protein
      precursor genes in the medial temporal lobe cortex with the use of quantitative
      rtPCR analysis following 10-min global brain ischemia in rats with survival of 2,
      7, and 30 days. The greatest significant overexpression of beta-secretase gene
      was noted on the 2nd day, while on days 7-30 the expression of this gene was only
      modestly downregulated. Amyloid-beta protein precursor gene was downregulated on
      the 2nd day, but on days 7-30 postischemia, there was a significant reverse
      tendency. Thus, the demonstrated alterations indicate that the considerable
      changes of expression of beta-secretase and amyloid-beta protein precursor genes
      may be connected with a response of neurons in medial temporal lobe cortex to
      transient global brain ischemia. Finally, the ischemia-induced gene changes may
      play a key role in a late and slow onset of Alzheimer-type pathology. 

PMID- 26890786
TI  - Intranasal TAT-haFGF Improves Cognition and Amyloid-beta Pathology in an
      AbetaPP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Neurotoxic amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide causing cognitive function disabilities
      is one of the most characteristic pathological features in Alzheimer's disease
      (AD). A novel fusion protein, TAT-haFGF, was administrated to AbetaPP/PS1
      transgenic mice by intravenous (IV) injection and intranasal (IN) delivery,
      respectively, for 5 weeks to compare the pharmacodynamics between the two routes
      of administration. Our results showed that IN administration of TAT-haFGF
      improved cognition and reduced Abeta plaques more significantly in AbetaPP/PS1
      mice, when compared with IV injection. Our new findings suggest that TAT-haFGF
      might be a promising new therapy to attenuate AD pathological process. 

PMID- 26890789
TI  - Hypoglycemia and Medical Expenses in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An
      Analysis Based on the Korea National Diabetes Program Cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hypoglycemia is one of the most important adverse events in
      individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, hypoglycemia-related
      events are usually overlooked and have been documented less in clinical practice.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the incidence, clinical characteristics, and
      medical expenses of hypoglycemia related events in T2DM patients based on the
      Korea National Diabetes Program (KNDP), which is the largest multi-center,
      prospective cohort in Korea (n = 4,350). For accurate outcomes, the KNDP data
      were merged with claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment
      Service (HIRA) of Korea. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 3.23 years
      (95% CI: 3.14, 3.19), 88 subjects (2.02%) were newly diagnosed with hypoglycemia,
      and the incidence of hypoglycemia was 6.44 cases per 1,000 person-years (PY).
      Individuals with hypoglycemia were significantly older (59.7+/-10.7 vs. 53.3+/
      10.4 years, p < 0.001), had more hospital visits (121.94+/-126.88 days/PY, p <
      0.001), had a longer hospital stays (16.13+/-29.21 days/PY, p < 0.001), and
      incurred greater medical costs ($2,447.56+/-4,056.38 vs. $1,336.37+/-3,403.39
      /PY, p < 0.001) than subjects without hypoglycemia. CONCLUSION: Hypoglycemia
      related events were infrequently identified among the medical records of T2DM
      subjects. However, they were associated significantly with poor clinical
      outcomes, and thus, hypoglycemia could have a substantial burden on the Korean
      national healthcare system.

PMID- 26890791
TI  - Selective focusing through target identification and experimental acoustic
      signature extraction: Numerical experiments.
AB  - Using transducer arrays and appropriate emission delays allow to focus acoustic
      waves at a chosen location in a medium. The focusing spatial accuracy depends on
      the accurate knowledge of its acoustic properties. When those properties are
      unknown, methods based on the Time-Reversal principle allow accurate focusing.
      Still, these methods are either intrusive (an active source has to be introduced
      at the target location first), either blind (the target cannot be selected in the
      presence of several objects.) The purpose of the present work is to achieve non
      invasive accurate focusing on a selected target using inaccurate acoustic
      properties for the investigated medium. Potential applications are for instance
      noninvasive surgery based on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). Numerical
      experiments are presented and demonstrate accurate focusing on a previously
      designated target located in an unknown heterogeneous medium. 

PMID- 26890790
TI  - Local Drug Infiltration Analgesia During Knee Surgery to Reduce Postoperative
      Pain in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is increasing interest in local infiltration
      analgesia (LIA) to reduce postoperative pain with knee surgery. Despite
      widespread use of LIA, wide variations in drug combinations, infiltration
      techniques, and the concomitant use of systemic analgesics have made it difficult
      to determine the optimal drug combination for LIA.Using a previously validated
      animal knee surgery model, we aimed to determine the optimal combination of
      medications to reduce postoperative pain, and the best anatomical location and
      timing for local drug injection during surgery. METHODS: Knee surgery was
      performed in an adult rat model under isoflurane anesthesia. During surgery,
      combinations of bupivacaine, ketorolac, dexamethasone, and morphine were injected
      around the knee and compared to saline placebo. Similar medications were injected
      systemically as a comparator group. Postoperative pain was assessed by measuring
      spontaneous rearing activity. Injections were given after bone drilling and/or
      just before wound closure. RESULTS: The 3-drug LIA combination of bupivacaine,
      ketorolac, and dexamethasone increased rearing (decreased pain) at 2 hours (P =
      0.0198) and 24 hours (P = 0.0384) postsurgery compared to saline. The same drugs
      injected systemically had no effect. The ketorolac/dexamethasone combination for
      LIA was also effective at 2 hours (P = 0.0006) and 24 hours (P = 0.0279), and
      ketorolac alone reduced pain at 2 hours (P = 0.0045). Bupivacaine alone was less
      effective, and the addition of morphine had no effect. The 3-drug combination
      infiltrated just after creating holes in bone was more effective than when given
      into the wound just before wound closure. CONCLUSIONS: Our animal study suggests
      that clinical trials with LIA combinations of local anesthetic, nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drug, and corticosteroid might be useful for reducing postoperative
      pain after knee surgery, with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug having the
      greatest effect.Perioperative physicians should consider delivering LIA earlier
      during the procedure as opposed to solely at the time of wound closure.

PMID- 26890788
TI  - Time-Course Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Resistance Genes of Panax ginseng
      Induced by Cylindrocarpon destructans Infection Using RNA-Seq.
AB  - Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is a highly valued medicinal plant. Cylindrocarpon
      destructans is a destructive pathogen that causes root rot and significantly
      reduces the quality and yield of P. ginseng. However, an efficient method to
      control root rot remains unavailable because of insufficient understanding of the
      molecular mechanism underlying C. destructans-P. ginseng interaction. In this
      study, C. destructans-induced transcriptomes at different time points were
      investigated using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). De novo assembly produced 73,335
      unigenes for the P. ginseng transcriptome after C. destructans infection, in
      which 3,839 unigenes were up-regulated. Notably, the abundance of the up
      regulated unigenes sharply increased at 0.5 d postinoculation to provide effector
      triggered immunity. In total, 24 of 26 randomly selected unigenes can be
      validated using quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR. Gene ontology
      enrichment analysis of these unigenes showed that "defense response to fungus",
      "defense response" and "response to stress" were enriched. In addition,
      differentially expressed transcription factors involved in the hormone signaling
      pathways after C. destructans infection were identified. Finally, differentially
      expressed unigenes involved in reactive oxygen species and ginsenoside
      biosynthetic pathway during C. destructans infection were indentified. To our
      knowledge, this study is the first to report on the dynamic transcriptome
      triggered by C. destructans. These results improve our understanding of disease
      resistance in P. ginseng and provide a useful resource for quick detection of
      induced markers in P. ginseng before the comprehensive outbreak of this disease
      caused by C. destructans. 

PMID- 26890793
TI  - Production of phenol-rich bio-oil during catalytic fixed-bed and microwave
      pyrolysis of palm kernel shell.
AB  - Catalytic fixed-bed and microwave pyrolysis of palm kernel shell using activated
      carbon (AC) and lignite char (LC) as catalysts and microwave receptors are
      investigated. The effects of process parameters including temperature and
      biomass:catalyst ratio on the yield and composition of pyrolysis products were
      studied. The addition of catalyst increased the bio-oil yield, but decreased the
      selectivity of phenol in fixed-bed. Catalytic microwave pyrolysis of PKS
      significantly enhanced the selectivity of phenol production. The highest
      concentration of phenol in bio-oil of 64.58 %(area) and total phenolics
      concentration of 71.24 %(area) were obtained at 500 degrees C using AC. Fourier
      transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated that concentration of
      OH, CH, CO and CO functional groups in char samples decreased after pyrolysis.
      Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis clearly indicated the development of
      liquid phase in biomass particles during microwave pyrolysis, and the mechanism
      is also discussed. 

PMID- 26890792
TI  - Kinetics characteristics of straw semi-char gasification with carbon dioxide.
AB  - The gasification process has promising potential as a solution for the current
      global energy problem. Kinetics characteristics of straw semi-char gasification
      were investigated. The main influence factors of gasification, which include bio
      char particle size, pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis atmosphere, were studied.
      The smaller the particle size is, the higher is the conversion rate. The
      gasification reactivity of semi-chars increases with pyrolysis temperature and
      reaches its maximum at approximately 400 degrees C. The straw semi-char obtained
      in an H2 pyrolysis atmosphere has the best gasification reactivity, while the
      semi-char obtained in a CO2 atmosphere has the worst reactivity. In addition,
      characteristics of semi-char were systematically tested. A random pore model,
      unreacted core shrinking model and integrated model were employed to describe the
      reactive behavior of semi-chars. Gasification kinetics parameters were
      calculated. The random pore model fitting result is in better agreement with the
      experiments than that of the other two models. 

PMID- 26890794
TI  - Hydrolysate of lipid extracted microalgal biomass residue: An algal growth
      promoter and enhancer.
AB  - The present study demonstrates the utilization of the algal hydrolysate (AH)
      prepared from lipid extracted residual harmful bloom-forming cyanobacteria
      Lyngbya majuscula biomass, as a growth supplement for the cultivation of green
      microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. BG-11 replacements with AH in different
      proportions significantly affects the cell count, dry cell weight (DCW), biomass
      productivity (BP) and pigments concentration. Among all, 25% AH substitution in
      BG11 media was found to be optimum which enhanced DCW, BP and pigments content by
      39.13%, 40.81% and 129.47%, respectively, compared to control. The lipid content
      (31.95%) was also significantly higher in the 25% AH replacement. The volumetric
      productivity of neutral lipids (ideal for biodiesel) and total protein content of
      the cells significantly increased in all AH substitutions. Thus, lipid extracted
      microalgal biomass residue (LMBR) hydrolysate can be a potential growth
      stimulating supplement for oleaginous microalgae C. vulgaris. 

PMID- 26890795
TI  - Chemical composition, pretreatments and saccharification of Senna siamea (Lam.)
      H.S. Irwin & Barneby: An efficient biomass producing tree legume.
AB  - Protocols were developed for efficient release of glucose from the biomass of
      Senna siamea, one of the highly efficient biomass producing tree legumes.
      Composition of mature, 1year and 2years coppice biomass were analysed. For the
      hydrolysis of the glucan, two pretreatments, cellulose solvent- and organic
      solvent-based lignocellulose fractionation (COSLIF) and alkali (sodium hydroxide)
      were used; COSLIF (85% phosphoric acid, 45min incubation at 50 degrees C)
      pretreated mature biomass exhibited best result in which 88.90% glucose released
      after 72h of incubation with the use of 5 filter paper units (FPU) of cellulase
      and 10 international units (IU) of beta-glucosidase per gram of glucan. Of the
      biomass of different particle sizes (40-200mesh) used for saccharification, 40
      60mesh shown the maximum glucose release. COSLIF pretreated mature, 1year and
      2years coppice biomass showed equivalent glucose release profiles. 

PMID- 26890797
TI  - A new bioenergetic and thermodynamic approach to batch photoautotrophic growth of
      Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis in different photobioreactors and under
      different light conditions.
AB  - Photobioreactor configuration, mode of operation and light intensity are known to
      strongly impact on cyanobacteria growth. To shed light on these issues, kinetic,
      bioenergetic and thermodynamic parameters of batch Arthrospira platensis cultures
      were estimated along the time at photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of
      70MUmolm(-2)s(-1) in different photobioreactors with different surface/volume
      ratio (S/V), namely open pond (0.25cm(-1)), shaken flask (0.48cm(-1)), horizontal
      photobioreactor (HoP) (1.94cm(-1)) and helicoidal photobioreactor (HeP) (3.88cm(
      1)). Maximum biomass concentration and productivity remarkably increased with S/V
      up to 1.94cm(-1). HoP was shown to be the best-performing system throughout the
      whole runs, while HeP behaved better only at the start. Runs carried out in HoP
      increasing PPFD from 40 to 100MUmolm(-2)s(-1) revealed a progressive enhancement
      of bioenergetics and thermodynamics likely because of favorable light
      distribution. HoP appeared to be a promising configuration to perform high-yield
      indoor cyanobacterial cultures. 

PMID- 26890796
TI  - Enhanced dark hydrogen fermentation by addition of ferric oxide nanoparticles
      using Enterobacter aerogenes.
AB  - Ferric oxide nanoparticles (FONPs) were used to facilitate dark hydrogen
      fermentation using Enterobacter aerogenes. The hydrogen yield of glucose
      increased from 164.5+/-2.29 to 192.4+/-1.14mL/g when FONPs concentration
      increased from 0 to 200mg/L. SEM images of E. aerogenes demonstrated the
      existence of bacterial nanowire among cells, suggesting FONPs served as electron
      conduits to enhance electron transfer. TEM showed cellular internalization of
      FONPs, indicating hydrogenase synthesis and activity was potentially promoted due
      to the released iron element. When further increasing FONPs concentration to
      400mg/L, the hydrogen yield of glucose decreased to 147.2+/-2.54mL/g. Soluble
      metabolic products revealed FONPs enhanced acetate pathway of hydrogen
      production, but weakened ethanol pathway. This shift of metabolic pathways
      allowed more nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide for reducing proton to hydrogen. 

PMID- 26890798
TI  - Potential of genetically engineered hybrid poplar for pyrolytic production of bio
      based phenolic compounds.
AB  - Wild-type and two genetically engineered hybrid poplar lines were pyrolyzed in a
      micro-pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) and a bench scale setup for fast and intermediate
      pyrolysis studies. Principal component analysis showed that the pyrolysis vapors
      obtained by micro-pyrolysis from wood of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT)
      and caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) down-regulated poplar trees
      differed significantly from the pyrolysis vapors obtained from non-transgenic
      control trees. Both fast micro-pyrolysis and intermediate pyrolysis of transgenic
      hybrid poplars showed that down-regulation of COMT can enhance the relative yield
      of guaiacyl lignin-derived products, while the relative yield of syringyl lignin
      derived products was up to a factor 3 lower. This study indicates that lignin
      engineering via genetic modifications of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid
      and monolignol biosynthetic pathways can help to steer the pyrolytic production
      of guaiacyl and syringyl lignin-derived phenolic compounds such as guaiacol, 4
      methylguaiacol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-vinylguaiacol, syringol, 4-vinylsyringol, and
      syringaldehyde present in the bio-oil. 

PMID- 26890799
TI  - Efficient conversion of crude glycerol from various industrial wastes into single
      cell oil by yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.
AB  - In this study, crude glycerol from various industries was used to produce lipids
      via wild type Yarrowia lipolytica A101. We tested samples without any prior
      purification from five different waste products; each contained various
      concentrations of glycerol (42-87%) as the sole carbon source. The best results
      for lipid production were obtained for medium containing glycerol from fat
      saponification. This reached 1.69gL(-1) (25% of total cell dry weight) with a
      biomass yield of 0.17gg(-1) in the flasks experiment. The batch cultivation in a
      bioreactor resulted in enhanced lipid production-it achieved 4.72gL(-1) with a
      biomass yield 0.21gg(-1). Moreover, the properly selected batch of crude glycerol
      provides a defined fatty acid composition. In summary, this paper shows that
      crude glycerol from soap production could be efficiently converted to single cell
      oil without any prior purification. 

PMID- 26890800
TI  - Imputation of missing covariate values in epigenome-wide analysis of DNA
      methylation data.
AB  - DNA methylation is a widely studied epigenetic mechanism and alterations in
      methylation patterns may be involved in the development of common diseases.
      Unlike inherited changes in genetic sequence, variation in site-specific
      methylation varies by tissue, developmental stage, and disease status, and may be
      impacted by aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as diet or smoking.
      These non-genetic factors are typically included in epigenome-wide association
      studies (EWAS) because they may be confounding factors to the association between
      methylation and disease. However, missing values in these variables can lead to
      reduced sample size and decrease the statistical power of EWAS. We propose a site
      selection and multiple imputation (MI) method to impute missing covariate values
      and to perform association tests in EWAS. Then, we compare this method to an
      alternative projection-based method. Through simulations, we show that the MI
      based method is slightly conservative, but provides consistent estimates for
      effect size. We also illustrate these methods with data from the Atherosclerosis
      Risk in Communities (ARIC) study to carry out an EWAS between methylation levels
      and smoking status, in which missing cell type compositions and white blood cell
      counts are imputed. 

PMID- 26890801
TI  - Treatment of Xanthelasma Palpebrarum With Intralesional Pingyangmycin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Xanthelasma palpebrarum (xanthelasma) is the most common type of
      cutaneous xanthoma, and many patients tend to seek medical treatments for
      cosmetic reasons. Many methods treating xanthelasma have been proposed, but none
      of these options can be regarded as a perfect solution. OBJECTIVE: To study and
      evaluate the intralesional injection treatment of xanthelasma with pingyangmycin,
      which has been widely used as a broad-spectrum antitumor antibiotic. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: 21 lesions in 12 patients were treated by intralesional
      pingyangmycin. Photographs were taken before and after each treatment session.
      Patients were followed up for 7 to 36 months. RESULTS: All patients except one
      received satisfactory results after up to 2 sessions. Only 1 patient had a local
      recurrence 1 year after the treatment. No severe complications such as infection,
      atrophy, ulceration, or scar were noticed. CONCLUSION: Intralesional
      pingyangmycin is a cheap, effective, and safe treatment for xanthelasma, which
      has been well accepted by patients.

PMID- 26890802
TI  - A Comparative Split-Face Study Using Different Mild Purpuric and Subpurpuric
      Fluence Level of 595-nm Pulsed-Dye Laser for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne
      Vulgaris.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Various forms of laser therapy including the pulsed-dye laser (PDL)
      have been reported to reduce acne lesion counts. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the
      benefits and complications when using a 595-nm PDL for the treatment of acne
      vulgaris were evaluated when comparing a subpurpuric (low) fluence level with a
      purpuric (high) fluence level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a
      prospective, single-blinded split-face clinical trial. Inclusion criteria
      included subjects with moderate to severe facial acne. All participants were
      treated with PDL, with each half of the face receiving either high or low fluence
      at 3-week intervals for a total of 4 treatments. Standardized facial photographs
      were obtained and blindly evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-two subjects were enrolled
      with a mean age of 22.3 years. Fifty-five patients completed the study. The
      results showed a significant decrease in lesion counts compared with baseline
      after all treatments. However, the study did not demonstrate a statistically
      significant difference between the fluence parameters. The only treatment-related
      adverse event was temporary hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSION: This study
      demonstrates that PDL is effective in reducing acne lesions using purpuric and
      subpurpuric fluences. However, there was no statistically significant difference
      in acne lesion count between the higher and lower fluences.

PMID- 26890803
TI  - The experience of discharge for patients with an acquired brain injury from the
      inpatient to the community setting: A qualitative review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Discharge planning for patients with an acquired brain injury (ABI)
      is considered best practice for assisting the patient and caregiver to
      successfully transition from hospital to home and is complex because of the long
      term care and support needs of the patient. This review aimed to describe and
      synthesize the perspectives of patients with ABI and their family/caregivers on
      the transition from hospital to home to better understand opportunities to
      optimize the process. METHODS: Electronic medical databases (n = 5) and grey
      literature published between January-May 2015 were searched to identify
      qualitative studies on the experience of transition from the hospital to home
      setting following ABI. Relevant studies were appraised and narratively
      synthesized. RESULTS: Nine eligible studies that met the inclusion criteria were
      identified. Two major themes were identified-Engagement and Support. Three
      underlying sub-themes-poor communication, limited participation and disorganized
      arrangements for support services-were identified as key contributors to an
      unsatisfactory experience for patients and their family/caregivers. CONCLUSION:
      The transition for patients with an ABI and their family/caregivers was
      characterized as fragmented and unsatisfactory for supporting a successful return
      home. This review highlights the importance of tailored education and involvement
      of the patient and their family/caregiver to increase readiness for returning
      home and reduce unplanned re-admissions.

PMID- 26890804
TI  - High Efficiency Photoelectrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation on CdS Quantum Dots
      Sensitized Pt Electrode.
AB  - A cadmium sulfide quantum dots sensitized Pt (Pt-CdS) composite was synthesized
      using a solvothermal method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy
      (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis
      diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The catalytic properties of the as-prepared
      electrode for methanol oxidation were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV),
      chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) and photocurrent
      responses. The as-prepared Pt-CdS electrode displayed a significant enhancement
      in the electrocatalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation in the
      presence of visible light irradiation. The synergistic effect of both the electro
      and photocatalytic reaction contributes to this enhanced catalytic performance.
      Our result suggests a new paradigm to construct photoelectrocatalysts with high
      performance and good stability for direct methanol fuel cells with the assistance
      of visible-light illumination. 

PMID- 26890805
TI  - Quantitative MR imaging in fracture dating--Initial results.
AB  - For exact age determinations of bone fractures in a forensic context (e.g. in
      cases of child abuse) improved knowledge of the time course of the healing
      process and use of non-invasive modern imaging technology is of high importance.
      To date, fracture dating is based on radiographic methods by determining the
      callus status and thereby relying on an expert's experience. As a novel approach,
      this study aims to investigate the applicability of magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) for bone fracture dating by systematically investigating time-resolved
      changes in quantitative MR characteristics after a fracture event. Prior to
      investigating fracture healing in children, adults were examined for this study
      in order to test the methodology for this application. Altogether, 31 MR
      examinations in 17 subjects (?: 11 ?: 6; median age 34 +/- 15 y, scanned 1-5
      times over a period of up to 200 days after the fracture event) were performed on
      a clinical 3T MR scanner (TimTrio, Siemens AG, Germany). All subjects were
      treated conservatively for a fracture in either a long bone or in the collar
      bone. Both, qualitative and quantitative MR measurements were performed in all
      subjects. MR sequences for a quantitative measurement of relaxation times T1 and
      T2 in the fracture gap and musculature were applied. Maps of quantitative MR
      parameters T1, T2, and magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) were calculated and
      evaluated by investigating changes over time in the fractured area by defined
      ROIs. Additionally, muscle areas were examined as reference regions to validate
      this approach. Quantitative evaluation of 23 MR data sets (12 test subjects, ?: 7
      ?: 5) showed an initial peak in T1 values in the fractured area (T1=1895 +/- 607
      ms), which decreased over time to a value of 1094 +/- 182 ms (200 days after the
      fracture event). T2 values also peaked for early-stage fractures (T2=115 +/- 80
      ms) and decreased to 73 +/- 33 ms within 21 days after the fracture event. After
      that time point, no significant changes could be detected for T2. MTR remained
      constant at 35.5 +/- 8.0% over time. The study shows that the quantitative
      assessment of T1 and T2 behaviour over time in the fractured region enable the
      generation of a novel model allowing for an objective age determination of a
      fracture.

PMID- 26890806
TI  - [60]Fullerene-porphyrin [n]pseudorotaxanes: self-assembly, photophysics and third
      order NLO response.
AB  - By means of different spectroscopic techniques, we investigate a novel series of
      porphyrin derivatives (H2TPP), connected to dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8) moieties,
      which undergo self-assembly with different methano[60]fullerene units bearing
      dibenzylammonium (DBA) cations. The formation of both [2] and [3]pseudorotaxanes
      was proved by means of NMR, UV-Vis-NIR absorption and emission spectroscopies.
      With the support of molecular modelling studies, spectroscopic investigations
      showed the presence of a secondary interaction between the porphyrin and the C60
      chromophores leading to the formation of different types of "face-to-face"
      assemblies. Remarkably, investigations of the non-linear optical response of
      these supramolecular systems showed that individual porphyrin and fullerene
      derivatives exhibit significantly lower second hyperpolarizability values when
      compared to their pseudorotaxanes functionalised counterparts. This proves that
      this class of supramolecular materials possesses relevant NLO response, which
      strongly depends on the structural arrangement of the chromophores in solution.

PMID- 26890807
TI  - Association between multidisciplinary team care approach and survival rates in
      patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether
      multidisciplinary team care (MDTC) is associated with outcomes in oral cavity
      squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: We retrospectively examined 1616 patients
      with oral cavity SCC who underwent radical surgery between 1996 and 2011. The
      study participants were classified into 2 subgroups according to the use of MDTC.
      RESULTS: Five-year outcomes were significantly better in the MDTC group than in
      the no-MDTC group (neck control, 88% vs 84%, p = .0397; disease-specific survival
      [DSS], 83% vs 78%, p = .0114; and overall survival [OS], 70% vs 64%, p = .0002,
      respectively). Among patients who were scheduled to undergo adjuvant therapy, the
      number who completed their adjuvant treatment was significantly higher in the
      MDTC group than in the no-MDTC group (90% vs 60% to 70%, p < .001). CONCLUSION:
      The association of MDTC with improved outcomes may be potentially explained by a
      better therapeutic alliance between the patient and the tumor board, and/or a
      greater thoroughness in clinical management. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
      Head Neck 38: E1544-E1553, 2016.

PMID- 26890809
TI  - Sonographically detected free appendicolith as a sign of retrocecal perforated
      appendicitis in a 2-year-old child.
AB  - Prompt and accurate diagnosis of perforated appendicitis is crucial for proper
      and timely treatment. The appendix, however, cannot always be identified with
      sonography (US). We report the case of a 2-year-old child with atypical clinical
      presentation, and US detection of a free appendicolith as a sign of perforated
      appendicitis, without visualization of the appendix itself. Laparoscopy revealed
      a retrocecal, gangrenous, perforated appendix with autoamputation,
      fibrinopurulent peritonitis, and a free appendicolith within the abdominal fluid.
      US detection of a free appendicolith in a child is a very rare, but unequivocal
      sign of perforated appendicitis, which should be sought. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:395-398, 2016.

PMID- 26890808
TI  - Activation of futile cycles as an approach to increase ethanol yield during
      glucose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - An increase in ethanol yield by yeast from the fermentation of conventional
      sugars such as glucose and sucrose is possible by reducing the production of a
      key byproduct such as cellular biomass. Previously we have reported that
      overexpression of PHO8 gene encoding non-specific ATP-hydrolyzing alkaline
      phosphatase can lead to a decrease in cellular ATP content and to an increase in
      ethanol yield during glucose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this
      work we further report on 2 new successful approaches to reduce cellular levels
      of ATP that increase ethanol yield and productivity. The first approach is based
      on the overexpression of the heterologous Escherichia coli apy gene encoding
      apyrase or SSB1 part of the chaperon that exhibit ATPase activity in yeast. In
      the second approach we constructed a futile cycle by the overexpression of S.
      cerevisiae genes encoding pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate
      carboxykinase in S. cerevisiae. These genetically engineered strains accumulated
      more ethanol compared to the wild-type strain during alcoholic fermentation.

PMID- 26890810
TI  - Cinnamaldehydes in Cancer Chemotherapy.
AB  - Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde-derived compounds are candidates for the
      development of anticancer drugs that have received extensive research attention.
      In this review, we summarize recent findings detailing the positive and negative
      aspects of cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives as potential anticancer drug
      candidates. Furthermore, we describe the in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism
      of cinnamaldehydes. The oxidative and antioxidative properties of
      cinnamaldehydes, which contribute to their potential in chemotherapy, have also
      been discussed. Moreover, the mechanism(s) by which cinnamaldehydes induce
      apoptosis in cancer cells have been explored. In addition, evidence of the
      regulatory effects of cinnamaldehydes on cancer cell invasion and metastasis has
      been described. Finally, the application of cinnamaldehydes in treating various
      types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers, has been
      discussed in detail. The effects of cinnamaldehydes on leukemia, hepatocellular
      carcinoma, and oral cancer have been summarized briefly. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26890811
TI  - School-Based Interventions to Promote Empathy-Related Responding in Children and
      Adolescents: A Developmental Analysis.
AB  - Empathy has been identified as a core component of social and emotional
      functioning across development. Various prevention and intervention programs have
      utilized components of empathy-related responding to promote the development of
      children's and adolescents' social-emotional functioning and impede their
      aggression in school contexts. In this article, we assess the effectiveness of
      select school-based empathy interventions and the extent to which they align with
      developmental theory and research. First, we review current conceptualizations of
      empathy-related responding, identify its components, outline its normative
      development, and describe the need for developmentally tailored interventions. We
      then identify and assess the effectiveness and developmental sensitivity of 19
      school-based programs with strong empirical support that target empathy-related
      responding across childhood and adolescence. Although the majority of these
      programs showed some degree of developmental differentiation between grades, none
      considered developmental differences within grades. Commencing interventions
      earlier in development and targeting higher numbers of empathy-related constructs
      were, in part, associated with larger effects. We discuss how future research can
      bridge the gap between basic developmental research and the design of
      developmentally tailored interventions to promote empathy-related responding.

PMID- 26890812
TI  - A Retrospective Analysis of the Hemostatic Effect of FloSeal in Patients
      Undergoing Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perioperative bleeding is a potential complication of robot-assisted
      laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) that may worsen outcomes. The role of
      local hemostatic materials in RALP has not been adequately assessed. We evaluated
      the hemostatic impact of FloSeal (Baxter International Inc., Fremont, Calif.,
      USA) in RALP. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 392 consecutive
      patients with prostate cancer who underwent RALP at our institution between
      February 2008 and July 2014. The patients were divided into 2 consecutive
      homogenous groups based on the use of FloSeal. Group A included 200 patients who
      underwent RALP between February 2008 and May 2011, with hemostasis performed
      using only traditional techniques. Group B included the remaining 192 patients,
      who underwent RALP between June 2011 and July 2014 and received FloSeal 5 ml
      after traditional hemostatic methods. We compared the blood transfusion rate, the
      differences between immediate postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) and mean
      postoperative day 1 (POD1) Hb levels, difference between POD1 and least Hb levels
      and difference between immediate postoperative Hb and least Hb levels. RESULTS:
      The intraoperative use of FloSeal significantly decreased the blood transfusions
      rate, from 8.5 to 2.1% (p = 0.004). FloSeal was also associated with significant
      improvements in the difference between the immediate postoperative Hb and POD1 Hb
      levels (p = 0.03), mean POD1 Hb and least Hb (p = 0.01) and mean immediate
      postoperative Hb and least Hb levels (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the
      use of FloSeal improves hemostatic outcomes in patients undergoing RALP compared
      with traditional hemostatic techniques, without increase of cost.

PMID- 26890813
TI  - RacA-Mediated ROS Signaling Is Required for Polarized Cell Differentiation in
      Conidiogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus.
AB  - Conidiophore development of fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus involves
      dynamic changes in cellular polarity and morphogenesis. Synchronized
      differentiation of phialides from the subtending conidiophore vesicle is a good
      example of the transition from isotropic to multi-directional polarized growth.
      Here we report a small GTPase, RacA, which is essential for reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) production in the vesicle as well as differentiation of phialides
      in Aspergillus fumigatus. We found that wild type A. fumigatus accumulates ROS in
      these conidiophore vesicles and that null mutants of racA did not, resulting in
      the termination of conidiophore development in this early vesicle stage. Further,
      we found that stress conditions resulting in atypical ROS accumulation coincide
      with partial recovery of phialide emergence but not subsequent apical dominance
      of the phialides in the racA null mutant, suggesting alternative means of ROS
      generation for the former process that are lacking in the latter. Elongation of
      phialides was also suppressed by inhibition of NADPH-oxidase activity. Our
      findings provide not only insights into role of ROS in fungal cell polarity and
      morphogenesis but also an improved model for the developmental regulatory pathway
      of conidiogenesis in A. fumigatus. 

PMID- 26890816
TI  - Notes from the Field: Nosocomial Outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in
      a Large Tertiary Care Hospital--Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2015.
AB  - Since the first diagnosis of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) caused by
      the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012, sporadic
      cases and clusters have occurred throughout the country (1). During June-August,
      2015, a large MERS outbreak occurred at King Abulaziz Medical City, a 1,200-bed
      tertiary-care hospital that includes a 150-bed emergency department that
      registers 250,000 visits per year. 

PMID- 26890814
TI  - Borrelia persica Infection in Immunocompetent Mice--A New Tool to Study the
      Infection Kinetics In Vivo.
AB  - Borrelia persica, a bacterium transmitted by the soft tick Ornithodoros
      tholozani, causes tick-borne relapsing fever in humans in the Middle East,
      Central Asia and the Indian peninsula. Immunocompetent C3H/HeOuJ mice were
      infected intradermally with B. persica at varying doses: 1 x 10(6), 1 x 10(4), 1
      x 10(2) and 4 x 10(0) spirochetes/mouse. Subsequently, blood samples were
      collected and screened for the presence of B. persica DNA. Spirochetes were
      detected in all mice infected with 1 x 10(6), 1 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(2) borrelia by
      real-time PCR targeting the flaB gene of the bacterium. Spirochetemia developed
      with a one- to two-day delay when 1 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(2) borrelia were
      inoculated. Mice injected with only four organisms were negative in all tests. No
      clinical signs were observed when infected mice were compared to negative control
      animals. Organs (heart, spleen, urinary bladder, tarsal joint, skin and brain)
      were tested for B. persica-specific DNA and cultured for the detection of viable
      spirochetes. Compiled data show that the target organs of B. persica infections
      are the brain and the skin. A newly developed serological two-tiered test system
      (ELISA and western blot) for the detection of murine IgM, IgG and IgA antibody
      titers against B. persica showed a vigorous antibody response of the mice during
      infection. In conclusion, the infection model described here for B. persica is a
      platform for in vivo studies to decipher the so far unexplored survival
      strategies of this Borrelia species.

PMID- 26890815
TI  - Plk1 inhibition enhances the efficacy of gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer.
AB  - Gemcitabine is the standard-of-care for chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic
      adenocarcinoma and it can directly incorporate into DNA or inhibit ribonucleotide
      reductase to prevent DNA replication and, thus, tumor cell growth. Most
      pancreatic tumors, however, develop resistance to gemcitabine. Polo-like kinase 1
      (Plk1), a critical regulator in many cell cycle events, is significantly elevated
      in human pancreatic cancer. In this study, we show that Plk1 is required for the
      G1/S transition and that inhibition of Plk1 significantly reduces the DNA
      synthesis rate in human pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, the combined effect
      of a specific Plk1 inhibitor GSK461364A with gemcitabine was examined. We show
      that inhibition of Plk1 significantly potentiates the anti-neoplastic activity of
      gemcitabine in both cultured pancreatic cancer cells and Panc1-derived orthotopic
      pancreatic cancer xenograft tumors. Overall, our study demonstrates that co
      targeting Plk1 can significantly enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine, offering a
      promising new therapeutic option for the treatment of gemcitabine-resistant human
      pancreatic cancer. 

PMID- 26890817
TI  - Epidemiology of Histoplasmosis Outbreaks, United States, 1938-2013.
AB  - Histoplasmosis has been described as the most common endemic mycosis in the
      United States. However, histoplasmosis is not nationally notifiable. Its presumed
      geographic distribution is largely derived from skin test surveys performed
      during the 1940s, and information about its local features comes primarily from
      outbreak investigations. We conducted a literature review to assess epidemiologic
      features of histoplasmosis outbreaks in the United States. During 1938-2013, a
      total of 105 outbreaks involving 2,850 cases were reported in 26 states and the
      territory of Puerto Rico. Common exposure settings were chicken coops and
      buildings or other structures undergoing renovation or demolition. Birds, bats,
      or their droppings were reported to be present in 77% of outbreak settings, and
      workplace exposures were reported in 41% of outbreaks. The continued occurrence
      of histoplasmosis outbreaks, particularly work-related ones involving known
      disturbance of bird or bat droppings, highlights the need to increase awareness
      of the disease.

PMID- 26890818
TI  - Serum anti-lysozyme is associated with disease activity of Behcet's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between autoantibodies against non
      myeloperoxidase (MPO) neutrophil granule antigens and activity of Behcet's
      disease (BD). METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 51 BD patients. We assessed
      clinical data and BD activity using patients' index scores from the Behcet's
      Disease Current Activity Form and we performed tests for antibodies against
      proteinase 3 (PR3), MPO, bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI),
      cathepsin G, elastase, lactoferrin and lysozyme. RESULTS: The median patient
      index score was 2.0, and 56.9% of patients had active BD. In multivariate
      analysis of variables with significant correlations, only anti-lysozyme showed a
      significant correlation with BD activity (P = 0.002). In multivariate logistic
      regression analyses of variables, when patients were classified into groups
      according to the optimal cutoff levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C
      reactive protein (CRP) and anti-lysozyme (ESR > 42.5 mm/h, CRP > 1.35 mg/L and
      anti-lysozyme > 2.95 IU/mL), the variable with independent predictive value was
      anti-lysozyme (odds ratio 8.384, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Anti-lysozyme was
      significantly correlated with disease activity score and it was the only
      independent value to predict active disease in patients with BD. Furthermore,
      patients having anti-lysozyme levels >= 2.95 IU/mL had a significantly higher
      risk of having active BD than those who did not.

PMID- 26890819
TI  - Spontaneous complete resolution of pneumomediastinum and pneumatosis intestinalis
      caused by acute GVHD.

PMID- 26890820
TI  - Characterization study on machining PMMA thin-film using AFM tip-based dynamic
      plowing lithography.
AB  - This paper presents a reliable nanolithography technique, namely dynamic plowing
      lithography (DPL) based on a commercial atomic force microscope (AFM). The
      poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solution spinning on a silicon substrate is
      utilized to be scratched directly with an oscillating tip at its resonance
      frequency. The films with different thickness are obtained by adjusting the
      concentration of solution and post baked time. A new silicon tip is employed to
      conduct DPL on PMMA film surface. The geometry of nano-line structure scratched
      on the film with high adhesion force is shown with a transition process,
      including total protuberance, protuberance with groove and groove with pile-up.
      The scratching direction has less influence on the scratched depth of groove,
      while the shape of pile-up is varied with directions. The depth of groove on thin
      films is increasing with the drive amplitude until the value of the depth reaches
      to the threshold value. Moreover, owing to smaller elastic modulus, the film with
      relatively large thickness could be modified by the tip more easily using this
      DPL method. SCANNING 38:612-618, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890822
TI  - Community-acquired acute kidney injury: A challenge and opportunity for primary
      care in kidney health.
AB  - Community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) has been found to be a common
      event in the population. Current incidence estimates are not available, but
      evaluations of severe elevations in serum creatinine indicate that incidence can
      be as high as 989 cases per million population in those older than 80 years. Data
      on risk factors are limited, but older age and higher comorbid illness burden,
      especially diabetes and cardiovascular disease, seem to be more common in
      patients who suffer CA-AKI. In addition to being more common than hospital
      acquired AKI, the long-term sequelae of CA-AKI seem to be just as severe,
      including renal disease progression and mortality. Efforts to better understand
      the aetiology of CA-AKI and how ultimately to prevent the development of this
      condition will need to be taken. In the meantime, a concerted effort by general
      internists and nephrologists will be needed to prevent CA-AKI in the highest risk
      patients and thus limit the poor outcomes associated with this entity. 

PMID- 26890821
TI  - Executive function predicts the development of play skills for verbal
      preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.
AB  - Executive function and play skills develop in early childhood and are linked to
      cognitive and language ability. The present study examined these abilities
      longitudinally in two groups with autism spectrum disorder-a group with higher
      initial language (n = 30) and a group with lower initial language ability (n =
      36). Among the lower language group, concurrent nonverbal cognitive ability
      contributed most to individual differences in executive function and play skills.
      For the higher language group, executive function during preschool significantly
      predicted play ability at age 6 over and above intelligence, but early play did
      not predict later executive function. These results suggested that factors
      related to the development of play and executive function differ for subgroups of
      children with different language abilities and that early executive function
      skills may be critical in order for verbal children with autism to develop play.
      Autism Res 2016, 9: 1274-1284. (c) 2016 International Society for Autism
      Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890824
TI  - Ultrasensitive and selective assay of glutathione species in arsenic trioxide
      treated leukemia HL-60 cell line by molecularly imprinted polymer decorated
      electrochemical sensors.
AB  - Herein a pair of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) modified electrochemical
      sensors were reported to detect glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide
      (GSSG) in arsenic trioxide-treated HL-60 cells. MIP film was in situ synthesized
      onto electrode surface via electro-polymerization in a facile way. The
      characteristics of the obtained sensors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry
      (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Both GSH-MIP and GSSG-MIP
      sensors exhibit the relatively wide linear detection range and low detection
      limit of 1.33 * 10(-10) M (S/N=3). It is found that N-acetylcysteine and DL
      homocysteine, the precursors of GSH, show little influence on the detection of
      glutathione species, nor did the reactants of arsenite and GSH. Such strategies
      were successfully applied to discriminate GSH and GSSG in cell samples with
      acceptable recoveries of 92.0-109.1%, and the results are comparable with classic
      o-phthalaldehyde fluorospectrophotometry. Moreover, the presented sensors allow
      for easy disclosure of the reversion of malignant phenotype in leukemia cells via
      glutathione species analysis.

PMID- 26890823
TI  - An ultrasensitive alloyed near-infrared quinternary quantum dot-molecular beacon
      nanodiagnostic bioprobe for influenza virus RNA.
AB  - Conventional techniques used to diagnose influenza virus face several challenges,
      such as low sensitivity, slow detection, false positive results and
      misinterpreted data. Hence, diagnostic probes that can offer robust detection
      qualities, such as high sensitivity, rapid detection, elimination of false
      positive data, and specificity for influenza virus, are urgently needed. The near
      infrared (NIR) range is an attractive spectral window due to low photon
      absorption by biological tissues, hence well-constructed fluorescent biosensors
      that emit within the NIR window can offer an improved limit of detection (LOD).
      Here, we demonstrate the use of a newly synthesized NIR quinternary alloyed
      CdZnSeTeS quantum dots (QDs) as an ultrasensitive fluorescence reporter in a
      conjugated molecular beacon (MB) assay to detect extremely low concentrations of
      influenza virus H1N1 RNA. Under optimum conditions, two different strains of
      influenza virus H1N1 RNA were detected based on fluorescence enhancement signal
      transduction. We successfully discriminated between two different strains of
      influenza virus H1N1 RNA based on the number of complementary nucleotide base
      pairs of the MB to the target RNA sequence. The merits of our bioprobe system are
      rapid detection, high sensitivity (detects H1N1 viral RNA down to 2 copies/mL),
      specificity and versatility (detects H1N1 viral RNA in human serum). For
      comparison, a conventional CdSe/ZnS-MB probe could not detect the extremely low
      concentrations of H1N1 viral RNA detected by our NIR alloyed CdZnSeTeS-MB probe.
      Our bioprobe detection system produced a LOD as low as ~1 copy/mL and is more
      sensitive than conventional molecular tests and rapid influenza detection tests
      (RIDTS) probes. 

PMID- 26890826
TI  - TiO2 decorated Co3O4 acicular nanotube arrays and its application as a non
      enzymatic glucose sensor.
AB  - TiO2 modified Co3O4 acicular nanotube arrays (ANTAs) have been fabricated in this
      study, showing a good performance in glucose detection. In the experiment, the
      precursor Co(CO3)0.5(OH).0.11H2O acicular nanowire arrays (ANWAs) was first grown
      on the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by a hydrothermal method.
      Thereafter, the uniform pink precursor Co(CO3)0.5(OH).0.11H2O ANWAs was
      completely converted to the black Co3O4 ANTAs thin film by alkaline treatment.
      After the decoration of TiO2, the TiO2/Co3O4 ANTAs electrode exhibits a much
      higher current response to glucose compared with the Co3O4 ANTAs. Importantly,
      this neotype composite structure of Co3O4 enhances the glucose sensing
      performance by increasing specific surface area, additional reactive sites and
      synergistic effect, which make the TiO2/Co3O4 glucose sensor show a high
      sensitivity of 2008.82 MUA mM(-1) cm(-2), a fast response time (less than 5s) and
      a detection limit as low as 0.3396 MUM (S/N=3). The TiO2/Co3O4 ANTAs modified
      electrode exhibits a high selectivity for glucose in human serum, against
      ascorbic acid and uric acid.

PMID- 26890825
TI  - Recent advances in biosensor based diagnosis of urinary tract infection.
AB  - Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are potentially life threatening infections that
      are associated with high rates of incidence, recurrence and mortality. UTIs are
      characterized by several chronic infections which may lead to lethal consequences
      if left undiagnosed and untreated. The uropathogens are consistent across the
      globe. The most prevalent uropathogenic gram negative bacteria are Escherichia
      coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia. Early
      detection and precise diagnosis of these infections will play a pivotal role in
      health care, pharmacological and biomedical sectors. A number of detection
      methods are available but their performances are not upto the mark. Therefore a
      more rapid, selective and highly sensitive technique for the detection and
      quantification of uropathogen levels in extremely minute concentrations need of
      the time. This review brings all the major concerns of UTI at one's doorstep such
      as clinical costs and incidence rate, several diagnostic approaches along with
      their advantages and disadvantages. Paying attention to detection approaches with
      emphasizing biosensor based recent developments in the quest for new diagnostics
      for UTI and the need for more sophisticated techniques in terms of selectivity
      and sensitivity is discussed. 

PMID- 26890827
TI  - Pegylated folate and peptide-decorated graphene oxide nanovehicle for in vivo
      targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and therapeutic self-monitoring.
AB  - This work reports a graphene oxide-based nanovehicle with conjugation of
      pegylated folate for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and fluorescein
      labeled peptide for therapeutic self-monitoring in vitro and in vivo. The
      nanovehicle could absorb hydrophobic and aromatic drug molecules with high
      loading capacity and efficiency of more than 1.7 mg mg(-1) and 90%, respectively.
      MTT and flow cytometric assays demonstrated that the drug-loaded nanovehicle
      could specifically transport and release the drugs into the folate receptor high
      expressed cancer cells, which ensured a high therapeutic efficiency to cancer
      cells and prevented the injury to normal cells. Moreover, confocal fluorescence
      imaging confirmed that the drug-induced cancer cell death could be visualized
      with the light-up fluorescence of fluorescein activated by caspase-3. The
      targeted delivery of drug and self-evaluation of therapeutic efficacy were
      further successfully realized by living imaging in tumor-bearing mice, which
      broaden the applications of this theranostic system in vivo and may offer new
      opportunities for precise cancer treatment.

PMID- 26890828
TI  - A novel aptasensor for electrochemical detection of ractopamine, clenbuterol,
      salbutamol, phenylethanolamine and procaterol.
AB  - beta-agonists are phenylethanolamines with different substituent groups on the
      aromatic ring and the terminal amino group which have the effect of nutrition
      redistribution and can accumulate in body tissues causing acute or chronic
      poisoning when consumed. Therefore, it is very important to establish a fast
      screening method for the detection of several kinds of beta-agonists in food
      safety control. In this study, the aptamer-agonists (AP-Ago) has screened out by
      Isothermal Titration Calorimetric method. AP-Ago was a single-strand DNA with 22
      base-pairs. The dissociation constant (Kd) to phenylethanolamine (PHL) was 3.34 *
      10(-5)mol L(-1). The AP-Ago based electrode was constructed by self-assembling on
      gold electrode. A label-free electrochemical aptasensor was then developed with
      AP-Ago-based gold electrode, which was sensitive to phenylethanolamine(PHL),
      clenbuterol (CLB), ractopamine (RAC), salbutamol (SAL) and procaterol (PRO). The
      detection limits were 0.04 ng/mL (RAC), 0.35 pg/mL (CLB), 1.0 pg/mL (PHL), 0.53
      pg/mL (SAL) and 1.73 pg/mL(PRO), respectively, The detection time was 15 min. The
      reproductivity of the mentioned aptasensor is good with RSD of 2.09%. Comparing
      with ELISA and HPLC on beta-agonists detection in actual sample, this aptasensor
      is advantage of fewer steps and fast screen-detection of these five beta-agonists
      or their mixtures. This study suggests that the aptasensor can be developed to a
      rapid screening means with multi-beta-agonists (may be one or more) in sample.

PMID- 26890829
TI  - Addendum: Stem cell therapy in postinfarction chronic coronary heart disease.

PMID- 26890832
TI  - Surgery and senescence.

PMID- 26890834
TI  - Frailty and cognitive impairment: Unique challenges in the older emergency
      surgical patient.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Older patients (>65 years of age) admitted as general surgical
      emergencies increasingly require improved recognition of their specific needs
      relative to younger patients. Two such needs are frailty and cognitive
      impairment. These are evolving research areas that the emergency surgeon
      increasingly requires knowledge of to improve short- and long-term patient
      outcomes. METHODS: This paper reviews the evidence for frailty and cognitive
      impairment in the acute surgical setting by defining frailty and cognitive
      impairment, introducing methods of diagnosis, discussing the influence on
      prognosis and proposing strategies to improve older patient outcomes. RESULTS:
      Frailty is present in 25% of the older surgical population. Using frailty-scoring
      tools, frailty was associated with a significantly longer hospital stay and
      higher mortality at 30 and 90 days after admission to an acute surgical unit.
      Cognitive impairment is present in a high number of older acute surgical patients
      (approximately 70%), whilst acute onset cognitive impairment, termed delirium, is
      documented in 18%. However, patients with delirium had significantly longer
      hospital stays and higher in-hospital mortality than those with cognitive
      impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Improved knowledge of frailty and delirium by the
      emergency surgeon allows the specialised needs of older surgical patients to be
      taken into account. Early recognition, and consideration of minimally invasive
      surgery or radiological intervention alongside potentially transferable
      successful elective interventions such as comprehensive geriatric assessment, may
      help to improve short- and long-term patient outcomes in this vulnerable
      population.

PMID- 26890830
TI  - Safety and technique of ferumoxytol administration for MRI.
AB  - Ferumoxytol is an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide agent marketed for the
      treatment of anemia. There has been increasing interest in its properties as an
      MRI contrast agent as well as greater awareness of its adverse event profile.
      This mini-review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the risks of
      ferumoxytol and methods of administration.

PMID- 26890835
TI  - Knee surgery and its evidence base.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Evidence driven orthopaedics is gaining prominence. It enables
      better management decisions and therefore better patient care. The aim of our
      study was to review a selection of the leading publications pertaining to knee
      surgery to assess changes in levels of evidence over a decade. METHODS: Articles
      from the years 2000 and 2010 in The Knee, the Journal of Arthroplasty, Knee
      Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
      (American Volume) and the Bone and Joint Journal were analysed and ranked
      according to guidelines from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The
      intervening years (2003, 2005 and 2007) were also analysed to further define the
      trend. RESULTS: The percentage of high level evidence (level I and II) studies
      increased albeit without reaching statistical significance. Following a
      significant downward trend, the latter part of the decade saw a major rise in
      levels of published evidence. The most frequent type of study was therapeutic.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although the rise in levels of evidence across the decade was not
      statistically significant, there was a significant drop and then rise in these
      levels in the interim. It is therefore important that a further study is
      performed to assess longer-term trends. Recent developments have made clear that
      high quality evidence will be having an ever increasing influence on future
      orthopaedic practice. We suggest that journals implement compulsory declaration
      of a published study's level of evidence and that authors consider their study
      designs carefully to enhance the quality of available evidence.

PMID- 26890836
TI  - Safe management of paediatric penetrating head injury without a CT scanner: A
      strategy for humanitarian surgeons based on experience in southern Afghanistan.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In many parts of the world, access to a CT scanner remains almost
      non-existent, and patients with a head injury are managed expectantly, often with
      poor results. Recent military medical experience in southern Afghanistan using a
      well-equipped surgical facility with a CT scanner has provided new insights into
      safe surgical practice in resource-poor environments. METHODS: All cases of
      children aged under 16 years with penetrating head injury who were treated in a
      trauma unit in southern Afghanistan by a single neurosurgeon between 2008 and
      2010 were reviewed. Based on a previously published retrospective review, a
      clinical strategy aimed specifically at generalist surgeons is proposed for
      selecting children who can benefit from surgical intervention in environments
      with no access to CT scanners. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were reviewed, of whom
      three had a tangential wound, 10 had a penetrating wound with retained fragments
      and one had a perforating injury. Two operations for generalist surgeons are
      described in detail: limited wound excision; and simple decompression of the
      intra-cranial compartment without brain resection or dural repair. CONCLUSIONS:
      In resource-poor environments, clinically-based criteria may be used as a safe
      and appropriate strategy for selecting children who may benefit from relatively
      straightforward surgery after penetrating brain injury.

PMID- 26890837
TI  - Elastofibroma dorsi: The clunking tumour that need not cause alarm.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Elastofibromas are rare, pseudo-tumours arising at the inferior
      pole of the scapula that have a characteristic presentation. Due to their tissue
      of origin and size, they may often be mistaken for soft tissue sarcomas. We
      present the management of patients diagnosed with elastofibroma at a single
      institution. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with elastofibroma between January 1995
      and January 2015 were identified from a prospectively maintained histopathology
      database. Electronic patient records, imaging and pathology reports were
      retrieved and reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty seven patients were identified, with a
      median age of 66 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.6. All tumours occurred
      in the characteristic subscapular location. The median maximum tumour diameter
      was 8.2 cm. A synchronous contralateral lesion (15.8%) was found in six patients.
      Cross-sectional imaging was performed in 29 patients, with magnetic resonance
      imaging the most common modality (59.5%). Diagnosis was confirmed with
      percutaneous biopsy in all but one patient, who proceeded directly to surgery.
      Eighteen patients were managed non-operatively; 19 opted for surgical excision
      due to significant symptoms. Excision was performed in a marginal fashion and, at
      a median follow-up of 5 months, no functional impairment or local recurrences
      were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue masses greater than 5 cm in diameter
      should prompt the clinician to exclude soft tissue sarcoma. The diagnosis of
      elastofibroma may be alluded to by its typical presentation and can be confirmed
      by percutaneous biopsy. After excluding malignancy, these lesions can be safely
      managed non-operatively, with surgery reserved for symptomatic patients.

PMID- 26890838
TI  - Cost implications and oncological outcomes for laparoscopic versus open surgery
      for right hemicolectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have suggested that laparoscopic surgery for
      colorectal resection confers a cost benefit compared with open surgery. These
      studies have considered a wide range of colorectal operations together rather
      than focusing on a single procedure. Our study compared direct clinical costs for
      laparoscopic versus open right hemicolectomy. METHODS: Clinicopathological data
      and cost of treatment for all patients who underwent a right hemicolectomy
      between 2012 and 2013 were collected. The primary outcome was total cost of
      treatment. Secondary outcomes were length of stay, operative time and morbidity.
      The minimum follow-up duration was 12 months. Costs for laparoscopic and open
      surgery for elective resection alone were compared. Further analyses were
      performed comparing emergency cases with elective cases and cancer with non
      cancer cases. RESULTS: There were 83 patients who underwent a right hemicolectomy
      during the study period and of these, 65 had an elective procedure. The total
      cost of a laparoscopic procedure was L3,998.12 compared with L3,427.50 for open
      surgery (p=0.039). The length of stay was shorter for laparoscopic surgery while
      the cost of an emergency right hemicolectomy was significantly greater than for
      elective surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the length of stay for laparoscopic
      surgery was shorter, this did not translate to a reduction in cost. The cost
      benefit from a shorter length of stay was offset by a greater cost of
      consumables. Cost effectiveness analyses should be designed carefully, and they
      should consider individual operations separately when making healthcare
      management and funding decisions.

PMID- 26890839
TI  - Colorectal cancer outcomes in patients aged over 85 years.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of colorectal cancer is increasing in the elderly.
      We examined the treatment and outcomes in our institution of patients aged over
      85 years with proven colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: One hundred and five
      patients were identified and stratified by treatment received: curative surgery
      (CS), other treatments (OT) or best supportive care (BSC). Data on demographics,
      staging, treatment and survival was collected and analysed. RESULTS: Forty two
      patients received CS, 36 OT and 27 BSC. While the treated groups (CS and OT) were
      similar in terms of age (p=0.35) and staging (p=0.16), BSC patients were
      significantly older and had higher stage disease (p<0.01). Survival was
      significantly poorer among BSC patients, at a mean of 9.7 months (95% confidence
      interval [CI] 4.7-14.7) versus 41.6 months (95% CI 32.5-50.7) and OT 27.3 months
      (95% CI 20.4-34.1) for the CS and OT groups (p<0.001). There was no significant
      survival difference between CS and OT groups within 2 years of treatment
      (p=0.12). Thereafter, OT patients had a very similar 5-year survival to that of
      the BSC group, at 13% versus 43% in CS patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These
      data suggest that, up to 2 years following treatment, the risks of resectional
      surgery for colorectal cancer may neutralise any benefit. However, those that
      survive beyond this period show improvements. The challenge of improving patient
      selection is most acute in the growing ageing population, and highlights the
      current focus on presenting all treatment options to 'a reasonable patient'.

PMID- 26890840
TI  - Digging a little deeper: A technical tip to improve intraoperative sampling in
      prosthetic joint infection.

PMID- 26890841
TI  - A novel method for delivery of tumescent solution prior to coronal flap
      incisions.

PMID- 26890842
TI  - Sharing CT images via smartphone video.

PMID- 26890843
TI  - Use of the British National Formulary to measure limb length discrepancies in the
      paediatric outpatient setting.

PMID- 26890845
TI  - Lactate and adrenergic signalling in trauma.

PMID- 26890846
TI  - Gastrointestinal clear cell sarcoma-like tumour of the ascending colon.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A clear cell sarcoma-like gastrointestinal tumour (CCSLGT) is a
      rare malignant soft tissue sarcoma. In the literature, they are sometimes
      referred to as malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumours, clear cell
      sarcomas or osteoclast rich tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. CASE HISTORY:
      We present a case of a CCSLGT arising from the ascending colon of a previously
      well 22-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and anaemia. Computed
      tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed a 7 cm irregular mass in the right
      flank that seemed to emerge from the proximal transverse colon. A laparoscopic
      right hemicolectomy was undertaken to remove the mass. Microscopic pathological
      examination of the specimen revealed sections of spindle to oval cells with
      monomorphic nuclei and scant cytoplasm. The cells were arranged in a striking
      perivascular growth pattern with microcytic breakdown and pseudopapillary
      formation. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the tumour cells removed
      expressed S100 protein, and were negative for smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD34,
      CD117, DOG1, HMB-45 and MNF116. Additionally, cytogenetic testing identified
      EWSR1 gene rearrangement, which was observed by interphase fluorescence in situ
      hybridisation. CONCLUSIONS: A complex tumour, a CCSLGT can be thought of in
      simple terms as a gastrointestinal tract tumour that is S100 protein positive,
      osteoclast rich, HMB-45 negative and compromises a t(12;22)(q13;q12) gene
      translocation. These simplified CCSLGT characteristics seem to be described and
      classified under different aliases in the literature, which makes it difficult to
      accurately predict the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic modality required
      to provide the best clinical care. Given that this case report describes the
      fourth CCSLGT of primary colonic origins, it may aid future targeted therapies as
      well as offering epidemiological evidence on prevalence and prognosis.

PMID- 26890847
TI  - An unusual case of an oesophageal foreign body presenting as torticollis.
AB  - Oesophageal foreign bodies (FBs) are commonly encountered in an otolaryngology
      setting. The majority of such cases remain in the paediatric population, where
      obtaining an accurate history of events is challenging. Oesophageal FBs present
      in a variety of ways other than dysphagia, which may result in delayed
      presentation, diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Where an ingested FB is a
      battery, early removal is advocated owing to the potential for significant
      complications, a problem highlighted by a patient safety alert issued by NHS
      England. A common paediatric presentation, torticollis has a multitude of
      potential underlying causes. We present an unusual case of torticollis in a two
      year old girl, subsequently revealed to be caused by an ingested button battery. 

PMID- 26890848
TI  - An expanding forearm phlegmon and subsequent compartment syndrome.
AB  - We present the case of a young, fit woman who developed a forearm phlegmon with
      subsequent compartment syndrome. Further investigation found her to be suffering
      from endocarditis and she had had recent dental work. Presentation and management
      is discussed, with learning points highlighted. 

PMID- 26890849
TI  - Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception due to suture concretion.
AB  - We describe a patient who presented with acute small bowel obstruction five years
      after Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Computed tomography and operative exploration
      showed a retrograde intussusception at the gastrojejunostomy due to an
      intraluminal suture concretion. We describe the preoperative imaging, endoscopic
      and intraoperative findings, and review the literature. 

PMID- 26890850
TI  - Non-small cell lung cancer with distal cutaneous metastases in a patient with a
      previously treated colorectal carcinoma.
AB  - Cutaneous manifestations of visceral carcinomas are scarce, occurring in around
      0.7-12% of internal malignancies. Lung cancer is one of the most common sources
      of skin metastasis, particularly in male patients. We present a case of cutaneous
      metastasis in a man with concurrent lung lesions and a previously treated
      colorectal carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry markers for both skin and lung lesions
      were strongly positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 20,
      suggesting an intestinal primary tumour. However, colonoscopy excluded new and
      metastatic bowel lesions. After multidisciplinary team meetings, which reviewed
      the clinical, radiological and immunohistochemistry findings, it was concluded to
      be a non-small cell lung cancer with skin metastasis. This case presented an
      interesting diagnostic challenge, and highlighted the importance of cross
      specialty liaison and investigation to reach the correct diagnosis. 

PMID- 26890851
TI  - Late metastatic colon cancer masquerading as primary jejunal carcinoma.
AB  - Metastasis to the small bowel from a previously resected colorectal cancer is
      rare and may erroneously be diagnosed as a primary small bowel carcinoma. It
      usually occurs several years after the primary resection. We present the case of
      a 67-year-old man who had undergone left hemicolectomy for colon cancer 3 years
      earlier and returned with subacute small bowel obstruction. This was initially
      thought, based on preoperative radiological findings and normal colonoscopic
      examination, to be due a primary jejunal cancer. Even at surgery, the lesion
      convincingly appeared as an obstructing primary small bowel carcinoma. However,
      the histology of the resected small bowel revealed metastatic colon cancer. This
      rare and an unusual metastatic occurrence some years after the primary resection
      is described and reviewed. 

PMID- 26890852
TI  - Localized peritoneal carcinomatosis mimicking an irreducible left inguinal
      hernia.
AB  - Perforated colonic cancers are not rare and leave patients at risk of developing
      peritoneal carcinomatosis. We present a 68-year-old male patient with a
      perforated transverse colonic tumour who underwent emergency extended right
      hemicolectomy. He made an uneventful postoperative recovery, and received
      adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfortunately, a routine positron emission tomography
      computed tomography scan 16 months later demonstrated an fluorodeoxyglucose-avid
      nodule in the left scrotum associated with an irreducible left inguinal hernia
      that contained sigmoid colon. At laparotomy, the discovery of isolated peritoneal
      recurrence in the hernia sac was unexpected, given the absence of local
      recurrence in the region of the original transverse colon cancer perforation. The
      etiology therefore remains uncertain, but one may speculate that cell
      implantation occurred within the hernia sac at the initial emergency laparotomy. 

PMID- 26890853
TI  - Tuning Cellular Uptake of Molecular Probes by Rational Design of Their Assembly
      into Supramolecular Nanoprobes.
AB  - Intracellular sensing of pathologically relevant biomolecules could provide
      essential information for accurate evaluation of disease staging and progression,
      yet the poor cellular uptake of water-soluble molecular probes limits their use
      as protease sensors. In other cases such as extracellular sensing, cellular
      uptake should be effectively inhibited. Self-assembly of molecular probes into
      supramolecular nanoprobes presents a potential strategy to alter their
      interaction mechanisms with cells to promote or reduce their cellular uptake.
      Here, we report on the design, synthesis, and assembly of peptide-based molecular
      beacons into supramolecular protease sensors of either spherical or filamentous
      shapes. We found that positively charged spherical nanobeacons demonstrate much
      higher cellular uptake efficiency than its monomeric form, thus making them most
      suitable for intracellular sensing of the lysosomal protease cathepsin B. Our
      results also suggest that assembly into filamentous nanobeacons significantly
      reduces their internalization by cancer cells, an important property that can be
      utilized for probing extracellular protease activities. These studies provide
      important guiding principles for rational design of supramolecular nanoprobes
      with tunable cellular uptake characteristics. 

PMID- 26890855
TI  - Olefin Metathesis at the Dawn of Implementation in Pharmaceutical and Specialty
      Chemicals Manufacturing.
AB  - The recent uptake of molecular metathesis catalysts in specialty-chemicals and
      pharmaceutical manufacturing is reviewed. 

PMID- 26890854
TI  - Signs or Symptoms of Acute HIV Infection in a Cohort Undergoing Community-Based
      Screening.
AB  - We analyzed signs and symptoms in 90 patients diagnosed with acute HIV infection
      in a community-based program that offered universal HIV-1 nucleic acid
      amplification testing. Forty-seven (52%) patients reported ongoing signs or
      symptoms at the time of testing. Another 25 (28%) reported signs or symptoms that
      had occurred during the 14 days before testing.

PMID- 26890857
TI  - Clinical Characteristics and Renal Histology in Pediatric Patients with
      Hypertension and Prehypertension Secondary to IgA Nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been shown that hypertension (HT) and prehypertension (Pre
      HT) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, the significance
      of secondary HT/Pre-HT in children with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is uncertain. This
      study aimed to examine the clinical and histopathological features of pediatric
      patients with HT/Pre-HT. METHODS: Data on children with IgAN from a single
      Chinese nephrology center were retrospectively reviewed. Morphological changes
      were evaluated using the Oxford classification, parameters including crescents,
      glomerular activity index, glomerular chronicity index (GCI), arterial lesions
      and Lee's grading. The clinical and pathological features were compared according
      to the occurrence of HT/Pre-HT. RESULTS: One hundred and eight previously
      untreated children with IgAN were included. HT/Pre-HT was present in 19.44% of
      children. Children with HT/Pre-HT were older (14.67 +/- 2.37 vs. 12.07 +/- 2.94
      years, p < 0.01) and had higher uric acid (380.62 vs. 301.68 MUmol/l, p < 0.01)
      and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 89.95 vs. 111.84
      ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.01). These children also had a higher proportion of
      segmental glomerulosclerosis or adhesion, GCI, tubular atrophy/interstitial
      fibrosis and arteriole wall thickening (all p < 0.05). Blood pressure (BP) values
      were significantly correlated with eGFR, uric acid, segmental glomerulosclerosis
      or adhesion, tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis and arteriole wall thickening
      (all p < 0.05). In particular, serum uric acid levels had a stronger association
      with systolic BP (r = 0.434, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results show that
      elevated serum uric acid level might be a marker of HT/Pre-HT. In renal
      histology, chronic lesions were more severe and prevalent in patients with HT/Pre
      HT than in those without HT/Pre-HT.

PMID- 26890856
TI  - A novel dual lock method for down-regulation of genes, in which a target mRNA is
      captured at 2 independent positions by linked locked nucleic acid antisense
      oligonucleotides.
AB  - Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), which is composed of the RelA and p50 subunits,
      binds to NFkappaB response elements (NREs) and stimulates the transcription of
      inflammation-related genes. Here, locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense
      oligonucleotides (ASOs) complementary to the termini of the 3'- and 5'
      untranslated regions (UTRs) of the RelA mRNA were generated; these molecules were
      named 3'-LNA and 5'-LNA, respectively. To evaluate their effects on NFkappaB
      activity, HeLa cells were co-transfected with the LNA ASOs and a luciferase
      reporter gene carrying an NRE. Transfection of the cells with 3'-LNA reduced
      NFkappaB activity by 30-40%, without affecting RelA mRNA accumulation.
      Concomitant transfection of HeLa cells with 5'-LNA and 3'-LNA resulted in a 70%
      reduction in NFkappaB activity. Furthermore, partial poly(A) tail shortening
      occurred in LNA ASO-transfected cells. We also employed triethylene glycol as a
      spacer to link 5'-LNA and 3'-LNA. Reporter gene assays showed that the spacer
      linked LNA ASO reduced NFkappaB activity similarly to a combination of 5'-LNA and
      3'-LNA. In addition, an in vitro translation assay revealed that spacer-linked
      LNA ASOs inhibited the translation of a target mRNA in a specific manner. In
      summary, this study describes a novel antisense method capturing the target mRNA
      at independent positions.

PMID- 26890859
TI  - Royal Australian Chemical Institute Awards: C. Yu, J. G. Shapter, and C. J.
      Jackson / Wilhelm Manchot Research Professorship: M. G. Kanatzidis.

PMID- 26890858
TI  - The impact of broader regional sharing of livers: 2-year results of "Share 35".
AB  - In June of 2013, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)
      implemented regional sharing for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease
      (MELD)/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) candidates with scores reaching
      35 and above ("Share 35"). The goal of this distribution change was to increase
      access to lifesaving transplants for the sickest candidates with chronic liver
      disease and to reduce the waiting-list mortality for this medically urgent group
      of patients. To assess the impact of this change, we compared results before and
      after policy implementation at 2 years. Overall, there were more liver
      transplants performed under Share 35 and a greater percentage of MELD/PELD 35+
      candidates underwent transplantation; waiting-list mortality rates in this group
      were also significantly lower in the post-policy period. Overall adjusted waiting
      list mortality was decreased slightly, with no significant changes in mortality
      by age group or ethnicity. Posttransplant graft and patient survival was
      unchanged overall and was unchanged for the MELD/PELD 35+ recipients. In
      conclusion, these data demonstrate that the Share 35 policy achieved its goal of
      increasing access to transplants for these medically urgent patients without
      reducing access to liver transplants for pediatric and minority candidates.
      Although the variance in the median MELD at transplant as well as the variance in
      transport distance increased, there was a decrease in overall liver discard rates
      and no change in overall cold ischemia times following broader sharing of these
      organs. The OPTN will continue to monitor this policy, particularly for longer
      term posttransplant survival outcomes.

PMID- 26890860
TI  - Extra and Intramuscular Distribution of the Thoracodorsal Nerve with Regard to
      Nerve Reconstruction Surgeries.
AB  - Background The lateral branch of the thoracodorsal nerve (LBTN) is used for nerve
      transfer in facial, musculocutaneous, axillary nerve injuries and for irreparable
      C5, C6 spinal nerve lesions and accessory nerve defects. For a successful
      surgical outcome, the nerve to be used in nerve transfer should be of adequate
      length and thickness for nerve coaptation. Aim Our objective was to evaluate the
      length of the LBTN that could be obtained as a donor nerve, externally and within
      the muscle. Method Eight (8) cadavers with intact upper limbs and thorax which
      could be positioned in the anatomical position were selected for the study.
      Cadavers with dissected axillae, brachial plexus or upper limbs were excluded.
      The thoracodorsal neurovascular bundle was dissected and the number of branches
      of the thoracodorsal nerve was identified along with its lateral branch. The
      lateral branch was dissected up to the latissimus dorsi muscle and further
      intramuscularly. All lengths were measured using a vernier caliper. Results The
      mean length of the LBTN, up to its first intramuscular branch, is 8.14 cm (range
      5.99-12.29 cm). Beyond this, the intramuscular nerve branched further and was of
      very minute diameter. The mean unbranched intramuscular length of the nerve is
      3.36 cm (range 1.3-7.71 cm) which is 41.28% of the total length of the LBTN.
      Conclusion A significant proportion of the LBTN is found within the latissimus
      dorsi muscle. This length could potentially be used for direct nerve coaptation
      by intrafascicular dissection. 

PMID- 26890865
TI  - Multiscale Edge Detection Using a Finite Element Framework for Hexagonal Pixel
      Based Images.
AB  - In recent years, the processing of hexagonal pixel-based images has been
      investigated, and as a result, a number of edge detection algorithms for direct
      application to such image structures have been developed. We build on this paper
      by presenting a novel and efficient approach to the design of hexagonal image
      processing operators using linear basis and test functions within the finite
      element framework. Development of these scalable first order and Laplacian
      operators using this approach presents a framework both for obtaining large-scale
      neighborhood operators in an efficient manner and for obtaining edge maps at
      different scales by efficient reuse of the seven-point linear operator. We
      evaluate the accuracy of these proposed operators and compare the algorithmic
      performance using the efficient linear approach with conventional operator
      convolution for generating edge maps at different scale levels. 

PMID- 26890866
TI  - Reference View Selection in DIBR-Based Multiview Coding.
AB  - Augmented reality, interactive navigation in 3D scenes, multiview video, and
      other emerging multimedia applications require large sets of images, hence larger
      data volumes and increased resources compared with traditional video services.
      The significant increase in the number of images in multiview systems leads to
      new challenging problems in data representation and data transmission to provide
      high quality of experience on resource-constrained environments. In order to
      reduce the size of the data, different multiview video compression strategies
      have been proposed recently. Most of them use the concept of reference or key
      views that are used to estimate other images when there is high correlation in
      the data set. In such coding schemes, the two following questions become
      fundamental: 1) how many reference views have to be chosen for keeping a good
      reconstruction quality under coding cost constraints? And 2) where to place these
      key views in the multiview data set? As these questions are largely overlooked in
      the literature, we study the reference view selection problem and propose an
      algorithm for the optimal selection of reference views in multiview coding
      systems. Based on a novel metric that measures the similarity between the views,
      we formulate an optimization problem for the positioning of the reference views,
      such that both the distortion of the view reconstruction and the coding rate cost
      are minimized. We solve this new problem with a shortest path algorithm that
      determines both the optimal number of reference views and their positions in the
      image set. We experimentally validate our solution in a practical multiview
      distributed coding system and in the standardized 3D-HEVC multiview coding
      scheme. We show that considering the 3D scene geometry in the reference view,
      positioning problem brings significant rate-distortion improvements and
      outperforms the traditional coding strategy that simply selects key frames based
      on the distance between cameras. 

PMID- 26890863
TI  - Identification of the Genome Segments of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 26 (Isolate
      KUW2010/02) that Restrict Replication in a Culicoides sonorensis Cell Line (KC
      Cells).
AB  - Bluetongue virus (BTV) can infect most ruminant species and is usually
      transmitted by adult, vector-competent biting midges (Culicoides spp.). Infection
      with BTV can cause severe clinical signs and can be fatal, particularly in naive
      sheep and some deer species. Although 24 distinct BTV serotypes were recognized
      for several decades, additional 'types' have recently been identified, including
      BTV-25 (from Switzerland), BTV-26 (from Kuwait) and BTV-27 from France (Corsica).
      Although BTV-25 has failed to grow in either insect or mammalian cell cultures,
      BTV-26 (isolate KUW2010/02), which can be transmitted horizontally between goats
      in the absence of vector insects, does not replicate in a Culicoides sonorensis
      cell line (KC cells) but can be propagated in mammalian cells (BSR cells). The
      BTV genome consists of ten segments of linear dsRNA. Mono-reassortant viruses
      were generated by reverse-genetics, each one containing a single BTV-26 genome
      segment in a BTV-1 genetic-background. However, attempts to recover a mono
      reassortant containing genome-segment 2 (Seg-2) of BTV-26 (encoding VP2), were
      unsuccessful but a triple-reassortant was successfully generated containing Seg
      2, Seg-6 and Seg-7 (encoding VP5 and VP7 respectively) of BTV-26. Reassortants
      were recovered and most replicated well in mammalian cells (BSR cells). However,
      mono-reassortants containing Seg-1 or Seg-3 of BTV-26 (encoding VP1, or VP3
      respectively) and the triple reassortant failed to replicate, while a mono
      reassortant containing Seg-7 of BTV-26 only replicated slowly in KC cells. 

PMID- 26890861
TI  - Intermittent drivers anchoring to structural heterogeneities as a major
      pathophysiological mechanism of human persistent atrial fibrillation.
AB  - The mechanisms responsible for perpetuation of human persistent atrial
      fibrillation (AF) are controversial and probably vary between individuals. A wide
      spectrum of mechanisms have been described in experimental studies, ranging from
      a single localized stable (focal/reentrant) source, to multiple sources, up to
      diffuse bi-atrial wavelets. We characterized AF drivers in patients with
      persistent AF (lasting less than 1 year) using novel high resolution mapping,
      imaging and modelling approaches with the objective of evaluating their
      relationship to atrial structural heterogeneities. Using panoramic non-invasive
      mapping in humans, focal or reentrant sources driving AF waves were identified,
      originating from multiple distinct regions and exhibiting short lifespans and
      periodic recurrences in the same locations. The reentrant driver regions
      harboured long, fractionated electrograms covering most of the fibrillatory cycle
      lengths with varying beat-to-beat sequences suggestive of unstable trajectories
      attached to slow conducting heterogeneous tissue. MRI atrial imaging demonstrated
      that such drivers preferentially clustered at the borders of fibrotic atrial
      regions. In patient-specific computer simulations, sustained AF was shown to be
      driven by meandering transitory reentries attached to fibrosis borders expressing
      specific metrics in density and extent. Finally, random microstructural
      alterations devoid of cellular electrical changes were modelled, showing that a
      percolation mechanism could also explain atrial reentries and complex
      fractionated electrograms. These data from clinical, imaging and computational
      studies strongly suggest that intermittent and spatially unstable drivers
      anchoring to structural heterogeneities are a major pathophysiological mechanism
      in human persistent atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 26890864
TI  - Comparison of the Performance of Cartomizer Style Electronic Cigarettes from
      Major Tobacco and Independent Manufacturers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study compared the performance of 12 brands of cartomizer style
      electronic cigarettes (EC) using different puffing protocols and measured the
      concentrations of nicotine in each product. METHODS: Air flow rate, pressure
      drop, and aerosol absorbance were measured using two different protocols, first
      10 puffs and a modified smoke-out protocol. RESULTS: First 10 puff protocol: The
      air flow rate required to produce aerosol ranged between brands from 4-21 mL/s.
      Pressure drop was relatively stable within a brand but ranged between brands from
      14-71 mmH2O and was much lower than the earlier classic 3-piece models.
      Absorbance, a measure of aerosol density, was relatively consistent between
      puffs, but varied between brands. With the modified smoke-out protocol, most
      brands were puffed until 300 puffs. The pressure drop was relatively stable for
      all brands except three. Absorbance of the aerosol decreased as the number of
      puffs increased. Although there was some uniformity in performance within some
      brands, there was large variation between brands. The labeled and measured
      nicotine concentrations were within 10% of each other in only 1 out of 10 brands.
      CONCLUSIONS: Over 10 puffs, the cartomizers all perform similarly within a brand
      but varied between brands. In smoke-out trials, most brands lasted at least 300
      puffs, and performed similarly within brands with respect to pressure drop and
      absorbance. For five brands, products purchased at different times performed
      differently. These data show some improvement in performance during evolution of
      these products, but nevertheless indicate problems with quality control in
      manufacture.

PMID- 26890862
TI  - A Micro/Nano Composite for Combination Treatment of Melanoma Lung Metastasis.
AB  - The successful treatment of malignant disease generally requires the use of
      multiple therapeutic agents that are coordinated in a spatiotemporal manner to
      enable synergy. Here, a porous silicon-based micro/nano composite (MNC) that is
      capable of simultaneously delivering chemotherapeutic agents and small
      interfering RNA (siRNA) to the lungs following intravenous injection is designed.
      The pores of the silicon microparticles are loaded with B-Raf proto-oncogene
      serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) siRNA-containing liposomes, while the surface is
      conjugated with docetaxel-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles. The synergistic
      antitumor effect of the MNC is demonstrated in vitro in melanoma cells and in
      vivo using a mouse model for melanoma lung metastasis. The MNC displays superior
      therapeutic efficacy and increased accumulation in metastatic melanoma lesions in
      the lungs in comparison to combination therapy with liposomes and polymers. The
      results indicate that the MNC can be used as an effective delivery vehicle for
      simultaneous enrichment of multiple therapeutic agents in the lungs. 

PMID- 26890868
TI  - Learning Invariant Color Features for Person Reidentification.
AB  - Matching people across multiple camera views known as person reidentification is
      a challenging problem due to the change in visual appearance caused by varying
      lighting conditions. The perceived color of the subject appears to be different
      under different illuminations. Previous works use color as it is or address these
      challenges by designing color spaces focusing on a specific cue. In this paper,
      we propose an approach for learning color patterns from pixels sampled from
      images across two camera views. The intuition behind this work is that, even
      though varying lighting conditions across views affect the pixel values of the
      same color, the final representation of a particular color should be stable and
      invariant to these variations, i.e., they should be encoded with the same values.
      We model color feature generation as a learning problem by jointly learning a
      linear transformation and a dictionary to encode pixel values. We also analyze
      different photometric invariant color spaces as well as popular color constancy
      algorithm for person reidentification. Using color as the only cue, we compare
      our approach with all the photometric invariant color spaces and show superior
      performance over all of them. Combining with other learned low-level and high
      level features, we obtain promising results in VIPeR, Person Re-ID 2011, and
      CAVIAR4REID data sets.

PMID- 26890867
TI  - Robust Fringe Projection Profilometry via Sparse Representation.
AB  - In this paper, a robust fringe projection profilometry (FPP) algorithm using the
      sparse dictionary learning and sparse coding techniques is proposed. When
      reconstructing the 3D model of objects, traditional FPP systems often fail to
      perform if the captured fringe images have a complex scene, such as having
      multiple and occluded objects. It introduces great difficulty to the phase
      unwrapping process of an FPP system that can result in serious distortion in the
      final reconstructed 3D model. For the proposed algorithm, it encodes the period
      order information, which is essential to phase unwrapping, into some texture
      patterns and embeds them to the projected fringe patterns. When the encoded
      fringe image is captured, a modified morphological component analysis and a
      sparse classification procedure are performed to decode and identify the embedded
      period order information. It is then used to assist the phase unwrapping process
      to deal with the different artifacts in the fringe images. Experimental results
      show that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the robustness of an
      FPP system. It performs equally well no matter the fringe images have a simple or
      complex scene, or are affected due to the ambient lighting of the working
      environment. 

PMID- 26890870
TI  - Robust Visual Tracking via Convolutional Networks Without Training.
AB  - Deep networks have been successfully applied to visual tracking by learning a
      generic representation offline from numerous training images. However, the
      offline training is time-consuming and the learned generic representation may be
      less discriminative for tracking specific objects. In this paper, we present
      that, even without offline training with a large amount of auxiliary data, simple
      two-layer convolutional networks can be powerful enough to learn robust
      representations for visual tracking. In the first frame, we extract a set of
      normalized patches from the target region as fixed filters, which integrate a
      series of adaptive contextual filters surrounding the target to define a set of
      feature maps in the subsequent frames. These maps measure similarities between
      each filter and useful local intensity patterns across the target, thereby
      encoding its local structural information. Furthermore, all the maps together
      form a global representation, via which the inner geometric layout of the target
      is also preserved. A simple soft shrinkage method that suppresses noisy values
      below an adaptive threshold is employed to de-noise the global representation.
      Our convolutional networks have a lightweight structure and perform favorably
      against several state-of-the-art methods on the recent tracking benchmark data
      set with 50 challenging videos. 

PMID- 26890869
TI  - A Diffusion and Clustering-Based Approach for Finding Coherent Motions and
      Understanding Crowd Scenes.
AB  - This paper addresses the problem of detecting coherent motions in crowd scenes
      and presents its two applications in crowd scene understanding: semantic region
      detection and recurrent activity mining. It processes input motion fields (e.g.,
      optical flow fields) and produces a coherent motion field named thermal energy
      field. The thermal energy field is able to capture both motion correlation among
      particles and the motion trends of individual particles, which are helpful to
      discover coherency among them. We further introduce a two-step clustering process
      to construct stable semantic regions from the extracted time-varying coherent
      motions. These semantic regions can be used to recognize pre-defined activities
      in crowd scenes. Finally, we introduce a cluster-and-merge process, which
      automatically discovers recurrent activities in crowd scenes by clustering and
      merging the extracted coherent motions. Experiments on various videos demonstrate
      the effectiveness of our approach. 

PMID- 26890871
TI  - Automatic Design of Color Filter Arrays in the Frequency Domain.
AB  - In digital color imaging, the raw image is typically obtained through a single
      sensor covered by a color filter array (CFA), which allows only one color
      component to be measured at each pixel. The procedure to reconstruct a full color
      image from the raw image is known as demosaicking. Since the CFA may cause
      irreversible visual artifacts, the CFA and the demosaicking algorithm are crucial
      to the quality of demosaicked images. Fortunately, the design of CFAs in the
      frequency domain provides a theoretical approach to handling this issue. However,
      almost all the existing design methods in the frequency domain involve
      considerable human effort. In this paper, we present a new method to
      automatically design CFAs in the frequency domain. Our method is based on the
      frequency structure representation of mosaicked images. We utilize a multi
      objective optimization approach to propose frequency structure candidates, in
      which the overlap among the frequency components of images mosaicked with the CFA
      is minimized. Then, we optimize parameters for each candidate, which is
      formulated as a constrained optimization problem. We use the alternating
      direction method to solve it. Our parameter optimization method is applicable to
      arbitrary frequency structures, including those with conjugate replicas of
      chrominance components. Experiments on benchmark images confirm the advantage of
      the proposed method. 

PMID- 26890872
TI  - Weakly Supervised Fine-Grained Categorization With Part-Based Image
      Representation.
AB  - In this paper, we propose a fine-grained image categorization system with easy
      deployment. We do not use any object/part annotation (weakly supervised) in the
      training or in the testing stage, but only class labels for training images. Fine
      grained image categorization aims to classify objects with only subtle
      distinctions (e.g., two breeds of dogs that look alike). Most existing works
      heavily rely on object/part detectors to build the correspondence between object
      parts, which require accurate object or object part annotations at least for
      training images. The need for expensive object annotations prevents the wide
      usage of these methods. Instead, we propose to generate multi-scale part
      proposals from object proposals, select useful part proposals, and use them to
      compute a global image representation for categorization. This is specially
      designed for the weakly supervised fine-grained categorization task, because
      useful parts have been shown to play a critical role in existing annotation
      dependent works, but accurate part detectors are hard to acquire. With the
      proposed image representation, we can further detect and visualize the key (most
      discriminative) parts in objects of different classes. In the experiments, the
      proposed weakly supervised method achieves comparable or better accuracy than the
      state-of-the-art weakly supervised methods and most existing annotation-dependent
      methods on three challenging datasets. Its success suggests that it is not always
      necessary to learn expensive object/part detectors in fine-grained image
      categorization. 

PMID- 26890873
TI  - Is the suppressive effect of cyproterone acetate on serum anti-Mullerian-hormone
      levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome stronger than under oral
      contraceptive pill?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the suppressive effect of anti-androgen therapy by
      cyproterone acetate (CPA) and by oral contraceptive pill (OCP) on anti-mullerian
      hormone (AMH) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in order to
      detect a putative direct anti-androgen effect on AMH excess. METHODS: This is a
      prospective longitudinal study including 58 women with PCOS between January 2010
      and April 2014 at the Lille University Hospital. A total of 47 women with
      clinical hyperandrogenism were treated by CPA (50 mg/d was administered 20 days
      out of 28) and 11 women with PCOS but without clinical hyperandrogenism received
      OCP. RESULT(S): Serum AHM levels at baseline were similar in CPA and OCP groups
      (median [5-95th percentiles]: 60.4 pmol/l [25.1-200.2] versus 58 pmol/l [27.6
      100], respectively, p = 0.39). After 3 months of treatment, serum AMH levels
      decreased significantly by 28% +/- 20% and by 22% +/- 27% in CPA and OCP groups,
      respectively. The decrease under both treatments was similar (p = 0.48).
      CONCLUSION(S): That any anti-androgen effect could be observed on AMH in our CPA
      group in addition to the gonadotropin-suppressing effect suggests that either
      androgens are not involved in AMH regulation or that they act by interfering with
      gonadotropin effects on granulosa cells.

PMID- 26890874
TI  - Intelligent task management platform for health care workers.
AB  - The medical staff in a hospital could benefit from a specialized task management
      system, considering their high workload covering different patients. This article
      presents an intelligent task management platform that automatically prioritizes
      and (re-)assigns tasks to the appropriate caregivers based on the current health
      care context captured in a continuous care ontology. Moreover, this platform
      provides the caregivers with a smartphone allowing them to easily view and
      process their assigned tasks.

PMID- 26890875
TI  - Dicyanoquinodimethane-substituted benzothiadiazole for efficient small-molecule
      solar cells.
AB  - Two unsymmetrical donor-acceptor-acceptor-pi-acceptor type benzothiadiazoles
      (BTD3 and BTD4) functionalized with tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) and
      dicyanoquinodimethane (DCNQ) modules, showing strong absorption in the visible
      region are reported. The bulk heterojunction solar cells based on BTD4:PC71BM and
      BTD3:PC71BM based active layers processed with chloroform (CF), thermal annealing
      and subsequent solvent vapor annealing, i.e. two step annealing (TSA), exhibited
      PCEs of up to 6.02% and 5.36%, respectively, which is significantly higher than
      those of the corresponding devices based on the as-cast blend active layer. This
      enhancement is related to the improvement in exciton dissociation efficiency and
      more balanced charge transport in the devices based on the active layer processed
      with TSA treatment. 

PMID- 26890876
TI  - Transition-Metal-Free Biomolecule-Based Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitors.
AB  - A transition-metal-free asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is successfully
      fabricated based on an earth-abundant biomass derived redox-active biomolecule,
      named lawsone. Such an ASC exhibits comparable or even higher energy densities
      than most of the recently reported transition-metal-based ASCs, and this green
      ASC generation from renewable resources is promising for addressing current
      issues of electronic hazard processing, high cost, and unsustainability. 

PMID- 26890878
TI  - Two-Stage Design Method for Enhanced Inductive Energy Transmission with Q
      Constrained Planar Square Loops.
AB  - Q-factor constraints are usually imposed on conductor loops employed as proximity
      range High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (HF-RFID) reader antennas to
      ensure adequate data bandwidth. However, pairing such low Q-factor loops in
      inductive energy transmission links restricts the link transmission performance.
      The contribution of this paper is to assess the improvement that is reached with
      a two-stage design method, concerning the transmission performance of a planar
      square loop relative to an initial design, without compromise to a Q-factor
      constraint. The first stage of the synthesis flow is analytical in approach, and
      determines the number and spacing of turns by which coupling between similar
      paired square loops can be enhanced with low deviation from the Q-factor limit
      presented by an initial design. The second stage applies full-wave
      electromagnetic simulations to determine more appropriate turn spacing and widths
      to match the Q-factor constraint, and achieve improved coupling relative to the
      initial design. Evaluating the design method in a test scenario yielded a more
      than 5% increase in link transmission efficiency, as well as an improvement in
      the link fractional bandwidth by more than 3%, without violating the loop Q
      factor limit. These transmission performance enhancements are indicative of a
      potential for modifying proximity HF-RFID reader antennas for efficient inductive
      energy transfer and data telemetry links. 

PMID- 26890879
TI  - Enhanced Pseudocapacitance in Multicomponent Transition-Metal Oxides by Local
      Distortion of Oxygen Octahedra.
AB  - Anomalously high pseudocapacitance of a metal oxide was observed when Ni, Co, and
      Mn were mixed in a solid solution. Analysis by X-ray absorption near-edge
      spectroscopy (XANES) identified a wider redox swing of Ni as the origin of the
      enlarged pseudocapacitance. Ab initio DFT calculations revealed that aliovalent
      species resulting from the copresence of multiple transition metals can generate
      permanent local distortions of [NiO6] octahedra. As this type of distortion
      breaks the degenerate eg level of Ni(2+), the Jahn-Teller lattice instability
      necessary for the Ni(2+/3+) redox flip can be effectively diminished during
      charge-discharge, thus resulting in the significantly increased capacitance. Our
      findings highlight the importance of understanding structure-property correlation
      related to local structural distortions in improving the performance of
      pseudocapacitors.

PMID- 26890877
TI  - Effects of dutasteride on lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective analysis
      based on changes in testosterone/dihydrotestosterone levels and total prostatic
      volume reduction.
AB  - This study analyzed the effects of dutasteride on lower urinary tract symptoms
      based on the association between changes in the total testosterone
      (TT)/dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and total prostate volume (TPV) reduction.
      Sixty participants diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia were given 0.5 mg
      of dutasteride daily for 52 weeks. Measures of TT and DHT levels, TPV and
      uroflowmetry were obtained before and after dutasteride treatment. Forty-three
      patients demonstrated a TPV reduction of >=5% (Group 1), whereas the remaining 17
      patients demonstrated a TPV reduction of <5% (Group 2). DHT suppression and
      DHT/TT ratio at baseline were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 2.
      International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) and uroflowmetry were significantly
      improved in both groups. In Group 2, nine patients demonstrated some improvement
      in IPSS (Group 2A), whereas eight did not (Group 2B). The rate of TT increase and
      improvement in voiding symptoms were significantly higher in Group 2A than Group
      2B. Dutasteride-induced TPV reduction is dependent on individual 5-alpha
      reductase inhibitor activity. Some patients demonstrating smaller dutasteride
      induced TPV reduction may experience an improvement in voiding symptoms owing to
      an increased level of testosterone. 

PMID- 26890880
TI  - Adapting content-based image retrieval techniques for the semantic annotation of
      medical images.
AB  - The automatic annotation of medical images is a prerequisite for building
      comprehensive semantic archives that can be used to enhance evidence-based
      diagnosis, physician education, and biomedical research. Annotation also has
      important applications in the automatic generation of structured radiology
      reports. Much of the prior research work has focused on annotating images with
      properties such as the modality of the image, or the biological system or body
      region being imaged. However, many challenges remain for the annotation of high
      level semantic content in medical images (e.g., presence of calcification, vessel
      obstruction, etc.) due to the difficulty in discovering relationships and
      associations between low-level image features and high-level semantic concepts.
      This difficulty is further compounded by the lack of labelled training data. In
      this paper, we present a method for the automatic semantic annotation of medical
      images that leverages techniques from content-based image retrieval (CBIR). CBIR
      is a well-established image search technology that uses quantifiable low-level
      image features to represent the high-level semantic content depicted in those
      images. Our method extends CBIR techniques to identify or retrieve a collection
      of labelled images that have similar low-level features and then uses this
      collection to determine the best high-level semantic annotations. We demonstrate
      our annotation method using retrieval via weighted nearest-neighbour retrieval
      and multi-class classification to show that our approach is viable regardless of
      the underlying retrieval strategy. We experimentally compared our method with
      several well-established baseline techniques (classification and regression) and
      showed that our method achieved the highest accuracy in the annotation of liver
      computed tomography (CT) images. 

PMID- 26890881
TI  - Unmasking Heavily O-Glycosylated Serum Proteins Using Perchloric Acid:
      Identification of Serum Proteoglycan 4 and Protease C1 Inhibitor as Molecular
      Indicators for Screening of Breast Cancer.
AB  - Heavily glycosylated mucin glycopeptides such as CA 27.29 and CA 15-3 are
      currently being used as biomarkers for detection and monitoring of breast cancer.
      However, they are not well detected at the early stages of the cancer. In the
      present study, perchloric acid (PCA) was used to enhance detection of mucin-type
      O-glycosylated proteins in the serum in an attempt to identify new biomarkers for
      early stage breast cancer. Sensitivity and specificity of an earlier developed
      sandwich enzyme-linked lectin assay were significantly improved with the use of
      serum PCA isolates. When a pilot case-control study was performed using the serum
      PCA isolates of normal participants (n = 105) and patients with stage 0 (n = 31)
      and stage I (n = 48) breast cancer, higher levels of total O-glycosylated
      proteins in sera of both groups of early stage breast cancer patients compared to
      the normal control women were demonstrated. Further analysis by gel-based
      proteomics detected significant inverse altered abundance of proteoglycan 4 and
      plasma protease C1 inhibitor in both the early stages of breast cancer patients
      compared to the controls. Our data suggests that the ratio of serum proteoglycan
      4 to protease C1 inhibitor may be used for screening of early breast cancer
      although this requires further validation in clinically representative
      populations. 

PMID- 26890884
TI  - Adolescent physical activity levels: discrepancies with accelerometer data
      analysis.
AB  - This study investigated the effects of epoch length and cut point selection on
      adolescent physical activity intensity quantification using vertical axis and
      vector magnitude (VM) measurement with the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer. Four
      hundred and nine adolescents (211 males; 198 females) aged 12-16 years of age
      wore accelerometers during waking hours. The GT3X+ acceleration counts were
      reintegrated into 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 s epoch lengths for both vertical axis and
      VM counts. One cut point was applied to vertical axis counts and three different
      cut points were applied to VM counts for each epoch length. Significant
      differences (P < 0.01) in mean total counts per day were observed between
      vertical axis and VM counts, and between epoch lengths for VM only. Differences
      in physical activity levels were observed between vertical and VM cut points, and
      between epoch lengths across all activity intensities. Our findings illustrate
      the magnitude of differences in physical activity outcomes that occur between
      axis measurement, cut points and epoch length. The magnitude of difference across
      epoch length must be considered in the interpretation of accelerometer data and
      seen as a confounding variable when comparing physical activity levels between
      studies. 

PMID- 26890882
TI  - Illuminating the Prevalence of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. in Glossina Using LAMP as
      a Tool for Xenomonitoring.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As the reality of eliminating human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) by
      2020 draws closer, the need to detect and identify the remaining areas of
      transmission increases. Here, we have explored the feasibility of using
      commercially available LAMP kits, designed to detect the Trypanozoon group of
      trypanosomes, as a xenomonitoring tool to screen tsetse flies for trypanosomes to
      be used in future epidemiological surveys. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The DNA
      extraction method was simplified and worked with the LAMP kits to detect a single
      positive fly when pooled with 19 negative flies, and the absolute lowest limit of
      detection that the kits were able to work at was the equivalent of 0.1
      trypanosome per ml. The DNA from Trypanosoma brucei brucei could be detected six
      days after the fly had taken a blood meal containing dead trypanosomes, and when
      confronted with a range of non-target species, from both laboratory-reared flies
      and wild-caught flies, the kits showed no evidence of cross-reacting. CONCLUSION:
      We have shown that it is possible to use a simplified DNA extraction method in
      conjunction with the pooling of tsetse flies to decrease the time it would take
      to screen large numbers of flies for the presence of Trypanozoon trypanosomes.
      The use of commercially-available LAMP kits provides a reliable and highly
      sensitive tool for xenomonitoring and identifying potential sleeping sickness
      transmission sites.

PMID- 26890883
TI  - Integrated Multiregional Analysis Proposing a New Model of Colorectal Cancer
      Evolution.
AB  - Understanding intratumor heterogeneity is clinically important because it could
      cause therapeutic failure by fostering evolutionary adaptation. To this end, we
      profiled the genome and epigenome in multiple regions within each of nine
      colorectal tumors. Extensive intertumor heterogeneity is observed, from which we
      inferred the evolutionary history of the tumors. First, clonally shared
      alterations appeared, in which C>T transitions at CpG site and CpG island
      hypermethylation were relatively enriched. Correlation between mutation counts
      and patients' ages suggests that the early-acquired alterations resulted from
      aging. In the late phase, a parental clone was branched into numerous subclones.
      Known driver alterations were observed frequently in the early-acquired
      alterations, but rarely in the late-acquired alterations. Consistently, our
      computational simulation of the branching evolution suggests that extensive
      intratumor heterogeneity could be generated by neutral evolution. Collectively,
      we propose a new model of colorectal cancer evolution, which is useful for
      understanding and confronting this heterogeneous disease. 

PMID- 26890885
TI  - Infliximab Dosing Strategies and Predicted Trough Exposure in Children With Crohn
      Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Standard infliximab maintenance dosing of 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks may
      be inadequate to consistently achieve sufficient drug exposure to minimize loss
      of response or treatment failure in pediatric Crohn disease (CD). We aimed to
      determine the predicted infliximab trough concentrations in children with CD
      during maintenance therapy and the percentage of patients achieving target trough
      concentration >3 MUg/mL. METHODS: A Monte Carlo simulation analysis was
      constructed using a published population pharmacokinetic model based on data from
      112 children in the REACH trial. We assessed maintenance dosing strategies of 5,
      7.5, and 10 mg/kg at dosing intervals of every 4, 6, and 8 weeks for children
      that differed by age, weight, albumin level, and concomitant immunomodulator
      therapy. RESULTS: Based on the index case of a 10-year-old with CD receiving
      standard infliximab dosing with concomitant immunomodulator therapy, the median
      (interquartile range) simulated infliximab trough concentration at week 14 was
      1.3 (0.5-2.7) MUg/mL and 2.4 (1.0-4.8) MUg/mL for albumin levels of 3 and 4 g/dL,
      respectively. Among 1000 simulated children in the model, trough concentration >3
      MUg/mL at week 14 was achieved 21% and 41% of the time for albumin levels of 3
      and 4 g/dL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Standard infliximab maintenance dosing in
      children with CD is predicted to frequently result in inadequate exposure,
      especially when albumin levels are low. Optimized dosing strategies for
      individual patients are needed to achieve sufficient drug exposure during
      infliximab maintenance therapy.

PMID- 26890887
TI  - Canadian Experience with Fingolimod: Adherence to Treatment and Monitoring.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Canadian GILENYA(r) Go ProgramTM provides education and support
      to people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis during fingolimod
      treatment. METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed from the time of the first
      individual enrolled in March 2011 to March 31, 2014. Individuals were excluded if
      they withdrew from the program prior to receiving the first dose, or had not
      completed the first dose observation (FDO) at the time of data cut-off. Reports
      of adverse effects were validated with a database of adverse events reported to
      Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. RESULTS: A total of 2,399 individuals had
      completed FDO at the end of the three-year observation period. Mean age was 41.2
      years; 75.2% were female. The most recent prior therapies reported were
      interferon-beta agents (50.2%), glatiramer acetate (31.1%), natalizumab (14.2%),
      no prior therapy (3.3%), and other agent (1.1%). Reasons for switching to
      fingolimod were lack of efficacy (34.9%), side effects (34.6%), and
      dissatisfaction with injections/infusion (30.4%). Continuation rates with
      fingolimod at 12, 24 and 30 months were 80.7%, 76.6% and 76.0%, respectively. The
      discontinuation rate due to reported lack of efficacy during the three-year
      period was 1.3%. There was 94.4% adherence to the scheduled ophthalmic
      examination. CONCLUSIONS: The GILENYA(r) Go ProgramTM captures data for virtually
      all fingolimod-treated patients in Canada, enabling the evaluation of fingolimod
      use in routine practice. Ongoing patient support and reminders to take the
      medication, in conjunction with physicians' and/or patients' perception of the
      efficacy and tolerability of fingolimod, resulted in a high rate of continuation
      during longer-term therapy.

PMID- 26890888
TI  - Flip to Regular Triangulation and Convex Hull.
AB  - Flip is a simple and local operation to transform one triangulation to another.
      It makes changes only to some neighboring simplices, without considering any
      attribute or configuration global in nature to the triangulation. Thanks to this
      characteristic, several flips can be independently applied to different small,
      non-overlapping regions of one triangulation. Such operation is favored when
      designing algorithms for data-parallel, massively multithreaded hardware, such as
      the GPU. However, most existing flip algorithms are designed to be executed
      sequentially, and usually need some restrictions on the execution order of flips,
      making them hard to be adapted to parallel computation. In this paper, we present
      an in depth study of flip algorithms in low dimensions, with the emphasis on the
      flexibility of their execution order. In particular, we propose a series of
      provably correct flip algorithms for regular triangulation and convex hull in 2D
      and 3D, with implementations for both CPUs and GPUs. Our experiment shows that
      our GPU implementation for constructing these structures from a given point set
      achieves up to two orders of magnitude of speedup over other popular single
      threaded CPU implementation of existing algorithms.

PMID- 26890886
TI  - Tyrosine Hydroxylation in Betalain Pigment Biosynthesis Is Performed by
      Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Beets (Beta vulgaris).
AB  - Yellow and red-violet betalain plant pigments are restricted to several families
      in the order Caryophyllales, where betacyanins play analogous biological roles to
      anthocyanins. The initial step in betalain biosynthesis is the hydroxylation of
      tyrosine to form L-DOPA. Using gene expression experiments in beets, yeast, and
      Arabidopsis, along with HPLC/MS analysis, the present study shows that two novel
      cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5, and the previously
      described CYP76AD1 can perform this initial step. Co-expressing these CYP450s
      with DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase in yeast, and overexpression of these CYP450s in yellow
      beets show that CYP76AD1 efficiently uses L-DOPA leading to red betacyanins while
      CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5 lack this activity. Furthermore, CYP76AD1 can complement
      yellow beetroots to red while CYP76AD6 and CYP76AD5 cannot. Therefore CYP76AD1
      uniquely performs the beet R locus function and beets appear to be genetically
      redundant for tyrosine hydroxylation. These new functional data and ancestral
      character state reconstructions indicate that tyrosine hydroxylation alone was
      the most likely ancestral function of the CYP76AD alpha and beta groups and the
      ability to convert L-DOPA to cyclo-DOPA evolved later in the alpha group. 

PMID- 26890889
TI  - Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate TNF-x237A; Cytotoxic Effects in the Multidrug
      Resistant Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7/MX.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not only harmful by-products of the
      cellular metabolism but also essential components of cell signaling, contributing
      to various physiologic features including cytokine and growth factor signaling.
      Here, we examined the role of ROS in the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis
      factor-x237A; (TNF-x237A;) in MCF-7 cells and their drug-resistant counterparts,
      MCF-7/MX cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ROS levels were evaluated following TNF
      x237A; exposure using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA) as
      fluorescent probe, and the TNF-x237A; cytotoxic effects were examined using the
      dimethylthiazolyl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: TNF
      x237A; led to ROS accumulation only in MCF-7/MX and not in MCF-7 cells. The role
      of ROS in the cytotoxic effects of TNF-x237A; was further evaluated by inhibition
      of ROS accumulation in MCF-7/MX cells and by induction of ROS generation in MCF-7
      cells along with TNF-x237A; treatment. ROS accumulation sensitized the MCF-7
      cells to the cytotoxic effects of TNF-x237A; while inhibition of ROS accumulation
      attenuated the cytotoxic effects of TNF-x237A; in MCF-7/MX cells. Following TNF
      x237A; treatment, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase,
      glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase) were evaluated in
      both cell lines. The results of the enzyme assays revealed that superoxide
      dismutase activity was enhanced in MCF-7 but not in MCF-7/MX cells. CONCLUSIONS:
      ROS accumulation in MCF-7/MX cells may be involved in the higher cytotoxic
      effects of TNF-x237A; in the MCF-7/MX cell line.

PMID- 26890890
TI  - Development of a Northern Continental Air Standard Reference Material.
AB  - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently began to
      develop standard mixtures of greenhouse gases as part of a broad program mandated
      by the 2009 United States Congress to support research in climate change. To this
      end, NIST developed suites of gravimetrically assigned primary standard mixtures
      (PSMs) comprising carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in
      a dry-natural air balance at ambient mole fraction levels. In parallel, the
      National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colorado,
      charged 30 aluminum gas cylinders with northern hemisphere air at Niwot Ridge,
      Colorado. These mixtures, which constitute NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM)
      1720 Northern Continental Air, were certified by NIST for ambient mole fractions
      of CO2, CH4, and N2O relative to NIST PSMs. NOAA-assigned values are also
      provided as information in support of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
      Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Program for CO2, CH4, and N2O, since NOAA serves as
      the WMO Central Calibration Laboratory (CCL) for CO2, CH4, and N2O. Relative
      expanded uncertainties at the 95% confidence interval are <+/-0.06% of the
      certified values for CO2 and N2O and <0.2% for CH4, which represents the smallest
      relative uncertainties specified to date for a gaseous SRM produced by NIST.
      Agreement between the NOAA (WMO/GAW) and NIST values based on their respective
      calibration standards suites is within 0.05%, 0.13%, and 0.06% for CO2, CH4, and
      N2O, respectively. This collaborative development effort also represents the
      first of its kind for a gaseous SRM developed by NIST. 

PMID- 26890891
TI  - 30 Days Wild: Development and Evaluation of a Large-Scale Nature Engagement
      Campaign to Improve Well-Being.
AB  - There is a need to increase people's engagement with and connection to nature,
      both for human well-being and the conservation of nature itself. In order to
      suggest ways for people to engage with nature and create a wider social context
      to normalise nature engagement, The Wildlife Trusts developed a mass engagement
      campaign, 30 Days Wild. The campaign asked people to engage with nature every day
      for a month. 12,400 people signed up for 30 Days Wild via an online sign-up with
      an estimated 18,500 taking part overall, resulting in an estimated 300,000
      engagements with nature by participants. Samples of those taking part were found
      to have sustained increases in happiness, health, connection to nature and pro
      nature behaviours. With the improvement in health being predicted by the
      improvement in happiness, this relationship was mediated by the change in
      connection to nature. 

PMID- 26890893
TI  - The many faces of positive hepatitis B surface antigen.

PMID- 26890892
TI  - Early developmental gene enhancers affect subcortical volumes in the adult human
      brain.
AB  - Genome-wide association screens aim to identify common genetic variants
      contributing to the phenotypic variability of complex traits, such as human
      height or brain morphology. The identified genetic variants are mostly within
      noncoding genomic regions and the biology of the genotype-phenotype association
      typically remains unclear. In this article, we propose a complementary targeted
      strategy to reveal the genetic underpinnings of variability in subcortical brain
      volumes, by specifically selecting genomic loci that are experimentally validated
      forebrain enhancers, active in early embryonic development. We hypothesized that
      genetic variation within these enhancers may affect the development and
      ultimately the structure of subcortical brain regions in adults. We tested
      whether variants in forebrain enhancer regions showed an overall enrichment of
      association with volumetric variation in subcortical structures of >13,000
      healthy adults. We observed significant enrichment of genomic loci that affect
      the volume of the hippocampus within forebrain enhancers (empirical P = 0.0015),
      a finding which robustly passed the adjusted threshold for testing of multiple
      brain phenotypes (cutoff of P < 0.0083 at an alpha of 0.05). In analyses of
      individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we identified an association
      upstream of the ID2 gene with rs7588305 and variation in hippocampal volume. This
      SNP-based association survived multiple-testing correction for the number of SNPs
      analyzed but not for the number of subcortical structures. Targeting known
      regulatory regions offers a way to understand the underlying biology that
      connects genotypes to phenotypes, particularly in the context of neuroimaging
      genetics. This biology-driven approach generates testable hypotheses regarding
      the functional biology of identified associations. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1788-1800,
      2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26890895
TI  - Measuring Impatience in Intertemporal Choice.
AB  - In general terms, decreasing impatience means decreasing discount rates. This
      property has been usually referred to as hyperbolic discounting, although there
      are other discount functions which also exhibit decreasing discount rates. This
      paper focuses on the measurement of the impatience associated with a discount
      function with the aim of establishing a methodology to compare this
      characteristic for two different discount functions. In this way, first we define
      the patience associated with a discount function in an interval as its
      corresponding discount factor and consequently we deduce that the impatience at a
      given moment is the corresponding instantaneous discount rate. Second we compare
      the degree of impatience of discount functions belonging to the same or different
      families, by considering the cases in which the functions do or do not intersect.

PMID- 26890894
TI  - Sleep disturbance in chronic military-related PTSD: clinical impact and response
      to adjunctive risperidone in the Veterans Affairs cooperative study #504.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbances are common among veterans with chronic military
      related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article reports the results of
      a multicenter clinical trial that explored the clinical correlates of reported
      sleep impairment in these veterans and tested the impact of the second-generation
      antipsychotic risperidone upon these symptoms. METHOD: This article reports
      secondary analyses of a 24-week multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial
      of adjunctive risperidone in patients with chronic military-related PTSD symptoms
      (n = 267, 97% male) who were symptomatic despite treatment with antidepressants
      and other medications. The study was conducted between February 2007 and February
      2010. DSM-IV PTSD diagnoses were made by using the Structured Clinical Interview
      for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Nonpatient Edition. Sleep disturbances were
      assessed principally by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (primary
      outcome measure). Analyses were conducted using bivariate correlations and
      longitudinal mixed model regressions. RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of the
      patients in this study had clinically significantly impaired sleep on the PSQI.
      Severity of sleep disturbances correlated with PTSD symptom severity as measured
      by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and reductions in multiple
      measures of quality of life (Veterans RAND 36-item Health Survey [SF-36 V]
      subscales, Boston Life Satisfaction Index). Risperidone produced small but
      statistically significant effects on total PSQI scores (main effect of drug:
      F1,228 = 4.57, P = .034; drug-by-time interaction: F2,421 = 4.32, P = .014) and
      severity of nightmares as assessed by the CAPS (main effect of drug: F1,248 =
      4.60, P = .033). The improvements in sleep quality produced by risperidone
      correlated with reductions in PTSD symptom severity and improvement in the mental
      health subscale of the SF-36 V. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the near
      universality and significant negative impact of severe disturbances in sleep
      quality in veterans with chronic military-related PTSD who were partial
      responders to standard pharmacotherapies. The modest improvements in sleep
      quality produced by adjunctive risperidone were correlated with limited
      reductions in PTSD severity and improvements in quality of life. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00099983.

PMID- 26890896
TI  - Radical Cyclisation of alpha-Halo Aluminium Acetals: A Mechanistic Study.
AB  - alpha-Bromo aluminium acetals are suitable substrates for Ueno-Stork-like radical
      cyclisations affording gamma-lactols and acid-sensitive methylene-gamma-lactols
      in high yields. The mechanistic study herein sets the scope and limitation of
      this reaction. The influence of the halide (or chalcogenide) atom X (X=Cl, Br, I,
      SPh, SePh) in the precursors alpha-haloesters, as well as influence of the
      solvent and temperature was studied. The structure of the aluminium acetal
      intermediates resulting from the reduction of the corresponding alpha-haloesters
      has been investigated by low-temperature (13) C-INEPT diffusion-ordered NMR
      spectroscopy (DOSY) experiments and quantum calculations, providing new insights
      into the structures of these thermally labile intermediates. Oxygen-bridged
      dimeric structures with a planar Al2 O2 ring are proposed for the least hindered
      aluminium acetals, while monomeric structures seem to prevail for the most
      hindered species. A comparison against the radical cyclisation of aluminium
      acetals derived from allyl and propargyl alcohols with the parent Ueno-Stork has
      been made at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, highlighting
      mechanistic similarities and differences. 

PMID- 26890897
TI  - Suppression of noise in SEM images using weighted local hysteresis smoothing
      filter.
AB  - It has been proven that Hysteresis Smoothing (HS) has several advantages for
      Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image noise reduction. HS uses hysteresis
      thresholding to remove noise besides preserving important details of images.
      Determination of optimal threshold values (cursor width) plays an effective role
      in improving the performance of HS based filters. Recently, a novel local
      technique, named Local Adaptive Hysteresis Smoothing (LAHS), has been proposed to
      compute an optimal cursor width. In this paper, a new method is proposed to
      improve the performance of LAHS in noise reduction and detail preservation. In
      the proposed approach which is based on weighted averaging, local statistical
      characteristics of the image are used in order to modify the final values of
      estimated pixels by LAHS method. Proposed method is applied to SEM images
      corrupted by different levels of noise. Noise reduction and detail preservation
      performance of the proposed method is compared in both objective and subjective
      manners with other HS based filters. Experimental results demonstrate that the
      proposed method is successful in improving the performance of LAHS and also it
      achieves better performance in noise reduction besides detail preservation of SEM
      images in comparison with other HS based filters. SCANNING 38:634-643, 2016. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890898
TI  - Iterative image reconstruction using non-local means with total variation from
      insufficient projection data.
AB  - In this work, algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) is extended by using non
      local means (NLM) and total variation (TV) for reduction of artifacts that are
      due to insufficient projection data. TV and NLM algorithms use different image
      models and their application in tandem becomes a powerful denoising method that
      reduces erroneous variations in the image while preserving edges and details.
      Simulations were performed on a widely used 2D Shepp-Logan phantom to demonstrate
      performance of the introduced method (ART + TV) NLM and compare it to TV based
      ART (ART + TV) and ART. The results indicate that (ART + TV) NLM achieves better
      reconstructions compared to (ART + TV) and ART.

PMID- 26890900
TI  - A Lossless hybrid wavelet-fractal compression for welding radiographic images.
AB  - In this work a lossless wavelet-fractal image coder is proposed. The process
      starts by compressing and decompressing the original image using wavelet
      transformation and fractal coding algorithm. The decompressed image is removed
      from the original one to obtain a residual image which is coded by using Huffman
      algorithm. Simulation results show that with the proposed scheme, we achieve an
      infinite peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) with higher compression ratio compared
      to typical lossless method. Moreover, the use of wavelet transform speeds up the
      fractal compression algorithm by reducing the size of the domain pool. The
      compression results of several welding radiographic images using the proposed
      scheme are evaluated quantitatively and compared with the results of Huffman
      coding algorithm.

PMID- 26890899
TI  - Non-destructive evaluation of teeth restored with different composite resins
      using synchrotron based micro-imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Application of high resolution synchrotron micro-imaging in
      microdefects studies of restored dental samples. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this
      study was to identify and compare the defects in restorations done by two
      different resin systems on teeth samples using synchrotron based micro-imaging
      techniques namely Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) and micro-computed tomography
      (MCT). With this aim acquired image quality was also compared with routinely used
      RVG (Radiovisiograph). METHODS: Crowns of human teeth samples were fractured
      mechanically involving only enamel and dentin, without exposure of pulp chamber
      and were divided into two groups depending on the restorative composite materials
      used. Group A samples were restored using a submicron Hybrid composite material
      and Group B samples were restored using a Nano-Hybrid restorative composite
      material. Synchrotron based PCI and MCT was performed with the aim of
      visualization of tooth structure, composite resin and their interface. RESULTS:
      The quantitative and qualitative comparison of phase contrast and absorption
      contrast images along with MCT on the restored teeth samples shows comparatively
      large number of voids in Group A samples. CONCLUSIONS: Quality assessment of
      dental restorations using synchrotron based micro-imaging suggests Nano-Hybrid
      resin restorations (Group B) are better than Group A.

PMID- 26890901
TI  - Fusion of multi-voltage digital radiography images based on nonsubsampled
      contourlet transform.
AB  - In order to increase the single digital radiography (DR) image information of the
      composite component in the industry, the different DR images are captured at
      different voltages so as to get the structural information at different thickness
      region firstly. Secondly, the original DR images are decomposed by nonsubsampled
      contourlet transform (NSCT), and the low-frequency subbands are fused by the role
      of principle component analysis (PCA), and the modified central energy role is
      used to carry out the high-frequency directional subbands fusion. The false edges
      are extracted, and the values of the high-frequency subband coefficients of the
      false edges are set to be a small value so as to reduce the false edges in the
      fusion image. Finally, the output image can be obtained by inverse nonsubsampled
      contourlet transform. The experimental results show that the fused DR image
      brings more detailed information, and the structure of the component can be seen
      clearly, so it is useful to the fast and accurate quality judgements of the
      component.

PMID- 26890903
TI  - Synchrotron radiation (SR) diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) of chronic
      glomerulonephritis (CGN) mode.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate microstructural changes in
      chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) rabbit model under diffraction enhanced imaging
      (DEI) technology of synchrotron radiation (SR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) models were obtained within two months after 5
      New Zealand white rabbits were treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Blood
      exams, urine tests and kidney histological studies were carried out after the 5
      rabbits were humanely sacrificed by hyperanesthesia. The kidney tissues were
      fixed in 4% formalin for one week before DEI experiment, with another 5 normal
      rabbits used as the control group. The experiment was performed at Beijing
      Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF) with a 4W1A beam line (beam energy was
      14keV). On routine scanning process, the rocking curve was detected, and slope
      position on the curve was selected to make a 360 degrees  spatial CT scan; DEI
      reconstruction software was used to generate a 3-dimensional image, from which
      the difference in grey value between the chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) group
      and the control group was measured and analyzed using MATLAB and SPSS. RESULT:
      Without radio-contrast, DEI provided clear visibility of the microstructures
      including artery, vein, straight collecting ducts, papillary tubules, glomeruli
      in both the chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) group and the control group, with a
      spatial resolution as low as 10MUm. MATLAB grey value extraction and SPSS
      analysis showed that cortex of CGN group (91 to 112) lost more gray value
      compared to the control group (121 to 141), T tests P <  0.05. Equivalant
      cortical ROI (data points 450*80) quantitative analysis showed that gross grey
      value of CGN group (ranking from 55 to 160) was smaller than the control group
      (ranking from 75 to 175). DEI images correlated well with pathologic images.
      Morphological changes in the microstructure of contstartabstractCGN kidney was
      revealed, due to the advantage of phase-contrast imaging (PCI) mechanism, and the
      diagnostic value of CGN by synchrotron radiation (SR) phase-contrast imaging
      (PCI) technology was evaluated. CONCLUSION: Synchrotron radiation (SR)
      diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) experiment makes non-contrast CGN diagnosis
      possible in the rabbit model studied. With improvement of laboratory equipment
      and image analyzer in clinical practice, diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) could
      fundamentally become a new diagnostic method for CGN.

PMID- 26890902
TI  - X-ray propagation-based equally sloped tomography for mouse brain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The outstanding functional importance of the brain implies a strong
      need for brain imaging modalities. However, the current imaging approaches that
      target the brain in rodents remain suboptimal. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this
      paper, X-ray propagation-based phase contrast imaging combined with equally
      sloped tomography (PPCI-EST) was employed to nondestructively investigate the
      mouse brain. RESULTS: The grey and white matters, which have extremely small
      differences in electron density, were clearly discriminated. The fine structures,
      including the corpus callosum (cc), the optic chiasma (ox) and the caudate
      putamen (CPu), were revealed. Compared to the filtered back projection
      reconstruction, the PPCI-EST significantly reduce projection number while
      maintaining sufficient image quality. CONCLUSIONS: It could be a potential tool
      for fast and low-dose phase-contrast imaging to biomedical specimens.

PMID- 26890904
TI  - Diagnosed chest lesion on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images using
      apparent diffusion coefficients.
AB  - PURPOSE: A novel diagnostic method using the standard deviation (SD) value of
      apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) by diffusion-weighted (DWI) magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) is applied for differential diagnosis of primary chest
      cancers, metastatic tumors and benign tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This
      retrospective study enrolled 27 patients (20 males, 7 female; age, 15-85; mean
      age, 68) who had thoracic mass lesions in the last three years and underwent an
      MRI chest examination at our institution. In total, 29 mass lesions were analyzed
      using SD of ADC and DWI. Lesions were divided into five groups: Primary lung
      cancers (N = 10); esophageal cancers (N = 5); metastatic tumors (N = 8); benign
      tumors (N = 3); and inflammatory lesions (N = 3). Quantitative assessment of MRI
      parameters of mass lesions was performed. The ADC value was acquired based on the
      average of the entire tumor area. The error-plot, t-test and the area under
      receiver operating characteristic (AUC) were applied for statistical analysis.
      RESULTS: The SD of ADC value (mean+/-SD) was (4.867+/-1.359)*10-4 mm2/sec in
      primary lung cancers, and (3.598+/-0.350)*10-4 mm2/sec in metastatic tumors. The
      SD of ADC values of primary lung cancers and metastatic tumors (P <  0.05) were
      significantly different and the AUC was 0.800 (P <  0.05). The means of SD of ADC
      values was 4.532+/-1.406*10-4 mm2/sec and 2.973+/-0.364*10-4 mm2/sec for
      malignant tumors (including primary lung cancers, esophageal cancers) and benign
      tumors with respectively. The mean of SD of ADC values between malignant chest
      tumors and benign chest tumors was shown significant difference (P <  0.01). The
      values of AUC was 0.967 between malignant chest tumors and benign chest tumors (P
      <  0.05). The ADC values for primary lung cancers, metastatic tumors and benign
      tumors were not significantly difference (P >  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mean of SD
      of ADC value by DWI can be used for differential diagnosis of chest lesions.

PMID- 26890905
TI  - Sinogram-based attenuation correction in PET/CT.
AB  - In a typical positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) system,
      the attenuation correction is necessary for PET image reconstruction, which
      involves a transformation from the CT Hounsfield units (HU) to its linear
      attenuation coefficient (LAC) at 511 keV. This transformation is usually aided by
      an empirical bilinear function, followed by the forward projection of the
      transformed attenuation image. In this paper, we propose a direct method that
      calculates attenuation factors from CT projections, without using a reconstructed
      CT image. In this method, the human body is considered as a mixture of three
      distinct components: air, water and bone. Then, we estimate the proportions of
      these three components along each x-ray path and restore the attenuation factor
      at 511 keV with the known water and bone LACs. Our numerical results show that
      the proposed method produces as accurate estimation as the conventional HU
      mapping method.

PMID- 26890906
TI  - Cardiac CT: A system architecture study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We are interested in exploring dedicated, high-performance cardiac CT
      systems optimized to provide the best tradeoff between system cost, image
      quality, and radiation dose. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify and evaluate a
      broad range of CT architectures that could provide an optimal, dedicated cardiac
      CT solution. METHODS: We identified and evaluated thirty candidate architectures
      using consistent design choices. We defined specific evaluation metrics related
      to cost and performance. We then scored the candidates versus the defined
      metrics. Lastly, we applied a weighting system to combine scores for all metrics
      into a single overall score for each architecture. CT experts with backgrounds in
      cardiovascular radiology, x-ray physics, CT hardware and CT algorithms performed
      the scoring and weighting. RESULTS: We found nearly a twofold difference between
      the most and the least promising candidate architectures. Architectures employed
      by contemporary commercial diagnostic CT systems were among the highest-scoring
      candidates. We identified six architectures that show sufficient promise to merit
      further in-depth analysis and comparison. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that
      contemporary diagnostic CT system architectures outperform most other candidates
      that we evaluated, but the results for a few alternatives were relatively close.
      We selected six representative high-scoring candidates for more detailed design
      and further comparative evaluation.

PMID- 26890907
TI  - Breast tomosynthesis using the multiple projection algorithm adapted for
      stationary detectors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of using the
      Multiple Projection Algorithm (MPA) for Breast Tomosynthesis (BT) using real
      projection images acquired with phantoms at a clinical setting. METHODS: The CIRS
      BR3D phantom with ranging thicknesses between 3 cm and 6 cm was used for all
      image quality evaluations. Five sets of measurements were acquired, each
      comprised of a 2D mammographic image followed by a set of 25 projections within
      an arc length of 50 degrees . A reconstruction algorithm based on the MPA was
      adapted for partial isocentric rotation using a stationary detector. For
      reference purposes, a Back Projection (BP) algorithm was also developed for this
      geometry. The performance of the algorithms was evaluated, in combination with
      pre-filtering of the projections, in comparative studies that involved also a
      comparison between tomosynthesis slices and 2D mammograms. RESULTS: Evaluation of
      tomosynthesis slices reconstructed with BP and MPA showed close performance for
      the two algorithms with no considerable differences in feature detection, size
      and appearance of the background tissue with the MPA running faster the overall
      process. Pre-filtering of the projections, led to better BT images compared to
      non-filtering. Increased thickness resulted in limited detection of the features
      of interest, especially the smaller sized ones. In these cases, the filtered BT
      slices allowed improved visualization due to removed superimposed tissue compared
      to the 2D images. The different breast-like slab arrangements in phantoms of the
      same thickness demonstrated a slight influence on the quality of reconstructed
      features. CONCLUSIONS: The MPA which had been applied previously to reconstruct
      tomograms from projections acquired at synchrotron facilities, is a time
      efficient algorithm, and is fully compliant with and can be successfully used in
      BT clinical systems. Compared to 2D mammography, BT shows advantage in
      visualizing features of small size and for increased phantom thickness or
      features within a dense background with superimposed structures.

PMID- 26890908
TI  - Geometrical force constraint method for vessel and x-ray angiogram simulation.
AB  - This study proposes a novel geometrical force constraint method for 3-D
      vasculature modeling and angiographic image simulation. For this method, space
      filling force, gravitational force, and topological preserving force are proposed
      and combined for the optimization of the topology of the vascular structure. The
      surface covering force and surface adhesion force are constructed to drive the
      growth of the vasculature on any surface. According to the combination effects of
      the topological and surface adhering forces, a realistic vasculature can be
      effectively simulated on any surface. The image projection of the generated 3-D
      vascular structures is simulated according to the perspective projection and
      energy attenuation principles of X-rays. Finally, the simulated projection
      vasculature is fused with a predefined angiographic mask image to generate a
      realistic angiogram. The proposed method is evaluated on a CT image and three
      generally utilized surfaces. The results fully demonstrate the effectiveness and
      robustness of the proposed method.

PMID- 26890909
TI  - Edge-oriented dual-dictionary guided enrichment (EDGE) for MRI-CT image
      reconstruction.
AB  - In this paper, we formulate the joint/simultaneous X-ray CT and MRI image
      reconstruction. In particular, a novel algorithm is proposed for MRI image
      reconstruction from highly under-sampled MRI data and CT images. It consists of
      two steps. First, a training dataset is generated from a series of well
      registered MRI and CT images on the same patients. Then, an initial MRI image of
      a patient can be reconstructed via edge-oriented dual-dictionary guided
      enrichment (EDGE) based on the training dataset and a CT image of the patient.
      Second, an MRI image is reconstructed using the dictionary learning (DL)
      algorithm from highly under-sampled k-space data and the initial MRI image. Our
      algorithm can establish a one-to-one correspondence between the two imaging
      modalities, and obtain a good initial MRI estimation. Both noise-free and noisy
      simulation studies were performed to evaluate and validate the proposed
      algorithm. The results with different under-sampling factors show that the
      proposed algorithm performed significantly better than those reconstructed using
      the DL algorithm from MRI data alone.

PMID- 26890910
TI  - Noncontact Capacitive Sensing-Based Locomotion Transition Recognition for
      Amputees With Robotic Transtibial Prostheses.
AB  - Recent advancement of robotic transtibial prostheses can restore human ankle
      dynamics in different terrains. Automatic locomotion transitions of the
      prosthesis guarantee the amputee's safety and smooth motion. In this paper, we
      present a noncontact capacitive sensing-based approach for recognizing locomotion
      transitions of amputees with robotic transtibial prostheses. The proposed sensing
      system is designed with flexible printed circuit boards which solves the walking
      instability brought by our previous system when using robotic prosthesis and
      improves the recognition performance. Six transtibial amputees were recruited and
      performed tasks of ten locomotion transitions with the robotic prosthesis that we
      recently constructed. The capacitive sensing system was integrated on the
      prosthesis and worked in combination with on-prosthesis mechanical sensors. With
      the cascaded classification method, the proposed system achieved 95.8% average
      recognition accuracy by support vector machine (SVM) classifier and 94.9%
      accuracy by quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) classifier. It could accurately
      recognize the upcoming locomotion modes from the stance phase of the transition
      steps. In addition, we proved that adding capacitance signals could significantly
      reduce recognition errors of the robotic prosthesis in locomotion transition
      tasks. Our study suggests that the fusion of capacitive sensing system and
      mechanical sensors is a promising alternative for controlling the robotic
      transtibial prosthesis.

PMID- 26890912
TI  - Implementation of EMG- and Force-Based Control Interfaces in Active Elbow
      Supports for Men With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Feasibility Study.
AB  - While there is an extensive number of studies on the development and evaluation
      of electromyography (EMG)- and force-based control interfaces for assistive
      devices, no studies have focused on testing these control strategies for the
      specific case of adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This paper
      presents a feasibility study on the use of EMG and force as control interfaces
      for the operation of active arm supports for men with DMD. We have built an
      experimental active elbow support, with a threefold objective: 1) to investigate
      whether adult men with DMD could use EMG- and force-based control interfaces; 2)
      to evaluate their performance during a discrete position-tracking task; and 3) to
      examine users' acceptance of the control methods. The system was tested in three
      adults with DMD (21-22 years). Although none of the three participants had
      performed any voluntary movements with their arms for the past 3-5 years, all of
      them were 100% successful in performing the series of tracking tasks using both
      control interfaces (mean task completion time EMG: [Formula: see text] , force:
      [Formula: see text] ). While movements with the force-based control were
      considerably smoother in Subject 3 and faster in Subject 1, EMG based-control was
      perceived as less fatiguing by all three subjects. Both EMG- and force-based
      interfaces are feasible solutions for the control of active elbow supports in
      adults with DMD and should be considered for further investigations on multi-DOF
      control.

PMID- 26890913
TI  - Effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy in Subacromial Impingement
      Syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The short-term effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT)
      was investigated as a retrospective case series for the treatment of the pain and
      disability associated with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A total of 42 patients, who were diagnosed with subacromial impingement
      syndrome, underwent a total of nine sessions (three sessions per week) of high
      intensity laser therapy. The patients were evaluated before therapy and 8 weeks
      after therapy using the pain and disability subscales and the total scores of the
      Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), as well as scores for the University
      of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale. RESULTS: Significant
      differences were observed between SPADI pain, disability, and total scores and
      UCLA scores of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: HILT was found to be effective in the
      short term in the treatment of pain and disability in patients with SAIS.

PMID- 26890911
TI  - Compensating Hand Function in Chronic Stroke Patients Through the Robotic Sixth
      Finger.
AB  - A novel solution to compensate hand grasping abilities is proposed for chronic
      stroke patients. The goal is to provide the patients with a wearable robotic
      extra-finger that can be worn on the paretic forearm by means of an elastic band.
      The proposed prototype, the Robotic Sixth Finger, is a modular articulated device
      that can adapt its structure to the grasped object shape. The extra-finger and
      the paretic hand act like the two parts of a gripper cooperatively holding an
      object. We evaluated the feasibility of the approach with four chronic stroke
      patients performing a qualitative test, the Frenchay Arm Test. In this proof of
      concept study, the use of the Robotic Sixth Finger has increased the total score
      of the patients by two points in a five points scale. The subjects were able to
      perform the two grasping tasks included in the test that were not possible
      without the robotic extra-finger. Adding a robotic opposing finger is a very
      promising approach that can significantly improve the functional compensation of
      the chronic stroke patient during everyday life activities.

PMID- 26890914
TI  - Self-Reported Medication Adherence Barriers Among Ambulatory Older Adults with
      Mild Cognitive Impairment.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequencies of barriers to medication adherence
      reported by ambulatory older adults with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment
      (MCI) and ambulatory older adults with normal cognition. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      study. SETTING: Outpatient clinics within a safety-net health care system.
      PARTICIPANTS: Ambulatory older adults (>= 65 yrs) with a diagnosis of MCI (96
      participants) or normal cognition (104 participants). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: Self-reported beliefs and barriers to medication nonadherence were
      assessed by items from the Morisky Medication Adherence Survey, the Adherence
      Estimator, and barriers derived from a systematic review of studies in older
      adults with cognitive impairment. Participants with a diagnosis of MCI had a mean
      age of 72 years, 77% were female, and 37% were African-American. Participants
      with normal cognition had a mean age of 76 years, 79% were female, and 47% were
      African-American. Among all participants, 83% reported the presence of at least
      one barrier to medication adherence, and 62.5% reported two or more barriers to
      medication adherence. The most commonly reported barriers were difficulty
      remembering the amount or time of each medication to take (49%), difficulty
      opening or reading prescription bottles (42%), feeling worse when taking
      medications (29%), and trouble affording medications (26%). Considering the
      multiple comparisons made in this analysis, few significant differences in
      barrier frequencies were identified between the groups with MCI and normal
      cognition. CONCLUSION: Multiple medication adherence barriers were identified
      among all participants, including cognitive, physical, and financial barriers,
      although few significant differences were identified between those with and
      without MCI. Interventions capable of addressing multiple barriers are required
      to improve medication adherence in older adults with and without MCI.

PMID- 26890915
TI  - Emerging Role of Olanzapine for Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced
      Nausea and Vomiting.
AB  - The prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)
      continues to pose a challenge for clinicians. The development of 5
      hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) antagonists and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists
      (NK1 -RAs) have demonstrated significant improvements in acute and delayed CINV
      for highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Delayed and breakthrough CINV,
      however, continue to be difficult to manage despite available treatment agents.
      Randomized clinical trial data suggest that olanzapine, a second-generation
      thienobenzodiazepine, traditionally used in the treatment of manifestations of
      psychotic disorders, is an effective agent in these clinical settings. The short
      term use of olanzapine has a favorable adverse event profile and was not
      associated with grade 3 or 4 toxicity in a phase III study. Olanzapine is
      recommended as an option within first-line prophylaxis for CINV in the National
      Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and is an option for treatment of
      refractory CINV in the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in
      Cancer/European Society for Medical Oncology and NCCN guidelines. 

PMID- 26890916
TI  - Structure and cohesive energy of dipolar helices.
AB  - This paper deals with the investigation of cohesive energy in dipolar helices
      made up of hard spheres. Such tubular helical structures are ubiquitous objects
      in biological systems. We observe a complex dependence of cohesive energy on
      surface packing fraction and dipole moment distribution. As far as single helices
      are concerned, the lowest cohesive energy is achieved at the highest surface
      packing fraction. Besides, a striking non-monotonic behavior is reported for the
      cohesive energy as a function of the surface packing fraction. For multiple
      helices, we discover a new phase, exhibiting markedly higher cohesive energy.
      This phase is referred to as ZZ tube consisting of stacked crown rings
      (reminiscent of a pile of zig-zag rings), resulting in a local triangular
      arrangement with densely packed filaments parallel to the tube axis. 

PMID- 26890917
TI  - The selection of children from low-income families into preschool.
AB  - Because children from low-income families benefit from preschool but are less
      likely than other children to enroll, identifying factors that promote their
      enrollment can support research and policy aiming to reduce socioeconomic
      disparities in education. In this study, we tested an accommodations model with
      data on 6,250 children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. In
      general, parental necessity (e.g., maternal employment) and human capital
      considerations (e.g., maternal education) most consistently predicted preschool
      enrollment among children from low-income families. Supply side factors (e.g.,
      local child care options) and more necessity and human capital factors (e.g.,
      having fewer children, desiring preparation for school) selected such children
      into preschool over parental care or other care arrangements, and several
      necessity factors (e.g., being less concerned about costs) selected them into non
      Head Start preschools over Head Start programs. Systemic connections and child
      elicitation did not consistently predict preschool enrollment in this population.

PMID- 26890919
TI  - Packet Fragmentation and Reassembly in Molecular Communication.
AB  - This paper describes packet fragmentation and reassembly to achieve reliable
      molecular communication among bionanomachines. In the molecular communication
      described in this paper, a sender bionanomachine performs packet fragmentation,
      dividing a large molecular message into smaller pieces and embedding into smaller
      molecular packets, so that molecular packets have higher diffusivity to reach the
      receiver bionanomachine. The receiver bionanomachine then performs packet
      reassembly to retrieve the original molecular message from a set of molecular
      packets that it receives. To examine the effect of packet fragmentation and
      reassembly, we develop analytical models and conduct numerical experiments.
      Numerical results show that packet fragmentation and reassembly can improve the
      message delivery performance. Numerical results also indicate that packet
      fragmentation and reassembly may degrade the performance in the presence of drift
      in the environment.

PMID- 26890918
TI  - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Nonylphenol Levels: A Case
      Control Study in Taiwanese Children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Nonylphenol (NP) belongs to the family of endocrine disruptors, and it
      is widely used in industrial applications and is ubiquitous in daily foods.
      Animal studies have suggested that NP exposure might promote motor hyperactivity,
      likely by causing deficits in dopaminergic neurons. However, research assessing
      NP exposure and epidemiology studies on human populations are limited. The aim of
      this study was to explore the association between child NP exposure and ADHD
      while considering particular covariants, such as lead levels and dopamine-related
      gene variations. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on patients with
      clinically diagnosed ADHD; the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham, Fourth Revision (SNAP
      IV) questionnaire was used to identify normal controls aged 4-15 years.
      Participants were examined for urinary NP concentrations, blood lead levels, and
      select single-nucleotide polymorphisms of two dopamine-related genes (D4 dopamine
      receptor, DRD4, and dopamine transporter, DAT1). Socio-demographic variables,
      maternal lifestyle factors during pregnancy and family medical history were
      obtained using a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 97 children with doctor
      diagnosed ADHD and 110 normal controls were enrolled. The blood lead levels in
      both groups were similar (1.57+/-0.73 vs. 1.73+/-0.77 MUg/dL, p = 0.15). No
      significant difference in urinary NP concentration was found between the children
      with ADHD and the control subjects (4.52+/-3.22 MUg/g cr. vs. 4.64+/-2.95 MUg/g
      cr., p = 0.43). ADHD was significantly more prevalent among males in this study
      (male to female ratio: 5:1 for the ADHD group and 1.3:1 for the control group,
      p<0.01). The analysis was repeated after excluding the females, but this had no
      effect on the association between NP and ADHD. The regression model, including or
      excluding females, indicated no increased odds of having ADHD in the context of
      NP exposure after adjusting for covariants. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that
      NP exposure might not promote ADHD in children, even though children in Taiwan
      had relatively high levels of NP compared to those reported previously and those
      in developed nations.

PMID- 26890920
TI  - Prediction and Validation of Disease Genes Using HeteSim Scores.
AB  - Deciphering the gene disease association is an important goal in biomedical
      research. In this paper, we use a novel relevance measure, called HeteSim, to
      prioritize candidate disease genes. Two methods based on heterogeneous networks
      constructed using protein-protein interaction, gene-phenotype associations, and
      phenotype-phenotype similarity, are presented. In HeteSim_MultiPath (HSMP),
      HeteSim scores of different paths are combined with a constant that dampens the
      contributions of longer paths. In HeteSim_SVM (HSSVM), HeteSim scores are
      combined with a machine learning method. The 3-fold experiments show that our non
      machine learning method HSMP performs better than the existing non-machine
      learning methods, our machine learning method HSSVM obtains similar accuracy with
      the best existing machine learning method CATAPULT. From the analysis of the top
      10 predicted genes for different diseases, we found that HSSVM avoid the
      disadvantage of the existing machine learning based methods, which always predict
      similar genes for different diseases. The data sets and Matlab code for the two
      methods are freely available for download at
      http://lab.malab.cn/data/HeteSim/index.jsp.

PMID- 26890921
TI  - Drug-Target Interaction Prediction with Graph Regularized Matrix Factorization.
AB  - Experimental determination of drug-target interactions is expensive and time
      consuming. Therefore, there is a continuous demand for more accurate predictions
      of interactions using computational techniques. Algorithms have been devised to
      infer novel interactions on a global scale where the input to these algorithms is
      a drug-target network (i.e., a bipartite graph where edges connect pairs of drugs
      and targets that are known to interact). However, these algorithms had difficulty
      predicting interactions involving new drugs or targets for which there are no
      known interactions (i.e., "orphan" nodes in the network). Since data usually lie
      on or near to low-dimensional non-linear manifolds, we propose two matrix
      factorization methods that use graph regularization in order to learn such
      manifolds. In addition, considering that many of the non-occurring edges in the
      network are actually unknown or missing cases, we developed a preprocessing step
      to enhance predictions in the "new drug" and "new target" cases by adding edges
      with intermediate interaction likelihood scores. In our cross validation
      experiments, our methods achieved better results than three other state-of-the
      art methods in most cases. Finally, we simulated some "new drug" and "new target"
      cases and found that GRMF predicted the left-out interactions reasonably well.

PMID- 26890922
TI  - A Modified Multiple Alignment Fast Fourier Transform with Higher Efficiency.
AB  - Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) is the most common task in bioinformatics.
      Multiple alignment fast Fourier transform (MAFFT) is the fastest MSA program
      among those the accuracy of the resulting alignments can be comparable with the
      most accurate MSA programs. In this paper, we modify the correlation computation
      scheme of the MAFFT for further efficiency improvement in three aspects. First,
      novel complex number based amino acid and nucleotide expressions are utilized in
      the modified correlation. Second, linear convolution with a limitation is
      proposed for computing the correlation of amino acid and nucleotide sequences.
      Third, we devise a fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm for computing linear
      convolution. The FFT algorithm is based on conjugate pair split-radix FFT and
      does not require the permutation of order, and it is new as only real parts of
      the final outputs are required. Simulation results show that the speed of the
      modified scheme is 107.58 to 365.74 percent faster than that of the original
      MAFFT for one execution of the function Falign() of MAFFT, indicating its faster
      realization.

PMID- 26890923
TI  - Efficient Constant-Time Complexity Algorithm for Stochastic Simulation of Large
      Reaction Networks.
AB  - Exact stochastic simulation is an indispensable tool for a quantitative study of
      biochemical reaction networks. The simulation realizes the time evolution of the
      model by randomly choosing a reaction to fire and update the system state
      according to a probability that is proportional to the reaction propensity. Two
      computationally expensive tasks in simulating large biochemical networks are the
      selection of next reaction firings and the update of reaction propensities due to
      state changes. We present in this work a new exact algorithm to optimize both of
      these simulation bottlenecks. Our algorithm employs the composition-rejection on
      the propensity bounds of reactions to select the next reaction firing. The
      selection of next reaction firings is independent of the number reactions while
      the update of propensities is skipped and performed only when necessary. It
      therefore provides a favorable scaling for the computational complexity in
      simulating large reaction networks. We benchmark our new algorithm with the state
      of the art algorithms available in literature to demonstrate its applicability
      and efficiency.

PMID- 26890924
TI  - Nephron Sparing Surgery for Renal Mass: Is There Any Difference between
      Oncocytoma and Malignant Lesions.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A relatively high proportion of patients who undergo partial or
      radical nephrectomy for enhancing renal mass actually have oncocytoma, a benign
      renal tumor. Several parameters have been shown to be typical for oncocytoma, but
      only a small number of patients present with these parameters. The aim of our
      study was to report the clinical, operative and postoperative characteristics of
      patients who underwent nephron-sparing surgery in our center with a
      histopathological diagnosis of oncocytoma compared to patients with malignant
      renal tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three out of 530 patients who underwent
      nephron-sparing surgery for enhancing renal mass were diagnosed with oncocytoma.
      Clinical and radiological features and operational data of these patients were
      compared with patients who had malignant renal tumors. RESULTS: Mean age of
      patients with histologically proven non-malignant oncocytoma was significantly
      higher than that in patients with malignant renal cell carcinoma (66.7 vs. 61.4
      years). All other analyzed variables showed no significant difference between the
      2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: No reliable clinical, operative or radiological parameters
      can differentiate preoperatively between oncocytoma and malignant renal
      neoplasms.

PMID- 26890925
TI  - Robust Recurrent Kernel Online Learning.
AB  - We propose a robust recurrent kernel online learning (RRKOL) algorithm based on
      the celebrated real-time recurrent learning approach that exploits the kernel
      trick in a recurrent online training manner. The novel RRKOL algorithm guarantees
      weight convergence with regularized risk management through the use of adaptive
      recurrent hyperparameters for superior generalization performance. Based on a new
      concept of the structure update error with a variable parameter length, we are
      the first one to propose the detailed structure update error, such that the
      weight convergence and robust stability proof can be integrated with a kernel
      sparsification scheme based on a solid theoretical ground. The RRKOL algorithm
      automatically weighs the regularized term in the recurrent loss function, such
      that we not only minimize the estimation error but also improve the
      generalization performance through sparsification with simulation support.

PMID- 26890926
TI  - Mixtures of Conditional Random Fields for Improved Structured Output Prediction.
AB  - The conditional random field (CRF) is a successful probabilistic model for
      structured output prediction problems. In this brief, we consider to enlarge the
      representational capacity of CRF via mixture modeling. The motivation is that a
      single CRF can perform well if the data conform to the statistical dependence
      assumption imposed by the CRF model structure, whereas it may potentially fail to
      model the data that come from multiple different sources or domains. For the
      conventional conditional likelihood objective, we derive the expectation
      maximization algorithm in conjunction with the direct gradient ascent method for
      learning a CRF mixture with sequence or image-structured data. In addition, we
      provide alternative mixture learning algorithms that aim to maximize either the
      classification margin or the sitewise conditional likelihood, which were
      previously shown to outperform the conventional estimator for single CRF models
      in a variety of situations. We demonstrate the improved prediction accuracy of
      the proposed mixture learning algorithms on several important sequence labeling
      problems.

PMID- 26890927
TI  - Deep Direct Reinforcement Learning for Financial Signal Representation and
      Trading.
AB  - Can we train the computer to beat experienced traders for financial assert
      trading? In this paper, we try to address this challenge by introducing a
      recurrent deep neural network (NN) for real-time financial signal representation
      and trading. Our model is inspired by two biological-related learning concepts of
      deep learning (DL) and reinforcement learning (RL). In the framework, the DL part
      automatically senses the dynamic market condition for informative feature
      learning. Then, the RL module interacts with deep representations and makes
      trading decisions to accumulate the ultimate rewards in an unknown environment.
      The learning system is implemented in a complex NN that exhibits both the deep
      and recurrent structures. Hence, we propose a task-aware backpropagation through
      time method to cope with the gradient vanishing issue in deep training. The
      robustness of the neural system is verified on both the stock and the commodity
      future markets under broad testing conditions.

PMID- 26890928
TI  - Deep Neural Network for Structural Prediction and Lane Detection in Traffic
      Scene.
AB  - Hierarchical neural networks have been shown to be effective in learning
      representative image features and recognizing object classes. However, most
      existing networks combine the low/middle level cues for classification without
      accounting for any spatial structures. For applications such as understanding a
      scene, how the visual cues are spatially distributed in an image becomes
      essential for successful analysis. This paper extends the framework of deep
      neural networks by accounting for the structural cues in the visual signals. In
      particular, two kinds of neural networks have been proposed. First, we develop a
      multitask deep convolutional network, which simultaneously detects the presence
      of the target and the geometric attributes (location and orientation) of the
      target with respect to the region of interest. Second, a recurrent neuron layer
      is adopted for structured visual detection. The recurrent neurons can deal with
      the spatial distribution of visible cues belonging to an object whose shape or
      structure is difficult to explicitly define. Both the networks are demonstrated
      by the practical task of detecting lane boundaries in traffic scenes. The
      multitask convolutional neural network provides auxiliary geometric information
      to help the subsequent modeling of the given lane structures. The recurrent
      neural network automatically detects lane boundaries, including those areas
      containing no marks, without any explicit prior knowledge or secondary modeling.

PMID- 26890929
TI  - Learning Kernel Extended Dictionary for Face Recognition.
AB  - A sparse representation classifier (SRC) and a kernel discriminant analysis (KDA)
      are two successful methods for face recognition. An SRC is good at dealing with
      occlusion, while a KDA does well in suppressing intraclass variations. In this
      paper, we propose kernel extended dictionary (KED) for face recognition, which
      provides an efficient way for combining KDA and SRC. We first learn several
      kernel principal components of occlusion variations as an occlusion model, which
      can represent the possible occlusion variations efficiently. Then, the occlusion
      model is projected by KDA to get the KED, which can be computed via the same
      kernel trick as new testing samples. Finally, we use structured SRC for
      classification, which is fast as only a small number of atoms are appended to the
      basic dictionary, and the feature dimension is low. We also extend KED to
      multikernel space to fuse different types of features at kernel level.
      Experiments are done on several large-scale data sets, demonstrating that not
      only does KED get impressive results for nonoccluded samples, but it also handles
      the occlusion well without overfitting, even with a single gallery sample per
      subject.

PMID- 26890930
TI  - Learning Discriminative Subspaces on Random Contrasts for Image Saliency
      Analysis.
AB  - In visual saliency estimation, one of the most challenging tasks is to
      distinguish targets and distractors that share certain visual attributes. With
      the observation that such targets and distractors can sometimes be easily
      separated when projected to specific subspaces, we propose to estimate image
      saliency by learning a set of discriminative subspaces that perform the best in
      popping out targets and suppressing distractors. Toward this end, we first
      conduct principal component analysis on massive randomly selected image patches.
      The principal components, which correspond to the largest eigenvalues, are
      selected to construct candidate subspaces since they often demonstrate impressive
      abilities to separate targets and distractors. By projecting images onto various
      subspaces, we further characterize each image patch by its contrasts against
      randomly selected neighboring and peripheral regions. In this manner, the
      probable targets often have the highest responses, while the responses at
      background regions become very low. Based on such random contrasts, an
      optimization framework with pairwise binary terms is adopted to learn the
      saliency model that best separates salient targets and distractors by optimally
      integrating the cues from various subspaces. Experimental results on two public
      benchmarks show that the proposed approach outperforms 16 state-of-the-art
      methods in human fixation prediction.

PMID- 26890931
TI  - Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Coupons for Mechanical
      Characterization of Welded Joints through Single Lap Shear Testing.
AB  - This paper presents a novel straightforward method for ultrasonic welding of
      thermoplastic-composite coupons in optimum processing conditions. The ultrasonic
      welding process described in this paper is based on three main pillars. Firstly,
      flat energy directors are used for preferential heat generation at the joining
      interface during the welding process. A flat energy director is a neat
      thermoplastic resin film that is placed between the parts to be joined prior to
      the welding process and heats up preferentially owing to its lower compressive
      stiffness relative to the composite substrates. Consequently, flat energy
      directors provide a simple solution that does not require molding of resin
      protrusions on the surfaces of the composite substrates, as opposed to ultrasonic
      welding of unreinforced plastics. Secondly, the process data provided by the
      ultrasonic welder is used to rapidly define the optimum welding parameters for
      any thermoplastic composite material combination. Thirdly, displacement control
      is used in the welding process to ensure consistent quality of the welded joints.
      According to this method, thermoplastic-composite flat coupons are individually
      welded in a single lap configuration. Mechanical testing of the welded coupons
      allows determining the apparent lap shear strength of the joints, which is one of
      the properties most commonly used to quantify the strength of thermoplastic
      composite welded joints. 

PMID- 26890932
TI  - Homomorphic Deconvolution for MUAP Estimation From Surface EMG Signals.
AB  - This paper presents a technique for parametric model estimation of the motor unit
      action potential (MUAP) from the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal by using
      homomorphic deconvolution. The cepstrum-based deconvolution removes the effect of
      the stochastic impulse train, which originates the sEMG signal, from the power
      spectrum of sEMG signal itself. In this way, only information on MUAP shape and
      amplitude were maintained, and then, used to estimate the parameters of a time
      domain model of the MUAP itself. In order to validate the effectiveness of this
      technique, sEMG signals recorded during several biceps curl exercises have been
      used for MUAP amplitude and time scale estimation. The parameters so extracted as
      functions of time were used to evaluate muscle fatigue showing a good agreement
      with previously published results.

PMID- 26890933
TI  - Adaptive Dictionary Reconstruction for Compressed Sensing of ECG Signals.
AB  - This paper proposes a novel adaptive dictionary (AD) reconstruction scheme to
      improve the performance of compressed sensing (CS) with electrocardiogram signals
      (ECG). The method is based on the use of multiple dictionaries, created using
      dictionary learning (DL) techniques for CS signal reconstruction. The modified
      reconstruction framework is a two-stage process that leverages information about
      the signal from an initial signal reconstruction stage. By identifying whether a
      QRS complex is present and if so, determining a location estimate of the QRS, the
      most appropriate dictionary is selected and a second stage more refined signal
      reconstruction can be obtained. The performance of the proposed algorithm is
      compared with state-of-the-art CS implementations in the literature, as well as
      the set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) wavelet-based lossy
      compression algorithm. The results indicate that the proposed reconstruction
      scheme outperforms all existing CS implementations in terms of signal fidelity at
      each compression ratio tested. The performance of the proposed approach also
      compares favorably with SPIHT in terms of signal reconstruction quality.
      Furthermore, an analysis of the overall power consumption of the proposed ECG
      compression framework as would be used in a body area network (BAN) demonstrates
      positive results for the proposed CS approach when compared with existing CS
      techniques and SPIHT.

PMID- 26890934
TI  - Interrater reliability of emergency physician-performed ultrasonography for
      diagnosing femoral, popliteal, and great saphenous vein thromboses compared to
      the criterion standard study by radiology.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the interrater reliability and test characteristics of lower
      limb sonographic examination for the diagnosis of deep venous and proximal great
      saphenous vein thrombosis when performed by Emergency Physicians (EPs) as
      compared to that by the Department of Radiology (Radiology). The secondary
      objective was to assess the effects of patient body mass index and EP
      satisfaction with bedside ultrasound on sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: A
      prospective study was conducted for patients with clinical suspicion for lower
      extremity thrombus. EPs evaluated for venous thrombosis in the common femoral
      vein, femoral vein of the thigh, popliteal vein, and proximal great saphenous
      vein. Subsequently, all patients received ultrasounds by Radiology, the criterion
      standard. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven patients (257 individual legs) were
      evaluated. There was 90-95% agreement between EP and Radiology, moderate kappa
      agreement for common femoral vein, and femoral vein of the thigh and fair kappa
      agreement for great saphenous vein and popliteal vein. The sensitivity and
      specificity of EP ultrasounds compared with criterion standard were lower than
      previously reported. There was no trend in patient body mass index or provider
      satisfaction influencing the test characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      suggests that point-of-care sonography should not replace Radiology-performed
      scans. The required amount of training for EPs to be competent in this
      examination needs further investigation. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin
      Ultrasound 44:360-367, 2016.

PMID- 26890935
TI  - The useful field of view assessment predicts simulated commercial motor vehicle
      driving safety.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Useful Field of View (UFOV) assessment, a measure of visual speed
      of processing, has been shown to be a predictive measure of motor vehicle
      collision (MVC) involvement in an older adult population, but it remains unknown
      whether UFOV predicts commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driving safety during
      secondary task engagement. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the
      UFOV assessment predicts simulated MVCs in long-haul CMV drivers. METHOD: Fifty
      licensed CMV drivers (Mage = 39.80, SD = 8.38, 98% male, 56% Caucasian) were
      administered the 3-subtest version of the UFOV assessment, where lower scores
      measured in milliseconds indicated better performance. CMV drivers completed 4
      simulated drives, each spanning approximately a 22.50-mile distance. Four
      secondary tasks were presented to participants in a counterbalanced order during
      the drives: (a) no secondary task, (b) cell phone conversation, (c) text
      messaging interaction, and (d) e-mailing interaction with an on-board dispatch
      device. RESULTS: The selective attention subtest significantly predicted
      simulated MVCs regardless of secondary task. Each 20 ms slower on subtest 3 was
      associated with a 25% increase in the risk of an MVC in the simulated drive. The
      e-mail interaction secondary task significantly predicted simulated MVCs with a
      4.14 times greater risk of an MVC compared to the no secondary task condition.
      Subtest 3, a measure of visual speed of processing, significantly predicted MVCs
      in the email interaction task. Each 20 ms slower on subtest 3 was associated with
      a 25% increase in the risk of an MVC during the email interaction task.
      CONCLUSIONS: The UFOV subtest 3 may be a promising measure to identify CMV
      drivers who may be at risk for MVCs or in need of cognitive training aimed at
      improving speed of processing. Subtest 3 may also identify CMV drivers who are
      particularly at risk when engaged in secondary tasks while driving.

PMID- 26890936
TI  - D-Penicillamine modulates hydrogen sulfide (H2S) pathway through selective
      inhibition of cystathionine-gamma-lyase.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter produced from
      L-cysteine through the enzymatic action of cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) and/or
      cystathionine-beta-synthase. D-Penicillamine is the d isomer of a dimethylated
      cysteine and has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. AsD
      penicillamine is structurally very similar to cysteine, we have investigated
      whether D-penicillamine, as a cysteine analogue, has an effect on the H2 S
      pathway. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We tested the effect of D-penicillamine (0.01-1
      mM) in mouse aortic rings mounted in isolated organ baths and determined whether
      it could affect H2 S biosynthesis. In particular, we investigated any possible
      inhibitor or donor behaviour by using recombinant enzyme-based assays and an in
      vivo approach. KEY RESULTS: D-Penicillamine, per se, showed little or no
      vasodilator effect, and it cannot be metabolized as a substrate in place of l
      cysteine. However, d-penicillamine significantly reduced L-cysteine-induced
      vasodilatation in a concentration-dependent manner through inhibition of H2 S
      biosynthesis, and this effect occurred at concentrations 10 times lower than
      those needed to induce the release of H2 S. In particular, D-penicillamine
      selectively inhibited CSE in a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent manner.
      CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that D
      penicillamine acts as a selective CSE inhibitor, leading to new perspectives in
      the design and use of specific pharmacological tools for H2 S research. In
      addition, the inhibitory effect of D-penicillamine on CSE could account for its
      beneficial action in rheumatoid arthritis patients, where H2 S has been shown to
      have a detrimental effect.

PMID- 26890937
TI  - The diagnostic accuracy of brief versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Depression in older adults is often under recognised despite it being
      the most common mental health illness in this age group. An increasing older
      adult population highlights the need for improved diagnostic rates. Brief
      versions (15 items or less) of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), which are
      suitable for busy clinical practice, could improve detection rates. OBJECTIVE:
      Our aim is to establish the diagnostic accuracy of brief versions of the GDS.
      METHODS: Twelve electronic databases of published and unpublished literature were
      searched. Study selection was in accordance with predefined inclusion and
      exclusion criteria. A recognised gold-standard diagnostic instrument was used as
      a comparator against data pertaining to the use of a brief version of the GDS in
      an older adult population. The QUADAS-II was utilised for quality assessment.
      Narrative analysis and, where possible, meta-analysis were performed. RESULTS:
      Thirty-two studies were identified that provided diagnostic data regarding seven
      brief versions of the GDS (1, 4, 5, 7 8, 10 and 15-item versions). Pooled
      sensitivity was 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.94), and specificity
      was 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.86) for the GDS-15 at the recommended cut-off score of 5.
      Meta-analysis of other brief versions was not possible because of an insufficient
      number of studies with standardised items. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the
      possibility of selective reporting of cut-off scores, and therefore, findings
      should be approached cautiously. Studies should report all cut-off scores, and
      all brief GDS versions should be compiled of standardised items. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26890938
TI  - Combination therapy with beta3 -adrenoceptor agonists and muscarinic
      acetylcholine receptor antagonists: Efficacy in rats with bladder overactivity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of combination therapy of a selective
      beta3 -adrenoceptor agonist (mirabegron) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
      antagonists (a selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor2 antagonist:
      methoctramine hemihydrate or a selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor3
      antagonist; 4-DAMP) compared with monotherapy of either agent in rats with
      oxotremorine methiodide (a non-selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
      agonist)-induced bladder overactivity. METHODS: Cystometry was carried out in
      conscious female rats with intravesical instillation of oxotremorine methiodide
      (200 MUmol/L). Either mirabegron (0.3-3 mg/kg), methoctramine (0.1-1 mg/kg) or 4
      DAMP (0.03-0.3 mg/kg) was cumulatively applied intravenously. Also, the effects
      of combined application of mirabegron (3 mg/kg) plus methoctramine (1 mg/kg) or 4
      DAMP (0.3 mg/kg) on cystometric parameters were compared with those of single
      agent monotherapy. RESULTS: Intravesical instillation of oxotremorine methiodide
      induced bladder overactivity, as evidenced by decreases in threshold pressure and
      bladder capacity. In oxotremorine methiodide-treated rats, single application of
      mirabegron (1, 3 mg/kg), methoctramine (0.3, 1 mg/kg) or 4-DAMP (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg)
      decreased baseline pressure and increased bladder capacity. In addition,
      reductions in threshold pressure and maximal voiding pressure were also seen
      after the administration of 4-DAMP (0.3 mg/kg). The combined treatment of
      mirabegron plus 4-DAMP induced a larger increase in bladder capacity compared
      with monotherapy of either drug, whereas there were no significant changes in
      cystometric parameters between the combination therapy of mirabegron plus
      methoctramine and monotherapy of either drug. CONCLUSION: These results suggest
      that the combination therapy of beta3 -adrenoceptor agonists plus muscarinic
      acetylcholine receptor3 antagonists is more effective compared with monotherapy
      for the treatment of bladder overactivity. In contrast, the efficacy of beta3 
      adrenoceptor agonists might not be increased by the addition of muscarinic
      acetylcholine receptor2 antagonists.

PMID- 26890940
TI  - Leader-Following Consensus of Nonlinear Multiagent Systems With Stochastic
      Sampling.
AB  - This paper is concerned with sampled-data leader-following consensus of a group
      of agents with nonlinear characteristic. A distributed consensus protocol with
      probabilistic sampling in two sampling periods is proposed. First, a general
      consensus criterion is derived for multiagent systems under a directed graph. A
      number of results in several special cases without transmittal delays or with the
      deterministic sampling are obtained. Second, a dimension-reduced condition is
      obtained for multiagent systems under an undirected graph. It is shown that the
      leader-following consensus problem with stochastic sampling can be transferred
      into a master-slave synchronization problem with only one master system and two
      slave systems. The problem solving is independent of the number of agents, which
      greatly facilitates its application to large-scale networked agents. Third, the
      network design issue is further addressed, demonstrating the positive and active
      roles of the network structure in reaching consensus. Finally, two examples are
      given to verify the theoretical results.

PMID- 26890941
TI  - A Benchmark Test Suite for Dynamic Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization.
AB  - Growing trend of the dynamic multiobjective optimization research in the
      evolutionary computation community has increased the need for challenging and
      conceptually simple benchmark test suite to assess the optimization performance
      of an algorithm. This paper proposes a new dynamic multiobjective benchmark test
      suite which contains a number of component functions with clearly defined
      properties to assess the diversity maintenance and tracking ability of a dynamic
      multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). Time-varying fitness landscape
      modality, tradeoff connectedness, and tradeoff degeneracy are considered as these
      properties rarely exist in the current benchmark test instances. Cross-problem
      comparative study is presented to analyze the sensitivity of a given algorithm to
      certain fitness landscape properties. To demonstrate the use of the proposed
      benchmark test suite, three evolutionary multiobjective algorithms, namely
      nondominated sorting genetic algorithm, decomposition-based MOEA, and recently
      proposed Kalman-filter-based prediction approach, are analyzed and compared.
      Besides, two problem-specific performance metrics are designed to assess the
      convergence and diversity performances, respectively. By applying the proposed
      test suite and performance metrics, microscopic performance details of these
      algorithms are uncovered to provide insightful guidance to the algorithm
      designer.

PMID- 26890943
TI  - An Overview and Empirical Comparison of Distance Metric Learning Methods.
AB  - In this paper, we first offer an overview of advances in the field of distance
      metric learning. Then, we empirically compare selected methods using a common
      experimental protocol. The number of distance metric learning algorithms proposed
      keeps growing due to their effectiveness and wide application. However, existing
      surveys are either outdated or they focus only on a few methods. As a result,
      there is an increasing need to summarize the obtained knowledge in a concise, yet
      informative manner. Moreover, existing surveys do not conduct comprehensive
      experimental comparisons. On the other hand, individual distance metric learning
      papers compare the performance of the proposed approach with only a few related
      methods and under different settings. This highlights the need for an
      experimental evaluation using a common and challenging protocol. To this end, we
      conduct face verification experiments, as this task poses significant challenges
      due to varying conditions during data acquisition. In addition, face verification
      is a natural application for distance metric learning because the encountered
      challenge is to define a distance function that: 1) accurately expresses the
      notion of similarity for verification; 2) is robust to noisy data; 3) generalizes
      well to unseen subjects; and 4) scales well with the dimensionality and number of
      training samples. In particular, we utilize well-tested features to assess the
      performance of selected methods following the experimental protocol of the state
      of-the-art database labeled faces in the wild. A summary of the results is
      presented along with a discussion of the insights obtained and lessons learned by
      employing the corresponding algorithms.

PMID- 26890942
TI  - Classifying a Person's Degree of Accessibility From Natural Body Language During
      Social Human-Robot Interactions.
AB  - For social robots to be successfully integrated and accepted within society, they
      need to be able to interpret human social cues that are displayed through natural
      modes of communication. In particular, a key challenge in the design of social
      robots is developing the robot's ability to recognize a person's affective states
      (emotions, moods, and attitudes) in order to respond appropriately during social
      human-robot interactions (HRIs). In this paper, we present and discuss social HRI
      experiments we have conducted to investigate the development of an accessibility
      aware social robot able to autonomously determine a person's degree of
      accessibility (rapport, openness) toward the robot based on the person's natural
      static body language. In particular, we present two one-on-one HRI experiments
      to: 1) determine the performance of our automated system in being able to
      recognize and classify a person's accessibility levels and 2) investigate how
      people interact with an accessibility-aware robot which determines its own
      behaviors based on a person's speech and accessibility levels.

PMID- 26890944
TI  - Stochastic Set-Based Particle Swarm Optimization Based on Local Exploration for
      Solving the Carpool Service Problem.
AB  - The growing ubiquity of vehicles has led to increased concerns about
      environmental issues. These concerns can be mitigated by implementing an
      effective carpool service. In an intelligent carpool system, an automated service
      process assists carpool participants in determining routes and matches. It is a
      discrete optimization problem that involves a system-wide condition as well as
      participants' expectations. In this paper, we solve the carpool service problem
      (CSP) to provide satisfactory ride matches. To this end, we developed a particle
      swarm carpool algorithm based on stochastic set-based particle swarm optimization
      (PSO). Our method introduces stochastic coding to augment traditional particles,
      and uses three terminologies to represent a particle: 1) particle position; 2)
      particle view; and 3) particle velocity. In this way, the set-based PSO (S-PSO)
      can be realized by local exploration. In the simulation and experiments, two kind
      of discrete PSOs-S-PSO and binary PSO (BPSO)-and a genetic algorithm (GA) are
      compared and examined using tested benchmarks that simulate a real-world
      metropolis. We observed that the S-PSO outperformed the BPSO and the GA
      thoroughly. Moreover, our method yielded the best result in a statistical test
      and successfully obtained numerical results for meeting the optimization
      objectives of the CSP.

PMID- 26890939
TI  - Rab6 Is Required for Multiple Apical Transport Pathways but Not the Basolateral
      Transport Pathway in Drosophila Photoreceptors.
AB  - Polarized membrane trafficking is essential for the construction and maintenance
      of multiple plasma membrane domains of cells. Highly polarized Drosophila
      photoreceptors are an excellent model for studying polarized transport. A single
      cross-section of Drosophila retina contains many photoreceptors with 3 clearly
      differentiated plasma membrane domains: a rhabdomere, stalk, and basolateral
      membrane. Genome-wide high-throughput ethyl methanesulfonate screening followed
      by precise immunohistochemical analysis identified a mutant with a rare phenotype
      characterized by a loss of 2 apical transport pathways with normal basolateral
      transport. Rapid gene identification using whole-genome resequencing and single
      nucleotide polymorphism mapping identified a nonsense mutation of Rab6
      responsible for the apical-specific transport deficiency. Detailed analysis of
      the trafficking of a major rhabdomere protein Rh1 using blue light-induced
      chromophore supply identified Rab6 as essential for Rh1 to exit the Golgi units.
      Rab6 is mostly distributed from the trans-Golgi network to a Golgi-associated
      Rab11-positive compartment that likely recycles endosomes or transport vesicles
      going to recycling endosomes. Furthermore, the Rab6 effector, Rich, is required
      for Rab6 recruitment in the trans-Golgi network. Moreover, a Rich null mutation
      phenocopies the Rab6 null mutant, indicating that Rich functions as a guanine
      nucleotide exchange factor for Rab6. The results collectively indicate that Rab6
      and Rich are essential for the trans-Golgi network-recycling endosome transport
      of cargoes destined for 2 apical domains. However, basolateral cargos are sorted
      and exported from the trans-Golgi network in a Rab6-independent manner.

PMID- 26890946
TI  - Improved Stability Condition for Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Systems With Time-Varying
      Delay.
AB  - In this paper, the stability analysis problem of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with
      time-varying delay is investigated. By utilizing the Wirtinger-based integral
      inequality and the improved reciprocally convex combination technique, an
      improved stability condition is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities. A
      numerical example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the obtained result.

PMID- 26890947
TI  - Robust Filtering for a Class of Networked Nonlinear Systems With Switching
      Communication Channels.
AB  - This paper is concerned with the problem of robust filter design for a class of
      discrete-time networked nonlinear systems. The Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model is
      employed to represent the underlying nonlinear dynamics. A multi-channel
      communication scheme that involves a channel switching phenomenon described by a
      Markov chain is proposed for data transmission. Two typical communication
      imperfections, network-induced time-varying delays and packet dropouts are
      considered in each channel. The objective of this paper is to design an
      admissible filter such that the filter error system is stochastically stable and
      ensures a prescribed disturbance attenuation level bound. Based on the Lyapunov
      Krasovskii functional method and matrix inequality techniques, sufficient
      conditions on the existence of the desired filter are obtained. A numerical
      example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design
      approach.

PMID- 26890949
TI  - Movement Along the Spine Induced by Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Related
      Electrode Positioning.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To describe a
      technique quantifying movement induced by transcranial electrical stimulation
      (TES) induced movement in relation to the positioning of electrodes during spinal
      deformity surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: TES induced movement may cause
      injuries and delay surgical procedures. When TES movements are evoked, muscles
      other than those being monitored any adjustments in stimulation protocols and
      electrode positioning may be expected to minimize movement whereas preserving
      quality of monitoring. In this study, seismic evoked responses (SER) induced
      through TES were studied at different electrode positions. METHODS:
      Intraoperative TES-motor evoked potentials were carried out in 12 patients
      undergoing corrective spine surgery. Accelerometer transducers recorded SER in
      two directions at four different locations of the spine for TES-electrode montage
      groups Cz-Fz and C3-C4. A paired t test was used to compare the means of SER and
      the relationship between movement and TES electrode positioning. RESULTS: SERs
      were strongest in the upper body. All mean SERs values for the Cz-Fz group were
      up to five times larger when compared with the C3-C4 group. However, there were
      no differences between the C3-C4 and Cz-Fz groups in the lower body locations.
      Both electrode montage groups showed a gradual stepwise reduction in all mean SER
      values along the spine from the cranial to caudal region. For the upper body
      locations, there were no significant associations between SER and both montages;
      in contrast, a significant association SER was demonstrated in the lumbar region.
      CONCLUSION: At supramaximum levels, movements resulting from multipulse TES are
      likely caused by relatively strong contractions from muscles in the neck
      resulting from direct extracranial stimulation. When interchanging electrode
      montages in individual cases, the movement in the neck may become reduced. At
      lumbar levels transcranial evoked muscle contractions dominate movement in the
      surgically exposed areas. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890948
TI  - Postoperative administration of dienogest for suppressing recurrence of disease
      and relieving pain in subjects with ovarian endometriomas.
AB  - To assess the effect of dienogest on recurrence of ovarian endometriomas and
      severity of pain after laparoscopic surgery, a retrospective study of 81 patients
      was performed at three institutions in Osaka, Japan. Patients had a six-month
      minimum follow-up after laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriomas performed
      between June 2012 and August 2014. Patients who chose to receive 2 mg dienogest
      daily and those who were managed expectantly postoperatively were included.
      Recurrence was defined as the presence of endometriomas of more than 2 cm. A
      visual analog scale (VAS) was used to score the intensity of pelvic pain. The
      cumulative recurrence rate and absolute VAS score changes between the baseline
      and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of administration were evaluated
      in both groups. The recurrence rate was 16.5% and 24.0% in the expectant
      management group at 12 and 24 months, respectively. No recurrences occurred in
      the dienogest treatment group. The rate of VAS score reduction was significantly
      higher in the dienogest than in the expectant management group. Dienogest is
      effective on the recurrence of ovarian endometrioma and relieving pelvic pain
      after laparoscopic surgery.

PMID- 26890950
TI  - A Method to Prevent Occipitocervical Joint Violation Using Plain Radiography
      During Percutaneous Anterior Transarticular Screw Fixation.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of anterior transarticular screw (ATS) fixation
      patients. OBJECTIVE: To develop a method to determine screw tip position through
      plain radiography after percutaneous ATS fixation to prevent occipitocervical
      joint (OCJ) violation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No studies using plain
      radiography to prevent OCJ violation during percutaneous ATS fixation have been
      performed. METHODS: In total, 34 subjects (with 68 screws) who had undergone
      percutaneous ATS fixation were enrolled. To evaluate the screw tip location in
      relation to the C1 lateral mass (LM), the screw tip positions were graded 1, 2,
      or 3 on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs, and I, II, or III on lateral
      radiographs. OCJ violation was analyzed by postoperative computed tomography
      (CT). RESULTS: Screws with tips located lower (tip I) in the LM did not result in
      OCJ violation. Only one tip in the tip 3 position showed OCJ perforation, and
      this screw was also located in tip III. Screw perforation rates of tip 1-tip II,
      tip 1-tip III, and tip 2-tip III were the highest (100%), followed by tip 2-tip
      II (10.5%) and tip3-tip III (10%). CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into
      OCJ violation during percutaneous ATS fixation. According to AP radiography, a
      percutaneous ATS with the screw tip located in the lateral part of the LM
      resulted in a lower rate of OCJ perforation, whereas screws located in the medial
      LM resulted in the highest rate of perforation. Percutaneous ATS with the screw
      tip located in the neutral part of the LM should ensure that the screw tip is
      below the upper part of the LM, preventing OCJ violation. These findings may help
      surgeons assess screw positioning both during and after the operation. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26890951
TI  - Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Progression and De Novo Spondylolisthesis in Elderly
      Chinese Men and Women: A Year-4 Follow-up Study.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal follow-up study. OBJECTIVE: This current study aimed
      to further assess progression, incidence, and risk factors of lumbar
      spondylolisthesis in these subjects at 4-year follow-up. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND
      DATA: A survey for osteoporotic fractures in Hong Kong during 2001 to 2003
      represented the first large scale prospective population-based study on bone
      health in elderly (>=65 years) Chinese men and women. A follow-up study was
      performed at year-4. METHODS: The lateral lumbar radiographs of 1519 male and
      1546 female subjects at year-4 follow-up were analyzed using the Meyerding
      classification, and compared with the baseline findings. RESULTS:
      Spondylolisthesis progressed in 13.0%, and de novo spondylolisthesis appeared in
      12.4% in men. Spondylolisthesis progressed in 16.5%, and de novo
      spondylolisthesis appeared in 12.7% in women. In women, higher weight, body mass
      index, spine and hip bone mineral density (BMD), lower physical activity and
      lower grip strength were significant factors associated with spondylolisthesis
      progression, whereas only higher spine BMD was a marginally significant factor
      associated with spondylolisthesis progression for men. A weak association was
      noted between spondylolisthesis and lower back pain incidence in women, but not
      in men. CONCLUSION: Lumbar spondylolisthesis progression in elderly Chinese at 4
      year follow-up was characterized by this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26890952
TI  - Comparison of Cervical Kinematics, Pain, and Functional Disability Between Single
      and Two-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, time series design. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this
      study is two-fold: firstly, to investigate the impact of altered cervical
      alignment and range of motion (ROM) on patients' self-reported outcomes after
      anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and secondly, to comparatively
      differentiate the influence of single- and two-level ACDF on the cervical ROM and
      adjacent segmental kinematics up to 12-month postoperatively. SUMMARY OF
      BACKGROUND DATA: ACDF is one of the most commonly employed surgical interventions
      to treat degenerative disc disease. However, there are limited in vivo data on
      the impact of ACDF on the cervical kinematics and its association with patient
      reported clinical outcomes. METHODS: Sixty-two patients (36 males; 55.63 +/- 11.6
      yrs) undergoing either a single- or consecutive two-level ACDF were recruited.
      The clinical outcomes were assessed with the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and
      the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Radiological results included cervical lordosis,
      global C2-C7 ROM, ROM of the Functional Spinal Unit (FSU), and its adjacent
      segments. The outcome measures were collected preoperatively and then at 3, 6,
      and 12-month postoperatively. RESULTS: A significant reduction of both VAS and
      NDI was found for both groups from the preoperative to 3-month period (P < 0.01).
      Pearson correlation revealed no significant correlation between global ROM with
      neither VAS (P = 0.667) nor NDI (P = 0.531). A significant reduction of global
      ROM was identified for the two-level ACDF group at 12 months (P = 0.017) but not
      for the single-level group. A significant interaction effect was identified for
      the upper adjacent segment ROM (P = 0.024) but not at the lower adjacent segment.
      CONCLUSION: Current study utilized dynamic radiographs to comparatively evaluate
      the biomechanical impact of single- and two-level ACDF. The results highlighted
      that the two-level group demonstrated a greater reduction of global ROM coupled
      with an increased upper adjacent segmental compensatory motions that is
      independent of patient-perceived recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26890953
TI  - How Effective is Physical Therapy for Common Low Back Pain Diagnoses?: A
      Multivariate Analysis of 4597 Patients.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to
      evaluate whether the treatment of low back pain with physical therapy results in
      clinically significant improvements in patient-reported pain and functional
      outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain is a major cause of morbidity
      and disability in health care. Previous studies have found poor efficacy for
      surgery in the absence of specific indications. A variety of nonoperative
      treatments are available; however, there is scant evidence to guide the
      practitioner as to the efficacy of these treatments. METHODS: Four thousand five
      hundred ninety-seven patients who underwent physical therapy for the nonoperative
      treatment of low back pain were included. The primary outcome measures were pre
      and post-treatment scores on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Numeric Pain
      Rating Scale (NPRS) during activity, and NPRS during rest. Previously published
      thresholds for minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were used to
      determine the proportion of patients meeting MCID for each of our outcomes.
      Patients with starting values below the MCID for each variable were excluded from
      analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine patient risk factors
      predictive of treatment failure. RESULTS: About 28.5% of patients met the MCID
      for improvement in ODI. Presence of night symptoms, obesity, and smoking were
      predictors of treatment failure for ODI. Fifty-nine percent of patients met the
      MCID for improvement in resting NPRS, with a history of venous thromboembolism,
      night symptoms, psychiatric disease, workers' compensation status, smoking, and
      obesity predictive of treatment failure. Sixty percent of patients met the MCID
      for improvement in activity NPRS, with night symptoms, workers' compensation
      status, and smoking predictive of treatment failure. CONCLUSION: We observed that
      a substantial percentage of the population did not meet MCID for pain and
      function following treatment of low back pain with physical therapy. Common risk
      factors for treatment failure included smoking and presence of night symptoms.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890954
TI  - Three-dimensional Cervical Movement Characteristics in Healthy Subjects and
      Subgroups of Chronic Neck Pain Patients Based on Their Pain Location.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study of three-dimensional (3D)
      cervical kinematics in 41 chronic neck pain (CNPs) patients and 156 asymptomatic
      controls. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate 3D cervical kinematics by
      analyzing and comparing quantitative and qualitative parameters in healthy
      subjects and CNPs. Furthermore, subgroups were formed to explore the influence of
      pain-location on cervical kinematics. The possible correlation of kinematic
      parameters with the degree of functional disability was examined as well. SUMMARY
      OF BACKGROUND DATA: In patients with chronic neck pain, a clear pathological
      cause is frequently not identifiable. Therefore, the need to assess neck pain
      with a broader view than structure or anatomical-based divergences is desirable.
      METHODS: Movements of the cervical spine were registered using an electromagnetic
      tracking system. Quantitative and qualitative kinematics were analyzed for active
      axial rotation, lateral bending, and flexion-extension motion components.
      RESULTS: During lateral bending, the range of the main motion demonstrated
      significant higher values (P = 0.001) in the controls (mean: 68.67 degrees  +/-
      15.17 degrees ) than patients (mean: 59.28 degrees  +/- 15.41 degrees ).
      Significant differences were demonstrated between subgroups for several kinematic
      parameters (P < 0.05). Although differences were predominantly recorded between
      the "symmetrical" and "asymmetrical" pain group, some parameters also
      distinguished subgroups from controls. On average, the symmetrical group showed
      significant less harmonic movement patterns, expressed by qualitative parameters,
      in comparison with the "asymmetrical" group and controls. Furthermore, the
      "asymmetrical" group showed significant lower scores on quantitative parameters
      than the "symmetrical" group and controls. The degree of functional disability
      correlated moderately with changes in qualitative parameters. CONCLUSION: In this
      study, chronic neck pain patients with a symmetrical pain pattern showed
      significant poorer quality of movement, while those with asymmetrical pain showed
      a significant reduction in quantitative measures. Subgrouping of neck patients
      based on pain location may be of help for further research and clinics. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890955
TI  - Lymphocyte Count at 4 Days Postoperatively and CRP Level at 7 Days
      Postoperatively: Reliable and Useful Markers for Surgical Site Infection
      Following Instrumented Spinal Fusion.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to
      identify biochemical markers for surgical site infection (SSI) in posterior
      instrumented spinal fusion that are not affected by operative circumstances and
      to determine diagnostic cutoffs for these markers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:
      Numerous biochemical markers may be used for early detection of SSI; however,
      these markers may be affected by operative factors. METHODS: We reviewed data on
      C-reactive protein level and total white blood cell count and differential count
      before instrumented spinal fusion and at 1, 4, and 7 days postoperatively. The
      141 patients in our sample were divided into an SSI group (patients who developed
      deep SSI) and a no-SSI group. We determined which markers differed significantly
      between groups and identified those not affected by operative circumstances
      (operating time, intraoperative blood loss, number of fusion segments) in the no
      SSI group. Then, we determined diagnostic cutoffs for these unaffected markers by
      using receiver-operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Three markers were
      selected: lymphocyte count at 4 days postoperatively (cutoff 1180/MUL,
      sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 65.4%, area under the curve [AUC] 0.80),
      lymphocyte count of at 7 days postoperatively (cutoff <1090/MUL, sensitivity
      63.6%, specificity 78.5%, AUC 0.77), and C-reactive protein level at 7 days
      postoperatively (cutoff >4.4 mg/dL, sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 89.2%, AUC
      0.95). CONCLUSION: Lymphocyte count at 4 and 7 days postoperatively and C
      reactive protein level at 7 days postoperatively are reliable markers for SSI
      following instrumented spinal fusion. Lymphocyte count at 4 days should be useful
      for screening because of its high sensitivity and because it can be measured
      early. C-reactive protein level at 7 days should be useful for definitive
      diagnosis given its high sensitivity and specificity and large AUC. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890956
TI  - Drain Tip Culture is Not Prognostic for Surgical Site Infection in Spinal Surgery
      Under Prophylactic Use of Antibiotics.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the
      prognostic value of drain tip culture performed for surgical site infection (SSI)
      after spinal surgery with a large number of subjects, and investigated whether
      the type of surgery or timing of drain removal correlated with positive drain
      culture and SSI rates. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In many institutions, routine
      culture of suction drain tips that are placed in the surgical site of spinal
      surgeries has been performed to detect contamination after removal. However, few
      reports have evaluated whether drain tip culture is prognostic for SSI after
      spinal surgery. METHODS: A total of 1240 suction drain tips that had been used in
      spinal surgeries were cultured after removal. Prophylactic antibiotics were
      administered during and after the surgery for 48 hours. We evaluated the
      correlation between the results of positive drain tip culture, SSI, and drain
      removal timing. RESULTS: Positive drain tip cultures were found in 55 cases
      (4.4%). True SSI was identified in 18 cases (1.5%). The most frequently isolated
      microorganism in the both cases was Staphylococcus. The sensitivity of drain tip
      culture for SSI after spinal surgery was calculated as 0% according to the
      concordance rate between bacteria isolated in drain tip culture and SSI cases.
      There was no correlation between the duration of suction drainage and the drain
      tip culture results or the onset of SSI within 72 hours. The results of suction
      drain tip culture could not reflect those of SSI regardless of the type of
      surgery (primary or revision), surgical region, surgical procedure, or implant
      use. CONCLUSION: Drain tip culture in spinal surgery was not prognostic for SSI
      or helpful in detecting pathogenic bacteria for SSI. Routine use of drain tip
      culture when prophylactic antibiotics are used is not supported by the results of
      this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890957
TI  - A Uniquely Shaped Rod Improves Curve Correction in Surgical Treatment of
      Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is
      to determine the initial curve correction in patients surgically treated for
      adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using either beam-like rods (BRs) or
      traditional circular rods (CRs). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Posterior fusion
      using all pedicle screw instrumentation has become the standard for the surgical
      treatment of AIS. Traditionally, the rod is circular in the cross-sectional
      plane. Recent biomechanical studies suggest that a beam-like structure of the rod
      may enhance the stiffness of the construct and thereby possibly improve curve
      correction. METHODS: Two consecutive series of patients surgically treated for
      AIS between May 2011 and May 2015 were included in the study. Patients were all
      treated with an ultralow profile all-pedicle screw implant system. In the first
      series, conventional 5.5 mm CoCr CR were used, and in the second series, 5.5 mm
      CoCr BR were used. Antero-posterior and lateral radiographs preoperatively and
      within seven days after surgery were used to measure the correction obtained.
      RESULTS: The first 60 patients were operated with CR and the subsequent 69 with
      BR. There was no statistical difference in age, gender, preoperative curve
      magnitude, Lenke type, or number of levels instrumented (P = 0.451). Major curve
      correction was significantly better in the BR group than in the CR group (66 vs.
      57%) (P < 0.001). We found no difference in preoperative flexibility, secondary
      curve correction, sagittal balance, or coronal balance (P > 0.058). A
      postoperative decrease in thoracic kyphosis was seen with no significant
      difference between groups. Median T5-T12 change was -7 degrees  versus -3 degrees
      for BR and CR, respectively (P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: A BR design results in a
      significantly better curve correction than conventional rods, but the difference
      is moderate and the clinical value is uncertain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26890958
TI  - Surgical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Patients With Diffuse Large B-cell
      Lymphoma-associated Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to
      discuss the factors that may affect surgical outcomes of patient with diffuse
      large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-associated metastatic spinal cord compression
      (MSCC). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: DLBCL in the spine is rare and minimal
      information has been published in the literature regarding this subject. Although
      DLBCL is highly sensitive to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical
      decompression is recommended in the treatment of DLBCL-associated MSCC. However,
      the prognostic factors affecting surgical outcomes of patients with DLBCL
      associated MSCC remain unknown. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study to
      investigate the impact of surgical decompression on recovery from neurological
      deficit caused by DLBCL-associated MSCC. Univariate and multivariate analyses
      were performed to identify prognostic factors for overall survival of spinal
      DLBCL. The survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and
      differences were analyzed by the log-rank test. Factors with P values of 0.1 or
      less were subjected to multivariate analysis for survival rate by multivariate
      Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients with spinal
      DLBCL from 2003 to 2014 were included in the study. International Prognostic
      Index (IPI) (0-1/2-5), duration of preoperative symptoms (<=2m/>2m), and lactate
      dehydrogenase (normal/abnormal) were suggested as the potential prognostic
      factors through univariate analysis. However, as they were submitted to the
      multivariate Cox regression model, only IPI and duration of preoperative symptoms
      were found as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Surgical decompression
      improves recovery from neurological deficit. Patient IPI score plays an important
      role in decision making for surgical intervention, as it affects the length of
      survival and functional outcome. Patients with duration of preoperative symptoms
      no more than 2 months confer a very poor prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26890959
TI  - Delayed Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
      Without Radiographic Abnormality.
AB  - STUDY DESIGN: A prospective imaging study to develop diagnostic criteria.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate image findings on delayed
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the acute phase of spinal cord injury
      without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) and their relationship with symptom
      severity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MRI is used to diagnose acute neurological
      injury, with increased signal intensity (ISI) and prevertebral hyperintensity
      (PVH) often seen in patients with SCIWORA; however, changes after the acute phase
      are unclear. METHODS: We included 68 patients diagnosed with SCIWORA within 48
      hours of injury. We then compared their acute (within 2 days) and delayed (after
      2 weeks) MRI images. ISI grade (0-3) and ISI and PVH ranges (relative to the C3
      vertebral height) were measured. Neurological status at admission and 2 weeks
      after injury was assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system
      for cervical myelopathy (JOA score) and the American Spinal Injury Association
      impairment scale. RESULTS: For acute MRI, the rates of grade 0, 1, and 2 ISI were
      4, 54, and 10 patients, respectively. For delayed MRI, the rates of grade 0, 1,
      and 2 ISI changed to 3, 31, and 34 patients, respectively. ISI ranges reduced in
      delayed MRI, but there was no significance. PVH ranges were 3.0 +/- 1.7 in acute
      MRI, and reduced to 1.3 +/- 0.9 with significant difference (P < 0.001). There
      were significant negative correlations with the JOA score for ISI grades on
      delayed MRI only (r = -0.49). However, there were significant negative
      correlations with the JOA score for the PVH range on both the acute (r = -0.55)
      and delayed (r = -0.46) MRI. CONCLUSION: When comparing acute and delayed MRI,
      there were significant differences in ISI and PVH findings. Delayed MRI also
      reflected the clinical symptom severity, giving useful information about the
      state of the spinal cord. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26890960
TI  - Synthesis and properties of new mononuclear Ru(II)-based photocatalysts
      containing 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl ligands.
AB  - The synthesis and characterisation of a series of eleven new 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'
      bipyridyl derivatives (N^N) with varying 4- or 3,5-substituents on the phenyl
      rings are reported. The molecular structures of two of these compounds, 4,4'
      bis(3,5-diheptyloxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl and 4,4'-bis(3,5-di-4,4,5,5,5
      pentafluoropentyloxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl are confirmed by X-ray
      crystallography. Fourteen neutral complexes trans-Ru(II)Cl2(N^N)(CO)2 are
      prepared by reacting the new proligands and three known ones with the polymeric
      precursor [Ru(II)Cl2(CO)2]n, and their optical and electrochemical properties are
      studied. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations have
      been carried out on selected complexes in order to rationalise their electronic
      structures and absorption properties. The low energy electronic absorption bands
      have metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT)
      character, but these dominate only in the 4-substituted species. In the 3,5
      disubstituted ones, intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) within the bpy ligands
      becomes more important. The complexes show only irreversible reductive
      electrochemistry and no signs of polymerisation. The photocatalytic oxidation
      behaviour of selected trans-Ru(II)Cl2(N^N)(CO)2 complexes and their mono-aquo
      derivatives [Ru(II)(H2O)(CO)2Cl(N^N)](+) with 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is studied.
      Turnover numbers of up to ca. 130 are achieved when using [Ru(II)(bpy)3](2+) (bpy
      = 2,2'-bipyridyl) as photosensitizer and [Co(III)(NH3)5Cl](2+) as a sacrificial
      oxidant.

PMID- 26890961
TI  - The impact of solvents on the singlet and triplet states of selected fluorine
      corroles - absorption, fluorescence, and optoacoustic studies.
AB  - This paper examines the influence of aprotic solvents on the spectroscopic
      properties as well as the energy deactivation of two free-base corrole dyes
      substituted with C6F5 and/or 4-NO2C6H4 groups. Absorption, fluorescence and laser
      induced optoacoustic spectroscopy have been used to follow the singlet and
      triplet states of fluorine corroles belonging to the A2B and A3 type in toluene
      (TL), chloroform (CL), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and
      also in solvent mixtures. Changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectra are
      influenced by the type of solvent mixture. The fluorescence behaviors of the two
      investigated corroles were extremely different - fluorescence of the nitro
      corrole in TL is dramatically quenched in the presence of DMF. In contrast,
      fluorescence quenching of fluorine corroles in DMF-TL mixtures is substantially
      weakened. Absorption, fluorescence, triplet population as well as singlet oxygen
      generation parameters are evaluated. The spectral experimental data are supported
      by quantum chemical calculations - time-dependent density functional theory (TD
      DFT) and cyclic voltammetry experiments. The presented results are discussed from
      a viewpoint of aggregation, tautomerization, and deprotonation effects occurring
      in the corroles. 

PMID- 26890963
TI  - Metal-semiconductor pair nanoparticles by a physical route based on bipolar
      mixing.
AB  - In this report a methodology is described and demonstrated for preparing Au-Ge
      pair nanoparticles with known compositions by extending and modifying the basic
      steps normally used to synthesize nanoparticles in carrier gas. For the formation
      of pair nanoparticles by bipolar mixing, two oppositely charged aerosols of
      nanoparticles having the desired size are produced with the help of two
      differential mobility analyzers. Then both are allowed to pass through a tube,
      which provides sufficient residence time to result in nanoparticle pair formation
      due to Brownian collisions influenced by Coulomb forces. The effect of residence
      time on the formation of nanoparticle pairs as well as the influence of diffusion
      and discharging is described. Subsequently, necessary modifications to the
      experimental setup are demonstrated systematically. The kinetics of nanoparticles
      pair formation in a carrier gas is also calculated and compared with measurements
      made with the help of an online aerosol size analysis technique. This synthesis
      of nanoparticle pairs can be seen as a possible route towards Janus-type
      nanoparticles. 

PMID- 26890962
TI  - Kid depletion in mouse oocytes associated with multinucleated blastomere
      formation and inferior embryo development.
AB  - This study investigated the knockdown (KD) of Kid on maturation developmental
      competence and multinucleation of mouse germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes after
      parthenogenetic activation. Data revealed that Kid messenger RNA (mRNA) was
      expressed in GV and MII stage oocyte and 1- and 2-cell embryos. Additionally, Kid
      mRNA expression in the Kid KD group decreased by nearly 46% compared to the
      control small interfering RNA (siRNA) groups. The rate of multinucleated embryos
      in the Kid KD group (52.4%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control
      siRNA group (4.7%). Finally, the developmental rates were significantly lower in
      the Kid siRNA group at > 4-cell stage (28.6% vs. 53.5%) and the blastocyst stage
      (2.4% vs. 23.3%) compared to the control siRNA groups. Suppression of Kid using
      siRNA caused multinucleation in early embryos with high frequency and it may
      increase 2- to 4-cell arrested embryos and reduce the developmental competence to
      blastocyst. 

PMID- 26890964
TI  - Quantitative characterization of conformational-specific protein-DNA binding
      using a dual-spectral interferometric imaging biosensor.
AB  - DNA-binding proteins play crucial roles in the maintenance and functions of the
      genome and yet, their specific binding mechanisms are not fully understood.
      Recently, it was discovered that DNA-binding proteins recognize specific binding
      sites to carry out their functions through an indirect readout mechanism by
      recognizing and capturing DNA conformational flexibility and deformation. High
      throughput DNA microarray-based methods that provide large-scale protein-DNA
      binding information have shown effective and comprehensive analysis of protein
      DNA binding affinities, but do not provide information of DNA conformational
      changes in specific protein-DNA complexes. Building on the high-throughput
      capability of DNA microarrays, we demonstrate a quantitative approach that
      simultaneously measures the amount of protein binding to DNA and nanometer-scale
      DNA conformational change induced by protein binding in a microarray format. Both
      measurements rely on spectral interferometry on a layered substrate using a
      single optical instrument in two distinct modalities. In the first modality, we
      quantitate the amount of binding of protein to surface-immobilized DNA in each
      DNA spot using a label-free spectral reflectivity technique that accurately
      measures the surface densities of protein and DNA accumulated on the substrate.
      In the second modality, for each DNA spot, we simultaneously measure DNA
      conformational change using a fluorescence vertical sectioning technique that
      determines average axial height of fluorophores tagged to specific nucleotides of
      the surface-immobilized DNA. The approach presented in this paper, when combined
      with current high-throughput DNA microarray-based technologies, has the potential
      to serve as a rapid and simple method for quantitative and large-scale
      characterization of conformational specific protein-DNA interactions. 

PMID- 26890965
TI  - Induction docetaxel and S-1 followed by concomitant radiotherapy with low-dose
      daily cisplatin in locally advanced head and neck carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of
      induction chemotherapy with docetaxel-S-1, and radiotherapy (RT) with concurrent
      daily cisplatin in locally advanced head and neck carcinoma. METHOD: Fifty
      patients received 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy with induction chemotherapy
      with docetaxel and S-1, followed by 7 cycles of RT with concurrent daily
      cisplatin. RESULTS: The most frequent grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicity was
      neutropenia (14%). Forty of 50 patients who completed induction chemotherapy with
      docetaxel and S-1 subsequently started RT with concurrent daily cisplatin, all
      within 3 to 4 weeks after the start of the second cycle of induction chemotherapy
      with docetaxel and S-1. The best response to induction chemotherapy with
      docetaxel and S-1 and after completion of RT with concurrent daily cisplatin was
      partial response (PR) in 52.5% and complete response in 47.5%, respectively. With
      a median follow-up of 61 months, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and
      overall survival (OS) were 63.3% and 65.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      Administration of induction chemotherapy with docetaxel and S-1 before RT with
      concurrent daily cisplatin chemoradiotherapy (CRT) resulted in a high response
      rate with good tolerability, and did not compromise subsequent CRT. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1653-E1659, 2016.

PMID- 26890967
TI  - Design and Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Segments.
AB  - The selective and predictable synthesis of structurally uniform carbon nanotubes
      (CNTs) represents a long-standing goal in both nanocarbon science and synthetic
      organic chemistry. This Review focuses on synthetic studies toward the controlled
      synthesis of CNTs with single chirality through the organic synthesis of CNT
      segments and the organic template assisted growth of CNTs. 

PMID- 26890966
TI  - Neuroblastoma With Intraspinal Extension: Health Problems in Long-Term Survivors.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of health problems in 5-year survivors treated
      for neuroblastoma (NBL) with intraspinal extension. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      Retrospective, single center cohort study (using data from Childhood Cancer
      Registry and medical records) of patients treated for NBL with intraspinal
      extension (between 1980 and 2007) who survived >= 5 years after diagnosis. Health
      problems were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse
      Events (CTCAEv.3.0). RESULTS: All eligible patients (n = 19) were included (n = 7
      no neurological symptoms at diagnosis), median age at diagnosis was 1.2 years
      (0.6-10.8 years), and median follow-up time was 15.6 years (6.3-29.5 years).
      Ninety-five percent of survivors had >=1 health problem and 48% of survivors had
      >=4 health problem with a mean of 3.8 per survivor. Fifty-three percent of
      survivors had at least one severe (grade 3) or life-threatening/disabling (grade
      4) health problem. The three most prevalent health problems were kyphosis and/or
      scoliosis (68% of patients), motor neuropathy (32% of patients), and sensory
      neuropathy (26% of patients). Of the 13 patients who underwent a laminectomy, 54%
      (seven of 13) developed a grade 3 and 23% (three of 13) developed a grade 4
      health problem. Among six patients, without laminectomy, 17% developed (one of
      six) a grade 3 and in 17% developed (one of six) a grade 4 health problem.
      CONCLUSIONS: Ninety-five percent of 5-year survivors treated for a childhood
      intraspinal NBL have health problems. The high prevalence of grade 3 and 4 health
      problems (especially in the laminectomy group) emphasizes the importance of
      specialized long-term multidisciplinary follow-up and identifies optimal
      treatment with limited morbidity and maximal efficacy.

PMID- 26890969
TI  - Explosive Resistance Training Increases Rate of Force Development in Ankle
      Dorsiflexors and Gait Function in Adults With Cerebral Palsy.
AB  - Kirk, H, Geertsen, SS, Lorentzen, J, Krarup, KB, Bandholm, T, and Nielsen, JB.
      Explosive resistance training increases rate of force development in ankle
      dorsiflexors and gait function in adults with cerebral palsy. J Strength Cond Res
      30(10): 2749-2760, 2016-Alterations in passive elastic properties of muscles and
      reduced ability to quickly generate muscle force contribute to impaired gait
      function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). In this study, we investigated
      whether 12 weeks of explosive and progressive heavy-resistance training (PRT)
      increases rate of force development of ankle dorsiflexors (RFDdf), improves gait
      function, and affects passive ankle joint stiffness in adults with CP. Thirty
      five adults (age: 36.5; range: 18-59 years) with CP were nonrandomly assigned to
      a PRT or nontraining control (CON) group in this explorative trial. The PRT group
      trained ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, leg press, hamstring curls, abdominal
      curls, and back extension 3 days per week for 12 weeks, with 3 sets per exercise
      and progressing during the training period from 12 to 6 repetition maximums.
      RFDdf, 3-dimensional gait analysis, functional performance, and ankle joint
      passive and reflex-mediated muscle stiffness were evaluated before and after.
      RFDdf increased significantly after PRT compared to CON. PRT also caused a
      significant increase in toe lift late in swing and a significantly more
      dorsiflexed ankle joint at ground contact and during stance. The increased toe
      lift amplitude was correlated to the increased RFDdf (r = 0.73). No other between
      group differences were observed. These findings suggest that explosive PRT may
      increase RFDdf and facilitate larger range of movement in the ankle joint during
      gait. Explosive PRT should be tested in clinical practice as part of a long-term
      training program for adults with CP. 

PMID- 26890968
TI  - Relationship Between Maximum Aerobic Speed Performance and Distance Covered in
      Rugby Union Games.
AB  - Swaby, R, Jones, PA, and Comfort, P. Relationship between maximum aerobic speed
      performance and distance covered in rugby union games. J Strength Cond Res
      30(10): 2788-2793, 2016-Researchers have shown a clear relationship between
      aerobic fitness and the distance covered in professional soccer, although no
      research has identified such a relationship in rugby union. Therefore, the aim of
      the study was to identify whether there was a relationship between maximal
      aerobic speed (MAS) and the distance covered in rugby union games. Fourteen
      professional rugby union players (age = 26 +/- 6 years, height = 1.90 +/- 0.12 m,
      mass = 107.1 +/- 24.1 kg) participated in this investigation. Each player
      performed a MAS test on 3 separate occasions during the preseason, to determine
      reliability and provide baseline data, and participated in 6 competitive games
      during the early stages of the season. Game data were collected using global
      positioning system technology. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in total
      distance covered was observed between games. Relationships between players' MAS
      and the average distance covered from 6 competitive games were explored using
      Pearson's correlation coefficients, with MAS performance showing a strong
      relationship with distance covered during match play (r = 0.746, p < 0.001).
      Significantly greater (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.29) distances were covered by
      backs (6,544 +/- 573 m) compared with the forwards (4,872 +/- 857 m) during a
      game. Similarly, backs recorded a significantly (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.20)
      higher MAS (4.9 +/- 0.13 m.s) compared with the forwards (4.2 +/- 0.43 m.s).
      Results of the study illustrate the importance of developing high levels of
      aerobic fitness to increase the distance that the athlete covers in the game. 

PMID- 26890970
TI  - Physical Attributes and NFL Combine Performance Tests Between Italian National
      League and American Football Players: A Comparative Study.
AB  - Vitale, JA, Caumo, A, Roveda, E, Montaruli, A, La Torre, A, Battaglini, CL, and
      Carandente, F. Physical attributes and NFL Combine performance tests between
      Italian National League and American football players: a comparative study. J
      Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2802-2808, 2016-The purpose of this study was to
      examine anthropometric measurements and the results of a battery of performance
      tests administered during the National Football League (NFL) Combine between
      American football players who were declared eligible to participate in the NFL
      Combine and football players of a top Italian team (Rhinos Milan). Participants
      (N = 50) were categorized by position into 1 of 3 groups based on playing
      position: skill players (SP) included wide receivers, cornerbacks, free safeties,
      strong safeties, and running backs; big skill players (BSP) consisted of
      fullbacks, linebackers, tight ends, and defensive ends; lineman (LM) included
      centers, offensive guards, offensive tackles, and defensive tackles. A 1-way
      analysis of variance followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test was used for
      comparisons between Italian players by playing position. Ninety-five percent CIs
      were used for comparisons between American and Italian football for the NFL
      Combine performance tests. Significant differences for all the variables between
      the 3 playing categories were observed among the Italian players; LM had higher
      anthropometric and body composition values than SP (p < 0.001) and BSP (p <
      0.001), whereas LM performed significantly worse in the physical tests, except
      for the 225-lb bench press test when compared with SP (p < 0.002). American
      football players presented significantly higher anthropometric values and test
      performance scores when compared with Italian players. Administrators of
      professional football teams in Italy need to improve the player's physical
      attributes, so the gap that currently exists between American and Italian players
      can be reduced, which could significantly improve the quality of American
      football in Italy. 

PMID- 26890971
TI  - Acute Anabolic Response and Muscular Adaptation After Hypertrophy-Style and
      Strength-Style Resistance Exercise.
AB  - Gonzalez, AM. Acute anabolic response and muscular adaptation after hypertrophy
      style and strength-style resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2959
      2964, 2016-Resistance training paradigms are often divided into protocols
      designed to promote an increase in either hypertrophy or strength. Hypertrophy
      style protocols (HYPs) typically involve greater volume (3-6 sets; 8-12
      repetitions), moderate intensities (<85% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]), and short
      rest intervals (30-90 seconds), whereas strength-style protocols (STRs) typically
      involve higher intensities (>=85% 1RM), low volumes (2-6 sets; <=6 repetitions),
      and longer rest intervals (3-5 minutes). However, the literature supporting such
      classifications is surprisingly sparse in trained individuals, and the distinct
      classifications of such protocols may be an oversimplification. Thus, the purpose
      of this review was to examine the acute anabolic responses and training-induced
      muscular adaptations after HYP and STR styles of resistance exercise in trained
      individuals. Despite the classification of training paradigms, HYP and STR
      resistance training routines appear to elicit similar magnitudes of muscle
      growth, although STR routines appear to be more conducive to increasing strength
      in resistance-trained individuals. Current evidence suggests that the
      classification of HYP and STR is an oversimplification, and practitioners are
      advised to look beyond the classification of resistance exercise protocols when
      aiming to elicit specific physiological responses. 

PMID- 26890972
TI  - Comparing the Effectiveness of a Short-Term Vertical Jump vs. Weightlifting
      Program on Athletic Power Development.
AB  - Teo, SYM, Newton, MJ, Newton, RU, Dempsey, AR, and Fairchild, TJ. Comparing the
      effectiveness of a short-term vertical jump vs. weightlifting program on athletic
      power development. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2741-2748, 2016-Efficient training
      of neuromuscular power and the translation of this power to sport-specific tasks
      is a key objective in the preparation of athletes involved in team-based sports.
      The purpose of this study was to compare changes in center of mass (COM)
      neuromuscular power and performance of sport-specific tasks after short-term (6
      week) training adopting either Olympic-style weightlifting (WL) exercises or
      vertical jump (VJ) exercises. Twenty-six recreationally active men (18-30 years;
      height: 178.7 +/- 8.3 cm; mass: 78.6 +/- 12.2 kg) were randomly allocated to
      either a WL or VJ training group and performance during the countermovement jump
      (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), depth jump (DJ), 20-m sprint, and the 5-0-5 agility test
      assessed pre and posttraining. Despite the WL group demonstrating larger
      increases in peak power output during the CMJ (WL group: 10% increase, d = 0.701;
      VJ group: 5.78% increase, d = 0.328) and SJ (WL group: 12.73% increase, d =
      0.854; VJ group: 7.27% increase, d = 0.382), no significant between-group
      differences were observed in any outcome measure studied. There was a significant
      main effect of time observed for the 3 VJs (CMJ, SJ, and DJ), 0- to 5-m and 0- to
      20-m sprint times, and the 5-0-5 agility test time, which were all shown to
      improve after the training (all main effects of time p < 0.01). Irrespective of
      the training approach adopted by coaches or athletes, addition of either WL or VJ
      training for development of power can improve performance in tasks associated
      with team-based sports, even in athletes with limited preseason training periods.

PMID- 26890973
TI  - Do Running Kinematic Characteristics Change over a Typical HIIT for Endurance
      Runners?
AB  - Garcia-Pinillos, F, Soto-Hermoso, VM, and Latorre-Roman, PA. Do running kinematic
      characteristics change over a typical HIIT for endurance runners?. J Strength
      Cond Res 30(10): 2907-2917, 2016-The purpose of this study was to describe
      kinematic changes that occur during a common high-intensity intermittent training
      (HIIT) session for endurance runners. Twenty-eight male endurance runners
      participated in this study. A high-speed camera was used to measure sagittal
      plane kinematics at the first and the last run during a HIIT (4 * 3 * 400 m). The
      dependent variables were spatial-temporal variables, joint angles during support
      and swing, and foot strike pattern. Physiological variables, rate of perceived
      exertion, and athletic performance were also recorded. No significant changes (p
      >= 0.05) in kinematic variables were found during the HIIT session. Two cluster
      analyses were performed, according to the average running pace-faster vs. slower,
      and according to exhaustion level reached-exhausted group vs. nonexhausted group
      (NEG). At first run, no significant differences were found between groups. As for
      the changes induced by the running protocol, significant differences (p <= 0.05)
      were found between faster and slower athletes at toe-off in thetahip and
      thetaknee, whereas some changes were found in NEG in thetahip during toe-off
      (+4.3 degrees ) and thetaknee at toe-off (-5.2 degrees ) during swing. The
      results show that a common HIIT session for endurance runners did not
      consistently or substantially perturb the running kinematics of trained male
      runners. Additionally, although some differences between groups have been found,
      neither athletic performance nor exhaustion level reached seems to be determinant
      in the kinematic response during a HIIT, at least for this group of moderately
      trained endurance runners. 

PMID- 26890975
TI  - Postactivation Potentiation of Horizontal Jump Performance Across Multiple Sets
      of a Contrast Protocol.
AB  - Seitz, LB, Mina, MA, and Haff, GG. Postactivation potentiation of horizontal jump
      performance across multiple sets of a contrast protocol. J Strength Cond Res
      30(10): 2733-2740, 2016-This study determined whether a postactivation
      potentiation (PAP) effect could be elicited across multiple sets of a contrast
      PAP protocol. Fourteen rugby league players performed a contrast PAP protocol
      comprising 4 sets of 2 paused box squats accommodated with bands alternated with
      2 standing broad jumps. The rest period between the squats and the jumps and
      between the sets was 90 seconds. A control protocol with standing broad jumps
      only was performed on a separate session. A standing broad jump was performed ~2
      minutes before each protocol and served as a baseline measurement. Standing broad
      jump distance was significantly greater (4.0 +/- 3.4% to 5.7 +/- 4.7%) than
      baseline during the 4 sets of the contrast PAP protocol with the changes being
      medium in the first, second, and fourth sets (effect size [ES]: 0.58, 0.67, and
      0.69, respectively) and large for the third set (ES: 0.81). Conversely, no PAP
      effect was observed in the control protocol. Additionally, the stronger players
      displayed a larger PAP effect during each of the 4 sets of the contrast PAP
      protocol (Cohen's d: 0.28-1.68) and a larger mean effect across these 4 sets
      (Cohen's d: 1.29). Horizontal jump performance is potentiated after only 90
      seconds of rest after an accommodating exercise, and this PAP effect can be
      elicited across 4 sets. Additionally, the PAP response is largely mediated by the
      individual's strength level. These results are of great importance for coaches
      seeking to incorporate PAP complexes involving horizontal jumps in their training
      programs.

PMID- 26890974
TI  - Effect of Coffee and Caffeine Ingestion on Resistance Exercise Performance.
AB  - Richardson, DL and Clarke, ND. Effect of coffee and caffeine ingestion on
      resistance exercise performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2892-2900, 2016-The
      aim of the present study was to determine the effect of ingesting caffeine dose
      matched anhydrous caffeine, coffee, or decaffeinated coffee plus anhydrous
      caffeine during resistance exercise on performance. Nine resistance-trained men
      (mean +/- SD: age, 24 +/- 2 years; weight, 84 +/- 8 kg; height, 180 +/- 8 cm)
      completed a squat and bench press exercise protocol at 60% 1 repetition maximum
      until failure on 5 occasions consuming 0.15 g.kg caffeinated coffee (COF), 0.15
      g.kg decaffeinated coffee (DEC), 0.15 g.kg decaffeinated coffee plus 5 mg.kg
      anhydrous caffeine (D + C), 5 mg.kg anhydrous caffeine (CAF), or a placebo (PLA).
      Felt arousal and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to assess
      perceptual variables and heart rate (HR) to assess physiological responses
      between trials. There were significant differences in total weight lifted for the
      squat between conditions (p < 0.01; (Equation is included in full-text article.)=
      0.54) with a greater amount lifted during D + C compared with DEC (p < 0.01), CAF
      (p <= 0.05), and PLA (p <= 0.05) conditions. Total weight lifted during the COF
      condition was significantly greater than that lifted under PLA (p < 0.01),
      although not significantly greater than the amount of weight lifted during the
      DEC condition (p = 0.082). No significant differences were observed in total
      weight lifted in the bench press protocol between conditions (p = 0.186;
      (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.17). Significant differences in
      HR (p < 0.01; (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.39) but not RPE
      (squat: p = 0.690; (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.07; bench
      press: p = 0.165; (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.18) and felt
      arousal (p = 0.056; (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.24) were
      observed between conditions. Coffee and decaffeinated coffee plus caffeine have
      the ability to improve performance during a resistance exercise protocol,
      although possibly not over multiple bouts. 

PMID- 26890976
TI  - Periodization Training Focused on Technical-Tactical Ability in Young Soccer
      Players Positively Affects Biochemical Markers and Game Performance.
AB  - Aquino, RLQT, Cruz Goncalves, LG, Palucci Vieira, LH, Oliveira, LP, Alves, GF,
      Pereira Santiago, PR, and Puggina, EF. Periodization training focused on
      technical-tactical ability in young soccer players positively affects biochemical
      markers and game performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2723-2732, 2016-The aim
      of this study was to investigate the effects of 22 weeks of periodized training,
      with an emphasis on technical-tactical ability, on indirect markers of muscle
      damage, and the on-field performance of young soccer players. Fifteen players
      (age 15.4 +/- 0.2 years, height 172.8 +/- 3.6 cm; body mass 61.9 +/- 2.9 kg; %
      fat 11.7 +/- 1.6; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max 48.67 +/- 3.24 ml.kg.min) underwent
      4 stages of evaluation: prepreparatory stage-T0; postpreparatory stage-T1;
      postcompetitive stage I-T2 and; postcompetitive stage II-T3. The plasmatic
      activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were evaluated,
      as well as the on-field performance (movement patterns, tactical variables).
      Regarding the plasmatic activity of CK and LDH, there was a significant reduction
      (p <= 0.05) throughout the periodization training (T0: 350 U.L; T3: 150 U.L).
      Significant increases were observed (p <= 0.05) in the intensity of the game,
      high-intensity activities (HIA) (T0: 22%; T3: 27%), maximum speed (T0: 30 km.h;
      T3: 34 km.h) and tactical performance, team surface area (T0: 515 m; T3: 683 m),
      and spread (T0: 130 m; T3: 148 m). In addition, we found significant inverse
      correlations between the percentage variation of T0 to T3 in CK and LDH
      activities with percentage variation in high-intensity running (r = -0.85; p <=
      0.05 and r = -0.84; p < 0.01, respectively) and HIA (r = -0.71 and r = -0.70; p
      <= 0.05, respectively) during the matches. We concluded that there was reduced
      activity in biochemical markers related to muscle damage, as well as increases in
      game high-intensity performance and the tactical performance of the study
      participants. Furthermore, players who showed greater reduction in plasma
      activity of CK and LDH also obtained greater increases in-game high-intensity
      performance along the periodization. These results may contribute to the
      expansion and future consolidation of the knowledge of coaches and sport
      scientists to develop effective methodologies for training in soccer. 

PMID- 26890977
TI  - A surprising mediator of oxidative DNA damage.

PMID- 26890979
TI  - Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkene Hydrogenation of alpha,beta-Unsaturated
      Esters: High-Throughput Experimentation-Enabled Reaction Discovery, Optimization,
      and Mechanistic Elucidation.
AB  - A highly active and enantioselective phosphine-nickel catalyst for the asymmetric
      hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters has been discovered. The
      coordination chemistry and catalytic behavior of nickel halide, acetate, and
      mixed halide-acetate with chiral bidentate phosphines have been explored and
      deuterium labeling studies, the method of continuous variation, nonlinear
      studies, and kinetic measurements have provided mechanistic understanding.
      Activation of molecular hydrogen by a trimeric (Me-DuPhos)3Ni3(OAc)5I complex was
      established as turnover limiting followed by rapid conjugate addition of a nickel
      hydride and nonselective protonation to release the substrate. In addition to
      reaction discovery and optimization, the previously unreported utility high
      throughput experimentation for mechanistic elucidation is also described. 

PMID- 26890980
TI  - Altering the Enantioselectivity of Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetase by Insertion of a
      Stereospecific Editing Domain.
AB  - Translation of mRNAs by the ribosome is stereospecific, with only l-amino acids
      being incorporated into the nascent polypeptide chain. This stereospecificity
      results from the exclusion of d-amino acids at three steps during protein
      synthesis: (1) the aminoacylation of tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, (2)
      binding of aminoacyl-tRNAs to EF-Tu, and (3) recognition of aminoacyl-tRNAs by
      the ribosome. As a first step toward incorporating d-amino acids during protein
      synthesis, we have altered the enantioselectivity of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase.
      This enzyme is unusual among aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, as it can aminoacylate
      tRNA with d-tyrosine (albeit at a reduced rate compared to l-tyrosine). To change
      the enantioselectivity of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, we introduced the post
      transfer editing domain from Pyrococcus horikoshii phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase
      into the connective polypeptide 1 (CP1) domain of Geobacillus stearothermophilus
      tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (henceforth designated TyrRS-FRSed). We show that the
      phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase editing domain is stereospecific, hydrolyzing l-Tyr
      tRNA(Tyr), but not d-Tyr-tRNA(Tyr). We further show that inserting the
      phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase editing domain into the CP1 domain of tyrosyl-tRNA
      synthetase decreases the activity of the synthetic site in tyrosyl-tRNA
      synthetase. This decrease in activity is critical, as it prevents the rate of
      synthesis from overwhelming the ability of the editing domain to hydrolyze the l
      Tyr-tRNA(Tyr) product. Overall, inserting the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase
      editing domain results in a 2-fold shift in the enantioselectivity of tyrosyl
      tRNA synthetase toward the d-Tyr-tRNA(Tyr) product. When a 4-fold excess of d
      tyrosine is used, approximately 40% of the tRNA(Tyr) is aminoacylated with d
      tyrosine.

PMID- 26890978
TI  - The impact and cost-effectiveness of nonavalent HPV vaccination in the United
      States: Estimates from a simplified transmission model.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to assess the incremental costs and
      benefits of the 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) compared with the quadrivalent HPV
      vaccine (4vHPV). Like 4vHPV, 9vHPV protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
      9vHPV also protects against 5 additional HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
      METHODS: We adapted a previously published model of the impact and cost
      effectiveness of 4vHPV to include the 5 additional HPV types in 9vHPV. The
      vaccine strategies we examined were (1) 4vHPV for males and females; (2) 9vHPV
      for females and 4vHPV for males; and (3) 9vHPV for males and females. In the base
      case, 9vHPV cost $13 more per dose than 4vHPV, based on available vaccine price
      information. RESULTS: Providing 9vHPV to females compared with 4vHPV for females
      (assuming 4vHPV for males in both scenarios) was cost-saving regardless of
      whether or not cross-protection for 4vHPV was assumed. The cost per quality
      adjusted life year (QALY) gained by 9vHPV for both sexes (compared with 4vHPV for
      both sexes) was < $0 (cost-saving) when assuming no cross-protection for 4vHPV
      and $8,600 when assuming cross-protection for 4vHPV. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a
      vaccination program of 4vHPV for both sexes, a vaccination program of 9vHPV for
      both sexes can improve health outcomes and can be cost-saving.

PMID- 26890981
TI  - Fundamental Considerations for Biobank Legacy Planning.
AB  - Biobanking in its various forms is an activity involving the collection of
      biospecimens and associated data and their storage for differing lengths of time
      before use. In some cases, biospecimens are immediately used, but in others, they
      are stored typically for the term of a specified project or in perpetuity until
      the materials are used up or declared to be of little scientific value. Legacy
      planning involves preparing for the phase that follows either biobank closure or
      a significant change at an operational level. In the case of a classical finite
      collection, this may be brought about by the completion of the initial scientific
      goals of a project, a loss of funding, or loss of or change in leadership.
      Ultimately, this may require making a decision about when and where to transfer
      materials or whether to destroy them. Because biobanking in its entirety is a
      complex endeavour, legacy planning touches on biobank operations as well as
      ethical, legal, financial, and governance parameters. Given the expense and time
      that goes into setting up and maintaining biobanks, coupled with the ethical
      imperative to appropriately utilize precious resources donated to research,
      legacy planning is an activity that every biobanking entity should think about.
      This article describes some of the fundamental considerations for preparing and
      executing a legacy plan, and we envisage that this article will facilitate
      dialogue to help inform best practices and policy development in the future. 

PMID- 26890984
TI  - Obesity and post-operative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta
      analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Post-operative cognitive dysfunction, a condition distinct from post
      operative delirium (POD), occurs frequently after surgery, and is related to
      dementia and premature death. Obesity increases the risk of late-life cognitive
      impairment, but little is known about its role in post-operative cognitive
      dysfunction. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the
      association between obesity and risk of post-operative cognitive dysfunction.
      METHODS: PubMed and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. Studies
      were included if they had prospective designs, reported on human adults
      undergoing surgery, if cognitive function was measured pre- and post-surgery, if
      obesity, body mass index (BMI) and/or body weight were ascertained, and if
      associations with post-operative cognitive dysfunction were reported as relative
      risks or odds ratios. Underweight, weight loss, and post-operative delirium were
      not considered. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by six articles. Samples
      totaled 1432 older patients (mean age >=62 years) who were followed up for 24 h
      to 12 months after surgery. Analysis of studies with obesity defined as a
      categorical measure found a non-significantly higher risk of post-operative
      cognitive dysfunction among persons with BMI > 30 kg/m(2) versus <=30 kg/m(2)
      (relative risk 1.27; 95% confidence interval 0.95, 1.70; p = 0.10). No such
      associations were found for studies that analysed BMI or body weight continuously
      as predictors of post-operative cognitive dysfunction (relative risk 0.98 per
      kg/m(2) ; 95% confidence interval 0.93, 1.03, p = 0.45; relative risk 0.99 per
      kg; 95% confidence interval 0.89, 1.09; p = 0.83, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Few
      studies have addressed the topic, and the results of these studies provide only
      limited support for an increased risk of post-operative cognitive dysfunction in
      patients who are obese. Further large-scale, prospective investigations are
      necessary for clarification. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26890983
TI  - Calreticulin variant stratified driver mutational status and prognosis in
      essential thrombocythemia.
AB  - About 85% of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) harbor one of three
      driver mutations: JAK2, calreticulin (CALR), and MPL; the remaining ( ~15%) are
      wild type for all three mutations and are referred to as being "triple negative."
      Furthermore, CALR mutations in ET are structurally classified as type 1/type 1
      like or type 2/type 2-like variants. The objective of the current study was to
      examine the impact of CALR mutation variant stratified driver mutational status
      on overall (OS), myelofibrosis-free (MFFS), thrombosis-free, and leukemia-free
      survival (LFS) in ET; 495 patients (median age 58 years; 61% females) with ET
      were fully annotated for the their driver mutational status: 321 (65%) harbored
      JAK2, 109 (22%) CALR, and 12 (2%) MPL mutations and 11% were triple-negative.
      Among the 109 CALR-mutated cases, 52% were classified as type 1/type 1-like and
      48% as type 2/type 2-like. In univariate analysis, triple-negative patients
      displayed the best and MPL mutated the worst OS (P = 0.007); however, the
      difference in OS was no longer apparent on multivariable analysis that included
      age and sex as covariates (P = 0.5). LFS was also similar among the different
      mutational groups (P = 0.6) whereas MFFS was significantly shorter in MPL-mutated
      patients on both univariate and multivariable analyses (age-adjusted P = 0.02; HR
      7.9, 95% CI 2.0-31.5). Also in multivariable analysis that included thrombosis
      history, age, and cardiovascular risk factors, the presence of JAK2 or MPL
      mutations was independently associated with higher risk of thrombosis (P = 0.02;
      HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.4). In conclusion, driver mutational status in ET does not
      appear to influence overall or LFS, even after CALR variant stratification.
      However, the presence of MPL mutations might be associated with a higher risk of
      fibrotic transformation and the presence of JAK2/MPL mutations with higher risk
      of thrombosis.

PMID- 26890982
TI  - Genetically Engineered Virus Nanofibers as an Efficient Vaccine for Preventing
      Fungal Infection.
AB  - Candida albicans (CA) is a kind of fungus that can cause high morbidity and
      mortality in immunocompromised patients. However, preventing CA infection in
      these patients is still a daunting challenge. Herein, inspired from the fact that
      immunization with secreted aspartyl proteinases 2 (Sap2) can prevent the
      infection, it is proposed to use filamentous phage, a human-safe virus nanofiber
      specifically infecting bacteria (~900 nm long and 7 nm wide), to display an
      epitope peptide of Sap2 (EPS, with a sequence of Val-Lys-Tyr-Thr-Ser) on its side
      wall and thus serve as a vaccine for preventing CA infection. The engineered
      virus nanofibers and recombinant Sap2 (rSap2) are then separately used to
      immunize mice. The humoral and cellular immune responses in the immunized mice
      are evaluated. Surprisingly, the virus nanofibers significantly induce mice to
      produce strong immune response as rSap2 and generate antibodies that can bind
      Sap2 and CA to inhibit the CA infection. Consequently, immunization with the
      virus nanofibers in mice dramatically increases the survival rate of CA-infected
      mice. All these results, along with the fact that the virus nanofibers can be
      mass-produced by infecting bacteria cost-effectively, suggest that virus
      nanofibers displaying EPS can be a vaccine candidate against fungal infection. 

PMID- 26890986
TI  - Polypharmacy and the use of medications in inpatients with acquired brain injury
      during post-acute rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study assessed the use of medications during inpatient post
      acute rehabilitation for acquired brain injury (ABI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All
      inpatients with ABI undergoing post-acute rehabilitation in centres identified
      through the roster of the Italian Society for Rehabilitation Medicine were
      included. A designated physician in each centre collected information through a
      structured questionnaire. This study calculated (a) prevalence of medication use,
      (b) logistic regression Odds Ratio (OR), with 95% confidence interval (95% CI),
      of polypharmacy (>= 6 medications). RESULTS: A total of 484 patients (median age
      = 52 years, 63.4% men, median time from acute event = 18.5 weeks) were included;
      33.8% had Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale (RLAS) score 1
      2, 8.1% had a score of 7-8, of whom 92.0% received medications, 51.8% had a score
      of 6-10, of whom 83.9% had at least one psychotropic medication and 66.9% had two
      or more; 51.8% received anti-epileptics, 32.1% anti-depressants, 14.5% anti
      psychotics, peaking in RLAS 4 (37.3%) and decreasing in RLAS 7-8. Polypharmacy
      was directly associated with age (55-64 years, OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.1-4.1; >= 65
      years, OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 0.9-3.3), inversely with RLAS score (1-2 vs 7-8, OR =
      4.3; 95% CI = 1.9-9.8). CONCLUSION: Polypharmacy and concurrent use of
      psychotropic medications was common, raising concern about drug-drug
      interactions. Safety and effectiveness of medications should be monitored,
      particularly when used concurrently.

PMID- 26890985
TI  - The mechanism of kaempferol induced apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in
      human cervical cancer SiHa cell: From macro to nano.
AB  - Kaempferol has been identified as a potential cancer therapeutic agent by an
      increasing amount of evidences. However, the changes in the topography of cell
      membrane induced by kaempferol at subcellular- or nanometer-level were still
      unclear. In this work, the topographical changes of cytomembrane in human
      cervical cancer cell (SiHa) induced by kaempferol, as well as the role of
      kaempferol in apoptosis induction and its possible mechanisms, were investigated.
      At the macro level, MTT assays showed that kaempferol inhibited the proliferation
      of SiHa cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis
      demonstrated that kaempferol could induce SiHa cell apoptosis, mitochondrial
      membrane potential disruption, and intracellular free calcium elevation. At the
      micro level, fluorescence imaging by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM)
      indicated that kaempferol could also destroy the networks of microtubules. Using
      high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM), we determined the precise changes
      of cellular membrane induced by kaempferol at subcellular or nanometer level. The
      spindle-shaped SiHa cells shrank after kaempferol treatment, with significantly
      increased cell surface roughness. These data showed structural characterizations
      of cellular topography in kaempferol-induced SiHa cell apoptosis and might
      provide novel integrated information from macro to nano level to assess the
      impact of kaempferol on cancer cells, which might be important for the
      understanding of the anti-cancer mechanisms of drugs. SCANNING 38:644-653, 2016.
      (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26890987
TI  - Serial measurement of type-specific human papillomavirus load enables
      classification of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions according to
      occurring human papillomavirus-induced pathway.
AB  - This retrospective study examined whether human papillomavirus (HPV) type
      specific viral load changes measured in two or three serial cervical smears are
      predictive for the natural evolution of HPV infections and correlate with
      histological grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), allowing triage
      of HPV-positive women. A cervical histology database was used to select
      consecutive women with biopsy-proven CIN in 2012 who had at least two liquid
      based cytology samples before the diagnosis of CIN. Before performing cytology,
      18 different quantitative PCRs allowed HPV type-specific viral load measurement.
      Changes in HPV-specific load between measurements were assessed by linear
      regression, with calculation of coefficient of determination (R) and slope. All
      infections could be classified into one of five categories: (i) clonal
      progressing process (R>=0.85; positive slope), (ii) simultaneously occurring
      clonal progressive and transient infection, (iii) clonal regressing process
      (R>=0.85; negative slope), (iv) serial transient infection with latency [R<0.85;
      slopes (two points) between 0.0010 and -0.0010 HPV copies/cell/day], and (v)
      transient productive infection (R<0.85; slope: +/-0.0099 HPV copies/cell/day).
      Three hundred and seven women with CIN were included; 124 had single-type
      infections and 183 had multiple HPV types. Only with three consecutive
      measurements could a clonal process be identified in all CIN3 cases. We could
      clearly demonstrate clonal regressing lesions with a persistent linear decrease
      in viral load (R>=0.85; -0.003 HPV copies/cell/day) in all CIN categories. Type
      specific viral load increase/decrease in three consecutive measurements enabled
      classification of CIN lesions in clonal HPV-driven transformation
      (progression/regression) and nonclonal virion-productive (serial
      transient/transient) processes.

PMID- 26890988
TI  - T2-Weighted intracranial vessel wall imaging at 7 Tesla using a DANTE-prepared
      variable flip angle turbo spin echo readout (DANTE-SPACE).
AB  - PURPOSE: To optimize intracranial vessel wall imaging (VWI) at 7T for sharp wall
      depiction and high boundary contrast. METHODS: A variable flip angle turbo spin
      echo scheme (SPACE) was optimized for VWI. SPACE provides black-blood contrast,
      but has less crushing effect on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, a delay
      alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) preparation suppresses
      the signal from slowly moving spins of a few mm per second. Therefore, we
      optimized a DANTE-preparation module for 7T. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),
      contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal ratio for vessel wall, CSF, and lumen
      were calculated for SPACE and DANTE-SPACE in 11 volunteers at the middle cerebral
      artery (MCA). An exemplar MCA stenosis patient was scanned with DANTE-SPACE.
      RESULTS: The 7T-optimized SPACE sequence improved the vessel wall point-spread
      function by 17%. The CNR between the wall and CSF was doubled (12.2 versus 5.6)
      for the DANTE-SPACE scans compared with the unprepared SPACE. This increase was
      significant in the right hemisphere (P = 0.016), but not in the left (P = 0.090).
      The CNR between wall and lumen was halved, but remained at a high value (24.9
      versus 56.5). CONCLUSION: The optimized SPACE sequence improves VWI at 7T.
      Additional DANTE preparation increases the contrast between the wall and CSF.
      Increased outer boundary contrast comes at the cost of reduced inner boundary
      contrast. Magn Reson Med 77:655-663, 2017. (c) 2016 The Authors Magnetic
      Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of
      International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access
      article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
      permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
      work is properly cited.

PMID- 26890990
TI  - Selective Generation of the Radical Cation Isomers [CH3CN](*+) and [CH2CNH](*+)
      via VUV Photoionization of Different Neutral Precursors and Their Reactivity with
      C2H4.
AB  - Experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out to demonstrate the
      selective generation of two different C2H3N(+) isomers, namely, the acetonitrile
      [CH3CN](*+) and the ketenimine [CH2CNH](*+) radical cations. Photoionization and
      dissociative photoionization experiments from different neutral precursors
      (acetonitrile and butanenitrile) have been performed using vacuum ultraviolet
      (VUV) synchrotron radiation in the 10-15 eV energy range, delivered by the DESIRS
      beamline at the SOLEIL storage ring. For butanenitrile (CH3CH2CH2CN) an
      experimental ionization threshold of 11.29 +/- 0.05 eV is obtained, whereas the
      appearance energy for the formation of [CH2CNH](*+) fragments is 11.52 +/- 0.05
      eV. Experimental findings are fully supported by theoretical calculations at the
      G4 level of theory (ZPVE corrected energies at 0 K), giving a value of 11.33 eV
      for the adiabatic ionization energy of butanenitrile and an exothermicity of 0.49
      for fragmentation into [CH2CNH](*+) plus C2H4, hampered by an energy barrier of
      0.29 eV. The energy difference between [CH3CN](*+) and [CH2CNH](*+) is 2.28 eV
      (with the latter being the lowest energy isomer), and the isomerization barrier
      is 0.84 eV. Reactive monitoring experiments of the [CH3CN](*+) and [CH2CNH](*+)
      isomers with C2H4 have been performed using the CERISES guided ion beam tandem
      mass spectrometer and exploiting the selectivity of ethylene that gives
      exothermic charge exchange and proton transfer reactions with [CH3CN](*+) but not
      with [CH2CNH](*+) isomers. In addition, minor reactive channels are observed
      leading to the formation of new C-C bonds upon reaction of [CH3CN](*+) with C2H4,
      and their astrochemical implications are briefly discussed. 

PMID- 26890989
TI  - Suspected Rabies in Humans and Animals, Laikipia County, Kenya.

PMID- 26890991
TI  - Enhanced Antitumor Activity of EGFP-EGF1-Conjugated Nanoparticles by a
      Multitargeting Strategy.
AB  - Tumor stromal cells have been increasingly recognized to interact with tumor
      parenchyma cells and promote tumor growth. Therefore, we speculated that
      therapeutics delivery to both parenchyma cells and stromal cells simultaneously
      might treat a tumor more effectively. Tissue factor (TF) was shown to be
      extensively located in a tumor and was abundantly sited in both tumor parenchyma
      cells and stromal cells including neo-vascular cells, tumor-associated
      fibroblasts, and tumor-associated macrophages, indicating it might function as a
      favorable target for drug delivery to multiple cell types simultaneously. EGFP
      EGF1 is a fusion protein derived from factor VII, the natural ligand of TF. It
      retains the specific TF binding capability but does not cause coagulation. In the
      present study, a nanoparticle modified with EGFP-EGF1 (ENP) was constructed as a
      multitargeting drug delivery system. The protein binding experiment showed EGFP
      EGF1 could bind well to A549 tumor cells and other stromal cells including neo
      vascular cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts, and tumor-associated macrophages.
      Compared with unmodified nanoparticles (NP), ENP uptake by A549 cells and those
      stromal cells was significantly enhanced but inhibited by excessive free EGFP
      EGF1. In addition, ENP induced more A549 tumor cell apoptosis than Taxol and NP
      when paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded. In vivo, ENP accumulated more specially in TF
      overexpressed A549 tumors by in vivo imaging, mainly regions unoccupied by factor
      VII and targeted tumor parenchyma cells as well as different types of stromal
      cells by immunofluorescence staining. Treatment with PTX-loaded ENP (ENP-PTX)
      significantly reduced the A549 tumor growth in nude mice while NP-PTX- and Taxol
      treated mice had lower response to the therapy. Furthermore, H&E and TUNEL
      staining revealed that ENP-PTX induced more severe tumor necrosis and more
      extensive cell apoptosis. Altogether, the present study demonstrated that ENP
      could target multiple key cell types in tumors through TF, which could be
      utilized to improve the therapeutic effect of anticancer drugs. 

PMID- 26890992
TI  - Designed DNA Surfaces for in Vitro Modulation of Natural Killer Cells.
AB  - Natural killer (NK) cells are at the junction of the innate and the adaptive
      immune response and play a very important role in host defense against viral
      infections and cancer. They have numerous cell surface receptors that activate or
      inhibit various intracellular signaling cascades that are then integrated to
      determine the functional activity of these cells. Here we present a surface-based
      approach that aims to tackle the largely unknown molecular mechanisms of signal
      integration. We use DNA microarrays containing capture oligonucleotides for the
      DNA-directed immobilization (DDI) of oligonucleotide-tagged alphaCD16 antibodies
      as ligands for NK cells. We demonstrate that the resulting surfaces can be
      gradually tuned in terms of ligand density to trigger the activation of living NK
      cells, as evidenced by degranulation, the release of cytokines, and intracellular
      Ca(2+) flux, measured at the level of single cells. 

PMID- 26890993
TI  - In Vitro Photoirradiation System for Simultaneous Irradiation with Different
      Light Doses at a Fixed Temperature.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this work an irradiance and temperature controlled in-vitro system
      for conducting investigations in PDT and phototherapy is presented. BACKGROUND
      DATA: The development of new light sources has caused a considerable increase in
      research and application of several photodynamic (PDT) therapeutic methods, as
      well as other light-based therapeutic techniques. However, further work is needed
      to fully understand and elucidate the mechanisms as well as to increase the
      effectiveness of PDT. Nowadays, there are no commercial systems to perform
      automated light exposure experiments with cultured cells. Also, there are very
      few reports of similar photoirradiation systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      system is composed of 24 independent light-emitting diodes that can be used to
      irradiate separate wells in a microwell plate. The system includes a module to
      measure changes in temperature within each irradiated well without contact. The
      light sources are placed on a plate that can easily be changed in order to
      irradiate at different wavelengths. The performance of the system is fully
      controlled with a computer, and all the experimental data are properly recorded.
      RESULTS: The design, construction, operation, and a full characterization of the
      system are presented. CONCLUSIONS: A novel fully automated photoirradiation
      system has been developed. The system allows the design of the experiments in
      this area with precise dosimetry, temperature, and irradiation regime controls
      reducing manipulation of the samples and saving time.

PMID- 26890995
TI  - Synthesis of Glc1Man9-Glycoprotein Probes by a Misfolding/Enzymatic
      Glucosylation/Misfolding Sequence.
AB  - Glycoproteins in non-native conformations are often toxic to cells and may cause
      diseases, thus the quality control (QC) system eliminates these unwanted species.
      Lectin chaperone calreticulin and glucosidase II, both of which recognize the
      Glc1 Man9 oligosaccharide on glycoproteins, are important components of the
      glycoprotein QC system. Reported herein is the preparation of Glc1 Man9 
      glycoproteins in both native and non-native conformations by using the following
      sequence: misfolding of chemically synthesized Man9 -glycoprotein, enzymatic
      glucosylation, and another misfolding step. By using synthetic glycoprotein
      probes, calreticulin was found to bind preferentially to a hydrophobic non-native
      glycoprotein whereas glucosidase II activity was not affected by glycoprotein
      conformation. The results demonstrate the ability of chemical synthesis to
      deliver homogeneous glycoproteins in several non-native conformations for probing
      the glycoprotein QC system. 

PMID- 26890996
TI  - Novel application of bacteriophage for controlling foaming in wastewater
      treatment plant- an eco-friendly approach.
AB  - This addendum to "Novel application of bacteriophage for controlling foaming in
      wastewater treatment plant- an eco-friendly approach " includes characteristics
      of the phages NOC1, NOC2 and NOC3 not discussed in the previous paper. The phage
      adsorption and host interaction properties, their sensitivity to pH and
      temperature are inferred. NOC2 is seen to be more temperature resistant while
      others are not. All the phages show pH sensitivity. There is a variance observed
      in the behavior of these phages. Also, applicability of the phage based system to
      large scale reactors is studied and discussed here. 

PMID- 26890997
TI  - Combining intra-dialytic exercise and nutritional supplementation in malnourished
      older haemodialysis patients: Towards better quality of life and autonomy.
AB  - Protein-energy wasting (PEW), defined as a loss of body protein mass and fuel
      reserves, is a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in haemodialysis (HD)
      patients. Robust arguments suggest that intra-dialytic exercise, combined with
      oral/parenteral nutrition, enhances the effect of nutritional interventions in HD
      patients. This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the feasibility and
      the effects of a 6 month intra-dialytic cycling program combined to a nutritional
      support on PEW, physical functioning (gait, balance, muscle strength) and quality
      of life (QoL) in older HD patients (mean age 69.7 +/- 14.2 years).Twenty-one
      patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria of PEW were randomly assigned to
      Nutrition-Exercise group (GN-Ex , n = 10) or Nutrition group (GN , n = 11). Both
      groups received nutritional supplements in order to reach recommended protein and
      energy intake goals. In addition GN-Ex completed a cycling program. No
      significant difference between groups was found in the number of patients having
      reached remission of PEW. Likewise, no change was observed in serum-albumin, 
      prealbumin, C-reactive protein, body mass index, lean- and fat-tissue index, or
      quadriceps force. Interestingly, we found positive effects of exercise on
      physical function and QoL for the GN-Ex , as evidenced by a significant
      improvement in the 6-min walk test (+22%), the absence of decline in balance
      (unlike the GN ), and a noteworthy increase in QoL (+53%). Combining intra
      dialytic exercise and nutrition in HD patients is feasible, and well accepted,
      improves physical function and QoL but it appears not to have the potential to
      reverse PEW. 

PMID- 26890998
TI  - Single Residue Substitutions That Confer Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channel Subtype
      Selectivity in the NaV1.7 Inhibitory Peptide GpTx-1.
AB  - There is interest in the identification and optimization of new molecular
      entities selectively targeting ion channels of therapeutic relevance. Peptide
      toxins represent a rich source of pharmacology for ion channels, and we recently
      reported GpTx-1 analogs that inhibit NaV1.7, a voltage-gated sodium ion channel
      that is a compelling target for improved treatment of pain. Here we utilize multi
      attribute positional scan (MAPS) analoging, combining high-throughput synthesis
      and electrophysiology, to interrogate the interaction of GpTx-1 with NaV1.7 and
      related NaV subtypes. After one round of MAPS analoging, we found novel
      substitutions at multiple residue positions not previously identified,
      specifically glutamic acid at positions 10 or 11 or lysine at position 18, that
      produce peptides with single digit nanomolar potency on NaV1.7 and 500-fold
      selectivity against off-target sodium channels. Docking studies with a NaV1.7
      homology model and peptide NMR structure generated a model consistent with the
      key potency and selectivity modifications mapped in this work. 

PMID- 26891000
TI  - Immunomodulatory Effects of Nontoxic Glycoprotein Fraction Isolated from Rice
      Bran.
AB  - Rice bran, a by-product of brown rice milling, is a rich source of dietary fiber
      and protein, and its usage as a functional food is expected to increase. In this
      study, immunomodulatory effects of glycoprotein obtained from rice bran were
      studied in normal mice and mouse models of cyclophosphamide-induced
      immunosuppression. We prepared glycoprotein from rice bran by using ammonium
      precipitation and anion chromatography techniques. Different doses of
      glycoprotein from rice bran (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) were administered orally for
      28 days. On day 21, cyclophosphamide at a dose of 100 mg/kg was administered
      intraperitoneally. Glycoprotein from rice bran showed a significant dose
      dependent restoration of the spleen index and white blood cell count in the
      immunocompromised mice. Glycoprotein from rice bran affected the immunomodulatory
      function by inducing the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, which produce
      potential T and B cells. Moreover, it prevented cyclophosphamide-induced damage
      of Th1-type immunomodulatory function through enhanced secretion of Th1-type
      cytokines (interferon-gamma and interleukin-12). These results indicate that
      glycoprotein from rice bran significantly recovered cyclophosphamide-induced
      immunosuppression. Based on these data, it was concluded that glycoprotein from
      rice bran is a potent immunomodulator and can be developed to recover the
      immunity of immunocompromised individuals. 

PMID- 26890999
TI  - Depression Change Profiles in Adolescents Treated for Comorbid
      Depression/Substance Abuse and Profile Membership Predictors.
AB  - Using data from a randomized trial in which adolescents with depressive and
      substance use disorders (SUD) received treatments for both disorders in either a
      sequenced or coordinated manner, we (a) determine the number and nature of
      depression response profiles through 1-year posttreatment and (b) examine whether
      8 previously identified factors predict profile membership. There were 170
      adolescents (M age = 16.4 years; 22% female; 28% Hispanic, 61% Non-Hispanic
      White) with comorbid depressive disorder/SUD randomized to one of three sequences
      of receiving the Adolescent Coping With Depression Course and Functional Family
      Therapy for SUD (depression treatment followed by SUD treatment; SUD treatment
      followed by depression treatment; coordinated treatment). Depression was assessed
      at 7 points from baseline to 1-year follow-up. A 4-class solution fit the data
      best, with groups labeled Mildly Depressed Responders (57.1%), Depressed
      Responders (18.8%), Depressed Non-Responders (12.9%), and Depressed with
      Recurrence (11.2%). The 4 change profiles differed on indices of all but 1
      predictor (age); most differences were driven by lower scores among Mildly
      Depressed Responders. Profile membership was most strongly predicted by
      depression severity, cognitive distortions, hopelessness, and global functioning.
      The strongest predictor of Nonresponse was low family cohesion, whereas
      Recurrence was associated with hopelessness, suicide attempts, and starting
      treatment near the end of the school year. Most depressed adolescents experienced
      a positive response that was maintained. Understanding the most common profiles
      of depression change during and following treatment and the variables that
      predict change can help improve treatment outcomes and advance tailoring efforts.

PMID- 26891001
TI  - Comparative Study of Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of
      Essential Oils of Selected Aromatic Plants from Balkan Peninsula.
AB  - The objective of the present study to perform a comparative analysis of the
      chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the essential
      oils of plant species Hyssopus officinalis, Achillea grandifolia, Achillea
      crithmifolia, Tanacetum parthenium, Laserpitium latifolium, and Artemisia
      absinthium from Balkan Peninsula. The chemical analysis of essential oils was
      performed by using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
      Monoterpenes were dominant among the recorded components, with camphor in T.
      parthenium, A. grandifolia, and A. crithmifolia (51.4, 45.4, and 25.4 %,
      respectively), 1,8-cineole in H. officinalis, A. grandifolia, and A. crithmifolia
      (49.1, 16.4, and 14.8 %, respectively), and sabinene in L. latifolium and A.
      absinthium (47.8 and 21.5 %). The antiradical and antioxidant activities were
      determined by using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and
      2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging methods. The essential oil of A.
      grandifolia has shown the highest antioxidant activity [IC50 of 33.575 +/- 0.069
      mg/mL for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2.510 +/- 0.036 mg vitamin C/g for
      the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay]. The
      antimicrobial activity against 16 multiresistant pathogenic bacteria isolated
      from human source material was tested by the broth microdilution assay. The
      resulting minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum bactericidal concentration
      values ranged from 4.72 to 93.2 mg/mL. Therefore, the essential oils of the plant
      species included in this study may be considered to be prospective natural
      sources of antimicrobial substances, and may contribute as effective agents in
      the battle against bacterial multiresistance. 

PMID- 26891002
TI  - Drugs and Drug Candidates from Marine Sources: An Assessment of the Current
      "State of Play".
AB  - The potential of the marine environment to produce candidate compounds
      (structures) as leads to, or even direct drugs from, has been actively discussed
      for the last 50 or so years. Over this time frame, several compounds have led to
      drugs, usually in the area of cancer (due to funding sources). This review is
      designed to show where there have been successes, but also to show that in a
      number of disease areas, there are structures originally isolated from marine
      invertebrates and free-living microbes that have potential, but will need to be
      "adopted" by pharmaceutical houses in order to maximize their potential. 

PMID- 26891004
TI  - Childhood obesity: research as a springboard for physical activity policies.

PMID- 26891003
TI  - Endocrine abnormalities in ataxia telangiectasia: findings from a national
      cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a genetic multisystem disorder,
      presenting with progressive ataxia, immune deficiency, and propensity toward
      malignancy. Endocrine abnormalities (growth retardation, reproductive
      dysfunction, and diabetes) have been described, however detailed information
      regarding this aspect is lacking. We aimed to characterize endocrine anomalies
      and growth patterns in a large cohort of AT patients. METHODS: Retrospective
      study comprising all 52 patients (aged 2-26.2 y) followed at a national AT
      Clinic. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements were extracted from the
      charts. RESULTS: Median height-SDS was already subnormal during infancy,
      remaining negative throughout follow up to adulthood. Height-SDS was more
      impaired than weight-SDS up to age 4 y, thereafter weight-SDS steadily decreased,
      resulting in progressively lower BMI-SDS. IGF-I-SDS was low (-1.53 +/- 1.54), but
      did not correlate with height-SDS. Gonadal failure was present in all 13 females
      older than 10 y but only in one male. Two patients had diabetes and 10 had
      dyslipidemia. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 52.2% of the evaluated
      patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a primary growth abnormality in AT,
      rather than secondary to nutritional impairment or disease severity. Sex hormone
      replacement should be considered for female patients. Vitamin D levels should be
      followed and supplementation given if needed.

PMID- 26891005
TI  - From polyadenylation to splicing: Dual role for mRNA 3' end formation factors.
AB  - Recent genome-wide protein-RNA interaction studies have significantly reshaped
      our understanding of the role of mRNA 3' end formation factors in RNA biology.
      Originally thought to function solely in mediating cleavage and polyadenylation
      of mRNAs during their maturation, 3' end formation factors have now been shown to
      play a role in alternative splicing, even at internal introns--an unanticipated
      role for factors thought only to act at the 3' end of the mRNA. Here, we discuss
      the recent advances in our understanding of the role of 3' end formation factors
      in promoting global changes in alternative splicing at internal exon-intron
      junctions and how they act as cofactors for well known splicing regulators.
      Additionally, we review the mechanism by which these factors affect the
      recruitment of early intron recognition components to the 5' and 3' splice site.
      Our understanding of the roles of 3' end formation factors is still evolving, and
      the final picture might be more complex than originally envisioned.

PMID- 26891008
TI  - OR2W3 sequence variants are unlikely to cause inherited retinal diseases.
AB  - Because of its formidable throughput, whole exome sequencing (WES) is
      significantly increasing the power of investigations in ophthalmic genetics.
      However, when applied to Mendelian conditions, WES results often contain many
      false positives, e.g. candidate mutations that are unrelated to the disease. For
      instance, highly polymorphic genes such as olfactory receptor genes carry a
      plethora of both common and rare alleles that are part of the normal set of
      variations of the human genome. Following a WES-based study, the heterozygous
      missense variant p.R142W in the olfactory receptor gene OR2W3 was recently
      reported as a pathogenic mutation causing autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa
      (RP). This variant, however, was not scored against data contained in public WES
      repositories, indicating that p.R142W is present in ~1 in 6500 control
      individuals. Therefore, if it really was pathogenic, it would be responsible for
      a percentage of dominant RP cases corresponding to the double of those recorded
      so far worldwide, or 2/3 of all RP cases (dominant, recessive, and X-linked). We
      therefore conclude that this sequence variant, and hence the OR2W3 gene, do not
      cause RP. Prompted by these findings and based on simple principles of population
      genetics, we suggest that WES studies should consider DNA variants as the
      possible cause of dominant RP only if they are present in less than 1:100,000
      individuals from the general population. In addition, we propose that DNA
      variants belonging to highly polymorphic genes should be carefully analyzed at
      the functional level before inferring their pathogenicity, in RP or other genetic
      diseases.

PMID- 26891009
TI  - Assessment of the hazard posed by metal forms in water and sediments.
AB  - This study aimed to describe the prevalence heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd)
      forms in the ecosystem of the Utrata river in order to determine the mobile forms
      and bioavailability of metals. To extract the dissolved forms of metals in the
      water of the Utrata PHREEQC2 geochemical speciation model was used. The river
      waters show a high percentage of mobile and eco-toxic forms of Zn, Cu and Pb. The
      percentage of carbonate forms for all the studied metals was low (<1%). The
      content of carbonates in the water and the prevailing physical and chemical
      conditions (pH, hardness, alkalinity) reduce the share of toxic metal forms,
      which precipitate as hardly soluble carbonate salts of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb. Cu in
      the water in 90% of cases appeared in the form of hydroxyl compounds. To identify
      the forms of metal occurrence in the sediments Tessier's sequential extraction
      was used, allowing to assay bound metals in five fractions (ion exchange,
      carbonate, adsorption, organic, residual), whose nature and bioavailability
      varies in aquatic environments. The study has shown a large share of metals in
      labile and bioavailable forms. The speciation analysis revealed an absolute
      dominance of the organic fraction in the binding of Cu and Pb. Potent affinity
      for this fraction was also exhibited by Cd. The rations of exchangeable Zn and Cu
      forms in the sediments were similar. Both these metals had the lowest share in
      the most mobile ion exchange fraction. 

PMID- 26891010
TI  - Evaluating the roles of biotransformation, spatial concentration differences,
      organism home range, and field sampling design on trophic magnification factors.
AB  - Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) are field-based measurements of the
      bioaccumulation behavior of chemicals in food-webs. TMFs can provide valuable
      insights into the bioaccumulation behavior of chemicals. However, bioaccumulation
      metrics such as TMF may be subject to considerable uncertainty as a consequence
      of systematic bias and the influence of confounding variables. This study seeks
      to investigate the role of systematic bias resulting from spatially-variable
      concentrations in water and sediments and biotransformation rates on the
      determination of TMF. For this purpose, a multibox food-web bioaccumulation model
      was developed to account for spatial concentration differences and movement of
      organisms on chemical concentrations in aquatic biota and TMFs. Model calculated
      and reported field TMFs showed good agreement for persistent polychlorinated
      biphenyl (PCB) congeners and biotransformable phthalate esters (PEs) in a marine
      aquatic food-web. Model testing showed no systematic bias and good precision in
      the estimation of the TMF for PCB congeners but an apparent underestimation of
      model calculated TMFs, relative to reported field TMFs, for PEs. A model
      sensitivity analysis showed that sampling designs that ignore the presence of
      concentration gradients may cause systematically biased and misleading TMF
      values. The model demonstrates that field TMFs are most sensitive to
      concentration gradients and species migration patterns for substances that are
      subject to a low degree of biomagnification or trophic dilution. The model is
      useful in anticipating the effect of spatial concentration gradients on the
      determination of the TMF; guiding species collection strategies in TMF studies;
      and interpretation of the results of field bioaccumulation studies in study
      locations where spatial differences in chemical concentration exist. 

PMID- 26891006
TI  - Innate lymphoid cells in asthma: Will they take your breath away?
AB  - Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease that is characterized by airway
      hyper-reactivity (AHR) and airway inflammation. Although asthma was long thought
      to be driven by allergen-reactive TH 2 cells, it has recently become clear that
      the pathogenesis of asthma is more complicated and associated with multiple
      pathways and cell types. A very exciting recent development was the discovery of
      innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) as key players in the pathogenesis of asthma. ILCs
      do not express antigen receptors but react promptly to "danger signals" from
      inflamed tissue and produce an array of cytokines that direct the ensuing immune
      response. The roles of ILCs may differ in distinct asthma phenotypes. ILC2s may
      be critical for initiation of adaptive immune responses in inhaled allergen
      driven AHR, but may also function independently of adaptive immunity, mediating
      influenza-induced AHR. ILC2s also contribute to resolution of lung inflammation
      through their production of amphiregulin. Obesity-induced asthma is associated
      with expansion of IL-17A-producing ILC3s in the lungs. Furthermore, ILCs may also
      contribute to steroid-resistant asthma. Although the precise roles of ILCs in
      different types of asthma are still under investigation, it is clear that
      inhibition of ILC function represents a potential target that could provide novel
      treatments for asthma. 

PMID- 26891011
TI  - Assessment of temperature effect on childhood hand, foot and mouth disease
      incidence (0-5years) and associated effect modifiers: A 17 cities study in
      Shandong Province, China, 2007-2012.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies examining temperature-disease associations of hand,
      foot and mouth disease (HFMD) mainly focused on a single city. The results
      demonstrated great heterogeneity. A multi-city study is necessary to better
      understand temperature risk on the childhood incidence of HFMD and the associated
      modified factors. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of ambient temperature on
      childhood HFMD incidence and explore the potential associated effect modifiers in
      the study area. METHODS: Daily morbidity data and meteorological variables of the
      17 cities were collected for the period from 2007 to 2012. Distributed lag non
      linear model (DLNM) was used to estimate city-specific effects of temperature on
      HFMD incidence. A multivariate meta-analysis was then applied to pool the
      estimated city-specific effect. Potential effect modifiers were included in the
      multivariate meta-regression as meta-predictors. RESULTS: A total of 504,017
      childhood HFMD cases were included in the study. The high-incidence period of
      HFMD was detected in late spring and early summer (April to June). The
      temperature-disease associations of the 17 cities demonstrated great
      heterogeneity and the pooled exposure-response curve was an approximately
      inverted V-shape. Regional indicator, numbers of healthcare institution and
      annual household income were considered as associated modifiers. CONCLUSION: Our
      findings can provide a practical reference for the early warning and intervention
      strategies of HFMD. Different temperature-disease associations among different
      regions should be considered when formulating and optimizing public health
      policy.

PMID- 26891012
TI  - Irrigation salinity hazard assessment and risk mapping in the lower Macintyre
      Valley, Australia.
AB  - In the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia, secondary soil salinization occurs due
      to excessive deep drainage and the presence of shallow saline water tables. In
      order to understand the cause and best management, soil and vadose zone
      information is necessary. This type of information has been generated in the
      Toobeah district but owing to the state border an inconsistent methodology was
      used. This has led to much confusion from stakeholders who are unable to
      understand the ambiguity of the results in terms of final overall risk of
      salinization. In this research, a digital soil mapping method that employs
      various ancillary data is presented. Firstly, an electromagnetic induction survey
      using a Geonics EM34 and EM38 was used to characterise soil and vadose zone
      stratigraphy. From the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) collected, soil
      sampling locations were selected and with laboratory analysis carried out to
      determine average (2-12m) clay and EC of a saturated soil-paste extract (ECe).
      EM34 ECa, land surface parameters derived from a digital elevation model and
      measured soil data were used to establish multiple linear regression models,
      which allowed for mapping of various hazard factors, including clay and ECe. EM38
      ECa data were calibrated to deep drainage obtained from Salt and Leaching
      Fraction (SaLF) modelling of soil data. Expert knowledge and indicator kriging
      were used to determine critical values where the salinity hazard factors were
      likely to contribute to a shallow saline water table (i.e., clay <=35%;
      ECe>2.5dS/m, and deep drainage >100mm/year). This information was combined to
      produce an overall salinity risk map for the Toobeah district using indicator
      kriging. The risk map shows potential salinization areas and where detailed
      information is required and where targeted research can be conducted to monitor
      soil conditions and water table heights and determine best management strategies.

PMID- 26891013
TI  - Association between DbetaH 5'-insertion/deletion polymorphism and cognition in
      patients with chronic schizophrenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits have been identified as a core feature of patients
      with schizophrenia. Many genes associated with the dopamine and norepinephrine
      systems are related to the cognitive deficits of patients with schizophrenia.
      Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DbetaH) is a key enzyme that converts dopamine to
      norepinephrine and for which activity and levels are under strong genetic
      control. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the DbetaH 5'-insertion/deletion (Ins/Del)
      polymorphism influences cognitive function in patients with chronic
      schizophrenia. METHOD: The presence of the DbetaH 5'-Ins/Del polymorphism was
      determined in 733 patients with chronic schizophrenia (diagnosed according to DSM
      IV) and 544 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed all of the
      patients' psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
      and cognition in 540 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 297 healthy controls
      using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status
      (RBANS). This study was conducted between 2008 and 2011. RESULTS: The allelic and
      genotypic frequencies of the DbetaH 5'-Ins/Del polymorphism were not
      significantly different between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls
      (both P values > .05). However, the cognitive test scores were significantly
      lower in patients than in the healthy controls for all scales (all P values <
      .05), except visuospatial/constructional (P > .05). The attention score
      significantly differed according to the genotypic group (P < .05) in patients but
      not in the healthy controls (P > .05). In patients with chronic schizophrenia,
      the mean +/- SD attention score was lower in the DbetaH 5'-Del/Del genotype (65.7
      +/- 16.8) than in the DbetaH 5'-Ins/Del genotype (71.4 +/- 18.0; P = .007) and
      the DbetaH 5'-Ins/Ins genotype (70.8 +/- 17.1; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: This study
      found that patients with chronic schizophrenia had poorer cognitive function than
      the healthy controls in all examined cognitive domains except for
      visuospatial/constructional. No significant association was found between the
      DbetaH 5'-Ins/Del polymorphism and patients with chronic schizophrenia. However,
      the DbetaH 5'-Del/Del genotype may be specific to attentional decrements in
      patients with chronic schizophrenia.

PMID- 26891014
TI  - An improved cumulative sum-based procedure for prospective disease surveillance
      for count data in multiple regions.
AB  - We present an improved procedure for detecting outbreaks in multiple spatial
      regions using count data. We combine well-known methods for disease surveillance
      with recent developments from other areas to provide a more powerful procedure
      that is still relatively simple and fast to implement. Disease counts from
      neighboring regions are aggregated to compute a Poisson cumulative sum statistic
      for each region of interest. Instead of controlling the average run length
      criterion in the monitoring process, we instead utilize the FDR, which is more
      appropriate in a public health context. Additionally, p-values are used to make
      decisions instead of traditional critical values. The use of the FDR and p-values
      in testing allows us to utilize recently developed multiple testing
      methodologies, greatly increasing the power of this procedure. This is verified
      using a simulation experiment. The simplicity and rapid detection ability of this
      procedure make it useful in disease surveillance settings. The procedure is
      successfully applied in detecting the 2011 Salmonella Newport outbreak in 16
      German federal states. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891015
TI  - Prevention of Youthful Marijuana Use.
AB  - Considerable money and effort have been expended in attempts to prevent drug use
      by youth, with disappointing results. Too often, prevention programs have singled
      out youth with simplistic messages of exaggerated risk and the same politically
      acceptable solution for all-abstinence. Historically, prevention efforts have
      been less effective by not being soundly based in science and failing also to
      address adult drug and alcohol use as part of the problem. The Institute of
      Medicine continuum of care model developed in 1994 offers a framework for a more
      sophisticated, three-tiered approach to prevention, defined as all services
      provided prior to a clinical diagnosis of a substance use disorder. By dividing
      prevention efforts into universal (delivered to broad populations without
      consideration of individual risk for developing substance use disorder), selected
      (targeting sub-groups of individuals identified on the basis of characteristics
      known to create an elevated risk for substance use disorder), and indicated
      (addressing individuals identified on the basis of manifest risk behaviors),
      prevention can be better tailored to meet different levels of need. Student
      Assistance Programs (SAPs) and community coalitions provide examples of how IOM's
      continuum of care model can be integrated into drug prevention programs for
      youth. 

PMID- 26891016
TI  - Ultrafast Killing and Self-Gelling Antimicrobial Imidazolium Oligomers.
AB  - Infectious diseases and the increasing threat of worldwide pandemics have
      underscored the importance of antibiotics and hygiene. Intensive efforts have
      been devoted to developing new antibiotics to meet the rapidly growing demand. In
      particular, advancing the knowledge of the structure-property-activity
      relationship is critical to expedite the design and development of novel
      antimicrobial with the needed potential and efficacy. Herein, a series of new
      antimicrobial imidazolium oligomers are developed with the rational manipulation
      of terminal group's hydrophobicity. These materials exhibit superior activity,
      excellent selectivity, ultrafast killing (>99.7% killing within 30 s), and
      desirable self-gelling properties. Molecular dynamic simulations reveal the
      delicate effect of structural changes on the translocation motion across the
      microbial cell membrane. The energy barrier of the translocation process analyzed
      by free energy calculations provides clear kinetic information to suggest that
      the spontaneous penetration requires a very short timescale of seconds to minutes
      for the new imidazolium oligomers. 

PMID- 26891017
TI  - Language-general biases and language-specific experience contribute to
      phonological detail in toddlers' word representations.
AB  - Although toddlers in their 2nd year of life generally have phonologically
      detailed representations of words, a consistent lack of sensitivity to certain
      kinds of phonological changes has been reported. The origin of these
      insensitivities is poorly understood, and uncovering their cause is crucial for
      obtaining a complete picture of early phonological development. The present study
      explored the origins of the insensitivity to the change from coronal to labial
      consonants. In cross-linguistic research, we assessed to what extent this
      insensitivity is language-specific (or would show both in learners of Dutch and a
      very different language like Japanese), and contrast/direction-specific to the
      coronal-to-labial change (or would also extend to the coronal-to-dorsal change).
      We measured Dutch and Japanese 18-month-old toddlers' sensitivity to labial and
      dorsal mispronunciations of newly learned coronal-initial words. Both Dutch and
      Japanese toddlers showed reduced sensitivity to the coronal-to-labial change,
      although this effect was more pronounced in Dutch toddlers. The lack of
      sensitivity was also specific to the coronal-to-labial change because toddlers
      from both language backgrounds were highly sensitive to dorsal mispronunciations.
      Combined with results from previous studies, the present outcomes are most
      consistent with an early, language-general bias specific to the coronal-to-labial
      change, which is modified by the properties of toddlers' early, language-specific
      lexicon.

PMID- 26891018
TI  - Social and physical aggression trajectories from childhood through late
      adolescence: Predictors of psychosocial maladjustment at age 18.
AB  - This research examined whether following social and physical aggression
      trajectories across Grades 3-12 predicted psychological maladjustment. Teachers
      rated participants' (n = 287, 138 boys) aggressive behavior at the end of each
      school year. Following the 12th grade, psychosocial outcomes were measured: rule
      breaking behaviors, internalizing symptoms, and narcissistic and borderline
      personality features. Following the highest social aggression trajectory
      predicted rule-breaking behavior; the medium social aggression trajectory was not
      a significant predictor of any outcome. Following the highest physical aggression
      trajectory predicted rule-breaking, internalizing symptoms, and narcissism,
      whereas the medium physical aggression trajectory predicted rule-breaking and
      internalizing symptoms.

PMID- 26891019
TI  - Partial IGF-1 deficiency induces brain oxidative damage and edema, which are
      ameliorated by replacement therapy.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) induces multiple cytoprotective effects on
      every tissue, including the brain. Since the mechanisms by which IGF-1 produces
      neuroprotection are not fully understood, the aim of this work was to delve into
      the underlying mechanisms. IGF-1 deficient mice (Hz) were compared with wild type
      (WT) and Hz mice treated with low doses of IGF-1 (2 ug/100 g body weight/day) for
      10 days (Hz + IGF). Gene expression, quantitative PCR, histology, and magnetic
      resonance imaging were performed in the three groups. IGF-1 deficiency induced
      increased oxidative damage determined by markers of lipid peroxidation and
      hypoxia, as well as gene expression of heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes,
      and molecules involved in inflammation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial protection.
      These changes correlated with edema and learning impairment in Hz mice. IGF-1
      therapy improved all these alterations. In conclusion, IGF-1 deficiency is
      responsible for increased brain oxidative damage, edema, and impaired learning
      and memory capabilities which are rescued by IGF-1 replacement therapy.

PMID- 26891021
TI  - Cancer's Moonshot.

PMID- 26891020
TI  - A galectin-specific signature in the gut delineates Crohn's disease and
      ulcerative colitis from other human inflammatory intestinal disorders.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic and relapsing inflammatory
      conditions of the gastrointestinal tract including Crohn's disease (CD) and
      ulcerative colitis (UC). Galectins, defined by shared consensus amino acid
      sequence and affinity for beta-galactosides, are critical modulators of the
      inflammatory response. However, the relevance of the galectin network in the
      pathogenesis of human IBD has not yet been explored. Here, we analyzed the
      expression of relevant members of the galectin family in intestinal biopsies, and
      identified their contribution as novel mucosal markers in IBD. Colonic biopsies
      were obtained from 59 IBD patients (22 CD and 37 UC), 9 patients with gut
      rejection after transplantation, 8 adult celiac patients, and 32 non-IBD donors.
      Galectin mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and qPCR using specific primers
      for individual galectins. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to
      analyze galectin expression in individual intestinal samples. Expression of
      common mucosal-associated galectins (Gal-1, -3, -4, -9) is dysregulated in
      inflamed tissues of IBD patients compared with non-inflamed IBD or control
      samples. LDA discriminated between different inflammation grades in active IBD
      and showed that remission IBD samples were clusterized with control samples.
      Galectin profiling could not distinguish CD and UC. Furthermore, inflamed IBD was
      discriminated from inflamed tissue of rejected gut in transplanted patients and
      duodenum of celiac patients, which could not be distinguished from control
      duodenum samples. The integrative analysis of galectins discriminated IBD from
      other intestinal inflammatory conditions and could be used as potential mucosal
      biomarker.

PMID- 26891022
TI  - Diagnostic value of echocardiography in isolated congenital unilateral lung
      agenesis combined with different anomalies: Two rare cases in children.
AB  - Unilateral lung agenesis, a rare congenital deformity, is secondary to abnormal
      embryonic development, leading to a shift of the mediastinum and remaining lung.
      In our case reports, we describe the diagnostic courses of two pediatric patients
      with unilateral lung agenesis admitted to our hospital in 2014. We present and
      compare the findings in transthoracic echocardiography with that in CT.
      Echocardiography played a pivotal role in revealing pulmonary deformities and
      leading to the diagnosis. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound
      44:514-517, 2016. 

PMID- 26891023
TI  - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and elastography: Incremental advances but work
      still to be done.

PMID- 26891024
TI  - Medical Tourism for CCSVI Procedures in People with Multiple Sclerosis: An
      Observational Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many Canadians with multiple sclerosis (MS) have recently travelled
      internationally to have procedures for a putative condition called chronic
      cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Here, we describe where and when they
      went and describe the baseline characteristics of persons with MS who
      participated in this non-evidence-based medical tourism for CCSVI procedures.
      METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal observational study that used online
      questionnaires to collect patient-reported information about the safety,
      experiences, and outcomes following procedures for CCSVI. A convenience sample of
      all Albertans with MS was recruited between July 2011 and March 2013. RESULTS: In
      total, 868 individuals enrolled; 704 were included in this cross-sectional,
      baseline analysis. Of these, 128 (18.2%) participants retrospectively reported
      having procedures for CCSVI between April 2010 and September 2012. The proportion
      of participants reporting CCSVI procedures declined from 80 (62.5%) in 2010, to
      40 (31.1%) in 2011, and 8 (6.3%) in 2012. In multivariable logistic regression
      analysis, CCSVI procedures were independently associated with longer disease
      duration, secondary progressive clinical course, and greater disability status.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although all types of people with MS pursued procedures for CCSVI, a
      major driver of participation was greater disability. This highlights that those
      with the greatest disability are the most vulnerable to unproven experimental
      procedures. Participation in CCSVI procedures waned over time possibly reflecting
      unmet expectations of treated patients, decreased media attention, or that
      individuals who wanted procedures had them soon after the CCSVI hypothesis was
      widely publicized.

PMID- 26891026
TI  - Directed self-assembly of solvent-vapor-induced non-bulk block copolymer
      morphologies on nanopatterned substrates.
AB  - We report a study on directed self-assembly (DSA) with solvent annealing to
      induce the formation of non-bulk block copolymer microdomains on chemical
      patterns. Ultrathin films of symmetric polystyrene-block-poly(methyl
      methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) display morphologies of PMMA dots, stripes, and PS
      hexagons with increasing exposure time to acetone vapor, a PMMA-selective
      solvent. All three nanostructures form long-range-ordered and registered arrays
      on striped chemical patterns with periods (LS) commensurate to the solvated PS-b
      PMMA microdomain period (L0,s). Solvent annealing is shown to facilitate DSA on
      non-regular chemical patterns, on which the local periods are incommensurate to
      L0,s. DSA with feature density multiplication, via solvent annealing, is also
      demonstrated. 

PMID- 26891025
TI  - BVES Regulates Intestinal Stem Cell Programs and Intestinal Crypt Viability after
      Radiation.
AB  - Blood vessel epicardial substance (BVES/Popdc1) is a junctional-associated
      transmembrane protein that is underexpressed in a number of malignancies and
      regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We previously identified a role
      for BVES in regulation of the Wnt pathway, a modulator of intestinal stem cell
      programs, but its role in small intestinal (SI) biology remains unexplored. We
      hypothesized that BVES influences intestinal stem cell programs and is critical
      to SI homeostasis after radiation injury. At baseline, Bves(-/-) mice
      demonstrated increased crypt height, as well as elevated proliferation and
      expression of the stem cell marker Lgr5 compared to wild-type (WT) mice.
      Intercross with Lgr5-EGFP reporter mice confirmed expansion of the stem cell
      compartment in Bves(-/-) mice. To examine stem cell function after BVES deletion,
      we used ex vivo 3D-enteroid cultures. Bves(-/-) enteroids demonstrated increased
      stemness compared to WT, when examining parameters such as plating efficiency,
      stem spheroid formation, and retention of peripheral cystic structures.
      Furthermore, we observed increased proliferation, expression of crypt-base
      columnar "CBC" and "+4" stem cell markers, amplified Wnt signaling, and
      responsiveness to Wnt activation in the Bves(-/-) enteroids. Bves expression was
      downregulated after radiation in WT mice. Moreover, after radiation, Bves(-/-)
      mice demonstrated significantly greater SI crypt viability, proliferation, and
      amplified Wnt signaling in comparison to WT mice. Bves(-/-) mice also
      demonstrated elevations in Lgr5 and Ascl2 expression, and putative damage
      responsive stem cell populations marked by Bmi1 and TERT. Therefore, BVES is a
      key regulator of intestinal stem cell programs and mucosal homeostasis. Stem
      Cells 2016;34:1626-1636.

PMID- 26891029
TI  - Catalytic formal cycloadditions between anhydrides and ketones: excellent enantio
      and diastereocontrol, controllable decarboxylation and the formation of adjacent
      quaternary stereocentres.
AB  - It has been shown for the first time that enolisable anhydrides can participate
      in highly efficient and diastereo/enantioselective additions to activated
      ketones. In these reactions the anhydride component formally acts (initially) as
      the nucleophilic component. These processes are promoted by novel, readily
      prepared urea-substituted cinchona alkaloid-derived catalysts at low loadings
      under mild conditions. Three classes of enolisable anhydride and three different
      types of activated ketone were shown to be compatible with the process -
      generating a diverse range of structurally distinct and densely functionalised
      lactone products with the formation of two new stereocentres, one of which is
      quaternary. In one example, a product incorporating two contiguous quaternary
      stereocentres (one all carbon) was formed with outstanding enantiocontrol. It has
      been shown in the case of glutaconic anhydride derivatives that the cycloaddtion
      process is reversible, and can be accompanied by decarboxylation and olefin
      isomerisation. Reaction conditions can be modified to give access to three types
      of product with good-excellent ee. 

PMID- 26891028
TI  - Candida haemulonii Complex Species, Brazil, January 2010-March 2015.

PMID- 26891027
TI  - The dynamic AMPA receptor extracellular region: a platform for synaptic protein
      interactions.
AB  - AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are glutamate-gated cation channels that mediate fast
      excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Structures of GluA2
      homotetramers in distinct functional states, together with simulations, emphasise
      the loose architecture of the AMPAR extracellular region (ECR). The ECR
      encompasses ~80% of the receptor, and consists of the membrane-distal N-terminal
      domain (NTD) and ligand-binding domain (LBD), which is fused to the ion channel
      domain. Minimal contacts within and between layers, together with flexible
      peptide linkers connecting these three domains give rise to an organisation
      capable of dynamic rearrangements. This building plan is uniquely suited to
      engage interaction partners in the crowded environment of synapses, permitting
      the formation of new binding sites and the loss of existing ones. ECR motions are
      thereby expected to impact signalling as well as synaptic anchorage and may
      thereby influence AMPAR clustering during synaptic plasticity.

PMID- 26891030
TI  - Motorcycle fuel tanks and pelvic fractures: A motorcycle fuel tank syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pelvic injuries are a serious and commonly occurring injury to
      motorcycle riders involved in crashes, yet there has been limited research
      investigating the mechanisms involved in these injuries. This study aimed to
      investigate the mechanisms involved in pelvic injuries to crashed motorcyclists.
      METHOD: This study involved in-depth crash investigation and 2 convenience-based
      data sets were used. These data sets investigated motorcycle crashes in the
      Sydney, Newcastle, and Adelaide regions. Participants included motorcycle riders
      who had crashed either on a public road or private property within the study
      areas. The mechanism of injury and the type of injuries were investigated.
      RESULTS: The most frequent cause of pelvic injuries in crashed motorcyclists was
      due to contact with the motorcycle fuel tank during the crash (85%). For riders
      who had come into contact with the fuel tank, the injury types were able to be
      grouped into 3 categories based on the complexity of the injury. The complexity
      of the injury appeared to increase with impact speed but this was a
      nonsignificant trend. The pelvic injuries that did not occur from contact with
      the fuel tank in this sample differed in asymmetry of loading and did not
      commonly involve injury to the bladder. They were commonly one-sided injuries but
      this differed based on the point of loading; however, a larger sample of these
      injuries needs to be investigated. CONCLUSION: Overall improvements in road
      safety have not been replicated in the amelioration of pelvic injuries in
      motorcyclists and improvements in the design of crashworthy motorcycle fuel tanks
      appear to be required.

PMID- 26891031
TI  - Tracking Cells in GFP-transgenic Zebrafish Using the Photoconvertible PSmOrange
      System.
AB  - The rapid development of transparent zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) in
      combination with fluorescent labelings of cells and tissues allows visualizing
      developmental processes as they happen in the living animal. Cells of interest
      can be labeled by using a tissue specific promoter to drive the expression of a
      fluorescent protein (FP) for the generation of transgenic lines. Using
      fluorescent photoconvertible proteins for this purpose additionally allows to
      precisely follow defined structures within the expression domain. Illuminating
      the protein in the region of interest, changes its emission spectrum and
      highlights a particular cell or cell cluster leaving other transgenic cells in
      their original color. A major limitation is the lack of known promoters for a
      large number of tissues in the zebrafish. Conversely, gene- and enhancer trap
      screens have generated enormous transgenic resources discretely labeling
      literally all embryonic structures mostly with GFP or to a lesser extend red or
      yellow FPs. An approach to follow defined structures in such transgenic
      backgrounds would be to additionally introduce a ubiquitous photoconvertible
      protein, which could be converted in the cell(s) of interest. However, the
      photoconvertible proteins available involve a green and/or less frequently a red
      emission state and can therefore often not be used to track cells in the FP
      background of existing transgenic lines. To circumvent this problem, we have
      established the PSmOrange system for the zebrafish. Simple microinjection of
      synthetic mRNA encoding a nuclear form of this protein labels all cell nuclei
      with orange/red fluorescence. Upon targeted photoconversion of the protein, it
      switches its emission spectrum to far red. The quantum efficiency and stability
      of the protein makes PSmOrange a superb cell-tracking tool for zebrafish and
      possibly other teleost species.

PMID- 26891032
TI  - Laboratory Scale X-ray Fluorescence Tomography: Instrument Characterization and
      Application in Earth and Environmental Science.
AB  - A new laboratory scale X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging instrument, based on an X
      ray microfocus tube equipped with a monocapillary optic, has been developed to
      perform XRF computed tomography experiments with both higher spatial resolution
      (20 MUm) and a better energy resolution (130 eV @Mn-K(alpha)) than has been
      achieved up-to-now. This instrument opens a new range of possible applications
      for XRF-CT. Next to the analytical characterization of the setup by using well
      defined model/reference samples, demonstrating its capabilities for tomographic
      imaging, the XRF-CT microprobe has been used to image the interior of an
      ecotoxicological model organism, Americamysis bahia. This had been exposed to
      elevated metal (Cu and Ni) concentrations. The technique allowed the
      visualization of the accumulation sites of copper, clearly indicating the
      affected organs, i.e. either the gastric system or the hepatopancreas. As another
      illustrative application, the scanner has been employed to investigate goethite
      spherules from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, revealing the internal
      elemental distribution of these valuable distal ejecta layer particles.

PMID- 26891036
TI  - Does first-line antiretroviral regimen impact risk for chronic kidney disease
      whatever the risk group?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We used the D:A:D risk score for chronic kidney disease (CKD) for
      patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the recent years, and
      investigated whether specific regimens enhanced the risk of CKD in the different
      risk groups. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected cohort
      of French HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Patients who started their first ART
      after January the 1st, 2004 with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate
      (eGFR) greater than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m were analyzed. CKD was defined by
      confirmed eGFR less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m. Incidence of CKD was estimated by
      Kaplan-Meier method, and Poisson regression models were used to quantify the
      relationship between CKD, exposure to the initial ART regimens and the D:A:D
      score. RESULTS: We included 6301 patients representing 21 936 person-years of
      follow-up (PYFU), median eGFR at baseline was 101 ml/min per 1.73 m (inter
      quartile range 86; 118) and CKD incidence 9.6/1000 PYFU. Five years probabilities
      of CKD were 0.65, 4.6 and 15.9% in the low, medium and high-risk groups,
      respectively. In patients treated with a boosted protease inhibitor, incidences
      rates were 7.1/1000 and 9.0/1000 PYFU in the absence or presence of tenofovir,
      respectively, and markedly increased with increasing risk score. In the low-risk
      group the treatment choice had no impact on CKD incidence. CONCLUSION: When
      choosing the ideal first antiretroviral regimen for one given patient, clinicians
      should rely on the D:A:D score and avoid some drugs in high-risk patients,
      whereas in low-risk patients classic regimens may be safely prescribed, with an
      economic benefit due to soon available generic formulations.

PMID- 26891035
TI  - Association of increased CD8+ and persisting C-reactive protein levels with
      restenosis in HIV patients after coronary stenting.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has recently been
      increasing. Although the mortality and morbidity associated with AIDS is
      decreasing, those associated with cardiovascular diseases and percutaneous
      coronary intervention (PCI) are receiving greater attention. Only limited data
      regarding coronary restenosis are available in these patients. DESIGN: In this
      prospective, systematic angiographic follow-up study, we enrolled HIV patients
      who underwent PCI for de-novo lesions and subsequent routine angiographic follow
      up for 6-8 months. Angiographic restenosis was defined as stenosis of at least
      50% of the in-segment area. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate analyses were
      performed to evaluate restenosis and its predictors. RESULTS: Between May 2002
      and March 2014, 47 patients with HIV underwent PCI in two high-volume centers in
      Munich, Germany. Of these patients, 41 with 131 de-novo lesions underwent
      invasive surveillance. One-quarter of the lesions treated subsequently presented
      with restenosis. Univariate analysis indicated that CD8 T-cell levels (P =
      0.006), serum cholesterol (P = 0.042) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P
      = 0.042) levels at baseline, total number of stents (P = 0.047), and C-reactive
      protein level (P = 0.001) at follow-up were associated with restenosis.
      Multivariate analysis indicated that CD8 T-cell levels (P = 0.006) and persistent
      C-reactive protein elevation at 6-month follow-up (P = 0.00013) were independent
      predictors of restenosis. CONCLUSION: Inflammation, represented by CD8 T-cell
      levels, and persistent C-reactive protein elevation are independent predictors of
      angiographic restenosis and should therefore be closely monitored in HIV patients
      undergoing PCI.

PMID- 26891033
TI  - Epigenome-wide profiling of DNA methylation in paired samples of adipose tissue
      and blood.
AB  - Many epigenetic association studies have attempted to identify DNA methylation
      markers in blood that are able to mirror those in target tissues. Although some
      have suggested potential utility of surrogate epigenetic markers in blood, few
      studies have collected data to directly compare DNA methylation across tissues
      from the same individuals. Here, epigenomic data were collected from adipose
      tissue and blood in 143 subjects using Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip
      array. The top axis of epigenome-wide variation differentiates adipose tissue
      from blood, which is confirmed internally using cross-validation and externally
      with independent data from the two tissues. We identified 1,285 discordant genes
      and 1,961 concordant genes between blood and adipose tissue. RNA expression data
      of the two classes of genes show consistent patterns with those observed in DNA
      methylation. The discordant genes are enriched in biological functions related to
      immune response, leukocyte activation or differentiation, and blood coagulation.
      We distinguish the CpG-specific correlation from the within-subject correlation
      and emphasize that the magnitude of within-subject correlation does not guarantee
      the utility of surrogate epigenetic markers. The study reinforces the critical
      role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression and cellular phenotypes
      across tissues, and highlights the caveats of using methylation markers in blood
      to mirror the corresponding profile in the target tissue.

PMID- 26891037
TI  - Bryostatin-1 for latent virus reactivation in HIV-infected patients on
      antiretroviral therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The protein kinase C (PKC) agonist bryostatin-1 has shown significant
      ex-vivo potency to revert HIV-1 latency, compared with other latency reversing
      agents (LRA). The safety of this candidate LRA remains to be proven in treated
      HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: In this pilot, double-blind phase I clinical
      trial (NCT 02269605), we included aviraemic HIV-1-infected patients on triple
      antiretroviral therapy to evaluate the effects of two different single doses of
      bryostatin-1 (10 or 20 MUg/m) compared with placebo. RESULTS: Twelve patients
      were included, four in each arm. Bryostatin-1 was well tolerated in all
      participants. Two patients in the 20 MUg/m arm developed grade 1 headache and
      myalgia. No detectable increases of cell-associated unspliced (CA-US) HIV-1-RNA
      were observed in any study arm, nor differences in HIV-1 mRNA dynamics between
      arms (P = 0.44). The frequency of samples with low-level viraemia did not differ
      between arms and low-level viraemia did not correlate with CA-US HIV-1-RNA levels
      (P = 0.676). No changes were detected on protein kinase C (PKC) activity and in
      biomarkers of inflammation (sCD14 and interleukin-6) in any study arm. After the
      single dose of bryostatin-1, plasma concentrations were under detection limits in
      all the patients in the 10 MUg/m arm, and below 50 pg/ml (0.05 nmol/l) in those
      in the 20 MUg/m arm. CONCLUSION: Bryostatin-1 was safe at the single doses
      administered. However, the drug did not show any effect on PKC activity or on the
      transcription of latent HIV, probably due to low plasma concentrations. This
      study will inform next trials aimed at assessing higher doses, multiple dosing
      schedules or combination studies with synergistic drugs.

PMID- 26891034
TI  - Identification of sirtuin 1 as a promising therapeutic target for hypertrophic
      scars.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), the founding member of mammalian class
      III histone deacetylases, is reported to be a drug target involved in fibrotic
      diseases. However, whether it is an effective drug target in hypertrophic scar
      treatment is still not known. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In the present study, we
      observed that SIRT1 localized to both the epidermis and the dermis of skin
      tissues by immunohistochemistry. After knock-down of SIRT1 by shRNA or up
      regulating SIRT1 by resveratrol, the expression of alpha-SMA, Col1 and Col3 in
      fibroblasts were detected by western blots. A mouse excision wound healing model
      was used to observe the changes in collagen fibre associated with the different
      expression levels of SIRT1. KEY RESULTS: SIRT1 expression was inhibited in
      hypertrophic scar tissue. The down-regulation of SIRT1 resulted in an increased
      expression of alpha-SMA, Col1 and Col3 in hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts.
      In contrast, the up-regulation of SIRT1 not only inhibited the expression of
      alpha-SMA, Col1 and Col3 in hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts but also
      blocked the activation of TGFbeta1-induced normal skin-derived fibroblasts. In
      the mouse model of wound healing, the deletion of SIRT1 resulted in denser
      collagen fibres and a more disordered structure, whereas resveratrol treatment
      led to a more organized and thinner collagen fibre, which was similar to that
      observed during normal wound healing. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results
      revealed that SIRT1 negatively regulates TGFbeta1-induced fibroblast activation
      and inhibits excessive scar formation and is, therefore, a promising drug target
      for hypertrophic scar formation.

PMID- 26891038
TI  - Differences in expression of gut-homing receptors on CD4+ T cells in black and
      white HIV-negative men who have sex with men.
AB  - HIV incidence rates are higher among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) as
      compared with MSM of other race/ethnicities in the USA. We found that blood
      memory CD4 cells from BMSM express higher levels of alpha4beta7, the gut-homing
      integrin, compared with white MSM. Higher expression of alpha4beta7 on blood CD4
      cells correlated with higher percentage of proliferating CD4alpha4beta7 cells in
      rectal tissue suggesting increased trafficking of potential HIV target cells to
      rectal mucosa could increase HIV susceptibility among BMSM.

PMID- 26891039
TI  - Alkaline Earth Metal Zirconate Perovskites MZrO3 (M=Ba(2+), Sr(2+), Ca(2+))
      Derived from Molecular Precursors and Doped with Eu(3+) Ions.
AB  - The effect of alkaline earth metal alkoxides on the protonation of zirconocene
      dichloride was investigated. This approach enabled the design of compounds with
      preset molecular structures for generating high-purity binary metal oxide
      perovskites MZrO3 (M=Ba(2+), Sr(2+), Ca(2+)). Single-source molecular precursors
      [Ba4 Zr2 (MU6 -O)(MU3 ,eta(2)-OR)8 (OR)2(eta(2) -HOR)2 (HOR)2 Cl4], [Sr4 Zr2 (MU6
      -O)(MU3 ,eta(2)-OR)8 (OR)2 (HOR)4 Cl4], [Ca4 Zr2 (MU6-O)(MU3 ,eta(2)-OR)8 (OR)2
      Cl4], and [Ca6 Zr2 (MU2 ,eta(2)-OR)12 (MU-Cl)2 (eta(2) -HOR)4 Cl6 ]?8 CH2 Cl2
      were prepared via elimination of the cyclopentadienyl ring from Cp2 ZrCl2 as CpH
      in the presence of M(OR)2 and alcohol ROH (ROH=CH3OCH2 CH2OH) as a source of
      protons. The resulting complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and
      NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds were then
      thermally decomposed to MCl2 /MZrO3 mixtures. Leaching of MCl2 from the raw
      powder with deionized water produced highly pure perovskite-like oxide particles
      of 40-80 nm in size. Luminescence studies on Eu(3+)-doped MZrO3 revealed that the
      perovskites are attractive host lattices for potential applications in display
      technology.

PMID- 26891040
TI  - Brain levels of high-energy phosphate metabolites and executive function in
      geriatric depression.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Depression in late life has been associated with difficulties in
      cognitive processing, particularly in the domains of executive function,
      processing speed and memory, and increases the risk of developing dementia
      suggesting a neurodegenerative phenotype. Mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently
      an early event in neurodegenerative illnesses and may be operative in patients
      with late life depression. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS)
      allows for the quantification of bioenergetic molecules produced by mitochondria.
      METHODS: Ten patients with late life depression and eight normal elderly controls
      were studied with Stroop color and interference tests, which are widely used
      measures of processing speed and executive function, respectively, followed by
      (31P) MRS 3-dimensional chemical-shift imaging measuring levels of adenosine
      triphosphate, phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate, and pH over the whole brain.
      RESULTS: In all subjects, gray matter phosphocreatine was positively associated
      with Stroop interference. Levels of white matter adenosine triphosphate were
      associated with Stroop interference in subjects with late life depression but not
      normal elderly. There was also a complementary association between white matter
      inorganic phosphate and Stroop interference in late life depression patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest two independent sources of executive function
      dependence on bioenergetic state in the aging brain. The dependence of executive
      function performance in subjects with late life depression on ATP in white matter
      may be associated with mitochondrial impairment and is consistent with
      predictions of the vascular depression hypothesis. Further research with wider
      neuropsychological testing targeting bioenergetic markers could help clarify the
      scope of these effects. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891048
TI  - Tumor Heterogeneity Assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT Is Not Significantly Associated
      with Nodal Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of tumor
      heterogeneity as assessed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography
      (PET/CT) with pathological factors of breast cancer, and the prediction of nodal
      metastasis through tumor heterogeneity. METHODS: From January 2013 to December
      2013, 102 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast were enrolled
      into this study. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT was performed before surgery. The
      metabolic tumor volume (MTV) of each lesion was calculated and a series of
      standardized uptake value (SUV) thresholds (e.g. 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% of
      SUVmax) was obtained. A threshold-volume (dV/dT) curve was acquired by plotting
      thresholds to MTV values automatically calculated with these thresholds. Tumor
      heterogeneity was calculated from the slope of the threshold-volume curve and
      defined as heterogeneity factor (HF). RESULTS: HF differed significantly
      according to T stage (p < 0.0001), N stage (p = 0.0131) and American Joint
      Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (p = 0.0006). Among the pathological parameters,
      dermal lymphatic involvement (p = 0.0039) showed the significant correlations
      with HF. Lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.0005) was the only independent factor for
      predicting nodal metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor heterogeneity measured by 18F-FDG
      PET/CT is significantly associated with dermal lymphatic involvement. However,
      PET might not be able to predict nodal metastasis in breast cancer.

PMID- 26891047
TI  - Molecular Individual-Based Approach on Triatoma brasiliensis: Inferences on
      Triatomine Foci, Trypanosoma cruzi Natural Infection Prevalence, Parasite
      Diversity and Feeding Sources.
AB  - We used an individual-based molecular multisource approach to assess the
      epidemiological importance of Triatoma brasiliensis collected in distinct sites
      and ecotopes in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. In the semi-arid zones of
      Brazil, this blood sucking bug is the most important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi-
      the parasite that causes Chagas disease. First, cytochrome b (cytb) and
      microsatellite markers were used for inferences on the genetic structure of five
      populations (108 bugs). Second, we determined the natural T. cruzi infection
      prevalence and parasite diversity in 126 bugs by amplifying a mini-exon gene from
      triatomine gut contents. Third, we identified the natural feeding sources of 60
      T. brasiliensis by using the blood meal content via vertebrate cytb analysis.
      Demographic inferences based on cytb variation indicated expansion events in some
      sylvatic and domiciliary populations. Microsatellite results indicated gene flow
      between sylvatic and anthropic (domiciliary and peridomiciliary) populations,
      which threatens vector control efforts because sylvatic population are
      uncontrollable. A high natural T. cruzi infection prevalence (52-71%) and two
      parasite lineages were found for the sylvatic foci, in which 68% of bugs had fed
      on Kerodon rupestris (Rodentia: Caviidae), highlighting it as a potential
      reservoir. For peridomiciliary bugs, Galea spixii (Rodentia: Caviidae) was the
      main mammal feeding source, which may reinforce previous concerns about the
      potential of this animal to link the sylvatic and domiciliary T. cruzi cycles.

PMID- 26891049
TI  - Diverse Effects of a Seven-Year Experimental Grassland Fragmentation on Major
      Invertebrate Groups.
AB  - Habitat fragmentation is a major driver of biodiversity loss, but observed
      effects vary and may depend on the group examined. Time since fragmentation may
      explain some differences between taxonomical groups, as some species and thus
      species composition respond with a delay to changes in their environment. Impacts
      of drivers of global change may thus be underestimated in short-term studies. In
      our study we experimentally fragmented nutrient-poor dry calcareous grasslands
      and studied the response of species richness, individual density and species
      composition of various groups of invertebrates (gastropods, ants, ground beetles,
      rove beetles, orthoptera, spiders, woodlice) in 12 small (1.5 m * 1.5 m) and 12
      large (4.5 m * 4.5 m) fragments and their corresponding control plots after 7
      years. We further examined responses to fragmentation in relation to body size
      and habitat preferences. Responses to fragmentation varied between taxonomical
      groups. While spider species richness and individual density were lower in
      fragments, the opposite was true for an orthopteran species and woodlice. Species
      composition and beta-diversity differed between fragments and control plots for
      some groups. However, the interaction treatment*plot size was rarely significant.
      Species with high occupancy rates in undisturbed control plots responded more
      negatively to the fragmentation, while species with large body size were
      relatively more abundant in fragments in some groups. No effect of the
      fragmentation was found for ants, which may have the longest lag times because of
      long-lived colonies. However, relationships between abundance and the species'
      preferences for environmental factors affected by edge effects indicate that ant
      diversity too may be affected in the longer-term. Our results show the importance
      of considering different groups in conservation management in times of widespread
      fragmentation of landscapes. While species richness may respond slowly, changes
      in abundance related to habitat preferences or morphology may allow insights into
      likely long-term changes. 

PMID- 26891051
TI  - Blood-Borne Markers of Fatigue in Competitive Athletes - Results from Simulated
      Training Camps.
AB  - Assessing current fatigue of athletes to fine-tune training prescriptions is a
      critical task in competitive sports. Blood-borne surrogate markers are widely
      used despite the scarcity of validation trials with representative subjects and
      interventions. Moreover, differences between training modes and disciplines (e.g.
      due to differences in eccentric force production or calorie turnover) have rarely
      been studied within a consistent design. Therefore, we investigated blood-borne
      fatigue markers during and after discipline-specific simulated training camps. A
      comprehensive panel of blood-born indicators was measured in 73 competitive
      athletes (28 cyclists, 22 team sports, 23 strength) at 3 time-points: after a run
      in resting phase (d 1), after a 6-day induction of fatigue (d 8) and following a
      subsequent 2-day recovery period (d 11). Venous blood samples were collected
      between 8 and 10 a.m. Courses of blood-borne indicators are considered as fatigue
      dependent if a significant deviation from baseline is present at day 8
      (Deltafatigue) which significantly regresses towards baseline until day 11
      (Deltarecovery). With cycling, a fatigue dependent course was observed for
      creatine kinase (CK; Deltafatigue 54+/-84 U/l; Deltarecovery -60+/-83 U/l), urea
      (Deltafatigue 11+/-9 mg/dl; Deltarecovery -10+/-10 mg/dl), free testosterone
      (Deltafatigue -1.3+/-2.1 pg/ml; Deltarecovery 0.8+/-1.5 pg/ml) and insulin linke
      growth factor 1 (IGF-1; Deltafatigue -56+/-28 ng/ml; Deltarecovery 53+/-29
      ng/ml). For urea and IGF-1 95% confidence intervals for days 1 and 11 did not
      overlap with day 8. With strength and high-intensity interval training,
      respectively, fatigue-dependent courses and separated 95% confidence intervals
      were present for CK (strength: Deltafatigue 582+/-649 U/l; Deltarecovery -618+/
      419 U/l; HIIT: Deltafatigue 863+/-952 U/l; Deltarecovery -741+/-842 U/l) only.
      These results indicate that, within a comprehensive panel of blood-borne markers,
      changes in fatigue are most accurately reflected by urea and IGF-1 for cycling
      and by CK for strength training and team sport players. 

PMID- 26891052
TI  - SeXX Matters in Infectious Disease Pathogenesis.

PMID- 26891050
TI  - Microparticle-Induced Activation of the Vascular Endothelium Requires Caveolin
      1/Caveolae.
AB  - Microparticles (MPs) are small membrane fragments shed from normal as well as
      activated, apoptotic or injured cells. Emerging evidence implicates MPs as a
      causal and/or contributing factor in altering normal vascular cell phenotype
      through initiation of proinflammatory signal transduction events and paracrine
      delivery of proteins, mRNA and miRNA. However, little is known regarding the
      mechanism by which MPs influence these events. Caveolae are important membrane
      microdomains that function as centers of signal transduction and endocytosis.
      Here, we tested the concept that the MP-induced pro-inflammatory phenotype shift
      in endothelial cells (ECs) depends on caveolae. Consistent with previous reports,
      MP challenge activated ECs as evidenced by upregulation of intracellular adhesion
      molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. ICAM-1 upregulation was mediated by activation of
      NF-kappaB, Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and the epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR). This response was absent in ECs lacking caveolin
      1/caveolae. To test whether caveolae-mediated endocytosis, a dynamin-2 dependent
      process, is a feature of the proinflammatory response, EC's were pretreated with
      the dynamin-2 inhibitor dynasore. Similar to observations in cells lacking
      caveolin-1, inhibition of endocytosis significantly attenuated MPs effects
      including, EGFR phosphorylation, activation of NF-kappaB and upregulation of ICAM
      1 expression. Thus, our results indicate that caveolae play a role in mediating
      the pro-inflammatory signaling pathways which lead to EC activation in response
      to MPs. 

PMID- 26891054
TI  - The Difference in Prognosis between Renal Sinus Fat and Perinephric Fat Invasion
      for pT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the current Tumour-Node-Metastasis (TNM) classification system for
      renal cell carcinoma (RCC), both renal sinus fat invasion (SFI) and perinephric
      fat invasion (PFI) are defined as T3a, suggesting that the prognosis should be
      similar for the two pathologic findings. Several studies, however, have reported
      a worse prognosis for SFI in patients with a T3a tumor. In order to compare the
      prognosis of these two pathologic findings (SFI versus. PFI) in a more
      comprehensive way, this meta-analysis was performed. METHODS: To identify
      relevant studies, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus database were
      searched from the inception until October 2014. A meta-analysis was performed
      using Review Manager 5.2 and STATA 11. Pooled Odds ratio (OR) and/or hazard ratio
      (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to examine the risk or
      hazard association. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies including 1031 patients
      qualified for analysis. T3a RCC patients with SFI were significantly associated
      with poor cancer specific survival(CSS) (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.19-1.83; P<0.001)
      compared to those with PFI. In T3aNx/N0M0 subgroup, SFI patients also showed a
      worse prognosis than those with PFI (CSS, HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.21-3.12; P =
      0.006). T3a RCC patients with SFI had higher Furhman grade, greater possibility
      of lymph node metastasis, sarcomatoid differentiation and tumour necrosis. Main
      limitation is the relatively small number of included studies. CONCLUSION: The
      present meta-analysis suggested that SFI is associated with worse CSS in patients
      with pT3a RCC. However, due to the small number of included studies, future
      studies with a large sample size are required to further verify our findings.

PMID- 26891055
TI  - Short versus long gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue suppression protocols
      in advanced age women undergoing IVF/ICSI.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effective of two GnRH-a protocols for ovarian
      stimulation in advanced age women undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles. STUDY DESIGN: A
      total of 1149 IVF-ET/ICSI cycles were retrospectively identified. The cycles were
      divided two groups, namely a long-protocol group and a short-protocol group.
      RESULTS: The numbers of oocytes retrieved, and high-quality embryos in the long
      protocol group were significantly greater than those in the short-protocol group.
      In the long-protocol group, the implantation and pregnancy rates were 17.22% and
      33.67%, respectively, and these values were significantly higher than those in
      the short-protocol group (8.24% and 15.96%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      demonstrated that the long protocol was superior to the short protocol for
      advanced age women.

PMID- 26891053
TI  - Mortality Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic
      Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with
      higher mortality in the general population. We studied the associations between
      COPD and death among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients along with reporting
      cause-specific death data. METHODS: We included 56,960 patients with stages 3 and
      4 CKD who were followed in a large health care system. Associations between COPD
      and all-cause mortality and various causes of death (respiratory deaths,
      cardiovascular deaths, malignancy-related deaths and deaths due to other reasons)
      were studied using the Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models.
      RESULTS: Out of 56,960 CKD patients, 4.7% (n = 2,667) had underlying COPD. Old
      age, presence of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive
      heart failure, and smoking were associated with higher risk for COPD. During a
      median follow-up of 3.7 years, 15,969 patients died. After covariate adjustment,
      COPD was associated with a 41% increased risk (95% CI 1.31-1.52) for all-cause
      mortality, and fourfold increased risk (sub-hazard ratio 4.36, 95% CI 3.54-5.37)
      for respiratory-related deaths. In a sensitivity analysis that was performed by
      defining COPD as the use of relevant International Classification of Diseases-9
      codes and medications used to treat COPD, similar results were noted.
      CONCLUSIONS: COPD is associated with higher risk for death among those with CKD,
      and an underlying lung disease accounts for significant proportion of deaths.
      These data highlight the need for further prospective studies to understand the
      underlying mechanisms and potential interventions to improve outcomes in this
      population.

PMID- 26891057
TI  - Phosphorylation promotes Al(iii) binding to proteins: GEGEGSGG as a case study.
AB  - Aluminum, the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust and one of the key
      industrial components of our everyday life, has been associated with several
      neurodegenerative diseases due to its ability to promote neurofilament tangles
      and beta-amyloid peptide aggregation. However, the experimental characterization
      of aluminum speciation in vivo is a difficult task. In the present study, we
      develop a theoretical protocol that combines molecular dynamics simulations,
      clustering of structures, and density functional theory for the characterization
      of the binding of aluminum to the synthetic neurofilament analogue octapeptide
      GEGEGSGG and its phosphorylated variant. Our protocol is tested with respect to
      previous NMR experimental data, which allows for a full interpretation of the
      experimental information available and its relationship with key thermodynamic
      quantities. Our results demonstrate the importance of phosphorylation in the
      ability of a peptide to bind to aluminum. Thus, phosphorylation: (i) changes the
      binding pattern of aluminum to GEGEGSGG, shifting the preferential binding site
      from the C-terminal to S6(P); (ii) increases the binding affinity by a factor of
      around 15 kcal mol(-1) in free energy; and (iii) may cause significant changes in
      the secondary structure and stiffness of the polypeptide chain, specially in the
      case of bidentate binding modes. Our results shed light on the possibility of
      aluminum to induce aggregation of beta-amyloid proteins and neurofilament
      tangles. 

PMID- 26891056
TI  - Bovine Host Genetic Variation Influences Rumen Microbial Methane Production with
      Best Selection Criterion for Low Methane Emitting and Efficiently Feed Converting
      Hosts Based on Metagenomic Gene Abundance.
AB  - Methane produced by methanogenic archaea in ruminants contributes significantly
      to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The host genetic link controlling
      microbial methane production is unknown and appropriate genetic selection
      strategies are not developed. We used sire progeny group differences to estimate
      the host genetic influence on rumen microbial methane production in a factorial
      experiment consisting of crossbred breed types and diets. Rumen metagenomic
      profiling was undertaken to investigate links between microbial genes and methane
      emissions or feed conversion efficiency. Sire progeny groups differed
      significantly in their methane emissions measured in respiration chambers.
      Ranking of the sire progeny groups based on methane emissions or relative
      archaeal abundance was consistent overall and within diet, suggesting that
      archaeal abundance in ruminal digesta is under host genetic control and can be
      used to genetically select animals without measuring methane directly. In the
      metagenomic analysis of rumen contents, we identified 3970 microbial genes of
      which 20 and 49 genes were significantly associated with methane emissions and
      feed conversion efficiency respectively. These explained 81% and 86% of the
      respective variation and were clustered in distinct functional gene networks.
      Methanogenesis genes (e.g. mcrA and fmdB) were associated with methane emissions,
      whilst host-microbiome cross talk genes (e.g. TSTA3 and FucI) were associated
      with feed conversion efficiency. These results strengthen the idea that the host
      animal controls its own microbiota to a significant extent and open up the
      implementation of effective breeding strategies using rumen microbial gene
      abundance as a predictor for difficult-to-measure traits on a large number of
      hosts. Generally, the results provide a proof of principle to use the relative
      abundance of microbial genes in the gastrointestinal tract of different species
      to predict their influence on traits e.g. human metabolism, health and behaviour,
      as well as to understand the genetic link between host and microbiome. 

PMID- 26891059
TI  - Tip-induced gating of molecular levels in carbene-based junctions.
AB  - We study the conductance of N-heterocyclic carbene-based (NHC) molecules on gold
      by means of first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory and
      non-equilibrium Green's functions. We consider several tip structures and find a
      strong dependence of the position of the NHC molecular levels with the atomistic
      structure of the tip. The position of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital
      (LUMO) can change by almost 0.8 eV with tip shape. Through an analysis of the net
      charge transfer, electron redistribution and work function for each tip
      structure, we rationalize the LUMO shifts in terms of the sum of the work
      function and the maximum electrostatic potential arising from charge
      rearrangement. These differences in the LUMO position, effectively gating the
      molecular levels, result in large conductance variations. These findings open the
      way to modulating the conductance of NHC-based molecular circuits through the
      controlled design of the tip atomistic structure. 

PMID- 26891060
TI  - Novel nervous system mechanisms in visceral pain.
AB  - Visceral hypersensitivity is an important factor underlying abdominal pain in
      functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and
      can result from aberrant signaling from the gut to the brain or vice versa. Over
      the last two decades, research has identified several selective, intertwining
      pathways that underlie IBS-related visceral nociception, including specific
      receptors on afferent and efferent nerve fibers such as transient receptor
      potential channels (TRP) channels, opioid, and cannabinoid receptors. In this
      issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility Gil et al. demonstrate that in an
      animal model with reduced descending inhibitory control, the sympathetic nervous
      system outflow is enhanced, contributing to visceral and somatic
      hypersensitivity. They also provide evidence that interfering with the activation
      of adrenergic receptors on sensory nerves can be an interesting new strategy to
      treat visceral pain in IBS. This mini-review places these findings in a broader
      perspective by providing an overview of promising novel mechanisms to alter the
      nervous control of visceral pain interfering with afferent or efferent neuronal
      signaling. 

PMID- 26891062
TI  - Antibiotic use and subsequent development of functional gastrointestinal
      disorders: effect of symptom-reporting and consultation behavior.

PMID- 26891058
TI  - Linking databases on perinatal health: a review of the literature and current
      practices in Europe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: International comparisons of perinatal health indicators are
      complicated by the heterogeneity of data sources on pregnancy, maternal and
      neonatal outcomes. Record linkage can extend the range of data items available
      and thus can improve the validity and quality of routine data. We sought to
      assess the extent to which data are linked routinely for perinatal health
      research and reporting. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the
      literature by searching PubMed for perinatal health studies from 2001 to 2011
      based on linkage of routine data (data collected continuously at various time
      intervals). We also surveyed European health monitoring professionals about use
      of linkage for national perinatal health surveillance. RESULTS: 516 studies fit
      our inclusion criteria. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the US and the UK
      contributed 76% of the publications; a further 29 countries contributed at least
      one publication. Most studies linked vital statistics, hospital records, medical
      birth registries and cohort data. Other sources were specific registers for:
      cancer (70), congenital anomalies (56), ART (19), census (19), health
      professionals (37), insurance (22) prescription (31), and level of education
      (18). Eighteen of 29 countries (62%) reported linking data for routine perinatal
      health monitoring. CONCLUSION: Research using linkage is concentrated in a few
      countries and is not widely practiced in Europe. Broader adoption of data linkage
      could yield substantial gains for perinatal health research and surveillance.

PMID- 26891063
TI  - Antibiotics and onset of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

PMID- 26891061
TI  - Objective prediction of pharyngeal swallow dysfunction in dysphagia through
      artificial neural network modeling.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pharyngeal pressure-flow analysis (PFA) of high resolution impedance
      manometry (HRIM) with calculation of the swallow risk index (SRI) can quantify
      swallow dysfunction predisposing to aspiration. We explored the potential use of
      artificial neural networks (ANN) to model the relationship between PFA swallow
      metrics and aspiration and to predict swallow dysfunction. METHODS: Two hundred
      consecutive dysphagia patients referred for videofluoroscopy and HRIM were
      assessed. Presence of aspiration was scored and PFA software derived 13 metrics
      and the SRI. An ANN was created and optimized over training cycles to achieve
      optimal classification accuracy for matching inputs (PFA metrics) to output
      (presence of aspiration on videofluoroscopy). Application of the ANN returned a
      value between 0.00 and 1.00 reflecting the degree of swallow dysfunction. KEY
      RESULTS: Twenty one patients were excluded due to insufficient number of swallows
      (<4). Of 179, 58 aspirated and 27 had aspiration pneumonia history. The SRI was
      higher in aspirators (aspiration 24 [9, 41] vs no aspiration 7 [2, 18], p <
      0.001) and patients with pneumonia (pneumonia 27 [5, 42] vs no pneumonia 8 [3,
      24], p < 0.05). The ANN Predicted Risk was higher in aspirators (aspiration 0.57
      [0.38, 0.82] vs no aspiration 0.13 [0.4, 0.25], p < 0.001) and in patients with
      pneumonia (pneumonia 0.46 [0.18, 0.60] vs no pneumonia 0.18 [0.6, 0.49], p <
      0.01). Prognostic value of the ANN was superior to the SRI. CONCLUSIONS &
      INFERENCES: In a heterogeneous cohort of dysphagia patients, PFA with ANN
      modeling offers enhanced detection of clinically significant swallowing
      dysfunction, probably more accurately reflecting the complex interplay of swallow
      characteristics that causes aspiration.

PMID- 26891064
TI  - Risk of swallowing-related chest infections in patients with nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications secondary to dysphagia may be encountered in
      patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after definitive intensity-modulated
      radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to identify patients with NPC at risk
      of developing swallowing-related chest infections (SRCIs). METHODS: Retrospective
      chart review was performed on 217 patients with stage I to IVB NPC treated
      definitively with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients
      (12.0%) developed SRCIs; 4 of these patients (15.3%) required intensive care unit
      (ICU) admission and 9 (34.6%) died of the complication. The median time interval
      between completions of radiotherapy to the development of SRCIs was 24.5 months.
      Advanced age, recurrent disease, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy were
      significantly associated with the development of SRCIs in the multivariable
      analysis. CONCLUSION: SRCI is a common and potentially fatal complication for
      postirradiated patients with NPC. Advanced age, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and
      recurrent cancer were strong risk factors for postirradiated patients with NPC to
      develop SRCIs. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1660-E1665, 2016.

PMID- 26891065
TI  - Geometrical deployment for braided stent.
AB  - The prediction of flow diverter stent (FDS) implantation for the treatment of
      intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is being increasingly required for hemodynamic
      simulations and procedural planning. In this paper, a deployment model was
      developed based on geometrical properties of braided stents. The proposed
      mathematical description is first applied on idealized toroidal vessels
      demonstrating the stent shortening in curved vessels. It is subsequently
      generalized to patient specific vasculature predicting the position of the
      filaments along with the length and local porosity of the stent. In parallel, in
      vitro and in-vivo FDS deployments were measured by contrast-enhanced cone beam CT
      (CBCT) in idealized and patient-specific geometries. These measurements showed a
      very good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the virtual deployments and
      provided experimental validations of the underlying geometrical assumptions. In
      particular, they highlighted the importance of the stent radius assessment in the
      accuracy of the deployment prediction. Thanks to its low computational cost, the
      proposed model is potentially implementable in clinical practice providing
      critical information for patient safety and treatment outcome assessment. 

PMID- 26891066
TI  - Evaluation of state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms for left ventricle infarct
      from late Gadolinium enhancement MR images.
AB  - Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE)
      cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for guiding the management of
      patients with sequelae to myocardial infarction, such as ventricular tachycardia
      and heart failure. Clinical implementation of these developments necessitates a
      reproducible and reliable segmentation of the infarcted regions. It is
      challenging to compare new algorithms for infarct segmentation in the left
      ventricle (LV) with existing algorithms. Benchmarking datasets with evaluation
      strategies are much needed to facilitate comparison. This manuscript presents a
      benchmarking evaluation framework for future algorithms that segment infarct from
      LGE CMR of the LV. The image database consists of 30 LGE CMR images of both
      humans and pigs that were acquired from two separate imaging centres. A consensus
      ground truth was obtained for all data using maximum likelihood estimation. Six
      widely-used fixed-thresholding methods and five recently developed algorithms are
      tested on the benchmarking framework. Results demonstrate that the algorithms
      have better overlap with the consensus ground truth than most of the n-SD fixed
      thresholding methods, with the exception of the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM)
      fixed-thresholding method. Some of the pitfalls of fixed thresholding methods are
      demonstrated in this work. The benchmarking evaluation framework, which is a
      contribution of this work, can be used to test and benchmark future algorithms
      that detect and quantify infarct in LGE CMR images of the LV. The datasets,
      ground truth and evaluation code have been made publicly available through the
      website: https://www.cardiacatlas.org/web/guest/challenges. 

PMID- 26891067
TI  - Vincristine Sulfate Liposomes Injection (VSLI, Marqibo(r)): Results From a Phase
      I Study in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Refractory Solid Tumors
      or Leukemias.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vincristine sulfate liposome injection (VSLI; Marqibo(r)) is an
      encapsulated preparation of standard vincristine in sphingomyelin/cholesterol
      liposomes. Clinical trials in adults have demonstrated safety, tolerability, and
      activity, leading to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for adults with
      relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Pediatric experience with VSLI is
      limited. PROCEDURE: This single center, phase I dose escalation study examined
      the safety, toxicity, maximum tolerated dose, and pharmacokinetics of VSLI
      administered weekly to pediatric patients age <21 years with relapsed or
      chemotherapy-refractory solid tumors or leukemia. RESULTS: Twenty-one subjects
      were treated in total. Median age was 13.3 years (range 2-19). Fourteen subjects
      completed one 28-day cycle of therapy and five subjects completed more than one
      cycle. No subject experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) at the first dose
      level (1.75 mg/m(2) /dose, dose range: 2-3.7 mg). At the second dose level (2.25
      mg/m(2) /dose, dose range: 1.3-4.5 mg), one subject had transient dose-limiting
      grade 4 transaminase elevation, and this dose level was expanded with no
      additional DLT observed. The second dose level then opened to an expansion phase
      to evaluate activity in ALL. Clinical activity included minimal residual disease
      negative complete remission in one subject with ALL and stable disease in nine
      subjects. Clearance of total vincristine was found to be approximately 100-fold
      lower in comparison to published data using standard vincristine. CONCLUSIONS:
      Children tolerate 2.25 mg/m(2) /dose of weekly VSLI (the adult FDA-approved dose)
      with evidence for clinical activity without dose-limiting neurotoxicity. Future
      plans include studying VSLI as substitution for standard vincristine with
      combination chemotherapy in children with ALL.

PMID- 26891068
TI  - Chronic lower back pain in a young adult.

PMID- 26891071
TI  - JTI Welcomes New Members to its Editorial Team.

PMID- 26891069
TI  - Modeling cytokinesis of eukaryotic cells driven by the actomyosin contractile
      ring.
AB  - A three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic model for cytokinesis of eukaryotic cells
      is developed, in which we model dynamics of actomyosins in the cell cortex, in
      particular, along the cytokinetic ring formed in the cortex and in the
      neighborhood of the cell's division plane explicitly. Specifically, the active
      force actuated by the actomyosin's activity along the cytokinetic ring is modeled
      by a surface force whose strength is proportional to the actomyosin concentration
      while the cell morphology is tracked by a phase field model. The model is then
      solved in 3D space and time using a finite difference method on graphic
      processing units. Dynamical morphological patterns of eukaryotic cells during
      cytokinesis are numerically simulated with the model. These simulated
      morphological patterns agree quantitatively with experimental observations.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891072
TI  - Imaging of Diffuse Lung Disease: An Ever-evolving Challenge.

PMID- 26891070
TI  - Simultaneous Dual Encoding of Three-Dimensional Structures by Light-Induced
      Modular Ligation.
AB  - A highly efficient strategy for the simultaneous dual surface encoding of 2D and
      3D microscaffolds is reported. The combination of an oligo(ethylene glycol)-based
      network with two novel and readily synthesized monomers with photoreactive side
      chains yields two new photoresists, which can be used for the fabrication of
      microstructures (by two-photon polymerization) that exhibit a dual-photoreactive
      surface. By combining both functional photoresists into one scaffold, a dual
      functionalization pattern can be obtained by a single irradiation step in the
      presence of adequate reaction partners based on a self-sorting mechanism. The
      versatility of the approach is shown by the dual patterning of halogenated and
      fluorescent markers as well as proteins. Furthermore, we introduce a new ToF-SIMS
      mode ("delayed extraction") for the characterization of the obtained
      microstructures that combines high mass resolution with improved lateral
      resolution. 

PMID- 26891073
TI  - Computed Tomographic Scoring Systems in Sarcoidosis: Comparison With
      Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Parameters.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to correlate computed tomographic (CT) scoring
      systems for pulmonary sarcoidosis with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and
      evaluate which scoring system provides the most reliable information for
      assessing disease severity and predicting impairment of gas exchange during
      exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this
      retrospective study. All 62 patients underwent thin-section CT, pulmonary
      function tests, and cardiopulmonary exercise test. Two observers scored CT images
      according to scoring systems published by Remy-Jardin and colleagues. Spearman
      rank correlation coefficients were calculated between CT patterns and pulmonary
      functional impairment parameters, and multiple regression analyses were performed
      to evaluate which CT abnormalities were significantly associated with pulmonary
      functional impairment parameters. RESULTS: Regardless of scoring system, PaO2max
      was significantly associated with the subscores of ground-glass opacity, linear
      opacity, and total CT scores. Multiple regression analyses showed that subscores
      of ground-glass and linear opacity in the Leung scoring system appeared to
      explain a significant amount of variance in functional parameters at rest and at
      maximal exercise. CONCLUSIONS: CT findings, particularly ground-glass opacity and
      linear abnormalities, can explain a significant amount of variance in
      cardiopulmonary exercise parameters. This suggests that CT-based scoring systems
      are valid measures of disease severity in sarcoidosis.

PMID- 26891074
TI  - ACR Appropriateness Criteria(r) Routine Chest Radiography.
AB  - Chest radiographs are sometimes taken before surgeries and interventional
      procedures on hospital admissions and outpatients. This manuscript summarizes the
      American College of Radiology review of the literature and recommendations on
      routinely performed chest radiographies in these settings. The American College
      of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific
      clinical conditions that are reviewed every 3 years by a multidisciplinary expert
      panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of
      current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of a
      well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the
      appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those
      instances in which evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be
      used to recommend imaging or treatment. 

PMID- 26891075
TI  - Economic evaluation on infant hepatitis B vaccination combined with
      immunoglobulin in China, 2013.

PMID- 26891076
TI  - Hypoxia/ischemia promotes CXCL10 expression in cardiac microvascular endothelial
      cells by NFkB activation.
AB  - CXCL10, the chemokine with potent chemotactic activity on immune cells and other
      non-immune cells expressing its receptor CXCR3, has been demonstrated to involve
      in myocardial infarction, which was resulted from hypoxia/ischemia. The cardiac
      microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) are the first cell type which is
      implicated by hypoxia/ischemia. However, the potential molecular mechanism by
      which hypoxia/ischemia regulates the expression of CXCL10 in CMECs remains
      unclear. In the present study, the expression of CXCL10 was firstly examined by
      real-time PCR and ELISA analysis. Several potential binding sites (BS) for
      transcription factors including NF-kappaB (NFkB), HIF1 alpha (HIF1alpha) and
      FoxO3a were identified in the promoter region of CXCL10 gene from -2000 bp to -1
      bp using bioinformatics software. Luciferase reporter gene vectors for CXCL10
      promoter and for activation of above transcription factors were constructed. The
      activation of NFkB, hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha)
      and FoxO3a was also analyzed by Western blotting. It was shown that the
      production of CXCL10 in CMECs was significantly increased by hypoxia/ischemia
      treatment, in parallel with the activation of CXCL10 promoter examined by
      reporter gene vector system. Furthermore, transcription factors including NFkB,
      HIF1alpha and FoxO3a were activated by hypoxia/ischemia in CMECs. However, over
      expression of NFkB, but not that of HIF1alpha or FoxO3a, significantly promoted
      the activation of CXCL10 promoter reporter gene. These findings indicated that
      CXCL10 production in CMECs was significantly increased by hypoxia/ischemia, at
      least in part, through activation of NFkB pathway and subsequently binding to
      CXCL10 promoter, finally promoted the transcription of CXCL10 gene.

PMID- 26891077
TI  - Regio- and Stereoselective Cyanotriflation of Alkynes Using Aryl(cyano)iodonium
      Triflates.
AB  - A novel, mild, and versatile approach for regioselective syn-addition of both the
      CN and OTf groups of aryl(cyano)iodonium triflates to alkynes is described. The
      reaction uses Fe-catalysis and can be conducted in gram scale. Products of the
      vicinal cyanotriflation can be stereospecifically readily further functionalized,
      rendering the method highly valuable. 

PMID- 26891078
TI  - History dependence of the electromyogram: Implications for isometric steady-state
      EMG parameters following a lengthening or shortening contraction.
AB  - Residual force enhancement (RFE) and force depression (FD) refer to an increased
      or decreased force following an active lengthening or shortening contraction,
      respectively, relative to the isometric force produced at the same activation
      level and muscle length. Our intent was to determine if EMG characteristics
      differed in the RFE or FD states compared with a purely isometric reference
      contraction for maximal and submaximal voluntary activation of the adductor
      pollicis muscle. Quantifying these alterations to EMG in history-dependent states
      allows for more accurate modeling approaches for movement control in the future.
      For maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), RFE was 6-15% (P<0.001) and FD was 12
      19% (P<0.001). The median frequency of the EMG was not different between RFE, FD
      and isometric reference contractions for the 100% and 40% MVC intensities
      (P>0.05). However, root mean square EMG (EMGRMS) amplitude for the submaximal
      contractions was higher in the FD and lower in the RFE state, respectively
      (P<0.05). For maximal contractions, EMGRMS was lower for the FD state but was the
      same for the RFE state compared to the isometric reference contractions (P>0.05).
      Neuromuscular efficiency (NME; force/EMG) was lower in the force depressed state
      and higher in the force enhanced state (P<0.05) compared to the isometric
      reference contractions. EMG spectral properties were not altered between the
      force-enhanced and depressed states relative to the isometric reference
      contractions, while EMG amplitude measures were. 

PMID- 26891079
TI  - Examination of ClpB Quaternary Structure and Linkage to Nucleotide Binding.
AB  - Escherichia coli caseinolytic peptidase B (ClpB) is a molecular chaperone with
      the unique ability to catalyze protein disaggregation in collaboration with the
      KJE system of chaperones. Like many AAA+ molecular motors, ClpB assembles into
      hexameric rings, and this reaction is thermodynamically linked to nucleotide
      binding. Here we show that ClpB exists in a dynamic equilibrium of monomers,
      dimers, tetramers, and hexamers in the presence of both limiting and excess
      ATPgammaS. We find that ClpB monomer is only able to bind one nucleotide, whereas
      all 12 sites in the hexameric ring are bound by nucleotide at saturating
      concentrations. Interestingly, dimers and tetramers exhibit stoichiometries of ~3
      and 7, respectively, which is one fewer than the maximum number of binding sites
      in the formed oligomer. This observation suggests an open conformation for the
      intermediates based on the need for an adjacent monomer to fully form the binding
      pocket. We also report the protein-protein interaction constants for dimers,
      tetramers, and hexamers and their dependencies on nucleotide. These interaction
      constants make it possible to predict the concentration of hexamers present and
      able to bind to cochaperones and polypeptide substrates. Such information is
      essential for the interpretation of many in vitro studies. Finally, the
      strategies presented here are broadly applicable to a large number of AAA+
      molecular motors that assemble upon nucleotide binding and interact with partner
      proteins. 

PMID- 26891080
TI  - Sample Confirmation Testing: A Short Tandem Repeat-Based Quality Assurance and
      Quality Control Procedure for the eyeGENE Biorepository.
AB  - Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures are vital to good
      biorepository management. The National Eye Institute (NEI) core CLIA-certified
      laboratory of the eyeGENE((r)) Network receives blood from individuals with
      inherited eye conditions and isolates DNA for clinical genetic diagnostic testing
      and research. Clinical genetic test results are returned to the affected
      individuals, making it imperative that sample integrity is preserved throughout
      laboratory processing. A clinically validated, short tandem repeat (STR)-based
      approach, termed Sample Confirmation Testing (SCT), was developed to ensure that
      no significant laboratory errors occurred during processing. SCT uses modified
      protocols from commercial kits to create and compare STR profiles for each
      participant's original blood and derived DNA. This QA/QC procedure has been
      performed on 47% of the more than 6000 participants in the eyeGENE Biorepository
      and has identified significant laboratory errors in 0.4% of samples tested. SCT
      improves the quality of the data returned to affected individuals and the data
      distributed to researchers using eyeGENE samples by ensuring the integrity of the
      samples and aiding in curation of the biorepository. This approach serves as a
      model for other repositories to improve sample quality and management procedures.

PMID- 26891081
TI  - Syndecan-4 Enhances Therapeutic Angiogenesis after Hind Limb Ischemia in Mice
      with Type 2 Diabetes.
AB  - Delivering syndecan-4 with FGF-2 improves the effectiveness of FGF-2 therapy for
      ischemia in the diabetic disease state. The syndecan-4 proteoliposomes
      significantly enhance in vitro tubule formation as well as blood perfusion and
      vessel density in the ischemic hind limbs of diseased ob/ob mice. Syndecan-4
      therapy also induces a marked immunomodulation in the tissues, increasing the
      polarization of macrophages toward the M2 phenotype.

PMID- 26891082
TI  - Epidemiology of aquaporin-4 autoimmunity and neuromyelitis optica spectrum.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are
      inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs) with a specific biomarker, aquaporin-4
      immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG). Prior NMO/NMOSD epidemiological studies have been
      limited by lack of AQP4-IgG seroprevalence assessment, absence of population
      based USA studies, and under-representation of blacks. To overcome these
      limitations, we sought to compare NMO/NMOSD seroepidemiology across 2 ethnically
      divergent populations. METHODS: We performed a population-based comparative study
      of the incidence (2003-2011) and prevalence (on December 31, 2011) of NMO/NMOSD
      and AQP4-IgG seroincidence and seroprevalence (sera collected in 80-84% of IDD
      cases) among patients with IDD diagnosis in Olmsted County, Minnesota (82% white
      [Caucasian]) and Martinique (90% black [Afro-Caribbean]). AQP4-IgG was measured
      by M1 isoform fluorescence-activated cell-sorting assays. RESULTS: The age- and
      sex-adjusted incidence (7.3 vs 0.7/1,000,000 person-years [p < 0.01]) and
      prevalence (10 vs 3.9/100,000 [p = 0.01]) in Martinique exceeded that in Olmsted
      County. The AQP4-IgG age- and sex-adjusted seroincidence (6.5 vs 0.7/1,000,000
      person-years [p < 0.01]) and seroprevalence (7.9 vs 3.3/100,000 [p = 0.04]) were
      also higher in Martinique than Olmsted County. The ethnicity-specific prevalence
      was similar in Martinique and Olmsted County: 11.5 and 13/100,000 in blacks, and
      6.1 and 4.0/100,000 in whites, respectively. NMO/NMOSD represented a higher
      proportion of IDD cases in Martinique than Olmsted County (16% vs 1.4%; p <
      0.01). The onset age (median = 35-37 years) and female:male distribution (5-9:1)
      were similar across both populations; 60% of prevalent cases were either blind in
      1 eye, dependent on a gait aid, or both. INTERPRETATION: This study reports the
      highest prevalence of NMO/NMOSD in any population (10/100,000 in Martinique),
      estimates it affects 16,000 to 17,000 in the USA (higher than previous
      predictions), and demonstrates it disproportionately affects blacks. Ann Neurol
      2016;79:775-783.

PMID- 26891083
TI  - Mir-217 promotes inflammation and fibrosis in high glucose cultured rat
      glomerular mesangial cells via Sirt1/HIF-1alpha signaling pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) plays a protective role in
      kidney. Sirt1 suppresses activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF
      1alpha), with MircroRNA-217 (Mir-217) being closely related to Sirt1. The
      relationship of Sirt1, HIF-1alpha and Mir-217, however, has never been reported
      in high glucose cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (RMCs). Thus, we explored
      the role of Mir-217 on inflammation and fibrosis in RMCs cultured with high
      glucose in vitro through Sirt1/HIF-1alpha signaling pathway. METHODS: Rat
      glomerular mesangial cells were pre-incubated with Sirt1 activator Resveratrol
      prior to high glucose treatment. Furthermore the cells were transiently
      transfected with Sirt1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), HIF-1alpha siRNA and Mir
      217 inhibitor using Lipofectamine 2000. Real-time PCR was used to analyse the
      expression of Mir-217, Sirt1 mRNA and HIF-1alpha mRNA; Western Blot was used to
      observe protein expression of Sirt1, HIF-1alpha, connective tissue growth factor,
      endothelin-1 and fibronectin; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to
      detect protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and vascular
      endothelial growth factor. RESULTS: High glucose increased Mir-217 expression.
      High glucose decreased Sirt1 expression, accompanied by the increased HIF-1alpha
      expression and then promoted inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, Mir-217 gene
      silencing or Resveratrol could suppress the expression of HIF-1alpha, which in
      turn restrained inflammation and fibrosis in rat glomerular mesangial cells
      cultured with high glucose. CONCLUSION: This study clarified the role of Mir-217
      in high glucose cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells through Sirt1/HIF-1alpha
      signaling pathway and provided new therapeutic targets for diabetic nephropathy.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891085
TI  - Studies of a photochromic model system using NMR with ex-situ and in-situ
      irradiation devices.
AB  - The switching behavior of a photochromic model system was investigated in detail
      via NMR spectroscopy in order to improve understanding of the compound itself and
      to provide ways to obtain insights into composition trends of a photo switchable
      (polymeric) material containing spiropyran/merocyanine units. In addition to the
      classical irradiation performed outside the magnet (ex-situ), a device for
      irradiation inside the NMR spectrometer (in-situ) was tested. Both setups are
      introduced, their advantages and disadvantages as well as their limits are
      described and the setup for future investigations of photochromic materials is
      suggested. The influence of different sample concentrations, irradiation
      procedures, and light intensities on the model system was examined as well as the
      dependence on solvent, temperature, and irradiation wavelengths. Using the
      recently published LED illumination device, it was even possible to record two
      dimensional spectra on this model system with rather short half-life (7 min in
      DMSO). This way (13) C chemical shifts of the merocyanine form were obtained,
      which were unknown before. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26891087
TI  - Implementing an electronic observation and early warning score chart in the
      emergency department: a feasibility study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Use of automated systems to aid identification of patient
      deterioration in routine hospital practice is limited and their impact on patient
      outcomes remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of
      implementing an electronic observation chart with automated early warning score
      (EWS) calculation in the high-acuity area of an emergency department. METHODS:
      This study enrolled 3219 participants before and 3352 after implementation of an
      automated system, using bedside vital-sign entry on networked mobile devices. The
      primary outcome measure was the percentage of participants for whom an EWS was
      accurately recorded at each stage. RESULTS: Of the participants, 52.7% before and
      92.9% after implementation of the electronic system had an accurate EWS recorded
      on charts available to the study team. Participant groups were well balanced for
      baseline characteristics and acuity. CONCLUSION: In this study, the feasibility
      and limitations of implementing an electronic observation chart in the ED were
      demonstrated. Accurate EWS documentation was more frequent after implementation
      of the electronic observation chart. Retrospective analysis suggests that the use
      of an electronic observation system may lead to a greater percentage of
      observations being taken from those patients with a higher EWS.

PMID- 26891084
TI  - Antimicrobial blue light inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by photo
      excitation of endogenous porphyrins: In vitro and in vivo studies.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is among the most common pathogens that cause nosocomial
      infections and is responsible for about 10% of all hospital-acquired infections.
      In the present study, we investigated the potential development of tolerance of
      P. aeruginosa to antimicrobial blue light by carrying 10 successive cycles of
      sublethal blue light inactivation. The high-performance liquid chromatographic
      (HPLC) analysis was performed to identify endogenous porphyrins in P. aeruginosa
      cells. In addition, we tested the effectiveness of antimicrobial blue light in a
      mouse model of nonlethal skin abrasion infection by using a bioluminescent strain
      of P. aeruginosa. The results demonstrated that no tolerance was developed to
      antimicrobial blue light in P. aeruginosa after 10 cycles of sub-lethal
      inactivation. HPLC analysis showed that P. aeruginosa is capable of producing
      endogenous porphyrins in particularly, coproporphyrin III, which are assumed to
      be responsible for the photodynamic effects of blue light alone. P. aeruginosa
      infection was eradicated by antimicrobial blue light alone (48 J/cm(2) ) without
      any added photosensitizer molecules in the mouse model. In conclusion, endogenous
      photosensitization using blue light should gain considerable attention as an
      effective and safe alternative antimicrobial therapy for skin infections. Lasers
      Surg. Med. 48:562-568, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26891086
TI  - Duplex ultrasound in the early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia: a
      longitudinal cohort multicentric study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a life-threatening condition
      requiring time-dependent treatment; thus, early recognition may improve outcomes.
      We hypothesized that clinician-performed mesenteric vessels duplex ultrasound
      (DUS) could facilitate early identification of patients with AMI in high-risk
      patients presenting with abdominal pain. METHODS: This was a single-operator,
      observational, prospective cohort study. Patients aged at least 65 presenting to
      Emergency Departments with acute abdominal pain and no clear diagnosis after an
      initial work-up were enrolled. All patients underwent multidetector computed
      tomography and these findings provided the reference standard in this study. DUS
      of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were obtained to
      measure the peak systolic velocity (PSV) and were performed within 24 h of
      admission. PSVs outside the normal range were considered to indicate AMI.
      RESULTS: Of 49 patients identified, 47 were consented to enrollment and
      diagnostic images were obtained in 45 (96%). Fifteen patients (33%) had AMI (six
      occlusive, nine nonocclusive disease). Among these, 12 (80%) had abnormal DUS
      velocities. SMA PSV showed a sensitivity of 78.57% [95% confidence interval (CI):
      49.2-95.34], a specificity of 64.52% (95% CI: 45.37-80.77), a positive predictive
      value of 50% (95% CI: 28.22-71.78), and a negative predictive value of 86.96%
      (95% CI: 66.41-97.22) for AMI. DUS had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of
      64%, and a negative predictive value of 100% for occlusive AMI. Assessment of
      celiac artery PSV did not improve diagnostic performance. CONCLUSION: In this
      single-operator pilot study, mesenteric vessel DUS was performed successfully in
      the Emergency Department, with a high proportion of diagnostic images obtained. A
      normal SMA PSV was associated with a low risk of occlusive AMI.

PMID- 26891088
TI  - Light-up fluorophore--DNA aptamer pair for label-free turn-on aptamer sensors.
AB  - We developed a light-up fluorophore-DNA aptamer pair for label-free aptamer
      sensors that fluoresce upon binding to the analyte. A 42mer DNA aptamer binding
      to the environment-sensitive fluorophore, dapoxyl, which increased the
      fluorescence by more than 700-fold upon binding, was successfully used to
      construct aptamer sensors by fusion with analyte-binding DNA aptamers. 

PMID- 26891090
TI  - Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Excited-State Properties of Three Ru(II)
      Quaterpyridine Complexes.
AB  - The complexes [Ru(qpy)LL'](2+) (qpy = 2,2':6',2":6",2'''-quaterpyridine), with 1:
      L = acetonitrile, L'= chloride; 2: L = L'= acetonitrile; and 3: L = L'=
      vinylpyridine, have been prepared from [Ru(qpy) (Cl)2]. Their absorption spectra
      in CH3CN exhibit broad metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions arising
      from overlapping (1)A1 -> (1)MLCT transitions. Photoluminescence is not observed
      at room temperature, but all three are weakly emissive in 4:1 ethanol/methanol
      glasses at 77 K with broad, featureless emissions observed between 600 and 1000
      nm consistent with MLCT phosphorescence. Cyclic voltammograms in CH3CN reveal the
      expected Ru(III/II) redox couples. In 0.1 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), 1 and 2
      undergo aquation to give [Ru(II)(qpy)(OH2)2](2+), as evidenced by the appearance
      of waves for the couples [Ru(III)(qpy)(OH2)2](3+)/[Ru(II)(qpy)(OH2)2](2+),
      [Ru(IV)(qpy)(O)(OH2)](2+)/[Ru(III)(qpy)(OH2)2](3+), and
      [Ru(VI)(qpy)(O)2](2+)/[Ru(IV)(qpy)(O)(OH2)](2+) in cyclic voltammograms. 

PMID- 26891089
TI  - Preliminary Favorable Outcome for Medically and Surgically Managed Extensively
      Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, France, 2009-2014.
AB  - We report 20 cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis managed in France.
      Treatment was individualized and included bedaquiline and linezolid for most
      patients and surgery in 8 patients. At last follow-up (22 months), 19 patients
      had achieved conversion from positive to negative on culture testing. These
      promising results of comprehensive management obtained in a small series deserve
      confirmation. 

PMID- 26891093
TI  - Anodized Steel Electrodes for Supercapacitors.
AB  - Steel was anodized in 10 M NaOH to enhance its surface texture and internal
      surface area for application as an electrode in supercapacitors. A mechanism was
      proposed for the anodization process. Field-emission gun scanning electron
      microscopy (FEGSEM) studies of anodized steel revealed that it contains a highly
      porous sponge like structure ideal for supercapacitor electrodes. X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed that the surface of the
      anodized steel was Fe2O3, whereas X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicated
      that the bulk remained as metallic Fe. The supercapacitor performance of the
      anodized steel was tested in 1 M NaOH and a capacitance of 18 mF cm(-2) was
      obtained. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that there was a large
      psueudocapacitive contribution which was due to oxidation of Fe to Fe(OH)2 and
      then further oxidation to FeOOH, and the respective reduction of these species
      back to metallic Fe. These redox processes were found to be remarkably reversible
      as the electrode showed no loss in capacitance after 10000 cycles. The results
      demonstrate that anodization of steel is a suitable method to produce high
      surface-area electrodes for supercapacitors with excellent cycling lifetime. 

PMID- 26891092
TI  - Highly Concentrated Ethanol Solutions: Good Solvents for DNA as Revealed by
      Single-Molecule Observation.
AB  - We observed single DNA molecules at different ethanol concentrations by using
      fluorescence microscopy. Large single DNA molecules undergo reentrant
      conformational transitions from elongated coil into folded globule and then into
      elongated coil state, accompanied by the increase of the concentration of ethanol
      in a low-salt aqueous environment. The second transition from globule into the
      coil state occurs at around 70 % (v/v) ethanol. From circular dichroism (CD)
      measurements, it is confirmed that the reentrant transition of the higher order
      structure proceeds together with the transitions of the secondary structure from
      B to C and, then, from C to A in a cooperative manner. The determined mechanism
      of the reentrant transition is discussed in relation to the unique
      characteristics of solutions with higher ethanol content, for which clathrate
      like nanostructures of alcohol molecules are generated in the surrounding water. 

PMID- 26891094
TI  - Biologics and biosimilars: a legal perspective from Canada.

PMID- 26891095
TI  - A Hormone-responsive 3D Culture Model of the Human Mammary Gland Epithelium.
AB  - The process of mammary epithelial morphogenesis is influenced by hormones. The
      study of hormone action on the breast epithelium using 2D cultures is limited to
      cell proliferation and gene expression endpoints. However, in the organism,
      mammary morphogenesis occurs in a 3D environment. 3D culture systems help bridge
      the gap between monolayer cell culture (2D) and the complexity of the organism.
      Herein, we describe a 3D culture model of the human breast epithelium that is
      suitable to study hormone action. It uses the commercially available hormone
      responsive human breast epithelial cell line, T47D, and rat tail collagen type 1
      as a matrix. This 3D culture model responds to the main mammotropic hormones:
      estradiol, progestins and prolactin. The influence of these hormones on
      epithelial morphogenesis can be observed after 1- or 2-week treatment according
      to the endpoint. The 3D cultures can be harvested for analysis of epithelial
      morphogenesis, cell proliferation and gene expression. 

PMID- 26891096
TI  - Rigid Conjugated Twisted Truxene Dimers and Trimers as Electron Acceptors.
AB  - A new class of rigid twisted truxenone oligomers with an enlarged pi backbone has
      been established by oxidative dimerization reactions. The resulting extended
      conjugated systems have large extinction coefficients and low-lying LUMO levels
      and show good solubility in common organic solvents, thus making them attractive
      compounds as new electron acceptors in organic electronics. Their suitability as
      electron acceptors has been demonstrated in bulk-heterojunction organic solar
      cells with poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6
      diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) as
      the donor material. 

PMID- 26891098
TI  - Changing Hydrogen-Bond Structure during an Aqueous Liquid-Liquid Transition
      Investigated with Time-Resolved and Two-Dimensional Vibrational Spectroscopy.
AB  - We investigate the putative liquid-liquid phase transition in aqueous glycerol
      solution, using the OD-stretch mode in dilute OD/OH isotopic mixtures to probe
      the hydrogen-bond structure. The conversion exhibits Avrami kinetics with an
      exponent of n = 2.9 +/- 0.1 (as opposed to n = 1.7 observed upon inducing ice
      nucleation and growth in the same sample), which indicates a transition from one
      liquid phase to another. Two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy shows that
      the initial and final phases have different hydrogen-bond structures: the former
      has a single Gaussian distribution of hydrogen-bond lengths, whereas the latter
      has a bimodal distribution consisting of a broad distribution and a narrower, ice
      like distribution. The 2D-IR spectrum of the final phase is identical to that of
      ice/glycerol at the same temperature. Combined with the kinetic data this
      suggests that the liquid-liquid transformation is immediately followed by a rapid
      formation of small (probably nanometer-sized) ice crystals. 

PMID- 26891097
TI  - Decoding the chemokine network that links leukocytes with decidual cells and the
      trophoblast during early implantation.
AB  - Chemokine network is central to the innate and adaptive immunity and entails a
      variety of proteins and membrane receptors that control physiological processes
      such as wound healing, angiogenesis, embryo growth and development. During early
      pregnancy, the chemokine network coordinates not only the recruitment of
      different leukocyte populations to generate the maternal-placental interface, but
      also constitutes an additional checkpoint for tissue homeostasis maintenance. The
      normal switch from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory predominant
      microenvironment characteristic of the post-implantation stage requires redundant
      immune tolerance circuits triggered by key master regulators. In this review we
      will focus on the recruitment and conditioning of maternal immune cells to the
      uterus at the early implantation period with special interest on high plasticity
      macrophages and dendritic cells and their ability to induce regulatory T cells.
      We will also point to putative immunomodulatory polypeptides involved in immune
      homeostasis maintenance at the maternal-placental interface.

PMID- 26891099
TI  - Discovery of New Monocarbonyl Ligustrazine-Curcumin Hybrids for Intervention of
      Drug-Sensitive and Drug-Resistant Lung Cancer.
AB  - The elevation of oxidative stress preferentially in cancer cells by inhibiting
      thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and/or enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      production has emerged as an effective strategy for selectively targeting cancer
      cells. In this study, we designed and synthesized 21 ligustrazine-curcumin
      hybrids (10a-u). Biological evaluation indicated that the most active compound
      10d significantly inhibited the proliferation of drug-sensitive (A549, SPC-A-1,
      LTEP-G-2) and drug-resistant (A549/DDP) lung cancer cells but had little effect
      on nontumor lung epithelial-like cells (HBE). Furthermore, 10d suppressed the
      TrxR/Trx system and promoted intracellular ROS accumulation and cancer cell
      apoptosis. Additionally, 10d inhibited the NF-kappaB, AKT, and ERK signaling, P
      gp-mediated efflux of rhodamine 123, P-gp ATPase activity, and P-gp expression in
      A549/DDP cells. Finally, 10d repressed the growth of implanted human drug
      resistant lung cancer in mice. Together, 10d acts a novel TrxR inhibitor and may
      be a promising candidate for intervention of lung cancer. 

PMID- 26891101
TI  - Will mouth wash solutions of water, salt, sodiumbicarbonate or citric acid
      improve upper gastrointestinal symptoms in chronic kidney disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Uraemic symptoms including taste changes, nausea and dry retching are
      common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Taste buds detect five basic tastes:
      sweet, salty, sour, umami and bitter. Saliva in CKD usually has increased
      concentrations of urea, sodium, potassium, phosphate and higher pH levels.
      Genetic sensitivities to the bitter taste, with the changes in saliva can cause
      taste changes and impact uraemic symptoms. AIM: The aim of this study was to
      assess if mouth wash solutions of water, salt, sodium bicarbonate or citric acid
      improves upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in CKD patients. METHODS: An
      interventional crossover study with 42 CKD patients (21 men, 21 women)
      complaining of upper GI symptoms were recruited. Subjects completed a
      questionnaire to assess symptoms and tested for genetic taste sensitivities.
      Saliva samples were analysed. Mouth rinse solutions of salt, bicarbonate, citric
      acid and de-ionised water were trialled in randomized order for patient reaction
      and symptom improvement. RESULTS: All 42 patients experienced anorexia, 39 (93%)
      reported taste changes, 27 (48%) nausea and 27 (48%) dry retching. All solutions
      improved symptoms in some patients. Sodium bicarbonate (P = 0.005) gave the
      greatest improvement in mouth feel and symptom control compared with the least
      favoured citric acid solution. Sixty-six percent of patients found sodium
      bicarbonate beneficial with 40% preference over other solutions. CONCLUSION:
      Simple mouthwashes can be used to relieve or eliminate some uraemic symptoms.
      Rinsing the mouth with a sodium bicarbonate solution cleanses receptors on taste
      buds and may alter mouth pH thereby reducing some upper GI symptoms that CKD
      patients can experience.

PMID- 26891102
TI  - [The Prevalence of Current Depressive Symptoms in an Urban Adult Population].
AB  - Objective We sought to provide prevalence rates of depressive symptoms in the
      adult population of the city of Leipzig, Germany (18 - 79 years; N = 8,861).
      Methods Data were derived from the Leipzig population-based study of adults (LIFE
      ADULT-Study). The German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies
      Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms using a cut-off
      score >= 23 points. Results The prevalence of current depressive symptoms was 6.4
      % (95 %-KI = 5.4 - 7.4). Significantly higher prevalence rates were found in
      females than in males, in individuals in middle age (40 - 59 years) than in
      younger and older adults as well as in those individuals with lower socioeconomic
      status (SES). Conclusion The study findings did not indicate a generally
      increased risk of depressive symptoms in urban-living adults.

PMID- 26891103
TI  - [Subjective Experiences of Ward Rules on Wards for Treatment of Alcohol
      Dependency].
AB  - Objective To examine the understanding of and attitudes towards ward rules among
      patients and staff on 5 wards for treatment of alcohol addiction in 5 hospitals.
      4 wards were specialized, one was a general psychiatric ward. Methods Development
      of a questionnaire, measurement of patient satisfaction (ZUF-8), ward atmosphere
      (SBB), and hospital admission experience (FEA-P). Results For 24 previously
      identified areas, patients (N = 134) and staff (N = 41) reported 18.7 rules on
      average. Contentment with rules was generally high without significant
      differences between patients and staff. On the general ward, fewer rules were
      reported than on the specialized wards. Patient satisfaction, ward atmosphere and
      hospital admission experience were similar between normal and specialized wards.
      Conclusions Ward rules are common and detailed, and are highly valued by staff
      and patients. Rules can be considered as an important element of treatment for
      patients with alcohol addiction. There was no evidence of a superiority of the
      disorder-specific wards.

PMID- 26891104
TI  - "APEC Blue": Secondary Aerosol Reductions from Emission Controls in Beijing.
AB  - China implemented strict emission control measures in Beijing and surrounding
      regions to ensure good air quality during the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic
      Cooperation (APEC) summit. We conducted synchronous aerosol particle measurements
      with two aerosol mass spectrometers at different heights on a meteorological
      tower in urban Beijing to investigate the variations in particulate composition,
      sources and size distributions in response to emission controls. Our results show
      consistently large reductions in secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) of 61-67% and
      51-57%, and in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) of 55% and 37%, at 260 m and
      ground level, respectively, during the APEC summit. These changes were mainly
      caused by large reductions in accumulation mode particles and by suppression of
      the growth of SIA and SOA by a factor of 2-3, which led to blue sky days during
      APEC commonly referred to as "APEC Blue". We propose a conceptual framework for
      the evolution of primary and secondary species and highlight the importance of
      regional atmospheric transport in the formation of severe pollution episodes in
      Beijing. Our results indicate that reducing the precursors of secondary aerosol
      over regional scales is crucial and effective in suppressing the formation of
      secondary particulates and mitigating PM pollution. 

PMID- 26891105
TI  - Long-Term use of Modified Diets in Huntington's Disease: A Descriptive Clinical
      Practice Analysis on Improving Dietary Enjoyment.
AB  - Dysphagia is a very common occurrence in Huntington's disease (HD). As such, many
      people with HD require texture modified diets. This commentary discusses the
      implications for individuals living long-term on modified diets, including the
      loss of sensory stimulation and dietary enjoyment. Clinical practice analyses of
      two interventions aimed at promoting dietary satisfaction and involvement in food
      preparation for those with HD are described and parameters for future research
      are discussed. 

PMID- 26891107
TI  - Bowen's disease presenting as erythema of the lower lid.

PMID- 26891108
TI  - The clinical picture of Alzheimer's disease in the decade before diagnosis:
      clinical and biomarker trajectories.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease begins at least
      a decade before the diagnosis of dementia. Earlier identification of the disease
      will have important implications for intervention; however, current models of
      preclinical changes are theoretical and require verification from empirical
      observations. Furthermore, these models have not incorporated psychiatric
      features. METHOD: Clinical and biological markers were examined at baseline (1999
      2001) in 9,076 people aged 65 years and older. A nested case-control study
      included 830 cases with Alzheimer's disease diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria during
      the 10-year follow-up and twice as many controls. By taking the distance between
      baseline and diagnosis as the length of the preclinical period, disease marker
      trajectories were estimated using nonparametric locally weighted smoothing
      analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences for the cases compared to the controls
      were observed on both intercept and slope for truncated amyloid beta40 (P = .006;
      P = .003, respectively), C-reactive protein (P = .03; P = .05), verbal fluency (P
      < .0001; P < .0001), visual recall (P < .0001; P = .007), and hippocampal volume
      (P = .0002; P = .04) and on the slope only for truncated amyloid beta42 (P =
      .01). The cases showed higher levels of depressive symptoms (P = .003), which
      remained stable over the 10 years to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized by
      existing theoretical models, changes in plasma amyloid beta levels, hippocampal
      atrophy, cognitive loss, and C-reactive protein are already observed up to 10
      years before diagnosis. An acceleration in cognitive decline appears to follow a
      significant increase in amyloid accumulation, and depressive symptomatology
      remains at a constantly higher level. Overall, clinical and biological markers do
      not follow the same trajectories; the clinical picture changes according to
      distance from dementia.

PMID- 26891109
TI  - Score test for association between recurrent events and a terminal event.
AB  - The statistical analysis of recurrent events relies on the assumption of
      independent censoring. When random effects are used, this means, in addition,
      that the censoring cannot depend on the random effect. Whenever the recurrent
      event process is terminated by death, this assumption might not be satisfied.
      Because joint models arising from such situations are more difficult to fit and
      interpret, clinicians rarely check whether joint modeling is preferred. In this
      paper, we propose and compare simple, yet efficient methods for testing whether
      the terminal event and the recurrent events are associated or not. The
      performance of the proposed methods is evaluated in a simulation study, and the
      sensitivity to misspecification of the model is assessed. Finally, the methods
      are illustrated on a data set comprising repeated observations of skin tumors on
      T-cell lymphoma patients. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891100
TI  - Future Research Directions in the Positive Valence Systems: Measurement,
      Development, and Implications for Youth Unipolar Depression.
AB  - The Positive Valence Systems (PVS) have been introduced by the National Institute
      of Mental Health as a domain to help organize multiple constructs focusing on
      reward-seeking behaviors. However, the initial working model for this domain is
      strongly influenced by adult constructs and measures. Thus, the present review
      focuses on extending the PVS into a developmental context. Specifically, the
      review provides some hypotheses about the structure of the PVS, how PVS
      components may change throughout development, how family history of depression
      may influence PVS development, and potential means of intervening on PVS function
      to reduce onsets of depression. Future research needs in each of these areas are
      highlighted.

PMID- 26891106
TI  - Huntington's Disease Protein Huntingtin Associates with its own mRNA.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Huntington's disease (HD) protein huntingtin (Htt) plays a role
      in multiple cellular pathways. Deregulation of one or more of these pathways by
      the mutant Htt protein has been suggested to contribute to the disease
      pathogenesis. Our recent discovery-based proteomics studies have uncovered RNA
      binding proteins and translation factors associated with the endogenous Htt
      protein purified from mouse brains, suggesting a potential new role for Htt in
      RNA transport and translation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how Htt might affect RNA
      metabolism we set out to purify and analyze RNA associated with Htt. METHODS: RNA
      was extracted from immunopurified Htt-containing protein complexes and analyzed
      by microarrays and RNA-Seq. RESULTS: Surprisingly, the most enriched mRNA that co
      purified with Htt was Htt mRNA itself. The association of Htt protein and Htt
      mRNA was detected independent of intact ribosomes suggesting that it is not an
      RNA undergoing translation. Furthermore, we identified the recently reported mis
      spliced Htt mRNA encoding a truncated protein comprised of exon 1 and a portion
      of the downstream intron in the immunoprecipitates containing mutant Htt protein.
      We show that Htt protein co-localizes with Htt mRNA and that wild-type Htt
      reduces expression of a reporter construct harboring the Htt 3' UTR. CONCLUSIONS:
      HD protein is found in a complex with its own mRNA and RNA binding proteins and
      translation factors. Htt may be involved in modulating its expression through
      post-transcriptional pathways. It is possible that Htt shares mechanistic
      properties similar to RNA binding proteins such as TDP-43 and FUS implicated in
      other neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 26891111
TI  - Are antidepressants effective? A debate on their efficacy for the treatment of
      major depression in adults.
AB  - Recently, the efficacy of antidepressants, a treatment used by 11% of US American
      adults, has been debated. Thousands of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have
      been used to study antidepressants, with the majority demonstrating at least
      moderate superiority over placebo. In contrast, studies have found antidepressant
      effects to be unspecific and mainly resulting from placebo. The effects of
      antidepressants may also be overestimated due to selective publishing and
      selection of patients who have a high chance of response in RCTs. Studies have
      also shown the drugs do not reduce suicidal events when compared to placebo, and
      efficacy differences to placebo are often too small to prove clinical relevance.
      Here, we review the claims for and against antidepressant efficacy. 

PMID- 26891110
TI  - Mitigation of Marijuana-Related Legal Harms to Youth in California.
AB  - If recreational marijuana is legalized for adults in California, a rational
      implementation of public policy would neither criminalize youth possession, nor
      medically pathologize it by conflating possession with addiction. The harms of a
      criminal justice approach to juveniles should not exceed the harms of the drug
      itself. Juvenile arrests and probation have consequences: (1) arrest records,
      probation, and juvenile hall; (2) an incarceration subculture, "crime school,"
      psychological and re-entry costs; (3) school "zero-tolerance" expulsions and
      suspensions; (4) ineligibility for federal school loans; (5) employment screening
      problems; (6) racial disparities in arrests; (7) fines and attorney's fees; and
      (8) immigration/naturalization problems. Marijuana-related arrest rates in
      California dropped after a 2011 law making possession under 1 oz. an infraction
      for all, but juvenile marijuana arrests continue to outnumber arrests for hard
      drugs. Recommendations for prudent implementation policy include: stable
      marijuana tax funding for Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) in high schools;
      elimination of "zero-tolerance" suspension/expulsion policies in favor of school
      retention and academic remediation programs; juvenile justice transparency
      discriminating among infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Criminal sanctions
      and durations must be proportional to the offense. Probation-based interventions
      should be reserved for larger possession amounts and recidivist offenders, and
      outcomes should be independently evaluated. 

PMID- 26891112
TI  - Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma after seroclearance is not reduced.

PMID- 26891113
TI  - Duane Retraction Syndrome Associated with a Small X Chromosome Deletion.

PMID- 26891114
TI  - Determination of metal ions in tea samples using task-specific ionic liquid-based
      ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to liquid
      chromatography with ultraviolet detection.
AB  - Task-specific ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid
      microextraction was used for the preconcentration of cadmium(II), cobalt(II), and
      lead(II) ions in tea samples, which were subsequently analyzed by liquid
      chromatography with UV detection. The proposed method of preconcentration is free
      of volatile organic compounds, which are often used as extractants and dispersing
      solvents in classic techniques of microextraction. A task-specific ionic liquid
      trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate was used as an extractant and a chelating
      agent. Ultrasound was used to disperse the ionic liquid. After microextraction,
      the phases were separated by centrifugation, and the ionic liquid phase was
      solubilized in methanol and directly injected into the liquid chromatograph.
      Selected microextraction parameters, such as the volume of ionic liquid, the pH
      of the sample, the duration of ultrasound treatment, the speed and time of
      centrifugation, and the effect of ionic strength, were optimized. Under optimal
      conditions an enrichment factor of 200 was obtained for each analyte. The limits
      of detection were 0.002 mg/kg for Cd(II), 0.009 mg/kg for Co(II), and 0.013 mg/kg
      for Pb(II). The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by an analysis of
      the Certified Reference Materials (INCT-TL-1, INCT-MPH-2) with the recovery
      values in the range of 90-104%. 

PMID- 26891115
TI  - Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride Impregnated
      Dressings for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Adult Women
      Undergoing Cesarean Section.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) occur in 1.8%-9.2% of women undergoing
      cesarean section (CS) and lead to greater morbidity rates and increased treatment
      costs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness
      of dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC) impregnated dressings to prevent SSI in women
      subject to CS. METHODS: Randomized, controlled trial was conducted at the
      Mazovian Brodno Hospital, a tertiary care center performing approximately 1300
      deliveries per year, between June 2014 and April 2015. Patients were randomly
      allocated to receive either DACC impregnated dressing or standard surgical
      dressing (SSD) following skin closure. In order to analyze cost-effectiveness of
      the selected dressings in the group of patients who developed SSI, the costs of
      ambulatory visits, additional hospitalization, nursing care, and systemic
      antibiotic therapy were assessed. Independent risk factors for SSI were
      determined by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty
      three women undergoing elective or emergency CS were enrolled. The SSI rates in
      the DACC and SSD groups were 1.8% and 5.2%, respectively (p = 0.04). The total
      cost of SSI prophylaxis and treatment was greater in the control group as
      compared with the study group (5775 EUR vs. 1065 EUR, respectively). Independent
      risk factors for SSI included higher pre-pregnancy body mass index (adjusted odds
      ratio [aOR] = 1.08; [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-1.2]; p < 0.05), smoking
      in pregnancy (aOR = 5.34; [95% CI: 1.6-15.4]; p < 0.01), and SSD application (aOR
      = 2.94; [95% CI: 1.1-9.3]; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the
      efficacy and cost-effectiveness of DACC impregnated dressings in SSI prevention
      among women undergoing CS.

PMID- 26891116
TI  - Interfacial dilatational deformation accelerates particle formation in monoclonal
      antibody solutions.
AB  - Protein molecules are amphiphilic moieties that spontaneously adsorb at the
      air/solution (A/S) interface to lower the surface energy. Previous studies have
      shown that hydrodynamic disruptions to these A/S interfaces can result in the
      formation of protein aggregates that are of concern to the pharmaceutical
      industry. Interfacial hydrodynamic stresses encountered by protein therapeutic
      solutions under typical manufacturing, filling, and shipping conditions will
      impact protein stability, prompting a need to characterize the contribution of
      basic fluid kinematics to monoclonal antibody (mAb) destabilization. We
      demonstrate that dilatational surface deformations are more important to antibody
      stability when compared to constant-area shear of the A/S interface. We have
      constructed a dilatational interfacial rheometer that utilizes simultaneous
      pressure and bubble shape measurements to study the mechanical stability of mAbs
      under interfacial aging. It has a distinct advantage over methods utilizing the
      Young-Laplace equation, which incorrectly describes viscoelastic interfaces. We
      provide visual evidence of particle ejection from dilatated A/S interfaces and
      spectroscopic data of ejected mAb particles. These rheological studies frame a
      molecular understanding of the protein-protein interactions at the complex-fluid
      interface. 

PMID- 26891118
TI  - Iodine Supplementation of Mildly Iodine-Deficient Adults Lowers Thyroglobulin: A
      Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - CONTEXT: An inverse relationship between thyroglobulin (Tg) and urinary iodine
      concentration (UIC) has been found in children, potentially making Tg a viable
      blood marker of iodine status. The application of Tg in adults is unknown.
      OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of Tg to
      assess iodine status in adults. DESIGN: This was a randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled, clinical trial. SETTING: The study was conducted in Dunedin,
      New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Mildly iodine deficient adults (n = 112) aged 18-40
      years participated in the study. INTERVENTION: Participants were supplemented
      with 150 MUg of iodine as potassium iodate or placebo daily for 24 weeks. At
      baseline and 24 weeks, participants provided five casual urine samples for UIC
      determination; serum TSH and free T4 (FT4) was also measured. Tg was determined
      at baseline and 8, 16, and 24 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A change in Tg
      concentration between the iodine-supplemented and placebo groups at 24 weeks.
      RESULTS: At baseline, the overall median UIC was 65 MUg/L, confirming that
      participants were mildly iodine deficient (ie, median UIC between 50 and 99
      MUg/L). The overall median Tg was 16.6 MUg/L; TSH and FT4 were within normal
      reference ranges. At 24 weeks, the median UIC of the placebo and supplemented
      groups was significantly different, 79 and 168 MUg/L, respectively (P < .001). Tg
      in the iodine-supplemented group decreased by 12%, 20%, and 27% compared with the
      placebo group at 8 (P = .045), 16 (P < .001), and 24 weeks (P < .001); there were
      no significant changes in TSH and FT4. CONCLUSION: Improved iodine status as
      assessed by UIC was associated with a concomitant decrease in Tg concentration,
      demonstrating that Tg is a useful biomarker of iodine status in a group of
      adults.

PMID- 26891117
TI  - The Oxygen Environment at Birth Specifies the Population of Alveolar Epithelial
      Stem Cells in the Adult Lung.
AB  - Alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC2) maintain pulmonary homeostasis by
      producing surfactant, expressing innate immune molecules, and functioning as
      adult progenitor cells for themselves and alveolar epithelial type I cells
      (AEC1). How the proper number of alveolar epithelial cells is determined in the
      adult lung is not well understood. Here, BrdU labeling, genetic lineage tracing,
      and targeted expression of the anti-oxidant extracellular superoxide dismutase in
      AEC2s are used to show how the oxygen environment at birth influences postnatal
      expansion of AEC2s and AEC1s in mice. Birth into low (12%) or high (>=60%) oxygen
      stimulated expansion of AEC2s through self-renewal and differentiation of the
      airway Scgb1a1 + lineage. This non-linear or hormesis response to oxygen was
      specific for the alveolar epithelium because low oxygen stimulated and high
      oxygen inhibited angiogenesis as defined by changes in V-cadherin and PECAM
      (CD31). Although genetic lineage tracing studies confirmed adult AEC2s are stem
      cells for AEC1s, we found no evidence that postnatal growth of AEC1s were derived
      from self-renewing Sftpc + or the Scbg1a1 + lineage of AEC2s. Taken together, our
      results show how a non-linear response to oxygen at birth promotes expansion of
      AEC2s through two distinct lineages. Since neither lineage contributes to the
      postnatal expansion of AEC1s, the ability of AEC2s to function as stem cells for
      AEC1s appears to be restricted to the adult lung. Stem Cells 2016;34:1396-1406.

PMID- 26891119
TI  - Progressive Generalized Lipodystrophy as a Manifestation of Autoimmune
      Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1.
AB  - We describe APS1 in a boy with generalized lipodystrophy, oral candidiasis,
      autoimmune hepatitis and adrenal insufficiency. It is the first time when
      generalized lipodystrophy is associated with APS1. 

PMID- 26891120
TI  - Real social analytics: A contribution towards a phenomenology of a digital world.
AB  - This article argues against the assumption that agency and reflexivity disappear
      in an age of 'algorithmic power' (Lash 2007). Following the suggestions of Beer
      (2009), it proposes that, far from disappearing, new forms of agency and
      reflexivity around the embedding in everyday practice of not only algorithms but
      also analytics more broadly are emerging, as social actors continue to pursue
      their social ends but mediated through digital interfaces: this is the
      consequence of many social actors now needing their digital presence, regardless
      of whether they want this, to be measured and counted. The article proposes
      'social analytics' as a new topic for sociology: the sociological study of social
      actors' uses of analytics not for the sake of measurement itself (or to make
      profit from measurement) but in order to fulfil better their social ends through
      an enhancement of their digital presence. The article places social analytics in
      the context of earlier debates about categorization, algorithmic power, and self
      presentation online, and describes in detail a case study with a UK community
      organization which generated the social analytics approach. The article concludes
      with reflections on the implications of this approach for further sociological
      fieldwork in a digital world. 

PMID- 26891121
TI  - Natural Killer/T Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type: A Retrospective Clinical Analysis in
      North-Western China.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is an
      aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with high mortality and poor prognosis despite
      radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The current analysis aimed to assess the
      pathological features, clinical features, and prognostic indicators of ENKTL.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: 120 ENKTL patients were analyzed for pathologic diagnosis
      and clinical disease manifestations from April 2007 to October 2012. Complete
      remission, 2-year overall survival, and progression-free survival were analyzed.
      RESULTS: Compared with the nasal group, a greater percentage of patients in the
      non-nasal group intended to receive autologous stem cell transplantation had
      Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, Ann Arbor stage IV, Ki-67 expression >= 60%, and
      abnormal ferroprotein and beta-microglobulin levels. The rate of complete
      remission in the non-nasal group was higher than that in the nasal group. The
      overall survival rate was 74.9% at 24 months. Patients receiving chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy were more likely to have disease progression compared with patients
      who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: Further
      understanding the pathological and clinical features of ENKTL will be critical
      for moving forward. Ki-67, beta-microglobulin, EBV DNA, and primary site
      prognostic indicators may be useful to stratify patients into different risk
      groups, to gain insight into patient-specific treatments, and to potentially
      improve survival.

PMID- 26891122
TI  - Thyroid calcifications: a pictorial essay.
AB  - Incidental diagnosis of thyroid nodules is very common on adult neck
      ultrasonography examination. Thyroid calcifications are encountered in benign
      thyroid nodules and goiters as well as in thyroid malignancy. Depiction and
      characterization of such calcifications within a thyroid nodule may be a key
      element in the thyroid nodule diagnosis algorithm. The goal of this paper is to
      display typical radio-pathological correlations of various thyroid pathologies of
      benign and malignant conditions in which the calcification type diagnosis can
      play a key role in the final diagnosis of the thyroid nodule.

PMID- 26891123
TI  - Nutritional and Protein Deficiencies in the Short Term following Both Gastric
      Bypass and Gastric Banding.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The number of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery
      (BS) has increased dramatically in recent years. Therefore, monitoring food
      intake and its consequences in terms of nutritional status is necessary to
      prevent nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect
      of food restriction on nutritional parameters in the short-term (<=3 months)
      period after BS in morbid obesity. METHOD: In a prospective study, we followed 22
      obese women who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) or adjustable gastric
      banding (AGB) at baseline (T0) and 1 (T1) and 3 (T3) months after surgery. We
      evaluated food intake, nutrient adequacy and serum concentrations of vitamins and
      minerals known to be at risk for deficiency following BS. RESULTS: Before
      surgery, we observed suboptimal food intakes, leading to a risk of micronutrient
      deficiencies. Serum analysis confirmed nutritional deficiencies for iron and
      thiamine for 27 and 23% of the patients, respectively. The drastic energy and
      food reduction seen in the short term led to very low probabilities of adequacy
      for nutrients equivalent across both surgeries. Serum analysis demonstrated a
      continuous decrease in prealbumin during the follow-up, indicating mild protein
      depletion in 21 and 57% of GBP patients and 50 and 63% of AGB patients,
      respectively, at T1 and T3. Regarding vitamins and minerals, systematic
      supplementation after GBP prevented most nutritional deficiencies. By contrast,
      AGB patients, for whom there is no systematic supplementation, developed such
      deficiencies. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that cautious monitoring of
      protein intake after BS is mandatory. Furthermore, AGB patients might also
      benefit from systematic multivitamin and mineral supplementation at least in the
      short term.

PMID- 26891125
TI  - Go Forth and Colonize: Dispersal from Clinically Important Microbial Biofilms.

PMID- 26891124
TI  - Carvedilol Improves Inflammatory Response, Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis in the
      Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Rats by Regulating Kuppfer Cells and Hepatic
      Stellate Cells.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antifibrotic effects of
      carvedilol (CARV) in rats with ethanol-induced liver injury. METHODS: Liver
      injury was induced by gavage administration of alcohol (7 g/kg) for 28
      consecutive days. Eighty Wistar rats were pretreated with oral CARV at 1, 3, or 5
      mg/kg or with saline 1 h before exposure to alcohol. Liver homogenates were
      assayed for interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha
      level as well as for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malonyldialdehyde (MDA)
      and glutathione (GSH) levels. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and
      liver triglyceride (TG) levels were also assayed. Immunohistochemical analyses of
      cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B/ligand
      (RANK/RANKL), suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS1), the Kupffer cell marker
      IBA-1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1), intercellular adhesion
      molecule 1 (ICAM-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), and glutathione peroxidase
      (GPx-1) expression were performed. Confocal microscopy analysis of IL-1beta and
      NF-kappaB expression and real-time quantitative PCR analysis for TNFalpha, PCI,
      PCIII, and NF-kappaB were performed. RESULTS: CARV treatment (5 mg/kg) during the
      alcohol exposure protocol was associated with reduced steatosis, hepatic cord
      degeneration, fibrosis and necrosis, as well as reduced levels of AST (p < 0.01),
      ALT (p < 0.01), TG (p < 0.001), MPO (p < 0.001), MDA (p < 0.05), and
      proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, both p < 0.05), and increased
      levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (p < 0.001) and GSH (p < 0.05),
      compared to the alcohol-only group. Treatment with CARV 5 mg/kg also reduced
      expression levels of COX-2, RANK, RANKL, IBA-1, and ICAM-1 (all p < 0.05), while
      increasing expression of SOCS1, SOD-1, and GPx-1 (all p < 0.05) and decreasing
      expression of IL-1beta and NF-kappaB (both, p < 0.05). Real-time quantitative PCR
      analysis showed that mRNA production of TNF-alpha, procollagen type I (PCI),
      procollagen type III (PCIII), and NF-kappaB were decreased in the alcohol-CARV 5
      mg/kg group relative to the alcohol-only group. CONCLUSIONS: CARV can reduce the
      stress oxidative, inflammatory response and fibrosis in ethanol-induced liver
      injury in a rat model by downregulating signalling of Kuppfer cells and hepatic
      stellate cells (HSCs) through suppression of inflammatory cytokines.

PMID- 26891127
TI  - Mass Spectrometry Imaging of the Hypoxia Marker Pimonidazole in a Breast Tumor
      Model.
AB  - Although tumor hypoxia is associated with tumor aggressiveness and resistance to
      cancer treatment, many details of hypoxia-induced changes in tumors remain to be
      elucidated. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a technique that is well suited to
      study the biomolecular composition of specific tissue regions, such as hypoxic
      tumor regions. Here, we investigate the use of pimonidazole as an exogenous
      hypoxia marker for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MSI. In
      hypoxic cells, pimonidazole is reduced and forms reactive products that bind to
      thiol groups in proteins, peptides, and amino acids. We show that a reductively
      activated pimonidazole metabolite can be imaged by MALDI-MSI in a breast tumor
      xenograft model. Immunohistochemical detection of pimonidazole adducts on
      adjacent tissue sections confirmed that this metabolite is localized to hypoxic
      tissue regions. We used this metabolite to image hypoxic tissue regions and their
      associated lipid and small molecule distributions with MALDI-MSI. We identified a
      heterogeneous distribution of 1-methylnicotinamide and acetylcarnitine, which
      mostly colocalized with hypoxic tumor regions. As pimonidazole is a widely used
      immunohistochemical marker of tissue hypoxia, it is likely that the presented
      direct MALDI-MSI approach is also applicable to other tissues from pimonidazole
      injected animals or humans. 

PMID- 26891126
TI  - A radial sampling strategy for uniform k-space coverage with retrospective
      respiratory gating in 3D ultrashort-echo-time lung imaging.
AB  - The purpose of this work was to develop a 3D radial-sampling strategy which
      maintains uniform k-space sample density after retrospective respiratory gating,
      and demonstrate its feasibility in free-breathing ultrashort-echo-time lung MRI.
      A multi-shot, interleaved 3D radial sampling function was designed by segmenting
      a single-shot trajectory of projection views such that each interleaf samples k
      space in an incoherent fashion. An optimal segmentation factor for the
      interleaved acquisition was derived based on an approximate model of respiratory
      patterns such that radial interleaves are evenly accepted during the
      retrospective gating. The optimality of the proposed sampling scheme was tested
      by numerical simulations and phantom experiments using human respiratory
      waveforms. Retrospectively, respiratory-gated, free-breathing lung MRI with the
      proposed sampling strategy was performed in healthy subjects. The simulation
      yielded the most uniform k-space sample density with the optimal segmentation
      factor, as evidenced by the smallest standard deviation of the number of
      neighboring samples as well as minimal side-lobe energy in the point spread
      function. The optimality of the proposed scheme was also confirmed by minimal
      image artifacts in phantom images. Human lung images showed that the proposed
      sampling scheme significantly reduced streak and ring artifacts compared with the
      conventional retrospective respiratory gating while suppressing motion-related
      blurring compared with full sampling without respiratory gating. In conclusion,
      the proposed 3D radial-sampling scheme can effectively suppress the image
      artifacts due to non-uniform k-space sample density in retrospectively
      respiratory-gated lung MRI by uniformly distributing gated radial views across
      the k-space.

PMID- 26891129
TI  - Anatomical liver resection of segment 4a en bloc with the caudate lobe.
AB  - Anatomical segmentectomy is the complete resection of an area supplied by a
      segmental portal branch. Among segmentectomies, isolated segmentectomy 4 is a
      technically demanding procedure because there are two transection planes: on the
      left side along the umbilical fissure and, on the right side, along the middle
      hepatic vein. Although there are several reports on anatomic segmentectomies,
      only few regard the anatomic segmentectomy 4a. We report here the case of a 60
      year-old man who underwent anatomical segmentectomy 4a en bloc with the caudate
      lobe to resect a colorectal liver metastasis located in segment 4a and involving
      the paracaval portion of the caudate lobe. This type of procedure was planned in
      order to maximize the postoperative functional hepatic reserve, thereby reducing
      the risk of postoperative liver failure and ultimately allowing the possibility
      for future repeat hepatectomy in case of recurrence. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:665
      667. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26891128
TI  - Identification of Novel Reference Genes Suitable for qRT-PCR Normalization with
      Respect to the Zebrafish Developmental Stage.
AB  - Reference genes used in normalizing qRT-PCR data are critical for the accuracy of
      gene expression analysis. However, many traditional reference genes used in
      zebrafish early development are not appropriate because of their variable
      expression levels during embryogenesis. In the present study, we used our
      previous RNA-Seq dataset to identify novel reference genes suitable for gene
      expression analysis during zebrafish early developmental stages. We first
      selected 197 most stably expressed genes from an RNA-Seq dataset (29,291 genes in
      total), according to the ratio of their maximum to minimum RPKM values. Among the
      197 genes, 4 genes with moderate expression levels and the least variation
      throughout 9 developmental stages were identified as candidate reference genes.
      Using four independent statistical algorithms (delta-CT, geNorm, BestKeeper and
      NormFinder), the stability of qRT-PCR expression of these candidates was then
      evaluated and compared to that of actb1 and actb2, two commonly used zebrafish
      reference genes. Stability rankings showed that two genes, namely mobk13 (mob4)
      and lsm12b, were more stable than actb1 and actb2 in most cases. To further test
      the suitability of mobk13 and lsm12b as novel reference genes, they were used to
      normalize three well-studied target genes. The results showed that mobk13 and
      lsm12b were more suitable than actb1 and actb2 with respect to zebrafish early
      development. We recommend mobk13 and lsm12b as new optimal reference genes for
      zebrafish qRT-PCR analysis during embryogenesis and early larval stages. 

PMID- 26891130
TI  - Intracochlear Position of Cochlear Implants Determined Using CT Scanning versus
      Fitting Levels: Higher Threshold Levels at Basal Turn.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In this study, the effects of the intracochlear position of cochlear
      implants on the clinical fitting levels were analyzed. DESIGN: A total of 130
      adult subjects who used a CII/HiRes 90K cochlear implant with a HiFocus 1/1J
      electrode were included in the study. The insertion angle and the distance to the
      modiolus of each electrode contact were determined using high-resolution CT
      scanning. The threshold levels (T-levels) and maximum comfort levels (M-levels)
      at 1 year of follow-up were determined. The degree of speech perception of the
      subjects was evaluated during routine clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The depths of
      insertion of all the electrode contacts were determined. The distance to the
      modiolus was significantly smaller at the basal and apical cochlear parts
      compared with that at the middle of the cochlea (p < 0.05). The T-levels
      increased toward the basal end of the cochlea (3.4 dB). Additionally, the M
      levels, which were fitted in our clinic using a standard profile, also increased
      toward the basal end, although with a lower amplitude (1.3 dB). Accordingly, the
      dynamic range decreased toward the basal end (2.1 dB). No correlation was found
      between the distance to the modiolus and the T-level or the M-level. Furthermore,
      the correlation between the insertion depth and stimulation levels was not
      affected by the duration of deafness, age at implantation or the time since
      implantation. Additionally, the T-levels showed a significant correlation with
      the speech perception scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The stimulation levels of
      the cochlear implants were affected by the intracochlear position of the
      electrode contacts, which were determined using postoperative CT scanning.
      Interestingly, these levels depended on the insertion depth, whereas the distance
      to the modiolus did not affect the stimulation levels. The T-levels increased
      toward the basal end of the cochlea. The level profiles were independent of the
      overall stimulation levels and were not affected by the biographical data of the
      patients, such as the duration of deafness, age at implantation or time since
      implantation. Further research is required to elucidate how fitting using level
      profiles with an increase toward the basal end of the cochlea benefits speech
      perception. Future investigations may elucidate an explanation for the effects of
      the intracochlear electrode position on the stimulation levels and might
      facilitate future improvements in electrode design.

PMID- 26891132
TI  - Revealing the Formation of Copper Nanoparticles from a Homogeneous Solid
      Precursor by Electron Microscopy.
AB  - The understanding of processes leading to the formation of nanometer-sized
      particles is important for tailoring of their size, shape and location. The
      growth mechanisms and kinetics of nanoparticles from solid precursors are,
      however, often poorly described. Here we employ transmission electron microscopy
      (TEM) to examine the formation of copper nanoparticles on a silica support during
      the reduction by H2 of homogeneous copper phyllosilicate platelets, as a
      prototype precursor for a coprecipitated catalyst. Specifically, time-lapsed TEM
      image series acquired of the material during the reduction process provide a
      direct visualization of the growth dynamics of an ensemble of individual
      nanoparticles and enable a quantitative evaluation of the nucleation and growth
      of the nanoparticles. This quantitative information is compared with kinetic
      models and found to be best described by a nucleation-and-growth scenario
      involving autocatalytic reduction of the copper phyllosilicate followed by
      diffusion-limited or reaction-limited growth of the copper nanoparticles. The
      plate-like structure of the precursor restricted the diffusion of copper and the
      autocatalytic reduction limited the probability for secondary nucleation. The
      combination of a uniform size of precursor particles and the autocatalytic
      reduction thus offers means to synthesize nanoparticles with well-defined sizes
      in large amounts. In this way, in situ observations made by electron microscopy
      provide mechanistic and kinetic insights into the formation of supported
      nanoparticles, essential for the rational design of nanomaterials. 

PMID- 26891131
TI  - Exome Sequencing of Uterine Leiomyosarcomas Identifies Frequent Mutations in
      TP53, ATRX, and MED12.
AB  - Uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMSs) are aggressive smooth muscle tumors associated
      with poor clinical outcome. Despite previous cytogenetic and molecular studies,
      their molecular background has remained elusive. To examine somatic variation in
      ULMS, we performed exome sequencing on 19 tumors. Altogether, 43 genes were
      mutated in at least two ULMSs. Most frequently mutated genes included tumor
      protein P53 (TP53; 6/19; 33%), alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X
      linked (ATRX; 5/19; 26%), and mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12; 4/19; 21%).
      Unlike ATRX mutations, both TP53 and MED12 alterations have repeatedly been
      associated with ULMSs. All the observed ATRX alterations were either nonsense or
      frameshift mutations. ATRX protein levels were reliably analyzed by
      immunohistochemistry in altogether 44 ULMSs, and the majority of tumors (23/44;
      52%) showed clearly reduced expression. Loss of ATRX expression has been
      associated with alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), and thus the telomere
      length was analyzed with telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization.
      The ALT phenotype was confirmed in all ULMSs showing diminished ATRX expression.
      Exome data also revealed one nonsense mutation in death-domain associated protein
      (DAXX), another gene previously associated with ALT, and the tumor showed ALT
      positivity. In conclusion, exome sequencing revealed that TP53, ATRX, and MED12
      are frequently mutated in ULMSs. ALT phenotype was commonly seen in tumors,
      indicating that ATR inhibitors, which were recently suggested as possible new
      drugs for ATRX-deficient tumors, could provide a potential novel therapeutic
      option for ULMS. 

PMID- 26891133
TI  - Caffeine intake enhances the benefits of sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effect of sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors is
      dependent on the glomerular filtration rate. It has been reported that caffeine
      intake increases glomerular filtration rate. However, the effect of caffeine
      intake on urinary glucose excretion in patients who take SGLT-2 inhibitors is
      unclear. METHODS: Six patients with type 2 diabetes took part in a randomized,
      open-label, crossover pilot study. The patients took SGLT-2 inhibitors
      (ipragliflozin) for 9 days. On day 3, 6 and 9, the patients were assigned to one
      of three studies: Water 500, patients drank 500 mL of water in 3 h; Water 1500,
      patients drank 1500 mL of water in 3 h; and Caffeine 500, patients drank 500 mL
      of water with 400 mg of caffeine in 3 h. In all of the studies, the patients'
      urine was collected over a 6-h period. In addition, we enrolled 60 patients with
      type 2 diabetes who newly took SGLT-2 inhibitors in a 3-month follow-up cohort
      study to investigate the effect of caffeine intake on glucose control. Caffeine
      intake was evaluated using questionnaires. RESULTS: The 6-h median (interquartile
      range) urinary glucose excretion was 9.5 (8.5-9.7) g in Water 500, 12.2 (10.3
      27.2) g in Water 1500 and 15.7 (11.4-21.4) g in Caffeine 500 (p = 0.005 vs Water
      500). In the cohort study, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that log
      (caffeine intake) was associated with a change in HbA1c (beta = -0.299, p =
      0.043) after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine intake enhanced the
      effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891135
TI  - Urban Myths in Plastic Surgery: Postoperative Management of Surgical Drains.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical patients are frequently discharged with surgical drains to
      assist in wound closure that could be disrupted by postoperative hematomas,
      lymphoceles, or seromas. In clinical practice, duration of drain use is typically
      dependent on daily output. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to examine the
      origins and justifications of drain removal criteria. The authors considered
      factors that may influence recommendations such as duration, area of surgical
      site, and risk of infection. METHODS: A literature review was performed regarding
      the indications for drain removal in patients undergoing reconstructive and
      breast surgeries. PubMed was queried for publications up to May 2015 with the
      following search terms: drain removal, hematomas, lymphoceles, seroma, volume,
      reconstruction, and mastectomy. Clinical trials, retrospective reviews, meta
      analyses, and literature reviews were included. RESULTS: Most plastic surgeons
      remove drains based on volume criteria; however, some evidence supports early,
      fixed-duration drain removal. Patients who produce large volumes of fluid from
      the surgical site are more likely to continue to do so after drain removal and
      may require increased duration of drain use. Surgical site surface area may also
      be a factor to consider when pulling a drain. CONCLUSION: Though drain-associated
      infection rates are low and appear unaffected by duration, poor outcomes such as
      implant loss and need for reoperation may be mitigated by antisepsis strategies.

PMID- 26891134
TI  - Generalized Cowpox Virus Infection in a Patient with HIV, Germany, 2012.

PMID- 26891136
TI  - Flow-through Instillation of Hypochlorous Acid in the Treatment of Necrotizing
      Fasciitis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and rapidly progressing
      bacterial infection of soft tissues. Bacterial toxins cause local tissue damage
      and necrosis, as well as blunt immune system responses. A self-propagating cycle
      of bacterial invasion, toxin release and tissue destruction can continue until
      substantial amounts of tissue become necrotic. Neutralization of bacterial toxins
      should improve the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pure hypochlorous acid (HOCl)
      (0.01% w/v) with no sodium hypochlorite impurity in saline pH 4-5, which was
      recently shown to both eradicate bacteria and neutralize bacterial toxins in
      vitro, was administered via flowthrough instillation to 6 patients with NF 4-6
      times daily as needed. Utilizing a vacuum-assisted closure, 5-10 mL of pure 0.01%
      HOCl with no sodium hypochlorite impurity was instilled and removed frequently to
      irrigate the wounds. RESULTS: Of the 6 patients, no deaths or limb amputations
      occurred. All infected areas healed completely without major complications.
      CONCLUSION: The toxicity and immune dysfunction caused by bacterial toxins and
      toxins released from damaged cells may be mitigated by flow-through instillation
      with saline containing pure 0.01% HOCl with no sodium hypochlorite impurity.
      Randomized controlled clinical trial research of this relatively simple and
      inexpensive instillation protocol is suggested for identified cases of NF.

PMID- 26891137
TI  - A Simplified Vacuum Dressing System.
AB  - Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) may not necessarily require sophisticated
      equipment. In settings with limited medical resources, simplified vacuum
      dressings have been considered an effective alternative to the gold-standard
      vacuum-assisted closure system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      performance of a simplified vacuum dressing system in the treatment of complex
      wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study in which difficult-to
      manage wounds were treated using a simplified vacuum dressing system. Thirty-nine
      patients with a total of 51 wounds were treated. The main complications were pain
      (15.7%), bleeding (9.6%), and extremity edema (5.2%). After NPWT, the wounds were
      closed by skin grafting or with a skin flap in 71.8% of patients. RESULTS: The
      results of NPWT were considered satisfactory in 87.2% of cases. The use of a
      simplified vacuum dressing system provided satisfactory results in the treatment
      of complex wounds in the studied population. CONCLUSION: The system proved easy
      to use, had a low complication rate and excellent costeffectiveness, and it may
      be considered as an effective alternative to the gold-standard vacuum-assisted
      closure system for patients requiring prolonged hospitalization due to the
      presence of extensive wounds that cannot be treated at home.

PMID- 26891138
TI  - Point Prevalence of Chronic Wounds at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds are a drain on resources both for the patient and
      health institution. Management of chronic wounds based on evidence-based practice
      requires baseline data for adequate planning. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried
      out to determine the point prevalence of chronic wounds in a tertiary hospital
      (University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria) and utilize this information for
      subsequent wound care planning. METHODS: The study was carried out within a 1
      month period and included all patients seen in the hospital with chronic wounds.
      The data obtained was entered into a designed form and was subsequently analyzed.
      RESULTS: There were 48 patients with 78 wounds representing approximately 11% of
      patients seen in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery
      each month. Their ages ranged from 3 months to 80 years; the median age was 48
      years. The male to female ratio was 1.6 to 1. The duration of the wounds ranged
      from 6 weeks to 780 weeks; the median duration of the wounds was 10 weeks. The
      area of the wounds ranged from 1 cm(2) -1,248 cm(2) (median 24 cm(2)). The most
      common chronic wounds were diabetic wounds, followed by pressure ulcers,
      postinfection ulcers, posttraumatic ulcers, burn wounds, malignant ulcers, and
      venous ulcers. CONCLUSION: The point prevalence data serves as a basis for wound
      care planning. This, in turn, should result in improved wound management grounded
      in evidence-based practices.

PMID- 26891139
TI  - Factitious Ulcer Misdiagnosed as Pyoderma Gangrenosum.
AB  - Dermatitis artefacta may represent a real challenge for the clinician. As the
      patient does not admit self-inflicting the lesions, misdiagnosis with other
      diseases, such as pyoderma gangrenosum, is common. Consequently, these patients
      normally go through unnecessary tests and receive potentially harmful treatments
      as clinicians determine their diagnosis. The authors present the case of a
      recurrent factitious abdominal ulcer that was initially diagnosed and treated as
      pyoderma gangrenosum. This report focuses on the necessity of suspecting
      dermatitis artefacta when morphology, history, and treatment failures are
      difficult to explain. It is essential to establish a supportive and confident
      approach and avoid initial confrontation. In-patient treatment may be useful and
      long-term followup may prevent recurrences. 

PMID- 26891140
TI  - A Firm and Painful Plaque on the Thorax: The Role of Ultrasound in the Detection
      of Foreign Bodies.
AB  - The presence of a subcutaneous foreign body may not be easily suspected after the
      initial history and exploration of the patient. The authors report a 54-year-old
      male who came to the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario de
      Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain with a firm plaque, fixed to deep structures, which
      showed several draining orifices over the costal grid. After several tests, the
      authors performed an ultrasonography that revealed the presence of a fistula from
      a foreign body secondary to a previously untreated costal fracture that occurred
      several years before. The authors believe ultrasonography is a readily available
      and useful tool that may help dermatologists in daily clinical practice, with the
      advantage of being a noninvasive test. 

PMID- 26891142
TI  - Unique Solvent Effects on Visible-Light CO2 Reduction over Ruthenium(II)
      Complex/Carbon Nitride Hybrid Photocatalysts.
AB  - Photocatalytic CO2 reduction using hybrids of carbon nitride (C3N4) and a Ru(II)
      complex under visible light was studied with respect to reaction solvent. Three
      different Ru(II) complexes, trans(Cl)-[Ru(X2bpy) (CO)2Cl2] (X2bpy = 2,2'
      bipyridine with substituents X in the 4-positions, X = COOH, PO3H2, or CH2PO3H2),
      were employed as promoters and will be abbreviated as RuC (X = COOH), RuP (X =
      PO3H2), and RuCP (X = CH2PO3H2). When C3N4 modified with a larger amount of RuCP
      (>7.8 MUmol g(-1)) was employed as a photocatalyst in a solvent having a
      relatively high donor number (e.g., N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), N,N
      dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)) with the aid of
      triethanolamine (TEOA) as an electron donor, the hybrid photocatalyst exhibited
      high performance for CO2 reduction, producing CO and HCOOH with relatively high
      CO selectivity (40-70%). On the other hand, HCOOH was the major product when
      RuC/C3N4 or RuP/C3N4 was employed regardless of the loading amount of the Ru(II)
      complex and the reaction solvent. Results of photocatalytic reactions and UV
      visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated that polymeric Ru species,
      which were formed in situ from RuCP on C3N4 under irradiation in a solvent having
      a high donor number, were active catalysts for CO formation. Nonsacrificial CO2
      reduction using RuP/C3N4 was accomplished in a DMA solution containing methanol
      as an electron donor, which means that visible light energy was stored as
      chemical energy in the form of CO and formaldehyde (DeltaG degrees  = +67.6 kJ
      mol(-1)). This study demonstrated the first successful example of an energy
      conversion scheme using carbon nitride through photocatalytic CO2 reduction. 

PMID- 26891141
TI  - Exudative cotton wool spots: an under-recognized variant of a common lesion.

PMID- 26891143
TI  - An overview of pharmaceutical patent litigation in China.

PMID- 26891144
TI  - Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of
      Gastrointestinal Disease.
AB  - The epithelial barrier is the first innate defense of the gastrointestinal tract
      and selectively regulates transport from the lumen to the underlying tissue
      compartments, restricting the transport of smaller molecules across the
      epithelium and almost completely prohibiting epithelial macromolecular transport.
      This selectivity is determined by the mucous gel layer, which limits the
      transport of lipophilic molecules and both the apical receptors and tight
      junctional protein complexes of the epithelium. In vitro cell culture models of
      the epithelium are convenient, but as a model, they lack the complexity of
      interactions between the microbiota, mucous-gel, epithelium and immune system. On
      the other hand, in vivo assessment of intestinal absorption or permeability may
      be performed, but these assays measure overall gastrointestinal absorption, with
      no indication of site specificity. Ex vivo permeability assays using "intestinal
      sacs" are a rapid and sensitive method of measuring either overall intestinal
      integrity or comparative transport of a specific molecule, with the added
      advantage of intestinal site specificity. Here we describe the preparation of
      intestinal sacs for permeability studies and the calculation of the apparent
      permeability (Papp) of a molecule across the intestinal barrier. This technique
      may be used as a method of assessing drug absorption, or to examine regional
      epithelial barrier dysfunction in animal models of gastrointestinal disease. 

PMID- 26891145
TI  - Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Indole Cyclization: Application to the Total
      Synthesis and Absolute Stereochemical Assignment of (-)-Aspidophylline A.
AB  - The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-aspidophylline A, including
      assignment of its absolute configuration has been accomplished. A key element of
      the synthesis is a highly enantioselective indole allylic alkylation/iminium
      cyclization cascade which was developed by employing a combination of Lewis acid
      activation and an iridium/ligand catalyst. This strategy relies on the direct use
      of 2,3-disubstituted indoles with secondary allylic alcohols appended at C2 and
      heteronucleophiles appended at C3, indoles which are easily prepared from simple
      starting materials under C-H activation conditions. 

PMID- 26891146
TI  - Rapid induction of apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by the
      microtubule disrupting agent BNC105.
AB  - Microtubule targeting agents, such as vinblastine, are usually thought to arrest
      cells in mitosis and subsequently induce apoptosis. However, they can also cause
      rapid induction of apoptosis in a cell-cycle phase independent manner. BNC105 is
      a novel vascular and microtubule disrupting drug that also induces apoptosis
      rapidly but with markedly increased potency compared to vinca alkaloids and
      combretastatin A4. BNC105 binds to the colchicine-binding site on tubulin
      resulting in activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphorylation of
      ATF2, and induction of ATF3 and Noxa leading to acute apoptosis in chronic
      lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. Apoptosis induced by BNC105 is dependent upon
      both JNK activation and Noxa induction. Normal leukocytes and one CLL sample also
      exhibited JNK activation but not Noxa induction and were resistant to BNC105.
      This study emphasizes the importance of Noxa and JNK for induction of apoptosis
      in CLL cells by microtubule targeting drugs, and highlights the potential of
      BNC105 as a potent therapeutic to treat haematopoietic malignancies. 

PMID- 26891147
TI  - Modeling Chemotherapy Resistant Leukemia In Vitro.
AB  - It is well established that the bone marrow microenvironment provides a unique
      site of sanctuary for hematopoietic diseases that both initiate and progress in
      this site. The model presented in the current report utilizes human primary bone
      marrow stromal cells and osteoblasts as two representative cell types from the
      marrow niche that influence tumor cell phenotype. The in vitro co-culture
      conditions described for human leukemic cells with these primary niche components
      support the generation of a chemoresistant subpopulation of tumor cells that can
      be efficiently recovered from culture for analysis by diverse techniques. A
      strict feeding schedule to prevent nutrient fluxes followed by gel type 10 cross
      linked dextran (G10) particles recovery of the population of tumor cells that
      have migrated beneath the adherent bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) or
      osteoblasts (OB) generating a "phase dim" (PD) population of tumor cells,
      provides a consistent source of purified therapy resistant leukemic cells. This
      clinically relevant population of tumor cells can be evaluated by standard
      methods to investigate apoptotic, metabolic, and cell cycle regulatory pathways
      as well as providing a more rigorous target in which to test novel therapeutic
      strategies prior to pre-clinical investigations targeted at minimal residual
      disease. 

PMID- 26891148
TI  - Effect of Character-Audience Similarity on the Perceived Effectiveness of
      Antismoking PSAs via Engagement.
AB  - This study assesses the impact of character-audience similarity, a core aspect of
      tailored communication, on evaluation of antismoking public service announcements
      (PSAs). Smoker and persuader characters are distinguished to explore their
      different roles in message effectiveness. Daily adult smokers (n = 1,160) were
      exposed to four video PSAs randomly selected from a larger pool. Similarity
      scores were determined from matching in demographic (age, gender, race) and
      motivational factors (quitting status) between the audience and the PSA's
      characters. Results show that PSAs featuring distinctive smoker and/or persuader
      characters yielded significantly higher message engagement and perceived
      effectiveness (PE) than PSAs without characters. Given the presence of
      characters, smoker-audience similarity was positively associated with the
      engagement, which in turn enhanced PE. Persuader-audience similarity failed to
      predict increases in either engagement or PE.

PMID- 26891150
TI  - Effect of Exogenous Albumin on the Incidence of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury
      in Patients Undergoing Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery with a
      Preoperative Albumin Level of Less Than 4.0 g/dl.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia may increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI).
      The authors investigated whether the immediate preoperative administration of 20%
      albumin solution affects the incidence of AKI after off-pump coronary artery
      bypass surgery. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, randomized, parallel
      arm double-blind trial, 220 patients with preoperative serum albumin levels less
      than 4.0 g/dl were administered 100, 200, or 300 ml of 20% human albumin
      according to the preoperative serum albumin level (3.5 to 3.9, 3.0 to 3.4, or
      less than 3.0 g/dl, respectively) or with an equal volume of saline before
      surgery. The primary outcome measure was AKI incidence after surgery.
      Postoperative AKI was defined by maximal AKI Network criteria based on creatinine
      changes. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and perioperative data except urine
      output during surgery were similar between the two groups studied, the albumin
      group and the control group. Urine output (median [interquartile range]) during
      surgery was higher in the albumin group (550 ml [315 to 980]) than in the control
      group (370 ml [230 to 670]; P = 0.006). The incidence of postoperative AKI in the
      albumin group was lower than that in the control group (14 [13.7%] vs. 26
      [25.7%]; P = 0.048). There were no significant between-group differences in
      severe AKI, including renal replacement therapy, 30-day mortality, and other
      clinical outcomes. There were no significant adverse events. CONCLUSION:
      Administration of 20% exogenous albumin immediately before surgery increases
      urine output during surgery and reduces the risk of AKI after off-pump coronary
      artery bypass surgery in patients with a preoperative serum albumin level of less
      than 4.0 g/dl.

PMID- 26891149
TI  - Epigenetic silencing of AKAP12 in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
AB  - A-kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) is a regulator of protein kinase A and
      protein kinase C signaling, acting downstream of RAS. Epigenetic silencing of
      AKAP12 has been demonstrated in different cancer entities and this has been
      linked to the process of tumorigenesis. Here, we used quantitative high
      resolution DNA methylation measurement by MassARRAY to investigate epigenetic
      regulation of all three AKAP12 promoters (i.e., alpha, beta, and gamma) within a
      large cohort of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) patient samples. The
      AKAP12alpha promoter shows DNA hypermethylation in JMML samples, which is
      associated with decreased AKAP12alpha expression. Promoter methylation of
      AKAP12alpha correlates with older age at diagnosis, elevated levels of fetal
      hemoglobin and poor prognosis. In silico screening for transcription factor
      binding motifs around the sites of most pronounced methylation changes in the
      AKAP12alpha promoter revealed highly significant scores for GATA-2/-1 sequence
      motifs. Both transcription factors are known to be involved in the haematopoietic
      differentiation process. Methylation of a reporter construct containing this
      region resulted in strong suppression of AKAP12 promoter activity, suggesting
      that DNA methylation might be involved in the aberrant silencing of the AKAP12
      promoter in JMML. Exposure to DNMT- and HDAC-inhibitors reactivates AKAP12alpha
      expression in vitro, which could potentially be a mechanism underlying clinical
      treatment responses upon demethylating therapy. Together, these data provide
      evidence for epigenetic silencing of AKAP12alpha in JMML and further emphasize
      the importance of dysregulated RAS signaling in JMML pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26891151
TI  - Symptoms and their recognition in adult haemodialysis patients: Interactions with
      quality of life.
AB  - AIM: We investigated the symptom burden in adults on haemodialysis, the
      recognition of symptoms by nurses and nephrologists, and the relationship between
      symptoms and quality of life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational
      study, symptoms and quality of life in haemodialysis patients were determined
      using validated surveys. Nurses and nephrologists independently estimated their
      patients' symptoms, and these estimates were compared with patient responses
      (sensitivity; kappa values for interrater agreement). Associations between
      symptoms and quality of life were assessed using multi-level regression. RESULTS:
      Forty-three patients, 18 nurses and 3 nephrologists participated. The commonest
      symptoms (95%CI) reported by patients were weakness, 69% (53 to 82); poor
      mobility, 44% (29 to 60); and drowsiness, 44% (29 to 60). Sensitivity less than
      50% was seen towards 11 of 17 symptoms in nurse ratings compared with 15 of 17 in
      nephrologist ratings. Agreement with patient symptom ratings was mostly 'fair'
      (0.21-0.4), with nurses' scores showing greater agreement than nephrologists'.
      Physical, mental and kidney disease component summary scores of quality of life
      were negatively associated with total symptom score and the number of 'major'
      symptoms (r2 values 0.3-0.36); while with multivariate regression, 50% to 60% of
      the variance in these scores was accounted for by parsimonious models containing
      symptoms such as pain and poor mobility. CONCLUSION: Symptom burden worsened
      quality of life scores in haemodialysis patients. Clinician recognition of
      symptom burden was inaccurate, although nurses were more accurate than
      nephrologists. Using patient-completed surveys or including dialysis nurse
      feedback in routine outpatient settings may help improve symptom recognition by
      nephrologists.

PMID- 26891153
TI  - Cognitive impairment and mortality among the oldest-old Chinese.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between cognitive impairment
      status and all-cause mortality among the oldest-old Chinese. METHODS: A total of
      7474 survey participants 80 years of age and above came from the Chinese
      Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey 1998-2012 waves. Baseline cognitive
      impairment status was assessed using the Chinese version of the mini-mental state
      examination (MMSE), with total score ranging from 0 to 30. Cox proportional
      hazards regressions were performed to examine the relationship between baseline
      cognitive impairment status in 1998 and subsequent all-cause mortality during
      1998-2012, adjusting for various individual characteristics at baseline. RESULTS:
      Compared with those with no or mild cognitive impairment (18 <= MMSE score <= 30)
      at baseline, participants with moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment (0 <= MMSE
      score <= 17) were 28% (95% confidence interval = 20%, 37%) more likely to die
      during the follow-up period from 1998 to 2012. A dose-response relationship
      between baseline severity level of cognitive impairment and mortality was
      evident. Compared with those without cognitive impairment (25 <= MMSE score <=
      30) at baseline, those having mild cognitive impairment (18 <= MMSE score <= 24),
      moderate cognitive impairment (10 <= MMSE score <= 17), and severe cognitive
      impairment (0 <= MMSE score <= 9), were 20% (13%, 28%), 38% (27%, 51%), and 47%
      (33%, 62%) more likely to die during the follow-up period. No statistically
      significant gender differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment
      status and mortality were found. CONCLUSION: Baseline cognitive impairment was
      inversely associated with longevity among the oldest-old Chinese. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891152
TI  - Remarkable Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency Enhancement through
      Interconnection of TiO2 Nanoparticles by Hydrothermal Treatment.
AB  - Although tremendous effort has been directed to synthesizing advanced TiO2 , it
      remains difficult to obtain TiO2 exhibiting a photocatalytic efficiency higher
      than that of P25, a benchmark photocatalyst. P25 is composed of anatase, rutile,
      and amorphous TiO2 particles, and photoexcited electron transfer and subsequent
      charge separation at the anatase-rutile particle interfaces explain its high
      photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we report on a facile and rational
      hydrothermal treatment of P25 to selectively convert the amorphous component into
      crystalline TiO2 , which is deposited between the original anatase and rutile
      particles to increase the particle interfaces and thus enhance charge separation.
      This process produces a new TiO2 exhibiting a considerably enhanced
      photocatalytic efficiency. This method of synthesizing this TiO2 , inspired by a
      recently burgeoning zeolite design, promises to make TiO2 applications more
      feasible and effective. 

PMID- 26891154
TI  - Trading scalpels for sheaths: Catheter-based treatment of vascular injury can be
      effectively performed by acute care surgeons trained in endovascular techniques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The skill set of the acute care surgeon can be expanded by formal
      training. We report the first series of traumatic vascular injury (TVI) treated
      by acute care surgeons trained in endovascular techniques (ACSTEV). METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed patients admitted to our trauma center with TVI over 5
      months who survived for more than 24 hours and had catheter diagnosis and/or
      therapy by ACSTEV. Demographics, admission data, and outcomes were reviewed.
      Follow-up ranged from 0 day to 150 days. RESULTS: Most patients were male (63%)
      and sustained blunt mechanism (91%). Mean (SD) age was 48.2 (21.9) years, and
      mean (SD) Injury Severity Score was 32.1 (11.8). Mean (SD) admission systolic
      blood pressure, heart rate, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score were 126.12 (30.4) mm
      Hg, 101.21 (28.2) beats per minute, and 10.8 (4.73), respectively. Forty-six
      patients underwent 48 endovascular procedures for TVI: 32 angiograms and 16
      venograms were obtained. Two pelvic angiograms and one aortic arch angiogram were
      negative and required no treatment. One superficial femoral artery arteriogram
      showed minor luminal defects requiring anticoagulation only. Pseudoaneurysms were
      found in 17 vessels, vessel truncation in 4, active extravasation in 5, stenosis
      in 1, and dissection with thrombus in 1. Four patients had resuscitative
      endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta performed before catheter
      intervention for pelvic hemorrhage. Procedures included aortic repair (4), pelvic
      embolization (13), splenic embolization (5), lumbar artery embolization (1),
      bronchial artery embolization (1), profunda artery embolization (1), common
      carotid artery stent (1), celiac artery stent (1), inferior vena cava filter
      placement (14) and retrieval (2), and pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (1).
      Treatment material included coils (12), Gelfoam (4), and nitinol plugs (3). No
      procedural or device-related complications occurred. Mortality was 14.7%
      unrelated to any endovascular procedure. One patient had repeat coil embolization
      of a pelvic pseudoaneurysm on postoperative Day 7. CONCLUSION: ACSTEV can safely
      treat TVI with good success. We performed nearly 10 procedures per month
      underscoring the role of the ACSTEV for training and care of TVI in a high-volume
      trauma center. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level V.

PMID- 26891155
TI  - Determining the magnitude of surveillance bias in the assessment of lower
      extremity deep venous thrombosis: A prospective observational study of two
      centers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant cause of morbidity
      and mortality in trauma. Controversy exists regarding the use of lower extremity
      duplex ultrasound screening and surveillance (LEDUS). Advocates cite earlier
      diagnosis and treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) to prevent clot
      propagation and pulmonary embolism (PE). Opponents argue that LEDUS identifies
      more DVT (surveillance bias) but does not reduce the incidence of PE. We sought
      to determine the magnitude of surveillance bias associated with LEDUS and test
      the hypothesis that LEDUS does not decrease the incidence of PE after injury.
      METHODS: We compared data from two Level 1 trauma centers: Scripps Mercy
      Hospital, which used serial LEDUS, and Christiana Care Health System, which used
      LEDUS only for symptomatic patients. Beginning in 2013, both centers
      prospectively collected data on demographics, injury severity, and VTE risk for
      patients admitted for more than 48 hours. Both centers used mechanical and
      pharmacologic prophylaxis based on VTE risk assessment. RESULTS: Scripps Mercy
      treated 772 patients and Christiana Care treated 454 patients with similar injury
      severity and VTE risk. The incidence of PE was 0.4% at both centers. The odds of
      a DVT diagnosis were 5.3 times higher (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval,
      2.5-12.9; p < 0.0001) for patients admitted to Scripps Mercy than for patients
      admitted to Christiana Care. Of the 80 patients who developed DVT, PE, or both,
      99% received prophylaxis before the event. Among those who received pharmacologic
      prophylaxis, the VTE rates between the two centers were not statistically
      significantly different (Scripps Mercy, 11% vs. Christiana Care, 3%; p = 0.06).
      CONCLUSION: The odds of a diagnosis of DVT are increased significantly when a
      program of LEDUS is used in trauma patients. Neither pharmacologic prophylaxis
      nor mechanical prophylaxis is completely effective in preventing VTE in trauma
      patients. VTE should not be considered a "never event" in this cohort. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level
      III.

PMID- 26891156
TI  - Randomized controlled trial comparing dynamic simulation with static simulation
      in trauma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Current general surgery residents have limited exposure to open
      trauma operative cases. Simulation supplements variable rotation volume and
      provides experience with critical but rarely performed procedures. Open
      simulation classically focuses on static models with anatomic accuracy but lacks
      practicality when hemorrhage control is the lifesaving maneuver. We sought to
      evaluate whether training on a dynamic simulator, while much less expensive than
      training on a static cadaver, might be at least as effective in training surgery
      residents to expeditiously place temporary vascular shunts (TVSs). METHODS: Our
      research team developed an inexpensive, reusable dynamic simulator with ongoing
      hemorrhage to instruct trainees in the steps of TVS placement. We enrolled 54
      general surgery residents in a noninferiority randomized controlled trial
      comparing training of TVS placement on the dynamic simulator (n = 28) versus a
      cadaver arm (n = 26). After standardized video didactics, trainees practiced on
      either the simulator or cadaver arm. After the trainees achieved competency, they
      were tested on placing a TVS for a live swine femoral artery injury. Two blinded
      trauma surgeons evaluated the recorded performances. RESULTS: Residents did not
      differ in baseline characteristics between groups, and all residents in both
      groups successfully completed the TVS placement test. Subjects trained on the
      simulator placed the TVS faster than those trained on a cadaver (584 seconds vs.
      751 seconds; difference, +167 seconds faster; 90% confidence interval [CI], +52
      to +282 seconds), with a trend toward faster time to hemorrhage control (110
      seconds vs. 148 seconds; difference, +38 seconds faster; 90% CI, -8 to +84).
      There was no significant difference in Objective Structured Assessment of
      Technical Skills scores (3.72 vs. 3.44; difference, +0.27 units better; 90% CI, 
      0.04 to +0.59). CONCLUSION: Training on a dynamic simulator resulted in
      noninferior time to completion of vascular shunt placement compared with training
      on a cadaver. The addition of dynamic hemorrhage to simulators might
      inexpensively augment trauma skills training.

PMID- 26891157
TI  - Extracorporeal liver support for trauma-induced hepatic dysfunction.

PMID- 26891158
TI  - Feasibility of a perfused and ventilated cadaveric model for assessment of
      lifesaving traumatic hemorrhage and airway management skills.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Training health care providers to manage common life-threatening
      traumatic injuries is an important endeavor. A fresh perfused cadaveric model
      with high anatomic and tissue fidelity was developed to assess performance of
      hemorrhage and airway management skills during a simulated polytrauma scenario.
      METHODS: Fresh human cadavers were obtained within 96 hours of death. Hemorrhage
      from a right traumatic amputation and left inguinal wound was simulated using
      cannulation of the right popliteal and left femoral artery, respectively. The
      thoracic aorta (thoracotomy method) or external iliac arteries (Pfannenstiel
      method) were used for catheter access points. Lung ventilation to simulate chest
      rise and fall was achieved using bilateral chest tubes connected to a bag valve
      mask. Participants underwent a simulated nighttime field care scenario in which
      they attempted tourniquet placement, direct wound pressure and packing, and
      endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: Twenty-four donors were obtained (58-95 years
      old; mean, 77). There were 305 total scenarios completed using 23 cadavers (mean,
      approximately 13 scenarios per cadaver). The cost for acquisition and preparation
      of donors can be estimated at $3,611 to $9,399. CONCLUSION: This model
      successfully allowed for the demonstration of hemorrhage and airway management
      skills with high anatomic and tissue fidelity. For the assessment of critical
      lifesaving skills that are nondestructive in nature, the use of a fresh perfused
      cadaveric model is feasible and suitable for evaluation of these procedures.

PMID- 26891159
TI  - Acute care surgery and emergency general surgery: Addition by subtraction.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The formation of Acute Care Surgery services leads to decreased
      time to treatment and improved outcomes for emergency general surgery (EGS)
      patients. However, minimal work has focused on the ideal care delivery system and
      team structure. We hypothesize that the implementation of a dedicated EGS team
      (separate from trauma and surgical critical care), with EGS-specific protocols
      and dedicated operating room (OR) time, will increase productivity and improve
      mortality. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of financial and EGS registry
      data from fiscal year (FY) 12 to FY15. Data are from an academic, university
      based EGS team composed of two acute care surgery attending surgeons, advanced
      practitioners (APs), residents, and a fellow. In FY12, processes were implemented
      to standardize paging of consults, patient sign-out with attending surgeons' and
      APs' participation, clinical/billing protocols, OR availability, and quality
      improvement. Outcomes included relative value units (RVUs), surgical case volume,
      charges/payments, and number of patient encounters. The secondary outcome was
      mortality. The chi test was used to compare mortality, and p < 0.05 was
      considered significant. RESULTS: Total patient encounters increased from 6,723 in
      FY 12 to 9,238 in FY 15 (+37%). Relative value units increased from 18,422 in FY
      12 to 25,314 in FY 15 (+37%). Charges increased by 76% and payments increased by
      60% from FY 12 to FY 15. Charges per encounter increased from $461 in FY 12 to
      $591 in FY 15 (+28%) Additionally, both inpatient and surgical case loads
      increased. Mortality remained stable throughout the study period (FY 12, 4.5%; FY
      13, 5.2%; FY 14, 5.3%; FY 15, 3.2%: p = 0.177). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of
      dedicated OR time, defined EGS team structure, practice protocols, and active
      attending surgeons'/APs' participation was temporally related to increased case
      volume, patients seen, and revenue, while mortality remained unchanged. Further
      study is necessary to establish the translatability of these data to other
      systems. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic/decision, level III.

PMID- 26891160
TI  - Infected hardware after surgical stabilization of rib fractures: Outcomes and
      management experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical stabilization of rib fracture (SSRF) is increasingly used
      for treatment of rib fractures. There are few data on the incidence, risk
      factors, outcomes, and optimal management strategy for hardware infection in
      these patients. We aimed to develop and propose a management algorithm to help
      others treat this potentially morbid complication. METHODS: We retrospectively
      searched a prospectively collected rib fracture database for the records of all
      patients who underwent SSRF from August 2009 through March 2014 at our
      institution. We then analyzed for the subsequent development of hardware
      infection among these patients. Standard descriptive analyses were performed.
      RESULTS: Among 122 patients who underwent SSRF, most (73%) were men; the mean
      (SD) age was 59.5 (16.4) years, and median (interquartile range [IQR]) Injury
      Severity Score was 17 (13-22). The median number of rib fractures was 7 (5-9) and
      48% of the patients had flail chest. Mortality at 30 days was 0.8%. Five patients
      (4.1%) had a hardware infection on mean (SD) postoperative day 12.0 (6.6). Median
      Injury Severity Score (17 [range, 13-42]) and hospital length of stay (9 days [6
      37 days]) in these patients were similar to the values for those without
      infection (17 days [range, 13-22 days] and 9 days [6-12 days], respectively).
      Patients with infection underwent a median (IQR) of 2 (range, 2-3) additional
      operations, which included wound debridement (n = 5), negative-pressure wound
      therapy (n = 3), and antibiotic beads (n = 4). Hardware was removed in 3 patients
      at 140, 190, and 192 days after index operation. Cultures grew only gram-positive
      organisms. No patients required reintervention after hardware removal, and all
      achieved bony union and were taking no narcotics or antibiotics at the latest
      follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although uncommon, hardware infection after SSRF carries
      considerable morbidity. With the use of an aggressive multimodal management
      strategy, however, bony union and favorable long-term outcomes can be achieved.
      LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level V.

PMID- 26891161
TI  - Timing of pulmonary embolisms in femur fracture patients: Incidence and outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Femur fracture is a well-recognized risk factor for pulmonary
      embolism (PE). Despite recent reports of early PE after major trauma, the
      incidence and outcomes of PE in femur fracture patients are unknown. The aims of
      the study were to determine the incidence of PE after a femur fracture and to
      evaluate its timing and clinical significance. METHODS: We included all
      consecutive adult patients (>=18 years old) with femur fracture admitted to our
      emergency department from January 2010 to December 2014 who underwent subsequent
      PE computed tomography within 72 hours. Of 453 stable patients, 28 with a
      confirmed diagnosis of acute PE were compared against those without PE. RESULTS:
      Of 1,301 femur fracture patients who presented at our hospital, 453 were included
      in our present analysis, of whom 28 developed PE (2.2%). Proximal PE, defined as
      emboli located within the main or lobar arteries, constituted 78.6% and
      subsegmental PE constituted 21.4% of these 28 cases. The femur fracture sites
      were mainly intertrochanteric (50.3%) and the neck (43.9%). The median interval
      from injury to computed tomography was 13.0 hours (IQR, 9.0-24.0 hours). PE was
      detected in 57.1% (16 of 28) of patients in the first 24 hours after injury and
      in 89.3% (25 of 28) in the first 48 hours. Overall mortality was 0.7%, and no
      patient in the early PE group died of their injury. CONCLUSION: PE arises in
      femur fracture patients in the immediate period following injury and shows an
      incidence somewhat higher than commonly appreciated in other trauma events but is
      not fatal. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.

PMID- 26891162
TI  - Exogenous S-nitrosoglutathione attenuates inflammatory response and intestinal
      epithelial barrier injury in endotoxemic rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gut barrier injury in sepsis is a major contributor to distant organ
      dysfunction and bad clinical outcomes. Enteric glia-derived S-nitrosoglutathione
      (GSNO) has been recognized as a novel modulator of gut barrier integrity. In this
      study, we tested the potential therapeutic effect and mechanism of exogenous GSNO
      on endotoxin-induced inflammatory response and intestinal barrier injury in a rat
      model of endotoxemia. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to
      four groups as follows: control (saline only), GSNO, lipopolysaccharide (LPS),
      and LPS + GSNO. Femoral venous injection of LPS (10 mg/kg) or saline was followed
      by GSNO (1 mg/kg) or saline injection 15 minutes later. Distal ileum tissues and
      blood were harvested after 3 hours of LPS/saline injection. The intestinal
      barrier function was measured histologically and by intestinal permeability to
      fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran. The ultrastructural change of the epithelial
      tight junction was observed using transmission electron microscope, and the
      expression level of tight junction protein ZO-1 was analyzed using
      immunofluorescence and Western blot. Systemic and intestinal inflammation was
      measured by analyzing the tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1beta levels in
      plasma and distal ileum tissue, respectively. The levels of nuclear factor kappaB
      (NF-kappaB) and myosin light-chain kinase in the distal ileum were measured by
      Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the endotoxemic rats, the addition of GSNO
      reduced the intestinal injury observed in histologic sections, decreased
      permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran, attenuated damage of the
      junction between epithelia, and protected against the LPS-induced expression
      decrease of ZO-1. Furthermore, addition of GSNO reduced plasma and intestinal
      tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1beta levels as well as inhibited the LPS
      induced up-regulation of myosin light-chain kinase expression and NF-kappaB p65
      level in the intestine. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that GSNO protects against
      the LPS-induced systemic inflammatory response and attenuated intestinal
      inflammation and epithelial barrier injury in rats, possibly through the
      inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway.

PMID- 26891164
TI  - General route for the decomposition of InAs quantum dots during the capping
      process.
AB  - The effect of the capping process on the morphology of InAs/GaAs quantum dots
      (QDs) by using different GaAs-based capping layers (CLs), ranging from strain
      reduction layers to strain compensating layers, has been studied by transmission
      microscopic techniques. For this, we have measured simultaneously the height and
      diameter in buried and uncapped QDs covering populations of hundreds of QDs that
      are statistically reliable. First, the uncapped QD population evolves in all
      cases from a pyramidal shape into a more homogenous distribution of buried QDs
      with a spherical-dome shape, despite the different mechanisms implicated in the
      QD capping. Second, the shape of the buried QDs depends only on the final QD
      size, where the radius of curvature is function of the base diameter
      independently of the CL composition and growth conditions. An asymmetric
      evolution of the QDs' morphology takes place, in which the QD height and base
      diameter are modified in the amount required to adopt a similar stable shape
      characterized by a averaged aspect ratio of 0.21. Our results contradict the
      traditional model of QD material redistribution from the apex to the base and
      point to a different universal behavior of the overgrowth processes in self
      organized InAs QDs. 

PMID- 26891163
TI  - A Mathematical Model Coupling Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis.
AB  - We present a mathematical model for vascular tumor growth. We use phase fields to
      model cellular growth and reaction-diffusion equations for the dynamics of
      angiogenic factors and nutrients. The model naturally predicts the shift from
      avascular to vascular growth at realistic scales. Our computations indicate that
      the negative regulation of the Delta-like ligand 4 signaling pathway slows down
      tumor growth by producing a larger density of non-functional capillaries. Our
      results show good quantitative agreement with experiments. 

PMID- 26891165
TI  - Efficient Thermal-Light Interconversions Based on Optical Topological Transition
      in the Metal-Dielectric Multilayered Metamaterials.
AB  - Metal-dielectric multilayered metamaterials are proposed to work as wideband
      spectral-selective emitters/absorbers due to the topological change in
      isofrequency contour around the epsilon-near-zero point. By setting the
      transition at the border between the visible and IR ranges, the metal-dielectric
      multilayered metamaterials become good absorbers/emitters for visible light and
      good reflectors for IR light, which are desirable for efficient thermal-light
      interconversions. 

PMID- 26891166
TI  - American College of Sports Medicine Joint Position Statement. Nutrition and
      Athletic Performance.
AB  - It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of
      Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine that the performance of, and
      recovery from, sporting activities are enhanced by well-chosen nutrition
      strategies. These organizations provide guidelines for the appropriate type,
      amount, and timing of intake of food, fluids, and supplements to promote optimal
      health and performance across different scenarios of training and competitive
      sport. This position paper was prepared for members of the Academy of Nutrition
      and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada (DC), and American College of Sports Medicine
      (ACSM), other professional associations, government agencies, industry, and the
      public. It outlines the Academy's, DC's and ACSM's stance on nutrition factors
      that have been determined to influence athletic performance and emerging trends
      in the field of sports nutrition. Athletes should be referred to a registered
      dietitian/nutritionist for a personalized nutrition plan. In the United States
      and in Canada, the Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) is a
      registered dietitian/nutritionist and a credentialed sports nutrition expert.

PMID- 26891167
TI  - LiAlH4 -Induced Selective Ring Rearrangement of 2-(2-Cyanoethyl)aziridines toward
      2-(Aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and 3-Aminopiperidines as Eligible Heterocyclic
      Building Blocks.
AB  - 2-(2-Cyanoethyl)aziridines and 2-aryl-3-(2-cyanoethyl)aziridines were deployed as
      substrates for an In(OTf)3 -mediated regio- and stereoselective ring
      rearrangement upon treatment with LiAlH4, affording a variety of novel 2
      (aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and 3-aminopiperidines, respectively. Further synthetic
      elaboration of the obtained 3-aminopiperidines resulted in the formation of a
      peculiar and unexplored conformationally constrained imidazolidinone and
      diketopiperazine scaffold.

PMID- 26891169
TI  - Do We Need Basic Research in Cardiac Surgery?
AB  - Thinking about the daily practice of cardiac surgery, genetically altered mouse
      models, polymerase chain reactions, western blots, and other laboratory tools are
      the last that comes to mind. It is, therefore, not surprising that the pursuit of
      such basic science activities by practicing surgeons and those in training is
      often limited. However, there is an innate connection between these two seemingly
      different disciplines. To address and visualize this connection, we propose the
      following three hypotheses. First, cardiac surgery would not be at its present
      level of expertise without fundamental contributions of basic science. Second,
      without practicing cardiac surgeons performing basic research and translating
      their results to clinical practice next to their daily work, our ability to care
      for cardiac surgery patients would be poorer. Third, basic science training for
      those aiming to become practicing cardiac surgeons improves their ability to
      properly care for their patients. Finally, we will discuss some potentially even
      unexpected implications for our currently changing daily clinical practice.

PMID- 26891168
TI  - Endovascular Repair of Paravisceral Aortic Aneurysms Combining Chimney Grafts and
      the Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing Technology (Four-Vessel ChEVAS).
AB  - Background We demonstrate our initial experience and first results of the
      endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) technology with chimney grafts for the
      treatment of paravisceral aneurysms. Methods We present a consecutive series of
      seven patients with a mean age of 75 years who had been treated by four-vessel
      chimney EVAS (ChEVAS) between May 2014 and May 2015. All patients were ASA grade
      >= III and were not eligible for fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair
      (fEVAR/brEVAR) due to urgency (n = 5) or anatomical constraints (n = 2). Results
      Total 28 renovisceral target vessels were treated by balloon-expandable covered
      stents and 14 Nellix devices were used to seal the paravisceral aorta. Overall,
      16 Nellix (Endologix Inc., Irvine, California, United States) devices and 65
      covered stents were implanted with a technical success of 100%. Perioperatively,
      one patient with ruptured aneurysm died due to respiratory failure following
      splenic laceration/splenectomy (mortality = 14%) and in one patient, laceration
      of an axillary access vessel occurred. At a median follow-up of 6 months, all six
      surviving patients were well and no reinterventions were necessary. One chimney
      was found occluded without clinical sequelae resulting in a patency rate of 96%.
      Conclusion Four-vessel ChEVAS may serve as alternative treatment option in highly
      selected cases of either acute paravisceral aortic pathology and/or situations,
      where the implantation of fEVAR/brEVAR is hampered by anatomical constraints.
      Further follow-up and a multicenter study are of course warranted to corroborate
      these initial results.

PMID- 26891170
TI  - High-resolution manometry in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis under topical
      steroid therapy-a prospective observational study (HIMEOS-study).
AB  - BACKGROUND: In eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), dysphagia, which might reflect
      esophageal dysmotility, is the most common symptom. High-resolution manometry
      (HRM) has become widely accepted for evaluating esophageal motility disorders,
      but to date has been sparsely examined in EoE patients, particularly under
      therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate HRM in symptomatic EoE-patients
      under topical steroid treatment. METHODS: In this prospective observational
      study, symptomatic EoE patients received HRM-examinations before and after 8
      weeks of topical steroid treatment with budesonide. All HRM-abnormalities were
      assessed and interpreted according to the Chicago classification. The primary
      endpoint was the influence of topical steroid treatment on the intrabolus
      pressure (IBP). Clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings and histological
      esophageal eosinophilic load were also reported. KEY RESULTS: Twenty symptomatic
      EoE patients were included. Overall success of budesonide therapy was 85%
      regarding complete histologic remission and 80% regarding complete clinical
      remission. High-resolution manometry showed abnormal esophageal motility in 35%
      of patients at baseline, which was resolved after therapy in 86% of these
      patients. Most frequent HRM-findings were early pan-esophageal pressurizations
      and weak persitalsis. There was no significant reduction of the IBP under therapy
      (before: 12.5 +/- 4.9 mmHg, after: 10.9 +/- 2.9 mmHg; p = 0.119). CONCLUSIONS &
      INFERENCES: Although dysphagia is the leading symptom of EoE, HRM is able to
      identify esophageal motility disorders in only some EoE patients. Observed
      motility disorders resolve after successful treatment in almost all of these
      patients. Intrabolus pressure does not seem an optimal parameter for the
      monitoring of successful treatment response in EoE patients.

PMID- 26891171
TI  - Multi-scale finite element modeling of Eustachian tube function: influence of
      mucosal adhesion.
AB  - The inability to open the collapsible Eustachian tube (ET) leads to the
      development of chronic Otitis Media (OM). Although mucosal inflammation during OM
      leads to increased mucin gene expression and elevated adhesion forces within the
      ET lumen, it is not known how changes in mucosal adhesion alter the biomechanical
      mechanisms of ET function. In this study, we developed a novel multi-scale finite
      element model of ET function in adults that utilizes adhesion spring elements to
      simulate changes in mucosal adhesion. Models were created for six adult subjects,
      and dynamic patterns in muscle contraction were used to simulate the wave-like
      opening of the ET that occurs during swallowing. Results indicate that ET opening
      is highly sensitive to the level of mucosal adhesion and that exceeding a
      critical value of adhesion leads to rapid ET dysfunction. Parameter variation
      studies and sensitivity analysis indicate that increased mucosal adhesion alters
      the relative importance of several tissue biomechanical properties. For example,
      increases in mucosal adhesion reduced the sensitivity of ET function to tensor
      veli palatini muscle forces but did not alter the insensitivity of ET function to
      levator veli palatini muscle forces. Interestingly, although changes in cartilage
      stiffness did not significantly influence ET opening under low adhesion
      conditions, ET opening was highly sensitive to changes in cartilage stiffness
      under high adhesion conditions. Therefore, our multi-scale computational models
      indicate that changes in mucosal adhesion as would occur during inflammatory OM
      alter the biomechanical mechanisms of ET function. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley
      & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891173
TI  - Bottom-up electrochemical preparation of solid-state carbon nanodots directly
      from nitriles/ionic liquids using carbon-free electrodes and the applications in
      specific ferric ion detection and cell imaging.
AB  - Carbon nanodots (C-dots), a new type of potential alternative to conventional
      semiconductor quantum dots, have attracted numerous attentions in various
      applications including bio-chemical sensing, cell imaging, etc., due to their
      chemical inertness, low toxicity and flexible functionalization. Various methods
      including electrochemical (EC) methods have been reported for the synthesis of C
      dots. However, complex procedures and/or carbon source-containing electrodes are
      often required. Herein, solid-state C-dots were simply prepared by bottom-up EC
      carbonization of nitriles (e.g. acetonitrile) in the presence of an ionic liquid
      [e.g. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6)], using carbon
      free electrodes. Due to the positive charges of BMIM(+) on the C-dots, the final
      products presented in a precipitate form on the cathode, and the unreacted
      nitriles and BMIMPF6 can be easily removed by simple vacuum filtration. The as
      prepared solid-state C-dots can be well dispersed in an aqueous medium with
      excellent photoluminescence properties. The average size of the C-dots was found
      to be 3.02 +/- 0.12 nm as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. Other
      techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray
      photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy were applied for the
      characterization of the C-dots and to analyze the possible generation mechanism.
      These C-dots have been successfully applied in efficient cell imaging and
      specific ferric ion detection. 

PMID- 26891172
TI  - Combined IL-12 Plasmid and Recombinant SjGST Enhance the Protective and Anti
      pathology Effect of SjGST DNA Vaccine Against Schistosoma japonicum.
AB  - Schistosomiasis is listed as one of most important tropical diseases and more
      than 200 million people are estimated to be infected. Development of a vaccine is
      thought to be the most effective way to control this disease. Recombinant 26-kDa
      glutathione S-transferase (rSjGST) has previously been reported to achieve a worm
      reduction rate of 42-44%. To improve the efficiency of the vaccine against
      Schistosoma japonicum, we immunized mice with a combination of pcDNA vector
      encoded 26-kDa SjGST (pcDNA/SjGST), IL-12 expressing-plasmid (pIL-12), and
      rSjGST. Co-vaccination with pcDNA/SjGST, pIL-12, and rSjGST led to a reduction in
      worm burden, hepatic egg burden, and the size of liver tissue granulomas than
      that in the untreated infection controls. In addition, we detected high levels of
      specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a against the rSjGST antigen in infected mice
      vaccinated with this combination of pcDNA/SjGST, pIL-12, and rSjGST. Moreover,
      high expression levels of Th2 cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-10, were also
      detected in this group, without diminished levels of IL-12, INF-gamma, and TNF
      alpha cytokines that are related to parasite killing. In conclusion, we have
      developed a new vaccination regimen against S. japonicum infection and shown that
      co-immunization with pcDNA/SjGST vaccine, pIL-12, and rSjGST has significant anti
      parasite, anti-hepatic egg and anti-pathology effects in mice. The efficacy of
      this vaccination method should be further validated in large animals such as
      water buffalo. This method may help to reduce the transmission of zoonotic
      schistosomiasis japonica. 

PMID- 26891174
TI  - Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapy Using Papaya Mosaic Virus-Derived
      Nanoparticles.
AB  - The recent development of novel immunotherapies is revolutionizing cancer
      treatment. These include, for example, immune checkpoint blockade,
      immunomodulation, or therapeutic vaccination. Although effective on their own,
      combining multiple approaches will most likely be required in order to achieve
      the maximal therapeutic benefit. In this regard, the papaya mosaic virus
      nanoparticle (PapMV) has shown tremendous potential as (i) an immunostimulatory
      molecule, (ii) an adjuvant, and (iii) a vaccine platform through its intrinsic
      capacity to activate the innate immune response in an IFN-alpha-dependent manner.
      Here, we demonstrate that intratumor administration of PapMV significantly slows
      down melanoma progression and prolongs survival. This correlates with enhanced
      chemokine and pro-inflammatory-cytokine production in the tumor and increased
      immune-cell infiltration. Proportions of total and tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells
      dramatically increase following PapMV treatment whereas those of myeloid-derived
      suppressor cells (MDSC) concomitantly decrease. Moreover, systemic PapMV
      administration prevents metastatic tumor-implantation in the lungs. Importantly,
      PapMV also synergistically improves the therapeutic benefit of dendritic cell
      (DC)-based vaccination and PD-1 blockade by potentiating antitumor immune
      responses. This study illustrates the immunostimulatory potential of a plant
      virus-derived nanoparticle for cancer therapy either alone or in conjunction with
      other promising immunotherapies in clinical development. 

PMID- 26891177
TI  - Sudden Death: An Uncommon Occurrence in Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
AB  - We present a 75-year-old woman with dementia and parkinsonism who developed
      severe orthostatic hypotension and eventually died. Autopsy revealed extensive
      Lewy body formation in the midbrain, limbic system, intermediate spinal cord, and
      medulla oblongata. Furthermore, a vast amount of Lewy bodies was seen in the
      paravertebral sympathetic ganglia which likely explained the severe autonomic
      failure. We speculate that this autonomic failure caused sudden death through
      dysregulation of respiration or heart rhythm, reminiscent of sudden death in
      multiple system atrophy (MSA). Clinicians should be aware of this complication in
      patients presenting with parkinsonism and autonomic dysfunction, and that sudden
      death may occur in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) as it does in MSA. 

PMID- 26891175
TI  - NSCLC harboring EGFR exon-20 insertions after the regulatory C-helix of kinase
      domain responds poorly to known EGFR inhibitors.
AB  - Anecdote clinical observations hint that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with
      exon-20 insertions might respond poorly to epidermal growth factor receptor
      (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), contrasting to those with classic
      mutations. Lack of patient-derived experimental models has been a major hurdle
      for the discovery of new treatment for the diseases. We established two NSCLC
      PDXs harboring two different exon-20 insertions, LU0387-adenocarcinoma (ADC) with
      a nine-base insertion at 2319 (H773-V774insNPH) and LU3075-squamous cell
      carcinoma (SCC) with a nine-base insertion at 2316 (P772-H773insDNP). Both
      insertions immediately follow the regulatory C-helix of the kinase domain.
      Contrary to the generally good responses to EGFR inhibitors observed in PDXs with
      classic mutations, both exon-20 insertions are largely resistant to cetuximab and
      TKIs in vivo, suggesting fundamental difference from the classic EGFR mutations,
      consistent with the poor response rate to TKI seen in anecdotal clinic reports.
      It is worth noting that although responses are generally poor, they differ
      between the two exon-20 mutants depending on the type of TKI. In vitro drug
      sensitivity assays using established primary cell lines from our two PDXs largely
      confirmed the in vivo data. Our data from patient-derived experimental models
      confirmed that exon-20 insertions in domain immediately following the C-helix
      confer poor response to all known EGFR inhibitors, and suggested that these
      models can be utilized to facilitate the discovery of new therapies targeting
      NSCLC harboring exon-20 insertions. 

PMID- 26891176
TI  - Multimodal Swallowing Evaluation with High-Resolution Manometry Reveals Subtle
      Swallowing Changes in Early and Mid-Stage Parkinson Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) has detrimental effects on swallowing
      function. Treatment options are largely behavioral; thus, patients would benefit
      from an earlier start to therapy. Early swallowing changes in PD are not well
      known, so patients do not typically receive swallowing treatment until later in
      the progression of PD. OBJECTIVE: We used predictive modeling to determine what
      quantitative swallowing variables best differentiate individuals with early to
      mid-stage PD from healthy controls. METHODS: Participants included twenty-six
      individuals with early to mid-stage PD and 26 healthy, age- and sex-matched
      controls. Swallowing was evaluated by simultaneous high-resolution manometry and
      videofluoroscopy as well as the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ). Binomial
      logistic regression was performed on 4 sets of data: 1) high-resolution manometry
      only; 2) videofluoroscopy only; 3) SSQ only; and 4) all data combined. RESULTS: A
      model from a combined data set had the highest accuracy in differentiating
      individuals with PD from controls. The model included maximum pressure in the
      velopharynx (soft palate), pressure variability in the velopharynx, and the SSQ
      item concerning difficulty with swallowing saliva. No significant models could be
      generated using the videofluoroscopy data. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with PD show
      quantitative changes in pressure generation and are able to self-assess aspects
      of swallowing function in the early and mid-stages of PD, even in the absence of
      swallowing changes seen on videofluoroscopy. A multimodal approach for the
      assessment of swallowing may be more accurate for determining subtle swallowing
      changes that occur in the early stages of PD.

PMID- 26891178
TI  - Unusual case of traumatic neuroma of the orbit.
AB  - Traumatic or amputation neuromas are neoformations developing after damage to a
      peripheral nerve. They are not proper tumors but rather a reactive process or a
      frustrated attempt of nerve regeneration. Traumatic neuromas are potentially
      found in every sensory peripheral nerve and often at the site of past surgical
      intervention, including orbital surgery. A 29-year-old Northern African migrant
      presented progressive exophthalmos and progressive loss of acuity in left eye,
      which had started about 6 months before after a cranio-facial trauma caused by a
      violent assault. MRI of the orbits showed a massive intra-orbital, intra-conical
      lesion, clearly compressing and dislocating the optic nerve and extending
      posteriorly to the orbital apex. Surgery was performed through lateral approach
      of Kroenlein and led to complete excision of the lesion. Histology revealed
      fibrotic, adipose and striated muscle tissues, a disordered, non-neoplastic
      overgrowth of small and large fascicles of nerves, inflammatory infiltrates, and
      fibrosis with sparse calcifications were diffusely observed in a background of
      fat, scar and striated muscle tissued. Patient was discharged on the fifth day in
      good health condition, without deficit of eye motion but without recovery of
      visual acuity. In conclusion, this case demonstrates that traumatic neuromas may
      arise in the orbit in patients with minor direct trauma to nerves and without
      previous surgical treatment. 

PMID- 26891180
TI  - Fatty acid binding protein 3 is associated with skeletal muscle strength in
      polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels and histopathological characteristics of
      fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) in patients with polymyositis (PM) and
      dermatomyositis (DM), and to evaluate the correlation between the FABP3 and
      muscle strength. METHODS: The study population included 24 subjects with PM/DM,
      12 subjects with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic hyper-creatine kinase-emia
      (AMSH), and 10 healthy control subjects. Muscle strength was measured by using
      the Manual Muscle Test (MMT8). Serum CK, myoglobin and FABP3 levels were tested.
      Correlations between variables were studied by using Spearman's rank and partial
      correlation analysis methods. Immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescent
      stainings of FABP3 were performed to investigate its distribution in skeletal
      muscle. RESULTS: PM/DM patients had significantly higher (P < 0.05) serum FABP3
      levels (35.46 +/- 38.45 ng/mL) than did AMSH patients (3.77 +/- 1.21 ng/mL) and
      healthy control subjects (4.30 +/- 3.18 ng/mL). MMT8 scores correlated negatively
      with CK, myoglobin and FABP3 levels. Partial correlation analysis was performed
      and showed that the correlation coefficients between MMT8 score and serum CK,
      myoglobin and FABP3 levels were -0.276 (P > 0.05), -0.228 (P > 0.05) and -0.927
      (P < 0.001), respectively. Immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescent
      staining showed that FABP3 expression increased in the skeletal muscle of PM/DM
      patients and was mainly distributed in slow twitch muscle fibers. CONCLUSION:
      Serum levels of FABP3 in PM/DM patients were significantly increased and were
      mainly distributed in slow twitch muscle fibers, displaying a closer association
      with muscle weakness than did serum levels of CK and myoglobin. FABP3 is likely
      to be a useful serum biomarker in PM/DM patients.

PMID- 26891181
TI  - Balancing risk and benefit in heavy drinkers treated with topiramate:
      implications for personalized care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite topiramate's ability to reduce heavy drinking, its adverse
      effects may limit its clinical utility. METHOD: To evaluate the risks and
      benefits of topiramate, we reanalyzed data from a completed trial of the
      medication in 138 heavy drinkers whose goal was to reduce their drinking to safe
      levels. We used the number of patients who had no heavy drinking days during the
      last 4 weeks of treatment to calculate topiramate's number needed to treat (NNT).
      To balance the risks and benefits of topiramate, we adjusted the NNT using 2
      different levels of adverse event severity: moderate or greater (NNT-AEmod+) and
      severe or greater (NNT-AEsev+). This measure helps to guide the clinical use of
      topiramate in heavy drinkers by incorporating both its beneficial and adverse
      effects in a single measure. Because a polymorphism (rs2832407) in the gene
      encoding a kainate receptor subunit appears to moderate topiramate's effects in
      heavy drinkers, we repeated the analyses based on rs2832407 genotype (C
      homozygote vs A-allele carrier) in the European American subsample (n = 122).
      RESULTS: Overall, the NNT for topiramate was 5.29, the NNT-AEmod+ was 7.52, and
      the NNT-AEsev+ was 6.12. Among European Americans with the rs2832407*CC genotype,
      the NNT was 2.28, the NNT-AEmod+ was 2.63, and the NNT-AEsev+ was 2.56. In
      contrast, for rs2832407*A-allele carriers, the NNT was 180.00, the NNT-AEmod+ was
      322.16, and the NNT-AEsev+ was 217.45. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of heavy
      drinkers, topiramate had a clinically important treatment effect that was most
      evident in European Americans with the rs2832407*CC genotype. In that group, in
      particular, it had a robust treatment effect, even when adjusted for adverse
      events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00626925.

PMID- 26891179
TI  - Interactome Mapping Reveals the Evolutionary History of the Nuclear Pore Complex.
AB  - The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is responsible for nucleocytoplasmic transport and
      constitutes a hub for control of gene expression. The components of NPCs from
      several eukaryotic lineages have been determined, but only the yeast and
      vertebrate NPCs have been extensively characterized at the quaternary level.
      Significantly, recent evidence indicates that compositional similarity does not
      necessarily correspond to homologous architecture between NPCs from different
      taxa. To address this, we describe the interactome of the trypanosome NPC, a
      representative, highly divergent eukaryote. We identify numerous new NPC
      components and report an exhaustive interactome, allowing assignment of
      trypanosome nucleoporins to discrete NPC substructures. Remarkably, despite
      retaining similar protein composition, there are exceptional architectural
      dissimilarities between opisthokont (yeast and vertebrates) and excavate
      (trypanosomes) NPCs. Whilst elements of the inner core are conserved, numerous
      peripheral structures are highly divergent, perhaps reflecting requirements to
      interface with divergent nuclear and cytoplasmic functions. Moreover, the
      trypanosome NPC has almost complete nucleocytoplasmic symmetry, in contrast to
      the opisthokont NPC; this may reflect divergence in RNA export processes at the
      NPC cytoplasmic face, as we find evidence supporting Ran-dependent mRNA export in
      trypanosomes, similar to protein transport. We propose a model of stepwise
      acquisition of nucleocytoplasmic mechanistic complexity and demonstrate that
      detailed dissection of macromolecular complexes provides fuller understanding of
      evolutionary processes. 

PMID- 26891183
TI  - Conditional Survival and Predictors of Late Death in Patients With Ewing Sarcoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: Long-term survivors of Ewing sarcoma (EWS) are at considerable risk for
      future complications, including late relapse and death. Data on prognostic
      factors for late death in those who have survived beyond 5 years are lacking.
      METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance,
      Epidemiology, and End Results database. We obtained clinical features and outcome
      data on 1,351 patients with EWS who had survived 60 months or more. From these
      data, we performed univariate and multivariable analyses of overall survival (OS)
      using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Of 1,351
      patients in the cohort, there were 209 deaths, 144 (69%) of which were reported
      to be due to EWS. The OS for 5-year survivors at 10 years was 87.5% (95%
      confidence interval 85.4-89.3%). Univariate adverse prognostic factors for late
      death in 5-year survivors included age >= 18 years at initial diagnosis, male
      sex, and axial/pelvic primary site. Initial stage was not prognostic. Independent
      adverse prognostic factors for late death included black race (hazard ratio [HR]
      2.16, P = 0.01), age >= 18 years at diagnosis (HR 2.02, P < 0.001), male sex (HR
      1.43, P = 0.01), and axial/pelvic primary site (HR 1.43, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:
      The majority of late deaths in 5-year survivors are due to EWS. Black race, age
      >=18 at diagnosis, male sex, and axial/pelvic primary site (but not stage at
      diagnosis) are independently associated with increased risk of late death.

PMID- 26891182
TI  - Adeno-associated virus-delivered artificial microRNA extends survival and delays
      paralysis in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative
      disease characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscle
      weakness, paralysis, and death within 5 years of diagnosis. About 10% of cases
      are inherited, of which 20% are due to mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1
      (SOD1) gene. Riluzole, the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved ALS
      drug, prolongs survival by only a few months. Experiments in transgenic ALS mouse
      models have shown decreasing levels of mutant SOD1 protein as a potential
      therapeutic approach. We sought to develop an efficient adeno-associated virus
      (AAV)-mediated RNAi gene therapy for ALS. METHODS: A single-stranded AAV9 vector
      encoding an artificial microRNA against human SOD1 was injected into the cerebral
      lateral ventricles of neonatal SOD1(G93A) mice, and impact on disease progression
      and survival was assessed. RESULTS: This therapy extended median survival by 50%
      and delayed hindlimb paralysis, with animals remaining ambulatory until the
      humane endpoint, which was due to rapid body weight loss. AAV9-treated SOD1(G93A)
      mice showed reduction of mutant human SOD1 mRNA levels in upper and lower motor
      neurons and significant improvements in multiple parameters including the numbers
      of spinal motor neurons, diameter of ventral root axons, and extent of
      neuroinflammation in the SOD1(G93A) spinal cord. Mice also showed previously
      unexplored changes in pulmonary function, with AAV9-treated SOD1(G93A) mice
      displaying a phenotype reminiscent of patient pathophysiology. INTERPRETATION:
      These studies clearly demonstrate that an AAV9-delivered SOD1-specific artificial
      microRNA is an effective and translatable therapeutic approach for ALS.

PMID- 26891185
TI  - Patient Diagnostic Rate as Indicator of Tuberculosis Case Detection, South
      Africa.
AB  - To address the uncertainty of the indirectly measured tuberculosis case detection
      rate, we used survey data stratified by HIV status to calculate the patient
      diagnostic rate, a directly measurable indicator, in 8 communities in South
      Africa. Rates were lower among HIV-negative than HIV-positive persons.
      Tuberculosis programs should focus on HIV-negative persons. 

PMID- 26891184
TI  - Status and characteristics of ambient PM2.5 pollution in global megacities.
AB  - Ambient PM2.5 pollution is a substantial threat to public health in global
      megacities. This paper reviews the PM2.5 pollution of 45 global megacities in
      2013, based on mass concentration from official monitoring networks and
      composition data reported in the literature. The results showed that the five
      most polluted megacities were Delhi, Cairo, Xi'an, Tianjin and Chengdu, all of
      which had an annual average concentration of PM2.5 greater than 89MUg/m(3). The
      five cleanest megacities were Miami, Toronto, New York, Madrid and Philadelphia,
      the annual averages of which were less than 10MUg/m(3). Spatial distribution
      indicated that the highly polluted megacities are concentrated in east-central
      China and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Organic matter and SNA (sum of sulfate,
      nitrate and ammonium) contributed 30% and 36%, respectively, of the average PM2.5
      mass for all megacities. Notable seasonal variation of PM2.5 polluted days was
      observed, especially for the polluted megacities of China and India, resulting in
      frequent heavy pollution episodes occurring during more polluted seasons such as
      winter. Marked differences in PM2.5 pollution between developing and developed
      megacities require more effort on local emissions reduction as well as global
      cooperation to address the PM2.5 pollution of those megacities mainly in Asia. 

PMID- 26891186
TI  - Repeatability of a dynamic rollover test system.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to characterize the rollover crash and to
      evaluate the repeatability of the Dynamic Rollover Test System (DRoTS) in terms
      of initial roof-to-ground contact conditions, vehicle kinematics, road reaction
      forces, and vehicle deformation. METHODS: Four rollover crash tests were
      performed on 2 pairs of replicate vehicles (2 sedan tests and 2 compact
      multipurpose van [MPV] tests), instrumented with a custom inertial measurement
      unit to measure vehicle and global kinematics and string potentiometers to
      measure pillar deformation time histories. The road was instrumented with load
      cells to measure reaction loads and an optical encoder to measure road velocity.
      Laser scans of pre- and posttest vehicles were taken to provide detailed
      deformation maps. RESULTS: Initial conditions were found to be repeatable, with
      the largest difference seen in drop height of 20 mm; roll rate, roll angle, pitch
      angle, road velocity, drop velocity, mass, and moment of inertia were all 7%
      different or less. Vehicle kinematics (roll rate, road speed, roll and pitch
      angle, global Z' acceleration, and global Z' velocity) were similar throughout
      the impact; however, differences were seen in the sedan tests because of a
      vehicle fixation problem and differences were seen in the MPV tests due to an
      increase in reaction forces during leading side impact likely caused by
      disparities in roll angle (3 degrees  difference) and mass properties (2.2% in
      moment of inertia [MOI], 53.5 mm difference in center of gravity [CG] location).
      CONCLUSIONS: Despite those issues, kinetic and deformation measures showed a high
      degree of repeatability, which is necessary for assessing injury risk in rollover
      because roof strength positively correlates with injury risk (Brumbelow 2009).
      Improvements of the test equipment and matching mass properties will ensure
      highly repeatable initial conditions, vehicle kinematics, kinetics, and
      deformations.

PMID- 26891187
TI  - Introduction.

PMID- 26891188
TI  - Synthetic studies towards putative yuremamine using an iterative C(sp(3))-H
      arylation strategy.
AB  - An overview of an iterative, 8-aminoquinoline (AQ)-directed C(sp(3))-H arylation
      strategy towards the pyrroloindole structure initially assigned to the alkaloid
      yuremamine is described. During initial efforts using a model indane system, it
      was discovered that the iodoresorcinol unit was not a viable C(sp(3))-H arylation
      partner when masked as its dimethyl ether but upon switching to a MOM group, the
      ether oxygen served to stabilise the high valent Pd intermediate during the
      reaction, thus promoting reductive elimination and leading to acceptable yields
      of the C(sp(3))-H arylation product. The second C(sp(3))-H arylation with an
      iodopyrogallol gave a 1,3-diarylated model yuremamine system possessing the
      desired 1,3-cis relationship. When the successful model studies were applied to a
      pyrroloindole system in pursuit of yuremamine, it became apparent that C9
      underwent competing C(sp(2))-H arylation if left vacant, but installing a
      tryptamine side chain at this site prevented the desired C(sp(3))-H arylation
      from occurring altogether. However, a C9-methyl pyrroloindole underwent iterative
      C(sp(3))-H arylation at C1 with an iodoresorcinol followed by C3 with an
      iodopyrogallol to give a diarylated product with the aryl groups in the undesired
      1,3-trans-relationship, arising from epimerisation at C1 during the second
      C(sp(3))-H arylation event. Although the synthesis of putative yuremamine was not
      accomplished, several findings are disclosed that will serve as useful additions
      to the burgeoning field of directed C(sp(3))-H arylations and related C-H
      functionalization reactions. 

PMID- 26891189
TI  - Interval estimation of small tail probabilities - applications in food safety.
AB  - Often in food safety and bio-surveillance it is desirable to estimate the
      probability that a contaminant or a function thereof exceeds an unsafe high
      threshold. The probability or chance in question is very small. To estimate such
      a probability, we need information about large values. In many cases, the data do
      not contain information about exceedingly large contamination levels, which
      ostensibly renders the problem insolvable. A solution is suggested whereby more
      information about small tail probabilities are obtained by combining the real
      data with computer-generated data repeatedly. This method provides short yet
      reliable interval estimates based on moderately large samples. An illustration is
      provided in terms of lead exposure data. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26891190
TI  - The borderlands of waking: Quantifying the transition from reflective thought to
      hallucination in sleep onset.
AB  - We lose waking consciousness spontaneously and regularly over the circadian
      cycle. It seems that every time we fall asleep, reflective thinking gradually
      gives way to our interactions with an imaginary, hallucinatory world that brings
      multimodal experiences in the absence of adequate external stimuli. The present
      study investigates this transition, proposing a new measure of hallucinatory
      states. Reflective thinking and motor imagery were quantified in 150 mentation
      reports provided by 16 participants after forced awakenings from different
      physiology-monitored time intervals after sleep onset. Cognitive agency analysis
      and motor agency analysis--which are objective (grammatical-semantic) tools
      derived from linguistic theories--show (i) a decrease in reflective thinking
      which sleepers would need to acknowledge the hallucinatory quality of their
      state, and (ii) an increase in motor imagery, indicating interactions with a
      hallucinatory world. By mapping these spontaneous changes in human consciousness
      onto physiology, we can in the long run explore the conditions of its decline,
      and possibilities for treatment.

PMID- 26891191
TI  - Individuals with pronounced schizotypal traits are particularly successful in
      tickling themselves.
AB  - We assessed self-tickling sensations in a group of participants high in
      schizotypal traits (n=27) and group of participants low in schizotypal traits
      (n=27). The groups were formed by screening a pool of 397 students for extreme
      scores in the French version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. As
      observed in a previous study involving psychiatric people with auditory
      hallucinations and/or passivity experiences our results showed that self-applied
      tactile stimulations are felt to be more ticklish by healthy individuals high in
      schizotypal traits. In contrast, there were no significant intergroup differences
      in the mean tickle rating in the externally-produced tickling condition.
      Furthermore, more successful self-tickling was associated with more frequent self
      reports of unusual perceptual experiences (such as supernatural experiences) and
      passivity experiences in particular (such as a feeling of being under the control
      of an outside force or power). 

PMID- 26891192
TI  - Occlusions at event boundaries during encoding have a negative effect on infant
      memory.
AB  - The present study investigated the importance of Event Boundaries for 16- and 20
      month-olds' (n=80) memory for cartoons. The infants watched one out of two
      cartoons with ellipses inserted covering the screen for 3s either at Event
      Boundaries or at Non-Boundaries. After a two-week delay both cartoons (one
      familiar and one novel) were presented simultaneously without ellipses while eye
      tracking the infants. According to recent evidence a familiarity preference was
      expected. However, following Event Segmentation Theory ellipses at Event
      Boundaries were expected to cause greater disturbance of the encoding and hence a
      weaker memory trace evidenced by reduced familiarity preference, relative to
      ellipses at Non-Boundaries. The results suggest that overall this was the case,
      documenting the importance of Boundaries for infant memory. Furthermore, planned
      analyses revealed that whereas the same pattern was found when looking at the 20
      month-old infants, no significant difference was found between the two conditions
      in the youngest age-group. 

PMID- 26891194
TI  - Novel Fused Arylpyrimidinone Based Allosteric Modulators of the M1 Muscarinic
      Acetylcholine Receptor.
AB  - Benzoquinazolinone 1 is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the M1
      muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), which is significantly more potent
      than the prototypical PAM, 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3
      carboxylic acid (BQCA). In this study, we explored the structural determinants
      that underlie the activity of 1 as a PAM of the M1 mAChR. We paid particular
      attention to the importance of the tricyclic scaffold of compound 1, for the
      activity of the molecule. Complete deletion of the peripheral fused benzene ring
      caused a significant decrease in affinity and binding cooperativity with
      acetylcholine (ACh). This loss of affinity was rescued with the addition of
      either one or two methyl groups in the 7- and/or 8-position of the quinazolin
      4(3H)-one core. These results demonstrate that the tricyclic benzo[h]quinazolin
      4(3H)-one core could be replaced with a quinazolin-4(3H)-one core and maintain
      functional affinity. As such, the quinazolin-4(3H)-one core represents a novel
      scaffold to further explore M1 mAChR PAMs with improved physicochemical
      properties.

PMID- 26891195
TI  - Patient and Provider-Identified Factors Contributing to Surgical Readmission
      After Colorectal Surgery.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nearly one in seven surgical patients is readmitted to the hospital
      within 30 days of discharge. Few studies have identified patient-centric factors
      that raise the risk of both preventable and nonpreventable postoperative
      readmissions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 6 months in 2012, 48 colorectal
      surgical patients were identified on re-admission within 30 days of discharge. We
      prospectively obtained information on the patient's and primary surgeon's views
      on factors that contributed to readmission, and compiled data to produce an
      external list of contributing factors. A standard cost analysis was performed.
      RESULTS: 48 colorectal surgery patients participated, and 47 were included in
      this patient-centric evaluation of factors leading to readmission. The three
      primary readmission diagnoses included dehydration, fever, and ileus or small
      bowel obstruction. Of all readmissions, 23% were considered to be preventable.
      38% of patients had scheduled follow-up appointments that were documented in the
      medical record at the time of discharge. Providers identified several factors
      contributing to readmission including difficulty understanding discharge plan,
      medication management and premature discharge. Per patient, the cost of
      preventable readmission was $15,366 (+/-20%; $12,293-$18,439). Total preventable
      cost was $169,025 (+/-20%; $135,220-$202,829). CONCLUSIONS: The ability to obtain
      an outpatient postoperative appointment and the understanding of their own
      postoperative care were the most commonly identified barriers. Interventions to
      help reduce unnecessary readmissions include a standard discharge process and
      coordinator, and routine (<7 days) postdischarge outpatient appointments.
      Successful reduction of preventable readmissions would result in approximately
      $3.6 million in cost savings per 1,000 colorectal readmissions.

PMID- 26891193
TI  - The physiological and clinical importance of sodium potassium ATPase in
      cardiovascular diseases.
AB  - The Na/K-ATPase has been extensively studied, but it is only recently that its
      role as a scaffolding and signaling protein has been identified. It has been
      identified that cardiotonic steroids (CTS) such as digitalis mediate signal
      transduction through the Na/K-ATPase in a process found to result in the
      generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As these ROS also appear capable of
      initiating this signal cascade, a feed forward amplification process has been
      postulated and subsequently implicated in some disease pathways including uremic
      cardiomyopathy. 

PMID- 26891196
TI  - Calibration of high flow rate thoracic-size selective samplers.
AB  - High flow rate respirable size selective samplers, GK4.126 and FSP10 cyclones,
      were calibrated for thoracic-size selective sampling in two different
      laboratories. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
      utilized monodisperse ammonium fluorescein particles and scanning electron
      microscopy to determine the aerodynamic particle size of the monodisperse
      aerosol. Fluorescein intensity was measured to determine sampling efficiencies of
      the cyclones. The Health Safety and Laboratory (HSL) utilized a real time
      particle sizing instrument (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer) and polydisperse glass
      sphere particles and particle size distributions between the cyclone and
      reference sampler were compared. Sampling efficiency of the cyclones were
      compared to the thoracic convention defined by the American Conference of
      Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)/Comite Europeen de Normalisation
      (CEN)/International Standards Organization (ISO). The GK4.126 cyclone showed
      minimum bias compared to the thoracic convention at flow rates of 3.5 l min(-1)
      (NIOSH) and 2.7-3.3 l min(-1) (HSL) and the difference may be from the use of
      different test systems. In order to collect the most dust and reduce the limit of
      detection, HSL suggested using the upper end in range (3.3 l min(-1)). A flow
      rate of 3.4 l min(-1) would be a reasonable compromise, pending confirmation in
      other laboratories. The FSP10 cyclone showed minimum bias at the flow rate of 4.0
      l min(-1) in the NIOSH laboratory test. The high flow rate thoracic-size
      selective samplers might be used for higher sample mass collection in order to
      meet analytical limits of quantification. 

PMID- 26891198
TI  - Outpatient treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis: a systematic review.
AB  - Acute diverticulitis occurs in up to 25% of patients with diverticulosis. The
      majority of cases are mild or uncomplicated and it has become a frequent reason
      for consultation in the emergency department. On the basis of the National
      Inpatient Sample database from the USA, 86% of patients admitted with
      diverticulitis were treated with medical therapy. However, several recent studies
      have shown that outpatient treatment with antibiotics is safe and effective. The
      aim of this systematic review is to update the evidence published in the
      outpatient treatment of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis. We performed a
      systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines and searched in MEDLINE and
      Cochrane databases all English-language articles on the management of acute
      diverticulitis using the following search terms: 'diverticulitis', 'outpatient',
      and 'uncomplicated'. Data were extracted independently by two investigators. A
      total of 11 articles for full review were yielded: one randomized controlled
      trial, eight prospective cohort studies, and two retrospective cohort studies.
      Treatment successful rate on an outpatient basis, which means that no further
      complications were reported, ranged from 91.5 to 100%. Fewer than 8% of patients
      were readmitted in the hospital. Intolerance to oral intake and lack of family or
      social support are common exclusion criteria used for this approach, whereas
      severe comorbidities are not definitive exclusion criteria in all the studies.
      Ambulatory treatment of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis is safe, effective,
      and economically efficient when applying an appropriate selection in most
      reviewed studies. 

PMID- 26891197
TI  - Upregulating Hif-1alpha by Hydrogel Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Rapidly Recruiting
      Angiogenesis Relative Cells in Diabetic Wound.
AB  - Nonhealing chronic wounds on foot are one of the most dreaded complications of
      diabetes, and biomedical scaffolds remain an attractive option for repairing or
      regenerating tissues. Accelerating angiogenesis in the early stage after injury
      is critical to wound healing process; however, the scaffolds accelerate the
      angiogenesis in the beginning but with the acceleration of vessel network
      formation the scaffold network hinders the process. In this study, the water
      soluble drugs-loaded hydrogel nanofibrous scaffolds are designed for rapidly
      recruiting angiogenesis relative cells and promoting wound healing. The sustained
      release profile of desferrioxamine (DFO), which continues for about 72 h, leads
      to significantly increase of neovascularization. The majority of the scaffold is
      degraded in 14 d, leaving enough space for cell proliferation and vessel
      formation. The in vitro results show that the scaffolds upregulate the expression
      of Hif-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor, and enhance the interaction
      between fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The in vivo studies show a higher
      expression of angiogenesis related cytokines. This study demonstrates that the
      DFO released from hydrogel nanofibrous scaffolds of quick degradation can
      interfere with the required prolyl-hydroxylases cofactors by acting as Fe(2+)
      chelator and upregulate the expression of Hif-1alpha, leading to a significant
      increase of the neovascularization. 

PMID- 26891199
TI  - (1) H and (13) C NMR spectral assignments of 30 novel n-methoxylated polyphenols
      containing thiourea skeletons.

PMID- 26891200
TI  - Narrow band imaging for the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A
      systematic review.
AB  - Narrow band imaging (NBI) is reported to improve the diagnostic accuracy of head
      and neck cancers. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the diagnostic
      accuracy of NBI in the literature. A systematic review was performed in PubMed,
      Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library until March 2015. Two reviewers
      independently assessed articles and extracted data. Meta-analyses were performed
      in MetaDisc 1.6. Five hundred seventeen studies were identified and 17 were
      included in this study. Combined use of NBI and white light imaging (WLI) showed
      high diagnostic accuracies for primary, recurrent, and nasopharyngeal lesions.
      Methodological heterogeneity exists and meta-analyses were only appropriate for
      cancers of unknown primary (CUP) in which NBI performed on 115 patients across 4
      studies demonstrated high sensitivity (74.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] =
      52.5% to 100%) and specificity (94.1%; 95% CI = 23.7% to 100%). NBI may further
      help identify lesions in CUP not seen by positron emission tomography (PET)-CT.
      NBI offers a high level of diagnostic accuracy for head and neck cancers. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2358-E2367, 2016.

PMID- 26891201
TI  - Doping-free bandgap tuning in one-dimensional Magneli-phase nanorods of Mo4O11.
AB  - We synthesized one-dimensional (1D) Magneli-phase nanorods of Mo4O11 using the
      hot filament metal-oxide vapor deposition technique. The 1D Magneli-phase Mo4O11
      nanorods synthesized at 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, and 1200  degrees C contain
      varying combinations of two orthorhombic (alpha) and monoclinic (eta) phases, and
      various mixtures of Mo(4+), Mo(5+) and Mo(6+) cations, while those synthesized at
      a higher temperature look bluer. The shifts of the transmittance maximum and
      absorbance minimum of the 1D Magneli-phase Mo4O11 nanorods are inversely and
      linearly proportional to the elevated temperature, verifying that the bandgaps
      (Eg) are inversely proportional to the elevated temperature. The bandgap (Eg) of
      the 1D Magneli-phase Mo4O11 nanorods can be tuned by simply controlling the
      synthesis temperature without doping with other materials, giving the 1D Magneli
      phase Mo4O11 nanorods good potential for use in optoelectronic nanodevices and
      bandgap engineering. 

PMID- 26891202
TI  - Ilya Mark Scheinker: Controversial Neuroscientist and Refugee From National
      Socialist Europe.
AB  - Russian-born, Vienna-trained neurologist and neuropathologist Ilya Mark Scheinker
      collaborated with Josef Gerstmann and Ernst Straussler in 1936 to describe the
      familial prion disorder now known as Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease.
      Because of Nazi persecution following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany,
      Scheinker fled from Vienna to Paris, then after the German invasion of France, to
      New York. With the help of neurologist Tracy Putnam, Scheinker ended up at the
      University of Cincinnati, although his position was never guaranteed. He more
      than doubled his prior publications in America, and authored three landmark
      neuropathology textbooks. Despite his publications, he was denied tenure and had
      difficulty professionally in the Midwest because of prejudice against his
      European mannerisms. He moved back to New York for personal reasons in 1952,
      dying prematurely just 2 years later. Scheinker was twice uprooted, but
      persevered and eventually found some success as a refugee. 

PMID- 26891203
TI  - Evidence-Based Update to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
      Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the
      Prevention of Surgical Site Infection: Developmental Process.
AB  - Recommendations in the "Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection,
      1999" were based on experts' selective interpretation of the scientific evidence.
      Effective 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its
      Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) updated their
      guideline development process. This is a narrative summary of the updated process
      focusing on key changes and challenges specific to the Guideline for Prevention
      of Surgical Site Infection. The guideline development process now incorporates
      evidence-based methodology and provides explicit links between the evidence and
      the recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development,
      and Evaluation (GRADE) method. There is also participation by professional
      surgical societies, an updated guideline structure (core and procedure-specific
      sections), additional planned related manuscripts (introductions to the guideline
      and research opportunities), and new proposed venues for publication. The new CDC
      and HICPAC "Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection" represents a
      substantial advancement from recommendations for infection control practices
      based on expert opinion to evidence-based practices. The new structure is meant
      to facilitate future updates, in particular, those addressing specialty or
      procedure-specific surgical site infection prevention questions. Increased
      presence by the surgical community through the professional surgical societies'
      engagement in the guideline development process, lead authorship of related
      manuscripts, and proposed publication in the surgical literature not only
      increase adherence by the surgical community, but also promote an ongoing
      collaboration with public health and other partners in a multidisciplinary
      approach to SSI prevention. 

PMID- 26891204
TI  - Can Obviously Intoxicated Patrons Still Easily Buy Alcohol at On-Premise
      Establishments?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol consumption at licensed alcohol establishments
      (i.e., bars and restaurants) has been directly linked to alcohol-related problems
      such as traffic crashes and violence. Historically, alcohol establishments have
      had a high likelihood of selling alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons (also
      referred to as "overservice") despite laws prohibiting these sales. Given the
      risks associated with overservice and the need for up-to-date data, it is
      critical that we monitor the likelihood of sales to obviously intoxicated
      patrons. METHODS: To assess the current likelihood of a licensed alcohol
      establishment selling alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron, we conducted
      pseudo-intoxicated purchase attempts (i.e., actors attempt to purchase alcohol
      while acting out obvious signs of intoxication) at 340 establishments in 1
      Midwestern metropolitan area. We also measured characteristics of the
      establishments, the pseudo-intoxicated patrons, the servers, the managers, and
      the neighborhoods to assess whether these characteristics were associated with
      likelihood of sales of obviously intoxicated patrons. We assessed these
      associations with bivariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Pseudo
      intoxicated buyers were able to purchase alcohol at 82% of the establishments. In
      the fully adjusted multivariate regression model, only 1 of the characteristics
      we assessed was significantly associated with likelihood of selling to
      intoxicated patrons-establishments owned by a corporate entity had 3.6 greater
      odds of selling alcohol to a pseudo-intoxicated buyer compared to independently
      owned establishments. CONCLUSIONS: Given the risks associated with overservice of
      alcohol, more resources should be devoted first to identify effective
      interventions for decreasing overservice of alcohol and then to educate
      practitioners who are working in their communities to address this public health
      problem.

PMID- 26891209
TI  - High spatial and temporal resolution cell manipulation techniques in
      microchannels.
AB  - The advent of microfluidics has enabled thorough control of cell manipulation
      experiments in so called lab on chips. Lab on chips foster the integration of
      actuation and detection systems, and require minute sample and reagent amounts.
      Typically employed microfluidic structures have similar dimensions as cells,
      enabling precise spatial and temporal control of individual cells and their local
      environments. Several strategies for high spatio-temporal control of cells in
      microfluidics have been reported in recent years, namely methods relying on
      careful design of the microfluidic structures (e.g. pinched flow), by integration
      of actuators (e.g. electrodes or magnets for dielectro-, acousto- and magneto
      phoresis), or integrations thereof. This review presents the recent developments
      of cell experiments in microfluidics divided into two parts: an introduction to
      spatial control of cells in microchannels followed by special emphasis in the
      high temporal control of cell-stimulus reaction and quenching. In the end, the
      present state of the art is discussed in line with future perspectives and
      challenges for translating these devices into routine applications. 

PMID- 26891210
TI  - Time for reassessment of remote ischaemic preconditioning.

PMID- 26891211
TI  - Influence of complications following immediate breast reconstruction on breast
      cancer recurrence rates.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The rate of immediate breast reconstruction is rising. Postoperative
      infections are more frequent in patients who undergo reconstruction. The
      inflammatory response to a postoperative infection can increase the risk of
      tumour recurrence in other forms of cancer through the release of proinflammatory
      mediators. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between
      complications and breast cancer recurrence in patients undergoing immediate
      reconstruction. METHODS: This was a review of a prospectively maintained database
      of all patients who had immediate breast reconstruction between 2004 and 2009 at
      Galway University Hospital, a tertiary breast cancer referral centre serving the
      west of Ireland. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Outcomes
      assessed included the development of wound complications and breast cancer
      recurrence. The data were evaluated by univariable and multivariable Cox
      regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients who underwent immediate
      reconstruction were identified. The overall 5-year recurrence-free survival rate
      was 85.6 per cent. Fifty-three patients (23.1 per cent) had wound complications,
      of whom 44 (19.2 per cent) developed a wound infection. There was a significantly
      greater risk of developing systemic recurrence among patients who experienced a
      postoperative wound complication compared with those without a complication
      (hazard ratio 4.94, 95 per cent c.i. 2.72 to 8.95; P < 0.001). This remained
      significant after adjusting for Nottingham Prognostic Index group in the
      multivariable analysis. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate for patients who
      had a wound complication was 64 per cent, compared with 89.2 per cent in patients
      without a complication (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that
      wound complications after immediate breast reconstructive surgery have
      significant implications for patients with breast cancer. Strategies are required
      to minimize the risk of postoperative wound complications in patients with breast
      cancer undergoing immediate reconstruction.

PMID- 26891205
TI  - Atorvastatin and fluvastatin are associated with dose-dependent reductions in
      cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, among patients with hepatitis C virus:
      Results from ERCHIVES.
AB  - Statins are associated with delayed fibrosis progression and a reduced risk of
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Limited data
      exist regarding the most effective type and dose of statin in this population. We
      sought to determine the impact of statin type and dose upon fibrosis progression
      and HCC in patients with HCV. Using the Electronically Retrieved Cohort of HCV
      Infected Veterans (ERCHIVES) database, we identified all subjects initiated on
      HCV antibody (anti-HCV) therapy from 2001 to 2014, and all incident cases of
      cirrhosis and HCC. Statin use was measured using cumulative defined daily dose
      (cDDD). Multivariable Cox's proportional hazard regression models were used to
      examine the relationship between statin use and development of cirrhosis and HCC.
      Among 9,135 eligible subjects, 1,649 developed cirrhosis and 239 developed
      incident HCC. Statin use was associated with a 44% reduction in development of
      cirrhosis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53,
      0.68). The adjusted HRs (95% CI) of fibrosis progression with statin cDDD 28-89,
      89-180, and >180 were 0.74 (0.59, 0.93), 0.71 (0.59, 0.88), and 0.6 (0.53, 0.68),
      respectively. Mean change in FIB-4 score with atorvastatin (n = 944) and
      fluvastatin (n = 34) was -0.17 and -0.13, respectively (P = 0.04), after
      adjustment for baseline FIB-4 score and established predictors of cirrhosis.
      Statin use was also associated with a 49% reduction in incident HCC (adjusted HR:
      0.51; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.72). A similar dose-response relationship was observed.
      CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic HCV, statin use was associated with a dose
      dependent reduction in incident cirrhosis and HCC. Atorvastatin and fluvastatin
      were associated with the most significant antifibrotic effects, compared with
      other statins. (Hepatology 2016;64:47-57).

PMID- 26891214
TI  - Making the elderly fit for surgery.

PMID- 26891212
TI  - Effect of ischaemic preconditioning on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in
      an experimental model of liver steatosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Livers with parenchymal abnormalities tolerate ischaemia-reperfusion
      (IR) injury poorly. IR injury is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
      recurrence. This study assessed the link between liver parenchymal abnormalities
      and HCC recurrence, and evaluated the protective effect of ischaemic
      preconditioning. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were fed a choline-deficient diet for 6
      and 12 weeks, or standard chow. Hepatic IR and ischaemic preconditioning were
      achieved by clamping liver blood inflow. Hepa 1-6 HCC cells were inoculated
      through the spleen. Thereafter, tumour burden, serum alpha-fetoprotein and cancer
      cell aggressiveness were compared among groups. RESULTS: Hepatocellular damage
      and expression of inflammatory genes (encoding interleukin 6, tumour necrosis
      factor alpha, hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha and E-selectin) were exacerbated
      after IR injury in mice with severe steatosis. Compared with control livers or
      those with minimal steatosis, livers exposed to a prolonged choline-deficient
      diet developed larger tumour nodules and had higher serum alpha-fetoprotein
      levels. Non-ischaemic liver lobes from mice with steatosis were not protected
      from accelerated tumour growth mediated by IR injury. This remote effect was
      linked to promotion of the aggressiveness of HCC cells. Ischaemic preconditioning
      before IR injury reduced the tumour burden to the level of that in non-ischaemic
      steatotic controls. This protective effect was associated with decreased cancer
      cell motility. CONCLUSION: Livers with steatosis tolerated IR poorly,
      contributing to more severe HCC recurrence patterns in mice with increasingly
      severe steatosis. IR injury also had a remote effect on cancer cell
      aggressiveness. Ischaemic preconditioning before IR injury reduced tumour load
      and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. SURGICAL RELEVANCE: Liver ischaemia
      reperfusion (IR) injury is associated with organ dysfunction and surgical
      morbidity. Livers with steatosis tolerate IR injury poorly in the setting of both
      liver resection and liver transplantation. Ischaemic preconditioning is a simple
      method to mitigate IR injury. This study shows that ischaemic preconditioning of
      mouse livers with steatosis reduces ischaemia-mediated tumour growth
      acceleration. Liver parenchymal abnormalities such as warm IR injury and liver
      steatosis should be taken into account to predict accurately the risk of liver
      cancer recurrence after surgical management. Ischaemic preconditioning strategies
      may hold therapeutic potential not only to mitigate surgical morbidity but also
      to reduce postoperative recurrence of liver cancer.

PMID- 26891206
TI  - Concise Review: Plasma and Nuclear Membranes Convey Mechanical Information to
      Regulate Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage.
AB  - Numerous factors including chemical, hormonal, spatial, and physical cues
      determine stem cell fate. While the regulation of stem cell differentiation by
      soluble factors is well-characterized, the role of mechanical force in the
      determination of lineage fate is just beginning to be understood. Investigation
      of the role of force on cell function has largely focused on "outside-in"
      signaling, initiated at the plasma membrane. When interfaced with the
      extracellular matrix, the cell uses integral membrane proteins, such as those
      found in focal adhesion complexes to translate force into biochemical signals.
      Akin to these outside-in connections, the internal cytoskeleton is physically
      linked to the nucleus, via proteins that span the nuclear membrane. Although
      structurally and biochemically distinct, these two forms of mechanical coupling
      influence stem cell lineage fate and, when disrupted, often lead to disease. Here
      we provide an overview of how mechanical coupling occurs at the plasma and
      nuclear membranes. We also discuss the role of force on stem cell
      differentiation, with focus on the biochemical signals generated at the cell
      membrane and the nucleus, and how those signals influence various diseases. While
      the interaction of stem cells with their physical environment and how they
      respond to force is complex, an understanding of the mechanical regulation of
      these cells is critical in the design of novel therapeutics to combat diseases
      associated with aging, cancer, and osteoporosis. Stem Cells 2016;34:1455-1463.

PMID- 26891216
TI  - Black Raspberry Extract Increased Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and
      Improved Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - Administration of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) is known to improve
      vascular endothelial function in patients at a high risk for cardiovascular (CV)
      disease. We investigated short-term effects of black raspberry on circulating
      endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and arterial stiffness in patients with
      metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome (n = 51) were prospectively
      randomized into the black raspberry group (n = 26, 750 mg/day) and placebo group
      (n = 25) during the 12-week follow-up. Central blood pressure, augmentation
      index, and EPCs, such as CD34/KDR(+), CD34/CD117(+), and CD34/CD133(+), were
      measured at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. Radial augmentation indexes were
      significantly decreased in the black raspberry group compared to the placebo
      group (-5% +/- 10% vs. 3% +/- 14%, P < .05). CD34/CD133(+) cells at 12-week
      follow-up were significantly higher in the black raspberry group compared to the
      placebo group (19 +/- 109/MUL vs. -28 +/- 57/MUL, P < .05). Decreases from the
      baseline in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were
      significantly greater in the black raspberry group compared to the placebo group
      (-0.5 +/- 1.4 pg/mL vs. -0.1 +/- 1.1 pg/mL, P < .05 and -5.4 +/- 4.5 pg/mL vs. 
      0.8 +/- 4.0 pg/mL, P < .05, respectively). Increases from the baseline in
      adiponectin levels (2.9 +/- 2.1 MUg/mL vs. -0.2 +/- 2.5 MUg/mL, P < .05) were
      significant in the black raspberry group. The use of black raspberry
      significantly lowered the augmentation index and increased circulating EPCs,
      thereby improving CV risks in patients with metabolic syndrome during the 12-week
      follow-up.

PMID- 26891217
TI  - Outpatient Management of Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) by
      Hematologists 1995-2014.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment reality for
      outpatients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) managed by hematologists in
      routine care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with ITP diagnosed between
      06/1995 and 12/2014 in a community-based oncology group practice in Germany were
      retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 422 patients with a median age of 55 years
      (range 7-91 years) were evaluated. 57% were female and 43% male. Only 198 (47%)
      patients needed therapy. First-line therapy (n = 198) consisted of steroids in
      81%, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in 12%, and IVIG plus steroids in 6%.
      Patients received a median of 2 (range 1-10) lines of therapy. The most
      frequently used treatment modalities were steroids in 93%, IVIG in 55%,
      splenectomy in 21%, and other immunosuppressive agents (OISA) in 23% of patients.
      Rituximab and thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TRAs) were used in 10% and 6%
      only. 9 (2%) patients needed hospitalization due to bleeding complications. 72%
      of patients achieved a durable remission after their last line of therapy. 1
      (0.2%) patient died due to bleeding complications. CONCLUSION: The treatment
      modalities most frequently used are steroids, immunoglobulins, splenectomy, and
      OISA. Rituximab and TRAs are only used infrequently. 72% of ITP patients achieve
      durable remissions. The rate of hospital admissions due to bleeding complications
      and the ITP-related mortality are low. The majority of ITP patients can be safely
      managed by hematologists on an outpatient basis.

PMID- 26891219
TI  - The effects of noise in cardiac diffusion tensor imaging and the benefits of
      averaging complex data.
AB  - There is growing interest in cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI), but, unlike
      other diffusion MRI applications, there has been little investigation of the
      effects of noise on the parameters typically derived. One method of mitigating
      noise floor effects when there are multiple image averages, as in cDTI, is to
      average the complex rather than the magnitude data, but the phase contains
      contributions from bulk motion, which must be removed first. The effects of noise
      on the mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), helical angle (HA) and
      absolute secondary eigenvector angle (E2A) were simulated with various diffusion
      weightings (b values). The effect of averaging complex versus magnitude images
      was investigated. In vivo cDTI was performed in 10 healthy subjects with b = 500,
      1000, 1500 and 2000 s/mm(2). A technique for removing the motion-induced
      component of the image phase present in vivo was implemented by subtracting a low
      resolution copy of the phase from the original images before averaging the
      complex images. MD, FA, E2A and the transmural gradient in HA were compared for
      un-averaged, magnitude- and complex-averaged reconstructions. Simulations
      demonstrated an over-estimation of FA and MD at low b values and an under
      estimation at high b values. The transition is relatively signal-to-noise ratio
      (SNR) independent and occurs at a higher b value for FA (b = 1000-1250 s/mm(2))
      than MD (b ~ 250 s/mm(2)). E2A is under-estimated at low and high b values with a
      transition at b ~ 1000 s/mm(2), whereas the bias in HA is comparatively small.
      The under-estimation of FA and MD at high b values is caused by noise floor
      effects, which can be mitigated by averaging the complex data. Understanding the
      parameters of interest and the effects of noise informs the selection of the
      optimal b values. When complex data are available, they should be used to
      maximise the benefit from the acquisition of multiple averages. The combination
      of complex data is also a valuable step towards segmented acquisitions.

PMID- 26891218
TI  - Evaluation of a Rapid Point of Care Test for Detecting Acute and Established HIV
      Infection, and Examining the Role of Study Quality on Diagnostic Accuracy: A
      Bayesian Meta-Analysis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fourth generation (Ag/Ab combination) point of care HIV tests like
      the FDA-approved Determine HIV1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test offer the promise of timely
      detection of acute HIV infection, relevant in the context of HIV control.
      However, a synthesis of their performance has not yet been done. In this meta
      analysis we not only assessed device performance but also evaluated the role of
      study quality on diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched
      seven databases, including conferences and bibliographies, and independently
      extracted data from 17 studies. Study quality was assessed with QUADAS-2. Data on
      sensitivity and specificity (overall, antigen, and antibody) were pooled using a
      Bayesian hierarchical random effects meta-analysis model. Subgroups were analyzed
      by blood samples (serum/plasma vs. whole blood) and study designs (case-control
      vs. cross-sectional). RESULTS: The overall specificity of the Determine Combo
      test was 99.1%, 95% credible interval (CrI) [97.3-99.8]. The overall pooled
      sensitivity for the device was at 88.5%, 95% [80.1-93.4]. When the components of
      the test were analyzed separately, the pooled specificities were 99.7%, 95% CrI
      [96.8-100] and 99.6%, 95% CrI [99.0-99.8], for the antigen and antibody
      components, respectively. Pooled sensitivity of the antibody component was 97.3%,
      95% CrI [60.7-99.9], and pooled sensitivity for the antigen component was found
      to be 12.3%, 95% (CrI) [1.1-44.2]. No significant differences were found between
      subgroups by blood sample or study design. However, it was noted that many
      studies restricted their study sample to p24 antigen or RNA positive specimens,
      which may have led to underestimation of overall test performance. Detection
      bias, selection (spectrum) bias, incorporation bias, and verification bias
      impaired study quality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the specificity of all test
      components was high, antigenic sensitivity will merit from an improvement.
      Besides the accuracy of the device itself, study quality, also impacts the
      performance of the test. These factors must be kept in mind in future evaluations
      of an improved device, relevant for global scale up and implementation.

PMID- 26891220
TI  - Purification and Characterization of Glutaminase Free Asparaginase from
      Enterobacter cloacae: In-Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxic Potential against Human
      Myeloid Leukemia HL-60 Cells.
AB  - Asparaginase is an important antileukemic agent extensively used worldwide but
      the intrinsic glutaminase activity of this enzymatic drug is responsible for
      serious life threatening side effects. Hence, glutaminase free asparaginase is
      much needed for upgradation of therapeutic index of asparaginase therapy. In the
      present study, glutaminase free asparaginase produced from Enterobacter cloacae
      was purified to apparent homogeneity. The purified enzyme was found to be
      homodimer of approximately 106 kDa with monomeric size of approximately 52 kDa
      and pI 4.5. Purified enzyme showed optimum activity between pH 7-8 and
      temperature 35-40 degrees C, which is close to the internal environment of human
      body. Monovalent cations such as Na+ and K+ enhanced asparaginase activity
      whereas divalent and trivalent cations, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Fe3+
      inhibited the enzyme activity. Kinetic parameters Km, Vmax and Kcat of purified
      enzyme were found to be 1.58*10-3 M, 2.22 IU MUg-1 and 5.3 * 104 S-1,
      respectively. Purified enzyme showed prolonged in vitro serum (T1/2 = ~ 39 h) and
      trypsin (T1/2 = ~ 32 min) half life, which is therapeutically remarkable feature.
      The cytotoxic activity of enzyme was examined against a panel of human cancer
      cell lines, HL-60, MOLT-4, MDA-MB-231 and T47D, and highest cytotoxicity observed
      against HL-60 cells (IC50 ~ 3.1 IU ml-1), which was comparable to commercial
      asparaginase. Cell and nuclear morphological studies of HL-60 cells showed that
      on treatment with purified asparaginase symptoms of apoptosis were increased in
      dose dependent manner. Cell cycle progression analysis indicates that enzyme
      induces apoptosis by cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Mitochondrial membrane
      potential loss showed that enzyme also triggers the mitochondrial pathway of
      apoptosis. Furthermore, the enzyme was found to be nontoxic for human
      noncancerous cells FR-2 and nonhemolytic for human erythrocytes. 

PMID- 26891222
TI  - Microfluidic Device for the Measurement of Amino Acid Secretion Dynamics from
      Murine and Human Islets of Langerhans.
AB  - Islets of Langerhans are the regulators of in vivo blood glucose levels through
      the secretion of endocrine hormones. Amino acids, released from various cells
      within islets or from intrapancreatic neurons, are hypothesized to further adjust
      hormone secretions. In contrast to the well-accepted mechanism of glucose
      stimulated insulin secretion, several questions remain as to the function of
      amino acids in the regulation of hormone release from islets. To understand the
      autocrine and paracrine roles that amino acids play in islet physiology, a
      microfluidic system was developed to perform online monitoring of the secretion
      profiles of amino acids from 2-5 islets. The device contained an islet chamber
      with the ability to perfuse stimulants and an amino acid measurement system with
      derivatization and electrophoretic separation integrated on a single microchip.
      The setup was optimized to allow -15 kV to be applied to the device for high
      efficiency and rapid separations of derivatized amino acids. The compositions of
      the derivatization and separation buffers were optimized to prevent
      precipitations in the channels, which allowed continuous monitoring of secretion
      for over 2 h. With this method, 10 amino acids were resolved with limits of
      detection ranging from 1 to 20 nM. When murine islets were perfused with 3 mM
      glucose, the secretion rates of 9 amino acids were measured and ranged from 30 to
      400 fmol islet(-1) min(-1). As the glucose concentration was increased to 20 mM,
      the dynamic changes of amino acids were monitored. The biological relevance of
      the amino acid secretions was verified using 2,4-dinitrophenol as an inhibitor of
      the proton motive force. The microfluidic system was also used to measure dynamic
      changes of amino acid release from human islets, which showed different release
      profiles compared to their murine counterparts. 

PMID- 26891223
TI  - Variations of mucosal-sparing septectomy for endonasal approach to the
      craniocervical junction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Recent advances in surgical techniques have rendered the
      craniocervical junction (CCJ) accessible transnasally. Endoscopic endonasal
      transclival and transodontoid approaches are routinely performed in leading skull
      base centers. Usually, these approaches involve a posterior bony and mucosal
      septectomy, which may compromise the vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap
      (PNSF), a robust reconstructive option for repair of large skull base defects.
      With the possibility of an intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak and the
      reported success of the PNSF for repair of these defects, preserving the
      integrity of the PNSF is beneficial during the endoscopic endonasal approach to
      the CCJ. We describe three new variations/refinements of the endoscopic endonasal
      approach to the CCJ that preserve the mucosal integrity of the posterior nasal
      septum and PNSF. METHODS: Photo and video documentation of cadaveric dissections.
      RESULTS: The steps required for the different variations in approaching the CCJ
      are demonstrated. These three options are: 1) nonopposing Killian incisions with
      submucosal elevation of PNSFs laterally under the inferior turbinates (the PNSFs
      are retracted laterally and left attached superiorly onto the nasal septum and
      laterally under the inferior turbinate); 2) bilateral non-opposing PNSFs tucked
      beneath their respective middle turbinate or into the sphenoid sinus; and 3) a
      hybrid approach combining option 1 performed on one side and option 2 on the
      contralateral side. All three options allowed for a mucosal-sparing septectomy to
      provide ample access to the CCJ. CONCLUSION: These variations/refinements of the
      mucosal-sparing approach to the CCJ allowed adequate surgical access with
      sufficient maneuverability while preserving both PNSFs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.
      Laryngoscope, 126:2220-2225, 2016.

PMID- 26891224
TI  - Morphological dependence of silver electrodeposits investigated by changing the
      ionic liquid solvent and the deposition parameters.
AB  - The low toxicity and environmentally compatible ionic liquids (ILs) are
      alternatives to the toxic and harmful cyanide-based baths used in industrial
      silver electrodeposition. Here, we report the successful galvanostatic
      electrodeposition of silver films using the air and water stable ILs 1-ethyl-3
      methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([EMIM]TfO) and 1-H-3
      methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate ([HMIM(+)][HSO4(-)]) as solvents and AgTfO as
      the source of silver. The electrochemical deposition parameters were thoughtfully
      studied by cyclic voltammetry before deposition. The electrodeposits were
      characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy
      dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Molecular dynamics (MD)
      simulations were used to investigate the structural dynamic and energetic
      properties of AgTfO in both ILs. Cyclic voltammetry experiments revealed that the
      reduction of silver is a diffusion-controlled process. The morphology of the
      silver coatings obtained in [EMIM]TfO is independent of the applied current
      density, resulting in nodular electrodeposits grouped as crystalline clusters.
      However, the current density significantly influences the morphology of silver
      electrodeposits obtained in [HMIM(+)][HSO4(-)], thus evolving from dendrites at
      15 mA cm(-2) to the coexistence of dendrites and columnar shapes at 30 mA cm(-2).
      These differences are probably due to the greater interaction of Ag(+) with
      [HSO4(-)] than with TfO(-), as indicated by the MD simulations. The morphology of
      Ag deposits is independent of the electrodeposition temperature for both ILs, but
      higher values of temperature promoted increased cluster sizes. Pure face-centred
      cubic polycrystalline Ag was deposited on the films with crystallite sizes on the
      nanometre scale. The morphological dependence of Ag electrodeposits obtained in
      the [HMIM(+)][HSO4(-)] IL on the current density applied opens up the opportunity
      to produce different and predetermined Ag deposits. 

PMID- 26891221
TI  - Oncogenic Herpesvirus Utilizes Stress-Induced Cell Cycle Checkpoints for
      Efficient Lytic Replication.
AB  - Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) causes Kaposi's sarcoma and certain
      lymphoproliferative malignancies. Latent infection is established in the majority
      of tumor cells, whereas lytic replication is reactivated in a small fraction of
      cells, which is important for both virus spread and disease progression. A siRNA
      screen for novel regulators of KSHV reactivation identified the E3 ubiquitin
      ligase MDM2 as a negative regulator of viral reactivation. Depletion of MDM2, a
      repressor of p53, favored efficient activation of the viral lytic transcription
      program and viral reactivation. During lytic replication cells activated a p53
      response, accumulated DNA damage and arrested at G2-phase. Depletion of p21, a
      p53 target gene, restored cell cycle progression and thereby impaired the virus
      reactivation cascade delaying the onset of virus replication induced cytopathic
      effect. Herpesviruses are known to reactivate in response to different kinds of
      stress, and our study now highlights the molecular events in the stressed host
      cell that KSHV has evolved to utilize to ensure efficient viral lytic
      replication. 

PMID- 26891226
TI  - Association between intestinal permeability and faecal microbiota composition in
      Italian children with beta cell autoimmunity at risk for type 1 diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pancreatic organ-specific autoimmunity in subjects at risk for type 1
      diabetes (T1D) is associated with increased intestinal permeability and an
      aberrant gut microbiota, but these factors have not yet been simultaneously
      investigated in the same subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess both
      intestinal permeability and gut microbiota composition in an Italian sample of
      children at risk for T1D. METHODS: Ten Italian children with beta cell
      autoimmunity at risk for T1D and 10 healthy children were involved in a case
      control study. The lactulose/mannitol test was used to assess intestinal
      permeability. Analysis of microbiota composition was performed using polymerase
      chain reaction followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, based on the
      16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: Intestinal permeability was significantly higher in
      children at risk for T1D than in healthy controls. Moreover, the gut microbiota
      of the former differed from that of the latter group: Three microorganisms were
      detected - Dialister invisus, Gemella sanguinis and Bifidobacterium longum - in
      association with the pre-pathologic state. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study
      validated the hypothesis that increased intestinal permeability together with
      differences in microbiota composition are contemporaneously associated with the
      pre-pathological condition of T1D in a sample of Italian children. Further
      studies are necessary to confirm the microbial markers identified in this sample
      of children as well as to clarify the involvement of microbiota modifications in
      the mechanisms leading to increased permeability and the autoimmune mechanisms
      that promote diabetes onset. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891227
TI  - Frontal Lobe Degeneration in Adults with Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease: A
      Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a proven link between Down syndrome and the early
      development of the neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
      Changes in the personality and behavior of adults with Down syndrome might
      indicate the early stages of dementia or of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
      The objective of this study was to investigate the executive functions and
      changes in behavior associated with frontal lobe degeneration in individuals with
      Down syndrome who develop AD. We conducted a systematic review selecting studies
      employing cognitive assessments. SUMMARY: We identified few studies using
      objective measurements to determine whether cognitive aspects associated with the
      frontal lobe correlate with dementia in this population. We observed a tendency
      toward such correlations. KEY MESSAGES: There is a need for further studies in
      which objective measures of cognitive and behavioral factors are evaluated
      together with data related to brain function and morphology.

PMID- 26891225
TI  - RAB-6.1 and RAB-6.2 Promote Retrograde Transport in C. elegans.
AB  - Retrograde transport is a critical mechanism for recycling certain membrane
      cargo. Following endocytosis from the plasma membrane, retrograde cargo is moved
      from early endosomes to Golgi followed by transport (recycling) back to the
      plasma membrane. The complete molecular and cellular mechanisms of retrograde
      transport remain unclear. The small GTPase RAB-6.2 mediates the retrograde
      recycling of the AMPA-type glutamate receptor (AMPAR) subunit GLR-1 in C. elegans
      neurons. Here we show that RAB-6.2 and a close paralog, RAB-6.1, together
      regulate retrograde transport in both neurons and non-neuronal tissue. Mutants
      for rab-6.1 or rab-6.2 fail to recycle GLR-1 receptors, resulting in GLR-1
      turnover and behavioral defects indicative of diminished GLR-1 function. Loss of
      both rab-6.1 and rab-6.2 results in an additive effect on GLR-1 retrograde
      recycling, indicating that these two C. elegans Rab6 isoforms have overlapping
      functions. MIG-14 (Wntless) protein, which undergoes retrograde recycling,
      undergoes a similar degradation in intestinal epithelia in both rab-6.1 and rab
      6.2 mutants, suggesting a broader role for these proteins in retrograde
      transport. Surprisingly, MIG-14 is localized to separate, spatially segregated
      endosomal compartments in rab-6.1 mutants compared to rab-6.2 mutants. Our
      results indicate that RAB-6.1 and RAB-6.2 have partially redundant functions in
      overall retrograde transport, but also have their own unique cellular- and
      subcellular functions. 

PMID- 26891229
TI  - Water-Soluble NIR-Absorbing Rylene Chromophores for Selective Staining of
      Cellular Organelles.
AB  - Biocompatible organic dyes emitting in the near-infrared are highly desirable in
      fluorescence imaging techniques. Herein we report a synthetic approach for
      building novel small peri-guanidine-fused naphthalene monoimide and perylene
      monoimide chromophores. The presented structures possess near-infrared absorption
      and emission, high photostability, and good water solubility. After a fast
      cellular uptake, they selectively stain mitochondria with a low background in
      live and fixed cells. They can be additionally modified in a one-step reaction
      with functional groups for covalent labeling of proteins. The low cytotoxicity
      allows a long time exposure of live cells to the dyes without the necessity of
      washing. Successful application in localization super-resolution microscopy was
      demonstrated in phosphate-buffered saline without any reducing or oxidizing
      additives. 

PMID- 26891228
TI  - Synergistic Control of Kinetochore Protein Levels by Psh1 and Ubr2.
AB  - The accurate segregation of chromosomes during cell division is achieved by
      attachment of chromosomes to the mitotic spindle via the kinetochore, a large
      multi-protein complex that assembles on centromeres. The budding yeast
      kinetochore comprises more than 60 different proteins. Although the structure and
      function of many of these proteins has been investigated, we have little
      understanding of the steady state regulation of kinetochores. The primary model
      of kinetochore homeostasis suggests that kinetochores assemble hierarchically
      from the centromeric DNA via the inclusion of a centromere-specific histone into
      chromatin. We tested this model by trying to perturb kinetochore protein levels
      by overexpressing an outer kinetochore gene, MTW1. This increase in protein
      failed to change protein recruitment, consistent with the hierarchical assembly
      model. However, we find that deletion of Psh1, a key ubiquitin ligase that is
      known to restrict inner kinetochore protein loading, does not increase levels of
      outer kinetochore proteins, thus breaking the normal kinetochore stoichiometry.
      This perturbation leads to chromosome segregation defects, which can be partially
      suppressed by mutation of Ubr2, a second ubiquitin ligase that normally restricts
      protein levels at the outer kinetochore. Together these data show that Psh1 and
      Ubr2 synergistically control the amount of proteins at the kinetochore. 

PMID- 26891230
TI  - Whole-Genome Sequencing to Determine Origin of Multinational Outbreak of
      Sarocladium kiliense Bloodstream Infections.
AB  - We used whole-genome sequence typing (WGST) to investigate an outbreak of
      Sarocladium kiliense bloodstream infections (BSI) associated with receipt of
      contaminated antinausea medication among oncology patients in Colombia and Chile
      during 2013-2014. Twenty-five outbreak isolates (18 from patients and 7 from
      medication vials) and 11 control isolates unrelated to this outbreak were
      subjected to WGST to elucidate a source of infection. All outbreak isolates were
      nearly indistinguishable (<5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms), and >21,000 single
      nucleotide polymorphisms were identified from unrelated control isolates,
      suggesting a point source for this outbreak. S. kiliense has been previously
      implicated in healthcare-related infections; however, the lack of available
      typing methods has precluded the ability to substantiate point sources. WGST for
      outbreak investigation caused by eukaryotic pathogens without reference genomes
      or existing genotyping methods enables accurate source identification to guide
      implementation of appropriate control and prevention measures.

PMID- 26891232
TI  - Human CYP27A1 catalyzes hydroxylation of beta-sitosterol and ergosterol.
AB  - beta-Sitosterol and ergosterol are the equivalents of cholesterol in plants and
      fungi, respectively, and common sterols in the human diet. In the current work,
      both were identified as novel CYP27A1 substrates by in vitro experiments applying
      purified human CYP27A1 and its redox partners adrenodoxin (Adx) and adrenodoxin
      reductase (AdR). A Bacillus megaterium based biocatalyst recombinantly expressing
      the same proteins was utilized for the conversion of the substrates to obtain
      sufficient amounts of the novel products for a structural NMR analysis. beta
      Sitosterol was found to be converted into 26-hydroxy-beta-sitosterol and 29
      hydroxy-beta-sitosterol, whereas ergosterol was converted into 24
      hydroxyergosterol, 26-hydroxyergosterol and 28-hydroxyergosterol.

PMID- 26891231
TI  - MiR-449a Affects Epithelial Proliferation during the Pseudoglandular and
      Canalicular Phases of Avian and Mammal Lung Development.
AB  - Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and
      respiratory distress, which result in high mortality and morbidity. Although
      several transgenic mouse models of lung hypoplasia exist, the role of miRNAs in
      this phenotype is incompletely characterized. In this study, we assessed microRNA
      expression levels during the pseudoglandular to canalicular phase transition of
      normal human fetal lung development. At this critical time, when the distal
      respiratory portion of the airways begins to form, microarray analysis showed
      that the most significantly differentially expressed miRNA was miR-449a.
      Prediction algorithms determined that N-myc is a target of miR-449a and
      identified the likely miR-449a:N-myc binding sites, confirmed by luciferase
      assays and targeted mutagenesis. Functional ex vivo knock-down in organ cultures
      of murine embryonic lungs, as well as in ovo overexpression in avian embryonic
      lungs, suggested a role for miR-449a in distal epithelial proliferation. Finally,
      miR-449a expression was found to be abnormal in rare pulmonary specimens of human
      fetuses with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in the pseudoglandular or
      canalicular phase. This study confirms the conserved role of miR-449a for proper
      pulmonary organogenesis, supporting the delicate balance between expansion of
      progenitor cells and their terminal differentiation, and proposes the potential
      involvement of this miRNA in human pulmonary hypoplasia. 

PMID- 26891233
TI  - Carcinosarcoma of the upper urinary tract with an aggressive angiosarcoma
      component.
AB  - Carcinosarcomas (CS) are biphasic tumors with malignant epithelial and
      mesenchymal elements. The sarcomatoid elements of CS can include chondrosarcoma,
      malignant fibrous histiocytoma, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, or
      liposarcoma. CS of the upper urinary tract are extremely rare but are associated
      with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 44-year-old man with a localized
      right renal pelvis mass treated with a right nephroureterectomy. The pathological
      examination showed a high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis, stage
      III (pT3aNxM0). A few days later, he developed lower back pain, hematuria, cough
      with hemoptoic sputum and progressive dyspnea. Radiological explorations showed
      multiple bilateral lung nodules and a retroperitoneal mass. A CT-guided biopsy of
      the retroperitoneal mass revealed a high-grade angiosarcoma. A review of the
      nephrectomy specimen showed a microscopic focus of angiosarcoma in the urothelial
      carcinoma. Therefore, the initial diagnosis was changed to CS of the renal pelvis
      with an angiosarcoma component. The patient developed progressive respiratory
      failure and died 8 weeks after surgery. An autopsy revealed a large
      retroperitoneal mass with metastatic nodules to the abdominal wall, diaphragm,
      small intestine, liver, spleen, and lung. All lesions were angiosarcoma, with no
      evidence of urothelial carcinoma. This is the first case reported of a patient
      with CS of the upper urinary tract with an angiosarcoma component with a very
      aggressive course that caused the immediate appearance of multiple angiosarcoma
      metastases. We also describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of CS,
      which will help to contribute to a better understanding of this type of tumor. 

PMID- 26891234
TI  - Photochemical Oxidative Growth of Iridium Oxide Nanoparticles on CdSe@CdS
      Nanorods.
AB  - We demonstrate a procedure for the photochemical oxidative growth of iridium
      oxide catalysts on the surface of seeded cadmium selenide-cadmium sulfide
      (CdSe@CdS) nanorod photocatalysts. Seeded rods are grown using a colloidal hot
      injection method and then moved to an aqueous medium by ligand exchange. CdSe@CdS
      nanorods, an iridium precursor and other salts are mixed and illuminated. The
      deposition process is initiated by absorption of photons by the semiconductor
      particle, which results with formation of charge carriers that are used to
      promote redox reactions. To insure photochemical oxidative growth we used an
      electron scavenger. The photogenerated holes oxidize the iridium precursor,
      apparently in a mediated oxidative pathway. This results in the growth of high
      quality crystalline iridium oxide particles, ranging from 0.5 nm to about 3 nm,
      along the surface of the rod. Iridium oxide grown on CdSe@CdS heterostructures
      was studied by a variety of characterization methods, in order to evaluate its
      characteristics and quality. We explored means for control over particle size,
      crystallinity, deposition location on the CdS rod, and composition. Illumination
      time and excitation wavelength were found to be key parameters for such control.
      The influence of different growth conditions and the characterization of these
      heterostructures are described alongside a detailed description of their
      synthesis. Of significance is the fact that the addition of iridium oxide
      afforded the rods astounding photochemical stability under prolonged illumination
      in pure water (alleviating the requirement for hole scavengers). 

PMID- 26891236
TI  - Bioisosteric Exchange of Csp3 -Chloro and Methyl Substituents: Synthesis and
      Initial Biological Studies of Atpenin A5 Analogues.
AB  - Asymmetric synthesis and initial biological studies of two analogues of a
      naturally occurring chlorinated antifungal agent, atpenin A5, are described.
      These analogues were selected on the basis of Cl->CH3 or H3 C->Cl exchanges in
      the side-chain of atpenin A5. The interchange of chloro and methyl substituents
      led to complex II inhibitors with equal IC50 values. This suggests that Cl<->Me
      bioisosteric exchange can be realized in aliphatic settings. 

PMID- 26891235
TI  - Impact of Aldosterone Antagonists on Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Heart
      Failure and Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta
      Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a severe burden of
      modern medicine. Aldosterone antagonist is publicized as effective in reducing
      mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) or post myocardial infarction (MI).
      Our study aimed to assess the efficacy of AAs on mortality including SCD,
      hospitalization admission and several common adverse effects. METHODS: We
      searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library and clinicaltrial.gov
      for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assigning AAs in patients with HF or post
      MI through May 2015. The comparator included standard medication or placebo, or
      both. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
      guidelines were followed. Event rates were compared using a random effects model.
      Prospective RCTs of AAs with durations of at least 8 weeks were selected if they
      included at least one of the following outcomes: SCD, all-cause/cardiovascular
      mortality, all-cause/cardiovascular hospitalization and common side effects
      (hyperkalemia, renal function degradation and gynecomastia). RESULTS: Data from
      19,333 patients enrolled in 25 trials were included. In patients with HF, this
      treatment significantly reduced the risk of SCD by 19% (RR 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67
      0.98; p = 0.03); all-cause mortality by 19% (RR 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74-0.88,
      p<0.00001) and cardiovascular death by 21% (RR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.89,
      p<0.00001). In patients with post-MI, the matching reduced risks were 20% (RR
      0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98; p = 0.03), 15% (RR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.95, p = 0.003)
      and 17% (RR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94, p = 0.003), respectively. Concerning both
      subgroups, the relative risks respectively decreased by 19% (RR 0.81; 95% CI,
      0.71-0.92; p = 0.002) for SCD, 18% (RR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.77-0.88, p < 0.0001) for
      all-cause mortality and 20% (RR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.74-0.87, p < 0.0001) for
      cardiovascular mortality in patients treated with AAs. As well, hospitalizations
      were significantly reduced, while common adverse effects were significantly
      increased. CONCLUSION: Aldosterone antagonists appear to be effective in reducing
      SCD and other mortality events, compared with placebo or standard medication in
      patients with HF and/or after a MI.

PMID- 26891237
TI  - Modulation of host CD59 expression by varicella-zoster virus in human xenografts
      in vivo.
AB  - Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the causative agent of both chickenpox
      (varicella) and shingles (zoster). VZV survives host defenses, even with an
      intact immune system, and disseminates in the host before causing disease. To
      date, several diverse immunomodulatory strategies used by VZV to undermine host
      immunity have been identified; however, few studies have addressed the complement
      evasion strategies used by this virus. Here, we show that expression of CD59,
      which is a key member of host regulators of complement activation (RCA), is
      significantly upregulated in response to VZV infection in human T cells and
      dorsal root ganglia (DRG) but not in human skin xenografts in SCID-hu mice in
      vivo. This is the first report demonstrating that VZV infection upregulates host
      CD59 expression in a tissue-specific manner in vivo, which may aid VZV in
      complement evasion and pathogenesis. 

PMID- 26891238
TI  - A systematic review of the diagnostic test accuracy of brief cognitive tests to
      detect amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: People with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are at an
      increased risk of developing dementia. Efficient ways of identifying this 'at
      risk' population are required for larger-scale research studies. This systematic
      review describes the diagnostic accuracy of brief cognitive tests for detecting
      aMCI. METHODS: Fifteen databases were searched from 1999 to July 2013 to identify
      papers for inclusion. Prospective studies assessing the diagnostic test accuracy
      of simple and brief cognitive tests for identifying people with aMCI against a
      reference standard (Petersen criteria) were included. Sensitivity, specificity,
      positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated.
      Predictive validity and test-retest reliability were also extracted, when
      provided. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic
      Accuracy Studies tool. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies assessing 42 index tests were
      included. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was the most comprehensively assessed
      test with evidence of high sensitivity for aMCI and good test-retest reliability,
      but low specificity was reported by the only study judged to be at low risk of
      bias. Other brief cognitive tests that include an assessment of word recall and
      multi-task tests that assess several cognitive domains were also found to exhibit
      high sensitivities and reasonable specificities. However, the confidence of the
      findings was affected by overall low quality of the contributing studies.
      CONCLUSION: Several brief cognitive tests have shown promising diagnostic test
      accuracy results for identifying aMCI. However, concerns over the quality of the
      constituent studies and lack of evidence on the predictive validity of these
      tests mean that new validation studies are warranted. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891239
TI  - Inkjet-Assisted Nanotransfer Printing for Large-Scale Integrated Nanopatterns of
      Various Single-Crystal Organic Materials.
AB  - Inkjet-assisted nanotransfer printing (inkjet-NTP) facilitates spatial control of
      many arrays of various organic functional materials on a single substrate with a
      high-throughput integration process, enabling monolithic integration of various
      organic nanopatterns. Inkjet-NTP enables wafer-scale organic electronic circuits
      composed of field-effect transistors, complementary inverters, and p-n diodes,
      demonstrating its capability to produce a high-performance, multifunctional
      organic chip. 

PMID- 26891240
TI  - Olfactory bulbectomy-induced changes in phospholipids and protein profiles in the
      hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats. A preliminary study using a FTIR
      spectroscopy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dysfunctions in neuronal proteins can lead to development of
      depression. Lipids determine the localization and function of proteins in the
      cell membrane and thereby regulate synaptic throughput in neurons. The aim of
      study was to examine changes in the phospholipid-protein balance in the olfactory
      bulbectomy (OB) model of depression in rats using a Fourier transform infra-red
      (FTIR) spectroscopy. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to the OB
      procedure and treated with amitriptyline (AMI, 10mg/kg). The FTIR measurements
      were performed in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: The obtained
      results show a decrease in the phospholipids and protein fractions (as well as
      changes in their secondary structures) in both brain areas of bulbectomized rats.
      AMI treatment reduced phospholipids' and increased the proteins' brain level, yet
      did not affect the level of phospholipids or increase the proteins in OB rats.
      Second derivatives calculated from the FTIR spectra provided information that the
      proteins (but not phospholipids) in both structures of the OB_AMI rats were
      normalized after antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings prove that
      the changes in the phospholipid-protein balance in the hippocampus and prefrontal
      cortex may be related to depressive disorders, thus leading to the development of
      adverse changes in the molecules necessary for the correct functioning of the
      brain. Furthermore, these results suggest a stability of the structure
      changes/damage of phospholipids in depression, which are present in brain tissues
      even after effective pharmacotherapy. This study also shows that an infrared
      spectroscopy can be applied for monitoring changes in mood disorders.

PMID- 26891241
TI  - The effects of silibin administration for different time periods on mouse liver
      with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ehrlich ascites carcinoma is the one of the animal cancer models
      having high malignancy and rapid growth resistance. Silibin has reported to be an
      antioxidant in previous studies. We aimed to investigate the effects of silibin
      on mouse liver with Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells in different time periods.
      METHODS: Balb/c mice were divided into five groups. Group I (Control): The saline
      buffer (sb) was injected intraperitoneally (ip) to the mice for 15 days. Group II
      (Silibin): 150mg/kg silibin was injected ip for 15 days. Group III (Ehrlich):
      2*10(5) cells were transferred from the donor mouse to healthy mice on first day.
      Group IV (Ehrlich+Silibin): Silibin was given between 5th and 15th days to mice
      inoculated with EAT. Group V (Silibin+Ehrlich): Silibin was injected for 15 days
      after EAT cells. The liver sections were stained with matrix metalloproteinase-2
      and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), caspase 3, caspase 8, and proliferating cell nuclear
      antigen (PCNA) antibodies by the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique.
      Biochemical analysis and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP
      biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method were performed in the liver. RESULTS:
      Superoxide dismutase levels of liver increased in Ehrlich+Silibin group compared
      with Ehrlich group. Malondialdehyde levels significantly decreased in
      Silibin+Ehrlich group compared with Ehrlich+Silibin. MMP-2 and MMP-9
      immunopositive cells increased in Silibin+Ehrlich compared with Ehrlich group.
      Caspase 3 and TUNEL signals significantly increased in Silibin+Ehrlich group
      compared with Ehrlich group. PCNA positive signals significantly increased in
      Ehrlich+Silibin group compared with Ehrlich group. CONCLUSION: According to our
      findings, we suggest that silibin treatment after EAT cells inoculation has more
      effective than concurrently EAT and silibin treatment.

PMID- 26891243
TI  - Management of side effects of mTOR inhibitors in tuberous sclerosis patients.
AB  - mTOR inhibitors represent a relatively new therapeutic option in the management
      of patients affected by tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Randomized clinical
      trials support the use of everolimus in the treatment of subependymal giant cell
      astrocytomas (SEGA) and renal angiomyolipomas (AML) related to TSC. Accumulating
      data suggest also systemic disease-modifying potential of mTOR inhibitors. Given
      that increasing number of patients with TSC receive mTOR inhibitors, the issue of
      adverse events associated with this therapy becomes practically important. In the
      present study we provide the overview of clinical manifestations and therapeutic
      options for the most common adverse events related to mTOR inhibitors in TSC
      patients. 

PMID- 26891244
TI  - Role of silicon dangling bonds in the electronic properties of epitaxial graphene
      on silicon carbide.
AB  - In this paper, we study the electronic properties of epitaxial graphene (EG) on
      silicon carbide by means of ab initio calculations based on the local spin
      density approximation + U method taking into account the Coulomb interaction
      between Si localized electrons. We show that this interaction is not completely
      suppressed but is screened by carbon layers grown on-top of silicon carbide. This
      finding leads to a good qualitative understanding of the experimental results
      reported on EG on silicon carbide. Our results highlight the presence of the Si
      localized states and might explain the anomalous Hanle curve and the high values
      of spin relaxation time in EG. 

PMID- 26891242
TI  - Antinociceptive activity of novel amide derivatives of imidazolidine-2,4-dione in
      a mouse model of acute pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Antiepileptic drugs are commonly used in non-epileptic disorders. For
      example, phenytoin and levetiracetam demonstrate analgesic properties in rodent
      models of pain. In order to enhance their antinociceptive activity, structural
      features of phenytoin and levetiracetam, such as imidazolidine-2,4-dione and
      amide bond in alkyl chain, were combined in one molecule. Furthermore, in
      preliminary studies, methoxyphenylpiperazinpropyl derivatives of imidazolidine
      2,4-dione acted as antinociceptive agents in several rodent models of acute pain.
      METHODS: The final compounds and the reference drugs - levetiracetam and
      phenytoin were evaluated in the hot plate test to assess their antinociceptive
      activity in this acute pain model. Furthermore, for the analgesic active
      compounds the impact on animals' locomotor activity and motor performance were
      estimated and the affinity to serotonergic (5-HT1A, 5-HT7) and adrenergic
      (alpha1) receptors was determined. RESULTS: Three of the tested compounds: 7, 15
      and 18 showed statistically significant antinociceptive properties at the dose of
      30mg/kg. Among them, compound 18, 1-methyl-3-[1-(morpholin-4-yl)-1-oxobutan-2
      yl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione, exhibited the most significant and long-lasting
      antinociceptive activity. Noteworthy, this activity was not associated with a
      negative effect on animals' motor functions. Serotonergic or adrenergic
      neurotransmission is not involved in this antinociceptive effect. CONCLUSION:
      Some amide derivatives of imidazolidine-2,4-diones possess antinociceptive
      properties in mice but further studies are needed to explain their mechanism of
      action and assess their toxicity.

PMID- 26891246
TI  - pH-Responsive Hydrogel With an Anti-Glycation Agent for Modulating Experimental
      Periodontitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stimulus-responsive devices have emerged as a novel approach for
      local drug delivery. This study investigates the feasibility of a novel chitosan
      based, pH-responsive hydrogel loaded with N-phenacylthiazolium bromide (PTB),
      which cleaves the crosslinks of advanced glycation end products on the
      extracellular matrix. METHODS: A chitosan-based hydrogel loaded with PTB was
      fabricated, and the in vitro release profile was evaluated within pH 5.5 to 7.4.
      BALB/cJ mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were used to evaluate the effects during the
      induction and recovery phases of periodontitis, respectively, and animals in each
      phase were divided into four groups: 1) no periodontitis induction; 2) ligature
      induced experimental periodontitis (group PR); 3) experimental periodontitis plus
      hydrogel without PTB (group PH); and 4) experimental periodontitis plus hydrogel
      with PTB (group PP). The therapeutic effects were evaluated by microcomputed
      tomographic imaging of periodontal bone level (PBL) loss and histomorphometry for
      inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen density. RESULTS: PTB was released
      faster at pH 5.5 to 6.5 and consistently slower at pH 7.4. In the induction
      phase, PBL and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced in group
      PP relative to group PR, and the loss of collagen matrix was significantly
      reduced relative to that observed in group PH. In the recovery phase, PBL and
      inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced, and significantly
      greater collagen deposition was noted in group PP relative to groups PR and PH at
      4 and 14 days after silk removal. CONCLUSION: Chitosan-based, pH-responsive
      hydrogels loaded with PTB can retard the initiation of and facilitate the
      recovery from experimental periodontitis.

PMID- 26891245
TI  - Is "Sexual Competence" at First Heterosexual Intercourse Associated With
      Subsequent Sexual Health Status?
AB  - The timing of first sexual intercourse is often defined in terms of chronological
      age, with particular focus on "early" first sex. Arguments can be made for a more
      nuanced concept of readiness and appropriateness of timing of first intercourse.
      Using data from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles
      (Natsal-3), conducted in 2010-2012, this study examined whether a context-based
      measure of first intercourse-termed sexual competence-was associated with
      subsequent sexual health in a population-based sample of 17-to 24-year-olds
      residing in Britain (n = 2,784). Participants were classified as "sexually
      competent" at first intercourse if they reported the following four criteria:
      contraceptive protection, autonomy of decision (not due to external influences),
      that both partners were "equally willing," and that it happened at the "right
      time." A lack of sexual competence at first intercourse was independently
      associated with testing positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) at interview; low
      sexual function in the past year; and among women only, reported sexually
      transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis ever; unplanned pregnancy in the past year;
      and having ever experienced nonvolitional sex. These findings provide empirical
      support for defining the nature of first intercourse with reference to contextual
      aspects of the experience, as opposed to a sole focus on chronological age at
      occurrence.

PMID- 26891247
TI  - Depression and health-related quality of life among persons with sensory
      disabilities in a health professional shortage area.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The authors examined depression and health-related quality of life
      among individuals with self-reported sensory impairments living in a health
      professional shortage area. RESEARCH METHOD: Health surveys of residents were
      conducted in 2006 and 2010. Responses were analyzed by groups of residents
      reporting vision loss, hearing loss, dual hearing and vision loss, and no sensory
      loss. In 2006, the total sample size was n = 2,591, and in 2010, it was n =
      3,955. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CESD-5 scale (Shrout & Yager, 1989) was
      included in 2006, and the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001) was included
      in 2010. Rates of depression on the CESD-5 were determined by the recommended cut
      off scores and on the PHQ-9 by the recommended algorithm. The Centers for Disease
      Control (CDC) Healthy Days instrument (Moriarty, Zack, & Kobau, 2003) was used in
      both surveys to assess health-related quality of life. RESULTS: In both surveys,
      individuals who reported sensory loss had higher rates of depression and lower
      health-related quality of life than individuals with no reported sensory loss.
      CONCLUSIONS: Individuals reporting sensory loss had high rates of depression and
      a compromised quality of life compared to respondents without these impairments.
      These data imply strategic community-based health care services, including mental
      health initiatives, may be indicated for individuals with sensory loss living in
      underserved regions. Implications for rehabilitation psychology research,
      service, and policy are discussed as innovations in these areas are needed to
      better understand and address the disparities that may compromise the overall
      well-being of residents of underserved communities. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26891248
TI  - Neuropsychological functioning, coping, and quality of life among returning war
      veterans.
AB  - PURPOSE: The present research tested the hypothesis that action- and emotion
      focused coping strategies would mediate the relationship between
      neuropsychological functioning and quality of life among a sample of returning
      Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. METHOD: Veterans (N = 130) who served as part of the
      wars in Iraq and Afghanistan completed a diagnostic assessment of PTSD, a battery
      of questionnaires assessing coping style, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and
      quality of life, and neuropsychological tests measuring attention, learning and
      memory, working memory, inhibition, executive control, and visual motor
      coordination. RESULTS: Executive control, immediate and delayed verbal recall,
      and visual motor coordination were associated with quality of life. However,
      after controlling for the effects of combat exposure, PTSD, and probable TBI, no
      measure of neuropsychological functioning was directly associated with quality of
      life. Mediation analyses indicated that delayed verbal recall influenced quality
      of life through its effect on action-focused coping. CONCLUSIONS: Although
      replication is needed, these findings indicate that delayed verbal recall may
      indirectly influence quality of life among Iraq/Afghanistan veterans through its
      association with action-focused coping strategies. Psychologists who are working
      with veterans that are experiencing memory difficulties and poor quality of life
      may consider focusing on improving coping skills prior to rehabilitation of
      memory deficits. (PsycINFO Database Record

PMID- 26891251
TI  - Multitarget Drugs: an Epigenetic Epiphany.
AB  - Epigenetics refers to changes in a biological phenotype that are not due to an
      underlying change in genotype. In eukaryotes, epigenetics involves a set of
      chemical modifications of the DNA and the histone proteins in nucleosomes. These
      dynamic changes are carried out by enzymes and modulate protein-protein and
      protein-nucleic acid interactions to determine whether specific genes are
      expressed or silenced. Both the epigenetic enzymes and recognition domains are
      currently important drug discovery targets, particularly for the treatment of
      cancer. This review summarizes the progress of epigenetic targets that have
      reached a clinical stage: DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases, lysine
      methyltransferases, lysine demethylases, and bromodomains; this is followed by a
      comprehensive survey of multitarget drugs that have included an epigenetic target
      as one of their mechanisms of action.

PMID- 26891252
TI  - Bismuth(III)dichalcogenones as highly active catalysts in multiple C-C bond
      formation reactions.
AB  - Thirteen new bismuth(III) dichalcogenone derivatives of triflates and halides
      were synthesized and structurally characterized. The mono, di, tetra and
      heptanuclear complexes were isolated with different bismuth(III) coordination
      environments. These newly isolated bismuth(III)dichalcogenones were characterized
      by multinuclear NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, TGA and single crystal X-ray diffraction
      techniques. These complexes were tested for the synthesis of symmetrical triaryl-
      or triheteroarylmethanes and the catalysts were found to be highly active. In
      particular, the selone complexes were relatively more active than thione
      complexes. Subsequently, the scope of the catalytic reactions was further
      explored with different substituents.

PMID- 26891254
TI  - Mucosal serotonin overflow is associated with colonic stretch rather than phasic
      contractions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that mucosal serotonin (5-HT) is associated
      with motility, however, recently there have been some questions to the precise
      role of this transmitter. The majority of studies have focused on understanding
      the role of mucosal 5-HT on colonic migratory motor complexes, but very few
      studies have been carried out to understand how 5-HT release may be associated
      with other motility patterns. METHODS: Using distal colon segments from C57BL/6J
      mice, mucosal 5-HT overflow was monitored using amperometry while applying
      tension in longitudinal or circular directions to stretch the tissue. KEY
      RESULTS: Phasic and basal 5-HT levels were not associated with the strength of
      phasic contractions, while being altered using scopolamine and L-NNA. There was a
      significant increase in mucosal 5-HT with longitudinal and circular muscle
      stretch. A greater applied force was needed to activate 5-HT release in the
      circular muscle. In the longitudinal muscle, 5-HT levels increased with stretch
      until 3 mN, after which the levels returned back to baseline. This stretch-evoked
      5-HT overflow was inhibited by transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) agonist,
      30 MUM ruthenium red in both circular and longitudinal muscle preparations. The
      decreased 5-HT overflow after 3 mN of tension was reversed using a 5-HT4
      antagonist 100 nM GR113808. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Our findings show a
      relationship between colonic stretch and mucosal 5-HT overflow, while no
      relationship is observed with phasic colonic contractions. Such findings provide
      more insight into the role of mucosal 5-HT in influencing the pattern of colonic
      motility to diversify fecal propulsion.

PMID- 26891253
TI  - Prediabetes and diabetes among HIV-infected adults in Cameroon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and certain antiretrovirals are
      associated with diabetes. Few studies have examined the prevalence of and factors
      associated with diabetes among HIV-infected individuals on combination
      antiretroviral therapy (cART) in sub-Saharan Africa; some report prevalence
      estimates between 3.5-26.5% for diabetes in Cameroon and 20.2-43.5% for
      prediabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, HIV
      infected individuals (16-65 years old) were screened for diabetes using
      haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ). We further categorized HbA1C as normoglycemia (HbA1c  <
      5.7%), prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%) or diabetes (HbA1c   >= 6.5%). Dysglycemia
      was defined as HbA1c  >= 5.7%. Logistic regression modelling was used to assess
      factors associated with having dysglycemia. RESULTS: Of 500 participants, 363
      (72.6%) were female. Median age was 42.5 years [interquartile range (IQR): 36.5
      49.5]. Nineteen patients (3.8%) had diabetes and 170 patients (34%) were
      classified as having prediabetes. One hundred nine (22%) had a CD4+ count <200
      cells/mm(3) , and 464 (93%) had received >28 days of ART at time of screening.
      Median abdominal circumference for women was 79.5 cm (IQR: 75.5-85.3) and for
      men, 86.5 cm (IQR: 81.7-90.5). Adjusting for age, sex, socio-economic status, CD4
      cell count, being on cART >28 days, body mass index, hypertension, history of
      hypertension, abdominal circumference and duration of HIV infection, larger
      abdominal circumference was associated with higher prevalence of prediabetes or
      diabetes (adjusted odds ratio = 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.11), while
      being on cART (adjusted odds ratio = 0.46, confidence interval: 0.22-0.99) was
      associated with lower prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of
      dysglycemia among Cameroonian HIV-infected adults. Larger abdominal circumference
      was associated with higher prevalence, while cART was associated with lower
      prevalence. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891250
TI  - Finite element models of the human shoulder complex: a review of their clinical
      implications and modelling techniques.
AB  - The human shoulder is a complicated musculoskeletal structure and is a perfect
      compromise between mobility and stability. The objective of this paper is to
      provide a thorough review of previous finite element (FE) studies in biomechanics
      of the human shoulder complex. Those FE studies to investigate shoulder
      biomechanics have been reviewed according to the physiological and clinical
      problems addressed: glenohumeral joint stability, rotator cuff tears, joint
      capsular and labral defects and shoulder arthroplasty. The major findings,
      limitations, potential clinical applications and modelling techniques of those FE
      studies are critically discussed. The main challenges faced in order to
      accurately represent the realistic physiological functions of the shoulder
      mechanism in FE simulations involve (1) subject-specific representation of the
      anisotropic nonhomogeneous material properties of the shoulder tissues in both
      healthy and pathological conditions; (2) definition of boundary and loading
      conditions based on individualised physiological data; (3) more comprehensive
      modelling describing the whole shoulder complex including appropriate three
      dimensional (3D) representation of all major shoulder hard tissues and soft
      tissues and their delicate interactions; (4) rigorous in vivo experimental
      validation of FE simulation results. Fully validated shoulder FE models would
      greatly enhance our understanding of the aetiology of shoulder disorders, and
      hence facilitate the development of more efficient clinical diagnoses, non
      surgical and surgical treatments, as well as shoulder orthotics and prosthetics.
      (c) 2016 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical
      Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26891256
TI  - Fecal Immunochemical Test Versus Fecal Calprotectin for Prediction of Mucosal
      Healing in Crohn's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mucosal healing (MH) has been proposed as a treatment goal of
      inflammatory bowel disease patients. We reported recently that not only fecal
      calprotectin (Fcal) but also the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) can predict MH
      in ulcerative colitis. However, the predictive power of the fecal markers for MH
      in Crohn's disease (CD), particularly with small bowel lesions, has not been
      reported in detail. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictability of
      FIT versus Fcal for MH in CD. METHODS: Consecutive CD patients underwent
      colonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy according to the disease location.
      FIT and Fcal were examined using stool samples collected the day before
      endoscopy. RESULTS: Seventy-one CD patients were analyzed, of whom 42 (59%)
      underwent balloon-assisted enteroscopy because of the presence of affected
      lesions in the small intestine. Both the Fcal and the FIT results were
      significantly correlated with endoscopic activity (r = 0.67 and 0.54,
      respectively). However, the FIT results did not correlate with the activity in
      patients with small bowel lesions alone, whereas Fcal did (r = 0.42 versus 0.78).
      Fcal predicted MH in CD with 87% sensitivity and 71% specificity, whereas the
      values for FIT were 96% and 48%, respectively. The specificity for MH among
      patients with small bowel lesions alone was low for FIT (40%) compared with Fcal
      (80%). CONCLUSIONS: Both FIT and Fcal were correlated with the mucosal status of
      CD. However, the specificity of FIT was not satisfactory, particularly for small
      bowel lesions.

PMID- 26891255
TI  - HLA-C*01 is a Risk Factor for Crohn's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A dysregulated mucosal immune response to the intestinal environment
      in a genetically susceptible host is hypothesized to be critical to the
      pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Therefore, we examined CD-susceptibility
      genes involved in the immune response through a genome-wide association study and
      consecutive genotyping of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and killer cell
      immunoglobulin-like receptors. METHODS: An initial genome-wide association study
      was performed with 275 CD patients and 2369 controls from a Korean population. To
      validate the loci identified in the genome-wide association study, replication
      genotyping was performed in a different cohort of 242 CD patients and 1066
      controls. Finally, high-resolution genotyping of HLA and killer cell
      immunoglobulin-like receptor was performed. RESULTS: Four susceptibility loci, a
      promoter region in tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily member (TNFSF15)
      and 3 independent regions in HLAs, showed significant associations with CD. Among
      them, rs114985235 in the intergenic region between HLA-B and HLA-C showed the
      strongest association, with an increased risk of CD (P = 8.71 * 10; odds ratio,
      2.25). HLA typing in this region showed HLA-C*01 to be responsible for the
      association of CD among 43 HLA-B and HLA-C genotypes identified in the Korean
      population. However, the interaction of HLA-C with killer cell immunoglobulin
      like receptor had little effect on the development of CD. CONCLUSIONS: We newly
      identified HLA-C*01 as a prominent CD-susceptibility HLA allotype in the Korean
      population. In addition, these results confirm that genetic variations in immune
      response genes, such as HLAs and TNFSF15, are important host factors for the
      pathogenesis of CD.

PMID- 26891257
TI  - PDCD4 Deficiency Aggravated Colitis and Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer Via
      Promoting IL-6/STAT3 Pathway in Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although programmed cell death (PDCD) 4 is generally considered to be
      a new tumor suppressor, the consequence of Pdcd4 deficiency in tumorigenesis is
      not well established. The role of PDCD4 in colitis-associated colorectal
      carcinoma (CRC) remains unknown. METHODS: Experimental colitis and CRC were
      induced by dextran sodium sulfate and dextran sodium sulfate with azoxymethane,
      respectively, in wild type and Pdcd4 knockout (Pdcd4(-/-)) mice and were
      evaluated by clinical examination and histopathology. Levels of cytokines were
      detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in signaling pathways were
      examined by Western blot and immunofluorescent staining. Cell proliferation was
      determined by BrdU incorporation and Cell Counting Kit-8 staining. RESULTS: Pdcd4
      deficiency not only aggravated the dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis
      but also promoted the development of colitis-induced CRC. Mechanically, Pdcd4
      deficiency accelerated epithelial cell proliferation during tumorigenesis,
      markedly up-regulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as
      interleukin (IL)-6, and enhanced the activation of signal transducer and
      activator of transcription (STAT3), a IL-6 downstream effector. Using purified
      cells, we found that Pdcd4 deficiency increased IL-6 expression in vitro and the
      susceptibility to IL-6/STAT3 pathway-mediated cell proliferation significantly.
      Furthermore, blockade of IL-6/STAT3 pathway through sgp130Fc reversed the
      promoting effect of Pdcd4 deficiency on colonic epithelial cell proliferation in
      vivo. CONCLUSION: The Pdcd4 deficiency accelerates colitis and colitis-associated
      CRC presumably through up-regulating IL-6/STAT3 pathway, suggesting that PDCD4
      plays a protective role in inflammation-associated carcinoma and might be a
      potential target for the treatment of CRC.

PMID- 26891258
TI  - Reduced Human alpha-defensin 6 in Noninflamed Jejunal Tissue of Patients with
      Crohn's Disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mucosal barrier dysfunction is considered a critical component of
      Crohn's disease (CD) pathogenesis after the identification of susceptibility
      genes. However, the precise mechanism underlying mucosal barrier dysfunction has
      not yet been elucidated. We therefore aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism
      underlying the expression of human alpha-defensin 6 (HD6) in patients with CD.
      METHODS: HD6 expression was induced by the transfection of an atonal homolog 1
      (Atoh1) transgene and was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction. The HD6 promoter region targeted by Atoh1 and beta-catenin was
      determined by reporter analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.
      HD5/HD6/Atoh1/beta-catenin expression in noninflamed jejunal samples collected by
      balloon endoscopy from 15 patients with CD and 9 non-inflammatory bowel disease
      patients were assessed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Both promoter activity and
      gene expression of HD6 was significantly upregulated by the Atoh1 transgene in
      human colonic cancer cell line. We identified a TCF4 binding site and an E-box
      site, critical for the regulation of HD6 transcriptional activity by directly
      binding of Atoh1 in the 200-bp HD6 promoter region. The treatment with beta
      catenin inhibitor also decreases HD6 promoter activity and gene expression.
      Moreover, HD6 expression, but not HD5 expression, was found to be decreased in
      noninflamed jejunal regions from patients with CD. In HD6-negative crypts,
      nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin was impaired. CONCLUSIONS: HD6 expression
      was found to be regulated by cooperation between Atoh1 and beta-catenin within
      the HD6 promoter region. Downregulation of HD6 in noninflamed mucosa may
      contribute to mucosal barrier dysfunction of patients with CD.

PMID- 26891259
TI  - Clostridium Difficile Infection in Ulcerative Colitis: Can Alteration of the Gut
      associated Microbiome Contribute to Pouch Failure?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis is frequently treated with total proctocolectomy
      and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis reconstruction. Causes of pouch failure and
      criteria for improved patient selection remain poorly understood. We aimed to
      identify risk factors for pouch failure. METHODS: We performed a retrospective
      chart review of patients in a prospectively maintained database. Consecutive
      patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel disease
      between 2000 and 2010 at our institution were included. The primary outcome was
      pouch failure, defined as permanent ostomy diversion or pouch excision. RESULTS:
      Of 417 total patients, 28 (6.7%) patients developed pouch failure. Pouch failure
      was associated with female gender, anastomotic leak, Crohn's disease of the pouch
      and preoperative Clostridium difficile colitis. The use of anti-tumor necrosis
      factor alpha biologics was not associated with pouch failure. Notably, 14.9% of
      patients were diagnosed with preoperative C. difficile colitis, a factor
      independently associated with pouch failure (hazard ratio 3.02; 95% confidence
      interval, 1.23-7.44; P = 0.016). C. difficile colitis did not contribute to
      failure by increasing the incidence of anastomotic leak but was associated with a
      diagnosis of Crohn's disease of the pouch (adjusted hazard ratio 2.27 [1.08
      4.79]; P = 0.031). Anastomotic leak (P < 0.001) and pelvic abscess requiring
      drainage (P = 0.031) were other independent risk factors for pouch failure.
      CONCLUSIONS: In addition to previously known risk factors, history of
      preoperative C. difficile colitis was associated with pouch failure after
      reconstruction, suggesting the need for further study into the role of the gut
      associated microbiome in pouch outcomes.

PMID- 26891262
TI  - Editorial.

PMID- 26891261
TI  - How to Diagnose and Treat IBD Mimics in the Refractory IBD Patient Who Does Not
      Have IBD.
AB  - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the
      gastrointestinal tract and includes both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
      Patients with IBD often present with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal
      bleeding but may also have a wide variety of other symptoms such as weight loss,
      fever, nausea, vomiting, and possibly obstruction. Given that the presentation of
      IBD is not specific, the differential diagnosis is broad and encompasses a wide
      spectrum of diseases, many of which can mimic and/or even coexist with IBD. It is
      important for physicians to differentiate symptoms due to refractory IBD from
      symptoms due to IBD mimics when a patient is not responding to standard IBD
      treatment. Many of the various IBD mimics include infectious etiologies (viral,
      bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, protozoal, and helminthic infections), vascular
      causes, other immune causes including autoimmune etiologies, drug-induced
      processes, radiation-induced, and other etiologies such as small intestinal
      bacterial overgrowth, diverticulitis, and bile acid malabsorption. Thoughtful
      consideration and evaluation of these potential etiologies through patient
      history and physical examination, as well as appropriate tests, endoscopic
      evaluation, and cross-sectional imaging is required to evaluate any patient
      presenting with symptoms consistent with IBD. 

PMID- 26891263
TI  - Identification of by-products in support of process development of Muraglitazar.

PMID- 26891260
TI  - Inhibition of Interleukin-10 Signaling Induces Microbiota-dependent Chronic
      Colitis in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) mediates potent antiinflammatory and
      immunomodulatory properties in addition to its roles in regulating cholesterol
      transport and metabolism. However, its role in the intestine, specifically during
      inflammation, is largely unknown. METHODS: Mice (C57BL/6 or ApoE-deficient [ApoE
      KO] mice) were administered either single or 4 injections (weekly) of anti
      interleukin (IL)-10 receptor monoclonal antibody (1.0 mg/mouse;
      intraperitoneally) and euthanized 1 week after the last injection. 16S rRNA
      sequencing was performed in fecal samples to analyze the gut bacterial load and
      its composition. Microbiota was ablated by administration of broad-spectrum
      antibiotics in drinking water. IL-10KO mice were cohoused with ApoE-KO mice or
      their wild-type littermates to monitor the colitogenic potential of gut
      microbiota harbored in ApoE-KO mice. RESULTS: ApoE-KO mice developed severe
      colitis upon neutralization of IL-10 signaling as assessed by every parameter
      analyzed. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the ApoE-KO mice display elevated and
      altered gut microbiota that were accompanied with impaired production of
      intestinal antimicrobial peptides. Interestingly, microbiota ablation ameliorates
      colitis development in ApoE-KO mice. Exacerbated and accelerated colitis was
      observed in IL-10KO mice when cohoused with ApoE-KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      highlights a novel interplay between ApoE and IL-10 in maintaining gut
      homeostasis and that such crosstalk may play a critical role in the pathogenesis
      of inflammatory bowel disease. Gut sterilization and the cohousing experiment
      suggest that microbiota play a pivotal role in the development of inflammatory
      bowel disease in mice lacking ApoE.

PMID- 26891265
TI  - Intraoperative transconjunctival mitomycin-C application for needle revision of
      trabeculectomy.

PMID- 26891264
TI  - No Interaction with Alcohol Consumption, but Independent Effect of C12orf51
      (HECTD4) on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korean Adults Aged 40-69 Years: The
      KoGES_Ansan and Ansung Study.
AB  - Previously, genetic polymorphisms of C12orf51 (HECTD4) (rs2074356 and/or
      rs11066280) have been shown to be related to alcohol consumption and type 2
      diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to prospectively examine whether C12orf51 had an
      interaction with or independent effect on alcohol consumption and the risk of
      T2D. The present study included 3,244 men and 3,629 women aged 40 to 69 years who
      participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)_Ansan and Ansung
      Study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs for
      T2D. rs2074356 and rs11066280 were associated with the risk of T2D after
      adjusting for alcohol consumption (rs2074356 for AA: HR = 0.39 and 95% CI = 0.17
      0.87 in men, and HR = 0.36 and 95% CI = 0.13-0.96 in women; rs11066280 for AA: HR
      = 0.44 and 95% CI = 0.23-0.86 in men, and HR = 0.39 and 95% CI = 0.16-0.94 in
      women). We identified that the association of each variant (rs2074356 and
      rs11065756) in C12orf51 was nearly unchanged after adjusted for alcohol
      consumption. Therefore, the association of 2 SNPs in C12orf51 with diabetes may
      not be mediated by alcohol use. There was no interaction effect between alcohol
      consumption and the SNPs with T2D. However, even in never-drinkers, minor allele
      homozygote strongly influenced T2D risk reduction (rs2074356 for AA: HR = 0.35,
      95% CI = 0.14-0.90, and p-trend = 0.0035 in men and HR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.13
      0.93, and p-trend = 0.2348 in women; rs11066280 for AA: HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16
      0.82, and p-trend = 0.0014 in men and HR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16-0.95, and p-trend
      = 0.3790 in women), while alcohol consumption did not influence the risk of T2D
      within each genotype. rs2074356 and rs11066280 in or near C12orf51, which is
      related to alcohol drinking behavior, may longitudinally decrease the risk of
      T2D, but not through regulation of alcohol consumption. 

PMID- 26891267
TI  - Matrix metalloprotease activity shapes the magnitude of EPSPs and spike
      plasticity within the hippocampal CA3 network.

PMID- 26891269
TI  - Multi-pollutant exposure profiles associated with term low birth weight in Los
      Angeles County.
AB  - Research indicates that multiple outdoor air pollutants and adverse neighborhood
      conditions are spatially correlated. Yet health risks associated with concurrent
      exposure to air pollution mixtures and clustered neighborhood factors remain
      underexplored. Statistical models to assess the health effects from pollutant
      mixtures remain limited, due to problems of collinearity between pollutants and
      area-level covariates, and increases in covariate dimensionality. Here we
      identify pollutant exposure profiles and neighborhood contextual profiles within
      Los Angeles (LA) County. We then relate these profiles with term low birth weight
      (TLBW). We used land use regression to estimate NO2, NO, and PM2.5 concentrations
      averaged over census block groups to generate pollutant exposure profile clusters
      and census block group-level contextual profile clusters, using a Bayesian
      profile regression method. Pollutant profile cluster risk estimation was
      implemented using a multilevel hierarchical model, adjusting for individual-level
      covariates, contextual profile cluster random effects, and modeling of spatially
      structured and unstructured residual error. Our analysis found 13 clusters of
      pollutant exposure profiles. Correlations between study pollutants varied widely
      across the 13 pollutant clusters. Pollutant clusters with elevated NO2, NO, and
      PM2.5 concentrations exhibited increased log odds of TLBW, and those with low
      PM2.5, NO2, and NO concentrations showed lower log odds of TLBW. The spatial
      patterning of pollutant cluster effects on TLBW, combined with between-pollutant
      correlations within pollutant clusters, imply that traffic-related primary
      pollutants influence pollutant cluster TLBW risks. Furthermore, contextual
      clusters with the greatest log odds of TLBW had more adverse neighborhood
      socioeconomic, demographic, and housing conditions. Our data indicate that, while
      the spatial patterning of high-risk multiple pollutant clusters largely overlaps
      with adverse contextual neighborhood cluster, both contribute to TLBW while
      controlling for the other. 

PMID- 26891268
TI  - Ingression Progression Complexes Control Extracellular Matrix Remodelling during
      Cytokinesis in Budding Yeast.
AB  - Eukaryotic cells must coordinate contraction of the actomyosin ring at the
      division site together with ingression of the plasma membrane and remodelling of
      the extracellular matrix (ECM) to support cytokinesis, but the underlying
      mechanisms are still poorly understood. In eukaryotes, glycosyltransferases that
      synthesise ECM polysaccharides are emerging as key factors during cytokinesis.
      The budding yeast chitin synthase Chs2 makes the primary septum, a special layer
      of the ECM, which is an essential process during cell division. Here we isolated
      a group of actomyosin ring components that form complexes together with Chs2 at
      the cleavage site at the end of the cell cycle, which we named 'ingression
      progression complexes' (IPCs). In addition to type II myosin, the IQGAP protein
      Iqg1 and Chs2, IPCs contain the F-BAR protein Hof1, and the cytokinesis
      regulators Inn1 and Cyk3. We describe the molecular mechanism by which chitin
      synthase is activated by direct association of the C2 domain of Inn1, and the
      transglutaminase-like domain of Cyk3, with the catalytic domain of Chs2. We used
      an experimental system to find a previously unanticipated role for the C-terminus
      of Inn1 in preventing the untimely activation of Chs2 at the cleavage site until
      Cyk3 releases the block on Chs2 activity during late mitosis. These findings
      support a model for the co-ordinated regulation of cell division in budding
      yeast, in which IPCs play a central role. 

PMID- 26891270
TI  - Time trends of perfluorinated alkyl acids in serum from Danish pregnant women
      2008-2013.
AB  - We aimed to estimate the levels and time trends of perfluorinated alkyl acids
      (PFAAs) in serum of 1533 Danish pregnant nulliparous women between 2008 and 2013.
      The selection criterion of only including nulliparous women was chosen to avoid
      confounding from parity. The serum samples were analyzed for sixteen PFAAs using
      solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC
      MS/MS). We investigated the time trends for seven PFAAs, which were detected in
      more than 50% of the samples: perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane
      sulfonate (PFHpS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid
      (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and
      perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA). We found that the serum levels of all seven
      PFAAs decreased during the period from 2008 to 2013; on average PFHxS decreased
      with 7.0% per year, PFHpS with 14.8%, PFOS with 9.3%, PFOA with 9.1%, PFNA with
      6.2%, PFDA with 6.3%, and PFUnA with 7.1% per year. Adjustment for maternal age,
      body mass index (BMI), educational level and gestational age at blood sampling
      did not change the time trends much. To our knowledge, we are the first to report
      decreasing trends of PFNA, PFDA and PFUnA since year 2000, thereby indicating
      that the phase-out of these compounds are beginning to show an effect on human
      serum levels. 

PMID- 26891271
TI  - Chronic liquid nutrition feeding affects blood pressure, heart and kidney
      morphology, and serum lipid profile in Wistar rats.
AB  - We determined the effect of chronic liquid nutrition (Fresubin) intake in
      different developmental stages on the cardiovascular and renal system of male
      Wistar rats. Body weight, water intake and blood pressure were periodically
      measured. Selected serum and urine biochemical parameters reflecting metabolic
      and homeostatic changes after Fresubin intake were investigated as well. Heart
      and kidney weight, diameter of cardiomyocytes, diameter and length of
      cardiomyocyte nuclei, wall thickness of thoracic aorta, the diameter and the area
      of renal corpuscles and serum and urine biochemical parameters were assessed at
      the end of experiment. We showed that Fresubin intake differently affects the
      investigated morphological and biochemical parameters in rats and this effect was
      dependent on the developmental stage when Fresubin was provided. Importantly, we
      have shown that Fresubin-induced elevation of blood pressure is a reversible
      phenomenon and it is independent of weight gain and subsequent development of
      obesity. 

PMID- 26891272
TI  - Sonodynamic therapy induces apoptosis of human leukemia HL-60 cells in the
      presence of protoporphyrin IX.
AB  - Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is expected to be a novel therapeutic strategy for
      tumor. The protoporphyrin IX disodium salt (PpIX), a photosensitizer, can be
      activated by ultrasound. The present study aims to investigate apoptosis of HL-60
      cells induced by PpIX-mediated SDT. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl
      tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was adopted to examine cell toxicity. Apoptosis
      was detected using Annexin V-PE/7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) double staining.
      Detection of apoptotic bodies was examined by Hoechst33342 (HO) staining. Western
      blotting was used to analyze the protein of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose
      polymerase (PARP). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by a
      flow cytometer after exposures. Compared with PpIX alone and ultrasound alone
      groups, the synergistic cytotoxicity of PpIX plus ultrasound were significantly
      boosted. In addition, as determined by Annexin V-PE/7-AAD staining, SDT
      significantly induced HL-60 cell apoptosis, the obvious nuclear condensation was
      also found with HO staining at 4 hours post-SDT treatment. Furthermore, Western
      blotting showed visible enhancement of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage in this
      process. Besides, intracellular ROS production was significantly enhanced after
      SDT. Our findings demonstrate that PpIX-mediated SDT could induce apoptosis on HL
      60 cells, suggesting that apoptosis is an important mechanism of cell death
      induced by PpIX-mediated SDT. 

PMID- 26891273
TI  - beta-Adrenergic signaling in rat heart is similarly affected by continuous and
      intermittent normobaric hypoxia.
AB  - Chronic hypoxia may produce a cardioprotective phenotype characterized by
      increased resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Nevertheless, the molecular
      basis of cardioprotective effects of hypoxia is still not quite clear. The
      present study investigated the consequences of a 3-week adaptation to
      cardioprotective (CNH, continuous normobaric hypoxia) and nonprotective (INH,
      intermittent normobaric hypoxia; 23 h/day hypoxia followed by 1 h/day
      reoxygenation) regimen of hypoxia on beta-adrenergic signaling in the rat
      myocardium. Both regimens of hypoxia lowered body weight and led to marked right
      ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, which was accompanied by 25% loss of beta1
      adrenergic receptors (beta1-ARs) in the RV. No significant changes were found in
      beta-ARs in left ventricular (LV) preparations from animals adapted to hypoxia.
      Although adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity stimulated through the G proteins was
      decreased in the RV and increased in the LV after exposure to hypoxia, there were
      no significant changes in the expression of the dominant myocardial AC 5/6
      isoforms and the stimulatory G proteins. These data suggest that chronic
      normobaric hypoxia may strongly affect myocardial beta-adrenergic signaling but
      adaptation to cardioprotective and nonprotective regimens of hypoxia does not
      cause notably diverse changes. 

PMID- 26891275
TI  - Comparative analysis of mesenchymal stromal cells from different tissue sources
      in respect to articular cartilage tissue engineering.
AB  - The main goal of this study was a comparison of biological properties of
      mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) obtained from bone marrow, adipose tissue and
      umbilical cord with respect to articular cartilage regeneration. MSCs were
      isolated and expanded in vitro up to the third passage. The kinetics of
      proliferation was analyzed by cell analyzer CEDEX XS and expression of selected
      markers was assessed by flow cytometry. The morphology was analyzed by inverted
      microscope and TEM. Pellet culture system and chondrogenic medium containing TGF
      beta1 was used to induce chondrogenic differentiation. Chondrogenesis was
      analyzed by real-time PCR; the expression of collagen type I and type II was
      compared. MSCs from all sources showed similar kinetics of proliferation and
      shared expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105; and were negative for CD14, CD20, CD34
      and CD45. Observation under inverted microscope and TEM showed similar morphology
      of all analyzed MSCs. Cells from all sources underwent chondrogenic
      differentiation - they expressed collagen type II and acid mucopolysaccharides
      typical for hyaline cartilage. On the basis of obtained results it should be
      emphasized that MSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord share
      biological properties. They possess the chondrogenic potential and may be
      utilized in cartilage tissue engineering. 

PMID- 26891274
TI  - Photoactivated hypericin is not genotoxic.
AB  - The study was designed to test the potential photogenotoxicity of hypericin (HYP)
      at three different levels: primary DNA damages, gene mutations and chromosome
      aberrations. Primary genetic changes were detected using the comet assay. The
      potential mutagenic activity of HYP was assessed using the Ames/Salmonella
      typhimurium assay. Finally, the ability of photoactivated HYP to induce
      chromosome aberrations was evaluated by the in vitro mammalian chromosome
      aberration test and compared to that of non-photoactivated HYP. The results have
      shown that photoactivated HYP can only induce primary DNA damages (single-strand
      DNA breaks), acting in a dose-response manner. This activity depended both on HYP
      concentrations and an intensity of the light energy needed for its
      photoactivation. However, mutagenic effect of photoactivated HYP evaluated in the
      Ames assay using three bacterial strains S. typhimurium (TA97, TA98 and TA100)
      was not confirmed. Moreover, photoactivated HYP in the range of concentrations
      (0.005-0.01 ug/ml) was not found to be clastogenic against HepG2 cells. Our
      findings from both the Ames assay and the chromosome aberrations test provide
      evidence that photoactivated HYP is not genotoxic, which might be of great
      importance mainly in terms of its use in the photodynamic therapy. 

PMID- 26891276
TI  - Selective Inhibition of Aggregation and Toxicity of a Tau-Derived Peptide using
      Its Glycosylated Analogues.
AB  - Protein glycosylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification that
      regulates the folding and function of many proteins. Misfolding of protein
      monomers and their toxic aggregation are the hallmark of many prevalent diseases.
      Thus, understanding the role of glycans in protein aggregation is highly
      important and could contribute both to unraveling the pathology of protein
      misfolding diseases as well as providing a means for modifying their course for
      therapeutic purposes. Using beta-O-linked glycosylated variants of the highly
      studied Tau-derived hexapeptide motif VQIVYK, which served as a simplified
      amyloid model, we demonstrate that amyloid formation and toxicity can be strongly
      attenuated by a glycan unit, depending on the nature of the glycan itself.
      Importantly, we show for the first time that not only do glycans hinder self
      aggregation, but the glycosylated peptides are capable of inhibiting aggregation
      of the non-modified corresponding amyloid scaffold. 

PMID- 26891277
TI  - Increased expression of fibroblast growth factor 13 in prostate cancer is
      associated with shortened time to biochemical recurrence after radical
      prostatectomy.
AB  - Fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) belong to the fibroblast
      growth factor (FGF) superfamily, which plays an important role in prostate cancer
      (PCa). Mining of public database suggests that FGF13 (FHF2) mRNA expression is
      altered in over 30% of PCa cases. This study examined the FGF13 expression
      pattern in human PCa specimens and evaluated its potential as a biomarker for
      patient outcome after radical prostatectomy (RP). Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
      showed that FGF13 was detectable in the majority of human PCa samples, and FGF13
      IHC scores were higher in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, in
      primary PCa and in metastatic PCa than in benign prostatic tissue. There was a
      significant association between high cytoplasmic FGF13 staining and a risk of
      biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP. This was also evident in the intermediate
      to high-risk patient groups. In contrast, positive nuclear FGF13 staining along
      with low cytoplasmic FGF13 group showed a decreased BCR risk. Multivariate
      regression analysis indicated that high cytoplasmic FGF13 staining was associated
      with BCR and that this could serve as an independent prognostic marker in PCa.
      Several PCa cell lines showed increased FGF13 expression at the mRNA and protein
      levels compared to the immortalized prostate epithelial cell line PNT1a. Analysis
      of co-labeled cells suggested a possible interaction of FGF13 with alpha-tubulin
      and the voltage-gated sodium channel proteins (Na(V)s/VGSCs). Our data indicate
      that, for PCa patients after RP, FGF13 serves as a potential novel prognostic
      marker that improves prediction of BCR-free survival, in particular if combined
      with other clinical parameters.

PMID- 26891278
TI  - Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess
      Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity.
AB  - Typically, self-reports are used in educational research to assess student
      response and performance to a classroom activity. Yet, addition of biological and
      physiological measures such as salivary biomarkers and galvanic skin responses
      are rarely included, limiting the wealth of information that can be obtained to
      better understand student performance. A laboratory protocol to study
      undergraduate students' responses to classroom events (e.g., exams) is presented.
      Participants were asked to complete a representative exam for their degree.
      Before and after the laboratory exam session, students completed an academic
      achievement emotions self-report and an interview that paralleled these questions
      when participants wore a galvanic skin sensor and salivary biomarkers were
      collected. Data collected from the three methods resulted in greater depth of
      information about students' performance when compared to the self-report. The
      work can expand educational research capabilities through more comprehensive
      methods for obtaining nearer to real-time student responses to an examination
      activity. 

PMID- 26891279
TI  - Copper(II)-catalyzed C5 and C7 halogenation of quinolines using sodium halides
      under mild conditions.
AB  - A simple and mild protocol for copper catalyzed halogenation of quinoline at C5
      and C7 positions was developed, affording the desired remote C-H activation
      products in moderate to good yields. This reaction proceeds with low-cost sodium
      halides (NaX, X = Cl, Br, I) and features excellent substrate tolerance. A series
      of control experiments were carried out to illustrate a single-electron-transfer
      process which plays a vital role in the halogenation. 

PMID- 26891280
TI  - Reply to Comment on: The UK Experience of a Treatment Strategy for Pediatric
      Metastatic Medulloblastoma Comprising Intensive Induction Chemotherapy,
      Hyperfractionated Accelerated Radiotherapy, and Response-Directed High-Dose
      Myeloablative Chemotherapy or Maintenance Chemotherapy (Milan Strategy).

PMID- 26891282
TI  - Synthesis of Cd-free InP/ZnS Quantum Dots Suitable for Biomedical Applications.
AB  - Fluorescent nanocrystals, specifically quantum dots, have been a useful tool for
      many biomedical applications. For successful use in biological systems, quantum
      dots should be highly fluorescent and small/monodisperse in size. While commonly
      used cadmium-based quantum dots possess these qualities, they are potentially
      toxic due to the possible release of Cd(2+) ions through nanoparticle
      degradation. Indium-based quantum dots, specifically InP/ZnS, have recently been
      explored as a viable alternative to cadmium-based quantum dots due to their
      relatively similar fluorescence characteristics and size. The synthesis presented
      here uses standard hot-injection techniques for effective nanoparticle growth;
      however, nanoparticle properties such as size, emission wavelength, and emission
      intensity can drastically change due to small changes in the reaction conditions.
      Therefore, reaction conditions such temperature, reaction duration, and precursor
      concentration should be maintained precisely to yield reproducible products.
      Because quantum dots are not inherently soluble in aqueous solutions, they must
      also undergo surface modification to impart solubility in water. In this
      protocol, an amphiphilic polymer is used to interact with both hydrophobic
      ligands on the quantum dot surface and bulk solvent water molecules. Here, a
      detailed protocol is provided for the synthesis of highly fluorescent InP/ZnS
      quantum dots that are suitable for use in biomedical applications. 

PMID- 26891283
TI  - Synthetic Strategy and Anti-Tumor Activities of Macrocyclic Scaffolds Based on 4
      Hydroxyproline.
AB  - A series of novel 13- to 15-member hydroxyproline-based macrocycles, which
      contain alkyl-alkyl ether and alkyl-aryl ether moieties, have been synthesized by
      the strategy of macrocyclization utilising azide-alkyne cycloaddition, Mitsunobu
      protocol and amide formation. Their anti-tumor activities towards A549, MDA-MB
      231 and Hep G2 cells were screened in vitro by an MTT assay. The results
      indicated that 13-member macrocycle 33 containing alkene chain showed the best
      results, exhibiting the highest inhibitory effects towards lung cancer cell line
      A549, which was higher than that of the reference cisplatin (IC50 value = 2.55
      umol/L). 

PMID- 26891281
TI  - An enzymatic deconjugation method for the analysis of small molecule active drugs
      on antibody-drug conjugates.
AB  - Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex therapeutic agents that use the
      specific targeting properties of antibodies and the highly potent cytotoxicity of
      small molecule drugs to selectively eliminate tumor cells while limiting the
      toxicity to normal healthy tissues. Two critical quality attributes of ADCs are
      the purity and stability of the active small molecule drug linked to the ADC, but
      these are difficult to assess once the drug is conjugated to the antibody. In
      this study, we report a enzyme deconjugation approach to cleave small molecule
      drugs from ADCs, which allows the drugs to be subsequently characterized by
      reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The model ADC we used in
      this study utilizes a valine-citrulline linker that is designed to be sensitive
      to endoproteases after internalization by tumor cells. We screened several
      proteases to determine the most effective enzyme. Among the 3 cysteine proteases
      evaluated, papain had the best efficiency in cleaving the small molecule drug
      from the model ADC. The deconjugation conditions were further optimized to
      achieve complete cleavage of the small molecule drug. This papain deconjugation
      approach demonstrated excellent specificity and precision. The purity and
      stability of the active drug on an ADC drug product was evaluated and the major
      degradation products of the active drug were identified. The papain deconjugation
      method was also applied to several other ADCs, with the results suggesting it
      could be applied generally to ADCs containing a valine-citrulline linker. Our
      results indicate that the papain deconjugation method is a powerful tool for
      characterizing the active small molecule drug conjugated to an ADC, and may be
      useful in ensuring the product quality, efficacy and the safety of ADCs.

PMID- 26891284
TI  - Constructing a MoS2 QDs/CdS Core/Shell Flowerlike Nanosphere Hierarchical
      Heterostructure for the Enhanced Stability and Photocatalytic Activity.
AB  - MoS2 quantum dots (QDs)/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a hierarchical
      heterostructure have been prepared by a simple microwave hydrothermal method. The
      as-prepared samples are characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-VIS diffuse
      reflectance spectra (DRS) and N2-sorption in detail. The photocatalytic
      activities of the samples are evaluated by water splitting into hydrogen. Results
      show that the as-prepared MoS2 QDs/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a diameter of
      about 300 nm are composed of the shell of CdS nanorods and the core of MoS2 QDs.
      For the photocatalytic reaction, the samples exhibit a high stability of the
      photocatalytic activity and a much higher hydrogen evolution rate than the pure
      CdS, the composite prepared by a physical mixture, and the Pt-loaded CdS sample.
      In addition, the stability of CdS has also been greatly enhanced. The effect of
      the reaction time on the formations of nanospheres, the photoelectric properties
      and the photocatalytic activities of the samples has been investigated. Finally,
      a possible photocatalytic reaction process has also been proposed. 

PMID- 26891285
TI  - Synthesis, Molecular Structure Optimization, and Cytotoxicity Assay of a Novel 2
      Acetyl-3-amino-5-[(2-oxopropyl)sulfanyl]-4-cyanothiophene.
AB  - A novel thiophene-containing compound, 2-acetyl-3-amino-5-[(2-oxopropyl)sulfanyl]
      4-cyanothiophene (4) was synthesized by reaction of malononitrile with CS2 in the
      presence of K2CO3 under reflux in DMF and the subsequent reaction with
      chloroacetone followed by cyclization. This compound has been characterized by
      means of FT-IR, 1H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, and mass spectrometry as well as elemental
      analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of compound 4 was determined by X
      ray crystallography. The geometry of the molecule is stabilized by an
      intramolecular interaction between N1-H1...O1 to form S6 graf set ring motif. In
      the crystal, molecules are linked via N1-H2...O1 and C7-H7A...N2 interactions to
      form a three-dimensional network. Molecular structure and other spectroscopic
      properties of compound 4 were calculated using DFT B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) method.
      Results revealed a good agreement between the optimized geometric parameters and
      the observed X-ray structure. Furthermore, and by employing the natural bond
      orbital (NBO) method, the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) interactions along
      with natural atomic charges at different sites, were calculated; results
      indicated strong n->pi* ICT from LP(1)N5->BD*(2)C15-C16 (63.23 kcal/mol). In
      addition, the stabilization energy E(2) of the LP(2)O3-> BD*(1)N5-H6 ICT (6.63
      kcal/mol) indicated the presence of intramolecular N-H...OH bonding. Similarly,
      calculations of the electronic spectra of compound 4 using, TD-DFT revealed a
      good agreement with the experimental data. Finally, compound 4 was evaluated for
      its in vitro cytotoxic effect against PC-3 and HeLa cell lines, as an anticancer
      agent, and found to be nontoxic. 

PMID- 26891286
TI  - Inhibition of CYP2B6 by Medicinal Plant Extracts: Implication for Use of
      Efavirenz and Nevirapine-Based Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in
      Resource-Limited Settings.
AB  - Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved health
      parameters of HIV infected individuals. However, there are several challenges
      associated with the chronic nature of HAART administration. For populations in
      health transition, dual use of medicinal plant extracts and conventional medicine
      poses a significant challenge. There is need to evaluate interactions between
      commonly used medicinal plant extracts and antiretroviral drugs used against
      HIV/AIDS. Efavirenz (EFV) and nevirapine (NVP) are the major components of HAART
      both metabolized by CYP2B6, an enzyme that can potentially be inhibited or
      induced by compounds found in medicinal plant extracts. The purpose of this study
      was to evaluate the effects of extracts of selected commonly used medicinal
      plants on CYP2B6 enzyme activity. Recombinant human CYP2B6 was used to evaluate
      inhibition, allowing the assessment of herb-drug interactions (HDI) of medicinal
      plants Hyptis suaveolens, Myrothamnus flabellifolius, Launaea taraxacifolia,
      Boerhavia diffusa and Newbouldia laevis. The potential of these medicinal
      extracts to cause HDI was ranked accordingly for reversible inhibition and also
      classified as potential time-dependent inhibitor (TDI) candidates. The most
      potent inhibitor for CYP2B6 was Hyptis suaveolens extract (IC50 = 19.09 +/- 1.16
      ug/mL), followed by Myrothamnus flabellifolius extract (IC50 = 23.66 +/- 4.86
      ug/mL), Launaea taraxacifolia extract (IC50 = 33.87 +/- 1.54 ug/mL), and
      Boerhavia diffusa extract (IC50 = 34.93 +/- 1.06 ug/mL). Newbouldia laevis
      extract, however, exhibited weak inhibitory effects (IC50 = 100 +/- 8.71 ug/mL)
      on CYP2B6. Launaea taraxacifolia exhibited a TDI (3.17) effect on CYP2B6 and
      showed a high concentration of known CYP450 inhibitory phenolic compounds,
      chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. The implication for these observations is that
      drugs that are metabolized by CYP2B6 when co-administered with these herbal
      medicines and when adequate amounts of the extracts reach the liver, there is a
      high likelihood of standard doses affecting drug plasma concentrations which
      could lead to toxicity. 

PMID- 26891287
TI  - Molecular and Functional Characterization of FLOWERING LOCUS T Homologs in Allium
      cepa.
AB  - Onion bulbing is an important agricultural trait affecting economic value and is
      regulated by flowering-related genes. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene function
      is crucial for the initiation of flowering in various plant species and also in
      asexual reproduction in tuber plants. By employing various computational analysis
      using RNA-Seq data, we identified eight FT-like genes (AcFT) encoding PEBP
      (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) domains in Allium cepa. Sequence and
      phylogenetic analyses of FT-like proteins revealed six proteins that were
      identical to previously reported AcFT1-6 proteins, as well as one (AcFT7) with a
      highly conserved region shared with AcFT6 and another (comp106231) with low
      similarity to MFT protein, but containing a PEBP domain. Homology modelling of
      AcFT7 proteins showed similar structures and conservation of amino acids crucial
      for function in AtFT (Arabidopsis) and Hd3a (rice), with variation in the C
      terminal region. Further, we analyzed AcFT expression patterns in different
      transitional stages, as well as under SD (short-day), LD (long-day), and drought
      treatment in two contrasting genotypic lines EM (early maturation, 36101) and LM
      (late maturation, 36122). The FT transcript levels were greatly affected by
      various environmental factors such as photoperiod, temperature and drought. Our
      results suggest that AcFT7 is a member of the FT-like genes in Allium cepa and
      may be involved in regulation of onion bulbing, similar to other FT genes. In
      addition, AcFT4 and AcFT7 could be involved in establishing the difference in
      timing of bulb maturity between the two contrasting onion lines. 

PMID- 26891288
TI  - Comparison of Properties among Dendritic and Hyperbranched Poly(ether ether
      ketone)s and Linear Poly(ether ketone)s.
AB  - Poly(ether ether ketone) dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers were prepared from
      3,5-dimethoxy-4'-(4-fluorobenzoyl)diphenyl ether and 3,5-dihydroxy-4'-(4
      fluorobenzoyl)diphenyl ether through aromatic nucleophilic substitution
      reactions. 1-(tert-Butyldimethylsiloxy)-3,5-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene was
      polycondensed with bisphenols, followed by cleavage of the protective group to
      form linear poly(ether ketone)s having the same hydroxyl groups in the side
      chains as the chain ends of the dendrimer and hyperbranched polymers. Their
      properties, such as solubilities, reduced viscosities, and thermal properties,
      were compared with one another. Similar comparisons were also carried out among
      the corresponding methoxy group polymers, and the size of the molecules was shown
      to affect the properties. 

PMID- 26891289
TI  - Focus on Chirality of HIV-1 Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors.
AB  - Chiral HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are of
      great interest since one enantiomer is often more potent than the corresponding
      counterpart against the HIV-1 wild type (WT) and the HIV-1 drug resistant mutant
      strains. This review exemplifies the various studies made to investigate the
      effect of chirality on the antiretroviral activity of top HIV-1 NNRTI compounds,
      such as nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), alkynyl- and alkenylquinazolinone
      DuPont compounds (DPC), diarylpyrimidine (DAPY),
      dihydroalkyloxybenzyloxopyrimidine (DABO), phenethylthiazolylthiourea (PETT),
      indolylarylsulfone (IAS), arylphosphoindole (API) and trifluoromethylated indole
      (TFMI) The chiral separation, the enantiosynthesis, along with the biological
      properties of these HIV-1 NNRTIs, are discussed. 

PMID- 26891290
TI  - Bioactive ZnO Coatings Deposited by MAPLE-An Appropriate Strategy to Produce
      Efficient Anti-Biofilm Surfaces.
AB  - Deposition of bioactive coatings composed of zinc oxide, cyclodextrin and
      cefepime (ZnO/CD/Cfp) was performed by the Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser
      Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by
      X-ray diffraction, IR microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The efficient
      release of cefepime was correlated with an increased anti-biofilm activity of
      ZnO/CD/Cfp composites. In vitro and in vivo tests have revealed a good
      biocompatibility of ZnO/CD/Cfp coatings, which recommend them as competitive
      candidates for the development of antimicrobial surfaces with biomedical
      applications. The release of the fourth generation cephalosporin Cfp in a
      biologically active form from the ZnO matrix could help preventing the bacterial
      adhesion and the subsequent colonization and biofilm development on various
      surfaces, and thus decreasing the risk of biofilm-related infections. 

PMID- 26891291
TI  - MiR-9-5p, miR-675-5p and miR-138-5p Damages the Strontium and LRP5-Mediated
      Skeletal Cell Proliferation, Differentiation, and Adhesion.
AB  - This study was designed to evaluate the effects of strontium on the expression
      levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) and to explore their effects on skeletal cell
      proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and apoptosis. The targets of these
      miRNAs were also studied. Molecular cloning, cell proliferation assay, cell
      apoptosis assay, quantitative real-time PCR, and luciferase reporter assay were
      used. Strontium altered the expression levels of miRNAs in vitro and in vivo. miR
      9-5p, miR-675-5p, and miR-138-5p impaired skeletal cell proliferation, cell
      differentiation and cell adhesion. miR-9-5p and miR-675-5p induced MC3T3-E1 cell
      apoptosis more specifically than miR-138-5p. miR-9-5p, miR-675-5p, and miR-138-5p
      targeted glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3beta), ATPase Aminophospholipid
      Transporter Class I Type 8A Member 2 (ATP8A2), and Eukaryotic Translation
      Initiation Factor 4E Binding Protein 1 (EIF4EBP1), respectively. Low-density
      lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) played a positive role in skeletal
      development. miR-9-5p, miR-675-5p, and miR-138-5p damage strontium and LRP5
      mediated skeletal cell proliferation, differentiation, and adhesion, and induce
      cell apoptosis by targeting GSK3beta, ATP8A2, and EIF4EBP1, respectively.

PMID- 26891292
TI  - Herbal Medicine in Mexico: A Cause of Hepatotoxicity. A Critical Review.
AB  - In Mexico, herbal products are commonly used as therapeutic tools. The analysis
      of several publications reveals that there are dozens of different herbs and
      herbal products used for different reasons, some of which have been implicated in
      causing toxic liver disease. However, methodological aspects limit the
      attribution of causality, and the precise incidence and clinical manifestations
      of herb-induced liver injury have not been well characterized. This review
      outlines the history of traditional herbal medicine in Mexico, critically
      summarizes the mechanisms and adverse effects of commonly used herbal plants, and
      examines the regulatory issues regarding the legal use of these products. 

PMID- 26891293
TI  - Implications of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Gefitinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell
      Lung Cancer.
AB  - Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents about 85% of the reported cases of
      lung cancer. Acquired resistance to targeted therapy with epidermal growth factor
      receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib, is not
      uncommon. It is thus vital to explore novel strategies to restore sensitivity to
      gefitinib. Provided that microRNAs (miRNAs) negatively regulate their gene
      targets at the transcriptional level, it is speculated that miRNA mimetics may
      reduce the expression, activity and signal transduction of EGFR so that
      sensitization of tumour sites to gefitinib-induced cytotoxicity can be achieved.
      Indeed, a growing body of evidence has shown that the manipulation of endogenous
      levels of miRNA not only attenuates the EGFR/PI3K/Akt phosphorylation cascade,
      but also restores apoptotic cell death in in vitro models of experimentally
      induced gefitinib resistance and provoked tumour regression/shrinkage in
      xenograft models. These data are in concordant with the clinical data showing
      that the differential expression profiles of miRNA in tumour tissues and blood
      associate strongly with drug response and overall survival. Furthermore, another
      line of studies indicate that the chemopreventive effects of a variety of natural
      compounds may involve miRNAs. The present review aims to discuss the therapeutic
      capacity of miRNAs in relation to recent discoveries on EGFR-TKI resistance,
      including chronic drug exposure and mutations.

PMID- 26891294
TI  - The Chinese Herbal Medicine Formula mKG Suppresses Pulmonary Fibrosis of Mice
      Induced by Bleomycin.
AB  - Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a serious progressive lung disease and it originates
      from inflammation-induced parenchymal injury with excessive extracellular matrix
      deposition to result in the destruction of the normal lung architecture. Modified
      Kushen Gancao Formula (mKG), derived from traditional Chinese herbal medicine,
      has a prominent anti-inflammatory effect. The present study is to explore the
      inhibitory effects of mKG on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.
      mKG significantly decreased pulmonary alveolitis, fibrosis scores, and
      interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), transforming growth factor-beta
      (TGF-beta) and hydroxyproline (HYP) levels in lung tissue of mice compared with
      BLM treatment. It markedly alleviated the increase of HYP content in the lung
      tissues and pathologic changes of pulmonary fibrosis caused by BLM instillation.
      In conclusion, mKG has an anti-fibrotic effect and might be employed as a
      therapeutic candidate agent for attenuating pulmonary fibrosis. 

PMID- 26891295
TI  - Food-Derived Bioactives Can Protect the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cortisol
      with Antioxidant-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms.
AB  - In chronic inflammatory diseases the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids
      (GCs) is often decreased, leading to GC resistance. Inflammation is related with
      increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress
      which is thought to contribute to the development of GC resistance. Plant-derived
      compounds such as flavonoids are known for their ability to protect against ROS.
      In this exploratory study we screened a broad range of food-derived bioactives
      for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in order to investigate
      whether their antioxidant effects are associated with the ability to preserve the
      anti-inflammatory effects of cortisol. The anti-inflammatory potency of the
      tested compounds was assessed by measuring the oxidative stress-induced GC
      resistance in human macrophage-like cells. Cells were pre-treated with H2O2 (800
      uM) with and without bioactives and then exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (10
      ng/mL) and cortisol (100 nM). The level of inflammation was deducted from the
      concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the medium. Intracellular oxidative
      stress was measured using the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH).
      We found that most of the dietary bioactives display antioxidant and anti
      inflammatory action through the protection of the cortisol response. All
      compounds, except for quercetin, revealing antioxidant activity also protect the
      cortisol response. This indicates that the antioxidant activity of compounds
      plays an important role in the protection of the GC response. However, next to
      the antioxidant activity of the bioactives, other mechanisms also seem to be
      involved in this protective, anti-inflammatory effect.

PMID- 26891298
TI  - Enhanced ICP for the Registration of Large-Scale 3D Environment Models: An
      Experimental Study.
AB  - One of the main applications of mobile robots is the large-scale perception of
      the outdoor environment. One of the main challenges of this application is fusing
      environmental data obtained by multiple robots, especially heterogeneous robots.
      This paper proposes an enhanced iterative closest point (ICP) method for the fast
      and accurate registration of 3D environmental models. First, a hierarchical
      searching scheme is combined with the octree-based ICP algorithm. Second, an
      early-warning mechanism is used to perceive the local minimum problem. Third, a
      heuristic escape scheme based on sampled potential transformation vectors is used
      to avoid local minima and achieve optimal registration. Experiments involving one
      unmanned aerial vehicle and one unmanned surface vehicle were conducted to verify
      the proposed technique. The experimental results were compared with those of
      normal ICP registration algorithms to demonstrate the superior performance of the
      proposed method. 

PMID- 26891296
TI  - Role of miR-222-3p in c-Src-Mediated Regulation of Osteoclastogenesis.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a mostly post
      transcriptional regulatory role in gene expression. Using RAW264.7 pre-osteoclast
      cells and genome-wide expression analysis, we identified a set of miRNAs that are
      involved in osteoclastogenesis. Based on in silico analysis, we specifically
      focused on miR-222-3p and evaluated its role in osteoclastogenesis. The results
      show that the inhibitor of miR-222-3p upregulated the mRNA levels of nuclear
      factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) and tartrate-resistant acid
      phosphatase (TRAP), while its mimicking agent downregulated their mRNA levels.
      Western blot analysis showed that its inhibitor increased the protein levels of
      TRAP and cathepsin K, while its mimicking agent decreased their levels. Genome
      wide mRNA expression analysis in the presence and absence of receptor activator
      of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) predicted c-Src as a potential
      regulatory target of miR-222-3p. Live cell imaging using a fluorescence resonance
      energy transfer (FRET) technique revealed that miR-222-3p acted as an inhibitor
      of c-Src activity, and a partial silencing of c-Src suppressed RANKL-induced
      expression of TRAP and cathepsin K, as well as the number of multi-nucleated
      osteoclasts and their pit formation. Collectively, the study herein demonstrates
      that miR-222-3p serves as an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis and c-Src mediates
      its inhibition of cathepsin K and TRAP.

PMID- 26891299
TI  - Research on the Changes to the Lipid/Polymer Membrane Used in the Acidic
      Bitterness Sensor Caused by Preconditioning.
AB  - A taste sensor that uses lipid/polymer membranes can evaluate aftertastes felt by
      humans using Change in membrane Potential caused by Adsorption (CPA)
      measurements. The sensor membrane for evaluating bitterness, which is caused by
      acidic bitter substances such as iso-alpha acid contained in beer, needs an
      immersion process in monosodium glutamate (MSG) solution, called "MSG
      preconditioning". However, what happens to the lipid/polymer membrane during MSG
      preconditioning is not clear. Therefore, we carried out three experiments to
      investigate the changes in the lipid/polymer membrane caused by the MSG
      preconditioning, i.e., measurements of the taste sensor, measurements of the
      amount of the bitterness substance adsorbed onto the membrane and measurements of
      the contact angle of the membrane surface. The CPA values increased as the
      preconditioning process progressed, and became stable after 3 d of
      preconditioning. The response potentials to the reference solution showed the
      same tendency of the CPA value change during the preconditioning period. The
      contact angle of the lipid/polymer membrane surface decreased after 7 d of MSG
      preconditioning; in short, the surface of the lipid/polymer membrane became
      hydrophilic during MSG preconditioning. The amount of adsorbed iso-alpha acid was
      increased until 5 d preconditioning, and then it decreased. In this study, we
      revealed that the CPA values increased with the progress of MSG preconditioning
      in spite of the decrease of the amount of iso-alpha acid adsorbed onto the
      lipid/polymer membrane, and it was indicated that the CPA values increase because
      the sensor sensitivity was improved by the MSG preconditioning. 

PMID- 26891297
TI  - Atypical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Acute Bipolar Depression with Mixed
      Features: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled
      Clinical Trials.
AB  - Evidence supporting the use of second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in the
      treatment of acute depression with mixed features (MFs) associated with bipolar
      disorder (BD) is scarce and equivocal. Therefore, we conducted a systematic
      review and preliminary meta-analysis investigating SGAs in the treatment of acute
      BD depression with MFs. Two authors independently searched major electronic
      databases from 1990 until September 2015 for randomized (placebo-) controlled
      trials (RCTs) or open-label clinical trials investigating the efficacy of SGAs in
      the treatment of acute bipolar depression with MFs. A random-effect meta-analysis
      calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) between SGA and placebo for
      the mean baseline to endpoint change in depression as well as manic symptoms
      score was computed based on 95% confidence intervals (CI). Six RCTs and one open
      label placebo-controlled studies (including post-hoc reports) representing 1023
      patients were included. Participants received either ziprasidone, olanzapine,
      lurasidone, quetiapine or asenapine for an average of 6.5 weeks across the
      included studies. Meta-analysis with Duval and Tweedie adjustment for publication
      bias demonstrated that SGA resulted in significant improvements of (hypo-)manic
      symptoms of bipolar mixed depression as assessed by the means of the total scores
      of the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) (SMD -0.74, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.28, n SGA =
      907, control = 652). Meta-analysis demonstrated that participants in receipt of
      SGA (n = 979) experienced a large improvement in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression
      Rating Scale (MADRS) scores (SMD -1.08, 95% CI -1.35 to -0.81, p < 0.001) vs.
      placebo (n = 678). Publication and measurement biases and relative paucity of
      studies. Overall, SGAs appear to offer favorable improvements in MADRS and YMRS
      scores vs. placebo. Nevertheless, given the preliminary nature of the present
      report, additional original studies are required to allow more reliable and
      clinically definitive conclusions.

PMID- 26891300
TI  - A Collaborative Secure Localization Algorithm Based on Trust Model in Underwater
      Wireless Sensor Networks.
AB  - Localization is one of the hottest research topics in Underwater Wireless Sensor
      Networks (UWSNs), since many important applications of UWSNs, e.g., event
      sensing, target tracking and monitoring, require location information of sensor
      nodes. Nowadays, a large number of localization algorithms have been proposed for
      UWSNs. How to improve location accuracy are well studied. However, few of them
      take location reliability or security into consideration. In this paper, we
      propose a Collaborative Secure Localization algorithm based on Trust model (CSLT)
      for UWSNs to ensure location security. Based on the trust model, the secure
      localization process can be divided into the following five sub-processes: trust
      evaluation of anchor nodes, initial localization of unknown nodes, trust
      evaluation of reference nodes, selection of reference node, and secondary
      localization of unknown node. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed
      CSLT algorithm performs better than the compared related works in terms of
      location security, average localization accuracy and localization ratio. 

PMID- 26891301
TI  - Grut: A Gardening Sensor Kit for Children.
AB  - Food waste is one of the main problems in our society. This is mainly caused by
      people's behaviors and attitudes, which influence the whole food chain, from
      production to final consumption. In fact, food is generally perceived as a
      commodity by adults, who transmit this behavior to children, who in turn do not
      develop any consciousness about food's source. One way to reduce the problem
      seems to be by changing consumers' attitudes, which develop during the early
      years of childhood. Research has shown that after attending school garden
      classes, children's food-related behavior changes. Growing crops is not always
      easy--it can't be done in the domestic space, and this lead to a loss of the long
      term positive effects. This paper presents a project that tries to teach children
      how to grow their own food indoors and outdoors, mixing real and virtual reality,
      connecting something natural like a plant to the Internet of Things (or IOT, a
      network of physical objects virtually connected to each other and to the web).
      The use of sensors related to an app makes this process more fun and useful for
      educational purposes. The aim of the project is to change children's attitude
      towards food, increasing their knowledge about production and consumption, in
      order to reduce waste on a long term basis. The research has been developed in
      collaboration with Cisco NL and MediaLAB Amsterdam. The user testing has been
      executed with Dutch children in Amsterdam.

PMID- 26891302
TI  - Suppression of Strong Background Interference on E-Nose Sensors in an Open
      Country Environment.
AB  - The feature extraction technique for an electronic nose (e-nose) applied in
      tobacco smell detection in an open country/outdoor environment with periodic
      background strong interference is studied in this paper. Principal component
      analysis (PCA), Independent component analysis (ICA), re-filtering and a priori
      knowledge are combined to separate and suppress background interference on the e
      nose. By the coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC), it can be verified that a
      better separation of environmental temperature, humidity, and atmospheric
      pressure variation related background interference factors can be obtained with
      ICA. By re-filtering according to the on-site interference characteristics a
      composite smell curve was obtained which is more related to true smell
      information based on the tobacco curer's experience. 

PMID- 26891304
TI  - Data Mining and NIR Spectroscopy in Viticulture: Applications for Plant
      Phenotyping under Field Conditions.
AB  - Plant phenotyping is a very important topic in agriculture. In this context, data
      mining strategies may be applied to agricultural data retrieved with new non
      invasive devices, with the aim of yielding useful, reliable and objective
      information. This work presents some applications of machine learning algorithms
      along with in-field acquired NIR spectral data for plant phenotyping in
      viticulture, specifically for grapevine variety discrimination and assessment of
      plant water status. Support vector machine (SVM), rotation forests and M5 trees
      models were built using NIR spectra acquired in the field directly on the adaxial
      side of grapevine leaves, with a non-invasive portable spectrophotometer working
      in the spectral range between 1600 and 2400 nm. The nu-SVM algorithm was used for
      the training of a model for varietal classification. The classifiers' performance
      for the 10 varieties reached, for cross- and external validations, the 88.7% and
      92.5% marks, respectively. For water stress assessment, the models developed
      using the absorbance spectra of six varieties yielded the same determination
      coefficient for both cross- and external validations (R2 = 0.84; RMSEs of 0.164
      and 0.165 MPa, respectively). Furthermore, a variety-specific model trained only
      with samples of Tempranillo from two different vintages yielded R2 = 0.76 and
      RMSE of 0.16 MPa for cross-validation and R2 = 0.79, RMSE of 0.17 MPa for
      external validation. These results show the power of the combined use of data
      mining and non-invasive NIR sensing for in-field grapevine phenotyping and their
      usefulness for the wine industry and precision viticulture implementations. 

PMID- 26891305
TI  - Detection and Inspection of Steel Bars in Reinforced Concrete Structures Using
      Active Infrared Thermography with Microwave Excitation and Eddy Current Sensors.
AB  - The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-sensor approach to the detection
      and inspection of steel bars in reinforced concrete structures. In connection
      with our past experience related to non-destructive testing of different
      materials, we propose using two potentially effective methods: active infrared
      thermography with microwave excitation and the eddy current technique. In this
      article active infrared thermography with microwave excitation is analyzed both
      by numerical modeling and experiments. This method, based on thermal imaging, due
      to its characteriatics should be considered as a preliminary method for the
      assessment of relatively shallowly located steel bar reinforcements. The eddy
      current technique, on the other hand, allows for more detailed evaluation and
      detection of deeply located rebars. In this paper a series of measurement
      results, together with the initial identification of certain features of steel
      reinforcement bars will be presented. 

PMID- 26891303
TI  - Development of Microfluidic Systems Enabling High-Throughput Single-Cell Protein
      Characterization.
AB  - This article reviews recent developments in microfluidic systems enabling high
      throughput characterization of single-cell proteins. Four key perspectives of
      microfluidic platforms are included in this review: (1) microfluidic fluorescent
      flow cytometry; (2) droplet based microfluidic flow cytometry; (3) large-array
      micro wells (microengraving); and (4) large-array micro chambers (barcode
      microchips). We examine the advantages and limitations of each technique and
      discuss future research opportunities by focusing on three key performance
      parameters (absolute quantification, sensitivity, and throughput). 

PMID- 26891306
TI  - Development of a Rapid Throughput Assay for Identification of hNav1.7 Antagonist
      Using Unique Efficacious Sodium Channel Agonist, Antillatoxin.
AB  - Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are responsible for the generation of the
      action potential. Among nine classified VGSC subtypes (Nav1.1-Nav1.9), Nav1.7 is
      primarily expressed in the sensory neurons, contributing to the nociception
      transmission. Therefore Nav1.7 becomes a promising target for analgesic drug
      development. In this study, we compared the influence of an array of VGSC
      agonists including veratridine, BmK NT1, brevetoxin-2, deltamethrin and
      antillatoxin (ATX) on membrane depolarization which was detected by Fluorescence
      Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) membrane potential (FMP) blue dye. In HEK-293 cells
      heterologously expressing hNav1.7 alpha-subunit, ATX produced a robust membrane
      depolarization with an EC50 value of 7.8 +/- 2.9 nM whereas veratridine, BmK NT1,
      and deltamethrin produced marginal response. Brevetoxin-2 was without effect on
      membrane potential change. The ATX response was completely inhibited by
      tetrodotoxin suggesting that the ATX response was solely derived from hNav1.7
      activation, which was consistent with the results where ATX produced a negligible
      response in null HEK-293 cells. Six VGSC antagonists including lidocaine,
      lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, riluzole, and 2-amino-6
      trifluoromethylthiobenzothiazole all concentration-dependently inhibited ATX
      response with IC50 values comparable to that reported from patch-clamp
      experiments. Considered together, we demonstrate that ATX is a unique efficacious
      hNav1.7 activator which offers a useful probe to develop a rapid throughput
      screening assay to identify hNav1.7 antagonists.

PMID- 26891307
TI  - Effect of Climate Factors on the Childhood Pneumonia in Papua New Guinea: A Time
      Series Analysis.
AB  - This study aimed to assess the association between climate factors and the
      incidence of childhood pneumonia in Papua New Guinea quantitatively and to
      evaluate the variability of the effect size according to their geographic
      properties. The pneumonia incidence in children under five-year and
      meteorological factors were obtained from six areas, including monthly rainfall
      and the monthly average daily maximum temperatures during the period from 1997 to
      2006 from national health surveillance data. A generalized linear model was
      applied to measure the effect size of local and regional climate factor. The
      pooled risk of pneumonia in children per every 10 mm increase of rainfall was
      0.24% (95% confidence interval: -0.01%-0.50%), and risk per every 1  degrees C
      increase of the monthly mean of the maximum daily temperatures was 4.88% (95% CI:
      1.57-8.30). Southern oscillation index and dipole mode index showed an overall
      negative effect on childhood pneumonia incidence, -0.57% and -4.30%,
      respectively, and the risk of pneumonia was higher in the dry season than in the
      rainy season (pooled effect: 12.08%). There was a variability in the relationship
      between climate factors and pneumonia which is assumed to reflect distribution of
      the determinants of and vulnerability to pneumonia in the community. 

PMID- 26891309
TI  - Pathogens in Ornamental Waters: A Pilot Study.
AB  - In parks, ornamental waters of easy access and populated with animals are quite
      attractive to children and yet might hide threats to human health. The present
      work focuses on the microbiota of the ornamental waters of a Lisboa park,
      characterized during 2015. The results show a dynamic microbiota integrating
      human pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas spp. and Enterobacter
      spp., and also antibiotic resistant bacteria. K. pneumoniae and Aeromonas spp.
      were present as planktonic and biofilm organized bacteria. In vitro K. pneumoniae
      and Aeromonas spp. showed an enhanced ability to assemble biofilm at 25  degrees
      C than at 37  degrees C. Bacteria recovered from biofilm samples showed an
      increased antibiotic resistance compared to the respective planktonic
      counterparts. 

PMID- 26891308
TI  - Exposure to PM2.5 and Blood Lead Level in Two Populations in Ulaanbaatar,
      Mongolia.
AB  - Approximately 60% of the households in Ulaanbaatar live in gers (a traditional
      Mongolian dwelling) in districts outside the legal limits of the city, without
      access to basic infrastructure, such as water, sewage systems, central heating,
      and paved roads, in contrast to apartment residents. This stark difference in
      living conditions creates different public health challenges for Ulaanbaatar
      residents. Through this research study we aim to test our hypothesis that women
      living in gers burning coal in traditional stoves for cooking and heating during
      the winter are exposed to higher concentrations of airborne PM2.5 than women
      living in apartments in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and this exposure may include
      exposures to lead in coal with effects on blood lead levels. This cross-sectional
      study recruited a total of 50 women, 40-60 years of age, from these two settings.
      Air sampling was carried out during peak cooking and heating times, 5:00 p.m.
      11:00 p.m., using a direct-reading instrument (TSI SidePakTM) and integrated
      polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters using the SKC Personal Environmental
      Monitor. Blood lead level (BLL) was measured using a LeadCare II rapid field test
      method. In our study population, measured PM2.5 geometric mean (GM)
      concentrations using the SidePakTM in the apartment group was 31.5 (95% CI:17-99)
      MUg/m3, and 100 (95% CI: 67-187) MUg/m3 in ger households (p < 0.001). The GM
      integrated gravimetric PM2.5 concentrations in the apartment group were 52.8 (95%
      CI: 39-297) MUg/m3 and 127.8 (95% CI: 86-190) MUg/m3 in ger households (p =
      0.004). The correlation coefficient for the SidePakTM PM2.5 concentrations and
      filter based PM2.5 concentrations was r = 0.72 (p < 0.001). Blood Lead Levels
      were not statistically significant different between apartment residents and ger
      residents (p = 0.15). The BLL is statistically significant different (p = 0.01)
      when stratified by length of exposures outside of the home. This statistically
      significant difference in increased BLL could be due to occupational or frequent
      exposure to other sources of indoor or outdoor air pollution that were not
      measured. Blood lead levels from our study population are the first study
      measurements published on women aged 40-60 years of age in Mongolia. 

PMID- 26891310
TI  - A Review of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh: The Millennium
      Development Goal Era and Beyond.
AB  - Arsenic contamination in drinking water has a detrimental impact on human health
      which profoundly impairs the quality of life. Despite recognition of the adverse
      health implications of arsenic toxicity, there have been few studies to date to
      suggest measures that could be taken to overcome arsenic contamination. After the
      statement in 2000 WHO Bulletin that Bangladesh has been experiencing the largest
      mass poisoning of population in history, we researched existing literature to
      assess the magnitude of groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. The
      literature reviewed related research that had been initiated and/or completed
      since the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under four
      domains: (1) extent of arsenic contamination; (2) health consequences; (3)
      mitigation and technologies and (4) future directions. To this means, a review
      matrix was established for analysis of previous literature based on these four
      core domains. Our findings revealed that several high-quality research articles
      were produced at the beginning of the MDG period, but efforts have dwindled in
      recent years. Furthermore, there were only a few studies conducted that focused
      on developing suitable solutions for managing arsenic contamination. Although the
      government of Bangladesh has made its population's access to safe drinking water
      a priority agenda item, there are still pockets of the population that continue
      to suffer from arsenic toxicity due to contaminated water supplies. 

PMID- 26891311
TI  - Chronic Stress and Suicidal Thinking Among Medical Students.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The subject of chronic stress and ways of dealing with it are very
      broad. The aim of this study was to analyze stress and anxiety and their
      influence on suicidal thinking among medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      study was conducted in the years 2014 to 2015 in Poland, at the Medical
      University-Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum. The objective of
      this study was to assess chronic stress and suicidal thinking among students and
      how students cope with this huge problem. Descriptive statistics and chi-square
      analyses were conducted to detect differences. RESULTS: Analyses showed that
      students' life is full of stressors. Students toward the end of their education
      cope better with stress than students starting their university studies. Chronic
      stress has a strong impact on mental health and suicidal thinking among students.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study confirmed that chronic stress and anxiety
      have a negative influence on mental health and also confirm a relation to
      suicidal thinking in medical students. Students cope with stress by listening to
      music, talking to relatives or people close to them, resting or engaging in
      sports, with cycling, running and swimming being the most common methods used to
      affect suicidal thinking.

PMID- 26891313
TI  - What Effect Does International Migration Have on the Nutritional Status and Child
      Care Practices of Children Left Behind?
AB  - Despite an increasing trend in labour migration and economic dependence on
      foreign migrant workers in Sri Lanka, very little is known about the child care
      and nutritional status of "children left behind". The aim of this study was to
      examine the factors influencing the nutritional status and care practices of
      children left behind. A sample of 321 children, 6-59 months old of international
      migrant workers from a cross-sectional nationally represented study were
      included. Care practices were assessed using ten caregiving behaviours on
      personal hygiene, feeding, and use of health services. Results revealed the
      prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight to be 11.6, 18.2 and 24.0
      percent, respectively. Father being a migrant worker has a positive effect on
      childcare practices and birthweight of the child. This study indicates that
      undernutrition remains a major concern, particularly in the poorest households
      where the mother is a migrant worker, also each additional 100 g increase in the
      birthweight of a child in a migrant household, decreases the probability of being
      wasted, stunted and underweight by 6%, 8% and 23% respectively. In depth study is
      needed to understand how labour migration affects household level outcomes
      related to child nutrition and childcare in order to build skills and capacities
      of migrant families. 

PMID- 26891312
TI  - Leisure Time Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour and Lifestyle Correlates
      among Students Aged 13-15 in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
      Member States, 2007-2013.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-reported
      leisure time physical inactivity frequency and sedentary behaviour and lifestyle
      correlates among school children in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
      (ASEAN) region. The analysis included 30,284 school children aged 13-15 years
      from seven ASEAN countries that participated in the Global School-based Student
      Health Survey (GSHS) between 2007 and 2013. The measure asked about overall
      physical activity, walking or biking to school, and on time spent sitting.
      Overall, the prevalence of physical inactivity was 80.4%, ranging from 74.8% in
      Myanmar to 90.7% in Cambodia and sedentary behaviour 33.0%, ranging from 10.5% in
      Cambodia and Myanmar to 42.7% in Malaysia. In multivariate logistic regression,
      not walking or biking to school, not attending physical education classes,
      inadequate vegetable consumption and lack of protective factors (peer and
      parental or guardian support) were associated with physical inactivity, and older
      age (14 and 15 years old), coming from an upper middle income country, being
      overweight or obese, attending physical education classes, alcohol use,
      loneliness, peer support and lack of parental or guardian supervision were
      associated with sedentary behaviour. In boys, lower socioeconomic status (in the
      form of having experienced hunger) and coming from a low income or lower middle
      income country were additionally associated with physical inactivity, and in
      girls, higher socioeconomic status, not walking or biking to school and being
      bullied were additionally associated with sedentary behaviour. In conclusion, a
      very high prevalence of leisure physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour among
      school going adolescents in ASEAN was found and several factors identified that
      may inform physical activity promotion programmes in school-going adolescents in
      ASEAN. 

PMID- 26891314
TI  - Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Desert Soil: Effect of Biostimulation,
      Bioaugmentation and Bioavailability in Biopile Treatment Systems.
AB  - This work was aimed at evaluating the relative merits of bioaugmentation,
      biostimulation and surfactant-enhanced bioavailability of a desert soil
      contaminated by crude oil through biopile treatment. The results show that the
      desert soil required bioaugmentation and biostimulation for bioremediation of
      crude oil. The bioaugmented biopile system led to a total petroleum hydrocarbon
      (TPH) reduction of 77% over 156 days while the system with polyoxyethylene (20)
      sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) gave a 56% decrease in TPH. The biostimulated
      system with indigenous micro-organisms gave 23% reduction in TPH. The control
      system gave 4% TPH reduction. The addition of Tween 80 led to a respiration rate
      that peaked in 48 days compared to 88 days for the bioaugmented system and
      respiration declined rapidly due to nitrogen depletion. The residual hydrocarbon
      in the biopile systems studied contained polyaromatics (PAH) in quantities that
      may be considered as hazardous. Nitrogen was found to be a limiting nutrient in
      desert soil bioremediation. 

PMID- 26891315
TI  - Association between Polymorphisms and Haplotype in the ABCA1 Gene and
      Overweight/Obesity Patients in the Uyghur Population of China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to detect the association between polymorphisms and
      haplotype in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene and
      overweight/obese Uyghur patients in China. METHODS: A total of 259
      overweight/obese patients and 276 normal weight subjects, which were randomly
      selected from among 3049 adult Uyghurs, were matched for age. We genotyped ABCA1
      single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs2515602, rs3890182, rs2275542, rs2230806,
      rs1800976, and rs4149313. RESULTS: (1) The genotypic and allelic frequencies of
      rs2515602 and rs4149313 differed between the control group and case group. The
      genotypic frequency of rs2275542 also differed between the control group and case
      group (p < 0.05); (2) rs2515602, rs2230806, and rs4149313 polymorphisms were
      significantly related to risk of overweight/obese; (3) a significant linkage
      disequilibrium (LD) was observed between the ABCA1 gene rs2275542 with rs3890182
      and rs2515602 with rs4149313. (4) the C-C-C-A-G-G, T-C-G-A-G-G, and T-T-G-G-G-A
      haplotypes were significant in normal weight and overweight/obese subjects (p <
      0.05); (5) the levels of HDL-C (rs2515602, rs2275542, rs4149313) in normal weight
      subjects were different among the genotypes (p < 0.05); the levels of TC, LDL-C
      and TG (rs1800976) in overweight/obese subjects were different among the
      genotypes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The rs2515602, rs4149313, and rs2275542
      polymorphisms were associated with overweight/obese conditions among Uyghurs.
      Strong LD was noted between rs2275542 with rs3890182 and rs2515602 with
      rs4149313. The C-C-C-A-G-G and T-C-G-A-G-G haplotypes may serve as risk factors
      of overweight/obesity among Uyghurs. The T-T-G-G-G-A haplotype may serve as a
      protective factor of overweight/obesity among Uyghurs. Rs2515602, rs2275542,
      rs4149313, and rs1800976 polymorphisms in the ABCA1 gene may influence lipid
      profiles.

PMID- 26891316
TI  - NF45 and NF90 Bind HIV-1 RNA and Modulate HIV Gene Expression.
AB  - A previous proteomic screen in our laboratory identified nuclear factor 45 (NF45)
      and nuclear factor 90 (NF90) as potential cellular factors involved in human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. Both are RNA binding proteins
      that regulate gene expression; and NF90 has been shown to regulate the expression
      of cyclin T1 which is required for Tat-dependent trans-activation of viral gene
      expression. In this study the roles of NF45 and NF90 in HIV replication were
      investigated through overexpression studies. Ectopic expression of either factor
      potentiated HIV infection, gene expression, and virus production. Deletion of the
      RNA binding domains of NF45 and NF90 diminished the enhancement of HIV infection
      and gene expression. Both proteins were found to interact with the HIV RNA. RNA
      decay assays demonstrated that NF90, but not NF45, increased the half-life of the
      HIV RNA. Overall, these studies indicate that both NF45 and NF90 potentiate HIV
      infection through their RNA binding domains. 

PMID- 26891317
TI  - Profile of Free Fatty Acids and Fractions of Phospholipids, Cholesterol Esters
      and Triglycerides in Serum of Obese Youth with and without Metabolic Syndrome.
AB  - The study evaluated the profile of circulating fatty acids (FA) in obese youth
      with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) to determine its association with
      nutritional status, lifestyle and metabolic variables. A cross-sectional study
      was conducted in 96 young people, divided into three groups: obese with MetS
      (OBMS), obese (OB) and appropriate weight (AW). FA profiles were quantified by
      gas chromatography; waist circumference (WC), fat folds, lipid profile, high
      sensitivity C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, the homeostasis model
      assessment (HOMA index), food intake and physical activity (PA) were assessed.
      The OBMS group had significantly greater total free fatty acids (FFAs), palmitic
      16:0 in triglyceride (TG), palmitoleic-16:1n-7 in TG and phospholipid (PL); in
      the OB group, these FAs were higher than in the AW group. Dihomo-gamma-linolenic
      (DHGL-20:3n-6) was higher in the OBMS than the AW in PL and FFAs. Linoleic-18:2n
      6 in TG and PL had the lowest proportion in the OBMS group. WC, PA, total FFA,
      linoleic-18:2n-6 in TG and DHGL-20:3n-6 in FFAs explained 62% of the HOMA value.
      The OB group presented some higher proportions of FA and biochemical values than
      the AW group. The OBMS had proportions of some FA in the TG, PL and FFA fractions
      that correlated with disturbances of MetS. 

PMID- 26891318
TI  - Suppression of Endogenous Glucose Production by Isoleucine and Valine and Impact
      of Diet Composition.
AB  - Leucine has been shown to acutely inhibit hepatic glucose production in rodents
      by a mechanism requiring its metabolism to acetyl-CoA in the mediobasal
      hypothalamus (MBH). In the early stages, all branched-chain amino acids (BCAA)
      are metabolized by a shared set of enzymes to produce a ketoacid, which is later
      metabolized to acetyl-CoA. Consequently, isoleucine and valine may also modulate
      glucose metabolism. To examine this possibility we performed intrahypothalamic
      infusions of isoleucine or valine in rats and assessed whole body glucose
      kinetics under basal conditions and during euglycemic pancreatic clamps.
      Furthermore, because high fat diet (HFD) consumption is known to interfere with
      central glucoregulation, we also asked whether the action of BCAAs was affected
      by HFD. We fed rats a lard-rich diet for a short interval and examined their
      response to central leucine. The results showed that both isoleucine and valine
      individually lowered blood glucose by decreasing liver glucose production.
      Furthermore, the action of the BCAA leucine was markedly attenuated by HFD
      feeding. We conclude that all three BCAAs centrally modulate glucose metabolism
      in the liver and that their action is disrupted by HFD-induced insulin
      resistance. 

PMID- 26891319
TI  - Micronutrient Fortified Condiments and Noodles to Reduce Anemia in Children and
      Adults--A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - Micronutrient deficiencies impose a considerable burden of disease on many middle
      and low income countries. Several strategies have been shown to be effective in
      improving micronutrient deficiencies. However, the impact of fortified condiments
      as well as fortified noodles is less well documented. We aimed to investigate
      existing evidence on the impact of micronutrient fortified condiments and noodles
      on hemoglobin, anemia, and functional outcomes in children and adults (age: 5 to
      50 years). We conducted a literature review in electronic databases. In addition,
      we screened the homepages of relevant organizations and journals. We included
      randomized controlled trials (RCT). Of 1046 retrieved studies, 14 RCT provided
      data for the meta-analysis. Micronutrient fortification of condiments and noodles
      increased hemoglobin concentrations by 0.74 g/dL (95%-confidence intervals (95%
      CI): 0.56 to 0.93; 12 studies) and 0.3 g/dL (95%-CI: 0.12 to 0.48; 1 study),
      respectively. Micronutrient fortification also led to a reduced risk of having
      anemia (risk ratio 0.59 (95%-CI 0.44 to 0.80)). Ferritin concentrations increased
      with fortified condiments. Functional outcomes were rarely assessed and showed
      mixed results. The use of micronutrient fortified condiments can be a strategy to
      reduce anemia in children and adults due to micronutrient deficiencies. The
      effect of fortified noodles seems to be smaller. 

PMID- 26891320
TI  - Is Higher Consumption of Animal Flesh Foods Associated with Better Iron Status
      among Adults in Developed Countries? A Systematic Review.
AB  - Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency within the
      developed world. This is of concern as ID has been shown to affect immunity,
      thermoregulation, work performance and cognition. Animal flesh foods provide the
      richest and most bioavailable source of dietary (haem) iron, however, it is
      unclear whether low animal flesh diets contribute to ID. This systematic review
      aimed to investigate whether a higher consumption of animal flesh foods is
      associated with better iron status in adults. CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE and
      MEDLINE were searched for published studies that included adults (>=18 years)
      from developed countries and measured flesh intakes in relation to iron status
      indices. Eight experimental and 41 observational studies met the inclusion
      criteria. Generally, studies varied in population and study designs and results
      were conflicting. Of the seven high quality studies, five showed a positive
      association between animal flesh intake (85-300 g/day) and iron status. However,
      the optimum quantity or frequency of flesh intake required to maintain or achieve
      a healthy iron status remains unclear. Results show a promising relationship
      between animal flesh intake and iron status, however, additional longitudinal and
      experimental studies are required to confirm this relationship and determine
      optimal intakes to reduce ID development. 

PMID- 26891323
TI  - Automatic 1H-NMR Screening of Fatty Acid Composition in Edible Oils.
AB  - In this work, we introduce an NMR-based screening method for the fatty acid
      composition analysis of edible oils. We describe the evaluation and optimization
      needed for the automated analysis of vegetable oils by low-field NMR to obtain
      the fatty acid composition (FAC). To achieve this, two scripts, which
      automatically analyze and interpret the spectral data, were developed. The
      objective of this work was to drive forward the automated analysis of the FAC by
      NMR. Due to the fact that this protocol can be carried out at low field and that
      the complete process from sample preparation to printing the report only takes
      about 3 min, this approach is promising to become a fundamental technique for
      high-throughput screening. To demonstrate the applicability of this method, the
      fatty acid composition of extra virgin olive oils from various Spanish olive
      varieties (arbequina, cornicabra, hojiblanca, manzanilla, and picual) was
      determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy according to this protocol. 

PMID- 26891324
TI  - Dietary Flavonols Intake and Risk of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer: A Meta
      Analysis of Epidemiological Studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC) are common cancers and
      leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Many studies have investigated the
      association between dietary flavonols intake and the risk of EC and GC, but the
      results are inconsistent. Hence, we conducted a systematic analysis of relevant
      population-based studies to assess the association and derive a more precise
      estimation. METHODS: The Cochrane, PubMed and Embase databases were searched to
      identify articles published through January 2016 that met the predetermined
      inclusion criterion. Twelve studies involving 4593 patients and 519,378 controls
      were included. RESULTS: The summary odds ratios (ORs) of EC, GC and the two
      combined were respectively 0.88 (95% CI: 0.73-1.08), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.91) and
      0.83 (95% CI: 0.74-0.92) for the highest category of dietary flavonols intake
      compared with the lowest. No significant heterogeneities were observed in these
      studies. Further analysis showed that the pooled ORs of EC and GC for cohort,
      population-based case-control and hospital-based case-control studies were 0.90
      (95% CI: 0.61-1.34), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.72-1.18), 0.68 (95% CI: 0.38-1.24) and 0.83
      (95% CI: 0.65-1.06), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.45-1.59), 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56-0.88). The
      subgroup analyses revealed a significant association of flavonol intake with a
      reduced risk of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma but not gastric cardia
      adenocarcinoma. Moreover, significant inverse associations of flavonol intake
      with GC risk were observed in women but not in men, in smokers but not in
      nonsmokers, in European populations but not in American populations. Similarly, a
      significant inverse association of flavonols intake with EC risk was also
      observed in smokers but not in nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: High intake of dietary
      flavonols is significantly related to a reduced risk of GC, especially in women
      and smokers.

PMID- 26891322
TI  - Phlorizin Supplementation Attenuates Obesity, Inflammation, and Hyperglycemia in
      Diet-Induced Obese Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.
AB  - Obesity, along with its related complications, is a serious health problem
      worldwide. Many studies reported the anti-diabetic effect of phlorizin, while
      little is known about its anti-obesity effect. We investigated the beneficial
      effects of phlorizin on obesity and its complications, including diabetes and
      inflammation in obese animal. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups
      and fed their respective experimental diets for 16 weeks: a normal diet (ND, 5%
      fat, w/w), high-fat diet (HFD, 20% fat, w/w), or HFD supplemented with phlorizin
      (PH, 0.02%, w/w). The findings revealed that the PH group had significantly
      decreased visceral and total white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, and adipocyte
      size compared to the HFD. Plasma and hepatic lipids profiles also improved in the
      PH group. The decreased levels of hepatic lipids in PH were associated with
      decreased activities of enzymes involved in hepatic lipogenesis, cholesterol
      synthesis and esterification. The PH also suppressed plasma pro-inflammatory
      adipokines levels such as leptin, adipsin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte
      chemoattractant protein-1, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-6, and prevented HFD
      induced collagen accumulation in the liver and WAT. Furthermore, the PH
      supplementation also decreased plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, and homeostasis
      model assessment of insulin resistance levels. In conclusion, phlorizin is
      beneficial for preventing diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, inflammation,
      and fibrosis, as well as insulin resistance. 

PMID- 26891325
TI  - An Insight into the Triabin Protein Family of American Hematophagous Reduviids:
      Functional, Structural and Phylogenetic Analysis.
AB  - A transcriptomic analysis of the saliva of T. pallidipennis together with a short
      proteomic analysis were carried out to reveal novel primary structures of the
      lipocalin/triabin protein families in this reduviid. Although triabins share some
      structural characteristics to lipocalins and they are classified as in the
      calcyn/lipocalin superfamily, triabins differ from lipocalins in the direction of
      beta-strands in the general conformation of the beta-barrel. The triabin protein
      family encompasses a wide variety of proteins, which disrupt the hemostasis of
      warm-blooded animals. Likewise, the function of proteins classified as triabins
      includes proteins that are carriers of small molecules, protease inhibitors,
      binders of specific cell-surface receptors as well as proteins that form
      complexes with other macromolecules. For example, triabin and pallidipin from the
      saliva of T. pallidipennis are thrombin and platelet aggregation inhibitors,
      respectively; triplatin from T. infestans binds to thromboxane A2; and
      nitrophorin from Rhodnius prolixus carries nitric oxide. Therefore, based on 42
      new transcriptome sequences of triabins from the salivary glands of T.
      pallidipennis reported at present, and on triabin sequences of other American
      hematophagous reduviids already reported in the literature, subfamilies of
      triabins were proposed following phylogenetic analyses and functional
      characterization of triabin members. Eight subfamilies of proteins were
      recognized with known functions, which were the nitrophorin and amine binding
      proteins, Rhodnius prolixus aggregation inhibitor, triafestin, triatin,
      dipetalodipin and pallidipin, triplatin and infestilin, dimiconin and triabin,
      and procalin subfamilies. Interestingly, 70% of the analyzed sequences came from
      these eight subfamilies because there was no biological function associated with
      them, implying the existence of a vast number of proteins with potential novel
      biological activities. 

PMID- 26891321
TI  - Myricetin: A Dietary Molecule with Diverse Biological Activities.
AB  - Myricetin is a common plant-derived flavonoid and is well recognised for its
      nutraceuticals value. It is one of the key ingredients of various foods and
      beverages. The compound exhibits a wide range of activities that include strong
      anti-oxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. It
      displays several activities that are related to the central nervous system and
      numerous studies have suggested that the compound may be beneficial to protect
      against diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The use of myricetin as a
      preserving agent to extend the shelf life of foods containing oils and fats is
      attributed to the compound's ability to protect lipids against oxidation. A
      detailed search of existing literature revealed that there is currently no
      comprehensive review available on this important molecule. Hence, the present
      work includes the history, synthesis, pharmaceutical applications and toxicity
      studies of myricetin. This report also highlights structure-activity
      relationships and mechanisms of action for various biological activities. 

PMID- 26891326
TI  - Mycotoxin Contamination in the EU Feed Supply Chain: A Focus on Cereal
      Byproducts.
AB  - Mycotoxins represent a risk to the feed supply chain with an impact on economies
      and international trade. A high percentage of feed samples have been reported to
      be contaminated with more than one mycotoxin. In most cases, the concentrations
      were low enough to ensure compliance with the European Union (EU) guidance values
      or maximum admitted levels. However, mycotoxin co-contamination might still exert
      adverse effects on animals due to additive/synergistic interactions. Studies on
      the fate of mycotoxins during cereal processing, such as milling, production of
      ethanol fuels, and beer brewing, have shown that mycotoxins are concentrated into
      fractions that are commonly used as animal feed. Published data show a high
      variability in mycotoxin repartitioning, mainly due to the type of mycotoxins,
      the level and extent of fungal contamination, and a failure to understand the
      complexity of food processing technologies. Precise knowledge of mycotoxin
      repartitioning during technological processes is critical and may provide a sound
      technical basis for feed managers to conform to legislation requirements and
      reduce the risk of severe adverse market and trade repercussions. Regular,
      economical and straightforward feed testing is critical to reach a quick and
      accurate diagnosis of feed quality. The use of rapid methods represents a future
      challenge. 

PMID- 26891327
TI  - Lolitrem B and Indole Diterpene Alkaloids Produced by Endophytic Fungi of the
      Genus Epichloe and Their Toxic Effects in Livestock.
AB  - Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of
      fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloe in grass. The structure and toxicity of
      the compounds vary considerably in mammalian herbivores and in crop pests.
      Alkaloids of the indole-diterpene group, of which lolitrem B is the most toxic,
      were first characterized in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass, and are
      responsible for "ryegrass staggers." Ergot alkaloids, of which ergovaline is the
      most abundant ergopeptide alkaloid produced, are also found in ryegrass, but
      generally at a lower rate than lolitrem B. Other alkaloids such as lolines and
      peramine are toxic for crop pests but have weak toxicological properties in
      mammals. The purpose of this review is to present indole-diterpene alkaloids
      produced in endophyte infected ryegrass from the first characterization of
      ryegrass staggers to the determination of the toxicokinetics of lolitrem B and of
      their mechanism of action in mammals, focusing on the different factors that
      could explain the worldwide distribution of the disease. Other indole diterpene
      alkaloids than lolitrem B that can be found in Epichloe infected ryegrass, and
      their tremorgenic properties, are presented in the last section of this review. 

PMID- 26891328
TI  - Functional Genomic Analysis of Aspergillus flavus Interacting with Resistant and
      Susceptible Peanut.
AB  - In the Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus)-peanut pathosystem, development and
      metabolism of the fungus directly influence aflatoxin contamination. To
      comprehensively understand the molecular mechanism of A. flavus interaction with
      peanut, RNA-seq was used for global transcriptome profiling of A. flavus during
      interaction with resistant and susceptible peanut genotypes. In total, 67.46 Gb
      of high-quality bases were generated for A. flavus-resistant (af_R) and 
      susceptible peanut (af_S) at one (T1), three (T2) and seven (T3) days post
      inoculation. The uniquely mapped reads to A. flavus reference genome in the
      libraries of af_R and af_S at T2 and T3 were subjected to further analysis, with
      more than 72% of all obtained genes expressed in the eight libraries. Comparison
      of expression levels both af_R vs. af_S and T2 vs. T3 uncovered 1926
      differentially expressed genes (DEGs). DEGs associated with mycelial growth,
      conidial development and aflatoxin biosynthesis were up-regulated in af_S
      compared with af_R, implying that A. flavus mycelia more easily penetrate and
      produce much more aflatoxin in susceptible than in resistant peanut. Our results
      serve as a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms of aflatoxin
      production differences between A. flavus-R and -S peanut, and offer new clues to
      manage aflatoxin contamination in crops. 

PMID- 26891330
TI  - Nephrotoxicity as a Dose-Limiting Factor in a High-Dose Cisplatin-Based
      Chemoradiotherapy Regimen for Head and Neck Carcinomas.
AB  - PURPOSE: Loco-regional control and organ preservation are significantly improved
      with concomitant cisplatin/radiotherapy and are compromised with less than 5%
      grade 3 nephrotoxicity (creatinine clearance 15-29 mL/min). However, although
      clinically important, in none of the randomized trials is grade 2 nephrotoxicity
      (defined as creatinine clearance 59-30 mL/min) mentioned. In this study, we
      assessed nephrotoxicity in daily practice among patients treated with high-dose
      cisplatin (100 mg/m2 on days 1, 22, and 43), concurrently with chemoradiotherapy
      (CCRT) and the impact on treatment modifications. METHODS: 208 patients with
      advanced-stage malignancies of the head and neck region were evaluated. All
      patients were treated with high-dose cisplatin CCRT. The main outcome parameters
      were nephrotoxicity (defined as creatinine clearance grade 2 or more) and
      cumulative doses of cisplatin and radiation. RESULTS: 133 patients (64%)
      completed all pre-planned courses of cisplatin. Nephrotoxicity was the main
      reason to discontinue the chemotherapy. Grade 3 nephrotoxicity was seen in 16
      patients (8%) while grade 2 nephrotoxicity was seen in 53 patients (25%). Thirty
      six patients (17%) could not complete the pre-planned chemotherapy due to
      nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In head and neck cancer patients, nephrotoxicity
      grade 2 is under-reported but is the major factor for discontinuing cisplatin
      during CCRT.

PMID- 26891332
TI  - Asymtomatic Bacteriuria as a Model to Study the Coevolution of Hosts and
      Bacteria.
AB  - During asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU), bacteria colonize the urinary tract for
      extended periods of time without causing symptoms of urinary tract infection.
      Previous studies indicate that many Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains that cause
      ABU have evolved from uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) by reductive evolution and
      loss of the ability to express functional virulence factors. For instance, the
      prototype ABU strain 83972 has a smaller genome than UPEC strains with deletions
      or point mutations in several virulence genes. To understand the mechanisms of
      bacterial adaptation and to find out whether the bacteria adapt in a host
      specific manner, we compared the complete genome sequences of consecutive
      reisolates of ABU strain 83972 from different inoculated individuals and compared
      them with the genome of the parent strain. Reisolates from different hosts
      exhibited individual patterns of genomic alterations. Non-synonymous SNPs
      predominantly occurred in coding regions and often affected the amino acid
      sequence of proteins with global or pleiotropic regulatory function. These gene
      products are involved in different bacterial stress protection strategies, and
      metabolic and signaling pathways. Our data indicate that adaptation of E. coli
      83972 to prolonged growth in the urinary tract involves responses to specific
      growth conditions and stresses present in the individual hosts. Accordingly,
      modulation of gene expression required for survival and growth under stress
      conditions seems to be most critical for long-term growth of E. coli 83972 in the
      urinary tract. 

PMID- 26891331
TI  - Impact of DCC (rs714) and PSCA (rs2294008 and rs2976392) Gene Polymorphism in
      Modulating Cancer Risk in Asian Population.
AB  - Multiple studies have investigated the association of gene variant of Deleted in
      colorectal carcinoma (DCC) and Prostate Stem cell antigen (PSCA) with various
      cancer susceptibility; however, the results are discrepant. Since SNPs are
      emerging as promising biomarker of cancer susceptibility, here, we aimed to
      execute a meta-analysis of DCC (rs714 A > G) and PSCA (rs2294008 C > T, rs2976392
      G > A) polymorphism to demonstrate the more accurate strength of these
      associations. We followed a rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria and calculated
      the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, the
      pooled analysis showed that the DCC rs714 conferred increased risk of cancer only
      in Asians (AA vs. GG: OR = 1.86, p <= 0.0001; AG vs. GG: OR = 1.43, p = 0.005; GA
      + AA vs. GG: OR = 1.66, p <= 0.0001; AA vs. GG + GA; OR = 1.52, p <= 0.004, A vs.
      G allele: OR = 1.41, p <= 0.0001). PSCA rs2294008 was associated with increased
      overall cancer risk (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.28, p = 0.002; CT vs. CC: OR = 1.21, p <=
      0.0001; CT + TT vs. CC: OR = 1.24, p <= 0.0001; TT vs. CC + CT; OR = 1.17, p <=
      0.005, T vs. C allele: OR = 1.16, p <= 0.0001); however, in stratified analysis
      this association was limited only to gastric and bladder cancer and the strength
      was more prominent in Asians. In contrast, the PSCA rs2976392 SNP did not
      modulate the cancer risk. Therefore, we concluded that rs714 and rs2294008
      polymorphism may represent a potential genetic biomarker for cancer risk in
      Asians and gastric as well as bladder cancer, respectively. However, since our
      study is limited to Asians and cancer types, further larger studies involving
      other cancers and/or population, gene-environment interactions and the mechanism
      of DCC and PSCA gene deregulation are desired to define the role of genotype with
      overall cancer risk. 

PMID- 26891333
TI  - Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse
      Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and
      Rigidity.
AB  - While the role of the horse in riding hazards is well recognised, little
      attention has been paid to the role of specific theoretical psychological
      processes of humans in contributing to and mitigating risk. The injury, mortality
      or compensation claim rates for participants in the horse-racing industry,
      veterinary medicine and equestrian disciplines provide compelling evidence for
      improving risk mitigation models. There is a paucity of theoretical principles
      regarding the risk of injury and mortality associated with human-horse
      interactions. In this paper we introduce and apply the four psychological
      principles of context, loss of focus, global cognitive style and the application
      of self as the frame of reference as a potential approach for assessing and
      managing human-horse risks. When these principles produce errors that are
      combined with a rigid self-referenced point, it becomes clear how rapidly risk
      emerges and how other people and animals may repeatedly become at risk over time.
      Here, with a focus on the thoroughbred racing industry, veterinary practice and
      equestrian disciplines, we review the merits of contextually applied strategies,
      an evolving reappraisal of risk, flexibility, and focused specifics of situations
      that may serve to modify human behaviour and mitigate risk. 

PMID- 26891334
TI  - Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the
      Equestrian Sport of Eventing?
AB  - All horse-riding is risky. In competitive horse sports, eventing is considered
      the riskiest, and is often characterised as very dangerous. But based on what
      data? There has been considerable research on the risks and unwanted outcomes of
      horse-riding in general, and on particular subsets of horse-riding such as
      eventing. However, there can be problems in accessing accurate, comprehensive and
      comparable data on such outcomes, and in using different calculation methods
      which cannot compare like with like. This paper critically examines a number of
      risk calculation methods used in estimating risk for riders in eventing,
      including one method which calculates risk based on hours spent in the activity
      and in one case concludes that eventing is more dangerous than motorcycle racing.
      This paper argues that the primary locus of risk for both riders and horses is
      the jump itself, and the action of the horse jumping. The paper proposes that
      risk calculation in eventing should therefore concentrate primarily on this
      locus, and suggests that eventing is unlikely to be more dangerous than
      motorcycle racing. The paper proposes avenues for further research to reduce the
      likelihood and consequences of rider and horse falls at jumps. 

PMID- 26891329
TI  - Targeting the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway: Review of Smoothened and GLI
      Inhibitors.
AB  - The sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is a major regulator of cell
      differentiation, cell proliferation, and tissue polarity. Aberrant activation of
      the Shh pathway has been shown in a variety of human cancers, including, basal
      cell carcinoma, malignant gliomas, medulloblastoma, leukemias, and cancers of the
      breast, lung, pancreas, and prostate. Tumorigenesis, tumor progression and
      therapeutic response have all been shown to be impacted by the Shh signaling
      pathway. Downstream effectors of the Shh pathway include smoothened (SMO) and
      glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) family of zinc finger transcription
      factors. Both are regarded as important targets for cancer therapeutics. While
      most efforts have been devoted towards pharmacologically targeting SMO,
      developing GLI-targeted approach has its merit because of the fact that GLI
      proteins can be activated by both Shh ligand-dependent and -independent
      mechanisms. To date, two SMO inhibitors (LDE225/Sonidegib and GDC
      0449/Vismodegib) have received FDA approval for treating basal cell carcinoma
      while many clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this
      exciting class of targeted therapy in a variety of cancers. In this review, we
      provide an overview of the biology of the Shh pathway and then detail the current
      landscape of the Shh-SMO-GLI pathway inhibitors including those in preclinical
      studies and clinical trials. 

PMID- 26891335
TI  - Cancer Risk and Eicosanoid Production: Interaction between the Protective Effect
      of Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Genotype.
AB  - Dietary inclusion of fish and fish supplements as a means to improve cancer
      prognosis and prevent tumour growth is largely controversial. Long chain omega-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid and
      docosahexaenoic acid, may modulate the production of inflammatory eicosanoids,
      thereby influencing local inflammatory status, which is important in cancer
      development. Although in vitro studies have demonstrated inhibition of tumour
      cell growth and proliferation by LCn-3 PUFA, results from human studies have been
      mainly inconsistent. Genes involved in the desaturation of fatty acids, as well
      as the genes encoding enzymes responsible for eicosanoid production, are known to
      be implicated in tumour development. This review discusses the current evidence
      for an interaction between genetic polymorphisms and dietary LCn-3 PUFA in the
      risk for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers, in regards to inflammation and
      eicosanoid synthesis. 

PMID- 26891336
TI  - Melatonin and Sleep-Wake Rhythms before and after Ocular Lens Replacement in
      Elderly Humans.
AB  - Light of short wavelengths has been shown to play a key role in non-image forming
      responses. Due to aging, the ocular lens becomes more yellow reducing the
      transmission of short wavelengths in the elderly. In the present study, we make
      use of cataract surgery to investigate the effects of a relative increase of
      short wavelength transmission on melatonin- and sleep-wake rhythms (N = 14). We
      observed, on average, a delay of the sleep-wake and the nocturnal melatonin
      rhythms after cataract surgery. This delay is tentatively attributed to a
      relatively large increase of light transmittance in the evening hours more than
      an increase of the already relatively high light intensities found in the
      daytime. The later phase that we observed after cataract surgery (clear lens) as
      compared to the earlier phase observed before cataract (yellowish lens) is in
      agreement with the general later phase reported in the young (clear lens)
      population. 

PMID- 26891338
TI  - Subjective well-being: gender differences in Holocaust survivors-specific and
      cross-national effects.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Subjective well-being (SWB) has become an important concept in
      evaluating older adults' quality of life. The cognitive and emotional evaluations
      which are used to appraise it differ in structure, characteristics, and effects
      on life. The purpose of this study was to support hypotheses regarding expected
      Holocaust survivors-specific effects and cross-cultural differences on three
      indicators of SWB. METHOD: We recruited samples of 50 male and female Israeli
      Holocaust survivors, other older Israelis, and older Canadians (N = 300) for
      allowing us to distinguish survivors-specific effects from cross-national
      differences. State anxiety, depressive symptoms, and life-satisfaction were
      compared across groups of men and women. Where univariate differences were
      detected, post hoc comparisons were computed to determine which of the groups
      significantly differed. RESULTS: In general, a higher level of SWB was found
      among Canadians in comparison to both comparative Israeli groups. Level of
      depressive symptoms was significantly higher among women survivors than in the
      other two groups. Both groups of Israeli women had higher scores on anxiety than
      Canadian Women; less apparent were differences across groups of men. Life
      satisfaction did not differ among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings regarding
      depression support the survivor-specific effect hypothesis for women, and a
      national effect on anxiety, but not any effect on life-satisfaction. These
      findings suggest significant differences in impacts of traumatic life events on
      cognitive versus emotional indicators of SWB. This issue should be further
      investigated due to its practical implications in use of various measures of SWB
      with people who experienced traumatic events.

PMID- 26891337
TI  - The Time Is Right to Focus on Model Organism Metabolomes.
AB  - Model organisms are an essential component of biological and biomedical research
      that can be used to study specific biological processes. These organisms are in
      part selected for facile experimental study. However, just as importantly,
      intensive study of a small number of model organisms yields important synergies
      as discoveries in one area of science for a given organism shed light on
      biological processes in other areas, even for other organisms. Furthermore, the
      extensive knowledge bases compiled for each model organism enable systems-level
      understandings of these species, which enhance the overall biological and
      biomedical knowledge for all organisms, including humans. Building upon extensive
      genomics research, we argue that the time is now right to focus intensively on
      model organism metabolomes. We propose a grand challenge for metabolomics studies
      of model organisms: to identify and map all metabolites onto metabolic pathways,
      to develop quantitative metabolic models for model organisms, and to relate
      organism metabolic pathways within the context of evolutionary metabolomics,
      i.e., phylometabolomics. These efforts should focus on a series of established
      model organisms in microbial, animal and plant research. 

PMID- 26891339
TI  - Integrated approach to health screening of former department of energy workers
      detects both occupational and non-occupational illness.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The National Supplemental Screening Program (NSSP) uses a Total
      Worker Health(TM) approach to address U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) former
      worker health. This article provides the design of the integrated occupational
      health screening and promotion program. METHODS: The NSSP implemented a web-based
      relational health records system to process demographic, exposure, and clinical
      data. We present medical findings for 12,000 DOE former workers that completed an
      initial NSSP medical screening between October 1, 2005 and October 4, 2013. We
      discuss the DOE former worker participant population and the exposure-based and
      non-occupational medical screening tests used. RESULTS: The NSSP identified
      potential occupationally related health conditions in 40.5% of those screened.
      Notably, we identified 85.8% of participants with addressable non-occupational
      health conditions, many of which were previously undiagnosed. CONCLUSION: The
      NSSP demonstrates that the identification of potential occupational health issues
      in conjunction with addressable non-occupational health conditions provides
      former workers with information to more effectively manage health.

PMID- 26891340
TI  - Misuse of booster cushions among children and adults in Shanghai-an observational
      and attitude study during buckling up.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of fatalities among
      Chinese children. Booster cushion usage in China is low, and there are no studies
      showing how a population with limited experience handles booster cushions during
      buckling up. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the handling of and
      explore the attitudes toward booster cushions among children, parents, and
      grandparents in Shanghai. METHODS: An observational study including a convenience
      sample of 254 children aged 4-12 years was conducted in 2 passenger cars at a
      shopping center in Shanghai. Parents, grandparents, or the children themselves
      buckled up the child on 2 types of booster cushions, a 2-stage integrated booster
      cushion (IBC) and an aftermarket booster cushion (BC). The test participants were
      observed during buckling up, first without and then with instructions. The test
      leaders conducted structured interviews. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of the
      uninstructed participants failed to buckle up without identified misuse on the
      aftermarket booster cushion and 31% of those uninstructed on the integrated
      booster cushion. The majority of misuse was severe, including placing the belt
      behind the arm and the lap belt routing above the guiding loops. Instruction
      reduced misuse to 58% (BC) and 12% (IBC), respectively, and, in particular,
      severe misuse. Some misuse was related to limited knowledge of how to buckle up
      on the booster cushion, and some misuse was intentional in order to reduce
      discomfort. The participants, both children and adults, reported that they
      preferred the IBC due to good comfort and convenience. Safety was reported as the
      main reason for adults using booster cushions in general, whereas children
      reported comfort as the most important motivation. CONCLUSIONS: Education is
      needed to ensure frequent and correct use of booster cushions in China and to
      raise safety awareness among children and adults. Furthermore, it is important
      that the booster cushions offer intuitively correct usage to a population with
      limited experience of booster cushions. This is the first study published on the
      handling of and attitude toward booster cushions after child restraints laws were
      introduced in Shanghai 2014.

PMID- 26891341
TI  - Traumatic luxation of the globe: A 6-year follow-up.
AB  - A 25-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The left globe was
      luxated out of orbit with total optic nerve avulsion. The globe was intact
      without any penetration and put back into the orbit. Although the patient has no
      light perception, he is grateful for satisfactory cosmetic results with 6-year
      follow-up. 

PMID- 26891342
TI  - Bayesian assurance and sample size determination in the process validation life
      cycle.
AB  - Validation of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes is a regulatory requirement
      and plays a key role in the assurance of drug quality, safety, and efficacy. The
      FDA guidance on process validation recommends a life-cycle approach which
      involves process design, qualification, and verification. The European Medicines
      Agency makes similar recommendations. The main purpose of process validation is
      to establish scientific evidence that a process is capable of consistently
      delivering a quality product. A major challenge faced by manufacturers is the
      determination of the number of batches to be used for the qualification stage. In
      this article, we present a Bayesian assurance and sample size determination
      approach where prior process knowledge and data are used to determine the number
      of batches. An example is presented in which potency uniformity data is evaluated
      using a process capability metric. By using the posterior predictive
      distribution, we simulate qualification data and make a decision on the number of
      batches required for a desired level of assurance.

PMID- 26891343
TI  - Diesel exhaust exposures in port workers.
AB  - Exposure to diesel engine exhaust has been linked to increased cancer risk and
      cardiopulmonary diseases. Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of chemical
      substances, including a particulate fraction mainly composed of ultrafine
      particles, resulting from the incomplete combustion of fuel. Diesel trucks are
      known to be an important source of diesel-related air pollution, and areas with
      heavy truck traffic are associated with higher air pollution levels and increased
      public health problems. Several indicators have been proposed as surrogates for
      estimating exposures to diesel exhaust but very few studies have focused
      specifically on monitoring the ultrafine fraction through the measurement of
      particle number concentrations. The aim of this study is to assess occupational
      exposures of gate controllers at the port of Montreal, Canada, to diesel engine
      emissions from container trucks by measuring several surrogates through a
      multimetric approach which includes the assessment of both mass and number
      concentrations and the use of direct reading devices. A 10-day measurement
      campaign was carried out at two terminal checkpoints at the port of Montreal.
      Respirable elemental and organic carbon, PM1, PM2.5, PMresp (PM4), PM10, PMtot
      (inhalable fraction), particle number concentrations, particle size
      distributions, and gas concentrations (NO2, NO, CO) were monitored. Gate
      controllers were exposed to concentrations of contaminants associated with diesel
      engine exhaust (elemental carbon GM = 1.6 ug/m(3); GSD = 1.6) well below
      recommended occupational exposure limits. Average daily particle number
      concentrations ranged from 16,544-67,314 particles/cm3 (GM = 32,710
      particles/cm3; GSD = 1.6). Significant Pearson correlation coefficients were
      found between daily elemental carbon, PM fractions and particle number
      concentrations, as well as between total carbon, PM fractions and particle number
      concentrations. Significant correlation coefficients were found between particle
      number concentrations and the number of trucks and wind speed (R(2) = 0.432; p <
      0.01). The presence of trucks with cooling systems and older trucks with older
      exhaust systems was associated with peak concentrations on the direct reading
      instruments. The results highlight the relevance of direct reading instruments in
      helping to identify sources of exposure and suggest that monitoring particle
      number concentrations improves understanding of workers' exposures to diesel
      exhaust. This study, by quantifying workers' exposure levels through a
      multimetric approach, contributes to the further understanding of occupational
      exposures to diesel engine exhaust.

PMID- 26891346
TI  - Does cerebral hypoxia facilitate central fatigue?
AB  - NEW FINDINGS: What is the topic of this review? This review addresses whether a
      mismatch between cerebral O2 demand and delivery accelerates the development of
      central fatigue during endurance-type exercise. What advances does it highlight?
      The difficulty with studying the importance of cerebral O2 availability for
      exercise performance is to manipulate cerebral O2 availability independently of
      muscular O2 availability. The different approaches to overcome this limitation
      indicate that cerebral oxygenation is not a major limiting factor in normoxia,
      but may limit performance in submaximal exercise tasks in hypoxia. Central
      fatigue originates within the central nervous system and is characterized by a
      decrease in voluntary muscle activation. Reduced systemic O2 availability can
      facilitate central fatigue by enhancing the afferent input of the chemosensitive
      nerves that play a pivotal role in development of central fatigue. There is
      accumulating evidence that, in some situations, inadequate O2 availability to the
      brain itself promotes central fatigue. This short review presents some of the
      recent findings supporting a direct effect of inadequate cerebral O2 availability
      on central fatigue and addresses the persisting limitations.

PMID- 26891347
TI  - An Universal and Easy-to-Use Model for the Pressure of Arbitrary-Shape 3D
      Multifunctional Integumentary Cardiac Membranes.
AB  - Recently developed concepts for 3D, organ-mounted electronics for cardiac
      applications require a universal and easy-to-use mechanical model to calculate
      the average pressure associated with operation of the device, which is crucial
      for evaluation of design efficacy and optimization. This work proposes a simple,
      accurate, easy-to-use, and universal model to quantify the average pressure for
      arbitrary-shape organs. 

PMID- 26891345
TI  - Interactive Relationships Between Sex-Related Alcohol Expectancies and Delay
      Discounting on Risky Sex.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sex-related alcohol expectancies reflect the degree to which a person
      believes alcohol will affect her or his sexual behavior. Sex-related alcohol
      expectancies have been found to be predictors of drinking in sexual situations
      and engagement in risky sexual behavior after drinking. However, less is known
      about individual characteristics that may moderate these associations. Building
      upon recent evidence that steep delay discounting is associated with alcohol
      related sexual risk taking, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that the
      associations between sex-related alcohol expectancies and alcohol-related sexual
      risk taking would be stronger among individuals who discount delayed rewards more
      steeply. METHODS: The current sample comprised 126 Emergency Department patients
      (Mage  = 27.37; 55% male) who reported high-risk alcohol use and sexual behavior
      during the past 3 months. Sex-related alcohol expectancies were assessed in 3
      behavioral domains: increased riskiness, decreased nervousness, and enhanced
      sexuality. RESULTS: All 3 expectancy domains were associated with quantity and
      frequency of alcohol use, as well as percentage of alcohol-related condomless
      sex. Delay discounting moderated 2 of these relationships, such that the
      associations between expectancies for alcohol-induced sexual risk taking and the
      enhancement of sexuality and percentage of alcohol-related sexual risk-taking
      were significantly stronger in individuals who exhibited steeper delay
      discounting. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that individuals who both
      discount delayed rewards more steeply and hold strong sex-related alcohol
      expectancies are a particularly high-risk population. Such individuals may
      benefit from a combination of novel preventive strategies targeting sex-related
      alcohol expectancies and impulsive decision making.

PMID- 26891348
TI  - Facile Preparation of Ni2P with a Sulfur-Containing Surface Layer by Low
      Temperature Reduction of Ni2P2S6.
AB  - Preparation of Ni2P by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of a phosphate
      precursor is challenging because the P-O bond is strong. An alternative approach
      to synthesizing Ni2P, by reduction of nickel hexathiodiphosphate (Ni2P2S6), is
      presented. Conversion of Ni2P2S6 into Ni2P occurs at 200-220  degrees C, a
      temperature much lower than that required by the conventional TPR method
      (typically 500  degrees C). A sulfur-containing layer with a thickness of about
      4.7 nm, composed of tiny crystallites, was observed at the surface of the
      obtained Ni2 P catalyst (Ni2P-S). This is a direct observation of the sulfur
      containing layer of Ni2P, or the so-called nickel phosphosulfide phase. Both the
      hydrodesulfurization activity and the selective hydrogenation performance of Ni2P
      S were superior to that of the catalyst prepared by the TPR method, suggesting a
      positive role of sulfur on the surface of Ni2P-S. These features render Ni2P-S a
      legitimate alternative non-precious metal catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.

PMID- 26891344
TI  - Visceral Fat Accumulation, Insulin Resistance, and Elevated Depressive Symptoms
      in Middle-Aged Japanese Men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate visceral fat accumulation and markers of insulin
      resistance in relation to elevated depressive symptoms (EDS). METHODS:
      Participants were 4,333 male employees (mean age, 49.3 years) who underwent
      abdominal computed tomography scanning, measured fasting insulin, and did not
      self-report diabetes and mental disorders under treatment and history of cancer,
      myocardial infarction, and stroke. Multivariable logistic regression was used to
      assess the association of EDS with abdominal fat deposition and markers of
      insulin resistance. RESULTS: Visceral fat area (VFA) and fasting insulin were
      significantly, positively associated with EDS. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios
      (95% confidence interval) of high VFA for the lowest through highest quartile of
      depression score were 1 (reference), 1.18 (0.97-1.42), 1.25 (1.02-1.54), 1.23
      (1.01-1.51), respectively, and corresponding figures for high fasting insulin
      were 1 (reference), 0.98 (0.80-1.19), 1.12 (0.91-1.38), and 1.29 (1.06-1.57),
      respectively. Subcutaneous fat area was not associated with EDS. CONCLUSIONS:
      Results suggest that EDS is related to visceral, but not subcutaneous, fat
      accumulation and insulin resistance in middle-aged Japanese men.

PMID- 26891349
TI  - Establishment of a Wolbachia Superinfection in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes as a
      Potential Approach for Future Resistance Management.
AB  - Wolbachia pipientis is an endosymbiotic bacterium estimated to chronically infect
      between 40-75% of all arthropod species. Aedes aegypti, the principle mosquito
      vector of dengue virus (DENV), is not a natural host of Wolbachia. The
      transinfection of Wolbachia strains such as wAlbB, wMel and wMelPop-CLA into Ae.
      aegypti has been shown to significantly reduce the vector competence of this
      mosquito for a range of human pathogens in the laboratory. This has led to wMel
      transinfected Ae. aegypti currently being released in five countries to evaluate
      its effectiveness to control dengue disease in human populations. Here we
      describe the generation of a superinfected Ae. aegypti mosquito line
      simultaneously infected with two avirulent Wolbachia strains, wMel and wAlbB. The
      line carries a high overall Wolbachia density and tissue localisation of the
      individual strains is very similar to each respective single infected parental
      line. The superinfected line induces unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility
      (CI) when crossed to each single infected parental line, suggesting that the
      superinfection would have the capacity to replace either of the single
      constituent infections already present in a mosquito population. No significant
      differences in fitness parameters were observed between the superinfected line
      and the parental lines under the experimental conditions tested. Finally, the
      superinfected line blocks DENV replication more efficiently than the single wMel
      strain when challenged with blood meals from viremic dengue patients. These
      results suggest that the deployment of superinfections could be used to replace
      single infections and may represent an effective strategy to help manage
      potential resistance by DENV to field deployments of single infected strains. 

PMID- 26891351
TI  - Transport of carboxymethyl cellulose-coated zerovalent iron nanoparticles in a
      sand tank: Effects of sand grain size, nanoparticle concentration and injection
      velocity.
AB  - The transport of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) particles colloidally
      stabilized with 70,000 Da carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), through sands with mean
      grain diameters of 180, 340 and 1140 MUm (referred to as fine, intermediate and
      coarse-sized sand, respectively) was investigated in a 70-cm long, two
      dimensional tank. The effect of NZVI concentrations (1 and 3 g-Fe L(-1)) and CMC
      concentrations (1 and 2 g L(-1)) and injection velocities (0.96 and 0.40 cm min(
      1)) on particle transport were also evaluated with the intermediate sand. The
      overall NZVI mass fractions eluted from the tank were 36%, 25% and 16% in the
      coarse, intermediate and fine sands, respectively, when injected with 1 g L(-1)
      NZVI stabilized in 1 g L(-1) CMC. However, the mass fraction eluted reduced to
      2.33% when the injection velocity was reduced from 0.96 to 0.40 cm min(-1) in the
      intermediate-sized sand. Maximum transport efficiency (38% NZVI mass eluted) in
      the intermediate-sized sand was achieved with 3 g L(-1) NZVI suspended in 2 g L(
      1) CMC at an injection velocity of 0.96 cm min(-1). The transport efficiency was
      substantially decreased (11% NZVI mass eluted) when 3 g L(-1) NZVI was stabilized
      with only 1 g L(-1) CMC. The NZVI mean particle diameters in the porewaters
      remained unchanged at different locations in the tank suggesting that straining
      or gravity settling did not influence NZVI deposition. After NZVI injection, the
      hydraulic conductivity in the tank reduced by 80%-96%, depending on the CMC
      concentration and injection velocity. 

PMID- 26891352
TI  - Effects of adding bulking agent, inorganic nutrient and microbial inocula on
      biopile treatment for oil-field drilling waste.
AB  - Contamination from oil-field drilling waste is a worldwide environmental problem.
      This study investigated the performance of four bench-scale biopiles in treating
      drilling waste: 1) direct biopile (DW), 2) biopile plus oil-degrading microbial
      consortium (DW + M), 3) biopile plus microbial consortium and bulking agents (saw
      dust) (DW + M + BA), 4) biopile plus microbial consortium, bulking agents, and
      inorganic nutrients (Urea and K2HPO4) (DW + M + BA + N). Ninety days of biopiling
      removed 41.0%, 44.0%, 55.7% and 87.4% of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in the
      pile "DW", "DW + M", "DW + M + BA", and "DW + M + BA + N" respectively. Addition
      of inorganic nutrient and bulking agents resulted in a 56.9% and 26.6% increase
      in TPH removal efficiency respectively. In contrast, inoculation of hydrocarbon
      degrading microorganisms only slightly enhanced the contaminant removal
      (increased 7.3%). The biopile with stronger contaminant removal also had higher
      pile temperature and lower pile pH (e.g., in "DW + M + BA + N"). GC-MS analysis
      shows that biopiling significantly reduced the total number of detected
      contaminants and changed the chemical composition. Overall, this study shows that
      biopiling is an effective remediation technology for drilling waste. Adding
      inorganic nutrients and bulking agents can significantly improve biopile
      performance while addition of microbial inocula had minimal positive impacts on
      contaminant removal.

PMID- 26891353
TI  - Simultaneous Cr(VI) removal and 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47)
      biodegradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in liquid medium.
AB  - Simultaneous Cr(VI) removal and 2,2',4,4'-tetra brominated diphenyl ether (BDE
      47) biodegradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in liquid medium were investigated
      in this study, with the goal of elucidating the interaction between concomitant
      pollutants Cr(VI) and BDE-47 during microbial remediation. The experimental
      results revealed that the degradation efficiency of 1 mg L(-1) BDE-47 by 60 mg L(
      1) biomass achieved 51.3% within 7 d when 2 mg L(-1) Cr(VI) coexisted. The
      degradation efficiency was accelerated at low concentrations of Cr(VI) (<=5 mg L(
      1)), but inhibited at higher levels (>=10 mg L(-1)). Cr(VI) of 2 mg L(-1)
      facilitated the secretion of rhamnolipid from the strain, altered cell surface
      hydrophobicity and cell membrane permeability, and promoted intracellular BDE-47
      accumulation, thus improving BDE-47 biotransformation. In addition, the
      stimulation of intracellular enzyme synthesis by 2 mg L(-1) Cr(VI) contributed to
      more BDE-47 elimination in the cells. The achievement of BDE-47 biodegradation
      was coupled with cell growth, enzyme extraction, cell membrane permeability
      change, and ATPase activity increase. The study also indicated that the
      improvement of Cr(VI) removal in BDE-47/Cr(VI) co-contaminated condition was
      mostly due to the increasing synthesis of extracellular enzyme in the presence of
      low concentrations of BDE-47. The whole study demonstrated that P. aeruginosa was
      available for the removal of toxic Cr(VI) and degradation of BDE-47
      simultaneously in the liquid.

PMID- 26891350
TI  - Large-Scale Assessment of a Fully Automatic Co-Adaptive Motor Imagery-Based Brain
      Computer Interface.
AB  - In the last years Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology has benefited from
      the development of sophisticated machine leaning methods that let the user
      operate the BCI after a few trials of calibration. One remarkable example is the
      recent development of co-adaptive techniques that proved to extend the use of
      BCIs also to people not able to achieve successful control with the standard BCI
      procedure. Especially for BCIs based on the modulation of the Sensorimotor Rhythm
      (SMR) these improvements are essential, since a not negligible percentage of
      users is unable to operate SMR-BCIs efficiently. In this study we evaluated for
      the first time a fully automatic co-adaptive BCI system on a large scale. A pool
      of 168 participants naive to BCIs operated the co-adaptive SMR-BCI in one single
      session. Different psychological interventions were performed prior the BCI
      session in order to investigate how motor coordination training and relaxation
      could influence BCI performance. A neurophysiological indicator based on the
      Power Spectral Density (PSD) was extracted by the recording of few minutes of
      resting state brain activity and tested as predictor of BCI performances. Results
      show that high accuracies in operating the BCI could be reached by the majority
      of the participants before the end of the session. BCI performances could be
      significantly predicted by the neurophysiological indicator, consolidating the
      validity of the model previously developed. Anyway, we still found about 22% of
      users with performance significantly lower than the threshold of efficient BCI
      control at the end of the session. Being the inter-subject variability still the
      major problem of BCI technology, we pointed out crucial issues for those who did
      not achieve sufficient control. Finally, we propose valid developments to move a
      step forward to the applicability of the promising co-adaptive methods. 

PMID- 26891354
TI  - Improvement of tolerance to lead by filamentous fungus Pleurotus ostreatus HAU-2
      and its oxidative responses.
AB  - Wastewater contaminated with heavy metals is a world-wide concern. One biological
      treatment strategy includes filamentous fungi capable of extracellular adsorption
      and intracellular bioaccumulation. Here we report that an acclimated strain of
      filamentous fungus Pleurotus ostreatus HAU-2 can withstand Pb up to 1500 mg L(-1)
      Pb, conditions in which the wildtype strain cannot grow. The acclimated strain
      grew in liquid culture under 500 mg L(-1) Pb without significant abnormity in
      biomass and morphology, and was able to remove significant amounts of heavy
      metals with rate of 99.1% at 200 mg L(-1) and 63.3% at 1500 mg L(-1).
      Intracellular bioaccumulation as well as extracellular adsorption both
      contributed the Pb reduction. Pb induced levels of H2O2, and its concentration
      reached 72.9-100.9 MUmol g(-1) under 200-1000 mg L(-1) Pb. A relatively higher
      malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration (8.06-7.59 nmol g(-1)) was also observed at 500
      1500 mg L(-1) Pb, indicating that Pb exposure resulted in oxidative damage. The
      fungal cells also defended against the attack of reactive oxygen species by
      producing antioxidants. Of the three antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase
      (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), CAT was the most responsive and the
      maximal enzyme activity was 15.8 U mg(-1) protein. Additionally, glutathione
      (GSH) might also play a role (3.16-3.21 mg g(-1) protein) in detoxification under
      relatively low Pb concentration (100-200 mg L(-1)). Our findings suggested that
      filamentous fungus could be selected for increased tolerance to heavy metals and
      that CAT and GSH might be important components of this tolerance.

PMID- 26891356
TI  - Influence of activated carbon preloading by EfOM fractions from treated
      wastewater on adsorption of pharmaceutically active compounds.
AB  - In this study, the preloading effects of different fractions of wastewater
      effluent organic matter (EfOM) on the adsorption of trace-level pharmaceutically
      active compounds (PhACs) onto granular activated carbon (GAC) were investigated.
      A nanofiltration (NF) membrane was employed to separate the EfOM by size, and two
      GACs with distinct pore structures were chosen for comparison. The results showed
      that preloading with EfOM substantially decreased PhAC uptake of the GACs;
      however, comparable PhAC adsorption capacities were achieved on GACs preloaded by
      feed EfOM and the NF-permeating EfOM. This indicates that: (1) the NF-rejected,
      larger EfOM molecules with an expectation to block the PhAC adsorption pores
      exerted little impact on the adsorbability of PhACs; (2) the smaller EfOM
      molecules present in the NF permeate contributed mainly to the decrease in PhAC
      uptake, mostly due to site competition. Of the two examined GACs, the wide pore
      size-distributed GAC was found to be more susceptible to EfOM preloading than the
      microporous GAC. Furthermore, among the fourteen investigated PhACs, the
      negatively charged hydrophilic PhACs were generally subjected to a greater EfOM
      preloading impact. 

PMID- 26891355
TI  - Efficient degradation of Acid Orange 7 in aqueous solution by iron ore tailing
      Fenton-like process.
AB  - An effective method based on iron ore tailing Fenton-like process was studied for
      removing an azo dye, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in aqueous solution. Five tailings were
      characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscope (XFS), Brunner-Emmet-Teller
      (BET) measurement, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The result of XFS
      showed that Fe, Si and Ca were the most abundant elements and some toxic heavy
      metals were also present in the studied tailings. The result of BET analysis
      indicated that the studied tailings had very low surface areas (0.64-5.68 m(2) g(
      1)). The degradation efficiencies of AO7 were positively correlated with the
      content of iron oxide and cupric oxide, and not related with the BET surface area
      of the tailings. The co-existing metal elements, particularly Cu, might
      accelerate the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction. The effects of other
      parameters on heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of AO7 by a converter slag
      iron tailing (tailing E) which contains highest iron oxide were also
      investigated. The tailing could be reused 10 times without significant decrease
      of the catalytic capacity. Very low amount of iron species and almost
      undetectable toxic elements were leached in the catalytic degradation of AO7 by
      the tailing E. The reaction products were identified by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry and a possible pathway of AO7 degradation was proposed. This study
      not only provides an effective method for removing azo dyes in polluted water by
      employing waste tailings as Fenton-like catalysts, but also uses waste tailings
      as the secondary resource.

PMID- 26891357
TI  - Chemical speciation of cadmium: An approach to evaluate plant-available cadmium
      in Ecuadorian soils under cacao production.
AB  - Elevated concentration of cadmium (Cd) in cacao beans has raised serious concerns
      about the chocolate consumption on human health. Accumulation of Cd in cacao bean
      in southern Ecuador has been related to soil contamination. In this study, soil
      fractionation approach was used to identify available Cd pools in the soils and
      to correlate these Cd pools with bean Cd concentration and soil test indexes. The
      distribution of soil Cd fractions decreased in the order: oxidizable > acid
      soluble > residual > reducible >> water-soluble (+exchangeable). Oxidizable and
      acid-soluble fractions accounted for 59 and 68% of the total recoverable Cd for
      the 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth, respectively. Acid-soluble fraction was closely
      related to bean-Cd, with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.70 and 0.81 (P < 0.01)
      for the 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth, respectively. Acid-soluble Cd was
      significantly correlated with 0.01 M HCl- (r = 0.99, P < 0.01) or Mehlich 3-
      extractable Cd (r = 0.97, P < 0.01). These results indicate that acid-soluble Cd
      fraction is an important part of available Cd pool. Since approximately 60% of Cd
      in the cacao-growing soils is related to the acid-soluble fraction and bound to
      organic matter, remediation of the contaminated soils should consider to the
      dynamics of soil pH and organic matter content.

PMID- 26891358
TI  - The influences of dissolved organic matter and surfactant on the desorption of Cu
      and Zn from road-deposited sediment.
AB  - This study showcases the desorption behaviours of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in
      road-deposited sediment (RDS). Batch tests were conducted to investigate the
      influences of rainwater, major wastewater constituents of dissolved organic
      matter (DOM) and surfactant on the metals leaching from RDS. Results show that
      the rainwater solutions considerably enhanced the total amounts of Cu (319 +/-
      46% of the total leaching amount by blank solutions) and Zn (617 +/- 130%)
      released from RDS compared with blank solutions. DOM enhanced the leaching of Cu
      from RDS at a neutral pH. By contrast, DOM had an adverse effect on the
      mobilization of Zn. In the absence of DOM, a higher concentration of sodium
      dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) slightly increased the release of Cu from RDS than a
      lower concentration of SDS. However, the existence of SDS suppressed the release
      of Zn from RDS.

PMID- 26891359
TI  - Evidence for the generation of reactive oxygen species from hydroquinone and
      benzoquinone: Roles in arsenite oxidation.
AB  - Natural organic matter (NOM) significantly affects the fate, bioavailability, and
      toxicity of arsenic in the environment. In the present study, we investigated the
      oxidation of As(III) in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) and benzoquinone (BQ),
      which were selected as model quinone moieties for NOM. It was found that As(III)
      was oxidized to As(V) in the presence of HQ or BQ at neutral conditions, and the
      oxidation efficiency of As(III) increased from 33% to 92% in HQ solutions and
      from 0 to 80% in BQ solutions with pH increasing from 6.5 to 8.5. The oxidation
      mechanism was further explored with electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. The
      results showed that semiquinone radicals (SQ(-)) were generated from the
      comproportionation reaction between BQ and HQ, which mediated the formation of
      superoxide anion (O2(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH).
      Both the SQ(-), H2O2 and OH contributed to the oxidation of As(III). The increase
      of pH favored the formation of SQ(-), and thus promoted the generation of
      reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as As(III) oxidation. Increasing
      concentrations of HQ and BQ from 0.1 to 1.0 mM enhanced As(III) oxidation from
      65% to 94% and from 10% to 53%, respectively. The findings of this study
      facilitate our understanding of the fate and transformation of As(III) in organic
      rich aquatic environments and highlight quinone moieties as the potential
      oxidants for As(III) in the remediation of arsenic contaminated sites. 

PMID- 26891361
TI  - Abiotic degradation of methyl parathion by manganese dioxide: Kinetics and
      transformation pathway.
AB  - Methyl parathion, a widely used insecticide around the world, has aroused
      gradually extensive concern of researchers due to its degradation product such as
      methyl paraoxon, with higher toxicity for mammals and more recalcitrant. Given
      the ubiquity of manganese dioxide (MnO2) in soils and aquatic sediments, the
      abiotic degradation of methyl parathion by alpha-MnO2 was investigated in batch
      experiments. It was found that methyl parathion was decomposed up to 90% by alpha
      MnO2 in 30 h and the removal efficiency of methyl parathion depended strongly on
      the loading of alpha-MnO2 and pH value in the solution where the reactions
      followed pseudo-first-order model well. The coexisting metal ions (such as
      Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Mn(2+)) weakened markedly the degradation of methyl parathion
      by alpha-MnO2. However, the effect of dissolved organic matter (HA-Na) on
      reaction rates presented two sides: to improve hydrolysis rate but deteriorate
      oxidation rate of methyl parathion. Based on the degradation products identified
      by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography high
      resolution mass spectrometer (LC/HRMS), both hydrolysis and oxidation processes
      were proposed to be two predominant reaction mechanisms contributing to methyl
      parathion degradation by alpha-MnO2. This study provided meaningful information
      to elucidate the abiotic dissipation of methyl parathion by manganese oxide
      minerals in the environment. 

PMID- 26891360
TI  - The importance of evaluating metal exposure and predicting human health risks in
      urban-periurban environments influenced by emerging industry.
AB  - The human population boom, urbanization and rapid industrialization have either
      directly or indirectly resulted in the serious environmental toxification of the
      soil-food web by metal exposure from anthropogenic sources in most of the
      developing industrialized world. The present study was conducted to analyze
      concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soil and vegetables in the
      urban-periurban areas influenced by emerging industry. Vegetables and their
      corresponding soil samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metals contents
      from six random sites. According to the results, the potential health risks from
      metals to the local communities were assessed by following the methodology
      described by the US-EPA. In general, the total non-carcinogenic risks were shown
      to be less than the limits set by the US-EPA. However, the potential risk of
      developing carcinogenicity in humans over a lifetime of exposure could be
      increased through the dietary intake of Cd, Cr and Ni. In some cases, Pb was also
      marginally higher than the safe level. It was concluded that some effective
      remedial approaches should be adopted to mitigate the risks of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb
      in the study area because these metal levels have exceeded the safe limits for
      human health. However, new studies on gastrointestinal bioaccessibility in human
      are required to heighten our understanding about metals exposure and health risk
      assessment. 

PMID- 26891362
TI  - Effects of source rocks, soil features and climate on natural gamma radioactivity
      in the Crati valley (Calabria, Southern Italy).
AB  - The study, which represents an innovative scientific strategy to approach the
      study of natural radioactivity in terms of spatial and temporal variability, was
      aimed to characterize the background levels of natural radionuclides in soil and
      rock in the urban and peri-urban soil of a southern Italy area; to quantify their
      variations due to radionuclide bearing minerals and soil properties, taking into
      account nature and extent of seasonality influence. Its main novelty is taking
      into account the effect of climate in controlling natural gamma radioactivity as
      well as analysing soil radioactivity in terms of soil properties and pedogenetic
      processes. In different bedrocks and soils, activities of natural radionuclides
      ((238)U, (232)Th (4) K) and total radioactivity were measured at 181 locations by
      means of scintillation gamma-ray spectrometry. In addition, selected rocks
      samples were collected and analysed, using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
      equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and an X-Ray Powder
      Diffraction (XRPD), to assess the main sources of radionuclides. The natural
      gamma background is intimately related to differing petrologic features of
      crystalline source rocks and to peculiar pedogenetic features and processes. The
      radioactivity survey was conducted during two different seasons with marked
      changes in the main climatic characteristics, namely dry summer and moist winter,
      to evaluate possible effects of seasonal climatic variations and soil properties
      on radioactivity measurements. Seasonal variations of radionuclides activities
      show their peak values in summer. The activities of (238)U, (232)Th and (4) K
      exhibit a positive correlation with the air temperature and are negatively
      correlated with precipitations. 

PMID- 26891363
TI  - Monitoring Therapy Compliance of Tuberculosis Patients by using Video-Enabled
      Electronic Devices.
AB  - A recent innovation to help patients adhere to daily tuberculosis (TB) treatment
      over many months is video (or virtually) observed therapy (VOT). VOT is becoming
      increasingly feasible as mobile telephone applications and tablet computers
      become more widely available. Studies of the effectiveness of VOT in improving TB
      patient outcomes are being conducted.

PMID- 26891367
TI  - A One-Structure-Based Hybridized Nanogenerator for Scavenging Mechanical and
      Thermal Energies by Triboelectric-Piezoelectric-Pyroelectric Effects.
AB  - A hybridized nanogenerator is demonstrated, which has the structure of PVDF
      nanowires-PDMS composite film/indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode/polarized PVDF
      film/ITO electrode, and which can individually/simultaneously scavenge mechanical
      and thermal energies using piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric
      effects. As compared with the individual energy harvesting unit, the hybridized
      nanogenerator has a much better charging performance. This work may push forward
      a significant step toward multienergy harvesting technology. 

PMID- 26891364
TI  - Prediction of Certain Well-Characterized Domains of Known Functions within the PE
      and PPE Proteins of Mycobacteria.
AB  - The PE and PPE protein family are unique to mycobacteria. Though the complete
      genome sequences for over 500 M. tuberculosis strains and mycobacterial species
      are available, few PE and PPE proteins have been structurally and functionally
      characterized. We have therefore used bioinformatics tools to characterize the
      structure and function of these proteins. We selected representative members of
      the PE and PPE protein family by phylogeny analysis and using structure-based
      sequence annotation identified ten well-characterized protein domains of known
      function. Some of these domains were observed to be common to all mycobacterial
      species and some were species specific. 

PMID- 26891366
TI  - Down syndrome: perinatal mortality risks with each additional week of expectant
      management.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the gestational age (GA) at which perinatal mortality risk
      is minimized for fetuses with Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: Retrospective cohort
      of singleton pregnancies delivered between 24 and 41 weeks, using 2005-2006
      United States linked birth and death certificate data. Among fetal DS cases,
      prospective risk of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) and risk of infant death
      were calculated for each week, and composite risk of fetal/infant mortality with
      expectant management was compared to delivery. RESULTS: Of 3,113,098 pregnancies,
      1766 had fetal DS (0.06%). IUFD occurred in 7.4% with DS, and infant death in
      6.5%. Prospective risk of IUFD increased from 37 weeks onward to reach 50.7 per
      1000 pregnancies (95% CI 33.2-68.3) at 42 weeks. Comparing mortality with
      expectant management to delivery, expectant management carried increasing risk
      from 38 (RR 1.18; 95% CI 1.05-1.33) to 41 weeks (RR 1.84; 95% CI 1.66-2.05).
      Further, number needed to deliver to avoid one excess death decreased from 38
      (109.17; 95% CI 64.52-344.83) to 41 weeks (24.08; 95% CI 20.59-29.04).
      CONCLUSIONS: Although further research is needed to clarify risk factors for
      fetal and neonatal death in cases of DS, risk of perinatal mortality appears to
      be minimized with delivery at 38 weeks.

PMID- 26891365
TI  - Starch Granule Re-Structuring by Starch Branching Enzyme and Glucan Water
      Dikinase Modulation Affects Caryopsis Physiology and Metabolism.
AB  - Starch is of fundamental importance for plant development and reproduction and
      its optimized molecular assembly is potentially necessary for correct starch
      metabolism. Re-structuring of starch granules in-planta can therefore potentially
      affect plant metabolism. Modulation of granule micro-structure was achieved by
      decreasing starch branching and increasing starch-bound phosphate content in the
      barley caryopsis starch by RNAi suppression of all three Starch Branching Enzyme
      (SBE) isoforms or overexpression of potato Glucan Water Dikinase (GWD). The
      resulting lines displayed Amylose-Only (AO) and Hyper-Phosphorylated (HP) starch
      chemotypes, respectively. We studied the influence of these alterations on
      primary metabolism, grain composition, starch structural features and starch
      granule morphology over caryopsis development at 10, 20 and 30 days after
      pollination (DAP) and at grain maturity. While HP showed relatively little
      effect, AO showed significant reduction in starch accumulation with re-direction
      to protein and beta-glucan (BG) accumulation. Metabolite profiling indicated
      significantly higher sugar accumulation in AO, with re-partitioning of carbon to
      accumulate amino acids, and interestingly it also had high levels of some
      important stress-related metabolites and potentially protective metabolites,
      possibly to elude deleterious effects. Investigations on starch molecular
      structure revealed significant increase in starch phosphate and amylose content
      in HP and AO respectively with obvious differences in starch granule morphology
      at maturity. The results demonstrate that decreasing the storage starch branching
      resulted in metabolic adjustments and re-directions, tuning to evade deleterious
      effects on caryopsis physiology and plant performance while only little effect
      was evident by increasing starch-bound phosphate as a result of overexpressing
      GWD. 

PMID- 26891368
TI  - An Unusual Cause of Altered Mental Status: Recurrent Cerebral Air Embolism.

PMID- 26891369
TI  - Dressings Loaded with Cyclodextrin-Hamamelitannin Complexes Increase
      Staphylococcus aureus Susceptibility Toward Antibiotics Both in Single as well as
      in Mixed Biofilm Communities.
AB  - Bacteria reside within biofilms at the infection site, making them extremely
      difficult to eradicate with conventional wound care products. Bacteria use quorum
      sensing (QS) systems to regulate biofilm formation, and QS inhibitors (QSIs) have
      been proposed as promising antibiofilm agents. Despite this, few antimicrobial
      therapies that interfere with QS exist. Nontoxic hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin
      functionalized cellulose gauzes releasing a burst of the antibiotic vancomycin
      and the QSI hamamelitannin are developed, followed by a sustained release of
      both. The gauzes affect QS and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
      Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro model of chronic wound infection and can be
      considered as candidates to be used to prevent wound infection as well as treat
      infected wounds.

PMID- 26891370
TI  - Radioiodine therapy versus antithyroid medications for Graves' disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Both
      antithyroid medications and radioiodine are commonly used treatments but their
      frequency of use varies between regions and countries. Despite the commonness of
      the diagnosis, any possible differences between the two treatments with respect
      to long-term outcomes remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of
      radioiodine therapy versus antithyroid medications for Graves' disease. SEARCH
      METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search in the Cochrane Library,
      MEDLINE and EMBASE and the trials registers ICTRP Search Portal and
      ClinicalTrials.gov. The date of the last search was September 2015 for all
      databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the
      effects of radioiodine therapy versus antithyroid medications for Graves' disease
      with at least two years follow-up. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors
      independently screened titles and abstracts for relevance. One author carried out
      screening for inclusion, data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment and a
      second author checked this. We presented data not suitable for meta-analysis as
      descriptive data. We analysed the overall quality of evidence utilising the GRADE
      instrument. MAIN RESULTS: We included two RCTs involving 425 adult participants
      with Graves' disease in this review. Altogether 204 participants were randomised
      to radioiodine therapy and 221 to methimazole therapy. A single dose of
      radioiodine was administered. The duration of methimazole medication was 18
      months. The period of follow-up was at least two years, depending on the outcome
      measured. For most outcome measures risk of bias was low; for the outcomes health
      related quality of life as well as development and worsening of Graves'
      ophthalmopathy risks of performance bias and detection bias were high in at least
      one of the two RCTs.Health-related quality of life appeared to be similar in the
      radioiodine and methimazole treatment groups, however no quantitative data were
      reported (425 participants; 2 trials; low quality evidence). The development and
      worsening of Graves' ophthalmopathy was observed in 76 of 202 radioiodine-treated
      participants (38%) and in 40 of 215 methimazole-treated participants (19%): risk
      ratio (RR) 1.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40 to 2.70); 417 participants; 2
      trials; low quality evidence. A total of 35% to 56% of radioiodine-treated
      participants and 42% of participants treated with methimazole were smokers, which
      is associated with the risk of worsening or development of Graves'
      ophthalmopathy. Euthyroidism was not achieved by any participant being treated
      with radioiodine compared with 64/68 (94%) of participants after methimazole
      treatment (112 participants; 1 trial). In this trial thyroxine therapy was not
      introduced early in both treatment arms to avoid hypothyroidism. Recurrence of
      hyperthyroidism (relapse) in favour of radioiodine treatment showed a RR of 0.20
      (95% CI 0.01 to 2.66); P value = 0.22; 417 participants; 2 trials; very low
      quality evidence. Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 91%) and the RRs were 0.61 or 0.06
      with non-overlapping CIs. Adverse events other than development of worsening of
      Graves' ophthalmopathy for radioiodine therapy were hypothyroidism (39 of 41
      participants (95%) compared with 0% of participants receiving methimazole,
      however thyroxine treatment to avoid hypothyroidism was not introduced early in
      the radioiodine group - 104 participants; 1 trial; very low quality evidence) and
      drug-related adverse events for methimazole treatment (23 of 215 participants
      (11%) reported adverse effects likely related to methimazole therapy - 215
      participants; 2 trials; very low quality evidence). The outcome measures all
      cause mortality and bone mineral density were not reported in the included
      trials. One trial (174 participants) reported socioeconomic effects: costs based
      on the official hospital reimbursement system in Sweden for patients without
      relapse and methimazole treatment were USD 1126/1164 (young/older methimazole
      group) and for radioiodine treatment USD 1862. Costs for patients with relapse
      and methimazole treatment were USD 2284/1972 (young/older methimazole group) and
      for radioiodine treatment USD 2760. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The only antithyroid
      drug investigated in the two included trials was methimazole, which might limit
      the applicability of our findings with regard to other compounds such as
      propylthiouracil. Results from two RCTs suggest that radioiodine treatment is
      associated with an increased risk of Graves' ophthalmopathy. Our findings suggest
      some benefit from radioiodine treatment for recurrence of hyperthyroidism
      (relapse) but there is uncertainty about the magnitude of the effect size.

PMID- 26891371
TI  - Modulating myosin restores muscle function in a mouse model of nemaline myopathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Nemaline myopathy, one of the most common congenital myopathies, is
      associated with mutations in various genes including ACTA1. This disease is also
      characterized by various forms/degrees of muscle weakness, with most cases being
      severe and resulting in death in infancy. Recent findings have provided valuable
      insight into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Mutations in ACTA1
      directly disrupt binding interactions between actin and myosin, and consequently
      the intrinsic force-generating capacity of muscle fibers. ACTA1 mutations are
      also associated with variations in myofiber size, the mechanisms of which have
      been unclear. In the present study, we sought to test the hypotheses that the
      compromised functional and morphological attributes of skeletal muscles bearing
      ACTA1 mutations (1) would be directly due to the inefficient actomyosin complex
      and (2) could be restored by manipulating myosin expression. METHODS: We used a
      knockin mouse model expressing the ACTA1 His40Tyr actin mutation found in human
      patients. We then performed in vivo intramuscular injections of recombinant adeno
      associated viral vectors harboring a myosin transgene known to facilitate muscle
      contraction. RESULTS: We observed that in the presence of the transgene, the
      intrinsic force-generating capacity was restored and myofiber size was normal.
      INTERPRETATION: This demonstrates a direct link between disrupted attachment of
      myosin molecules to actin monomers and muscle fiber atrophy. These data also
      suggest that further therapeutic interventions should primarily target myosin
      dysfunction to alleviate the pathology of ACTA1-related nemaline myopathy. Ann
      Neurol 2016;79:717-725.

PMID- 26891372
TI  - Intermittent Intraoperative Neural Monitoring Technology in Minimally Invasive
      Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy: A Preliminary Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) technology was applied in
      minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) to explore its safety and
      effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from
      October 2009 to August 2011. Inclusion criteria included the following: (1)
      benign thyroid nodule with maximum diameter less than 4.0 cm by preoperative
      ultrasound evaluation; (2) no previous thyroid surgeries; (3) no cervical
      radiation history; (4) normal function of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)
      examined by preoperative laryngoscopy; (5) patients who did not accept to take a
      "wait and see" follow-up strategy. Enrolled patients were randomly allocated into
      NIM group and control group. RESULTS: 46 patients were enrolled in NIM group, and
      51 patients were enrolled in control group. All surgeries in NIM group were
      performed successfully, and majority of tracheal intubations were placed with one
      attempt. 47 RLNs in NIM group and 60 RLNs in control group were exposed. The time
      of RLN locating was 6.06 +/- 1.48 min in NIM group and 6.92 +/- 1.34 min in
      control group (p = .02). The time of RLN tracing and exposing was 28.96 +/- 4.75
      min in NIM group and 32.17 +/- 5.56 min in control group (p = .02). 1 case of
      temporary RLN paralysis was observed in both groups, and no permanent RLN
      paralysis was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The application of intermittent IONM in
      MIVAT is feasible. Intermittent IONM can help reduce the time of RLN locating and
      the time of RLN tracing and exposing.

PMID- 26891373
TI  - Serum myeloid-related protein 8/14 in minimal change- and glomerulonephritis
      related nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) forms stable heterodimers and
      is the major calcium-binding protein secreted by activated granulocytes and
      monocytes. We evaluated whether serum MRP8/14 level is a useful indicator for a
      differential diagnosis of glomerulonephritis (GN)- and minimal change disease
      (MC)- related nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS: Serum MRP8/14 complex was
      evaluated in 37 NS patients with MC or GN. These patients were divided into two
      groups. Group 1 consisted of 13 NS patients with MC, and group 2 consisted of 24
      NS patients with GN. Group 2 was further divided into four subgroups: IgA
      nephropathy (IgAN; n = 5), Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN; n = 6),
      focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; n = 12), and acute GN Poststreptococcal
      acute glomeruloNephritis (PSAGN; n = 1). RESULTS: The clinical manifestations,
      laboratory findings, serum MRP8/14 level, and renal accumulation of MRP8 were
      investigated for each group. No significant inter-group differences were observed
      for serum total protein, serum albumin, or blood urea nitrogen and urinary
      protein excretions. Mean serum MRP8/14 in the IgAN, HSPN, FSGS, and PSAGN groups
      was higher than in group 1. Further, the mean glomerular and interstitial MRP8
      staining scores in the IgAN, HSPN, and PSAGN groups were higher than in group 1.
      CONCLUSIONS: Serum MRP8/14 level may be a useful indicator for differential
      diagnosis between GN- and MC- related NS.

PMID- 26891375
TI  - Alleviating anemia and thrombocytopenia in myelofibrosis patients.
AB  - Anemia and thrombocytopenia are frequent clinical manifestations of myelofibrosis
      as well as important prognostic factors of the disease. Concerning the treatment
      of anemia, the first step should be the correction of reversible contributing
      factors, such as possible iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency. Then,
      treatment options include erythropoiesis stimulating agents, androgens,
      immunomodulating drugs, corticosteroids, and splenectomy. Anemia responses may
      also be observed in some patients treated with JAK inhibitors. However, most
      patients eventually fail to such therapies and become transfusion dependent. Some
      of the aforementioned therapies can also improve thrombocytopenia, but the
      responses are usually observed in patients with moderate platelet count decrease.
      Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the only curative treatment
      of myelofibrosis, can be an alternative for selected patients with cytopenias who
      are refractory to conventional therapies. However, for the majority of patients,
      the management of anemia and severe thrombocytopenia remains an unmet need. 

PMID- 26891374
TI  - Correction of Mutant p63 in EEC Syndrome Using siRNA Mediated Allele-Specific
      Silencing Restores Defective Stem Cell Function.
AB  - Ectrodactyly-Ectodermal dysplasia-Clefting (EEC) syndrome is a rare autosomal
      dominant disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the p63 gene and
      characterized by limb defects, orofacial clefting, ectodermal dysplasia, and
      ocular defects. Patients develop progressive total bilateral limbal stem cell
      deficiency, which eventually results in corneal blindness. Medical and surgical
      treatments are ineffective and of limited benefit. Oral mucosa epithelial stem
      cells (OMESCs) represent an alternative source of stem cells capable of
      regenerating the corneal epithelium and, combined with gene therapy, could
      provide an attractive therapeutic avenue. OMESCs from EEC patients carrying the
      most severe p63 mutations (p.R279H and p.R304Q) were characterized and the
      genetic defect of p.R279H silenced using allele-specific (AS) small interfering
      RNAs (siRNAs). Systematic screening of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-siRNAs against
      R279H-p63 allele in (i) stable WT-DeltaNp63alpha-RFP and R279H-DeltaNp63alpha
      EGFP cell lines, (ii) transient doubly transfected cell lines, and (iii) p.R279H
      OMESCs, identified a number of potent siRNA inhibitors for the mutant allele,
      which had no effect on wild-type p63. In addition, siRNA treatment led to longer
      acquired life span of mutated stem cells compared to controls, less accelerated
      stem cell differentiation in vitro, reduced proliferation properties, and
      effective ability in correcting the epithelial hypoplasia, thus giving rise to
      full thickness stratified and differentiated epithelia. This study demonstrates
      the phenotypic correction of mutant stem cells (OMESCs) in EEC syndrome by means
      of siRNA mediated AS silencing with restoration of function. The application of
      siRNA, alone or in combination with cell-based therapies, offers a therapeutic
      strategy for corneal blindness in EEC syndrome. Stem Cells 2016;34:1588-1600.

PMID- 26891376
TI  - Is Intracranial Pressure Monitoring of Patients With Diffuse Traumatic Brain
      Injury Valuable? An Observational Multicenter Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring of patients with
      severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recommended by the Brain Trauma
      Foundation, any benefits remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects
      of ICP monitoring on the mortality of and functional outcomes in patients with
      severe diffuse TBI. METHODS: Data were collected on patients with severe diffuse
      TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score on admission <9 and Marshall Class II-IV)
      treated from January 2012 to December 2013 in 24 hospitals (17 level I trauma
      centers and 7 level II trauma centers) in 9 Chinese provinces. We evaluated the
      impact of ICP monitoring on 6-month mortality and favorable outcome using
      propensity score-matched analysis after controlling for independent predictors of
      these outcomes. RESULTS: ICP monitors were inserted into 287 patients (59.5%).
      After propensity score matching, ICP monitoring significantly decreased 6-month
      mortality. ICP monitoring also had a greater impact on the most severely injured
      patients on the basis of head computed tomography data (Marshall computed
      tomography classification IV) and on patients with the lowest level of
      consciousness (GCS scores 3-5). After propensity score matching, monitoring
      remained nonassociated with a 6-month favorable outcome for the overall sample.
      However, monitoring had a significant impact on the 6-month favorable outcomes of
      patients with the lowest level of consciousness (GCS scores 3-5). CONCLUSION: ICP
      monitor placement was associated with a significant decrease in 6-month mortality
      after adjustment for the baseline risk profile and the monitoring propensity of
      patients with diffuse severe TBI, especially those with GCS scores of 3 to 5 or
      of Marshall computed tomography classification IV.

PMID- 26891377
TI  - A Phase III Clinical Trial Showing Limited Efficacy of Autologous Mesenchymal
      Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In our previous report, 3 of 10 patients with spinal cord injury who
      were injected with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) showed motor
      improvement in the upper extremities and in activities of daily living.
      OBJECTIVE: To report on the results of a phase III clinical trial of autologous
      MSCs therapy. METHODS: Patients were selected based on the following criteria:
      chronic American Spinal Injury Association B status patients who had more than 12
      months of cervical injury, and no neurological changes during the recent 3 months
      of vigorous rehabilitation. We injected 1.6 * 10 autologous MSCs into the
      intramedullary area at the injured level and 3.2 * 10 autologous MSCs into the
      subdural space. Outcome data were collected over 6 months regarding neurological
      examination, magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion tensor imaging, and
      electrophysiological analyses. RESULTS: Among the 16 patients, only 2 showed
      improvement in neurological status (unilateral right C8 segment from grade 1 to
      grade 3 in 1 patient and bilateral C6 from grade 3 to grade 4 and unilateral
      right C8 from grade 0 to grade 1 in 1 patient). Both patients with neurological
      improvement showed the appearance of continuity in the spinal cord tract by
      diffusion tensor imaging. There were no adverse effects associated with MSCs
      injection. CONCLUSION: Single MSCs application to intramedullary and intradural
      space is safe, but has a very weak therapeutic effect compared with multiple MSCs
      injection. Further clinical trials to enhance the effect of MSCs injection are
      necessary.

PMID- 26891379
TI  - Relationship Between Biotype and Bone Morphology in the Lower Anterior Mandible:
      An Observational Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Different clinical parameters have been advocated as potential
      predictors of alveolar and basal jawbone morphology. The aim of this study is to
      describe, by tomographic means, alveolar and basal osseous dimensions of the
      anterior mandible in healthy individuals and evaluate potential correlations with
      biotype, along with other clinical parameters. METHODS: One hundred consecutive
      healthy patients needing surgery in the posterior mandible were enrolled in this
      observational study (group 1 = 50 patients with thin biotype; group 2 = 50
      patients with thick biotype). Data were collected for: 1) Little irregularity
      index for anterior crowding; 2) molar and canine class relationship; 3) previous
      orthodontic treatment; 4) gingival recession; and 5) band of keratinized gingiva
      for each of the six anterior mandibular teeth (#22 through #27). At the most mid
      buccal computerized tomography slice of each tooth, other parameters were
      measured, including: 1) distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the bone
      crest; 2) tooth torque (TT); 3) labial cortical bone thickness (BT) for alveolar
      and basal bone; and 4) BT 5 and 10 mm apical to the tooth apex. Data were
      statistically analyzed, and significance was set at P <=0.05. RESULTS: Mean
      thickness of alveolar bone ranged from 6.66 to 4.51 mm (standard deviation [SD] =
      1.46 for tooth #27; SD = 1.01 for tooth #25) whereas mean thickness of basal bone
      ranged from 8.9 to 8.2 mm (SD = 2.06 for tooth #22; SD = 2.06 for tooth #26).
      Mean thickness of bone at 5 mm from apex ranged from 11.94 to 10.47 mm (SD = 2.96
      for tooth #25; SD = 2.22 for tooth #22), whereas mean thickness of bone at 10 mm
      from apex ranged from 13.75 to 11.08 mm (SD = 2.79 for tooth #25; SD = 2.53 for
      tooth #27). No statistically significant differences were detected among
      biotypes, whereas: 1) TT, 2) age, and 3) smoking habit were often predictors of
      reduction in BT in a multiple linear regression model. Male sex was often a
      predictor of positive changes in BT, and previous orthodontic therapy was a
      protective factor against developing bone loss >5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Although some
      differences were detected among biotypes, data indicate that biotype does not
      play a fundamental role in influencing alveolar BT, whereas other variables
      (i.e., TT, sex, age, and smoking habit) do influence alveolar BT. Further studies
      are needed to better understand the extent of influence of each clinical
      variable.

PMID- 26891381
TI  - Percolative switching in transition metal dichalcogenide field-effect transistors
      at room temperature.
AB  - We have addressed the microscopic transport mechanism at the switching or 'on
      off' transition in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) field-effect
      transistors (FETs), which has been a controversial topic in TMDC electronics,
      especially at room temperature. With simultaneous measurement of channel
      conductivity and its slow time-dependent fluctuation (or noise) in ultrathin WSe2
      and MoS2 FETs on insulating SiO2 substrates where noise arises from McWhorter
      type carrier number fluctuations, we establish that the switching in conventional
      backgated TMDC FETs is a classical percolation transition in a medium of
      inhomogeneous carrier density distribution. From the experimentally observed
      exponents in the scaling of noise magnitude with conductivity, we observe
      unambiguous signatures of percolation in a random resistor network, particularly,
      in WSe2 FETs close to switching, which crosses over to continuum percolation at a
      higher doping level. We demonstrate a powerful experimental probe to the
      microscopic nature of near-threshold electrical transport in TMDC FETs,
      irrespective of the material detail, device geometry, or carrier mobility, which
      can be extended to other classes of 2D material-based devices as well. 

PMID- 26891380
TI  - Decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effect of decompressive laparotomy on outcomes in patients with
      abdominal compartment syndrome has been poorly investigated. The aim of this
      prospective cohort study was to describe the effect of decompressive laparotomy
      for abdominal compartment syndrome on organ function and outcomes. METHODS: This
      was a prospective cohort study in adult patients who underwent decompressive
      laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome. The primary endpoints were 28-day
      and 1-year all-cause mortality. Changes in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and
      organ function, and laparotomy-related morbidity were secondary endpoints.
      RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the study (20 men). Twenty-seven
      patients were surgical admissions treated for abdominal conditions. The median
      (i.q.r.) Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 26
      (20-32). Median IAP was 23 (21-27) mmHg before decompressive laparotomy,
      decreasing to 12 (9-15), 13 (8-17), 12 (9-15) and 12 (9-14) mmHg after 2, 6, 24
      and 72 h. Decompressive laparotomy significantly improved oxygenation and urinary
      output. Survivors showed improvement in organ function scores, but non-survivors
      did not. Fourteen complications related to the procedure developed in eight of
      the 33 patients. The abdomen could be closed primarily in 18 patients. The
      overall 28-day mortality rate was 36 per cent (12 of 33), which increased to 55
      per cent (18 patients) at 1 year. Non-survivors were no different from survivors,
      except that they tended to be older and on mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION:
      Decompressive laparotomy reduced IAP and had an immediate effect on organ
      function. It should be considered in patients with abdominal compartment
      syndrome.

PMID- 26891383
TI  - Focus on Physiology to Improve Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

PMID- 26891384
TI  - Midazolam for Anxiolysis and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis: Can
      We Kill Two Birds with One Stone?

PMID- 26891385
TI  - Will Xenon Be a Valuable Addition in Perioperative and Critical Care Settings?

PMID- 26891382
TI  - Surface dynamics of voltage-gated ion channels.
AB  - Neurons encode information in fast changes of the membrane potential, and thus
      electrical membrane properties are critically important for the integration and
      processing of synaptic inputs by a neuron. These electrical properties are
      largely determined by ion channels embedded in the membrane. The distribution of
      most ion channels in the membrane is not spatially uniform: they undergo activity
      driven changes in the range of minutes to days. Even in the range of
      milliseconds, the composition and topology of ion channels are not static but
      engage in highly dynamic processes including stochastic or activity-dependent
      transient association of the pore-forming and auxiliary subunits, lateral
      diffusion, as well as clustering of different channels. In this review we briefly
      discuss the potential impact of mobile sodium, calcium and potassium ion channels
      and the functional significance of this for individual neurons and neuronal
      networks. 

PMID- 26891386
TI  - Primus Inter Pares? The Angle of View Varies.

PMID- 26891387
TI  - Evolving Definitions and Pharmacologic Management of Complex Regional Pain
      Syndrome.

PMID- 26891388
TI  - 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate Concentrations in Autologous Salvaged Versus Stored Red
      Blood Cells and in Surgical Patients After Transfusion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Stored red blood cells (RBCs) are deficient in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate
      (2,3-DPG), but it is unclear how autologous salvaged blood (ASB) compares with
      stored blood and how rapidly 2,3-DPG levels return to normal after transfusion.
      Therefore, we compared levels of 2,3-DPG in stored versus ASB RBCs and in
      patients' blood after transfusion. METHODS: Twenty-four patients undergoing
      multilevel spine fusion surgery were enrolled. We measured 2,3-DPG and the
      oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve (P50) in samples taken from the ASB and stored
      blood bags before transfusion and in blood samples drawn from patients before and
      after transfusion. RESULTS: The mean storage duration for stored RBCs was 24 +/-
      8 days. Compared with fresh RBCs, stored RBCs had decreased 2,3-DPG levels (by
      approximately 90%; P < 0.0001) and a decreased P50 (by approximately 30%; P <
      0.0001). However, ASB RBCs did not exhibit these changes. The mean 2,3-DPG
      concentration decreased by approximately 20% (P < 0.05) in postoperative blood
      sampled from patients who received 1 to 3 stored RBC units and by approximately
      30% (P < 0.01) in those who received >=4 stored RBC units. 2,3-DPG was unchanged
      in patients who received no stored blood or ASB alone. After surgery, 2,3-DPG
      levels recovered gradually over 3 postoperative days in patients who received
      stored RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: Stored RBCs, but not ASB RBCs, have decreased levels of
      2,3-DPG and a left-shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve.
      Postoperatively, 2,3-DPG levels remain below preoperative baseline levels for up
      to 3 postoperative days in patients who receive stored RBCs but are unchanged in
      those who receive only ASB RBCs.

PMID- 26891390
TI  - High-Velocity Jet in the Right Atrium: What Is the Diagnosis?

PMID- 26891389
TI  - Imaging Artifacts in Echocardiography.
AB  - Artifacts are frequently encountered during echocardiographic examinations. An
      understanding of the physics and underlying assumptions of ultrasound processing
      involved with image generation is important for accurate interpretation of 2D
      grayscale, spectral Doppler, color flow Doppler, and 3D artifacts and their
      clinical implications. 

PMID- 26891391
TI  - Transesophageal Echocardiogram-Guided Percutaneous AngioVac Extraction of a Right
      Atrial Embolus.

PMID- 26891392
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Drugs Commonly Used in Pregnancy and
      Parturition.
AB  - The majority of pregnant women will be treated with a medication other than a
      vitamin supplement during their pregnancy. Almost half of these medications will
      be category C or D according to the former US Food and Drug Administration
      classification system, indicating a lack of human studies with animal studies
      suggesting adverse fetal effects (category C) or evidence of risk in humans
      (category D). Changes in maternal physiology alter drug bioavailability,
      distribution, clearance, and thus the drug half-life in often unpredictable ways.
      For many drugs, good pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data in pregnancy and
      parturition are lacking. For other drugs, recent studies demonstrate major
      pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic changes that require dose adjustment in
      pregnancy, but current dosing guidelines do not reflect these data. In this
      review, we address the principles that underlie changes in pharmacology and
      physiology in pregnancy and provide information on drugs that anesthesiologists
      commonly encounter in treating pregnant patients. 

PMID- 26891394
TI  - Limitations of Significance Testing in Clinical Research: A Review of Multiple
      Comparison Corrections and Effect Size Calculations with Correlated Measures.
AB  - Modern clinical research commonly uses complex designs with multiple related
      outcomes, including repeated-measures designs. While multiple comparison
      corrections and effect size calculations are needed to more accurately assess an
      intervention's significance and impact, understanding the limitations of these
      methods in the case of dependency and correlation is important. In this review,
      we outline methods for multiple comparison corrections and effect size
      calculations and considerations in cases of correlation and summarize relevant
      simulation studies to illustrate these concepts. 

PMID- 26891393
TI  - Net Reclassification Improvement.
AB  - When adding new markers to existing prediction models, it is necessary to
      evaluate the models to determine whether the additional markers are useful. The
      net reclassification improvement (NRI) has gained popularity in this role because
      of its simplicity, ease of estimation, and understandability. Although the NRI
      provides a single-number summary describing the improvement new markers bring to
      a model, it also has several potential disadvantages. Any improved classification
      by the new model is weighted equally, regardless of the direction of
      reclassification. In prediction models that already identify the high- and low
      risk groups well, a positive NRI may not mean better classification of those with
      medium risk, where it could make the most difference. Also, overfitting, or
      otherwise misspecified training models, produce overly positive NRI results.
      Because of the unaccounted for uncertainty in the model coefficient estimation,
      investigators should rely on bootstrapped confidence intervals rather than on
      tests of significance. Keeping in mind the limitations and drawbacks, the NRI can
      be helpful when used correctly. 

PMID- 26891395
TI  - Decreasing the Hours That Anesthesiologists and Nurse Anesthetists Work Late by
      Making Decisions to Reduce the Hours of Over-Utilized Operating Room Time.
AB  - In this special article, we evaluate how to reduce the number of hours that
      anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists work beyond the end of their scheduled
      shifts. We limit consideration to surgical suites where the hours of cases in
      each operating room (OR) average 8 hours or more per day. Let "allocated hours"
      refer to the hours into which cases are scheduled, calculated months in advance
      for each combination of service and day of the week. Over-Utilized time is the OR
      workload exceeding allocated time. Reducing Over-Utilized time is the key to
      reducing the hours that anesthesia providers work late. Certain decisions that
      reduce Over-Utilized time and reduce the hours that anesthesiologists and nurse
      anesthetists work late are made by the surgical committee or perioperative
      medical director months in advance. Such decisions include increasing the number
      of first case starts and planning staffing for turnovers and lunch breaks during
      the busiest times of the day. However, most decisions substantively influencing
      Over-Utilized OR time are made within 1 workday before the day of surgery and on
      the day of surgery, because only then are ORs sufficiently full that changes can
      be made to minimize Over-Utilized time. Decisions to reduce Over-Utilized time on
      the day of surgery include targeting ORs with expected Over-Utilized time and
      taking steps to reduce it, including making effective staff assignments and
      appropriately scheduling add-on cases. 

PMID- 26891396
TI  - Intravenous Therapies for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review.
AB  - Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) remains a challenging clinical pain
      condition. Multidisciplinary approaches have been advocated for managing CRPS.
      Compared with spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal targeted therapy, IV
      treatments are less invasive and less costly. We aimed to systemically review the
      literature on IV therapies and determine the level of evidence to guide the
      management of CRPS. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane
      databases for articles published on IV therapies of CRPS up through February
      2015. The search yielded 299 articles, of which 101 were deemed relevant by
      reading the titles and 63 by reading abstracts. All these 63 articles were
      retrieved for analysis and discussion. We evaluated the relevant studies and
      provided recommendations according to the level of evidence. We conclude that
      there is evidence to support the use of IV bisphosphonates, immunoglobulin,
      ketamine, or lidocaine as valuable interventions in selected patients with CRPS.
      However, high-quality studies are required to further evaluate the safety,
      efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of IV therapies for CRPS. 

PMID- 26891397
TI  - Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for Treating Lumbosacral Radicular
      Pain from Herniated Intervertebral Discs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Steroids often are administered into the epidural space through the
      transforaminal epidural (TFE) route to treat lumbosacral radicular pain secondary
      to herniated intervertebral discs. However, their efficacy and safety compared
      with transforaminal epidural local anesthetics (LAs) or saline injections is
      unclear. METHODS: We reviewed randomized controlled trials that compared TFE
      injections of steroids (with or without LA) with LA or saline in adult
      outpatients with lumbosacral radicular pain secondary to herniated intervertebral
      disks. Databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane central register of
      controlled trials, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, and Google Scholar up
      to February 2015. Data on scores of numerical rating scale for pain, validated
      scores for measuring physical disability and quality of life, and incidence of
      surgery measured at 1 month to 2 years after the interventions were meta
      analyzed. Strength of evidence was classified with the Grading of Recommendations
      Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Eight randomized
      controlled trials including 771 patients (366 in steroid and 405 in comparator
      groups) were included. There was variability in the studies in the dose of TFE
      steroids, frequency, and number of procedures. Patients who received TFE steroids
      reported a significant, but clinically modest, reduction in mean pain scores (0
      10 scale) compared with LA/saline (-0.97 points; 95% confidence interval, -1.42
      to -0.51 points; P < 0.0001, I2 = 90%; GRADE weak recommendation; moderate
      quality evidence) at 3 months after the interventions. TFE steroids did not
      decrease physical disability at 1 to 3 months after the intervention (GRADE
      strong recommendation ?; high-quality evidence) or incidence of surgery at 12
      months after the intervention (GRADE strong recommendation ?; moderate-quality
      evidence) compared with LA/saline. CONCLUSIONS: TFE steroids provide modest
      analgesic benefit at 3 months in patients with lumbosacral radicular pain
      secondary to herniated intervertebral disks, but they have no impact on physical
      disability or incidence of surgery. There was a high degree of heterogeneity
      among the publications included in this meta-analysis. Well-designed, large,
      randomized studies are required to evaluate appropriate dosages, adverse effects,
      number of procedures, and the effect of this intervention on psychological
      disability and quality of life.

PMID- 26891398
TI  - Human Lumbar Ligamentum Flavum Anatomy for Epidural Anesthesia: Reviewing a 3D MR
      Based Interactive Model and Postmortem Samples.
AB  - The ligamentum flavum (LF) forms the anatomic basis for the loss-of-resistance
      technique essential to the performance of epidural anesthesia. However, the LF
      presents considerable interindividual variability, including the possibility of
      midline gaps, which may influence the performance of epidural anesthesia. We
      devise a method to reconstruct the anatomy of the digitally LF based on magnetic
      resonance images to clarify the exact limits and edges of LF and its different
      thickness, depending on the area examined, while avoiding destructive methods, as
      well as the dissection processes. Anatomic cadaveric cross sections enabled us to
      visually check the definition of the edges along the entire LF and compare them
      using 3D image reconstruction methods. Reconstruction was performed in images
      obtained from 7 patients. Images from 1 patient were used as a basis for the 3D
      spinal anatomy tool. In parallel, axial cuts, 2 to 3 cm thick, were performed in
      lumbar spines of 4 frozen cadavers. This technique allowed us to identify the
      entire ligament and its exact limits, while avoiding alterations resulting from
      cutting processes or from preparation methods. The LF extended between the
      laminas of adjacent vertebrae at all vertebral levels of the patients examined,
      but midline gaps are regularly encountered. These anatomical variants were
      reproduced in a 3D portable document format. The major anatomical features of the
      LF were reproduced in the 3D model. Details of its structure and variations of
      thickness in successive sagittal and axial slides could be visualized. Gaps
      within LF previously studied in cadavers have been identified in our interactive
      3D model, which may help to understand their nature, as well as possible
      implications for epidural techniques. 

PMID- 26891399
TI  - Opioids and Sleep Apnea: More Than Perioperative Impact.

PMID- 26891400
TI  - In Response.

PMID- 26891401
TI  - Association of Sodium Homeostasis with Blood Transfusions During Liver
      Transplantation.

PMID- 26891402
TI  - In Response.

PMID- 26891403
TI  - Ketamine and Mitochondrial Function.

PMID- 26891404
TI  - In Response.

PMID- 26891405
TI  - Can We Claim Accuracy from a Regional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Oximeter?

PMID- 26891406
TI  - In Response.

PMID- 26891407
TI  - Dangerous Regulations for a Level 1 Trauma Operating Room.

PMID- 26891408
TI  - Reactivity, Selectivity, and Reaction Mechanisms of Aminoguanidine, Hydralazine,
      Pyridoxamine, and Carnosine as Sequestering Agents of Reactive Carbonyl Species:
      A Comparative Study.
AB  - Reactive carbonyl species (RCS) are endogenous or exogenous byproducts involved
      in the pathogenic mechanisms of different oxidative-based disorders.
      Detoxification of RCS by carbonyl quenchers is a promising therapeutic strategy.
      Among the most studied quenchers are aminoguanidine, hydralazine, pyridoxamine,
      and carnosine; their quenching activity towards four RCS (4-hydroxy-trans-2
      nonenal, methylglyoxal, glyoxal, and malondialdehyde) was herein analyzed and
      compared. Their ability to prevent protein carbonylation was evaluated in vitro
      by using an innovative method based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).
      The reactivity of the compounds was RCS dependent: carnosine efficiently quenched
      4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal, pyridoxamine was particularly active towards
      malondialdehyde, aminoguanidine was active towards methylglyoxal and glyoxal, and
      hydralazine efficiently quenched all RCS. Reaction products were generated in
      vitro and were characterized by HRMS. Molecular modeling studies revealed that
      the reactivity was controlled by specific stereoelectronic parameters that could
      be used for the rational design of improved carbonyl quenchers. 

PMID- 26891409
TI  - Update on current evaluation and management of pediatric nasal dermoid.
AB  - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To review the presentation of congenital pediatric nasal
      dermoid and present guidelines for its evaluation and management. STUDY DESIGN:
      Retrospective chart review from 1970 to 2014 at a tertiary referral children's
      hospital. METHODS: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with a nasal
      dermoid during the study period were reviewed for demographics, lesion
      characteristics, imaging, operative details, and outcomes. RESULTS: Ninety-six
      patients underwent excision of a congenital nasal dermoid during the study
      period. The mean age at presentation was 3.1 years (range, 0.1-19.3 years).
      Thirty-four (35%) females and 62 (65%) males were included. The most common
      presentation was a nasal dorsal mass in 66 (69%) patients. Ninety-two (96%) of
      the patients underwent preoperative imaging. Seventy-eight (82%) of the patients
      did not show any clinical or radiographic evidence of intracranial extension
      preoperatively. Eighty-five (89%) of the patients underwent extracranial
      excision, and 11 (11%) underwent combined intracranial and extracranial excision.
      Eight patients (8%) presented with recurrence, on average 3.3 years (range, 1-6
      years) after initial excision. Mean follow-up time was 8 years (range, 1-18
      years). CONCLUSION: Preoperative imaging of nasal dermoid is crucial to evaluate
      for intracranial extension, thus facilitating complete removal. Thin section,
      high-resolution magnetic resonance with contrast provides excellent detail of the
      extent of the nasal dermoid including intracranial extension. Thin-section high
      resolution computed tomography with multiplanar reformatted images provides
      complimentary information regarding the bone anatomy of the frontonasal region.
      Surgical strategy is dictated by preoperative imaging and is dependent on the
      extent of the lesion, but limited facial incisions are preferred. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2151-2160, 2016.

PMID- 26891410
TI  - Soft implantable microelectrodes for future medicine: prosthetics, neural signal
      recording and neuromodulation.
AB  - Implantable devices have provided various potential diagnostic options and
      therapeutic methods in diverse medical fields. A variety of hard-material-based
      implantable electrodes have been developed. However, several limitations for
      their chronic implantation remain, including mechanical mismatches at the
      interface between the electrode and the soft tissue, and biocompatibility. Soft
      material-based implantable devices are suitable candidates for complementing the
      limitations of hard electrodes. Advances in microtechnology and materials science
      have largely solved many challenges, such as optimization of shape, minimization
      of infection, enhancement of biocompatibility and integration with components for
      diverse functions. Significant strides have also been made in mechanical matching
      of electrodes to soft tissue. In this review, we provide an overview of recent
      advances in soft-material-based implantable electrodes for medical applications,
      categorized according to their implantation site and material composition. We
      then review specific applications in three categories: neuroprosthetics, neural
      signal recording, and neuromodulation. Finally, we describe various strategies
      for the future development and application of implantable, soft-material-based
      devices. 

PMID- 26891411
TI  - Smooth muscle and neural dysfunction contribute to different phases of murine
      postoperative ileus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus (POI) is characterized by a transient inhibition
      of gastrointestinal (GI) motility after abdominal surgery mediated by the
      inflammation of the muscularis externa (ME). The aim of this study was to
      identify alterations in the enteric nervous system that may contribute to the
      pathogenesis of POI. METHODS: Gastrointestinal transit, contractility of isolated
      smooth muscle strips and inflammatory parameters were evaluated at different time
      points (1.5 h to 10 days) after intestinal manipulation (IM) in mice. Immune
      labeling was used to visualize changes in myenteric neurons. KEY RESULTS:
      Intestinal manipulation resulted in an immediate inhibition of GI transit
      recovering between 24 h and 5 days. In vitro contractility to K(+) (60 mM) or
      carbachol (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) was biphasically suppressed over 24 h after IM
      (with transient recovery at 6 h). The first phase of impaired myogenic
      contractility was associated with increased expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL
      1alpha. After 24 h, we identified a significant reduction in electrical field
      stimulation-evoked contractions and relaxations, lasting up to 10 days after IM.
      This was associated with a reduced expression of chat and nos1 genes. CONCLUSIONS
      & INFERENCES: Intestinal manipulation induces two waves of smooth muscle
      inhibition, most likely mediated by inflammatory cytokines, lasting up to 3 days
      after IM. Further, we here identify a late third phase (>24 h) characterized by
      impaired cholinergic and nitrergic neurotransmission persisting after recovery of
      muscle contractility. These findings illustrate that POI results from
      inflammation-mediated impaired smooth muscle contraction, but also involves a
      long-lasting impact of IM on the enteric nervous system.

PMID- 26891412
TI  - Risk-Adapted Therapy in Early-Stage Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
AB  - Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in adults and
      usually affects the elderly patient. More than 50% of CLL cases are diagnosed at
      an early disease stage, often as an incidental lymphocytosis found in a routine
      blood screen. For about 40 years, the classifications according to Binet or Rai
      have been the hands-on staging systems to stratify patients in daily clinical
      practice. An increasing molecular understanding of the disease and the
      identification of strong prognostic markers, such as genetic lesions in TP53,
      have urged clinical scientists to create new scoring systems that improve
      prognostic risk assessment and treatment allocation. Until today, studies on
      early treatment interventions in asymptomatic patients using single chemo- or
      combined chemoimmunotherapy have failed to demonstrate a survival benefit.
      However, improved risk stratification tools integrating molecular disease
      features and the availability of new targeted drugs with attractive efficacy and
      limited toxicity might open new possibilities to re-investigate early treatment
      in well-defined clinical settings in the future. 

PMID- 26891413
TI  - Genetically Modified Foods: A Brief Overview of the Risk Assessment Process.
AB  - Billions of people worldwide are unable to meet their daily micro nutritional
      needs. Genetically modified (GM) foods, while initially developed to tolerate
      herbicides and resist disease and insects, have the potential to help alleviate
      this issue that is currently posing a serious public health concern. However,
      there is a negative public perception surrounding GM foods, calling for more
      research regarding the risks that GM foods could pose to the public, specifically
      on the topics of allergenicity and gene transfer. The risk assessments of GM
      foods should be performed on a case-by-case basis, by a process outlined by the
      WHO. The goal of determining food safety is to obtain reasonable certainty that
      under normal levels of consumption, there will be no harm to people. Current
      research has shown that GM foods do not cause increased allergenicity or have a
      meaningful risk of gene transfer to people. GM foods should become publicly
      accepted products that can bring significant benefit to people at risk of under
      nutrition.

PMID- 26891414
TI  - Quadrupole interactions: NMR, NQR, and in between from a single viewpoint.
AB  - Nuclear spins with quantum numbers >1/2 can interact with a static magnetic
      field, or a local electric field gradient, to produce quantized energy levels. If
      the magnetic field interaction dominates, we are doing nuclear magnetic resonance
      (NMR). If the interaction of the nuclear electric quadrupole with electric field
      gradients is much stronger, this is nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). The two
      are extremes of a continuum, as the ratio of one interaction to the other
      changes. In this work, we look at this continuum from a single, unified viewpoint
      based on a Liouville-space approach: the direct method. This method does not
      require explicit operators and their commutators, unlike Hamiltonian methods. We
      derive both the quadrupole-perturbed NMR solution and also the Zeeman-perturbed
      NQR results. Furthermore, we examine the polarization of these signals, because
      this is different between pure NMR and pure NQR spectroscopy. Spin 3/2 is the
      focus here, but the approach is perfectly general and can be applied to any spin.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891416
TI  - Evidence level.

PMID- 26891415
TI  - Biochemical analysis of the living human vitreous.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date, our understanding of the biochemical composition of the
      living human vitreous relies on extrapolations from animal or human post-mortem
      studies. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of vitreous samples from 27
      individuals scheduled for retinal surgery within a tertiary hospital. From each
      vitreous sample, the concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium,
      magnesium, glucose, lactate, beta- hydroxybutyrate, copper, zinc, selenium, iron,
      ferritin and transferrin and osmolality were measured. Perioperative serum
      samples were also obtained for comparison. RESULTS: The following vitreous mean
      +/- standard deviation (95% confidence interval of the mean) was observed for
      each analyte: sodium, 146.7 +/- 3.3 (145.4-148.0) mmol/L; potassium, 5.73 +/-
      0.86 (5.39-6.08) mmol/L; chloride, 121.6 +/- 2.6 (120.6-122.7) mmol/L; calcium,
      1.128 +/- 0.518 (0.923-1.333) mmol/L; magnesium, 0.900 +/- 0.158 (0.838-0.962)
      mmol/L; glucose, 2.97 +/- 0.98 (2.58-3.36) mmol/L; lactate, 3.97 +/- 1.09 (3.54
      4.40) mmol/L; osmolality, 289.5 +/- 6.9 (286.6-292.5) mOsm/kg; BOHB, 0.0937 +/-
      0.0472 (0.0750-0.1124) mmol/L; copper, 0.519 +/- 0.269 (0.412-0.625) umol/L;
      zinc, 1.95 +/- 1.09 (1.52-2.38) umol/L; selenium, 0.1035 +/- 0.0276 (0.0923
      0.1146) umol/L; iron, 3.11 +/- 1.40 (2.56-3.66) umol/L; ferritin, 19.5 +/- 10.3
      (15.5-23.6) ug/L; transferrin, 0.0878 +/- 0.0526 (0.0670-0.1086) g/L. Vitreous
      biochemistry was not significantly different between male and female
      participants. Vitreous biochemistry was significantly different between non
      diabetic and diabetic participants. Vitreous biochemistry was significantly
      different from the vitreous substitute BSS Plus (Alcon, USA). The vitreous
      extracted from living humans was markedly different from the commonly reported
      reference values obtained from animal studies. CONCLUSIONS: The current data
      provide hitherto unavailable information about the biochemical composition of the
      living human vitreous.

PMID- 26891417
TI  - Association of thiol disulfide homeostasis with slow coronary flow.
AB  - Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the role of thiol disulfide
      homeostasis in the presence of slow coronary flow. Material and methods In this
      cross-sectional study, a total of 110 patients who admitted to our hospital
      between March 2014 and December 2015 were included in the study. There were 65
      patients in the slow coronary flow, and 45 patients in the normal flow groups.
      Results We found significant differences between slow coronary flow and the
      normal flow groups for thiol disulfide homeostasis, and the results of our study
      indicated that hsCRP, and thiol disulfide ratio were independently associated
      with slow coronary flow. Conclusion Our study showed that thiol disulfide
      homeostasis was significantly and independently related to the presence of slow
      coronary flow. 

PMID- 26891419
TI  - Effect of Structural Modifications on the Self-Assembly of Oligoprolines
      Conjugated with Sterically Demanding Chromophores.
AB  - Conjugates between oligoprolines and sterically demanding perylene monoimides
      (PMIs) form hierarchical supramolecular self-assemblies. The influence of the
      length and stereochemistry at the attachment site between the peptide backbone
      and the chromophore on the self-assembly properties of the conjugates was
      explored. Comparison between oligoprolines bearing 4R- or 4S-configured
      azidoprolines (Azp) for the conjugation with the PMIs revealed that
      diastereoisomers with 4R configuration guide the self-assembly consistently
      better than conjugates with 4S configuration. Elongating the peptide chain beyond
      nine proline residues or introducing structural "errors", by altering the
      absolute configuration of one stereogenic center at the outside of the
      functionalizable oligoproline helix, lowered the efficacy of self-assembly
      significantly, both in solution phase and in the solid state. The results showed
      how subtle structural modifications allow for tuning the self-assembly of
      chromophores and provided further design principles for the development of
      peptide-chromophore conjugates into nanostructured materials. 

PMID- 26891418
TI  - On-treatment HCV RNA in patients with varying degrees of fibrosis and cirrhosis
      in the SOLAR-1 trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the Phase II SOLAR-1 study, 12 or 24 weeks of
      ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and ribavirin yielded high sustained virological response
      rates at 12 weeks (SVR12) in patients with chronic HCV infection and advanced
      liver disease, including untransplanted patients with decompensated cirrhosis and
      liver transplant recipients with all stages of liver disease. METHODS: We
      performed a post hoc analysis using data from this study to investigate
      associations between baseline characteristics and early on-treatment HCV RNA, and
      to determine the utility of early virological response (week 2 and 4) to predict
      SVR12. Serum HCV RNA was quantified using the Roche COBAS(r) Ampliprep(r)/Cobas
      TaqMan HCV Test, Version 2.0 with a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 15
      IU/ml. RESULTS: Most patients achieved HCV RNA <LLOQ by treatment week 4 and
      target not detected (TND) by week 6. Baseline factors significantly associated
      with HCV RNA <LLOQ at week 2 were low HCV RNA (<800,000 IU/ml), absence of
      cirrhosis, age <60 years and no prior treatment experience. At week 4, low HCV
      RNA, absence of cirrhosis and IL28B CC were associated with <LLOQ, TND. No
      baseline factors were associated with week 6 response. There was no association
      between early on-treatment HCV RNA and SVR12. CONCLUSIONS: On-treatment HCV RNA
      quantification is of limited clinical use in patients with advanced liver disease
      and/or liver transplantation and does not predict SVR12. ClinicalTrials.gov:
      NCT01938430.

PMID- 26891422
TI  - M-ACE vs. MoCA: a weighted comparison.

PMID- 26891421
TI  - Sodium-Ion Intercalation Mechanism in MXene Nanosheets.
AB  - MXene, a family of layered compounds consisting of nanosheets, is emerging as an
      electrode material for various electrochemical energy storage devices including
      supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. However, the
      mechanism of its electrochemical reaction is not yet fully understood. Herein,
      using solid-state (23)Na magic angle spinning NMR and density functional theory
      calculation, we reveal that MXene Ti3C2Tx in a nonaqueous Na(+) electrolyte
      exhibits reversible Na(+) intercalation/deintercalation into the interlayer
      space. Detailed analyses demonstrate that Ti3C2Tx undergoes expansion of the
      interlayer distance during the first sodiation, whereby desolvated Na(+) is
      intercalated/deintercalated reversibly. The interlayer distance is maintained
      during the whole sodiation/desodiation process due to the pillaring effect of
      trapped Na(+) and the swelling effect of penetrated solvent molecules between the
      Ti3C2Tx sheets. Since Na(+) intercalation/deintercalation during the
      electrochemical reaction is not accompanied by any substantial structural change,
      Ti3C2Tx shows good capacity retention over 100 cycles as well as excellent rate
      capability. 

PMID- 26891420
TI  - A randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 study of tivantinib (ARQ 197) in
      combination with irinotecan and cetuximab in patients with metastatic colorectal
      cancer with wild-type KRAS who have received first-line systemic therapy.
AB  - Cetuximab in combination with an irinotecan-containing regimen is a standard
      treatment in patients with KRAS wild-type (KRAS WT), metastatic colorectal cancer
      (mCRC). We investigated the addition of the oral MET inhibitor tivantinib to
      cetuximab + irinotecan (CETIRI) based on preclinical evidence that activation of
      the MET pathway may confer resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. Previously treated
      patients with KRAS WT advanced or mCRC were enrolled. The phase 1, open-label 3 +
      3, dose-escalation study evaluated the safety and maximally tolerated dose of
      tivantinib plus CETIRI. The phase 2, randomized, double-blinded, placebo
      controlled study of biweekly CETIRI plus tivantinib or placebo was restricted to
      patients who had received only one prior line of chemotherapy. The phase 2
      primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The recommended phase 2
      dose was tivantinib (360 mg/m(2) twice daily) with biweekly cetuximab (500
      mg/m(2)) and irinotecan (180 mg/m(2)). Among 117 patients evaluable for phase 2
      analysis, no statistically significant PFS difference was observed: 8.3 months on
      tivantinib vs. 7.3 months on placebo (HR, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.55
      1.33; P = 0.38). Subgroup analyses trended in favor of tivantinib in patients
      with MET-High tumors by immunohistochemistry, PTEN-Low tumors, or those
      pretreated with oxaliplatin, but subgroups were too small to draw conclusions.
      Neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea and rash were the most frequent severe adverse
      events in tivantinib-treated patients. The combination of tivantinib and CETIRI
      was well tolerated but did not significantly improve PFS in previously treated
      KRAS WT mCRC. Tivantinib may be more active in specific subgroups.

PMID- 26891423
TI  - A risk-based, product-level approach for assuring aquatic environmental safety of
      cleaning products in the context of sustainability: The Environmental Safety
      Check (ESC) scheme of the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning.
AB  - Cleaning products have long been a focus of efforts to improve sustainability and
      assure safety for the aquatic environment when disposed of after use. The latter
      is addressed at ingredient level through environmental risk assessment, including
      in formal frameworks such as REACH. Nevertheless, in the context of programs to
      improve overall sustainability, stakeholders demand both environmental safety
      assurance and progress at product level. Current product-level approaches for
      aquatic toxicity (e.g., USEtoxTM, Critical Dilution Volume) can be seen as
      predominantly hazard-based. The more logical approach would be risk-based,
      because ecotoxicity is generally threshold-dependent and hazard-based assessment
      produces conflicts with risk-based learnings. The development of a risk-based
      approach to assess formulated products is described: the International
      Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E.) Charter
      Environmental Safety Check (ESC), which is consistent with the scientific
      principles underlying REACH. This is implemented through a simple spreadsheet
      tool and internal database of ingredient parameters including predicted no-effect
      concentration (PNEC) and removal rate. A novel feature is applying market volume
      information for both product types and ingredients to permit a risk-based
      calculation. To pass the ESC check, the projected environmental safety ratio
      (PESR) for each ingredient as formulated and dosed (unless cleared by a published
      risk assessment or exempted as inherently low risk) must be less than 1. The
      advantages of a risk-based approach are discussed. The strengths and limitations
      of various possible approaches to standard-setting, product-ranking and driving
      continuous improvement in respect of potential ecotoxic impacts on the aquatic
      environment are considered. It is proposed that as ecotoxicity is generally
      accepted to be threshold-dependent, with no effect below the threshold, the most
      constructive approach to continuous improvement of sustainability with regard to
      ecotoxicity is to focus efforts on instances where the safety margins for
      ingredients as used in specific products are narrow. This necessitates a risk
      based approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:127-138. (c) 2016 The
      Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

PMID- 26891426
TI  - A single test for rejecting the null hypothesis in subgroups and in the overall
      sample.
AB  - In clinical trials, some patient subgroups are likely to demonstrate larger
      effect sizes than other subgroups. For example, the effect size, or informally
      the benefit with treatment, is often greater in patients with a moderate
      condition of a disease than in those with a mild condition. A limitation of the
      usual method of analysis is that it does not incorporate this ordering of effect
      size by patient subgroup. We propose a test statistic which supplements the
      conventional test by including this information and simultaneously tests the null
      hypothesis in pre-specified subgroups and in the overall sample. It results in
      more power than the conventional test when the differences in effect sizes across
      subgroups are at least moderately large; otherwise it loses power. The method
      involves combining p-values from models fit to pre-specified subgroups and the
      overall sample in a manner that assigns greater weight to subgroups in which a
      larger effect size is expected. Results are presented for randomized trials with
      two and three subgroups.

PMID- 26891427
TI  - Use of a retinal sponge for silicone tube fixation after bicanalicular lacrimal
      intubation or dacryocystorhinostomy.

PMID- 26891425
TI  - Predominance of alcohol and illicit drugs among traffic accidents fatalities in
      an urban area of Brazil.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of alcohol
      and illicit drug use among victims of fatal traffic accidents in the Metropolitan
      Region of Vitoria, Brazil, during the period 2011-2012. METHODS: Blood samples
      were collected and analyzed for the presence of drugs from 391 deceased victims
      of traffic crashes that occurred in the Metropolitan Region of Vitoria, Brazil.
      The victims included drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Sociodemographic
      variables such as age, gender, day of the week, and period of the year in which
      the accidents occurred were recorded. The analyses were performed by a gas
      chromatography-flame ionization method for alcohol and by a gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry for amphetamines, cocaine, and cannabis. RESULTS: The results
      showed that 44.8% (n = 175) of all cases were positive for alcohol and/or illicit
      drugs. The detection of alcohol and/or drugs was more frequent in young males,
      aged 17 to 34, whose samples were positive in 46.8% of cases. Small differences
      among drivers, passengers, and pedestrians were observed (drivers = 45.9%,
      passengers = 46.4%, and pedestrians = 45.6%). In general, the most prevalent drug
      was alcohol, with 141 positive cases (36.1%), followed by cocaine, with 47
      positive cases (12%). Amphetamines and cannabis had positivity rates of 4.1 and
      4.3%, with 16 and 17 positive cases, respectively. The combined use of alcohol
      and other drugs was found in 36 cases (9.2%). Crack cocaine use was observed in
      27.7% of the positive cases for cocaine. CONCLUSIONS: For the effective reduction
      of traffic accidents related to driving under influence of drugs (DUID), we
      suggest the intensification of enforcement actions against the use of alcohol by
      drivers, the definition of which illicit drugs should be surveyed, as well the
      cutoff values, the promotion of changing legislation to oblige drivers to provide
      samples for toxicological testing, and the establishment of public information
      programs and specific actions aimed at young drivers to promote behavioral
      changes.

PMID- 26891424
TI  - Switch in Therapy from Methylphenidate to Atomoxetine in Children and Adolescents
      with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Analysis of Patient Records.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate therapy switching from
      methylphenidate (MPH) to atomoxetine (ATX) in a clinical sample of Danish
      children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
      specifically, to determine the duration of MPH treatment before switching to ATX,
      and the reasons leading to a switch in therapy. METHODS: We included 55 patients
      with ADHD who switched from first-line MPH to second-line ATX during January 01,
      2012 and May 15, 2014. Patient and treatment characteristics along with clinical
      reasons for switching therapy were extracted from individual patients' records.
      RESULTS: Mean duration of MPH treatment until switch to ATX was 11.2 months
      (range = 0.3-28.5 months); 36% of the patients switched within the first 6
      months, 56% within the first year, and 76% within 1.5 years of initiating MPH;
      24% continued MPH treatment for up to 2.5 years prior to switching. Most common
      reasons for switching were "adverse events" (AEs) (78%), "wish for more optimal
      day coverage" (24%), and "lack of efficacy" (16%). Other reasons for switching
      included "patient/parental request" (13%) and "noncompliance" (2%). Most common
      AEs leading to switch were psychiatric disorders (insomnia, aggression, tic,
      depression, anxiety) and decreased appetite. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight
      the importance of continuous evaluation of the need for prescription switch to
      ATX in children and adolescents treated with MPH, taking into consideration
      various factors including potential AEs, non-optimal day coverage, lack of
      efficacy, patient/parental preferences, and noncompliance. These factors should
      be considered, not only at the initial stage of MPH treatment but throughout the
      whole treatment course.

PMID- 26891428
TI  - [Obesity as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation].
AB  - Atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity is a growing problem of public health both
      in Poland and in the whole world. AF risk factors may be summarized as
      elderliness, male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, coronary heart
      disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiac surgery. Once obesity is
      an independent, potentially modifiable risk factor for AF. The connection between
      obesity and atrial fibrillation is very up-to-date because of incremental
      prevalence, almost epidemic of obesity in the whole world. The probability of AF
      among obese patients increases with concomitant obstructive sleep apnea.
      Regardless many researches it hasn't been assessed yet how obesity itself
      predisposes to AF. It could be an effect of change in the atrial anatomy, the
      rise of atrial pressure, mechanical stretch, interstitial atrial fibrosis and
      disruption of atrial electric integrity. A great role is ascribed to
      inflammation, especially proinflammatory cytokines increased by adipocites of
      left atrial epicardial adiposity. 

PMID- 26891429
TI  - The reciprocal links between synaptophysin serum levels and the prevalence of
      metabolic syndrome according to selected low-grade inflammation indices and age
      related androgen serum level changes in men.
AB  - The correlations between synaptophysin (SYP) plasma levels and the brain
      neurotransmission activity are still not strictly identified. However, the
      efficiency of neurotransmission depends, inter alia, on the age, hormonal status,
      and coexistence of a low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI) which is regarded as
      a pathogenic link with obesity and insulin resistance, atherogenesis and aging
      per se. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between
      synaptophysin serum levels and age, LGSI indices, homocysteine and selected
      hormonal parameters (dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate, free-testosterone,
      SHBG) and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in men over the age of 40.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: After randomization, 157 male volunteers aged 40-80 years
      were included in a retrospective study. MS was diagnosed according to the
      International Diabetes Federation criteria. For the diagnosis of late-onset
      hypogonadism (LOH) we adopted the criteria proposed by the European Male Aging
      Study (EMAS). RESULTS: Synaptophysin plasma concentrations in respondents
      decreased with age, but only between the ages of 40 to 70 years. There were no
      differences in SYP plasma concentrations in men suffering from MS compared to
      healthy subjects (p=0.845). Men suffering from MS demonstrated while higher hs
      CRP (high sensitive C - reactive protein) levels than healthy (p=0.019), contrary
      to the alpha1-antichymotrypsin and transferrin. A positive monotonic correlation
      between synaptophysin and hs-CRP was demonstrated (r=0.235; p=0.003). No
      statistically significant relationships between SYP and homocysteine plasma
      levels were presented (r=0.047; p=0.562), although in men diagnosed with MS
      higher homocysteine levels compared to healthy subjects were demonstrated. No
      correlations between synaptophysin and free testosterone (r=-0.036; p=0.651),
      DHEA (r=-0.122; p=0.128) and its sulphate (r=-0.024; p=0.764) as well as SHBG (r=
      0.088; p=0.288) were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Although the correlations between
      synaptophysin plasma levels and age as well as strong LGSI indicator (hs-CRP)
      have been demonstrated, the usefulness of determining SYP serum concentration as
      a marker of age-related studied diseases (MS, LOH) seems to be significantly
      limited.

PMID- 26891430
TI  - [The influence of physical activity on the occurrence of cancer].
AB  - Physical activity has a particularly beneficial effect on the immune system,
      reduces the concentration of sex hormones, effectively struggling with obesity
      and improves digestion and accelerates intestinal transit by reducing the risk of
      cancer. AIM: The aim of study was to determine whether lead an active lifestyle
      during childhood and adolescence may protect against the onset of cancer, a
      statement whether the person who contracted actively participated in physical
      education classes and whether practiced sport they have completed school. Also
      analyzed the way leisure and determined whether children and young people devote
      sufficient time to the activity. They attempted to determine whether their BMI
      contributed to the occurrence of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was
      conducted in the period from September to November 2014 and January 2015
      Podkarpacki Oncology Center at the Provincial Specialist Hospital. Frederic
      Chopin in Rzeszow. The study included 100 patients with a diagnosis of various
      cancers. The average age of patients was 52.6 years. Among the respondents, 39
      people lived in the countryside, and 61 in the city. Most subjects had secondary
      education (50% of respondents). The body mass index of 41% was normal, 38% were
      overweight and 17% obese. RESULTS: It was found that abnormal BMI had no impact
      on the incidence of cancers among respondents. Respondents are asked about
      whether they were active in school age in the vast majority (92% respondents)
      answered yes. However, the active forms of leisure declared only 35% of
      respondents. A large group of respondents do not devoted enough time for
      extracurricular physical activity as much as 48% devoted for this purpose only 0
      0,5 h week. In physical education classes actively participated 82% of
      respondents, while sport after graduation cultivated only 10% of respondents.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although the current study did not confirm a statistically
      significant correlation between the activity of school age, and the incidence of
      the most common cancers can be seen that the activity was investigated in many
      cases insufficient. It should therefore promote the activity of making a
      beneficial effect not only in childhood, but also at any age. It is advisable to
      study on a larger group of patients.

PMID- 26891431
TI  - [Ulcerative colitis in a 6-year-old boy with severe coeliac disease - a case
      report].
AB  - Coeliac disease is a chronic immune-mediated inflammation of the small intestine
      elicited by the gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible people. In coeliac
      patients there is higher incidence of other autoimmune disorders like type 1
      diabetes or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The coexistence of coeliac disease and
      inflammatory bowel disease is rare. The spectrum of presentation of coeliac
      disease and inflammatory bowel disease may be similar. However, those disorders
      require various therapeutic approaches. Thus, early recognition of the overlap
      between coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease is crucial to apply
      appropriate treatment and to prevent possible complications. We report a case of
      a 6-year-old boy with a delay in physical and psychomotor development, rickets,
      severe anaemia and bloody diarrhoea. He was diagnosed with coeliac disease and
      ulcerative disease. The coexistence of both disorders is extremely rare in
      childhood. However, ulcerative colitis should be considered in coeliac children
      on restrictive gluten-free diet with persistent diarrhoea or bleeding from lower
      gastrointestinal tract. Screening for coeliac disease should be considered in
      children with ulcerative colitis with impaired physical development and lack of
      remission despite of proper treatment. 

PMID- 26891432
TI  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis in patient with malignant astrocytoma.
AB  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe, life-threatening mucocutaneus
      adverse reaction, most commonly triggered by medication. Treatment in some
      aspects is still controversial. CASE REPORT: Patient with malignant astrocytoma,
      treated with palliative radiotherapy, developed massive erythema with bullae.
      Patient suffered from tumor-related epilepsy, treated pharmacologically with
      carbamazepine. After dermatological consultation TEN was diagnosed. The bacterial
      growth tests from blood were Staphylococci positive. An antibiotic therapy was
      performed and carbamazepine was withdrawn. Cyclosporine was administered. After 2
      weeks of treatment, skin changes vanished and patient's condition improved. TEN
      could not be omitted in diagnosis of extensive skin changes because the causative
      drug removal is crucial for survival and pharmacological treatment varies in
      similar conditions. TEN as a drug-related disease more likely occurs in severely
      ill patients.

PMID- 26891433
TI  - [Wilson's disease - a case report].
AB  - Wilson's disease (WD) or hepatolenticular degeneration, is a rare autosomal
      recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the Wilson disease protein
      (ATP7B) gene. It is characterized by impaired copper metabolism leading to its
      accumulation in various tissues and organs, including the liver and central
      nervous system, this results in the development of characteristic liver disease
      and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Liver symptoms usually appear during first three
      decades of life, while psychiatric symptoms are observed in people who are in
      their twenties or older. WD is one of few genetic diseases that can be
      effectively treated with pharmacotherapy. However, some cases, especially
      diagnosed late in the course of the disease, may not respond well to treatment.
      Here we present a case of a 22-year-old male with neurological, psychiatric and
      liver disease symptoms as an example of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in
      patients. Wilson's disease (WD) should be considered in all patients presenting
      with neurological, psychiatric and liver disease symptoms especially those of
      young age. 

PMID- 26891434
TI  - [The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in arrhythmogenesis].
AB  - Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the molecular oxygen derivatives that have at
      least one unpaired electron. Thus, ROS easily react with a number of cell
      structures causing a change in their functions. ROS produced in small quantities
      positively affect many cellular mechanisms, but in excess are responsible for the
      formation of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is considered a major cause of
      many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Abolition of the adverse effects
      of ROS on organisms in order to maintain redox homeostasis is possible thanks to
      antioxidants. The research conducted mainly in recent years shows that the
      formation of arrhythmias may also be related to the phenomenon of oxidative
      stress. Oxidative damage to cell membranes in particular are causing changes in
      ion channel activity, which proper functioning is the basis for the formation of
      normal heart rhythm. Antioxidants seem to play a protective role against the
      formation of arrhythmias. 

PMID- 26891436
TI  - [Biochemical predictors of anthracyclin and trastuzumab induced cardiotoxicity in
      early diagnostics of cardiomyopathy].
AB  - The treatment based on athracyclines and trastuzumab may lead to heart failure in
      oncological setting. Assessment of the heart function is conducted using
      radiological examinations, especially echocardiography. Biochemical diagnostics
      enables to depict clinically silent cardiac dysfunction at an earlier stage.
      Biomarkers that showed to be the most promising in predicting the development of
      deterioration of systolic and/or diastolic function in course of chemotherapy are
      troponins and NT-pro-BNP. However, no cut-off point had been yet determined,
      especially in terms of cardiotoxicity induced by oncological therapy. Biomarkers
      serum level may be dependent on many conditions, mostly comorbidities, what makes
      the interpretation of the results difficult. Trials involving mikro RNA
      particles, which depict the molecular level of the pathological changes, also
      those involved in the development of cardiomyopathy, are underway. 

PMID- 26891435
TI  - [Diagnostic imaging methods of cardiac dysfunction caused by cardiotoxicity of
      oncological therapy].
AB  - Cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy is a serious complication of oncological
      treatment. Assessment of cardiac function before, during and after cardiotoxic
      chemotherapy course should be a standard procedure in oncology. There are several
      methods for evaluation of the changes in myocardium such as: electrocardiography,
      radiology techniques (RTG, CT, MRI, PET-CT, PET-MRI), echocardiography,
      radioisotope imaging techniques (scyntygraphy, MUGA, PET), and ultra-structure
      evaluation in biopsy samples. Nevertheless, there is a continuous need for new
      diagnostic methods of cardiac dysfunction of great predictive and prognostic
      importance. Unfortunately advanced imaging techniques are still not available in
      many oncological centers in Poland. Nowadays to evaluate potential cardiotoxicity
      of drugs in oncology it is postulated to perform serial echocardiographic
      examinations as a basal imaging method. Thus constant cooperation between
      cardiologist and oncologist plays crucial role during chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26891437
TI  - [Clinical procedure in amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction].
AB  - Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug frequently used in everyday clinical
      practice. Its mechanism of action involves the interaction with many receptors,
      including those in the cardiac conduction system. Amiodarone usefulness is
      protect in the treatment of a variety of tachyarrhythmias, both benign and life
      threatening. In contrast to other antiarrhythmic drugs, amiodarone is
      characterized by high therapeutic efficacy, both in patients with normal and
      impaired left ventricular systolic function. A significant limitation of its is
      associated with side effects including thyroid gland dysfunction. Disturbances of
      this organ associated with amiodarone are an important diagnostic and therapeutic
      problem. They may contribute to the occurrence of both Amiodarone- Induced
      Thyrotoxicosis (AIT) and Amiodarone-Induced Hypothyroidism (AIH). The risk of
      such complications should be considered for each patient individually, taking
      into account thyroid function at the beginning of pharmacotherapy. Appropriate
      procedure, both before and after treatment allows a rapid diagnosis and treatment
      of thyroid disturbances. It seems that the best parameter used to assess the
      hormonal imbalance during amiodarone therapy is the concentration of the free
      triiodothyronine (fT3). The evaluation of thyroid function should be performed
      before starting pharmacotherapy, and then repeated every six months. In the case
      of a thyroid dysfunction, assessment must be performed immediately according to
      standard diagnostic and therapeutic regimens. Despite abnormal thyroid function,
      high efficiency of amiodarone and relatively small risk of thyroid damage allows
      continuation therapy. Amiodarone therapy requires a care from both cardiologist
      and endocrinologist. The aim of this paper is to present the state of art of
      evaluation of the thyroid function and procedures implemented in care of thyroid
      dysfunction before and during treatment with amiodarone. 

PMID- 26891438
TI  - [Coexistence of coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease in children].
AB  - Coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease are chronic inflammatory
      conditions of gastrointestinal tract with complex aetiology with genetic,
      environmental and immunological factors contributing to its pathogenesis. It was
      noted that immune-mediated disorders often coexist. There is well-known
      association between coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes and ulcerative colitis
      and primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, growing body of literature suggests
      the association between coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease,
      particularly ulcerative colitis. This is an extremely rare problem in paediatric
      gastroenterology. To date there have been reported several cases of children with
      coexisting coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Herewith we present
      review of current literature on coexistence of coeliac disease and inflammatory
      bowel disease in children. 

PMID- 26891439
TI  - [The use of stem cells in some rheumatic diseases].
AB  - Stem cells (SC) are characterized by the possibility of a potentially unlimited
      number of divisions, that are, its self-renewal and differentiation pot in all
      tissues of the body. The term "stem cells" was first used by the Russian
      histologist Alexander Maksimova in 1908 in relation to the hematopoietic stem
      cell (HSC - haematopoietic stem cells). SC, because of their ability to self
      renewal and proliferation enormous potential, became the subject of numerous
      research around the world. These studies offer hope for improving the prognosis
      and optimization methods for the treatment of many types of diseases, including
      diseases of the developing autoimmune which include rheumatic diseases. Pain
      associated with the most common rheumatic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and
      osteoarthritis, cause temporary restriction of efficiency, frequent use of sick
      leave and abuse of painkillers. Rheumatic diseases often have young people in the
      labor force, have a chronic condition, and despite of the treatment over time
      lead to permanent disability and even premature death. Therapy with stem cells,
      can become an effective alternative to standard therapies used so far. The
      results of the first studies on the use of stem cells are promising and warrant
      further work on their application not only in rheumatic diseases. 

PMID- 26891440
TI  - [The complications of systemic sclerosis in pregnancy - diagnostic and
      therapeutic difficulties].
AB  - In the course of scleroderma numerous complications may occur caused by the
      endothelial vessel changes and organs' fibrosis. Pregnancy itself is associated
      with increased immunization caused by the microchimerism phenomenon. Pregnancy
      may be associated with increased dyspnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux
      disease (GERD), renal complications and mother pre-eclampsia. In turn, the most
      common disorders of the fetus include low birth weight, premature delivery and
      heart block. The occurrence of organ complications in the mother needs urgent
      gynecological and rheumatologic care, which often requires the consultation of
      pulmonologist, cardiologist, nephrologists and gastroenterologist. In case of the
      development of fetal abnormalities neonatal care is needed. Considering the
      possible complications of mother and child in the course of scleroderma,
      pregnancy should be planned in the most optimal time and its course should be
      monitor, what increases the safety and positive outcome for mother and fetus. In
      case of complications, early interdisciplinary intervention prevents their
      development and reduces the risk of serious and prolonged health consequences for
      both mother and child. 

PMID- 26891441
TI  - [Mitoxantrone role in treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis].
AB  - Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmunological disease of central nervous
      system in which axonal damage in brain and spinal cord is observed. It is second
      most common cause of disability in young adults in West Europe and North America
      after injuries. There is 2.5 million people suffered from multiple sclerosis
      worldwide. The worse prognosis is connected with primary progressive MS in which
      recovery after first symptoms of central nervous system damage isn't observed.
      That subtype of disease is seen in case of 10-20% people with MS. MTX is a
      synthetic antracycline with antineoplastic, immunomodulatory and anti
      inflammatory effects. Drug was allowed to treatment of leukemia. It is also used
      in treatment of breast, prostate, ovarian, stomach and liver cancer. Additionally
      MTX is used in treatment of secondary progressive SM and relapsing - remitting
      subtype of disease with no respond to treatment with interferon beta and
      glatiramer acetate. MTX inhibits topoisomerase II activity, matches to DNA
      molecule and damage her structure. Drug inhibits limphocyte T, B and macrophages
      activity and antibodies synthesis. The most dangerous side effects of MTX
      treatment are cardiotoxicity and induction of leukemia. There is lack of studies
      describing MTX effectiveness and safety in treatment of primary progressive SM. 

PMID- 26891442
TI  - Accidents at work in the health care - legal aspects in Poland.
AB  - An accident at work is a sudden event caused by external circumstances that
      occurred in relation to work. Referring to the current legislation, the Supreme
      Court judgments and the opinions contained in publications, the authors discuss
      the legal aspects of selected accidents: needle stick injuries, cuts with other
      sharp tools, heart attacks and strokes among health professionals and social
      workers in Poland. It has been stressed that defining rigid criteria that allow
      for stating unequivocal work - accidents relationships would be difficult or even
      impossible. Especially in the case of medical personnel the long-term and
      negative impact of stress on health is significant, and thus the occurrence of
      work accidents - heart attack or stroke. 

PMID- 26891443
TI  - Maintaining professional activity during breast cancer treatment.
AB  - The question of returning to work and pursuing professional activity during
      cancer treatment is an increasingly important consideration. The present work
      focuses on factors affecting the feasibility of maintaining professional activity
      during treatment for breast cancer, for women who wished to do so. Written
      questionnaires were collected from 216 patients between March and November 2012.
      Since the onset of their treatment, 31.4% of the women (68/216) had not been on
      sick-leave. The main factors associated with the pursuit of professional activity
      were: considering the availability of their physician to answer questions as
      unimportant [OR = 18.83 (3.60-98.53); P <= 0.05]; considering the diagnosis of
      cancer as likely to have a weak impact on career perspectives [OR = 4.07 (2.49
      6.64); P <= 0.05]; not having any children in the household [OR = 3.87 (2.38
      6.28); P <= 0.05]; being in a managerial position [OR = 3.13 (1.88-5.21); P <=
      0.05]. Negative predictive factors were: physician mentioning adverse effects of
      the treatment [OR = 0.31 (0.16-0.58); P <= 0.05], and patient rating workload as
      high [OR = 0.26 (0.15-0.46); P <= 0.05]. As a result of advances in therapeutic
      strategies, more patients will expect healthcare professionals, as well as
      employers and occupational health societies, to prioritise issues pertaining to
      the maintenance of professional activities during cancer treatment. 

PMID- 26891445
TI  - Review of Cases and a Patient Report of Myiasis with Tracheostomy, Peru.

PMID- 26891444
TI  - Costing Alternative Birth Settings for Women at Low Risk of Complications: A
      Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is demand from women for alternatives to giving birth in a
      standard hospital setting however access to these services is limited. This
      systematic review examines the literature relating to the economic evaluations of
      birth setting for women at low risk of complications. METHODS: Searches of the
      literature to identify economic evaluations of different birth settings of the
      following electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EconLit, Business Source
      Complete and Maternity and Infant care. Relevant English language publications
      were chosen using keywords and MeSH terms between 1995 and 2015. Inclusion
      criteria included studies focussing on the comparison of birth setting. Data were
      extracted with respect to study design, perspective, PICO principles, and
      resource use and cost data. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included from Australia,
      Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the USA, and the UK. Four studies compared costs
      between homebirth and the hospital setting and the remaining seven focussed on
      the cost of birth centre care and the hospital setting. Six studies used a cost
      effectiveness analysis and the remaining five studies used cost analysis and cost
      comparison methods. Eight of the 11 studies found a cost saving in the
      alternative settings. Two found no difference in the cost of the alternative
      settings and one found an increase in birth centre care. CONCLUSIONS: There are
      few studies that compare the cost of birth setting. The variation in the results
      may be attributable to the cost data collection processes, difference in health
      systems and differences in which costs were included. A better understanding of
      the cost of birth setting is needed to inform policy makers and service
      providers.

PMID- 26891446
TI  - Embryo-fetal erythroid cell selection from celomic fluid allows earlier prenatal
      diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Celocentesis, which involves aspiration of celomic fluid at 7-9 weeks'
      gestation, can potentially provide early prenatal diagnosis of single-gene
      disorders. The main barrier to wide acceptability of this technique is
      contamination of the sample by maternal cells. This problem can be overcome
      through selection of embryo-fetal erythroid precursors, which are found in
      celomatic fluid. METHOD: Embryo-fetal erythroid precursors were selected by an
      anti-CD71 MicroBeads method or by direct micromanipulator pickup of the cells
      selected on the basis of their morphology. RESULTS: In our series of 302
      singleton pregnancies at high risk for hemoglobinopathies, Celocentesis provided
      a sample of celomic fluid in all cases. In 100 (33.1%) samples, maternal
      contamination was absent or very low (< 5%), and unambiguous results were
      obtained without the need for any preliminary procedures. In 160 (53%) cases, the
      contamination was between 5% and 60%, and selection of embryo-fetal erythroid
      precursors was successfully achieved by anti-CD71 MicroBeads. In 42 (13.9%)
      cases, the contamination was > 60%, and selection of embryo-fetal cells was
      achieved by micromanipulation. In all 302 cases, there was concordance between
      DNA obtained from celomic fluid samples and fetal or newborn DNA. CONCLUSIONS:
      Celocentesis can be a reliable procedure for earlier prenatal diagnosis of fetal
      monogenic diseases.

PMID- 26891447
TI  - Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Responsive Polymers for Biomedical Applications.
AB  - Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in cell signaling pathways,
      while increased production of ROS may disrupt cellular homeostasis, giving rise
      to oxidative stress and a series of diseases. Utilizing these cell-generated
      species as triggers for selective tuning polymer structures and properties
      represents a promising methodology for disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently,
      significant progress has been made in fabricating biomaterials including
      nanoparticles and macroscopic networks to interact with this dynamic
      physiological condition. These ROS-responsive platforms have shown potential in a
      range of biomedical applications, such as cancer targeted drug delivery systems,
      cell therapy platforms for inflammation related disease, and so on.

PMID- 26891449
TI  - Total and Differential Leukocyte Counts in Relation to Incidence of Diabetes
      Mellitus: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: High concentrations of leukocytes in blood have been associated with
      diabetes mellitus. This prospective study aimed to explore whether total and
      differential leukocyte counts are associated with incidence of diabetes. A
      missense variant R262W in the SH2B3 (SH2B adaptor protein 3) gene, coding for a
      protein that negatively regulates hematopoietic cell proliferation, was also
      studied in relation to incidence of diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Leukocyte
      count and its subtypes (neutrophils, lymphocytes and mixed cells) were analyzed
      in 26,667 men and women, 45-73 years old, from the population-based Malmo Diet
      and Cancer study. Information about the R262W polymorphism (rs3184504) in SH2B3
      was genotyped in 24,489 subjects. Incidence of diabetes was studied during a mean
      follow-up of 14 years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine
      incidence of diabetes by total and differential leukocyte counts. Mendelian
      randomization analysis using R262W as an instrumental variable was performed with
      two-stage least squares regression. A total of 2,946 subjects developed diabetes
      during the follow-up period. After taking several possible confounders into
      account, concentrations of total leukocyte count, neutrophils and lymphocytes
      were all significantly associated with incidence of diabetes. The adjusted hazard
      ratios (95% confidence interval; quartile 4 vs quartile 1) were 1.37 (1.22-1.53)
      for total leukocytes, 1.33 (1.19-1.49) for neutrophils and 1.29 (1.15-1.44) for
      lymphocytes. The R262W polymorphism was strongly associated with leukocytes
      (0.11x109 cells/l per T allele, p = 1.14 x10-12), lymphocytes (p = 4.3 x10-16),
      neutrophils (p = 8.0 x10-6) and mixed cells (p = 3.0 x10-6). However, there was
      no significant association between R262W and fasting glucose, HbA1c or incidence
      of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of total leukocytes, neutrophils and
      lymphocytes are associated with incidence of diabetes. However, the lack of
      association with the R262W polymorphism suggests that the associations may not be
      causal, although limitations in statistical power and balancing pleiotropic
      effects cannot be excluded.

PMID- 26891448
TI  - Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus-Mediated Changes to Normal
      Hepatocyte Gene Expression.
AB  - Globally, a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the leading cause
      of primary liver cancer. The mechanisms leading to the development of HBV
      associated liver cancer remain incompletely understood. In part, this is because
      studies have been limited by the lack of effective model systems that are both
      readily available and mimic the cellular environment of a normal hepatocyte.
      Additionally, many studies have focused on single, specific factors or pathways
      that may be affected by HBV, without addressing cell physiology as a whole. Here,
      we apply RNA-seq technology to investigate transcriptome-wide, HBV-mediated
      changes in gene expression to identify single factors and pathways as well as
      networks of genes and pathways that are affected in the context of HBV
      replication. Importantly, these studies were conducted in an ex vivo model of
      cultured primary hepatocytes, allowing for the transcriptomic characterization of
      this model system and an investigation of early HBV-mediated effects in a
      biologically relevant context. We analyzed differential gene expression within
      the context of time-mediated gene-expression changes and show that in the context
      of HBV replication a number of genes and cellular pathways are altered, including
      those associated with metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and lipid biosynthesis.
      Multiple analysis pipelines, as well as qRT-PCR and an independent, replicate RNA
      seq analysis, were used to identify and confirm differentially expressed genes.
      HBV-mediated alterations to the transcriptome that we identified likely represent
      early changes to hepatocytes following an HBV infection, suggesting potential
      targets for early therapeutic intervention. Overall, these studies have produced
      a valuable resource that can be used to expand our understanding of the complex
      network of host-virus interactions and the impact of HBV-mediated changes to
      normal hepatocyte physiology on viral replication. 

PMID- 26891450
TI  - Transcriptome Analysis and Discovery of Genes Relevant to Development in Bradysia
      odoriphaga at Three Developmental Stages.
AB  - Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is the most important pest of Chinese
      chive (Allium tuberosum) in Asia; however, the molecular genetics are poorly
      understood. To explore the molecular biological mechanism of development,
      Illumina sequencing and de novo assembly were performed in the third-instar,
      fourth-instar, and pupal B. odoriphaga. The study resulted in 16.2 Gb of clean
      data and 47,578 unigenes (>=125 bp) contained in 7,632,430 contigs, 46.21% of
      which were annotated from non-redundant protein (NR), Gene Ontology (GO),
      Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), and
      Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. It was found that
      19.67% of unigenes matched the homologous species mainly, including Aedes
      aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Ceratitis capitata, and Anopheles gambiae.
      According to differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, 143, 490, and 309 DEGs
      were annotated as involved in the developmental process in the GO database
      respectively, in the comparisons of third-instar and fourth-instar larvae, third
      instar larvae and pupae, and fourth-instar larvae and pupae. Twenty-five genes
      were closely related to these processes, including developmental process,
      reproduction process, and reproductive organs development and programmed cell
      death (PCD). The information of unigenes assembled in B. odoriphaga through
      transcriptome and DEG analyses could provide a detailed genetic basis and
      regulated information for elaborating the developmental mechanism from the
      larval, pre-pupal to pupal stages of B. odoriphaga.

PMID- 26891451
TI  - Puerarin for ischaemic stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Puerarin, a form of herbal medicine, is widely used in the treatment
      of ischaemic stroke in China. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of puerarin in
      people with ischaemic stroke. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Stroke
      Group Trials Register and the Chinese Stroke Trials Register (last searched
      August 2015). In addition, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2015, Issue 7), MEDLINE (1948 to August 2015),
      EMBASE (1980 to August 2015), AMED (the Allied and Complementary Medicine
      Database, 1985 to August 2015) and the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM
      disc 1979 to August 2015). We searched reference lists, relevant clinical trials
      and research registers and contacted pharmaceutical companies and researchers in
      an effort to identify further published and unpublished studies. SELECTION
      CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised controlled
      clinical trials comparing puerarin with placebo or open control (no placebo) in
      people with ischaemic stroke. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors
      independently applied the inclusion criteria, assessed trial quality and risk of
      bias, and extracted the data. MAIN RESULTS: We included 20 RCTs with 1574
      participants in this updated review. All trials were published in Chinese
      language journals. We included 14 trials that we had excluded in the previous
      version of the review after we added a new outcome in this update. Time windows
      within which the participants were randomised ranged from 4.5 hours to 10 days.
      Ischaemic stroke was confirmed by computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) in 18 trials. Meta-analysis of two trials with 164
      participants showed that treatment with puerarin did not reduce death or
      dependency at final follow-up (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.36). One trial with 83
      participants reported that the mean value of the Barthel Index in the puerarin
      group was below that in the control group. Meta-analysis of 16 trials with 1305
      participants showed that puerarin reduced the proportion of participants without
      improvement of neurological deficit at the end of follow-up (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33
      to 0.55). None of the included trials reported serious adverse effects.The
      quality of evidence was low due to incomplete reporting of the methods and short
      term follow-up. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to evaluate
      the effect of puerarin on survival or dependency in people with ischaemic stroke.
      High quality and large-scale RCTs with long-term follow-up are needed to assess
      its efficacy.

PMID- 26891453
TI  - Effect of Stabilization on the Healing Process of Femur Fractures in Aged Mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The influence of mechanical stability on fracture healing has
      previously been studied in adult mice, but is poorly understood in aged animals.
      Therefore, we herein studied the effect of stabilization on the healing process
      of femur fractures in aged mice. METHODS: Twenty-four 18-month-old CD-1 mice were
      stabilized after midshaft fracture of the femur with an intramedullary screw. In
      another 24 18-month-old mice, the femur fractures were left unstabilized. Bone
      healing was studied by radiological, biomechanical, histomorphometric, and
      protein expression analyses. RESULTS: After 2 and 5 weeks of healing, the callus
      of nonstabilized fractures compared to stabilized fractures was significantly
      larger, containing a significantly smaller amount of osseous tissue and a higher
      amount of cartilaginous tissue. This was associated with a significantly lower
      biomechanical stiffness during the early phase of healing. However, during the
      late phase of fracture healing both nonstabilized and stabilized fractures showed
      a biomechanical stiffness of ~40%. Of interest, Western blot analyses of callus
      tissue demonstrated that the expression of proteins related to angiogenesis, bone
      formation and remodeling, i.e. VEGF, CYR61, BMP-2, BMP-4, Col-2, Col-10, RANKL,
      OPG, did not differ between nonstabilized and stabilized fractures. CONCLUSION:
      Nonstabilized fractures in aged mice show delayed healing and remodeling. This is
      not caused by an altered protein expression in the callus but rather by the
      excessive interfragmentary movements.

PMID- 26891452
TI  - Dynamic Imaging of Individual Remyelination Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Quantitative in vivo imaging of myelin loss and repair in patients
      with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential to understand the pathogenesis of the
      disease and to evaluate promyelinating therapies. Selectively binding myelin in
      the central nervous system white matter, Pittsburgh compound B ([11 C]PiB) can be
      used as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer to explore myelin dynamics in
      MS. METHODS: Patients with active relapsing-remitting MS (n = 20) and healthy
      controls (n = 8) were included in a longitudinal trial combining PET with [11
      C]PiB and magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-wise maps of [11 C]PiB distribution
      volume ratio, reflecting myelin content, were derived. Three dynamic indices were
      calculated for each patient: the global index of myelin content change; the index
      of demyelination; and the index of remyelination. RESULTS: At baseline, there was
      a progressive reduction in [11 C]PiB binding from the normal-appearing white
      matter to MS lesions, reflecting a decline in myelin content. White matter
      lesions were characterized by a centripetal decrease in the tracer binding at the
      voxel level. During follow-up, high between-patient variability was found for all
      indices of myelin content change. Dynamic remyelination was inversely correlated
      with clinical disability (p = 0.006 and beta-coefficient = -0.67 with the
      Expanded Disability Status Scale; p = 0.003 and beta-coefficient = -0.68 with the
      MS Severity Scale), whereas no significant clinical correlation was found for the
      demyelination index. INTERPRETATION: [11 C]PiB PET allows quantification of
      myelin dynamics in MS and enables stratification of patients depending on their
      individual remyelination potential, which significantly correlates with clinical
      disability. This technique should be considered to assess novel promyelinating
      drugs. Ann Neurol 2016;79:726-738.

PMID- 26891454
TI  - Functional significance of transgelin-2 in uterine cervical squamous cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - AIM: Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) has previously been found to be highly expressed in
      uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissues by proteomic analyses. The
      present study investigated the role of TAGLN2 in the malignant behaviors of
      cervical SCC cells in vitro and in vivo, and the clinical significance of TAGLN2
      using immunohistochemistry for human cervical SCC tissues. METHODS: Antisense
      (AS) constructs of TAGLN2 cDNA (AS clones) and the empty vector (control clone)
      were transfected into a human uterine SCC cell line (SKG IIIa), and malignant
      behaviors were analyzed in vitro. In an in vivo experiment, 10(7) cells of the AS
      and control clones were subcutaneously inoculated into female BALB/c nude mice.
      In immunohistochemistry with anti-TAGLN2 antibodies for human cervical SCC, FIGO
      stage IA and IB (n = 75), the expression patterns of TAGLN2 were divided into two
      groups: weak and strong. The relation between expression pattern and prognosis
      was analyzed. RESULTS: Suppression of TAGLN2 inhibited cancer cell migration and
      secretion of matrix metalloproteinases. Tumors in the control clone group
      continued to grow, whereas those in the AS clone group clearly stopped growing.
      Six weeks after injection, the tumor size was significantly smaller in the AS
      clone group than in the control clone group. Immunohistochemistry revealed that
      the strong pattern was associated with poor overall survival compared with the
      weak pattern by the Kaplan-Meier method. CONCLUSION: TAGLN2 plays functional
      roles in the progression of cervical SCC. Suppression of TAGLN2 may be a new
      strategy for the treatment of cervical SCC.

PMID- 26891455
TI  - Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induce Suppressive Macrophages Through Phagocytosis in a
      Mouse Model of Asthma.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) immunosuppressive functions make them attractive
      candidates for anti-inflammatory therapy in allergic asthma. However, the
      mechanisms by which they ensure therapeutic effects remain to be elucidated. In
      an acute mouse model of house dust mite (Der f)-induced asthma, one i.v. MSC
      injection was sufficient to normalize and stabilize lung function in Der f
      sensitized mice as compared to control mice. MSC injection decreased in vivo
      airway responsiveness and decreased ex vivo carbachol-induced bronchial
      contraction, maintaining bronchial expression of the inhibitory type 2 muscarinic
      receptor. To evaluate in vivo MSC survival, MSCs were labeled with PKH26
      fluorescent marker prior to i.v. injection, and 1 to 10 days later total lungs
      were digested to obtain single-cell suspensions. 91.5 +/- 2.3% and 86.6 +/- 6.3%
      of the recovered PKH26(+) lung cells expressed specific macrophage markers in
      control and Der f mice, respectively, suggesting that macrophages had phagocyted
      in vivo the injected MSCs. Interestingly, only PKH26(+) macrophages expressed M2
      phenotype, while the innate PKH26(-) macrophages expressed M1 phenotype. Finally,
      the remaining 0.5% PKH26(+) MSCs expressed 10- to 100-fold more COX-2 than before
      injection, suggesting in vivo MSC phenotype modification. Together, the results
      of this study indicate that MSCs attenuate asthma by being phagocyted by lung
      macrophages, which in turn acquire a M2 suppressive phenotype. Stem Cells
      2016;34:1836-1845.

PMID- 26891456
TI  - In Situ Synthesis of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles within Antifouling
      Zwitterionic Hydrogels by Catecholic Redox Chemistry for Wound Healing
      Application.
AB  - A multifunctional hydrogel that combines the dual functionality of both
      antifouling and antimicrobial capacities holds great potential for many
      bioapplications. Many approaches and different materials have been employed to
      synthesize such a material. However, a systematic study, including in vitro and
      in vivo evaluation, on such a material as wound dressings is highly scarce at
      present. Herein, we report on a new strategy that uses catecholic chemistry to
      synthesize antimicrobial silver nanoparticles impregnated into antifouling
      zwitterionic hydrogels. For this purpose, hydrophobic dopamine methacrylamide
      monomer (DMA) was mixed in an aqueous solution of sodium tetraborate decahydrate
      and DMA monomer became soluble after increasing pH to 9 due to the complexation
      between catechol groups and boron. Then, cross-linking polymerization of
      zwitterionic monomer was carried out with the solution of the protected dopamine
      monomer to produce a new hydrogel. When this new hydrogel comes in contact with a
      silver nitrate solution, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are formed in its structure
      as a result of the redox property of the catechol groups and in the absence of
      any other external reducing agent. The results obtained from TEM and XRD
      measurements indicate that AgNPs with diameters of around 20 nm had formed within
      the networks. FESEM images confirmed that the silver nanoparticles were
      homogeneously incorporated throughout the hydrogel network, and FTIR spectroscopy
      demonstrated that the catechol moiety in the polymeric backbone of the hydrogel
      is responsible for the reduction of silver ions into the AgNPs. Finally, the in
      vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that these mussel-inspired, antifouling,
      antibacterial hydrogels have great potential for use in wound healing
      applications. 

PMID- 26891457
TI  - Inhibited attachment behaviour and disinhibited social engagement behaviour as
      relevant concepts in referred home reared children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Disorders of attachment and social engagement have mainly been
      studied in children, reared in institutions and foster care. There are few
      studies amongst home reared children living with biological parents. The aim of
      this study was to test the clinical significance of inhibited attachment
      behaviour and disinhibited social engagement behaviour in young home reared
      children, referred for treatment of emotional and behavioural problems, compared
      with young children in treatment foster care. METHODS: The Disturbances of
      Attachment Interview, Maltreatment Classification System, the Child Behaviour
      Checklist and Parenting Stress Index were used in 141 referred home reared
      children and 59 referred foster children, aged 2.0-7.9 years (M = 4.7, SE = 1.3),
      71% boys. RESULTS: Inhibited attachment behaviour was less prevalent in the
      referred home reared group (9%) than in the foster care group (27%). Disinhibited
      social engagement behaviour was found in 42% of the home reared group, similar to
      the foster care group. Inhibited attachment behaviour and disinhibited social
      engagement behaviour were not associated with child maltreatment. More inhibited
      attachment behaviour was associated with clinical levels of child internalizing
      and externalizing behaviour in the home reared group, not in the foster care
      group. In both groups, more disinhibited social engagement behaviour was
      associated with clinical levels of externalizing behaviour and with more
      parenting stress. CONCLUSIONS: Even without evident links to maltreatment,
      results of this study suggest clinical significance of inhibited attachment
      behaviour and disinhibited social engagement behaviour in young home reared
      children referred for treatment of emotional and behavioural problems.

PMID- 26891458
TI  - The impact of comorbidity on cancer and its treatment.
AB  - Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Comorbidity is common among cancer patients
      and, with an aging population, is becoming more so. Comorbidity potentially
      affects the development, stage at diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people
      with cancer. Despite the intimate relationship between comorbidity and cancer,
      there is limited consensus on how to record, interpret, or manage comorbidity in
      the context of cancer, with the result that patients who have comorbidity are
      less likely to receive treatment with curative intent. Evidence in this area is
      lacking because of the frequent exclusion of patients with comorbidity from
      randomized controlled trials. There is evidence that some patients with
      comorbidity have potentially curative treatment unnecessarily modified,
      compromising optimal care. Patients with comorbidity have poorer survival, poorer
      quality of life, and higher health care costs. Strategies to address these issues
      include improving the evidence base for patients with comorbidity, further
      development of clinical tools to assist decision making, improved integration and
      coordination of care, and skill development for clinicians. CA Cancer J Clin
      2016;66:337-350. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society.

PMID- 26891459
TI  - Amorphous Ni-B alloy nanoparticle film on Ni foam: rapid alternately dipping
      deposition for efficient overall water splitting.
AB  - It is highly attractive, but still remains challenging, to develop noble metal
      free bifunctional electrocatalysts efficient for both the hydrogen evolution
      reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. In this
      letter, we describe the rapid electroless deposition of amorphous Ni-B
      nanoparticle film on Ni foam (Ni-B/Ni foam) by alternative dipping of Ni foam
      into Ni precursor and reducing solutions. This Ni-B/Ni foam acts as an efficient
      and durable 3D catalytic electrode for water splitting, affording 100 mA cm(-2)
      at 360 mV overpotential for the OER and 20 mA cm(-2) at 125 mV overpotential for
      the HER in 1.0 M KOH, and its two-electrode electrolyzer demands a cell voltage
      of 1.69 V to afford 15 mA cm(-2) water-splitting current. Moreover, the catalyst
      loading can be easily tuned and this alternately dipping deposition technique
      works universally for other conductive substrates. 

PMID- 26891460
TI  - Spectrum of factor X gene mutations in Iranian patients with congenital factor X
      deficiency.
AB  - Congenital factor X deficiency is one of the most severe forms of rare bleeding
      disorders transmitted in autosomal recessive manner. According to the World
      Federation of Hemophilia survey, 153 patients with factor X deficiency (FXD) live
      in Iran, but a few studies have been performed to determine the precise
      distribution of FXD in different parts of the country and to assess molecular
      basis of this disorder in Iranian patients. This study was conducted to assess
      the spectrum of factor X gene mutation in Iranian patients with congenital FXD.
      All relevant English and Persian-language publications were searched (until
      2015). Clinical presentations or molecular basis of nearly 90 Iranian patients
      were reported in different studies. Most of these studies focused on clinical
      presentations of patients, whereas molecular analyses were rarely performed. Most
      molecular studies found a diversity in factor X disease causing mutations in
      Iranian patients. Like other parts of the world, the majority of mutations in
      Iranian patients were missense mutations, but splice-site mutations were
      relatively common. Three extremely rare cases of combined factor X and factor VII
      deficiencies were observed in two cases of which this disorder resulted from
      different missense mutations in respective factor genes. A wide spectrum of
      factor X gene mutations was observed in Iranian patients with congenital FXD that
      revealed diversity in FXD gene mutations. 

PMID- 26891461
TI  - Small-Molecule CD4 Mimics Containing Mono-cyclohexyl Moieties as HIV Entry
      Inhibitors.
AB  - CD4 mimics are small molecules that inhibit the protein-protein interaction
      between gp120 and CD4, which is a key interaction for the entry of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into host immune cells. In the present study, mono
      cyclohexyl-type CD4 mimics were designed to form hydrophobic and electrostatic
      interactions with Val430 and Asp368 located in the entrance of the Phe43 cavity
      of gp120, the interaction site of CD4. YIR-329, a novel 1-azaspiro[5.5]undecane
      derivative with a cyclohexyl ring attached to the piperidine ring, exhibited only
      slightly weaker anti-HIV activity than a previously described lead HAR-171, and
      modeling results indicated the formation of advantageous interactions by the para
      chlorophenyl moiety of YIR-329. To introduce an electrostatic interaction with
      Asp368, derivatives with a guanidino group on the piperidine nitrogen atom were
      synthesized. Mono-cyclohexyl-type CD4 mimics with a guanidino group, such as YIR
      819 (N(1) -(4-chlorophenyl)-N(2) -(1-(2-(N-(amidino)glycinamide)ethyl)-2
      cyclohexylpiperidin-4-yl)oxalamide) and YIR-821 (1-(2-(5
      guanidinovaleramide)ethyl derivative of YIR-819), were identified that exhibit
      approximately fivefold more potent anti-HIV activity than YIR-329. In combination
      with a neutralizing antibody, their anti-HIV activities were augmenting. Modeling
      results suggest that these compounds interact effectively with Val430 and either
      Asp368 or Asp474 in the gp120 Phe43 cavity. YIR-819 and YIR-821 represent useful
      lead compounds for the further development of HIV-1 entry inhibitors and could
      potentially be useful for co-administration with neutralizing antibodies for the
      treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. 

PMID- 26891462
TI  - Neurite outgrowth enhancement by jiadifenolide: possible targets.
AB  - Covering: 1860-2016A mechanistic link may exist between convulsant plant
      substances typified by picrotoxinin, and 'neurotrophic' sesquiterpenes like
      jiadifenolide. Picrotoxinin elicits convulsion by anion blockade of the Cys-loop
      family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. These same receptors mediate
      neuronal development and neurite outgrowth prior to synapse formation. Due to its
      structural homology with picrotoxin and anisatin, it is possible that
      jiadifenolide enhances NGF-stimulated neurite outgrowth by modulation of the Cys
      loop family of receptors. 

PMID- 26891464
TI  - Objective and subjective measures of cross-situational learning.
AB  - Statistical learning is often considered to be automatic and implicit, but little
      is known about the extent to which the resulting representations are available to
      conscious awareness. In the present study, we focus on whether the knowledge
      acquired in statistical learning of word-referent pairs is available to conscious
      control. Using a cross-situational learning paradigm, adult participants were
      first exposed to a set of pictures associated with auditorily presented words.
      Immediately thereafter, they were exposed to a second set of word-picture pairs.
      After the exposure phase, learning and conscious accessibility to the acquired
      knowledge were measured by using an adaptation of the Process Dissociation
      Procedure (Jacoby, 1991): two recognition tasks that only differed by
      instructions. In the Inclusion task, participants were instructed to accept all
      the correct associations (either from the first or the second set) and reject all
      the incorrect associations. In the Exclusion task, they had to accept all the
      correct associations from one of the sets and reject both the correct
      associations from the other set as well as all incorrect associations. Moreover,
      binary confidence judgments were recorded after each trial. Results show that
      participants were able to control the acquired knowledge. However, confidence
      judgments revealed that participants correctly identified the learned
      associations even when they claimed to guess, suggesting that cross-situational
      learning involves a mixture of both conscious and unconscious influences. 

PMID- 26891463
TI  - The contribution of caregiver psychosocial factors to distress associated with
      behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to examine caregiver factors as
      predictors of BPSD-related distress and their potential mechanisms. METHOD:
      Informal caregivers of people with dementia (n = 157) recruited from 28 community
      mental health teams in six NHS Trusts across England completed questionnaires
      regarding psychosocial factors (relationship quality, competence, guilt, health
      related quality of life in the caregiver and person with dementia, reactivity to
      behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia [BPSD] and burden) and
      frequency of BPSD. Analyses of BPSD-related distress include hierarchical
      multiple regression, mediation, moderation and path analysis. RESULTS: Caregiver
      psychosocial factors explained 56% of the variance in BPSD-related distress.
      After controlling for these factors, frequency of BPSD was not a significant
      predictor of BPSD-related distress. Caregiver reactivity to BPSD, burden,
      competence and relationship quality directly influenced BPSD-related distress.
      Guilt influenced distress indirectly via competence, burden and reactivity to
      BPSD. The final model accounted for 41% of the variance in BPSD-related distress
      and achieved a good fit to the data (chi2  = 23.920, df = 19, p = 0.199).
      CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver psychosocial factors including sense of competence, guilt,
      burden and reactivity to BPSD contribute to BPSD-related distress. Tailored
      interventions for managing behaviour problems in family settings could focus on
      these factors associated with BPSD-related distress to minimise distress in
      families. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891465
TI  - Observed activation status of lane departure warning and forward collision
      warning of Honda vehicles at dealership service centers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There are little objective data on whether drivers with lane departure
      warning and forward collision warning systems actually use them, but self-report
      data indicate that lane departure warning may be used less and viewed less
      favorably than forward collision warning. The current study assessed whether the
      systems were turned on when drivers brought their vehicles to dealership service
      stations and whether the observational protocol is a feasible method for
      collecting similar data on various manufacturers' systems. METHODS: Observations
      of 2013-2015 Honda Accords, 2014-2015 Odysseys, and 2015 CR-Vs occurred at 2 U.S.
      Honda dealerships for approximately 4 weeks during Summer 2015. RESULTS: Of the
      265 vehicles observed to have the 2 systems, 87 (32.8%) had lane departure
      warning turned on. Accords were associated with a 66% increase in the likelihood
      that lane departure warning was turned on compared with Odysseys, but the rate
      was still only about 40% in Accords. In contrast, forward collision warning was
      turned on in all but one of the observed vehicles. CONCLUSIONS: Observations
      found that the activation rate was much higher for forward collision warning than
      lane departure warning. The observation method worked well and appears feasible
      for extending to other manufacturers.

PMID- 26891466
TI  - Shen's Whole-Layer Tightly Appressed Anastomosis Technique for Duct-to-Mucosa
      Pancreaticojejunostomy in Pancreaticoduodenectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND Postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPFs) due to anastomotic leaks are
      always closely related to significant morbidity and mortality following
      pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). A series of modified anastomotic methods have been
      proposed. The object of our study was to provide a novel anastomotic method for
      operations involving the Child technique, termed the "whole-layer tightly
      appressed anastomosis technique". MATERIAL AND METHODS An improved pancreatic
      whole-layer suture technique was used when we performed the duct-to-mucosa
      pancreaticojejunostomies; this method ensured the tight joining of the pancreatic
      stump and jejunum and decreased the pinholes in the pancreatic stump. This new
      method was used in 41 patients, and was compared with the traditional duct-to
      mucosa anastomosis technique that was used in 50 patients as controls. RESULTS
      The POPF rate was much lower in the new method group than in the control group
      (6, 14.63% and 20, 40.00%, respectively, P=0.010). There were 5 grade A POPF
      patients and 1 grade B POPF patient in the study group. In the control group
      there were 12 grade A POPFs patients, 7 grade B POPFs patients, and 1 grade C
      POPF patient. The study group exhibited a lower morbidity rate (7, 17.07% vs. 16,
      32.00%, P=0.022) and a reduced hospital stay (17.16 d vs. 22.92 d, P=0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS The whole-layer tightly appressed anastomosis technique presented in
      our study is a safer anastomotic method than the traditional duct-to-mucosa
      pancreaticojejunostomy technique. This new technique effectively reduced the
      incidence of POPF after PD and decreased the postoperative morbidity. 

PMID- 26891467
TI  - Docetaxel-based adjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients in Asia-Pacific
      region: Results from 5 years follow-up on Asia-Pacific Breast Initiative-I.
AB  - AIM: To acquire patient characteristics, safety, relapse and survival outcomes of
      early-stage breast cancer patients receiving docetaxel (Taxotere(R))-based
      regimen in adjuvant setting from the Asia-Pacific region. METHODS: This was an
      open-label, international, longitudinal, multicenter, observational, prospective
      cohort of consecutive early breast cancer (EBC) patients with a high risk of
      recurrence being treated with various docetaxel-containing anthracycline and non
      anthracycline adjuvant regimens during 2006-2013. RESULTS: In this study, 1542
      patients were enrolled. Anthracycline-containing regimens were administered in
      92% of patients, while 8% of patients received non-anthracycline-containing
      docetaxel-based regimens. The mean dose intensity of docetaxel was 25.8, 22.4 and
      25.4 mg/m(2) /week among patients receiving docetaxel-based monotherapy,
      combination and sequential therapy, respectively. Adverse events were reported in
      94.9% of patients (anthracycline vs non-anthracycline regimen; 95.1% vs 93.5%).
      Serious adverse events were reported in 12.6% of patients (12.4% vs 14.6%). Grade
      4 neutropenia was reported in 25.2% of patients (24.7% vs 30.9%) and febrile
      neutropenia in 1.9% of patients (2% vs 0.8%). Only 7% of patients had a relapse
      or a second primary malignancy. At 5-year follow-up, there were 127 (8.3%) deaths
      (8.4% vs 6.5%). CONCLUSION: The Asia-Pacific Breast Initiative-I registry
      highlights the important patient and treatment characteristics of EBC patients
      treated with adjuvant docetaxel chemotherapy from the Asia-Pacific region that
      will help physicians to understand the impact of different docetaxel treatments
      on the clinical outcomes in this population.

PMID- 26891469
TI  - Buckling prevention strategies in nature as inspiration for improving
      percutaneous instruments: a review.
AB  - A typical mechanical failure mode observed in slender percutaneous instruments,
      such as needles and guidewires, is buckling. Buckling is observed when the axial
      compressive force that is required to penetrate certain tissue types exceeds the
      critical load of the instrument and manifests itself by sudden lateral deflection
      of the instrument. In nature, several organisms are able to penetrate substrates
      without buckling while using apparatuses with diameters smaller than those of off
      the-shelf available percutaneous needles and guidewires. In this study we
      reviewed the apparatuses and buckling prevention strategies employed by
      biological organisms to penetrate substrates such as wood and skin. A subdivision
      is made between buckling prevention strategies that focus on increasing the
      critical load of the penetration tool and strategies that focus on decreasing the
      penetration load of the substrate. In total, 28 buckling prevention strategies
      were identified and categorized. Most organisms appear to be using a combination
      of buckling prevention strategies simultaneously. Integration and combination of
      these biological buckling prevention strategies in percutaneous instruments may
      contribute to increasing the success rate of percutaneous interventions. 

PMID- 26891468
TI  - Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote in vitro osteoblastogenesis through a
      Wnt/beta-catenin signaling-associated mechanism.
AB  - Substantial evidence indicates that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) could
      accelerate fracture healing and enhance bone mass, whereas the unclear mechanism
      by which PEMF stimulation promotes osteogenesis limits its extensive clinical
      application. In the present study, effects and potential molecular signaling
      mechanisms of PEMF on in vitro osteoblasts were systematically investigated.
      Osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to PEMF burst (0.5, 1, 2, or 6 h/day)
      with 15.38 Hz at various intensities (5 Gs (0.5 mT), 10 Gs (1 mT), or 20 Gs (2
      mT)) for 3 consecutive days. PEMF stimulation at 20 Gs (2 mT) for 2 h/day
      exhibited most prominent promotive effects on osteoblastic proliferation via Cell
      Counting kit-8 analyses. PEMF exposure induced well-organized cytoskeleton, and
      promoted formation of extracellular matrix mineralization nodules. Significantly
      increased proliferation-related gene expressions at the proliferation phase were
      observed after PEMF stimulation, including Ccnd 1 and Ccne 1. PEMF resulted in
      significantly increased gene and protein expressions of alkaline phosphatase and
      osteocalcin at the differentiation phase of osteoblasts rather than the
      proliferation phase via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction and Western blotting analyses. Moreover, PEMF upregulated gene and
      protein expressions of collagen type 1, Runt-related transcription factor 2 and
      Wnt/beta-catenin signaling (Wnt1, Lrp6, and beta-catenin) at proliferation and
      differentiation phases. Together, our present findings highlight that PEMF
      stimulated osteoblastic functions through a Wnt/beta-catenin signaling-associated
      mechanism and, hence, regulates downstream osteogenesis-associated gene/protein
      expressions. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:152-162, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26891470
TI  - Covalent Modification of MoS2 with Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) for Solid-State
      Broadband Optical Limiters.
AB  - New soluble MoS2 nanosheets covalently functionalized with poly(N-vinylcarbazole)
      (MoS2-PVK) were in situ synthesized for the first time. In contrast to MoS2 and
      MoS2 /PVK blends, both the solution of MoS2 -PVK in DMF and MoS2-PVK/poly(methyl
      methacrylate) (PMMA) film show superior nonlinear optical and optical limiting
      responses. The MoS2-PVK/PMMA film shows the largest nonlinear coefficients
      (betaeff) of about 917 cm GW(-1) at lambda=532 nm (cf. 100.69 cm GW(-1) for
      MoS2/PMMA and 125.12 cm GW(-1) for MoS2/PVK/PMMA) and about 461 cm GW(-1) at
      lambda=1064 nm (cf. -48.92 cm GW(-1) for MoS2/PMMA and 147.56 cm GW(-1) for
      MoS2/PVK/PMMA). A larger optical limiting effect, with thresholds of about 0.3 GW
      cm(-2) at lambda=532 nm and about 0.5 GW cm(-2) at lambda=1064 nm, was also
      achieved from the MoS2-PVK/PMMA film. These values are among the highest reported
      for MoS2-based nonlinear optical materials. These results show that covalent
      functionalization of MoS2 with polymers is an effective way to improve nonlinear
      optical responses for efficient optical limiting devices.

PMID- 26891472
TI  - L1 syndrome diagnosis complemented with functional analysis of L1CAM variants
      located to the two N-terminal Ig-like domains.
AB  - L1CAM gene mutations cause neurodevelopmental disorders collectively termed L1
      syndrome. Insufficient information about L1CAM variants complicates clinical
      prognosis, genetic diagnosis and genetic counseling. We combined clinical data,
      in silico effect predictions and functional analysis of four L1CAM variants,
      p.I37N, p.T38M, p.M172I and p.D202Y, located to the two N-terminal Ig-like
      domains present in five families with symptoms of L1 syndrome. Software tools
      predicted destabilizing effects of p.I37N and p.D202Y but results for p.T38M and
      p.M172I were inconsistent. Cell surface expression of mutant proteins L1-T38M, L1
      M172I and L1-D202Y was normal. Conversely, L1-I37N accumulated in the endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER) and showed temperature-sensitive protein maturation suggesting
      that p.I37N induces protein misfolding. L1CAM-mediated cell-cell aggregation was
      severely impaired by L1CAM variants p.I37N, p.M172I and p.D202Y but was preserved
      by the variant p.T38M. Our experimental data indicate that protein misfolding and
      accumulation in the ER affect function of the L1CAM variant p.I37N whereas the
      variants p.M172I and p.D202Y impair homophilic interaction at the cell surface.

PMID- 26891473
TI  - Enhancement of finger motion range with compliant anthropomorphic joint design.
AB  - Robotic researchers have been greatly inspired by the human hand in the search to
      design and build adaptive robotic hands. Especially, joints have received a lot
      of attention upon their role in maintaining the passive compliance that gives the
      fingers flexibility and extendible motion ranges. Passive compliance, which is
      the tendency to be employed in motion under the influence of an external force,
      is the result of the stiffness and the geometrical constraints of the joints that
      define the direction of the motion. Based on its building elements, human finger
      joints have multi-directional passive compliance which means that they can move
      in multiple axis of motion under external force. However, due to their complex
      anatomy, only simplified biomechanical designs based on physiological analysis
      are preferred in present day robotics. To imitate the human joints, these designs
      either use fixed degree of freedom mechanisms which substantially limit the
      motion axes of compliance, or soft materials that can deform in many directions
      but hinder the fingers' force exertion capacities. In order to find a solution
      that lies between these two design approaches, we are using anatomically correct
      finger bones, elastic ligaments and antagonistic tendons to build anthropomorphic
      joints with multi-directional passive compliance and strong force exertion
      capabilities. We use interactions between an index finger and a thumb to show
      that our joints allow the extension of the range of motion of the fingers up to
      245% and gripping size to 63% which can be beneficial for mechanical adaptation
      in gripping larger objects. 

PMID- 26891474
TI  - Classifying continuous, real-time e-nose sensor data using a bio-inspired spiking
      network modelled on the insect olfactory system.
AB  - In many application domains, conventional e-noses are frequently outperformed in
      both speed and accuracy by their biological counterparts. Exploring potential bio
      inspired improvements, we note a number of neuronal network models have
      demonstrated some success in classifying static datasets by abstracting the
      insect olfactory system. However, these designs remain largely unproven in
      practical settings, where sensor data is real-time, continuous, potentially
      noisy, lacks a precise onset signal and accurate classification requires the
      inclusion of temporal aspects into the feature set. This investigation therefore
      seeks to inform and develop the potential and suitability of biomimetic
      classifiers for use with typical real-world sensor data. Taking a generic
      classifier design inspired by the inhibition and competition in the insect
      antennal lobe, we apply it to identifying 20 individual chemical odours from the
      timeseries of responses of metal oxide sensors. We show that four out of twelve
      available sensors and the first 30 s (10%) of the sensors' continuous response
      are sufficient to deliver 92% accurate classification without access to an odour
      onset signal. In contrast to previous approaches, once training is complete,
      sensor signals can be fed continuously into the classifier without requiring
      discretization. We conclude that for continuous data there may be a conceptual
      advantage in using spiking networks, in particular where time is an essential
      component of computation. Classification was achieved in real time using a GPU
      accelerated spiking neural network simulator developed in our group. 

PMID- 26891475
TI  - Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improve Cardiac Perfusion in an Ovine
      Immunocompetent Animal Model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold considerable promise in the
      treatment of ischemic heart disease. Most preclinical studies of MSCs for acute
      myocardial infarction (AMI) have been performed either in syngeneic animal models
      or with human cells in xenogeneic immunodeficient animals. A preferable pre
      clinical model, however, would involve human MSCs in an immunocompetent animal.
      METHODS: AMI was generated in adult sheep by inducing ischemia reperfusion of the
      second diagonal branch. Sheep (n = 10) were randomized to receive an intravenous
      injection of human MSCs (1 * 10(6) cells/kg) or phosphate buffered saline.
      Cardiac function and remodeling were evaluated with echocardiography. Perfusion
      scintigraphy was used to identify sustained myocardial ischemia. Interaction
      between human MSCs and ovine lymphocytes was assessed by a mixed lymphocyte
      response (MLR). RESULTS: Sheep receiving human MSCs showed significant
      improvement in myocardial perfusion at 1 month compared with baseline
      measurements. There was no change in ventricular dimensions in either group after
      1 month of AMI. No adverse events or symptoms were observed in the sheep
      receiving human MSCs. The MLR was negative. CONCLUSION: The immunocompetent ovine
      AMI model demonstrates the clinical safety and efficacy of human MSCs. The human
      cells do not appear to be immunogenic, further suggesting that immunocompetent
      sheep may serve as a suitable pre-clinical large animal model for testing human
      MSCs.

PMID- 26891476
TI  - Zebrafish response to 3D printed shoals of conspecifics: the effect of body size.
AB  - Recent progress in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has enabled rapid
      prototyping of complex models at a limited cost. Virtually every research
      laboratory has access to a 3D printer, which can assist in the design and
      implementation of hypothesis-driven studies on animal behavior. In this study, we
      explore the possibility of using 3D printing technology to understand the role of
      body size in the social behavior of the zebrafish model organism. In a
      dichotomous preference test, we study the behavioral response of zebrafish to
      shoals of 3D printed replicas of varying size. We systematically vary the size of
      each replica without altering the coloration, aspect ratio, and stripe patterns,
      which are all selected to closely mimic zebrafish morphophysiology. The replicas
      are actuated through a robotic manipulator, mimicking the natural motion of live
      subjects. Zebrafish preference is assessed by scoring the time spent in the
      vicinity of the shoal of replicas, and the information theoretic construct of
      transfer entropy is used to further elucidate the influence of the replicas on
      zebrafish motion. Our results demonstrate that zebrafish adjust their behavior in
      response to variations in the size of the replicas. Subjects exhibit an avoidance
      reaction for larger replicas, and they are attracted toward and influenced by
      smaller replicas. The approach presented in this study, integrating 3D printing
      technology, robotics, and information theory, is expected to significantly aid
      preclinical research on zebrafish behavior. 

PMID- 26891477
TI  - Bio-inspired fabrication of stimuli-responsive photonic crystals with
      hierarchical structures and their applications.
AB  - When the constitutive materials of photonic crystals (PCs) are stimuli
      responsive, the resultant PCs exhibit optical properties that can be tuned by the
      stimuli. This can be exploited for promising applications in colour displays,
      biological and chemical sensors, inks and paints, and many optically active
      components. However, the preparation of the required photonic structures is the
      first issue to be solved. In the past two decades, approaches such as
      microfabrication and self-assembly have been developed to incorporate stimuli
      responsive materials into existing periodic structures for the fabrication of
      PCs, either as the initial building blocks or as the surrounding matrix.
      Generally, the materials that respond to thermal, pH, chemical, optical,
      electrical, or magnetic stimuli are either soft or aggregate, which is why the
      manufacture of three-dimensional hierarchical photonic structures with responsive
      properties is a great challenge. Recently, inspired by biological PCs in nature
      which exhibit both flexible and responsive properties, researchers have developed
      various methods to synthesize metals and metal oxides with hierarchical
      structures by using a biological PC as the template. This review will focus on
      the recent developments in this field. In particular, PCs with biological
      hierarchical structures that can be tuned by external stimuli have recently been
      successfully fabricated. These findings offer innovative insights into the design
      of responsive PCs and should be of great importance for future applications of
      these materials. 

PMID- 26891471
TI  - Forging Colloidal Nanostructures via Cation Exchange Reactions.
AB  - Among the various postsynthesis treatments of colloidal nanocrystals that have
      been developed to date, transformations by cation exchange have recently emerged
      as an extremely versatile tool that has given access to a wide variety of
      materials and nanostructures. One notable example in this direction is
      represented by partial cation exchange, by which preformed nanocrystals can be
      either transformed to alloy nanocrystals or to various types of
      nanoheterostructures possessing core/shell, segmented, or striped architectures.
      In this review, we provide an up to date overview of the complex colloidal
      nanostructures that could be prepared so far by cation exchange. At the same
      time, the review gives an account of the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic
      parameters governing these types of reactions, as they are currently understood,
      and outlines the main open issues and possible future developments in the field. 

PMID- 26891478
TI  - Highly efficient blue and warm white organic light-emitting diodes with a
      simplified structure.
AB  - Two blue fluorescent emitters were utilized to construct simplified organic light
      emitting diodes (OLEDs) and the remarkable difference in device performance was
      carefully illustrated. A maximum current efficiency of 4.84 cd A(-1)
      (corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 4.29%) with a Commission Internationale
      de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of (0.144, 0.127) was achieved by using N,N
      diphenyl-4"-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1, 1':4', 1"-terphenyl]-4-amine
      (BBPI) as a non-doped emission layer of the simplified blue OLEDs without carrier
      transport layers. In addition, simplified fluorescent/phosphorescent (F/P) hybrid
      warm white OLEDs without carrier-transport layers were fabricated by utilizing
      BBPI as (1) the blue emitter and (2) the host of a complementary yellow
      phosphorescent emitter (PO-01). A maximum current efficiency of 36.8 cd A(-1) and
      a maximum power efficiency of 38.6 lm W(-1) were achieved as a result of
      efficient energy transfer from the host to the guest and good triplet exciton
      confinement on the phosphorescent molecules. The blue and white OLEDs are among
      the most efficient simplified fluorescent blue and F/P hybrid white devices, and
      their performance is even comparable to that of most previously reported
      complicated multi-layer devices with carrier-transport layers. 

PMID- 26891479
TI  - Nanoporous capsules of block co-polymers of [(MeO-PEG-NH)-b-(L-GluA)]-PCL for the
      controlled release of anticancer drugs for therapeutic applications.
AB  - Herein, new nanoporous capsules of the block co-polymers of MeO-PEG-NH-(L-GluA)10
      and polycaprolactone (PCL) have been synthesized through a surfactant-free cost
      effective self-assembled soft-templating approach for the controlled release of
      drugs and for therapeutic applications. The nanoporous polymer capsules are
      designed to be biocompatible and are capable of encapsulating anticancer drugs
      (e.g., doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and imatinib mesylate (ITM)) with a high
      extent (~279 and ~480 ng MUg(-1), respectively). We have developed a
      nanoformulation of porous MeO-PEG-NH-(L-GluA)10-PCL capsules with DOX and ITM.
      The porous polymer nanoformulations have been programmed in terms of the release
      of anticancer drugs with a desired dose to treat the leukemia (K562) and human
      carcinoma cells (HepG2) in vitro and show promising IC50 values with a very high
      mortality of cancer cells (up to ~96.6%). Our nanoformulation arrests the cell
      divisions due to 'cellular scenescence' and kills the cancer cells specifically.
      The present findings could enrich the effectiveness of idiosyncratic nanoporous
      polymer capsules for use in various other nanomedicinal and biomedical
      applications, such as for killing cancer cells, immune therapy, and gene
      delivery. 

PMID- 26891480
TI  - Small interfering RNA delivery through positively charged polymer nanoparticles.
AB  - Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is receiving increasing attention with regard to
      the treatment of many genetic diseases, both acquired and hereditary, such as
      cancer and diabetes. Being a high molecular weight (MW) polyanion, siRNA is not
      able to cross a cell membrane, and in addition it is unstable in physiological
      conditions. Accordingly, a biocompatible nanocarrier able to deliver siRNA into
      cells is needed. In this work, we synthesized biocompatible positively charged
      nanoparticles (NPs) following a two-step process that involves ring opening
      polymerization (ROP) and emulsion free radical polymerization (EFRP). Firstly, we
      proved the possibility of fine tuning the NPs' characteristics (e.g. size and
      surface charge) by changing the synthetic process parameters. Then the capability
      in loading and delivering undamaged siRNA into a cancer cell cytoplasm has been
      shown. This latter process occurs through the biodegradation of the polymer
      constituting the NPs, whose kinetics can be tuned by adjusting the polymer's MW.
      Finally, the ability of NPs to carry siRNA inside the cells in order to inhibit
      their target gene has been demonstrated using green flourescent protein positive
      cells. 

PMID- 26891481
TI  - In situ nanojoining of Y- and T-shaped silver nanowires structures using
      femtosecond laser radiation.
AB  - We report the in situ joining of spatially separated silver nanowires without
      additional filler material by controlled irradiation with femtosecond laser
      pulses. Nanojoining under these conditions arises from highly localized heat
      generation in the vicinity of the gap between adjacent silver nanowires. Melting,
      followed by the flow of silver into the gap, is optimized by adjusting the
      direction of laser polarization relative to gap geometry. Our results show that
      melting of silver occurs on both nanowires in the vicinity of the gap between the
      two components. Successful formation of a joint is found to be a function of the
      angle between the long axis of the nanowires and the gap distance. Finite element
      simulations show that the strong localized electric field generated by optical
      excitation determines the location and the morphology of the resulting bond.
      Light coupling and the resulting emission properties of these Y-shaped nanowire
      structures have been simulated and are compared to similar structures where the
      gap remains open. It is suggested that joined Y-shaped couplers will have a
      higher switching ratio between emitted nanowire ends than those occurring in open
      gap structures. Nanojoining induced by localized heating under strong field
      excitation may enable the production of robust branched metal nanowire structures
      for optical applications. 

PMID- 26891482
TI  - Reconstructing Curvilinear Networks Using Path Classifiers and Integer
      Programming.
AB  - We propose a novel approach to automated delineation of curvilinear structures
      that form complex and potentially loopy networks. By representing the image data
      as a graph of potential paths, we first show how to weight these paths using
      discriminatively-trained classifiers that are both robust and generic enough to
      be applied to very different imaging modalities. We then present an Integer
      Programming approach to finding the optimal subset of paths, subject to
      structural and topological constraints that eliminate implausible solutions.
      Unlike earlier approaches that assume a tree topology for the networks, ours
      explicitly models the fact that the networks may contain loops, and can
      reconstruct both cyclic and acyclic ones. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our
      approach on a variety of challenging datasets including aerial images of road
      networks and micrographs of neural arbors, and show that it outperforms state-of
      the-art techniques.

PMID- 26891483
TI  - Deep Independence Network Analysis of Structural Brain Imaging: Application to
      Schizophrenia.
AB  - Linear independent component analysis (ICA) is a standard signal processing
      technique that has been extensively used on neuroimaging data to detect brain
      networks with coherent brain activity (functional MRI) or covarying structural
      patterns (structural MRI). However, its formulation assumes that the measured
      brain signals are generated by a linear mixture of the underlying brain networks
      and this assumption limits its ability to detect the inherent nonlinear nature of
      brain interactions. In this paper, we introduce nonlinear independent component
      estimation (NICE) to structural MRI data to detect abnormal patterns of gray
      matter concentration in schizophrenia patients. For this biomedical application,
      we further addressed the issue of model regularization of nonlinear ICA by
      performing dimensionality reduction prior to NICE, together with an appropriate
      control of the complexity of the model and the usage of a proper approximation of
      the probability distribution functions of the estimated components. We show that
      our results are consistent with previous findings in the literature, but we also
      demonstrate that the incorporation of nonlinear associations in the data enables
      the detection of spatial patterns that are not identified by linear ICA.
      Specifically, we show networks including basal ganglia, cerebellum and thalamus
      that show significant differences in patients versus controls, some of which show
      distinct nonlinear patterns.

PMID- 26891484
TI  - AggNet: Deep Learning From Crowds for Mitosis Detection in Breast Cancer
      Histology Images.
AB  - The lack of publicly available ground-truth data has been identified as the major
      challenge for transferring recent developments in deep learning to the biomedical
      imaging domain. Though crowdsourcing has enabled annotation of large scale
      databases for real world images, its application for biomedical purposes requires
      a deeper understanding and hence, more precise definition of the actual
      annotation task. The fact that expert tasks are being outsourced to non-expert
      users may lead to noisy annotations introducing disagreement between users.
      Despite being a valuable resource for learning annotation models from
      crowdsourcing, conventional machine-learning methods may have difficulties
      dealing with noisy annotations during training. In this manuscript, we present a
      new concept for learning from crowds that handle data aggregation directly as
      part of the learning process of the convolutional neural network (CNN) via
      additional crowdsourcing layer (AggNet). Besides, we present an experimental
      study on learning from crowds designed to answer the following questions. 1) Can
      deep CNN be trained with data collected from crowdsourcing? 2) How to adapt the
      CNN to train on multiple types of annotation datasets (ground truth and crowd
      based)? 3) How does the choice of annotation and aggregation affect the accuracy?
      Our experimental setup involved Annot8, a self-implemented web-platform based on
      Crowdflower API realizing image annotation tasks for a publicly available
      biomedical image database. Our results give valuable insights into the
      functionality of deep CNN learning from crowd annotations and prove the necessity
      of data aggregation integration.

PMID- 26891485
TI  - Image Segmentation Using Parametric Contours With Free Endpoints.
AB  - In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for active contours with free
      endpoints. A scheme for image segmentation is presented based on a discrete
      version of the Mumford-Shah functional where the contours can be both closed and
      open curves. Additional to a flow of the curves in normal direction, evolution
      laws for the tangential flow of the endpoints are derived. Using a parametric
      approach to describe the evolving contours together with an edge-preserving
      denoising, we obtain a fast method for image segmentation and restoration. The
      analytical and numerical schemes are presented followed by numerical experiments
      with artificial test images and with a real medical image. 

PMID- 26891486
TI  - Graph-Based Compression of Dynamic 3D Point Cloud Sequences.
AB  - This paper addresses the problem of compression of 3D point cloud sequences that
      are characterized by moving 3D positions and color attributes. As temporally
      successive point cloud frames share some similarities, motion estimation is key
      to effective compression of these sequences. It, however, remains a challenging
      problem as the point cloud frames have varying numbers of points without explicit
      correspondence information. We represent the time-varying geometry of these
      sequences with a set of graphs, and consider 3D positions and color attributes of
      the point clouds as signals on the vertices of the graphs. We then cast motion
      estimation as a feature-matching problem between successive graphs. The motion is
      estimated on a sparse set of representative vertices using new spectral graph
      wavelet descriptors. A dense motion field is eventually interpolated by solving a
      graph-based regularization problem. The estimated motion is finally used for
      removing the temporal redundancy in the predictive coding of the 3D positions and
      the color characteristics of the point cloud sequences. Experimental results
      demonstrate that our method is able to accurately estimate the motion between
      consecutive frames. Moreover, motion estimation is shown to bring a significant
      improvement in terms of the overall compression performance of the sequence. To
      the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that exploits both the spatial
      correlation inside each frame (through the graph) and the temporal correlation
      between the frames (through the motion estimation) to compress the color and the
      geometry of 3D point cloud sequences in an efficient way. 

PMID- 26891488
TI  - Stochastic Optimal Regulation of Nonlinear Networked Control Systems by Using
      Event-Driven Adaptive Dynamic Programming.
AB  - In this paper, an event-driven stochastic adaptive dynamic programming (ADP)
      based technique is introduced for nonlinear systems with a communication network
      within its feedback loop. A near optimal control policy is designed using an
      actor-critic framework and ADP with event sampled state vector. First, the system
      dynamics are approximated by using a novel neural network (NN) identifier with
      event sampled state vector. The optimal control policy is generated via an actor
      NN by using the NN identifier and value function approximated by a critic NN
      through ADP. The stochastic NN identifier, actor, and critic NN weights are tuned
      at the event sampled instants leading to aperiodic weight tuning laws. Above all,
      an adaptive event sampling condition based on estimated NN weights is designed by
      using the Lyapunov technique to ensure ultimate boundedness of all the closed
      loop signals along with the approximation accuracy. The net result is event
      driven stochastic ADP technique that can significantly reduce the computation and
      network transmissions. Finally, the analytical design is substantiated with
      simulation results.

PMID- 26891487
TI  - Movement Anticipation and EEG: Implications for BCI-Contingent Robot Therapy.
AB  - Brain-computer interfacing is a technology that has the potential to improve
      patient engagement in robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy. For example,
      movement intention reduces mu (8-13 Hz) oscillation amplitude over the
      sensorimotor cortex, a phenomenon referred to as event-related desynchronization
      (ERD). In an ERD-contingent assistance paradigm, initial BCI-enhanced robotic
      therapy studies have used ERD to provide robotic assistance for movement. Here we
      investigated how ERD changed as a function of audio-visual stimuli, overt
      movement from the participant, and robotic assistance. Twelve unimpaired subjects
      played a computer game designed for rehabilitation therapy with their fingers
      using the FINGER robotic exoskeleton. In the game, the participant and robot
      matched movement timing to audio-visual stimuli in the form of notes approaching
      a target on the screen set to the consistent beat of popular music. The audio
      visual stimulation of the game alone did not cause ERD, before or after training.
      In contrast, overt movement by the subject caused ERD, whether or not the robot
      assisted the finger movement. Notably, ERD was also present when the subjects
      remained passive and the robot moved their fingers to play the game. This ERD
      occurred in anticipation of the passive finger movement with similar onset timing
      as for the overt movement conditions. These results demonstrate that ERD can be
      contingent on expectation of robotic assistance; that is, the brain generates an
      anticipatory ERD in expectation of a robot-imposed but predictable movement. This
      is a caveat that should be considered in designing BCIs for enhancing patient
      effort in robotically-assisted therapy.

PMID- 26891489
TI  - [Frontline of vascular regenerative therapy for refractory peripheral arterial
      diseases].

PMID- 26891490
TI  - [Trends in vocal cord surgery].

PMID- 26891491
TI  - [Impact of Kampo medicine upon the field of otorhinolaryngology--from head-and
      neck neoplasms to otitis media].

PMID- 26891492
TI  - [Pathophysiology of Meniere's disease--point of views from the study on
      endolymphatic sac].

PMID- 26891493
TI  - [Diagnosis of and therapy for dizziness].

PMID- 26891494
TI  - [New standard of cochlear implantation for children].

PMID- 26891496
TI  - [New therapeutic strategy for head-and-neck neoplasms].

PMID- 26891495
TI  - [New molecular target therapy for thyroid neoplasms and malignant melanomas].

PMID- 26891497
TI  - Looking forward.

PMID- 26891499
TI  - 2016 CPT coding changes and their effects.

PMID- 26891498
TI  - Provisions in the 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule that will affect surgical
      practice: An overview.

PMID- 26891501
TI  - Statement on the aging surgeon.

PMID- 26891500
TI  - The 2015 RAS-ACS annual Communications Committee essay contest: An introduction.

PMID- 26891502
TI  - Statement on older adult burn prevention.

PMID- 26891503
TI  - Statement on prevention of non-traffic vehicle-related injuries in children.

PMID- 26891504
TI  - Statement on safety belt laws and enforcement.

PMID- 26891505
TI  - The one-year grace period for correct use of ICD-10 codes.

PMID- 26891506
TI  - ACS Advisory Council for Rural Surgery hard at work.

PMID- 26891507
TI  - The defeat of Proposition 46 in California: A case study of successful surgeon
      advocacy.

PMID- 26891508
TI  - Rectal cancer resection: Laparoscopic or open--which way forward?.

PMID- 26891509
TI  - Dr. Charles McBurney: A pioneer in the surgical treatment of appendicitis.

PMID- 26891511
TI  - Antibiotic resistance causing issues for surgical patients.

PMID- 26891510
TI  - Dr. and Mrs. M. J. Jurkiewicz: A distinctive legacy of giving.

PMID- 26891512
TI  - NTDB data points: Annual report 2015: regional trauma.

PMID- 26891513
TI  - In memoriam: Dr. Isidore Cohn, Jr.: A life well-lived.

PMID- 26891514
TI  - High prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum pfcrt K76T mutation in children with
      sickle cell disease at a tertiary hospital in north-western Tanzania.
AB  - The high prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) and trait in Sub-Saharan Africa
      coincides with the distribution of Plasmodiumfalciparum malaria. Due to prolonged
      heavy use of chloroquine (CQ) as an antimalarial, drug resistance has developed.
      Many countries including Tanzania abandoned the use of CQ for uncomplicated
      malaria, except its use as prophylaxis in patients with sickle cell disease. This
      study investigated the prevalence of malaria in SCD patients and mutations
      associated with CQ resistance. Children diagnosed with sickle cell disease
      attending both outpatient clinic and those admitted at Bugando Medical Centre in
      northwestern Tanzania were screened for malaria using thick blood smear. A dried
      blood spot on Whatman filter paper was also taken for polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Among 123 known patients with
      sickle cell disease, the prevalence of malaria by blood smear microscopy was 3.2%
      and by PCR was 13.8%. The prevalence of K76T mutation among the patients was
      81.3%. The majority of the patients (72.4%) were using chloroquine prophylaxis.
      In conclusion, the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among children with sickle
      cell disease attending BMC is low (3.2%) by microscopy but several children
      maintain sub patent infection detectable by PCR. The prevalence of chloroquine
      resistant P falciparum in these children was higher than that previously seen in
      normal population in Tanzania. We recommend special attention to be paid to
      patients with sickle cell disease while studying the dynamics of drug resistant
      parasites.

PMID- 26891515
TI  - Profile of plasma lipids and degree of derangements among the elderly of Morogoro
      region, Tanzania.
AB  - Changes in lifestyles and ageing have been associated with growing rates of
      modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). Dyslipidemia is one ofthe CRF
      associated with numbers of cardiovascular diseases. This descriptive cross
      sectional study was conducted to determine the profile and degree of derangements
      of plasma lipids among 300 (176 females and 124 males) elderly individuals aged
      >= 60 years in Morogoro, Tanzania. The calorimetric enzymatic methods and the
      Friedewal's equation were used for determination of cholesterols and
      triglycerides (TG). Social and demographic characteristics were gathered by
      structured questionnaires. The logistic regression models were used to identify
      the determinants of abnormal serum lipids level. Mean Total Cholesterols (TC) and
      Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterols (LDL-C) in females exceeded significantly
      that of males. Mean TC, LDL-C as well as TG (mg/dL) declined significantly with
      age while mean High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterols (HDL-C) also declined but
      only slightly. Elderly females were two times more likely to have elevated TC (OR
      = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.04-4.28: P = 0.05) and LDL-C (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.17- 3.97: P
      = 0.019) and three times to have lowered HDL-C (OR = 3; 95% CI: 1.97-5.30: P <
      0.001) than males. Urban residents were about two times more likely to have
      elevated LDL-C (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.04-3.25: P = 0.047) than their rural
      counterparts. Body Mass Index of >= 30 kg/m2 was also associated with elevated
      LDL-C (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.05-3.42: P = 0.045) and lowered HDL-C (OR = 2.18; 95%
      CI: 1.3-3.65: P = 0.004), respectively. The present study has established the
      profile and level of derangements of serum lipids among the elderly of Morogoro
      region in Tanzania. It appears that, female sex and BMI of >= 30 kg/m2 are
      significant factors for elevated TC, LDL-C and lowered HDL-C while urban life is
      a significant factor for elevated LDL-C.

PMID- 26891516
TI  - Assessment of physicochemical characteristics and hygienic practices along the
      value chain of raw fruit juice vended in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania.
AB  - Fresh fruit juice is an essential component of human diet and there is
      considerable evidence of health and nutritional benefits. However, nature of the
      fruits used in juicing and unhygienic processes in the value chain may cause poor
      quality of juice. This cross- sectional study was conducted to assess
      physicochemical characteristics and hygienic practices along the value chain of
      raw fruit juice vended in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 90 juice vendors
      were interviewed. Ninety juice samples were collected and analysed for
      physicochemical quality. The pH of juices ranged between 2.7 and 6.4, acidity
      0.01% and 1.3% and, total soluble solids ranged between -1.5 and 18.04  degrees
      Brix. Most juices (67.8%) had -Brix levels below Codex recommended values
      classified as weak and watery. Juices were made of mango, passion, tamarind,
      sugar cane and mixture of these fruits sourced from open markets in the city.
      Water for washing of fruits and dilution of juices was from deep wells (53.3%)
      and taps (46.7%). About one third (37.8%) of the juice vendors didn't wash the
      fruits before juicing and 44.4% didn't boil water for juice dilution. Juice
      extraction was done by kitchen blenders, boiling in water and squeezing by simple
      machines. Juice pasteurization was not done. The majority of vendors (78.9%)
      stored juices in plastic buckets and juice was sold in glass cups, reused plastic
      bottles and disposable cups. Vending sites were restaurants, bus stands and along
      roadsides. The majority of premises (78.9%) were in unhygienic condition that
      likely encouraged or introduced contaminants to the juices. It is concluded that,
      the overall handling, preparation practices and physicochemical quality of raw
      fruit juices vended in Dare es Salaam City are poor. The government should
      educate the vendors on food safety and hygiene as well as enforcing regular
      monitoring of the quality of street fruit juices.

PMID- 26891517
TI  - Injury outcome among helmeted and non-helmeted motorcycle riders and passengers
      at a tertiary care hospital in north-western Tanzania.
AB  - Motorcycle helmets have been reported to reduce the risk of death and head
      injuries following motorcycle accidents. The aim of this descriptive prospective
      study was to determine the injury outcome among helmeted and non-helmeted
      motorcyclists and passengers at a tertiary hospital in north-western Tanzania. A
      total of 654 patients involved in the motorcycle accident were studied. Of these,
      468 (71.6%) were motorcyclists (riders) and the remaining 186 (28.4%) were
      passengers. The median age of patients at presentation was 26 years. Male
      outnumbered females by a ratio of 4.5: 1. Helmet use was reported in 312 (47.7%)
      patients. Non- helmeted patients were young compared with helmeted patients and
      this was statistically significant (p = 0.021). The rate of helmet use was
      significantly higher among motorcyclists than among passengers (p = 0.004).
      History of alcohol consumption prior to the accident was reported in 212 (32.4%)
      patients. The rate of helmet use was significantly low among alcohol consumers
      compared with non-alcohol consumers (p = 0.011). Lack of helmet use was
      significantly associated with abnormal head Computed Tomography scans, admission
      to the Intensive care unit, severe trauma, and worse traumatic brain injury
      severity (p < 0.001). Helmet use was significantly associated with shorter period
      of hospitalization and reduced mortality rate (p < 0.001). Motorcycle helmet use
      is still low in this part of Tanzania and this poses a great impact on injury
      outcome among motorcycle injury patients. This observation calls for action to
      implement more widespread injury prevention and helmet safety education and
      advocacy.

PMID- 26891518
TI  - Aetiological agents of surgical site infection in a specialist hospital in Kano,
      north-western Nigeria.
AB  - Despite the advances made in asepsis, antimicrobial drugs, sterilization and
      operative techniques, surgical site infections (SSI) continue to be a major
      problem in all branches of surgery in the hospitals. The objective of this study
      was to establish the incidence of SSI, the type and frequency of various
      pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in Murtala Mohammed
      Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria. A total of 2,920 consecutive patients
      who underwent different surgical procedures between January 2009 and December
      2010 at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital were enrolled in this study. Samples
      of pus were collected from infected cases and screened for bacterial and fungal
      pathogens by standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic susceptibility tests
      were done by disc diffusion technique. A total 878 patients were found to be
      clinically infected and 919 isolates were obtained in all. This gave an incidence
      of 30.1% infection rate. While 783 (89.2%) cultures yielded single organism, 77
      (9.8%) yielded mixed growth and 18(8.1%) cultures yielded no growth. The most
      frequently isolated organism was E. coli (25.5%) followed by Staphylococcus
      aureus 20.6%. The incidence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was
      35.7%. Ceftriaxone, ceftazidime and ofloxacin showed good results against most
      isolates while ampicillin and cotrimoxazole which are commonly used drugs were
      ineffective. An understanding of the various types of pathogen involved in SSI
      and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern will reduce indiscriminate
      prescription of antibiotics and help in infection control.

PMID- 26891519
TI  - Knowledge, attitudes and acceptability to provider-initiated HIV testing and
      counseling: patients' perspectives in Moshi and Rombo Districts, Tanzania.
AB  - Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) is referred to as routine
      testing in a clinical setting as part of a standard programme of medical
      services. PITC is initiated in order to avoid missed opportunities for people to
      get tested for HIV. While advocated as a strategy, there is dearth of information
      on patients' views on PITC in a number of districts in Tanzania. The objective of
      this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and acceptability to PITC
      services among patients attending health care facilities in rural and urban
      settings in Kilimanjaro region A total of 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) were
      conducted with 99 (73 female and 26 male) patients enrolled into out-patient
      clinics in 8 (2 hospitals and 6 primary care centers) health facilities in Moshi
      Urban and Rombo districts in northern Tanzania. The study explored on knowledge,
      attitudes and acceptability of PITC, perceived benefits and barriers of PITC, and
      ethical issues related to PITC. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed,
      translated, and analyzed using Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing and
      Theorizing (NUDIST) software. Knowledge about PITC services was generally low.
      Compared to men, women had a more positive attitude towards PITC services,
      because of its ability to identify and treat undiagnosed HIV cases. HIV stigma
      was regarded as a major barrier to patients' uptake of PITC. Institutional
      factors such as lack of supplies and human resources were identified as barriers
      to successful provision of PITC. In conclusion, the findings highlight both
      opportunities and potential barriers in the successful uptake of PITC, and
      underscore the importance of informed consent, counseling and confidentiality and
      the need for specific strategies on advocacy for the service.

PMID- 26891520
TI  - Overweight, obesity and perceptions about body weight among primary
      schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AB  - The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has become a
      public health concern both in developing and developed countries. Previous
      research studies have shown that favourable perception of one's body weight is an
      important factor in weight control. This study determined prevalence of
      overweight and obesity and assessed perception about body weight among primary
      schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In this cross sectional study, nine
      schools were selected randomly from a list of all primary schools in Dar es
      Salaam. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic
      characteristics and lifestyle information including perception about body weight.
      Height and weight were measured following standard procedures. Chi- square tests
      and multiple logistic regressions were used to determine factors which influence
      perceptions about body weight. A total of 446 children were included into the
      study. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 16.6 +/- 4.0 kg/m2 (16.1 +/- 4.0 for
      males and 17.0 +/- 4.0 for females). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was
      9.8% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was
      significantly higher among girls, 13.1% and 6.3% compared to boys with 6.3% and
      3.8% overweight and obese respectively (P=0.0314). Overall, the prevalence of
      overweight and obesity was 15.0% (10.1% among boys and 19.4% among girls). One
      third (33.3%) of the children perceived their body weight as overweight or obese.
      Among overweight and obese children, 35.4% had unfavourable perception of their
      body weights. There was a statistically significant difference between perceived
      body weight and actual body weight as indicated by BMI for both boys and girls (P
      < 0.05). Age of the child (AOR = 0.55 95% CI 0.36-0.85) and area of residence
      (COR = 0.64 95% CI 0.44-0.95) were found to be significant predictors of
      favourable perception of one's body weight. In conclusion, the prevalence of
      overweight and obesity is not very high in this population. However over a third
      of overweight and obese children, had unfavourable perception of their body
      weights. We recommend targeted educational programmes about overweight and
      obesity and the associated health effects in order to instil a behaviour of self
      consciousness on overweight and obesity among children in Tanzania.

PMID- 26891521
TI  - Influence of pregnancy perceptions on patterns of seeking antenatal care among
      women in reproductive age of Masaka District, Uganda.
AB  - Maternal mortality remains a challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa including Uganda.
      Antenatal Care (ANC) is one of the recommended measures to improve maternal and
      child health. However, the influence of pregnancy definition and perception on
      patterns of seeking regular and timely antenatal care among women in the
      reproductive age group (15-49 years) is not known. The objectives of this study
      were to: (i) understand the women's social definitions and perceptions on their
      pregnancy; (ii) understand the socio-cultural beliefs related to pregnancy among
      women of the reproductive age group; and, (iii) examine the influence of social
      definitions, perceptions and beliefs about pregnancy on women's antenatal care
      seeking behaviour patterns to inform the decentralised health care delivery
      system in Uganda. A total of 45 women, mothers and expectant women who were
      purposively selected from Kimanya sub county of Masaka district in Uganda
      participated in the study. Ten key informant interviews and four Focus Group
      Discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. Key findings indicate that the women's
      socio-definitions and perceptions of pregnancy influence their seeking behaviour
      on antenatal health care. To the women with a positive orientation towards
      antenatal care, pregnancy provides joy, happiness, pride, promotes their social
      status and safe-guards their marriage. Pregnancy is rewarding with care, love,
      support and gifts. Women who shun antenatal care perceive pregnancy to be a
      source of misery, sadness, pain and suffering. It is an uncomfortable and
      regrettable experience. Women also hold socio-cultural beliefs on pregnancy,
      which are culturally constructed and rooted in taboos, rituals and practices of
      their communities. It is therefore important to sensitise women and those who
      attend to them when they are pregnant to understand these perceptions and
      definitions to motivate them to seek antenatal and postnatal care for better
      maternal and child health.

PMID- 26891522
TI  - Living with vesico-vaginal fistula: experiences of women awaiting repairs in
      Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
AB  - Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) is one of maternal health problems confronting
      public health workers in Nigeria today. Information on how women suffering from
      this condition cope is important in that it can inform the design and delivery of
      programmes and interventions to address the challenges that face victims of VVF.
      The objective of this study was to highlight how women living with VVF cope with
      the health problem in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted
      with ten women awaiting repairs at the National Fistula Centre at Abakaliki in
      Nigeria. Six of the women have lived with the health problem for more than ten
      years. Findings show that nearly all the women attributed their health problem to
      supernatural causes. The women stated that they go through a lot of physical and
      emotional problems. Some of the ways they have devised of physically coping with
      the problem include bathing regularly and use of strips of old wrappers as pads.
      Many of them cope emotionally and financially by attending religious gatherings
      and having some form of income yielding business. The study recommends the need
      for repairs to go hand in hand with vocational training so that they will have
      some income yielding business after repairs.

PMID- 26891523
TI  - Increased tolerance of Anopheles gambiae s.s. to chemical insecticides after
      exposure to agrochemical mixture.
AB  - Resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides is mainly attributed to their adaptation
      to insecticide-based vector control interventions. Although pesticides used in
      agriculture have been frequently mentioned as an additional force driving the
      selection of resistance, only a few studies were dedicated to validate this
      hypothesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure
      of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae s.s. larvae for 72h to sub-lethal
      concentrations of the agrochemical mixture (pesticides, herbicides and
      fungicides). Their subsequent tolerances were measured to deltamethrin
      (pyrethroid), DDT (organochlorine) and bendiocarb (carbamate) currently used for
      vector control. The mean LC50 was determined and tolerance ratios for larvae
      exposed to agrochemical comparatively with unexposed larvae were calculated and
      expressed as fold increased tolerance. Bioassays revealed a significant increase
      in larval tolerance to detamethrin (1.83-2.86 fold), DDT (1.31-1.53 fold) and
      bendiocarb (1.14-1.19 fold) following exposure to 0.1 uM and 1 uM agrochemical
      mixture. The observed increased tolerance in this study is likely to be based on
      metabolic resistance mechanisms. Overall, this study reveals the potential of
      agrochemicals to increase the tolerance of mosquito larvae to chemical
      insecticides.

PMID- 26891525
TI  - The da Vinci robotic system in head and neck surgery.
AB  - Intuitive Surgical Inc. (Sunnyvale, Ca, USA) extended the use of the da Vinci
      robot to head and neck surgery in 2005 following the previous use in urological,
      gynecological and cardiothoracic surgery. It then gained wide popularity
      throughout the globe. Our aim is to describe the da Vinci Robot System and
      discuss its applications in head and neck surgery. Continued refinements and
      applications in robotic surgery for otolaryngology will in time be possible as
      new robotic procedures are developed for endolaryngeal work.

PMID- 26891524
TI  - Isolated tubercular hepatic abscess with diffuse pattern mimicking hepatocellular
      carcinoma in HIV positive patient: a case report.
AB  - Isolated hepatic tuberculosis presenting as a mass either with or without fever
      can be confused with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical examination and
      laboratory investigations are not specific. Radiological investigations such as
      ultrasound and computed tomography cannot confirm the diagnosis; hence it is
      vital to always make an effort to demonstrate presence of acid fast bacilli in
      aspirated pus or necrotic material from a liver mass. We present a case of 50
      years old male patient with HIV/AIDS who presented with non-specific symptoms
      without fever, clinically with hepatomegaly mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma
      with metastasis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass in the left liver lobe,
      with diffuse involvement in the right liver lobe. Liver mass histology showed
      granulomatous pattern with epitheloid cell aggregation. Aspirated blood from fine
      needle guided biopsy stained on Ziehl Neelsen for acid fast bacilli turned out
      positive. Clinical examination did not reveal lymphadenopathy, abdominal
      ultrasound also ruled out para-aortic lymphadenopathy, and chest x-ray was
      essentially normal. Evaluation of the patient six months after completing
      quadruple treatment for tuberculosis showed marked clinical improvement. The
      objective of this case report is to highlight the importance of considering
      hepatic tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of hepatomegaly and
      initiate appropriate investigations to rule out a possibility of Tuberculosis
      which is potentially treatable with early diagnosis.

PMID- 26891526
TI  - Transoral robotic surgery in head neck cancer management.
AB  - Head and Neck cancer can be treated by non-surgical or surgical modalities.
      Current surgical techniques include open surgery and transoral resections. The
      latter have the distinct advantage of quicker recovery and reduced hospital stay.
      The further down the aerodigestive tract tumours are sited, the more difficult is
      the transoral access, requiring techniques that combine magnification and finer
      instrumentation. Thus, while oral cavity tumours can be removed transorally
      without special equipment, the need to address oropharyngeal and laryngeal
      cancers led to the evolution of transoral laser microsurgery. Transoral robotic
      surgery (TORS) improves the visualisation, the instrumentation and the ergonomics
      in transoral resections and is also used primarily in the treatment of
      oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. Current evidence suggests that the oncologic
      and functional outcome of TORS surgery is good as speech and swallowing
      mechanisms are better preserved. This review will provide the reader an insight
      into the role of TORS in head and neck practice.

PMID- 26891527
TI  - Functional outcomes after transoral robotic surgery for squamous cell carcinoma
      of the oropharynx.
AB  - Over the past decade, the development of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) brought
      a new opportunity in the treatment of early T-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell
      carcinoma (OPSCC). The objective of this study is to review the functional
      outcomes after TORS. Indeed, dysphagia is among the most commonly cited
      functional impairments in OPSCC survivors treated by surgeries with an open
      approach or conventional radiotherapy. We performed a review of the literature
      and analysed functional outcomes after TORS. Althought the technique is very
      recent, early functional and oncologic outcome data are promising and the major
      studies analysing these parameters support that TORS is feasible and safe as well
      as oncologically and functionally efficacious.

PMID- 26891528
TI  - Early experience in transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for non-oropharyngeal head
      and neck malignancies: a review of functional and oncologic outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review and summarize functional and oncologic outcomes after
      transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for non-oropharyngeal head and neck
      malignancies. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE database and bibliographies of relevant
      studies were searched through December 2014. METHODS: Search strategy was
      ((transoral) AND surgery) AND robotics) OR TORS. Abstracts and titles were
      screened for relevance and full articles of the selected records were evaluated
      and critically appraised after inclusion. Data concerning functional and
      oncologic outcomes as well as adverse effects were collected. RESULTS: 22 records
      were eventually included in the review. For TORS in the treatment of glottic,
      hypopharyngeal ands supraglottic cancer we retained 3 case series (26 patients),
      5 case series (36 patients) and 6 case series (67 patients) respectively. 8 case
      reports/series (14 patients) assessing safety and feasibility of TORS for tumours
      in the parapharyngeal space, nasopharynx and skull base were also evaluated. In
      general, treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer by means of TORS seems
      to be feasible and safe with satisfying functional and short-term oncologic
      results. For treatment of malignant tumours in the parapharyngeal space,
      nasopharynx and skull base, the benefits of TORS, when compared to classic
      surgical techniques, are still uncertain and are particularly based on
      theoretical advantages. CONCLUSION: TORS offers an interesting new approach for
      treating non-oropharyngeal head and neck malignancies. However, long-term results
      are still not reported and TORS should be directly compared to existing
      therapeutic options in randomized controlled trials. Until then, its use should
      be subject to critical appraisal.

PMID- 26891529
TI  - TORS for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): the Hamburg experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report 2.5-year survival outcomes for head and neck squamous cell
      carcinoma treated primarily with transoral robotic-assisted resection. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive, appropriately staged patients were enrolled
      prospectively, and underwent transoral robotic surgery between September 2011 and
      August 2013. There were 18 patients with overall Stage I-II and 32 patients with
      Stage III-IV disease. Adjuvant treatment could be spared for 20 patients. Another
      5 patients refused the recommended adjuvant treatment. Seventeen patients
      received 60 Gy adjuvant radiotherapy and 8 patients underwent 66 Gy adjuvant
      chemo-radiotherapy. RESULTS: Overall survival was 94% with two disease-specific
      deaths and one unrelated death. The 2.5-year disease free survival rate was 88%,
      and the 2.5-year recurrence-free survival was 80%. Local recurrence rate was 10%
      after 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: Using TORS as their primary modality, 40% of the
      patients did not need adjuvant treatment and showed similar survival rates to
      that of conventional surgery or primary chemoradiotherapy. In another 34% of the
      patients, adjuvant chemotherapy could be spared and adjuvant radiotherapy could
      be reduced by 10 Gy, compared to primary chemoradiotherapy of 70 Gy. This invited
      report is based on previously published data by the same authors.

PMID- 26891530
TI  - Clinical outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for supraglottic squamous cell
      carcinoma: experience of a french evaluation cooperative subgroup of gettec.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transoral, minimally invasive, organ preservation surgeries are
      increasingly used to treat laryngopharyngeal carcinomas to avoid the toxicity
      associated with combined chemoradiotherapy regimens. This study investigated the
      efficiency, safety, and functional outcomes of using transoral robotic surgery
      (TORS) to perform supraglottic laryngectomy (SGL). METHODS: This was a
      multicenter study using a case series with planned data collection from 2009 to
      2012 for patients with supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) who underwent
      SGL using TORS. RESULTS: Eighty-four (84) of 262 patients underwent TORS for
      supraglottic SCC. Within 24 hours of surgery, 24% of the patients started on an
      oral diet. The median use of a feeding tube was 8 days for 76% of other patients.
      Definitive percutaneous gastrostomy feeding was necessary for 9.5% of the
      patients. 24% of the patients did require a tracheostomy, and the median use was
      8 days. One percent (1%) of the patients had a definitive tracheostomy.
      Aspiration pneumonia was observed in 23% of the patients during the postoperative
      course, and was responsible for the death of one patient. Postoperative bleeding
      occurred in 18% of the patients. Based on the pathology results, 51% of the
      patients received adjuvant radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: TORS for SGL in
      intermediate stage SCC is a safe procedure with good functional outcomes and fast
      recovery times. However, adverse events can occur. Consequently, this technique
      requires good patient selection criteria to reduce the risk of postoperative
      complications.

PMID- 26891532
TI  - Transoral robotic tongue base reduction in surgical management of obstructive
      sleep apnea syndrome.
AB  - Management of base of tongue (BOT) is a challenging topic in surgical management
      of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. After the introduction of transoral robotic
      surgery technology (TORS) into the otolaryngology practice, surgery on the BOT
      was performed more effectively. Base of tongue reduction can be performed alone
      or as a part of a multilevel surgery. Patient selection is important and will be
      discussed further in this study. Available studies show promising and encouraging
      results for TORS future use in BOT.

PMID- 26891531
TI  - Transoral robotic surgery for base of tongue neoplasms.
AB  - Surgery to the base of tongue (BOT) in the presence of neoplasm is a challenging
      topic for head and neck surgeons. This area is difficult to access and includes
      important neurovascular structures such as the hypoglossal nerve and lingual
      artery. The pivotal role of the tongue base in swallowing makes planning the
      surgical approach more challenging. The surgical approaches vary from open
      neck/mandibulotomy to transoral laser surgery (TLS) which have significant
      disadvantages. After introduction of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to
      otolaryngology practice with the da Vinci Surgical system, we have in our
      armamentarium a new approach to the BOT. The improved exposure with new
      retractors, 3-dimensional (3-D) visualization and magnification and advanced
      motion capacity allow for increased ease to perform surgery in this difficult
      area. In recent years, several articles published the data about safety and
      feasibility of TORS for various conditions. This article presents our approach to
      the BOT for neoplasms including malignant and benign lesions.

PMID- 26891533
TI  - Transoral robotic surgery for parapharyngeal lesions: a case series of four
      benign tumours.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The parapharyngeal space (PPS) is an anatomically complex space in
      the vicinity of vital structures. With the introduction of the daVinci robot in
      head and neck surgery, the surgical robotic system is now being used to gain
      direct access to the parapharyngeal space and to excise the tumors
      endoscopically. This study evaluates the outcomes of four patients with benign
      PPS tumors treated with a transoral robotic surgery approach in a single centre.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with benign tumors of the PPS who underwent
      transoral resection (between January 2012 and June 2014) using the robot were
      included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: The study population comprised of
      two males and two females with a mean age of 52 (range 34-66 years). The
      parapharyngeal mass was successfully transorally removed in all cases. Overall,
      mean length of stay was 3.25 days with mean time to oral diet of one day. No
      intraoperative, perioperative or postoperative complications were encountered.
      The histological diagnosis was pleomorphic adenoma in two cases (50%). The other
      two cases were: schwannoma and angioma. There were no recurrences on radiological
      investigations during a mean follow-up of 14.5 months. MRI scan showed a stable
      residual fibrotic lesion in case of the angioma. The preoperative complaints of
      mucus in the throat, painless swelling of the soft palate or throat burden of all
      patients resolved after surgery. CONCLUSION: With the assistance of the surgical
      robotic system, benign tumors within the PPS can be excised safely without neck
      incisions. Further long-term evaluation is needed to define patient selection and
      the role of TORS for PPS neoplasms.

PMID- 26891534
TI  - Transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy: Belgian team learning from the first 50
      cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In search for less invasive operative techniques, the da Vinci Robot
      System was introduced in thyroid surgery. Previous studies have reported on
      safety, effectiveness and improved cosmetics of transaxillary endoscopic
      thyroidectomy procedures in selected cases. METHODS: We report on the first 50
      patients that have been treated with a gasless transaxillary robot-assisted
      thyroidectomy in a Belgian institution. We describe the implementation, the
      operative technique and results of robotic thyroid surgery. RESULTS: 48
      hemithyroidectomy and 2 total thyroidectomy procedures were performed. The mean
      ultrasound dimensions of the nodules were 3.4 +/- 1.0 cm (range 1.0-8.0 cm). The
      mean operative time was significantly longer than with a conventional open
      approach: 215 min +/- 55 min (range 133 min-347 min). No major complications were
      observed. All patients were "satisfied" about the cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSION:
      Transaxillary robotic thyroid surgery is demanding, but feasible. Selected
      patients can benefit from this technique with an optimal cosmetic outcome. Ideal
      indication in the hand of our team is a hemithyroidectomy for benign nodules
      ranging up to 5 cm.

PMID- 26891535
TI  - Swallowing dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy: a retrospective study of
      symptomatology and radiographic findings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Swallowing dysfunction is a common symptom of myotonic dystrophy, but
      it is poorly documented in large patient series. This retrospective study was
      designed to investigate the presence of swallowing symptoms in a large study
      population and to describe a specific pattern of clinical and radiographic
      abnormalities. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of 169 files of
      patients with confirmed MD. Neuromuscular assessment was made by means of a
      standardised neurological examination; clinical swallowing symptoms were listed,
      and video-fluoroscopic images were analysed. RESULTS: More than half the patients
      reported swallowing complaints. The major symptoms were frequent choking,
      difficult pharyngeal transport and piecemeal deglutition. The pharyngeal phase of
      swallowing was most frequently compromised. This was shown radiographicaly in
      reduced pharyngeal peristalsis, hypopharyngeal stasis and fragmented swallowing.
      Aspiration was seen in half of the patients, mostly during swallowing. A typical
      'hung position' of the hyoid was also seen. Different onset types of MD seem to
      be accompanied by comparable subjective complaints and radiographic symptoms.
      CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngeal transport was most affected in this patient population.
      Muscular weakness seems to be the major contributor to swallowing impairment in
      MD. Swallowing abnormalities may be present even if patients report only a few
      symptoms and even if the severity of the disease is not pronounced.

PMID- 26891537
TI  - Outcomes in open structure septorhinoplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the patient-related outcome measures and
      complications of post-open structure septorhinoplasty. It also investigated the
      factors associated with the need for revision surgery. METHODS: We prospectively
      reviewed the case notes of patients who underwent septorhinoplasty performed by a
      single rhinologist at our institute between August 2011 and August 2013. Patient
      satisfaction was assessed using the Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation (ROE) tool.
      RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 28.2
      months. Eight patients (6.7%) required revision nasal surgery. There was a
      significant increase in the mean post-operative ROE score of all patients who
      underwent surgery (19.5 +/- 9.41 vs. 68.4 +/- 23.7,p < 0.001). The rate of
      revision surgery was significantly higher in patients with complex surgeries
      (3/12 vs. 5/108, p = 0.03). There were higher rates of nasal tip deformity
      surgery and augmentation surgery in the revision surgery group compared to the
      primary surgery group: 8/17 vs. 20/103, p = 0.03 for nasal tip and 10/17 vs.
      27/103, p = 0.01 for augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Open structure septorhinoplasty
      significantly increased the ROE score. Our rate of revision surgery, 6.7%, was
      lower than the average rate of 10%-18% reported in the literature. The rate of
      revision surgery was higher in cases judged pre-operatively to be more complex.

PMID- 26891538
TI  - Idiopathic epistaxis and meteorological factors: case-control study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the
      occurrence of idiopathic epistaxis and daily values of air pressure, temperature,
      and humidity. We also investigated whether biometeorological forecasts should be
      addressed to persons with a history of nosebleed diathesis. METHODS: We analyzed
      consecutive idiopathic epistaxis events over a 3-year period. Patients were
      included if they had been in the municipality of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
      at least 24 hours before the epistaxis occurrence. The monthly variation in
      epistaxis events was determined. Epistaxis days (Days "0", 0 = day with epistaxis
      occurrence) and selected nonepistaxis days (Days "-1", -1 = each first single day
      without epistaxis prior to Day 0) were compared according to daily values of
      mean, minimum, and maximum temperature; diurnal temperature range; minimum and
      maximum atmospheric pressure; diurnal pressure range; and mean relative humidity.
      RESULTS: The greatest and smallest percentage of epistaxis events occurred in the
      months of March and August, respectively. There were no significant differences
      between Days 0 and Days -1 with respect to the examined meteorological factors.
      CONCLUSION: In this region with a Mediterranean climate, we found a seasonal
      variation with an incidence peak during the spring transition months, but we did
      not identify any meteorological trigger factors for epistaxis. Thus, there is no
      need for biometeorological forecasts to be addressed to persons with a history of
      nosebleed diathesis.

PMID- 26891536
TI  - Septoplasty is a proven and effective procedure: an expert's view of a burning
      issue.
AB  - PROBLEM: The scientific research agenda of the Dutch Association of
      Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery claims that there is a knowledge gap
      with regard to the efficacy of septoplasty for a blocked nose. This assertion is
      based on a restrictive approach to evidence-based medicine that could result in
      unnecessary trials and the abolition or rationing of sound treatment options.
      METHODOLOGY: The arguments in favour of the effectiveness of septoplasty are
      based on the total spectrum of evidence from research, clinical experience and
      basic science. RESULTS: The best available evidence shows that this form of
      treatment is satisfactory for more than two thirds of all patients. CONCLUSION:
      If all levels of evidence are taken into account, it becomes clear that there is
      no knowledge gap with regard to the efficacy of septoplasty for blocked nose.

PMID- 26891539
TI  - Tool for assessing surgical tracheostomy skills in otolaryngology residents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The tracheostomy is an essential component of otolaryngology surgery
      training. There is a pressing need for a reliable, valid, intra-operative
      assessment tool for assessing the tracheostomy skills of residents in training
      programs. This study aimed to develop an assessment tool for surgical
      tracheostomy that was valid, reliable, and feasible. METHODOLOGY: Based on a
      previously developed tool, the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical
      Skills, we developed an objective structured tool specifically for assessing
      tracheostomy skills (OSTS). Our panel included Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck
      Surgery faculty members, academic otolaryngologists, and medical education
      experts. To test the OSTS, 8 board certified otolaryngologists assessed 44
      residents from 5-year residency programs in the operating theater, from July 2010
      to May 2012, in three tertiary level academic institutions. Residents received
      constructive feedback after the assessments. RESULTS: The OSTS displayed good
      reliability, in terms of internal consistency (alpha = 0.761). Its validity was
      established based on significant improvement in senior resident scores compared
      to junior resident scores, assessed with an ANOVA (F = 5.31, p = 0.001). The tool
      also displayed an overall trend of score improvement with an individual's
      advancement through each year of postgraduate training. The evaluators considered
      the OSTS easy to understand, complete, practical, and time-efficient, which
      established its face validity. CONCLUSION: The OSTS is a valid, reliable tool for
      evaluating surgical competency of residents performing tracheostomy. It provided
      systematic and comprehensive feedback. The examiners and examinees both displayed
      positive attitudes towards the instrument.

PMID- 26891540
TI  - Sialendoscopy learning curve: comparing our first and last 100 procedures.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Sialendoscopy is a relatively new minimally invasive technique that
      permits direct salivary tree visualization and is important in obstructive
      sialadenitis management and treatment. The present study aimed to examine the
      sialendoscopy learning curve between March 2009 and March 2013. METHODOLOGY: We
      compared the first and last 100 sialendoscopies performed in our department with
      regard to anaesthesia type, operating time, success rate, technical difficulty,
      major complications, and clinical improvement. RESULTS: General anaesthesia rates
      were 63% and 38% (P = 0.0004) among the first and last 100 sialendoscopies,
      respectively. Among the first and last 100 procedures, respectively, average
      operating times were 39 and 25 minutes (P = 0.00055) for diagnostic
      sialendoscopies and 68 and 65 minutes (P = 0.35) for interventional
      sialendoscopies. Successful stone extraction rates were 65% and 90.2% (P =
      0.0058) among the first and last 100 procedures, respectively, while the
      corresponding rates of successful stenosis dilation were 92.5% and 97.1% (P =
      0.27). Technical difficulty was encountered in 25% and 17% (P = 0.164) of the
      first and last 100 sialendoscopies, respectively. Neither group experienced major
      complications. All patients tolerated the procedures well and had excellent
      outcomes. CONCLUSION: Progressive learning regarding sialendoscopy enabled more
      frequent operation under local anaesthesia, thus better meeting the requirements
      of a minimally invasive technique. We were able to decrease the operative time in
      diagnostic sialendoscopy. These two factors support the inclusion of diagnostic
      sialendoscopy into the diagnostic panel in obstructive glandular diseases.

PMID- 26891541
TI  - Inflammatory pseudotumour of the temporomandibular joint.
AB  - Head and neck inflammatory pseudotumors (IPs) are rare, idiopathic, non
      neoplastic lesions that most commonly affect the orbit, but may involve other
      areas such as the larynx, oropharynx, paranasal sinuses, and meninges. We report
      the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with progressive left-sided hearing
      loss, aural fullness, and otalgia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) detected a soft-tissue mass in the left temporomandibular joint
      (TMJ). Histopathologic examination showed overlying squamous epithelium with
      hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, subepithelial fibrosis, and chronic inflammatory
      infiltrate, which were consistent with an IP. Radiologic images and MRI indicated
      an ill-defined soft tissue involving the roof and posterior aspect of the TMJ,
      extending into the anterior external auditory canal. Our case was treated with a
      2-week course of high dose prednisone (1 mg/kg) and a 2-week taper with
      resolution of symptoms. Two years after treatment, the patient shows no evidence
      of recurrence on MRI.

PMID- 26891542
TI  - Dutch health-related quality of life measure for chronic otitis media.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Chronic otitis media (COM) describes a variety of symptoms and
      physical findings that result from prolonged damage to the middle ear by
      infection and inflammation. The Health-Related Quality of Life measure for COM
      (COMQ-12) is a new questionnaire for the assessment of COM that evaluates the
      overall burden of disease from the patient's perspective. The aim of this study
      was to develop and appraise the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of
      the COMQ-12. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Dutch version of the COMQ-12 was obtained
      through translation and back-translation. Fifty adult patients with a history of
      active COM completed the Dutch version of the COMQ-12. The internal consistency
      of this questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS:
      The average COMQ-12 score was 22.4 (SD 11.9). The internal consistency of the
      Dutch version of the COMQ-12 was high, with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.833.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Dutch version of the COMQ-12 provides appropriate health-related
      quality of life outcome measures in patients with a history of COM. This
      questionnaire is a useful tool to evaluate the overall burden of disease from the
      patient's perspective.

PMID- 26891543
TI  - Slight conductive hearing loss in children with narrowed maxilla and deep palatal
      vault.
AB  - PROBLEM/OBJECTIVES: Maxillary constriction and high palatal arch are associated
      with increased risk of chronic eustachian tube dysfunction and conductive hearing
      loss (CHL) due to chronic effusion. However, this relationship has not been
      clearly demonstrated. This study assessed CHL in school children with a narrowed
      maxilla and deep palatal vault. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-two children with maxillary
      constriction were randomly selected for the study group and 28 children with
      normal transverse maxillary development were selected for the control group. Pure
      tone audiograms were obtained for all children, and hearing levels and air-bone
      gaps were measured. RESULTS: Air-bone gap measurements in the control group
      ranged from 5.50 to 14.50 decibels (dB), and in the study group they were between
      5.00 and 24.00 dB. In the study group, 14 (43.8%) children had slight CHL, and
      the remaining 18 (56.2%) children had normal hearing levels. In the control
      group, all of the children had normal hearing levels. Hearing levels and air-bone
      gaps were greater in the study group than the control group. CONCLUSION: This
      study showed that children with a narrowed maxilla and deep palatal vault may
      have slight CHL. Therefore, the onset of CHL should be followed with hearing
      screening programs.

PMID- 26891544
TI  - Incidence of congenital CMV in children at a hearing rehabilitation center.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of children with congenital CMV (cCMV)
      infection in a hearing rehabilitation center. METHODOLOGY: This was a
      retrospective review of 309 children followed in a rehabilitation center for mild
      to total sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Seventy-five children had dried blood
      spots that we retrieved and retrospectively analyzed for the presence of CMV DNA
      by real time PCR. The children were born in Belgium after January 1996. The
      etiology of the SNHL was investigated for each child. RESULTS: The CMV DNA was
      detected in the dried blood spots for 8 of the 75 children tested (10.6%) by real
      time PCR. In three children, an alternative etiology of SNHL was suspected before
      the cCMV infection was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of children infected
      with cCMV in a hearing rehabilitation center is high (10.6%). The detection of
      CMV DNA in dried blood spots is useful and improves the etiological diagnosis of
      SNHL.

PMID- 26891545
TI  - Incidental findings of a Vestibular Schwannoma on Brain MRI.
AB  - Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for diagnosing a
      vestibular schwannoma (VS). The prevalence of VS ranges from 0.02-2.4%; the
      incidence is 20 per million per year. This case report describes two cases of VS
      identified on brain MRIs that were not related to the purpose of the MRI
      examination. A literature search was performed to find existing audiometric-based
      protocols for guiding MRI referrals. Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss
      appeared to be the most important indication for excluding VS. However, no
      consensus was found on the significance of asymmetry or on the severity required
      to exclude VS. In light of the current absence of a reliable audiometric-based
      protocol for MRI referral, it seems reasonable to refer every patient with
      audiovestibular symptoms for a brain MRI, despite the view that the low number of
      incidental findings may not justify the additional cost.

PMID- 26891546
TI  - Congenital laryngeal cyst: an unusual cause of stridor in the neonate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Congenital laryngeal cysts are a rare, but potentially fatal, cause
      of airway obstruction in infants and children. Most laryngeal cysts are acquired.
      Here, we describe a congenital laryngeal cyst, its treatment, and its
      presentation immediately after birth. CASE REPORT: A newborn child developed
      stridor very shortly after birth, due to a large, congenital saccular cyst. The
      diagnosis was based on a laryngoscopy and imaging studies, which detected an
      extralaryngeal extension through the cricothyroid membrane. The cyst was removed
      with an endoscopic procedure and a CO2-laser. Afterwards, the cyst recurred, but
      was successfully removed with an external approach. CONCLUSION: Clinical
      manifestations of laryngeal cysts in neonates shortly after birth are rare. Here,
      we present an interesting clinical case. We also concisely reviewed the
      literature on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, classification,
      and therapy for laryngeal cysts.

PMID- 26891547
TI  - Case report: Endoscopic endonasal removal of large osteoma in the ethmoid sinus.
AB  - PROBLEM: A 25-year-old man presented with a large osteoma in the right ethmoidal
      sinus. METHODOLOGY: The osteoma was removed by an endoscopic endonasal approach
      with a curved diamond drill and an electromagnetic navigation system. RESULT:
      Computed tomography 3 days after surgery showed complete removal of the osteoma
      and normal position of the right eyeball. No long-term follow-up results were
      available. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical case highlights the use of the endoscopic
      endonasal approach for the safe and reliable treatment of sinus osteomas,
      particularly large osteomas. We also describe various manifestations of osteoma,
      its diagnosis, and surgical management.

PMID- 26891548
TI  - Enzyme Therapy: Current Perspectives.
AB  - Enzymes control all metabolic processes in human system from simple digestion of
      food to highly complex immune response. Physiological reactions occuring in
      healthy individuals are disturbed when enzymes are deficient or absent. Enzymes
      are administered for normalizing biological function in certain pathologies.
      Initially, crude proteolytic enzymes were used for the treatment of
      gastrointestinal disorders. Recent advances have enabled enzyme therapy as a
      promising tool in the treatment of cardiovascular, oncological and hereditary
      diseases. Now, a spectrum of other diseases are also covered under enzyme
      therapy. But, the available information on the use of enzymes as therapeutic
      agents for different diseases is scanty. This review details the enzymes which
      have been used to treat various diseases/disorders.

PMID- 26891549
TI  - Testicular cytology indicates differences in Sertoli cell counts between "good
      freezer" and "poor freezer" bulls.
AB  - In artificial insemination, poor quality of semen unsuitable for cryopreservation
      and susceptibility of spermatozoa to cryodamage in crossbred bulls have been a
      matter of concern. Present study was designed to identify the testicular cytology
      indices that might be used to predict the semen quality and cryotolerance of
      spermatozoa in bulls. Based on the ejaculate rejection rate and sperm
      cryotolerance, bulls (Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar crossbred) were classified
      into either good (producing good quality semen with spermatozoa having good
      cryotolerance; n = 4) or poor (producing poor quality semen with spermatozoa
      having poor cryotolerance; n = 4). Testicular cytology was studied in all the 8
      bulls using fine needle aspiration technique. Testicular cytology of good bulls
      and poor bulls differed significantly. The proportion of Sertoli cells was
      significantly higher in good bulls (25.3 +/- 1.6) compared to poor bulls (11.0 +/
      0.8). The Sertoli cell index was 46.1 +/- 5.0 in good bulls while it was only
      13.8 +/- 1.3 in poor bulls. The cut off values, as determined using Receiver
      Operating Characteristics analysis, indicate that the bulls having testicular
      cytogram comprising of < 15.5% Sertoli cells, < 24.3 Sertoli cell index and > 4.0
      spermatogenic cells to Sertoli cell ratio might be a poor bull in terms of semen
      quality and cryotolerance of spermatozoa. The proportion of Sertoli cells in the
      testicular cytology had positive (P < 0.05) relationship with semen quality and
      cryotolerance of spermatozoa.

PMID- 26891550
TI  - Cloning and characterization of a water deficit stress responsive transcription
      factor gene from Oryza sativa L.
AB  - Understanding the biochemical and molecular basis of drought mechanism in rice is
      important as drought is one of the major causes affecting rice crop adversely. A
      1017 bp gene sequence encoding AP2/ERF family TF was isolated from Oryza sativa
      sp. Indica cv N22 encoding a protein of 338 amino acid residues, with a molecular
      weight of 36.58 kDa, and no intron in the ORF. The gene was named as AP2/ERF
      N22(2) different from the drought responsive gene AP2/ERF-N22 that we reported
      earlier. AP2/ERF-N22(2) has entirely different characteristics from that of
      AP2/ERF-N22. It has a single AP2 domain of 55 amino acid residues and a cluster
      of acidic amino acid residues at the C-terminal region, which could function as a
      trans-activation domain. Presence of NLS indicates that it is a nuclear localized
      transcription factor encoding gene. It falls in group VI L, sharing
      characteristic similarities. Arabidopsis members of group VI L have been shown to
      be involved in response to cytokinin under drought stress.

PMID- 26891551
TI  - Potential of Vigna radiata (L.) sprouts in the management of inflammation and
      arthritis in rats: Possible biochemical alterations.
AB  - Vigna radiata (Fabaceae) is an important pulse crop widespread throughout the
      tropics and warm temperature regions. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro
      anti-inflammatory and in vivo antiarthritic activity of Vigna radiata sprouts in
      rats. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was determined by membrane
      stabilization and protein denaturation method. Whereas, the antiarthritic
      activity of the ethanolic extract of the sprouts was evaluated by complete
      Freund's adjuvant model with diclofenac sodium as the standard drug. Body
      weights, paw volume, biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation, total
      reduced glutathione, myeloperoxidase and lysosomal enzymes like cathepsin-D, N
      acetyl beta-D-glucosamindase and beta-D-glucuronidase were estimated. Treatment
      with ethanolic extract of V. radiata exhibited significant membrane stabilization
      activity and protein denaturation activity, and significantly attenuated the
      biochemical changes induced by administration of complete Freund's adjuvant. The
      findings of the present study suggest the possible role of Vigna radiata in the
      therapeutics of arthritis.

PMID- 26891552
TI  - Protective role of diet supplements Spirulina and Tamarind fruit pulp on kidney
      in sodium fluoride exposed Swiss albino mice: Histological and biochemical
      indices.
AB  - Fluoride toxicity through potable water, particularly ground water, is not
      uncommon in countries such as India, China, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, parts of Africa
      and Afghanistan. Kidney being the main organ involved in fluoride removal, it
      accumulates considerable amount of fluoride. Here, we report toxic effects of
      oral exposure of Swiss albino mice to fluoride (sub-acute: 190 mg/kg body wt. for
      7 days; and sub-chronic: 94 mg/kg body wt. for 90 days) and recovery of sub
      chronic fluoride exposed mice after 90 days of sodium fluoride (NaF) withdrawal.
      The role of diet supplements (Spirulina and tamarind fruit pulp @ 230 mg/kg body
      wt. independently as well as in combination) in amelioration of fluoride toxicity
      has also been screened. Compared with controls, feed intake decreased from 3-43%,
      body wt. 4-18%, and kidney wt. 5-12% in treated mice (except diet supplement
      groups of sub-chronic exposure) while their water intake increased from 4-43%.
      Histopathological changes in the cortical region of kidney in fluoride treated
      mice were as follows: dilation of bowman's capsule and thickening of its parietal
      and visceral layer; alterations in glomeruli size and their sclerotization;
      increase in bowman's space; proliferation of mesangial cells; reduction in
      podocyte counts; and dilation of proximal and distal tubules. Fluoride exposure
      altered tissue biochemistry (protein, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase
      content) and increased urea (23-58%) and creatinine content (14-127%) in the
      serum. Sub-acute exposure was found more toxic. The diet modulation not only
      reduced fluoride toxicity but also led to better recovery of treated mice after
      withdrawal, especially in combination.

PMID- 26891553
TI  - Effect of sweetener and flavoring agent on oxidative indices, liver and kidney
      function levels in rats.
AB  - Food additives while attract consumers, improve quality, control weight and
      replace sugar, may affect seriously children and adults health. Here, we
      investigated the adverse effects of saccharin and methylsalicyltaes as sweetener
      and flavoring agent on lipid profile, blood glucose, renal, hepatic function and
      oxidative stress/antioxidants (lipid peroxidation, catalase and reduced
      glutathione in liver tissues). Saccharin and methylsalicylate were administered
      orally in young male albino rats at low and high dose for 30 days. Rats were
      divided into 5 groups, 1st control group, 2nd and 3rd (low and high saccharin
      treated groups) and 4th and 5th (low and high methylsalicylate-treated group).
      Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose levels and body weight gain were
      found decreased in saccharin high dose group compared to control. Rats consumed
      high dose of saccharin showed a significant decrease in serum triglycerides,
      cholesterol and LDL levels. Low and high doses of saccharin exhibited a
      significant increase in liver function marker of ALT, AST, ALP activity, total
      proteins and albumin levels and renal function test (urea and creatinine levels)
      in comparison with control group. Further, saccharin at high dose induced
      significant decrease in liver GSH levels, catalase and SOD activity and increase
      in hepatic MDA level. Overall saccharin harmfully altered biochemical markers in
      liver and kidney at higher as well as lower doses. Whereas, methyl salicylates
      did not pose a risk for renal function and hepatic oxidative markers.

PMID- 26891555
TI  - Production of alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus foetidus MTCC 6322 by solid
      state fermentation and its application in soymilk hydrolysis.
AB  - The production of alpha-galactosidase from the wild fungal strain Aspergillus
      foetidus MTCC 6322 using solid state fermentation (SSF), its characterization,
      and its efficacy in the hydrolysis of soymilk using response surface methodology
      were studied. The optimum conditions for production of alpha-galactosidase by SSF
      were: wheat bran (10 g), moisture content (64%), inoculum volume (1.0 mL; 6 x
      10(7) spores/mL) with a yield of 4.1 x 10(3) units per gram dry substrate (U/gds)
      at 96 h. The enzyme showed optimum activity at 6.0, temperature 40 degrees C, pH
      stability between 5.0-8.0, and temperature stability between 30-40 degrees C. The
      enzyme was stable in the presence of trypsin, lipase, and collagenase and it
      showed susceptibility of the substrates such as raffinose, melibiose, guar gum
      and soymilk to hydrolysis in varying degrees. The optimized conditions for
      soymilk hydrolysis were: soymilk (10 mL) from defatted soybean meal (1.5%), alpha
      galactosidase (0.15 UmL(-1) at 30 degrees C, pH 6.0 and duration of 1 h.

PMID- 26891554
TI  - Purification and characterization of chitinase from Streptomyces violascens NRRL
      B2700.
AB  - Chitinase is one of the important enzymes as it is directly linked to Chitin that
      has wide applications in industrial, medical and commercial fields for its
      biocompatibility and biodegradability. Here, we report extracellular chitinase
      production by Streptomyces violascens NRRL B2700 under submerged fermentation
      condition. Chitinase production started after 10 h of incubation and reached to
      maximum level at 72 h of cultivation. Studies on the influence of additional
      carbon and nitrogen sources on chitinase production revealed that maltose,
      xylose, fructose, lactose, soybean meal and ammonium nitrate served as good
      carbon and nitrogen sources to enhance chitinase yield by 1.6 to 6 fold. Medium
      supplemented with 1% colloidal chitin produced high chitinase concentration
      (0.1714 U/mg). The enzyme chitinase was purified from the culture broth by 75%
      ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange and sephadex G-100
      gel filtration. The molecular mass of the purified chitinase was 65 kDa as
      estimated by SDS-PAGE. The apparent Michaelis constant (K(m)) and the maximum
      rate (V(max)) of the enzyme for colloidal chitin were 1.556 mg/mL and 2.680
      MUM/min/mg, respectively suggested high affinity towards-chitin. Possibly, it is
      the first report on production of chitinase from S. violascens NRRL B2700. The
      findings were encouraging, especially for cost effective production, and further
      warrants media and purification optimization studies for enhanced yield.

PMID- 26891556
TI  - The Documented Past and the Exciting Future.

PMID- 26891557
TI  - Clinical Perspectives in Compounding: Compounding Gains and Losses Since I Met
      "Careless arithmetic nullifies careful compounding".

PMID- 26891558
TI  - International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists' Legislative Regulatory Update:
      Take Action! Stop the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Misguided Veterinary
      Guidance.

PMID- 26891559
TI  - Applying Quality by Design Concepts to Pharmacy Compounding.
AB  - Compounding of medications is an important part of the practice of the pharmacy
      profession. Because compounded medications do not have U.S. Food and Drug
      Administration approval, a pharmacist has the responsibility to ensure that
      compounded medications are of suitable quality, safety, and efficacy. The Federal
      Government and numerous states have updated their laws and regulations regarding
      pharmacy compounding as a result of recent quality issues. Compounding
      pharmacists are expected to follow good preparation prodecures in their
      compounding practices in much the same way pharmaceutical manufacturers are
      required to follow Current Good Manufacturing Procedures as detailed in the
      United States Code of Federal Regulations. Application of Quality by Design
      concepts to the preparation process for a compounded medication can help in
      understanding the potential pitfalls and the means to mitigate their impact. The
      goal is to build quality into the compounding process to ensure that the
      resultant compounded prescription meets the human or animal patients'
      requirements.

PMID- 26891560
TI  - Root Cause Analysis, Part 1: Nonsterile Compounding.
AB  - When an adverse event or near miss occurs in a pharmacy, eliminating the root
      cause to prevent recurrence is critically important. We occasionally see
      pharmacies address deviations in a manner that only superficially addresses the
      adverse event, but does not address the root cause of the problem, thereby
      putting patients and the pharmacy at risk of a recurrence. This article proposes
      a method for performing Root Cause Analysis.

PMID- 26891562
TI  - Mixing In a Compounding Pharmacy in the 21st Century.
AB  - When it comes to combining ingredients for topical preparations, compounding
      pharmacists utilize either the manual methods such as a spatula and pill tile or
      a mortar and pestle, typically an electronic mortar and pestle. If a topical
      preparation must be pre-ground or requires trituration, or any level of particle
      size reduction, historically the manual method of combining ingredients in such a
      preparation would include the initial use of a mortar and pestle; however with
      micronized substances this is not as much a concern today as in the past. There
      is, of course, the concern of a lack of reproducibility, knowing that each
      compounder might utilize the equipment differently, would mix for varying times,
      and would also mix with varying amounts of physical pressure applied to the
      pestle. If the discipline of uniform usage is great enough in the lab, this
      method could probably produce consistent results, but, because of the preparation
      and cleanup time and the fact that newer technology is available, this method is
      not recommended as the common compounding method in a compounding pharmacy that
      does more than a handful of compounded topical preparations per week. This
      article is not meant to say these methods are not appropriate, but, rather, to
      point out that newer technology is available and might be preferable in order to
      provide a cleaner, more efficient, and more reproducible lab environment.

PMID- 26891561
TI  - Basic Principles of Lyophilization, Part 1.
AB  - The achievement of a high-quality lyophilized (freeze-dried) dosage form involves
      the combination of optimal formulation design and optimal freeze-dry cycle
      design. This 2-part article describes how this can be done. Part 1 discusses the
      basic principles and procedures of lyophilization up to a discussion on the
      different stages of lyophilization. The stages of lyophilization are discussed in
      part 2.

PMID- 26891563
TI  - U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Evaluation Criteria" for Difficult to
      Compound Drugs.
AB  - This is part 2 of a 2-part article on the topic of Nominations of Difficult to
      Compound Drugs to the FDA-PCAC. Part 1 provided a current list of Nominations of
      Difficult to Compound Drugs to the FDA-PCAC. This article discusses the
      evaluation procedure for determining which drugs are demonstrably difficult to
      compound.

PMID- 26891564
TI  - Sterile Product Packaging and Delivery Systems.
AB  - Both conventional and more advanced product container and delivery systems are
      the focus of this brief article. Six different product container systems will be
      discussed, plus advances in primary packaging for special delivery systems and
      needle technology.

PMID- 26891565
TI  - Pharmacists' Perceptions of the Economic Value of Compounded Pharmaceuticals: A
      Comparison of Compounded and Commercial Pharmaceuticals in Select Disease States.
AB  - Studies have been conducted to assess patient satisfaction with compounded
      pharmaceuticals and to directly compare compounded pharmaceuticals with their
      comparable commercial pharmaceuticals. Yet, the economic value of or potential
      for economic value derived from compounded pharmaceuticals relative to commercial
      pharmaceuticals is still not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to
      assess and compare compounding and non-compounding pharmacists' perceptions of
      the economic value of compounded preparations relative to commercial products. In
      depth interviews with 10 compounding pharmacists and physicians who prescribe
      compounded prescription pharmaceutical preparations were conducted to help
      develop a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 50 compounding and 50
      non-compounding pharmacists. Compounding and non-compounding pharmacists'
      perceptions differed most often in the context of compounded pharmaceuticals for
      pediatric patients. However, both groups responded with moderate agreement that
      compounded prescription treatments are more profitable for the pharmacy than
      commercial prescription treatments in most therapeutic areas. This research
      sought to understand the perception of pharmacists of areas for potential direct
      and indirect economic cost savings as a result of compounding. For all items
      whereby compounding and non-compounding pharmacists' ratings were significantly
      different, compounding pharmacists more strongly believed that compounding
      pharmaceuticals offered benefit and vice versa. The differences in ratings that
      were most common were those that directly compared the economic value of
      compounding and commercial pharmaceuticals, with compounding pharmacists more
      strongly agreeing with the potential cost savings associated with compounded
      pharmaceuticals. Based on these findings, prescription compounds are believed to
      have a benefit to the health system by those who provide them. Future research
      should proactively explore the economic benefit of compounded preparations
      compared to conventionally manufactured products to determine the economic value
      of compounded pharmaceuticals for patients, pharmacies, physicians, and the
      healthcare system.

PMID- 26891567
TI  - Pharmacy Fellowship Program: Building a Stronger Profession.

PMID- 26891566
TI  - Long-term Stability of Esomeprazole in 5% Dextrose Infusion Polyolefin Bags at 5
      degrees C +/- 3 degrees C after Microwave Freeze-thaw Treatment.
AB  - To improve quality assurance, security, time management, and cost saving of drug
      delivery, preparation in advance of intravenous solutions has been developed for
      several infusion solutions. The objective of this study was to investigate the
      stability of esomeprazole 0.4 mg/mL and 0.8 mg/mL in 5% dextrose polyolefin bags
      after freezing, long-term storage, and microwave thawing. The stability of five
      polyolefin bags containing approximately 0.4 mg/mL of esomeprazole and five other
      bags containing approximately 0.8 mg/mL in 5% dextrose prepared under aseptic
      conditions was studied after freezing for 1 month at -20 degrees C, thawing in a
      microwave oven with a validated cycle, and stored at 5 degrees C +/- 3 degrees C.
      Esomeprazole concentration was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography
      using a reversed-phase column C8, a mobile phase consisting of 35% of
      acetonitrile and 65% of Na2HPO4 buffer at pH 7.59 with HPO4 (2 M) and NaOH (0.5
      M), and detection with a diode array detector at 280 nm. Visual, microscopic, and
      spectrophotometric observation and pH measurements were also performed. No
      precipitation occurred in the preparations but little change of color was
      observed. No microaggregate was observed with optical microscopy or revealed by a
      change of absorbance at 350, 410, and 550 nm. Based on a shelf life of 90%
      residual potency, esomeprazole solutions (0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL) were stable for at
      least 20 or 29 days, respectively, after a freezing and microwave thawing period,
      where 95% one-side lower confidence limit of the concentration-time profile
      remained superior to 90% of the initial concentration. During this period, the pH
      values of drug solutions have been observed to decrease without affecting
      chromatographic parameters. Within these limits, esomeprazole (0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL)
      in 5% dextrose infusions may be prepared and frozen in advance by a centralized
      intravenous admixture service, thawed, and stored at least 20 days at 5 degrees C
      +/- 3 degrees C before use in clinical units.

PMID- 26891568
TI  - [#practiceforms].

PMID- 26891569
TI  - [Equinella: Most important results from the evaluation of the pilot phase 2014
      2015].

PMID- 26891570
TI  - [Calling into question the tax-free financial profit made by the purchase of
      businesses].

PMID- 26891571
TI  - [50 years of Swine Health Service (SGD)].

PMID- 26891572
TI  - [Lung and pleural lesions before and after implementation of a national
      eradication program against enzootic pneumonia and actinobacillosis as well as
      changes of slaughter carcass organs in slaughter pigs in Switzerland].
AB  - In a representative cross-sectional study during 12 months of the years 2008/2009
      in four abattoirs in Switzerland, lung and pleura lesions as well as lesions of
      slaughter carcasses and organs of 34 706 pigs were studied for frequency and type
      of macroscopic lesions. Of the 24276 examined pigs, 91.2% of the lungs, 94.4% of
      the heart and 95.5% of the livers showed no macroscopically visible lesions. Pigs
      that were produced for a label program had significantly less bronchopneumonia
      and pneumonia residuals, pleuritis and liver lesions due to echinococcosis. Pigs
      supervised by the Swiss Pig Health Service (SGD), showed significantly less
      bronchopneumonia and pneumonia residuals, diffuse pleuritis,
      pleuritis/pericarditis and milkspots compared to the non-SGD supervised farms.
      Thanks to the national eradication program for enzootic pneumonia (EP) and
      actinobacillosis, the health-status of lungs has been considerably improved and
      the prevalence of pleurisy decreased considerably. The results of this study
      indicate a good herd health in Swiss pig production.

PMID- 26891573
TI  - [Influence of personal attitude of the manager on antibiotic use in pig
      production].
AB  - The attitude as well as the expertise of a person affect the behavior and actions
      in daily life. To investigate the influence of attitude and knowledge of pig
      producers on the use of antibiotics in farms, 220 Swiss pig producers were
      questioned on health awareness, attitude towards sustainable production, risk
      behavior, intrinsic motivation and knowledge about antibiotics and resistance
      development. In addition, the strategy of antibiotic use (therapeutic or
      prophylactic) and the business practice (single or group therapy) for the amount
      of antibiotics on one hand and for the risk of antibiotic resistance development
      on the other hand, were determined in a personal interview. Farmers using
      antibiotics only therapeutically had a better business practice. A direct link
      between the personal attitude and the antibiotic use or a higher risk of
      development of antibiotic resistance was not found in this investigation.

PMID- 26891574
TI  - [Risk factors for the oral use of antibiotics and animal treatment incidence of
      weaners in Switzerland].
AB  - In the present study, risk factors for the use of oral antibiotics in weaned
      piglets were collected on 112 pig farms by a personal questionaire. The most
      common indication for an antibiotic group therapy was diarrhoea, and the most
      frequently used antibiotic was Colistin. On average, 27.33 daily doses in the
      control farms and 387.21 daily doses in the problem farms per 1000 weaners were
      administered on a given day. The significant risk factors in the multivariate
      model were poor hygiene in the water supply of suckling piglets, less than two
      doses ofprestarter feed daily, lack of an all-in-and-all-out production system in
      weaners, no herd book performance data analysis, and less than two of the legally
      prescribed veterinary visits per year. Furthermore, the treatment incidence of
      weaners for oral antibiotics was calculated on the basis of the drug inventory.
      This study provides evidence that the use of oral antibiotics in weaners can be
      reduced by interventions in hygiene and management.

PMID- 26891576
TI  - IMPACT OF MORNING STIFFNESS, EDUCATION, AND AGE ON THE FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF
      PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between disability
      status and duration of morning stiffness in hands with regard to age, level of
      education, and gender in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also, the
      authors wanted to investigate this relationship with regard to the presence of
      rheumatoid factor, i.e., the serological status. A retrospective study was
      conducted in 250 patients with the classic form of RA (186 females, s64 males,
      mean age Xb = 49.96 y ears, range 25-60 years, disease duration 1-27 years, Xb =
      6.41) previously diagnosed with RA according to the ACR (American College of
      Rheumatology 1987 criteria). All patients were in Steinbrocker functional classes
      II and III. The probability level was expressed by p < 0.01 and p < 0.05. The
      relationship between the variables was measured by point-biserial correlation.
      The correlation between duration of morning stiffness and functional class was
      positive but low [(r = 0.10, y = 0.00x + 2.37, p > 0.05) seronegative, (r = 0.12,
      y = 0.00x + 2.30, p > 0.05) seropositive]. High positive values were obtained for
      the linear correlation coefficient between duration of the disease and functional
      class (p < 0.01). Also, high values were obtained regarding the coefficient of
      correlation between age and functional class [(r = 0.29, p < 0.01) seronegative,
      (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) seropositive]. Uneducated patients were significantly more
      represented in functional class III [ 23 (50%) seronegative, 19 (42.2%)
      seropositive] than in functional class II [16 (20.3%) seronegative, 22 (27.5%)
      seropositive]. In conclusion, in this study of patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis, increased duration of morning stiffness was associated with functional
      disability. Functional disability increased with the duration of the disease,
      depended on age and educational level, and was more pronounced in older age,
      regardless of RA serological status. With regard to serological status and sex,
      the differences were non-significant.

PMID- 26891575
TI  - [Evaluation of risk factors for Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia in pig farms in
      Switzerland].
AB  - Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA), also known as postpartum dysgalactia syndrome
      (PPDS) is the most important disease complex in sows after birth. The present
      study compared 30 MMA problem herds (over 12% of farrowing sows affected) with 30
      control farms (less than 10% of farrowing sows affected) to identify risk factors
      and treatment incidence. Important risk factors identified were in gilts the
      integration into the herd after the first farrowing, in gestating sows firm fecal
      consistency as well as in lactating sows soiled troughs, a low flow rate (<2
      liters per minute) in drinking nipples and a high prevalence of lameness. The
      treatment incidence was also significantly different between the two groups. The
      MMA prevalence could be reduced through optimization of husbandry, feeding and
      management, which could essentially diminish the use of antibiotics.

PMID- 26891579
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891577
TI  - [PATHOGENESIS OF UNDIFFERENTIATED SPONDYLOARTHRITIS].
AB  - Spondyloarthritis or spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is a multifactorial disease in
      which a disturbed interplay occurs between the immune system and environmental
      factors on a predisposing genetic background, which leads to inflammation and
      structural damage of target tissue. Many recent researches on development of SpA
      showed important role of innate and adaptive immunity as well as of prominent
      bone tissue remodeling which leads to osteoproliferation and ankylosis. It is
      believed that possible sites of inflammation in SpA are entheses, sinovium and
      gut. Current knowledge on inflammation and tissue destruction leads to conclusion
      that SpA is disease characterized by disorders on different levels. Disorder on
      the first level is disturbed pathogen recognition and immune response activation,
      on second level disturbed inflammatory cells migration and on third level
      disturbed immune response regulation. As follows, disease progress depends on
      range of disturbances: disease course can be short, as in reactive arthritis, or
      long-lasting with substantial structural damage, as in ankylosing spondylitis.
      Unfortunately, there are still no confident markers of disease progression, so at
      the mere beginning disease is often described as undifferentiated.

PMID- 26891578
TI  - [CRYOGLOBULINEMICVASCULITIS AS A MANIFESTATION OF PARANEOPLASTIC SYNDROME--A CASE
      REPORT].
AB  - Cryoglobulinemia refers to the presence of circulating cryoglobulins in the serum
      which may lead to organ damage and systemic response characterized by fatigue,
      arthralgias, purpura, glomerulonephritis and neuropathy. The disease mainly
      affects small and medium-sized blood vessels and causes vasculitis due to
      cryoglobulin-containing immune complexes. Mixed cryoglobulinemia (type I and II)
      are most often associated with infections, especially hepatitis C virus (HCV),
      but may occur as part of lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases. We present
      a 75-year-old male patient with acrocyanosis and digital necrosis of the left
      hand and purpura of the lower extremities. Since 2001 the patient was treated for
      Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach (MALT) and since 2002 for Sjogren's
      syndrome. Extensive diagnostic procedures revealed cryoglobulinemia type II, but
      without evidence of HCV infection or relapse of lymphoproliferative disorder.
      Furthermore, poorly differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma was diagnosed and
      antiandrogen treatment was initiated. One year after the onset of symptoms
      acrocyanosis and digital necrosis, gastric adenocarcinoma was diagnosed, without
      metastatic disease, and surgical treatment was performed. However,
      postoperatively recurrence of new digital necrosis of the hands occurred along
      with clinical deterioration and multiple organ failure leading to lethal outcome.
      Association of cryoglobulinemia and solid tumors is rarely described in the
      literature, so it is very important to perform comprehensive diagnostic
      evaluation and detect potential underlying disease as soon as possible.

PMID- 26891580
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891581
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891583
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891582
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891584
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891585
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891586
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891587
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26891588
TI  - miR-17-92 plays an oncogenic role and conveys chemo-resistance to cisplatin in
      human prostate cancer cells.
AB  - The mir-17-92 cluster consists of six mature miRNAs and is implicated in diverse
      human cancers by targeting mRNAs involved in distinct pathways that either
      promote or inhibit carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying
      the mir-17-92 cluster-mediated pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic effects has
      not been clearly elucidated in prostate cancer. In the present study, the role of
      the mir-17-92 cluster in diverse aspects of prostate cancer cells has been
      thoroughly investigated. Forced introduction of the mir-17-92 cluster into the
      androgen-independent DU145 prostate cancer cells evidently promoted cell growth
      due to disruption of the balance between cellular proliferation and apoptosis.
      Overexpression of the mir-17-92 cluster significantly improved the migration and
      invasion of the DU145 cells, attributed to the induction of integrin beta-1.
      Notably, the mir-17-92 cluster conveyed chemo-resistance to cisplatin. We
      demonstrated that the mir-17-92 cluster suppressed the expression of inhibitor of
      the AKT signaling pathway and activated the AKT pathway subsequently, which
      played a central role in regulating cellular proliferation, apoptosis and chemo
      resistance. Continuously activated ERK1/2 signaling also contributed importantly
      to these processes. The present study provides key evidence for crucial oncogenic
      role of the miR-17-92 cluster in prostate cancer cells. Further investigations
      are warranted to determine whether miR-17-92 cluster can be targeted for future
      treatment of human prostate cancer. 

PMID- 26891589
TI  - Root growth restraint can be an acclimatory response to low pH and is associated
      with reduced cell mortality: a possible role of class III peroxidases and NADPH
      oxidases.
AB  - Low pH (<5.0) can significantly decrease root growth but whether this is a direct
      effect of H(+) or an active plant response is examined here. Tomato (Solanum
      lycopersicum cv Micro-Tom) roots were exposed directly or gradually to low pH
      through step-wise changes in pH over periods ranging from 4 to 24 h. Roots
      exposed gradually to pH 4.5 grew even less than those exposed directly,
      indicating a plant-coordinated response. Direct exposure to pH 4.0 suppressed
      root growth and caused high cell mortality, in contrast to roots exposed
      gradually, in which growth remained inhibited but cell viability was maintained.
      Total class III peroxidase activity increased significantly in all low pH
      treatments, but was not correlated with the observed differential responses. Use
      of the enzyme inhibitors salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) or diphenyleneiodonium
      chloride (DPI) suggest that peroxidase and, to a lesser extent, NADPH oxidase
      were required to prevent or reduce injury in all low pH treatments. However, a
      role for other enzymes, such as the alternative oxidase is also possible. The
      results with SHAM, but not DPI, were confirmed in tobacco BY-2 cells. Our results
      indicate that root growth inhibition from low pH can be part of an active plant
      response, and suggest that peroxidases may have a critical early role in reducing
      loss of cell viability and in the observed root growth constraint. 

PMID- 26891590
TI  - Synthesis and application of a nanoporous ion-imprinted polymer for the
      separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of vanadium from food samples
      before determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.
AB  - A vanadium ion-imprinted polymer was synthesized in the presence of V(V) and N
      benzoyl-N-phenyl hydroxyl amine using 4-vinyl pyridine as the monomer, ethylene
      glycol dimethacrylate as the cross linker and 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as
      the initiator. The imprinted V(V) ions were completely removed by leaching the
      polymer with 5 mol/L nitric acid, and the polymer structure was characterized by
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The ion
      imprinted polymer was used as the sorbent in the development of the solid-phase
      extraction method for V(V) prior to its determination by electrothermal atomic
      absorption spectrometry. The maximum sorption capacity for V(V) ions was 26.7
      mg/g at pH 4.0. Under the optimum conditions, for a sample volume of 150.0 mL, an
      enrichment factor of 289.0 and a detection limit of 6.4 ng/L were obtained. The
      developed method was successfully applied to the determination of vanadium in
      parsley, zucchini, black tea, rice, and water samples. 

PMID- 26891591
TI  - Antiatherogenic effects of ellagic acid and urolithins in vitro.
AB  - Atherosclerosis, one of the leading causes of death worldwide, is characterized
      by impaired endothelial function and lipid metabolism, among other factors.
      Ellagitannins are a class of phenolic compounds that may play a role in
      cardiovascular health. This work aimed to study the potential atheroprotective
      effects of urolithins, ellagitannin-derived gut microbiota metabolites, on
      different key factors in atherosclerosis development: the ability of monocytes to
      adhere to endothelial cells and the uptake and efflux of cholesterol by
      macrophages. The biotransformations urolithins undergo in peripheral cells were
      also evaluated. Results indicated that some urolithins and ellagic acid were able
      to reduce the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial
      cells (HUVECs) and the secretion of a cellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) and
      pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Urolithin C, a combination of urolithins A and
      B, and ellagic acid also decreased the accumulation of cholesterol in THP-1
      derived macrophages, but they were not able to promote cholesterol efflux. The
      analysis of cell media by UHPLC-ESI-MS(n) indicated urolithins and ellagic
      underwent extensive metabolism, with sulfate and methyl conjugation. This
      evidence indicates that atherosclerotic processes may be attenuated by
      urolithins, but future human intervention trials are required to establish if is
      translated in vivo.

PMID- 26891593
TI  - Boron nitride nanotubes as vehicles for intracellular delivery of fluorescent
      drugs and probes.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the response of cells to boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs)
      carrying fluorescent probes or drugs in their inner channel by assessment of the
      cellular localization of the fluorescent cargo, evaluation of the in vitro
      release and biological activity of a drug (curcumin) loaded in BNNTs. METHODS:
      Cells treated with curcumin-loaded BNNTs and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide
      were assessed for nitric oxide release and stimulation of IL-6 and TNF-alpha. The
      cellular trafficking of two cell-permeant dyes and a non-cell-permeant dye loaded
      within BNNTs was imaged. RESULTS: BNNTs loaded with up to 13 wt% fluorophores
      were internalized by cells and controlled release of curcumin triggered cellular
      pathways associated with the known anti-inflammatory effects of the drug.
      CONCLUSION: The overall findings indicate that BNNTs can function as nanocarriers
      of biologically relevant probes/drugs allowing one to examine/control their local
      intracellular localization and biochemical effects, leading the way to
      applications as intracellular nanosensors.

PMID- 26891594
TI  - Using optimal combination of teaching-learning methods (open book assignment and
      group tutorials) as revision exercises to improve learning outcome in low
      achievers in biochemistry.
AB  - Graduate medical students of India are taught Biochemistry by didactic lectures
      and they hardly get any opportunity to clarify their doubts and reinforce the
      concepts which they learn in these lectures. We used a combination of teaching
      learning (T-L) methods (open book assignment followed by group tutorials) to
      study their efficacy in improving the learning outcome. About 143 graduate
      medical students were classified into low (<50%: group 1, n = 23), medium (50
      75%: group 2, n = 74), and high (>75%: group 3, n = 46) achievers, based on their
      internal assessment marks. After the regular teaching module on the topics
      "Vitamins and Enzymology", all the students attempted an open book assignment
      without peer consultation. Then all the students participated in group tutorials.
      The effects on the groups were evaluated by pre and posttests at the end of each
      phase, with the same set of MCQs. Gain from group tutorials and overall gain was
      significantly higher in the low achievers, compared to other groups. High and
      medium achievers obtained more gain from open book assignment, than group
      tutorials. The overall gain was significantly higher than the gain obtained from
      open book assignment or group tutorials, in all three groups. All the three
      groups retained the gain even after 1 week of the exercise. Hence, optimal use of
      novel T-L methods (open book assignment followed by group tutorials) as revision
      exercises help in strengthening concepts in Biochemistry in this oft neglected
      group of low achievers in graduate medical education. (c) 2016 by The
      International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(4):321-325, 2016.

PMID- 26891595
TI  - Low-energy, Mobile Grain Boundaries in Magnesium.
AB  - The strong basal texture that is commonly developed during the rolling of
      magnesium alloy and can even increase during annealing motivates atomic-level
      study of dislocation structures of both <0001> tilt and twist grain boundaries
      (GBs) in Magnesium. Both symmetrical tilt and twist GBs over the entire range of
      rotation angles theta between 0 degrees  and 60 degrees  are found to have an
      ordered atomic structure and can be described with grain boundary dislocation
      models. In particular, 30 degrees  tilt and twist GBs are corresponding to energy
      minima. The 30 degrees  tilt GB is characterized with an array of Shockley
      partial dislocations bp:-bp on every basal plane and the 30 degrees  twist GB is
      characterized with a stacking faulted structure. More interesting, molecular
      dynamics simulations explored that both 30 degrees  tilt and twist GBs are highly
      mobile associated with collective glide of Shockley partial dislocations. This
      could be responsible for the formation of the strong basal texture and a
      significant number of 30 degrees  misorientation GBs in Mg alloy during grain
      growth.

PMID- 26891597
TI  - Relationship between choroidal thickness and visual impairment in multiple
      evanescent white dot syndrome.

PMID- 26891592
TI  - Structural determinants of muscle thin filament cooperativity.
AB  - End-to-end connections between adjacent tropomyosin molecules along the muscle
      thin filament allow long-range conformational rearrangement of the multicomponent
      filament structure. This process is influenced by Ca(2+) and the troponin
      regulatory complexes, as well as by myosin crossbridge heads that bind to and
      activate the filament. Access of myosin crossbridges onto actin is gated by
      tropomyosin, and in the case of striated muscle filaments, troponin acts as a
      gatekeeper. The resulting tropomyosin-troponin-myosin on-off switching mechanism
      that controls muscle contractility is a complex cooperative and dynamic system
      with highly nonlinear behavior. Here, we review key information that leads us to
      view tropomyosin as central to the communication pathway that coordinates the
      multifaceted effectors that modulate and tune striated muscle contraction. We
      posit that an understanding of this communication pathway provides a framework
      for more in-depth mechanistic characterization of myopathy-associated mutational
      perturbations currently under investigation by many research groups. 

PMID- 26891598
TI  - An efficient synthesis of iminoquinones by a chemoselective domino ortho
      hydroxylation/oxidation/imidation sequence of 2-aminoaryl ketones.
AB  - An efficient chemoselective domino oxidative homocoupling of 2-aminoaryl ketones
      in the presence of 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) for the synthesis of iminoquinone
      has been developed. The domino reaction proceeds via three consecutive steps,
      such as domino ortho-hydroxylation of 2-aminoaryl ketones, oxidation of a phenol
      derivative to benzoquinone and dimerization through imine formation to yield
      iminoquinone. Importantly, this reaction allows the recycling of the oxidant IBX
      by recovering the by-product iodosobenzoic acid (IBA) and oxidizing it back to
      IBX. A four step domino strategy for the synthesis of iminoquinone through in
      situ generation of 2-amino benzophenone from (2-amino phenyl)(phenyl)methanol was
      also developed. 

PMID- 26891596
TI  - Update: Influenza Activity--United States, October 4, 2015-February 6, 2016.
AB  - From October through mid-December 2015, influenza activity remained low in most
      regions of the United States. Activity began to increase in late December 2015
      and continued to increase slowly through early February 2016. Influenza A viruses
      have been most frequently identified, with influenza A (H3N2) viruses
      predominating during October until early December, and influenza A (H1N1)pdm09
      viruses predominating from mid-December until early February. Most of the
      influenza viruses characterized during that time are antigenically similar to
      vaccine virus strains recommended for inclusion in the 2015-16 Northern
      Hemisphere vaccines. This report summarizes U.S. influenza activity* during
      October 4, 2015-February 6, 2016, and updates the previous summary (1). 

PMID- 26891599
TI  - Structural effects of simvastatin on liver rat [corrected] tissue: Fourier
      transform infrared and Raman microspectroscopic studies.
AB  - Simvastatin is one of the most frequently prescribed statins because of its
      efficacy in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, reducing cardiovascular risk
      and related mortality. Determination of its side effects on different tissues is
      mandatory to improve safe use of this drug. In the present study, the effects of
      simvastatin on molecular composition and structure of healthy rat livers were
      investigated by Fourier transform infrared and Raman imaging. Simvastatin-treated
      groups received 50 mg/kg/day simvastatin for 30 days. The ratio of the area
      and/or intensity of the bands assigned to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
      were calculated to get information about the drug-induced changes in tissues.
      Loss of unsaturation, accumulation of end products of lipid peroxidation, and
      alterations in lipid-to-protein ratio were observed in the treated group. Protein
      secondary structure studies revealed significant decrease in alpha-helix and
      increase in random coil, while native beta-sheet decreases and aggregated beta
      sheet increases in treated group implying simvastatin-induced protein
      denaturation. Moreover, groups were successfully discriminated using principal
      component analysis. Consequently, high-dose simvastatin treatment induces hepatic
      lipid peroxidation and changes in molecular content and protein secondary
      structure, implying the risk of liver disorders in drug therapy.

PMID- 26891600
TI  - Quantitative performance characterization of three-dimensional noncontact
      fluorescence molecular tomography.
AB  - Fluorescent proteins and dyes are routine tools for biological research to
      describe the behavior of genes, proteins, and cells, as well as more complex
      physiological dynamics such as vessel permeability and pharmacokinetics. The use
      of these probes in whole body in vivo imaging would allow extending the range and
      scope of current biomedical applications and would be of great interest. In order
      to comply with a wide variety of application demands, in vivo imaging platform
      requirements span from wide spectral coverage to precise quantification
      capabilities. Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) detects and reconstructs in
      three dimensions the distribution of a fluorophore in vivo. Noncontact FMT allows
      fast scanning of an excitation source and noninvasive measurement of emitted
      fluorescent light using a virtual array detector operating in free space. Here, a
      rigorous process is defined that fully characterizes the performance of a custom
      built horizontal noncontact FMT setup. Dynamic range, sensitivity, and
      quantitative accuracy across the visible spectrum were evaluated using
      fluorophores with emissions between 520 and 660 nm. These results demonstrate
      that high-performance quantitative three-dimensional visible light FMT allowed
      the detection of challenging mesenteric lymph nodes in vivo and the comparison of
      spectrally distinct fluorescent reporters in cell culture.

PMID- 26891601
TI  - Reflective Fourier ptychography.
AB  - The Fourier ptychography technique in reflection mode has great potential
      applications in tissue imaging and optical inspection, but the current
      configuration either has a limitation on cut-off frequency or is not practical.
      By placing the imaging aperture stop outside the illumination path, the
      illumination numerical aperture (NA) can be greater than the imaging NA of the
      objective lens. Thus, the cut-off frequency achieved in the proposed optical
      system is greater than twice the objective's NA divided by the wavelength
      (2NAobj/lambda ), which is the diffraction limit for the cut-off frequency in an
      incoherent epi-illumination configuration. We experimentally demonstrated that
      the synthesized NA is increased by a factor of 4.5 using the proposed optical
      concept. The key advantage of the proposed system is that it can achieve high
      resolution imaging over a large field of view with a simple objective. It will
      have a great potential for applications in endoscopy, biomedical imaging, surface
      metrology, and industrial inspection.

PMID- 26891603
TI  - Competence-sensitive outcomes.

PMID- 26891602
TI  - Current state and future prospects of research on fear of cancer recurrence.
AB  - Despite a rapidly growing research interest in fear of cancer recurrence, lack of
      consensus on definition and measurement including clinical fear of cancer
      recurrence, sparse model development and testing, and limited available clinical
      interventions have impeded knowledge transfer into patient services. To move
      forward, a 2-day colloquium was held in Ottawa, Canada in August 2015 to progress
      knowledge and identify future research directions. A comprehensive research
      program was proposed, including development of a clinical definition, an updated
      review of screening measures, and a review of existing interventions. A new
      special interest group was created with the International Psychosocial Oncology
      Society to facilitate the implementation of this research program and future
      international collaborations. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891604
TI  - Concordance of Advance Care Plans With Inpatient Directives in the Electronic
      Medical Record for Older Patients Admitted From the Emergency Department.
AB  - CONTEXT: Measuring What Matters identified quality indicators to examine the
      percentage of patients with documentation of a surrogate decision maker and
      preferences for life-sustaining treatments. OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of
      advance care planning in older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED)
      and translation into medical directives in the electronic medical record (EMR).
      METHODS: A convenience sample of adults 65 years or older was recruited from a
      large urban ED beginning in January 2012. We administered a baseline interview
      and survey in English or Spanish, including questions about whether patients had
      a documented health care proxy or living will. For patients admitted to the
      hospital who had a health care proxy or living will, chart abstraction was
      performed to determine whether their advance care preferences were documented in
      the EMR. RESULTS: From February 2012 to May 2013, 53.8% (367 of 682) of older
      adults who completed the survey in the ED reported having a health care proxy,
      and 40.2% (274 of 682) had a living will. Of those admitted to the hospital, only
      4% (4 of 94) of patients who said they had a living will had medical directives
      documented in the EMR. Similarly, only 4% (5 of 115) of patients who had a health
      care proxy had the person's name or contact information documented in their
      medical record. CONCLUSION: About half of the patients 65 years or older arriving
      in the ED have done significant advance care planning, but most plans are not
      recorded in the EMR.

PMID- 26891605
TI  - Living With an Older Person Dying From Cancer, Lung Disease, or Dementia: Health
      Outcomes From a General Practice Cohort Study.
AB  - CONTEXT: Increasing numbers of people will die from chronic disease. Families
      contribute significantly to end-of-life care, but their role may not be
      recognized. OBJECTIVES: To 1) establish the proportion of older cohabitees
      identified in primary care as "carers"; 2) describe demographic and lifestyle
      characteristics of cohabitees of people terminally ill with cancer, dementia, and
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); 3) describe their health a year
      before and after bereavement; and 4) compare health outcomes between cohabitees
      of people dying with cancer, COPD, or dementia. METHODS: Retrospective cohort
      study using a U.K. primary care database (The Health Improvement Network) of
      13,693 bereaved cohabitees (a proxy marker for being a carer), aged 60 years or
      older of people dying from cancer, COPD, or dementia. Characteristics were
      described one year before and after bereavement. We compared cancer, COPD, and
      dementia cohabitee outcomes using incidence rate ratios one year before and after
      bereavement and calculated mortality risk after bereavement. RESULTS: A total of
      6.9% of cohabitees were recorded as carers. Health outcomes differed little
      between the three groups of cohabitees in the year before or after bereavement.
      The proportion of cohabitees with six or more consultations increased the year
      after bereavement (cancer cohabitees 16.0% to 18.8%, COPD cohabitees 17.8% to
      20.4%, and dementia cohabitees 15.5% to 17.5%). At postbereavement (follow-up
      median 3 years, interquartile range 1.3-5.4), we found no mortality differences
      between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Recording of carers of terminally ill
      people was suboptimal. Cause of bereavement produced few differential effects on
      health outcomes or mortality.

PMID- 26891606
TI  - Anticipatory Nausea, Risk Factors, and Its Impact on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea
      and Vomiting: Results From the Pan European Emesis Registry Study.
AB  - CONTEXT: Anticipatory (prechemotherapy) nausea (AN) is a classic conditioned
      symptom not responding well to current antiemetics. Minimal work has been done to
      assess its risk factors and impact on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
      (CINV). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors for AN and assess its impact on CINV
      development. METHODS: We analyzed data (n = 991) from a prospective observational
      multisite study in eight European countries over three cycles of chemotherapy.
      Patient/treatment characteristics were collected before chemotherapy. History of
      nausea/vomiting (yes/no), patient expectation of CINV (0-100 mm visual analog
      scale, [VAS]), and prechemotherapy anxiety (0-100 mm VAS) also were collected
      before chemotherapy. A patient-completed diary during each chemotherapy cycle
      obtained information on AN in the 24 hours before chemotherapy administration and
      nausea and vomiting (episodes of vomiting and severity of nausea) daily for five
      days after administration of chemotherapy (0-100 mm VAS). RESULTS: AN was
      reported by 8.3%-13.8% of patients, increasing in frequency and intensity over
      each cycle. Every 1 mm increase in AN on the VAS was significantly associated
      with 2%-13% of increase in the likelihood of CINV (all P-values <0.05). Key
      predictors of AN in Cycle 1 included metastatic disease and prechemotherapy
      anxiety. However, predictors of AN in subsequent cycles included prechemotherapy
      anxiety and AN and CINV experience in the previous cycle, the latter being the
      strongest predictor (odds ratio = 3.30-4.09 for CINV outcomes over the cycles).
      CONCLUSION: AN is a challenging symptom, and its prevention needs to consider
      better CINV prevention in the previous cycles as well as managing prechemotherapy
      anxiety.

PMID- 26891607
TI  - Prospective Study of Patient-Reported Symptom Burden in Patients With Non-Small
      Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Proton or Photon Chemoradiation Therapy.
AB  - CONTEXT: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), three-dimensional
      conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), and proton-beam therapy (PBT) are
      chemoradiotherapy modalities for treating locally advanced non-small-cell lung
      cancer. Although therapy is carefully planned to maximize treatment benefit while
      minimizing risk for adverse side effects, most patients develop radiation-induced
      symptom burden. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory's
      ability to detect fine differences in symptom development among these modalities.
      METHODS: This was a longitudinal observational study. Patients with unresectable
      primary or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 82) underwent 3DCRT, IMRT,
      or PBT. Patients rated MD Anderson Symptom Inventory symptoms weekly for up to 12
      weeks. We used mixed-effect modeling to estimate development of symptoms and
      functional interference. RESULTS: The PBT group received a significantly higher
      radiation target dose than did the IMRT and 3DCRT groups (P < 0.001). Fatigue was
      the most severe symptom over time for all groups. Controlling for patient and
      clinical factors (age, sex, race, cancer stage, performance status, body mass
      index, previous cancer therapy, total radiation dose), we found that pain, as a
      major esophagitis-related symptom, increased more during therapy (P = 0.019) and
      decreased more after (P = 0.013) therapy in the 3DCRT and IMRT groups than in the
      PBT group. Compared with the PBT group, the 3DCRT and IMRT groups reported
      greater decrease in systemic symptoms (fatigue, drowsiness, lack of appetite,
      disturbed sleep) after therapy (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Patients receiving PBT
      reported significantly less severe symptoms than did patients receiving IMRT or
      3DCRT. These results should be confirmed in a randomized study with comparable
      tumor burden among therapies.

PMID- 26891610
TI  - Attitudes Among Patients With Advanced Cancer Toward Euthanasia and Living Wills.

PMID- 26891608
TI  - Role of the Nasogastric Tube and Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) in Palliative Care.
AB  - Decision-making on behalf of an incapacitated patient at the end of life is a
      complex process, particularly in family-centric societies. The situation is more
      complex when attempts are made to accommodate Eastern concepts of end-of-life
      care with more conventional Western approaches. In this case report of an
      incapacitated 74-year-old Singaporean man of Malay descent with relapsed Stage 4
      diffuse large B cell lymphoma who was without an established lasting power of
      attorney, we highlight the difficult deliberations that ensue when the patient's
      family, acting as his proxy, elected to administer lingzhi through his
      nasogastric tube (NGT). Focusing on the questions pertaining to end-of-life
      decision-making in Asia, we consider the issues surrounding the use of NGT and
      lingzhi in palliative care (PC) and the implementation of NGT for administering
      lingzhi in a PC setting, particularly in light of a dearth of data on such
      treatment measures among PC patients. 

PMID- 26891609
TI  - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches for Pain in Underserved Chinese
      American Cancer Patients: Prevalence and Correlates.

PMID- 26891611
TI  - Saw Palmetto for Symptom Management During Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.
AB  - CONTEXT: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) affect 75%-80% of men undergoing
      radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer. OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety,
      maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and preliminary efficacy of Serenoa repens commonly
      known as saw palmetto (SP) for management of LUTS during RT for prostate cancer.
      METHODS: The dose finding phase used the time-to-event continual reassessment
      method to evaluate safety of three doses (320, 640, and 960 mg) of SP. Dose
      limiting toxicities were assessed for 22 weeks using the Common Terminology
      Criteria for Adverse Events for nausea, gastritis, and anorexia. The exploratory
      randomized controlled trial phase assessed preliminary efficacy of the MTD
      against placebo. The primary outcome of LUTS was measured over 22 weeks using the
      International Prostate Symptom Score. Additional longitudinal assessments
      included quality of life measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer
      Therapy-Prostate. RESULTS: The dose finding phase was completed by 27 men who
      reported no dose-limiting toxicities and with 20 participants at the MTD of 960
      mg daily. The exploratory randomized controlled trial phase included 21 men, and
      no statistically significant differences in the International Prostate Symptom
      Score were observed. The prostate-specific concerns score of the Functional
      Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate improved in the SP group (P = 0.03). Of 11
      men in the placebo group, two received physician-prescribed medications to manage
      LUTS compared with none of the 10 men in the SP group. CONCLUSION: SP at 960 mg
      may be a safe herbal supplement, but its efficacy in managing LUTS during RT
      needs further investigation.

PMID- 26891612
TI  - How recent advances in molecular tests could impact the diagnosis of pneumonia.
AB  - Molecular diagnostic tests have been the single major development in pneumonia
      diagnostics over recent years. Nucleic acid detection tests (NATs) have greatly
      improved the ability to detect respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens that
      do not normally colonize the respiratory tract. In contrast, NATs do not yet have
      an established role for diagnosing pneumonia caused by bacteria that commonly
      colonize the nasopharynx due to difficulties discriminating between pathogens and
      coincidental carriage strains. New approaches are needed to distinguish infection
      from colonization, such as through use of quantitative methods and identification
      of discriminating cut-off levels. The recent realization that the lung microbiome
      exists has provided new insights into the pathogenesis of pneumonia involving the
      interaction between multiple microorganisms. New developments in molecular
      diagnostics must account for this new paradigm. 

PMID- 26891613
TI  - Cell Density and Joint microRNA-133a and microRNA-696 Inhibition Enhance
      Differentiation and Contractile Function of Engineered Human Skeletal Muscle
      Tissues.
AB  - To utilize three-dimensional (3D) engineered human skeletal muscle tissue for
      translational studies and in vitro studies of drug toxicity, there is a need to
      promote differentiation and functional behavior. In this study, we identified
      conditions to promote contraction of engineered human skeletal muscle bundles and
      examined the effects of transient inhibition of microRNAs (miRs) on myogenic
      differentiation and function of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D cultures of human
      myotubes. In 2D cultures, simultaneously inhibiting both miR-133a, which promotes
      myoblast proliferation, and miR-696, which represses oxidative metabolism,
      resulted in an increase in sarcomeric alpha-actinin protein and the metabolic
      coactivator PGC-1alpha protein compared to transfection with a scrambled miR
      sequence (negative control). Although PGC-1alpha was elevated following joint
      inhibition of miRs 133a and 696, there was no difference in myosin heavy chain
      (MHC) protein isoforms. 3D engineered human skeletal muscle myobundles seeded
      with 5 * 10(6) human skeletal myoblasts (HSkM)/mL and cultured for 2 weeks after
      onset of differentiation consistently did not contract when stimulated
      electrically, whereas those seeded with myoblasts at 10 * 10(6) HSkM/mL or higher
      did contract. When HSkM were transfected with both anti-miRs and seeded into
      fibrin hydrogels and cultured for 2 weeks under static conditions, twitch and
      tetanic specific forces after electrical stimulation were greater than for
      myobundles prepared with HSkM transfected with scrambled sequences.
      Immunofluorescence and Western blots of 3D myobundles indicate that anti-miR-133a
      or anti-miR-696 treatment led to modest increases in slow MHC, but no consistent
      increase in fast MHC. Similar to results in 2D, only myobundles prepared with
      myoblasts treated with anti-miR-133a and anti-miR-696 produced an increase in PGC
      1alpha mRNA. PGC-1alpha targets were differentially affected by the treatment.
      HIF-2alpha mRNA showed an expression pattern similar to that of PGC-1alpha mRNA,
      but COXII mRNA levels were not affected by the anti-miRs. Overall, joint
      inhibition of miR-133a and miR-696 accelerated differentiation, elevated the
      metabolic coactivator PGC-1alpha, and increased the contractile force in 3D
      engineered human skeletal muscle bundles.

PMID- 26891614
TI  - Inflammation and immunity in organ regeneration.
AB  - The ability of vertebrates to regenerate amputated appendages is increasingly
      well-understood at the cellular level. Cells mediating an innate immune response
      and inflammation in the injured tissues are a prominent feature of the limb prior
      to formation of a regeneration blastema, with macrophage activity necessary for
      blastema growth and successful development of the new limb. Studies involving
      either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory agents suggest that the local
      inflammation produced by injury and its timely resolution are both important for
      regeneration, with blastema patterning inhibited in the presence of unresolved
      inflammation. Various experiments with Xenopus larvae at stages where
      regenerative competence is declining show improved digit formation after
      treatment with certain immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant
      agents. Similar work with the larval Xenopus tail has implicated adaptive
      immunity with regenerative competence and suggests a requirement for regulatory T
      cells in regeneration, which also occurs in many systems of tissue regeneration.
      Recent analyses of the human nail organ indicate a capacity for local immune
      tolerance, suggesting roles for adaptive immunity in the capacity for mammalian
      appendage regeneration. New information and better understanding regarding the
      neuroendocrine-immune axis in the response to stressors, including amputation,
      suggest additional approaches useful for investigating effects of the immune
      system during repair and regeneration.

PMID- 26891615
TI  - Negligible elongation of mucin glycans with Gal beta1-3 units distinguishes the
      laminated layer of Echinococcus multilocularis from that of Echinococcus
      granulosus.
AB  - The larval stages of the cestodes Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus
      granulosus cause the important zoonoses known as larval echinococcoses. These
      larvae are protected by a unique, massive, mucin-based structure known as the
      laminated layer. The mucin glycans of the E. granulosus laminated layer are core
      1- or core 2-based O-glycans in which the core Galpbeta1-3 residue can initiate a
      chain comprising one to three additional Galpbeta1-3 residues, a motif not known
      in mammalian carbohydrates. This chain can be capped with a Galpalpha1-4 residue,
      and can be ramified with GlcNAcpbeta1-6 residues. These, as well as the
      GlcNAcpbeta1-6 residue in core 2, can be decorated with the Galpalpha1-4Galpbeta1
      4 disaccharide. Here we extend our analysis to the laminated layer of E.
      multilocularis, showing that the non-decorated cores, together with Galpbeta1
      3(Galpalpha1-4Galpbeta1-4GlcNAcpbeta1-6)GalNAc, comprise over 96% of the glycans
      in molar terms. This simple laminated layer glycome is exhibited by E.
      multilocularis grown either in vitro or in vivo. Interestingly, all the
      differences with the complex laminated layer glycome found in E. granulosus may
      be explained in terms of strongly reduced activity in E. multilocularis of a
      putative glycosyltransferase catalysing the elongation with Galpbeta1-3.
      Comparative inter-species analysis of available genomic and transcriptomic data
      suggested a candidate for this enzyme, amongst more than 20 putative (non-core 1)
      Gal/GlcNAc beta1-3 transferases present in each species as a result of a taeniid
      specific gene expansion. The candidate gene was experimentally verified to be
      transcribed at much higher levels in the larva of E. granulosus than that of E.
      multilocularis.

PMID- 26891617
TI  - Editorial: Editors are Not Publication Police.

PMID- 26891616
TI  - Selection of highly efficient sgRNAs for CRISPR/Cas9-based plant genome editing.
AB  - The CRISPR/Cas9-sgRNA system has been developed to mediate genome editing and
      become a powerful tool for biological research. Employing the CRISPR/Cas9-sgRNA
      system for genome editing and manipulation has accelerated research and expanded
      researchers' ability to generate genetic models. However, the method evaluating
      the efficiency of sgRNAs is lacking in plants. Based on the nucleotide
      compositions and secondary structures of sgRNAs which have been experimentally
      validated in plants, we instituted criteria to design efficient sgRNAs. To
      facilitate the assembly of multiple sgRNA cassettes, we also developed a new
      strategy to rapidly construct CRISPR/Cas9-sgRNA system for multiplex editing in
      plants. In theory, up to ten single guide RNA (sgRNA) cassettes can be
      simultaneously assembled into the final binary vectors. As a proof of concept, 21
      sgRNAs complying with the criteria were designed and the corresponding
      Cas9/sgRNAs expression vectors were constructed. Sequencing analysis of
      transgenic rice plants suggested that 82% of the desired target sites were edited
      with deletion, insertion, substitution, and inversion, displaying high editing
      efficiency. This work provides a convenient approach to select efficient sgRNAs
      for target editing.

PMID- 26891618
TI  - Self-adhesive Luting of Partial Ceramic Crowns: Selective Enamel Etching Leads to
      Higher Survival after 6.5 Years In Vivo.
AB  - PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of selective enamel etching on long-term
      clinical performance of partial ceramic crowns (PCCs) luted with a self-adhesive
      luting material (RXU: RelyX Unicem). MATERIALS AND METHODS: At baseline, 34
      patients received the intended treatment: two PCCs (Vita Mark II; Cerec 3D) for
      the restoration of extended lesions with multiple-cusp coverage were placed in a
      split-mouth design with a self-adhesive luting material, one without (RXU) and
      one with selective enamel etching (RXU+E). Patients were evaluated clinically
      (modified USPHS criteria) at baseline and up to 6.5 years (70 to 88 months). The
      chi-square test was used for statistical analyses (alpha=0.05). Clinical survival
      of all restorations (n=68) after 6.5 years was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier
      analysis. RESULTS: After 6.5 years, 18 patients (9 male, 9 female; median age 41,
      range 25 to 59 years) with 36 RXU and RXU+E restorations were available for
      clinical assessment (patient recall rate: 53%), with 13 RXU and 14 RXU+E PCCs
      placed in molars and 5 RXU and 4 RXU+E PCCs in premolars. Clinically, no
      statistically significant differences between the luting procedures were
      detected. Both RXU and RXU+E revealed significant changes over time with respect
      to marginal adaptation (significant deterioration) and marginal discoloration
      (significant increase). RXU revealed no cases of postoperative hypersensitivity
      and RXU+E only did so at baseline (n=5). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a
      cumulative survival for RXU of 60% and for RXU+E of 82%, indicating a
      significantly higher survival rate for RXU+E. CONCLUSION: Clinically, RXU and
      RXU+E perform similarly. In PCC restorations with multiple-cusp coverage, lack of
      retention due to adhesive preparation, and little dentin available for adhesion
      caused by extensive core buildups or cavity linings, selective enamel etching is
      recommended.

PMID- 26891620
TI  - Surface Conditioning and Bonding Protocol for Nanocomposite Indirect
      Restorations: How and Why?

PMID- 26891621
TI  - STRENGTHENING THE REFLECTIVE FUNCTIONING CAPACITIES OF PARENTS WHO HAVE A CHILD
      WITH A NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THROUGH A BRIEF, RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED
      INTERVENTION.
AB  - This randomized controlled trial examined the reflective functioning capacities
      of caregivers who have a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder between the
      ages of 2 years 0 months and 6 years 11 months. Children with a
      neurodevelopmental disorder receive a range of diagnoses, including sutism;
      however, they all exhibit social communication challenges that can derail social
      relationships. Forty parent-child dyads in Barbados were randomly assigned to
      either a developmental individual-difference, relationship
      based/floortime(DIR/FT) group (n = 20), or a psychoeducational (wait-list) group
      (n = 20) with parental reflective functioning measured before and after a 12-week
      DIR/FT treatment intervention. Results revealed significant gains in parental
      reflective functioning in the treatment group, as compared to the
      psychoeducational (wait-list) group, after the 12-week relationship-focused
      intervention. 

PMID- 26891623
TI  - Clinical research for older adults in rural areas: the MINDED study experience.
AB  - Due to the growing need to make clinical decisions based on valid and objective
      scientific evidence, the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has
      increased over the last three decades. Nevertheless, evidence-based medicine has
      still limited applicability in older adults, because they are often excluded from
      clinical trials. Evidence-based medicine is even more challenging in rural areas,
      as its remote environment provides additional barriers. Nevertheless, given the
      high prevalence of older adults living in rural settings, research in this type
      of environment has become crucial. This can only be accomplished by considering
      the multiple additional challenges of these regions. In this paper, we examine
      potential environmental, procedural, and participants' barriers to the management
      of a RCT in a rural area. Possible solutions and suggestions are provided based
      on our experience-from the Multidomain Intervention to preveNt Disability in
      ElDers (MINDED) project. 

PMID- 26891622
TI  - A DNA aptamer recognising a malaria protein biomarker can function as part of a
      DNA origami assembly.
AB  - DNA aptamers have potential for disease diagnosis and as therapeutics,
      particularly when interfaced with programmable molecular technology. Here we have
      combined DNA aptamers specific for the malaria biomarker Plasmodium falciparum
      lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) with a DNA origami scaffold. Twelve aptamers that
      recognise PfLDH were integrated into a rectangular DNA origami and atomic force
      microscopy demonstrated that the incorporated aptamers preserve their ability to
      specifically bind target protein. Captured PfLDH retained enzymatic activity and
      protein-aptamer binding was observed dynamically using high-speed AFM. This work
      demonstrates the ability of DNA aptamers to recognise a malaria biomarker whilst
      being integrated within a supramolecular DNA scaffold, opening new possibilities
      for malaria diagnostic approaches based on DNA nanotechnology.

PMID- 26891624
TI  - Solitary Wave in One-dimensional Buckyball System at Nanoscale.
AB  - We have studied the stress wave propagation in one-dimensional (1-D) nanoscopic
      buckyball (C60) system by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and quantitative
      modeling. Simulation results have shown that solitary waves are generated and
      propagating in the buckyball system through impacting one buckyball at one end of
      the buckyball chain. We have found the solitary wave behaviors are closely
      dependent on the initial temperature and impacting speed of the buckyball chain.
      There are almost no dispersion and dissipation of the solitary waves (stationary
      solitary wave) for relatively low temperature and high impacting speed. While for
      relatively high temperature and low impacting speed the profile of the solitary
      waves is highly distorted and dissipated after propagating several tens of
      buckyballs. A phase diagram is proposed to describe the effect of the temperature
      and impacting speed on the solitary wave behaviors in buckyball system. In order
      to quantitatively describe the wave behavior in buckyball system, a simple
      nonlinear-spring model is established, which can describe the MD simulation
      results at low temperature very well. The results presented in this work may lay
      a solid step towards the further understanding and manipulation of stress wave
      propagation and impact energy mitigation at nanoscale. 

PMID- 26891625
TI  - Vicarious trial and error.
AB  - When rats come to a decision point, they sometimes pause and look back and forth
      as if deliberating over the choice; at other times, they proceed as if they have
      already made their decision. In the 1930s, this pause-and-look behaviour was
      termed 'vicarious trial and error' (VTE), with the implication that the rat was
      'thinking about the future'. The discovery in 2007 that the firing of hippocampal
      place cells gives rise to alternating representations of each of the potential
      path options in a serial manner during VTE suggested a possible neural mechanism
      that could underlie the representations of future outcomes. More-recent
      experiments examining VTE in rats suggest that there are direct parallels to
      human processes of deliberative decision making, working memory and mental time
      travel. 

PMID- 26891627
TI  - Stroke vision, aphasia, neglect (VAN) assessment-a novel emergent large vessel
      occlusion screening tool: pilot study and comparison with current clinical
      severity indices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Identification of emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) stroke has
      become increasingly important with the recent publications of favorable acute
      stroke thrombectomy trials. Multiple screening tools exist but the length of the
      examination and the false positive rate range from good to adequate. A screening
      tool was designed and tested in the emergency department using nurse responders
      without a scoring system. METHODS: The vision, aphasia, and neglect (VAN)
      screening tool was designed to quickly assess functional neurovascular anatomy.
      While objective, there is no need to calculate or score with VAN. After training
      participating nurses to use it, VAN was used as an ELVO screen for all stroke
      patients on arrival to our emergency room before physician evaluation and CT
      scan. RESULTS: There were 62 consecutive code stroke activations during the pilot
      study. 19 (31%) of the patients were VAN positive and 24 (39%) had a National
      Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of >=6. All 14 patients with ELVO
      were either VAN positive or assigned a NIHSS score >=6. While both clinical
      severity thresholds had 100% sensitivity, VAN was more specific (90% vs 74% for
      NIHSS >=6). Similarly, while VAN and NIHSS >=6 had 100% negative predictive
      value, VAN had a 74% positive predictive value while NIHSS >=6 had only a 58%
      positive predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The VAN screening tool accurately
      identified ELVO patients and outperformed a NIHSS >=6 severity threshold and may
      best allow clinical teams to expedite care and mobilize resources for ELVO
      patients. A larger study to both validate this screening tool and compare with
      others is warranted.

PMID- 26891626
TI  - Extracellular vesicles round off communication in the nervous system.
AB  - Functional neural competence and integrity require interactive exchanges among
      sensory and motor neurons, interneurons and glial cells. Recent studies have
      attributed some of the tasks needed for these exchanges to extracellular vesicles
      (such as exosomes and microvesicles), which are most prominently involved in
      shuttling reciprocal signals between myelinating glia and neurons, thus promoting
      neuronal survival, the immune response mediated by microglia, and synapse
      assembly and plasticity. Such vesicles have also been identified as important
      factors in the spread of neurodegenerative disorders and brain cancer. These
      extracellular vesicle functions add a previously unrecognized level of complexity
      to transcellular interactions within the nervous system. 

PMID- 26891630
TI  - 20 years of JBMT - Changes and continuity.

PMID- 26891628
TI  - L1CAM Expression is Related to Non-Endometrioid Histology, and Prognostic for
      Poor Outcome in Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinoma.
AB  - The majority of endometrial carcinomas are classified as Type I endometrioid
      endometrial carcinomas (EECs) and have a good prognosis. Type II non-endometrioid
      endometrial carcinomas (NEECs) have a significant worse outcome. Yet, 20 % of the
      EECs are associated with an unexplained poor outcome. The aim of this study was
      to determine if L1CAM expression, a recently reported biomarker for aggressive
      tumor behavior in endometrial carcinoma, was associated with clinicopathological
      features of EECs. A total of 103 patients diagnosed as EEC at the Radboud
      University Medical Centre, based on the pathology report were selected. L1CAM
      status of these tumors was determined, and histologic slides were reviewed by two
      expert pathologists. L1CAM-positivity was observed in 17 % (18/103). Review of
      the diagnostic slides revealed that 11 out of these 18 L1CAM-positive tumors (61
      %) contained a serous- or mixed carcinoma component that was not initially
      mentioned in the pathology report. L1CAM-expression was associated with advanced
      age, poor tumor grade, and lymphovascular space invasion. A worse five year
      progression free survival rate was observed for patients with L1CAM-positive
      tumors (55.6 % for the L1CAM-positive group, compared to 83.3 % for the L1CAM
      negative group P = 0.01). L1CAM expression carries prognostic value for
      histologically classified EEC and supports the identification of tumors with a
      NEEC component. 

PMID- 26891629
TI  - In vitro fermentation of alginate and its derivatives by human gut microbiota.
AB  - Alginate (Alg) has a long history as a food ingredient in East Asia. However, the
      human gut microbes responsible for the degradation of alginate and its
      derivatives have not been fully understood yet. Here, we report that alginate and
      the low molecular polymer derivatives of mannuronic acid oligosaccharides (MO)
      and guluronic acid oligosaccharides (GO) can be completely degraded and utilized
      at various rates by fecal microbiota obtained from six Chinese individuals.
      However, the derivative of propylene glycol alginate sodium sulfate (PSS) was not
      hydrolyzed. The bacteria having a pronounced ability to degrade Alg, MO and GO
      were isolated from human fecal samples and were identified as Bacteroides ovatus,
      Bacteroides xylanisolvens, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Alg, MO and GO can
      increase the production level of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), but GO generates
      the highest level of SCFA. Our data suggest that alginate and its derivatives
      could be degraded by specific bacteria in the human gut, providing the basis for
      the impacts of alginate and its derivates as special food additives on human
      health. 

PMID- 26891633
TI  - Effects of unilateral posteroanterior mobilization in subjects with sacralized
      lumbosacral transitional vertebrae.
AB  - AIM OF THE STUDY: To find out the efficacy of unilateral posteroanterior (PA)
      mobilization over type IA and type IIA sacralized lumbosacral transitional
      vertebrae in patients with low back pain with or without leg pain. RESEARCH
      DESIGN: experimental randomized control study. SAMPLE SIZE: 30 subjects,
      SAMPLING: simple random sampling. GROUP A - 15 subjects - self lumbar mobility
      and stretching exercises + Unilateral PA mobilization + hot pack. GROUP B - 15
      subjects - self lumbar mobility and stretching exercises + hot pack. Before
      initiating treatment, subjects were assessed for dependent variables: Pain
      intensity by VAS, Forward bending and side bending ROM by modified finger to
      floor method with the help of an inch-tape and functions by Modified Oswestry
      Functional Disability Questionnaires. Post test measurements were taken after
      completion 2 weeks of therapy. The results of the study suggest that unilateral
      PA pressure is an effective mobilization method in reducing low back pain,
      improving ROM and related disability as compared to impairment based exercises
      alone in patients with low back pain with or without radiation to lower limbs
      having abnormally large transverse processes and hypomobile type IA and IIA lumbo
      sacral transitional vertebrae.

PMID- 26891631
TI  - Muscle timing in injured and non-injured leg of athletes with chronic ankle
      instability in response to a visual stimulus during forward jumping.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate premotor time, motor time and
      reaction time of the injured and non-injured leg muscles of athletes with chronic
      ankle instability in response to a visual stimulus during forward jumping.
      METHODS: Surface electromyography was performed on injured and non-injured leg of
      eight athletes with chronic ankle instability during forward jumping. RESULTS:
      Results showed that premotor time of the peroneus longus was significantly longer
      in non-injured leg compared with injured leg (489.37 +/- 220.22 ms vs. 306.46 +/-
      142.92 ms, P = 0.031); on the contrary, motor time of the peroneus longus was
      significantly shorter in non-injured leg compared with injured leg (569.04 +/-
      318.62 ms vs. 715.12 +/- 328.72 ms, P = 0.022). No significant difference was
      noted in the timing of other calf muscles (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to
      the results of this study, rehabilitation protocols, regarding ankle instability,
      need to put greater emphasis on tasks that require proper timing of muscles and
      muscle re-education so that protocols could reduce residual symptoms after sprain
      and prevent recurrent sprains.

PMID- 26891632
TI  - Training for improved neuro-muscular control of balance in middle aged females.
AB  - This study examined improvements in static balance and muscle electromyographic
      (EMG) activity following a four week progressive training program in 16 middle
      aged females (mean age = 46.9 +/- 8.7 yrs; height 161.1 +/- 6.0 cm; weight 65.4
      +/- 11.2 kg). Participants trained 3 times per week for 4 weeks, for 50 min per
      session, progressing base of support, stability, vision, resistance and torque in
      each of six basic exercises. Pre and post training measures of balance included
      feet together standing, a tandem stance and a one-leg stand (unsupported leg in
      the saggital plane) performed with the eyes closed, and a Stork Stand
      (unsupported leg in the frontal plane) with both eyes open and closed. In each
      position postural deviations were tallied for each individual while muscle
      recruitment was determined using root mean squared (RMS) EMG activity for the
      soleus, biceps femoris, erector spinae, rectus abdominis and internal oblique
      muscles of the dominant foot side. Balance scores were significantly improved
      post training in both the Balance Error Score System (p < 0.05) and stork stand
      positions (p < 0.01). Muscle activity was reduced post-training in all muscles in
      each condition except the soleus in the tandem position, although not all
      significantly. Reduced biceps femoris activity suggest that improved core
      stability allowed participants to move from a hip to an ankle postural control
      strategy through improved coordination of muscles involved in balance and reduced
      body sway. The core muscles were able to control body position with less activity
      post training suggesting improved muscle coordination and efficiency. These
      results suggest that short term progressive floor to BOSUTM balance training can
      improve standing balance in middle aged women.

PMID- 26891634
TI  - Differential activation of scapular muscles, during arm elevation, with and
      without trigger points.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Latent Myofascial Trigger Points (LMTrPs) are defined as certain pain
      free hyperirritable spots in a muscle taut band which lead to muscle activation
      pattern alternation in both loaded and unloaded conditions during scaption. The
      current study aimed to investigate the onset of upward scapular rotator muscle
      activations during rapid arm elevation in three planes of movement in patients
      with upper trapezius LMTrPs compared to healthy control participants. METHOD:
      Three planes of scapular movement were evaluated. The onset of Deltoid (DEL) was
      considered as the starting point in marking the onset of Upper Trapezius (UT) and
      Serratus Anterior (SA) muscle activations. RESULTS: There were significant
      differences in the relative muscle latencies between the LMTrPs and the control
      group. Those with LMTrPs showed a delayed and inconsistent activity of UT during
      all three planes of elevation (p < 0.05) and the same pattern happened for SA
      during flexion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both hosted and synergistic muscles
      experience delay in muscle activation and alterations in their recruitment
      pattern during rapid arm elevation in all planes of movement. These changes may
      serve as adaptive motor control strategies due to the presence of LMTrPs in UT
      muscles.

PMID- 26891635
TI  - Equilibrium in women with osteoporosis submitted to balance training with and
      without an oscillating vibratory pole.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: An eight-week balance training program, with and without oscillation
      of vibratory pole, was shown to have a medium-term persistence effect on the
      performance of elderly physically-active women with osteoporosis. METHODS: The 29
      women who completed the study were randomly separated into two groups: an
      Oscillating Pole Group (OPG; 69.6 +/- 5.8 years; n = 14) and a Non-Oscillating
      Pole Group (NPG; 70.9 +/- 7.4 years; n = 15). The improvement in equilibrium was
      evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale before training, after training and in the
      Follow-Up (eight-weeks after the conclusion of the training). RESULTS AND
      DISCUSSION: The NPG presented both Post-Training (p = .018 relative to pre
      training) and Follow-Up (p = .007) improvements in equilibrium. The improvement
      for OPG was near significant (p = .051 relative to pre-training) in Post-Training
      and significant (p = .038) in the Follow-Up. There were no significant
      differences between Post-Training and Post-Follow-Up (p = .999) for either group
      or in the intergroup comparisons (no statistically-significant effect of
      oscillation of the pole).

PMID- 26891636
TI  - Pilot study of the effects of mixed light touch manual therapies on active duty
      soldiers with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and injury to the head.
AB  - This pilot study was designed to examine the effects of mixed Light Touch Manual
      Therapies (LTMT) on headache, anxiety and other symptoms suffered by active duty
      United States service members experiencing chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
      (PTSD). Ten service members diagnosed with PTSD and having a self-reported injury
      to the head acquired at least two years prior, were provided with two hour-long
      sessions of mixed LTMT given a week apart. Data to assess the immediate and
      durable effects were gathered before and after the LTMT sessions. Results
      indicate that headache, anxiety, and pain interference were significantly reduced
      during the course of the pilot study. This suggests that mixed LTMT may be
      helpful in reducing some of the symptoms of PTSD and injury to the head. Further
      studies will be needed to determine if LTMT is an effective non-pharmacological
      treatment for headache, anxiety or other problems associated with PTSD or injury
      to the head. 

PMID- 26891637
TI  - Range of motion and cervical myofascial pain.
AB  - Several studies investigating myofascial pain syndrome include assessments of
      range of motion (ROM) as a diagnostic criterion. However, the value of ROM in
      this context has not yet been evaluated in controlled clinical studies. We aimed
      to examine whether patients with myofascial pain syndrome display alterations of
      ROM when compared to healthy subjects. Twenty-two individuals (13 females, 9
      males; aged 33.4 +/- 13.9 yrs) afflicted with active myofascial trigger points in
      the upper trapezius muscle as well as 22 age and sex matched healthy controls
      were included. All subjects underwent an examination of maximal active cervical
      ROM in flexion/extension assessed by means of a 3D ultrasonic movement analysis
      system (30 Hz; Zebris CMS 70). In the patients group, pressure pain threshold
      (PPT) of the trigger points was determined using a pressure algometer. Maximum
      range of motion in the sagittal plane did not differ between individuals with
      MTrP (125.9 +/- 23.2 degrees , 95% CI: 116.2-135.6 degrees ) and asymptomatic
      subjects (128.2 +/- 20.4 degrees , 95% CI: 119.7-136.7 degrees ; p > .05). In
      patients, PPT (1.7 +/- .6, 95% CI: 1.5-1.9) was not correlated with cervical
      mobility (r = -.13; p > .05). Based on these pilot data, range of motion in
      flexion/extension is not a valid criterion for the detection of myofascial
      trigger points. Additional research incorporating movement amplitudes in other
      anatomical planes and additional afflicted muscles should be conducted in order
      to further delineate the relative impact of MTrP on range of motion. 

PMID- 26891639
TI  - Walking with a four wheeled walker (rollator) significantly reduces EMG lower
      limb muscle activity in healthy subjects.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of four-wheeled-
      walker(rollator)walking on lower-limb muscle activity and trunk-sway in healthy
      subjects. METHODS: In this cross-sectional design electromyographic (EMG) data
      was collected in six lower-limb muscle groups and trunk-sway was measured as peak
      to-peak angular displacement of the centre-of-mass (level L2/3) in the sagittal
      and frontal-planes using the SwayStar balance system. 19 subjects walked at self
      selected speed firstly without a rollator then in randomised order 1. with
      rollator 2. with rollator with increased weight-bearing. RESULTS: Rollator
      walking caused statistically significant reductions in EMG activity in lower-limb
      muscle groups and effect-sizes were medium to large. Increased weight-bearing
      increased the effect. Trunk-sway in the sagittal and frontal-planes showed no
      statistically significant difference between conditions. CONCLUSION: Rollator
      walking reduces lower-limb muscle activity but trunk-sway remains unchanged as
      stability is likely gained through forces generated by the upper-limbs. Short
      term stability is gained but the long-term effect is unclear and requires
      investigation.

PMID- 26891638
TI  - Bracing and exercise-based treatment for idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Various conservative therapies are available for treating adolescent
      idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), however, the disparities between them and the
      evidence of their efficacy and effectiveness is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To
      evaluate the effectiveness of different conservative treatments on AIS. METHODS:
      A literature-based narrative review of the English language medical literature.
      RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate treatment for each patient should
      be chosen individually and based on various parameters. Bracing has been found to
      be a most effective conservative treatment for AIS. There is limited evidence
      that specific physical exercises also an effective intervention for AIS. Exercise
      based physical therapy, if correctly administered, can prevent a worsening of the
      curve and may decrease need for bracing. In addition, physical exercises were
      found to be the only treatment improving respiratory function. Combining bracing
      with exercise increases treatment efficacy compared with a single treatment.
      Additional, well-designed and good quality studies are required to assess the
      effectiveness of different conservative methods in treating AIS.

PMID- 26891640
TI  - Equipment-based Pilates reduces work-related chronic low back pain and
      disability: A pilot study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated effectiveness of an equipment-based Pilates
      protocol for reducing pain and disability in individuals with work-related
      chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS: Twelve workers with non-specific CLBP
      participated in a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest pilot study of
      supervised 6-week equipment-based Pilates exercise. Pain severity was assessed
      using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Physical function was assessed using
      the Oswestry disability index (ODI). RESULTS: The Pilates intervention
      significantly reduced pain (mean decrease in VAS 30.75 +/- 20.27, p < 0.0001) and
      disability (mean decrease in ODI 11.25 +/- 13.20, p < 0.02) with large and
      borderline large effect sizes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitative Pilates
      exercise reduced pain and disability in workers with CLBP. Further research is
      needed to investigate Pilates exercise for rehabilitation of work-related
      injuries in large populations.

PMID- 26891641
TI  - Basic Body Awareness Therapy for patients with stroke: Experiences among
      participating patients and physiotherapists.
AB  - BACKGROUND: After a stroke many patients have muscle weakness, spasticity and
      compromised sensation leading to decreased postural stability. Basic Body
      Awareness Therapy includes slow movements that challenge postural control. AIM:
      The aim was to describe experiences of 8 weeks of Basic Body Awareness Therapy
      from the perspective of both patients with stroke and physiotherapists. METHOD:
      This study had a qualitative design. Twenty-one patients and four
      physiotherapists were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using manifest
      and latent content analysis. RESULTS: One overall theme emerged "Simple yet
      challenging" which was based on six categories: "Facing one's limitations",
      "Individualized movements", "A feeling of harmony", "Improved balance",
      "Integrated knowledge" and "Frustration and doubt". The patients described
      improvement in balance and stability, as well as increased wellbeing. CONCLUSION:
      The patients and physiotherapists related that Basic Body Awareness Therapy
      challenges balance but also provides an opportunity to reflect on the body.

PMID- 26891642
TI  - Both anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments are adapted while
      catching a ball in unstable standing posture.
AB  - The main objective of this study was to analyze the role of balance exercises on
      anticipatory (APA) and compensatory (CPA) postural adjustments in different
      conditions of postural stability. Sixteen subjects were required to catch a ball
      while standing on rigid floor, trampoline and foam cushion surfaces.
      Electromyographic activities (EMG) of postural muscles were analyzed during time
      windows typical for APAs and CPAs. Overall there were a reciprocal activation of
      the muscles around the ankle and co-activations between ventral and dorsal
      muscles of the thigh and trunk during the catching a ball task. Compared to the
      rigid floor, the tibialis anterior activation was greater during the trampoline
      condition (CPA: p = 0.006) and the soleus muscle inhibition was higher during
      foam cushion condition (APA: p = 0.001; CPA: p = 0.007). Thigh and trunk muscle
      activities were similar across the conditions. These results advance the
      knowledge in postural control during body perturbations standing on unstable
      surfaces. 

PMID- 26891643
TI  - A pilot study of balance performance benefit of myofascial release, with a tennis
      ball, in chronic stroke patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We hypothesised that the balance of spastic chronic stroke patients
      is related to myofascial problems. We performed myofascial release (MFR) with a
      tennis ball on the affected limb, as suggested by Myers. PURPOSE: This study
      investigated the benefits of 8 weeks of MFR using a tennis ball on the balance of
      spastic patients. METHODS: Eight stroke patients were enrolled voluntarily after
      providing informed consent. All subjects received 8-week interventions with MFR
      using a tennis ball three times per week. The patients were evaluated using the
      Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed 'Up & Go' (TUG) test before and after 4 and 8
      weeks of the intervention. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the BBS
      scores (p = 0.001). The TUG time decreased significantly at 4 and 8 weeks (p =
      0.034). CONCLUSION: Myofascial release appears to improve the balance of spastic
      chronic stroke patients; however, further studies should evaluate the effective
      of MFR on walking in stroke patients and determine the mechanism of the effect of
      MFR.

PMID- 26891644
TI  - Multifactoral measures of fall risk in the visually impaired population: A pilot
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of taking multiple measures of visual and
      physical function in adults with visual impairment. A second objective was to
      obtain preliminary data on risk for falls in this population. DESIGN: Cohort
      feasibility study. SETTING: University ambulatory patient care center and
      research center. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of community-dwelling men and
      women over age 18 with visual impairment (n = 12). Thirteen subjects were
      enrolled in the study; one was subsequently excluded due to self-reported
      cognitive decline at time of testing. Subjects were grouped by prospective fall
      incidence. INTERVENTIONS: Verbal education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective
      measures of function; objective measures of visual and physical function.
      RESULTS: Visually impaired adults can safely complete a battery of physical
      functions to predict fall risk. Recent onset of visual impairment was correlated
      with higher fall risk [-0.53 +/- 0.22, p = 0.04]. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible for
      an interdisciplinary team to measure risk for falls in adults with a visual
      impairment. Further investigation is needed to identify predictors of falls in
      adults of all ages with visual impairment.

PMID- 26891645
TI  - Effect of the Pilates method on women with temporomandibular disorders: A study
      protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the influence of temporomandibular
      disorders (TMD) on postural changes, but it is believed that an imbalance in one
      may influence the other. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in the
      level of pain, the severity of TMD, the EMG activity of masticatory muscles and
      posture of young women undergoing training in Pilates, as well as correlating
      postural changes, pain level, severity of TMD and EMG activity of masticatory
      muscles. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial with blinded assessors will
      be held. 40 patients divided randomly into two groups will be assessed. The
      control group will receive conventional treatment with occlusal splint while the
      intervention group, in addition to conventional treatment will participate in
      Pilates sessions. Both groups will consist of women aged 18-35 years with TMD and
      pain. The research follow-up period will be 15 weeks.

PMID- 26891646
TI  - Effects of scapular stabilization exercise on pain related parameters in patients
      with scapulocostal syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of scapular stabilization
      exercise (SSE) on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), muscle tension
      and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS). Thirty-six patients
      were randomly assigned to receive a 30-minute session of either SSE or control
      (relaxed by lying supine quietly) for 12 sessions over a period of 4 weeks. Pain
      intensity, PPT, muscle tension and anxiety were assessed before and after a 4
      week intervention period and 2 weeks after the intervention period. The adverse
      effects were evaluated after completion of the intervention period. Results
      indicated that the SSE group showed a significant improvement in all parameters
      after the intervention period and at 2 weeks after the intervention period (p <
      0.05). For all outcomes, similar changes were not found in the control group. The
      adjusted post-test mean values of each assessment time point for pain intensity,
      muscle tension and anxiety were significantly lower in the SSE group than those
      of the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the values for PPT were significantly
      higher in the SSE group (p > 0.05). There were no reports of adverse effects in
      either group. We therefore conclude that SSE can improve pain related parameters
      and could be an effective intervention for SCS. 

PMID- 26891647
TI  - Effects of the Pilates method on variables related to functionality of a patient
      with traumatic spondylolisthesis at L4-L5: A case study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Traumatic spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 is a rare complication in the
      spine, which impairs variables related to the functionality of the person
      affected. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effects of the Pilates method on strength and
      muscular resistance, flexibility, postural balance and level of pain in a patient
      with traumatic spondylolisthesis at L4-L5. METHODS: The following evaluations
      were performed pre and post-intervention: resistance of the flexor and extensor
      muscles of the trunk; isokinetic peak torque of the extensor and flexor muscles
      of the knee; hip and torso flexibility; static postural balance; and the visual
      analog scale of pain. The treatment consisted of three weekly sessions of
      Pilates, performed over 12 weeks. RESULTS: There was improvement in all the
      tests, except for one variable related to postural balance. CONCLUSIONS: The
      Pilates method was effective for improving muscle resistance and strength,
      flexibility, postural balance and pain, in a patient with traumatic
      spondylolisthesis at L4-L5.

PMID- 26891650
TI  - Fascial nomenclature.

PMID- 26891649
TI  - A fascia and the fascial system.

PMID- 26891648
TI  - Kinesiology taping does not change fibularis longus latency time and postural
      sway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Kinesiology tape seems to improve muscle force, although little is
      known regarding its effect on latency time and postural sway. OBJECTIVES: To
      examine the effects of kinesiology taping on fibularis longus latency time and
      postural sway in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty participants were equally
      randomized into three groups, two experimental groups receiving kinesiology tape
      (EG1, from origin to insertion; EG2, from insertion to origin) and a control
      group. Before and 20-min after the intervention, postural sway was assessed on a
      force platform and fibularis longus latency time was recorded with surface
      electromyography during a sudden inversion perturbation. RESULTS: At baseline, no
      differences were found between groups regarding age, anthropometrics variables,
      postural sway and fibularis longus latency time. In both experimental groups, the
      application of tape did not change postural sway and fibularis longus latency
      time (EG1: 93.7 +/- 15.0 to 89.9 +/- 15.6 ms; EG2, 81.24 +/- 14.21 to 81.57 +/-
      16.64, p < 0.05). Also, no changes were observed in the control group.
      CONCLUSION: Kinesiology tape seems not to enhance fibularis longus reaction time
      and postural sway in young healthy subjects.

PMID- 26891651
TI  - A critical overview of the current myofascial pain literature - January 2016.
AB  - Reflecting on the past year, the number of publications on myofascial pain
      continues to increase in a steady rate. The current review includes 30 basic and
      clinical studies, case reports, reviews, and reports from fifteen different
      countries about trigger points (TrP), myofascial pain (MP), dry needling (DN) and
      other related interventions. We are pleased that during 2015 this article made
      the top 15 of most downloaded articles as many as three times! In general, the
      quality of published papers is improving as well. Nevertheless, several papers
      included in this overview, mention the application of "ischemic compression",
      which is a questionable concept in the context of TrP inactivation. As we have
      outlined previously, in the current thinking about myofascial pain, TrPs feature
      significant hypoxia and a lowered pH (Ballyns et al., 2011; Shah and Gilliams,
      2008), and attempts to induce more ischemia would be counterproductive. Already
      in 1999, Simons, Travell and Simons changed the terminology from ischemic
      compression to TrP compression (Simons et al., 1999) and we recommend that
      contemporary researchers and clinicians adopt the new terminology and stop using
      the term "ischemic compression." 

PMID- 26891652
TI  - Prevalence and characteristics of women who consult with osteopathic
      practitioners during pregnancy; a report from the Australian Longitudinal Study
      on Women's Health (ALSWH).
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIM: The use of complementary medicine (CM) is common during pregnancy
      with visits to osteopathic practitioners growing in recent years. This study was
      conducted to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of women who consult
      osteopathic practitioners during pregnancy. METHOD: The study sample was obtained
      via the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). The women
      answered questions about consultations with osteopathic practitioners, pregnancy
      related health concerns and attitudes to CM use. RESULTS: A total response rate
      of 79.2% (1835) was obtained. Of these, 104 women (6.1%) consulted with an
      osteopath during pregnancy for a pregnancy-related health condition. Women were
      more likely to consult an osteopath if they suffered from back pain, sadness,
      weight management issues, or had a history of retained placenta. CONCLUSION:
      Women are visiting osteopaths for help with common pregnancy health complaints,
      highlighting the need for research to evaluate the safety, clinical and cost
      effectiveness of osteopathy in pregnancy.

PMID- 26891653
TI  - New is the well-forgotten old: The use of dry cupping in musculoskeletal
      medicine.
AB  - Cupping is an ancient technique used in treating pain and various disorders.
      Different techniques have been developed over time, however, applying a cup to
      create suction over a painful area, is common to all. Dry or fire cupping, used
      on the intact skin, leaves bluish circular hematomas. Recently, interest in
      cupping has re-emerged and subsequently, several studies have begun to
      investigate the mechanisms of cupping therapy. Mechanically, cupping increases
      blood circulation, whereas physiologically it activates the immune system and
      stimulates the mechanosensitive fibers, thus leading to a reduction in pain.
      There is initial scientific evidence that dry cupping is able to reduce
      musculoskeletal pain. Since cupping is an inexpensive, noninvasive and low-risk
      (if performed by a trained practitioner) therapeutic modality, we believe that it
      should be included in the arsenal of musculoskeletal medicine. It is essential to
      perform additional studies clarifying the biological mechanism and clinical
      effects of cupping. 

PMID- 26891654
TI  - Dynamic tape. Is it all about controlling load?

PMID- 26891655
TI  - A tailored exercise program versus general exercise for a subgroup of patients
      with low back pain and movement control impairment: Short-term results of a
      randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Exercise is an effective treatment for patients with sub-acute and
      chronic low back pain (LBP). Patients with a movement control impairment (MCI)
      can be diagnosed as a subgroup of patients with LBP. Unknown is which exercise
      intervention is most beneficial for this subgroup. This study assessed the short
      term effect of a specific exercise program targeting movement control impairment
      versus general exercise treatment on disability in patients with LBP and MCI.
      METHODS: In a multicentre parallel group randomised controlled pragmatic trial,
      patients with sub-acute and chronic LBP were included. Further inclusion criteria
      were disability of >=5 points on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and
      >=2 positive tests out of a set of 6 movement control impairment tests. A total
      of 106 patients were randomly assigned to either tailored movement control
      exercise intervention (MC, n = 52) or a general exercise intervention (GE, n =
      54); both 9-18 individual treatment sessions, over a maximum of 12 weeks. The
      primary outcome was disability measured with the Patient Specific Functional
      scale (PSFS). Secondary outcome was the Roland-Morris disability scale (RMDQ).
      Measurements were taken pre- and posttreatment. RESULTS: No significant
      difference was found following the treatment period. Baseline-adjusted between
      group mean difference for the PSFS was 0.5 (SD = 0.5; p = 0.32) in favour of MC
      exercises. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire revealed a significant, but
      not clinically relevant, between-group difference of 2.0 points (SD = 0.8; p =
      0.01). CONCLUSION: Disability in LBP patients was reduced considerably by both
      interventions. However, the limited contrast between the two exercise programs
      may have influenced outcomes.

PMID- 26891658
TI  - The Windowpane Squat.

PMID- 26891656
TI  - Influence of kinesio tape application direction on peak force of biceps brachii
      muscle: A repeated measurement study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: According to the kinesio tape (KT) method, proximal-to-distal (P-to
      D) application of KT should facilitate muscle activity (increase strength),
      distal-to- proximal (D-to-P) should decrease muscle activity (decrease strength)
      and applications in other directions should not influence muscle strength.
      OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of KT application direction on peak force of
      biceps brachii in healthy subjects. METHODS: 16 students participated in a single
      group repeated measurements study. KT was applied randomly on both anterior arms
      as follows: no KT; P-to-D; D-to-P; or two horizontal stripes. Peak force of
      biceps was measured after each application by a blinded investigator. RESULTS: No
      difference in biceps peak force was found after evaluating no KT, P-to-D and D-to
      P. After the horizontal application, peak force was found statistically
      significantly higher than in the other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional
      assumptions of the KT method, suggesting that P-to-D application stimulates
      muscle and D-to-P relaxes the muscle, seem to be false. However, we do confirm
      that applying KT in various directions differently effects muscle strength.

PMID- 26891657
TI  - Correlation between deep cervical flexor muscle thickness at rest and
      sternocleidomastoid activity during the craniocervical flexion test.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the thickness
      of the deep cervical flexor muscles (longus capitis and longus colli) at rest and
      sternocleidomastoid activity during the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT).
      Thirteen healthy males participated in this study. The thickness of the deep
      cervical flexor muscles was measured by ultrasound imaging in a relaxed supine
      position. Activity of the sternocleidomastoid was measured by electromyography
      during the CCFT at five incremental levels (22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 mm Hg).
      Correlations between normalized muscle thickness relative to body mass index and
      sternocleidomastoid activity were determined. Significant negative correlations
      were observed between normalized muscle thickness and activity of the
      sternocleidomastoid at 26 (r = -0.622, P = 0.023) and 28 mmHg (r = -0.653, P =
      0.015). Individuals with smaller deep cervical flexor muscles exhibited increased
      activity in the sternocleidomastoid during the CCFT. 

PMID- 26891659
TI  - Radiologic Percutaneous Gastrostomy in Nondistended Stomach: A Modified Approach.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gastrostomy tube placement for patients requiring long-term
      nutritional support may be performed using different techniques including
      endoscopic, surgical, and percutaneous radiologically guided methods.
      Radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG), typically performed when percutaneous
      endoscopic gastrostomy is not possible, requires proper gastric distension that
      is achieved by insufflating air through a nasogastric tube. We describe a simple
      technique to prevent air escape from the stomach during gastrostomy tube
      placement. To the best of our knowledge, this technique has not yet been
      described in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with
      unsuccessful percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy were referred for fluoroscopic
      guided gastrostomy. One patient had a pyriform sinus tumor and three had an
      ischemic stroke causing dysphagia. Gastric distention was not achieved in the
      patients due to air escaping into the bowel during the standard RIG procedure. A
      modified approach using a balloon catheter inflated in the pylorus to avoid air
      passing into the duodenum permitted successful RIG. RESULTS: The modified RIG
      procedure was successfully carried out in all cases without complications.
      DISCUSSION: Inadequate air distension of the stomach is an unusual event that
      causes a failure of gastrostomy tube placement and an increased risk of both
      major and minor complications. The use of a balloon catheter inflated in the
      first part of the duodenum prevents the air passage into the bowel allowing the
      correct positioning of the gastrostomy.

PMID- 26891660
TI  - Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor-beta is Differentially Regulated in
      Primary Mouse Pericytes and Brain Slices.
AB  - Pericytes are perivascular cells and have heterogenous roles in the brain, such
      as controlling blood flow and entry of immune cells or regulating the blood-brain
      barrier. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-beta (PDGFRbeta) is
      highly expressed in pericytes, representing the most selective biomarker. The aim
      of the present study was to culture primary mouse pericytes and to determine the
      expression pattern by Western Blot as well as immunostainings. We will study the
      effects of different exogenous stimuli (such as transforming growth factor-beta
      (TGFbeta1), PDGF-BB, oxygendeprivation, beta-amyloid or serumfree conditions) on
      the different pericyte markers. Using Western Blot analyses, we show that
      PDGFRbeta is selectively expressed in pericytes as a 160 kDa protein. Nestin,
      although not exclusively specific, is also expressed by pericytes, but markedly
      downregulated under serum-free conditions. PDGF-BB and oxygen-deprivation
      dramatically reduced PDGFRbeta expression, while TGFbeta1 increased its
      expression. The expression of PDGFRbeta was intracellular as shown by confocal
      microscopy. Using Western Blot analyses, we demonstrate that pericytes also
      contain a 100 kDa PDGFRbeta protein. However, in contrast to cortex brain slices,
      pericytes do not express a phosphorylated (Y740) isoform. Interestingly, PDGF-BB
      markedly reduced the 160 kDa isoform of PDGFRbeta. In conclusion, our data show a
      detailed expression of different forms of PDGFRbeta in primary pericytes, which
      is different to brain slices. However, we suggest that PDGFRbeta is a highly
      selective marker for pericytes. 

PMID- 26891661
TI  - Biomarkers in Post-stroke Depression.
AB  - Depression is the most frequent neuropsychiatric complication after a stroke.
      Post-stroke depression has a significant impact on the outcome and prognosis of
      affected patients. Its diagnosis is complex and currently based only on clinical
      parameters. In recent years, efforts have been made to find biomarkers related to
      post-stroke outcomes, including complications such as depression. We carried out
      a systematic review of the literature looking for studies that investigated
      biomarkers associated with post-stroke depression (PSD) in Medline, Lilacs and
      PsycInfo databases. The results of 37 studies are discussed, describing the
      evidence for each evaluated biomarker. In conclusion, no evidence was found
      supporting the use of a particular biomarker for PSD. However, several changes
      were observed in inflammatory balance, oxidative stress, glutamatergic
      neurotransmission, production of neurotrophic factors, and genetic susceptibility
      that can be related to PSD. Research in the area of post-stroke biomarkers has
      the potential to provide personalized approach of stroke patients, also aiding in
      the diagnosis and understanding of the pathophysiology of this common
      neuropsychiatric complication. 

PMID- 26891662
TI  - Antioxidant Therapy Alters Brain MAPK-JNK and BDNF Signaling Path-ways in
      Experimental Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the effects of treatment with the
      antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and deferoxamine (DFX) in intracellular
      pathways in the brain of diabetic rats. To conduct this study we induced diabetes
      in Wistar rats with a single injection of alloxan, and afterwards rats were
      treated with NAC or DFX for 14 days. Following treatment completion, the
      immunocontent of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mitogen-activated protein kinase
      38 (MAPK38), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and protein kinases A and
      C (PKA and PKC) were determined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus,
      amygdala and nucleus accumbens (NAc). DFX treatment increased JNK content in the
      PFC and NAc of diabetic rats. In the amygdala, JNK was increased in diabetics
      treated with saline or NAC. MAPK38 was decreased in the PFC of control and in
      diabetic rats treated with NAC or DFX; and in the NAc in all groups. PKA was
      decreased in the PFC with DFX treatment. In the amygdala, PKA content was
      increased in diabetic rats treated with either saline or NAC, compared to
      controls; and it was decreased in either NAC or DFX-treated groups, compared to
      saline-treated diabetic animals. In the NAc, PKA was increased in NAC-treated
      diabetic rats. PKC was increased in the amygdala of NAC-treated diabetic rats. In
      the PFC, the BDNF levels were decreased following treatment with DFX in diabetic
      rats. In the hippocampus of diabetic rats the BDNF levels were decreased.
      However, treatment with DFX reversed this effect. In the amygdala the BDNF
      increased with DFX in non-diabetic rats. In the NAc DFX treatment increased the
      BDNF levels in diabetic rats. In conclusion, both diabetes and treatment with
      antioxidants were able to alter intracellular pathways involved in the regulation
      of cell survival in a brain area and treatment-dependent fashion. 

PMID- 26891663
TI  - Knockdown of B7-H6 inhibits tumor progression and enhances chemosensitivity in B
      cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
AB  - B7 homologue 6 (B7-H6) is a new member of the B7 family molecules and is
      selectively expressed on tumor cells, especially in hematologic malignancies.
      However, the role of B7-H6 in lymphoma progression and chemosensitivity remains
      unclear. We determined the effects of downregulating B7-H6 expression on
      tumorigenesis and chemosensitivity in B-cell lymphoma. Stable B7-H6 knockdown in
      CA46 cells was established with a lentiviral system. The expression of mRNA was
      measured by PCR while protein expression was detected by western blotting and
      flow cytometry. Cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were
      analyzed using CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometry assays, respectively.
      Cell migration and invasion were determined using the Transwell chamber assay. B7
      H6 was widely expressed in B-cell lymphomas. Knockdown of B7-H6 inhibited cell
      proliferation, colony formation and migration and invasion of lymphoma cells.
      After B7-H6 silencing, CA46 cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase. Moreover, the
      silencing of B7-H6 increased cell apoptosis and sensitivity to vincristine and
      dexamethasone. Investigation of expression of downstream targets of STAT3
      supported a theory in which B7-H6 knockdown may confer an antitumor effect via
      abrogation of the STAT3 pathway. This study demonstrates that B7-H6 plays an
      important role in the pathogenesis and chemosensitivity of lymphoma. B7-H6 is
      therefore a potential clinical biomarker and therapeutic target in B-cell
      lymphomas. 

PMID- 26891664
TI  - Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome by ethambutol: A case report.

PMID- 26891665
TI  - Erratum to: Tumor suppressor miR-145 reverses drug resistance by directly
      targeting DNA damage-related gene RAD18 in colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26891666
TI  - Regulation of proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis in hepatocellular
      carcinoma by miR-26b-5p.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and
      apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-26b has been confirmed as an
      important regulator in carcinogenesis and other pathological processes. miR-26b
      5p is one member of the mature miR-26 family, and its functional role in
      proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis in HCC remains unknown. Here, we
      demonstrate that miR-26b-5p expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues
      and HCC cell lines compared with normal liver tissues and liver cells by
      quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationships
      between miR-26b-5p and the clinical characteristics of HCC patients were further
      analysed, and miR-26b-5p was positively correlated with the differentiation of
      HCC cells. Computational searches were further used to identify the downstream
      targets and signalling pathways of miR-26b-5p in HCC cells. Cell viability,
      proliferation and tube formation abilities were assessed by scrape, 3-(4,5
      dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and three-dimensional
      culture assays to confirm that miR-26b-5p inhibited HCC cell growth and impaired
      the tube formation ability of the HCC cells. Both in vitro and in vivo studies
      showed that miR-26b-5p could suppress vascular mimicry (VM) and angiogenesis by
      down-regulating the expression of VE-cadherin, Snail and MMP2 and could inhibit
      the apoptosis of HCC cells. Using mouse models, we revealed that tumours derived
      from miR-26b-5p-expressing HCC cells displayed a significant decrease in
      microvessel density compared with those derived from control cells. Therefore,
      our data provide further insight into the role of miR-26b-5p as a negative
      regulator of proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in HCC. 

PMID- 26891668
TI  - Diallyl disulfide induces apoptosis and autophagy via mTOR pathway in myeloid
      leukemic cell line.
AB  - Leukemia is a hematological malignancy which is produced by uncontrolled
      proliferation of leukocyte precursors. Currently, alternative medicines, using
      herb extracts, have been developed for cancer treatment. In this study, the
      effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on the induction of apoptosis and autophagy
      was investigated in K562 and NB4 myeloid leukemia cells. Leukemia cells were
      treated with various concentrations of DADS for 24 and 48 h. The percentage of
      cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. The percentages of apoptosis and
      autophagy were analyzed by staining with annexin-FITC and anti-LC3 FITC
      conjugated antibodies, respectively. Then, the stained cells were detected by
      flow cytometry. In addition, PP242, a mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR)
      inhibitor, was used to study the involvement of the mTOR pathway in DADS-induced
      apoptosis and autophagy. mTOR mRNA expression was measured by real-time PCR. The
      results showed that DADS decreased cell viability and increased the percentage of
      cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. mTOR expression was
      significantly decreased in DADS- and mTOR inhibitor-treated cells. The highest
      percentages of apoptosis and autophagy were shown in cells treated with 100
      MUg/ml DADS combined with 10 MUM of the mTOR inhibitor. According to our results,
      DADS could induce apoptosis and autophagy via the mTOR pathway in both K562 and
      NB4 myeloid leukemia cell lines. 

PMID- 26891667
TI  - Platinum-zoledronate complex blocks gastric cancer cell proliferation by inducing
      cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
AB  - A series of novel dinuclear platinum complexes based on the bisphosphonate
      ligands have been synthesized and characterized in our recent study. For the
      purpose of discovering the pharmacology and action mechanisms of this kind of
      compounds, the most potent compound [Pt(en)]2ZL was selected for systematic
      investigation. In the present study, the inhibition effect on the human gastric
      cancer cell lines SGC7901 and action mechanism of [Pt(en)]2ZL were investigated.
      The traditional 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2-tetrazolium bromide
      (MTT) assay and colony formation assay were carried out to study the effect of
      [Pt(en)]2ZL on the cell viability and proliferation capacity, respectively. The
      senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining and immunofluorescence staining
      were also performed to assess the cell senescence and microtubule polymerization.
      Fluorescence staining and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to monitor the cell
      cycle distribution and apoptosis, and Western blot analysis was applied to
      examine the expression of several apoptosis-related proteins. The results
      demonstrated that [Pt(en)]2ZL exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity and anti
      proliferative effects on the SGC7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner,
      and it also induced cell senescence and abnormal microtubule assembly. The cell
      apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by [Pt(en)]2ZL were also observed with
      the fluorescence staining and FCM. The expressions of cell cycle regulators (p53,
      p21, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2) and apoptosis
      related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and
      survivin) were regulated by the treatment of [Pt(en)]2ZL, resulting in the cell
      cycle arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, [Pt(en)]2ZL exerted anti-tumor effect on
      the gastric cancer via inducing cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase and apoptosis. 

PMID- 26891669
TI  - A new evaluation of heat distribution on facial skin surface by infrared
      thermography.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the facial areas defined by
      thermal gradient, in individuals compatible with the pattern of normality, and to
      quantify and describe them anatomically. METHODS: The sample consisted of 161
      volunteers, of both genders, aged between 26 and 84 years (63 +/- 15 years).
      RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the thermal gradient areas suggested for
      the study were present in at least 95% of the thermograms evaluated and that
      there is significant difference in temperature between the genders, racial group
      and variables "odontalgia", "dental prothesis" and "history of migraine" (p <
      0.05). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in the
      absolute temperatures between ages, and right and left sides of the face, in
      individuals compatible with the pattern of normality (DeltaT = 0.11 degrees C).
      CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that according to the suggested areas of
      thermal gradients, these were present in at least 95% of all the thermograms
      evaluated, and the areas of high intensity found in the face were medial
      palpebral commissure, labial commissure, temporal, supratrochlear and external
      acoustic meatus, whereas the points of low intensity were inferior labial,
      lateral palpebral commissure and nasolabial.

PMID- 26891670
TI  - Molecular aspects of monoamine oxidase B.
AB  - Monoamine oxidases (MAO) influence the monoamine levels in brain by virtue of
      their role in neurotransmitter breakdown. MAO B is the predominant form in glial
      cells and in platelets. MAO B structure, function and kinetics are described as a
      background for the effect of alterations in its activity on behavior. The need to
      inhibit MAO B to combat decreased brain amines continues to drive the search for
      new drugs. Reversible and irreversible inhibitors are now designed using data
      mining, computational screening, docking and molecular dynamics. Multi-target
      ligands designed to combat the elevated activity of MAO B in Alzheimer's and
      Parkinson's Diseases incorporate MAO inhibition (usually irreversible) as well as
      iron chelation, antioxidant or neuroprotective properties. The main focus of drug
      design is the catalytic activity of MAO, but the imidazoline I2 site in the
      entrance cavity of MAO B is also a pharmacological target. Endogenous regulation
      of MAO B expression is discussed briefly in light of new studies measuring mRNA,
      protein, or activity in healthy and degenerative samples, including the effect of
      DNA methylation on the expression. Overall, this review focuses on examples of
      recent research on the molecular aspects of the expression, activity, and
      inhibition of MAO B.

PMID- 26891671
TI  - Clinics in diagnostic imaging (165). Oesophageal rupture secondary to malposition
      of an SB tube gastric balloon.
AB  - Oesophageal rupture is a life-threatening complication of balloon tamponade for
      bleeding oesophageal varices. We herein describe the clinical course and imaging
      findings in a 33-year-old Indian man who had a Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube
      inserted for uncontrolled haematemesis, which was unfortunately complicated by
      malposition of the gastric balloon with resultant oesophageal rupture. The
      inflated SB tube gastric balloon was visualised within the right hemithorax on
      chest radiography after the SB tube insertion. Further evaluation of the thorax
      on computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of oesophageal rupture associated
      with right-sided haemopneumothorax. It is crucial for both the referring
      clinician and reporting radiologist to recognise early the imaging features of an
      incorrectly positioned SB tube gastric balloon, so as to ensure prompt
      intervention and a reduction in patient morbidity and mortality. 

PMID- 26891672
TI  - Evidence of a complex species controlling the setting reaction of glass ionomer
      cements.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanism(s) responsible for the profound impact
      germanium has on the setting reaction of zinc silicate glass ionomer cements
      (GICs). METHODS: Five <45MUm glass powder compositions (0.48-xSiO2, xGeO2, 0.36
      ZnO, 0.16 CaO; where x=0.12, 0.24, 0.36, 0.48mol. fraction) were synthesized.
      Glass degradation was assessed under simulated setting conditions using acetic
      acid from 0.5 to 60min, monitoring the concentrations of ions released using ICP
      OES. Subsequently, GICs were prepared by mixing fresh glass powders with
      polyacrylic acid (PAA, Mw=12,500g/mol, 50wt% aq. solution) at a 1:0.75 ratio.
      Cement structure and properties were evaluated using ATR-FTIR and rheology (for
      60min), as well as 24h biaxial flexural strength. RESULTS: Reduced Si:Ge ratios
      yielded faster degrading glasses, yet contrary to expectation, the corresponding
      ATR-FTIR spectra indicated slower crosslinking within the GIC matrix. Rheology
      testing found the initial viscosity cement pastes reduced with decreased Si:Ge,
      and Ge containing cements all set significantly slower than the Si based GIC.
      Interestingly, biaxial flexural strength remained consistent regardless of
      setting behavior. SIGNIFICANCE: This counter-intuitive combination of behaviors
      is attributed to the presence of a chemical complex species specific to Ge
      containing glasses that delays, but does not hinder, the formation of the GIC
      matrix. These findings embody chemical complex species as a mechanism to decouple
      glass reactivity from cement setting rate, a mechanism with the potential to
      enhance the utility of GICs in both dental and orthopaedic applications.

PMID- 26891673
TI  - Pigment Degradation in Oil Paint Induced by Indoor Climate: Comparison of Visual
      and Computational Backscattered Electron Images.
AB  - For the first time the degradation of lead white pigment in mature oil paint has
      been used as an internal marker for the degree of saponification and hence
      chemical degradation of oil paint. Computational image analysis of the
      backscattered electron images quantified the degree of the intact lead white
      pigment versus the nonpigmented and lead-rich areas (degraded lead white) in the
      paint layers. This new methodology was applied to a series of paint samples taken
      from four painted wall hangings (dated 1778), which makes it possible to study
      the influence of indoor climate on chemical degradation of aged oil paintings.
      The visual interpretation and computational image analysis of the backscattered
      electron images revealed clear trends. The highest degree of lead white
      degradation in the room was found in samples from the north wall close to the
      windows, whereas degradation diminished further away from the window. Lead white
      from the south wall was less degraded, but showed a similar trend as in the
      paintings on the north wall. These results imply a strong relationship between
      chemical degradation of paint and location of the paint in the room. 

PMID- 26891674
TI  - Is mechanical ventilation a cure for ARDS?

PMID- 26891675
TI  - Risk of oxalate nephropathy with the use of cyanide antidote hydroxocobalamin in
      critically ill burn patients.

PMID- 26891676
TI  - Sensitivity and specificity of Critical Care Pain Observation Tool used for
      intubated patients following open-heart surgery.

PMID- 26891678
TI  - Acquisition of dental skills in preclinical technique courses: influence of
      spatial and manual abilities.
AB  - Sixty years of research have not added up to a concordant evaluation of the
      influence of spatial and manual abilities on dental skill acquisition. We used
      Ackerman's theory of ability determinants of skill acquisition to explain the
      influence of spatial visualization and manual dexterity on the task performance
      of dental students in two consecutive preclinical technique courses. We measured
      spatial and manual abilities of applicants to Hamburg Dental School by means of a
      multiple choice test on Technical Aptitude and a wire-bending test, respectively.
      Preclinical dental technique tasks were categorized as consistent-simple and
      inconsistent-complex based on their contents. For analysis, we used robust
      regression to circumvent typical limitations in dental studies like small sample
      size and non-normal residual distributions. We found that manual, but not spatial
      ability exhibited a moderate influence on the performance in consistent-simple
      tasks during dental skill acquisition in preclinical dentistry. Both abilities
      revealed a moderate relation with the performance in inconsistent-complex tasks.
      These findings support the hypotheses which we had postulated on the basis of
      Ackerman's work. Therefore, spatial as well as manual ability are required for
      the acquisition of dental skills in preclinical technique courses. These results
      support the view that both abilities should be addressed in dental admission
      procedures in addition to cognitive measures. 

PMID- 26891680
TI  - Pollution characterization of liquid waste of the factory complex Fertial (Arzew,
      Algeria).
AB  - The industrial development in Algeria has made a worrying situation for all
      socioeconomic stakeholders. Indeed, this economic growth is marked in recent
      years by the establishment of factories and industrial plants that discharge
      liquid waste in marine shorelines. These releases could destabilize the
      environmental balance in the coming years, hence the need to support the
      processing of all sources of pollution. Remediation of such discharges requires
      several steps of identifying the various pollutants to their treatments.
      Therefore, the authors conducted this first work of characterization of
      industrial effluents generated by the mineral fertilizer factory complex Fertial
      (Arzew), and discussed the pollution load generated by this type of industry.
      This monitoring would establish a tool for reflection and decision support
      developed by a management system capable of ensuring effective and sustainable
      management of effluents from industrial activities of Fertial. IMPLICATIONS: The
      authors conducted this first work of characterization of industrial effluents
      generated by the mineral fertilizer factory complex Fertial (Arzew), and
      discussed the pollution load generated by this type of industry. This monitoring
      would establish a tool for reflection and decision support developed by a
      management system capable of ensuring effective and sustainable management of
      effluents from industrial activities of Fertial.

PMID- 26891677
TI  - Higher versus lower blood pressure targets for vasopressor therapy in shock: a
      multicentre pilot randomized controlled trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: In shock, hypotension may contribute to inadequate oxygen delivery,
      organ failure and death. We conducted the Optimal Vasopressor Titration (OVATION)
      pilot trial to inform the design of a larger trial examining the effect of lower
      versus higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) targets for vasopressor therapy in
      shock. METHODS: We randomly assigned critically ill patients who were presumed to
      suffer from vasodilatory shock regardless of admission diagnosis to a lower (60
      65 mmHg) versus a higher (75-80 mmHg) MAP target. The primary objective was to
      measure the separation in MAP between groups. We also recorded days with protocol
      deviations, enrolment rate, cardiac arrhythmias and mortality for prespecified
      subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were enrolled from 11 centres (2.3
      patients/site/month of screening). The between-group separation in MAP was 9 mmHg
      (95% CI 7-11). In the lower and higher MAP groups, we observed deviations on 12
      versus 8% of all days on vasopressors (p = 0.059). Risks of cardiac arrhythmias
      (20 versus 36%, p = 0.07) and hospital mortality (30 versus 33%, p = 0.84) were
      not different between lower and higher MAP arms. Among patients aged 75 years or
      older, a lower MAP target was associated with reduced hospital mortality (13
      versus 60%, p = 0.03) but not in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study
      supports the feasibility of a large trial comparing lower versus higher MAP
      targets for shock. Further research may help delineate the reasons for
      vasopressor dosing in excess of prescribed targets and how individual patient
      characteristics modify the response to vasopressor therapy.

PMID- 26891679
TI  - The attributes of an effective teacher differ between the classroom and the
      clinical setting.
AB  - Most training programs use learners' subjective ratings of their teachers as the
      primary measure of teaching effectiveness. In a recent study we found that
      preclinical medical students' ratings of classroom teachers were associated with
      perceived charisma and physical attractiveness of the teacher, but not intellect.
      Here we explored whether the relationship between these variables and teaching
      effectiveness ratings holds in the clinical setting. We asked 27 Internal
      Medicine residents to rate teaching effectiveness of ten teachers with whom they
      had worked on a clinical rotation, in addition to rating each teacher's clinical
      skills, physical attractiveness, and charisma. We used linear regression to study
      the association between these explanatory variables and teaching effectiveness
      ratings. We found no association between rating of physical attractiveness and
      teaching effectiveness. Clinical skill and charisma were independently associated
      with rating of teaching effectiveness (regression coefficients [95 % confidence
      interval] 0.73 [0.60, 0.85], p < 0.001 and 0.12 [0.01, 0.23], p = 0.03,
      respectively). The variables associated with effectiveness of classroom and
      clinical teachers differ, suggesting context specificity in teaching
      effectiveness ratings. Context specificity may be explained by differences in the
      exposure that learners have to teachers in the classroom versus clinical setting
      so that raters in the clinical setting may base ratings upon observed behaviours
      rather than stereotype data. Alternatively, since subjective ratings of teaching
      effectiveness inevitably incorporate learners' context-specific needs, the
      attributes that make a teacher effective in one context may not meet the needs of
      learners in a different context. 

PMID- 26891681
TI  - Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy open lot and manure stockpile in northern
      China: A case study.
AB  - The open lots and manure stockpiles of dairy farm are major sources of greenhouse
      gas (GHG) emissions in typical dairy cow housing and manure management system in
      China. GHG (CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O) emissions from the ground level of brick
      paved open lots and uncovered manure stockpiles were estimated according to the
      field measurements of a typical dairy farm in Beijing by closed chambers in four
      consecutive seasons. Location variation and manure removal strategy impacts were
      assessed on GHG emissions from the open lots. Estimated CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O
      emissions from the ground level of the open lots were 137.5+/-64.7 kg hd(-1) yr(
      1), 0.45+/-0.21 kg hd(-1) yr(-1) and 0.13+/-0.08 kg hd(-1) yr(-1), respectively.
      There were remarkable location variations of GHG emissions from different zones
      (cubicle zone vs. aisle zone) of the open lot. However, the emissions from the
      whole open lot were less affected by the locations. After manure removal, lower
      CH(4) but higher N(2)O emitted from the open lot. Estimated CO(2), CH(4) and
      N(2)O emissions from stockpile with a stacking height of 55+/-12 cm were 858.9+/
      375.8 kg hd(-1) yr(-1), 8.5+/-5.4 kg hd(-1) yr(-1) and 2.3+/-1.1 kg hd(-1) yr(
      1), respectively. In situ storage duration, which estimated by manure volatile
      solid contents (VS), would affect GHG emissions from stockpiles. Much higher
      N(2)O was emitted from stockpiles in summer due to longer manure storage.
      IMPLICATIONS: This study deals with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from open lots
      and stockpiles. It's an increasing area of concern in some livestock producing
      countries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology is
      commonly used for estimation of national GHG emission inventories. There is a
      shortage of on-farm information to evaluate the accuracy of these equations and
      default emission factors. This work provides valuable information for improving
      accounting practices within China or for similar manure management practice in
      other countries.

PMID- 26891682
TI  - Weak localization effect in topological insulator micro flakes grown on
      insulating ferrimagnet BaFe12O19.
AB  - Many exotic physics anticipated in topological insulators require a gap to be
      opened for their topological surface states by breaking time reversal symmetry.
      The gap opening has been achieved by doping magnetic impurities, which however
      inevitably create extra carriers and disorder that undermine the electronic
      transport. In contrast, the proximity to a ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic insulator
      may improve the device quality, thus promises a better way to open the gap while
      minimizing the side-effects. Here, we grow thin single-crystal Sb1.9Bi0.1Te3
      micro flakes on insulating ferrimagnet BaFe12O19 by using the van der Waals
      epitaxy technique. The micro flakes show a negative magnetoresistance in weak
      perpendicular fields below 50 K, which can be quenched by increasing temperature.
      The signature implies the weak localization effect as its origin, which is absent
      in intrinsic topological insulators, unless a surface state gap is opened. The
      surface state gap is estimated to be 10 meV by using the theory of the gap
      induced weak localization effect. These results indicate that the magnetic
      proximity effect may open the gap for the topological surface attached to BaM
      insulating ferrimagnet. This heterostructure may pave the way for the realization
      of new physical effects as well as the potential applications of spintronics
      devices.

PMID- 26891684
TI  - Determination of a steroid profile in heel prick blood using LC-MS/MS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to improve the sensitivity of the
      congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) neonatal screening by including second-tier
      steroid profiling on a DBS using LC-MS. RESULTS: We developed a method to measure
      the steroid profile in DBS and established gestational age-specific reference
      ranges of cortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, 17
      hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, Delta4-androstenedione, corticosterone and 11
      deoxycorticosterone using 450 heel prick samples of neonates, participating in
      the Dutch Screening Program. Analyzing 92 cards with a positive CAH screening
      showed that only 21-deoxycortisol was 100% specific for diagnosed CAH patients.
      CONCLUSION: Steroid precursors can be measured in DBS and we suggest to implement
      the method as a second tier testing for CAH in The Netherlands.

PMID- 26891683
TI  - Diverse drug-resistance mechanisms can emerge from drug-tolerant cancer persister
      cells.
AB  - Cancer therapy has traditionally focused on eliminating fast-growing populations
      of cells. Yet, an increasing body of evidence suggests that small subpopulations
      of cancer cells can evade strong selective drug pressure by entering a
      'persister' state of negligible growth. This drug-tolerant state has been
      hypothesized to be part of an initial strategy towards eventual acquisition of
      bona fide drug-resistance mechanisms. However, the diversity of drug-resistance
      mechanisms that can expand from a persister bottleneck is unknown. Here we
      compare persister-derived, erlotinib-resistant colonies that arose from a single,
      EGFR-addicted lung cancer cell. We find, using a combination of large-scale drug
      screening and whole-exome sequencing, that our erlotinib-resistant colonies
      acquired diverse resistance mechanisms, including the most commonly observed
      clinical resistance mechanisms. Thus, the drug-tolerant persister state does not
      limit--and may even provide a latent reservoir of cells for--the emergence of
      heterogeneous drug-resistance mechanisms.

PMID- 26891685
TI  - Boldine suppresses dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse experimental colitis: NF
      kappaB and IL-6/STAT3 as potential targets.
AB  - Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a nonspecific inflammatory disorder characterized by
      oxidative and nitrosative stress, leucocyte infiltration, and upregulation of
      inflammatory mediators. Boldine is an alkaloid compound found in Boldo tree, with
      multiple pharmacological actions, mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
      antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. Hence, the effect of boldine for its
      anti-inflammatory properties against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in
      BALB/c mice was studied. Administration of boldine to DSS-induced mice protects
      colon damage by reduced disease activity index, spleen weight, and increased
      colon length. Also administration of boldine showed a reduction in the activity
      of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and CD 68+ expression. Boldine reduced the colon damage,
      with significant reductions in both the extent and the severity of the
      inflammation as well as in crypt damage and leukocyte infiltration in the mucosa.
      Analysis in vivo showed clear decrease in the production of tumor necrosis factor
      (TNF)-alpha, Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and signal transducer and activator of
      transcription-(p-STAT3)(Y705) with nuclear factor (p65-NF-kappaB) production
      being reduced significantly. Moreover, p65-NF-kappaB activation was reduced in
      mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. The data demonstrated that boldine may
      be beneficial in colitis through selective immunomodulatory effects, which may be
      mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of p65-NF-kappaB and STAT3 signaling
      pathways. (c) 2016 BioFactors, 42(3):247-258, 2016. 

PMID- 26891687
TI  - Visa changes could lead to hundreds of doctors leaving the NHS, warns BMA.

PMID- 26891686
TI  - Modic changes in the lumbar spine and their association with body composition,
      fat distribution and intervertebral disc height - a 3.0 T-MRI study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vertebral endplate (Modic) abnormalities are important structural
      lesions in the spine, but their association with body composition and fat
      distribution have not been examined. Moreover, no study has examined whether
      Modic change are related to other structural features of low back pain, such as
      reduced intervertebral disc height. METHODS: Seventy-two community-based
      individuals not selected for low back pain had lumbar vertebral Modic change and
      intervertebral disc height assessed from MRI. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry
      measured body composition and fat distribution. RESULTS: The predominance of
      Modic change was type 2. Modic change was associated with an increased fat mass
      index (OR 1.20, 95 % CI 1.01 to 1.43), and tended to be associated with a reduced
      fat-free mass index (OR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.37 to 1.03, p = 0.07). While an increased
      percentage of gynoid fat was associated with a reduced risk (OR 0.62, 95 % CI
      0.43 to 0.89), an increased percentage of android fat was associated with an
      increased risk of Modic change (OR 2.11, 95 % CI 1.18 to 3.76). Modic change was
      also associated with reduced intervertebral disc height at L2/3, L4/5 and L5/S1
      (OR range 1.4 to 1.8; all p <= 0.03). CONCLUSION: Modic type 2 change is
      associated with reduced intervertebral disc height and an increased fat mass
      index. Whereas gynoid fat distribution protected against Modic type 2 change, an
      android pattern increased the risk of this lesion. Modic type 2 change, which
      histologically represent fat replacement, might have a metabolic component to its
      aetiology.

PMID- 26891689
TI  - Trapping the intruder - immune receptor domain fusions provide new molecular
      leads for improving disease resistance in plants.
AB  - A new study uses genomics to show that fusions of plant immune receptors and
      other protein domains occur in significant numbers. This finding will generate
      many new research hypotheses and provide new opportunities for breeding resistant
      plant varieties.

PMID- 26891688
TI  - CD200R1 agonist attenuates glial activation, inflammatory reactions, and
      hypersensitivity immediately after its intrathecal application in a rat
      neuropathic pain model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interaction of CD200 with its receptor CD200R has an immunoregulatory
      role and attenuates various types of neuroinflammatory diseases. METHODS:
      Immunofluorescence staining, western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were used to
      investigate the modulatory effects of CD200 fusion protein (CD200Fc) on
      activation of microglia and astrocytes as well as synthesis of pro- (TNF, IL
      1beta, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines in the L4-L5 spinal
      cord segments in relation to behavioral signs of neuropathic pain after
      unilateral sterile chronic constriction injury (sCCI) of the sciatic nerve.
      Withdrawal thresholds for mechanical hypersensitivity and latencies for thermal
      hypersensitivity were measured in hind paws 1 day before operation; 1, 3, and 7
      days after sCCI operation; and then 5 and 24 h after intrathecal application of
      artificial cerebrospinal fluid or CD200Fc. RESULTS: Seven days from sCCI
      operation and 5 h from intrathecal application, CD200Fc reduced mechanical and
      thermal hypersensitivity when compared with control animals. Simultaneously,
      CD200Fc attenuated activation of glial cells and decreased proinflammatory and
      increased anti-inflammatory cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Administration
      of CD200Fc also diminished elevation of CD200 and CD200R proteins as a
      concomitant reaction of the modulatory system to increased neuroinflammatory
      reactions after nerve injury. The anti-inflammatory effect of CD200Fc dropped at
      24 h after intrathecal application. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal administration of
      the CD200R1 agonist CD200Fc induces very rapid suppression of neuroinflammatory
      reactions associated with glial activation and neuropathic pain development. This
      may constitute a promising and novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of
      neuropathic pain.

PMID- 26891690
TI  - Do not let death do us part: 'find-me' signals in communication between dying
      cells and the phagocytes.
AB  - The turnover and clearance of cells is an essential process that is part of many
      physiological and pathological processes. Improper or deficient clearance of
      apoptotic cells can lead to excessive inflammation and autoimmune disease. The
      steps involved in cell clearance include: migration of the phagocyte toward the
      proximity of the dying cells, specific recognition and internalization of the
      dying cell, and degradation of the corpse. The ability of phagocytes to recognize
      and react to dying cells to perform efficient and immunologically silent
      engulfment has been well-characterized in vitro and in vivo. However, how
      apoptotic cells themselves initiate the corpse removal and also influence the
      cells within the neighboring environment during clearance was less understood.
      Recent exciting observations suggest that apoptotic cells can attract phagocytes
      through the regulated release of 'find-me' signals. More recent studies also
      suggest that these find-me signals can have additional roles outside of phagocyte
      attraction to help orchestrate engulfment. This review will discuss our current
      understanding of the different find-me signals released by apoptotic cells, how
      they may be relevant in vivo, and their additional roles in facilitating
      engulfment.

PMID- 26891691
TI  - Immunogenic versus tolerogenic phagocytosis during anticancer therapy: mechanisms
      and clinical translation.
AB  - Phagocytosis of dying cells is a major homeostatic process that represents the
      final stage of cell death in a tissue context. Under basal conditions, in a
      diseased tissue (such as cancer) or after treatment with cytotoxic therapies
      (such as anticancer therapies), phagocytosis has a major role in avoiding toxic
      accumulation of cellular corpses. Recognition and phagocytosis of dying cancer
      cells dictate the eventual immunological consequences (i.e., tolerogenic,
      inflammatory or immunogenic) depending on a series of factors, including the type
      of 'eat me' signals. Homeostatic clearance of dying cancer cells (i.e.,
      tolerogenic phagocytosis) tends to facilitate pro-tumorigenic processes and
      actively suppress antitumour immunity. Conversely, cancer cells killed by
      immunogenic anticancer therapies may stimulate non-homeostatic clearance by
      antigen-presenting cells and drive cancer antigen-directed immunity. On the other
      hand, (a general) inflammatory clearance of dying cancer cells could have pro
      tumorigenic or antitumorigenic consequences depending on the context.
      Interestingly, the immunosuppressive consequences that accompany tolerogenic
      phagocytosis can be reversed through immune-checkpoint therapies. In the present
      review, we discuss the pivotal role of phagocytosis in regulating responses to
      anticancer therapy. We give particular attention to the role of phagocytosis
      following treatment with immunogenic or immune-checkpoint therapies, the clinical
      prognostic and predictive significance of phagocytic signals for cancer patients
      and the therapeutic strategies that can be employed for direct targeting of
      phagocytic determinants.

PMID- 26891692
TI  - Exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface.
AB  - Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is a phospholipid that is abundant in eukaryotic
      plasma membranes. An ATP-dependent enzyme called flippase normally keeps PtdSer
      inside the cell, but PtdSer is exposed by the action of scramblase on the cell's
      surface in biological processes such as apoptosis and platelet activation. Once
      exposed to the cell surface, PtdSer acts as an 'eat me' signal on dead cells, and
      creates a scaffold for blood-clotting factors on activated platelets. The
      molecular identities of the flippase and scramblase that work at plasma membranes
      have long eluded researchers. Indeed, their identity as well as the mechanism of
      the PtdSer exposure to the cell surface has only recently been revealed. Here, we
      describe how PtdSer is exposed in apoptotic cells and in activated platelets, and
      discuss PtdSer exposure in other biological processes.

PMID- 26891693
TI  - NLRP3 regulates a non-canonical platform for caspase-8 activation during
      epithelial cell apoptosis.
AB  - Nod-like receptor, pyrin containing 3 (NLRP3) is characterized primarily as a
      canonical caspase-1 activating inflammasome in macrophages. NLRP3 is also
      expressed in the epithelium of the kidney and gut; however, its function remains
      largely undefined. Primary mouse tubular epithelial cells (TEC) lacking Nlrp3
      displayed reduced apoptosis downstream of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
      receptor and CD95. TECs were identified as type II apoptotic cells that activated
      caspase-8, tBid and mitochondrial apoptosis via caspase-9, responses that were
      reduced in Nlrp3-/- cells. The activation of caspase-8 during extrinsic apoptosis
      induced by TNFalpha/cycloheximide (TNFalpha/CHX) was dependent on adaptor protein
      apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and completely
      independent of caspase-1 or caspase-11. TECs and primary human proximal tubular
      epithelial cells (HPTC) did not activate a canonical inflammasome, caspase-1, or
      IL-1beta secretion in response to TNFalpha/CHX or NLRP3-dependent triggers, such
      as ATP or nigericin. In cell fractionation studies and by confocal microscopy,
      NLRP3 colocalized with ASC and caspase-8 in speck-like complexes at the
      mitochondria during apoptosis. The formation of NLRP3/ASC/caspase-8 specks in
      response to TNFalpha/CHX was downstream of TNFR signaling and dependent on
      potassium efflux. Epithelial ASC specks were present in enteroids undergoing
      apoptosis and in the injured tubules of wild-type but not Nlrp3-/- or ASC-/- mice
      following ureteric unilateral obstruction in vivo. These data show that NLRP3 and
      ASC form a conserved non-canonical platform for caspase-8 activation, independent
      of the inflammasome that regulates apoptosis within epithelial cells.

PMID- 26891694
TI  - Molecular profiling reveals primary mesothelioma cell lines recapitulate human
      disease.
AB  - Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive, fatal tumor strongly associated
      with asbestos exposure. There is an urgent need to improve MM patient outcomes
      and this requires functionally validated pre-clinical models. Mesothelioma
      derived cell lines provide an essential and relatively robust tool and remain
      among the most widely used systems for candidate drug evaluation. Although a
      number of cell lines are commercially available, a detailed comparison of these
      commercial lines with freshly derived primary tumor cells to validate their
      suitability as pre-clinical models is lacking. To address this, patient-derived
      primary mesothelioma cell lines were established and characterized using
      complementary multidisciplinary approaches and bioinformatic analysis. Clinical
      markers of mesothelioma, transcriptional and metabolic profiles, as well as the
      status of p53 and the tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A and NF2, were examined in
      primary cell lines and in two widely used commercial lines. Expression of MM
      associated markers, as well as the status of CDKN2A, NF2, the 'gatekeeper' in MM
      development, and their products demonstrated that primary cell lines are more
      representative of the tumor close to its native state and show a degree of
      molecular diversity, thus capturing the disease heterogeneity in a patient
      cohort. Molecular profiling revealed a significantly different transcriptome and
      marked metabolic shift towards a greater glycolytic phenotype in commercial
      compared with primary cell lines. Our results highlight that multiple,
      appropriately characterised, patient-derived tumor cell lines are required to
      enable concurrent evaluation of molecular profiles versus drug response.
      Furthermore, application of this approach to other difficult-to-treat tumors
      would generate improved cellular models for pre-clinical evaluation of novel
      targeted therapies.

PMID- 26891696
TI  - A longitudinal study of the durability of long-lasting insecticidal nets in
      Zambia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A key goal of malaria control is to achieve universal access to, and
      use of, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) among people at risk for malaria.
      Quantifying the number of LLINs needed to achieve and maintain universal coverage
      requires knowing when nets need replacement. Longitudinal studies have observed
      physical deterioration in LLINs well before the assumed net lifespan of 3 years.
      The objective of this study was to describe attrition, physical integrity and
      insecticide persistence of LLINs over time to assist with better quantification
      of nets needing replacement. METHODS: 999 LLINs distributed in 2011 in two highly
      endemic provinces in Zambia were randomly selected, and were enrolled at 12
      months old. LLINs were followed every 6 months up to 30 months of age. Holes were
      counted and measured (finger, fist, and head method) and a proportional hole
      index (pHI) was calculated. Households were surveyed about net care and repair
      and if applicable, reasons for attrition. Functional survival was defined as nets
      with a pHI <643 and present for follow-up. At 12 and 24 months of age, 74 LLINs
      were randomly selected for examination of insecticidal activity and content using
      bioassay and chemical analysis methods previously described by the World Health
      Organization (WHO). RESULTS: A total of 999 LLINs were enrolled; 505 deltamethrin
      treated polyester nets and 494 permethrin-treated polyethylene nets. With 74 used
      to examine insecticide activity, 925 were available for full follow-up. At 30
      months, 325 (33 %) LLINs remained. Net attrition was primarily due to disposal
      (29 %). Presence of repairs and use over a reed mat were significantly associated
      with larger pHIs. By 30 months, only 56 % of remaining nets met criteria for
      functional survival. A shorter functional survival was associated with having
      been washed. At 24 months, nets had reduced insecticidal activity (57 % met WHO
      minimal criteria) and content (5 % met WHO target insecticide content).
      CONCLUSIONS: The median functional survival time for LLINs observed the study was
      2.5-3 years and insecticide activity and content were markedly decreased by 2
      years. A better measure of net survival incorporating insecticidal field
      effectiveness, net physical integrity, and attrition is needed.

PMID- 26891697
TI  - Evaluation of ceftriaxone utilization in medical and emergency wards of Tikur
      Anbessa specialized hospital: a prospective cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ceftriaxone is one of the most commonly used antibiotics due to its
      high antibacterial potency, wide spectrum of activity and low potential for
      toxicity. However, the global trend shows misuse of this drug. The aim of this
      study was to evaluate prospectively the appropriateness of ceftriaxone use in
      medical and emergency wards of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. METHODS: A
      prospective cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing medication records
      of patients receiving ceftriaxone during hospitalization at Tikur Anbessa
      Specialized Hospital between February 1 and June 30, 2014. Drug use evaluation
      was conducted to determine whether ceftriaxone was being used appropriately based
      on six criteria namely indication for use, dose, frequency of administration,
      duration of treatment, drug-drug interaction, culture and sensitivity test. The
      evaluation was made as per the protocol developed from current treatment
      guidelines. RESULTS: The total of 314 records of patients receiving ceftriaxone
      was reviewed. The prescribing rate of ceftriaxone was found to be very high (58 %
      point prevalence). Ceftriaxone use was empiric in 274 (87.3 %) cases. The most
      common indication for ceftriaxone use was pneumonia; observed in 110 (35.0 %)
      cases. The most common daily dosage, frequency of administration and duration of
      treatment with ceftriaxone were 2 g (88.9 %), twice-daily (98.4 %) and 8-14 days
      (46.2 %), respectively. Inappropriate use of ceftriaxone was observed in most of
      cases (87.9 %), the greatest proportion of which was attributed to inappropriate
      frequency of administration (80.3 %), followed by absence of culture and
      sensitivity test (53.2 %). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the inappropriate
      use of ceftriaxone was very high in the medical and emergency wards of Tikur
      Anbessa Specialized Hospital. This may lead to emergence of resistant pathogens
      which in turn lead to treatment failure and increased cost of therapy. Therefore,
      adherence to current evidence-based guidelines is recommended.

PMID- 26891695
TI  - Differential localization of A-Raf regulates MST2-mediated apoptosis during
      epithelial differentiation.
AB  - A-Raf belongs to the family of oncogenic Raf kinases that are involved in
      mitogenic signaling by activating the MEK-ERK pathway. Low kinase activity of A
      Raf toward MEK suggested that A-Raf might have alternative functions. We recently
      identified A-Raf as a potent inhibitor of the proapoptotic mammalian sterile 20
      like kinase (MST2) tumor suppressor pathway in several cancer entities including
      head and neck, colon, and breast. Independent of kinase activity, A-Raf binds to
      MST2 thereby efficiently inhibiting apoptosis. Here, we show that the interaction
      of A-Raf with the MST2 pathway is regulated by subcellular compartmentalization.
      Although in proliferating normal cells and tumor cells A-Raf localizes to the
      mitochondria, differentiated non-carcinogenic cells of head and neck epithelia,
      which express A-Raf at the plasma membrane. The constitutive or induced re
      localization of A-Raf to the plasma membrane compromises its ability to
      efficiently sequester and inactivate MST2, thus rendering cells susceptible to
      apoptosis. Physiologically, A-Raf re-localizes to the plasma membrane upon
      epithelial differentiation in vivo. This re-distribution is regulated by the
      scaffold protein kinase suppressor of Ras 2 (KSR2). Downregulation of KSR2 during
      mammary epithelial cell differentiation or siRNA-mediated knockdown re-localizes
      A-Raf to the plasma membrane causing the release of MST2. By using the MCF7 cell
      differentiation system, we could demonstrate that overexpression of A-Raf in MCF7
      cells, which induces differentiation. Our findings offer a new paradigm to
      understand how differential localization of Raf complexes affects diverse
      signaling functions in normal cells and carcinomas.

PMID- 26891698
TI  - Retained needle after cement injection during vertebral augmentation and its
      management strategy.
AB  - A middle aged patient with multiple myeloma resulting in numerous pathological
      fractures underwent an L2, L3, and L5 vertebral cement augmentation for pain
      relief. After injection, the trocar at L2, the final level, could not be
      withdrawn despite several attempts of needle rotation, a second needle inserted
      to distract on, and rocking the needle on the pedicle. After a neurosurgical
      consultation, the patient was transferred to the operating room for open removal.
      As the needle protruded approximately 3 inches from the patient's back, the
      patient could not be positioned supine, and was anesthetized and intubated in the
      right semi-prone position prior to being placed prone on the operating room
      table. The needle was surgically exposed, cut off at the pedicular bone edge, and
      its free component was removed. 

PMID- 26891699
TI  - Acute eosinophilic pneumonia.
AB  - We report the case of an 18-year-old woman who presented to an outside hospital
      in respiratory distress and was found to have pulmonary eosinophilia. She
      remained profoundly hypoxaemic despite maximal ventilatory strategies and
      underwent cannulation for veno-venous extra corporeal membrane oxygenation
      (ECMO). The respiratory failure improved with time, using corticosteroids, and
      the veno-venous ECMO helped in stabilisation of the patient in the setting of
      profound hypoxaemia. 

PMID- 26891701
TI  - Naphtho[2,3-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole and 2H-Naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-Containing
      D-A-pi-A Conjugated Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
AB  - Dipolar dyes comprising an arylamine as the electron donor, a cyanoacrylic acid
      as electron acceptor, and an electron deficient naphtho[2,3-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole
      (NTD) or naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole (NTz) entity in the conjugated spacer,
      were developed and used as the sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
      The introduction of the NTD unit into the molecular frame distinctly narrows the
      HOMO/LUMO gap with electronic absorption extending to >650 nm. However,
      significant charge trapping and dye aggregation were found in these dyes. Under
      standard global AM 1.5 G illumination, the best cell photovoltaic performance
      achieved 6.37 and 7.53% (~94% relative to N719-based standard cell) without and
      with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) coadsorbent, respectively. Without CDCA, the
      NTz dyes have higher power conversion efficiency (7.23%) than NTD dyes due to
      less charge trapping, dye aggregation, and better dark current suppression. 

PMID- 26891702
TI  - An Enantioselective Oxidative C-H/C-H Cross-Coupling Reaction: Highly Efficient
      Method To Prepare Planar Chiral Ferrocenes.
AB  - A Pd-catalyzed, asymmetric oxidative cross-coupling reaction between ferrocenes
      and heteroarenes is described. The process, which takes place via a twofold C-H
      bond activation pathway, proceeds with modest to high efficiencies (36-86%) and
      high levels of regio- and enantioselectivity (95-99% ee). In the reaction, air
      oxygen serves as a green oxidant and excess amounts of the coupling partners are
      not required. The process is the first example of a catalytic asymmetric biaryl
      coupling reaction that occurs via double C-H bond activation. Finally, the
      generated coupling products can be readily transformed into chiral ligands and
      catalysts. 

PMID- 26891700
TI  - Comparison of the TOF-ScanTM acceleromyograph to TOF-Watch SXTM: Influence of
      calibration.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring is now widely recommended
      during anesthesia using neuromuscular blocking agents to prevent postoperative
      residual paralysis and its related complications. We compared the TOF-Watch SXTM
      accelerometer requiring initial calibration to the TOF-ScanTM, a new
      accelerometer with a preset stimulation intensity of 50mA not necessitating
      calibration. STUDY DESIGN: This pilot, prospective, observational study included
      adults undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and muscle
      relaxation, having both arms free during surgery. Accelerometers were set up
      randomly on each arm. Anesthesia was started with remifentanil and propofol
      before an intubation dose of atracurium or rocuronium. Train of four stimulation
      was performed every 15s. Differences between measures were tested using Student's
      t-test and agreement assessed by Bland and Altman analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-two
      patients were included. During onset, a mean bias of -26seconds with a limit of
      agreement from -172 to +119seconds was observed between TOF-Watch SXTM and TOF
      ScanTM to obtain 0 response to TOF. During recovery, TOF-ScanTM showed a
      significantly later recovery from 1 response to T4/T1>10%, but a bias of 0minute
      and limits of agreement from -4 to +4minutes for T4/T1>90% (NS). CONCLUSION:
      These results suggest a poor agreement between the calibrated TOF-Watch SXTM and
      the fix intensity TOF-ScanTM for onset and early recovery of relaxation (i.e.
      deep neuromuscular blockade) but a good agreement for recovery to TOF 90%. Data
      are not interchangeable between the devices, but both can be useful to detect
      residual paralysis.

PMID- 26891704
TI  - Cucurbit[8]uril-Containing Multilayer Films for the Photocontrolled Binding and
      Release of a Guest Molecule.
AB  - The powerful host-guest chemistry of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) was employed to
      obtain photoresponsive polyelectrolyte multilayer films for the reversible and
      photocontrolled binding and release of an organic guest molecule. For this
      purpose, we designed and synthesized a polyelectrolyte with azobenzene side
      groups. Then, CB[8] was associated with the azo side group to obtain a
      supramolecular host-guest complex that was further used as building block in
      order to prepare photoresponsive and CB[8]-containing polyelectrolyte multilayer
      films. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and a dissipative quartz crystal microbalance are
      employed to monitor the formation of the host-guest complex and the layer-by
      layer self-assembly of the multilayer films, respectively. We demonstrate that
      the photoresponsive properties of the azo side groups are maintained before and
      after host-guest complexation with CB[8] in solution and within the multilayer
      films, respectively. A guest molecule was then specifically included as second
      binding partner into the CB[8]-containing multilayer films. Subsequently, the
      release of the guest was performed by UV light irradiation due to the trans-cis
      isomerization of the adjacent azo side groups. Re-isomerization of the azo side
      groups was achieved by VIS light irradiation and enabled the rebinding of the
      guest into CB[8]. Finally, we demonstrate that the photocontrolled binding and
      release within CB[8]-containing multilayer films can reliably and reversibly be
      performed over a period of more than 2 weeks with constant binding efficiency.
      Therefore, we expect such novel type of photosensitive films to have promising
      future applications in the field of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials. 

PMID- 26891703
TI  - Association of Body Composition With Survival and Locoregional Control of
      Radiotherapy-Treated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Major weight loss is common in patients with head and neck squamous
      cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who undergo radiotherapy (RT). How baseline and
      posttreatment body composition affects outcome is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To
      determine whether lean body mass before and after RT for HNSCC predicts survival
      and locoregional control. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANT: Retrospective study
      of 2840 patients with pathologically proven HNSCC undergoing curative RT at a
      single academic cancer referral center from October 1, 2003, to August 31, 2013.
      One hundred ninety patients had computed tomographic (CT) scans available for
      analysis of skeletal muscle (SM). The effect of pre-RT and post-RT SM depletion
      (defined as a CT-measured L3 SM index of less than 52.4 cm2/m2 for men and less
      than 38.5 cm2/m2 for women) on survival and disease control was evaluated. Final
      follow-up was completed on September 27, 2014, and data were analyzed from
      October 1, 2014, to November 29, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary
      outcomes were overall and disease-specific survival and locoregional control.
      Secondary analyses included the influence of pre-RT body mass index (BMI) and
      interscan weight loss on survival and recurrence. RESULTS: Among the 2840
      consecutive patients who underwent screening, 190 had whole-body positron
      emission tomography-CT or abdominal CT scans before and after RT and were
      included for analysis. Of these, 160 (84.2%) were men and 30 (15.8%) were women;
      their mean (SD) age was 57.7 (9.4) years. Median follow up was 68.6 months.
      Skeletal muscle depletion was detected in 67 patients (35.3%) before RT and an
      additional 58 patients (30.5%) after RT. Decreased overall survival was predicted
      by SM depletion before RT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.19-3.11; P = .007)
      and after RT (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.02-4.24; P = .04). Increased BMI was associated
      with significantly improved survival (HR per 1-U increase in BMI, 0.91; 95% CI,
      0.87-0.96; P < .001). Weight loss without SM depletion did not affect outcomes.
      Post-RT SM depletion was more substantive in competing multivariate models of
      mortality risk than weight loss-based metrics (Bayesian information criteria
      difference, 7.9), but pre-RT BMI demonstrated the greatest prognostic value.
      CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Diminished SM mass assessed by CT imaging or BMI can
      predict oncologic outcomes for patients with HNSCC, whereas weight loss after RT
      initiation does not predict SM loss or survival.

PMID- 26891707
TI  - Effects of boiling and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the antioxidant
      activity of Sonchus oleraceus leaves.
AB  - Leaves of Sonchus oleraceus L. are especially rich in phenolic compounds and have
      potent extractable antioxidants. However, it is not known how their antioxidant
      activity changes after cooking and gastrointestinal digestion. We recorded the
      profile of phenolics and their associated antioxidant activity in both raw and
      boiled S. oleraceus leaf extracts after in vitro gastric and intestinal
      digestion, and quantified their antioxidant potentials using Caco-2 and HepG2
      cells. Boiling significantly diminished the oxygen radical absorbance capacity
      (ORAC) and concentrations of ascorbate and chicoric acid in the soluble
      fractions. In contrast, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging
      and concentrations of caftaric and chlorogenic acids were unaffected. Phenolics
      in the soluble fraction were absorbed into cultured human cells and exerted
      antioxidant activity. Only chlorogenic acid content remained stable during
      gastrointestinal digestion. S. oleraceus appears to be an excellent dietary
      source of phenolic antioxidants. 

PMID- 26891706
TI  - Finite sample pointwise confidence intervals for a survival distribution with
      right-censored data.
AB  - We review and develop pointwise confidence intervals for a survival distribution
      with right-censored data for small samples, assuming only independence of
      censoring and survival. When there is no censoring, at each fixed time point, the
      problem reduces to making inferences about a binomial parameter. In this case,
      the recently developed beta product confidence procedure (BPCP) gives the
      standard exact central binomial confidence intervals of Clopper and Pearson.
      Additionally, the BPCP has been shown to be exact (gives guaranteed coverage at
      the nominal level) for progressive type II censoring and has been shown by
      simulation to be exact for general independent right censoring. In this paper, we
      modify the BPCP to create a 'mid-p' version, which reduces to the mid-p
      confidence interval for a binomial parameter when there is no censoring. We
      perform extensive simulations on both the standard and mid-p BPCP using a method
      of moments implementation that enforces monotonicity over time. All simulated
      scenarios suggest that the standard BPCP is exact. The mid-p BPCP, like other mid
      p confidence intervals, has simulated coverage closer to the nominal level but
      may not be exact for all survival times, especially in very low censoring
      scenarios. In contrast, the two asymptotically-based approximations have lower
      than nominal coverage in many scenarios. This poor coverage is due to the extreme
      inflation of the lower error rates, although the upper limits are very
      conservative. Both the standard and the mid-p BPCP methods are available in our
      bpcp R package. Published 2016. This article is US Government work and is in the
      public domain in the USA.

PMID- 26891705
TI  - Activation of the TGFbeta pathway impairs endothelial to haematopoietic
      transition.
AB  - The endothelial to haematopoietic transition (EHT) is a key developmental process
      where a drastic change of endothelial cell morphology leads to the formation of
      blood stem and progenitor cells during embryogenesis. As TGFbeta signalling
      triggers a similar event during embryonic development called epithelial to
      mesenchymal transition (EMT), we hypothesised that TGFbeta activity could play a
      similar role in EHT as well. We used the mouse embryonic stem cell
      differentiation system for in vitro recapitulation of EHT and performed gain and
      loss of function analyses of the TGFbeta pathway. Quantitative proteomics
      analysis showed that TGFbeta treatment during EHT increased the secretion of
      several proteins linked to the vascular lineage. Live cell imaging showed that
      TGFbeta blocked the formation of round blood cells. Using gene expression
      profiling we demonstrated that the TGFbeta signalling activation decreased
      haematopoietic genes expression and increased the transcription of endothelial
      and extracellular matrix genes as well as EMT markers. Finally we found that the
      expression of the transcription factor Sox17 was up-regulated upon TGFbeta
      signalling activation and showed that its overexpression was enough to block
      blood cell formation. In conclusion we showed that triggering the TGFbeta pathway
      does not enhance EHT as we hypothesised but instead impairs it.

PMID- 26891708
TI  - [Care pathways of cancer patients: Modeling and risks analysis induced by oral
      anticancer drugs].
AB  - The care pathway of cancer patients is complex and therefore difficult to define.
      The oral anticancers (AKPO) have shown their benefits to patients and health
      professionals, however, the risks induced on the care pathway remain unknown. The
      objective of the study is to define, quantify the risks from AKPO and their
      effects on the care pathway (breakdown [Ds], rupture [Rt]). From the proposed
      care pathway model, FMEA method is used to analyze risks. For the 3 identified
      processes (1 monotherapy, 2 bitherapies: 2 AKPO or 1 AKPO/1 AKIV), analysis
      revealed an average of 91 risks, 173 Ds, 147 Rt, increased for 1 AKPO/1 AKIV
      therapy. The administration and delivery are the most risky steps. The lack of
      training and information of patients and healthcare professionals generates 80%
      of Ds and Rt. This model confirms the complexity, variability of the care
      pathway. The development of actions to improve town-hospital coordination and
      exchange of information is required to optimize and secure the route, confirming
      the objectives of "Plan Cancer 3". 

PMID- 26891709
TI  - Migraineurs Initially Visiting the Gastroenterology Department.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Migraine-related nausea and vomiting are usually
      associated with severe and debilitating headache. However, there are unique
      headache patients with a chief complaint of prominent gastrointestinal (GI)
      discomfort, instead of headache. We sought to investigate distinctive
      characteristics and clinical outcomes of such patients, compared to migraine
      patients initially visiting headache clinic. METHODS: This was a retrospective
      case-control study using a headache registry from April 2012 to December 2013.
      Case subjects were defined as patients who had first visited the gastroenterology
      clinic with chief complaint of nausea and/or vomiting, but then referred to the
      headache clinic for evaluation and management of concurrent headache. They were
      1:2 matched to control subjects who met the migraine criteria based on propensity
      scores adjusted for age, sex, aura, headache frequency, and headache intensity.
      RESULTS: We identified 51 case subjects, of which 80.4% were compatible with the
      migraine criteria. In multivariate testing, the case subjects were inversely
      associated with family history of headache (odds ratios [OR]: 0.36, 95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-0.99), alcohol drinking (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.05
      0.69), and aggravation by physical activity (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.08-0.43). The
      proportions of subjects with a favorable clinical outcome in migraine management
      did not differ between the case and control groups (82.2% vs 79.1%, P = .670).
      CONCLUSIONS: Primary symptoms of the case subjects had been GI; however, migraine
      management was most effective in relieving both prominent GI discomfort and
      headache. Our findings suggest that physicians should consider and investigate
      for the presence of migraine in patients with prominent GI symptoms and
      concurrent headache.

PMID- 26891710
TI  - Brain imaging demonstrates a reduced neural impact of eating in obesity.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated functional brain response differences to food
      in women with BMI either <25 kg/m(2) (lean) or >35 kg/m(2) (severe obesity).
      DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty women, 18-65 years old, from academic medical centers
      participated. Baseline brain perfusion was measured with arterial spin labeling.
      Brain activity was measured via blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic
      resonance imaging in response to food cues, and appeal to cues was rated.
      Subjective hunger/fullness was reported pre- and post-imaging. After a standard
      meal, measures were repeated. RESULTS: When fasting, brain perfusion did not
      differ significantly between groups; and both groups showed significantly
      increased activity in the neo- and limbic cortices and midbrain compared with
      baseline (P < 0.05, family-wise-error whole-brain corrected). Once fed, the lean
      group showed significantly decreased activation in these areas, especially the
      limbic cortex, whereas the group with severe obesity showed no such decreases (P
      < 0.05, family-wise-error whole-brain corrected). After eating, appeal ratings of
      food decreased only in lean women. Within groups, hunger decreased (P < 0.001)
      and fullness increased (P < 0.001) fasted to fed. CONCLUSIONS: While fasting,
      brain response to food cues in women did not differ significantly despite BMI.
      After eating, brain activity quickly diminished in lean women but remained
      elevated in women with severe obesity. These brain activation findings confirm
      previous studies.

PMID- 26891711
TI  - Impact of left ventricular function on clinical outcomes of functional mitral
      regurgitation patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of baseline left ventricular (LV) function on
      the clinical outcomes of patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR)
      treated with MitraClip. BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether patients with
      significant FMR and severe LV dysfunction benefit from MitraClip. METHODS: A
      cohort of 77 patients with significant FMR undergoing MitraClip procedure between
      December 2010 and January 2015 was categorized by baseline LV ejection fraction
      (LVEF) into tertiles: LVEF <27% (n = 27), LVEF 27-37% (n = 25), and LVEF >37% (n
      = 25). We sought to evaluate the impact of LVEF on all-cause mortality at follow
      up. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline comorbidities,
      medical treatment and MR severity among tertiles of LVEF. Overall procedural
      success was 94%, with no differences among groups (LVEF <27%: 89%; LVEF 27-37%:
      100%; LVEF >37%: 92%; P = 0.25). Median follow-up was 372 days (interquartile
      range: 128-627 days). MR severity improved in all three groups, as compared to
      baseline. There were no differences in the prevalence of MR <=2+ on follow-up (P
      = 0.40). Mortality was highest in patients with LVEF <27% (41%), as compared with
      LVEF 27-37% (16%) and LVEF >37% (4%), P = 0.004. Patient who died had a lower
      baseline LVEF compared to those who survived (24.8 +/- 7.7% versus 35.5 +/-
      13.7%, P < 0.001). An LVEF <27% was an independent predictor of mortality after
      adjusting for procedural success: hazard ratio 3.4 (95% CI: 1.1 to 10.0; P =
      0.030). CONCLUSIONS: MitraClip is effective in FMR patients regardless of the
      severity of LV dysfunction. However, low baseline LVEF is associated with
      increased mortality, despite procedural success. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26891712
TI  - Extra-hepatic replication and infection of hepatitis E virus in neuronal-derived
      cells.
AB  - Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans and a
      member of the genus Orthohepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. Infection usually
      leads to acute hepatitis that can become fulminant, particularly among pregnant
      women and in patients with preexisting liver disease, or may evolve to a chronic
      state, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. HEV has been shown to produce
      a range of extra-hepatic manifestations including aplastic anaemia, acute
      thyroiditis, glomerulonephritis as well as neurological disorders such as
      Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuralgic amyotrophy and encephalitis. The pathogenesis
      of these neurological injuries remains largely unknown, and it is also uncertain
      whether or not HEV can directly infect neuronal cells. In this study, we
      investigated whether HEV is capable of completing the viral life cycle in human
      neuronal-derived cell lines such as neuroepithelioma (SK-N-MC), desmoplastic
      cerebellar medulloblastoma (DAOY), glioblastoma multiforme (DBTRG), glioblastoma
      astrocytoma (U-373 MG) and oligodendrocytic (M03.13) cells. Following
      transfection of these cells with HEV Gaussia luciferase reporter virus, all
      tested cell lines supported HEV RNA replication. Furthermore, extra- and
      intracellular viral capsid was detected by an HEV antigen ELISA as a marker for
      virus assembly and release. Permissiveness for HEV cell entry could be
      demonstrated for the oligodendrocytic cell line M03.13. In conclusion, these
      results indicate that HEV tropism is not restricted to the liver and HEV can
      potentially complete the full viral life cycle in neuronal-derived tissues
      explaining neurologic disorders during HEV infection.

PMID- 26891714
TI  - Genetic determinants of cardiometabolic risk factors in rural families in Brazil.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of genetic
      and environmental correlations between cardiometabolic risk factors in extended
      pedigrees. METHODS: The Jequitinhonha Community Family Study Cohort (JCFSC)
      consists of individuals aged >=18 years living in rural villages. Family
      pedigrees were constructed of the cohort. The following data were collected:
      demographic and socioeconomic status, lifestyle variables, anthropometrics, and
      lipid traits. RESULTS: The JCFSC consists of 931 individuals distributed into 69
      pedigrees with 4,907 members in total. The heritabilities were 0.47 for total
      cholesterol (TC), 0.44 for triglycerides (TG) and 0.42 for high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), 0.49 for metabolic syndrome, approximately 0.60
      for anthropometric traits and 0.30 for blood pressure/hypertension. Significant
      genetic correlations (rhog ) were found mainly between TG and TC (rhog  = 0.58)
      and hypertension and TG (rhog  = 0.52). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was
      correlated with TG (rhog  = 0.39) and HDLc (rhog  = -0.30). Diastolic blood
      pressures correlated with TG (rhog =0.56) and TC (rhog =0.30). Genetic
      correlations were also found between anthropometric traits, including: body mass
      index (BMI) and TG (rhog =0.34), waist circumference (WC) and TG (rhog =0.42),
      and WC and HDLc (rhog =-0.33). Household effects were found for HDLc (c(2) =
      0.19), SBP (c(2)  = 0.14) and Hypertension (c(2) = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: To some
      phenotypes, including lipids, hypertension, blood pressure, and anthropometric
      traits, genetic contribution is important in the determination of cardiometabolic
      risk factors. This study provides a foundation for future studies. These will
      mainly focus on rare variants that could describe the genetic mechanisms
      influencing cardiometabolic risk. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:619-626, 2016. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26891715
TI  - Nonmotor symptoms in patients without evidence of dopaminergic deficit.

PMID- 26891716
TI  - The ambulatory hypotensive effect of aerobic training: a reappraisal through a
      meta-analysis of selected moderators.
AB  - The effectiveness of regular exercise in decreasing both systolic and diastolic
      blood pressure (BP) is well-established. Our purpose was to assess the impact of
      both subject and physical activity program characteristics on ambulatory BP
      through a meta-analysis of the existing literature. Three databases (PubMed,
      Embase, Web of Science) were searched using relevant terms and strategies. From
      637 identified records, 37 studies met inclusion criteria: details about training
      intervention and participant characteristics, pre- and post-training ambulatory
      BP measurements, at home (HBPM) or during 24-h (ABPM). The weighted mean
      difference was for 24-h systolic/diastolic ABPM (n = 847 participants): -4.06/
      2.77 mmHg (95%CI: -5.19 to -2.93/-3.58 to -1.97; P < 0.001), for daytime (ABPM or
      HBPM, n = 983): -3.78/-2.73 mmHg (95%CI: -5.09 to -2.47/-3.57 to -1.89; P <
      0.001) and nighttime ABPM periods (n = 796): -2.35/-1.70 mmHg (95%CI: -3.26 to 
      1.44/-2.45 to -0.95; P < 0.001). Characteristics significantly influencing BP
      improvement were: an initial office BP >=130/85 mmHg and diet-induced weight
      loss. We found no differences according to sex, age, or training characteristics
      (intensity, number of sessions, training duration). Antihypertensive effects of
      aerobic training assessed by ambulatory BP measurements appear significant and
      clinically relevant for both daytime and nighttime periods, in particular for
      participants with an office BP >=130/85 mmHg.

PMID- 26891713
TI  - High frequency of +1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting in Euplotes
      octocarinatus.
AB  - Programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) has been identified as a mechanism
      to regulate the expression of many viral genes and some cellular genes. The
      slippery site of -1 PRF has been well characterized, whereas the +1 PRF signal
      and the mechanism involved in +1 PRF remain poorly understood. Previous study
      confirmed that +1 PRF is required for the synthesis of protein products in
      several genes of ciliates from the genus Euplotes. To accurately assess the
      frequency of genes requiring frameshift in Euplotes, the macronuclear genome and
      transcriptome of Euplotes octocarinatus were analyzed in this study. A total of
      3,700 +1 PRF candidate genes were identified from 32,353 transcripts, and the
      gene products of these putative +1 PRFs were mainly identified as protein
      kinases. Furthermore, we reported a putative suppressor tRNA of UAA which may
      provide new insights into the mechanism of +1 PRF in euplotids. For the first
      time, our transcriptome-wide survey of +1 PRF in E. octocarinatus provided a
      dataset which serves as a valuable resource for the future understanding of the
      mechanism underlying +1 PRF.

PMID- 26891717
TI  - A simple approach for an optically transparent nanochannel device prototype.
AB  - Compared with microfluidic devices, the fabrication of structure-controllable and
      designable nanochannel devices has been considered to have high costs and complex
      procedures, which require expensive equipment and high-quality raw materials.
      Exploring fast, simple and inexpensive approaches in nanochannel fabrication will
      be greatly helpful to speed up laboratory studies of nanofluidics. Here we
      developed a simple and inexpensive approach to fabricate a nanochannel device
      with a glass/epoxy resin/glass structure. The grooves were engraved using a UV
      laser on an aluminum sacrificial layer on the substrate glass, and epoxy resin
      was coated on the substrate and stuffed fully into the grooves. Another glass
      plate with holes for fluidic inlets and outlets was bonded on the top of the
      resin layer. The nanochannels were formed by etching thin sacrificial layers
      electrochemically. Meanwhile, the microstructures of the fluidic outlets and
      inlets could be fabricated simultaneously to the nanochannel formation. The total
      processing time for the simple nanochannel device took less than 10 hours.
      Optically transparent nanochannels with a depth of up to 20 nm were achieved.
      Nanofluidic behaviors in the nanochannels were observed under both optical and
      fluorescence microscopes. 

PMID- 26891719
TI  - The Influence of Psychological and Lifestyle Factors on the Reporting of
      Postconcussion-Like Symptoms.
AB  - Self-reported symptoms are an integral part of the assessment and management of a
      sports-related concussion. However, postconcussion-like symptoms are reported by
      non-concussed individuals. Moreover, the current best practice in the reporting
      of symptoms does not take into account the potential influence of psychological
      and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to explore the influence of these factors
      on the reporting of postconcussion-like symptoms. University students (N= 603)
      completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 postconcussion symptom scale
      along with other predictor variables via a cross-sectional web-based survey.
      Linear regression analyses revealed six modifiers contributing to the total
      symptom score with the strongest being alcohol consumption (Estimate = 2.75, p <
      .001). Following these findings, clinicians need to exercise caution when
      interpreting the symptom scores for making decisions on the return-to-play (RTP).
      A failure to do so may lead the health professional to either prematurely RTP or
      not clear the concussed athlete to resume their sport. 

PMID- 26891718
TI  - The use of purposeful sampling in a qualitative evidence synthesis: A worked
      example on sexual adjustment to a cancer trajectory.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An increasing number of qualitative evidence syntheses papers are
      found in health care literature. Many of these syntheses use a strictly
      exhaustive search strategy to collect articles, mirroring the standard template
      developed by major review organizations such as the Cochrane and Campbell
      Collaboration. The hegemonic idea behind it is that non-comprehensive samples in
      systematic reviews may introduce selection bias. However, exhaustive sampling in
      a qualitative evidence synthesis has been questioned, and a more purposeful way
      of sampling papers has been proposed as an alternative, although there is a lack
      of transparency on how these purposeful sampling strategies might be applied to a
      qualitative evidence synthesis. We discuss in our paper why and how we used
      purposeful sampling in a qualitative evidence synthesis about 'sexual adjustment
      to a cancer trajectory', by giving a worked example. METHODS: We have chosen a
      mixed purposeful sampling, combining three different strategies that we
      considered the most consistent with our research purpose: intensity sampling,
      maximum variation sampling and confirming/disconfirming case sampling. RESULTS:
      The concept of purposeful sampling on the meta-level could not readily been
      borrowed from the logic applied in basic research projects. It also demands a
      considerable amount of flexibility, and is labour-intensive, which goes against
      the argument of many authors that using purposeful sampling provides a pragmatic
      solution or a short cut for researchers, compared with exhaustive sampling.
      Opportunities of purposeful sampling were the possible inclusion of new
      perspectives to the line-of-argument and the enhancement of the theoretical
      diversity of the papers being included, which could make the results more
      conceptually aligned with the synthesis purpose. CONCLUSIONS: This paper helps
      researchers to make decisions related to purposeful sampling in a more systematic
      and transparent way. Future research could confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis
      of conceptual enhancement by comparing the findings of a purposefully sampled
      qualitative evidence synthesis with those drawing on an exhaustive sample of the
      literature.

PMID- 26891720
TI  - Normative Data of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in the Greek Population and
      Parkinsonian Dementia.
AB  - The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief cognitive instrument for the
      measurement of dementia. The aim of the present study is to provide normative
      data for the MoCA test in the Greek speaking population and to measure its
      validity in a clinical group of parkinsonian dementia participants. A total of
      710 healthy Greek speaking participants and 19 parkinsonian dementia participants
      took part in the study. Both, the MoCA test and a neuropsychological test battery
      (digit span, semantic verbal fluency, phonemic verbal fluency, Color Trails Test)
      were administered to the normative and clinical samples. The test was found to
      correlate with all neuropsychological tests used in the test battery and it
      showed high discriminant validity (optimal screening cutoff point = 21,
      sensitivity = 0.82, specificity = 0.90) in the parkinsonian dementia
      participants. Further research is needed to use it in larger clinical samples and
      in different neurological diseases. 

PMID- 26891721
TI  - The thorax of the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus: anatomical adaptations in
      an ancient wingless insect lineage (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Secondary winglessness is a common phenomenon found among neopteran
      insects. With an estimated age of at least 140 million years, the cave crickets
      (Rhaphidophoridae) form the oldest exclusively wingless lineage within the long
      horned grasshoppers (Ensifera). With respect to their morphology, cave crickets
      are generally considered to represent a 'primitive' group of Ensifera, for which
      no apomorphic character has been reported so far. RESULTS: We present the first
      detailed investigation and description of the thoracic skeletal and muscular
      anatomy of the East Mediterranean cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus (Ensifera:
      Rhaphidophoridae). T. neglectus possesses sternopleural muscles that are not yet
      reported from other neopteran insects. Cave crickets in general exhibit some
      unique features with respect to their thoracic skeletal anatomy: an externally
      reduced prospinasternum, a narrow median sclerite situated between the meso- and
      metathorax, a star-shaped prospina, and a triramous metafurca. The thoracic
      muscle equipment of T. neglectus compared to that of the bush cricket
      Conocephalus maculatus (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) and the house cricket Acheta
      domesticus (Ensifera: Gryllidae) reveals a number of potentially synapomorphic
      characters between these lineages. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the observed morphology
      we favor a closer relationship of Rhaphidophoridae to Tettigoniidae rather than
      to Gryllidae. In addition, the comparison of the thoracic morphology of T.
      neglectus to that of other wingless Polyneoptera allows reliable conclusions
      about anatomical adaptations correlated with secondary winglessness. The anatomy
      in apterous Ensifera, viz. the reduction of discrete direct and indirect flight
      muscles as well as the strengthening of specific leg muscles, largely resembles
      the condition found in wingless stick insects (Euphasmatodea), but is strikingly
      different from that of other related wingless insects, e.g. heel walkers
      (Mantophasmatodea), ice crawlers (Grylloblattodea), and certain grasshoppers
      (Caelifera). The composition of direct flight muscles largely follows similar
      patterns in winged respectively wingless species within major polyneopteran
      lineages, but it is highly heterogeneous between those lineages.

PMID- 26891722
TI  - The impact of retirement on health: quasi-experimental methods using
      administrative data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Is retirement good or bad for health? Disentangling causality is
      difficult. Much of the previous quasi-experimental research on the effect of
      health on retirement used self-reported health and relied upon discontinuities in
      public retirement incentives across Europe. The current study investigated the
      effect of retirement on health by exploiting discontinuities in private
      retirement incentives to test the effect of retirement on health using a quasi
      experimental study design. METHODS: Secondary data (1997-2009) on a cohort of
      male manufacturing workers in a United States setting. Health status was
      determined using claims data from private insurance and Medicare. Analyses used
      employer-based administrative and claims data and claim data from Medicare.
      RESULTS: Widely used selection on observables models overstate the negative
      impact of retirement due to the endogeneity of the decision to retire. In
      addition, health status as measured by administrative claims data provide some
      advantages over the more commonly used survey items. Using an instrument and
      administrative health records, we find null to positive effects from retirement
      on all fronts, with a possible exception of increased risk for diabetes.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that retirement is not detrimental and
      may be beneficial to health for a sample of manufacturing workers. In addition,
      it supports previous research indicating that quasi-experimental methodologies
      are necessary to evaluate the relationship between retirement and health, as any
      selection on observable model will overstate the negative relationship of
      retirement on health. Further, it provides a model for how such research could be
      implemented in countries like the United States that do not have a strong public
      pension program. Finally, it demonstrates that such research need-not rely upon
      survey data, which has certain shortcomings and is not always available for
      homogenous samples.

PMID- 26891723
TI  - Dual-specificity phosphatase 14 protects the heart from aortic banding-induced
      cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction through inactivation of TAK1-P38MAPK/-JNK1/2
      signaling pathway.
AB  - Dual-specificity phosphatase 14 (Dusp14), an important negative modulator of
      mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, has been implicated
      in inflammatory immune response, cancers, cell differentiation and proliferation.
      The role of Dusp14 in chronic pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy has
      not been explored. Here we have shown that Dusp14-/- knockout mice and cardiac
      specific Dusp14 transgenic mice were generated and subjected to aortic banding
      (AB) for 4 weeks. Our results demonstrated that genetic loss of Dusp14
      significantly aggravated cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, ventricular dilation and
      dysfunction, whereas transgenic cardiac-specific Dusp14 overexpression
      significantly attenuated AB-induced cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. In vitro,
      adenoviral overexpression of constitutive Dusp14 blocked angiotensin II-induced
      hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes, while Dusp14 knockdown led to opposite
      effects. Mechanistically, excessive phosphorylation of TAK1, P38MAPK and JNK1/2
      was evidenced in Dusp14-/- knockout mice post-AB and inactivation of TAK1-P38MAPK
      and -JNK1/2 signaling using TAK1 inhibitor 5Z-7-ox shares similar
      antihypertrophic effect as Dusp14 overexpression. Moreover, we show that Dusp14
      directly interacted with TAK1. Results from present experiments indicate that
      Dusp14 protects the heart from AB-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction
      possibly through inactivation of TAK1-P38MAPK/-JNK1/2 signaling pathway. Future
      studies are warranted to test the feasibility of overexpressing Dusp14 as a
      therapeutic strategy to attenuate cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

PMID- 26891725
TI  - Current Controversies in Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Barrett's Esophagus.
AB  - OPINION STATEMENT: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the most important risk factor for
      esophageal adenocarcinoma. Through the sequence of no dysplasia to low-grade
      dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), eventually early cancer (EC) may
      develop. The risk of neoplastic progression is relatively low, 0.5-0.9 % per
      patient per year. However, once diagnosed, esophageal adenocarcinoma is often
      irresectable, and 5-year survival is only 15 %. Therefore, non-dysplastic BE
      patients are kept under endoscopic surveillance to detect early neoplasia in a
      curable stage. In case of LGD confirmed by an expert pathologist, risk of
      neoplastic progression is high. In these confirmed LGD patients, prophylactic
      ablation using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the Barrett's segment has proven
      to significantly reduce risk of neoplastic progression. Once patients are
      diagnosed with HGD or EC, they have a clear indication for endoscopic treatment.
      The cornerstone for endoscopic management of early Barrett's neoplasia is
      endoscopic resection of mucosal abnormalities. Endoscopic resection (ER) provides
      a large tissue specimen for accurate histological evaluation to select those
      patients for further endoscopic management, who have neoplasia limited to the
      mucosa, well to moderately differentiated and without lymph-vascular invasion.
      After ER, the remainder of the Barrett's mucosa can be eradicated with RFA, to
      prevent occurrence of metachronous lesions.

PMID- 26891726
TI  - Renal failure from birth-AKI or CKD? Questions.
AB  - A case is presented of a neonate born at 32 weeks of gestation with intra-uterine
      growth retardation. The renal scan performed at 31 weeks showed oligohydramnios
      but normal kidneys. The neonate was oliguric from birth and required early
      peritoneal dialysis. Her urine showed heavy proteinuria, and the plasma albumin
      was very low. Post-natal ultrasonography showed large bright kidneys with reduced
      corticomedullary differentiation but no dysplastia; arterial and venous flow was
      normal on Doppler ultrasound. The quiz discusses the differential diagnosis with
      particular reference to whether this picture represents acute kidney injury with
      expected improvement or chronic kidney disease. Further questions discuss
      mechanisms of renal failure in this situation. Finally, with reference to
      previous case reports and series, a correlation between a specific mutation and
      this severe phenotype is proposed.

PMID- 26891724
TI  - Atheroprotection through SYK inhibition fails in established disease when local
      macrophage proliferation dominates lesion progression.
AB  - Macrophages in the arterial intima sustain chronic inflammation during
      atherogenesis. Under hypercholesterolemic conditions murine Ly6C(high) monocytes
      surge in the blood and spleen, infiltrate nascent atherosclerotic plaques, and
      differentiate into macrophages that proliferate locally as disease progresses.
      Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) may participate in downstream signaling of various
      receptors that mediate these processes. We tested the effect of the SYK inhibitor
      fostamatinib on hypercholesterolemia-associated myelopoiesis and plaque formation
      in Apoe(-/-) mice during early and established atherosclerosis. Mice consuming a
      high cholesterol diet supplemented with fostamatinib for 8 weeks developed less
      atherosclerosis. Histologic and flow cytometric analysis of aortic tissue showed
      that fostamatinib reduced the content of Ly6C(high) monocytes and macrophages.
      SYK inhibition limited Ly6C(high) monocytosis through interference with GM-CSF/IL
      3 stimulated myelopoiesis, attenuated cell adhesion to the intimal surface, and
      blocked M-CSF stimulated monocyte to macrophage differentiation. In Apoe(-/-)
      mice with established atherosclerosis, however, fostamatinib treatment did not
      limit macrophage accumulation or lesion progression despite a significant
      reduction in blood monocyte counts, as lesional macrophages continued to
      proliferate. Thus, inhibition of hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis,
      monocyte infiltration, and differentiation by SYK antagonism attenuates early
      atherogenesis but not established disease when local macrophage proliferation
      dominates lesion progression.

PMID- 26891727
TI  - Renal failure from birth-AKI or CKD? Answers.

PMID- 26891728
TI  - Significance of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemical Expression
      in Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The significance of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in
      the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer remains to be determined.
      METHODS: We assessed the levels of PD-L1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune
      cells as well as tumor cells, and evaluated the association between PD-L1
      expression and clinical outcome in 262 colorectal cancer patients. RESULTS: In
      univariate analysis, TNM stage (p < 0.001), PD-L1 expression in tumor
      infiltrating immune cells (p = 0.016), tumor location (p = 0.033), and tumor size
      (p = 0.019) were associated with survival. In multivariate analysis, PD-L1
      expression in tumor infiltrating immune cells and TNM stage were independent
      prognostic factors (HR 1.83, 95 % CI 1.09-3.05, p = 0.021; HR 2.49, 95 % CI 1.51
      4.12, p < 0.001, respectively). Eight percent of patients had positive PD-L1
      expression in tumor cells. In contrast, PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was not
      significantly associated with patient clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data
      indicate that PD-L1 status in tumor-infiltrating immune cells is a significant
      prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients. There is a need for randomized
      studies that evaluate the role of PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer in
      treatment decision protocols for novel immunotherapy.

PMID- 26891729
TI  - therascreen(r) EGFR RGQ PCR Kit: A Companion Diagnostic for Afatinib and
      Gefitinib in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
AB  - therascreen((r)) EGFR RGQ PCR Kit is a real-time polymerase chain reaction test
      kit for the qualitative detection of exon 19 deletions and L858R mutation of the
      human EGFR gene in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded non-small cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC) tissue. The US FDA has approved the kit for selecting patients with NSCLC
      for treatment with afatinib or gefitinib. The test has good analytical
      sensitivity and specificity. It requires only two 5 um tissue sections, is easy
      to use, provides automated interpretation of results and can be performed in <8
      h. There is good concordance between EGFR mutation test results obtained with
      this kit and several other assays. The clinical utility of the kit has been
      validated in phase 3 or 4 trials in which NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations as
      detected by the kit had greater clinical benefits with afatinib or gefitinib than
      with standard chemotherapy.

PMID- 26891731
TI  - Impact of Prothrombotic Risk Factors in a Cohort of Egyptian Hemophilia A
      Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hemophilias are a group of related bleeding disorders that show an
      X-linked pattern of inheritance. The clinical phenotype of severe hemophilia may
      vary markedly among patients as a result of many factors, including genetic
      prothrombotic risk factors. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to study the incidence
      of the most common prothrombotic risk factors for additive effects among Egyptian
      patients with hemophilia A and their impact on clinical phenotype; annual
      bleeding frequency and severity of hemophilic arthropathy, as well as the effect
      of a single variation in these patients. METHODS: This study was carried out in
      100 patients with hemophilia A. Genotyping for factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A,
      prothrombin G20210A, MTHFR C677T, and A1298C mutations was conducted using a real
      time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: Our study revealed
      mutations in hemophilia patients as follows: prothrombin G20210A (3 %), FVL (14
      %), MTHFR C677T (42 %), and A1298C (59 %). Despite a lack of statistical
      significance when each gene was analysed separately, heterozygosity of
      prothrombin G20210A or FVL was always associated with either a mild or moderate,
      but never a severe, clinical presentation. The lowest bleeding frequency (less
      than once per month) was identified among patients with two heterozygous variants
      irrespective of the involved genes. In addition, the incidence of hemarthrosis
      was significantly higher among patients with a wild genotype of the prothrombin
      gene and FVL, and the average number of affected joints was significantly higher
      among patients with wild-type prothrombin and FVL genes than among heterozygous
      patients. CONCLUSION: These prothrombotic mutations have a cumulative effect in
      amelioration of the severity of bleeding in hemophiliacs. The most prominent
      effect is that of prothrombin G20210A and FVL, while MTHFR C677A and A1298C gene
      mutations are less conclusive.

PMID- 26891730
TI  - miR-21 Might be Involved in Breast Cancer Promotion and Invasion Rather than in
      Initial Events of Breast Cancer Development.
AB  - Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease that develops into a large number
      of varied phenotypes. One of the features used in its classification and therapy
      selection is invasiveness. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is considered to be an important
      element of BC invasiveness, and miR-21 levels are frequently increased in
      different tumor types compared with normal tissue, including the breast.
      Experimental and literature research has highlighted that miR-21 was always
      significantly elevated in every study that included invasive breast carcinomas
      compared with healthy breast tissue. The main goal of this research was to
      specify the predominant role of miR-21 in the different phases of BC
      pathogenesis, i.e. whether it was involved in the early (initiation), later
      (promotion), or late (propagation, progression) phases. Our second goal was to
      explain the roles of miR-21 targets in BC by an in silico approach and literature
      review, and to associate the importance of miR-21 with particular phases of BC
      pathogenesis through the action of its target genes. Analysis has shown that
      changes in miR-21 levels might be important for the later and/or late phases of
      breast cancerogenesis rather than for the initial early phases. Targets of miR-21
      (TIMP3, PDCD4, PTEN, TPM1 and RECK) are also primarily involved in BC promotion
      and progression, especially invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. miR-21
      expression levels could perhaps be used in conjunction with the standard
      diagnostic parameters as an indicator of BC presence, and to indicate a phenotype
      likely to show early invasion/metastasis detection and poor prognosis. 

PMID- 26891732
TI  - Miniaturization Technologies for Efficient Single-Cell Library Preparation for
      Next-Generation Sequencing.
AB  - As the cost of next-generation sequencing has decreased, library preparation
      costs have become a more significant proportion of the total cost, especially for
      high-throughput applications such as single-cell RNA profiling. Here, we have
      applied novel technologies to scale down reaction volumes for library
      preparation. Our system consisted of in vitro differentiated human embryonic stem
      cells representing two stages of pancreatic differentiation, for which we
      prepared multiple biological and technical replicates. We used the Fluidigm (San
      Francisco, CA) C1 single-cell Autoprep System for single-cell complementary DNA
      (cDNA) generation and an enzyme-based tagmentation system (Nextera XT; Illumina,
      San Diego, CA) with a nanoliter liquid handler (mosquito HTS; TTP Labtech,
      Royston, UK) for library preparation, reducing the reaction volume down to 2 uL
      and using as little as 20 pg of input cDNA. The resulting sequencing data were
      bioinformatically analyzed and correlated among the different library reaction
      volumes. Our results showed that decreasing the reaction volume did not interfere
      with the quality or the reproducibility of the sequencing data, and the
      transcriptional data from the scaled-down libraries allowed us to distinguish
      between single cells. Thus, we have developed a process to enable efficient and
      cost-effective high-throughput single-cell transcriptome sequencing. 

PMID- 26891733
TI  - Early identification of cerebrovascular events in patients presenting with
      vertigo or dizziness.

PMID- 26891734
TI  - Specific autoantigens in experimental autoimmunity-associated atherosclerosis.
AB  - Higher cardiovascular morbidity in patients with a wide range of autoimmune
      diseases highlights the importance of autoimmunity in promoting atherosclerosis.
      Our purpose was to investigate the mechanisms of accelerated atherosclerosis and
      identified vascular autoantigens targeted by autoimmunity. We created a mouse
      model of autoimmunity-associated atherosclerosis by transplanting bone marrow
      from FcgammaRIIB knockout (FcRIIB(-/-)) mice into LDL receptor knockout mice. We
      characterized the cellular and molecular mechanisms of atherogenesis and
      identified specific aortic autoantigens using serologic proteomic studies. En
      face lesion area analysis showed more aggressive atherosclerosis in autoimmune
      mice compared with control mice (0.64 +/- 0.12 vs 0.32 +/- 0.05 mm(2); P < 0.05,
      respectively). At the cellular level, FcRIIB(-/-) macrophages showed significant
      reduction (46-72%) in phagocytic capabilities. Proteomic analysis revealed
      circulating autoantibodies in autoimmune mice that targeted 25 atherosclerotic
      lesion proteins, including essential components of adhesion complex,
      cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix, and proteins involved in critical
      functions and pathways. Microscopic examination of atherosclerotic plaques
      revealed essential colocalization of autoantibodies with endothelial cells, their
      adherence to basement membranes, the internal elastica lamina, and necrotic
      cores. The new vascular autoimmunosome may be a useful target for diagnostic and
      immunotherapeutic interventions in autoimmunity-associated diseases that have
      accelerated atherosclerosis.-Merched, A. J., Daret, D., Li, L., Franzl, N.,
      Sauvage-Merched, M. Specific autoantigens in experimental autoimmunity-associated
      atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26891735
TI  - Chronic exposure to air pollution particles increases the risk of obesity and
      metabolic syndrome: findings from a natural experiment in Beijing.
AB  - Epidemiologic evidence suggests that air pollution is a risk factor for childhood
      obesity. Limited experimental data have shown that early-life exposure to ambient
      particles either increases susceptibility to diet-induced weight gain in
      adulthood or increases insulin resistance, adiposity, and inflammation. However,
      no data have directly supported a link between air pollution and non-diet-induced
      weight increases. In a rodent model, we found that breathing Beijing's highly
      polluted air resulted in weight gain and cardiorespiratory and metabolic
      dysfunction. Compared to those exposed to filtered air, pregnant rats exposed to
      unfiltered Beijing air were significantly heavier at the end of pregnancy. At 8
      wk old, the offspring prenatally and postnatally exposed to unfiltered air were
      significantly heavier than those exposed to filtered air. In both rat dams and
      their offspring, after continuous exposure to unfiltered air we observed
      pronounced histologic evidence for both perivascular and peribronchial
      inflammation in the lungs, increased tissue and systemic oxidative stress,
      dyslipidemia, and an enhanced proinflammatory status of epididymal fat. Results
      suggest that TLR2/4-dependent inflammatory activation and lipid oxidation in the
      lung can spill over systemically, leading to metabolic dysfunction and weight
      gain.-Wei, Y., Zhang, J., Li, Z., Gow, A., Chung, K. F., Hu, M., Sun, Z., Zeng,
      L., Zhu, T., Jia, G., Li, X., Duarte, M., Tang, X. Chronic exposure to air
      pollution particles increases the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome:
      findings from a natural experiment in Beijing.

PMID- 26891736
TI  - Vaccenic acid suppresses intestinal inflammation by increasing anandamide and
      related N-acylethanolamines in the JCR:LA-cp rat.
AB  - Vaccenic acid (VA), the predominant ruminant-derivedtransfat in the food chain,
      ameliorates hyperlipidemia, yet mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated
      whether VA could influence tissue endocannabinoids (ECs) by altering the
      availability of their biosynthetic precursor, arachidonic acid (AA), in membrane
      phospholipids (PLs). JCR:LA-cprats were assigned to a control diet with or
      without VA (1% w/w),cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (1% w/w) or
      VA+CLA (1% + 0.5% w/w) for 8 weeks. VA reduced the EC, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2
      AG), in the liver and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) relative to control diet (P<
      0.001), but did not change AA in tissue PLs. There was no additive effect of
      combining VA+CLA on 2-AG relative to VA alone (P> 0.05). Interestingly, VA
      increased jejunal concentrations of anandamide and those of the noncannabinoid
      signaling molecules, oleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide, relative to
      control diet (P< 0.05). This was consistent with a lower jejunal protein
      abundance (but not activity) of their degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide
      hydrolase, as well as the mRNA expression of TNFalpha and interleukin 1beta (P<
      0.05). The ability of VA to reduce 2-AG in the liver and VAT provides a potential
      mechanistic explanation to alleviate ectopic lipid accumulation. The opposing
      regulation of ECs and other noncannabinoid lipid signaling molecules by VA
      suggests an activation of benefit via the EC system in the intestine. 

PMID- 26891737
TI  - Detection and confirmation of serum lipid biomarkers for preeclampsia using
      direct infusion mass spectrometry.
AB  - Despite substantial research, the early diagnosis of preeclampsia remains
      elusive. Lipids are now recognized to be involved in regulation and
      pathophysiology of some disease. Shotgun lipidomic studies were undertaken to
      determine whether serum lipid biomarkers exist that predict preeclampsia later in
      the same in pregnancy. A discovery study was performed using sera collected at 12
      14 weeks pregnancy from 27 controls with uncomplicated pregnancies and 29 cases
      that later developed preeclampsia. Lipids were extracted and analyzed by direct
      infusion into a TOF mass spectrometer. MS signals, demonstrating apparent
      differences were selected, their abundances determined, and statistical
      differences tested. Statistically significant lipid markers were reevaluated in a
      second confirmatory study having 43 controls and 37 preeclampsia cases. Multi
      marker combinations were developed using those lipid biomarkers confirmed in the
      second study. The initial study detected 45 potential preeclampsia markers. Of
      these, 23 markers continued to be statistically significant in the second
      confirmatory set. Most of these markers, representing several lipid classes, were
      chemically characterized, typically providing lipid class and potential molecular
      components using MS(2) Several multi-marker panels with areas under the curve
      >0.85 and high predictive values were developed. Developed panels of serum
      lipidomic biomarkers appear to be able to identify most women at risk for
      preeclampsia in a given pregnancy at 12-14 weeks gestation. 

PMID- 26891738
TI  - HDL is redundant for adrenal steroidogenesis in LDLR knockout mice with a human
      like lipoprotein profile.
AB  - The contribution of HDL to adrenal steroidogenesis appears to be different
      between mice and humans. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that a
      difference in lipoprotein profile may be the underlying cause. Hereto, we
      determined the impact of HDL deficiency on the adrenal glucocorticoid output in
      genetically modified mice with a human-like lipoprotein profile. Genetic deletion
      of APOA1 in LDL receptor (LDLR) knockout mice was associated with HDL deficiency
      and a parallel increase in the level of cholesterol associated with nonHDL
      fractions. Despite a compensatory increase in the adrenal relative mRNA
      expression levels of the cholesterol synthesis gene, HMG-CoA reductase, adrenals
      from APOA1/LDLR double knockout mice were severely depleted of neutral lipids, as
      compared with those of control LDLR knockout mice. However, basal corticosterone
      levels and the adrenal glucocorticoid response to stress were not different
      between the two types of mice. In conclusion, we have shown that HDL is not
      critical for proper adrenal glucocorticoid function when mice are provided with a
      human-like lipoprotein profile. Our findings provide the first experimental
      evidence that APOB-containing lipoproteins may facilitate adrenal
      steroidogenesis, in an LDLR-independent manner, in vivo in mice. 

PMID- 26891740
TI  - Ascending Aortic Aneurysm in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Formation, Progression,
      and the Role of Focal Dissections.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To understand the anatomy and physiology of ascending aortic aneurysms
      in angiotensin II-infused ApoE(-/-) mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We combined an
      extensive in vivo imaging protocol (high-frequency ultrasound and contrast
      enhanced microcomputed tomography at baseline and after 3, 10, 18, and 28 days of
      angiotensin II infusion) with synchrotron-based ultrahigh resolution ex vivo
      imaging (phase contrast X-ray tomographic microscopy) in n=47 angiotensin II
      infused mice and 6 controls. Aortic regurgitation increased significantly over
      time, as did the luminal volume of the ascending aorta. In the samples that were
      scanned ex vivo, we observed one or several focal dissections, with the largest
      located in the outer convex aspect of the ascending aorta. The volume of the
      dissections moderately correlated to the volume of the aneurysm as measured in
      vivo (r(2)=0.46). After 3 days of angiotensin II infusion, we found an
      interlaminar hematoma in 7/12 animals, which could be linked to an intimal tear.
      There was also a significant increase in single laminar ruptures, which may have
      facilitated a progressive enlargement of the focal dissections over time. At
      later time points, the hematoma was resorbed and the medial and adventitial
      thickness increased. Fatal transmural dissection occurred in 8/47 mice at an
      early stage of the disease, before adventita remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: We
      visualized and quantified the dissections that lead to ascending aortic aneurysms
      in angiotensin II-infused mice and provided unique insight into the temporal
      evolution of these lesions.

PMID- 26891739
TI  - Extracellular Matrix Disarray as a Mechanism for Greater Abdominal Versus
      Thoracic Aortic Stiffness With Aging in Primates.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Increased vascular stiffness is central to the pathophysiology of
      aging, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. However, relatively
      few studies have examined vascular stiffness in both the thoracic and the
      abdominal aorta with aging, despite major differences in anatomy, embryological
      origin, and relation to aortic aneurysm. APPROACH AND RESULTS: The 2 other unique
      features of this study were (1) to study young (9+/-1 years) and old (26+/-1
      years) male monkeys and (2) to study direct and continuous measurements of aortic
      pressure and thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters in conscious monkeys. As
      expected, aortic stiffness, beta, was increased P<0.05, 2- to 3-fold, in old
      versus young thoracic aorta and augmented further with superimposition of acute
      hypertension with phenylephrine. Surprisingly, stiffness was not greater in old
      thoracic aorta than in young abdominal aorta. These results can be explained, in
      part, by the collagen/elastin ratio, but more importantly, by disarray of
      collagen and elastin, which correlated best with vascular stiffness. However,
      vascular smooth muscle cell stiffness was not different in thoracic versus
      abdominal aorta in either young or old monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, aortic
      stiffness increases with aging as expected, but the most severe increases in
      aortic stiffness observed in the abdominal aorta is novel, where values in young
      monkeys equaled, or even exceeded, values of thoracic aortic stiffness in old
      monkeys. These results can be explained by alterations in collagen/elastin ratio,
      but even more importantly by collagen and elastin disarray.

PMID- 26891742
TI  - Effect of a Metalloantibiotic Produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Klebsiella
      pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae.
AB  - Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are a great problem in hospitals, where
      thousands of people are infected daily, with the occurrence of high mortality
      rates, especially in infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase
      producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-producing Kpn). The challenge is to find new
      compounds that can control KPC producing-Kpn infections. The aim of this study
      was to evaluate the antibiotic activity of the F3d fraction produced by the
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa LV strain against clinical isolates of KPC-producing Kpn.
      The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of F3d (62.5 ug mL(
      1)), containing an organic metallic compound, killed planktonic cells of KPC
      producing Kpn strains after 30 min of incubation. At the same concentration, this
      fraction also showed an inhibitory effect against biofilm of these bacteria after
      24 h of incubation. Treatment with the F3d fraction caused pronounced
      morphological alterations in both planktonic and biofilm cells of the bacteria.
      The inhibitory effect of the F3d fraction seems to be more selective for the
      bacteria than the host cells, indicating its potential in the development of new
      drugs for the treatment of infections caused by KPC-producing Kpn and other MDRO.

PMID- 26891741
TI  - Loss of Thrombomodulin in Placental Dysfunction in Preeclampsia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome characterized by
      placental dysfunction and an angiogenic imbalance. Systemically, levels of
      thrombomodulin, an endothelium- and syncytiotrophoblast-bound protein that
      regulates coagulation, inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue remodeling, are
      increased. We aimed to investigate placental thrombomodulin dysregulation and
      consequent downstream effects in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. APPROACH AND
      RESULTS: Placentas from 28 preeclampsia pregnancies, 30 uncomplicated
      pregnancies, and 21 pregnancies complicated by growth restriction as extra
      controls were included. Immunohistochemical staining of thrombomodulin, caspase
      3, and fibrin was performed. Placental mRNA expression of thrombomodulin,
      inflammatory markers, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, and soluble Flt-1 were
      measured with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Thrombomodulin mRNA
      expression was determined in vascular endothelial growth factor-transfected
      trophoblast cell lines. Thrombomodulin protein and mRNA expression were decreased
      in preeclampsia as compared with both control groups (P=0.001). Thrombomodulin
      mRNA expression correlated with maternal body mass index (P<0.01) and diastolic
      blood pressure (P<0.05) in preeclampsia. An increase in placental apoptotic cells
      was associated with preeclampsia (P<0.001). Thrombomodulin expression correlated
      positively with matrix metalloproteinase expression (P<0.01) in preeclampsia, but
      not with fibrin deposits or inflammatory markers. Placental soluble Flt-1
      expression correlated with decreased thrombomodulin expression. Vascular
      endothelial growth factor induced upregulation of thrombomodulin expression in
      trophoblast cells. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased thrombomodulin expression in
      preeclampsia may play a role in placental dysfunction in preeclampsia and is
      possibly caused by an angiogenic imbalance. Hypertension and obesity are
      associated with thrombomodulin downregulation. These results set the stage for
      further basic and clinical research on thrombomodulin in the pathogenesis of
      preeclampsia and other syndromes characterized by endothelial dysfunction.

PMID- 26891743
TI  - Four cases of echogenic breast lesions: a case series and review.
AB  - Echogenic breast lesions are generally thought to be benign. We herein report
      four cases of echogenic breast lesions that were seen at our centre over 38
      months. One patient had a prior history of wide excision and radiotherapy for
      breast cancer and was imaged as part of routine cancer surveillance, while the
      other three were recalled for further assessment following an abnormal screening
      mammogram. All four patients were assessed on ultrasonography, which demonstrated
      an echogenic lesion in each patient. All four lesions underwent ultrasonography
      guided core biopsy, followed by excision biopsy. The indications for biopsy were
      interval increase in the size of lesion or indeterminate features demonstrated in
      the lesion. Three lesions were benign, while the lesion from the patient who had
      received previous radiotherapy was angiosarcoma. Not all echogenic lesions are
      benign and lesions with suspicious features on ultrasonography should undergo
      biopsy. 

PMID- 26891744
TI  - Endoscopic facelift of the frontal and temporal areas in multiple planes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The detachment planes used in endoscopic facelifts play an
      important role in determining the results of facial rejuvenation. In this study,
      we introduced the use of multiple detachment planes for endoscopic facelifts of
      the frontal and temporal areas, and examined its outcome. METHODS: This study
      included 47 patients (38 female, 9 male) who requested frontal and temporal
      facelifts from January 2009 to January 2014. The technique of dissection in
      multiple planes was used for all 47 patients. In this technique, the frontal
      dissection was first carried out in the subgaleal plane, before being changed to
      the subperiosteal plane about 2 cm above the eyebrow line. Temporal dissection
      was carried out in both the subcutaneous and subgaleal planes. After detachment,
      frontal and temporal fixations were achieved using nonabsorbable sutures, and the
      incisions were closed. During follow-up (ranging from 6-24 months after surgery),
      the patients were shown their pre- and postoperative images, and asked to rate
      their satisfaction with the procedure. Complications encountered were documented.
      RESULTS: All 47 patients had complete recovery without any serious complications.
      The patient satisfaction rate was 93.6%. Minor complications included dimpling at
      the suture site, asymmetry, overcorrection, transitory paralysis, late oedema,
      haematoma, infection, scarring and hair loss. These complications resolved
      spontaneously and were negligible after complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Dissection
      in multiple planes is valuable in frontal and temporal endoscopic facelifts. It
      may be worthwhile to introduce the use of this technique in frontal and temporal
      facelifts, as it may lead to improved outcomes.

PMID- 26891745
TI  - Evaluation of a training programme to induct medical students in delivering
      public health talks.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It is uncommon for medical students to deliver public health talks
      as part of their medical education curriculum. This study evaluated the
      effectiveness of a novel training programme that required medical students to
      deliver public health talks during their family medicine (FM) clerkship in a
      Singapore primary care institution. METHODS: The FM faculty staff guided teams of
      third-year medical students to select appropriate topics for health talks that
      were to be conducted at designated polyclinics. The talks were video-recorded and
      appraised for clarity, content and delivery. The appraisal was done by the
      student's peers and assigned faculty staff. The audience was surveyed to
      determine their satisfaction level and understanding of the talks. The students
      also self-rated the effectiveness of this new teaching activity. RESULTS: A total
      of 120 medical students completed a questionnaire to rate the effectiveness of
      the new teaching activity. 85.8% of the students felt confident about the
      delivery of their talks, 95.8% reported having learnt how to deliver talks and
      92.5% perceived this new training modality as useful in their medical education.
      Based on the results of the audience survey, the speakers were perceived as
      knowledgeable (53.1%), confident (51.3%) and professional (39.0%). Assessment of
      15 video-recorded talks showed satisfactory delivery of the talks by the
      students. CONCLUSION: The majority of the students reported a favourable overall
      learning experience under this new training programme. This finding is supported
      by the positive feedback garnered from the audience, peers of the medical
      students and the faculty staff.

PMID- 26891746
TI  - Changes of the corticospinal tract in the unaffected hemisphere in stroke
      patients: A diffusion tensor imaging study.
AB  - We investigated changes of the corticospinal tract (CST) in the unaffected
      hemisphere according to severity of the CST injury, using diffusion tensor
      imaging (DTI). According to the severity of the CST injury in the affected
      hemisphere, the stroke patients showed different aspects of fiber volume
      increment of the CST in the unaffected hemisphere; the fiber volume was increased
      in the early phase in patients with mild injury of CST and later phase in
      patients with severe injury of CST.

PMID- 26891747
TI  - The effect of anatomical noise on perception of low contrast in intra-oral
      radiographs: an in vitro study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Radiographic images suffer from varying amounts of noise. The most
      studied and discussed of these is random noise. However, recent research has
      shown that the projected anatomy contributes substantially to noise, especially
      when detecting low-contrast objects in the images. Our aim, therefore, was to
      evaluate the extent to which overprojected anatomical noise affects the detection
      of low-contrast objects in intra-oral images. METHODS: Our study used four common
      sensor models. With each sensor, we took four series of images, three series with
      and one series without an anatomical phantom present. In each series, we exposed
      a low-contrast phantom at 18 different exposure times using a standardized
      method. 4 observers evaluated all 288 images. RESULTS: The low-contrast
      characteristics differed substantially when imaging low contrast on a homogeneous
      background compared with imaging low contrast when an anatomical phantom was
      present. For three of the sensors, optimal exposure times for low-contrast
      imaging were found, while the fourth sensor displayed a completely different
      behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Calibrating the low-contrast properties of an imaging
      system using low-contrast objects on a homogeneous background is not recommended.
      On an anatomical background, low-contrast properties are completely different,
      and these will mimic the clinical situation much more closely, directing the
      operator how to best use the system. There is a clear demand for further research
      on this subject.

PMID- 26891748
TI  - Calcium phosphate nanocoatings and nanocomposites, part 2: thin films for slow
      drug delivery and osteomyelitis.
AB  - During the last two decades although many calcium phosphate based nanomaterials
      have been proposed for both drug delivery, and bone regeneration, their coating
      applications have been somehow slow due to the problems related to their
      complicated synthesis methods. In order to control the efficiency of local drug
      delivery of a biomaterial the critical pore sizes as well as good control of the
      chemical composition is pertinent. A variety of calcium phosphate based
      nanocoated composite drug delivery systems are currently being investigated. This
      review aims to give an update into the advancements of calcium phosphate
      nanocoatings and thin film nanolaminates. In particular recent research on
      PLA/hydroxyapatite composite thin films and coatings into the slow drug delivery
      for the possible treatment of osteomyelitis is covered. 

PMID- 26891749
TI  - Fibulin-5 downregulates Ki-67 and inhibits proliferation and invasion of breast
      cancer cells.
AB  - Fibulins not only function as molecular bridges within the cellular
      microenvironment but also influence cell behavior. Thus, fibulins may contribute
      to create a permissive microenvironment for tumor growth but can also stimulate
      different mechanisms that may impede tumor progression. This is the case with
      Fibulin-5, which has been shown to display both tumor-promoting and tumor
      protective functions by mechanisms that are not totally defined. We show new
      evidence on the tumor-protective functions displayed by Fibulin-5 in MCF-7, T47D
      and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells including the inhibition of invasion and
      proliferation capacity and hampering the ability to form mammospheres. Reduction
      in the level of phosphorylation of Ser residues involved in the nuclear
      translocation of beta-catenin may underlie these antitumor effects. We also found
      that Fibulin-5 reduces the level of expression of Ki-67, a nuclear protein
      associated with cell proliferation. Moreover, reduction in Fibulin-5 expression
      corresponds to an increase of Ki-67 detection in breast tissue samples. Overall,
      our data provide new insights into the influence of Fibulin-5 to modify breast
      cancer cell behavior and contribute to better understand the connections between
      fibulins and cancer. 

PMID- 26891750
TI  - Dual-energy computed tomography has limited sensitivity for non-tophaceous gout:
      a comparison study with tophaceous gout.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a new diagnostic tool for
      gout, but its sensitivity has not been established. Our goal was to assess the
      sensitivity of DECT for the detection of monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in non
      tophaceous and tophaceous gout, both at the level of the patient and that of the
      individual joint or lesion. METHODS: DECT was performed on 11 patients with
      crystal-proven non-tophaceous gout and 10 with tophaceous gout and included both
      the upper and lower extremities in 20/21 patients. DECT images were
      simultaneously acquired at 80 and 140 kV and then processed on a workstation with
      proprietary software using a two-material decomposition algorithm. MSU deposits
      were color coded as green by the software and fused onto grey-scale CT images.
      The number and location of these deposits was tallied independently by two DECT
      trained radiologists blinded to the clinical characteristics of the patient.
      Sensitivity of DECT was defined as the proportion of patients with a confirmed
      diagnosis of gout which was correctly identified as such by the imaging
      technique. All patients provided informed consent to participate in this IRB
      approved study. RESULTS: MSU deposits were detected by DECT in >=1 joint area in
      7/11 (64 %) patients with non-tophaceous gout, but were only detected in 3/12 (25
      %) joints proven by aspiration to be affected with gout. Inclusion of the upper
      extremity joints in the scanning protocol did not improve sensitivity. All 10
      patients with tophaceous gout had MSU deposits evident by DECT. The sensitivity
      of DECT for individual gouty erosions was assessed in 3 patients with extensive
      foot involvement. MSU deposits were detected by DECT within or immediately
      adjacent to 13/26 (50 %) erosions. CONCLUSIONS: A DECT protocol that includes all
      lower extremity joints has moderate sensitivity in non-tophaceous and high
      sensitivity in tophaceous gout. However, DECT has lower sensitivity when
      restricted to individual crystal-proven gouty joints in non-tophaceous disease or
      individual erosive lesions in tophaceous gout. The detection of MSU deposits by
      DECT relates to their size and density and the detection parameters of the DECT
      scanner and adjustment of the latter might improve sensitivity.

PMID- 26891751
TI  - Kinematic and kinetic assessment of upper limb movements in patients with
      writer's cramp.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The assessment and treatment of writer's cramp is complicated due to
      the variations in the forces and angles of involved joints. Additionally, in some
      cases compensatory movements for cramp relief further complicates assessment.
      Currently these variables are subjectively measured with clinical scales and
      visual assessments. This subjectivity makes it difficult to successfully
      administer interventions such as Botulinum toxin injection or orthotics resulting
      in poor efficacy and significant side effects. METHOD: A multi-sensor system was
      used to record finger and wrist forces along with deviation angles at the wrist,
      elbow and shoulder while 9 patients with writer's cramp performed a series of
      standardized tasks on surfaces inclined at different angles. Clinical, kinetic,
      and kinematic information regarding cramping was collected. RESULTS: First, four
      tasks appeared to best predict cramp occurrence. Second, unique biomechanical
      profiles emerged for patients regarding force, angles and cramp severity. Third,
      cluster analyses using these features showed a clear separation of patients into
      two severity classes. Finally, a relationship between severity and kinetic
      kinematic information suggested that primary cramping versus compensatory
      movements could be potentially inferred. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate
      that using a set of standardized tasks and objective measures, individual
      profiles for arm movements and applied forces associated with writer's cramp can
      be generated. The clinician can then accurately target the biomechanics
      specifically, whether it is with injection or other rehabilitative measures,
      fulfilling an important unmet need in the treatment of writer's cramp.

PMID- 26891752
TI  - Implementation of CE-MS-identified proteome-based biomarker panels in drug
      development and patient management.
AB  - The recent advancements in clinical proteomics enabled identification of
      biomarker panels for a large range of diseases. A number of CE-MS-identified
      biomarker panels were verified and implemented in clinical studies. Despite
      multiple challenges, accumulating evidence supports the value and the need for
      proteome-based biomarker panels. In this perspective, we provide an overview of
      clinical studies indicating the added value of CE-MS biomarker panels over
      traditional diagnostics and monitoring methods. We outline apparent advantages of
      applying novel proteomic biomarker panels for disease diagnosis, prognosis,
      staging, drug development and patient management. Facing the plethora of benefits
      associated with the use of CE-MS biomarker panels, we envision their
      implementation into the medical practice in the near future. 

PMID- 26891753
TI  - The combined effect of subcutaneous granulocyte- colony stimulating factor and
      myocardial contrast echocardiography with intravenous infusion of sulfur
      hexafluoride on post-infarction left ventricular function, the RIGENERA 2.0
      trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several clinical trials and recent meta-analyses have demonstrated
      that administration of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G
      CSF) is safe and, only in patients with large acute myocardial infarction (AMI),
      is associated with an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction.
      Moreover, the mobilization and engraftment of the bone marrow-derived cells may
      differ significantly among patients, interfering with the restoration of left
      ventricular function after treatment. Therefore, the clinical potential
      application of the G-CSF has not yet been fully elucidated. METHODS/DESIGN: The
      RIGENERA 2.0 trial is a multicenter, phase II, placebo-controlled, randomized,
      open-label, with blinded evaluation of endpoints (PROBE) trial in which 120
      patients with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing
      successful revascularization but with residual myocardial dysfunction will be
      enrolled. In cases where there is a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <=
      45% the patient will be electronically randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive either
      subcutaneous recombinant human G-CSF (group 1) or placebo (group 2) both added on
      top of optimal standard of care. Both groups will undergo myocardial contrast
      echocardiography with intravenous infusion of sulfur hexafluoride (MCE) whilst
      undergoing the echocardiogram. The primary efficacy endpoint is the evaluation of
      the LVEF at 6 months after AMI assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Secondary
      efficacy endpoints are the evaluation of LVEF at 6 months after AMI assessed by
      echocardiography, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left
      ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance
      and echocardiography at 6 months, together with the incidence of major adverse
      clinical events (MACE) defined as death, myocardial infarction, sustained cardiac
      arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, stroke and re-hospitalization due to heart
      failure at 1 year. DISCUSSION: The RIGENERA 2.0 trial will test whether G-CSF
      administration and MCE, through the enhancement of the bone marrow-derived cells
      homing in the myocardium, determines an improvement in regional and global
      contractile function, myocardial perfusion and infarct extension in patients with
      large AMI. The results of the present study are expected to envision routine
      clinical use of this safe, affordable and reproducible approach in patients with
      successful revascularization after AMI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov:
      NCT02502747 (29 June 2015); EudraCT: 2015-002189-21 (10 July 2015).

PMID- 26891755
TI  - Back to the future: re-evaluation of the possible role for oxygen supplementation
      during exercise in chronic heart failure.

PMID- 26891754
TI  - The effect of increasing inspired oxygen on exercise performance in patients with
      chronic heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Chronic heart failure is characterised by reduced exercise tolerance.
      We assessed the effects of different fractions of inspired oxygen (FiO2) on
      exercise capacity using cycle ergometry to see if there is a dose-response
      relationship between FiO2 and exercise performance. METHODS: This was a single
      centre, randomised, single-blinded, cross-over study. Thirty-one patients with
      chronic heart failure undertook three maximal incremental exercise tests. For
      each test, a different FiO2 was used: room air (20.9%), 28% or 40%. The patient
      had to breathe in via a venturi mask allowing the investigator to control the
      FiO2 and maintain the patient's blinding. The three tests were carried out in
      random order with a minimum of 4 days' rest between any two tests. RESULTS:
      Exercise time increased from (mean+/-standard deviations) 501+/-24.9 s on room
      air to 525+/-25.1 s (p=0.042) and 536+/-24.2 (p<0.001) seconds, with FiO2 of 28%
      and 40%, respectively. Maximal metabolic equivalents were 3.47+/-0.16 on room air
      and 3.67+/-0.16 (p=0.002) and 3.70+/-0.15 (p<0.001) on 28% and 40% oxygen,
      respectively. Maximal workload was 78.4+/-4.5 W on room air and 82.6+/-4.3
      (p=0.021) and 84.2+/-4.2 (p=0.005) on 28% and 40% oxygen, respectively.
      Increasing FiO2 resulted in higher mean oxygen saturations during exercise. The
      mean heart rate during exercise was lower with FiO2 of 28% with no further drop
      at 40%. Changing FiO2 had no effect on blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing
      FiO2 to 28% or 40% acutely improves exercise capacity in patients with chronic
      heart failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Eudract number: 2014-003380-38;
      Results.

PMID- 26891756
TI  - Ticagrelor and aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular events after coronary
      artery bypass graft surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ticagrelor was shown to reduce mortality in patients who underwent
      coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but its effect on graft patency is
      unknown. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo
      controlled trial, comparing ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily versus placebo for 3
      months added to aspirin 81 mg/day, following isolated CABG. Aspirin was started
      within 12 h, and study medication within 72 h after CABG. Primary outcome was
      graft occlusion on CT angiography (CTA) performed 3 months post CABG. Patients
      were followed to 12 months for death, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat
      revascularisation and bleeding. RESULTS: The study was terminated prematurely
      after randomising 70 patients between September 2011 and August 2014 because of
      slow recruitment. CTA was performed in 56 patients who completed >1 month of
      study drug. Graft occlusion occurred in 7/25 (28.0%) patients on ticagrelor and
      17/31 (48.3%) on placebo, p=0.044. Of 207 analysable grafts, graft occlusion
      occurred in 9/87 (10.3%) with ticagrelor and 22/120 (18.3%) with placebo,
      p=0.112. Graft occlusion or stenosis >=50% occurred in 10/87 (11.5%) ticagrelor
      vs 32/120 (26.7%) placebo, p=0.007. There was no major bleeding, but minor
      bleeding was higher with ticagrelor (31.4% vs 2.9%, p=0.003). In univariate
      analysis, ticagrelor use reduced graft occlusion (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.97,
      p=0.047), which remained significant on multivariable analysis (OR 0.25, 95% CI
      0.073 to 0.873, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor added to aspirin after CABG
      reduced the proportion of patients with graft occlusion, and was a significant
      univariate and multivariable predictor of graft occlusion. These results are
      hypothesis-generating and should be confirmed in larger studies. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01373411: Results.

PMID- 26891757
TI  - Rheumatic heart disease echocardiographic screening: approaching practical and
      affordable solutions.
AB  - Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects at least 32.9 million people worldwide and
      ranks as a leading cause of death and disability in low-income and middle-income
      countries (LMICs). Echocardiographic screening has been demonstrated to be a
      powerful tool for early RHD detection, and holds potential for global RHD
      control. However, national screening programmes have not emerged. Major barriers
      to implementation include the lack of human and financial resources in LMICs.
      Here, we focus on recent research advances that could make echocardiographic
      screening more practical and affordable, including handheld echocardiography
      devices, simplified screening protocols and task shifting of echocardiographic
      screening to non-experts. Additionally, we highlight some important remaining
      questions before echocardiographic screening can be widely recommended, including
      demonstration of cost-effectiveness, assessment of the impact of screening on
      children and communities, and determining the importance of latent RHD. While a
      single strategy for echocardiographic screening in all high-prevalence areas is
      unlikely, we believe recent advancements are bringing the public health community
      closer to developing sustainable programmes for echocardiographic screening. 

PMID- 26891760
TI  - Autofluorescence-delineated macular hole size predicts postoperative visual
      outcome.

PMID- 26891758
TI  - Effectiveness of insecticidal nets on uncomplicated clinical malaria: a case
      control study for operational evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a context of large-scale implementation of malaria vector control
      tools, such as the distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets (LLIN), it is
      necessary to regularly assess whether strategies are progressing as expected and
      then evaluate their effectiveness. The present study used the case-control
      approach to evaluate the effectiveness of LLIN 42 months after national wide
      distribution. This study design offers an alternative to cohort study and
      randomized control trial as it permits to avoid many ethical issues inherent to
      them. METHODS: From April to August 2011, a case-control study was conducted in
      two health districts in Benin; Ouidah-Kpomasse-Tori (OKT) in the south and
      Djougou-Copargo-Ouake (DCO) in the north. Children aged 0-60 months randomly
      selected from community were included. Cases were children with a high axillary
      temperature (>=37.5  degrees C) or a reported history of fever during the last 48
      h with a positive rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Controls were children with
      neither fever nor signs suggesting malaria with a negative RDT. The necessary
      sample size was at least 396 cases and 1188 controls from each site. The main
      exposure variable was "sleeping every night under an LLIN for the 2 weeks before
      the survey" (SL). The protective effectiveness (PE) of LLIN was calculated as PE
      = 1 - odds ratio. RESULTS: The declared SL range was low, with 17.0 and 27.5 % in
      cases and controls in the OKT area, and 44.9 and 56.5 % in cases and controls, in
      the DCO area, respectively. The declared SL conferred 40.5 % (95 % CI 22.2-54.5
      %) and 55.5 % (95 % CI 28.2-72.4 %) protection against uncomplicated malaria in
      the OKT and the DCO areas, respectively. Significant differences in PE were
      observed according to the mother's education level. CONCLUSION: In the context of
      a mass distribution of LLIN, their use still conferred protection in up to 55 %
      against the occurrence of clinical malaria cases in children. Social factors, the
      poor use and the poor condition of an LLIN can be in disfavour with its
      effectiveness. In areas, where LLIN coverage is assumed to be universal or
      targeted at high-risk populations, case-control studies should be regularly
      conducted to monitor the effectiveness of LLIN. The findings will help National
      Malaria Control Programme and their partners to improve the quality of malaria
      control according to the particularity of each area or region as far as possible.

PMID- 26891759
TI  - EMOTIONAL AVAILABILITY IN EARLY MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH
      AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, OTHER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY.
AB  - Emotional availability (EA) is a method to assess early parent-child dyadic
      interactions for emotional awareness, perception, experience, and expression
      between child and parent that describe global relational quality (Z. Biringen &
      M. Easterbrooks, 2012). The current study aimed to examine the effects of an
      infant's diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), other psychiatric
      disorders (OPD), and developmental delay (DD) on the maternal EA Scale (EAS; Z.
      Biringen & M. Easterbrooks, 2012; Z. Biringen, J.L. Robinson, & R.N. Emde, 2000)
      scores and the relative contributions of infant's age, gender, diagnosis,
      developmental level, and maternal education on EAS scores in a clinical Turkish
      sample. Three hundred forty-five infant-mother dyads participated in this study.
      Results of the research indicated that EAS adult scores were associated with
      maternal education and infant's diagnosis whereas child scores were associated
      with infant's age, diagnosis, and developmental level. Infants' involvement and
      responsiveness to the mother were lower in the group with ASD. Children with OPD,
      particularly when their mothers have lower education, might be at increased risk
      of having problems in parent-child interactions. Young ASD subjects with
      developmental delay are in greatest need of support to increase reactions toward
      their mother. These findings underscore the importance of using all of the EA
      dimensions rather than only one measure on children in high-risk populations.

PMID- 26891763
TI  - Air humidity as key determinant of morphogenesis and productivity of the rare
      temperate woodland fern Polystichum braunii.
AB  - (1) Most ferns are restricted to moist and shady habitats, but it is not known
      whether soil moisture or atmospheric water status are decisive limiting factors,
      or if both are equally important. (2) Using the rare temperate woodland fern
      Polystichum braunii, we conducted a three-factorial climate chamber experiment
      (soil moisture (SM) * air humidity (RH) * air temperature (T)) to test the
      hypotheses that: (i) atmospheric water status (RH) exerts a similarly large
      influence on the fern's biology as soil moisture, and (ii) both a reduction in RH
      and an increase in air temperature reduce vigour and growth. (3) Nine of 11
      morphological, physiological and growth-related traits were significantly
      influenced by an increase in RH from 65% to 95%, leading to higher leaf
      conductance, increased above- and belowground productivity, higher fertility,
      more epidermal trichomes and fewer leaf deformities under high air humidity. In
      contrast, soil moisture variation (from 66% to 70% in the moist to ca. 42% in the
      dry treatment) influenced only one trait (specific leaf area), and temperature
      variation (15  degrees C versus 19  degrees C during daytime) only three traits
      (leaf conductance, root/shoot ratio, specific leaf area); RH was the only factor
      affecting productivity. (4) This study is the first experimental proof for a soil
      moisture-independent air humidity effect on the growth of terrestrial woodland
      ferns. P. braunii appears to be an air humidity hygrophyte that, whithin the
      range of realistic environmental conditions set in this study, suffers more from
      a reduction in RH than in soil moisture. A climate warming-related increase in
      summer temperatures, however, seems not to directly threaten this endangered
      species. 

PMID- 26891764
TI  - Comparative embryogenesis of Mecoptera and Lepidoptera with special reference to
      the abdominal prolegs.
AB  - The eruciform larvae of holometabolous insects are primarily characterized by
      bearing a varying number of abdominal prolegs in addition to three pairs of
      thoracic legs. However, whether the prolegs are evolutionarily homologous among
      different insect orders is still a disputable issue. We examined the embryonic
      features and histological structure of the prolegs of the scorpionfly Panorpa
      byersi Hua and Huang (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and the Oriental armyworm Mythimna
      separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to investigate whether the prolegs are
      homologous between these two holometabolous insect orders. In the scorpionfly,
      paired lateral process primordia arise on abdominal segments I-VIII (A1-A8) in
      line with the thoracic legs in early embryonic stages, but degenerate into
      triangular protuberances in later stages, and paired medial processes appear
      along the midventral line before dorsal closure and eventually develop into
      unjointed, cone-shaped prolegs. Histological observation showed that the lumina
      of the prolegs are not continuous with the hemocoel, differing distinctly from
      that of the basic appendicular plan of thoracic legs. These results suggest that
      the prolegs are likely secondary outgrowths in Mecoptera. In the armyworm,
      lateral process primordia appear on A1-A10 in alignment with the thoracic legs in
      the early embryonic stages, although only the rudiments on A3-A6 and A10 develop
      into segmented prolegs with the lumina continuous with the hemocoel and others
      degenerate eventually, suggesting that the prolegs are true segmental appendages
      serially homologous with the thoracic legs in Lepidoptera. Therefore, we conclude
      that the larval prolegs are likely not evolutionarily homologous between
      Mecoptera and Lepidoptera.

PMID- 26891761
TI  - Graphene Facilitated Removal of Labetalol in Laccase-ABTS System: Reaction
      Efficiency, Pathways and Mechanism.
AB  - The widespread occurrence of the beta-blocker labetalol causes environmental
      health concern. Enzymatic reactions are highly efficient and specific offering
      biochemical transformation of trace contaminants with short reaction time and
      little to none energy consumption. Our experiments indicate that labetalol can be
      effectively transformed by laccase-catalyzed reaction using 2, 2-Azino-bis-(3
      ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as a mediator, while no significant
      removal of labetalol can be achieved in the absence of ABTS. A total of three
      products were identified. It is interesting that the presence of graphene greatly
      increased the reaction rate while not changed the products. In the presence of
      100 MUg/L graphene, the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant was increased
      ~50 times. We found that the enhancement of graphene is probably attributed to
      the formation and releasing of ABTS(2+) which has a much greater reactivity
      towards labetalol when graphene is present. This study provides fundamental
      information for laccase-ABTS mediated labetalol reactions and the effect of
      graphene, which could eventually lead to development of novel methods to control
      beta-blocker contamination.

PMID- 26891762
TI  - Combined strategies for optimal detection of the contact point in AFM force
      indentation curves obtained on thin samples and adherent cells.
AB  - Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a widely used tool to study cell mechanics.
      Current AFM setups perform high-throughput probing of living cells, generating
      large amounts of force-indentations curves that are subsequently analysed using a
      contact-mechanics model. Here we present several algorithms to detect the contact
      point in force-indentation curves, a crucial step to achieve fully-automated
      analysis of AFM-generated data. We quantify and rank the performance of our
      algorithms by analysing a thousand force-indentation curves obtained on thin soft
      homogeneous hydrogels, which mimic the stiffness and topographical profile of
      adherent cells. We take advantage of the fact that all the proposed algorithms
      are based on sequential search strategies, and show that a combination of them
      yields the most accurate and unbiased results. Finally, we also observe improved
      performance when force-indentation curves obtained on adherent cells are analysed
      using our combined strategy, as compared to the classical algorithm used in the
      majority of previous cell mechanics studies. 

PMID- 26891765
TI  - A competitive and reversible deactivation approach to catalysis-based
      quantitative assays.
AB  - Catalysis-based signal amplification makes optical assays highly sensitive and
      widely useful in chemical and biochemical research. However, assays must be fine
      tuned to avoid signal saturation, substrate depletion and nonlinear performance.
      Furthermore, once stopped, such assays cannot be restarted, limiting the dynamic
      range to two orders of magnitude with respect to analyte concentrations. In
      addition, abundant analytes are difficult to quantify under catalytic conditions
      due to rapid signal saturation. Herein, we report an approach in which a
      catalytic reaction competes with a concomitant inactivation of the catalyst or
      consumption of a reagent required for signal generation. As such, signal
      generation proceeds for a limited time, then autonomously and reversibly stalls.
      In two catalysis-based assays, we demonstrate restarting autonomously stalled
      reactions, enabling accurate measurement over five orders of magnitude, including
      analyte levels above substrate concentration. This indicates that the dynamic
      range of catalysis-based assays can be significantly broadened through
      competitive and reversible deactivation. 

PMID- 26891766
TI  - Revisiting the link between hypertension and hemifacial spasm.
AB  - The relationship between hypertension and hemifacial spasm (HFS) has been
      debated. Microvascular decompression surgery is effective in some HFS patients
      with uncontrolled hypertension. To address current gaps in knowledge, we
      conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies that have examined the
      prevalence of hypertension in HFS patients compared to non-HFS controls. We also
      evaluated the implications and limitations of the pooled studies. We identified
      62 studies from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science and
      Scholar.google.com and six studies that fit our inclusion criteria were included.
      A random-effects model was used to derive the pooled estimate of the Odds Ratio.
      The data was plotted on a Forest plot. A pooled analysis involving 51585
      subjects, 549 cases, 720 neurological controls and 50316 controls from the
      general population, showed that HFS patients had a higher chance of developing
      hypertension (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = (1.12, 2.31), p-value  <0.001). The prevalence
      of hypertension was higher in HFS patients as compared to non-HFS patients. This
      meta-analysis highlights a positive correlation between hypertension and HFS.
      Blood pressure should be closely monitored during the follow-up of HFS patients.
      Preliminary links between ventrolateral medullary (VLM) compression and HFS
      should be further evaluated in future studies.

PMID- 26891767
TI  - Parkinsonism, movement disorders and genetics in frontotemporal dementia.
AB  - Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of clinically and genetically
      heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders that are a common cause of adult-onset
      behavioural and cognitive impairment. FTD often presents in combination with
      various hyperkinetic or hypokinetic movement disorders, and evidence suggests
      that various genetic mutations underlie these different presentations. Here, we
      review the known syndromatic-genetic correlations in FTD. Although no direct
      genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified, mutations in multiple genes
      have been associated with various presentations. Mutations in the genes that
      encode microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and progranulin (PGRN) can
      manifest as symmetrical parkinsonism, including the phenotypes of Richardson
      syndrome and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Expansions in the C9orf72 gene are most
      frequently associated with familial FTD, typically combined with motor neuron
      disease, but other manifestations, such as symmetrical parkinsonism, CBS and
      multiple system atrophy-like presentations, have been described in patients with
      these mutations. Less common gene mutations, such as those in TARDBP, CHMP2B,
      VCP, FUS and TREM2, can also present as atypical parkinsonism. The most common
      hyperkinetic movement disorders in FTD are motor and vocal stereotypies, which
      have been observed in up to 78% of patients with autopsy-proven FTD. Other
      hyperkinetic movements, such as chorea, orofacial dyskinesias, myoclonus and
      dystonia, are also observed in some patients with FTD. 

PMID- 26891770
TI  - Stroke: MCEMP1--a new prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for stroke?

PMID- 26891771
TI  - Generalized granuloma annulare successfully treated with narrowband ultraviolet B
      and anti-hepatitis C virus therapy.

PMID- 26891768
TI  - Ultrasound treatment of neurological diseases--current and emerging applications.
AB  - Like cardiovascular disease and cancer, neurological disorders present an
      increasing challenge for an ageing population. Whereas nonpharmacological
      procedures are routine for eliminating cancer tissue or opening a blocked artery,
      the focus in neurological disease remains on pharmacological interventions.
      Setbacks in clinical trials and the obstacle of access to the brain for drug
      delivery and surgery have highlighted the potential for therapeutic use of
      ultrasound in neurological diseases, and the technology has proved useful for
      inducing focused lesions, clearing protein aggregates, facilitating drug uptake,
      and modulating neuronal function. In this Review, we discuss milestones in the
      development of therapeutic ultrasound, from the first steps in the 1950s to
      recent improvements in technology. We provide an overview of the principles of
      diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, for surgery and transient opening of the
      blood-brain barrier, and its application in clinical trials of stroke, Parkinson
      disease and chronic pain. We discuss the promising outcomes of safety and
      feasibility studies in preclinical models, including rodents, pigs and macaques,
      and efficacy studies in models of Alzheimer disease. We also consider the
      challenges faced on the road to clinical translation. 

PMID- 26891772
TI  - Optimized and validated high-performance liquid chromatography method for the
      determination of deoxynivalenol and aflatoxins in cereals.
AB  - A simple, sensitive and accurate analytical method was optimized and developed
      for the determination of deoxynivalenol and aflatoxins in cereals intended for
      human consumption using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array
      and fluorescence detection and a photochemical reactor for enhanced detection. A
      response surface methodology, using a fractional central composite design, was
      carried out for optimization of the water percentage at the beginning of the run
      (X1, 80-90%), the level of acetonitrile at the end of gradient system (X2, 10
      20%) with the water percentage fixed at 60%, and the flow rate (X3, 0.8-1.2
      mL/min). The studied responses were the chromatographic peak area, the resolution
      factor and the time of analysis. Optimal chromatographic conditions were: X1 =
      80%, X2 = 10%, and X3 = 1 mL/min. Following a double sample extraction with water
      and a mixture of methanol/water, mycotoxins were rapidly purified by an optimized
      solid-phase extraction protocol. The optimized method was further validated with
      respect to linearity (R(2) >0.9991), sensitivity, precision, and recovery (90
      112%). The application to 23 commercial cereal samples from Greece showed
      contamination levels below the legally set limits, except for one maize sample.
      The main advantages of the developed method are the simplicity of operation and
      the low cost. 

PMID- 26891769
TI  - Auditory neuropathy--neural and synaptic mechanisms.
AB  - Sensorineural hearing impairment is the most common form of hearing loss, and
      encompasses pathologies of the cochlea and the auditory nerve. Hearing impairment
      caused by abnormal neural encoding of sound stimuli despite preservation of
      sensory transduction and amplification by outer hair cells is known as 'auditory
      neuropathy'. This term was originally coined for a specific type of hearing
      impairment affecting speech comprehension beyond changes in audibility: patients
      with this condition report that they "can hear but cannot understand". This type
      of hearing impairment can be caused by damage to the sensory inner hair cells
      (IHCs), IHC ribbon synapses or spiral ganglion neurons. Human genetic and
      physiological studies, as well as research on animal models, have recently shown
      that disrupted IHC ribbon synapse function--resulting from genetic alterations
      that affect presynaptic glutamate loading of synaptic vesicles, Ca(2+) influx, or
      synaptic vesicle exocytosis--leads to hearing impairment termed 'auditory
      synaptopathy'. Moreover, animal studies have demonstrated that sound overexposure
      causes excitotoxic loss of IHC ribbon synapses. This mechanism probably
      contributes to hearing disorders caused by noise exposure or age-related hearing
      loss. This Review provides an update on recently elucidated sensory, synaptic and
      neural mechanisms of hearing impairment, their corresponding clinical findings,
      and discusses current rehabilitation strategies as well as future therapies.

PMID- 26891773
TI  - Combining the absorptive and radiative loss in metasurfaces for multi-spectral
      shaping of the electromagnetic scattering.
AB  - The absorptive and radiative losses are two fundamental aspects of the
      electromagnetic responses, which are widely occurring in many different systems
      such as waveguides, solar cells, and antennas. Here we proposed a metasurface to
      realize the control of the absorptive and radiative loss and to reduce the radar
      cross section (RCS) in multi-frequency bands. The anti-phase gradient and
      absorptive metasurfaces were designed that consists of metallic square patch and
      square loop structure inserted with resistors, acting as an phase gradient
      material in the X and Ku band, while behaving as an absorber in the S band. The
      simulation and experiment results verified the double-band, wideband and
      polarization-independent RCS reduction by the absorptive and anti-phase gradient
      metasurfaces. 

PMID- 26891774
TI  - Factors influencing health-related quality of life among Korean cancer survivors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Early cancer detection and remarkable improvements in cancer treatment
      have seen the cancer survival rate grow steadily for the past 40 years. Despite
      expectations regarding treatment effectiveness, acceptable quality of life, and a
      comfortable death, patients with cancer generally have a decreased quality of
      life. The study aim was to examine the factors influencing health-related quality
      of life among South Korean cancer survivors for future development of an
      intervention to enhance their survivorship. METHODS: Korea National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012 data regarding 1020 cancer survivors were
      used for analysis. Health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol
      5-Dimension. RESULTS: The factors influencing health-related quality of life were
      age, educational status, employment status, income, smoking, time since
      diagnosis, subjective health status, stress, depression, and suicidal ideation.
      CONCLUSIONS: Individual-centered clinical interventions that consider dimensional
      influencing factors, including subjective health status, are needed to improve
      cancer survivors' health-related quality of life. Subsequent systematic studies
      are needed regarding dimension-specific differences according to cancer types and
      time since diagnosis. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891775
TI  - Non-stop lab week: A real laboratory experience for life sciences postgraduate
      courses.
AB  - At the Portuguese universities, practical classes of life sciences are usually
      professor-centered 2-hour classes. This approach results in students
      underprepared for a real work environment in a research/clinical laboratory. To
      provide students with a real-life laboratory environment, the Non-Stop Lab Week
      (NSLW) was created in the Molecular Biomedicine master program at the University
      of Aveiro, Portugal. The unique feature of the NSLW is its intensity: during a 1
      week period, students perform a subcloning and a protein expression project in an
      environment that mimics a real laboratory. Students work autonomously, and the
      progression of work depends on achieving the daily goals. Throughout the three
      curricular years, most students considered the intensity of the NSLW a very good
      experience and fundamental for their future. Moreover, after some experience in a
      real laboratory, students state that both the techniques and the environment
      created in the NSLW were similar to what they experience in their current work
      situation. The NSLW fulfills a gap in postgraduate students' learning,
      particularly in practical skills and scientific thinking. Furthermore, the NSLW
      experience provides skills to the students that are crucial to their future
      research area. (c) 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular
      Biology, 44:297-303, 2016.

PMID- 26891776
TI  - Spatially resolved TiOx phases in switched RRAM devices using soft X-ray
      spectromicroscopy.
AB  - Reduction in metal-oxide thin films has been suggested as the key mechanism
      responsible for forming conductive phases within solid-state memory devices,
      enabling their resistive switching capacity. The quantitative spatial
      identification of such conductive regions is a daunting task, particularly for
      metal-oxides capable of exhibiting multiple phases as in the case of TiOx. Here,
      we spatially resolve and chemically characterize distinct TiOx phases in
      localized regions of a TiOx-based memristive device by combining full-field
      transmission X-ray microscopy with soft X-ray spectroscopic analysis that is
      performed on lamella samples. We particularly show that electrically pre-switched
      devices in low-resistive states comprise reduced disordered phases with O/Ti
      ratios around 1.37 that aggregate in a ~100 nm highly localized region
      electrically conducting the top and bottom electrodes of the devices. We have
      also identified crystalline rutile and orthorhombic-like TiO2 phases in the
      region adjacent to the main reduced area, suggesting that the temperature
      increases locally up to 1000 K, validating the role of Joule heating in resistive
      switching. Contrary to previous studies, our approach enables to simultaneously
      investigate morphological and chemical changes in a quantitative manner without
      incurring difficulties imposed by interpretation of electron diffraction patterns
      acquired via conventional electron microscopy techniques. 

PMID- 26891779
TI  - Pd-Catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of 2-allylphenols to seven
      membered lactones without external CO gas.
AB  - Effective Pd-catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of 2-allylphenols with
      phenyl formate is described. A variety of seven-membered lactones can be obtained
      in good yields under mild conditions without the use of toxic CO gas. 

PMID- 26891781
TI  - Solvent-dependent on/off valving using selectively permeable barriers in paper
      microfluidics.
AB  - We report on a new way to control solvent flows in paper microfluidic devices,
      based on the local patterning of paper with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) to form
      barriers with selective permeability for different solvents. Production of the
      devices is a two-step process. In the first step, AKD-treated paper (hydrophobic)
      is exposed to oxygen plasma for re-hydrophilization. 3D-printed masks are
      employed to shield certain areas of this paper to preserve well-defined
      hydrophobic patterns. In the second step, concentrated AKD in hexane is
      selectively deposited onto already hydrophobic regions of the paper to locally
      increase the degree of hydrophobicity. Hydrophilic areas formed in the previous
      oxygen plasma step are protected from AKD by wetting them with water first to
      prevent the AKD hexane solution from entering them (hydrophilic exclusion).
      Characterization of the patterns after both steps shows that reproducible
      patterns are obtained with linear dependence on the dimensions of the 3D-printed
      masks. This two-step methodology leads to differential hydrophobicity on the
      paper: (i) hydrophilic regions, (ii) low-load AKD gates, and (iii) high-load AKD
      walls. The gates are impermeable to water, yet can be penetrated by most
      alcohol/water mixtures; the walls cannot. This concept for solvent-dependent
      on/off valving is demonstrated in two applications. In the first example, a
      device was developed for multi-step chemical reactions. Different compounds can
      be spotted separately (closed gates). Upon elution with an alcohol/water mixture,
      the gates become permeable and the contents are combined. In the second example,
      volume-defined sampling is introduced. Aqueous sample is allowed to wick into a
      device and fill a sample chamber. The contents of this sample chamber are eluted
      perpendicularly with an alcohol/water mixture through a selectively permeable
      gate. This system was tested with dye solution, and a linear dependence of
      magnitude of the signal on the sample chamber size was obtained. 

PMID- 26891778
TI  - Construction of pH-responsive and up-conversion luminescent
      NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2@PMAA nanocomposite for colon targeted drug delivery.
AB  - Colon-targeted drug delivery system has attracted much interest because it can
      improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce the side effect in practical clinic.
      Herein, we constructed a multifunctional drug delivery system with colonic
      targeting and tracking by up-conversion (UC) luminescence based on core-shell
      structured NaYF4:Yb(3+)/Er(3+)@SiO2@PMAA nanocomposite. The resultant materials
      exhibited bright UC luminescence, pH-responsive property and excellent
      biocompatibility. The drug release behaviors in different pH environment were
      investigated using 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as a model drug. The 5-ASA
      molecules release from NaYF4:Yb(3+)/Er(3+)@SiO2@PMAA nanocomposite exhibit a
      significant pH-responsive colon targeted property, i.e., a little amount of drug
      release in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH = 1.2) but a large amount of drug
      release in simulated colonic fluid (SCF, pH = 7.4) Moreover, the drug release
      process could be monitored by the change of UC emission intensity. These results
      implied that the multifunctional nanocomposite is a promising drug carrier for
      targeted release of 5-ASA in the colon.

PMID- 26891782
TI  - No implementation without evaluation: the case of mesh in vaginal prolapse
      surgery.

PMID- 26891780
TI  - Treatment Effect Estimation Using Nonlinear Two-Stage Instrumental Variable
      Estimators: Another Cautionary Note.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the settings of simulation evidence supporting use of
      nonlinear two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) instrumental variable (IV) methods
      for estimating average treatment effects (ATE) using observational data and
      investigate potential bias of 2SRI across alternative scenarios of essential
      heterogeneity and uniqueness of marginal patients. STUDY DESIGN: Potential bias
      of linear and nonlinear IV methods for ATE and local average treatment effects
      (LATE) is assessed using simulation models with a binary outcome and binary
      endogenous treatment across settings varying by the relationship between
      treatment effectiveness and treatment choice. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Results show
      that nonlinear 2SRI models produce estimates of ATE and LATE that are
      substantially biased when the relationships between treatment and outcome for
      marginal patients are unique from relationships for the full population. Bias of
      linear IV estimates for LATE was low across all scenarios. CONCLUSIONS:
      Researchers are increasingly opting for nonlinear 2SRI to estimate treatment
      effects in models with binary and otherwise inherently nonlinear dependent
      variables, believing that it produces generally unbiased and consistent
      estimates. This research shows that positive properties of nonlinear 2SRI rely on
      assumptions about the relationships between treatment effect heterogeneity and
      choice.

PMID- 26891783
TI  - Dissection of expression-quantitative trait locus and allele specificity using a
      haploid/diploid plant system - insights into compensatory evolution of
      transcriptional regulation within populations.
AB  - Regulation of gene expression plays a central role in translating genotypic
      variation into phenotypic variation. Dissection of the genetic basis of
      expression variation is key to understanding how expression regulation evolves.
      Such analyses remain challenging in contexts where organisms are outbreeding,
      highly heterozygous and long-lived such as in the case of conifer trees. We
      developed an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based approach for both expression
      quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping and the detection of cis-acting (allele
      specific) vs trans-acting (non-allele-specific) eQTLs. This method can be
      potentially applied to many conifers. We used haploid and diploid meiotic seed
      tissues of a single self-fertilized white spruce (Picea glauca) individual to
      dissect eQTLs according to linkage and allele specificity. The genetic
      architecture of local eQTLs linked to the expressed genes was particularly
      complex, consisting of cis-acting, trans-acting and, surprisingly, compensatory
      cis-trans effects. These compensatory effects influence expression in opposite
      directions and are neutral when combined in homozygotes. Nearly half of local
      eQTLs were under compensation, indicating that close linkage between compensatory
      cis-trans factors is common in spruce. Compensated genes were overrepresented in
      developmental and cell organization functions. Our haploid-diploid eQTL analysis
      in spruce revealed that compensatory cis-trans eQTLs segregate within populations
      and evolve in close genetic linkage.

PMID- 26891784
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of Gabapentin vs. Carbamazepine in the Treatment of
      Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - To evaluate the safety and efficacy of gabapentin in comparison with
      carbamazepine in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, a meta-analysis of
      randomized controlled trials was performed. Two reviewers independently selected
      studies, assessed study quality, and extracted data. Sixteen randomized
      controlled trials that included 1,331 patients were assessed. The meta-analysis
      showed that the total effective rate of gabapentin therapy group was similar with
      carbamazepine therapy group (OR = 1.600, 95% CI 1.185, 2.161, P = 0.002). While
      the effective rate of gabapentin therapy for 4 weeks was higher than that of
      carbamazepine therapy (OR = 1.495, 95% CI 1.061, 2.107, P = 0.022, heterogeneity:
      x2 = 7.12, P = 0.625, I2 = 0.0%), the life satisfaction improvement is also
      better in the gabapentin therapy group after a 4-week treatment (SMD = 0.966, 95%
      CI 0.583, 1.348, P < 0.001). Furthermore, our meta-analysis suggested that the
      adverse reaction rate of gabapentin therapy group was significantly lower than
      that of carbamazepine therapy group (OR = 0.312, 95% CI 0.240, 0.407, P < 0.001).
      In conclusion, present trials comparing gabapentin with carbamazepine are all
      poor in terms of methodological quality. Based on the available evidence, it is
      not possible to draw conclusions regarding the efficacy and side effects of
      gabapentin being superior to carbamazepine.

PMID- 26891786
TI  - Jumping for recognition: Women's ski jumping viewed as a struggle for rights.
AB  - With the campaign for women's participation in international and Olympic ski
      jumping as a practical case, sport's potential for recognition of individual
      rights is explored. In line with Honneth's influential ethical theory,
      recognition of rights refers to a mutual recognition between persons of each
      other as rational and responsible agents with an equal right to take part in the
      public formation and development of their community or practice. The argument is
      that women ski jumpers were entitled to compete as they had actual and/or
      potential capabilities and skills to contribute in the public formation and
      development of their sport. Their exclusion was a violation of individual rights.
      At a more general level, sport is discussed as a sphere for recognition of
      rights. It is argued that the basic principles of equal opportunity to take part
      and to perform make sport a particularly clear and potent sphere for such
      recognition, and also for the identification of rights violations. In sport,
      rights, or the violation of rights, are demonstrated in concrete and embodied
      ways. It is concluded that struggles for recognition and individual rights are a
      continuous process in sport as in most other human institutions and practices.

PMID- 26891785
TI  - Stability of Routine Biochemical Analytes in Whole Blood and Plasma From Lithium
      Heparin Gel Tubes During 6-hr Storage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The stability of biochemical analytes has already been investigated,
      but results strongly differ depending on parameters, methodologies, and sample
      storage times. We investigated the stability for many biochemical parameters
      after different storage times of both whole blood and plasma, in order to define
      acceptable pre- and postcentrifugation delays in hospital laboratories. METHODS:
      Twenty-four analytes were measured (Modular(r) Roche analyzer) in plasma obtained
      from blood collected into lithium heparin gel tubes, after 2-6 hr of storage at
      room temperature either before (n = 28: stability in whole blood) or after (n =
      21: stability in plasma) centrifugation. Variations in concentrations were
      expressed as mean bias from baseline, using the analytical change limit (ACL%) or
      the reference change value (RCV%) as acceptance limit. RESULTS: In tubes stored
      before centrifugation, mean plasma concentrations significantly decreased after 3
      hr for phosphorus (-6.1% [95% CI: -7.4 to -4.7%]; ACL 4.62%) and lactate
      dehydrogenase (LDH; -5.7% [95% CI: -7.4 to -4.1%]; ACL 5.17%), and slightly
      decreased after 6 hr for potassium (-2.9% [95% CI: -5.3 to -0.5%]; ACL 4.13%). In
      plasma stored after centrifugation, mean concentrations decreased after 6 hr for
      bicarbonates (-19.7% [95% CI: -22.9 to -16.5%]; ACL 15.4%), and moderately
      increased after 4 hr for LDH (+6.0% [95% CI: +4.3 to +7.6%]; ACL 5.17%). Based on
      RCV, all the analytes can be considered stable up to 6 hr, whether before or
      after centrifugation. CONCLUSION: This study proposes acceptable delays for most
      biochemical tests on lithium heparin gel tubes arriving at the laboratory or
      needing to be reanalyzed.

PMID- 26891787
TI  - PAEDIATRIC NECK MULTIDETECTOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: THE EFFECT OF BISMUTH
      SHIELDING ON THYROID DOSE AND IMAGE QUALITY.
AB  - This study investigated the effect of bismuth shielding on thyroid dose and image
      quality in paediatric neck multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) performed
      with fixed tube current (FTC) and automatic exposure control (AEC). Four
      paediatric anthropomorphic phantoms representing the equivalent newborn, 1-, 5-
      and 10-y-old child were subjected to neck CT using a 16-slice MDCT system. Each
      scan was performed without and with single- and double-layered bismuth shield
      placed on the skin surface above the thyroid. Scans were repeated with cotton
      spacers of 1, 2 and 3 cm thick placed between the skin and shield, to study the
      effect of skin-to-shielding distance on image noise. Thyroid dose was measured
      with thermoluminescent dosemeters. The location of the thyroid within the phantom
      slices was determined by anthropometric data from patients' CT examinations whose
      body stature closely matched the phantoms. Effective dose (E) was estimated using
      the dose-length product (DLP) method. Image quality of resulted CT images was
      assessed through the image noise. Activation of AEC was found to decrease the
      thyroid dose by 46 % to the 10-y-old phantom subjected to neck CT. When FTC
      technique is used, single- and double-layered bismuth shielding was found to
      reduce the thyroid dose to the same phantom by 35 and 47 %, respectively. The
      corresponding reductions in AEC-activated scans were 60 and 66 %, respectively.
      Elevation of shields by 1-, 2- and 3-cm cotton spacers decreased the image noise
      by 69, 87 and 92 %, respectively, for single-layered FTC, without considerably
      affecting the thyroid dose. AEC was more effective in thyroid dose reduction than
      in-plane bismuth shields. Application of cotton spacers had no significant impact
      on thyroid dose, but significantly decreased the image noise.

PMID- 26891788
TI  - A REVIEW OF TWO METHODS USED IN THE USA TO ASSESS HE DURING FLUOROSCOPIC-BASED
      RADIOLOGY.
AB  - Dosemeter results for ~81 500 people performing fluoroscopic and interventional
      radiology procedures were examined to identify differences between groups
      monitored either by using two dosemeters, one placed at the collar above the
      apron and a second placed under the apron on the torso (EDE1) or by using one
      single dosemeter placed at the collar above the apron (EDE2). The median annual
      HE was 0.17 mSv for those monitored using the EDE1 protocol and 0.26 mSv for the
      group using the EDE2 protocol. The EDE2 method was used most frequently with the
      EDE1 method preferred for those more highly exposed. Approximately, 22 % of
      dosemeter results for EDE1 were inconsistent with expected norms based on over
      and under apron dosemeter relationships. 

PMID- 26891789
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26891790
TI  - COMPARISON STUDY OF VARIOUS PLASTICS AS THE WALL MATERIAL OF THGEM-BASED
      MICRODOSEMETERS FOR FAST NEUTRON MEASUREMENTS.
AB  - To find appropriate substitutions for the expensive plastics of A-150 and
      rexolite used in the construction of thick gas electron multiplier (THGEM)-based
      tissue-equivalent proportional counters, in the present work, the responses of a
      THGEM-based microdosimetric detector made of A-150 and rexolite and three others
      composed of plexiglas (PMMA), polyethylene and polystyrene plastics as the wall
      materials have been compared. Lineal energy distribution, frequency-averaged
      lineal energy, dose-averaged lineal energy, mean quality factor and dose
      equivalent for 0.1, 1 and 10 MeV neutrons and also for 241Am-Be neutrons are
      calculated using Geant4 simulation toolkit. Frequency-averaged lineal energy,
      dose-averaged lineal energy, mean quality factor and dose-equivalent values for
      all plastics are found similar. In addition, the response of an indigenously
      constructed microdosemeter with PMMA walls is also measured for 241Am-Be
      neutrons. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation
      predictions. Conclusively, it was found that the three considered plastics can be
      used as good candidates instead of A-150 and rexolite plastics in fast neutron
      microdosimetry.

PMID- 26891791
TI  - DOSIMETRIC VARIATION IN HUMAN EXPOSURE TO 20 MHZ-3 GHZ ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS DUE
      TO CHANGES IN DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES.
AB  - Specific energy absorption rate (SAR) is often used to assess human exposure to
      electromagnetic radiation. SAR is strongly related to incident field parameters,
      characteristics of the body exposed, ground effects and other factors. In this
      study, changes in dielectric properties, due to health and age status, were taken
      into account in the simulation of SAR in a Chinese male model exposed to eight
      orthogonal plane-wave configurations at the frequency range of 20 MHz-3 GHz. The
      results show that changes in dielectric properties can cause variations in SAR.
      Moreover, the variation in SAR was influenced by frequency, electric polarisation
      and incident direction. Therefore, it is of great significance to distinguish the
      frequency and exposure configuration when a change in dielectric properties is
      applied in the evaluation of SAR. In addition, more general cases with a random
      change in dielectric properties should be performed, which are more realistic.

PMID- 26891792
TI  - Calcium modulation of doxorubicin cytotoxicity in yeast and human cells.
AB  - Doxorubicin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its utility is limited
      by cellular resistance and off-target effects. To understand the molecular
      mechanisms regulating chemotherapeutic responses to doxorubicin, we previously
      carried out a genomewide search of doxorubicin-resistance genes in
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe fission yeast and showed that these genes are organized
      into networks that counteract doxorubicin cytotoxicity. Here, we describe the
      identification of a subgroup of doxorubicin-resistance genes that, when
      disrupted, leads to reduced tolerance to exogenous calcium. Unexpectedly, we
      observed a suppressive effect of calcium on doxorubicin cytotoxicity, where
      concurrent calcium and doxorubicin treatment resulted in significantly higher
      cell survival compared with cells treated with doxorubicin alone. Conversely,
      inhibitors of voltage-gated calcium channels enhanced doxorubicin cytotoxicity in
      the mutants. Consistent with these observations in fission yeast, calcium also
      suppressed doxorubicin cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells. Further
      epistasis analyses in yeast showed that this suppression of doxorubicin toxicity
      by calcium was synergistically dependent on Rav1 and Vph2, two regulators of
      vacuolar-ATPase assembly; this suggests potential modulation of the calcium
      doxorubicin interaction by fluctuating proton concentrations within the cellular
      environment. Thus, the modulatory effects of drugs or diet on calcium
      concentrations should be considered in doxorubicin treatment regimes. 

PMID- 26891793
TI  - Evaluation of the relative accuracy of anthropometric indicators to assess body
      fatness as measured by air displacement plethysmography in Indian women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative accuracy of anthropometric indicators of body
      fatness or adiposity as compared to the percent fat measured by air displacement
      plethysmography in Indian women with normal body mass index (BMI). METHODS:
      Percent body fat was assessed using the BodPod in 58 women, aged 30-56 years. The
      relative accuracy of anthropometric indicators of body fatness like BMI, waist
      stature-ratio (WSR), waist-thigh-ratio (WTR), waist-hip-ratio (WHR), and
      circumferences at arm, neck, chest, waist, hip, and thigh were tested using an
      ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent women had excess body fat
      (>=30%). Among the 10 indicators tested, BMI and arm circumference (AC)
      demonstrated high accuracy (AUC > 0.9) to assess body fatness with derived
      cutoffs of 21.2 kg/m(2) and 24.2 cm, respectively. WSR and circumferences at
      neck, chest, waist, hip, and thigh showed moderate accuracy to assess body
      fatness, whereas WHR and WTR demonstrated poor accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: BMI and AC
      were the best performing indicators of adiposity among the indicators studied.
      AC, being a single measurement, is practical and a good choice. Am. J. Hum. Biol.
      28:743-745, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26891795
TI  - Lossless Airy Surface Polaritons in a Metamaterial via Active Raman Gain.
AB  - We propose a scheme to realize a lossless propagation of linear and nonlinear
      Airy surface polaritons (SPs) via active Raman gain (ARG). The system we suggest
      is a planar interface superposed by a negative index metamaterial (NIMM) and a
      dielectric, where three-level quantum emitters are doped. By using the ARG from
      the quantum emitters and the destructive interference effect between the electric
      and magnetic responses from the NIMM, we show that not only the Ohmic loss of the
      NIMM but also the light absorption of the quantum emitters can be completely
      eliminated. As a result, non-diffractive Airy SPs may propagate for very long
      distance without attenuation. We also show that the Kerr nonlinearity of the
      system can be largely enhanced due to the introduction of the quantum emitters
      and hence lossless Airy surface polaritonic solitons with very low power can be
      generated in the system.

PMID- 26891794
TI  - Metabolomics in diabetic complications.
AB  - With a global prevalence of 9%, diabetes is the direct cause of millions of
      deaths each year and is quickly becoming a health crisis. Major long-term
      complications of diabetes arise from persistent oxidative stress and dysfunction
      in multiple metabolic pathways. The most serious complications involve vascular
      damage and include cardiovascular disease as well as microvascular disorders such
      as nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Current clinical analyses like
      glycated hemoglobin and plasma glucose measurements hold some value as prognostic
      indicators of the severity of complications, but investigations into the
      underlying pathophysiology are still lacking. Advancements in biotechnology hold
      the key to uncovering new pathways and establishing therapeutic targets.
      Metabolomics, the study of small endogenous molecules, is a powerful toolset for
      studying pathophysiological processes and has been used to elucidate metabolic
      signatures of diabetes in various biological systems. Current challenges in the
      field involve correlating these biomarkers to specific complications to provide a
      better prediction of future risk and disease progression. This review will
      highlight the progress that has been made in the field of metabolomics including
      technological advancements, the identification of potential biomarkers, and
      metabolic pathways relevant to macro- and microvascular diabetic complications. 

PMID- 26891796
TI  - Head to head comparison of the propensity score and the high-dimensional
      propensity score matching methods.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Comparative performance of the traditional propensity score (PS) and
      high-dimensional propensity score (hdPS) methods in the adjustment for
      confounding by indication remains unclear. We aimed to identify which method
      provided the best adjustment for confounding by indication within the context of
      the risk of diabetes among patients exposed to moderate versus high potency
      statins. METHOD: A cohort of diabetes-free incident statins users was identified
      from the Quebec's publicly funded medico-administrative database (Full Cohort).
      We created two matched sub-cohorts by matching one patient initiated on a lower
      potency to one patient initiated on a high potency either on patients' PS or
      hdPS. Both methods' performance were compared by means of the absolute
      standardized differences (ASDD) regarding relevant characteristics and by means
      of the obtained measures of association. RESULTS: Eight out of the 18 examined
      characteristics were shown to be unbalanced within the Full Cohort. Although
      matching on either method achieved balance within all examined characteristic,
      matching on patients' hdPS created the most balanced sub-cohort. Measures of
      associations and confidence intervals obtained within the two matched sub-cohorts
      overlapped. CONCLUSION: Although ASDD suggest better matching with hdPS than with
      PS, measures of association were almost identical when adjusted for either
      method. Use of the hdPS method in adjusting for confounding by indication within
      future studies should be recommended due to its ability to identify confounding
      variables which may be unknown to the investigators.

PMID- 26891797
TI  - Study on LOC426217 as a candidate gene for beak deformity in chicken.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The beak deformity (crossed beaks) was found in some indigenous
      chickens of China, such as Beijing-You (BJY), Qingyuan Partridge, and Huxu
      Chickens. Birds with deformed beaks have reduced feed intake and drinking,
      impeded growth rate, and poor production performance. Beak deformity reduces the
      economy of poultry industry and affects animal welfare as well. The genetic basis
      of this malformation remains incompletely understood. LOC426217, also named claw
      keratin-like, was the most up-regulated gene in the deformed beaks from a
      previous digital gene expression (DGE) analysis and was selected as an important
      candidate gene for further analysis. RESULTS: In the present study, quantitative
      real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was firstly performed to determine the expression pattern
      of LOC426217 gene in deformed and normal beaks to verify the DGE results. Tissue
      specific expression profile of this gene in 14 tissues was also determined using
      qRT-PCR. The LOC426217 was amplified from the genomic DNA of 171 deformed and 164
      normal beaks, and sequenced to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
      The results showed that LOC426217 was significantly high-expressed in the
      deformed beaks, which was in good agreement with the DGE results. This gene was
      specifically high-expressed in beaks than other tissues. Eight SNPs were detected
      in LOC426217: -62G > T, 24 T > C, 36G > C, 192A > T, 204C > T, 222 T > C, 285G >
      T, and 363 T > C. Genotype frequency of G-62 T, T24C, G36C, T222C, and T363C loci
      was significant different between deformed and normal beaks. Haplotype analysis
      revealed one block with SNPs T24C and G36C, and one block with SNPs A192T, C204T,
      T222C, and G285T in normal birds, while the block with SNPs G36C and A192T in
      deformed ones. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded from these results that the over
      expression of LOC426217 in the beak maybe related to the malformation. The
      polymorphisms of LOC426217 gene were associated with the beak deformity trait
      where the SNPs of G-62 T, T24C, G36C, T222C, and T363C loci maybe used as
      markers. The specific haplotype block in deformed birds may be a potential
      linkage marker for this trait.

PMID- 26891799
TI  - A simple interfacial pH detection method for cationic amphiphilic self-assemblies
      utilizing a Schiff-base molecule.
AB  - A simple pH-sensing method for cationic micelle and vesicle interfaces is
      introduced, utilizing a Schiff-base molecule, 2-((4H-1,2,4-triazol-4
      ylimino)methyl)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylphenol (AH). AH containing a phenolic
      moiety was obtained by the reaction between 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole containing
      polar O- and N-centres with opposite polarity to the cationic interface and 2
      hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylbenzaldehyde. The acid/base equilibrium of AH
      was investigated at the interfaces of cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) micelles, tri
      block-copolymeric micelles (TBPs) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of
      different lipid compositions using steady state UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy.
      AH interacted strongly with the micelle and vesicle interfaces, according to the
      binding studies with LUV. A larger amount of AH proton dissociation was observed
      when localized at the interface of micelles and vesicles compared to that in the
      bulk phase, indicating that the pH values at the cationic interfaces are higher
      than in the bulk phase. The pH values were about 2.2 and 1.6 units higher at the
      CTAB and TBP micelle interfaces, respectively, than the bulk pH. The pH variation
      decreased from 2.4 to 1.5 units by increasing the neutral 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero
      3-phosphocholine (DOPC) lipid content from 0 to 50% in the cationic
      dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDAB) LUV, indicating that the interfacial positive
      charges are responsible for the higher interfacial pH. Detailed structural and
      absorption characteristics of neutral AH and its anionic A(-) forms were
      investigated by fluorescence spectroscopic measurements and DFT based theoretical
      calculations. The present simple pH detection method may be applied to various
      biological micelle and vesicle interfaces. 

PMID- 26891801
TI  - E2F1 promotes tumor cell invasion and migration through regulating CD147 in
      prostate cancer.
AB  - Increased expression of E2F1 has been reported to be associated with tumor growth
      and cell survival of prostate cancer (PCa). However, its roles and mechanisms on
      PCa have not been fully elucidated. The present study found that E2F1
      overexpression in PCa tissues was significantly associated with high Gleason
      score (P=0.01) and advanced pathological stage (P=0.02). In addition, PCa
      patients with high E2F1 expression more frequently had shorter biochemical
      recurrence-free survival (P=0.047) than those with low E2F1 expression. Then, we
      confirmed that the knock-down of E2F1 expression was able to inhibit cell cycle
      progression, invasion and migration of PCa cell lines in vitro, along with tumor
      xenograft growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo.
      Moreover, we identified CD147 as a novel interaction partner for E2F1 through bio
      informatic binding site prediction, combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation
      PCR (ChIP-PCR) and western blot analysis. Taken together, our data delineate an
      as yet unrecognized function of E2F1 as enhancer of tumor invasion and migration
      of PCa via regulating the expression of CD147 in PCa. Importantly, E2F1 may
      function as a biomarker that can differentiate patients with biochemical
      recurrent and non-biochemical recurrent disease following radical prostatectomy,
      highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

PMID- 26891800
TI  - Patients and gastroenterologists' perceptions of treatments for inflammatory
      bowel diseases: do their perspectives match?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Perceptions of appropriateness of treatments may differ between
      gastroenterologists (GIs) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The aim
      of this study was to explore and compare GIs' and patients' perceptions of risks
      and benefits of treatments and prioritization of expected outcomes. METHODS: Four
      vignette cases were drawn from clinical situations and used in three independent
      focus groups with GIs (n = 7), ulcerative colitis (UC-p, n = 8) and Crohn's
      disease patients (CD-p, n = 6). Content analysis was performed based on the
      conversation transcripts. RESULTS: UC-p agreed more often with GIs' treatment
      choices than CD-p. CD-p often considered 5-ASA as a placebo. UC-p saw topical 5
      ASA as a temporary solution, neither comfortable nor practical when
      professionally active. Azathioprine was considered as the treatment for which the
      risks versus benefits were perceived as the highest. The main risk perceived by
      patients on anti-TNFs was a potential loss of response. Divergences were observed
      on 1) stop of treatment: UC-p did not easily concur with stopping a treatment,
      which differed from GIs' expectation of patients' perceptions; CD-p were more
      prone to consider stopping treatment than GIs, 2) perception of outcomes:
      physicians had a focus on long-term objective goals. Patients' expectations were
      of shorter term and mainly concerned stress management, nutritional advice, and
      information on the treatments effects. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients and GIs
      agreed on perceptions of IBD treatments. GIs seemed more concerned about
      objective and scientific measures of remission whereas patients focused on
      quality of life and social outcomes when it came to evaluating a therapy.

PMID- 26891802
TI  - In vivo drug metabolite identification in preclinical ADME studies by means of
      UPLC/TWIMS/high resolution-QTOF MS(E) and control comparison: cost and benefit of
      vehicle-dosed control samples.
AB  - 1. Liquid chromatography (LC)-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques
      proved to be well suited for the identification of predicted and unexpected drug
      metabolites in complex biological matrices. 2. To efficiently discriminate
      between drug-related and endogenous matrix compounds, however, sophisticated
      postacquisition data mining tools, such as control comparison techniques are
      needed. For preclinical absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME)
      studies that usually lack a placebo-dosed control group, the question arises how
      high-quality control data can be yielded using only a minimum number of control
      animals. 3. In the present study, the combination of LC-traveling wave ion
      mobility separation (TWIMS)-HRMS(E) and multivariate data analysis was used to
      study the polymer patterns of the frequently used formulation constituents
      polyethylene glycol 400 and polysorbate 80 in rat plasma and urine after oral and
      intravenous administration, respectively. 4. Complex peak patterns of both
      constituents were identified underlining the general importance of a vehicle
      dosed control group in ADME studies for control comparison. Furthermore, the
      detailed analysis of administration route, blood sampling time and gender
      influences on both vehicle peak pattern as well as endogenous matrix background
      revealed that high-quality control data is obtained when (i) control animals
      receive an intravenous dose of the vehicle, (ii) the blood sampling time point is
      the same for analyte and control sample and (iii) analyte and control samples of
      the same gender are compared. 

PMID- 26891798
TI  - Comparative analysis of plant immune receptor architectures uncovers host
      proteins likely targeted by pathogens.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Plants deploy immune receptors to detect pathogen-derived molecules
      and initiate defense responses. Intracellular plant immune receptors called
      nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins contain a central
      nucleotide-binding (NB) domain followed by a series of leucine-rich repeats
      (LRRs), and are key initiators of plant defense responses. However, recent
      studies demonstrated that NLRs with non-canonical domain architectures play an
      important role in plant immunity. These composite immune receptors are thought to
      arise from fusions between NLRs and additional domains that serve as "baits" for
      the pathogen-derived effector proteins, thus enabling pathogen recognition.
      Several names have been proposed to describe these proteins, including
      "integrated decoys" and "integrated sensors". We adopt and argue for "integrated
      domains" or NLR-IDs, which describes the product of the fusion without assigning
      a universal mode of action. RESULTS: We have scanned available plant genome
      sequences for the full spectrum of NLR-IDs to evaluate the diversity of
      integrations of potential sensor/decoy domains across flowering plants, including
      19 crop species. We manually curated wheat and brassicas and experimentally
      validated a subset of NLR-IDs in wild and cultivated wheat varieties. We have
      examined NLR fusions that occur in multiple plant families and identified that
      some domains show re-occurring integration across lineages. Domains fused to NLRs
      overlap with previously identified pathogen targets confirming that they act as
      baits for the pathogen. While some of the integrated domains have been previously
      implicated in disease resistance, others provide new targets for engineering
      durable resistance to plant pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: We have built a robust
      reproducible pipeline for detecting variable domain architectures in plant immune
      receptors across species. We hypothesize that NLR-IDs that we revealed provide
      clues to the host proteins targeted by pathogens, and that this information can
      be deployed to discover new sources of disease resistance.

PMID- 26891803
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26891805
TI  - Gastrophysics of the Oral Cavity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gastrophysics is the science that pertains to the physical and
      physico-chemical description of the empirical world of gastronomy, with focus on
      sensory perception in the oral cavity and how it is related to the materials
      properties of food and cooking processes. Flavor (taste and smell), mouthfeel,
      chemesthesis, and astringency are all related to the chemical properties and the
      texture of the food and how the food is transformed in the oral cavity. METHODS:
      The present topical review will primarily focus attention on the somatosensory
      perception of food (mouthfeel or texture) and how it interacts with basic tastes
      (sour, bitter, sweet, salty, and umami) and chemesthetic action. RESULTS: Issues
      regarding diet, nutrition, and health will be put into an evolutionary
      perspective, and some mention will be made of umami and its importance for (oral)
      health.

PMID- 26891804
TI  - Genomic profiling of the genes on chromosome 3p in sporadic clear cell renal cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - Somatic mutations of the BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) gene, which maps to
      3p21, have been found in several tumors including malignant mesothelioma, uveal
      melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The role of BAP1 inactivation in tumor
      development remains unclear. It has been reported that Vhl knock-out mice did not
      develop RCC, but Vhl knock-out mice with single allele loss of Bap1 in nephron
      progenitor cells developed RCC, indicating that Bap1 inactivation may be
      essential in murine renal tumorigenesis. To clarify the role of BAP1 in human RCC
      development, we performed mutation analyses, including copy number detection of
      BAP1 and assessment of allelic imbalance using microsatellite polymorphisms on
      3p, in 45 RCC samples derived from 45 patients without VHL or BAP1 germline
      mutation. Additionally, we analyzed the sequences of the VHL, PBRM1, and SETD2
      genes, and examined promoter methylation of VHL. Using immunostaining, we also
      checked for expression of BAP1 protein, which is normally located in the nuclei.
      None of the RCCs had biallelic deletion of BAP1, but five (11.1%) showed a
      biallelic mutation (four with a sequence-level mutation with monoallelic loss and
      one with a biallelic sequence-level mutation); these cells were negative for
      nuclear BAP1 staining. These patients had worse recurrence-free survival than the
      patients without a biallelic mutation (p=0.046). However, there were no
      significant differences in worse outcome by multivariate analysis combined with
      age, T stage, histological subtype, infiltration and vascular invasion. In 35
      RCCs (77.8%), monoallelic loss of BAP1 was accompanied by VHL biallelic mutation
      or VHL promoter hypermethylation. In five RCCs (11.1%), we detected 3p loss-of
      heterozygosity, but the copy number of BAP1 was normal. Surprisingly, nuclear
      staining of BAP1 was negative in 10 out of 31 tumors (32.3%) with hemizygous
      normal BAP1, suggesting that haploinsufficiency may relate to RCC development.

PMID- 26891806
TI  - Treatment for Cancer Patients with Oral Mucositis: Assessment Based on the
      Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in
      Cancer in International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) in 2013 and
      Proposal of Possible Novel Treatment with a Japanese Herbal Medicine.
AB  - The cancer patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hematopoietic stem
      cell transplant and terminal care often have a wide range of stomatitis, which
      induces severe pain and limits fundamental life behaviors such as "eating,
      drinking and talking". In addition, oral mucositis frequently leads to systemic
      infection through opportunistic microorganisms, which causes extension of
      hospitalization. Severe oral mucositis often causes cancer patients to partially
      or completely discontinue/modify cancer therapy regimen, which adversely affects
      the curative effects of cancer. Therefore, the control of oral mucositis is
      important and indispensable for improvement of quality of life and prognosis. In
      this review, we introduce recent trends of the oral mucositis management in
      cancer patients, according to the following sentences; 1) pathophysiological
      mechanisms of oral mucositis, 2) assessment, 3) risk factors, 4) prevention and
      treatment, and 5) development of novel therapy for oral mucositis.

PMID- 26891807
TI  - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement:
      Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a
      feasible alternative treatment to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement
      (AVR) for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. The present systematic review
      aimed to assess the comparative clinical and cost-effectiveness outcomes of TAVI
      versus AVR, and meta-analyse standardized clinical endpoints. METHODS: An
      electronic search was conducted on 9 online databases to identify all relevant
      studies. Eligible studies had to report on either periprocedural mortality or
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) to be included for analysis. RESULTS:
      The systematic review identified 24 studies that reported on comparative clinical
      outcomes, including three randomized controlled trials and ten matched
      observational studies involving 7906 patients. Meta-analysis demonstrated no
      significant differences in regards to mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction or
      acute renal failure. Patients who underwent TAVI were more likely to experience
      major vascular complications or arrhythmias requiring permanent pacemaker
      insertion. Patients who underwent AVR were more likely to experience major
      bleeding. Eleven analyses from 7 economic studies reported on ICER. Six analyses
      defined TAVI to be low value, 2 analyses defined TAVI to be intermediate value,
      and three analyses defined TAVI to be high value. CONCLUSION: The present study
      demonstrated no significant differences in regards to mortality or stroke between
      the two therapeutic procedures. However, the cost-effectiveness and long-term
      efficacy of TAVI may require further investigation. Technological improvement and
      increased experience may broaden the clinical indication for TAVI for low
      intermediate risk patients in the future.

PMID- 26891808
TI  - Oxidative Stress, Sarcopenia, Antioxidant Strategies and Exercise: Molecular
      Aspects.
AB  - Sarcopenia could be currently defined as a geriatric syndrome initially
      characterized by a decrease in muscle mass that will get worse causing
      deterioration in strength and physical performance. A negative protein turnover,
      impaired mitochondrial dynamics and functions, a decreased muscle regeneration
      capacity, as well as an exacerbation of apoptosis are usually considered to be
      cellular mechanisms involved in muscle atrophy leading to sarcopenia. In this
      review, we first present that muscle overproduction of reactive oxygen and
      nitrogen species (RONS) and oxidative stress observed during aging are associated
      with sarcopenia, and then discuss how RONS are involved in redox-sensitive
      signaling pathways leading to sarcopenia. The identification of cost
      effectiveness interventions to maintain muscle mass and physical functions in the
      elderly is one of the most important public health challenges. Here, we also
      discuss about the efficiency of different kind of antioxidant strategies against
      sarcopenia. Since exercise is the best strategy to prevent and reverse
      sarcopenia, we also highlight that exercise acts as an antioxidant.

PMID- 26891809
TI  - Genetic and acquired factors influencing the effectiveness and toxicity of drug
      therapy in osteoporosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent skeletal disorder characterized
      by compromised bone strength, usually related to decreased bone mass and
      microstructural alterations of bone tissue, predisposing a person to an increased
      risk of fracture. As other prevalent disorders, osteoporosis is the result of a
      complex interplay of genetic and acquired factors. AREAS COVERED: We provide an
      update of recent studies aimed at identifying the clinical and genetic factors
      that influence the response to drugs used to treat osteoporosis, as well as those
      determining the risk of two intriguing adverse effects of antiresorptives:
      osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical femoral fractures (AFF). EXPERT
      OPINION: Several clinical factors have been suggested to increase the risk of a
      poor drug response, such as advanced age and frailty. Candidate gene studies
      suggest that some common polymorphisms of the Wnt pathway and farnesyl
      diphosphate synthase (FDPS), the target enzyme for bisphosphonates, also
      influence the response to antiresorptives. However, they await for replication in
      large independent cohorts of patients. Similarly, some genetic and acquired
      factors may influence the risk of ONJ and AFF. Preliminary data suggest that the
      risk of suffering these adverse effects may have a polygenic basis.

PMID- 26891810
TI  - Quantitative analysis of factor P (Properdin) in monkey serum using
      immunoaffinity capturing in combination with LC-MS/MS.
AB  - AIM: Factor P (Properdin), an endogenous glycoprotein, plays a key role in innate
      immune defense. Its quantification is important for understanding the
      pharmacodynamics (PD) of drug candidate(s). RESULTS: In the present work, an
      immunoaffinity capturing LC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the
      first time for the quantification of factor P in monkey serum with a dynamic
      range of 125 to 25,000 ng/ml using the calibration standards and QCs prepared in
      factor P depleted monkey serum. The intra- and inter-run precision was <=7.2%
      (CV) and accuracy within +/-16.8% (%Bias) across all QC levels evaluated. Results
      of other evaluations (e.g., stability) all met the acceptance criteria.
      CONCLUSION: The validated method was robust and implemented in support of a
      preclinical PK/PD study.

PMID- 26891812
TI  - Enhancement of the genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene by arecoline through
      suppression of DNA repair in HEp-2 cells.
AB  - The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists the principal component of
      betel quid (BQ), the areca nut, and that of cigarette smoke, benzo[a]pyrene
      (BaP), as Group 1 carcinogens. Epidemiological studies have shown that coexposure
      of BQ and cigarette smoke markedly increases the risk of cancer. We previously
      demonstrated that arecoline, the most abundant alkaloid in the areca nut,
      inhibits nucleotide excision repair through the repression of p53 activity. To
      investigate the combined potency of arecoline and BaP in carcinogenesis, we
      treated human epithelial HEp-2 cells with subcytotoxic doses of arecoline and
      BaP, alone or in combination, and examined the effects on DNA damage and repair.
      When exposed for 24h, BaP enhanced DNA repair and p53 transactivation activity.
      However, these enhancements were suppressed through concurrent treatment of the
      cells with arecoline. Using a Comet assay, we found that extended exposure to
      arecoline and BaP caused moderate-to-severe DNA damage in 60% of the cells.
      Expression of the XPD helicase was transcriptionally suppressed by 1 week of
      treatment with BaP. Our studies have revealed potential targets in the DNA repair
      pathway that are affected by BQ and tobacco components, as well as the effect of
      these components on carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26891813
TI  - Assessment of cosmetic ingredients in the in vitro reconstructed human epidermis
      test method EpiSkinTM using HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry in the MTT-reduction
      assay.
AB  - Cosmetics Europe recently established HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry as a suitable
      alternative endpoint detection system for measurement of formazan in the MTT
      reduction assay of reconstructed human tissue test methods irrespective of the
      test system involved. This addressed a known limitation for such test methods
      that use optical density for measurement of formazan and may be incompatible for
      evaluation of strong MTT reducer and/or coloured chemicals. To build on the
      original project, Cosmetics Europe has undertaken a second study that focuses on
      evaluation of chemicals with functionalities relevant to cosmetic products. Such
      chemicals were primarily identified from the Scientific Committee on Consumer
      Safety (SCCS) 2010 memorandum (addendum) on the in vitro test EpiSkinTM for skin
      irritation testing. Fifty test items were evaluated in which both standard
      photometry and HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry were used for endpoint detection. The
      results obtained in this study: 1) provide further support for Within Laboratory
      Reproducibility of HPLC-UPLC-spectrophotometry for measurement of formazan; 2)
      demonstrate, through use a case study with Basazol C Blue pr. 8056, that
      HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometry enables determination of an in vitro classification
      even when this is not possible using standard photometry and 3) addresses the
      question raised by SCCS in their 2010 memorandum (addendum) to consider an
      endpoint detection system not involving optical density quantification in in
      vitro reconstructed human epidermis skin irritation test methods. 

PMID- 26891811
TI  - CD4+ T-cell epitope prediction using antigen processing constraints.
AB  - T-cell CD4+ epitopes are important targets of immunity against infectious
      diseases and cancer. State-of-the-art methods for MHC class II epitope prediction
      rely on supervised learning methods in which an implicit or explicit model of
      sequence specificity is constructed using a training set of peptides with
      experimentally tested MHC class II binding affinity. In this paper we present a
      novel method for CD4+ T-cell eptitope prediction based on modeling antigen
      processing constraints. Previous work indicates that dominant CD4+ T-cell
      epitopes tend to occur adjacent to sites of initial proteolytic cleavage. Given
      an antigen with known three-dimensional structure, our algorithm first aggregates
      four types of conformational stability data in order to construct a profile of
      stability that allows us to identify regions of the protein that are most
      accessible to proteolysis. Using this profile, we then construct a profile of
      epitope likelihood based on the pattern of transitions from unstable to stable
      regions. We validate our method using 35 datasets of experimentally measured CD4+
      T cell responses of mice bearing I-Ab or HLA-DR4 alleles as well as of human
      subjects. Overall, our results show that antigen processing constraints provide a
      significant source of predictive power. For epitope prediction in single-allele
      systems, our approach can be combined with sequence-based methods, or used in
      instances where little or no training data is available. In multiple-allele
      systems, sequence-based methods can only be used if the allele distribution of a
      population is known. In contrast, our approach does not make use of MHC binding
      prediction, and is thus agnostic to MHC class II genotypes. 

PMID- 26891814
TI  - Evaluation of the genotoxicity/mutagenicity and antigenotoxicity/antimutagenicity
      induced by propolis and Baccharis dracunculifolia, by in vitro study with HTC
      cells.
AB  - The ethanolic extract of propolis, especially the Brazilian green type, is widely
      and mainly used for therapeutic purposes despite the lack of knowledge about its
      effects and its cellular mode of action. This type of propolis, derived from
      Baccharis dracunculifolia (alecrim-do-campo), has been extensively commercialized
      and the consumers use it to enhance health. This work aimed to assess the
      genotoxic/mutagenic and antigenotoxic/antimutagenic potentials of the ethanolic
      extracts of Brazilian green propolis and of B. dracunculifolia, on mammalian
      cells. It was not observed genotoxic and mutagenic effects by both extracts.
      After evaluate the exposure of the cells to each extract with a recognized
      mutagen, simultaneously, the results showed a significant reduction on DNA
      damage. The experiment carried out with a pre-incubation period was more
      effective than without incubation test, showing that the tested extracts were
      able to inactivate the mutagen before it could react with the DNA. 

PMID- 26891815
TI  - Potential role of autophagy in smokeless tobacco extract-induced cytotoxicity and
      in morin-induced protection in oral epithelial cells.
AB  - Toxic components of STE induced serious, adverse human oral health outcomes. In
      the present study, we observed that STE was involved in oral toxicity by reducing
      the viability of human squamous epithelial cells, SCC-25, along with the
      simultaneous induction of both apoptosis and autophagic signaling. STE was also
      found to induce significant amount ROS generation in SCC-25 cells. The dietary
      flavonoid morin, found abundantly in a variety of herbs, fruits and wine, has
      been reported to attenuate ROS-induced pathogenesis including autophagy. In this
      study we designed three different treatment regimes of morin treatment, such as
      pre, co, and post - treatment of STE challenged SCC-25 cells. In all cases morin
      provided cytoprotection to STE challenged SCC-25 cells by augmenting STE induced
      ROS-dependent cytotoxic autophagy. Hence, morin is a potential option for
      antioxidant therapy in treatment of STE induced toxicity.

PMID- 26891816
TI  - The toxic effects of combined aflatoxins and zearalenone in naturally
      contaminated diets on laying performance, egg quality and mycotoxins residues in
      eggs of layers and the protective effect of Bacillus subtilis biodegradation
      product.
AB  - The toxic effect of aflatoxins (AF) and zearalenone (ZEA) and their combination
      on laying performance, egg quality and toxins residues in eggs, as well as the
      efficacy of Bacillus subtilis biodegradation product (BDP) for ameliorating these
      effects in layers were evaluated. Layers were submitted to a two phase
      experiment. The first phase was an intoxication period (18-23 wk) with birds fed
      7 (3 * 2 + 1) diets (3 treatments with mycotoxins: AF (123.0 MUg/kg), ZEA (260.2
      MUg/kg), or AF + ZEA (123.0 + 260.2 MUg/kg); 2 treatments with or without BDP
      (1000 g/t); and a control group contained no toxins nor BDP). The next phase was
      a recovery period (24-29 wk) in which birds were fed a toxin-free diet. In the
      intoxication period, AF and AF + ZEA groups exhibited lower egg production, feed
      intake and shell thickness, and higher AFB1, AFB2 and AFM1 residues as compared
      with the control group. In addition, AF and ZEA exerted synergistic effects on
      egg production and feed intake. Moreover, AF alone or combined with ZEA had a
      continuous toxic effect on laying performance in the recovery phase. Addition of
      BDP offset these negative effects, showing that BDP has a protective effect on
      layers fed contaminated diets.

PMID- 26891817
TI  - Molecular modeling of lipid probes and their influence on the membrane.
AB  - In this review a number of Molecular Dynamics simulation studies are discussed
      which focus on the understanding of the behavior of lipid probes in biomembranes.
      Experiments often use specialized probe moieties or molecules to report on the
      behavior of a membrane and try to gain information on the membrane as a whole
      from the probe lipids as these probes are the only things an experiment sees.
      Probes can be used to make NMR, EPR and fluorescence accessible to the membrane
      and use fluorescent or spin-active moieties for this purpose. Clearly membranes
      with and without probes are not identical which makes it worthwhile to elucidate
      the differences between them with detailed atomistic simulations. In almost all
      cases these differences are confined to the local neighborhood of the probe
      molecules which are sparsely used and generally present as single molecules. In
      general, the behavior of the bulk membrane lipids can be qualitatively understood
      from the probes but in most cases their properties cannot be directly
      quantitatively deduced from the probe behavior. This article is part of a Special
      Issue entitled: Biosimulations edited by Ilpo Vattulainen and Tomasz Rog.

PMID- 26891818
TI  - Computational studies of transport in ion channels using metadynamics.
AB  - Molecular dynamics simulations have played a fundamental role in numerous fields
      of science by providing insights into the structure and dynamics of complex
      systems at the atomistic level. However, exhaustive sampling by standard
      molecular dynamics is in most cases computationally prohibitive, and the time
      scales accessible remain significantly shorter than many biological processes of
      interest. In particular, in the study of ion channels, realistic models to
      describe permeation and gating require accounting for large numbers of particles
      and accurate interaction potentials, which severely limits the length of the
      simulations. To overcome such limitations, several advanced methods have been
      proposed among which is metadynamics. In this algorithm, an external bias
      potential to accelerate sampling along selected collective variables is
      introduced. This bias potential discourages visiting regions of the
      configurational space already explored. In addition, the bias potential provides
      an estimate of the free energy as a function of the collective variables chosen
      once the simulation has converged. In this review, recent contributions of
      metadynamics to the field of ion channels are discussed, including how
      metadynamics has been used to search for transition states, predict permeation
      pathways, treat conformational flexibility that underlies the coupling between
      gating and permeation, or compute free energy of permeation profiles. This
      article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Proteins edited by J.C.
      Gumbart and Sergei Noskov. 

PMID- 26891819
TI  - The 5-HT2A serotonin receptor in executive function: Implications for
      neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
AB  - Executive function entails the interplay of a group of cognitive processes
      enabling the individual to anticipate consequences, attain self-control, and
      undertake appropriate goal-directed behaviour. Serotonin signalling at serotonin
      2A receptors (5-HT2AR) has important effects on these behavioural and cognitive
      pathways, with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as the central actor. Indeed, the 5
      HT2ARs are highly expressed in PFC, where they modulate cortical activity and
      local network oscillations (brain waves). Numerous psychiatric and
      neurodegenerative diseases result in disrupted executive function. Animal and
      human studies have linked these disorders with alterations in the 5-HT2AR system,
      making this an important pharmacological target for the treatment of disorders
      with impaired cognitive function. This review aims to describe the current state
      of knowledge on the role of 5-HT2AR signalling in components of executive
      function, and how 5-HT2AR systems may relate to executive dysfunctions occurring
      in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. We hope thereby to provide insight
      into how pharmacotherapy targeting the 5-HT2AR may ameliorate (or exacerbate)
      aspects of these disorders. 

PMID- 26891821
TI  - Reply by Authors.

PMID- 26891820
TI  - Special Section.

PMID- 26891822
TI  - Should Psychological Assessment be a Part of Incontinence Management in Children
      and Adolescents?

PMID- 26891823
TI  - Chronic venlafaxine treatment fails to alter the levels of galanin system
      transcripts in normal rats.
AB  - It is widely accepted that efficacy and speed of current antidepressants'
      therapeutic effect are far from optimal. Thus, there is a need for the
      development of antidepressants with new mechanisms of action. The neuropeptide
      galanin and its receptors (GalR1, GalR2 and GalR3) are among the promising
      targets. However, it is not clear whether or not the galanin system is involved
      in the antidepressant effect exerted by the currently much used inhibitors of the
      reuptake of serotonin and/or noradrenaline. To answer this question we
      administered the selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
      venlafaxine (40mg/kg/day via osmotic minipumps) to normal rats and examined the
      levels of the transcripts for galanin and GalR1-3 after a 3-week venlafaxine
      treatment in the dorsal raphe, hippocampus and frontal cortex. These areas are
      known to be involved in the effects of antidepressants and in depression itself.
      Venlafaxine failed to alter the expression of any of the galanin system genes in
      these areas. Our results show that one of the most efficient, currently used
      SNRIs does not alter transcript levels of galanin or its three receptors in
      normal rats. These findings suggest that the pro- and antidepressive-like effects
      of galanin reported in animal experiments may employ a novel mechanism(s). 

PMID- 26891824
TI  - Acute Increase in Intraocular Pressure in a Patient With a Glaucoma Drainage
      Implant.

PMID- 26891825
TI  - Neurons that detect interocular conflict during binocular rivalry revealed with
      EEG.
AB  - When the two eyes view incompatible images, perception alternates between them.
      What neural computations underlie this binocular rivalry? Perceptual alternations
      may simply reflect competition between the sets of monocular neurons that respond
      to each image, with the stronger driving perception. Here, we test an alternative
      hypothesis, that the computations that resolve rivalry make use of an active
      signal that reflects interocular conflict. Images presented to each eye were
      flickered at different frequencies while we measured steady-state visually evoked
      potentials (SSVEP). Signals at frequencies that are combinations of the two input
      frequencies can arise only from binocular neurons. In a first experiment, we
      measured energy at these "intermodulation" frequencies during binocular rivalry
      and found it to be highest immediately before rivalry restarted following a
      period of incomplete resolution of rivalry (a "mixed" percept). This suggests
      that the intermodulation signals may arise from neurons important for resolving
      the conflict between the two eyes' inputs. In a second experiment, we tested
      whether the intermodulation signal arose from neurons that measure interocular
      conflict by parametrically increasing conflict while simultaneously reducing
      image contrast. The activity of neurons that receive input from both eyes but are
      not sensitive to conflict should reduce monotonically as contrast decreases. The
      intermodulation response, however, peaked at intermediate levels of conflict,
      suggesting that it arises in part from neurons that respond to interocular
      conflict. Binocular rivalry appears to depend on an active mechanism that detects
      interocular conflict, whose levels of activity can be measured by the
      intermodulation frequencies of the SSVEP. 

PMID- 26891826
TI  - The effect of supine body position on human heading perception.
AB  - The use of virtual environments in functional imaging experiments is a promising
      method to investigate and understand the neural basis of human navigation and
      self-motion perception. However, the supine position in the fMRI scanner is
      unnatural for everyday motion. In particular, the head-horizontal self-motion
      plane is parallel rather than perpendicular to gravity. Earlier studies have
      shown that perception of heading from visual self-motion stimuli, such as optic
      flow, can be modified due to visuo-vestibular interactions. With this study, we
      aimed to identify the effects of the supine body position on visual heading
      estimation, which is a basic component of human navigation. Visual and vestibular
      heading judgments were measured separately in 11 healthy subjects in upright and
      supine body positions. We measured two planes of self-motion, the transverse and
      the coronal plane, and found that, although vestibular heading perception was
      strongly modified in a supine position, visual performance, in particular for the
      preferred head-horizontal (i.e., transverse) plane, did not change. This provides
      behavioral evidence in humans that direction estimation from self-motion
      consistent optic flow is not modified by supine body orientation, demonstrating
      that visual heading estimation is one component of human navigation that is not
      influenced by the supine body position required for functional brain imaging
      experiments. 

PMID- 26891827
TI  - Sensitivity of vergence responses of 5- to 10-week-old human infants.
AB  - Infants have been shown to make vergence eye movements by 1 month of age to
      stimulation with prisms or targets moving in depth. However, little is currently
      understood about the threshold sensitivity of the maturing visual system to such
      stimulation. In this study, 5- to 10-week-old human infants and adults viewed a
      target moving in depth as a triangle wave of three amplitudes (1.0, 0.5, and 0.25
      meter angles). Their horizontal eye position and the refractive state of both
      eyes were measured simultaneously. The vergence responses of the infants and
      adults varied at the same frequency as the stimulus at the three tested
      modulation amplitudes. For a typical infant of this age, the smallest amplitude
      is equivalent to an interocular change of approximately 2 degrees  of retinal
      disparity, from nearest to farthest points. The infants' accommodation responses
      only modulated reliably to the largest stimulus, while adults responded to all
      three amplitudes. Although the accommodative system appears relatively
      insensitive, the sensitivity of the vergence responses suggests that subtle cues
      are available to drive vergence in the second month after birth. 

PMID- 26891830
TI  - Detection of between-eye differences in color: Interactions with luminance.
AB  - Between-eye differences in color or luminance result in the appearance of luster,
      which provides a cue for detecting between-eye differences. We measured
      thresholds for detecting between-eye differences in both hue and chromatic
      contrast (saturation) in dichoptically superimposed color patches. Sensitivity
      was found to be highest at isoluminance and decreased with the addition of task
      irrelevant, spatially coextensive, binocular (i.e., same in both eyes) luminance
      contrast. However, when the members of each dichoptic pair were presented side by
      side on the screen and viewed with the same eye, the added luminance contrast had
      no effect on the detection of their differences. If the effect of the luminance
      contrast was simply to dilute or desaturate the chromatic signals, we would
      expect thresholds to increase for the within-eye and not just the between-eye
      (dichoptic) conditions. We suggest that the presence of binocular luminance
      contrast reduces the interocular suppression between the dichoptic colors,
      causing the dichoptic color pairs to blend, thus rendering their differences
      harder to detect. 

PMID- 26891829
TI  - Tracking the changing feature of a moving object.
AB  - The mind can track not only the changing locations of moving objects, but also
      their changing features, which are often meaningful for guiding action. How does
      the mind track such features? Using a task in which observers tracked the
      changing orientation of a rolling wheel's spoke, we found that this ability is
      enabled by a highly feature-specific process which continuously tracks the
      orientation feature itself--even during occlusion, when the feature is completely
      invisible. This suggests that the mental representation of a changing orientation
      feature and its moving object are continuously transformed and updated, akin to
      studies showing continuous tracking of an object's boundaries alone. We also
      found a systematic error in performance, whereby the orientation was reliably
      perceived to be further ahead than it truly was. This effect appears to occur
      because during occlusion the mental representation of the feature is transformed
      beyond the veridical position, perhaps in order to conservatively anticipate
      future feature states.

PMID- 26891831
TI  - Effect of motion discontinuities on discrimination of periodic trajectories.
AB  - Many biologically important motions are described by periodic trajectories.
      Radial frequency (RF) trajectories are one example, in which the motion of a
      difference of Gaussians (DOG) target moves along a path described by a sinusoidal
      deviation of the radius from a perfect circle (Or, Thabet, Wilkinson, & Wilson,
      2011). Here we explore the hypothesis that visual processing of RF trajectories
      involves global spatio-temporal processes that are disrupted by motion
      discontinuity. To test this hypothesis, RF trajectories were used that
      interspersed smooth, continuous motion with three or four discontinuous jumps to
      other portions of the trajectory. These jumps were arranged so that the entire
      trajectory was traversed in the same amount of time as in the continuous motion
      control condition. The motion discontinuities increased thresholds by a factor of
      approximately 2.1 relative to continuous motion. This result provides support for
      global spatio-temporal processing of RF motion trajectories. Comparison with
      previous results suggests that motion discontinuities erase memory for earlier
      parts of the trajectory, thereby causing thresholds to be based on only the final
      segment viewed. Finally, it is shown that RF trajectories obey the 1/3 power law
      characteristic of biological motion. 

PMID- 26891832
TI  - Equal-magnitude size-weight illusions experienced within and between object
      categories.
AB  - In the size-weight illusion (SWI), small objects feel heavier than larger objects
      of the same mass. This effect is typically thought to be a consequence of the
      lifter's expectation that the large object will outweigh the small object,
      because objects of the same type typically get heavier as they get larger. Here,
      we show that this perceptual effect can occur across object category, where there
      are no strong expectations about the correspondence between size and mass. One
      group of participants lifted same-colored large and small cubes with the same
      mass as one another, while another group lifted differently-colored large and
      small cubes with the same mass as one another. The group who lifted the same
      colored cubes experienced a robust SWI and initially lifted the large object with
      more force than the small object. By contrast, the group who lifted the different
      colored objects did so with equal initial forces on the first trial, but
      experienced just as strong an illusion as those who lifted the same-colored
      objects. These results demonstrate that color cues can selectively influence the
      application of fingertip force rates while not impacting at all upon the lifter's
      perception of object weight, highlighting a stark dissociation in how prior
      information affects perception and action. 

PMID- 26891828
TI  - Multisensory simultaneity judgment and proximity to the body.
AB  - The integration of information across different sensory modalities is known to be
      dependent upon the statistical characteristics of the stimuli to be combined. For
      example, the spatial and temporal proximity of stimuli are important determinants
      with stimuli that are close in space and time being more likely to be bound.
      These multisensory interactions occur not only for singular points in space/time,
      but over "windows" of space and time that likely relate to the ecological
      statistics of real-world stimuli. Relatedly, human psychophysical work has
      demonstrated that individuals are highly prone to judge multisensory stimuli as
      co-occurring over a wide range of time--a so-called simultaneity window (SW).
      Similarly, there exists a spatial representation of peripersonal space (PPS)
      surrounding the body in which stimuli related to the body and to external events
      occurring near the body are highly likely to be jointly processed. In the current
      study, we sought to examine the interaction between these temporal and spatial
      dimensions of multisensory representation by measuring the SW for audiovisual
      stimuli through proximal-distal space (i.e., PPS and extrapersonal space).
      Results demonstrate that the audiovisual SWs within PPS are larger than outside
      PPS. In addition, we suggest that this effect is likely due to an automatic and
      additional computation of these multisensory events in a body-centered reference
      frame. We discuss the current findings in terms of the spatiotemporal constraints
      of multisensory interactions and the implication of distinct reference frames on
      this process.

PMID- 26891833
TI  - Management of skull fractures in children less than 1 year of age.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Management of skull fracture (SF) in pediatric patients varies from
      observation in the emergency department (ED) to floor admission. Since 2010, a
      protocol for admitting children with SF specifically to the trauma service was
      implemented at our institution. The purpose of our study was to review the
      management of children with SF younger than 1 year of age. METHODS: Retrospective
      chart review of all patients between 0 and 1year of age seen in our ED for a SF
      was done from 2010 to 2013. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients with a mean age of
      4.5months (1day-12months) were identified. Of these, 131 patients (73%) were
      admitted. Mean length of stay was 1.6days. Admitted patients had more depressed
      (21 vs. 8%) and diastatic (43 vs. 14%) fractures. Fifty-seven children had
      intracranial hemorrhages (32%) but only 8 patients required non-emergent surgery
      for depressed fractures. Admission to the trauma service increased from none to
      76% with phone follow-ups increasing from 12% to 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Instituting a
      protocol allowed a safer management of patients with SF. Moreover, we argue that
      asymptomatic infants with isolated SF can be safely discharged home after brief
      observation in the ED.

PMID- 26891834
TI  - The contribution of practice variation to length of stay for children with
      perforated appendicitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Postoperative length of stay (pLOS) is an easily tracked outcome that
      reflects health care efficiency and resource utilization. The purpose of this
      study was to determine the contribution of practice variation on pLOS for
      children with perforated appendicitis. METHODS: Children ages 2-18years with
      appendectomy for complicated appendicitis were selected from the National
      Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric. Extended pLOS (EpLOS) was defined
      as >=7days (75th percentile). The contribution of comorbidities, operative
      traits, and postoperative complications to EpLOS was evaluated using regression
      models and matched subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Of 2585 children with complicated
      appendicitis in our study, 835 had EpLOS. Regression analysis found that EpLOS
      was associated with extended operative time (odds ratio (OR) 1.99; 95% confidence
      interval (CI) 1.63-2.44), dehiscence (OR 13.19; 95% CI 1.52-114.23), wound
      infection (OR 7.39; 95% CI 2.63-20.80), organ space infection (OR 92.51; 95% CI
      34.03-251.50), and pneumonia (OR 4.55; 95% CI 1.06-19.44). Over three-fourths of
      the variation in pLOS could not be explained by preoperative, intraoperative, or
      postoperative factors. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant variation in pLOS for
      children undergoing appendectomy that is not accounted for by comorbidities,
      operative traits, or complications indicating an opportunity to improve outcomes
      through modifying practice patterns.

PMID- 26891835
TI  - Fecal calprotectin in the prediction of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's
      disease in children and adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fecal calprotectin (FC) correlates with endoscopic recurrence of
      Crohn's disease (CD) in adults but has not been studied among children
      postoperatively. We aimed to analyze whether FC relates with postoperative CD
      recurrence in children. METHODS: Altogether 51 postoperative endoscopies and FC
      measurements from 22 patients having undergone surgery for CD at age <=18years
      were included. RESULTS: Ileocecal resection (n=15), small bowel resection (n=6),
      or left hemicolectomy (n=1) was performed at median age of 15.1 (interquartile
      range 14.4-17.6) years. Following surgery, FC decreased significantly (659 vs.
      103MUg/g, p=0.001). During median follow-up of 5.7 (4.2-7.7) years, either
      endoscopic or histological recurrence occurred in 17 patients (77%). FC >139MUg/g
      at time of endoscopy or FC increase of 79MUg/g compared to first postoperative
      value was suggestive of endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts score i2-i4), while FC
      >101MUg/g or increase of 21MUg/g indicated histological recurrence. Best accuracy
      for prediction of recurrence was obtained by combining FC at endoscopy and the
      postoperative increase of FC. The corresponding AUROC values were 0.74 (95% 0.58
      0.89) for endoscopic recurrence whereas 0.81 (95% CI 0.67-0.95) for histological
      recurrence. CONCLUSION: FC is a useful surrogate marker of postoperative
      recurrence also in pediatric CD patients.

PMID- 26891836
TI  - Effectiveness and mode of action of a combination therapy for heterotopic
      ossification with a retinoid agonist and an anti-inflammatory agent.
AB  - Heterotopic ossification (HO) consists of ectopic cartilage and bone formation
      following severe trauma or invasive surgeries, and a genetic form of it
      characterizes patients with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). Recent
      mouse studies showed that HO was significantly inhibited by systemic treatment
      with a corticosteroid or the retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist Palovarotene.
      Because these drugs act differently, the data raised intriguing questions
      including whether the drugs affected HO via similar means, whether a combination
      therapy would be more effective or whether the drugs may hamper each other's
      action. To tackle these questions, we used an effective HO mouse model involving
      subcutaneous implantation of Matrigel plus rhBMP2, and compared the effectiveness
      of prednisone, dexamathaosone, Palovarotene or combination of. Each
      corticosteroid and Palovarotene reduced bone formation at max doses, and a
      combination therapy elicited similar outcomes without obvious interference. While
      Palovarotene had effectively prevented the initial cartilaginous phase of HO, the
      steroids appeared to act more on the bony phase. In reporter assays,
      dexamethasone and Palovarotene induced transcriptional activity of their
      respective GRE or RARE constructs and did not interfere with each other's
      pathway. Interestingly, both drugs inhibited the activity of a reporter construct
      for the inflammatory mediator NF-kappaB, particularly in combination. In good
      agreement, immunohistochemical analyses showed that both drugs markedly reduced
      the number of mast cells and macrophages near and within the ectopic Matrigel
      mass and reduced also the number of progenitor cells. In sum, corticosteroids and
      Palovarotene appear to block HO via common and distinct mechanisms. Most
      importantly, they directly or indirectly inhibit the recruitment of immune and
      inflammatory cells present at the affected site, thus alleviating the effects of
      key HO instigators.

PMID- 26891838
TI  - Aggrecan heterogeneity in articular cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aggrecan degradation is the hallmark of cartilage degeneration in
      osteoarthritis (OA), though it is unclear whether a common proteolytic process
      occurs in all individuals. METHODS: Aggrecan degradation in articular cartilage
      from the knees of 33 individuals with OA, who were undergoing joint replacement
      surgery, was studied by immunoblotting of tissue extracts. RESULTS: Matrix
      metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases are the major proteases involved in
      aggrecan degradation within the cartilage, though the proportion of aggrecan
      cleavage attributable to MMPs or aggrecanases was variable between individuals.
      However, aggrecanases were more associated with the increase in aggrecan loss
      associated with OA than MMPs. While the extent of aggrecan cleavage was highly
      variable between individuals, it was greatest in areas of cartilage adjacent to
      sites of cartilage erosion compared to sites more remote within the same joint.
      Analysis of link protein shows that in some individuals additional proteolytic
      mechanisms must also be involved to some extent. CONCLUSIONS: The present studies
      indicate that there is no one protease, or a fixed combination of proteases,
      responsible for cartilage degradation in OA. Thus, rather than targeting the
      individual proteases for OA therapy, directing research to techniques that
      control global protease generation may be more productive.

PMID- 26891837
TI  - Discovery of novel polyamine analogs with anti-protozoal activity by computer
      guided drug repositioning.
AB  - Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi
      that affects about 6 million people in Latin America. Despite its sanitary
      importance, there are currently only two drugs available for treatment:
      benznidazole and nifurtimox, both exhibiting serious adverse effects and limited
      efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease. Polyamines are ubiquitous to all
      living organisms where they participate in multiple basic functions such as
      biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, proliferation and cell
      differentiation. T. cruzi is auxotroph for polyamines, which are taken up from
      the extracellular medium by efficient transporters and, to a large extent,
      incorporated into trypanothione (bis-glutathionylspermidine), the major redox
      cosubstrate of trypanosomatids. From a 268-compound database containing polyamine
      analogs with and without inhibitory effect on T. cruzi we have inferred
      classificatory models that were later applied in a virtual screening campaign to
      identify anti-trypanosomal compounds among drugs already used for other
      therapeutic indications (i.e. computer-guided drug repositioning) compiled in the
      DrugBank and Sweetlead databases. Five of the candidates identified with this
      strategy were evaluated in cellular models from different pathogenic
      trypanosomatids (T. cruzi wt, T. cruzi PAT12, T. brucei and Leishmania infantum),
      and in vitro models of aminoacid/polyamine transport assays and trypanothione
      synthetase inhibition assay. Triclabendazole, sertaconazole and paroxetine
      displayed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of T. cruzi (epimastigotes) and
      the uptake of putrescine by the parasite. They also interfered with the uptake of
      others aminoacids and the proliferation of infective T. brucei and L. infantum
      (promastigotes). Trypanothione synthetase was ruled out as molecular target for
      the anti-parasitic activity of these compounds.

PMID- 26891839
TI  - HPTN 068: A Randomized Control Trial of a Conditional Cash Transfer to Reduce HIV
      Infection in Young Women in South Africa-Study Design and Baseline Results.
AB  - Young women in South Africa are at high risk for HIV infection. Cash transfers
      offer promise to reduce HIV risk. We present the design and baseline results from
      HPTN 068, a phase III, individually randomized trial to assess the effect of a
      conditional cash transfer on HIV acquisition among South African young women. A
      total of 2533 young women were randomized to receive a monthly cash transfer
      conditional on school attendance or to a control group. A number of individual-,
      partner-, household- and school-level factors were associated with HIV and HSV-2
      infection. After adjusting for age, all levels were associated with an increased
      odds of HIV infection with partner-level factors conveying the strongest
      association (aOR 3.05 95 % CI 1.84-5.06). Interventions like cash transfers that
      address structural factors such as schooling and poverty have the potential to
      reduce HIV risk in young women in South Africa.

PMID- 26891841
TI  - Molecular characterisation of a novel recombinant Ribgrass mosaic virus strain
      FSHS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The genus Tobamovirus (Virgaviridae) comprises 33 accepted species
      with the recent addition of eight new viruses and is divided in to three
      subgroups based on the origin of assembly of the virion and host range. Within
      the subgroup 1 tobamoviruses the orchid-associated tobamovirus was hypothesized
      to be a chimeric derivative of recombinations between genome fragments from
      subgroup 3 and 1. Recombination events involving RdRp, movement and coat protein
      genes are recorded within subgroup 1 and 2. However natural recombinations have
      not previously been reported between subgroup 3 tobamoviruses. FINDINGS: The
      organization and phylogenetic analyses of the complete genome and the different
      ORFs placed the new isolate within the Ribgrass mosaic virus clade of subgroup 3
      tobamoviruses. Recombination detection analyses indicated that the isolate was a
      chimeric genome with fragments of high similarity to Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV)
      strains NZ-439 (HQ667978) and Actinidia-AC (GQ401365.1) infecting herbaceous
      Plantago sp. and woody Actinidia spp., respectively. The recombinant differed
      across the whole genome by 3-8 % from other published RMV genomes. CONCLUSION: In
      this investigation we report an intra-specific recombination between RMV strains
      NZ-439 (HQ667978) and Actinidia-AC (GQ401365.1), in the replicase component
      between viral-methyltransferase and viral-helicase regions, resulting in a novel
      RMV strain FSHS (JQ319720.1) that represents the first described natural
      recombinant within the RMV cluster of subgroup 3 tobamoviruses.

PMID- 26891842
TI  - The development of an evidenced-based and clinically trialled Oral Health
      Protocol for Paediatric Oncology Patients at the Women's and Children's Hospital,
      Adelaide, South Australia.

PMID- 26891840
TI  - Framing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for the General Public: How Inclusive
      Messaging May Prevent Prejudice from Diminishing Public Support.
AB  - Strategic framing of public messages about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
      may influence public support for policies and programs affecting access. This
      survey study examined how public attitudes toward PrEP differed based on the
      social group PrEP was described as benefiting ("beneficiary") and the moderating
      effect of prejudice. Members of the general public (n = 154) recruited online
      were randomly assigned to three beneficiary conditions: general population, gay
      men, or Black gay men. All participants received identical PrEP background
      information before completing measures of PrEP attitudes (specifying
      beneficiary), racism, and heterosexism. Despite anticipating greater PrEP
      adherence among gay men and Black gay men and perceiving PrEP as especially
      beneficial to the latter, participants expressed lower support for
      policies/programs making PrEP affordable for these groups vs. the general
      population. This disparity in support was stronger among participants reporting
      greater prejudice. Inclusive framing of PrEP in public discourse may prevent
      prejudice from undermining implementation efforts.

PMID- 26891843
TI  - Medical advocacy among African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer: from
      recipient to resource.
AB  - PURPOSE: Medical advocacy at multiple levels (self, community/interpersonal,
      national/public health interest) may be helpful to address the disproportionate
      burden of breast cancer African-American women encounter. Little, however, is
      known about the interplay of medical advocacy at different levels. METHODS: We
      analyzed qualitative data from two studies focused on the psychosocial
      experiences of breast cancer among 38 African-American women living in Western
      Washington State. RESULTS: Emergent themes suggested that survivors received
      community/interpersonal advocacy from different members of social networks in the
      form of social support (appraisal, emotional, informational, instrumental).
      Survivors indicated that receiving this support was associated with greater self
      advocacy in terms of their own care experiences, as well as greater
      community/interpersonal advocacy on their part as resources to other women
      diagnosed with breast cancer, their family, friends, and larger communities.
      CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that community/interpersonal advocacy, including
      providing different types of support, may lead to improved self-advocacy as well
      as health-protective impacts for the networks in which survivors are embedded.
      Future quantitative research is warranted to support these findings and assess
      how this interplay is associated with improved outcomes among this marginalized
      and resilient population.

PMID- 26891844
TI  - Plasma Levels of Endothelial Microparticles Bearing Monomeric C-reactive Protein
      are Increased in Peripheral Artery Disease.
AB  - C-reactive protein (CRP) as an indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has
      shown limited sensitivity. We demonstrate that two isoforms of CRP (pentameric,
      pCRP and monomeric, mCRP) present in soluble form or on microparticles (MPs) have
      different biological effects and are not all measured by clinical CRP assays. The
      high-sensitivity CRP assay (hsCRP) did not measure pCRP or mCRP on MPs, whereas
      flow cytometry did. MPs derived from endothelial cells, particularly those
      bearing mCRP, were elevated in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients compared
      to controls. The numbers of mCRP(+) endothelial MPs did not correlate with hsCRP
      measurements of soluble pCRP, indicating their independent modulation. In
      controls, statins lowered mCRP(+) endothelial MPs. In a model of vascular
      inflammation, mCRP induced endothelial shedding of MPs and was proinflammatory,
      while pCRP was anti-inflammatory. mCRP on endothelial MPs may be both an
      unmeasured indicator of, and an amplifier of, vascular disease, and its detection
      might improve risk sensitivity.

PMID- 26891846
TI  - Editorial. Biobanking Eggs and Embryos for Research.

PMID- 26891848
TI  - Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 diversity and the implications for
      PfHRP 2: based malaria rapid diagnostic tests in Ghana.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a key role in malaria
      management and control. The PfHRP-2 based RDT is the most widely used RDT for
      malaria diagnosis in Ghana. Deletion of pfhrp2 in Plasmodium falciparum parasites
      affect the diagnostic accuracy of PfHRP-2 based RDT kits. Identifying the
      prevalence and distribution of P. falciparum parasites with deleted pfhrp2 is
      important for malaria control. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify and
      confirm the prevalence of pfhrp2 deletant P. falciparum parasites circulating
      within different regions of Ghana. METHODS: DNA was extracted from the membrane
      of spent CareStartTM PfHRP-2 RDT kits and dried filter paper blood blots using
      Chelex-100. Exon 2 of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes were amplified by polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR), resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized under UV
      light. RESULTS: Microscopic analysis of blood smears from samples that were PfHRP
      2 RDT positive revealed a parasite prevalence of 54/114 (47.4 %) and 2/26 (7.7 %)
      in Accra and Cape Coast, respectively. PCR analysis increased parasite prevalence
      in the RDT positive samples to 94/114 (82.5 %) and 6/26 (23.1 %) in Accra and
      Cape Coast respectively. The exon 2 of the pfhrp2 gene was deleted in 18/54 (33.3
      %) of the microscopy confirmed and 36.2 % (34/94) of the PCR confirmed RDT
      positive samples collected in Accra. No RDT sample, confirmed to contain
      parasites by either PCR or microscopy was negative by pfhrp2 exon 2 PCR in Cape
      Coast. A survey of an additional 558 DBS revealed that 22.4 % (46/205) and 40 %
      (44/110) of PCR positive samples in Accra and Cape Coast, respectively, lacked
      the exon 2 region of pfhrp2 and possibly the entire pfhrp2 gene. CONCLUSIONS: A
      high number of P. falciparum parasites, which lack pfhrp2 exon 2 gene have been
      identified in two communities in Ghana. Continuous nationwide monitoring of the
      prevalence of pfhrp2 deletant parasites would be essential to malaria control.
      The use of RDT kits that are effective at malaria diagnosis despite deletion of
      pfhrp2, such as the PfHRP-2/PfLDH combo RDT kit could enhance the diagnosis of
      clinical malaria in Ghana.

PMID- 26891845
TI  - Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: Part 1--Molecular Pathogenetic Aspects,
      Hemodynamics, and Adaptive Feedbacks.
AB  - Aortic valvular stenosis (AVS), produced by calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD)
      causing reduced cusp opening, afflicts mostly older persons eventually requiring
      valve replacement. CAVD had been considered "degenerative," but newer
      investigations implicate active mechanisms similar to atherogenesis--genetic
      predisposition and signaling pathways, lipoprotein deposits, chronic
      inflammation, and calcification/osteogenesis. Consequently, CAVD may eventually
      be controlled/reversed by lifestyle and pharmacogenomics remedies. Its management
      should be comprehensive, embracing not only the valve but also the left ventricle
      and the arterial system with their interdependent morphomechanics/hemodynamics,
      which underlie the ensuing diastolic and systolic LV dysfunction. Compared to
      even a couple of decades ago, we now have an increased appreciation of genomic
      and cytomolecular pathogenetic mechanisms underlying CAVD. Future
      pluridisciplinary studies will characterize better and more completely its
      pathobiology, evolution, and overall dynamics, encompassing intricate feedback
      processes involving specific signaling molecules and gene network cascades. They
      will herald more effective, personalized medicine treatments of CAVD/AVS.

PMID- 26891847
TI  - Neuregulin 1 confers neuroprotection in SOD1-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      mice via restoration of C-boutons of spinal motor neurons.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence implicates the role of the cell types
      surrounding motor neurons, such as interneurons and glial cells, in non-cell
      autonomous neurodegeneration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). C-boutons,
      the large cholinergic synapses that innervate spinal alpha-motor neurons to
      control their excitability, are progressively lost from motor neurons in both
      human ALS and mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-ALS mice. Neuregulin-1
      (NRG1), a trophic factor implicated in neural development, transmission, and
      synaptic plasticity, has been reported to localize in the synapse of C-boutons.
      However, the roles of NRG1 in maintenance of motor neuron health and activity, as
      well as the functional consequences of its alteration in motor neuron disease,
      are not fully understood. RESULTS: NRG1 was localized to the post-synaptic face
      of C-boutons and its expression was significantly lost in SOD1-ALS mice and human
      ALS patients. Losses of NRG1 expression and C-boutons occurred almost
      contemporaneously in SOD1-ALS mice. In addition, expressions of ErbB3 and ErbB4,
      receptors for NRG1, were reduced in the motor neurons of SOD1-ALS mice.
      Furthermore, viral-mediated delivery of type III-NRG1 to the spinal cord restored
      the number of C-boutons and extended the survival time of SOD1-ALS mice.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that maintenance of NRG1-ErbB4/3 axis by
      supplementation of NRG1 confers neuroprotection in motor neuron disease, partly
      through the maintenance of C-boutons of spinal motor neurons.

PMID- 26891849
TI  - Patient characteristics and outcomes of a hip fracture and concomitant fracture
      compared with hip fracture alone: results from a United Kingdom teaching
      hospital.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A proportion of patients sustaining hip fractures present with a
      concomitant fracture. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between patient
      characteristics and clinical outcomes, in those with a hip and concomitant
      fracture compared with those sustaining a hip fracture alone from a clinical
      service registry. METHOD: Cross-sectional study using data obtained from a
      clinical service registry (Nottingham Hip Fracture Database) on patients aged 50
      and above who suffered a hip fracture between 1/1/2003 and 31/12/2012. Data was
      collected on patient demographics, fracture information and healthcare outcomes.
      RESULTS: 7338 patients of which 75 % were female (mean age 82 (SD 9.4), had a hip
      fracture with 334 (4.6 %) patients having a concomitant fracture. The majority
      (58 %) were distal radius or proximal humeral fractures. Only females (p =
      0.002), those taking three or fewer medications (p = 0.018) and those on long
      term steroids (p = 0.048) were more likely to suffer a concomitant fracture.
      There was no difference in mortality, rates of postoperative complication,
      intensive care unit or care home admission between both groups. Patients with a
      concomitant fracture have a 16 % longer average length of stay in hospital (mean
      difference 1.16; 95 % CI 1.07-1.25, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with
      concomitant fractures have similar patient characteristics, except gender,
      polypharmacy and long term steroid use; and outcomes to those presenting with hip
      fracture alone, except a longer average inpatient stay.

PMID- 26891850
TI  - Decreased femoral periprosthetic bone mineral density: a comparative study using
      DXA in patients after cementless total hip arthroplasty with osteonecrosis of the
      femoral head versus primary osteoarthritis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Trabecular properties in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH)
      are altered for bone volume and structure in the femoral head and proximal
      femoral canal. We analysed the periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) as a
      correlate to bony ingrowth in patients with ONFH who received a cementless THA.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a matched-pair analysis of 100 patients with
      ONFH (n = 50) and primary osteoarthritis (n = 50) who received the same,
      unilateral cementless THA. We compared the periprosthetic BMD 5 years after
      surgery by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) analysing the seven
      femoral regions of interest (ROIs) according to Gruen. RESULTS: Within the ONFH
      group, significantly lower BMD values were found in the ROI 1 and 7 (p < 0.05).
      No statistically significant difference was found for ROIs 2-6. CONCLUSIONS: An
      altered periprosthetic bone stock in the proximal femur in patients with prior
      ONFH might be a possible risk factor for premature loosening of the femoral stem
      in THA. Surgeons need to consider coating and fixation philosophy of cementless
      implants when choosing the right stem for patients with ONFH.

PMID- 26891851
TI  - Evidence for photo-induced charge separation between dye molecules adsorbed to
      aluminium oxide surfaces.
AB  - Excited state dynamics and photo-induced charge transfer of dye molecules have
      been widely studied due to their relevance for organic and dye-sensitised solar
      cells. Herein, we present a femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy study
      of the indolene dye D131 when adsorbed to inert Al2O3 substrates for different
      surface concentration of the dye. Surprisingly, we find that at high surface
      concentrations, the first singlet excited state of the dye is converted into a
      new state with an efficiency of about 80%. We assign the absorption features of
      this state to the oxidised dye and discuss the possibility of photo-induced
      charge separation between neighboring dye molecules. Our study is the first to
      show that this process can be highly efficient without the use of donor and
      acceptor molecules of different chemical structures. 

PMID- 26891852
TI  - Peer-to-Peer, Interactive GP Education can Reduce Barriers to Best Practice in
      Diabetes Management.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Perceived difficulties in initiating insulin in patients with type
      2 diabetes (T2D) may prevent many general practitioners (GPs) from using insulin
      even when recommended in guidelines. This paper describes a Royal Australian
      College of General Practitioners accredited education program on starting insulin
      in T2D, and its impact on GPs' attitudes and behavior. METHODS: A faculty
      comprising GPs with diabetes expertise, Credentialed Diabetes Nurse Educators,
      and endocrinologist developed and implemented the education program. The program
      content was highly procedure focussed, emphasizing simple, best-practice
      processes for starting insulin therapy and focussing on multidisciplinary models
      of care. The highly interactive format of the workshops included peer-to-peer
      learning, in which education was led by diabetes-experienced GP educators, as
      well as case study-based approaches and small group discussions. GP attendees
      were asked to rate their individual confidence and attitudes at the beginning and
      end of the meeting. In addition, participants (n = 220) from two workshops in
      2013 were sent a survey 3 months after the meeting to gauge the longer-term
      impact on their clinical practice. RESULTS: Since 2008, more than 2500 GPs have
      attended the workshops, and report substantial improvements in confidence; after
      attending, more GPs were willing to start insulin within their practice.
      Evaluations at 3 months post-meeting indicate that the increased confidence was
      associated with behavioral changes in the subgroup evaluated at this time (n =
      48). Success of this program was attributed to peer-to-peer education,
      multidisciplinary input, easily implemented best practice procedures and
      checklists for starting insulin, and constant adjustment of meeting process and
      content based on feedback and guideline changes. CONCLUSION: A peer-to-peer,
      interactive GP education program reduced GPs' perceptions of the difficulties of
      starting insulin in T2D and achieved changes in attendees' clinical practice.
      This education program offers an effective approach to overcome the therapeutic
      inertia that is too common in diabetes management.

PMID- 26891853
TI  - Concerning "Pathological findings in patients with low anterior inferior iliac
      spine impingement".

PMID- 26891854
TI  - Allergic rhinitis affects the duration of rapid eye movement sleep in children
      with sleep-disordered breathing without sleep apnea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our goals were to assess whether allergic rhinitis (AR) is an
      aggravating factor that affects the severity of sleep apnea in children with
      tonsils/adenoid hypertrophy (T&A) and to compare polysomnographic data from
      children with and without AR. METHODS: This prospective study included 135
      children (age range, 3 to 14 years) with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)
      resulting from T&A. Children with lung, neurological, or craniofacial problems;
      septal deviations; previous pharyngeal surgeries; or orthodontic treatments were
      excluded. All children underwent a clinical evaluation, nasopharyngoscopy or
      lateral X-ray imaging, sleep study, and hypersensitivity skin-prick test.
      RESULTS: The mean patient age was 6.44 +/- 2.55 years (83 males). AR was present
      in 42.2% of the children; 40% presented with sleep apnea; and 17.04% had sleep
      apnea and AR. The percentage of time spent in the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
      stage was lower among children with AR without sleep apnea (p = 0.028); however,
      the percentage of REM sleep was not significantly different among children with
      apnea (p = 0.2922). No difference in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was observed
      between the children with (AHI = 2.79 events/hour) and without AR (3.75
      events/hour, p = 0.4427). A multivariate analysis showed that nasal congestion
      was an important factor that can affect the duration of the REM sleep stage.
      CONCLUSION: AR affects REM sleep in children with SDB without sleep apnea, and AR
      is not an aggravating factor regarding the severity of AHI.

PMID- 26891855
TI  - Design of Synthetic Polymer Nanoparticles That Facilitate Resolubilization and
      Refolding of Aggregated Positively Charged Lysozyme.
AB  - Designed polymer hydrogel nanoparticles (NPs) capable of facilitating
      resolubilization and refolding of an aggregated protein, positively charged
      lysozyme, are prepared. NPs designed to interact strongly with denatured lysozyme
      and relatively weakly with native lysozyme, facilitated resolubilization and
      refolding of aggregated lysozyme. Such NPs could be prepared by copolymerizing
      optimized combinations and populations of functional monomers. The refolded
      lysozyme showed native conformation and enzymatic activity. Eleven grams of
      aggregated protein was refolded by 1 g of NPs. However, NPs having low affinity
      to denatured lysozyme and NPs having high affinity to both denatured and native
      lysozyme showed relatively low facilitation activity. Our results suggest a
      potential strategy for the design of artificial chaperones with high facilitating
      activity. 

PMID- 26891858
TI  - What more can TOF-SIMS bring than other MS imaging methods?

PMID- 26891856
TI  - Pro-oxidant and Antioxidant Effects in Photodynamic Therapy: Cells Recognise that
      Not All Exogenous ROS Are Alike.
AB  - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light, photosensitizer molecules and oxygen to
      generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill cancer cells. Redaporfin, a new
      photosensitizer in clinical trials, generates both singlet oxygen and superoxide
      ions. We report the potentiation of redaporfin-PDT in combination with ascorbate
      and with the inhibition of antioxidant enzymes in A549 (human lung
      adenocarcinoma) and CT26 (mouse colon adenocarcinoma) cells. The addition of
      ascorbate and the inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) strongly increased the
      phototoxicity of redaporfin towards A549 cells but not towards CT26 cells. The
      inhibition of catalase and the depletion of the glutathione pool also potentiate
      redaporfin-PDT towards A549 cells. The lower SOD activity of A549 cells might
      explain this difference. SOD activity levels may be explored to increase the
      selectivity and efficacy of PDT with photosensitizers that generate radical
      species.

PMID- 26891857
TI  - Treatment options for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC-producing
      bacteria.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC beta-lactamases
      are increasing causes of resistance in many Gram-negative pathogens of common
      infections. This has led to a growing utilization of broad spectrum antibiotics,
      most predominately the carbapenem agents. As the prevalence of ESBL and AmpC
      producing isolates and carbapenem resistance has increased, interest in effective
      alternatives for the management of these infections has also developed. AREAS
      COVERED: This article summarizes clinical literature evaluating the utility of
      carbapenem-sparing regimens for the treatment of ESBL and AmpC-producing
      Enterobacteriaceae, mainly beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations and
      cefepime (FEP). EXPERT OPINION: Based on available data, the use of piperacillin
      tazobactam (PTZ) and FEP in the treatment of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae
      cannot be widely recommended. However, certain infections and patient
      characteristics may support for effective use of these alternative agents. In the
      treatment of infections caused by AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, FEP has been
      shown to be a clinically useful carbapenem-sparing alternative. Carbapenems and
      FEP share many structurally similar characteristics in regards to susceptibility
      to AmpC beta-lactamases, which further create confidence in the use FEP in these
      situations. Patient and infection specific characteristics should be used to
      employ FEP optimally.

PMID- 26891859
TI  - Extracellular nucleotide regulation and signaling in cardiac fibrosis.
AB  - Following myocardial infarction, purinergic nucleotides and nucleosides are
      released via non-specific and specific mechanisms in response to cellular
      activation, stress, or injury. These extracellular nucleotides are potent
      mediators of physiologic and pathologic responses, contributing to the
      inflammatory and fibrotic milieu within the injured myocardium. Via autocrine or
      paracrine signaling, cell-specific effects occur through differentially expressed
      purinergic receptors of the P2X, P2Y, and P1 families. Nucleotide activation of
      the ionotropic (ligand-gated) purine receptors (P2X) and several of the
      metabotropic (G-protein-coupled) purine receptors (P2Y) or adenosine activation
      of the P1 receptors can have profound effects on inflammatory cell function,
      fibroblast function, and cardiomyocyte function. Extracellular nucleotidases that
      hydrolyze released nucleotides regulate the magnitude and duration of purinergic
      signaling. While there are numerous studies on the role of the purinergic
      signaling pathway in cardiovascular disease, the extent to which the purinergic
      signaling pathway modulates cardiac fibrosis is incompletely understood. Here we
      provide an overview of the current understanding of how the purinergic signaling
      pathway modulates cardiac fibroblast function and myocardial fibrosis.

PMID- 26891860
TI  - Effects of IL1B single nucleotide polymorphisms on depressive and anxiety
      symptoms are determined by severity and type of life stress.
AB  - Interleukin-1beta is one of the main mediators in the cross-talk between the
      immune system and the central nervous system. Higher interleukin-1beta levels are
      found in mood spectrum disorders, and the stress-induced expression rate of the
      interleukin-1beta gene (IL1B) is altered by polymorphisms in the region.
      Therefore we examined the effects of rs16944 and rs1143643 single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL1B gene on depressive and anxiety symptoms, as
      measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, in a Hungarian population sample of 1053
      persons. Distal and proximal environmental stress factors were also included in
      our analysis, namely childhood adversity and recent negative life-events. We
      found that rs16944 minor (A) allele specifically interacted with childhood
      adversity increasing depressive and anxiety symptoms, while rs1143643's minor (A)
      allele showed protective effect against depressive symptoms after recent life
      stress. The genetic main effects of the two SNPs were not significant in the main
      analysis, but the interaction effects remained significant after correction for
      multiple testing. In addition, the effect of rs16944 A allele was reversed in a
      subsample with low-exposure to life stress, suggesting a protective effect
      against depressive symptoms, in the post hoc analysis. In summary, both of the
      two IL1B SNPs showed specific environmental stressor-dependent effects on mood
      disorder symptoms. We also demonstrated that the presence of exposure to
      childhood adversity changed the direction of the rs16944 effect on depression
      phenotype. Therefore our results suggest that it is advisable to include
      environmental factors in genetic association studies when examining the effect of
      the IL1B gene. 

PMID- 26891861
TI  - Frequency of early warning score assessment and clinical deterioration in
      hospitalized patients: A randomized trial.
AB  - AIM: To explore whether early warning score (EWS) measurements at 8h intervals is
      associated with better outcomes than 12h intervals. We hypothesized that the
      proportion of patients that deteriorated to a higher EWS at 24h after hospital
      admission would be lower with 8h interval than with 12h interval. METHOD: This
      was a pragmatic, ward-level randomized, non-blinded, controlled trial at an urban
      University hospital. During two six weeks periods acutely admitted surgical and
      medical patients, with an initial EWS of 0 or 1, were monitored either every 8th
      hour or every 12th hour. The primary outcome was clinical deterioration 24h post
      admission, estimated by the proportion of patients with an EWS>=2 at 24h after
      the initial EWS on admission. RESULTS: Of 3185 patients screened for eligibility,
      1346 patients were included to the trial. Forty-nine percent were allocated to
      the 8h group and 51% to the 12h group; of these, 23% and 20% had an elevated
      EWS>=2 at 24h, respectively (p=0.456), OR 1.17 (0.78-1.76); 3.4% and 2.2%,
      respectively had an EWS>=5 (p=0.391), and one patient in each group had an EWS>=7
      at 24h (p=1.0). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed no significant
      interactions for the primary outcome and the predefined variables: age, gender,
      ward type, and inclusion period, with an adjusted OR 1.20 (0.79-1.82). There were
      no significant differences in regard to the secondary outcomes: cardiac arrests,
      ICU admissions, review by medical emergency team (MET), length of hospital stay,
      or elevated EWS at 48 h. Thirty-day mortality was 1.1% vs. 1.8% (p=0.357) in the
      8h group and the 12h-group, respectively (OR=0.60 (0.23-1.50), p=0.279).
      CONCLUSION: We found no significant reduction in the proportion of clinical
      deterioration with monitoring frequencies of 3 vs. 2 times daily among patients
      acutely admitted to a surgical or medical ward and an initial EWS of 0-1.

PMID- 26891862
TI  - Automatic cardiac rhythm interpretation during resuscitation.
AB  - AIM: Resuscitation guidelines recommend different treatments depending on the
      patient's cardiac rhythm. Rhythm interpretation is a key tool to retrospectively
      evaluate and improve the quality of treatment. Manual rhythm annotation is time
      consuming and an obstacle for handling large resuscitation datasets efficiently.
      The objective of this study was to develop a system for automatic rhythm
      interpretation by using signal processing and machine learning algorithms.
      METHODS: Data from 302 out of hospital cardiac arrest patients were used. In
      total 1669 3-second artifact free ECG segments with clinical rhythm annotations
      were extracted. The proposed algorithms combine 32 features obtained from both
      wavelet- and time-domain representations of the ECG, followed by a feature
      selection procedure based on the wrapper method in a nested cross-validation
      architecture. Linear and quadratic discriminant analyses (LDA and QDA) were used
      to automatically classify the segments into one of five rhythm types: ventricular
      tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), pulseless electrical activity
      (PEA), asystole (AS), and pulse generating rhythms (PR). RESULTS: The overall
      accuracy for the best algorithm was 68%. VT, VF, and AS are recognized with
      sensitivities of 71%, 75%, and 79%, respectively. Sensitivities for PEA and PR
      were 55% and 56%, respectively, which reflects the difficulty of identifying
      pulse using only the ECG. CONCLUSIONS: An ECG based automatic rhythm interpreter
      for resuscitation has been demonstrated. The interpreter handles VT, VF and AS
      well, while PEA and PR discrimination poses a more difficult problem.

PMID- 26891863
TI  - Effect of Confinement on the Properties of Sequestered Mixed Polar Solvents:
      Enzymatic Catalysis in Nonaqueous 1,4-Bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate Reverse
      Micelles.
AB  - The influence of different glycerol, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water
      mixtures encapsulated in 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT)/n-heptane
      reverse micelles (RMs) on the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2-naphthyl acetate by alpha
      chymotrypsin is demonstrated. In the case of the mixtures with DMF and protic
      solvents it has been previously shown, using absorption, emission and dynamic
      light-scattering techniques, that solvents are segregated inside the polar core
      of the RMs. Protic solvents anchor to the AOT, whereas DMF locates to the polar
      core of the aggregate. Thus, DMF not only helps to solubilize the hydrophobic
      substrate, increasing its effective concentrations but surprisingly, it does not
      affect the enzyme activity. The importance of ensuring the presence of RMs,
      encapsulation of the polar solvents and the corrections by substrate partitioning
      in order to obtain reliable conclusions is highlighted. Moreover, the effect of a
      constrained environment on solvent-solvent interactions in homogenous media and
      its impact on the use of RMs as nanoreactors is stressed.

PMID- 26891864
TI  - Alkaptonuria: An example of a "fundamental disease"--A rare disease with
      important lessons for more common disorders.
AB  - "Fundamental diseases" is a term introduced by the charity Findacure to describe
      rare genetic disorders that are gateways to understanding common conditions and
      human physiology. The concept that rare diseases have important lessons for
      biomedical science has been recognised by some of the great figures in the
      history of medical research, including Harvey, Bateson and Garrod. Here we
      describe some of the recently discovered lessons from the study of the iconic
      genetic disease alkaptonuria (AKU), which have shed new light on understanding
      the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In AKU, ochronotic pigment is deposited in
      cartilage when collagen fibrils become susceptible to attack by homogentisic acid
      (HGA). When HGA binds to collagen, cartilage matrix becomes stiffened, resulting
      in the aberrant transmission of loading to underlying subchondral bone. Aberrant
      loading leads to the formation of pathophysiological structures including
      trabecular excrescences and high density mineralised protrusions (HDMPs). These
      structures initially identified in AKU have subsequently been found in more
      common osteoarthritis and appear to play a role in joint destruction in both
      diseases. 

PMID- 26891866
TI  - Activating AMP-activated protein kinase by an alpha1 selective activator compound
      13 attenuates dexamethasone-induced osteoblast cell death.
AB  - Excessive glucocorticoid (GC) usage may lead to non-traumatic femoral head
      osteonecrosis. Dexamethasone (Dex) exerts cytotoxic effect to cultured
      osteoblasts. Here, we investigated the potential activity of Compound 13 (C13), a
      novel alpha1 selective AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, against the
      process. Our data revealed that C13 pretreatment significantly attenuated Dex
      induced apoptosis and necrosis in both osteoblastic-like MC3T3-E1 cells and
      primary murine osteoblasts. AMPK activation mediated C13' cytoprotective effect
      in osteoblasts. The AMPK inhibitor Compound C, shRNA-mediated knockdown of
      AMPKalpha1, or dominant negative mutation of AMPKalpha1 (T172A) almost abolished
      C13-induced AMPK activation and its pro-survival effect in osteoblasts. On the
      other hand, forced AMPK activation by adding AMPK activator A-769662 or exogenous
      expression a constitutively-active (ca) AMPKalpha1 (T172D) mimicked C13's actions
      and inhibited Dex-induced osteoblast cell death. Meanwhile, A-769662 or ca
      AMPKalpha1 almost nullified C13's activity in osteoblast. Further studies showed
      that C13 activated AMPK-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
      (NADPH) pathway to inhibit Dex-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production
      in MC3T3-E1 cells and primary murine osteoblasts. Such effects by C13 were almost
      reversed by Compound C or AMPKalpha1 depletion/mutation. Together, these results
      suggest that C13 alleviates Dex-induced osteoblast cell death via activating AMPK
      signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26891865
TI  - Sphenoid sinus malignancies: a population-based comprehensive analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sinonasal malignancies are rare, representing less than 1% of all
      cancers, with the sphenoid sinus accounting for 1% to 2% of these cases. Sphenoid
      sinus malignancies exhibit very poor outcomes. There is a paucity of literature
      describing their histopathological features, incidence trends, treatment, and
      survival. We seek to elucidate these factors using a national population-based
      resource. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)
      database was used to identify malignant sphenoid sinus tumors. The results were
      analyzed for demographics, incidence, and clinicopathologic trends. Survival was
      calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The search identified 472 cases.
      The mean and median age at diagnosis was 60.0 years. Males represented 54.9% of
      cases. By race/ethnicity, 82.4% were white and 8.5% were black. The four most
      common histopathologies were squamous cell neoplasms (29.4%), adenocarcinomas
      (14.4%), non-Hodgkin's mature B-cell lymphomas (13.1%), and unspecified
      epithelial neoplasms (11.0%). The overall incidence from 2000 to 2012 was 0.030
      per 100,000. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated an overall 5-year disease
      specific survival (DSS) of 48.1%. Of the most common histopathological subtypes,
      5-year DSS was best for mature B-cell NHL (64.0%) and worst for unspecified
      epithelial neoplasms (25.6%). CONCLUSION: Sphenoid sinus malignancies are rare,
      with high prevalence in white males. The most common histopathology is squamous
      cell neoplasms. They exhibit significant locoregional extension. Of the common
      sphenoid sinus malignant subtypes, 5-year DSS is best for mature B-cell NHL and
      worst for unspecified epithelial neoplasms.

PMID- 26891867
TI  - Repression of a chromatin modifier aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute
      lung injury in mouse.
AB  - Local inflammatory responses and alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) apoptosis are
      both important for the development of the acute lung injury (ALI), a clinically
      important complication causing high morbidity and mortality, but little is known
      about the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis. Herein, we showed for
      the first time that expression of Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), a
      master transcriptional regulator with the ability to regulate divergent cellular
      pathways by modifying the acetylation status of crucial target genes, was up
      regulated in the alveolar cells of the Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      induced murine ALI model. Inhibition of MTA1 expression by in vivo siRNA
      treatment exacerbated the pathology of LPS-induced ALI, by selectively promoting
      the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, ablation
      of MTA1 expression promoted the LPS-induced apoptosis in AEC II cells, leaving
      AEC I cells unaffected. These data collectively underscore an alveolar facet of
      this important chromatin modifier, which may represent as a novel regulator and a
      new therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI. 

PMID- 26891868
TI  - Vascular complications in diabetes: Microparticles and microparticle associated
      microRNAs as active players.
AB  - The recognition of the importance of diabetes in vascular disease has greatly
      increased lately. Common risk factors for diabetes-related vascular disease
      include hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation,
      hypercoagulability, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. All of these factors
      contribute to the endothelial dysfunction which generates the diabetic
      complications, both macro and microvascular. Knowledge of diabetes-related
      vascular complications and of associated mechanisms it is becoming increasingly
      important for therapists. The discovery of microparticles (MPs) and their
      associated microRNAs (miRNAs) have opened new perspectives capturing the
      attention of basic and clinical scientists for their potential to become new
      therapeutic targets and clinical biomarkers. MPs known as submicron vesicles
      generated from membranes of apoptotic or activated cells into circulation have
      the ability to act as autocrine and paracrine effectors in cell-to-cell
      communication. They operate as biological vectors modulating the endothelial
      dysfunction, inflammation, coagulation, angiogenesis, thrombosis, subsequently
      contributing to the progression of macro and microvascular complications in
      diabetes. More recently, miRNAs have started to be actively investigated, leading
      to first exciting reports, which suggest their significant role in vascular
      physiology and disease. The contribution of MPs and also of their associated
      miRNAs to the development of vascular complications in diabetes was largely
      unexplored and undiscussed. In essence, with this review we bring light upon the
      understanding of impact diabetes has on vascular biology, and the significant
      role of MPs and MPs associated miRNAs as novel mediators, potential biomarkers
      and therapeutic targets in vascular complications in diabetes. 

PMID- 26891869
TI  - The molecular mechanisms between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer.
AB  - Metabolic syndrome, which is extremely common in developed and some developing
      countries, is a clustering of at least three of five of the following medical
      conditions: abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma
      glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein levels. It
      has been proved that there is a strong association between metabolic syndrome and
      breast cancer. Metabolic syndrome could increase the risk of breast cancer and
      influence the prognosis of the breast cancer patients. Some characteristic of
      metabolic syndrome such as obesity and lack of physical exercise are all risk
      factors for developing breast cancer. The metabolic syndrome mainly include
      obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver
      disease, and each of them impacts the risk of breast cancer and the prognosis of
      the breast cancer patients in different ways. In this Review, we focus on
      recently uncovered aspects of the immunological and molecular mechanisms that are
      responsible for the development of this highly prevalent and serious disease.
      These studies bring new insight into the complex associations between metabolic
      syndrome and breast cancer and have led to the development of novel therapeutic
      strategies that might enable a personalized approach in the management of this
      disease. 

PMID- 26891870
TI  - Zinc-binding protein-89 (ZBP-89) cooperates with NF-kappaB to regulate expression
      of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in response to inflammatory cytokines.
AB  - Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have both protective and pathological roles in
      inflammation, and transcriptional mechanisms are important in regulating
      physiological levels to maintain health. Zinc-binding protein-89 (ZBP-89) is a
      transcription factor with roles in regulating vital cellular processes, acting
      through complex interactions with other proteins to ensure appropriate expression
      of tightly regulated genes. ZBP-89 binds the MMP-3 promoter at a polymorphic
      (5A/6A) site along with NF-kappaB. This polymorphism affects MMP-3 protein levels
      in tissues. In disease association studies, both over- and under-expression has
      negative consequences to health, and this promoter element is important in
      maintaining balanced expression. There is evidence that effects of the
      polymorphism vary under different conditions, but the role of ZBP-89 in these
      differences is not known. ZBP-89 was stably knocked-down in MG-63 osteosarcoma
      cells in order to study its role in regulation of MMP-3 expression in response to
      cytokines, and evaluate the functionality of a putative binding site in the MMP-1
      promoter. Results show ZBP-89 is needed for maximal induction of both genes by IL
      1beta and TNFalpha. Binding of both ZBP-89 and NF-kappaB to both promoters was
      decreased in the knock-down cells under basal and TNF-induced conditions, and
      protein interactions between ZBP-89 and NF-kappaB were suggested. These data
      provide the first evidence of a role for ZBP-89 in regulation of MMP-1
      expression, and suggest the possibility of a larger role for ZBP-89 in
      inflammation through interactions with NF-kappaB. 

PMID- 26891872
TI  - In Vitro CYP2D Inhibitory Effect and Influence on Pharmacokinetics and
      Pharmacodynamic Parameters of Metoprolol Succinate by Terminalia arjuna in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae) is a tree having an
      extensive medicinal potential in cardiovascular disorders. T. arjuna bark extract
      has been reported to play a significant role as a cardiac stimulant for its
      beneficial effects in angina. Herb - drug interactions (HDI) are one of the most
      important clinical concerns in the concomitant consumption of herbs and
      prescription drugs. Our study was to investigate the in vitro CYP2D inhibition
      potential of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) extracts in rat liver microsomes and
      to study the influence of aqueous bark extract of T. arjuna on the oral
      pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metoprolol succinate in rats. METHODS:
      The CYP2D inhibition potential of herbal extracts of T. arjuna was investigated
      in rat liver microsomes. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic interaction of aqueous
      extract of T. arjuna with metoprolol succinate was investigated in rats. RESULTS:
      The ethyl acetate, alcoholic & aqueous bark extracts of T. arjuna showed potent
      reversible non-competitive inhibition CYP2D enzyme in rat liver microsomes with
      IC50 values less than 40 MUg/mL. Arjunic acid, arjunetin and arjungenin did not
      show significant inhibition of CYP2D enzyme in rat liver microsomes.
      Pharmacokinetic studies showed that aqueous bark extract of T. arjuna led to a
      significant reduction (P < 0.05) in AUC0-24h and Cmax of metoprolol succinate in
      rats, when co-administered. Pharmacodynamic studies reveal a significant
      reduction in therapeutic activity of metoprolol succinate on co-administration
      with aqueous bark extract of T. arjuna. CONCLUSION: Based on our in vitro and in
      vivo findings and until further clinical drug interaction experiments are
      conducted, the co-administration of drugs, especially those primarily cleared via
      CYP2D catalyzed metabolism, with T. arjuna extracts should be done with caution.

PMID- 26891871
TI  - Impact of CYP3A4*1G Allele on Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of
      Clopidogrel.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Resistance to the antiplatelet treatment with
      clopidogrel has both genetic and non-genetic causes. Polymorphic variants of
      cytochrome P450 3A4 isoenzyme involved in the bioactivation of clopidogrel might
      have an influence on responsiveness to the drug. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the influence of CYP3A4*1G (IVS10+12G>A, rs2242480) on the
      pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of clopidogrel. METHODS: CYP3A4*1G
      polymorphism was determined in a group of 82 patients undergoing percutaneous
      coronary intervention and taking 75 mg of clopidogrel daily. Concentrations of
      clopidogrel and its metabolites, inactive carboxylic acid derivative and two
      diastereoisomers of active thiol metabolite: H3 and H4, were determined by a
      validated HPLC-MS/MS method. Pharmacodynamic effect was measured by an impedance
      method with a Multiplate analyzer. Moreover, an effect of factors, such as
      CYP2C19 phenotype, age, gender, body mass index and interactions with drugs
      metabolized by CYP3A4 were also investigated. RESULTS: In the studied group
      allele frequencies were: wt-0.921, *1G-0.079. Pharmacokinetic parameters of
      clopidogrel and its metabolites were not significantly different in carriers of
      *1G allele, comparing to wt/wt homozygotes. Platelet aggregation was higher in
      heterozygotes than in wt/wt carriers; however, the difference was not
      statistically significant (p = 0.484). In a multivariate analysis, which included
      age, body mass index, co-morbidities and coadministered drugs, CYP3A4*1G was not
      a predictor of values of H3 and H4 pharmacokinetic parameters and platelet
      aggregation. CONCLUSION: CYP3A4*1G might not be a significant contributor to the
      variability in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic response to clopidogrel
      therapy.

PMID- 26891873
TI  - In Vitro Study of UGT Metabolism and Permeability of Orientin and Isoorientin,
      Two Active flavonoid C-glycosides.
AB  - C-glycosides are important flavonoids with significant pharmacological activities
      implicated in anticancer and antioxidative effects. However, their
      characteristics of metabolism and transportation have been rarely investigated.
      This research aimed to examine the metabolic characteristics of two active C
      glycosides, namely, orientin and isoorientin, in human liver microsomes (HLMs)
      and rat liver microsomes (RLMs) and to confirm the specific uridine 5'-diphospho
      glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms involved in glucuronidation by HLMs.
      Furthermore, the permeability of orientin and isoorientin was also determined by
      using Caco-2 cell monolayers. Results revealed that orientin and isoorientin
      could generate two metabolites, which were identified as monoglucuronides. HLM-
      and RLM-mediated glucuronide formations were in accordance with typical Michaelis
      Menten kinetics. Conversely, RLM initially metabolized orientin to its
      corresponding metabolite, and this process was consistent with biphasic kinetics.
      Among the UGT isoform, UGT1A1, 1A8, 1A9 and 1A10 exhibited the highest enzyme
      activity. Passive diffusion was the predominant orientin and isoorientin
      transportation mechanism in Caco-2 cell monolayers, and their apparent
      permeability further confirmed that orientin and isoorientin were well absorbed.
      Therefore, orientin and isoorientin can be metabolized by UGT isoforms and
      microsomes; these flavonoids can also be transported via passive diffusion in
      Caco-2 cells, which are relatively permeable.

PMID- 26891874
TI  - Home cage wheel running is an objective and clinically relevant method to assess
      inflammatory pain in male and female rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The assessment of nociception in preclinical studies is undergoing a
      transformation from pain-evoked to pain-depressed tests to more closely mimic the
      effects of clinical pain. Many inflammatory pain-depressed behaviors (reward
      seeking, locomotion) have been examined, but these tests are limited because of
      confounds such as stress and difficulties in quantifying behavior. NEW METHOD:
      The present study evaluates home cage wheel running as an objective method to
      assess the magnitude and duration of inflammatory pain in male and female rats.
      RESULTS: Injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the right hindpaw to
      induce inflammatory pain almost completely inhibited wheel running for 2 days in
      male and female rats. Wheel running gradually returned to baseline levels within
      12 days despite persistent mechanical hypersensitivity (von Frey test).
      COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Continuously monitoring home cage wheel running
      improves on previous studies examining inflammatory pain-depressed wheel running
      because it is more sensitive to noxious stimuli, avoids the stress of removing
      the rat from its cage for testing, and provides a complete analysis of the time
      course for changes in nociception. CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate that
      home cage wheel running is a clinically relevant method to assess inflammatory
      pain in the rat. The decrease in activity caused by inflammatory pain and
      subsequent gradual recovery mimics the changes in activity caused by pain in
      humans. The tendency for pain-depressed wheel running to be greater in female
      than male rats is consistent with the tendency for women to be at greater risk of
      chronic pain than men.

PMID- 26891875
TI  - Source modeling of ElectroCorticoGraphy (ECoG) data: Stability analysis and
      spatial filtering.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Electrocorticography (ECoG) measures the distribution of the
      electrical potentials on the cortex produced by the neural currents. A full
      interpretation of ECoG data requires solving the ill-posed inverse problem of
      reconstructing the spatio-temporal distribution of the neural currents. This
      study addresses the ECoG source modeling developing a beamformer method. NEW
      METHOD: We computed the lead-field matrix by using a novel routine provided by
      the OpenMEEG software. We performed an analysis of the numerical stability of the
      ECoG inverse problem by computing the condition number of the lead-field matrix
      for different configurations of the electrodes grid. We applied a Linear
      Constraint Minimum Variance (LCMV) beamformer to both synthetic data and a set of
      real measurements recorded during a rapid visual categorization task. RESULTS:
      For all considered grids the condition number indicates that the ECoG inverse
      problem is mildly ill-conditioned. For realistic SNR we found a good performance
      of the LCMV algorithm for both localization and waveforms reconstruction.
      COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD: The flow of information reconstructed by
      analyzing real data seems consistent with both invasive monkey electrophysiology
      studies and non-invasive (MEG and fMRI) human studies. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a
      growing interest from the neuroscientific community, solving the ECoG inverse
      problem has not quite yet reached the level of systematicity found for EEG and
      MEG. Starting from an analysis of the numerical stability of the problem we
      considered the most widely utilized method for modeling neurophysiological data
      based on the beamformer method in the hope to establish benchmarks for future
      studies.

PMID- 26891876
TI  - A nationwide survey of co-occurrence of malignant lymphomas and myelodysplastic
      syndromes/myeloproliferative neoplasms.

PMID- 26891877
TI  - Leukemogenic potency of the novel FLT3-N676K mutant.
AB  - The novel FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-N676K point mutation within the FLT3
      kinase domain-1 was recently identified in 6 % of de novo acute myeloid leukemia
      (AML) patients with inv(16). Because FLT3-N676K was encountered almost
      exclusively in inv(16) AML, we investigated the transforming potential of FLT3
      N676K, the cooperation between FLT3-N676K and core binding factor beta-smooth
      muscle myosin heavy chain (CBFbeta-SMMHC) (encoded by the inv(16) chimeric gene
      CBFB-MYH11) in inducing acute leukemia, and tested the sensitivity of FLT3-N676K
      positive leukemic cells to FLT3 inhibitors. Retroviral expression of FLT3-N676K
      in myeloid 32D cells induced AML in syngeneic C3H/HeJ mice (n = 11/13, median
      latency 58 days), with a transforming activity similar to FLT3-internal tandem
      duplication (ITD) (n = 8/8), FLT3-TKD D835Y (n = 8/9), and FLT3-ITD-N676K (n =
      9/9) mutations. Three out of 14 (21.4 %) C57BL/6J mice transplanted with FLT3
      N676K-transduced primary hematopoietic progenitor cells developed acute leukemia
      (latency of 68, 77, and 273 days), while no hematological malignancy was observed
      in the control groups including FLT3-ITD. Moreover, co-expression of FLT3
      N676K/CBFbeta-SMMHC did not promote acute leukemia in three independent
      experiments (n = 16). In comparison with FLT3-ITD, FLT3-N676K induced much higher
      activation of FLT3 and tended to trigger stronger phosphorylation of MAPK and
      AKT. Importantly, leukemic cells carrying the FLT3-N676K mutant in the absence of
      an ITD mutation were highly sensitive to FLT3 inhibitors AC220 and crenolanib,
      and crenolanib even retained activity against the AC220-resistant FLT3-ITD-N676K
      mutant. Taken together, the FLT3-N676K mutant is potent to transform murine
      hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vivo. This is the first report of acute
      leukemia induced by an activating FLT3 mutation in C57BL/6J mice. Moreover,
      further experiments investigating molecular mechanisms for leukemogenesis induced
      by FLT3-N676K mutation and clinical evaluation of FLT3 inhibitors in FLT3-N676K
      positive AML seem warranted.

PMID- 26891878
TI  - Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: facts and
      perspectives.
AB  - Two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), imatinib and dasatinib, are registered for
      the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic
      leukaemia (ALL) in adults. Other two TKIs (nilotinib and ponatinib) have been
      tested in the second-line, can offer an alternative in the patients who fail the
      first-line, and can acquire a role also in the first-line. Here, we provide a
      summary of the reports of TKIs, used alone, and in combination with chemotherapy.
      TKIs are very effective alone and with corticosteroids and are likely to improve
      substantially the outcome when they are combined with standard or dose-adapted
      chemotherapy. While the complete haematologic remission rate is always very high,
      close to 100 %, the cytogenetic and molecular remission rates are lower, so that
      TKIs are still considered as a complement to chemotherapy and as a bridge to
      allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). However, many patients relapse
      before transplant, and many patients still relapse, even if they have been
      submitted to allo-SCT. A proper use of TKIs, the introduction of ponatinib, and
      of "new generation" TKIs should improve further on the outcome of Ph+ ALL.

PMID- 26891879
TI  - Psychopharmacological interventions in autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly present
      for treatment of emotional and behavioral disturbances associated with ASD's
      "core" symptoms. Psychotropic medications are widely utilized in alleviating
      associated emotional and behavioral symptoms. AREAS COVERED: Emotional and
      behavioral disturbances associated with ASD include irritability/severely
      disruptive behavior, which comprises the heaviest symptom burden; hyperactivity
      and other Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD)-type symptoms;
      repetitive/stereotyped behaviors; and social withdrawal. Existing evidence for
      medications for each of these symptom clusters will be examined in this review.
      EXPERT OPINION: Psychopharmacological treatment of core and associated symptoms
      in ASD is challenging, in large part because of the heterogeneity in the
      presentation of ASD. Furthermore, children and adolescents with ASD are more
      vulnerable to the side effects of psychopharmacological intervention than their
      age-matched, typically developing counterparts. Currently, risperidone and
      aripiprazole are the only medications that have been (relatively) reliably shown
      to help treat certain symptom clusters associated with ASD, namely severely
      disruptive behavior and hyperactivity. Recent studies have begun to look at
      medications with mechanisms that are novel in the treatment of ASD and that may
      address underlying pathophysiology and/or core symptoms such as glutamate
      modulating agents. Overall, randomized, placebo-controlled studies of medications
      for the treatment of ASD are scarce.

PMID- 26891880
TI  - Macular versus Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Parameters for Diagnosing Manifest
      Glaucoma: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies.
AB  - TOPIC: Macular parameters have been proposed as an alternative to retinal nerve
      fiber layer (RNFL) parameters to diagnose glaucoma. Comparing the diagnostic
      accuracy of macular parameters, specifically the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and
      ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), with the accuracy of RNFL parameters
      for detecting manifest glaucoma is important to guide clinical practice and
      future research. METHODS: Studies using spectral domain optical coherence
      tomography (SD OCT) and reporting macular parameters were included if they
      allowed the extraction of accuracy data for diagnosing manifest glaucoma, as
      confirmed with automated perimetry or a clinician's optic nerve head (ONH)
      assessment. Cross-sectional cohort studies and case-control studies were
      included. The QUADAS 2 tool was used to assess methodological quality. Only
      direct comparisons of macular versus RNFL parameters (i.e., in the same study)
      were conducted. Summary sensitivity and specificity of each macular or RNFL
      parameter were reported, and the relative diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was
      calculated in hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC)
      models to compare them. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies investigated macular
      parameters using RTVue OCT (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA) (19 studies, 3094
      subjects), Cirrus OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA) (14 studies, 2164
      subjects), or 3D Topcon OCT (Topcon, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) (4 studies, 522
      subjects). Thirty-two of these studies allowed comparisons between macular and
      RNFL parameters. Studies generally reported sensitivities at fixed specificities,
      more commonly 0.90 or 0.95, with sensitivities of most best-performing parameters
      between 0.65 and 0.75. For all OCT devices, compared with RNFL parameters,
      macular parameters were similarly or slightly less accurate for detecting
      glaucoma at the highest reported specificity, which was confirmed in analyses at
      the lowest specificity. Included studies suffered from limitations, especially
      the case-control study design, which is known to overestimate accuracy. However,
      this flaw is less relevant as a source of bias in direct comparisons conducted
      within studies. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of OCT, RNFL parameters are still
      preferable to macular parameters for diagnosing manifest glaucoma, but the
      differences are small. Because of high heterogeneity, direct comparative or
      randomized studies of OCT devices or OCT parameters and diagnostic strategies are
      essential.

PMID- 26891881
TI  - CE-MS in metabolomics: status quo and the way forward.

PMID- 26891882
TI  - Peroxiredoxin 6 homodimerization and heterodimerization with glutathione S
      transferase pi are required for its peroxidase but not phospholipase A2 activity.
AB  - Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a unique 1-Cys member of the peroxiredoxin family with
      both GSH peroxidase and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities. It is highly
      expressed in the lung where it plays an important role in antioxidant defense and
      lung surfactant metabolism. Glutathionylation of Prdx6 mediated by its
      heterodimerization with GSH S-transferase pi (piGST) is required for its
      peroxidatic catalytic cycle. Recombinant human Prdx6 crystallizes as a homodimer
      and sedimentation equilibrium analysis confirmed that this protein exists as a
      high affinity dimer in solution. Based on measurement of molecular mass, dimeric
      Prdx6 that was oxidized to the sulfenic acid formed a sulfenylamide during
      storage. After examination of the dimer interface in the crystal structure, we
      postulated that the hydrophobic amino acids L145 and L148 play an important role
      in homodimerization of Prdx6 as well as in its heterodimerization with piGST.
      Oxidation of Prdx6 also was required for its heterodimerization. Sedimentation
      equilibrium analysis and the Duolink proximity ligation assay following mutation
      of the L145 and L148 residues of Prdx6 to Glu indicated greatly decreased
      dimerization propensity reflecting the loss of hydrophobic interactions between
      the protein monomers. Peroxidase activity was markedly reduced by mutation at
      either of the Leu sites and was essentially abolished by the double mutation,
      while PLA2 activity was unaffected. Decreased peroxidase activity following
      mutation of the interfacial leucines presumably is mediated via impaired
      heterodimerization of Prdx6 with piGST that is required for reduction and re
      activation of the oxidized enzyme.

PMID- 26891886
TI  - Partial-Homogeneity-Based Two-Dimensional High-Resolution Nuclear Magnetic
      Resonance Spectroscopy under Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields.
AB  - High-resolution multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
      serves as an irreplaceable and versatile tool in various chemical investigations.
      In this study, a method based on the concept of partial homogeneity is developed
      to offer two-dimensional (2D) high-resolution NMR spectra under inhomogeneous
      fields. Oscillating gradients are exerted to encode the high-resolution
      information, and a field-inhomogeneity correction algorithm based on pattern
      recognition is designed to recover high-resolution spectra. Under fields where
      inhomogeneity primarily distributes along a single orientation, the proposed
      method will improve performances of 2D NMR spectroscopy without increasing the
      experimental duration or significant loss in sensitivity, and thus may open
      important perspectives for studies of inhomogeneous chemical systems.

PMID- 26891887
TI  - Reperfusion of Retinal Vasculature With Improved Visual Acuity in Ischemic
      Occlusive Vasculitis.

PMID- 26891888
TI  - Syncope with Swallowing.
AB  - Swallowing can be a trigger for syncope and can cause significant morbidity and
      mortality if not recognized. A 13-year-old presented with clusters of transient
      complete atrioventricular block after repair of a sinus venosus atrial septal
      defect. Pacemaker implantation was successful in treating these symptoms. 

PMID- 26891889
TI  - Nitroxide antioxidant as a potential strategy to attenuate the
      oxidative/nitrosative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide plus nitric oxide in
      cultured neurons.
AB  - Oxidative/nitrosative stress contributes to the etiology of the neurological
      disorders, including ischemic stroke and chronic neurodegeneration. Neurotoxic
      modifications mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen
      species (RNS) are closely associated with the destruction of key macromolecules
      and inactivation of antioxidant enzymes, which compromises antioxidant defenses.
      Approaches to expel ROS/RNS and alleviate toxic oxidative/nitrosative stress in
      neurons have not completely been defined. Here, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy
      of various antioxidants that serve as the neuroprotectors under a toxic stress
      created by ROS plus nitric oxide (NO). Sublytic concentrations of hydrogen
      peroxide (H2O2) plus NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (SNAP)
      enabled to induce a toxic oxidative/nitrosative stress through activating both
      p38 MAPK and p53 cascades, and cause DNA damage and protein tyrosine nitration in
      primary neuronal cultures. After comparing six antioxidants, including superoxide
      dimutase (SOD), catalase, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxyl (TEMPO), N
      acetylcysteine, dimethylthiourea, and uric acid, TEMPO was the superior
      antioxidant that comprehensively and efficaciously decreased H2O2 plus SNAP
      evoked activation of stress cascades of p38 MAPK and p53, production of NO, ROS,
      and peroxynitrite, double-strand breaks of DNA, and nitration of protein tyrosine
      residues. SOD increased the peroxynitrite formation and was unable to reduce the
      level of protein nitration. All antioxidants tested, except SOD, effectively
      reduced neuronal damage and DNA breakage caused by the toxic H2O2/SNAP
      combination. In conclusion, these results suggest that TEMPO ensures excellent
      ROS/RNS clearance and stress-signaling inhibition, thus effectively rescuing
      neurons from ROS/H2O2 plus NO/SNAP-induced insult. This study reveals a potential
      strategy for nitroxide antioxidants as a therapeutic agent against
      oxidative/nitrosative neurotoxicity.

PMID- 26891890
TI  - Nitric oxide signaling in human ovarian cancer: A potential therapeutic target.
AB  - Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death due to gynecologic malignancies
      worldwide. Current therapy regimens are ineffective to treat advanced ovarian
      cancers, presenting a need to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Nitric oxide
      (NO) is a multifunctional gaseous molecule that is generated by cancer, stromal
      and endothelial cells and plays a multifaceted role in cancer biology through
      multiple mechanisms. Accumulating evidence suggests that NO signaling is involved
      in multiple aspects of ovarian cancer, including growth, apoptosis, cancer
      stromal cell interaction, angiogenesis and response to chemotherapy. This review
      will discuss the experimental and clinical evidence of the involvement of NO
      signaling in ovarian cancer and the therapeutic potential of targeting NO
      signaling in ovarian cancer. 

PMID- 26891891
TI  - Sweet syndrome and disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

PMID- 26891892
TI  - An alternative interpretation of cellular 'selfish spermatogonial selection'
      clusters in the human testis indicates the need for 3-D-analyses.
AB  - The 'selfish spermatogonial selection'- model was proposed to explain the
      paternal age effect (PAE) of some congenital disorders associated with point
      mutations in male germ cells. According to this, spermatogonia carrying
      pathogenic mutations gain a selection advantage over non-mutated spermatogonia
      which leads to an increased number of mutated spermatogonia and consequently
      spermatozoa over time. Recently, an immunohistochemical approach using the
      premeiotic marker melanoma antigen family A4 (MAGE A4) was undertaken by the
      Wilkie group to confirm the presence of microclones of putatively mutated
      spermatogonia in testes of elderly men. The objective of our study was the age
      dependent assessment of testes from men with normal spermatogenesis using MAGE A4
      immunohistochemistry to identify and corroborate cellular clusters indicative for
      'selfish spermatogonial selection' in our cohort. We analyzed testicular tissues
      obtained from men with normal spermatogenesis assigned to three age groups [(1)
      28.8 +/- 2.7 years; (2) 48.1 +/- 1 years; (3) 71.9 +/- 6.8 years, n/group = 8].
      We could detect very similar distribution patterns of MAGE A4-positive cells and
      the presence of several types of microclusters as reported previously. However,
      these cellular clusters, indicative for clonal expansion, were not only present
      in testes from elderly men but also in those from age group 1 and 2. Using
      graphical three-dimensional modelling, we identified that cross-section
      directions e.g. longitudinal sections might provoke misleading interpretation of
      spermatogonial clusters, in particular when the tissue processing is limited.
      Thus, appropriate fixation and embedding is needed for reliable analysis of
      testicular sections. We therefore propose a more careful interpretation of such
      spermatogonial clusters and recommend a 3-D analysis to unequivocally determine
      'selfish spermatogonial selection'-manifestations.

PMID- 26891893
TI  - PACO: PArticle COunting Method To Enforce Concentrations in Dynamic Simulations.
AB  - We present PACO, a computationally efficient method for concentration boundary
      conditions in nonequilibrium particle simulations. Because it requires only
      particle counting, its computational effort is significantly smaller than other
      methods. PACO enables Brownian dynamics simulations of micromolar electrolytes (3
      orders of magnitude lower than previously simulated). PACO for Brownian dynamics
      is integrated in the BROWNIES package (www.phys.rush.edu/BROWNIES). We also
      introduce a molecular dynamics PACO implementation that allows for very accurate
      control of concentration gradients.

PMID- 26891894
TI  - CORR ((r)) Curriculum - Orthopaedic Education: Mentorship in Surgical Training:
      Can Personality Assessment Help?

PMID- 26891895
TI  - What Is the Impact of Center Variability in a Multicenter International
      Prospective Observational Study on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little information exists concerning the variability of presentation
      and differences in treatment methods for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
      in children < 18 months. The inherent advantages of prospective multicenter
      studies are well documented, but data from different centers may differ in terms
      of important variables such as patient demographics, diagnoses, and treatment or
      management decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is
      a difference in baseline data among the nine centers in five countries affiliated
      with the International Hip Dysplasia Institute to establish the need to consider
      the center as a key variable in multicenter studies. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) How
      do patient demographics differ across participating centers at presentation? (2)
      How do patient diagnoses (severity and laterality) differ across centers? (3) How
      do initial treatment approaches differ across participating centers? METHODS: A
      multicenter prospective hip dysplasia study database was analyzed from 2010 to
      April 2015. Patients younger than 6 months of age at diagnosis were included if
      at least one hip was completely dislocated, whereas patients between 6 and 18
      months of age at diagnosis were included with any form of DDH. Participating
      centers (academic, urban, tertiary care hospitals) span five countries across
      three continents. Baseline data (patient demographics, diagnosis, swaddling
      history, baseline International Hip Dysplasia Institute classification, and
      initial treatment) were compared among all nine centers. A total of 496 patients
      were enrolled with site enrolment ranging from 10 to 117. The proportion of
      eligible patients who were enrolled and followed at the nine participating
      centers was 98%. Patient enrollment rates were similar across all sites, and data
      collection/completeness for relevant variables at initial presentation was
      comparable. RESULTS: In total, 83% of all patients were female (410 of 496), and
      the median age at presentation was 2.2 months (range, 0-18 months). Breech
      presentation occurred more often in younger (< 6 months) than in older (6-18
      months at diagnosis) patients (30% [96 of 318] versus 9% [15 of 161]; odds ratio
      [OR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-7.5; p < 0.001). The Australia site
      was underrepresented in breech presentation in comparison to the other centers
      (8% [five of 66] versus 23% [111 of 479]; OR, 0.3, 95% CI, 0.1-0.7; p = 0.034).
      The largest diagnostic category was < 6 months, dislocated reducible (51% [253 of
      496 patients]); however, the Australia and Boston sites had more irreducible
      dislocations compared with the other sites (ORs, 2.1 and 1.9; 95% CIs, 1.2-3.6
      and 1.1-3.4; p = 0.02 and 0.015, respectively). Bilaterality was seen less often
      in older compared with younger patients (8% [seven of 93] versus 26% [85 of 328];
      p < 0.001). The most common diagnostic group was Grade 3 (by International Hip
      Dysplasia Institute classification), which included 58% (51 of 88) of all
      classified dislocated hips. Splintage was the primary initial treatment of choice
      at 80% (395 of 496), but was far more likely in younger compared with older
      patients (94% [309 of 328] versus 18% [17 of 93]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With
      the lack of strong prognostic indicators for DDH identified to date, the center
      is an important variable to include as a potential predictor of treatment success
      or failure.

PMID- 26891897
TI  - Obituary: A Remembrance of George E. Omer Jr. MD (1922-2014).

PMID- 26891883
TI  - Estrogens as neuroprotectants: Estrogenic actions in the context of cognitive
      aging and brain injury.
AB  - There is ample empirical evidence to support the notion that the biological
      impacts of estrogen extend beyond the gonads to other bodily systems, including
      the brain and behavior. Converging preclinical findings have indicated a
      neuroprotective role for estrogen in a variety of experimental models of
      cognitive function and brain insult. However, the surprising null or even
      detrimental findings of several large clinical trials evaluating the ability of
      estrogen-containing hormone treatments to protect against age-related brain
      changes and insults, including cognitive aging and brain injury, led to
      hesitation by both clinicians and patients in the use of exogenous estrogenic
      treatments for nervous system outcomes. That estrogen-containing therapies are
      used by tens of millions of women for a variety of health-related applications
      across the lifespan has made identifying conditions under which benefits with
      estrogen treatment will be realized an important public health issue. Here we
      provide a summary of the biological actions of estrogen and estrogen-containing
      formulations in the context of aging, cognition, stroke, and traumatic brain
      injury. We have devoted special attention to highlighting the notion that
      estrogen appears to be a conditional neuroprotectant whose efficacy is modulated
      by several interacting factors. By developing criteria standards for desired
      beneficial peripheral and neuroprotective outcomes among unique patient
      populations, we can optimize estrogen treatments for attenuating the consequences
      of, and perhaps even preventing, cognitive aging and brain injury.

PMID- 26891896
TI  - How Does Wear Rate Compare in Well-functioning Total Hip and Knee Replacements? A
      Postmortem Polyethylene Liner Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The longevity of total hip (THR) and knee replacements (TKR) that
      used historical bearing materials of gamma-in-air sterilized UHMWPE was affected
      more by osteolysis in THRs than in TKRs, although osteolysis remains a concern in
      TKRs. Therefore, the study of polyethylene wear is still of interest for the
      knee, particularly because few studies have investigated volumetric material loss
      in tibial knee inserts. For this study, a unique collection of autopsy-retrieved
      TKR and THR components that were well-functioning at the time of retrieval was
      used to compare volumetric wear differences between hip and knee polyethylene
      components made from identical material. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The following
      questions were addressed: (1) How much did the hip liners wear and what wear
      patterns did they exhibit? (2) How much did the knee inserts wear and what wear
      patterns did they exhibit? (3) What is the ratio between TKR and THR wear after
      controlling for implantation time and patient age? METHODS: We compared 23 THR
      components (Harris-Galante [HG] and HG II) and 20 TKR components (Miller-Galante
      [MG II]) that were retrieved postmortem. The components were made from the same
      polyethylene formulation and with similar manufacturing and sterilization (gamma
      in-air) processes. Twenty-one patients (12 males, nine females) had THRs and 16
      (four males, 12 females) had TKRs. Patients who had TKRs had an older (p = 0.001)
      average age than patients who had THRs (age, 75 years; SD, 10, versus 66 years;
      SD, 12, respectively). Only well-functioning components were included in this
      study. Therefore, implants retrieved postmortem from physically active patients
      and implanted for at least 2 years were considered. In addition, only normally
      wearing TKR components were considered, ie, those with fatigue wear
      (delamination) were excluded. The wear volume of each component was measured
      using metrology. For the tibial inserts an autonomous mathematic reconstruction
      method was used for quantification. RESULTS: The acetabular liners of the THR
      group had a wear rate of 38 mm(3) per year (95% CI, 29-47 mm(3)/year). Excluding
      patients with low-activity, the wear rate was 47 mm(3) per year (95% CI, 37-56
      mm(3)/year). The wear rate of normally wearing tibial inserts was 17 mm(3) per
      year (95% CI, -6 to 40 mm(3)/year). After controlling for the relevant
      confounding variable of age, we found a TKR/THR wear rate ratio of 0.5 (95% CI,
      0.29-0.77) at 70 years of age with a slightly increasing difference with
      increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: Excluding delamination, TKRs exhibited lower
      articular wear rates than THRs for historical polyethylene in these two unique
      cohorts of postmortem retrievals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lower TKR wear rate is
      in line with the lower incidence of osteolysis in TKRs compared with THRs.

PMID- 26891898
TI  - Does Preadmission Cutaneous Chlorhexidine Preparation Reduce Surgical Site
      Infections After Total Hip Arthroplasty?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic hip infections are among the most catastrophic
      complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA). We had previously proven that
      the use of chlorhexidine cloths before surgery may help decrease these
      infections; hence, we increased the size of the previously reported cohort.
      QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does a preadmission chlorhexidine cloth skin preparation
      protocol decrease the risk of surgical site infection in patients undergoing THA?
      (2) When stratified using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) risk
      categories, which categories are associated with risk reduction from the
      preadmission chlorhexidine preparation protocol? METHODS: Between 2007 and 2013,
      a group of 998 patients used chlorhexidine cloths before surgery, whereas a group
      of 2846 patients did not use them and underwent standard perioperative
      disinfection only. Patient records were reviewed to determine the development of
      periprosthetic infection in both groups of patients. RESULTS: Patients without
      the preoperative chlorhexidine gluconate disinfection protocol had a higher risk
      of infections (infections with protocol: six of 995 [0.6%]; infections in
      control: 46 of 2846 [1.62%]; relative risk: 2.68 [95% confidence interval {CI},
      1.15-0.26]; p = 0.0226). When stratified based on risk category, no differences
      were detected; preadmission chlorhexidine preparation was not associated with
      reduced infection risk for low, medium, and high NHSN risk categories (p = 0.386,
      0.153, and 0.196, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest
      that this cloth application appears to reduce the risk of infection in patients
      undergoing THA. When stratified by risk categories, we found no difference in the
      infection rate, but these findings were underpowered. Although future multicenter
      randomized trials will need to confirm these preliminary findings, the
      intervention is inexpensive and is unlikely to be risky and so might be
      considered on the basis of this retrospective, comparative study. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

PMID- 26891901
TI  - Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during
      the 1st month postpartum.
AB  - There is a paucity of data on the effect of preterm birth on the immunological
      composition of breast milk throughout the different stages of lactation. We aimed
      to characterise the effects of preterm birth on the levels of immune factors in
      milk during the 1st month postpartum, to determine whether preterm milk is
      deficient in antimicrobial factors. Colostrum (days 2-5 postpartum), transitional
      milk (days 8-12) and mature milk (days 26-30) were collected from mothers of
      extremely preterm (<28 weeks of gestation, n 15), very preterm (28-<32 weeks of
      gestation, n 15), moderately preterm (32-<37 weeks of gestation, n 15) and term
      infants (37-41 weeks of gestation, n 15). Total protein, lactoferrin, secretory
      IgA, soluble CD14 receptor (sCD14), transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2),
      alpha defensin 5 (HD5), beta defensins 1 (HBD1) and 2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13,
      interferon-gamma, TNF-alpha and lysozyme (LZ) were quantified in milk. We
      examined the effects of lactation stage, gestational age, volume of milk
      expressed, mode of delivery, parity and maternal infection on milk immune factor
      concentrations using repeated-measures regression analysis. The concentrations of
      all factors except LZ and HD5 decreased over the 1st month postpartum. Extremely
      preterm mothers had significantly higher concentrations of HBD1 and TGF-beta2 in
      colostrum than term mothers did. After controlling for other variables in
      regression analyses, preterm birth was associated with higher concentrations of
      HBD1, LZ and sCD14 in milk samples. In conclusion, preterm breast milk contains
      significantly higher concentrations of some immune proteins than term breast
      milk. 

PMID- 26891899
TI  - Differential effects of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial products on
      morphine induced inhibition of phagocytosis.
AB  - Opioid drug abusers have a greater susceptibility to gram positive (Gram (+))
      bacterial infections. However, the mechanism underlying opioid modulation of Gram
      (+) versus Gram (-) bacterial clearance has not been investigated. In this study,
      we show that opioid treatment resulted in reduced phagocytosis of Gram (+), when
      compared to Gram (-) bacteria. We further established that LPS priming of chronic
      morphine treated macrophages leads to potentiated phagocytosis and killing of
      both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria in a P-38 MAP kinase dependent signaling
      pathway. In contrast, LTA priming lead to inhibition of both phagocytosis and
      bacterial killing. This study demonstrates for the first time the differential
      effects of TLR4 and TLR2 agonists on morphine induced inhibition of phagocytosis.
      Our results suggest that the incidence and severity of secondary infections with
      Gram (+) bacteria would be higher in opioid abusers. 

PMID- 26891903
TI  - Unfolding the physics of URu2Si2 through silicon to phosphorus substitution.
AB  - The heavy fermion intermetallic compound URu2Si2 exhibits a hidden-order phase
      below the temperature of 17.5 K, which supports both anomalous metallic behavior
      and unconventional superconductivity. While these individual phenomena have been
      investigated in detail, it remains unclear how they are related to each other and
      to what extent uranium f-electron valence fluctuations influence each one. Here
      we use ligand site substituted URu2Si(2-x)P(x) to establish their evolution under
      electronic tuning. We find that while hidden order is monotonically suppressed
      and destroyed for x<=0.035, the superconducting strength evolves non
      monotonically with a maximum near x~0.01 and that superconductivity is destroyed
      near x~0.028. This behavior reveals that hidden order depends strongly on tuning
      outside of the U f-electron shells. It also suggests that while hidden order
      provides an environment for superconductivity and anomalous metallic behavior,
      it's fluctuations may not be solely responsible for their progression.

PMID- 26891904
TI  - "I was so worried about every drop of milk" - feeding problems at home are a
      significant concern for parents after major heart surgery in infancy.
AB  - Increasing numbers of operations in small infants with complex congenital heart
      disease are being carried out in the UK year on year, with more surviving the
      initial operation. However, even after successful surgery some of these infants
      remain fragile when they are discharged home. The aim of the study was to elicit
      parents' experiences of caring for a child with complex needs after major
      congenital heart surgery. We conducted a qualitative study involving semi
      structured interviews with parents of 20 children (aged <1-5 months at hospital
      discharge), who had undergone open heart surgery and subsequently died or been
      readmitted unexpectedly to intensive care following their initial discharge home.
      Feeding difficulties following discharge from the specialist surgical centre
      emerged as one of the most significant parental concerns spontaneously raised in
      interviews. For some parents the impact of feeding difficulties overshadowed any
      other cardiac concerns. Key themes centred around feeding management
      (particularly the practical challenges of feeding their baby), the emotional
      impact of feeding for parents and the support parents received or needed after
      discharge with respect to feeding. Caring for a child with congenital heart
      disease following surgery is demanding, with feeding difficulties being one of
      the most significant parent stressors. Local health professionals can be a good
      source of support for parents provided that they are well informed about the
      needs of a cardiac baby and have realistic expectations of weight gain.
      Specialist surgical centres should consider addressing issues of parental stress
      around feeding and weight gain prior to hospital discharge. (c) 2016 Blackwell
      Publishing Ltd.

PMID- 26891900
TI  - Amino acid recognition for automatic resonance assignment of intrinsically
      disordered proteins.
AB  - Resonance assignment is a prerequisite for almost any NMR-based study of
      proteins. It can be very challenging in some cases, however, due to the nature of
      the protein under investigation. This is the case with intrinsically disordered
      proteins, for example, whose NMR spectra suffer from low chemical shifts
      dispersion and generally low resolution. For these systems, sequence specific
      assignment is highly time-consuming, so the prospect of using automatic
      strategies for their assignment is very attractive. In this article we present a
      new version of the automatic assignment program TSAR dedicated to intrinsically
      disordered proteins. In particular, we demonstrate how the automatic procedure
      can be improved by incorporating methods for amino acid recognition and
      information on chemical shifts in selected amino acids. The approach was tested
      in silico on 16 disordered proteins and experimentally on alpha-synuclein, with
      remarkably good results. 

PMID- 26891905
TI  - Stopping antidepressants following depression.

PMID- 26891902
TI  - Preventive obesity agent montmorillonite adsorbs dietary lipids and enhances
      lipid excretion from the digestive tract.
AB  - Western diets are typically high in fat and are associated with long-term
      complications such as obesity and hepatic steatosis. Because of the enjoyable
      taste of high-fat diets (HFDs), we are interested in determining how to decrease
      lipid absorption and enhance lipid excretion from the digestive tract after the
      consumption of eating fatty foods. Montmorillonite was initially characterized as
      a gastrointestinal mucosal barrier protective agent for the treatment of
      diarrhoea. Dietary lipid adsorbent- montmorillonite (DLA-M) was isolated and
      purified from Xinjiang montmorillonite clay via the water extraction method.
      Here, we show that DLA-M has an unexpected role in preventing obesity,
      hyperlipidaemia and hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed rats. Interestingly, combined
      application of polarized light microscopy and lipid staining analyses, showed
      that DLA-M crystals have dietary lipid-adsorbing ability in vitro and in vivo,
      which enhances lipid excretion via bowel movements. In summary, our results
      indicate that DLA-M prevent HFD-induced obesity. This novel dietary lipid
      adsorbing agent can help prevent obesity and its comorbidities. 

PMID- 26891906
TI  - Botryosphaeriaceae associated with the die-back of ornamental trees in the
      Western Balkans.
AB  - Extensive die-back and mortality of various ornamental trees and shrubs has been
      observed in parts of the Western Balkans region during the past decade. The
      disease symptoms have been typical of those caused by pathogens residing in the
      Botryosphaeriaceae. The aims of this study were to isolate and characterize
      Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with diseased ornamental trees in Serbia,
      Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Isolates were initially characterized based
      on the DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer rDNA and six major
      clades were identified. Representative isolates from each clade were further
      characterized using DNA sequence data for the translation elongation factor 1
      alpha, beta-tubulin-2 and large subunit rRNA gene regions, as well as the
      morphology of the asexual morphs. Ten species of the Botryosphaeriaceae were
      identified of which eight, i.e., Dothiorella sarmentorum, Neofusicoccum parvum,
      Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phaeobotryon cupressi, Sphaeropsis visci, Diplodia
      seriata, D. sapinea and D. mutila were known taxa. The remaining two species
      could be identified only as Dothiorella spp. Dichomera syn-asexual morphs of D.
      sapinea, Dothiorella sp. 2 and B. dothidea, as well as unique morphological
      characters for a number of the known species are described. Based on host plants
      and geographic distribution, the majority of Botryosphaeriaceae species found
      represent new records. The results of this study contribute to our knowledge of
      the distribution, host associations and impacts of these fungi on trees in urban
      environments. 

PMID- 26891907
TI  - Posterior dynamic stabilization in the lumbar spine - 24 months results of a
      prospective clinical and radiological study with an interspinous distraction
      device.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Interspinous distraction devices (IDD) are due to maintain or restore
      intersegmental range of motion (iROM) in a controlled fashion with the aim of
      stabilization the affected level dynamically. The following study is the first to
      present clinical and radiological data with the Wallis(r) spacer during a follow
      up of 24 months. METHODS: Ten patients underwent posterior dynamic stabilization
      (PDS) of the lumbar spine with an IDD (Wallis(r) spacer) and were controlled
      clinically and radiologically after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months in a prospective
      study design. Pain intensity, functional disability and life quality were
      assessed by use of subjective scores. Motion analyses were performed with the
      help of lateral functional x-rays to determine the iROM of the operated segments
      and total ROM (tROM) of the lumbar spine. In addition, roentgen
      stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) was used to measure the iROM of the treated
      levels. RESULTS: During the postoperative course pain and disability most
      clinical scores were significantly improved. After 24 months we observed
      statistically significant reduction in back pain intensity with a mean value of
      6.0 on visual analog scale (VAS) before surgery and of 2.7 at the latest
      evaluation. The leg pain was also decreased without statistical significance from
      4.7 preoperatively to 2.1 at final follow-up. The functional disability according
      to Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
      (RM) was decreased both with statistical significance at all examination dates
      with a mean value in ODI of 40.0 % before operation and of 17.3 % after 2 years
      and an initial mean value in RM of 55.2 and of 23.5 % after latest follow-up.
      After 24 months, the results of the health related quality of life score also
      showed much better values with only two exceptions. The iROM of the treated
      levels was reduced during each follow-up examination with preserved residual
      mobility. Directly postoperatively and after 3 and 12 months intersegmental
      mobility was statistically significantly decreased with an average iROM of 6.62
      degrees  before operation and of 2.69 degrees  few days after surgery, of 3.79
      degrees  and 3.16 degrees  3 and 12 months later. At 6 (4.37 degrees ) and 24
      (4.01 degrees ) months follow-up iROM was also but not statistically
      significantly reduced. The mean tROM did not change significantly during all
      postoperative controls. CONCLUSIONS: The radiological findings support the thesis
      of posterior dynamic stabilization by the used implant. The positive clinical
      findings should be interpreted with caution because of the limited number of
      patients and the missing control group.

PMID- 26891908
TI  - Design and synthesis of some new 1-phenyl-3/4-[4-(aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl
      piperazine1-yl)-phenyl-ureas as potent anticonvulsant and antidepressant agents.
AB  - A series of 1-phenyl-3/4-[4-(aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl-piperazine1-yl)-phenyl-urea
      derivatives (29-42) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their
      anticonvulsant activity by using maximal electroshock (MES), subcutaneous
      pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure tests. The acute neurotoxicity was checked by
      rotarod assay. Most of the test compounds were found effective in both seizure
      tests. Compound 30 (1-{4-[4-(4-chloro-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-phenyl}-3-phenyl
      urea) exhibited marked anticonvulsant activity in MES as well as scPTZ tests. The
      phase II anticonvulsant quantification study of compound 30 indicates the ED50
      value of 28.5 mg/kg against MES induced seizures. In addition, this compound also
      showed considerable protection against pilocarpine induced status epilepticus in
      rats. Seizures induced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid model and thiosemicarbazide
      were significantly attenuated by compound 30, which suggested its broad spectrum
      of anticonvulsant activity. Interestingly, compound 30 displayed better
      antidepressant activity than standard drug fluoxetine. Moreover, compound 30
      appeared as a non-toxic chemical entity in sub-acute toxicity studies. 

PMID- 26891911
TI  - Erratum to: 'Perioperative use of crystalloids in patients undergoing open
      radical cystectomy: balanced Ringer's maleate versus a glucose 5%/potassium-based
      balanced solution: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial'.

PMID- 26891910
TI  - Is serum HER2 ECD a predictive biomarker for response to trastuzumab in advanced
      gastric cancer?

PMID- 26891909
TI  - Direct evidence for activated CD8+ T cell transmigration across portal vein
      endothelial cells in liver graft rejection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte recruitment into the portal tract is crucial not only for
      homeostatic immune surveillance but also for many liver diseases. However, the
      exact route of entry for lymphocytes into portal tract is still obscure. We
      investigated this question using a rat hepatic allograft rejection model.
      METHODS: A migration route was analyzed by immunohistological methods including a
      recently developed scanning electron microscopy method. Transmigration-associated
      molecules such as selectins, integrins, and chemokines and their receptors
      expressed by hepatic vessels and recruited T-cells were analyzed by
      immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The immunoelectron microscopic
      analysis clearly showed CD8beta(+) cells passing through the portal vein (PV)
      endothelia. Furthermore, the migrating pathway seemed to pass through the
      endothelial cell body. Local vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)
      expression was induced in PV endothelial cells from day 2 after liver
      transplantation. Although intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression
      was also upregulated, it was restricted to sinusoidal endothelia. Recipient T
      cells in the graft perfusate were CD25(+)CD44(+)ICAM-1(+)CXCR3(+)CCR5(-) and
      upregulated alpha4beta1 or alphaLbeta2 integrins. Immunohistochemistry showed the
      expression of CXCL10 in donor MHCII(high) cells in the portal tract as well as
      endothelial walls of PV. CONCLUSIONS: We show for the first time direct evidence
      of T-cell transmigration across PV endothelial cells during hepatic allograft
      rejection. Interactions between VCAM-1 on endothelia and alpha4beta1 integrin on
      recipient effector T-cells putatively play critical roles in adhesion and
      transmigration through endothelia. A chemokine axis of CXCL10 and CXCR3 also may
      be involved.

PMID- 26891912
TI  - Improved delivery of poorly soluble compounds using nanoparticle technology: a
      review.
AB  - Although a large number of new drug molecules with varied therapeutic potentials
      have been discovered in the recent decade, yet most of them are still in
      developmental process. This can be attributed to the limited aqueous solubility
      which governs the bioavailability of such drug molecules. Hence, there is a
      requisite for a technology-based product (formulation) in order to overcome such
      issues without compromising on the therapeutic response. The purpose of this
      review is to provide an insight to the formulation of drug nanoparticles for
      enhancing solubility and dissolution velocity with concomitant enhancement in
      bioavailability. In the recent decade, nanonization has evolved from a concept to
      reality owing to its versatile applications, especially in the development of
      drugs having poor solubility. In this review, a relatively simple and scalable
      approach for the manufacture of drug nanoparticles and latest characterization
      techniques utilized to evaluate the drug nanoparticles are discussed. The drug
      nanoparticulate approach described herein provides a general applicability of the
      platform technology in designing a formulation for drugs associated with poor
      aqueous solubility.

PMID- 26891913
TI  - Phase I study of concurrent selective lymph node late-course accelerated
      hyperfractionated radiotherapy and S-1 plus cisplatin for locally advanced
      oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This Phase I study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of
      concurrent selective lymph node (SLN) late-course accelerated hyperfractionated
      (LCAF) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and S-1 plus cisplatin (CDDP) for
      the locally advanced oesophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: The
      total dose of SLN LCAF IMRT was 59.6 Gy/34 fractions in 5.4 weeks. The concurrent
      chemotherapy (CCRT) was administered as follows: CDDP 25 mg m(-2) on Days 1-3 and
      Days 22-24; S-1 was applied in a de-escalating dosage with a decrement of 10 mg
      m(-2) per day, from its full dose level of 80 mg m(-2), orally twice daily on
      Days 1-14 and Days 22-35. We inferred the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose
      limiting toxicities (DLTs) and recommended dose, according to adverse reaction
      during CCRT. RESULTS: Totally, 15 patients with ESCC with T2-4N0-1M0-1a were
      enrolled in Dose Level 1 (80 mg m(-2)). In the initial five patients, two
      patients developed DLTs. As MTD was not reached, five additional patients were
      treated with the same dose level, and DLTs occurred in only one patient. Similar
      results were found in the last five patients. After CCRT, the objective response
      rates were 100% for primary tumours and 86.2% for metastatic lymph nodes,
      respectively. Totally, the observed Grade 3 toxicities during CCRT were
      leukopenia (20%), neutropenia (20%) and dermatitis (13.3%), and no Grade 4
      toxicity occurred. The Kaplan-Meier-estimated overall and progression survival
      rates were 86.7% and 66.7% (1 year), 73.3% and 60% (2 years) and 73.3% and 60% (3
      years). CONCLUSION: The concurrent SLN LCAF IMRT and chemotherapy with S-1 and
      CDDP was well tolerated and showed promising efficacy. The dose of S-1 in this
      regimen was recommended with 80 mg m(-2) orally twice daily on Days 1-14 and Days
      22-35. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: CCRT with S-1 plus CDDP exhibited encouraging
      results with milder toxicities, high objective response rates and ideal overall
      survival time.

PMID- 26891914
TI  - Resveratrol augments ER stress and the cytotoxic effects of glycolytic inhibition
      in neuroblastoma by downregulating Akt in a mechanism independent of SIRT1.
AB  - Cancer cells typically display increased rates of aerobic glycolysis that are
      correlated with tumor aggressiveness and a poor prognosis. Targeting the
      glycolytic pathway has emerged as an attractive therapeutic route mainly because
      it should spare normal cells. Here, we evaluate the effects of combining the
      inhibition of glycolysis with application of the polyphenolic compound
      resveratrol (RSV) in neuroblastoma (NB) cancer cell lines. Inhibiting glycolysis
      with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) significantly reduced NB cell viability and was
      associated with increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Akt activity.
      Administration of 2-DG increased the expression of the ER molecular chaperones
      GRP78 and GRP94, the prodeath protein C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) and the
      phosphorylation of Akt at S473, T450 and T308. Combined treatment with both RSV
      and 2-DG reduced GRP78, GRP94 and Akt phosphorylation but increased CHOP and NB
      cell death when compared with the administration of 2-DG alone. The selective
      inhibition of Akt activity also decreased 2-DG-induced GRP78 and GRP94 expression
      and increased CHOP expression, suggesting that Akt can modulate ER stress.
      Protein phosphatase 1alpha (PP1alpha) was activated by RSV, as indicated by a
      reduction in PP1alpha phosphorylation at T320. Pretreatment of cells with
      tautomycin, a selective PP1alpha inhibitor, prevented the RSV-mediated decrease
      in Akt phosphorylation, suggesting that RSV enhances 2-DG-induced cell death by
      activating PP1 and downregulating Akt. The RSV-mediated inhibition of Akt in the
      presence of 2-DG was not prevented by the selective inhibition of SIRT1, a known
      target of RSV, indicating that the effects of RSV on this pathway are independent
      of SIRT1. We propose that RSV inhibits Akt activity by increasing PP1alpha
      activity, thereby potentiating 2-DG-induced ER stress and NB cell death. 

PMID- 26891916
TI  - Proteomics of edible mushrooms: A mini-review.
AB  - Mushrooms are considered an important food for their traditionally famous
      nutritional and medicinal values, although much information about their potential
      at the molecular level is unfortunately unknown. Edible mushrooms include fungi
      that are either collected wild or cultivated. Many important species are
      difficult to cultivate but attempts have been made with varying degrees of
      success, with the results showing unsatisfactory economical cultivation methods.
      Recently, proteomic analysis has been developed as a powerful tool to study the
      protein content of fungi, particularly basidiomycetes. This mini-review article
      highlights the contribution of proteomics platforms to the study of edible
      mushrooms, focusing on the molecular mechanisms involved in developmental stages.
      This includes extracellular and cytoplasmic effector proteins that have potential
      or are involved in the synthesis of anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and
      antibiotic, in blood pressure control, in the supply of vitamins and minerals,
      and in other responses to environmental changes. The contribution of different
      proteomics techniques including classical and more advanced techniques is also
      highlighted.

PMID- 26891915
TI  - The influence of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetic properties of artemisinin
      combination therapy (ACT): a systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pregnancy has been reported to alter the pharmacokinetic properties
      of anti-malarial drugs, including the different components of artemisinin-based
      combination therapy (ACT). However, small sample sizes make it difficult to draw
      strong conclusions based on individual pharmacokinetic studies. The aim of this
      review is to summarize the evidence of the influence of pregnancy on the
      pharmacokinetic properties of different artemisinin-based combinations. METHODS:
      A PROSPERO-registered systematic review to identify clinical trials that
      investigated the influence of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetic properties of
      different forms of ACT was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines. Without
      language restrictions, Medline/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of
      Controlled Trials, Web of Science, LILACS, Biosis Previews and the African Index
      Medicus were searched for studies published up to November 2015. The following
      components of ACT that are currently recommend by the World Health Organization
      as first-line treatment of malaria in pregnancy were reviewed: artemisinin,
      artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, lumefantrine, amodiaquine, mefloquine,
      sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, piperaquine, atovaquone and proguanil. RESULTS: The
      literature search identified 121 reports, 27 original studies were included. 829
      pregnant women were included in the analysis. Comparison of the available studies
      showed lower maximum concentrations (Cmax) and exposure (AUC) of
      dihydroartemisinin, the active metabolite of all artemisinin derivatives, after
      oral administration of artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in pregnant
      women. Low day 7 concentrations were commonly seen in lumefantrine studies,
      indicating a low exposure and possibly reduced efficacy. The influence of
      pregnancy on amodiaquine and piperaquine seemed not to be clinically relevant.
      Sulfadoxine plasma concentration was significantly reduced and clearance rates
      were higher in pregnancy, while pyrimethamine and mefloquine need more research
      as no general conclusion can be drawn based on the available evidence. For
      atovaquone, the available data showed a lower maximum concentration and exposure.
      Finally, the maximum concentration of cycloguanil, the active metabolite of
      proguanil, was significantly lower, possibly compromising the efficacy.
      CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that reassessment of the dose of the
      artemisinin derivate and some components of ACT are necessary to ensure the
      highest possible efficacy of malaria treatment in pregnant women. However, for
      most components of ACT, data were insufficient and extensive research with larger
      sample sizes will be necessary to identify the exact influences of pregnancy on
      the pharmacokinetic properties of different artemisinin-based combinations. In
      addition, different clinical studies used diverse study designs with various
      reported relevant outcomes. Future pharmacokinetic studies could benefit from
      more uniform designs, in order to increase quality, robustness and effectiveness.
      STUDY REGISTRATION: CRD42015023756 (PROSPERO).

PMID- 26891918
TI  - Note to readers.

PMID- 26891917
TI  - Multi-stability of circadian phase wave within early postnatal suprachiasmatic
      nucleus.
AB  - The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a group of cells that functions as a
      biological master clock. In different SCN cells, oscillations of biochemical
      markers such as the expression-level of clock genes, are not synchronized but
      instead form slow circadian phase waves propagating over the whole cell
      population spatio-temporal structure is a fixed property set by the anatomy of a
      given SCN. Here, we show that this is not the case in early postnatal SCN.
      Earlier studies presumed that their Based on bioluminescence imaging experiments
      with Per2-Luciferase mice SCN cultures which guided computer simulations of a
      realistic model of the SCN, we demonstrate that the wave is not unique but can be
      in various modes including phase- coherent oscillation, crescent-shaped wave, and
      most notably, a rotating pinwheel wave that conceptually resembles a wall clock
      with a rotating hand. Furthermore, mode transitions can be induced by a pulse of
      38.5  degrees C temperature perturbation. Importantly, the waves support a
      significantly different period, suggesting that neither a spatially-fixed phase
      ordering nor a specialized pacemaker having a fixed period exist in these studied
      SCNs. These results lead to new important questions of what the observed multi
      stability means for the proper function of an SCN and its arrhythmia.

PMID- 26891919
TI  - Estimating finite-population reproductive numbers in heterogeneous populations.
AB  - The basic reproductive number, R0, is one of the most important epidemiological
      quantities. R0 provides a threshold for elimination and determines when a disease
      can spread or when a disease will die out. Classically, R0 is calculated assuming
      an infinite population of identical hosts. Previous work has shown that
      heterogeneity in the host mixing rate increases R0 in an infinite population.
      However, it has been suggested that in a finite population, heterogeneity in the
      mixing rate may actually decrease the finite-population reproductive numbers.
      Here, we outline a framework for discussing different types of heterogeneity in
      disease parameters, and how these affect disease spread and control. We calculate
      "finite-population reproductive numbers" with different types of heterogeneity,
      and show that in a finite population, heterogeneity has complicated effects on
      the reproductive number. We find that simple heterogeneity decreases the finite
      population reproductive number, whereas heterogeneity in the intrinsic mixing
      rate (which affects both infectiousness and susceptibility) increases the finite
      population reproductive number when R0 is small relative to the size of the
      population and decreases the finite-population reproductive number when R0 is
      large relative to the size of the population. Although heterogeneity has
      complicated effects on the finite-population reproductive numbers, its
      implications for control are straightforward: when R0 is large relative to the
      size of the population, heterogeneity decreases the finite-population
      reproductive numbers, making disease control or elimination easier than predicted
      by R0. 

PMID- 26891920
TI  - A Microstructured Fiber with Defined Borosilicate Regions to Produce a Radial
      Micronozzle Array for Nanoelectrospray Ionization.
AB  - This work highlights the possibility of using microstructured fibres with
      predefined doped regions to produce functional microstructures at a fibre facet
      with differential chemical etching. A specially designed silica microstructured
      fibre (MSF) that possesses specific boron-doped silica regions was fabricated for
      the purpose of generating a radial micronozzle array. The MSF was drawn from a
      preform comprising pure silica capillaries surrounded by boron-doped silica rods.
      Different etching rates of the boron-doped and silica regions at the fiber facet
      produces raised nozzles where the silica capillaries were placed. Fabrication
      parameters were explored in relation to the fidelity and protrusion length of the
      nozzle. Using etching alone, the nozzle protrusion length was limited, and the
      inner diameter of the channels in the array is expanded. However with the
      addition of a protective water counter flow, nozzle protrusion is increased to 60
      MUm with a limited increase in hole diameter. The radial micronozzle array
      generated nine individual electrosprays which were characterized using spray
      current measurements and related to theoretical prediction. Signal enhancement
      for the higher charge state ions for two peptides showed a substantial signal
      enhancement compared to conventional emitter technology. 

PMID- 26891921
TI  - Return to the operating room following decompression surgery-infection or not
      infection? That is the question.
AB  - COMMENTARY ON: Yang S, Werner BC, Cancienne JM, Hassanzadeh H, Shimer AL, Shen
      FH, Singla A. Preoperative epidural injections are associated with increased risk
      of infection after single-level lumbar decompression. Spine J 2016:16:190-5 (in
      this issue).

PMID- 26891922
TI  - Commentary on the primary stability of three different iliosacral screw fixation
      techniques in osteoporotic cadaver specimens-a biomechanical investigation.
AB  - COMMENTARY ON: Oberkircher L, Masaeli A, Bliemel C, Debus F, Ruchholtz S, Kruger
      A. Primary stability of three different iliosacral screw fixation techniques in
      osteoporotic cadaver specimens-a biomechanical investigation. Spine J 2016:16:225
      31 (in this issue).

PMID- 26891923
TI  - Reoperation rate and risk factors of elective spinal surgery for degenerative
      spondylolisthesis: still more challenges lie ahead.

PMID- 26891924
TI  - Reply to "Reoperation rate and risk factors of elective spinal surgery for
      degenerative spondylolisthesis: still more challenges lie ahead".

PMID- 26891926
TI  - Biotransformation of Microcystins in Eukaryotic Cells - Possible Future Research
      Directions.
AB  - Due to eutrophication processes in our water bodies, cyanobacterial blooms can
      develop worldwide. Most of these blooms are toxic. The most prominent
      cyanobacterial toxins are the group of the microcystins, which are cyclic
      heptapeptides, currently with more than 100 congeners known. The
      biotransformation of microcystins starts with the conjugation to the cell
      internal tripeptide glutathione, catalysed by glutathione S-transferase enzymes.
      This conjugate is further broken down to a cysteine conjugate, enhancing the cell
      internal transport and excretion of the conjugated toxin from the organisms.
      Still many questions remain open, thinking on an obviously good working
      detoxification system on the one side and the often seen negative effects up to
      the death of humans on the other sides. 

PMID- 26891927
TI  - The Effects of Microcystins (Cyanobacterial Heptapeptides) on the Eukaryotic
      Cytoskeletal System.
AB  - Microcystins (MCYs) are cyanobacterial heptapeptides known for their high
      toxicity in eukaryotic cells and for their potential human health hazards. They
      are potent and specific inhibitors of type 1 and 2A, serine-threonine protein
      phosphatases (PP1 and PP2A) and as such, interfere with key cellular and
      metabolic events. Moreover, they induce oxidative stress involving reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) generation. Their cytoskeletal effects involve both mitotic
      and differentiated eukaryotic cells. The main objective of the present review is
      to summarize the most important cytoskeletal effects of MCY on human, animal and
      plant cells known to date and to give an insight into the cellular and molecular
      background of these alterations. Disruptions of microtubule (MTs), microfilament
      (MF) and intermediate filament (IF) organization have all been described, having
      consequences on cell shape, tissue integrity and functionality and mitotic
      division. Most of these subcellular changes are closely related to PP1 and PP2A
      inhibition and involve misfunctioning of cytoskeleton associated proteins.
      However, several cytoskeletal alterations are likely to be related to the
      induction of oxidative stress. MCY induced changes in MT, MF and IF assembly may
      have severe human health consequences. The main target of cyanotoxin in human/
      animal cells is liver and cytoskeletal disruption alters structure and
      functioning of hepatocytes. However, many other cell types undergo alterations
      similar to those observed in hepatocytes. Both PP1/PP2A inhibition and ROS
      generation are involved and the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases
      (MAPKs) seems to play a crucial role in the molecular events leading to
      cytoskeletal disruption. 

PMID- 26891928
TI  - New Insights on the Mode of Action of Microcystins in Animal Cells - A Review.
AB  - Microcystins (MCs) are the most commonly occurring hepatotoxins produced by
      cyanobacteria. The inhibition of PP2A is widely assumed as the principal
      mechanism of toxicity of MCs, however recently it has been found that MC
      modulates PP2A activity not only by direct inhibition of its activity, but also
      by regulating its expression. Nevertheless the mechanisms of toxicity of MCs seem
      to be more complex to interpret than expected. The induction of some
      cellularmolecular mechanisms appears to be biphasic in time and concentration of
      MC and in most cases related with the intracellular ROS generation. These
      intracellular ROS levels cause oxidative stress which leads to changes in several
      markers of MC-LR-induced oxidative stress ultimately resulting in apoptosis or
      cell damage and also genotoxicity. MCs can also induce severe changes in the
      cytoskeleton elements: microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules,
      which results in changes in the cytoskeleton architecture and cell viability.
      There are also indications that there are second messengers involved in MC-LR
      mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Different congeners of these toxins induce
      different degrees of responses in the cell, assumed to be related with the
      capacity of toxin internalization, affinity towards PP1 and PP2A, and the ability
      to cause oxidative stress. MCs have also been implicated in neurotoxicity and in
      damages in reproductive organs. The regulation of transcription factors and proto
      oncogenes by MC is the mode of action of MCs tumor promotion. This review
      summarizes mainly the findings from the last five years about the molecular
      mechanisms behind MC toxicity in animal cells. 

PMID- 26891929
TI  - Mechanisms of Microcystin-induced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis.
AB  - In recent years, cyanobacterial blooms have dramatically increased and become an
      ecological disaster worldwide. Cyanobacteria are also known to produce a wide
      variety of toxic secondary metabolites, i.e. cyanotoxins. Microcystins (MCs), a
      group of cyclic heptapeptides, are considered to be one of the most common and
      dangerous cyanobacterial toxins. MCs can be incorporated into the cells via
      organic anion transporting polypeptides (Oatps). It's widely accepted that
      inhibition of protein phosphatases (PPs) and induction of oxidative stress are
      the main toxic mechanisms of MCs. MCs are able to induce a variety of toxic
      cellular effects, including DNA damage, cytoskeleton disruption, mitochondria
      dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) disturbance and cell cycle deregulation,
      all of which can contribute to apoptosis/programmed cell death. This review aimed
      to summarize the increasing data regarding the intracellular biochemical and
      molecular mechanisms of MC-induced toxicity and cell death. 

PMID- 26891931
TI  - Nanoemulsion: A Novel Eon in Cancer Chemotherapy.
AB  - Cancer refers to an assemblage of lethal diseases characterized by abnormal
      growth of cells. The most celebrated adverse effects accredited to the cytotoxic
      class of anticancer agents are constructed owing to their inability to
      differentiate between the abnormally multiplying cancerous cell mass and the
      rapidly dividing healthy cells of the human body. Consequently, unknown targets
      chemotherapy for cancer play host to a multitude of adverse effects ranging from
      nausea, alopecia to torturous ages associated with the current treatment
      etiquette. Nano-pharmaceuticals constitute the advanced scale drug targeting
      technologies. Nanoemulsion is an important tool in the nano-technological arena
      designed for clinical and therapeutic application. Currently among different nano
      carriers, nanoemulsions are extensively envisaged as efficient drug delivery
      systems for the targeted delivery of lipophilic cytotoxic antineoplastic agents.
      Beauties of nanoemulsion include optical clarity, biocompatibility, non
      immunogenic, biodegradable, drug encapsulation, sustained and controlled release,
      nanometric size, large surface area, ease of preparation and thermodynamic
      stability. After excessive delving, the research fraternity has acknowledged
      nanoemulsions as proficient nanocarriers capable of effectively addressing the
      low bioavailability and noncompliance issues associated with the conventional
      anticancerous chemotherapeutic dosage forms. This review attempts to shed new
      light on the current status of nanoemulsion in the cancer therapeutics, and
      commercial field on the basis of morphology, formulation, characteristics and
      characterization parameters.

PMID- 26891930
TI  - Nanomedicine to Deal With Cancer Cell Biology in Multi-Drug Resistance.
AB  - Today Cancer still remains a major cause of mortality and death worldwide, in
      humans. Chemotherapy, a key treatment strategy in cancer, has significant hurdles
      such as the occurrence of chemoresistance in cancer, which is inherent
      unresponsiveness or acquired upon exposure to chemotherapeutics. The resistance
      of cancer cells to an antineoplastic agent accompanied to other chemotherapeutic
      drugs with different structures and mechanisms of action called multi-drug
      resistance (MDR) plays an important role in the failure of chemo- therapeutics.
      MDR is primarily based on the overexpression of drug efflux pumps in the cellular
      membrane, which belongs to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of
      proteins, are P-gp (P-glycoprotein) and multidrug resistance-associated protein
      (MRP). Over the years, various strategies have been evaluated to overcome MDR,
      based not only on the use of MDR modulators but also on the implementation an
      innovative approach and advanced nanosized drug delivery systems. Nanomedicine is
      an emerging tool of chemotherapy that focuses on alternative drug delivery for
      improvement of the treatment efficacy and reducing side effects to normal
      tissues. This review aims to focus on the details biology, reversal strategies
      option with the limitation of MDR and various advantages of the present medical
      science nanotechnology with intracellular delivery aspects for overcoming the
      significant potential for improving the treatment of MDR malignancies.

PMID- 26891932
TI  - Theranostic Nanomedicine; A Next Generation Platform for Cancer Diagnosis and
      Therapy.
AB  - In the recent years, theranostic nanomedicine based strategies have gained much
      attention in the field of oncology particularly, in the development of new
      generation cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Today, various approaches
      have been developed for bioactive(s) targeting to predefined pathological sites,
      as well as for quantification of physiological processes and visualization.
      Significant attempts have been made to combine therapeutic and diagnostic
      properties in to a single effective nanomedicine formulation. This concept,
      coined as "theranostics" is smart nanosystem(s), able to diagnose, bioactive(s)
      delivery and monitoring of therapeutic response. By combining therapeutic
      functionalities with molecular imaging, theranostic based strategies may be
      beneficial in the selection of therapy, planning of treatment, monitoring of
      objective response and planning of follow-up therapy based on the specific
      molecular characteristics of a disease. In this manuscript, we reviewed the
      recent development of theranostic approaches, various nanosystems as theranostic
      agents and applications of theranostic in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics.

PMID- 26891933
TI  - Experimental Models for Evaluation of Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy.
AB  - Nanoparticles (NPs), the submicron-sized colloidal particles, have recently
      generated enormous interest among biomedical scientists, particularly in cancer
      therapy. A number of models are being used for exploring NPs safety and efficacy.
      Recently, cancer cell lines have explored as prominent experimental models for
      evaluating pharmacokinetic parameters, cell viability, cytotoxicity and drug
      efficacy in tumor cells. This review aims at thorough compilation of various
      cancer cell lines and in vivo models for evaluation of efficacy of NPs on one
      platform. This will provide a basis to explore and improvise pre-clinical models
      as a prelude to successful cancer research.

PMID- 26891934
TI  - Significance of Various Experimental Models and Assay Techniques in Cancer
      Diagnosis.
AB  - The experimental models are of vital significance to provide information
      regarding biological as well as genetic factors that control the phenotypic
      characteristics of the disease and serve as the foundation for the development of
      rational intervention stratagem. This review highlights the importance of
      experimental models in the field of cancer management. The process of
      pathogenesis in cancer progression, invasion and metastasis can be successfully
      explained by employing clinically relevant laboratory models of the disease.
      Cancer cell lines have been used extensively to monitor the process of cancer
      pathogenesis process by controlling growth regulation and chemo-sensitivity for
      the evaluation of novel therapeutics in both in vitro and xenograft models. The
      experimental models have been used for the elaboration of diagnostic or
      therapeutic protocols, and thus employed in preclinical studies of bioactive
      agents relevant for cancer prevention. The outcome of this review should provide
      useful information in understanding and selection of various models in accordance
      with the stage of cancer.

PMID- 26891935
TI  - Engineered Peptides for Applications in Cancer-Targeted Drug Delivery and Tumor
      Detection.
AB  - Cancer-targeting peptides as ligands for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs or
      drug carriers have the potential to significantly enhance the selectivity and the
      therapeutic benefit of current chemotherapeutic agents. Identification of tumor
      specific biomarkers like integrins, aminopeptidase N, and epidermal growth factor
      receptor as well as the popularity of phage display techniques along with
      synthetic combinatorial methods used for peptide design and structure
      optimization have fueled the advancement and application of peptide ligands for
      targeted drug delivery and tumor detection in cancer treatment, detection and
      guided therapy. Although considerable preclinical data have shown remarkable
      success in the use of tumor targeting peptides, peptides generally suffer from
      poor pharmacokinetics, enzymatic instability, and weak receptor affinity, and
      they need further structural modification before successful translation to
      clinics is possible. The current review gives an overview of the different
      engineering strategies that have been developed for peptide structure
      optimization to confer selectivity and stability. We also provide an update on
      the methods used for peptide ligand identification, and peptide- receptor
      interactions. Additionally, some applications for the use of peptides in targeted
      delivery of chemotherapeutics and diagnostics over the past 5 years are
      summarized.

PMID- 26891936
TI  - Multimodal Nanomedicine Strategies for Targeting Cancer Cells as well as Cancer
      Stem Cell Signalling Mechanisms.
AB  - Increasing evidence suggests that stem cells, a small population of cells with
      unique selfrenewable and tumour regenerative capacity, are aiding tumour re
      growth and multidrug resistance. Conventional therapies are highly ineffective at
      eliminating these cells leading to relapse of disease and formation of
      chemoresistance tumours. Cancer and stem cells targeted therapies that utilizes
      nanotherapeutics to delivery anti-cancer drugs to specific sites are continuously
      investigated. This review focuses on recent research using nanomedicine and
      targeting entities to eliminate cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Current
      nanotherapeutics in clinical trials along with more recent publications on
      targeted therapies are addressed.

PMID- 26891938
TI  - Activation of Organic Photovoltaic Light Detectors Using Bend Leakage from
      Optical Fibers.
AB  - This work investigates the detection and subsequent utilization of leaked light
      from bends in a silica optical fiber using organic photovoltaic detectors. The
      optic power lost by single mode and multimode silica optical fibers was
      calibrated for bend radii between 1 and 7 mm for 532 and 633 nm light, exhibiting
      excellent agreement with previous theoretical solutions. The spatial location of
      maximum power leakage on the exterior of the fiber was found to exist in the same
      plane as the fiber, with a 10 degrees  offset from the normal. Two different
      organic photovoltaic detectors fabricated using a poly(3-hexylthiophene):indene
      C60-bisadduct donor-acceptor blend cast from chloroform and chlorobenzene were
      fabricated to detect the leaked light. The two detectors exhibited different
      photovoltaic performances, predominantly due to different active layer
      thicknesses. Both devices showed sensitivity to leakage light, exhibiting
      voltages between 200 and 300 mV in response to leaked light from the fiber. The
      temporal responses of the devices were observed to differ, with a rise time from
      10% to 90% of maximum voltage of 1430 MUs for the chlorobenzene device, and a
      corresponding rise time of 490 MUs for the higher performing chloroform device.
      The two OPVs were used to simultaneously detect leaked light from induced bends
      in the optical fiber, with the differing temporal profiles employed to create a
      unique time-correlated detection signal with enhanced security. The delay between
      detection of each OPV voltage could be systematically varied, allowing for either
      a programmable and secure single detection signal or triggering of multiple
      events with variable time resolution. The results reported in this study present
      exciting avenues toward the deployment of this simple and noninvasive optical
      detection system in a range of different applications. 

PMID- 26891937
TI  - Peripheral activities of growth hormone-releasing hormone.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) is produced by the hypothalamus and
      stimulates GH synthesis and release in the anterior pituitary gland. In addition
      to its endocrine role, GHRH exerts a wide range of extrapituitary effects which
      include stimulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation, and
      inhibition of apoptosis. Accordingly, expression of GHRH, as well as the receptor
      GHRH-R and its splice variants, has been demonstrated in different peripheral
      tissues and cell types. Among the direct peripheral activities, GHRH regulates
      pancreatic islet and beta-cell survival and function and endometrial cell
      proliferation, promotes cardioprotection and wound healing, influences the immune
      and reproductive systems, reduces inflammation, indirectly increases lifespan and
      adiposity and acts on skeletal muscle cells to inhibit cell death and atrophy.
      Therefore, it is becoming increasingly clear that GHRH exerts important
      extrapituitary functions, suggesting potential therapeutic use of the peptide and
      its analogs in a wide range of medical settings. 

PMID- 26891940
TI  - Antifungal activity of Rubus chingii extract combined with fluconazole against
      fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of Rubus chingii extract
      in combination with fluconazole (FLC) against FLC-resistant Candida albicans 100
      in vitro. A R. chingii extract and FLC-resistant C. albicans fungus suspension
      were prepared. The minimum inhibitory concentration and fractional inhibitory
      concentration index of R. chingii extract combined with FLC against C. albicans
      were determined, after which growth curves for C. albicans treated with R.
      chingii extract, FLC alone and a combination of these preparations were
      constructed. Additionally, the mechanisms of drug combination against C. albicans
      were explored by flow cytometry, gas chromatographic mass spectrometry and drug
      efflux pump function detection. R. chingii extract combined with FLC showed
      significant synergy. Flow cytometry suggested that C. albicans cells mainly
      arrest in G1 and S phases when they have been treated with the drug combination.
      The drug combination resulted in a marked decrease in the ergosterol content of
      the cell membrane. Additionally, efflux of Rhodamine 6G decreased with increasing
      concentrations of R. chingii extract. R. chingii extract combined with FLC has
      antifungal activity against FLC-resistant C. albicans. 

PMID- 26891939
TI  - Inorganic arsenic and respiratory health, from early life exposure to sex
      specific effects: A systematic review.
AB  - This systematic review synthesizes the diverse body of epidemiologic research
      accrued on inorganic arsenic exposure and respiratory health effects. Twenty-nine
      articles were identified that examined the relationship between inorganic arsenic
      exposure and respiratory outcomes (i.e. lung function, symptoms, acute
      respiratory infections, chronic non-malignant lung diseases, and non-malignant
      lung disease mortality). There was strong evidence of a general association
      between arsenic and non-malignant respiratory illness, including consistent
      evidence on lung function impairment, acute respiratory tract infections,
      respiratory symptoms, and non-malignant lung disease mortality. Overall, early
      life exposure (i.e. in utero and/or early-childhood) had a marked effect
      throughout the lifespan. This review also identified some research gaps,
      including limited evidence at lower levels of exposure (water arsenic <100MUg/L),
      mixed evidence of sex differences, and some uncertainty on arsenic and any single
      non-malignant respiratory disease or pathological process. Common limitations,
      including potential publication bias; non-comparability of outcome measures
      across included articles; incomplete exposure histories; and limited confounder
      control attenuated the cumulative strength of the evidence as it relates to US
      populations. This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of the
      epidemiologic evidence and should be used to guide future research on arsenic's
      detrimental effects on respiratory health.

PMID- 26891941
TI  - Association of TRPM3 Polymorphism (rs10780946) and Aspirin-Exacerbated
      Respiratory Disease (AERD).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) refers to the
      combination of asthma rhinosinusitis and poliposis; ingestion of aspirin or other
      non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs exacerbate asthma-like symptoms. The
      pathogenesis of AERD is unknown, and genetic and environmental factors contribute
      to the disease. Our objective is identifying polymorphisms associated with
      susceptibility in a Mexican mestizo population. METHODS: Primarily we performed
      custom Illumina goldengate array-based genotyping of 1512 SNPs, carefully
      selected from a variety of acute/chronic inflammatory lung conditions previously
      reported. Four SNPs in TRPM3 gene showed the lowest p-values (rs10780946,
      rs7025694, rs1889915, and rs7047645). We further selected rs10780946 and
      rs7025694 for validation using Taqman genotyping (n = 743; 288 AERD, 272 ATA, and
      183 HC). RESULTS: rs10780946 showed association when compared between AERD and
      ATA groups under co-dominant (p = 0.006), dominant (p = 0.002), overdominant (p =
      0.01), and log-additive (p = 0.03) genetic models. AERD showed increased
      heterozygous TC (rs10780946-rs7025694) haplotype compared to ATA and HC (p <
      0.05). We could not confirm any association between rs7025694 and AERD.
      CONCLUSION: rs10780946 TRPM3 polymorphism is associated with AERD susceptibility.

PMID- 26891943
TI  - Protection or Vulnerability? A Meta-Analysis of the Relations Between the
      Positive and Negative Components of Self-Compassion and Psychopathology.
AB  - Self-compassion is increasingly explored as a protective factor in relation to
      psychopathology. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and its Short Form variant (SCS
      SF) are the most widely used instruments for measuring this psychological
      construct, and previous studies have indeed shown that the total score of this
      scale is negatively associated with psychopathology. In this article, we point
      out that half of the items of the SCS and SCS-SF are positive indicators of self
      compassion and directly refer to the three key components of self-kindness,
      common humanity and mindfulness, while the other half of the items are negative
      indicators of the construct and reflect the precise opposite of the key
      components, namely self-judgment, isolation and over-identification. A meta
      analysis was conducted including 18 studies that reported on the positive and
      negative indicators of self-compassion as indexed by the SCS/SCS-SF and their
      relations to various types of psychopathology. Results showed that positive
      indicators of self-compassion were negatively associated with psychopathology,
      which confirms their hypothesized protective influence. However, the negative
      indicators were positively linked to psychopathology, suggesting that these
      scales tap increased vulnerability to mental health problems. Moreover, tests
      comparing the strength of the relations between various SCS/SCS-SF counterparts
      (i.e., self-kindness versus self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation and
      mindfulness versus over-identification) and psychopathology showed that the
      negative indicators were significantly stronger linked to mental health problems
      than the positive indicators. This provides support for the idea that the use of
      a total self-compassion score of the SCS or SCS-SF, which typically includes the
      reversely scored negative subscales, will probably result in an inflated
      relationship with symptoms of psychopathology. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26891942
TI  - Modelling semi-attributable toxicity in dual-agent phase I trials with non
      concurrent drug administration.
AB  - In oncology, combinations of drugs are often used to improve treatment efficacy
      and/or reduce harmful side effects. Dual-agent phase I clinical trials assess
      drug safety and aim to discover a maximum tolerated dose combination via dose
      escalation; cohorts of patients are given set doses of both drugs and monitored
      to see if toxic reactions occur. Dose-escalation decisions for subsequent cohorts
      are based on the number and severity of observed toxic reactions, and an
      escalation rule. In a combination trial, drugs may be administered concurrently
      or non-concurrently over a treatment cycle. For two drugs given non-concurrently
      with overlapping toxicities, toxicities occurring after administration of the
      first drug yet before administration of the second may be attributed directly to
      the first drug, whereas toxicities occurring after both drugs have been given
      some present ambiguity; toxicities may be attributable to the first drug only,
      the second drug only or the synergistic combination of both. We call this mixture
      of attributable and non-attributable toxicity semi-attributable toxicity. Most
      published methods assume drugs are given concurrently, which may not be
      reflective of trials with non-concurrent drug administration. We incorporate semi
      attributable toxicity into Bayesian modelling for dual-agent phase I trials with
      non-concurrent drug administration and compare the operating characteristics to
      an approach where this detail is not considered. Simulations based on a trial for
      non-concurrent administration of intravesical Cabazitaxel and Cisplatin in early
      stage bladder cancer patients are presented for several scenarios and show that
      including semi-attributable toxicity data reduces the number of patients given
      overly toxic combinations. (c) 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published
      by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID- 26891945
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26891944
TI  - Clinical implications of omics and systems medicine: focus on predictive and
      individualized treatment.
AB  - Many patients with common diseases do not respond to treatment. This is a key
      challenge to modern health care, which causes both suffering and enormous costs.
      One important reason for the lack of treatment response is that common diseases
      are associated with altered interactions between thousands of genes, in
      combinations that differ between subgroups of patients who do or do not respond
      to a given treatment. Such subgroups, or even distinct disease entities, have
      been described recently in asthma, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and cancer. High
      throughput techniques (omics) allow identification and characterization of such
      subgroups or entities. This may have important clinical implications, such as
      identification of diagnostic markers for individualized medicine, as well as new
      therapeutic targets for patients who do not respond to existing drugs. For
      example, whole-genome sequencing may be applied to more accurately guide
      treatment of neurodevelopmental diseases, or to identify drugs specifically
      targeting mutated genes in cancer. A study published in 2015 showed that 28% of
      hepatocellular carcinomas contained mutated genes that potentially could be
      targeted by drugs already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. A
      translational study, which is described in detail, showed how combined omics,
      computational, functional and clinical studies could identify and validate a
      novel diagnostic and therapeutic candidate gene in allergy. Another important
      clinical implication is the identification of potential diagnostic markers and
      therapeutic targets for predictive and preventative medicine. By combining
      computational and experimental methods, early disease regulators may be
      identified and potentially used to predict and treat disease before it becomes
      symptomatic. Systems medicine is an emerging discipline, which may contribute to
      such developments through combining omics with computational, functional and
      clinical studies. The aims of this review are to provide a brief introduction to
      systems medicine and discuss how it may contribute to the clinical implementation
      of individualized treatment, using clinically relevant examples. 

PMID- 26891946
TI  - Brivaracetam in the treatment of focal and idiopathic generalized epilepsies and
      of status epilepticus.
AB  - Brivaracetam is the latest approved antiepileptic drug in focal epilepsy and
      exhibits high affinity as SV2A-ligand. More than two thousand patients have
      received brivaracetam within randomized placebo-controlled trials. Significant
      median seizure reduction rates of 30.5% to 53.1% for 50 mg/d, 32.5% to 37.2% for
      100 mg/d and 35.6% for 200 mg/d were reported. Likewise, 50% responder rates were
      32.7% to 55.8% for 50 mg/d, 36% to 38.9% for 100 mg/d and 37.8% for 200 mg/d.
      Overall, brivaracetam is well tolerated. The main adverse events are fatigue,
      dizziness, and somnolence. Immediate switch from levetiracetam to brivaracetam at
      a conversion ratio between 10:1 to 15:1 is feasible, and might alleviate the
      behavioral side effects associated with levetiracetam. Brivaracetam has the
      potential to perform as an important, possibly broad-spectrum AED, initially in
      patients with drug-refractory epilepsies. Its intravenous formulation may be a
      new and desirable alternative for status epilepticus, but there is so far no
      experience in these patients. 

PMID- 26891947
TI  - Introduction: Engaging researchers on developing, using, and improving knowledge
      synthesis methods: a series of articles describing the results of a scoping
      review on emerging knowledge synthesis methods.

PMID- 26891948
TI  - Knowledge synthesis methods for integrating qualitative and quantitative data: a
      scoping review reveals poor operationalization of the methodological steps.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare, through a scoping review, emerging knowledge
      synthesis methods for integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence in health
      care, in terms of expertise required, similarities, differences, strengths,
      limitations, and steps involved in using the methods. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING:
      Electronic databases (e.g., MEDLINE) were searched, and two reviewers
      independently selected studies and abstracted data for qualitative analysis.
      RESULTS: In total, 121 articles reporting seven knowledge synthesis methods
      (critical interpretive synthesis, integrative review, meta-narrative review, meta
      summary, mixed studies review, narrative synthesis, and realist review) were
      included after screening of 17,962 citations and 1,010 full-text articles. Common
      similarities among methods related to the entire synthesis process, while common
      differences related to the research question and eligibility criteria. The most
      common strength was a comprehensive synthesis providing rich contextual data,
      whereas the most common weakness was a highly subjective method that was not
      reproducible. For critical interpretive synthesis, meta-narrative review, meta
      summary, and narrative synthesis, guidance was not provided for some steps of the
      review process. CONCLUSION: Some of the knowledge synthesis methods provided
      guidance on all steps, whereas other methods were missing guidance on the
      synthesis process. Further work is needed to clarify these emerging knowledge
      synthesis methods.

PMID- 26891949
TI  - A scoping review identifies multiple emerging knowledge synthesis methods, but
      few studies operationalize the method.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To systematically identify, define, and classify emerging knowledge
      synthesis methods through a scoping review. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: MEDLINE,
      CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Methodology Register, the Cochrane
      Database of Systematic Reviews, Social Sciences Abstracts, Library and
      Information Science Abstracts, Philosopher's Index, and Education Resources
      Information Center were searched to identify articles reporting emerging
      knowledge synthesis methods across the disciplines of health, education,
      sociology, and philosophy. Two reviewers independently selected studies and
      abstracted data for each article. RESULTS: In total, 409 articles reporting on 25
      knowledge synthesis methods were included after screening of 17,962 titles and
      abstracts and 1,010 potentially relevant full-text articles. Most of the included
      articles were an application of the method (83.9%); only 3.7% were seminal
      articles that fully described the method (i.e., operationalized the steps). Most
      of the included articles were published after 2005. The methods were most
      commonly used across the fields of nursing, health care science and services, and
      health policy. CONCLUSION: We found a lack of guidance on how to select a
      knowledge synthesis method. We propose convening an international group of
      leaders in the knowledge synthesis field to help clarify emerging approaches to
      knowledge synthesis.

PMID- 26891950
TI  - Diverse criteria and methods are used to compare treatment effect estimates: a
      scoping review.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine what criteria researchers use to assess whether the
      estimates of effect of an intervention on a dichotomous outcome are different
      when obtained using different study designs. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Scoping
      review of the literature. We included studies of dichotomous outcomes in which
      authors compared the estimates of effects from different study designs. We
      performed searches in electronic databases and in the list of references of
      relevant studies. Two reviewers independently selected studies and abstracted
      data. We created a list of the criteria used to compare estimates of effects
      between study designs, described their main features, and classified them using a
      clinical perspective. RESULTS: We included 26 studies, from which we identified
      24 criteria. Most of the studies focused on comparing estimates from
      observational studies and randomized controlled trials (n = 19). The most common
      criteria aimed to determine whether there was a difference or not (n = 18),
      provided guidance for such a judgment (n = 16), and were based on the point
      estimates (n = 11). We judged 14 criteria to be appropriate and classified them
      as either statistically related or clinically related. CONCLUSION: We found that
      diverse criteria are used to compare effect estimates between study designs.
      Familiarity with these would aid in the interpretation of results from different
      studies regarding the same question.

PMID- 26891951
TI  - Knowledge synthesis methods for generating or refining theory: a scoping review
      reveals that little guidance is available.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare, through a scoping review, emerging knowledge
      synthesis methods for generating and refining theory, in terms of expertise
      required, similarities, differences, strengths, limitations, and steps involved
      in using the methods. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Electronic databases (e.g.,
      MEDLINE) were searched, and two reviewers independently selected studies and
      abstracted data for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: In total, 287 articles
      reporting nine knowledge synthesis methods (concept synthesis, critical
      interpretive synthesis, integrative review, meta-ethnography, meta
      interpretation, meta-study, meta-synthesis, narrative synthesis, and realist
      review) were included after screening of 17,962 citations and 1,010 full-text
      articles. Strengths of the methods included comprehensive synthesis providing
      rich contextual data and suitability for identifying gaps in the literature,
      informing policy, aiding in clinical decisions, addressing complex research
      questions, and synthesizing patient preferences, beliefs, and values. However,
      many of the methods were highly subjective and not reproducible. For integrative
      review, meta-ethnography, and realist review, guidance was provided on all steps
      of the review process, whereas meta-synthesis had guidance on the fewest number
      of steps. CONCLUSION: Guidance for conducting the steps was often vague and
      sometimes absent. Further work is needed to provide direction on operationalizing
      these methods.

PMID- 26891952
TI  - Figure analysis: A teaching technique to promote visual literacy and active
      Learning.
AB  - Learning often improves when active learning techniques are used in place of
      traditional lectures. For many of these techniques, however, students are
      expected to apply concepts that they have already grasped. A challenge,
      therefore, is how to incorporate active learning into the classroom of courses
      with heavy content, such as molecular-based biology courses. An additional
      challenge is that visual literacy is often overlooked in undergraduate science
      education. To address both of these challenges, a technique called figure
      analysis was developed and implemented in three different levels of undergraduate
      biology courses. Here, students learn content while gaining practice in
      interpreting visual information by discussing figures with their peers. Student
      groups also make connections between new and previously learned concepts on their
      own while in class. The instructor summarizes the material for the class only
      after students grapple with it in small groups. Students reported a preference
      for learning by figure analysis over traditional lecture, and female students in
      particular reported increased confidence in their analytical abilities. There is
      not a technology requirement for this technique; therefore, it may be utilized
      both in classrooms and in nontraditional spaces. Additionally, the amount of
      preparation required is comparable to that of a traditional lecture. (c) 2016 by
      The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(4):336-344,
      2016. 

PMID- 26891954
TI  - Significant association between FasL gene -844T/C polymorphism and risk to
      hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients.
AB  - Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system is the most critical apoptotic signaling entity in
      the extrinsic apoptotic pathway; hence mutations affecting this pathway may
      prevent the immune system from the removal of newly-formed tumor cells, and thus
      lead to tumor formation. The present study investigated the association between
      the FasL -844T/C polymorphism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a
      cohort of Egyptian patients and explored the relationship of various clinical and
      pathological parameters with this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Blood
      samples were withdrawn from hundred HCC patients and 100 age-, sex- and
      ethnically matched controls. The FasL -844T/C (rs763110) gene polymorphism was
      typed from genomic DNA using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment
      length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Genotype distributions and allelic
      frequencies between patients and control subjects showed that the TT homozygous
      patients were two times more likely to develop HCC (p=0.011). Also, the T allele
      was found to be a significant risk factor for the disease (OR 1.970, 95% CI 1.250
      3.105, p=0.003). No association was detected between different parameters of the
      disease and the SNP. For the first time, our results suggest that the -844T/C
      polymorphism in the FasL gene confers risk to HCC. The alarming increase in the
      incidence of HCC in Egypt encourages further studies to document our results in a
      larger sample, and recommends more genetic studies hoping to define a genomic
      risk prediction specific to this cancer in our population.

PMID- 26891953
TI  - Prognostic role of microscopically positive margins for primary gastrointestinal
      stromal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - The impact and management of microscopically positive margins in gastrointestinal
      stromal tumors (GISTs) remain unclear. The aim of this study is to estimate the
      prognostic value of surgical margins for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall
      survival (OS) in patients with primary GISTs. Twelve studies with 1985 GIST
      patients were included. The overall recurrence rate in R1 resection and R0
      resection group was 0.364 (95% CI 0.299-0.429) and 0.296 (95% CI 0.161-0.430),
      respectively. Meta-analysis confirmed that a microscopically positive margin
      could significantly impact the disease-free survival (HR 1.596, 95% CI 1.128
      2.258; I(2) = 37.5%, P value = 0.091), but had no influence on overall survival
      (HR 1.430, 95% CI 0.608-3.363; I(2) = 60.8%, P value = 0.013). Importantly,
      subgroup analysis revealed that adjuvant imatinib treatment could attenuate the
      risk of recurrence for primary GIST patients who received R1 resection. (HR
      1.308, 95% CI 0.583-2.935; I(2) = 53.2%, P value = 0.074). The level of evidence
      achieved in this study was "moderate" for DFS and "low" for OS. In conclusion,
      this study revealed that a microscopically positive margin is an unfavorable
      prognostic factor for GIST patients with R1 resection, and adjuvant imatinib
      treatment is proved to be effective.

PMID- 26891956
TI  - Phase II study of bevacizumab plus irinotecan on the treatment of relapsed
      resistant small cell lung cancer.
AB  - PURPOSE: This phase II study investigates the efficacy and safety of DNA
      topoisomerase I inhibitor irinotecan plus bevacizumab a monoclonal antibody
      against VEGF (BEVIRI) in patients with relapsed chemo-resistant SCLC. METHODS:
      Patients who previously completed treatment with cisplatin-etoposide who relapsed
      within 3 months, had measurable extensive-stage SCLC, ECOG performance status 0-2
      and adequate hematologic, renal and hepatic function, were given intravenous
      irinotecan 175 mg/m(2) plus intravenous bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg on day 1 and 15 in
      30 day cycles for a target of at least four cycles. No patients had received
      prophylactic intracranial irradiation. Treatment response was assessed with
      computer tomography scans with the completion of two consecutive cycles. Primary
      endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were
      enrolled and 28 of them were eligible for evaluation of response, toxicity and
      survival. The median age was 63.5 years (range 48-73). The ORR (CR and PR) was 25
      % (95 % CI 8.9-41.0) and including patients with stable disease overall disease
      control rate at 2 months was 89 % (95 % CI 77.41-100). The median duration of
      response was 6 months, median progression-free survival was 3 months (mean PFS:
      3.2, 95 % CI 2.7-3.7), and median overall survival was 6 months (mean OS: 6.3, 95
      % CI 5.4-7.1). The PFS rate at 6 months was 3.6 %, and 1-year OS rate was 3.6 %.
      The median number of cycles received was 4.5 (range 1-6). There were two (7.1 %)
      hematologic (neutropenia) and one (3.5 %) non-hematologic (proteinuria) serious
      grades 3-4 adverse reactions without necessitating treatment discontinuation.
      CONCLUSION: BEVIRI combination in relapsed chemo-resistant SCLC patients
      demonstrates promising efficacy and low toxicity compared to historical controls.
      Further investigation is warranted.

PMID- 26891957
TI  - Predictive value of repeated F-18 FDG PET/CT parameters changes during
      preoperative chemoradiotherapy to predict pathologic response and overall
      survival in locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The goal of the current study was to investigate the predictive and
      prognostic values of repeated F-18 FDG PET/CT parameter changes for prediction of
      complete pathologic response (pCR) in patients with adenocarcinoma of locally
      advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC) who received preoperative concurrent
      chemoradiotherapy (PCRT). METHODS: A total 53 patients with LAEC patients were
      included in the current study. All patients were evaluated by F-18 FDG PET/CT
      before and during chemoradiotherapy. The percent changes (?, %) in F-18 FDG
      PET/CT parameters were used to predict pCR and to calculate overall survival
      (OS). The predictive value for pCR of F-18 FDG PET/CT cutoff values was
      determined by ROC analysis. The prognostic significance was assessed using Kaplan
      Meier analysis. RESULTS: pCR occurred in 15 patients (28.3 %). When DeltaSUVmax >
      23.5 % was used as cutoff, the sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for
      prediction of pCR were 100 % and 52.6, respectively. The AUC was 0.750 (95 % CI;
      0.612-0.859), and standard error (SE) was 0.0633 (p = 0.0002). DeltaMTV resulted
      in 80 % sensitivity, 76.3 % specificity, and 0.731 AUC (95 % CI; 0.591-0.843, SE
      = 0.077, p = 0.0027) for cutoff values >25.5 %. When DeltaTLG > 44.8 % was used
      as cutoff, the sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for prediction of
      pCR were 100 and 65.8 %, respectively. The AUC was 0.893 (95 % CI; 0.777-0.961),
      and SE was 0.0431 (p < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high
      DeltaSUVmax, DeltaMTV, and DeltaTLG were associated with improved OS. CONCLUSION:
      In conclusion, the current study shows the capability of the changes (Delta) in
      repeated F-18 FDG PET/CT parameters to predict the achievement of pCR during PCRT
      in LAEC patients. Among the parameters, the DeltaSUVmax, DeltaMTV, and DeltaTLG
      were predictors for pCR and well associated with OS.

PMID- 26891955
TI  - An embryonic atrazine exposure results in reproductive dysfunction in adult
      zebrafish and morphological alterations in their offspring.
AB  - The herbicide atrazine, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC),
      frequently contaminates potable water supplies. Studies suggest alterations in
      the neuroendocrine system along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis; however,
      most studies address either developmental, pubertal, or adulthood exposures, with
      few investigations regarding a developmental origins hypothesis. In this study,
      zebrafish were exposed to 0, 0.3, 3, or 30 parts per billion (ppb) atrazine
      through embryogenesis and then allowed to mature with no additional chemical
      exposure. Reproductive function, histopathology, hormone levels, offspring
      morphology, and the ovarian transcriptome were assessed. Embryonic atrazine
      exposure resulted in a significant increase in progesterone levels in the 3 and
      30 ppb groups. A significant decrease in spawning and a significant increase in
      follicular atresia in the 30 ppb group were observed. In offspring, a decrease in
      the head length to body ratio in the 30 ppb group, along with a significant
      increase in head width to body ratio in the 0.3 and 3 ppb groups occurred.
      Transcriptomic alterations involved genes associated with endocrine system
      development and function, tissue development, and behavior. This study provides
      evidence to support atrazine as an EDC causing reproductive dysfunction and
      molecular alterations in adults exposed only during embryogenesis and
      morphological alterations in their offspring.

PMID- 26891958
TI  - Evidence for possible role of toll-like receptor 3 mediating virus-induced
      progression of pituitary adenomas.
AB  - Tumor-related viruses are known to be involved in initiation and progression of
      certain tumors. However, the relationship between virus and pituitary adenomas
      (PAs) remains unknown. Here, we investigated infection status of three types of
      viruses (HPV16, HHV6B and HSV1) and expression level of toll-like receptor 3
      (TLR3) in 60 human PA samples. We also determined the role of TLR3 signaling
      pathway on a PA cell line (GH3). We firstly found that positive rates of HPV16
      and HHV6B infection were significantly higher in invasive PA samples than in
      noninvasive samples (P < 0.01). Similarly, TLR3 mRNA and protein expression also
      increased in invasive PA samples (P < 0.01). In vitro analysis indicated that GH3
      cell proliferation and survival were enhanced by TLR3 activation, which was
      accompanied by NF-kappaB activation. Our data indicate that HPV16 and HHV6B
      viruses may be involved in promoting the progression of PA by activating the TLR3
      signaling pathway. 

PMID- 26891959
TI  - Alu RNA accumulation in hyperglycemia augments oxidative stress and impairs eNOS
      and SOD2 expression in endothelial cells.
AB  - Endothelial dysfunction resulting from oxidative stress and inflammation plays a
      dominant role in hyperglycemia-induced vasculopathy. While double-stranded RNA
      (dsRNA) accumulates in redox and inflammatory conditions, its precise role in
      hyperglycemia-associated endothelial dysfunction remains unclear. This study
      aimed to investigate whether and how endogenous dsRNA contributes to endothelial
      dysfunction via oxidative stress. We used a dsRNA-specific antibody J2 to detect
      and immunoprecipitate cellular dsRNA. Acquired dsRNA was recognized by cDNA
      library construction and DNA sequencing. Quantitative PCR, ELISA and immunoassays
      were performed to identify changes induced by acquired dsRNA in primary human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Our data showed that endogenous dsRNA
      homologous to Alu Sc subfamily accumulated in hyperglycemic HUVEC. Comparing Alu
      transfected HUVEC with high-glucose treated HUVEC, we found that Alu RNA elicited
      the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and up-regulated interleukin
      1beta (IL-1beta) expression and secretion in a similar manner as high-glucose
      treatment. Moreover, Alu RNA impeded the expression of endothelial nitric oxide
      synthase (eNOS) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), increased ROS production and
      activated nuclear factor NFkappaB by chemically scavenging ROS and inactivation
      of NFkappaB. The repressed expression of eNOS and SOD2 resulted from Alu RNA
      mediated negative regulatory mechanisms. Our study uncovered endogenous Alu RNA
      accumulation in hyperglycemic endothelial cells that provoked endothelial
      oxidative stress and dysfunction by suppressing SOD2 and eNOS expression at both
      transcription and translation levels via NFkappaB signaling pathway. These
      findings suggest a novel regulatory mechanism that involves endogenous dsRNA in
      endothelial oxidative stress and dysfunction. 

PMID- 26891960
TI  - Impact of a concept map teaching approach on nursing students' critical thinking
      skills.
AB  - Nurses confront complex problems and decisions that require critical thinking in
      order to identify patient needs and implement best practices. An active strategy
      for teaching students the skills to think critically is the concept map. This
      study explores the development of critical thinking among nursing students in a
      required pathophysiology and pharmacology course during the first year of a
      Bachelor of Science in Nursing in response to concept mapping as an
      interventional strategy, using the Health Education Systems, Incorporated
      critical thinking test. A two-group experimental study with a pretest and
      posttest design was used. Participants were randomly divided into a control group
      (n = 42) taught by traditional didactic lecturing alone, and an intervention
      group (n = 41), taught by traditional didactic lecturing with concept mapping.
      Students in the concept mapping group performed much better on the Health
      Education Systems, Incorporated than students in the control group. It is
      recommended that deans, program directors, and nursing faculties evaluate their
      curricula to integrate concept map teaching strategies in courses in order to
      develop critical thinking abilities in their students. 

PMID- 26891962
TI  - Pharmacological interventions for generalised itching (not caused by systemic
      disease or skin lesions) in pregnancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Generalised itching is one of the most common dermatological symptoms
      in pregnant women. Having itchy skin during pregnancy may be very frustrating and
      can lead to poor sleep, exhaustion and impaired quality of life. There is a need
      for a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of
      pharmacological interventions for treating itching in pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: To
      assess the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological interventions for treating
      generalised itching (not caused by systemic diseases or skin lesions) in
      pregnancy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth
      Group's Trials Register (28 January 2016) and the reference list of the one
      identified study. SELECTION CRITERIA: All published, unpublished and ongoing
      randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions for itching in
      pregnancy.Quasi-RCTs, cluster-RCTs, RCTs using a cross-over design, and studies
      reported in abstract form (without full text) were not eligible for inclusion.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the one
      trial report that was identified from the search strategy and this was
      subsequently excluded. MAIN RESULTS: There are no included studies as we did not
      identify any relevant trials. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Generalised itching (not
      caused by systemic disease or skin lesions) is quite a common symptom in
      pregnancy. However, there is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to
      guide practice in terms of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological
      interventions for treating this condition.Well-designed randomised controlled
      trials are needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of topical and systemic
      pharmacological interventions as well as any adverse effects of the
      interventions. Such studies should consider important outcomes such as relief of
      itching, women's satisfaction, sleep disturbance, and adverse effects.

PMID- 26891961
TI  - Relationships between ovulation rate and embryonic and placental characteristics
      in multiparous sows at 35 days of pregnancy.
AB  - The objective of this study was to investigate relationships between ovulation
      rate (OR) and embryonic and placental development in sows. Topigs Norsvin(r) sows
      (n=91, parity 2 to 17) from three different genetic backgrounds were slaughtered
      at 35 days of pregnancy and the reproductive tract was collected. The corpora
      lutea (CL) were counted and the number of vital and non-vital embryos, embryonic
      spacing (distance between two embryos), implantation length, placental length,
      placental weight and embryonic weight were assessed. The difference between
      number of CL and total number of embryos was considered as early embryonic
      mortality. The number of non-vital embryos was considered as late mortality.
      Relationships between OR and all other variables were investigated using two
      models: the first considered parity as class effect (n=91) and the second used a
      subset of sows with parities 4 to 10 (n=47) to analyse the genetic background as
      class effect. OR was significantly affected by parity (P<0.0001), but was not
      affected by the genetic background of the sows. Parity and genetic background did
      not affect embryonic and placental characteristics at 35 days of pregnancy. OR
      (varying from 17 to 38 CL) was positively related with early embryonic mortality
      (beta=0.49+/-0.1 n/ovulations, P<0.0001), with late embryonic mortality or number
      of non-vital embryos (beta=0.24+/-0.1 n/ovulations, P=0.001) and with the number
      of vital embryos (beta=0.26+/-0.1 n/ovulations, P=0.01). However, dividing OR in
      four classes, showed that the number of vital embryos was lowest in OR class 1
      (17 to 21 CL), but not different for the other OR classes, suggesting a plateau
      for number of vital embryos for OR above 22. There was a negative linear
      relationship between OR and vital embryonic spacing (beta=-0.45+/-0.1
      cm/ovulation, P=0.001), implantation length (beta=-0.35+/-0.1 cm/ovulation,
      P=0.003), placental length (beta=-0.38+/-0.2 cm/ovulation, P=0.05) and empty
      space around embryonic-placental unit (beta=-0.4+/-0.2 cm/ovulation, P=0.02),
      indicating uterine crowding. Further analyses showed that effects of OR on
      embryonic and uterine parameters were related with the increase in late mortality
      and not early embryonic mortality. Therefore, we conclude that a high OR results
      in an moderate increase in the number of vital embryos at day 35 of pregnancy,
      but compromises development in the surviving embryonic/placental units,
      suggesting that the future growth and survival of the embryos might be further
      compromised. 

PMID- 26891963
TI  - The use of a robotic tibial rotation device and an electromagnetic tracking
      system to accurately reproduce the clinical dial test.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to: (1) determine whether a robotic tibial
      rotation device and an electromagnetic tracking system could accurately reproduce
      the clinical dial test at 30 degrees  of knee flexion; (2) compare rotation data
      captured at the footplates of the robotic device to tibial rotation data measured
      using an electromagnetic sensor on the proximal tibia. METHODS: Thirty-two
      unilateral ACL-reconstructed patients were examined using a robotic tibial
      rotation device that mimicked the dial test. The data reported in this study is
      only from the healthy legs of these patients. Torque was applied through
      footplates and was measured using servomotors. Lower leg motion was measured at
      the foot using the motors. Tibial motion was also measured through an
      electromagnetic tracking system and a sensor on the proximal tibia. Load
      deformation curves representing rotational motion of the foot and tibia were
      compared using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Off-axis motions including
      medial-lateral translation and anterior-posterior translation were also measured
      using the electromagnetic system. RESULTS: The robotic device and electromagnetic
      system were able to provide axial rotation data and translational data for the
      tibia during the dial test. Motion measured at the foot was not correlated to
      motion of the tibial tubercle in internal rotation or in external rotation. The
      position of the tibial tubercle was 26.9 degrees  +/- 11.6 degrees  more
      internally rotated than the foot at torque 0 Nm. Medial-lateral translation and
      anterior-posterior translation were combined to show the path of the tubercle in
      the coronal plane during tibial rotation. CONCLUSIONS: The information captured
      during a manual dial test includes both rotation of the tibia and proximal tibia
      translation. All of this information can be captured using a robotic tibial axial
      rotation device with an electromagnetic tracking system. The pathway of the
      tibial tubercle during tibial axial rotation can provide additional information
      about knee instability without relying on side-to-side comparison between knees.
      The translation of the proximal tibia is important information that must be
      considered in addition to axial rotation of the tibia when performing a dial test
      whether done manually or with a robotic device. Instrumented foot position cannot
      provide the same information. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID- 26891965
TI  - Back to the future: bacteriophages as promising therapeutic tools.
AB  - Bacteriophages (phages), natural predators of bacteria, are becoming increasingly
      attractive in medical and pharmaceutical applications. After their discovery
      almost a century ago, they have been particularly instrumental in the
      comprehension of basic molecular biology and genetics processes. The more recent
      emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria requires novel therapeutic strategies,
      and phages are being (re)considered as promising potential antibacterial tools.
      Furthermore, phages are also used for other purposes, e.g. vaccine production,
      gene/drug carriers, bacterial detection and typing. These new alternative
      approaches using phages are of major interest and have allowed unexpected
      developments, from the decipherment of fundamental biological processes to
      potential clinical applications. 

PMID- 26891964
TI  - Gait analysis before and after corrective osteotomy in patients with knee
      osteoarthritis and a valgus deformity.
AB  - PURPOSE: In this prospective study, the changes in kinetics and kinematics of
      gait and clinical outcomes after a varus osteotomy (tibial, femoral or double
      osteotomy) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and a valgus leg
      alignment were analysed and compared to healthy subjects. METHODS: Twelve
      patients and ten healthy controls were included. Both kinetics and kinematics of
      gait and clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The knee
      adduction moment increased significantly postoperatively (p < 0.05) and almost
      similar to the control group. Patients showed less knee and hip flexion/extension
      motion and moment during gait pre- and postoperatively compared to the controls.
      A significant improvement was found in WOMAC [80.8 (SD 16.1), p = 0.000], KOS
      [74.9 (SD 14.7), p = 0.018], OKS [21.2 (SD 7.5), p = 0.000] and VAS-pain [32.9
      (SD 20.9), p = 0.003] in all patients irrespective of the osteotomy technique
      used. The radiographic measurements showed a mean hip knee ankle (HKA) angle
      correction of 10.4 degrees  (95 % CI 6.4 degrees -14.4 degrees ). CONCLUSION: In
      patients with knee OA combined with a valgus leg alignment, the varus-producing
      osteotomy is a successful treatment. Postoperatively, the patients showed
      kinetics and kinematics of gait similar as that of a healthy control group. A
      significant increase in the knee adduction moment during stance phase was found,
      which was related to the degree of correction. The HKA angle towards zero degrees
      caused a medial shift in the dynamic knee loading. The medial shift will
      optimally restore cartilage loading forces and knee ligament balance and reduces
      progression of OA or the risk of OA. A significant improvement in all clinical
      outcomes was also found. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

PMID- 26891966
TI  - Surgical treatment of primary cardiac valve tumor: early and late results in
      eight patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To report early and late outcomes of patients with the primary
      cardiac valve tumor undergoing surgical treatment over a 30-year period in our
      cardiovascular center. METHODS: From January 1980 to December 2014, a total of
      211 patients with primary cardiac tumors accepted surgical treatments, of which
      only 8 (3.8 %) were primary cardiac valve tumor patients in our surgical center
      of cardiovascular. RESULTS: The diagnosis was identified by echocardiography
      preoperatively and pathological analysis postoperatively. All patients underwent
      intracardiac procedures with extracorporeal circulation. Intracardiac procedures
      included resection of tumor on leaflet in 2 patients (25 %), resection of tumor
      and native valvuloplasty in 2 patients (25 %), resection of neoplasm and
      replacement of native valve with prosthetic valve in 4 patients (50 %). One man
      was performed a resection of tumor on aortic noncoronary leaflet and a coronary
      artery bypass graft. Eight cases of primary valve tumor occurred in all of four
      cardiac valves. The majority of valvular tumor was myxoma in 3 cases (37.5 %),
      followed by the papillary fibroelastomas in 2 cases (25 %). There were one
      rhabdomyoma (12.5 %), one lipoma (12.5 %) and one mild malignant sarcoma (12.5
      %). The mitral valve was the most commonly original valve (62.5 %). There was
      pulmonic (12.5 %), aortic (12.5 %) and tricuspid (12.5 %) valve tumor each one
      patient. There was no death and recrudescence in the series. Follow-up of all
      patients ranged from 1 to 16 years (mean 7.06 +/- 4.24 years). There was no
      recrudesce and cardiac valve dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The incidence of primary
      valve tumor was very low. More understanding of the rare disease and widespread
      use of echocardiography would greatly improve the diagnosis of primary valve
      tumor in the early stage. Echocardiography could detect millimeters in diameter
      neoplasms on cardiac valve. The diagnoses were based on imaging findings and the
      classical triad symptoms associated with the hemodynamic abnormalities, the organ
      embolism and the systemic symptoms directly from tumors. The intraoperative
      frozen sections and postoperative pathology analysis provided accurate diagnosis
      and supported the treatment strategies. Early diagnosis and intervention were
      keys to reserve the normal original valve function. Prompt surgical resection is
      necessary to prevent potential critical events.

PMID- 26891967
TI  - Dinutuximab: A Review in High-Risk Neuroblastoma.
AB  - Dinutuximab (ch14.18; UnituxinTM) is a chimeric human-mouse monoclonal antibody
      that binds to the glycolipid antigen disialoganglioside, which is highly
      expressed on the surface of neuroblastoma cells. This intravenous drug is
      approved in the EU and USA as combination therapy with granulocyte-macrophage
      colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-2 and isotretinoin for the
      postconsolidation treatment of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. In a
      multinational, phase III study in this patient population, event-free survival
      (EFS) benefits with the dinutuximab-containing regimen versus isotretinoin alone
      were observed at the time of the primary (p = 0.0115) and confirmatory (p =
      0.0330) efficacy analyses, although the observed p-value for the between-group
      difference in EFS for the primary efficacy analysis did not cross the
      prespecified boundary for statistical significance (p < 0.0108). Significant and
      sustained (5 years) overall survival benefits were seen with the dinutuximab
      containing regimen versus isotretinoin alone. Despite pretreatment with
      analgesics, antihistamines and antipyretics, serious adverse reactions have been
      reported with the dinutuximab-containing regimen, with infusion reactions and
      neuropathy prompting the US FDA to issue boxed warnings. Dinutuximab administered
      in combination with GM-CSF, IL-2 and isotretinoin represents an important advance
      in the postconsolidation treatment of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, with
      its benefits outweighing its risks in a patient population with a poor prognosis
      and limited therapeutic options. 

PMID- 26891970
TI  - Structure-activity correlation in transfection promoted by pyridinium cationic
      lipids.
AB  - The efficiency of the transfection of a plasmid DNA encoding a galactosidase
      promoted by a series of pyridinium lipids in mixtures with other cationic lipids
      and neutral lipids was assessed in CHO-K1 cells. We identify key molecular
      parameters of the lipids in the mixture - clog P, lipid length, partial molar
      volume - to predict the morphology of the lipid-DNA lipoplex and then correlate
      these same parameters with transfection efficiency in an in vitro assay. We
      define a Transfection Index that provides a linear correlation with normalized
      transfection efficiency over a series of 90 different lipoplex compositions. We
      also explore the influence of the same set of molecular parameters on the
      cytotoxicity of the formulations. 

PMID- 26891968
TI  - Cardiovascular risk profile of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive
      disease during nilotinib therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over the past few years, data have suggested that severe peripheral
      arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is associated with nilotinib exposure. However,
      the characteristics of this adverse drug reaction are poorly described since its
      frequency is low. As far as we know, no study using a spontaneous adverse drug
      reactions reporting system was performed to describe the characteristics of cases
      of PAOD related to nilotinib. OBJECTIVE: We performed a study to describe the
      cardiovascular risk profile of cases of PAOD in patients treated with nilotinib
      spontaneously reported to the French Pharmacovigilance Database (FPVD).
      PATIENTS/METHODS: We selected all cases of "vascular disorders," as the System
      Organ Class in MedDRA(r), in which nilotinib was "suspected" and recorded in the
      French Pharmacovigilance Database between 2007 and 21 October 2014. We then
      identified cases of PAOD with a Low Level Term and through a detailed summary of
      the clinical description. RESULTS: We identified 25 cases of POAD. Most of the
      patients were older than 60 years (84 %) or had another cardiovascular risk
      factor such as hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, overweight/obesity,
      smoking, or diabetes mellitus (72 %). Females (13 cases) and males (12 cases)
      were equally represented, but the presence of cardiovascular risk factors was
      more frequent in females than in males. The mean time from initiation of
      nilotinib to PAOD onset was 24 months and was significantly longer in patients
      aged less than 60 years compared with those aged over 60 years (33.8 +/- 24.6
      months vs. 22.6 +/- 17.5 months, p = 0.002). Pre-existing cardiovascular risk
      factors, especially diabetes mellitus, also seem to accelerate its occurrence.
      CONCLUSIONS: The FPVD is a useful tool in describing the cardiovascular risk
      profile of patients with PAOD during nilotinib exposure. Physicians have to be
      particularly vigilant in patients older than 60 years of age; in patients younger
      than 60 years of age, long-term surveillance has to be maintained.

PMID- 26891969
TI  - Cost and quality of life analysis of HIV self-testing and facility-based HIV
      testing and counselling in Blantyre, Malawi.
AB  - BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been found to be highly effective, but
      no cost analysis has been undertaken to guide the design of affordable and
      scalable implementation strategies. METHODS: Consecutive HIV self-testers and
      facility-based testers were recruited from participants in a community cluster
      randomised trial ( ISRCTN02004005 ) investigating the impact of offering HIVST in
      addition to facility-based HIV testing and counselling (HTC). Primary costing
      studies were undertaken of the HIVST service and of health facilities providing
      HTC to the trial population. Costs were adjusted to 2014 US$ and INT$. Recruited
      participants were asked about direct non-medical and indirect costs associated
      with accessing either modality of HIV testing, and additionally their health
      related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol EQ-5D. RESULTS: A total of
      1,241 participants underwent either HIVST (n = 775) or facility-based HTC (n =
      446). The mean societal cost per participant tested through HIVST (US$9.23; 95 %
      CI: US$9.14-US$9.32) was lower than through facility-based HTC (US$11.84; 95 %
      CI: US$10.81-12.86). Although the mean health provider cost per participant
      tested through HIVST (US$8.78) was comparable to facility-based HTC (range:
      US$7.53-US$10.57), the associated mean direct non-medical and indirect cost was
      lower (US$2.93; 95 % CI: US$1.90-US$3.96). The mean health provider cost per HIV
      positive participant identified through HIVST was higher (US$97.50) than for
      health facilities (range: US$25.18-US$76.14), as was the mean cost per HIV
      positive individual assessed for anti-retroviral treatment (ART) eligibility and
      the mean cost per HIV positive individual initiated onto ART. In comparison to
      the facility-testing group, the adjusted mean EQ-5D utility score was 0.046 (95 %
      CI: 0.022-0.070) higher in the HIVST group. CONCLUSIONS: HIVST reduces the
      economic burden on clients, but is a costlier strategy for the health provider
      aiming to identify HIV positive individuals for treatment. The provider cost of
      HIVST could be substantially lower under less restrictive distribution models, or
      if costs of oral fluid HIV test kits become comparable to finger-prick kits used
      in health facilities.

PMID- 26891971
TI  - Trapping and viability of swimming bacteria in an optoelectric trap.
AB  - Non-contact manipulation methods capable of trapping and transporting swimming
      bacteria can significantly aid in chemotaxis studies. However, high swimming
      speed makes the trapping of these organisms an inherently challenging task. We
      demonstrate that an optoelectric technique, rapid electrokinetic patterning
      (REP), can effectively trap and manipulate Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria
      swimming at velocities greater than 20 MUm s(-1). REP uses electro-orientation,
      laser-induced AC electrothermal flow, and particle-electrode interactions for
      capturing these cells. In contrast to trapping non-swimming bacteria and inert
      microspheres, we observe that electro-orientation is critical to the trapping of
      the swimming cells, since unaligned bacteria can swim faster than the radially
      inward electrothermal flow and escape the trap. By assessing the cell membrane
      integrity, we study the effect of REP trapping conditions, including optical
      radiation, laser-induced heating, and the electric field on cell viability. When
      applied individually, the optical radiation and laser-induced heating have
      negligible effect on cells. At the standard REP trapping conditions fewer than 2%
      of cells have a compromised membrane after four minutes. To our knowledge this is
      the first study detailing the effect of REP trapping on cell viability. The
      presented results provide a clear guideline on selecting suitable REP parameters
      for trapping living bacteria. 

PMID- 26891972
TI  - Design of nanomaterial based systems for novel vaccine development.
AB  - With lower cell toxicity and higher specificity, novel vaccines have been greatly
      developed and applied to emerging infectious and chronic diseases. However, due
      to problems associated with low immunogenicity and complicated processing steps,
      the development of novel vaccines has been limited. With the rapid development of
      bio-technologies and material sciences, nanomaterials are playing essential roles
      in novel vaccine design. Incorporation of nanomaterials is expected to improve
      delivery efficiency, to increase immunogenicity, and to reduce the administration
      dosage. The purpose of this review is to discuss the employment of nanomaterials,
      including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, virus-like particles, peptide
      amphiphiles micelles, peptide nanofibers and microneedle arrays, in vaccine
      design. Compared to traditional methods, vaccines made from nanomaterials display
      many appealing benefits, including precise stimulation of immune responses,
      effective targeting to certain tissue or cells, and desirable biocompatibility.
      Current research suggests that nanomaterials may improve our approach to the
      design and delivery of novel vaccines. 

PMID- 26891974
TI  - A Machine Learning Framework for Plan Payment Risk Adjustment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To introduce cross-validation and a nonparametric machine learning
      framework for plan payment risk adjustment and then assess whether they have the
      potential to improve risk adjustment. DATA SOURCES: 2011-2012 Truven MarketScan
      database. STUDY DESIGN: We compare the performance of multiple statistical
      approaches within a broad machine learning framework for estimation of risk
      adjustment formulas. Total annual expenditure was predicted using age, sex,
      geography, inpatient diagnoses, and hierarchical condition category variables.
      The methods included regression, penalized regression, decision trees, neural
      networks, and an ensemble super learner, all in concert with screening algorithms
      that reduce the set of variables considered. The performance of these methods was
      compared based on cross-validated R2 . PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Our results indicate
      that a simplified risk adjustment formula selected via this nonparametric
      framework maintains much of the efficiency of a traditional larger formula. The
      ensemble approach also outperformed classical regression and all other algorithms
      studied. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of cross-validated machine learning
      techniques provides novel insight into risk adjustment estimation, possibly
      allowing for a simplified formula, thereby reducing incentives for increased
      coding intensity as well as the ability of insurers to "game" the system with
      aggressive diagnostic upcoding.

PMID- 26891973
TI  - Conjunctival Lymphoma--An International Multicenter Retrospective Study.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: To date, the clinical features of the various subtypes of
      conjunctival lymphoma (CL) have not been previously evaluated in a large cohort.
      OBJECTIVE: To characterize subtype-specific clinical features of CL and their
      effect on patient outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective
      multicenter study was performed. Patient data were collected from January 1,
      1980, through December 31, 2010. The dates of the analysis were May 15, 2015, to
      August 20, 2015. The median follow-up period was 43 months. Seven eye cancer
      centers were involved in the study. In total, 268 patients with CL were
      identified, 5 of whom were excluded because of missing clinical data. MAIN
      OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival, disease-specific survival, and
      progression-free survival were the primary end points. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty
      three patients with CL were included in the study. Their mean age was 61.3 years,
      and 55.1% (145 of 263) were female. All lymphomas were of B-cell type. The most
      frequent subtype was extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) (68.4% [180 of
      263]), followed by follicular lymphoma (FL) (16.3% [43 of 263]), mantle cell
      lymphoma (MCL) (6.8% [18 of 263]), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
      (4.6% [12 of 263). Conjunctival lymphoma commonly manifested in elderly
      individuals (age range, 60-70 years old), with EMZL having a female predilection
      (57.8% [104 of 180]) and MCL having a marked male predominance (77.8% [14 of
      18]). Unlike EMZL and FL, DLBCL and MCL were frequently secondary diseases (41.7%
      [5 of 12] and 88.9% [16 of 18], respectively), with MCL showing a frequent
      occurrence of stage IVE lymphoma (61.1% [11 of 18]) and bilateral manifestation
      (77.8% [14 of 18]). Localized disease (stage IE or IIE) was commonly treated with
      external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without chemotherapy, while
      widespread lymphoma (stage IIIE or IVE) and MCL of any stage were managed with
      chemotherapy with or without EBRT. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and MCL had a
      poor prognosis, with 5-year disease-specific survival of 55.0% and 9.0%,
      respectively, in contrast to EMZL (97.0%) and FL (82.0%). Further survival
      predictors included age (EMZL), sex (FL), and Ann Arbor staging classification
      (EMZL and FL). The American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging showed limited
      prognostic usefulness, only being able to predict survival for patients with
      DLBCL. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Conjunctival lymphoma consists of mainly 4
      subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: EMZL, FL, MCL, and DLBCL. Mantle cell
      lymphoma is characterized by a particularly high frequency of secondary disease
      of stage IVE and bilateral manifestation. The histological subtype is the main
      outcome predictor, with MCL and DLBCL having a markedly poorer prognosis than
      EMZL and FL.

PMID- 26891975
TI  - Lenalidomide in an in vitro Dendritic Cell Model for Malignant Gliomas.
AB  - Malignant gliomas are tumors with a very unfavorable prognosis. They are
      characterized by rapid proliferation and invasion in the surrounding healthy
      tissue. Complete resection of the tumor is still the most important therapeutic
      option. Despite a variety of therapy modifications in the last years, long term
      survivors are still rare. Dendritic cell vaccination (DCV) might offer a new
      therapy option for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Hereby, tumorlysate pulsed
      dendritic cells (TPDC) can prime T cells to generate anti-tumor immune responses.
      Lenalidomide is an immune-modulatory piperidine-dione that has demonstrated
      activity especially in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies. Here, we
      tested the combination of DCV and lenalidomide in an in vitro model for
      immunotherapy of malignant gliomas. No changes of T or NK cell subsets were
      observed when lenalidomide was used. In addition, interferon gamma enzyme linked
      immunospot (ELISPOT) showed no effects after priming of autologous peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with TPDC and challenge with tumor cells. Although
      analyses of supernatants did not show higher amounts of interferon gamma and
      tumor necrosis factor alpha in the presence of lenalidomide, enhanced immune
      reaction by lenalidomide was detectable by granzyme B ELISPOT. Significantly
      higher numbers of spots were detected after challenge of TPDCprimed PBMC with
      tumor cells in the case that lenalidomide was present in the culture medium
      during priming. Our data suggest that the combination of DCV with lenalidomide
      might improve immunotherapy for malignant gliomas.

PMID- 26891976
TI  - Comparison of Molecular, Microscopic, and Culture Methods for Diagnosis of
      Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.
AB  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the northwest of Isfahan province,
      Iran. Increase in the incidence of the disease in Kashan has made it necessary to
      find out the best method for diagnosis and molecular characterization of
      Leishmania species. In the present study, 130 patients suspected to cutaneous
      leishmaniosis referred to health care centers of Kashan were examined. Serosity
      of lesion was collected for smear preparation and cultured in Novy-Nicolle-McNeal
      medium. DNA was extracted from serosity, and Leishmania species was determined by
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR using kinetoplast DNA (kDNA)
      specific primers. The diagnostic criteria of CL were based on the observation of
      amastigotes in the smear, promastigotes in culture, presence of expected bands in
      PCR, or nested PCR. Of 130 specimens, 87 (66.9%), 72 (56.2%), 98 (75.4 %), 96
      (73.8%), and 99 (76.2%) were positive for microscopic culture, PCR, nested PCR,
      and combined PCR and microscopy (proposed method), respectively. Sensitivity,
      specificity, positive and negative predictive values of PCR were 99%, 100%, 100%,
      96.9%, respectively, for microscopy 87.9%, 100%, 100%, 72.1%, for culture 72.7%,
      100%, 100%, 53.4 %, and for nested PCR 97%, 100%, 100%, 91.2%, respectively.
      Based on the results of the study, kDNA-PCR was the most sensitive method for
      diagnosis of CL. 

PMID- 26891977
TI  - Selective use of corifollitropin for controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF in
      patients with low anti-Mullerian hormone.
AB  - Corifollitropin, a long-acting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) analogue used
      for in vitro fertilization (IVF), does not allow individualization of dosage, and
      the ovarian response is similar to around 300 IU of daily recombinant FSH. This
      has raised concerns about the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
      when used in standard patients. We administered corifollitropin selectively to
      patients with anticipated low to moderate ovarian response based on antimullerian
      hormone levels in the lower quartile. The end points were oocyte distribution and
      occurrence of OHSS in women with AMH  <=15 pmol/L. The study included a cohort of
      368 patients treated in 599 cycles. Post hoc the cohort was subdivided according
      to AMH. With increasing baseline AMH, the number of oocytes increased from a mean
      of 2.7 (range 0-8 with AMH  <3 pmol/L) to 6.3 (range 0-15 with AMH 10-15 pmol/L)
      oocytes. Cancellations of retrievals and transfers decreased significantly with
      increasing AMH. Overall, the ongoing live pregnancy rate per started cycle was
      15.2%. None developed OHSS. No cycles were cancelled or needed triggering of
      ovulation using a GnRH agonist due to risk of OHSS. Selective use of
      corifollitropin in patients with AMH in the lower quartile is a safe and
      appropriate way of optimising stimulation.

PMID- 26891979
TI  - Dendrimer technologies for brain tumor.
AB  - Despite low prevalence, brain tumors are one of the most lethal forms of cancer.
      Unfortunately the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a highly regulated, well coordinated
      and efficient barrier, checks the permeation of most of the drugs across it.
      Hence, crossing this barrier is one of the most significant challenges in the
      development of efficient central nervous system therapeutics. Surface-engineered
      dendrimers improve biocompatibility, drug-release kinetics and aptitude to target
      the BBB and/or tumors and facilitate transportation of anticancer bioactives
      across the BBB. This review sheds light on different aspects of brain tumors and
      dendrimers based on different approaches for treatment including recent research,
      opportunities and challenges encountered in development of novel and efficient
      dendrimer-based therapeutics for the treatment of brain tumors.

PMID- 26891978
TI  - Quantifying the chameleonic properties of macrocycles and other high-molecular
      weight drugs.
AB  - Key to the pharmaceutical utility of certain macrocyclic drugs is a 'chameleonic'
      ability to change their conformation to expose polar groups in aqueous solution,
      but bury them when traversing lipid membranes. Based on analysis of the
      structures of 20 macrocyclic compounds that are approved oral drugs, we propose
      that good solubility requires a topological polar surface area (TPSA, in A(2)) of
      >=0.2*molecular weight (MW). Meanwhile, good passive membrane permeability
      requires a molecular (i.e., 3D) PSA in nonpolar environments of <=140A(2). We
      show that one or other of these limits is almost invariably violated for
      compounds with MW>600Da, suggesting that some degree of chameleonic behavior is
      required for most high MW oral drugs.

PMID- 26891980
TI  - p53 family interactions and yeast: together in anticancer therapy.
AB  - The p53 family proteins are among the most appealing targets for cancer therapy.
      A deeper understanding of the complex interplay that these proteins establish
      with murine double minute (MDM)2, MDMX, and mutant p53 could reveal new exciting
      therapeutic opportunities in cancer treatment. Here, we summarize the most
      relevant advances in the biology of p53 family protein-protein interactions
      (PPIs), and the latest pharmacological developments achieved from targeting these
      interactions. We also highlight the remarkable contributions of yeast-based
      assays to this research. Collectively, we emphasize promising strategies, based
      on the inhibition of p53 family PPIs, which have expedited anticancer drug
      development. 

PMID- 26891982
TI  - Gene co-expression analyses: an overview from microarray collections in
      Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Bioinformatics web-based resources and databases are precious references for most
      biological laboratories worldwide. However, the quality and reliability of the
      information they provide depends on them being used in an appropriate way that
      takes into account their specific features. Huge collections of gene expression
      data are currently publicly available, ready to support the understanding of gene
      and genome functionalities. In this context, tools and resources for gene co
      expression analyses have flourished to exploit the 'guilty by association'
      principle, which assumes that genes with correlated expression profiles are
      functionally related. In the case of Arabidopsis thaliana, the reference species
      in plant biology, the resources available mainly consist of microarray results.
      After a general overview of such resources, we tested and compared the results
      they offer for gene co-expression analysis. We also discuss the effect on the
      results when using different data sets, as well as different data normalization
      approaches and parameter settings, which often consider different metrics for
      establishing co-expression. A dedicated example analysis of different gene pools,
      implemented by including/excluding mutant samples in a reference data set, showed
      significant variation of gene co-expression occurrence, magnitude and direction.
      We conclude that, as the heterogeneity of the resources and methods may produce
      different results for the same query genes, the exploration of more than one of
      the available resources is strongly recommended. The aim of this article is to
      show how best to integrate data sources and/or merge outputs to achieve robust
      analyses and reliable interpretations, thereby making use of diverse data
      resources an opportunity for added value.

PMID- 26891981
TI  - Recent developments in using mechanistic cardiac modelling for drug safety
      evaluation.
AB  - On the tenth anniversary of two key International Conference on Harmonisation
      (ICH) guidelines relating to cardiac proarrhythmic safety, an initiative aims to
      consider the implementation of a new paradigm that combines in vitro and in
      silico technologies to improve risk assessment. The Comprehensive In Vitro
      Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative (co-sponsored by the Cardiac Safety
      Research Consortium, Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Safety
      Pharmacology Society and FDA) is a bold and welcome step in using computational
      tools for regulatory decision making. This review compares and contrasts the
      state-of-the-art tools from empirical to mechanistic models of cardiac
      electrophysiology, and how they can and should be used in combination with
      experimental tests for compound decision making.

PMID- 26891983
TI  - A benchmark of gene expression tissue-specificity metrics.
AB  - One of the major properties of genes is their expression pattern. Notably, genes
      are often classified as tissue specific or housekeeping. This property is of
      interest to molecular evolution as an explanatory factor of, e.g. evolutionary
      rate, as well as a functional feature which may in itself evolve. While many
      different methods of measuring tissue specificity have been proposed and used for
      such studies, there has been no comparison or benchmarking of these methods to
      our knowledge, and little justification of their use. In this study, we compare
      nine measures of tissue specificity. Most methods were established for ESTs and
      microarrays, and several were later adapted to RNA-seq. We analyse their capacity
      to distinguish gene categories, their robustness to the choice and number of
      tissues used and their capture of evolutionary conservation signal.

PMID- 26891984
TI  - Cerebral Cortical Circuitry Formation Requires Functional Glycine Receptors.
AB  - The development of the cerebral cortex is a complex process that requires the
      generation, migration, and differentiation of neurons. Interfering with any of
      these steps can impair the establishment of connectivity and, hence, function of
      the adult brain. Neurotransmitter receptors have emerged as critical players to
      regulate these biological steps during brain maturation. Among them, alpha2
      subunit-containing glycine receptors (GlyRs) regulate cortical neurogenesis and
      the present work demonstrates the long-term consequences of their genetic
      disruption on neuronal connectivity in the postnatal cerebral cortex. Our data
      indicate that somatosensory cortical neurons of Glra2 knockout mice (Glra2KO)
      have more dendritic branches with an overall increase in total spine number.
      These morphological defects correlate with a disruption of the
      excitation/inhibition balance, thereby increasing network excitability and
      enhancing susceptibility to epileptic seizures after pentylenetetrazol tail
      infusion. Taken together, our findings show that the loss of embryonic GlyRalpha2
      ultimately impairs the formation of cortical circuits in the mature brain.

PMID- 26891985
TI  - Language Ability Predicts Cortical Structure and Covariance in Boys with Autism
      Spectrum Disorder.
AB  - There is significant clinical heterogeneity in language and communication
      abilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, no
      consistent pathology regarding the relationship of these abilities to brain
      structure has emerged. Recent developments in anatomical correlation-based
      approaches to map structural covariance networks (SCNs), combined with detailed
      behavioral characterization, offer an alternative for studying these
      relationships. In this study, such an approach was used to study the integrity of
      SCNs of cortical thickness and surface area associated with language and
      communication, in 46 high-functioning, school-age children with ASD compared with
      50 matched, typically developing controls (all males) with IQ > 75. Findings
      showed that there was alteration of cortical structure and disruption of fronto
      temporal cortical covariance in ASD compared with controls. Furthermore, in an
      analysis of a subset of ASD participants, alterations in both cortical structure
      and covariance were modulated by structural language ability of the participants,
      but not communicative function. These findings indicate that structural language
      abilities are related to altered fronto-temporal cortical covariance in ASD, much
      more than symptom severity or cognitive ability. They also support the importance
      of better characterizing ASD samples while studying brain structure and for
      better understanding individual differences in language and communication
      abilities in ASD.

PMID- 26891987
TI  - Acute otalgia and otorrhoea in primary care.

PMID- 26891988
TI  - Epilepsia partialis continua triggered by traumatic hand injury: a peripheral
      tuning of brain excitability?
AB  - Epilepsia partialis continua is often refractory to antiepileptic medication and
      its causal relation to peripheral sensory stimuli has only rarely been suggested.
      We report a man who received surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy 10 years ago, who
      presented "de novo" epilepsia partialis continua following mild traumatic injury
      of the left hand. Continuous myoclonus of the left upper limb started the day
      after injury and persisted unabated for several weeks. Non-invasive evaluation
      was inconclusive. Acute electrocorticography during surgery under local
      anaesthesia revealed continuous, rhythmic spiking over the right sensorimotor
      cortex. Tailored excision of the posterior bank of the motor and adjacent sensory
      cortex immediately stopped the continuous myoclonus. Histopathology showed
      abnormal radial lamination and was compatible with focal cortical dysplasia type
      IA. Epilepsia partialis continua did not recur for seven years. Afferent stimuli
      from peripheral injury can disinhibit hyperexcitable sensorimotor cortex leading
      to epilepsia partialis continua. [Published with video sequences online]. 

PMID- 26891990
TI  - Suppression of lysyl-tRNA synthetase, KRS, causes incomplete epithelial
      mesenchymal transition and ineffective cell-extracellular matrix adhesion for
      migration.
AB  - The cell-adhesion properties of cancer cells can be targeted to block cancer
      metastasis. Although cytosolic lysyl-tRNA synthetase (KRS) functions in protein
      synthesis, KRS on the plasma membrane is involved in cancer metastasis. We
      hypothesized that KRS is involved in cell adhesion-related signal transduction
      for cellular migration. To test this hypothesis, colon cancer cells with
      modulated KRS protein levels were analyzed for cell-cell contact and cell
      substrate adhesion properties and cellular behavior. Although KRS suppression
      decreased expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules, cells still formed colonies
      without being scattered, supporting an incomplete epithelial mesenchymal
      transition. Noteworthy, KRS-suppressed cells still exhibited focal adhesions on
      laminin, with Tyr397-phopshorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), but they lacked
      laminin-adhesion-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and
      paxillin activation. KRS, p67LR and integrin alpha6beta1 were found to interact,
      presumably to activate ERK for paxillin expression and Tyr118 phosphorylation
      even without involvement of FAK, so that specific inhibition of ERK or KRS in
      parental HCT116 cells blocked cell-cell adhesion and cell-substrate properties
      for focal adhesion formation and signaling activity. Together, these results
      indicate that KRS can promote cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion for migration. 

PMID- 26891986
TI  - Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Functional Connectivity Architecture
      of the Human Brain.
AB  - One of the grand challenges faced by neuroscience is to delineate the
      determinants of interindividual variation in the comprehensive structural and
      functional connection matrices that comprise the human connectome. At present,
      this endeavor appears most tractable at the macroanatomic scale, where intrinsic
      brain activity exhibits robust patterns of synchrony that recapitulate core
      functional circuits at the individual level. Here, we use a classical twin study
      design to examine the heritability of intrinsic functional network properties in
      101 twin pairs, including network activity (i.e., variance of a network's
      specific temporal fluctuations) and internetwork coherence (i.e., correlation
      between networks' specific temporal fluctuations). Five of 7 networks exhibited
      significantly heritable (23.3-65.2%) network activity, 6 of the 21 internetwork
      coherences were significantly heritable (25.6-42.0%), and 11 of the 21
      internetwork coherences were significantly influenced by common environmental
      factors (18.0-47.1%). These results suggest that the source of interindividual
      variation in functional connectome has a modular architecture: individual modules
      represented by intrinsic connectivity networks are genetic controlled, while
      environmental factors influence the interplays between the modules. This work
      further provides network-specific hypotheses for discovery of the specific
      genetic and environmental factors influencing functional specialization and
      integration of the human brain. 

PMID- 26891989
TI  - cGMP Signalling Mediates Water Sensation (Hydrosensation) and Hydrotaxis in
      Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Animals have developed the ability to sense the water content in their habitats,
      including hygrosensation (sensing humidity in the air) and hydrosensation
      (sensing the water content in other microenvironments), and they display
      preferences for specific water contents that influence their mating, reproduction
      and geographic distribution. We developed and employed four quantitative
      behavioural test paradigms to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms
      underlying sensing the water content in an agar substrate (hydrosensation) and
      hydrotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans. By combining a reverse genetic screen with
      genetic manipulation, optogenetic neuronal manipulation and in vivo Ca(2+)
      imaging, we demonstrate that adult worms avoid the wetter areas of agar plates
      and hypo-osmotic water droplets. We found that the cGMP signalling pathway in
      ciliated sensory neurons is involved in hydrosensation and hydrotaxis in
      Caenorhabditis elegans.

PMID- 26891993
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26891991
TI  - Multicenter prospective longitudinal study of magnetic resonance biomarkers in a
      large duchenne muscular dystrophy cohort.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe Duchenne muscular dystrophy
      (DMD) disease progression in the lower extremity muscles over 12 months using
      quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) biomarkers, collected across three sites in
      a large cohort. METHODS: A total of 109 ambulatory boys with DMD (8.7 +/- 2.0
      years; range, 5.0-12.9) completed baseline and 1-year follow-up quantitative MR
      imaging (transverse relaxation time constant; MRI-T2 ), MR spectroscopy (fat
      fraction and (1) H2 O T2 ), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) measurements. A subset
      of boys completed additional measurements after 3 or 6 months. RESULTS: MRI-T2
      and fat fraction increased significantly over 12 months in all age groups,
      including in 5- to 6.9-year-old boys. Significant increases in vastus lateralis
      (VL) fat fraction were observed in 3 and 6 months. Even in boys whose 6MWT
      performance improved or remained stable over 1 year, significant increases in MRI
      T2 and fat fraction were found. Of all the muscles examined, the VL and biceps
      femoris long head were the most responsive to disease progression in boys with
      DMD. INTERPRETATION: MR biomarkers are responsive to disease progression in 5- to
      12.9-year-old boys with DMD and able to detect subclinical disease progression in
      DMD, even within short (3-6 months) time periods. The measured sensitivity of MR
      biomarkers in this multicenter study may be critically important to future
      clinical trials, allowing for smaller sample sizes and/or shorter study windows
      in this fatal rare disease.

PMID- 26891994
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26891992
TI  - Subgroup analyses in confirmatory clinical trials: time to be specific about
      their purposes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that treatment effects may not be homogeneous
      across the study population. Subgroup analyses constitute a fundamental step in
      the assessment of evidence from confirmatory (Phase III) clinical trials, where
      conclusions for the overall study population might not hold. Subgroup analyses
      can have different and distinct purposes, requiring specific design and analysis
      solutions. It is relevant to evaluate methodological developments in subgroup
      analyses against these purposes to guide health care professionals and regulators
      as well as to identify gaps in current methodology. METHODS: We defined four
      purposes for subgroup analyses: (1) Investigate the consistency of treatment
      effects across subgroups of clinical importance, (2) Explore the treatment effect
      across different subgroups within an overall non-significant trial, (3) Evaluate
      safety profiles limited to one or a few subgroup(s), (4) Establish efficacy in
      the targeted subgroup when included in a confirmatory testing strategy of a
      single trial. We reviewed the methodology in line with this "purpose-based"
      framework. The review covered papers published between January 2005 and April
      2015 and aimed to classify them in none, one or more of the aforementioned
      purposes. RESULTS: In total 1857 potentially eligible papers were identified.
      Forty-eight papers were selected and 20 additional relevant papers were
      identified from their references, leading to 68 papers in total. Nineteen were
      dedicated to purpose 1, 16 to purpose 4, one to purpose 2 and none to purpose 3.
      Seven papers were dedicated to more than one purpose, the 25 remaining could not
      be classified unambiguously. Purposes of the methods were often not specifically
      indicated, methods for subgroup analysis for safety purposes were almost absent
      and a multitude of diverse methods were developed for purpose (1). CONCLUSIONS:
      It is important that researchers developing methodology for subgroup analysis
      explicitly clarify the objectives of their methods in terms that can be
      understood from a patient's, health care provider's and/or regulator's
      perspective. A clear operational definition for consistency of treatment effects
      across subgroups is lacking, but is needed to improve the usability of subgroup
      analyses in this setting. Finally, methods to particularly explore benefit-risk
      systematically across subgroups need more research.

PMID- 26891995
TI  - Smoking Induced Hemolysis: Spectral and microscopic investigations.
AB  - Smoking is one of the major causes of lifestyle associated mortality and
      morbidity such as cancer of the oral cavity and lungs, and also cardiovascular
      diseases. In this study, we have provided evidences for the smoking-induced
      hemolysis using two methods: spectra of blood components and atomic force
      microscopic analysis of surface morphology. A total of 62 subjects (control = 31;
      smoker = 31: 21 male; 10 female in each set) were considered for the study. The
      findings indicate that smoking leads to potholes on the surface, swelling of
      shape, rupturing of erythrocytes, removal of hematoporphyrin and flushing into
      the plasma as metabolites of the erythrocyte. The overall morphology of the
      erythrocytes of the smoker group appears more like a Mexican hat. The mean
      surface roughness was 5.5 +/- 3 nm for the smoker group, but 1.2 +/- 0.2 nm for
      the control group. Such damages might help the toxins, (CO, peroxidants,
      aldehydes etc.,) to gain easy access and get strongly absorbed by the hemoglobin,
      leading to enhanced rates of hemolysis as shown by the spectral features of
      metabolites. This indicates that the average life span of the smoker's
      erythrocytes is significantly less than that of the control group.

PMID- 26891997
TI  - Genome analysis of the kiwifruit canker pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv.
      actinidiae biovar 5.
AB  - Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is a destructive pathogen of kiwifruit
      bacterial canker disease, causing severe economic losses to kiwifruit industry
      worldwide. Biovar 5 is the most recently reported biovar of Psa, and is found in
      only a local area of Japan at present. There is not much information of genetic
      characteristics of biovar 5. Thus, the genome of biovar 5 was sequenced and
      analyzed to clarify its detailed genetic characteristics. Here, the genomes of
      strain MAFF 212056 and MAFF 212061 of biovar 5 were estimated to be about 6.3 Mbp
      and 6.5 Mbp, respectively, and their phylogenetic positions were proved to be
      near that of biovar 2 in the phylogenetic tree. However, it was confirmed that
      biovar 5 had neither the coronatine biosynthetic genes conserved in biovar 2, its
      phylogenetic neighbor, nor the phaseolotoxin biosynthetic genes conserved in
      biovar 1, Japanese native pathogen. In addition, 45 genes of type III secreted
      effectors were identified in biovar 5 genomes, showing that their composition is
      different from that in the other biovars. Moreover, some biovar 5-specific
      regions were identified. Then, biovar 5-specific PCR primers for targeting these
      regions were designed, and proved to be applicable for detecting biovar 5
      specifically.

PMID- 26891998
TI  - National Lipid Association Annual Summary of Clinical Lipidology 2016.
AB  - The National Lipid Association (NLA) Annual Summary of Clinical Lipidology is a
      yearly updated summary of principles important to the patient-centered
      evaluation, management, and care of patients with dyslipidemia. This summary is
      intended to be a "living document," with future annual updates based on emerging
      science, clinical considerations, and new NLA Position, Consensus, and Scientific
      Statements, thus providing an ongoing resource that applies the latest in medical
      science towards the clinical management of patients with dyslipidemia. Topics
      include the NLA Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia,
      genetics, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, secondary causes of dyslipidemia,
      biomarkers and advanced lipid testing, nutrition, physical activity, obesity,
      adiposopathy, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, lipid pharmacotherapy, lipid
      altering drug interactions, lipoprotein apheresis, dyslipidemia management and
      treatment based upon age (children, adolescents, and older individuals),
      dyslipidemia considerations based upon race, ethnicity and gender, dyslipidemia
      and human immune virus infection, dyslipidemia and immune disorders, adherence
      strategies and collaborative care, and lipid-altering drugs in development.
      Hyperlinks direct the reader to sentinel online tables, charts, and figures
      relevant to lipidology, access to online atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
      risk calculators, worldwide lipid guidelines, recommendations, and
      position/scientific statements, as well as links to online audio files, websites,
      slide shows, applications, continuing medical education opportunities, and
      patient information. 

PMID- 26891996
TI  - Estrogen replacement therapy-induced neuroprotection against brain ischemia
      reperfusion injury involves the activation of astrocytes via estrogen receptor
      beta.
AB  - The incidence of ischemic stroke is significantly increased in postmenopausal
      women. However, the neuroprotective effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
      against stroke remain controversial, and the role of astrocytes in ERT has rarely
      been explored. In this study, we investigated the effects of estrogen and
      selective estrogen receptor (ER) agonists on astrocytes activation and neuronal
      apoptosis in mice under conditions of cell culture oxygen and glucose deprivation
      and reperfusion (OGD-R), and global cerebral ischemia (GCI). We demonstrated that
      hippocampal astrocytes primarily express ERbeta. In astrocytes, 2.5-20 nM 17beta
      estradiol (E2) or 10 nM DPN (ERbeta agonist) not 10 nM PPT (ERalpha agonist),
      significantly increased GFAP expression. And 10 nM E2, DPN or E2+MPP (ERalpha
      antagonist), but not PPT or E2+PHTPP (ERbeta antagonist), significantly reduced
      neuronal apoptosis following the subjection of astrocyte and neuronal cocultures
      to OGD-R. We also found that either 50 MUg/kg E2 or 8 mg/kg DPN replacement (3
      weeks) significantly increased GFAP expression and reduced GCI-induced neuronal
      apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 region of ovariectomized mice. These results
      indicate that estrogen-induced neuroprotection against ischemia-reperfusion
      injury involves activation of astrocytes via ERbeta. Thus, the discovery and
      design of astrocyte-selective ERbeta modulators may offer a new strategy for ERT
      of ischemic stroke.

PMID- 26891999
TI  - Herbal preparation (HemoHIM) enhanced functional maturation of bone marrow
      derived dendritic cells mediated toll-like receptor 4.
AB  - BACKGROUND: HemoHIM, which is an herbal preparation of three edible herbs
      (Angelicam gigas Nakai, Cnidium offinale Makino, and Peaonia japonica Miyabe), is
      known to have various biological and immunological activities, but the modulatory
      effects of this preparation on dendritic cells (DCs)-mediated immune responses
      have not been examined previously. DCs are a unique group of white blood cells
      that initiate primary immune responses by capturing, processing, and presenting
      antigens to T cells. RESULTS: In the present study, we investigated the effect of
      HemoHIM on the functional and phenotypic maturation of murine bone marrow-derived
      dendritic cells (BMDCs) both in vitro and in vivo. The expression of co
      stimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC I, and MHC II) and the production of
      cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12p70, and TNF-alpha) were increased by HemoHIM in
      BMDCs. Furthermore, the antigen-uptake ability of BMDCs was decreased by HemoHIM,
      and the antigen-presenting ability of HemoHIM-treated mature BMDCs increased TLR4
      dependent CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
      demonstrated that HemoHIM induces TLR4-mediated BMDCs functional and phenotypic
      maturation through in vivo and in vitro. And our study showed the antigen
      presenting ability that HemoHIM-treated mature BMDCs increase CD4(+) and CD8(+) T
      cell responses by in vitro. These results suggest that HemoHIM has the potential
      to mediate DC immune responses.

PMID- 26892000
TI  - Metabolic and transcriptomic changes induced in host during hypersensitive
      response mediated resistance in rice against the Asian rice gall midge.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An incompatible interaction between rice (Oryza sativa) and the Asian
      rice gall midge (AGM, Orseolia oryzae Wood-Mason), that is usually manifested
      through a hypersensitive response (HR), represents an intricate relationship
      between the resistant host and its avirulent pest. We investigated changes in the
      transcriptome and metabolome of the host (indica rice variety: RP2068-18-3-5,
      RP), showing HR when attacked by an avirulent gall midge biotype (GMB1), to
      deduce molecular and biochemical bases of such a complex interaction. Till now,
      such an integrated analysis of host transcriptome and metabolome has not been
      reported for any rice-insect interaction. RESULTS: Transcript and metabolic
      profiling data revealed more than 7000 differentially expressed genes and 80
      differentially accumulated metabolites, respectively, in the resistant host.
      Microarray data revealed deregulation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism
      causing a C/N shift; up-regulation of tetrapyrrole synthesis and down-regulation
      of chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. Integrated results revealed that
      genes involved in lipid peroxidation (LPO) were up-regulated and a marker
      metabolite for LPO (azelaic acid) accumulated during HR. This coincided with a
      greater accumulation of GABA (neurotransmitter and an insect antifeedant) at the
      feeding site. Validation of microarray results by semi-quantitative RT-PCR
      revealed temporal variation in gene expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The study
      revealed extensive reprogramming of the transcriptome and metabolome of RP upon
      GMB1 infestation leading to an HR that was induced by the generation and release
      of reactive oxygen species i.e. singlet oxygen and resulted in LPO-mediated cell
      death. RP thus used HR as a means to limit nutrient supply to the feeding maggots
      and simultaneously accumulated GABA, strategies that could have led to maggot
      mortality. The integrated results of transcript and metabolic profiling, for the
      first time, provided insights into an HR+ type of resistance in rice against gall
      midge.

PMID- 26892002
TI  - Low level of attention to health inequalities in prevention planning activities
      of the Italian Regions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health promotion and prevention activities should tackle health
      inequalities to reduce disparities in health among disadvantaged populations.
      This study aimed to assess the extent to which the Italian Regions considered
      health inequalities during the planning of prevention activities, to detect
      geographical differences and to identify the possible determinants of differences
      in attention to health inequalities. METHODS: The 19 Regional Prevention Plans
      (RPPs) developed by Italian Regions within the National Prevention Plan (NPP)
      2010-2013 were assessed using a specific tool to address the level of attention
      to health inequalities. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to
      identify regional characteristics associated with a higher level of attention to
      health inequalities. RESULTS: Of the 702 projects included in the 19 RPPs, only
      56 (8.0 %) specifically addressed issues related to health inequalities. The
      results of the multivariate analysis showed that a higher level of attention was
      associated with the macroarea of intervention 'prevention in high-risk groups',
      with the higher quality of the Strategic Plan Section of the RPP and with the
      higher percentage of migrants in the Region in 2010. Moreover, projects that
      addressed the topic of health inequalities were more likely to be developed in
      the Northern Regions, in Regions with a lower level of 'linking social capital'
      and with a Higher Regional Health Care Expenditure (RHCE) as a percentage of
      Regional Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) in 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The level of
      attention to health inequalities in the regional planning process of prevention
      activities 2010-2013 in Italy is low. The results of this study supported the new
      round of prevention planning in Italy, and highlight the urgent need to increase
      the number of policies and interventions able to reduce health inequalities.

PMID- 26892003
TI  - Embedding Evidence-based Practice Education into a Post-graduate Physiotherapy
      Program: Eight Years of pre-Post Course Evaluations.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little has been published about the effectiveness of
      training postgraduate physiotherapy coursework students in research methods and
      evidence-based practice (EBP) theory. Graduate qualities in most universities
      include lifelong learning. Inclusion of EBP in post-graduate coursework students'
      training is one way for students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to
      implement current best evidence in their clinical practice after graduation,
      thereby facilitating lifelong learning. This paper reports on change in
      confidence and anxiety in knowledge of statistical terminology and concepts
      related to research design and EBP in eight consecutive years of post-graduate
      physiotherapy students at one Australian university. METHODS: Pre-survey/post
      survey instruments were administered to students in an intensive 3-week post
      graduate course, which taught health research methods, biostatistics and EBP.
      This course was embedded into a post-graduate physiotherapy programme from 2007
      to 2014. The organization and delivery of the course was based on best
      pedagogical evidence for effectively teaching adult physiotherapists. The course
      was first delivered each year in the programme, and no other course was delivered
      concurrently. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in confidence,
      significantly decreased anxiety and improvements in knowledge of statistical
      terminology and concepts related to research design and EBP, at course
      completion. Age, gender and country of origin were not confounders on learning
      outcomes, although there was a (non-significant) trend that years of practice
      negatively impacted on learning outcomes (p = 0.09). There was a greater
      improvement in confidence in statistical terminology than in concepts related to
      research design and EBP. CONCLUSION: An intensive teaching programme in health
      research methods and biostatistics and EBP, based on best practice adult
      physiotherapy learning principles, is effective immediately post-course, in
      decreasing anxiety and increasing confidence in the terminology used in research
      methods and EBP. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26892001
TI  - Virtual reality cue exposure for the relapse prevention of tobacco consumption: a
      study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Successful interventions have been developed for smoking cessation,
      but the success of smoking relapse prevention interventions has been limited. In
      particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been hampered by a high
      relapse rate. Because relapses can be due to the presence of conditions
      associated with tobacco consumption (such as drinking in bars with friends),
      virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) can generate synthetic environments that
      represent risk situations for the patient in the context of relapse prevention.
      The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT
      coupled with VRET, in comparison to CBT alone, in the prevention of smoking
      relapse. The secondary objectives are to assess the impact of CBT coupled with
      VRET on anxiety, depression, quality of life, self-esteem and addictive
      comorbidities (such as alcohol, cannabis, and gambling). A third objective
      examines the feasibility and acceptability of VR use considering elements such as
      presence, cybersickness and number of patients who complete the VRET program.
      METHOD/DESIGN: The present study is a 14-month (2 months of therapy followed by
      12 months of follow-up), prospective, comparative, randomized and open clinical
      trial, involving two parallel groups (CBT coupled with VRET versus CBT alone).
      The primary outcome is the proportion of individuals with tobacco abstinence at 6
      months after the end of the therapy. Abstinence is defined by the total absence
      of tobacco consumption assessed during a post-test interview and with an
      apparatus that measures the carbon monoxide levels expired. A total of 60
      individuals per group will be included. DISCUSSION: This study is the first to
      examine the efficacy of CBT coupled with VRET in the prevention of smoking
      relapse. Because VRET is simple to use and has a low cost, this interactive
      therapeutic method might be easily implemented in clinical practice if the study
      confirms its efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
      NCT02205060 (registered 25 July 2014).

PMID- 26892005
TI  - Education and training to support the use of clinical telehealth: A review of the
      literature.
AB  - Introduction Despite a growing literature base, substantial investment, and
      policy changes within governments, the integration of telehealth into routine
      clinical care has been limited. The availability of appropriate systematic
      education and training for practitioners has been highlighted as necessary for
      strong adoption. However, the availability and nature of telehealth-related
      education and training for practitioners is not understood. By reviewing the
      literature, we aimed to describe the delivery of education and training in
      telehealth, with particular focus on content, modes of delivery, types of
      institutions, and target clinician groups. Methods We performed searches using
      PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and ERIC.
      We included studies that were focused on the delivery of telehealth-related
      academic or vocational education and training. We extracted information
      pertaining to country, programs and their participants, and tabulated the
      results. Results Altogether 388 articles were identified, of which nine studies
      were selected for final review. Programs from five countries were represented and
      articles were spread across telemedicine and clinically oriented journals.
      Education and training in telehealth has been provided as both university level
      and vocational courses using conventional classroom based delivery methods and e
      learning. Reported curriculum items included terminology, clinical applications,
      the evidence-base, and technological aspects. Conclusions Published evidence in
      peer-reviewed literature on telehealth education and training is limited.
      According to this review, a number of topics relating to telehealth have been
      covered by existing education programs both within tertiary and professional
      development levels.

PMID- 26892006
TI  - Comparative Efficacy of Newer Antidepressants in Combination with Pregabalin for
      Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Controlled, Randomized Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This controlled, randomized study investigated the hypothesis that
      the combined use of pregabalin plus paroxetine for fibromyalgia management would
      be associated with comparable Somatic Symptoms Scale-8 (SSS-8) and Center for
      Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESDS) scores, but higher tolerability
      than the combined use of pregabalin plus either amitriptyline or venlafaxine.
      METHODS: After institutional ethics committee approval, 75 female subjects
      diagnosed with fibromyalgia and in receipt of pregabalin (75 mg/day) were
      randomly allocated to concurrently receive amitriptyline (25 mg/day; n = 24),
      venlafaxine (75 mg/day; n = 25), or paroxetine (25 mg/day; n = 26). All patients
      were assessed bimonthly for 6 consecutive months for changes in SSS-8 and CESDS
      scores, life satisfaction, mood, sleep quality, fatigue, medication tolerability,
      and adverse events. RESULTS: Compared with pregabalin plus amitriptyline or
      venlafaxine, the combined use of pregabalin plus paroxetine in fibromyalgia
      patients resulted in significantly lower SSS-8 and CESDS scores from 18 (P <
      0.05) and 10 weeks (P < 0.001) after the initiation of study medications,
      respectively; higher medication tolerability (P < 0.001); improved life
      satisfaction, mood, and sleep quality at most observation times (P < 0.05); and
      fewer instances of dry mouth and elevated blood pressure (P < 0.02). Medication
      termination due to poor tolerability was observed most frequently in the
      venlafaxine group (P < 0.05), while drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision,
      abnormal taste, hunger, hallucination, urination problems, and sexual dysfunction
      were observed most frequently in the amitriptyline group (P < 0.02). CONCLUSION:
      The combined use of pregabalin plus paroxetine offers an effective method with
      increased tolerability to reduce the somatic and depressive symptoms of
      fibromyalgia and to enhance the quality of life in affected individuals.

PMID- 26892007
TI  - Valorization of Palm Oil Industrial Waste as Feedstock for Lipase Production.
AB  - The use of residues from the industrial processing of palm oil as carbon source
      and inducer for microbial lipase production can be a way to add value to such
      residues and to contribute to reduced enzyme costs. The aim of this work was to
      investigate the feasibility of using palm oil industrial waste as feedstock for
      lipase production in different cultivation systems. Evaluation was made of lipase
      production by a selected strain of Aspergillus niger cultivated under solid-state
      (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF). Lipase activity levels up to 15.41 IU/mL
      were achieved under SSF. The effects of pH and temperature on the lipase activity
      of the SSF extract were evaluated using statistical design methodology, and
      maximum activities were obtained between pH 4.0 and 6.5 and at temperatures
      between 37 and 55  degrees C. This lipase presented good thermal stability up to
      60  degrees C and higher specificity towards long carbon chain substrates. The
      results demonstrate the potential application of palm oil industrial residues for
      lipase production and contribute to the technological advances needed to develop
      processes for industrial enzymes production. 

PMID- 26892004
TI  - Gene expression in human brain implicates sexually dimorphic pathways in autism
      spectrum disorders.
AB  - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in males, and the mechanisms
      behind this sex-differential risk are not fully understood. Two competing, but
      not mutually exclusive, hypotheses are that ASD risk genes are sex-differentially
      regulated, or alternatively, that they interact with characteristic sexually
      dimorphic pathways. Here we characterized sexually dimorphic gene expression in
      multiple data sets from neurotypical adult and prenatal human neocortical tissue,
      and evaluated ASD risk genes for evidence of sex-biased expression. We find no
      evidence for systematic sex-differential expression of ASD risk genes. Instead,
      we observe that genes expressed at higher levels in males are significantly
      enriched for genes upregulated in post-mortem autistic brain, including astrocyte
      and microglia markers. This suggests that it is not sex-differential regulation
      of ASD risk genes, but rather naturally occurring sexually dimorphic processes,
      potentially including neuron-glial interactions, that modulate the impact of risk
      variants and contribute to the sex-skewed prevalence of ASD. 

PMID- 26892008
TI  - Purification, Characterization, and Optimum Conditions of Fermencin SD11, a
      Bacteriocin Produced by Human Orally Lactobacillus fermentum SD11.
AB  - Fermencin SD11, a bacteriocin produced by human orally Lactobacillus fermentum
      SD11, was purified, characterized, and optimized in conditions for bacterial
      growth and bacteriocin production. Fermencin SD11 was purified using three steps
      of ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration chromatography, and reverse
      phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weight was found to
      be 33,000 Da using SDS-PAGE and confirmed as 33,593.4 Da by liquid chromatography
      mass spectrometry. Fermencin SD11 exhibited activity against a wide range of oral
      pathogens including cariogenic and periodontogenic pathogens and Candida. The
      active activity was stable between 60 - 80  degrees C in a pH range of 3.0 to
      7.0. It was sensitive to proteolytic enzymes (proteinase K and trypsin), but it
      was not affected by alpha-amylase, catalase, lysozyme, and saliva. The optimum
      conditions for growth and bacteriocin production of L. fermentum SD11 were
      cultured at acidic with pH of 5.0-6.0 at 37 or 40  degrees C under aerobic or
      anaerobic conditions for 12 h. It is promising that L. fermentum SD11 and its
      bacteriocin may be an alternative approach for promoting oral health or
      prevention of oral diseases, e.g., dental caries and periodontitis, which would
      require further clinical trials. 

PMID- 26892009
TI  - Sec6/8 regulates Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, but not Bcl-xl, in malignant peripheral nerve
      sheath tumor cells.
AB  - Sec6 and Sec8, which are components of the exocyst complex, has been concerned
      with various roles independent of its role in secretion, such as cell migration,
      invadopodia formation, cytokinesis, glucose uptake, and neural development. Given
      the vital roles of the exocyst complex in cellular and developmental processes,
      the disruption of its function may be closely related to various diseases such as
      cancer, diabetes, and neuronal disorders. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath
      tumors (MPNSTs) have high malignant potential and poor prognosis because of
      aggressive progression and metastasis. To date, no chemotherapeutic agents have
      been validated for MPNSTs treatment because how MPNSTs are resistant to
      chemotherapeutic agents remains unknown. This study demonstrates that combination
      of doxorubicin and sorafenib induces apoptosis in MPNST cells through
      downregulation of B cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-related protein long
      form of Bcl-x (Bcl-xl), and myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1). Moreover, both Sec6
      and Sec8 levels decreased after treatment with doxorubicin and sorafenib and were
      found to be associated with Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expressions, but not Bcl-xl. Although
      Sec8 was found to be involved in the regulation of both Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 at the
      mRNA level, Sec6 regulated Bcl-2 at the mRNA level and the binding affinity of F
      box and WD repeat domain containing 7 and Mcl-1, thereby controlling Mcl-1 at the
      protein level. Bcl-2 or Mcl-1 mRNA suppression by Sec6 or Sec8 depletion resulted
      in significant changes in nuclear factor-kappa B, cAMP response element, and p53
      transcriptional activity. These results suggest that Sec6 and Sec8 are
      therapeutic target molecules in MPNST. 

PMID- 26892010
TI  - The downside of choice: Having a choice benefits enjoyment, but at a cost to
      efficiency and time in visual search.
AB  - The efficiency of how people search for an item in visual search has,
      traditionally, been thought to depend on bottom-up or top-down guidance cues.
      However, recent research has shown that the rate at which people visually search
      through a display is also affected by cognitive strategies. In this study, we
      investigated the role of choice in visual search, by asking whether giving people
      a choice alters both preference for a cognitively neutral task and search
      behavior. Two visual search conditions were examined: one in which participants
      were given a choice of visual search task (the choice condition), and one in
      which participants did not have a choice (the no-choice condition). The results
      showed that the participants in the choice condition rated the task as both more
      enjoyable and likeable than did the participants in the no-choice condition.
      However, despite their preferences, actual search performance was slower and less
      efficient in the choice condition than in the no-choice condition (Exp. 1).
      Experiment 2 showed that the difference in search performance between the choice
      and no-choice conditions disappeared when central executive processes became
      occupied with a task-switching task. These data concur with a choice-impaired
      hypothesis of search, in which having a choice leads to more motivated, active
      search involving executive processes.

PMID- 26892011
TI  - Molecular alterations induced by a high-fat high-fiber diet in porcine adipose
      tissues: variations according to the anatomical fat location.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Changing the energy and nutrient source for growing animals may be an
      effective way of limiting adipose tissue expansion, a response which may depend
      on the genetic background of the animals. This study aims to describe the
      transcriptional modulations present in the adipose tissues of two pig lines
      divergently selected for residual feed intake which were either fed a high-fat
      high-fiber (HF) diet or an isocaloric low-fat high-starch diet (LF). RESULTS:
      Transcriptomic analysis using a porcine microarray was performed on 48 pigs (n =
      12 per diet and per line) in both perirenal (PRAT) and subcutaneous (SCAT)
      adipose tissues. There was no interaction between diet and line on either
      adiposity or transcriptional profiles, so that the diet effect was inferred
      independently of the line. Irrespective of line, the relative weights of the two
      fat depots were lower in HF pigs than in LF pigs after 58 days on dietary
      treatment. In the two adipose tissues, the most apparent effect of the HF diet
      was the down-regulation of several genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome
      system, which therefore may be associated with dietary-induced modulations in
      genes acting in apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory pathways. Genes involved in
      glucose metabolic processes were also down-regulated by the HF diet, with no
      significant variation or decreased expression of important lipid-related genes
      such as the low-density lipoprotein receptor and leptin in the two fat pads. The
      master regulators of glucose and fatty acid homeostasis SREBF1 and MLXIPL, and
      peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)delta and its heterodimeric
      partner RXRA were down-regulated by the HF diet. PPARgamma which has pleiotropic
      functions including lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation, was however
      up-regulated by this diet in PRAT and SCAT. Dietary-related modulations in the
      expression of genes associated with immunity and inflammation were mainly
      revealed in PRAT. CONCLUSION: A high-fat high-fiber diet depressed glucose and
      lipid anabolic molecular pathways, thus counteracting adipose tissue expansion.
      Interaction effects between dietary intake of fiber and lipids on gene expression
      may modulate innate immunity and inflammation, a response which is of interest
      with regard to chronic inflammation and its adverse effects on health and
      performance.

PMID- 26892012
TI  - Non-random chromosome arrangement in triploid endosperm nuclei.
AB  - The endosperm is at the center of successful seed formation in flowering plants.
      Being itself a product of fertilization, it is devoted to nourish the developing
      embryo and typically possesses a triploid genome consisting of two maternal and
      one paternal genome complement. Interestingly, endosperm development is
      controlled by epigenetic mechanisms conferring parent-of-origin-dependent effects
      that influence seed development. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we have
      previously described an endosperm-specific heterochromatin fraction, which
      increases with higher maternal, but not paternal, genome dosage. Here, we report
      a detailed analysis of chromosomal arrangement and association frequency in
      endosperm nuclei. We found that centromeric FISH signals in isolated nuclei show
      a planar alignment that may results from a semi-rigid, connective structure
      between chromosomes. Importantly, we found frequent pairwise association of
      centromeres, chromosomal segments, and entire arms of chromosomes in 3C endosperm
      nuclei. These associations deviate from random expectations predicted by
      numerical simulations. Therefore, we suggest a non-random chromosomal
      organization in the triploid nuclei of Arabidopsis endosperm. This contrasts with
      the prevailing random arrangement of chromosome territories in somatic nuclei.
      Based on observations on a series of nuclei with varying parental genome ratios,
      we propose a model where chromosomes associate pairwise involving one maternal
      and one paternal complement. The functional implications of this predicted
      chromosomal arrangement are discussed.

PMID- 26892015
TI  - Large-Scale Expansion and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in
      Microcarrier-Based Stirred Bioreactors.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as an important tool for tissue
      engineering, thanks to their differentiation potential and their broad trophic
      activities. However, for clinical purposes or for relevant in vitro applications,
      large quantities of MSCs are required, which could hardly be reached using
      conventional cultivation in plastic dishes. Microcarriers have high surface to
      volume ratio, which enables the easy scale-up of the expansion and
      differentiation of MSCs. In addition, the agitation in stirred tank bioreactors
      limits the diffusion gradient of nutrients or morphogens, thus providing a
      physiologically relevant environment to favor MSC production at large scale. This
      work describes a simple method for the mass expansion and differentiation of
      MSCs, including the procedures to monitor the proliferation, metabolic status and
      phenotype of MSCs during suspension culture. Moreover, this work proposes
      suitable materials for cGMP compliant culture conditions enabling the clinical
      grade production of MSCs.

PMID- 26892016
TI  - Isolation and Culture of Embryonic Stem Cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, and
      Dendritic Cells from Humans and Mice.
AB  - Stem cells are cells capable of proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation
      into specific phenotypes. They are an essential part of tissue engineering, which
      is used in regenerative medicine in case of degenerative diseases. In this
      chapter, we describe the methods of isolating and culturing various types of stem
      cells, like human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), human umbilical cord derived
      mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs), murine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem
      cells (mBM-MSCs), murine adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (mAD
      MSCs), and murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (mBMDCs). All these cell
      types can be used in tissue engineering techniques.

PMID- 26892013
TI  - Non-farnesylated B-type lamin can tether chromatin inside the nucleus and its
      chromatin interaction requires the Ig-fold region.
AB  - Lamins are thought to direct heterochromatin to the nuclear lamina (NL); however,
      this function of lamin has not been clearly demonstrated in vivo. To address
      this, we analyzed polytene chromosome morphology when artificial lamin variants
      were expressed in Drosophila endoreplicating cells. We found that the CaaX-motif
      deleted B-type lamin Dm0, but not A-type lamin C, was able to form a nuclear
      envelope-independent layer that was closely associated with chromatin. Other
      nuclear envelope proteins were not detected in this "ectopic lamina," and the
      associated chromatin showed a repressive histone modification maker but not a
      permissive histone modification marker nor RNA polymerase II proteins.
      Furthermore, deletion of the C-terminal lamin-Ig-fold domain prevents chromatin
      association with this ectopic lamina. Thus, non-farnesylated B-type lamin Dm0 can
      form an ectopic lamina and induce changes to chromatin structure and status
      inside the interphase nucleus.

PMID- 26892014
TI  - Drosophila Nnf1 paralogs are partially redundant for somatic and germ line
      kinetochore function.
AB  - Kinetochores allow attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules. Moreover,
      they host proteins that permit correction of erroneous attachments and prevent
      premature anaphase onset before bi-orientation of all chromosomes in metaphase
      has been achieved. Kinetochores are assembled from subcomplexes. Kinetochore
      proteins as well as the underlying centromere proteins and the centromeric DNA
      sequences evolve rapidly despite their fundamental importance for faithful
      chromosome segregation during mitotic and meiotic divisions. During evolution of
      Drosophila melanogaster, several centromere proteins were lost and a recent gene
      duplication has resulted in two Nnf1 paralogs, Nnf1a and Nnf1b, which code for
      alternative forms of a Mis12 kinetochore complex component. The rapid
      evolutionary divergence of centromere/kinetochore constituents in animals and
      plants has been proposed to be driven by an intragenome conflict resulting from
      centromere drive during female meiosis. Thus, a female meiosis-specific paralog
      might be expected to evolve rapidly under positive selection. While our
      characterization of the D. melanogaster Nnf1 paralogs hints at some partial
      functional specialization of Nnf1b for meiosis, we have failed to detect evidence
      for positive selection in our analysis of Nnf1 sequence evolution in the
      Drosophilid lineage. Neither paralog is essential, even though we find some clear
      differences in subcellular localization and expression during development. Loss
      of both paralogs results in developmental lethality. We therefore conclude that
      the two paralogs are still in early stages of differentiation.

PMID- 26892017
TI  - EGF-liposomes promote efficient EGFR targeting in xenograft colocarcinoma model.
AB  - AIM: Development of EGF-liposomes (LP-EGF) for selective molecules delivery in
      tumors expressing EGFR. MATERIAL & METHODS: In vitro cellular interaction of EGF
      LP and nontargeted liposomes (LP-N) was assayed at 37 and 4  degrees C in cells
      expressing different EGFR levels. Receptor-mediated uptake was investigated by
      competition with a monoclonal antibody anti-EGFR. Selective intracellular drug
      delivery and efficacy was tested by oxaliplatin encapsulation. In vivo
      biodistribution of LP-N and LP-EGF was done in xenograft model. RESULTS: LP-EGF
      was internalized by an active and selective mechanism through EGFR without
      receptor activation. Oxaliplatin LP-EGF decreased IC50 between 48 and 13% in cell
      EGFR+. LP-EGF was accumulated in tumor over 72 h postdosing, while LP-N in
      spleen. CONCLUSION: LP-EGF represents an attractive nanosystem for cancer therapy
      or diagnosis.

PMID- 26892018
TI  - A rapid and sensitive colorimetric measurement of antibiotic efficacy against
      Escherichia coli in vitro.
AB  - A common dye of prussian blue (PB) as an indicator was used to develop a
      colorimetric method for detecting the efficacy of the antibiotics in vitro.
      Considering the electronic production capacity of microbial respiration,
      ferricyanide was employed in transferring electrons from target microorganism of
      Escherichia coli (E. coli) to produce ferrocyanide. Subsequently, ferrocyanide
      reacted with ferric ions to form PB. In view of relationship between the PB yield
      and the bacterial activity, the efficacy of the antibiotics on E. coli was
      directly detected at 700 nm of PB absorption. When the 5% activity of antibiotics
      on 20 isolates of E. coli was quantified as 5% efficacy, the applied
      concentrations of eight antibiotics, such as cefepime, ceftriaxone sodium,
      cefoperazone sodium, piperacillin sodium, amoxicillin, gentamicin, amikacin and
      levofloxacin were 2, 2, 4, 4, 10, 4, 8 and 8 MUg mL-1, respectively. To compare
      with minimum inhibitory concentration results obtained by Clinical and Laboratory
      Standards Institute broth macrodilution method, the results of PB methods showed
      good agreements except with gentamicin. Paired t-test result (P) also showed that
      difference between two methods was statistically significant (P = 0.006).

PMID- 26892019
TI  - Construction and characterization of three protein-targeting expression system in
      Lactobacillus casei.
AB  - We previously reported that the beta-1,4-Mannanase (manB) gene from Bacillus
      pumilus functions as a good reporter gene in Lactobacillus casei. Two vectors
      were constructed. One carries the signal peptide of secretion protein Usp45
      (SPUsp45) from Lactococcus lactis (pELSH), and the other carries the full-length
      S-layer protein, SlpA, from L. acidophilus (pELWH). In this work, another vector,
      pELSPH, was constructed to include the signal peptide of protein SlpA (SPSlpA),
      and the capacity of all three vectors to drive expression of the manB gene in L.
      casei was evaluated. The results showed that SPUsp45 is functionally recognized
      and processed by the L. casei secretion machinery. The SPUsp45-mediated secretion
      efficiency was ~87%, and SPSlpA drove the export of secreted ManB with ~80%
      efficiency. SPSlpA secretion was highly efficient, and expressed SlpA was
      anchored to the cell wall by an unknown secretion mechanism. Full-length SlpA
      drove the cell wall-anchored expression of an SlpA-ManB fusion protein but at a
      much lower level than that of protein SlpA.

PMID- 26892020
TI  - Protective roles of katG-homologous genes against extrinsic peroxides in Vibrio
      parahaemolyticus.
AB  - The marine foodborne enteropathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, has four putative
      catalase genes. Function of the katG-homologous genes, katG1(VPA0768) and
      katG2(VPA0453), was examined using gene deletion mutants, and compared with those
      of the katE-homologous genes, katE1(VPA1418) and katE2(VPA0305). Bacterial growth
      of DeltakatG1 was significantly delayed in the presence of 200-300 MUM H2O2, and
      such inhibition was enhanced when incubation temperature was lowered from 37
      degrees C to 22 degrees C. In the stationary phase, the DeltakatG1 strain was
      more susceptible to the lethal dosage of H2O2 than the DeltakatE1 strain. The
      minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations
      revealed that DeltakatE1/DeltakatE2 strains were more susceptible to H2O2 than
      the DeltakatG1/DeltakatG2 strains in exponential phase, while DeltakatG1 was more
      susceptible than the DeltakatE1/DeltakatE2 strains in the starved culture. This
      study demonstrated the chief antioxidative role of katG1 in the stationary phase
      and starved culture of V. parahaemolyticus, while katG1 and katG2 were also
      responsive to H2O2 and cumene hydroperoxide in the exponential phase. 

PMID- 26892021
TI  - PASD1 promotes STAT3 activity and tumor growth by inhibiting TC45-mediated
      dephosphorylation of STAT3 in the nucleus.
AB  - Activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of
      transcription 3 (STAT3) is tightly regulated during various physiological
      processes, such as cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, and
      aberrant STAT3 activation results in tumorigenesis. In this study, we identified
      the cancer/testis antigen PASD1 as a positive regulator of STAT3 activity.
      Overexpression of PASD1 activated STAT3 and potentiated IL-6-induced activation
      of STAT3, whereas knockdown of PASD1 had opposite effects. Endogenous
      coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that PASD1 interacted with STAT3 in
      the nucleus. Overexpression of PASD1 enhanced both basal and IL-6-induced STAT3
      phosphorylation at Y705, whereas knockdown of PASD1 had opposite effects.
      Mechanistically, PASD1 competed with TC45, a nuclear protein tyrosine
      phosphatase, to associate with STAT3, thus inhibited TC45-mediated
      dephosphorylation of STAT3. Consistently, knockdown of PASD1 inhibited expression
      of many pro-oncogenic genes, leading to suppression of cell proliferation,
      anchorage-independent growth, cell migration, and tumor growth in nude mice. Our
      findings demonstrate that PASD1 serves as a critical nuclear positive regulator
      of STAT3-mediated gene expression and tumorigenesis.

PMID- 26892022
TI  - Interleukin-38 is released from apoptotic cells to limit inflammatory macrophage
      responses.
AB  - Different modes of cell death regulate immunity. Whereas necrotic (necroptotic,
      pyroptotic) cell death triggers inflammation, apoptosis contributes to its
      resolution. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokines are key players in this
      interaction. A number of IL-1 family cytokines are produced by necrotic cells to
      induce sterile inflammation. However, release of IL-1 family proteins from
      apoptotic cells to regulate inflammation was not described. Here we show that IL
      38, a poorly characterized IL-1 family cytokine, is produced selectively by human
      apoptotic cells to limit inflammation. Depletion of IL-38 in apoptotic cells
      provoked enhanced IL-6 and IL-8 levels and AP1 activation in co-cultured human
      primary macrophages, subsequently inducing Th17 cell expansion at the expense of
      IL-10-producing T cells. IL-38 was N-terminally processed in apoptotic cells to
      generate a mature cytokine with distinct properties. Both full-length and
      truncated IL-38 bound to X-linked interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein-like 1
      (IL1RAPL1). However, whereas the IL-38 precursor induced an increase in IL-6
      production by human macrophages, truncated IL-38 reduced IL-6 production by
      attenuating the JNK/AP1 pathway downstream of IL1RAPL1. In conclusion, we
      identified a mechanism of apoptotic cell-dependent immune regulation requiring IL
      38 processing and secretion, which might be relevant in resolution of
      inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.

PMID- 26892023
TI  - Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes allow adaptation of
      mitochondrial metabolism to glucose availability in the liver.
AB  - Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) play a key role in
      mitochondrial dynamics and function and in hepatic insulin action. Whereas
      mitochondria are important regulators of energy metabolism, the nutritional
      regulation of MAM in the liver and its role in the adaptation of mitochondria
      physiology to nutrient availability are unknown. In this study, we found that the
      fasted to postprandial transition reduced the number of endoplasmic reticulum
      mitochondria contact points in mouse liver. Screening of potential
      hormonal/metabolic signals revealed glucose as the main nutritional regulator of
      hepatic MAM integrity both in vitro and in vivo Glucose reduced organelle
      interactions through the pentose phosphate-protein phosphatase 2A (PP-PP2A)
      pathway, induced mitochondria fission, and impaired respiration. Blocking MAM
      reduction counteracted glucose-induced mitochondrial alterations. Furthermore,
      disruption of MAM integrity mimicked effects of glucose on mitochondria dynamics
      and function. This glucose-sensing system is deficient in the liver of insulin
      resistant ob/ob and cyclophilin D-KO mice, both characterized by chronic
      disruption of MAM integrity, mitochondrial fission, and altered mitochondrial
      respiration. These data indicate that MAM contribute to the hepatic glucose
      sensing system, allowing regulation of mitochondria dynamics and function during
      nutritional transition. Chronic disruption of MAM may participate in hepatic
      mitochondrial dysfunction associated with insulin resistance.

PMID- 26892024
TI  - Extraocular muscle injury during endoscopic sinus surgery: an ophthalmologic
      perspective.
AB  - PurposeThe purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and
      treatment results of medial rectus muscle (MR) transection incurred during
      endoscopic sinus surgery.MethodsThis retrospective study included 16 patients
      with MR transection incurred during endoscopic sinus surgery between 1994 and
      2015. The operative notes of the surgical procedure, the pattern of strabismus,
      the type of muscle injury, the type of corrective strabismus surgery, and the
      surgical outcomes were reviewed.ResultsNine patients had partial resection of MR
      and seven patients had complete transection of MR, resulting from an injury
      incurred during endoscopic sinus surgery. Three of the nine patients with partial
      resection injury were initially diagnosed as complete resection and subsequently
      re-diagnosed as partial resection in a review of the images during this study.
      Five of the nine patients with partial MR resection underwent only simple
      recession/resection surgery. Patients with complete MR transection underwent
      muscle transposition or globe fixation surgeries and often multiple operations
      were required.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed that the treatment
      strategies could vary depending on the nature of muscle injury. In cases with
      complete transection, muscle transposition or globe fixation surgeries are often
      required, with multiple operations. However, partial muscle resection with only
      simple recession/resection surgery shows a favorable outcome in many cases. The
      use of proper imaging techniques, a thorough review of the images with various
      planes, and close follow-up are important for determining the nature of the
      muscle injury.

PMID- 26892025
TI  - Adjusting for unmeasured confounding due to either of two crossed factors with a
      logistic regression model.
AB  - Motivated by an investigation of the effect of surface water temperature on the
      presence of Vibrio cholerae in water samples collected from different fixed
      surface water monitoring sites in Haiti in different months, we investigated
      methods to adjust for unmeasured confounding due to either of the two crossed
      factors site and month. In the process, we extended previous methods that adjust
      for unmeasured confounding due to one nesting factor (such as site, which nests
      the water samples from different months) to the case of two crossed factors.
      First, we developed a conditional pseudolikelihood estimator that eliminates
      fixed effects for the levels of each of the crossed factors from the estimating
      equation. Using the theory of U-Statistics for independent but non-identically
      distributed vectors, we show that our estimator is consistent and asymptotically
      normal, but that its variance depends on the nuisance parameters and thus cannot
      be easily estimated. Consequently, we apply our estimator in conjunction with a
      permutation test, and we investigate use of the pigeonhole bootstrap and the
      jackknife for constructing confidence intervals. We also incorporate our
      estimator into a diagnostic test for a logistic mixed model with crossed random
      effects and no unmeasured confounding. For comparison, we investigate between
      within models extended to two crossed factors. These generalized linear mixed
      models include covariate means for each level of each factor in order to adjust
      for the unmeasured confounding. We conduct simulation studies, and we apply the
      methods to the Haitian data. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26892026
TI  - Evidence for spinal N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor involvement in prolonged
      chemical nociception in the rat.
AB  - We used in vivo electrophysiology and a model of more persistent nociceptive
      inputs to monitor spinal cord neuronal activity in anaesthetised rats to reveal
      the pharmacology of enhanced pain signalling. The study showed that all responses
      were blocked by non-selective antagonism of glutamate receptors but a selective
      and preferential role of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the
      prolonged plastic responses was clearly seen. The work lead to many publications,
      initially preclinical but increasingly from patient studies, showing the
      importance of the NMDA receptor in central sensitisation within the spinal cord
      and how this could relate to persistent pain states. This article is part of a
      Special Issue entitled SI:50th Anniversary Issue.

PMID- 26892027
TI  - PDZ1 inhibitor peptide protects neurons against ischemia via inhibiting GluK2-PSD
      95-module-mediated Fas signaling pathway.
AB  - Respecting the selective inhibition of peptides on protein-protein interactions,
      they might become potent methods in ischemic stroke therapy. In this study, we
      investigated the effect of PDZ1 inhibitor peptide on ischemic neuron apoptosis
      and the relative mechanism. Results showed that PDZ1 inhibitor peptide, which
      significantly disrupted GluK2-PSD-95 interaction, efficiently protected neuron
      from ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis. Further, PDZ1 inhibited FasL
      expression, DISC assembly and activation of Caspase 8, Bid, Caspase 9 and Caspase
      3 after global brain ischemia. Based on our previous report that GluK2-PSD-95
      pathway increased FasL expression after global brain ischemia, the neuron
      protection effect of PDZ1 inhibitor peptide was considered to be achieved by
      disrupting GluK2-PSD-95 interaction and subsequently inhibiting FasL expression
      and Fas apoptosis pathway. 

PMID- 26892028
TI  - Back pain prevalence in adolescent athletes.
AB  - The research aimed to investigate back pain (BP) prevalence in a large cohort of
      young athletes with respect to age, gender, and sport discipline. BP (within the
      last 7 days) was assessed with a face scale (face 1-2 = no pain; face 3-5 = pain)
      in 2116 athletes (m/f 61%/39%; 13.3 +/- 1.7 years; 163.0 +/- 11.8 cm; 52.6 +/-
      13.9 kg; 4.9 +/- 2.7 training years; 8.4 +/- 5.7 training h/week). Four different
      sports categories were devised (a: combat sports, b: game sports; c: explosive
      strength sport; d: endurance sport). Analysis was described descriptively,
      regarding age, gender, and sport. In addition, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were
      calculated. About 168 (8%) athletes were allocated into the BP group. About 9% of
      females and 7% of males reported BP. Athletes, 11-13 years, showed a prevalence
      of 2-4%; while prevalence increased to 12-20% in 14- to 17-year olds. Considering
      sport discipline, prevalence ranged from 3% (soccer) to 14% (canoeing).
      Prevalences in weight lifting, judo, wrestling, rowing, and shooting were >=10%;
      in boxing, soccer, handball, cycling, and horse riding, <=6%. 95% CI ranged
      between 0.08-0.11. BP exists in adolescent athletes, but is uncommon and shows no
      gender differences. A prevalence increase after age 14 is obvious. Differentiated
      prevention programs in daily training routines might address sport discipline
      specific BP prevalence.

PMID- 26892029
TI  - Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as sorbents for the extraction of
      mycotoxins in water samples and infant milk formula prior to high performance
      liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis.
AB  - In this work, a simple and environmental friendly methodology has been developed
      for the analysis of a group of six mycotoxins with estrogenic activity produced
      by Fusarium species (i.e. zearalanone, zearalenone, alpha-zearalanol, beta
      zearalanol, alpha-zearalenol, and beta-zearalenol), using microdispersive SPE the
      symbol micro should de before dSPE with multiwalled carbon nanotubes as sorbent.
      Separation, determination, and quantification were achieved by HPLC coupled to
      ion trap MS with an ESI interface. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency
      of u-dSPE such as pH of the sample, amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and
      type and volume of elution solvent, were studied and optimized. The methodology
      was validated for mineral, pond, and wastewater as well as for powdered infant
      milk using 17beta-estradiol-2,4,16,16,17-d5 (17beta-E2 -D5 ) as internal
      standard, obtaining recoveries ranging from 85 to 120% for the three types of
      water samples and from 77 to 115% for powdered infant milk. RSD values were lower
      than 10%. The LOQs achieved were in the range 0.05-2.90 MUg/L for water samples
      and 2.02-31.9 MUg/L for powdered infant milk samples.

PMID- 26892031
TI  - Comment on: High stop-bang questionnaire scores predict intraoperative and early
      postoperative adverse events.

PMID- 26892030
TI  - Neural basis of uncertain cue processing in trait anxiety.
AB  - Individuals with high trait anxiety form a non-clinical group with a
      predisposition for an anxiety-related bias in emotional and cognitive processing
      that is considered by some to be a prerequisite for psychiatric disorders.
      Anxious individuals tend to experience more worry under uncertainty, and
      processing uncertain information is an important, but often overlooked factor in
      anxiety. So, we decided to explore the brain correlates of processing uncertain
      information in individuals with high trait anxiety using the learn-test paradigm.
      Behaviorally, the percentages on memory test and the likelihood ratios of
      identifying novel stimuli under uncertainty were similar to the certain fear
      condition, but different from the certain neutral condition. The brain results
      showed that the visual cortex, bilateral fusiform gyrus, and right
      parahippocampal gyrus were active during the processing of uncertain cues.
      Moreover, we found that trait anxiety was positively correlated with the BOLD
      signal of the right parahippocampal gyrus during the processing of uncertain
      cues. No significant results were found in the amygdala during uncertain cue
      processing. These results suggest that memory retrieval is associated with
      uncertain cue processing, which is underpinned by over-activation of the right
      parahippocampal gyrus, in individuals with high trait anxiety. 

PMID- 26892032
TI  - Trace elements in farmed fish (Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella and
      Oncorhynchus mykiss) from Beijing: implication from feed.
AB  - Concentrations of 30 trace elements, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, Zn, Se, Sr,
      Co, Al, Ti, As, Cs, Sc, Te, Ba, Ga, Pb, Sn, Cd, Sb, Ag, Tm, TI, Be, Hg and U in
      major cultured freshwater fish species (common carp-Cyprinus carpio, grass carp
      Ctenopharyngodon idella and rainbow trout-Oncorhynchus mykiss) with the
      corresponding feed from 23 fish farms in Beijing, China, were investigated. The
      results revealed that Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Sr, Se were the major accumulated essential
      elements and Al, Ti were the major accumulated non-essential elements, while Mo,
      Co, Ga, Sn, Cd, Sb, Ag, Tm, U, TI, Be, Te, Pb and Hg were hardly detectable.
      Contents of investigated trace elements were close to or much lower than those in
      fish from other areas in China. Correlation analysis suggested that the elemental
      concentrations in those fish species were relatively constant and did not vary
      much with the fish feed. In comparison with the limits for aquafeeds and fish
      established by Chinese legislation, Cd in 37.5% of rainbow trout feeds and As in
      20% of rainbow trout samples exceeded the maximum limit, assuming that inorganic
      As accounts for 10% of total As. Further health risk assessment showed that fish
      consumption would not pose risks to consumers as far as non-essential element
      contaminants are concerned. However, the carcinogenic risk of As in rainbow trout
      for the inhabitants in Beijing exceeded the acceptable level of 10(-)(4), to
      which more attention should be paid. 

PMID- 26892033
TI  - Icariin displays anticancer activity against human esophageal cancer cells via
      regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptotic signaling.
AB  - In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of icariin (ICA) in human
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in vitro and in vivo and explored the
      role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling in this activity. ICA
      treatment resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the viability of
      human EC109 and TE1 ESCCs. Additionally, ICA exhibited strong antitumor activity,
      as evidenced by reductions in cell migration, adhesion, and intracellular
      glutathione (GSH) levels and by increases in the EC109 and TE1 cell apoptotic
      index, Caspase 9 activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and nicotinamide
      adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity. Furthermore, ICA
      treatments upregulated the levels of ERS-related molecules (p-PERK, GRP78, ATF4,
      p-eIF2alpha, and CHOP) and a pro-apoptotic protein (PUMA) and simultaneously
      downregulated an anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl2) in the two ESCC cell lines. The
      downregulation of ERS signaling using eIF2alpha siRNA desensitized EC109 and TE1
      cells to ICA treatment, and the upregulation of ERS signaling using thapsigargin
      sensitized EC109 and TE1 cells to ICA treatment. In summary, ERS activation may
      represent a mechanism of action for the anticancer activity of ICA in ESCCs, and
      the activation of ERS signaling may represent a novel therapeutic intervention
      for human esophageal cancer.

PMID- 26892036
TI  - Visible-Light-Induced Specific Desulfurization of Cysteinyl Peptide and
      Glycopeptide in Aqueous Solution.
AB  - Visible-light-induced specific desulfurization of cysteinyl peptides has been
      explored. The photocatalytic desulfurization catalyzed by Ru(bpy)3(2+) can
      proceed efficiently at room temperature in aqueous solution or in binary mixtures
      of aqueous/organic solvent and be compatible with the presence of residues of
      amino acids, carbohydrates, and various sulfur-containing functional groups. This
      approach was successfully applied to synthesize linear and cyclic peptides
      through the ligation-desulfurization protocol. 

PMID- 26892035
TI  - Evaluation of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) in Adolescents with Eating
      Disorders: Factor Structure and Relation to Eating Disordered Psychopathology.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to explore the factor structure of the
      Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) in a clinical sample of Swedish adolescents with
      eating disorders (ED) and to study the relationship of CET with ED cognitions,
      body weight and exercise frequency. METHODS: The compulsive Exercise Test, the
      Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire, body mass index (BMI) and exercise
      frequency were available at assessment of 210 adolescents (age 14.4 +/- 1.6
      years) with ED. RESULTS: Factor analysis generated four factors with close
      similarity to factors previously obtained in a community sample of adolescents
      samples and supported the use of the original version of CET. Exercise for weight
      control was strongly related to ED cognitions but less to exercise frequency and
      BMI. Exercise for regulation of mood was related to ED cognitions and exercise
      frequency but not to BMI. DISCUSSION: In adolescents with ED, different aspects
      of exercise are related to ED cognitions. This needs addressing in the treatment
      of adolescents with ED. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating
      Disorders Association.

PMID- 26892034
TI  - Tailored treatment options for patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis:
      review of established and new biologic and small molecule therapies.
AB  - The diverse clinical picture of PsA suggests the need to identify suitable
      therapies to address the different combinations of clinical manifestations. This
      review aimed to classify the available biologic agents and new small molecule
      inhibitors (licensed and nonlicensed) based on their proven efficacy in treating
      different clinical manifestations associated with psoriasis and PsA. This review
      presents the level of evidence of efficacy of different biologic treatments and
      small molecule inhibitors for certain clinical features of treatment of PsA and
      psoriasis, which was graded in categories I-IV. The literature searches were
      performed on the following classes of biologic agents and small molecules: TNF
      inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, golimumab, certolizumab), anti
      IL12/IL23 (ustekinumab), anti-IL17 (secukinumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab), anti
      IL6 (tocilizumab), T cell modulators (alefacept, efalizumab, abatacept,
      itolizumab), B cell depletion therapy (rituximab), phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor
      (apremilast) and Janus kinase inhibitor (tofacitinib). A comprehensive table
      including 17 different biologic agents and small molecule inhibitors previously
      tested in psoriasis and PsA was generated, including the level of evidence of
      their efficacy for each of the clinical features included in our review (axial
      and peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, and nail and skin disease). We
      also proposed a limited set of recommendations for a sequential biologic
      treatment algorithm for patients with PsA who failed the first anti-TNF therapy,
      based on the available literature data. There is good evidence that many of the
      biologic treatments initially tested in psoriasis are also effective in PsA.
      Further research into both prognostic biomarkers and patient stratification is
      required to allow clinicians the possibility to make better use of the various
      biologic treatment options available. This review showed that there are many
      potentially new treatments that are not included in the current guidelines that
      can be used for selected categories of patients based on their disease phenotype,
      clinician experience and access to new biologic therapies.

PMID- 26892037
TI  - RT-qPCR demonstrates light-dependent AtRBCS1A and AtRBCS3B mRNA expressions in
      Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.
AB  - Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is widely
      used in diagnosis and research to determine specific mRNA expressions in cells.
      As RT-qPCR applications increase, it's necessary to provide undergraduates hands
      on experience of this modern technique. Here, we report a 3-week laboratory
      exercise using RT-qPCR to demonstrate the light-dependent expressions of AtRBCS1A
      and AtRBCS3B genes encoding two Arabidopsis thaliana small subunits of the
      ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). In the first week,
      students purified and quantified total RNA from leaves of A. thaliana pretreated
      in the dark for 96 hr and untreated controls. In the second week, RNA samples
      were separated by formaldehyde gel electrophoresis and used for RT-qPCR. Students
      calculated expressions of the two genes in dark treated leaves as percentages of
      those of the controls by using the 2(-DeltaDeltaC) T method and the collected CT
      s. In the third week, class CT s, melting curves, students' calculations, and
      factors affecting the reliability of RT-qPCR results were summarized and
      discussed. Students' results show that (i) relatively pure and intact RNA samples
      are obtained; (ii) ACTIN2 is a better reference gene than the 18S rRNA; (iii) the
      dark treatment reduces both gene expressions to < 1%; (iv) the reduction in the
      expression of AtRBCS3B is significantly more than that of the AtRBCS1A. Results
      from pre- and post-lab tests indicate that besides the theory, this exercise
      helps students learn the applications and associated techniques of RT-qPCR.
      Future modifications and new experiments that can be developed based on students'
      learning outcomes and assessment are also discussed. (c) 2016 by The
      International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(4):405-411, 2016.

PMID- 26892038
TI  - Oxidation of cholesterol and O-protected derivatives by the environmental
      pollutant NO2.
AB  - Exposure of O-protected and free cholesterol to NO2 under exclusion of water
      leads to nitroimine nitrates through a non-radical mechanism, which reveals the
      high susceptibility of the pi system to oxidative damage. In the presence of
      moisture the reaction leads to 6-nitrocholesterols , which result from hydrolysis
      and oxidation of 2.

PMID- 26892039
TI  - Awareness and Knowledge of Emergent Ophthalmic Disease Among Patients in an
      Internal Medicine Clinic.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Emergent ophthalmic disease can lead to permanent visual impairment
      or blindness if medical attention is delayed. Awareness and knowledge of emergent
      ophthalmic disease may be important for early medical presentation and
      maximization of visual prognosis in some cases. OBJECTIVE: To assess public
      awareness and knowledge of 4 emergent ophthalmic diseases. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1 to July 30,
      2015, in the waiting rooms of the outpatient internal medicine resident clinic at
      Mount Sinai Hospital. A written survey was administered to evaluate awareness and
      knowledge of retinal detachment, acute angle-closure glaucoma, giant cell
      arteritis, and central retinal artery occlusion. Awareness of each disease was
      assessed by whether participants knew what the diseases were (yes or no).
      Knowledge was evaluated by responses to 3 questions for each disease, including 1
      question about basic pathophysiologic features, 1 question about basic symptoms,
      and 1 question about basic treatment options. All English-speaking patients who
      were physically and cognitively able to fill out the survey without assistance
      were considered eligible and offered the opportunity to participate during times
      of survey distribution; 237 completed the survey. Demographic information,
      including age, sex, race, income, and educational level, was collected. Data were
      assessed from August 1 to 7, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Awareness of each
      ophthalmic disease was determined by the proportion of respondents who answered
      yes, and knowledge was determined by the proportion of aware respondents who
      answered the knowledge questions correctly. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-seven
      patients (of 227 who gave complete demographic information, 76 men [33.5%], 151
      women [66.5%], and mean [SD] age, 51.3 [16.8] years) completed the survey.
      Awareness of each of the diseases studied was low; 61 of 220 respondents (27.7%;
      95% CI, 21.8%-33.6%) were aware of retinal detachment; 32 of 219 respondents
      (14.6%; 95% CI, 9.9%-19.3%), acute angle-closure glaucoma; 11 of 216 respondents
      (5.1%; 95% CI, 2.2%-8.0%), giant cell arteritis; and 10 of 218 respondents (4.6%;
      95% CI, 1.8%-7.4%), central retinal artery occlusion. Respondents who were aware
      and knowledgeable ranged from 29 of 199 (14.6%) for the pathophysiologic features
      of retinal detachment, 1 of 208 (0.5%) for the symptoms and 2 of 203 (1.0%) for
      treatment of giant cell arteritis, and 1 of 193 (0.5%) for the pathophysiologic
      features of central retinal artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Levels
      of awareness and knowledge of emergent ophthalmic diseases are low. These results
      indicate a need to educate the public about these acutely vision-threatening
      entities to ensure early medical presentation, to achieve the best possible
      visual prognosis, and to preserve quality of life.

PMID- 26892040
TI  - Vertebral fracture assessment by DXA is inferior to X-ray in clinical severe
      osteoporosis.
AB  - Spine fractures are diagnosed by X-ray or vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by
      dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning. The use of VFA evaluation by DXA
      is still debated. We demonstrate that VFA is inferior relative to X-ray in
      visualizing vertebrae properly in the upper spine and therefore with a reduced
      diagnostic performance in detecting fractures. INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fracture
      assessment (VFA) by DXA has been evaluated for many years, and its use in
      clinical practice is still debated. In a cross-sectional setting, we aimed to
      compare VFA with traditional radiography in vertebral fracture (VF) diagnosis in
      severe osteoporotic patient. METHODS: A total of 207 patients referred to the
      outpatient clinic for teriparatide treatment were screened, out of whom 35 (16.9
      %) severe osteoporotic patients were identified (mean age 67.5 +/- 11.3 years and
      median T-score -3.2 interquartile range (IQR) (-1.9 to -3.7). VF diagnosis was
      performed independently using VFA and X-ray in accordance with the
      semiquantitative (SQ) approach. The same technician performed the primary
      interpretation on both sets of images, after which a radiologist and an
      endocrinologist reviewed the evaluation for a conclusive judgement. RESULTS: In
      total, 180 radiographic fractures were detected, corresponding to 5.1 fractures
      per individual. Using VFA, 18.5 % of vertebrae were considered unreadable,
      compared to 2.0 % on X-ray. The accuracy of VFA in VF detection using X-ray as a
      reference resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 75.5 and 86.7 %,
      respectively. Sensitivity decreased from the lumbar to thoracic level.
      Nevertheless, VFA only identified fractures consistently between Th11 and L3.
      CONCLUSION: Our data, based on a severe osteoporotic population, demonstrate that
      VFA is inferior relative to X-ray in visualizing vertebrae properly in the upper
      spine, resulting in vertebrae not being assessable for analysis and a reduced
      diagnostic performance in detecting fractures. Improvements in DXA techniques are
      needed for it to be comparable with X-ray in VF diagnosis.

PMID- 26892041
TI  - Severe non-infective systemic inflammatory response syndrome, shock, and end
      organ dysfunction after zoledronic acid administration in a child.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Zoledronic acid is an intravenous bisphosphonate used to increase
      bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures. Its safety profile
      compares well with pamidronate in pediatric patients. We describe an acute,
      severe, life-threatening, inflammatory reaction in a child. METHODS: A 7-year-old
      boy with complex medical problems and chronic ventilator requirements was
      admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (due to ventilator needs) for
      zoledronic acid infusion and subsequent monitoring. His history was significant
      for osteoporosis secondary to immobilization with multiple fractures since 2
      years of age, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, quadriplegic cerebral palsy,
      seizure disorder, ventilator dependence, and pulmonary hypertension. He had
      previously been treated with four cycles of pamidronate without adverse events.
      He received 0.013 mg/kg of zoledronic acid infused over 30 minutes. Beginning 3
      hours after completion of the infusion, he developed progressive tachycardia,
      fever, hypotension requiring vasopressor infusion, and increasing oxygen
      requirements. Laboratory studies revealed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated
      C-reactive protein, abnormal coagulation profile, metabolic acidosis, and
      negative cultures. The following day, he developed moderate acute respiratory
      distress syndrome and pulmonary hemorrhage requiring higher ventilatory settings,
      and subsequently diarrhea and abdominal distension. Initial clinical resolution
      was noted from the third day onward, and he was discharged on the sixth day after
      zoledronate administration. RESULTS: Our pediatric patient demonstrated an acute,
      severe, life-threatening reaction to zoledronic acid requiring intensive
      cardiorespiratory support without an underlying pre-existing inflammatory
      disorder. CONCLUSION: Our case highlights the importance of careful monitoring of
      children following zoledronic acid therapy. We recommend inpatient observation
      after an initial infusion of zoledronic acid in medically complex children.
      Children and their parents should be thoroughly counseled on the potential risks
      of bisphosphonate treatment, which can sometimes be severe and life threatening.

PMID- 26892048
TI  - Relationship between tumour location and preoperative seizure incidence depends
      on glioma grade of malignancy.

PMID- 26892044
TI  - THE PREVALENCE OF CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES AND AFFECTING FACTORS IN TURKEY: A
      NATIONAL SURVEY.
AB  - This study was carried out by the Turkish Republic Ministry of Health to
      determine the prevalence of consanguineous marriage and its correlates with socio
      demographic and obstetric risk factors in women in Turkey. The cross-sectional,
      national-level study was carried out from October to December 2013. The study
      population was composed of women between the ages of 15 and 65 years living in
      Turkey. The sample size was calculated as 9290 houses within Turkey's 81
      provinces so as to improve the Turkish rural-urban expectations by means of
      systematic stack sampling according to the Turkish Statistical Institute's
      address-based vital statistics system. The target sample size was 6364, but only
      eligible 4913 women, who had been married, were included in the study. The
      consanguineous marriage frequency in the sample was found to be 18.5%, and of
      these 57.8% were first cousin marriages. Women living in an extended family and
      whose education level and first marriage ages were low, and whose perceived
      economic status was poor, had higher frequencies of consanguineous marriage
      (p<0.001). Consanguineous marriage frequencies were higher (p<0.001) for women
      who had spontaneous abortions and stillbirths or who had given birth to infants
      with a congenital abnormality. In this context, it is important to develop
      national policies and strategies to prevent consanguineous marriages in Turkey. 

PMID- 26892049
TI  - Electronic health record--a step in the right direction.

PMID- 26892050
TI  - Legends in Urology.

PMID- 26892051
TI  - Renal biopsy for medical renal disease: indications and contraindications.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) is a safe and effective modality
      for sampling kidney tissue. In limited circumstances, alternative methods for
      kidney biopsy may be indicated. Historical contraindications for PRB such as
      bleeding diathesis, morbid obesity and solitary kidney have been called into
      question in the literature. We present a review of the literature on PRB and the
      risks and benefits associated with alternatives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review
      of the literature was performed through MEDLINE and PubMed. A total of 726
      articles exist under the query, "percutaneous renal biopsy." Large series
      describing indications, contraindications, procedural methods, and complications
      were extracted. To further investigate the risks of percutaneous renal biopsy on
      solitary kidneys, the literature on percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and
      biopsy of transplant kidneys were queried. Summaries of the data were compiled
      and synthesized in the body of the text. RESULTS: Percutaneous renal biopsy is
      safe and effective in the majority of kidney units for the evaluation of medical
      renal disease. Rates of bleeding range from 0.3%-7.4%, and nephrectomy rates are
      exceedingly low (0.1%-0.5%). Bleeding rates in open and laparoscopic approaches
      are comparable and range from 0%-7.0%, with major complications ranging from 0%
      6.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The successes of percutaneous methods have called into
      question traditional contraindications such as solitary kidney, bleeding
      diathesis, and morbid obesity. In limited cases, alternative methods may be
      appropriate. We present a review of the literature for the various approaches and
      their associated complication rates.

PMID- 26892042
TI  - Prevalence, pathogenesis, and treatment options for mastocytosis-related
      osteoporosis.
AB  - Mastocytosis is a rare condition characterized by abnormal mast cell
      proliferation and a broad spectrum of manifestations, including various organs
      and tissues. Osteoporosis is one of the most frequent manifestations of systemic
      mastocytosis, particularly in adults. Osteoporosis secondary to systemic
      mastocytosis is a cause of unexplained low bone mineral density that should be
      investigated when accompanied by suspicious clinical elements. Bone involvement
      is often complicated by a high recurrence of fragility fractures, mainly
      vertebral, leading to severe disability. The mechanism of bone loss is the result
      of different pathways, not yet fully discovered. The main actor is the osteoclast
      with a relative or absolute predominance of bone resorption. Among the stimuli
      that drive osteoclast activity, the most important one seems to be the RANK-RANKL
      signaling, but also histamine and other cytokines play a significant role in the
      process. The central role of osteoclasts made bisphosphonates, as anti-resorptive
      drugs, the most rational treatment for bone involvement in systemic mastocytosis.
      There are a few small studies supporting this approach, with large heterogeneity
      of drug and administration scheme. Currently, zoledronate has the best evidence
      in terms of gain in bone mineral density and bone turnover suppression, two
      surrogate markers of anti-fracture efficacy.

PMID- 26892043
TI  - Progesterone receptor (PR) polyproline domain (PPD) mediates inhibition of
      epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in non-small cell lung cancer
      cells.
AB  - Recent evidence has suggested a possible role for progesterone receptor (PR) in
      the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, little is known
      concerning roles of PR in NSCLC. PR contains a polyproline domain (PPD), which
      directly binds to the SH3 domain of signaling molecules. Because PPD-SH3
      interactions are essential for EGFR signaling, we hypothesized that the presence
      of PR-PPD interfered with EGFR-mediated signaling and cell proliferation. We
      examined the role of PR-PPD in cell proliferation and signaling by stably
      expressing PR-B, or PR-B with disrupting mutations in the PPD (PR-BDeltaSH3),
      from a tetracycline-regulated promoter in A549 NSCLC cells. PR-B dose-dependently
      inhibited cell growth in the absence of ligand, and progestin (R5020) treatment
      further suppressed the growth. Treatment with RU486 abolished PR-B- and R5020
      mediated inhibition of cell proliferation. Expression of PR-BDeltaSH3 and
      treatment with R5020 or RU486 had no effect on cell proliferation. Furthermore,
      PR-B expression but not PR-BDeltaSH3 expression reduced EGF-induced A549
      proliferation and activation of ERK1/2, in the absence of ligand. Taken together,
      our data demonstrated the significance of PR extranuclear signaling through PPD
      interactions in EGFR-mediated proliferation and signaling in NSCLC. 

PMID- 26892052
TI  - Is percent seminoma associated with intraoperative morbidity during post
      chemotherapy RPLND?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To evaluate whether varying degrees of seminomatous elements in the
      primary orchiectomy specimen would be predictive of patient morbidity during post
      chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) since the
      desmoplastic reaction with seminoma is associated with increased intraoperative
      complexity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 127 patients who
      underwent PC-RPLND for residual retroperitoneal masses. Clinicodemographic,
      intraoperative, and 30 day postoperative outcomes were compared for patients with
      pure seminoma (SEM), mixed germ cell tumors (GCT) containing seminoma elements
      (NS+SEM), and tumors with no seminoma elements (NS). Multivariate logistic
      regression was used to determine independent predictors of intraoperative and
      postoperative 30 day complications. RESULTS: We excluded 19 patients who received
      chemotherapy prior to orchiectomy, 2 patients with primary extragonadal GCT, and
      3 patients who underwent re-do RPLND, leaving 103 patients for analysis. Fourteen
      patients (13.6%) had SEM, 18 (17.5%) had NS+SEM, and 71 (68.9%) had only NS
      elements. SEM patients were older (p = 0.03), had more intraoperative blood loss
      (p = 0.03), and were more likely to have residual seminomatous components in
      their post-chemotherapy lymph node (LN) histology (p = 0.01). Percent seminoma in
      the orchiectomy specimen was an independent predictor of estimated blood loss >
      1.5 liters (odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.07; p = 0.013)
      after adjusting for age, stage, IGCCC risk category, preop chemotherapy, number
      and largest LN removed, need for vascular or adjacent organ resection (including
      nephrectomy), and LN histology. CONCLUSIONS: Higher percentage of seminoma in the
      orchiectomy specimen is associated with increased estimated blood loss during PC
      RPLND. Percent seminoma, therefore, may be a useful prognostic tool for
      appropriate pre-surgical planning prior to PC-RPLND.

PMID- 26892053
TI  - A novel nomogram for prediction of spermatogenic improvement following empiric
      medical therapy for moderate-severe oligospermia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To identify pre-treatment clinical variables and hormonal responses
      predictive of successful spermatogenic response to empiric medical therapy (EMT),
      then to create a nomogram to guide clinical therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All
      men who had been treated at our institution with EMT for moderate-severe
      oligospermia (<= 10 million sperm/mL) from 2003 to 2014 were included in our
      study. Men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, azoospermia, or those who had
      varicocelectomy or had received fertility altering medications within 6 months of
      initiating EMT were excluded, as well as those who did not obtain a follow up
      semen analysis. Pre-treatment clinical variables, hormonal responses, and
      spermatogenic responses were assessed. Success was defined by improvements in
      baseline sperm concentrations as follows: (1) cryptospermia to >= 0.3 million/mL,
      (2) > 100% increase in sperm concentration for men with baseline concentration <
      1 million/mL, or (3) a 30% increase in sperm concentration for men with a
      baseline concentration between 1-10 million/mL. We performed univariate analysis
      to evaluate for predictors of success. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for
      continuous variables and the Fisher's exact test was used for categorical
      variables. Multivariable logistic regression was then used to build a nomogram.
      RESULTS: We identified 107 men who were treated with EMT for oligospermia (<= 10
      million sperm/mL) who met our inclusion criteria. Forty-five men (42%) exhibited
      a poor spermatogenic response to EMT and 62 men (58%) exhibited a good response.
      Univariate analysis did not identify significant differences in any variable
      between the two groups. Multivariate analysis did identify predictive
      combinations which allowed the development of a nomogram with a high concordance
      index (0.78) for predicting spermatogenic response to EMT. CONCLUSIONS: While
      none of the individual pre-treatment clinical variables or hormonal responses
      were predictive of success following EMT, analysis of multiple factors in concert
      yielded a clinically useful nomogram with a high concordance index.

PMID- 26892054
TI  - Predicting lymph node invasion in patients treated with robot-assisted radical
      prostatectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To develop a nomogram to predict lymph node invasion (LNI) in the
      contemporary North American patient treated with robot-assisted radical
      prostatectomy (RARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 2,007 patients treated
      with RARP and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) at a single institution between
      2008 and 2012. D'Amico low risk patients underwent an obturator and hypogastric
      PLND, while extended PLND was reserved for intermediate/high risk patients.
      Logistic regression analysis tested the relationship between LNI and all
      available predictors. Independent predictors of LNI were used to develop a novel
      nomogram. Discrimination, calibration and decision-curve analysis were used to
      analyze the performance of our novel nomogram, and compare it to open radical
      prostatectomy (ORP)-based models, namely the Godoy nomogram. RESULTS: Overall,
      5.3% of our patients harbored LNI. Median number of lymph nodes removed was 6.0
      (interquartile range: 4-11). The most parsimonious multivariable model to predict
      LNI consisted of the following independent predictors: PSA value, clinical stage,
      and primary and secondary Gleason scores (all p <= 0.02). The discrimination of
      our novel model was 86.2%, and its calibration was virtually optimal. Using a 2%
      nomogram cut off, 58% of patients would be spared PLND, while missing only 9.4%
      of individuals with LNI. The novel nomogram compared favorably to the Godoy
      nomogram, when discrimination, calibration and net-benefit were used as
      benchmarks. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 5% of contemporary North American patients
      harbor LNI at RARP. Our novel nomogram can accurately identify these patients,
      and this may help to improve patient selection, and avoid unnecessary PLND in the
      majority of patients.

PMID- 26892056
TI  - Prognostic markers for urologic cancers.

PMID- 26892055
TI  - The prognostic utility of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in
      localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To explore whether the association between preoperative neutrophil
      to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) elevation and worse survival is of use prognostically
      or merely a reflection of medical comorbidities in clear cell renal cell
      carcinoma (CC RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 1970 patients treated at
      Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1998-2012 by partial or radical
      nephrectomy for non-metastatic CC RCC. NLR was calculated by dividing absolute
      neutrophil count by absolute lymphocyte count; both were obtained from
      preoperative complete blood count. Uni- and multivariable Cox proportional
      hazards regression, which included established prognostic variables, were used to
      test for association between NLR and recurrence-free (RFS), cancer-specific
      (CSS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Univariate analysis identified
      elevated NLR as significantly associated with worse RFS, CSS, and OS (all p <
      0.0001). However, upon multivariable analysis, elevated NLR was significantly
      associated with only worse OS (p < 0.0001). After adding markers of comorbidity
      that were significantly correlated with NLR elevation-higher American Society of
      Anesthesiologists class (p = 0.013), older age, and higher estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (both p < 0.0001)--into the multivariable model, NLR remained
      significantly associated with OS (p = 0.001). The addition of NLR into the
      prognostic model for OS did not increase Harrell's concordance index from 0.776.
      CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, preoperative NLR elevation is associated with worse
      OS, but there was no significant association with RFS or CSS on multivariable
      analysis. Preoperative NLR does not add unique prognostic information for
      patients undergoing surgical resection of renal tumors.

PMID- 26892057
TI  - Partial and hemi-nephrectomy for renal malignancy in patients with horseshoe
      kidney.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Horseshoe kidney is the most common congenital renal fusion
      anomaly, with an estimated incidence of 1.7 to 2.5 cases per 1000 live births. In
      these patients, nephron-sparing surgical management of renal tumors may be
      complicated by abnormal renal location, aberrant vasculature, and the presence of
      a renal isthmus. We present the largest known series of patients with renal
      malignancy in horseshoe kidneys managed by partial or hemi-nephrectomy with
      associated outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of our
      institution's electronic medical record was conducted to identify consecutive
      cases over an 11 year period. Pediatric patients and those who underwent surgery
      for benign indications were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: Eight patients with
      horseshoe kidney who underwent partial or hemi-nephrectomy for renal malignancy
      were identified. Median tumor size was 6.0 cm (IQR 3.7 cm-9.5 cm). Six patients
      had clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 1 patient had papillary RCC, and 1
      patient had a renal carcinoid tumor with concurrent adenocarcinoma. Median length
      of stay was 4 days (IQR 2-.5.5 days). Median perioperative change in eGFR was -6
      mL/min/1.732 (IQR -2.6-8.6 mL/min/1.73m2). One patient developed postoperative
      urine leak requiring percutaneous drainage and ureteral stent placement. Median
      follow up was 38.5 months, with a cancer-specific survival of 87.5% and an
      overall survival of 62.5%. CONCLUSION: Partial and hemi-nephrectomy for renal
      malignancy can safely be performed in patients with horseshoe kidney with
      acceptable operative and oncologic outcomes.

PMID- 26892058
TI  - Incorporation of the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator at urology Objective
      Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs): a pilot study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To incorporate the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator (dVSSS) into
      Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and to assess basic robotic
      skills of urology Post-Graduate Trainees (PGTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: PGTs in
      post-graduate years (PGY-3 to PGY-5) from two Quebec urology training programs
      were recruited. During a 20 minute OSCE station, PGTs were asked to fill in a
      questionnaire and perform two tasks: pick and place, and energy dissection level
      1. For each exercise, the norm-referenced method was used to establish a passing
      score to determine competency. The participant was considered competent in these
      two basic dVSSS exercises if he/she gained the passing score on both tasks.
      RESULTS: All nine PGTs who attended the OSCE voluntarily participated in the
      study. They had performed a median of 10 (IQR: 2.5-16) laparoscopic procedures, 2
      (0-8) robotic procedures, and assisted 10 (IQR: 0-15) robotic procedures at the
      bedside prior to this OSCE. Based on a passing score of 90 for task 1 and 72 for
      task 2, there were 3 (33%) competent PGTs, all of whom were from PGY-5 level.
      Therefore, there was significant difference among PGY levels in terms of
      competency for the basic robotic skills tested (p = 0.01). When compared with
      PGTs, experts had performed significantly higher numbers of robotic procedures
      (5.2 +/- 2.4 versus 25 +/- 8.7; p = 0.02). However, there was no significant
      difference in the performance parameters between PGTs and experts in both tasks.
      CONCLUSION: This study confirms the feasibility of incorporating dVSSS into OSCEs
      to assess basic robotic skills of urology PGTs. Future studies need to include
      more complex exercises and larger sample size to expand on these results.

PMID- 26892059
TI  - Robotic VR simulation to measure competency: a step in the right direction.

PMID- 26892060
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of the ankle performed on an InterStim patient.
AB  - Patients undergoing InterStim implantation often have comorbidities, which
      require magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis. Although MRI of the head
      has been recently approved for use with the InterStim neurostimulator, imaging of
      other regions remains controversial. We present a case of Achilles tendinitis
      diagnosed on MRI of the ankle in a patient with an InterStim device. The
      neurostimulator was deactivated, and using a transmit/receive extremity coil, the
      left ankle was imaged without any adverse events. At 9 months post-imaging, the
      patient continued to have good control of symptoms with InterStim, with no
      negative effects from MRI. MRI of the ankle is feasible in patients with
      InterStim implants using transmit/receive coils. Further evaluation is warranted
      to study the safety of MRI of other body region in InterStim patients.

PMID- 26892061
TI  - Primary malignant melanoma of the urinary bladder and ureter.
AB  - Primary malignant melanoma of the urinary bladder is a rare lesion. We report the
      case of a 78-year-old male with no previous history of cutaneous melanoma who
      presented with hematuria. Further investigation with imaging and cystoscopy
      raised suspicion of a primary bladder and ureteric melanoma, which had
      subsequently metastasized. This was confirmed with histological assessment and a
      thorough search for alternative primary lesions. Unfortunately, our patient
      passed away prior to receiving any oncological treatment for his metastatic
      melanoma, underscoring both the high mortality of this lesion and the need for a
      consensus on definitive treatment.

PMID- 26892062
TI  - 'Spousal Revenge Syndrome'--description of a new chronic pelvic pain syndrome
      patient cohort.
AB  - Psychological factors may play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic
      prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This case series describes a
      cohort of 10 men presenting with CP/CPPS whose symptoms began after an
      extramarital sexual encounter, who strongly believed they had a sexually
      transmitted infection (STI) despite negative testing, and who have had no
      improvement with empiric antibiotic treatment. Patients' clinical presentation
      and physical exam findings are reviewed. All men were clinically phenotyped with
      the UPOINT system. Pelvic floor spasm and not infection was prominent in these
      men. Treatment recommendations are proposed and compliance assessed.

PMID- 26892063
TI  - Optimizing subcutaneous injection of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor
      antagonist degarelix.
AB  - The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist degarelix has
      several unique characteristics compared to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
      (LHRH) analogs used in the management of prostate cancer. Notable differences of
      GnRH receptor antagonists include no flare reaction, and a more rapid suppression
      of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and
      prostate-specific antigen (PSA) compared to LHRH analogs. Despite emerging
      evidence supporting the use of GnRH receptor antagonists over the more widely
      used LHRH analogs in the management of prostate cancer, physicians may be
      reluctant to prescribe degarelix. They may be concerned about patient complaints
      about injection-site reactions (ISRs). The subcutaneous injection of degarelix
      has been associated with a higher rate of ISRs compared with the intramuscular
      injections of LHRH analogs. This "How I Do It" article describes techniques and
      strategies that have been developed by physicians and nurses to reduce the
      discomfort associated with the subcutaneous delivery of degarelix.

PMID- 26892064
TI  - Technical refinements to improve outcomes following distal hypospadias repair.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias complications, most notably meatal stenosis, are
      commonly reported to occur after tubularized incised plate (TIP) hypospadias
      repair. We focus on a point of technique in TIP repair and its effect on outcome
      of this possible complication, as well as other commonly reported complications.
      Meatal stenosis after TIP can be avoided if the urethra and overlying glans are
      dissected and sutured separately with no attempt at cross suturing whether the
      urethra ends below, behind, or above the glans sutures. This hypothesis was
      evaluated by a prospective data collection before and after implementation to
      evaluate the effect of a technical refinement on rates of meatal stenosis in TIP
      hypospadias repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of coronal to midpenile
      hypospadias repair during two periods were included in our study. Group 1
      included 140 consecutive patients over a 30 month period. Group 2 included 122
      consecutive patients over a 36 month period during which the above mentioned
      technical changes were implemented by all participating pediatric urologists.
      Rates of complications between the two groups were compared with special emphasis
      on meatal stenosis. RESULTS: Median follow up for both groups was > 1 year.
      Overall complication rate in Group 1 was 31.5% compared to 9.8% in Group 2.
      Meatal stenosis was significantly reduced from 13 patients (9.3%) in Group 1 to 2
      patients (1.6%) in Group 2, p = 0.008. CONCLUSION: The technical refinements
      described resulted in reduction of complication rates and a decrease in incidence
      of meatal stenosis.

PMID- 26892065
TI  - Impact of mild preoperative renal insufficiency on in-hospital and long-term
      outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a retrospective
      propensity score matching analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mild preoperative renal insufficiency is not rare in patients
      receiving isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (OPCAB)
      surgery. However, there is less study aimed to evaluate the impact of mild
      preoperative renal insufficiency on in-hospital and follow-up outcomes after
      isolated OPCAB surgery. This single-centre, retrospective propensity score
      matching study aimed to evaluate the impact of mild preoperative renal
      insufficiency on in-hospital and long-term outcomes after first isolated OPCAB
      surgery. METHODS: After propensity score matching, 1236 patients with
      preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of more than 60
      ml/min/1.73 m(2) undergoing first isolated OPCAB surgery from January 2007 to
      December 2011 were entered into this study and were divided to normal group (eGFR
      >= 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2), n = 618) and mild group (eGFR of 60-89 ml/min/1.73 m(2),
      n = 618). The in-hospital and long-term outcomes were investigated and
      retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The 2 propensity score-matched groups had
      similar baseline and procedural characteristics except the baseline eGFR. Thirty
      five patients died during the same hospitalization or within 30 days of
      operation, with a surgical mortality of 2.8 %. Sixty-seven patients died during
      follow-up, with a long-term survival of 94.1 %. Univariate factor analysis showed
      that the 2 propensity score-matched groups have similar rates among in-hospital
      outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves displayed a similar in-hospital survival between
      the 2 groups (chi(2) = 0.728, p = 0.393), while a better long-term survival in
      patients with normal preoperative renal function compared with mild preoperative
      renal insufficiency (chi(2) = 4.722, p = 0.030). After Cox proportional model was
      used, the hazard ratio for long-term mortality in patients with mild preoperative
      renal insufficiency compared with normal preoperative renal function was 1.72 (95
      % CI 1.06-2.83, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Mild preoperative renal insufficiency
      compared with normal preoperative renal function reduced long-term survival,
      without evidence of worse in-hospital outcomes.

PMID- 26892067
TI  - Whole-body MRI: non-oncological applications in paediatrics.
AB  - Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) is a fast and accurate method for
      detecting and monitoring of diseases throughout the entire body without exposure
      to ionizing radiation. Among emerging non-oncological potential applications of
      WBMRI, rheumatological diseases play an important role. Rheumatological WBMRI
      applications include the evaluation of chronic multifocal recurrent
      osteomyelitis, dermatomyositis, fever of unknown origin, arthritis, and
      connective tissue diseases. Aim of this review is to give an overview of the use
      of WBMRI in rheumatological field. 

PMID- 26892066
TI  - Comparative genomics and functional analysis of the 936 group of lactococcal
      Siphoviridae phages.
AB  - Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of bacteriophage collections has
      greatly enhanced our understanding regarding their prevalence, phage-host
      interactions as well as the overall biodiversity of their genomes. This knowledge
      is very relevant to phages infecting Lactococcus lactis, since they constitute a
      significant risk factor for dairy fermentations. Of the eighty four lactococcal
      phage genomes currently available, fifty five belong to the so-called 936 group,
      the most prevalent of the ten currently recognized lactococcal phage groups.
      Here, we report the genetic characteristics of a new collection of 936 group
      phages. By combining these genomes to those sequenced previously we determined
      the core and variable elements of the 936 genome. Genomic variation occurs across
      the 936 phage genome, such as genetic elements that (i) lead to a +1
      translational frameshift resulting in the formation of additional structures on
      the phage tail, (ii) specify a double neck passage structure, and (iii) encode
      packaging module-associated methylases. Hierarchical clustering of the gene
      complement of the 936 group phages and nucleotide alignments allowed grouping of
      the ninety 936 group phages into distinct clusters, which in general appear to
      correspond with their geographical origin. 

PMID- 26892069
TI  - Nanoscale imaging of the photoresponse in PN junctions of InGaAs infrared
      detector.
AB  - Electronic layout, such as distributions of charge carriers and electric field,
      in PN junction is determinant for the photovoltaic devices to realize their
      functionality. Considerable efforts have been dedicated to the carrier profiling
      of this specific region with Scanning Probe Microscope, yet reliable analysis was
      impeded by the difficulty in resolving carriers with high mobility and the
      unclear surface effect, particularly on compound semiconductors. Here we realize
      nanometer Scanning Capacitance Microscopic study on the cross-section of
      InGaAs/InP photodetectors with the featured dC/dV layout of PN junction unveiled
      for the first time. It enables us to probe the photo-excited minority carriers in
      junction region and diagnose the performance deficiency of the diode devices.
      This work provides an illuminating insight into the PN junction for assessing its
      basic capability of harvesting photo-carriers as well as blocking leakage current
      in nanoscopic scale.

PMID- 26892068
TI  - Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE): what radiologist should know.
AB  - Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema is a relatively newly defined entity,
      which has been deeply studied in the recent years. Despite the wide numbers of
      papers on this topic, there are still several open questions about pathogenesis,
      epidemiology, natural history and prognosis. The diagnosis could be assessed only
      after HRCT scan as functional tests often result in an underestimation of this
      syndrome. What radiologists need to know about this syndrome consists in the
      heterogeneity of appearances: emphysema is mainly paraseptal and fibrotic pattern
      could be variable, including the variant of airspace enlargement with fibrosis
      which needs to be differentiated from honeycombing. A special attention must be
      paid on complications which could worsen the prognosis, such as pulmonary
      hypertension and lung cancer. Further studies are needed to address if the type
      of fibrotic pattern as well as fibrosis CT index could be considered as
      prognostic factors. Thus, the role of radiologists in the management of these
      patients is crucial as it involves diagnosis, detection of complications and
      could possible concerns the identification of patients at higher risk. 

PMID- 26892071
TI  - Using Deep Learning for Compound Selectivity Prediction.
AB  - Compound selectivity prediction plays an important role in identifying potential
      compounds that bind to the target of interest with high affinity. However, there
      is still short of efficient and accurate computational approaches to analyze and
      predict compound selectivity. In this paper, we propose two methods to improve
      the compound selectivity prediction. We employ an improved multitask learning
      method in Neural Networks (NNs), which not only incorporates both activity and
      selectivity for other targets, but also uses a probabilistic classifier with a
      logistic regression. We further improve the compound selectivity prediction by
      using the multitask learning method in Deep Belief Networks (DBNs) which can
      build a distributed representation model and improve the generalization of the
      shared tasks. In addition, we assign different weights to the auxiliary tasks
      that are related to the primary selectivity prediction task. In contrast to other
      related work, our methods greatly improve the accuracy of the compound
      selectivity prediction, in particular, using the multitask learning in DBNs with
      modified weights obtains the best performance. 

PMID- 26892070
TI  - Intra-uterine insemination for unexplained subfertility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) is a widely used fertility treatment
      for couples with unexplained subfertility. Although IUI is less invasive and less
      expensive thAppendixan in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the safety of IUI in
      combination with ovarian hyperstimulation (OH) is debated. The main concern about
      IUI treatment with OH is the increase in multiple pregnancy rate. This is an
      update of a Cochrane review (Veltman-Verhulst 2012) originally published in 2006
      and updated in 2012. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether, for couples with
      unexplained subfertility, IUI improves the live birth rate compared with timed
      intercourse (TI), or expectant management, both with and without ovarian
      hyperstimulation (OH). SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and
      Fertility (formerly Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group) Trials
      Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The
      Cochrane Library, inception to Issue 11, 2015), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE,
      PsycINFO and trial registers, all from inception to December 2015 and reference
      lists of articles. Authors of identified studies were contacted for missing or
      unpublished data. The evidence is current to December 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA:
      Truly randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparisons of IUI versus TI, in natural
      or stimulated cycles. Only couples with unexplained subfertility were included.
      DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently performed study
      selection, quality assessment and data extraction. We extracted outcomes, and
      pooled data and, where possible, we carried out subgroup and sensitivity
      analyses. MAIN RESULTS: We included 14 trials including 1867 women. IUI versus TI
      or expectant management both in natural cycleLive birth rate (all cycles)There
      was no evidence of a difference in cumulative live births between the two groups
      (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92 to 2.78; 1 RCT; n = 334;
      moderate quality evidence). The evidence suggested that if the chance of a live
      birth in TI was assumed to be 16%, that of IUI would be between 15% and
      34%.Multiple pregnancy rateThere was no evidence of a difference in multiple
      pregnancy rate between the two treatment groups (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.04 to 5.53; 1
      RCT; n = 334; moderate quality evidence). IUI versus TI or expectant management
      both in stimulated cycleLive birth rate (all cycles)There was no evidence of a
      difference between the two treatment groups (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.88 to 2.88; 2
      RCTs; n = 208; I(2) = 72%; moderate quality evidence). The evidence suggested
      that if the chance of achieving a live birth in TI was assumed to be 26%, the
      chance of a live birth with IUI would be between 23% and 50%.Multiple pregnancy
      rateThere was no evidence of a difference in multiple pregnancy rates between the
      two treatment groups (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.55 to 3.87; 4 RCTs, n = 316; I(2) = 0%;
      low quality evidence). IUI in a natural cycle versus IUI in a stimulated cycle
      Live birth rate (all cycles)An increase in live birth rate was found for women
      who were treated with IUI in a stimulated cycle compared with those who underwent
      IUI in natural cycle (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.82; 4 RCTs, n = 396; I(2) = 0%;
      moderate quality evidence). The evidence suggested that if the chance of a live
      birth in IUI in a stimulated cycle was assumed to be 25%, the chance of a live
      birth in IUI in a natural cycle would be between 9% and 21%.Multiple pregnancy
      rateThere was no evidence of a difference in multiple pregnancy rate between the
      two treatment groups (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.70; 2 RCTs; n = 65; low quality
      evidence). IUI in a stimulated cycle versus TI or expectant management in a
      natural cycleLive birth rate (all cycles)There was no evidence of a difference in
      live birth rate between the two treatment groups (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.49; 1
      RCT; n = 253; moderate quality evidence). The evidence suggested that if the
      chance of a live birth in TI or expectant management in a natural cycle was
      assumed to be 24%, the chance of a live birth in IUI in a stimulated cycle would
      be between 12% and 32%.Multiple pregnancy rateThere was no evidence of a
      difference in multiple pregnancy rate between the two treatment groups (OR 2.00,
      95% CI 0.18 to 22.34; 2 RCTs; n = 304; moderate quality evidence). IUI in natural
      cycle versus TI or expectant management in stimulated cycle Live birth rate (all
      cycles)There was evidence of an increase in live births for IUI (OR 1.95, 95% CI
      1.10 to 3.44; 1 RCT, n = 342; moderate quality evidence). The evidence suggested
      that if the chance of a live birth in TI in a stimulated cycle was assumed to be
      13%, the chance of a live birth in IUI in a natural cycle would be between 14%
      and 34%.Multiple pregnancy rateThere was no evidence of a difference in multiple
      pregnancy rate between the groups (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.07 to 16.90; 1 RCT; n = 342;
      moderate quality evidence).The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE
      methods. Quality ranged from low to moderate, the main limitation being
      imprecision in the findings for both live birth and multiple pregnancy.. AUTHORS'
      CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review did not find conclusive evidence of a
      difference in live birth or multiple pregnancy in most of the comparisons for
      couples with unexplained subfertility treated with intra-uterine insemination
      (IUI) when compared with timed intercourse (TI), both with and without ovarian
      hyperstimulation (OH). There were insufficient studies to allow for pooling of
      data on the important outcome measures for each of the comparisons.

PMID- 26892072
TI  - Social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder and first rank symptoms.
AB  - There have been suggestions that a sense of self emerges through social
      interaction, which requires an intact capability to distinguish self from others.
      Here we investigated the contribution of first rank delusions and hallucinations,
      i.e. symptom expressions of a disturbed sense of self, to social functioning in
      patients with a psychotic disorder. Life-time and present-state positive symptom
      clusters (e.g. first rank delusions and hallucinations) and present-state
      negative symptoms were submitted to hierarchical multiple-regression analyses
      with (different domains of) social functioning as dependent variable. In addition
      to negative symptoms (beta=-0.48), the life-time presence of first rank delusions
      is significantly negative associated with level of social functioning, in
      particular with the quality of interpersonal interactions, with a modest
      standardized regression coefficient (beta=-0.14). We reconfirmed the well
      established relationship between negative symptoms and social functioning, but
      the life-time presence of first rank delusions may also have an subtle ongoing
      effect on the quality of the interaction with others. We propose that the
      experience of first rank delusions may be an expression of enduring self
      disturbances, leaving patients unsure on how to behave in social interactions. 

PMID- 26892073
TI  - The Effectiveness of Incorporating a Play-based Intervention to Improve
      Functional Mobility for a Child with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: A
      Case Report.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is one of the most
      common forms of cancer seen in children, accounting for one-fourth of all
      childhood cancers. These children typically present with decreased functional
      mobility, weakened lower extremity muscle strength and reduced exercise endurance
      and interests because of disease progressions and chemotherapy treatments. The
      purpose of this case report was to examine the effectiveness of incorporating a
      play-based physical therapy (PT) intervention programme to improve functional
      mobility for an inpatient with relapsed ALL undergoing chemotherapy. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 3-year-old male admitted to the hospital for
      relapsed ALL. He was diagnosed approximately 1 year earlier for which he had
      undergone chemotherapy and was later considered in remission at that time. When
      the patient relapsed, he underwent another round of chemotherapy and was waiting
      for a bone marrow transplant during his treatment during the course of this case
      report. For PT intervention, therapeutic exercises were incorporated into play to
      strengthen his lower extremity strength and muscle endurance. Functional
      activities were also incorporated into play to improve his aerobic capacity and
      overall quality of life. Multi-attribute health status classification system
      (HUI3) utility scores, 6-minute walk test distance (6MWT), lower extremity (LE)
      strength, transfer and tolerated treatment time were assessed to identify the
      effect of a PT intervention. OUTCOMES: Despite experiencing fatigue, the patient
      completed most of the treatments incorporated into play. After 5 weeks of PT
      intervention, the participant improved on HUI3 (pre: 0.72 and post: 0.92), 6MWT
      (pre: 156 ft and post: 489 ft), LE strength (squat), transfer (sit to stand) and
      tolerated treatment time (pre: 16 minutes and post: 44 minutes). DISCUSSION: This
      case report suggests that incorporating a play-based PT intervention programme
      could be physically tolerable and functionally beneficial for a young child with
      relapsed ALL undergoing inpatient chemotherapy. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley &
      Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26892075
TI  - Generation and characterization of novel DNA aptamers against coat protein of
      grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV) with antiviral activities and delivery
      potential in grouper cells.
AB  - Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infected larvae and juveniles of more than 50 fish
      species, resulting in mortality rates of greater than 95%. However, there is no
      efficient method to control NNV infections. Aptamers generated by selective
      evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) are short, single-stranded
      nucleic acid oligomers. They display a high degree of affinity and specificity
      for many targets, such as viruses and viral proteins. In this study, three novel
      DNA aptamers (A5, A10, and B11) that specifically target the coat protein (CP) of
      grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV) were selected using SELEX. Secondary
      structures and minimum free energy (DeltaG) predictions indicated that these
      aptamers could form stable, secondary stem-loop structures. Electrophoretic
      mobility shift assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Kd measurements, the
      co-localization of tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) labeled-aptamers with the CP and
      flow cytometry analysis revealed that these aptamers could specifically bind the
      CP with high (nanomolar) affinities. In addition, competition analysis suggested
      the aptamers shared some common CP binding sites with the anti-CP antibody.
      Moreover, all three aptamers did not show any cytotoxic effects in vitro or in
      vivo, and anti-viral analysis indicated the selected aptamers could inhibit NNV
      infection in vitro and in vivo. Compared with controls, mortality of GNNV
      infected fish decreased by 40% and 80% after 10 days infection, when the GNNV was
      pre-incubated with the 1000 nM A10 and B11, respectively. TAMRA-labeled aptamers
      could bind to NNV virions and directly enter NNV-infected cells, suggesting they
      could be used as tracers to study the mechanism of viral infection, as well as
      for targeted therapy. This is the first time that aptamers targeting a viral
      protein of marine fish have been generated and characterized. These aptamers hold
      promise as diagnostic, therapeutic, and targeted drug delivery agents for
      controlling NNV infections.

PMID- 26892074
TI  - Does providing written dietary advice improve the ingestion of non-allergic nuts
      in children with existing nut allergies? - A randomized controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allergy to one or more nuts is common in children and often complete
      nut avoidance is advised. More recently, introduction of non-allergic nuts into
      the diet is advised by some allergists. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine
      whether the provision of additional written dietary advice increases the
      ingestion of non-allergic nuts by children with nut allergy. Secondary aims
      include determining which factors facilitate or prevent successful inclusion of
      non-allergic nuts in the diet, and how inclusion influences quality of life,
      sensitization and the rate of nut reactions. METHODS: This is a randomized,
      double-blinded, controlled trial of children with nut allergy who were asked to
      ingest one or more non-allergic nuts. Participants were 75 children aged 2-16
      years (Intervention=36, Control=39), recruited in Adelaide, Australia. Randomized
      participants were supplied with the intervention (recipe booklet and monthly
      reminder text messages) or provided standard verbal dietary advice. After 6
      months participants were assessed by a blinded investigator with regard to nut
      ingestion, quality of life, sensitization and nut reactions. RESULTS: The
      intervention did not increase the ingestion of non-allergic nuts. A negative
      hospital challenge was a predictor of successful introduction. Parental report of
      child concern about a reaction was the greatest barrier. Ingestion of non
      allergic nuts did not improve quality of life or change nut sensitization. Few
      nut reactions occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
      Ingestion of non-allergic nuts by children with nut allergy was not improved by
      additional dietary intervention. Selective introduction of non-allergic nuts is
      difficult to achieve when the child is anxious about introduction and challenges
      cannot be done in a medically supervised setting. CAPSULE SUMMARY: This dietary
      intervention did not improve non-allergic nut ingestion by nut allergic children.
      Hospital challenge increased introduction rates, whilst parentally reported child
      concern about a reaction reduced success. Non-allergic nut ingestion did not
      change quality of life or sensitization.

PMID- 26892078
TI  - Discussion.

PMID- 26892076
TI  - Early outcomes after isolated aortic valve replacement with rapid deployment
      aortic valve.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Minimal access aortic valve replacement is associated with favorable
      clinical outcomes; however, several meta-analyses have reported significantly
      longer crossclamp times compared with a full sternotomy. We examined the
      procedural and early safety outcomes after isolated rapid deployment aortic valve
      replacement by surgical approach in patients enrolled in the Surgical Treatment
      of Aortic Stenosis With a Next Generation Surgical Aortic Valve trial. METHODS:
      The Surgical Treatment of Aortic Stenosis With a Next Generation Surgical Aortic
      Valve trial was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study, with successful
      implants in 287 patients with aortic valve stenosis who underwent rapid
      deployment aortic valve replacement using the EDWARDS INTUITY Valve System
      (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif). Patients were evaluated perioperatively
      for procedural times and technical success rates; at discharge, for hospital
      length of stay; and, at 30 days, for early adverse events. RESULTS: A total of
      158 patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement through a full
      sternotomy (n = 71), upper hemisternotomy (n = 77), or right anterior thoracotomy
      (n = 10). Mean age at baseline was 75.7 +/- 7.2 years. Mean aortic crossclamp and
      cardiopulmonary bypass times (minutes) were similar for full sternotomy and upper
      hemisternotomy, 43.5 +/- 32.5/71.6 +/- 41.8 and 43.1 +/- 13.1/69.6 +/- 19.1,
      respectively, and significantly longer for right anterior thoracotomy, 88.3 +/-
      18.6/122.2 +/- 22.1 (P < .000). Early adverse event rates were similar, and in
      hospital mortality rates were low regardless of surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS:
      These data suggest that isolated rapid deployment aortic valve replacement
      through an upper hemisternotomy can lead to shorter crossclamp times than has
      been reported historically in the literature. This may facilitate minimal access
      aortic valve replacement by eliminating the issue of prolonged crossclamp times.
      Further, low in-hospital mortality and new permanent pacemaker implant rates were
      observed regardless of surgical approach.

PMID- 26892077
TI  - The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Consensus Guidelines: Reasons and
      purpose.
AB  - The time interval for the doubling of medical knowledge continues to decline.
      Physicians, patients, administrators, government officials, and payors are
      struggling to keep up to date with the waves of new information and to integrate
      the knowledge into new patient treatment protocols, processes, and metrics.
      Guidelines, Consensus Guidelines, and Consensus Statements, moderated by seasoned
      content experts, offer one method to rapidly distribute new information in a
      timely manner and also guide minimal standards of treatment of clinical care
      pathways as they are developed as part of bundled care programs. These proposed
      Consensus Guidelines advance The American Association for Thoracic Surgery's
      mission of leading in cardiothoracic health care, education, innovation, and
      modeling excellence.

PMID- 26892079
TI  - Identifying N-linked glycan moiety and motifs in the cysteine-rich domain
      critical for N-glycosylation and intracellular trafficking of SR-AI and MARCO.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The accumulation of soluble oligomeric amyloid-beta peptide (oAbeta)
      proceeding the formation of senile plaques contributes to synaptic and memory
      deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Our previous studies have indentified scavenger
      receptor A (SR-A), especially SR-A type I (SR-AI), as prominent scavenger
      receptors on mediating oAbeta clearance by microglia while glycan moiety and
      scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain may play the critical role.
      Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), another member of class A
      superfamily with a highly conserved SRCR domain, may also play the similar role
      on oAbeta internalization. However, the role of N-glycosylation and SRCR domain
      of SR-AI and MARCO on oAbeta internalization remains unclear. RESULT: We found
      that oAbeta internalization was diminished in the cells expressing SR-AI
      harboring mutations of dual N-glycosylation sites (i.e. N120Q-N143Q and N143Q
      N184Q) while they were normally surface targeted. Normal oAbeta internalization
      was observed in 10 SR-AI-SRCR and 4 MARCO-SRCR surface targeted mutants.
      Alternatively, the SRCR mutants at beta-sheet and alpha-helix and on disulfide
      bone formation obstructed receptor's N-glycosylation and surface targeting.
      CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that N-glycan moiety is more critical than SRCR
      domain for SR-A-mediated oAbeta internalization.

PMID- 26892081
TI  - No More Debate Over Left Main Stenting Versus Bypass Surgery.

PMID- 26892080
TI  - Left Main Stenting in Comparison With Surgical Revascularization: 10-Year
      Outcomes of the (Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting) LE MANS Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study has reported 10-year clinical follow-up of patients
      enrolled in the prospective, randomized LE MANS (Left Main Stenting) trial.
      BACKGROUND: The very long-term outcome after left main stenting in comparison
      with surgical revascularization remains unknown. METHODS: In this prospective,
      multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 105 patients with unprotected left main
      coronary artery stenosis with low and medium complexity of coexisting coronary
      artery disease according to SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary
      Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score to percutaneous coronary
      intervention (PCI) with stenting (n = 52) or coronary artery bypass grafting
      (CABG) (n = 53). Drug-eluting stents were implanted in 35%, whereas arterial
      grafts to the left anterior descending artery were utilized in 81%. Currently,
      the mean long-term follow-up was collected at 9.8 +/- 1.0 years. Follow up for
      all-cause mortality is complete, whereas the incidence of major adverse
      cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) was reported from 90% of patients.
      Ambulatory follow-up was completed in 46 (43.9%) patients. RESULTS: At 10 years,
      there was a trend toward higher ejection fraction in stenting when compared with
      surgery (54.9 +/- 8.3% vs. 49.8 +/- 10.3%; p = 0.07). The mortality (21.6% vs.
      30.2%; p = 0.41) and MACCE (51.1% vs. 64.4%; p = 0.28) were statistically not
      different between groups; however, numerically the difference was in favor of
      stenting. Similarly, there was no difference in the occurrence of myocardial
      infarction (8.7 vs. 10.4%; p = 0.62), stroke (4.3 vs. 6.3%; p = 0.68), and
      repeated revascularization rates (26.1% vs. 31.3%; p = 0.64). The probability of
      very long-term survival up to 14 years was comparable between PCI and CABG (74.2%
      vs. 67.5%; p = 0.34; hazard ratio: 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.67 to 3.13);
      however, there was a trend toward higher MACCE-free survival in the PCI group
      (34.7% vs. 22.1%; p = 0.06; hazard ratio: 1.71, 95% confidence interval: 0.97 to
      2.99). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unprotected left main coronary artery
      stenosis with low and medium complexity of coexisting coronary artery disease,
      stenting offers numerically, but statistically nonsignificant, favorable long
      term outcome up to 10 years in terms of safety and efficacy outcome measures,
      therefore, constitutes an alternative therapy for CABG.

PMID- 26892083
TI  - Newer-Generation Devices for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Resolving
      the Limitations of First-Generation Valves?

PMID- 26892085
TI  - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The Good Results of the New Generation of
      Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Devices Are Confirmed.

PMID- 26892082
TI  - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using the Repositionable LOTUS Valve:
      United Kingdom Experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study sought to present the U.K. experience to date with the
      second-generation LOTUS bioprosthesis (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts).
      BACKGROUND: First-generation transcatheter aortic valves have limitations. Second
      generation repositionable valves may improve on some of those limitations.
      METHODS: Prospectively collected data relating to procedural and in-hospital
      outcome was analyzed from 10 implantation centers in the United Kingdom. RESULTS:
      Implants in 228 patients age 81.4 +/- 7.6 years were studied; 53.5% were male.
      Mean logistic EuroScore was 17.5 +/- 12.4. One hundred eighty-seven (82.0%) were
      undertaken for aortic stenosis, 7 (3.1%) for aortic regurgitation, and 34 (14.9%)
      for mixed aortic valve disease. A total of 67.1% of cases were done under local
      anesthetic and/or sedation with transfemoral access in 94.7% and transaortic in
      5.3%. Three device sizes were used: 23 mm (n = 66, 28.9%), 25 mm (n = 39, 17.1%),
      and 27 mm (n = 123, 53.9%). The valve was successfully deployed in 99.1% of
      procedures. After implantation, the mean aortic gradient was 11.4 +/- 5.4 mm Hg
      and aortic valve area 1.6 +/- 0.5 cm(2). In-hospital mortality was 1.8% (n = 4).
      Complications included cardiac tamponade (1.8%), conversion to sternotomy (1.3%),
      stroke (3.9%), vascular access-related (7.0%), and acute kidney injury (7.9%).
      The incidence of moderate/severe aortic regurgitation was 0.8% (n = 2). A total
      of 31.8% of patients required new permanent pacemaker implantation. CONCLUSIONS:
      This analysis represents the largest published series on use of the LOTUS valve.
      Outcomes using this valve are excellent. In-hospital mortality is very low.
      Complication rates are low, and the LOTUS valve improves on first-generation
      valves, particularly with regard to residual aortic regurgitation.

PMID- 26892084
TI  - 1-Year Outcomes With the Fully Repositionable and Retrievable Lotus Transcatheter
      Aortic Replacement Valve in 120 High-Risk Surgical Patients With Severe Aortic
      Stenosis: Results of the REPRISE II Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This analysis presents the first report of 1-year outcomes of the 120
      patients enrolled in the REPRISE II (Repositionable Percutaneous Placement of
      Stenotic Aortic Valve Through Implantation of Lotus Valve System-Evaluation of
      Safety and Performance) study. BACKGROUND: The fully repositionable and
      retrievable Lotus Valve (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts) was
      designed to facilitate accurate positioning, early valve function, and
      hemodynamic stability during deployment and to minimize paravalvular
      regurgitation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
      METHODS: The study enrolled 120 symptomatic patients 70 years of age or older at
      14 centers in Australia and Europe. Patients had severe calcific aortic stenosis
      and were deemed to be at high or extreme risk of surgery based on assessment by
      the heart team. RESULTS: The mean age was 84.4 +/- 5.3 years, 57% (68 of 120) of
      patients were women, and the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 7.1 +/-
      4.6. The mean baseline aortic valve area was 0.7 +/- 0.2 cm(2), and the mean
      transvalvular pressure gradient was 46.4 +/- 15.0 mm Hg. All patients were
      successfully implanted with a Lotus Valve, and 1-year clinical follow-up was
      available for 99.2% (119 of 120 of patients). The mean 1-year transvalvular
      aortic pressure gradient was 12.6 +/- 5.7 mm Hg, and the mean valve area was 1.7
      +/- 0.5 cm(2). A total of 88.6% patients had no or trivial paravalvular aortic
      regurgitation at 1 year by independent core lab adjudication, and 97.1% of
      patients were New York Heart Association functional class I or II. At 1 year, the
      all-cause mortality rate was 10.9% (13 of 119 patients), disabling stroke rate
      was 3.4% (4 of 119 patients), disabling bleeding rate was 5.9% (7 of 119
      patients), with no repeat procedures for valve-related dysfunction. A total of
      31.9% (38 of 119 patients) underwent new permanent pacemaker implantation at 1
      year. CONCLUSIONS: At 1 year of follow-up, the Lotus Valve demonstrated excellent
      valve hemodynamics, no moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation, and
      significant and sustained improvement in New York Heart Association functional
      class status, with good clinical outcomes. (Repositionable Percutaneous Placement
      of Stenotic Aortic Valve Through Implantation of Lotus Valve System-Evaluation of
      Safety and Performance [REPRISE II]; NCT01627691).

PMID- 26892086
TI  - 1-Year Follow-Up Optical Frequency Domain Imaging of Multiple Bioresorbable
      Vascular Scaffolds for the Treatment of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

PMID- 26892087
TI  - Reply: Microvascular Function in Ischemic Heart Disease: There May Be Room for
      Improvement.

PMID- 26892088
TI  - Reply: Microvascular Function in Ischemic Heart Disease: There May Be Room for
      Improvement.

PMID- 26892089
TI  - Reply: Microvascular Function in Ischemic Heart Disease: There May Be Room for
      Improvement.

PMID- 26892090
TI  - Reply: Low Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction:
      An Intriguing Association.

PMID- 26892091
TI  - Mortality Is Not an Adequate Surrogate for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
      Quality.

PMID- 26892092
TI  - Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation in a Patient With an Aortic Mechanical
      Valve.

PMID- 26892093
TI  - Hsp90 inhibitor, BIIB021, induces apoptosis and autophagy by regulating mTOR-Ulk1
      pathway in imatinib-sensitive and -resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cells.
AB  - Development of drug resistance due to BCR-ABL point mutations and the persistence
      of leukemia initiating cells has become a major obstacle for tyrosine kinase
      inhibitors (TKIs) in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The BCR-ABL
      protein is an important client protein of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). BIIB021,
      an orally available Hsp90 inhibitor, has activity against various cancer cells.
      However, little is known about the inhibitory effect of BIIB021 on CML cells. We
      evaluated the inhibitory effects of BIIB021 on K562, K562/G (an imatinib
      resistant cell lines), as well as 32D mouse leukemic cells expressing wild-type
      BCR-ABL (b3a2, 32Dp210) and T315I mutant BCR-ABL (32Dp210-T315I) cells. Our data
      showed that BIIB021 induced significant growth inhibition and apoptosis that was
      predominantly mediated by the mitochondrial pathway. BIIB021 also resulted in
      proteasomal degradation of BCR-ABL proteins. In addition to induction of
      apoptosis, we report for the first time that BIIB021 induced autophagic response
      as evidenced by the formation of autophagosome, increased conversion of
      microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-I to LC3-II, decreased p62
      (SQSTM1) protein levels. Further study suggested that Akt-mTOR-Ulk1 signaling
      pathway was involved in BIIB021-triggered autophagy. Moreover, blocking autophagy
      using pharmacological inhibitor 3-methyladenine and bafilomycin A1 significantly
      enhanced cell death and apoptosis induced by BIIB021, indicating the
      cytoprotective role of autophagy in BIIB021-treated CML cells. Collectively,
      these data provide possible molecular mechanisms for the antileukemic effect of
      BIIB021 on imatinib-sensitive and -resistant CML cells and provide new insights
      into the future application of BIIB021 in the clinical treatment of CML.

PMID- 26892094
TI  - Assessment of neuroactive steroids in cerebrospinal fluid comparing acute relapse
      and stable disease in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Previous studies have reported an involvement of neuroactive steroids as
      neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents in neurological disorders such as
      multiple sclerosis (MS); an analysis of their profile during a specific clinical
      phase of MS is largely unknown. The pregnenolone (PREG), dehydroepiandrosterone
      (DHEA), and allopregnanolone (ALLO) profile was evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients as well as those
      in patients affected by non-inflammatory neurological (control group I) and
      without neurological disorders (control group II). An increase of PREG and DHEA
      values was shown in CSF of male and female RR-MS patients compared to those
      observed in both control groups. The ALLO values were significantly lower in
      female RR-MS patients than those found in male RR-MS patients and in female
      without neurological disorder. During the clinical relapse, we observed female RR
      MS patients showing significantly increased PREG values compared to female RR-MS
      patients in stable phase, while their ALLO values showed a significant decrease
      compared to male RR-MS patients of the same group. Male RR-MS patients with
      gadolinium-enhanced lesions showed PREG and DHEA values higher than those found
      in female RR-MS patients with gadolinium-enhanced lesions. Similary, male RR-MS
      patients with gadolinium-enhanced lesions showed PREG and DHEA values higher than
      male without gadolinium-enhanced lesions. Female RR-MS patients with gadolinium
      enhanced lesions showed DHEA values higher than those found in female RR-MS
      patients with gadolinium-enhanced lesions. Male and female RR-MS patients with
      gadolinium-enhanced lesions showed ALLO values higher than those found in
      respective gender groups without gadolinium-enhanced lesions. ALLO values were
      lower in male than in female RR-MS patients without gadolinium-enhanced lesions.
      Considering the pharmacological properties of neuroactive steroids and the
      observation that neurological disorders influence their concentrations, these
      endogenous compounds may have an important role as prognostic factors of the
      disease and used as markers of MS activity such as relapses. 

PMID- 26892096
TI  - Editorial: Innovative practice.

PMID- 26892095
TI  - Apparent mineralocorticoid excess and the long term treatment of genetic
      hypertension.
AB  - Apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) is a genetic disorder causing severe
      hypertension, hypokalemia, and hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism owing to deficient
      11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-2 (11betaHSD2) enzyme activity. The
      11betaHSD2 enzyme confers mineralocorticoid receptor specificity for aldosterone
      by converting cortisol to its inactive metabolite, cortisone and inactivating the
      cortisol-mineralocorticoid receptor complex. The 20year follow-up of a
      consanguineous Iranian family with three sibs affected with AME shows the
      successes and pitfalls of medical therapy with spironolactone. The three sibs,
      (female, male, female) were diagnosed at the ages of 14, 11, and 4 years,
      respectively. At diagnosis, hypertensive retinopathy and left ventricular
      hypertrophy were present in the eldest female and retinopathy was noted in the
      male sib. Spironolactone treatment resulted in decreased blood pressure and rise
      in serum potassium levels. The older female, age 36, developed reduced left
      ventricular function with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and renal failure
      after her second pregnancy. She was treated with renal transplantation resulting
      in cure of AME with decreased blood pressure and weaning from antihypertensives.
      Her younger sibs, age 34 and 26, do not have end organ damage. Early and vigilant
      treatment improves morbidity in patients with AME. Mineralocorticoid receptor
      antagonists normalize blood pressure, correct hypokalemia and reduce hypertensive
      end-organ damage in patients with AME. Low dose dexamethasone can be considered,
      though the response may be variable. Future directions of therapy include
      selective mineralocorticoid antagonists.

PMID- 26892101
TI  - Recent developments in synthetic methods for benzo[b]heteroles.
AB  - Benzo[b]heteroles containing heteroatoms other than nitrogen and oxygen have
      received considerable attention for their potential applications in materials
      science. This poses an increasing demand for efficient, selective, and broad
      scope methods for their synthesis. This review article summarizes the recent
      developments in synthetic methods and approaches to access representative members
      of the benzoheterole family. 

PMID- 26892099
TI  - "Come on Baby. You Know I Love You": African American Women's Experiences of
      Communication with Male Partners and Disclosure in the Context of Unwanted Sex.
AB  - We examined African American women's experiences of communication with their male
      intimate partners a couple of hours before and after an incident of unwanted sex.
      We also examined women's experiences of disclosure following an incident of
      unwanted sex. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a
      community-based sample of sexually active African American women (n = 19)
      reporting at least one incident of sexual coercion (i.e., being pressured into
      unwanted sex without consent) by an intimate male partner since the age of 18.
      Our analysis was guided by "the sexual division of power" from Connell's (1987)
      theory of gender and power. Data were analyzed inductively by examining the
      interviews for common themes in the following domains: communication before the
      unwanted sex, communication after the unwanted sex, and disclosure to others. Men
      pressured partners for unwanted sex through verbal and non-verbal tactics,
      ranging from pestering and blunt requests for sex to verbal bullying and
      violence. Many women responded by clearly saying no. However, many women also
      described eventually ceasing to resist their partners and engaging in unwanted
      sex. After the unwanted sex, men actively and passively avoided discussing the
      incident. Although many women discussed the unwanted sex with family and friends,
      less women disclosed to trained professionals. In some cases, women did not
      discuss the incident with anyone at all. These findings indicate that, when
      addressing sexual violence against women, there is a need to target men as well
      as the norms of masculinity that underpin physical and sexual violence against
      women. 

PMID- 26892100
TI  - Gender Differences in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Clients of Substance Use
      Disorder Treatment Programs in the U.S.
AB  - This study examined differences in sexual risk behaviors by gender and over time
      among 1281 patients (777 males and 504 females) from 12 community-based substance
      use disorder treatment programs throughout the United States participating in CTN
      0032, a randomized control trial conducted within the National Drug Abuse
      Treatment Clinical Trials Network. Zero-inflated negative binomial and negative
      binomial models were used in the statistical analysis. Results indicated
      significant reductions in most types of sexual risk behaviors among substance
      users regardless of the intervention arms. There were also significant gender
      differences in sexual risk behaviors. Men (compared with women) reported more
      condomless sex acts with their non-primary partners (IRR = 1.80, 95 % CI 1.21
      2.69) and condomless anal sex acts (IRR = 1.74, 95 % CI 1.11-2.72), but fewer
      condomless sex partners (IRR = 0.87, 95 % CI 0.77-0.99), condomless vaginal sex
      acts (IRR = 0.83, 95 % CI 0.69-1.00), and condomless sex acts within 2 h of using
      drugs or alcohol (IRR = 0.70, 95 % CI 0.53-0.90). Gender-specific intervention
      approaches are called for in substance use disorder treatment.

PMID- 26892102
TI  - Psychology in Japan.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to provide information about Japan and its
      psychology in advance of the 31st International Congress of Psychology (ICP), to
      be held in Yokohama, Japan, in 2016. The article begins with the introduction of
      the Japanese Psychological Association (JPA), the hosting organization of the ICP
      2016, and the Japanese Union of Psychological Associations consisting of 51
      associations/societies, of which the JPA is a member. This is followed by a brief
      description of a history of psychology of Japan, with emphasis on the variation
      in our approach to psychology in three different periods, that is, the pre- and
      post-Pacific War periods, and the post-1960 period. Next, the international
      contributions of Japanese psychology/psychologists are discussed from the point
      of view of their visibility. Education and training in psychology in Japanese
      universities is discussed with a final positive remark about the long-awaited
      enactment of the Accredited Psychologist Law in September, 2015. 

PMID- 26892103
TI  - Finding of pentastomes of genus Reighardia (Pentastomida) in the Belcher's gull
      (Larus belcheri).
AB  - This report describes the finding of Reighardia sp. (Pentastomida) infecting the
      air sac of two Belcher's gulls (Larus belcheri) found dead on the beaches of
      Pucusana, a district in southern Lima, Peru. Three pentastomes were collected
      from two Belcher's gulls. Then, they were morphologically and molecular analyzed.
      Molecular characterization of the parasite was achieved by amplifying a fragment
      of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA). Based on both morphological
      and molecular data the pentastomes were identified as pentastomes of the genus
      Reighardia. This is the first report showing that the Belcher's gull is a new
      natural definitive host for this pentastome. 

PMID- 26892104
TI  - In vivo assay of IgE activities on the expulsion of intestinal adult worms.
AB  - A physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) is to promote parasitic helminth
      expulsion. This assertion is largely based on a series of studies carried out by
      Capron's laboratory. They observed that IgE is an essential component of
      protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni larvae both in vitro and in vivo.
      Then, another group reported that IgE-deficient mice show higher worm burdens
      than wild-type (WT) mice when mice are infected with Trichinella spiralis.
      Although these studies indicate anti-helminth activities of IgE targeted on
      larvae forms, they do not prove the fighting effects of IgE on adult worms. In
      contrast, a recent study demonstrates an expelling activity of IgE for adult
      worms through an adoptive transfer of immune serum-derived IgE into Strongyloides
      venezuelensis-infected mice. Here, I describe how IgE is purified from S.
      venezuelensis-immune sera and is transferred into infected mice to examine its
      effect on worm expulsion. This method will be used to advance our understanding
      the mechanism of S. venezuelensis expulsion and explore S. venezuelensis antigens
      recognized by IgE. Moreover, adoptive transfers of IgE purified from immune sera
      will be applicable to other helminth infection models to investigate
      physiological roles of IgE.

PMID- 26892105
TI  - Circulating Tumor Cells and Tumor Stem Cells Detection in the Peripheral Blood
      Mononuclear Cells of Breast Cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our aim was to retrospectively analyze the relationships between
      circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the development of breast cancer, for
      elucidating the role of CTCs in breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 107 female
      patients with primary breast cancer and 48 matched healthy female volunteers were
      recruited. After blood collection, isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells (PBMC) was performed followed by the detection of cytokeratin 19 positive
      (CK19(+) ) and CD44(+) /CD24(-/low) cells, as well as estrogen receptor (ER),
      progesterone, and CerbB2. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 20.0 software.
      RESULTS: None of the 48 volunteers were detected with CK19(+) cells in their
      PBMC, while in 77 patients, 72% of 107 female patients with primary breast
      cancer, the CK19(+) cells were detected. CK19(+) could also be detected among
      patients in each grouping by different clinical staging and lymph node
      metastasis, with statistical differences (all P < 0.05). Further, among the 83
      CK19(+) specimens, 32 were also detected with CD44(+) /CD24(-/low) cells.
      Comparisons of CK19(+) and CD44(+) /CD24(-/low) cells in patients with different
      clinical features (ER positive vs. ER negative, C-erbB2 positive vs. C-erbB2
      negative) and molecular subtypes (triple-negative breast cancer, ER positive, and
      C-erbB2 positive) showed no obvious difference (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both
      CTCs and tumor stem cells (TSCs) could be detected in the PBMC of breast cancer
      patients; besides, positive expression rate of CTCs might be obviously associated
      with the clinical stage and metastasis. Positive relationship of TSCs and the
      clinical stage of breast cancer was also proved in this study.

PMID- 26892107
TI  - Risk Assessment Study of Fluoride Salts: Probability-Impact Matrix of Renal and
      Hepatic Toxicity Markers.
AB  - The present risk assessment study of fluoride salts was conducted by oral
      administration of three different doses of sodium and potassium fluorides (NaF,
      KF) and zinc fluoride tetrahydrate (ZnF2 *4H2O) to male Wistar rats. The rats
      were divided into control and nine experimental groups, to which oral injections
      of 0.5 mL distilled water and 0.5 mL of fluoride solutions, respectively, were
      given. The dosage of fluoride compounds was adjusted to contain 2.1 mg (low-dose
      group, LG), 4.3 mg (mid-dose group, MG), and 5.4 mg fluoride per 200 g rat body
      weight (high-dose group, HG) corresponding to 5, 10, and 12.5 % of LD50 values
      for NaF. The 24-h urine volume, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and
      creatinine clearance (Ccr) were measured as markers of possible acute renal
      impact. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate
      aminotransferase (AST) were determined in serum samples as markers of acute
      hepatic impact. The levels of serum and urinary fluoride were determined to
      evaluate fluoride bioavailability. The results reveal that higher doses of NaF,
      KF, and ZnF2 induced renal damage as indicated by higher urinary NAG (p < 0.05
      with >=90th percentile of control). High doses of ZnF2 also induced a significant
      Ccr decrease (p < 0.05 with <=10th percentile of control). Low doses of NaF and
      mid-doses of ZnF2 induced polyuria (p < 0.05 with >=90th percentile of control)
      while medium doses of NaF and low doses of KF also induced liver damage, as
      indicated by a high level of AST (p < 0.05 with >=90th percentile of control).
      These findings suggest that oral administration of fluoride is a potential, dose
      dependent risk factor of renal tubular damage. 

PMID- 26892106
TI  - Use of mobile and cordless phones and cognition in Australian primary school
      children: a prospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Use of mobile (MP) and cordless phones (CP) is common among young
      children, but whether the resulting radiofrequency exposure affects development
      of cognitive skills is not known. Small changes have been found in older
      children. This study focused on children's exposures to MP and CP and cognitive
      development. The hypothesis was that children who used these phones would display
      differences in cognitive function compared to those who did not. METHODS: We
      recruited 619 fourth-grade students (8-11 years) from 37 schools around Melbourne
      and Wollongong, Australia. Participants completed a short questionnaire, a
      computerised cognitive test battery, and the Stroop colour-word test. Parents
      completed exposure questionnaires on their child's behalf. Analysis used multiple
      linear regression. The principal exposure-metrics were the total number of
      reported MP and CP calls weekly categorised into no use ('None'); use less than
      or equal to the median amount ('Some'); and use more than the median ('More').
      The median number of calls/week was 2.5 for MP and 2.0 for CP. RESULTS: MP and CP
      use for calls was low; and only 5 of 78 comparisons of phone use with cognitive
      measures were statistically significant. The reaction time to the response
      inhibition task was slower in those who used an MP 'More' compared to the 'Some'
      use group and non-users. For CP use, the response time to the Stroop interference
      task was slower in the 'More' group versus the 'Some' group, and accuracy was
      worse in visual recognition and episodic memory tasks and the identification
      task. In an additional exploratory analysis, there was some evidence of a gender
      effect on mean reaction times. The highest users for both phone types were girls.
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was little evidence cognitive function was associated
      with CP and MP use in this age group. Although there was some evidence that
      effects of MP and CP use on cognition may differ by gender, this needs further
      exploration. CP results may be more reliable as parents estimated children's
      phone use and the CPs were at home; results for CP use were broadly consistent
      with our earlier study of older children.

PMID- 26892108
TI  - Factors shaping how clinical educators use their educational knowledge and skills
      in the clinical workplace: a qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In order to consolidate their educational knowledge and skills and
      develop their educational role, many clinicians undertake professional
      development in clinical education and supervision. It is well established that
      these educationally-focussed professional development activities have a positive
      impact. However, it is less clear what factors within the clinical workplace can
      shape how health professionals may use and apply their educational knowledge and
      skills and undertake their educational role. Looking through the lens of
      workplace affordances, this paper draws attention to the contextual, personal and
      interactional factors that impact on how clinical educators integrate their
      educational knowledge and skills into the practice setting, and undertake their
      educational role. METHODS: Data were gathered via a survey of 387 clinical
      educators and semi-structured interviews with 12 clinical educators and 6
      workplace managers. In this paper, we focus on analysing and reporting the
      qualitative data gathered in this study. This qualitative data were subject to a
      thematic analysis and guided by theoretical constructs related to workplace
      affordances. RESULTS: Three key themes were identified including contextual,
      personal and interactional factors. Contextual elements referred to
      organisational structures and systems that impact on participants' educational
      role, how participants' clinical education role was articulated and configured
      within the organisation, and how the organisation shaped the educational
      opportunities available to clinicians. Personal factors encompassed clinicians'
      personal motivations and goals to teach and be involved in education, develop
      their own educational skills and function as a role model for students.
      Interactional factors referred to the professional interactions and networks
      through which clinicians shared their educational knowledge and skills and
      further consolidated their profile as educational advocates in their workplace.
      CONCLUSIONS: There are a number of contextual, personal and interactional factors
      which interrelate in complex ways and impact on how clinical educators use their
      educational knowledge and skills and undertake their educational role in the
      clinical setting. To fully realise the potential of and fulfil the requirements
      of their educational role, clinical educators need to be provided appropriate
      experiential and meaningful workplace opportunities and the guidance to use,
      share and reflect on their educational knowledge and skills in the clinical
      workplace.

PMID- 26892110
TI  - National Society Of Genetic Counselors Natalie Weissberger Paul National
      Leadership Award Address: "Patients and Research: Paths to Personal and
      Professional Growth".

PMID- 26892111
TI  - Fyn Plays a Pivotal Role in Fetomaternal Tolerance Through Regulation of Th17
      Cells.
AB  - PROBLEM: Spontaneous abortion is a poorly understood phenomenon, although
      fetomaternal intolerance is known to play an important role in its pathogenesis.
      The tyrosine-specific phosphotransferase Fyn has been reported as a significant
      regulator in immune response. However, its role in fetomaternal immune tolerance
      and contribution to spontaneous abortion remains unclear. METHODS OF STUDY: Fyn
      expression was evaluated at the fetomaternal interface of normal pregnant and
      abortion-prone mice, as well as in decidual tissue obtained from normal human
      pregnancies and idiopathic miscarriages. A Fyn inhibitor was administrated into
      the LPS-induced abortion mice to investigate the variation of embryo resorption
      and local immunity. RESULTS: Fyn expression fluctuated with the progress of
      normal pregnancy and was elevated in abortion-prone mice and patients with
      recurrent spontaneous abortion. The Fyn inhibitor reversed LPS-induced embryo
      absorption and aberrant inflammatory status including redundant expression of
      IRF4 and increased proportion of Th17 cells. CONCLUSION: Fyn is confirmed as a
      negative regulator in fetomaternal immune tolerance, through promoting Th17 cell
      expansion and proinflammatory factors expression.

PMID- 26892112
TI  - Successful multidisciplinary treatment of refractory cytomegalovirus infection
      after living donor liver transplantation using mixed lymphocyte reactions: report
      of a case.
AB  - A 52-year-old Japanese male underwent ABO-incompatible living donor liver
      transplantation for acute-on-chronic hepatitis B infection. Fifty-one months
      later, he became feverish and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was diagnosed. A
      dramatically high CMV pp65 antigen (C10/C11) load (2,412) was measured, which did
      not respond to ganciclovir and immune globulin treatment, and increased further
      to 5,353. The next treatment strategy was the reduction of immunosuppressants,
      but to simply reduce immunosuppressants can lead to graft loss. Therefore, before
      using this strategy, responses to alloantigens were evaluated using a
      carboxyfluorescein-diacetate-succimidyl ester-labeled mixed lymphocyte reaction
      (CFSE-MLR). Only limited CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell proliferation was observed,
      suggesting the patient was hyporesponsive. After reducing tacrolimus levels from
      3-4 ng/mL to <1.5-1.8 ng/mL, the fever dropped immediately and C10/C11
      disappeared after 2 months. In conclusion, CFSE-MLR could be a useful tool for
      the treatment of refractory infectious disease after transplantation and,
      importantly, for checking a patient's immunosuppressive state beyond the
      perioperative period. 

PMID- 26892109
TI  - Influence of light alcohol consumption on lifestyle-related diseases: a predictor
      of fatty liver with liver enzyme elevation in Japanese females with metabolic
      syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although heavy drinking is known to lead to liver injury, some recent
      studies have reported that light alcohol consumption (LAC) may play a protective
      role against fatty liver in the general population, and may even play a
      protective role against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in males with
      metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the association between LAC and fatty liver
      with liver enzyme elevation in females with MS is unclear. METHODS: Participants
      of this study were 20,853 females who underwent a regular health check-up between
      April 2008 and March 2012 at our hospital. Enrolled subjects were 1141 females
      with MS, who underwent all necessary tests and drank less than 20 g/day of
      alcohol. We investigated the presence of fatty liver with liver enzyme elevation,
      defined in this study as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels ?31 IU/I, and the
      association between LAC and fatty liver with ALT elevation. RESULTS: There was no
      significant difference in the prevalence of fatty liver and ALT between light
      drinkers and non-drinkers. The prevalence of individuals receiving a treatment
      for dyslipidemia and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was significantly lower in
      light drinkers than in non-drinkers. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference
      (WC), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), uric acid (UA), IGT, and
      visceral fat type MS (V-type MS) were significant predictors of the prevalence of
      fatty liver with ALT elevation in logistic regression analysis. The odds ratio
      [OR] (95 % confidence interval [CI], p value) for fatty liver with ALT elevation
      were as follows: BMI, 2.181 (1.445-3.293, p <0.001); WC, 1.853 (1.280-2.684, p
      <0.01); DBP, 1.604 (1.120-2.298, p <0.05); TG, 2.202 (1.562-3.105, p <0.001); UA,
      2.959 (1.537-5.698, p <0.01); IGT, 1.692 (1.143-2.506, p <0.01); and V-type MS,
      3.708 (2.529-5.437, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference
      in the prevalence of fatty liver with ALT elevation in females with MS between
      light drinkers and non-drinkers, suggesting that other factors such as BMI, WC, V
      type MS, and lifestyle-related disease may be more important than LAC for the
      prevalence of fatty liver with ALT elevation.

PMID- 26892113
TI  - The effect of animacy on metamemory.
AB  - Previous research has shown that the animacy quality of materials affects basic
      cognitive processes such as memory (i.e., animate stimuli are remembered better
      than are inanimate stimuli). This is referred to as the animacy effect. Little
      research has examined, however, whether this effect can be extended to higher
      cognitive processes such as metamemory. In the present studies, we investigated
      the influence of animacy on judgments of learning (JOLs) and the underlying basis
      of the animacy effect, namely, processing fluency and beliefs about the animacy
      effect. In Experiment 1, participants studied animate and inanimate words and
      made immediate JOLs. Results revealed that participants gave higher estimates for
      animate than they did for inanimate words. In Experiments 2a and 2b, we evaluated
      the contribution of processing fluency to the animacy effect either by measuring
      self-paced study time or by disrupting fluency by presenting half of the words in
      an easy or difficult font style. Results from both experiments indicated that
      processing fluency contributes minimally to the animacy effect. In questionnaire
      based Experiment 3, participants estimated hypothetical participants would better
      remember the animate words than the inanimate words, suggesting the potential
      role of beliefs on the animacy effect on JOLs. To conclude, these findings
      suggest that animacy is a reliable cue when people monitor their learning in
      higher cognitive processes. The beliefs, not processing fluency, contribute
      substantially to the animacy effect on JOLs.

PMID- 26892115
TI  - EuroQol-5 dimensions utility gain according to British and Swedish preference
      sets in rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, or
      tumour necrosis factor inhibitors: a prospective cohort study from southern
      Sweden.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The development of EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) utility over time in
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, treated with biologics other than tumour
      necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), based on the standard British (UK) and the new
      Swedish (SE) EQ-5D preference sets, has not been previously described. METHODS:
      Demographics, core set data, EQ-5D utility, and treatment characteristics for
      patients with established RA, receiving biologics in southern Sweden from January
      2006 to March 2014, were retrieved from observational databases. Theoretical, UK,
      and experience-based, SE, EQ-5D mean utilities were plotted over time. RESULTS:
      Data regarding 2418 treatment courses with abatacept (ABA, n = 100), rituximab
      (RTX, n = 230), tocilizumab (TOC, n = 121), or TNFi (n = 1967) were included in
      the analysis. Patients starting TNFi treatment, as expected, had shorter disease
      duration and less previous biologics. Baseline utilities of patients commencing
      ABA and TOC, but not RTX, were also lower than in the TNFi group. Following
      treatment initiation, rapid utility improvements were seen with all therapies,
      reaching plateaus after approximately 1.5 months, and then remaining fairly
      stable throughout follow-up in patients adhering to therapy. SE utilities were
      consistently higher than UK, with baseline values at around 0.7 leaving little
      room for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: ABA, RTX, TOC, and TNFi treatments were all
      associated with favourable EQ-5D utility developments in RA patients adhering to
      therapy. The compression of the experience-based SE preference set towards higher
      utilities may compromise its ability to detect between-group differences in
      quality-adjusted life-years, thus making cost-effectiveness harder to demonstrate
      in cost-utility analyses applying this preference set, rather than the standard
      UK.

PMID- 26892114
TI  - Targeted antibiotic delivery using low temperature-sensitive liposomes and
      magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound hyperthermia.
AB  - Chronic non-healing wound infections require long duration antibiotic therapy,
      and are associated with significant morbidity and health-care costs. Novel
      approaches for efficient, readily-translatable targeted and localised
      antimicrobial delivery are needed. The objectives of this study were to 1)
      develop low temperature-sensitive liposomes (LTSLs) containing an antimicrobial
      agent (ciprofloxacin) for induced release at mild hyperthermia (~42  degrees C),
      2) characterise in vitro ciprofloxacin release, and efficacy against
      Staphylococcus aureus plankton and biofilms, and 3) determine the feasibility of
      localised ciprofloxacin delivery in combination with MR-HIFU hyperthermia in a
      rat model. LTSLs were loaded actively with ciprofloxacin and their efficacy was
      determined using a disc diffusion method, MBEC biofilm device, and scanning
      electron microscopy (SEM). Ciprofloxacin release from LTSLs was assessed in a
      physiological buffer by fluorescence spectroscopy, and in vivo in a rat model
      using MR-HIFU. Results indicated that < 5% ciprofloxacin was released from the
      LTSL at body temperature (37  degrees C), while >95% was released at 42  degrees
      C. Precise hyperthermia exposures in the thigh of rats using MR-HIFU during
      intravenous (i.v.) administration of the LTSLs resulted in a four fold greater
      local concentration of ciprofloxacin compared to controls (free ciprofloxacin +
      MR-HIFU or LTSL alone). The biodistribution of ciprofloxacin in unheated tissues
      was fairly similar between treatment groups. Triggered release at 42  degrees C
      from LTSL achieved significantly greater S. aureus killing and induced membrane
      deformation and changes in biofilm matrix compared to free ciprofloxacin or LTSL
      at 37  degrees C. This technique has potential as a method to deliver high
      concentration antimicrobials to chronic wounds.

PMID- 26892116
TI  - Root-knot nematodes induce pattern-triggered immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana
      roots.
AB  - Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are plant parasites with a broad
      host range causing great losses worldwide. To parasitize their hosts, RKNs
      establish feeding sites in roots known as giant cells. The majority of work
      studying plant-RKN interactions in susceptible hosts addresses establishment of
      the giant cells and there is limited information on the early defense responses.
      Here we characterized early defense or pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) against
      RKNs in Arabidopsis thaliana. To address PTI, we evaluated known canonical PTI
      signaling mutants with RKNs and investigated the expression of PTI marker genes
      after RKN infection using both quantitative PCR and beta-glucuronidase reporter
      transgenic lines. We showed that PTI-compromised plants have enhanced
      susceptibility to RKNs, including the bak1-5 mutant. BAK1 is a common partner of
      distinct receptors of microbe- and damage-associated molecular patterns.
      Furthermore, our data indicated that nematode recognition leading to PTI
      responses involves camalexin and glucosinolate biosynthesis. While the RKN
      induced glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway was BAK1-dependent, the camalexin
      biosynthetic pathway was only partially dependent on BAK1. Combined, our results
      indicate the presence of BAK1-dependent and -independent PTI against RKNs in A.
      thaliana, suggesting the existence of diverse nematode recognition mechanisms.

PMID- 26892117
TI  - From the Editor: New drugs, old lessons.

PMID- 26892118
TI  - JCL roundtable: PCSK9 inhibitors in clinical practice.
AB  - The roundtable this month will involve a discussion of two new drugs that have
      been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the reduction of low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The Food and Drug Administration
      approved the first of these, alirocumab as an "adjunct to diet and maximally
      tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial
      hypercholesterolemia or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who
      require additional lowering of LDL [low-density lipoprotein]-cholesterol."
      Evolucumab has similar indications plus an indication specifically for treatment
      of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. This sets the stage for their
      clinical use and in this roundtable, we will discuss with two experts, the
      implications of these indications for the practicing physician. Dr McKenney and
      Dr Moriarty have had extensive experience in the conduct of clinical trials that
      provided the evidence of safety and efficacy of these so called PCSK9 inhibitors.

PMID- 26892119
TI  - Lipids and bariatric procedures part 1 of 2: Scientific statement from the
      National Lipid Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,
      and Obesity Medicine Association: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
AB  - Bariatric procedures often improve lipid levels in patients with obesity. This 2
      part scientific statement examines the potential lipid benefits of bariatric
      procedures and represents contributions from authors representing the National
      Lipid Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the
      Obesity Medicine Association. The foundation for this scientific statement was
      based on data published through June 2015. Part 1 of this 2-part scientific
      statement provides an overview of: (1) adipose tissue, cholesterol metabolism,
      and lipids; (2) bariatric procedures, cholesterol metabolism, and lipids; (3)
      endocrine factors relevant to lipid influx, synthesis, metabolism, and efflux;
      (4) immune factors relevant to lipid influx, synthesis, metabolism, and efflux;
      (5) bariatric procedures, bile acid metabolism, and lipids; and (6) bariatric
      procedures, intestinal microbiota, and lipids, with specific emphasis on how the
      alterations in the microbiome by bariatric procedures influence obesity, bile
      acids, and inflammation, which in turn, may all affect lipid levels. Included in
      part 2 of this comprehensive scientific statement will be a review of: (1) the
      importance of nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) and their absorption
      on lipid levels; (2) the effects of bariatric procedures on gut hormones and
      lipid levels; (3) the effects of bariatric procedures on nonlipid cardiovascular
      disease risk factors; (4) the effects of bariatric procedures on lipid levels;
      (5) effects of bariatric procedures on cardiovascular disease; and finally (6)
      the potential lipid effects of vitamin, mineral, and trace element deficiencies
      that may occur after bariatric procedures. This document represents the executive
      summary of part 1.

PMID- 26892121
TI  - Chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of chelation therapy on cardiovascular diseases
      (CVDs). BACKGROUND: EDTA is a chelating agent that binds to metals including
      calcium and facilitates their excretion. Chelation with EDTA is recommended by
      some practitioners to treat CVD with the hypothesis that reducing calcium reduces
      atherosclerotic calcification of arteries. However, chelation therapy has not
      been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and its effectiveness is
      unclear. METHODS: We searched PubMed for English language articles addressing the
      effect of chelation therapy on CVD events. Articles pertinent to the topic were
      reviewed in detail. RESULTS: We identified 128 articles addressing the
      therapeutic value of chelation therapy on CVD; 38 were reviewed in detail
      including 20 case series and 7 randomized controlled trials. Sixteen case series
      and 3 randomized controlled trials showed benefit with chelation. The Trial to
      Assess Chelation Therapy included 1708 post-myocardial infarction patients and
      demonstrated benefit with chelation therapy, but the Trial to Assess Chelation
      Therapy investigators concluded that their results did not support the routine
      use of chelation therapy for post-myocardial infarction patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      The effectiveness of chelation therapy in reducing recurrent CVD events is
      unclear, but possible, and warrants additional, carefully designed clinical
      trials.

PMID- 26892120
TI  - Lipids and bariatric procedures part 1 of 2: Scientific statement from the
      National Lipid Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,
      and Obesity Medicine Association: FULL REPORT.
AB  - Bariatric procedures often improve lipid levels in patients with obesity. This 2
      part scientific statement examines the potential lipid benefits of bariatric
      procedures and represents the contributions from authors representing the
      National Lipid Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,
      and the Obesity Medicine Association. The foundation for this scientific
      statement was based on published data through June 2015. Part 1 of this 2 part
      scientific statement provides an overview of: (1) adipose tissue, cholesterol
      metabolism, and lipids; (2) bariatric procedures, cholesterol metabolism, and
      lipids; (3) endocrine factors relevant to lipid influx, synthesis, metabolism,
      and efflux; (4) immune factors relevant to lipid influx, synthesis, metabolism,
      and efflux; (5) bariatric procedures, bile acid metabolism, and lipids; and (6)
      bariatric procedures, intestinal microbiota, and lipids, with specific emphasis
      on how the alterations in the microbiome by bariatric procedures influence
      obesity, bile acids, and inflammation, which in turn, may all affect lipid
      levels. Included in part 2 of this comprehensive scientific statement will be a
      review of (1) the importance of nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) and
      their absorption on lipid levels; (2) the effects of bariatric procedures on gut
      hormones and lipid levels; (3) the effects of bariatric procedures on nonlipid
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors; (4) the effects of bariatric
      procedures on lipid levels; (5) effects of bariatric procedures on CVD; and
      finally, (6) the potential lipid effects of vitamin, mineral, and trace element
      deficiencies that may occur after bariatric procedures. This document represents
      the full report of part 1.

PMID- 26892122
TI  - Assessment of statin therapy, LDL-C levels, and cardiovascular events among high
      risk patients in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Statins have demonstrated significant benefit in reducing
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate statin treatment
      patterns by intensity, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)
      levels, and cardiovascular (CV) events in high-risk CVD patients. METHODS:
      Patients included were aged >= 18 years, with a coronary heart disease (CHD; Jan
      1, 2007-Dec 31, 2011, index date) or CHD risk equivalent (CHD RE) diagnosis (Jan
      1, 2007-Dec 31, 2010, index date), in the Truven MarketScan claims database,
      continuously enrolled for 2 years pre- and up to 1 (CHD) or 2 (CHD RE) years post
      index. Patients with CHD, CHD RE, rhabdomyolysis, or chronic kidney disease any
      time pre-index were excluded. Statin therapy was assessed at baseline, 30, 90,
      and 365 days post-index. LDL-C values were captured in patients with available
      data at 30-day intervals up to 1 year. CV events were evaluated up to 1 year post
      index. Descriptive statistics were used to report results. RESULTS: There were
      175,103 CHD and 68,290 CHD RE patients; 3333 CHD RE patients had post-index CV
      events. At 1 year, 38.7% of CHD patients and 44.3% of CHD RE patients with post
      index CV events were not prescribed statins. Most patients who were prescribed
      statins, received a moderate-intensity statin. The percentage of patients with
      LDL-C >= 100 mg/dL reduced over time, but at 1 year, 29.3% of CHD and 30.0% of
      CHD RE patients with post-index CV events had LDL-C >= 100 mg/dL. At 1 year post
      index, 9.9% CHD and 7.3% CHD RE patients had at least 1 CV event. CONCLUSION:
      There is room for better LDL-C management among high-risk CVD patients to reduce
      their overall CV risk.

PMID- 26892124
TI  - Cross-sectional associations of plasma fatty acid composition and estimated
      desaturase and elongase activities with cardiometabolic risk in Finnish children-
      The PANIC study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Knowledge on the association of plasma fatty acid (FA) composition in
      triacylglycerol (TG) and phospholipid (PL) fractions with cardiometabolic risk in
      population-based samples of children is lacking. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the
      associations of proportions of FA in plasma TG and PL fractions as well as
      estimated desaturase and elongase activities with cardiometabolic risk in a
      population sample of 384 children aged 6-8 years. METHODS: Plasma FA composition
      was analyzed by gas chromatography. Desaturase and elongase activities were
      estimated as product-to-precursor FA ratios. Cardiometabolic risk was assessed
      using a continuous cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) variable. RESULTS: Higher
      proportions of myristic and palmitoleic acids in plasma TG and PL were associated
      with a higher CRS. A lower proportion of linoleic acid in plasma TG was related
      to a higher CRS. Estimated stearoyl-CoA-desaturase and Delta6-desaturase
      activities in plasma TG and PL were directly associated with CRS, whereas
      estimated elongase activity in plasma TG and PL was inversely related to CRS.
      CONCLUSIONS: Greater proportions of myristic and palmitoleic acids and a smaller
      proportion of linoleic acid in plasma, as well as higher estimated stearoyl-CoA
      desaturase and Delta6-desaturase activities and a lower estimated elongase
      activity, are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors among children. These
      findings reinforce the evidence that FA metabolism is closely associated with
      cardiometabolic risk, starting already from childhood.

PMID- 26892123
TI  - Deficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with an atherogenic lipid
      profile: The Very Large Database of Lipids (VLDL-3) study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have found an association between
      deficiencies in serum vitamin D, as measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D),
      and an atherogenic lipid profile. These studies have focused on a limited panel
      of lipid values including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). OBJECTIVE: Our
      study examines the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and an extended lipid panel
      (Vertical Auto Profile) while controlling for age, gender, glycemic status, and
      kidney function. METHODS: We used the Very Large Database of Lipids, which
      includes US adults clinically referred for analysis of their lipid profile from
      2009 to 2011. Our study focused on 20,360 subjects who had data for lipids,
      25(OH)D, age, gender, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, creatinine, and blood urea
      nitrogen. Subjects were split into groups based on serum 25(OH)D: deficient (<20
      ng/mL), intermediate (>= 20-30 ng/mL), and optimal (>= 30 ng/mL). The deficient
      group was compared to the optimal group using multivariable linear regression.
      RESULTS: In multivariable-adjusted linear regression, deficient serum 25(OH)D was
      associated with significantly lower serum HDL-C (-5.1%) and higher total
      cholesterol (+9.4%), non-HDL-C (+15.4%), directly measured LDL-C (+13.5%),
      intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+23.7%), very low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (+19.0%), remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (+18.4%), and
      TG (+26.4%) when compared with the optimal group. CONCLUSION: Deficient serum
      25(OH)D is associated with significantly lower HDL-C and higher directly measured
      LDL-C, intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density
      lipoproteins cholesterol, remnant lipoprotein cholesterol, and TG. Future trials
      examining vitamin D supplementation and cardiovascular disease risk should
      consider using changes in an extended lipid panel as an additional outcome
      measurement.

PMID- 26892125
TI  - Novel mutations in the GPIHBP1 gene identified in 2 patients with recurrent acute
      pancreatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high-density lipoprotein
      binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1) has been demonstrated to be essential for the in vivo
      function of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the major triglyceride (TG)-hydrolyzing
      enzyme involved in the intravascular lipolysis of TG-rich lipoproteins. Recently,
      loss-of-function mutations of GPIHBP1 have been reported as the cause of type I
      hyperlipoproteinemia in several patients. METHODS: Two unrelated patients were
      referred to our Lipid Units because of a severe hypertriglyceridemia and
      recurrent pancreatitis. We measured LPL activity in postheparin plasma and serum
      ApoCII and sequenced LPL, APOC2, and GPIHBP1. RESULTS: The 2 patients exhibited
      very low LPL activity not associated with mutations in LPL gene or with ApoCII
      deficiency. The sequence of GPIHBP1 revealed 2 novel point mutations. One patient
      (proband 1) was found to be homozygous for a C>A transversion in exon 3 resulting
      in the conversion of threonine to lysine at position 80 (p.Thr80Lys). The other
      patient (proband 2) was found to be homozygous for a G>T transversion in the
      third base of the ATG translation initiation codon in exon 1, resulting in the
      conversion of methionine to isoleucine (p.Met1Ile). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we
      have identified 2 novel GPIHBP1 missense mutations in 2 unrelated patients as the
      cause of their severe hypertriglyceridemia.

PMID- 26892127
TI  - Variability of triglyceride levels and incidence of microalbuminuria in type 2
      diabetes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical studies have shown a strong association
      between hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic nephropathy. A variability of
      triglyceride (TG) levels has been reported in diabetes. OBJECTIVES: To
      investigate the relationship of TG variability with the incidence of
      microalbuminuria (albumin excretion rate > 20 MUg/min), in patients with type 2
      diabetes. METHODS: A longitudinal, retrospective, observational study was
      performed on a consecutive series of 457 normoalbuminuric outpatients, with
      measurements of HbA1c, lipids and microalbuminuria thrice per year with 6.8-year
      follow-up. TG variability, defined as standard deviation of TG (TG-SD) and TG-SD
      adjusted for the number of visits was calculated. A nested case-control
      sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the results of the primary cohort
      study. RESULTS: Incident microalbuminuria (N = 124, 27.1%) was associated with
      higher median TG-SD (33.6 mg/dL vs 29.0 mg/dL, P < .05) and TG-SD adjusted for
      the number of visits (31.4 mg/dL vs 26.7 mg/dL, P < .05). At multivariate (Cox)
      analysis, logTG-SD and adj-logTG-SD were significant predictors of incident
      microalbuminuria (hazard ratio 2.1 [1.1-4.2], P = .028 and 1.5 [1.1-3.3], P =
      .042, respectively). In the case-control analysis, time spent with TG > 150 mg/dL
      during the follow-up was significantly higher in cases vs controls (27.2 +/- 19
      vs 16.7 +/- 12.5 months, P < .05) with hazard ratio 2.0 (1.1-5.1), P < .05, for
      adj-logTG-SD. CONCLUSIONS: A higher intraindividual TG variability is a predictor
      of incident microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes. In addition, time of exposure to
      elevated TG levels (>150 mg/dL) predicts incident microalbuminuria.

PMID- 26892126
TI  - Premature coronary heart disease and autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia:
      Increased risk in women with LDLR mutations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: For patients with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH), it
      remains unclear whether differences exist in the risk of premature coronary heart
      disease (CHD) between patients with confirmed mutations in low-density
      lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) vs those without detectable mutations. OBJECTIVE:
      This study sought to assess the risk of premature CHD in ADH patients with
      mutations in LDLR (referred to as familial hypercholesterolemia [FH]) vs those
      without detectable mutations (unexplained ADH), stratified by sex. METHODS:
      Comparative study of premature CHD in a multiethnic cohort of 111 men and 165
      women meeting adult Simon-Broome criteria for ADH. RESULTS: Women with FH (n =
      51) had an increased risk of premature CHD compared with unexplained ADH women (n
      = 111; hazard ratio [HR], 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.34; P = .003)
      even after adjustment for lipid levels and traditional CHD risk factors (HR, 2.53
      [1.10-5.83]; P = .005). Men with FH (n = 42), in contrast, had a similar risk of
      premature CHD when compared with unexplained ADH men (n = 66; unadjusted: HR,
      1.48 [0.84-2.63]; P = .18; adjusted: HR, 1.04 [0.46-2.37]; P = .72). To address
      whether mutation status provides additional information beyond LDL-cholesterol
      level, we analyzed premature CHD risk for FH vs unexplained ADH at various
      percentiles of LDL-cholesterol: the risk ratios were significant for women at
      25th percentile (HR, 4.90 [1.69-14.19]) and 50th percentile (HR, 3.44 [1.42
      8.32]) but not at 75th percentile (HR, 1.99 [0.95-4.17]), and were not
      significant for men at any percentile. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that
      genetic confirmation of ADH may be important to identify patient's risk of CHD,
      especially for female LDLR mutation carriers.

PMID- 26892128
TI  - Inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol raising and
      high-sensitivity C-reactive protein reduction in older patients treated with
      lipid-lowering therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding relationships between high-sensitivity C
      reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipoproteins other than low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C). High-density lipoprotein (HDL), with both anti-inflammatory
      and cholesterol-mediating effects, is of particular interest. This exploratory
      analysis assessed associations between hsCRP and lipids in older (>65 years)
      patients with moderate and/or high cardiovascular disease risk, before and after
      treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) or atorvastatin (ATV). METHODS: An
      analysis of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 12-week study. Correlations
      were assessed in 1054 patients with both baseline and 12-week hsCRP <= 10 mg/L,
      pooled across doses of E/S (10/20 and 10/40 mg) and ATV (10, 20, and 40 mg), and
      combined E/S + ATV treatments. Because of multiple comparisons, observed
      relationships were considered significant only if P values were < .01. RESULTS:
      Correlations between baseline levels of hsCRP and either LDL-C, non-HDL-C, or
      apolipoprotein B were weak and nonsignificant in the E/S, ATV, and E/S + ATV
      groups. After 12 weeks of treatment, these correlations increased slightly and
      significantly in all groups, except for LDL-C in the ATV group. HDL-C was
      significantly but inversely correlated with hsCRP in the ATV and E/S + ATV groups
      at baseline, and in all groups at 12 weeks. Only with HDL-C did change correlate
      with change in hsCRP in both the E/S and combined groups. CONCLUSIONS:
      Relationships between hsCRP and lipid factors in older patients were weak at
      baseline and somewhat stronger after treatment. HDL-C was inversely and
      consistently correlated with baseline and 12-week on-treatment hsCRP and with
      therapy-induced changes in HDL-C and hsCRP.

PMID- 26892129
TI  - Small, dense high-density lipoprotein 3 particles exhibit defective antioxidative
      and anti-inflammatory function in familial hypercholesterolemia: Partial
      correction by low-density lipoprotein apheresis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) features elevated oxidative stress
      and accelerated atherosclerosis driven by elevated levels of atherogenic
      lipoproteins relative to subnormal levels of atheroprotective high-density
      lipoprotein (HDL). Small, dense HDL3 potently protects low-density lipoprotein
      (LDL) against proinflammatory oxidative damage. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether
      antioxidative and/or anti-inflammatory activities of HDL are defective in FH and
      whether such defects are corrected by LDL apheresis. METHODS: Antioxidative and
      antiinflammatory activities of HDL were evaluated as protection of reference LDL
      from oxidative stress and capacity to prevent accumulation of proinflammatory
      oxidised lipids, respectively. Lipid surface rigidity of HDL was assessed using a
      fluorescent probe. HDL components were measured by analytical approaches.
      Systemic oxidative stress was characterized as plasma 8-isoprostanes. RESULTS:
      Pre-LDL-apheresis, FH patients (n = 10) exhibited elevated systemic oxidative
      stress (3.3-fold, P < 0.001) vs. sex- and age-matched normolipidemic controls (n
      = 10). Both antioxidative and antiinflammatory activity of HDL3 were impaired (up
      to -91%, P < 0.01) in FH. Sphingomyelin and saturated fatty acid contents were
      elevated in FH HDL3, resulting in enhanced lipid surface rigidity. The surface
      lipid content (phospholipids, free cholesterol) was reduced in FH (up to -15%, P
      < 0.001), whereas content of core lipids (cholesteryl esters, triglycerides) was
      elevated (up to +17%, P < 0.001). Molar apolipoprotein A-I content of HDL3 was
      subnormal in FH. A single LDL-apheresis session partially corrected (by up to
      76%) deficient HDL antiatherogenic activities, attenuated systemic oxidative
      stress and partially normalised both the lipid composition and surface rigidity
      of HDL particles. CONCLUSIONS: FH features elevated oxidative stress and
      deficient antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of small, dense HDL3;
      such functional deficiency is intimately linked to anomalies in lipid and protein
      composition, which may impair the capacity of HDL to acquire and inactivate
      oxidized lipids.

PMID- 26892130
TI  - Patterns of statin use and cholesterol goal attainment in a high-risk
      cardiovascular population: A retrospective study of primary care electronic
      medical records.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe real-life patterns of statin use and cholesterol goal
      attainment in a retrospective cohort of patients with high cardiovascular risk.
      METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 21,636 individuals, 18.34% women, mean age
      63.30 years (standard deviation 6.29). New statin users aged 35 to 74 years at
      high cardiovascular risk and with no previous cardiovascular disease in primary
      care electronic medical records (2006-2011). Patterns of statin use were based on
      statin type, potency, and 1-year statin switches. OUTCOMES: Relative mean
      reductions over 1 year and probability of goal attainment (<3.3 mmol/L). Natural
      patterns of statin use were identified using multiple correspondence analysis;
      general linear and logistic models were used to estimate low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions and goal attainment probability. RESULTS: Three
      patterns of statin use were defined: low (3.82% of the population), moderate
      (71.94%), and high intensity (24.24%). After 1 year, potency decreased 42.74%,
      64.16%, and 50.94%, respectively, and 37.41%, 29.47%, and 30.16% of the
      population stopped taking statins in low, moderate, and high patterns,
      respectively. Relative reductions in LDL-C: low intensity, 15.7% (95% confidence
      interval [CI]: -22.96 to 54.36); moderate intensity, 29.72% (95% CI: 29.12
      30.32); and high intensity, 24.20% (95% CI: -8.08 to 40.32). There was a direct
      relationship between higher intensity patterns and greater probability of goal
      attainment. CONCLUSIONS: Three real-life patterns of statin use were identified.
      Lipid management strategies in primary care should focus on improving adherence
      to treatment. People starting at low potency should switch to a moderate pattern;
      more intensive therapies should be considered in who require a larger LDL-C
      reduction to reach therapeutic targets, patients with good treatment adherence
      who do not achieve the goal with a moderate pattern of therapy or patients at
      very high risk.

PMID- 26892131
TI  - Comparison between European and Iranian cutoff points of triglyceride/high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in predicting cardiovascular
      disease outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High triglyceride (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      (HDL-C) are important cardiovascular risk factors. The exact prognostic value of
      the TG/HDL-C ratio, a marker for cardiovascular events, is currently unknown
      among Iranians so this study sought to determine the optimal cutoff point for the
      TG/HDL-C ratio in predicting cardiovascular disease events in the Iranian
      population. METHOD: The Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) is an ongoing, longitudinal,
      population-based study that was originally conducted on adults aged >= 35 years,
      living in urban and rural areas of three districts in central Iran. After 10
      years of follow-up, 5431 participants were re-evaluated using a standard protocol
      similar to the one used for baseline. At both measurements, participants
      underwent medical interviews, physical examinations, and fasting blood
      measurements. "High-risk" subjects were defined by the discrimination power of
      indices, which were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)
      analysis; the optimal cutoff point value for each index was then derived.
      RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 50.7 +/- 11.6 years. The TG/HDL-C
      ratio, at a threshold of 3.68, was used to screen for cardiovascular events among
      the study population. Subjects were divided into two groups ("low" and "high"
      risk) according to the TG/HDL-C concentration ratio at baseline. A slightly
      higher number of high-risk individuals were identified using the European cutoff
      points of 63.7% in comparison with the ICS cutoff points of 49.5%. The unadjusted
      hazard ratio (HR) was greatest in high-risk individuals identified by the ICS
      cutoff points (HR = 1.54, 95% CI [1.33-1.79]) vs European cutoff points (HR =
      1.38, 95% [1.17-1.63]). There were no remarkable changes after adjusting for
      differences in sex and age (HR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.36-1.84] vs HR = 1.44, 95% CI
      [1.22-1.71]) for the ICS and European cutoff points, respectively. CONCLUSION:
      The threshold of TG/HDL >= 3.68 is the optimal cutoff point for predicting
      cardiovascular events in Iranian individuals.

PMID- 26892133
TI  - Impact of avocado-enriched diets on plasma lipoproteins: A meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Optimizing plasma lipoproteins is the primary goal of pharmacotherapy
      and diet interventions in people at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Avocados
      offer a rich source of monounsaturated fat and may pose beneficial effects on the
      lipid profile. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of randomized
      clinical trials assessing the impact of avocados on TC, low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and/or triglycerides
      (TG). METHODS: We searched PUBMED, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
      Literature, Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane
      Database of Systemic Reviews from their inception to February 2015. The weighted
      mean difference from baseline was calculated for all endpoints. Subgroup analyses
      were performed to assess heterogeneity, and funnel plots inspected to assess
      publication bias. RESULTS: Ten unique studies (n = 229) were included. Avocado
      consumption significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, and TG by -18.80 mg/dL (95%
      confidence interval [CI], -24.56 to -13.05; I(2), 46.9%), -16.50 mg/dL (95% CI, 
      22.91 to -10.10; I(2), 72.5%), -27.20 mg/dL (95% CI, -44.41 to -9.99; I(2),
      91.1%) respectively. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased
      nonsignificantly by -0.18 mg/dL (95% CI, -3.23 to 2.88; I(2), 84.8%). CONCLUSION:
      Avocado-substituted diets significantly decrease TC, LDL-C, and TG levels.
      Substituting dietary fats with avocados versus adding to the free diet should be
      the primary recommendation strategy. Larger trials looking at the impact of
      avocados on major adverse cardiovascular events are warranted.

PMID- 26892132
TI  - Prevalence of dyslipidemia and its control in type 2 diabetes: A multicenter
      study in endocrinology clinics of China.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the levels of serum lipid and
      awareness, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus
      (T2DM) patients from top-ranked endocrinology clinics in large cities of China.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 4807
      Chinese adults 40 to 75 years of age was conducted during 2010 to 2011 at 20
      endocrinology clinics in top-ranked hospitals covering most of the major cities
      of China. Serum lipid levels were measured, and treatment of dyslipidemia was
      recorded and assessed. RESULTS: In the present study, the prevalence of
      dyslipidemia was 67.1% in T2DM subjects. Among those with dyslipidemia, the
      proportion of awareness and treatment was 68.7% and 55.9%. Among participants
      with lipid-lowering therapy, 686 subjects achieved the low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C) control less than 2.60 mmol/L, with the rate being 39.4%. In
      those patients with previous cardiovascular disease, the percentage of
      participants who achieved LDL-C goal (1.80 mmol/L) was 15.3%. CONCLUSION: The
      prevalence of dyslipidemia is high, and the awareness, treatment, and control of
      dyslipidemia are relatively low in Chinese T2DM patients. This calls for the
      awareness and intervention of dyslipidemia in these patients.

PMID- 26892135
TI  - Icosabutate for the treatment of very high triglycerides: A placebo-controlled,
      randomized, double-blind, 12-week clinical trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Icosabutate is a structurally enhanced omega-3 fatty acid molecule
      developed with the aim of achieving improved triglyceride (TG)-lowering efficacy,
      increased potency, and preserved safety compared with conventional prescription
      omega-3 fatty acid. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of icosabutate
      600 mg once daily in patients with very high TGs. METHODS: After a 6-8 week run
      in period, men and women with TG levels >= 500 mg/dL and <= 1500 mg/dL were
      randomized to double-blind treatment with placebo or icosabutate 600 mg for 12
      weeks. The primary end point was % change from baseline in TGs at 12 weeks.
      RESULTS: A total of 87 subjects were randomized. At baseline, median TG
      (interquartile range) levels were 611 (543-878) and 688 (596-892) mg/dL, and the
      median change after 12 weeks of treatment was -51% and -17%, respectively, for a
      placebo-corrected change of -33% (P < .001). Adjusted for placebo, icosabutate
      significantly reduced very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-36%, P < .001),
      remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (-34%, P < .001), apolipoprotein (Apo) C-III (
      35%, P < .001), trended toward reduced non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (
      7%, P = .064); significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (18%,
      P < .001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (28%, P < .001), with a trend
      of an increased lipoprotein (a; 10%, P = .054). No changes were observed in total
      cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, or apolipoprotein A1. Fasting plasma glucose was
      unchanged, whereas fasting plasma insulin was reduced (P = .001) with
      icosabutate. Icosabutate was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Treatment with
      icosabutate once daily significantly reduced TG, very low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol, and Apo C-III levels in patients with very high TG levels. This
      trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01893515.

PMID- 26892136
TI  - Increased statin eligibility based on ACC/AHA versus NCEP guidelines for high
      cholesterol management in Chile.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 2013, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart
      Association (ACC/AHA) jointly released new guidelines for cardiovascular risk
      assessment and cholesterol management that substantially modified the previous
      recommendations proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in
      2001. The relative impact of these new guidelines on potential statin use has not
      been estimated in Latin American populations. OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare
      eligibility for statin therapy based on ACC/AHA and NCEP guidelines in adult
      Chilean population. METHODS: Using data from the last National Health Survey
      (2009-2010 NHS), we conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a representative
      sample of the Chilean adult population and calculated the proportion of
      individuals that would receive statins under each set of guidelines. RESULTS:
      According to ACC/AHA guidelines, the population eligible for statin treatment
      increased from 21.7% (NCEP guidelines) to 33.2% (overall 53% increase). This
      effect was more pronounced among women (29.6% under ACC/AHA vs 15.6% under NCEP)
      and with those of advanced age (75% of the subjects >60 years of age compared
      with 46% under NCEP). The newly eligible group included more women and older
      subjects and individuals with lower LDL cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Compared
      with NCEP recommendations, the new ACC/AHA guidelines significantly increased the
      number of Chilean adults eligible for statin therapy. Full implementation of the
      new recommendations may have important public health implications in Chile and
      other Latin American countries, as more women and older subjects without
      cardiovascular disease would qualify for statin treatment.

PMID- 26892138
TI  - Two novel mutations in the ABCG5 gene, c.144 -1G>A and c.1523 delC, in a Mexican
      family with sitosterolemia.
AB  - Sitosterolemia is a disease characterized by an intestinal hyperabsorption of
      plant sterols and cholesterol. Affected individuals have mutations in both
      alleles of either ABCG5 or ABCG8 genes, leading to a total loss of one of the
      proteins and subsequent functional deficiency. We here report a Mexican family
      with clinical and biochemical features of sitosterolemia carrying 2 new mutations
      of the ABCG5 gene. Concentrations of sitosterol, campesterol, and cholesterol
      were found to be higher for the index case (a 10-year-old girl) than for her also
      affected sibling (64.1 vs 19 mg/dL, 32 vs 12.1 mg/dL, and cholesterol 295 vs 235
      mg/dL, respectively). Both individuals showed 2 new ABCG5 gene mutations
      identified by sequencing, which is concordant with their biochemical diagnosis of
      sitosterolemia. The first mutation was a c.144 -1G>A transition that disrupts the
      intron 1 splicing acceptor site. The second mutation is the deletion c.1523 delC,
      which occurred in exon 11, causing an amino acid change at codon 510
      (p.His510Thr) and a stop codon at codon 511 (p.Leu511X). The father is
      heterozygote for the mutation c.144 -1G>A, whereas the mother is heterozygote for
      the mutation c.1523 delC. In conclusion, we here report the first case of a
      Mexican family with sitosterolemia carrying two new ABCG5 gene mutations. 

PMID- 26892134
TI  - Serum level of LOX-1 ligand containing ApoB is associated with increased carotid
      intima-media thickness in Japanese community-dwelling men, especially those with
      hypercholesterolemia LOX-1 ligand and IMT in Japanese.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The serum level of LOX-1 ligand containing ApoB (LAB) may reflect
      atherogenicity better than usual lipid parameters; however, the relationship
      between LAB and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was not clear even in Asian
      populations. METHODS: A total of 992 community-dwelling Japanese men, aged 40 to
      79 years, were enrolled in the present study. Serum LAB levels were measured by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with recombinant LOX-1 and monoclonal
      anti-apolipoprotein B antibody. RESULTS: Serum LAB levels (median [interquartile
      range], MUg cs/L) were 5341 MUg cs/L (4093-7125). The mean average IMT of the
      common carotid artery was highest in the fourth LAB quartile (842 MUm) compared
      with the first quartile (797 MUm) after adjustment for age, high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes,
      high sensitivity C-reactive protein, smoking, and alcohol drinking. However, this
      statistically significant difference was lost after further adjustment for total
      cholesterol (TC). After stratification using the combination of median LAB and
      hypercholesterolemia (serum TC >= 6.21 mmol/L and/or lipid-lowering medication),
      the adjusted mean average IMT (standard error) in the high
      LAB/hypercholesterolemia group was 886 MUm (12.7), 856 MUm (16.7) in the low
      LAB/hypercholesterolemia group, and 833 MUm (8.4) in the low LAB/normal
      cholesterol group (P = .004). After further adjustment for TC, mean average IMT
      in the high LAB group was significantly higher than that measured in the low LAB
      group in hypercholesterolemic participants not taking lipid-lowering medication.
      CONCLUSION: Serum LAB was associated with an increased carotid IMT in Japanese
      men, especially those with hypercholesterolemia.

PMID- 26892137
TI  - A Chinese patient with recurrent pancreatitis during pregnancy induced by
      hypertriglyceridemia associated with compound heterozygosity (Glu242Lys and
      Leu252VaL) in the lipoprotein lipase gene.
AB  - We herein report a novel compound heterozygote of Glu242Lys and Leu252Val in a
      Chinese patient, characterized by recurrent hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute
      pancreatitis caused by lipoprotein lipase deficiency. The proband's LPL level
      after injection of heparin was measured at 184 U/L, considerably lower than the
      normal controls (382 U/L). Furthermore, LPL activity in the proband was 16.7% of
      the normal controls. However, the hepatic lipase activity was 80% of the normal
      controls. These results indicated that the compound mutation was associated with
      hypertriglyceridemia due to both LPL deficiency and defective LPL function. The
      LPL deficiency was partially compensated by the roughly normal hepatic lipase,
      resulting in the apparent normal phenotype of the proband until pregnancy. 

PMID- 26892139
TI  - Comment on the article by Moriarty et al.

PMID- 26892140
TI  - Authors' reply: Comment on: High stop-bang questionnaire scores predict
      intraoperative and early postoperative adverse events.

PMID- 26892141
TI  - Natural products discovery needs improved taxonomic and geographic information.
AB  - Covering: up to 2016Marine and terrestrial organisms yield a remarkable chemical
      diversity and are important sources for discovery of new chemical products. In
      order to maximize the bioprospecting efficiency of natural products (NP),
      taxonomy, geography and biodiversity are starting to be used to draw conclusions
      on which taxonomic groups and/or regions may be of interest for future research.
      However, accurate taxonomic information and sampling location of source organisms
      have often been overlooked. Although these issues were already reported a few
      decades ago and improvements have been made, such outstanding problems are still
      recurrent in recent peer-reviewed literature. Here, we focus on the importance of
      taxonomic and geographic identification of source material and illustrate how
      taxonomic and geographic data of source organisms continues to be poorly handled.
      It is our opinion that this issue needs to be discussed within the NP community
      with the ultimate goal of improving publication standards and guaranteeing the
      scientific principle of research reproducibility. Moreover, by doing so, it will
      be possible to take advantage of information available in the literature to
      develop cross-disciplinary meta-analyses that may help to advance the state of
      the art of NP research and future bioprospecting endeavours. 

PMID- 26892143
TI  - Long-term results after artificial iris implantation in patients with aniridia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The custom-made, flexible artificial iris developed by HumanOptics
      and Koch can reconstruct the anterior segment of patients with aniridia. The aim
      of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and complication
      spectrum after artificial iris implantation and the role of the embedded fiber
      mesh in view of specific complications. METHODS: In this retrospective
      interventional case series, patients received an artificial iris between 2004 and
      2013. Only eyes with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years were included.
      Indications were congenital, traumatic, or iatrogenic aniridia. The artificial
      iris was used either with or without embedded fiber mesh for partial or full
      prostheses. RESULTS: We included 34 patients (mean age 48.8 years; SD +/-17.2)
      with a mean follow-up of 50.0 months (SD +/-18.9 months). No repositioning of
      prostheses was necessary. In cases of keratopathy (17.6 %) visual function
      increased from baseline mean 1.6 logMAR (SD +/-0.7) to 1.2 logMAR (SD +/-0.7)
      after artificial iris implantation. The remaining iris tissue darkened during the
      follow-up in 23.5 % (83.3 % with and 10.7 % without mesh), 8.8 % developed
      glaucoma (50 % with and 0 % without mesh) and 14.7 % needed consecutive surgery
      after prostheses implantation (50 % with and 7.1 % without mesh). In three out of
      seven trauma cases (42.9 %) silicone oil was spilled into the anterior chamber
      after 2.5 years on average. CONCLUSION: The artificial iris prosthesis revealed a
      good clinical outcome in terms of long-term stability, cosmetic appearance,
      visual function, and represents a good functional iris diaphragm for
      compartmentalisation. Complications such as glaucoma, darkening of iris tissue,
      and need for consecutive anterior segment surgery are clearly associated with
      implants with integrated fiber mesh, but not to those without. Hence, the use of
      full iris prostheses without embedded fiber mesh, even in cases with remnant
      iris, and the use of slightly smaller implants than officially recommended may be
      beneficial.

PMID- 26892142
TI  - Purity matters: A workflow for the valid high-resolution lipid profiling of
      mitochondria from cell culture samples.
AB  - Subcellular lipidomics is a novel field of research that requires the careful
      combination of several pre-analytical and analytical steps. To define a reliable
      strategy for mitochondrial lipid profiling, we performed a systematic comparison
      of different mitochondria isolation procedures by western blot analyses and
      comprehensive high-resolution lipidomics. Using liver-derived HepG2 cells, we
      compared three common mitochondria isolation methods, differential centrifugation
      (DC), ultracentrifugation (UC) and a magnetic bead-assisted method (MACS). In
      total, 397 lipid species, including 32 cardiolipins, could be quantified in only
      100 MUg (by protein) of purified mitochondria. Mitochondria isolated by UC showed
      the highest enrichment in the mitochondria-specific cardiolipins as well as their
      precursors, phosphatidylglycerols. Mitochondrial fractions obtained by the
      commonly used DC and the more recent MACS method contained substantial
      contaminations by other organelles. Employing these isolation methods when
      performing lipidomics analyses from cell culture mitochondria may lead to
      inaccurate results. To conclude, we present a protocol how to obtain reliable
      mitochondria-specific lipid profiles from cell culture samples and show that
      quality controls are indispensable when performing mitochondria lipidomics.

PMID- 26892144
TI  - Emerging surgical treatments for renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Treatment of renal cell carcinoma has evolved considerably over the last few
      years. While total nephrectomy is necessary at times, nephron-sparing surgery,
      with a goal of renal function preservation, should always be considered. Although
      open partial nephrectomy is considered the gold standard approach for nephron
      sparing surgery, laparoscopic- or robotic-assisted techniques allow urologists to
      perform renal surgery less invasively, with excellent long-term oncological
      outcomes. Cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are less invasive management
      approaches for carefully selected patients with small renal masses. Active
      surveillance should be considered in elderly or patients who are unfit for
      surgery. Ultimately, the method chosen for management of a renal mass is an
      informed decision made by the physician and patient. 

PMID- 26892145
TI  - Hypoxic conditioned medium of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells protects
      against scar formation.
AB  - AIMS: Scar formation after wound repair affects people's daily life. Mesenchymal
      stem cells were reported to have a beneficial role in attenuating the scar
      formation. In the present study, placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs)
      were isolated and the effects of hypoxic conditioned medium of PMSCs on scar
      formation were explored. MAIN METHODS: To evaluate the effect of hypoxia on
      PMSCs, proliferation of PMSCs was detected by trypan blue staining and the HIF
      1alpha level was detected by western blot. Then in vivo scar formation assay was
      performed and the histopathologic changes were evaluated by HE staining and
      levels of TGF-beta1 and collagen I were detected by quantitative real-time PCR.
      The IL-10 level was detected by ELISA and then migration of HFF-1 cells was
      detected by wound healing assay after treatment with IL-10 or IL-10 antibody. KEY
      FINDINGS: Our study showed that hypoxic conditioned medium of PMSCs reduced scar
      formation in vivo and inhibited the proliferation and migration of skin
      fibroblasts in vitro. Further mechanism study showed that, the level of IL-10 was
      affected by hypoxia, treatment with IL-10 mimicked the function of hypoxic
      conditioned medium of PMSCs and inhibition of IL-10 reversed the protective role
      of hypoxic conditioned medium of PMSCs. Thus, hypoxic conditioned medium of PMSCs
      may perform the protective role against scar formation through IL-10.
      SIGNIFICANCE: Our study reveals a possible mechanism of the protective effect of
      PMSCs against scar formation and provides evidence for the hypothesis that PMSCs
      may be a promising therapy for the treatment of wounds.

PMID- 26892146
TI  - Exercise training activates neuregulin 1/ErbB signaling and promotes cardiac
      repair in a rat myocardial infarction model.
AB  - AIMS: Exercise training (ET) has a cardioprotective effect and can alter the
      molecular response to myocardial infarction (MI). The Neuregulin 1 (NRG1)/ErbB
      signaling plays a critical role in cardiac repair and regeneration in the failing
      heart. We sought to investigate whether ET following MI could activate the
      NRG1/ErbB signaling and promote cardiac repair and regeneration. MAIN METHODS:
      Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the MI model. Exercise-trained
      animals were subjected to four weeks of exercise (16m/min, 50min/d, 5d/wk)
      following the surgery. AG1478 was used as an inhibitor of ErbB (1mg/kg body
      weight, administered i.v. every other day during the process of training).
      NRG1/ErbB signaling activation, cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation and apoptosis
      were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: In the exercise-trained rats, NRG1 expression was
      up-regulated and ErbB/PI3K/Akt signaling was activated compared with the MI
      group. In addition, ET preserved heart function accompanied with increased
      numbers of BrdU(+) CMs, PCNA(+) CMs and c-kit(+) cells, and reduced apoptosis
      level in the MI rats. In contrast, blocking ErbB signaling by AG1478 attenuated
      the ET-induced cardiac repair and regeneration. SIGNIFICANCE: ET up-regulates
      NRG1 expression and activates ErbB2, ErbB4 and PI3K/Akt signal transduction to
      promote cardiac repair through endogenous regeneration. Activation of ErbB may be
      an underlying mechanism for the ET-induced cardiac repair and regeneration
      following MI.

PMID- 26892147
TI  - Arsenic trioxide augments all-trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation of HL
      60 cells.
AB  - AIMS: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is used to treat patients with acute
      promyelocytic leukemia (APL) due to its ability to resume the differentiation of
      APL cells. Recently, clinical trials have been started to evaluate ATRA plus
      arsenic trioxide (ATO) as a combination treatment for APL patients. However,
      little is known about the detailed mechanisms underlying its efficacy. We
      therefore investigated the effects of this combination on the differentiation and
      differentiation-related gene expression. MAIN METHODS: Human leukemia HL-60 cells
      differentiation was examined using nitro blue tetrazolium and CD11b. The levels
      of mRNA and protein were determined by RT-qPCR, microarray, western blot and
      ELISA, respectively. The promoter activity was assessed by luciferase activity.
      The arsenic concentration was determined by ICP-MS. KEY FINDINGS: ATRA-induced HL
      60 differentiation was augmented by co-treatment with ATO. A microarray analysis
      showed that ATRA plus ATO treatment markedly down-regulated the expression of
      proteinase 3 (PRTN3), which is involved in the differentiation arrest of leukemia
      cells, compared with treatment with ATRA alone. The PRTN3 mRNA level was
      suppressed by treatment with ATRA alone, and then further suppressed by co
      treatment with ATO, accompanied by a concomitant increase in Sp1 protein, which
      is known to facilitate differentiation. The expression levels of azurocidin,
      telomerase reverse transcriptase, ferritin, and interleukin-1beta were also
      altered by co-treatment with ATO. SIGNIFICANCE: Co-treatment with ATO enhances
      ATRA-induced HL-60 differentiation by altering the expression of genes involved
      in cell differentiation, providing the molecular basis for a combination therapy
      using ATO plus ATRA to treat leukemia patients.

PMID- 26892148
TI  - JiangTang XiaoKe granule attenuates cathepsin K expression and improves IGF-1
      expression in the bone of high fat diet induced KK-Ay diabetic mice.
AB  - AIM: To assess the beneficial effects of JiangTang XiaoKe (JTXK) granule on the
      bone metabolism in high fat diet (HFD) fed KK-Ay diabetic mice. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The KK-Ay mice were used as a diabetic model, while C57BL/6 mice were
      utilized as the non-diabetic control. The left tibia was used for determining
      bone mineral density (BMD) and bone ash coefficient. The HE and alizarin red S
      staining of femur were employed to evaluate bone pathology and calcium
      deposition. The expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), insulin growth factor
      1 (IGF-1) and cathepsin K were assessed by western blotting and
      immunohistochemical staining. KEY FINDINGS: JTXK granule significantly improved
      the bone ash coefficient, the distribution of trabecular bone and the
      calcification nodules deposition in KK-Ay mice with diabetes. IGF-1 and ALP
      expressions were significantly decreased, and cathepsin K expression was
      dramatically increased in the HFD fed KK-Ay diabetic model mice, which can be
      reversed by JTXK granule treatment. JTXK granule at medium or high dosage was
      more efficient in improving diabetic bone quality when compared with that in mice
      with a low dosage. However, the BMD values in each group of KK-Ay diabetic mice
      were not significantly different. SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate that cathepsin K
      expression is increased in KK-Ay diabetic mouse model. JTXK granule treatment
      inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption and promotes the new bone formation by
      decreasing cathepsin K activity and increasing IGF-1 and ALP levels. These
      changes may contribute to the increase of bone strength and thus reducing the
      risk of bone fractures.

PMID- 26892149
TI  - Aggression on inpatient units: Clinical characteristics and consequences.
AB  - Aggression and violence are widespread in UK Mental Health Trusts, and are
      accompanied by negative psychological and physiological consequences for both
      staff and other patients. Patients who are younger, male, and have a history of
      substance use and psychosis diagnoses are more likely to display aggression;
      however, patient factors are not solely responsible for violence, and there are
      complex circumstances that lead to aggression. Indeed, patient-staff interactions
      lead to a sizeable portion of aggression and violence on inpatient units, thus
      they cannot be viewed without considering other forms of conflict and containment
      that occur before, during, and after the aggressive incident. For this reason, we
      examined sequences of aggressive incidents in conjunction with other conflict and
      containment methods used to explore whether there were particular profiles to
      aggressive incidents. In the present study, 522 adult psychiatric inpatients from
      84 acute wards were recruited, and there were 1422 incidents of aggression
      (verbal, physical against objects, and physical). Cluster analysis revealed that
      aggressive incident sequences could be classified into four separate groups: solo
      aggression, aggression-rule breaking, aggression-medication, and aggression
      containment. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find physical aggression
      dominant in the aggression-containment cluster, and while verbal aggression
      occurred primarily in solo aggression, physical aggression also occurred here.
      This indicates that the management of aggression is variable, and although some
      patient factors are linked with different clusters, these do not entirely explain
      the variation. 

PMID- 26892150
TI  - Erratum.

PMID- 26892151
TI  - Management of Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Where Are We and Where Do
      We Go From Here?
AB  - Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu-positive breast cancer has
      changed from being an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis to a disease that
      is highly treatable, with prolonged survival possible even in patients with
      metastatic disease. A better understanding of HER2 biology has led to the
      development of powerful targeted therapies, and four drugs are already approved
      by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment in the metastatic setting
      (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, and trastuzumab emtansine). Optimizing how
      these drugs are delivered and in what sequence is an important part of modern
      management of HER2-positive breast cancer. However, while the prognosis has
      improved, metastatic disease is still not curable; newer, better drugs are
      needed. This review will summarize the current standard of care; key issues that
      arise when treating patients with HER2-positive disease; and developments in
      novel therapeutics, including small-molecule inhibitors, nanoparticles,
      immunotherapy, and agents targeting resistance pathways. 

PMID- 26892152
TI  - Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Tailoring Treatment Un-'TIL' We Get It
      Right...

PMID- 26892153
TI  - Morphologic, Immunophenotypic, and Molecular Features of Epithelial Ovarian
      Cancer.
AB  - Epithelial ovarian cancer comprises a heterogeneous group of tumors. The four
      most common subtypes are serous, endometrioid, clear cell, and mucinous
      carcinoma. Less common are transitional cell tumors, including transitional cell
      carcinoma and malignant Brenner tumor. While in the past these subtypes were
      grouped together and designated as epithelial ovarian tumors, these tumor types
      are now known to be separate entities with distinct clinical and biologic
      behaviors. From a therapeutic standpoint, current regimens employ standard
      chemotherapy based on stage and grade rather than histotype. However, this
      landscape may change in the era of personalized therapy, given that most subtypes
      (with the exception of high-grade serous carcinoma) are relatively resistant to
      chemotherapy. It is now well-accepted that high-grade and low-grade serous
      carcinomas represent distinct entities rather than a spectrum of the same tumor
      type. While they are similar in that patients present with advanced-stage
      disease, their histologic and molecular features are entirely different. High
      grade serous carcinoma is associated with TP53 mutations, whereas low-grade
      serous carcinomas are associated with BRAF and KRAS mutations. Endometrioid and
      clear cell carcinomas typically present as early-stage disease and are frequently
      associated with endometriosis. Mucinous carcinomas typically present as large
      unilateral masses and often show areas of mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous
      borderline tumor. It must be emphasized that primary mucinous carcinomas are
      uncommon tumors, and metastasis from other sites such as the appendix, colon,
      stomach, and pancreaticobiliary tract must always be considered in the
      differential diagnosis. Lastly, transitional cell tumors of the ovary,
      specifically malignant Brenner tumors, are quite uncommon. High-grade serous
      carcinoma often has a transitional cell pattern, and adequate sampling in most
      cases shows more typical areas of serous carcinoma. Immunohistochemical markers
      are routinely employed in the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinomas.
      However, molecular testing of these tumors, unlike in endometrial carcinoma, is
      not routinely used in clinical practice. 

PMID- 26892154
TI  - Ovarian Carcinoma Histotypes: Their Emergence as Important Prognostic and
      Predictive Markers.

PMID- 26892155
TI  - Man With Recurring Chordoma and Progressive Disease Despite Radiotherapy and
      Radical Resection.

PMID- 26892157
TI  - Greater adverse effects of alcohol consumption in deprived communities are
      explained in study.

PMID- 26892156
TI  - Characters related to higher starch accumulation in cassava storage roots.
AB  - Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is valued mainly for high content starch in its
      roots. Our understanding of mechanisms promoting high starch accumulation in the
      roots is, however, still very limited. Two field-grown cassava cultivars, Huanan
      124(H124) with low root starch and Fuxuan 01(F01) with high root starch, were
      characterised comparatively at four main growth stages. Changes in key sugars in
      the leaves, stems and roots seemed not to be strongly associated with the final
      amount of starch accumulated in the roots. However, when compared with H124, F01
      exhibited a more compact arrangement of xylem vascular bundles in the leaf axils,
      much less callose around the phloem sieve plates in the stems, higher starch
      synthesis-related enzymatic activity but lower amylase activity in the roots,
      more significantly up-regulated expression of related genes, and a much higher
      stem flow rate (SFR). In conclusion, higher starch accumulation in the roots
      results from the concurrent effects of powerful stem transport capacity
      highlighted by higher SFR, high starch synthesis but low starch degradation in
      the roots, and high expression of sugar transporter genes in the stems. A model
      of high starch accumulation in cassava roots was therefore proposed and
      discussed. 

PMID- 26892158
TI  - Efficacy and safety of chronomodulated chemotherapy for patients with metastatic
      colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - AIM: Chronomodulated chemotherapy has been reported to be superior to
      conventional chemotherapy, but the results from randomized controlled trials
      (RCTs) are inconsistent. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize the efficacy
      and safety of chronomodulated chemotherapy for patients with metastatic
      colorectal cancer. METHODS: A literature search for relevant RCTs comparing the
      efficacy and safety of chronomodulated chemotherapy and conventional chemotherapy
      was performed. The main outcomes were overall survival (OS), objective response
      rate (ORR) and toxicity (grade 3/4), which included vomiting and nausea,
      diarrhea, mucositis, neutropenia and peripheral sensory neuropathy. Pooled
      relative risks (RRs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence intervals
      (95% CIs) were estimated. RESULTS: Six RCTs involving 1347 patients were
      included. Chronomodulated chemotherapy showed no advantages for OS (HR = 0.95;
      95% CI, 0.84-1.08; P = 0.463) or ORR (RR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.81-1.39; P = 0.499).
      The two groups were similar in terms of grade 3/4 vomiting and nausea (RR = 1.02;
      95% CI, 0.78-1.35; P = 0.872), diarrhea (RR = 1.44; 95% CI, 0.87-2.36; P = 0.149)
      or peripheral sensory neuropathy (RR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.56-1.34; P = 0.512),
      whereas decreased risks of mucositis (RR = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.66; P = 0.000)
      and neutropenia (RR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27-0.57; P = 0.000) were observed in
      chronomodulated chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Chronomodulated chemotherapy may be
      favorable to reduce the risks of certain side effects, but there is no current
      evidence for improvement in OS or ORR. Our analysis suggests that the available
      data does not support the use of chronomodulated chemotherapy.

PMID- 26892159
TI  - Selective labelling and eradication of antibiotic-tolerant bacterial populations
      in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
AB  - Drug resistance and tolerance greatly diminish the therapeutic potential of
      antibiotics against pathogens. Antibiotic tolerance by bacterial biofilms often
      leads to persistent infections, but its mechanisms are unclear. Here we use a
      proteomics approach, pulsed stable isotope labelling with amino acids (pulsed
      SILAC), to quantify newly expressed proteins in colistin-tolerant subpopulations
      of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms (colistin is a 'last-resort' antibiotic
      against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens). Migration is essential for
      the formation of colistin-tolerant biofilm subpopulations, with colistin-tolerant
      cells using type IV pili to migrate onto the top of the colistin-killed biofilm.
      The colistin-tolerant cells employ quorum sensing (QS) to initiate the formation
      of new colistin-tolerant subpopulations, highlighting multicellular behaviour in
      antibiotic tolerance development. The macrolide erythromycin, which has been
      previously shown to inhibit the motility and QS of P. aeruginosa, boosts biofilm
      eradication by colistin. Our work provides insights on the mechanisms underlying
      the formation of antibiotic-tolerant populations in bacterial biofilms and
      indicates research avenues for designing more efficient treatments against
      biofilm-associated infections. 

PMID- 26892161
TI  - Acetaminophen attenuates error evaluation in cortex.
AB  - Acetaminophen has recently been recognized as having impacts that extend into the
      affective domain. In particular, double blind placebo controlled trials have
      revealed that acetaminophen reduces the magnitude of reactivity to social
      rejection, frustration, dissonance and to both negatively and positively valenced
      attitude objects. Given this diversity of consequences, it has been proposed that
      the psychological effects of acetaminophen may reflect a widespread blunting of
      evaluative processing. We tested this hypothesis using event-related potentials
      (ERPs). Sixty-two participants received acetaminophen or a placebo in a double
      blind protocol and completed the Go/NoGo task. Participants' ERPs were observed
      following errors on the Go/NoGo task, in particular the error-related negativity
      (ERN; measured at FCz) and error-related positivity (Pe; measured at Pz and CPz).
      Results show that acetaminophen inhibits the Pe, but not the ERN, and the
      magnitude of an individual's Pe correlates positively with omission errors,
      partially mediating the effects of acetaminophen on the error rate. These results
      suggest that recently documented affective blunting caused by acetaminophen may
      best be described as an inhibition of evaluative processing. They also contribute
      to the growing work suggesting that the Pe is more strongly associated with
      conscious awareness of errors relative to the ERN.

PMID- 26892164
TI  - 5th Conference of the EHSF 2016, February 10-12, 2016, Langenbeck-Virchow Haus,
      Berlin, Germany.

PMID- 26892162
TI  - Adding insult to injury: neural sensitivity to social exclusion is associated
      with internalizing symptoms in chronically peer-victimized girls.
AB  - Despite evidence documenting activation of the social pain network in response to
      social rejection and its link to temporary distress, far less is known regarding
      its role in pervasive emotional difficulties. Moreover, research has not
      considered the intersection between neural activation to experimentally induced
      social exclusion and naturally occurring social adversity. This study examined an
      integrated social pain model of internalizing symptoms, which posits that (i)
      neural sensitivity in the social pain network is associated with internalizing
      symptoms, (ii) this linkage is more robust in youth with than without a history
      of social adversity, and (iii) heightened avoidance motivation serves as one
      pathway linking neural sensitivity and internalizing symptoms. During a
      functional magnetic resonance imaging scan, 47 adolescent girls (M age = 15.46
      years, SD = .35) with well-characterized histories of peer victimization were
      exposed to social exclusion. Whole-brain analyses revealed that activation to
      exclusion in the social pain network was associated with internalizing symptoms.
      As anticipated, this linkage was stronger in chronically victimized than non
      victimized girls and was partially accounted for by avoidance motivation. This
      research indicates the importance of integrating neural, social and psychological
      systems of development in efforts to elucidate risk for internalizing symptoms
      among adolescent girls.

PMID- 26892163
TI  - Spirocyclopropanation Reaction of para-Quinone Methides with Sulfonium Salts: The
      Synthesis of Spirocyclopropanyl para-Dienones.
AB  - A novel DBU-mediated stereoselective spirocyclopropanation of para-quinone
      methides with sulfonium salts has been developed on the basis of the mode
      involving a 1,6-conjugate addition/intramolecular dearomatizing cyclization
      cascade. This reaction provides a mild and effective method for the assembly of
      synthetically and structurally interesting spirocyclopropanyl para-dienones. The
      feasibility for the enantioselective access to such functionalized para-dienones
      has also been explored by using the axially chiral sulfonium salt. Importantly,
      the regioselective ring openings of the related spirocyclopropanyl para-dienones
      have been achieved divergently. 

PMID- 26892160
TI  - Standardization of definitions in focal therapy of prostate cancer: report from a
      Delphi consensus project.
AB  - PURPOSE: To reach standardized terminology in focal therapy (FT) for prostate
      cancer (PCa). METHODS: A four-stage modified Delphi consensus project was
      undertaken among a panel of international experts in the field of FT for PCa.
      Data on terminology in FT was collected from the panel by three rounds of online
      questionnaires. During a face-to-face meeting on June 21, 2015, attended by 38
      experts, all data from the online rounds were reviewed and recommendations for
      definitions were formulated. RESULTS: Consensus was attained on 23 of 27 topics;
      Targeted FT was defined as a lesion-based treatment strategy, treating all
      identified significant cancer foci; FT was generically defined as an anatomy
      based (zonal) treatment strategy. Treatment failure due to the ablative energy
      inadequately destroying treated tissue is defined as ablation failure. In
      targeting failure the energy is not adequately applied to the tumor spatially and
      selection failure occurs when a patient was wrongfully selected for FT. No
      definition of biochemical recurrence can be recommended based on the current
      data. Important definitions for outcome measures are potency (minimum IIEF-5
      score of 21), incontinence (new need for pads or leakage) and deterioration in
      urinary function (increase in IPSS >5 points). No agreement on the best quality
      of life tool was established, but UCLA-EPIC and EORTC-QLQ-30 were most commonly
      supported by the experts. A complete overview of statements is presented in the
      text. CONCLUSION: Focal therapy is an emerging field of PCa therapeutics.
      Standardization of definitions helps to create comparable research results and
      facilitate clear communication in clinical practice.

PMID- 26892165
TI  - Application of brain multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in adolescent
      orphans from AIDS families.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application value of multi-b-value diffusion-weighted
      imaging (DWI) with mono-exponential model and stretched-exponential model in the
      diagnosis of HIV-positive patients. METHODS: Multi-b-value (0, 50, 150, 200, 400,
      600, 800 s mm(-2)) DWI was performed in 23 adolescent orphans from AIDS families,
      including 15 HIV-positive subjects and 8 HIV-negative healthy subjects. Apparent
      diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were fitted by mono-exponential model;
      distribution diffusion coefficient (DDC) values and heterogeneity index (alpha)
      values were fitted by stretched-exponential model in bilateral basal ganglia,
      then non-parametric tests were performed. RESULTS: The signal intensity
      attenuation in multi-b-value DWI could be well described by both mono-exponential
      model and stretched-exponential model. In the left basal ganglia, mean alpha
      values in HIV-positive subjects (alpha = 0.848 +/- 0.068) were significantly
      lower than that in healthy subjects (alpha = 0.923 +/- 0.050, p = 0.013). There
      was no statistical difference of alpha-values between HIV-positive subjects and
      healthy control subjects in the right basal ganglia. Apart from these, there were
      also no statistical differences of DDC values or ADC values between two groups in
      bilateral basal ganglia (all p > 0.05). In bilateral basal ganglia, DDC values
      were positively correlated with ADC values in HIV-positive patients (right basal
      ganglia: r = 0.832, p = 0.000; left basal ganglia: r = 0.770, p = 0.001) as well
      as in healthy cases (right basal ganglia: r = 0.927, p = 0.001; left basal
      ganglia: r = 0.878, p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve
      analysis yielded area under the ROC curve (Az) values of 0.817 (p = 0.014 < 0.05)
      in the left basal ganglia. The sensitivity and specificity were 62.5% and 86.7%,
      respectively. CONCLUSION: Through the study of asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects
      when b < 1000 s mm(-2), we can see stretched-exponential model DWI can provide
      more information than mono-exponential model DWI. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Multi-b
      value DWI was performed in subjects with HIV. DWI measurements could be
      neuroimaging biomarkers of cerebral injury in the course of HIV infection.

PMID- 26892166
TI  - Ectopic Pancreas in the Wall of the Small Intestine.
AB  - Ectopic pancreas is an uncommon and benign finding. However, these lesions can
      cause symptoms including abdominal pain and often require removal. We present the
      case of a 27-year-old patient with long-standing vague abdominal symptoms
      eventually found to have ectopic pancreas tissue in the proximal jejunum.

PMID- 26892167
TI  - Pancreatic Metastasectomy-an Analysis of Survival Outcomes and Prognostic
      Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The pancreas and peripancreatic region may be a site of metastasis
      from distant sites. Recent data suggest that pancreatic metastasectomy may
      achieve long-term survival. We seek to examine our experience with this
      metastasectomy by reporting the perioperative and survival outcomes. METHODS:
      Patients undergoing resection of isolated pancreatic metastasis were identified
      from a prospective pancreatic surgical database at the Department of
      Gastrointestinal Surgery, North Shore campus of the University of Sydney between
      January 2004 and June 2015 and selected for retrospective review. Data on
      operative morbidity and mortality were reported. Survival analysis was performed
      using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent pancreatic
      metastasectomy after a median disease-free interval of 63 months (range 0 to
      199). Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in six patients (40 %), distal
      pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy in three patients (20 %), and
      pancreatectomy with other visceral organ resection in six patients (40 %). Major
      complications occurred in six patients (40 %) without mortality. The median
      survival was 40 months (95 % CI 24.3 to 53.7), and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival
      were 76, 48, and 31 % respectively. Cox proportional hazard model identified
      margin negative resection (hazard ratio (HR) 10.5; P = 0.044) as a predictor of
      improved survival. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival may be achieved in selected
      patients with pancreatic metastasis through pancreatic metastasectomy with
      acceptable morbidity. Selection of patients should be individualized and based on
      their primary disease origin, biological behavior of the tumor, resectability of
      the tumor, and the relative effectiveness of systemic or targeted therapies.

PMID- 26892168
TI  - High Incidence of Redo Surgery After Frey Procedure for Chronic Pancreatitis in
      the Long-Term Follow-up.

PMID- 26892169
TI  - The Influence of Structure Heights and Opening Angles of Micro- and Nanocones on
      the Macroscopic Surface Wetting Properties.
AB  - We discuss the influence of surface structure, namely the height and opening
      angles of nano- and microcones on the surface wettability. We show experimental
      evidence that the opening angle of the cones is the critical parameter on sample
      superhydrophobicity, namely static contact angles and roll-off angles. The
      textured surfaces are fabricated on silicon wafers by using a simple one-step
      method of reactive ion etching at different processing time and gas flow rates.
      By using hydrophobic coating or hydrophilic surface treatment, we are able to
      switch the surface wettability from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic without
      altering surface structures. In addition, we show examples of polymer replicas
      (polypropylene and poly(methyl methacrylate) with different wettability,
      fabricated by injection moulding using templates of the silicon cone-structures. 

PMID- 26892172
TI  - Delayed seizure control with responsive neurostimulation: patience is a virtue.

PMID- 26892170
TI  - SNP discovery and genetic mapping using genotyping by sequencing of whole genome
      genomic DNA from a pea RIL population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Progress in genetics and breeding in pea still suffers from the
      limited availability of molecular resources. SNP markers that can be identified
      through affordable sequencing processes, without the need for prior genome
      reduction or a reference genome to assemble sequencing data would allow the
      discovery and genetic mapping of thousands of molecular markers. Such an approach
      could significantly speed up genetic studies and marker assisted breeding for non
      model species. RESULTS: A total of 419,024 SNPs were discovered using HiSeq whole
      genome sequencing of four pea lines, followed by direct identification of SNP
      markers without assembly using the discoSnp tool. Subsequent filtering led to the
      identification of 131,850 highly designable SNPs, polymorphic between at least
      two of the four pea lines. A subset of 64,754 SNPs was called and genotyped by
      short read sequencing on a subpopulation of 48 RILs from the cross 'Baccara' x
      'PI180693'. This data was used to construct a WGGBS-derived pea genetic map
      comprising 64,263 markers. This map is collinear with previous pea consensus maps
      and therefore with the Medicago truncatula genome. Sequencing of four additional
      pea lines showed that 33 % to 64 % of the mapped SNPs, depending on the pairs of
      lines considered, are polymorphic and can therefore be useful in other crosses.
      The subsequent genotyping of a subset of 1000 SNPs, chosen for their mapping
      positions using a KASPTM assay, showed that almost all generated SNPs are highly
      designable and that most (95 %) deliver highly qualitative genotyping results.
      Using rather low sequencing coverages in SNP discovery and in SNP inferring did
      not hinder the identification of hundreds of thousands of high quality SNPs.
      CONCLUSIONS: The development and optimization of appropriate tools in SNP
      discovery and genetic mapping have allowed us to make available a massive new
      genomic resource in pea. It will be useful for both fine mapping within chosen
      QTL confidence intervals and marker assisted breeding for important traits in pea
      improvement.

PMID- 26892171
TI  - Long-term ex vivo maintenance of testis tissues producing fertile sperm in a
      microfluidic device.
AB  - In contrast to cell cultures, particularly to cell lines, tissues or organs
      removed from the body cannot be maintained for long in any culture conditions.
      Although it is apparent that in vivo regional homeostasis is facilitated by the
      microvascular system, mimicking such a system ex vivo is difficult and has not
      been proved effective. Using the culture system of mouse spermatogenesis, we
      addressed this issue and devised a simple microfluidic device in which a porous
      membrane separates a tissue from the flowing medium, conceptually imitating the
      in vivo relationship between the microvascular flow and surrounding tissue.
      Testis tissues cultured in this device successfully maintained spermatogenesis
      for 6 months. The produced sperm were functional to generate healthy offspring
      with micro-insemination. In addition, the tissue kept producing testosterone and
      responded to stimulation by luteinizing hormone. These data suggest that the
      microfluidic device successfully created in vivo-like conditions, in which testis
      tissue maintained its physiologic functions and homeostasis. The present model of
      the device, therefore, would provide a valuable foundation of future improvement
      of culture conditions for various tissues and organs, and revolutionize the organ
      culture method as a whole. 

PMID- 26892173
TI  - Figure analysis: An implementation dialogue.
AB  - Figure analysis is a novel active learning teaching technique that reinforces
      visual literacy. Small groups of students discuss diagrams in class in order to
      learn content. The instructor then gives a brief introduction and later
      summarizes the content of the figure. This teaching technique can be used in
      place of lecture as a mechanism to deliver information to students. Here, a "how
      to" guide is presented in the form of an in-class dialogue, displaying the
      difficulties in visual interpretation that some students may experience while
      figure analysis is being implemented in an upper-level, cell biology course.
      Additionally, the dialogue serves as a guide for instructors who may implement
      the active learning technique as they consider how to respond to students'
      concerns in class. (c) 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and
      Molecular Biology, 44(4):345-348, 2016.

PMID- 26892174
TI  - Estimating optimal treatment regimes via subgroup identification in randomized
      control trials and observational studies.
AB  - With new treatments and novel technology available, personalized medicine has
      become an important piece in the new era of medical product development.
      Traditional statistics methods for personalized medicine and subgroup
      identification primarily focus on single treatment or two arm randomized control
      trials. Motivated by the recent development of outcome weighted learning
      framework, we propose an alternative algorithm to search treatment assignments
      which has a connection with subgroup identification problems. Our method focuses
      on applications from clinical trials to generate easy to interpret results. This
      framework is able to handle two or more than two treatments from both randomized
      control trials and observational studies. We implement our algorithm in C++ and
      connect it with R. Its performance is evaluated by simulations, and we apply our
      method to a dataset from a diabetes study. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd.

PMID- 26892175
TI  - Epitope mapping of Brugia malayi ALT-2 and the development of a multi-epitope
      vaccine for lymphatic filariasis.
AB  - Human lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical disease, causing permanent and
      long-term disability with severe immunopathology. Abundant larval transcript
      (ALT) plays a crucial role in parasite establishment in the host, due to its
      multi-faceted ability in host immune regulation. Although ALT protein is a key
      filarial target, its exact function is yet to be explored. Here, we report
      epitope mapping and a structural model of Brugia malayi ALT-2, leading to
      development of a multi-epitope vaccine. Structural analysis revealed that ALT
      represents unique parasitic defence proteins belonging to a toxin family that
      carries a 'knottin' fold. ALT-2 has been a favourite vaccine antigen and was
      protective in filarial models. Due to the immunological significance of ALT-2, we
      mapped B-cell epitopes systematically and identified two epitope clusters, 1-30
      and 89-128. To explore the prophylactic potential of epitope clusters, a
      recombinant multi-epitopic gene comprising the epitopic domains was engineered
      and the protective efficacy of recombinant ALT epitope protein (AEP) was tested
      in the permissive model, Mastomys coucha. AEP elicited potent antibody responses
      with predominant IgG1 isotype and conferred significantly high protection
      (74.59%) compared to ALT-2 (61.95%). This proved that these epitopic domains are
      responsible for the protective efficacy of ALT-2 and engineering protective
      epitopes as a multi-epitope protein may be a novel vaccine strategy for complex
      parasitic infections.

PMID- 26892176
TI  - Focal Mechanical Vibration Does not Change Laser-Pain Perception and Laser-Evoked
      Potentials: A Pilot Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Nonpainful tactile and electrical stimulation of the large myelinated
      fibers reduces spontaneous pain and the amplitude of laser-evoked potentials
      (LEPs), which represent the most reliable technique to assess the nociceptive
      pathway function. Focal mechanical vibration stimulates the Abeta afferents
      selectively; thus, it is conceivable its action on nociceptive pathways. AIM: The
      aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vibratory stimuli, activating
      either both muscle and skin receptors or cutaneous afferents only on the LEPs and
      subjective laser-pain rating. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were studied. The
      subjects were evaluated in two different sessions to test muscle and skin
      receptors or cutaneous afferents only. In each session, LEPs were recorded to
      stimulation of the dorsal hand skin in radial and ulnar territory bilaterally,
      while the vibratory stimulus was delivered on the radial territory of the right
      forearm. RESULTS: The results showed a substantial stability of the potential N1
      and N2/P2 after the two protocols, with a declining trend from the initial to the
      last test of the same session, probably due to habituation. Accordingly, the
      laser-pain perception did not change during the experimental setting.
      CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a vibratory stimulus is ineffective in reducing the
      laser-evoked potentials and laser-pain perception.

PMID- 26892177
TI  - Downregulation of cytokeratin 18 is associated with paclitaxel-resistance and
      tumor aggressiveness in prostate cancer.
AB  - Paclitaxel frequently serves as the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for
      castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, acquired paclitaxel
      resistance almost always occurs after initial responses, and the mechanisms by
      which this occurs remain largely unknown. The goal of the present study was to
      identify differentially expressed protein(s) associated with paclitaxel
      resistance and further explore the potential mechanisms involved in drug
      resistance. By comparing the nuclear matrix protein (NMP) patterns of DU145-TxR
      cells, the previously established stable paclitaxel-resistant PCa cells, with
      that of the parental DU145 cells using two-dimensional electrophoresis, we found
      that cytokeratin 18 (CK18) is downregulated in DU145-TxR cells. The
      downregulation of CK18 in DU145-TxR cells at mRNA, NMP and total cellular protein
      levels was validated by real-time RT-PCR, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence,
      indicating that the downregulation of CK18 was a global effect in DU145-TxR cells
      due to paclitaxel-resistance. Furthermore, in vivo assay of xenograft
      transplantation confirmed the higher tumorigenicity of DU145-TxR cells,
      suggesting that these paclitaxel-resistant PCa cells possessed potent cancer stem
      cell (CSC)-like properties and eventually developed paclitaxel-resistance.
      Moreover, we determined by immunohistochemistry that CK18 expression in PCa
      tissues was inversely correlated with tumor grade in a statistically significant
      fashion, indicating a potential association of the downregulation of CK18 with
      tumor aggressiveness. Therefore, further study to define the potential role of
      CK18 may lead to novel therapy strategies as well as clinically useful biomarker
      for PCa patients.

PMID- 26892178
TI  - Usefulness of opening pressure grading just prior to Ahmed glaucoma valve
      implantation to predict early postoperative hypotony.

PMID- 26892179
TI  - Stereoselective synthesis and structural elucidation of dicarba peptides.
AB  - A facile stereoselective synthesis of cis and trans unsaturated dicarba peptides
      has been established using preformed diaminosuberic acid derivatives as bridging
      units. In addition, characteristic spectral differences in the (13)C-NMR spectra
      of the cis- and trans-isomers show that the chemical shift of carbons in the
      Delta4,5-diaminosuberic acid residue can be used to assign stereochemistry in
      unsaturated dicarba peptides formed from ring closing metathesis of linear
      peptide sequences. 

PMID- 26892180
TI  - Early detection of germinated wheat grains using terahertz image and
      chemometrics.
AB  - In this paper, we propose a feasible tool that uses a terahertz (THz) imaging
      system for identifying wheat grains at different stages of germination. The THz
      spectra of the main changed components of wheat grains, maltose and starch, which
      were obtained by THz time spectroscopy, were distinctly different. Used for
      original data compression and feature extraction, principal component analysis
      (PCA) revealed the changes that occurred in the inner chemical structure during
      germination. Two thresholds, one indicating the start of the release of alpha
      amylase and the second when it reaches the steady state, were obtained through
      the first five score images. Thus, the first five PCs were input for the partial
      least-squares regression (PLSR), least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM),
      and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) models, which were used to classify
      seven different germination times between 0 and 48 h, with a prediction accuracy
      of 92.85%, 93.57%, and 90.71%, respectively. The experimental results indicated
      that the combination of THz imaging technology and chemometrics could be a new
      effective way to discriminate wheat grains at the early germination stage of
      approximately 6 h.

PMID- 26892181
TI  - Aeromicrobium halotolerans sp. nov., isolated from desert soil sample.
AB  - A Gram-positive, aerobic, and non-motile, rod-shaped actinomycete strain,
      designated YIM Y47(T), was isolated from soils collected from Turpan desert,
      China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phylogenetic analysis
      indicated that strain YIM Y47(T) belonged to the genus Aeromicrobium. YIM Y47(T)
      shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Aeromicrobium massiliense
      JC14(T) (96.47 %). Growth occurs at 20-45  degrees C (optimum at 30  degrees C),
      pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum at pH 7.0), and salinities of 0-7.0 % NaCl (optimum at 4.0
      %). The strain YIM Y47(T) exhibits chemotaxonomic features with menaquinone-7 (MK
      7) as the predominant quinone, C16:0, C18:1 omega9c and 10-methyl C18:0 (>10 %)
      as major fatty acids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain YIM Y47(T) contained
      LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The polar lipids were
      found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol,
      phosphatidylinositol, and unknown phospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic
      DNA of strain YIM Y47(T) was found to be 44.7 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic
      analyses and phenotypic data, it is proposed that strain YIM Y47(T) should be
      classified as representing a novel species of the genus Aeromicrobium, with the
      name Aeromicrobium halotolerans sp. nov. The type strain is YIM Y47(T) (=KCTC
      39113(T)=CGMCC 1.15063(T)=DSM 29939(T)=JCM 30627(T)). 

PMID- 26892183
TI  - Molecular cloning of plane pollen allergen Pla a 3 and its utility as diagnostic
      marker for peach associated plane pollen allergy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) are considered to
      provoke allergic symptoms to plane tree pollen, which are frequently associated
      with peach allergy. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to clone the cDNA of plane
      pollen nsLTP Pla a 3, to characterize IgE-binding and allergenic potency of
      recombinant Pla a 3 in comparison to its natural counterpart and peach nsLTP Pru
      p 3. METHODS: Natural Pla a 3 was purified from plane pollen and analysed by mass
      spectrometry (MS). Recombinant Pla a 3 was characterized by SDS-PAGE and CD
      spectroscopy. Specific IgE to extract, components of plane pollen and Pru p 3 was
      measured by ImmunoCAP in sera of patients allergic to either plane pollen (n =
      10), peach (n = 15) or both (n = 15). Biological potency of the proteins was
      investigated by in vitro mediator release assays and IgE cross-reactivity by
      competitive ELISA. RESULTS: Two Pla a 3 isoforms were identified. Recombinant Pla
      a 3 showed high purity, structural integrity, IgE-binding capacity comparable to
      nPla a 3 and biological potency. Sensitization to plane pollen extract was
      confirmed in 24/25 plane pollen allergics. The frequency of sensitization to Pla
      a 3 was 53% among patients allergic to both plane pollen and peach and 10% among
      plane pollen allergics tolerating peach where most patients were sensitized to
      Pla a 1. Pla a 3 and Pru p 3 showed strong bi-directional IgE cross-reactivity in
      patients allergic to peach and plane pollen, but not in peach allergics
      tolerating plane pollen. Levels of IgE-binding were generally higher to Pru p 3
      than to Pla a 3. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to Pla a 3 is relevant in a subgroup
      of plane pollen allergics with concomitant peach allergy. IgE testing with Pla a
      3 may serve as a marker to identify plane pollen allergic patients at risk of LTP
      mediated food reactions and thereby improve in vitro diagnostic procedures.

PMID- 26892185
TI  - Dominance relationships in male Nepal gray langurs (Semnopithecus schistaceus).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Reproductive skew is proposed to link to despotism in dominance
      hierarchies. While studies illustrating male skew are plentiful, demonstrating
      the link to despotism is rare. Likewise, it is often unknown which factors (e.g.,
      resource holding potential, age, physical condition) affect a male's dominance
      rank. Here we investigated correlates of male rank and hierarchy characteristics
      in Nepal gray langurs (Semnopithecus schistaceus), a population with high male
      reproductive skew, and compared the results to other multi-male groups of
      nonhuman primates. METHODS: We collected dyadic displacement interactions from
      two groups (mean 3.0 and 4.1 adult males) for five years each. We assessed
      dominance ranks for demographically stable phases (n = 11, n = 28) and analyzed
      the effects of age and physical condition through linear mixed models (LMM). We
      analyzed hierarchy characteristics via the program MatMan. We used data from 27
      primate groups (cercopithecines, colobines, hominoids) as a comparative sample.
      RESULTS: The highest ranks were attained by adults in one group (LMM, P < 0.091)
      and by young adults in the other group (LMM, P < 0.001). With some exceptions,
      rank was highest for males with higher physical condition scores (LMM, P < 0.05).
      Hierarchies had high directional consistency (mean > 0.93) and linearity (mean
      >0.81) and were relatively steep (mean >0.66) when compared with other species.
      DISCUSSION: Dominance rank followed a pattern predicted by resource holding
      potential, but other individual attributes and group composition also seemed
      important. As predicted, hierarchy characteristics indicated a despotic system in
      line with the strong reproductive skew. Across primates, however, the degree of
      despotism did not appear to match the degree of reproductive skew. Am J Phys
      Anthropol 160:208-219, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892182
TI  - Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pentacycloundecylamines and
      Triquinylamines as Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Blockers.
AB  - Preclinical studies for neurodegenerative diseases have shown a multi-targeted
      approach to be successful in the treatment of these complex disorders with
      several pathoetiological pathways. Polycyclic compounds, such as NGP1-01 (7a),
      have demonstrated the ability to target multiple mechanisms of the complex
      etiology and are referred to as multifunctional compounds. These compounds have
      served as scaffolds with the ability to attenuate Ca(2+) overload and
      excitotoxicity through several pathways. In this study, our focus was on
      mitigating Ca(2+) overload through the L-type calcium channels (LTCC). Here, we
      report the synthesis and biological evaluation of several novel polycyclic
      compounds. We determined the IC50 values for both the pentacycloundecylamines and
      the triquinylamines by means of a high-throughput fluorescence calcium flux assay
      utilizing Fura-2/AM. The potential of these compounds to offer protection against
      hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was also evaluated. Overall, 8-benzylamino
      8,11-oxapentacyclo[5.4.0.0(2,6) .0(3,10) .0(5,9) ]undecane (NGP1-01, 7a) had the
      most favorable pharmacological profile with an IC50 value of 86 uM for LTCC
      inhibition and significant reduction of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. In
      general, the triquinylamines were more active as LTCC blockers than the oxa
      pentacycloundecylamines. The aza-pentacycloundecylamines were potent LTCC
      inhibitors, with 8-hydroxy-N-phenylethyl-8,11-azapentacyclo[5.4.0.0(2,6) .0(3,10)
      .0(5,9) ]undecane (8b) also able to offer significant protection in the cell
      viability assays. 

PMID- 26892184
TI  - Ameliorating antipsychotic-induced weight gain by betahistine: Mechanisms and
      clinical implications.
AB  - Second generation antipsychotic drugs (SGAs) cause substantial body weight
      gain/obesity and other metabolic side-effects such as dyslipidaemia. Their
      antagonistic affinity to the histaminergic H1 receptor (H1R) has been identified
      as one of the main contributors to weight gain/obesity side-effects. The effects
      and mechanisms of betahistine (a histaminergic H1R agonist and H3 receptor
      antagonist) have been investigated for ameliorating SGA-induced weight
      gain/obesity in both animal models and clinical trials. It has been demonstrated
      that co-treatment with betahistine is effective in reducing weight gain,
      associated with olanzapine in drug-naive patients with schizophrenia, as well as
      in the animal models of both drug-naive rats and rats with chronic, repeated
      exposure to olanzapine. Betahistine co-treatment can reduce food intake and
      increase the effect of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue by modulating
      hypothalamic H1R-NPY-AMPKalpha (NPY: neuropeptide Y; AMPKalpha: AMP-activated
      protein kinase alpha) pathways, and ameliorate olanzapine-induced dyslipidaemia
      through modulation of AMPKalpha-SREBP-1-PPARalpha-dependent pathways (SREBP-1:
      Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1; PPARalpha: Peroxisome proliferator
      activated receptor-alpha) in the liver. Although reduced locomotor activity was
      observed from antipsychotic treatment in rats, betahistine did not affect
      locomotor activity. Importantly, betahistine co-treatment did not influence the
      effects of antipsychotics on serotonergic receptors in the key brain regions for
      antipsychotic therapeutic efficacy. However, betahistine co-treatment reverses
      the upregulated dopamine D2 binding caused by chronic olanzapine administration,
      which may be beneficial in reducing D2 supersensitivity often observed in chronic
      antipsychotic treatment. Therefore, these results provide solid evidence
      supporting further clinical trials in treating antipsychotics-induced weight gain
      using betahistine in patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders. 

PMID- 26892187
TI  - New Facial Weakness After 5 Years of Facial Asymmetry.

PMID- 26892186
TI  - Volatile Oil of Acori Graminei Rhizoma-Induced Apoptosis and Autophagy are
      dependent on p53 Status in Human Glioma Cells.
AB  - Acori Graminei Rhizoma is well known for the beneficial effects on CNS disorders
      in traditional medicine. Though it is frequently prescribed in formulations for
      brain tumors, the anti-glioma effect has not been examined. We used volatile oil
      of Acori Graminei Rhizoma (VOA) and human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in
      this study. We found that VOA exhibited greater growth suppression in p53 wild
      type cells than p53 mutant cells and very low effect on fibroblasts and human
      glial HEB cells. Apoptosis was triggered by VOA with a caspase-dependent way in
      p53 wild-type A172 cells, while a caspase-independent way in p53 mutant U251
      cells. Meanwhile, both A172 and U251 cells treated by VOA displayed autophagic
      features. Furthermore, p53 decrease was observed along with VOA-induced apoptosis
      and autophagy in A172 cells. VOA-induced autophagy was mediated through a
      p53/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in A172 cells, while an mTOR-independent
      signaling pathway in U251 cells. Finally, blockage of autophagy potentiated the
      proapoptotic effect in both A172 and U251 cells, indicating a protective role of
      autophagy in VOA-induced cell death. Together, VOA exhibited anti-tumor activity
      in human GBM cells and induced apoptotic cell death and protective autophagy,
      which is cell type specific and dependent on p53 status.

PMID- 26892189
TI  - Musculoskeletal architecture of the prey capture apparatus in salamandrid newts
      with multiphasic lifestyle: does anatomy change during the seasonal habitat
      switches?
AB  - Some newt species change seasonally between an aquatic and a terrestrial life as
      adults, and are therefore repeatedly faced with different physical circumstances
      that affect a wide range of functions of the organism. For example, it has been
      observed that seasonally habitat-changing newts display notable changes in skin
      texture and tail fin anatomy, allowing one to distinguish an aquatic and a
      terrestrial morphotype. One of the main functional challenges is the switch
      between efficient aquatic and terrestrial prey capture modes. Recent studies have
      shown that newts adapt quickly by showing a high degree of behavioral
      flexibility, using suction feeding in their aquatic stage and tongue prehension
      in their terrestrial stage. As suction feeding and tongue prehension place
      different functional demands on the prey capture apparatus, this behavioral
      flexibility may clearly benefit from an associated morphological plasticity. In
      this study, we provide a detailed morphological analysis of the musculoskeletal
      system of the prey capture apparatus in the two multiphasic newt species
      Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris by using histological sections
      and micro-computed tomography. We then test for quantitative changes of the
      hyobranchial musculoskeletal system between aquatic and terrestrial morphotypes,
      The descriptive morphology of the cranio-cervical musculoskeletal system provides
      new insights on form and function of the prey capture apparatus in newts, and the
      quantitative approach shows hypertrophy of the hyolingual musculoskeletal system
      in the terrestrial morphotype of L. vulgaris but hypertrophy in the aquatic
      morphotype of I. alpestris. It was therefore concluded that the seasonal habitat
      shifts are accompanied by a species-dependent muscular plasticity of which the
      potential effect on multiphasic feeding performance in newts remains unclear. 

PMID- 26892188
TI  - Site-targeted complement inhibition by a complement receptor 2-conjugated
      inhibitor (mTT30) ameliorates post-injury neuropathology in mouse brains.
AB  - Intracerebral complement activation after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)
      leads to a cascade of neuroinflammatory pathological sequelae that propagate host
      mediated secondary brain injury and adverse outcomes. There are currently no
      specific pharmacological agents on the market to prevent or mitigate the
      development of secondary cerebral insults after TBI. A novel chimeric CR2-fH
      compound (mTT30) provides targeted inhibition of the alternative complement
      pathway at the site of tissue injury. This experimental study was designed to
      test the neuroprotective effects of mTT30 in a mouse model of closed head injury.
      The administration of 500 MUg mTT30 i.v. at 1 h, 4 h and 24 h after head injury
      attenuated complement C3 deposition in injured brains, reduced the extent of
      neuronal cell death, and decreased post-injury microglial activation, compared to
      vehicle-injected placebo controls. These data imply that site-targeted
      alternative pathway complement inhibition may represent a new promising
      therapeutic avenue for the future management of severe TBI.

PMID- 26892190
TI  - Dramatic pressure-driven enhancement of bulk skyrmion stability.
AB  - The recent discovery of magnetic skyrmion lattices initiated a surge of interest
      in the scientific community. Several novel phenomena have been shown to emerge
      from the interaction of conducting electrons with the skyrmion lattice, such as a
      topological Hall-effect and a spin-transfer torque at ultra-low current
      densities. In the insulating compound Cu2OSeO3, magneto-electric coupling enables
      control of the skyrmion lattice via electric fields, promising a dissipation-less
      route towards novel spintronic devices. One of the outstanding fundamental issues
      is related to the thermodynamic stability of the skyrmion lattice. To date, the
      skyrmion lattice in bulk materials has been found only in a narrow temperature
      region just below the order-disorder transition. If this narrow stability is
      unavoidable, it would severely limit applications. Here we present the discovery
      that applying just moderate pressure on Cu2OSeO3 substantially increases the
      absolute size of the skyrmion pocket. This insight demonstrates directly that
      tuning the electronic structure can lead to a significant enhancement of the
      skyrmion lattice stability. We interpret the discovery by extending the
      previously employed Ginzburg-Landau approach and conclude that change in the
      anisotropy is the main driver for control of the size of the skyrmion pocket.

PMID- 26892191
TI  - Audit feedback on reading performance of screening mammograms: An international
      comparison.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Providing feedback to mammography radiologists and facilities may
      improve interpretive performance. We conducted a web-based survey to investigate
      how and why such feedback is undertaken and used in mammographic screening
      programmes. METHODS: The survey was sent to representatives in 30 International
      Cancer Screening Network member countries where mammographic screening is
      offered. RESULTS: Seventeen programmes in 14 countries responded to the survey.
      Audit feedback was aimed at readers in 14 programmes, and facilities in 12
      programmes. Monitoring quality assurance was the most common purpose of audit
      feedback. Screening volume, recall rate, and rate of screen-detected cancers were
      typically reported performance measures. Audit reports were commonly provided
      annually, but more frequently when target guidelines were not reached.
      CONCLUSION: The purpose, target audience, performance measures included, form and
      frequency of the audit feedback varied amongst mammographic screening programmes.
      These variations may provide a basis for those developing and improving such
      programmes.

PMID- 26892192
TI  - Surgical treatment of posterior nutcracker syndrome presented with
      hyperaldosteronism.
AB  - Posterior nutcracker syndrome is caused by the compression of left renal vein
      between the abdominal aorta and the vertebral body. Most seen symptoms are
      haematuria, left flank pain, abdominal pain and varicocele. The nutcracker
      syndrome may lead to left renal vein thrombosis due to blood congestion within
      compression of the vessel. Both endovascular and open surgical interventions can
      relieve symptoms; however, traditional surgical repair is still considered as the
      gold standard. Here, we present the surgical treatment of a 36-year old female
      with complaints of hypertension, hyperaldosteronism and diagnosed with posterior
      nutcracker syndrome.

PMID- 26892193
TI  - Prospective validation of a predictive scoring system for deep sternal wound
      infection after routine bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The Gatti score is a weighted scoring system based on risk factors
      for deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) that has been specifically created to
      predict DSWI risk after routine bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA)
      grafting. It has not undergone an external validation. The aim of the present
      study was to perform this validation. METHODS: BITA grafts were used as
      skeletonized conduits in 304 (90.7%) of 335 consecutive patients with multivessel
      coronary artery disease who underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery at the
      authors' institution between January 2014 and July 2015. Baseline
      characteristics, operative data and immediate outcomes of every patient were
      prospectively collected in a computerized data registry. A score was assigned to
      each patient preoperatively. The goodness-of-fit and the discrimination power of
      both models, preoperative and combined, of the Gatti score were assessed with the
      Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the calculation of the area under the receiver-operating
      characteristic curve, respectively. RESULTS: Eighteen (5.9%) patients suffered
      from DSWI. Major differences were found between the original series whence the
      Gatti score has been derived and the present prospective series. The Gatti score
      goodness-of-fit was satisfactory for both the preoperative (P = 0.61) and the
      combined model (P = 0.81). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic
      curve was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.72-0.91) for the preoperative model
      and 0.8 (95% confidence interval: 0.71-0.9) for the combined model. CONCLUSIONS:
      On the basis of the results of the present prospective study, the Gatti score has
      proved to be effective in predicting DSWI following BITA grafting despite some
      differences between the original and the present series of patients. More studies
      have to be performed in order to strengthen the evidence of this first external
      validation.

PMID- 26892194
TI  - Multicentre, propensity-matched study to evaluate long-term impact of
      implantation technique in isolated aortic valve replacement on mortality and
      incidence of redo surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Studies suggest that the use of semicontinuous suture (SC) technique
      increases the risk of redo valve surgery after aortic valve replacement (AVR).
      The objective of this study was to identify 30-day mortality, rate of redo
      operation and long-term outcomes after AVR using either a semicontinuous suture
      or interrupted suture (IS) technique. METHODS: A total of 1617 patients from 2
      cardiothoracic centres, undergoing isolated AVR between April 2005 and August
      2013 were included. AVR was performed using SC technique in 765 patients and IS
      technique in 852 patients. Data were collected prospectively and follow-up was
      obtained to date for all patients. We compared 30-day mortality, rate of redo
      operation and long-term mortality in SC and IS groups. One-to-one propensity
      matching analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22 to evaluate outcomes.
      RESULTS: Four hundred and eleven patients in the SC group were matched to 411
      patients in the IS group (total of 822 patients) using propensity-score matching.
      The baseline characteristics were similar between SC and IS groups after
      matching. There were no statistically significant differences in 30-day mortality
      (3.9 vs 2.7%; P = 0.328), long-term mortality at 9-year follow-up (14.4 vs 15.3%;
      log-rank = 0.524) or rate of redo surgery (2.9 vs 2.0%; P = 0.320) between SC and
      IS, respectively. However, shorter cross-clamp time (51.9 +/- 15.2 vs 60.9 +/-
      17.6 min; P < 0.001), bypass time (71.3 +/- 23.0 vs 81.3 +/- 37.8 min; P < 0.001)
      and the use of larger valve sizes (23.4 +/- 2.1 vs 21.9 +/- 2.2 mm; P < 0.001)
      were observed in SC patients compared with IS patients. Multivariate analysis did
      not show the suture technique as a significant determinant of redo valve surgery.
      CONCLUSIONS: This multicentre study demonstrates that neither mortality nor the
      risk of redo surgery was influenced by the choice of implantation technique using
      semicontinuous vs interrupted suture techniques. The SC technique allowed shorter
      operations and larger size valves to be utilized.

PMID- 26892195
TI  - Aortic and/or mitral valve surgery in patients with pulmonary hypertension
      performed via a minimally invasive approach.
AB  - Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the setting of left-sided valvular heart disease
      is common, and significantly increases the risk of perioperative morbidity and
      mortality in patients undergoing aortic and/or mitral valve surgery. Minimally
      invasive valve surgery is associated with a decreased incidence of perioperative
      complications, and a faster recovery, when compared with conventional sternotomy.
      In the present study, the outcomes of 569 patients with PH who underwent
      minimally invasive aortic and/or mitral valve surgery were analysed. The
      operative mortality was 3.5%, and postoperative strokes occurred in 1.4%. The
      mean intensive care unit and hospital length of stays were 50 +/- 14 h and 7 +/-
      1 days, respectively. Patients with severe PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure
      >=40 mmHg) had a longer duration of postoperative ventilation and intensive care
      unit length of stay, when compared with mild/moderate PH, and similar clinical
      outcomes. In conclusion, a minimally invasive approach to aortic and/or mitral
      valve surgery in patients with PH is safe and feasible, and may be considered as
      an alternative to conventional median sternotomy.

PMID- 26892196
TI  - Disordered Eating, Compulsive Exercise, and Sport Participation in a UK
      Adolescent Sample.
AB  - The sport literature has produced equivocal results as to whether sport
      participation is a protective or risk factor for disordered eating. One mechanism
      by which it could be a risk factor is the increased drive or compulsion to
      exercise. This study compared the levels of disordered eating and compulsive
      exercise between adolescent sport and non-sport participants. A sample of 417
      male and female adolescents, aged 14-16 years old, was recruited from UK
      secondary schools. Participants completed questionnaire packs that included: the
      Eating Disorder Inventory; a measure of exercise behaviour; and the Compulsive
      Exercise Test (CET). Non-sport participants reported significantly greater body
      dissatisfaction than sport participants, and this was true for boys and girls.
      Significant group differences were also reported for many of the CET scales, with
      sport participants generally reporting greater levels of compulsive exercise than
      non-sport participants. Implications of these results are discussed. Copyright
      (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

PMID- 26892197
TI  - Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals harvested from Hungarian fields.
AB  - The Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and T-2
      frequently contaminate grain crops in Middle and Eastern Europe. In this survey,
      116 cereal samples (maize, wheat, barley and oat) were examined for DON, ZEN and
      T-2 mycotoxins. Samples were collected from different areas in two Hungarian
      regions (North and South Transdanubia). The method of analysis was indirect
      competitive ELISA. Maize was the most contaminated grain regarding DON (86%), ZEN
      (41%) and T-2 (55%) toxins. The average results of the deoxynivalenol and
      zearalenone tests of maize proved to be significantly higher than those of barley
      or oat. DON was the most represented Fusarium mycotoxin followed by T-2 and ZEN.
      The examination of these mycotoxins would be necessary at a larger scale as to re
      evaluate permissible levels, so increase of the monitoring programme would be
      advisable for the future. 

PMID- 26892198
TI  - Loss of Control as a Discriminating Factor Between Different Latent Classes of
      Disordered Gambling Severity.
AB  - Analyses of disordered gambling assessment data have indicated that commonly used
      screens appear to measure latent categories. This stands in contrast to the oft
      held assumption that problem gambling is at the extreme of a continuum. To
      explore this further, we report a series of latent class analyses of a number of
      prevalent problem gambling assessments (PGSI, SOGS, DSM-IV Pathological Gambling
      based assessments) in nationally representative British surveys between 1999 and
      2012, analysing data from nearly fifty thousand individuals. The analyses
      converged on a three class model in which the classes differed by problem
      gambling severity. This identified an initial class of gamblers showing minimal
      problems, a additional class predominantly endorsing indicators of preoccupation
      and loss chasing, and a third endorsing a range of disordered gambling criteria.
      However, there was considerable evidence to suggest that classes of intermediate
      and high severity disordered gamblers differed systematically in their responses
      to items related to loss of control, and not simply on the most 'difficult'
      items. It appeared that these differences were similar between assessments. An
      important exception to this was one set of DSM-IV criteria based analyses using a
      specific cutoff, which was also used in an analysis that identified an increase
      in UK problem gambling prevalence between 2007 and 2010. The results suggest that
      disordered gambling has a mixed latent structure, and that present assessments of
      problem gambling appear to converge on a broadly similar construct.

PMID- 26892199
TI  - Colonoscopy Surveillance After Colorectal Cancer Resection: Recommendations of
      the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.
AB  - The US Multi-Society Task Force has developed updated recommendations to guide
      health care providers with the surveillance of patients after colorectal cancer
      (CRC) resection with curative intent. This document is based on a critical review
      of the literature regarding the role of colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy,
      endoscopic ultrasound, fecal testing and CT colonography in this setting. The
      document addresses the effect of surveillance, with focus on colonoscopy, on
      patient survival after CRC resection, the appropriate use and timing of
      colonoscopy for perioperative clearing and for postoperative prevention of
      metachronous CRC, specific considerations for the detection of local recurrence
      in the case of rectal cancer, as well as the place of CT colonography and fecal
      tests in post-CRC surveillance. 

PMID- 26892200
TI  - The role of transport processes of particulate mercury in modifying marine
      anthropogenic secondary sources, the case of Haifa bay, Israel.
AB  - We have assessed the redistribution of a secondary source of sedimentary
      anthropogenic mercury in the Haifa bay (HB) area (SE Levantine basin), which is
      the northern sink for Nile-driven sand. A long-term (30years) ~80% decrease of
      the total sedimentary mercury concentrations (THg) was recorded in the inner bay,
      while an up to 3-fold increase was recorded in the top sediments of the outer
      bay. Sedimentary THg depth profiles and their temporal variability were used to
      model the main re-distribution processes, mainly resuspension associated with
      winter storm-derived transport. This mechanism transforms a secondary, sandy and
      well-aerated sink into a tertiary, more silty and hypoxic source at adjacent
      peripheral areas, affecting mercury bioavailability. We revisited the concept of
      environmental relaxation, i.e. the rate of return of a polluted environment to an
      acceptable state, showing that sedimentary transport processes may affect the
      associated ecological risks, mainly at shallow-water coastal sites. 

PMID- 26892201
TI  - Spatial distribution and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in surface
      sediments from the Zhoushan Archipelago and Xiangshan Harbor, East China Sea.
AB  - This study investigated ambient concentrations and potential sources of
      polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface sediments from the Zhoushan
      Archipelago and adjacent Xiangshan Harbor. The ?18PCB (total 18 PCB)
      concentrations ranged between 1.48 and 7.94ng/g d.w., average at 4.20ng/g d.w.,
      presenting a low adverse environmental risk. Penta-CB was the dominant congener,
      contributing 46.01%-86.44% of the total PCBs. Concentrations of PCBs were highest
      in the northeastern part of the Zhoushan Archipelago and Xiangshan Harbor.
      Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that PCBs have a mixed origin;
      atmospheric deposition and PCB dispersion from paint flakings being the main
      sources of PCB pollution. Aroclor 1245 and Clophen A50 were the potential PCB
      sources in all sampling sites. This paper provides the first intensive survey and
      statistical analyses of PCB distributions and sources in the Zhoushan Archipelago
      and adjacent Xiangshan Harbor. This study may provide a reference to
      environmental protection and monitoring of PCB pollution in the East China Sea. 

PMID- 26892202
TI  - Variation in macrofaunal communities of sea grass beds along a pollution gradient
      in Bolinao, northwestern Philippines.
AB  - This study examined the variation of macrofaunal communities in sea grass beds
      along a pollution gradient in Bolinao, northwestern Philippines. We established
      four stations and compared the diversity and abundance of macrofauna between
      them. The Shannon diversity index in the least polluted station was more than
      twice higher than that in the most polluted one. Abundance was more than thrice
      higher in the most polluted station. The species composition generally varied,
      with community difference explained largely by the predominance of the filter
      feeding bivalve Gafrarium pectinatum and polychaete Capitella capitata. Species
      heterogeneity was reduced along the pollution gradient by approximately 19% from
      the least polluted to the most polluted station. This reduction indicates
      biodiversity alteration, which has a significant impact on ecosystem functioning.
      Aspects of species heterogeneity should be considered in environmental impact
      assessments and the management of coastal areas encountered with anthropogenic
      disturbances. 

PMID- 26892204
TI  - Spatial variability and response to anthropogenic pressures of assemblages
      dominated by a habitat forming seaweed sensitive to pollution (northern coast of
      Alboran Sea).
AB  - The Cystoseira ericaefolia group is conformed by three species: C.
      tamariscifolia, C. mediterranea and C. amentacea. These species are among the
      most important habitat forming species of the upper sublittoral rocky shores of
      the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic coast. This species group is
      sensitive to human pressures and therefore is currently suffering important
      losses. This study aimed to assess the influence of anthropogenic pressures,
      oceanographic conditions and local spatial variability in assemblages dominated
      by C. ericaefolia in the Alboran Sea. The results showed the absence of
      significant effects of anthropogenic pressures or its interactions with
      environmental conditions in the Cystoseira assemblages. This fact was attributed
      to the high spatial variability, which is most probably masking the impact of
      anthropogenic pressures. The results also showed that most of the variability
      occurred on at local levels. A relevant spatial variability was observed at
      regional level, suggesting a key role of oceanographic features in these
      assemblages. 

PMID- 26892203
TI  - Wave energy level and geographic setting correlate with Florida beach water
      quality.
AB  - Many recreational beaches suffer from elevated levels of microorganisms,
      resulting in beach advisories and closures due to lack of compliance with
      Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. We conducted the first statewide
      beach water quality assessment by analyzing decadal records of fecal indicator
      bacteria (enterococci and fecal coliform) levels at 262 Florida beaches. The
      objectives were to depict synoptic patterns of beach water quality exceedance
      along the entire Florida shoreline and to evaluate their relationships with wave
      condition and geographic location. Percent exceedances based on enterococci and
      fecal coliform were negatively correlated with both long-term mean wave energy
      and beach slope. Also, Gulf of Mexico beaches exceeded the thresholds
      significantly more than Atlantic Ocean ones, perhaps partially due to the lower
      wave energy. A possible linkage between wave energy level and water quality is
      beach sand, a pervasive nonpoint source that tends to harbor more bacteria in the
      low-wave-energy environment. 

PMID- 26892205
TI  - Using an integrated approach to assess the sediment quality of an estuary from
      the semi-arid coast of Brazil.
AB  - The Jundiai-Potengi Estuary (JPE) on the semi-arid coast of Brazil is influenced
      by multiple sources of pollution. Sediment quality at 10 JPE sites was evaluated
      through an integrated approach. Rainy and dry seasons were considered. Collected
      sediments were analyzed for texture, metal, nitrogen, phosphorus concentrations,
      and toxicity to invertebrates. Geochemical and ecotoxicological data were
      integrated using qualitative approaches and multivariate techniques. We observed
      decreased sediment quality in both seasons, particularly in the mid-estuary. In
      the dry season, the contamination-toxicity relationship was clearer, as
      hydrological conditions favor contaminant retention within the estuary. Rainy
      season conditions were found to be worse, since stormwater drainage from
      agricultural and urban areas carries the contamination into the estuary. Because
      of the contamination sources and dissolved and particle-bound metal transport,
      contamination and toxicity did not correlate as clearly in the rainy season. The
      results suggest that unmeasured contaminants are contributing to JPE sediment
      degradation. 

PMID- 26892207
TI  - Is It Time to Share Pediatric Guideline Development?

PMID- 26892206
TI  - Vital Autotransplantation and Orthodontic Treatment of a Transmigrant Mandibular
      Canine.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to present the case of a 14-year-old patient with
      an apically closed, transmigrated permanent canine that was autotransplanted into
      its natural position without endodontic treatment and orthodontically aligned
      into ideal occlusion. The transplanted canine maintained long-term tooth
      vitality, physiologic mobility, and normal masticatory function. Also discussed
      are the clinical considerations and rationale behind this treatment, the clinical
      procedure, and factors for successully implementing this alternative approach in
      managing this relatively common developmental dental anomaly.

PMID- 26892208
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26892209
TI  - Letter to the Editor.

PMID- 26892210
TI  - Survival Rate of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) Restorations Using a
      Glass Ionomer Bilayer Technique with a Nanofilled Coating: A Bi-center Randomized
      Clinical Trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: The high-viscosity consistency of glass ionomer cement (GIC) contributes
      to its inappropriate adaptation, while the material's premature exposure to
      humidity decreases its mechanical properties. This study's purposes were to: (1)
      investigate approximal atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations'
      survival in primary molars using two different insertion techniques and two
      surface protection materials; and (2) compare the results of cities where
      treatments were performed. METHODS: A total of 389 six- to seven-year-olds were
      selected from two cities in Brazil and randomly assigned into four groups: (1)
      ART restorations plus petroleum jelly (PJ); (2) bilayer-ART restorations plus PJ;
      (3) ART restorations plus nanofilled coating for GIC (NC); (4) bilayer-ART
      restorations plus NC. Restorations were evaluated after one, six, 12, 18, and 24
      months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test, and Cox regression
      analysis were performed. RESULTS: Restorations' cumulative survival was 46.4
      percent. There was a higher survival of bilayer-ART restorations (P=0.03). No
      difference was observed between surface protection materials (P=0.57).
      Restorations made in Barueri were almost 2.5-fold more likely to survive than
      those from Recife (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The bilayer technique improves
      approximal ART restorations' survival in primary molars. The nanofilled coating
      does not influence restorations' survival rate, and the city where treatments
      were performed influences restoration survival.

PMID- 26892211
TI  - Double-Blind Crossover Study to Compare Pain Experience During Inferior Alveolar
      Nerve Block Administration Using Buffered Two Percent Lidocaine in Children.
AB  - PURPOSE: Buffering of anesthetic solutions has been suggested to reduce pain on
      injection and onset of anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the
      reduction in pain on injection during inferior alveolar nerve block
      administration in children. METHODS: A double blind crossover study was designed
      where 30 six- to 12-year-old patients received two sessions of inferior alveolar
      nerve block scheduled one week apart. Two percent lidocaine with 1:200,000
      epinephrine was given during one appointment, and a buffered solution was given
      during the other. Pain on injection was assessed using the sound, eye, and motor
      (SEM) scale, and the time to onset was assessed after gingival probing. The Heft
      Parker visual analogue scale (HP-VAS) was self recorded by the patient after
      administration of local anesthesia. RESULTS: When tested using Mann-Whitney
      analysis, no significant differences were found between the SEM scores (P=0.71)
      and HP-VAS scores (P=0.93) for the two solutions used. Student's t test was used
      to assess the difference in the onset of anesthesia, which was also found to be
      statistically insignificant (P=0.824). CONCLUSION: Buffered lidocaine did not
      reduce the pain on injection or time to onset of anesthesia for inferior alveolar
      nerve block in children.

PMID- 26892212
TI  - Parental Attitudes Toward Advanced Behavior Guidance Techniques Used in Pediatric
      Dentistry.
AB  - PURPOSE: To re-examine parental attitudes toward advanced behavior management
      techniques in pediatric dentistry and determine whether cost, urgency, and amount
      of treatment influence parental preferences. METHODS: Parents viewed previously
      validated videotaped clinical vignettes of four advanced behavior guidance
      techniques: (1) passive immobilization; (2) active immobilization; (3) general
      anesthesia; and (4) oral sedation. The study was conducted in a children's
      hospital dental clinic and a suburban private pediatric dentistry office. Parents
      rated overall acceptance of the techniques, and acceptance under specified
      conditions using an anchored visual analogue scale. RESULTS: One hundred five
      parents completed the survey; 55 from the children's hospital and 50 from private
      practice. Oral sedation was rated as the most acceptable technique, followed by
      general anesthesia, active immobilization, and passive immobilization. As
      urgency, convenience, and previous experience increased, parental acceptance of
      the technique increased. As cost of treatment increased, parental acceptance
      decreased. Ratings between the children's hospital group and private practice
      group differed, as did the demographic variables of insurance, income, and race.
      CONCLUSIONS: The hierarchy of parental acceptance of advanced behavior guidance
      techniques is changing with increasing approval of pharmacological management and
      decreasing approval of physical management. The health care delivery system,
      urgency, convenience, previous experience, and cost all influence parental
      acceptance.

PMID- 26892213
TI  - Clinical Evaluation of Conventional Radiography, Radiovisiography, and an
      Electronic Apex Locator in Determining the Working Length in Primary Teeth.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study's purposes were to: (1) compare the accuracy of conventional
      radiography (CR), radiovisiography (RVG), and the Root ZX mini apex locator (EAL)
      in determining the working length in primary teeth; and (2) determine the effect
      of wet/dry conditions on the accuracy of the EAL. METHODS: Twenty-two children
      (six to 15 years old), with 41 root canals of primary teeth with or without
      resorption indicated for extraction, were selected. CR and RVG were used to
      determine the working length, followed by EAL, according to the manufacturer's
      instructions in both dry and wet fields (saline). Following extraction of the
      teeth, the actual working length was determined under stereo microscope (2X). The
      data was tabulated and statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance
      and student's t test. RESULTS: The highest percentage of accurate working length
      measurements within the acceptable range of +/-0.5 mm were for EAL (95.1
      percent), followed by RVG (75.6 percent) and CR (75.6 percent). There were no
      statistically significant differences between the three techniques (P>0.05), and
      the readings obtained by the apex locator were not affected by resorption or the
      medium (wet/dry). CONCLUSIONS: The Root ZX mini apex locator showed the most
      promising results, followed by radiovisiography and conventional radiography.

PMID- 26892214
TI  - Comparison of Amount of Primary Tooth Reduction Required for Anterior and
      Posterior Zirconia and Stainless Steel Crowns.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine if aggressiveness of primary tooth preparation varied among
      different brands of zirconia and stainless steel (SSC) crowns. METHODS: One
      hundred primary typodont teeth were divided into five groups (10 posterior and 10
      anterior) and assigned to: Cheng Crowns (CC); EZ Pedo (EZP); Kinder Krowns (KKZ);
      NuSmile (NSZ); and SSC. Teeth were prepared, and assigned crowns were fitted.
      Teeth were weighed prior to and after preparation. Weight changes served as a
      surrogate measure of tooth reduction. RESULTS: Analysis of variance showed a
      significant difference in tooth reduction among brand/type for both the anterior
      and posterior. Tukey's honest significant difference test (HSD), when applied to
      anterior data, revealed that SSCs required significantly less tooth removal
      compared to the composite of the four zirconia brands, which showed no
      significant difference among them. Tukey's HSD test, applied to posterior data,
      revealed that CC required significantly greater removal of crown structure, while
      EZP, KKZ, and NSZ were statistically equivalent, and SSCs required significantly
      less removal. CONCLUSIONS: Zirconia crowns required more tooth reduction than
      stainless steel crowns for primary anterior and posterior teeth. Tooth reduction
      for anterior zirconia crowns was equivalent among brands. For posterior teeth,
      reduction for three brands (EZ Pedo, Kinder Krowns, NuSmile) did not differ,
      while Cheng Crowns required more reduction.

PMID- 26892216
TI  - Dental Visits by Age One: General Dentist Availability for Privately Insured
      Children in a Rural State.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the availability of general dentists who treat very young
      children with private insurance in the context of recommendations for age one
      dental visit. METHODS: Administrative data from Delta Dental of Iowa were
      analyzed to identify general dentists providing care to children younger than 18
      years old in 2005 and 2012. Characteristics of dentists providing care to
      children younger than two years old were compared, examining changes over time.
      Geographical distribution of dentists who treated children younger than two years
      old was examined. RESULTS: The proportion of dentists treating children younger
      than two years old increased from six percent in 2005 to 18 percent in 2012.
      Younger dentists, females, graduates of The University of Iowa College of
      Dentistry, and those in metropolitan locations were significantly more likely to
      treat children younger than two years old. Fifty-one of 99 counties lacked any
      dentists who had provided care to privately insured children younger than two
      years old. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of dentists in Iowa treating privately
      insured children younger than two years old has increased since 2005. However,
      relatively few general dentists provided care to very young children when
      compared to previous survey-based figures. Geographic distribution of providers
      supports the hypothesis that provider availability may pose a barrier to early
      dental visits.

PMID- 26892218
TI  - Caries Experience in Individuals with Moebius Syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: Moebius syndrome (MS) is a rare congenital facial diplegia characterized
      by partial or complete sixth and seventh cranial nerve palsy. Orofacial
      manifestations include micrognathia, increased overbite, high arched palate,
      morphological changes in the tongue, and dental crowding. Case reports and small
      case series have shown a high prevalence of caries in MS patients. The purpose of
      this study was to compare the prevalence of caries between individuals with
      Moebius syndrome and controls using the International Caries Detection and
      Assessment System (ICDAS). METHODS: A total of 90 participants were divided into
      two groups: (1) the study group, comprising 34 individuals with MS; and (2) the
      control group, comprising 56 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects without MS.
      All individuals were evaluated for the presence of caries using the ICDAS. For
      statistical analysis, different ICDAS scores were used as cutoff points. RESULTS:
      The number of carious lesions in the MS group was higher only for early-stage
      caries (i.e., ICDAS scores of 1 and 2; 27.0+/-23.0 versus 16.0+/-14.1 and 26.3+/
      23.2 versus 15.2+/-13.6, respectively). CONCLUSION: Moebius syndrome patients
      have more early carious lesions than controls without the syndrome.

PMID- 26892217
TI  - Maryland Physicians' Knowledge, Opinions, and Practices Related to Dental Caries
      Etiology and Prevention in Children.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess Maryland physicians' knowledge
      and understanding of dental caries etiology and prevention, opinions related to
      prevention effectiveness, and their prevention practices. METHODS: In 2010, a 30
      item, self-administered survey questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of
      1,472 Maryland family physicians and pediatricians, with 294 surveys being
      returned and usable, yielding a 20 percent return rate. Statistical analyses in
      this descriptive study included distributions and cross-tabulations for the
      survey responses. RESULTS: Thirty-five percent of family physicians and 45
      percent of pediatricians indicated they provide caries prevention education to
      their patients. Approximately half of the physicians reported performing some
      type of caries risk assessment. Out of 10 dental caries knowledge questions,
      there was not a single question that the majority of physicians answered
      correctly with certainty. Nine percent of family physicians and 12 percent of
      pediatricians reported they provided fluoride varnish treatment to their three-
      to six-year-old patients at the time of this survey. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      identified specific areas, related to Maryland physicians' dental caries etiology
      and prevention knowledge, that continuing education and training programs could
      enhance.

PMID- 26892215
TI  - Validation and Impact of Caregivers' Oral Health Knowledge and Behavior on
      Children's Oral Health Status.
AB  - PURPOSE: To validate oral health knowledge and behavior measures from the Basic
      Research Factors Questionnaire, developed to capture specific themes contributing
      to children's oral health outcomes and the influence of caregivers. METHODS: Data
      were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial (n equals 992) aimed at
      reducing dental caries in young children. Participants were American
      Indian/Alaska Native caregivers with a three- to five-year-old child enrolled in
      a Navajo Nation Head Start Center. Caregivers completed the questionnaire at
      enrollment with concomitant evaluation of children for decayed, missing, and
      filled tooth surfaces (dmfs). Oral health knowledge and behavior outcomes were
      compared with convergent measures (participant sociodemographic characteristics,
      oral health attitudes, and indicators of oral health status). RESULTS: Caregiver
      oral health knowledge was significantly associated with education, income, oral
      health behavior, and all but one of the oral health attitude measures. Behavior
      was significantly associated with several measures of oral health attitudes and
      all but one measure of oral health status. As the behavior score improved, dmfs
      scores declined, child/caregiver overall oral health status improved, and
      pediatric oral health quality of life improved. CONCLUSIONS: Questionnaire
      measures were valid for predicting specific caregiver factors potentially
      contributing to children's oral health status.

PMID- 26892219
TI  - Recent conjugation strategies of small organic fluorophores and ligands for
      cancer-specific bioimaging.
AB  - Conjugation between various small fluorophores and specific ligands has become
      one of the main strategies for bioimaging in disease diagnosis, medicinal
      chemistry, immunology, and fluorescence-guided surgery, etc. Herein, we present
      our review of recent studies relating to molecular fluorescent imaging techniques
      for various cancers in cell-based and animal-based models. Various organic
      fluorophores, especially near-infrared (NIR) probes, have been employed with
      specific ligands. Types of ligands used were small molecules, peptides,
      antibodies, and aptamers; each has specific affinities for cellular receptor
      proteins, cancer-specific antigens, enzymes, and nucleic acids. This review can
      aid in the selection of cancer-specific ligands and fluorophores, and may inspire
      the further development of new conjugation strategies in various cellular and
      animal models. 

PMID- 26892221
TI  - Comparative analysis the binding affinity of mycophenolic sodium and meprednisone
      with human serum albumin: Insight by NMR relaxation data and docking simulation.
AB  - Mycophenolic sodium is an immunosuppressive agent that is always combined
      administration with corticosteroid in clinical practice. Considering the
      distribution and side-effect of the drug may change when co-administrated drug
      exist, this paper comparatively analyzed the binding ability of mycophenolic
      sodium and meprednisone toward human serum albumin by nuclear magnetic resonance
      relaxation data and docking simulation. The nuclear magnetic resonance approach
      was based on the analysis of proton selective and non-selective relaxation rate
      enhancement of the ligand in the absence and presence of macromolecules. The
      contribution of the bound ligand fraction to the observed relaxation rate in
      relation to protein concentration allowed the calculation of the affinity index.
      This approach allowed the comparison of the binding affinity of mycophenolic
      sodium and meprednisone. Molecular modeling was operated to simulate the binding
      model of ligand and albumin through Autodock 4.2.5. Competitive binding of
      mycophenolic sodium and meprednisone was further conducted through fluorescence
      spectroscopy. 

PMID- 26892220
TI  - Carboxylesterases: General detoxifying enzymes.
AB  - Carboxylesterases (CE) are members of the esterase family of enzymes, and as
      their name suggests, they are responsible for the hydrolysis of carboxylesters
      into the corresponding alcohol and carboxylic acid. To date, no endogenous CE
      substrates have been identified and as such, these proteins are thought to act as
      a mechanism to detoxify ester-containing xenobiotics. As a consequence, they are
      expressed in tissues that might be exposed to such agents (lung and gut
      epithelia, liver, kidney, etc.). CEs demonstrate very broad substrate
      specificities and can hydrolyze compounds as diverse as cocaine, oseltamivir
      (Tamiflu), permethrin and irinotecan. In addition, these enzymes are irreversibly
      inhibited by organophosphates such as Sarin and Tabun. In this overview, we will
      compare and contrast the two human enzymes that have been characterized, and
      evaluate the biology of the interaction of these proteins with organophosphates
      (principally nerve agents).

PMID- 26892222
TI  - Economic burden of underweight and overweight among adults in the Asia-Pacific
      region: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the economic burden of underweight and overweight among
      adults in the Asia-Pacific region. METHOD: Systematic review of articles
      published until March 2015. RESULTS: Seventeen suitable articles were found, of
      which 13 assess the economic burden of overweight/obesity and estimate that it
      accounts for 1.5-9.9% of a country's total healthcare expenditure. Four articles
      on the economic burden of underweight estimate it at 2.5-3.8% of the country's
      total GDP. Using hospital data, and compared to normal weight individuals, four
      articles estimated extra healthcare costs for overweight individuals of 7-9.8%
      and more, and extra healthcare costs for obese individuals of 17-22.3% and
      higher. CONCLUSION: Despite methodological diversity across the studies, there is
      a consensus that both underweight and overweight impose a substantial financial
      burden on healthcare systems in the Asia-Pacific region.

PMID- 26892223
TI  - Adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms to glass, stainless steel and
      cellulose.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The adhesion of colloidal probes of stainless steel, glass and
      cellulose to Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms was examined using atomic force
      microscopy (AFM) to allow comparisons between surfaces to which biofilms might
      adhere. RESULTS: Biofilm was grown on a stainless steel substrate and covered
      most of the surface after 96 h. AFM approach and retraction curves were obtained
      when the biofilm was immersed in a tryptone/soy medium. On approach, all the
      colloidal probes experienced a long non-contact phase more than 100 nm in length,
      possibly due to the steric repulsion by extracellular polymers from the biofilm
      and hydrophobic effects. Retraction data showed that the adhesion varied from
      position to position on the biofilm. The mean value of adhesion of glass to the
      biofilm (48 +/- 7 nN) was the greatest, followed by stainless steel (30 +/- 7 nN)
      and cellulose (7.8 +/- 0.4 nN). CONCLUSION: The method allows understanding of
      adhesion between the three materials and biofilm, and development of a better
      strategy to remove the biofilm from these surfaces relevant to different
      industrial applications.

PMID- 26892224
TI  - Determination of glutathione in apoptotic SMMC-7221 cells induced by xylitol
      selenite using capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the glutathione (GSH) content in a human hepatoma cell
      line (SMMC-7221) treated with xylitol/selenite, providing a part of an
      investigation of its anti-cancer mechanisms. RESULTS: The nuclei of SMMC-7221
      cells were stained with Hoechst 33258 in an apoptosis assay, and their morphology
      subsequently changed from circular to crescent shape. The calibration curve (r(2)
      = 0.992) was established, and GSH content markedly decreased after treated with
      0.5 and 1 mg xylitol/selenite l(-1) for 12, 36 and 60 h (12 h: from 95.57 +/-
      19.57 to 29.09 +/- 7.74 and 24.27 +/- 11.15; 36 h: from 70.73 +/- 11.35 to 19.54
      +/- 6.39 and 9.35 +/- 6.69; 60 h: from 72.63 +/- 16.94 to 7.432 +/- 3.84 and 0).
      The depletion rate of GSH was more related to the concentration of
      xylitol/selenite than the treatment time (from 69.95 +/- 1.87 to 100 % vs. 0.22
      +/- 0.2 to 100 %). CONCLUSIONS: Xylitol/selenite is a promising anti-cancer drug
      to induce apoptosis in SMMC-7221 cells. It may regulate the apoptosis through the
      co-action of multiple mechanisms related to GSH depletion.

PMID- 26892225
TI  - Improved delivery of Cas9 protein/gRNA complexes using lipofectamine CRISPRMAX.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To identify the best lipid nanoparticles for delivery of purified
      Cas9 protein and gRNA complexes (Cas9 RNPs) into mammalian cells and to establish
      the optimal conditions for transfection. RESULTS: Using a systematic approach, we
      screened 60 transfection reagents using six commonly-used mammalian cell lines
      and identified a novel transfection reagent (named Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX).
      Based on statistical analysis, the genome modification efficiencies in
      Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX-transfected cell lines were 40 or 15 % higher than those
      in Lipofectamine 3000 or RNAiMAX-transfected cell lines, respectively. Upon
      optimization of transfection conditions, we observed 85, 75 or 55 % genome
      editing efficiencies in HEK293FT cells, mouse ES cells, or human iPSCs,
      respectively. Furthermore, we were able to co-deliver donor DNA with Cas9 RNPs
      into a disrupted EmGFP stable cell line, resulting in the generation of up to 17
      % EmGFP-positive cells. CONCLUSION: Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX was characterized as
      the best lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of Cas9 RNPs into a variety of
      mammalian cell lines, including mouse ES cells and iPSCs.

PMID- 26892226
TI  - Advanced mechanical circulatory support for post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock: a
      20-year outcome analysis in a non-transplant unit.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) has an incidence of 2-6 %
      after routine adult cardiac surgery. 0.5-1.5 % are refractory to inotropic and
      intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support. Advanced mechanical circulatory support
      (AMCS) can be used to salvage carefully selected number of such patients. High
      costs and major complication rates have lead to centralization and limited
      funding for such devices in the UK. We have looked the outcomes of such devices
      in a non-transplant, intermediate-size adult cardiothoracic surgery unit.
      METHODS: Inclusion criteria included any adult patient who had received salvage
      veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) or a ventricular
      assist device (VAD) for PCCS refractory to IABP and inotropic support following
      cardiac surgery from April 1995-April 2015. RESULTS: Sixteen patients met the
      inclusion criteria. Age range was 34-83 years (median 71). There was a male
      predominance of 12 (75 %). Overall, 15 (94 %) had received ECMO of which, 10 (67
      %) had received central ECMO and 5 (33 %) had received peripheral ECMO. One
      patient (6 %) had a VAD. The most common complication was haemorrhage. Stroke,
      femoral artery pseudo-aneurysm, sepsis and renal failure also occurred. Thirty
      day survival was 37.5 %. Survival rate to hospital discharge was 31.2 %. All
      survivors had NYHA class I-II at 24 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our survival
      rate is similar to that reported in several previous studies. However, the use of
      AMCS for refractory PCCS is associated with serious complications. The survivors
      in our cohort appear to maintain an acceptable quality of life.

PMID- 26892227
TI  - The effect of capacitively coupled (CC) electrical stimulation on human disc
      nucleus pulposus cells and the relationship between CC and BMP-7.
AB  - PURPOSE: An in vitro study using human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells
      to evaluate the effects of CC stimulation on disc-matrix macromolecule
      production. METHODS: Nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in alginate beads and
      treated with CC stimulation. The effect of BMP on CC stimulation of the cells was
      evaluated by applying a BMP blocker (noggin) or by applying additional BMP-7 to
      the culture. The mRNA levels of the disc extracellular matrix genes (collagen I,
      II, aggrecan) and BMPs were measured by real-time PCR. The protein levels of
      aggrecan, collagen II, and BMPs were determined by ELISAs and Western blots.
      Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content was assayed using the DMMB method.
      RESULTS: (1) CC stimulation upregulates the production of the disc-matrix
      macromolecular components: sGAG, aggrecan and collagen II; (2) CC stimulation
      increases the ratio of mRNA expression levels of collagen II to collagen I; (3)
      CC stimulation induces the expression of endogenous BMP-4 and BMP-7; (4)
      inhibition of BMP activity (using noggin) reduces CC-mediated upregulation of
      aggrecan and collagen II; (5) CC and BMP-7 act in synergy to increase the
      upregulation of disc-matrix macromolecules. CONCLUSION: CC stimulation
      upregulates the production of the intervertebral disc-matrix macromolecules
      aggrecan, collagen II, and sGAG by a mechanism involving BMPs. CC stimulation
      acts in synergy with BMP-7 to increase the upregulation of these disc-matrix
      macromolecules.

PMID- 26892228
TI  - Learning changes the attentional status of prospective memories.
AB  - Objects in visual working memory (VWM) that are only prospectively relevant can
      nevertheless affect the guidance of attention in an ongoing visual search task.
      Here we investigated whether learning changes the attentional status of such
      prospective memories. Observers performed a visual search while holding an item
      in memory for a later memory test. This prospective memory was then repeated for
      several trials. When the memory was new, it interfered with the ongoing search
      task. However, with repetition, memory performance increased but memory-based
      interference rapidly diminished, suggesting that observers learned to shield the
      prospective memory from the ongoing task. This contrasts with earlier findings
      showing stronger attentional biases from learned memories when these are
      immediately task-relevant. Interestingly, interference resurfaced again in
      anticipation of a new memory, suggesting a reactivation of VWM. These effects
      were sensitive to task context, indicating that the attentional status of
      prospective memories is flexible.

PMID- 26892230
TI  - The preventative effect of Akt knockout on liver cancer through modulating NF
      kappaB-regulated inflammation and Bad-related apoptosis signaling pathway.
AB  - Primary liver cancer is globally the sixth most frequent cancer, and the second
      leading cause of cancer death and its incidence is increasing in many countries,
      thus, becoming serious threat to human health. Substantial research has focused
      on the treatment and prevention of liver cancer. However, the underlying
      molecular mechanism of liver cancer are still not fully understood, and therefore
      development of treatments are delayed. Akt has been suggested to play an
      essential role in the progression of inflammation response and apoptosis. Hence,
      in the present study, Akt knockout mice and cell lines were used as a model to
      investigate the molecular mechanism of Akt-associated inflammatory and apoptotic
      signaling pathway with NF-kappaB and Bad in the progression of liver cancer.
      Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, ELISA and
      flow cytometric analysis were used to determine the key signaling pathway in the
      development of liver cancer. The results indicated that, compared to the normal
      liver cells, the expression of Akt was significantly higher in liver cancer cell
      lines. In addition, Akt-knockout liver cancer cells showed lower Akt expression.
      we also, found that Akt-knockout cancer cell lines modulated inflammation
      response and apoptosis via inhibiting NF-kappaB expression and suppressing
      apoptotic activation. Our results indicated that the downstream signals,
      including cytokines regulated by NF-kappaB signaling pathway and caspase-3
      activated apoptosis affected by Bad were downregulated for knockout of Akt. These
      findings demonstrated that Akt is related to NF-kappaB and Bad signaling pathway
      possibly playing a direct role in the progression of liver cancer. Thus, Akt
      might be an important and potential treatment choice for the clinical diagnosis
      and treatment in the future. 

PMID- 26892229
TI  - Efficacy and Safety of rAAV2-ND4 Treatment for Leber's Hereditary Optic
      Neuropathy.
AB  - Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrially inherited disease
      leading to blindness. A mitochondrial DNA point mutation at the 11778 nucleotide
      site of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) gene is the most common cause. The
      aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a recombinant adeno
      associated virus 2 (AAV2) carrying ND4 (rAAV2-ND4) in LHON patients carrying the
      G11778A mutation. Nine patients were administered rAAV2-ND4 by intravitreal
      injection to one eye and then followed for 9 months. Ophthalmologic examinations
      of visual acuity, visual field, and optical coherence tomography were performed.
      Physical examinations included routine blood and urine. The visual acuity of the
      injected eyes of six patients improved by at least 0.3 log MAR after 9 months of
      follow-up. In these six patients, the visual field was enlarged but the retinal
      nerve fibre layer remained relatively stable. No other outcome measure was
      significantly changed. None of the nine patients had local or systemic adverse
      events related to the vector during the 9-month follow-up period. These findings
      support the feasible use of gene therapy for LHON. 

PMID- 26892231
TI  - Detection of Treponema pallidum Sp. Pallidum DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) by
      Two PCR Techniques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Laboratory diagnosis of neurosyphilis is complicated especially when
      it is asymptomatic, no single laboratory test result being appropriate to
      diagnose central nervous system infectivity caused by Treponema pallidum. Our
      objective was to evaluate two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the
      detection of T. pallidum DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with
      syphilis. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four CSF samples from patients with
      reactive blood tests for syphilis were obtained. Two PCR techniques (47-PCR, polA
      PCR) were used to detect T. pallidum DNA. The laboratory criteria used for the
      diagnosis of neurosyphilis to which the PCR techniques were compared were those
      recommended by the IUSTI: 2008 European guidelines on the management of syphilis.
      RESULTS: Treponema pallidum DNA was detected amplified in 37 of 124 (29.8%) and
      30 of 124 (24.2%) samples with the 47-PCR and polA-PCR, respectively.
      Sensitivities were 75.8% and 69.7% and specificities 86.8% and 92.3%,
      respectively, for 47-PCR and polA-PCR techniques, respectively. The three CSF
      samples of patients with primary syphilis did not fulfill the criteria of
      neurosyphilis and DNA was only detected in one by the 47-PCR. In samples from
      secondary syphilis and neurosyphilis, three of nine and nine of nine
      respectively, results were coincident for the two PCR techniques and
      neurosyphilis criteria. Major discrepancies between the two PCR techniques and
      neurosyphilis diagnostic criteria were observed in latent syphilis. CONCLUSION:
      Beyond some limitations of the study, which are discussed here, both PCR
      techniques seem to be useful for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, although 47-PCR
      presents a higher sensitivity and polA-PCR a higher specificity.

PMID- 26892234
TI  - Capillary interaction of microspheres with pinned boundary conditions: a
      clarification.
AB  - It is the aim of this short note to point out that a quadratic contribution in
      the deviatoric curvature to the capillary interaction of microspheres with pinned
      contact lines is indeed compatible with the experimental measurements, in
      contrast to what has been reported in N. Sharifi-Mood, I. B. Liu and K. J. Stebe,
      Soft Matter, 2016, 12, 333. 

PMID- 26892232
TI  - Challenging immunosuppression treatment in lung transplant recipients with kidney
      failure.
AB  - Kidney failure after lung transplantation is a risk factor for chronic kidney
      disease. Calcineurin inhibitors are immunosuppressants which play a major role in
      terms of postoperative kidney failure after lung transplantation. We report our
      preliminary experience with the anti-interleukin-2 monoclonal antibody
      Basiliximab utilized as a "calcineurin inhibitor-free window" in the setting of
      early postoperative kidney failure after lung transplantation. Between 2012 and
      2015 nine lung transplant patients who developed kidney failure for more than 14
      days were included. Basiliximab was administrated in three doses (Day 0, 4, and
      20) whilst Tacrolimus was discontinued or reduced to maintain a serum level
      between 2 and 4 ng/mL. Baseline glomerular filtration rate pre transplant was
      normal for all patients. Seven patients completely recovered from kidney failure
      (67%, mean eGFR pre and post Basiliximab: 42.3 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and 69
      mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and were switched back on Tacrolimus. Only one of these
      patients still needs ongoing renal replacement therapy. Two patients showed no
      recovery from kidney failure and did not survive. Basiliximab might be a safe and
      feasible therapeutical option in patients which are affected by calcineurin
      inhibitor-related kidney failure in the early post lung transplant period.
      Further studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary results.

PMID- 26892233
TI  - Characterization of tau positron emission tomography tracer [18F]AV-1451 binding
      to postmortem tissue in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies, and other
      dementias.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Aggregation of tau is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative
      diseases, and tau imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) may allow early
      diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We assessed binding of the PET tracer [18F]AV
      1451 in a range of dementias. METHODS: Phosphorimaging was used to quantify
      binding to postmortem brain tissue from 33 patients with different,
      histopathologically characterized, neurodegenerative dementias. RESULTS: [18F]AV
      1451 showed high specific binding in cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD),
      moderate binding in Pick's disease and frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism
      17, and low but displaceable binding in corticobasal degeneration, progressive
      supranuclear palsy, non-tau proteinopathies, and in controls without pathology.
      Tracer binding did not correlate with tau load within disease groups. DISCUSSION:
      [18F]AV-1451 binds to tau in AD, and some other tauopathies. However, evidence
      for a non-tau binding site and lack of correlation between tracer binding and
      antibody staining suggest that reliable quantification of tau load with this
      tracer is problematic.

PMID- 26892236
TI  - Co-expression networks in generation of induced pluripotent stem cells.
AB  - We developed an adenoviral vector, in which Yamanaka's four reprogramming factors
      (RFs) were controlled by individual CMV promoters in a single cassette (Ad
      SOcMK). This permitted coordinated expression of RFs (SOX2, OCT3/4, c-MYC and
      KLF4) in a cell for a transient period of time, synchronizing the reprogramming
      process with the majority of transduced cells assuming induced pluripotent stem
      cell (iPSC)-like characteristics as early as three days post-transduction. These
      reprogrammed cells resembled human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with regard to
      morphology, biomarker expression, and could be differentiated into cells of the
      germ layers in vitro and in vivo. These iPSC-like cells, however, failed to
      expand into larger iPSC colonies. The short and synchronized reprogramming
      process allowed us to study global transcription changes within short time
      intervals. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified
      sixteen large gene co-expression modules, each including members of gene ontology
      categories involved in cell differentiation and development. In particular, the
      brown module contained a significant number of ESC marker genes, whereas the
      turquoise module contained cell-cycle-related genes that were downregulated in
      contrast to upregulation in human ESCs. Strong coordinated expression of all four
      RFs via adenoviral transduction may constrain stochastic processes and lead to
      silencing of genes important for cellular proliferation. 

PMID- 26892235
TI  - Type I Interferon Regulates the Placental Inflammatory Response to Bacteria and
      is Targeted by Virus: Mechanism of Polymicrobial Infection-Induced Preterm Birth.
AB  - PROBLEM: Preterm birth (PTB) affects approximately 12% of pregnancies and at
      least 50% of cases have no known risk factors. We hypothesize that subclinical
      viral infections of the placenta are a factor sensitizing women to intrauterine
      bacterial infection. Specifically, we propose that viral-induced placental IFN
      beta inhibition results in a robust inflammatory response to low concentrations
      of bacteria. METHODS: Human trophoblast SW.71, C57BL/6, and interferon (IFN)
      receptor knockout animals were used to determine IFN function. Illumina and Bio
      Rad microarrays identified pathways. RESULTS: Inhibiting the IFN-beta pathway
      resulted in a significant increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1B in
      response to LPS. Twist was positively correlated with IFN-beta expression and
      STAT3 phosphorylation and overexpressing Twist reduced IL-1B. Treating IFNAR-/-
      mice with low-dose LPS at E15.5 caused preterm birth. CONCLUSION: IFN-beta was
      identified as a key modulator of placental inflammation and, importantly, is
      commonly affected by viruses. We propose dysregulation of IFN-beta is a major
      determinant for preterm birth associated with polymicrobial infection.

PMID- 26892237
TI  - Genetic basis of hindlimb loss in a naturally occurring vertebrate model.
AB  - Here we genetically characterise pelvic finless, a naturally occurring model of
      hindlimb loss in zebrafish that lacks pelvic fin structures, which are homologous
      to tetrapod hindlimbs, but displays no other abnormalities. Using a hybrid
      positional cloning and next generation sequencing approach, we identified
      mutations in the nuclear localisation signal (NLS) of T-box transcription factor
      4 (Tbx4) that impair nuclear localisation of the protein, resulting in altered
      gene expression patterns during pelvic fin development and the failure of pelvic
      fin development. Using a TALEN-induced tbx4 knockout allele we confirm that
      mutations within the Tbx4 NLS (A78V; G79A) are sufficient to disrupt pelvic fin
      development. By combining histological, genetic, and cellular approaches we show
      that the hindlimb initiation gene tbx4 has an evolutionarily conserved, essential
      role in pelvic fin development. In addition, our novel viable model of hindlimb
      deficiency is likely to facilitate the elucidation of the detailed molecular
      mechanisms through which Tbx4 functions during pelvic fin and hindlimb
      development. 

PMID- 26892238
TI  - Analysis of coelom development in the sea urchin Holopneustes purpurescens
      yielding a deuterostome body plan.
AB  - An analysis of early coelom development in the echinoid Holopneustes purpurescens
      yields a deuterostome body plan that explains the disparity between the
      pentameral plan of echinoderms and the bilateral plans of chordates and
      hemichordates, the three major phyla of the monophyletic deuterostomes. The
      analysis shows an early separation into a medial hydrocoele and lateral coelomic
      mesoderm with an enteric channel between them before the hydrocoele forms the
      pentameral plan of five primary podia. The deuterostome body plan thus has a
      single axial or medial coelom and a pair of lateral coeloms, all surrounding an
      enteric channel, the gut channel. Applied to the phyla, the medial coelom is the
      hydrocoele in echinoderms, the notochord in chordates and the proboscis coelom in
      hemichordates: the lateral coeloms are the coelomic mesoderm in echinoderms, the
      paraxial mesoderm in chordates and the lateral coeloms in hemichordates. The plan
      fits frog and chick development and the echinoderm fossil record, and predicts
      genes involved in coelomogenesis as the source of deuterostome macroevolution. 

PMID- 26892239
TI  - Anamnestic responses in pigs to the Taenia solium TSOL18 vaccine and implications
      for control strategies.
AB  - Specific antibody responses were assessed in pigs immunized with the Taenia
      solium vaccine TSOL18. Anti-TSOL18 responses were compared 2 weeks after
      secondary immunization, where the interval between primary and secondary
      immunization was 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 weeks. All animals responded to the vaccine
      and there was no diminution in antibody responses in animals receiving their
      second injection after an interval up to 20 weeks. Pigs receiving vaccinations at
      an interval of 12 weeks developed significantly increased antibody responses
      compared with animals receiving immunizations 4 weeks apart (P = 0.046). The
      ability to deliver TSOL18 vaccination effectively where the revaccination
      schedule can be delayed for up to 12-16 weeks in pigs increases the options
      available for designing T. solium control interventions that incorporate TSOL18
      vaccination.

PMID- 26892241
TI  - Anti-angiogenic therapy (bevacizumab) in the management of oral lichen planus.
AB  - Oral lichen planus (OLP), a mucocutaneous chronic inflammatory disease, is
      conventionally managed using topical corticosteroid therapy. Given the fact that
      OLP is strongly linked to angiogenesis, anti-angiogenic drugs, such as
      bevacizumab, might be introduced as an alternative treatment for contraindicated,
      non-responsive patients. The aim of the present study was to report the short
      term effectiveness and safety of intralesional bevacizumab injection in the
      management of atrophic/erosive OLP. A case series study was conducted in patients
      with atrophic/erosive OLP in the buccal mucosa, assigned to receive either 2.5 mg
      of bevacizumab, by intralesional injection (n = 20, test), or topical 0.1%
      triamcinolone acetonide ointment (n = 20, control). The size, score, and pain
      intensity of the lesions were assessed pre- and post-treatment. Tissue biopsies
      were collected for histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural
      examination. After 1 wk, the test group had significant reductions both in lesion
      seize and in pain scores compared with controls. A marked decrease in vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 immunoexpression was noted in
      tissue biopsies from bevacizumab-treated lesions compared with control lesions.
      Furthermore, ultrastructural examination of OLP tissue specimens revealed
      significant healing signs associated with bevacizumab treatment. Short-term data
      suggest that intralesional bevacizumab injection effectively and safely achieved
      resolution of atrophic/erosive OLP lesions without disease exacerbations during a
      3-month follow-up period.

PMID- 26892240
TI  - An Evaluation of Central Sensitization in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.
AB  - Central sensitization (CS), nociceptive hyperexcitability known to amplify and
      maintain clinical pain, has been identified as a leading culprit responsible for
      maintaining pain in several chronic pain conditions. Recent evidence suggests
      that it may explain differences in the symptom experience of individuals with
      sickle cell disease (SCD). Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to
      examine CS and identify individuals who may have a heightened CS profile. The
      present study categorized patients with SCD on the basis of QST responses into a
      high or low CS phenotype and compared these groups according to measures of
      clinical pain, vaso-occlusive crises, psychosocial factors, and sleep continuity.
      Eighty-three adult patients with SCD completed QST, questionnaires, and daily
      sleep and pain diaries over a 3-month period, weekly phone calls for 3 months,
      and monthly phone calls for 12 months. Patients were divided into CS groups (ie,
      no/low CS [n = 17] vs high CS [n = 21]), on the basis of thermal and mechanical
      temporal summation and aftersensations, which were norm-referenced to 47 healthy
      control subjects. High CS subjects reported more clinical pain, vaso-occlusive
      crises, catastrophizing, and negative mood, and poorer sleep continuity (Ps <
      .05) over the 18-month follow-up period. Future analyses should investigate
      whether psychosocial disturbances and sleep mediate the relationship between CS
      and pain outcomes. PERSPECTIVE: In general, SCD patients with greater CS had more
      clinical pain, more crises, worse sleep, and more psychosocial disturbances
      compared with the low CS group.

PMID- 26892242
TI  - Genetic spectrum of dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria in Chinese patients
      including a novel nonstop mutation in ADAR1 gene.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) is a rare autosomal
      dominant cutaneous disorder caused by the mutations of adenosine deaminase acting
      on RNA1 (ADAR1) gene. We present a clinical and genetic study of seven unrelated
      families and two sporadic cases with DSH for mutations in the full coding
      sequence of ADAR1 gene. METHODS: ADAR1 gene was sequenced in seven unrelated
      families and two sporadic cases with DSH and 120 controls. Functional
      significance of the observed ADAR1 mutations was analyzed using PolyPhen 2, SIFT
      and DDIG-in. RESULTS: We describe six novel mutations of the ADAR1 gene in
      Chinese patients with DSH including a nonstop mutation p.Stop1227R, which was
      firstly reported in ADAR1 gene. In silico analysis proves that all the mutations
      reported here are pathogenic. CONCLUSION: This study is useful for functional
      studies of the protein and to define a diagnostic strategy for mutation screening
      of the ADAR1 gene. A three-generation family exhibiting phenotypic variability
      with a single germline ADAR1 mutation suggests that chilblain might aggravate the
      clinical phenotypes of DSH.

PMID- 26892243
TI  - Effects of agricultural practices on organic matter degradation in ditches.
AB  - Agricultural practices can result in differences in organic matter (OM) and
      agricultural chemical inputs in adjacent ditches, but its indirect effects on OM
      composition and its inherent consequences for ecosystem functioning remain
      uncertain. This study determined the effect of agricultural practices (dairy farm
      grasslands and hyacinth bulb fields) on OM degradation by microorganisms and
      invertebrates with a consumption and food preference experiment in the field and
      in the laboratory using natural OM collected from the field. Freshly cut grass
      and hyacinths were also offered to control for OM composition and large- and
      small mesh-sizes were used to distinguish microbial decomposition and
      invertebrate consumption. Results show that OM decomposition by microorganisms
      and consumption by invertebrates was similar throughout the study area, but that
      OM collected from ditches adjacent grasslands and freshly cut grass and hyacinths
      were preferred over OM collected from ditches adjacent to a hyacinth bulb field.
      In the case of OM collected from ditches adjacent hyacinth bulb fields, both
      microbial decomposition and invertebrate consumption were strongly retarded,
      likely resulting from sorption and accumulation of pesticides. This outcome
      illustrates that differences in agricultural practices can, in addition to direct
      detrimental effects on aquatic organisms, indirectly alter the functioning of
      adjacent aquatic ecosystems. 

PMID- 26892244
TI  - Genetic diversity of historical Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus)
      from Bjornoya and Haoya (Tusenoyane), Svalbard, Norway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The population size of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus)
      is depleted relative to historical abundance levels. In Svalbard, centuries of
      over-exploitation brought the walrus herds to the verge of extinction, and such
      bottlenecks may have caused loss of genetic variation. To address this for
      Svalbard walruses, mitochondrial haplotypes of historical walruses from two major
      haul-out sites, Bjornoya and Haoya, within the Archipelago were explored using
      bone samples from animals killed during the peak period of harvesting. RESULTS:
      Using ancient DNA methodologies, the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1)
      gene, the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene, and the control region (CR) were
      targeted for 15 specimens from Bjornoya (of which five were entirely negative)
      and 9 specimens from Haoya (of which one was entirely negative). While ND1 and
      COI sequences were obtained for only a few samples, the CR delivered the most
      comprehensive data set, and the average genetic distance among historic Svalbard
      samples was 0.0028 (SD = 0.0023). CONCLUSIONS: The CR sequences from the
      historical samples appear to be nested among contemporary Atlantic walruses, and
      no distinct mitochondrial haplogroups were identified in the historical samples
      that may have been lost during the periods of extensive hunting. However, given
      the low sample size and poor phylogenetic resolution it cannot be excluded that
      such haplogroups existed.

PMID- 26892245
TI  - Reflex operculoinsular seizures.
AB  - Activation of specific cortical territories by certain stimuli is known to
      trigger focal seizures. We report three cases of well documented operculo-insular
      reflex seizures, triggered by somatosensory stimuli in two and loud noises in the
      third. Limited operculoinsular resection resulted in an excellent outcome for
      all. We discuss these observations in regard to the literature on reflex epilepsy
      and known functions of the insula. [Published with video sequences online]. 

PMID- 26892247
TI  - The state of JTH.

PMID- 26892246
TI  - Calpain inhibition rescues troponin T3 fragmentation, increases Cav1.1, and
      enhances skeletal muscle force in aging sedentary mice.
AB  - Loss of strength in human and animal models of aging can be partially attributed
      to a well-recognized decrease in muscle mass; however, starting at middle-age,
      the normalized force (force/muscle cross-sectional area) in the knee extensors
      and single muscle fibers declines in a curvilinear manner. Strength is lost
      faster than muscle mass and is a more consistent risk factor for disability and
      death. Reduced expression of the voltage sensor Ca(2+) channel alpha1 subunit
      (Cav1.1) with aging leads to excitation-contraction uncoupling, which accounts
      for a significant fraction of the decrease in skeletal muscle function. We
      recently reported that in addition to its classical cytoplasmic location, fast
      skeletal muscle troponin T3 (TnT3) is fragmented in aging mice, and both full
      length TnT3 (FL-TnT3) and its carboxyl-terminal (CT-TnT3) fragment shuttle to the
      nucleus. Here, we demonstrate that it regulates transcription of Cacna1s, the
      gene encoding Cav1.1. Knocking down TnT3 in vivo downregulated Cav1.1. TnT3
      downregulation or overexpression decreased or increased, respectively, Cacna1s
      promoter activity, and the effect was ablated by truncating the TnT3 nuclear
      localization sequence. Further, we mapped the Cacna1s promoter region and
      established the consensus sequence for TnT3 binding to Cacna1s promoter. Systemic
      administration of BDA-410, a specific calpain inhibitor, prevented TnT3
      fragmentation, and Cacna1s and Cav1.1 downregulation and improved muscle force
      generation in sedentary old mice.

PMID- 26892249
TI  - Beyond (Models of) Disability?
AB  - The strategy of developing an ontology or models of disability as a prior step to
      settling ethical issues regarding disabilities is highly problematic for two
      reasons. First, key definitional aspects of disability are normative and cannot
      helpfully be made value-neutral. Second, if we accept that the contested concept
      of disability is value-laden, it is far from obvious that there are definitive
      reasons for choosing one interpretation of the concept over another. I conclude
      that the concept of disability is better left ethically open-ended or broad
      enough to encompass the examination of various ethical issues (such as
      oppression, minority rights, or physical discomfort). Alternatively, the concept
      of disability could be altogether abandoned in order to focus on specific issues
      without being hindered by debates about the nature of disability. Only political
      costs, rather than conceptual considerations internal to the models, could be
      weighed against such a conclusion. 

PMID- 26892250
TI  - Influence of initial caries lesions on quality of life in preschool children: a 2
      year cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the impact of the presence of initial and other
      stages of dental caries on the impairment of oral health-related quality of life
      in preschool children (COHRQoL) through a cohort study. METHODS: During an
      epidemiological survey, 478 children (12-59 months old) were examined for dental
      caries using the International Caries and Detection Assessment System (ICDAS),
      and their parents answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS).
      Children were categorized based on the presence of dental caries as follows:
      children with no caries lesions, children with only initial lesions (ICDAS scores
      1 and 2), children with at least one moderate lesion (ICDAS scores 3 and 4) and
      children with extensive lesions (ICDAS scores 5 and 6). After 2 years, 352
      children were re-examined for the presence of dentine cavitations, and their
      parents completed a new ECOHIS questionnaire. Multilevel Poisson regression
      analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of the presence of different stages
      of caries lesions at the baseline on COHRQoL impairment at the follow-up,
      considering two outcome variables: worsening and severe worsening of COHRQoL.
      Relative risk values (RR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were
      calculated. RESULTS: Worsening or severe worsening of the COHRQoL at the follow
      up were observed only in children with moderate lesions (RR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.30
      3.08 and RR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.31-4.34, respectively) or children with extensive
      lesions (RR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.10-2.30 for worsening and RR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.13
      3.12 for severe worsening). On the other hand, the presence of only initial
      caries lesions was not a significant predictor of COHRQoL impairment.
      CONCLUSIONS: The presence of only initial caries lesions does not impair COHRQoL
      of preschool children; however, moderate and extensive lesions are risk factors
      for worsening of the COHRQoL.

PMID- 26892248
TI  - Ethnic Classification in the New Zealand Health Care System.
AB  - The ethnic or "racial" classification of Maori and non-Maori is a pivotal feature
      of New Zealand's health system and affects government policy and professional
      practice within the context of Treaty of Waitangi "partnership" politics.
      Although intended to empower Maori, ethnic categorization can have unintended and
      negative consequences by ignoring the causality of material forces in social
      phenomena. The authors begin by showing how the use of ethnic categories in
      health policy is justified by the Treaty of Waitangi partnership policies. This
      provides the context for the argument made in the manuscript that an
      understanding of the social experience of ethnicity within the complex
      interaction of sociocultural factors such as socioeconomic location and lifestyle
      is more useful than using the political construct of ethnic categories in
      explaining the persistence of low health status for a section of the Maori
      population. 

PMID- 26892251
TI  - Review of Cardiovascular Imaging in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology in 2015
      Part 2 of 2: Myocardial perfusion imaging.
AB  - In 2015, the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology ((r)) published many high-quality
      articles. In this series, we will summarize key articles that have appeared in
      the Journal last year to provide for the interested reader a quick review of the
      advancements that have recently occurred in the field. In the first article of
      this 2-part series, we concentrated on publications dealing with plaque imaging,
      cardiac positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic
      resonance. This review will focus on myocardial perfusion imaging summarizing
      advances in the field including in diagnosis, prognosis, and appropriate use.

PMID- 26892252
TI  - Have SPECT artifacts breathed their last?

PMID- 26892253
TI  - Simple multimodality imaging: An easy, rapid, and inexpensive approach to improve
      non-invasive test accuracy.

PMID- 26892254
TI  - Assessment model for the justification of intrusive lifestyle interventions:
      literature study, reasoning and empirical testing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In many countries health insurers, employers and especially
      governments are increasingly using pressure and coercion to enhance healthier
      lifestyles. For example by ever higher taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic
      beverages, and ever stricter smoke-free policies. Such interventions can enhance
      healthier behaviour, but when they become too intrusive, an unfree society can
      emerge. Which lifestyle interventions that use pressure or coercion are
      justifiable and which are not? We tried to develop an assessment model that can
      be used for answering this question, on a generally acceptable way, for all sorts
      of lifestyle interventions. METHODS: The intended assessment model was developed
      in three phases. In the first phase the model was theoretically developed on the
      basis of literature study and reasoning. In the second phase the model was
      empirically tested by assessing two detailed cases from everyday practice using
      the model. The model was improved again and again. In the third phase
      (publication phase) the 10(th) version of the model was developed while writing
      this article. RESULTS: An assessment model for the justification of intrusive
      lifestyle interventions. It comprises three components: (1) 12 assessment
      criteria (necessity, causality, responsibility, appropriate design,
      effectiveness, intrusiveness, burdens-benefits-ratio, fairness, support,
      complementary policies, verifiability, implementation capacity); (2) an
      assessment structure with three filters (design logic, effects and side effects,
      implementation); (3) a way of assessing (based on reasonableness and
      transparency). CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an assessment model for the
      justification of lifestyle interventions that use pressure or coercion to promote
      health. The correctness, completeness and practicality of the model are likely.
      Important principles for the justification are the logic and completeness of the
      underlying argumentation and the proper use of the available scientific
      information. Parties for and against a particular intervention could use the
      model to test and strengthen their argumentation and to improve the quality of
      the intervention.

PMID- 26892255
TI  - Tunable integration of absorption-membrane-adsorption for efficiently separating
      low boiling gas mixtures near normal temperature.
AB  - Separation of low boiling gas mixtures is widely concerned in process industries.
      Now their separations heavily rely upon energy-intensive cryogenic processes.
      Here, we report a pseudo-absorption process for separating low boiling gas
      mixtures near normal temperature. In this process, absorption-membrane-adsorption
      is integrated by suspending suitable porous ZIF material in suitable solvent and
      forming selectively permeable liquid membrane around ZIF particles. Green
      solvents like water and glycol were used to form ZIF-8 slurry and tune the
      permeability of liquid membrane surrounding ZIF-8 particles. We found glycol
      molecules form tighter membrane while water molecules form looser membrane
      because of the hydrophobicity of ZIF-8. When using mixing solvents composed of
      glycol and water, the permeability of liquid membrane becomes tunable. It is
      shown that ZIF-8/water slurry always manifests remarkable higher separation
      selectivity than solid ZIF-8 and it could be tuned to further enhance the capture
      of light hydrocarbons by adding suitable quantity of glycol to water. Because of
      its lower viscosity and higher sorption/desorption rate, tunable ZIF-8/water
      glycol slurry could be readily used as liquid absorbent to separate different
      kinds of low boiling gas mixtures by applying a multistage separation process in
      one traditional absorption tower, especially for the capture of light
      hydrocarbons. 

PMID- 26892256
TI  - Amperometric Quantification of S-Nitrosoglutathione Using Gold Nanoparticles: A
      Step toward Determination of S-Nitrosothiols in Plasma.
AB  - S-Nitrosothiols (RSNOs) are carriers of nitric oxide (NO) and have important
      biological activities. We propose here the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and
      NO-selective amperometric microsensor for the detection and quantification of S
      nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) as a step toward the determination of plasma RSNOs.
      AuNPs were used to decompose RSNOs with the quantitative release of free NO which
      was selectively detected with a NO microsensor. The optimal [GSNO]/[AuNPs] ratio
      was determined, corresponding to an excess of AuNP surface relative to the molar
      GSNO amount. Moreover, the influence of free plasma thiols on this method was
      investigated and a protocol based on the blocking of free thiols with iodoacetic
      acid, forming the carboxymethyl derivative of the cysteine residues, is proposed.

PMID- 26892257
TI  - An effective approach for annotation of protein families with low sequence
      similarity and conserved motifs: identifying GDSL hydrolases across the plant
      kingdom.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The massive accumulation of protein sequences arising from the rapid
      development of high-throughput sequencing, coupled with automatic annotation,
      results in high levels of incorrect annotations. In this study, we describe an
      approach to decrease annotation errors of protein families characterized by low
      overall sequence similarity. The GDSL lipolytic family comprises proteins with
      multifunctional properties and high potential for pharmaceutical and industrial
      applications. The number of proteins assigned to this family has increased
      rapidly over the last few years. In particular, the natural abundance of GDSL
      enzymes reported recently in plants indicates that they could be a good source of
      novel GDSL enzymes. We noticed that a significant proportion of annotated
      sequences lack specific GDSL motif(s) or catalytic residue(s). Here, we applied
      motif-based sequence analyses to identify enzymes possessing conserved GDSL
      motifs in selected proteomes across the plant kingdom. RESULTS: Motif-based HMM
      scanning (Viterbi decoding-VD and posterior decoding-PD) and the here described
      PD/VD protocol were successfully applied on 12 selected plant proteomes to
      identify sequences with GDSL motifs. A significant number of identified GDSL
      sequences were novel. Moreover, our scanning approach successfully detected
      protein sequences lacking at least one of the essential motifs (171/820)
      annotated by Pfam profile search (PfamA) as GDSL. Based on these analyses we
      provide a curated list of GDSL enzymes from the selected plants. CLANS clustering
      and phylogenetic analysis helped us to gain a better insight into the
      evolutionary relationship of all identified GDSL sequences. Three novel GDSL
      subfamilies as well as unreported variations in GDSL motifs were discovered in
      this study. In addition, analyses of selected proteomes showed a remarkable
      expansion of GDSL enzymes in the lycophyte, Selaginella moellendorffii. Finally,
      we provide a general motif-HMM scanner which is easily accessible through the
      graphical user interface ( http://compbio.math.hr/ ). CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      show that scanning with a carefully parameterized motif-HMM is an effective
      approach for annotation of protein families with low sequence similarity and
      conserved motifs. The results of this study expand current knowledge and provide
      new insights into the evolution of the large GDSL-lipase family in land plants.

PMID- 26892258
TI  - High-internal-phase emulsions stabilized by metal-organic frameworks and
      derivation of ultralight metal-organic aerogels.
AB  - To design high-internal-phase emulsion (HIPE) systems is of great interest from
      the viewpoints of both fundamental researches and practical applications. Here we
      demonstrate for the first time the utilization of metal-organic framework (MOF)
      for HIPE formation. By stirring the mixture of water, oil and MOF at room
      temperature, the HIPE stabilized by the assembly of MOF nanocrystals at oil-water
      interface could be formed. The MOF-stabilized HIPE provides a novel route to
      produce highly porous metal-organic aerogel (MOA) monolith. After removing the
      liquids from the MOF-stabilized HIPE, the ultralight MOA with density as low as
      0.01 g.cm(-3) was obtained. The HIPE approach for MOA formation has unique
      advantages and is versatile in producing different kinds of ultralight MOAs with
      tunable porosities and structures.

PMID- 26892259
TI  - Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation enhances spatial memory in cognitive
      impairment-induced by intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin administration.
AB  - There are several anatomical connections between vestibular system and brain
      areas construct spatial memory. Since subliminal noisy galvanic vestibular
      stimulation (GVS) has been demonstrated to enhance some types of memory, we
      speculated that application of noisy GVS may improve spatial memory in a rat
      model of intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced cognitive
      impairment. Moreover, we attempted to determine the effect of repeated exposure
      to GVS on spatial memory performance. The spatial memory was assessed using
      Morris water maze test. The groups received 1 (ICV-STZ/GVS-I) or 5 (ICV-STZ/GVS
      II) sessions, each lasting 30 min, of low amplitude noisy GVS, or no GVS at all
      (Control, ICV-saline, ICV-STZ/noGVS). Hippocampal morphological changes
      investigated with cresyl violet staining and the immediate early gene product c
      Fos, as a neuronal activity marker, was measured. Hippocampal c-Fos positive
      cells increased in both GVS stimulated groups. We observed significantly improved
      spatial performance only in ICV-STZ/GVS-II group. Histological evaluation showed
      normal density in ICV-STZ/GVS-II group whereas degeneration observed in ICV
      STZ/GVS-I group similar to ICV-STZ/noGVS. The results showed the improvement of
      memory impairment after repeated exposure to GVS. This effect may be due in part
      to frequent activation of the vestibular neurons and the hippocampal regions
      connected to them. Our current study suggests the potential role of GVS as a
      practical method to combat cognitive decline induced by sporadic Alzheimer
      disease.

PMID- 26892260
TI  - High-mobility group AT-hook protein 2 expression and its prognostic significance
      in MGMT methylated and unmethylated glioblastoma.
AB  - High-mobility group AT-hook protein 2 (HMGA 2) is a transcription factor
      associated with malignancy and poor prognosis in a variety of human cancers. We
      correlated HMGA 2 expression with clinical parameters, survival, and O-6
      methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation status (MGMT) in glioblastoma
      patients. HMGA 2 expression was determined by performing quantitative real-time
      polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 44
      glioblastoma patients and 5 non-tumorous brain specimens as controls. Gene
      expression levels of MGMT methylated vs. unmethylated patients, and gene
      expression levels between patient groups, both for qPCR and IHC data were
      compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between HMGA 2
      expression, progression-free survival and overall survival was analyzed using the
      Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. P-values of <0.05 were considered
      statistically significant throughout the analyses. The mean age of patients at
      diagnosis was 57.4 +/- 15.7 years, and the median survival was 16 months (SE 2.8;
      95% CI, 10.6-21.4). HMGA 2 gene expression was significantly higher in
      glioblastoma compared to normal brain tissue on qPCR (mean, 0.35; SD, 0.27 vs.
      0.03, SD, 0.05) and IHC levels (IRS mean, 17.21; SD, 7.43 vs. 3.20; SD, 1.68)
      (p=0.001). Survival analysis revealed that HMGA 2 overexpression was associated
      with a shorter progression-free and overall survival time in patients with
      methylation (n=24). The present study shows a tendency that HMGA 2 overexpression
      correlates with a poor prognosis of glioblastoma patients independent of MGMT
      methylation status. The results suggest that HMGA 2 could play an important role
      in the treatment of glioblastoma and could have a function in prognosis of this
      type of cancer.

PMID- 26892261
TI  - Percutaneous CT-guided thermal ablation as salvage therapy for recurrent non
      small cell lung cancer after external beam radiotherapy: A retrospective study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and
      microwave ablation (MWA) as a viable salvage option for patients with locally
      recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on patients who had received
      thermal ablation for recurrent NSCLC post-curative radiotherapy. Medical records
      and follow-up imaging with computed tomography (CT) and PET-CT were analysed to
      determine time to local progression (TTLP) and overall survival (OS). TTLP was
      determined according to the modified RECIST criteria. RESULTS: Twelve patients,
      mean age 71 +/- 7 years, received 17 thermal ablation sessions, with RFA
      performed for four lesions and MWA for 13. Nine tumours were squamous cell
      cancers (SCC) and eight were adenocarcinomas. Eleven tumours had recurred post
      external beam radiation and one post-stereotactic body radiation therapy. Mean
      tumour size was 34.2 +/- 12.8 mm, tumour stages prior to radiotherapy were Ia
      (2), Ib (3), IIa (4), IIb (1) and III (2). Follow-up period was 19 +/- 11 months.
      Overall median TTLP was 14 months (95% CI: 8, 19), and median OS was 35 months
      (95% CI: 12, 58). Mean TTLP for tumours <30 mm was 23 months and for tumours >30
      mm 14 months (p = 0.20). Recurrence rates reduced from 50% after initial ablation
      to 20% with a second ablation. Complication rate for pneumothorax requiring
      intervention was 17%. CONCLUSION: Both RFA and MWA ablation prolonged local
      tumour control with minimal morbidity in this study group of recurrent NSCLC
      after radiotherapy.

PMID- 26892262
TI  - Influence of depression in a sample of people with hallux valgus.
AB  - Hallux valgus (HV) is a highly-prevalent forefoot deformity associated with
      progressive subluxation and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal
      joint; it is believed to be associated with depression. The aim of the present
      study was to determine the association of patients with varying degrees of HV
      involvement to depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The sample
      consisted of 102 participants (mean age: 45.1 +/- 1.6), who attended an
      outpatient centre where self-report data were recorded. The degree of HV
      deformity was determined in both feet, and the scores on the BDI were compared. A
      total of 38.24% of the sample had depression, with an average BDI score of 10.55
      +/- 12.36 points. There was a statistically-significant association between the
      degree and presence of HV in both feet (P = 0.0001). People with a greater degree
      of HV deformity in any foot also have a significant increase in depression based
      on BDI scores, regardless of sex.

PMID- 26892263
TI  - Near Full-Length Genomic Characterization of a Novel HIV Type 1 CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC
      Recombinant Form Transmitted Between a Heterosexual Couple in Guangxi, China.
AB  - In this research, we reported a new second generation recombinant form (GXDY460B)
      between circulating recombinant form (CRF)01_AE and CRF07_BC in a seroconversion
      couple who obtained the virus from her husband by heterosexual behavior. The
      analysis result of the near full-length genomic characterization showed that the
      genome comprises at least 12 interlaced segments, including six CRF07_BC and six
      CRF01_AE segments, with CRF07_BC as the main framework. Cocirculation of multiple
      virus subtypes and multiple infection routes have existed for a long time in
      Guangxi, but the recombinant strain was rarely reported among heterosexual
      transmission population because of its lower crowd confounding degree than men
      who have sex with men and injecting drug user population. It is the first time
      that the unique recombinant form (URF) between CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC was
      identified among heterosexual transmission in Guangxi. The emergence of the novel
      recombinant helps to understand the pattern of the URF virus.

PMID- 26892264
TI  - Comment on: Monitoring treatment practices of childhood asthma in singapore: a
      questionnaire study.

PMID- 26892265
TI  - Global analysis of the developmental dynamics of Gossypium hirsutum based on
      strand-specific transcriptome.
AB  - Cotton is an economically important crop that provides both natural fiber and by
      products such as oil and protein. Its global gene expression could provide
      insight into the biological processes underlying growth and development, which
      involve suites of genes expressed with temporal and spatial control by regulatory
      networks. Generally, the goal for cotton breeding is improvement of the fiber;
      thus, most previous research has focused on identifying genes specific to the
      fiber. However, seeds may also play an important role in fiber development. In
      this study, we constructed and systematically analyzed 21 strand-specific RNA-Seq
      libraries for Gossypium hirsutum, covering different tissues, organs and
      development stages, from which approximately 970 million reads were generated to
      provide a global view of gene expression during cotton development. The organ
      (tissue)-specific gene expression patterns were investigated, providing further
      insight into the dynamic programming associated with developmental processes and
      a way to study the coordination of development between fiber cells and ovules.
      Series of transcription factors and seed-specific genes have been identified as
      candidate genes that could elucidate key mechanisms and regulatory networks in
      nutrient accumulation during ovule development and in fiber development. This
      study reports comprehensive transcriptome dynamics at various stages of cotton
      development and will serve as a valuable genome-wide transcriptome resource for
      initial gene discovery and functional characterization of genes in cotton. 

PMID- 26892266
TI  - Usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR imaging for differentiating between benign
      and malignant superficial soft tissue tumours and tumour-like lesions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of adding diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)
      with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping to conventional 3.0-T MRI to
      differentiate between benign and malignant superficial soft-tissue masses
      (SSTMs). METHODS: The institutional review board approved this study and informed
      consent was waived. The authors retrospectively analyzed conventional MR images
      including diffusion-weighted images (b-values: 0, 400, 800 s mm(-2)) in 60
      histologically proven SSTMs (35 benign and 25 malignant) excluding lipomas. Two
      radiologists independently evaluated the conventional MRI alone and again with
      the additional DWI for the evaluation of malignant masses. The mean ADC values
      measured within an entire mass and the contrast-enhancing solid portion were used
      for quantitative analysis. Diagnostic performances were compared using receiver
      operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: For an inexperienced reader, using
      only conventional MRI, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 84%, 80%
      and 81.6%, respectively. When combining conventional MRI and DWI, the
      sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 96%, 85.7% and 90%, respectively.
      Additional DWI influenced the improvement of the rate of correct diagnosis by
      8.3% (5/60). For an experienced reader, additional DWI revealed the same accuracy
      of 86.7% without added value on the correct diagnosis. The group mean ADCs of
      malignant SSTMs were significantly lower than that of benign SSTMs (p < 0.001).
      The best diagnostic performance with respect to differentiation of SSTMs could be
      obtained when conventional MRI was assessed in combination with DWI. CONCLUSION:
      Adding qualitative and quantitative DWI to conventional MRI can improve the
      diagnostic performance for the differentiation between benign and malignant
      SSTMs. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Because the imaging characteristics of many
      malignant superficial soft-tissue lesions overlap with those of benign ones,
      inadequate surgical resection due to misinterpretation of MRI often occurs.
      Adding DWI to conventional MRI yields greater diagnostic performances [area under
      the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), 0.83-0.99] than does the use
      of conventional MRI alone (AUC, 0.71-0.93) in the evaluation of malignant
      superficial masses by inexperienced readers.

PMID- 26892268
TI  - A room temperature approach for the fabrication of aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays
      on transparent conductive substrates.
AB  - A novel solution approach is reported for the fabrication of TiO2 nanotube arrays
      on transparent conductive substrates via in situ conversion from nanowires. The
      as-prepared nanotube arrays not only demonstrate a larger surface area in
      comparison with the primary NWs, but also longer charge carrier lifetime than
      that of randomly packed nanoparticle films.

PMID- 26892270
TI  - High-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for
      anterior scleral inflammatory disease.
AB  - PURPOSE: To study high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings in
      anterior scleral inflammatory disease and evaluate the efficacy of high
      resolution UBM as an adjunctive diagnostic tool. METHODS: A cross-sectional
      study. The medical records of 30 patients (33 eyes) with episcleritis or anterior
      scleritis were reviewed for clinical features and high-resolution UBM findings.
      Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) examination was performed using 50 MHz Aviso S
      (Quantel Medical, Clermont-Ferrand, France). RESULTS: Seventeen eyes had
      episcleritis [nodular (12), simple (five)], and 16 eyes had anterior scleritis
      [nodular (14), diffuse (two)] as classified by UBM. The use of high-resolution
      UBM allowed high-resolution imaging of the sclera and episclera and showed
      characteristic patterns of episcleritis and anterior scleritis. The clinical
      classification matched UBM findings in 25 (76%) eyes. In the other eight eyes
      (24%), UBM analysis led to a change in the final classification: four eyes with
      suspected episcleritis were classified with scleritis, and four eyes with
      suspected scleritis were classified with episcleritis. Eleven patients (36.7%)
      had an associated systemic disease. CONCLUSION: High-resolution UBM enabled
      visualization of distinct imaging findings of episcleritis and anterior
      scleritis, indicating its usefulness in the classification of challenging cases
      of anterior scleral inflammatory disease.

PMID- 26892269
TI  - Extracellular Forces Cause the Nucleus to Deform in a Highly Controlled
      Anisotropic Manner.
AB  - Physical forces arising in the extra-cellular environment have a profound impact
      on cell fate and gene regulation; however the underlying biophysical mechanisms
      that control this sensitivity remain elusive. It is hypothesized that gene
      expression may be influenced by the physical deformation of the nucleus in
      response to force. Here, using 3T3s as a model, we demonstrate that extra
      cellular forces cause cell nuclei to rapidly deform (<1 s) preferentially along
      their shorter nuclear axis, in an anisotropic manner. Nuclear anisotropy is shown
      to be regulated by the cytoskeleton within intact cells, with actin and
      microtubules resistant to orthonormal strains. Importantly, nuclear anisotropy is
      intrinsic, and observed in isolated nuclei. The sensitivity of this behaviour is
      influenced by chromatin organization and lamin-A expression. An anisotropic
      response to force was also highly conserved amongst an array of examined nuclei
      from differentiated and undifferentiated cell types. Although the functional
      purpose of this conserved material property remains elusive, it may provide a
      mechanism through which mechanical cues in the microenvironment are rapidly
      transmitted to the genome.

PMID- 26892267
TI  - The Role of Maternal-Effect Genes in Mammalian Development: Are Mammalian Embryos
      Really an Exception?
AB  - The essential contribution of multiple maternal factors to early mammalian
      development is rapidly altering the view that mammals have a unique pattern of
      development compared to other species. Currently, over 60 maternal-effect
      mutations have been described in mammalian systems, including critical
      determinants of pluripotency. This data, combined with the evidence for lineage
      bias and differential gene expression in early blastomeres, strongly suggests
      that mammalian development is to some extent mosaic from the four-cell stage
      onward.

PMID- 26892272
TI  - Lupeol enhances inhibitory effect of 5-fluorouracil on human gastric carcinoma
      cells.
AB  - Lupeol, a dietary triterpene present in many fruits and medicinal plants, has
      been reported to possess many pharmacological properties including cancer
      preventive and anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated
      the anti-cancer efficacy and adjuvant chemotherapy action of lupeol in gastric
      cancer (GC) cells (SGC7901 and BGC823) and explored the underlying mechanisms.
      Cells were treated with lupeol and/or 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and subjected to cell
      viability, colony formation, apoptosis, western blot, semiquantitative RT-PCR,
      and xenograft tumorigenicity assay. Our results showed that lupeol and 5-Fu
      inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 and BGC823 cells, and combination
      treatment with lupeol and 5-Fu resulted in a combination index < 1, indicating a
      synergistic effect. Co-treatment with lupeol and 5-Fu induced apoptosis through
      up-regulating the expressions of Bax and p53 and down-regulating the expressions
      of survivin and Bcl-2. Furthermore, co-treatment displayed more efficient
      inhibition of tumor weight and volume on BGC823 xenograft mouse model than single
      agent treatment with 5-Fu or lupeol. Taken together, our findings highlight that
      lupeol sensitizes GC to 5-Fu treatment, and combination treatment with lupeol and
      5-Fu would be a promising therapeutic strategy for human GC treatment.

PMID- 26892271
TI  - Inhibitory effect of a histamine 4 receptor antagonist on CCL17 and CCL22
      production by monocyte-derived Langerhans cells in patients with atopic
      dermatitis.
AB  - We examined the inhibitory effect of a histamine 4 receptor (H4R) antagonist
      (JNJ7777120) on CCL17 and CCL22 chemokine production by human monocyte-derived
      Langerhans cells (MoLC) in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and healthy
      controls (HC). We confirmed the significantly higher production of both CCL17 and
      CCL22 in the MoLC of AD patients compared with HC. The H4R antagonist
      significantly inhibited the production of both CCL17 and CCL22 in the MoLC of AD
      patients. With regard to TLR2-signaled enhancement, peptidoglycan (PGN)-enhanced
      production of CCL17 and CCL22 by MoLC was inhibited by the H4R. Immunoblotting
      analysis demonstrated that phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase
      was induced by PGN and that this enhancement was attenuated by the application of
      the H4R antagonist. These data indicate that H4 signaling modulates the
      production of T-helper 2 chemokine in MoLC and contributes to chronic
      inflammation in AD patients. Our data suggest a possible novel therapeutic
      approach using a H4R antagonist in the treatment of patients with AD. 

PMID- 26892274
TI  - Continuous endpoints in Bayesian two-stage designs.
AB  - Single-arm two-stage designs for phase II of clinical trials typically focus on a
      binary endpoint obtained by dichotomizing an underlying continuous measure of
      treatment efficacy. To avoid the resulting loss of information, we propose a two
      stage design based on a Bayesian predictive approach that directly uses the
      original continuous endpoint. Numerical results are provided with reference to
      phase II cancer trials aimed at assessing tumor shrinking effect of an
      experimental treatment.

PMID- 26892273
TI  - Amplified RLR signaling activation through an interferon-stimulated gene
      endoplasmic reticulum stress-mitochondrial calcium uniporter protein loop.
AB  - Type I interferon (IFN-I) is critical for a host against viral and bacterial
      infections via induction of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), but
      the mechanism underlying the regulation of IFN-I remains largely unknown. In this
      study, we first demonstrate that ISG expression is required for optimal IFN-beta
      levels, an effect that is further enhanced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
      Furthermore, we identify mitochondrial calcium uniporter protein (MCU) as a
      mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS)-interacting protein that is
      important for ER stress induction and amplified MAVS signaling activation. In
      addition, by performing an ectopic expression assay to screen a library of 117
      human ISGs for effects on IFN-beta levels, we found that tumor necrosis factor
      receptor 1 (TNFR1) significantly increases IFN-beta levels independent of ER
      stress. Altogether, our findings suggest that MCU and TNFR1 are involved in the
      regulation of RIG-I-like receptors (RLR) signaling. 

PMID- 26892275
TI  - Exercise, but not antioxidants, reversed ApoE4-associated motor impairments in
      adult GFAP-ApoE mice.
AB  - Motor dysfunction has been found to be predictive of cognitive dysfunction in
      Alzheimer's disease and to occur earlier than cognitive impairments. While
      apolipoprotein (Apo) E4 has been associated with cognitive impairments, it
      remains unclear whether it also increases risk for motor dysfunction. Exercise
      and antioxidants are often recommended to reduce cognitive declines, however it
      is unclear whether they can successfully improve motor impairments. This study
      was designed to determine the extent of the impact of apolipoprotein genotype on
      motor function, and whether interventions such as exercise and antioxidant intake
      can improve motor function. This study is the first to identify the nature of the
      interaction between antioxidant intake and exercise using a mouse model
      expressing either the human ApoE3 or ApoE4 isoforms under glial fibrillary acid
      protein promoter (GFAP-ApoE3 and GFAP-ApoE4 mice). The mice were fed either a
      control diet or the control diet supplemented with vitamins E and C (1.12 IU/g
      diet alpha-tocopheryl acetate and 1.65mg/g ascorbic acid). Each genotype/diet
      group was further divided into a sedentary group or a group that followed a 6
      days a week exercise regimen. After 8 weeks on their respective treatment, the
      mice were administered a battery of motor tests to measure reflexes, strength,
      coordination and balance. GFAP-ApoE4 mice exhibited impaired motor learning and
      diminished strength compared to the GFAP-ApoE3 mice. Exercise alone was more
      efficient at improving motor function and reversing ApoE4-associated impairments
      than antioxidants alone, even though improvements were rather subtle. Contrarily
      to expected outcomes, combination of antioxidants and exercise did not yield
      further improvements of motor function. Interestingly, antioxidants antagonized
      the beneficial effects of exercise on strength. These data suggest that
      environmental and genetic factors influence the outcome of interventions on motor
      function and should be investigated more thoroughly and taken into consideration
      when implementing changes in lifestyles. 

PMID- 26892277
TI  - 3D Oxidized Graphene Frameworks for Efficient Nano Sieving.
AB  - The small size of Na(+) and Cl(-) ions provides a bottleneck in desalination and
      is a challenge in providing alternatives for continuously depleting fresh water
      resources. Graphene by virtue of its structural properties has the potential to
      address this issue. Studies have indicated that use of monolayer graphene can be
      used to filter micro volumes of saline solution. Unfortunately it is extremely
      difficult, resource intensive and almost impractical with current technology to
      fabricate operational devices using mono-layered graphene. Nevertheless, graphene
      based devices still hold the key to solve this problem due to its nano-sieving
      ability. Here we report synthesis of oxidized graphene frameworks and demonstrate
      a functional device to desalinate and purify seawater from contaminants including
      Na(+) and Cl(-) ions, dyes and other microbial pollutants. Micro-channels in
      these frameworks help in immobilizing larger suspended solids including bacteria,
      while nano-sieving through graphene enables the removal of dissolved ions (e.g.
      Cl(-)). Nano-sieving incorporated with larger frameworks has been used in
      filtering Na(+) and Cl(-) ions in functional devices. 

PMID- 26892276
TI  - High-dose cutaneous exposure to mite allergen induces IgG-mediated protection
      against anaphylaxis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relationship among natural allergen exposure, induction of
      blocking antibody and the occurrence of atopic allergy-particularly in the
      presence of IgE production-is debatable. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the relationship
      between the dose of cutaneous exposure to dust mite allergen and susceptibility
      to the IgE-mediated allergic response in relation to IgG production. METHODS:
      NC/Nga mice were epicutaneously exposed to various doses of Dermatophagoides
      pteronyssinus allergen to induce atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions. We then
      evaluated the skin lesions, induction of mite-specific immune responses, and
      susceptibility to anaphylaxis. RESULTS: Dose-dependent exacerbation of atopic
      dermatitis-like skin lesions and increases in mite-specific IgG and IgE
      production were observed. However, mice exposed to relatively low doses of mite
      allergen showed hypersusceptibility to mite allergen-specific anaphylaxis. We
      also showed that adoptive transfer of total IgG from Dp-sensitized mice rescued
      mice from the hypersusceptibility seen in those exposed to low doses of mite
      allergen. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High-dose cutaneous exposure to
      dust mites induced effective blocking IgG production, even if accompanied by IgE
      production. Our data might support the concept that an increase in IgG titre, not
      a decrease in IgE titre, is a marker of clinical improvement in allergen-specific
      immunotherapy.

PMID- 26892278
TI  - Vascularized jejunal mesenteric lymph node transfer for treatment of extremity
      lymphedema.

PMID- 26892279
TI  - Assessment of Home-Time After Acute Ischemic Stroke in Medicare Beneficiaries.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke survivors have identified home-time as a
      meaningful outcome. We evaluated home-time as a patient-centered outcome in
      Medicare beneficiaries with ischemic stroke in comparison with modified Rankin
      Scale (mRS) score at 90 days and at 1 year post event. METHODS: Patients enrolled
      in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) and Adherence Evaluation After
      Ischemic Stroke-Longitudinal (AVAIL) registries were linked to Medicare claims to
      ascertain home-time, defined as time spent alive and out of a hospital, inpatient
      rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facilities, at 90 days and at 1 year after
      admission. The correlation of home-time with mRS at 90 days and at 1 year was
      evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficients, and the ability of home-time to
      discriminate mRS (0-2) was assessed by c-index. RESULTS: There were 815 patients
      with ischemic stroke (age median, 76 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 70-82];
      46% women; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale median, 4 [IQR, 2-7]) from
      88 hospitals. The 90-day and 1-year median home-times were 79 (IQR, 52-86) days
      and 349 (IQR, 303-360) days and median mRS were 2 (IQR, 1-4) and 2 (IQR, 1-4).
      Greater home-time within 90 days was significantly correlated with lower 90-day
      mRS (Pearson correlation coefficient, -0.731; P<0.0001) and showed strong ability
      to discriminate functional independence with mRS 0 to 2 (c-index, 0.837). Similar
      findings were observed at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of older patients
      with ischemic stroke, home-time was readily available from administrative data
      and associated with mRS at 90 days and 1 year. Home-time represents a novel,
      easily measured, patient-centered, outcome measure for an episode of stroke care.

PMID- 26892280
TI  - Stroke in Commercial Flights.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke on board aircraft has been reported in
      retrospective case series, mainly focusing on economy class stroke syndrome. Data
      on the actual incidence, pathogenesis, and prognosis of stroke in commercial
      flights are lacking. METHODS: A prospective registry was designed to include all
      consecutive patients referred from an international airport (40 million
      passengers a year) to our hospital with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke or
      transient ischemic attack and onset of symptoms during a flight or immediately
      after landing. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (32 ischemic strokes and 12 transient
      ischemic attacks) were included over a 76-month period (January 2008 to April
      2014). The estimated incidence of stroke was 1 stroke in 35 000 flights.
      Pathogeneses of stroke or transient ischemic attack were atherothrombotic in 16
      (36%), economy class stroke syndrome in 8 (18%), cardioembolic in 7 (16%),
      arterial dissection in 4 (9%), lacunar stroke in 4 (9%), and undetermined in 5
      (12%) patients. Carotid stenosis >70% was found in 12 (27%) of the patients.
      Overall prognosis was good, and thrombolysis was applied in 44% of the cases. The
      most common reason for not treating patients who had experienced stroke onset
      midflight was the delay in reaching the hospital. Only 1 patient with symptom
      onset during the flight prompted a flight diversion. CONCLUSIONS: We found a low
      incidence of stroke in the setting of air travel. Economy class stroke syndrome
      and arterial dissection were well represented in our sample. However, the main
      pathogenesis was atherothrombosis with a high proportion of patients with high
      carotid stenosis.

PMID- 26892282
TI  - Streamlined Hyperacute Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol Identifies Tissue-Type
      Plasminogen Activator-Eligible Stroke Patients When Clinical Impression Is Stroke
      Mimic.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke mimics (SM) challenge the initial assessment of
      patients presenting with possible acute ischemic stroke (AIS). When SM is
      considered likely, intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) may be
      withheld, risking an opportunity to treat AIS. Although computed tomography is
      routinely used for tPA decision making, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may
      diagnose AIS when SM is favored but not certain. We hypothesized that a
      hyperacute MRI (hMRI) protocol would identify tPA-eligible AIS patients among
      those initially favored to have SM. METHODS: A streamlined hMRI protocol was
      designed based on barriers to rapid patient transport, MRI acquisition, and post
      MRI tPA delivery. Neurologists were trained to order hMRI when SM was favored and
      tPA was being withheld. The use of hMRI for tPA decision making, door-to-needle
      times, and outcomes were compared before hMRI implementation (pre-hMRI: August 1,
      2011 to July 31, 2013) and after (post-hMRI, August 1, 2013, to January 15,
      2015). RESULTS: Post hMRI, 57 patients with suspected SM underwent hMRI (median
      MRI-order-to-start time, 29 minutes), of whom, 11 (19%) were diagnosed with AIS
      and 7 (12%) received tPA. Pre-hMRI, no tPA-treated patients were screened with
      hMRI. Post hMRI, 7 of 106 (6.6%) tPA-treated patients underwent hMRI to aid in
      decision making because of suspected SM (0% versus 6.6%; P=0.001). To ensure
      standard care was maintained after implementing the hMRI protocol, pre- versus
      post-hMRI tPA-treated cohorts were compared and did not differ: door-to-needle
      time (39 versus 37 minutes; P=0.63), symptomatic hemorrhage rate (4.5% versus
      1.9%; P=0.32), and favorable discharge location (85% versus 89%; P=0.37).
      CONCLUSIONS: A streamlined hMRI protocol permitted tPA administration to a small,
      but significant, subset of AIS patients initially considered to have SM.

PMID- 26892281
TI  - Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Gastrostomy Tube Placement After
      Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are
      widely used for enteral feeding of patients after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
      We sought to determine whether PEG placement after ICH differs by race and
      socioeconomic status. METHODS: Patient discharges with ICH as the primary
      diagnosis from 2007 to 2011 were queried from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.
      Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between race, insurance
      status, and household income with PEG placement. RESULTS: Of 49 946 included ICH
      admissions, a PEG was placed in 4464 (8.94%). Among PEG recipients, 47.2% were
      minorities and 15.6% were Medicaid enrollees, whereas 33.7% and 8.2% of patients
      without a PEG were of a race other than white and enrolled in Medicaid,
      respectively (P<0.001). Compared with whites, the odds of PEG were highest among
      Asians/Pacific Islanders (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32
      1.99) and blacks (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.28-1.59). Low household income (OR 1.25, 95%
      CI 1.09-1.44 in lowest compared with highest quartile) and enrollment in Medicaid
      (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17-1.59 compared with private insurance) were associated with
      PEG placement. Racial disparities (minorities versus whites) were most pronounced
      in small/medium-sized hospitals (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.43-2.20 versus OR 1.31, 95% CI
      1.17-1.47 in large hospitals; P value for interaction 0.011) and in hospitals
      with low ICH case volume (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.38-1.81 versus OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12
      1.50 in hospitals with high ICH case volume; P value for interaction 0.007).
      CONCLUSIONS: Minority race, Medicaid enrollment, and low household income are
      associated with PEG placement after ICH.

PMID- 26892285
TI  - Population inference from contemporary American craniometrics.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This analysis delivers a composite picture of population structure,
      admixture, ancestry variation, and personal identity in the United States, as
      observed through the lens of forensic anthropological casework and modern
      skeletal collections. It tests the applicability of the probabilistic clustering
      methods commonly used in human population genetics for the analysis of
      continuous, cranial measurement data, to improve population inference for admixed
      individuals without prior knowledge of sample origins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      unsupervised model-based clustering methods of finite mixture analysis are used
      here to reveal latent population structure and generate admixture proportions for
      craniofacial measurements from the Forensic Anthropology Data Bank (FDB).
      Craniometric estimates of ancestry are also generated under a three contributor
      model, sourcing parental reference populations from the Howells Craniometric
      Dataset. Tests of association are made among the coefficients of cluster
      memberships and the demographic information documented for each individual in the
      FDB. Clustering results are contextualized within the framework of conventional
      approaches to population structure analysis and individual ancestry estimation to
      discuss method compatibility. RESULTS: The findings reported here for
      contemporary American craniometrics are in agreement with the expected patterns
      of intergroup relationships, geographic origins and results from published
      genetic analyses. DISCUSSION: Population inference methods that allow for the
      model-bound estimation of admixture and ancestry proportions from craniometric
      data not only enable parallel-skeletal and genetic-analyses but they are also
      shown to be more informative than those methods that perform hard classifications
      using externally-imposed categories or seek to explain gross variation by low
      dimensional projections. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:604-624, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892283
TI  - Magnitude of Hematoma Volume Measurement Error in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Limiting intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and
      intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) expansion is a common target for acute ICH
      studies and, therefore, accurate measurement of hematoma volumes is required. We
      investigated the amount of hematoma volume difference between computed tomography
      scans that can be considered as measurement error. METHODS: Five raters performed
      baseline (<6 hours) and 24-hour total hematoma (ICH+IVH) computer-assisted
      volumetric analysis from 40 selected ICH patients from the Predicting Hematoma
      Growth and Outcome in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Using Contrast Bolus CT (PREDICT)
      study cohort twice. Estimates of intrarater and interrater reliability are
      expressed as intraclass correlation coefficients and minimum detectable
      difference (MDD). RESULTS: Total hematoma volumetric analyses had excellent intra
      and interrater agreements (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.994 and 0.992,
      respectively). MDD for intra- and interrater volumes was 6.68 and 7.72 mL,
      respectively, and were higher the larger total hematoma volume was and in
      patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage or IVH. MDD for total hematoma volume
      measurement of 10.4 mL was found in patients with largest hematoma volumes. In
      patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage or IVH, MDD for total hematoma volume was
      10.3 and 10.4 mL, respectively. In patients without IVH, MDD for intra- and
      interrater pure ICH volumes were 3.82 and 5.83 mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A
      threshold higher than 10.4 mL seems to be reliable to avoid error of total
      hematoma volume measurement in a broad range of patients. An absolute ICH volume
      increase of >6 mL, commonly used as outcome in ICH studies, seems well above MDD
      and, therefore, could be used to reliably detect ICH expansion.

PMID- 26892286
TI  - A Rare Cause of Bilateral Conductive Hearing Loss in a Young Boy.

PMID- 26892284
TI  - Intra-Arterial Therapy and Post-Treatment Infarct Volumes: Insights From the
      ESCAPE Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke
      is to limit brain infarction. The objective of this study was to investigate
      whether the beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome
      could be explained by a reduction in post-treatment infarct volume. METHODS: The
      Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion
      With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times (ESCAPE) trial was a
      multicenter randomized open-label trial with blinded outcome evaluation. Among
      315 enrolled subjects (endovascular treatment n=165; control n=150), 314
      subject's infarct volumes at 24 to 48 hours on magnetic resonance imaging (n=254)
      or computed tomography (n=60) were measured. Post-treatment infarct volumes were
      compared by treatment assignment and recanalization/reperfusion status.
      Appropriate statistical models were used to assess relationship between baseline
      clinical and imaging variables, post-treatment infarct volume, and functional
      status at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale). RESULTS: Median post-treatment infarct
      volume in all subjects was 21 mL (interquartile range =65 mL), in the
      intervention arm, 15.5 mL (interquartile range =41.5 mL), and in the control arm,
      33.5 mL (interquartile range =84 mL; P<0.01). Baseline National Institute of
      Health Stroke Scale (P<0.01), site of occlusion (P<0.01), baseline noncontrast
      computed tomographic scan Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS)
      (P<0.01), and recanalization (P<0.01) were independently associated with post
      treatment infarct volume, whereas age, sex, treatment type, intravenous
      alteplase, and time from onset to randomization were not (P>0.05). Post-treatment
      infarct volume (P<0.01) and delta National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
      (P<0.01) were independently associated with 90-day modified Rankin Scale, whereas
      laterality (left versus right) was not. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the
      primary results of the ESCAPE trial and show that the biological underpinning of
      the success of endovascular therapy is a reduction in infarct volume. CLINICAL
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier:
      NCT01778335.

PMID- 26892287
TI  - The Putative Use of Lithium in Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative illness characterized by
      the invariant existence of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
      Presently approved pharmaceutical approaches offer only marginal efficacy and as
      yet there is no effective treatment which reverses or arrests the disease. Thus
      far, drugs targeting any single aspect of disease pathology have proved to be a
      failure or at best provided very slight clinical benefit. The consistent failure
      of drugs targeting aspects of the Abeta cascade has questioned the causal role of
      this pathway. There is a growing appreciation that the pathogenesis of the
      illness is multifactorial with Amyloid Beta, Phosphorylated Tau (ptau),
      inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium dyshomeostasis, heavy metal
      imbalances, and GSK-3 interact in a highly complex manner to provoke a
      selfsustaining spiraling cascade of pathology, driving disease progression. In
      the light of such complex pathology, the failure of drugs aimed a targeting
      single molecules is not surprising as such approaches are usually ineffective
      against other complex diseases with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Combination
      therapies or multi target drugs might be more effective in controlling such
      illnesses. The putative neuroprotective effects of Lithium are achieved via the
      positive modulation of numerous homeostatic mechanisms regulating autophagy,
      oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction likely achieved by
      inhibiting GSK-3 and inositol-145 triphosphate. Data regarding efficacy in human
      trials and animal models of AD are mixed, but recent data using "microdose"
      lithium in mild cognitive impairment is encouraging, hence lithium could be a
      putative multi target treatment in these patients. However, additional well
      designed long-term trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety, given
      that long term use is necessary to achieve reasonable therapeutic benefit.

PMID- 26892288
TI  - Population Studies of Association Between Lithium and Risk of Neurodegenerative
      Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lithium shows neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in vitro and
      in vivo. Due to its involvement in hippocampal neurogenesis and the interaction
      with beta-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangle metabolism it has been hypothesized
      that lithium could have the potential to influence the development of dementia.
      METHOD: Using the PubMed database and cross-reference search strategies our aim
      was to specifically identify population (cohort or case-control) studies
      investigating the association between lithium and dementia. RESULTS: Data from
      large cohort studies suggest an association between lithium treatment and
      dementia risk reduction or reduced dementia severity. Studies with smaller sample
      sizes yield more variable findings. CONCLUSIONS: Lithium may reduce the risk of
      dementia among middle-aged and older people. Beneficial lithium effects are
      possibly limited to specific types of neurodegenerative processes.

PMID- 26892289
TI  - Lithium, a Therapy for AD: Current Evidence from Clinical Trials of
      Neurodegenerative Disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have shown that lithium modifies pathological
      cascades implicated in certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's
      disease (AD), Huntigton's disease (HD), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A critical question is whether these
      pharmacodynamic properties of lithium translate into neurodegenerative diseases
      modifying effects in human subjects. METHODS: We reviewed all English controlled
      clinical trials published in PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, SCOPUS, ISI-Web with the
      use of lithium for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders between July 2004
      and July 2014. RESULTS: Lithium showed evidence for positive effects on cognitive
      functions and biomarkers in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI, 1 study)
      and AD (2 studies), even with doses lower than those used for mood stabilisation.
      Studies of Li in HD, MSA and CSI did not show benefits of lithium. However, due
      to methodological limitations and small sample size, these studies may be
      inconclusive. Studies in ALS showed consistently negative results and presented
      evidence against the use of lithium for the treatment of this disease.
      CONCLUSION: In absence of disease modifying treatments for any neurodegenerative
      disorders, the fact that at least 3 studies supported the effect of lithium in
      aMCI/AD is noteworthy. Future studies should focus on defining the dose range
      necessary for neuroprotective effects to occur.

PMID- 26892290
TI  - Neuroprotective Effects of Lithium in Human Brain? Food for Thought.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of pre-clinical evidence suggesting that
      lithium (Li) may protect neurons from a range of neurotoxic insults, hence the
      term neuroprotective effects. Does Li have similar effects also in human
      subjects? METHODS: We reviewed the neuroimaging literature investigating the
      association between Li treatment and brain structure. RESULTS: There is level I
      evidence for positive association between Li treatment and brain grey matter
      volume, which is one of the most replicated neuroimaging findings. It has been
      reported in the majority of cross sectional studies, all 8 prospective studies,
      including a randomized controlled trial as well as in 2 meta-analyses and one
      mega-analysis. The association between Li treatment and grey matter volume occurs
      regardless of mood state, diagnostic subtype, presence or absence of concomitant
      medications. It was documented in multiple brain regions, including hippocampus,
      amygdala, anterior cingulate, subgenual cingulate, inferior frontal gyrus,
      postcentral gyrus, habenula. CONCLUSION: Although some methodological and
      clinical issues complicate the interpretation of findings, there is robust and
      highly replicated level 1 evidence for positive association between Li treatment
      and grey matter volumes. These "neuroprotective" effects of Li have been shown
      even in healthy subjects and appear independent of prophylactic treatment
      response. Consequently, Li might help maintain brain health even in patients
      without bipolar disorders and could possibly demonstrate diseasemodifying
      properties in neurodegenerative disorders.

PMID- 26892291
TI  - Lithium Distinctly Modulates the Secretion of Pro- and Anti- Inflammatory
      Interleukins in Co-Cultures of Neurons and Glial Cells at Therapeutic and Sub
      Therapeutic Concentrations.
AB  - Lithium is associated with various effects on immune functions, some of which are
      still poorly understood. The roles of many cytokines have been characterized in a
      variety of neurodevelopmental processes including neurogenesis, neuronal and
      glial cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic maturation and
      synaptic pruning. This work aims to evaluate the effects of different doses of
      lithium (0.02; 0.2 and 2mM) on the secretion of cytokines in co-cultures of
      cortical and hippocampal neurons with glial cells. Our results indicate that
      chronic treatment with lithium chloride at subtherapeutic concentrations are able
      to modify the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins in co-cultures
      of cortical and hippocampal neurons with glial cells.

PMID- 26892292
TI  - Describing a complex and changing landscape: metrics for understanding and
      planning chlamydia control.

PMID- 26892293
TI  - Effects of developmental hyperserotonemia on the morphology of rat dentate
      nuclear neurons.
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by
      deficits in social cognition, disordered communication, restricted interests and
      repetitive behaviors. Furthermore, abnormalities in basic motor control, skilled
      motor gestures, and motor learning, are common in ASD. These characteristics have
      been attributed to a possible defect in the pre- and postnatal development of
      specific neural networks including the dentate-thalamo-cortical pathway, which is
      involved in motor learning, automaticity of movements, and higher cognitive
      functions. The current study utilized custom diolistic labeling and unbiased
      stereology to characterize morphological alterations in neurons of the dentate
      nucleus of the cerebellum in developing rat pups exposed to abnormally high
      levels of the serotonergic agonist 5-methyloxytryptamine (5-MT) pre-and
      postnatally. Occurring in as many as 30% of autistic subjects, developmental
      hyperserotonemia (DHS) is the most consistent neurochemical finding reported in
      autism and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD. This exposure
      produced dramatic changes in dendritic architecture and synaptic features. We
      observed changes in the dendritic branching morphology which did not lead to
      significant differences (p>0.5) in total dendritic length. Instead, DHS groups
      presented with dendritic trees that display changes in arborescence, that appear
      to be short reaching with elaborately branched segments, presenting with
      significantly fewer (p>0.001) dendritic spines and a decrease in numeric density
      when compared to age-matched controls. These negative changes may be implicated
      in the neuropathological and functional/behavioral changes observed in ASD, such
      as delays in motor learning, difficulties in automaticity of movements, and
      deficits in higher cognitive functions. 

PMID- 26892296
TI  - Effect of circadian rhythm disturbance on morphine preference and addiction in
      male rats: Involvement of period genes and dopamine D1 receptor.
AB  - It is claimed that a correlation exists between disturbance of circadian rhythms
      by factors such as alteration of normal light-dark cycle and the development of
      addiction. However, the exact mechanisms involved in this relationship are not
      much understood. Here we have studied the effect of constant light on morphine
      voluntary consumption and withdrawal symptoms and also investigated the
      involvement of Per1, Per2 and dopamine D1 receptor in these processes. Male
      wistar rats were kept under standard (LD) or constant light (LL) conditions for
      one month. The plasma concentration of melatonin was evaluated by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA
      expression of Per1, Per2 and dopamine D1 receptor in the striatum and prefrontal
      cortex. Morphine preference (50mg/L) was evaluated in a two-bottle-choice
      paradigm for 10 weeks and withdrawal symptoms were recorded after administration
      of naloxone (3mg/kg). One month exposure to constant light resulted in a
      significant decrease of melatonin concentration in the LL group. In addition,
      mRNA levels of Per2 and dopamine D1 receptor were up-regulated in both the
      striatum and prefrontal cortex of the LL group. However, expression of Per1 gene
      was only up-regulated in the striatum of LL rats in comparison to LD animals.
      Furthermore, after one month exposure to constant light, morphine consumption and
      preference ratio and also severity of naloxone-induced withdrawal syndrome were
      significantly greater in LL animals. It is concluded that exposure to constant
      light by up-regulation of Per2 and dopamine D1 receptor in the striatum and
      prefrontal cortex and up-regulation of Per1 in the striatum and the possible
      involvement of melatonin makes animals vulnerable to morphine preference and
      addiction.

PMID- 26892294
TI  - Toward understanding the impact of trauma on the early developing human brain.
AB  - Traumatic experiences early in life predispose animals and humans to later
      cognitive-behavioral, emotional, and somatic problems. In humans, traumatic
      experiences are strong predictors of psychiatric illness. A growing body of
      research has emphasized alterations in neurological structure and function that
      underscore phenotypic changes following trauma. However, results are mixed and
      imprecise. We argue that future translation of neurological findings to clinical
      practice will require: (1) discovery of neurobehavioral associations within a
      longitudinal context, (2) dissociation of trauma types and of trauma versus
      chronic stress, and (3) better localization of neural sequelae considerate of the
      fine resolution of neural circuitry. We provide a brief overview of early brain
      development and highlight the role of longitudinal research in unearthing brain
      behavior relations in youth. We relay an emergent framework in which dissociable
      trauma types are hypothesized to impact distinct, rationally informed neural
      systems. In line with this, we discuss the long-standing challenge of separating
      effects of chronic stress and trauma, as these are often intertwined. We bring to
      light inconsistencies in localization of neural correlates of trauma, emphasizing
      results in medial prefrontal regions. We assert that more precise spatial brain
      localization will help to advance prevailing models of trauma pathways and inform
      future research.

PMID- 26892295
TI  - Developmental ethanol exposure-induced sleep fragmentation predicts adult
      cognitive impairment.
AB  - Developmental ethanol (EtOH) exposure can lead to long-lasting cognitive
      impairment, hyperactivity, and emotional dysregulation among other problems. In
      healthy adults, sleep plays an important role in each of these behavioral
      manifestations. Here we explored circadian rhythms (activity, temperature) and
      slow-wave sleep (SWS) in adult mice that had received a single day of EtOH
      exposure on postnatal day 7 and saline littermate controls. We tested for
      correlations between slow-wave activity and both contextual fear conditioning and
      hyperactivity. Developmental EtOH resulted in adult hyperactivity within the home
      cage compared to controls but did not significantly modify circadian cycles in
      activity or temperature. It also resulted in reduced and fragmented SWS,
      including reduced slow-wave bout duration and increased slow-wave/fast-wave
      transitions over 24-h periods. In the same animals, developmental EtOH exposure
      also resulted in impaired contextual fear conditioning memory. The impairment in
      memory was significantly correlated with SWS fragmentation. Furthermore, EtOH
      treated animals did not display a post-training modification in SWS which
      occurred in controls. In contrast to the memory impairment, sleep fragmentation
      was not correlated with the developmental EtOH-induced hyperactivity. Together
      these results suggest that disruption of SWS and its plasticity are a secondary
      contributor to a subset of developmental EtOH exposure's long-lasting
      consequences. 

PMID- 26892297
TI  - Postnatal development of GABAergic interneurons in the neocortical subplate of
      mice.
AB  - The subplate (SP) plays important roles in developmental and functional events in
      the neocortex, such as thalamocortical and corticofugal projection, cortical
      oscillation generation and corticocortical connectivity. Although accumulated
      evidence indicates that SP interneurons are crucial for SP function, the
      molecular composition of SP interneurons as well as their developmental profile
      and distribution remain largely unclear. In this study, we systematically
      investigated dynamic development of SP thickness and chemical marker expression
      in SP interneurons in distinct cortical regions during the first postnatal month.
      We found that, although the relative area of the SP in the cerebral cortex
      significantly declined with postnatal development, the absolute thickness did not
      change markedly. We also found that somatostatin (SOM), the ionotropic serotonin
      receptor 3A (5HT3AR), and parvalbumin (PV) reliably identify three distinct non
      overlapping subpopulations of SP interneurons. The SOM group, which represents
      ~30% of total SP interneurons, expresses neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)
      and calbindin (CB) and colocalizes entirely with neuropeptide Y (NPY). The 5HT3AR
      group, which accounts for ~60% of the total interneuronal population, expresses
      calretinin (CR) and GABA-A receptor subunit delta (GABAARdelta). The PV group
      accounts for ~10% of total SP interneurons and coexpressed GABAARdelta. Moreover,
      distinct interneuron subtypes show characteristic temporal and spatial
      distribution in the SP. nNOS(+) interneurons in the SP increase from the anterior
      motor cortex to posterior visual cortex, while CR(+) and CB(+) interneurons the
      opposite. Interestedly, the majority of GABAARdelta(+) neurons in SP are non
      GABAergic neurons in contrast to other cortical layers. These findings clarify
      and extend our understanding of SP interneurons in the developing cerebral cortex
      and will underpin further study of SP function.

PMID- 26892299
TI  - Neocortical slices from adult chronic epileptic rats exhibit discharges of higher
      voltages and broader spread.
AB  - Much of the current understanding of epilepsy mechanisms has been built on data
      recorded with one or a few electrodes from temporal lobe slices of normal young
      animals stimulated with convulsants. Mechanisms of adult, extratemporal,
      neocortical chronic epilepsy have not been characterized as much. A more advanced
      understanding of epilepsy mechanisms can be obtained by recording epileptiform
      discharges simultaneously from multiple points of an epileptic focus so as to
      define their sites of initiation and pathways of spreading. Brain slice
      recordings can characterize epileptic mechanisms in a simpler, more controlled
      preparation than in vivo. Yet, the intrinsic hyper-excitability of a chronic
      epileptic focus may not be entirely preserved in slices following the severing of
      connections in slice preparation. This study utilizes recordings of multiple
      electrode arrays to characterize which features of epileptic hyper-excitability
      present in in vivo chronic adult neocortical epileptic foci are preserved in
      brain slices. After tetanus toxin somatosensory cortex injections, adult rats
      manifest chronic spontaneous epileptic discharges both in the injection site
      (primary focus) and in the contralateral side (secondary focus). We prepared
      neocortical slices from these epileptic animals. When perfused with 4
      Aminopyridine in a magnesium free medium, epileptic rat slices exhibit higher
      voltage discharges and broader spreading than control rat slices. Rates of
      discharges are similar in slices of epileptic and normal rats, however. Ictal and
      interictal discharges are distributed over most cortical layers, though with
      significant differences between primary and secondary foci. A chronic neocortical
      epileptic focus in slices does not show increased spontaneous pacemakers
      initiating epileptic discharges but shows discharges with higher voltages and
      broader spread, consistent with an enhanced synchrony of cellular and synaptic
      generators over wider surfaces. 

PMID- 26892298
TI  - Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances time to task failure of a
      submaximal contraction of elbow flexors without changing corticospinal
      excitability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The increase in corticospinal excitability in response to anodal
      transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) may contribute to decrease
      neuromuscular fatigability. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of a
      tDCS on neuromuscular fatigability in relation with changes in corticospinal
      excitability. METHODS: Eleven adults participated in two experimental sessions
      consisting of two submaximal voluntary contractions (35% maximal torque)
      performed to failure, one hour apart with the right elbow flexor muscles. Sham
      stimulation (90 s) and a-tDCS (10 min) were applied in two separate sessions 10
      min prior to the second fatiguing contraction. Corticospinal excitability was
      assessed by recording motor-evoked potential (MEP), elicited by transcranial
      magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex, in biceps brachii,
      brachioradialis and triceps brachii during the first (C1) and second (C2)
      fatiguing contractions. The silent period (SP) in electromyogramme (EMG) that
      followed MEP was also recorded for biceps brachii and brachioradialis. RESULTS:
      Time to failure was briefer for C2 than C1 in both experimental sessions, but the
      decrease was less pronounced after a-tDCS (-14.4+/-12.7%) than sham stimulation (
      23.3+/-11.9%; p=0.04). MEP amplitude (+9.7+/-4.0%) and SP duration (+22.5+/
      12.8%) in biceps brachii and brachioradialis increased significantly (p<0.05)
      during C1 and C2, but to a similar extent in both sessions (p>0.05). A similar
      result was observed for MEP amplitude in triceps brachii. No association was
      found between changes in time to task failure of C2 and corticospinal
      excitability. CONCLUSION: The reduced neuromuscular fatigability induced by a
      tDCS does not rely on changes in the excitability of the corticospinal pathway of
      both agonist and antagonist muscles.

PMID- 26892300
TI  - Treatment modalities for advanced ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer.
AB  - The ALK gene plays a key role in the pathogenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC harboring an ALK-rearrangement represent the second
      oncogene addiction to be identified in this disease. Crizotinib was the first ALK
      inhibitor showing pronounced clinical activity, and is now a reference treatment
      for ALK-positive NSCLC disease. However, despite initial impressive responses to
      crizotinib, acquired resistance almost invariably develops within 12 months. The
      pressing need for effective second-line agents has prompted the rapid development
      of next-generation ALK inhibitors. These agents, notably ceritinib and alectinib
      as the most developed, have a higher potency against ALK than crizotinib, along
      with activity against tumors harboring crizotinib-resistant mutations and
      potentially improved CNS penetration. 

PMID- 26892303
TI  - The bereavement experience of spousal caregivers to persons with dementia:
      Reclaiming self.
AB  - Spouses of persons living with dementia both anticipate future loss and grieve
      for multiple losses occurring with caregiving and this ultimately influences
      their bereavement experience. Little research has been conducted regarding the
      bereavement experience in the caregiving journey with dementia and what does
      exist is mostly quantitative in nature. The purpose of this study is to describe
      the bereavement experience of spousal caregivers ( n = 10) utilizing Thorne's
      interpretive description. Thematic analysis revealed the features and
      facilitators of the bereavement process for spousal caregivers to persons with
      dementia. The unique contribution of this study to the dementia literature is the
      finding that the overall process of reclaiming self is significant to the
      bereavement journey. Future work should investigate identity as understood by
      spousal caregivers to persons with dementia, and further explore the processes,
      facilitators, and barriers to healthy bereavement in this population.

PMID- 26892301
TI  - Stereological assessment of sexual dimorphism in the rat liver reveals
      differences in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells but not hepatic stellate cells.
AB  - There is long-standing evidence that male and female rat livers differ in enzyme
      activity. More recently, differences in gene expression profiling have also been
      found to exist; however, it is still unclear whether there is morphological
      expression of male/female differences in the normal liver. Such differences could
      help to explain features seen at the pathological level, such as the greater
      regenerative potential generally attributed to the female liver. In this paper,
      hepatocytes (HEP), Kupffer cells (KC) and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) of male
      and female rats were examined to investigate hypothesised differences in number,
      volume and spatial co-localisation of these cell types. Immunohistochemistry and
      design-based stereology were used to estimate total numbers, numbers per gram and
      mean cell volumes. The position of HSC within lobules (periportal vs.
      centrilobular) and their spatial proximity to KC was also assessed. In addition,
      flow cytometry was used to investigate the liver ploidy. In the case of HEP and
      KC, differences in the measured cell parameters were observed between male and
      female specimens; however, no such differences were detected for HSC. Female
      samples contained a higher number of HEP per gram, with more binucleate cells.
      The HEP nuclei were smaller in females, which was coincident with more abundant
      diploid particles in these animals. The female liver also had a greater number of
      KC per gram, with a lower percentage of KC in the vicinity of HSC compared with
      males. In this study, we document hitherto unknown morphological sexual
      dimorphism in the rat liver, namely in HEP and KC. These differences may account
      for the higher regenerative potential of the female liver and lend weight to the
      argument for considering the rat liver as a sexually dimorphic organ.

PMID- 26892302
TI  - Elevated pulmonary artery pressure and brain natriuretic peptide in high altitude
      pulmonary edema susceptible non-mountaineers.
AB  - Exaggerated pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia is a pathgonomic feature
      observed in high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) susceptible mountaineers. It was
      investigated whether measurement of basal pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) and
      brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could improve identification of HAPE susceptible
      subjects in a non-mountaineer population. We studied BNP levels, baseline
      hemodynamics and the response to hypoxia (FIo2 = 0.12 for 30 min duration at sea
      level) in 11 HAPE resistant (no past history of HAPE, Control) and 11 HAPE
      susceptible (past history of HAPE, HAPE-S) subjects. Baseline Ppa (19.31 +/- 3.63
      vs 15.68 +/- 2.79 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and plasma BNP levels (52.39 +/- 32.9 vs 15.05
      +/- 9.6 pg/ml, p < 0.05) were high and stroke volume was less (p < 0.05) in HAPE
      S subjects compared to control. Acute hypoxia produced an exaggerated increase in
      heart rate (p < 0.05), mean arterial pressure (p < 0.05) and Ppa (28.2 +/- 5.8 vs
      19.33 +/- 3.74 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and fall in peripheral oxygen saturation (p <
      0.05) in HAPE-S compared to control. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)
      curves showed that Ppa response to acute hypoxia was the best variable to
      identify HAPE susceptibility (AUC 0.92) but BNP levels provided comparable
      information (AUC 0.85). BNP levels are easy to determine and may represent an
      important marker for the determination of HAPE susceptibility.

PMID- 26892304
TI  - Measuring positive attitudes toward persons with dementia: A validation of the
      Allophilia scale.
AB  - Efforts to combat ageism typically focus on negative attitudes toward members of
      an out-group. Changing attitudes also requires assessment and enhancement of
      positive attitudes. This study examined the psychometric properties of Allophilia
      scale when used to measure college students' positive attitudes toward persons
      with dementia. Data collected from 465 students were analyzed using confirmatory
      factor analysis and multigroup analysis by gender to assess the validity and
      reliability of the Allophilia scale. Results showed that the Allophilia scale is
      valid both for male and female students. The Allophilia scale is a valid
      assessment tool for measuring positive attitudes toward persons with dementia.
      Use of this scale will contribute to our understanding of attitudes toward
      persons with dementia and has implications for the design of interventions to
      facilitate positive attitudes toward members of this out-group.

PMID- 26892306
TI  - Editorial: Generation and cohort effects: Toward a better understanding of the
      nurse - elder relationship.

PMID- 26892305
TI  - Antibody-based PET imaging of amyloid beta in mouse models of Alzheimer's
      disease.
AB  - Owing to their specificity and high-affinity binding, monoclonal antibodies have
      potential as positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands and are currently
      used to image various targets in peripheral organs. However, in the central
      nervous system, antibody uptake is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here
      we present a PET ligand to be used for diagnosis and evaluation of treatment
      effects in Alzheimer's disease. The amyloid beta (Abeta) antibody mAb158 is
      radiolabelled and conjugated to a transferrin receptor antibody to enable
      receptor-mediated transcytosis across the BBB. PET imaging of two different mouse
      models with Abeta pathology clearly visualize Abeta in the brain. The PET signal
      increases with age and correlates closely with brain Abeta levels. Thus, we
      demonstrate that antibody-based PET ligands can be successfully used for brain
      imaging. 

PMID- 26892307
TI  - Changes in Olfactory Receptor Expression Are Correlated With Odor Exposure During
      Early Development in the zebrafish (Danio rerio).
AB  - We have previously shown that exposure to phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA) causes an
      increase in the expression of the transcription factor otx2 in the olfactory
      epithelium (OE) of juvenile zebrafish, and this change is correlated with the
      formation of an odor memory of PEA. Here, we show that the changes in otx2
      expression are specific to betaPEA: exposure to alphaPEA did not affect otx2
      expression. We identified 34 olfactory receptors (ORs) representing 16 families
      on 4 different chromosomes as candidates for direct regulation of OR expression
      via Otx2. Subsequent in silico analysis uncovered Hnf3b binding sites closely
      associated with Otx2 binding sites in the regions flanking the ORs. Analysis by
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction and RNA-seq of OR expression in developing
      zebrafish exposed to different isoforms of PEA showed that a subset of ORs
      containing both Otx2/Hnf3b binding sites were downregulated only in betaPEA
      exposed juveniles and this change persisted through adult life. Localization of
      OR expression by in situ hybridization indicates the downregulation occurs at the
      level of RNA and not the number of cells expressing a given receptor. Finally,
      analysis of immediate early gene expression in the OE did not reveal changes in c
      fos expression in response to either alphaPEA or betaPEA. 

PMID- 26892308
TI  - TongueSim: Development of an Automated Method for Rapid Assessment of Fungiform
      Papillae Density for Taste Research.
AB  - Taste buds are found on the tongue in 3 types of structures: the fungiform
      papillae, the foliate papillae, and the circumvallate papillae. Of these, the
      fungiform papillae (FP) are present in the greatest numbers on the tongue, and
      are thought to be correlated to the overall number of taste buds. For this
      reason, FP density on the tongue is often used to infer taste function, although
      this has been controversial. Historically, videomicroscopy techniques were used
      to assess FP. More recently, advances in digital still photography and in
      software have allowed the development of rapid methods for obtaining high quality
      images in situ. However, these can be subject to inter-researcher variation in FP
      identification, and are somewhat limited in the parameters that can be measured.
      Here, we describe the development of a novel, automated method to count the FP,
      using the TongueSim suite of software. Advantages include the reduction in time
      required for image analysis, elimination of researcher bias, and the added
      potential to measure characteristics such as the degree of roundness of each
      papilla. We envisage that such software has a wide variety of novel research
      applications.

PMID- 26892309
TI  - Behavioral Responses of CD-1 Mice to Six Predator Odor Components.
AB  - Mammalian prey species are able to detect predator odors and to display
      appropriate defensive behavior. However, there is only limited knowledge about
      whether single compounds of predator odors are sufficient to elicit such
      behavior. Therefore, we assessed if predator-naive CD-1 mice (n = 60) avoid
      sulfur-containing compounds that are characteristic components of natural
      predator odors and/or display other indicators of anxiety. A 2-compartment test
      arena was used to assess approach/avoidance behavior, general motor activity, and
      the number of fecal pellets excreted when the animals were presented with 1 of 6
      predator odor components in one compartment and a blank control in the other
      compartment. We found that 2 of the 6 predator odor components (2-propylthietane
      and 3-methyl-1-butanethiol) were significantly avoided by the mice. The remaining
      4 predator odor components (2,2-dimethylthietane, 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol,
      3-mercapto-3-methylbutyl-1-formate, and methyl-2-phenylethyl sulphide) as well as
      a nonpredator-associated fruity odor (n-pentyl acetate) were not avoided. Neither
      the general motor activity nor the number of excreted fecal pellets, both widely
      used measures of stress- or anxiety-related behavior, were systematically
      affected by any of the odorants tested. Further, we found that small changes in
      the molecular structure of a predator odor component can have a marked effect on
      its behavioral significance as 2-propylthietane was significantly avoided by the
      mice whereas the structurally related 2,2-dimethylthietane was not. We conclude
      that sulfur-containing volatiles identified as characteristic components of the
      urine, feces, and anal gland secretions of mammalian predators can be, but are
      not necessarily sufficient to elicit defensive behaviors in a mammalian prey
      species.

PMID- 26892311
TI  - Self-assembly of supramolecular triarylamine nanowires in mesoporous silica and
      biocompatible electrodes thereof.
AB  - Biocompatible silica-based mesoporous materials, which present high surface areas
      combined with uniform distribution of nanopores, can be organized in functional
      nanopatterns for a number of applications. However, silica is by essence an
      electrically insulating material which precludes applications for electro
      chemical devices. The formation of hybrid electroactive silica nanostructures is
      thus expected to be of great interest for the design of biocompatible conducting
      materials such as bioelectrodes. Here we show that we can grow supramolecular
      stacks of triarylamine molecules in the confined space of oriented mesopores of a
      silica nanolayer covering a gold electrode. This addressable bottom-up
      construction is triggered from solution simply by light irradiation. The
      resulting self-assembled nanowires act as highly conducting electronic pathways
      crossing the silica layer. They allow very efficient charge transfer from the
      redox species in solution to the gold surface. We demonstrate the potential of
      these hybrid constitutional materials by implementing them as biocathodes and by
      measuring laccase activity that reduces dioxygen to produce water. 

PMID- 26892313
TI  - [A change of eye color].

PMID- 26892315
TI  - Megaphone diplomacy fails in junior doctor contract dispute.

PMID- 26892312
TI  - Comparison of 3 intranasal mists for anesthetizing maxillary teeth in adults: A
      randomized, double-masked, multicenter phase 3 clinical trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This double-masked, parallel-design, clinical trial assessed whether
      a combination nasal spray (K305; 3% tetracaine hydrochloride and 0.05%
      oxymetazoline hydrochloride) compared with a tetracaine-only spray and a placebo
      spray would be safer and superior in producing local anesthesia sufficient to
      complete a direct restorative procedure in maxillary nonmolar teeth. METHODS: The
      authors randomized eligible patients to receive K305 spray (n = 44), tetracaine
      hydrochloride spray (n = 44), or a placebo solution (n = 22). The authors
      compared the incidence of the primary efficacy end point-completion of the
      procedure without rescue local anesthetic-by means of a 1-tailed Fisher exact
      test. RESULTS: The end point incidence was 84.1% (95% confidence interval [CI],
      69.9-93.4) with K305, 27.3% (95% CI, 15.0-42.8) with tetracaine only, and 27.3%
      (95% CI, 10.7-50.2) with placebo (P < .001 for K305 versus tetracaine only and
      versus placebo). Combination spray was associated with statistically significant
      but transient increases in blood pressure. The most frequent adverse events were
      rhinorrhea and nasal congestion, which resolved within 2 hours after treatment
      and occurred more often in the K305 group and tetracaine-only group. CONCLUSIONS:
      In this study population, the K305 combination nasal spray was safe and more
      effective in attaining pulpal anesthesia of maxillary teeth from premolar to
      premolar compared with tetracaine-only and placebo sprays. PRACTICAL
      IMPLICATIONS: The combination nasal spray might represent a valuable alternative
      to injected local anesthetic for patients undergoing invasive maxillary dental
      procedures. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01710787.

PMID- 26892314
TI  - L2 Spelling Errors in Italian Children with Dyslexia.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate L2 spelling skills in Italian children by
      administering an English word dictation task to 13 children with dyslexia (CD),
      13 control children (comparable in age, gender, schooling and IQ) and a group of
      10 children with an English learning difficulty, but no L1 learning disorder.
      Patterns of difficulties were examined for accuracy and type of errors, in
      spelling dictated short and long words (i.e. disyllables and three syllables).
      Notably, CD were poor in spelling English words. Furthermore, their errors were
      mainly related with phonological representation of words, as they made more
      'phonologically' implausible errors than controls. In addition, CD errors were
      more frequent for short than long words. Conversely, the three groups did not
      differ in the number of plausible ('non-phonological') errors, that is, words
      that were incorrectly written, but whose reading could correspond to the dictated
      word via either Italian or English rules. Error analysis also showed syllable
      position differences in the spelling patterns of CD, children with and English
      learning difficulty and control children. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons,
      Ltd. 

PMID- 26892310
TI  - Is the closest facility the one actually used? An assessment of travel time
      estimation based on mammography facilities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Characterizing geographic access depends on a broad range of methods
      available to researchers and the healthcare context to which the method is
      applied. Globally, travel time is one frequently used measure of geographic
      access with known limitations associated with data availability. Specifically,
      due to lack of available utilization data, many travel time studies assume that
      patients use the closest facility. To examine this assumption, an example using
      mammography screening data, which is considered a geographically abundant health
      care service in the United States, is explored. This work makes an important
      methodological contribution to measuring access--which is a critical component of
      health care planning and equity almost everywhere. METHOD: We analyzed one
      mammogram from each of 646,553 women participating in the US based Breast Cancer
      Surveillance Consortium for years 2005-2012. We geocoded each record to street
      level address data in order to calculate travel time to the closest and to the
      actually used mammography facility. Travel time between the closest and the
      actual facility used was explored by woman-level and facility characteristics.
      RESULTS: Only 35% of women in the study population used their closest facility,
      but nearly three-quarters of women not using their closest facility used a
      facility within 5 min of the closest facility. Individuals that by-passed the
      closest facility tended to live in an urban core, within higher income
      neighborhoods, or in areas where the average travel times to work was longer.
      Those living in small towns or isolated rural areas had longer closer and actual
      median drive times. CONCLUSION: Since the majority of US women accessed a
      facility within a few minutes of their closest facility this suggests that
      distance to the closest facility may serve as an adequate proxy for utilization
      studies of geographically abundant services like mammography in areas where the
      transportation networks are well established.

PMID- 26892316
TI  - Mycotoxins in wheat flour and intake assessment in Shandong province of China.
AB  - In the present study, the occurrence and contamination levels of eight mycotoxins
      were investigated in wheat flour samples (n = 359) from Shandong Province of
      China. Samples were determined using a multi-mycotoxin method based on isotope
      dilution ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
      The results indicated that the most frequently found mycotoxins were
      deoxynivalenol (DON) (97.2%), nivalenol (40.4%) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside
      (33.4%), and mean contamination levels in positive samples were 86.7, 3.55 and
      3.34 ug kg(-1), respectively. The obtained data were further used to estimate the
      daily intake of the local population, and indicated that wheat flour consumption
      contributes little to DON exposure. However, with the aim to keep the
      contamination levels under control and to establish a more precise evaluation of
      the mycotoxin burden in Shandong Province, more sample data from different
      harvest years and seasons are needed in the future. 

PMID- 26892317
TI  - Association between sleep disorders and injury: a nationwide population-based
      retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The evidence is insufficient for the association between the exposure
      of sleep disorders and the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to examine
      the association between patients with sleep disorders and the risk of injury.
      METHODS: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using Taiwan
      National Health Insurance Research Database from 2005 to 2010. A total of 15 109
      patients with sleep disorders were identified as the study cohort. The non-sleep
      disorders control cohort comprised 29 955 age- and sex-matched patients. We
      conducted a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to estimate the effects
      of sleep disorders on the risk of injury. RESULTS: The overall incidence of
      injury was 77.03 per 1000 person-years for patients with sleep disorders, which
      was significantly higher than that of the control cohort (60.63 per 1000 person
      years). Overall, patients with sleep disorders had a higher risk of injury
      compared with control cohort (adjusted HR=1.27, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.28). Comparing
      to the control cohort, patients with insomnia had a 12% higher risk for injury
      (adjusted HR, 1.12 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.41)). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing to patients
      with non-sleep disorders, patients with sleep disorders had a higher risk of
      injury and the risk was particularly pronounced in those who had insomnia.

PMID- 26892318
TI  - Urinary tract infections in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly reported by people with
      multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and significantly impact quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To
      provide an overview of the problem of UTIs in PwMS and offer a practical approach
      for the diagnosis and management. METHODS: A review of the literature through a
      Pubmed search up to October 2015 was performed using the following keywords:
      multiple sclerosis, neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infections, relapse,
      dipsticks, culture, recurrent and prevention. RESULTS: Noteworthy topics include
      the definition of a confirmed symptomatic UTI as a positive urine culture defined
      by >10(5) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL or >10(4) CFU/mL if a urethral catheter
      urine sample is taken, or any count of bacteria in a suprapubic bladder puncture
      specimen, both in addition to symptoms including fever, pain, changes in lower
      urinary tract symptoms or neurological status. Urinalysis is useful to exclude a
      UTI; however, on its own is insufficient to confirm a UTI, for which urine
      culture is required. Experts advise asymptomatic UTIs should not be treated
      except in the context of an acute relapse. From international guidelines, there
      is no validated strategy to prevent recurrent UTIs in PwMS. CONCLUSION: This
      review provides an overview of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of UTIs in
      the setting of multiple sclerosis (MS).

PMID- 26892319
TI  - Massive Subcutaneous Emphysema.

PMID- 26892321
TI  - Capsule Commentary on Reese et al., Two Randomized Controlled Pilot Trials of
      Social Forces to Improve Statin Adherence Among Patients with Diabetes.

PMID- 26892320
TI  - Preventable Admissions on a General Medicine Service: Prevalence, Causes and
      Comparison with AHRQ Prevention Quality Indicators-A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rates of preventable admissions will soon be publicly reported and
      used in calculating performance-based payments. The current method of assessing
      preventable admissions, the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
      Preventable Quality Indicators (PQI) rate, is drawn from claims data and was
      originally designed to assess population-level access to care. OBJECTIVE: To
      identify the prevalence and causes of preventable admissions by attending
      physician review and to compare its performance with the PQI tool in identifying
      preventable admissions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: General medicine
      service at an academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive inpatient
      admissions from December 1-15, 2013. MAIN MEASURES: Survey of inpatient attending
      physicians regarding the preventability of the admissions, primary contributing
      factors and feasibility of prevention. For the same patients, the PQI tool was
      applied to determine the claims-derived preventable admission rate. KEY RESULTS:
      Physicians rated all 322 admissions and classified 122 (38 %) as preventable, of
      which 31 (25 %) were readmissions. Readmissions were more likely to be rated
      preventable than other admissions (49 % vs. 35 %, p = 0.04). Application of the
      AHRQ PQI methodology identified 75 (23 %) preventable admissions. Thirty-one
      admissions (10 %) were classified as preventable by both methods, and the
      majority of admissions considered preventable by the AHRQ PQI method (44/78) were
      not considered preventable by physician assessment (K = 0.04). Of the preventable
      admissions, physicians assigned patient factors in 54 (44 %), clinician factors
      in 36 (30 %) and system factors in 32 (26 %). CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of
      admissions to a general medicine service appeared preventable, but AHRQ's PQI
      tool was unable to identify these admissions. Before initiation of the PQI rate
      for use in pay-for-performance programs, further study is warranted.

PMID- 26892322
TI  - Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: Blood, Sweat and Tears.

PMID- 26892324
TI  - Exome sequencing reveals genetic differentiation due to high-altitude adaptation
      in the Tibetan cashmere goat (Capra hircus).
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Tibetan cashmere goat (Capra hircus), one of the most ancient
      breeds in China, has historically been a critical source of meat and cashmere
      production for local farmers. To adapt to the high-altitude area, extremely harsh
      climate, and hypoxic environment that the Tibetan cashmere goat lives in, this
      goat has developed distinct phenotypic traits compared to lowland breeds.
      However, the genetic components underlying this phenotypic adaptation remain
      largely unknown. RESULTS: We obtained 118,700 autosomal SNPs through exome
      sequencing of 330 cashmere goats located at a wide geographic range, including
      the Tibetan Plateau and low-altitude regions in China. The great majority of SNPs
      showed low genetic differentiation among populations; however, approximately 2-3%
      of the loci showed more genetic differentiation than expected under a selectively
      neutral model. Together with a combined analysis of high- and low-altitude
      breeds, we revealed 339 genes potentially under high-altitude selection. Genes
      associated with cardiovascular system development were significantly enriched in
      our study. Among these genes, the most evident one was endothelial PAS domain
      protein 1 (EPAS1), which has been previously reported to be involved in complex
      oxygen sensing and significantly associated with high-altitude adaptation of
      human, dog, and grey wolf. The missense mutation Q579L that we identified in
      EPAS1, which occurs next to the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) domain, was
      exclusively enriched in the high-altitude populations. CONCLUSIONS: Our study
      provides insights concerning the population variation in six different cashmere
      goat populations in China. The variants in cardiovascular system-related genes
      may explain the observed phenotypic adaptation of the Tibetan cashmere goat.

PMID- 26892323
TI  - Nanodrug formulations to enhance HIV drug exposure in lymphoid tissues and cells:
      clinical significance and potential impact on treatment and eradication of
      HIV/AIDS.
AB  - Although oral combination antiretroviral therapy effectively clears plasma HIV,
      patients on oral drugs exhibit much lower drug concentrations in lymph nodes than
      blood. This drug insufficiency is linked to residual HIV in cells of lymph nodes.
      While nanoformulations improve drug solubility, safety and delivery, most HIV
      nanoformulations are intended to extend plasma levels. A stable nanodrug
      combination that transports, delivers and accumulates in lymph nodes is needed to
      clear HIV in lymphoid tissues. This review discusses limitations of current oral
      combination antiretroviral therapy and advances in anti-HIV nanoformulations. A
      'systems approach' has been proposed to overcome these limitations. This concept
      has been used to develop nanoformulations for overcoming drug insufficiency,
      extending cell and tissue exposure and clearing virus for treating HIV/AIDS. 

PMID- 26892326
TI  - Florbetapir F18 PET Amyloid Neuroimaging and Characteristics in Patients With
      Mild and Moderate Alzheimer Dementia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) is challenging, with a
      70.9%-87.3% sensitivity and 44.3%-70.8% specificity, compared with autopsy
      diagnosis. Florbetapir F18 positron emission tomography (FBP-PET) estimates beta
      amyloid plaque density antemortem. METHODS: Of 2052 patients (>=55 years old)
      clinically diagnosed with mild or moderate AD dementia from 2 solanezumab
      clinical trials, 390 opted to participate in a FBP-PET study addendum. We
      analyzed baseline prerandomization characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 22.4% had
      negative FBP-PET scans, whereas 72.5% of mild and 86.9% of moderate AD patients
      had positive results. No baseline clinical variable reliably differentiated
      negative from positive FBP-PET scan groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the
      challenges of correctly diagnosing AD without using biomarkers. FBP-PET can aid
      AD dementia differential diagnosis by detecting amyloid pathology antemortem,
      even when the diagnosis of AD is made by expert clinicians.

PMID- 26892325
TI  - Diabetes is an independent predictor of right ventricular dysfunction post ST
      elevation myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is estimated to become the 7th leading cause
      of death by 2030. Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) complicating ST elevation
      myocardial infarction (STEMI) is independently associated with a higher
      mortality; however the relationship between DM and RVD is currently unknown. The
      purpose of this study was to determine whether DM is an independent predictor for
      the presence of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) post STEMI. METHODS: 106
      patients post primary PCI for STEMI were enrolled in the study. Cardiac MRI was
      performed within 48-72 h after admission in order to assess ventricular function.
      Statistical analysis consisted initially of descriptive statistics including Chi
      square, Fisher's exact, or the Wilcoxon rank sum as appropriate. Subsequently,
      logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of
      RVD. RESULTS: The median age in the study was 58 years (IQR 53, 67). 30 % of the
      patients had diabetes. Of 99 patients for which RV data was available, 40 had RVD
      and 59 did not. Patients with DM were significantly more likely to have RVD when
      compared to those without diabetes (45 vs 22 %, p = 0.03). There was no
      significant difference in age, hypertension, smoking status, dyslipidemia, serum
      creatinine or peak CK levels between the two groups. After adjusting for other
      factors, presence of DM remained an independent predictor for the presence of RV
      dysfunction (OR 2.78, 95 % CI 1.12, 6.87, p = 0.03). Amongst diabetic patients,
      those with HbA1C >= 7 % had greater odds of having RVD vs those with HbA1C < 7 %
      (OR 5.58 (1.20, 25.78), p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of DM conferred an
      approximately threefold greater odds of being associated with RVD post STEMI. No
      other major cardiovascular risk factors were independently associated with the
      presence of RVD.

PMID- 26892327
TI  - Epileptic Catatonia: A Case Series and Systematic Review.

PMID- 26892329
TI  - 'There's the record, closed and final': Rough for Theatre II as Psychiatric
      Encounter.
AB  - A co-authored collaboration between a theatre practitioner and a clinical
      psychiatrist, this paper will examine Rough for Theatre II (RFTII) and Beckett's
      demonstration of the way records are used to understand the human subject. Using
      Beckett's play to explore interdisciplinary issues of embodiment and diagnosis,
      the authors will present a dialogue that makes use of the 'best sources' in
      precisely the same manner as the play's protagonists. One of those sources will
      be Beckett himself, as Heron will locate the play in its theatrical context
      through reflections upon his own practice (with Fail Better Productions, UK) as
      well as recent studies such as Beckett, Technology and the Body (Maude 2009) and
      Performing Embodiment in Samuel Beckett's Drama (McMullan 2010); another source
      will be the philosopher Wilhelm Windleband, whose 1901 History of Philosophy was
      read and noted upon by Beckett in the 1930s, as Broome will introduce a
      philosophical and psychiatric context to the exchange. Windelband is now a
      neglected figure in philosophy; but as one of the key figures of Neo-Kantianism
      in the late 19(th) century, his work was an important impetus to that of Rickert,
      Weber and Heidegger. Specifically, Windelband gives us the distinction between
      idiographic and nomothetic understanding of individuals, an approach that is of
      relevance to the psychiatric encounter. This academic dialogue will consider
      tensions between subjectivity and objectivity in clinical and performance
      practice, while examining Beckett's analysis of the use of case notes and
      relating them back to Windelband's ideas on the understanding of others. The
      dialogue took place in 2011 at the University of Warwick, and has since been
      edited by the authors. 

PMID- 26892328
TI  - Relapse after withdrawal from anti-TNF therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: an
      observational study, plus systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Infliximab and adalimumab have established roles in inflammatory
      bowel disease (IBD) therapy. UK regulators mandate reassessment after 12 months'
      anti-TNF therapy for IBD, with consideration of treatment withdrawal. There is a
      need for more data to establish the relapse rates following treatment cessation.
      AIM: To establish outcomes following anti-TNF withdrawal for sustained remission
      using new data from a large UK cohort, and assimilation of all available
      literature for systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A retrospective
      observational study was performed on 166 patients with IBD (146 with Crohn's
      disease (CD) and 20 with ulcerative colitis [UC) and IBD unclassified (IBDU)]
      withdrawn from anti-TNF for sustained remission. Meta-analysis was undertaken of
      all published studies incorporating 11 further cohorts totalling 746 patients
      (624 CD, 122 UC). RESULTS: Relapse rates in the UK cohort were 36% by 1 year and
      56% by 2 years for CD, and 42% by 1 year and 47% by 2 years for UC/IBDU.
      Increased relapse risk in CD was associated with age at diagnosis [hazard ratio
      (HR) 2.78 for age <22 years], white cell count (HR 3.22 for >5.25 * 109 /L) and
      faecal calprotectin (HR 2.95 for >50 MUg/g) at drug withdrawal. Neither continued
      immunomodulators nor endoscopic remission were predictors. In the meta-analysis,
      estimated 1-year relapse rates were 39% and 35% for CD and UC/IBDU respectively.
      Retreatment with anti-TNF was successful in 88% for CD and 76% UC/IBDU.
      CONCLUSIONS: Assimilation of all available data reveals remarkable homogeneity.
      Approximately one-third of patients with IBD flare within 12 months of withdrawal
      of anti-TNF therapy for sustained remission.

PMID- 26892331
TI  - Retroileal colorectal anastomosis after extended left colectomy: application for
      laparoscopic surgery.
AB  - Tension-free anastomosis is often difficult to achieve after extended left
      hemicolectomy because the residual colon is too short to reach the rectal stump.
      Retroileal colorectal anastomosis is very simple and useful for obtaining tension
      free anastomosis. We first applied this technique to laparoscopic operations. We
      herein describe the procedure of laparoscopic retroileal colorectal anastomosis.

PMID- 26892330
TI  - Dementia-linked amyloidosis is associated with brain protein deamidation as
      revealed by proteomic profiling of human brain tissues.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Aggregation of malformed proteins is a key feature of many
      neurodegenerative diseases, but the mechanisms that drive proteinopathy in the
      brain are poorly understood. We aimed to characterize aggregated proteins in
      human brain tissues affected by dementia. RESULTS: To characterize amyloidal
      plaque purified from post-mortem brain tissue of dementia patient, we applied
      ultracentrifugation-electrostatic repulsion hydrophilic interaction
      chromatography (UC-ERLIC) coupled mass spectrometry-based proteomics
      technologies. Proteomics profiling of both soluble and aggregated amyloidal
      plaque demonstrated significant enrichment and deamidation of S100A9, ferritin,
      hemoglobin subunits, creatine kinase and collagen protein among the aggregated
      brain proteins. Amyloidal plaques were enriched in the deamidated variant of
      protein S100A9, and structural analysis indicated that both the low- and high
      affinity calcium binding motifs of S100A9 were deamidated exclusively in the
      aggregated fraction, suggesting altered charge state and function of this protein
      in brain tissues affected by dementia. The multiple deamidated residues of S100A9
      predicts introduction of negative charge that alter Ca(++) binding, suggesting
      increased capacity to form pathological aggregates in the brain. CONCLUSION: UC
      coupled proteomics revealed that brain amyloidal plaques are enriched in
      deamidated proteins, and suggested that altered charge state and calcium-binding
      capacity of S100A9 may enhance protein aggregation and promote neurodegeneration
      in the human brain.

PMID- 26892332
TI  - Surgical and non-surgical management of repeat pulmonary metastasis from sarcoma
      following first pulmonary metastasectomy.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although repeat pulmonary metastasectomy for sarcoma is not uncommon and
      associated with a favorable survival in select patients, there is a paucity of
      data on the demographics and tumor characteristics of patients with repeat
      pulmonary metastasis following complete resection of pulmonary metastases from
      osteogenic or soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was
      performed to identify patients with isolated repeat pulmonary metastasis after
      complete resection of pulmonary metastases from sarcoma at Kyoto University
      Hospital between January 1990 and December 2014. Isolated pulmonary metastasis
      was defined as limited to presumable pulmonary metastasis according to the follow
      up radiologic workup. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were identified to have
      repeat pulmonary metastasis. Thirty patients underwent attempted repeat pulmonary
      metastasectomy (including 21 undergoing documented complete resection and 7
      undergoing documented incomplete or aborted resections). Five patients received
      non-surgical management. The median follow-up period was 16 months (range 1-234)
      from repeat pulmonary metastasis. The five-year overall survival of the whole
      patient cohort and those undergoing repeat pulmonary metastasectomy were 37.6 and
      41.1 %, respectively, from repeat pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: A majority
      of patients with repeat pulmonary metastasis from sarcoma undergo repeat
      metastasectomy, which is associated with favorable survival outcomes. However, a
      greater accumulation of data on non-surgically managed patients is needed as such
      information is currently limited available.

PMID- 26892333
TI  - A family planning clinic-based intervention to address reproductive coercion: a
      cluster randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effectiveness of a provider-delivered intervention
      targeting reproductive coercion, an important factor in unintended pregnancy.
      STUDY DESIGN: We randomized 25 family planning clinics (17 clusters) to deliver
      an education/counseling intervention or usual care. Reproductive coercion and
      partner violence victimization at 1 year follow-up were primary outcomes.
      Unintended pregnancy, recognition of sexual and reproductive coercion, self
      efficacy to use and use of harm reduction behaviors to reduce victimization and
      contraception nonuse, and knowledge and use of partner violence resources were
      secondary outcomes. Analyses included all available data using an intention-to
      treat approach. RESULTS: Among 4009 females ages 16 to 29 years seeking care,
      3687 completed a baseline survey prior to clinic visit from October 2011 to
      November 2012; 3017 provided data at 12-20weeks post-baseline (T2) and 2926 at
      12months post-baseline (T3) (79% retention). Intervention effects were not
      significant for reproductive coercion [adjusted risk ratio (ARR) 1.50 (95%
      confidence interval 0.95-2.35)] or partner violence [ARR 1.07 (0.84-1.38)].
      Intervention participants reported improved knowledge of partner violence
      resources [ARR 4.25 (3.29-5.50)] and self-efficacy to enact harm reduction
      behaviors [adjusted mean difference 0.06 (0.02-0.10)]. In time point-specific
      models which included moderating effects of exposure to reproductive coercion at
      baseline, a higher reproductive coercion score at baseline was associated with a
      decrease in reproductive coercion 1 year later (T3). Use and sharing of the
      domestic violence hotline number also increased. CONCLUSION: This brief clinic
      intervention did not reduce partner violence victimization. The intervention
      enhanced two outcomes that may increase safety for women, specifically awareness
      of partner violence resources and self-efficacy to enact harm reduction
      behaviors. It also appeared to reduce reproductive coercion among women
      experiencing multiple forms of such abuse.

PMID- 26892334
TI  - Detection of metastatic tumors after gamma-irradiation using longitudinal
      molecular imaging and gene expression profiling of metastatic tumor nodules.
AB  - A few recent reports have indicated that metastatic growth of several human
      cancer cells could be promoted by radiotherapy. C6-L cells expressing the firefly
      luciferase (fLuc) gene were implanted subcutaneously into the right thigh of
      BALB/c nu/nu mice. C6-L xenograft mice were treated locally with 50-Gy gamma
      irradiation (gamma-IR) in five 10-Gy fractions. Metastatic tumors were evaluated
      after gamma-IR by imaging techniques. Total RNA from non-irradiated primary tumor
      (NRPT), gamma-irradiated primary tumor (RPT), and three metastatic lung nodule
      was isolated and analyzed by microarray. Metastatic lung nodules were detected by
      BLI and PET/CT after 6-9 weeks of gamma-IR in 6 (17.1%) of the 35 mice. The
      images clearly demonstrated high [18F]FLT and [18F]FDG uptake into metastatic
      lung nodules. Whole mRNA expression patterns were analyzed by microarray to
      elucidate the changes among NRPT, RPT and metastatic lung nodules after gamma-IR.
      In particular, expression changes in the cancer stem cell markers were highly
      significant in RPT. We observed the metastatic tumors after gamma-IR in a tumor
      bearing animal model using molecular imaging methods and analyzed the gene
      expression profile to elucidate genetic changes after gamma-IR. 

PMID- 26892335
TI  - Family planning, antenatal and delivery care: cross-sectional survey evidence on
      levels of coverage and inequalities by public and private sector in 57 low- and
      middle-income countries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the role of the private
      sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used Demographic and
      Health Surveys for 57 countries (2000-2013) to evaluate the private sector's
      share in providing three reproductive and maternal/newborn health services
      (family planning, antenatal and delivery care), in total and by socio-economic
      position. METHODS: We used data from 865 547 women aged 15-49, representing a
      total of 3 billion people. We defined 'met and unmet need for services' and 'use
      of appropriate service types' clearly and developed explicit classifications of
      source and sector of provision. RESULTS: Across the four regions (sub-Saharan
      Africa, Middle East/Europe, Asia and Latin America), unmet need ranged from 28%
      to 61% for family planning, 8% to 22% for ANC and 21% to 51% for delivery care.
      The private-sector share among users of family planning services was 37-39%
      across regions (overall mean: 37%; median across countries: 41%). The private
      sector market share among users of ANC was 13-61% across regions (overall mean:
      44%; median across countries: 15%). The private-sector share among appropriate
      deliveries was 9-56% across regions (overall mean: 40%; median across countries:
      14%). For all three healthcare services, women in the richest wealth quintile
      used private services more than the poorest. Wealth gaps in met need for services
      were smallest for family planning and largest for delivery care. CONCLUSIONS: The
      private sector serves substantial numbers of women in LMICs, particularly the
      richest. To achieve universal health coverage, including adequate quality care,
      it is imperative to understand this sector, starting with improved data
      collection on healthcare provision.

PMID- 26892337
TI  - Use of scientific social networking to improve the research strategies of PubMed
      readers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Keeping up with journal articles on a daily basis is an important
      activity of scientists engaged in biomedical research. Usually, journal articles
      and papers in the field of biomedicine are accessed through the Medline/PubMed
      electronic library. In the process of navigating PubMed, researchers unknowingly
      generate user-specific reading profiles that can be shared within a social
      networking environment. This paper examines the structure of the social
      networking environment generated by PubMed users. METHODS: A web browser plugin
      was developed to map [in Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms] the reading
      patterns of individual PubMed users. RESULTS: We developed a scientific social
      network based on the personal research profiles of readers of biomedical
      articles. A browser plugin is used to record the digital object identifier or
      PubMed ID of web pages. Recorded items are posted on the activity feed and
      automatically mapped to PubMed abstract. Within the activity feed a user can
      trace back previously browsed articles and insert comments. By calculating the
      frequency with which specific MeSH occur, the research interests of PubMed users
      can be visually represented with a tag cloud. Finally, research profiles can be
      searched for matches between network users. CONCLUSIONS: A social networking
      environment was created using MeSH terms to map articles accessed through the
      Medline/PubMed online library system. In-network social communication is
      supported by the recommendation of articles and by matching users with similar
      scientific interests. The system is available at http://bioknol.org/en/.

PMID- 26892336
TI  - Simultaneous occurrence of fibrillary glomerulonephritis and renal lesions in
      nonmalignant monoclonal IgM gammopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is a rare primary glomerular
      disease that seldom coexists with other diseases. Membranoproliferative
      glomerulonephritis is a pathologic finding of renal lesions associated with IgM
      secreting monoclonal proliferations. We present a case study of a patient with
      unusual simultaneous FGN and IgM-related renal disorder in nonmalignant
      monoclonal IgM gammopathy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old male presented with
      nephrotic syndrome and elevated serum creatinine levels. Laboratory examination
      revealed elevated levels of serum IgM and low C3 levels. Serum and urine
      immunofixation electrophoresis showed a monoclonal IgM with a kappa light chain.
      A bone marrow biopsy revealed less than 5 % bone marrow infiltration by
      lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and a renal biopsy revealed mesangiocapillary
      glomerulonephritis on light microscopy. Immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical
      staining indicated granular deposits of immunoglobulin G in the mesangium and
      granular deposits of immunoglobulin M and kappa light chains along the capillary
      wall. Electron microscopy revealed randomly arranged nonbranching fibrils of
      approximately 15 nm in diameter in the glomerular mesangium and subendothelial
      electron-dense deposits. According to these results, we confirmed FGN and
      membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, which were attributed to monoclonal IgM
      deposits. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of
      simultaneous FGN and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in nonmalignant IgM
      monoclonal gammopathy.

PMID- 26892339
TI  - Common trajectories of physical functioning in the Doetinchem Cohort Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: to describe common trajectories of physical functioning and their
      determinants among an adult cohort, followed over a period of 15 years. METHODS:
      the study sample consisted of 4,123 participants (initial ages 26-70 years) from
      the Doetinchem Cohort Study, who participated in three or four measurement
      cycles. Physical functioning was measured with the Dutch version of the SF-36.
      Using a group-based modelling strategy, trajectories of physical functioning were
      determined. Weighted multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to
      identify socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics that
      differentiate between the trajectories at baseline. RESULTS: five common physical
      functioning trajectories were distinguished, labelled as 'stable not limited'
      (27% of the population), 'stable slightly limited' (54%), 'slightly limited
      substantial deterioration' (7%), 'moderately limited gradual improvement' (9%)
      and 'stable severely limited' (3%). The characteristics that differentiate
      between the trajectories with limitations and the trajectory 'stable not limited'
      were being female, older, physically inactive, overweight or obese, having one or
      more chronic conditions, poor mental health and poor self-perceived health at
      baseline. Being younger, physically active, less obese, living with a partner and
      a good perceived health were characteristics of the trajectory 'moderately
      limited gradual improvement' compared with 'stable severely limited'. CONCLUSION:
      five common trajectories of physical functioning were distinguished in an adult
      cohort, with most individuals following a stable but slightly limited course of
      physical functioning. Some early risk indicators were found that in the future
      might be used to early identify those with limitations in physical functioning.

PMID- 26892338
TI  - Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyces to Control Aichi Virus.
AB  - Aqueous Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts possess antimicrobial properties with
      limited information available on their antiviral effects. Aichi virus (AiV) is an
      emerging foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis. Vaccines are currently
      unavailable to prevent their disease transmission. The objective of this study
      was to determine the antiviral effects of aqueous H. sabdariffa extracts against
      AiV. AiV at ~5 log PFU/ml was incubated with undiluted (200 mg/ml), 1:1 (100
      mg/ml) or 1:5 (40 mg/ml) diluted aqueous hibiscus extract (pH 3.6), phosphate
      buffered saline (pH 7.2 as control), or malic acid (pH 3.0, acid control) at 37 
      degrees C over 24 h. Treatments were stopped by serially diluting in cell-culture
      media containing fetal bovine serum and titers were determined using plaque
      assays on confluent Vero cells. Each treatment was replicated thrice and assayed
      in duplicate. AiV did not show any significant reduction with 1:1 (100 mg/ml) or
      1:5 (40 mg/ml) diluted aqueous hibiscus extracts or malic acid after 0.5, 1, or 2
      h at 37  degrees C. However, AiV titers were reduced to non-detectable levels
      after 24 h with all the three tested concentrations, while malic acid showed only
      0.93 log PFU/ml reduction after 24 h. AiV was reduced by 0.5 and 0.9 log PFU/ml
      with undiluted extracts (200 mg/ml) after 2 and 6 h, respectively. AiV treated
      with 1:1 (100 mg/ml) and 1:5 (40 mg/ml) diluted extracts showed a minimal ~0.3
      log PFU/ml reduction after 6 h. These extracts show promise to reduce AiV titers
      mainly through alteration of virus structure, though higher concentrations may
      have improved effects.

PMID- 26892341
TI  - RFT1-congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) syndrome: a cause of early-onset
      severe epilepsy.
AB  - RFT1-congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) syndrome, a recessive N
      glycosylation disorder caused by mutation in the RFT1 gene, is a very rare
      subtype of CDG syndrome associated with deafness, developmental delay, and non
      specific epilepsy. The aim of this report is to describe the electroclinical
      presentation of epilepsy associated with this condition. [Published with video
      sequences online]. 

PMID- 26892340
TI  - Scanning for alpha-Hemoglobin Variants by High-Resolution Melting Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Definitive detection of hemoglobin (Hb) variants requires DNA
      sequencing. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis of polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) amplicons was applied to detect and discriminate among uncommon alpha-Hb
      variants found in Thailand. METHODS: Uncommon suspected alpha-Hb variants
      observed in Hb typing were identified by sequencing of DNA from whole blood
      samples. Three pairs of PCR primers covering the mutation regions in the three
      alpha-globin exons then were used for PCR coupled with difference in HRM analysis
      to subtract out the concomitant melting profile of the normal allele in the
      heterozygous state. RESULTS: DNA sequencing identified six heterozygous alpha-Hb
      variants, namely, Hb G-Waimanalo (HBA2: exon 2, codon 64 G>A), Hb J-Buda (HBA1:
      exon 2, codon 61 G>T), Hb Kurosaki (HBA2: exon 1; codon 7 A>G), Hb O-Indonesia
      (HBA1: exon 3 codon 116 G>A), Hb Q-India (HBA1:exon 2, codon 64 G>C), and Hb Q
      Thailand (HBA1: exon 2 codon 74 G>C). Difference HRM analysis showed one
      temperature melting profile using exon 1 primer pair, four different profiles
      with exon 2 primer pair, and one profile with exon 3 primer pair. CONCLUSIONS:
      PCR-HRM analysis was effective in detecting and discriminating among single point
      mutations causing six uncommon alpha-Hb variants in heterozygous individuals. The
      method can be applied for routine screening due to its simplicity and relatively
      low cost.

PMID- 26892342
TI  - Distinct courses of infection with Leishmania (L.) amazonensis are observed in
      BALB/c, BALB/c nude and C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - Leishmania (L.) amazonensis [L. (L.) amazonensis] is widely distributed in Brazil
      and its symptomatic infections usually lead to few localized lesions and
      sometimes to diffuse cutaneous form, with nodules throughout the body, anergy to
      parasite antigens and poor therapeutic response. The variability of these
      manifestations draws attention to the need for studies on the pathophysiology of
      infection by this species. In this study, we analysed the course and
      immunological aspects of L. (L.) amazonensis infection in BALB/c and C57BL/6
      strains, both susceptible, but displaying different clinical courses, and athymic
      BALB/c nude, to illustrate the role of T cell dependent responses. We analysed
      footpad thickness and parasite burden by in vivo imaging. Furthermore, we
      evaluated the cellular profile and cytokine production in lymph nodes and the
      inflammatory infiltrates of lesions. Nude mice showed delayed lesion development
      and less inflammatory cells in lesions, but higher parasite burden than BALB/c
      and C57BL/6. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice had similar parasite burdens, lesion sizes
      and infiltrates until 6 weeks after infection, and after that C57BL/6 mice
      controlled the infection. Small differences in parasite numbers were observed in
      C57BL/6 macrophages in vitro, indicating that in vivo milieu accounts for most
      differences in infection. We believe our results shed light on the role of host
      immune system in the course of L. (L.) amazonensis infection by comparing three
      mouse strains that differ in parasitaemia and inflammatory cells.

PMID- 26892344
TI  - Measuring motivation for medical treatment: confirming the factor structure of
      the Achievement Motivation Index for Medical Treatment (AMI-MeT).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Developments in chemotherapy have led to changes in cancer care in
      Japan, with the government promoting a transition to outpatient chemotherapy.
      This requires patients and their families to participate more actively in
      treatment than in the past. However, it remains unclear how patients' motivation
      for medical treatment affects clinical consultations with their physicians. To
      investigate this, we developed a psychological index called the Achievement
      Motive Index for Medical Treatment (AMI-MeT), which comprises self-derived
      achievement motivation (AMS) and achievement motivation derived from others
      (AMO). However, its factor structure has not yet been confirmed in populations
      other than healthy university students. Thus, the aims of this study were to
      confirm the factor structure of the AMI-MeT in other groups and to determine the
      convergent and divergent validity of the AMI-MeT. METHODS: The AMI-MeT was
      administered to university students (n = 414), apparently healthy workers (n =
      154), and cancer patients (n = 51). Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was
      conducted and the mean scores of the AMI-MeT were compared between the groups.
      Correlations between the AMI-MeT and the Self-Construal Scale, comprising
      independent self-construal (IndSC) and interdependent self-construal (InterSC)
      subscales, were investigated in another group of students (n = 335). RESULTS: The
      multi-group confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure of the
      AMI-MeT: the weak invariance model was the best fit for the data. The mean scores
      of the AMI-MeT in apparently healthy workers and cancer patients were
      significantly higher than that in students (P < .01). The correlation analysis
      revealed that AMS scores were associated with IndSC scores (r = .25, P < .01) and
      AMO scores with InterSC scores (r = .30, P < .01). CONCLUSION: The two-factor
      model of the AMI-MeT was deemed appropriate for all three groups, and the
      subscales of the AMI-MeT successfully reflected the self and other dimensions.
      The AMI-MeT appears to be an effective tool for measuring medical treatment
      motivation, making it useful in participant observational research on medical
      consultations for Japanese cancer treatment.

PMID- 26892343
TI  - Combined Secretomics and Transcriptomics Revealed Cancer-Derived GDF15 is
      Involved in Diffuse-Type Gastric Cancer Progression and Fibroblast Activation.
AB  - Gastric cancer is classified into two subtypes, diffuse and intestinal. The
      diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) has poorer prognosis, and the molecular
      pathology is not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to identify
      functional secreted molecules involved in DGC progression. We integrated the
      secretomics of six gastric cancer cell lines and gene expression analysis of
      gastric cancer tissues with publicly available microarray data. Hierarchical
      clustering revealed characteristic gene expression differences between diffuse-
      and intestinal-types. GDF15 was selected as a functional secreted molecule owing
      to high expression only in fetal tissues. Protein expression of GDF15 was higher
      in DGC cell lines and tissues. Serum levels of GDF15 were significant higher in
      DGC patients as compared with healthy individuals and chronic gastritis patients,
      and positively correlated with wall invasion and lymph node metastasis. In
      addition, the stimulation of GDF15 on NIH3T3 fibroblast enhanced proliferation
      and up-regulated expression of extracellular matrix genes, which were similar to
      TGF-beta stimulation. These results indicate that GDF15 contributes to fibroblast
      activation. In conclusion, this study revealed that GDF15 may be a novel
      functional secreted molecule for DGC progression, possibly having important roles
      for cancer progression via the affecting fibroblast function, as well as TGF
      beta. 

PMID- 26892345
TI  - De novo 14q24.2q24.3 microdeletion including IFT43 is associated with
      intellectual disability, skeletal anomalies, cardiac anomalies, and myopia.
AB  - We report an 11-year-old girl with mild intellectual disability, skeletal
      anomalies, congenital heart defect, myopia, and facial dysmorphisms including an
      extra incisor, cup-shaped ears, and a preauricular skin tag. Array comparative
      genomic hybridization analysis identified a de novo 4.5-Mb microdeletion on
      chromosome 14q24.2q24.3. The deleted region and phenotype partially overlap with
      previously reported patients. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on
      14q24 microdeletions and further delineate the associated phenotype. We performed
      exome sequencing to examine other causes for the phenotype and queried genes
      present in the 14q24.2q24.3 microdeletion that are associated with recessive
      disease for variants in the non-deleted allele. The deleted region contains 65
      protein-coding genes, including the ciliary gene IFT43. Although Sanger and exome
      sequencing did not identify variants in the second IFT43 allele or in other IFT
      complex A-protein-encoding genes, immunocytochemistry showed increased
      accumulation of IFT-B proteins at the ciliary tip in patient-derived fibroblasts
      compared to control cells, demonstrating defective retrograde ciliary transport.
      This could suggest a ciliary defect in the pathogenesis of this disorder. (c)
      2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892347
TI  - Mathematical Modeling of the Biomarker Milieu to Characterize Preterm Birth and
      Predict Adverse Neonatal Outcomes.
AB  - PROBLEM: To identify preterm neonates at risk for adverse neonatal outcomes.
      METHOD OF STUDY: A nested case-control study from the prospectively followed
      Boston Birth Cohort of mother-neonate pairs was performed. A classification model
      for preterm-born neonates was derived from 27 cord blood biomarkers using
      orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis. Predictive
      relationships were made between biomarkers and adverse outcomes using logistic
      regression. RESULTS: From 926 births (53% of which were preterm), using weighted
      values for 27 biomarkers, a score was created that classified 73% of preterm
      deliveries. Soluble TNF-R1, NT-3, MCP-1, BDNF, IL-4, MMP-9, TREM-1, TNF-alpha, IL
      5 and IL-10 were most influential. Our model was more sensitive for birth <34
      weeks (sensitivity 89.5%, specificity 76.9%). IL-10, TNF-alpha, BDNF, NT-3, MMP
      9, sTNF-R1 and MCP-1 were significantly predictive of NEC, IVH, sepsis and
      infections. CONCLUSION: We developed a novel mathematical model of 27 biomarkers
      associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in neonates born preterm.

PMID- 26892346
TI  - TRPC6 G757D Loss-of-Function Mutation Associates with FSGS.
AB  - FSGS is a CKD with heavy proteinuria that eventually progresses to ESRD.
      Hereditary forms of FSGS have been linked to mutations in the transient receptor
      potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6 (TRPC6) gene encoding a
      nonselective cation channel. Most of these TRPC6 mutations cause a gain-of
      function phenotype, leading to calcium-triggered podocyte cell death, but the
      underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. We studied the molecular effect of
      disease-related mutations using tridimensional in silico modeling of tetrameric
      TRPC6. Our results indicated that G757 is localized in a domain forming a TRPC6
      TRPC6 interface and predicted that the amino acid exchange G757D causes local
      steric hindrance and disruption of the channel complex. Notably, functional
      characterization of model interface domain mutants suggested a loss-of-function
      phenotype. We then characterized 19 human FSGS-related TRPC6 mutations, the
      majority of which caused gain-of-function mutations. However, five mutations
      (N125S, L395A, G757D, L780P, and R895L) caused a loss-of-function phenotype.
      Coexpression of wild-type TRPC6 and TRPC6 G757D, mimicking heterozygosity
      observed in patients, revealed a dominant negative effect of TRPC6 G757D. Our
      comprehensive analysis of human disease-causing TRPC6 mutations reveals loss of
      TRPC6 function as an additional concept of hereditary FSGS and provides molecular
      insights into the mechanism responsible for the loss-of-function phenotype of
      TRPC6 G757D in humans.

PMID- 26892348
TI  - Longitudinal study of caries progression in 2- and 3-year-old German children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This 2-year longitudinal study in 2- and 3-year-old kindergarten
      children investigated lesion progression on different surfaces of primary teeth.
      METHODS: The study was conducted between September 2008 and September 2010 on a
      sample of 400 children from the Kyffhauser district (Thuringia, Germany). A
      calibrated investigator recorded (non)cavitated caries lesions according to World
      Health Organization (WHO), International Caries Detection and Assessment System
      (ICDAS) and Universal Visual Scoring System (UniViSS) criteria. Nonparametric
      methods and linear regression using a mixed-effects model with an unbalanced
      design were used for data analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in
      the prevalence of noncavitated caries lesions during the 2-year period, with the
      highest chance for change on all surfaces compared to cavitated lesions. First
      visible sign lesions on occlusal surfaces had the highest chance for change
      (estimate 0.38), whereas established lesions revealed the highest chance for
      change on proximal (estimate 1.05) and smooth surfaces (estimate 0.62). Proximal
      lesions exhibited the greatest chance for change irrespective of severity level.
      CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that each type of carious lesion had different
      changing rates. Greater lesion severity correlated with greater chances to change
      and receive treatment. This information is crucial for dental practitioners in
      decision-making processes.

PMID- 26892349
TI  - Intra- and interspecies gene expression models for predicting drug response in
      canine osteosarcoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Genomics-based predictors of drug response have the potential to
      improve outcomes associated with cancer therapy. Osteosarcoma (OS), the most
      common primary bone cancer in dogs, is commonly treated with adjuvant doxorubicin
      or carboplatin following amputation of the affected limb. We evaluated the use of
      gene-expression based models built in an intra- or interspecies manner to predict
      chemosensitivity and treatment outcome in canine OS. Models were built and
      evaluated using microarray gene expression and drug sensitivity data from human
      and canine cancer cell lines, and canine OS tumor datasets. The "COXEN" method
      was utilized to filter gene signatures between human and dog datasets based on
      strong co-expression patterns. Models were built using linear discriminant
      analysis via the misclassification penalized posterior algorithm. RESULTS: The
      best doxorubicin model involved genes identified in human lines that were co
      expressed and trained on canine OS tumor data, which accurately predicted
      clinical outcome in 73 % of dogs (p = 0.0262, binomial). The best carboplatin
      model utilized canine lines for gene identification and model training, with
      canine OS tumor data for co-expression. Dogs whose treatment matched our
      predictions had significantly better clinical outcomes than those that didn't (p
      = 0.0006, Log Rank), and this predictor significantly associated with longer
      disease free intervals in a Cox multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 0.3102, p =
      0.0124). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that intra- and interspecies gene expression
      models can successfully predict response in canine OS, which may improve outcome
      in dogs and serve as pre-clinical validation for similar methods in human cancer
      research.

PMID- 26892350
TI  - Tripartite motif 16 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration and
      invasion.
AB  - Tripartite motif 16 (TRIM16), a member of the RING B-box coiled-coil
      (RBCC)/tripartite totif (TRIM) protein family, has been demonstrated to have
      significant effects on tumor migration by previous studies, but its specific
      contribution to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently unknown. The aim of
      this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TRIM16 and investigate its
      functional roles in HCC. The expression of TRIM16 in HCC patient samples were
      examined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. HCC cell lines with either TRIM16
      overexpression or knockdown were established. The effect of TRIM16 on HCC cell
      migration and invasion was investigated using these cells. Compared with paired
      normal liver tissues in clinical cancer samples, we found that the expression of
      TRIM16 was significantly downregulated in HCC lesions. We also found knockdown of
      TRIM16 promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a manner associated
      with HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, TRIM16 inhibited ZEB2
      expression, which in turn inhibited transcription of the pivotal ZEB2 target gene
      E-cadherin. RNA interference-mediated silencing of ZEB2 attenuated shTRIM16
      enhanced cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, our findings define TRIM16
      as an inhibitor of EMT and metastasis in HCC that predicts poor clinical
      outcomes.

PMID- 26892351
TI  - Influence of supragingival biofilm control and smoking habit on Interleukin-1beta
      concentration.
AB  - This investigation compared gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) interleukin-1beta (IL
      1beta) concentrations in periodontitis patients subjected to a strict
      supragingival biofilm control (Supra) for 6 months. Never-smokers (23) and
      smokers (n = 20; 19.6 +/- 11.8 cigarettes/day) moderate-to-severe chronic
      periodontitis patients underwent a 6 months period of supragingival control with
      weekly recall visits. Periodontal probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP)
      and GCF samples (from different PPD category sites: 3-5 mm and 6-10 mm) were
      obtained at the baseline, 30, and 180 days. IL-1beta was assessed by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay. Generalized estimating equations were used to fit
      prediction models of IL-1beta changes, considering the dependence between the
      examinations, and using only data from experimental sites. Overall IL-1beta
      concentrations decreased from 3.2 pg/uL to 1.9 pg/uL. Higher baseline IL-1beta
      concentrations were associated with higher baseline PPD values in both groups.
      There were no differences in IL-1beta concentrations between never-smokers and
      smokers over time for any PPD category. Higher baseline PPD values and the
      presence of BOP on day 180 were significantly associated with higher IL-1beta
      concentrations. A strict Supra regimen reduced IL-1beta concentrations over time
      in periodontitis patients. The benefits observed for smokers underline the
      importance of oral hygiene measures, even considering the presence of this
      important risk factor. 

PMID- 26892352
TI  - Fluoride stability in dentifrices stored in schools in a town of northern Brazil.
AB  - The aim of this study was to analyze fluoride stability in dentifrices stored
      during nine months in schools from Careiro da Varzea, State of Amazonas, Brazil.
      Analysis of total fluoride concentration, total soluble fluoride, and ionic
      fluoride in the dentifrice samples was performed in four different time periods:
      at the time of purchase (baseline); after three months, after six months, and
      after nine months of storage. Fluoride concentration was determined using a
      specific electrode (Orion 96-09) connected to an ion analyzer (Orion A-720) and
      calibrated with fluoride standard solutions containing 2.0 to 32.0 ppm F. The
      results obtained during the measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance
      (one-way ANOVA), followed by Tukey's test for comparison of the means. After nine
      months of storage, total soluble fluoride, the active form of fluoride, decreased
      by 21.9%. As total soluble fluoride was below the minimum required for anticaries
      efficacy (1,000 ppm F) in the fourth analysis, it may be concluded that
      anticaries potential decreased with storage time. 

PMID- 26892353
TI  - Digital panoramic radiography for diagnosis of the temporomandibular joint: CBCT
      as the gold standard.
AB  - Three-dimensional imaging modalities have been reported to be more accurate than
      panoramic radiographs (PR) for the assessment of bone components of the
      temporomandibular joint (TMJ). No exact prior information is available that
      demonstrates which specific limitations occur in terms of TMJ diagnosis when
      using PR for this purpose. This study aimed to assess the clinical validity of
      digital panoramic radiography (DPR) when diagnosing morphological disorders of
      the TMJ using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images as the gold standard. A
      sample composed of TMJ images (N = 848), including 212 DPR and 212 CBCT images
      obtained from the same patient, was used to assess any morphological changes in
      the TMJ. Four appraisers diagnosed all of the DPR images, whereas the CBCT images
      were used to establish the gold standard. The reliability of each appraiser's
      response pattern was analyzed using the Kappa test (kappa), and diagnostic tests
      were performed to assess each appraiser's performance using a significance level
      setting of 5% (alpha = 0.05). Reliability of each appraiser's response pattern
      compared to the gold standard ranged from a slight-to-moderate agreement (0.18 <=
      kappa <= 0.45); and among the different appraisers, the response pattern showed a
      fair agreement (0.22 <= kappa <= 0.39). Diagnostic tests showed a wide range
      among the different possible morphological changes diagnosed. DPR does not have
      validity when diagnosing morphological changes in the TMJ; it underestimates the
      radiological findings with higher prevalence, and thus, it cannot be used
      effectively as a diagnostic tool for bone components within this region. 

PMID- 26892354
TI  - Dental caries and social factors: impact on quality of life in Brazilian
      children.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of dental caries and
      social determinants in the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of
      children in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. This is a population-based cross-sectional
      study with a representative sample of 1,204 children aged 8 to 10 years randomly
      selected from 19 public and private schools. The children were clinically
      examined at school by two trained and calibrated examiners (Kappa = 0.78 - 1.00).
      The Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMF-T and dmf-t) was used for the
      diagnosis of dental caries. The social factors were determined by
      parents'/caregivers' schooling, household income, number of people in the
      household, type of school, and by the Social Vulnerability Index. The Brazilian
      version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for ages 8 to 10 years was used to
      assess the impact on quality of life. A total of 278 (23.1%) out of 1,204
      children had at least one cavitated carious lesion and 47.0% presented a negative
      impact on OHRQoL. In the final multivariate Poisson's regression model, household
      income and presence of untreated dental caries were statistically associated with
      a negative impact on OHRQoL (p < 0.001).Children with dental caries and from low
      income families had a higher negative impact on OHRQoL. 

PMID- 26892355
TI  - Influence of polymeric matrix on the physical and chemical properties of
      experimental composites.
AB  - Nowadays, the main reasons for replacement of resin-based composite restorations
      are fracture or problems with the integrity of their interface, such as marginal
      staining, microleakage, or secondary caries. The aim of the present study was to
      evaluate the influence of the organic matrix on polymerization stress (PS),
      degree of conversion (DC), elastic modulus (E), flexural strength (FS), Knoop
      hardness (KHN), sorption (SP), and solubility (SL). In order to obtain a material
      which combines better mechanical properties with lower PS, seven experimental
      composites were prepared using BisGMA to TEGDMA molar ratios of 2:8, 3:7, 4:6,
      5:5, 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2 and 40% of silica. PS was obtained in a universal testing
      machine, using acrylic as bonding substrate. DC was determined using Fourier
      Transform Raman spectroscopy. E and FS were obtained by the three-point bending
      test. KHN was measured by a microindentation test using a load of 25 g for 30 s.
      SP and SL were assessed according to ISO 4049. The data were submitted to one-way
      ANOVA. The increase in BisGMA concentration resulted in the decrease of PS, DC,
      E, FS and KHN. However, it did not change the SP and SL values. FS, E and KHN
      showed a strong and direct relationship with the DC of the materials. The
      composite material with a BisGMA to TEGDMA molar ratio of 1:1 was the one with
      better mechanical properties and lower PS. 

PMID- 26892356
TI  - How erosive drinks and enzyme inhibitors impact bond strength to dentin.
AB  - Concern has been raised about the bonding of restorative procedures to an erosive
      lesion, given the change in organic and inorganic composition and structure of
      this substrate. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of erosive drinks and an
      enzyme inhibitor (2% chlorhexidine digluconate - 2% CHX) on bond strength to
      dentin. Sixty sound human third molars were selected, and the occlusal enamel was
      flattened, exposing the dentin surface. The specimens were randomly divided into
      three groups: AS-Artificial saliva (control group), RC- Regular Cola and ZC- Zero
      Cola. Twenty specimens were immersed in their respective solution for 1 minute, 3
      times a day, over the course of 5 days. After acid etching and before bonding
      with Adper Single Bond 2, half of the samples of each group (n = 10) were treated
      with 2% CHX, whereas the other half (n = 10) were not, forming the control group
      (CONV). All the specimens were restored with Filtek Z250 composite resin filled
      in Tygon tubes (0.48 mm2), yielding six microcylinders for microshear bond
      strength testing. Three composite resin microcylinders of each specimen were
      tested after 1 month, and the remaining microcylinders were tested after 6
      months. Failure modes were determined using a stereomicroscope (40x). The data
      were statistically analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (alpha = 0.05).
      Overall bonding was reduced after 6 months, regardless of treatment. The 2% CHX
      enhanced bond strength after 1 month only in the ZC group, and did not enhance
      bonding performance to demineralized dentin by erosive protocol after 6 months in
      any group. 

PMID- 26892357
TI  - Quantitative ultrasound at the hand phalanges in patients with bisphosphonate
      related osteonecrosis of the jaws.
AB  - Patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) who
      received intravenous or oral bisphosphonates (BP) were selected for determination
      of their bone microarchitecture as a risk predictor of BRONJ development. The
      diagnosis of BRONJ was made based on clinical and radiographic findings. The
      control group consisted of healthy patients. All patients underwent quantitative
      and qualitative ultrasound measurements of bone at the hand phalanges carried out
      using the DBM Sonic BP. Ultrasound bone profile index (UBPI), amplitude-dependent
      speed of sound (AD-SoS), bone biophysics profile (BBP), and bone transmission
      time (BTT) were measured. The BRONJ group consisted of 17 patients (62 +/- 4.24;
      range: 45-82); 10 (58.8%) were male and seven (41.1%) were female, of whom 11
      (64.7%) suffered from multiple myeloma, three (17.6%) from osteoporosis, one
      (5.8%) from prostate cancer, one (5.8%) from kidney cancer, and one (5.8%) from
      leukemia. Fourteen (82.3%) of them received intravenous BP whereas three (17.6%)
      received oral BP. Nine (9/17; 52.9%) patients developed bone exposure: two in the
      maxilla and seven in the mandible. Regarding quantitative parameters, Ad-SoS was
      low in the BRONJ group, but not significant. The UBPI score was significantly
      reduced in BRONJ patients with exposed bone when compared to controls (0.47 +/-
      0.12 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.15; p = 0.004). The present study demonstrated that
      quantitative ultrasound was able to show bone microarchitecture alterations in
      BRONJ patients, and suggests that these analyses may be an important tool for
      early detection of bone degeneration associated with BRONJ. 

PMID- 26892358
TI  - Antimicrobial efficacy of the EndoVac system plus PDT against intracanal Candida
      albicans: an ex vivo study.
AB  - This study evaluated the ex vivoantimicrobial efficacy of the EndoVac system and
      the photodynamic therapy (PDT) associated with chemomechanical debridement (CMD)
      and intracanal medication on Candida albicans. Seventy-eight sterile premolars
      were contaminated withC. albicans (ATCC 21433) for 30 days. The teeth were
      randomly assigned into four groups: Control (CMD with conventional irrigation);
      Endovac (CMD with EndoVac system); PDT (CMD with conventional irrigation and
      PDT); and Endovac + PDT (CMD with EndoVac and PDT). After the therapies,
      intracanal dressing (calcium hydroxide) was applied to all teeth for seven days.
      Samples were obtained before (T1) and after the therapeutic procedures (T2), and
      after intracanal medication (T3), plated onto BHI agar and incubated (37 degrees
      C, 48 h) to determine the colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The overall mean level
      ofC. albicans at baseline was relatively high (1.85 x 106 +/- 2.7 x 106 CFU mL
      1). A significant reduction of C. albicans(p < 0.05) was observed over time (T1
      to T2 and T1 to T3) in all groups. An additional significant reduction from T2 to
      T3 was observed only in the Endovac group (p < 0.05). No differences in mean
      reduction of C. albicans were observed among groups. However, the Endovac group
      presented the lowest mean counts of C. albicans at T3, whereas the PDT group had
      the highest counts of this microorganism (p < 0.05). The EndoVac system of
      irrigation/aspiration associated with CMD was the most effective therapeutic
      protocol for reducing intracanal levels of C. albicans. PDT showed a very limited
      efficacy against this species. 

PMID- 26892359
TI  - Oral midazolam reduces cortisol levels during local anaesthesia in children: a
      randomised controlled trial.
AB  - Little is known about whether midazolam sedation can reduce salivary cortisol
      levels and consequently influence children's behaviour during dental treatment.
      The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of midazolam sedation on
      salivary cortisol and its correlation with children's behaviour during
      restorative dental treatment. Eighteen healthy children, aged two to five years,
      were randomly assigned to two dental treatment appointments, both with physical
      restraint: oral midazolam 1 mg/kg (MS) and placebo (PS). An observer assessed the
      children's behaviour (videos) using the Ohio State University Behavioral Rating
      Scale (OSUBRS). The children's saliva was collected just after waking up, on
      arrival at the dental school, 25 minutes after local anaesthesia, and 25 minutes
      after the end of the procedure. Salivary cortisol levels were determined using
      the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. The data were analysed by bivariate
      tests and multivariate analysis of variance (5% level). Salivary cortisol levels
      were lower in the MS group than in the PS group at the time of anaesthesia (p =
      0.004), but did not vary during the appointment within sedation (p = 0.319) or
      placebo (p = 0.080) groups. Children's behaviour was negative most of the time
      and did not differ between MS and PS; however, the behaviour (OSUBRS) did not
      correlate with salivary cortisol levels. Oral midazolam is able to control
      salivary cortisol levels during dental treatment of pre-schoolers, which might
      not lead to better clinical behaviour. 

PMID- 26892360
TI  - Validation of micro-computed tomography for occlusal caries detection: an in
      vitro study.
AB  - Conventional methods of caries detection, including the gold standard of
      histological examination, have certain disadvantages that must be addressed prior
      to validating any other diagnostic technique-current or new. Here we evaluated
      the validity of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) as an alternative gold
      standard technique for caries detection. Sixty teeth with suspected occlusal
      caries were chosen from a pool of teeth extracted for orthodontic, periodontal,
      or surgical reasons. Identical reference points were marked on photographs taken
      for teeth and were used to evaluate each method. Dimensions of caries were
      assessed by two calibrated examiners using the ICDAS-II visual examination
      system, bitewing radiographs, and micro-CT. The teeth included in the study were
      selected randomly from solution before all measurements. For micro-CT, the device
      was set to 50 kV, 800 uA, pixel size 15 um (at 1024 * 1024 resolution), and 1
      degrees  rotation step. NRecon software (SkyScan) was used to obtain
      reconstructed images. For each diagnostic method, results were compared with
      histology results using the McNemar test. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC)
      analysis was also performed for each method (Z-test; p < 0.05). Besides showing a
      high correlation with histology results, micro-CT yielded the greatest values at
      the D3 threshold; moreover, accuracy and area under the ROC curve (AUC) values
      were greatest at the D1threshold. Our results indicate that micro-CT performs as
      well as or better than histological examination for the purpose of comparing
      methods for caries detection. 

PMID- 26892361
TI  - Caries-risk profiles in Italian adults using computer caries assessment system
      and ICDAS.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the correlation among socio-behavioral
      factors, caries status and caries risk, calculated through Cariogram, in an adult
      population. Four hundred eighty subjects (mean age 40.73, SE +/- 0.33) randomly
      selected from the municipal electoral registry consented to participate in the
      survey. Subjects were examined, and the International Caries Detection Assessment
      System (ICDAS) index was registered. A highly structured questionnaire was
      submitted to investigate (1) personal data (i.e., age, gender, educational level,
      job categorization), (2) life-style behavior (i.e., smoking and dietary habits),
      and (3) oral health behavior (i.e., tooth brushing, use of fluoride and dental
      check-up frequency). An evaluation of the mutans streptococci concentration in
      saliva was also performed. Information on caries-related factors was entered into
      the Cariogram in order to generate an individual caries risk profile for each
      subject. Multinomial logistic regression was performed using Cariogram levels as
      the dependent variable. The possible correlated variables were analyzed using the
      principal component analysis (PCA). Considering ICDAS scores, 5.62% of the sample
      had at least an initial decay (ICDAS = 1-2), whereas 40.83% of the sample
      presented at least one moderate decay (ICDAS = 3-4) and 17.08% a severe decay
      (ICDAS = 5-6). Decay at ICDAS levels 5-6 and more than 5 missing teeth were
      statistically associated with Cariogram scores (OR = 2.36, 95%CI = 1.83-3.03 and
      OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.13-1.82, respectively). The results suggest that the
      Cariogram model was able to identify caries-related factors in an adult
      population. A direct association among the risk categories from Cariogram, the
      caries status and some socio-behavioral variables was verified. 

PMID- 26892363
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26892364
TI  - Cuspal Deflection of Premolars Restored with Bulk-Fill Composite Resins.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study compared cuspal deflection of premolars restored
      with three bulk-fill composite resins to that of incrementally-restored ones with
      a low-shrinkage silorane-based restorative material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty
      freshly-extracted intact human upper premolars were used. Reference points at
      buccal and palatal cusp tips were acid-etched and composite rods were
      horizontally bonded to them (TPH-Spectra-HV, Dentsply). Two acrylic resin guiding
      paths were made for each premolar to guide beaks of a digital micrometer used for
      cuspal deflection measurements. Standardized MOD cavities, 3 mm wide bucco
      lingually and 3.5 mm deep, were prepared on each premolar. Prepared teeth were
      then equally divided into four groups (n = 10) and each group was assigned to one
      of four composite resin (QuiXX, Dentsply; X-tra fil, Voco; Tetric EvoCeram Bulk
      Fill, Ivoclar Vivadent; low-shrinkage Filtek LS, 3M/ESPE). Adper Single Bond
      Plus, 3M/ESPE was used with all bulk-fill restoratives. LS-System Adhesive,
      3M/ESPE was used with Filtek LS. For each prepared premolar, cuspal deflection
      was measured in microns as the difference between two readings between reference
      points before and after restoration completion. Means and SDs were calculated and
      data statistically-analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. RESULTS: Filtek
      LS showed the lowest mean cuspal deflection value 6.4(0.84)MUm followed by Tetric
      EvoCeram Bulk Fill 10.1(1.2) MUm and X-tra fil 12.4(1.35)MUm, while QuiXX showed
      the highest mean 13(1.05)MUm. ANOVA indicated significant difference among mean
      values of groups (p < 0.001). Tukey's test indicated no significant difference in
      mean values between QuiXX and X-tra fil (p = 0.637). CONCLUSIONS: Tetric EvoCeram
      Bulk Fill had significantly lower mean cuspal deflection compared with the two
      other bulk-fill composite resins tested. Filtek LS had the lowest significant
      mean cuspal deflection in comparison to all tested bulk-fill restoratives.
      CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of Tetric EvoCeram Bulk fill composite resin
      restorative for class II MOD cavities resulted in reduced cuspal deflection in
      comparison to the two other bulk-fill composite resins tested. The silorane-based
      Filtek LS restorative resulted in the least cuspal deflection in comparison to
      all tested bulk-fill composite restoratives.

PMID- 26892362
TI  - Progranulin inhibits expression and release of chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in a
      TNFR1 dependent manner.
AB  - Progranulin (PGRN), a pleiotrophic growth factor, is known to play an important
      role in the maintenance and regulation of the homeostatic dynamics of normal
      tissue development, proliferation, regeneration, and host-defense. PGRN also has
      potent anti-inflammatory functionality, and deregulated PGRN is associated with
      rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. We have previously reported
      that PGRN directly binds to TNFR and significantly enhances Treg population and
      stimulates IL-10 production. To further investigate PGRN's function in the immune
      system we performed a gene array analysis on CD4+ T cells from wild type B6 mice
      and PGRN -/- mice. We identified many chemokines and their receptors, among which
      CXCL9 and CXCL10 were most prominent, that were significantly induced in PGRN
      null mice. Administration of recombinant PGRN protein strongly inhibited TNF and
      IFN-gamma-induced CXCL9 and CXCL10 expression. In addition, CXCL9 expression is
      strongly upregulated in PGRN KO mice and its level is correlated with severity of
      inflammation in a dermatitis model. Further, we have demonstrated that PGRN
      mediated inhibition of chemokine expression largely depends on TNFR1. Taken
      together, this study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying PGRN
      mediated regulation of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 26892365
TI  - Extracorporeal photopheresis in solid organ transplant-associated acute graft
      versus-host disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) culls pathogenic T lymphocytes, be
      these the clones of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, or mediators of chronic graft
      versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT
      GVHD). Whether or not ECP may have an effect in the rarer instances of solid
      organ transplantation-associated GVHD (SOT-GVHD) is unclear. Mortality rates in
      SOT-GVHD rival those of transfusion-associated GVHD, with fatalities preceded by
      pancytopenia and peripheral blood chimerism (PBC) levels exceeding 20%. ECP has
      been described in two SOT-GVHD cases to date, with one surviving. STUDY DESIGN
      AND METHODS: Clinicolaboratory features (including HLA relationships) in a case
      of multivisceral transplantation were reviewed from the time of surgery to the
      onset and progression of SOT-GVHD. ECP, which was introduced as a less
      immunosuppressive and more selective intervention, was assessed for its effect on
      serial PBC (as measured by short-tandem-repeat analysis) and clinical outcome.
      RESULTS: Multivisceral SOT-GVHD manifested with erythroderma, neutropenic sepsis,
      and PBC increasing from 6% on Posttransplant Day (PTD) 38 to 78% by PTD 60 (at a
      doubling time of 6 days despite corticosteroids). ECP was administered on PTDs 62
      and 67 and was associated with the first evidence of PBC decay to 67% on PTD 69.
      Death nevertheless ensued on the last day of salvage antithymocyte globulin (PTDs
      69-73) despite further PBC reduction to 41%. CONCLUSION: Further study is needed
      to determine if the sooner or more frequent application of ECP might attenuate
      the high case fatality rates of SOT-GVHD.

PMID- 26892366
TI  - Synthesis of Highly Crystalline Multilayered Boron Niride Microflakes.
AB  - Boron niride microflakes of 2-5 MUm in diameter and greater than 40 MUm in length
      with multilayer structure and highly crystalline nature are synthesized in two
      states of catalysts and dual role of nitrogen at 1100  degrees C. Most of the
      microflakes are flat, smooth and vertically aligned with a wall-like view from
      the top. Transmission electron microscopy shows overlapped layers of microflakes
      with an interlayer spacing of 0.34 nm. The h-BN components of the synthesized
      microflakes are verified from B 1s and N1 s peaks at 190. 7 and 397.9 eV. Raman
      shift at 1370 (cm(-1)) and sharp peaks in the XRD pattern further confirm the h
      BN phase and crystalline nature of the synthesized microflakes. Microflakes of h
      BN with the above characteristics are highly desirable for the development of a
      solid state neutron detector with higher detection efficiency.

PMID- 26892367
TI  - Authors' reply: Comment on: Monitoring treatment practices of childhood asthma in
      singapore: a questionnaire study.

PMID- 26892370
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging findings in spinal hemangioblastoma case.

PMID- 26892369
TI  - Cellulose-Based Biosensors for Esterase Detection.
AB  - Cellulose has emerged as an attractive substrate for the production of
      economical, disposable, point-of-care (POC) analytical devices. Development of
      novel methods of (bio)activation is central to broadening the application space
      of cellulosic materials. Ironically, such efforts are stymied by the inherent
      biocompatibility and recalcitrance of cellulose fibers. Here, we have elaborated
      a versatile, chemo-enzymatic approach to activate cellulosic materials for CuAAC
      "click chemistry", to develop new fluorogenic esterase sensors. Gentle, aqueous
      modification conditions facilitate broad applicability to cellulose papers,
      gauzes, and hydrogels. Tethering of the released fluorophore to the cellulose
      surface prevents signal degradation due to diffusion and enables straightforward,
      sensitive visualization with a simple light source in resource-limited
      situations. 

PMID- 26892368
TI  - Expression partitioning of homeologs and tandem duplications contribute to salt
      tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).
AB  - Salt stress dramatically reduces crop yield and quality, but the molecular
      mechanisms underlying salt tolerance remain largely unknown. To explore the wheat
      transcriptional response to salt stress, we performed high-throughput
      transcriptome sequencing of 10-day old wheat roots under normal condition and 6,
      12, 24 and 48 h after salt stress (HASS) in both a salt-tolerant cultivar and
      salt-sensitive cultivar. The results demonstrated global gene expression
      reprogramming with 36,804 genes that were up- or down-regulated in wheat roots
      under at least one stress condition compared with the controls and revealed the
      specificity and complexity of the functional pathways between the two cultivars.
      Further analysis showed that substantial expression partitioning of homeologous
      wheat genes occurs when the plants are subjected to salt stress, accounting for
      approximately 63.9% (2,537) and 66.1% (2,624) of the homeologous genes in
      'Chinese Spring' (CS) and 'Qing Mai 6' (QM). Interestingly, 143 salt-responsive
      genes have been duplicated and tandemly arrayed on chromosomes during wheat
      evolution and polyploidization events, and the expression patterns of 122
      (122/143, 85.3%) tandem duplications diverged dynamically over the time-course of
      salinity exposure. In addition, constitutive expression or silencing of target
      genes in Arabidopsis and wheat further confirmed our high-confidence salt stress
      responsive candidates.

PMID- 26892371
TI  - Ischiofemoral impingement syndrome: another cause of extraspinal sciatica.

PMID- 26892373
TI  - Tuberculosis of the spine.

PMID- 26892372
TI  - Congenital cervicothoracic spondyloptosis in a 7-month-old patient.

PMID- 26892374
TI  - Gunshot wound causing anterior spinal cord infarction due to injury to the artery
      of Adamkiewicz.

PMID- 26892375
TI  - Postpartum sacral insufficiency fracture.

PMID- 26892376
TI  - Hyperresistinemia and metabolic dysregulation: a risky crosstalk in obese breast
      cancer.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. There is
      extensive literature on the relationship between body weight and breast cancer
      risk but some doubts still remain about the role of adipokines per se, the role
      of insulin and glucose regardless of obesity, as well as the crosstalk between
      these players. Thus, in this study, we intend to determine the relation between
      body mass index (BMI), glycaemia, insulinemia, insulin-resistance, blood
      adipokine levels and tumour characteristics in a Portuguese group of pre- and
      postmenopausal overweight/obese women with breast cancer. We evaluated clinical
      and biochemical data in 154 participants, divided in 4 groups: (1) control with
      BMI <25 kg/m(2), n = 29 (CT); (2) control with BMI >25 kg/m(2), n = 48 (CTOb);
      (3) breast cancer with BMI <25 kg/m(2), n = 30 (BC); and (4) breast cancer with
      BMI >25 kg/m(2), n = 47 (BCOb). In women with breast cancer, we also performed
      tumour characterization. We found that BCOb present increased fasting blood
      glucose, insulin, resistin and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, insulin
      resistance and more aggressive tumours. Notably, this profile is not correlated
      with BMI, proposing the involvement of other processes than adiposity.
      Altogether, our results suggest that glucose dysmetabolism, insulin resistance
      and changes in adipokine secretion, in particular resistin, may be involved in
      the development and progression of breast cancer in overweight/obese pre- and
      postmenopausal women. 

PMID- 26892378
TI  - Parotid gland lesions: separate and combined diagnostic value of conventional
      MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of conventional MRI, diffusion-weighted
      imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to differentiate malignant
      and benign parotid lesions. METHODS: A retrospective review of MRI findings was
      performed in patients with pathologically confirmed parotid lesions between
      January 2010 and December 2014. Morphological MRI characteristics and functional
      characteristics such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and pattern of time
      signal intensity curve (TIC) were recorded and compared. For each lesion, summed
      scores were respectively calculated for conventional MRI alone, conventional MRI
      with DWI and/or with DCE-MRI. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the
      association of these characteristics and summed scores with malignancy. RESULTS:
      A total of 207 patients (111 males and 96 females; age: 48.4 +/- 17.0 years) were
      included, consisting of 156 benign and 51 malignant tumours. After adjusting for
      age, sex, smoking status, alcohol use and tumour size, the lesions with ill
      defined margin, adjacent tissue infiltration, cervical lymphadenopathy, ADC
      <=1.01 * 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) and plateau TIC pattern are more likely to be
      malignant than those without these findings. Significant difference in receiver
      operator characteristic was detected after adding DWI to conventional MRI (p =
      0.003), generating a sensitivity and specificity of 54.05% and 91.30%,
      respectively. Compared with lesions score <3, lesions with score >=5 in the
      combination of conventional MRI and DWI were approximately 90 times more likely
      to be malignant parotid tumour. Additional DCE-MRI did not improve differential
      ability of conventional MRI. CONCLUSION: Morphological and functional MRI
      characteristics are associated with malignancy in parotid gland. The diagnostic
      value of MRI would increase when DWI is applied in combination with conventional
      MRI. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The parotid lesions with ill-defined margin, adjacent
      tissue infiltration, cervical lymphadenopathy, ADC <=1.01 * 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1)
      and plateau TIC pattern are more likely to be malignant. The diagnostic value of
      conventional MRI would be increased when DWI is applied in combination, whereas
      additional DCE-MRI did not improve differential ability of conventional MRI.

PMID- 26892377
TI  - From disease to treatment: from rare skeletal disorders to treatments for
      osteoporosis.
AB  - During the past 15 years there has been an expansion of our knowledge of the
      cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating bone remodeling that identified new
      signaling pathways fundamental for bone renewal as well as previously unknown
      interactions between bone cells. Central for these developments have been studies
      of rare bone disorders. These findings, in turn, have led to new treatment
      paradigms for osteoporosis some of which are at late stages of clinical
      development. In this article, we review three rare skeletal disorders with case
      descriptions, pycnodysostosis and the craniotubular hyperostoses sclerosteosis
      and van Buchem disease that led to the development of cathepsin K and sclerostin
      inhibitors, respectively, for the treatment of osteoporosis. 

PMID- 26892381
TI  - Dermoscopy of Grover's disease: Variability according to histological subtype.
AB  - Distinguishing Grover's disease from other papular dermatoses is often a
      troublesome task. According to two relatively recent case reports, dermoscopy may
      be useful in assisting the diagnosis of such a disorder by showing a peculiar
      pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dermoscopic features of
      Grover's disease in a larger series of patients and correlate dermoscopy with
      histopathological findings. Seven patients with histopathologically confirmed
      Grover's disease were included in the study, with three of them displaying a
      Darier-like histology and the remaining four cases having a spongiotic
      histological pattern. The results of our study suggest that Grover's disease may
      display different features according to the histological subtype, with a central
      star-shaped/branched polygonal/roundish-oval brownish area surrounded by a
      whitish halo being characteristic of the Darier-like histological subtype and
      whitish scales over a reddish-yellowish background being characteristic of the
      spongiotic histological subtype. 

PMID- 26892379
TI  - Nicotinic effects of tobacco smoke constituents in nonhuman primates.
AB  - RATIONALE: Recent studies in rodents suggest that non-nicotine constituents of
      tobacco smoke (e.g., minor tobacco alkaloids) may promote tobacco consumption
      either through their own pharmacological effects or by augmenting the effects of
      nicotine. However, there is scant information on the behavioral pharmacology of
      minor tobacco alkaloids in primate species. OBJECTIVE: The present studies were
      conducted to determine whether the minor tobacco alkaloids nornicotine,
      anabasine, anatabine, myosmine, and cotinine exhibit nicotine-like behavioral
      effects in squirrel monkeys. METHODS: Initial experiments were conducted to
      determine the effects of nicotine (0.032-1.0 mg/kg) and the minor tobacco
      alkaloids nornicotine (1-1.8 mg/kg), anabasine (0.1-1.0 mg/kg), anatabine (10-32
      mg/kg), myosmine (0.32-1.8 mg/kg), and cotinine (10-180 mg/kg) on food-maintained
      performance (n = 4). Next, the ability of tobacco alkaloids to substitute for the
      alpha4beta2-selective nicotinic agonist (+)-epibatidine in drug discrimination
      experiments was evaluated in a separate group of monkeys (n = 4). RESULTS:
      Results show that nicotine and each minor tobacco alkaloid except cotinine (a)
      produced dose-related decreases in food-maintained responding; (b) substituted
      for (+)-epibatidine and, in additional experiments, produced additive effects
      when combined with nicotine; (c) induced emesis or tremor at doses that reduced
      food-maintained responding and had (+)-epibatidine-like discriminative-stimulus
      effects; and (d) based on correlation with reported receptor binding affinities,
      likely produced their behavioral effects through alpha4beta2 receptor mechanisms.
      CONCLUSION: Selected minor tobacco alkaloids have nicotinic-like effects that may
      contribute to tobacco consumption and addiction.

PMID- 26892383
TI  - Multiple contrast type tests for the evaluation of animal carcinogenicity
      studies.
AB  - The Cochran-Armitage (CA) test is frequently used for testing the dose-response
      relationship in tumor incidence. This test is based on a weighted linear
      regression of proportions. It is well known that the CA test lacks power for
      nonlinear tumor outcomes. For general shape of outcomes, Hothorn and Bretz (2000)
      proposed a multiple contrast (MC) test. This test suggests the use of the maximum
      over several single contrasts, where each of them is chosen appropriately to
      cover a specific dose-response shape. In this work, two new test procedures are
      proposed and they are compared to the CA and MC tests using power.

PMID- 26892380
TI  - Increased presynaptic regulation of dopamine neurotransmission in the nucleus
      accumbens core following chronic ethanol self-administration in female macaques.
AB  - RATIONALE: Hypofunction of striatal dopamine neurotransmission, or
      hypodopaminergia, is a consequence of excessive ethanol use and is hypothesized
      to be a critical component of alcoholism, driving alcohol intake in an attempt to
      restore dopamine levels; however, the neurochemical mechanisms involved in these
      dopaminergic deficiencies are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: Here we examined
      the specific dopaminergic adaptations that produce hypodopaminergia and
      contribute to alcohol use disorders using direct, sub-second measurements of
      dopamine signaling in nonhuman primates following chronic ethanol self
      administration. METHODS: Female rhesus macaques completed 1 year of daily (22
      h/day) ethanol self-administration. Subsequently, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry
      was used in nucleus accumbens core brain slices to determine alterations in
      dopamine terminal function, including release and uptake kinetics, and
      sensitivity to quinpirole (D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist) and U50,488 (kappa
      opioid receptor agonist) induced inhibition of dopamine release. RESULTS: Ethanol
      drinking greatly increased uptake rates, which were positively correlated with
      lifetime ethanol intake. Furthermore, the sensitivity of dopamine D2/D3
      autoreceptors and kappa opioid receptors, which both act as negative regulators
      of presynaptic dopamine release, was moderately and robustly enhanced in ethanol
      drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: Greater uptake rates and sensitivity to D2-type
      autoreceptor and kappa opioid receptor agonists could converge to drive a
      hypodopaminergic state, characterized by reduced basal dopamine and an inability
      to mount appropriate dopaminergic responses to salient stimuli. Together, we
      outline the specific alterations to dopamine signaling that may drive ethanol
      induced hypofunction of the dopamine system and suggest that the dopamine and
      dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor systems may be efficacious pharmacotherapeutic
      targets in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

PMID- 26892382
TI  - Circulation of HIV-1 Multiple Complexity Recombinant Forms Among Female Sex
      Workers Recently Infected with HIV-1 in Thailand.
AB  - The circulating subtype distribution of HIV-1 has not been well characterized in
      female sex worker (FSW) populations in Thailand. To understand the mechanisms and
      interrelationships of epidemics involving FSWs in Thailand, we performed a large
      molecular epidemiological study of FSWs aged 25 years with recently acquired HIV
      1 infections. The samples were collected in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 in 38
      provinces, representing every region of Thailand. After gag (p24), pol (pro-RT),
      and env (C2/V3) were sequenced, comprehensive genome analysis was performed.
      Genetic subtypes were determined in 159 plasma samples. The percentage of
      circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) CRF01_AE (90.6%) predominated, while subtype
      B (1.3%), other CRFs (1.9%), and unique recombinant forms (URFs) (6.2%) were
      identified as minor populations. Interestingly, the unique recombinant nature of
      these HIV-1 strains was verified in 10 specimens, indicating the presence of new
      forms of HIV-1 intersubtypes G/A, C/B, AE/B/C, and AE/B with different
      recombination breakpoints. Subtype B has contributed to these new generations of
      unique CRF01/B recombinants, especially in the pol (RT) gene, in which the
      template switching of the RT genomes occurred during reverse transcription. These
      results imply that the several unique recombinant viruses circulating in Thailand
      were probably generated in the population or introduced from neighboring
      countries. Our study helps clarify the patterns of viral transmission and define
      transmission pathways in Thailand.

PMID- 26892384
TI  - Passive trapping of rigid rods due to conformation-dependent electrophoretic
      mobility.
AB  - We present computer simulations of a rigid rod in a combination of an extensional
      fluid flow and extensional electric field. The electrophoretic mobility of the
      rod is different parallel or perpendicular to the rod. The dependence of the
      mobility on the conformation (orientation) leads to a new phenomenon where the
      rods can be passively trapped in all directions at the stagnation point. This
      contrasts with the behavior in either fluid flow or electric field alone, in
      which an object can be pushed towards the stagnation point along some directions
      but is pushed away in others. We have determined the state space where trapping
      occurs and have developed a model that describes the strength of trapping when it
      does occur. This new phenomenon could be used in the future to separate objects
      based on a coupling between their mobility and ability to be oriented. 

PMID- 26892385
TI  - Structural and electronic features of binary Li2S-P2S5 glasses.
AB  - The atomic and electronic structures of binary Li2S-P2S5 glasses used as solid
      electrolytes are modeled by a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and
      reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulation using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron
      diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy data. The ratio of PSx polyhedral anions
      based on the Raman spectroscopic results is reflected in the glassy structures of
      the 67Li2S-33P2S5, 70Li2S-30P2S5, and 75Li2S-25P2S5 glasses, and the plausible
      structures represent the lithium ion distributions around them. It is found that
      the edge sharing between PSx and LiSy polyhedra increases at a high Li2S content,
      and the free volume around PSx polyhedra decreases. It is conjectured that Li(+)
      ions around the face of PSx polyhedra are clearly affected by the polarization of
      anions. The electronic structure of the DFT/RMC model suggests that the electron
      transfer between the P ion and the bridging sulfur (BS) ion weakens the positive
      charge of the P ion in the P2S7 anions. The P2S7 anions of the weak electrostatic
      repulsion would causes it to more strongly attract Li(+) ions than the PS4 and
      P2S6 anions, and suppress the lithium ionic conduction. Thus, the control of the
      edge sharing between PSx and LiSy polyhedra without the electron transfer between
      the P ion and the BS ion is expected to facilitate lithium ionic conduction in
      the above solid electrolytes.

PMID- 26892386
TI  - A multi-parametric assessment of decontamination protocols for the subglacial
      Lake Ellsworth probe.
AB  - Direct measurement and sampling of pristine environments, such as subglacial
      lakes, without introducing contaminating microorganisms and biomolecules from the
      surface, represents a significant engineering and microbiological challenge. In
      this study, we compare methods for decontamination of titanium grade 5 surfaces,
      the material extensively used to construct a custom-made probe for reaching,
      measuring and sampling subglacial Lake Ellsworth in West Antarctica. Coupons of
      titanium were artificially contaminated with Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria and
      then exposed to a number of decontamination procedures. The most effective
      sterilants were (i) hydrogen peroxide vapour, and (ii) BiocleanseTM, a
      commercially available, detergent-based biocidal solution. After each
      decontamination procedure the bacteria were incapable of proliferation, and
      showed no evidence of metabolic activity based on the generation of adenosine
      triphosphate (ATP). The use of ultraviolet irradiation or ethyl alcohol solution
      was comparatively ineffective for sterilisation. Hydrogen peroxide vapour and
      ultraviolet irradiation, which directly damage nucleic acids, were the most
      effective methods for removing detectable DNA, which was measured using 16S rRNA
      gene copy number and fluorescence-based total DNA quantification. Our results
      have not only been used to tailor the Ellsworth probe decontamination process,
      but also hold value for subsequent engineering projects, where high standards of
      decontamination are required. 

PMID- 26892388
TI  - Role of skeletal muscle in motor neuron development.
AB  - The current paper is a continuation of our work most recently described in
      Kablar, 2011. Here, we show lists of up- and down-regulated genes obtained by a
      cDNA microarray analysis that compared developing mouse MyoD-/- limb musculature
      (MyoD-dependent, innervated by Lateral Motor Column motor neurons) and Myf5-/-
      back (epaxial) musculature (Myf5-dependent, innervated by Medial Motor Column
      motor neurons) to the control and to each other, at embryonic day 13.5 which
      coincides with the robust programmed cell death of motor neurons and the
      inability of myogenesis to undergo its normal progression in the absence of Myf5
      and MyoD that at this embryonic day cannot substitute for each other. We wanted
      to see if/how the myogenic program couples with the neurotrophic one, and also to
      separate Lateral from Medial column trophic requirements, potentially relevant to
      Motor Neuron Diseases with the predilection for the Lateral column. Several
      follow-up steps revealed that Kif5c, Stxbp1 and Polb, differentially expressed in
      the MyoD-/- limb muscle, and Ppargc1a, Glrb and Hoxd10, differentially expressed
      in the Myf5-/- back muscle, are actually regulators of motor neuron numbers. We
      propose a series of follow-up experiments and various ways to consider our
      current data. 

PMID- 26892387
TI  - Acute ecotoxicology of natural oil and gas condensate to coral reef larvae.
AB  - Risks posed by oil spills to coral reefs are difficult to evaluate, partially due
      to the absence of studies that adequately assess toxicity to relevant coral reef
      species. Here we experimentally tested the acute toxicity of condensate,
      representing a fraction of light crude oil, to coral (Acropora tenuis) and sponge
      (Rhopaloeides odorabile) larvae. The metamorphosis of coral larvae was inhibited
      at total petroleum aromatic hydrocarbon (TPAH) concentrations of water
      accommodated fractions (WAF) as low as 103 MUg l(-1), similar to concentrations
      detected in seawater following large spills. The sensitivity of coral larvae
      increased by 40% when co-exposed to UV light that they might encounter in shallow
      reefal systems. Condensate WAF was more toxic to coral larvae than predicted by
      summing the toxicity of its main components (benzene, toluene, p-xylene and
      napthalene). In contrast, the sensitivity of sponge larvae to condensate WAF
      (>10,000 MUg l(-1) TPAH) was far less than coral in the presence and absence of
      UV, but similar to that of other marine invertebrates. While these results
      highlight the relative sensitivity of coral larvae to oil, further research is
      needed to better understand and predict the impacts and risks posed by
      hydrocarbons to tropical reef systems.

PMID- 26892389
TI  - Lung-gut cross-talk: evidence, mechanisms and implications for the mucosal
      inflammatory diseases.
AB  - The mucosal immune system (including airway, intestinal, oral and cervical
      epithelium) is an integrated network of tissues, cells and effector molecules
      that protect the host from environmental insults and infections at mucous
      membrane surfaces. Dysregulation of immunity at mucosal surfaces is thought to be
      responsible for the alarming global increase in mucosal inflammatory diseases
      such as those affecting the gastrointestinal (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
      and irritable bowel syndrome) and respiratory (asthma, allergy and chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disorder) system. Although immune regulation has been well
      studied in isolated mucosal sites, the extent of the immune interaction between
      anatomically distant mucosal sites has been mostly circumstantial and the focus
      of much debate. With novel technology and more precise tools to examine
      histological and functional changes in tissues, today there is increased
      appreciation of the 'common mucosal immunological system' originally proposed by
      Bienenstock nearly 40 years ago. Evidence is amounting which shows that
      stimulation of one mucosal compartment can directly and significantly impact
      distant mucosal site, however the mechanisms are unknown. Today, we are only
      beginning to understand the complexity of relationships and communications that
      exist between different mucosal compartments. A holistic approach to studying the
      mucosal immune system as an integrated global organ is imperative for future
      advances in understanding mucosal immunology and for future treatment of chronic
      diseases. In this review, we particularly focus on the latest evidence and the
      mechanisms operational in driving the lung-gut cross-talk. 

PMID- 26892390
TI  - Living through a volcanic eruption: Understanding the experience of survivors as
      a phenomenological existential phenomenon.
AB  - Mount Merapi in Indonesia is the most active volcano in the world with its 4-6
      year eruption cycle. The mountain and surrounding areas are populated by hundreds
      of thousands of people who live near the volcano despite the danger posed to
      their wellbeing. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of
      people who survived the most recent eruption of Mount Merapi, which took place in
      2010. Investigators conducted interviews with 20 participants to generate textual
      data that were coded and themed. Three themes linked to the phenomenological
      existential experience (temporality and relationality) of living through a
      volcanic eruption emerged from the data. These themes were: connectivity,
      disconnection and reconnection. Results indicate that the close relationship
      individuals have with Mount Merapi and others in their neighbourhood outweighs
      the risk of living in the shadow of an active volcano. This is the first study to
      analyze the phenomenological existential elements of living through a volcanic
      eruption. 

PMID- 26892391
TI  - The photocatalytic properties of ultrathin bismuth oxychloride nanosheets: a
      first principles study.
AB  - Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet structures have obvious advantages with respect to
      their bulk counterparts in photocatalytic reaction due to their extraordinary
      electronic and optical properties. So do the 2D BiOCl nanosheets with significant
      improvement of photocatalytic activity in the degradation of dyes shown by recent
      studies. In the present work, the surface energies, electronic structure and
      photocatalytic properties of ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets are examined by means of
      density functional theory to investigate the origin of their high photocatalytic
      performance. The results show that the Cl atom terminated BiOCl(001) surface
      possesses lower surface energy than others and is very likely to be introduced in
      the ultrathin nanosheet. Moreover, our proposed model accounts well for the
      origin of band edge upshift of the ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets with respect to
      BiOCl nanoplates observed in experiments. In addition, the presence of Bi
      vacancies on the surfaces of nanosheets can enhance the built-in electric field
      and further promote the separation of photo-generated carriers, which is
      extremely advantageous for the photocatalytic process. Our results provide a new
      insight into the high photocatalytic performance of BiOCl(001) nanosheets. 

PMID- 26892393
TI  - Computed Tomography for Coronary Artery Calcification Scoring: Mammogram for the
      Heart.
AB  - Coronary artery calcium (CAC), identified via low-radiation, non-contrast
      computed tomography of the heart, quantifies the burden of calcified coronary
      atherosclerosis. This modality is highly useful for cardiovascular (CV) risk
      stratification among individuals without known coronary heart disease (CHD),
      especially for those at intermediate risk. The presence of CAC is associated with
      up to a 10-fold higher risk of adverse CV events, even after fully adjusting for
      the standard CV risk factors. In fact, the CAC score is among the strongest
      clinically available predictors of future risk of adverse CV events among primary
      prevention patients. Additionally, the absence of CAC in asymptomatic individuals
      confers a very low risk of CV events. Even in the presence of a benign CV risk
      factor profile and normal cardiac stress test, a very high CAC score portends a
      high risk of adverse CV events. On the other hand, a CAC score of zero is
      associated with a low CHD risk despite significant CV risk factor profiles. CAC
      scoring is a quick, low-cost screening tool to help risk-stratify patients and
      identify those likely to benefit from aggressive preventive treatments (such as
      high-intensity statin therapy, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and aspirin) and to
      identify those likely who warrant close monitoring. Moreover, individuals with a
      zero CAC score may be at low enough risk to avoid or defer daily aspirin therapy
      and pharmacological therapy for cholesterol management, and instead work on
      therapeutic lifestyle changes. An abnormal CAC score may also lead to better
      adherence to pharmacological regimens and suggested lifestyle changes. 

PMID- 26892392
TI  - Discovering gene re-ranking efficiency and conserved gene-gene relationships
      derived from gene co-expression network analysis on breast cancer data.
AB  - Systemic approaches are essential in the discovery of disease-specific genes,
      offering a different perspective and new tools on the analysis of several types
      of molecular relationships, such as gene co-expression or protein-protein
      interactions. However, due to lack of experimental information, this analysis is
      not fully applicable. The aim of this study is to reveal the multi-potent
      contribution of statistical network inference methods in highlighting significant
      genes and interactions. We have investigated the ability of statistical co
      expression networks to highlight and prioritize genes for breast cancer subtypes
      and stages in terms of: (i) classification efficiency, (ii) gene network pattern
      conservation, (iii) indication of involved molecular mechanisms and (iv) systems
      level momentum to drug repurposing pipelines. We have found that statistical
      network inference methods are advantageous in gene prioritization, are capable to
      contribute to meaningful network signature discovery, give insights regarding the
      disease-related mechanisms and boost drug discovery pipelines from a systems
      point of view. 

PMID- 26892394
TI  - MyoD Overexpressed Equine Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhanced Myogenic
      Differentiation Potential.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells could potentially be used in the clinical treatment of
      muscle disorders and muscle regeneration. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can
      be easily isolated from adipose tissue, as opposed to stem cells of other
      tissues. We believe that cell therapy using ADSCs could be applied to muscle
      disorders in horses and other species. We sought to improve the myogenic
      differentiation potential of equine ADSCs (eqADSCs) using a MyoD lentiviral
      vector. MyoD lentiviruses were transduced into eqADSCs and selected using
      puromycin. Cells were cultured in differentiation media containing 5% horse
      serum, and after 5 days the MyoD-transduced cells differentiated into myogenic
      cells (MyoD-eqADSCs). Using green fluorescent protein (GFP), MyoD-eqADSCs were
      purified and transplanted into the tibialis anterior muscles of mice after they
      were injured with the myotoxin notexin. The mice were sacrificed to examine any
      regeneration in the tibialis anterior muscle 4 weeks after the MyoD-eqADSCs were
      injected. The MyoD-eqADSCs cultured in growth media expressed murine and equine
      MyoD; however, they did not express late differentiation markers such as myogenin
      (MYOG). When cells were grown in differentiation media, the expression of MYOG
      was clearly observed. According to our reverse transcription polymerase chain
      reaction and immunocytochemistry results, MyoD-eqADSCs expressed terminal
      myogenic phase genes, such as those encoding dystrophin, myosin heavy chain, and
      troponin I. The MyoD-eqADSCs fused to each other, and the formation of myotube
      like cells from myoblasts in differentiation media occurred between days 5 and 14
      postplating. In mice, we observed GFP-positive myofibers, which had
      differentiated from the injected MyoD-eqADSCs. Our approaches improved the
      myogenic differentiation of eqADSCs through the forced expression of murine MyoD.
      Our findings suggest that limitations in the treatment of equine muscle disorders
      could be overcome using ADSCs.

PMID- 26892395
TI  - Sleep-disordered breathing and daytime postural stability.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Postural stability depends on the coordination of the central nervous
      system with visual sense, proprioceptive and vestibular information. Sleep
      deprivation has been shown to affect this function. The objective of our study
      was to assess the effects of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on postural
      stability. METHODS: 158 subjects referred for suspected SDB had an overnight
      sleep study and were placed on a posturographic platform in late afternoon. This
      platform allows measuring the centre of pressure (CoP) oscillations and to
      calculate: total displacement of CoP in X and Y axes, mean speed of CoP
      displacement and the length as function of surface (LFS) ratio (length of CoP
      displacement/surface of CoP trajectory). RESULTS: 98 men and 60 women were
      included. Mean age+/-SD was 45.4+/-5.5 years old, body mass index (BMI) 27.5+/
      5.6 kg/m(2) and apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) 13.6+/-16.1/h. AHI was <5/h in 64
      (41%) subjects, 5-15/h in 43 (27%), 15-30/h in 30 (19%) and >30/h in 21 (13%). In
      patients with an AHI >5/h versus AHI <5/h, we observed an important increase in
      LFS (+21%, p<0.001), in XY length (+23%, p<0.001) and in mean speed (+23%,
      p<0.001). After controlling for age, BMI and sleepiness (Epworth) in multivariate
      regression models, there was a positive association between all nocturnal
      breathing parameters (specifically: mean SpO2, AHI, oxygen desaturation index 3%
      and % time with SpO2 <90%) and the main stability outcomes (all p<0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: SDB severity, especially the mean nocturnal SpO2 level, is
      associated with impaired daytime postural stability.

PMID- 26892397
TI  - Involvement of Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in
      Myoblast Fusion.
AB  - The mechanisms that underlie the complex process of muscle regeneration after
      injury remain unknown. Transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid 1
      (TRPV1) is expressed in several cell types, including skeletal muscle, and is
      activated by high temperature and by certain molecules secreted during tissue
      inflammation. Severe inflammation and local temperature perturbations are induced
      during muscle regeneration, which suggests that TRPV1 might be activated and
      involved in the process. The aim of this study, was to clarify the role of TRPV1
      in the myogenic potential of satellite cells responsible for muscle regeneration.
      We found that mRNA and protein levels of TRPV1 increased during regeneration
      after cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury in mice. Using isolated mouse
      satellite cells (i.e., myoblasts), we observed that activation of TRPV1 by its
      agonist capsaicin (CAP) augmented myogenin protein levels. Whereas CAP did not
      alter myoblast proliferation, it facilitated myoblast fusion (evaluated using
      myonucleii number per myotube and fusion index). In contrast, suppression of
      TRPV1 by siRNA impaired myoblast fusion. Using mice, we also demonstrated that
      intramuscular injection of CAP facilitated muscle repair after CTX-induced muscle
      injury. Moreover, we showed that these roles of TRPV1 might be mediated by
      interleukin-4 and calcium signaling during myoblast fusion. Collectively, these
      results suggest that TRPV1 underlies normal myogenesis through promotion of
      myoblast fusion. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2275-2285, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892396
TI  - Remission of depression following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is associated
      with higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Research on the association between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
      and increased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels has produced
      conflicting result. There have been few studies which have evaluated BDNF levels
      in clinical contexts where there was remission following treatment. The objective
      of this study was to investigate whether remission of depression following ECT is
      associated with changes in BDNF levels. METHODS: Adult inpatients in a
      psychiatric unit were invited to participate in this naturalistic study.
      Diagnoses were made using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview
      (MINI) and symptoms were evaluated at admission and discharge using the Hamilton
      Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS-17). Thirty-one patients who received a
      diagnosis of depression and were subjected to ECT were included retrospectively.
      Clinical remission was defined as a score of less than eight on the HDRS-17 at
      discharge. Serum BDNF levels were measured in blood samples collected at
      admission and discharge with a commercial kit used in accordance with the
      manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: Subjects HDRS-17 scores improved following
      ECT (t = 13.29; p = 0.00). A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model revealed
      a remission * time interaction with BDNF levels as a dependent variable in a Wald
      chi-square test [Wald chi(2) = 5.98; p = 0.01]. A post hoc Bonferroni test
      revealed that non-remitters had lower BDNF levels at admission than remitters (p
      = 0.03), but there was no difference at discharge (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: ECT
      remitters had higher serum BDNF levels at admission and the level did not vary
      during treatment. ECT non-remitters had lower serum BDNF levels at admission, but
      levels increased during treatment and were similar to those of ECT remitters at
      discharge.

PMID- 26892400
TI  - The Significance of Retropharyngeal Nodes in Treatment Deintensification.

PMID- 26892398
TI  - Investigating tumor perfusion by hyperpolarized 13 C MRI with comparison to
      conventional gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI and pathology in orthotopic human
      GBM xenografts.
AB  - PURPOSE: Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enables the acquisition
      of 13 C magnetic resonance data with a high sensitivity. Recently, metabolically
      inactive hyperpolarized 13 C-labeled compounds have shown to be potentially
      useful for perfusion imaging. The purpose of this study was to validate
      hyperpolarized perfusion imaging methods by comparing with conventional
      gadolinium (Gd)-based perfusion MRI techniques and pathology. METHODS: Dynamic 13
      C data using metabolically inactive hyperpolarized bis-1,1-(hydroxymethyl)-[1-13
      C]cyclopropane-d8 (HMCP) were obtained from an orthotopic human glioblastoma
      (GBM) model for the characterization of tumor perfusion and compared with
      standard Gd-based dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI data and
      immunohistochemical analysis from resected brains. RESULTS: Distinct HMCP
      perfusion characteristics were observed within the GBM tumors compared with
      contralateral normal brain tissue. The perfusion parameters obtained from the
      hyperpolarized HMCP data in tumor were strongly correlated with normalized peak
      height measured from the DSC images. The results from immunohistochemical
      analysis supported these findings by showing a high level of vascular staining
      for tumor that exhibited high levels of hyperpolarized HMCP signal. CONCLUSION:
      The results from this study have demonstrated that hyperpolarized HMCP data can
      be used as an indicator of tumor perfusion in an orthotopic xenograft model for
      GBM. Magn Reson Med 77:841-847, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic
      Resonance in Medicine.

PMID- 26892399
TI  - Consumption of echium oil increases EPA and DPA in blood fractions more
      efficiently compared to linseed oil in humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A plant-based strategy to improve long-chain (LC) omega (n)-3 PUFA
      supply in humans involves dietary supplementation with oils containing alpha
      linolenic acid (ALA) alone or in combination with stearidonic acid (SDA). The
      study aimed to compare the effects of echium oil (EO) and linseed oil (LO) on LC
      n-3 PUFA accumulation in blood and on clinical markers. METHODS: In two double
      blind, parallel-arm, randomized controlled studies, all volunteers started with
      17 g/d run-in oil (2 weeks). Thereafter, subjects received diets enriched in
      study 1 with EO (5 g ALA + 2 g SDA; n = 59) or in study 2 with LO (5 g ALA; n = 
      9) daily for 8 weeks. The smaller control groups received fish oil (FO; n = 19)
      or olive oil (OO; n = 18). Participants were instructed to restrict their dietary
      n-3 PUFA intake throughout the studies (e.g., no fish). To investigate the
      influence of age and BMI on the conversion of ALA and SDA as well as clinical
      markers, the subjects recruited for EO and LO treatment were divided into three
      subgroups (two age groups 20-35 y; 49-69 y with BMI 18-25 kg/m(2) and one group
      with older, overweight subjects (age 49-69 y; BMI >25 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: In
      plasma, red blood cells (RBC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), EPA
      and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were ~25 % higher following EO compared to LO.
      Comparing all treatments, the effectiveness of increasing EPA and DPA in plasma,
      RBC, and PBMC was on average 100:25:10:0 and 100:50:25:0 for FO:EO:LO:OO,
      respectively. EO led to a lower arachidonic acid/EPA-ratio compared to LO in
      plasma, RBC, and PBMC. Following EO, final DHA was not greater compared to LO.
      Higher BMI correlated negatively with increases in plasma EPA and DPA after EO
      supplementation, but not after LO supplementation. Decreasing effect on plasma
      LDL-C and serum insulin was greater with EO than with LO. CONCLUSIONS: Daily
      intake of SDA-containing EO is a better supplement than LO for increasing EPA and
      DPA in blood. However, neither EO nor LO maintained blood DHA status in the
      absence of fish/seafood consumption. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Reg
      No. NCT01856179; ClinicalTrials.gov Reg No. NCT01317290.

PMID- 26892402
TI  - Robust adaptive backstepping neural networks control for spacecraft rendezvous
      and docking with input saturation.
AB  - This paper presents a robust adaptive neural networks control strategy for
      spacecraft rendezvous and docking with the coupled position and attitude dynamics
      under input saturation. Backstepping technique is applied to design a relative
      attitude controller and a relative position controller, respectively. The
      dynamics uncertainties are approximated by radial basis function neural networks
      (RBFNNs). A novel switching controller consists of an adaptive neural networks
      controller dominating in its active region combined with an extra robust
      controller to avoid invalidation of the RBFNNs destroying stability of the system
      outside the neural active region. An auxiliary signal is introduced to compensate
      the input saturation with anti-windup technique, and a command filter is employed
      to approximate derivative of the virtual control in the backstepping procedure.
      Globally uniformly ultimately bounded of the relative states is proved via
      Lyapunov theory. Simulation example demonstrates effectiveness of the proposed
      control scheme. 

PMID- 26892403
TI  - Morphological models of trabecular bone suitable for high-porosity regions and
      vertebrae.
AB  - The complex microarchitecture of trabecular bone makes it difficult to perform
      computational analyses on the real structure. Researchers have often resorted to
      using morphological idealizations employing simplified geometries. One such
      idealized structure, based on the gyroid, was found to mimic trabecular bone
      well. However, structures generated using the basic gyroid equation manifested
      discontinuities at high porosities. Another disadvantage of the gyroid is that it
      cannot model vertebral trabecular bone, which generally resembles cubic cells. To
      address these two shortcomings, we describe: (i) a modified structure based on
      the skeletal gyroid, which remains connected even at extremely high porosities,
      (ii) a cubic grid-like structure, based on the primitive minimal surface, for
      studying vertebrae. 

PMID- 26892401
TI  - A UHPLC-UV Method to Quantify Skin Deposition and Transdermal Permeation of
      Tizanidine Hydrochloride.
AB  - Tizanidine hydrochloride is an alpha2-adrenergic agonist used for the symptomatic
      relief of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or with spinal cord
      injury or disease. The objective of this study was to develop an isocratic,
      robust and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method using UV
      detection for use in a project to develop a transdermal therapeutic system to
      deliver tizanidine across the skin. Isocratic separation was achieved using a C18
      column and a mobile phase comprising a 80:20 mixture of 0.004% trifluoroacetic
      acid in water and MeCN (pH* 3.2) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL min(-1) Tizanidine
      eluted at 1.499 min and the total run time was 2 min. The method was specific,
      robust and the response was accurate, precise and linear from 17.4 to 290 ng mL(
      1) In contrast to existing methods, the method developed here was validated over
      a concentration range so as to include the low concentrations frequently observed
      in transdermal permeation studies and in samples extracted from the cutaneous
      matrix. Its suitability for use in transdermal permeation studies was
      subsequently tested and confirmed in preliminary experiments using porcine skin
      in vitro.

PMID- 26892404
TI  - In focus in Vienna: the cell nucleus.

PMID- 26892405
TI  - Social worker assessment of bad news delivery by emergency medicine residents: a
      novel direct-observation milestone assessment.
AB  - The skill of delivering bad news is difficult to teach and evaluate. Residents
      may practice in simulated settings; however, this may not translate to confidence
      or competence during real experiences. We investigated the acceptability and
      feasibility of social workers as evaluators of residents' delivery of bad news
      during patient encounters, and assessed the attitudes of both groups regarding
      this process. From August 2013 to June 2014, emergency medicine residents
      completed self-assessments after delivering bad news. Social workers completed
      evaluations after observing these conversations. The Assessment tools were
      designed by modifying the global Breaking Bad News Assessment Scale. Residents
      and social workers completed post-study surveys. 37 evaluations were received, 20
      completed by social workers and 17 resident self-evaluations. Social workers
      reported discussing plans with residents prior to conversations 90 % of the time
      (18/20, 95 % CI 64.5, 97.8). Social workers who had previously observed the
      resident delivering bad news reported that the resident was more skilled on
      subsequent encounters 90 % of the time (95 % CI 42.2, 99). Both social workers
      and residents felt that prior training or experience was important. First-year
      residents valued advice from social workers less than advice from attending
      physicians, whereas more experienced residents perceived advice from social
      workers to be equivalent with that of attending physicians (40 versus 2.9 %, p =
      0.002). Social worker assessment of residents' abilities to deliver bad news is
      feasible and acceptable to both groups. This formalized self-assessment and
      evaluation process highlights the importance of social workers' involvement in
      delivery of bad news, and the teaching of this skill. This method may also be
      used as direct-observation for resident milestone assessment. 

PMID- 26892407
TI  - Post-Hospital Outcomes of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction With
      Cardiogenic Shock: Findings From the NCDR.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic
      shock survive hospitalization; little is known about their subsequent prognosis.
      OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the associations between cardiogenic
      shock and post-discharge mortality and all-cause hospitalization among hospital
      survivors. METHODS: We included patients >=65 years of age with AMI from the
      ACTION Registry-GWTG (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network
      Registry-Get With The Guidelines) who survived hospitalization and linked these
      patients with Medicare claims data. We used proportional hazards models to test
      the association between cardiogenic shock and outcomes, adjusting for patient and
      hospital characteristics. Hazard ratios (HRs) are reported for early (1 to 60
      days) and late (61 to 365 days) post-discharge time periods. RESULTS: Among
      112,668 AMI survivors, 5% had cardiogenic shock during hospitalization. The rate
      of death was significantly higher among patients with cardiogenic shock at 60
      days (9.6% vs. 5.5%) and 1 year (22.4% vs. 16.7%). After accounting for baseline
      characteristics, the risk of death remained higher for cardiogenic shock patients
      in the first 60 days after discharge (adjusted HR: 1.62; 95% confidence interval
      [CI]: 1.46 to 1.80), but was similar to nonshock patients thereafter (adjusted
      HR: 1.08 for days 61 to 365; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.18). The rate of all-cause
      hospitalization or death was significantly higher among shock patients at 60 days
      (33.9% vs. 24.9%) and 1 year (59.1% vs. 52.3%). After adjustment, the risk of
      this outcome was also clustered in the first 60 days (adjusted HR: 1.28; 95% CI:
      1.21 to 1.35) and was similar thereafter (adjusted HR: 0.95 for days 61 to 365;
      95% CI: 0.89 to 1.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital survivors of AMI who had cardiogenic
      shock have a higher risk of death and/or hospitalization during the first year
      after discharge. The risk is time-dependent and is clustered in the early post
      discharge period, after which the prognosis is similar in patients with and
      without cardiogenic shock.

PMID- 26892406
TI  - Clinical practice guidelines for the management of neuropathic pain: a systematic
      review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The management of neuropathic pain (NP) is challenging despite it
      being the recent focus of extensive research. A number of clinical practice
      guidelines (CPGs) for the management of NP have been published worldwide over the
      past 2 decades. This study aimed to assess the quality of these CPGs. METHODS: We
      performed a systematic review of published CPGs for the management of NP. Three
      reviewers independently assessed the quality of the CPGs using the Appraisal of
      Guidelines Research and Evaluation II (AGREE-II) instrument, and recommendations
      of CPGs were also appraised. RESULTS: A total of 16 CPGs were included. Thirteen
      CPGs were developed using an evidence-based approach, and the remaining CPGs were
      produced by consensus panels. None of CPGs obtained a score greater than 50% in
      all six AGREE II instrument domains mainly owing to poor performance in the
      "Applicability" domain. The highest score of the CPGs was achieved in "Clarity
      and Presentation" domain, followed by "Scope and Purpose" and "Editorial
      Independence" domains, and the lowest scores were found the in "Applicability"
      domain. The majority of the CPG recommendations on the management of patients
      with NP were relatively consistent, especially regarding the recommendation of
      stepwise treatment with medication. CONCLUSIONS: Greater efforts are needed not
      only to improve the quality of development and presentation of the CPGs, but also
      to provide more efficacy evidence for the management of patients with NP.

PMID- 26892408
TI  - Cardiogenic Shock: How Long Does the Storm Last?

PMID- 26892410
TI  - Moving Toward Eradication of Stent Thrombosis.

PMID- 26892409
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Everolimus- Versus Sirolimus-Eluting Stents: 5-Year
      Results From SORT OUT IV.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long-term safety and efficacy for everolimus-eluting stents (EES)
      versus those of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) are unknown. OBJECTIVES: This
      study compared 5-year outcomes for EES with those for SES from the SORT OUT IV
      (Scandinavian Organization for Randomized Trials with Clinical Outcome) trial.
      METHODS: Five-year follow-up was completed for 2,771 patients (99.9%). Primary
      endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including
      cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR),
      and definite stent thrombosis. RESULTS: At 5-years, MACE occurred in 14.0% and
      17.4% in the EES and SES groups, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.80, 95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 0.66 to 0.97; p = 0.02). The MACE rate did not differ
      significantly within the first year (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.19; p = 0.79),
      but from years 1 through 5, the MACE rate was lower with EES (HR: 0.71, 95% CI:
      0.55 to 0.90; p = 0.006; p interaction = 0.12). Definite stent thrombosis was
      lower with EES (0.4%) than with SES (2.0%; HR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.46), with
      a lower risk of very late definite stent thrombosis in the EES group (0.2% vs.
      1.4%, respectively; HR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.53). When censoring the patients
      at the time of stent thrombosis, we found no significant differences between the
      2 stent groups for MACE rates (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.08; p = 0.23), target
      lesion revascularization (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.27; p = 0.55), and MI (HR:
      0.93, 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.36; p = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: At 5-year follow-up, MACE
      rate was significantly lower with EES- than with SES-treated patients, due
      largely due to a lower risk of very late definite stent thrombosis. (Randomized
      Clinical Comparison of the Xience V and the Cypher Coronary Stents in Non
      selected Patients With Coronary Heart Disease [SORT OUT IV]; NCT00552877).

PMID- 26892412
TI  - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.

PMID- 26892411
TI  - A Polylactide Bioresorbable Scaffold Eluting Everolimus for Treatment of Coronary
      Stenosis: 5-Year Follow-Up.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long-term benefits of coronary stenosis treatment with an everolimus
      eluting bioresorbable scaffold are unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to
      evaluate clinical and imaging outcomes 5 years after bioresorbable scaffold
      implantation. METHODS: In the ABSORB multicenter, single-arm trial, 45 (B1) and
      56 patients (B2) underwent coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS),
      and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at different times. At 5 years, 53
      patients without target lesion revascularization underwent final imaging.
      RESULTS: Between 6 months/1 year and 5 years, angiographic luminal late loss
      remained unchanged (B1: 0.14 +/- 19 mm vs. 0.13 +/- 0.33 mm; p = 0.7953; B2: 0.23
      +/- 0.28 mm vs. 0.18 +/- 0.32 mm; p = 0.5685). When patients with a target lesion
      revascularization were included, luminal late loss was 0.15 +/- 0.20 mm versus
      0.15 +/- 0.24 mm (p = 0.8275) for B1 and 0.30 +/- 0.37 mm versus 0.32 +/- 0.48 mm
      (p = 0.8204) for B2. At 5 years, in-scaffold and -segment binary restenosis was
      7.8% (5 of 64) and 12.5% (8 of 64). On IVUS, the minimum lumen area of B1
      decreased from 5.23 +/- 0.97 mm(2) at 6 months to 4.89 +/- 1.81 mm(2) at 5 years
      (p = 0.04), but remained unchanged in B2 (4.95 +/- 0.91 mm(2) at 1 year to 4.84
      +/- 1.28 mm(2) at 5 years; p = 0.5). At 5 years, struts were no longer
      discernable by OCT and IVUS. On OCT, the minimum lumen area in B1 decreased from
      4.51 +/- 1.28 mm(2) at 6 months to 3.65 +/- 1.39 mm(2) at 5 years (p = 0.01), but
      remained unchanged in B2, 4.35 +/- 1.09 mm(2) at 1 year and 4.12 +/- 1.38 mm(2)
      at 5 years (p = 0.24). Overall, the 5-year major adverse cardiac event rate was
      11.0%, without any scaffold thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: At 5 years, bioresorbable
      scaffold implantation in a simple stenotic lesion resulted in stable lumen
      dimensions and low restenosis and major adverse cardiac event rates. (ABSORB
      Clinical Investigation, Cohort B [ABSORB B]; NCT00856856).

PMID- 26892414
TI  - The End Is Near... Do We Know Everything About Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
      in HF Patients?

PMID- 26892413
TI  - Variables Measured During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing as Predictors of
      Mortality in Chronic Systolic Heart Failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Data from a cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test are used to determine
      prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). However, few published
      studies have simultaneously compared the relative prognostic strength of multiple
      CPX variables. OBJECTIVES: The study sought to describe the strength of the
      association among variables measured during a CPX test and all-cause mortality in
      patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), including the influence
      of sex and patient effort, as measured by respiratory exchange ratio (RER).
      METHODS: Among patients (n = 2,100, 29% women) enrolled in the HF-ACTION (HF-A
      Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of exercise traiNing) trial, 10 CPX test
      variables measured at baseline (e.g., peak oxygen uptake [Vo2], exercise
      duration, percent predicted peak Vo2 [%ppVo2], ventilatory efficiency) were
      examined. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 32 months, there were 357 deaths.
      All CPX variables, except RER, were related to all-cause mortality (all p <
      0.0001). Both %ppVo2 and exercise duration were equally able to predict (Wald chi
      square: ~141) and discriminate (c-index: 0.69) mortality. Peak Vo2 (ml.kg(
      1).min(-1)) was the strongest predictor of mortality among men (Wald chi-square:
      129) and exercise duration among women (Wald chi-square: 41). Multivariable
      analyses showed that %ppVo2, exercise duration, and peak Vo2 (ml.kg(-1).min(-1))
      were similarly able to predict and discriminate mortality. In men, a 10% 1-year
      mortality rate corresponded to a peak Vo2 of 10.9 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) versus 5.3
      ml.kg(-1).min(-1) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Peak Vo2, exercise duration, and % ppVo2
      carried the strongest ability to predict and discriminate the likelihood of death
      in patients with HFrEF. The prognosis associated with a given peak Vo2 differed
      by sex. (Exercise Training Program to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Individuals
      With Congestive Heart Failure; NCT00047437).

PMID- 26892415
TI  - Post-Operative Outcomes in Children With and Without Congenital Heart Disease
      Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of
      children with congenital heart disease (CHD), allowing for longer life
      expectancies and an increasing number who will require noncardiac surgery.
      OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the incidence of mortality and major
      adverse post-operative outcomes following noncardiac surgery in children with and
      without CHD. METHODS: Data from the 2012 pediatric database of the American
      College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were analyzed.
      After propensity score matching, and stratification by severity of CHD, mortality
      and adverse post-operative outcomes were compared between controls and children
      with CHD. RESULTS: Among the 51,008 children included in the database, 4,520
      children with CHD underwent noncardiac surgery. After propensity score matching,
      we included 2,805 children with minor CHD, 1,272 with major CHD, and 417 with
      severe CHD. Children in each subgroup were matched and compared with controls
      without CHD who underwent noncardiac surgery of comparable complexity. The
      incidence of overall mortality was significantly higher in children with moderate
      (3.9%) and severe (8.2%) CHD compared with their controls (respectively, 1.7% [p
      < 0.001] and 1.2% [p = 0.001]). Both 30-day and overall mortality were
      significantly increased in children with severe CHD (odds ratio [OR]: 8.43, 95%
      confidence interval [CI]: 2.52 to 28.21; p < 0.001; OR: 7.32, 95% CI: 2.83 to
      18.90; p < 0.001) compared with their matched controls. Overall mortality was
      also significantly increased in children with major CHD compared with their
      controls (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.37 to 3.79; p = 0.002), whereas no difference was
      observed between children with minor CHD and their matched controls. CONCLUSIONS:
      Children with major and severe CHD, undergoing noncardiac surgery, have an
      increased risk of mortality compared with children without CHD. Further studies
      need to identify the optimal environment for surgical procedures, develop trained
      multidisciplinary teams to care for children with CHD, and define management
      strategies for improving outcomes in this high-risk population.

PMID- 26892416
TI  - Assessing the Risks of Noncardiac Surgery for Children With Congenital Heart
      Disease.

PMID- 26892418
TI  - When Sweet Turns Salty: Glucose-Induced Suppression of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide
      by MicroRNA-425.

PMID- 26892419
TI  - Editor-in-Chief's Top Picks From 2015: Part Two.
AB  - Each week, I record audio summaries for every article in JACC, as well as an
      issue summary. While this process has been time-consuming, I have become very
      familiar with every paper that we publish. Thus, I have personally selected the
      papers (both original investigations and review articles) from 13 distinct
      specialties for your review. In addition to my personal choices, I have included
      manuscripts that have been the most accessed or downloaded on our websites, as
      well as those selected by the JACC Editorial Board members. There are
      approximately 130 articles selected across this 2-part series, which represent
      less than 3% of the papers submitted to the Journal in 2015. In order to present
      the full breadth of this important research in a consumable fashion, we will
      present these manuscripts over the course of 2 issues in JACC. Part One includes
      the sections: Congenital Heart Disease, Coronary Disease & Interventions, CVD
      Prevention & Health Promotion, Cardiac Failure, Cardiomyopathies, Genetics,
      Omics, & Tissue Regeneration, and Hypertension. Part Two includes the sections:
      Imaging, Metabolic Disorders & Lipids, Rhythm Disorders, Statistics, Valvular
      Heart Disease, and Vascular Medicine (1-63). 

PMID- 26892421
TI  - The Seven Deadly Sins of Health Care: Part I.

PMID- 26892422
TI  - Pre-Publication in Medical Research: A Race to Open Pandora's Box?

PMID- 26892417
TI  - Acute Metabolic Influences on the Natriuretic Peptide System in Humans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs), atrial natriuretic peptide
      (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), have central roles in sodium and
      blood pressure regulation. Extracardiac factors (e.g., obesity and diabetes)
      influence NP production, potentially altering cardiovascular responses to volume
      and pressure stress. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of acute
      carbohydrate intake on the NP system in humans, and investigated underlying
      mechanisms. METHODS: Normotensive subjects (N = 33) were given a high
      carbohydrate shake. Venous blood was sampled to measure N-terminal (NT)-proANP
      and NT-proBNP levels. Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs)
      and HepG2 cells were treated with glucose, and expression levels of NPs and micro
      ribonucleic acid 425 (miR-425), a negative regulator of ANP, were examined. The
      role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the glucose-mediated effects was
      investigated using a NF-kappaB inhibitor and expression plasmids encoding NF
      kappaB subunits. RESULTS: We observed a 27% reduction in the levels of
      circulating NT-proANP (p < 0.001, maximal at 6 h) after carbohydrate challenge,
      with no effect on NT-proBNP levels in our human subjects. Glucose treatment of
      hESC-CMs for 6 h and 24 h increased levels of the primary transcript of miR-425
      (pri-miR-425) and mature miR-425. A corresponding decrease in NPPA messenger RNA
      levels was also observed at both time points. Overexpression of NF-kappaB
      subunits in H9c2 cardiomyocytes increased miR-425 levels, whereas inhibition of
      NF-kappaB abrogated the glucose-mediated increase in pri-miR-425 levels in HepG2
      cells. CONCLUSIONS: Acute carbohydrate challenge is associated with a reduction
      in ANP production. The mechanism appears to involve a glucose-induced increase in
      the expression of miR-425, mediated by NF-kappaB signaling.

PMID- 26892420
TI  - Diagnostic Strategies for the Evaluation of Chest Pain: Clinical Implications
      From SCOT-HEART and PROMISE.
AB  - SCOT-HEART (Scottish COmputed Tomography of the HEART) and PROMISE (PROspective
      Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of chest pain) represent the 2 largest
      and most comprehensive cardiovascular imaging outcome trials in patients with
      stable chest pain and provide significant insights into patient diagnosis,
      management, and outcomes. These trials are particularly timely, given the well
      recognized knowledge gaps and widespread use of noninvasive imaging. The overall
      goal of this review is to distill the data generated from these 2 pivotal trials
      to better inform the practicing clinician in the selection of noninvasive testing
      for stable chest pain. Similarities and differences between SCOT-HEART and
      PROMISE are highlighted, and clinical and practical implications are discussed.
      Both trials show that coronary computed tomography angiography should have a
      greater role in the diagnostic pathway of patients with stable chest pain. 

PMID- 26892423
TI  - Student Debt in American Medicine: I Am Not a Loan!

PMID- 26892424
TI  - Transfemoral Tricuspid Valve Repair Using a Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
      System.

PMID- 26892425
TI  - Bridging Anticoagulation.

PMID- 26892426
TI  - Reply: Bridging Anticoagulation.

PMID- 26892427
TI  - Incidence of Stent Thrombosis With Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds in Comparison
      With Drug-Eluting Stents.

PMID- 26892428
TI  - Reply: Incidence of Stent Thrombosis With Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds in
      Comparison With Drug-Eluting Stents.

PMID- 26892429
TI  - The nature of hydrogen-bonding interaction in the prototypic hybrid halide
      perovskite, tetragonal CH3NH3PbI3.
AB  - In spite of the key role of hydrogen bonding in the structural stabilization of
      the prototypic hybrid halide perovskite, CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3), little progress has
      been made in our in-depth understanding of the hydrogen-bonding interaction
      between the MA(+)-ion and the iodide ions in the PbI6-octahedron network. Herein,
      we show that there exist two distinct types of the hydrogen-bonding interaction,
      naming alpha- and beta-modes, in the tetragonal MAPbI3 on the basis of symmetry
      argument and density-functional theory calculations. The computed Kohn-Sham (K-S)
      energy difference between these two interaction modes is 45.14 meV per MA-site
      with the alpha-interaction mode being responsible for the stable hydrogen-bonding
      network. The computed bandgap (Eg) is also affected by the hydrogen-bonding mode,
      with Eg of the alpha-interaction mode (1.73 eV) being significantly narrower than
      that of the beta-interaction mode (2.03 eV). We have further estimated the
      individual bonding strength for the ten relevant hydrogen bonds having a bond
      critical point.

PMID- 26892432
TI  - Availability of plethora of bioanalytical assays for several commonly prescribed
      drugs - a problem of plenty: perspectives.

PMID- 26892431
TI  - Runx1 contributes to the functional switching of bone morphogenetic protein 4
      (BMP4) from neurite outgrowth promoting to suppressing in dorsal root ganglion.
AB  - The runt-related transcription factor Runx1 regulates cell-type specification and
      axonal projections of nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, whereas
      bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is required for axonal growth during neuronal
      development. Although Runx1 has been shown to be involved in BMP4 signaling in
      non-neural tissues, the Runx1 function in BMP4-dependent regulation of neuronal
      development is unclear. To investigate interactions between Runx1 and BMP4 in
      neurite outgrowth, we cultured DRGs from wild-type and Runx1-deficient mouse
      embryos in the presence or absence of BMP4. Neurite outgrowth was decreased in
      BMP4-treated wild-type DRGs and untreated Runx1-deficient DRGs, suggesting the
      inhibitory effect of BMP4 and facilitatory effect of Runx1 on neurite outgrowth.
      In addition, the combination of BMP4 treatment and Runx1 deficiency increased
      neurite outgrowth, suggesting that Runx1 is required for BMP4-induced suppression
      of neurite outgrowth and that the loss of Runx1 results in a functional switch of
      BMP4 from neurite growth suppressing to neurite growth promoting. Both BMP4
      treatment and Runx1 deficiency increased calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
      positive neurons, and CGRP expression was not increased by BMP4 treatment in
      Runx1-deficient mice, suggesting that Runx1 contributes to BMP4-induced CGRP
      expression in DRG neurons. Thus, Runx1 contributes to BMP4 regulation of neurite
      outgrowth and CGRP expression in DRG and may control BMP4 functional switching
      during embryogenesis. 

PMID- 26892430
TI  - Systemic inflammation is an independent predictive marker of clinical outcomes in
      mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in oropharyngeal and non
      oropharyngeal patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Currently there are very few biomarkers to identify head and neck
      squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cancer patients at a greater risk of recurrence
      and shortened survival. This study aimed to investigate whether a marker of
      systemic inflammation, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), was predictive
      of clinical outcomes in a heterogeneous cohort of HNSCC cancer patients. METHODS:
      We performed a retrospective analysis to identify associations between NLR and
      clinicopathological features to recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall
      survival (OS). Univariate analysis was used to identify associations and selected
      variables were included in multivariable Cox regression analysis to determine
      predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients with stage I-IV HNSCC that had
      undergone radiotherapy were analysed. Seventy-six of these patients had
      oropharyngeal cancer and 69 had non-oropharyngeal HNSCC and these populations
      were analysed separately. NLR was not associated to any clinicopathological
      variable. On univariate analysis, NLR showed associations with RFS and OS in both
      sub-populations. Multivariable analysis showed patients with NLR > 5 had
      shortened OS in both sub-populations but NLR > 5 only predicted RFS in
      oropharyngeal patients. Poor performance status predicted OS in both sub
      populations and current smokers had shortened OS and RFS in non-oropharyngeal
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results show patients with NLR > 5 predict for shorter
      overall survival. Further prospective validation studies in larger cohorts are
      required to determine the clinical applicability of NLR for prognostication in
      HNSCC patients.

PMID- 26892433
TI  - Antiproliferative and apoptosis induction of alpha-mangostin in T47D breast
      cancer cells.
AB  - alpha-Mangostin extracted from mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana Linn. is known as
      'queen of fruits'. The anticancer activity of alpha-mangostin through apoptosis
      induction and related signaling pathways in human breast cancer T47D cells was
      investigated. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling have been shown to play important roles
      in apoptosis. The results showed that alpha-mangostin induced cell proliferation
      inhibition, DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, increased cleaved caspase-3
      and cleaved caspase-9, but decreased Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression. Mitochondrial
      dysfunction and cytochrome c release were also detected. In addition,
      phosphorylation of ERalpha, HER2, PI3K, Akt and ERK1/2 were downregulated whereas
      p-JNK1/2 and p-p38 were upregulated. These results indicated that alpha-mangostin
      induced apoptosis associated with HER2/PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways
      suggesting that alpha-mangostin may be used as food supplement or a potential
      therapeutic compound for breast cancer. 

PMID- 26892436
TI  - Placental Inflammatory Response to Zika Virus may Affect Fetal Brain Development.

PMID- 26892434
TI  - Hydrophobic bile acids relax rat detrusor contraction via inhibiting the opening
      of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.
AB  - Hydrophobic bile acids (BAs) are thought to inhibit smooth muscle contractility
      in several organs. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of
      hydrophobic BAs on the detrusor contractility of rat bladder and to explore the
      possible mechanism. Lithocholic acid (LCA) treatment increased the micturition
      interval and induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of bladder detrusor
      strips. In addition, LCA reduced the concentration of intracellular free
      Ca(2+)([Ca(2+)]i) and inhibited both the outward and inward Na(+)/Ca(2+)
      exchanger (NCX) current (INCX) in primary isolated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To
      further investigate the mechanism of action of LCA, several pharmacologic agents
      were used. We found that the NCX inhibitor 3',4'-Dichlorobenzamil (DCB) can
      significantly inhibit the relaxation of detrusor strips and a reduction of the
      [Ca(2+)]i induced by LCA, while the antagonist of muscarinic receptor and the
      agonist of the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5) and the farnesoid X
      receptor (FXR) had no effect. In conclusion, these data suggest that the
      relaxation of rat detrusor induced by hydrophobic BAs is mediated by NCX. Further
      research is needed to carry out to demonstrate the possible pathway and provide a
      potential new strategy to investigation for the treatment of the low urinary
      tract syndromes. 

PMID- 26892435
TI  - A review of approaches for dental practice teams for promoting oral health.
AB  - To determine the circumstances in which oral health promotion (OHP) in General
      Dental Practice is at its most effective, a systematic review was conducted to
      identify, critically appraise and synthesize the available evidence. The research
      question was: Is oral health promotion within dental practice effective and how
      can its effects be optimized? Systematic searches of 20 online resources
      (including Ovid Medline and Embase) were conducted. A call for evidence was also
      issued, and citation lists of other relevant systematic reviews were included.
      All studies published since 1994 which were set in the context of general dental
      practice and investigated promoting good oral health in adult or child patients
      were considered. 44 studies reported in 52 papers were included in the review.
      The evidence was heterogeneous and the quality of reporting was variable. Results
      showed that oral health promotion based on behavioural and psychological models
      was effective for improving oral health. Verbal advice affected knowledge and
      reported behaviour, written advice promoted oral health knowledge. There was
      moderate evidence that the attributes of the 'sender' of an oral health promotion
      message influenced its effectiveness. Many barriers and facilitators were shown
      to influence the effectiveness of OHP in dental practice. The results of this
      review suggest that the psychology of behaviour change is the key to oral health
      promotion and greater emphasis on teaching oral health professionals about health
      psychology would make oral health promotion in the dental surgery more effective.

PMID- 26892438
TI  - 35 Hz shape memory alloy actuator with bending-twisting mode.
AB  - Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) materials are widely used as an actuating source for
      bending actuators due to their high power density. However, due to the slow
      actuation speed of SMAs, there are limitations in their range of possible
      applications. This paper proposes a smart soft composite (SSC) actuator capable
      of fast bending actuation with large deformations. To increase the actuation
      speed of SMA actuator, multiple thin SMA wires are used to increase the heat
      dissipation for faster cooling. The actuation characteristics of the actuator at
      different frequencies are measured with different actuator lengths and results
      show that resonance can be used to realize large deformations up to 35 Hz. The
      actuation characteristics of the actuator can be modified by changing the design
      of the layered reinforcement structure embedded in the actuator, thus the natural
      frequency and length of an actuator can be optimized for a specific actuation
      speed. A model is used to compare with the experimental results of actuators with
      different layered reinforcement structure designs. Also, a bend-twist coupled
      motion using an anisotropic layered reinforcement structure at a speed of 10 Hz
      is also realized. By increasing their range of actuation characteristics, the
      proposed actuator extends the range of application of SMA bending actuators.

PMID- 26892437
TI  - A highly active and stable hydrogen evolution catalyst based on pyrite-structured
      cobalt phosphosulfide.
AB  - Rational design and controlled synthesis of hybrid structures comprising multiple
      components with distinctive functionalities are an intriguing and challenging
      approach to materials development for important energy applications like
      electrocatalytic hydrogen production, where there is a great need for cost
      effective, active and durable catalyst materials to replace the precious
      platinum. Here we report a structure design and sequential synthesis of a highly
      active and stable hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst material based on pyrite
      structured cobalt phosphosulfide nanoparticles grown on carbon nanotubes. The
      three synthetic steps in turn render electrical conductivity, catalytic activity
      and stability to the material. The hybrid material exhibits superior activity for
      hydrogen evolution, achieving current densities of 10 mA cm(-2) and 100 mA cm(-2)
      at overpotentials of 48 mV and 109 mV, respectively. Phosphorus substitution is
      crucial for the chemical stability and catalytic durability of the material, the
      molecular origins of which are uncovered by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and
      computational simulation. 

PMID- 26892439
TI  - The use of 3D printed external and internal templates for Bonebridge implantation
      - technical note.

PMID- 26892440
TI  - Rationalizing the use of functionalized poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid
      nanoparticles for dendritic cell-based targeted anticancer therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Delivery of PLGA (poly [D, L-lactide-co-glycolide])-based
      biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) to antigen presenting cells, particularly
      dendritic cells, has potential for cancer immunotherapy. MATERIALS & METHODS:
      Using a PLGA NP vaccine construct CpG-NP-Tag (CpG-ODN-coated tumor antigen [Tag]
      encapsulating NP) prepared using solvent evaporation technique we tested the
      efficacy of ex vivo and in vivo use of this construct as a feasible platform for
      immune-based therapy. RESULTS: CpG-NP-Tag NPs were avidly endocytosed and
      localized in the endosomal compartment of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells.
      Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells exposed to CpG-NP-Tag NPs exhibited an
      increased maturation (higher CD80/86 expression) and activation status (enhanced
      IL-12 secretion levels). In vivo results demonstrated attenuation of tumor growth
      and angiogenesis as well as induction of potent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.
      CONCLUSION: Collectively, results validate dendritic cells stimulatory response
      to CpG-NP-Tag NPs (ex vivo) and CpG-NP-Tag NPs' tumor inhibitory potential (in
      vivo) for therapeutic applications, respectively.

PMID- 26892445
TI  - Highly Dispersible and Stable Anionic Boron Cluster-Graphene Oxide Nanohybrids.
AB  - An efficient process to produce boron cluster-graphene oxide nanohybrids that are
      highly dispersible in water and organic solvents is established for the first
      time. Dispersions of these nanohybrid materials in water were extraordinarily
      stable after one month. Characterization of hybrids after grafting of appropriate
      cobaltabisdicarbollide and closo-dodecaborate derivatives onto the surface of
      graphene oxide (GO) was done by FT-IR, XPS, and UV/Vis. Thermogravimetric
      analysis (TGA) clearly shows a higher thermal stability for the modified-GO
      nanohybrids compared to the parent GO. Of particular note, elemental mapping by
      energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) reveals that a uniform
      decoration of the graphene oxide surface with the boron clusters is achieved
      under the reported conditions. Therefore, the resulting nanohybrid systems show
      exceptional physico-chemical and thermal properties, paving the way for an
      enhanced processability and further expanding the range of application for
      graphene-based materials. 

PMID- 26892444
TI  - Clinical audit of genetic testing and referral patterns for fragile X and
      associated conditions.
AB  - An audit was conducted of laboratory/clinical databases of genetic tests
      performed between January 2003 and December 2009, and for 2014, as well as
      referrals to the clinical service and a specialist multidisciplinary clinic, to
      determine genetic testing request patterns for fragile X syndrome and associated
      conditions and referrals for genetic counseling/multidisciplinary management in
      Victoria, Australia. An expanded allele (full mutation, premutation or
      intermediate) was found in 3.7% of tests. Pediatricians requested ~70% of test
      samples, although fewer general practitioners and more
      obstetricians/gynecologists ordered tests in 2014. Median age at testing for
      individuals with a full mutation seeking a diagnosis without a fragile X family
      history was 4.3 years (males) and 9.4 years (females); these ages were lower when
      pediatricians ordered the tests (2.1 years and 6.1 years, respectively).
      Individuals with a premutation were generally tested at a later age (median age:
      males, 33.2 years; females, 36.4 years). Logistic regression showed that a family
      history of ID (OR 3.28 P = 0.005, CI 1.77-5.98) was the only indication to
      independently increase the likelihood of a test-positive (FM or PM) result.
      Following testing, ~25% of full mutation or premutation individuals may not have
      attended clinical services providing genetic counseling or multidisciplinary
      management for these families. The apparent delay in fragile X syndrome diagnosis
      and lack of appropriate referrals for some may result in less than optimal
      management for these families. These findings suggest continued need for
      awareness and education of health professionals around diagnosis and familial
      implications of fragile X syndrome and associated conditions. (c) 2016 Wiley
      Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892442
TI  - Clinicopathologic and prognostic associations of KRAS and BRAF mutations in small
      intestinal adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Activating KRAS and/or BRAF mutations have been identified as predictors of
      resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) chemotherapy in
      colorectal cancer. But the status of KRAS and BRAF mutations and their
      clinicopathologic and prognostic significance has not been extensively evaluated
      in small intestinal adenocarcinomas. In this work, the KRAS and BRAF genes in 190
      surgically resected small intestinal adenocarcinoma cases were sequenced and
      their association with various clinicopathologic variables, including survival of
      the patients, was analyzed. KRAS or BRAF mutations were observed in 63 (33%)
      cases. Sixty-one cases had KRAS mutations and 2 had BRAF mutations and the two
      types of mutation were mutually exclusive. The majority of KRAS mutations were
      G>A transition (43/61 cases, 71%) or p.G12D (31/61 cases, 51%). The patients with
      mutant KRAS tended to have higher pT classifications (P=0.034) and more frequent
      pancreatic invasion (P=0.020) than those with wild-type KRAS. Multivariate
      logistic regression analysis showed that certain mutated KRAS subtypes (G>A
      transitions and G12D mutations) were significantly correlated with higher pT
      classification (P=0.015 and 0.004, respectively) than wild-type KRAS and other
      KRAS mutations. The patients with KRAS or BRAF mutation had a tendency to shorter
      overall survival than those with wild-type KRAS and BRAF (P=0.148), but subgroup
      analysis demonstrated the patients with KRAS mutations showed worse survival
      (median, 46.0 months; P=0.046) than those with wild-type KRAS (85.4 months) in
      lower pT classification (pT1-pT3) group. In summary, KRAS and, infrequently, BRAF
      mutations are observed in a subset of small intestinal adenocarcinomas, and are
      associated with higher pT classification and more frequent pancreatic invasion.
      KRAS mutation is a poor prognostic predictor in patients with lower pT
      classification tumors. Anti-EGFR targeted therapy could be applied to about two
      thirds of small intestinal adenocarcinoma patients, namely those with wild-type
      KRAS and BRAF if they have metastatic disease, similar to colorectal cancer
      patients. 

PMID- 26892441
TI  - Intravenous leiomyomatosis: an unusual intermediate between benign and malignant
      uterine smooth muscle tumors.
AB  - Intravenous leiomyomatosis is an unusual smooth muscle neoplasm with quasi
      malignant intravascular growth but a histologically banal appearance. Herein, we
      report expression and molecular cytogenetic analyses of a series of 12
      intravenous leiomyomatosis cases to better understand the pathogenesis of
      intravenous leiomyomatosis. All cases were analyzed for the expression of HMGA2,
      MDM2, and CDK4 proteins by immunohistochemistry based on our previous finding of
      der(14)t(12;14)(q14.3;q24) in intravenous leiomyomatosis. Seven of 12 (58%)
      intravenous leiomyomatosis cases expressed HMGA2, and none expressed MDM2 or
      CDK4. Colocalization of hybridization signals for probes from the HMGA2 locus
      (12q14.3) and from 14q24 by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
      was detected in a mean of 89.2% of nuclei in HMGA2-positive cases by
      immunohistochemistry, but in only 12.4% of nuclei in negative cases, indicating
      an association of HMGA2 expression and this chromosomal rearrangement (P=8.24 *
      10(-10)). Four HMGA2-positive cases had greater than two HMGA2 hybridization
      signals per cell. No cases showed loss of a hybridization signal by interphase
      FISH for the frequently deleted region of 7q22 in uterine leiomyomata. One
      intravenous leiomyomatosis case analyzed by array comparative genomic
      hybridization revealed complex copy number variations. Finally, expression
      profiling was performed on three intravenous leiomyomatosis cases. Interestingly,
      hierarchical cluster analysis of the expression profiles revealed segregation of
      the intravenous leiomyomatosis cases with leiomyosarcoma rather than with
      myometrium, uterine leiomyoma of the usual histological type, or plexiform
      leiomyoma. These findings suggest that intravenous leiomyomatosis cases share
      some molecular cytogenetic characteristics with uterine leiomyoma, and expression
      profiles similar to that of leiomyosarcoma cases, further supporting their
      intermediate, quasi-malignant behavior.

PMID- 26892446
TI  - Development and preliminary validation of a leadership competency instrument for
      existing and emerging allied health professional leaders.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No instruments, to our knowledge, exist to assess leadership
      competency in existing and emerging allied health professional (AHP) leaders.
      This paper describes the development and preliminary exploration of the
      psychometric properties of a leadership competency instrument for existing and
      emerging AHP leaders and examines (i) its factor structure, (ii) its convergent
      validity with the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), and (iii) its
      discriminative validity in AHPs with different grades. METHODS: During
      development, we included 25 items in the AHEAD (Aspiring leaders in Healthcare
      Empowering individuals, Achieving excellence, Developing talents) instrument. A
      cross-sectional study was then conducted in 106 high-potential AHPs from
      Singapore General Hospital (34 men and 72 women) of different professional grades
      (49 principal-grade AHPs, 41 senior-grade AHPs, and 16 junior-grade AHPs) who
      completed both AHEAD and LPI instruments. Exploratory factor analysis was used to
      test the theoretical structure of AHEAD. Spearman correlation analysis was
      performed to evaluate the convergent validity of AHEAD with LPI. Using
      proportional odds regression models, we evaluated the association of grades of
      AHPs with AHEAD and LPI. To assess discriminative validity, the c-statistics - a
      measure of discrimination - were derived from these ordinal models. RESULTS: As
      theorized, factor analysis suggested a two-factor solution, where "skills" and
      "values" formed separate factors. Internal consistency of AHEAD was excellent
      (alpha-values > 0.88). Total and component AHEAD and LPI scores correlated
      moderately (Spearman rho-values, 0.37 to 0.58). The c-index for discriminating
      between AHP grades was higher for AHEAD than for the LPI (0.76 vs. 0.65).
      CONCLUSION: The factorial structure of AHEAD was generally supported in our
      study. AHEAD showed convergent validity with the LPI and outperformed the LPI in
      terms of discriminative validity. These results provide initial evidence for the
      use of AHEAD to assess leadership competency in AHPs.

PMID- 26892443
TI  - The landscape of fusion transcripts in spitzoid melanoma and biologically
      indeterminate spitzoid tumors by RNA sequencing.
AB  - Kinase activation by chromosomal translocations is a common mechanism that drives
      tumorigenesis in spitzoid neoplasms. To explore the landscape of fusion
      transcripts in these tumors, we performed whole-transcriptome sequencing using
      formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in malignant or biologically
      indeterminate spitzoid tumors from 7 patients (age 2-14 years). RNA sequence
      libraries enriched for coding regions were prepared and the sequencing was
      analyzed by a novel assembly-based algorithm designed for detecting complex
      fusions. In addition, tumor samples were screened for hotspot TERT promoter
      mutations, and telomerase expression was assessed by TERT mRNA in situ
      hybridization (ISH). Two patients had widespread metastasis and subsequently died
      of disease, and 5 patients had a benign clinical course on limited follow-up
      (mean: 30 months). RNA sequencing and TERT mRNA ISH were successful in six tumors
      and unsuccessful in one disseminating tumor because of low RNA quality. RNA
      sequencing identified a kinase fusion in five of the six sequenced tumors: TPM3
      NTRK1 (2 tumors), complex rearrangements involving TPM3, ALK, and IL6R (1 tumor),
      BAIAP2L1-BRAF (1 tumor), and EML4-BRAF (1 disseminating tumor). All predicted
      chimeric transcripts were expressed at high levels and contained the intact
      kinase domain. In addition, two tumors each contained a second fusion gene,
      ARID1B-SNX9 or PTPRZ1-NFAM1. The detected chimeric genes were validated by home
      brew break-apart or fusion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The two
      disseminating tumors each harbored the TERT promoter -124C>T (Chr 5:1,295,228
      hg19 coordinate) mutation, whereas the remaining five tumors retained the wild
      type gene. The presence of the -124C>T mutation correlated with telomerase
      expression by TERT mRNA ISH. In summary, we demonstrated complex fusion
      transcripts and novel partner genes for BRAF by RNA sequencing of FFPE samples.
      The diversity of gene fusions demonstrated by RNA sequencing defines the
      molecular heterogeneity of spitzoid neoplasms. 

PMID- 26892447
TI  - Protective effect of wogonin on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury via reduction
      of p38 MAPK and JNK phosphorylation.
AB  - Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious inflammatory disorder which remains the
      primary cause of incidence and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary
      inflammation. However, there is still no effective medical strategy available
      clinically for the improvement of ALI. Wogonin, isolated from roots of
      Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is a common medicinal herb which presents
      biological and pharmacological effects, including antioxidation, anti
      inflammation, and anticancer. Preadministration of wogonin inhibited not only
      lung edema but also protein leakage into the alveolar space in murine model of
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Moreover, wogonin not only reduced the
      expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2
      but also inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)
      induced by LPS. We further found wogonin inhibited the phosphorylation of p38
      MAPK and JNK at a concentration lower than ERK. In addition, inhibition of lung
      edema, protein leakage, expression of iNOS and COX-2, and phosphorylation of p38
      MAPK and JNK were all observed in a parallel concentration-dependent manner.
      These results suggest that wogonin possesses potential protective effect against
      LPS-induced ALI via downregulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression by blocking
      phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ
      Toxicol 32: 397-403, 2017.

PMID- 26892448
TI  - Anticoagulation, CHA2DS2VASc Score, and Thromboembolic Risk of Cardioversion of
      Acute Atrial Fibrillation (from the FinCV Study).
AB  - The efficacy of the anticoagulation in preventing thromboembolic complications
      (TEC) and the usefulness of the CHA2DS2VASc score for assessing stroke risk
      during cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation (AF) are unclear. Thus, our
      objectives were to assess the ability of the CHA2DS2VASc score to predict TEC and
      to evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulation in the prevention of TEC in Finnish
      CardioVersion (FinCV) study. The FinCV is a retrospective, multicenter study of
      3,143 patients, who underwent 7,660 cardioversions for acute AF. The value of the
      CHA2DS2VASc score in predicting TEC was analyzed separately in cardioversions
      performed without and with anticoagulation. A total of 40 definite TEC (0.6%)
      occurred after 7,237 successful cardioversions and 1 stroke (0.2%) after 423
      unsuccessful procedures. In 5,362 cardioversions performed without
      anticoagulation, the risk of definite TEC increased significantly from 0.4% in
      patients with a CHA2DS2VASc score of 0 to 1 to 2.3% in those with score of >=5 (p
      <0.001 for trend). The C-statistic of the CHA2DS2VASc score was 0.72 (0.61 to
      0.83) in predicting definite TEC in non-anticoagulated patients with first
      cardioversion. The incidence of definite TEC was significantly lower in 2,298
      cardioversions performed during anticoagulation (0.1% vs 0.7%, p = 0.001), and
      the preventive effect of anticoagulation was significant in patients with a score
      of >=2 (0.2% vs 1.1%, p = 0.001). In conclusion, CHA2DS2VASc score is a strong
      predictor of TEC in cardioversion of acute AF performed without anticoagulation.
      Importantly, periprocedural anticoagulation reduced the risk of TEC by 82%. The
      overall risk of these complications was low after failed cardioversion. 

PMID- 26892449
TI  - Better Diagnosis of Functionally Significant Intermediate Sized Narrowings Using
      Intravascular Ultrasound-Minimal Lumen Area and Coronary Computed Tomographic
      Angiography-Based Myocardial Segmentation.
AB  - Lesion morphology poorly predicts functional significance of intermediate
      coronary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether a
      coronary artery-based myocardial segmentation method that quantifies subtended
      myocardium can improve the diagnostic accuracy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
      derived parameters for detecting ischemia-producing lesions. Coronary computed
      tomography angiography, IVUS, and fractional flow reserve (FFR) data were
      analyzed in 101 non-left main lesions (20% to 80% angiographic stenosis). Using
      the coronary artery-based myocardial segmentation method, total left ventricular
      myocardial volume (Vtotal), myocardial volume subtended by the stenotic coronary
      segment (Vsub), and Vratio (the ratio of the Vsub to the Vtotal) were assessed.
      Both Vsub >30.7 cm(3) and Vratio >25.4% were determinants of FFR <=0.75 (area
      under the curve = 0.696 and 0.744). Overall, an IVUS-measured minimum lumen area
      (IVUS-MLA) <=2.83 mm(2) predicted FFR <=0.75 with a sensitivity 88% and
      specificity 73%. Among lesions with IVUS-MLA <=2.83 mm(2) and FFR >0.75, 89%
      showed Vsub <30.7 cm(3). In 50 lesions with Vsub >30.7 cm(3), an IVUS-MLA <=2.85
      mm(2) predicted FFR <=0.75 with sensitivity 85%, specificity 92%, positive
      predictive value 92%, and negative predictive value 85%. Conversely, in 51
      lesions with a Vsub <=30.7 cm(3), IVUS-MLA <=2.67 mm(2) showed sensitivity 100%,
      specificity 69%, positive predictive value 38%, and negative predictive value
      100% for predicting FFR <=0.75. Body surface area, reference lumen diameter, and
      vessel area had modest correlations with Vsub. In those lesion subsets, IVUS-MLA
      ~2.8 mm(2) accurately predicted an FFR <=0.75, whereas the clinical relevance of
      assessing and treating lesions with a smaller myocardial territory may be limited
      (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT1696006).

PMID- 26892450
TI  - Association of Late Gadolinium Enhancement and Degree of Left Ventricular
      Hypertrophy Assessed on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Ventricular
      Tachycardia in Children With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
AB  - There are limited data on the clinical significance of left ventricular (LV) mass
      and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
      (HC). We reviewed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies of children
      with HC to investigate the associations between the extent and distribution of
      LGE and LV mass with ventricular tachycardia (VT) in children with HC. A blinded
      observer reviewed CMR studies for the presence and distribution of LV hypertrophy
      and LGE using a 17-segment model. The primary outcome was VT. LGE was present 17
      of 33 subjects (52%). VT was present on outpatient Holter monitor or exercise
      stress test in 7 patients, of which 5 patients (71%) had LGE. Each additional
      segment of LGE was associated with an increase in the odds of VT (odds ratio [OR]
      1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) and fewer than 5 segments with LGE had 93% specificity
      for the presence or absence of VT (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.5). VT was more
      common in patients with LGE in the apical septal (p = 0.03), basal inferoseptal
      (p <0.01), and basal inferior (p = 0.04) segments, whereas LGE in more commonly
      involved segments (midanteroseptal and midinferoseptal) was not associated with
      VT (p = 0.13, 0.26). Patients with VT had greater LV mass index (76.4 +/- 40.4
      g/m(2.7) vs 50.9 +/- 24.3 g/m(2.7); p = 0.03). Each centimeter of increased
      maximum LV thickness was associated with increased likelihood of VT (OR 2.9, 95%
      CI 1.2 to 6.8). In conclusion, in pediatric HC, CMR to evaluate the extent and
      pattern of LGE, LV mass index, and maximum LV thickness may help to identify
      children with HC at risk of VT. 

PMID- 26892451
TI  - Impact of Anesthesia Type on Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
      (from the Multicenter ADVANCE Study).
AB  - Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard of care
      for many patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are at increased
      risk of morbidity and mortality during surgical aortic valve replacement.
      However, there is still no general consensus regarding the use of general
      anesthesia (GA) versus local anesthesia with sedation (non-GA) during the TAVI
      procedure. Using propensity score-matching analysis, we analyzed the
      characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent TAVI with either GA (n =
      245) or non-GA (n = 245) in the fully monitored, international, CoreValve ADVANCE
      Study. No statistically significant differences existed between the non-GA and GA
      groups in all-cause mortality (25.4% vs 23.9%, p = 0.78), cardiovascular
      mortality (16.4% vs 16.6%, p = 0.92), or stroke (5.2% vs 6.9%, p = 0.57) through
      2-year follow-up. Major vascular complications were more common in the non-GA
      group. Total hospital stay was similar between the 2 groups. Conversion from non
      GA to GA occurred in 13 patients (5.3%) because of procedural complications in 9
      patients and discomfort or restlessness in 4 patients. Most procedural
      complications were related to valve positioning or vascular issues. Two of the 13
      converted patients died during the procedure. Both GA and non-GA are widely used
      in real-world TAVI practice, and the decision appears to be guided by only a few
      patient-related factors and dominated by local and national practice. The
      outcomes of both anesthesia modes are equally good. When conversion from non-GA
      did occur, the complication requiring GA affected outcomes. 

PMID- 26892452
TI  - Meta-Analysis of Radial Versus Femoral Artery Approach for Coronary Procedures in
      Patients With Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
AB  - Cardiac catheterization through the radial artery approach (RA) has been shown to
      significantly reduce access-site complications compared with the femoral artery
      approach (FA) in many clinical settings. However, in the subset of patients with
      previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), optimal vascular access site for
      coronary angiography and intervention is still a matter of debate. We aimed to
      perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies comparing RA
      with FA in patients with previous CABG. Data were extracted by two independent
      reviewers; weighted mean differences and 95% confidence interval (CI) were
      calculated for continuous outcomes, whereas odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were
      calculated for dichotomous outcomes. Summary statistics were calculated by random
      effects model using Review Manager 5.3 software. The meta-analysis included 1
      randomized and 8 nonrandomized studies, with a total of 2,763 patients. Compared
      with FA, RA required similar procedural time (mean difference 3.24 minutes, 95%
      CI -1.76 to 8.25, p = 0.20), fluoroscopy time (mean difference 0.62 minutes, 95%
      CI -0.83 to 2.07, p = 0.40), and contrast volume (mean difference -2.58 ml, 95%
      CI -18.36 to 13.20, p = 0.75) and was associated with similar rate of procedural
      failure (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.63 to 2.80, p = 0.46), higher rate of crossover to
      another vascular access (OR 7.0, 95% CI 2.74 to 17.87, p <0.0001), and lower risk
      of access-site complications (OR 0.46, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.80, p = 0.006). In
      conclusion, the present meta-analysis suggests that in patients with previous
      CABG undergoing coronary procedures, RA, compared with FA, is associated with
      increased crossover rate but may reduce access-site complications. 

PMID- 26892453
TI  - Biocompatible multilayer capsules engineered with a graphene oxide derivative:
      synthesis, characterization and cellular uptake.
AB  - Graphene-based capsules have strong potential for a number of applications,
      including drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, sensors, catalysis and
      reactors. The ability to integrate graphene into carrier systems with three
      dimensional (3D) geometry may open new perspectives both for fundamental tests of
      graphene mechanics and for novel (bio)technological applications. However, the
      assembly of 3D complexes from graphene or its derivatives is challenging because
      of its poor stability under biological conditions. In this work, we attempted to
      integrate a layer of graphene oxide derivative into the shell of biodegradable
      capsules by exploiting a facile layer-by-layer (LbL) protocol. As a first step we
      optimized the LbL protocol to obtain colloidal suspensions of isolated capsules
      embedding the graphene oxide derivative. As a following step, we investigated in
      detail the morphological properties of the hybrid capsules, and how the graphene
      oxide derivative layer influences the porosity and the robustness of the
      multilayer composite shells. Finally, we verified the uptake of the capsules
      modified with the GO derivative by two cell lines and studied their intracellular
      localization and biocompatibility. As compared to pristine capsules, the graphene
      modified capsules possess reduced porosity, reduced shell thickness and a higher
      stability against osmotic pressure. They show remarkable biocompatibility towards
      the tested cells and long-term colloidal stability and dispersion. By combining
      the excellent mechanical properties of a graphene oxide derivative with the high
      versatility of the LbL method, robust and flexible biocompatible polymeric
      capsules with novel characteristics have been fabricated. 

PMID- 26892454
TI  - Erratum to: PTESFinder: a computational method to identify post-transcriptional
      exon shuffling (PTES) events.

PMID- 26892455
TI  - An Improved CAD System for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Based on Generalized Pseudo
      Zernike Moment and Ada-DEWNN Classifier.
AB  - In this paper, a novel framework of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system has
      been presented for the classification of benign/malignant breast tissues. The
      properties of the generalized pseudo-Zernike moments (GPZM) and pseudo-Zernike
      moments (PZM) are utilized as suitable texture descriptors of the suspicious
      region in the mammogram. An improved classifier- adaptive differential evolution
      wavelet neural network (Ada-DEWNN) is proposed to improve the classification
      accuracy of the CAD system. The efficiency of the proposed system is tested on
      mammograms from the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (mini-MIAS) database
      using the leave-one-out cross validation as well as on mammograms from the
      Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM) database using 10-fold cross
      validation. The proposed method on MIAS-database attains a fair accuracy of
      0.8938 and AUC of 0.935 (95 % CI = 0.8213-0.9831). The proposed method is also
      tested for in-plane rotation and found to be highly rotation invariant. In
      addition, the proposed classifier is tested and compared with some well-known
      existing methods using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis using
      DDSM- database. It is concluded the proposed classifier has better area under the
      curve (AUC) (0.9289) and highly precised with 95 % CI, 0.8216 to 0.9834 and
      0.0384 standard error.

PMID- 26892456
TI  - Computational Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Based on Time-Dependent Bloch
      NMR Flow Equation and Bessel Functions.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field along with radio
      waves and a computer to produce highly detailed "slice-by-slice" pictures of
      virtually all internal structures of matter. The results enable physicians to
      examine parts of the body in minute detail and identify diseases in ways that are
      not possible with other techniques. For example, MRI is one of the few imaging
      tools that can see through bones, making it an excellent tool for examining the
      brain and other soft tissues. Pulsed-field gradient experiments provide a
      straightforward means of obtaining information on the translational motion of
      nuclear spins. However, the interpretation of the data is complicated by the
      effects of restricting geometries as in the case of most cancerous tissues and
      the mathematical concept required to account for this becomes very difficult.
      Most diffusion magnetic resonance techniques are based on the Stejskal-Tanner
      formulation usually derived from the Bloch-Torrey partial differential equation
      by including additional terms to accommodate the diffusion effect. Despite the
      early success of this technique, it has been shown that it has important
      limitations, the most of which occurs when there is orientation heterogeneity of
      the fibers in the voxel of interest (VOI). Overcoming this difficulty requires
      the specification of diffusion coefficients as function of spatial coordinate(s)
      and such a phenomenon is an indication of non-uniform compartmental conditions
      which can be analyzed accurately by solving the time-dependent Bloch NMR flow
      equation analytically. In this study, a mathematical formulation of magnetic
      resonance flow sequence in restricted geometry is developed based on a general
      second order partial differential equation derived directly from the fundamental
      Bloch NMR flow equations. The NMR signal is obtained completely in terms of NMR
      experimental parameters. The process is described based on Bessel functions and
      properties that can make it possible to distinguish cancerous cells from normal
      cells. A typical example of liver distinguished from gray matter, white matter
      and kidney is demonstrated. Bessel functions and properties are specifically
      needed to show the direct effect of the instantaneous velocity on the NMR signal
      originating from normal and abnormal tissues. 

PMID- 26892457
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with mixed-type fulminant autoimmune
      hemolytic anemia.
AB  - We report the case of a 9-year-old girl who presented with mixed-type fulminant
      autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) at the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE). On admission, laboratory investigations indicated very severe anemia (Hb,
      2.7 g/dL) with reticulocytosis and positive direct/indirect Coombs tests. In
      addition, agglutinative reaction was clinically observed. Based on further
      examinations, the patient was diagnosed with AIHA complicated with SLE, and mixed
      type AIHA was clinically identified. With oral prednisolone and
      methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the patient entered remission.

PMID- 26892458
TI  - Establishment of a Novel Primary Human Skeletal Myoblast Cellular Model for
      Chikungunya Virus Infection and Pathogenesis.
AB  - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging arbovirus known to cause chronic
      myalgia and arthralgia and is now considered endemic in countries across Asia and
      Africa. The tissue tropism of CHIKV infection in humans remains, however, ill
      defined. Due to the fact that myositis is commonly observed in most patients
      infected with CHIKV, we sought to develop a clinically relevant cellular model to
      better understand the pathogenesis of CHIKV infection. In this study, primary
      human skeletal muscle myoblasts (HSMM) were established as a novel human primary
      cell line that is highly permissive to CHIKV infection, with maximal amounts of
      infectious virions observed at 16 hours post infection. Genome-wide microarray
      profiling analyses were subsequently performed to identify and map genes that are
      differentially expressed upon CHIKV infection. Infection of HSMM cells with CHIKV
      resulted in altered expressions of host genes involved in skeletal- and muscular
      associated disorders, innate immune responses, cellular growth and death, host
      metabolism and virus replication. Together, this study has shown the
      establishment of a clinically relevant primary human cell model that paves the
      way for the further analysis of host factors and their involvement in the various
      stages of CHIKV replication cycle and viral pathogenesis.

PMID- 26892460
TI  - Notoginsenoside R1 Protects against Neonatal Cerebral Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury
      through Estrogen Receptor-Dependent Activation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
      Pathways.
AB  - Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is a phytoestrogen that is isolated from Panax
      notoginseng It is used in China to treat many diseases, including hypoxic
      ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and it has been shown to target estrogen
      receptors. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an important role in the
      development of cell apoptosis during ischemia, and ER stress is known to be
      regulated by estrogen; however, the neuroprotective mechanisms of NGR1 in
      neonatal HIE is unclear. In this study, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation
      (OGD/R) in primary cortical neurons and unilateral ligation of the common carotid
      artery (CCL), followed by exposure to a hypoxic environment in 7-day-old
      postnatal Sprague-Dawley rats were used to mimic HIE episodes. Potential
      neuroprotective effects of NGR1 against neonatal HIE and its mechanisms were
      examined. After HIE conditions in vitro and in vivo, we administered NGR1 or the
      estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI-182780 and measured cell apoptosis, brain injury
      by MTT assay, TTC stain, and so forth. Expression of estrogen receptors alpha
      (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta), ER stress-associated proteins was detected by
      Western blot upon stimulation with HIE, NGR1, or ICI-182780. Results showed that
      after HIE, ER chaperone GRP78 was activated, ER stress-associated proapoptotic
      proteins (CHOP, PERK, ERO1-alpha, and IRE1alpha) were increased, caspase-12 was
      increased, and BCL-2 was decreased. The ER stress response and neuronal apoptosis
      were attenuated by NGR1 treatment. However, neuroprotective properties of NGR1
      against HIE-induced apoptosis and ER stress were attenuated by ICI-182780. These
      results suggest that NGR1 may be an effective treatment of HIE by reducing ER
      stress-induced neuronal apoptosis and brain injury via estrogen receptors.

PMID- 26892459
TI  - Experimental transfusion-induced Babesia microti infection: dynamics of
      parasitemia and immune responses in a rhesus macaque model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infection in humans. The
      increasing numbers of reported cases of transfusion-associated babesiosis (TAB),
      primarily caused by Babesia microti, represents a concern for the safety of the
      US blood supply. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study investigated kinetics of
      parasitemia and innate immune responses and dynamics of antibody responses during
      B. microti infection in rhesus macaques (RMs) using blood smears, quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), flow cytometry, and indirect fluorescent
      antibody testing. A total of six monkeys were transfused with either hamster or
      monkey-passaged B. microti-infected red blood cells (two and four monkeys,
      respectively) simulating TAB. RESULTS: The prepatent period in monkeys inoculated
      with hamster-passaged B. microti was 35 days compared with 4 days in monkeys
      transfused with monkey-passaged B. microti; the latter monkeys also had markedly
      higher parasitemia levels. The duration of the window period from the first
      detected parasitemia by qPCR analysis to the first detected antibody response
      ranged from 10 to 17 days. Antibody responses fluctuated during the course of the
      infection. Innate responses assessed by the frequencies of monocytes and
      activated B cells correlated with the kinetics and magnitude of parasitemia. On
      Day 14, additional activation peaks were noted for CD14+CD16+ and CD14-CD16+
      monocytes and for CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells, but only in animals transfused
      with monkey-passaged B. microti. Parasitemia persisted in these immunocompetent
      animals, similar to human infection. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that
      transfusion-associated transmission of B. microti leads to rapid onset of
      parasitemia (Day 4) in RMs, detectable antibody response 14 days later, and
      persistent parasitemia.

PMID- 26892462
TI  - Autonomic nervous system-mediated effects of galanin-like peptide on lipid
      metabolism in liver and adipose tissue.
AB  - Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of
      feeding behavior and energy metabolism in mammals. While a weight loss effect of
      GALP has been reported, its effects on lipid metabolism have not been
      investigated. The aim of this study was to determine if GALP regulates lipid
      metabolism in liver and adipose tissue via an action on the sympathetic nervous
      system. The respiratory exchange ratio of mice administered GALP
      intracerebroventricularly was lower than that of saline-treated animals, and
      fatty acid oxidation-related gene mRNA levels were increased in the liver. Even
      though the respiratory exchange ratio was reduced by GALP, this change was not
      significant when mice were treated with the sympatholytic drug, guanethidine.
      Lipolysis-related gene mRNA levels were increased in the adipose tissue of GALP
      treated mice compared with saline-treated animals. These results show that GALP
      stimulates fatty acid beta-oxidation in liver and lipolysis in adipose tissue,
      and suggest that the anti-obesity effect of GALP may be due to anorexigenic
      actions and improvement of lipid metabolism in peripheral tissues via the
      sympathetic nervous system. 

PMID- 26892464
TI  - Note of clarification regarding data on the association between the interleukin
      1beta -511C>T polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

PMID- 26892461
TI  - Insulin resistance, endothelial function, angiogenic factors and clinical outcome
      in non-diabetic patients with chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with angina-like symptoms without myocardial perfusion
      scintigram (MPS)-verified abnormality may still be at risk for cardiovascular
      events. We hypothesized that insulin resistance could play a role in this
      population even without diagnosed diabetes. We further explored physiological and
      blood biomarkers, as well as global gene expression patterns that could be
      closely related to impaired glucose homeostasis to deepen our mechanistic
      understanding. METHODS: A total of 365 non-diabetic patients with suspected
      myocardial ischemia referred to MPS were enrolled and followed up regarding event
      free survival with a median time of 5.1 years. All patients underwent endothelial
      function assessment by reactive hyperemic index (RHI) using EndoPAT and extensive
      biomarker analysis. Whole blood global gene expression pathway analysis was
      performed in a subset of patients. RESULTS: Homeostasis model assessment of
      insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) added independent prognostic value in patients
      without myocardial perfusion defects. In a multivariable analysis, HOMA-IR was
      inversely associated with low RHI. Furthermore, elevated HOMA-IR was associated
      with decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor D, stem cell factor
      and endocan as well as to increased level of interleukin-6. Global gene
      expression pathway analysis of whole blood cells showed that high HOMA-IR and
      impaired endothelial function were associated with upregulated pro-inflammatory
      pathways and down-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor-2 pathway. CONCLUSIONS:
      Insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR is associated with endothelial dysfunction
      and confers independent prognostic information in non-diabetic patients with
      chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects. Increased systemic pro
      inflammatory state and decreased levels of pro-angiogenic vascular growth factors
      may be important underlying molecular mechanisms.

PMID- 26892463
TI  - Id4 functions downstream of Bmp signaling to restrict TCF function in endocardial
      cells during atrioventricular valve development.
AB  - The atrioventricular canal (AVC) connects the atrial and ventricular chambers of
      the heart and its formation is critical for the development of the cardiac
      valves, chamber septation and formation of the cardiac conduction system.
      Consequently, problems in AVC formation can lead to congenital defects ranging
      from cardiac arrhythmia to incomplete cardiac septation. While our knowledge
      about early heart tube formation is relatively comprehensive, much remains to be
      investigated about the genes that regulate AVC formation. Here we identify a new
      role for the basic helix-loop-helix factor Id4 in zebrafish AVC valve development
      and function. id4 is first expressed in the AVC endocardium and later becomes
      more highly expressed in the atrial chamber. TALEN induced inactivation of id4
      causes retrograde blood flow at the AV canal under heat induced stress
      conditions, indicating defects in AV valve function. At the molecular level, we
      found that id4 inactivation causes misexpression of several genes important for
      AVC and AV valve formation including bmp4 and spp1. We further show that id4
      appears to control the number of endocardial cells that contribute to the AV
      valves by regulating Wnt signaling in the developing AVC endocardium. 

PMID- 26892466
TI  - Electrophysiological findings after surgical thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation
      ablation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hybrid ablation (a combination of thoracoscopic epicardial ablation
      and catheter ablation) has become a new technique for atrial fibrillation
      treatment. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the success and
      electrophysiological follow-up after using the COBRA Fusion device to deliver a
      circumferential lesion set anterior to the pulmonary veins in an attempt to
      isolate the posterior left atrium (box isolation). METHODS: Surgical ablation was
      carried out via a thoracoscopic approach using the COBRA Fusion radiofrequency
      catheter. An electrophysiology study was done 2-3 months later to verify box
      isolation (and to complete it, if needed) and to perform right-sided isthmus
      ablation. Fat thickness along the presumed box lesion line was measured using
      preprocedural computed tomography. RESULTS: Thirty patients (mean age 60.0 +/-
      11.6 years; 22 men; 8 with long-standing persistent AF and 22 with persistent
      atrial fibrillation) were enrolled. The duration of the EP study was 216.3 +/-
      64.2 minutes. Box isolation, based on the EP study, was complete in 12 patients
      (40%) and incomplete in 18 patients (60%). Successful box isolation was achieved
      with catheter ablation in 16 of 18 patients (89%). A total of 39 gaps in these 16
      patients were identified. Typical gap locations were the anterior-superior part
      of the superior pulmonary veins and the roofline. Fat thickness along the
      roofline was substantially higher than that along the inferior line (4.58 +/-
      1.61 mm vs 2.37 +/- 0.76 mm; P < .001). CONCLUSION: There is a relatively low
      rate of complete isolation using the COBRA catheter ablation system. The superior
      line and anterior parts of superior pulmonary veins have most conduction gaps.

PMID- 26892465
TI  - Synergism between the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and FAK down-regulation in the
      treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive malignant
      disorder of lymphoid progenitor cells in both children and adults. Although
      improvements in contemporary therapy and development of new treatment strategies
      have led to dramatic increases in the cure rate in children with ALL, the relapse
      rate remains high and the prognosis of relapsed childhood ALL is poor.
      Molecularly targeted therapies have emerged as the leading treatments in cancer
      therapy. Multi-cytotoxic drug regimens have achieved success, yet many studies
      addressing targeted therapies have focused on only one single agent. In this
      study, we attempted to investigate whether the effect of the mammalian target of
      rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin is synergistic with the effect of focal
      adhesion kinase (FAK) down-regulation in the treatment of ALL. METHODS: The
      effect of rapamycin combined with FAK down-regulation on cell proliferation, the
      cell cycle, and apoptosis was investigated in the human precursor B acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia cells REH and on survival time and leukemia progression in
      a non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mouse model.
      RESULTS: When combined with FAK down-regulation, rapamycin-induced suppression of
      cell proliferation, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis were significantly
      enhanced. In addition, REH cell-injected NOD/SCID mice treated with rapamycin and
      a short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) to down-regulate FAK had significantly longer
      survival times and slower leukemia progression compared with mice injected with
      REH-empty vector cells and treated with rapamycin. Moreover, the B-cell
      CLL/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) gene family was shown to be involved in the enhancement,
      by combined treatment, of REH cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: FAK down-regulation
      enhanced the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of rapamycin on REH cell
      growth, indicating that the simultaneous targeting of mTOR- and FAK-related
      pathways might offer a novel and powerful strategy for treating ALL.

PMID- 26892468
TI  - Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 indicates a poor prognosis of hepatocellular
      carcinoma and promotes cell proliferation and invasion via upregulation of the
      RhoA/Rac2 signaling.
AB  - It has been shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the
      regulation of cellular processes including cancer progression and metastasis.
      However, the biological functions and clinical significance of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1
      in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Expression of AFAP1-AS1 was
      analyzed in 78 HCC tissues by real-time PCR. The effect of AFAP1-AS1 on cell
      proliferation was examined by MTT assay, cell apoptosis was detected by flow
      cytometric analysis and cell invasion was determined by Transwell assay.
      RhoA/Rac2 signaling and downstream factors were verified by western blotting. HCC
      cells infected with si-AFAP1-AS1 were injected into nude mice to investigate the
      effect of AFAP1-AS1 on the tumorigenesis in vivo. We found that increased
      expression of AFAP1-AS1 was significantly correlated with pathological staging
      (P=0.024) and lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) in HCC patients (P=0.007).
      Multivariate analyses indicated that AFAP1-AS1 represented an independent
      predictor for overall survival of HCC (P=0.029). Further experiments showed that
      knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 by si-AFAP1-AS1 decreased the proliferation and invasion
      in vitro and in vivo, induced cell apoptosis and blocked cell cycle in S phase
      via inhibition of the RhoA/Rac2 signaling. Taken together, our findings indicate
      that AFAP1-AS1 may promote the HCC development through upregulation of RhoA/Rac2
      signaling and provide a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

PMID- 26892467
TI  - Thyroid gland rupture caused by blunt trauma to the neck.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thyroid rupture following blunt trauma is extremely rare, and neck
      pain without swelling may be the only presenting symptom. However, hemorrhage and
      hematoma subsequently causes severe tracheal compression and respiratory
      distress. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old Japanese woman visited our emergency
      room with a complaint of increasing right-sided neck pain at the thyroid
      cartilage level after she tripped and accidentally hit her neck against a pole 3
      h back. On admission, her vital signs were stable. There was no swelling or
      subcutaneous emphysema. Laryngeal endoscopy revealed mild laryngeal edema,
      although there was no impairment in vocal fold mobility on either side. Contrast
      enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed rupture of the right lobe of the
      thyroid gland accompanied by a large hematoma extending from the neck to the
      mediastinum. Under general anesthesia, the right lobe was resected and the
      hematoma was evacuated. CONCLUSION: Only a few isolated cases of thyroid rupture
      caused by blunt neck trauma have been reported in patients with normal thyroid
      glands and neck pain without swelling may be the only presenting symptom. When
      suspected, CT should be performed to confirm the diagnosis determine the optimal
      treatment.

PMID- 26892469
TI  - Characteristics of neonatal near miss in hospitals in Benin, Burkina Faso and
      Morocco in 2012-2013.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore the usefulness of neonatal
      near miss in low- and middle-income countries by examining the incidence of
      neonatal near miss and pre-discharge neonatal deaths across various obstetric
      risk categories in 17 hospitals in Benin, Burkina Faso and Morocco. METHODS: Data
      were collected on all maternal deaths, maternal near miss, neonatal near miss
      (based on organ-dysfunction markers), Caesarean sections, stillbirths, neonatal
      deaths before discharge and non-cephalic presentations, and on a sample of births
      not falling in any of the above categories. RESULTS: The burden of stillbirth,
      pre-discharge neonatal death or neonatal near miss ranged from 23 to 129 per 1000
      births in Moroccan and Beninese hospitals, respectively. Perinatal deaths (range
      17-89 per 1000 births) were more common than neonatal near miss (range 6-43 per
      1000 live births), and between a fifth and a third of women who had suffered a
      maternal near miss lost their baby. Pre-discharge neonatal deaths and neonatal
      near miss had a similar distribution of markers of organ dysfunction, but unlike
      pre-discharge neonatal deaths most neonatal near miss (63%, 81% and 71% in Benin,
      Burkina Faso and Morocco, respectively) occurred among babies who were not
      considered premature, low birthweight or with a low 5-min Apgar score as defined
      by WHO's pragmatic markers of severe neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Whether the
      measurement of neonatal near miss adds useful insights into the quality of
      perinatal or newborn care in settings where facility-based intrapartum and early
      newborn mortality is very high is uncertain. Perhaps the greatest advantage of
      adding near miss is the shift in focus from failure to success so that lessons
      can be learned on how to save lives even when clinical conditions are life
      threatening.

PMID- 26892471
TI  - Prevalence and imaging characteristics of palatine tonsilloliths evaluated on
      2244 pairs of panoramic radiographs and CT images.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Palatine tonsilloliths incidentally detected on diagnostic imaging
      should be differentiated from pathologic calcifications to enable correct
      diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence and
      imaging characteristics of palatine tonsilloliths on panoramic radiographs.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 2244 individuals who underwent
      pairs of consecutive panoramic radiography and computed tomography (CT) of the
      head and neck region. The imaging characteristics of palatine tonsilloliths on
      panoramic radiography were compared with the findings from CT, which was
      considered the gold standard. RESULTS: Tonsilloliths were detected in 300 (13.4
      %) and 914 (40.7 %) of the 2244 individuals on panoramic radiographs and CT,
      respectively. On panoramic radiographs, tonsilloliths were superimposed over the
      ramus of the mandible at the level coincident with and inferior to the soft
      palate in 176 (7.8 %) and 90 (4.0 %) individuals, respectively. Tonsilloliths
      were also superimposed over the surrounding soft tissue inferior to the body of
      the mandible, postero-inferior to the angle of the mandible, and posterior to the
      ramus of the mandible in 33 (1.5 %), 26 (1.2 %), and 28 (1.3 %) individuals,
      respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the detectability on
      panoramic radiographs and the size (Spearman r = 1.000) and number (Spearman r =
      0.991) of tonsilloliths, as revealed by CT images. CONCLUSIONS: The present
      results suggest that tonsilloliths are commonly detected on panoramic
      radiographs. Furthermore, they can be superimposed on both the mandible and the
      surrounding soft tissue. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should include
      tonsilloliths among the differential diagnoses when calcified bodies are detected
      on panoramic radiographs.

PMID- 26892473
TI  - Vitamin B supplementation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
AB  - Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with significant neurological
      pathology, especially peripheral neuropathy. This review aims to examine the
      existing evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin B12 supplementation for the
      treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A search of PubMed and the Cochrane
      Central Register of Controlled Trials for all relevant randomised controlled
      trials was conducted in December 2014. Any type of therapy using vitamin B12 or
      its coenzyme forms was assessed for efficacy and safety in diabetics with
      peripheral neuropathy. Changes in vibration perception thresholds, neuropathic
      symptoms and nerve conduction velocities, as well as the adverse effects of
      vitamin B12 therapy, were assessed. Four studies comprising 363 patients met the
      inclusion criteria. This review found no evidence that the use of oral vitamin
      B12 supplements is associated with improvement in the clinical symptoms of
      diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, the majority of studies reported no improvement
      in the electrophysiological markers of nerve conduction. 

PMID- 26892474
TI  - Exudative Polymorphous Vitelliform Retinopathy: Importance of Early Recognition
      of the Condition in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Because of the advent of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of
      metastatic melanoma, patients with this disease are surviving longer. Early
      recognition of the disease has therefore become even more important. CASE REPORT:
      We present a patient with vitelliform maculopathy, a paraneoplastic retinal
      maculopathy that is under-recognized. Clinically the retinal findings of serous
      detachments and pigmentary macular changes are remarkable, while at the same time
      these patients have surprisingly very few symptoms. This is in contrast to
      patients who develop melanoma associated retinopathy (MAR) who are very
      symptomatic early in the disease, but with more subtle retinal findings.
      CONCLUSION: Monoclonal antibody treatment is changing the survival rates in
      metastatic disease making early diagnosis even more important. Exudative
      polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy (EPVM) needs to be recognized early to avoid
      delay in diagnosis of metastatic disease.

PMID- 26892475
TI  - All BMJ research papers should share their analytic code.

PMID- 26892472
TI  - In vitro antibacterial and remineralizing effect of adhesive containing triazine
      and niobium pentoxide phosphate inverted glass.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: White spot lesions are still a concern for orthodontic patients. The
      objective of this study was to assess the remineralizing and antibacterial effect
      of a newly developed orthodontic adhesive. METHODS: The compounds 1,3,5
      tryacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (TAT) and phosphate invert glass containing
      10 mol% of niobium pentoxide (PIG-Nb) were added at 20 and 5 wt%, respectively,
      to an experimental adhesive (75 wt% BisGMA, 25 wt% TEGDMA, 5 wt% fummed silica,
      and photo-initiator system), called TPN. A group without the addition of these
      compounds was used as Control and the orthodontic adhesive Transbond XT (TXT) was
      used for comparison. Antibacterial activity was evaluated through surface biofilm
      formation, mineral deposition, and degree of conversion (DC) through Raman
      microscopy, Knoop hardness after softening in solvent, and bracket dislodgement
      (BD). RESULTS: TPN group presented a reduction in bacterial growth when compared
      to Control and TXT. Mineral deposits were observed on the surface of TPN adhesive
      after 14 and 28 days of immersion in artificial saliva. There was an increase in
      DC after 28 days, whereas TPN group presented the highest DC. All groups
      underwent some degree of softening. No significant changes were observed in BD
      after 28 days of immersion in artificial saliva. CONCLUSION: The newly developed
      orthodontic adhesive, with addition of 20 wt% TAT and 5w% PIG-Nb, exhibited
      antibacterial activity and was capable to induce mineral deposition on its
      surface in vitro. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The orthodontic adhesive developed in
      this study with antibacterial activity and mineral deposition could be a reliable
      choice for brackets adhesion.

PMID- 26892476
TI  - Is effective a prior multiparametric magnetic resonance scan in patients
      candidates to prostate biopsy? CAT Study.
AB  - We carried out a critically appraised topic (CAT)-type study to determine whether
      the relevant scientific evidence supports the recommendation of doing a
      multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging study of the prostate in all patients
      who are candidates for prostate biopsy with the aim of improving the detection of
      clinically significant prostate cancer and stratifying patients to receive active
      surveillance or treatment. After a formal literature search and an analysis of
      the two most relevant articles it found, we reached the conclusion that, despite
      promising results that point to the potential usefulness of this approach, there
      is still not enough clear scientific evidence to endorse it categorically. Before
      this approach can be endorsed, we need evidence from well-designed prospective
      randomized trials using widely agreed upon criteria and including large numbers
      of patients at multiple centers. 

PMID- 26892477
TI  - Molecular Genotyping of HIV-1 Strains from Newly Infected Men Who Have Sex with
      Men in Harbin, China.
AB  - In this study, blood samples from newly HIV-1 infected men who have sex with men
      (MSM) were collected, and HIV-1 genotypes were identified based on gag p17-p24
      and nef gene regions. We found that participants aged from 20 to 40 years old
      were the major infection group in Harbin. CRF01_AE was the predominant genotype,
      contributing to 84.7% of HIV-1 infections, followed by subtype B (4.7%), CRF07_BC
      (3.5%), and subtype B' (Thai B, 1.2%). Moreover, five unique recombinant forms
      (5.9%) were also identified, including genotypes 01B, 01C, and 01/02. The
      recombinant CRF01_AE/CRF02_AG was first reported in China. These results
      suggested that current HIV-1 genotype epidemic among MSM in Harbin is more
      complicated and that intersubtype recombinants have emerged. Therefore, timely
      regional epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 genotype and development of
      prevention measures for new HIV-1 infections among MSM are quite important.

PMID- 26892478
TI  - 5-HT7 Receptors Are Not Involved in Neuropeptide Release in Primary Cultured Rat
      Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons.
AB  - Migraine is a common but complex neurological disorder. Its precise mechanisms
      are not fully understood. Increasing indirect evidence indicates that 5-HT7
      receptors may be involved; however, their role remains unknown. Our previous in
      vivo study showed that selective blockade of 5-HT7 receptors caused decreased
      serum levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the external jugular
      vein following electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) in an
      animal model of migraine. In the present study, we used an in vitro model of
      cultured TG cells to further investigate whether 5-HT7 receptors are directly
      responsible for the release of CGRP and substance P from TG neurons. We
      stimulated rat primary cultured TG neurons with capsaicin or potassium chloride
      (KCl) to mimic neurogenic inflammation, resulting in release of CGRP and
      substance P. 5-HT7 receptors were abundantly expressed in TG neurons. Greater
      than 93 % of 5-HT7 receptor-positive neurons co-expressed CGRP and 56 % co
      expressed substance P. Both the capsaicin- and KCl-induced release of CGRP and
      substance P were unaffected by pretreatment of cultured TG cells with the
      selective 5-HT7 receptor agonist AS19 and antagonist SB269970. This study
      demonstrates for the first time that 5-HT7 receptors are abundantly co-expressed
      with CGRP and substance P in rat primary TG neurons and suggests that they are
      not responsible for the release of CGRP and substance P from cultured TG neurons
      evoked by capsaicin or KCl. 

PMID- 26892480
TI  - Three cases of pigmented cosmetic dermatitis-like eruptions associated with
      primary Sjogren's syndrome or anti-SSA antibody.
AB  - Pigmented cosmetic dermatitis-like (Riehl's melanosis-like) pigmentation was
      reported in three of 27 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. But case
      reports of such eruptions are rare. We describe three cases of such eruptions
      associated with primary Sjogren's syndrome or anti-SSA antibody and possible
      associations with specific types of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and
      infiltrating lymphocytes. These middle-aged Japanese women had reticular facial
      pigmentation and histopathological examination revealed interface dermatitis,
      melanophages, and dense lymphocytic infiltration around hair follicles and sweat
      ducts. HLA typing revealed common antigenic equivalents or genetic typing of HLA
      A2, DR52, DPA1(02:02) and DPB1(05:01). Immunohistochemical staining revealed
      major subsets of T cells to be CD8 and CD45RO. Some Foxp3- and few IL17-positive
      cells were found in strong contrast to the major CD4 subset of infiltrated T
      cells in annular erythema associated with Sjogren's syndrome. Apparently, our
      patients' pigmentation represented a specific etiology associated with primary
      Sjogren's syndrome or anti-SSA antibody. 

PMID- 26892479
TI  - Clinical impact of ABL1 kinase domain mutations and IKZF1 deletion in adults
      under age 60 with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia (ALL): molecular analysis of CALGB (Alliance) 10001 and 9665.
AB  - Recent studies have identified oncogenic lesions in Philadelphia chromosome
      positive (Ph+)  acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and ABL1 kinase mutations that
      confer resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We sought to determine the
      prevalence and clinical impact of these lesions in patients on CALGB 10001, a
      previously reported Phase II study of imatinib, chemotherapy, and hematopoietic
      cell transplant in adult Ph + ALL. Of the 58 enrolled, 22 relapsed. By direct
      sequencing, an ABL1 kinase mutation known to induce imatinib resistance was
      present at relapse in 13 of 20. Using quantitative PCR assays, the mutations were
      detectable at diagnosis or early during treatment in most (62%) relapsed
      patients. Aberrations in IKZF1, CDKN2A/B, and PAX5 were assessed in 28 samples
      using SNP arrays and genomic DNA sequencing. Of these, 22 (79%) had IKZF1
      deletion. The combination of IKZF1 deletion and p210 BCR-ABL1 (p < 0.0001), high
      white blood cell count (p = 0.021), and minimal residual disease (p = 0.013) were
      associated with worse disease-free survival.

PMID- 26892481
TI  - Group-sequential three-arm noninferiority clinical trial designs.
AB  - We discuss group-sequential three-arm noninferiority clinical trial designs that
      include active and placebo controls for evaluating both assay sensitivity and
      noninferiority. We extend two existing approaches, the fixed margin and fraction
      approaches, into a group-sequential setting with two decision-making frameworks.
      We investigate the operating characteristics including power, Type I error rate,
      maximum, and expected sample sizes, as design factors vary. In addition, we
      discuss sample size recalculation and its impact on the power and Type I error
      rate via a simulation study.

PMID- 26892482
TI  - Supramolecular polymerisation in water; elucidating the role of hydrophobic and
      hydrogen-bond interactions.
AB  - Understanding the self-assembly of small molecules in water is crucial for the
      development of responsive, biocompatible soft materials. Here, a family of
      benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) derivatives that comprise a BTA moiety
      connected to an amphiphilic chain is synthesised with the aim to elucidate the
      role of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the self-assembly of
      these BTAs. The amphiphilic chain consists of an alkyl chain with a length of 10,
      11, or 12 methylene units, connected to a tetraethylene glycol (at the
      periphery). The results show that an undecyl spacer is the minimum length
      required for these BTAs to self-assemble into supramolecular polymers.
      Interestingly, exchange studies reveal only minor differences in exchange rates
      between BTAs containing undecyl or dodecyl spacers. Additionally, IR spectroscopy
      provides the first experimental evidence that hydrogen-bonding is operative and
      contributes to the stabilisation of the supramolecular polymers in water. 

PMID- 26892483
TI  - Is Turkish MEFV Mutations Spectrum Different Among Regions?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive
      inherited inflammatory disease. The gene responsible for the disease, called
      MEFV, encodes a protein called pyrin or marenostrin. According to recent data,
      MEFV mutations are not the only cause of FMF, but genetic analysis of MEFV gene
      is needed for confirming the diagnosis of FMF. In the present study, we aimed to
      evaluate the molecular testing results of MEFV mutations. METHODS: Molecular
      testing results of 1,435 patients were retrospectively evaluated over the last 4
      years. These patients were identified as having FMF clinical symptoms. Patients
      were tested for 12 common mutations in the MEFV gene using a strip assay
      technique. RESULTS: From all 1,435 patients, MEFV mutations were found in 776
      patients (54.08%) and 659 patients (45.92%) did not carry any mutations. Patients
      with mutations were classified as homozygotes (n = 148), compound heterozygotes
      (n = 197), heterozygous (n = 427), and complex genotypes (n = 4, patients with
      three mutations). Allelic frequencies for the four most common mutations in the
      mutation-positive groups were 48.79% (M694V), 14.86% (M680I G/C), 13.70% (E148Q),
      and 12.35% (V726A). The remaining alleles (10.3%) showed rare mutations that were
      R761H, P369S, A744S, K695R, F479L, and M694I. No patient showed a I692del
      mutation that is sometimes evident in other Mediterranean populations.
      CONCLUSION: It was found that the most common four mutations (M694V, M680I [G/C],
      E148Q, V726A) were similar to those previously reported from different regions of
      Turkey and this study might add some knowledge to the mutational spectrum data on
      FMF.

PMID- 26892484
TI  - Electrophysiological findings in Rasmussen's syndrome.
AB  - Rasmussen syndrome is a rare, inflammatory and probably autoimmune disease
      presenting with epilepsia partialis continua which is generally in the form of
      myoclonic jerks and involves the upper extremities with or without head
      involvement. We sought to demonstrate the electrophysiological features in
      patients with Rasmussen syndrome. We performed continuous electrophysiological
      recordings of involuntary movement, as well as recordings of startle responses
      and long latency reflex in three patients with a diagnosis of Rasmussen syndrome.
      Positive and negative myoclonus were recorded. Startle responses were found to be
      suppressed. However, long latency reflexes were high in amplitude and one patient
      even had a C reflex. Stimulus-sensitive positive and negative cortical myoclonus
      are typical in epilepsia partialis continua of Rasmussen syndrome and
      degeneration of brainstem and reticulospinal pathways may develop in Rasmussen
      syndrome. 

PMID- 26892485
TI  - Prevalence of different HIV-1 subtypes in sexual transmission in China: a
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - Sexual transmission has become the primary route of HIV transmission in China.
      Therefore, a comprehensive overview of HIV-1 subtype distribution is necessary
      for the prevention and control of the HIV epidemic. The present study aimed to
      provide a comprehensive prevalence estimate of different HIV-1 subtypes in sexual
      transmission in China. We conducted a systematic literature review for studies of
      HIV-1 subtypes in English and Chinese through several databases. Eligible
      articles were screened and selected by two authors independently. Random-effects
      model were applied to calculate the pooled prevalence of different HIV-1
      subtypes, and subgroup analyses examined prevalence estimates across time,
      locations, and populations. A total of 130 eligible studies were identified,
      including 18 752 successfully genotyped samples. The pooled prevalence of
      CRF01_AE, subtype B, CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, and subtype C were 44.54% (95% CI 40.81
      48.30), 18.31% (95% CI 14.71-22.17), 16.45% (95% CI 13.82-19.25), 2.55% (95% CI
      1.56-3.73), 0.37% (95% CI 0.11-0.72), respectively. The prevalence of subtype B
      in sexual transmission decreased, while the prevalence of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC
      in sexual transmission, and CRF08_BC in heterosexual transmission increased.
      There is significant variation in HIV-1 subtype distribution between regions. The
      distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms have changed
      significantly. The high genetic variability of HIV-1 poses a significant
      challenge for disease control and surveillance in China. 

PMID- 26892486
TI  - Association of long-term blood pressure variability and brachial-ankle pulse wave
      velocity: a retrospective study from the APAC cohort.
AB  - We investigated associations between long-term blood pressure variability (BPV)
      and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Within the Asymptomatic
      Polyvascular Abnormalities Community (APAC) study, we retrospectively collected
      long-term BPV and baPWV measures. Long-term BPV was calculated using the mean and
      standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) across 4 years based on
      annual values of SBP. In total, 3,994 subjects (2,284 men) were eligible for
      inclusion in this study. We stratified the study population into four SBP
      quartiles. Left and right baPWV was higher in participants with long-term SBPV in
      the fourth quartile compared with the first quartile (left: 1,725 +/- 488 vs.
      1,461 +/- 340 [p < 0.001]; right: 1,722 +/- 471 vs. 1,455 +/- 341 [p < 0.001],
      respectively). We obtained the same result for total baPWV (fourth vs. first
      quartile: 1,772 +/- 429 vs. 1,492 +/- 350 [p < 0.001]). Furthermore, there was a
      trend for gradually increased baPWV (>=1,400 cm/s) with increased SBPV (p <
      0.001). After multivariable adjustment, baPWV was positively correlated with long
      term BPV (p < 0.001). In conclusion, long-term BPV is significantly associated
      with arterial stiffness as assessed by baPWV.

PMID- 26892488
TI  - Effects of selenium treatment on 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil-induced impairment of
      long-term potentiation.
AB  - The goal of this study was to evaluate whether sodium selenite could afford
      protection against the effects of hypothyroidism on long-term potentiation (LTP),
      which is thought to be the cellular basis for learning and memory. Hypothyroidism
      was induced in young-adult rats by the administration of 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil
      (PTU) in tap water for 21 days. Half of these hypothyroid and euthroid rats were
      given 10ppM selenium with their drinking water. Field potentials were recorded
      from the dentate gyrus in response to stimulation of the medial perforant pathway
      in vivo. PTU treatment resulted in a significant reduction in both free T3 and
      free T4 levels, whereas selenium administration to PTU-treated rats restored only
      the levels of free T3 to their control values. Thyroid hormone levels were not
      affected by selenium in euthyroid rats. PTU-treated rats exhibited an attenuation
      of population spike (PS) - LTP, but a comparable potentiation of excitatory
      postsynaptic potential (EPSP) was found among these rats. The administration of
      selenium to PTU-treated rats was partially able to attenuate impairment of LTP,
      but not of potentiation during the LTP induction protocol in hypothyroid rats.
      Interestingly, the hypothyroid rats that were supplemented with selenium had a
      lower EPSP potentiation during induction protocol than the control rats. The
      present study suggests a possible importance of T3 in Se-induced rescue of
      impaired PS-LTP in hypothyroidism. 

PMID- 26892487
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of oleuropein against cognitive dysfunction induced by
      colchicine in hippocampal CA1 area in rats.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with decline in
      memory. The role of oxidative stress is well known in the pathogenesis of the
      disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pretreatment effects of
      oleuropein on oxidative status and cognitive dysfunction induced by colchicine in
      the hippocampal CA1 area. Male Wistar rats were pretreated orally once daily for
      10 days with oleuropein at doses of 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg. Thereafter, colchicine
      (15 MUg/rat) was administered into the CA1 area of the hippocampus to induce
      cognitive dysfunction. The Morris water maze was used to assess learning and
      memory. Biochemical parameters such as glutathione peroxidase and catalase
      activities, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured to
      evaluate the antioxidant status in the rat hippocampus. Our results indicated
      that colchicine significantly impaired spatial memory and induced oxidative
      stress; in contrast, oleuropein pretreatment significantly improved learning and
      memory retention, and attenuated the oxidative damage. The results clearly
      indicate that oleuropein has neuroprotective effects against colchicine-induced
      cognitive dysfunction and oxidative damage in rats. 

PMID- 26892489
TI  - Non-blinking single-photon emitters in silica.
AB  - Samples for single-emitter spectroscopy are usually prepared by spin-coating a
      dilute solution of emitters on a microscope cover slip of silicate based glass
      (such as quartz). Here, we show that both borosilicate glass and quartz contain
      intrinsic defect colour centres that fluoresce when excited at 532 nm. In a
      microscope image the defect emission is indistinguishable from spin-coated
      emitters. The emission spectrum is characterised by multiple peaks with the main
      peak between 2.05 and 2.20 eV, most likely due to coupling to a silica vibration
      with an energy that varies between 160 and 180 meV. The defects are single-photon
      emitters, do not blink, and have photoluminescence lifetimes of a few
      nanoseconds. Photoluminescence from such defects may previously have been
      misinterpreted as originating from single nanocrystal quantum dots.

PMID- 26892492
TI  - The facile synthesis and optical waveguide properties of single-crystal 1,2,3,4,5
      pentaphenyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene microrods.
AB  - Single-crystalline 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene (PPCP) microrods
      were prepared by a facile solution process. The PPCP microrods with smooth
      surfaces could absorb excitation light and propagate the photoluminescence (PL)
      emission. They showed excellent properties in the low optical loss of a single
      rod and feasible transfer between neighboring rods. Moreover, PPCP displayed
      typical aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics in the
      solution state. 

PMID- 26892491
TI  - A framework for integrating thermal biology into fragmentation research.
AB  - Habitat fragmentation changes thermal conditions in remnant patches, and thermal
      conditions strongly influence organism morphology, distribution, and activity
      patterns. However, few studies explore temperature as a mechanism driving
      ecological responses to fragmentation. Here we offer a conceptual framework that
      integrates thermal biology into fragmentation research to better understand
      individual, species, community, and ecosystem-level responses to fragmentation.
      Specifically, the framework addresses how fragmentation changes temperature and
      how the effects of those temperature changes spread through the ecosystem, from
      organism response via thermal sensitivity, to changes in species distribution and
      activity patterns, to shifts in community structure following species' responses,
      and ultimately to changes in ecosystem functions. We place a strong emphasis on
      future research directions by outlining "Critical gaps" for each step of the
      framework. Empirical efforts to apply and test this framework promise new
      understanding of fragmentation's ecological consequences and new strategies for
      conservation in an increasingly fragmented and warmer world. 

PMID- 26892490
TI  - Subchronic exposures to fungal bioaerosols promotes allergic pulmonary
      inflammation in naive mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological surveys indicate that occupants of mold contaminated
      environments are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The immunological
      mechanisms associated with these responses require further characterization.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the immunotoxicological
      outcomes following repeated inhalation of dry Aspergillus fumigatus spores
      aerosolized at concentrations potentially encountered in contaminated indoor
      environments. METHODS: Aspergillus fumigatus spores were delivered to the lungs
      of naive BALB/cJ mice housed in a multi-animal nose-only chamber twice a week for
      a period of 13 weeks. Mice were evaluated at 24 and 48 h post-exposure for
      histopathological changes in lung architecture, recruitment of specific immune
      cells to the airways, and serum antibody responses. RESULT: Germinating A.
      fumigatus spores were observed in lungs along with persistent fungal debris in
      the perivascular regions of the lungs. Repeated exposures promoted pleocellular
      infiltration with concomitant epithelial mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell
      metaplasia, subepithelial fibrosis and enhanced airway hyperreactivity. Cellular
      infiltration in airways was predominated by CD4(+) T cells expressing the pro
      allergic cytokine IL-13. Furthermore, our studies show that antifungal T cell
      responses (IFN-gamma(+) or IL-17A(+) ) co-expressed IL-13, revealing a novel
      mechanism for the dysregulated immune response to inhaled fungi. Total IgE
      production was augmented in animals repeatedly exposed to A. fumigatus.
      CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Repeated inhalation of fungal aerosols resulted
      in significant pulmonary pathology mediated by dynamic shifts in specific immune
      populations and their cytokines. These studies provide novel insights into the
      immunological mechanisms and targets that govern the health outcomes that result
      from repeated inhalation of fungal bioaerosols in contaminated environments.

PMID- 26892493
TI  - Identification of novel secreted fatty acids that regulate nitrogen catabolite
      repression in fission yeast.
AB  - Uptake of poor nitrogen sources such as branched-chain amino acids is repressed
      in the presence of high-quality nitrogen sources such as NH4(+) and glutamate
      (Glu), which is called nitrogen catabolite repression. Amino acid auxotrophic
      mutants of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe were unable to grow on
      minimal medium containing NH4Cl or Glu even when adequate amounts of required
      amino acids were supplied. However, growth of these mutant cells was recovered in
      the vicinity of colonies of the prototrophic strain, suggesting that the
      prototrophic cells secrete some substances that can restore uptake of amino acids
      by an unknown mechanism. We identified the novel fatty acids, 10(R)-acetoxy-8(Z)
      octadecenoic acid and 10(R)-hydroxy-8(Z)-octadecenoic acid, as secreted active
      substances, referred to as Nitrogen Signaling Factors (NSFs). Synthetic NSFs were
      also able to shift nitrogen source utilization from high-quality to poor nitrogen
      sources to allow adaptive growth of the fission yeast amino acid auxotrophic
      mutants in the presence of high-quality nitrogen sources. Finally, we
      demonstrated that the Agp3 amino acid transporter was involved in the adaptive
      growth. The data highlight a novel intra-species communication system for
      adaptation to environmental nutritional conditions in fission yeast. 

PMID- 26892494
TI  - A microanatomic abnormality of the lacrimal gland associated with Goldenhar
      syndrome.
AB  - A 12-month-old male infant, noted from birth to have a diffuse right temporal
      epibulbar thickening that encroached on the limbus inferotemporally, was found to
      manifest stigmata of Goldenhar syndrome, including a limbal dermoid with vellus
      hairs, esotropia, astigmatism, fullness and ectropion of the lower eyelid,
      preauricular skin tag, agenesis of the right kidney, and a supernumerary rib. In
      the excised epibulbar specimen, in addition to a solid dermoid, lobules of
      lacrimal gland tissue were interpreted as a portion of the palpebral or orbital
      lobes. This tissue displayed a unique histopathologic finding. Within some of the
      lobules were cuffs of eosinophilic squamous (epidermoid) cells that surrounded
      the intralobular ductules and made variable incursions into, with replacement of,
      the acinar units. Immunohistochemistry disclosed that the normal acinar and lumen
      forming ductular cells were intermediate weight cytokeratin7-positive. The acinar
      cells were additionally gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 positive. The cells
      of the squamous cuffs were heavy weight cytokeratin 5/6-positive. The outermost
      basal cells of the cuffs were cytokeratin 14-positive, in common with the
      myoepithelial cells of the acini. The intraacinar squamous cells were negative
      for smooth muscle actin and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15. These findings
      suggest, but do not prove, that the source of the periductular and acinar
      squamous metaplasia was the germinal transitional cells where the acinar
      myoepithelium interfaces and imperceptibly converts into ductular basal cells.
      The foregoing findings are evaluated in the context of the panoply of ocular,
      facial, and visceral anomalies manifested in Goldenhar spectrum. 

PMID- 26892495
TI  - Interventions for hirsutism excluding laser and photoepilation therapy alone:
      abridged Cochrane systematic review including GRADE assessments.
AB  - Hirsutism is a common disorder with a major impact on quality of life. The most
      frequent cause is polycystic ovary syndrome. Effects of interventions (except
      laser and light-based therapies) were evaluated, including Grading of
      Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation assessments. Searches
      included Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane
      Library, Medline, Embase and five trials registers to June 2014. We included 157
      randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 10 550 participants. The majority were
      assessed as having a 'high risk' of bias (123 of 157). The quality of evidence
      was rated moderate to very low for most outcomes. Pooled data for an oral
      contraceptive (OCP) (ethinyl oestradiol and cyproterone acetate) compared with
      another OCP (ethinyl oestradiol and desogestrel) demonstrated that both
      treatments were effective in reducing Ferriman-Gallwey scores, but the mean
      difference (MD) was not statistically significant [-1.84, 95% confidence interval
      (CI): -3.86-0.18]. Flutamide was more effective than placebo in two studies (MD 
      7.60, 95% CI: -10.53 to -4.67 and MD -7.20, 95% CI: -10.15 to -4.25), as was
      spironolactone (MD -7.69, 95% CI: -10.12 to -5.26). Spironolactone appeared to be
      as effective as flutamide (two studies) and finasteride (two studies). However,
      finasteride and the gonadotropin-releasing analogues showed discrepant results in
      several RCTs. Metformin was ineffective. Cyproterone acetate combined with OCPs
      demonstrated greater reductions in Ferriman-Gallwey scores. Lifestyle
      interventions reduced body mass index but did not show improvement in hirsutism,
      and although cosmetic measures are frequently used, no RCTs investigating
      cosmetic treatments were identified. RCTs investigating OCPs in combination with
      antiandrogens or finasteride vs. OCP alone, or the different antiandrogens and
      5alpha-reductase inhibitors are warranted. 

PMID- 26892496
TI  - Annexin A1 Is a Physiological Modulator of Neutrophil Maturation and
      Recirculation Acting on the CXCR4/CXCL12 Pathway.
AB  - Neutrophil production and traffic in the body compartments is finely controlled,
      and the strong evidences support the role of CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway on neutrophil
      trafficking to and from the bone marrow (BM). We recently showed that the
      glucocorticoid-regulated protein, Annexin A1 (AnxA1) modulates neutrophil
      homeostasis and here we address the effects of AnxA1 on steady-state neutrophil
      maturation and trafficking. For this purpose, AnxA1(-/-) and Balb/C wild-type
      mice (WT) were donors of BM granulocytes and mesenchymal stem cells and blood
      neutrophils. In vivo treatments with the pharmacological AnxA1 mimetic peptide
      (Ac2-26) or the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) antagonist (Boc-2) were used to
      elucidate the pathway of AnxA1 action, and with the cytosolic glucocorticoid
      antagonist receptor RU 38486. Accelerated maturation of BM granulocytes was
      detected in AnxA1(-/-) and Boc2-treated WT mice, and was reversed by treatment
      with Ac2-26 in AnxA1(-/-) mice. AnxA1 and FPR2 were constitutively expressed in
      bone marrow granulocytes, and their expressions were reduced by treatment with
      RU38486. Higher numbers of CXCR4(+) neutrophils were detected in the circulation
      of AnxA1(-/-) or Boc2-treated WT mice, and values were rescued in Ac2-26-treated
      AnxA1(-/-) mice. Although circulating neutrophils of AnxA1(-/-) animals were
      CXCR4(+) , they presented reduced CXCL12-induced chemotaxis. Moreover, levels of
      CXCL12 were reduced in the bone marrow perfusate and in the mesenchymal stem cell
      supernatant from AnxA1(-/-) mice, and in vivo and in vitro CXCL12 expression was
      re-established after Ac2-26 treatment. Collectively, these data highlight AnxA1
      as a novel determinant of neutrophil maturation and the mechanisms behind blood
      neutrophil homing to BM via the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2418
      2427, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892497
TI  - Transient Microneedle Insertion into Hippocampus Triggers Neurogenesis and
      Decreases Amyloid Burden in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - Targeted microlesions of the hippocampus have been reported to enhance
      neurogenesis in the subgranular zone (SGZ). The potential therapeutic impact of
      transient insertion of a microneedle was investigated in a mouse model of
      Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested the hypothesis that transient microinjury to
      the brain elicits cellular responses that mediate beneficial regenerative
      processes. Brief stereotaxic insertion and removal of a microneedle into the
      right hippocampus of 14-month-old APP/PS1 mouse brains resulted in (a)
      stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and (b) reduction of amyloid-beta plaque
      number in the CA-1 region. This treatment also resulted in a trend toward
      improved performance in the radial arm water maze (RAWM). Further studies of
      fundamental cellular mechanisms of the brain's response to microinjury will be
      useful for investigation of potential neuroprotective and deleterious effects of
      targeted microlesions and deep brain stimulation in AD.

PMID- 26892500
TI  - The Importance and Challenges of a Specialty-Specific National Surgical Quality
      Improvement Program for Head and Neck Surgery.

PMID- 26892499
TI  - 3D multimodal spatial fuzzy segmentation of intramuscular connective and adipose
      tissue from ultrashort TE MR images of calf muscle.
AB  - PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate an automated algorithm to segment intramuscular
      adipose (IMAT) and connective (IMCT) tissue from musculoskeletal MRI images
      acquired with a dual echo Ultrashort TE (UTE) sequence. THEORY AND METHODS: The
      dual echo images and calculated structure tensor images are the inputs to the
      multichannel fuzzy cluster mean (MCFCM) algorithm. Modifications to the basic
      multichannel fuzzy cluster mean include an adaptive spatial term and bias shading
      correction. The algorithm was tested on digital phantoms simulating IMAT/IMCT
      tissue under varying conditions of image noise and bias and on ten subjects with
      varying amounts of IMAT/IMCT. RESULTS: The MCFCM including the adaptive spatial
      term and bias shading correction performed better than the original MCFCM and
      adaptive spatial MCFCM algorithms. IMAT/IMCT was segmented from the unsmoothed
      simulated phantom data with a mean Dice coefficient of 0.933 +/-0.001 when
      contrast-to-noise (CNR) was 140 and bias was varied between 30% and 65%. The
      algorithm yielded accurate in vivo segmentations of IMAT/IMCT with a mean Dice
      coefficient of 0.977 +/-0.066. CONCLUSION: The proposed algorithm is completely
      automated and yielded accurate segmentation of intramuscular adipose and
      connective tissue in the digital phantom and in human calf data. Magn Reson Med
      77:870-883, 2017. (c) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in
      Medicine.

PMID- 26892501
TI  - Antiresorptive treatment, when initiated after a first hip fracture, may not
      protect of a second contralateral episode in elderly population: A study with 685
      patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis predisposes for a higher risk of hip fracture and its
      treatment is frequently underprescribed. Our purpose was to assess the relation
      between having a second hip fracture and receiving osteoporosis treatment. Also
      to assess the relation between this second fracture and using central nervous
      system drugs or being institutionalised. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed all
      the patients that were admitted to our hospital with an osteoporotic proximal
      femoral fracture between September 2009 and February 2011. We identified 685
      patients, 74 of which presented a contralateral fracture. We evaluated if they
      were receiving osteoporosis treatment or taking any medication that could affect
      the central nervous system and if they were institutionalised. RESULTS: A 10.8%
      of patients had a second fracture and the mean time between the two of them was
      20 months (1-122). There was a clear female predominance (76.35%). The mean age
      at occurrence of the primary fracture was 83.02 years and 85 for the second. A
      90.8% did not follow any type of osteoporosis medication before the first
      fracture. A 50.9% did not receive central nervous system drugs and 79.1% lived at
      home at the time of the first fracture. 12.8% of the patients that did not follow
      the osteoporosis treatment, had a contralateral fracture, 3% more than those that
      did follow some kind of treatment, but this difference was not significant
      (p=0.2). DISCUSSION: We identified a similar number of patients undergoing
      osteoporotic treatment as registered in literature. There was no significant
      difference between suffering a second hip fracture and following osteoporosis
      treatment, using psychotropic drugs or being institutionalised.

PMID- 26892498
TI  - SALL4, the missing link between stem cells, development and cancer.
AB  - There is a growing body of evidence supporting that cancer cells share many
      similarities with embryonic stem cells (ESCs). For example, aggressive cancers
      and ESCs share a common gene expression signature that includes hundreds of
      genes. Since ESC genes are not present in most adult tissues, they could be ideal
      candidate targets for cancer-specific diagnosis and treatment. This is an
      exciting cancer-targeting model. The major hurdle to test this model is to
      identify the key factors/pathway(s) within ESCs that are responsible for the
      cancer phenotype. SALL4 is one of few genes that can establish this link. The
      first publication of SALL4 is on its mutation in a human inherited disorder with
      multiple developmental defects. Since then, over 300 papers have been published
      on various aspects of this gene in stem cells, development, and cancers. This
      review aims to summarize our current knowledge of SALL4, including a SALL4-based
      approach to classify and target cancers. Many questions about this important gene
      still remain unanswered, specifically, on how this gene regulates cell fates at a
      molecular level. Understanding SALL4's molecular functions will allow development
      of specific targeted approaches in the future. 

PMID- 26892503
TI  - Seizures in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the research is to determine the etiology and clinical
      features of seizures in critically ill children admitted to a pediatric intensive
      care unit (PICU). METHODS: A total of 203 children were admitted from June 2013
      to November 2013; 45 patients were eligible. Age ranged from 2 months to 19
      years. Seizures were organized as epileptic or acute symptomatic. Pediatric risk
      of mortality score III, Glasgow coma scale, risk factors, coexistent diagnosis,
      medications administered before admission, type and duration of seizures, drugs
      used, requirement and duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay and
      neuroimaging findings were collected as demographic data prospectively. RESULTS:
      The male-female ratio was 0.8. Mean age was 5.4. The most common causes of
      seizures were acute symptomatic. Most frequent coexistent diagnosis was
      infectious diseases, and 53.3% had recurrent seizures. Medications were
      administered to 51.1% of the patients before admission. Seizures were focal in 21
      (46.7%), generalized in 11 (24.4%) and 13 (28.9%) had status epilepticus.
      Intravenous midazolam was first-line therapy in 48.9%. Acute symptomatic seizures
      were usually new-onset, and duration was shorter. Epileptic seizures tended to be
      recurrent and were likely to progress to status epilepticus. However, type of
      seizures did not change severity of the disease. Also, laboratory test results,
      medications administered before admission, requirement and duration of
      ventilation, mortality and length of stay were not significant between
      epileptic/acute symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Seizures in critically ill
      children, which may evolve into status epilepticus, is an important condition
      that requires attention regardless of cause. Intensified educational programs for
      PICU physicians and international guidelines are necessary for a more efficient
      approach to children with seizures.

PMID- 26892502
TI  - Implementation intention and planning interventions in Health Psychology:
      Recommendations from the Synergy Expert Group for research and practice.
AB  - The current article details a position statement and recommendations for future
      research and practice on planning and implementation intentions in health
      contexts endorsed by the Synergy Expert Group. The group comprised world-leading
      researchers in health and social psychology and behavioural medicine who convened
      to discuss priority issues in planning interventions in health contexts and
      develop a set of recommendations for future research and practice. The expert
      group adopted a nominal groups approach and voting system to elicit and structure
      priority issues in planning interventions and implementation intentions research.
      Forty-two priority issues identified in initial discussions were further
      condensed to 18 key issues, including definitions of planning and implementation
      intentions and 17 priority research areas. Each issue was subjected to voting for
      consensus among group members and formed the basis of the position statement and
      recommendations. Specifically, the expert group endorsed statements and
      recommendations in the following areas: generic definition of planning and
      specific definition of implementation intentions, recommendations for better
      testing of mechanisms, guidance on testing the effects of moderators of planning
      interventions, recommendations on the social aspects of planning interventions,
      identification of the preconditions that moderate effectiveness of planning
      interventions and recommendations for research on how people use plans.

PMID- 26892505
TI  - Fragment-Based De Novo Design of Antimycobacterial Agents and In Vitro Potency
      Evaluation.
AB  - Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection with global impact that over time demonstrates
      enormously high mortality rates. The vital need for improving novel and efficient
      anti-TB drugs is caused by the rising rate of appearance of Multi Drug Resistant
      (MDR) strains to the frequently utilized drugs.In addition, the longer periods of
      therapy and healing, mainly in the immune compromised patients aggrevates the
      situation. Recent studies indicate that computer-based techniques have been used
      successfully in the antibacterial research. In our current approach, utilizing
      combined pattern of computer-based methods as fragment-based de novo design,
      structure-based docking and scoring, in addition to similaritybased compound
      searching, led to introduce seven in silico designed compounds with probable
      antimycobacterial properties. Then, we investigated their potency against
      sensitive and resistant strains of Mycobacterium sp. in vitro. Findings resulted
      from antimycobacterial tests and MTT assay indicated that two compounds, 1-amino
      4-(phenylamino) anthracene-9,10-dione and 5-fluoroindoline-2,3-dione have useful
      profile and maybe good candidates for developing novel antimycobacterial drugs. 

PMID- 26892504
TI  - Inhibition of breast cancer with transdermal tamoxifen-encapsulated lipoplex.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen is currently used for the treatment of both early and
      advanced estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer in pre- and post
      menopausal women. However, using tamoxifen routinely to inhibit endogenous or
      exogenous estrogen effects is occasionally difficult because of its potential
      side effects. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to design a local drug
      delivery system to encapsulate tamoxifen for observing their efficacy of skin
      penetration, drug accumulation and cancer therapy. METHODS: A cationic liposome
      PEG-PEI complex (LPPC) was used as a carrier for the encapsulation of tamoxifen
      and forming 'LPPC/TAM' for transdermal release. The cytotoxicity of LPPC/TAM was
      analyzed by MTT. The skin penetration, tumor growth inhibition and organ damages
      were measured in xenograft mice following transdermal treatment. RESULTS:
      LPPC/TAM had an average size less than 270 nm and a zeta-potential of
      approximately 40 mV. LPPC/TAM displayed dramatically increased the cytotoxic
      activity in all breast cancer cells, especially in ER-positive breast cancer
      cells. In vivo, LPPC drug delivery helped the fluorescent dye penetrating across
      the skim and accumulating rapidly in tumor area. Administration of LPPC/TAM by
      transdermal route inhibited about 86 % of tumor growth in mice bearing BT474
      tumors. This local treatment of LPPC/TAM did not injury skin and any organs.
      CONCLUSION: LPPC-delivery system provided a better skin penetration and drug
      accumulation and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, LPPC/TAM drug delivery maybe a
      useful transdermal tool of drugs utilization for breast cancer therapy.

PMID- 26892507
TI  - Accuracy of a Blood Glucose Monitoring System.

PMID- 26892506
TI  - Technology Use in Transition-Age Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: Reality and
      Promises.
AB  - Youth with chronic illnesses have the greatest risk for a decline in their health
      management during transition-age. Because of this demonstrated and well-known
      issue, research has focused on how to improve the transition of care process.
      Despite the increasing number of technological devices on the market and the
      advances in telemedicine modalities available to patients with type 1 diabetes
      (T1D), the utilization of technology is still suboptimal among patients of
      transition-age (ages 13-25). This article reviews the available resources,
      patterns of use in transition-age youth, and explores opportunities to advance
      technology use in transitioning patients with T1D from pediatric to adult care.

PMID- 26892508
TI  - Impact of acquired and innate immunity on spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion
      injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of acquired and innate
      immunity on spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion injury using a mouse model of
      spinal cord ischemia. METHODS: To define the ischemic duration that caused
      paraplegia, wild-type and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were
      subjected to cross-clamping of the aorta for 7, 9, 9.5, or 10.5 min with ischemic
      preconditioning for intestinal protection. In wild-type and SCID mice with
      paraplegia, histological analyses were performed to investigate viable neurons,
      inflammatory cells, and reactive astrocytes at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h as well as 7
      days after reperfusion. RESULTS: In both wild-type and SCID mice, immediate
      paraplegia was induced by occlusion for 10.5 min. In both wild-type and SCID
      mice, no infiltration of T or B lymphocytes was observed at any point after
      reperfusion, but reactive astrocytes were clearly visible at 7 days after
      reperfusion, and the number of activated microglia peaked at 12 and 48 h after
      reperfusion. Although there was no significant difference, wild-type mice had a
      tendency to have more activated microglia than SCID mice at 12 h after
      reperfusion, and to have less viable neurons than SCID mice at 12, 24, 48, and 72
      h after reperfusion. There was a tendency that the frequency of immediate
      paraplegia in wild-type mice was more than SCID mice though no statistical
      difference was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Innate immunity, rather than acquired
      immunity, may be involved in the developing immediate paraplegia in our mouse
      model.

PMID- 26892509
TI  - Effect of acute hypoxia on inspiratory muscle oxygenation during incremental
      inspiratory loading in healthy adults.
AB  - PURPOSE: To non-invasively examine the effect of acute hypoxia and inspiratory
      threshold loading (ITL) on inspiratory muscles [sternocleidomastoid (SCM),
      scalene (SA) and parasternal (PS)] oxygenation in healthy adults using near
      infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). METHODS: Twenty healthy adults (12 M/8 F) were
      randomly assigned to perform two ITL tests while breathing a normoxic or hypoxic
      (FIO2 = 15 %) gas mixture. NIRS devices were placed over the SCM, PS, SA, and a
      control muscle, tibialis anterior (TA), to monitor oxygenated (O2Hb),
      deoxygenated (HHb), total hemoglobin (tHb) and tissue saturation index (TSI).
      With the nose occluded, subjects breathed normally for 4 min through a mouthpiece
      that was connected to a weighted threshold loading device. ITL began by adding a
      100-g weight to the ITL device. Then, every 2 min 50-g was added until task
      failure. Vital signs, ECG and ventilatory measures were monitored throughout the
      protocol. RESULT: Participants were 31 +/- 12 year and had normal spirometry. At
      task failure, the maximum load and ventilatory parameters did not differ between
      the hypoxic and normoxic ITL. At hypoxic ITL task failure, SpO2 was significantly
      lower, and ?HHb increased more so in SA, SCM and PS than normoxic values. SCM
      ?TSI decreased more so during hypoxic compared to normoxic ITL. ?tHb in the
      inspiratory muscles (SCM, PS and SA) increased significantly compared to the
      decrease in TA during both hypoxic and normoxic ITL. CONCLUSION: The SCM, an
      accessory inspiratory muscle was the most vulnerable to deoxygenation during
      incremental loading and this response was accentuated by acute hypoxia.

PMID- 26892511
TI  - Oleic acid stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 release from enteroendocrine cells
      by modulating cell respiration and glycolysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a potent satiating and incretin
      hormone released by enteroendocrine L-cells in response to eating. Dietary fat,
      in particular monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid (OA), potently
      stimulates GLP-1 secretion from L-cells. It is, however, unclear whether the
      intracellular metabolic handling of OA is involved in this effect. METHODS: First
      we determined the optimal medium for the bioenergetics measurements. Then we
      examined the effect of OA on the metabolism of the immortalized enteroendocrine
      GLUTag cell model and assessed GLP-1 release in parallel. We measured oxygen
      consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate in response to OA and to
      different metabolic inhibitors with the Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer.
      RESULTS: OA increased cellular respiration and potently stimulated GLP-1 release.
      The fatty acid oxidation inhibitor etomoxir did neither reduce OA-induced
      respiration nor affect the OA-induced GLP-1 release. In contrast, inhibition of
      the respiratory chain or of downstream steps of aerobic glycolysis reduced the OA
      induced GLP-1 release, and an inhibition of the first step of glycolysis by
      addition of 2-deoxy-d-glucose even abolished it. CONCLUSION: These findings
      indicate that an indirect stimulation of glycolysis is crucial for the OA-induced
      release of GLP-1.

PMID- 26892513
TI  - Research advances in metabolism 2015.

PMID- 26892510
TI  - Association of pooled cohort risk scores with vascular inflammation and coronary
      artery calcification in Korean adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A new pooled cohort risk equation to estimate atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was recently published, but the equation is
      based primarily on data from Caucasian populations. The relationship of this new
      risk scoring system with vascular inflammation and calcification has yet to be
      examined. METHODS: A total of 74 participants were retrospectively selected based
      on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All participants underwent (18)F
      fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and multi-detector
      computed tomography (MDCT) examination in the Korea University Guro Hospital
      between June 2009 and May 2013. Vascular inflammation of the carotid artery was
      measured as target-to-background ratio (TBR) using (18)F-FDG-PET/CT and coronary
      artery calcification was quantified as Agatston score by MDCT. RESULTS: Agatston
      scores were not significantly associated with any metabolic risk factors, but
      maximum TBR values exhibited a significant positive correlation with body mass
      index (r=0.31, P=0.01), waist circumference (r=0.42, P<0.01), waist-to-hip ratio
      (r=0.49, P<0.01), and systolic (r=0.35, P<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure
      (r=0.39, P<0.01). Furthermore, maximum TBR values were significantly correlated
      with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels (r=0.26, P=0.03),
      whereas Agatston scores had no correlation. When pooled cohort risk equation
      scores were divided into incremental tertiles, age, waist circumference, waist-to
      hip ratio and systolic blood pressure showed significant incremental trends. In
      particular, pooled cohort risk scores exhibited a significant positive
      correlation with maximum TBR values (r=0.35, P<0.01), but not with Agatston
      scores (r=0.11, P=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: The pooled cohort risk equation exhibited
      significant positive correlations with vascular inflammation but not with
      calcification in Asian subjects without CVD, suggesting that this novel risk
      equation may detect early inflammatory changes preceding the structural
      modification of vessel walls.

PMID- 26892512
TI  - Post-prandial hypoglycemia results from a non-glucose-dependent inappropriate
      insulin secretion in Roux-en-Y gastric bypassed patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), hypoglycemia can occur and be
      associated with adverse events such as intense malaise and impaired quality of
      life. OBJECTIVE: To compare insulin secretion, sensitivity, and clearance between
      two groups of patients, with or without hypoglycemia, after an oral glucose
      tolerance test (OGTT 75-g), and also to compare real-life glucose profiles within
      these two groups. SETTING: Bariatric surgery referral center. METHODS: This study
      involves a prospective cohort of 46 consecutive patients who complained of
      malaise compatible with hypoglycemia after RYGB, in whom an OGTT 75-g was
      performed. A plasma glucose value of lower than 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dl) between 90
      and 120 min after the load was considered to be a significant hypoglycemia. The
      main outcome measures were insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and glycemic
      profiles during the test. Glucose parameters were also evaluated by continuous
      glucose monitoring (CGM) in a real-life setting in 43 patients. RESULTS: Twenty
      five patients had plasma glucose that was lower than 2.8 mmol/L between 90 and
      120 from the load (HYPO group). Twenty-one had plasma glucose that was higher
      than 2.8 mmol/L (NONHYPO group). The HYPO patients were younger, had lost more
      weight after RYGB, were less frequently diabetic before surgery, and displayed
      higher early insulin secretion rates compared with the NONHYPO patients after the
      75-g OGTT, and they had lower late insulin secretion rates. The HYPO patients had
      lower interstitial glucose values in real life, which suggests that a continuum
      exists between observations with an oral glucose load and real-life interstitial
      glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that HYPO patients after
      RYGB display an early increased insulin secretion rate when tested with an OGTT.
      CGM shows that HYPO patients spend more time below 3.3 mmol/L when compared with
      NONHYPO patients. This phenotype of patients should be monitored carefully after
      RYGB.

PMID- 26892514
TI  - The impact of an inverse correlation between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide
      levels and insulin resistance on the diabetic condition in patients with heart
      failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A diabetic state is causally related to heart failure (HF);
      therefore, there should be a close correlation between the severity of diabetes
      and HF. However, a direct relationship between these conditions has rarely been
      reported and remains unclear. This study was designed to precisely examine this
      relationship, taking into consideration the possible association between
      natriuretic peptide (NP) levels and insulin resistance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We
      examined various hemodynamic parameters and simultaneously performed blood
      biochemical analyses of consecutive patients who underwent cardiac
      catheterization at our institution (n=840). RESULTS: Simple regression analyses
      showed that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were not significantly changed by the
      left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left ventricular ejection
      fraction (LVEF), which were correlated with a low cardiac index. Rather, there
      was a negative correlation between the HbA1c levels and plasma BNP levels as a
      marker of HF. A multivariate analysis showed no correlations between the HbA1c
      levels and cardiac functional parameters (LVEDP, LVEF or the plasma BNP levels),
      suggesting that the trend toward high HbA1c levels in HF cases is likely to be
      limited for unknown reasons. To search for an explanation of this finding, we
      examined the potential biological interactions between BNP and insulin
      resistance. A multivariate analysis revealed that the plasma BNP levels were
      positively correlated with age, creatinine levels and LVEDP and inversely
      correlated with the male gender, body mass index and HOMA-IR (homeostasis model
      assessment-insulin resistance) (P<0.001, respectively), but not HbA1c levels.
      This analysis indicated a close correlation between plasma BNP levels and insulin
      effectiveness in HF. CONCLUSIONS: HF and diabetes tend to worsen with each other;
      however, the appearance of an association between them was likely blunted due to
      the considerable effect of NP in counteracting insulin resistance, even during
      the metabolically harmful condition of HF.

PMID- 26892515
TI  - The genetic spectrum of familial hypercholesterolemia in south-eastern Poland.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant
      disorder with a frequency of 1 in 200 to 500 in most European populations.
      Mutations in LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 genes are known to cause FH. In this study, we
      analyzed the genetic spectrum of the disease in the understudied Polish
      population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 161 unrelated subjects with a clinical
      diagnosis of FH from the south-eastern region of Poland were recruited. High
      resolution melt and direct sequencing of PCR products were used to screen 18
      exons of LDLR, a region of exon 26 in the APOB gene and exon 7 of PCSK9.
      Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was performed to detect
      gross deletions and insertions in LDLR. Genotypes of six LDL-C raising SNPs were
      used for a polygenic gene score calculation. RESULTS: We found 39 different
      pathogenic mutations in the LDLR gene with 10 of them being novel. 13 (8%)
      individuals carried the p.Arg3527Gln mutation in APOB, and overall the detection
      rate was 43.4%. Of the patients where no mutation could be found, 53 (84.1%) had
      a gene score in the top three quartiles of the healthy comparison group
      suggesting that they have a polygenic cause for their high cholesterol.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the genetic heterogeneity of FH in Poland,
      which should be considered when designing a diagnostic strategy in the country.
      As in the UK, in the majority of patients where no mutation can be found, there
      is likely to be a polygenic cause of their high cholesterol level.

PMID- 26892516
TI  - The bile acid TUDCA increases glucose-induced insulin secretion via the cAMP/PKA
      pathway in pancreatic beta cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: While bile acids are important for the digestion process, they also
      act as signaling molecules in many tissues, including the endocrine pancreas,
      which expresses specific bile acid receptors that regulate several cell
      functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of the conjugated bile acid
      TUDCA on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic beta-cells.
      METHODS: Pancreatic islets were isolated from 90-day-old male mice. Insulin
      secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay, protein phosphorylation by western
      blot, Ca(2+) signals by fluorescence microscopy and ATP-dependent K(+) (KATP)
      channels by electrophysiology. RESULTS: TUDCA dose-dependently increased GSIS in
      fresh islets at stimulatory glucose concentrations but remained without effect at
      low glucose levels. This effect was not associated with changes in glucose
      metabolism, Ca(2+) signals or KATP channel activity; however, it was lost in the
      presence of a cAMP competitor or a PKA inhibitor. Additionally, PKA and CREB
      phosphorylation were observed after 1-hour incubation with TUDCA. The
      potentiation of GSIS was blunted by the Galpha stimulatory, G protein subunit
      specific inhibitor NF449 and mimicked by the specific TGR5 agonist INT-777,
      pointing to the involvement of the bile acid G protein-coupled receptor TGR5.
      CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that TUDCA potentiates GSIS through the cAMP/PKA
      pathway.

PMID- 26892518
TI  - Hyperuricemia induces hypertension through activation of renal epithelial sodium
      channel (ENaC).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The mechanisms leading to hypertension associated with hyperuricemia
      are still unclear. The activity of the distal nephron epithelial sodium channel
      (ENaC) is an important determinant of sodium balance and blood pressure. Our aim
      was to investigate whether the effect of hyperuricemia on blood pressure is
      related to ENaC activation. METHODS: A hyperuricemic model was induced in rats by
      2% oxonic acid and 6 mg/dl uric acid (UA). The hyperuricemic rats were co-treated
      with either 10mg/kg/d benzbromarone (Ben) or 1 mg/kg/d amiloride (Ami). Blood
      pressure was monitored using a tail-cuff, and blood, urine, and kidney samples
      were taken. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were performed to
      determine the expressions of ENaC subunits and components of the ENaC Regulatory
      Complex (ERC) in kidney tissue or mCCD cells. RESULTS: Serum uric acid (SUA) was
      increased 2.5-3.5 times above normal in hyperuricemic rats after 3 weeks and
      remained at these high levels until 6 weeks. The in vivo rise in SUA was followed
      by elevated blood pressure, renal tubulointerstitial injury, and increased
      expressions of ENaC subunits, SGK1, and GILZ1, which were prevented by Ben
      treatment. The decrease in urinary Na(+) excretion in hyperuricemic rats was
      blunted by Ami. UA induced the expression of all three ENaC subunits, SGK1, and
      GILZ1, and increased Na(+) transport in mCCD cells. Phosphorylation of ERK was
      significantly decreased in both UA-treated mCCD cells and hyperuricemic rat
      kidney; this effect was prevented by Ben co-treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings
      suggest that elevated serum uric acid could induce hypertension by activation of
      ENaC and regulation of ERC expression.

PMID- 26892517
TI  - Circulating level of hepatocyte growth factor predicts incidence of type 2
      diabetes mellitus: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleotropic factor posited to have
      metabolic homeostatic properties. The purpose of this study is to examine whether
      level of HGF is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Data
      from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were used to examine the
      prospective association between serum level of HGF and incident diabetes. Fasting
      HGF was measured at Exam 1 (2000-2002) in 5395 participants free from diabetes
      (61.5+/-10.2 years old) and incidence of diabetes was determined at four
      subsequent follow-up exams over 12 years. Hazard ratios (HR) for incident
      diabetes were estimated according to 1 standard deviation (SD) unit increment of
      HGF (1 SD=26 MUg/l), before and after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity,
      education, study center, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index,
      waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin, C-reactive protein, and
      interleukin-6 levels. RESULTS: A 1 SD increment of baseline HGF was associated
      with a 46% (95% CI=1.37, 1.56) increased risk of diabetes before adjustment.
      After adjustment, diabetes risk per 1 SD increment of HGF was attenuated but
      remained significantly increased (HR=1.21; 95% CI=1.12, 1.32). Men had a
      significantly greater HR compared to women per equivalent increase of HGF (p
      value for sex interaction=0.04). There was no evidence of effect modification by
      race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: This study advances understanding from cross
      sectional studies and investigation of incident insulin resistance, demonstrating
      higher level of HGF is associated with incident diabetes and may reflect a unique
      type of impaired metabolism.

PMID- 26892519
TI  - Abundance and turnover of GLP-1 producing L-cells in ileal mucosa are not
      different in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The gastrointestinal hormone GLP-1 is released from enteroendocrine
      L-cells and augments postprandial insulin secretion. In patients with type 2
      diabetes, the incretin effect is markedly diminished. It is unclear, whether this
      is due to a reduction in the abundance of L-cells in the intestine. METHODS:
      Ileal tissue samples from 10 patients with and 10 patients without diabetes that
      underwent surgery for the removal of colon tumors were included. Tissue sections
      were stained for GLP-1, Ki67, TUNEL and chromogranin A. RESULTS: The number of L
      cells was not different between patients with and without diabetes in either
      crypts (1.81+/-0.21% vs. 1.49+/-0.24%, respectively; p=0.31) or villi (1.07+/
      0.16% vs. 0.83+/-0.10%, respectively; p=0.23). L-cell number was higher in crypts
      than in villi (p<0.0001). L-cell replication was detected rarely and not
      different between the groups. L-cell apoptosis was similar in patients with and
      without diabetes in both crypts (7.84+/-2.77% vs. 8.65+/-3.77%, p=0.85) and villi
      (4.48+/-2.89% vs. 8.62+/-4.64%, p=0.42). Chromogranin A staining was found in a
      subset of L-cells only. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal L-cell density is higher in
      crypts than in villi. Chromogranin A is not a prerequisite for GLP-1 production.
      L-cell density and turnover are not different between patients with and without
      diabetes. Thus, alterations in the number of GLP-1 producing cells do not explain
      the reduced incretin effect in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26892521
TI  - Metabolic characteristics of keto-adapted ultra-endurance runners.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many successful ultra-endurance athletes have switched from a high
      carbohydrate to a low-carbohydrate diet, but they have not previously been
      studied to determine the extent of metabolic adaptations. METHODS: Twenty elite
      ultra-marathoners and ironman distance triathletes performed a maximal graded
      exercise test and a 180 min submaximal run at 64% VO2max on a treadmill to
      determine metabolic responses. One group habitually consumed a traditional high
      carbohydrate (HC: n=10, %carbohydrate:protein:fat=59:14:25) diet, and the other a
      low-carbohydrate (LC; n=10, 10:19:70) diet for an average of 20 months (range 9
      to 36 months). RESULTS: Peak fat oxidation was 2.3-fold higher in the LC group
      (1.54+/-0.18 vs 0.67+/-0.14 g/min; P=0.000) and it occurred at a higher
      percentage of VO2max (70.3+/-6.3 vs 54.9+/-7.8%; P=0.000). Mean fat oxidation
      during submaximal exercise was 59% higher in the LC group (1.21+/-0.02 vs 0.76+/
      0.11 g/min; P=0.000) corresponding to a greater relative contribution of fat
      (88+/-2 vs 56+/-8%; P=0.000). Despite these marked differences in fuel use
      between LC and HC athletes, there were no significant differences in resting
      muscle glycogen and the level of depletion after 180 min of running (-64% from
      pre-exercise) and 120 min of recovery (-36% from pre-exercise). CONCLUSION:
      Compared to highly trained ultra-endurance athletes consuming an HC diet, long
      term keto-adaptation results in extraordinarily high rates of fat oxidation,
      whereas muscle glycogen utilization and repletion patterns during and after a 3
      hour run are similar.

PMID- 26892520
TI  - Associations of insulin resistance, inflammation and liver synthetic function
      with very low-density lipoprotein: The Cardiovascular Health Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is increased in
      states of metabolic syndrome, leading to hypertriglyceridemia. However, metabolic
      syndrome is often associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which leads
      to liver fibrosis and inflammation that may decrease VLDL production. In this
      study, we aim to determine the interactive impact on VLDL profiles from insulin
      resistance, impairment in liver synthetic function and inflammation. METHODS: We
      examined cross-sectional associations of insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and
      liver synthetic function with VLDL particle (VLDL-P) concentration and size among
      1,850 older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study. RESULTS: Indices for high
      insulin sensitivity and low liver synthetic function were associated with lower
      concentrations of VLDL-P. In addition, insulin resistance preferentially
      increased concentration of large VLDL and was associated with mean VLDL size.
      Indices for inflammation however demonstrated a nonlinear relationship with both
      VLDL-P concentration and VLDL size. When mutually adjusted, one standard
      deviation (SD) increment in Matsuda index and C-reactive protein (CRP) were
      associated with 4.9 nmol/L (-8.2 to -1.5, p=0.005) and 6.3 nmol/L (-11.0 to -1.6,
      p=0.009) lower VLDL-P concentration respectively. In contrast, one-SD increment
      in factor VII, a marker for liver synthetic function, was associated with 16.9
      nmol/L (12.6-21.2, p<0.001) higher VLDL-P concentration. Furthermore, a one-SD
      increment in the Matsuda index was associated with 1.1 nm (-2.0 to -0.3, p=0.006)
      smaller mean VLDL size, whereas CRP and factor VII were not associated with VLDL
      size. CONCLUSION: Insulin sensitivity, inflammation and markers for liver
      synthetic function differentially impact VLDL-P concentration and VLDL size.
      These results underscore the complex effects of insulin resistance and its
      complications on VLDL production.

PMID- 26892522
TI  - Abdominal obesity and circulating metabolites: A twin study approach.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate how obesity, insulin resistance and low-grade
      inflammation link to circulating metabolites, and whether the connections are due
      to genetic or environmental factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Circulating serum
      metabolites were determined by proton NMR spectroscopy. Data from 1368 (531
      monozygotic (MZ) and 837 dizygotic (DZ)) twins were used for bivariate twin
      modeling to derive the genetic (rg) and environmental (re) correlations between
      waist circumference (WC) and serum metabolites. Detailed examination of the
      associations between fat distribution (DEXA) and metabolic health (HOMA-IR, CRP)
      was performed among 286 twins including 33 BMI-discordant MZ pairs (intrapair BMI
      difference >=3 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Fat, especially in the abdominal area (i.e. WC,
      android fat % and android to gynoid fat ratio), together with HOMA-IR and CRP
      correlated significantly with an atherogenic lipoprotein profile, higher levels
      of branched-chain (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids, higher levels of glycoprotein,
      and a more saturated fatty acid profile. In contrast, a higher proportion of
      gynoid to total fat associated with a favorable metabolite profile. There was a
      significant genetic overlap between WC and several metabolites, most strongly
      with phenylalanine (rg=0.40), glycoprotein (rg=0.37), serum triglycerides
      (rg=0.36), BCAAs (rg=0.30-0.40), HDL particle diameter (rg=-0.33) and HDL
      cholesterol (rg=-0.30). The effect of acquired obesity within the discordant MZ
      pairs was particularly strong for atherogenic lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: A wide
      range of unfavorable alterations in the serum metabolome was associated with
      abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. Twin modeling
      and obesity-discordant twin analysis suggest that these associations are partly
      explained by shared genes but also reflect mechanisms independent of genetic
      liability.

PMID- 26892524
TI  - First trimester screening for gestational diabetes mellitus by maternal factors
      and markers of inflammation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential role of maternal serum levels of tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs
      CRP) in the first trimester of pregnancy in the prediction of gestational
      diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Maternal serum TNF-alpha and Hs-CRP
      concentrations were measured in a case-control study of singleton pregnancies at
      11-13 weeks' gestation, which included 200 cases that subsequently developed GDM
      and 800 unaffected controls. Measured levels of TNF-alpha and Hs-CRP were
      expressed as multiples of the median (MoM) after adjustment for maternal
      characteristics and history. The performance of screening for GDM by maternal
      factors and MoM values of TNF-alpha and Hs-CRP was evaluated by the area under
      the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). RESULTS: In the GDM group,
      compared to the normal group, the median TNF-alpha was significantly increased
      (1.303 MoM, interquartile range [IQR] 1.151-1.475 vs. 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.940-1.064;
      p=0.031) and the median Hs-CRP was not significantly different (1.113 MoM, IQR
      0.990-1.250 vs. 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.943-1.060; p=0.084). In the prediction of GDM, the
      AUROC for maternal characteristics with TNF-alpha or Hs-CRP was not significantly
      different than the AUROC for maternal characteristics alone (p=0.5055 and
      p=0.2197, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnancies that develop GDM there is no
      evidence of an inflammatory response at 11-13 weeks' gestation and the levels of
      serum TNF-alpha and Hs-CRP are not useful in first-trimester screening for GDM.

PMID- 26892523
TI  - The protective effect of trimetazidine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
      through activating AMPK and ERK signaling pathway.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Trimetazidine (TMZ) is an anti-anginal drug that has been widely
      used in Europe and Asia. The TMZ can optimize energy metabolism via inhibition of
      long-chain 3-ketoacyl CoA thiolase (3-KAT) in the heart, with subsequent decrease
      in fatty acid oxidation and stimulation of glucose oxidation. However, the
      mechanism by which TMZ aids in cardioprotection against ischemic injury has not
      been characterized. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that
      controls ATP supply from substrate metabolism and protects heart from energy
      stress. TMZ changes the cardiac AMP/ATP ratio by modulating fatty acid oxidation,
      thereby triggering AMPK signaling cascade that contributes to the protection of
      the heart from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The mouse model of in
      vivo regional ischemia and reperfusion by the ligation of the left anterior
      descending coronary artery (LAD) was used for determination of myocardial
      infarction. The infarct size was compared between C57BL/6J WT mice and AMPK
      kinase dead (KD) transgenic mice with or without TMZ treatment. The ex vivo
      working heart perfusion system was used to monitor the effect of TMZ on glucose
      oxidation and fatty acid oxidation in the heart. RESULTS: TMZ treatment
      significantly stimulates cardiac AMPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase
      (ERK) signaling pathways (p<0.05 vs. vehicle group). The administration of TMZ
      reduces myocardial infarction size in WT C57BL/6J hearts, the reduction of
      myocardial infarction size by TMZ in AMPK KD hearts was significantly impaired
      versus WT hearts (p<0.05). Intriguingly, the administration of ERK inhibitor,
      PD98059, to AMPK KD mice abolished the cardioprotection of TMZ against I/R
      injury. The ex vivo working heart perfusion data demonstrated that TMZ treatment
      significantly activates AMPK signaling and modulating the substrate metabolism by
      shifting fatty acid oxidation to glucose oxidation during reperfusion, leading to
      reduction of oxidative stress in the I/R hearts. Therefore, both AMPK and ERK
      signaling pathways mediate the cardioprotection of TMZ against ischemic injury.
      The metabolic benefits of TMZ for angina patients could be due to the activation
      of energy sensor AMPK in the heart by TMZ administration.

PMID- 26892525
TI  - A novel DPP-4 inhibitor teneligliptin scavenges hydroxyl radicals: In vitro study
      evaluated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and in vivo study using DPP-4
      deficient rats.
AB  - AIMS: Recently various dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have emerged
      because of their high effectiveness and safety. In spite of their common effect
      of DPP-4 inhibition, the chemical structures are diverse. Here we show that the
      structure of teneligliptin, a novel DPP-4 inhibitor, has a scavenging activity on
      hydroxyl radical (.OH). METHODS: .OH and superoxide (O2(-)) were detected by
      electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. .OH and O2(-) were generated in vitro
      by the Fenton reaction and a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system, respectively.
      The level of free radicals was estimated from the ESR signal intensity. The
      product via teneligliptin and .OH reaction was identified by thin layer
      chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. In vivo effect was also evaluated
      using DPP-4 deficient rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. RESULTS: ESR
      spectroscopy analysis showed that teneligliptin did not scavenge O2(-), but
      scavenged .OH in a dose dependent manner. Its activity was greater than that of
      glutathione. The reaction product appeared to have an oxygen-atom added structure
      to that of teneligliptin, which was identical to the most abundant metabolite of
      teneligliptin in human plasma. Furthermore, using DPP-4 deficient rat,
      teneligliptin did not affect plasma glucose levels or body weight, but normalized
      increased levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in urine, kidney and aorta of
      diabetic rats, supporting that teneligliptin may have a .OH scavenging activity
      in vivo independently of DPP-4 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Teneligliptin is not only
      effective as DPP-4 inhibitor, but may also be beneficial as .OH scavenger, which
      may be useful in the prevention of diabetic complications.

PMID- 26892526
TI  - Cerebrovascular Events After No-Touch Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting,
      Conventional Side-Clamp Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass, and Proximal Anastomotic
      Devices: A Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) has been shown to reduce the
      risk of neurologic complications as compared to coronary artery bypass grafting
      performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Side-clamping of the aorta while
      constructing proximal anastomoses, however, still carries substantial risk of
      cerebral embolization. We aimed to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis of
      studies assessing 2 clampless techniques: aortic "no-touch" and proximal
      anastomosis devices (PAD) for OPCAB. METHODS AND RESULTS: PubMed, CINAHL,
      CENTRAL, and Google Scholar databases were screened for randomized controlled
      trials and observational studies comparing "no-touch" and/or PAD with side-clamp
      OPCAB and reporting short-term (<=30 days) outcomes: cerebrovascular accident and
      all-cause mortality. A total of 18 studies (3 randomized controlled trials)
      enrolling 25 163 patients were included. Aortic "no-touch" was associated with
      statistically lower risk of cerebrovascular accident as compared to side-clamp
      OPCAB: risk ratio 95% CI: 0.41 (0.27-0.61); P<0.01; I(2)=0%. Event rates were
      0.36% and 1.28% for "no-touch" and side-clamp OPCAB, respectively. No difference
      was seen between PAD and side-clamp OPCAB: 0.71 (0.33-1.55); P=0.39; I(2)=39%. A
      trend towards increased 30-day all-cause mortality with PAD and no difference
      with "no-touch" were observed when compared to side-clamp OPCAB. In a subset
      analysis, "no-touch" consistently reduced the risk of cerebrovascular accident
      regardless of patients' baseline risk characteristics. A benefit with PAD was
      observed in low-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic "no-touch" technique was
      associated with nearly 60% lower risk of postoperative cerebrovascular events as
      compared to conventional side-clamp OPCAB with effect consistent across patients
      at different risk.

PMID- 26892527
TI  - Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 3 (ACE3) Protects Against Pressure Overload-Induced
      Cardiac Hypertrophy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 3 (ACE3) is a recently defined homolog
      of ACE. However, the pathophysiological function of ACE3 is largely unknown.
      Here, we aim to explore the role of ACE3 in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) with gain and loss of
      function of ACE3 and mice with global knockout or cardiac-specific overexpression
      of ACE3 were used in this study. In cultured cardiomyocytes, ACE3 conferred
      protection against angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophic growth. Cardiac
      hypertrophy in mice was induced by aortic banding (AB) and the extent of
      hypertrophy was analyzed through echocardiographic, pathological, and molecular
      analyses. Our data demonstrated that ACE3-deficient mice exhibited more
      pronounced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and a strong decrease in cardiac
      contractile function, conversely, cardiac-specific ACE3-overexpressing mice
      displayed an attenuated hypertrophic phenotype, compared with control mice,
      respectively. Analyses of the underlying molecular mechanism revealed that ACE3
      mediated protection against cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing the activation of
      mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-regulated extracellular signal
      regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) signaling, which was further evidenced by the
      observation that inhibition of the MEK-ERK1/2 signaling by U0126 rescued the
      exacerbated hypertrophic phenotype in ACE3-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      comprehensive analyses suggest that ACE3 inhibits pressure overload-induced
      cardiac hypertrophy by blocking the MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

PMID- 26892529
TI  - Erratum to: Teneligliptin improves left ventricular diastolic function and
      endothelial function in patients with diabetes.

PMID- 26892528
TI  - Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and
      Valvular Heart Lesions.

PMID- 26892532
TI  - Clinicopathological study on penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers and aortic
      dissection: distinct pattern of development of initial event.
AB  - An intimal tear is responsible for the development of aortic dissection (AD).
      Plaque rupture is thought to progress to a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer
      (PAU). However, the influences of mechanical stress and atherosclerosis on the
      intimal tear of AD and plaque rupture of PAU have not been fully understood. We
      enrolled 27 patients with AD [67.6 +/- 11.2 years, female/male (F/M) 12/15] and
      10 patients with PAU (71.0 +/- 8.64 years, F/M 2/8) who underwent aortic
      reconstructive surgery in our hospital between 2007 and 2011. We analyzed the
      clinical data and morphological features of these patients and discuss the role
      of mechanical stress in the initial event. On clinical examination, hypertension
      was frequently observed in the patients of both the AD (77.8 %) and PAU groups
      (90.0 %), while hypercholesterolemia was significantly more prevalent in the PAU
      group (90.0 %) than in the AD (22.2 %) group. Most lesions of AD (96.3 %) were
      found in the ascending aorta up to the aortic arch, while those of PAU (90.0 %)
      were found in the descending and abdominal aortas. On pathological examination,
      the entrance tear was found in 21 (77.8 %) of the 27 patients with AD, and
      histologically comprised nonatherosclerotic intima and media. In contrast, the
      entrance tear was considered as plaque ulcer in 8 (80.0 %) of the 10 patients
      with PAU. The patients with PAU showed a significantly higher prevalence of soft
      plaque, complicated lesions, and medial fibrosis than those with AD, whereas
      patients with AD showed no complicated lesions and had a significantly higher
      prevalence of cystic medial necrosis than those with PAU. The present study
      suggests that less atherosclerosis and impairment of media could proceed to
      intimal tear formation in AD and that the disruption of the fibrous cap could
      cause the plaque ulcer of PAU.

PMID- 26892531
TI  - Renal function on admission modifies prognostic impact of diuretics in acute
      heart failure: a propensity score matched and interaction analysis.
AB  - Although intravenous diuretics have been mainstay drugs in patients with acute
      heart failure (AHF), they have been suggested to have some deleterious effects on
      prognosis. We postulated that renal function may modify their deleterious effects
      in AHF patients. The study population consisted of 1094 AHF patients from three
      hospitals. Renal dysfunction (RD) was defined as estimated glomerular filtration
      rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 on admission, and the cohort was divided into a
      high-dose furosemide (>=100 mg/48 h) and low-dose furosemide group according to
      the amount of intravenous furosemide used within 48 h from admission. In the
      whole cohort, in-hospital mortality rate was higher in the high-dose furosemide
      group than the low-dose furosemide group (12.5 vs. 6.6 %, respectively, P =
      0.001). However, this difference in the in-hospital mortality rates was
      significant only in the RD subgroup (15.6 vs. 7.0 %, respectively, P < 0.001),
      and not in the non-RD subgroup (2.5 vs. 5.9 %, respectively, P = 0.384).
      Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of high
      dose furosemide on prognosis. After propensity score matching, high-dose
      furosemide was not associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.25, 95 % CI 0.73
      2.16, P = 0.408). However, there was a qualitative difference in OR for in
      hospital mortality between AHF with RD (OR 1.77, 95 % CI 0.96-3.28, P = 0.068)
      and without RD (OR 0.23, 95 % CI 0.05-1.10, P = 0.064), and there was a
      significant interaction between eGFR and prognostic impact of high-dose
      furosemide (P for OR interaction = 0.013). An inverse relationship was observed
      between eGFR and OR for in-hospital death in the group treated with high-dose
      furosemide (decreasing OR with better eGFR). The deleterious effect of diuretics
      was significantly modified with renal function in AHF. This association may be
      one reason for poorer prognosis of AHF patients complicated with renal
      impairment.

PMID- 26892530
TI  - Late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance predicts coronary
      vasomotor abnormality and myocardial lactate production in patients with chronic
      heart failure.
AB  - Myocardial fibrosis and microvascular dysfunction are key determinants of outcome
      in heart failure (HF); we examined their relationship in patients with HF. Our
      study included 61 consecutive patients with HF but without coronary stenosis. All
      underwent gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance to evaluate late
      gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and an acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test to
      evaluate microvascular dysfunction. During the ACh provocation test, we sampled
      blood simultaneously from the coronary sinus and aortic root to compare lactate
      concentrations. We quantified coronary blood flow volume using an intracoronary
      Doppler-tipped guidewire. We detected LGE in 34 patients (LGE-positive); 27 were
      LGE-negative. Coronary blood flow volume increased significantly after the ACh
      provocation test only in LGE-negative patients (before vs. after ACh, 47.5 +/-
      36.8 vs. 69.2 +/- 48.0 ml/min, respectively; p = 0.004). The myocardial lactate
      extraction ratio (LER) significantly decreased after the ACh test in both groups
      (LGE-negative, p = 0.001; LGE-positive, p < 0.001), significantly more so in the
      LGE-positive group (p = 0.017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed
      that a post-ACh LER < 0 (indicating myocardial lactate production) was a
      significant predictor of LGE-positivity (odds ratio 4.54; 95 % confidence
      interval 1.38-14.93; p = 0.013). In the LGE-positive group, an LGE volume greater
      than the median significantly predicted a post-ACh LER of <0 (p = 0.042; odds
      ratio 6.02; 95 % confidence interval 1.07-33.86). ACh-provoked coronary vasomotor
      abnormality is closely correlated with myocardial fibrosis in patients with HF
      but without organic coronary stenosis. Coronary vasomotor abnormalities in
      fibrotic myocardium may worsen HF.

PMID- 26892534
TI  - Relation between detection rate and inappropriate shocks in single versus dual
      chamber cardioverter-defibrillator--an analysis from the OPTION trial.
AB  - The programming of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) influences
      inappropriate shock rates. The aim of the study is to analyse rates of patients
      with appropriate and inappropriate shocks according to detection zones in the
      OPTION trial. All patients received dual chamber (DC) ICDs randomly assigned to
      be programmed either to single chamber (SC) or to DC settings including PARAD+
      algorithm. In a post-hoc analysis, rates of patients with inappropriate and
      appropriate shocks were calculated for shocks triggered at heart rates >= 170 bpm
      (ventricular tachycardia zone) and at rates >= 200 bpm (ventricular fibrillation
      zone). In the SC group, higher rates of patients with total and inappropriate
      shocks were delivered at heart rates >= 170 bpm than at rates >= 200 bpm (total
      shocks: 21.1% vs. 16.6%; p = 0.002; inappropriate shocks: 7.6% vs. 4.5%, p =
      0.016; appropriate shocks: 15.2% vs. 13.5%; p = n.s.). No such differences were
      observed in the DC group (total shocks: 14.3% vs. 12.6%; p = n.s.; inappropriate
      shocks: 3.9% vs. 3.6%; p = n.s.; appropriate shocks: 12.2% vs. 10.4%; p = n.s.).
      The higher frequency of patients with total shocks with SC settings than with DC
      settings that benefit from PARAD+ was driven by a higher percentage of patients
      with inappropriate shocks in the VT zone (170-200 bpm) in the SC population.

PMID- 26892533
TI  - Inotropic agents use in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart
      failure: a retrospective analysis from a 22-year registry in a Middle-Eastern
      Country (1991-2013).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Data about the use of positive inotropic agents in patients
      hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is limited. METHODS:
      The records of 8066 patients with ADHF who were hospitalized at Hamad Medical
      Corporation, Qatar from 1991 to 2013 were analyzed to explore demographics and
      clinical characteristics of the patients according to inotropic agents use.
      RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty eight patients [10.6%, 95% CI (10 to 11.3%)]
      received intravenous inotropic support. Patients receiving inotropes were more
      likely to be female and have preserved ejection fraction when compared to those
      not receiving inotropic agents. Comorbidities associated with higher likelihood
      of receiving inotropic treatment included acute myocardial infarction, chronic
      renal impairment, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity and hyperglycemia. Patient
      on inotropes were more likely to undergone percutaneous coronary intervention
      (PCI), intra-aortic balloon pump support and intubation. There were no
      differences in the mean plasma BNP and CK-MB levels between the 2 groups. Heart
      failure patients receiving inotropes also were more likely to have complications
      including ventricular tachycardia (2.0% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.003), prolonged hospital
      stay (8.0 vs. 5.0 days, p = 0.001), cardiac arrest (14.6% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.001)
      and in-hospital mortality (30.8% vs. 9.1 %, p = 0.001). Over the study period
      there was an increase use of inotropic agents and decreased mortality rates.
      CONCLUSION: Inotropic use increased over the period whereas; female gender and
      conventional cardiac risk factors were predictors of inotropic agents use in the
      study.

PMID- 26892536
TI  - High-level expression of Proteinase K from Tritirachium album Limber in Pichia
      pastoris using multi-copy expression strains.
AB  - Proteinase K is widely used in scientific research and industries. This report
      was aimed to achieve high-level expression of proteinase K using Pichia pastoris
      GS115 as the host strain. The coding sequence of a variant of proteinase K that
      has higher activity than the wild type protein was chosen and optimized based on
      the codon usage preference of P. pastoris. The novel open reading frame was
      synthesized and a series of multi-copy expression vectors were constructed based
      on the pHBM905BDM plasmid, allowing for the tandem integration of multiple copies
      of the target gene into the genome of P. pastoris with a single recombination.
      These strains were used to study the correlation between the gene copy number and
      the expression level of proteinase K. The results of quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction (qPCR) indicated that the tandem expression cassettes were
      integrated into the host genome stably. Meanwhile, the results of qPCR and enzyme
      activity assays indicated that the mRNA and protein expression levels of the
      target gene increased as the gene copy number increased. Moreover, the effect of
      gene dosage on the expression level of the recombinant protein was more obvious
      using high-density fermentation. The maximum expression level and enzyme activity
      of proteinase K, which were obtained from the recombinant yeast strain bearing 5
      copies of the target gene after an 84-h induction, were approximately 8.069 mg/mL
      and 108,295 U/mL, respectively. The recombinant proteinase was purified and
      characterized. The optimum pH and temperature for the activity of this protease
      were approximately pH 11 and 55  degrees C, respectively.

PMID- 26892535
TI  - Purification of F plasmid-encoded native TraC from Escherichia coli by affinity
      chromatography on calmodulin Sepharose.
AB  - We have enriched several native bacterial proteins from Escherichia coli by
      chromatography on the immobilized eukaryotic Ca(2+)-binding protein, calmodulin.
      These bacterial proteins bound in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner to calmodulin, and
      were released by the addition of the Ca(2+)-chelator, EGTA, similar to many
      eukaryotic calmodulin-binding proteins. One of the bacterial proteins, F factor
      encoded TraC, was purified to apparent homogeneity by an additional
      chromatographic step, anion exchange chromatography on MonoQ. Experiments with
      four chemically distinct calmodulin antagonists (R24571, Compound 48/80,
      melittin, and W7) showed that all of these substances inhibited the binding of
      purified TraC to calmodulin at effective concentrations comparable to those
      required for inhibiting in vitro binding of eukaryotic calmodulin-binding
      proteins. Three further bacterial proteins were identified as calmodulin-binding
      proteins: SecA, GlpD, and GlpC. We suggest that also these native bacterial
      proteins might be isolated by the unusual purification procedure including
      affinity chromatography on calmodulin Sepharose. Whether the identified proteins
      bind to, and are regulated by, putative bacterial calmodulin-like proteins in
      Escherichia coli remains to be established.

PMID- 26892538
TI  - The psychological cycle behind dental appointment attendance: a cross-sectional
      study of experiences, anticipations, and behavioral intentions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study explored a promising theoretical model to explain dental
      patients' experiences and planning behavior for future appointments. The model
      predicts that patients pass through a 'psychological cycle' when undergoing a
      course of dental care: past appointment experiences influence their anticipations
      for future dental visits, which in turn affect behavioral intentions to attend
      appointments. METHODS: Variables representing the hypothesized model stages and
      other potentially relevant context variables (dental anxiety, subjective oral
      health ratings, general anxiety, stress) were assessed by means of a cross
      sectional online survey (n = 311). Multiple regression analyses were calculated
      to estimate the model's fit while controlling for potentially confounding
      factors. RESULTS: Consistent with the hypothesized cycle, recollections of past
      appointment experiences influenced behavioral intentions to attend future
      appointments. This association was mediated by evaluations of prior visits and
      expectations for future appointments. The variables included within this model
      explained 42% of the variance in attendance intentions when controlling for the
      potential moderating effects of context variables. CONCLUSIONS: The findings
      highlight the contribution of cognitive factors, such as evaluations and
      expectations, to patients' attendance intentions. This knowledge could help find
      ways to improve treatment expectations to foster better dental service
      utilization.

PMID- 26892537
TI  - Divergence time estimates and the evolution of major lineages in the
      florideophyte red algae.
AB  - The Florideophyceae is the most abundant and taxonomically diverse class of red
      algae (Rhodophyta). However, many aspects of the systematics and divergence times
      of the group remain unresolved. Using a seven-gene concatenated dataset (nuclear
      EF2, LSU and SSU rRNAs, mitochondrial cox1, and plastid rbcL, psaA and psbA
      genes), we generated a robust phylogeny of red algae to provide an evolutionary
      timeline for florideophyte diversification. Our relaxed molecular clock analysis
      suggests that the Florideophyceae diverged approximately 943 (817-1,049) million
      years ago (Ma). The major divergences in this class involved the emergence of
      Hildenbrandiophycidae [ca. 781 (681-879) Ma], Nemaliophycidae [ca. 661 (597-736)
      Ma], Corallinophycidae [ca. 579 (543-617) Ma], and the split of Ahnfeltiophycidae
      and Rhodymeniophycidae [ca. 508 (442-580) Ma]. Within these clades, extant
      diversity reflects largely Phanerozoic diversification. Divergences within
      Florideophyceae were accompanied by evolutionary changes in the carposporophyte
      stage, leading to a successful strategy for maximizing spore production from each
      fertilization event. Our research provides robust estimates for the divergence
      times of major lineages within the Florideophyceae. This timeline was used to
      interpret the emergence of key morphological innovations that characterize these
      multicellular red algae.

PMID- 26892539
TI  - Development and validation of a UHPLC-UV method for the determination of a
      prostate secretory protein 94-derived synthetic peptide (PCK3145) in human plasma
      and assessment of its stability in human plasma.
AB  - PCK3145 is a synthetic peptide, derived from the Prostate Secreted Protein 94
      (PSP94), with promising in vitro and animal in vivo results in prostate cancer.
      The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a fast and robust ultra
      high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection for the
      determination of PCK3145 in human plasma which would be suitable for the
      assessment of PCK3145 stability to proteolytic degradation. Following protein
      precipitation, chromatographic separation was carried out on an Aeris Peptide C18
      column with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water at a flow-rate of 0.50
      mL/min. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.50-20.00 MUg/mL. Intra-
      and inter-day percentage relative standard deviation and relative error were
      <=10%. The limit of detection and the lower limit of quantification were 0.15 and
      0.50 MUg/mL, respectively. Recovery of PCK3145 from human plasma was >=96%. The
      peptide presented high stability in whole blood and in human plasma (>98% intact
      peptide after 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C in human plasma), which represents
      a distinctive advantage in the therapeutic use of the compound. This is the first
      validated UHPLC method for the determination of PCK3145 reported, and it was
      successfully applied in the study of the proteolytic stability of PCK3145 in
      human plasma ex vivo. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 

PMID- 26892540
TI  - Insights into the distinct roles of MMP-11 in tumor biology and future
      therapeutics (Review).
AB  - The biological processes of cancer cells such as tumorigenesis, proliferation,
      angiogenesis, apoptosis and invasion are greatly influenced by the surrounding
      microenvironment. The ability of solid malignant tumors to alter the
      microenvironment represents an important characteristic through which tumor cells
      are able to acquire specific functions necessary for their malignant biological
      behaviors. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent
      endopeptidases with the capacity of remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM) by
      degrading almost all ECM proteins, which plays essential roles during the
      invasion and metastasis process of solid malignant tumors, including allowing
      tumor cells to modify the ECM components and release cytokines, ultimately
      facilitating protease-dependent tumor progression. MMP-11, also named stromelysin
      3, is a member of the stromelysin subgroup belonging to MMPs superfamily, which
      has been detected in cancer cells, stromal cells and adjacent microenvironment.
      Differently, MMP-11 exerts a dual effect on tumors. On the one hand MMP-11
      promotes cancer development by inhibiting apoptosis as well as enhancing
      migration and invasion of cancer cells, on the other hand MMP-11 plays a negative
      role against cancer development via suppressing metastasis in animal models.
      Overexpression of MMP-11 was discovered in sera of cancer patients compared with
      normal control group as well as in multiple tumor tissue specimens, such as
      gastric cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. At present, some evidence
      supports that MMP-11 may work as a significant tumor biomarker for early
      detection of cancer, tumor staging, prognostic analysis, monitoring recurrence
      during follow-up and also a potential target for immunotherapy against cancer. In
      view of the importance of MMP-11 in modifying tumor microenvironment and potent
      antitumoral effects on solid tumors, there is an urgent need for a deeper
      understanding of how MMP-11 modulates tumor progression, and exploring its
      potential clinical application. 

PMID- 26892541
TI  - Methodology of health-related quality of life analysis in phase III advanced non
      small-cell lung cancer clinical trials: a critical review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is recognized as a component
      endpoint for cancer therapy approvals. The aim of this review was to evaluate the
      methodology of HRQoL analysis and reporting in phase III clinical trials of first
      line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). METHODS: A
      search in MEDLINE databases identified phase III clinical trials in first-line
      chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC, published between January 2008 to December 2014.
      Two authors independently extracted information using predefined data abstraction
      forms. RESULTS: A total of 55 phase III advanced NSCLC trials were identified.
      HRQoL was declared as an endpoint in 27 studies (49%). Among these 27 studies,
      The EORTC questionnaire Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 was used in 13 (48%) of
      the studies and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General was used in
      12 (44%) trials. The targeted dimensions of HRQoL, the minimal clinically
      important difference and the statistical approaches for dealing with missing data
      were clearly specified in 13 (48.1%), 9 (33.3%) and 5 (18.5%) studies,
      respectively. The most frequent statistical methods for HRQoL analysis were: the
      mean change from baseline (33.3%), the linear mixed model for repeated measures
      (22.2%) and time to HRQoL score deterioration (18.5%). For each targeted
      dimension, the results for each group, the estimated effect size and its
      precision were clearly reported in 4 studies (14.8%), not clearly reported in 11
      studies (40.7%) and not reported at all in 12 studies (44.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This
      review demonstrated the weakness and the heterogeneity of the measurement,
      analysis, and reporting of HRQoL in phase III advanced NSCLC trials. Precise and
      uniform recommendations are needed to compare HRQoL results across publications
      and to provide understandable messages for patients and clinicians.

PMID- 26892543
TI  - From PERV to CRISPR.

PMID- 26892542
TI  - YY1 inhibits differentiation and function of regulatory T cells by blocking Foxp3
      expression and activity.
AB  - Regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are essential for maintenance of immune homeostasis.
      Foxp3 is the key transcription factor for T(reg)-cell differentiation and
      function; however, molecular mechanisms for its negative regulation are poorly
      understood. Here we show that YY1 expression is lower in T(reg) cells than
      T(conv) cells, and its overexpression causes a marked reduction of Foxp3
      expression and abrogation of suppressive function of Treg cells. YY1 is increased
      in T(reg) cells under inflammatory conditions with concomitant decrease of
      suppressor activity in dextran sulfate-induced colitis model. YY1 inhibits
      Smad3/4 binding to and chromatin remodelling of the Foxp3 locus. In addition, YY1
      interrupts Foxp3-dependent target gene expression by physically interacting with
      Foxp3 and by directly binding to the Foxp3 target genes. Thus, YY1 inhibits
      differentiation and function of T(reg) cells by blocking Foxp3.

PMID- 26892545
TI  - Wrong but seminal.

PMID- 26892546
TI  - Antibacterials: A sweet vaccine.

PMID- 26892547
TI  - Biomimetic catalysis: Taking on the turnover challenge.

PMID- 26892548
TI  - Energy storage: Redox flow batteries go organic.

PMID- 26892549
TI  - Infrared spectroscopy: The acid test for water structure.

PMID- 26892544
TI  - Isolation and partial characterization of a highly divergent lineage of
      hantavirus from the European mole (Talpa europaea).
AB  - Genetically distinct hantaviruses have been identified in five species of
      fossorial moles (order Eulipotyphla, family Talpidae) from Eurasia and North
      America. Here, we report the isolation and partial characterization of a highly
      divergent hantavirus, named Nova virus (NVAV), from lung tissue of a European
      mole (Talpa europaea), captured in central Poland in August 2013. Typical
      hantavirus-like particles, measuring 80-120 nm in diameter, were found in NVAV
      infected Vero E6 cells by transmission electron microscopy. Whole-genome
      sequences of the isolate, designated NVAV strain Te34, were identical to that
      amplified from the original lung tissue, and phylogenetic analysis of the full
      length L, M and S segments, using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods, showed
      that NVAV was most closely related to hantaviruses harbored by insectivorous
      bats, consistent with an ancient evolutionary origin. Infant Swiss Webster mice,
      inoculated with NVAV by the intraperitoneal route, developed weight loss and
      hyperactivity, beginning at 16 days, followed by hind-limb paralysis and death.
      High NVAV RNA copies were detected in lung, liver, kidney, spleen and brain by
      quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Neuropathological examination showed astrocytic
      and microglial activation and neuronal loss. The first mole-borne hantavirus
      isolate will facilitate long-overdue studies on its infectivity and pathogenic
      potential in humans.

PMID- 26892550
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26892551
TI  - Remote functionalization through alkene isomerization.
AB  - Exploiting the reactivity of one functional group within a molecule to generate a
      reaction at a different position is an ongoing challenge in organic synthesis.
      Effective remote functionalization protocols have the potential to provide access
      to almost any derivatives but are difficult to achieve. The difficulty is more
      pronounced for acyclic systems where flexible alkyl chains are present between
      the initiating functional group and the desired reactive centres. In this Review,
      we discuss the concept of remote functionalization of alkenes using metal
      complexes, leading to a selective reaction at a position distal to the initial
      double bond. We aim to show the vast opportunity provided by this growing field
      through selected and representative examples. Our aim is to demonstrate that
      using a double bond as a chemical handle, metal-assisted long-distance activation
      could be used as a powerful synthetic strategy. 

PMID- 26892553
TI  - Self-assembled nanospheres with multiple endohedral binding sites pre-organize
      catalysts and substrates for highly efficient reactions.
AB  - Tuning reagent and catalyst concentrations is crucial in the development of
      efficient catalytic transformations. In enzyme-catalysed reactions the substrate
      is bound-often by multiple non-covalent interactions-in a well-defined pocket
      close to the active site of the enzyme; this pre-organization facilitates highly
      efficient transformations. Here we report an artificial system that co
      encapsulates multiple catalysts and substrates within the confined space defined
      by an M12L24 nanosphere that contains 24 endohedral guanidinium-binding sites.
      Cooperative binding means that sulfonate guests are bound much more strongly than
      carboxylates. This difference has been used to fix gold-based catalysts firmly,
      with the remaining binding sites left to pre-organize substrates. This strategy
      was applied to a Au(I)-catalysed cyclization of acetylenic acid to enol lactone
      in which the pre-organization resulted in much higher reaction rates. We also
      found that the encapsulated sulfonate-containing Au(I) catalysts did not convert
      neutral (acid) substrates, and so could have potential in the development of
      substrate-selective catalysis and base-triggered on/off switching of catalysis. 

PMID- 26892554
TI  - Highly efficient catalysis of the Kemp elimination in the cavity of a cubic
      coordination cage.
AB  - The hollow cavities of coordination cages can provide an environment for enzyme
      like catalytic reactions of small-molecule guests. Here, we report a new example
      (catalysis of the Kemp elimination reaction of benzisoxazole with hydroxide to
      form 2-cyanophenolate) in the cavity of a water-soluble M8L12 coordination cage,
      with two features of particular interest. First, the rate enhancement is among
      the largest observed to date: at pD 8.5, the value of kcat/kuncat is 2 * 10(5),
      due to the accumulation of a high concentration of partially desolvated hydroxide
      ions around the bound guest arising from ion-pairing with the 16+ cage. Second,
      the catalysis is based on two orthogonal interactions: (1) hydrophobic binding of
      benzisoxazole in the cavity and (2) polar binding of hydroxide ions to sites on
      the cage surface, both of which were established by competition experiments. 

PMID- 26892552
TI  - Reversible Bergman cyclization by atomic manipulation.
AB  - The Bergman cyclization is one of the most fascinating rearrangements in
      chemistry, with important implications in organic synthesis and pharmacology.
      Here we demonstrate a reversible Bergman cyclization for the first time. We
      induced the on-surface transformation of an individual aromatic diradical into a
      highly strained ten-membered diyne using atomic manipulation and verified the
      products by non-contact atomic force microscopy with atomic resolution. The diyne
      and diradical were stabilized by using an ultrathin NaCl film as the substrate,
      and the diyne could be transformed back into the diradical. Importantly, the
      diradical and the diyne exhibit different reactivity, electronic, magnetic and
      optical properties associated with the changes in the bond topology, and spin
      multiplicity. With this reversible, triggered Bergman cyclization we demonstrated
      switching on demand between the two reactive intermediates by means of selective
      C-C bond formation or cleavage, which opens up the field of radical chemistry for
      on-surface reactions by atomic manipulation. 

PMID- 26892555
TI  - The role of metal ions in X-ray-induced photochemistry.
AB  - Metal centres in biomolecules are recognized as being particularly sensitive to
      radiation damage by X-ray photons. This results in such molecules being both
      susceptible to an effective X-ray-induced loss of function and problematic to
      study using X-ray diffraction methods, with reliable structures of the metal
      centres difficult to obtain. Despite the abundance of experimental evidence, the
      mechanistic details of radiation damage at metal centres are unclear. Here, using
      ab initio calculations, we show that the absorption of X-rays by microsolvated
      Mg(2+) results in a complicated chain of ultrafast electronic relaxation steps
      that comprise both intra- and intermolecular processes and last for a few hundred
      femtoseconds. At the end of this cascade the metal reverts to its original charge
      state, the immediate environment becomes multiply ionized and large
      concentrations of radicals and slow electrons build up in the metal's vicinity.
      We conclude that such cascades involving metal ions are essential to our
      understanding of radiation chemistry and radiation damage in biological
      environments. 

PMID- 26892556
TI  - An antibacterial vaccination strategy based on a glycoconjugate containing the
      core lipopolysaccharide tetrasaccharide Hep2Kdo2.
AB  - Certain non-mammalian cell wall sugars are conserved across a variety of
      pathogenic bacteria. This conservation of structure, combined with their
      structural differences when compared with mammalian sugars, make them potentially
      powerful epitopes for immunization. Here, we report the synthesis of a
      glycoconjugate that displays the so-called 'inner core' sugars of Gram-negative
      bacterial cell walls. We also describe an antibacterial vaccination strategy
      based on immunization with the glycoconjugate and the subsequent administration
      of an inhibitor that uncovers the corresponding epitope in pathogenic bacteria.
      The core tetrasaccharide, Hep2Kdo2, a common motif in bacterial
      lipopolysaccharides, was synthesized and attached via a chain linker to a
      diphtheria toxin mutant carrier protein. This glycoconjugate generated titres of
      antibodies towards the inner core tetrasaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide,
      which were capable of binding the cell-surface sugars of bacterial pathogenic
      strains including Neisseria meningitidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia
      coli. Exposure of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in in vitro experiments, using an
      inhibitor of capsular polysaccharide transport, enabled potent bacterial killing
      with antiserum. 

PMID- 26892558
TI  - Dissociative electron attachment to CO2 produces molecular oxygen.
AB  - Until recently, it was widely regarded that only one reaction pathway led to the
      production of molecular oxygen in Earth's prebiotic primitive atmosphere: a three
      body recombination reaction of two oxygen atoms and a third body that removes
      excess energy. However, an additional pathway has recently been observed that
      involves the photodissociation of CO2 on exposure to ultraviolet light. Here we
      demonstrate a further pathway to O2 production, again from CO2, but via
      dissociative electron attachment (DEA). Using anion-velocity image mapping, we
      provide experimental evidence for a channel of DEA to CO2 that produces
      O2(X(3)Sigma(-)g) + C(-). This observed channel coexists in the same energy range
      as the competitive three-body dissociation of CO2 to give O + O + C(-). The
      abundance of low-energy electrons in interstellar space and the upper atmosphere
      of Earth suggests that the contributions of these pathways are significant and
      should be incorporated into atmospheric chemistry models. 

PMID- 26892559
TI  - Diversification of self-replicating molecules.
AB  - How new species emerge in nature is still incompletely understood and difficult
      to study directly. Self-replicating molecules provide a simple model that allows
      us to capture the fundamental processes that occur in species formation. We have
      been able to monitor in real time and at a molecular level the diversification of
      self-replicating molecules into two distinct sets that compete for two different
      building blocks ('food') and so capture an important aspect of the process by
      which species may arise. The results show that the second replicator set is a
      descendant of the first and that both sets are kinetic products that oppose the
      thermodynamic preference of the system. The sets occupy related but complementary
      food niches. As diversification into sets takes place on the timescale of weeks
      and can be investigated at the molecular level, this work opens up new
      opportunities for experimentally investigating the process through which species
      arise both in real time and with enhanced detail. 

PMID- 26892557
TI  - Controlled partial interpenetration in metal-organic frameworks.
AB  - Interpenetration, the entwining of multiple lattices, is a common phenomenon in
      metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Typically, in interpenetrated MOFs the sub
      lattices are fully occupied. Here we report a family of MOFs in which one sub
      lattice is fully occupied and the occupancy level of the other can be controlled
      during synthesis to produce frameworks with variable levels of partial
      interpenetration. We also report an 'autocatenation' process, a transformation of
      non-interpenetrated lattices into doubly interpenetrated frameworks via
      progressively higher degrees of interpenetration that involves no external
      reagents. Autocatenation maintains crystallinity and can be triggered either
      thermally or by shear forces. The ligand used to construct these MOFs is chiral,
      and both racemic and enantiopure partially interpenetrated frameworks can be
      accessed. X-ray diffraction, nonlinear optical microscopy and theoretical
      calculations offer insights into the structures and dynamic behaviour of these
      materials and the growth mechanisms of interpenetrated MOFs. 

PMID- 26892560
TI  - Extreme compressibility in LnFe(CN)6 coordination framework materials via
      molecular gears and torsion springs.
AB  - The mechanical flexibility of coordination frameworks can lead to a range of
      highly anomalous structural behaviours. Here, we demonstrate the extreme
      compressibility of the LnFe(CN)6 frameworks (Ln = Ho, Lu or Y), which reversibly
      compress by 20% in volume under the relatively low pressure of 1 GPa, one of the
      largest known pressure responses for any crystalline material. We delineate in
      detail the mechanism for this high compressibility, where the LnN6 units act like
      torsion springs synchronized by rigid Fe(CN)6 units performing the role of gears.
      The materials also show significant negative linear compressibility via a cam
      like effect. The torsional mechanism is fundamentally distinct from the
      deformation mechanisms prevalent in other flexible solids and relies on
      competition between locally unstable metal coordination geometries and the
      constraints of the framework connectivity, a discovery that has implications for
      the strategic design of new materials with exceptional mechanical properties. 

PMID- 26892562
TI  - Corrigendum: Recent advances in the construction of antibody-drug conjugates.

PMID- 26892561
TI  - Enantioselective aldol reactions with masked fluoroacetates.
AB  - Despite the growing importance of organofluorines as pharmaceuticals and
      agrochemicals, the stereoselective introduction of fluorine into many prominent
      classes of natural products and chemotherapeutic agents is difficult. One long
      standing unsolved challenge is the enantioselective aldol reaction of
      fluoroacetate to enable access to fluorinated analogues of medicinally relevant
      acetate-derived compounds, such as polyketides and statins. Herein we present
      fluoromalonic acid halfthioesters as biomimetic surrogates of fluoroacetate and
      demonstrate their use in highly stereoselective aldol reactions that proceed
      under mild organocatalytic conditions. We also show that the methodology can be
      extended to formal aldol reactions with fluoroacetaldehyde and consecutive aldol
      reactions. The synthetic utility of the fluorinated aldol products is illustrated
      by the synthesis of a fluorinated derivative of the top-selling drug
      atorvastatin. The results show the prospects of the method for the
      enantioselective introduction of fluoroacetate to access a wide variety of highly
      functionalized fluorinated compounds. 

PMID- 26892563
TI  - Corrigendum: Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of indanes by a cation-directed
      5-endo-trig cyclization.

PMID- 26892565
TI  - Lawrencium's place at the table.

PMID- 26892564
TI  - Corrigendum: Sustained gastrointestinal activity of dendronized polymer-enzyme
      conjugates.

PMID- 26892566
TI  - Oesophageal dilatation with the aid of a flexible bronchoscope.

PMID- 26892567
TI  - Intolerance for approach of ambiguity in social anxiety disorder.
AB  - Previous research has utilised the approach-avoidance task (AAT) to measure
      approach and avoidance action tendencies in socially anxious individuals.
      "Neutral" social stimuli may be perceived as ambiguous and hence threatening to
      socially anxious individuals, however it is unclear whether this results in
      difficulty approaching ambiguous ("neutral") versus unambiguous threat (e.g.
      disgust) faces (i.e. intolerance of ambiguity). Thirty participants with social
      anxiety disorder (SADs) and 29 non-anxious controls completed an implicit AAT in
      which they were instructed to approach or avoid neutral and disgust faces (i.e.
      pull or push a joystick) based on colour of the picture border. Results indicated
      that SADs demonstrated greater difficulty approaching neutral relative to disgust
      faces. Moreover, intolerance for approach of ambiguity predicted social anxiety
      severity while controlling for the effects of trait anxiety and depression. Our
      results provide further support for the role of intolerance of ambiguity in SAD.

PMID- 26892568
TI  - Survival of the Fittest Nanojar: Stepwise Breakdown of Polydisperse Cu27-Cu31
      Nanojar Mixtures into Monodisperse Cu27(CO3) and Cu31(SO4) Nanojars.
AB  - Nanojars are emerging as a class of anion sequestration agents of unparalleled
      efficiency. Dinegative oxoanions (e.g., carbonate, sulfate) template the
      formation of a series of homologous nanojars [Cu(OH)(pyrazolato)]n (n=27-31).
      Pyridine selectively transforms less stable, larger CO3(2-) nanojars (n=30, 31)
      into more stable, smaller ones (n=27, 29), but leaves all SO4(2-) nanojars (n=27
      29, 31) intact. Ammonia, in turn, transforms all less stable nanojars into the
      most stable one and allows the isolation of pure [CO3(2-)?{Cu(OH)(pz)}27] and
      [SO4(2-)?{Cu(OH)(pz)}31]. A comprehensive picture of the solution and solid-state
      intricacies of nanojars was revealed by a combination of variable temperature NMR
      spectroscopy, tandem mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography.

PMID- 26892570
TI  - Gene expression profile changes induced by acute toxicity of [C16 mim]Cl in loach
      (Paramisgurnus dabryanus).
AB  - Ionic liquids (ILs) are widely used as reaction media in various commercial
      applications. Many reports have indicated that most ILs are poorly decomposed by
      microorganisms and are toxic to aquatic organisms. In this study, differential
      gene expression profiling was conducted using a suppression subtraction
      hybridization cDNA library from hepatic tissue of the loach (Paramisgurnus
      dabryanus) after exposure to 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C16
      mim]Cl), a representative IL. Two hundred and fifty-nine differentially expressed
      candidate genes, whose expression was altered by >2.0-fold by the [C16 mim]Cl
      treatment, were identified, including 127 upregulated genes and 132 downregulated
      genes. A gene ontology analysis of the known genes isolated in this study showed
      that [C16 mim]Cl-responsive genes were involved in cell cycle, stimulus response,
      defense response, DNA damage response, oxidative stress responses, and other
      biological responses. To identify candidate genes that may be involved in [C16
      mim]Cl-induced toxicity, 259 clones were examined by Southern blot macroarray
      hybridization, and 20 genes were further characterized using quantitative real
      time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, six candidate genes were selected,
      including three DNA damage response genes, two toxic substance metabolic genes,
      and one stress protein gene. Our results indicate that these changes in gene
      expression are associated with [C16 mim]Cl-induced toxicity, and that these six
      candidate genes can be promising biomarkers for detecting [C16 mim]Cl-induced
      toxicity. Therefore, this study demonstrates the use of a powerful assay to
      identify genes potentially involved in [C16 mim]Cl toxicity, and it provides a
      foundation for the further study of related genes and the molecular mechanism of
      [C16 mim]Cl toxicity. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 404
      416, 2017.

PMID- 26892571
TI  - Primary Sarcopenia in Older People with Normal Nutrition.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of primary
      sarcopenia in older patients with normal nutrition and to assess the
      relationships between the primary sarcopenia with anthropometric measurements.
      DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective clinical cross-sectional study, six
      hundred patients who applied to Polyclinic of Geriatrics between dates 2010 and
      2011 have been evaluated. The 386 patients who were supposed to have potential
      secondary sarcopenia were excluded from the study. Age, gender, weight, height,
      BMI, calf and waist circumference, ongoing medications, additional diseases of
      the 214 patients included in the study have been surveyed. The sarcopenia
      criteria of EWSGOP have been applied. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen cases
      included in the study were composed of 148 female and 66 male subjects. Mean age
      was 71.8 +/- 2.1 years. Sarcopenia was detected in 105 (49%) subjects while 109
      (51%) were normal. Sixty-four female (61%) and 41 (39%) male subjects were
      sarcopenic. Normal group included 84 female (77%) and 25 male (23%) subjects.
      Incidence of sarcopenia was found higher in the female patients (p<0.001). No
      statistically significant difference was detected between sarcopenic and normal
      groups with respect to age, height, weight, calf circumference and evaluation
      tests. Waist circumference was higher in the sarcopenic group than the normal
      group (p=0.02). When both groups were analyzed for BMI; 53 (51%) of the 105
      sarcopenic patients had BMI over 30 kg/m2 while 29 (27%) and 23 (22%) patients
      had BMI of 25-30 kg/m2 and below 25 kg/m2, respectively. Incidence of sarcopenia
      was significantly higher in the group with BMI over 30 kg/m2 when compared with
      the groups with BMI of 25-30 kg/m2 and below 25 kg/m2 (p=0.01). CONCLUSION:
      Sarcopenia that makes older people physically dependent and decreases their
      quality of life that receive sufficient nutritional support and are also obese
      should be comprehensively investigated with respect to presence of sarcopenia.

PMID- 26892569
TI  - A pilot integrative genomics study of GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems
      in suicide, suicidal behavior, and major depressive disorder.
AB  - Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate are the major inhibitory and
      excitatory neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system,
      respectively, and have been associated with suicidal behavior and major
      depressive disorder (MDD). We examined the relationship between genotype, brain
      transcriptome, and MDD/suicide for 24 genes involved in GABAergic and
      glutamatergic signaling. In part 1 of the study, 119 candidate SNPs in 24 genes
      (4 transporters, 4 enzymes, and 16 receptors) were tested for associations with
      MDD and suicidal behavior in 276 live participants (86 nonfatal suicide
      attempters with MDD and 190 non-attempters of whom 70% had MDD) and 209
      postmortem cases (121 suicide deaths of whom 62% had MDD and 88 sudden death from
      other causes of whom 11% had MDD) using logistic regression adjusting for sex and
      age. In part 2, RNA-seq was used to assay isoform-level expression in
      dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 59 postmortem samples (21 with MDD and suicide,
      9 MDD without suicide, and 29 sudden death non-suicides and no psychiatric
      illness) using robust regression adjusting for sex, age, and RIN score. In part
      3, SNPs with subthreshold (uncorrected) significance levels below 0.05 for an
      association with suicidal behavior and/or MDD in part 1 were tested for eQTL
      effects in prefrontal cortex using the Brain eQTL Almanac (www.braineac.org). No
      SNPs or transcripts were significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons.
      However, a protein coding transcript (ENST00000414552) of the GABA A receptor,
      gamma 2 (GABRG2) had lower brain expression postmortem in suicide (P = 0.01) and
      evidence for association with suicide death (P = 0.03) in a SNP that may be an
      eQTL in prefrontal cortex (rs424740, P = 0.02). These preliminary results
      implicate GABRG2 in suicide and warrant further investigation and replication in
      larger samples.

PMID- 26892572
TI  - The Healthy Core Metabolism: A New Paradigm for Primary Preventive Nutrition.
AB  - Research in preventive nutrition aims at elucidating mechanism by which our diet
      helps us to remain in good health through optimal physiological functions.
      However, despite decades of accumulated data in human nutrition and regular
      subsequent nutritional recommendations, obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics
      continue to progress worldwide each year leading to a regular decrease of the
      Healthy Life Years, notably in Western countries. Such a paradox may be explained
      by the Nutrition Transition, the extreme application of the reductionist paradigm
      in nutrition research, the lack of nutritional education and a too strong focus
      on curative nutrition in at risk/ill subjects. In this position paper, we
      hypothesized that researchers should focus more on healthy subjects, from birth
      until maturity. Rather than exploring what differentiates healthy and at risk/ill
      subjects, we propose to thoroughly study what characterizes a healthy state and
      its underlying metabolism. We define it as the Healthy Core Metabolism which
      remains stable whatever energy inputs (diets) and outputs (exercise), genetic
      background and external/internal stress, e.g., temporary illnesses. As a basis
      for Healthy Core Metabolism investigation, we observed that main physiological
      and ubiquitous functions of human organism, i.e., the neuro-vasculo-sarco
      osteoporotic system, tend to follow a concave curve with common phases of growth,
      optimum, and decline. Finally, we hypothesized that true primary preventive
      nutrition should focus on the growth phase to reach the maximum capital of a
      given physiological function so that - whatever the further decline -, Healthy
      Life Years may approach or coincide with theoretical Life Expectancy. 

PMID- 26892573
TI  - Associations of Low Muscle Mass and the Metabolic Syndrome in Caucasian and Asian
      Middle-aged and Older Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Age-related declines in skeletal muscle mass may confer significant
      metabolic consequences for older adults. Associations of low muscle mass and
      metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Caucasians, and comparisons with associations
      observed in Asian populations, have not been reported. We examined associations
      of low muscle mass and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Asian and Caucasian middle
      aged and older men and women using criteria for low muscle mass. DESIGN, SETTING
      AND PARTICIPANTS: Two population-based studies of Australian (Tasmanian Older
      Adult Cohort Study; TASOAC; N=1005) and Korean (Korean Sarcopenic Obesity Study;
      KSOS; N=376) community-dwelling adults, mean age 62 and 58 years, respectively.
      MEASUREMENTS: Appendicular lean mass (aLM) determined by dual-energy X-ray
      absorptiometry and normalised to height squared (aLM/Ht2), weight (aLM/Wt) or
      body mass index (aLM/BMI). Participants in the lowest sex-specific 20% for aLM
      measures were defined as having low muscle mass. MetS was defined according to
      National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.
      RESULTS: Although Australians demonstrated generally unfavourable anthropometric
      and metabolic characteristics compared to Koreans, prevalence of MetS was similar
      (29.5% in Australians and 31.4% in Koreans, respectively). Low aLM/Ht2 was
      associated with significantly reduced likelihood of MetS in both Australians (OR:
      0.30, 95% CI 0.19 - 0.46) and Koreans (OR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.16 - 0.62). Conversely,
      low aLM/BMI was associated with increased odds for MetS in Australians (OR: 1.78,
      95% CI 1.12 - 2.84), but not Koreans (OR: 1.33, 95% CI = 0.67 - 2.64).
      CONCLUSION: Low aLM/BMI is associated with significantly increased likelihood of
      MetS in Australian adults, but not Koreans, suggesting potential differences in
      effects of low muscle mass relative to body mass on cardiometabolic health in
      Caucasian and Asian middle-aged and older adults. Low muscle mass relative to
      height is associated with reduced likelihood of MetS in both populations.

PMID- 26892574
TI  - Body Composition Assessment and Nutritional Status Evaluation in Men and Women
      Portuguese Centenarians.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess body composition, nutritional status and its differences
      between genders in a sample of Portuguese centenarians. DESIGN: Observational
      cross-sectional study. SETTING: Centenarians recruited in Portugal, able to give
      informed consent. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 252 subjects, with a median age of 100
      years, mostly women (77.8%) who accepted to participate in the study, during the
      period of 2012 to 2014. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric data collected (weight,
      height, BMI, waist circumference, hip and waist/hip ratio) were evaluated
      according to WHO criteria. A portable tetrapolar bioimpedance analyzer was used
      to calculate body composition and to assess resting metabolism. Nutritional
      status was evaluated according to three different criteria: BMI, waist
      circumference and body fat percentage using anthropometric equations and
      bioimpedance. RESULTS: We observed an overall mean weight of 51.02+/-11.03Kg,
      height of 1.55+/-0.07m and a BMI of 21.07+/-3.69Kg/m2. For most of the evaluated
      parameters, we found substantial differences between genders. The prevalence of
      underweight and overweight were 25.3% and 13.3%, respectively. Only 5 subjects
      were obese. Overweight subjects were mostly men (W=10.6% vs. M=22.6%), whereas
      women were more underweight (W=28.7% vs. M=13.2%). When considering the waist
      circumference, 26.5% were above the cut-off value. Most of centenarians (72.9%)
      had a healthy level of visceral fat. This measurement was highly correlated with
      waist circumference (r= 0.687, p<0.001). The mean of body fat mass was 10.69+/
      6.50Kg, fat-free mass 40.87+/-7.60Kg and total body water 27.54+/-6.25Kg.
      According to body fat mass criteria assessed by bioimpedance, the prevalence of
      obesity in study population was 6.0% with no gender differences (p = 0.225).
      Obesity prevalence using anthropometric equations was higher (Deurenberg: 77.7%
      and Gallagher: 42.8%) than the obtained value by bioimpedance analysis, although
      according to Bland-Altman analysis both equations showed a good agreement
      (Deurenberg: 95.8% and Gallagher: 97%) with bioimpedance method. The prevalence
      of hypohydration (12.9%) was tendentiously higher in women compared to men (W=
      15.4% vs. M= 5.0%, p=0.087). Despite the frequency of osteoporosis was higher in
      women (W = 71.85% vs. M = 28.15%), 95% of men revealed criteria for osteoporosis.
      Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was significantly different between genders using
      bioimpedance analysis (W= 1123.33+/- 173.91; M= 1350.10+/- 188.88; p<0.001) or
      Harris Benedict equation (W= 934.92+/- 102.60; M= 1018.85+/- 171.68; p=0.001).
      Bland- Altman analysis between methods indicate that there was an agreement of
      97.6%. The overall mean metabolic age obtained was 83.52+/-1.11 years, well below
      the chronologic age (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In Portuguese centenarians, clinical
      and nutritional approach should be improved on the gender basis. In relation to
      nutritional status, centenarians were more frequently underweight than
      overweight. The thinness could be a natural process, contributing for the
      longevity being rather overweight a reducing factor in life expectancy. BMI and
      waist circumference showed a good correlation with body fat percentage. Despite
      the results of Bland- Altman analysis, Deurenberg and Gallagher equations are not
      suitable to evaluate obesity prevalence in centenarians. Harris Benedict equation
      seems to be a good option to measure RMR in centenaries, when BIA is not
      available. Body composition and nutritional characterization of Portuguese
      centenarians are relevant contribution in scientific evidence production for the
      action plan of healthy ageing in Europe (2012-2020) and also for clinical
      practice.

PMID- 26892575
TI  - Associations of Buccal Cell Telomere Length with Daily Intake of beta-Carotene or
      alpha-Tocopherol Are Dependent on Carotenoid Metabolism-related Gene
      Polymorphisms in Healthy Japanese Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Telomere length shortening is modulated not only by aging, but also by
      both genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate
      the interactions between antioxidant nutrient metabolism-related gene single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (the genetic factors) and nutrient intake (the
      environmental factors) in their effects on telomere length shortening. SETTING
      AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected on the relative telomere lengths (RTLs) of
      buccal cells and the habitual food intake of 70 healthy Japanese adults.
      MEASUREMENTS: All subjects were genotyped for two common single nucleotide
      polymorphisms: rs6564851 in the beta-carotene-15,15'-mono-oxygenase 1 (BCMO1)
      gene and rs362090 in the intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) gene. RESULTS:
      Univariate analysis revealed that buccal RTL was not significantly modulated by
      either age or gender. Then, we subdivided the study population into four groups
      based on combinations of the rs6564851 and rs362090 genotypes. After this
      subdivision, we showed a positive effect of daily alpha- or beta-carotene intake
      on buccal RTL in the ISX rs362090 G-allele carrier + BCMO1 rs6564851 GG-genotype
      group (p = 0.026). Additionally, daily intake of another antioxidative fat
      soluble vitamin, alpha-tocopherol, was positively associated with buccal RTL in
      the ISX rs362090 AA-homozygote + BCMO1 rs6564851 T-allele carrier group (p =
      0.037). CONCLUSION: Our study clearly indicates that high dietary intake of the
      antioxidants alpha, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol protects buccal cells from
      RTL shortening, depending on the genetic background of antioxidant vitamin
      related genes.

PMID- 26892576
TI  - Living Unnoticed: Cognitive Impairment in Older People with Multimorbidity.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between MMSE <= 23 and the presence of
      a diagnosis of dementia in the medical record in a population with
      multimorbidity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was
      part of the Ambulatory Geriatric Assessment - a Frailty Intervention Trial (AGe
      FIT; N = 382). Participants were community dwelling, aged >= 75 years, had
      received inpatient hospital care at least three times during the past 12 months,
      and had three or more concomitant diagnoses according to the International
      Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. MEASUREMENTS: The Mini Mental State
      Examination (MMSE) was administered at baseline. Medical records of participants
      with MMSE scores < 24 were examined for the presence of dementia diagnoses and
      two years ahead. RESULTS: Fifty-three (16%) of 337 participants with a measure of
      MMSE had a MMSE scores < 24. Six of these 53 (11%) participants had diagnoses of
      dementia (vascular dementia, n = 4; unspecified dementia, n = 1; Alzheimers
      disease, n = 1) according to medical records; 89% did not. CONCLUSIONS: A MMSE
      score < 24 is not well correlated to a diagnosis of dementia in the medical
      record in a population of elderly with multimorbidity. This could imply that
      cognitive decline and the diagnosis of dementia remain undetected in older people
      with multimorbidity. Proactive care of older people with multimorbidity should
      focus on cognitive decline to detect cognitive impairment and to provide
      necessary help and support to this very vulnerable group.

PMID- 26892577
TI  - Serum Cholesterol Levels within the High Normal Range Are Associated with Better
      Cognitive Performance among Chinese Elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The association between cognitive function and cholesterol levels is
      poorly understood and inconsistent results exist among the elderly. The purpose
      of this study is to investigate the association of cholesterol level with
      cognitive performance among Chinese elderly. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was
      implemented in 2012 and data were analyzed using generalized additive models,
      linear regression models and logistic regression models. SETTING: Community-based
      setting in eight longevity areas in China. SUBJECTS: A total of 2000 elderly aged
      65 years and over (mean 85.8+/-12.0 years) participated in this study.
      MEASUREMENTS: Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
      concentration were determined and cognitive impairment was defined as Mini-Mental
      State Examination (MMSE) score <=23. RESULTS: There was a significant positive
      linear association between TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C and MMSE score in linear
      regression models. Each 1 mmol/L increase in TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C corresponded
      to a decreased risk of cognitive impairment in logistic regression models.
      Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of TC, LDL-C and HDL-C had
      a lower risk of cognitive impairment. The adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI were
      0.73(0.62-0.84) for TC, 0.81(0.70-0.94) for LDL-C and 0.81(0.70-0.94) for HDL-C.
      There was no gender difference in the protective effects of high TC and LDL-C
      levels on cognitive impairment. However, for high HDL-C levels the effect was
      only observed in women. High TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels were associated with
      lower risk of cognitive impairment in the oldest old (aged 80 and older), but not
      in the younger elderly (aged 65 to 79 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest
      that cholesterol levels within the high normal range are associated with better
      cognitive performance in Chinese elderly, specifically in the oldest old. With
      further validation, low cholesterol may serve a clinical indicator of risk for
      cognitive impairment in the elderly.

PMID- 26892578
TI  - The Independent Role of Inflammation in Physical Frailty among Older Adults with
      Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the independent and combined effects of inflammation and
      endocrine dysregulation on (i) baseline frailty status and (ii) frailty
      progression at one year, among cognitively impaired community dwelling older
      adults. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary Memory Clinic.
      METHODS: We recruited patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild-moderate
      Alzheimer's disease. Physical frailty status was assessed at baseline and 1-year.
      Blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis
      factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)] and anabolic hormones [insulin-like growth factor-1
      (IGF-1), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS)] were measured at baseline and
      examined in relation to physical frailty status at baseline and progression at 1
      year. Each subject was categorized as (i) neither pro-inflammatory nor endocrine
      deficient, (ii) pro-inflammatory (IL-6 or TNF-alpha, or both, being in highest
      quartile) but not endocrine deficient, (iii) endocrine deficient (IGF-1 or DHEAS,
      or both, being in lowest quartile) but not pro-inflammatory and (iv) both pro
      inflammatory and endocrine deficient. RESULTS: Twenty (20.2%) of 99 subjects were
      physically frail at baseline. There was no association between severity of
      cognitive impairment and baseline frailty status, but the frail group had
      significantly greater hippocampal atrophy (median MTA: 2 (2-3) vs 1 (1-2),
      p=0.010). TNF-alpha was significantly higher in subjects who were physically
      frail at baseline (median TNF-alpha: 1.30 (0.60-1.40) vs 0.60 (0.50-1.30) pg/mL,
      p=0.035). In multiple logistic regression adjusted for age and gender, a pro
      inflammatory state in the absence of concomitant endocrine deficiency was
      significantly associated with physical frailty at baseline (OR=4.99, 95% C.I 1.25
      19.88, p=0.023); this was no longer significant when MTA score was included in
      the model. Isolated pro-inflammatory state (without endocrine deficiency)
      significantly increased the odds of frailty progression (OR=4.06, 95% CI 1.09
      15.10, p=0.037) at 1-year. The combination pro-inflammatory and endocrine
      deficient state was not significantly associated with either baseline or
      progressive physical frailty. CONCLUSION: A pro-inflammatory state exerts
      differential effects on physical frailty, contributing to the increased risk of
      baseline and progressive frailty only in the absence of a concomitant endocrine
      deficient state, with potential mediation via neurodegeneration.

PMID- 26892579
TI  - Calcium and Vitamin D Use among Older Adults in U.S.: Results from National
      Survey.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to describe a 10-year trend of the supplement
      from 2000 to 2009 and to evaluate age, gender and racial disparities using a
      national level health data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING
      AND PARTICIPANTS: Data collected from patient visit records to stand-alone US
      ambulatory care clinics. Visits made by men and women who were 40 years of age
      and older were included (n=175,830). MEASUREMENTS: Overall prevalence of recorded
      calcium and vitamin D use for osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and annual
      visit rates were estimated by age, gender, race, insurance types, physician
      specialties, geographical regions, and metropolitan status using chi square test.
      Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine potential predictive
      factors for calcium and vitamin D supplements. RESULTS: An increase in yearly
      trend of calcium and vitamin D supplements was observed. The increase was
      proportional to patients' age (p<0.05) and female gender was a strong predictor
      of calcium and vitamin D supplement (p<0.0001).Visits made by blacks were
      significantly less likely to be associated with the supplement (<0.05). Visits
      associated with self-pay and Medicaid was less likely to be recorded with vitamin
      D (p<0.05) but not calcium supplements. Osteoporosis diagnosis was an independent
      predictor of calcium and vitamin D records (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of
      the observed increases in the trend of visits associated with calcium and vitamin
      D supplements, variability in the access to the medications was observed. More
      focused strategies targeting elderly, men, or black population are needed to
      maintain and improve adequate calcium and vitamin D supplements.

PMID- 26892580
TI  - Handgrip Strength Cutoff Points to Identify Mobility Limitation in Community
      dwelling Older People and Associated Factors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive and generalized loss of
      skeletal muscle mass and strength. The specific threshold of muscle weakness that
      leads to mobility limitations has not been identified. OBJECTIVES: To determine
      the best cutoff point of handgrip strength for identifying mobility limitation
      and to investigate the factors associated with muscle weakness and mobility
      limitation in community-dwelling older people. DESIGN: Transversal study.
      SETTING: Cities of Belo Horizonte, Barueri and Santa Cruz in Brazil.
      PARTICIPANTS: 1374 community-dwelling older people from the Frailty study in
      Brazilian older people (FIBRA Study). MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes included muscle
      weakness determined according to gender-specific handgrip strength cutoff points
      generated by Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, mobility limitation
      defined as a gait speed <= 0.8 m/s; and a combination of both muscle weakness and
      mobility limitation. Associated factors included socio-demographic variables,
      lifestyle, anthropometrics, health conditions, use of health services and
      disability. RESULTS: The cutoff points of handgrip strength with the best
      balancing between sensitivity and specificity for mobility limitation were 25.8
      kgf for men (sensitivity 69%, specificity 73%) and 17.4 kgf (sensitivity 60%,
      specificity 66%) for women. Age and disability in instrumental activities of
      daily living were associated with all outcomes. Women had greater odds of
      mobility limitation than men. Physical inactivity, body fat, diabetes,
      depression, sleeping disturbances, number of medications and occurrence of falls
      remained as significant associated factors in the final model. CONCLUSIONS:
      Handgrip strength can be a useful tool to identify mobility limitation in
      clinical practice. Interventions to prevent or minimize impacts of sarcopenia
      should stimulate physical activity and improvement of body composition in
      addition to the management of chronic diseases and disabilities.

PMID- 26892581
TI  - Healthy Eating Exploratory Program for the Elderly: Low Salt Intake in Congregate
      Meal Service.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study reported on an exploratory program to help the low income
      elderly improve healthy eating behavior, specifically by reducing salt intake.
      DESIGN: We conducted an exploratory program for 4 weeks for this study. The
      exploratory program involved offering menus with reduced salt and providing
      education on healthy eating. After the exploratory program, a survey of the
      elderly and in-depth interviews allowed us to evaluate the program for
      foodservice providers (dietitian, social workers, and volunteer workers). This
      study included both foodservice workers and elderly who actually used the
      foodservice in a congregate meal service system. This is a unique approach.
      SETTING: A congregate meal service center in Seoul, Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy
      four elderly in a congregate meal service center. MEASUREMENTS: Demographics were
      collected, and the healthy eating program and healthy eating education for
      elderly respondents were evaluated. RESULTS: The elderly showed high satisfaction
      with the exploratory program for healthy eating. We found no significant
      differences in satisfaction with the program between the elderly who attended
      education sessions and those who did not, but more of the elderly from the
      education sessions showed positive behavioral change intentions. CONCLUSION: The
      exploratory program influenced to reduce the salt intake of the elderly in
      congregate meal service. This study suggests cooperation of foodservice providers
      and the support of administrators is critical to the success of such programs.

PMID- 26892582
TI  - Effect of Vitamin K on Vascular Health and Physical Function in Older People with
      Vascular Disease--A Randomised Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vitamin K insufficiency is common and linked to an increased
      risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporotic fractures. The aim of this study
      was to examine whether daily supplementation with oral vitamin K could improve
      vascular health and physical function in older people with established vascular
      disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: A double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled
      trial. Participants aged <= 70 years with a history of vascular disease were
      randomised to receive 6 months of daily oral 100mcg vitamin K2 (MK7 subtype) or
      matching placebo with outcomes measured at 0, 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome
      was between-group difference in endothelial function assessed using flow-mediated
      dilatation of the brachial artery at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included
      carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, blood pressure, carotid
      intima-media thickness, C-reactive protein, B-type natriuretic peptide,
      cholesterol and desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein levels. Handgrip
      strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery assessed physical function,
      while postural sway was measured using a 3-dimensional force platform. RESULTS:
      80 participants were randomised, mean age 77 (SD 5) years; 44/80 were male.
      Vitamin K levels rose in the intervention arm compared to placebo (+48 pg/ml vs 
      6 pg/ml, p=0.03) at 6 months. Desphospho-uncarboxylated Matrix Gla protein levels
      fell in the intervention group compared to placebo at 6 months (-130 [SD 117]
      pmol/L vs +13 [SD 180] pmol/L, p<0.001). No change was seen in endothelial
      function (between group difference -0.3% [95%CI -1.3 to 0.8], p=0.62). A modest,
      non-significant improvement in pulse wave velocity was seen in the vitamin K
      group (-0.8m/s [95%CI -1.8 to 0.3], p=0.15) while all other vascular and physical
      function outcomes unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Six months of vitamin K2
      supplementation did not improve markers of vascular health or physical function
      in older patients with vascular disease.

PMID- 26892584
TI  - Low Hemoglobin A1c Increases the Risk of Disability in Community-dwelling Older
      Non-diabetics Adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the health characteristics of individuals with low HbA1c
      levels and evaluate the association between HbA1c level and disability or all
      cause mortality in non-diabetic older adults. DESIGN: Prospective observational
      cohort study. SETTING: Seongnam, Gyeongi Province, Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Among the
      1,000 community-dwelling Koreans >= 65 years of age who were followed for 5
      years, 760 non-diabetic individuals were analyzed. MEASUREMENTS: Activities of
      Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental ADL (IADL) were evaluated and mortality data
      were obtained from the National Statistics Office of Korea. RESULTS: The mean age
      was 76.3 (SD 9.0) years, and 319 subjects (42.0%) were male. Lower level of HbA1c
      was associated with less frequent hypertension and less frequent use of aspirin
      or statin, and lower values of body mass index, hematocrit, total iron-binding
      capacity, albumin, and cholesterol level. The participants were categorized into
      3 groups according to their HbA1c (group I, < 5.5%; group II, 5.5~5.9%; and group
      III, 6.0 ~ 6.4%). Although, there was no significant difference in functional
      status according to baseline HbA1c level, disability was more frequently observed
      as the HbA1c level decrease (18.3% in group I, 12.5% in group II, and 5.3% in
      group III, p=0.029) at the 5-year follow-up evaluation. There were 172 deaths
      (22.6%) during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in
      mortality among the groups, however, group I had a 2.071-fold higher risk for the
      incident disability or mortality over group III after adjusting age, gender, and
      possible confounder (95% CI: 1.040 ~ 4.124, p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Lower level of
      HbA1c was associated with an increased risk of disability in non-diabetic older
      adults.

PMID- 26892583
TI  - Effect of Lifestyle Intervention on the Hormonal Profile of Frail, Obese Older
      Men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Obesity-associated hypogonadism is hypothesized to be due to the
      suppressive effect of high estradiol (from an increase in aromatase activity
      present in the abundant adipose tissue) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal
      unit resulting in low testosterone production. Although weight loss has been
      found to be effective in reducing estradiol and raising testosterone levels in
      studies of younger men, its effect in frail, obese older men is understudied.
      Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of lifestyle
      intervention on hormone levels in frail, obese older men. DESIGN: Randomized
      controlled trial of lifestyle intervention in frail, obese older men (>=65 yo)
      for 1 year. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: Forty frail, obese elderly men
      were randomized, for a 52-week study, to any of the following treatment groups:
      (1) control group, (2) diet-induced weight loss group (diet group), (3) exercise
      training group (exercise group), and (4) diet-induced weight loss and exercise
      training group (diet-exercise group). The objective was to achieve a ~10 % weight
      loss at 6 months and maintain this weight for an additional 6 months. Physical
      function was assessed by the modified physical performance testing (modified
      PPT). Estradiol was measured by radioimmunoassay, testosterone by automated
      immunoassay, and sex hormone-binding globulin by enzyme-linked immunoassay.
      RESULTS: After 12 months of intervention, diet alone resulted in a weight loss of
      -10.1 +/- 1.9 kg in the diet group and -9.1 +/- 0.9 kg in the diet-exercise
      group. This resulted in a significant decrease (both p<0.05) in total estradiol
      compared to baseline among subjects in the diet (-2.5 +/- 1.3 pg/ml) and diet
      exercise group (-2.2 +/- 4.0 pg/ml). Free estradiol index also significantly
      decreased (both p <0.05) in both the diet (-0.39 +/- 0.14 pmol/nmol) and diet
      exercise (-0.52 +/- 0.12 pmol/nmol) group. Total testosterone significantly
      increased (p<0.05) in response to diet (71.0 +/- 21.0 ng/dl) and diet-exercise
      (49.9 +/- 15.5 pg/ml) resulting in values of 287.0 +/- 28.1 ng/dl in the diet and
      317.6 +/- 33.1 ng/dl in the diet-exercise group. However, because there was a
      significant increase in sex hormone-binding globulin levels in both the diet and
      diet-exercise groups, free testosterone index and the changes in free
      testosterone index were not significant compared to baseline. Regardless of
      changes in hormonal levels, patients in the diet, exercise, and diet-exercise
      groups experienced significant improvements in the modified PPT from baseline.
      CONCLUSION: Weight loss from lifestyle intervention resulted in significant
      decreases in total and free estradiol levels in frail, obese older men, but this
      did not result in a clinically important increase in total testosterone nor a
      significant increase in free testosterone. Thus, alternative forms of treatment
      in addition to lifestyle intervention may be necessary to improve the hormonal
      profile among these patients. Nevertheless, whether further improvement in
      hormonal profile would result in better physical performance than what can be
      achieved by lifestyle alone in these subjects remains uncertain.

PMID- 26892585
TI  - Influence of Thoracic Aortic Inflammation and Calcifications on Arterial
      Stiffness and Cardiac Function in Older Subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vascular aging is accompanied by gradual remodeling affecting both
      arterial and cardiac structure and mechanical properties. Hypertension is
      suggested to exert pro-inflammatory actions enhancing arterial stiffness.
      OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of thoracic aortic inflammation and
      calcifications on arterial stiffness and cardiac function in hypertensive and
      normotensive older subjects. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: An acute
      geriatrics ward of the University Hospital of Nancy in France. SUBJECTS: Thirty
      individuals >= 65 years were examined, including 15 hypertensive subjects and 15
      controls well-matched for age and sex. MEASUREMENTS: Applanation tonometry was
      used to measure aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV) and carotid/brachial pulse
      pressure amplification (PPA). Left ventricular parameters were measured with
      magnetic resonance imaging. Local thoracic aortic inflammation and calcification
      were measured by 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed
      tomography imaging. Biomarkers of low-grade inflammation were also quantified.
      RESULTS: AoPWV was higher in elderly hypertensive subjects comparatively to
      normotensive controls (15.5+/-5.3 vs. 11.9+/-2.5, p=0.046), and hypertensives had
      a higher calcification volume. In the overall population, calcifications of the
      thoracic descending aorta and inflammation of the ascending aorta accounted for
      respectively 18.1% (p=0.01) and 9.6% (p=0.07) of AoPWV variation. Individuals
      with high levels of calcifications and/or inflammation had higher AoPWV
      (p=0.003). Inflammation had a negative effect on PPA explaining 13.8% of its
      variation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of local
      ascending aortic inflammation as a potential major actor in the determination of
      PPA while calcifications and hypertension are more linked to AoPWV. Assessment of
      PPA in the very elderly could provide complementary information to improve
      diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting ascending aortic inflammation.

PMID- 26892587
TI  - Energy and Protein Intake, Anthropometrics, and Disease Burden in Elderly Home
      care Receivers--A Cross-sectional Study in Germany (ErnSIPP Study).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To date, no study has examined the nutritional status and disease
      burden of elderly home-care receivers living in Germany. Aim of this cross
      sectional study was, first, to assess disease burden and nutritional status,
      denoted in anthropometrics, and, second, to investigate associations between
      anthropometrics and disease burden. DESIGN: Cross-sectional multi-centre study.
      SETTING: Home-care receivers living in three urban areas of Germany in 2010.
      PARTICIPANTS: 353 elderly (>64 years) in home care (128 males aged 79.1 +/-7.8
      years, 225 females aged 82.0 +/-7.5 years). MEASUREMENTS: Nutritional status was
      assessed by body mass index (BMI), mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf
      circumference (CC). Medical conditions were assessed in personal interviews. A 3
      day prospective nutrition diary was kept. Metric data are reported as mean+/-SD
      or median (interquartile range), p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Most
      participants were substantially (59%), and 11% severest in need of care. The
      seniors suffered from 5 (4-7) chronic diseases; dementia, depression, stroke, and
      respiratory illness were most prevalent (each 20-40%). More than one-third of
      participants had only moderate or poor appetite, nearly half were unable to eat
      independently. Chewing problems were reported for 52% of study participants, and
      more than one quarter of elderly had swallowing problems. Daily mean energy
      intake was 2017+/-528 kcal in men (n=123) and 1731+/-451 kcal in women (n=216;
      p<0.001). Mean protein intake amounted to 1.0 g/kg body weight. Mean BMI was
      28.2+/-6.2 kg/m2 (n=341), 14% of seniors had a BMI <22 kg/m2 (including 4% with
      BMI <20 kg/m2). Critical MUAC (<22 cm) was indicated in 6% of subjects; and CC
      <31 cm in 11% of men, 21% of women (p<0.05). After adjusting for sex and age,
      BMI, MUAC and CC were negatively associated with high care level, hospitalization
      in the previous year, nausea/vomiting, prevalence of dementia, poor appetite, and
      eating difficulties like dependency, chewing and swallowing problems. CONCLUSION:
      We recommend to pay special attention to the nutritional status of elderly
      persons in home-care exhibiting named disease burden.

PMID- 26892588
TI  - Doxorubicin loaded dual pH- and thermo-responsive magnetic nanocarrier for
      combined magnetic hyperthermia and targeted controlled drug delivery
      applications.
AB  - Magnetic nanocarriers have attracted increasing attention for multimodal cancer
      therapy due to the possibility to deliver heat and drugs locally. The present
      study reports the development of magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) made of an iron
      oxide core and a pH- and thermo-responsive polymer shell, that can be used as
      both hyperthermic agent and drug carrier. The conjugation of anticancer drug
      doxorubicin (DOX) to the pH- and thermo-responsive MNCs via acid-cleavable imine
      linker provides advanced features for the targeted delivery of DOX molecules via
      the combination of magnetic targeting, and dual pH- and thermo-responsive
      behaviour which offers spatial and temporal control over the release of DOX. The
      iron oxide cores exhibit a superparamagnetic behaviour with a saturation
      magnetization around 70 emu g(-1). The MNCs contained 8.1 wt% of polymer and
      exhibit good heating properties in an alternating magnetic field. The drug
      release experiments confirmed that only a small amount of DOX was released at
      room temperature and physiological pH, while the highest drug release of 85.2%
      was obtained after 48 h at acidic tumour pH under hyperthermia conditions (50 
      degrees C). The drug release kinetic followed Korsmeyer-Peppas model and
      displayed Fickian diffusion mechanism. From the results obtained it can be
      concluded that this smart magnetic nanocarrier is promising for applications in
      multi-modal cancer therapy, to target and efficiently deliver heat and drug
      specifically to the tumour. 

PMID- 26892586
TI  - Neck Circumference Is Not Associated with Dysphagia but with Undernutrition in
      Elderly Individuals Requiring Long-term Care.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to assess the association between neck circumference,
      dysphagia, and undernutrition in elderly individuals requiring long-term care.
      DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Geriatric health services facilities,
      acute hospitals, and the community. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly individuals >=65 years
      of age with dysphagia or possible dysphagia (N=385). MEASUREMENTS: Neck
      circumference, the Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS) and the Mini Nutritional
      Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF). RESULTS: Participants included 130 males and 255
      females with a mean age (+/- standard deviation) of 83 +/- 8.0 years. Sixty-six
      were in acute hospitals, 195 were in geriatric health services facilities, and
      124 were community-dwelling. The mean neck circumference in males and females was
      37.1 +/- 3.0 cm and 33.3 +/- 3.3 cm, respectively. Based on the DSS, 81
      participants were within normal limits, 137 had dysphagia without aspiration, and
      167 had dysphagia with aspiration. The MNA-SF revealed that 173 were
      malnourished, 172 were at risk of malnutrition, and 40 had a normal nutritional
      status. Neck circumference was not significantly correlated with the DSS (r=
      0.080) but was significantly correlated with the MNA-SF (r=0.183) in the Spearman
      rank correlation analysis. In the logistic regression, neck circumference was not
      independently associated with the DSS after adjusting for the MNA-SF, the Barthel
      Index, age, sex, setting, and cerebrovascular disorders. However, the multiple
      regression analysis showed that neck circumference had an independent effect on
      the MNA-SF after adjusting for the Barthel Index, age, sex, setting and
      cerebrovascular disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Neck circumference is not associated with
      dysphagia but with undernutrition in elderly individuals requiring long-term
      care.

PMID- 26892590
TI  - Traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad.
AB  - Traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad is a rare traumatic disease. Treatment
      consists of either excision or replacement. We herein report the first case in
      which a traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad healed naturally. It was
      necessary to differentiate the disease from lipoblastoma. A 17-month-old boy was
      admitted to a clinic with an intraoral tumor that had suddenly increased in size.
      The tumor was diagnosed as herniation of the buccal fat pad on pathology of a
      biopsy specimen. In the present case, the escaped buccal fat body returned
      naturally and engrafted without dysfunction or facial defects. Given that young
      children may easily fall down with various objects in their mouth, care is
      required to prevent traumatic accidents. Traumatic herniation of the buccal fat
      pad should be considered in the differentiation of tumors of the oral cavity in
      young children. 

PMID- 26892589
TI  - Factors related to breast cancer detection mode and time to diagnosis in Alberta,
      Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors affecting the mode and timeliness of breast
      cancer diagnosis is important to optimizing patient experiences and outcomes. The
      purposes of the study were to identify factors related to the length of the
      diagnostic interval and assess how they vary by mode of diagnosis: screen or
      symptom detection. METHODS: All female residents of Alberta diagnosed with first
      primary breast cancer in years 2004-2010 were identified from the Alberta Cancer
      Registry. Data were linked to Physician Claims and screening program databases.
      Screen-detected patients were identified as having a screening mammogram within 6
      months prior to diagnosis; remaining patients were considered symptom-detected.
      Separate quantile regression was conducted for each detection mode to assess the
      relationship between demographic/clinical and healthcare factors. RESULTS:
      Overall, 38 % of the 12,373 breast cancer cases were screen-detected compared to
      47 % of the screen-eligible population. Health region of residence was strongly
      associated with cancer detection mode. The median diagnostic interval for screen
      and symptom-detected cancers was 19 and 21 days, respectively. The variation by
      health region, however, was large ranging from an estimated median of 4 to 37
      days for screen-detected patients and from 17 to 33 days for symptom-detected
      patients. Cancer stage was inversely associated with the diagnostic interval for
      symptom-detected cancers, but not for screen-detected cancers. CONCLUSION:
      Significant variation by health region in both the percentage of women with
      screen-detected cancer and the length of the diagnostic interval for screen and
      symptom-detected breast cancers suggests there could be important differences in
      local breast cancer diagnostic care coordination.

PMID- 26892594
TI  - In this issue of Occupational Medicine.

PMID- 26892593
TI  - Two stages of directed forgetting: Electrophysiological evidence from a short
      term memory task.
AB  - In this study, a short-term memory test was used to investigate the temporal
      course and neural mechanism of directed forgetting under different memory loads.
      Within each trial, two memory items with high or low load were presented
      sequentially, followed by a cue indicating whether the presented items should be
      remembered. After an interval, subjects were asked to respond to the probe
      stimuli. The ERPs locked to the cues showed that (a) the effect of cue type was
      initially observed during the P2 (160-240 ms) time window, with more positive
      ERPs for remembering relative to forgetting cues; (b) load effects were observed
      during the N2-P3 (250-500 ms) time window, with more positive ERPs for the high
      load than low-load condition; (c) the cue effect was also observed during the N2
      P3 time window, with more negative ERPs for forgetting versus remembering cues.
      These results demonstrated that directed forgetting involves two stages: task
      relevance identification and information discarding. The cue effects during the
      N2 epoch supported the view that directed forgetting is an active process.

PMID- 26892591
TI  - Dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging at low ESR irradiation
      frequency for ascorbyl free radicals.
AB  - Highly water-soluble ubiquinone-0 (CoQ0) reacts with ascorbate monoanion (Asc) to
      mediate the production of ascorbyl free radicals (AFR). Using aqueous reaction
      mixture of CoQ0 and Asc, we obtained positively enhanced dynamic nuclear
      polarization (DNP)-magnetic resonance (MR) images of the AFR at low frequency
      (ranging from 515 to 530 MHz) of electron spin resonance (ESR) irradiation. The
      shape of the determined DNP spectrum was similar to ESR absorption spectra with
      doublet spectral peaks. The relative locational relationship of spectral peaks in
      the DNP spectra between the AFR (520 and 525 MHz), (14)N-labeled carbamoyl-PROXYL
      ((14)N-CmP) (526.5 MHz), and Oxo63 (522 MHz) was different from that in the X
      band ESR spectra, but were similar to that in the 300-MHz ESR spectra. The ratio
      of DNP enhancement to radical concentration for the AFR was higher than those for
      (14)N-CmP, Oxo63, and flavin semiquinone radicals. The spectroscopic DNP
      properties observed for the AFR were essentially the same as those for AFR
      mediated by pyrroloquinoline quinone. Moreover, we made a success of in vivo DNP
      MR imaging of the CoQ0-mediated AFR which was administered by the subcutaneous
      and oral injections as an imaging probe.

PMID- 26892595
TI  - Cognitive enhancers--performance or problem?

PMID- 26892596
TI  - Psychosocial risk management: calamity or opportunity?

PMID- 26892597
TI  - Limbourg Brothers, June c.1412-1416.

PMID- 26892598
TI  - Beck Depression Inventory.

PMID- 26892599
TI  - A 15-year retrospective analysis of the epidemiology and outcomes for elderly
      emergency general surgical admissions in the North East of England: A case for
      multidisciplinary geriatric input.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Life expectancies in the UK are increasing and with this there is
      an increasing elderly population with more complex co-morbidity. Emergency
      surgery in the elderly is challenging in terms of decision making, managing co
      morbidity and post-operative rehabilitation with high morbidity and mortality. To
      optimise service design and development, it is important to understand the
      changing pattern of emergency surgical care for this group. METHODS: After
      obtaining necessary approvals, we approached each hospital trust in the North of
      England for details of every emergency admission under a general surgeon from
      2000 to 2014. Data for each admission included demographics, co-morbidities,
      diagnoses, procedures undertaken and outcomes. RESULTS: There were 105 002
      elderly (>=70 years) emergency general surgical admissions, and mean age and co
      morbidity (defined by Charlson index scores) increased (both p < 0.001).
      Operative intervention was undertaken in a similar proportion of patients in all
      age groups (13%), with more patients undergoing operations over time (p < 0.001),
      of which 50% were within 48 h of admission. Overall in-hospital mortality
      decreased significantly as did length of hospital stay (both p < 0.001). Factors
      associated with increased 30 day in-hospital mortality were increasing age and
      Charlson score, admissions directly from clinic, operations undertaken at the
      weekend and patients admitted earlier in the study period. CONCLUSION: The
      workload of emergency general surgery in the elderly is becoming more complex.
      This challenge is already being addressed with improvements in outcomes. The data
      presented here reinforces the need for new models of care with increased
      multidisciplinary geriatric care input into elderly surgical patient care in the
      perioperative period.

PMID- 26892600
TI  - DDX3 promotes tumor invasion in colorectal cancer via the CK1epsilon/Dvl2 axis.
AB  - DDX3, a subunit of CK1epsilon, phosphorylates Dvl2 to promote beta-catenin
      activation. Overexpression of the Dvl2 protein results in potent activation of
      beta-catenin/TCF signaling in colorectal cancer. Therefore, we hypothesized that
      DDX3 might promote tumor invasion via the CK1epsilon/Dvl2 axis due to beta
      catenin/TCF activation. Western blotting showed that beta-catenin expression was
      decreased by DDX3 knockdown and increased by DDX3 overexpression in colorectal
      cancer cells. The TCF promoter activity and invasion capability were
      concomitantly increased and decreased by DDX3 manipulation in these cells. The
      invasion capability in colon cancer cells and xenograft lung tumor nodules
      induced by a DDX3-overexpressing T84 stable clone in tail-vein injection model
      were nearly suppressed by inhibitors of CK1epsilon (PF4800567) and beta
      catenin/TCF signaling (XAV939). Among colorectal cancer patients, DDX3 expression
      was positively correlated with the expression of pDvl2 and nuclear beta-catenin
      in tumor tissues. The expression of pDvl2 occurred more frequently in high
      nuclear than in low-nuclear beta-catenin tumors. A prognostic significance of
      DDX3, pDvl2, and nuclear beta-catenin on overall survival and relapse free
      survival was observed in this study population. We therefore suggest CK1epsilon
      or beta-catenin/TCF signaling as potential targets for improving tumor regression
      and outcomes in colorectal cancer, particularly tumors with high-DDX3/high
      nuclear beta-catenin or high-DDX3/high-pDvl2/high-nuclear beta-catenin
      expression.

PMID- 26892601
TI  - Pathways to Sustainability: 8-Year Follow-Up From the PROSPER Project.
AB  - The large-scale dissemination of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is often
      hindered by problems with sustaining initiatives past a period of initial grant
      funding. Communities often have difficulty generating resources needed to sustain
      and grow their initiatives, resulting in limited public health impact. The
      PROSPER project, initiated in 2001, provided community coalitions with intensive
      technical assistance around marketing, communications, and revenue generating
      strategies. Past reports from PROSPER have indicated that these coalitions were
      successful with sustaining their programming, and that sustainability could be
      predicted by early aspects of team functioning and leadership. The current study
      examines financial sustainability 8 years following the discontinuation of grant
      funding, with an emphasis on sources of revenue and the relationships between
      revenue generation, team functioning, and EBP participation. This study used four
      waves of data related to resource generation collected between 2004 and 2010 by
      PROSPER teams in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Teams reported annually on the amount and
      sources of funding procured, as well as annual reports of team functioning and
      leadership and annual reports of EBP participation by youth and parents. Data
      revealed that teams' overall revenue generation increased over time. There was
      significant variation in success with revenue generation at both the community
      level and across the two states. Teams accessed a variety of sources. Cash
      revenue generation was positively and predictively associated with EBP
      participation, but relationships with team functioning and leadership ratings
      varied significantly by state. State level differences in in-kind support were
      also apparent. The results indicated that there are different pathways to
      sustainability, and that no one method works for all teams. The presence of state
      level infrastructures available to support prevention appeared to account for
      significant differences in sustainability success between Pennsylvania and Iowa. 

PMID- 26892603
TI  - Pressure-Flow During Exercise Catheterization Predicts Survival in Pulmonary
      Hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension manifests with impaired exercise capacity. Our
      aim was to investigate whether the mean pulmonary arterial pressure to cardiac
      output relationship (mPAP/CO) predicts transplant-free survival in patients with
      pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable chronic thromboembolic
      pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS: Hemodynamic data according to right
      heart catheterization in patients with PAH and CTEPH at rest and during supine
      incremental cycle exercise were analyzed. Transplant-free survival and predictive
      value of hemodynamics were assessed by using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression
      analyses. RESULTS: Seventy patients (43 female; 54 with PAH, 16 with CTEPH;
      median (quartiles) age, 65 [50; 73] years; mPAP, 34 [29; 44] mm Hg; cardiac
      index, 2.8 [2.3; 3.5] [L/min]/m(2)) were followed up for 610 (251; 1256) days.
      Survival at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years was 89%, 81%, 71%, and 59%. Age, World Health
      Organization-functional class, 6-min walk test, and mixed-venous oxygen
      saturation (but not resting hemodynamics) predicted transplant-free survival.
      Maximal workload (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94 [95% CI, 0.89-0.99]; P = .027), peak
      cardiac index (HR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.27-0.95]; P = .034), change in cardiac index,
      0.25 [95% CI, 0.06-0.94]; P = .040), and mPAP/CO (HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01-1.03]; P
      = .003) during exercise predicted survival. Values for mPAP/CO predicted 3-year
      transplant-free survival with an area under the curve of 0.802 (95% CI, 0.66
      0.95; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: In this collective of patients with PAH or CTEPH,
      the pressure-flow relationship during exercise predicted transplant-free survival
      and correlated with established markers of disease severity and outcome. Right
      heart catheterization during exercise may provide important complementary
      prognostic information in the management of pulmonary hypertension.

PMID- 26892602
TI  - Physical Activity and Symptoms in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with pulmonary arterial
      hypertension (PAH); however, the impact of fatigue on daily physical activity in
      PAH is unknown. Accelerometry is a validated measure for assessing physical
      activity. We hypothesized that patients with PAH reporting higher levels of
      fatigue would have lower daily physical activity measured by accelerometry.
      METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of 15 women with PAH. On day 1,
      subjects completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), the United
      States Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (US CAMPHOR), and a 6-min
      walk test. Subjects wore the accelerometer on their dominant hip and completed an
      activity diary for 7 days. On day 15, subjects repeated the MFI and the US
      CAMPHOR, and then wore the accelerometer and completed an activity diary for an
      additional 7 days. All multivariate analyses were adjusted for age, BMI, and PAH
      type. RESULTS: The mean age was 50.5 years, and 53% had idiopathic or heritable
      PAH. During the 2 weeks, subjects were mostly sedentary (85% of the time),
      although 10% of their time was spent performing low-level activity. Lower average
      daily counts were associated with worse self-reported energy levels, whereas less
      day-to-day physical activity variability was associated with more self-reported
      mental fatigue, physical fatigue, and total activity. Higher percentage of
      activity bouts was also associated with worse energy. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PAH
      may spend most of their time being sedentary, and lower self-reported energy
      levels are associated with less daily activity. Interventions to improve symptoms
      such as fatigue may also increase physical activity levels in PAH.

PMID- 26892605
TI  - Air pollution from traffic and risk for brain tumors: a nationwide study in
      Denmark.
AB  - PURPOSE: Air pollution is an established lung carcinogen, and there is increasing
      evidence that air pollution also negatively affects the brain. We have previously
      reported an association between air pollution and risk of brain tumors in a
      cohort study based on only 95 cases. We set out to replicate that finding in a
      large nationwide case-control study. METHODS: We identified all 4,183 adult brain
      tumor cases in Denmark in the years 2000-2009 and 8,018 risk set sampled
      population controls matched on gender and year of birth. We extracted residential
      address histories and estimated mean residential nitrogen oxides (NO x )
      concentrations since 1971 with a validated dispersion model. Categorical and
      linear odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with
      conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: The highest risk estimates for
      any brain cancer were observed among subjects with the highest average exposure
      levels (80-99 ug/m(3): OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.82-1.96; >=100 ug/m(3): 1.40, 95 % CI
      0.87-2.26 as compared to <20 ug/m(3) NO x ), but there was no increased OR at NO
      x levels below 80 ug/m(3) and when modeled linearly there was no significant
      association with risk of brain cancer (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.84-1.46 per 100 ug/m(3)
      NO x ). In sub-analysis the OR associated with exposures >=100 ug/m(3) was 2.30
      (95% CI 1.15-4.59) for non-glioma and 0.89 (95% CI 0.44-1.77) for glioma.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study did not support the relatively strong linear association
      between air pollution and risk of brain tumors which was found in our previous
      study. The suggestion of an increased brain tumor risk at high exposures merits
      further attention as does the differing results according to tumor morphology.

PMID- 26892604
TI  - Modeling how substitution of sedentary behavior with standing or physical
      activity is associated with health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer
      survivors.
AB  - PURPOSE: Previous research indicates that sedentary behavior is unfavorably
      associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of colorectal cancer (CRC)
      survivors. Using isotemporal substitution modeling, we studied how substituting
      sedentary behavior with standing or physical activity was associated with HRQoL
      in CRC survivors, 2-10 years post-diagnosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was
      conducted in stage I-III CRC survivors (n = 145) diagnosed at Maastricht
      University Medical Center+, the Netherlands (2002-2010). Sedentary, standing, and
      physical activity time were measured by the thigh-mounted MOX activity monitor.
      HRQoL outcomes comprised global quality of life, physical, role, and social
      functioning, and disability (scales: 0-100), fatigue (20-140), and depression and
      anxiety (0-21). Isotemporal substitution modeling was applied to analyze
      associations with HRQoL of substituting sedentary time with equal time in
      standing or physical activity. RESULTS: On average, participants spent 10.2 h/day
      sedentary (SD, 1.7), 3.4 h/day standing (1.3), and 1.7 h/day in physical activity
      (0.8). In confounder-adjusted isotemporal models, substituting sedentary time
      with standing or with physical activity was associated with significantly better
      physical functioning (regression coefficient [beta], i.e., difference in outcome
      score per 1 h/day of sedentary time substituted with standing or physical
      activity, 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5, 5.7; and 5.6; 0.7, 10.6,
      respectively). Substituting sedentary time with standing was also associated with
      significantly lower disability (beta, -3.0; 95% CI -4.9, -1.1) and fatigue (-4.0;
      -7.6, -0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that substituting sedentary
      behavior with standing or physical activity may be beneficially associated with
      certain HRQoL outcomes in CRC survivors. Prospective studies are warranted to
      confirm whether actual substitution of sedentary behavior with these activities
      may improve HRQoL in CRC survivors.

PMID- 26892606
TI  - Erratum to: Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and risk of type 2 diabetes and
      cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26892608
TI  - Incidence and impact of proxy response in measuring patient experience: secondary
      analysis of a large postal survey using propensity score matching.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of proxy respondents in a patient experience
      survey was related to patient characteristics, and to compare patient and proxy
      responses. DESIGN: Secondary analysis, using propensity score matching, of the
      NHS adult inpatient survey, a large cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Hospitals (n
      = 161) providing inpatient services in England in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: The survey
      received 70 863 responses: 10 661 (15.6%) involved proxy respondents in some way.
      INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of proxy response was
      explored by patient demographic characteristics. Responses were compared using
      seven composite domains and one overall rating. Cases involving proxy responses
      were matched to similar independent responses via propensity score matching and
      mean scores compared using t-tests. RESULTS: Use of proxy respondents was common,
      with 15.7% of responses involving a proxy in some way: higher than in other
      similar collections internationally. Proxy response was more common for some
      patient groups, such as older people and those from black and minority ethnic
      groups. Reports made by or with the assistance of proxy respondents were markedly
      less positive than those from patients completing the survey unaided. This
      pattern was consistent across all tested variables, although the biggest
      differences were observed for a subjective 'overall rating' question.
      CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of proxy response varied according to patient
      characteristics, but proxies were consistently less positive than patients
      responding unaided. Possible explanations include genuine differences in care,
      differential health outcomes or differences in perceptions. Patient experience
      surveys should collect information on use of proxy respondents to enable more
      refined analysis.

PMID- 26892609
TI  - Performance results for a workstation-integrated radiology peer review quality
      assurance program.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess review completion rates, RADPEER score distribution, and
      sources of disagreement when using a workstation-integrated radiology peer review
      program, and to evaluate radiologist perceptions of the program. DESIGN:
      Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Large private
      outpatient radiology practice. PARTICIPANTS: Radiologists (n = 66) with a mean of
      16.0 (standard deviation, 9.2) years of experience. INTERVENTIONS: Prior studies
      and reports of cases being actively reported were randomly selected for peer
      review using the RADPEER scoring system (a 4-point scale, with a score of 1
      indicating agreement and scores of 2-4 indicating increasing levels of
      disagreement). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assigned peer review completion rates,
      review scores, sources of disagreement and radiologist survey responses. RESULTS:
      Of 31 293 assigned cases, 29 044 (92.8%; 95% CI 92.5-93.1%) were reviewed.
      Discrepant scores (score = 2, 3 or 4) were given in 0.69% (95% CI 0.60-0.79%) of
      cases and clinically significant discrepancy (score = 3 or 4) was assigned in
      0.42% (95% CI 0.35-0.50%). The most common cause of disagreement was missed
      diagnosis (75.2%; 95% CI 66.8-82.1%). By anonymous survey, 94% of radiologists
      felt that peer review was worthwhile, 90% reported that the scores they received
      were appropriate and 78% felt that the received feedback was valuable.
      CONCLUSION: Workstation-based peer review can increase completion rates and
      levels of radiologist acceptance while producing RADPEER scores similar to those
      previously reported. This approach may be one way to increase radiologist
      engagement in peer review quality assurance.

PMID- 26892607
TI  - Overexpression of proteasomal activator PA28alpha serves as a prognostic factor
      in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)
      diagnosis and therapy, disease recurrence remains common and is strongly
      associated with mortality. It is therefore critical to identify new targets for
      both treatment and diagnostic purposes. We aimed at investigating the role of
      PA28alpha, a proteasomal activator in OSCC. METHODS: The expression of PA28alpha
      was examined in a panel of OSCC cell lines and tissues, associated with oncomine
      analysis. In a large OSCC patient cohort, the prognostic value of PA28alpha
      expression was evaluated. Primary clinical end points were recurrence-free and
      overall survival rate. Functional involvement of PA28alpha in OSCC was examined
      in both in vitro and in vivo models upon specific siRNA knockdown. RESULTS:
      PA28alpha was found to be overexpressed in OSCC cell lines and tumor tissues.
      High expression of PA28alpha was significantly associated with recurrence and
      poorer overall survival. Specific knockdown of PA28alpha inhibited OSCC cell
      proliferation, migration, invasion in vitro and reduced the growth of OSCC
      xenografts in vivo. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed PA28alpha as
      independent prognostic predictors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that
      PA28alpha is involved in OSCC oncogenesis and may serve as a potential prognostic
      factor.

PMID- 26892610
TI  - Criteria-based audit of caesarean section in a referral hospital in rural
      Tanzania.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: WHO uses the Caesarean section (CS) rate to monitor implementation of
      emergency obstetric care (EmOC). Although CS rates are rising in sub-Saharan
      Africa, maternal outcome has not improved. We audited indications for CS and
      related complications among women with severe maternal morbidity and mortality in
      a referral hospital in rural Tanzania. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was from
      November 2009 to November 2011. Women with severe maternal morbidity and
      mortality were identified and those with CS were included in this audit. Audit
      criteria were developed based on the literature review and (inter)national
      guidelines. Tanzanian and Dutch doctors reviewed hospital notes. The main outcome
      measured was prevalence of substandard quality of care leading to unnecessary CS
      and delay in performing interventions to prevent CS. RESULTS: A total of 216
      maternal near misses and 32 pregnancy-related deaths were identified, of which 82
      (33.1%) had a CS. Indication for CS was in accordance with audit criteria for 36
      of 82 (44.0%) cases without delay. In 20 of 82 (24.4%) cases, the indication was
      correct; however, there was significant delay in providing standard obstetric
      care. In 16 of 82 (19.5%) cases, the indication for CS was not in accordance with
      audit criteria. During office hours, CS was more often correctly indicated than
      outside office hours (60.0% vs. 36.0%, P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Caesarean section
      rate is not an useful indicator to monitor quality of EmOC as a high rate of
      unnecessary and potentially preventable CS was identified in this audit.

PMID- 26892611
TI  - Light-Harvesting Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Inactivation of Bacteria under
      Both Visible and Near-Infrared Excitations.
AB  - We report a hybrid singlet oxygen production system, where strong resonance
      coupling between plasmonic nanoparticles and photosensitizing molecules results
      in exceptionally high singlet oxygen production under both visible light and near
      infrared light excitation, even for the photosensitizing molecules without near
      infrared absorption. The light-harvesting property of the plasmon-photosensitizer
      hybrids leads to an enhanced, broad-spectrum photodynamic inactivation of
      bacteria under a wide range of excitations, including that with near-infrared
      light. 

PMID- 26892615
TI  - Approaching chronic cough.
AB  - Chronic cough is one of the most common reasons for referral to a respiratory
      physician. Although fatal complications are rare, it may cause considerable
      distress in the patient's daily life. Western and local data shows that in
      patients with a normal chest radiograph, the most common causes are postnasal
      drip syndrome, postinfectious cough, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and cough
      variant asthma. Less common causes are the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme
      inhibitors, smoker's cough and nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis. A detailed
      history-taking and physical examination will provide a diagnosis in most
      patients, even at the primary care level. Some cases may need further
      investigations or specialist referral for diagnosis. 

PMID- 26892612
TI  - Triple peptide vaccination as consolidation treatment in women affected by
      ovarian and breast cancer: Clinical and immunological data of a phase I/II
      clinical trial.
AB  - Vaccination with priming and expansion of tumour reacting T cells is an important
      therapeutic option to be used in combination with novel checkpoint inhibitors to
      increase the specificity of the T cell infiltrate and the efficacy of the
      treatment. In this phase I/II study, 14 high-risk disease-free ovarian (OC) and
      breast cancer (BC) patients after completion of standard therapies were
      vaccinated with MUC1, ErbB2 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) HLA-A2+-restricted
      peptides and Montanide. Patients were subjected to 6 doses of vaccine every two
      weeks and a recall dose after 3 months. ECOG grade 2 toxicity was observed at the
      injection site. Eight out of 14 patients showed specific CD8+ T cells to at least
      one antigen. None of 4 patients vaccinated for compassionate use showed a CD8
      activation. An OC patient who suffered from a lymph nodal recurrence, showed
      specific anti-ErbB2 CD8+ T cells in the bulky aortic lymph nodes suggesting
      homing of the activated T cells. Results confirm that peptide vaccination
      strategy is feasible, safe and well tolerated. In particular OC patients appear
      to show a higher response rate compared to BC patients. Vaccination generates a
      long-lasting immune response, which is strongly enhanced by recall
      administrations. The clinical outcome of patients enrolled in the trial appears
      favourable, having registered no deceased patients with a minimum follow-up of 8
      years. These promising data, in line with the results of similar studies, the
      high compliance of patients observed and the favourable toxicity profile, support
      future trials of peptide vaccination in clinically disease-free patients who have
      completed standard treatments.

PMID- 26892617
TI  - Erratum to: Metastatic neuroblastoma cancer stem cells exhibit flexible
      plasticity and adaptive stemness signaling.

PMID- 26892616
TI  - Molecular detection and prevalence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp.
      among long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Thailand.
AB  - Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are divergent protozoal intestinal
      parasites that infect human beings and other animals, including non-human
      primates. Although long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) reside in human
      communities in Thailand, the prevalence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.
      in these primates has not been previously investigated. The objective of this
      study was to evaluate long-tailed macaques living near human communities as
      possible hosts of these intestinal parasites. In 2014, 200 fecal samples were
      randomly collected from long-tailed macaques living in different areas of Lopburi
      province, Thailand, and tested with a panel of PCR assays for Giardia spp. and
      Cryptosporidium spp. G. duodenalis assemblage B was most frequently detected
      (6%), while assemblage A and an inconclusive assemblage were detected in single
      samples, for a total G. duodenalis infection rate of 7%. Two samples (1%) tested
      positive for Cryptosporidium spp., which were both classified as monkey
      genotypes. No significant associations were found between G. duodenalis infection
      and sex or location of macaques. This study indicates that long-tailed macaques
      can carry G. duodenalis and, to a lesser extent, Cryptosporidium spp. monkey
      genotype. These results warrant education of residents and tourists to limit
      contact with long-tailed macaques and to take hygienic precautions to mitigate
      risk of zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission of these parasites between people
      and macaques.

PMID- 26892618
TI  - Relationship between fracture of mandibular condyle and absence of unerupted
      mandibular third molar-a retrospective study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to find, if there exists, a co
      relation between presence of unerupted mandibular third molar and fracture of
      mandibular condyle. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter study was done
      collecting the data of all mandibular condyle fractures treated from November
      2006 till August 2015. Data was collected from the patient's records and
      radiographs for the following information: age, sex, etiology of fracture,
      presence and state of lower third molars, and associated fracture. The results
      were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of 180 patients of condylar
      fracture, unerupted third molars were present in 35 (19.44 %) cases compared to
      145 (80.55 %) cases of condylar fracture where the unerupted third molars were
      not present. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the
      unerupted third molar present group, isolated bilateral condylar fracture was
      seen in 4 (11.4 %) cases, bilateral condylar fracture associated with other
      mandibular fractures in 9 (25.7 %) cases, isolated unilateral condylar fracture
      in 0 (0.0 %) cases, and unilateral condylar fracture associated with other
      mandibular fractures in 17 (48.5 %) cases and condylar fracture associated with
      mid face fractures in 5 (14.2 %) cases. In the unerupted third molar absent
      group, isolated bilateral condylar fracture was seen in 5 (3.4 %) cases,
      bilateral condylar fracture associated with other mandibular fractures in 30
      (20.6 %) cases, isolated unilateral condylar fracture in 24 (16.5 %) cases,
      unilateral condylar fracture associated with other mandibular fractures in 73
      (50.34 %) cases, and condylar fracture associated with mid face fractures in
      13(8.96 %) cases. The difference between the groups was statistically significant
      (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the fractures of mandibular
      condylar region have a significantly higher incidence in patients without an
      unerupted mandibular third molar.

PMID- 26892619
TI  - Trastuzumab in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.
AB  - Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and has an
      undeniable negative impact on public health. The advent of molecular biology and
      immunotherapy has made targeted therapeutic interventions possible, providing
      treatments tailored to the individual characteristics of the patient and the
      disease. The over-expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2 is
      implicated in the pathophysiology of BC and represents a clinically relevant
      biomarker for its treatment. Trastuzumab, a recombinant antibody targeting HER2,
      was the first biological drug approved for the treatment of HER2-positive BC.
      Although there are currently other anti-HER2 agents available (e.g. pertuzumab
      and lapatinib), trastuzumab remains the gold standard for treatment of this
      disease subtype. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised regarding potential
      cardiotoxicity and treatment resistance. Moreover, several other therapeutic
      issues remain unclear and have been addressed in an inconsistent way. The current
      literature lacks a comprehensive review of trastuzumab providing useful
      information for clinical practice, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
      aspects, its clinical use, existing controversies and future advances. This
      detailed review of trastuzumab in the pharmacotherapy of BC attempts to fill this
      gap.

PMID- 26892620
TI  - [Paravertebral block for management of acute postoperative pain and
      intercostobrachial neuralgia in major breast surgery].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several locoregional techniques have been described for the
      management of acute and chronic pain after breast surgery. The optimal technique
      should be easy to perform, reproducible, with little discomfort to the patient,
      little complications, allowing good control of acute pain and a decreased
      incidence of chronic pain, namely intercostobrachial neuralgia for being the most
      frequent entity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the
      paravertebral block with preoperative single needle prick for major breast
      surgery and assess initially the control of postoperative nausea and vomiting
      (PONV) and acute pain in the first 24hours and secondly the incidence of
      neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve region six months after surgery.
      METHODS: The study included 80 female patients, ASA I-II, aged 18-70 years,
      undergoing major breast surgery, under general anesthesia, stratified into 2
      groups: general anesthesia (inhalation anesthesia with opioids, according to
      hemodynamic response) and paravertebral (paravertebral block with single needle
      prick in T4 with 0.5% ropivacaine + adrenaline 3MUg/mL with a volume of 0.3mL/kg
      preoperatively and subsequent induction and maintenance with general inhalational
      anesthesia). In the early postoperative period, patient-controlled analgesia
      (PCA) was placed with morphine set for bolus on demand for 24hours.
      Intraoperative fentanyl, postoperative morphine consumption, technique-related
      complications, pain at rest and during movement were recorded at 0h, 1h, 6h and
      24h, as well as episodes of PONV. All variables identified as factors
      contributing to pain chronicity age, type of surgery, anxiety according to the
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), preoperative pain, monitoring at
      home; body mass index (BMI) and adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation therapy were
      analyzed, checking the homogeneity of the samples. Six months after surgery, the
      incidence of neuropathic pain in the intercostobrachial nerve was assessed using
      the DN4 scale. RESULTS: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) values of paravertebral
      group at rest were lower throughout the 24hours of study 0h 1.90 (+/- 2.59)
      versus 0.88 (+/- 1.5) 1h 2.23 (+/- 2.2) versus 1.53 (+/- 1.8) 6h 1.15 (+/- 1.3)
      versus 0.35 (+/- 0.8); 24h 0.55 (+/- 0.9) versus 0.25 (+/- 0.8) with statistical
      significance at 0h and 6h. Regarding movement, paravertebral group had VAS values
      lower and statistically significant in all four time points: 0h 2.95 (+/- 3.1)
      versus 1.55 (+/- 2.1); 1h 3.90 (+/- 2.7) versus 2.43 (+/- 1.9) 6h 2.75 (+/- 2.2)
      versus 1.68 (+/- 1.5); 24h 2.43 (+/- 2.4) versus 1.00 (+/- 1.4). The
      paravertebral group consumed less postoperative fentanyl (2.38+/-0.81MUg/kg
      versus 3.51+/-0.81MUg/kg) and morphine (3.5mg+/-3.4 versus 7mg+/-6.4) with
      statistically significant difference. Chronic pain evaluation of at 6 months of
      paravertebral group found fewer cases of neuropathic pain in the
      intercostobrachial nerve region (3 cases versus 7 cases), although not
      statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Single-injection paravertebral block
      allows proper control of acute pain with less intraoperative and postoperative
      consumption of opioids but apparently it cannot prevent pain chronicity. Further
      studies are needed to clarify the role of paravertebral block in pain chronicity
      in major breast surgery.

PMID- 26892621
TI  - NICE calls for more research on ELISA tests for Crohn's disease.

PMID- 26892624
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26892623
TI  - Adolescent self-harm in the community: an update on prevalence using a self
      report survey of adolescents aged 13-18 in England.
AB  - Background: To establish an estimate of prevalence in a nationally representative
      sample of community adolescents. To examine associations between self-harm and
      wellbeing. Methods: An anonymous self-report survey completed by 2000 adolescents
      aged 13-18 years across England. Wellbeing was measured using the Warwick
      Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Results: In total 15.5% (n = 309) of
      participants reported ever having self-harmed (95% confidence intervals 13.9
      17.1). The median age of onset was 13.0 years. Females aged 13-15 years reported
      the highest incidence of self-harm within the past year (54.9%). Cutting
      elsewhere (other than on the arms) was more prevalent amongst females (56.4%).
      The mean wellbeing score for the whole sample (45.6) was lower than the WEMWBS
      validation score (48.8). Self-harm was associated with a significantly lower
      wellbeing score, with mean scores of 38.7 (ever self-harmed) and 46.8 (never self
      harmed). Conclusions: Self-harm remains prevalent amongst adolescents aged 13-18
      years in England. An awareness of the age of peak incidence and risks associated
      with preferred harming behaviours is crucial during assessment and intervention.
      The promotion of wellbeing is important for all young people. Further study is
      needed on the ways in which wellbeing may prevent, or ameliorate, the distress
      associated with self-harm.

PMID- 26892622
TI  - Increased Antiretroviral Therapy Use and Virologic Suppression in the Bronx in
      the Context of Multiple HIV Prevention Strategies.
AB  - Multiple population-based HIV prevention strategies from national, state, local,
      and institutional levels have been implemented in the Bronx, which has one of the
      highest HIV prevalences in the U.S. We examined changes in antiretroviral therapy
      (ART) use and associated outcomes between 2007 and 2014 among patients seen at
      one of >20 outpatient clinics affiliated with the largest Bronx HIV care
      provider. Among eligible HIV-infected patients age >=13 years, we examined annual
      trends in ART use, mean HIV RNA level, and virologic suppression (<200 copies/ml)
      overall and among prespecified subgroups. In a subset with suppressed HIV RNA at
      the end of each year, we determined the percentage whose levels remained
      suppressed within the next year. Regression models assessed disparities in
      outcomes. Among 7,196 patients (median age 50, 47% Hispanic, 45% black), we
      identified consistent increases over time in the percent prescribed ART (78% in
      2007 to 93% in 2014) and with virologic suppression (58% to 80%), as mean HIV RNA
      decreased (351 to 73 copies/ml) (all p < .001). Sustained virologic suppression
      improved markedly beginning in 2011, coinciding with local test-and-treat
      initiatives and adoption of expanded treatment guidelines. While disparities
      among population groups were most pronounced for sustained virologic suppression,
      those aged 13-24 fared relatively poorly for all outcomes examined (e.g., rate
      ratio 0.57 for virologic suppression, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.62, vs. age
      65+). Population-wide HIV prevention strategies coincided with improvements in
      virologic suppression among most population groups. However, more attention is
      needed to address continued disparities in the HIV care continuum among young
      people.

PMID- 26892625
TI  - Presence of antidrug antibodies correlates inversely with the plasma tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha level and the efficacy of TNF-inhibitor therapy in
      psoriasis.
AB  - Antidrug antibodies have been shown to be associated with a loss of response
      during biologic therapy. Despite the potential association, there has been no
      report on the simultaneous monitoring of the following parameters in psoriasis:
      presence of neutralizing antibodies, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha
      concentration, TNFi concentration and disease activity. Plasma concentrations of
      adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept and their respective antidrug antibodies, as
      well as plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured in 77 psoriasis patients
      receiving biologic therapy, and the values were correlated with the clinical
      activity of the skin disease. Antidrug antibodies were identified in the plasma
      of 25% of infliximab-treated patients and 29.6% of adalimumab-treated patients,
      but not in the etanercept group. Clinical severity scores were significantly
      higher in the antibody-positive patients. In patients receiving infliximab or
      adalimumab therapy, the presence of antidrug antibodies was directly associated
      with reduced plasma TNF-inhibitor concentration and elevated plasma TNF-alpha
      level. 

PMID- 26892626
TI  - Clearance of Damaged Mitochondria Through PINK1 Stabilization by JNK and ERK MAPK
      Signaling in Chlorpyrifos-Treated Neuroblastoma Cells.
AB  - Mitochondrial quality control and clearance of damaged mitochondria through
      mitophagy are important cellular activities. Studies have shown that PTEN-induced
      putative protein kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin play central roles in triggering
      mitophagy; however, little is known regarding the mechanism by which PINK1
      modulates mitophagy in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced stress.
      In this study, chlorpyrifos (CPF)-induced ROS caused mitochondrial damage and
      subsequent engulfing of mitochondria in double-membrane autophagic vesicles,
      indicating that clearance of damaged mitochondria is due to mitophagy. CPF
      treatment resulted in PINK1 stabilization on the outer mitochondrial membrane and
      subsequently increased Parkin recruitment from the cytosol to the abnormal
      mitochondria. We found that PINK1 physically interacts with Parkin in the
      mitochondria of CPF-treated cells. Furthermore, a knockdown of PINK1 strongly
      inhibited the LC3-II protein level by blocking Parkin recruitment. This indicates
      that CPF-induced mitophagy is due to PINK1 stabilization in mitochondria. We
      observed that PINK1 stabilization was selectively regulated by ROS-mediated c-Jun
      N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2)
      signaling activation but not p38 signaling. In the mitochondria of CPF-exposed
      cells, pretreatment with specific inhibitors of JNK and ERK1/2 significantly
      decreased PINK1 stabilization and Parkin recruitment and blocked the LC3-II
      protein level. Specifically, JNK and ERK1/2 inhibition also dramatically blocked
      the interaction between PINK1 and Parkin. Our results demonstrated that PINK1
      regulation plays a critical role in CPF-induced mitophagy. The simple
      interpretation of these results is that JNK and ERK1/2 signaling regulates
      PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy in the mitochondria of CPF-treated cells.
      Overall, this study proposes a novel molecular regulatory mechanism of PINK1
      stabilization under CPF exposure.

PMID- 26892628
TI  - Factors associated with poor quality of life among Iranian infertile women
      undergoing IVF.
AB  - Infertility is a medical and social condition and has a considerable impact on a
      person's quality of life (QoL). The aim of the study was to determine the QoL of
      women with fertility problem, and identify factors associated with poor QoL. This
      cross-sectional study included 155 women with fertility problems undergoing IVF
      in a referral fertility center in Tehran, Iran. The Fertility Quality of Life,
      the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and demographic and fertility
      information questionnaire were administered to all women. The mean total QoL
      score was 62.57 +/- 16.89. Multivariate analysis showed that the anxiety (beta = 
      1.59, p < 0.001) and depression (beta = -2.09, p < 0.001) had a negative impact
      on QoL. Cause of infertility and failure in previous treatment were also
      significant factors of poorer QoL. The findings indicate that the QoL was worse
      in women with high depression and anxiety level, failure in previous treatment
      and unknown cause of infertility. Thus, a comprehensive approach, including
      psychosocial interventions and support, is absolutely essential to improve the
      QoL in these women.

PMID- 26892630
TI  - The microscopic structure of mono-disperse granular heaps and sediments of
      particles on inclined surfaces.
AB  - Granular heaps of particles created by deposition of mono-disperse particles
      raining from an extended source of finite size are characterized by a non
      homogeneous field of density. It was speculated that this inhomogeneity is due to
      the transient shape of the sediment during the process of construction of the
      heap, thus reflecting the history of the creation of the heap. By comparison of
      structural characteristics of the heap with sediments created on top of inclined
      planes exploiting the method of Minkowski tensors, we provide further evidence to
      support this hypothesis. Moreover, for the case of sediments generated by
      homogeneous rain on surfaces, we provide relationships between the inclination of
      the surface and the Minkowski measures characterizing the isotropy of local
      particle environments. 

PMID- 26892629
TI  - The Association Between Circulating Levels of miRNA-181a and Pancreatic Beta
      Cells Dysfunction via SMAD7 in Type 1 Diabetic Children and Adolescents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: miRNA-181a has been implicated in autoimmunity and apoptosis.
      Therefore, this study was conducted to explore its possible role in pancreatic
      beta-cells dysfunction. METHODS: miRNA-181a expression was evaluated by real-time
      PCR in serum of 40 type 1 diabetic children and adolescents and 40 age- and
      gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: miRNA-181a expression was significantly
      higher in diabetic children and adolescents and it was negatively correlated to
      fasting C-peptide and SMAD7 levels. CONCLUSION: miRNA-181a appears to play a
      potential role in pancreatic beta-cells dysfunction via SMAD7.

PMID- 26892631
TI  - Double- and triple-hit lymphomas can present with features suggestive of
      immaturity, including TdT expression, and create diagnostic challenges.
AB  - Double- and triple-hit lymphomas (DHL/THL) are aggressive B-cell neoplasms
      characterized by translocation of MYC with concurrent BCL2 and/or BCL6
      translocation. In this retrospective study from one institution, we report
      clinicopathologic features of 13 cases (9 DHL/4 THL). The median age was 59 years
      (range 30-74) and patients included eight females and five males. Presentation
      included enlarging lymphadenopathy/masses (11 patients) and abnormal peripheral
      blood findings (2 patients). Features which raised the differential of an
      immature neoplasm included terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase positivity (four
      cases, two THL/two DHL); dim CD45 expression (seven cases), lack of CD20 (two
      cases), or lack of surface immunoglobulin light chain (three cases) by flow
      cytometry; and blastoid morphology (two cases). We conclude that expression of
      TdT in a B-cell lymphoma with mature features or expression of surface light
      chain in a case otherwise suggestive of B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma should
      prompt an expedited evaluation for DHL/THL.

PMID- 26892627
TI  - Revisiting Mitochondrial Function and Metabolism in Pluripotent Stem Cells: Where
      Do We Stand in Neurological Diseases?
AB  - Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are powerful cellular tools that can generate all
      the different cell types of the body, and thus overcome the often limited access
      to human disease tissues; this becomes highly relevant when aiming to investigate
      cellular (dys)function in diseases affecting the central nervous system. Recent
      studies have demonstrated that PSC and differentiated cells show altered
      mitochondrial function and metabolic profiles and production of reactive oxygen
      species. This raises an emerging paradigm about the role of mitochondria in stem
      cell biology and urges the need to identify mitochondrial pathways involved in
      these processes. In this respect, this review focuses on the metabolic profile of
      PSC and how mitochondrial function can influence the reprogramming and
      differentiation processes. Indeed, both embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced
      pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) favor the glycolytic pathway as a major source of
      energy production over oxidative phosphorylation. PSC mitochondria are
      characterized by a spherical shape, low copy number of mitochondrial DNA, and a
      hyperpolarized state. Indeed, mitochondria appear to have a crucial role in
      reprogramming iPSC, in the maintenance of a pluripotent state, and in
      differentiation. Moreover, an increase in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
      has to occur for differentiation to succeed. Therefore, in vitro differentiation
      of neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons can be compromised if those mechanisms
      are impaired. Future research should shed light on how mitochondrial impairment
      occurring in pre differentiation neural stages (e.g., in NSC or premature
      neurons) may contribute for the etiopathogenesis of neurodevelopmental and
      neurological disorders.

PMID- 26892632
TI  - Surveying End-of-Life Medical Decisions in France: Evaluation of an Innovative
      Mixed-Mode Data Collection Strategy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Monitoring medical decisions at the end of life has become an
      important issue in many societies. Built on previous European experiences, the
      survey and project Fin de Vie en France ("End of Life in France," or EOLF) was
      conducted in 2010 to provide an overview of medical end-of-life decisions in
      France. OBJECTIVE: To describe the methodology of EOLF and evaluate the effects
      of design innovations on data quality. METHODS: EOLF used a mixed-mode data
      collection strategy (paper and Internet) along with follow-up campaigns that
      employed various contact modes (paper and telephone), all of which were gathered
      from various institutions (research team, hospital, and medical authorities at
      the regional level). A telephone nonresponse survey was also used. Through
      descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions, these innovations
      were assessed in terms of their effects on the response rate, quality of the
      sample, and differences between Web-based and paper questionnaires. RESULTS: The
      participation rate was 40.0% (n=5217). The respondent sample was very close to
      the sampling frame. The Web-based questionnaires represented only 26.8% of the
      questionnaires, and the Web-based secured procedure led to limitations in data
      management. The follow-up campaigns had a strong effect on participation,
      especially for paper questionnaires. With higher participation rates (63.21% and
      63.74%), the telephone follow-up and nonresponse surveys showed that only a very
      low proportion of physicians refused to participate because of the topic or the
      absence of financial incentive. A multivariate analysis showed that physicians
      who answered on the Internet reported less medication to hasten death, and that
      they more often took no medical decisions in the end-of-life process.
      CONCLUSIONS: Varying contact modes is a useful strategy. Using a mixed-mode
      design is interesting, but selection and measurement effects must be studied
      further in this sensitive field.

PMID- 26892633
TI  - A comparison of endothelial and penetrating keratoplasty outcomes following
      failed penetrating keratoplasty: a registry study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare graft survival and visual outcomes for endothelial
      keratoplasty (EK) after a first penetrating keratoplasty (PK), with outcomes of
      repeat PK after a first PK. METHODS: 400 eyes with a second graft (65 EKs, 335
      PKs) performed after failure of a primary PK were identified through the
      Australian Corneal Graft Registry, a national prospectively followed cohort.
      Grafts were performed after January 2008 (follow-up of the second graft extending
      to 6.75 years maximum). Kaplan-Meier graft survival plots were constructed and
      Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent risk factors
      for graft failure. Best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (BCVA) at last follow-up
      was compared with pregraft acuity. RESULTS: Poor Kaplan-Meier graft survival was
      observed for PK-EK compared with PK-PK (log-rank=29.66, p<0.001). Variables
      retained in multivariate analysis as significantly influencing survival of the
      second graft included graft type (PK-EK or PK-PK, p<0.001), length of survival of
      the previous PK (global p=0.011), graft era (global p=0.018), occurrence of
      rejection in the second graft (p=0.005) and a history of raised intraocular
      pressure at any time (p=0.048), but not indication for the first graft. BCVA
      improved in the majority of surviving grafts and attainment of 6/12 vision was
      similar for both PK-EK and PK-PK groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our registry findings
      suggest that repeat PK may deliver a better outcome in terms of graft survival
      than EK after a failed PK that was performed initially for keratoconus or
      pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. For surviving grafts, visual outcomes appeared
      equivalent across groups.

PMID- 26892634
TI  - Intraoperative aberrometry-based aphakia refraction in patients with cataract:
      status and options.
AB  - AIM: To explore the application of intraoperative wavefront aberrometry (IWA) for
      aphakia-based biometry using three existing formulae derived from autorefractive
      retinoscopy and introducing new improved formulae. METHODS: In 74 patients
      undergoing cataract surgery, three repeated measurements of aphakic spherical
      equivalent (SE) were taken. All measurements were objectively graded for their
      quality and evaluated with the 'limits of agreement' approach. ORs were
      calculated and analysis of variance was applied. The intraocular lens (IOL) power
      that would have given the target refraction was back-calculated from manifest
      refraction at 3 months postoperatively. Regression analysis was performed to
      generate two aphakic SE-based formulae for predicting this IOL. The accuracy of
      the formulae was determined by comparing them to conventional biometry and
      published aphakia formulae. RESULTS: In 32 eyes, three consecutive aphakic
      measurements were successful. Objective parameters of IWA map quality
      significantly impacted measurement variability (p<0.05). The limits of agreement
      of repeated aphakic SE readings were +0.66 dioptre (D) and -0.69 D.
      Intraoperative biometry by our formula resulted in 25% and 53% of all cases +/
      0.50D and +/-1.00 D within SE target, respectively. A second formula that took
      axial length (AL) into account resulted in improved ratios of 41% and 70%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A reliable application of IWA to calculate IOL power
      during routine cataract surgery may not be feasible given the high rate of
      measurement failures and the large variations of the readings. To enable reliable
      IOL calculation from IWA, measurement precision must be improved and aphakic IOL
      formulae need to be fine-tuned.

PMID- 26892635
TI  - Whole genome characterization of a chelonian orthoreovirus strain identifies
      significant genetic diversity and may classify reptile orthoreoviruses into
      distinct species.
AB  - In this study we report the sequence and phylogenetic characterization of an
      orthoreovirus strain, CH1197/96, isolated from a spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo
      graeca) on chicken embryo fibroblast cells. The 23,957 bp long genome sequence
      was obtained by combined use of semiconductor and capillary sequencing. Although
      the genomic characterization showed that the virus was most similar to the bush
      viper reovirus strain, 47/02, and in phylogenies performed with all segments the
      two strains formed a monophyletic group, the nucleotide (48.4-70.3%) and amino
      acid (39.2-80.7%) sequence identity values were moderate between the two reptile
      origin reoviruses. Based on our results and existing classification criteria for
      the genus Orthoreovirus, the tortoise reovirus strain CH1197/96 might be the
      first representative of a novel reptilian origin Orthoreovirus species.

PMID- 26892636
TI  - Cross-Cultural Validation of the Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education
      Scale between Portugal and Brazil Samples.
AB  - The main propose of this study is the cross-cultural validation of the Basic
      Psychological Needs in Physical Education Scale among Portugal and Brazil
      samples, through the study of measurement model invariance. Participated in this
      study, two independent samples, one with 616 Portuguese students, of the 2nd and
      3rd basic grade of public school, aged between 9 and 18 years old and another
      with 450 Brazilian students, from 1st, 2nd and 3rd middle grade of public and
      private school, aged between 14 and 18 years old. The results support the
      suitability of the model (three factors, each one with four items), showing an
      adequate fit to the data in each sample (Portugal: chi2 = 203.8, p = .001, df =
      51, SRMR = .062, NNFI = .926, CFI = .943, RMSEA = .070, RMSEA 90% IC = .060-.080;
      Brazil: chi2 = 173.7, p = .001, df = 51, SRMR = .052, NNFI = .940, CFI = .954,
      RMSEA = .073, RMSEA 90% IC = .061-.085), as well valid cross-cultural invariance
      among Portuguese e Brazilian samples (?CFI <= .01). Those findings allow us to
      conclude that scale can be used to measure the basic psychological needs in
      physical education in Portugal and in Brazil. 

PMID- 26892638
TI  - Uptake calibration of polymer-based passive samplers for monitoring priority and
      emerging organic non-polar pollutants in WWTP effluents.
AB  - The uptake calibration of more than 12 non-polar organic contaminants by 3
      polymeric materials is shown: bare polydimetilsiloxane (PDMS, stir-bars),
      polyethersulfone tubes and membranes (PES) and polyoxymethylene membranes (POM),
      both in their free form and membrane-enclosed sorptive coating (MESCO). The
      calibration process was carried out exposing the samplers to a continuous flow of
      contaminated water at 100 ng mL(-1) for up to 28 days, and, consequently, the
      sampling rates (Rs, mL day(-1)) of several organic microcontaminants were
      provided for the first time. In situ Rs values were also determined disposing the
      samplers in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant. Finally, these passive
      samplers were applied to monitor the effluents of two wastewater treatment
      plants. This application lead to the confirmation of the presence of galaxolide,
      tonalide and 4-tert-octylphenol at high ng mL(-1) levels, as well as the
      identification of compounds like some phthalates and alkylphenols at levels below
      the detection limits for active sampling methods.

PMID- 26892637
TI  - Antibiotic binding of STY3178, a yfdX protein from Salmonella Typhi.
AB  - The yfdX family proteins are known for long time to occur in various virulent
      bacteria including their multidrug resistant (MDR) strains, without any direct
      assigned function for them. However, yfdX protein along with other proteins
      involved in acid tolerance response is reported to be up regulated by the
      multidrug response regulatory system in E. coli. Hence, molecular and functional
      characterization of this protein is important for understanding of key cellular
      processes in bacterial cells. Here we study STY3178, a yfdX protein from a MDR
      strain of typhoid fever causing Salmonella Typhi. Our experimental results
      indicate that STY3178 is a helical protein existing in a trimeric oligomerization
      state in solution. We also observe many small antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin,
      rifampin and ampicillin viably interact with this protein. The dissociation
      constants from the quenching of steady state fluorescence and isothermal
      titration calorimetry show that ciprofloxacin binding is stronger than rifampin
      followed by ampicillin.

PMID- 26892640
TI  - A microarray-based approach to evaluate the functional significance of protein
      binding motifs.
AB  - Intracellular proteins comprise numerous peptide motifs that interact with
      protein-binding domains. However, using sequence information alone, the
      identification of functionally relevant interaction motifs remains a challenge.
      Here, we present a microarray-based approach for the evaluation of peptides as
      protein-binding motifs. To this end, peptides corresponding to protein
      interaction motifs were spotted as a microarray. First, peptides were titrated
      with a pan-specific binder and the apparent K(d) value of this binder for each
      peptide was determined. For phosphotyrosine-containing peptides, an anti
      phosphotyrosine antibody was employed. Then, in the presence of the pan-specific
      binder, arrays were competitively titrated with cell lysate and competition
      constants were determined. Using the Cheng-Prusoff equation, binding constants
      for the pan-specific binder and inhibition constants for the lysates were
      converted into affinity constants for the lysate. We experimentally validate this
      method using a phosphotyrosine-binding SH2 domain as a further reference.
      Furthermore, strong binders correlated with binding motifs engaging in numerous
      interactions as predicted by Scansite. This method provides a highly parallel and
      robust approach to identify peptides corresponding to interaction motifs with
      strong binding capacity for proteins in the cell lysate.

PMID- 26892641
TI  - Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for
      luteoloside detection in Flos Lonicerae Japonicae.
AB  - Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (FLJ), the flower bud of Lonicera japonica Thunb.
      (Caprifoliaceae), is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine with various
      pharmacological activities. Luteoloside is a major active compound and a quality
      control marker of FLJ. Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide (LG), an analog of luteoloside,
      was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin (OVA) to create the
      immunogen and coating antigen, respectively. A sensitive and specific monoclonal
      antibody (mAb), designated as mAb3A4, was generated with LG-BSA. To screen the
      authenticity and quality of FLJ, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was established. The concentration of luteoloside
      producing 50 % inhibition and the working range of the icELISA were 42.3 and 9.1
      258.1 MUg L(-1), respectively. The icELISA showed cross-reactivity values of
      2414, 402, 230, and <1 % for LG, baicalin, scutellarin, and other analogs of
      luteoloside, respectively. The average recovery of luteoloside in the FLJ samples
      as determined by icELISA ranged from 83.0 to 112.5 %. The luteoloside content was
      determined for different Lonicera herbal samples with icELISA, and the results
      were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Thus, this
      icELISA is suitable for the quality assurance of FLJ samples. Graphical abstract
      Specific monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for
      luteoloside. 

PMID- 26892642
TI  - Exploration for an Algorithm for Deintensification to Exclude the Retropharyngeal
      Site From Advanced Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Understanding the drainage patterns to the retropharyngeal lymph
      nodes is an important consideration in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
      (OPSCC) because treatment of these nodes is related to increased morbidity.
      Prediction of these drainage patterns could not only help minimize treatment
      morbidity but also prevent failures in at-risk patients as deintensification
      trials are under way for this disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of
      pathologic retropharyngeal adenopathy (RPA) in OPSCC relative to involvement of
      the oropharyngeal subsite, number of metastatic neck nodes, T classification, and
      N classification. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a retrospective
      review from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2010, at an academic referral
      center of 205 previously untreated patients with pathologically confirmed,
      advanced-stage (III, IV) OPSCC. Data analysis was performed from January 1, 2013,
      through June 30, 2015. EXPOSURE: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND
      MEASURES: Radiologic evidence of pathologic RPA was tabulated and related to
      involvement of the oropharyngeal subsite, number of metastatic neck nodes, T
      classification, and N classification. RESULTS: Of the 205 previously untreated
      patients (183 men; mean age, 56.1 years), pathologic RPA was identified in 37
      (18.0%) of the 205 patients. Pathologic retropharyngeal lymph nodes were found in
      12 (13.5%) of 89 patients with base of tongue cancers, 24 (22.0%) of 109 patients
      with tonsil cancers, and 1 (14.3%) of 7 patients with other oropharyngeal subsite
      cancers. Increasing prevalence of RPA was positively correlated with closer
      proximity to the posterior tonsillar pillar. A multivariable logistic regression
      model using the oropharyngeal subsite, involvement of the posterior tonsillar
      pillar, number of metastatic neck nodes, T classification, and N classification
      revealed that the number of metastatic neck nodes was statistically significant
      (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.20-1.71; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The
      prevalence of pathologic RPA in this cohort was 18.0%, and patients with multiple
      nodes had the highest risk of pathologic RPA, followed by involvement of the
      posterior tonsillar pillar. However, these data suggest that there is no clear
      algorithm that can be used for deintensification to exclude the retropharyngeal
      site from the treatment volume using extent of disease gathered from pretreatment
      imaging for patients with advanced-stage OPSCC.

PMID- 26892643
TI  - Behavioral outcomes of picky eating in childhood: a prospective study in the
      general population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Picky eaters in the general population form a heterogeneous group. It
      is important to differentiate between children with transient picky eating (PE)
      and persistent PE behavior when adverse outcomes are studied. We analyzed four PE
      trajectories to determine the associations with child mental health
      prospectively. METHODS: From a population-based cohort, 3,748 participants were
      assessed for PE at 1.5, 3, and 6 years of age using maternal reports. Four
      trajectories were defined: persistent (PE at all ages); remitting (PE before 6
      years only); late-onset (PE at 6 years only); and never (no PE at any
      assessment). Child's problem behaviors were assessed with the Teacher's Report
      Form at 7 years of age. We examined associations between picky eating
      trajectories and emotional problems, behavioral problems and pervasive
      developmental problems using logistic regressions. Analyses were adjusted for
      child, parental, and socioeconomic confounders. We also adjusted for maternal
      reported baseline problem behavior at age 1.5 years; the never picky eating group
      was used as reference. RESULTS: Persisting PE predicted pervasive developmental
      problems at age 7 years (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.10-3.63). The association remained
      when adjusted for baseline pervasive developmental problems at 1.5 years (OR =
      1.96, 95% CI: 1.10-3.51). Persistent PE was not associated with behavioral (OR =
      0.92, 95% CI: 0.53-1.60) or emotional problems (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.74-2.07).
      Other PE trajectories were not related to child behavioral or emotional problems.
      CONCLUSIONS: Persistent PE may be a symptom or sign of pervasive developmental
      problems, but is not predictive of other behavioral problems. Remitting PE was
      not associated with adverse mental health outcomes, which further indicates that
      it may be part of normal development.

PMID- 26892645
TI  - Outcomes for Management of Lichen Sclerosus Urethral Strictures by 3 Different
      Techniques.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intermediate-term outcomes from a large, single
      institution series of patients with lichen sclerosus (LS) who underwent surgical
      management of their urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed 79 patients who underwent surgical management of their
      LS urethral strictures from 2003 to 2014, comparing outcomes of patients
      undergoing a single-stage buccal mucosa graft (BMG) urethroplasty, 2-stage BMG
      urethroplasty, or perineal urethrostomy (PU). Demographic and surgical outcomes
      data were collected for all patients. RESULTS: Of the 79 patients, the mean
      follow-up was 32.4 months, mean age was 50.1 years, and the mean body mass index
      was 35.7, with morbid obesity (body mass index > 35) in 48% of the cohort. The
      mean stricture length was 9.6 cm (1.5-21 cm), with 62% of patients having a
      bulbopendulous stricture. Of the 37 patients who were planned for a 2-stage BMG
      urethroplasty, 9 (24%) patients had stricture recurrence or recurrent LS in the
      first-stage BMG. Single-stage BMG urethroplasty was performed in 20 patients with
      a mean stricture length of 9.47 cm (4-21 cm) and a success rate of 75%. Fourteen
      patients from the cohort received a PU as the primary treatment, with a success
      rate of 93%. CONCLUSION: Management of LS strictures continues to pose challenges
      to the reconstructive surgeon due to the high rate of stricture recurrence and
      often progression. Patients undergoing single-stage or 2-stage reconstruction
      often require revision and must be carefully observed for recurrent urethral
      stricture. PU offers the highest degree of success and should be considered for
      all patients.

PMID- 26892646
TI  - Pioglitazone: No Longer a Worry for Bladder Cancer?

PMID- 26892644
TI  - Association Between Microglia, Inflammatory Factors, and Complement with Loss of
      Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses Induced by Trimethyltin.
AB  - Complement-associated factors are implicated in pathogen presentation,
      neurodegeneration, and microglia resolution of tissue injury. To characterize
      complement activation with microglial clearance of degenerating mossy fiber
      boutons, hippocampal dentate granule neurons were ablated in CD-1 mice with
      trimethyltin (TMT; 2.2 mg/kg, i.p.). Neuronal apoptosis was accompanied by
      amoeboid microglia and elevations in tumor necrosis factor [Tnfa], interleukin
      1beta [Il1b], and Il6 mRNA and C1q protein. Inos mRNA levels were unaltered.
      Silver degeneration and synaptophysin staining indicated loss of synaptic
      innervation to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Reactive microglia with thickened bushy
      morphology showed co-localization of synaptophysin+ fragments. The initial
      response at 2 days post-TMT included transient elevations in Tnfa, Il1b, Il6, and
      Inos mRNA levels. A concurrent increase at 2 days was observed in arginase-1
      [Arg1], Il10, transforming growth factor beta1 [Tgfb1], and chitinase 3 like-3
      [Ym1] mRNA levels. At 2 days, C1q protein was evident in the CA3 with elevated
      C1qa, C1qb, C3, Cr3a, and Cr3b mRNA levels. mRNA levels remained elevated at 5
      days, returning to control by 14 days, corresponding to silver degeneration. mRNA
      levels for pentraxin3 (Ptx3) were elevated on day 2 and Ptx1 was not altered. Our
      data suggest an association between microglia reactivity, the induction of anti
      inflammatory genes concurrent with pro-inflammatory genes and the expression of
      complement-associated factors with the degeneration of synapses following
      apoptotic neuronal loss.

PMID- 26892647
TI  - Renal Tubular Dysfunction in Pediatric Urolithiasis: Proteomic Evidence.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether inflammation, oxidation, and tubular injury are
      present in children with stones (RS) compared with healthy controls (HC) by
      measuring urinary proteins involved in these processes. METHODS: Quantitative
      proteomic comparison of pooled urine from RS (N = 30, 24 females, mean age 12.95
      +/- 4.03 years) versus age- and gender-matched HC (N = 30), using liquid
      chromatography-mass spectrometry. Relative protein abundance was estimated using
      spectral counting. Proteins of interest were selected using the following
      criteria: (1) >=5 spectral counts; (2) >=2-fold difference in spectral counts;
      and (3) P-value <=.05 for Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 1813 proteins
      identified, 230 met the above criteria, with 163 proteins upregulated in the RS
      group and 67 upregulated in HC. Functional analysis revealed 19 inflammatory
      proteins, 5 proteins involved in oxidative stress, and 5 involved in tubular
      injury. Of those proteins, NADPH-oxidase, a major source of reactive oxygen
      species, was only found in the RS group, whereas glutathione S-transferase A2, an
      important antioxidant enzyme, was more abundant in controls. ELISA analysis
      confirmed statistically significant differences in the urinary excretion of
      retinol-binding protein 4, a marker of proximal tubular dysfunction, between
      stone patients with hypercalciuria and controls. CONCLUSION: We provide proteomic
      evidence of oxidative stress, inflammation, and tubular injury in children with
      renal stones. We speculate that inflammation and changes in the oxidant
      antioxidant balance may cause tubular damage in these patients. Targeting these
      proteins may have therapeutic benefits.

PMID- 26892648
TI  - On the Chemistry and Physical Properties of Flux and Floating Zone Grown SmB6
      Single Crystals.
AB  - Recent theoretical and experimental findings suggest the long-known but not well
      understood low temperature resistance plateau of SmB6 may originate from
      protected surface states arising from a topologically non-trivial bulk band
      structure having strong Kondo hybridization. Yet others have ascribed this
      feature to impurities, vacancies, and surface reconstructions. Given the typical
      methods used to prepare SmB6 single crystals, flux and floating-zone procedures,
      such ascriptions should not be taken lightly. We demonstrate how compositional
      variations and/or observable amounts of impurities in SmB6 crystals grown using
      both procedures affect the physical properties. From X-ray diffraction, neutron
      diffraction, and X-ray computed tomography experiments we observe that natural
      isotope containing (SmB6) and doubly isotope enriched ((154)Sm(11)B6) crystals
      prepared using aluminum flux contain co-crystallized, epitaxial aluminum.
      Further, a large, nearly stoichiometric crystal of SmB6 was successfully grown
      using the float-zone technique; upon continuing the zone melting, samarium
      vacancies were introduced. These samarium vacancies drastically alter the
      resistance and plateauing magnitude of the low temperature resistance compared to
      stoichiometric SmB6. These results highlight that impurities and compositional
      variations, even at low concentrations, must be considered when
      collecting/analyzing physical property data of SmB6. Finally, a more accurate
      samarium-154 coherent neutron scattering length, 8.9(1) fm, is reported. 

PMID- 26892649
TI  - Determination of key diffusion and partition parameters and their use in
      migration modelling of benzophenone from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into
      different foodstuffs.
AB  - The mass transport process (migration) of a model substance, benzophenone (BZP),
      from LDPE into selected foodstuffs at three temperatures was studied. A
      mathematical model based on Fick's Second Law of Diffusion was used to simulate
      the migration process and a good correlation between experimental and predicted
      values was found. The acquired results contribute to a better understanding of
      this phenomenon and the parameters so-derived were incorporated into the
      migration module of the recently launched FACET tool (Flavourings, Additives and
      Food Contact Materials Exposure Tool). The migration tests were carried out at
      different time-temperature conditions, and BZP was extracted from LDPE and
      analysed by HPLC-DAD. With all data, the parameters for migration modelling
      (diffusion and partition coefficients) were calculated. Results showed that the
      diffusion coefficients (within both the polymer and the foodstuff) are greatly
      affected by the temperature and food's physical state, whereas the partition
      coefficient was affected significantly only by food characteristics, particularly
      fat content. 

PMID- 26892650
TI  - Hereditary melanoma: Update on syndromes and management: Genetics of familial
      atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome.
AB  - Malignant melanoma is considered the most lethal skin cancer if it is not
      detected and treated during its early stages. About 10% of melanoma patients
      report a family history of melanoma; however, individuals with features of true
      hereditary melanoma (ie, unilateral lineage, multigenerational, multiple primary
      lesions, and early onset of disease) are in fact quite rare. Although many new
      loci have been implicated in hereditary melanoma, CDKN2A mutations remain the
      most common. Familial melanoma in the presence of multiple atypical nevi should
      raise suspicion for a germline CDKN2A mutation. These patients have a high risk
      of developing multiple primary melanomas and internal organ malignancies,
      especially pancreatic cancer; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is
      necessary in many cases. The value of dermoscopic examination and total body
      photography performed at regular intervals has been suggested by a number of
      studies, and should therefore be considered for these patients and their first
      degree relatives. In addition, genetic counseling with the possibility of testing
      can be a valuable adjunct for familial melanoma patients. This must be performed
      with care, however, and only by qualified individuals trained in cancer risk
      analysis. 

PMID- 26892652
TI  - Familial skin cancer syndromes: Increased melanoma risk.
AB  - Phenotypic traits, such as red hair and freckling, increase melanoma risk by 2-
      to 3-fold. In addition, approximately 10% of melanomas are caused by inherited
      germline mutations that increase melanoma risk from 4- to >1000-fold. This review
      highlights the key genes responsible for inherited melanoma, with an emphasis on
      when a patient should undergo genetic testing. Many genetic syndromes associated
      with increased melanoma risk are also associated with an increased risk of other
      cancers. Identification of these high-risk patients is essential for preventive
      behavior reinforcement, genetic counseling, and ensuring other required cancer
      screenings. 

PMID- 26892651
TI  - Hereditary melanoma: Update on syndromes and management: Emerging melanoma cancer
      complexes and genetic counseling.
AB  - Recent advances in cancer genomics have enabled the discovery of many cancer
      predisposing genes that are being used to classify new familial melanoma/cancer
      syndromes. In addition to CDKN2A and CDK4, germline variants in TERT, MITF, and
      BAP1 have been added to the list of genes harboring melanoma-predisposing
      mutations. These newer entities may have escaped earlier description in part
      because of more advanced technologies now being used and in part because of their
      mixed cancer phenotype as opposed to a melanoma-focused syndrome. Dermatologists
      should be aware of (and be able to recognize) the clinical signs in high-risk
      patients in different contexts. Personal and family histories of cancer should
      always be sought in patients with multiple nevi or a positive history for
      melanoma, and should be updated annually. Various features that are unique to
      specific disorders, such as the appearance of melanocytic BAP1-mutated atypical
      intradermal tumors in cases of BAP1 melanoma syndrome, should also be recognized
      early. These patients should be offered regular screenings with the use of
      dermoscopy and total body photography, as needed. More importantly, referral to
      other specialists may be needed if a risk for internal malignancy is suspected.
      It is important to have in mind that these patients tend to develop multiple
      melanomas, along with various internal organ malignancies, often at younger ages;
      a multidisciplinary approach to their cancer screening and treatment is ideal. 

PMID- 26892654
TI  - Why do port-wine stains (PWS) on the lateral face respond better to pulsed dye
      laser (PDL) than those located on the central face?
AB  - BACKGROUND: After pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment, facial lateral port-wine
      stains (PWS) clear quicker and more completely than central PWS do. OBJECTIVE: We
      sought to investigate whether the difference in the efficacy of the treatment
      between central and lateral facial PWS was related to different histologic
      manifestations. METHOD: Thirteen patients with PWS had biopsies and underwent PDL
      treatments in both central and lateral areas of the face. The hypothesis was
      tested by correlating the PWS response to PDL with the depth and diameter of the
      PWS vessels. The clinical efficacy was assessed by chromameter 2 months after the
      final PDL treatment, whereas diameter and depth of PWS vessels were measured in
      biopsy specimens. RESULTS: All patients were treated on central and lateral
      facial sites. The chromameter evaluation showed that the average blanching rate
      was 34.01% and 8.68% for lateral and central facial sites, respectively (P <
      .05), which suggests a better response to PDL treatment in the lateral than in
      the central area. Histologic manifestations showed that vessels in the lateral
      regions were primarily located in the papillary dermis, whereas in the central
      regions they were extensively distributed from the dermis into the subcutaneous
      tissue. LIMITATIONS: The small number of cases included in this study and the
      lack of follow-up longer than 2 months constitute limitations. CONCLUSION:
      Lateral facial PWS respond better to PDL than PWS located in the central face.
      Differences in vessel location and diameter may be responsible for the variations
      in PWS response to PDL.

PMID- 26892655
TI  - Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS): An update and approach to diagnosis and management.
AB  - Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) is a rare genetic condition that predisposes
      individuals to skin tumors and visceral malignancies. Because of the potentially
      aggressive nature of internal malignancies and sebaceous carcinoma, and the
      tendency to have multiple low-grade visceral cancers, close cancer surveillance
      is required in individuals and their families with this usually autosomal
      dominant disorder. Although the majority of MTS is caused by mutations in DNA
      mismatch repair genes resulting in microsatellite instability, a newly described
      subtype of MTS does not demonstrate microsatellite instability and may be
      inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. In addition, MTS may be unmasked in
      transplant recipients taking specific immunosuppressant drugs or other
      immunosuppressed patients. Neoplasms may be subject to immunohistochemistry or
      both immunohistochemistry and genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis of MTS.
      Here, we offer an update and an approach to the diagnosis and management of MTS
      with a particular emphasis on the role of immunohistochemistry and genetic
      testing.

PMID- 26892653
TI  - Familial skin cancer syndromes: Increased risk of nonmelanotic skin cancers and
      extracutaneous tumors.
AB  - Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) represent the most common malignancies
      worldwide, with reported incidence rising each year. Both cutaneous squamous cell
      carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), as well as other NMSCs, represent
      complex diseases with a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors. In
      general, hereditary cancer syndromes that increase the risk of NMSC fall under
      several broad categories: those associated with immunodeficiencies, those that
      affect skin pigmentation, and those that perturb key molecular pathways involved
      in the pathogenesis of NMSCs. Many of the syndromes are also associated with
      extracutaneous manifestations, including internal malignancies; therefore, most
      require a multidisciplinary management approach with a medical geneticist.
      Finally, dermatologists play a critical role in the diagnosis and management of
      these conditions, because cutaneous findings are often the presenting
      manifestations of disease. 

PMID- 26892656
TI  - Experience with topical timolol maleate for the treatment of ulcerated infantile
      hemangiomas (IH).

PMID- 26892657
TI  - Lack of TERT promoter mutations in melanomas with extensive regression.

PMID- 26892658
TI  - High specificity and sensitivity of NRAS Q61R immunohistochemistry (IHC) in
      melanomas.

PMID- 26892660
TI  - Persistence and failure rates of adalimumab monotherapy in biologic-naive
      patients with psoriasis: A retrospective study.

PMID- 26892659
TI  - Omalizumab in patients with severe and refractory solar urticaria: A phase II
      multicentric study.

PMID- 26892661
TI  - Characteristics and treatment of adult-onset linear morphea: A retrospective
      cohort study of 61 patients at 3 tertiary care centers.

PMID- 26892662
TI  - The alcoholic bus driver and the dermatology consultation: Legal, moral, and
      ethical considerations.

PMID- 26892665
TI  - Dermoscopy of poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides (MF).

PMID- 26892666
TI  - A simple and effective treatment for nasal telangiectasia: Needle-assisted
      electrocoagulation.

PMID- 26892668
TI  - Visualizing fewer parathyroid glands may be associated with lower
      hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It remains uncertain whether the number of parathyroid glands (PGs)
      seen during extra-capsular dissection impacts short- and long-term
      hypoparathyroidism. Our study aimed to address this by analyzing patients who
      underwent total thyroidectomy for benign disease. METHODS: Consecutive patients
      undergoing total thyroidectomy were analyzed. The extra-capsular dissection
      technique was performed throughout the study period. The number of PGs
      identified, auto-transplanted and found on excised specimen was recorded
      prospectively. The number of PGs in situ was equaled to four minus the number of
      PGs auto-transplanted and PGs found on specimen. Temporary hypoparathyroidism was
      defined as serum adjusted calcium <2.00 mol/L 24 h after surgery and/or need for
      oral supplements while protracted hypoparathyroidism meant subnormal PTH (<1.2
      pmol/L) at 4-6 weeks and/or need for >6-week oral supplements. Permanent
      hypoparathyroidism was defined as need for oral supplements for >=1 year.
      RESULTS: Five-hundred and sixty-nine patients were eligible for analysis. After
      adjusting for other significant parameters, greater number of PGs identified was
      an independent risk factor for temporary (p < 0.001) and protracted
      hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.007). Mean recovery time from protracted
      hypoparathyroidism for identifying <=three PGs was significantly shorter than
      identifying all four PGs (2.8 vs. 7.8 months, p < 0.001). Chance of having all
      four PGs in situ decreased with greater number of PGs identified (p < 0.001).
      CONCLUSIONS: When the extra-capsular technique was adopted during total
      thyroidectomy, identifying fewer PGs in their orthotopic positions not only
      lowered risk of temporary and protracted hypoparathyroidism but also shortened
      recovery from protracted hypoparathyroidism.

PMID- 26892667
TI  - Mode equivalence and acceptability of tablet computer-, interactive voice
      response system-, and paper-based administration of the U.S. National Cancer
      Institute's Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria
      for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE).
AB  - BACKGROUND: PRO-CTCAE is a library of items that measure cancer treatment-related
      symptomatic adverse events (NCI Contracts: HHSN261201000043C and HHSN
      261201000063C). The objective of this study is to examine the equivalence and
      acceptability of the three data collection modes (Web-enabled touchscreen tablet
      computer, Interactive voice response system [IVRS], and paper) available within
      the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the
      Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) measurement system.
      METHODS: Participants (n = 112; median age 56.5; 24 % high school or less)
      receiving treatment for cancer at seven US sites completed 28 PRO-CTCAE items
      (scoring range 0-4) by three modes (order randomized) at a single study visit.
      Subjects completed one page (approx. 15 items) of the EORTC QLQ-C30 between each
      mode as a distractor. Item scores by mode were compared using intraclass
      correlation coefficients (ICC); differences in scores within the 3-mode crossover
      design were evaluated with mixed-effects models. Difficulties with each mode
      experienced by participants were also assessed. RESULTS: 103 (92 %) completed
      questionnaires by all three modes. The median ICC comparing tablet vs IVRS was
      0.78 (range 0.55-0.90); tablet vs paper: 0.81 (0.62-0.96); IVRS vs paper: 0.78
      (0.60-0.91); 89 % of ICCs were >=0.70. Item-level mean differences by mode were
      small (medians [ranges] for tablet vs. IVRS = -0.04 [-0.16-0.22]; tablet vs paper
      = -0.02 [-0.11-0.14]; IVRS vs paper = 0.02 [-0.07-0.19]), and 57/81 (70 %) items
      had bootstrapped 95 % CI around the effect sizes within +/-0.20. The median time
      to complete the questionnaire by tablet was 3.4 min; IVRS: 5.8; paper: 4.0. The
      proportion of participants by mode who reported "no problems" responding to the
      questionnaire was 86 % tablet, 72 % IVRS, and 98 % paper. CONCLUSIONS: Mode
      equivalence of items was moderate to high, and comparable to test-retest
      reliability (median ICC = 0.80). Each mode was acceptable to a majority of
      respondents. Although the study was powered to detect moderate or larger
      discrepancies between modes, the observed ICCs and very small mean differences
      between modes provide evidence to support study designs that are responsive to
      patient or investigator preference for mode of administration, and justify
      comparison of results and pooled analyses across studies that employ different
      PRO-CTCAE modes of administration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT Clinicaltrials.gov
      identifier: NCT02158637.

PMID- 26892669
TI  - Measurement of pulse wave velocity in normal ageing: comparison of Vicorder and
      magnetic resonance phase contrast imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pulse wave velocity is an important measure of cardiovascular risk,
      and can be measured by several different techniques. We compared age-related
      changes in pulse wave velocity derived from carotid and femoral artery waveforms
      using the Vicorder device and descending thoracic aorta time velocity curves
      using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a group of normal
      healthy volunteers, without cardiovascular disease, aged between 20 and 79 years.
      METHODS: Eighty subjects underwent same-day measurements of Vicorder and MRI
      pulse wave velocity measurements. RESULTS: Both Vicorder and MRI-based pulse wave
      velocity measurements were significantly increased with age (R = 0.59 and 0.57
      respectively, both P < 0.0001). Vicorder and MRI pulse wave velocities were also
      significantly related to each other (R = 0.27, P < 0.05), and Bland Altman plots
      showed that on average Vicorder measurements were 1.6 m/s greater than MRI. In 5%
      of cases, agreement between the values of the two techniques were above and below
      2 standard deviations, and these were at higher levels of pulse wave velocities.
      Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis confirmed highly significant
      relationships of both techniques to age (both P < 0.0001), and MRI was also
      significantly related to heart rate (P = 0.006) but Vicorder was not.
      CONCLUSIONS: Both Vicorder and MRI perform similarly in detecting age-related
      changes in pulse wave velocity. Thus, the choice of using one or the other will
      depend on other aspects of the investigation, such as the need for portability
      favouring Vicorder, or need for additional cardiovascular imaging favouring MRI.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.Gov identifier NCT01504828.

PMID- 26892670
TI  - A versatile strategy for rapid conditional genome engineering using loxP sites in
      a small synthetic intron in Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - Conditional genome engineering in the human malaria pathogen Plasmodium
      falciparum remains highly challenging. Here we describe a strategy for facile and
      rapid functional analysis of genes using an approach based on the Cre/lox system
      and tailored for organisms with short and few introns. Our method allows the
      conditional, site-specific removal of genomic sequences of essential and non
      essential genes by placing loxP sites into a short synthetic intron to produce a
      module (loxPint) can be placed anywhere in open reading frames without
      compromising protein expression. When duplicated, the loxPint module serves as an
      intragenic recombineering point that can be used for the fusion of gene elements
      to reporters or the conditional introduction of point mutations. We demonstrate
      the robustness and versatility of the system by targeting the P. falciparum
      merozoite surface protein 1 gene (msp1), which has previously proven refractory
      to genetic interrogation, and the parasite exported kinase FIKK10.1.

PMID- 26892672
TI  - Highly efficient plasmonic tip design for plasmon nanofocusing in near-field
      optical microscopy.
AB  - Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) combined with plasmon nanofocusing
      is a powerful nano-analytical tool due to its attractive feature of efficient
      background suppression as well as light energy compression to the nanoscale. In
      plasmon nanofocusing-based NSOM, the metallic tip plays an important role in
      inducing plasmon nanofocusing. It is, however, very challenging to control
      plasmonic properties of tips for plasmon nanofocusing with existing tip
      fabrication methods, even though the plasmonic properties need to be adjusted to
      experimental environments such as the sample or excitation wavelength. In this
      study, we propose an efficient tip design and fabrication which enable one to
      actively control plasmonic properties for efficient plasmon nanofocusing. Because
      our method offers flexibility in the material and structure of tips, one can
      easily modify the plasmonic properties depending on the requirements.
      Importantly, through optimization of the plasmonic properties, we achieve almost
      100% reproducibility in plasmon nanofocusing in our experiments. This new
      approach of tip fabrication makes plasmon nanofocusing-based NSOM practical and
      reliable, and opens doors for many scientists working in related fields. 

PMID- 26892673
TI  - Reconstructive Rhinoplasty Using Multiplanar Carved Costal Cartilage.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Reconstructive rhinoplasty often requires the use of cartilage
      grafts. Full-thickness autologous costal cartilage grafts provide a large amount
      of cartilage in a single uncarved block and are often used for major
      reconstructions. Warping is frequently described as a complication of rib
      cartilage use in rhinoplasty. OBJECTIVE: To describe an approach to cartilage
      carving whereby a single block of cartilage is carved in a multiplanar manner to
      mimic or redefine the anatomic relationships and resist warping. DESIGN, SETTING,
      AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of reconstructive rhinoplasty cases
      using multiplanar costal cartilage grafting technique was performed. A
      consecutive sample of 11 patients with complex nasal deformity underwent
      reconstruction with an autologous costal cartilage block carved in 3 dimensions
      to address complex deformities at the University of New Mexico Hospital between
      January 2010 and December 2014. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 36 months.
      INTERVENTIONS: Autologous rib cartilage harvest was performed to obtain a full
      thickness segment of rib cartilage. The deficient or malformed nasal cartilage is
      defined and soft tissue prepared using an open rhinoplasty approach. Rib
      cartilage graft curvature is removed to create a uniform, symmetric, solid block
      of cartilage. A cartilage graft is carved in a multiplanar fashion to simulate
      normal nasal anatomy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Postoperative evaluation of
      nasal airway function, cartilage graft warping, and aesthetic outcomes were
      reported in the follow-up period. Nasal Obstructive Symptom Evaluation (NOSE)
      scores are documented in the majority of cases and were obtained at least 3
      months postoperatively. RESULTS: Overall, 11 patients with complex nasal
      deformity underwent reconstruction with an autologous costal cartilage block
      carved in 3 dimensions. The most common use was for reconstruction of the septum
      with the upper lateral cartilage. There were no major complications. No patients
      experienced graft warping in the follow-up period. Several patients required
      minor revision procedures. All patients reported improved nasal airway and
      improved aesthetic appearance of the nose. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Multiplanar
      costal cartilage grafting is a useful surgical technique for complex
      reconstructive rhinoplasty that yields optimal and predictable results. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID- 26892671
TI  - The brain renin-angiotensin system plays a crucial role in regulating body weight
      in diet-induced obesity in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reduced weight gain after treatment with AT1 receptor
      antagonists may involve a brain-related mechanism. Here, we investigated the role
      of the brain renin-angiotensin system on weight regulation and food behaviour,
      with or without additional treatment with telmisartan. METHODS: Transgenic rats
      with a brain-specific deficiency in angiotensinogen (TGR(ASrAOGEN)) and the
      corresponding wild-type, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed (3 months) with a high
      calorie cafeteria diet (CD) or standard chow. SD and TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats on the CD
      diet were also treated with telmisartan (8 mg.kg(-1) .d(-1) , 3 months). RESULTS:
      Compared with SD rats, TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats (i) had lower weights during chow
      feeding, (ii) did not become obese during CD feeding, (iii) had normal baseline
      leptin plasma concentrations independent of the feeding regimen, whereas plasma
      leptin of SD rats was increased due to CD, (iv) showed a reduced energy intake,
      (v) had a higher, strain-dependent energy expenditure, which is additionally
      enhanced during CD feeding, (vi) had enhanced mRNA levels of pro-opiomelanocortin
      and (vii) showed improved glucose control. Weight gain and energy intake in rats
      fed the CD diet were markedly reduced by telmisartan in SD rats but only to a
      minor extent in TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats. CONCLUSIONS: The brain renin-angiotensin
      system affects body weight regulation, feeding behaviour and metabolic disorders.
      When angiotensin II levels are low in brain, rats are protected from developing
      diet-induced obesity and obesity-related metabolic impairments. We further
      suggest that telmisartan at least partly lowers body weight via a CNS-driven
      mechanism.

PMID- 26892674
TI  - Damage-tolerance strategies for nacre tablets.
AB  - Nacre, a natural armor, exhibits prominent penetration resistance against
      predatory attacks. Unraveling its hierarchical toughening mechanisms and damage
      tolerance design strategies may provide significant inspiration for the pursuit
      of high-performance artificial armors. In this work, relationships between the
      structure and mechanical performance of nacre were investigated. The results show
      that other than their brick-and-mortar structure, individual nacre tablets
      significantly contribute to the damage localization of nacre. Affected by
      intracrystalline organics, the tablets exhibit a unique fracture behavior. The
      synergistic action of the nanoscale deformation mechanisms increases the energy
      dissipation efficiency of the tablets and contributes to the preservation of the
      structural and functional integrity of the shell. 

PMID- 26892675
TI  - Decompressive craniectomy 116 h after malignant middle cerebral artery
      infarction.
AB  - The optimal timing of decompressive craniectomy in pediatric patients after
      presentation with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction is unknown. We
      report herein the case of a previously healthy 6-year-old Japanese girl who had
      good outcome after emergency decompressive craniectomy 116 h after malignant
      middle cerebral artery infarction. This case suggests that the timing of
      decompressive craniectomy can be delayed until deterioration of neurological
      findings and, compared with adults, a more prolonged time course for surgical
      intervention might be acceptable. 

PMID- 26892676
TI  - Surface Molecularly Imprinted Polymer of Chitosan Grafted Poly(methyl
      methacrylate) for 5-Fluorouracil and Controlled Release.
AB  - The molecular surface imprinted graft copolymer of chitosan with methyl
      methacrylate (MIP-CS-g-PMMA) were prepared by free radical polymerization with 5
      fluorouracil (5-FU) as the template molecule using initiator of ammonium
      persulfate as adsorption system. MIPs were characterized by FTIR, X-ray
      diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis, (1)H NMR and SEM. The mechanism of
      graft copolymerization and factors affected graft reaction were studied in
      details, and the optimum reaction conditions (to the highest %G and %E as the
      standard) were obtained at [MMA] 1.2 mol/L, [Chitosan] 16.67 mol/L, [initiator]
      0.0062 mol/L, temperature 60  degrees C and reaction time 7 h. MIPs exhibited
      high recognition selectivity and excellent combining affinity to template
      molecular. The in vitro release of the 5-FU was highly pH-dependent and time
      delayed. The release behavior showed that the drugs did not release in simulated
      gastric fluid (pH = 1.0), and the drug release was small in the simulated small
      intestinal fluid (pH = 6.8), and drug abrupt release will be produced in the
      simulated colon fluid (pH = 7.4), indicating excellent colon-specific drug
      delivery behavior.

PMID- 26892678
TI  - A case of recurrent hyperreactio luteinalis in three spontaneous pregnancies.
AB  - Hyperreactio luteinalis is a rare condition in pregnancy characterized by
      enlarged ovaries with multiple theca luteal cysts, and recurrence of disease has
      seldom been documented in the literature. This is a case report of a woman who
      developed recurrent hyperreactio luteinalis with three spontaneous pregnancies.
      Endocrine evaluation was performed and revealed hyperandrogenism. Ultrasonography
      was used to assess the ovaries throughout each pregnancy. The ovarian cysts
      required drainage in the first pregnancy due to severe distention and shortness
      of breath. Cyst resolution occurred in the post-partum period following each
      pregnancy. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:502-505, 2016. 

PMID- 26892679
TI  - ASHP Guidelines on Pharmacist Involvement in HIV Care.

PMID- 26892677
TI  - Factors predicting health services use among older people in China: An analysis
      of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2013.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rapid population ageing in China is increasing the numbers of older
      people who are likely to require health services in response to higher levels of
      poor perceived health and chronic diseases. Understanding factors influencing
      health services use at late life will help to plan for increasing needs for
      health care, reducing inequalities in health services use and releasing severe
      pressures on a highly variable health care system that has constrained public
      resources and increasing reliance on health insurance and user payments. METHODS:
      Drawing on the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal
      Study 2013 data, we apply the Andersen healthcare utilization conceptual model to
      binary logistic regression multivariate analyses to examine the joint predictors
      of physical examinations, outpatient and inpatient care among the middle-aged and
      elderly in China. RESULTS: The multivariate analyses find that both physical
      examinations and inpatient care rates increase significantly by age when health
      deteriorates. Females are less likely to use inpatient care. Significant socio
      economic variations exist in healthcare utilization. Older people with higher
      education, communist party membership, urban residence, non-agricultural
      household registration, better financial situation are more likely to have
      physical examinations or inpatient care. Factors influencing all three types of
      health care utilization are household expenditure, losing a partner, having
      multiple chronic diseases or perceiving poor health. With activities of daily
      living limitations or pain increases the probability of seeing a doctor while
      with functional loss increases the rates of having physical examinations, but
      being the ethnic minorities, no social health insurance, with depression, fair or
      poor memory could be a barrier to having physical examinations or seeing a
      doctor, which might delay the early diagnose of severe health problems among
      these groups. Not drinking, not smoking and regular physical exercises are
      adaptations after having health problems. CONCLUSIONS: As a rapidly ageing
      society, in order to address the increasing needs and inequalities in health care
      utilization, China is facing a massive challenge to reform the current health
      care system, improve equitable access to health insurance and financial
      affordability for the most disadvantaged, as well as to provide more health
      education and information to the general public.

PMID- 26892681
TI  - Spin-orbit coupling enhanced superconductivity in Bi-rich compounds ABi3 (A = Sr
      and Ba).
AB  - Recently, Bi-based compounds have attracted attentions because of the strong spin
      orbit coupling (SOC). In this work, we figured out the role of SOC in ABi3 (A =
      Sr and Ba) by theoretical investigation of the band structures, phonon
      properties, and electron-phonon coupling. Without SOC, strong Fermi surface
      nesting leads to phonon instabilities in ABi3. SOC suppresses the nesting and
      stabilizes the structure. Moreover, without SOC the calculation largely
      underestimates the superconducting transition temperatures (Tc), while with SOC
      the calculated Tc are very close to those determined by measurements on single
      crystal samples. The SOC enhanced superconductivity in ABi3 is due to not only
      the SOC induced phonon softening, but also the SOC related increase of electron
      phonon coupling matrix elements. ABi3 can be potential platforms to construct
      heterostructure of superconductor/topological insulator to realize topological
      superconductivity.

PMID- 26892680
TI  - Hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha induces expression of type X collagen and matrix
      metalloproteinases 13 in osteoarthritic meniscal cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether Hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha)
      regulates expression of endochondral ossification-related molecules in human OA
      meniscus. METHODS: Expressions of HIF-2alpha, type X collagen (COL10), matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non
      OA and OA menisci were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry
      (IHC). Meniscal cells from OA patients were treated with interleukin-1beta (IL
      1beta) and gene expression was analyzed. After knockdown of HIF-2alpha in OA
      meniscal cells, COL10 and MMP-13 expression were analyzed by RT-PCR, western
      blotting, immunofluorescence and ELISA. RESULT: Histological analysis
      demonstrated weak staining of the superficial layer and large round cells in OA
      meniscus. RT-PCR analysis showed that HIF-2alpha, COL10, MMP-13, and VEGF mRNA
      expressions were higher in OA than non-OA meniscal cells. IHC showed a
      coordinated staining pattern of HIF-2alpha, COL10, and MMP-13 in OA meniscus. IL
      1beta treatment increased HIF-2alpha, COL10, and MMP-13 expressions in OA
      meniscal cells, and knockdown of HIF-2alpha suppressed IL-1beta-mediated increase
      in COL10 and MMP-13 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that HIF
      2alpha may cause meniscal matrix degradation by transactivation of MMP-13. HIF
      2alpha may be a therapeutic target for modulating matrix degradation in both
      articular cartilage and meniscus during knee OA progression.

PMID- 26892683
TI  - Expression of DNA methyltransferases 1 and 3B correlates with EZH2 and this 3
      marker epigenetic signature predicts outcome in glioblastomas.
AB  - This study aims to analyze expression of EZH2 and DNA-methyltransferases (DNMT1,
      3A and 3B) in astrocytic tumors and investigate their link as well as their
      correlation with survival, especially in GBMs. Expression of EZH2 and DNMTs
      (DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B) in different grades of astrocytomas (n=93) was
      assessed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. GBM-U87MG cell line was used for
      functional studies. Strong immunopositivity (LI>=25%) for EZH2, DNMT1 and DNMT3B
      was detected in 52%, 56% and 64% cases of GBMs respectively, which was
      significantly higher as compared to Grade II/III cases. Similarly, their median
      fold change of mRNA expression was also significantly higher in GBMs. There was
      also a significant positive correlation between DNMT1/DNMT3B and EZH2 mRNA and
      protein expression, which was in concordance with TCGA data set. Inhibition of
      DNMTs in cell line by Azacytidine resulted in down-regulation of EZH2, while
      knock-down of EZH2 by siRNA was not associated with any significant alteration of
      DNMTs, indicating that EZH2 expression in GBMs is possibly regulated by DNMTs,
      but not the reverse. Strong immunopositivity for EZH2, DNMT1 and DNMT3B were
      individually associated with significantly shorter survival and showed no
      correlation with IDH1 mutation status. In addition, the combination of these 3
      markers represented an independent prognostic signature with cases having
      weak/negative expression of all 3 markers being associated with best prognosis.
      For the first time, the present study describes an epigenetic prognostic
      signature in GBMs based on immunohistochemical expression of EZH2, DNMT1 and 3B
      which can be used easily in routine neuropathology practice.

PMID- 26892684
TI  - Genome-wide data reveal cryptic diversity and genetic introgression in an
      Oriental cynopterine fruit bat radiation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Oriental fruit bat genus Cynopterus, with several geographically
      overlapping species, presents an interesting case study to evaluate the
      evolutionary significance of coexistence versus isolation. We examined the
      morphological and genetic variability of congeneric fruit bats Cynopterus sphinx
      and C. brachyotis using 405 samples from two natural contact zones and 17
      allopatric locations in the Indian subcontinent; and investigated the population
      differentiation patterns, evolutionary history, and the possibility of cryptic
      diversity in this species pair. RESULTS: Analysis of microsatellites, cytochrome
      b gene sequences, and restriction digestion based genome-wide data revealed that
      C. sphinx and C. brachyotis do not hybridize in contact zones. However,
      cytochrome b gene sequences and genome-wide SNP data helped uncover a cryptic,
      hitherto unrecognized cynopterine lineage in northeastern India coexisting with
      C. sphinx. Further analyses of shared variation of SNPs using Patterson's D
      statistics suggest introgression between this lineage and C. sphinx. Multivariate
      analyses of morphology using genetically classified grouping confirmed
      substantial morphological overlap between C. sphinx and C. brachyotis,
      specifically in the high elevation contact zones in southern India. CONCLUSION:
      Our results uncover novel diversity and detect a pattern of genetic introgression
      in a cryptic radiation of bats, demonstrating the complicated nature of lineage
      diversification in this poorly understood taxonomic group. Our results highlight
      the importance of genome-wide data to study evolutionary processes of
      morphologically similar species pairs. Our approach represents a significant step
      forward in evolutionary research on young radiations of non-model species that
      may retain the ability of interspecific gene flow.

PMID- 26892685
TI  - Aromatic Monochlorination Photosensitized by DDQ with Hydrogen Chloride under
      Visible-Light Irradiation.
AB  - Photochlorination of aromatic substrates by hydrogen chloride with 2,3-dichloro
      5,6-cyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) occurs efficiently to produce the corresponding
      monochlorinated products selectively under visible-light irradiation. The yields
      for the chlorination of phenol were 70 % and 18 % for p- and o-chlorophenol,
      respectively, without formation of further chlorinated products. The photoinduced
      chlorination is initiated by electron transfer from Cl(-) to the triplet excited
      state of DDQ. The radical intermediates involved in the photochemical reaction
      have been detected by time-resolved transient absorption measurements. 

PMID- 26892686
TI  - What factors affect patient access and engagement with clubfoot treatment in low-
      and middle-income countries? Meta-synthesis of existing qualitative studies using
      a social ecological model.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic synthesis of previous research to identify
      factors that affect treatment-seeking for clubfoot and community-level
      interventions to improve engagement in low- and middle-income counties. METHODS:
      A search of five databases was conducted, and articles screened using six
      criteria. Quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme
      checklist. Eleven studies were identified for inclusion. Analysis was informed by
      a social ecological model, which specifies five inter-related factors that may
      affect treatment-seeking: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community
      or socio-cultural factors and public policy. RESULTS: Intrapersonal barriers
      experienced were a lack of income and additional responsibilities. At the
      interpersonal level, support from fathers, the extended family and wider
      community affected on treatment-seeking. Institutional or organisational factors
      included long distances to treatment centres, insufficient information about
      treatments and challenges following treatment. Guardians' beliefs about the
      causes of clubfoot shaped behaviour. At the level of public policy, two-tiered
      healthcare systems made it difficult for some groups to access timely care.
      Interventions to address these challenges included counselling sessions, outreach
      clinics, brace recycling and a range of education programmes. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study identifies factors that affect access and engagement with clubfoot
      treatment across diverse settings and strategies to address them.

PMID- 26892687
TI  - Embracing Ritual Healing: The Case of Sazuke in Tenrikyo in Contemporary Taiwan.
AB  - This paper will explore how the practice of ritual healing (sazuke) has played a
      prominent part in the propagation of a Japanese new religious movement (Tenrikyo)
      in Taiwan. The author firstly unravels the mystery of Tenrikyo's healing ritual
      (sazuke) and its role in enabling Taiwanese followers' potential to re-establish
      their relationship with the world. The author points out that sazuke is similar
      to Taiwanese folk therapy and fits into Taiwan's multi-medical systems. The
      author also examines the features of Tenrikyo's healing practice in Taiwan and
      discusses the evolution of sazuke from a non-institutionalised practice to a
      bureaucratised one. The author then advances to a more widely theoretical
      consideration by discussing how sazuke became a force that enabled Taiwanese
      people to respond to the changing world and how it facilitated peoples'
      transformation when they were confronted by daily troubles and difficulties.

PMID- 26892682
TI  - An 8-gene mRNA expression profile in circulating tumor cells predicts response to
      aromatase inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is
      promising for personalized medicine. We aimed to identify a CTC gene expression
      profile predicting outcome to first-line aromatase inhibitors in metastatic
      breast cancer (MBC) patients. METHODS: CTCs were isolated from 78 MBC patients
      before treatment start. mRNA expression levels of 96 genes were measured by
      quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. After applying
      predefined exclusion criteria based on lack of sufficient RNA quality and/or
      quantity, the data from 45 patients were used to construct a gene expression
      profile to predict poor responding patients, defined as disease progression or
      death <9 months, by a leave-one-out cross validation. RESULTS: Of the 45
      patients, 19 were clinically classified as poor responders. To identify them, the
      75% most variable genes were used to select genes differentially expressed
      between good and poor responders. An 8-gene CTC predictor was significantly
      associated with outcome (Hazard Ratio [HR] 4.40, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:
      2.17-8.92, P < 0.001). This predictor identified poor responding patients with a
      sensitivity of 63% and a positive predictive value of 75%, while good responding
      patients were correctly predicted in 85% of the cases. In multivariate Cox
      regression analysis, including CTC count at baseline, the 8-gene CTC predictor
      was the only factor independently associated with outcome (HR 4.59 [95% CI: 2.11
      9.56], P < 0.001). This 8-gene signature was not associated with outcome in a
      group of 71 MBC patients treated with systemic treatments other than AI.
      CONCLUSIONS: An 8-gene CTC predictor was identified which discriminates good and
      poor outcome to first-line aromatase inhibitors in MBC patients. Although results
      need to be validated, this study underscores the potential of molecular
      characterization of CTCs.

PMID- 26892689
TI  - Dynamical Network of HIV-1 Protease Mutants Reveals the Mechanism of Drug
      Resistance and Unhindered Activity.
AB  - HIV-1 protease variants resist drugs by active and non-active-site mutations. The
      active-site mutations, which are the primary or first set of mutations, hamper
      the stability of the enzyme and resist the drugs minimally. As a result,
      secondary mutations that not only increase protein stability for unhindered
      catalytic activity but also resist drugs very effectively arise. While the
      mechanism of drug resistance of the active-site mutations is through modulating
      the active-site pocket volume, the mechanism of drug resistance of the non-active
      site mutations is unclear. Moreover, how these allosteric mutations, which are 8
      21 A distant, communicate to the active site for drug efflux is completely
      unexplored. Results from molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the primary
      mechanism of drug resistance of the secondary mutations involves opening of the
      flexible protease flaps. Results from both residue- and community-based network
      analyses reveal that this precise action of protease is accomplished by the
      presence of robust communication paths between the mutational sites and the
      functionally relevant regions: active site and flaps. While the communication is
      more direct in the wild type, it traverses across multiple intermediate residues
      in mutants, leading to weak signaling and unregulated motions of flaps. The
      global integrity of the protease network is, however, maintained through the
      neighboring residues, which exhibit high degrees of conservation, consistent with
      clinical data and mutagenesis studies. 

PMID- 26892690
TI  - Interim analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic
      radiofrequency volumetric thermal ablation of uterine fibroids with laparoscopic
      myomectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare 24-month patient-reported outcomes following laparoscopic
      radiofrequency volumetric thermal ablation (RFVTA) and laparoscopic myomectomy in
      patients with uterine fibroids. METHOD: An interim analysis of 24-month follow-up
      data from a randomized controlled trial was performed at Tubingen University
      Women's Hospital between November 1, 2012 and May 30, 2015. Premenopausal
      patients, at least 18years of age, who were menstruating, were randomly assigned
      to be treated for symptomatic uterine fibroids with either RFVTA or laparoscopic
      myomectomy. The outcomes included in the present per-protocol analysis were
      patients' responses to validated questionnaires and long-term safety. RESULTS:
      The study enrolled 51 patients; 21 and 22 patients in the RFVTA and laparoscopic
      myomectomy groups, respectively, completed 24months of follow-up. Improvements in
      the severity of symptoms from baseline were reported by participants in both the
      RFVTA (P<0.001) and laparoscopic myomectomy groups (P=0.001). A significant
      improvement in health-related quality of life was observed in the laparoscopic
      myomectomy group (P=0.040); a non-significant improvement was recorded in the
      RFVTA group (P=0.083). A trocar-site hematoma occurred in one patient in the
      laparoscopic myomectomy group. Further surgical interventions were recorded in
      three patients in the RFVTA group but these were unrelated to fibroid symptoms.
      CONCLUSIONS: These 24-month data suggest equivalence in safety and patient
      reported efficacy of RFVTA and laparoscopic myomectomy.
      ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01750008.

PMID- 26892691
TI  - Vaginohysteroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of vaginal lesions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The vaginoscopic approach for hysteroscopy allows detailed endoscopic
      evaluation of the vaginal walls, fornices, and exocervix. OBJECTIVES: To review
      the feasibility and efficacy of vaginohysteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment
      of vaginal lesions. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic review was performed of
      PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Database to identify
      papers published in English. The search terms were "hysteroscopy," "vaginoscopy,"
      "vagino-hysteroscopy," and "vaginal lesion." The last review was performed on
      January 31, 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies in which the diagnosis and
      treatment of vaginal lesions used the vaginoscopic approach and hysteroscopic
      instrumentation were reviewed. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted
      from the identified studies and then analyzed. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen studies
      were reviewed. Eleven described one case; one reported observations from two
      patients, and one study reported a case series. All vaginohysteroscopies reported
      were performed successfully and without significant complications. CONCLUSIONS:
      Vaginohysteroscopy is an easy way to gain access to the cervical canal and an
      important tool with which to diagnose and treat vaginal lesions.

PMID- 26892692
TI  - Three-arm age-matched retrospective cohort study of obstetric outcomes of donor
      oocyte pregnancies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare obstetric complications between women who
      conceived after oocyte donation and age-matched control women who conceived
      spontaneously or by autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: In a
      retrospective cohort study, data were assessed from all women who conceived after
      oocyte donation and delivered a live neonate after 24weeks of pregnancy between
      January 2007 and December 2014 at a UK hospital. Two age-matched control groups
      one containing women who conceived after autologous IVF and the other containing
      women who conceived spontaneously-were used for comparison. The primary study
      outcome was hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension
      and pre-eclampsia). Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression.
      RESULTS: Each group included 45 women. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy
      affected 15 (33%) women in the study group, 3 (7%) women who conceived after
      autologous IVF, and 3 (7%) who conceived spontaneously. The risk of hypertensive
      disorders in pregnancy was significantly higher in the donor oocyte group (odds
      ratio 5.85, 95% confidence interval 1.42-23.9; P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Women who
      conceived after oocyte donation had an increased risk of hypertensive disorders.
      Oocyte donation should be managed as an independent risk factor, and couples
      should be counselled appropriately.

PMID- 26892688
TI  - Role of ribosomal protein mutations in tumor development (Review).
AB  - Ribosomes are cellular machines essential for protein synthesis. The biogenesis
      of ribosomes is a highly complex and energy consuming process that initiates in
      the nucleolus. Recently, a series of studies applying whole-exome or whole-genome
      sequencing techniques have led to the discovery of ribosomal protein gene
      mutations in different cancer types. Mutations in ribosomal protein genes have
      for example been found in endometrial cancer (RPL22), T-cell acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia (RPL10, RPL5 and RPL11), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (RPS15),
      colorectal cancer (RPS20), and glioma (RPL5). Moreover, patients suffering from
      Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a bone marrow failure syndrome caused by mutant
      ribosomal proteins are also at higher risk for developing leukemia, or solid
      tumors. Different experimental models indicate potential mechanisms whereby
      ribosomal proteins may initiate cancer development. In particular, deregulation
      of the p53 tumor suppressor network and altered mRNA translation are mechanisms
      likely to be involved. We envisage that changes in expression and the occurrence
      of ribosomal protein gene mutations play important roles in cancer development.
      Ribosome biology constitutes a re-emerging vital area of basic and translational
      cancer research. 

PMID- 26892693
TI  - A meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of pica during pregnancy and the
      postpartum period.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although pica has long been associated with pregnancy, the exact
      prevalence in this population remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the
      prevalence of pica during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and to explain
      variations in prevalence estimates by examining potential moderating variables.
      SEARCH STRATEGY: PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched
      from inception to February 2014 using the keywords pica, prevalence, and
      epidemiology. SELECTION CRITERIA: Articles estimating pica prevalence during
      pregnancy and/or the postpartum period using a self-report questionnaire or
      interview were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Study characteristics,
      pica prevalence, and eight potential moderating variables were recorded (parity,
      anemia, duration of pregnancy, mean maternal age, education, sampling method
      employed, region, and publication date). Random-effects models were employed.
      MAIN RESULTS: In total, 70 studies were included, producing an aggregate
      prevalence estimate of 27.8% (95% confidence interval 22.8-33.3). In light of
      substantial heterogeneity within the study model, the primary focus was
      identifying moderator variables. Pica prevalence was higher in Africa compared
      with elsewhere in the world, increased as the prevalence of anemia increased, and
      decreased as educational attainment increased. CONCLUSIONS: Geographical region,
      anemia, and education were found to moderate pica prevalence, partially
      explaining the heterogeneity in prevalence estimates across the literature.

PMID- 26892695
TI  - Randomized controlled trial comparing 200MUg and 400MUg sublingual misoprostol
      for prevention of primary postpartum hemorrhage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and adverse effects of 200MUg and 400MUg
      misoprostol for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). METHODS: In a
      randomized control trial, women with term singleton pregnancies in active labor
      attending University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, were enrolled between
      July 2011 and February 2012. Participants were randomly assigned using random
      numbers (block size four) to receive 200MUg or 400MUg sublingual misoprostol
      after delivery of the anterior shoulder, alongside intravenous oxytocin.
      Investigators were masked to group assignment, but participants were not. The
      primary outcomes were blood loss up to 1h after delivery, PPH (blood loss
      >=500mL), and adverse effects. RESULTS: Overall, 62 patients were assigned to
      each group. No significant differences between the 200-MUg and 400-MUg groups
      were recorded in mean peripartum blood loss (307+/-145mL vs 296+/-151mL; P=0.679)
      and PPH occurrence (5 [8.1%] vs 6 [9.7%] women; P=0.752). Noticeable adverse
      effects were reported by 16 (25.8%) women in the 200-MUg group and 42 (67.7%) in
      the 400-MUg group (P<0.001). Risk of shivering was significantly lower with
      200MUg than 400MUg (relative risk 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.58).
      CONCLUSION: Blood loss and PPH occurrence did not differ by misoprostol dose, but
      a 200-MUg dose was associated with a reduction in adverse effects. Pan Africa
      Clinical Trials Registry: PACTR201505001107182.

PMID- 26892694
TI  - A randomized controlled trial of abdominal binders for the management of
      postoperative pain and distress after cesarean delivery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether abdominal binders effectively control pain and
      distress after cesarean delivery. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled
      trial was conducted between April and November, 2014, among women undergoing
      cesarean delivery (low-transverse skin incision) at two US hospitals.
      Participants were randomly allocated to either the abdominal binder or control
      groups on entry to the operating suite. Masking was not possible. Patients in the
      abdominal binder group were fitted with a device before leaving the operating
      room and were encouraged to wear it constantly, although breaks were allowed. The
      primary outcomes were postoperative distress (measured by the Symptom Distress
      Scale [SDS]) and pain (measured by a visual analog scale [VAS]). Individuals who
      asked to be removed from the study within 6hours of surgery were excluded from
      analyses. RESULTS: Analyses included 87 patients in the abdominal binder group
      and 68 in the control group. The abdominal binder and control groups did not
      differ in postoperative day 1 VAS (3.1+/-2.1 vs 3.4+/-2.3; P=0.33), postoperative
      day 2 VAS (3.0+/-1.9 vs 3.8+/-2.2; P=0.16), postoperative day 1 SDS (21.5+/-5.4
      vs 21.8+/-5.1; P=0.87), and postoperative day 2 SDS (19.4+/-4.8 vs 19.9+/-5.0;
      P=0.53). CONCLUSION: Postoperative pain and distress scores after cesarean
      delivery were not affected by abdominal binders. ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT02129894.

PMID- 26892696
TI  - Reproductive potential of mature oocytes after conventional ovarian
      hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare cumulative live birth rate according to the rate of use of
      metaphase II (MII) oocytes in conventional ovarian stimulation protocols for in
      vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. METHODS: In a
      cohort study, patients aged 18-38 years undergoing their first IVF treatment at
      one US center were enrolled between February 1, 2009, and August 31, 2013.
      Ovarian response was categorized by the yield of MII oocytes (low: 1-2;
      intermediate: 3-6; high: >=7). The main outcome measure was cumulative live birth
      rate over a 6-month period. RESULTS: Among 250 participants, 3240 oocytes (mean+/
      SEM 12.96+/-0.50) were retrieved and there were 152 (60.8%) live births. Overall,
      172 (68.8%) participants had a high oocyte yield, 61 (24.4%) an intermediate
      yield, and 17 (6.8%) a low yield. The cumulative live birth rate was 58.8%
      (10/17) in the low-yield group, 55.7% (34/61) in the intermediate-yield group,
      and 62.8% (108/172) in the high-yield group (P=0.35). CONCLUSION: In conventional
      ovarian stimulation, live birth rate is not affected by the ovarian response.
      Whether oocytes produced from a low ovarian response are biologically more
      effective than oocytes obtained from a high ovarian response remains to be
      determined.

PMID- 26892697
TI  - Correlation of first-trimester serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma
      protein A with small-for-gestational-age neonates and preterm births.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between first-trimester levels of
      pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and small-for-gestational-age
      (SGA) neonates and preterm births, and to assess predictive utility for these
      events. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among women undergoing first
      trimester screening between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, at two
      centers in Pune, India. Serum PAPP-A levels, pregnancy course, and outcome were
      assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 1474 women were included. An association was found
      between the lowest quintile of PAPP-A levels (<0.4 multiples of median) for both
      SGA (<10th centile; 20.9% of cases in this PAPP-A quintile) and preterm birth
      (<37weeks; 15.8%). Women in the lowest quintile of PAPP-A concentration had a
      significantly increased risk of SGA (<10th centile) than did those with higher
      concentrations (adjusted odds ratio 2.92, 95% confidence interval 2.00-4.27).
      Their risk of preterm birth (<37weeks) was also increased (adjusted odds ratio
      1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.25-2.72). The predictive sensitivities of the
      lowest quintile of PAPP-A were 35.85% for SGA (<10th centile) and 27.92% for
      preterm birth (<37weeks). CONCLUSION: Low levels of PAPP-A were associated with
      SGA and preterm births; however, poor predictive sensitivity could restrict
      clinical utility of this marker when used alone.

PMID- 26892698
TI  - A never-smoker lung adenocarcinoma patient with a MET exon 14 mutation (D1028N)
      and a rapid partial response after crizotinib.
AB  - During the past decade, the treatment of lung adenocarcinomas has been
      revolutionized with novel molecular targeted therapies. We describe a case of
      clinical activity of crizotinib in a female patient with a lung adenocarcinoma
      displaying a MET exon 14 donor splice site mutation (D1028N) detected using next
      generation sequencing. Within 5 weeks of crizotinib therapy, a partial response
      was observed in this 67 year-old woman. Further clinical trials of crizotinib are
      needed for non-small cell lung cancer exhibiting MET mutations.

PMID- 26892699
TI  - Using the Targeted Solutions Tool(r) to Improve Emergency Department Handoffs in
      a Community Hospital.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is little evidence for solutions to improve the handoff process
      between units, particularly from the emergency department (ED) to the inpatient
      unit. A systematic approach was used to improve the handoff communication process
      between the ED and the four private physician groups serving Juneau, Alaska, that
      admit and deliver care to patients of a 73-bed, Level 4 trauma center community
      hospital. METHODS: Data were collected in using the Joint Commission Center for
      Transforming Healthcare's Targeted Solutions Tool ((r))(TST((r))) to determine
      the rate of defective handoff communications and the factors that contributed to
      those defective handoff communications. Targeted solutions were then implemented
      to specifically address the identified contributing factors. RESULTS: A random
      sample of 107 handoff opportunities was collected during the baseline phase
      (November 4, 2011- January 12, 2012) to measure performance and identify the
      contributing factors that led to defective handoffs. The baseline handoff
      communications defective rate was 29.9% (32 defective handoffs/107 handoff
      opportunities). The top four contributing factors, together accounting for 69.8%
      of all the causes of defective handoffs, were inaccurate/incomplete information,
      method ineffective, no standardized procedures for an effective handoff, and the
      person initiating the handoff, known as the "sender," lacks knowledge about the
      patient. After implementation of targeted solutions to the identified
      contributing factors, the handoff communications defective rate for the "improve"
      phase (April 1, 2012-July 29, 2012) was reduced from baseline by 58.2% to 12.5%
      (13 defective handoffs/104 handoff opportunities), p = 0.002; 2-proportions test.
      The number of adverse events related to hand-off communications declined as the
      handoff communications defective rate improved. CONCLUSION: Use of the TST was
      associated with improvement in the ED handoff communication process.

PMID- 26892700
TI  - Understanding Patient, Provider, and System Factors Related to Medicaid
      Readmissions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Efforts on reducing hospital readmissions, which are intended to
      improve quality and reduce costs, tend to focus on elderly Medicare beneficiaries
      without recognition of another high-risk population--adult nonmaternal Medicaid
      patients. This study was undertaken to understand the complexity of Medicaid
      readmission issues at the patient, provider, and system levels. METHODS: Multiple
      qualitative methods, including site visits to nine safety-net hospitals,
      patient/family/caregiver inter views, and semistructured interviews with health
      plans and state Medicaid agencies, were used in 2012 and 2013 to obtain
      information on patient, provider, and system issues related to Medicaid
      readmissions; strategies considered or currently used to address those issues;
      and any perceived financial, regulatory or, other policy factors inhibiting or
      facilitating readmission reduction efforts. RESULTS: Significant risk factors for
      Medicaid readmissions included financial stress, high prevalence of mental health
      and substance abuse disorders, medication nonadherence, and housing instability.
      Lacking awareness on Medicaid patients' high risk, a sufficient business case,
      and proven strategies for reducing readmissions were primary barriers for
      providers. Major hurdles at the system level included shortage of primary care
      and mental health providers, lack of coordination among providers, lack of
      partnerships between health plans and providers, and limited data capacity for
      realtime monitoring of readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: The intertwining of behavioral,
      socioeconomic, and health factors; the difficulty of accessing appropriate care
      in the outpatient setting; the lack of clear financial incentives for health care
      providers to reduce readmissions; and the fragmentation of the current health
      care system warrant greater attention and more concerted efforts from all
      stakeholders to reduce Medicaid readmissions.

PMID- 26892702
TI  - Time for Quality Measures to Get Personal.

PMID- 26892701
TI  - The Sepsis Early Recognition and Response Initiative (SERRI).

PMID- 26892703
TI  - The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Health Care Alliances' Quality
      Improvement Efforts in Targeted Communities: Perceptions of Health Care Alliance
      Leaders.

PMID- 26892704
TI  - Engaging Pediatric Resident Physicians in Quality Improvement Through Resident
      Led Morbidity and Mortality Conferences.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increasingly, medical disciplines have used morbidity and mortality
      conferences (MMCs) to address quality improvement and patient safety (QI/PS), as
      well as teach systems-based improvement to graduate trainees. The goal of this
      educational intervention was to establish a pediatric resident physician-led MMC
      that not only focused on QI/PS principles but also engaged resident physicians in
      QI/ PS endeavors in their clinical learning environments. METHODS: Following a
      needs assessment, pediatric resident physicians at the Stanford University School
      of Medicine (Stanford, California) established a new MMC model in February 2010
      as part of a required QI rotation. Cases were identified, explored, analyzed, and
      presented by resident physicians using the Johns Hopkins Learning from Defects
      tool. Discussions during the MMCs were resident physician- directed and systems
      based, and resulted in projects to address care delivery. Faculty advisors
      assessed resident physician comprehension of QI/PS. Conferences were evaluated
      through the end of the 2012-2013 academic year and outcomes tracked through the
      2013-2014 academic year to determine trainee involvement in systems change
      resulting from the MMCs. RESULTS: The MMC was well received and the number of
      MMCs increased over time. By the end of the 2013-2014 academic year, resident
      physicians were involved in address ing 14 systems-based issues resulting from 25
      MMCs. Examples of the resident physician-initiated improvement work included
      increasing use of the rapid response team, institution of a gastrostomy (g)-tube
      order set, and establishing a face-to-face provider handoff for pediatric ICU-to
      acute-care-floor transfers. CONCLUSION: A resident physician-run MMC exposes
      resident physicians to QI/PS concepts and principles, enables direct faculty
      assessment of QI/PS knowledge, and can propel resident physicians into real-time
      engagement in the culture of safety in a complex hospital environment.

PMID- 26892705
TI  - Attack in Paris and occupational health.

PMID- 26892706
TI  - Report from the 1st Cardiovascular Outcome Trial (CVOT) Summit of the Diabetes &
      Cardiovascular Disease (D&CVD) EASD Study Group.
AB  - The 1st Cardiovascular Outcome Trial (CVOT) Summit of the Diabetes &
      Cardiovascular Disease (D&CVD) EASD Study Group was held during the annual
      meeting on 30 October 2015 in Munich. This summit was organized in light of
      recently published and numerous ongoing CVOTs on diabetes, which have emerged in
      response to the FDA and the EMA Guidelines. The CVOT Summit stands as a novel
      conference setup, with the aim of serving as a reference meeting for all topics
      related to CVOTs in diabetes. Members of the steering committee of the D&CVD EASD
      Study Group constitute the backbone of the summit. It included presentations of
      key results on DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1-Analogues, SGLT-2 inhibitors, acarbose and
      insulins. Diabetologists' and cardiologists' perspective on the potential need of
      new study designs were also highlighted. Furthermore, panel discussions on the
      design of CVOTs on diabetes were included in the program. The D&CVD EASD Study
      Group will continue its activity. In-depth discussions and presentations of new
      CVOTs like LEADER, will be resumed at the 2nd CVOT on diabetes of the D&CVD EASD
      Study Group, which will be held from 20-22 October 2016 in Munich (
      http://www.dcvd.org).

PMID- 26892708
TI  - The effect of the two feet-in-the-door technique on tobacco deprivation.
AB  - The 'Foot-in-the-door' (FITD) is a well-known compliance technique that increases
      compliance with a request. Many investigations on this paradigm have generally
      used prosocial requests to test the effect of the technique. A new evaluation of
      the effect of the FITD technique was carried out on tobacco deprivation. A two
      feet-in-the-door technique in which the target request was preceded by two small
      target requests was used to encourage students to stop smoking for 24 h. The
      results were compared with two single foot-in-the- door procedures in which the
      final request was only preceded by one small request, as well as with a control
      condition using only a 24 h stop-smoking request. Results showed that the single
      FITD and the two feet-in-the-door procedures were effective to increase verbal
      compliance (accepting to stop smoking) but only the two feet-in-the-door
      technique significantly increased behavioural compliance (not smoking for 24 h)
      with the request. 

PMID- 26892709
TI  - De novo lipogenesis is suppressed during fasting but upregulated at population
      decline in cyclic voles.
AB  - Arvicolines are susceptible to the development of fatty liver during short-term
      fasting. We examined the potential role of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) (i) in the
      development of fasting-induced fatty liver and (ii) during a population cycle by
      measuring the mRNA expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC1) and fatty acid
      synthase (FAS). Laboratory voles (Microtus oeconomus and Microtus arvalis) were
      fed or fasted for 12 or 18 h and their liver mRNA levels were determined. Both
      species showed decreased mRNA expression of ACC1 and FAS during fasting. This
      suggests that DNL does not participate in the development of fatty liver in
      voles, different from human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In wild bank voles
      (Myodes glareolus), the mRNA levels of the genes of interest were higher during
      the population decline compared to the increase phase. In conclusion, DNL was
      suppressed during acute fasting but upregulated during a long-term population
      decline-a period of purported scarcity of high-quality food.

PMID- 26892711
TI  - The World Medical Association Launches A Revision of the Declaration of Geneva.

PMID- 26892710
TI  - Transmurally differentiated measurement of ATP hydrolysis rates in the in vivo
      porcine hearts.
AB  - PURPOSE: Compare the transmural distribution of forward creatine kinase reaction
      (kf,CK ) and ATP hydrolysis rate (kr,ATPase ) in the myocardium of normal porcine
      heart. Rate constants were extracted from partially relaxed spectra by applying
      the T1nom method, effectively reducing data acquisition time by up to an order of
      magnitude. THEORY AND METHODS: T1nom method for double saturation of PCr and Pi
      is introduced and validated through simulations. Bioenergetics was measured in
      vivo utilizing one-dimensional chemical shift imaging (1D-CSI) magnetic resonance
      (31) P spectroscopy. RESULTS: At basal conditions, there was no significant
      difference between subepicardial layers (EPI) vs. the subendocardial layers
      (ENDO) for both fluxf,CK and fluxr,ATPase . At high cardiac workload (HWL), where
      the rate pressure product increased 2.6-fold, PCr/ATP ratio and fluxf,CK showed
      no significant change in both EPI and ENDO layers, while fluxr,ATPase increased
      significantly (baseline: 1.11 +/- 0.12 and 1.12 +/- 0.13 MUmol/g/s, EPI and ENDO,
      respectively; to HWL: 2.35 +/- 0.27 and 2.21 +/- 0.08 MUmol/g/s, EPI and ENDO,
      respectively, each P < 0.01 vs. baseline). CONCLUSION: In the normal heart,
      increase of cardiac work state is accompanied by an increase in ATP hydrolysis
      rate with no changes in CK flux rate. There are no significant differences
      between EPI vs. ENDO concerning the ATP hydrolysis rate or CK flux rate in both
      baseline and high cardiac work states.

PMID- 26892712
TI  - The Ashley Treatment: Improving Quality of Life or Infringing Dignity and Rights?
AB  - The 'Ashley treatment' (growth attenuation, removal of the womb and breasts buds
      of a severely disabled child) has raised much ethical controversy. This article
      starts from the observation that this debate suffers from a lack of careful
      philosophical analysis which is essential for an ethical assessment. I focus on
      two central arguments in the debate, namely an argument defending the treatment
      based on quality of life and an argument against the treatment based on dignity
      and rights. My analysis raises doubts as to whether these arguments, as they
      stand in the debate, are philosophically robust. I reconstruct what form good
      arguments for and against the treatment should take and which assumptions are
      needed to defend the according positions. Concerning quality of life (Section 2),
      I argue that to make a discussion about quality of life possible, it needs to be
      clear which particular conception of the good life is employed. This has not been
      sufficiently clear in the debate. I fill this lacuna. Regarding rights and
      dignity (section 3), I show that there is a remarkable absence of references to
      general philosophical theories of rights and dignity in the debate about the
      Ashley treatment. Consequently, this argument against the treatment is not
      sufficiently developed. I clarify how such an argument should proceed. Such a
      detailed analysis of arguments is necessary to clear up some confusions and
      ambiguities in the debate and to shed light on the dilemma that caretakers of
      severely disabled children face. 

PMID- 26892713
TI  - A prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing systemic
      stress response in Laparoascopic cholecystectomy between low-pressure and
      standard-pressure pneumoperitoneum.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold-standard
      treatment for gallstone diseases. However, despite huge reduction in operative
      injury, systemic stress response remains high. This randomized controlled trial
      (RCT) aimed to compare systemic stress response between 2 different techniques of
      CO2 pneumoperitoneum. METHODS: Trough a prospective, double-blinded RCT, serum
      levels of cortisol, adrenaline, glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were
      compared between the two groups consisted of 50 patients undergoing LC under low
      pressure and standard-pressure CO2 pneimoperitoneum. RESULTS: A total of fifty
      patients undergoing LC were equally assigned to 2 groups of twenty five patients.
      Average age was 48 +/- 13.8 years (range, 19-74 years). Operative time was
      similar between standard-pressure group (47.8 +/- 16.8 min) and low-pressure
      group (53.6 +/- 25.1). Moreover, intra-operative IV volume administration and
      urine output did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p > 0.05).
      Although the average heart rate and mean arterial pressure were slightly higher
      in a standard-pressure group compared with a low-pressure group, serial
      measurements of these parameters were statistically similar between the 2 groups.
      Serial changes of serum levels of cortisol, glucose, adrenaline, and CRP were
      compared between surgery day, postoperative 6-h and 1st postoperative day, which
      did not differ significantly between the standard-pressure and the low-pressure
      groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study did not reveal any alteration in
      systemic stress response with reduction in intra-abdominal pressure of
      pneumoperitoneum in LC. RCT REGISTRATION: irct.ir ID: IRCT201110072982N5.

PMID- 26892714
TI  - Surgical outcomes in patients with intraoperative Electrocorticography (EcoG)
      guided epilepsy surgery-experiences of a tertiary care centre in India.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The Comprehensive Epilepsy Surgery Program was started in 2001 at
      K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai with the aim of performing epilepsy surgeries at highly
      concessional rates. We have started using intraoperative Electrocorticography
      (EcoG) since 2009 in patients with tumors, Mesial Temporal Sclerosis (MTS) plus
      and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). This study highlights our experience with
      EcoG and it's utility in epilepsy surgery.introduction METHODS: 51 patients with
      drug resistant epilepsy due to temporal and extra-temporal tumors, MTS plus and
      FCD underwent pre-surgical evaluation and ECoG guided epilepsy surgery through
      our program. The surgical procedures employed included intraoperative EcoG guided
      lesionectomy or a lesionectomy with Anterior Temporal Lobectomy (ATL).
      Postoperative MRI and EEG were done. Seizure freedom was categorized as per
      Engel's classification. RESULTS: At a mean follow up of 33 months (range: 14-69
      months), 43 out of 51(84.31%) patients were completely seizure free post-surgery
      (Engel's Class I). Among the patients who were not seizure free, 3 patients were
      in Engel's Class II and 5 patients were in Engel's Class III. Presence of a
      residual lesion on postoperative MRI (p < 0.001), abnormal postoperative EEG (p <
      0.001) and persistent spikes on post-resection EcoG (p < 0.05) had a significant
      statistical association with poor seizure freedom post-surgery. CONCLUSION: The
      success of epilepsy surgery depends upon accurate localization and complete
      resection of the epileptogenic tissue, both of which are aided by intraoperative
      EcoG.Thus, intraoperative EcoG is a useful adjunct in epilepsy surgery to achieve
      optimal seizure freedom in cases of MTS plus, focal cortical dysplasia and
      tumors. Even the patients who are not seizure free can achieve worthwhile
      improvement post surgery.

PMID- 26892716
TI  - Monitoring eruption activity using temporal stress changes at Mount Ontake
      volcano.
AB  - Volcanic activity is often accompanied by many small earthquakes. Earthquake
      focal mechanisms represent the fault orientation and slip direction, which are
      influenced by the stress field. Focal mechanisms of volcano-tectonic earthquakes
      provide information on the state of volcanoes via stresses. Here we demonstrate
      that quantitative evaluation of temporal stress changes beneath Mt. Ontake,
      Japan, using the misfit angles of focal mechanism solutions to the regional
      stress field, is effective for eruption monitoring. The moving average of misfit
      angles indicates that during the precursory period the local stress field beneath
      Mt. Ontake was deviated from the regional stress field, presumably by stress
      perturbations caused by the inflation of magmatic/hydrothermal fluids, which was
      removed immediately after the expulsion of volcanic ejecta. The deviation of the
      local stress field can be an indicator of increases in volcanic activity. The
      proposed method may contribute to the mitigation of volcanic hazards. 

PMID- 26892715
TI  - Mechanical thrombectomy by Solitaire stent for treating acute ischemic stroke: A
      prospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a worldwide serious health problem.
      Intravenous (IV) thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt
      PA) is the standard treatment; however, only a small number of patients benefit
      from it due to the strict application restrictions. Recently, more and more
      evidence prove mechanical thrombectomy is an effective and safe therapy of AIS.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: From December 2010 to March 2015, 83 patients who underwent
      mechanical thrombectomy were collected as a sample pool. All patients met the
      following criteria: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score
      >=10, treatment performed within 6 h from the onset of symptoms, no large
      hypodensity on CT or multimodal MRI, and angiography revealed occlusion of a
      major cerebral artery. Recanalization rates were assessed immediately post
      procedure by follow-up angiography according to the thrombolysis in cerebral
      infarction score criteria. Assessment of the modified Rankin Scale was performed
      90 days after treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 63.3 years, and
      NIHSS scores 19.12 +/- 4.60 at presentation. The vessel occlusions occurred in
      the middle cerebral artery (68.7%), distal internal carotid artery (7.2%),
      internal carotid artery with tandem middle cerebral artery occlusion (14.5%),
      basilar artery (2.4%), and vertebral artery (7.2%). Successful recanalization
      (TICI 3/2b) was achieved in 56 of 83 patients (67.5%). At 90-day follow-up, good
      clinical outcome (mRS <= 2) was achieved in 33 of 83 patients (39.8%), while 20
      patients died (24.1%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed mechanical thrombectomy
      with Solitaire stent device was an effective and safe therapy, which achieved a
      high rate of angiographic recanalization and independent outcome accompanied by a
      low mortality rate.

PMID- 26892717
TI  - Size of silver nanoparticles determines proliferation ability of human
      circulating lymphocytes in vitro.
AB  - In this work we present biological effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)
      synthesized by picosecond laser ablation of silver in deionized water. We
      examined induction of chromosomal aberrations, lymphocyte micronuclei, appearance
      and recovery of double strand breaks (DSBs) of DNA, cell proliferation potential,
      concentration of lipid peroxidation products and insulin-like growth factor 1
      (ILGF-1). We found that AgNPs sized from 3 nm to 8 nm induce cell cytostasis,
      which is accompanied with its clastogenic action on DNA, while AgNPs, sized 2 nm
      behaves contrary stimulating cell proliferation by enhancing ILGF-1
      concentration.

PMID- 26892718
TI  - Toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of titanium in ionic form after
      intravenous and oral administration.
AB  - Titanium is widely used both in food and cosmetics, as well as in surgery and
      industry. Contrary to most studies, the present work focused on the determination
      of the toxicokinetic parameters of titanium in ionic form, as well as on its
      tissue biodistribution in rats. The animals were administered either a single
      intravenous dose of 6 mg Ti/kg b.w., or received the same dose orally every day
      for 30 days. The concentration of titanium in the serum and organs was measured
      by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Metal rapidly distributed
      from the circulation to the investigated organs after both routes of
      administration, and kidney was identified as the main target tissue, followed by
      liver and spleen. One month of oral exposure to Ti led to the increase of its
      concentration in liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart. In the intravenous study,
      both the highest area under concentration-time curves and the longest elimination
      half-life time were recorded in the kidney followed by serum, spleen and liver.
      The present study contributes to the knowledge of the toxicokinetics of titanium
      in ionic form, which may be especially useful when assessing the health risks of
      long-term exposure to titanium alloy implants in patients.

PMID- 26892719
TI  - Mouse tissue distribution and persistence of the food-born fusariotoxins Enniatin
      B and Beauvericin.
AB  - The fusariotoxins Enniatin B (Enn B) and Beauvericin (Bea) have recently aroused
      interest as food contaminants and as potential anticancer drugs. However, limited
      data are available about their toxic profile. Aim of this study was to
      investigate their pharmacological behavior in vivo and their persistence in mice.
      Therefore, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to
      analyze the distribution of Enn B and Bea in selected tissue samples and
      biological fluids originating from mice treated intraperitoneally with these
      cyclohexadepsipeptides. Overall, no toxicological signs during life time or
      pathological changes were observed. Moreover, both fusariotoxins were found in
      all tissues and serum but not in urine. Highest amounts were measured in liver
      and fat demonstrating the molecules tendency to bioaccumulate in lipophilic
      tissues. While for Bea no metabolites could be detected, for Enn B three phase I
      metabolites (dioxygenated-Enn B, mono- and di-demethylated-Enn B) were found in
      liver and colon, with dioxygenated-Enn B being most prominent. Consequently,
      contribution of hepatic as well as intestinal metabolism seems to be involved in
      the overall metabolism of Enn B. Thus, despite their structural similarity, the
      metabolism of Enn B and Bea shows distinct discrepancies which might affect long
      term effects and tolerability in humans. 

PMID- 26892720
TI  - Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SQR9 induces dendritic cell maturation and enhances
      the immune response against inactivated avian influenza virus.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate the stimulatory effects of Bacillus
      amyloliquefaciens SQR9 on dendritic cells (DCs) and to verify its ability to
      enhance the immune response by modulating DC maturation. The results demonstrated
      that B. amyloliquefaciens SQR9 can adhere to the nasal epithelium and be taken up
      by DCs in the nasal mucosa, thereby inducing DC maturation and resulting in
      increased CD80, CD86, CD40 and MHCII expression and cytokine secretion. The
      frequencies of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and CD69(+) memory T cells were
      increased in spleens after nasal immunization with virus plus B.
      amyloliquefaciens SQR9 compared to immunization with inactivated H9N2 AIV alone.
      Moreover, the levels of sIgA in the nasal cavity, the trachea, and the lung and
      the levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a in serum were significantly increased in mice
      administered WIV plus SQR9 compared to mice administered H9N2 WIV alone. The
      results of this study demonstrated that B. amyloliquefaciens SQR9 can stimulate
      DC maturation to effectively induce an immune response. In conclusion, an
      effective immune response may result from the uptake of H9N2 by DCs in the nasal
      mucosa, thereby stimulating DC maturation and migration to cervical lymph nodes
      to initiate immune response.

PMID- 26892722
TI  - Derivation of motor neuron-like cells from neonatal mouse testis in a simple
      culture condition.
AB  - Embryonic stem cell (ESC) therapy is an exciting way to treat neurodegenerative
      disease and central nervous system injury. However, many ethical and
      immunological problems surround the use of embryonic stem cells. Finding an
      alternative source of stem cells is therefore pertinent. In this study,
      spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) were used to generate mature motor neurons. SSCs
      were extracted from neonatal testes and cultured in DMED/F12 medium for 3 weeks.
      Characterisation of SSC-derived ESC-like cells was confirmed by RT-qPCR,
      immunostaining, alkaline phosphatase activity and their ability to form embryoid
      bodies (EBs). The EBs were induced by retinoic acid and Sonic hedgehog and
      trypsinised to obtain single induced cells. The single cells were cultured in
      neural medium for 18 days. Characterisation of neural precursors and motor neuron
      like cells was confirmed by RT-qPCR and immunocytochemical analysis at the 7th
      day (early stage) and 18th day (late stage), respectively, of culturing. The
      neural precursors were found to be positive for nestin and Sox2, and a small
      fraction of cells expressed beta-tubulin III. Upon further differentiation,
      multipolar neurons were detected that expressed beta-tubulin III and MAP2
      markers. Moreover, the expression levels of Olig2 and PAX6 were significantly
      lower, while HB9, Isl1 and Isl2 expression levels were higher at the late stage
      when compared to the early stage. These results show that SSCs have the potential
      to differentiate to motor neuron-like cells and express markers specific for
      mature motor neurons. However, the functional ability of these cells remains to
      be evaluated in future studies.

PMID- 26892723
TI  - Response to Shelton, F. et al., procedures of limited clinical value in ENT: what
      effect has there been on operating numbers?

PMID- 26892721
TI  - Potential Mechanisms for IgG4 Inhibition of Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions.
AB  - IgG4 is the least abundant IgG subclass in human serum, representing less than 5%
      of all IgG. Increases in IgG4 occur following chronic exposure to antigen and are
      generally associated with states of immune tolerance. In line with this, IgG4 is
      regarded as an anti-inflammatory antibody with a limited ability to elicit
      effective immune responses. Furthermore, IgG4 attenuates allergic responses by
      inhibiting the activity of IgE. The mechanism by which IgG4 inhibits IgE-mediated
      hypersensitivity has been investigated using a variety of model systems leading
      to two proposed mechanisms. First by sequestering antigen, IgG4 can function as a
      blocking antibody, preventing cross-linking of receptor bound IgE. Second IgG4
      has been proposed to co-stimulate the inhibitory IgG receptor FcgammaRIIb, which
      can negatively regulate FcepsilonRI signaling and in turn inhibit effector cell
      activation. Recent advances in our understanding of the structural features of
      human IgG4 have shed light on the unique functional and immunologic properties of
      IgG4. The aim of this review is to evaluate our current understanding of IgG4
      biology and reassess the mechanisms by which IgG4 functions to inhibit IgE
      mediated allergic responses.

PMID- 26892724
TI  - Consistency between verbal and non-verbal affective cues: a clue to speaker
      credibility.
AB  - Listeners are exposed to inconsistencies in communication; for example, when
      speakers' words (i.e. verbal) are discrepant with their demonstrated emotions
      (i.e. non-verbal). Such inconsistencies introduce ambiguity, which may render a
      speaker to be a less credible source of information. Two experiments examined
      whether children make credibility discriminations based on the consistency of
      speakers' affect cues. In Experiment 1, school-age children (7- to 8-year-olds)
      preferred to solicit information from consistent speakers (e.g. those who
      provided a negative statement with negative affect), over novel speakers, to a
      greater extent than they preferred to solicit information from inconsistent
      speakers (e.g. those who provided a negative statement with positive affect) over
      novel speakers. Preschoolers (4- to 5-year-olds) did not demonstrate this
      preference. Experiment 2 showed that school-age children's ratings of speakers
      were influenced by speakers' affect consistency when the attribute being judged
      was related to information acquisition (speakers' believability, "weird" speech),
      but not general characteristics (speakers' friendliness, likeability). Together,
      findings suggest that school-age children are sensitive to, and use, the
      congruency of affect cues to determine whether individuals are credible sources
      of information.

PMID- 26892725
TI  - Risk Prediction Modeling of Sequencing Data Using a Forward Random Field Method.
AB  - With the advance in high-throughput sequencing technology, it is feasible to
      investigate the role of common and rare variants in disease risk prediction.
      While the new technology holds great promise to improve disease prediction, the
      massive amount of data and low frequency of rare variants pose great analytical
      challenges on risk prediction modeling. In this paper, we develop a forward
      random field method (FRF) for risk prediction modeling using sequencing data. In
      FRF, subjects' phenotypes are treated as stochastic realizations of a random
      field on a genetic space formed by subjects' genotypes, and an individual's
      phenotype can be predicted by adjacent subjects with similar genotypes. The FRF
      method allows for multiple similarity measures and candidate genes in the model,
      and adaptively chooses the optimal similarity measure and disease-associated
      genes to reflect the underlying disease model. It also avoids the specification
      of the threshold of rare variants and allows for different directions and
      magnitudes of genetic effects. Through simulations, we demonstrate the FRF method
      attains higher or comparable accuracy over commonly used support vector machine
      based methods under various disease models. We further illustrate the FRF method
      with an application to the sequencing data obtained from the Dallas Heart Study. 

PMID- 26892727
TI  - The contribution of protein intrinsic disorder to understand the role of genetic
      variants uncovered by autism spectrum disorders exome studies.
AB  - Several autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exome studies suggest that coding single
      nucleotide variants (SNVs) play an important role on ASD etiology. Usually, the
      pathogenic effect of missense mutations is estimated through predictors that lose
      accuracy for those SNVs placed in intrinsically disordered regions of protein.
      Here, we used bioinformatics tools to investigate the effect of mutations
      described in ASD published exome studies (549 mutations) in protein disorder,
      considering post-translational modification, PEST and Molecular Recognition
      Features (MoRFs) motifs. Schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) datasets were
      created for comparison purposes. The frequency of mutations predicted as
      disordered was comparable among the three datasets (38.1% in ASD, 35.7% in
      schizophrenia, 46.4% in T2D). However, the frequency of SNVs predicted to lead a
      gain or loss of functional sites or change intrinsic disorder tendencies was
      higher in ASD and schizophrenia than T2D (46.9%, 36.4%, and 23.1%, respectively).
      The results obtained by SIFT and PolyPhen-2 indicated that 38.9% and 34.4% of the
      mutations predicted, respectively, as tolerated and benign showed functional
      alterations in disorder properties. Given the frequency of mutations placed in
      IDRs and their functional impact, this study suggests that alterations in
      intrinsic disorder properties might play a role in ASD and schizophrenia
      etiologies. They should be taken into consideration when researching the
      pathogenicity of mutations in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases.
      Finally, mutations with functional alterations in disorder properties must be
      potential targets for in vitro and in vivo functional studies.

PMID- 26892728
TI  - Three-dimensional printing models in surgery.

PMID- 26892726
TI  - Whole-genome mutational burden analysis of three pluripotency induction methods.
AB  - There is concern that the stresses of inducing pluripotency may lead to
      deleterious DNA mutations in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, which
      would compromise their use for cell therapies. Here we report comparative genomic
      analysis of nine isogenic iPSC lines generated using three reprogramming methods:
      integrating retroviral vectors, non-integrating Sendai virus and synthetic mRNAs.
      We used whole-genome sequencing and de novo genome mapping to identify single
      nucleotide variants, insertions and deletions, and structural variants. Our
      results show a moderate number of variants in the iPSCs that were not evident in
      the parental fibroblasts, which may result from reprogramming. There were only
      small differences in the total numbers and types of variants among different
      reprogramming methods. Most importantly, a thorough genomic analysis showed that
      the variants were generally benign. We conclude that the process of reprogramming
      is unlikely to introduce variants that would make the cells inappropriate for
      therapy. 

PMID- 26892729
TI  - Independent prognostic factors and unsettled parameters of resected primary
      gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

PMID- 26892730
TI  - Pharmacological Effects of RAAS Blockade in Ischemic Nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The management of ischemic nephropathy due to atherosclerotic renal
      artery stenosis has become increasingly conservative in the modern era, with
      current guidelines recommending optimized medical therapy as the initial step.
      The doubts raised by the recently published trials of revascularization
      strategies have led to a renewed focus on pharmacological strategies promoting
      blood pressure control and renal protection. It is essential to further elucidate
      the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying hypoperfusion induced renal
      microvascular dysfunction with subsequent tissue injury and fibrogenesis. The
      role of renin angiotensin aldosterone system as a mediator of the main
      pathophysiological consequences of ischemic nephropathy is well known. However,
      more recent experimental evidence on the adrenergic system and intrarenal tubular
      feedback mechanisms has stimulated new interest towards a multi-target
      therapeutic approach. METHODS: This review focuses on the pharmacology of the
      principle therapeutic drug classes currently used in the treatment of
      atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with an analysis of their metabolic aspects
      and use in clinical practice based on evidence from clinical trials. RESULTS AND
      CONCLUSIONS: An optimal pharmacologic approach is crucial for a successful
      prevention of renal injury and cardiovascular events in this high-risk
      population. Antihypertensive treatment should include renin angiotensin
      aldosterone system blockade medication not only for their antihypertensive
      properties, but especially for those cardio and renoprotective.

PMID- 26892731
TI  - A Comparison of Non-Human Primate Cytochrome P450 2D Members and the Implication
      in Drug Discovery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Non-human primates are valuable animal models in drug discovery and
      biomedical research. Human CYP2D6 accounts for 1.3-4.3% of total hepatic CYP
      content in the liver, but is involved in the metabolism of more than 150 drugs.
      With the advancement of genomic sequencing and annotation, a panel of CYP2D genes
      have been cloned from non-human primates. This review highlights the similarities
      and differences of these CYP2D genes non-human primates. METHODS: We conducted a
      structured PubMed search using a focused review question and proper
      inclusion/exclusion criteria. The quality of retrieved papers was assessed and
      briefed using standard tools and expert knowledge. RESULTS: Most studies on CYP
      expression in non-human primates have been carried out in the cynomolgus and
      Rhesus monkeys. Deduced amino acid sequences of primate CYP2D cDNAs share high
      sequence identity (93-96%) with human CYP2D6. The chimpanzee genome has CYP2D6
      and 2D7 but bonobos only contain CYP2D6. The CYP2D6 gene is located on chromosome
      22 in the chimpanzee genome (human CYP2D6 maps to chromosome 22q13.1), and on
      chromosome 10 in the genome of the Rhesus monkey. Cynomolgus monkey CYP2D17 and
      Japanese monkey 2D29 metabolize bufuralol and dextromethorphan. CYP2D17
      metabolizes bufuralol and dextromethorphan, whereas CYP2D29 metabolizes bufuralol
      and debrisoquine. In addition, quinidine inhibits both cynomolgus monkey CYP2D17
      and Japanese monkey 2D29. CONCLUSION: The CYP2D members from non-human primates
      show differential genomic contexts, catalytic activities toward substrates and
      inhibitory profiles. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the structural
      and functional features of CYP2D members in non-human primates and thus offer a
      solid base for the application of these animals in drug discovery.

PMID- 26892732
TI  - Genomic Variations Affecting Biological Effects of Statins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Statins are inhibitors of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzymeA (HMG-CoA)
      reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme involved in de novo cholesterol synthesis.
      The patient health profile needs to be taken in account during the interpretation
      of the variability in the outcome of drug therapy, as well as compliance with
      prescribed pharmacological treatments, and genetic profile. OBJECTIVE: Several
      genetic polymorphisms playing a role in the different response to lipid lowering
      therapy have recently been identified. Statins, today are used to reduce Low
      Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), represent the treatment of choice in
      individuals with increased risk of Cardio-Vascular Disease (CVD), both in primary
      and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Regardless of the usefulness
      in a wide range of patients, the common interindividual genetic variability,
      along with phenotypic aspects, lead to resistance and adverse responses. METHODS:
      we reviewed on PubMed, inserting as term search "statin and polymorphism",
      "statin and pharmacogenomic", "statin and gene", "HMG-CoA reductase and gene".
      RESULTS: A large number of candidate genes and many single nucleotide
      polymorphisms (SNPs) have been evaluated and related to pharmacokinetic and/or
      pharmacodynamic of statins. CONCLUSION: Despite these several findings there is
      still not enough evidence to recommend pharmacogenomic tests before starting
      statin therapy.

PMID- 26892733
TI  - Sulfotransferase 1A1 as a Biomarker for Susceptibility to Carcinogenesis: From
      Molecular Genetics to the Role of Dietary Flavonoids.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 is a phase II metabolic enzyme that
      catalyzes sulfate conjugation of various phenolic compounds, including endogenous
      substances, such as estrogens and thyroid hormones, but also different
      xenobiotics. Although sulfation is classically considered as a detoxification
      event facilitating the excretion of more water soluble metabolites from the body,
      in some cases such bioconversion may also lead to bioactivation of promutagens,
      producing highly reactive intermediates which are capable of damaging DNA and
      promoting carcinogenesis. The most common polymorphism in SULT1A1 (Arg213His) has
      an important functional impact by affecting the capacity to sulfate diverse
      substrates and numerous case-control studies have shown associations between
      SULT1A1 variants and susceptibility to different malignancies. Several factors
      may significantly influence such relationships, including ethnicity, gender,
      parity, menopausal status, use of estrogen replacement therapy, exposure to
      tobacco smoke or occupational chemicals. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In this review
      article, we show that one more important determinant should be considered as a
      stratifying factor in studies of possible associations between SULT1A1 variants
      and cancer risk, i.e., the dietary intake of different flavonoids. As sulfation
      of bioactive plant polyphenols can change their potential anticancer activities
      and, on the other hand, these phytochemicals are capable to behave also as potent
      SULT1A1 inhibitors, the regular dietary exposure of humans to these compounds can
      make a great contribution to the impact of sulfation capacity on individual
      susceptibility to carcinogenesis. The effect of specific flavonoids as well as
      their interactions with other factors on associations between SULT1A1 alleles and
      cancer risk certainly needs further thorough studies.

PMID- 26892735
TI  - Copper-Catalyzed S-C/S-N Bond Interconversions.
AB  - Under an atmosphere of dioxygen, copper-catalyzed de-alkylation/amination
      sequences provide sulfonimidamides from unprotected sulfoximines in moderate to
      good yields. Mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of radicals in both the
      C-S bond cleavage and the formation of the new N-S bond. 

PMID- 26892734
TI  - Quantitative BOLD imaging at 3T: Temporal changes in hepatocellular carcinoma and
      fibrosis following oxygen challenge.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of oxygen challenge and report on temporal
      changes in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast in normal liver,
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and background fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Eleven volunteers (nine male and two female, mean age 33.5, range 27-41 years)
      and 10 patients (nine male and one female, mean age 68.9, range 56-87 years) with
      hepatocellular carcinoma on a background of diffuse liver disease were recruited.
      Imaging was performed on a 3T system using a multiphase, multiecho, fast gradient
      echo sequence. Oxygen was administered via a Hudson mask after 2 minutes of free
      breathing. Paired t-tests were performed to determine if the mean pre- and post
      O2 differences were statistically significant. RESULTS: In patients with liver
      fibrosis (n = 8) the change in T2* following O2 administration was elevated (0.88
      +/- 0.582 msec, range 0.03-1.69 msec) and the difference was significant (P =
      0.004). The magnitude of the BOLD response in patients with HCC (n = 10) was
      larger, however the response was more variable (1.07 +/- 1.458 msec, range -0.93
      3.26 msec), and the difference was borderline significant (P = 0.046). The BOLD
      response in the volunteer cohort was not significant (P = 0.121, 0.59 +/- 1.162
      msec, range -0.81-2.44 msec). CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that the BOLD
      response following oxygen challenge within cirrhotic liver is consistent with a
      breakdown in vascular autoregulatory mechanisms. Similarly, the elevated BOLD
      response within HCC is consistent with the abnormal capillary vasculature within
      tumors and the arterialization of the blood supply. Our results suggest that
      oxygen challenge may prove a viable BOLD contrast mechanism in the liver. J.
      Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:739-744.

PMID- 26892737
TI  - HPV vaccine: Less is more.

PMID- 26892736
TI  - The phenomenon of acquired resistance to metformin in breast cancer cells: The
      interaction of growth pathways and estrogen receptor signaling.
AB  - Metformin, a biguanide antidiabetic drug, is used to decrease hyperglycemia in
      patients with type 2 diabetes. Recently, the epidemiological studies revealed the
      potential of metformin as an anti-tumor drug for several types of cancer,
      including breast cancer. Anti-tumor metformin action was found to be mediated, at
      least in part, via activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
      (AMPK)-intracellular energy sensor, which inhibits the mammalian target of
      rapamycin (mTOR) and some other signaling pathways. Nevertheless, some patients
      can be non-sensitive or resistant to metformin action. Here we analyzed the
      mechanism of the formation of metformin-resistant phenotype in breast cancer
      cells and its role in estrogen receptor (ER) regulation. The experiments were
      performed on the ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells and metformin-resistant
      MCF-7 subline (MCF-7/M) developed due to long-term metformin treatment. The
      transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB and ER was measured by the luciferase
      reporter gene analysis. The protein expression was determined by immunoblotting
      (Snail1, (phospho)AMPK, (phospho)IkappaBalpha, (phospho)mTOR, cyclin D1,
      (phospho)Akt and ERalpha) and immunohistochemical analysis (E-cadherin). We have
      found that: 1) metformin treatment of MCF-7 cells is accompanied with the
      stimulation of AMPK and inhibition of growth-related proteins including
      IkappaBalpha, NF-kappaB, cyclin D1 and ERalpha; 2) long-term metformin treatment
      lead to the appearance and progression of cross-resistance to metformin and
      tamoxifen; the resistant cells are characterized with the unaffected AMPK
      activity, but the irreversible ER suppression and constitutive activation of
      Akt/Snail1 signaling; 3) Akt/Snail1 signaling is involved into progression of
      metformin resistance. The results presented may be considered as the first
      evidence of the progression of cross-resistance to metformin and tamoxifen in
      breast cancer cells. Importantly, the acquired resistance to both drugs is based
      on the constitutive activation of Akt/Snail1/E-cadherin signaling that opens new
      perspectives to overcome the metformin/tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer.

PMID- 26892738
TI  - Protective efficacy afforded by live Pasteurella multocida vaccines in chickens
      is independent of lipopolysaccharide outer core structure.
AB  - Pasteurella multocida is a major animal pathogen that causes a range of diseases
      including fowl cholera. P. multocida infections result in considerable losses to
      layer and breeder flocks in poultry industries worldwide. Both killed whole-cell
      and live-attenuated vaccines are available; these vaccines vary in their
      protective efficacy, particularly against heterologous strains. Moreover, until
      recently there was no knowledge of P. multocida LPS genetics and structure to
      determine precisely how LPS structure affects the protective capacity of these
      vaccines. In this study we show that defined lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mutants
      presented as killed whole-cell vaccines elicited solid protective immunity only
      against P. multocida challenge strains expressing highly similar or identical LPS
      structures. This finding indicates that vaccination of commercial flocks with P.
      multocida killed cell formulations will not protect against strains producing an
      LPS structure different to that produced by strains included in the vaccine
      formulation. Conversely, protective immunity conferred by vaccination with live
      P. multocida strains was found to be largely independent of LPS structure. Birds
      vaccinated with a range of live mutants belonging to the L1 and L3 LPS genotypes,
      each expressing a specific truncated LPS structure, were protected against
      challenge with the parent strain. Moreover, birds vaccinated with any of the five
      LPS mutants belonging to the L1 LPS genotype were also protected against
      challenge with an unrelated strain and two of the five groups vaccinated with
      live LPS mutants belonging to the L3 genotype were protected against challenge
      with an unrelated strain. In summary, vaccination with live P. multocida aroA
      mutants producing full-length L1 or L3 LPS or vaccination with live strains
      producing shortened L1 LPS elicited strong protective immunity against both
      homologous and heterologous challenge. 

PMID- 26892739
TI  - The cost-utility of integrated cervical cancer prevention strategies in the
      Ontario setting - Can we do better?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: A universal, publicly funded, school-based human papillomavirus
      (HPV) vaccination program in grade eight girls was initiated in Ontario in 2007.
      We present a cost-utility analysis of integrated cervical cancer prevention
      programs from the healthcare payer perspective. METHODS: Our analysis was based
      on linked HPV transmission and disease history models. We obtained data from the
      literature, provincial surveys and Ontario population-based linked health
      administrative datasets. We modeled combinations of vaccination and screening
      strategies. We considered vaccination based on the Ontario experience, as well as
      conservative and optimistic scenarios, varying coverage, vaccine effectiveness
      and duration of protection. We considered 900 screening scenarios (screening
      start age: 21-70 years, screening interval: 3-20 years; 1-year time steps). The
      current schedule screens every 3 years starting at age 21 years. We examined (1)
      first vaccinated cohort (low herd-immunity), and (2) steady state, i.e. all
      cohorts were vaccinated (high herd-immunity). RESULTS: Adding vaccination to the
      current screening schedule was cost-effective (<C$10,000/quality-adjusted life
      year (QALY)) across all scenarios. Delaying screening start and/or extending
      screening intervals increased both expected QALYs and cost, and increased overall
      NHB for screening schedules with a start age of 25-35 years and 3-10-year
      intervals for most scenarios. CONCLUSION: Delaying screening start age and/or
      extending screening intervals in vaccinated cohorts is likely to be cost
      effective. Consideration should be given to both the short- and long-term
      implications of health policy decisions, particularly for infectious disease
      interventions that require long time intervals to reach steady state.

PMID- 26892740
TI  - Characterization of the Near Full-Length Genome of a Novel HIV-1
      CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC Recombinant in an Injection Drug User from Southern Taiwan.
AB  - HIV-1 CRF07_BC became prevalent in Taiwan after the epidemic among injection drug
      users (IDUs). We describe a unique recombinant form (URF) consisting of CRF01_AE
      and CRF07_BC (named URF_0107-H8) genes detected from an IDU. The 8.8 kb near full
      length genome of URF_0107-H8 had a CRF01_AE backbone with two CRF07_BC fragments
      in the reverse transcriptase and integrase region [RT-Int; HXB2 nucleotide (nt)
      positions 2942-4709] and within the envelop (nt 8467-8722) gene. Phylogenetic
      analyses revealed that its 1.8 kb RT-Int sequence clustered with those of
      CRF07_BC strains from Taiwan, while sequences of CRF01_AE portions were more
      similar to those of Central African origin than contemporaneous CRF01_AE isolates
      in Taiwan or prevalent in East or Southeast Asia. Recombination breakpoints and
      phylogenetic relationships of URF_0107-H8 were different from those of
      CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC URFs previously reported from China. This highlighted the
      importance of continual monitoring of genetic evolution of HIV strains and the
      emergence of new recombinants.

PMID- 26892741
TI  - Detection and identification of Trichophyton tonsurans from clinical isolates and
      hairbrush samples by loop-mediated isothermal amplification system.
AB  - Since the 1990s, there have been reports of the spread of dermatophytosis caused
      by Trichophyton tonsurans among contact sports athletes in several countries,
      including Japan. This study was performed to develop a loop-mediated isothermal
      amplification (LAMP) system for rapid and accurate detection and identification
      of T. tonsurans from clinical isolates or hairbrush samples for diagnosis and to
      prevent the spread of infection. A specific primer set was prepared by comparing
      the whole genome sequence of T. tonsurans with those of six other closely related
      dermatophytes. After confirming the sensitivity and specificity of this system,
      LAMP assay was performed using 37 clinical samples obtained from three healthy
      volunteers and 24 judo athletes. A total of 155 fungal isolates (56 strains of
      various standard fungi, 96 identified T. tonsurans isolates, three hairbrush
      cultured isolates from judo athletes) and 37 hairbrush samples (34 samples from
      24 judo athletes, and three samples from three healthy volunteers) were used for
      culture and LAMP assay, respectively. The assay showed no cross-reactivity to
      standard strains other than T. tonsurans. The detection limit was 100 copies of
      DNA template per tube. All of the 96 T. tonsurans isolates were amplified, and
      all samples from healthy volunteers showed negative results. Four of the 34
      hairbrush samples obtained from judo athletes showed positive results in LAMP
      assay, and two of the four were positive in both culture and LAMP assay. We
      developed a rapid LAMP system with high specificity and sensitivity for diagnosis
      of T. tonsurans infection. 

PMID- 26892742
TI  - Perioperative glycaemic control in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery
      under local anaesthesia: a survey of practices of Singapore ophthalmologists and
      anaesthesiologists.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Perioperative glycaemic control is an important aspect of clinical
      management in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery under local
      anaesthesia. While poor long-term glycaemic control has significant implications
      for surgery, perioperative hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia may also compromise
      patient safety and surgical outcomes. We aimed to survey ophthalmologists and
      anaesthesiologists on their approach and to identify the prevalent practice
      patterns in Singapore. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based
      survey conducted in four public hospitals in Singapore with established
      ophthalmology and anaesthesia units. Respondents were approached individually,
      and the self-administered questionnaires comprised questions related to practice
      patterns, clinical scenarios and awareness of pre-existing guidelines. RESULTS: A
      total of 129 doctors responded to the questionnaire survey. 76 (58.9%) were from
      ophthalmology departments and 53 (41.1%) were from anaesthesia departments. The
      majority chose to withhold oral hypoglycaemic agents (82.9%) and/or insulin
      (69.8%), and keep the patient fasted preoperatively. A blood glucose level >= 17
      mmol/L prompted 86.0%-93.8% of respondents to adopt a treat-and-defer strategy,
      while a level >= 23 mmol/L prompted 86.0%-96.9% of respondents to cancel the
      cataract surgery. The respondents were consistently more concerned about
      perioperative hyperglycaemia (n = 99, 76.7%) than intraoperative hypoglycaemia (n
      = 83, 64.3%). CONCLUSION: The current study presented the prevalent practice
      patterns of ophthalmologists and anaesthesiologists in the perioperative
      management of diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery in four public
      hospitals in Singapore. Further research in this field is required, and may be
      useful for the future formulation of formal guidelines and protocols.

PMID- 26892743
TI  - Memory effects of sedative drugs in children and adolescents--protocol for a
      systematic review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some sedatives used in children and adolescents can affect memory
      function. Memory impairment of traumatic experience can minimize the chance of
      future psychological trauma. Knowledge about the potential of different sedatives
      to produce amnesia can help in the decision-making process of choosing a sedative
      regimen. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of different
      sedatives on memory of perioperative events in children and adolescents.
      METHODS/DESIGN: Electronic databases and other sources, such as trial registers,
      gray literature, and conference abstracts will be searched. Randomized controlled
      trials will be included that assess memory of perioperative events in children
      and adolescents 2-19 years old receiving sedative drugs as premedication or as
      agents for procedural sedation in a medical or dental settings. The outcomes will
      be loss of memory after and before sedative administration (anterograde and
      retrograde amnesia). Two independent reviewers will perform screening, study
      selection, and data extraction. Disagreement at all levels will be resolved by
      consensus or by involving a third reviewer. Assessment of the risk of bias of
      included studies will be performed according to "Cochrane Collaboration's Tool
      for Assessing Risk of Bias in Randomized Trials." Clinical and methodological
      heterogeneity across studies will be evaluated to determine if it is possible to
      combine or not combine study results in a meta-analysis. DISCUSSION: To the best
      of our knowledge, there is no systematic review that specifically addresses this
      question. Findings from the review will be useful in the decision-making process
      about the best sedative for minimizing recall of the medical/dental event and
      possible psychological trauma. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO
      CRD42015017559.

PMID- 26892744
TI  - Transanal minimally invasive surgery approach for rectal GIST.

PMID- 26892746
TI  - A method of coupling the Paterno-Buchi reaction with direct infusion ESI-MS/MS
      for locating the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond in glycerophospholipids.
AB  - Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) coupled with soft ionization is established as
      an essential platform for lipid analysis; however, determining high order
      structural information, such as the carbon-carbon double bond (C[double bond,
      length as m-dash]C) location, remains challenging. Recently, our group
      demonstrated a method for sensitive and confident lipid C[double bond, length as
      m-dash]C location determination by coupling online the Paterno-Buchi (PB)
      reaction with nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) and MS/MS. Herein, we aimed
      to expand the scope of the PB reaction for lipid analysis by enabling the
      reaction with infusion ESI-MS/MS at much higher flow rates than demonstrated in
      the nanoESI setup (~20 nL min(-1)). In the new design, the PB reaction was
      effected in a fused silica capillary solution transfer line, which also served as
      a microflow UV reactor, prior to ESI. This setup allowed PB reaction optimization
      and kinetics studies. Under optimized conditions, a maximum of 50% PB reaction
      yield could be achieved for a standard glycerophosphocholine (PC) within 6 s of
      UV exposure over a wide flow rate range (0.1-10 MUL min(-1)). A solvent
      composition of 7 : 3 acetone : H2O (with 1% acid or base modifier) allowed the
      highest PB yields and good lipid ionization, while lower yields were obtained
      with an addition of a variety of organic solvents. Radical induced lipid
      peroxidation was identified to induce undesirable side reactions, which could be
      effectively suppressed by eliminating trace oxygen in the solution via N2 purge.
      Finally, the utility of coupling the PB reaction with infusion ESI-MS/MS was
      demonstrated by analyzing a yeast polar lipid extract where C[double bond, length
      as m-dash]C bond locations were revealed for 35 glycerophospholipids (GPs). 

PMID- 26892745
TI  - Plant-Derived and Endogenous Cannabinoids in Epilepsy.
AB  - Cannabis is one of the oldest psychotropic drugs and its anticonvulsant
      properties have been known since the last century. The aim of this review was to
      analyze the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of epilepsy in adults and
      children. In addition, a description of the involvement of the endocannabinoid
      system in epilepsy is given in order to provide a biochemical background to the
      effects of endogenous cannabinoids in our body. General tolerability and adverse
      events associated with cannabis treatment are also investigated. Several
      anecdotal reports and clinical trials suggest that in the human population
      cannabis has anticonvulsant properties and could be effective in treating partial
      epilepsies and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, still known as "grand mal."
      They are based, among other factors, on the observation that in individuals who
      smoke marijuana to treat epilepsy, cessation of cannabis use precipitates the re
      emergence of convulsive seizures, whereas resuming consumption of this
      psychotropic drug controls epilepsy in a reproducible manner. In conclusion,
      there is some anecdotal evidence for the potential efficacy of cannabis in
      treating epilepsy. Though there has been an increased effort by patients with
      epilepsy, their caregivers, growers, and legislators to legalize various forms of
      cannabis, there is still concern about its efficacy, relative potency,
      availability of medication-grade preparations, dosing, and potential short- and
      long-term side effects, including those on prenatal and childhood development.

PMID- 26892747
TI  - A novel holistic framework for genetic-based captive-breeding and reintroduction
      programs.
AB  - Research in reintroduction biology has provided a greater understanding of the
      often limited success of species reintroductions and highlighted the need for
      scientifically rigorous approaches in reintroduction programs. We examined the
      recent genetic-based captive-breeding and reintroduction literature to showcase
      the underuse of the genetic data gathered. We devised a framework that takes full
      advantage of the genetic data through assessment of the genetic makeup of
      populations before (past component of the framework), during (present component),
      and after (future component) captive-breeding and reintroduction events to
      understand their conservation potential and maximize their success. We
      empirically applied our framework to two small fishes: Yarra pygmy perch
      (Nannoperca obscura) and southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis). Each of
      these species has a locally adapted and geographically isolated lineage that is
      endemic to the highly threatened lower Murray-Darling Basin in Australia. These
      two populations were rescued during Australia's recent decade-long Millennium
      Drought, when their persistence became entirely dependent on captive-breeding and
      subsequent reintroduction efforts. Using historical demographic analyses, we
      found differences and similarities between the species in the genetic impacts of
      past natural and anthropogenic events that occurred in situ, such as European
      settlement (past component). Subsequently, successful maintenance of genetic
      diversity in captivity-despite skewed brooder contribution to offspring-was
      achieved through carefully managed genetic-based breeding (present component).
      Finally, genetic monitoring revealed the survival and recruitment of released
      captive-bred offspring in the wild (future component). Our holistic framework
      often requires no additional data collection to that typically gathered in
      genetic-based breeding programs, is applicable to a wide range of species,
      advances the genetic considerations of reintroduction programs, and is expected
      to improve with the use of next-generation sequencing technology.

PMID- 26892749
TI  - Fair Balance and Adequate Provision in Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug
      Online Banner Advertisements: A Content Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The current direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) guidelines were
      developed with print, television, and radio media in mind, and there are no
      specific guidelines for online banner advertisements. OBJECTIVE: This study
      evaluates how well Internet banner ads comply with existing Food and Drug
      Administration (FDA) guidelines for DTCA in other media. METHODS: A content
      analysis was performed of 68 banner advertisements. A coding sheet was developed
      based on (1) FDA guidance documents for consumer-directed prescription drug
      advertisements and (2) previous DTCA content analyses. Specifically, the presence
      of a brief summary detailing the drug's risks and side effects or of a "major
      statement" identifying the drug's major risks, and the number and type of
      provisions made available to consumers for comprehensive information about the
      drug were coded. In addition, the criterion of "fair balance," the FDA's
      requirement that prescription drug ads balance information relating to the drug's
      risks with information relating to its benefits, was measured by numbering the
      benefit and risk facts identified in the ads and by examining the presentation of
      risk and benefit information. RESULTS: Every ad in the sample included a brief
      summary of risk information and at least one form of adequate provision as
      required by the FDA for broadcast ads that do not give audiences a brief summary
      of a drug's risks. No ads included a major statement. There were approximately
      7.18 risk facts for every benefit fact. Most of the risks (98.85%, 1292/1307)
      were presented in the scroll portion of the ad, whereas most of the benefits
      (66.5%, 121/182) were presented in the main part of the ad. Out of 1307 risk
      facts, 1292 were qualitative and 15 were quantitative. Out of 182 benefit facts,
      181 were qualitative and 1 was quantitative. The majority of ads showed neutral
      images during the disclosure of benefit and risk facts. Only 9% (6/68) of the ads
      displayed positive images and none displayed negative images when presenting
      risks facts. When benefit facts were being presented, 7% (5/68) showed only
      positive images. No ads showed negative images when the benefit facts were being
      presented. CONCLUSIONS: In the face of ambiguous regulatory guidelines for online
      banner promotion, drug companies appear to make an attempt to adapt to regulatory
      guidelines designed for traditional media. However, banner ads use various
      techniques of presentation to present the advertised drug in the best possible
      light. The FDA should formalize requirements that drug companies provide a brief
      summary and include multiple forms of adequate provision in banner ads.

PMID- 26892748
TI  - Thermal energy storage characteristics of micro-nanoencapsulated heneicosane and
      octacosane with poly(methylmethacrylate) shell.
AB  - In this study, PMMA/heneicosane (C21) and PMMA/octacosane (C28) micro-nano
      capsules were fabricated via emulsion polymerisation method. The chemical
      structures of the fabricated capsules were verified with the FT-IR spectroscopy
      analysis. The results of POM, SEM and PSD analysis indicated that most of the
      capsules were consisted of micro/nano-sized spheres with compact surface. The DSC
      measurements showed that the capsules had melting temperature in the range of
      about 39-60  degrees C and latent heat energy storage capacity in the range of
      about 138-152 J/g. The results of TGA showed that sublimit temperature values
      regarding the first degradation steps of both capsules were quite over the phase
      change or working temperatures of encapsulated paraffins. The thermal cycling
      test exhibited that the capsules had good thermal reliability and chemical
      stability. Additionally, the prepared capsules had reasonably high thermal
      conductivity. 

PMID- 26892750
TI  - A magnetic vehicle realized tumor cell-targeted radiotherapy using low-dose
      radiation.
AB  - Radiotherapy, a common cancer treatment, often adversely affects the surrounding
      healthy tissue and/or cells. Some tumor tissue-focused radiation therapies have
      been developed to lower radiation-induced lesion formation; however, achieving
      tumor cell-targeted radiotherapy (i.e., precisely focusing the radiation efficacy
      to tumor cells) remains a challenge. In the present study, we developed a novel
      tumor cell-targeted radiotherapy, named targeted sensitization-enhanced
      radiotherapy (TSER), that exploits tumor-specific folic acid-conjugated
      carboxymethyl lauryl chitosan/superparamagnetic iron oxide (FA-CLC/SPIO) micelles
      to effectively deliver chlorin e6 (Ce6, a sonosensitizer) to mitochondria of HeLa
      cells under magnetic guidance. For the in vitro tests, the sensitization of Ce6
      induced by ultrasound, that could weaken the radiation resistant ability of tumor
      cells, occurred only in Ce6-internalizing tumor cells. Therefore, low-dose X-ray
      irradiation, that was not harmful to normal cells, could exert high tumor cell
      specific killing ability. The ratio of viable normal cells to tumor cells was
      increased considerably, from 7.8 (at 24h) to 97.1 (at 72h), after they had
      received TSER treatment. Our data suggest that TSER treatment significantly
      weakens tumor cells, resulting in decreased viability in vitro as well as
      decreased in vivo subcutaneous tumor growth in nude mice, while the adverse
      effects were minimal. Taken together, TSER treatment appears to be an effective,
      clinically feasible tumor cell-targeted radiotherapy that can solve the problems
      of traditional radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. 

PMID- 26892751
TI  - Fluorescence optical imaging in anticancer drug delivery.
AB  - In the past several decades, nanosized drug delivery systems with various
      targeting functions and controlled drug release capabilities inside targeted
      tissues or cells have been intensively studied. Understanding their
      pharmacokinetic properties is crucial for the successful transition of this
      research into clinical practice. Among others, fluorescence imaging has become
      one of the most commonly used imaging tools in pre-clinical research. The
      development of increasing numbers of suitable fluorescent dyes excitable in the
      visible to near-infrared wavelengths of the spectrum has significantly expanded
      the applicability of fluorescence imaging. This paper focuses on the potential
      applications and limitations of non-invasive imaging techniques in the field of
      drug delivery, especially in anticancer therapy. Fluorescent imaging at both the
      cellular and systemic levels is discussed in detail. Additionally, we explore the
      possibility for simultaneous treatment and imaging using theranostics and
      combinations of different imaging techniques, e.g., fluorescence imaging with
      computed tomography. 

PMID- 26892752
TI  - Nanocarriers for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme: Current state-of-the
      art.
AB  - Glioblastoma multiforme, a grade IV glioma, is the most frequently occurring and
      invasive primary tumor of the central nervous system, which causes about 4% of
      cancer-associated-deaths, making it one of the most fatal cancers. With present
      treatments, using state-of-the-art technologies, the median survival is about 14
      months and 2 year survival rate is merely 3-5%. Hence, novel therapeutic
      approaches are urgently necessary. However, most drug molecules are not able to
      cross the blood-brain barrier, which is one of the major difficulties in
      glioblastoma treatment. This review describes the features of blood-brain
      barrier, and its anatomical changes with different stages of tumor growth.
      Moreover, various strategies to improve brain drug delivery i.e. tight junction
      opening, chemical modification of the drug, efflux transporter inhibition,
      convection-enhanced delivery, craniotomy-based drug delivery and drug delivery
      nanosystems are discussed. Nanocarriers are one of the highly potential drug
      transport systems that have gained huge research focus over the last few decades
      for site specific drug delivery, including drug delivery to the brain. Properly
      designed nanocolloids are capable to cross the blood-brain barrier and
      specifically deliver the drug in the brain tumor tissue. They can carry both
      hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, protect them from degradation, release the
      drug for sustained period, significantly improve the plasma circulation half-life
      and reduce toxic effects. Among various nanocarriers, liposomes, polymeric
      nanoparticles and lipid nanocapsules are the most widely studied, and are
      discussed in this review. For each type of nanocarrier, a general discussion
      describing their composition, characteristics, types and various uses is followed
      by their specific application to glioblastoma treatment. Moreover, some of the
      main challenges regarding toxicity and standardized evaluation techniques are
      narrated in brief.

PMID- 26892753
TI  - Neuropsychological Functioning in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:
      Associations with Performance Validity, Comorbidities, and Functional Outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have shown that individuals with posttraumatic
      stress disorder (PTSD) display reduced performances on neuropsychological tests,
      although most prior research has not adequately accounted for comorbidities or
      performance validity concerns that are common in this population and could
      partially account for the observed neurocognitive findings. Moreover, few studies
      have examined the functional implications of neuropsychological results in PTSD.
      METHODS: We examined neuropsychological functioning in 44 veterans with PTSD and
      40 veteran trauma comparison (TC) participants with combat exposure and no PTSD.
      RESULTS: After excluding four veterans with PTSD for performance validity
      concerns, multivariate analyses of variance by neurocognitive domain revealed
      significantly worse performance by the PTSD group in the domains of speed of
      information processing (p=.035) and executive functions (p=.017), but no group
      differences in attention/working memory, verbal/language functioning,
      visuoconstruction, or episodic memory. Group differences by PTSD status were
      still present after covarying for depression, a history of head injuries, and
      substance use disorders. Executive functioning performance was associated with
      poorer self-reported occupational functioning and physical health-related quality
      of life, while speed of information processing performance was associated with
      poorer physical health-related quality of life. DISCUSSION: These results are
      generally consistent with a fronto-limbic conceptualization of PTSD-associated
      neuropsychological dysfunction and show that cognitive functioning may be
      associated with critical functional outcomes. Taken together, results suggest
      that consideration of neurocognitive functioning may enhance the clinical
      management of individuals with PTSD.

PMID- 26892754
TI  - Resonance assignment of an engineered amino-terminal domain of a major ampullate
      spider silk with neutralized charge cluster.
AB  - Spider dragline fibers are predominantly made out of the major ampullate
      spidroins (MaSp) 1 and 2. The assembly of dissolved spidroin into a stable fiber
      is highly controlled for example by dimerization of its amino-terminal domain
      (NRN) upon acidification, as well as removal of sodium chloride along the
      spinning duct. Clustered residues D39, E76 and E81 are the most highly conserved
      residues of the five-helix bundle, and they are hypothesized to be key residues
      for switching between a monomeric and a dimeric conformation. Simultaneous
      replacement of these residues by their non-titratable analogues results in
      variant D39N/E76Q/E81Q, which is supposed to fold into an intermediate
      conformation between that of the monomeric and the dimeric state at neutral pH.
      Here we report the resonance assignment of Latrodectus hesperus NRN variant
      D39N/E76Q/E81Q at pH 7.2 obtained by high-resolution triple resonance NMR
      spectroscopy.

PMID- 26892755
TI  - Long-range superharmonic Josephson current and spin-triplet pairing correlations
      in a junction with ferromagnetic bilayers.
AB  - The long-range spin-triplet supercurrent transport is an interesting phenomenon
      in the superconductor/ferromagnet () heterostructure containing noncollinear
      magnetic domains. Here we study the long-range superharmonic Josephson current in
      asymmetric junctions. It is demonstrated that this current is induced by spin
      triplet pairs  -  or  +  in the thick layer. The magnetic rotation of the
      particularly thin layer will not only modulate the amplitude of the superharmonic
      current but also realise the conversion between  -  and  + . Moreover, the
      critical current shows an oscillatory dependence on thickness and exchange field
      in the layer. These effect can be used for engineering cryoelectronic devices
      manipulating the superharmonic current. In contrast, the critical current
      declines monotonically with increasing exchange field of the layer, and if the
      layer is converted into half-metal, the long-range supercurrent is prohibited but
      still exists within the entire region. This phenomenon contradicts the
      conventional wisdom and indicates the occurrence of spin and charge separation in
      present junction, which could lead to useful spintronics devices. 

PMID- 26892757
TI  - Habitat-related specialization of lateral-line system morphology in a habitat
      generalist and a habitat-specialist New Zealand eleotrid.
AB  - An investigation of intraspecific habitat-related patterns of variation in
      oculoscapular lateral-line superficial neuromasts (SN) identified a decrease in
      the ratio of total SNs to pores, and a trend towards decreased asymmetry in SNs
      in the habitat-generalist common bully Gobiomorphus cotidianus from fluvial
      habitats compared to lacustrine habitats, suggesting habitat-related phenotypic
      variability. A greater ratio of pores to SNs, as well as less variation in the
      total number and asymmetry of SNs observed in the fluvial habitat-specialist
      redfin bully Gobiomorphus huttoni may provide further evidence of variations in
      the oculoscapular lateral-line morphology of fluvial habitat G. cotidianus
      individuals serving as adaptations to more turbulent environments. 

PMID- 26892756
TI  - Development and Feasibility of a Specialty-Specific National Surgical Quality
      Improvement Program (NSQIP): The Head and Neck-Reconstructive Surgery NSQIP.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality
      Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) serves the need for continual quality assessment
      in general surgery. Previously, no parallel mechanism specific to head and neck
      oncologic surgery existed. OBJECTIVE: To address the need for continual quality
      assessment in subspecialty surgery by adapting the ACS NSQIP platform for complex
      head and neck oncologic surgical procedures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:
      With an institutional ACS NSQIP team's guidance, surgeons from the departments of
      head and neck surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery developed disease-
      and procedure-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables
      specific to head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction. Collection occurred
      with 100% sampling and standard ACS NSQIP 30-day follow-up. After a pilot period,
      long-term functional outcomes were added to this platform. A total of 312
      patients underwent head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction at an academic
      medical center between August 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. EXPOSURES: Development
      of a specialty-specific head and neck surgery ACS NSQIP platform. MAIN OUTCOMES
      AND MEASURES: The feasibility of adapting the ACS NSQIP platform to capture
      complex head and neck surgery metrics in all patients. RESULTS: Head and neck
      surgery-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were
      added to the ACS NSQIP platform and evaluated in 312 patients (201 [64.4%] male).
      Only 42 patients (13.5%) had no preoperative risk factors, and 136 (43.6%) had 3
      or more risk factors. The mean (SD) duration of operation was 9.4 (3.0) hours
      (range, 1.7-19.3 hours). The mean (SD) postoperative length of stay was 7.9 (4.7)
      days (range, 1-40 days), 58 patients (18.6%) had an unplanned return to the
      operating room, 23 patients (7.4%) were readmitted within 30 days, and 3 patients
      (1.0%) died within 30 days. More than half of the patients (160 [51.3%]) did not
      experience a postoperative occurrence. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: To our
      knowledge, this is the first comprehensive complex oncologic surgery outcomes
      platform derived from ACS NSQIP methods. The initial pilot demonstrates the
      ability to systematically capture head and neck surgery-specific variables with
      complete sampling. With multi-institutional expansion, increased accrual, and
      long-term patient-reported outcomes, we hope to set risk-adjusted benchmarks that
      may underpin quality improvement efforts in complex head and neck surgery.

PMID- 26892758
TI  - High cortisol responders to stress show increased sedation to alcohol compared to
      low cortisol responders: An alcohol dose-response study.
AB  - AIMS: The present study was designed to examine the relationship between high and
      low cortisol response to an acute stressful situation and the subjective effects
      after different doses of alcohol, in healthy social drinkers. METHOD: Sixty-four
      subjects (32 men and 32 women) participated in one laboratory session. They
      performed a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) immediately
      before consumption of either placebo or alcohol (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg). Subjects
      in each dose group were then divided into high (HCR; n=32) or low (LCR; n=32)
      cortisol responders. Primary dependent measures were self-report questionnaires
      of mood. RESULTS: The HCR reported increased ratings on Sedation on the Biphasic
      Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) with increased dose in comparison with the LCR. This
      increase in sedation also correlated to the increase in cortisol levels.
      CONCLUSION: We conclude that a high cortisol response to stress modulates the
      subjective response to alcohol, dose-dependently. HCR subjects experience
      increased sedative effects of alcohol after consumption of higher doses of
      alcohol following stress compared to LCR subjects.

PMID- 26892759
TI  - Effects of escitalopram, R-citalopram, and reboxetine on serum levels of tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10, and depression-like behavior in mice after
      lipopolysaccharide administration.
AB  - Inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression. The purpose of
      this study is to examine whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
      (SSRI) escitalopram, its inactive enantiomer R-citalopram, and selective
      noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI) reboxetine, show anti-inflammatory and
      antidepressant effects in an inflammation-induced model of depression.
      Pretreatment with escitalopram (1, 3, or 10mg/kg, i.p.) markedly blocked an
      increase in the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor
      alpha (TNF-alpha), after a single administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS;
      0.5mg/kg). Furthermore, escitalopram (3 or 10mg/kg) significantly increased the
      serum levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) by a single
      administration of LPS. In contrast, pretreatment with R-citalopram (10mg/kg,
      i.p.) or reboxetine (10mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the alterations in serum
      levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 after LPS administration. Co-administration of
      reboxetine with escitalopram did not show anti-inflammatory effects. Pretreatment
      with escitalopram (10mg/kg) significantly attenuated LPS-induced increase of the
      immobility time in the tail-suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST).
      In contrast, pretreatment with R-citalopram (10mg/kg), or reboxetine (10mg/kg)
      did not alter LPS-induced increase of immobility time of TST and FST.
      Interestingly, co-administration of reboxetine with escitalopram did not show
      antidepressant effect in this model. These findings suggest that escitalopram,
      but not R-citalopram and reboxetine, has anti-inflammatory and antidepressant
      effects in LPS-treated model of depression, and that reboxetine can antagonize
      the effects of escitalopram in the inflammation model. Therefore, it is likely
      that serotonergic system plays a key role in the pathophysiology of inflammation
      induced depression. 

PMID- 26892761
TI  - Agranulocytosis in a Pediatric Patient Treated With Ceftaroline.

PMID- 26892762
TI  - Deployable Soft Composite Structures.
AB  - Deployable structure composed of smart materials based actuators can reconcile
      its inherently conflicting requirements of low mass, good shape adaptability, and
      high load-bearing capability. This work describes the fabrication of deployable
      structures using smart soft composite actuators combining a soft matrix with
      variable stiffness properties and hinge-like movement through a rigid skeleton.
      The hinge actuator has the advantage of being simple to fabricate, inexpensive,
      lightweight and simple to actuate. This basic actuator can then be used to form
      modules capable of different types of deformations, which can then be assembled
      into deployable structures. The design of deployable structures is based on three
      principles: design of basic hinge actuators, assembly of modules and assembly of
      modules into large-scale deployable structures. Various deployable structures
      such as a segmented triangular mast, a planar structure comprised of single-loop
      hexagonal modules and a ring structure comprised of single-loop quadrilateral
      modules were designed and fabricated to verify this approach. Finally, a
      prototype for a deployable mirror was developed by attaching a foldable
      reflective membrane to the designed ring structure and its functionality was
      tested by using it to reflect sunlight onto to a small-scale solar panel. 

PMID- 26892763
TI  - Mohr's method challenge.

PMID- 26892760
TI  - Centrally acting non-narcotic antitussives prevent hyperactivity in mice:
      Involvement of GIRK channels.
AB  - We have previously reported that centrally acting non-narcotic antitussives
      inhibited G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel
      activated currents, and that the antitussives had multiple pharmacological
      actions on various models of intractable brain diseases in rodents. In this
      study, the question of whether these antitussives inhibit drug-induced
      hyperactivity in mice was investigated. Antitussives, such as cloperastine and
      tipepidine, at cough suppressant doses, inhibited an increase in ambulation of
      mice neonatally treated with 6-hydroxydopamine. In addition, all antitussives
      studied inhibited an increase in methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice.
      Methylphenidate, which is used for treatment of ADHD, inhibited 6-hydroxydopamine
      lesion-induced, but not methamphetamine-induced, hyperactivity in mice. By the
      rota-rod test, the drugs had little effect on motor coordination of the
      hyperactive mice. Significant correlation was found between the ameliorating
      effects of antitussives on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and their
      inhibitory actions on GIRK channel currents (coefficient factor, 0.998).
      Furthermore, tertiapin, a GIRK channel blocker, prevented an increase in
      methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity of mice. These results demonstrated that
      antitussive drugs (cloperastine, tipepidine and caramiphen) possessing inhibitory
      action on GIRK channels inhibit drug-induced hyperactivity in mice, suggesting
      that such antitussives may potentially be therapeutic for patients with ADHD. 

PMID- 26892764
TI  - Solution to doubling spectroscopy challenge.

PMID- 26892765
TI  - The Impact of Metastatic Lymph Nodes on Risk Stratification in Differentiated
      Thyroid Cancer: Have We Reached a Higher Level of Understanding?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The revised American Thyroid Association (ATA) management guidelines
      for differentiated thyroid cancer emphasize a variety of clinicopathologic
      features of metastatic lymph nodes in determining the risk of recurrence. The
      mere presence of a positive node is not sufficient to confer reliable prognostic
      significance. The number and size of lymph nodes, as well as the presence of
      extranodal extension (ENE), impact risk stratification. Moreover, the presence of
      clinically evident lymph nodes is important for determining risk of recurrence. A
      patient's place on the risk spectrum has ramifications for the management of
      differentiated thyroid cancer. However, there are inherent inconsistencies in the
      identification and characterization of metastatic lymph nodes. Moreover, the
      significance of ENE must be clarified. SUMMARY: There are many obstacles to the
      consistent reporting of metastatic lymph nodes. What constitutes a "clinically
      evident" lymph node has not been well defined, lacks precision, and varies
      depending on clinical context, as well as the experience of the surgeon and the
      ultrasonographer. The number of lymph nodes sampled by surgeons and reported by
      pathologists may vary from institution to institution. The literature on ENE has
      been limited by the fact that the definition of ENE has not been standardized.
      Nevertheless, 17/19 manuscripts reviewed herein suggest that ENE confers a worse
      prognosis. The ATA risk stratification for metastatic lymph nodes published in
      the 2015 guidelines combines clinicopathological features that are variably
      identified and reported across institutions. This review brings into question the
      significance of the number of nodes with ENE, a factor that is used as an
      important stratifying variable in the latest guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic
      lymph nodes do not all carry the same prognostic significance, but a risk
      assignment based on the ATA guidelines is limited by a lack of standardization in
      clinical and pathologic definitions, lymph node sampling, and reporting. This
      study reviews the limitations of prior studies on ENE and concludes that the body
      of the evidence reported in those studies suggests that ENE increases the risk of
      recurrence. The impact of ENE in lymph nodes in thyroid cancer risk
      stratification should be reconsidered.

PMID- 26892767
TI  - The experiences of protective isolation in patients undergoing bone marrow or
      haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: systematic review and metasynthesis.
AB  - Protective isolation is aimed at preventing infection in neutropenic patients,
      but it is implemented inconsistently across centres and is supported by
      recommendations with poor evidence. This review and metasynthesis explored the
      experiences and the psychological implications of protective isolation in
      patients with haematological malignancies undergoing bone marrow (BMT) or
      haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A systematic search of multiple
      databases for qualitative studies exploring BMT or HSCT patients' experiences of
      protective isolation was completed. The metasynthesis followed the meta
      aggregative method from the Joanna Briggs Institute, with four procedural steps:
      (1) comprehensive search, (2) quality appraisal, (3) extraction of relevant
      findings and (4) synthesis of the identified findings. Twenty-six findings were
      extracted from 11 articles included in the review. The synthesising process
      yielded seven categories, aggregated into three synthesised findings: (1)
      isolation is a source of suffering, (2) isolation can lead to relating with
      oneself and (3) the person does not close the door to the outside world. This
      metasynthesis sheds light on patients' suffering from being isolated, and the
      possibility of overcoming this suffering thanks to relationships that patients
      have with themselves and with the external world. Healthcare providers should
      reconsider this practise in order to avoid unnecessary patient suffering.

PMID- 26892766
TI  - Patients with celiac disease may have normal weight or may even be overweight.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is believed that patients with celiac disease (CeD) are likely to
      be underweight. Data from west suggest that 8% to 40% of them can be overweight
      or obese. We reviewed data on body mass index (BMI) of our patients with CeD and
      derived the correlations between BMI and other disease characteristics. METHODS:
      We retrospectively studied case records of 210 adolescent and adult patients with
      CeD at the Celiac Disease Clinic. We classified BMI as underweight, normal
      weight, overweight, and obese based on the Consensus Statement for Diagnosis of
      Obesity, Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome for Asian Indians for those
      with age >18 years and revised Indian Association of Pediatrics BMI-for-age
      charts for those between 12 and 18 years. RESULTS: Of 210 patients, 76 (36.2%)
      were underweight, 115 (54.8%) were normal weight, 13 (6.2%) were overweight, and
      6 (2.9%) were obese. There was no difference in the proportion of underweight
      between male and female patients with CeD. The mean age of underweight patients
      was similar to those having normal or overweight. There was no difference in the
      mean duration of symptoms; frequencies of diarrhea, anorexia, and weakness;
      anemia; titer of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody; and severity of villous
      atrophy in those with underweight or normal weight or overweight. CONCLUSIONS: In
      our practice, only one third of patients with CeD had low BMI. A diagnosis of CeD
      should not be excluded if patient has normal or high BMI.

PMID- 26892769
TI  - Many faces of dogmatism: Prejudice as a way of protecting certainty against value
      violators among dogmatic believers and atheists.
AB  - In this article, we suggest that dogmatic beliefs, manifested as strong beliefs
      that there is no God (i.e., dogmatic atheism) as well as strong beliefs in God
      (i.e., religious orthodoxy), can serve as a cognitive response to uncertainty.
      Moreover, we claim that people who dogmatically do not believe in religion and
      those who dogmatically believe in religion are equally prone to intolerance and
      prejudice towards groups that violate their important values. That is because
      prejudice towards these groups may be an efficient strategy to protect the
      certainty that strong beliefs provide. We tested these assumptions in two
      studies. In Study 1 and Study 2, we demonstrated that dogmatic beliefs mediate
      the relationship between intolerance to uncertainty and both, religious orthodoxy
      and dogmatic atheism. In addition, in Study 2 we showed that both the religiously
      orthodox and dogmatic atheists become prejudiced towards groups that violate
      their values and that these effects are especially strong under experimentally
      induced uncertainty. In this study, we focused on atheists and homosexuals as
      groups that pose a threat to Christian's religious worldviews, and Catholics and
      pro-life supporters as groups that pose a threat to the values of atheists. The
      results are discussed in relation to past research on dogmatism and religion, as
      well as with reference to what this means for the study of prejudice.

PMID- 26892768
TI  - Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce Cd uptake and alleviate Cd toxicity of
      Lonicera japonica grown in Cd-added soils?
AB  - A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the impact of arbuscular
      mycorrhizal fungi--Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on
      the growth, Cd uptake, antioxidant indices [glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate
      peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate (ASA),
      glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] and phytochelatins (PCs) production of
      Lonicera japonica in Cd-amended soils. Gv and Ri significantly increased P
      acquisition, biomass of shoots and roots at all Cd treatments. Gv significantly
      decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and roots, and Ri also obviously reduced Cd
      concentrations in shoots but increased Cd concentrations in roots. Meanwhile,
      activities of CAT, APX and GR, and contents of ASA and PCs were remarkably higher
      in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants than those of uninoculated plants, but lower MDA and
      GSH contents in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants were found. In conclusion, Gv and Ri
      symbiosis alleviated Cd toxicity of L. japonica through the decline of shoot Cd
      concentrations and the improvement of P nutrition, PCs content and activities of
      GR, CAT, APX in inoculated plants, and then improved plant growth. The decrease
      of shoot Cd concentrations in L. japonica inoculated with Gv/Ri would provide a
      clue for safe production of this plant from Cd-contaminated soils.

PMID- 26892772
TI  - Erratum to: Route and survey processing of topographical memory during
      navigation.

PMID- 26892771
TI  - The 10 largest public and philanthropic funders of health research in the world:
      what they fund and how they distribute their funds.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about who the main public and philanthropic funders
      of health research are globally, what they fund and how they decide what gets
      funded. This study aims to identify the 10 largest public and philanthropic
      health research funding organizations in the world, to report on what they fund,
      and on how they distribute their funds. METHODS: The world's key health research
      funding organizations were identified through a search strategy aimed at
      identifying different types of funding organizations. Organizations were ranked
      by their reported total annual health research expenditures. For the 10 largest
      funding organizations, data were collected on (1) funding amounts allocated
      towards 20 health areas, and (2) schemes employed for distributing funding
      (intramural/extramural, project/'people'/organizational and targeted/untargeted
      funding). Data collection consisted of a review of reports and websites and
      interviews with representatives of funding organizations. Data collection was
      challenging; data were often not reported or reported using different
      classification systems. RESULTS: Overall, 55 key health research funding
      organizations were identified. The 10 largest funding organizations together
      funded research for $37.1 billion, constituting 40% of all public and
      philanthropic health research spending globally. The largest funder was the
      United States National Institutes of Health ($26.1 billion), followed by the
      European Commission ($3.7 billion), and the United Kingdom Medical Research
      Council ($1.3 billion). The largest philanthropic funder was the Wellcome Trust
      ($909.1 million), the largest funder of health research through official
      development assistance was USAID ($186.4 million), and the largest multilateral
      funder was the World Health Organization ($135.0 million). Funding distribution
      mechanisms and funding patterns varied substantially between the 10 largest
      funders. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for increased transparency about who the
      main funders of health research are globally, what they fund and how they decide
      on what gets funded, and for improving the evidence base for various funding
      models. Data on organizations' funding patterns and funding distribution
      mechanisms are often not available, and when they are, they are reported using
      different classification systems. To start increasing transparency in health
      research funding, we have established www.healthresearchfunders.org that lists
      health research funding organizations worldwide and their health research
      expenditures.

PMID- 26892770
TI  - DNA origami based Au-Ag-core-shell nanoparticle dimers with single-molecule SERS
      sensitivity.
AB  - DNA origami nanostructures are a versatile tool to arrange metal nanostructures
      and other chemical entities with nanometer precision. In this way gold
      nanoparticle dimers with defined distance can be constructed, which can be
      exploited as novel substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We
      have optimized the size, composition and arrangement of Au/Ag nanoparticles to
      create intense SERS hot spots, with Raman enhancement up to 10(10), which is
      sufficient to detect single molecules by Raman scattering. This is demonstrated
      using single dye molecules (TAMRA and Cy3) placed into the center of the
      nanoparticle dimers. In conjunction with the DNA origami nanostructures novel
      SERS substrates are created, which can in the future be applied to the SERS
      analysis of more complex biomolecular targets, whose position and conformation
      within the SERS hot spot can be precisely controlled. 

PMID- 26892773
TI  - An interpolated activity during the knowledge-of-results delay interval
      eliminates the learning advantages of self-controlled feedback schedules.
AB  - The learning advantages of self-controlled knowledge-of-results (KR) schedules
      compared to yoked schedules have been linked to the optimization of the
      informational value of the KR received for the enhancement of one's error
      detection capabilities. This suggests that information-processing activities that
      occur after motor execution, but prior to receiving KR (i.e., the KR-delay
      interval) may underlie self-controlled KR learning advantages. The present
      experiment investigated whether self-controlled KR learning benefits would be
      eliminated if an interpolated activity was performed during the KR-delay
      interval. Participants practiced a waveform matching task that required two rapid
      elbow extension-flexion reversals in one of four groups using a factorial
      combination of choice (self-controlled, yoked) and KR-delay interval (empty,
      interpolated). The waveform had specific spatial and temporal constraints, and an
      overall movement time goal. The results indicated that the self-controlled +
      empty group had superior retention and transfer scores compared to all other
      groups. Moreover, the self-controlled + interpolated and yoked + interpolated
      groups did not differ significantly in retention and transfer; thus, the
      interpolated activity eliminated the typically found learning benefits of self
      controlled KR. No significant differences were found between the two yoked
      groups. We suggest the interpolated activity interfered with information
      processing activities specific to self-controlled KR conditions that occur during
      the KR-delay interval and that these activities are vital for reaping the
      associated learning benefits. These findings add to the growing evidence that
      challenge the motivational account of self-controlled KR learning advantages and
      instead highlights informational factors associated with the KR-delay interval as
      an important variable for motor learning under self-controlled KR schedules.

PMID- 26892774
TI  - The natural history of latent rheumatic heart disease in a 5 year follow-up
      study: a prospective observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) occurs in asymptomatic
      individuals with echocardiographic evidence of RHD and no history of acute
      rheumatic fever. The natural history of latent RHD is unclear but has important
      clinical and economic implications about whether these children should receive
      penicillin prophylaxis or not. We performed a 5-year prospective study of this
      question. METHODS: In August 2013 through September 2014, we conducted a follow
      up study of latent RHD among school pupils using the World Heart Federation (WHF)
      echocardiographic criteria. Contingency tables were used to assess progression,
      persistence or regression of latent RHD. RESULTS: Forty two borderline and 13
      definite cases of RHD (n 55) were identified, 44 (80%; mean age 13.8 +/- 4.0
      years; 29 (65.9%) female) of whom were available for echocardiographic
      examination at a median follow-up of 60.8 months (interquartile range 51.3-63.5).
      Over the follow-up period, half the participants (n = 23; 52.3%) improved to
      normal or better WHF category (regressors), a third (n = 14, 31.8%) remained in
      the same category (persistors), while seven others (15.9%) progressed from
      borderline to definite RHD (progressors). In total, 21 subjects (47.7%) reverted
      to a normal status, nine (20.4%) either improved from definite to borderline or
      remained in the borderline category, and 14 (31.8%) either remained definite or
      progressed from borderline to a definite status. Two cases (20%) progressed to
      symptomatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Latent RHD has a variable natural history that
      ranges from regression to normal in nearly half of cases, to persistence,
      progression or development of symptoms in the remainder of subjects.

PMID- 26892775
TI  - A block mixture model to map eQTLs for gene clustering and networking.
AB  - To study how genes function in a cellular and physiological process, a general
      procedure is to classify gene expression profiles into categories based on their
      similarity and reconstruct a regulatory network for functional elements. However,
      this procedure has not been implemented with the genetic mechanisms that underlie
      the organization of gene clusters and networks, despite much effort made to map
      expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) that affect the expression of
      individual genes. Here we address this issue by developing a computational
      approach that integrates gene clustering and network reconstruction with genetic
      mapping into a unifying framework. The approach can not only identify specific
      eQTLs that control how genes are clustered and organized toward biological
      functions, but also enable the investigation of the biological mechanisms that
      individual eQTLs perturb in a signaling pathway. We applied the new approach to
      characterize the effects of eQTLs on the structure and organization of gene
      clusters in Caenorhabditis elegans. This study provides the first
      characterization, to our knowledge, of the effects of genetic variants on the
      regulatory network of gene expression. The approach developed can also facilitate
      the genetic dissection of other dynamic processes, including development,
      physiology and disease progression in any organisms. 

PMID- 26892776
TI  - Trends and patterns of antibiotic consumption in Shanghai municipality, China: a
      6 year surveillance with sales records, 2009-14.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify the trends and patterns
      of total antibiotic use in Shanghai from 2009 to 2014. METHODS: Sales records
      were collected from a minimum of 160 hospitals and 241 primary healthcare
      settings and used as a proxy for consumption. Antibiotic sales expressed in DDD
      per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) were calculated. We compared patterns of
      antibiotic use in the Shanghai municipality, populated by 24 million inhabitants,
      with European countries using indicators from the European Surveillance of
      Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC). RESULTS: Total antibiotic use was highest at
      25.9 DID in 2010, fell to 17.8 DID in 2012 and remained stable thereafter. The
      majority of this reduction occurred over 6 months in 2011. In 2014, two-thirds of
      the antibiotic sales were to hospitals (serving both inpatients and outpatients)
      and one-third to primary healthcare institutions. Cephalosporins accounted for
      50.2% of total DID, followed by macrolides (18.2%), quinolones (16.0%) and
      penicillins (7.3%). A fifth of all antibiotics were used in parenteral form.
      CONCLUSIONS: We have successfully used aggregated sales data to monitor
      antibiotic usage across a large urban population over a 6 year period. A rapid,
      substantial and sustained reduction in antibiotic usage across the entire health
      system occurred. This coincided with several interventions across hierarchies in
      the health sector, including a national campaign. The patterns of antibiotic use
      indicate persistent preferences for cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones and
      parenteral preparations. Further efforts are needed to investigate and improve
      the quality of antibiotic use.

PMID- 26892778
TI  - Chromobacterium spp. harbour Ambler class A beta-lactamases showing high identity
      with KPC.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The origin of KPC is unknown. The aim of this study was to detect
      progenitors of KPC in silico and to functionally verify their beta-lactam
      hydrolysis activity. METHODS: The sequence of KPC-2 was used to mine the NCBI
      protein sequence database. The best non-KPC hits were analysed by amino acid (aa)
      alignment and phylogenetic tree construction. Genes encoding KPC-2 homologues
      were expressed in Escherichia coli. The carbapenemase activities of the
      recombinant strains were characterized by the CarbaNP test and UV
      spectrophotometry and MICs of selected beta-lactams were determined. RESULTS:
      Genes encoding the closest KPC-2 homologues were identified on the chromosome of
      Chromobacterium piscinae strain ND17 (CRP-1, 76% aa identity), Chromobacterium
      sp. C-61 (CRS-1, 70% aa identity) and Chromobacterium haemolyticum DSM19808 (CRH
      1, 69% aa identity). All three Chromobacterium beta-lactamases were
      phylogenetically more related to KPC than to other Ambler class A beta
      lactamases. The 27 bp region preceding the start codon of blaCRP-1 displayed high
      nucleotide identity to the corresponding region upstream from blaKPC (74%).
      Heterologous expression of blaCRP-1 and to a lesser extent of blaCRH-1 in E. coli
      significantly increased the MICs of meropenem and most cephalosporins. The
      CarbaNP test was positive for both recombinant strains, but spectrophotometric
      analysis confirmed higher carbapenemase activity for CRP-1-producing clones.
      CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of three class A beta-lactamases with up to 76% aa
      identity to KPC from distinct Chromobacterium species is highly indicative of the
      role played by this genus in the evolution of KPC.

PMID- 26892779
TI  - Non-susceptibility of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp.,
      Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus in the UK: temporal trends in
      England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To monitor and compare trends in the non-susceptibility of
      bloodstream isolates of pathogens to key antibiotics in the constituent countries
      of the UK between 2010 and 2014. METHODS: Routinely generated antibiotic
      susceptibility test results for bloodstream isolates of Escherichia coli,
      Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus
      pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were collected from hospital microbiology
      laboratories in each country. RESULTS: With the exception of a decrease in the
      proportion of S. aureus that were MRSA, non-susceptibility to key antibiotics
      among the pathogens studied remained largely unchanged over the 5 year study
      period, with any increases in non-susceptibility being small. Although some
      intercountry variation in the proportions of non-susceptible isolates was seen,
      apart from MRSA, the differences were generally small (<5%) and fluctuated from
      year to year, with no country showing consistently higher or lower rates of
      resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Collaboration between the constituent countries of the
      UK allows an integrated approach to nationwide surveillance of antibiotic
      resistance.

PMID- 26892777
TI  - Pharmacogenetics of unboosted atazanavir in HIV-infected individuals in resource
      limited settings: a sub-study of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) PEARLS
      study (NWCS 342).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The multinational PEARLS (ACTG A5175) study, conducted mainly in
      resource-limited settings, identified an increased treatment failure rate among
      HIV-infected individuals randomized to once-daily unboosted atazanavir,
      didanosine-EC, and emtricitabine compared with efavirenz-based regimens. We
      evaluated associations between selected human genetic polymorphisms and
      atazanavir pharmacokinetics in PEARLS. METHODS: Polymorphisms in CYP3A5, ABCB1,
      SLCO1B1 and NR1I2 were genotyped in PEARLS participants randomized to atazanavir
      plus didanosine-EC plus emtricitabine in Peru, South Africa and the USA, who also
      consented to genetic analysis. Non-linear mixed-effects population
      pharmacokinetic modelling was used to predict atazanavir oral clearance (CL/F)
      and concentration at 24 h (C24). Atazanavir mono-oxidation metabolites M1 and M2
      were quantified from the same single-point plasma sample used to quantify the
      parent drug. Data were log10 transformed for statistical analysis using unpaired
      t-tests and one-way ANOVA and are presented as geometric mean (95% CI). RESULTS:
      Eighty-four HIV-infected participants were genotyped, including 44 Black Africans
      or African Americans and 28 women. Median age was 34 years. We identified 56
      CYP3A5 expressers and 28 non-expressers. Atazanavir CL/F and C24 did not differ
      between CYP3A5 expressers and non-expressers: 13.2 (12.1-14.4) versus 12.7 L/h
      (11.7-13.9), P = 0.61, and 75.3 (46.1-123.0) versus 130.9 ng/mL (86.9-197.2), P =
      0.14, respectively. M1/atazanavir and M2/atazanavir ratios were higher in
      expressers than in non-expressers: 0.0083 (0.0074-0.0094) versus 0.0063 (0.0053
      0.0075), P = 0.008, and 0.0065 (0.0057-0.0073) versus 0.0050 (0.0042-0.0061), P =
      0.02, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of CYP3A5 appears to be associated
      with increased M1 and M2 atazanavir metabolite formation, without significantly
      affecting parent compound pharmacokinetics.

PMID- 26892780
TI  - Understanding the dispensary workflow at the Birmingham Free Clinic: a proposed
      framework for an informatics intervention.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Birmingham Free Clinic (BFC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA is
      a free, walk-in clinic that serves medically uninsured populations through the
      use of volunteer health care providers and an on-site medication dispensary. The
      introduction of an electronic medical record (EMR) has improved several aspects
      of clinic workflow. However, pharmacists' tasks involving medication management
      and dispensing have become more challenging since EMR implementation due to its
      inability to support workflows between the medical and pharmaceutical services.
      To inform the design of a systematic intervention, we conducted a needs
      assessment study to identify workflow challenges and process inefficiencies in
      the dispensary. METHODS: We used contextual inquiry to document the dispensary
      workflow and facilitate identification of critical aspects of intervention design
      specific to the user. Pharmacists were observed according to contextual inquiry
      guidelines. Graphical models were produced to aid data and process visualization.
      We created a list of themes describing workflow challenges and asked the
      pharmacists to rank them in order of significance to narrow the scope of
      intervention design. RESULTS: Three pharmacists were observed at the BFC.
      Observer notes were documented and analyzed to produce 13 themes outlining the
      primary challenges pharmacists encounter during dispensation at the BFC. The
      dispensary workflow is labor intensive, redundant, and inefficient when
      integrated with the clinical service. Observations identified inefficiencies that
      may benefit from the introduction of informatics interventions including:
      medication labeling, insufficient process notification, triple documentation, and
      inventory control. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a system for Prescription Management
      and General Inventory Control (RxMAGIC). RxMAGIC is a framework designed to
      mitigate workflow challenges and improve the processes of medication management
      and inventory control. While RxMAGIC is described in the context of the BFC
      dispensary, we believe it will be generalizable to pharmacies in other low
      resource settings, both domestically and internationally.

PMID- 26892782
TI  - RNA fragments mimicking tRNA analogs interact with cytochrome c.
AB  - In times, when drug seeking assays focus on the natural molecular triggers and
      their analogs, a deeper insight into molecular mechanisms governing the initial
      step of intrinsic apoptosis (cytochrome c release) is essential to suppress the
      immortality of pathologically changed cells. In this study, we examined RNA
      molecules mimicking mitochondrial tRNAs interacting with cytochrome c and
      possibly affecting its cellular function. tRNA analogs were designed and
      synthesized prior to the conformational analysis and gel assays clearly stating
      the nucleic acid-protein complex formation. The circular dichroism spectroscopic
      (CD) and microscale thermophoresis examination revealed the structural and
      conformational differences between four tRNA analogs in their interactions with
      cytochrome c. Obtained CD spectra and gel studies resulted in the complex ratio
      estimation and conclusion that not only the complex formation may be preferential
      towards specific tRNAs present in the cell, but nucleobase modifications are not
      essential for such interaction. 

PMID- 26892783
TI  - Novel identification of Factor XI deficiency in Indian Sahiwal (Bos indicus)
      cattle.
AB  - Factor-XI deficiency (FXID) is inherited as autosomal lethal recessive disorder
      of carrier Holstein-Friesian bulls. A 76 base pair segment insertion into exon 12
      in Factor-XI gene causes FXID in cattle. Keeping this in view the present study
      was conducted to screen breeding bulls of both indigenous and exotic breeds for
      mutation in Factor-XI gene and to find out the frequency of FXID carrier animals
      in breeding bulls. A total of 120 bulls of different age group maintained at
      Frozen Semen Bull Station, India were randomly selected from different cattle
      breeds to screen presence of FXID syndrome in breeding sires. Genomic DNA was
      isolated from blood of the selected bulls. PCR parameters were standardized to
      obtain 244 and 320 bp amplicons. The results showed that 2 Sahiwal bulls out of
      120 animals were carrier for FXID. Amplicons of the carrier animals were
      sequenced and annoted, which confirms a 76 bp insertion in the exon 12. Bleeding
      and clotting time showed considerable discrepancy in the carrier animals as
      compared to the normal animals. The findings of relative mRNA expression of
      Factor XI transcript revealed identical tendency in the carrier. The frequency of
      carrier animals and mutant allele was 2.5 % and 0.025 respectively. This study
      recommends for screening of breeding at AI bull centers in the country for FXID.
      The study also stands a merit for identification of FXID carrier in Bos indicus
      for the first time.

PMID- 26892786
TI  - Asymmetry of Facial Mimicry and Emotion Perception in Patients With Unilateral
      Facial Paralysis.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: The ability of patients with unilateral facial paralysis to recognize
      and appropriately judge facial expressions remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To
      test the effects of unilateral facial paralysis on the recognition of and
      judgments about facial expressions of emotion and to evaluate the asymmetry of
      facial mimicry. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with left or right
      unilateral facial paralysis at a university facial plastic surgery unit completed
      2 computer tasks involving video facial expression recognition. Side of facial
      paralysis was used as a between-participant factor. Facial function and symmetry
      were verified electronically with the eFACE facial function scale. EXPOSURES:
      Across 2 tasks, short videos were shown on which facial expressions of happiness
      and anger unfolded earlier on one side of the face or morphed into each other.
      Patients indicated the moment or side of change between facial expressions and
      judged their authenticity. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Type, time, and accuracy
      of responses on a keyboard were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 57 participants (36
      women and 21 men) aged 20 to 76 years (mean age, 50.2 years) and with mild left
      or right unilateral facial paralysis were included in the study. Patients with
      right facial paralysis were faster (by about 150 milliseconds) and more accurate
      (mean number of errors, 1.9 vs 2.5) to detect expression onsets on the left side
      of the stimulus face, suggesting anatomical asymmetry of facial mimicry. Patients
      with left paralysis, however, showed more anomalous responses, which partly
      differed by emotion. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings favor the hypothesis
      of an anatomical asymmetry of facial mimicry and suggest that patients with a
      left hemiparalysis could be more at risk of developing a cluster of disabilities
      and psychological conditions including emotion-recognition impairments. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 3.

PMID- 26892785
TI  - Binding interface change and cryptic variation in the evolution of protein
      protein interactions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Physical interactions between proteins are essential for almost all
      biological functions and systems. To understand the evolution of function it is
      therefore important to understand the evolution of molecular interactions. Of key
      importance is the evolution of binding specificity, the set of interactions made
      by a protein, since change in specificity can lead to "rewiring" of interaction
      networks. Unfortunately, the interfaces through which proteins interact are
      complex, typically containing many amino-acid residues that collectively must
      contribute to binding specificity as well as binding affinity, structural
      integrity of the interface and solubility in the unbound state. RESULTS: In order
      to study the relationship between interface composition and binding specificity,
      we make use of paralogous pairs of yeast proteins. Immediately after duplication
      these paralogues will have identical sequences and protein products that make an
      identical set of interactions. As the sequences diverge, we can correlate amino
      acid change in the interface with any change in the specificity of binding. We
      show that change in interface regions correlates only weakly with change in
      specificity, and many variants in interfaces are functionally equivalent. We show
      that many of the residue replacements within interfaces are silent with respect
      to their contribution to binding specificity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that such
      functionally-equivalent change has the potential to contribute to evolutionary
      plasticity in interfaces by creating cryptic variation, which in turn may provide
      the raw material for functional innovation and coevolution.

PMID- 26892781
TI  - The renewed battle against RAS-mutant cancers.
AB  - The RAS genes encode for members of a large superfamily of guanosine-5'
      triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins that control diverse intracellular signaling
      pathways to promote cell proliferation. Somatic mutations in the RAS oncogenes
      are the most common activating lesions found in human cancers. These mutations
      invariably result in the gain-of-function of RAS by impairing GTP hydrolysis and
      are frequently associated with poor responses to standard cancer therapies. In
      this review, we summarize key findings of past and present landmark studies that
      have deepened our understanding of the RAS biology in the context of oncogenesis.
      We also discuss how emerging areas of research could further bolster a renewed
      global effort to target the largely undruggable oncogenic RAS and/or its
      activated downstream effector signaling cascades to achieve better treatment
      outcomes for RAS-mutant cancer patients.

PMID- 26892787
TI  - Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin,
      Birmingham, AL.
AB  - During the spring and fall of 2001 and the spring of 2002 a study was conducted
      to evaluate the health of the largescale stoneroller (Campostoma oligolepis)
      populations in streams along an urban land-use gradient. Sites were selected from
      a pool of naturally similar sub-basins (eco-region, basin size, and geology) of
      the Mobile River basin (MRB), using an index of urban intensity derived from
      infrastructure, socioeconomic, and land-use data. This urban land-use gradient
      (ULUG) is a multimetric indicator of urban intensity, ranging from 0 (background)
      to 100 (intense urbanization). Campostoma sp. have been used previously as
      indicators of stream health and are common species found in all sites within the
      MRB. Endpoints used to determine the effects of urban land-use on the largescale
      stoneroller included total glutathione, histology, hepatic apoptosis, condition
      factor and external lesions. Liver glutathione levels were positively associated
      with increasing urban land-use (r(2) = 0.94). Histopathological examination
      determined that some abnormalities and lesions were correlated with the ULUG and
      generally increased in prevalence or severity with increasing urbanization. Liver
      macrophage aggregates were positively correlated to the ULUG. The occurrence of
      nucleosomal ladders (indicating apoptotic cell death) did not correspond with
      urban intensity in a linear fashion. Apoptosis, as well as prevalence and
      severity of a myxozoan parasite, appeared to have a hormetic dose-response
      relationship. The majority of the biomarkers suggested fish health was
      compromised in areas where the ULUG >= 36.

PMID- 26892784
TI  - Event-related potentials elicited by the Deutsch "high-low" word illusion in the
      patients with first-episode schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The exact cerebral structural and functional mechanisms under the
      auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia are still unclear. The
      Deutsch "high-low" word illusion might trigger attentional responses mimicking
      those under AVHs. METHODS: We therefore have invited 16 patients with first
      episode, paranoid schizophrenia, and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy
      volunteers to undergo the "oddball" event-related potentials elicited by the
      illusion. The clinical characteristics of patients were measured with the
      positive and negative symptom scale. RESULTS: Besides the longer reaction time to
      the illusion, the standard P2 latency was shortened, the N2 latency was
      prolonged, and both N1 and P3 amplitudes were reduced in patients. The P3 source
      analyses showed the activated bilateral temporal lobes, parietal lobe and
      cingulate cortex in both groups, left inferior temporal gyrus in controls, and
      left postcentral gyrus in schizophrenia. Moreover, the N1 amplitude was
      positively correlated with the paranoid score in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results were in line with previous neurophysiological and neuroimaging reports of
      hallucination or auditory processing in schizophrenia, and illustrated a whole
      process of cerebral information processing from N1 to P3, indicating this
      illusion had triggered a dynamic cerebral response similar to that of the AVHs
      had engaged.

PMID- 26892788
TI  - Multibiomarker response in the earthworm Eisenia fetida as tool for assessing
      multi-walled carbon nanotube ecotoxicity.
AB  - Carbon nanotubes have received a great attention in the last years thanks to
      their remarkable structural, electrical, and chemical properties. Nowadays carbon
      nanotubes are increasingly found in terrestrial and aquatic environment and
      potential harmful impacts of these nanoparticles on humans and wildlife are
      attracting increasing research and public attention. The effects of carbon
      nanotubes on aquatic organisms have been explored by several authors, but
      comparatively the information available on the impact of these particles on soil
      organisms is much less. Earthworms have traditionally been considered to be
      convenient indicators of land use impact and soil fertility. The aim of this work
      was to study the integrated response of a suite of biomarkers covering molecular
      to whole organism endpoints for the assessment of multi-walled carbon nanotube
      (MWCNTs) effects on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to spiked soil. Results
      showed that cellular and biochemical responses, such as immune cells morphometric
      alterations and lysosomal membrane destabilization, acetylcholinesterase
      inhibition and metallothionein tissue concentration changes, showed high
      sensitivity to MWCNTs exposure. They can improve our understanding and ability to
      predict chronic toxicity outcomes of MWCNTs exposure such as reproductive
      alterations. In this context although more investigation is needed to understand
      the mechanistic pathway relating the biochemical and cellular biomarker analyzed
      to reproductive alterations, the obtained results give an early contribution to
      the future development of an adverse outcomes pathways for MWCNTs exposure. 

PMID- 26892789
TI  - How often are interventions in cluster-randomised controlled trials of complex
      interventions in general practices effective and reasons for potential
      shortcomings? Protocol and results of a feasibility project for a systematic
      review.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Most studies conducted at general practices investigate complex
      interventions and increasingly use cluster-randomised controlled trail (c-RCT)
      designs to do so. Our primary objective is to evaluate how frequently complex
      interventions are shown to be more, equally or less effective than routine care
      in c-RCTs with a superior design. The secondary aim is to discover whether the
      quality of a c-RCT determines the likelihood of the complex intervention being
      effective. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All c-RCTs of any design that have a patient
      relevant primary outcome and with a duration of at least 1 year will be included.
      The search will be performed in three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and
      the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)). The screening process, data
      collection, quality assessment and statistical data analyses (if suitably similar
      and of adequate quality) will be performed in accordance with requirements of the
      Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A feasibility project
      was carried out that was restricted to a search in MEDLINE and the CCTR for c
      RCTs published in 1 of the 8 journals that are most relevant to general practice.
      The process from trial selection to data collection, assessment and results
      presentation was piloted. Of the 512 abstracts identified during the feasibility
      search, 21 studies examined complex interventions in a general practice setting.
      Extrapolating the preliminary search to include all relevant c-RCTs in three
      databases, about 5000 abstracts and 150 primary studies are expected to be
      identified in the main study. 14 studies included in the feasibility project
      (67%) did not show a positive effect on a primary patient-relevant end point.
      ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not being sought for this review.
      Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals that frequently publish
      articles on the results of c-RCTs and through presentations at international
      conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD201400923.

PMID- 26892790
TI  - Is herpes zoster an additional complication in old age alongside comorbidity and
      multiple medications? Results of the post hoc analysis of the 12-month
      longitudinal prospective observational ARIZONA cohort study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To examine the burden of comorbidity, polypharmacy and herpes zoster
      (HZ), an infectious disease, and its main complication post-herpetic neuralgia
      (PHN) in young (50-70 years of age: 70-) and old (>= 70 years of age: 70+)
      patients. DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of the results of the 12-month longitudinal
      prospective multicentre observational ARIZONA cohort study. SETTINGS AND
      PARTICIPANTS: The study took place in primary care in France from 20 November
      2006 to 12 September 2008. Overall, 644 general practitioners (GPs) collected
      data from 1358 patients aged 50 years or more with acute eruptive HZ. OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Presence of HZ-related pain or PHN (pain persisting >3 months) was
      documented at day 0 and at months 3, 6, and 12. To investigate HZ and PHN burden,
      pain, quality of life (QoL) and mood were self-assessed using validated
      questionnaires (Zoster Brief Pain Inventory, 12-item Short-Form health survey and
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively). RESULTS: As compared with
      younger patients, older patients more frequently presented with comorbidities,
      more frequently took analgesics and had poorer response on all questionnaires,
      indicating greater burden, at inclusion. Analgesics were more frequently
      prescribed to relieve acute pain or PHN in 70+ than 70- patients. Despite higher
      levels of medication prescription, poorer pain relief and poorer response to all
      questionnaires were reported in 70+ than 70- patients. CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence of
      HZ and progression to PHN adds extra burden on top of pharmacological treatment
      and impaired quality of life, especially in older patients who already have
      health problems to cope with in everyday life.

PMID- 26892791
TI  - Association between direct and indirect smoking and osteoarthritis prevalence in
      Koreans: a cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between smoking patterns and knee and hip
      joint osteoarthritis (OA) prevalence in Koreans aged 50 years or older with focus
      on knee OA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using nationally representative data.
      SETTING: Data were collected at portable Health Examination Centres in Korea.
      PARTICIPANTS: Data of 9064 participants of the 5th Korean National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012) aged 50 years or older who received knee
      or hip joint X-rays out of 31,596 total surveyees were analysed. PRIMARY OUTCOME
      MEASURES: OA prevalence by smoking behaviour (current smoking, past smoking,
      indirect smoking and non-smoking). SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated risk of
      OA by smoking amount, period, pack-years and indirect smoking exposure time to
      assess the association between smoking-related factors and knee OA by calculating
      ORs and adjusting for covariates in a complex sampling design. A multinomial
      logistic regression analysis and backward elimination method was used. RESULTS:
      OA prevalence in Koreans aged 50 years or older was 13.9%, with prevalence about
      3.5 times higher in women (men 5.7%, women 20.1%). ORs for knee and hip joint OA
      prevalence by smoking behaviour in male indirect-smokers were lower than those in
      non-smokers in age and sex (OR 0.271; 95% CI 0.088 to 0.828), and selective
      adjustments (OR 0.314; 95% CI 0.102 to 0.966). All other analyses for smoking
      behaviour and total OA prevalence, and knee OA prevalence were not significantly
      different. Associations between smoking amount, period, pack-years and knee OA
      prevalence were non-significant in ever-smokers. Associations between indirect
      smoking exposure time and knee OA prevalence were also non-significant.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study found that though direct and previous smoking and OA
      prevalence were not associated, there was a weak relationship between indirect
      smoking and OA.

PMID- 26892793
TI  - Identification and characterization of miR-31 potential targets by RNA-seq.
AB  - In our previous work, miR-31 displayed differential significant expression in
      Apostichopus japonicus sea cucumber with skin ulcer syndrome and modulated
      coelomocytes ROS production by targeting p105. To identify other promising
      targets ofmiR-31, 4 transcriptome libraries of coelomocytes, as well as 2 control
      libraries, were constructed frommiR-31 mimics (31 M) or AMO-miR-31 (31I) and
      injected into a sea cucumber at 12 and 24 h. A total of207,977 unigenes with an
      average length of 363 bp were assembled, in which17,204 distinct sequences (8.27%
      of the unigenes) were successfully matched with annotated protein sequences.
      Fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped analysis
      indicated that 1325 unigenes displayed up-regulated expression profiles in the
      31I-12 group and were depressed in the 31M - 12 group compared with the control
      group. A total of 1470 unigenes showed down-regulated expressions in 31I-12 and
      were induced in 31 M-12. Similarly, 2079 and 2098 unigenes were detected at 24 h
      post-injection. Among these unigenes, 36 unigenes (depressed expression in the 31
      M group and induced in the 31I group) showed consistent expression patterns at 2
      examined time points and were considered promising targets of miR-31. qPCR
      analysis confirmed that all 4 unigenes showed opposite expression profiles to miR
      31 in cultured coelomocytes. Our present work provided a fast and feasible method
      of identifying miR-31 targets by transcriptome analysis. The results of this
      study would enhance our present understanding ofmiR-31 function insea cucumber
      immune regulation. 

PMID- 26892794
TI  - Transcriptome analysis demonstrate widespread differential expression of long
      noncoding RNAs involve in Larimichthys crocea immune response.
AB  - Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of transcripts that longer than 200 bp
      and do not encode proteins. Recent genome-wide studies of vertebrate
      transcriptomes have annotated lncRNAs that are expressed in various tissues and
      development stages. The draft genome and several transcriptome sequencing data
      sets have been collected for the study of protein-coding genes in large yellow
      croaker (Larimichthys crocea), but little is known about the expression and
      functional roles of lncRNAs in this species. In order to obtain a catalog of
      lncRNAs for large yellow croaker, several RNA-seq datasets were integrated from
      various tissues including egg, muscle, liver, and spleen. A total of 48,953 high
      confidence transcripts were reconstructed in 38,017 loci, recovering the most of
      expressed reference transcripts while thousands of novel expressed loci have been
      identified. The tissue expression profile revealed that most lncRNAs were
      specifically enriched in different tissues. A stringent set of 210 lncRNAs were
      identified as being specifically expressed in spleen and potentially involved in
      immune response. Our study first systematically identify lncRNAs in large yellow
      croaker, benefiting the future genomic study of this species. 

PMID- 26892792
TI  - Hearing loss in workers exposed to epoxy adhesives and noise: a cross-sectional
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Epoxy adhesives contain organic solvents and are widely used in
      industry. The hazardous effects of epoxy adhesives remain unclear. The objective
      of this study was to investigate the risk of hearing loss among workers exposed
      to epoxy adhesives and noise. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: For this
      cross-sectional study, we recruited 182 stone workers who were exposed to both
      epoxy adhesives and noise, 89 stone workers who were exposed to noise only, and
      43 workers from the administrative staff who had not been exposed to adhesives or
      noise. We obtained demographic data, occupational history and medical history
      through face-to-face interviews and arranged physical examinations and pure-tone
      audiometric tests. We also conducted walk-through surveys in the stone industry.
      A total of 40 representative noise assessments were conducted in 15 workplaces.
      Air sampling was conducted at 40 workplaces, and volatile organic compounds were
      analysed using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TO-15 method. RESULTS:
      The mean sound pressure level was 87.7 dBA (SD 9.9). The prevalence of noise
      induced hearing loss was considerably increased in the stone workers exposed to
      epoxy adhesives (42%) compared with the stone workers who were not exposed to
      epoxy adhesives (21%) and the administrative staff group (9.3%). A multivariate
      logistic regression analysis revealed that exposure to epoxy adhesives
      significantly increased the risk of hearing loss between 2 and 6 kHz after
      adjusting for age. Significant interactions between epoxy adhesives and noise and
      hearing impairment were observed at 3, 4 and 6 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: Epoxy adhesives
      exacerbate hearing impairment in noisy environments, with the main impacts
      occurring in the middle and high frequencies.

PMID- 26892796
TI  - Modulating effects of orally supplied Euglena gracilis on the physiological
      responses of the freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis, exposed to sewage water
      pollution in a Patagonian river (Argentina).
AB  - In order to test if orally supplied Euglena sp. cells modulate the physiological
      status of bivalves during bioremediation procedures, we evaluated the effect of
      Euglena gracilis diet on the immune response, oxidative balance and metabolic
      condition of Diplodon chilensis exposed to sewage water pollution. Mussels were
      fed for 90 days with E. gracilis (EG) or Scenedesmus vacuolatus (SV, control
      diet), and then exposed for 10 days at three sites along the Pocahullo river
      basin: 1) an unpolluted site, upstream of the city (control, C); 2) upstream
      (UpS) and 3) downstream (DoS) from the main tertiary-treated sewage discharge, in
      the city of San Martin de los Andes, Northwest Patagonia, Argentina. Our results
      show that the total hemocyte number decreases while pollution load increases
      along the river course for both, EG and SV mussels. Phagocytic activity is higher
      in EG mussels than in SV ones under all conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
      production in hemocytes increases with the increase in the pollution load, being
      significantly higher for EG mussels than for SV ones at DoS; no changes are
      observed for total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC). Hemocytes' viability is
      increased for E. gracilis diet at C and remains unchanged in this group of
      mussels when exposed at the polluted sites. Lysosomal membrane stability is
      higher in EG mussels than in SV ones for all conditions, although it is decreased
      at polluted sites compared with that at C. Antioxidant (catalase) and detoxifying
      (gluthatione S-transferase) defenses are generally lower in gills and digestive
      gland of EG mussels than in SV ones. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) is evident in
      gills of EG mussels at C, and in digestive gland of the same group, at all the
      sites. Gill mass factor (GF) is affected by the E. gracilis diet; it is increased
      at C and decreased at polluted sites when compared with that of SV ones.
      Digestive gland mass factor (DGF) is higher in EG mussels than in SV ones. In D.
      chilensis, continuous and long term feeding with E. gracilis cells favors immune
      response and reduces the damage caused by sewage pollution exposure on hemocytes.
      Nevertheless, diet and transplantation procedures may produce negative effects on
      the oxidative balance of gills and digestive gland and should be taken into
      account for bioremediation strategies. 

PMID- 26892795
TI  - A tandem-repeat galectin-9 involved in immune response of yellow catfish,
      Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, against Aeromonas hydrophila.
AB  - Galectins exclusively recognize and bind beta-galactoside on cell surface by
      carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). In spite of extensive study of mammalian
      galectin importance in immune system, little is known about that of fish. To
      study the immune response of yellow catfish to pathogens, a tandem-repeat
      galectin-9 from yellow catfish was identified and named PfGAL9. Its full-length
      cDNA was 1314 bp, including a 117 bp of 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 951 bp of
      open reading frame (ORF), and a 246 bp of 3' UTR. The ORF encoded 316 amino acids
      (35.12 KDa), shared the highest 78% identity with the predicted galectin-9 of
      Ictalurus punctatus. This protein possessed two distinct CRDs with two highly
      conserved sugar binding motifs. Quantitative PCR showed that PfGAL9 was lowly
      expressed in skin, gill, fin, muscle, heart, and intestine, highly expressed in
      tested immune tissues (head kidney, trunk kidney, liver, spleen, and blood) in
      normal body. After inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, PfGAL9 was
      remarkably increased in head kidney and liver in a time-dependent manner. The
      recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, which not only
      agglutinated but also bond all examined bacteria. The binding activities are
      consistent with the size of aggregates formed by agglutinated bacteria. The
      agglutination must depend on its direct interaction with bacteria. These results
      suggested that PfGAL9 was involved in the innate immune response against
      bacterial infection and clearance of pathogens in yellow catfish. 

PMID- 26892798
TI  - One year in review: ultrasound in arthritis.
AB  - Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has become a relevant part of rheumatology
      practice and research because it substantially allows us to optimize management
      of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. This non-invasive imaging modality is
      a valuable point-of-care tool to accurately evaluate intra-articular and
      periarticular structures involved in a wide range of rheumatic diseases in adults
      and children. In addition, MSUS is an invaluable bedside aid for guiding accurate
      and safe musculoskeletal aspirations, injections and biopsies. This review
      provides an overview of the literature of the last year on the role of MSUS in
      arthritis.

PMID- 26892797
TI  - Missing the target: DNAk is a dominant epitope in the humoral immune response of
      channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to Flavobacterium columnare.
AB  - Vaccination remains a viable alternative for bacterial disease protection in
      fish; however additional work is required to understand the mechanisms of
      adaptive immunity in the channel catfish. To assess the humoral immune response
      to Flavobacterium columnare; a group of channel catfish were first immunized with
      F. columnare LV-359-01 cultured in iron-depleted media, before being challenged
      with wild type F. columnare LV-359-01. The immunization protocol did not confer
      increased protection against F. columnare; however both control and immunized
      responders generated serum and skin IgM antibodies against F. columnare proteins.
      Western blot analyses of individuals from both groups showed that IgM antibodies
      were generated to the same 70 kDa extracellular protein, which was identified to
      be the bacterial chaperonin protein DNAk. Antibodies generated were cross
      reactive to DNAk proteins found in other gram negative bacteria. Our data
      suggests that DNAk is the dominant epitope in the channel catfish B-cell response
      to F. columnare. 

PMID- 26892799
TI  - Association between maternal and umbilical cord serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV in
      pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.
AB  - AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate maternal and umbilical cord
      serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) concentrations in women with and without
      gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to evaluate a potential correlation
      between neonatal anthropometry and cord serum DPP4 concentration. METHODS: Twenty
      eight GDM and 25 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant women were recruited
      into the present study. Maternal and umbilical cord serum DPP4 concentrations
      were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Maternal and neonatal clinical data,
      glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low
      density lipoprotein were recorded and measured for analysis. RESULTS: A
      statistically significant positive correlation was observed between maternal and
      umbilical cord serum DPP4 concentrations (Spearman's correlation coefficient =
      0.804, P < 0.001; partial correlation coefficient r' = 0.884, P < 0.001). No
      significant difference was seen when comparing DPP4 concentrations for the GDM
      and NGT groups' maternal serum (P = 0.498), or their umbilical cord serum (P =
      0.449). No statistically significant correlations were observed between umbilical
      cord serum DPP4 concentration and the presence of neonatal anthropometry or
      metabolic factors. CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord serum DPP4 concentration is
      associated with maternal DPP4 concentration, but is not related to neonatal
      anthropometry or metabolic factors. No significant difference was observed
      between the GDM and NGT groups in maternal or cord serum DPP4 concentrations.

PMID- 26892800
TI  - QSAR Toolbox - workflow and major functionalities.
AB  - The OECD QSAR Toolbox is a software application intended to be used by
      governments, the chemical industry and other stakeholders in filling gaps in
      (eco)toxicity data needed for assessing the hazards of chemicals. The development
      and release of the Toolbox is a cornerstone in the computerization of hazard
      assessment, providing an 'all inclusive' tool for the application of category
      approaches, such as read-across and trend analysis, in a single software
      application, free of charge. The Toolbox incorporates theoretical knowledge,
      experimental data and computational tools from various sources into a logical
      workflow. The main steps of this workflow are substance identification,
      identification of relevant structural characteristics and potential toxic
      mechanisms of interaction (i.e. profiling), identification of other chemicals
      that have the same structural characteristics and/or mechanism (i.e. building a
      category), data collection for the chemicals in the category and use of the
      existing experimental data to fill the data gap(s). The description of the
      Toolbox workflow and its main functionalities is the scope of the present
      article.

PMID- 26892802
TI  - The Box Plots Alternative for Visualizing Quantitative Data.

PMID- 26892803
TI  - Abnormal Neural Basis of Emotional Conflict Control in Treatment-Resistant
      Depression.
AB  - Emotional conflict has received increased attention as a research topic. The
      objective of this study is to confirm that the processing of emotional conflict
      is impaired in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We compared the event
      related potentials of 17 patients with TRD and 17 healthy controls during the
      face-word Stroop task, which is an effective way of assessing the effects of
      emotional conflict directly. Compared with healthy controls, the accuracy scores
      of the TRD patients were lower in both "congruent stimuli" and "incongruent
      stimuli" conditions, and their response times were longer. The TRD patients also
      had larger N2 amplitudes over the frontal region, regardless of stimulus
      condition, which might reflect that TRD patients pay more attention to emotional
      information. A larger P3 amplitude over the frontal region for "incongruent
      stimuli minus congruent stimuli" was also found among patients with TRD, which
      indicates interference effects in the Stroop task. The results of this study
      provide novel behavioral and neurophysiological evidence of anomalies in
      cognitive inhibition among patients with TRD using the word-face task. These
      findings not only improve our understanding of deficient inhibition in TRD, but
      also pave the way for a cognitive neuropsychiatric model of depression.

PMID- 26892801
TI  - A novel esterase from a marine mud metagenomic library for biocatalytic synthesis
      of short-chain flavor esters.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Marine mud is an abundant and largely unexplored source of enzymes
      with unique properties that may be useful for industrial and biotechnological
      purposes. However, since most microbes cannot be cultured in the laboratory, a
      cultivation-independent metagenomic approach would be advantageous for the
      identification of novel enzymes. Therefore, with the objective of screening novel
      lipolytic enzymes, a metagenomic library was constructed using the total genomic
      DNA extracted from marine mud. RESULTS: Based on functional heterologous
      expression, 34 clones that showed lipolytic activity were isolated. The five
      clones with the largest halos were identified, and the corresponding genes were
      successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Molecular analysis revealed that
      these encoded proteins showed 48-79 % similarity with other proteins in the
      GenBank database. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis
      classified these five protein sequences as new members of known families of
      bacterial lipolytic enzymes. Among them, EST4, which has 316 amino acids with a
      predicted molecular weight of 33.8 kDa, was further studied in detail due to its
      strong hydrolytic activity. Characterization of EST4 indicated that it is an
      alkaline esterase that exhibits highest hydrolytic activity towards p-nitrophenyl
      butyrate (specific activity: 1389 U mg(-1)) at 45  degrees C and pH 8.0. The half
      life of EST4 is 55 and 46 h at 40 and 45  degrees C, respectively, indicating a
      relatively high thermostability. EST4 also showed remarkable stability in organic
      solvents, retaining 90 % of its initial activity when incubated for 12 h in the
      presence of hydrophobic alkanes. Furthermore, EST4 was used as an efficient whole
      cell biocatalyst for the synthesis of short-chain flavor esters, showing high
      conversion rate and good tolerance for high substrate concentrations (up to 3.0
      M). These results demonstrate a promising potential for industrial scaling-up to
      produce short-chain flavor esters at high substrate concentrations in non-aqueous
      media. CONCLUSIONS: This manuscript reports unprecedented alcohol tolerance and
      conversion of an esterase biocatalyst identified from a marine mud metagenomic
      library. The high organic solvent tolerance and thermostability of EST4 suggest
      that it has great potential as a biocatalyst.

PMID- 26892805
TI  - Electron-phonon interaction and pairing mechanism in superconducting Ca
      intercalated bilayer graphene.
AB  - Using the ab initio anisotropic Eliashberg theory including Coulomb interactions,
      we investigate the electron-phonon interaction and the pairing mechanism in the
      recently-reported superconducting Ca-intercalated bilayer graphene. We find that
      C6CaC6 can support phonon-mediated superconductivity with a critical temperature
      Tc = 6.8-8.1 K, in good agreement with experimental data. Our calculations
      indicate that the low-energy Caxy vibrations are critical to the pairing, and
      that it should be possible to resolve two distinct superconducting gaps on the
      electron and hole Fermi surface pockets.

PMID- 26892804
TI  - Point-of-care coagulometry in prehospital emergency patients--are international
      normalized ratios useful?

PMID- 26892806
TI  - Isolation of bacteria in semen and evaluation of antibiotics in extender for
      cryopreservation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of bacterial species in
      water buffalo semen at the time of collection/processing and to assess the
      efficacy of some selected antibiotics (GTLS; gentamycin, tylosin and linco
      spectin or SP; streptomycin and penicillin) in cryodiluent on bacterial control
      and quality including in vivo fertility of buffalo spermatozoa. For this purpose,
      four experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, a total of 11 bacterial species
      were isolated from buffalo ejaculates. In experiment 2, total aerobic bacterial
      counts at post dilution and thawing were lower (P < 0.05) in GTLS than in SP or
      control. The majority of the bacterial isolates from ejaculates were more
      susceptible to GTLS than SP. In experiment 3, sperm acrosome integrity was higher
      (P < 0.05) in GTLS and SP compared to control. In experiment 4, the in vivo
      fertility results for GTLS were higher (P < 0.05) than that for SP. In
      conclusion, a number of bacterial species were isolated from the bubaline semen,
      which requires an efficient control before its use in artificial insemination
      program. The GTLS combination of antibiotics may be incorporated into a freezing
      extender/protocol without compromising the post-thaw quality and in vivo
      fertility of buffalo bull spermatozoa.

PMID- 26892807
TI  - Structural characteristics of the optic nerve head influencing human retinal
      venous pulsations.
AB  - The relationship between structural characteristics of the optic nerve head and
      venous pulsations in the human eye remain unknown. Using photoplethysmographic
      techniques we investigated whether properties of the human retinal veins and
      their surrounding structures influence venous pulsation. 448 locations of venous
      pulsation were analysed from 26 normal human eyes. Green channel densitometry
      derived from video recordings of venous pulsations were used to generate a map of
      venous pulsation amplitudes along retinal veins. Optical coherence tomography was
      used to perform quantitative measurements of tissue characteristics at sites of
      high and low amplitude points as well as in a second analysis, at maximal
      amplitude pulsation sites from superior and inferior halves of the eyes.
      Structural characteristics measured included venous diameter, distance from
      pulsation point to cup margin, vessel length from pulsation point to vein exit,
      tissue thickness overlying vein, optic disc diameter and presence of a proximal
      arteriovenous crossing. Increasing venous pulsation amplitudes were associated
      with larger applied ophthalmodynamometry force, increasing venous diameter, and
      decreasing absolute cup margin distance (all p < 0.001). Increasing distance of
      maximal amplitude pulsation point to cup margin was associated with the presence
      of a proximal arteriovenous crossing, increasing venous diameter, and decreasing
      tissue depth (all p <= 0.001). Venous diameter and tissue depth alter venous
      compliance, which is likely to be a major factor determining sites of venous
      pulsation.

PMID- 26892808
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis of tethered spinal cord associated with sacrococcygeal
      teratoma.
AB  - Tethered spinal cord is mostly caused by myelomeningocele and
      lipomyelomeningocele, while dermal sinus tract, diastematomyelia, lipoma, tumor,
      thickened/tight filum terminale, spinal trauma, and spinal surgery are among the
      other causes. Prenatal diagnosis of tethered cord has been reported, and it is
      usually associated with neural tube defects. We present an atypical presentation
      of a tethered spinal cord, which was associated with a sacrococcygeal teratoma
      and was diagnosed in the 23rd week of pregnancy by ultrasonography. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:506-509, 2016. 

PMID- 26892809
TI  - Cellular apoptosis susceptibility (CAS) is overexpressed in thyroid carcinoma and
      maintains tumor cell growth: A potential link to the BRAFV600E mutation.
AB  - Thyroid carcinoma is among the most common malignant endocrine neoplasms with a
      rising incidence. Genetic alterations occurring in thyroid cancer frequently
      affect the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK-pathway such as the oncogenic, kinase-activating
      BRAF(V600E) mutation. Nuclear transport receptors including importins and
      exportins represent an important part of the nuclear transport machinery
      providing nucleo-cytoplasmic exchange of macromolecules. The role of nuclear
      transport receptors in the development and progression of thyroid carcinomas is
      largely unknown. Here, we studied the expression and function of the exportin
      cellular apoptosis susceptibility (CAS) in thyroid carcinogenesis and its link to
      the BRAF(V600E) mutation. By using immunohistochemistry (IHC) we found
      significantly increased IHC scores of CAS in primary papillary (PTC) and
      medullary (MTC), but not in follicular (FTC) thyroid carcinoma compared to non
      tumorous (NT) thyroid tissue. Interestingly, metastases of the aforementioned
      subtypes including FTC showed a strong CAS positivity. Among PTCs we observed
      that CAS immunoreactivity was significantly higher in the tumors harboring the
      BRAF(V600E) mutation. Furthermore, depletion of CAS by RNAi in the BRAF(V600E)
      positive PTC cell line B-CPAP led to reduced tumor cell growth measured by
      crystal violet assays. This phenotype could be attributed to reduced
      proliferation and increased cell death as assayed by BrdU ELISAs and
      immunoblotting for PARP-cleavage, respectively. Finally, we found additive
      effects of CAS siRNA and vemurafenib treatment in B-CPAP cells. Collectively,
      these data suggest that CAS overexpression in thyroid carcinoma depends on the
      subtype and the disease stage. Our findings also indicate that CAS maintains PTC
      cell proliferation and survival. Targeting CAS could represent a potential
      therapeutic approach particularly in combination with BRAF inhibitors such as
      vemurafenib in BRAF(V600E)-positive tumors.

PMID- 26892810
TI  - The Role of Manual Aspiration Thrombectomy in Patients Undergoing Primary
      Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for STEMI.
AB  - In STEMI, primary PCI restores macrovascular coronary blood flow effectively but
      microvascular perfusion remains a challenge. Thrombus has the potential to
      embolize to the microvasculature limiting effective coronary blood flow. Thrombus
      burden is associated with a higher mortality and manual aspiration thrombectomy
      has the potential to reduce thrombus burden. The first large trial of routine
      aspiration thrombectomy (TAPAS, N = 1071) showed an improvement in myocardial
      blush and an unexpected reduction in mortality. Reinforcing the enthusiasm for
      this finding meta-analysis of small trials also showed a reduction in mortality,
      which led to routine manual thrombectomy becoming a class IIa recommendation in
      the American and European Guidelines for STEMI. Subsequently; however, large
      trials such as TOTAL (N = 10,732) and TASTE (N = 7244) and meta-analysis showed
      an increase in the risk of stroke with routine manual thrombectomy but no
      improvement in mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or severe
      heart failure. As such, manual thrombectomy should not be routinely used instead
      saving it as a bailout procedure as indicated.

PMID- 26892812
TI  - Prevalence and Factors Associated with Subclinical Left Ventricular Systolic
      Dysfunction Evaluated by Mid-Wall Mechanics in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased
      cardiovascular event rate, mainly due to the arterial stiffness which leads to
      coronary atherosclerosis and concentric left ventricular (LV) geometry. These
      conditions predispose to LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD), which can be detected by
      stress-corrected mid-wall shortening (sc-MS), an early prognosticator of
      cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with arterial hypertension and/or
      diabetes. In these subjects, sc-MS is frequently impaired even though LV ejection
      fraction (LVEF) is preserved. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence and the
      factors associated with asymptomatic LVSD measured by sc-MS among patients with
      RA and verified whether RA per se was independently related to LVSD. METHODS: We
      prospectively recruited 198 outpatients with RA without overt cardiac disease
      between January and June 2014 and compared them to 198 controls matched for age,
      gender, body mass index, and prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. sc-MS was
      taken as index of LVSD and considered impaired if <86.5%. RESULTS: Impaired sc-MS
      was detected in 110 (56%) RA patients and in 30 (15%) controls (P < 0.001),
      whereas LVEF was impaired (value <50%) in six (3%) RA patients and in two (1%)
      controls (P = ns). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that RA was
      independently associated with impaired sc-MS (Exp beta 2.01 [CI 1.12-3.80], P =
      0.02) together with increased LV mass and concentric geometry. CONCLUSIONS: More
      than half RA patients without overt cardiac disease have LVSD detectable by sc
      MS. RA emerges as a condition closely related to LVSD. These findings might
      explain the high risk for adverse cardiovascular events in RA patients.

PMID- 26892811
TI  - Canonical NF-kappaB signaling in hepatocytes acts as a tumor-suppressor in
      hepatitis B virus surface antigen-driven hepatocellular carcinoma by controlling
      the unfolded protein response.
AB  - Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the most common risk factor for
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efficient suppression of HBV viremia and
      necroinflammation as a result of nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment is able to
      reduce HCC incidence; nevertheless, hepatocarcinogenesis can occur in the absence
      of active hepatitis, correlating with high HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) levels.
      Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a central player in chronic inflammation and
      HCC development. However, in the absence of severe chronic inflammation, the role
      of NF-kappaB signaling in HCC development remains elusive. As a model of
      hepatocarcinogenesis driven by accumulation of HBV envelope polypeptides, HBsAg
      transgenic mice, which show no HBV-specific immune response, were crossed to
      animals with hepatocyte-specific inhibition of canonical NF-kappaB signaling. We
      detected prolonged, severe endoplasmic reticulum stress already at 20 weeks of
      age in NF-kappaB-deficient hepatocytes of HBsAg-expressing mice. The unfolded
      protein response regulator binding immunoglobulin protein/78-kDa glucose
      regulated protein was down-regulated, activating transcription factor 6, and
      eIF2alpha were activated with subsequent overexpression of CCAAT/enhancer binding
      protein homologous protein. Notably, immune cell infiltrates and liver
      transaminases were unchanged. However, as a result of this increased cellular
      stress, insufficient hepatocyte proliferation due to G1 /S-phase cell cycle
      arrest with overexpression of p27 and emergence of ductular reactions was
      detected. This culminated in increased DNA damage already at 20 weeks of age and
      finally led to 100% HCC incidence due to NF-kappaB inhibition. CONCLUSION: The
      role of canonical NF-kappaB signaling in HCC development depends on the mode of
      liver damage; in the case of HBsAg-driven hepatocarcinogenesis, NF-kappaB in
      hepatocytes acts as a critical tumor suppressor by augmenting the endoplasmic
      reticulum stress response.

PMID- 26892813
TI  - Long-Term Experiences in Cash and Counseling for Young Adults with Intellectual
      Disabilities: Familial Programme Representative Descriptions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our aim was to explore previously unknown long-term outcomes of self
      directed personal care services for young adults with intellectual disabilities
      and limitations in activities of daily living. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present
      authors utilized participatory action research and qualitative content analysis
      in interviewing 11 unpaid familial programme representatives of young adults with
      intellectual disabilities, ages 23-34, who were eligible for income-based
      Medicaid and enrolled five or more years in a Cash and Counseling-based programme
      of self-direction in the United States. RESULTS: Young adults are represented as
      receiving services and supports in a supportive and stable environment, with
      previously identified short-term programme benefits evident over the long-term.
      Young adults are also transitioning to adulthood at home with their families as
      primary social support and caregivers, bridging a service gap. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results show that self-direction helps meet these young adults' personal care and
      community engagement needs over time.

PMID- 26892814
TI  - Does selection in a challenging environment produce Nile tilapia genotypes that
      can thrive in a range of production systems?
AB  - This study assessed whether selection for high growth in a challenging
      environment of medium salinity produces tilapia genotypes that perform well
      across different production environments. We estimated the genetic correlations
      between trait expressions in saline and freshwater using a strain of Nile tilapia
      selected for fast growth under salinity water of 15-20 ppt. We also estimated the
      heritability and genetic correlations for new traits of commercial importance
      (sexual maturity, feed conversion ratio, deformity and gill condition) in a full
      pedigree comprising 36,145 fish. The genetic correlations for the novel
      characters between the two environments were 0.78-0.99, suggesting that the
      effect of genotype by environment interaction was not biologically important.
      Across the environments, the heritability for body weight was moderate to high
      (0.32-0.62), indicating that this population will continue responding to future
      selection. The estimates of heritability for sexual maturity and survival were
      low but significant. The additive genetic components also exist for FCR, gill
      condition and deformity. Genetic correlations of harvest body weight with sexual
      maturity were positive and those between harvest body weight with FCR were
      negative. Our results indicate that the genetic line selected under a moderate
      saline water environment can be cultured successfully in freshwater systems.

PMID- 26892815
TI  - Gastrointestinal stability of therapeutic anti-TNF alpha IgG1 monoclonal
      antibodies.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are highly effective therapeutic agents,
      administered exclusively by the parenteral route owing to their previously
      documented instability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract when delivered orally.
      To investigate the extent of the validity of this assumption, the stability of
      the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) neutralizing IgG1 mAbs, infliximab
      and adalimumab, was studied in human GI conditions. In gastric fluid, infliximab
      and adalimumab degraded rapidly, with complete degradation occurring within 1
      min. In small intestinal fluid, the molecules were shown to be more stable, but
      nonetheless degraded within a short time frame of 30 min. Investigations into the
      mechanisms responsible for infliximab and adalimumab instability in the small
      intestine revealed that the proteolytic enzyme elastase, and to a lesser extent
      the enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin, was responsible for their degradation. By
      contrast, in the human colon, 75% and 50% of the dose of infliximab and
      adalimumab, respectively, were intact after 60 min, with conversion of mAbs into
      F(ab')2 Fab and Fc fragments detected in colonic conditions. These data indicate
      that therapeutic IgG1 antibodies are more stable in the colon than in the upper
      GI tract, therefore highlighting the potential for oral delivery of anti-TNF
      alpha mAbs targeted to the colon.

PMID- 26892816
TI  - Proteomics in toxicology - Added value or waste of energies?

PMID- 26892817
TI  - Invasive Pasteurella multocida Infections - Report of Five Cases at a Minnesota
      Hospital, 2014.
AB  - During October 2014, the Minnesota Department of Health was notified of five
      Hospital A patients with Pasteurella multocida bacteraemia; three had died. Human
      soft tissue infection with P. multocida typically results from cat or dog bites
      or scratches. Invasive infection, defined as a P. multocida isolate from a
      usually sterile site, is rare. We evaluated P. multocida isolations at Hospital
      A, compared with other Minnesota hospitals to understand invasive infection
      trends. A case was defined as clinically confirmed P. multocida in a Minnesota
      resident during 2012-2014. All hospital laboratories were queried; Fisher's exact
      test was used for comparison. Medical charts were reviewed for 2014 Hospital A
      patients with P. multocida infections. The Minnesota clinical laboratories survey
      response rate was 79% (63/80). At Hospital A, proportion of P. multocida isolates
      from usually sterile sites increased from 0% (0/2) during 2012 to 11% (1/9)
      during 2013, and to 86% (5/6) during 2014. The proportion of patients with P.
      multocida isolated from sterile sites was 35% (6/17) at Hospital A compared with
      10% (58/583) statewide during 2012-2014 combined (P < 0.05). Among 2014 Hospital
      A patients with invasive P. multocida infection, all five were men; median age
      was 70 (range: 44-78) years. Four were temporally clustered within a 33-day
      period; three of those had bacteraemia on admission, making hospital acquisition
      possible in only one. Among five bacteraemia patients, four had cirrhosis and/or
      skin ulcerations, and three died. The proportion of invasive P. multocida cases
      was substantially higher at Hospital A during 2014. No epidemiologic links
      between patients were found. Three had known pet exposure. Collaborative
      educational efforts of chronically ill pet owners by physicians and veterinarians
      can acknowledge the health benefits of pet ownership, while minimizing risk for
      serious invasive zoonotic infections, including those caused by P. multocida.

PMID- 26892818
TI  - Ex Vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model for Analysis of Fetal Circulation in the
      Chorionic Plate.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop an ex vivo placental
      perfusion model to assess changes in the umbilical artery systolic-to-diastolic
      (S/D) ratio due to progressive occlusion of the placental arterial system.
      METHODS: Ex vivo human placentas were connected to a computerized pulse
      duplicator mimicking pulsatile flow from the fetal heart. Doppler sonographic
      measurements were conducted on the umbilical and chorionic arteries of 25 mature
      placentas. Simulation of placental occlusion was performed by progressive
      ligature of the chorionic arteries, including one umbilical artery. The
      correlation between the umbilical artery S/D ratio and the severity of simulated
      placental occlusion was analyzed. RESULTS: The normal mean S/D ratio +/- SD
      decreased gradually along the chorionic plate from 2.66 +/- 0.47 at the cord
      insertion to 1.90 +/- 0.59 in generation IV of the chorionic vessels. The Doppler
      index initially increased slowly with simulated placental occlusion. Only when
      all 4 generations were occluded was the umbilical artery S/D ratio elevated.
      Complete occlusion of one umbilical artery resulted in a 39% increase in the
      umbilical artery S/D ratio. CONCLUSIONS: This unique model combining Doppler
      sonography with perfusion of an ex vivo placenta can be used for a better
      understudying of pathologic placental blood flow circulation.

PMID- 26892819
TI  - Unilateral Fetal Renal Abnormalities: Are They Really Isolated?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to describe the association between unilateral
      fetal renal abnormalities and other major anomalies that were not apparent in the
      second trimester. METHODS: A review of the ultrasound database identified fetuses
      with suspected unilateral renal agenesis, unilateral multicystic dysplastic
      kidney, and renal ectopia from 2005 to 2014. Neonatal records were reviewed to
      identify anomalies not suspected in the second trimester, and postnatal imaging
      studies were reviewed. Categorical data were compared by &x003C7;(2) analysis and
      the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: We identified 102 cases, including 36 with
      suspected renal agenesis, 28 with suspected multicystic dysplastic kidney, and 38
      with suspected renal ectopia. There were 8 cases (7.8%) with major anomalies not
      suspected in the second trimester. In 5 cases (4.9%), there were no associated
      findings in the second trimester. There were no significant differences in the
      rates of unsuspected abnormalities between the 3 groups. There was a trend toward
      a higher rate of unsuspected anomalies in the cases with a single umbilical
      artery compared to those with a 3-vessel cord (28.6% vs 6.3%; P= .09).
      CONCLUSIONS: In fetuses with unilateral renal abnormalities, major anomalies that
      were not suspected in the second trimester were uncommon. However, patients
      should be aware of the possibility that other major anomalies could subsequently
      be identified, and the outcome may depend on more than postnatal renal function.

PMID- 26892820
TI  - Obstetric Ultrasound Efficiency and Accuracy Using a Protocol-Based Examination.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Obstetric ultrasound imaging requires the acquisition of a standard
      set of maternal and fetal images. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of
      implementation of a protocol-based ultrasound examination on the duration of
      ultrasound examinations, examination completion, and accuracy of documentation.
      METHODS: We conducted a case-cohort study. Obstetric ultrasound examinations
      performed in the first, second, and third trimesters were reviewed before and
      after implementation of a protocol-based ultrasound examination. The duration of
      the ultrasound examination, number of missing required images, and documentation
      of missing images were abstracted from an image archival system. To account for
      clustering by sonographer, 3 mixed effects models with a fixed effect for
      protocol and a random intercept for sonographer were used to evaluate the effect
      on the total time of the examination, number of missing images, and whether
      missing images were documented. RESULTS: A total of 100 ultrasound examinations
      were compared: 50 before and 50 after implementation of the protocol.
      Statistically significant differences between outcomes before and after protocol
      implementation were observed for all outcomes. After implementation of the
      protocol, the average duration of ultrasound examinations decreased by 7.62
      minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.57-11.68 minutes); the number of missing
      images was reduced by 5.81 per examination (95% CI, 4.24-7.39); and proper
      documentation of missing images increased by 40.24% (95% CI, 22.77%-57.71%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a software protocol-based ultrasound examination
      significantly improved the efficiency and accuracy of obstetric ultrasound
      examinations in this study.

PMID- 26892821
TI  - Sonography of Abdominal Pain in Children: Appendicitis and Its Common Mimics.
AB  - Abdominal pain is very common in the pediatric population (<18 years of age).
      Sonography is a safe modality that can often differentiate the frequently
      encountered causes of abdominal pain in children. This pictorial essay will
      discuss the sonographic findings of acute appendicitis, including the imaging
      appearance of a perforated appendicitis. It will also present the sonographic
      features of the relatively common mimics of appendicitis, such as mesenteric
      adenitis/gastroenteritis, intussusception, Meckel diverticulum, and ovarian
      torsion. 

PMID- 26892823
TI  - Reply.

PMID- 26892822
TI  - Evanescent Hyperechoic Changes After Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid
      in a Series With a Low Overall Prevalence of Complications.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of and risk
      factors for fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)-related complications in
      Japanese patients with thyroid nodules evaluated by standard FNAB techniques.
      METHODS: Six hundred fifty-three consecutive Japanese patients with 742 nodules
      who had undergone FNAB were enrolled. Nodule characteristics were evaluated, and
      thyroid volumes were measured. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy-related
      complications were identified on the basis of sonographic findings and patients'
      conditions after undergoing FNAB. Comparisons of patients' backgrounds and nodule
      characteristics were made between those with and without complications. RESULTS:
      The prevalence rates for FNAB-related complications, including acute transient
      thyroid swelling after FNAB and appearance of anechoic lesions, were 0.13% and
      0.94%. In this study, we could not identify risk factors for FNAB-related
      complications. The sudden appearance of bright hyperechoic foci within the
      thyroid immediately after biopsy was reported as an FNAB-related unfamiliar
      appearance in 5 cases. Experimental FNA using resected porcine thyroid tissue
      suggested that the etiology of the hyperechoic appearance may be artificial air
      bubbles or reversed flow of aspirated fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-needle aspiration
      biopsy-related complications are rare if preventive measures are performed and
      are not specific to Japanese patients with thyroid nodules. The sudden appearance
      of bright hyperechoic foci may be cause by contamination from air or fluid.

PMID- 26892824
TI  - Correlation Between Cervical Lengths Measured by Transabdominal and Transvaginal
      Sonography for Predicting Preterm Birth.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Cervical length assessment is important for predicting preterm birth.
      Cervical length measurement using transabdominal sonography is more comfortable
      for the patient but has more limitations than transvaginal sonography. Our aim
      was to determine whether transabdominal sonography could identify those women who
      should undergo transvaginal sonography for prediction of preterm birth. METHODS:
      In this prospective study, women underwent cervical length measurements by
      transabdominal and transvaginal sonography between 20 and 29 gestational weeks
      and were followed until delivery. We assessed whether short cervical lengths on
      transabdominal sonography could predict short cervical lengths on transvaginal
      sonography and whether these measurements could predict preterm births (<34
      gestational weeks). RESULTS: The mean cervical lengths were not significantly
      different between the techniques (mean +/- SD, 3.78 +/- 0.82 and 3.82 +/- 0.77 cm
      on transabdominal and transvaginal sonography, respectively; P = .09). The
      sensitivity of short cervical lengths (<2 cm) on transabdominal sonography for
      prediction of short cervical lengths on transvaginal sonography was 100%. The
      sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value,
      and relative risk of short cervical lengths (<2 cm) for predicting preterm birth
      were 21.4%, 98.68%, 50.00%, 95.32%, and 13.22 when using transabdominal
      sonography and 28.57%, 94.94%, 66.6%, 95.74%, and 17.78 when using transvaginal
      sonography, respectively. In an analysis that included cases with transabdominal
      sonography, the sensitivity of short cervical lengths for predicting preterm
      birth was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Women whose cervical lengths are measurable and
      long on transabdominal sonography may not need transvaginal sonography. Women
      whose cervical lengths are unmeasurable or short (<2 or <2.5 cm) on
      transabdominal sonography should undergo transvaginal sonography to measure
      cervical lengths for prediction of preterm birth.

PMID- 26892825
TI  - Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Sonography: Another Option Besides the Blind
      Method.

PMID- 26892826
TI  - Use of mulberry-soybean intercropping in salt-alkali soil impacts the diversity
      of the soil bacterial community.
AB  - Diverse intercropping system has been used to control disease and improve
      productivity in the field. In this research, the bacterial communities in salt
      alkali soils of monoculture and intercropping mulberry and soybean were studied
      using 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA gene. The dominant taxonomic groups were
      Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes,
      Planctomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes and these were present across all samples.
      However, the diversity and composition of bacterial communities varied between
      monoculture and intercropping samples. The estimated bacterial diversity (H') was
      higher with intercropping soybean than in monoculture soybean, whereas H' showed
      an opposite pattern in monoculture and intercropping mulberry. Populations of
      Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria were variable, depending on
      growth of plants as monoculture or intercropped. Most of Actinobacteria and
      Chloroflexi were found in intercropping samples, while Acidobacteria and
      Proteobacteria were present at a higher percentage in monoculture samples. The
      plant diversity of aboveground and microbial diversity of belowground was linked
      and soil pH seemed to influence the bacterial community. Finally, the specific
      plant species was the major factor that determined the bacterial community in the
      salt-alkali soils. 

PMID- 26892829
TI  - Cemented hemiarthroplasty in traumatic displaced femoral neck fractures and deep
      vein thrombosis: is there really a link?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Traumatic displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly can be
      treated with cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasty with good outcomes. Earlier
      studies reported a higher incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) associated with
      cemented prostheses in elective total hip or knee arthroplasty. In addition, the
      hypercoagulable state after a traumatic femoral neck fracture and possible
      thrombogenic properties of bone cement could put these patients at greater risk
      for thromboembolism. We aimed to compare the incidence of DVT and progression to
      pulmonary embolism (PE) or mortality in cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty.
      METHODS: The data of 271 patients treated with cemented or uncemented
      hemiarthroplasty after a traumatic displaced femoral neck fracture was
      retrospectively analysed for the incidence of DVT. The level of thrombosis,
      progression to PE and mortality were compared. RESULTS: There were 133 (49.1%)
      patients with cemented hemiarthroplasty, while 138 (50.9%) had uncemented
      hemiarthroplasty. The patients had an average age of 76.6 (range 53-99) years and
      11 (4.1%) patients had DVT. There were no significant differences in development
      of DVT, level of thrombosis, PE and mortality regardless of whether a cemented or
      an uncemented prosthesis was used. CONCLUSION: Cemented hemiarthroplasty is not
      associated with higher risks of DVT, PE or mortality in patients with traumatic
      displaced femoral neck fracture. Cemented prostheses can be safely used for this
      group of patients.

PMID- 26892828
TI  - ALDH1A1 provides a source of meiosis-inducing retinoic acid in mouse fetal
      ovaries.
AB  - Substantial evidence exists that during fetal ovarian development in mammals,
      retinoic acid (RA) induces germ cells to express the pre-meiotic marker Stra8 and
      enter meiosis, and that these effects are prevented in the fetal testis by the RA
      degrading P450 enzyme CYP26B1. Nonetheless, the role of RA has been disputed
      principally because germ cells in embryos lacking two major RA-synthesizing
      enzymes, ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A3, remain able to enter meiosis. Here we show that a
      third RA-synthesizing enzyme, ALDH1A1, is expressed in fetal ovaries, providing a
      likely source of RA in the absence of ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A3. In ovaries lacking
      ALDH1A1, the onset of germ cell meiosis is delayed. Our data resolve the
      conundrum posed by conflicting published data sets and reconfirm the model that
      meiosis is triggered by endogenous RA in the developing ovary. 

PMID- 26892827
TI  - Diffusion-weighted imaging outside the brain: Consensus statement from an ISMRM
      sponsored workshop.
AB  - The significant advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hardware and
      software, sequence design, and postprocessing methods have made diffusion
      weighted imaging (DWI) an important part of body MRI protocols and have fueled
      extensive research on quantitative diffusion outside the brain, particularly in
      the oncologic setting. In this review, we summarize the most up-to-date
      information on DWI acquisition and clinical applications outside the brain, as
      discussed in an ISMRM-sponsored symposium held in April 2015. We first introduce
      recent advances in acquisition, processing, and quality control; then review
      scientific evidence in major organ systems; and finally describe future
      directions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:521-540.

PMID- 26892833
TI  - Case of lumbar disc hernia caused in the left L4 and L5 dermatomes after herpes
      zoster infection in the right L2 and L3 dermatomes.

PMID- 26892832
TI  - A Variety of Phase-Transition Behaviors in a Niccolite Series of [NH3 (CH2 )4 NH3
      ][M(HCOO)3 ]2.
AB  - A niccolite series of [bnH2 (2+) ][M(HCOO)3 ]2 (bnH2 (2+) =1,4-butyldiammonium)
      shows four kinds of metal-dependent phase transitions, from high temperature para
      electric phases to low-temperature ferro-, antiferro-, glass-like, and para
      electric phases. The conformational flexibility of bnH2 (2+) and the different
      size, mass, and bonding character of the metal ion lead to various disorder-order
      transitions of bnH2 (2+) in the lattice and relevant framework modulations, thus
      different phase transitions and dielectric responses. The magnetic members
      display a coexistence or combination of electric and magnetic orderings in the
      low-temperature region. 

PMID- 26892830
TI  - OCT-based label-free in vivo lymphangiography within human skin and areola.
AB  - Due to the limitations of current imaging techniques, visualization of lymphatic
      capillaries within tissue in vivo has been challenging. Here, we present a label
      free high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) based lymphangiography
      (OLAG) within human skin in vivo. OLAG enables rapid (~seconds) mapping of
      lymphatic networks, along with blood vessel networks, over 8 mm x 8 mm of human
      skin and 5 mm x 5 mm of human areola. Moreover, lymphatic system's response to
      inflammation within human skin is monitored throughout an acne lesion development
      over 7 days. The demonstrated results promise OLAG as a revolutionary tool in the
      clinical research and treatment of patients with pathologic conditions such as
      cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 26892831
TI  - Nonmagnetic band gap at the Dirac point of the magnetic topological insulator
      (Bi(1-x)Mn(x))2Se3.
AB  - Magnetic doping is expected to open a band gap at the Dirac point of topological
      insulators by breaking time-reversal symmetry and to enable novel topological
      phases. Epitaxial (Bi(1-x)Mn(x))2Se3 is a prototypical magnetic topological
      insulator with a pronounced surface band gap of ~100 meV. We show that this gap
      is neither due to ferromagnetic order in the bulk or at the surface nor to the
      local magnetic moment of the Mn, making the system unsuitable for realizing the
      novel phases. We further show that Mn doping does not affect the inverted bulk
      band gap and the system remains topologically nontrivial. We suggest that strong
      resonant scattering processes cause the gap at the Dirac point and support this
      by the observation of in-gap states using resonant photoemission. Our findings
      establish a mechanism for gap opening in topological surface states which
      challenges the currently known conditions for topological protection.

PMID- 26892834
TI  - Group precipitation and age hardening of nanostructured Fe-based alloys with
      ultra-high strengths.
AB  - The precipitation of nanoparticles plays a key role in determining the properties
      of many structural materials, and the understanding of their formation and
      stabilization mechanisms has been a long standing interest in the material field.
      However, the critical issues involving the group precipitation of various
      nanoparticles and their cooperative hardening mechanism remain elusive in the
      newly discovered Fe-based alloys with nanostructures. Here we quantitatively
      elucidate the nucleation mechanism, evolution kinetics and hardening effects of
      the group-precipitated nanoparticles in the Fe-Cu-Ni-Al-based alloys by atom
      probe tomography together with both first-principles and thermodynamic
      calculations. Our results provide the compelling evidence for two interesting but
      complex group precipitation pathways of nanoparticles, i.e., the Cu-rich and NiAl
      based precipitations. The co-existence of the two precipitation pathways plays a
      key role in age hardening kinetics and ultimately enhances the hardening
      response, as compared to the single particle type of strengthening, therefore
      providing an effective new approach for strengthening materials for structural
      applications. 

PMID- 26892835
TI  - Recombinant Patterns of Nine Novel HIV-1 Recombinant Strains Identified in Hebei
      Province, China.
AB  - We found cluster 1 and cluster 2 that were identified as two potential
      circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) by analyzing the recombinant breakpoints and
      phylogenetic tree. Three sequences composed of CRF01_AE, subtype C, and potential
      subtype B (N/A) in cluster 1 had nearly identical recombinant breakpoints, and
      four sequences composed of CRF01_AE and subtype B in cluster 2 possessed
      identical breakpoints. Demographic characteristics indicated that there were no
      epidemiological linkages among three subjects in cluster 1 and four subjects in
      cluster 2, respectively. Likewise, two unique recombinant forms (URFs) were found
      in this study: one URF was composed of subtype C and subtype B, and subtype B was
      inserted into a backbone of subtype C; another URF was composed of subtype C,
      subtype B, CRF01_AE, and subtype A2. It was inferred that the potential novel
      CRFs and URFs have spread into general populations, suggesting that the series
      research of novel recombinant strains will be a priority for our researches in
      the future.

PMID- 26892836
TI  - Association between health status and long-term mortality after percutaneous
      revascularization of peripheral artery disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of health status change and long-term
      survival among patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD).
      BACKGROUND: Early gains in health status after successful endovascular therapy
      (EVT) for symptomatic PAD can be maintained up to 1 year. Whether such health
      status improvements are associated with long-term survival benefits is unknown.
      METHODS: Between February 2001 and August 2004, 258 patients with symptomatic PAD
      treated with EVT participated in a prospective study evaluating baseline and 1
      year health status using the Peripheral Artery Questionnaire (range 0-100, higher
      scores = better). All-cause mortality was assessed for all patients at a median
      of 9.4 years following EVT. RESULTS: The mean age at enrollment was 68 +/- 11
      years; 61% were male, 97% were Caucasian, and 38% had diabetes. Patients with a
      clinically meaningful health status improvement (>=8 points) 1 year after their
      index procedure (79%) were identified as responders. Responders had a
      significantly better 10 year survival compared with nonresponders (60% vs 38%, p
      = 0.025). Responder status was associated with a survival advantage that
      persisted in risk-adjusted analysis (adjusted hazard ratio for long-term
      mortality, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.45-0.97]; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with
      symptomatic PAD undergoing EVT, improvement of PAD-specific health status at 1
      year follow-up was associated with improved long-term survival. Whether
      additional treatment for patients with poor response to EVT could improve long
      term survival warrants further investigation. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID- 26892837
TI  - Drawn to danger: trait anger predicts automatic approach behaviour to angry
      faces.
AB  - Most people automatically withdraw from socially threatening situations. However,
      people high in trait anger could be an exception to this rule, and may even
      display an eagerness to approach hostile situations. To test this hypothesis, we
      asked 118 participants to complete an approach-avoidance task, in which
      participants made approach or avoidance movements towards faces with an angry or
      happy expression, and a direct or averted eye gaze. As expected, higher trait
      anger predicted faster approach (than avoidance) movements towards angry faces.
      Crucially, this effect occurred only for angry faces with a direct eye gaze,
      presumably because they pose a specific social threat, in contrast to angry faces
      with an averted gaze. No parallel effects were observed for happy faces,
      indicating that the effects of trait anger were specific to hostile stimuli.
      These findings suggest that people high in trait anger may automatically approach
      hostile interaction partners.

PMID- 26892838
TI  - Recurrent parotid swelling secondary to masseter muscle hypertrophy: a
      multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
AB  - PURPOSE: To present a patient with an atypical recurrent parotid swelling due to
      masseter muscle hypertrophy and the diagnostic/therapeutic assessment to treat
      this condition. CASE REPORT: A patient referring recurrent right facial swelling
      underwent a complete multidisciplinary assessment of the parotid region that
      revealed masseter muscle hypertrophy, confirmed by means of clinical
      (otolaryngological and gnathological evaluation), radiological (utrasonography,
      dynamic magnetic resonance imaging, and cone beam computed tomography),
      instrumental (electromyography to evaluate the right masseter muscle function and
      kinesiography to evaluate maximum right deflection - MaxRDefl and maximum opening
      - MaxMO) and sialendoscopy assessment where T0 indicates the pre-treatment
      values. All electromyographic and kinesiographic parameters were evaluated six
      months after the orthodontic application of a neuromuscular orthosis at T1. At
      T1, the effectiveness of the orthodontic therapy was demonstrated by the complete
      resolution of symptoms, and instrumental results documented more efficient muscle
      activity at rest and during clenching and a better mandibular position. At EMG
      T1, the resting and post-TENS values were, respectively, 1.2 and 1.8 microV. At
      kinesiography, MaxRDefl increased from 10.2 (T0) to 10.5 mm (T1); maxMO increased
      from 41.2 (T0) to 48 mm (T1). CONCLUSION: The proposed multidisciplinary
      assessment based on otolaryngological, gnathological, and radiological evaluation
      may be useful in the case of recurrent parotid swelling secondary to masseter
      muscle hypertrophy to plan an appropriate management with a removable
      neuromuscular orthosis.

PMID- 26892839
TI  - Induction of cell self-organization on weakly positively charged surfaces
      prepared by the deposition of polyion complex nanoparticles of thermoresponsive,
      zwitterionic copolymers.
AB  - We have developed inducible cell self-organization through weakly positively
      charged culture surfaces. In this study, a thermoresponsive and zwitterionic
      copolymer comprised of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and
      methacrylic acid (MA) (PDMAEMA-co-PMA; Mn: ~9.7 * 104 g/mol; PDMAEMA/PMA ratio:
      10) was designed for inducing cell self-organization. The copolymer formed single
      polymer-derived polyion complex (sPIC) nanoparticles following dissolution in an
      aqueous solution. The sPIC nanoparticles had a positive charge (ca. 25 mV). Self
      organization occurred in adipose-derived vascular stromal cell monolayers
      cultivated on sPIC-deposited surfaces. There were dramatic morphological changes
      of these cells with the formation of capillary-like networks and single-cell
      aggregates with little cytotoxicity. This was a significant improvement compared
      with cells grown on previously developed surfaces deposited with PIC, a mixture
      of PDMAEMA and plasmid DNA. Thus, sPICs of PDMAEMA-co-PMA may allow for the
      accurate evaluation of a variety of cell behaviors with less cytotoxicity, and
      may facilitate additional potential medical applications such as cell-based
      therapy and drug discovery. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res
      Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1009-1015, 2017.

PMID- 26892840
TI  - A peptide hydrogel derived from a fragment of human cardiac troponin C.
AB  - The human cardiac troponin C peptide fragment H-V(9)EQLTEEQKNEFKAAFDIFVLGA(31)
      OH, which covers helix-A in the native protein, self-assembles into beta-sheet
      fibrils in solution. These fibrils further entangle to give a hydrogel. This
      peptide may therefore serve as a template for development of novel biomaterials.

PMID- 26892841
TI  - Emerging problems of data quality in citizen science.

PMID- 26892843
TI  - Predictors of poor outcome in patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy
      syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is an acute
      neurotoxic syndrome that, although characteristically reversible, can be fatal or
      result in long-term disability in a subset of patients. Our aim was to identify
      factors associated with poor discharge outcome in PRES patients. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological records of all
      patients with PRES admitted at our tertiary care medical center from 2007 to
      2014. They were divided based their modified Rankin Score at discharge and
      compared for their baseline variables, clinical, laboratory and imaging features.
      Poor outcome was defined by a modified Rankin scale 2-6 and was subdivided based
      on the primary mechanism that led to poor outcome. RESULTS: Out of 100 PRES
      subjects, 36% had poor discharge outcomes. Factors associated with poor outcomes
      on univariate analysis were history of diabetes mellitus, coma, high Charlson
      comorbidity index, post-transplantation, autoimmune condition, lack of systolic
      or diastolic hypertension, elevated blood urea nitrogen and involvement of the
      corpus callosum. On multivariate analysis, only prior diabetes mellitus odd ratio
      (OR) = 6.8 (95% CI 1.1-42.1, p = 0.04), corpus callosum involvement (OR = 11.7;
      95% CI 2.4-57.4, p = 0.00) were associated with poor outcome. Poor outcome also
      correlated with increased length of hospital stay (OR = 7.9; 95% CI 1.3-49.7, p =
      0.03). CONCLUSION: Large prospective studies incorporating serial blood glucose
      values and advanced imaging studies are required to validate these findings.

PMID- 26892842
TI  - Short-term diagnostic stability of probable headache disorders based on the
      International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition beta version, in
      first-visit patients: a multicenter follow-up study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A "Probable headache disorder" is diagnosed when a patient's headache
      fulfills all but one criterion of a headache disorder in the 3rd beta edition of
      the International Classification of Headache Disorder (ICHD-3beta). We
      investigated diagnostic changes in probable headache disorders in first-visit
      patients after at least 3 months of follow-up. METHODS: This was a longitudinal
      study using a prospective headache registry from nine headache clinics of
      referral hospitals. The diagnostic change of probable headache disorders at
      baseline was assessed at least 3 months after the initial visit using ICHD-3beta.
      RESULTS: Of 216 patients with probable headache disorders at baseline, the
      initial probable diagnosis remained unchanged for 162 (75.0 %) patients, while it
      progressed to a definite diagnosis within the same headache subtype for 45 (20.8
      %) by fulfilling the criteria during a median follow-up period of 6.5 months.
      Significant difference on the proportions of constant diagnosis was not found
      between headache subtypes (P < 0.935): 75.9 % for probable migraine, 73.7 % for
      probable tension-type headache (TTH), and 76.0 % for probable other primary
      headache disorders (OPHD). Among patients with headache recurrence, the
      proportion of constant diagnosis was higher for probable migraine than for
      probable TTH plus probable OPHD (59.2 vs. 23.1 %; P < 0.001). The proportions of
      constant diagnosis did not significantly differ by follow-up duration (>3 and <=
      6 months vs. > 6 and <= 10 months) in probable migraine, probable TTH, and
      probable OPHD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a probable headache
      diagnosis, based on ICHD-3beta, remained in approximately three-quarters of the
      outpatients; however, diagnostic stability could differ by headache recurrence
      and subtype. Probable headache management might have to consider these
      differences.

PMID- 26892844
TI  - Early Indication of Decompensated Heart Failure in Patients on Home
      Telemonitoring: A Comparison of Prediction Algorithms Based on Daily Weight and
      Noninvasive Transthoracic Bio-impedance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heart Failure (HF) is a common reason for hospitalization. Admissions
      might be prevented by early detection of and intervention for decompensation.
      Conventionally, changes in weight, a possible measure of fluid accumulation, have
      been used to detect deterioration. Transthoracic impedance may be a more
      sensitive and accurate measure of fluid accumulation. OBJECTIVE: In this study,
      we review previously proposed predictive algorithms using body weight and
      noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance (NITTI) to predict HF decompensations.
      METHODS: We monitored 91 patients with chronic HF for an average of 10 months
      using a weight scale and a wearable bio-impedance vest. Three algorithms were
      tested using either simple rule-of-thumb differences (RoT), moving averages
      (MACD), or cumulative sums (CUSUM). RESULTS: Algorithms using NITTI in the 2
      weeks preceding decompensation predicted events (P<.001); however, using weight
      alone did not. Cross-validation showed that NITTI improved sensitivity of all
      algorithms tested and that trend algorithms provided the best performance for
      either measurement (Weight-MACD: 33%, NITTI-CUSUM: 60%) in contrast to the
      simpler rules-of-thumb (Weight-RoT: 20%, NITTI-RoT: 33%) as proposed in HF
      guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: NITTI measurements decrease before decompensations, and
      combined with trend algorithms, improve the detection of HF decompensation over
      current guideline rules; however, many alerts are not associated with clinically
      overt decompensation.

PMID- 26892845
TI  - Dabigatran Versus Warfarin After Bioprosthesis Valve Replacement for the
      Management of Atrial Fibrillation Postoperatively: DAWA Pilot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor shown to be an effective
      alternative to warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).
      We evaluated the use of dabigatran in patients with bioprosthetic mitral and/or
      aortic valve replacement and AF. METHODS: We selected 34 and randomized 27
      patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive dabigatran or warfarin. The primary endpoint
      was the presence of a new intracardiac thrombus at 90 days, by transesophageal
      echocardiogram (TEE). Secondary endpoints included the development of dense
      spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and incidence of stroke (ischemic or
      hemorrhagic), myocardium infarction, valve thrombosis and peripheral embolic
      events. RESULTS: The trial was terminated prematurely because of low enrollment.
      There were 27 patients in total: 15 patients placed in the dabigatran group and
      12 in the warfarin group. After 90 days, one patient (8.3 %) in the warfarin
      group and none in the dabigatran group had developed a new intracardiac thrombus.
      In the dabigatran group, two patients (13.3 %) developed dense SEC versus one
      patient (8.3 %) in the warfarin group. In the warfarin group, one patient (8.3 %)
      presented ischemic stroke, and none did in the dabigatran group. We observed no
      cases of hemorrhagic stroke, valve thrombosis, embolic events or myocardial
      infarction in either group throughout the study. However, one patient (6.7 %) in
      the dabigatran group had a fully recovered transient ischemic attack and one
      patient in the warfarin group died of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The use of
      dabigatran appears to be similar to warfarin in preventing the formation of
      intracardiac thrombus. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01868243.

PMID- 26892846
TI  - Relationship between white matter integrity and serum cortisol levels in drug
      naive patients with major depressive disorder: diffusion tensor imaging study
      using tract-based spatial statistics.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Higher daytime cortisol levels because of a hyperactive hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal axis have been reported in patients with major depressive
      disorder (MDD). The elevated glucocorticoids inhibit the proliferation of the
      oligodendrocytes that are responsible for myelinating the axons of white matter
      fibre tracts. AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between white matter integrity
      and serum cortisol levels during a first depressive episode in drug-naive
      patients with MDD (MDD group) using a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS)
      method. METHOD: The MDD group (n = 29) and a healthy control group (n = 47)
      underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans and an analysis was conducted
      using TBSS. Morning blood samples were obtained from both groups for cortisol
      measurement. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the MDD group had significantly
      reduced fractional anisotropy values (P<0.05, family-wise error (FWE)-corrected)
      in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus and anterior
      thalamic radiation. The fractional anisotropy values of the inferior fronto
      occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus and anterior thalamic radiation had
      significantly negative correlations with the serum cortisol levels in the MDD
      group (P<0.05, FWE-corrected). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the
      elevated cortisol levels in the MDD group may injure the white matter integrity
      in the frontal-subcortical and frontal-limbic circuits.

PMID- 26892847
TI  - Discontinuation of antidepressant medication after mindfulness-based cognitive
      therapy for recurrent depression: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and maintenance
      antidepressant medication (mADM) both reduce the risk of relapse in recurrent
      depression, but their combination has not been studied. AIMS: To investigate
      whether MBCT with discontinuation of mADM is non-inferior to MBCT+mADM. METHOD: A
      multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial
      (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT00928980). Adults with recurrent depression in remission,
      using mADM for 6 months or longer (n= 249), were randomly allocated to either
      discontinue (n= 128) or continue (n= 121) mADM after MBCT. The primary outcome
      was depressive relapse/recurrence within 15 months. A confidence interval
      approach with a margin of 25% was used to test non-inferiority. Key secondary
      outcomes were time to relapse/recurrence and depression severity. RESULTS: The
      difference in relapse/recurrence rates exceeded the non-inferiority margin and
      time to relapse/recurrence was significantly shorter after discontinuation of
      mADM. There were only minor differences in depression severity. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings suggest an increased risk of relapse/recurrence in patients withdrawing
      from mADM after MBCT.

PMID- 26892848
TI  - Short-term venlafaxine v. lithium monotherapy for bipolar type II major
      depressive episodes: effectiveness and mood conversion rate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Controversy exists over antidepressant use in bipolar II depression.
      AIMS: To compare the safety and effectiveness of antidepressantv.mood stabiliser
      monotherapy for bipolar type II major depressive episodes. METHOD: Randomised,
      double-blind, parallel-group, 12-week comparison of venlafaxine (n= 65)v.lithium
      (n= 64) monotherapy in adult out-patients (trial registration numberNCT00602537).
      RESULTS: Primary outcome - venlafaxine produced a greater response rate (67.7%)v
      lithium (34.4%,P<0.001). Secondary outcomes - venlafaxine produced a greater
      remission rate (58.5%v 28.1%,P<0.001); greater decline in depression symptom
      scores over time (beta = -5.32, s.e. = 1.16, chi(2)= 21.19,P<0.001); greater
      reduction in global severity scores over time (beta = -1.05, s.e. = 0.22, w(2)=
      22.33,P<0.001); and greater improvement in global change scores (beta = -1.31,
      s.e. = 0.32, chi(2)= 16.95,P<0.001) relative to lithium. No statistically
      significant or clinically meaningful differences in hypomanic symptoms were
      observed between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that short-term
      venlafaxine monotherapy may provide effective antidepressant treatment for
      bipolar II depression without a statistically significant increase in hypomanic
      symptoms relative to lithium.

PMID- 26892849
TI  - Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy v. stabilisation as usual
      for refugees: randomised controlled trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a
      first-line treatment for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some
      clinicians argue that with refugees, directly targeting traumatic memories
      through EMDR may be harmful or ineffective. AIMS: To determine the safety and
      efficacy of EMDR in adult refugees with PTSD (trial registration:
      ISRCTN20310201). METHOD: In total, 72 refugees referred for specialised treatment
      were randomly assigned to 12 h of EMDR (3*60 min planning/preparation followed by
      6*90 min desensitisation/reprocessing) or 12 h (12*60 min) of stabilisation. The
      Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ)
      were primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analyses found no
      differences in safety (one severe adverse event in the stabilisation condition
      only) or efficacy (effect sizes: CAPS -0.04 and HTQ 0.20) between the two
      conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Directly targeting traumatic memories through 12 h of
      EMDR in refugee patients needing specialised treatment is safe, but is only of
      limited efficacy.

PMID- 26892850
TI  - Risk of depressive disorder following disasters and military deployment:
      systematic review with meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Numerous studies describe the occurrence of post-traumatic stress
      disorder following disasters, but less is known about the risk of major
      depression. AIMS: To review the risk of depressive disorder in people surviving
      disasters and in soldiers returning from military deployment. METHOD: A
      systematic literature search combined with reference screening identified 23
      controlled epidemiological studies. We used random effects models to compute
      pooled odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: The average OR was significantly elevated
      following all types of exposures: natural disaster OR = 2.28 (95% CI 1.30-3.98),
      technological disaster OR = 1.44 (95% CI 1.21-1.70), terrorist acts OR = 1.80
      (95% CI 1.38-2.34) and military combat OR = 1.60 (95% CI 1.09-2.35). In a subset
      of ten high-quality studies OR was 1.41 (95% CI 1.06-1.87). CONCLUSIONS:
      Disasters and combat experience substantially increase the risk of depression.
      Whether psychological trauma per se or bereavement is on the causal path is
      unresolved.

PMID- 26892851
TI  - Changes in extra-striatal functional connectivity in patients with schizophrenia
      in a psychotic episode.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients with schizophrenia in a psychotic episode, intra-striatal
      intrinsic connectivity is increased in the putamen but not ventral striatum.
      Furthermore, multimodal changes have been observed in the anterior insula that
      interact extensively with the putamen. AIMS: We hypothesised that during
      psychosis, putamen extra-striatal functional connectivity is altered with both
      the anterior insula and areas normally connected with the ventral striatum (i.e.
      altered functional connectivity distinctiveness of putamen and ventral striatum).
      METHOD: We acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance images from 21
      patients with schizophrenia in a psychotic episode and 42 controls. RESULTS:
      Patients had decreased functional connectivity: the putamen with right anterior
      insula and dorsal prefrontal cortex, the ventral striatum with left anterior
      insula. Decreased functional connectivity between putamen and right anterior
      insula was specifically associated with patients' hallucinations. Functional
      connectivity distinctiveness was impaired only for the putamen. CONCLUSIONS:
      Results indicate aberrant extra-striatal connectivity during psychosis and a
      relationship between reduced putamen-right anterior insula connectivity and
      hallucinations. Data suggest that altered intrinsic connectivity links striatal
      and insular pathophysiology in psychosis.

PMID- 26892853
TI  - Shoulder Pain After Definitive Lung Radiotherapy.

PMID- 26892852
TI  - Association between physical performance and cardiovascular events in patients
      with coronary artery disease: protocol for a meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Physical performance such as muscle strength or walking speed of
      patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is lower than that of people who do
      not have CAD and is related to mortality and re-admission rates. Recent studies
      have shown that skeletal muscle strength, such as grip strength, was closely
      associated with cardiac events. Physical performance testing is quick, safe, and
      inexpensive and provides a reliable assessment tool for routine clinical
      practice. The aim of this meta-analysis is to clarify the association between
      physical performance testing and the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.
      METHODS/DESIGN: This meta-analysis will include male and female participants of
      any age in community settings who have a history of the following conditions or
      procedures: myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization (coronary artery
      bypass grafting, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary
      artery stent), angina pectoris, heart failure, heart transplant, or coronary
      artery disease defined by angiography. We will search EMBASE and MEDLINE, PubMed,
      and the Cochrane Library with no limitations on date, language, document type, or
      publication status. Identified studies will be prospective and retrospective
      cohort studies. Physical performance will be defined as upper extremity strength,
      lower extremity strength, walking speed, or other performance scale. Six review
      authors will independently extract study characteristics from included studies.
      Participants will be divided into subgroups according to age (middle-aged <65
      years and elderly >= 65 years), diagnosis (coronary artery disease and heart
      failure) and follow-up time (up to 12 months and over 12 months). We will pool
      hazard ratios of Cox proportional hazard models after logarithmic transformation
      and perform the meta-analysis by using inverse-variance method. DISCUSSION: To
      our knowledge, this meta-analysis will be the first report to assess the
      association between physical performance and cardiovascular events in CAD
      patients. We hope that these findings may help to estimate the prognosis for CAD
      patients in clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO
      CRD42015020886.

PMID- 26892854
TI  - Electrophysiological evidence for flexible goal-directed cue processing during
      episodic retrieval.
AB  - A widely held assumption is that memory retrieval is aided by cognitive control
      processes that are engaged flexibly in service of memory retrieval and memory
      decisions. While there is some empirical support for this view, a notable
      exception is the absence of evidence for the flexible use of retrieval control in
      functional neuroimaging experiments requiring frequent switches between tasks
      with different cognitive demands. This absence is troublesome in so far as
      frequent switches between tasks mimic some of the challenges that are typically
      placed on memory outside the laboratory. In this experiment we instructed
      participants to alternate frequently between three episodic memory tasks
      requiring item recognition or retrieval of one of two different kinds of
      contextual information encoded in a prior study phase (screen location or
      encoding task). Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by unstudied items in
      the two tasks requiring retrieval of study context were reliably different,
      demonstrating for the first time that ERPs index task-specific processing of
      retrieval cues when retrieval goals change frequently. The inclusion of the item
      recognition task was a novel and important addition in this study, because only
      the ERPs elicited by unstudied items in one of the two context conditions
      diverged from those in the item recognition condition. This outcome constrains
      functional interpretations of the differences that emerged between the two
      context conditions and emphasises the utility of this baseline in functional
      imaging studies of retrieval processing operations.

PMID- 26892855
TI  - Mapping the self in the brain's default mode network.
AB  - The brain's default mode network (DMN) has become closely associated with self
      referential mental activity, particularly in the resting-state. While the DMN is
      important for such processes, it has functions other than self-reference, and
      self-referential processes are supported by regions outside of the DMN. In our
      study of 88 participants, we examined self-referential and resting-state
      processes to clarify the extent to which DMN activity was common and distinct
      between the conditions. Within areas commonly activated by self-reference and
      rest we sought to identify those that showed additional functional specialization
      for self-referential processes: these being not only activated by self-reference
      and rest but also showing increased activity in self-reference versus rest. We
      examined the neural network properties of the identified 'core-self' DMN regions
      in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and
      inferior parietal lobule-using dynamic causal modeling. The optimal model
      identified was one in which self-related processes were driven via PCC activity
      and moderated by the regulatory influences of MPFC. We thus confirm the
      significance of these regions for self-related processes and extend our
      understanding of their functionally specialized roles.

PMID- 26892857
TI  - Perception of actions performed by external agents presupposes knowledge about
      the relationship between action and effect.
AB  - We used the (14)C-deoxyglucose method to reveal changes in activity, in the
      lateral sulcus of monkeys, elicited by reaching-to-grasp in the light or in the
      dark and by observation of the same action executed by an external agent. Both
      visually-guided execution and observation of the same action activated the
      secondary somatosensory cortex, the ventral somatosensory area, the
      somatorecipient parietal ventral area, the retroinsula and the caudo-medial area
      of the auditory belt. These matching activations indicate that the somesthetic
      consequences of movements, generated bottom-up during action execution, may also
      be triggered top-down during action observation to represent the predicted
      sensory consequences of the perceived movement. The posterior granular part of
      insula found to be activated only for action execution and its anterior agranular
      part activated only for action observation may contribute to the attribution of
      action to the correct agent. Also, execution in the dark implicated all
      components activated by execution in the light but the retroinsula. In
      conclusion, activation of the somatorecipient parietal areas, not only for action
      execution but also for action-observation, indicates that perception of actions
      performed by an external agent presupposes knowledge about the action-effect
      relationships, and that understanding others' actions consists of running off
      line previously stored sensory-motor programs.

PMID- 26892856
TI  - Look into my eyes: Investigating joint attention using interactive eye-tracking
      and fMRI in a developmental sample.
AB  - Joint attention, the shared attentional focus of at least two people on a third
      significant object, is one of the earliest steps in social development and an
      essential aspect of reciprocal interaction. However, the neural basis of joint
      attention (JA) in the course of development is completely unknown. The present
      study made use of an interactive eye-tracking paradigm in order to examine the
      developmental trajectories of JA and the influence of a familiar interaction
      partner during the social encounter. Our results show that across children and
      adolescents JA elicits a similar network of "social brain" areas as well as
      attention and motor control associated areas as in adults. While other-initiated
      JA particularly recruited visual, attention and social processing areas, self
      initiated JA specifically activated areas related to social cognition, decision
      making, emotions and motivational/reward processes highlighting the rewarding
      character of self-initiated JA. Activation was further enhanced during self
      initiated JA with a familiar interaction partner. With respect to developmental
      effects, activation of the precuneus declined from childhood to adolescence and
      additionally shifted from a general involvement in JA towards a more specific
      involvement for self-initiated JA. Similarly, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ)
      was broadly involved in JA in children and more specialized for self-initiated JA
      in adolescents. Taken together, this study provides first-time data on the
      developmental trajectories of JA and the effect of a familiar interaction partner
      incorporating the interactive character of JA, its reciprocity and motivational
      aspects. 

PMID- 26892858
TI  - Hand gestures as visual prosody: BOLD responses to audio-visual alignment are
      modulated by the communicative nature of the stimuli.
AB  - During public addresses, speakers accompany their discourse with spontaneous hand
      gestures (beats) that are tightly synchronized with the prosodic contour of the
      discourse. It has been proposed that speech and beat gestures originate from a
      common underlying linguistic process whereby both speech prosody and beats serve
      to emphasize relevant information. We hypothesized that breaking the consistency
      between beats and prosody by temporal desynchronization, would modulate activity
      of brain areas sensitive to speech-gesture integration. To this aim, we measured
      BOLD responses as participants watched a natural discourse where the speaker used
      beat gestures. In order to identify brain areas specifically involved in
      processing hand gestures with communicative intention, beat synchrony was
      evaluated against arbitrary visual cues bearing equivalent rhythmic and spatial
      properties as the gestures. Our results revealed that left MTG and IFG were
      specifically sensitive to speech synchronized with beats, compared to the
      arbitrary vision-speech pairing. Our results suggest that listeners confer beats
      a function of visual prosody, complementary to the prosodic structure of speech.
      We conclude that the emphasizing function of beat gestures in speech perception
      is instantiated through a specialized brain network sensitive to the
      communicative intent conveyed by a speaker with his/her hands.

PMID- 26892859
TI  - Criticism hurts everybody, praise only some: Common and specific neural responses
      to approving and disapproving social-evaluative videos.
AB  - Social evaluation is a ubiquitous feature of daily interpersonal interactions and
      can produce strong positive or negative emotional reactions. While previous
      research has highlighted neural correlates of static or dynamic facial
      expressions, little is known about neural processing of more naturalistic social
      interaction simulations or the modulating role of inter-individual differences
      such as trait fear of negative/positive evaluation. The present fMRI study
      investigated neural activity of 37 (21 female) healthy participants while
      watching videos of posers expressing a range of positive, negative, and neutral
      statements tapping into several basic and social emotions. Unpleasantness ratings
      linearly increased in response to positive to neutral to negative videos whereas
      arousal ratings were elevated in both emotional video conditions. At the whole
      brain level, medial prefrontal and rostral anterior cingulate cortex activated
      strongly in both emotional conditions which may be attributed to the cognitive
      processing demands of responding to complex social evaluation. Region of interest
      analysis for basic emotion processing areas revealed enhanced amygdala activation
      in both emotional conditions, whereas anterior and posterior insula showed
      stronger activity during negative evaluations only. Individuals with high fear of
      positive evaluation were characterized by increased posterior insula activity
      during positive videos, suggesting heightened interoception. Taken together,
      these results replicate and extend studies that used facial expression stimuli
      and reveal neurobiological systems involved in processing of more complex social
      evaluative videos. Results also point to vulnerability factors for social
      interaction related psychopathologies.

PMID- 26892860
TI  - Competing against a familiar friend: Interactive mechanism of the temporo
      parietal junction with the reward-related regions during episodic encoding.
AB  - Competition enhances learning under certain circumstances. However, little is
      known about how the neural mechanisms involved in a competition during the
      episodic encoding are modulated by the social distance of personal relationships
      with opponents. To investigate this issue, using functional magnetic resonance
      imaging (fMRI), we scanned healthy young adults during a competition with their
      familiar friends and unfamiliar others in the episodic encoding. Three major
      findings emerged from this study. First, activations in the right temporo
      parietal junction (rTPJ) were significantly greater in the competition with
      familiar friends than with unfamiliar others, and the activations in this region
      were significantly correlated with the subjective ratings of motivation. Second,
      striatum and amygdala activations increased by the competition with familiar
      friends were significantly correlated with the increased ratings of pleasantness,
      which reflected emotionally positive feelings in victory for the competition with
      familiar opponents. Third, the functional connectivity between the rTPJ and
      reward-related regions, including the striatum and substantia nigra, was higher
      in the competition with familiar friends than with unfamiliar others. Taken
      together with our behavioral findings, in which memories encoded by competing
      with familiar friends were remembered more accurately than those with unfamiliar
      others, the interacting mechanisms between the rTPJ that is involved in social
      motivation and the reward-related regions that are involved in social reward
      could contribute to the enhancement of memories encoded in the competition with
      familiar others. 

PMID- 26892861
TI  - How do negative emotions impair self-control? A neural model of negative urgency.
AB  - Self-control often fails when people experience negative emotions. Negative
      urgency represents the dispositional tendency to experience such self-control
      failure in response to negative affect. Neither the neural underpinnings of
      negative urgency nor the more general phenomenon of self-control failure in
      response to negative emotions are fully understood. Previous theorizing suggests
      that an insufficient, inhibitory response from the prefrontal cortex may be the
      culprit behind such self-control failure. However, we entertained an alternative
      hypothesis: negative emotions lead to self-control failure because they
      excessively tax inhibitory regions of the prefrontal cortex. Using fMRI, we
      compared the neural activity of people high in negative urgency with controls on
      an emotional, inhibitory Go/No-Go task. While experiencing negative (but not
      positive or neutral) emotions, participants high in negative urgency showed
      greater recruitment of inhibitory brain regions than controls. Suggesting a
      compensatory function, inhibitory accuracy among participants high in negative
      urgency was associated with greater prefrontal recruitment. Greater activity in
      the anterior insula on negatively-valenced, inhibitory trials predicted greater
      substance abuse one month and one year after the MRI scan among individuals high
      in negative urgency. These results suggest that, among people whose negative
      emotions often lead to self-control failure, excessive reactivity of the brain's
      regulatory resources may be the culprit.

PMID- 26892863
TI  - Rare emergence of drug resistance in HIV-1 treatment-naive patients after 48
      weeks of treatment with elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir
      alafenamide.
AB  - Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a novel prodrug of the NtRTI tenofovir (TFV),
      delivers TFV-diphosphate (TFV-DP) to target cells more efficiently than the
      current prodrug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), with a 90% reduction in TFV
      plasma exposure. TAF, within the fixed dose combination of elvitegravir
      /cobicistat / emtricitabine (FTC)/TAF (E/C/F/TAF), has been evaluated in one
      Phase 2 and two Phase 3 randomized, double-blinded studies in HIV-infected
      treatment-naive patients, comparing E/C/F/TAF to E/C/F/TDF. In these studies, the
      TAF-containing group demonstrated non-inferior efficacy to the TDF-containing
      comparator group with 91.9% of E/C/F/TAF patients having <50 copies/mL of HIV-1
      RNA at week 48. An integrated resistance analysis across these three studies was
      conducted, including HIV-1 genotypic analysis at screening, and
      genotypic/phenotypic analysis for patients with HIV-1 RNA>400 copies/mL at
      virologic failure. Pre-existing primary resistance-associated mutations (RAMs)
      were observed at screening among the 1903 randomized and treated patients: 7.5%
      had NRTI-RAMs, 18.2% had NNRTI-RAMs, and 3.4% had primary PI-RAMs. Pre-treatment
      RAMs did not influence treatment response at Week 48. In the E/C/F/TAF group,
      resistance development was rare; seven patients (0.7%, 7/978) developed NRTI
      RAMs, five of whom (0.5%, 5/978) also developed primary INSTI-RAMs. In the
      E/C/F/TDF group, resistance development was also rare; seven patients (0.8%,
      7/925) developed NRTI-RAMs, four of whom (0.4%, 4/925) also developed primary
      INSTI-RAMs. An additional analysis by deep sequencing in virologic failures
      revealed minimal differences compared to population sequencing. Overall,
      resistance development was rare in E/C/F/TAF-treated patients, and the pattern of
      emergent mutations was similar to E/C/F/TDF.

PMID- 26892866
TI  - Colonoscopy and chromoscopy in hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes.
AB  - With hereditary colorectal cancer prevention studies it is difficult to
      demonstrate reduced mortality. Large populations are needed with well
      characterized genetics followed over a long period of time. Those studies do
      exist for standard white light colonoscopy surveillance in Lynch syndrome, but
      not for newer technologies including chromoscopy. For these newer technologies
      adenoma detection rate becomes the stand-in for mortality, and the assumption is
      made that surveillance efficacy impacts cancer occurrence. Though well-designed
      and important work exists in this area, the data do not support firm conclusions
      regarding the use of chromoscopy in Lynch syndrome.

PMID- 26892867
TI  - Effects of Partial Sleep Deprivation on Information Processing Speed in
      Adolescence.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Although chronic sleep loss is highly common among teens, few
      objective sleep studies have examined its effects on cognitive performance, and
      specifically on information processing speed (IPS), a measure of cognitive
      proficiency. METHODS: Forty-five adolescents underwent four consecutive nights of
      monitored sleep restriction (6-6.5 hr/night) and four nights of sleep extension
      (10-10.5 hr/night), in counterbalanced order, and separated by a washout period.
      Following each sleep period, cognitive performance was assessed, at a fixed
      morning time, using a computerized neuropsychological battery including an IPS
      task, a timed test providing both accuracy and reaction time outcome measures.
      RESULTS: Overall IPS performance was poorer in the restricted when compared to
      the extended condition. Increasing task load and pace were associated with
      increased accuracy for both sleep conditions. However, a significant pace by load
      interaction effect was only found in the extended condition, with post hoc tests
      showing that for medium and hard loads, IPS accuracies were better with
      increasing pace of task. Differences in IPS reaction times were not found between
      the sleep conditions. In addition, sleep-related changes in IPS indices were
      correlated with changes in executive function, motor skill, and attention
      performance. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents' ability to process information may be
      especially vulnerable to sleep loss. Under ideal sleep conditions, however, they
      seem to be able to achieve optimal performance, particularly on more challenging
      problems. The functional implications of these findings may be particularly
      relevant to teens, who are often sleep deprived and are constantly required to
      process academic, social, and emotional input.

PMID- 26892862
TI  - Exosomal microRNA Biomarkers: Emerging Frontiers in Colorectal and Other Human
      Cancers.
AB  - Diagnostic strategies, particularly non-invasive blood-based screening
      approaches, are gaining increased attention for the early detection and
      attenuation of mortality associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the
      majority of current screening approaches are inadequate at replacing the
      conventional CRC diagnostic procedures. Yet, due to technological advances and
      better understanding of molecular events underlying human cancer, a new category
      of biomarkers are on the horizon. Recent evidence indicates that cells release a
      distinct class of small vesicles called 'exosomes', which contain nucleic acids
      and proteins that reflect and typify host-cell molecular architecture.
      Intriguingly, exosomes released from cancer cells have a distinct genetic and
      epigenetic makeup, which allows them to undertake their tumorigenic function.
      From a clinical standpoint, these unique cancer-specific fingerprints present in
      exosomes appear to be detectable in a small amount of blood, making them very
      attractive substrates for developing cancer biomarkers, particularly noninvasive
      diagnostic approaches. 

PMID- 26892865
TI  - Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome: history, genetics, and
      heterogeneity.
AB  - Approximately 5-10 % of cutaneous melanoma occurs in kindreds with a hereditary
      predisposition. Mutations in the CDKN2A gene are found to occur in approximately
      20-40 % of these kindreds. The first historical mention of what is now called the
      familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome appears to be from 1820, with
      more reports throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and later years. In 1991, Lynch and
      Fusaro described an association between familial multiple mole melanoma and
      pancreatic cancer and work continues to elucidate the syndrome's genotypic and
      phenotypic heterogeneity. Individuals at risk for familial melanoma need periodic
      screenings. Unfortunately, adequate screening for pancreatic cancer does not
      currently exist, but pancreatic cancer's prominence in the hereditary setting
      will hopefully act as a stimulus for development of novel screening measures.

PMID- 26892864
TI  - SERPINI1 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in an orthotopic
      implantation model of colorectal cancer.
AB  - An increasingly accepted concept is that the progression of colorectal cancer is
      accompanied by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In our study, in order to
      characterize the properties of EMT in 16 colorectal cancer cell lines, the cells
      were first orthotopically implanted into nude mice, and the tumors in vivo, as
      well as cells cultured in vitro, were immunostained for EMT markers. The
      immunostaining revealed that seven of the cells had an epithelial phenotype with
      a high expression of E-cadherin, whereas other cells showed opposite patterns,
      such as a high expression of vimentin (CX-1, COLO205, CloneA, HCT116, and SW48).
      Among the cells expressing vimentin, some expressed vimentin in the orthotopic
      tumors but not in the cultured cells (SW480, SW620, and COLO320). We evaluated
      these findings in combination with microarray analyses, and selected five genes:
      CHST11, SERPINI1, AGR2, FBP1, and FOXA1. Next, we downregulated the expression of
      SERPINI1 with siRNA in the cells, the results of which showed reverse-EMT changes
      at the protein level and in the cellular morphology. Along with
      immunohistochemical analyses, we confirmed the effect of the intracellular and
      secreted SERPINI1 protein of SW620 cells, which supported the importance of
      SERPINI1 in EMT. The development of therapeutic strategies targeting EMT is
      ongoing, including methods targeting the transforming growth factor-beta
      signaling pathway as well as the Wnt pathway. SERPINI1 is an important regulator
      of EMT. Our findings help to elucidate the signaling pathways of EMT, hopefully
      clarifying therapeutic pathways as well. 

PMID- 26892869
TI  - Survey and first molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu
      stricto (G1) in Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) in Buenos Aires province,
      Argentina.
AB  - Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus.
      Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) has a world-wide distribution and its
      transmission is primarily maintained in a synanthropic cycle with dogs as
      definitive hosts and livestock species as intermediate hosts. However, many wild
      canids also function as definitive hosts for E. granulosus s. l. Echinococcosis
      in humans is mainly caused by E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.) G1 genotype. In
      the present work, we expanded the epidemiological study on echinococcosis
      reported cases in Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) to provide a prevalence
      estimate for rural areas of southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Ninety
      five whole intestines were analyzed using the sedimentation and counting
      technique with a result of 83 foxes (87.37%) harboring at least one helminth
      species. E. granulosus s. l. adults were found in one Pampas fox (1.05%). These
      adult helminthes were E. granulosus s. s. (G1) according to the genotyping
      analysis of a 450-bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1
      (cox1) gene. 

PMID- 26892868
TI  - Characterization of a natural triple-tandem c-di-GMP riboswitch and application
      of the riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporter.
AB  - c-di-GMP riboswitches are structured RNAs located in the 5'-untranslated regions
      (5'-UTRs) of mRNAs that regulate expression of downstream genes in response to
      changing concentrations of the second messenger c-di-GMP. We discovered three
      complete c-di-GMP riboswitches (Bc3, Bc4 and Bc5 RNA) with similar structures,
      which are arranged in tandem to constitute a triple-tandem (Bc3-5 RNA) riboswitch
      in the 5'-UTR of the cspABCDE mRNA in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. chinensis CT
      43. Our results showed that this natural triple-tandem riboswitch controlled the
      expression of the reporter gene more stringently and digitally than the double
      tandem or single riboswitch. A sandwich-like dual-fluorescence reporter was
      further constructed by fusing the Bc3-5 RNA gene between the two fluorescence
      protein genes amcyan and turborfp. This reporter strain was found to exhibit
      detectable fluorescence color changes under bright field in response to
      intracellular c-di-GMP level altered by induced expression of diguanylate cyclase
      (DGC) PleD. Using this system, two putative membrane-bound DGCs from B.
      thuringiensis and Xanthomonas oryzae were verified to be functional by replacing
      pleD with the corresponding DGC genes. This report represented the first native
      triple-tandem riboswitch that was applied to serve as a riboswitch-based dual
      fluorescence reporter for the efficient and convenient verification of putative
      DGC activity in vivo.

PMID- 26892870
TI  - Ultrasonographic findings of small lesion of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the features of small lesions of hepatic alveolar
      echinococcsis paragonimiasis (AE) on conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast
      enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. METHODS: This retrospective study was
      approved by the Institutional Review Board, and the requirement for informed
      consent was waived. US and CEUS features of seventeen lesions histopathologically
      proven hepatic AE were retrospectively reviewed. Nine patients with seventeen
      hepatic AE lesions who were admitted to our hospital between January 2008 and
      June 2015 were enrolled. All hepatic AE lesions were small (<=3cm). The US and
      CEUS examinations were performed with a Philips IU22 scanner with a 1-5-MHz
      convex transducer. After US was completed, the CEUS study was performed. Pulse
      inversion harmonic imaging was used for CEUS. A bolus injection of 2.4mL of a
      sulfur-hexafluoride-filled microbubble contrast agent (SonoVue) was administered.
      The features of the lesions by US and CEUS were retrospectively reviewed.
      RESULTS: In total, all lesions were detected by US and CEUS. The mean size of the
      lesions was 1.8+/-0.7cm (range: 1.0-3.0cm). Five patients (55.6%, 5/9) had a
      lesion in the right hepatic lobe; two (22.2%, 2/9) had two lesions in the left
      hepatic lobe; and two patients (22.2%, 2/9) had four lesions in the right lobe.
      Seven lesions (41.2%, 7/17) were hypoechoic nodules and ten (58.8%, 10/17) were
      hyperechoic nodules. Nine lesions (52.3%, 9/17) were of mixed echogenicity type.
      Ten lesions (58.8%, 10/17) had a regular shape. Nine lesions (52.3%, 9/27) had a
      sharp margin and six (35.3%, 6/17) had indistinct margins. Four lesions (57.1%,
      4/7) with hypoechoic nodule had small dotted calcifications, none was found in
      hyperechoic nodule. Seven nodules (41.2%, 7/17) showed short striated blood-flow
      signals surrounding the margin, on color Doppler flow imaging. By CEUS, All the
      lesions were hypoechoic with mixed content (). 12 lesions (70.1%, 12/17) were rim
      enhanced with irregular piece-like nonenhanced internal areas and showed
      nonhomogeneous hypo-enhancement during the arterial phase, with mixed
      echogenicity. The main pathological findings included: (1) (1) coagulative or
      liquefactive necrosis within the lesion with sporadic distribution of wizened
      alveolar hydatid cysts; and (2) hyperplasia of granulomatous and fibrous tissue
      around the lesion. CONCLUSION: Hyperechogenicity, mixed echogenicity type, dotted
      calcification with hypoechogenicity, sharp margin, rim enhancement and piece-like
      nonenhanced areas could be seen as the main ultrasonographic features of small
      lesion of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

PMID- 26892871
TI  - The forgotten people in British public health: a national neglect of the dying,
      bereaved and caregivers.
AB  - The clinical and social epidemiology of living with a life-threatening or life
      limiting illness, frail ageing, long-term caregiving, and grief and bereavement
      is well documented in the palliative care, psycho-oncology and psychiatric
      literature but this investigation asks what interest exists from the mainstream
      public health sector in these health and illness experiences. This paper reports
      a content analysis of 7 key British public health journals, 14 major public
      health textbooks and 3 public health websites employing key word and synonym
      searches to assess the size and quality of interest in populations related to
      ageing, dying, caregiving, and grief and bereavement. Compared with other public
      health issues, such as obesity and tobacco use, for examples, interest in the
      social experience and epidemiology of end-of-life experiences is extremely low.
      Reasons for this lack of interest are explored. 

PMID- 26892872
TI  - Set one standard and do not change it.

PMID- 26892873
TI  - Differential Effects of Sepsis and Chronic Inflammation on Diaphragm Muscle Fiber
      Type, Thyroid Hormone Metabolism, and Mitochondrial Function.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle, and its function is
      compromised during severe illness. Altered local thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism
      may be a determinant of impaired muscle function during illness. METHODS: This
      study investigates the effects of bacterial sepsis and chronic inflammation on
      muscle fiber type, local TH metabolism, and mitochondrial function in the
      diaphragm. Two mouse models were used: sepsis induced by S. pneumoniae infection
      or chronic inflammation induced by subcutaneous turpentine injection. In vitro,
      the effect of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) on mitochondrial function in C2C12
      myotubes was studied. RESULTS: Sepsis induced a transient increase in the fiber
      type I profile and increased Dio3 expression while decreasing Dio2, Thra1, and
      Slc16a2 expression. Triiodothyronine positively regulated genes Tnni2 and Myog
      were decreased, indicating reduced TH signaling in the diaphragm. In contrast,
      chronic inflammation increased the fiber type II profile in the diaphragm as well
      as Thra1, Thrb1, and Myog expression while decreasing Dio3 expression, suggesting
      increased TH responsiveness during chronic inflammation. LPS-stimulated C2C12
      myotubes showed decreased Dio2 expression and reduced basal oxygen consumption as
      well as non-mitochondrial respiration. The same respiratory profile was induced
      by Dio2 knockdown in myotubes. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo results show differential
      effects of sepsis and chronic inflammation on diaphragm muscle fiber type, TH
      metabolism, and mitochondrial function, while the in vitro results point to a
      causal role for altered TH metabolism in functional muscle impairment. These
      findings may be relevant for the pathogenesis of impaired respiratory function in
      critical illness.

PMID- 26892875
TI  - Sharp decline of malaria cases in the Burie Zuria, Dembia, and Mecha districts,
      Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2012-2014: descriptive analysis of surveillance data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, a steep decline of malaria cases
      was seen in early 2014. This study verified the decrease of the malaria cases
      along with the positivity rates among acute febrile illness patients, from late
      2012 through 2014 in selected districts of the Amhara Region of Federal Republic
      of Ethiopia. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the
      routine malaria surveillance data from the World Health Organization
      epidemiological week 28 of 2012 to week 52 of 2014 in three districts: Burie
      Zuria, Dembia and Mecha, the Amhara Region in Ethiopia. The authors visited the
      three district health offices, and health centres, when necessary, and collected
      the surveillance data on malaria for that period. RESULTS: The study found that
      the malaria cases, along with the positivity rates, decreased from late 2012 to
      early 2014 in all three districts. Though the situation had slightly reverted in
      late 2014, the numbers of cases were much smaller than in late 2012 in all three
      districts. Despite the different diagnostic techniques used at health centres
      (malaria microscopy) and health posts (rapid diagnostic tests), moderate to high
      correlations were found, suggesting that the trends were real and not caused by a
      defect in the reagent, differences in the technicians' skills for microscopy, or
      a change of the health workers' attitudes toward cases with acute febrile
      illness. The decrease in malaria cases in early 2014 may have resulted from
      successful implementation of the three pillars of malaria control-case
      management, indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated nets-in the
      districts where a high percentage of households were protected by indoor residual
      spraying and/or insecticide-treated nets. CONCLUSION: While the current efforts
      for malaria control should be strengthened and maintained, the review of malaria
      surveillance data should also be used to verify the malaria trend in the region.

PMID- 26892874
TI  - An MRI-based classification scheme to predict passive access of 5 to 50-nm large
      nanoparticles to tumors.
AB  - Nanoparticles are useful tools in oncology because of their capacity to passively
      accumulate in tumors in particular via the enhanced permeability and retention
      (EPR) effect. However, the importance and reliability of this effect remains
      controversial and quite often unpredictable. In this preclinical study, we used
      optical imaging to detect the accumulation of three types of fluorescent
      nanoparticles in eight different subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models, and
      dynamic contrast-enhanced and vessel size index Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
      to measure the functional parameters of these tumors. The results demonstrate
      that the permeability and blood volume fraction determined by MRI are useful
      parameters for predicting the capacity of a tumor to accumulate nanoparticles.
      Translated to a clinical situation, this strategy could help anticipate the EPR
      effect of a particular tumor and thus its accessibility to nanomedicines.

PMID- 26892877
TI  - Brain inflammation, neurodegeneration and seizure development following
      picornavirus infection markedly differ among virus and mouse strains and
      substrains.
AB  - Infections, particularly those caused by viruses, are among the main causes of
      acquired epilepsy, but the mechanisms causing epileptogenesis are only poorly
      understood. As a consequence, no treatment exists for preventing epilepsy in
      patients at risk. Animal models are useful to study epileptogenesis after virus
      induced encephalitis and how to interfere with this process, but most viruses
      that cause encephalitis in rodents are associated with high mortality, so that
      the processes leading to epilepsy cannot be investigated. Recently, intracerebral
      infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) in C57BL/6 (B6)
      mice was reported to induce early seizures and epilepsy and it was proposed that
      the TMEV mouse model represents the first virus infection-driven animal model of
      epilepsy. In the present study, we characterized this model in two B6 substrains
      and seizure-resistant SJL/J mice by using three TMEV (sub)strains (BeAn-1, BeAn
      2, DA). The idea behind this approach was to study what is and what is not
      necessary for development of acute and late seizures after brain infection in
      mice. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to
      determine which virus-induced brain alterations are associated with seizure
      development. In B6 mice infected with different TMEV virus (sub)strains, the
      severity of hippocampal neurodegeneration, amount of MAC3-positive
      microglia/macrophages, and expression of the interferon-inducible antiviral
      effector ISG15 were almost perfect at discriminating seizing from non-seizing B6
      mice, whereas T-lymphocyte brain infiltration was not found to be a crucial
      factor. However, intense microglia/macrophage activation and some hippocampal
      damage were also observed in SJL/J mice. Overall, the TMEV model provides a
      unique platform to study virus and host factors in ictogenesis and
      epileptogenesis.

PMID- 26892878
TI  - Assessment of home hazards for childhood injuries in an urban population in New
      Delhi.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Childhood injuries, especially the unintentional category of
      injuries, occur most commonly in the environment inside a child's home. The
      primary objective of the present study was to assess the presence of home hazards
      for childhood injuries in households in an urban resettlement colony in New
      Delhi. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in an
      urban resettlement colony in Delhi. A hazards assessment tool was used to check
      the presence of hazards in the houses. RESULTS: A total of 225 households were
      included. It was seen that121 (53.7%) had a cooking stove within the reach of the
      child, and 190 (84.3%) had the gas pipe within reach. Fire hazard was seen in 84%
      of houses. About 78% of households did not have locked storage for chemicals.
      CONCLUSION: The study revealed a significant burden of hazards for childhood
      injuries within their own homes, thus emphasizing the need for injury prevention
      interventions to reduce the number of hazards.

PMID- 26892879
TI  - Understanding the lived experience of women before and after fistula repair: a
      qualitative study in Kenya.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To gain understanding of the first-hand experience of women prior to
      and following repair of a vaginal fistula, to determine the most effective
      support mechanisms. DESIGN: Qualitative phenomenological study using a series of
      in-depth semi-structured interviews at two time points: prior to fistula repair
      and 6 months post-surgery. Data were analysed thematically. SETTING: Three
      fistula clinics in three districts in Kenya. POPULATION: A purposive sample of 16
      women suffering with vaginal fistula who were seeking fistula repair. METHODS:
      Thrity-two semi-structured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: The two main
      themes represented the women's journeys from social isolation to social
      reintegration. Women felt euphoric following fistula repair, believing that a
      'miracle' had occurred. However, the 'post-miracle phase' demonstrated that the
      social and psychological impact of fistula leaves scars that are not easily
      healed, even when fistula repair is successful. CONCLUSION: Women's experiences
      of living with fistula have an impact beyond that which can be repaired solely by
      surgery. The findings from this study support the need for more active
      psychological assessment in the management of women with fistula, and the role of
      targeted psychological support in any package of care given in the post repair
      phase. The format of this support requires further study. Engagement by health
      professionals with the wider community could raise awareness of the causes of
      fistula, and provide support for significant others who may also be feeling
      vulnerable. It is likely that the collaborative efforts from health professionals
      and community members will provide the most effective support. TWEETABLE
      ABSTRACT: Fistula surgery alone is insufficient for women's physical, social and
      psychological recovery.

PMID- 26892880
TI  - The road less travelled: Australian women's experiences with vulval cancer.
AB  - Despite advances in surgical treatments and the availability of more conservative
      treatment options, women treated for vulval cancer still experience significant
      complications such as urinary incontinence, lymphoedema, pruritus, sexual and
      intimacy issues. These issues can profoundly impact a woman's quality of life.
      The subjective experience of women diagnosed and treated for vulval cancer in the
      literature is limited, possibly due to its comparable rarity to other
      gynaecological and female cancers and because it was traditionally seen mainly in
      the elderly female population. Nonetheless, younger women are also being
      diagnosed with vulval cancer. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative
      study about twelve women's experiences with vulval cancer from diagnosis, through
      treatment and recovery. Women's feelings of isolation, their unmet information
      and support needs, physical concerns arising from vulval cancer, particularly
      after surgery, and the consequences for their body image and intimate
      relationships with partners, were highlighted within the data. The central
      findings from this study emphasise the need for further research to develop
      appropriate interventions for women with vulval cancer. It also highlights
      opportunities to improve clinical practice into the supportive care of women with
      this isolating disease.

PMID- 26892876
TI  - Protective effects of butyrate-based compounds on a mouse model for spinal
      muscular atrophy.
AB  - Proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a childhood-onset degenerative disease
      resulting from the selective loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. SMA is
      caused by the loss of SMN1 (survival motor neuron 1) but retention of SMN2. The
      number of copies of SMN2 modifies disease severity in SMA patients as well as in
      mouse models, making SMN2 a target for therapeutics development. Sodium butyrate
      (BA) and its analog (4PBA) have been shown to increase SMN2 expression in SMA
      cultured cells. In this study, we examined the effects of BA, 4PBA as well as two
      BA prodrugs-glyceryl tributyrate (BA3G) and VX563-on the phenotype of SMNDelta7
      SMA mice. Treatment with 4PBA, BA3G and VX563 but not BA beginning at PND04
      significantly improved the lifespan and delayed disease end stage, with
      administration of VX563 also improving the growth rate of these mice. 4PBA and
      VX563 improved the motor phenotype of SMNDelta7 SMA mice and prevented spinal
      motor neuron loss. Interestingly, neither 4PBA nor VX563 had an effect on SMN
      expression in the spinal cords of treated SMNDelta7 SMA mice; however, they
      inhibited histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and restored the normal
      phosphorylation states of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, both of which
      are altered by SMN deficiency in vivo. These observations show that BA-based
      compounds with favorable pharmacokinetics ameliorate SMA pathology possibly by
      modulating HDAC and Akt signaling.

PMID- 26892881
TI  - When and Why Is Research without Consent Permissible?
AB  - The purpose of consent is to let a person waive her rights of control over some
      aspects of her life. But becoming part of a research study does not always
      seriously undermine one's control.

PMID- 26892882
TI  - Enhancing voluntary imitation through attention and motor imagery.
AB  - Action observation activates brain areas involved in performing the same action
      and has been shown to increase motor learning, with potential implications for
      neurorehabilitation. Recent work indicates that the effects of action observation
      on movement can be increased by motor imagery or by directing attention to
      observed actions. In voluntary imitation, activation of the motor system during
      action observation is already increased. We therefore explored whether imitation
      could be further enhanced by imagery or attention. Healthy participants observed
      and then immediately imitated videos of human hand movement sequences, while
      movement kinematics were recorded. Two blocks of trials were completed, and after
      the first block participants were instructed to imagine performing the observed
      movement (Imagery group, N = 18) or attend closely to the characteristics of the
      movement (Attention group, N = 15), or received no further instructions (Control
      group, N = 17). Kinematics of the imitated movements were modulated by
      instructions, with both Imagery and Attention groups being closer in duration,
      peak velocity and amplitude to the observed model compared with controls. These
      findings show that both attention and motor imagery can increase the accuracy of
      imitation and have implications for motor learning and rehabilitation. Future
      work is required to understand the mechanisms by which these two strategies
      influence imitation accuracy.

PMID- 26892883
TI  - The effect of 6 h of running on brain activity, mood, and cognitive performance.
AB  - Long-duration exercise has been linked with the psychological model of flow. It
      is expected that the flow experience is characterized by specific changes in
      cortical activity, especially a transient hypofrontality, which has recently been
      connected with an increase in cognitive performance post-exercise. Nevertheless,
      data on neuro-affective and neuro-cognitive effects during prolonged exercise are
      rare. The cognitive performance, mental state, flow experience, and brain
      cortical activity of 11 ultramarathon runners (6 female, 5 male) were assessed
      before, several times during, and after a 6-h run. A decrease in cortical
      activity (beta activity) was measured in the frontal cortex, whereas no changes
      were measured for global beta, frontal or global alpha activity. Perceived
      physical relaxation and flow state increased significantly after 1 h of running
      but decreased during the following 5 h. Perceived physical state and motivational
      state remained stable during the first hour of running but then decreased
      significantly. Cognitive performance as well as the underlying neurophysiological
      events (recorded as event-related potentials) remained stable across the 6-h run.
      Despite the fact that women reported significant higher levels of flow, no
      further gender effects were noticeable. Supporting the theory of a transient
      hypofrontality, a clear decrease in frontal cortex activity was noticeable.
      Interestingly, this had no effect on cognitive performance. The fact that self
      reported flow experience only increased during the first hour of running before
      decreasing, leads us to assume that changes in cortical activity, and the
      experience of flow may not be linked as previously supposed.

PMID- 26892885
TI  - Modality dependence and intermodal transfer in the Corsi Spatial Sequence Task:
      Screen vs. Floor.
AB  - Four versions of the Corsi Spatial Sequence Task (CSST) were tested in a complete
      within-subject design, investigating whether participants' performance depends on
      the modality of task presentation and reproduction that put different demands on
      spatial processing. Presentation of the sequence (encoding phase) and the
      reproduction (recall phase) were each carried out either on a computer screen or
      on the floor of a room, involving actual walking in the recall phase.
      Combinations of the two different encoding and recall procedures result in the
      modality conditions Screen-Screen, Screen-Floor, Floor-Screen, and Floor-Floor.
      Results show the expected decrease in performance with increasing sequence
      length, which is likely due to processing limitations of working memory. We also
      found differences in performance between the modality conditions indicating
      different involvements of spatial working memory processes. Participants
      performed best in the Screen-Screen modality condition. Floor-Screen and Floor
      Floor modality conditions require additional working memory resources for
      reference frame transformation and spatial updating, respectively; the resulting
      impairment of the performance was about the same in these two conditions.
      Finally, the Screen-Floor modality condition requires both types of additional
      spatial demands and led to the poorest performance. Therefore, we suggest that
      besides the well-known spatial requirements of CSST, additional working memory
      resources are demanded in walking CSST supporting processes such as spatial
      updating, mental rotation, reference frame transformation, and the control of
      walking itself.

PMID- 26892884
TI  - Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation induces impulsive action when patients
      with Parkinson's disease act under speed pressure.
AB  - The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is proposed to modulate response thresholds and
      speed-accuracy trade-offs. In situations of conflict, the STN is considered to
      raise response thresholds, allowing time for the accumulation of information to
      occur before a response is selected. Conversely, speed pressure is thought to
      reduce the activity of the STN and lower response thresholds, resulting in fast,
      errorful responses. In Parkinson's disease (PD), subthalamic nucleus deep brain
      stimulation (STN-DBS) reduces the activity of the nucleus and improves motor
      symptoms. We predicted that the combined effects of STN stimulation and speed
      pressure would lower STN activity and lead to fast, errorful responses, hence
      resulting in impulsive action. We used the motion discrimination 'moving-dots'
      task to assess speed-accuracy trade-offs, under both speed and accuracy
      instructions. We assessed 12 patients with PD and bilateral STN-DBS and 12 age
      matched healthy controls. Participants completed the task twice, and the patients
      completed it once with STN-DBS on and once with STN-DBS off, with order
      counterbalanced. We found that STN stimulation was associated with significantly
      faster reaction times but more errors under speed instructions. Application of
      the drift diffusion model showed that stimulation resulted in lower response
      thresholds when acting under speed pressure. These findings support the
      involvement of the STN in the modulation of speed-accuracy trade-offs and
      establish for the first time that speed pressure alone, even in the absence of
      conflict, can result in STN stimulation inducing impulsive action in PD.

PMID- 26892886
TI  - Gender difference in handgrip strength of Italian children aged 9 to 10 years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength is an index of nutritional status which correlates
      to morbidity and mortality in young. It differs in adults and adolescents between
      gender. However, it is no clear whether a difference exists also in children aged
      9 to 10 years, and which are the factors influencing it. Furthermore, data of
      Handgrip strength of Italian schoolchildren are lacking. Aim of this study was to
      provide Handgrip strength value from a sample of healthy Italian schoolchildren
      aged 9 to 10 years and to determine which factors affect grip strength at this
      age. METHODS: We enrolled 137 children (boys n =66; girls n = 71) who underwent a
      body mass index and Handgrip strength measurement. Handgrip strength was assessed
      by an hydraulic hand dynamometer. RESULTS: The mean handgrip strength value was
      13.8 +/- 4.0 for girls and 15.2 +/- 3.0 kg for boys (p = 0.04) thus, we found a
      significant difference between gender. We have not found a significant
      differences in anthropometric parameters between gender. In the univariate
      analysis Handgrip strength was associated with age, BMI, height, weight and
      gender (p < 0.001 for age, p < 0.001 for BMI, p < 0.001 for height, p < 0.001 for
      weight and p < 0.04 for gender). The Multivariate linear regression analysis
      showed that age, BMI and gender were all correlated to grip force. CONCLUSION: We
      found a significant difference in grip strength between healthy Italian
      schoolchildren aged 9 to 10 years. This parameter seems to be primarily
      influenced by gender. Our investigation is important since currently data
      regarding the reference values of HGS for Italian children are lacking.

PMID- 26892887
TI  - Overexpression of microRNA-5100 decreases the aggressive phenotype of pancreatic
      cancer cells by targeting PODXL.
AB  - Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-associated death, and metastasis of
      pancreatic cancer remains difficult to treat because of its aggressiveness.
      MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the regulation of various human
      transcripts, and many miRNAs have been reported to correlate with cancer
      metastasis. We identified an anti-metastatic miRNA, miR-5100, by investigating
      differences in miRNA profiling between highly metastatic pancreatic cancer cells
      and their parental cells. Overexpression of miR-5100 inhibited colony formation
      (P<0.05), cell migration (P<0.0001) and invasion (P<0.0001) of pancreatic cancer
      cells. In addition, we identified a possible target of miR-5100, podocalyxin-like
      1 (PODXL), and demonstrated miR-5100 directly binds to the 3' untranslated region
      of PODXL and post-transcriptionally regulates its expression in pancreatic cancer
      cells. Silencing PODXL resulted in diminished cell migration (P<0.0001) and
      invasion (P<0.05). We also clarified the close relationship between expression of
      PODXL in human pancreatic cancer specimens and liver metastasis (P=0.0003), and
      determined that post-operative survival was longer in the low-PODXL expression
      group than in the high-PODXL expression group (P<0.05). These results indicate
      that miR-5100 and PODXL have considerable therapeutic potential for anti
      metastatic therapy and could be potential indicators for cancer metastases in
      patients with pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26892889
TI  - Combined Anterior and Dual Posterolateral Approaches for Ankle Arthroscopy for
      Posterior and Anterior Ankle Impingement Syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We introduce a novel method of combining the standard anteromedial
      and anterolateral approaches and dual posterolateral approaches in the
      arthroscopic treatment of posterior and anterior ankle impingement syndrome and
      compare the postoperative outcomes with conventional anteromedial/anterolateral
      and posteromedial/posterolateral approaches. METHODS: From January 2013 to
      January 2015, we treated 28 patients with posterior and anterior ankle
      impingement syndrome by arthroscopy. The patients were divided into the
      conventional group (n = 13) and the modified group (n = 15) according to the
      surgical approaches used in the operation. Preoperative and postoperative
      American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analog scale
      (VAS) score, range of ankle motion, and operation time were recorded. The average
      follow-up was 16 months (range 6-24 months). RESULTS: Posterior and anterior
      ankle impingement syndrome was confirmed arthroscopically in all patients. After
      the operation, the range of ankle motion in all patients was restored. There was
      no significant difference in postoperative AOFAS score, VAS score, dorsiflexion,
      and plantarflexion between the conventional group and the modified group.
      Moreover, the operation time was significantly reduced in the modified group
      compared with the conventional group. There was no recurrence of osteophyte and
      no complications such as infection, neurovascular injury, or delayed healing of
      surgical incision in the modified group. CONCLUSIONS: Dual posterolateral
      approaches combined with standard anteromedial and anterolateral approaches was a
      novel method for arthroscopic treatment of posterior and anterior ankle
      impingement syndrome. It proved to be safe and effective, and significantly
      reduced the operation time. Reposition, repeated prep and drape, and limb
      distraction were avoided. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

PMID- 26892888
TI  - Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin infections
      and its implications in various clinical conditions in Korea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Periodic investigations into patterns of antimicrobial resistance can
      help to optimize the efficacy of treatment and limit the development of
      resistance. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to update information on
      patterns of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin
      infections in South Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical
      information and in vitro antimicrobial resistance data for 965 clinical S. aureus
      isolates obtained from skin infections during 2010-2013 in a university hospital
      in South Korea. RESULTS: The rate of resistance to oxacillin (methicillin
      resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) was 47.4%. Similar rates of resistance to
      erythromycin (45.6%), fusidic acid (44.0%), and clindamycin (42.3%) were noted.
      The rate of resistance to mupirocin was 8.4%. Overall, 4.9% of isolates were
      resistant to both fusidic acid and mupirocin. None of the isolates showed
      resistance to habekacin, synercid, teicoplanin, or vancomycin. Generally,
      antimicrobial resistance rates did not increase from 2010 to 2013 except with
      reference to a few agents such as mupirocin and rifampin. Isolates from surgical
      patients, inpatients, non-dermatology outpatients, and adult patients showed
      relatively high rates of resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Resistance to
      mupirocin was not only lower than that to fusidic acid but was consistent across
      clinical contexts. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MRSA in skin infections in
      South Korea did not increase during 2010-2013. Isolates from dermatology
      outpatients showed relatively lower rates of resistance to multiple
      antimicrobials than isolates from non-dermatology outpatients. Among topical
      antimicrobials, resistance to mupirocin was relatively low regardless of clinical
      condition.

PMID- 26892890
TI  - Ischemic proctosigmoiditis due to retroperitoneal hematoma.
AB  - Gastrointestinal ischemia is caused by ischemic colitis in 50-60% of cases and is
      associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients. Ischemic
      proctosigmoiditis is a very rare disorder with only few cases reported. Due to
      collateral blood supply the rectum is only affected in 2-5% of all cases of
      ischemic colitis. We report a rare case of ischemic proctosigmoiditis caused by a
      retroperitoneal hematoma due to a pelvic fracture. 

PMID- 26892891
TI  - Systolic Blood Pressure Variability is Associated with Severe Hemorrhagic
      Transformation in the Early Stage After Thrombolysis.
AB  - The present study investigates the association between hour-to-hour blood
      pressure (BP) variability and severe hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after
      intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) during hyperacute stage. We analyzed hour-to-hour
      BP measurement within 24 h after IVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We
      calculated the maximum, minimum, and average (mean) of 24-h BP values, and BP
      variability profiles including standard deviation (SD), average squared
      difference between successive measurements (SV), average squared difference
      between rise and drop successive measurements (SV rise and SV drop), and maximum
      of SV rise and SV drop (SVrisemax and SVdropmax) after quartering 0-to-24 h BP
      course. HT was classified as hemorrhagic infarction (HI) or parenchymal hematoma
      (PH). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) was defined as HT with
      worsening of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score by >=4 points or
      leading to death. Severe HT was defined as either PH or sICH. Totally, 461
      patients were included. We observed HT in 142 (30.8 %), PH in 43 (9.3 %), and
      sICH in 12 (2.6 %) patients. Binary logistic regression indicated that SBPSD and
      SBPSV within the first 24 h were associated with sICH (OR, 4.538; 95 % CI, 1.834
      11.230; p = 0.001 and OR, 6.117; 95 % CI, 2.000-18.711; p = 0.002) and PH (OR,
      2.146; 95 % CI, 1.106-4.165; p = 0.024 and OR, 2.202; 95 % CI, 1.046-4.633; p =
      0.038). For the SBP SV parameters among four periods of the initial 24 h, only
      SV, SVrise, and SVrisemax during the first 6 h were significantly associated with
      sICH (OR, 2.785; 95 % CI, 1.294-5.994; p = 0.009; OR, 1.825; 95 % CI, 1.110
      3.002; p = 0.018 and OR, 1.495; 95 % CI, 1.039-2.149; p = 0.030) and PH (OR,
      2.088; 95 % CI, 1.287-3.387; p = 0.003; OR, 1.501; 95 % CI, 1.044-2.156; p =
      0.028 and OR, 1.334; 95 % CI, 1.023-1.739; p = 0.033). High systolic BP
      variability during the first 6 h after IVT was related with severe HTs, which
      highlights the potential predictability to severe HTs.

PMID- 26892893
TI  - Patterns of return to oral intake and decannulation post-tracheostomy across
      clinical populations in an acute inpatient setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is often a comorbidity in patients who require a
      tracheostomy, yet little is known about patterns of oral intake commencement in
      tracheostomized patients, or how patterns may vary depending on the clinical
      population and/or reason for tracheostomy insertion. AIMS: To document patterns
      of clinical management around the commencement of oral intake throughout hospital
      admission and along the decannulation pathway in patients with a new
      tracheostomy, and to examine the nature of variability across multiple clinical
      populations. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A 12-month retrospective review of 126
      patients who had undergone an acute tracheostomy was conducted. Within the
      cohort, patients were further classified into eight clinical populations
      representing specialty areas within the tertiary referral centre. Data were
      collected on timing of milestones and patterns of clinical management related to
      oral and enteral feeding and decannulation. Relationships between temporal
      variables were calculated, in addition to descriptive analysis of the overall
      cohort and by clinical population. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Median temporal markers of
      patient progression post-tracheostomy insertion for the cohort were: continuous
      cuff deflation after 7.5 days, commencement of oral intake after 10.5 days,
      decannulation after 15 days and cessation of enteral nutrition (EN) after 17
      days. However, considerable individual variation and differences between clinical
      populations was observed. Overall, 86% of the cohort returned to oral intake,
      although 25% were discharged with EN via a gastrostomy. A total of 86% of the
      group were decannulated by hospital discharge. Oral intake was introduced at
      every stage of the decannulation pathway, including prior to cuff deflation, but
      the majority of patients commenced diet/fluids following cuff deflation or with
      an uncuffed tube in situ, and most patients who ceased EN did so following
      decannulation. Commencement of oral intake was evenly split between the intensive
      care unit (ICU) and the wards. Increased time to commencement of oral intake
      correlated with increased time to decannulation (r = .805, p = .001), and
      increased time to decannulation correlated with increased hospital length of stay
      (r = .687, p = .006). Whilst cohort patterns were observed within the
      heterogeneous group, sub-analysis revealed distinct patterns of oral intake
      management across the different clinical populations. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS:
      The data provide benchmarks enabling comparison by overall cohort as well as by
      specialist clinical populations, each with differing reasons for tracheostomy
      insertion. The data would suggest that tracheostomy patients should not be looked
      upon as a singular cohort; rather, evaluation of factors with specific attention
      made to underlying aetiology and individual clinical presentation is essential.

PMID- 26892892
TI  - Administration of Antithymocyte Globulin (Rabbit) to Treat a Severe, Mixed
      Rejection Episode in a Pregnant Renal Transplant Recipient.
AB  - Pregnancy in solid organ transplant recipients carries numerous risks to the
      mother such as increased risk of rejection, gestational diabetes mellitus, and
      preeclampsia. The developing fetus is subjected to risks such as birth defects,
      preterm delivery, and low birth weight. Typically, these risks can be managed
      through intensive, multidisciplinary prenatal care and a proper immunosuppressive
      regimen. In the setting of rejection, however, little data are available to
      suggest safe and effective treatment of acute cellular rejection, antibody
      mediated rejection, or mixed rejection episodes in the pregnant solid organ
      transplant recipient. We describe the first case, to our knowledge, in which
      antithymocyte globulin (rabbit) was used to successfully treat a pregnant renal
      transplant recipient who experienced a mixed rejection episode. A 22-year-old,
      African American woman with stage 6 chronic kidney disease received a deceased
      donor renal transplant after undergoing hemodialysis for 3 years. Her maintenance
      immunosuppressive regimen at the time of transplantation consisted of tacrolimus,
      prednisone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Despite counseling efforts on the
      importance of having a planned pregnancy after kidney transplantation so that her
      immunosuppressive medications could be optimized, the patient became pregnant 12
      months later; her mycophenolate mofetil was changed to azathioprine to reduce the
      risk of fetal deformities or death. Three months later, the patient was admitted
      for biopsy of her transplanted kidney and was evaluated for possible kidney
      rejection. After confirmation of a mixed 1B acute cellular rejection and antibody
      mediated rejection episode, the patient decided to pursue resolution of her
      rejection episode and continue the pregnancy despite the potential risks to the
      fetus. She was treated with high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous
      immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, and antithymocyte globulin (rabbit). Twenty-nine
      months after transplantation, the patient was induced and gave birth to a healthy
      baby boy. Our patient's case offers unique insight into the potential management
      of a rejection episode requiring aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Although
      potent immunosuppressive therapies were successfully used in our patient, further
      studies are needed to make definitive recommendations regarding the use of such
      therapies for treatment of rejection episodes in pregnant solid organ transplant
      recipients. The risks and uncertainties of treating rejection episodes should
      always be discussed with and understood by the patient before an informed
      decision is made. 

PMID- 26892895
TI  - The effects of fluid shear stress on proliferation and osteogenesis of human
      periodontal ligament cells.
AB  - Shear stress is one of the main stress type produced by speech, mastication or
      tooth movement. The mechano-response of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells by
      shear stress and the mechanism are largely unknown. In our study, we investigated
      the effects of fluid shear stress on proliferation, migration and osteogenic
      potential of human PDL cells. 6dyn/cm(2) of fluid shear stress was produced in a
      parallel plate flow chamber. Our results demonstrated that fluid shear stress
      rearranged the orientation of human PDL cells. In addition, fluid shear stress
      inhibited human PDL cell proliferation and migration, but increased the
      osteogenic potential and expression of several growth factors and cytokines. Our
      study suggested that shear stress is involved in homeostasis regulation in human
      PDL cells. Inhibiting proliferation and migration potentially induce PDL cells to
      respond to mechanical stimuli in order to undergo osteogenic differentiation. 

PMID- 26892896
TI  - Biomechanical properties of lumbar endplates and their correlation with MRI
      findings of lumbar degeneration.
AB  - How stiffness and strength of the human lumbar endplate vary with location,
      spinal level, and its correlation with MRI findings of lumbar degeneration, has
      not been reported in detail. 27 lumbar spines (16 male, 11 female, 31-49yrs) were
      harvested from cadavers without history of lumbar lesion or trauma. Disc and
      endplate degeneration was evaluated from MRI. Micro-CT was used to evaluate
      endplate microstructure. Indentation tests were performed to quantify stiffness
      and strength at 23 sites on each endplate from load-displacement graphs. Results
      showed that stiffness and strength increased from the centre of the endplate
      towards its periphery. There was no general age-related reduction in endplate
      stiffness or strength, although strength decreased slightly with age opposite the
      inner annulus. Disc degeneration was associated with a 39-46% decrease in
      stiffness, and a 21-30% decrease in strength, with effects being greatest near
      the endplate periphery. The presence of Modic changes had a similar effect.
      Strength and stiffness consistently increased at lower spinal levels, and were
      consistently greater in the inferior endplate (relative to the vertebra). Gender
      had little influence, although stiffness in the peripheral endplate was greater
      in males. BV/TV, SMI, Tb.Th and BMD were positively correlated with strength. We
      conclude that endplate properties reflect compressive stresses within adjacent
      intervertebral discs. Weaker and softer endplates may indicate reduced mechanical
      loading in decompressed discs that are stress-shielded by the neural arch.
      Preoperative MRI evaluation of endplate integrity could reduce the risk of
      implant subsidence following inter-body fusion. 

PMID- 26892894
TI  - Long-term High Fat Ketogenic Diet Promotes Renal Tumor Growth in a Rat Model of
      Tuberous Sclerosis.
AB  - Nutritional imbalance underlies many disease processes but can be very beneficial
      in certain cases; for instance, the antiepileptic action of a high fat and low
      carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Besides this therapeutic feature it is not clear how
      this abundant fat supply may affect homeostasis, leading to side effects. A
      ketogenic diet is used as anti-seizure therapy i.a. in tuberous sclerosis
      patients, but its impact on concomitant tumor growth is not known. To examine
      this we have evaluated the growth of renal lesions in Eker rats (Tsc2+/-)
      subjected to a ketogenic diet for 4, 6 and 8 months. In spite of existing
      opinions about the anticancer actions of a ketogenic diet, we have shown that
      this anti-seizure therapy, especially in its long term usage, leads to excessive
      tumor growth. Prolonged feeding of a ketogenic diet promotes the growth of renal
      tumors by recruiting ERK1/2 and mTOR which are associated with the accumulation
      of oleic acid and the overproduction of growth hormone. Simultaneously, we
      observed that Nrf2, p53 and 8-oxoguanine glycosylase alpha dependent antitumor
      mechanisms were launched by the ketogenic diet. However, the pro-cancerous
      mechanisms finally took the ascendency by boosting tumor growth. 

PMID- 26892897
TI  - Sticky fingers: Adhesive properties of human fingertips.
AB  - Fingertip friction is a rather well studied subject. Although the phenomenon of
      finger stickiness is known as well, the pull-off force and the adhesive strength
      of human finger tips have never been previously quantified. For the first time,
      we provided here characterization of adhesive properties of human fingers under
      natural conditions. Human fingers can generate a maximum adhesive force of 15mN
      on a smooth surface of epoxy resin. A weak correlation of the adhesive force and
      the normal force was found on all test surfaces. Up to 300mN load, an increase of
      the normal force leads to an increase of the adhesive force. On rough surfaces,
      the adhesive strength is significantly reduced. Our data collected from untreated
      hands give also an impression of an enormous scattering of digital adhesion
      depending on a large set of inter-subject variability and time-dependent
      individual factors (skin texture, moisture level, perspiration). The wide inter-
      and intra-individual range of digital adhesion should be considered in developing
      of technical and medical products. 

PMID- 26892898
TI  - A stricter condition for standing balance after unexpected perturbations.
AB  - In order to account for the dynamic nature of balance, the concept of the
      'extrapolated centre of mass' XcoM has been introduced (Hof et al., 2005). The
      law for standing balance was then formulated as: the XcoM should remain within
      the Base of Support (BoS). This law, however, does not take into account that the
      centre of pressure (CoP) needs time to displace due to various neural and
      mechanical delays. The theory is extended to include the finite reaction- and
      displacement time of the CoP. Experimental results on humans standing on two feet
      undergoing sudden postural perturbations are presented. In this case it turns out
      that the area of the effective BoS is only a fraction, some 30%, of the area of
      the static BoS. 

PMID- 26892899
TI  - Sagittal rotational stiffness and damping increase in a porcine lumbar spine with
      increased or prolonged loading.
AB  - While the impact of load magnitude on spine dynamic parameters (stiffness and
      damping) has been reported, it is unclear how load history (exposure to prolonged
      loading) affects spine dynamic parameters in sagittal rotation. Furthermore, it
      is unknown if both spine stiffness and damping are equally affected to prolonged
      loading. Using a pendulum testing apparatus, the effect of load magnitude and
      load history on spine sagittal rotational stiffness and damping was assessed.
      Nine porcine lumbar functional spine units (FSUs) were tested in an increasing
      compressive load phase (ICP: 44.85, 68.55, 91.75, 114.6kg) and then a decreasing
      compressive load phase (DCP: 91.75, 68.55, and 44.85kg). Each trial consisted of
      flexing the FSU 5 degrees  and allowing it to oscillate unconstrained. During the
      ICP, both stiffness and damping linearly increased with load. However, in the
      DCP, stiffness and damping values were significantly higher than the identical
      load collected during the ICP, suggesting load history affects sagittal
      rotational dynamic parameters. In addition, spine damping was more affected by
      load history than spine stiffness. These results highlight the importance of
      controlling load magnitude and history when assessing spine dynamic parameters. 

PMID- 26892900
TI  - Chemical Partition of the Radiative Decay Rate of Luminescence of Europium
      Complexes.
AB  - The spontaneous emission coefficient, Arad, a global molecular property, is one
      of the most important quantities related to the luminescence of complexes of
      lanthanide ions. In this work, by suitable algebraic transformations of the
      matrices involved, we introduce a partition that allows us to compute, for the
      first time, the individual effects of each ligand on Arad, a property of the
      molecule as a whole. Such a chemical partition thus opens possibilities for the
      comprehension of the role of each of the ligands and their interactions on the
      luminescence of europium coordination compounds. As an example, we applied the
      chemical partition to the case of repeating non-ionic ligand ternary complexes of
      europium(III) with DBM, TTA, and BTFA, showing that it allowed us to correctly
      order, in an a priori manner, the non-obvious pair combinations of non-ionic
      ligands that led to mixed-ligand compounds with larger values of Arad. 

PMID- 26892901
TI  - Bipolar versus monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate for benign
      prostatic hyperplasia: safe in patients with high surgical risk.
AB  - Here, we compared the effects of bipolar and monopolar transurethral resection of
      the prostate (B-TURP, M-TURP) for treating elderly patients (>=75 years) with
      benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) who had internal comorbidities. Eligible BPH
      patients were aged >=75 years and had at least one internal comorbidity. In this
      open-label, prospective trial, patients were assigned to B-TURP (n = 75) and M
      TURP (n = 88) groups. Data on prostate volume (PV), urination, and time during
      perioperative period were compared; data associated with urination and
      complications at one year postoperatively were also compared. Finally, follow-up
      data were available for 68 and 81 patients in the B-TURP and M-TURP group,
      respectively. No deaths were recorded. Intraoperative bleeding was lower and
      irrigation time, indwelling catheter time, and hospital stay were shorter in the
      B-TURP group than in the M-TURP group (p < 0.001). No difference was observed
      with respect to operation time (p = 0.058). At one year after the operation,
      differences with respect to urination and complications were not significant. In
      conclusion, Short-term efficacy of B-TURP or M-TURP was satisfactory for elderly
      patients with BPH who had internal comorbidities. Besides, B-TURP is a more
      sensible choice because it has a lower prevalence of adverse effects.

PMID- 26892903
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26892904
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26892905
TI  - Phase-driven magneto-electrical characteristics of single-layer MoS2.
AB  - Magnetism of the MoS2 semiconducting atomic layer was highlighted for its great
      potential in the applications of spintronics and valleytronics. In this study, we
      demonstrate an evolution of magneto-electrical properties of single layer MoS2
      with the modulation of defect configurations and formation of a partial 1T phase.
      With Ar treatment, sulfur was depleted within the MoS2 flake leading to a 2H (low
      spin) -> partial 1T (high-spin) phase transition. The phase transition was
      accompanied by the development of a ferromagnetic phase. Alternatively, the phase
      transition could be driven by the desorption of S atoms at the edge of MoS2via O2
      treatment while with a different ordering magnitude in magnetism. The edge
      sensitive magnetism of the single-layer MoS2 was monitored by magnetic force
      microscopy and validated by a first-principle calculation with graded-Vs (sulfur
      vacancy) terminals set at the edge, where band-splitting appeared more prominent
      with increasing Vs. Treatment with Ar and O2 enabled a dual electrical
      characteristic of the field effect transistor (FET) that featured linear and
      saturated responses of different magnitudes in the Ids-Vds curves, whereas the
      pristine MoS2 FET displayed only a linear electrical dependency. The correlation
      and tuning of the Vs-1T phase transition would provide a playground for tailoring
      the phase-driven properties of MoS2 semiconducting atomic layers in spintronic
      applications. 

PMID- 26892902
TI  - Fluorescence Identification of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and High
      Risk Oral Dysplasia With BLZ-100, a Chlorotoxin-Indocyanine Green Conjugate.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Surgical cure of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
      remains hampered by inadequately resected tumors and poor recognition of lesions
      with malignant potential. BLZ-100 is a chlorotoxin-based, tumor-targeting agent
      that has not yet been studied in HNSCC. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate BLZ-100 uptake in
      models of HNSCC and oral dysplasia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was
      an observational study (including sensitivity and specificity analysis) of BLZ
      100 uptake in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of HNSCC and a carcinogen
      induced dysplasia model of hamster cheek pouches. INTERVENTIONS: Various HNSCC
      xenografts were established in the tongues of NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull (NSG) mice.
      BLZ-100 was intravenously injected and fluorescence uptake was measured. To
      induce dysplasia, the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) was
      applied to the cheek pouch of Golden Syrian hamsters for 9 to16 weeks. BLZ-100
      was subcutaneously injected, and fluorescence uptake was measured. MAIN OUTCOMES
      AND MEASURES: The signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of BLZ-100 was measured in
      tumor xenografts. To calculate the sensitivity and specificity of BLZ-100 uptake,
      a digital grid was placed over tissue sections and correlative histologic
      sections to discretely measure fluorescence intensity and presence of tumor; a
      receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was then plotted. In the hamster
      dysplasia model, cheeks were graded according to dysplasia severity. The SBR of
      BLZ-100 was compared among dysplasia grades. RESULTS: In HNSCC xenografts, BLZ
      100 demonstrated a mean (SD) SBR of 2.51 (0.47). The ROC curve demonstrated an
      area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89; an SBR of 2.50 corresponded to 92%
      sensitivity and 74% specificity. When this analysis was focused on the tumor and
      nontumor interface, the AUC increased to 0.97; an SBR of 2.50 corresponded to 95%
      sensitivity and 91% specificity. DMBA treatment of hamster cheek pouches
      generated lesions representing all grades of dysplasia. The SBR of high-grade
      dysplasia was significantly greater than that of mild-to-moderate dysplasia (2.31
      [0.71] vs 1.51 [0.34], P = .006). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: BLZ-100 is a
      sensitive and specific marker of HNSCC and can distinguish high-risk from low
      risk dysplasia. BLZ-100 has the potential to serve as an intraoperative guide for
      tumor margin excision and identification of premalignant lesions.

PMID- 26892907
TI  - NaKV4O9.2H2O: a new 2D magnetic compound with a 1/5-depleted square lattice.
AB  - A new vanadate compound NaKV4O9.2H2O is successfully synthesized by a
      conventional hydrothermal method. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic
      system with the space group C2/c, showing a typical 2D layered structure built
      from VO5 pyramids, in which the layers are separated by Na(+), K(+), and H2O. The
      topology structure of magnetic V(4+) ions shows a quite interesting 1/5-depleted
      square lattice, which is quite similar to that of a famous low-dimensional
      quantum spin system CaV4O9. A structural and magnetic comparison confirmed that
      the title compound may exhibit a more pronounced 2D character with a large spin
      gap. 

PMID- 26892906
TI  - Electrode array-eluted dexamethasone protects against electrode insertion trauma
      induced hearing and hair cell losses, damage to neural elements, increases in
      impedance and fibrosis: A dose response study.
AB  - We evaluated the effects of dexamethasone base (DXMb) containing electrode arrays
      in a guinea pig model of cochlear implantation to determine if eluted DXMb could
      protect the cochlea against electrode insertion trauma (EIT)-induced: 1) loss of
      hair cells; 2) disruption of neural elements; 3) increases in hearing thresholds;
      4) increased electrical impedance and 5) fibrosis. A guinea pig model of EIT
      induced hearing and hair cell losses was used to test silicone electrode arrays
      that contained either 10%, 1%, 0.1%, or 0% levels of micronized DXMb. These four
      types of electrode arrays were implanted into the scala tympani via basal turn
      cochleostomies and left in place for 3 months. Hearing thresholds were determined
      by ABR and CAP recordings in response to a series of defined pure tone stimuli
      (i.e. 16-0.5 kHz). Changes in impedance were measured between the implant
      electrode and a reference electrode. Hair cell counts and neural element
      integrity were determined by confocal microscopy analyses of stained organ of
      Corti whole mounts obtained from 90 day post-implantation animals. Fibrosis was
      measured in Masson trichrome stained cross-sections through the organ of Corti.
      The results showed that either 10% or 1.0% DXMb eluting electrode arrays
      protected; hearing thresholds, hair cells, and neural elements against EIT
      induced losses and damage. Electrode arrays with 0.1% DXMb only partial protected
      against EIT-induced hearing loss and damage to the cochlea. Protection of hearing
      thresholds and organ of Corti sensory elements by electrode-eluted DXMb was still
      apparent at 3 months post-EIT. All three concentrations of DXMb in the electrode
      arrays prevented EIT-induced increases in impedance. EIT-initiated fibrosis was
      significantly reduced within the implanted cochlea of the two DXMb concentrations
      tested. In conclusion, DXMb eluting electrodes protected the cochlea against long
      term increases in hearing thresholds, loss of hair cells, damage to neural
      elements and increases in impedance and fibrosis that result from EIT-initiated
      damage. The protection achieved by DXMb-eluting electrodes was dose dependent.
      Establishing a significant level of trauma induced elevation in hearing
      thresholds was important for the determination of the otoprotective effects of
      array-eluted DXMb.

PMID- 26892908
TI  - The Affordable Care Act and Diabetes Diagnosis and Care: Exploring the Potential
      Impacts.
AB  - This article reviews available data on the implications of the Affordable Care
      Act (ACA) for the diagnosis and care of type 2 diabetes. We provide a general
      overview of the major issues for diabetes diagnosis and care, and describe the
      policies in the ACA that affect diabetes diagnosis and care. We also estimate
      that approximately 2.3 million of the 4.6 million people in the USA with
      undiagnosed diabetes aged 18-64 in 2009-2010 may have gained access to free
      preventive care under the ACA, which could increase diabetes detection. In
      addition, we note two factors that may limit the success of the ACA for improving
      access to diabetes care. First, many states with the highest diabetes prevalence
      have not expanded Medicaid eligibility, and second, primary care providers may
      not adequately meet the increase in Medicaid patients because federal funding to
      increase provider reimbursement for Medicaid visits recently expired. We close by
      discussing current gaps in the literature and future directions for research on
      the ACA's impact on diabetes diagnosis, care, and health outcomes. 

PMID- 26892909
TI  - Family-Based Interventions in Preventing Children and Adolescents from Using
      Tobacco: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tobacco is the main preventable cause of death and disease worldwide.
      Adolescent smoking is increasing in many countries with poorer countries
      following the earlier experiences of affluent countries. Preventing adolescents
      from starting smoking is crucial to decreasing tobacco-related illness.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness of family-based interventions alone and
      combined with school-based interventions to prevent children and adolescents from
      initiating tobacco use. DATA SOURCES: Fourteen bibliographic databases and the
      Internet, journals hand-searched, and experts consulted. STUDY ELIGIBILITY
      CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      with children or adolescents and families, interventions to prevent starting
      tobacco use, and follow-up >=6 months. STUDY APPRAISAL/SYNTHESIS METHODS:
      Abstracts/titles independently assessed and data independently entered by 2
      authors. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool. RESULTS:
      Twenty-seven RCTs were included. Nine trials of never-smokers compared with a
      control provided data for meta-analysis. Family intervention trials had
      significantly fewer students who started smoking. Meta-analysis of 2 RCTs of
      combined family and school interventions compared with school only, showed
      additional significant benefit. The common feature of effective high-intensity
      interventions was encouraging authoritative parenting. LIMITATIONS: Only 14 RCTs
      provided data for meta-analysis (approximately a third of participants). Of the
      13 RCTs that did not provide data for meta-analysis 8 compared a family
      intervention with no intervention and 1 reported significant effects, and 5
      compared a family combined with school intervention with a school intervention
      only and none reported additional significant effects. CONCLUSIONS AND
      IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: There is moderate-quality evidence that family
      based interventions prevent children and adolescents from starting to smoke.

PMID- 26892910
TI  - Correlates of nicotine withdrawal severity in smokers during a smoke-free
      psychiatric hospitalization.
AB  - Psychiatric hospitals are increasingly adopting smoke-free policies. Tobacco use
      is common among persons with mental illness, and nicotine withdrawal (NW), which
      includes symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger/irritability, and sleep
      disturbance, may confound psychiatric assessment and treatment in the inpatient
      setting. This study aimed to characterize NW and correlates of NW severity in a
      sample of smokers hospitalized for treatment of mental illness in California.
      Participants (N=754) were enrolled between 2009 and 2013, and averaged 17 (SD=10)
      cigarettes/day prior to hospitalization. Though most (70%) received nicotine
      replacement therapy (NRT) during hospitalization, a majority (65%) reported
      experiencing moderate to severe NW. In a general linear regression model, NW
      symptoms were more severe for women, African American patients, and polysubstance
      abusers. Though invariant by psychiatric diagnostic category, greater NW was
      associated with more severe overall psychopathology and greater cigarette
      dependence. The full model explained 46% of the total variation in NW symptom
      severity (F [19, 470]=23.03 p<0.001). A minority of participants (13%) refused
      NRT during hospitalization. Those who refused NRT reported milder cigarette
      dependence and stated no prior use of NRT. Among smokers hospitalized for mental
      illness, NW severity appears multidetermined, related to cigarette dependence,
      demographic variables, psychiatric symptom severity, and other substance use.
      Assessment and treatment of NW in the psychiatric hospital is clinically
      warranted and with extra attention to groups that may be more vulnerable or naive
      to cessation pharmacotherapy.

PMID- 26892912
TI  - Reading the conflict of interest statement is as important as reading the result
      section: Response to the letter by Dr. Kosmider: ideology versus evidence:
      investigating the claim that the literature on e-cigarettes is undermined by
      material conflict of interest.

PMID- 26892911
TI  - Financial incentives to promote cardiac rehabilitation participation and
      adherence among Medicaid patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves medical outcomes after myocardial
      infarction or coronary revascularization. Lower socioeconomic status (SES)
      patients are less likely to participate in and complete CR. The aim of this study
      was to test whether financial incentives may increase participation and adherence
      to CR among lower-SES patients. METHODS: Patients eligible to participate in CR
      with Medicaid insurance coverage were approached for inclusion. Patients were
      placed on an escalating incentive schedule of financial incentives contingent
      upon CR attendance. CR participation was compared to a usual care group of 101
      Medicaid patients eligible for CR in the 18months prior to the study. Attendance
      (participating in >=one CR sessions) and adherence (sessions completed out of 36)
      were compared between groups. The study was conducted in Vermont, USA, 2013-2015.
      RESULTS: Of 13 patients approached to be in the study and receive incentives, 10
      (77%) agreed to participate. All 10 patients completed at least one session of
      CR, significantly greater than the 25/101 (25%) in the control condition
      (p<0.001). Of patients in both groups who attended at least one session of CR,
      adherence was higher in the intervention group (average of 31.1 sessions
      completed vs. 13.6 in the control group, p<0.001). CR completion rates were also
      higher during the intervention with 8 of 10 (80%) intervention patients
      completing all 36 sessions compared to only 2 of 25 (8%) control patients
      (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Financial incentives may be an efficacious strategy for
      increasing CR participation and adherence among Medicaid patients.

PMID- 26892914
TI  - Allosteric Mechanisms of Molecular Machines at the Membrane: Transport by Sodium
      Coupled Symporters.
AB  - Solute transport across cell membranes is ubiquitous in biology as an essential
      physiological process. Secondary active transporters couple the unfavorable
      process of solute transport against its concentration gradient to the
      energetically favorable transport of one or several ions. The study of such
      transporters over several decades indicates that their function involves complex
      allosteric mechanisms that are progressively being revealed in atomistic detail.
      We focus on two well-characterized sodium-coupled symporters: the bacterial amino
      acid transporter LeuT, which is the prototype for the "gated pore" mechanism in
      the mammalian synaptic monoamine transporters, and the archaeal GltPh, which is
      the prototype for the "elevator" mechanism in the mammalian excitatory amino acid
      transporters. We present the evidence for the role of allostery in the context of
      a quantitative formalism that can reconcile biochemical and biophysical data and
      thereby connects directly to recent insights into the molecular structure and
      dynamics of these proteins. We demonstrate that, while the structures and
      mechanisms of these transporters are very different, the available data suggest a
      common role of specific models of allostery in their functions. We argue that
      such allosteric mechanisms appear essential not only for sodium-coupled symport
      in general but also for the function of other types of molecular machines in the
      membrane.

PMID- 26892913
TI  - Exposure and response to current text-only smokeless tobacco health warnings
      among smokeless tobacco users aged >=18years, United States, 2012-2013.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: We assessed US adult smokeless tobacco (SLT) users' exposure and
      response to SLT health warnings, which are currently in text-only format,
      covering 30% of the two primary surfaces of SLT containers and 20% of
      advertisements. METHODS: Data were from the 2012-2013 National Adult Tobacco
      Survey. Past 30-day exposure to SLT health warnings among past 30-day SLT users
      (n=1626) was a self-report of seeing warnings on SLT packages: "Very often,"
      "Often," or "Sometimes" (versus "Rarely" or "Never"). We measured the association
      between SLT health warning exposure and perceptions of SLT harmfulness and
      addictiveness using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of past 30-day SLT users, 77.5%
      reported exposure to SLT health warnings, with lower prevalence reported among
      females and users of novel SLT products (snus/dissolvable tobacco). Furthermore,
      exposure reduced linearly with reducing education and annual household income
      (p<0.01). Among exposed past 30-day SLT users, 73.9% reported thinking about the
      health risks of SLT, while 17.1% reported stopping SLT use on >=1 occasion within
      the past 30days. Exposure to SLT warnings was associated with perceived SLT
      harmfulness (AOR=2.16; 95% CI=1.15-4.04), but not with perceived SLT
      addictiveness. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disparities found in exposure and
      response to SLT health warnings can be addressed through implementation of large
      pictorial warnings.

PMID- 26892916
TI  - Image contrast reduction mechanism in full-field optical coherence tomography.
AB  - Correct interpretation of image contrast obtained with full-field optical
      coherence tomography (FFOCT) technique is required for accurate medical diagnosis
      applications. In this work, first, the characteristics of microscopic structures
      of tissue that generate the contrast in en-face tomographic image obtained with
      FFOCT are discussed. Then an overview is given of the parameters that affect
      image contrast. Finally, the contrast correction factor for correct image
      interpretation and the contrast limits to practical FFOCT systems are outlined. 

PMID- 26892915
TI  - Solvent-Driven Gate Opening in MOF-76-Ce: Effect on CO2 Adsorption.
AB  - A cerium-based metal-organic framework with MOF-76 topology has been synthesized
      by a very simple and fast solvothermal method that has been tested for a one gram
      yield. Variable-temperature powder XRD and X-ray absorption data, analyzed by
      Rietveld and multiple-scattering extended X-ray absorption fine-structure
      methods, revealed high thermal stability and the presence of three different
      stable structures. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and FTIR spectroscopy
      probed the presence of cerium(III), which was characterized by coordinatively
      unsaturated sites that, however, played no major role in carbon dioxide
      adsorption. The material revealed excellent carbon dioxide adsorption properties:
      the highest gravimetric capacity of 15 wt% was observed at 1.1 bar in the case of
      the sample activated at 250  degrees C in vacuum, whereas the strongest
      interaction energy of 35 kJ mol(-1) was observed for the sample activated at 150 
      degrees C. Negligible nitrogen uptake of the sample activated at 150  degrees C
      indicates that this material is a promising candidate for nitrogen/carbon dioxide
      separation purposes.

PMID- 26892917
TI  - Microstructure and oxidation behaviour investigation of rhodium modified
      aluminide coating deposited on CMSX 4 superalloy.
AB  - The CMSX 4 superalloy was coated with rhodium 0.5-MUm thick layer and next
      aluminized by the CVD method. The coating consisted of two layers: the additive
      and the interdiffusion one. The outward diffusion of nickel from the substrate
      turned out to be a coating growth dominating factor. The additive layer consists
      of the beta-NiAl phase, whereas the interdiffusion layer consists of the beta
      NiAl phase with precipitates of sigma and MU phases. Rhodium has dissolved in the
      coating up to the same level in the matrix and in the precipitates. The oxidation
      test proved that the rhodium modified aluminide coating showed about twice better
      oxidation resistance than the nonmodified one. 

PMID- 26892918
TI  - Reply to: Paul SP, et al. (2016) the debate continues: is urine culture indicated
      in neonates with prolonged jaundice?

PMID- 26892919
TI  - Diffusion-weighted quantitative MRI to diagnose benign conditions from
      malignancies of the anterior mediastinum: Improvement of diagnostic accuracy by
      comparing perfusion-free to perfusion-sensitive measurements of the apparent
      diffusion coefficient.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare perfusion-free to perfusion-sensitive measurements of the
      apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to diagnose benign conditions from
      malignancies of the anterior mediastinum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-six
      subjects were divided into a "benign conditions" group (A, n = 44) and a
      "malignancies" group (B, n = 32), based on histological findings. diffusion
      weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) was performed at b of 0/150/800
      sec/mm(2) . The ADCs were obtained on an ADC map by including (perfusion
      sensitive = ADCb0-800 ) and excluding (perfusion-free = ADCb150-800 ) the b = 0
      sec/mm(2) . The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to detect differences in ADCb0-800
      compared with ADCb150-800 values between all cases, benign conditions, and
      malignancies. The same test was used to evaluate differences in ADCs between the
      two groups for each type of measurement (ADCb0-800 and ADCb150-800 ), and
      receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to evaluate
      discrimination abilities with comparison of areas-under-ROC-curves (AUROC).
      Optimal cutpoints for discrimination between groups were determined by the Youden
      Index with computation of accuracy. RESULTS: The median ADCb0-800 was
      significantly greater compared with ADCb150-800 for all cases (P = 0.0014),
      benign conditions (P = 0.0412), and malignancies (P = 0.0001). The median
      percentage of increase was 5.30% for group-A and 22.39% for group-B (P < 0.0001).
      AUROC of ADC in discriminating between groups was significantly greater for
      ADCb150-800 (0.932) compared with ADCb0-800 (0.831) (P = 0.001). The optimal
      cutpoint for distinction between groups was 1.52 * 10(-3) mm(2) /sec (sensitivity
      = 93.7%, specificity = 88.6%, accuracy = 90.8%) for ADCb150-800 and 1.75 * 10(-3)
      mm(2) /sec (sensitivity = 75.0%, specificity = 79.5%, accuracy = 77.6%) for ADCb0
      800 . CONCLUSION: The use of perfusion-free ADC measurements significantly
      improves diagnostic accuracy of DW-MRI in differentiating benign conditions from
      malignancies of the anterior mediastinum. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:758
      769.

PMID- 26892920
TI  - Reflections on physical activity intervention research in young people - dos,
      don'ts, and critical thoughts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been associated with many benefits throughout
      the life course. As levels of physical activity appear to be insufficient in
      large populations, the development of effective interventions to promote or
      maintain activity levels in young people are therefore of key public health
      concern. Physical activity intervention research in young people is challenging,
      but this should not be a reason to continue conducting inferior quality
      evaluations. This paper highlights some of the key issues that require more
      careful and consistent consideration to enable future research to achieve
      meaningful impact. DISCUSSION: This paper critically evaluates, amongst others,
      current research practice regarding intervention development, targeting, active
      involvement of the target population, challenge of recruitment and retention,
      measurement and evaluation protocols, long-term follow-up, economic evaluation,
      process evaluation, and publication. It argues that funders and researchers
      should collaborate to ensure high quality long-term evaluations are prioritised
      and that a trial's success should be defined by its quality, not its achieved
      effect. The conduct and publication of well-designed evaluations of well-defined
      interventions is crucial to advance the field of youth physical activity
      promotion and make us better understand which intervention strategies may or may
      not work, why, and for whom.

PMID- 26892921
TI  - Soft Corals Biodiversity in the Egyptian Red Sea: A Comparative MS and NMR
      Metabolomics Approach of Wild and Aquarium Grown Species.
AB  - Marine life has developed unique metabolic and physiologic capabilities and
      advanced symbiotic relationships to survive in the varied and complex marine
      ecosystems. Herein, metabolite composition of the soft coral genus Sarcophyton
      was profiled with respect to its species and different habitats along the coastal
      Egyptian Red Sea via (1)H NMR and ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass
      spectrometry (UPLC-MS) large-scale metabolomics analyses. The current study
      extends the application of comparative secondary metabolite profiling from plants
      to corals revealing for metabolite compositional differences among its species
      via a comparative MS and NMR approach. This was applied for the first time to
      investigate the metabolism of 16 Sarcophyton species in the context of their
      genetic diversity or growth habitat. Under optimized conditions, we were able to
      simultaneously identify 120 metabolites including 65 diterpenes, 8
      sesquiterpenes, 18 sterols, and 15 oxylipids. Principal component analysis (PCA)
      and orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS) were
      used to define both similarities and differences among samples. For a compound
      based classification of coral species, UPLC-MS was found to be more effective
      than NMR. The main differentiations emanate from cembranoids and oxylipids. The
      specific metabolites that contribute to discrimination between soft corals of S.
      ehrenbergi from the three different growing habitats also belonged to cembrane
      type diterpenes, with aquarium S. ehrenbergi corals being less enriched in
      cembranoids compared to sea corals. PCA using either NMR or UPLC-MS data sets was
      found equally effective in predicting the species origin of unknown Sarcophyton.
      Cyclopropane containing sterols observed in abundance in corals may act as
      cellular membrane protectant against the action of coral toxins, that is,
      cembranoids. 

PMID- 26892922
TI  - Dopamine Transporter Correlates and Occupancy by Modafinil in Cocaine-Dependent
      Patients: A Controlled Study With High-Resolution PET and [(11)C]-PE2I.
AB  - Modafinil is a candidate compound for the treatment of cocaine addiction that
      binds to the dopamine transporter (DAT) in healthy humans, as observed by
      positron emission tomography (PET). This mechanism, analogous to that of cocaine,
      might mediate a putative therapeutic effect of modafinil on cocaine dependence,
      though the binding of modafinil to DAT has never been assessed in cocaine
      dependent patients. We aimed at quantifying the DAT availability during a
      controlled treatment by modafinil, and its clinical and psychometric correlates
      in cocaine-dependent patients at the onset of abstinence initiation. Twenty-nine
      cocaine-dependent male patients were enrolled in a 3-month trial for cocaine
      abstinence. Modafinil was used in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled
      design and was administered as follows: 400 mg/day for 26 days, then 300 mg/day
      for 30 days, and 200 mg/day for 31 days. Participants were examined twice during
      a 17-day hospitalization for their DAT availability using PET and [(11)C]-PE2I
      and for assessments of craving, depressive symptoms, working memory, and decision
      making. Cocaine abstinence was further assessed during a 10-week outpatient
      follow-up period. Baseline [(11)C]-PE2I-binding potential covaried with risk
      taking and craving index in striatal and extrastriatal regions. A 65.6% decrease
      of binding potential was detected in patients receiving modafinil for 2 weeks,
      whereas placebo induced no significant change. During hospitalization, an
      equivalent improvement in clinical outcomes was observed in both treatment
      groups, and during the outpatient follow-up there were more therapeutic failures
      in the modafinil-treated group. Therefore, these results do not support the
      usefulness of modafinil to treat cocaine addiction.

PMID- 26892924
TI  - [PCR-based detection of pathogens in clinical rheumatology].
AB  - In the differential diagnostics of autoimmune-mediated rheumatic diseases,
      rheumatologists often have to consider infections (e. g. Lyme arthritis) or
      reactive diseases (e. g. reactive arthritis after urogenital bacterial
      infections). Furthermore, infections with an atypical presentation or caused by
      atypical pathogens (opportunistic infections) can complicate the
      immunosuppressive therapy of autoimmune diseases. For this purpose not only
      conventional microbiological culture methods but also PCR-based methods are
      increasingly being applied for the direct detection of pathogens in clinical
      specimens. The aim of this overview is to present commonly used PCR methods in
      the clinical practice of rheumatology and to describe their benefits and
      limitations compared to culture-based detection methods. 

PMID- 26892923
TI  - Relationship and prognostic importance of thyroid hormone and N-terminal pro-B
      Type natriuretic peptide for patients after acute coronary syndromes: a
      longitudinal observational study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Altered thyroid function and increased rates of N-terminal pro-B-Type
      natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) are highly prevalent in coronary artery disease
      (CAD) patients with heart failure, and are associated with unfavorable prognosis.
      This study was undertaken to examine the relationship and prognostic impact of
      thyroid hormones, inflammatory biomarkers, and NT-pro-BNP on long-term outcomes
      in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The study comprised of
      642 patients (age 58 +/- 10 years, 77% male) attending an in-patient cardiac
      rehabilitation program after experiencing ACS. Patients were evaluated for
      demographic, clinical and CAD risk factors as well as thyroid hormones (e.g.,
      fT3, fT4 level, fT3/fT4 ratio), inflammatory biomarkers (hs-CRP, IL-6) and NT-pro
      BNP levels. Data on fT3/fT4 ratio and NT-pro-BNP levels were not normally
      distributed and were natural-log transformed (ln). Both all-cause (cumulative)
      and cardiac-related mortality were considered the primary outcomes of interest.
      RESULTS: According to the Cox model, age, NYHA class, (ln)NT-pro-BNP levels (HR
      1.53, 95% CI 1.13-2.07), fT4 level (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.27), and (ln)fT3/fT4
      ratio (HR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.32) were the most important predictors of all-cause
      mortality among CAD patients after ACS. Similarly, age, NYHA class, (ln)NT-pro
      BNP levels (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.11-2.36), fT4 (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.29) and
      (ln)fT3/fT4 ratio (HR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.55) independently predicted cardiac
      related mortality. Kaplan-Meier analyses provided significant prognostic
      information with the highest risk for all-cause mortality in the low cut off
      measures of fT3/fT4 ratio <0.206 and NT-pro-BNP >= 290.4 ng/L (HR 2.03, 95% CI
      1.39-2.96) and fT4 level >12.54 pg/ml (HR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.05-5.18). There was no
      association between hs-CRP, IL-6 and mortality in CAD patients after ACS.
      CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid hormones (i.e., fT4 level and fT3/fT4 ratio) together with
      NT-pro-BNP level may be valuable and simple predictors of long-term outcomes of
      CAD patients after experiencing ACS.

PMID- 26892927
TI  - Addressing structural challenges for the sexual health and well-being of
      Indigenous women in Australia.

PMID- 26892926
TI  - Tuning Liposome Membrane Permeability by Competitive Peptide Dimerization and
      Partitioning-Folding Interactions Regulated by Proteolytic Activity.
AB  - Membrane active peptides are of large interest for development of drug delivery
      vehicles and therapeutics for treatment of multiple drug resistant infections.
      Lack of specificity can be detrimental and finding routes to tune specificity and
      activity of membrane active peptides is vital for improving their therapeutic
      efficacy and minimize harmful side effects. We describe a de novo designed
      membrane active peptide that partition into lipid membranes only when
      specifically and covalently anchored to the membrane, resulting in pore
      formation. Dimerization with a complementary peptide efficiently inhibits
      formation of pores. The effect can be regulated by proteolytic digestion of the
      inhibitory peptide by the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-7, an enzyme upregulated
      in many malignant tumors. This system thus provides a precise and specific route
      for tuning the permeability of lipid membranes and a novel strategy for
      development of recognition based membrane active peptides and indirect
      enzymatically controlled release of liposomal cargo. 

PMID- 26892928
TI  - What is the future of GUM training?

PMID- 26892929
TI  - Raltegravir-based HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in a real-life clinical
      setting: fewer drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with improved adherence and
      tolerability.

PMID- 26892925
TI  - [Pain syndrome of the musculoskeletal system in children and adolescents].
AB  - Chronic pain syndromes in children and adolescents are defined as continuous or
      recurrent pain without an underlying causative diagnosis and lasting for more
      than 3 months. It is estimated that every fourth child in Germany suffers from
      chronic pain with every twentieth suffering from extreme recurrent pain. The
      incidence of chronic pain in children and adolescents is increasing with
      headache, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal pain being the most frequent. The
      quality of life declines not only due to the pain but to relieving postural and
      psychological factors, such as fear and sadness. School attendance, social
      activities and hobbies are mostly affected. This review summarizes the background
      of chronic pain syndromes and introduces a multimodal therapeutic approach. 

PMID- 26892930
TI  - What is the most appropriate treatment for rectal Chlamydia trachomatis
      infection?

PMID- 26892931
TI  - Dissolution and ionization of sodium superoxide in sodium-oxygen batteries.
AB  - With the demand for high-energy-storage devices, the rechargeable metal-oxygen
      battery has attracted attention recently. Sodium-oxygen batteries have been
      regarded as the most promising candidates because of their lower-charge
      overpotential compared with that of lithium-oxygen system. However, conflicting
      observations with different discharge products have inhibited the understanding
      of precise reactions in the battery. Here we demonstrate that the competition
      between the electrochemical and chemical reactions in sodium-oxygen batteries
      leads to the dissolution and ionization of sodium superoxide, liberating
      superoxide anion and triggering the formation of sodium peroxide dihydrate
      (Na2O2.2H2O). On the formation of Na2O2.2H2O, the charge overpotential of sodium
      oxygen cells significantly increases. This verification addresses the origin of
      conflicting discharge products and overpotentials observed in sodium-oxygen
      systems. Our proposed model provides guidelines to help direct the reactions in
      sodium-oxygen batteries to achieve high efficiency and rechargeability. 

PMID- 26892932
TI  - Can Erythrocyte Catalase Regulate Blood Pressure?
AB  - This study investigated the effect of antihypertensive therapy with lisinopril on
      plasma cholesterol concentration and erythrocyte catalase activity in
      hypertensive patients. We observed, for the first time, significant inverse
      correlations between systolic blood pressure (BP) and erythrocyte catalase
      activity and between diastolic BP and erythrocyte catalase activity. Plasma total
      and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels were
      similar between baseline and 1-, 3-, and 6-month treatment values in the same
      patients; however, systolic and diastolic BP levels were expectedly reduced after
      the therapy. Thus, there was no association between BP and lipid-cholesterol
      metabolism. These findings confirm antihypertensive effect of lisinopril and
      suggest that erythrocyte catalase is involved in BP control in hypertension and
      antihypertensive therapy. 

PMID- 26892933
TI  - Increased risk of hepatic complications in kidney transplantation with chronic
      virus hepatitis infection: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
AB  - Data regarding the risk of various liver diseases among different hepatitis
      viruses in kidney transplantation have not yet been identified.We selected
      individuals with kidney transplantation (ICD-9-CM V420 or 996.81) from 2000-2009
      from the catastrophic illness registry of National Health Insurance Research
      Database (NHIRD)as the study cohort. The two end-points in the study included
      overall death, and post-transplant occurrence of hepatic disease. After
      adjustment for other risk factors, the risk of mortality was increased in
      patients with HBV infection (N = 352) and with HCV infection (N = 275) compared
      to those with neither HBV nor HCV infection (N = 3485). In addition,renal
      transplant recipients with HBV alone,HCV alone, and both with HBV and
      HCVinfectionrespectively had an approximately 10-fold hazard ratio (HR) = 9.84,
      95% confidence interval (CI): 4.61-21.0, 4-fold increased risk (HR = 4.40, 95%
      CI: 1.85-10.5)and 5-fold increased risk (HR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.06-20.2)of
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)compared to those with neither HBV nor HCV
      infection. Our findings showed a significant risk of de novo liver disease in
      recipients with hepatitis virus infection. Based on our findings, we reinforce
      the importance and impact of hepatitis virus in renal transplantation.

PMID- 26892935
TI  - Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura with a novel ADAM10 mutation: A case
      report.

PMID- 26892936
TI  - A mouse model for hepatitis E virus infection.

PMID- 26892934
TI  - Balancing selection and recombination as evolutionary forces caused population
      genetic variations in golden pheasant MHC class I genes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are vital partners
      in the acquired immune processes of vertebrates. MHC diversity may be directly
      associated with population resistance to infectious pathogens. Here, we screened
      for polymorphisms in exons 2 and 3 of the IA1 and IA2 genes in 12 golden pheasant
      populations across the Chinese mainland to characterize their genetic variation
      levels, to understand the effects of historical positive selection and
      recombination in shaping class I diversity, and to investigate the genetic
      structure of wild golden pheasant populations. RESULTS: Among 339 individual
      pheasants, we identified 14 IA1 alleles in exon 2 (IA1-E2), 11 IA1-E3 alleles, 27
      IA2-E2 alleles, and 28 IA2-E3 alleles. The non-synonymous substitution rate was
      significantly greater than the synonymous substitution rate at sequences in the
      IA2 gene encoding putative peptide-binding sites but not in the IA1 gene; we also
      found more positively selected sites in IA2 than in IA1. Frequent recombination
      events resulted in at least 9 recombinant IA2 alleles, in accordance with the
      intermingling pattern of the phylogenetic tree. Although some IA alleles are
      widely shared among studied populations, large variation occurs in the number of
      IA alleles across these populations. Allele frequency analysis across 2 IA loci
      showed low levels of genetic differentiation among populations on small
      geographic scales; however, significant genetic differentiation was observed
      between pheasants from the northern and southern regions of the Yangtze River.
      Both STRUCTURE analysis and F-statistic (F ST ) value comparison classified those
      populations into 2 major groups: the northern region of the Yangtze River (NYR)
      and the southern region of the Yangtze River (SYR). CONCLUSIONS: More extensive
      polymorphisms in IA2 than IA1 indicate that IA2 has undergone much stronger
      positive-selection pressure during evolution. Moreover, the recombination events
      detected between the genes and the intermingled phylogenetic pattern indicate
      that interlocus recombination accounts for much of the allelic variation in IA2.
      Analysis of the population differentiation implied that homogenous balancing
      selection plays an important part in maintaining an even distribution of MHC
      variations. The natural barrier of the Yangtze River and heterogeneous balancing
      selection might help shape the NYR-SYR genetic structure in golden pheasants.

PMID- 26892937
TI  - Can venous base excess replace arterial base excess as a marker of early shock
      and a predictor of survival in trauma?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Arterial base excess is an established marker of shock and
      predictor of survival in trauma patients. However, venous blood is more quickly
      and easily obtained. This study aimed to determine if venous base excess could
      replace arterial base excess as a marker in trauma patients at presentation and
      if venous base excess is predictive of survival at 24 hours and one week.
      METHODS: This was a prospective study of 394 trauma patients presenting to the
      emergency department of a tertiary hospital over a 17-month period. Data on base
      excess at presentation, vital signs, shock index (SI), injury severity score
      (ISS), and mortality at 24 hours and one week was collected and analysed.
      RESULTS: Arterial and venous blood gas tests were performed on 260 and 134
      patients, respectively. Patients were stratified into groups based on their SI
      and ISS for analysis. There was no statistical difference between mean venous
      blood gas and arterial blood gas levels at presentation when SI > 0.7, regardless
      of ISS (p > 0.05). The mortality rate was 4.57%. Both venous and arterial base
      excess was lower in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (p < 0.05). However, at 24
      hours and one week, the difference in base excess values at presentation between
      survivors and nonsurvivors was greater when using venous base excess compared to
      arterial base excess (11.53 vs. 4.28 and 11.41 vs. 2.66, respectively).
      CONCLUSION: In conclusion, venous base excess can replace arterial base excess in
      trauma patients as a means of identifying and prognosticating early shock.

PMID- 26892938
TI  - Anal HPV/HIV co-infection among Men Who Have Sex with Men: a cross-sectional
      survey from three cities in China.
AB  - Anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is linked to anal warts and anal
      cancer, is common among men who have sex with men (MSM), especially among those
      HIV positives. MSM aged 18 years or older were recruited from mainland China.
      Blood and anal cytologic samples were collected for HIV-1 serological test and
      HPV genotyping. A total of 889 eligible participations were included. The
      genotyping results of HPV were available for 822 participants (92.46%), 65.32% of
      which were positive for the targeted 37 HPV types. Prevalence of infection with
      any type of HPV was higher among HIV-infected participants (82.69%) as compared
      to HIV-uninfected participants (62.81%) (p < 0.01). HPV06 (15.45%),
      HPV18(13.50%), HPV16 (11.44%), and HPV11 (10.71%) were the most frequent types
      identified in the study population. Ever had paid sex with man was found to be
      independent predictor for HPV positivity with an adjusted odds ratios (OR) of
      2.34 (1.16-4.74). Anal HPV positivity was observed to be independently associated
      with HIV infection with an adjusted OR of 3.03 (1.76-5.21) in the study
      population. In conclusion, the prevalence of anal HPV infection was observed to
      be common among MSM from mainland China, and it was significantly associated with
      the status of HIV infection.

PMID- 26892939
TI  - Bitemporal Versus High-Dose Unilateral Twice-Weekly Electroconvulsive Therapy for
      Depression (EFFECT-Dep): A Pragmatic, Randomized, Non-Inferiority Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: ECT is the most effective treatment for severe depression. Previous
      efficacy studies, using thrice-weekly brief-pulse ECT, reported that high-dose
      (6* seizure threshold) right unilateral ECT is similar to bitemporal ECT but may
      have fewer cognitive side effects. The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness
      and cognitive side effects of twice-weekly moderate-dose (1.5* seizure threshold)
      bitemporal ECT with high-dose unilateral ECT in real-world practice. METHOD: This
      was a pragmatic, patient- and rater-blinded, noninferiority trial of patients
      with major depression (N=138; 63% female; age=56.7 years [SD=14.8]) in a national
      ECT service with a 6-month follow-up. Participants were independently randomly
      assigned to bitemporal or high-dose unilateral ECT. The primary outcome was
      change in the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score after the
      ECT course; the prespecified noninferiority margin was 4.0 points. Secondary
      outcomes included response and remission rates, relapse status after 6 months,
      and cognition. RESULTS: Of the eligible patients, 69 were assigned to bitemporal
      ECT and 69 to unilateral ECT. High-dose unilateral ECT was noninferior to
      bitemporal ECT regarding the 24-item HAM-D scores after the ECT course (mean
      difference=1.08 points in favor of unilateral ECT [95% CI=-1.67 to 3.84]). There
      were no significant differences for response and remission or 6-month relapse
      status. Recovery of orientation was quicker following unilateral ECT (median=19.1
      minutes versus 26.4 minutes). Bitemporal ECT was associated with a lower percent
      recall of autobiographical information (odds ratio=0.66) that persisted for 6
      months. CONCLUSIONS: Twice-weekly high-dose unilateral ECT is not inferior to
      bitemporal ECT for depression and may be preferable because of its better
      cognitive side-effect profile.

PMID- 26892941
TI  - Phosphodiesterase 10A in Schizophrenia: A PET Study Using [(11)C]IMA107.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is an enzyme present in striatal medium
      spiny neurons that degrades the intracellular second messengers triggered by
      dopamine signaling. The pharmaceutical industry has considerable interest in
      PDE10A inhibitors because they have been shown to have an antipsychotic-like
      effect in animal models. However, the status of PDE10A in schizophrenia is
      unknown. Using a newly developed and validated radioligand, [(11)C]IMA107, the
      authors report the first in vivo assessment of PDE10A brain expression in
      patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The authors compared PDE10A availability in
      the brains of 12 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 12 matched healthy
      comparison subjects using [(11)C]IMA107 positron emission tomography (PET).
      Regional estimates of the binding potential (BPND) of [(11)C]IMA107 were
      generated from dynamic PET scans using the simplified reference tissue model with
      the cerebellum as the reference tissue for nonspecific binding. RESULTS: There
      was no significant difference in [(11)C]IMA107 BPND between schizophrenia
      patients and comparison subjects in any of the brain regions studied (thalamus,
      caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra).
      There was also no significant correlation between [(11)C]IMA107 BPND and the
      severity of psychotic symptoms or antipsychotic dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients
      with schizophrenia have normal availability of PDE10A in brain regions thought to
      be involved in the pathophysiology of this disorder. The findings do not support
      the proposal of an altered PDE10A availability in schizophrenia. The implication
      of this finding for future drug development is discussed.

PMID- 26892940
TI  - Toward the Definition of a Bipolar Prodrome: Dimensional Predictors of Bipolar
      Spectrum Disorders in At-Risk Youths.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to assess dimensional symptomatic predictors of new
      onset bipolar spectrum disorders in youths at familial risk of bipolar disorder
      ("at-risk" youths). METHOD: Offspring 6-18 years old of parents with bipolar I or
      II disorder (N=359) and community comparison offspring (N=220) were recruited. At
      baseline, 8.4% of the offspring of bipolar parents had a bipolar spectrum
      disorder. Over 8 years, 14.7% of offspring for whom follow-up data were available
      (44/299) developed a new-onset bipolar spectrum disorder (15 with bipolar I or II
      disorder). Measures collected at baseline and follow-up were reduced using factor
      analyses, and factors (both at baseline and at the visit prior to conversion or
      last contact) were assessed as predictors of new-onset bipolar spectrum
      disorders. RESULTS: Relative to comparison offspring, at-risk and bipolar
      offspring had higher baseline levels of anxiety/depression,
      inattention/disinhibition, externalizing, subsyndromal manic, and affective
      lability symptoms. The strongest predictors of new-onset bipolar spectrum
      disorders were baseline anxiety/depression, baseline and proximal affective
      lability, and proximal subsyndromal manic symptoms (p<0.05). While affective
      lability and anxiety/depression were elevated throughout follow-up in those who
      later developed a bipolar spectrum disorder, manic symptoms increased up to the
      point of conversion. A path analysis supported the hypothesis that affective
      lability at baseline predicts a new-onset bipolar spectrum disorder in part
      through increased manic symptoms at the visit prior to conversion; earlier
      parental age at mood disorder onset was also significantly associated with an
      increased risk of conversion. While youths without anxiety/depression, affective
      lability, and mania (and with a parent with older age at mood disorder onset) had
      a 2% predicted chance of conversion to a bipolar spectrum disorder, those with
      all risk factors had a 49% predicted chance of conversion. CONCLUSIONS:
      Dimensional measures of anxiety/depression, affective lability, and mania are
      important predictors of new-onset bipolar spectrum disorders in at-risk youths.
      These symptoms emerged from among numerous other candidates, underscoring the
      potential clinical and research utility of these findings.

PMID- 26892942
TI  - Neural Correlates of Irritability in Disruptive Mood Dysregulation and Bipolar
      Disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) are
      clinically and pathophysiologically distinct, yet irritability can be a clinical
      feature of both illnesses. The authors examine whether the neural mechanisms
      mediating irritability differ between bipolar disorder and DMDD, using a face
      emotion labeling paradigm because such labeling is deficient in both patient
      groups. The authors hypothesized that during face emotion labeling, irritability
      would be associated with dysfunctional activation in the amygdala and other
      temporal and prefrontal regions in both disorders, but that the nature of these
      associations would differ between DMDD and bipolar disorder. METHOD: During
      functional MRI acquisition, 71 youths (25 with DMDD, 24 with bipolar disorder,
      and 22 healthy youths) performed a labeling task with happy, fearful, and angry
      faces of varying emotional intensity. RESULTS: Participants with DMDD and bipolar
      disorder showed similar levels of irritability and did not differ from each other
      or from healthy youths in face emotion labeling accuracy. Irritability correlated
      with amygdala activity across all intensities for all emotions in the DMDD group;
      such correlation was present in the bipolar disorder group only for fearful
      faces. In the ventral visual stream, associations between neural activity and
      irritability were found more consistently in the DMDD group than in the bipolar
      disorder group, especially in response to ambiguous angry faces. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results suggest diagnostic specificity in the neural correlates of
      irritability, a symptom of both DMDD and bipolar disorder. Such evidence of
      distinct neural correlates suggests the need to evaluate different approaches to
      treating irritability in the two disorders.

PMID- 26892943
TI  - Circumflex coronary artery injury after mitral valve surgery: A report of four
      cases and comprehensive review of the literature.
AB  - As the LCx is closely related to the mitral valve annulus, it is susceptible to
      perioperative injury. Various underlying mechanisms, predisposing factors, and
      therapeutic strategies have been suggested but disagreement exists. Using a MeSH
      terms-based PubMed search, 44 cases of mitral valve surgery-related LCx injury
      were detected, including our 4 cases. We provide a comprehensive review of
      current knowledge regarding mitral valve surgery-related left circumflex coronary
      artery (LCx) injury. Preoperative coronary angiography was performed in 55% (n =
      24). Coronary abnormalities were present in 11% (n = 5). Coronary dominance was
      reported in 73% (n = 32), predominantly showing left (69%, n = 22) or balanced
      (19%, n = 6) circulations. Right coronary dominance was present in 12% (n = 4).
      Ischemia was detected in the perioperative or early postoperative phase in 86% (n
      = 30). Delayed symptoms were present in 14% (n = 5). Echocardiography
      demonstrated new regional wall motion abnormalities in 80% (n = 24), but was
      negative in 20% (n = 6) despite coronary compromise. Electrocardiography showed
      myocardial ischemia in 97% (n = 34), including regional ST-segment elevations in
      68% (n = 23). Primary treatment was surgical in 42% (n = 15) and percutaneous in
      58% (n = 21), reporting success ratios of 87% (n = 13) and 81% (n = 17),
      respectively. We confirm an augmented risk of mitral valve surgery-related LCx
      injury in balanced or left-dominant coronary circulations. Preoperative knowledge
      of coronary anatomy does not preclude LCx injury. An anomalous LCx arising from
      the right coronary cusp was identified as a possible specific high-risk entity.
      Electrocardiographic monitoring and intraoperative echocardiography remain
      paramount to ensure a timely diagnosis and treatment. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26892944
TI  - Prophylaxis and remediation of anomia in the semantic and logopenic variants of
      primary progressive aphasia.
AB  - This study evaluated the efficacy of phonological and orthographic treatments for
      anomia in the semantic and logopenic variants of primary progressive aphasia
      (svPPA and lvPPA, respectively). Both treatments were administered for 6 months.
      The treatment stimuli consisted of nouns that were consistently named correctly
      at baseline (prophylaxis items) and/or nouns that were consistently named
      incorrectly at baseline (remediation items). Oral naming accuracy was measured
      for trained and untrained picture exemplars, as well as matched items from an
      untrained condition (UC). Written naming and scene description tasks were also
      conducted. For all tasks, the change in naming accuracy from baseline to 1 month
      post-treatment was compared between the UC and each treatment condition. These
      comparisons indicated that both treatments were effective in the remediation and
      prophylaxis of anomia in both variants. Furthermore, generalisation to untrained
      exemplars occurred in both subtypes, whereas item generalisation occurred in
      lvPPA, and task generalisation was present in svPPA.

PMID- 26892945
TI  - In vivo comparison of tantalum, tungsten, and bismuth enteric contrast agents to
      complement intravenous iodine for double-contrast dual-energy CT of the bowel.
AB  - To assess the ability of dual-energy CT (DECT) to separate intravenous contrast
      of bowel wall from intraluminal contrast, we scanned 16 rabbits on a clinical
      DECT scanner: n = 3 using only iodinated intravenous contrast, and n = 13 double
      contrast enhanced scans using iodinated intravenous contrast and experimental
      enteric non-iodinated contrast agents in the bowel lumen (five bismuth, four
      tungsten, and four tantalum based). Representative image pairs from conventional
      CT images and DECT iodine density maps of small bowel (116 pairs from 232 images)
      were viewed by four abdominal imaging attending radiologists to independently
      score each comparison pair on a visual analog scale (-100 to +100%) for (1)
      preference in small bowel wall visualization and (2) preference in completeness
      of intraluminal enteric contrast subtraction. Median small bowel wall
      visualization was scored 39 and 42 percentage points (95% CI 30-44% and 36-45%,
      both p < 0.001) higher for double-contrast DECT than for conventional CT with
      enteric tungsten and tantalum contrast, respectively. Median small bowel wall
      visualization for double-contrast DECT was scored 29 and 35 percentage points
      (95% CI 20-35% and 33-39%, both p < 0.001) higher with enteric tungsten and
      tantalum, respectively, than with bismuth contrast. Median completeness of
      intraluminal enteric contrast subtraction in double-contrast DECT iodine density
      maps was scored 28 and 29 percentage points (95% CI 15-31% and 28-33%, both p <
      0.001) higher with enteric tungsten and tantalum, respectively, than with bismuth
      contrast. Results suggest that in vivo double-contrast DECT with iodinated
      intravenous and either tantalum- or tungsten-based enteric contrast provides
      better visualization of small bowel than conventional CT. Copyright (c) 2016 John
      Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26892948
TI  - Flexible macrocycles as versatile supports for catalytically active metal
      clusters.
AB  - Here we present three structurally diverse clusters stabilised by the same
      macrocyclic polyphenol; t-butylcalix[8]arene. This work demonstrates the range of
      conformations the flexible ligand is capable of adopting, highlighting its
      versatility in metal coordination. In addition, a Ti complex displays activity
      for the ring-opening polymerisation of lactide. 

PMID- 26892947
TI  - Characterization of Supersaturated Danazol Solutions - Impact of Polymers on
      Solution Properties and Phase Transitions.
AB  - PURPOSE: Excipients are essential for solubility enhancing formulations. Hence it
      is important to understand how additives impact key solution properties,
      particularly when supersaturated solutions are generated by dissolution of the
      solubility enhancing formulation. Herein, the impact of different concentrations
      of dissolved polymers on the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of
      supersaturated solutions of danazol were investigated. METHODS: A variety of
      experimental techniques was used, including nanoparticle tracking analysis,
      fluorescence and ultraviolet spectroscopy and flux measurements to characterize
      the solution phase behavior. RESULTS: Neither the crystalline nor amorphous
      solubility of danazol was impacted by common amorphous solid dispersion polymers,
      polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) or HPMC-acetate
      succinate. Consequently, the maximum membrane transport rate was limited only by
      the amorphous solubility, and not by the presence of the polymers. The polymers
      were able to inhibit crystallization to some extent at concentrations as low as 1
      MUg/mL, with the maximum effectiveness being reached at 10 MUg/mL. Aqueous
      danazol solutions formed a drug-rich phase with a mean size of 250 nm when the
      concentration exceeded the amorphous solubility, and the polymers modified the
      surface properties of this drug-rich phase. CONCLUSIONS: The phase behavior of
      supersaturated solutions is complex and the kinetics of phase transformations can
      be substantially modified by polymeric additives present at low concentrations.
      However, fortunately, these additives do not appear to impact the bulk
      thermodynamic properties of the solution, thus enabling supersaturated solutions,
      which provide enhanced membrane transport relative to saturated solutions to be
      generated.

PMID- 26892946
TI  - Intraoral versus extraoral bitewing radiography in detection of enamel proximal
      caries: an ex vivo study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of digital intraoral and extraoral
      bitewing (EO BW) radiography in the detection of enamel proximal caries
      regardless of their ability to separate contacts. METHODS: Artificial caries with
      different degrees of decalcification was induced in 80 human sound premolars and
      molars using formic acid. Intraoral radiographs were taken with photostimulable
      phosphor plate (PSP) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), using
      the paralleling bitewing technique. Extraoral bitewing radiographs were obtained
      using Sirona digital panoramic X-ray unit (Sirona Siemens, Bensheim, Germany). In
      total, 160 proximal surfaces were assessed by 2 observers twice. Area under the
      receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) values for each image type, observer
      and reading were compared using z-tests, with a significance level of p <= 0.05.
      Sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value and negative-predictive value
      for each observer and reading were calculated. RESULTS: Spearman's test showed a
      strong positive correlation between the duration of demineralization and
      histological grading of carious teeth surfaces. For the three radiographic
      techniques, intraobserver reliability was strong to excellent. Moreover,
      interobserver agreement was strong. The differences between all detection methods
      were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Intraoral bitewing using CMOS
      sensor had the highest sensitivity while EO BW had the highest specificity in the
      detection of incipient proximal caries. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the ex
      vivo design, the difference in diagnostic accuracy between the three radiographic
      techniques was not significant. EO BW could be used in the detection of enamel
      proximal caries with results comparable with intraoral bitewing with PSP plate
      and CMOS sensor.

PMID- 26892949
TI  - Survival of a Foal with Type A Botulism.

PMID- 26892950
TI  - The association between self-perceived health status and satisfaction with
      healthcare services: Evidence from Armenia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Armenians very rarely seek healthcare services and, consequently
      experience more serious health conditions. With its ongoing reforms, Armenia is
      focusing on linking health system financing to the quality and volume of care
      provided. We examine the relationship between the perceived health status of the
      population and the satisfaction with healthcare services. METHODS: A pooled
      probit model is applied to analyse three datasets (2010, 2011 and 2012) from the
      Integrated Living Conditions Survey (ILCS). RESULTS: We find a strong association
      between self-perceived health and satisfaction with healthcare services but this
      association is not consistent across regions. CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic
      position of the household alone does not explain the perception of individual
      health status. The perceived dwelling condition and geography of residence
      emerged as important stressors on associations between the perceived health
      status of the population and the satisfaction with healthcare services. We have
      modelled the perceived health status and satisfaction with the healthcare
      services using demand side datasets. This study establishes the need to re
      examine this association in a multidimensional construct.

PMID- 26892952
TI  - Improving Patient Experience and Primary Care Quality for Patients With Complex
      Chronic Disease Using the Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes Tool: Adopting
      Qualitative Methods Into a User-Centered Design Approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many mHealth technologies do not meet the needs of patients with
      complex chronic disease and disabilities (CCDDs) who are among the highest users
      of health systems worldwide. Furthermore, many of the development methodologies
      used in the creation of mHealth and eHealth technologies lack the ability to
      embrace users with CCDD in the specification process. This paper describes how we
      adopted and modified development techniques to create the electronic Patient
      Reported Outcomes (ePRO) tool, a patient-centered mHealth solution to help
      improve primary health care for patients experiencing CCDD. OBJECTIVE: This paper
      describes the design and development approach, specifically the process of
      incorporating qualitative research methods into user-centered design approaches
      to create the ePRO tool. Key lessons learned are offered as a guide for other
      eHealth and mHealth research and technology developers working with complex
      patient populations and their primary health care providers. METHODS: Guided by
      user-centered design principles, interpretive descriptive qualitative research
      methods were adopted to capture user experiences through interviews and working
      groups. Consistent with interpretive descriptive methods, an iterative analysis
      technique was used to generate findings, which were then organized in relation to
      the tool design and function to help systematically inform modifications to the
      tool. User feedback captured and analyzed through this method was used to
      challenge the design and inform the iterative development of the tool. RESULTS:
      Interviews with primary health care providers (n=7) and content experts (n=6),
      and four focus groups with patients and carers (n=14) along with a PICK analysis
      Possible, Implementable, (to be) Challenged, (to be) Killed-guided development of
      the first prototype. The initial prototype was presented in three design working
      groups with patients/carers (n=5), providers (n=6), and experts (n=5). Working
      group findings were broken down into categories of what works and what does not
      work to inform modifications to the prototype. This latter phase led to a major
      shift in the purpose and design of the prototype, validating the importance of
      using iterative codesign processes. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretive descriptive methods
      allow for an understanding of user experiences of patients with CCDD, their
      carers, and primary care providers. Qualitative methods help to capture and
      interpret user needs, and identify contextual barriers and enablers to tool
      adoption, informing a redesign to better suit the needs of this diverse user
      group. This study illustrates the value of adopting interpretive descriptive
      methods into user-centered mHealth tool design and can also serve to inform the
      design of other eHealth technologies. Our approach is particularly useful in
      requirements determination when developing for a complex user group and their
      health care providers.

PMID- 26892951
TI  - Characterisation of exposure to non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the
      Spanish INMA birth cohort: study protocol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Analysis of the association between exposure to electromagnetic
      fields of non-ionising radiation (EMF-NIR) and health in children and adolescents
      is hindered by the limited availability of data, mainly due to the difficulties
      on the exposure assessment. This study protocol describes the methodologies used
      for characterising exposure of children to EMF-NIR in the INMA (INfancia y Medio
      Ambiente- Environment and Childhood) Project, a prospective cohort study.
      METHODS/DESIGN: Indirect (proximity to emission sources, questionnaires on
      sources use and geospatial propagation models) and direct methods (spot and fixed
      longer-term measurements and personal measurements) were conducted in order to
      assess exposure levels of study participants aged between 7 and 18 years old. The
      methodology used varies depending on the frequency of the EMF-NIR and the
      environment (homes, schools and parks). Questionnaires assessed the use of
      sources contributing both to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency
      (RF) exposure levels. Geospatial propagation models (NISMap) are implemented and
      validated for environmental outdoor sources of RFs using spot measurements. Spot
      and fixed longer-term ELF and RF measurements were done in the environments where
      children spend most of the time. Moreover, personal measurements were taken in
      order to assess individual exposure to RF. The exposure data are used to explore
      their relationships with proximity and/or use of EMF-NIR sources. DISCUSSION:
      Characterisation of the EMF-NIR exposure by this combination of methods is
      intended to overcome problems encountered in other research. The assessment of
      exposure of INMA cohort children and adolescents living in different regions of
      Spain to the full frequency range of EMF-NIR extends the characterisation of
      environmental exposures in this cohort. Together with other data obtained in the
      project, on socioeconomic and family characteristics and development of the
      children and adolescents, this will enable to evaluate the complex interaction
      between health outcomes in children and adolescents and the various environmental
      factors that surround them.

PMID- 26892954
TI  - Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: A Brave New World of Mammography Screening.

PMID- 26892953
TI  - Color stability of recent composite resins.
AB  - The objective of the study was to evaluate the color stability of 8 recently
      developed resin composites when exposed to various staining agents. Six disc
      shaped specimens made out of 8 resin composite materials were immersed in
      artificial saliva, coffee, coke, tea, orange juice and red wine. The initial
      color (T0) of the 288 specimens was assessed by a calibrated reflectance
      spectrophotometer (SpectroShade, MHT) over a black as well as a white background.
      All specimens were kept in an incubator (INP-500, Memmert GmbH) at 37  degrees C
      for 4 weeks. Colorant solutions were changed every 7 days to avoid bacteria or
      yeast contamination. After 4 weeks of storage in the colorants (T1),
      spectrophotometric measurements were repeated and DeltaE00 was calculated. When
      analyzed over a white background, the mean DeltaE00 values varied from 1.5 (Venus
      Diamond) to 52.4 (Miris 2). When analyzed over a black background, the mean
      DeltaE00 values varied from 0.8 (Venus Diamond) to 40.0 (ELS). Significant
      differences were detected when comparing values at T0 and T1 (DeltaE00) for both
      backgrounds (Anova and Fisher's LSD post hoc test). Resin composite materials do
      behave in a significantly different way (p value < 0.01) when exposed to various
      staining solutions.

PMID- 26892955
TI  - Atherosclerosis: Successes, Surprises, and Future Challenges.

PMID- 26892956
TI  - Epidemiology of Atherosclerosis and the Potential to Reduce the Global Burden of
      Atherothrombotic Disease.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of vascular disease worldwide. Its major
      clinical manifestations include ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and
      peripheral arterial disease. In high-income countries, there have been dramatic
      declines in the incidence and mortality from ischemic heart disease and ischemic
      stroke since the middle of the 20th century. For example, in the United Kingdom,
      the probability of death from vascular disease in middle-aged men (35-69 years)
      has decreased from 22% in 1950 to 6% in 2010. Most low- and middle-income
      countries have also reported declines in mortality from stroke over the last few
      decades, but mortality trends from ischemic heart disease have been more varied,
      with some countries reporting declines and others reporting increases
      (particularly those in Eastern Europe and Asia). Many major modifiable risk
      factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, and the causal relevance of
      several risk factors is now well established (including, but not limited to,
      smoking, adiposity, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus).
      Widespread changes in health behaviors and use of treatments for these risk
      factors are responsible for some of the dramatic declines in vascular mortality
      in high-income countries. In order that these declines continue and are mirrored
      in less wealthy nations, increased efforts are needed to tackle these major risk
      factors, particularly smoking and the emerging obesity epidemic. 

PMID- 26892957
TI  - Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: New
      Insights From Epidemiology, Genetics, and Biology.
AB  - Scientific interest in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins has fluctuated over the
      past many years, ranging from beliefs that these lipoproteins cause
      atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) to being innocent bystanders.
      Correspondingly, clinical recommendations have fluctuated from a need to reduce
      levels to no advice on treatment. New insight in epidemiology now suggests that
      these lipoproteins, marked by high triglycerides, are strong and independent
      predictors of ASCVD and all-cause mortality, and that their cholesterol content
      or remnant cholesterol likewise are strong predictors of ASCVD. Of all adults,
      27% have triglycerides >2 mmol/L (176 mg/dL), and 21% have remnant cholesterol >1
      mmol/L (39 mg/dL). For individuals in the general population with nonfasting
      triglycerides of 6.6 mmol/L (580 mg/dL) compared with individuals with levels of
      0.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL), the risks were 5.1-fold for myocardial infarction, 3.2
      fold for ischemic heart disease, 3.2-fold for ischemic stroke, and 2.2-fold for
      all-cause mortality. Also, genetic studies using the Mendelian randomization
      design, an approach that minimizes problems with confounding and reverse
      causation, now demonstrate that triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are causally
      associated with ASCVD and all-cause mortality. Finally, genetic evidence also
      demonstrates that high concentrations of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are
      causally associated with low-grade inflammation. This suggests that an important
      part of inflammation in atherosclerosis and ASCVD is because of triglyceride-rich
      lipoprotein degradation and uptake into macrophage foam cells in the arterial
      intima. Taken together, new insights now strongly suggest that elevated
      triglyceride-rich lipoproteins represent causal risk factors for low-grade
      inflammation, ASCVD, and all-cause mortality. 

PMID- 26892958
TI  - Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease.
AB  - Genetic factors contribute importantly to the risk of coronary artery disease
      (CAD), and in the past decade, there has been major progress in this area. The
      tools applied include genome-wide association studies encompassing >200,000
      individuals complemented by bioinformatic approaches, including 1000 Genomes
      imputation, expression quantitative trait locus analyses, and interrogation of
      Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, Roadmap, and other data sets. close to 60 common
      SNPs (minor allele frequency>0.05) associated with CAD risk and reaching genome
      wide significance (P<5 * 10(-8)) have been identified. Furthermore, a total of
      202 independent signals in 109 loci have achieved a false discovery rate (q<0.05)
      and together explain 28% of the estimated heritability of CAD. These data have
      been used successfully to create genetic risk scores that can improve risk
      prediction beyond conventional risk factors and identify those individuals who
      will benefit most from statin therapy. Such information also has important
      applications in clinical medicine and drug discovery by using a Mendelian
      randomization approach to interrogate the causal nature of many factors found to
      associate with CAD risk in epidemiological studies. In contrast to genome-wide
      association studies, whole-exome sequencing has provided valuable information
      directly relevant to genes with known roles in plasma lipoprotein metabolism but
      has, thus far, failed to identify other rare coding variants linked to CAD.
      Overall, recent studies have led to a broader understanding of the genetic
      architecture of CAD and demonstrate that it largely derives from the cumulative
      effect of multiple common risk alleles individually of small effect size rather
      than rare variants with large effects on CAD risk. Despite this success, there
      has been limited progress in understanding the function of the novel loci; the
      majority of which are in noncoding regions of the genome.

PMID- 26892959
TI  - Surprises From Genetic Analyses of Lipid Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Observational epidemiological studies have associated plasma lipid concentrations
      with risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), but these studies cannot distinguish
      cause from mere correlation. Human genetic studies, when considered with the
      results of randomized controlled trials of medications, can potentially shed
      light on whether lipid biomarkers are causal for diseases. Genetic analyses and
      randomized trials suggest that low-density lipoprotein is causal for CHD, whereas
      high-density lipoprotein is not. Surprisingly, human genetic evidence suggests
      that lipoprotein(a) and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins causally contribute to
      CHD. Gene variants leading to higher levels of plasma apolipoprotein B-containing
      lipoproteins [low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, or
      lipoprotein(a)] consistently increase risk for CHD. For triglyceride-rich
      lipoproteins, the most compelling evidence revolves around lipoprotein lipase and
      its endogenous facilitator (APOA5 [apolipoprotein A-V]) and inhibitory proteins
      (APOC3 [apolipoprotein C-III], ANGPTL4 [angiopoietin like 4]). Combined, these
      genetic results anticipate that, beyond low-density lipoprotein, pharmacological
      lowering of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins or lipoprotein(a) will reduce risk for
      CHD, but this remains to be proven through randomized controlled trials. 

PMID- 26892961
TI  - Are Genetic Tests for Atherosclerosis Ready for Routine Clinical Use?
AB  - In this review, we lay out 3 areas currently being evaluated for incorporation of
      genetic information into clinical practice related to atherosclerosis. The first,
      familial hypercholesterolemia, is the clearest case for utility of genetic
      testing in diagnosis and potentially guiding treatment. Already in use for
      confirmatory testing of familial hypercholesterolemia and for cascade screening
      of relatives, genetic testing is likely to expand to help establish diagnoses and
      facilitate research related to most effective therapies, including new agents,
      such as PCSK9 inhibitors. The second area, adding genetic information to
      cardiovascular risk prediction for primary prevention, is not currently
      recommended. Although identification of additional variants may add substantially
      to prediction in the future, combining known variants has not yet demonstrated
      sufficient improvement in prediction for incorporation into commonly used risk
      scores. The third area, pharmacogenetics, has utility for some therapies today.
      Future utility for pharmacogenetics will wax or wane depending on the nature of
      available drugs and therapeutic strategies. 

PMID- 26892963
TI  - Macrophages and Dendritic Cells: Partners in Atherogenesis.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic disease. The accumulation of myeloid cells
      in the arterial intima, including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), is a
      feature of early stages of disease. For decades, it has been known that monocyte
      recruitment to the intima contributes to the burden of lesion macrophages. Yet,
      this paradigm may require reevaluation in light of recent advances in
      understanding of tissue macrophage ontogeny, their capacity for self-renewal, as
      well as observations that macrophages proliferate throughout atherogenesis and
      that self-renewal is critical for maintenance of macrophages in advanced lesions.
      The rate of atherosclerotic lesion formation is profoundly influenced by innate
      and adaptive immunity, which can be regulated locally within atherosclerotic
      lesions, as well as in secondary lymphoid organs, the bone marrow and the blood.
      DCs are important modulators of immunity. Advances in the past decade have
      cemented our understanding of DC subsets, functions, hematopoietic origin, gene
      expression patterns, transcription factors critical for differentiation, and
      provided new tools for study of DC biology. The functions of macrophages and DCs
      overlap to some extent, thus it is important to reassess the contributions of
      each of these myeloid cells taking into account strict criteria of cell
      identification, ontogeny, and determine whether their key roles are within
      atherosclerotic lesions or secondary lymphoid organs. This review will highlight
      key aspect of macrophage and DC biology, summarize how these cells participate in
      different stages of atherogenesis and comment on complexities, controversies, and
      gaps in knowledge in the field. 

PMID- 26892960
TI  - From Loci to Biology: Functional Genomics of Genome-Wide Association for Coronary
      Disease.
AB  - Genome-wide association studies have provided a rich collection of ~ 58 coronary
      artery disease (CAD) loci that suggest the existence of previously unsuspected
      new biology relevant to atherosclerosis. However, these studies only identify
      genomic loci associated with CAD, and many questions remain even after a genomic
      locus is definitively implicated, including the nature of the causal variant(s)
      and the causal gene(s), as well as the directionality of effect. There are
      several tools that can be used for investigation of the functional genomics of
      these loci, and progress has been made on a limited number of novel CAD loci. New
      biology regarding atherosclerosis and CAD will be learned through the functional
      genomics of these loci, and the hope is that at least some of these new pathways
      relevant to CAD pathogenesis will yield new therapeutic targets for the
      prevention and treatment of CAD.

PMID- 26892965
TI  - Adaptive Response of T and B Cells in Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is initiated by the
      retention and accumulation of cholesterol-containing lipoproteins, particularly
      low-density lipoprotein, in the artery wall. In the arterial intima, lipoprotein
      components that are generated through oxidative, lipolytic, and proteolytic
      activities lead to the formation of several danger-associated molecular patterns,
      which can activate innate immune cells as well as vascular cells. Moreover, self-
      and non-self-antigens, such as apolipoprotein B-100 and heat shock proteins, can
      contribute to vascular inflammation by triggering the response of T and B cells
      locally. This process can influence the initiation, progression, and stability of
      plaques. Substantial clinical and experimental data support that the modulation
      of adaptive immune system may be used for treating and preventing
      atherosclerosis. This may lead to the development of more selective and less
      harmful interventions, while keeping host defense mechanisms against infections
      and tumors intact. Approaches such as vaccination might become a realistic option
      for cardiovascular disease, especially if they can elicit regulatory T and B
      cells and the secretion of atheroprotective antibodies. Nevertheless,
      difficulties in translating certain experimental data into new clinical therapies
      remain a challenge. In this review, we discuss important studies on the function
      of T- and B-cell immunity in atherosclerosis and their manipulation to develop
      novel therapeutic strategies against cardiovascular disease. 

PMID- 26892962
TI  - Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and the Pathobiology of Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Dysfunction of the endothelial lining of lesion-prone areas of the arterial
      vasculature is an important contributor to the pathobiology of atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cell dysfunction, in its broadest sense,
      encompasses a constellation of various nonadaptive alterations in functional
      phenotype, which have important implications for the regulation of hemostasis and
      thrombosis, local vascular tone and redox balance, and the orchestration of acute
      and chronic inflammatory reactions within the arterial wall. In this review, we
      trace the evolution of the concept of endothelial cell dysfunction, focusing on
      recent insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie its
      pivotal roles in atherosclerotic lesion initiation and progression; explore its
      relationship to classic, as well as more recently defined, clinical risk factors
      for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; consider current approaches to the
      clinical assessment of endothelial cell dysfunction; and outline some promising
      new directions for its early detection and treatment. 

PMID- 26892964
TI  - Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Different Stages of Atherosclerosis.
AB  - The remarkable plasticity and plethora of biological functions performed by
      macrophages have enticed scientists to study these cells in relation to
      atherosclerosis for >50 years, and major discoveries continue to be made today.
      It is now understood that macrophages play important roles in all stages of
      atherosclerosis, from initiation of lesions and lesion expansion, to necrosis
      leading to rupture and the clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, to
      resolution and regression of atherosclerotic lesions. Lesional macrophages are
      derived primarily from blood monocytes, although recent research has shown that
      lesional macrophage-like cells can also be derived from smooth muscle cells.
      Lesional macrophages take on different phenotypes depending on their environment
      and which intracellular signaling pathways are activated. Rather than a few
      distinct populations of macrophages, the phenotype of the lesional macrophage is
      more complex and likely changes during the different phases of atherosclerosis
      and with the extent of lipid and cholesterol loading, activation by a plethora of
      receptors, and metabolic state of the cells. These different phenotypes allow the
      macrophage to engulf lipids, dead cells, and other substances perceived as danger
      signals; efflux cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein; proliferate and migrate;
      undergo apoptosis and death; and secrete a large number of inflammatory and
      proresolving molecules. This review article, part of the Compendium on
      Atherosclerosis, discusses recent advances in our understanding of lesional
      macrophage phenotype and function in different stages of atherosclerosis. With
      the increasing understanding of the roles of lesional macrophages, new research
      areas and treatment strategies are beginning to emerge. 

PMID- 26892969
TI  - The Success Story of LDL Cholesterol Lowering.
AB  - We can look back at >100 years of cholesterol research that has brought medicine
      to a stage where people at risk of severe or fatal coronary heart disease have a
      much better prognosis than before. This progress has not come about without
      resistance. Perhaps one of the most debated topics in medicine, the cholesterol
      controversy, could only be brought to rest through the development of new
      clinical research methods that were capable of taking advantage of the amazing
      achievements in basic and pharmacological science after the second World War. It
      was only after understanding the biochemistry and physiology of cholesterol
      synthesis, transport and clearance from the blood that medicine could take
      advantage of drugs and diets to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic diseases. This
      review points to the highlights of the history of low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol lowering, with the discovery of the low-density lipoprotein receptor
      and its physiology and not only the development of statins as the stellar moments
      but also the development of clinical trial methodology as an effective tool to
      provide scientifically convincing evidence. 

PMID- 26892966
TI  - Microdomains, Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Elevated levels of cholesteryl ester (CE)-enriched apoB containing plasma
      lipoproteins lead to increased foam cell formation, the first step in the
      development of atherosclerosis. Unregulated uptake of low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol by circulating monocytes and other peripheral blood cells takes place
      through scavenger receptors and over time causes disruption in cellular
      cholesterol homeostasis. As lipoproteins are taken up, their CE core is
      hydrolyzed by liposomal lipases to generate free cholesterol (FC). FC can be
      either re-esterified and stored as CE droplets or shuttled to the plasma membrane
      for ATP-binding cassette transporter A1-mediated efflux. Because cholesterol is
      an essential component of all cellular membranes, some FC may be incorporated
      into microdomains or lipid rafts. These platforms are essential for receptor
      signaling and transduction, requiring rapid assembly and disassembly. ATP-binding
      cassette transporter A1 plays a major role in regulating microdomain cholesterol
      and is most efficient when lipid-poor apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) packages raft
      cholesterol into soluble particles that are eventually catabolized by the liver.
      If FC is not effluxed from the cell, it becomes esterified, CE droplets
      accumulate and microdomain cholesterol content becomes poorly regulated. This
      dysregulation leads to prolonged activation of immune cell signaling pathways,
      resulting in receptor oversensitization. The availability of apoAI or other
      amphipathic alpha-helix-rich apoproteins relieves the burden of excess
      microdomain cholesterol in immune cells allowing a reduction in immune cell
      proliferation and infiltration, thereby stimulating regression of foam cells in
      the artery. Therefore, cellular balance between FC and CE is essential for proper
      immune cell function and prevents chronic immune cell overstimulation and
      proliferation. 

PMID- 26892967
TI  - Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis.
AB  - The historical view of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis is
      that aberrant proliferation of VSMCs promotes plaque formation, but that VSMCs in
      advanced plaques are entirely beneficial, for example preventing rupture of the
      fibrous cap. However, this view has been based on ideas that there is a
      homogenous population of VSMCs within the plaque, that can be identified separate
      from other plaque cells (particularly macrophages) using standard VSMC and
      macrophage immunohistochemical markers. More recent genetic lineage tracing
      studies have shown that VSMC phenotypic switching results in less-differentiated
      forms that lack VSMC markers including macrophage-like cells, and this switching
      directly promotes atherosclerosis. In addition, VSMC proliferation may be
      beneficial throughout atherogenesis, and not just in advanced lesions, whereas
      VSMC apoptosis, cell senescence, and VSMC-derived macrophage-like cells may
      promote inflammation. We review the effect of embryological origin on VSMC
      behavior in atherosclerosis, the role, regulation and consequences of phenotypic
      switching, the evidence for different origins of VSMCs, and the role of
      individual processes that VSMCs undergo in atherosclerosis in regard to plaque
      formation and the structure of advanced lesions. We think there is now compelling
      evidence that a full understanding of VSMC behavior in atherosclerosis is
      critical to identify therapeutic targets to both prevent and treat
      atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26892970
TI  - From Lipids to Inflammation: New Approaches to Reducing Atherosclerotic Risk.
AB  - The introduction of statins ~ 30 years ago ushered in the era of lipid lowering
      as the most effective way to reduce risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular
      disease. Nonetheless, residual risk remains high, and statin intolerance is
      frequently encountered in clinical practice. After a long dry period, the field
      of therapeutics targeted to lipids and atherosclerosis has entered a renaissance.
      Moreover, the demonstration of clinical benefits from the addition of ezetimibe
      to statin therapy in subjects with acute coronary syndromes has renewed the
      enthusiasm for the cholesterol hypothesis and the hope that additional agents
      that lower low-density lipoprotein will decrease risk of atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease. Drugs in the orphan disease category are now available
      for patients with the most extreme hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, discovery
      and rapid translation of a novel biological pathway has given rise to a new class
      of cholesterol-lowering drugs, the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-9
      inhibitors. Trials of niacin added to statin have failed to demonstrate cardiac
      benefits, and 3 cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors have also failed to
      reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, despite producing substantial
      increases in HDL levels. Although the utility of triglyceride-lowering therapies
      remains uncertain, 2 large clinical trials are testing the influence of omega-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acids on atherosclerotic events in hypertriglyceridemia.
      Novel antisense therapies targeting apolipoprotein C-III (for triglyceride
      reduction) and apo(a) (for lipoprotein(a) reduction) are showing a promising
      trajectory. Finally, 2 large clinical trials are formally putting the
      inflammatory hypothesis of atherosclerosis to the test and may open a new avenue
      for cardiovascular disease risk reduction.

PMID- 26892968
TI  - MicroRNA Regulation of Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Atherosclerosis and its attendant clinical complications, such as myocardial
      infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, are the leading cause of
      morbidity and mortality in Western societies. In response to biochemical and
      biomechanical stimuli, atherosclerotic lesion formation occurs from the
      participation of a range of cell types, inflammatory mediators, and shear stress.
      Over the past decade, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as evolutionarily
      conserved, noncoding small RNAs that serve as important regulators and fine
      tuners of a range of pathophysiological cellular effects and molecular signaling
      pathways involved in atherosclerosis. Accumulating studies reveal the importance
      of miRNAs in regulating key signaling and lipid homeostasis pathways that alter
      the balance of atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression. In this review,
      we highlight current paradigms of miRNA-mediated effects in atherosclerosis
      progression and regression. We provide an update on the potential use of miRNAs
      diagnostically for detecting increasing severity of coronary disease and clinical
      events. Finally, we provide a perspective on therapeutic opportunities and
      challenges for miRNA delivery in the field. 

PMID- 26892972
TI  - Trastuzumab Emtansine for Treating HER2-Positive, Unresectable, Locally Advanced
      or Metastatic Breast Cancer After Treatment with Trastuzumab and a Taxane: An
      Evidence Review Group Perspective of a NICE Single Technology Appraisal.
AB  - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) invited the
      manufacturer of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) (Kadcyla((r)); Roche) to submit
      evidence of its clinical and cost-effectiveness for treating human epidermal
      growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or
      metastatic breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. The
      School of Health and Related Research Technology Appraisal Group (ScHARR-TAG) at
      the University of Sheffield were the independent Evidence Review Group (ERG) who
      produced a critical review of the company's submission to NICE. The ERG also
      independently searched for relevant evidence and modified the submitted decision
      analytic model to produce a revised estimate of cost-effectiveness and examine
      the impact of altering some of the key assumptions. The clinical effectiveness
      data were taken from two randomised controlled trials that reported a significant
      advantage in progression-free survival (PFS) for T-DM1 over lapatinib in
      combination with capecitabine (EMILIA trial), and over the treatment of
      physician's choice (TH3RESA trial). A network meta-analysis suggested T-DM1 was
      the best treatment in terms of both overall survival and PFS compared with
      lapatinib in combination with capecitabine; trastuzumab in combination with
      capecitabine; and capecitabine monotherapy. Adverse event (AE) data were taken
      from a pooled analysis of additional trials of T-DM1 as a single agent. The most
      common grade 3 or greater AEs for T-DM1 were thrombocytopenia and hepatotoxicity.
      Following the clarification process, the manufacturer reported a deterministic
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for T-DM1 compared with lapatinib in
      combination with capecitabine of L167,236, the latter of which was estimated to
      have an ICER of L49,798 compared with capecitabine monotherapy. The ERG produced
      similar values of L166,429 and L50,620 respectively. All other comparators were
      dominated. During the appraisal, the manufacturer offered an analysis of a
      patient access scheme (PAS), which suggested that T-DM1 had a 0 % probability of
      being cost-effective at an ICER of L30,000 per QALY gained. The NICE Appraisal
      Committee concluded that while the clinical effectiveness of T-DM1 had been
      proven, it was not likely to represent a cost-effective use of National Health
      Service resources and therefore its use could not be recommended.

PMID- 26892973
TI  - Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Quality of Life: What is the
      Difference?
AB  - The terms health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and quality of life
      (QoL) are used interchangeably. Given that these are three key terms in the
      literature, their appropriate and clear use is important. This paper reviews the
      history and definitions of the terms and considers how they have been used. It is
      argued that the definitions of HRQoL in the literature are problematic because
      some definitions fail to distinguish between HRQoL and health or between HRQoL
      and QoL. Many so-called HRQoL questionnaires actually measure self-perceived
      health status and the use of the phrase QoL is unjustified. It is concluded that
      the concept of HRQoL as used now is confusing. A potential solution is to define
      HRQoL as the way health is empirically estimated to affect QoL or use the term to
      only signify the utility associated with a health state.

PMID- 26892974
TI  - Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir for Treating Chronic Hepatitis C: A NICE Single Technology
      Appraisal-An Evidence Review Group Perspective.
AB  - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) invited Gilead, the
      company manufacturing ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), to submit evidence for the
      clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of LDV/SOF for treating chronic
      hepatitis C. The School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) Technology
      Assessment Group was commissioned as the Evidence Review Group (ERG). This paper
      describes the company's submission (CS), the ERG review and the subsequent
      decision of the NICE Appraisal Committee (AC). The ERG produced a critical review
      of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness evidence of LDV/SOF based
      upon the CS. The clinical effectiveness data for LDV/SOF were taken from ten
      trials: three phase III trials and seven phase II trials. Trials compared
      different durations of LDV/SOF, with and without ribavirin (RBV). There were no
      head-to-head trials comparing LDV/SOF with any comparator listed in the NICE
      scope. Data from the trials were mostly from populations with genotype 1 (GT1)
      disease, although some limited data were available for populations with genotypes
      3 and 4. For GT1 treatment-naive patients, sustained viral response for 12 weeks
      (SVR12) rates for LDV/SOF ranged from 93.1 to 99.4 % for subgroups of patients
      with non-cirrhotic disease, whilst SVR rates of 94.1 to 100 % were reported for
      subgroups of patients with compensated cirrhosis. For GT1 treatment-experienced
      patients, SVR12 rates ranging from 95.4 to 100 % were reported for subgroups of
      non-cirrhotic patients, and SVR rates ranging from 81.8 to 100 % were reported
      within subgroups of patients with compensated cirrhosis. Comparator data were not
      searched systematically as part of the submission, but were based on the
      company's previous NICE submission of sofosbuvir, with additional targeted
      searches. The ERG's critical appraisal of the company's economic evaluation
      highlighted a number of concerns. The ERG's base case analyses suggested that the
      incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for LDV/SOF (+RBV) are dependent on
      (a) treatment durations, (b) whether patients have been previously treated and
      (c) whether patients have liver cirrhosis or not. The AC concluded that it was
      appropriate to use the approach taken in the ERG's exploratory analyses, in line
      with the marketing authorisation, which considered people with and without
      cirrhosis separately, and estimated the cost effectiveness for each recommended
      treatment duration of LDV/SOF.

PMID- 26892976
TI  - Using built-in functions of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to help the selection process in
      systematic reviews of randomised trials.
AB  - This letter describes a simple way of using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to help select
      and auto-extract data from Portable Document Format (PDFs) of randomised trials
      in order to assist swift early selection of trials for a systematic review. 

PMID- 26892978
TI  - Correction.
AB  - Saxena A, Mehta A, Ramakrishnan S, et al. Pulse oximetry as a screening tool for
      detecting major congenital heart defects in Indian newborns (Arch Dis Child Fetal
      Neonatal Ed 2015;100:F416-21). The authors have pointed out that there was an
      error in figure 1. The original figure 1 shows a saturation cut off of 92%.
      However, the authors later revised the figure to show a cut off to 95% but this
      one was not used. The correct figure is now published.

PMID- 26892975
TI  - Use of Heart Failure Medical Therapies Among Patients With Left Ventricular
      Assist Devices: Insights From INTERMACS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for treatment of
      advanced heart failure has expanded significantly over the past decade. However,
      concomitant use of heart failure medical therapies after implant is poorly
      characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the use of heart failure
      medications before and after LVAD implant in adult patients enrolled in the
      Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS)
      between 2008 and 2013 (N = 9359). Using logistic regression, we examined
      relationships between patient characteristics and medication use at 3 months
      after implant. Baseline rates of heart failure therapies before implant were 38%
      for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor
      blockers (ARBs), 55% for beta-blockers, 40% for mineralocorticoid receptor
      antagonists (MRAs), 87% for loop diuretics, 54% for amiodarone, 11% for
      phosphodiesterase inhibitors, 22% for warfarin, and 54% for antiplatelet agents.
      By 3 months after implant, the rates were 50% for ACE inhibitors or ARBs, 68% for
      beta-blockers, 33% for MRAs, 68% for loop diuretics, 42% for amiodarone, 21% for
      phosphodiesterase inhibitors, 92% for warfarin, and 84% for antiplatelet agents.
      In general, age, preimplant INTERMACS profile, and prior medication use were
      associated with medication use at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Overall use of
      neurohormonal antagonists was low after LVAD implant, whereas use of loop
      diuretics and amiodarone remained high. Heart failure medication use is highly
      variable, but appears to generally increase after LVAD implantation. Low
      neurohormonal antagonist use may reflect practice uncertainty in the clinical
      utility of these medications post-LVAD.

PMID- 26892971
TI  - Imaging Atherosclerosis.
AB  - Advances in atherosclerosis imaging technology and research have provided a range
      of diagnostic tools to characterize high-risk plaque in vivo; however, these
      important vascular imaging methods additionally promise great scientific and
      translational applications beyond this quest. When combined with conventional
      anatomic- and hemodynamic-based assessments of disease severity, cross-sectional
      multimodal imaging incorporating molecular probes and other novel noninvasive
      techniques can add detailed interrogation of plaque composition, activity, and
      overall disease burden. In the catheterization laboratory, intravascular imaging
      provides unparalleled access to the world beneath the plaque surface, allowing
      tissue characterization and measurement of cap thickness with micrometer spatial
      resolution. Atherosclerosis imaging captures key data that reveal snapshots into
      underlying biology, which can test our understanding of fundamental research
      questions and shape our approach toward patient management. Imaging can also be
      used to quantify response to therapeutic interventions and ultimately help
      predict cardiovascular risk. Although there are undeniable barriers to clinical
      translation, many of these hold-ups might soon be surpassed by rapidly evolving
      innovations to improve image acquisition, coregistration, motion correction, and
      reduce radiation exposure. This article provides a comprehensive review of
      current and experimental atherosclerosis imaging methods and their uses in
      research and potential for translation to the clinic. 

PMID- 26892977
TI  - The effect of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked exogenous SOD1-G93A on
      electrophysiological properties and intracellular calcium in cultured rat
      astrocytes.
AB  - Over 150 mutations in the SOD1 gene that encodes Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase
      (SOD1) cause 20-25% of familial ALS, albeit without a known gain-of-function
      mechanism. ALS is also non-cell-autonomous, the interactions between motor
      neurons and their glial neighbours being implicated in disease progression. The
      aim here was to investigate the biophysical effects of the exogenous human mutant
      SOD1-G93A on rat astrocytes in culture. Primary cortical astrocyte cultures were
      treated with recombinant human apo- mSOD1-G93A vs. wild-type control (wtSOD1) and
      recorded by patch-clamp and calcium imaging. Results showed that exogenous mSOD1
      as well as wtSOD1 induced a decrease of membrane resistance, the effect being
      persistent (up to 13 min) only for the mutant form. Similarly, whole-cell inward
      currents in astrocytes were augmented by both wt and mSOD1, but the effect was
      twice larger and only progressed continuously for the latter. Both forms of SOD1
      also induced a rise in intracellular Ca(2+) activity, the effect being dependent
      on external Ca(2+) and again only persisted with mSOD1, becoming significantly
      different from wtSOD1 only at longer times (14 min). In conclusion, this study
      points to membrane permeability and Ca(2+) signalling as processes affected by
      SOD1-G93A that presents the humoral factor triggering the role of astrocytes in
      ALS pathophysiology.

PMID- 26892979
TI  - Expert consensus statement to guide the evidence-based classification of
      Paralympic athletes with vision impairment: a Delphi study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Paralympic sports are required to develop evidence-based systems that
      allocate athletes into 'classes' on the basis of the impact of their impairment
      on sport performance. However, sports for athletes with vision impairment (VI)
      classify athletes solely based on the WHO criteria for low vision and blindness.
      One key barrier to evidence-based classification is the absence of guidance on
      how to address classification issues unique to VI sport. The aim of this study
      was to reach expert consensus on how issues specific to VI sport should be
      addressed in evidence-based classification. METHOD: A four-round Delphi study was
      conducted with 25 participants who had expertise as a coach, athlete, classifier
      and/or administrator in Paralympic sport for VI athletes. RESULTS: The experts
      agreed that the current method of classification does not fulfil the requirements
      of Paralympic classification, and that the system should be different for each
      sport to account for the sports' unique visual demands. Instead of relying only
      on tests of visual acuity and visual field, the panel agreed that additional
      tests are required to better account for the impact of impairment on sport
      performance. There was strong agreement that all athletes should not be required
      to wear a blindfold as a means of equalising the impairment during competition.
      CONCLUSIONS: There is strong support within the Paralympic movement to change the
      way that VI athletes are classified. This consensus statement provides clear
      guidance on how the most important issues specific to VI should be addressed,
      removing key barriers to the development of evidence-based classification.

PMID- 26892981
TI  - BMI, body fat and waist-to-height ratio of stunted v. non-stunted Indian
      children: a case-control study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the BMI, body fat and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of
      stunted and non-stunted children following different growth trajectories from low
      socio-economic strata in Mumbai, India. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, case-control
      study. Weight, height, skinfold thicknesses and waist circumference were
      measured. Information regarding the duration of breast-feeding, age at initiation
      of complementary feeding and income was obtained. Birth weight was obtained from
      records. BMI, body fat, WHtR and change in weight sd were calculated. SETTING:
      Children who were beneficiaries of anganwadis, Mumbai city, India. SUBJECTS:
      Three hundred and thirty children aged 2-4 years were selected in each of the
      stunted and non-stunted groups after matching for age and sex. RESULTS: After
      adjusting for birth weight, change in weight sd, duration of breast-feeding, age
      at complementary feeding initiation and income, stunted children had
      significantly higher body fat, WHtR and BMI than the non-stunted (P<0.01). The
      stunted and non-stunted children were classified based on their change in weight
      sd. Stunted children with no change in weight sd had higher mean body fat, BMI
      (P<0.01) and WHtR (P<0.05) than their non-stunted counterparts. In the catch-up
      growth group, stunted children had higher BMI and WHtR than the non-stunted (both
      P<0.001). In the catch-down growth group, stunted children had higher BMI than
      the non-stunted (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stunting was seen to increase the
      tendency of conserving body fat in young children. Such a tendency, if continued
      during later childhood and adolescence, can increase the risk of obesity and non
      communicable diseases.

PMID- 26892980
TI  - Genetic variation frequencies in Wilms' tumor: A meta-analysis and systematic
      review.
AB  - Over the last few decades, numerous biomarkers in Wilms' tumor have been
      confirmed and shown variations in prevalence. Most of these studies were based on
      small sample sizes. We carried out a meta-analysis of the research published from
      1992 to 2015 to obtain more precise and comprehensive outcomes for genetic tests.
      In the present study, 70 out of 5175 published reports were eligible for the meta
      analysis, which was carried out using Stata 12.0 software. Pooled prevalence for
      gene mutations WT1, WTX, CTNNB1, TP53, MYCN, DROSHA, and DGCR8 was 0.141 (0.104,
      0.178), 0.147 (0.110, 0.184), 0.140 (0.100, 0.190), 0.410 (0.214, 0.605), 0.071
      (0.041, 0.100), 0.082 (0.048, 0.116), and 0.036 (0.026, 0.046), respectively.
      Pooled prevalence of loss of heterozygosity at 1p, 11p, 11q, 16q, and 22q was
      0.109 (0.084, 0.133), 0.334 (0.295, 0.373), 0.199 (0.146, 0.252), 0.151 (0.129,
      0.172), and 0.148 (0.108, 0.189), respectively. Pooled prevalence of 1q and
      chromosome 12 gain was 0.218 (0.161, 0.275) and 0.273 (0.195, 0.350),
      respectively. The limited prevalence of currently known genetic alterations in
      Wilms' tumors indicates that significant drivers of initiation and progression
      remain to be discovered. Subgroup analyses indicated that ethnicity may be one of
      the sources of heterogeneity. However, in meta-regression analyses, no study
      level characteristics of indicators were found to be significant. In addition,
      the findings of our sensitivity analysis and possible publication bias remind us
      to interpret results with caution. 

PMID- 26892983
TI  - Autoimmune Comorbidities Are Associated with Brain Injury in Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The effect of comorbidities on disease severity in MS has
      not been extensively characterized. We determined the association of
      comorbidities with MR imaging disease severity outcomes in MS. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Demographic and clinical history of 9 autoimmune comorbidities confirmed
      by retrospective chart review and quantitative MR imaging data were obtained in
      815 patients with MS. The patients were categorized on the basis of the
      presence/absence of total and specific comorbidities. We analyzed the MR imaging
      findings, adjusting for key covariates and correcting for multiple comparisons.
      RESULTS: Two hundred forty-one (29.6%) study subjects presented with
      comorbidities. Thyroid disease had the highest frequency (n = 97, 11.9%),
      followed by asthma (n = 41, 5%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 40, 4.9%),
      psoriasis (n = 33, 4%), and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 22, 2.7%). Patients with MS
      with comorbidities showed decreased whole-brain and cortical volumes (P < .001),
      gray matter volume and magnetization transfer ratio of normal-appearing brain
      tissue (P < .01), and magnetization transfer ratio of gray matter (P < .05).
      Psoriasis, thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidities were
      associated with decreased whole-brain, cortical, and gray matter volumes (P <
      .05). Psoriasis was associated with a decreased magnetization transfer ratio of
      normal-appearing brain tissue (P < .05), while type 2 diabetes mellitus was
      associated with increased mean diffusivity (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The presence
      of comorbidities in patients with MS is associated with brain injury on MR
      imaging. Psoriasis, thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidities
      were associated with more severe nonconventional MR imaging outcomes.

PMID- 26892984
TI  - Inflow Jet Patterns of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms Based on the Flow Velocity
      in the Parent Artery: Evaluation Using 4D Flow MRI.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Inflow jet characteristics may be related to aneurysmal
      bleb formation and rupture. We investigated the visualization threshold on the
      basis of the flow velocity in the parent artery to classify the inflow jet
      patterns observed on 4D flow MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven
      unruptured aneurysms (24 bifurcation and 33 sidewall aneurysms) were subjected to
      4D flow MR imaging to visualize inflow streamline bundles whose velocity exceeded
      visualization thresholds corresponding to 60%, 75%, and 90% of the maximum flow
      velocity in the parent artery. The shape of the streamline bundle was determined
      visually, and the inflow jet patterns were classified as concentrated, diffuse,
      neck-limited, and unvisualized. RESULTS: At the 75% threshold, bifurcation
      aneurysms exhibited a concentrated inflow jet pattern at the highest rate. At
      this threshold, the inflow jets were concentrated in 13 aneurysms (group C,
      22.8%), diffuse in 18 (group D, 31.6%), neck-limited in 11 (group N, 19.3%), and
      unvisualized in 15 (group U, 26.3%). In 16 (28.1%) of the 57 aneurysms, the
      inflow jet pattern was different at various thresholds. Most inflow parameters,
      including the maximum inflow velocity and rate, the inflow velocity ratio, and
      the inflow rate ratio, were significantly higher in groups C and D than in groups
      N and U. CONCLUSIONS: The inflow jet pattern may depend on the threshold applied
      to visualize the inflow streamlines on 4D flow MR imaging. For the classification
      of the inflow jet patterns on 4D flow MR imaging, the 75% threshold may be
      optimal among the 3 thresholds corresponding to 60%, 75%, and 90% of the maximum
      flow velocity in the parent artery.

PMID- 26892985
TI  - Imaging of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Hemifacial
      Spasm, Vestibular Paroxysmia, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.
AB  - Neurovascular compression syndromes are usually caused by arteries that directly
      contact the cisternal portion of a cranial nerve. Not all cases of neurovascular
      contact are clinically symptomatic. The transition zone between the central and
      peripheral myelin is the most vulnerable region for symptomatic neurovascular
      compression syndromes. Trigeminal neuralgia (cranial nerve V) has an incidence of
      4-20/100,000, a transition zone of 4 mm, with symptomatic neurovascular
      compression typically proximal. Hemifacial spasm (cranial nerve VII) has an
      incidence of 1/100,000, a transition zone of 2.5 mm, with symptomatic
      neurovascular compression typically proximal. Vestibular paroxysmia (cranial
      nerve VIII) has an unknown incidence, a transition zone of 11 mm, with
      symptomatic neurovascular compression typically at the internal auditory canal.
      Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (cranial nerve IX) has an incidence of 0.5/100,000, a
      transition zone of 1.5 mm, with symptomatic neurovascular compression typically
      proximal. The transition zone overlaps the root entry zone close to the brain
      stem in cranial nerves V, VII, and IX, yet it is more distal and does not overlap
      the root entry zone in cranial nerve VIII. Although symptomatic neurovascular
      compression syndromes may also occur if the neurovascular contact is outside the
      transition zone, symptomatic neurovascular compression syndromes are more common
      if the neurovascular contact occurs at the transition zone or central myelin
      section, in particular when associated with nerve displacement and atrophy.

PMID- 26892982
TI  - Training Guidelines for Endovascular Ischemic Stroke Intervention: An
      International Multi-Society Consensus Document.

PMID- 26892986
TI  - Thinner Regions of Intracranial Aneurysm Wall Correlate with Regions of Higher
      Wall Shear Stress: A 7T MRI Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Both hemodynamics and aneurysm wall thickness are
      important parameters in aneurysm pathophysiology. Our aim was to develop a method
      for semi-quantitative wall thickness assessment on in vivo 7T MR images of
      intracranial aneurysms for studying the relation between apparent aneurysm wall
      thickness and wall shear stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wall thickness was
      analyzed in 11 unruptured aneurysms in 9 patients who underwent 7T MR imaging
      with a TSE-based vessel wall sequence (0.8-mm isotropic resolution). A custom
      analysis program determined the in vivo aneurysm wall intensities, which were
      normalized to the signal of nearby brain tissue and were used as measures of
      apparent wall thickness. Spatial wall thickness variation was determined as the
      interquartile range in apparent wall thickness (the middle 50% of the apparent
      wall thickness range). Wall shear stress was determined by using phase-contrast
      MR imaging (0.5-mm isotropic resolution). We performed visual and statistical
      comparisons (Pearson correlation) to study the relation between wall thickness
      and wall shear stress. RESULTS: 3D colored apparent wall thickness maps of the
      aneurysms showed spatial apparent wall thickness variation, which ranged from
      0.07 to 0.53, with a mean variation of 0.22 (a variation of 1.0 roughly means a
      wall thickness variation of 1 voxel [0.8 mm]). In all aneurysms, apparent wall
      thickness was inversely related to wall shear stress (mean correlation
      coefficient, -0.35; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: A method was developed to measure the
      wall thickness semi-quantitatively, by using 7T MR imaging. An inverse
      correlation between wall shear stress and apparent wall thickness was determined.
      In future studies, this noninvasive method can be used to assess spatial wall
      thickness variation in relation to pathophysiologic processes such as aneurysm
      growth and rupture.

PMID- 26892987
TI  - C-Arm Conebeam CT Perfusion Imaging in the Angiographic Suite: A Comparison with
      Multidetector CT Perfusion Imaging.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Perfusion imaging in the angiography suite may provide a
      way to reduce time from stroke onset to endovascular revascularization of
      patients with large-vessel occlusion. Our purpose was to compare conebeam CT
      perfusion with multidetector CT perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 7
      subjects with both multidetector CT perfusion and conebeam CT perfusion were
      retrospectively processed and analyzed. Two algorithms were used to enhance
      temporal resolution and temporal sampling density and reduce the noise of
      conebeam CT data before generating perfusion maps. Two readers performed
      qualitative image-quality evaluation on maps by using a 5-point scale. ROIs
      indicating CBF/CBV abnormalities were drawn. Quantitative analyses were performed
      by using the Sorensen-Dice coefficients to quantify the similarity of
      abnormalities. A noninferiority hypothesis was tested to compare conebeam CT
      perfusion against multidetector CT perfusion. RESULTS: Average image-quality
      scores for multidetector CT perfusion and conebeam CT perfusion images were 2.4
      and 2.3, respectively. The average confidence score in diagnosis was 1.4 for both
      multidetector CT and conebeam CT; the average confidence scores for the presence
      of a CBV/CBF mismatch were 1.7 (kappa = 0.50) and 1.5 (kappa = 0.64). For
      multidetector CT perfusion and conebeam CT perfusion maps, the average scores of
      confidence in making treatment decisions were 1.4 (kappa = 0.79) and 1.3 (kappa =
      0.90). The area under the visual grading characteristic for the above 4
      qualitative quality scores showed an average area under visual grading
      characteristic of 0.50, with 95% confidence level cover centered at the mean for
      both readers. The Sorensen-Dice coefficient for CBF maps was 0.81, and for CBV
      maps, 0.55. CONCLUSIONS: After postprocessing methods were applied to enhance
      image quality for conebeam CT perfusion maps, the conebeam CT perfusion maps were
      not inferior to those generated from multidetector CT perfusion.

PMID- 26892988
TI  - Computer-Assisted Detection of Cerebral Aneurysms in MR Angiography in a Routine
      Image-Reading Environment: Effects on Diagnosis by Radiologists.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Experiences with computer-assisted detection of cerebral
      aneurysms in diagnosis by radiologists in real-life clinical environments have
      not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of
      computer-assisted detection in a routine reading environment. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: During 39 months in a routine clinical practice environment, 2701 MR
      angiograms were each read by 2 radiologists by using a computer-assisted
      detection system. Initial interpretation was independently made without using the
      detection system, followed by a possible alteration of diagnosis after referring
      to the lesion candidate output from the system. We used the final consensus of
      the 2 radiologists as the reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity of
      radiologists before and after seeing the lesion candidates were evaluated by
      aneurysm- and patient-based analyses. RESULTS: The use of the computer-assisted
      detection system increased the number of detected aneurysms by 9.3% (from 258 to
      282). Aneurysm-based analysis revealed that the apparent sensitivity of the
      radiologists' diagnoses made without and with the detection system was 64% and
      69%, respectively. The detection system presented 82% of the aneurysms. The
      detection system more frequently benefited radiologists than being detrimental.
      CONCLUSIONS: Routine integration of computer-assisted detection with MR
      angiography for cerebral aneurysms is feasible, and radiologists can detect a
      number of additional cerebral aneurysms by using the detection system without a
      substantial decrease in their specificity. The low confidence of radiologists in
      the system may limit its usefulness.

PMID- 26892989
TI  - Acoustic resolution photoacoustic Doppler velocimetry in blood-mimicking fluids.
AB  - Photoacoustic Doppler velocimetry provides a major opportunity to overcome
      limitations of existing blood flow measuring methods. By enabling measurements
      with high spatial resolution several millimetres deep in tissue, it could probe
      microvascular blood flow abnormalities characteristic of many different diseases.
      Although previous work has demonstrated feasibility in solid phantoms,
      measurements in blood have proved significantly more challenging. This difficulty
      is commonly attributed to the requirement that the absorber spatial distribution
      is heterogeneous relative to the minimum detectable acoustic wavelength. By
      undertaking a rigorous study using blood-mimicking fluid suspensions of 3 MUm
      absorbing microspheres, it was discovered that the perceived heterogeneity is not
      only limited by the intrinsic detector bandwidth; in addition, bandlimiting due
      to spatial averaging within the detector field-of-view also reduces perceived
      heterogeneity and compromises velocity measurement accuracy. These detrimental
      effects were found to be mitigated by high-pass filtering to select photoacoustic
      signal components associated with high heterogeneity. Measurement under-reading
      due to limited light penetration into the flow vessel was also observed. Accurate
      average velocity measurements were recovered using "range-gating", which
      furthermore maps the cross-sectional velocity profile. These insights may help
      pave the way to deep-tissue non-invasive mapping of microvascular blood flow
      using photoacoustic methods.

PMID- 26892990
TI  - Screening Out Controversy: Human Genetics, Emerging Techniques of Diagnosis, and
      the Origins of the Social Issues Committee of the American Society of Human
      Genetics, 1964-1973.
AB  - In the years following World War II, and increasingly during the 1960s and 1970s,
      professional scientific societies developed internal sub-committees to address
      the social implications of their scientific expertise (Moore, Disrupting Science:
      Social Movements, American Scientists, and the Politics of the Military, 1945
      1975. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008). This article explores the
      early years of one such committee, the American Society of Human Genetics'
      "Social Issues Committee," founded in 1967. Although the committee's name might
      suggest it was founded to increase the ASHG's public and policy engagement,
      exploration of the committee's early years reveals a more complicated reality.
      Affronted by legislators' recent unwillingness to seek the expert advice of human
      geneticists before adopting widespread neonatal screening programs for
      phenylketonuria (PKU), and feeling pressed to establish their relevance in an
      increasingly resource-scarce funding environment, committee members sought to
      increase the discipline's expert authority. Painfully aware of controversy over
      abortion rights and haunted by the taint of the discipline's eugenic past,
      however, the committee proceeded with great caution. Seeking to harness interest
      in and assert professional control over emerging techniques of genetic diagnosis,
      the committee strove to protect the society's image by relegating ethical and
      policy questions about their use to the individual consciences of member
      scientists. It was not until 1973, after the committee's modest success in
      organizing support for a retrospective public health study of PKU screening and
      following the legalization of abortion on demand, that the committee decided to
      take a more publicly engaged stance.

PMID- 26892991
TI  - Impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 vaccination on prevalent
      infections and rates of cervical lesions after excisional treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus vaccines prevent human papillomavirus infection
      and cervical precancers. The impact of vaccinating women with a current infection
      or after treatment for an human papillomavirus-associated lesion is not fully
      understood. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether human papillomavirus-16/18
      vaccination influences the outcome of infections present at vaccination and the
      rate of infection and disease after treatment of lesions. STUDY DESIGN: We
      included 1711 women (18-25 years) with carcinogenic human papillomavirus
      infection and 311 women of similar age who underwent treatment for cervical
      precancer and who participated in a community-based trial of the AS04-adjuvanted
      human papillomavirus-16/18 virus-like particle vaccine. Participants were
      randomized (human papillomavirus or hepatitis A vaccine) and offered 3
      vaccinations over 6 months. Follow-up included annual visits (more frequently if
      clinically indicated), referral to colposcopy of high-grade and persistent low
      grade lesions, treatment by loop electrosurgical excisional procedure when
      clinically indicated, and cytologic and virologic follow-up after treatment.
      Among women with human papillomavirus infection at the time of vaccination, we
      considered type-specific viral clearance, and development of cytologic (squamous
      intraepithelial lesions) and histologic (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia)
      lesions. Among treated women, we considered single-time and persistent human
      papillomavirus infection, squamous intraepithelial lesions, and cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or greater. Outcomes associated with infections
      absent before treatment also were evaluated. Infection-level analyses were
      performed and vaccine efficacy estimated. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 56.7
      months (women with human papillomavirus infection) and 27.3 months (treated
      women). There was no evidence of vaccine efficacy to increase clearance of human
      papillomavirus infections or decrease incidence of cytologic/histologic
      abnormalities associated with human papillomavirus types present at enrollment.
      Vaccine efficacy for human papillomavirus 16/18 clearance and against human
      papillomavirus 16/18 progression from infection to cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia 2 or greater were -5.4% (95% confidence interval -19,10) and 0.3% (95%
      confidence interval -69,41), respectively. Among treated women, 34.1% had
      oncogenic infection and 1.6% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or greater
      detected after treatment, respectively, and of these 69.8% and 20.0% were the
      result of new infections. We observed no significant effect of vaccination on
      rates of infection/lesions after treatment. Vaccine efficacy estimates for human
      papillomavirus 16/18 associated persistent infection and cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia 2 or greater after treatment were 34.7% (95% confidence interval -131,
      82) and -211% (95% confidence interval -2901, 68), respectively. We observed
      evidence for a partial and nonsignificant protective effect of vaccination
      against new infections absent before treatment. For incident human papillomavirus
      16/18, human papillomavirus 31/33/45, and oncogenic human papillomavirus
      infections post-treatment, vaccine efficacy estimates were 57.9% (95% confidence
      interval -43, 88), 72.9% (95% confidence interval 29, 90), and 36.7% (95%
      confidence interval 1.5, 59), respectively. CONCLUSION: We find no evidence for a
      vaccine effect on the fate of detectable human papillomavirus infections. We show
      that vaccination does not protect against infections/lesions after treatment.
      Evaluation of vaccine protection against new infections after treatment and
      resultant lesions warrants further consideration in future studies.

PMID- 26892995
TI  - New Cholesterol Guidelines for the Management of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular
      Disease Risk: A Comparison of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American
      Heart Association Cholesterol Guidelines with the 2014 National Lipid Association
      Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia.
AB  - This review discusses the 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American
      Heart Association (AHA) Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce
      Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults and compares it with the 2014
      National Lipid Association (NLA) Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management
      of Dyslipidemia. The review discusses some of the distinctions between the
      guidelines, including how to determine a patient's atherosclerotic cardiovascular
      disease risk, the role of lipoprotein treatment targets, the importance of
      moderate- and high-intensity statin therapy, and the use of nonstatin therapy in
      light of the IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial
      (IMPROVE-IT) trial. 

PMID- 26892994
TI  - Familial Hypercholesterolemia.
AB  - Familial hypercholesterolemia is a common, inherited disorder of cholesterol
      metabolism that leads to early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is
      underdiagnosed and undertreated. Statins, ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants,
      niacin, lomitapide, mipomersen, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis are
      treatments that can lower LDL cholesterol levels. Early treatment can lead to
      substantial reduction of cardiovascular events and death in patients with
      familial hypercholesterolemia. It is important to increase awareness of this
      disorder in physicians and patients to reduce the burden of this disorder. 

PMID- 26892993
TI  - Ultrasonography reveals in vivo dose-dependent inhibition of end systolic and
      diastolic volumes, heart rate and cardiac output by nesfatin-1 in zebrafish.
AB  - Nesfatin-1 is an 82 amino acid peptide that inhibits food intake in rodents and
      fish. While endogenous nesfatin-1, and its role in the regulation of food intake
      and hormone secretion has been reported in fish, information on cardiovascular
      functions of nesfatin-1 in fish is in its infancy. We hypothesized that cardiac
      NUCB2 expression is meal responsive and nesfatin-1 is a cardioregulatory peptide
      in zebrafish. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 like immunoreactivity was detected in zebrafish
      cardiomyocytes. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis found that the cardiac
      expression of NUCB2A mRNA in unfed fish decreased at 1h post-regular feeding
      time. Food deprivation for 7days did not change NUCB2A mRNA expression. However,
      NUCB2B mRNA expression was increased in the heart of zebrafish after a 7-day food
      deprivation. Ultrasonography of zebrafish heart at 15min post-intraperitoneal
      injection of nesfatin-1 (250 and 500ng/g body weight) showed a dose-dependent
      inhibition of end diastolic and end systolic volumes. A dose dependent decrease
      in heart rate and cardiac output was observed in zebrafish that received nesfatin
      1, but no changes in stroke volume were found. Nesfatin-1 treatment caused a
      significant increase in the expression of Atp2a2a mRNA encoding the calcium
      handling pump, SERCA2a, while it had no effects on the expression of calcium
      handling protein RyR1b encoding mRNA. Our data support cardiosuppressive effects
      of nesfatin-1 in zebrafish, and reveals energy availability as one determinant of
      cardiac NUCB2 mRNA expression.

PMID- 26892996
TI  - Lipoprotein Apheresis.
AB  - Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have early development of
      atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lipid level-lowering
      medications are not always successful in reducing increased low-density
      lipoprotein C (LDL-C) levels. Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) therapy has proven its
      clinical benefit in reducing CVD events for patients with FH with
      hypercholesterolemia. LA reduces LDL-C levels by more than 60% in patients with
      FH and reduces CVD events. LA also reduces Lp(a) levels and CVD events. LA
      reduces inflammatory markers and blood viscosity. 

PMID- 26892992
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cells promote colorectal cancer progression through AMPK/mTOR
      mediated NF-kappaB activation.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert a tumor-promoting effect in a variety of
      human cancers. This study was designed to identify the molecular mechanisms
      related to the tumor-promoting effect of MSCs in colorectal cancer. In vitro
      analysis of colorectal cancer cell lines cultured in MSC conditioned media (MSC
      CM) showed that MSC-CM significantly promoted the progression of the cancer cells
      by enhancing cell proliferation, migration and colony formation. The tumorigenic
      effect of MSC-CM was attributed to altered expression of cell cycle regulatory
      proteins and inhibition of apoptosis. Furthermore, MSC-CM induced high level
      expression of a number of pluripotency factors in the cancer cells. ELISAs
      revealed MSC-CM contained higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8, which are associated
      with the progression of cancer. Moreover, MSC-CM downregulated AMPK mRNA and
      protein phosphorylation, but upregulated mTOR mRNA and protein phosphorylation.
      The NF-kappaB pathway was activated after addition of MSC-CM. An in vivo model in
      Balb/C mice confirmed the ability of MSC-CM to promote the invasion and
      proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. This study indicates that MSCs promote
      the progression of colorectal cancer via AMPK/mTOR-mediated NF-kappaB activation.

PMID- 26892997
TI  - Dyslipidemia in Pregnancy.
AB  - "Recent studies have revealed evidence that poorly controlled cholesterol,
      triglycerides, and their metabolites during pregnancy may be associated with
      cardiometabolic dysfunction and have significant detrimental fetal and maternal
      vascular consequences. Cardiometabolic dysfunction during pregnancy may not only
      contribute to long-term effects of the mother and child's vascular health but
      also potentially create cardiovascular risk for generational offspring. This
      article provides updates on this rapidly expanding and multifaceted topic and
      reviews new insight regarding why recognition of this disordered maternal
      cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism is likely to have long-term effect on the
      increasing atherosclerotic burden of the burgeoning population." 

PMID- 26892998
TI  - Women's Health Considerations for Lipid Management.
AB  - Understanding opportunities to reduce dyslipidemia before, during, and after
      pregnancy has major implications for cardiovascular disease risk prevention for
      the entire population. The best time to screen for dyslipidemia is before
      pregnancy or in the early antenatal period. The differential diagnosis of
      hypertriglyceridemia in pregnancy is the same as in nonpregnant women except that
      clinical lipidologists need to be aware of the potential obstetric complications
      associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Dyslipidemia discovered during pregnancy
      should be treated with diet and exercise intervention, as well as glycemic
      control if indicated. A complete lipid profile assessment during each trimester
      of pregnancy is recommended. 

PMID- 26892999
TI  - Statins and Diabetes.
AB  - A statin is first-line drug therapy for dyslipidemia. Clinical trial data suggest
      there is an increase in the incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus with
      statin use. The National Lipid Association (NLA) Statin Diabetes Safety Task
      Force concluded that the cardiovascular benefit of statin therapy outweighs the
      risk for developing diabetes. The NLA panel advocated following the standards of
      care from the American Diabetes Association for screening and diagnosis of
      diabetes, and emphasized the importance of lifestyle modification. This article
      summarizes NLA's review of the evidence, expanding it to include recent results,
      and outlines the clinical recommendations. 

PMID- 26893000
TI  - Statins and Cognitive Side Effects: What Cardiologists Need to Know.
AB  - Statins are widely used in secondary and primary prevention of atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular disease. They reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, and have
      an excellent safety record. Recent case reports suggest a possible association
      between statins and adverse effects on cognition. This article reviews recent
      literature related to statins and cognition and provides recommendations to
      clinicians. Cognitive considerations should not play a role in decision making
      for most patients for whom statins are indicated. Future trials of statin, or any
      novel antilipemic agent should include systematic assessment of cognition. 

PMID- 26893001
TI  - Statins and the Liver.
AB  - Lipid lowering, particularly with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase
      inhibitors ("statins"), reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients with
      chronic liver disease present challenges to the use of lipid medications. In the
      case of most liver disorders, the concern has been one of safety. There is
      evidence that most lipid-lowering medications can be used safely in many
      situations, although large outcomes trials are lacking. This review examines
      lipid physiology and cardiovascular risk in specific liver diseases and reviews
      the evidence for lipid lowering and the use of statins in chronic liver disease. 

PMID- 26893002
TI  - Genetic Testing in Hyperlipidemia.
AB  - Hereditary dyslipidemias are often underdiagnosed and undertreated, yet with
      significant health implications, most importantly causing preventable premature
      cardiovascular diseases. The commonly used clinical criteria to diagnose
      hereditary lipid disorders are specific but are not very sensitive. Genetic
      testing may be of value in making accurate diagnosis and improving cascade
      screening of family members, and potentially, in risk assessment and choice of
      therapy. This review focuses on using genetic testing in the clinical setting for
      lipid disorders, particularly familial hypercholesterolemia. 

PMID- 26893003
TI  - Lipid Management in Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
AB  - The development and use of antiretroviral medications to treat patients infected
      with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has dramatically changed the course of
      this disease from one that was fatal to a chronic and more manageable condition.
      Recommendations and guidelines for the general population are presented in this
      review with suggestions as to how they may be applied to this patient population.
      Issues for which there is little or no information available are noted to
      highlight the many gaps in our knowledge regarding diagnosis and management of
      dyslipidemia for patients living with HIV. 

PMID- 26893004
TI  - Managing Residual Risk After Myocardial Infarction Among Individuals with Low
      Cholesterol Levels.
AB  - About one-half of individuals with an acute myocardial infarction have a low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dL at the time of
      occurrence, but remain at risk for recurrent events. This residual risk is likely
      mediated by multiple factors, including burden of atherosclerosis, residual
      dyslipidemia, nonlipid risk factors, and suboptimal implementation of lifestyle
      therapy and evidence-based pharmacologic therapy. This article reviews management
      options for this high-risk population.

PMID- 26893005
TI  - Management of Hypertriglyceridemia for Prevention of Atherosclerotic
      Cardiovascular Disease.
AB  - Mendelian randomization data strongly suggest that hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)
      causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and so triglyceride (TG)
      level-lowering treatment in HTG is now more strongly recommended to address the
      residual ASCVD risk than has been the case in (generally earlier) published
      guidelines. Fibrates are the best-established agents for TG level lowering and
      are generally used as first-line treatment of TG levels greater than 500 mg/dL.
      Statins are the best-established agents for ASCVD prevention, and so are usually
      used as first-line treatment of TG levels less than 500 mg/dL.

PMID- 26893006
TI  - Dyslipidemia in Special Ethnic Populations.
AB  - This article reviews racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia-prevalence of
      dyslipidemia, its relation to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality
      rates, response to lipid-lowering agents, and lifestyle modification. Asian
      Indians, Filipinos, and Hispanics are at higher risk for dyslipidemia, which is
      consistent with the higher CHD mortality rates in these groups. Statins may have
      greater efficacy for Asians, but the data are mixed. Lifestyle modifications are
      recommended. Culturally-tailored prevention and intervention should be provided
      to the minority populations with elevated risk for dyslipidemia and considerably
      more research is needed to determine the best approaches to helping specific
      subgroups. 

PMID- 26893007
TI  - Development and validation of a questionnaire evaluating patient anxiety during
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging: the Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire
      (MRI-AQ).
AB  - AIM: To develop and validate a new instrument measuring patient anxiety during
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging- Anxiety
      Questionnaire. BACKGROUND: Questionnaires measuring patients' anxiety during
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations have been the same as used in a wide
      range of conditions. To learn about patients' experience during examination and
      to evaluate interventions, a specific questionnaire measuring patient anxiety
      during Magnetic Resonance Imaging is needed. DESIGN: Psychometric cross-sectional
      study with test-retest design. METHODS: A new questionnaire, Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire, was designed from patient expressions of anxiety
      in Magnetic Resonance Imaging-scanners. The sample was recruited between October
      2012-October 2014. Factor structure was evaluated with exploratory factor
      analysis and internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha. Criterion-related
      validity, known-group validity and test-retest was calculated. RESULTS: Patients
      referred for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of either the spine or the heart, were
      invited to participate. The development and validation of Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire resulted in 15 items consisting of two factors.
      Cronbach's alpha was found to be high. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety
      Questionnaire correlated higher with instruments measuring anxiety than with
      depression scales. Known-group validity demonstrated a higher level of anxiety
      for patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan of the heart than for
      those examining the spine. Test-retest reliability demonstrated acceptable level
      for the scale. CONCLUSION: Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire
      bridges a gap among existing questionnaires, making it a simple and useful tool
      for measuring patient anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations.

PMID- 26893008
TI  - Social and psychological challenges remain after obstetric fistula repair.

PMID- 26893009
TI  - [Body dysmorphic disorder : Anxiety about deformity].
AB  - Between 0.8 and 1.8 % of the German population suffers from a body dysmorphic
      disorder. In specific settings like dermatological offices up to 11.9 % of
      patients suffer from this disease. The highest prevalence could be found in the
      field of cosmetic dermatology with a prevalence of 13.1 %. Until now, the
      diagnosis has been made too rarely. The body dysmorphic disorder is a chronic
      psychic disease, in which the patients feel disfigured and experience shame and
      disgust at the same time. Comorbidities like social phobia, depression,
      suicidality, and eating disorders are frequent. The diagnosis is made using
      questionnaires (e.g., dysmorphic concern questionnaire) or by use of the DSM-5
      manual. An early diagnosis seems to be important to avoid chronification and
      suicidal ideas. Therapeutic approaches should include cognitive behavioral
      therapies as well as the use of SSRIs. 

PMID- 26893010
TI  - Development of indicators to assess the quality of medicines reconciliation at
      hospital admission: an e-Delphi study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this Delphi study was to examine consensus on the
      appropriateness of the medicines reconciliation (MR) indicators. METHODS:
      Practising hospital pharmacists in UK hospitals conducting MR in hospital wards
      were invited to participate in the study. Appropriateness was defined using four
      criteria: clarity, importance, relevance and usefulness. The modified Delphi
      technique was selected as a structured method to develop consensus. RAND
      definition for consensus was used. In the second round, feedback on the first
      round was provided. The study did not require Research Ethics approval. KEY
      FINDINGS: Sixty-five hospital pharmacists completed the first round Delphi, and
      59 of them completed the second round. Their experience ranged from three to 33
      years with an average of 16.6 years. Fifty-five indicators were sent to the panel
      after the pilot study. Each of the two rounds took approximately 8 weeks to be
      completed. Forty-one indicators reached consensus to be appropriate. Fourteen
      indicators did not reach consensus. CONCLUSIONS: The Delphi technique was very
      effective for enhancing the panel participation as noticed in their responses
      both in the first and second rounds. Forty-one indicators achieved consensus as
      being appropriate to evaluate the MR process. These indicators could be used to
      assess the process and hence improve the quality of the patient care on hospital
      admission. The indicators need to be used in practice.

PMID- 26893011
TI  - Early weaning is beneficial to prevent atopic dermatitis occurrence in young
      children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on infant feeding practices and allergic
      diseases are controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the
      association of early weaning with the occurrence of atopic dermatitis (AD).
      METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study on incident physician
      diagnosed AD in early childhood including 451 cases and 451 controls. Data on
      several factors, including feeding practices, were collected through an
      interviewer-administered questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding
      95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression models,
      conditioned on study center, age, sex, and period of interview, and adjusted for
      potential confounders. RESULTS: Early weaning, defined as the introduction of
      solid foods at 4 or 5 months of age, was inversely related to the risk of AD,
      with children weaned at 4 months having lower AD risk (OR = 0.41, 95% CI, 0.20
      0.87) compared to those exclusively breastfed. Similar results were observed for
      weaning started at 5 months of age (OR = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.18-0.83). This
      association persisted when children with and without family history of allergy
      were considered separately. Prolonged partial breastfeeding (breastmilk plus milk
      formulas) was not associated with AD. Consistently, the introduction of a high
      number of different solid foods reduced the risk of AD (P trend = 0.02 at 4
      months of age and P trend = 0.04 at 5 months). CONCLUSION: Our data provide
      evidence against the preventing role of prolonged exclusive (but not partial)
      breastfeeding in AD occurrence and confirm recent results indicating a beneficial
      role of early weaning in AD.

PMID- 26893012
TI  - Incremental impact upon malaria transmission of supplementing pyrethroid
      impregnated long-lasting insecticidal nets with indoor residual spraying using
      pyrethroids or the organophosphate, pirimiphos methyl.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Long-lasting, insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying
      (IRS) are the most widely accepted and applied malaria vector control methods.
      However, evidence that incremental impact is achieved when they are combined
      remains limited and inconsistent. METHODS: Fourteen population clusters of
      approximately 1000 residents each in Zambia's Luangwa and Nyimba districts, which
      had high pre-existing usage rates (81.7 %) of pyrethroid-impregnated LLINs were
      quasi-randomly assigned to receive IRS with either of two pyrethroids, namely
      deltamethrin [Wetable granules (WG)] and lambdacyhalothrin [capsule suspension
      (CS)], with an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) or CS formulation of the
      organophosphate pirimiphos methyl (PM), or with no supplementary vector control
      measure. Diagnostic positivity of patients tested for malaria by community health
      workers in these clusters was surveyed longitudinally over pre- and post
      treatment periods spanning 29 months, over which the treatments were allocated
      and re-allocated in advance of three sequential rainy seasons. RESULTS:
      Supplementation of LLINs with PM CS offered the greatest initial level of
      protection against malaria in the first 3 months of application (incremental
      protective efficacy (IPE) [95 % confidence interval (CI)] = 0.63 [CI 0.57, 0.69],
      P < 0.001), followed by lambdacyhalothrin (IPE [95 % CI] = 0.31 [0.10, 0.47], P =
      0.006) and PM EC (IPE, 0.23 [CI 0.15, 0.31], P < 0.001) and then by deltamethrin
      (IPE [95 % CI] = 0.19 [-0.01, 0.35], P = 0.064). Neither pyrethroid formulation
      provided protection beyond 3 months after spraying, but the protection provided
      by both PM formulations persisted undiminished for longer periods: 6 months for
      CS and 12 months for EC. The CS formulation of PM provided greater protection
      than the combined pyrethroid IRS formulations throughout its effective life IPE
      [95 % CI] = 0.79 [0.75, 0.83] over 6 months. The EC formulation of PM provided
      incremental protection for the first 3 months (IPE [95 % CI] = 0.23 [0.15, 0.31])
      that was approximately equivalent to the two pyrethroid formulations
      (lambdacyhalothrin, IPE [95 % CI] = 0.31 [0.10, 0.47] and deltamethrin, IPE [95 %
      CI] = 0.19 [-0.01, 0.35]) but the additional protection provided by the former,
      apparently lasted an entire year. CONCLUSION: Where universal coverage targets
      for LLIN utilization has been achieved, supplementing LLINs with IRS using
      pyrethroids may reduce malaria transmission below levels achieved by LLIN use
      alone, even in settings where pyrethroid resistance occurs in the vector
      population. However, far greater reduction of transmission can be achieved under
      such conditions by supplementing LLINs with IRS using non-pyrethroid insecticide
      classes, such as organophosphates, so this is a viable approach to mitigating and
      managing pyrethroid resistance.

PMID- 26893014
TI  - Effects of home and education environments on children's motor performance in
      China.
AB  - AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of home and educational
      environments on children's motor performance in China. METHOD: We conducted a
      cross-sectional study of 4001 preschool children selected from 160 classes. The
      children's motor performance was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery
      for Children, 2nd edition (MABC-2). Home and educational environments were
      evaluated using validated checklists. The effects of home and educational
      environments on motor performance were analysed using mixed and multilevel
      logistic regression models. RESULTS: The results showed that one score increase
      in the outside space of the family home was positively associated with the
      increase in total test score (0.104) subtest score of aiming and catching
      (0.037), and balance (0.034) of the MABC-2, after adjusting for potential
      confounders (each p<0.05). Possession of motor toys at home and parental rearing
      behaviours were also related to total test score, manual dexterity, and balance
      (beta=0.022-0.104, each p<0.05). Space and furnishings, activity, and interaction
      in the classroom had a significant positive association with total test score
      (beta=0.069-0.201), and with subtest scores of manual dexterity, aiming and
      catching, and balance respectively (beta=0.115-0.206). Space and furnishings of
      classrooms and possession of toys in the household were protective factors for
      'at risk' or significant poor performance (odds ratio 0.942-0.973, each p<0.05).
      INTERPRETATION: A permissive and accepting family and educational environment
      made a positive contribution to children's motor performance. Access to
      sufficient space and furnishings within the classroom, as well as toys in the
      family, were protective factors for poor motor performance. Future assistance is
      needed to support an advantageous environment in early childhood programmes in
      China.

PMID- 26893013
TI  - The milk-derived hexapeptide PGPIPN inhibits the invasion and migration of human
      ovarian cancer cells by regulating the expression of MTA1 and NM23H1 genes.
AB  - Some bioactive peptides derived from natural resources or synthesized by rational
      design have been proved to have very good anticancer effect. We studied the
      inhibition of PGPIPN, a hexapeptide derived from bovine beta-casein, on the
      invasion and metastasis of human ovarian cancer cells in vitro and its molecular
      mechanism. The human ovarian cancer cells studied include the cell line SKOV3 as
      well as the primary ovarian cancer cells from ovarian tumor tissues of 37
      patients at initial debulking surgery, diagnosed as serous ovarian
      adenocarcinoma. We showed that PGPIPN inhibited the invasion of ovarian cancer
      cells with Transwell chamber assay, the migration of ovarian cancer cells with
      cell scratch assay and colony formation of ovarian cancer cells. The expression
      (mRNAs and proteins) of genes relevant to invasion and metastasis, MTA1, and
      NM23H1 were analyzed by real-time PCR and western blotting. PGPIPN repressed the
      expression of MTA1, and promoted NM23H1. The effects of PGPIPN were dose
      dependent. Thus, our study suggests that PGPIPN is a potential therapeutic agent
      for adjuvant therapy of human malignant ovarian tumors. 

PMID- 26893017
TI  - Propofol for Treatment of Refractory Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Review of the
      Literature.
AB  - The authors evaluated all available evidence on the use of propofol as an
      adjuvant for the treatment of resistant alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in
      comparison to other therapies. A comprehensive PubMed search (1966-December 2015)
      was conducted using the search terms propofol, alcohol withdrawal, and drug
      therapy. Articles were cross-referenced for other citations. Clinical studies,
      case series, and case reports published in the English language assessing the use
      of propofol in adult patients for treatment of AWS were reviewed for inclusion.
      Propofol is a sedative-hypnotic that exerts its actions through agonism of GABAA
      receptors at a different binding site than benzodiazepines and reduces
      glutamatergic activity through N-methyl-d-aspartase (NMDA) receptor blockade.
      Dosages from 5 to 100 MUg/kg/minute reduced AWS symptoms with frequent
      development of hypotension and requirement for mechanical ventilation. Patients
      on propofol often experienced longer durations of mechanical ventilation and
      length of stay, which may be attributed to more-resistant cases of AWS. When
      propofol was compared with dexmedetomidine as adjuncts in AWS, both agents showed
      similar benzodiazepine- and haloperidol-sparing effects. Dexmedetomidine was
      associated with more numerical rates of bradycardia, while propofol was
      associated with more numerical instances of hypotension. Dexmedetomidine was used
      more frequently in nonintubated patients. The available data assessing the
      utility of propofol for AWS exhibited significant heterogeneity. Propofol may be
      useful in a specific population of patients with AWS, limited to those who are
      not clinically responding to first-line therapy with benzodiazepines.
      Specifically, propofol should be considered in patients who are refractory to or
      not candidates for other adjuvant therapies, patients already requiring
      mechanical ventilation, or those with seizure activity or refractory delirium
      tremens. In severe, refractory AWS, adjuvant therapy with propofol may be
      considered but requires further research to recommend its use either
      preferentially or as monotherapy. 

PMID- 26893018
TI  - Modified radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - AIM: Radiofrequency ablation is commonly used for the treatment of early
      hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it requires time to ablate sufficient areas,
      resulting in increased burden for the patients and operators. We introduce a
      novel and simple method to overcome this problem. METHODS: We placed the
      grounding pad on the back (Back group) instead of the thigh of the patient (Thigh
      group). To assess the effect of this method, we randomly assigned the patients
      into two groups, based on the location of the grounding pad, and compared the
      outcomes. RESULTS: The ablation time until two roll-offs was shorter in the Back
      group than in the Thigh group (median, 2.5 min vs 3.4 min; P = 0.01). The ablated
      area was larger in the Back group than that in the Thigh group (P = 0.01) and
      pain was less in the Back group (P = 0.02). No severe side-effects were observed
      in either group. CONCLUSION: This new method is useful in that it achieved
      shorter ablation times, expansion of the ablated areas, and reduction of pain
      during the ablation.

PMID- 26893016
TI  - Circulating insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding
      protein-3 and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast: a cross
      sectional study of women with benign breast disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the primary structures from
      which breast cancers and their precursors arise. Decreased age-related TDLU
      involution and elevated mammographic density are both correlated and
      independently associated with increased breast cancer risk, suggesting that these
      characteristics of breast parenchyma might be linked to a common factor. Given
      data suggesting that increased circulating levels of insulin-like growth factors
      (IGFs) factors are related to reduced TDLU involution and increased mammographic
      density, we assessed these relationships using validated quantitative methods in
      a cross-sectional study of women with benign breast disease. METHODS: Serum IGF
      I, IGFBP-3 and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratios were measured in 228 women, ages 40-64,
      who underwent diagnostic breast biopsies yielding benign diagnoses at University
      of Vermont affiliated centers. Biopsies were assessed for three separate measures
      inversely related to TDLU involution: numbers of TDLUs per unit of tissue area
      ("TDLU count"), median TDLU diameter ("TDLU span"), and number of acini per TDLU
      ("acini count"). Regression models, stratified by menopausal status and adjusted
      for potential confounders, were used to assess the associations of TDLU count,
      median TDLU span and median acini count per TDLU with tertiles of circulating
      IGFs. Given that mammographic density is associated with both IGF levels and
      breast cancer risk, we also stratified these associations by mammographic
      density. RESULTS: Higher IGF-I levels among postmenopausal women and an elevated
      IGF-I:IGFBP-3 ratio among all women were associated with higher TDLU counts, a
      marker of decreased lobular involution (P-trend = 0.009 and <0.0001,
      respectively); these associations were strongest among women with elevated
      mammographic density (P-interaction <0.01). Circulating IGF levels were not
      significantly associated with TDLU span or acini count per TDLU. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results suggest that elevated IGF levels may define a sub-group of women
      with high mammographic density and limited TDLU involution, two markers that have
      been related to increased breast cancer risk. If confirmed in prospective studies
      with cancer endpoints, these data may suggest that evaluation of IGF signaling
      and its downstream effects may have value for risk prediction and suggest
      strategies for breast cancer chemoprevention through inhibition of the IGF
      system.

PMID- 26893019
TI  - Late regulation of immune genes and microRNAs in circulating leukocytes in a pig
      model of influenza A (H1N2) infection.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short regulatory RNA molecules which are
      implicated in modulating gene expression. Levels of circulating, cell-associated
      miRNAs in response to influenza A virus (IAV) infection has received limited
      attention so far. To further understand the temporal dynamics and biological
      implications of miRNA regulation in circulating leukocytes, we collected blood
      samples before and after (1, 3, and 14 days) IAV challenge of pigs. Differential
      expression of miRNAs and innate immune factor mRNA transcripts was analysed using
      RT-qPCR. A total of 20 miRNAs were regulated after IAV challenge, with the
      highest number of regulated miRNAs seen on day 14 after infection at which time
      the infection was cleared. Targets of the regulated miRNAs included genes
      involved in apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. Significant regulation of both
      miRNAs and mRNA transcripts at 14 days after challenge points to a protracted
      effect of IAV infection, potentially affecting the host's ability to respond to
      secondary infections. In conclusion, experimental IAV infection of pigs
      demonstrated the dynamic nature of miRNA and mRNA regulation in circulating
      leukocytes during and after infection, and revealed the need for further
      investigation of the potential immunosuppressing effect of miRNA and innate
      immune signaling after IAV infection. 

PMID- 26893021
TI  - Fast automated dual-syringe based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction
      coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples.
AB  - An automated procedure, combining low density solvent based solvent
      demulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, was developed for the determination of
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental water samples.
      Capitalizing on a two-rail commercial autosampler, fast solvent transfer using a
      large volume syringe dedicated to the DLLME process, and convenient extract
      collection using a small volume microsyringe for better GC performance were
      enabled. Extraction parameters including the type and volume of extraction
      solvent, the type and volume of dispersive solvent and demulsification solvent,
      extraction and demulsification time, and the speed of solvent injection were
      investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linearity ranged
      from 0.1 to 50 MUg/L, 0.2 to 50 MUg/L, and 0.5 to 50 MUg/L, depending on the
      analytes. Limits of detection were determined to be between 0.023 and 0.058
      MUg/L. The method was applied to determine PAHs in environmental water samples.

PMID- 26893020
TI  - The relationship between hypertension and health-related quality of life:
      adjusted by chronic pain, chronic diseases, and life habits in the general middle
      aged population in Japan.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between
      hypertension and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) adjusted by chronic pain,
      other chronic diseases, and life habits in the general middle-aged population in
      Japan. METHODS: This study is a population-based cross-sectional study. In this
      study, 1117 participants aged 40-65 years and living in Shika Town completed a
      self-administered questionnaire including Short Form-36 (SF-36). The scores of SF
      36 among hypertensives were compared with those of normotensives. The independent
      association of hypertension with each SF-36 subscale was analyzed using a
      multiple linear regression model adjusted by age, BMI, chronic pain, chronic
      diseases, sleep, exercise, and occupational status. We analyzed two groups; Group
      1 which contained 846 participants completed the questionnaire without coronary
      heart disease and cerebral vascular disease, Group 2 which contained 686
      participants without coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, or
      diseases accompanied by chronic pain (gastroduodenal ulcer, fracture,
      osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and disc herniation).
      RESULTS: In Group 2, hypertensive women had a lower general health perception
      than normotensive women [unstandardized coefficients; B = -8.84, 95 % confidence
      interval (95 % CI) = -13.3 to -4.34, standardized coefficients; beta = -0.200, p
      < 0.001], whereas hypertensive men had higher social functioning than
      normotensive men (B = 5.66, 95 % CI = 1.30-10.0, beta = 0.149, p < 0.05) after
      adjusting by chronic pain and life habits. CONCLUSIONS: These results may be due
      to the sex difference in the light of the perception for health.

PMID- 26893022
TI  - A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method for the detection of cyclic
      beta-amino fatty acid lipopeptides.
AB  - Bacterial lipopeptides, which contain beta-amino fatty acids, are an abundant
      group of bacterial secondary metabolites exhibiting antifungal and/or cytotoxic
      properties. Here we have developed an LC-HRMS/MS method for the selective
      detection of beta-amino fatty acid containing cyclic lipopeptides. The method was
      optimized using the lipopeptides iturin A and puwainaphycin F, which contain
      fatty acids of similar length but differ in the amino acid composition of the
      peptide cycle. Fragmentation energies of 10-55eV were used to obtain the amino
      acid composition of the peptide macrocycle. However, fragmentation energies of 90
      130eV were used to obtain an intense fragment specific for the beta-amino fatty
      acid (CnH2n+2N(+)). The method allowed the number of carbons and consequently the
      length of the beta-amino fatty acid to be estimated. We identified 21
      puwainaphycin variants differing in fatty acid chain in the crude extract of
      cyanobacterium Cylindrospermum alatosporum using this method. Analogously 11
      iturin A variants were detected. The retention time of the lipopeptide variants
      showed a near perfect linear dependence (R(2)=0.9995) on the length of the fatty
      acid chain in linear separation gradient which simplified the detection of minor
      variants. We used the method to screen 240 cyanobacterial strains and identified
      lipopeptides from 8 strains. The HPLC-HRMS/MS method developed here provides a
      rapid and easy way to detecting novel variants of cyclic lipopeptides. 

PMID- 26893023
TI  - Determination of small halogenated carboxylic acid residues in drug substances by
      high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection following
      derivatization with nitro-substituted phenylhydrazines.
AB  - A method for the determination of small halogenated carboxylic acid (HCA)
      residues in drug substances is urgently needed because of the potential of HCAs
      for genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in humans. We have now developed a simple
      method, involving derivatization followed by high performance liquid
      chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), for the determination of six
      likely residual HCAs (monochloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, dichloroacetic
      acid, 2-chloropropionic acid, 2-bromopropionic acid and 3-chloropropionic acid)
      in drug substances. Different nitro-substituted phenylhydrazines (NPHs)
      derivatization reagents were systematically compared and evaluated. 2
      Nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride (2-NPH.HCl) was selected as the most suitable
      choice since its derivatives absorb strongly at 392 nm, a region of the spectrum
      where most drug substances and impurities absorb very weakly. During the
      derivatization process, the commonly used catalyst, pyridine, caused rapid
      dechlorination or chlorine substitution of alpha-halogenated derivatives. To
      avoid these unwanted side reactions, a reliable derivatization method that did
      not use pyridine was developed. Reaction with 2-NPH.HCl using 1-ethyl-3-(3
      dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride as coupling agent in acetonitrile
      water (70:30) at room temperature for 2h gave complete reaction and avoided
      degradation products. The derivatives were analyzed, without any pretreatment,
      using gradient HPLC with detection in the near visible region. Organic acids
      commonly found in drug substances and other impurities did not interfere with the
      analysis. Good linearity (r>0.999) and low limits of quantitation (0.05-0.12 MUg
      mL(-1)) were obtained. The mean recoveries were in the range of 80-115% with RSD
      <5.81% except for 3-CPA in ibuprofen which was 78.5%. The intra- and inter-day
      precisions were expressed as RSD <1.98% and <4.39%, respectively. Finally, the
      proposed method was successfully used for the residue determination of the six
      HCAs in eight drug substance samples.

PMID- 26893025
TI  - Self-arrangement of nanoparticles toward crystalline metal oxides with high
      surface areas and tunable 3D mesopores.
AB  - We demonstrate a new design concept where the interaction between silica
      nanoparticles (about 1.5 nm in diameter) with titania nanoparticles (anatase,
      about 4 nm or 6 nm in diameter) guides a successful formation of mesoporous
      titania with crystalline walls and controllable porosity. At an appropriate
      solution pH (~1.5, depending on the deprotonation tendencies of two types of
      nanoparticles), the smaller silica nanoparticles, which attach to the surface of
      the larger titania nanoparticles and provide a portion of inactive surface and
      reactive surface of titania nanoparticles, dictate the direction and the degree
      of condensation of the titania nanoparticles, resulting in a porous 3D framework.
      Further crystallization by a hydrothermal treatment and subsequent removal of
      silica nanoparticles result in a mesoporous titania with highly crystalline walls
      and tunable mesopore sizes. A simple control of the Si/Ti ratio verified the
      versatility of the present method through the successful control of mean pore
      diameter in the range of 2-35 nm and specific surface area in the ranges of 180
      250 m(2) g(-1). The present synthesis method is successfully extended to other
      metal oxides, their mixed oxides and analogues with different particle sizes,
      regarding as a general method for mesoporous metal (or mixed metal) oxides.

PMID- 26893024
TI  - Microfluidic Screening of Electric Fields for Electroporation.
AB  - Electroporation is commonly used to deliver molecules such as drugs, proteins,
      and/or DNA into cells, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. In this work
      a rapid microfluidic assay was developed to determine the critical electric field
      threshold required for inducing bacterial electroporation. The microfluidic
      device was designed to have a bilaterally converging channel to amplify the
      electric field to magnitudes sufficient to induce electroporation. The bacterial
      cells are introduced into the channel in the presence of SYTOX((r)), which
      fluorescently labels cells with compromised membranes. Upon delivery of an
      electric pulse, the cells fluoresce due to transmembrane influx of SYTOX((r))
      after disruption of the cell membranes. We calculate the critical electric field
      by capturing the location within the channel of the increase in fluorescence
      intensity after electroporation. Bacterial strains with industrial and
      therapeutic relevance such as Escherichia coli BL21 (3.65 +/- 0.09 kV/cm),
      Corynebacterium glutamicum (5.20 +/- 0.20 kV/cm), and Mycobacterium smegmatis
      (5.56 +/- 0.08 kV/cm) have been successfully characterized. Determining the
      critical electric field for electroporation facilitates the development of
      electroporation protocols that minimize Joule heating and maximize cell
      viability. This assay will ultimately enable the genetic transformation of
      bacteria and archaea considered intractable and difficult-to-transfect, while
      facilitating fundamental genetic studies on numerous diverse microbes.

PMID- 26893026
TI  - Antiretroviral Preexposure Prophylaxis: Opportunities and Challenges for Primary
      Care Physicians.

PMID- 26893029
TI  - Assessment of corneal biomechanical parameters in myopes and emmetropes using the
      Corvis ST.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prior studies have demonstrated conflicting results regarding the
      relationship between corneal biomechanical properties and refractive error. Thus,
      the purpose of this study was to compare the corneal biomechanical parameters of
      myopes and emmetropes. METHODS: Ninety-four subjects with varying degrees of
      myopia (aged 29 to 74 years, spherical equivalent [SE] -0.5 to -17.5 D) and 25
      emmetropes (aged 19 to 75 years, SE: -0.5 to +0.5 D) presenting at the Queen Mary
      Hospital, Hong Kong were recruited sequentially for this prospective study. All
      patients were phakic with no history of coexisting ocular disease. The corneal
      biomechanical parameters of the right eye of each subject were analysed using the
      Corvis ST non-contact tonometer. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using
      both the Corvis ST and the Topcon Non-Contact Tonometer CT-80. Refractive error
      was measured by non-cycloplegic subjective and objective refractometry. RESULTS:
      High myopes (SE greater than -6.00 D) demonstrated greater mean outward
      applanation velocities (p < 0.001) and peak distance measurements (p = 0.009)
      compared to both low to moderate myopes (SE -0.50 to -6.00 D) and emmetropes.
      Both outward applanation velocity and peak distance were moderately correlated
      with refractive error (p <= 0.001), strongly correlated with IOP and weakly
      correlated with central corneal thickness. There were no statistically
      significant differences in age, IOP or central corneal thickness among
      emmetropes, low to moderate myopes or high myopes. CONCLUSION: Within this study
      of Chinese subjects, high myopes demonstrate greater corneal mean outward
      applanation velocity on Corvis ST testing, than emmetropes. In particular, those
      with high myopia (SE greater than -6.00 D) show a distinct corneal biomechanical
      profile relative to those with either emmetropia or low to moderate myopia using
      the Corvis ST.

PMID- 26893028
TI  - miR-92b regulates glioma cells proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis
      via PTEN/Akt signaling pathway.
AB  - Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive malignant primary brain tumor with
      neoplastic growth. Despite the progresses made in surgery, chemotherapy, and
      radiation in recent decade, the prognosis of patients with gliomas remains poor
      and the average survival time of patients suffering from glioblastoma is still
      short. As a potential therapy strategy, microRNAs have been considered as new
      targets for possible cancer treatment. In this study, we found that the miR-92b
      inhibitors (miR-92b-I) could inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion, and
      promote the apoptosis of glioma cells. As a predicted target of miR-92b,
      phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), also elevated at both mRNA and protein
      levels. Moreover, the Akt phosphorylation was consistently inhibited. The rescue
      experiment with miR-92b and PTEN double knockdown resulted in partial reversion
      of miR-92b-I-induced phenotypes. Taken together, our findings indicated that miR
      92b-I could restrain the proliferation, invasion, migration, and stimulate
      apoptosis of glioma cells by targeting PTEN/Akt signaling pathway. Further
      investigations will focus on antitumor effect of miR-92b-I in glioma treatment. 

PMID- 26893027
TI  - A Novel Systems-Biology Algorithm for the Analysis of Coordinated Protein
      Responses Using Quantitative Proteomics.
AB  - The coordinated behavior of proteins is central to systems biology. However, the
      underlying mechanisms are poorly known and methods to analyze coordination by
      conventional quantitative proteomics are still lacking. We present the Systems
      Biology Triangle (SBT), a new algorithm that allows the study of protein
      coordination by pairwise quantitative proteomics. The Systems Biology Triangle
      detected statistically significant coordination in diverse biological models of
      very different nature and subjected to different kinds of perturbations. The
      Systems Biology Triangle also revealed with unprecedented molecular detail an
      array of coordinated, early protein responses in vascular smooth muscle cells
      treated at different times with angiotensin-II. These responses included
      activation of protein synthesis, folding, turnover, and muscle contraction -
      consistent with a differentiated phenotype-as well as the induction of migration
      and the repression of cell proliferation and secretion. Remarkably, the majority
      of the altered functional categories were protein complexes, interaction
      networks, or metabolic pathways. These changes could not be detected by other
      algorithms widely used by the proteomics community, and the vast majority of
      proteins involved have not been described before to be regulated by AngII. The
      unique capabilities of The Systems Biology Triangle to detect functional protein
      alterations produced by the coordinated action of proteins in pairwise
      quantitative proteomics experiments make this algorithm an attractive choice for
      the biological interpretation of results on a routine basis.

PMID- 26893031
TI  - Rapid cooling after acute hyperthermia alters intestinal morphology and increases
      the systemic inflammatory response in pigs.
AB  - The study objective was to determine the direct effects of rapid cooling after
      acute hyperthermia on intestinal morphology and inflammatory response in pigs. In
      four repetitions, male pigs (N = 36; 88.7 +/- 1.6 kg) were exposed to
      thermoneutrality (TN; n = 3/rep; 19.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C) for 6 h or heat stress
      (HS; 36.4 +/- 0.1 degrees C) for 3 h, followed by a 3-h recovery period of rapid
      cooling (HSRC; n = 3/rep; rapid TN exposure and ice water dousing for 1.5 h) or
      gradual cooling (HSGC; n = 3/rep; gradual decrease from HS to TN). Rectal (TR)
      and gastrointestinal tract (TGI) temperatures were obtained every 15 min for 6 h.
      In repetitions 1 and 2, blood was collected at 60 and 180 min during HS and 30
      and 60 min during recovery, and then pigs were euthanized at 180 min of recovery
      and duodenum, ileum, and colon tissue were collected to evaluate intestinal
      morphology. HS increased (P < 0.01) maximum TR (40.7 degrees C) and TGI (41.5
      degrees C) compared with TN treatment (38.9 and 39.3 degrees C, respectively).
      Recovery reduced TR (P < 0.01; 0.4 degrees C) in HSRC vs. HSGC pigs, but TGI was
      similar (40.7 degrees C). HSRC reduced (P < 0.01) villus height-to-crypt depth
      ratio in the duodenum (34%) and ileum (46%) vs. HSGC pigs. Serum LPS
      concentration was greater in HSRC pigs (P = 0.04; 68.5% and 52.4%, respectively)
      compared with TN and HSGC pigs, and TNF-alpha concentration tended to be greater
      (P = 0.06; 41.2%) compared with HSGC pigs during recovery. In summary, rapid
      cooling reduced TR but had no effect on TGI, and this may be linked to increased
      intestinal damage and a systemic inflammatory response.

PMID- 26893032
TI  - A low-cost system to easily measure spontaneous physical activity in rodents.
AB  - Spontaneous physical activity (SPA) can be responsible for variations of a lot of
      physiological parameters at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and systemic levels.
      It is increasingly recognized that good understanding of a large part of
      experimental results requires weighting them by SPA in order to reduce
      variability and thus to decrease the number of animals necessary to conduct a
      study. However, because of the high cost of this equipment, only a few
      laboratories are equipped with such equipment to measure the SPA of their
      animals. Here we present an effective, adaptable, and affordable system to
      measure SPA in rodents based on video acquisition of the animal in its own
      environment. We compared results obtained with our system to those collected at
      the same time with a commercial system of actimetry recording, and we found a
      high degree of correlation between these two approaches (r = 0.93; P < 0.001). We
      also were able to detect small variations of SPA induced by a special environment
      like chronic hypoxia exposure (25% less spontaneous activity compared with
      animals in normoxia, P < 0.05) or during the circadian cycle (107% more activity
      during the nocturnal phase compared with the diurnal phase, P < 0.05).

PMID- 26893030
TI  - WISE 2005: Aerobic and resistive countermeasures prevent paraspinal muscle
      deconditioning during 60-day bed rest in women.
AB  - Microgravity-induced lumbar paraspinal muscle deconditioning may contribute to
      back pain commonly experienced by astronauts and may increase the risk of
      postflight injury. We hypothesized that a combined resistive and aerobic exercise
      countermeasure protocol that included spinal loading would mitigate lumbar
      paraspinal muscle deconditioning during 60 days of bed rest in women. Sixteen
      women underwent 60-day, 6 degrees  head-down-tilt bed rest (BR) and were
      randomized into control and exercise groups. During bed rest the control group
      performed no exercise. The exercise group performed supine treadmill exercise
      within lower body negative pressure (LBNP) for 3-4 days/wk and flywheel resistive
      exercise for 2-3 days/wk. Paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was
      measured using a lumbar spine MRI sequence before and after BR. In addition,
      isokinetic spinal flexion and extension strengths were measured before and after
      BR. Data are presented as means +/- SD. Total lumbar paraspinal muscle CSA
      decreased significantly more in controls (10.9 +/- 3.4%) than in exercisers (4.3
      +/- 3.4%; P < 0.05). The erector spinae was the primary contributor (76%) to
      total lumbar paraspinal muscle loss. Moreover, exercise attenuated isokinetic
      spinal extension loss (-4.3 +/- 4.5%), compared with controls (-16.6 +/- 11.2%; P
      < 0.05). In conclusion, LBNP treadmill and flywheel resistive exercises during
      simulated microgravity mitigate decrements in lumbar paraspinal muscle structure
      and spine function. Therefore spaceflight exercise countermeasures that attempt
      to reproduce spinal loads experienced on Earth may mitigate spinal deconditioning
      during long-duration space travel.

PMID- 26893033
TI  - Long-duration bed rest as an analog to microgravity.
AB  - Long-duration bed rest is widely employed to simulate the effects of microgravity
      on various physiological systems, especially for studies of bone, muscle, and the
      cardiovascular system. This microgravity analog is also extensively used to
      develop and test countermeasures to microgravity-altered adaptations to Earth
      gravity. Initial investigations of bone loss used horizontal bed rest with the
      view that this model represented the closest approximation to inactivity and
      minimization of hydrostatic effects, but all Earth-based analogs must contend
      with the constant force of gravity by adjustment of the G vector. Later concerns
      about the lack of similarity between headward fluid shifts in space and those
      with horizontal bed rest encouraged the use of 6 degree head-down tilt (HDT) bed
      rest as pioneered by Russian investigators. Headward fluid shifts in space may
      redistribute bone from the legs to the head. At present, HDT bed rest with normal
      volunteers is the most common analog for microgravity simulation and to test
      countermeasures for bone loss, muscle and cardiac atrophy, orthostatic
      intolerance, and reduced muscle strength/exercise capacity. Also, current
      physiologic countermeasures are focused on long-duration missions such as Mars,
      so in this review we emphasize HDT bed rest studies with durations of 30 days and
      longer. However, recent results suggest that the HDT bed rest analog is less
      representative as an analog for other important physiological problems of long
      duration space flight such as fluid shifts, spinal dysfunction and radiation
      hazards. 

PMID- 26893035
TI  - Elevated gold ellipse nanoantenna dimers as sensitive and tunable surface
      enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates.
AB  - We demonstrate large area arrays of elevated gold ellipse dimers with precisely
      controlled gaps for use as sensitive and highly controllable surface enhanced
      Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The enhanced Raman signal observed with SERS
      arises from both localized and long range plasmonic effects. By controlling the
      geometry of a SERS substrate, in this case the size and aspect ratio of
      individual ellipses, the plasmon resonance can be tuned in a broad wavelength
      range, providing a method for designing the response of SERS substrates at
      different excitation wavelengths. Plasmon effects exhibited by the elevated gold
      ellipse dimer substrates are also demonstrated and confirmed through finite
      difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. A plasmon resonance red shift with an
      increase of the ellipse aspect ratio is observed, allowing systematic control of
      the resulting SERS signal intensity. Optimized elevated ellipse dimer substrates
      with 10 +/- 2 nm gaps exhibit uniform SERS enhancement factors on the order of
      10(9) for adsorbed p-mercaptoaniline molecules. 

PMID- 26893034
TI  - Lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide as a marker of fibrotic changes in
      idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.
AB  - Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is decreased in both usual
      interstitial pneumonia-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (UIP-IPF) and nonspecific
      interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), but is moderately related to computed tomography
      (CT)-determined fibrotic changes. This may be due to the relative insensitivity
      of DLCO to changes in alveolar membrane diffusive conductance (DMCO). The purpose
      of this study was to determine whether measurement of lung diffusing capacity for
      nitric oxide (DLNO) better reflects fibrotic changes than DLCO DLNO-DLCO were
      measured simultaneously in 30 patients with UIP-IPF and 30 with NSIP. Eighty-one
      matched healthy subjects served as a control group. The amount of pulmonary
      fibrosis was estimated by CT volumetric analysis of visually bounded areas
      showing reticular opacities and honeycombing. DMCO and pulmonary capillary volume
      (VC) were calculated. DLNO was below the lower limit of normal in all patients
      irrespective of extent and nature of disease, whereas DLCO was within the normal
      range in a nonnegligible number of patients. Both DLNO and DLCO were
      significantly correlated with visual assessment of fibrosis but DLNO more closely
      than DLCO DMCO was also below the lower limit of normal in all UIP-IPF and NSIP
      patients and significantly correlated with fibrosis extent in both diseases,
      whereas VC was weakly correlated with fibrosis in UIP-IPF and uncorrelated in
      NSIP, with normal values in half of patients. In conclusion, measurement of DLNO
      may provide a more sensitive evaluation of fibrotic changes than DLCO in either
      UIP-IPF or NSIP, because it better reflects DMCO.

PMID- 26893036
TI  - Synthesis of borocarbonitride from a multifunctional Cu(I) boron imidazolate
      framework.
AB  - A functional Cu(I) boron imidazolate framework (BIF) with a ladder-chain
      structure can not only change to another single-chain structure by incorporating
      4,4'-bipyridine, but can also act as a reducing agent to load trimetal Au-Ag-Pd
      nanoparticles directly; the BIF with loaded noble NPs showed an excellent
      reduction effect on 4-nitrophenol. Moreover, we obtained a porous
      borocarbonitride by the direct carbonisation of this low-dimensional BIF. The
      resulting porous borocarbonitride exhibits fast adsorption behavior for 4
      nitrophenol and can be a high-temperature conductor.

PMID- 26893037
TI  - Molecular identification of potential denitrifying bacteria and use of D-optimal
      mixture experimental design for the optimization of denitrification process.
AB  - Three bacterial strains (TE1, TD3 and FB2) were isolated from date palm (degla),
      pistachio and barley. The presence of nitrate reductase (narG) and nitrite
      reductase (nirS and nirK) genes in the selected strains was detected by PCR
      technique. Molecular identification based on 16S rDNA sequencing method was
      applied to identify positive strains. In addition, the D-optimal mixture
      experimental design was used to optimize the optimal formulation of probiotic
      bacteria for denitrification process. Strains harboring denitrification genes
      were identified as: TE1, Agrococcus sp LN828197; TD3, Cronobacter sakazakii
      LN828198 and FB2, Pedicoccus pentosaceus LN828199. PCR results revealed that all
      strains carried the nirS gene. However only C. sakazakii LN828198 and Agrococcus
      sp LN828197 harbored the nirK and the narG genes respectively. Moreover, the
      studied bacteria were able to form biofilm on abiotic surfaces with different
      degree. Process optimization showed that the most significant reduction of
      nitrate was 100% with 14.98% of COD consumption and 5.57 mg/l nitrite
      accumulation. Meanwhile, the response values were optimized and showed that the
      most optimal combination was 78.79% of C. sakazakii LN828198 (curve value),
      21.21% of P. pentosaceus LN828199 (curve value) and absence (0%) of Agrococcus sp
      LN828197 (curve value).

PMID- 26893038
TI  - Reconstructive Endovascular Treatment of an Intracranial Infectious Aneurysm in
      Bacterial Meningitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intracranial infectious aneurysms (IAs) are rare cerebrovascular
      lesions that represent only 1%-6% of all intracranial aneurysms. IAs are rare
      cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because of
      their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. We describe a patient with an
      intracranial IA treated by the use of reconstructive endovascular methods using a
      balloon-expandable covered stent and discuss the pathophysiologic characteristics
      of IA based on serial brain imaging findings. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21-year-old man
      was admitted to our emergency department with headache and vomiting. Neurologic
      examination, hematologic workup, and cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed a
      diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Initial brain magnetic resonance angiography
      revealed no significant stenosis lesions or aneurysm. After 4 weeks of antibiotic
      treatment, follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 8-mm sized
      aneurysm on the petrous portion of the right internal carotid artery, and 3
      months later, follow-up brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed that the
      aneurysm had increased in size from 8 to 15 mm. Conventional 4-vessel angiography
      confirmed the presence of a pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular treatment was then
      planned via the use of a balloon-expandable covered stent. Postoperatively, the
      patient was discharged without specific neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: IAs are
      rare cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because
      of their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. Although endovascular
      treatment is not performed routinely for infectious aneurysms, the covered stent
      may represent a safe and effective treatment that achieves complete endoluminal
      reconstruction of the damaged vessel wall.

PMID- 26893039
TI  - Should Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Be Done on Patients with Increased
      Intramedullary Signal Intensity on Magnetic Resonance Imaging?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Several trials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have
      demonstrated the success of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in patients with
      degenerative disc disease causing radiculopathy, myelopathy, or both. For
      patients who had increased intramedullary signal intensity (IISI) on magnetic
      resonance image (MRI), however, the effectiveness and safety of CDA was unclear.
      This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of CDA for patients with IISI on
      preoperative MRI. METHODS: Consecutive patients who received 1-level CDA for
      symptomatic degenerative disc disease were reviewed retrospectively. Patients
      with IISI on preoperative T2-weighted MRI were compared to those without IISI
      (non-IISI). Clinical outcome parameters including visual analog scale, Neck
      Disability Index, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), and Nurick scores were
      analyzed. Radiographic studies included dynamic lateral radiography and MRI.
      RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were analyzed (22 in the IISI group and 69 in the
      non-IISI group). The mean follow-up was 30.0 months. The demographic data were
      mostly similar between the 2 groups. All clinical outcomes, including visual
      analog scale, Neck Disability Index, JOA, and Nurick scores in the IISI group
      demonstrated significant improvement after operation. The IISI group had similar
      clinical outcomes to the non-IISI group, except that the JOA scores were
      generally worse. Follow-up MRI demonstrated significant regression of the length
      of IISI (P = 0.009). Both groups had preserved motion after CDA. CONCLUSIONS:
      Both clinical and radiological outcomes improved (the average length of IISI in
      the cervical spinal cord became shorter) after CDA. Therefore, CDA is a safe and
      effective option for patients even when there is IISI on the preoperative T2
      weighted MRI.

PMID- 26893040
TI  - Delayed Occipital Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Blunt Force Trauma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Occipital artery pseudoaneurysms are extremely rare pathologies that
      manifest after traumatic injury; only 11 cases have been reported in the
      literature. Because of their low incidence and vague symptoms, the initial
      diagnosis can be difficult. However, for correctly diagnosed occipital artery
      pseudoaneurysms, many successful treatment modalities exist. METHODS: We review
      the pathology of occipital pseudoaneurysms, elucidate the reasons for their
      rarity, discuss effective diagnostic measures, and discuss the currently
      available treatment options. We also present a case of a 16-year-old boy who
      sustained blunt force trauma in May 2014 and presented 6 months later with a
      painful, pulsatile mass in the occipital region. RESULTS: The patient underwent
      surgical resection to alleviate the pain and the potential risk of hemorrhage. He
      experienced complete resolution of pain and associated symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      case highlights the fact that occipital swelling, a significant initial sign of
      pseudoaneurysm development, can be delayed. Therefore, occipital artery
      pseudoaneurysms cannot be ruled out of the differential diagnosis based on time
      course alone. Surgical resection is a quick and effective method for relief of
      severe pain resulting from occipital artery pseudoaneurysms. Although they are
      rare entities, occipital artery pseudoaneurysms must be considered in the
      differential diagnosis of cases of pulsatile mass lesions in the posterior scalp.

PMID- 26893041
TI  - CT/MRI Fusion for Vascular Mapping and Navigated Resection of a Paraspinal Tumor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) fusion is
      used increasingly in the surgical treatment of cranial pathology. The merging of
      these complementary modalities provides excellent visualization of the bony
      anatomy and clear delineation of the soft tissues, including neurovascular
      structures. To our knowledge, the application of CT/MRI fusion for the surgical
      management of spinal pathology has not been reported previously. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: A 70-year-old woman presented with a paraspinal tumor that
      originated from the right psoas muscle and extended into the lumbar
      neuroforamina, with intricate involvement of the lumbar plexus and
      retroperitoneal vasculature. CT/MRI fusion was used to map out the vessels
      surrounding the tumor and for intraoperative navigation during resection of this
      invasive paraspinal tumor. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights both the feasibility
      and the advantages of applying CT/MRI fusion technology to the surgical treatment
      of spinal pathology.

PMID- 26893042
TI  - Outcomes of Subdural Grid Electrode Monitoring in the
      Stereoelectroencephalography Era.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subdural grid (SDG) electrodes have been the gold standard of
      invasive monitoring in medically refractory epilepsy; however, in some centers,
      application of SDGs has been reduced by the progressive application of
      stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). This study reviews the efficacy of SDG
      electrode monitoring after the incorporation of the SEEG methodology at our
      institution. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 102 patients undergoing
      intracranial monitoring via SDG electrodes during the years 2010-2013 at our
      institution. The series includes all patients who underwent SDG placement after
      the incorporation of SEEG in our extraoperative invasive monitoring
      armamentarium. RESULTS: Average patient age was 29.9 years old; the series
      included 31 pediatric patients. There were 49 male patients and 53 female
      patients. The mean length of follow-up was 21.5 months. The epileptogenic zone
      was localized in 99 (97%) patients. Surgical resection was performed in 84
      patients, and 70% experienced Engel class I freedom from seizures. CONCLUSIONS:
      Invasive monitoring via SDG electrodes continues to be an efficacious option for
      select patients with medically refractory epilepsy, mainly when the hypothetical
      epileptogenic zone is anatomically restricted to superficial cortical areas and
      in close relation with eloquent cortex. This is the first report of epilepsy
      outcomes after SDG monitoring at a center that also performs SEEG monitoring. Our
      results suggest a complementary benefit of performing both techniques at 1
      institution.

PMID- 26893045
TI  - Mechanical, structural and thermal properties of Ag-Cu and ZnO reinforced
      polylactide nanocomposite films.
AB  - Plasticized polylactic acid (PLA) based nanocomposite films were prepared by
      incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) and two selected nanoparticles (NPs)
      [silver-copper (Ag-Cu) alloy (<100 nm) and zinc oxide (ZnO) (<50 and <100 nm)]
      through solvent casting method. Incorporation of Ag-Cu alloy into the PLA/PEG
      matrix increased the glass transition temperature (Tg) significantly. The
      crystallinity of the nanocomposites (NCs) was significantly influenced by NP
      incorporation as evidenced from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray
      diffraction (XRD) analysis. The PLA nanocomposite reinforced with NPs exhibited
      much higher tensile strength than that of PLA/PEG blend. Melt rheology of NCs
      exhibited a shear-thinning behavior. The mechanical property drastically reduced
      with a loading of NPs, which is associated with degradation of PLA. SEM
      micrographs exhibited that both Ag-Cu alloy and ZnO NPs were dispersed well in
      the PLA film matrix.

PMID- 26893044
TI  - Trochlear Nerve Neurofibroma in a Clinically NF-1-Negative Patient; A Case Report
      and Review of Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Isolated orbital neurofibroma unassociated with systemic
      neurofibromatosis is relatively rare and may be difficult to clinically
      differentiate from other orbital tumors. Sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve
      namely lacrimal, nasociliary, and frontal-are the most common nerves of origin
      for intraorbital neurofibroma, but we discovered a neurofibroma arising out of
      the right trochlear nerve, in absence of clinical stigmata of neurofibromatosis
      type 1, which is rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 41-year-old adult presented with
      painless progressive proptosis of the right eye for 10 years without history of
      visual problems or diplopia. The right eye had axial proptosis with periorbital
      swelling. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a right orbital extraconal,
      expansile, lobulated, cystic space-occupying lesion was seen with an enhancing
      component, pushing the lateral rectus with T1 isointensity and T2 hyperintensity,
      suggesting a preoperative working diagnosis of pseudotumor or lymphoproliferative
      tumor. Intraoperatively, a rudimentary slender, white, elongated structure was
      passing through the length of the tumor. The elongated tumor engulfing the
      trochlear nerve was traced up to the lateral part of the superior orbital
      fissure. The tumor was excised completely and was found to be a neurofibroma.
      CONCLUSION: Isolated trochlear nerve neurofibromas, in the absence of clinical
      stigmata of NF1, are rare. Multiplicity, multilobulation, ring-configured
      contrast enhancement, and heterogenous MRI signal intensities help in the
      accurate preoperative imaging diagnosis. A possible cure is thus achievable with
      complete excision without damaging important adjacent neurovasculo
      musculotendinous structures in the orbit. To the best of our knowledge, this is
      the fourth reported case of isolated trochlear nerve neurofibroma.

PMID- 26893043
TI  - (18)F-Fluoroethyl-l-Thyrosine Positron Emission Tomography to Delineate Tumor
      Residuals After Glioblastoma Resection: A Comparison with Standard Postoperative
      Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Complete resection of contrast-enhancing tumor is an important
      prognostic factor in glioblastoma therapy. The current clinical standard for
      control of resection is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (18)F-Fluoroethyl-l
      thyrosine (FET) is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical
      applicable for widespread use because of its long half-life radionuclide. We
      assessed the sensitivity of postoperative MRI versus FET-PET to detect residual
      tumor and the impact of the time interval between resection and FET-PET. METHODS:
      MRI and FET-PET were performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 62 patients
      undergoing 63 operations. FET-PET was performed in 43 cases within 72 hours after
      resection and in 20 cases >72 hours after resection. Detection and measurement of
      volume of residual tumors were compared. Correlations between residual tumor
      detection and timing of PET after resection and recurrence were examined.
      RESULTS: Complete resection was confirmed by both imaging modalities in 44% of
      cases, and residual tumor was detected consistently in 37% of cases. FET-PET
      detected residual tumor in 14% of cases in which MRI showed no residual tumor.
      MRI showed residual tumors in 5% of cases that were not identified by PET.
      Average PET-based residual tumor volume was higher than MRI-based volume (3.99
      cm(3) vs. 1.59 cm(3)). Detection of and difference in volume of residual tumor
      were not correlated with timing of PET after resection or recurrence status.
      CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative FET-PET revealed residual tumor with higher
      sensitivity than MRI and showed larger tumor volumes. In this series, performing
      PET >72 hours after resection did not influence the results of PET. We recommend
      FET-PET as a helpful adjunct in addition to MRI for postoperative assessment of
      residual tumor.

PMID- 26893046
TI  - Thermal stability enhancement of modified carboxymethyl cellulose films using
      SnO2 nanoparticles.
AB  - In this study, in-situ and ex-situ hydrothermal synthesis procedures were applied
      to synthesize novel CMC/porous SnO2 nanocomposites from rice husk extracted
      carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymer. In addition, the effects of SnO2
      nanoparticles on thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposite were
      specifically studied. Products were investigated in terms of morphology, particle
      size, chemical structure, crystallinity and thermal stability by using field
      emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy
      (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD)
      and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Presence of characteristic
      bands in the FTIR spectra of samples confirmed the successful formation of CMC
      and CMC/SnO2 nanocomposites. In addition, FESEM images revealed four different
      morphologies of porous SnO2 nanoparticles including nanospheres, microcubes,
      nanoflowers and olive-like nanoparticles with hollow cores which were formed on
      CMC. These nanoparticles possessed d-spacing values of 3.35A. Thermal stability
      measurements revealed that introduction of SnO2 nanoparticles in the structure of
      CMC enhanced stability of CMC to 85%. 

PMID- 26893048
TI  - Sulfated modification of the polysaccharide from Sphallerocarpus gracilis and its
      antioxidant activities.
AB  - Sphallerocarpus gracilis (S. gracilis) is a little-investigated edible plant and
      used as traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, polysaccharide extracted
      from S. gracilis,deproteined and purified. The polysaccharide (SGP) was
      chemically modified to obtain its sulfated derivatives (S-SGP) using the method
      of chlorosulfonic acid/pyridine (CSA/Pyr). In order to acquire the derivative
      with the highest degree of substitution (DS), the optimum conditions of the
      sulfation were obtained based on response surface design (RSD), and the
      structural characterizations and antioxidant properties of the S-SGP were
      comparatively investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), GC
      MS analysis, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and DPPH radical assay,
      hydroxyl radical assay, superoxide radical assay, and reducing power assay,
      respectively. Results showed that the modification was successful, and obtained
      the optimum combination of conditions. Compared with SGP, the sulfated
      polysaccharide with relatively the decreased degree of molecular weight (Mw) but
      the same composition of monosaccharides exhibited better antioxidant activities
      in DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide radical and reducing power assay. These results
      indicated that the antioxidant activities in vitro of the S-SGP from S. gracilis
      may be related to combined effects of Mw, monosaccharide composition, and sulfate
      content. 

PMID- 26893049
TI  - Effect of drying and loading methods on the release behavior of ciprofloxacin
      from starch nanoparticles.
AB  - Drug loading into and release from starch nanoparticles (StNPs), one kind of
      novel biological macromolecule, were investigated. Two drying methods (spray and
      vacuum freeze drying) and drug loading methods (coating and adsorption) were used
      for evaluation. 40% (w/w) of ciprofloxacin was loaded using coating method while
      only 7% for adsorption method. Glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting
      point temperature (Tmp) of ciprofloxacin loaded starch nanoparticles varied from
      40 degrees C to 55 degrees C and 125 degrees C to 175 degrees C. Particles using
      adsorption method had lower loading rate of ciprofloxacin, higher Tg, Tmp and
      release rate compared to using coating method. Tg and Tmp were not affected by
      these two drying methods. Release rate of ciprofloxacin was higher from freeze
      dried particles than from spray dried particles using coating method. For
      adsorption method, drying methods had not effect on the release rate. A double
      decay exponential model was able to fit the release data suitably well with
      coefficient of determination (R(2))>0.97. 

PMID- 26893047
TI  - Tailoring the degradation rate and release kinetics from poly(galactitol
      sebacate) by blending with chitosan, alginate or ethyl cellulose.
AB  - Despite significant advances in recent times, the investigation of discovering a
      perfect biomaterial is perennial. In this backdrop, blending of natural and
      synthetic polymers is gaining popularity since it is the easiest way to
      complement the drawbacks and attain a superlative material. Based on this, the
      objective of this study was to synthesize a novel polyester, poly(galactitol
      sebacate), and subsequently blend this polymer with one of the three natural
      polymers such as alginate, chitosan or ethyl cellulose. FT-IR showed the presence
      of both the polymers in the blends. 1H NMR confirmed the chemical structure of
      the synthesized poly (galactitol sebacate). Thermal characterization was
      performed by DSC revealing that the polymers were amorphous in nature and the
      glass transition temperatures increased with the increase in ratio of the natural
      polymers in the blends. SEM imaging showed that the blends were predominantly
      homogeneous. Contact angle measurements demonstrated that the blending imparted
      the hydrophilic nature into poly (galactitol sebacate) when blending with
      alginate or chitosan and hydrophobic when blending with ethyl cellulose. In vitro
      hydrolytic degradation studies and dye release studies indicated that the
      polymers became more hydrophilic in alginate and chitosan blends and thus
      accelerated the degradation and release process. The reverse trend was observed
      in the case of ethyl cellulose blends. Modeling elucidated that the degradation
      and dye release followed first order kinetics and Higuchi kinetics, respectively.
      In vitro cell studies confirmed the cytocompatible nature of the blends. It can
      be proposed that the chosen natural polymers for blending showed wide variations
      in hydrophilicity resulting in tailored degradation, release and
      cytocompatibility properties and thus are promising candidates for use in drug
      delivery and tissue engineering.

PMID- 26893050
TI  - Biomaterials based on N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan fibers in wound dressing
      applications.
AB  - In the present work, N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) fibers were synthesized
      successfully and the resulting quaternized materials were characterized by FTIR.
      The designed TMC fibers with different degree of quaternization achieved high
      water absorption capability. In antibacterial activity study, TMC fibers showed
      high antibacterial activity than chitosan fibers against the gram-negative
      bacteria Escherichia coli (>63%) and gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus
      (>99%). TMC fibers exhibited no obvious cytotoxicity to mouse embryo fibroblast
      cells with low extraction concentrations (<0.05g/mL). In animal wound healing
      test, TMC2 fibers could significantly enhance wound re-epithelialization and
      contraction compared with the control (chitosan fibers). In conclusion, TMC
      fibers have a potential to be used as wound dressing materials. 

PMID- 26893051
TI  - Chitosan functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) for prospects biomedical and
      industrial applications: A review.
AB  - Chitin and chitosan are amino polysaccharides having multidimensional properties,
      such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial properties and non
      toxicity, muco-adhesivity, adsorption properties, etc., and thus they can be
      widely used in variety of areas. Although human history mainly relies on the
      biopolymers, however synthetic materials like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have good
      mechanical, chemical and physical properties. Functionalization of PVA with
      chitin and chitosan is considered very appropriate for the development of well
      designed biomaterials such as biodegradable films, for membrane separation, for
      tissue engineering, for food packaging, for wound healing and dressing, hydro
      gels formation, gels formation, etc. Considering versatile properties of the
      chitin and chitosan, and wide industrial and biomedical applications of PVA, this
      review sheds a light on chitin and chitosan based PVA materials with their
      potential applications especially focusing the bio-medical field. All the
      technical scientific issues have been addressed highlighting the recent
      advancement. 

PMID- 26893052
TI  - Optimizing indomethacin-loaded chitosan nanoparticle size, encapsulation, and
      release using Box-Behnken experimental design.
AB  - Indomethacin chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) were developed by ionotropic gelation
      and optimized by concentrations of chitosan and tripolyphosphate (TPP) and
      stirring time by 3-factor 3-level Box-Behnken experimental design. Optimal
      concentration of chitosan (A) and TPP (B) were found 0.6mg/mL and 0.4mg/mL with
      120min stirring time (C), with applied constraints of minimizing particle size
      (R1) and maximizing encapsulation efficiency (R2) and drug release (R3). Based on
      obtained 3D response surface plots, factors A, B and C were found to give
      synergistic effect on R1, while factor A has a negative impact on R2 and R3.
      Interaction of AB was negative on R1 and R2 but positive on R3. The factor AC was
      having synergistic effect on R1 and on R3, while the same combination had a
      negative effect on R2. The interaction BC was positive on the all responses. NPs
      were found in the size range of 321-675nm with zeta potentials (+25 to +32mV)
      after 6 months storage. Encapsulation, drug release, and content were in the
      range of 56-79%, 48-73% and 98-99%, respectively. In vitro drug release data were
      fitted in different kinetic models and pattern of drug release followed Higuchi
      matrix type. 

PMID- 26893053
TI  - Emerging roles of hyaluronic acid bioscaffolds in tissue engineering and
      regenerative medicine.
AB  - Hyaluronic acid (HA), is a glycosaminoglycan comprised of repeating disaccharide
      units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid. HA is synthesized by
      hyaluronan synthases and reaches sizes in excess of 2MDa. It plays numerous roles
      in normal tissues but also has been implicated in inflammatory processes,
      multiple drug resistance, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, water homeostasis, and
      altered viscoelasticity of extracellular matrix. The physicochemical properties
      of HA including its solubility and the availability of reactive functional groups
      facilitate chemical modifications on HA, which makes it a biocompatible material
      for use in tissue regeneration. HA-based biomaterials and bioscaffolds do not
      trigger allergies or inflammation and are hydrophilic which make them popular as
      injectable dermal and soft tissue fillers. They are manufactured in different
      forms including hydrogels, tubes, sheets and meshes. Here, we review the
      pathophysiological and pharmacological properties and the clinical uses of native
      and modified HA. The review highlights the therapeutic applications of HA-based
      bioscaffolds in organ-specific tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

PMID- 26893054
TI  - Preparation and characterization of acetylated starch nanoparticles as drug
      carrier: Ciprofloxacin as a model.
AB  - The objective of this study was to characterize in-vitro the potential of
      acetylated corn starch (ACS) particles as a matrix for the delivery of
      ciprofloxacin (CFx). ACS was successfully synthesized and optimized by the
      reaction of native corn starch using acetic anhydride and acetic acid with low
      and high degrees of substitution (DS). The nanoprecipitation method was applied
      for the formation of the ACS-based nanoparticles, by the dropwise addition of
      water to acetone solution of ACS under stirring. The effects of acetylation and
      nanoprecipitation on the morphology and granular structure of ACS samples were
      examined by the FT-IR, XRD, DSL and SEM techniques. The efficiency of CFx loading
      was also evaluated via encapsulation efficiency (EE) in ACS nanoparticles. The
      average degree of acetyl substitution per glucose residue of corn starch was
      0.33, 2.00, and 2.66. The nanoparticles size of the ACS and ACS-loaded with CFx
      were measured and analyzed relative to the solvent:non-solvent ratio. Based on
      the results, ACS nanoparticles with DS of 2.00 and water:acetone of 3:1 had 312nm
      diameter. Increasing DS in starch acetate led to increase in the EE from 67.7 to
      89.1% and with increasing ratio of water/acetone from 1:1 to 3:1, the EE raised
      from 48.5 to 89.1%. X-ray diffraction indicated that A-type pattern of native
      starch was completely transformed into the V-type pattern of acetylated starch.
      The scanning electron microscopy showed that the different sizes of pores formed
      on the acetylated starch granules were utterly converted into the uniform-sized
      spherical nanoparticles after the nanoprecipitation. 

PMID- 26893055
TI  - Polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis protects chondrocytes from H2O2-induced
      apoptosis through its antioxidant effects in vitro.
AB  - This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Angelica sinensis
      polysaccharide (ASP) on rat chondrocyte injury induced by hydrogen peroxide
      (H2O2). Rat chondrocytes were cultured and treated with different concentrations
      of ASP alone or in combination with H2O2, and they were measured with cell
      viability, apoptosis, release of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin
      1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), activity of
      superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and levels of malondialdehyde
      (MDA) production, respectively. In addition, quantitative real-time reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to estimate the relative
      expression levels of osteoarthritis (OA)-associated genes, such as collagen type
      II (Col2a1), aggrecan, SOX9, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3, and -9, as
      well as tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, respectively.
      Results indicated that ASP protected chondrocytes from H2O2-induced oxidative
      stress and subsequent cell injury through its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and anti
      inflammatory effects in vitro. Our study suggests that ASP could become a
      therapeutic supplementation for the treatment of OA. 

PMID- 26893056
TI  - Vanillin restrains non-enzymatic glycation and aggregation of albumin by chemical
      chaperone like function.
AB  - Vanillin a major component of vanilla bean extract is commonly used a natural
      flavoring agent. Glycation is known to induce aggregation and fibrillation of
      globular proteins such as albumin, hemoglobin. Here we report the inhibitory
      potential of vanillin toward early and advanced glycation modification and
      amyloid like aggregation of albumin based on the determination of both early and
      advanced glycation and conformational changes in albumin using circular
      dichroism. Inhibition of aggregation and fibrillation of albumin was determined
      based on amyloid specific dyes i.e., Congo red and Thioflavin T and microscopic
      imaging. It was evident that vanillin restrains glycation of albumin and exhibits
      protective effect toward its native conformation. 

PMID- 26893057
TI  - Gas-Phase Reactions of Glyceraldehyde and 1,3-Dihydroxyacetone as Models for
      Levoglucosan Conversion during Biomass Gasification.
AB  - Levoglucosan, the major intermediate in wood gasification, is decomposed
      selectively to C1/C2 fragments at 550-600  degrees C. Kinetic analyses suggest
      that radical chain mechanisms with the involvement of short-lived carbonyl
      intermediates explain the lower production of larger fragments. To address this
      hypothesis, the gas-phase reactivities of glyceraldehyde (Gald), 1,3
      dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and glycerol, as simple C3 model compounds, were compared
      at 400-800  degrees C under N2 flow at residence times of 0.9-1.4 s. Retro-aldol
      fragmentation and dehydration proceeded for the pyrolysis of Gald/DHA at 400 
      degrees C, far below the 600  degrees C decomposition point of glycerol.
      Pyrolysis of Gald/DHA generated exclusively syngas (CO and H2). On the basis of
      the results of theoretical calculations, the effects of carbonyl intermediates on
      reactivity were explained by postulating uni- and bimolecular reactions, although
      the bimolecular reactions became less effective at elevated temperatures.

PMID- 26893058
TI  - Chemosensitization of doxorubicin in multidrug-resistant cells by unimolecular
      micelles via increased cellular accumulation and apoptosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Unimolecular micelles were prepared by modification of polyamidoamine
      (PAMAM) dendrimers using Pluronic F127 (PF127), which is expected to reverse
      multidrug resistance (MDR). And the reversal mechanisms have been studied.
      METHODS: Characterization of the products was carried on. MTT assay was used to
      evaluate the cytotoxicity of the DOX-loaded conjugates. Cellular uptake study was
      measured by confocal laser scanning microscope and flow cytometry. Apoptosis
      assay was identified by Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis assay and Hoechst 33 342
      staining. KEY FINDINGS: Improved cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded conjugates in MCF
      7/ADR cells (as much as 33-fold according to the IC50 values) was observed in
      contrast with that of free DOX. The DOX-loaded conjugates induced a much quicker
      and 100% uptake in MCF-7/ADR cells, and more than fivefold accumulation of DOX
      loaded conjugates was observed compared with free DOX. Apoptosis assay showed
      that DOX-loaded conjugates decreased the cell viability from 81.87 +/- 5.94% to
      54.83 +/- 3.63% (DOX concentration 2 MUg/ml). At 48 h, more accumulation and
      distribution in the nuclei were observed after treatment with DOX-loaded
      conjugates. CONCLUSIONS: PF127-PAMAM conjugates showed superiority in the
      treatment of MCF-7/ADR, which implied the potential vehicles of anticancer drugs
      for the reversal of MDR.

PMID- 26893059
TI  - Undernourished Children and Milk Lactose.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lactose is an important energy source in young mammals, and in fully
      breast-fed human infants, it constitutes around 40% of the total daily energy
      intake. The role of lactose in feeding of undernourished infants and young
      children is not well described. OBJECTIVE: A narrative review of the potential
      positive and negative effects of lactose in the treatment of undernourished
      children. METHODS: Searches were conducted using PUBMED and Web of Science up to
      July 2015. Relevant references in the retrieved articles were included. RESULTS:
      Lactose may exhibit several health benefits in young children, including a
      prebiotic effect on the gut microbiota and a positive effect on mineral
      absorption. Studies in piglets suggest there might also be a stimulating effect
      on growth, relative to other carbohydrates. Lactose intolerance is a potential
      concern for undernourished children. Most undernourished children seem to
      tolerate the currently recommended (low lactose level) therapeutic foods well.
      However, a subgroup of severely undernourished children with secondary lactase
      deficiency due to severe diarrhea or severe enteropathy may benefit from products
      with even more restricted lactose content. At limited extra costs, lactose or
      lactose-containing milk ingredients may have beneficial effects if added to food
      products for undernourished children. CONCLUSIONS: Lactose may be an overlooked
      beneficial nutrient for young and undernourished children. Research is needed to
      define the balance between beneficial and detrimental effects of lactose in
      undernourished children at different ages and with different degrees of diarrhea
      and intestinal integrity.

PMID- 26893060
TI  - Assessing the Safety of Vitamin A Delivered Through Large-Scale Intervention
      Programs: Workshop Report on Setting the Research Agenda.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vitamin A (VA) deficiency (VAD) is still a concern in many parts of
      the world, and multiple intervention strategies are being implemented to reduce
      the prevalence of VAD and associated morbidity and mortality. Because some
      individuals within a population may be exposed to multiple VA interventions,
      concerns have been raised about the possible risk of hypervitaminosis A.
      OBJECTIVES: A consultative meeting was held in Vienna, Austria, in March 2014 to
      (1) review current knowledge concerning the safety and effectiveness of large
      scale programs to control VAD, (2) develop a related research agenda, and (3)
      review current available methods to assess VA status and risk of hypervitaminosis
      A. METHODS: Multiple countries were represented and shared their experiences
      using a variety of assessment methods, including retinol isotope dilution (RID)
      techniques. Discussion included next steps to refine assessment methodology,
      investigate RID limitations under different conditions, and review programmatic
      approaches to ensure VA adequacy and avoid excessive intakes. RESULTS:
      Fortification programs have resulted in adequate VA status in Guatemala, Zambia,
      and parts of Cameroon. Dietary patterns in several countries revealed that some
      people may consume excessive preformed VA from fortified foods. CONCLUSION:
      Additional studies are needed to compare biomarkers of tissue damage to RID
      methods during hypervitaminosis A and to determine what other biomarkers can be
      used to assess excessive preformed VA intake.

PMID- 26893061
TI  - Social Media and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Patient with Cancer.
AB  - Over 70,000 adolescent and young adults (AYA) aged 15 to 39 years are diagnosed
      with cancer each year in the US. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has
      identified AYA cancer patients as a unique population. The most common cancers in
      this age group include tumors typically seen in pediatric patients such as acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and brain tumors, as well as cancers more typically
      seen in adult patients such as breast cancer and melanoma. In addition, some
      cancers have their highest incidence in AYA patients, such as Hodgkin Lymphoma,
      testicular cancer, and bone tumors. AYA patients face additional unique issues
      due to their age, not just questions about treatment choices due to lack of data
      but also questions about fertility, relationships, loss of autonomy, and
      interruptions in school/work with potentially significant financial
      complications. This age group also has very high rates of social media usage with
      up to 90 % of adults aged 18 to 29 using social networking sites. In this review,
      we will describe the use of social media in AYAs with cancer and highlight some
      of the online resources for AYAs.

PMID- 26893062
TI  - Consolidation and Maintenance Therapies for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma in
      the Era of Novel Agents.
AB  - Advances in therapy in multiple myeloma have resulted in significant improvements
      in patient outcomes; however, relapse remains problematic. Strategies to improve
      outcomes following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) include
      consolidation to intensify therapy and improve depth of response and maintenance
      therapy to achieve long-term disease control. Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs),
      including thalidomide and lenalidomide, are appealing as maintenance therapy
      given their oral administration; however, the cumulative toxicities of
      thalidomide have limited its efficacy in maintenance therapy. Maintenance
      lenalidomide is better tolerated, and multiple studies have demonstrated an
      improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), but its impact on overall
      survival (OS) remains controversial. Additional concerns regarding the risk of
      second primary malignancies and significant cost of long-term lenalidomide
      therapy have also been raised. Proteasome inhibitors, particularly, bortezomib
      have also been incorporated in consolidation and maintenance regimens alone or in
      combination with an IMiD. Preliminary studies have suggested bortezomib
      maintenance may benefit patients with adverse cytogenetics, including t(4;14) and
      deletion 17p. Determination of the optimal consolidation and maintenance regimen
      and duration of therapy post-transplantation is a focus of several ongoing
      randomized studies. 

PMID- 26893063
TI  - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Exploiting Vulnerabilities with Targeted Agents.
AB  - The field of oncology has been transformed over the course of the last 20 years
      in large part due to the enhanced understanding of cellular biology and cellular
      signaling. The indolent natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has
      permitted extensive study of cancer biology and can in some ways be thought of a
      model for understanding and translating concepts to other diseases. By
      systematically probing the biology of CLL cells and working out in stepwise
      fashion the transduction of signals from the surface immunoglobulin to nuclear
      transcription factors, investigators have paved the way for rational targeting of
      therapies at natural vulnerabilities that mimic oncogene addiction. These key
      targets include Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
      (PI3K), Src, Bcl2, and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). In this review, we will
      consider these proteins and describe the current and future molecules designed to
      target them in CLL.

PMID- 26893064
TI  - Anatomical and visual outcomes of autologous thrombocyte serum concentrate in the
      treatment of persistent full-thickness idiopathic macular hole after ILM peeling
      with brilliant blue G and membrane blue dual.

PMID- 26893065
TI  - Effects of Physician-directed Pharmaceutical Promotion on Prescription Behaviors:
      Longitudinal Evidence.
AB  - Spending on prescription drugs (Rx) represents one of the fastest growing
      components of US healthcare spending and has coincided with an expansion of
      pharmaceutical promotional spending. Most (83%) of Rx promotion is directed at
      physicians in the form of visits by pharmaceutical representatives (known as
      detailing) and drug samples provided to physicians' offices. Such promotion has
      come under increased public scrutiny, with critics contending that physician
      directed promotion may play a role in raising healthcare costs and may unduly
      affect physicians' prescribing habits towards more expensive, and possibly less
      cost-effective, drugs. In this study, we bring longitudinal evidence to bear upon
      the question of how detailing impacts physicians' prescribing behaviors.
      Specifically, we examine prescriptions and promotion for a particular drug class
      based on a nationally representative sample of 150,000 physicians spanning 24
      months. The use of longitudinal physician-level data allows us to tackle some of
      the empirical concerns in the extant literature, virtually all of which have
      relied on aggregate national data. We estimate fixed-effects specifications that
      bypass stable unobserved physician-specific heterogeneity and address potential
      targeting bias. In addition, we also assess differential effects at both the
      extensive and intensive margins of prescribing behaviors and differential effects
      across physician-level and market-level characteristics, questions that have not
      been explored in prior work. The estimates suggest that detailing has a
      significant and positive effect on the number of new scripts written for the
      detailed drug, with an elasticity magnitude of 0.06. This effect is substantially
      smaller than those in the literature based on aggregate information, suggesting
      that most of the observed relationship between physician-directed promotion and
      drug sales is driven by selection bias. We find that detailing impacts selective
      brand-specific demand but does not have any substantial effects on class-level
      demand. The increase in brand-specific demand appears to crowd out demand for the
      substitute branded drug although not for the generic alternative. Results also
      indicate that most of the detailing response may operate at the extensive margin;
      detailing affects the probability of prescribing the drug more than it affects
      the number of prescriptions conditional on any prescribing. We draw some
      implications from these estimates with respect to effects on healthcare costs and
      public health. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26893067
TI  - Signalling: Putting the brakes on KRAS-G12C nucleotide cycling.

PMID- 26893068
TI  - Immunotherapy: Two antigens are better than one.

PMID- 26893069
TI  - Transmission comb of a distributed Bragg reflector with two surface dielectric
      gratings.
AB  - The transmission behaviour of a distributed Bragg reector (DBR) with surface
      dielectric gratings on top and bottom is studied. The transmission shows a comb
      like spectrum in the DBR band gap, which is explained in the Fano picture. The
      number density of the transmission peaks increases with increasing number of
      cells of the DBR, while the ratio of the average full width at half maximum to
      the corresponding average free spectral range, being only few percent for both
      transversal electric and magnetic waves, is almost invariant. The transmission
      peaks can be narrower than 0.1 nm and are fully separated from each other in
      certain wavebands. We further prove that the transmission combs are robust
      against randomness in the heights of the DBR layers. Therefore, the proposed
      structure is a candidate for an ultra-narrow-band multichannel filter or
      polarizer.

PMID- 26893066
TI  - Optimizing mouse models for precision cancer prevention.
AB  - As cancer has become increasingly prevalent, cancer prevention research has
      evolved towards placing a greater emphasis on reducing cancer deaths and
      minimizing the adverse consequences of having cancer. 'Precision cancer
      prevention' takes into account the collaboration of intrinsic and extrinsic
      factors in influencing cancer incidence and aggressiveness in the context of the
      individual, as well as recognizing that such knowledge can improve early
      detection and enable more accurate discrimination of cancerous lesions. However,
      mouse models, and particularly genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, have
      yet to be fully integrated into prevention research. In this Opinion article, we
      discuss opportunities and challenges for precision mouse modelling, including the
      essential criteria of mouse models for prevention research, representative
      success stories and opportunities for more refined analyses in future studies. 

PMID- 26893070
TI  - Functional dissociation in sweet taste receptor neurons between and within taste
      organs of Drosophila.
AB  - Finding food sources is essential for survival. Insects detect nutrients with
      external taste receptor neurons. Drosophila possesses multiple taste organs that
      are distributed throughout its body. However, the role of different taste organs
      in feeding remains poorly understood. By blocking subsets of sweet taste receptor
      neurons, we show that receptor neurons in the legs are required for immediate
      sugar choice. Furthermore, we identify two anatomically distinct classes of sweet
      taste receptor neurons in the leg. The axonal projections of one class terminate
      in the thoracic ganglia, whereas the other projects directly to the brain. These
      two classes are functionally distinct: the brain-projecting neurons are involved
      in feeding initiation, whereas the thoracic ganglia-projecting neurons play a
      role in sugar-dependent suppression of locomotion. Distinct receptor neurons for
      the same taste quality may coordinate early appetitive responses, taking
      advantage of the legs as the first appendages to contact food. 

PMID- 26893071
TI  - Physical activity and non-movement behaviours: their independent and combined
      associations with metabolic syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent risk condition associated
      with a higher risk of chronic conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular
      diseases. Physical activity and non-movement behaviours (NMB), including sleep,
      screen time and sedentary activity, have been associated with MetS. In light of
      the increasing prevalence of NMBs, and the moderate rates of physical activity
      guideline adherence in Canada, this analysis examines the independent and
      combined associations of NMB and physical activity with MetS. METHODS: Data on
      Canadians 18 years and older from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (n = 2901)
      were used to examine the moderating effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical
      activity (MVPA) guideline adherence (150 minutes or more of MVPA/week, based on
      accelerometer) on the association of NMBs (sleep based on self-report, screen
      time based on self-report, and sedentary time based on accelerometer) with MetS.
      Logistic regression analyses were conducted and sampling weights were applied to
      represent the Canadian adult population. RESULTS: A graded association between PA
      and MetS was observed, with those achieving less MVPA than guidelines having a
      higher odds of MetS (OR 2.9, 95 % CI: 1.9-4.5 for < 75 mins/week of MVPA, and OR
      1.8, 95 % CI: 1.2-2.8 for 75-150 mins/week, as compared to those accumulating 150
      mins/week or more). When examining the moderating effect of PA on the association
      between NMBs and MetS, we found that (1) for participants who met guidelines, no
      level of any NMB was significantly associated with MetS and (2) for those who did
      not achieve guidelines, there was an increased odds of MetS based on excess NMB
      time(OR 3.2, 95 % CI: 1.5-6.8 for 1.4-2.1 h/day and OR 4.4, 95 % CI: 2.5-7.9 for
      >=2.1 h/day of screen time and 75-150 mins/week of MVPA, OR 1.7, 95 % CI: 1.1-2.5
      for >=8 h/day of sleep time and <75 mins/week of MVPA, and OR 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.3
      3.8 for 9.2-10.3 h/day of sedentary time and <75 mins/week of MVPA). CONCLUSIONS:
      Adhering to physical activity guidelines may mitigate the associations of NMBs
      with MetS. Given the novel findings that associations between NMBs and MetS were
      not significant among Canadians meeting PA guidelines, these results suggest the
      beneficial role of physical activity to prevent chronic disease risk.

PMID- 26893074
TI  - An integrative affect regulation process model of internalized weight bias and
      intuitive eating in college women.
AB  - The present study extended the weight stigma and well-being process model (Tylka
      et al., 2014) by examining three affect regulation pathways that may help
      simultaneously explain the predicted inverse association between internalized
      weight bias and intuitive eating. A weight-diverse sample of 333 college women
      completed an online survey assessing internalized weight stigma, intuitive
      eating, body shame, body image flexibility, and self-compassion. Self-reported
      height and weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI). Non-parametric
      bootstrap resampling procedures were computed to ascertain the presence of the
      indirect effects of internalized weight bias on intuitive eating via the three
      hypothesized mediators controlling for BMI in a combined model. Results
      demonstrated that body image flexibility significantly and self-compassion
      marginally contributed unique variance in accounting for this relationship. Our
      preliminary cross-sectional findings contribute to a nascent body of scholarship
      seeking to provide a theoretically-driven understanding of how negative and
      positive forms of experiencing and relating to the body may co-occur within
      individuals. Results also point to potential target variables to consider
      incorporating in later-stage efforts to promote more adaptive ways of eating
      amidst internalized weight stigma.

PMID- 26893072
TI  - CMKLR1 deficiency maintains ovarian steroid production in mice treated
      chronically with dihydrotestosterone.
AB  - Elevated serum chemerin levels correlate with increased severity of polycystic
      ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the role of CMKLR1 signaling in ovarian biology
      under conditions of excess DHT remains unclear. In this study we compared the
      effects of continuous 90-day high dose DHT exposure (83.3 ?g/day) on wild type
      and CMKLR1-deficient mice. DHT induced PCOS-like clinical signs in wild type mice
      as well as significant changes in the expression of hormone receptors, steroid
      synthesis enzymes, and BMPs and their receptors. In contrast, CMKLR1-deficient
      mice significantly attenuated DHT-induced clinical signs of PCOS and alterations
      in ovarian gene expression. To determine whether the BMP4 signaling pathway was
      involved in the pathogenic effects of CMKLR1 signaling in DHT-induced ovarian
      steroidogenesis, antral follicles were isolated from wild type and CMKLR1
      knockout (KO) mice and treated in vitro with combinations of hCG, DHT, and BMP4
      inhibitors. BMP4 inhibition attenuated the induction effects of hCG and DHT on
      estrogen and progesterone secretion in CMKLR1 KO mice, but not in WT mice,
      implicating the BMP4 signaling pathway in the CMKLR1-dependent response to DHT.
      In conclusion, CMKLR1 gene deletion attenuates the effects of chronic DHT
      treatment on ovarian function in experimental PCOS, likely via BMP4 signaling. 

PMID- 26893073
TI  - Practical based approach to left main bifurcation stenting.
AB  - Despite the recent developments that have been made in the field of percutaneous
      left main (LM) intervention, the treatment of distal LM bifurcation remains
      challenging. The provisional one-stent approach for LM bifurcation has shown more
      favorable outcomes than the two-stent technique, making the former the preferred
      strategy in most types of LM bifurcation stenosis. However, elective two-stent
      techniques, none of which has been proven superior to the others, are still used
      in patients with severely diseased large side branches to avoid acute hemodynamic
      compromise. Selecting the proper bifurcation treatment strategy using meticulous
      intravascular ultrasound evaluation for side branch ostium is crucial for
      reducing the risk of side branch occlusion and for improving patient outcomes. In
      addition, unnecessary complex intervention can be avoided by measuring fractional
      flow reserve in angiographically isolated side branches. Most importantly, good
      long-term clinical outcomes are more related to the successful procedure itself
      than to the type of stenting technique, emphasizing the greater importance of
      optimizing the chosen technique than the choice of method. 

PMID- 26893075
TI  - The relative stigmatization of eating disorders and obesity in males and females.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder
      (BED), and obesity are stigmatized conditions known to affect both men and women.
      However, little research has examined differences in stigmatization of
      individuals with these diagnoses or the impact of gender on stigmatization. Such
      perceptions may play an important role in understanding and reducing the stigma
      associated with weight and dysfunctional eating behaviors. This study
      investigated stigmatizing attitudes toward eating disorders and obesity in men
      and women. METHOD: Participants were university undergraduates (N = 318; 73.6%
      female; mean age = 21.58 years, SD=3.97) who were randomly assigned to read one
      vignette describing a male or female target diagnosed with AN, BN, BED, or
      obesity. Participants then completed measures of stigma and perceived
      psychopathology. Measures were analyzed using a 4 (target diagnosis) x 2 (target
      gender) MANOVA and subsequent ANOVAs. RESULTS: Measures of stigma and perceived
      psychopathology revealed significant main effects for diagnosis (p < .001), but
      not for target gender. There were no interactions between target diagnosis and
      gender. Although all diagnostic conditions were stigmatized, more biased
      attitudes and perceptions of impairment were associated with targets with AN and
      BN compared to targets with BED and obesity. Additionally, individuals with AN,
      BN, and BED were perceived as having significantly more psychological problems
      and impairment than individuals with obesity. CONCLUSION: Although individuals
      with eating disorders and obesity both face stigmatizing attitudes, bias against
      individuals with AN, BN, and BED may exceed stigma toward obesity in the absence
      of binge eating. Future research is necessary to address stigmatizing beliefs to
      reduce and prevent discrimination against both men and women with eating
      disorders and obesity.

PMID- 26893076
TI  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis with isolated neutropenia related to the use of
      levetiracetam.

PMID- 26893079
TI  - High-throughput fluorescence microscopic analysis of protein abundance and
      localization in budding yeast.
AB  - Proteins directly carry out and regulate cellular functions. As a result, changes
      in protein levels within a cell directly influence cellular processes. Similarly,
      it is intuitive that the intracellular localization of proteins is a key
      component of their functionality. Optimal activity is achieved by a combination
      of protein concentration, co-compartmentalization with substrates, co-factors and
      regulators and sequestration from deleterious locales. The proteome within a cell
      is highly dynamic and changes in response to different environmental conditions.
      High-throughput microscopic analysis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae has afforded proteome-wide views of protein organization in living
      cells, and of how protein abundance and location is regulated and remodeled in
      response to stress. 

PMID- 26893080
TI  - Food Proteins as Source of Opioid Peptides-A Review.
AB  - Traditional opioids, mainly alkaloids, have been used in the clinical management
      of pain for a number of years but are often associated with numerous side-effects
      including sedation, dizziness, physical dependence, tolerance, addiction, nausea,
      vomiting, constipation and respiratory depression which prevent their effective
      use. Opioid peptides derived from food provide significant advantages as safe and
      natural alternative due to the possibility of their production using animal and
      plant proteins as well as comparatively less side-effects. This review aims to
      discuss the current literature on food-derived opioid peptides focusing on their
      production, methods of detection, isolation and purification. The need for
      screening more dietary proteins as a source of novel opioid peptides is
      emphasized in order to fully understand their potential in pain management either
      as a drug or as part of diet complementing therapeutic prescription. 

PMID- 26893078
TI  - Paediatric palliative care at home: a single centre's experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: There is increased awareness of paediatric palliative care in
      Malaysia, but no local published data on home care services. We aimed to describe
      the paediatric experience at Hospis Malaysia, a community-based palliative care
      provider in Malaysia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case note review of
      patients aged up to 21 years who were referred to Hospis Malaysia from 2009 to
      2013. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients (92 male, 45 female) with a median age of
      140 (3-250) months were included in this study. The majority (71.5%) had
      malignancies. At referral, 62 patients were still in hospital and 17 died prior
      to discharge. A total of 108 patients received home visits. At the first home
      visit, 89.8% of patients had at least one physical symptom. Pain was the most
      common (52.5%) symptom. Patients had various supportive devices: 39 were on
      feeding tubes, ten had tracheostomies, five were on bilevel positive airway
      pressure and ten had urinary catheters. 66 families discussed the preferred
      location of care at end-of-life. Among those who died, 78.9% died at home, as
      they preferred (p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed no statistically
      significant association between a home death and age, diagnosis and number of
      home visits. Bereavement follow-up occurred for 93.3% of families. CONCLUSION:
      Community care referrals tend to occur late, with 25.5% of patients dying within
      two weeks of referral. At referral, patients often had untreated physical
      symptoms. The majority of families preferred and had a home death.

PMID- 26893082
TI  - In situ sulfur isotopes (delta(34)S and delta(33)S) analyses in sulfides and
      elemental sulfur using high sensitivity cones combined with the addition of
      nitrogen by laser ablation MC-ICP-MS.
AB  - The sulfur isotope is an important geochemical tracer in diverse fields of
      geosciences. In this study, the effects of three different cone combinations with
      the addition of N2 on the performance of in situ S isotope analyses were
      investigated in detail. The signal intensities of S isotopes were improved by a
      factor of 2.3 and 3.6 using the X skimmer cone combined with the standard sample
      cone or the Jet sample cone, respectively, compared with the standard arrangement
      (H skimmer cone combined with the standard sample cone). This signal enhancement
      is important for the improvement of the precision and accuracy of in situ S
      isotope analysis at high spatial resolution. Different cone combinations have a
      significant effect on the mass bias and mass bias stability for S isotopes. Poor
      precisions of S isotope ratios were obtained using the Jet and X cones
      combination at their corresponding optimum makeup gas flow when using Ar plasma
      only. The addition of 4-8 ml min(-1) nitrogen to the central gas flow in laser
      ablation MC-ICP-MS was found to significantly enlarge the mass bias stability
      zone at their corresponding optimum makeup gas flow in these three different cone
      combinations. The polyatomic interferences of OO, SH, OOH were also significantly
      reduced, and the interference free plateaus of sulfur isotopes became broader and
      flatter in the nitrogen mode (N2 = 4 ml min(-1)). However, the signal intensity
      of S was not increased by the addition of nitrogen in this study. The laser
      fluence and ablation mode had significant effects on sulfur isotope fractionation
      during the analysis of sulfides and elemental sulfur by laser ablation MC-ICP-MS.
      The matrix effect among different sulfides and elemental sulfur was observed, but
      could be significantly reduced by line scan ablation in preference to single spot
      ablation under the optimized fluence. It is recommended that the d90 values of
      the particles in pressed powder pellets for accurate and precise S isotope
      analysis should be less than 10 MUm. Under the selected optimized analytical
      conditions, excellent agreements between the determined values and the reference
      values were achieved for the IAEA-S series standard reference materials and a set
      of six well-characterized, isotopic homogeneous sulfide standards (PPP-1, MoS2,
      MASS-1, P-GBW07267, P-GBW07268, P-GBW07270), validating the capability of the
      developed method for providing high-quality in situ S isotope data in sulfides
      and elemental sulfur. 

PMID- 26893077
TI  - Basal ganglia correlates of fatigue in young adults.
AB  - Although the prevalence of chronic fatigue is approximately 20% in healthy
      individuals, there are no studies of brain structure that elucidate the neural
      correlates of fatigue outside of clinical subjects. We hypothesized that fatigue
      without evidence of disease might be related to changes in the basal ganglia and
      prefrontal cortex and be implicated in fatigue with disease. We aimed to identify
      the white matter structures of fatigue in young subjects without disease using
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Healthy young adults (n = 883; 489 males and
      394 females) were recruited. As expected, the degrees of fatigue and motivation
      were associated with larger mean diffusivity (MD) in the right putamen, pallidus
      and caudate. Furthermore, the degree of physical activity was associated with a
      larger MD only in the right putamen. Accordingly, motivation was the best
      candidate for widespread basal ganglia, whereas physical activity might be the
      best candidate for the putamen. A plausible mechanism of fatigue may involve
      abnormal function of the motor system, as well as areas of the dopaminergic
      system in the basal ganglia that are associated with motivation and reward.

PMID- 26893081
TI  - A review of recent methods for the determination of ranges of feasible solutions
      resulting from soft modelling analyses of multivariate data.
AB  - Soft modelling or multivariate curve resolution (MCR) are well-known
      methodologies for the analysis of multivariate data in many different application
      fields. Results obtained by soft modelling methods are very likely impaired by
      rotational and scaling ambiguities, i.e. a full range of feasible solutions can
      describe the data equally well while fulfilling the constraints of the system.
      These issues are severely limiting the applicability of these methods and
      therefore, they can be considered as the most challenging ones. The purpose of
      the current review is to describe and critically compare the available methods
      that attempt at determining the range of ambiguity for the case of 3-component
      systems. Theoretical and practical aspects are discussed, based on a collection
      of simulated examples containing noise-free and noisy data sets as well as an
      experimental example. 

PMID- 26893083
TI  - Variable importance analysis based on rank aggregation with applications in
      metabolomics for biomarker discovery.
AB  - Biomarker discovery is one important goal in metabolomics, which is typically
      modeled as selecting the most discriminating metabolites for classification and
      often referred to as variable importance analysis or variable selection. Until
      now, a number of variable importance analysis methods to discover biomarkers in
      the metabolomics studies have been proposed. However, different methods are
      mostly likely to generate different variable ranking results due to their
      different principles. Each method generates a variable ranking list just as an
      expert presents an opinion. The problem of inconsistency between different
      variable ranking methods is often ignored. To address this problem, a simple and
      ideal solution is that every ranking should be taken into account. In this study,
      a strategy, called rank aggregation, was employed. It is an indispensable tool
      for merging individual ranking lists into a single "super"-list reflective of the
      overall preference or importance within the population. This "super"-list is
      regarded as the final ranking for biomarker discovery. Finally, it was used for
      biomarkers discovery and selecting the best variable subset with the highest
      predictive classification accuracy. Nine methods were used, including three
      univariate filtering and six multivariate methods. When applied to two metabolic
      datasets (Childhood overweight dataset and Tubulointerstitial lesions dataset),
      the results show that the performance of rank aggregation has improved greatly
      with higher prediction accuracy compared with using all variables. Moreover, it
      is also better than penalized method, least absolute shrinkage and selectionator
      operator (LASSO), with higher prediction accuracy or less number of selected
      variables which are more interpretable. 

PMID- 26893084
TI  - Enhanced target factor analysis.
AB  - Target testing or target factor analysis, TFA, is a well-established soft
      analysis method. TFA answers the question whether an independent target test
      vector measured at the same wavelengths as the collection of spectra in a data
      matrix can be excluded as the spectrum of one of the components in the system
      under investigation. Essentially, TFA cannot positively prove that a particular
      test spectrum is the true spectrum of one of the components, it can, only reject
      a spectrum. However, TFA will not reject, or in other words TFA will accept, many
      spectra which cannot be component spectra. Enhanced Target Factor Analysis, ETFA
      addresses the above problem. Compared with traditional TFA, ETFA results in a
      significantly narrower range of positive results, i.e. the chance of a false
      positive test result is dramatically reduced. ETFA is based on feasibility
      testing as described in Refs. [16-19]. The method has been tested and validated
      with computer generated and real data sets. 

PMID- 26893085
TI  - Toward automated chromatographic fingerprinting: A non-alignment approach to gas
      chromatography mass spectrometry data.
AB  - In contrast to targeted analysis of volatile compounds, non-targeted approaches
      take information of known and unknown compounds into account, are inherently more
      comprehensive and give a more holistic representation of the sample composition.
      Although several non-targeted approaches have been developed, there's still a
      demand for automated data processing tools, especially for complex multi-way data
      such as chromatographic data obtained from multichannel detectors. This work was
      therefore aimed at developing a data processing procedure for gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data obtained from non-targeted analysis of volatile
      compounds. The developed approach uses basic matrix manipulation of segmented GC
      MS chromatograms and PARAFAC multi-way modelling. The approach takes retention
      time shifts and peak shape deformations between samples into account and can be
      done with the freely available N-way toolbox for MATLAB. A demonstration of the
      new fingerprinting approach is presented using an artificial GC-MS data set and
      an experimental full-scan GC-MS data set obtained for a set of experimental
      wines. 

PMID- 26893087
TI  - Flow method based on cloud point extraction for fluorometric determination of
      epinephrine in human urine.
AB  - A novel stepwise injection fluorometric method for the determination of
      epinephrine in human urine has been developed. In the current study, the stepwise
      injection analysis (SWIA) was successfully combined with on-line in-syringe cloud
      point extraction (CPE) and fluorometric detection. The procedure was based on the
      epinephrine derivatization in the presence of o-phenylenediamine followed by the
      preconcentration stage based on the CPE with the nonionic surfactant Triton X
      114. After the phase separation into a syringe of the flow system, the micellar
      phase containing the epinephrine derivative was transported to a fluorometric
      detector. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 447 nm and 550 nm,
      respectively. The conditions of epinephrine derivatization and CPE have been
      studied. The calibration plot constructed using the developed procedure was
      linear in the range of 1.10(-11)-5.10(-7) mol L(-1). The limit of detection,
      calculated as 3 sigma of a blank test (n = 10), was found to be 3.10(-12) mol L(
      1). The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of
      epinephrine in human urine samples. 

PMID- 26893088
TI  - MSFIA-LOV system for (226)Ra isolation and pre-concentration from water samples
      previous radiometric detection.
AB  - An automatic system based on multisyringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) and lab
      on-valve (LOV) flow techniques for separation and pre-concentration of (226)Ra
      from drinking and natural water samples has been developed. The analytical
      protocol combines two different procedures: the Ra adsorption on MnO2 and the
      BaSO4 co-precipitation, achieving more selectivity especially in water samples
      with low radium levels. Radium is adsorbed on MnO2 deposited on macroporous of
      bead cellulose. Then, it is eluted with hydroxylamine to transform insoluble MnO2
      to soluble Mn(II) thus freeing Ra, which is then coprecipitated with BaSO4. The
      (226)Ra can be directly detected in off-line mode using a low background
      proportional counter (LBPC) or through a liquid scintillation counter (LSC),
      after performing an on-line coprecipitate dissolution. Thus, the versatility of
      the proposed system allows the selection of the radiometric detection technique
      depending on the detector availability or the required response efficiency
      (sample number vs. response time and limit of detection). The MSFIA-LOV system
      improves the precision (1.7% RSD), and the extraction frequency (up to 3 h(-1)).
      Besides, it has been satisfactorily applied to different types of water matrices
      (tap, mineral, well and sea water). The (226)Ra minimum detectable activities
      (LSC: 0.004 Bq L(-1); LBPC: 0.02 Bq L(-1)) attained by this system allow to reach
      the guidance values proposed by the relevant international agencies e.g. WHO, EPA
      and EC. 

PMID- 26893086
TI  - An intimately bonded titanate nanotube-polyaniline-gold nanoparticle ternary
      composite as a scaffold for electrochemical enzyme biosensors.
AB  - In this work, titanate nanotubes (TNTs), polyaniline (PANI) and gold
      nanoparticles (GNPs) were assembled to form a ternary composite, which was then
      applied on an electrode as a scaffold of an electrochemical enzyme biosensor. The
      scaffold was constructed by oxidatively polymerising aniline to produce an
      emeraldine salt of PANI on TNTs, followed by gold nanoparticle deposition. A
      novel aspect of this scaffold lies in the use of the emeraldine salt of PANI as a
      molecular wire between TNTs and GNPs. Using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a
      model enzyme, voltammetric results demonstrated that direct electron transfer of
      HRP was achieved at both TNT-PANI and TNT-PANI-GNP-modified electrodes. More
      significantly, the catalytic reduction current of H2O2 by HRP was ~75% enhanced
      at the TNT-PANI-GNP-modified electrode, compared to that at the TNT-PANI-modified
      electrode. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of HRP was found to
      be ~3 times larger at the TNT-PANI-GNP-modified electrode than that at the TNT
      PANI-modified electrode. Based on chronoamperometric detection of H2O2, a linear
      range from 1 to 1200 MUM, a sensitivity of 22.7 MUA mM(-1) and a detection limit
      of 0.13 MUM were obtained at the TNT-PANI-GNP-modified electrode. The performance
      of the biosensor can be ascribed to the superior synergistic properties of the
      ternary composite. 

PMID- 26893089
TI  - Application of direct-injection detector integrated with the multi-pumping flow
      system to chemiluminescence determination of the total polyphenol index.
AB  - In this work, we present a novel chemiluminescence (CL) method based on direct
      injection detector (DID) integrated with the multi-pumping flow system (MPFS) to
      chemiluminescence determination of the total polyphenol index. In this flow
      system, the sample and the reagents are injected directly into the cone-shaped
      detection cell placed in front of the photomultiplier window. Such construction
      of the detection chamber allows for fast measurement of the CL signal in stopped
      flow conditions immediately after mixing the reagents. The proposed DID-CL-MPFS
      method is based on the chemiluminescence of nanocolloidal manganese(IV)
      hexametaphosphate-ethanol system. The application of ethanol as a sensitizer,
      eliminated the use of carcinogenic formaldehyde. Under the optimized experimental
      conditions, the chemiluminescence intensities are proportional to the
      concentration of gallic acid in the range from 5 to 350 ng mL(-1). The DID-CL
      MPFS method offers a number of advantages, including low limit of detection (0.80
      ng mL(-1)), high precision (RSD = 3.3%) and high sample throughput (144 samples
      h(-1)) as well as low consumption of reagents, energy and low waste generation.
      The proposed method has been successfully applied to determine the total
      polyphenol index (expressed as gallic acid equivalent) in a variety of plant
      derived food samples (wine, tea, coffee, fruit and vegetable juices, herbs,
      spices). 

PMID- 26893090
TI  - Determination of creatinine-related molecules in saliva by reversed-phase liquid
      chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and the evaluation of hemodialysis
      in chronic kidney disease patients.
AB  - The serum concentrations of creatinine (Cre) and urea are used for the
      determination of the renal function. However, the use of blood is not always
      suitable due to the invasive, hygienic and infection problems during its sample
      collection and handling. In contrast, saliva is relatively clean and the samples
      can be quickly and noninvasively collected and easily stored. Therefore, the
      simultaneous determination of Arginine (Arg), creatine (Cr) and Cre in the saliva
      of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients was performed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS together
      with the saliva of healthy volunteers. The evaluation of hemodialysis of CKD
      patients was also carried out by the determinations before and after the
      dialysis. An HS-F5 column was used for the simultaneous determination of Arg, Cr
      and Cre in the saliva. These molecules were rapidly separated within 4 min and
      sensitively determined by the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the precursor
      ion [M+H](+) -> product ions (m/z 175.1 -> 70.1 for Arg; m/z 132.0 -> 44.1 for
      Cr; m/z 114.0 -> 44.1 for Cre). The concentration of Cre in the CKD patients was
      higher than that in the healthy persons. The concentrations of Cre in the saliva
      of the patients before hemodialysis were moderately correlated with the serum Cre
      concentrations (R(2) = 0.661). Furthermore, the concentration in the saliva
      obviously decreased after hemodialysis (before 0.73 mg/dL, after 0.25 mg/dL; p <
      0.02). Thus, the proposed detection method using saliva by UPLC-MS/MS is useful
      for the evaluation of the renal function in CKD patients. The present method
      offers a new option for monitoring the hemodialysis of CKD patients. 

PMID- 26893091
TI  - Elucidating the structure of carbon nanoparticles by ultra-performance liquid
      chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight
      tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - A fast and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with
      electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC
      ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was developed for the separation and structural
      elucidation of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNP). The CNP was synthesised
      from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of citric acid (CA) and 1,2-ethylenediamine
      (EDA). By using UPLC separation, the CNP product was well separated into ten
      fractions within 4.0 min. Based on high-accuracy MS and MS/MS analyses, the CNP
      species were revealed to display six kinds of chemical formulas, including
      (C10H20N4O5)n, (C8H12N2O5)n, (C16H22N4O9)n, (C6H8O7)n, (C14H18N2O11)n, and
      (C14H16N2O10)n. In particular, our study revealed for the first time that the CNP
      species exist as supramolecular clusters with their individual monomers units
      linked together through non-covalent bonding forces. These findings clearly
      indicated the usefulness of UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS in identifying the chemical
      composition of CNP product. It is anticipated that our proposed methodology can
      be applied to study the structure-property relationships of CNP, facilitating in
      the production of CNP with desirable spectral features. 

PMID- 26893092
TI  - Novel redox species polyaniline derivative-Au/Pt as sensing platform for label
      free electrochemical immunoassay of carbohydrate antigen 199.
AB  - A novel electrochemical redox-active nanocomposite was synthesized by a one-pot
      method using N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylediamine as monomer, and HAuCl4 and K2PtCl4 as
      co-oxidizing agents. The as-prepared poly(N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylediamine)-Au/Pt
      exhibited admirable electrochemical redox activity at 0.15 V, excellent H2O2
      electrocatalytic ability and favorable electron transfer ability. Based on these,
      the evaluation of the composite as sensing substrate for label-free
      electrochemical immunosensing to the sensitive detection of carbohydrate antigen
      199 was described. This technique proved to be a prospective detection tool with
      a wide liner range from 0.001 U mL(-1) to 40 U mL(-1), and a low detection limit
      of 2.3 * 10(-4) U mL(-1) (S/N = 3). In addition, this method was used for the
      analysis of human serum sample, and good agreement was obtained between the
      values and those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, implying the potential
      application in clinical research. Importantly, the strategy of the present
      substrate could be extended to other polymer-based nanocomposites such as
      polypyrrole derivatives or polythiophene derivatives, and this could be of great
      significance for the electrochemical immunoassay. 

PMID- 26893093
TI  - Development of a BODIPY-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for hypochlorous acid
      and its application in living cells.
AB  - A BODIPY-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for HOCl has been designed based on
      the transduction of thioether to sulfoxide function. This probe features a marked
      absorption and emission blue-shift upon the HOCl-promoted rapid transduction,
      enabling the highly selective and ratiometric detection. In addition, the probe
      works excellently within a wide pH range of 4-10, addressing the existing pH
      dependency issue. Living cells studies demonstrate that the probe is cell
      membrane permeable and can be employed successfully to image endogenous HOCl
      generation in macrophage cells. 

PMID- 26893094
TI  - Triple-channel portable capillary electrophoresis instrument with individual
      background electrolytes for the concurrent separations of anionic and cationic
      species.
AB  - The portable capillary electrophoresis instrument is automated and features three
      independent channels with different background electrolytes to allow the
      concurrent optimized determination of three different categories of charged
      analytes. The fluidic system is based on a miniature manifold which is based on
      mechanically milled channels for injection of samples and buffers. The planar
      manifold pattern was designed to minimize the number of electronic valves
      required for each channel. The system utilizes pneumatic pressurization to
      transport solutions at the grounded as well as the high voltage side of the
      separation capillaries. The instrument has a compact design, with all components
      arranged in a briefcase with dimensions of 45 (w) * 35 (d) * 15 cm (h) and a
      weight of about 15 kg. It can operate continuously for 8 h in the battery-powered
      mode if only one electrophoresis channel is in use, or for about 2.5 h in the
      case of simultaneous employment of all three channels. The different operations,
      i.e. capillary flushing, rinsing of the interfaces at both capillary ends, sample
      injection and electrophoretic separation, are activated automatically with a
      control program featuring a graphical user interface. For demonstration, the
      system was employed successfully for the concurrent separation of different
      inorganic cations and anions, organic preservatives, additives and artificial
      sweeteners in various beverage and food matrices. 

PMID- 26893095
TI  - Angiographic patterns of drug-eluting stent restenosis after treatment with drug
      coated balloon versus balloon angioplasty: Late lumen loss subgroup analyses of
      the PEPCAD-DES study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This report provides the results of additional late lumen loss (LLL)
      analyses the predefined subgroup of diabetics and post hoc analyses of selected
      lesion morphologies to further elucidate the efficacy of paclitaxel coated
      balloon (PCB) angioplasty (clinical trials identifier NCT00998439). BACKGROUND:
      The PEPCAD-DES trial revealed that in lesion LLL and the target lesion
      revascularization rate (TLR) were significantly reduced with PCB angioplasty as
      compared with plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) in patients with drug-eluting
      stent restenosis (DES-ISR). METHODS: A total of 110 patients with restenosis of
      Sirolimus- (SES), Everolimus- (EES), or Paclitaxel-eluting (PES) stents in native
      coronary arteries were randomized 2:1 to receive treatment with PCB (72 patients)
      or POBA (38 patients). RESULTS: In the PCB group, LLL did not differ for PES
      versus non-PES lesions (0.46 +/- 0.55 mm vs. 0.41 +/- 0.65 mm, P = 0.81).
      Moreover, there was no difference in LLL when PCB's were used in single and
      multiple layer DES-ISR (0.35 +/- 0.60 mm vs. 0.51 +/- 0.63 mm, P = 0.31). In
      contrast, patients treated with POBA for multilayer DES-ISR were more likely to
      have significantly higher LLL as compared with single layer DES-ISR (1.29 +/-
      0.76 mm vs. 0.65 +/- 0.60 mm, P = 0.02). There was no LLL difference between
      diabetics and non-diabetics when treated with PCB angioplasty (0.46 +/- 0.76 mm
      vs. 0.43 +/- 0.54 mm, P = 0.83). CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis generating results
      indicated that there were no differences in terms of LLL when PCB angioplasty was
      applied in subgroups of single versus multiple layer DES-ISR and PES-ISR versus
      non-PES ISR. LLL was not higher in diabetic patients as compared with the their
      non-diabetic counterparts when treated with PCB's. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals,
      Inc.

PMID- 26893097
TI  - Erratum to: Effect of Training Leading to Repetition Failure on Muscular
      Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PMID- 26893096
TI  - Women-only drug treatment services and needs in Iran: the first review of current
      literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Iran (Persia) has a women-only drug treatment system. However,
      literature is not documented. The current study aimed to review the development
      of women-only drug treatment and harm reduction services (WODTHRS) and the
      factors associated with treatment entry and outcomes in Iran. The review was
      based on a comprehensive search for all literature focusing on WODTHRS in Iran.
      METHODS: Data were collected by conducting systematic searching of scientific
      English and Persian databases and grey literature. This was done in line with
      Cochrane Guideline for conducting systematic reviews. Overall, 19,929 studies
      were found. But, only 19 original studies were included after excluding non
      relevant studies. RESULTS: The review findings indicate how WODTHRS have been
      developed in the past 15 years. The review findings underscore the roles of
      numerous factors in treatment entry such as the side effects of illicit drug use.
      In addition, cognitive-behavioral interventions, methadone treatment and some
      factors outside drug treatment such as family support increase positive treatment
      outcomes among women. In contrast, financial problems as well as other factors
      such as insufficient medical, psychiatric and social work services hamper
      treatment entry and positive treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The review results
      highlight that eliminating barriers to treatment entry and positive treatment
      outcomes should be addressed. Conducting randomized controlled trials is needed
      to evaluate the effectiveness of WODTHRS. This issue should address the factors
      influencing service utilization to incorporate the best practice for women. The
      evaluation of the long-term efficacy of WODTHRS is a critical research gap which
      should be addressed in future studies.

PMID- 26893099
TI  - Utility of Exercise Electrocardiography in Pre-participation Screening in
      Asymptomatic Athletes: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although test characteristics of exercise electrocardiography are
      well established in symptomatic patients, data on healthy athletes are scarce.
      This systematic review focuses on the diagnostic utility of exercise
      electrocardiography for the detection of coronary heart disease in athletes
      during pre-participation screening. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review evaluated
      the prevalence of an abnormal exercise test result and the positive predictive
      value of exercise electrocardiography in asymptomatic athletes. In addition, the
      long-term prognosis of a false-positive test result was evaluated. METHODS: An
      electronic search was performed using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and MEDLINE.
      Only studies using exercise electrocardiography in an unselected population of
      asymptomatic athletes were included. Data on population characteristics,
      cardiovascular risk factors, exercise test parameters, left ventricular
      hypertrophy, and morbidity/mortality were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: The
      mean prevalence of an abnormal exercise test result was 0.6 % (range 0-29 %),
      with a positive predictive value of 9 % (range 0-55 %). Left ventricular
      hypertrophy was observed in 57 % of the athletes with an abnormal exercise test
      result, in 50 % of the athletes with a false-positive exercise test result, and
      in 24 % of the athletes with a normal exercise test. Among athletes with a false
      positive test, only one athlete (3 %) experienced a possible cardiac event.
      CONCLUSION: This systematic review revealed a relatively low prevalence of
      positive exercise test results in asymptomatic athletes, but a very poor positive
      predictive value. There were insufficient data available to determine the
      prognostic implications of false-positive test results in asymptomatic athletes.

PMID- 26893101
TI  - Household food insecurity, nutritional status and morbidity in Brazilian
      children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with
      anthropometric status, the risk of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia, morbidities
      such as cough and fever, and hospitalizations for diarrhoea and pneumonia in
      children under 5 years old. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using data from the
      2006 Brazilian Demographic and Health Survey. HFI was measured with the Brazilian
      Food Insecurity Measurement Scale (EBIA). Vitamin A deficiency and anaemia were
      assessed in blood samples. Child morbidities were reported by the child's mother
      and included cough, fever, and hospitalizations for diarrhoea and pneumonia.
      Regression results were expressed as unadjusted and adjusted OR and corresponding
      95 % CI for severe food insecurity, with statistical significance set at P<0.05.
      SETTING: Nationally representative survey. SUBJECTS: Children (n 4064) under 5
      years old. RESULTS: There was no association between HFI and vitamin A
      deficiency, pneumonia, wasting or overweight. The prevalence of cough, fever,
      hospitalization for diarrhoea and stunting were associated with degree of HFI
      severity. There was a significant association of morbidities and stunting with
      severe food insecurity (v. food secure). After controlling for confounders, the
      association between severe food insecurity (v. food secure/rest of food
      insecurity categories) and the prevalence of common morbidities remained strong,
      showing that severely food-insecure children had a greater likelihood of
      experiencing cough (adjusted OR=1.79) and of being hospitalized for diarrhoea
      (adjusted OR=2.55). CONCLUSIONS: Severe HFI was associated with cough and severe
      diarrhoea among Brazilian children.

PMID- 26893100
TI  - Vasohibin-1 expression inhibits advancement of ovarian cancer producing various
      angiogenic factors.
AB  - Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is a negative feedback regulator of angiogenesis, the first
      to be discovered, and was identified in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
      stimulated vascular endothelial cells. Vasohibin-1 inhibits abnormal
      vascularization induced by various angiogenic factors including fibroblast growth
      factor and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), in addition to VEGF. By
      focusing on this characteristic of VASH1, we investigated the antitumor effects
      of VASH1 expression on ovarian cancer cells that produce different angiogenic
      factors. By using a high VEGF-producing ovarian cancer cell line, SHIN-3, and a
      high PDGF-producing ovarian cancer cell line, KOC-2S, the cells were transfected
      with either a VEGF antagonist, soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1, or sFlt-1), or
      VASH1 genes to establish their respective cellular expression. The
      characteristics of these transfectants were compared with controls. We previously
      reported that the expression of sFlt-1 inhibited tumor vascularization and growth
      of high VEGF-producing ovarian cancer cells, reduced peritoneal dissemination and
      ascites development, and prolonged the survival time of the host. However, in the
      current study, the expression of sFlt-1 had no such effect on the high PDGF
      producing ovarian cancer cells used here, whereas VASH1 expression inhibited
      tumor vascularization and growth, not only in high VEGF-producing cells, but also
      in high PDGF-producing cells, reduced their peritoneal dissemination and ascites,
      and prolonged the survival time of the host. These results suggest that VASH1 is
      an effective treatment for ovarian cancer cells that produce different angiogenic
      factors. 

PMID- 26893098
TI  - Ageing, Muscle Power and Physical Function: A Systematic Review and Implications
      for Pragmatic Training Interventions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The physiological impairments most strongly associated with
      functional performance in older people are logically the most efficient
      therapeutic targets for exercise training interventions aimed at improving
      function and maintaining independence in later life. OBJECTIVES: The objectives
      of this review were to (1) systematically review the relationship between muscle
      power and functional performance in older people; (2) systematically review the
      effect of power training (PT) interventions on functional performance in older
      people; and (3) identify components of successful PT interventions relevant to
      pragmatic trials by scoping the literature. METHODS: Our approach involved three
      stages. First, we systematically reviewed evidence on the relationship between
      muscle power, muscle strength and functional performance and, second, we
      systematically reviewed PT intervention studies that included both muscle power
      and at least one index of functional performance as outcome measures. Finally,
      taking a strong pragmatic perspective, we conducted a scoping review of the PT
      evidence to identify the successful components of training interventions needed
      to provide a minimally effective training dose to improve physical function.
      RESULTS: Evidence from 44 studies revealed a positive association between muscle
      power and indices of physical function, and that muscle power is a marginally
      superior predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. Nine studies
      revealed maximal angular velocity of movement, an important component of muscle
      power, to be positively associated with functional performance and a better
      predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. We identified 31 PT
      studies, characterised by small sample sizes and incomplete reporting of
      interventions, resulting in less than one-in-five studies judged as having a low
      risk of bias. Thirteen studies compared traditional resistance training with PT,
      with ten studies reporting the superiority of PT for either muscle power or
      functional performance. Further studies demonstrated the efficacy of various
      methods of resistance and functional task PT on muscle power and functional
      performance, including low-load PT and low-volume interventions. CONCLUSIONS:
      Maximal intended movement velocity, low training load, simple training methods,
      low-volume training and low-frequency training were revealed as components
      offering potential for the development of a pragmatic intervention. Additionally,
      the research area is dominated by short-term interventions producing short-term
      gains with little consideration of the long-term maintenance of functional
      performance. We believe the area would benefit from larger and higher-quality
      studies and consideration of optimal long-term strategies to develop and maintain
      muscle power and physical function over years rather than weeks.

PMID- 26893102
TI  - A random graph model of density thresholds in swarming cells.
AB  - Swarming behaviour is a type of bacterial motility that has been found to be
      dependent on reaching a local density threshold of cells. With this in mind, the
      process through which cell-to-cell interactions develop and how an assembly of
      cells reaches collective motility becomes increasingly important to understand.
      Additionally, populations of cells and organisms have been modelled through
      graphs to draw insightful conclusions about population dynamics on a spatial
      level. In the present study, we make use of analogous random graph structures to
      model the formation of large chain subgraphs, representing interactions between
      multiple cells, as a random graph Markov process. Using numerical simulations and
      analytical results on how quickly paths of certain lengths are reached in a
      random graph process, metrics for intercellular interaction dynamics at the swarm
      layer that may be experimentally evaluated are proposed. 

PMID- 26893103
TI  - The role of Card9 overexpression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from
      patients with aseptic acute pancreatitis.
AB  - Activated mononuclear cells are an early event in the course of severe acute
      pancreatitis (SAP). To date, the molecular mechanism triggering peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is poorly understood. The aim of this paper was to
      determine the potential role of Card9 in SAP. We collected data from 72 subjects
      between January 2013 and June 2014. Subsequently, PBMCs were isolated on day 1, 3
      and 5 of pancreatitis. Immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real-time PCR,
      Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and ELISA were used to determine the role
      of Card9 in SAP. Microbial culture showed that SAP patients at the early period
      did not develop any bacteria and fungi infection. Card9 expression in SAP
      patients was higher than that in mild acute pancreatitis and volunteer healthy
      controls, up to the peak on day 1. The monocyte-derived cytokines interleukin
      (IL)-17, IL-1beta, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha mediated by the
      induction of Card9 markedly increased in SAP patients compared with the control
      group. Furthermore, the inducible formation of Card9-Bcl10 complex was found in
      PBMCs, which may be involved in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and p38
      activation in SAP. Receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that Card9
      levels had a high sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 67.7%, showing the
      close correlation with SAP patients. Card9 overexpression was firstly found in
      aseptic SAP, which may be played an important role in NF-kappaB and p38
      activation in PBMCs. It also provided the new insights into therapeutic
      interventions by targeting monocytes activation in SAP patients. 

PMID- 26893105
TI  - A clinical validation study for application of DBS in therapeutic drug monitoring
      of antidepressants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A bridging study of plasma and DBS concentrations for therapeutic
      drug monitoring of antidepressants was performed. RESULTS & METHODOLOGY:
      Potassium-based hematocrit analysis was included. In addition, we defined
      acceptance criteria based on the differences between individual data points of
      plasma and DBS concentrations. These criteria were applied to test acceptability
      of error found in predicted nortriptyline plasma concentrations. Potassium-based
      hematocrit predicted a negative bias for DBS concentrations of amitriptyline, but
      not for the other compounds. To predict plasma concentrations of antidepressants
      based on DBS concentrations, a factor of 0.8, 0.65, 0.84 and 0.78 was found for
      nortriptyline, desmethylclomipramine, venlafaxine and desmethylvenlafaxine,
      respectively. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Application of the factor and newly
      formulated acceptance criteria demonstrated prediction of nortriptyline plasma
      concentrations based on DBS concentrations.

PMID- 26893104
TI  - Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss is Delayed Following Optic Nerve Crush in NLRP3
      Knockout Mice.
AB  - The NLRP3 inflammasome, a sensor for a variety of pathogen- and host-derived
      threats, consists of the adaptor ASC (Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein
      containing a Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain (CARD)), pro-caspase-1,
      and NLRP3 (NOD-Like Receptor family Pyrin domain containing 3). NLRP3-induced
      neuroinflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of eye
      diseases, but it remains unclear whether activation of NLRP3 inflammasome
      contributes to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Here we examined NLRP3-induced
      neuroinflammation and RGC survival following partial optic nerve crush (pONC)
      injury. We showed that NLRP3 was up-regulated in retinal microglial cells
      following pONC, propagating from the injury site to the optic nerve head and
      finally the entire retina within one day. Activation of NLRP3-ASC inflammasome
      led to the up-regulation of caspase-1 and a proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin
      1beta (IL-1beta). In NLRP3 knockout mice, up-regulation of ASC, caspase-1, and IL
      1beta were all reduced, and, importantly, RGC and axon loss was substantially
      delayed following pONC injury. The average survival time of RGCs in NLRP3
      knockout mice was about one week longer than for control animals. Taken together,
      our study demonstrated that ablating the NLRP3 gene significantly reduced
      neuroinflammation and delayed RGC loss after optic nerve crush injury.

PMID- 26893106
TI  - Graphene quantum dots as additives in capillary electrophoresis for separation
      cinnamic acid and its derivatives.
AB  - A facile capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the separation of cinnamic
      acid and its derivatives (3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid, 4-methoxycinnamic acid,
      isoferulic acid, sinapic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and trans-4
      hydroxycinnamic acid) using graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as additives with direct
      ultraviolet (UV) detection is reported. GQDs were synthesized by chemical
      oxidization and further purified by a macroporous resin column to remove salts
      (Na2SO4 and NaNO3) and other impurities. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
      indicated that GQDs have a relatively uniform particle size (2.3 nm). Taking into
      account the structural features of GQDs, cinnamic acid and its derivatives were
      adopted as model compounds to investigate whether GQDs can be used to improve CE
      separations. The separation performance of GQDs used as additives in CE was
      studied through variations of pH, concentration of the background electrolyte
      (BGE), and contents of GQDs. The results indicated that excellent separation can
      be achieved in less than 18 min, which is mainly attributed to the interaction
      between the analytes and GQDs, especially isoferulic acid, sinapic acid, and
      cinnamic acid. 

PMID- 26893107
TI  - SMART DigestTM compared with pellet digestion for analysis of human
      immunoglobulin G1 in rat serum by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - The newly developed SMART DigestTM kit was applied for the sample preparation of
      human immunoglobulin G1 (hIgG1) in rat serum prior to qualitative and
      quantitative analyses by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC
      MS/MS). The sequence coverages obtained for the light and heavy chains of hIgG1A
      were 50 and 76%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear from 1.00 to 1000
      MUg/ml for three of four generic peptides. Overall, the SMART DigestTM kit
      resulted in similar quantitative data (linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and
      precision) compared with the pellet digestion protocol. However, the SMART
      DigestTM required only 2 h of sample preparation with fewer reagents.

PMID- 26893108
TI  - Diagnostic Value of Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index in Dogs with
      Pulmonary Hypertension: Comparison with Doppler Echocardiographic Estimates of
      Pulmonary Arterial Pressure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Noninvasive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) primarily relies
      upon Doppler echocardiography of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, TR might
      be absent or difficult to measure. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine the
      diagnostic value of right pulmonary artery distensibility (RPAD) index for
      prediction of Doppler-derived estimates of pulmonary artery (PA) pressure
      compared to other indices of PH in dogs. ANIMALS: Sixty-nine client-owned dogs
      with TR. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Dogs were allocated to groups
      according to TR pressure gradient (TRPG): TRPG <36 mmHg (control, n = 22), TRPG
      36-50 (n = 16), TRPG 50-75 (n = 14) and TRPG >75 mmHg (n = 17). Right pulmonary
      artery distensibility index, acceleration time to peak PA flow (AT), AT: ejection
      time of PA flow (AT:ET) and main PA size: aorta size (MPA:Ao) were calculated in
      each dog. RESULTS: Right pulmonary artery distensibility index demonstrated the
      strongest correlation (r = -0.90; P < .0001) to TRPG followed by MPA:Ao (r =
      0.78; P < .0001), AT (r = -0.69; P < .0001) and AT:ET (r = -0.68; P < .0001).
      RPAD index possessed the most accurate cutoff (<29.5%; Sensitivity [Sn] 0.84,
      Specificity [Sp] 0.95) to predict TRPG >50 mmHg compared to AT (<53.9 ms; Sn
      0.74, Sp 0.87), AT:ET (<0.30; Sn 0.61, Sp 0.97) and MPA:Ao (>1.04; Sn 0.94, Sp
      0.74). All intra- and interobserver measurement variabilities exhibited
      coefficients of variation <=13%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Right
      pulmonary artery distensibility index is an accurate predictor of TRPG and should
      be particularly useful if TR is absent or difficult to measure.

PMID- 26893109
TI  - Thermal electron-tunneling devices as coolers and amplifiers.
AB  - Nanoscale thermal systems that are associated with a pair of electron reservoirs
      have been previously studied. In particular, devices that adjust electron tunnels
      relatively to reservoirs' chemical potentials enjoy the novelty and the
      potential. Since only two reservoirs and one tunnel exist, however, designers
      need external aids to complete a cycle, rendering their models non-spontaneous.
      Here we design thermal conversion devices that are operated among three electron
      reservoirs connected by energy-filtering tunnels and also referred to as thermal
      electron-tunneling devices. They are driven by one of electron reservoirs rather
      than the external power input, and are equivalent to those coupling systems
      consisting of forward and reverse Carnot cycles with energy selective electron
      functions. These previously-unreported electronic devices can be used as coolers
      and thermal amplifiers and may be called as thermal transistors. The electron and
      energy fluxes of devices are capable of being manipulated in the same or oppsite
      directions at our disposal. The proposed model can open a new field in the
      application of nano-devices. 

PMID- 26893111
TI  - Epiduroscopic Laser Neural Decompression for Removal of L2-3 Disc Herniation in a
      Patient with Symptoms Suggestive of L5 Nerve Root Involvement.

PMID- 26893110
TI  - Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of Hindi Version of the Pain
      Catastrophizing Scale in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain for Use in India.
AB  - OBJECTIVES : This study translates the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) into
      Hindi and examines the psychometric properties of the translated version (Hindi
      PCS [Hi-PCS]) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS : Forward
      and backward translations were performed from English to Hindi according to
      standard methodology. A final version was evaluated by a committee of clinical
      experts and Hi-PCS was then pilot-tested in 10 patients with CLBP. Cross-cultural
      validation of the resulting adapted Hi-PCS was done by administering Hi-PCS at
      baseline to 100 patients with CLBP (>= 12 weeks pain) who were able to read and
      write in Hindi, and re-administering Hi-PCS after 3 days. Construct validity was
      assessed using factor analysis. Psychometric properties including internal
      consistency; test-retest reliability; and convergent validity with pain severity,
      functional disability, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were also
      assessed. RESULTS : Principal component analysis observed a three-factor
      structure, which explained 58% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis
      elicited the best fit as judged by the model fit indices. Hi-PCS as a whole was
      deemed to be internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.76). Intraclass
      correlation coefficient for the Hi-PCS is 0.923 (95% CI: 0.875-0.953). Hi-PCS was
      moderately correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.651) and functional disability
      (r = 0.352), and negatively correlated with QoL (r = -0.380). CONCLUSIONS : PCS
      translation and cross-cultural adaptation to Hindi demonstrated good factor
      structure along adequate psychometric properties and could be recommended for use
      in CLBP research in India.

PMID- 26893112
TI  - Effects of a Peer-Led Pain Management Program for Nursing Home Residents with
      Chronic Pain: A Pilot Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES : To examine the feasibility of a peer-led pain management program
      among nursing home residents. DESIGN : A quasi-experimental design. SETTING : Two
      nursing homes. SUBJECTS : Fifty nursing home residents. METHODS : The
      experimental group (n = 32) was given a 12-week group-based peer-led pain
      management program. There were two 1-hour sessions per week. Education in pain
      and demonstrations of nonpharmacological pain management strategies were
      provided. The research team and 12 trained peers led the sessions. The control
      group (n = 18) received one 1-hour session of pain management program each week
      over 12 weeks from the research team only. Outcome measures for the participants
      were collected at baseline (P1) and at week 12 (P2). Data from peer volunteers
      were collected prior to training (V1) and at week 12 (V2). T-tests were used to
      compare the differences in outcome measures collected at two time points. RESULTS
      : There was a significant reduction in pain intensity from 5.8 +/- 2.6 (P1) to
      3.4 +/- 2.5 (P2) for the experimental group (p = 0.003) and from 6.3 +/- 3.0 (P1)
      to 3.1 +/- 2.4 (P2) for the control group (p = 0.001). Activities of daily living
      significantly improved for both the experimental group (p = 0.008) and the
      control group (p = 0.014). There was an enhancement in happiness level for the
      experimental group (p < 0.001), while the loneliness level dropped significantly
      for the experimental group (p < 0.001) and the control group (p = 0.031). The
      peer volunteers showed a significant increase in self-rated pain management
      knowledge (2.9 +/- 2.6 to 8.1 +/- 1.2, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy in
      volunteering (5.8 +/- 2.9 to 8.3 +/- 1.5, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION : The peer-led
      pain management program was feasible and has potential in relieving chronic pain
      and enhancing the physical and psychological health of nursing home residents.

PMID- 26893113
TI  - Presence of Decreased Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density Consistent with Small
      Fiber Neuropathy in Patients with Central Post-Stroke Pain.

PMID- 26893114
TI  - Clinical Efficacy of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Annuloplasty and Nucleoplasty
      for Treatment of Patients with Discogenic Low Back Pain.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic
      lumbar annuloplasty and nucleoplasty (PELAN) for the treatment of patients with
      discogenic low back pain. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective design SETTING: Spine
      hospital SUBJECTS: Forty-seven patients diagnosed as having discogenic low back
      pain, who were refractory to conservative treatments. METHODS: Outcomes were
      assessed using a numeric rating scale for back pain, the Oswestry disability
      index, and modified MacNab's criteria, at 2-3 weeks and at least 12 months after
      treatment. RESULTS: At long-term follow-up, 33 patients (70%) had successful
      outcomes for relief of pain, and the same proportion had successful reduction of
      disability. Although all patients took oral analgesics for pain control before
      PELAN, 25 (53%) required no analgesics at long-term follow-up. If success is
      defined as simultaneously achieving greater than 50% reduction in pain, greater
      than 40% reduction of disability, good or excellent MacNab criteria, and no need
      for analgesics, 23 patients (49%; with 95% confidence interval of 35-63%)
      achieved successful outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with discogenic low back
      pain refractory to conservative treatment, PELAN provided favorable clinical
      outcomes with success rates that rival those of surgery for this condition.

PMID- 26893117
TI  - Ganglion Impar Blocks for More Than Coccygodynia.

PMID- 26893116
TI  - Quantitative Sensory Testing in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In recent years, several published articles have demonstrated that
      quantitative sensory testing (QST) is useful in the analysis of musculoskeletal
      pain disorders. Based on the evidence from these studies, it is assumed that QST
      might be a useful tool in the analysis of the pathogenesis, classification,
      differential diagnosis, and prognosis of chronic musculoskeletal pain.
      OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to discuss measurement properties of
      QST and potentials research and clinical applications in musculoskeletal pain.
      METHODS: This is a review of the current knowledge base on QST as it relates to
      musculoskeletal pain disorders. We based our summary on articles retrieved from
      Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to present) including EMBASE, AMED, and PsycINFO databases to
      search for all published literature focused on QST and musculoskeletal pain.
      RESULTS: QST has been shown to be related to neural sensitivity in
      musculoskeletal pain. QST measurement properties have been evaluated for multiple
      sensory evaluation modalities and protocols with no clear superior instrument or
      test protocol. The research evidence is incomplete, but suggests potential
      clinical benefits for predicting outcomes and subtyping pain. Threshold detection
      testing is commonly used to quantify sensory loss or gain, in current practice
      and has shown moderate reliability. Intensity/magnitude rating can be assessed on
      a wide range of rating scales and may be more useful for pain rating in a
      clinical context. Threshold detection-based testing and intensity/magnitude
      rating-based testing can be combined to determine pain threshold in clinical
      evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal pain management may benefit from
      treatment algorithms that consider mechanism, pain quality, or neurophysiological
      correlates. Non-invasive QST may be helpful to find sensory array of altered
      nociceptive process. Due to the diverse etiopathogenetic basis of musculoskeletal
      pain disorders, a broad range of reliable and valid QST tests may be needed to
      analyze the various disease entities.

PMID- 26893118
TI  - Pain Modulation and Autonomic Function: The Effect of Clonidine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: . The alpha2-agonist clonidine is an analgesic agent, whose yet
      uncertain action may involve either increase in pain modulation efficiency,
      change in autonomic function, and/or decrease in anxiety level. The present study
      aimed to examine the effect of oral clonidine on pain perception in healthy
      subjects in order to reveal its mode of action. DESIGN: . Randomized, double
      blind, placebo-controlled study. SUBJECTS: . Forty healthy subjects. METHODS: .
      Subjects received either 0.15 mg oral clonidine or placebo. We measured pain
      parameters of heat pain thresholds, tonic heat stimulus, mechanical temporal
      summation, offset analgesia (OA) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM); autonomic
      parameters of deep breathing ratio and heart rate variability indices obtained
      before, during, and after tonic heat stimulus; and psychological parameters of
      anxiety and pain catastrophizing. RESULTS: . Clonidine decreased systolic blood
      pressure (P = 0.022) and heart rate (P = 0.004) and increased rMSSD (P = 0.020),
      though no effect was observed on pain perception, pain modulation, and
      psychological parameters. Autonomic changes were correlated with pain modulation
      capacity; for OA, the separate slope model was significant (P = 0.008); in the
      clonidine group, more efficient OA was associated with lower heart rate (r =
      0.633, P = 0.005), unlike in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: . The change in
      autonomic function that was related to the increase in pain modulation capacity,
      and the lack of change in anxiety, suggest a combined modulatory-autonomic mode
      of analgesic action for clonidine.

PMID- 26893119
TI  - Premedication with Intravenous Ibuprofen Improves Recovery Characteristics and
      Stress Response in Adults Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized
      Controlled Trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES:  Examine the effect of preoperative dose of IV ibuprofen on stress
      response and postoperative recovery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.
      DESIGN:  Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial.
      SETTING:  Three university-based, tertiary care hospitals. SUBJECTS:  Fifty-five
      adults, ASA 1, 2, or 3 scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were given a
      single preoperative dose of placebo or IV ibuprofen 800 mg. METHODS: 
      Neurobehavioral assessments were evaluated preoperatively, in PACU, POD 1, and
      POD 3, using the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR40), 9-item
      Modified Fatigue Severity Scale (MFSS), and 15-item Geriatric Depression scale
      (GDS). Blood samples were taken for cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6,
      IL-10, IFNgamma), cortisol, CRP, epinephrine, and norepinephrine prior to the
      administration of study drug/placebo, intraoperatively, and after surgery.
      RESULTS:  Global QoR40 scores remained at baseline for ibuprofen patients but
      significantly decreased in the placebo group. Severity of fatigue increased in
      patients receiving placebo but had no change with ibuprofen. The placebo group
      had lower GDS scores on POD 3. Epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly
      lower intraoperatively for the ibuprofen group. Cortisol decreased
      postoperatively in the ibuprofen group. There was an impact of drug treatment on
      the immune response, as seen by an increase in TNFalpha and an increase in IL-10
      when compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS:  Our results suggest the addition of
      NSAIDs may improve the overall quality of recovery, postsurgical fatigue, and
      early postoperative outcomes. Preoperative administration of IV ibuprofen
      modulates the stress and inflammatory response, as demonstrated by a decrease in
      the level of catecholamines, cortisol, and cytokines. TRIAL REGISTRATION:
      Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01938040.

PMID- 26893120
TI  - Chronic Pain in a Low Socioeconomic Status Population in Singapore: A Cross
      Sectional Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: . The authors sought to determine the prevalence of chronic pain in a
      low socioeconomic-status rental-flat community in Singapore and its associations.
      In Singapore, >=85% own homes; public rental flats are reserved for the low
      income. METHODS: . Chronic pain was defined as pain >=3 months. From 2009-2014,
      residents aged >= 40 years in five public rental-flat enclaves were surveyed for
      chronic pain, as well as sociodemographic factors. Subsequently, the authors
      conducted an additional study among elderly (aged >=60) in two public rental-flat
      enclaves in 2012. The authors compared against residents staying in adjacent
      owner-occupied public housing. RESULTS: . Prevalence of chronic pain in the
      rental-flat population was 14.2% (133/936) compared with 14.4% (158/1101) in the
      owner-occupied population (p = 0.949). On multivariate analysis, among those aged
      40-59 years, staying in the rental flat community was independently associated
      with higher prevalence of leg/ankle/foot pain, compared to staying in the owner
      occupied flat community (aOR = 2.35, CI = 1.24-7.35, p = 0.008). In the rental
      flat population, unemployment was associated with chronic pain (aOR = 1.92, 95%,
      CI = 1.05-2.78, p = 0.030); among the elderly, dependency in instrumental
      activities-of-daily-living (iADLs) was associated with chronic pain (aOR = 2.38,
      CI = 1.11-5.00, p = 0.025), as well as female gender, being single, and having
      higher education (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: . In this low socioeconomic-status
      population, chronic pain associated with unemployment and functional limitation.
      There was no difference in pain prevalence between the rental-flat population and
      adjacent owner-occupied precincts.

PMID- 26893122
TI  - Enhancement of dopaminergic activity and region-specific activation of Nrf2-ARE
      pathway by intranasal supplements of testosterone propionate in aged male rats.
AB  - The potential influence of intranasal testosterone propionate (InTP) supplements
      on mesodopaminergic system in aged male rats was investigated by analyzing the
      exploratory and motor behaviors as well as dopamine neurobiochemical indices.
      Meanwhile, oxidative stress parameters and pathway of nuclear factor erythroid 2
      related factor 2 (Nrf2)-binding antioxidant response elements (Nrf2-ARE) were
      examined to check whether the Nrf2-ARE pathway was involved in the InTP-induced
      alteration of mesodopaminergic system in aged male rats. The exploratory and
      motor behavioral deficits, as well as the reduced expression of dopamine,
      tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine transporter, which indicated the declined
      activity of mesodopaminergic system, were ameliorated in rats administered with
      12-week InTP. The results indicated that chronic InTP supplements could
      effectively influence the brain function activity in a way opposite to the effect
      of aging on the mesodopaminergic system of rats. The increased levels of Nrf2,
      heme oxygenase-1, and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 in the substantia nigra
      and ventral tegmental area, but not in the hippocampus of InTP-administered aged
      male rats, indicated that the ameliorative effect of InTP supplements on
      mesodopaminergic system might be related to the region-specific activation of the
      Nrf2-ARE pathway.

PMID- 26893121
TI  - Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region-Specific Expression
      and Social Attachment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Oxytocin (OXT) modulates several aspects of social behavior.
      Intranasal OXT is a leading candidate for treating social deficits in patients
      with autism spectrum disorder, and common genetic variants in the human OXTR gene
      are associated with emotion recognition, relationship quality, and autism
      spectrum disorder. Animal models have revealed that individual differences in
      Oxtr expression in the brain drive social behavior variation. Our understanding
      of how genetic variation contributes to brain OXTR expression is very limited.
      METHODS: We investigated Oxtr expression in monogamous prairie voles, which have
      a well-characterized OXT system. We quantified brain region-specific levels of
      Oxtr messenger RNA and oxytocin receptor protein with established neuroanatomic
      methods. We used pyrosequencing to investigate allelic imbalance of Oxtr mRNA, a
      molecular signature of polymorphic genetic regulatory elements. We performed next
      generation sequencing to discover variants in and near the Oxtr gene. We
      investigated social attachment using the partner preference test. RESULTS: Our
      allelic imbalance data demonstrate that genetic variants contribute to individual
      differences in Oxtr expression, but only in particular brain regions, including
      the nucleus accumbens, where oxytocin receptor signaling facilitates social
      attachment. Next-generation sequencing identified one polymorphism in the Oxtr
      intron, near a putative cis-regulatory element, explaining 74% of the variance in
      striatal Oxtr expression specifically. Males homozygous for the high expressing
      allele display enhanced social attachment. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these
      findings provide convincing evidence for robust genetic influence on Oxtr
      expression and provide novel insights into how noncoding polymorphisms in OXTR
      might influence individual differences in human social cognition and behavior.

PMID- 26893124
TI  - Synthesis of quaternary alpha-perfluoroalkyl lactams via electrophilic
      perfluoroalkylation.
AB  - Efficient protocols enabling the rapid installation of trifluoromethyl, as well
      as further functionalized fluoroalkyl groups by an electrophilic
      perfluoroalkylation of lactam-derived ketene silyl amides (KSAs) using
      hypervalent iodine reagents 1 and 2 have been developed.

PMID- 26893125
TI  - Exploring the information needs of people living with a long-term indwelling
      urinary catheter: a qualitative study.
AB  - AIMS: To explore the information needs of long-term indwelling urinary catheter
      users, the consequences for patients of inadequate information and how these
      needs could be met. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have drawn attention to the lack
      of information given to indwelling catheter users and how users would benefit
      from more. Little is known about the varied and detailed information needs of
      long-term indwelling catheter users. DESIGN: A qualitative interpretative
      approach was used, combining thematic analysis with constant comparison. A
      diverse sample of people living in the community with a catheter for 3 months or
      longer was recruited. METHODS: Interviews were conducted using a narrative
      approach. Thirty-six interviews were conducted in England, Wales and Scotland
      between 2011-2013. RESULTS: Participants ranged in age from 22-96 years. After
      having a catheter fitted they wanted more technical information about it and
      information to help prevent catheter-related physical problems (infection,
      blockage, leaking), on sexual activity and the siting of catheters and about
      managing a social life with a catheter. In its absence, patients sometimes
      experimented with the catheter, learning to live with it through trial and error,
      used the Internet to find out more, or contacted other patients or organizations.
      CONCLUSION: Research has consistently shown that indwelling catheter users need
      to be given more information but some patients still feel poorly informed. Nurses
      are in a good position to find out what people know, what they need, and to
      ensure that patients have contact phone numbers for further information and
      details of reliable websites and support organizations.

PMID- 26893123
TI  - Transcriptome comparisons shed light on the pre-condition and potential barrier
      for C4 photosynthesis evolution in eudicots.
AB  - C4 photosynthesis evolved independently from C3 photosynthesis in more than 60
      lineages. Most of the C4 lineages are clustered together in the order Poales and
      the order Caryophyllales while many other angiosperm orders do not have C4
      species, suggesting the existence of biological pre-conditions in the ancestral
      C3 species that facilitate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis in these lineages.
      To explore pre-adaptations for C4 photosynthesis evolution, we classified C4
      lineages into the C4-poor and the C4-rich groups based on the percentage of C4
      species in different genera and conducted a comprehensive comparison on the
      transcriptomic changes between the non-C4 species from the C4-poor and the C4
      rich groups. Results show that species in the C4-rich group showed higher
      expression of genes related to oxidoreductase activity, light reaction
      components, terpene synthesis, secondary cell synthesis, C4 cycle related genes
      and genes related to nucleotide metabolism and senescence. In contrast, C4-poor
      group showed up-regulation of a PEP/Pi translocator, genes related to signaling
      pathway, stress response, defense response and plant hormone metabolism (ethylene
      and brassinosteroid). The implications of these transcriptomic differences
      between the C4-rich and C4-poor groups to C4 evolution are discussed.

PMID- 26893126
TI  - Justifications for coercive care in child and adolescent psychiatry, a content
      analysis of medical documentation in Sweden.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There has been considerable interest in normative ethics regarding
      how and when coercive care can be justified. However, only a few empirical
      studies consider how professionals reason about ethical aspects when assessing
      the need for coercive care for adults, and even less concerning children and
      adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine and describe how professionals
      document their value arguments when considering the need for coercive psychiatric
      care of young people. METHODS: All 16 clinics that admitted children or
      adolescents to coercive care during one year in Sweden were included in the
      study. These clinics had a total of 155 admissions of 142 patients over one year.
      Qualitative content analysis with a deductive approach was used to find different
      forms of justification for coercive care that was documented in the medical
      records, including Care Certificates. RESULTS: The analysis of medical records
      revealed two main arguments used to justify coercive care in child and adolescent
      psychiatry: 1) the protection argument - the patients needed protection, mainly
      from themselves, and 2) the treatment requirement argument - coercive care was a
      necessary measure for administering treatment to the patient. Other arguments,
      namely the caregiver support argument, the clarification argument and the
      solidarity argument, were used primarily to support the two main arguments. These
      supportive arguments were mostly used when describing the current situation, not
      in the explicit argumentation for coercive care. The need for treatment was often
      only implicitly clarified and the type of care the patient needed was not
      specified. Few value arguments were used in the decision for coercive care;
      instead physicians often used their authority to convince others that treatment
      was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: One clinical implication of the study is that
      decisions about the use of coercive care should have a much stronger emphasis on
      ethical aspects. There is a need for an ethical legitimacy founded upon explicit
      ethical reasoning and after communication with the patient and family, which
      should be documented together with the decision to use coercive care.

PMID- 26893129
TI  - The wounded blogger: analysis of narratives by women with breast cancer.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to analyse the representation of the body in seven
      blogs by Spanish women with breast cancer. Using both texts and images, we
      analyse how they reproduce modern and postmodern logic to represent the wounded
      body. Based on Frank's proposals, this article draws the conclusion that the
      women bloggers mainly reproduce the modern logic (characterised by the
      restitution narrative and a predictable, disassociated and monadic body), but
      there are elements which break with this logic (the quest narrative, the body
      presented as associated, dyadic and full of desire, and the acceptance of
      contingency). After applying Frank's categories, we suggest that the contemporary
      way of experiencing illness may question the clarity of the modern/postmodern
      divide.

PMID- 26893128
TI  - Go!: results from a quasi-experimental obesity prevention trial with hospital
      employees.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Worksite obesity prevention interventions using an ecological
      approach may hold promise for reducing typical weight gain. The purpose of this
      study was to examine the effectiveness of Go!, an innovative 12-month multi
      component worksite obesity prevention intervention. METHODS: A quasi-experimental
      non-equivalent control group design was utilized; 407 eligible hospital employees
      (intervention arm) and 93 eligible clinic employees (comparison arm)
      participated. The intervention involved pedometer distribution, labeling of all
      foods in the worksite cafeteria and vending machines (with calories, step
      equivalent, and a traffic light based on energy density signaling recommended
      portion), persuasive messaging throughout the hospital, and the integration of
      influential employees to reinforce healthy social norms. Changes in weight, BMI,
      waist circumference, physical activity, and dietary behavior after 6 months and 1
      year were primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included knowledge, perceptions of
      employer commitment to employee health, availability of information about diet,
      exercise, and weight loss, perceptions of coworker support and frequency of
      health discussions with coworkers. A process evaluation was conducted as part of
      the study. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANCOVA indicated that neither group showed
      significant increases in weight, BMI, or waist circumference over 12 months. The
      intervention group showed a modest increase in physical activity in the form of
      walking, but decreases in fruit and vegetable servings and fiber intake. They
      also reported significant increases in knowledge, information, perceptions of
      employer commitment, and health discussions with peers. Employees expressed
      positive attitudes towards all components of the Go! CONCLUSIONS: This low
      intensity intervention was well-received by employees but had little effect on
      their weight over the course of 12 months. Such results are consistent with other
      worksite obesity prevention studies using ecological approaches. Implementing low
      impact physical activity (e.g., walking, stair use) may be more readily
      incorporated into the worksite setting than more challenging behaviors of
      altering dietary habits and increasing more vigorous forms of physical activity.
      TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov
      (NCT01585480) on April 24, 2012.

PMID- 26893127
TI  - Should compulsive sexual behavior be considered an addiction?
AB  - AIMS: To review the evidence base for classifying compulsive sexual behavior
      (CSB) as a non-substance or 'behavioral' addiction. METHODS: Data from multiple
      domains (e.g. epidemiological, phenomenological, clinical, biological) are
      reviewed and considered with respect to data from substance and gambling
      addictions. RESULTS: Overlapping features exist between CSB and substance use
      disorders. Common neurotransmitter systems may contribute to CSB and substance
      use disorders, and recent neuroimaging studies highlight similarities relating to
      craving and attentional biases. Similar pharmacological and psychotherapeutic
      treatments may be applicable to CSB and substance addictions, although
      considerable gaps in knowledge currently exist. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the growing
      body of research linking compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) to substance
      addictions, significant gaps in understanding continue to complicate
      classification of CSB as an addiction.

PMID- 26893130
TI  - Gold/diamond nanohybrids may reveal how hyperlocalized hyperthermia kills cancer
      cells.

PMID- 26893131
TI  - Agarol, an ergosterol derivative from Agaricus blazei, induces caspase
      independent apoptosis in human cancer cells.
AB  - Agaricus blazei (A. blazei) is a mushroom with many biological effects and active
      ingredients. We purified a tumoricidal substance from A. blazei, an ergosterol
      derivative, and named it 'Agarol'. Cytotoxic effects of Agarol were determined by
      the MTT assay using A549, MKN45, HSC-3, and HSC-4 human carcinoma cell lines
      treated with Agarol. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis. Reactive
      oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondria membrane potential (?psim) were also
      determined by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to quantify the
      expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Agarol predominantly induced apoptosis
      in two p53-wild cell lines (A549 and MKN45) compared to the other p53-mutant cell
      lines (HSC-3 and HSC-4). Further mechanistic studies revealed that induction of
      apoptosis is associated with increased generation of ROS, reduced ?psim, release
      of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria to the cytosol,
      upregulation of Bax, and downregulation of Bcl-2. Caspase-3 activities did not
      increase, and z-VAD-fmk, a caspase inhibitor, did not inhibit the Agarol-induced
      apoptosis. These findings indicate that Agarol induces caspase-independent
      apoptosis in human carcinoma cells through a mitochondrial pathway. The in vivo
      anticancer activity of Agarol was confirmed in a xenograft murine model. This
      study suggests a molecular mechanism by which Agarol induces apoptosis in human
      carcinoma cells and indicates the potential use of Agarol as an anticancer agent.

PMID- 26893132
TI  - Telephone triage in general practices: A written case scenario study in the
      Netherlands.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: General practices increasingly use telephone triage to manage patient
      flows. During triage, the urgency of the call and required type of care are
      determined. This study examined the organization and adequacy of telephone triage
      in general practices in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational
      study using a web-based survey among practice assistants including questions on
      background characteristics and triage organization. Furthermore, practice
      assistants were asked to assess the required type of care of written case
      scenarios with varying health problems and levels of urgency. To determine the
      adequacy of the assessments, a comparison with a reference standard was made. In
      addition, the association between background characteristics and triage
      organization and the adequacy of triage was examined. SETTING: Daytime general
      practices. SUBJECTS: Practice assistants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Over- and under
      estimation, sensitivity, specificity. RESULTS: The response rate was 41.1% (n =
      973). The required care was assessed adequately in 63.6% of cases, was over
      estimated in 19.3%, and under-estimated in 17.1%. The sensitivity of identifying
      patients with a highly urgent problem was 76.7% and the specificity was 94.0%.
      The adequacy of the assessments of the required care was higher for more
      experienced assistants and assistants with fixed daily work meetings with the GP.
      Triage training, use of a triage tool, and authorization of advice were not
      associated with adequacy of triage. CONCLUSION: Triage by practice assistants in
      general practices is efficient (high specificity), but potentially unsafe in
      highly urgent cases (suboptimal sensitivity). It is important to train practice
      assistants in identifying highly urgent cases. KEY POINTS: General practices
      increasingly use telephone triage to manage patient flows, but little is known
      about the organization and adequacy of triage in daytime practices. Telephone
      triage by general practice assistants is efficient, but potentially unsafe in
      highly urgent cases. The adequacy of triage is higher for more experienced
      assistants and assistants with fixed daily work meetings with the general
      practitioner.

PMID- 26893134
TI  - Communication of Recurrence Risk Estimates to Patients Diagnosed With Breast
      Cancer.

PMID- 26893136
TI  - [The future of radiology: What can we expect within the next 10 years?].
AB  - More than other medical discipline, radiology is marked by technical innovation
      and continuous development, as well as the optimization of the underlying
      physical principles. In this respect, several trends that will crucially change
      and develop radiology over the next decade can be observed. Through the use of
      ever faster computer tomography, which also shows an ever-decreasing radiation
      exposure, the "workhorse" of radiology will have an even greater place and
      displace conventional X-ray techniques further. In addition, hybrid imaging,
      which is based on a combination of nuclear medicine and radiological techniques
      (keywords: PET/CT, PET/MRI) will become much more established and, in particular,
      will improve oncological imaging further, allowing increasingly individualized
      imaging for specific tracers and techniques of functional magnetic resonance
      imaging for a particular tumour. Future radiology will be strongly characterized
      by innovations in the software and Internet industry, which will enable new image
      viewing and processing methods and open up new possibilities in the context of
      the organization of radiological work. 

PMID- 26893133
TI  - Metabolism of murine TH 17 cells: Impact on cell fate and function.
AB  - An effective adaptive immune response relies on the ability of lymphocytes to
      rapidly act upon a variety of insults. In T lymphocytes, this response includes
      cell growth, clonal expansion, differentiation, and cytokine production, all of
      which place a significant energy burden on the cell. Recent evidence shows that T
      cell metabolic reprogramming is an essential component of the adaptive immune
      response and specific metabolic pathways dictate T-cell fate decisions, including
      the development of TH 17 versus T regulatory (Treg) cells. TH 17 cells have
      garnered significant attention due to their roles in the pathology of immune
      mediated inflammatory diseases. Attempts to characterize TH 17 cells have
      demonstrated that they are highly dynamic, adjusting their function to
      environmental cues, which dictate their metabolic program. In this review, we
      highlight recent data demonstrating the impact of cellular metabolism on the TH
      17/Treg balance and present factors that mediate TH 17-cell metabolism. Some
      examples of these include the differential impact of the mTOR signaling complexes
      on T-helper-cell differentiation, hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1alpha)
      promotion of glycolysis to favor TH 17-cell development, and ACC1-dependent de
      novo fatty acid synthesis favoring TH 17-cell development over Treg cells.
      Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic options and the implications of
      modulating TH 17-cell metabolism for the treatment of TH 17-mediated diseases. 

PMID- 26893135
TI  - Evaluation of Pharmacists' Work in a Physician-Pharmacist Collaborative Model for
      the Management of Hypertension.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Physician-pharmacist collaborative models have been shown to
      improve the care of patients with numerous chronic medical conditions. Team-based
      health care using integrated clinical pharmacists provides one opportunity to
      improve quality in health care systems that use population-based financing. In
      November 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requested
      that the relative value of pharmacists' work in team-based care needs to be
      established. Thus the objective of this study was to describe the components of
      pharmacists' work in the management of hypertension with a physician-pharmacist
      collaborative model. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of the components of
      pharmacists' work in the Collaboration Among Pharmacists and Physicians to
      Improve Outcomes Now (CAPTION) study, a prospective, cluster randomized trial.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This analysis was intended to provide policymakers
      with data and information, using the CAPTION study model, on the time and
      intensity of pharmacists' work to understand pharmacists' relative value
      contributions in the context of CMS financing and population management aims. The
      CAPTION trial was conducted in 32 community-based medical offices in 15 U.S.
      states and included 390 patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Blood
      pressure was measured by trained study coordinators in each office, and patients
      were included in the study if they had uncontrolled blood pressure. Included
      patients were randomized to a 9-month intervention, a 24-month intervention, or
      usual care. The goal of the pharmacist intervention was to improve blood pressure
      control and resolve drug therapy problems impeding progress toward blood pressure
      goals. This intervention included medical record review, a structured assessment
      with the patient, collaboration to achieve goals of therapy, and patient follow
      up. The two intervention arms (9 and 24 mo) were identical the first 9 months,
      and that time frame is the focus of this workload evaluation. Pharmacists
      completed study encounter forms for every patient encounter and estimated time
      spent in pre-visit, face-to-face care, and post-visit activities. Among the 390
      patients, there were 2811 encounters with pharmacists that involved 3.44
      hours/patient for face-to-face care visits plus 1.55 hours/patient for pre-visit
      and post-visit work. Intensity of work was reflected in interventions to resolve
      drug therapy problems with patients (43% of encounters) and with physicians (1169
      recommendations, of which physicians accepted 1153 [98.6%]), resulting in
      improvement of patients' blood pressure goals achieved (from 0% at baseline to
      43% at 9 months based on the primary study end point). CONCLUSION: Pharmacists
      provided extensive interventions to patients with hypertension. This analysis
      provides a framework for health systems, provider groups, and payers to measure
      pharmacists' work in value-based financing and population management.

PMID- 26893137
TI  - [Radiotherapy in node-positive prostate cancer].
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are numerous randomized trials to guide the management of
      patients with localized (and metastatic) prostate cancer, but only a few (mostly
      retrospective) studies have specifically addressed node-positive patients.
      Therefore, there is uncertainty regarding optimal treatment in this situation.
      Current guidelines recommend long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone
      or radiotherapy plus long-term ADT as treatment options. OBJECTIVES: This
      overview summarizes the existing literature on the use of radiotherapy for node
      positive prostate cancer as definitive treatment and as adjuvant or salvage
      therapy after radical prostatectomy. In this context, we also discuss several PET
      tracers in the imaging evaluation of patients with biochemical recurrence of
      prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. As for definitive treatment,
      retrospective studies suggest that ADT plus radiotherapy improves overall
      survival compared with ADT alone. These studies also consistently demonstrated
      that many patients with node-positive prostate cancer can achieve long-term
      survival - and are likely curable - with aggressive therapy. RESULTS: The
      beneficial impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on survival in patients with pN1
      prostate cancer seems to be highly influenced by tumor characteristics. Men with
      <= 2 positive lymph nodes in the presence of intermediate- to high-grade disease,
      or positive margins, and those with 3 or 4 positive lymph nodes are the ideal
      candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy (plus long-term ADT) after surgery.
      CONCLUSION: There is a need for randomized trials to further examine the
      potential role of radiotherapy as either definitive or adjuvant treatment, for
      patients with node-positive prostate cancer.

PMID- 26893138
TI  - Physical activity and its correlates in children and adolescents post-liver
      transplant.
AB  - The health benefits of PA are well established for healthy and chronically ill
      children. This study objectively measures physical fitness and PA levels in
      children PLT and explores potential correlates and perceived barriers impacting
      their PA. A total of 23 children (16 females, mean 14.01 +/- 2.49 yrs) >1 yr PLT
      were assessed for peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), muscle strength, endurance,
      and flexibility. MVPA and steps/day were determined with accelerometry.
      Additionally, SE, perceived fatigue, and barriers and benefits of PA were
      examined. VO2 peak (mean 33. 2 +/- 7.61 mL/kg/min; 77.0 +/- 15.6% predicted) and
      PA (average 6841 +/- 2299 steps/day) were below healthy norms. MVPA (31.6 +/-
      16.1 min/day) was lower than national guidelines. Six participants (30%) attained
      criterion standards for abdominal strength and one participant (5%) for push-ups.
      Fatigue and SE were lower than reported levels in healthy children. A commonly
      perceived barrier to PA was "I am tired." A positive correlation was shown
      between SE and MVPA (r = 0.57, p = 0.007), SE and fatigue (r = 0.54, p = 0.01),
      and PELD score and fatigue (r = 0.66, p = 0.007). Children PLT demonstrate below
      normal levels of PA and aerobic capacity. SE is a modifiable correlate of their
      PA. Further investigation of the impact of PA correlates can guide the
      development of future innovative PA intervention strategies in children PLT. 

PMID- 26893140
TI  - Estimation of Radiation Dose in CT Based on Projection Data.
AB  - Managing and optimizing radiation dose has become a core problem for the CT
      community. As a fundamental step for dose optimization, accurate and
      computationally efficient dose estimates are crucial. The purpose of this study
      was to devise a computationally efficient projection-based dose metric. The
      absorbed energy and object mass were individually modeled using the projection
      data. The absorbed energy was estimated using the difference between intensity of
      the primary photon and the exit photon. The mass was estimated using the volume
      under the attenuation profile. The feasibility of the approach was evaluated
      across phantoms with a broad size range, various kVp settings, and two bowtie
      filters, using a simulation tool, the Computer Assisted Tomography SIMulator
      (CATSIM) software. The accuracy of projection-based dose estimation was validated
      against Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The relationship between projection-based
      dose metric and MC dose estimate was evaluated using regression models. The
      projection-based dose metric showed a strong correlation with Monte Carlo dose
      estimates (R (2) > 0.94). The prediction errors for the projection-based dose
      metric were all below 15 %. This study demonstrated the feasibility of
      computationally efficient dose estimation requiring only the projection data.

PMID- 26893141
TI  - Commentary to: Effect of continuous ozone injection on performance and biomass
      accumulation of biofilters treating gaseous toluene.

PMID- 26893142
TI  - Deammonification for digester supernatant pretreated with thermal hydrolysis:
      overcoming inhibition through process optimization.
AB  - The thermal hydrolysis process (THP) has been proven to be an excellent
      pretreatment step for an anaerobic digester (AD), increasing biogas yield and
      decreasing sludge disposal. The goal of this work was to optimize
      deammonification for efficient nitrogen removal despite the inhibition effects
      caused by the organics present in the THP-AD sludge filtrate (digestate). Two
      sequencing batch reactors were studied treating conventional digestate and THP-AD
      digestate, respectively. Improved process control based on higher dissolved
      oxygen set-point (1 mg O2/L) and longer aeration times could achieve successful
      treatment of THP-AD digestate. This increased set-point could overcome the
      inhibition effect on aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AerAOB), potentially
      caused by particulate and colloidal organics. Moreover, based on the mass
      balance, anoxic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) contribution to the total
      nitrogen removal decreased from 97 +/- 1 % for conventional to 72 +/- 5 % for THP
      AD digestate treatment, but remained stable by selective AnAOB retention using a
      vibrating screen. Overall, similar total nitrogen removal rates of 520 +/- 28 mg
      N/L/day at a loading rate of 600 mg N/L/day were achieved in the THP-AD reactor
      compared to the conventional digestate treatment operating at low dissolved
      oxygen (DO) (0.38 +/- 0.10 mg O2/L). 

PMID- 26893139
TI  - An external sensing system in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A number of experiments have previously indicated that Plasmodium
      falciparum-infected erythrocytes (pRBC) were able to sense host environment. The
      basis of this ability to detect external cues is not known but in screening
      signalling molecules from pRBC using commercial antibodies, a 34 kDa
      phosphorylated molecule that possesses such ability was identified. METHODS: The
      pRBC were exposed to different culture conditions and proteins were extracted for
      1D or 2D gel electrophoresis followed by Western blot. The localization of 34 kDa
      protein was examined by biochemical fractionation followed by Western blot. High
      resolution mass spectrometric analysis of immune precipitants was used to
      identify this protein and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase
      chain reaction was used for detecting mRNA expression level. RESULTS: The 34 kDa
      protein was called PfAB4 has immediate responses (dephosphorylation and rapid
      turnover) to host environmental stimuli such as serum depletion, osmolality
      change and cytokine addition. PfAB4 is expressed constitutively throughout the
      erythrocytic lifecycle with dominant expression in trophozoites 30 h post
      infection. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment induced a transient detectable
      dephosphorylation of PfAB4 in the ItG strain (2 min after addition) and the level
      of expression and phosphorylation returned to normal within 1-2 h. PfAB4
      localized dominantly in pRBC cytoplasm, with a transient shift to the nucleus
      under TNF stimulation as shown by biochemical fractionation. High-resolution mass
      spectrometric analysis of immune precipitants of AB4 antibodies revealed a 34 kDa
      PfAB4 component as a mixture of proliferating cellular nuclear antigen-1 (PCNA1)
      and exported protein-2 (EXP2), along with a small number of other inconsistently
      identified peptides. Different parasite strains have different PfAB4 expression
      levels, but no significant association between mRNA and PfAB4 levels was seen,
      indicating that the differences may be at the post-transcriptional, presumably
      phosphorylation, level. A triple serine phosphorylated PCNA1 peptide was
      identified from the PfAB4 high expression strain only, providing further evidence
      that the identity of PfAB4 is PCNA1 in P. falciparum. CONCLUSION: A protein
      element in the human malaria parasite that responds to external cues, including
      the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF have been discovered. Treatment results in a
      transient change in phosphorylation status of the response element, which also
      migrates from the parasite cytoplasm to the nucleus. The response element has
      been identified as PfPCNA1. This sensing response could be regulated by a
      parasite checkpoint system and be analogous to bacterial two-component signal
      transduction systems.

PMID- 26893145
TI  - Overexpression of SIRT3 disrupts mitochondrial proteostasis and cell cycle
      progression.

PMID- 26893146
TI  - Structural characterization, phase transition and switchable dielectric behaviors
      in a new zigzag chain organic-inorganic hybrid compound: [C3H7NH3]2SbI5.
AB  - A novel zigzag chain organic-inorganic hybrid compound of the general formula
      R2MI5, [n-C3H7NH3]2[SbI5] (1), was successfully synthesized, in which the n
      propylammonium cations were located in the free cavities between the one
      dimensional zigzag chains. Systematic characterization was performed to
      investigate the phase transition of 1. A pair of sharp peaks at 211.8 K (heating)
      and 203.7 K (cooling) with a hysteresis 8.1 K were observed in the differential
      scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve, indicating the first-order phase transition
      behavior of 1. The temperature dependence dielectric measurement demonstrated a
      step-like change at around 211.8 K, which makes 1 a potential switchable
      dielectric material. Frequency dependence measurement revealed that the frequency
      exerts a weak influence on the dielectric permittivity. Further structural
      analysis shows that both anionic and cationic moieties contribute to the phase
      transition, accompanied by weak hydrogen bond interactions between cations and
      the [SbI5]n(2-) chains.

PMID- 26893143
TI  - Suicide Gene-Engineered Stromal Cells Reveal a Dynamic Regulation of Cancer
      Metastasis.
AB  - Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major cancer-promoting component in
      the tumor microenvironment (TME). The dynamic role of human CAFs in cancer
      progression has been ill-defined because human CAFs lack a unique marker needed
      for a cell-specific, promoter-driven knockout model. Here, we developed an
      engineered human CAF cell line with an inducible suicide gene to enable selective
      in vivo elimination of human CAFs at different stages of xenograft tumor
      development, effectively circumventing the challenge of targeting a cell-specific
      marker. Suicide-engineered CAFs were highly sensitive to apoptosis induction in
      vitro and in vivo by the addition of a simple small molecule inducer. Selection
      of timepoints for targeted CAF apoptosis in vivo during the progression of a
      human breast cancer xenograft model was guided by a bi-phasic host cytokine
      response that peaked at early timepoints after tumor implantation. Remarkably, we
      observed that the selective apoptosis of CAFs at these early timepoints did not
      affect primary tumor growth, but instead increased the presence of tumor
      associated macrophages and the metastatic spread of breast cancer cells to the
      lung and bone. The study revealed a dynamic relationship between CAFs and cancer
      metastasis that has counter-intuitive ramifications for CAF-targeted therapy. 

PMID- 26893148
TI  - Medical maternalism: beyond paternalism and antipaternalism.
AB  - This paper argues that the concept of paternalism is currently overextended to
      include a variety of actions that, while resembling paternalistic actions, are
      importantly different. I use the example of Japanese physicians' non-disclosures
      of cancer diagnoses directly to patients, arguing that the concept of maternalism
      better captures these actions. To act paternalistically is to substitute one's
      own judgement for that of another person and decide in place of that person for
      his/her best interest. By contrast, to act maternalistically is to decide for
      another person based on a reasonable understanding of that person's own
      preferences. The concept of maternalism allows for a more thorough assessment of
      the moral justification of these types of actions. I conclude that it is
      possible, at least in principle, to justify Japanese physicians' non-disclosures,
      and that this justification must be based on an understanding of these actions as
      maternalistic.

PMID- 26893144
TI  - Leukocyte populations and IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment of an orthotopic
      colorectal cancer model.
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health problem worldwide. It is often
      diagnosed late due to its asymptomatic nature. As with all cancers, an immune
      reaction is involved; however, in CRC, it is unknown if this immune response is
      favorable or unfavorable for disease progression. In this study, the immune
      response in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and Peyer's patches was investigated
      during development of CRC in an orthotopic mouse model. CRC was induced by
      injecting CT26 cells into the cecum wall of BALB/c mice. Flow cytometry was used
      to analyze leukocyte populations involved in tumor immunity in MLNs and Peyer's
      patches. Cryostat sections for immunohistochemistry were prepared from the caecum
      and colon from CRC-induced and sham-operated animals. Cytokines produced by mouse
      CT26 cell line were measuredin vitroandin vivo Significant increases in the
      number of CD8(+)/TCR(+)and CD49b(+)/TCR(-)(natural killer) cells were found in
      MLNs and Peyer's patches in the CRC group. In addition, gammadeltaT cells were
      present in the lamina propria of the colon tissues from sham-operated mice, but
      absent in the colon tissues from mice with CRC. Immunohistochemical analysis of
      tumorous tissues showed eosinophil, CD69(+)T cell, and CD11b(+)cell infiltration.
      Bothin vitroandin vivoCT26 tumor cells were interleukin (IL)-6 positive. In
      addition, tumor-infiltrating CD45(+)cells were also IL-6 positive. In summary,
      the kinetics of the immune response to CRC and the key effector lymphocytes that
      are implicated in tumor immunity are demonstrated. Furthermore, IL-6 is a key
      cytokine present within the tumor microenvironment. 

PMID- 26893149
TI  - "Protein" Measurement in Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Critical
      Evaluation.
AB  - Five commercially available assay kits were tested on the same protein sample
      with the addition of 17 different types of interfering substances typically found
      in the biological wastewater treatment, and a comparison of the use of these
      assays with 22 different protein and peptide samples is also presented. It was
      shown that a wide variety of substances can interfere dramatically with these
      assays; the metachromatic response was also clearly influenced by different
      proteinaceous material. Measurement of the "protein" content in the effluent of
      an anaerobic membrane bioreactor was then carried out using these assay methods.
      Quantitative results of the "protein" concentration in the different effluent
      samples, with or without spiked additions of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), showed
      considerable disagreement. We concluded that the "protein" measured in wastewater
      samples using standard colorimetric assays often shows false positive results and
      has little correlation to their real value. A new analytical method needs to be
      developed in order to gain greater insight into the biological transformations
      occurring in anaerobic digestion, and how soluble microbial products (SMPs) are
      produced. 

PMID- 26893147
TI  - Age-related neurogenesis decline in the subventricular zone is associated with
      specific cell cycle regulation changes in activated neural stem cells.
AB  - Although neural stem cells (NSCs) sustain continuous neurogenesis throughout the
      adult lifespan of mammals, they progressively exhibit proliferation defects that
      contribute to a sharp reduction in subventricular neurogenesis during aging.
      However, little is known regarding the early age-related events in neurogenic
      niches. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique that allows for the
      prospective purification of the main neurogenic populations from the
      subventricular zone (SVZ), we demonstrated an early decline in adult neurogenesis
      with a dramatic loss of progenitor cells in 4 month-old young adult mice. Whereas
      the activated and quiescent NSC pools remained stable up to 12 months, the
      proliferative status of activated NSCs was already altered by 6 months, with an
      overall extension of the cell cycle resulting from a specific lengthening of G1.
      Whole genome analysis of activated NSCs from 2- and 6-month-old mice further
      revealed distinct transcriptomic and molecular signatures, as well as a
      modulation of the TGFbeta signalling pathway. Our microarray study constitutes a
      cogent identification of new molecular players and signalling pathways regulating
      adult neurogenesis and its early modifications. 

PMID- 26893150
TI  - What Pediatricians and Other Clinicians Should Know About Zika Virus.

PMID- 26893152
TI  - Switchable-Hydrophilicity Solvents for Product Isolation and Catalyst Recycling
      in Organocatalysis.
AB  - Switchable-hydrophilicity solvents (SHSs) are solvents that can switch reversibly
      between a water-miscible state to a state that forms a biphasic mixture with
      water. In this case study, SHSs have been studied for easy product/catalyst
      separation as well as catalyst recycling. A series of tertiary amine SHSs have
      been identified for the extraction of the hydrophilic product from the
      postreaction mixture. Here, we determined high extraction efficiencies for the
      product (>84%) and low extraction rates for the catalyst (<0.1%). With the
      catalyst recycling experiments, we isolated the product in high purity (>98%)
      without further purification steps. At the same time, the catalyst was reused
      without any loss of activity (>91% enantiomeric excess, >99% yield) four times.
      Furthermore, we optimized the extraction efficiency by working with a
      microextractor. In addition, with the use of a falling-film microreactor, we
      obtained the product with high enantioselectivity by working at ambient
      conditions.

PMID- 26893151
TI  - Epicrania Fugax.
AB  - Epicrania fugax (EF) is a primary headache of recent description. EF essentially
      consists of brief paroxysms of pain describing a linear or zigzag trajectory
      across the surface of one hemicranium, commencing and terminating in the
      territories of different nerves. The pain of forward EF originates in a
      particular area of the occipital, parietal or temporal regions and moves
      anteriorly, whereas the pain of backward EF originates in the frontal area, the
      eye or the nose and moves posteriorly. Some patients have ocular or nasal
      autonomic accompaniments, and some have triggers. Between attacks, many patients
      have continuous or intermittent pain and/or tenderness at the stemming area. Pain
      frequency is extremely variable and some patients have spontaneous remissions.
      Preventive therapy is required when the paroxysms are frequent and non-remitting.
      Neuromodulators, indomethacin, amitryptiline, nerve anesthetic blockades, and
      trochlear steroid injections have been used in different cases, with partial or
      complete response.

PMID- 26893153
TI  - Ultraviolet-C light effect on physicochemical, bioactive, microbiological, and
      sensorial characteristics of carrot (Daucus carota) beverages.
AB  - The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet-C light on
      physicochemical, bioactive, microbial, and sensory characteristics of carrot
      beverages. Beverages were formulated with different concentrations of carrot
      juice (60, 80, and 100% [v/v]) and treated with ultraviolet-C light at different
      flow rates (0, 0.5, 3.9, and 7.9 mL s(-1)) and times (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min),
      equivalent to ultraviolet-C dosages of 13.2, 26.4, 39.6, 52.8, and 79.2 J cm(-2)
      Total soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity were not affected by the
      ultraviolet-C light treatment. Ultraviolet-C light significantly affected (p <
      0.05) color parameters of pure juice; however, at low concentration of juice,
      total color change was slightly affected (DeltaE = 2.0 +/- 0.7). Phenolic
      compounds (4.1 +/- 0.1, 5.2 +/- 0.2, and 8.6 +/- 0.3 mg of GAE 100 mL(-1) of
      beverage with 60, 80, and 100% of juice, respectively) and antioxidant capacity
      (6.1 +/- 0.4, 8.5 +/- 0.4, and 9.4 +/- 0.3 mg of Trolox 100 mL(-1) of beverage
      with 60, 80, and 100% of juice, respectively) of carrot beverages were not
      affected by ultraviolet-C light treatment. Microbial kinetics showed that
      mesophiles were mostly reduced at high flow rates in carrot beverages with 60% of
      juice. Maximum logarithmic reductions for mesophiles and total coliforms were 3.2
      +/- 0.1 and 2.6 +/- 0.1, respectively, after 30 min of ultraviolet-C light
      processing. Beverages were well accepted (6-7) by judges who did not perceive the
      difference between untreated and Ultraviolet-C light treated beverages. 

PMID- 26893154
TI  - Cell type of origin influences iPSC generation and differentiation to cells of
      the hematoendothelial lineage.
AB  - The use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a source of cells for cell
      based therapy in regenerative medicine is hampered by the limited efficiency and
      safety of the reprogramming procedure and the low efficiency of iPSC
      differentiation to specialized cell types. Evidence suggests that iPSCs retain an
      epigenetic memory of their parental cells with a possible influence on their
      differentiation capacity in vitro. We reprogramme three cell types, namely human
      umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), endothelial progenitor cells
      (EPCs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), to iPSCs and compare their
      hematoendothelial differentiation capacity. HUVECs and EPCs were at least two
      fold more efficient in iPSC reprogramming than HDFs. Both HUVEC- and EPC-derived
      iPSCs exhibited high potentiality toward endothelial cell differentiation
      compared with HDF-derived iPSCs. However, only HUVEC-derived iPSCs showed
      efficient differentiation to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Examination of
      DNA methylation at promoters of hematopoietic and endothelial genes revealed
      evidence for the existence of epigenetic memory at the endothelial genes but not
      the hematopoietic genes in iPSCs derived from HUVECs and EPCs indicating that
      epigenetic memory involves an endothelial differentiation bias. Our findings
      suggest that endothelial cells and EPCs are better sources for iPSC derivation
      regarding their reprogramming efficiency and that the somatic cell type used for
      iPSC generation toward specific cell lineage differentiation is of importance.

PMID- 26893155
TI  - Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity and Parkinson's disease risk in patients with
      essential tremor.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported an increased risk for patients with
      essential tremor to develop Parkinson's disease. In addition, hyperechogenicity
      in the area of the substantia nigra has been associated with a markedly increased
      risk for Parkinson's disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
      validity of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in patients with essential tremor
      as a risk marker for Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Transcranial sonography was
      performed in 70 patients suffering from essential tremor. Fifty-four of these
      patients were available for follow-up after a mean of 6.16 +/- 2.05 years and
      were assessed for the incidence of new-onset Parkinson's disease. RESULTS: The
      relative risk for developing Parkinson's disease in patients with essential
      tremor who had hyperechogenicity at baseline versus those without this
      hyperechogenicity was 7.00 (95% confidence interval, 1.62-30.34; sensitivity,
      77.8%; specificity, 75.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity is
      also associated with an increased risk for Parkinson's disease in patients with
      essential tremor. These findings further support the potential role of this
      echofeature as a risk marker for Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 26893156
TI  - Protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by polyclonal IgG
      requires adjuvant-induced inflammation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) proved to be an efficient anti
      inflammatory treatment for a growing number of neuroinflammatory diseases and
      protects against the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
      (EAE), a widely used animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: The
      clinical efficacy of IVIG and IVIG-derived F(ab')2 fragments, generated using the
      streptococcal cysteine proteinase Ide-S, was evaluated in EAE induced by active
      immunization and by adoptive transfer of myelin-specific T cells. Frequency,
      phenotype, and functional characteristics of T cell subsets and myeloid cells
      were determined by flow cytometry. Antibody binding to microbial antigen and
      cytokine production by innate immune cells was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: We
      report that the protective effect of IVIG is lost in the adoptive transfer model
      of EAE and requires prophylactic administration during disease induction. IVIG
      derived Fc fragments are not required for protection against EAE, since
      administration of F(ab')2 fragments fully recapitulated the clinical efficacy of
      IVIG. F(ab')2-treated mice showed a substantial decrease in splenic effector T
      cell expansion and cytokine production (GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, IL-17A) 9 days after
      immunization. Inhibition of effector T cell responses was not associated with an
      increase in total numbers of Tregs but with decreased activation of innate
      myeloid cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells.
      Therapeutically effective IVIG-derived F(ab')2 fragments inhibited adjuvant
      induced innate immune cell activation as determined by IL-12/23 p40 production
      and recognized mycobacterial antigens contained in Freund's complete adjuvant
      which is required for induction of active EAE. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate
      that F(ab')2-mediated neutralization of adjuvant contributes to the therapeutic
      efficacy of anti-inflammatory IgG. These findings might partly explain the
      discrepancy of IVIG efficacy in EAE and MS.

PMID- 26893158
TI  - Vitamin D attenuates inflammation in CFTR knockdown intestinal epithelial cells
      but has no effect in cells with intact CFTR.
AB  - The cystic fibrosis (CF) intestine is characterized by chronic inflammation. CF
      patients are instructed to ingest supplemental vitamin D on a daily basis thereby
      exposing their intestinal tract to pharmacological amounts of this vitamin. It
      has been shown that vitamin D exerts intestinal anti-inflammatory properties. We
      therefore postulate that vitamin D may be beneficial in the management of CF
      intestinal inflammation by attenuating cellular inflammatory responses. In this
      study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the oral form of vitamin
      D3 (cholecalciferol) and its metabolites, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D3, on cytokine-induced inflammatory responses in intestinal
      epithelial Caco-2/15 cells with intact expression of CF transmembrane conductance
      regulator (CFTR) and knockdown for CFTR. We show that 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and
      1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited p38MAPK phosphorylation and that these effects
      were not mediated by changes in the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1).
      However, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 exhibited superior anti-inflammatory effects as
      it furthermore reduced cytokine-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and
      interleukin-8 mRNA stability and secretion. Intriguingly, the anti-inflammatory
      effects of vitamin D metabolites were only observed in CFTR knockdown cells,
      which may be explained by alterations in its catabolism associated with changes
      in CYP24A1 expression. These observations were supported in vivo whereby Cftr(-/
      ) mice fed large amounts of vitamin D3 for 2 mo led to a reduction in the number
      of eosinophils and apoptotic cells in the duodenal mucosa of females but not
      males. Altogether, these findings suggest that vitamin D exerts intestinal anti
      inflammatory actions under specific circumstances and may thus prove beneficial
      in CF.

PMID- 26893157
TI  - Prucalopride exerts neuroprotection in human enteric neurons.
AB  - Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its transporters and receptors are
      involved in a wide array of digestive functions. In particular, 5-HT4 receptors
      are known to mediate intestinal peristalsis and recent data in experimental
      animals have shown their role in neuronal maintenance and neurogenesis. This
      study has been designed to test whether prucalopride, a well-known full 5-HT4
      agonist, exerts protective effects on neurons, including enteric neurons, exposed
      to oxidative stress challenge. Sulforhodamine B assay was used to determine the
      survival of SH-SY5Y cells, human enteric neurospheres, and ex vivo submucosal
      neurons following H2O2 exposure in the presence or absence of prucalopride (1
      nM). Specificity of 5-HT4-mediated neuroprotection was established by experiments
      performed in the presence of GR113808, a 5-HT4 antagonist. Prucalopride exhibited
      a significant neuroprotective effect. SH-SY5Y cells pretreated with prucalopride
      were protected from the injury elicited by H2O2 as shown by increased survival
      (73.5 +/- 0.1% of neuronal survival vs. 33.3 +/- 0.1%, respectively; P < 0.0001)
      and a significant reduction of proapoptotic caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation in
      all neurons tested. The protective effect of prucalopride was reversed by the
      specific 5-HT4 antagonist GR113808. Prucalopride promotes a significant
      neuroprotection against oxidative-mediated proapoptotic mechanisms. Our data pave
      the way for novel therapeutic implications of full 5-HT4 agonists in gut
      dysmotility characterized by neuronal degeneration, which go beyond the well
      known enterokinetic effect.

PMID- 26893160
TI  - Selective portal vein injection for the design of syngeneic models of liver
      malignancy.
AB  - Liver metastases are the most frequent cause of death due to colorectal cancer
      (CRC). Syngeneic orthotopic animal models, based on the grafting of cancer cells
      or tissue in host liver, are efficient systems for studying liver tumors and
      their (patho)physiological environment. Here we describe selective portal vein
      injection as a novel tool to generate syngeneic orthotopic models of liver tumors
      that avoid most of the weaknesses of existing syngeneic models. By combining
      portal vein injection of cancer cells with the selective clamping of distal liver
      lobes, tumor growth is limited to specific lobes. When applied on MC-38 CRC cells
      and their mouse host C57BL6, selective portal vein injection leads with 100%
      penetrance to MRI-detectable tumors within 1 wk, followed by a steady growth
      until the time of death (survival ~7 wk) in the absence of extrahepatic disease.
      Similar results were obtained using CT-26 cells and their syngeneic Balb/c hosts.
      As a proof of principle, lobe-restricted liver tumors were also generated using
      Hepa1-6 (C57BL6-syngeneic) and TIB-75 (Balb/c-syngeneic) hepatocellular cancer
      cells, demonstrating the general applicability of selective portal vein injection
      for the induction of malignant liver tumors. Selective portal vein injection is
      technically straightforward, enables liver invasion via anatomical routes,
      preserves liver function, and provides unaffected liver tissue. The tumor models
      are reproducible and highly penetrant, with survival mainly dependent on the
      growth of lobe-restricted liver malignancy. These models enable biological
      studies and preclinical testing within short periods of time.

PMID- 26893161
TI  - Cyclophilin D regulates necrosis, but not apoptosis, of murine eosinophils.
AB  - Eosinophil degranulation and clusters of free extracellular granules are
      frequently observed in diverse diseases, including atopic dermatitis, nasal
      polyposis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Whether these intact granules are
      released by necrosis or a biochemically mediated cytolysis remains unknown.
      Recently, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase located within the mitochondrial matrix,
      cyclophilin D (PPIF), was shown to regulate necrotic, but not apoptotic, cell
      death in vitro in fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes. Whether
      cyclophilin D regulates necrosis in hematopoietic cells such as eosinophils
      remains unknown. We used PPIF-deficient (Ppif(-/-)) mice to test whether
      cyclophilin D is required for regulating eosinophil necrosis. PPIF deficiency did
      not affect eosinophil development or maturation at baseline. After in vitro
      ionomycin or H2O2 treatment, Ppif(-/-) eosinophils were significantly protected
      from Ca(2+) overload- or oxidative stress-induced necrosis. Additionally, Ppif(-/
      ) eosinophils demonstrated significantly decreased necrosis, but not apoptosis,
      in response to Siglec-F cross-linking, a stimulus associated with eosinophil
      mediated processes in vitro and in vivo. When treated with apoptosis inducers,
      Ppif(+/+) and Ppif(-/-) eosinophils exhibited no significant difference in
      apoptosis or secondary necrosis. Finally, in a dextran sodium sulfate-induced
      colitis model, although levels of colitogenic cytokines and eosinophil-selective
      chemokines were comparable between Ppif(+/+) and Ppif(-/-) mice, the latter
      exhibited decreased clinical outcomes. This correlated with significantly reduced
      eosinophil cytolysis in the colon. Collectively, our present studies demonstrate
      that murine eosinophil necrosis is regulated in vitro and in vivo by cyclophilin
      D, at least in part, thus providing new insight into the mechanism of eosinophil
      necrosis and release of free extracellular granules in eosinophil-associated
      diseases.

PMID- 26893162
TI  - Age-related changes of vitamin E: alpha-tocopherol levels in plasma and various
      tissues of mice and hepatic alpha-tocopherol transfer protein.
AB  - PURPOSE: Despite numerous studies on the RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopherol
      isoform of vitamin E (VE) during aging, this relationship has not been examined
      in specific tissues. Since alpha-tocopherol is the most abundant of VE's eight
      isoforms, and VE is an important antioxidant that impacts the aging process, we
      analyzed alpha-tocopherol levels in plasma and tissues of mice at progressive
      ages. Moreover, we examined protein and mRNA expression levels of hepatic alpha
      tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP), which specifically binds alpha
      tocopherol, during aging. METHODS: The alpha-tocopherol levels in plasma, liver,
      cerebrum, hippocampus, cerebellum, heart, kidney, epididymal adipose tissue,
      testis, pancreas, soleus muscle, plantaris muscle, and duodenum from male
      C57BL/6NCr mice at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age were determined by HPLC and
      fluorescence detection. Also, hepatic alpha-TTP protein and mRNA expression
      levels were analyzed by Western blot and qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: Tissue
      specific, age-related changes of alpha-tocopherol levels normalized by tissue
      weight were observed in the liver, cerebrum, hippocampus, cerebellum, heart,
      kidney, and epididymal adipose tissue. Specifically, alpha-tocopherol levels in
      epididymal adipose tissue increased greatly as mice aged from 6 to 24 months.
      Although hepatic alpha-TTP protein levels also showed age-related changes, alpha
      TTP mRNA expression levels measured after overnight fasting were not altered.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we determined that alpha-tocopherol levels and
      hepatic alpha-TTP protein levels of mice undergo significant tissue-specific, age
      related changes. This is the first report to investigate VE in terms of the alpha
      tocopherol levels in plasma and various tissues of mice and hepatic alpha-TTP
      protein levels during aging.

PMID- 26893163
TI  - Regulation of cancer-related genes - Cyp1a1, Cyp1b1, Cyp19, Nqo1 and Comt -
      expression in beta-naphthoflavone-treated mice by miroestrol.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The effects of miroestrol (MR), an active phytoestrogen from Pueraria
      candollei var. mirifica, on expression of cancer-related genes were determined.
      METHODS: Seven-week-old female ICR mice (n = 5 each) were subcutaneously
      administered estradiol (E2, 0.5 mg/kg/day) or MR (0.5 or 5 mg/kg/day) daily for 7
      days. Some were given ER or MR in combination with beta-naphthoflavone (BNF, 30
      mg/kg/day) for the last 3 days. The expression of cancer-related genes including
      cytochrome P450 1A (Cyp1a), cytochrome P450 1B1 (Cyp1b1), aromatase P450 (Cyp19),
      NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (Comt)
      were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: In the presence of BNF, MR suppressed hepatic
      CYP1A1 activity and CYP1A2 activity, expression of CYP1B1 mRNA and expression of
      CYP1A1/2 and CYP1B1 protein. E2, by contrast, did not. MR restored expression
      levels of hepatic NQO1 and uterine COMT in BNF-treated mice. Furthermore, MR
      increased expression of uterine CYP19 to the same extent as E2. CONCLUSION: MR
      may be superior to E2 as it downregulates expression of CYP1. Moreover, MR
      normalized expression of both NQO1 and COMT, the protective enzymes, in murine
      liver and uteri. These results support the use of MR as an alternative supplement
      for menopausal women, MR having the extra benefit of reducing cancer risk.

PMID- 26893164
TI  - Cyclodextrin-clicked silica/CdTe fluorescent nanoparticles for enantioselective
      recognition of amino acids.
AB  - Fluorescent sensors based on semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been immensely
      investigated for achiral molecular recognition. For chiral discrimination of
      amino acids (AAs), we herein report a versatile fluorescent sensor, i.e., CdTe
      QDs encapsulated with cyclodextrin (CD) clicked silica via layer-by-layer
      modification. The as-obtained hybrid molecular recognition platform exhibited
      excellent chirality sensing of AAs at micromolar concentrations in water. By
      taking advantage of the inclusion complexation of CD and the optical properties
      of the QD core, chiral discrimination was realized on the basis of the different
      binding energies of the CD-AA enantiomer complexes, as revealed using density
      functional theory calculation. The fluorescent probe exhibited linearly enhanced
      photoluminescence with increased concentration of d-histidine at 0-60 MUM and L
      histidine at 0-20 MUM. These water-soluble fluorescent sensors using a chiral
      host with a covalently linked chromophore may find applications in the robust
      sensing of a wide range of achiral and chiral molecules in water.

PMID- 26893165
TI  - Analysis of breed effects on semen traits in light horse, warmblood, and draught
      horse breeds.
AB  - In the present study, systematic effects on semen quality traits were
      investigated in 381 stallions representing 22 breeds. All stallions were used for
      AI either at the Lower Saxon National Stud Celle or the North Rhine-Westphalian
      National Stud Warendorf. A total of 71,078 fresh semen reports of the years 2001
      to 2014 were edited for analysis of gel-free volume, sperm concentration, total
      number of sperm, progressive motility, and total number of progressively motile
      sperm. Breed differences were studied for warmblood and light horse breeds of
      both national studs (model I) and for warmblood breeds and the draught horse
      breed Rhenish German Coldblood from the North Rhine-Westphalian National stud
      (model II) using mixed model procedures. The fixed effects of age class, year,
      and month of semen collection had significant influences on all semen traits in
      both analyses. A significant influence of the horse breed was found for all semen
      traits but gel-free volume in both statistical models. Comparing warmblood and
      light horse stallions of both national studs, we observed highest sperm
      concentrations, total numbers of sperm, and total numbers of progressively motile
      sperm in Anglo-Arabian stallions. The draught horse breed Rhenish German
      Coldblood had the highest least squares means for gel-free volume, whereas all
      other investigated semen traits were significantly lower in this breed compared
      to the warmblood stallions under study. The variance components among stallions
      within breeds were significant for all semen traits and accounted for 40% to 59%
      of the total variance. The between-breed-variance among stallions was not
      significant underlining the similar size of the random stallion effect in each of
      the horse breeds analyzed here. In conclusion, breed and stallion are accounting
      for a significant proportion of the variation in semen quality. 

PMID- 26893159
TI  - Chemoprevention in gastrointestinal physiology and disease. Targeting the
      progression of cancer with natural products: a focus on gastrointestinal cancer.
AB  - The last decade has witnessed remarkable progress in the utilization of natural
      products for the prevention and treatment of human cancer. Many agents now in the
      pipeline for clinical trial testing have evolved from our understanding of how
      human nutritional patterns account for widespread differences in cancer risk. In
      this review, we have focused on many of these promising agents arguing that they
      may provide a new strategy for cancer control: natural products once thought to
      be only preventive in their mode of action now are being explored for efficacy in
      tandem with cancer therapeutics. Natural products may reduce off-target toxicity
      of therapeutics while making cancers more amenable to therapy. On the horizon is
      the use of certain natural products, in their own right, as mitigants of late
      stage cancer, a new frontier for small-molecule natural product drug discovery.

PMID- 26893166
TI  - Viability and DNA fragmentation of rainbow trout embryos (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
      obtained from eggs stored at 4  degrees C.
AB  - In vitro storage of salmonid eggs leads to aging of the cells causing a decline
      in quality and reducing their capacity to develop and produce embryos. The
      quality of salmonid embryos is assessed by morphologic analyses; however, data on
      the application of biomarkers to determine the cell viability and DNA integrity
      of embryos in these species are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate
      the effect on embryo development, viability and DNA fragmentation in the
      embryonic cells of in vitro storage time at 4  degrees C of rainbow trout
      (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs. The embryos were obtained by IVF from eggs stored for
      0 (control), 48, and 96 hours at 4  degrees C. At 72 hours after fertilization,
      dechorionated embryos were examined to determine percentages of developed embryos
      (embryos with normal cell division morphology), viability (LIVE/DEAD sperm
      viability kit), and DNA integrity (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]
      dUTP nick-end labeling assay). The percentage of developing embryos decreased (P
      < 0.05) with storage time of the eggs (95.10 +/- 2.55; 88.14 +/- 4.50; 79.99 +/-
      6.60 for 0, 48, and 96 hours, respectively). Similarly, cell viability decreased
      (P < 0.05; 96.07 +/- 7.15; 80.42 +/- 8.55; 77.47 +/- 7.88 for 0, 48, and 96
      hours, respectively), and an increase (P < 0.05) in DNA fragmentation in the
      embryos was observed at 96-hour storage. A positive correlation was found between
      cell DNA fragmentation and storage time (r = 0.8173; P < 0.0001). The results
      revealed that terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT] dUTP nick-end labeling
      assay technique is reliable mean to assess the state of the DNA in salmonid
      embryos and that in vitro eggs storage for 96h reduces embryo development and
      cell DNA integrity. DNA integrity evaluation constitutes a biomarker of the
      quality of the ova and resulting embryos so as to predict their capacity to
      produce good-quality embryos in salmonids, particularly under culture conditions.

PMID- 26893167
TI  - Prostatic abscess in a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case
      report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), urinary
      tract infection is the most common infection-related complication. Prostatic
      abscess in a patient with STEMI is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the
      case of a 49-year-old Japanese man who developed fever and shaking chills during
      hospitalization for STEMI. We initially diagnosed catheter-associated urinary
      tract infection. However, subsequent contrast-enhanced computed tomography
      revealed multiple large abscesses in his prostate. We decided to treat with
      antimicrobial agents alone because the patient was receiving dual-antiplatelet
      therapy and discontinuation is very high risk for in-stent thrombosis. The
      patient recovered remarkably after treatment without drainage or surgery.
      CONCLUSIONS: Here, we described the world's first reported case of prostatic
      abscess in an immunocompetent patient with STEMI. Early removal of indwelling
      bladder catheters in patients with STEMI receiving dual-antiplatelet therapy is
      important to avoid development of prostatic abscess. Furthermore, unnecessary
      invasive instrumentation should be avoided or limited to diminish the risk of
      infections.

PMID- 26893169
TI  - Influenza A virus targets a cGAS-independent STING pathway that controls
      enveloped RNA viruses.
AB  - Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is known be involved in control of DNA
      viruses but has an unexplored role in control of RNA viruses. During infection
      with DNA viruses STING is activated downstream of cGAMP synthase (cGAS) to induce
      type I interferon. Here we identify a STING-dependent, cGAS-independent pathway
      important for full interferon production and antiviral control of enveloped RNA
      viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV). Further, IAV interacts with STING
      through its conserved hemagglutinin fusion peptide (FP). Interestingly, FP
      antagonizes interferon production induced by membrane fusion or IAV but not by
      cGAMP or DNA. Similar to the enveloped RNA viruses, membrane fusion stimulates
      interferon production in a STING-dependent but cGAS-independent manner.
      Abolishment of this pathway led to reduced interferon production and impaired
      control of enveloped RNA viruses. Thus, enveloped RNA viruses stimulate a cGAS
      independent STING pathway, which is targeted by IAV. 

PMID- 26893170
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of oral and intravenous melatonin in healthy volunteers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of oral and iv
      melatonin in healthy volunteers. METHODS: The study was performed as a cohort
      crossover study. The volunteers received either 10 mg oral melatonin or 10 mg
      intravenous melatonin on two separate study days. Blood samples were collected at
      different time points following oral administration and short iv infusion,
      respectively. Plasma melatonin concentrations were determined by RIA technique.
      Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed by "the method of residuals" and
      compartmental analysis. The pharmacokinetic variables: k a, t 1/2 absorption, t
      max, C max, t 1/2 elimination, AUC 0-infinity, and bioavailability were
      determined for oral melatonin. C max, t 1/2 elimination, V d, CL and AUC 0
      infinity were determined for intravenous melatonin. RESULTS: Twelve male
      volunteers completed the study. Baseline melatonin plasma levels did not differ
      significantly between the study days (P = 0.067). Mean (SD) t 1/2 absorption of
      oral melatonin was 6.0 (3.1) min. Mean t max was 40.8 (17.8) min with a median
      (IQR) C max of 3550.5 (2500.5-8057.5) pg ml(-1). Mean t 1/2 elimination was 53.7
      (7.0) min. Median absolute bioavailability was 2.5 (1.7-4.7) %. Median C max
      after short iv infusion of melatonin was 389,875.0 (174,775.0-440,362.5) pg ml(
      1). Mean t 1/2 elimination was 39.4 (3.6) min, mean V d 1.2 (0.6) l kg(-1) and
      mean CL 0.0218 (0.0102) l min(-1) kg(-1). CONCLUSIONS: This cohort crossover
      study estimated pharmacokinetics of oral and iv melatonin, respectively in
      healthy volunteers. Bioavailability of oral melatonin was only 3 %. TRIAL
      REGISTRATION: Eudra-CT number: 2013-000205-23 (initial registration 27.03.2013).
      Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01923974 (initial registration 08.08.2013).

PMID- 26893172
TI  - Carbon fiducials for large choroidal melanoma treated with gamma knife
      radiosurgery.

PMID- 26893168
TI  - A Potential Contribution of Chemokine Network Dysfunction to the Depressive
      Disorders.
AB  - In spite of many years of research, the pathomechanism of depression has not yet
      been elucidated. Among many hypotheses, the immune theory has generated a
      substantial interest. Up till now, it has been thought that depression is
      accompanied by the activation of inflammatory response and increase in pro
      inflammatory cytokine levels. However, recently this view has become
      controversial, mainly due to the family of small proteins called chemokines. They
      play a key role in the modulation of peripheral function of the immune system by
      controlling immune reactions, mediating immune cell communication, and regulating
      chemotaxis and cell adhesion. Last studies underline significance of chemokines
      in the central nervous system, not only in the neuromodulation but also in the
      regulation of neurodevelopmental processes, neuroendocrine functions and in
      mediating the action of classical neurotransmitters. Moreover, it was
      demonstrated that these proteins are responsible for maintaining interactions
      between neuronal and glial cells both in the developing and adult brain also in
      the course of diseases. This review outlines the role of chemokine in the central
      nervous system under physiological and pathological conditions and their
      involvement in processes underlying depressive disorder. It summarizes the most
      important data from experimental and clinical studies. 

PMID- 26893171
TI  - The risk of new-onset cancer associated with HFE C282Y and H63D mutations:
      evidence from 87,028 participants.
AB  - To investigate the association between mutation of HFE (the principal pathogenic
      gene in hereditary haemochromatosis) and risk of cancer, we conducted a meta
      analysis of all available case-control or cohort studies relating to two missense
      mutations, C282Y and H63D mutations. Eligible studies were identified by
      searching databases including PubMed, Embase and the ISI Web of Knowledge.
      Overall and subgroup analyses were performed and odds ratios (ORs) combined with
      95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to evaluate the association between
      C282Y mutation, H63D mutation and cancer risk. Sensitivity and cumulative
      analyses were used to evaluate the stability of the results. A total of 36
      eligible studies were included, comprising 13,680 cases and 73,348 controls.
      C282Y was significantly associated with elevated cancer risk in a recessive
      genetic model (OR: 1.991, 95% CI: 1.448-2.737). On subgroup analysis stratified
      by cancer type, statistically significantly increased cancer risks were found for
      breast cancer, colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in a recessive
      model. When stratified by territory, a significantly increased risk of cancer was
      found in Oceanic populations in a recessive model and in Asian populations in an
      allele model and dominant model. H63D mutation did not significantly increase
      overall cancer risk in any genetic model. However, when, stratified by territory,
      an increased cancer risk was found in the Asian population in an allele and
      dominant. C282Y but not H63D mutation was related to elevated cancer risk.
      Further large-scale studies considering gene-environment interactions and
      functional research should be conducted to further investigate this association.

PMID- 26893173
TI  - Implications of Misclassification Errors in Empirical Studies of Adolescent
      Smoking Behaviours.
AB  - Misclassification errors in a dependent variable can introduce attenuation bias
      to covariate effects in a binary choice model. Misreporting of smoking behaviours
      by adolescents has been widely documented. However, the consequence in empirical
      studies of adolescent smoking participation has received little attention. This
      study uses the Health Survey for England (HSE) to investigate the extent and
      implication of misclassification errors in self-reported smoking among
      adolescents aged 11-15 years. The HSE contains both a self-reported smoking
      component and an objective measure of smoking obtained from saliva cotinine
      assays. Saliva cotinine concentration >=12 ng/ml is considered the 'true'
      indicator of adolescent smoking participation against which self-reported smoking
      is compared. The findings show that smoking is misreported in this age group,
      resulting in a downwards bias of marginal effect estimates. Given the widespread
      use of self-reported smoking data, this study explores the performance of the
      Hausman, Abrevaya and Scott-Morton-modified maximum likelihood estimation (HAS
      approach) in recovering true estimates of covariate effects. In this context, the
      HAS approach performs better when the misclassification probabilities are treated
      as constants compared with when they are treated as conditionally dependent
      parameters. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26893175
TI  - Self-Adaptive Spike-Time-Dependent Plasticity of Metal-Oxide Memristors.
AB  - Metal-oxide memristors have emerged as promising candidates for hardware
      implementation of artificial synapses - the key components of high-performance,
      analog neuromorphic networks - due to their excellent scaling prospects. Since
      some advanced cognitive tasks require spiking neuromorphic networks, which
      explicitly model individual neural pulses ("spikes") in biological neural
      systems, it is crucial for memristive synapses to support the spike-time
      dependent plasticity (STDP). A major challenge for the STDP implementation is
      that, in contrast to some simplistic models of the plasticity, the elementary
      change of a synaptic weight in an artificial hardware synapse depends not only on
      the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic signals, but also on the initial weight
      (memristor's conductance) value. Here we experimentally demonstrate, for the
      first time, an STDP behavior that ensures self-adaptation of the average
      memristor conductance, making the plasticity stable, i.e. insensitive to the
      initial state of the devices. The experiments have been carried out with 200-nm
      Al2O3/TiO2-x memristors integrated into 12 * 12 crossbars. The experimentally
      observed self-adaptive STDP behavior has been complemented with numerical
      modeling of weight dynamics in a simple system with a leaky-integrate-and-fire
      neuron with a random spike-train input, using a compact model of memristor
      plasticity, fitted for quantitatively correct description of our memristors.

PMID- 26893176
TI  - Erratum to: An ecological risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in the
      surface sediments of Bosten Lake, northwest China.

PMID- 26893174
TI  - Heme oxygenase-1 induction attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasiform inflammation
      by negative regulation of Stat3 signaling.
AB  - Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress-inducible protein with a potential anti
      inflammatory effect, plays an important role in skin injury and wound healing.
      However, the function of HO-1 in cutaneous inflammatory diseases, such as
      psoriasis, remains unknown. The abnormal activation of Stat3, a known
      transcription factor that induces inflammation and regulates cell
      differentiation, is directly involved in the pathogenesis and development of
      psoriasis. Hence, targeting Stat3 is potentially beneficial in the treatment of
      psoriasis. In this study, HO-1 activation significantly alleviated the disease
      related pathogenesis abnormality. To determine the mechanism by which HO-1 exerts
      immune protection on Th17-related cytokines, IL6/IL22-induced Stat3 activation
      was significantly suppressed, accompanied by decreased cell proliferation and
      reversed abnormal cell proliferation. Importantly, HO-1-induced Stat3 suppression
      was mediated through the activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.
      Overall, our study provides direct evidence indicating that HO-1 might be a
      useful therapeutic target for psoriasis. SHP-1-mediated suppression of Stat3
      activation after HO-1 activation is a unique molecular mechanism for the
      regulation of Stat3 activation.

PMID- 26893177
TI  - Biotransformation of petroleum asphaltenes and high molecular weight polycyclic
      aromatic hydrocarbons by Neosartorya fischeri.
AB  - Neosartorya fischeri, an Aspergillaceae fungus, was evaluated in its capacity to
      transform high molecular weight polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons (HMW-PAHs) and
      the recalcitrant fraction of petroleum, the asphaltenes. N. fischeri was able to
      grow in these compounds as sole carbon source. Coronene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene,
      and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, together with the asphaltenes, were assayed for
      fungal biotransformation. The transformation of the asphaltenes and HMW-PAHs was
      confirmed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nano-LC
      mass spectrometry, and IR spectrometry. The formation of hydroxy and ketones
      groups on the PAH molecules suggest a biotransformation mediated by
      monooxygenases such as cytochrome P450 system (CYP). A comparative microarray
      with the complete genome from N. fischeri showed three CYP monooxygenases and one
      flavin monooxygenase genes upregulated. These findings, together with the
      internalization of aromatic substrates into fungal cells and the microsomal
      transformation of HMW-PAHs, strongly support the role of CYPs in the oxidation of
      these recalcitrant compounds. 

PMID- 26893178
TI  - Operator decision support system for integrated wastewater management including
      wastewater treatment plants and receiving water bodies.
AB  - An operator decision support system (ODSS) is proposed to support operators of
      wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in making appropriate decisions. This system
      accounts for water quality (WQ) variations in WWTP influent and effluent and in
      the receiving water body (RWB). The proposed system is comprised of two diagnosis
      modules, three prediction modules, and a scenario-based supporting module (SSM).
      In the diagnosis modules, the WQs of the influent and effluent WWTP and of the
      RWB are assessed via multivariate analysis. Three prediction modules based on the
      k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) method, activated sludge model no. 2d (ASM2d) model,
      and QUAL2E model are used to forecast WQs for 3 days in advance. To compare
      various operating alternatives, SSM is applied to test various predetermined
      operating conditions in terms of overall oxygen transfer coefficient (Kla), waste
      sludge flow rate (Qw), return sludge flow rate (Qr), and internal recycle flow
      rate (Qir). In the case of unacceptable total phosphorus (TP), SSM provides
      appropriate information for the chemical treatment. The constructed ODSS was
      tested using data collected from Geumho River, which was the RWB, and S WWTP in
      Daegu City, South Korea. The results demonstrate the capability of the proposed
      ODSS to provide WWTP operators with more objective qualitative and quantitative
      assessments of WWTP and RWB WQs. Moreover, the current study shows that ODSS,
      using data collected from the study area, can be used to identify operational
      alternatives through SSM at an integrated urban wastewater management level. 

PMID- 26893179
TI  - Mutagenicity assessment of aerosols in emissions from domestic combustion
      processes.
AB  - Domestic biofuel combustion is one of the major sources of regional and local air
      pollution, mainly regarding particulate matter and organic compounds, during
      winter periods. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activity potentials of the ambient
      particulate matter have been associated with the fraction of polycyclic aromatic
      hydrocarbons (PAH) and their oxygenated (OPAH) and nitrogenated (NPAH)
      derivatives. This study aimed at assessing the mutagenicity potential of the
      fraction of this polycyclic aromatic compound in particles (PM10) from domestic
      combustion by using the Ames assays with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100.
      Seven biofuels, including four types of pellets and three agro-fuels (olive pit,
      almond shell and shell of pine nuts), were tested in an automatic pellet stove,
      and two types of wood (Pinus pinaster, maritime pine, and Eucalyptus globulus,
      eucalypt) were burned in a traditional wood stove. For this latter appliance, two
      combustion phases-devolatilisation and flaming/smouldering-were characterised
      separately. A direct-acting mutagenic effect for the devolatilisation phase of
      pine combustion and for both phases of eucalypt combustion was found. Almond
      shell revealed a weak direct-acting mutagenic effect, while one type of pellets,
      made of recycled wastes, and pine (devolatilisation) presented a cytotoxic effect
      towards strain TA100. Compared to the manually fired appliance, the automatic
      pellet stove promoted lower polyaromatic mutagenic emissions. For this device,
      only two of the studied biofuels presented a weak mutagenic or cytotoxic
      potential. 

PMID- 26893180
TI  - Stability and heavy metal distribution of soil aggregates affected by application
      of apatite, lime, and charcoal.
AB  - Only a few studies have been reported on the stability and heavy metal
      distribution of soil aggregates after soil treatments to reduce the availability
      of heavy metals. In this study, apatite (22.3 t ha(-1)), lime (4.45 t ha(-1)),
      and charcoal (66.8 t ha(-1)) were applied to a heavy metal-contaminated soil for
      4 years. The stability and heavy metal distribution of soil aggregates were
      investigated by dry and wet sieving. No significant change in the dry mean weight
      diameter was observed in any treatments. Compared with the control, three
      amendment treatments significantly increased the wet mean weight diameter, but
      only charcoal treatment significantly increased the wet aggregate stability. The
      soil treatments increased the content of soil organic carbon, and the fraction
      0.25-2 mm contained the highest content of soil organic carbon. Amendments'
      application slightly increased soil total Cu and Cd, but decreased the
      concentrations of CaCl2 -extractable Cu and Cd except for the fraction <0.053 mm.
      The fractions >2 and 0.25-2 mm contained the highest concentrations of CaCl2
      extractable Cu and Cd, accounted for about 74.5-86.8 % of CaCl2-extractable Cu
      and Cd in soil. The results indicated that amendments' application increased the
      wet soil aggregate stability and decreased the available Cu and Cd. The
      distribution of available heavy metals in wet soil aggregates was not controlled
      by soil aggregate stability, but possibly by soil organic carbon. 

PMID- 26893183
TI  - Ian Tomlinson.

PMID- 26893182
TI  - Speciation of dissolved copper in human impacted freshwater and saltwater lakes.
AB  - China's natural waters are experiencing an increasingly anthropogenic
      perturbation widely including acidification and hypoxia, and toxic metals
      including copper (Cu) are subject to a series of reactions including chemical
      speciation and transformation. However, there is still little information
      available regarding such alterations of metal behaviors in China's natural
      waters. By using solid phase extraction technique, this study for the first time
      measured total dissolved Cu, and different Cu species: toxic labile Cu (referred
      to those free cupric ions and some weakly organic compounds adsorbed onto Chelex
      100 resins), the organic refractory Cu (referred to those adsorbed onto C18
      resins after passing through Chelex-100 resins), and residual Cu (obtained by
      subtracting labile and organic refractory fractions from the total) in a
      freshwater lake (the Lover) and a saltwater lagoon (the Yundang) in Xiamen,
      China. Our results demonstrated that both waters were characterized with
      relatively low levels of total dissolved Cu (5-10 nM), as a result of a net
      removal process dominated by particle adsorption and precipitation. Relatively
      high proportion of organic refractory Cu (as high as 50 %) was observed in the
      saltwater Yundang lagoon as a result of organic matter production and/or
      discharges followed by complexation nearby. On the other hand, the toxic labile
      Cu accounted for >40 % of the total dissolved Cu pool in these waters, and
      particularly the increased proportion of toxic labile Cu (as high as 70 %)
      occurred in the bottom sulfidic Lover Lake. Our study provides clear evidence
      that toxic labile Cu could be transformed under reducing environments such as
      deep sulfidic waters of the Lover Lake (Xiamen, China), and the releases of toxic
      labile metals are increasingly threatening nearby aquatic ecosystems. 

PMID- 26893181
TI  - Prevalence of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance determinants in
      fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria isolated from sewage and surface water.
AB  - Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are fully synthetic broad-spectrum antibacterial agents
      that are becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of clinical and
      veterinary infections. Being excreted during treatment, mostly as active
      compounds, their biological action is not limited to the therapeutic site, but it
      is moved further as resistance selection pressure into the environment. Water
      environment is an ideal medium for the aggregation and dissemination of
      antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes
      (ARGs), which can pose a serious threat to human health. Because of this, the aim
      of this study was to determine the number of fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria
      (FQRB) and their share in total heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) in treated
      wastewater (TWW), and upstream and downstream river water (URW, DRW) samples
      where TWW is discharged. The spread of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance
      (PMQR) determinants and the presence/absence of resistance genes to other most
      popular antibiotic groups (against tetracyclines and beta-lactams) in selected
      116 multiresistant isolates were investigated. The share of FQRB in total HPC in
      all samples was rather small and ranged from 0.7 % in URW samples to 7.5 % in
      TWW. Bacteria from Escherichia (25.0 %), Acinetobacter (25.0 %), and Aeromonas
      (6.9 %) genera were predominant in the FQRB group. Fluoroquinolone resistance was
      mostly caused by the presence of the gene aac(6')-1b-cr (91.4 %). More rarely
      reported was the occurrence of qnrS, qnrD, as well as oqxA, but qnrA, qnrB, qepA,
      and oqxB were extremely rarely or never noted in FQRB. The most prevalent
      bacterial genes connected with beta-lactams' resistance in FQRB were bla TEM, bla
      OXA, and bla CTX-M. The bla SHV was less common in the community of FQRB. The
      occurrence of bla genes was reported in almost 29.3 % of FQRB. The most abundant
      tet genes in FQRB were tet(A), tet(L), tet(K), and tet(S). The prevalence of tet
      genes was observed in 41.4 % of FQRB. The highest prevalence of multidrug
      resistant (MDR) microorganisms was detected in TWW and DRW samples. It indicates
      that discharged TWW harbors multiresistant bacterial strains and that mobile PMQR
      and ARGs elements may have a selective pressure for species affiliated to
      bacteria in the river water. 

PMID- 26893186
TI  - Ultrasensitive sub-pg/ml determination of tiotropium bromide in human plasma by
      2D-UHPLC-MS/MS: challenges and solutions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To adequately support pharmacokinetic evaluations of tiotropium
      bromide in planned clinical studies. It was desirable to measure it with a LLOQ
      of sub pg/ml. RESULTS: A sensitive bioanalytical method for the determination of
      tiotropium in human plasma sample was successfully developed and validated in the
      range of 0.2-100 pg/ml. The method was successfully applied to support two
      clinical studies of over 3000 samples. The overall incurred sample reanalysis
      passing rate was 93.7%. CONCLUSION: The combination of a dual stage liquid-liquid
      extraction and a 2D ultra-HPLC greatly reduced matrix effects and increased assay
      sensitivity. When developing effective ultrasensitive assays, it is imperative to
      balance the aspects related to sensitivity with those that will ensure assay
      ruggedness.

PMID- 26893185
TI  - Hypertension unawareness among Chinese patients with first-ever stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The low rates of hypertension treatment and control, partly due to
      its unawareness, are the main causes of the high stroke incidence in China. The
      purpose of this study was to evaluate hypertension unawareness amongst patients
      with first-ever stroke and to detect factors associated with its unawareness.
      METHODS: We selected those diagnosed with hypertension from patients with first
      ever stroke registered in the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program between 2004 and
      2014. These hypertensives were divided as being aware or unaware of their
      hypertension by using a brief questionnaire conducted shortly after the stroke.
      Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential
      factors associated with hypertension unawareness. RESULTS: Of the 5309 patients
      with first-ever stroke, 3732 (70.3%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Among
      which, 593 (15.9%) were unaware of their hypertension at the time of stroke
      onset. Lower-level of education (primary school or illiteracy) and smoking were
      associated positively with hypertension unawareness; while advanced age,
      overweight, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases and family history of stroke were
      associated negatively with hypertension unawareness. Annual data analyzed
      indicated that the rate of hypertension awareness increased during the past 11
      years (r = 0.613, P = 0.045 for trends). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion
      (15.9%) of Chinese patients with hypertension had not been aware of this covert
      risk until an overt stroke occurred. Hypertension unawareness was associated with
      lower educational levels and smoking, which address the importance of health
      education especially in these individuals.

PMID- 26893187
TI  - Long-term safety and efficacy of dutasteride in the treatment of male patients
      with androgenetic alopecia.
AB  - Androgenetic alopecia is an androgen-induced pattern of progressive hair loss,
      which occurs in genetically predisposed people. This study aimed to determine
      long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of dutasteride 0.5 mg, an inhibitor
      of 5-alpha-reductase, in Japanese male patients with androgenetic alopecia. This
      was a multicenter, open-label, prospective outpatient study (clinicaltrials.gov
      NCT01831791, GSK identifier ARI114264) in which patients took dutasteride 0.5 mg
      p.o. once daily for 52 weeks. Primary end-points included adverse event
      assessment, incidence of drug-related adverse event and premature
      discontinuations. Secondary end-points included hair growth, hair restoration and
      global improvement in hair. A total of 120 patients were enrolled, of whom 110
      completed 52 weeks of treatment. Nasopharyngitis, erectile dysfunction and
      decreased libido were the most frequently reported adverse events and most
      adverse events were mild. Drug-related adverse events were reported with an
      incidence of 17%, none of which led to study withdrawal. Hair growth (mean target
      area hair count at week 52), hair restoration (mean target area hair width at
      week 52) and global appearance of hair (mean of the median score at week 52)
      improved from baseline during the study. As a potential future treatment option
      for male androgenetic alopecia, dutasteride 0.5 mg exhibited long-term safety,
      tolerability and efficacy within this study population. 

PMID- 26893188
TI  - Synthesis and transistor application of the extremely extended phenacene
      molecule, [9]phenacene.
AB  - Many chemists have attempted syntheses of extended pi-electron network molecules
      because of the widespread interest in the chemistry, physics and materials
      science of such molecules and their potential applications. In particular,
      extended phenacene molecules, consisting of coplanar fused benzene rings in a
      repeating W-shaped pattern have attracted much attention because field-effect
      transistors (FETs) using phenacene molecules show promisingly high performance.
      Until now, the most extended phenacene molecule available for transistors was
      [8]phenacene, with eight benzene rings, which showed very high FET performance.
      Here, we report the synthesis of a more extended phenacene molecule,
      [9]phenacene, with nine benzene rings. Our synthesis produced enough [9]phenacene
      to allow the characterization of its crystal and electronic structures, as well
      as the fabrication of FETs using thin-film and single-crystal [9]phenacene. The
      latter showed a field-effect mobility as high as 18 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), which is
      the highest mobility realized so far in organic single-crystal FETs.

PMID- 26893184
TI  - Evolution of strategies to improve preclinical cardiac safety testing.
AB  - The early and efficient assessment of cardiac safety liabilities is essential to
      confidently advance novel drug candidates. This article discusses evolving
      mechanistically based preclinical strategies for detecting drug-induced
      electrophysiological and structural cardiotoxicity using in vitro human ion
      channel assays, human-based in silico reconstructions and human stem cell-derived
      cardiomyocytes. These strategies represent a paradigm shift from current
      approaches, which rely on simplistic in vitro assays that measure blockade of the
      Kv11.1 current (also known as the hERG current or IKr) and on the use of non
      human cells or tissues. These new strategies have the potential to improve
      sensitivity and specificity in the early detection of genuine cardiotoxicity
      risks, thereby reducing the likelihood of mistakenly discarding viable drug
      candidates and speeding the progression of worthy drugs into clinical trials.

PMID- 26893189
TI  - Lithium ions in nanomolar concentration modulate glycine-activated chloride
      current in rat hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Lithium salts are successfully used to treat bipolar disorder. At the same time,
      according to recent data lithium may be considered as a candidate medication for
      the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The mechanisms of therapeutic
      action of lithium have not been fully elucidated. In particular, in the
      literature there are no data on the effect of lithium on the glycine receptors.
      In the present study we investigated the effect of Li(+) on glycine-activated
      chloride current (IGly) in rat isolated pyramidal hippocampal neurons using patch
      clamp technique. The effects of Li(+) were studied with two glycine
      concentrations: 100 MUM (EC50) and 500 MUM (nearly saturating). Li(+) was applied
      to the cell in two ways: first, by 600 ms co-application with glycine through
      micropipette (short application), and, second, by addition to an extracellular
      perfusate for 10 min (longer application). Li(+) was used in the range of
      concentrations of 1 nM-1 mM. Short application of Li(+) caused two effects: (1)
      an acceleration of desensitization (a decrease in the time of half-decay, or
      "tau") of IGly induced by both 100 MUM and 500 MUM glycine, and (2) a reduction
      of the peak amplitude of the IGly, induced by 100 MUM, but not by 500 MUM
      glycine. Both effects were not voltage-dependent. Dose-response curves for both
      effects were N-shaped with two maximums at 100 nM and 1 mM of Li(+) and a minimum
      at 1 MUM of Li(+). This complex form of dose-response may indicate that the
      process activated by high concentrations of lithium inhibits the process that is
      sensitive to low concentrations of lithium. Longer application of Li(+)caused
      similar effects, but in this case 1 MUM lithium was effective and the dose-effect
      curves were not N-shaped. The inhibitory effect of lithium ions on glycine
      activated current suggests that lithium in low concentrations is able to modulate
      tonic inhibition in the hippocampus. This important property of lithium should be
      considered when using this drug as a therapeutic agent.

PMID- 26893191
TI  - Moving Toward Understanding the Proteome Involved in Substance Abuse.

PMID- 26893192
TI  - Binge Drinking With Protein Kinase C Epsilon: A Role for Mammalian Target of
      Rapamycin Complex 2?

PMID- 26893193
TI  - A Critical Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Alcohol Consumption.

PMID- 26893190
TI  - Association between cytoplasmic CRABP2, altered retinoic acid signaling, and poor
      prognosis in glioblastoma.
AB  - Retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A, is required for the regulation of
      growth and development. Aberrant expression of molecules involved in RA signaling
      has been reported in various cancer types including glioblastoma multiforme
      (GBM). Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) has previously been
      shown to play a key role in the transport of RA to retinoic acid receptors (RARs)
      to activate their transcription regulatory activity. Here, we demonstrate that
      CRABP2 is predominantly located in the cytoplasm of GBM tumors. Cytoplasmic, but
      not nuclear, CRABP2 levels in GBM tumors are associated with poor patient
      survival. Treatment of malignant glioma cell lines with RA results in a dose
      dependent increase in accumulation of CRABP2 in the cytoplasm. CRABP2 knockdown
      reduces proliferation rates of malignant glioma cells, and enhances RA-induced
      RAR activation. Levels of CRYAB, a small heat shock protein with anti-apoptotic
      activity, and GFAP, an astrocyte-specific intermediate filament protein, are
      greatly reduced in CRABP2-depleted cells. Restoration of CRYAB expression
      partially but significantly reversed the effect of CRABP2 depletion on RAR
      activation. Our combined in vivo and in vitro data indicate that: (i) CRABP2 is
      an important determinant of clinical outcome in GBM patients, and (ii) the
      mechanism of action of CRABP2 in GBM involves sequestration of RA in the
      cytoplasm and activation of an anti-apoptotic pathway, thereby enhancing
      proliferation and preventing RA-mediated cell death and differentiation. We
      propose that reducing CRABP2 levels may enhance the therapeutic index of RA in
      GBM patients.

PMID- 26893194
TI  - Persisting Differences in the Sensitivity to the Effects of Alcohol: What We Know
      and Where to Go From Here.

PMID- 26893195
TI  - Routines for change: how managers can use absorptive capacity to adopt and
      implement evidence-based practice.
AB  - AIMS: This paper uses the construct of absorptive capacity to understand how
      nurse managers can facilitate the adoption and use of evidence-based practice
      within health-care organisations. BACKGROUND: How health-care organisations adopt
      and implement innovations such as new evidence-based practices will depend on
      their absorptive, or learning, capacity. Absorptive capacity manifests as
      routines, which are the practices, procedures and customs that organisational
      members use to carry out work and to make work-related decisions. METHODS: Using
      the construct of absorptive capacity as well as a recent literature review of how
      health-care organisations take on best practices, we illustrate how the uptake
      and use of new knowledge, such as evidence-based practices, can be facilitated
      through the use of routines. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This paper
      highlights routines that nurse managers can use to foster environments where
      evidence-based practices can be readily identified, and strategies for
      facilitating their adoption and implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The construct of
      absorptive capacity and the use of routines can be used to examine the ways in
      which nurse managers can adopt, implement and evaluate the use of evidence-based
      practices.

PMID- 26893196
TI  - The Critical Criterion on Runaway Shear Banding in Metallic Glasses.
AB  - The plastic flow of metallic glasses (MGs) in bulk is mediated by nanoscale shear
      bands, which is known to proceed in a stick-slip manner until reaching a
      transition state causing catastrophic failures. Such a slip-to-failure transition
      controls the plasticity of MGs and resembles many important phenomena in natural
      science and engineering, such as friction, lubrication and earthquake, therefore
      has attracted tremendous research interest over past decades. However, despite
      the fundamental and practical importance, the physical origin of this slip-to
      failure transition is still poorly understood. By tracking the behavior of a
      single shear band, here we discover that the final fracture of various MGs during
      compression is triggered as the velocity of the dominant shear band rises to a
      critical value, the magnitude of which is independent of alloy composition,
      sample size, strain rate and testing frame stiffness. The critical shear band
      velocity is rationalized with the continuum theory of liquid instability,
      physically originating from a shear-induced cavitation process inside the shear
      band. Our current finding sheds a quantitative insight into deformation and
      fracture in disordered solids and, more importantly, is useful to the design of
      plastic/tough MG-based materials and structures. 

PMID- 26893197
TI  - Plant essential oils and potassium metabisulfite as repellents for Drosophila
      suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).
AB  - Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a globally invasive pest of soft
      skinned fruit. Females oviposit into ripening fruit and larvae cause direct
      destruction of tissues. As many plant essential oils are permitted food
      additives, they may provide a safe means of protecting fruit from D. suzukii
      infestation in both conventional and organic production systems. Twelve oils and
      potassium metabisulfite (KMS) were screened in the laboratory as repellents for
      D. suzukii flies. Most essential oils deterred D. suzukii flies from cotton wicks
      containing attractive raspberry juice. Peppermint oil was particularly effective,
      preventing almost all flies from contacting treated wicks and remaining 100%
      repellent for 6 d post-application. Thyme oil was unique because it caused high
      male mortality and reduced the number of responding flies compared to other oils.
      KMS was not found to be repellent to D. suzukii, but may have fumigant
      properties, particularly at high concentrations. Peppermint oil appears to be the
      best candidate for field testing to determine the effectiveness and feasibility
      of using essential oils as part of a push-pull management strategy against D.
      suzukii. This is the first time that essential oils have been evaluated and
      proven effective in preventing fruit-infesting flies from contacting attractive
      stimuli.

PMID- 26893199
TI  - Dynamic encapsulation and activation of carbonic anhydrase in multivalent
      dynameric host matrices.
AB  - A straight-forward carbonic anhydrase activation strategy via dynamic
      encapsulation has been achieved by direct addition of multivalent amide dynamers
      into enzyme reaction solutions.

PMID- 26893198
TI  - Dynamic prediction of risk of liver-related outcomes in chronic hepatitis C using
      routinely collected data.
AB  - Accuracy of risk assessments for clinical outcomes in patients with chronic liver
      disease has been limited given the nonlinear nature of disease progression.
      Longitudinal prediction models may more accurately capture this dynamic risk. The
      aim of this study was to construct accurate models of short- and long-term risk
      of disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C by incorporating
      longitudinal clinical data. Data from the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term
      Treatment Against Cirrhosis trial were analysed (n = 533 training cohort; n = 517
      validation cohort). Outcomes included a composite liver outcome (liver-related
      death, decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver transplant),
      decompensation, HCC and overall mortality. Longitudinal models were constructed
      for risk of outcomes at 1, 3 and 5 years and compared with models using data at
      baseline only or baseline and a single follow-up time point. A total of 25.1% of
      patients in the training and 20.8% in the validation cohort had an outcome during
      a median follow-up of 6.5 years (range 0.5-9.2). The most important predictors
      were as follows: albumin, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase
      ratio, bilirubin, alpha-fetoprotein and platelets. Longitudinal models
      outperformed baseline models with higher true-positive rates and negative
      predictive values. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve
      for the composite longitudinal model were 0.89 (0.80-0.96), 0.83 (0.76-0.88) and
      0.81 (0.75-0.87) for 1-, 3-, and 5-year risk prediction, respectively. Model
      performance was retained for decompensation and overall mortality but not HCC.
      Longitudinal prediction models provide accurate risk assessments and identify
      patients in need of intensive monitoring and care.

PMID- 26893200
TI  - Mitochondrial ascorbic acid prevents mitochondrial O2.- formation, an event
      critical for U937 cell apoptosis induced by arsenite through both autophagic
      dependent and independent mechanisms.
AB  - A 16 h exposure of U937 cells to 2.5 uM arsenite promotes superoxide (O2(.-))
      formation and inhibition of the activity of aconitase, a O2(.-) sensitive enzyme.
      Both responses were abolished by the complex I inhibitor rotenone, or by the
      respiration-deficient phenotype. Interestingly, a similar suppressive effect was
      mediated by a short term pre-exposure to a low concentration of L-ascorbic acid
      (AA), previously shown to be actively taken up by the cells and by their
      mitochondria. The mitochondrial origin of O2(.-) was confirmed by fluorescence
      microscopy studies, whereas different approaches failed to detect a contribution
      of NADPH oxidase. Under similar conditions, arsenite induced autophagy as well as
      a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential resulting in delayed (48 h)
      apoptosis. Importantly, all these events turned out to be sensitive to treatments
      associated with prevention of O2(.-) formation, including AA, and were only
      partially blunted by inhibitors of autophagy. As a final note, the toxic effects
      mediated by O2(.-)were entirely dependent on its conversion to H2O2. AA-sensitive
      mitochondrial O2(.-) formation is therefore involved in autophagy and apoptosis
      induced by arsenite in U937 cells, although part of the lethal response appears
      mediated by an autophagy-independent mechanism.

PMID- 26893201
TI  - Family practice in Turkey: Observations from a pilot implementation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Turkey has implemented family practice on a pilot basis as part of the
      reform in health care, since 2005. This paper aims to understand and describe the
      prevalent practice patterns and clinic characteristics during the transition
      period. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. SUBJECTS: An
      online survey was conducted among Turkish GPs working as primary care doctors
      (without vocational training) during the reform period. Clinic and GP
      characteristics are analysed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: List size is
      an important factor; larger lists lead to shorter consultation time and a longer
      wait for patients. GPs are generally satisfied with the reform. CONCLUSION:
      During the transition to family practice access of patients to health care has
      improved and GPs are satisfied with their job. KEY POINTS: Patients in Turkey
      have adequate access to primary health care services. The waiting time for
      consultation is relatively short. Basic prevention activities occupy the majority
      of the GPs' time. Reducing the panel size and introducing appointment systems may
      be useful.

PMID- 26893202
TI  - Imagining future events in patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Imagining future events, which contain episodic and non-episodic
      details, has been found to (1) engage the temporal lobes bilaterally and (2) be
      impaired in patients with bilateral temporal lobe pathology. Here, we examined
      whether unilateral temporal lobe dysfunction also impairs the ability to generate
      future events. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional. METHODS: Twenty patients with
      a history of unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy [TLE; 10 left (LTLE) and 10 right
      (RTLE)] and 20 normal control (NC) subjects comparable on age, sex and education
      completed the Adapted Autobiographical Interview, which required recall of past
      and generation of future events and distinguished episodic (internal) from non
      episodic (external) details. Participants also completed a battery of
      neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Patients with unilateral TLE were
      significantly impaired in provision of internal details for past and future
      events, but not in the generation of external details. Examination of detail
      subcategories revealed that patients with LTLE did exhibit a significant deficit
      relative to patients with RTLE (and NC) with respect to the generation of
      perceptual details for both past and future events. Moreover, patients with LTLE
      generated significantly fewer place details for future events (relative to NC
      only). The overall number of internal details recalled by patients with LTLE was
      related to semantic fluency. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the first evidence
      that unilateral temporal lobe dysfunction is associated with not only impaired
      recall of past, but also the generation of future episodic details. Clinically,
      deficits in future thinking may reduce motivation and decision-making, and as
      such adversely impact behavioural regulation and socialization. PRACTITIONER
      POINTS: Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy generate less details when asked to
      describe past and potential future events, particularly with regard to details
      involving specific events, places and perceptions. These same patients are aware
      of their difficulties in this realm, but judge their past memories as similar in
      vividness and even more personally significant than the memories generated by
      control participants. The deficits in generation of future episodic details were
      particularly pronounced in patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy. Verbal
      semantic fluency was correlated with the ability to generate future scenarios.

PMID- 26893203
TI  - Device-in-device: A transcatheter alternative to surgical explantation of a
      failing atrial septal defect intracardiac prosthesis.
AB  - A failing intracardiac device is traditionally addressed by open-heart surgery.
      Surgical explantation of the device, although a simple procedure, carries risks
      that some patients are not able or willing to cope with. Thus, a nonsurgical
      option seems desirable in selected cases. We report on four cases of early
      malfunction of the Polyvinyl Alcohol membrane of Ultrasept IITM CARDIA ASD
      devices. In all cases, transthoracic echo (TTE) surveillance 4-6 months after the
      index procedure, depicted significant left-to-right atrial shunts through the
      center portion of the devices. A second nitinol double disk device with a
      connecting pin (Lifetech CERATM Multifenestrated ASD device) was implanted over
      the CARDIA devices, with excellent results. All procedures were uneventful and
      all patients are asymptomatic with no residual shunts, in short-term follow-up.
      This device-in-device technique prevents surgical explantation of failing ASD
      devices, and may become a less invasive option in selected patients. (c) 2016
      Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

PMID- 26893205
TI  - Effectiveness of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Compared With Digital Mammography:
      Outcomes Analysis From 3 Years of Breast Cancer Screening.
AB  - IMPORTANCE: Breast cancer screening with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)
      combined with digital mammography (DM) decreases false-positive examinations and
      increases cancer detection compared with screening with DM alone. However, the
      longitudinal performance of DBT screening is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine
      whether the improved outcomes observed after initial implementation of DBT
      screening are sustainable over time at a population level and to evaluate the
      effect of more than 1 DBT screening at the individual level. DESIGN, SETTING, AND
      PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective analysis of screening mammography metrics was
      performed for all patients presenting for screening mammography in an urban,
      academic breast center during 4 consecutive years (DM, year 0; DBT, years, 1-3).
      The study was conducted from September 1, 2010, to September 30, 2014 (excluding
      September 2011, which was the transition period from DM to DBT), for a total of
      44 468 screening events attributable to a total of 23 958 unique women.
      Differences in screening outcomes between each DBT year and the DM year, as well
      as between groups of women with only 1, 2, or 3 DBT screenings, were assessed,
      and the odds of recall adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, breast density, and
      prior mammograms were estimated. Data analysis was performed between February 16
      and October 26, 2015. EXPOSURE: Digital mammography screening supplemented with
      DBT. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Recall rates, cancer cases per recalled
      patients, and biopsy and interval cancer rates were determined. RESULTS:
      Screening outcome metrics were evaluated for a total of 44 468 examinations
      attributable to 23 958 unique women (mean [SD] age, 56.8 [11.0] years) over a 4
      year period: year 0 cohort (DM0), 10 728 women; year 1 cohort (DBT1), 11 007;
      year 2 cohort (DBT2), 11 157; and year 3 cohort (DBT3), 11 576. Recall rates rose
      slightly for years 1 to 3 of DBT (88, 90, and 92 per 1000 screened, respectively)
      but remained significantly reduced compared with the DM0 rate of 104 per 1000
      screened. Reported as odds ratios (95% CIs), the findings were DM vs DBT1, 0.83
      (0.76-0.91, P < .001); DM vs DBT2, 0.85 (0.78-0.93, P < .001); and DM vs DBT3,
      0.87 (0.80-0.95, P = .003). The cancer cases per recalled patients continued to
      rise from DM0 rate of 4.4% to 6.2% (P = .06), 6.5% (P = .03), and 6.7% (P = .02)
      for years 1 to 3 of DBT, respectively. Outcomes assessed for the most recent
      screening for individual women undergoing only 1, 2, or 3 DBT screenings during
      the study period demonstrated decreasing recall rates of 130, 78, and 59 per 1000
      screened, respectively (P < .001). Interval cancer rates, determined using
      available follow-up data, decreased from 0.7 per 1000 women screened with the use
      of DM to 0.5 per 1000 screened with the use of DBT1. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
      Digital breast tomosynthesis screening outcomes are sustainable, with significant
      recall reduction, increasing cancer cases per recalled patients, and a decline in
      interval cancers.

PMID- 26893204
TI  - L-Lactate protects neurons against excitotoxicity: implication of an ATP-mediated
      signaling cascade.
AB  - Converging experimental data indicate a neuroprotective action of L-Lactate.
      Using Digital Holographic Microscopy, we observe that transient application of
      glutamate (100 MUM; 2 min) elicits a NMDA-dependent death in 65% of mouse
      cortical neurons in culture. In the presence of L-Lactate (or Pyruvate), the
      percentage of neuronal death decreases to 32%. UK5099, a blocker of the
      Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier, fully prevents L-Lactate-mediated
      neuroprotection. In addition, L-Lactate-induced neuroprotection is not only
      inhibited by probenicid and carbenoxolone, two blockers of ATP channel pannexins,
      but also abolished by apyrase, an enzyme degrading ATP, suggesting that ATP
      produced by the Lactate/Pyruvate pathway is released to act on purinergic
      receptors in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Finally, pharmacological approaches
      support the involvement of the P2Y receptors associated to the PI3-kinase
      pathway, leading to activation of KATP channels. This set of results indicates
      that L-Lactate acts as a signalling molecule for neuroprotection against
      excitotoxicity through coordinated cellular pathways involving ATP production,
      release and activation of a P2Y/KATP cascade. 

PMID- 26893206
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors of anemia in children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in
      children attending Municipal Early Childhood Education Day Care Center (Centros
      Municipais de Educacao Infantil [CMEI]) nurseries in Colombo-PR. METHODS:
      Analytical, cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 334 children
      obtained by stratified cluster sampling, with random selection of 26 nurseries.
      Data collection was conducted through interviews with parents, assessment of iron
      intake by direct food weighing, and hemoglobin measurement using the finger-stick
      test. Bivariate association tests were performed followed by multiple logistic
      regression adjustment. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 34.7%. Factors
      associated with anemia were: maternal age younger than 28 years old (p=0.03),
      male children (p=0.02), children younger than 24 months (p=0.01), and children
      who did not consume iron food sources (meat+beans+dark green leafy vegetables)
      (p=0.02). There was no association between anemia and iron food intake in CMEI.
      However, iron intake was well below the recommended levels according to the
      National Education Development Fund resolution, higher prevalence of anemia was
      observed in children whose intake of iron, heme iron, and nonheme iron was below
      the median. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of public health, the prevalence of anemia is
      characterized as a moderate problem in the studied population and demonstrates
      the need for coordination of interdisciplinary actions for its reduction in CMEI
      nurseries.

PMID- 26893207
TI  - Fat mass index performs best in monitoring management of obesity in prepubertal
      children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: An early and accurate recognition of success in treating obesity may
      increase the compliance of obese children and their families to intervention
      programs. This observational, prospective study aimed to evaluate the ability and
      the time to detect a significant reduction of adiposity estimated by body mass
      index (BMI), percentage of fat mass (%FM), and fat mass index (FMI) during weight
      management in prepubertal obese children. METHODS: In a cohort of 60 prepubertal
      obese children aged 3-9 years included in an outpatient weight management
      program, BMI, %FM, and FMI were monitored monthly; the last two measurements were
      assessed using air displacement plethysmography. The outcome measures were the
      reduction of >5% of each indicator and the time to achieve it. RESULTS: The rate
      of detection of the outcome was 33.3% (95% CI: 25.9-41.6) using BMI,
      significantly lower (p<0.001) than either 63.3% using %FM (95% CI: 50.6-74.8) or
      70.0% (95% CI: 57.5-80.1) using FMI. The median time to detect the outcome was 71
      days using FMI, shorter than 88 days using %FM, and similar to 70 days using BMI.
      The agreement between the outcome detected by FMI and by %FM was high (kappa
      0.701), but very low between the success detected by BMI and either FMI (kappa
      0.231) or %FM (kappa 0.125). CONCLUSIONS: FMI achieved the best combination of
      ability and swiftness to identify reduction of adiposity during monitoring of
      weight management in prepubertal obese children.

PMID- 26893208
TI  - Impact of health professional training in breastfeeding on their knowledge,
      skills, and hospital practices: a systematic review.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify the impact of training in breastfeeding on knowledge,
      skills, and professional and hospital practices. DATA SOURCE: The systematic
      review search was carried out through the MEDLINE, Scopus, and LILACS databases.
      Reviews, studies with qualitative methodology, those without control group, those
      conducted in primary care, with specific populations, studies that had a belief
      and/or professional attitude as outcome, or those with focus on the post
      discharge period were excluded. There was no limitation of period or language.
      The quality of the studies was assessed by the adapted criteria of Downs and
      Black. SUMMARY OF DATA: The literature search identified 276 articles, of which
      37 were selected for reading, 26 were excluded, and six were included through
      reference search. In total, 17 intervention articles were included, three of them
      with good internal validity. The studies were performed between 1992 and 2010 in
      countries from five continents; four of them were conducted in Brazil. The
      training target populations were nursing practitioners, doctors, midwives, and
      home visitors. Many kinds of training courses were applied. Five interventions
      employed the theoretical and practical training of the Baby-Friendly Hospital
      Initiative. All kinds of training courses showed at least one positive result on
      knowledge, skills, and/or professional/hospital practices, most of them with
      statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Training of hospital health professionals
      has been effective in improving knowledge, skills, and practices.

PMID- 26893209
TI  - Evaluation of a neonatal screening program for sickle-cell disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the Neonatal Screening Program of the Health Secretariat of
      the State of Santa Catarina for sickle-cell disease, from January 2003 to
      December 2012, regarding program coverage and disease frequency. METHODS:
      Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study with retrospective data
      collection. The variables analyzed were: number of live births in the State of
      Santa Catarina; number of screened children; number of children diagnosed with
      sickle-cell trait and sickle-cell disease; type of sickle-cell disease diagnosed;
      age at the time of sample collection, ethnicity/skin color, gender, and origin of
      children with sickle-cell disease. Descriptive measures and frequency tables were
      used for data analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 848,833 live
      births and 730,412 samples were screened by the program, resulting in a coverage
      of 86.0%. There were 6173 samples positive for sickle-cell trait and 39 for
      sickle-cell disease. Among children with sickle-cell disease, the median age at
      the time of sample collection was 6 days. Regarding the ethnicity/skin color, 25
      (64.1%) children were white, seven were black, and seven others were not
      specified. The Midwest and the Highland (Planalto Serrano) of Santa Catarina were
      the regions with the highest incidence of sickle-cell disease. CONCLUSION:
      Coverage by the Neonatal Screening Program of Santa Catarina is good, but did not
      demonstrate an improvement trend over the years. The frequency of sickle-cell
      disease is low and lower than in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions. The
      median age in days at the time of collection is older than the age recommended by
      the Ministry of Health.

PMID- 26893211
TI  - Do recombinant-engineered nanoparticle vaccines hold promise for the prevention
      of respiratory syncytial virus?

PMID- 26893210
TI  - Improvement of autism spectrum disorder symptoms in three children by using
      gastrin-releasing peptide.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, tolerability and potential therapeutic effects
      of gastrin-releasing peptide in three children with autistic spectrum disorder.
      METHODS: Case series study with the intravenous administration of gastrin
      releasing peptide in the dose of 160pmol/kg for four consecutive days. To
      evaluate the results, parental impressions the Childhood Autism Rating Scale
      (CARS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. Each child underwent a new
      peptide cycle after two weeks. The children were followed for four weeks after
      the end of the infusions. RESULTS: The gastrin-releasing peptide was well
      tolerated and no child had adverse effects. Two children had improved social
      interaction, with a slight improvement in joint attention and the interaction
      initiatives. Two showed reduction of stereotypes and improvement in verbal
      language. One child lost his compulsion to bathe, an effect that lasted two weeks
      after each infusion cycle. Average reduction in CARS score was 2.8 points. CGI
      was "minimally better" in two children and "much better" in one. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study suggests that the gastrin-releasing peptide is safe and may be
      effective in improving key symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, but its results
      should be interpreted with caution. Controlled clinical trials-randomized, double
      blinded, and with more children-are needed to better evaluate the possible
      therapeutic effects of gastrin-releasing peptide in autism.

PMID- 26893212
TI  - Headache as an Aura of Epilepsy: Video-EEG Monitoring Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Headache can be associated with epilepsy as a pre-ictal, ictal, or
      post-ictal phenomenon; however, studies of patients with headache as an epileptic
      aura are scarce. We performed the present study to investigate the incidence and
      characteristics of headache as an epileptic aura, via confirmation of
      electroencephalography (EEG) changes by video-EEG monitoring. METHODS: Data of
      aura and clinical seizure episodes of 831 consecutive patients who undertook
      video-EEG monitoring were analyzed retrospectively. For patients who had headache
      as an aura, information on the detailed features of headache was acquired,
      including location, nature, duration, and the presence of accompanying symptoms.
      Video-recorded clinical seizures, EEG findings, and neuroimaging data were used
      to determine the ictal onset areas in the patients. RESULTS: Six out of 831
      (0.7%) patients experienced headache as aura (age range, 25-52 years), all of
      whom had partial seizures. The incidence of pre-ictal headache was 6.3% (25/831),
      and post-ictal headache was 30.9% (257/831). In patients with headache as aura,
      five patients described headache as the most frequent aura, and headache was the
      second most frequent aura in one patient. The characteristics of headache were
      hemicrania epileptica in two patients, tension-type headache in another two
      patients, and migraine-like headache in the remaining two patients. No patient
      met the diagnostic criteria of ictal epileptic headache or migraine aura
      triggered seizure. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that headache as an aura is
      uncommon in adult patients with epilepsy, and that headache can present as
      diverse features, including hemicrania epileptica, tension-type headache, and
      migraine-like headache. Further studies are necessary to characterize the
      features of headache as an epileptic aura in adult patients with epilepsy.

PMID- 26893213
TI  - Comparison of long-labeled pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL)
      features between young and elderly adults: special reference to parameter
      selection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The signal intensity obtained by arterial spin labeling (ASL) depends
      not only on perfusion signal, but also on arterial transit time (ATT). Although
      ATT has a more significant effect on accurate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF)
      calculations, the multiple post-labeling delay (PLD) approach is difficult to use
      in routine examinations. PURPOSE: To optimize imaging parameters for labeling
      duration (LD) and PLD and to confirm their validity in long-labeled pseudo
      continuous ASL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The perfusion signal was simulated in four
      LDs and theoretical signal-to-noise ratio efficiency (SNReff) was calculated. In
      vivo studies were performed on a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner
      and 15 volunteers were categorized into either the young or elderly adult groups.
      We compared the differences in CBF values with or without ATT correction.
      RESULTS: Regarding signal simulation, perfusion signal increased with the length
      of LD. SNReff also improved with LD, but SNReff plateaued at an LD of 3.0 s. As
      for the in vivo study, SNR linearly increased along with the LD. The CBF
      differences with the correction of ATT were larger in the elderly adult group.
      This trend was most prominent in the longer ATT area in the occipital cortical
      region. CONCLUSION: A combination of imaging settings of LD = 3.5 s and PLD = 2.0
      s were suggested as optimal imaging parameters for allowing acceptable CBF
      quantification and sufficient SNR in both young and elderly individuals.

PMID- 26893214
TI  - In vivo diffusion tensor imaging of chronic spinal cord compression : a rat model
      with special attention to the conus medullaris.
AB  - Background Few studies have focused on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters
      of the conus medullaris after chronic compression in the cervical spinal cord.
      Purpose To discuss the correlation of DTI parameters between the chronically
      compressed cervical spinal cord and the conus medullaris in a rat model at
      different time points. Material and Methods Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were
      randomized into five groups: control group (group A), sham group (group B), and
      test groups C, D, and E (1, 2, and 3 weeks after compression, respectively).
      Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the
      cervical spinal cord and conus medullaris were compared among different groups.
      Correlations of ADC and FA values of the cervical spinal cord with those of the
      conus medullaris were performed in all groups. Results The ADC values at the
      cervical spinal cord and conus medullaris in all test groups were higher than
      those of group A and B, while the FA values were lower. The ADC value of the
      cervical spinal cord was linearly correlated with that of the conus medullaris
      only in group D. There were no linear correlations of FA values between the
      cervical spinal cord and the conus medullaris in all test groups. Conclusion
      After compression of the cervical spinal cord, ADC values of the cervical spinal
      cord and conus medullaris in test group were significantly increased, while FA
      values were significantly decreased. The ADC value of the cervical spinal cord
      was linearly correlated with that of the conus medullaris at 2 weeks after
      compression.

PMID- 26893215
TI  - A multiple imputation approach for MNAR mechanisms compatible with Heckman's
      model.
AB  - Standard implementations of multiple imputation (MI) approaches provide unbiased
      inferences based on an assumption of underlying missing at random (MAR)
      mechanisms. However, in the presence of missing data generated by missing not at
      random (MNAR) mechanisms, MI is not satisfactory. Originating in an econometric
      statistical context, Heckman's model, also called the sample selection method,
      deals with selected samples using two joined linear equations, termed the
      selection equation and the outcome equation. It has been successfully applied to
      MNAR outcomes. Nevertheless, such a method only addresses missing outcomes, and
      this is a strong limitation in clinical epidemiology settings, where covariates
      are also often missing. We propose to extend the validity of MI to some MNAR
      mechanisms through the use of the Heckman's model as imputation model and a two
      step estimation process. This approach will provide a solution that can be used
      in an MI by chained equation framework to impute missing (either outcomes or
      covariates) data resulting either from a MAR or an MNAR mechanism when the MNAR
      mechanism is compatible with a Heckman's model. The approach is illustrated on a
      real dataset from a randomised trial in patients with seasonal influenza.
      Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26893216
TI  - Urological complications following kidney transplantation in pediatric age: A
      single-center experience.
AB  - Surgical complications during kidney transplantation can seriously affect renal
      outcomes. We assess occurrence, risk factors, and results of all urological
      complications in a series of renal transplants in a single center. Children who
      underwent renal transplant between January 2008 and December 2014 were
      retrospectively evaluated. Postoperative urological complications were reviewed.
      Demographic details, cause of ESRD, donor type, and surgical procedures at
      transplant were analyzed. For statistical analysis, the chi-square test or
      Fisher's exact test were used as appropriate. One hundred and twenty-one kidney
      transplants were performed in 117 children (median age 12 yr). Sixty-two of 121
      (53%) had an underlying urological malformation. At a median follow-up of three
      yr, 28 urological complications were recorded (23%): 12 lymphocele (10%), 10
      ureteral obstruction (8%), three urinary leakage (2.5%), two symptomatic VUR
      (1.7%), and one hydropyonephrosis. When lymphocele was excluded, the complication
      incidence rate dropped to 13%. Ureteral obstruction mostly occurred late after
      transplant (more than six months). Presence of urological malformation was the
      only factor related to increased occurrence of urological complication (p =
      0.007) and, in particular, ureteral obstruction (p = 0.018). Children with
      urological malformations presented a statistically significant risk of developing
      urological complications after kidney transplantation, ureteral obstruction being
      the most common complication.

PMID- 26893217
TI  - Progressive Transformation between Two Magnetic Ground States for One Crystal
      Structure of a Chiral Molecular Magnet.
AB  - We report the exceptional observation of two different magnetic ground states
      (MGS), spin glass (SG, T(B) = 7 K) and ferrimagnet (FI, T(C) = 18 K), for one
      crystal structure of [{Mn(II)(D/L-NH2ala)}3{Mn(III)(CN)6}].3H2O obtained from
      [Mn(CN)6](3-) and D/L-aminoalanine, in contrast to one MGS for [{Mn(II)(L
      NH2ala)}3{Cr(III)(CN)6}].3H2O. They consist of three Mn(NH2ala) helical chains
      bridged by M(III)(CN)6 to give the framework with disordered water molecules in
      channels and between the M(III)(CN)6. Both MGS are characterized by a negative
      Weiss constant, bifurcation in ZFC-FC magnetizations, blocking of the moments,
      both components of the ac susceptibilities, and hysteresis. They differ in the
      critical temperatures, absolute magnetization for 5 Oe FC (lack of spontaneous
      magnetization for the SG), and the shapes of the hysteresis and coercive fields.
      While isotropic pressure increases both T(crit) and the magnetizations linearly
      and reversibly in each case, dehydration progressively transforms the FI into the
      SG as followed by concerted in situ magnetic measurements and single-crystal
      diffraction. The relative strengths of the two moderate Mn(III)-CN-Mn(II)
      antiferromagnetic (J1 and J2), the weak Mn(II)-OCO-Mn(II) (J3), and Dzyaloshinkii
      Moriya antisymmetric (DM) interactions generate the two sets of characters.
      Examination of the bond lengths and angles for several crystals and their
      corresponding magnetic properties reveals a correlation between the distortion of
      Mn(III)(CN)6 and the MGS. SG is favored by higher magnetic anisotropy by less
      distorted Mn(III)(CN)6 in good accordance with the Mn-Cr system. This conclusion
      is also born out of the magnetization measurements on orientated single crystals
      with fields parallel and perpendicular to the unique c axis of the hexagonal
      space group.

PMID- 26893218
TI  - The Population Pharmacokinetics of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate Following
      Administration of (R)-3-Hydroxybutyl (R)-3-Hydroxybutyrate.
AB  - The administration of ketones to induce a mild ketosis is of interest for the
      alleviation of symptoms associated with various neurological disorders. This
      study aimed to understand the pharmacokinetics (PK) of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate
      (BHB) and quantify the sources of variability following a dose of (R)-3
      hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (ketone monoester). Healthy volunteers (n =
      37) were given a single drink of the ketone monoester, following which, 833 blood
      BHB concentrations were measured. Two formulations and five dose levels of ketone
      monoester were used. A nonlinear mixed effect modelling approach was used to
      develop a population PK model. A one compartment disposition model with negative
      feedback effect on endogenous BHB production provided the best description of the
      data. Absorption was best described by two consecutive first-order inputs and
      elimination by dual processes involving first-order (CL = 10.9 L/h) and capacity
      limited elimination (V max = 4520 mg/h). Covariates identified were formulation
      (on relative oral bioavailable fraction and absorption rate constant) and dose
      (on relative oral bioavailable fraction). Lean body weight (on first-order
      clearance) and sex (on apparent volume of distribution) were also significant
      covariates. The PK of BHB is complicated by complex absorption process,
      endogenous production and nonlinear elimination. Formulation and dose appear to
      strongly influence the kinetic profile following ketone monoester administration.
      Further work is needed to quantify mechanisms of absorption and elimination of
      ketones for therapeutic use in the form of ketone monoester.

PMID- 26893219
TI  - Re-dislocation after revision total hip arthroplasty for recurrent dislocation: a
      multicentre study.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although most case of dislocations after total hip arthroplasty (THA)
      can be managed with conservative treatment, recurrent dislocation may require
      surgical intervention. This multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the re
      dislocation rate after revision THA for recurrent dislocation, and to determine
      the risk factors for re-dislocation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 88
      hips in 88 patients who underwent revision THA for recurrent dislocation at five
      institutions between 1995 and 2014. The mean patient age at surgery was 68.5
      years and the mean follow-up period was 53.1 months. Multivariate logistic
      regression was performed to identify risk factors for re-dislocation. RESULTS:
      Sixteen hips in 16 patients (18.2 %) re-dislocated at a mean of 25.5 months
      (range, 1-83 months) after revision THA. Multivariate analysis identified
      osteonecrosis of the femoral head (odds ratio [OR] = 5.62 vs. osteoarthritis) and
      a femoral head size < 32 mm (OR = 3.86) as independent risk factors for re
      dislocation. Eight hips required additional revision THA for re-dislocation.
      CONCLUSION: The re-dislocation rate after revision THA for recurrent dislocation
      remains high, suggesting the need for prevention measures. We recommend the use
      of a femoral head size >= 32 mm.

PMID- 26893221
TI  - Use of a Magnetic Tracer for Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Early-Stage Breast
      Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection involves lymphatic mapping and
      selective removal of clinically negative lymph nodes at highest risk for
      harboring metastases. Lymphatic mapping is most often performed using
      radioisotope with or without blue dye (standard tracers). Sienna+((r)), a
      superparamagnetic iron oxide that can be detected using the Sentimag((r))
      magnetometer, is an alternative mapping agent to identify SLNs that has been
      investigated in five clinical trials. This meta-analysis was performed to
      determine if Sienna+((r)) is non-inferior for SLN detection when compared to
      standard tracers. METHODS: Five clinical trials comparing Sienna+((r)) to a
      standard technique were identified, and data from these studies were used to
      determine the agreement by Kappa statistic between Sienna+((r)) and standard
      tracers in identifying SLNs and malignant SLNs. The trials included 1683 SLNs
      identified in 804 patients. Data from the studies were imbalanced, therefore
      additional agreement indices were utilized to compare techniques. The estimated
      difference between the techniques was analyzed and a margin of <=5 % was used to
      determine non-inferiority. RESULTS: Agreement between the Sienna+((r)) and
      standard tracers was strong for SLN detection by patient [prevalence-adjusted
      bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) 0.94, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.89-0.98],
      moderate to substantial for SLN detection by node (PABAK 0.68, 95 % CI 0.54
      0.82), and strong for the detection of malignant SLNs by patient (PABAK 0.89, 95
      % CI 0.84-0.95). Sienna+((r)) demonstrated non-inferiority compared with standard
      tracers. CONCLUSIONS: The Sienna+((r)) mapping agent is non-inferior to the
      standard method for SLN detection in patients with clinically node-negative
      breast cancer.

PMID- 26893220
TI  - Imported Plasmodium vivax malaria with severe thrombocytopaenia: can it be severe
      malaria or not?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopaenia is the most frequent malaria-associated
      haematologic alteration observed with all five Plasmodium parasites causing
      disease in humans. Although not included in the World Health Organization
      criteria for severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, severe thrombocytopaenia has
      been increasingly mentioned as an indicator of P. vivax malaria severity. CASE:
      Here, it is described a case of imported P. vivax malaria in a 37-year old man
      from Pakistan who presented with severe thrombocytopaenia (5 * 10(9)/L). He was
      admitted to the intensive care unit and initially treated with a 1-day course of
      intravenous quinine followed by oral chloroquine and primaquine. The patient's
      platelet count increased as early as 4 hours after treatment inception and the
      clinical course was favourable and uneventful. DISCUSSION: This case report,
      along with a review of published cases focusing on the relationship between
      thrombocytopaenia and severe P. vivax malaria, suggests that the prognostic role
      of severe thrombocytopaenia is ambiguous in absence of severe haemorraghic
      complications and its use as diagnostic criterion of malaria severity may lead to
      overestimation of severe P. vivax malaria cases. CONCLUSION: Due to the lack of
      high quality studies it is at present unclear if severe thrombocytopaenia in the
      setting of P. vivax malaria should be considered indicative of severe malaria.

PMID- 26893223
TI  - A New Technology for Sentinel Node Biopsy: A Logistic Improvement.

PMID- 26893222
TI  - Pancreatectomy with Mesenteric and Portal Vein Resection for Borderline
      Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Multicenter Study of 406 Patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: The role of pancreatectomy with en bloc venous resection and the
      prognostic impact of pathological venous invasion are still debated. The authors
      analyzed perioperative, survival results, and prognostic factors of
      pancreatectomy with en bloc portal (PV) or superior mesenteric vein (SMV)
      resection for borderline resectable pancreatic carcinoma, focusing on predictive
      factors of histological venous invasion and its prognostic role. METHODS: A
      multicenter database of 406 patients submitted to pancreatectomy with en bloc SMV
      and/or PV resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma was analyzed retrospectively.
      Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors related to histological venous
      invasion were performed using logistic regression model. Prognostic factors were
      analyzed with log-rank test and multivariate proportional hazard regression
      analysis. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 51.9 % of patients and postoperative
      death in 7.1 %. Histological invasion of the resected vein was confirmed in 56.7
      % of specimens. Five-year survival was 24.4 % with median survival of 24 months.
      Vein invasion at preoperative computed tomography (CT), N status, number of
      metastatic lymph nodes, preoperative serum albumin were related to pathological
      venous invasion at univariate analysis, and vein invasion at CT was independently
      related to venous invasion at multivariate analysis. Use of preoperative biliary
      drain was significantly associated with postoperative complications. Multivariate
      proportional hazard regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation
      between overall survival and histological venous invasion and administration of
      adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies predictive factors of
      pathological venous invasion and prognostic factors for overall survival,
      including pathological venous invasion, which may help with patients' selection
      for different treatment protocols.

PMID- 26893224
TI  - Women in medical physics: a preliminary analysis of workforce and research
      participation in Australia and New Zealand.
AB  - Although the participation of women within the science, technology, engineering
      and mathematics workforces has been widely discussed over recent decades, the
      recording and analysis of data pertaining to the gender balance of medical
      physicists in Australia and New Zealand remains rare. This study aimed to provide
      a baseline for evaluating future changes in workforce demographics by quantifying
      the current level of representation of women in the Australasian medical physics
      workforce and providing an indication of the relative contribution made by those
      women to the local research environment. The 2015 Australasian College of
      Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) member directory and list
      of chief physicists at ACPSEM-accredited radiation oncology and diagnostic
      imaging training centres were interrogated to identify the gender balance of
      medical physicists working in Australia and New Zealand. A specific investigation
      of the employment levels of all medical physicists in Queensland was undertaken
      to provide an example of the gender balance at different levels of seniority in
      one large Australian state. Lists of authors of medical physics presentations at
      ACPSEM annual conferences and authors of publications in the ACPSEM's official
      journal, were used to provide an indication of the gender balance in published
      research within Australia and New Zealand. The results of this study showed that
      women currently constitute approximately 28 % of the medical physics workforce in
      Australia and New Zealand, distributed disproportionally in junior roles; there
      is a decrease in female participation in the field with increasing levels of
      seniority, which is particularly apparent in the stratified data obtained for the
      Queensland workforce. Comparisons with older data suggest that this situation has
      changed little since 2008. Examination of ACPSEM conference presentations
      suggested that there are similar disparities between the gender-balance of
      proffered and invited or keynote speakers (28 % and 13 % from female authors) and
      the gender balance of certified and chief physicists (28 % and 21 % female). The
      representation of women in the ACPSEM journal does not differ substantially
      between authorship of proffered versus invited work (22 % and 19 % from female
      authors). While this work was limited to evaluating the membership, annual
      conference and official journal of the ACPSEM (rather than evaluating the entire
      medical physics workforce and the contributions of male and female physicists to
      international conferences and publications), this study nonetheless led to the
      following recommendations: that a longitudinal study analysing correlations
      between age, period of service, seniority and gender should be undertaken and
      that future ACPSEM workforce surveys should include analyses of gender
      representation. 

PMID- 26893225
TI  - Stability Comparison of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Zinc Oxide and Titania on
      Polymer Substrates.
AB  - Device scale-up and long-term stability constitute two major hurdles that the
      emerging perovskite solar technology will have to overcome before
      commercialization. Here, a comparative study was performed between ZnO and TiO2
      electron-selective layers, two materials that allow the low-temperature
      processing of perovskite solar cells on polymer substrates. Although the use of
      TiO2 is well established on glass substrates, ZnO was chosen because it can be
      readily printed at low temperature and offers the potential for the large-scale
      roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible photovoltaics at a low cost. However, a
      rapid degradation of CH3 NH3 PbI3 was observed if it was deposited on ZnO,
      therefore, the influence of the perovskite film preparation conditions on its
      morphology and degradation kinetics was investigated. This study showed that CH3
      NH3 PbI3 could withstand a higher temperature on TiO2 than ZnO and that TiO2
      based perovskite devices were more stable than their ZnO analogues.

PMID- 26893226
TI  - Computational hemodynamics of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Three-dimensional
      ultrasound versus computed tomography.
AB  - The current criterion for surgical intervention in abdominal aortic aneurysms,
      based upon a maximal aortic diameter, is considered conservative due to the high
      mortality rate in case of rupture. The research community is actively
      investigating the use of computational mechanics tools combined with patient
      specific imaging to help identify more accurate criteria. Widespread uptake of a
      successful metric will however be limited by the need for computed tomography,
      which is at present the primary image extraction method on account of the
      location and complex shape of the aneurysms. The use of three-dimensional
      ultrasound as the scanning method is more attractive on account of increased
      availability, reduced cost and reduced risk to patients. The suitability of three
      dimensional ultrasound is assessed for this purpose in the present work;
      computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed on geometries obtained
      from the same patient using both ultrasound and computed tomography. The
      influence of different smoothing algorithms is investigated in the geometry
      preparation stage and Taubin's low-pass filter was found to best preserve
      geometry features. Laminar, Newtonian, steady-state simulation analysis
      identified haemodynamic characteristics to be qualitatively similar in terms of
      wall shear stress, velocity and vorticity. The study demonstrates the potential
      for three-dimensional ultrasound to be integrated into a more accessible patient
      specific modelling tool able to identify the need for surgical intervention of
      abdominal aortic aneurysms. 

PMID- 26893227
TI  - Video tracking for high-similarity drug tablets based on reflective lightness
      intensity and fuzzy recognition system.
AB  - Video tracking of drug tablet exerts important influences on the efficiency and
      reliability of its mass production; this topic also becomes a difficult and
      targeted focus for pharmaceutical production monitory in the past several years
      due to the high similarity and random distribution of those objectives to be
      searched for. By measuring the reflective lightness intensity of illumination
      lightness on tablet surface, reflective lightness intensity matrix was
      established and demonstrated in the form of grey image, presenting its shape
      topology and topography details in return. On this basis, a series of
      mathematical properties for describing reflective lightness intensity images were
      proposed, thereafter a set of fuzzy recognition system and its identification
      rules can be employed to classify those moving tablets with inputted image
      properties, which facilitates the determination of their instantaneous coordinate
      positions on given image frame accordingly. By repeating identical operations on
      the next frame, the real-time motions of tablet objectives were traced
      successfully. Orthogonal tracking experiment and performance comparisons verified
      the accuracy and reliability of this new method in pharmaceutical industry. With
      original suggestions concerning imaging arrangements, tablet descriptions and
      video tracking, this article provides reliable references and new research ideas
      for tablet tracking performance in high-yielding production domain. 

PMID- 26893228
TI  - Inclusion of the periodontal ligament in studies on the biomechanical behavior of
      fiber post-retained restorations: An in vitro study and three-dimensional finite
      element analysis.
AB  - Endodontically treated teeth are known to have reduced structural strength.
      Periodontal ligament may influence fracture resistance. The purpose of this study
      was to assess the influence of including the periodontal ligament in
      biomechanical studies about endodontically treated and restored teeth. Forty
      human maxillary central incisors were treated endodontically and randomly divided
      into four groups: non-crowned (with and without an artificial ligament) and
      crowned (with and without an artificial ligament) with glass-ceramic crowns. All
      groups received prefabricated glass-fiber posts and a composite resin core.
      Specimens were tested, under a flexural-compressive load, until failure occurred.
      The failure mode was registered for all specimens. The failure loads were
      recorded and analyzed using an analysis of variance test (p < 0.05). These
      results were compared with those predicted by a finite element model. The
      analysis of variance did not show significant differences between the use of
      crown on the failure load (p = 0.331) and the use of periodontal ligament (p =
      0.185). A cohesive mode in crown appeared in crowned teeth and in core in non
      crowned groups. For non-crowned teeth, adhesive failure occurred along the cement
      enamel junction with a slight tendency in specimens without periodontal ligament.
      Furthermore, an unfavorable failure mode affects partially the root with no
      differences regarding non-crown specimens. In crowned teeth, the tendency was an
      adhesive failure along the cement-enamel junction. The model predicted a
      distribution of the safety factor consistent with these results. This study
      showed that inclusion of periodontal ligament is not particularly important on
      biomechanical behavior of post-retained restorations. However, we recommend its
      inclusion in fatigue studies. 

PMID- 26893229
TI  - Novel movement disorder society-Parkinson's disease criteria: What about SWEDD
      and genetic forms?

PMID- 26893230
TI  - The role of drought- and disturbance-mediated competition in shaping community
      responses to varied environments.
AB  - By altering the strength of intra- and interspecific competition, droughts may
      reshape plant communities. Furthermore, species may respond differently to
      drought when other influences, such as herbivory, are considered. To explore this
      relationship, we conducted a greenhouse experiment measuring responses to inter-
      and intraspecific competition for two grasses, Schedonorus arundinaceus and
      Paspalum dilatatum, while varying water availability and simulating herbivory via
      clipping. We then parameterized population growth models to examine the long-term
      outcome of competition under these conditions. Under drought, S. arundinaceus was
      less water stressed than P. dilatatum, which exhibited severe water stress;
      clipping alleviated this stress, increasing the competitive ability of P.
      dilatatum relative to S. arundinaceus. Although P. dilatatum competed weakly
      under drought, clipping reduced water stress in P. dilatatum, thereby enhancing
      its ability to compete with S. arundinaceus under drought. Supporting these
      observations, population growth models predicted that P. dilatatum would exclude
      S. arundinaceus when clipped under drought, while S. arundinaceus would exclude
      P. dilatatum when unclipped under drought. When the modeled environment varied
      temporally, environmental variation promoted niche differences that, though
      insufficient to maintain stable coexistence, prevented unconditional competitive
      exclusion by promoting priority effects. Our results suggest that it is important
      to consider how species respond not just to stable, but also to variable,
      environments. When species differ in their responses to drought, competition, and
      simulated herbivory, stable environments may promote competitive exclusion, while
      fluctuating environments may promote coexistence. These interactions are critical
      to understanding how species will respond to global change.

PMID- 26893231
TI  - Comorbidity of Personality Disorders and Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
      Disorder (ADHD)--Review of Recent Findings.
AB  - Children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may remit
      until adulthood. But, more than 60-80% have persisting ADHD symptoms. ADHD as an
      early manifesting neurodevelopmental disorder is considered a major risk factor
      for the development of comorbid psychiatric disorders in later life.
      Particularly, personality disorders are oftentimes observed in adult patients
      suffering from ADHD. If ADHD and personality disorders share common etiological
      mechanisms and/or if ADHD as a severely impairing condition influences
      psychological functioning and learning and leads to unfavorable learning
      histories is unclear. The development of inflexible and dysfunctional beliefs on
      the basis of real and perceived impairments or otherness due to the core symptoms
      of ADHD is intuitively plausible. Such beliefs are a known cause for the
      development of personality disorders. But, why some personality disorders are
      more frequently found in ADHD patients as for example antisocial and borderline
      personality disorder remains subject of debate. Because of the high prevalence of
      ADHD and the high impact of personality disorders on daily functioning, it is
      important to take them into account when treating patients with ADHD. Research on
      the developmental trajectories leading to personality disorders in adult ADHD
      patients might open the door for targeted interventions to prevent impairing
      comorbid clinical pictures.

PMID- 26893232
TI  - Elderly Sexual Offenders.
AB  - With the ever-aging population, the number of elderly sexual offenders are also
      on the rise. The courts and correctional system are increasingly faced with older
      individuals who have offended sexually. Previously, these older offenders were
      thought to be similar to younger sexual offenders. However, closer analysis
      suggests that many of these individuals pose a much lower risk to recidivate than
      the risk to recidivate of their younger counterparts. Still, an individualized
      approach to manage the risk of older offenders is required, as some may have
      particular risk factors relevant for their treatment and future stability, such
      as dementia or other mental health issues. Further, this population often has
      particular physical health issues and requires special consideration when being
      placed in the community. Assessment, treatment, and risk management in this
      special population of sexual offenders are discussed. 

PMID- 26893233
TI  - Is There a Bipolar Prodrome Among Children and Adolescents?
AB  - Bipolar disorder in youth substantially impairs behavior, family, and social
      functioning and interferes with developmental course. There is increasing
      interest in defining a bipolar prodrome similar to that reported in early-onset
      psychosis that will allow for earlier intervention and reduction in overall
      morbidity and mortality. Several lines of research have addressed this important
      issue including studies of offspring of bipolar parents, high-risk cohorts, and
      longitudinal follow-up of subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), ADHD,
      and bipolar spectrum disorder. The development and validation of bipolar prodrome
      rating scales also shows promise. Recent attempts to intervene at earlier stages
      of bipolar disorder have led to some positive outcomes. However, a controversy
      remains concerning the identification and management of the earliest symptoms.
      Further research is needed to fully validate a bipolar prodrome and to determine
      the optimal course of action at various stages of illness. 

PMID- 26893234
TI  - Treatment Protocols for Eating Disorders: Clinicians' Attitudes, Concerns,
      Adherence and Difficulties Delivering Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions.
AB  - There are several protocols in existence that guide clinicians in the
      implementation of effective, evidence-based psychological interventions for
      eating disorders. These have been made accessible in the form of treatment
      manuals. However, relatively few clinicians use those protocols, preferring to
      offer more eclectic or integrative approaches. Following a summary of the
      research that shows that these evidence-based approaches can be used successfully
      in routine clinical settings, this review considers why there is such poor uptake
      of these therapies in such settings. This review focuses on the role of service
      culture and on clinicians' own attitudes, beliefs and emotions. Possible means of
      enhancing uptake are considered, but these cannot be considered to be ideal
      solutions at present. 

PMID- 26893235
TI  - Ecological Momentary Assessment in Eating Disorder and Obesity Research: a Review
      of the Recent Literature.
AB  - Our current understanding of the etiology and maintenance of eating disorders and
      obesity continues to be far from complete. Similarly, our understanding of
      determinants of both successful and unsuccessful weight loss surgery is also
      quite limited. While a number of research methodologies have been applied to
      these areas, one methodology that has recently seen a rise in popularity is the
      use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). EMA allows one to study a variety
      of variables of interest in the natural environment. The study of eating
      disorders, obesity, and bariatric surgery has all been conducted using EMA
      recently. The current study is a review of these areas and summarizes the recent
      literature (past 3 years) in eating disorders, obesity, and bariatric surgery
      using EMA methodology.

PMID- 26893237
TI  - Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: does age matter?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Many women report positive life changes, or posttraumatic growth
      (PTG), as a result of their experience with breast cancer. However, despite
      compelling evidence that younger age at diagnosis is associated consistently with
      greater distress, age has not been integrated into models of PTG. Drawing from
      the theoretical and empirical literature, we tested whether key correlates (i.e.,
      cancer-related impact and engagement, positive mood) of PTG varied by age at
      breast cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Participants were 175 women with early stage
      breast cancer followed from completion of primary treatment through one year post
      treatment. Analyses involved data collected at the one-year assessment. RESULTS:
      As hypothesized, correlates of PTG varied significantly as a function of age.
      Perceived negative impact of the cancer experience was associated with growth for
      older women (p = .046), whereas approach-oriented coping (p = .004), an expansive
      time perspective (p = .007), and positive mood were associated with growth for
      younger women (p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: PTG may involve distinct processes for
      women diagnosed at different ages. Consideration of lifespan developmental
      processes is necessary when studying positive adjustment to cancer. Copyright (c)
      2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26893239
TI  - Why do immunology research in hemophilia?

PMID- 26893238
TI  - Critical role of the C5a-activated neutrophils in high-fat diet-induced vascular
      inflammation.
AB  - Exceed and chronic high-fat diet (HFD) contributes to the diagnosis and
      development of atherosclerosis, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. However, the key
      molecular component(s) triggered by HFD responsible for initiating vascular
      inflammation remain unknown. We observed that feeding HFD for 4 weeks is
      sufficient to induce leukocyte recruitment in the femoral artery of wild-type
      mice. Neutrophil- and monocyte-depletion analyses confirmed the preferential
      recruitment of neutrophils in these mice. Protein analysis of sera from HFD-fed
      mice revealed a marked elevation of complement component C5a levels. Exogenous
      C5a alone induced leukocyte recruitment, which was abolished by a C5a-receptor
      antagonist. We also examined the role of neutrophil-derived MCP-1 in accumulation
      of leukocytes in the artery. These results demonstrated a previously unrecognized
      role for C5a and neutrophils in the early onset of HFD-induced vascular
      inflammation. Further study may help in elucidating a novel regulatory pathway to
      control diet-induced inflammation such as that in case of atherosclerosis. 

PMID- 26893236
TI  - A Review of Scales to Measure Social Anxiety Disorder in Clinical and
      Epidemiological Studies.
AB  - To advance research into social anxiety disorder (SAD) and provide efficacious
      treatments for individuals with SAD, researchers and clinicians must have
      effective assessment instruments for identifying the disorder in terms of its
      diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and the presence of specific maintaining factors.
      This review highlights the main lines of existing adult and youth research on
      scales that form part of diagnostic instruments that assess SAD, scales that
      measure social anxiety symptoms, and scales that measure theory-based
      psychological maintaining factors associated with SAD. The review also highlights
      methodological issues that impact on the use of the aforementioned scales. The
      continued refinement and comparative evaluation of measures for SAD, culminating
      in the ascertainment of optimal measures, will improve the assessment and
      identification of the disorder. Improved identification of the disorder will
      contribute to the advancement of SAD research and treatment. 

PMID- 26893242
TI  - Impact of {Os(pap)2} in fine-tuning the binding modes and non-innocent potential
      of deprotonated 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-diol.
AB  - The reaction of ctc-Os(II)(pap)2Cl2 (pap = 2-phenylazopyridine, ctc = cis-trans
      cis with respect to chlorides and pyridine/azo nitrogens of pap, respectively)
      and ambidentate 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-diol (H2L) leads to the simultaneous
      formation of isomeric [Os(II)(pap)2(HL(-))](+) ((2+)/(3+)), seven-membered
      chelate containing Os(II)(pap)2(L(2-)) (4) and diastereomeric [{Os(II)(pap)2}2(MU
      L(2-))](2+) (5a(2+) (meso, DeltaLambda)/5b(2+) (rac, DeltaDelta/LambdaLambda)).
      The reaction of 2,2'-biphenol (H2L') and ctc-Os(II)(pap)2Cl2 yields
      Os(II)(pap)2(L'(2-)) (6), an analogue of 4. The identities of the newly designed
      complexes have been established by different analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray
      diffraction techniques. (1)H-NMR spectra of the complexes and single crystal X
      ray structures of selective derivatives [2]ClO4, [3]ClO4, [5a](ClO4)2, and 6
      establish the retention of the tc-configuration of the precursor {Os(pap)2}. In
      isomeric 2(+) and 3(+), monodeprotonated HL(-) is linked to the {Os(II)(pap)2}
      fragment through N,N and N,O(-) donors, resulting in nearly planar five- and six
      membered chelates with O-HO(-) and O-HN hydrogen bonds at its back face,
      respectively. The O(-),O(-) donating L'(2-) extends a severely twisted seven
      membered chelate with the {Os(pap)2} unit in 6. The N,O(-)/O(-),N donors of
      deprotonated L(2-) bridge the two {Os(II)(pap)2} units in a symmetric fashion in
      5a(2+), forming two moderately twisted six-membered chelates. Though the
      deprotonation of the O-HN hydrogen bond in (+) by another unit of {Os(II)(pap)2}
      generates a diastereomeric mixture of 5a(2+) and 5b(2+), attempts to deprotonate
      the relatively stronger O-H...O(-) hydrogen bond in 2(+) have failed. The
      isomeric 2(+)/3(+), seven-membered chelate containing 4/6 and diastereomeric
      5a(2+)/5b(2+) exhibit distinctive (1)H-NMR and absorption spectra as well as
      electrochemical responses. The pap (N[double bond, length as m-dash]N) based two
      successive reductions and the participation of HL(-), L(2-), L'(2-) in the
      oxidation processes of the respective complexes have been revealed using EPR and
      DFT calculated MOs and Mulliken spin density plots at the intermediate
      paramagnetic states.

PMID- 26893240
TI  - Toxicity evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of Ferula gummosa root.
AB  - Traditionally, people use harvested Ferula gummosa for medicinal purposes.
      However, no information about its safety and toxicity is available. In the
      present study, the toxicological profile of sub-chronic oral administration of
      hydroalcoholic extract of F. gummosa radix is evaluated in rats. The extract was
      orally administrated at 100 and 600 mg/kg to male rats for 28 days. After 28
      days, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food and water consumption, organ
      weights, hematology, serum biochemistry, as well as histopathological and
      neurobehavioral changes were examined. Also, the sedative effect of this extract
      was evaluated in mice at the doses of 100, 600, and 800 mg/kg. Its cytotoxicity
      against human stroma-vascular cells and human renal epithelial cells were also
      evaluated. No lethality or adverse toxic signs were seen during the experimental
      period. There were no significant changes in body and organ weights, hematology,
      serum biochemistry, and histopathological examination. The extract decreased the
      rotarod performance, but did not increase pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. Also,
      F. gummosa extract significantly decreased cell viability at the concentrations
      of higher than 400 MUg/mL. In conclusion, the sub-chronic toxicity study of F.
      gummosa hydroalcoholic extract demonstrated the extract to be safe for the tested
      dosage and route of administration. 

PMID- 26893241
TI  - A practical review on carfilzomib in multiple myeloma.
AB  - Carfilzomib, a second-generation proteasome inhibitor, has been increasingly used
      in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) since its approval by the American
      food and drug administration (FDA) in the summer of 2012. The drug is active as a
      single agent and in combination with other antimyeloma agents. As a result of its
      efficacy and safety in the relapsed/refractory setting, carfilzomib is being
      evaluated in patients with newly diagnosed MM as well as in high-risk smoldering
      MM. This review will give a comprehensive summary of the drug, including its
      mechanism of action, the evaluated doses and schedules as well as a summary of
      the main clinical trials in the relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed settings.
      A focus will be placed upon certain subgroups of interest as well as a
      description of the toxicity associated with carfilzomib use and a clinical
      perspective on toxicity management. 

PMID- 26893244
TI  - Enhanced design of inhaled therapeutics: what does the future hold?

PMID- 26893243
TI  - Third-generation antibody drug conjugates for cancer therapy--a balancing act.

PMID- 26893245
TI  - The potential of protein-based nanocages for imaging and drug delivery.

PMID- 26893246
TI  - The physics of drug-delivery across the blood-brain barrier.

PMID- 26893247
TI  - Nanotechnology and traditional medicine: challenges and opportunities.

PMID- 26893248
TI  - The immediate effects of lidocaine iontophoresis using interferential current on
      pressure sense threshold and tactile sensation.
AB  - Iontophoresis is the noninvasive delivery of ions using direct current. The
      direct current has some disadvantages such as skin burning. Interferential
      current is a kind of alternating current without limitations of direct current;
      so the purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of
      lidocaine, interferential current and lidocaine iontophoresis using
      interferential current. 30 healthy women aged 20-24 years participated in this
      randomized clinical trial study. Pressure, tactile and pain thresholds were
      evaluated before and after the application of treatment methods. Pressure,
      tactile and pain sensitivity increased significantly after the application of
      lidocaine alone (p < 0.005) and lidocaine iontophoresis using interferential
      current (p < 0.0001). Lidocaine iontophoresis using interferential current can
      increase perception threshold of pain, tactile stimulus and pressure sense more
      significantly than lidocaine and interferential current alone. 

PMID- 26893249
TI  - Flow vibration-doubled concentric system coupled with low ratio amine to produce
      bile acid-macrocapsules of beta-cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pancreatic beta-cell microencapsulation using sodium alginate (SA),
      polylornithine (PLO) copolymers, and ultrasoluble hydrogels, polystyrenes and
      polyallamines (PAA), has been heavily studied. However, long-term success remains
      limited due to poor macrocapsules' physical properties and cell functions. Our
      study aimed to incorporate percentages of PAA and ursodeoxycholic acid, into SA
      and PLO dispersion mixture and examine best microencapsulating methods and best
      macrocapsules containing beta-cells. METHODS/RESULTS: Microencapsulating
      parameters were examined and the Flow-Vibrational Nozzle built-in system was
      screened and found to be most efficient at high frequency (1900 Hz).
      Macrocapsules were produced with or without ursodeoxycholic acid in percentages:
      0.018SA:0.01PLO:0.005PAA:0.04ursodeoxycholic acid (up to 100% H2O). Using the
      refined microencapsulation method with vibrational frequency of 1900 Hz,
      macrocapsules with ursodeoxycholic acid had optimized cell viability and
      biological functions and ameliorated inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSION: High
      frequency and air-pressure with Flow-Vibrational encapsulation using the mixture:
      0.018SA:0.01PLO:0.005PAA:0.04ursodeoxycholic acid resulted in better cell biology
      suggesting potentials in beta-cell transplantation.

PMID- 26893250
TI  - A review of current and novel levodopa formulations for the treatment of
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Parkinson's disease treatment is characterized by the nearly inevitable
      development of motor complications, including fluctuations and dyskinesias, in
      which the duration of benefit of a dose of medication is offset by involuntary
      movements that can be more disabling than the Parkinsonian features themselves.
      While levodopa remains the gold standard of therapy, it is the most likely to be
      associated with these complications. The concept of continuous dopaminergic
      stimulation has gained increasing acceptance as a potential mechanism by which to
      avoid or delay the development of motor complications, or to minimize their
      impact once they have already occurred. This article will explore existing and
      novel formulations of levodopa to identify their role in the spectrum of
      Parkinson's disease therapeutics. 

PMID- 26893252
TI  - Authors' Reply to Ultrasound vs MRI for stroke shoulder: Apples and pears or
      simply N/A?

PMID- 26893251
TI  - Cinnamaldehyde supplementation prevents fasting-induced hyperphagia, lipid
      accumulation, and inflammation in high-fat diet-fed mice.
AB  - Cinnamaldehyde, a bioactive component of cinnamon, is increasingly gaining
      interest for its preventive and therapeutic effects against metabolic
      complications like type-2 diabetes. This study is an attempt to understand the
      effect of cinnamaldehyde in high-fat diet (HFD)-associated increase in fasting
      induced hyperphagia and related hormone levels, adipose tissue lipolysis and
      inflammation, and selected cecal microbial count in mice. Cinnamaldehyde, at 40
      uM dose, prevented lipid accumulation and altered gene expression toward
      lipolytic phenotype in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell lines. In vivo, cinnamaldehyde
      coadministration prevented HFD-induced body weight gain, decreased fasting
      induced hyperphagia, as well as circulating leptin and leptin/ghrelin ratio. In
      addition to that, cinnamaldehyde altered serum biochemical parameters related to
      lipolysis, that is, glycerol and free fatty acid levels. At transcriptional
      level, cinnamaldehyde increased anorectic gene expression in hypothalamus and
      lipolytic gene expression in visceral white adipose tissue. Furthermore,
      cinnamaldehyde also decreased serum IL-1beta and inflammatory gene expression in
      visceral white adipose tissue. However, cinnamaldehyde did not modulate the
      population of selected gut microbial (Lactobacillus, Bifidibaceria, and
      Roseburia) count in cecal content. In conclusion, cinnamaldehyde increased
      adipose tissue lipolysis, decreased fasting-induced hyperphagia, normalized
      circulating levels of leptin/ghrelin ratio, and reduced inflammation in HFD-fed
      mice, which augurs well for its antiobesity role.

PMID- 26893253
TI  - Drinking Like an Adult? Trajectories of Alcohol Use Patterns Before and After
      College Graduation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: College students who engage in high-risk drinking patterns are
      thought to "mature out" of these patterns as they transition to adult roles.
      College graduation is an important milestone demarcating this transition. We
      examine longitudinal changes in quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption
      between the college years and the 4 years after graduation and explore variation
      in these changes by gender and race/ethnicity. METHODS: Participants were 1,128
      college graduates enrolled in a longitudinal prospective study of health-risk
      behaviors. Standard measures of alcohol consumption were gathered during 8 annual
      personal interviews (76 to 91% annual follow-up). Graduation dates were culled
      from administrative data and self-report. Spline models, in which separate
      trajectories were modeled before and after the "knot" of college graduation, were
      fit to 8 annual observations of past-year alcohol use frequency and quantity
      (typical number of drinks/drinking day). RESULTS: Frequency increased linearly
      pregraduation, slightly decreased postgraduation, and then rebounded to
      pregraduation levels. Pregraduation frequency increased more steeply among
      individuals who drank more heavily at college entry. Quantity decreased linearly
      during college, followed by quadratic decreases after graduation. CONCLUSIONS:
      Results suggest that the postcollege "maturing-out" phenomenon might be
      attributable to decreases in alcohol quantity but not frequency. High-frequency
      drinking patterns that develop during college appear to persist several years
      postgraduation.

PMID- 26893255
TI  - Synthesis, analysis and biological evaluation of novel indolquinonecryptolepine
      analogues as potential anti-tumour agents.
AB  - A small library of cryptolepine analogues were synthesised incorporating halogens
      and/or nitrogen containing side chains to optimise their interaction with the
      sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA to give improved binding, interfering with
      topoisomerase II hence enhancing cytotoxicity. Cell viability, DNA binding and
      Topoisomerase II inhibition is discussed for these compounds. Fluorescence
      microscopy was used to investigate the uptake of the synthesised cryptolepines
      into the nucleus. We report the synthesis and anti-cancer biological evaluation
      of nine novel cryptolepine analogues, which have greater cytotoxicity than the
      parent compound and are important lead compounds in the development of novel
      potent and selective indoloquinone anti-neoplastic agents. 

PMID- 26893254
TI  - Potential role of AKT/mTOR signalling proteins in hairy cell leukaemia:
      association with BRAF/ERK activation and clinical outcome.
AB  - The potential role of AKT/mTOR signalling proteins and its association with the
      Raf-MEK-ERK pathway was investigated in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). BRAFV600E
      expression and activated forms of AKT, mTOR, ERK1/2, p70S6k and 4E-BP1 were
      immunohistochemically assessed in 77 BM biopsies of HCL patients and correlated
      with clinicopathological and BM microvascular characteristics, as well as with c
      Caspase-3 levels in hairy cells. Additionally, we tested rapamycin treatment
      response of BONNA-12 wild-type cells or transfected with BRAFV600E. Most HCL
      cases expressed p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1 but not p-mTOR, being accompanied by p
      ERK1/2 and p-AKT. AKT/mTOR activation was evident in BONNA-12 cells irrespective
      of the presence of BRAFV600E mutation and was implicated in cell proliferation
      enhancement. In multivariate analysis p-AKT/p-mTOR/p-4E-BP1 overexpression was an
      adverse prognostic factor for time to next treatment conferring earlier relapse.
      When p-AKT, p-mTOR and p-4E-BP1 were examined separately only p-4E-BP1 remained
      significant. Our findings indicate that in HCL, critical proteins up- and
      downstream of mTOR are activated. Moreover, the strong associations with Raf-MEK
      ERK signalling imply a possible biologic interaction between these pathways. Most
      importantly, expression of p-4E-BP1 alone or combined with p-AKT and p-mTOR is of
      prognostic value in patients with HCL.

PMID- 26893256
TI  - Dietary compound alpha-asarone alleviates ER stress-mediated apoptosis in 7beta
      hydroxycholesterol-challenged macrophages.
AB  - SCOPE: Prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has lost the function of
      protein folding capacity and the ER accumulation of unfolded proteins that
      eventually triggers apoptosis. Oxysterols are emerging as contributing factors in
      atherogenesis known to involve macrophage apoptosis. This study determined the
      inhibitory effect of alpha-asarone present in purple perilla, on 7beta
      hydroxycholesterol-induced macrophage apoptosis, targeting against ER stress
      signaling pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: J774A1 murine macrophages were exposed to
      28 MUM 7beta-hydroxycholesterol and treated with 1-10 MUM alpha-asarone.
      Macrophage apoptosis and ER stress were examined by and alpha-Asarone blocked
      7beta-hydroxycholesterol-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosome formation.
      Immunoblotting showed that the oxysterol activated the ER transmembrane resident
      kinases of IRE1alpha, PERK and ATF4 and triggered caspase-12 signaling cascades,
      which was reversed by alpha-asarone. Additionally, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol
      activated TRAF2-ASK1-JNK1/2 complex following the IRE1alpha activation, and alpha
      asarone blunted such IRE1alpha-mediated pathway. Real-time PCR and dual
      luciferase reporter analyses revealed that alpha-asarone reduced transcriptional
      activation of ER stress-responsive genes including XBP1 and CHOP by 7beta
      hydroxycholesterol. Finally, alpha-asarone disturbed oxysterol-elicited signaling
      of PERK and ATF4 responsible for CHOP induction. CONCLUSION: alpha-Asarone
      blocked 7beta-hydroxycholesterol-induced macrophage apoptosis through allaying ER
      stress-specific signaling involving caspase activation and CHOP induction. alpha
      Asarone was an anti-atherosclerotic agent antagonizing ER stress-mediated
      macrophage apoptosis by 7beta-hydroxycholesterol.

PMID- 26893257
TI  - Ophthalmological characteristics in children with Leigh syndrome - A long-term
      follow-up.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe ophthalmological characteristics in children with Leigh
      syndrome (LS), an inherited, progressive, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, at
      diagnosis and over time, and relate the results to causative genetic mutations.
      METHODS: Forty-four children with LS (19 females), with a median age of 2.4 years
      (range: 0.6-14.2 years) at diagnosis, were studied at the Queen Silvia Children's
      Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Twenty-eight children had known genetic defects.
      The children underwent an ophthalmological examination, including visual acuity
      (VA), eye motility, refraction, slit lamp examination, ophthalmoscopy and a full
      field electroretinogram (ff-ERG). Seventeen children were available for follow-up
      over a mean time of 5.4 years (range: 0.3-14.8 years). The results of these
      children were compared with an age- and sex-matched reference group of healthy
      children (n = 119). RESULTS: Altogether 36/44 of the children (82%) had
      ophthalmological abnormalities. The most common findings were refractive errors
      (n = 16/25), low VA (n = 9/36), strabismus (n = 8/42), reduced eye motility (n =
      8/40), optic atrophy (n = 7/41), retinal pigmentation (n = 6/40) and nystagmus (n
      = 6/42). Several ophthalmological manifestations appeared over time. In 5/22
      children, ff-ERG showed retinal dystrophy. No significant correlation between
      phenotype and genotype was found. The children with LS had significantly lower VA
      (p < 0.0001, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square exact test), more astigmatism (p = 0.012,
      Fisher's exact test) and higher incidence of strabismus (p = 0.0002) compared to
      controls at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this unique cohort of children with LS,
      the vast majority showed ophthalmological findings at diagnosis, which increased
      over time. Therefore, we recommend that all children diagnosed with LS should be
      followed up with regular ophthalmological examinations.

PMID- 26893259
TI  - Altered Striatal Response During Effort-Based Valuation and Motivation in Alcohol
      Dependent Individuals.
AB  - AIMS: To use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the
      neural circuitry behind effort-related valuation and motivation in a population
      of alcohol-dependent participants and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventeen
      alcohol-dependent participants and a comparison group of 17 healthy control
      participants completed an effort-based motivation paradigm during an fMRI scan,
      in which they were required to exert effort at varying levels in order to earn a
      monetary reward. RESULTS: We found that alcohol-dependent participants were less
      motivated during trials requiring high levels of effort. The whole-brain fMRI
      analysis revealed that alcohol-dependent participants displayed an increased
      blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal during low and unknown effort cues in
      the dorsal and ventral striatum compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These
      findings provide the first evidence that alcohol-dependent participants and
      healthy controls differ in their effort-based valuation and motivation
      processing. Alcohol-dependent participants displayed a hyperactive mesolimbic
      reward circuitry recruited by non-drug rewards, potentially reflecting a
      sensitization to reward in this patient population.

PMID- 26893258
TI  - Exercise-induced oxidative stress: past, present and future.
AB  - The existence of free radicals in living cells was first reported in 1954 and
      this important finding helped launch the field of free radical biology. However,
      the discovery that muscular exercise is associated with increased biomarkers of
      oxidative stress did not occur until 1978. Following the initial report that
      exercise promotes oxidative stress in humans, many studies have confirmed that
      prolonged or short-duration high intensity exercise results in increased radical
      production in active skeletal muscles resulting in the formation of oxidized
      lipids and proteins in the working muscles. Since these early descriptive
      studies, the investigation of radicals and redox biology related to exercise and
      skeletal muscle has grown as a discipline and the importance of this research in
      the biomedical sciences is widely recognized. This review will briefly summarize
      the history of research in exercise-induced oxidative stress and will discuss the
      major paradigm shifts that the field has undergone and continues to experience.
      We conclude with a discussion of future directions in the hope of stimulating
      additional research in this important field.

PMID- 26893261
TI  - NAFLD: Unravelling the path to steatohepatitis.

PMID- 26893260
TI  - Hypophosphatasia - aetiology, nosology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.
AB  - Hypophosphatasia is the inborn error of metabolism characterized by low serum
      alkaline phosphatase activity (hypophosphatasaemia). This biochemical hallmark
      reflects loss-of-function mutations within the gene that encodes the tissue
      nonspecific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). TNSALP is a cell-surface
      homodimeric phosphohydrolase that is richly expressed in the skeleton, liver,
      kidney and developing teeth. In hypophosphatasia, extracellular accumulation of
      TNSALP natural substrates includes inorganic pyrophosphate, an inhibitor of
      mineralization, which explains the dento-osseous and arthritic complications
      featuring tooth loss, rickets or osteomalacia, and calcific arthopathies.
      Severely affected infants sometimes also have hypercalcaemia and
      hyperphosphataemia due to the blocked entry of minerals into the skeleton, and
      pyridoxine-dependent seizures from insufficient extracellular hydrolysis of
      pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, the major circulating form of vitamin B6, required for
      neurotransmitter synthesis. Autosomal recessive or dominant inheritance from ~300
      predominantly missense ALPL (also known as TNSALP) mutations largely accounts for
      the remarkably broad-ranging expressivity of hypophosphatasia. High serum
      concentrations of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate represent a sensitive and specific
      biochemical marker for hypophosphatasia. Also, phosphoethanolamine levels are
      usually elevated in serum and urine, though less reliably for diagnosis. TNSALP
      mutation detection is important for recurrence risk assessment and prenatal
      diagnosis. Diagnosing paediatric hypophosphatasia is aided by pathognomic
      radiographic changes when the skeletal disease is severe. Hypophosphatasia was
      the last type of rickets or osteomalacia to await a medical treatment. Now,
      significant successes for severely affected paediatric patients are recognized
      using asfotase alfa, a bone-targeted recombinant TNSALP.

PMID- 26893266
TI  - Obesity: PKR not involved in metabolic diseases.

PMID- 26893268
TI  - Simultaneous quantitative analysis of nine vitamin D compounds in human blood
      using LC-MS/MS.
AB  - AIM: It has been suggested that each member of the family of vitamin D compounds
      may have different function(s). Therefore, selective quantification of each
      compound is important in clinical research. MATERIALS & METHODS: Development and
      validation attempts of a simultaneous determination method of 12 vitamin D
      compounds in human blood using precolumn derivatization followed by LC-MS/MS is
      described. Internal standard calibration with 12 stable isotope labeled analogs
      was used to correct for matrix effects in MS detector. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Nine
      vitamin D compounds were quantifiable in blood samples with detection limits
      within femtomole levels. Serum (compared with plasma) was found to be a more
      suitable sample type, and protein precipitation (compared with saponification) a
      more effective extraction method for vitamin D assay.

PMID- 26893269
TI  - Photocurrent in Multilayered Assemblies of Porphyrin-Fullerene Covalent Dyads:
      Evidence for Channels for Charge Transport.
AB  - Specially designed porphyrin-fullerene dyads have been synthesized to verify
      literature predictions based on quantum chemistry calculations that certain
      porphyrin-fullerene dyads are able to self-arrange into specific structures
      providing channels for charge transport in a bulk mass of organic compound.
      According to AFM and SEM data, the newly synthesized compounds were indeed prone
      to some kind of self-arrangement, although to a lesser degree than was expected.
      A dispersion corrected DFT study of the molecular non-covalent interactions
      performed at the DFT-D3 (B3LYP, 6-31G*) level of theory showed that the least
      energy corresponded to head-to-head dimers, with close contacts of porphyrin
      porphyrin and fullerene-fullerene fragments, thus providing a unit building block
      of the channel for charge transport. Experimental proof for the existence of
      channels for charge transport was obtained by observing a photocurrent in a
      simple photovoltaic cell. 

PMID- 26893262
TI  - Diabetic emergencies - ketoacidosis, hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state and
      hypoglycaemia.
AB  - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) and
      hypoglycaemia are serious complications of diabetes mellitus that require prompt
      recognition, diagnosis and treatment. DKA and HHS are characterized by
      insulinopaenia and severe hyperglycaemia; clinically, these two conditions differ
      only by the degree of dehydration and the severity of metabolic acidosis. The
      overall mortality recorded among children and adults with DKA is <1%. Mortality
      among patients with HHS is ~10-fold higher than that associated with DKA. The
      prognosis and outcome of patients with DKA or HHS are determined by the severity
      of dehydration, the presence of comorbidities and age >60 years. The estimated
      annual cost of hospital treatment for patients experiencing hyperglycaemic crises
      in the USA exceeds US$2 billion. Hypoglycaemia is a frequent and serious adverse
      effect of antidiabetic therapy that is associated with both immediate and delayed
      adverse clinical outcomes, as well as increased economic costs. Inpatients who
      develop hypoglycaemia are likely to experience a long duration of hospital stay
      and increased mortality. This Review describes the clinical presentation,
      precipitating causes, diagnosis and acute management of these diabetic
      emergencies, including a discussion of practical strategies for their prevention.

PMID- 26893270
TI  - Efficacy and safety of minoxidil 3% lotion for beard enhancement: A randomized,
      double-masked, placebo-controlled study.

PMID- 26893271
TI  - Frozen section analysis of unusual small testicular tumor masses: report of 3
      cases.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nonpalpable tumors of the testis are generally incidental findings on
      ultrasound examination. Most of these tumors are benign but some turn out to be
      germinal tumors at histology. Therefore, intraoperative histopathologic analysis
      of nonpalpable testicular lesions is pivotal for guiding a testis-sparing
      surgical approach. METHODS: We report clinical and pathologic characteristics of
      3 small nodules of the testis with challenging histologic features at
      intraoperative frozen section examination and peculiar histology. One was a known
      testicular mass, undertreated for 5 years, whose enlargement worried the patient,
      while the other 2 were incidental findings during clinical testicular examination
      for non-neoplastic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The 3 cases reported are characterized
      by small size, which limited the accuracy of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis.
      Intraoperative frozen section examination was able to rule out a diagnosis of
      germ cell malignancy in all cases, but diagnosis was conclusive only at
      histology. Knowledge of unexpected rare testicular lesions is of great relevance
      at the time of frozen section examination in view of conservative surgical
      strategy.

PMID- 26893274
TI  - Sensate Vagina Pedicled-Spot for Male-to-Female Transsexuals: The Experience in
      the First 50 Patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The cosmetic and functional results of vaginoplasty by inversion of
      penile and scrotal skin in male-to-female transsexuals are, in general,
      satisfactory. The sexual arousal function of the neo-female genitalia depends
      mainly on the clitoris. Due to the lack of a sexual arousal organ within the neo
      vagina, patients are denied sexual arousal during penetration of the neo-vagina.
      This necessitated improvement of sexual innervation within the neo-vagina.
      METHODS: A new technique to create a sexual arousal organ in the anterior wall of
      the neo-vagina by creation of a sensate pedicled-spot, in combination with the
      neo-clitoroplasty. RESULTS: In this paper, this new technique and part of the
      long-term results in the first 50 patients with a sensate pedicled-spot plasty
      are presented and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Sensate pedicled-spot plasty has proven
      to be a safe innovative technique which lead to adequate sexual functionality in
      all patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a
      level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based
      Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online
      Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893264
TI  - BMP signalling in skeletal development, disease and repair.
AB  - Since the identification in 1988 of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) as a
      potent inducer of bone and cartilage formation, BMP superfamily signalling has
      become one of the most heavily investigated topics in vertebrate skeletal
      biology. Whereas a large part of this research has focused on the roles of BMP2,
      BMP4 and BMP7 in the formation and repair of endochondral bone, a large number of
      BMP superfamily molecules have now been implicated in almost all aspects of bone,
      cartilage and joint biology. As modulating BMP signalling is currently a major
      therapeutic target, our rapidly expanding knowledge of how BMP superfamily
      signalling affects most tissue types of the skeletal system creates enormous
      potential to translate basic research findings into successful clinical therapies
      that improve bone mass or quality, ameliorate diseases of skeletal overgrowth,
      and repair damage to bone and joints. This Review examines the genetic evidence
      implicating BMP superfamily signalling in vertebrate bone and joint development,
      discusses a selection of human skeletal disorders associated with altered BMP
      signalling and summarizes the status of modulating the BMP pathway as a
      therapeutic target for skeletal trauma and disease. 

PMID- 26893273
TI  - Autologous Breast Augmentation Using Abdominal Dermis Fat Strip Grafts: A
      Preliminary Report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty and augmentation mastopexy are often performed in the
      same operation. Although silicone breast implants are usually used for breast
      augmentation, resected abdominal dermis fat tissue can be used for this purpose.
      We describe a new autologous breast augmentation technique using dermis fat
      grafts obtained from a simultaneous abdominoplasty operation. METHODS: This new
      technique was used in eight breasts of four patients who requested abdominoplasty
      and augmentation mastopexy operations in the same session. First, excess
      abdominal skin was de-epithelized. Dermis fat strips were harvested either in
      situ or extracorporeally from this area. The prepared strips were then inserted
      into the pectoralis major muscle during the mastopexy operation. RESULTS: The
      patients were followed up for 7 months to 6 years. No infection or other problems
      regarding the technique were observed. Magnetic resonance imaging obtained from
      one patient showed graft survival after 2 years. A slight augmentation,
      presumably 50 to 100 mL, was observed per breast in all of the patients.
      CONCLUSION: Dermis fat strips obtained from an abdominoplasty operation can be
      used to obtain slight augmentation during mastopexy in patients requesting both
      of these operations in the same session. Validation of this new technique
      requires more experience with additional patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This
      journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a
      full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table
      of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893272
TI  - Clinical and pathologic predictors of clinical outcome of malignant pleural
      mesothelioma.
AB  - AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Although worldwide use of asbestos has decreased, the
      incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is expected to increase over
      the next few decades. A number of scoring systems has been proposed to assess
      clinicopathologic features and to predict the prognosis. We assessed the
      relationship between patients' features and disease evolution in order to choose
      the best treatment able to prolong overall survival (OS) and progression-free
      survival (PFS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with locally
      advanced or metastatic MPM, treated at the Department of Medical Oncology,
      Universita Politecnica Marche, Italy, from January 2003 to September 2013. Data
      on age, sex, smoking history, asbestos exposure, performance status, tumor stage,
      histology, type of treatment, and routine laboratory tests including complete
      blood count panel, date of death, or censored status were collected. The OS and
      PFS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox analysis was performed to
      analyze the prognostic relevance of clinical parameters. RESULTS: We enrolled a
      total of 62 patients. Univariate analysis showed that histologic type,
      performance status, response to first-line therapy, pretreatment hemoglobin
      levels, and plasmatic Ca125 were significant prognostic factors. Conversely, no
      significant correlation was found between age, sex, smoking history, reported
      exposure to asbestos, stages at diagnosis, treatments, and OS and PFS.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that anemia and increased Ca125 might be
      considered negative prognostic parameters in MPM patients and confirmed the
      prognostic role of histotype, performance status, and response to first-line
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 26893275
TI  - Siliconoma: Report of Two Cases.
AB  - Injectable silicone has been used illegally for more than 60 years. Siliconoma is
      the term used to describe a foreign body reaction in the human body caused by the
      presence of silicone. The aim of this study is to report two cases of patients
      who underwent application of large volumes of injectable silicone with non
      medical and unqualified professionals, which led to serious complications
      sometime after the procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that
      authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of
      these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or
      the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893277
TI  - Perfect Lighting for Facial Photography in Aesthetic Surgery: Ring Light.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Photography is indispensable for plastic surgery. On-camera flashes
      can result in bleached out detail and colour. This is why most of the plastic
      surgery clinics prefer studio lighting similar to professional photographers'. In
      this article, we want to share a simple alternative to studio lighting that does
      not need extra space: Ring light. METHODS: We took five different photographs of
      the same person with five different camera and lighting settings: Smartphone and
      ring light; point and shoot camera and on-camera flash; point and shoot camera
      and studio lighting; digital single-lens reflex (DLSR) camera and studio
      lighting; DSLR and ring light. Then, those photographs were assessed objectively
      with an online survey of five questions answered by three distinct populations:
      plastic surgeons (n: 28), professional portrait photographers (n: 24) and
      patients (n: 22) who had facial aesthetic procedures. RESULTS: Compared to the on
      camera flash, studio lighting better showed the wrinkles of the subject. The ring
      light facilitated the perception of the wrinkles by providing homogenous soft
      light in a circular shape rather than bursting flashes. The combination of a DSLR
      camera and ring light gave the oldest looking subject according to 64 % of
      responders. The DSLR camera and the studio lighting demonstrated the youngest
      looking subject according to 70 % of the responders. The majority of the
      responders (78 %) chose the combination of DSLR camera and ring light that
      exhibited the wrinkles the most. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest using a ring light to
      obtain well-lit photographs without loss of detail, with any type of cameras.
      However, smartphones must be avoided if standard pictures are desired. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to
      each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings,
      please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors
      www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893276
TI  - Consensus on Current Injectable Treatment Strategies in the Asian Face.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The desire for and use of nonsurgical injectable esthetic facial
      treatments are increasing in Asia. The structural and anatomical features
      specific to the Asian face, and differences from Western populations in facial
      aging, necessitate unique esthetic treatment strategies, but published
      recommendations and clinical evidence for injectable treatments in Asians are
      scarce. METHOD: The Asian Facial Aesthetics Expert Consensus Group met to discuss
      current practices and consensus opinions on the cosmetic use of botulinum toxin
      and hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, alone and in combination, for facial
      applications in Southeastern and Eastern Asians. Consensus opinions and
      statements on treatment aims and current practice were developed following
      discussions regarding pre-meeting and meeting survey outcomes, peer-reviewed
      literature, and the experts' clinical experience. RESULTS: The indications and
      patterns of use of injectable treatments vary among patients of different ages,
      and among Asian countries. The combination use of botulinum toxin and fillers
      increases as patients age. Treatment aims in Asians and current practice
      regarding the use of botulinum toxin and HA fillers in the upper, middle, and
      lower face of patients aged 18 to >55 years are presented. CONCLUSIONS: In
      younger Asian patients, addressing proportion and structural features and
      deficiencies are important to achieve desired esthetic outcomes. In older
      patients, maintaining facial structure and volume and addressing lines and folds
      are essential to reduce the appearance of aging. This paper provides guidance on
      treatment strategies to address the complex esthetic requirements in Asian
      patients of all ages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that the authors
      assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these
      Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the
      online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893278
TI  - Safe Planes for Injection Rhinoplasty: A Histological Analysis of Midline
      Longitudinal Sections of the Asian Nose.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Dorsal nasal augmentation is an essential part of injection
      rhinoplasty on the Asian nose. Aesthetic physicians require detailed knowledge of
      the nasal anatomy to accurately and safely inject filler. METHODS: One hundred
      and thirty-five histological cross sections were examined from 45 longitudinal
      strips of soft tissue harvested from the midline of the nose, beginning from the
      glabella to the nasal tip. Muscles and nasal cartilage were used as landmarks for
      vascular identification. RESULTS: At the nasal tip, a midline longitudinal
      columellar artery with a diameter of 0.21 +/- 0.09 mm was noted in 14 cadavers
      (31.1 %). At the infratip, subcutaneous tissue contained cavernous tissue similar
      to that of the nasal mucosa. The feeding arteries of these dilated veins formed
      arteriovenous shunts, into which retrograde injection of filler may be possible.
      All of the nasal arteries present were identified as subcutaneous arteries. They
      coursed mainly in the superficial layer of the subcutaneous tissues, with smaller
      branches forming subdermal plexuses. A substantial arterial anastomosis occurred
      at the supratip region, in which the artery lay in the middle of the subcutaneous
      tissue at the level of the major alar cartilages. These arteries had a diameter
      ranging between 0.4 and 0.9 mm and were found in 29 of 45 specimens (64.4 %).
      This was at the level midway between the rhinion above the supratip and the
      infratip. This anastomotic artery also crossed the midline at the rhinion
      superficial to the origin of the procerus on the lower end of the nasal bone.
      Here the arterial diameter ranged between 0.1 and 0.3 mm, which was not large
      enough to cause arterial emboli. Fascicular cross sections of the nasalis muscle
      directly covered the entire upper lateral cartilage. The subdermal tissue
      contained few layers of fat cells along with the occasional small artery. The
      procerus arose from the nasal bone and was continuous with the nasalis in 16
      cadavers (35.6 %). There was fatty areolar tissue between the procerus and the
      periosteal layer and no significant arteries present. The procerus ascended
      beyond the brow to insert into the frontalis muscle with very few cutaneous
      insertions. The supratrochlear vessels and accompanying nerve were occasionally
      found on the surface of the frontalis muscle. CONCLUSION: Most nasal arteries
      found in the midline are subcutaneous arteries. Filler should be injected deeply
      to avoid vascular injury leading to compromised perfusion at the dorsum or filler
      emboli at the nasal tip. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that the
      authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of
      these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or
      the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893279
TI  - Use of Platelet Preparations in Facial Rejuvenation and Wound Healing Remains
      Unproven.
AB  - There is growing interest in the use of platelet derivatives in facial aesthetic
      surgery and wound healing. Sclafani et al. have concluded from their review of
      the literature that the vast majority of studies show a significant and
      measurable effect on facial aesthetic outcomes with the use of these platelet
      preparations. We suggest that an alternative review of the same literature may
      well have produced a different set of conclusions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This
      journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a
      full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the
      Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893281
TI  - Upper Eyelid Filling With or Without Surgical Treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The upper eyelid of young people is characterized by a proper
      fullness and projection. Aging eyes show upper eyelid volume loss, symmetric or
      asymmetric hollowing with too much upper lid showing, dermatochalasis with skin
      excess. While in the past blepharoplasty surgery was the only approach used to
      improve eye appearance in the last years, hyaluronic acid (HA) filling of the
      upper eyelid area has been found very effective in reaching good eye rejuvenation
      and use of traditional surgical techniques can be limited. METHODS: A total of
      154 patients were enrolled in this study to improve eye appearance. One hundred
      twenty-eight patients were treated with HA injections in the upper eyelid only,
      21 patients underwent surgical treatment followed by HA injections to ensure full
      correction, and 5 patients underwent blepharoplasty surgery only. The correct
      approach has been evaluated on the basis of standardized criterion. RESULTS:
      Twelve-month clinical follow-up was used to evaluate the results and the degree
      of patient satisfaction was high. The results are very lasting and no
      modifications after 2 years are common. CONCLUSIONS: HA filling is an effective
      means to rejuvenate the upper eyelid and in several cases it is the only approach
      able to restore the proper fullness of the upper eyelids. Surgical techniques
      should be used in the presence of dermatochalasis with excess skin. HA injections
      in the upper eyelid are easy to perform but it is important to use the correct
      technique and follow proper indications. This method is a manageable, lasting,
      and low-cost treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors
      assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine
      rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and
      manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and
      Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine
      ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to
      Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893280
TI  - Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer: A Systematic Review of Its Efficacy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Autologous lipotransfer is seen as an ideal filler for soft tissue
      reconstruction. The main limitation of this procedure is the unpredictable
      resorption and volume loss of the fat graft. In the recent decade, an increasing
      amount of research has focused on the use of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells
      (ASCs) to enrich the fat graft, a procedure termed cell-assisted lipotransfer
      (CAL). The aim of this review was to systematically review the current
      preclinical and clinical evidence for the efficacy of CAL compared with
      conventional lipotransfer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was
      performed on PubMed and other databases to identify all preclinical and clinical
      studies where CAL with ASCs was compared with conventional lipotransfer. A total
      of 20 preclinical studies and seven clinical studies were included in the review.
      RESULTS: The preclinical studies consisted of 15 studies using immunodeficient
      animal models and five studies using immunocompetent studies. Seventeen studies
      examined weight/volume retention of which 15 studies favored CAL over
      conventional lipotransfer. One clinical study did not find any efficacy of CAL
      and the remaining six studies favored CAL. CONCLUSIONS: The present evidence
      suggests that there is a big potential for CAL in reconstructive surgery;
      however, the present studies are so far still of low quality with inherent
      weaknesses. Several aspects regarding CAL still remain unknown such as the
      optimal degree of cell enrichment and also its safety. Further high-quality
      studies are needed to establish if CAL can live up to its potential. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each
      article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please
      refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors
      www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893282
TI  - Enhancing Masculine Features After Massive Weight Loss.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Whereas body contouring surgery after massive weight loss in women
      emphasizes sculptured adipose and broader lower torso, little attention has been
      devoted to accentuating the male physique. OBJECTIVE: To determine if boomerang
      excision pattern correction of gynecomastia with J torsoplasty combined with an
      abdominoplasty with oblique excisions directly over bulging flanks provide
      effective and safe optimizing of muscle visibility and upper torso dominance.
      METHODS: A description of comprehensive body contouring through an abdominoplasty
      and a series of obliquely oriented ellipses of the male torso is followed by
      review of 19 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were performed in
      a single stage. Nine of the last ten cases included J torsoplasty and oblique
      excision extensions over the flanks. Of the 17 patients responding to a ten
      question survey, 15 were satisfied with chest improvement. One of the first eight
      patients with a transverse lower body lift was satisfied with the flank bulges.
      All of the last eight cases with direct oblique flank excisions were satisfied
      with their lower body. Five patients (26 %), having a total of 74 operative
      procedures, had significant complications of chest hematoma, persistent hip and
      buttock seromas, superior NAC edge necrosis, and distal necrosis of the fleur de
      lis abdominoplasty. One boomerang correction underwent minor revisions. One
      transverse lower body lift underwent major revision. No complications occurred in
      the last ten patients, having oblique flank excisions instead of transverse lower
      body lifts. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive excisional body contouring surgery of a
      central high tension abdominoplasty with a series of obliquely oriented ellipses
      throughout the torso appears to provide low risk improved body contour for the
      muscular male. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a
      level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based
      Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online
      Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893283
TI  - Public's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Vascularized Composite
      Allotransplantation and Donation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to assess the public's knowledge and
      attitudes toward vascularized composite allotransplantation and donation.
      METHODS: Members of the public (n = 5942) were surveyed using a questionnaire
      that examined their knowledge and attitudes concerning solid organs (kidney,
      heart, liver, lung, and pancreas) and vascularized composite tissue (hand/upper
      extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall, and face) transplantations and
      donations. RESULTS: Respondents demonstrated greater (all P < 0.05) knowledge and
      willingness to donate and/or receive solid organs than vascularized composite
      tissues. Educational level, accurate knowledge, willingness to donate, and
      willingness to receive were significant (all P < 0.05) determinants of acceptance
      to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, face, and/or
      abdominal wall. CONCLUSION: The public presented less knowledge and willingness
      to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall,
      and face. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level
      of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based
      Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online
      Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

PMID- 26893284
TI  - Methamphetamine use is associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in
      adolescents and young adults in Rural Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
AB  - BACKGROUND: High levels of depressive symptoms often occur among individuals that
      use or that are dependent on methamphetamine (MA). Thailand is currently
      experiencing an epidemic of MA use among youth. Understanding the nature of the
      relationship between depressive symptoms and MA use and identifying those most at
      risk can further understanding of prevention and treatment options for youth who
      use MA and present with depressive symptoms. METHODS: In 2011, we conducted a
      cross sectional epidemiologic study that examined associations between MA use and
      high levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents and young adults aged 14-29
      living in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. A combination of cluster and systematic
      sampling was conducted to obtain a study sample of participants actively
      recruited in Chiang Mai province. Depressive symptoms were measured using a Thai
      translation of the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D).
      The independent variables measured reported lifetime and recent MA use within the
      past 3 months. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess
      associations between MA use and high levels of depressive symptoms. RESULTS:
      Approximately 19% (n = 394) of the sample reported ever having consumed MA and
      31% (n = 124) of lifetime users reported recent MA use within the past 3 months.
      Recent MA use was associated with high levels of depressive symptoms (aPOR recent
      use: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.63). CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first studies to
      examine the association between MA use and high levels of depressive symptoms in
      a general Thai population. The odds of having high levels of depressive symptoms
      was significantly greater among recent MA users compared to non-users. These
      findings support the need for policies, programs and interventions to prevent and
      treat depressive symptoms presenting among MA using Thai adolescents and young
      adults in rural Chiang Mai province, Thailand to aid in cessation of MA use.
      Furthermore, additional research is needed to investigate treatment options for
      adolescents and young adults in Thailand that use MA and present with high levels
      of depressive symptoms.

PMID- 26893287
TI  - Allylic amination reactivity of Ni, Pd, and Pt heterobimetallic and monometallic
      complexes.
AB  - Transition metal heterobimetallic complexes with dative metal-metal interactions
      have the potential for novel fast reactivity. There are few studies that both
      compare the reactivity of different metal centers in heterobimetallic complexes
      and compare bimetallic reactivity to monometallic reactivity. Here we report
      density-functional calculations that show the reactivity of
      [Cl2Ti(N(t)BuPPh2)2M(II)(eta(3)-methallyl)] heterobimetallic complexes for
      allylic amination follows M = Ni > Pd > Pt. This reactivity trend was not
      anticipated since the amine addition transition state involves M(II) to M(0)
      reduction and this could disadvantage Ni. Comparison of heterobimetallic
      complexes to the corresponding monometallic (CH2)2(N(t)BuPPh2)2M(II)(eta(3)
      methallyl) complexes reveals that this reactivity trend is due to the bimetallic
      interaction and that the bimetallic interaction significantly lowers the barrier
      height for amine addition by >10 kcal mol(-1). The impact of the early transition
      metal center on the amination addition barrier height depends on the late
      transition metal center. The lowest barrier heights for this reaction occur when
      late and early transition metal centers are from the same periodic table row. 

PMID- 26893285
TI  - Psychological intervention targeting distress for cancer patients: a meta
      analytic study investigating uptake and adherence.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although cancer care guidelines recommend screening for distress among
      cancer patients and offering psychological support when indicated, many patients
      decline offers of such support. This study aimed to quantify uptake and adherence
      to psychological support and to identify predictors of each. METHODS: Searches
      were conducted in Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus to identify studies
      reporting uptake or adherence rates for individual psychological interventions
      targeting distress, anxiety or depression for cancer patients or survivors.
      RESULTS: Across the 53 included studies reporting uptake and/or adherence rates
      for 12 323 cancer patients, the uptake and adherence rates were 60.1% and 90.4%,
      respectively. Patients screened and identified as distressed were less likely to
      accept intervention than unselected patients (50.3% compared with 66.3%, Q(1) =
      4.66, P = 0.031). Uptake of therapy was higher for interventions delivered by
      telephone rather than face-to-face (71.2% compared with 53.8%, Q(1) = 4.91, P =
      0.027) and when therapy was offered prior to medical treatment compared with
      later (72.9% compared with 56.8%, Q(1) = 5.60, P = 0.018). Patients were more
      likely to accept intervention from nurses than other allied health professionals
      (68.3% compared with 50.5%, Q(1) = 5.76, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Patients
      appeared more receptive to interventions offered near diagnosis, over the
      telephone and by nurses. Although this suggests higher acceptability of such
      interventions, evidence of their greater efficacy is lacking, and this merits
      further investigation. Research is needed to understand barriers to acceptance of
      psychological support, particularly because uptake rates were lower for
      distressed patients. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID- 26893289
TI  - Synthesis of rocaglamide derivatives and evaluation of their Wnt signal
      inhibitory activities.
AB  - Rocaglamides are bioactive natural compounds which have a cyclopenta[b]benzofuran
      core structure. The total synthesis of a reported natural product, 3'
      hydroxymethylrocaglate (5), was achieved using [3 + 2] cycloaddition between 3
      hydroxyflavone and methyl cinnamate. We also describe the synthesis of
      rocaglamide heterocycle derivatives and evaluate their Wnt signal inhibitory
      activities. Compounds 4, 5, 22a, 22b, 22c and 23c showed potent Wnt signal
      inhibitory activity. 

PMID- 26893288
TI  - Cep70 overexpression stimulates pancreatic cancer by inducing centrosome
      abnormality and microtubule disorganization.
AB  - The centrosome is crucial for mitotic fidelity, and centrosome aberrations are
      associated with genomic instability and tumorigenesis. The centrosomal protein
      Cep70 has been reported to play a role in various cellular activities. However,
      whether this protein is involved in pathological processes remains unknown. In
      this study, we demonstrate that Cep70 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer
      tissues. Cep70 expression correlates with clinicopathological parameters of
      pancreatic cancer, including histological grade, pathological tumor node
      metastasis stage, lymph node metastasis, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level.
      Depletion of Cep70 significantly suppresses pancreatic cancer cell proliferation
      and promotes apoptotic cell death, and exogenous expression of Cep70 can rescue
      the above effects. Cep70 also stimulates colony formation in soft agar and
      enhances tumor growth in mice. Our data further show that ectopic expression of
      Cep70 in pancreatic cancer cells results in the mislocalization of centrosomal
      proteins, including gamma-tubulin and pericentrin, and the formation of
      intracellular aggregates. In addition, Cep70 overexpression leads to microtubule
      disorganization and the formation of multipolar spindles during mitosis. Our
      study thus unravels a critical role for Cep70 in pancreatic cancer and suggests
      Cep70 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for this deadly disease.

PMID- 26893290
TI  - Toxic effects of melphalan, topotecan and carboplatin on retinal pigment
      epithelial cells.
AB  - PURPOSE: Clinical evidence of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) alterations after
      intra-arterial (IAC) and intravitreal chemotherapy (IViC) of retinoblastoma has
      been reported. We, therefore, investigated the cellular toxic effects of
      melphalan, topotecan and carboplatin on the RPE in a cell culture model. METHODS:
      The effects of melphalan, carboplatin and topotecan on ARPE19 cell morphology
      were examined by phase contrast microscopy. Cell proliferation was quantified by
      BrdU incorporation, cell viability studied via MTS assays, and cell densities
      were estimated by Crystal Violet staining, and apoptosis induction studied via
      caspase 3/7-activity assays after a 24-hr incubation period. Staurosporine, media
      without fetal bovine serum, diluents of melphalan, carboplatin and topotecan were
      applied as positive and negative controls, respectively. RESULTS: We observed a
      concentration-dependent increase in the number and size of gaps in the ARPE19
      cell layer with each drug. There was a significant decrease in proliferative
      activity and cell viability of RPE cells as well as an increase in apoptosis
      after 24 hrs culture in media supplemented with melphalan and topotecan.
      Carboplatin had comparable effects on cell proliferation and cell viability;
      however, no significant apoptotic impacts were observed. The three cytostatic
      drugs had insignificant effects on cell density measurements. CONCLUSIONS:
      Morphological monitoring and toxicity assays indicate a direct toxic effect of
      melphalan and the other two cytostatic drugs on ARPE19 cells. Thus, a direct
      toxic effect of melphalan in vivo after IAC or IViC on the RPE seems probable and
      may explain the clinical and angiographic RPE alterations observed in some
      retinoblastoma patients.

PMID- 26893291
TI  - Toxicity study of ochratoxin A using HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines based on
      microRNA profiling.
AB  - Ochratoxin A (OTA) induced DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis in mammalian
      cell lines. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are involved in physiological and developmental
      processes and contribute to cancer development and progression. In our study,
      high-throughput miRNA profiling and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
      analysis were applied to comparatively study the toxicity of OTA in HEK293 cells
      and HepG2 cells treated with 25 MUM OTA for 24 h. In these two cells, the same
      changing miRNAs were mostly related to signal transduction pathways, whereas the
      different changing miRNAs were mostly related to human cancer pathways. DGCR8,
      Dicer1, and Drosha were significantly suppressed in HEK293 cells, indicating an
      impairment of miRNA biogenesis. The damage seemed more extensive in HEK293 cells.
      Cell models and in vivo models were also compared. Many miRNAs in vitro were
      markedly different from those in vivo; however, OTA toxicity was observed both in
      vitro and in vivo. The classification of deregulated pathways is similar. The
      biogenesis of miRNA was impaired in both lines. In conclusion, deregulated miRNAs
      in vitro are mostly related to human cancer and signal transduction pathways. The
      deregulated pathways in vivo are similar to those in vitro.

PMID- 26893292
TI  - Taming the White Bear: Initial Costs and Eventual Benefits of Distractor
      Inhibition.
AB  - Previous research indicates that prior information about a target feature, such
      as its color, can speed search. Can search also be speeded by knowing what a
      target willnotlook like? In the two experiments reported here, participants
      searched for target letters. Prior to viewing search displays, participants were
      prompted either with the color in which one or more nontarget letters would
      appear (ignore trials) or with no information about the search display (neutral
      trials). Critically, when participants were given one consistent color to ignore
      for the duration of the experiment, compared with when they were given no
      information, there was a cost in reaction time (RT) early in the experiment.
      However, after extended practice, RTs on ignore trials were significantly faster
      than RTs on neutral trials, which provides a novel demonstration that knowledge
      about nontargets can improve search performance for targets. When the to-be
      ignored color changed from trial to trial, no RT benefit was observed. 

PMID- 26893293
TI  - Economic Insecurity Increases Physical Pain.
AB  - The past decade has seen a rise in both economic insecurity and frequency of
      physical pain. The current research reveals a causal connection between these two
      growing and consequential social trends. In five studies, we found that economic
      insecurity produced physical pain and reduced pain tolerance. In a sixth study,
      with data from 33,720 geographically diverse households across the United States,
      economic insecurity predicted consumption of over-the-counter painkillers. The
      link between economic insecurity and physical pain emerged when people
      experienced the insecurity personally (unemployment), when they were in an
      insecure context (they were informed that their state had a relatively high level
      of unemployment), and when they contemplated past and future economic insecurity.
      Using both experimental-causal-chain and measurement-of-mediation approaches, we
      also established that the psychological experience of lacking control helped
      generate the causal link from economic insecurity to physical pain. Meta-analyses
      including all of our studies testing the link from economic insecurity to
      physical pain revealed that this link is reliable. Overall, the findings show
      that it physically hurts to be economically insecure. 

PMID- 26893294
TI  - Improving self-referral for diabetes care following hypoglycaemic emergencies: a
      feasibility study with linked patient data analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypoglycaemia is a common and potentially life threatening
      consequence of insulin and sulphonylurea treated Diabetes. Some severe
      hypoglycaemic events result in emergency ambulance attendance. Many of these
      patients are treated at home and do not require immediate transportation to an
      Emergency Department. However only 27-37 % of patients then follow up their care
      with a diabetes specialist. Consequently repeat severe hypoglycaemic events
      occur. METHODS: The intervention was implemented for 8 months, using a
      prospective cohort design with a historic control, in one Scottish Health Board
      in 2012. Data was collected using postal survey questionnaires to patients and
      ambulance clinicians, telephone survey follow-up questions to patients. Scottish
      Ambulance Service electronic records were linked with the SCI-Diabetes database
      of patient records to enable objective measurement of follow-up behaviour.
      RESULTS: Ambulance clinicians' (n = 92) awareness of the intervention was high
      and both the prompt card and telephone call components of the intervention were
      delivered to most eligible patients. The intervention was perceived as highly
      acceptable to patients (n = 37), and very useful by both patients and ambulance
      clinicians. However, comparison of patient follow-up behaviours using linked-data
      (n = 205), suggest that the intervention was unsuccessful in improving rates of
      patients' following up their care. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the
      intervention is implementable, highly acceptable to patients, and considered very
      useful by both patients and ambulance clinicians. However, preliminary evidence
      of effectiveness is not encouraging. The study's novel use of linking existing
      clinical data for outcome measurement exposed challenges in the feasibility of
      using this data for intervention development and evaluation. Future research
      should examine challenges to the successful testing and effectiveness of the
      intervention. Revisions are likely to be required, both to study design and the
      optimisation of the intervention's content and components.

PMID- 26893296
TI  - Disability and HIV in Africa: Breaking the barriers to sexual health care.
AB  - Three decades into the HIV pandemic, the issues affecting people with
      disabilities remain less known. Increasing attention has been given to this
      overlooked population when it comes to HIV prevention, treatment and care. This
      is related to the significant unmet sexual and reproductive healthcare needs
      facing people with disabilities worldwide. This article discusses the barriers to
      sexual health for people with disabilities in Africa and presents an argument
      about how mainstream HIV prevention work and research do not adequately attend to
      the sorts of systemic barriers that exclude people with disabilities, which a
      more targeted and critical approach could.

PMID- 26893295
TI  - Cultural adaptation of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to improve adherence
      to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: Nzira
      Itsva.
AB  - Few evidence-based interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy
      have been adapted for use in Africa. We selected, culturally adapted and tested
      the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for adherence and for
      delivery in a clinic setting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The feasibility of the
      intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods assessment, including ratings of
      provider fidelity of intervention delivery, and qualitative assessments of
      feasibility using individual semi-structured interviews with counsellors (n=4)
      and patients (n=15). The intervention was feasible and acceptable when
      administered to 42 patients and resulted in improved self-reported adherence in a
      subset of 15 patients who were followed up after 6months.

PMID- 26893298
TI  - Editorial: Remarks From the Dean on the Centennial of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
      School of Public Health.

PMID- 26893299
TI  - Leadership of the Department of Epidemiology of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
      School of Public Health in Its First Century.
AB  - This commentary reviews the contributions of each of the 7 Chairs of the
      Department of Epidemiology from the Department's inception in 1919 to the advent
      of the Centennial Celebration of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
      Health in 2016. The founding Chair, Wade Hampton Frost (1919-1938), was among the
      handful of foundational thinkers in the discipline of epidemiology. Kenneth Maxcy
      (1938-1954) and Philip Sartwell (1954-1970) oversaw the Department through the
      epidemiologic transition from a preponderance of morbidity and mortality due to
      infectious diseases to a preponderance of noncommunicable diseases. Abraham
      Lilienfeld (1970-1975) and Leon Gordis (1975-1993) were perhaps best known for
      their mastery of teaching, influencing generations of both medical and public
      health students. Jonathan Samet (1994-2008) oversaw a major curriculum revision
      and expanded the Department significantly, and David Celentano (2008-) is working
      to rebalance the practice of epidemiology with the etiological foundations of
      epidemiology. All Chairs were a product of their times, and their research focus
      and portfolios influenced the direction of the Department. Future generations of
      Johns Hopkins students will be influenced directly or indirectly by the heritage
      of these Chairs' actions and those of their faculty. 

PMID- 26893297
TI  - Mechanistic Models of Infectious Disease and Their Impact on Public Health.
AB  - From the 1930s through the 1940s, Lowell Reed and Wade Hampton Frost used
      mathematical models and mechanical epidemic simulators as research tools and to
      teach epidemic theory to students at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
      Health (then the School of Hygiene and Public Health). Since that time, modeling
      has become an integral part of epidemiology and public health. Models have been
      used for explanatory and inferential purposes, as well as in planning and
      implementing public health responses. In this article, we review a selection of
      developments in the history of modeling of infectious disease dynamics over the
      past 100 years. We also identify trends in model development and use and
      speculate as to the future use of models in infectious disease dynamics. 

PMID- 26893300
TI  - Tracing the Archaeal Origins of Eukaryotic Membrane-Trafficking System Building
      Blocks.
AB  - In contrast to prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells are characterized by a complex set
      of internal membrane-bound compartments. A subset of these, and the protein
      machineries that move material between them, define the membrane-trafficking
      system (MTS), the emergence of which represents a landmark in eukaryotic
      evolution. Unlike mitochondria and plastids, MTS organelles have autogenous
      origins. Much of the MTS machinery is composed of building blocks, including
      small GTPase, coiled-coil, beta-propeller + alpha-solenoid, and longin domains.
      Despite the identification of prokaryotic proteins containing these domains, only
      few represent direct orthologues, leaving the origins and early evolution of the
      MTS poorly understood. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of MTS building
      block homologues in the composite genome of Lokiarchaeum, the recently discovered
      archaeal sister clade of eukaryotes, yielding several key insights. We identify
      two previously unreported Eukaryotic Signature Proteins; orthologues of the
      Gtr/Rag family GTPases, involved in target of rapamycin complex signaling, and of
      the RLC7 dynein component. We could not identify golgin or SNARE (coiled-coil) or
      beta-propeller + alpha-solenoid orthologues, nor typical MTS domain fusions,
      suggesting that these either were lost from Lokiarchaeum or emerged later in
      eukaryotic evolution. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analyses of lokiarchaeal
      GTPases support a split into Ras-like and Arf-like superfamilies, with different
      prokaryotic antecedents, before the advent of eukaryotes. While no GTPase
      activating proteins or exchange factors were identified, we show that
      Lokiarchaeum encodes numerous roadblock domain proteins and putative longin
      domain proteins, confirming the latter's origin from Archaea. Altogether, our
      study provides new insights into the emergence and early evolution of the
      eukaryotic membrane-trafficking system.

PMID- 26893301
TI  - Clustering Genes of Common Evolutionary History.
AB  - Phylogenetic inference can potentially result in a more accurate tree using data
      from multiple loci. However, if the loci are incongruent-due to events such as
      incomplete lineage sorting or horizontal gene transfer-it can be misleading to
      infer a single tree. To address this, many previous contributions have taken a
      mechanistic approach, by modeling specific processes. Alternatively, one can
      cluster loci without assuming how these incongruencies might arise. Such "process
      agnostic" approaches typically infer a tree for each locus and cluster these.
      There are, however, many possible combinations of tree distance and clustering
      methods; their comparative performance in the context of tree incongruence is
      largely unknown. Furthermore, because standard model selection criteria such as
      AIC cannot be applied to problems with a variable number of topologies, the issue
      of inferring the optimal number of clusters is poorly understood. Here, we
      perform a large-scale simulation study of phylogenetic distances and clustering
      methods to infer loci of common evolutionary history. We observe that the best
      performing combinations are distances accounting for branch lengths followed by
      spectral clustering or Ward's method. We also introduce two statistical tests to
      infer the optimal number of clusters and show that they strongly outperform the
      silhouette criterion, a general-purpose heuristic. We illustrate the usefulness
      of the approach by 1) identifying errors in a previous phylogenetic analysis of
      yeast species and 2) identifying topological incongruence among newly sequenced
      loci of the globeflower fly genus Chiastocheta We release treeCl, a new program
      to cluster genes of common evolutionary history (http://git.io/treeCl).

PMID- 26893302
TI  - Fatal arterial rupture during angioplasty of a flow diverter in a recurrent,
      previously Y-stented giant MCA bifurcation aneurysm.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A patient with a previously Y-stented giant left middle
      cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm returned with a recurrence. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: A flow diverter (FD) was deployed through one limb of the high
      porosity Y-stenting construction. The proximal FD failed to expand and an attempt
      at balloon angioplasty led to fatal rupture of the MCA. RESULTS: Autopsy
      demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage, vessel rupture and fracture of the proximal
      high-porosity stent. Microscopic photographs showed that the FD had failed to
      open because the guiding wire had inadvertently exited and re-entered the
      proximal segment of the high-porosity stent partially incorporated to the wall of
      the MCA. Balloon dilatation of the FD which had remained collapsed between the
      stent and the vessel wall caused fracture of the stent and rupture of the artery.
      CONCLUSION: Angioplasty and flow-diversion of previously Y-stented aneurysms can
      lead to serious complications.

PMID- 26893304
TI  - Developing a Personal and Social Identity With Type 1 Diabetes During
      Adolescence: A Hypothesis Generative Study.
AB  - This study explored the incorporation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) into
      self-identity among adolescents. Guided interviews explored 40 adolescents' views
      of T1DM in relation to their sense of self and relationships with others.
      Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results revealed that the entire
      sample described T1DM as a significant burden; many described how T1DM made them
      feel less "normal." Adolescents described both positive and negative aspects of
      self-management in social relationships, though most reported benefits in sharing
      T1DM with friends. Females were more likely to share information about T1DM and
      to describe positive changes in self-perception as a result of T1DM. The
      psychosocial processes related to integration of T1DM into self-identity
      described in these qualitative data provide hypothesis-generating findings that
      can guide future quantitative research examining incorporation of T1DM into
      adolescent self-identity in relation to measures of self-esteem, peer
      orientation, self-management, and glycemic control. 

PMID- 26893303
TI  - Generation and Characterization of a Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Humanized
      Mouse Model.
AB  - Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is expressed in various tissues, such as
      the gut, liver, kidney and blood brain barrier (BBB), where it mediates the
      unidirectional transport of substrates to the apical/luminal side of polarized
      cells. Thereby BCRP acts as an efflux pump, mediating the elimination or
      restricting the entry of endogenous compounds or xenobiotics into tissues and it
      plays important roles in drug disposition, efficacy and safety. Bcrp knockout
      mice (Bcrp(-/-)) have been used widely to study the role of this transporter in
      limiting intestinal absorption and brain penetration of substrate compounds. Here
      we describe the first generation and characterization of a mouse line humanized
      for BCRP (hBCRP), in which the mouse coding sequence from the start to stop codon
      was replaced with the corresponding human genomic region, such that the human
      transporter is expressed under control of the murineBcrppromoter. We demonstrate
      robust human and loss of mouse BCRP/Bcrp mRNA and protein expression in the hBCRP
      mice and the absence of major compensatory changes in the expression of other
      genes involved in drug metabolism and disposition. Pharmacokinetic and brain
      distribution studies with several BCRP probe substrates confirmed the functional
      activity of the human transporter in these mice. Furthermore, we provide
      practical examples for the use of hBCRP mice to study drug-drug interactions
      (DDIs). The hBCRP mouse is a promising model to study the in vivo role of human
      BCRP in limiting absorption and BBB penetration of substrate compounds and to
      investigate clinically relevant DDIs involving BCRP. 

PMID- 26893305
TI  - "I Do Not Really Belong Out There Anymore": Sense of Being and Belonging Among
      People With Medically Unexplained Long-Term Fatigue.
AB  - In this article, we explore relations between health, being, belonging and place
      through an interpretive thematic analysis of autobiographic text and photographs
      about the everyday lives of 10 women and men living with medically unexplained
      long-term fatigue in Norway. While interpreting their place-related illness
      experiences, we ask: How do they experience their being in the world, where do
      they experience a sense of belonging/not belonging, and why do places become
      places of belonging/not belonging? The participants describe experiences of (a)
      being socially detached and alienated, (b) being imprisoned, (c) being spectators
      who observe the world, and (d) senses of belonging. They describe senses of being
      and belonging/not belonging as closely attached to physical and symbolic aspects
      of places in which they reside, and they wistfully reflect on the question of
      "why." The study illustrates the influence of experienced place-material as well
      as immaterial-on health and illness.

PMID- 26893306
TI  - How Not to Let Secrets Out When Conducting Qualitative Research With Dyads.
AB  - Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of research involving human
      participants. Researchers are the frontline gatekeepers of their participants'
      right to confidentiality, and situations can arise that challenge this
      responsibility. This is the case when individuals who have shared a common
      experience (i.e., dyads) are interviewed separately, but interview results are
      disseminated within the context of dyads. Based on our experience of conducting
      research with dyads and given how little literature is available to serve as
      guide, we set out to write this article to share the knowledge we acquired and
      the solutions we found. We will describe both the ethical challenges and the
      methodological decisions involved in conducting qualitative research with dyads.
      The article also describes different modalities of dyadic analysis, their
      benefits and drawbacks. This endeavor seems especially relevant as research with
      dyads is emerging in several domains involving couples, families, caregivers and
      health. 

PMID- 26893307
TI  - ADHD Symptoms in Adolescents' Everyday Life: Fluctuations and Symptom Structure
      Within and Between Individuals.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether self-reported ADHD symptoms fluctuate
      substantially within adolescents from day to day, and examined the underlying
      symptom factor structure on a within- and between-person level. METHOD:
      Adolescents (N = 166) rated their ADHD symptoms over the phone on eight
      consecutive evenings (total ratings: n = 1,264). RESULTS: ADHD symptoms showed
      substantial fluctuations within adolescents from day to day, as indicated by
      within-person standard deviations and intraclass correlation coefficients. Both a
      two-level factor model with three correlated factors (inattention, hyperactivity,
      impulsivity) and a two-level bifactor model with a general ADHD symptom factor
      and a specific inattention factor provided acceptable to good accounts of the
      structure underlying daily ADHD symptom ratings on the between- and the within
      person level. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that adolescents' ADHD symptoms
      fluctuate from day to day and highlights the need for intensive diagnostic
      processes with repeated symptom assessments and interventions that address
      symptom fluctuations.

PMID- 26893308
TI  - Positional proteomics reveals differences in N-terminal proteoform stability.
AB  - To understand the impact of alternative translation initiation on a proteome, we
      performed a proteome-wide study on protein turnover using positional proteomics
      and ribosome profiling to distinguish between N-terminal proteoforms of
      individual genes. By combining pulsed SILAC with N-terminal COFRADIC, we
      monitored the stability of 1,941 human N-terminal proteoforms, including 147 N
      terminal proteoform pairs that originate from alternative translation initiation,
      alternative splicing or incomplete processing of the initiator methionine. N
      terminally truncated proteoforms were less abundant than canonical proteoforms
      and often displayed altered stabilities, likely attributed to individual protein
      characteristics, including intrinsic disorder, but independent of N-terminal
      amino acid identity or truncation length. We discovered that the removal of
      initiator methionine by methionine aminopeptidases reduced the stability of
      processed proteoforms, while susceptibility for N-terminal acetylation did not
      seem to influence protein turnover rates. Taken together, our findings reveal
      differences in protein stability between N-terminal proteoforms and point to a
      role for alternative translation initiation and co-translational initiator
      methionine removal, next to alternative splicing, in the overall regulation of
      proteome homeostasis. 

PMID- 26893309
TI  - Eccentric Exercise Versus Eccentric Exercise and Soft Tissue Treatment (Astym) in
      the Management of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Eccentric exercise is commonly used in the management of Achilles
      tendinopathy (AT) but its effectiveness for insertional AT has been questioned.
      Soft tissue treatment (Astym) combined with eccentric exercise could result in
      better outcomes than eccentric exercise alone. HYPOTHESIS: Soft tissue treatment
      (Astym) plus eccentric exercise will be more effective than eccentric exercise
      alone for subjects with insertional AT. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized
      controlled trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2. METHODS: Sixteen subjects were
      randomly assigned to either a soft tissue treatment (Astym) and eccentric
      exercise group or an eccentric exercise-only group. Intervention was completed
      over a 12-week period, with outcomes assessed at baseline, 4, 8, 12, 26, and 52
      weeks. Outcomes included the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Achilles
      Specific Questionnaire (VISA-A), the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), and the
      global rating of change (GROC). RESULTS: Significantly greater improvements on
      the VISA-A were noted in the soft tissue treatment (Astym) group over the 12-week
      intervention period, and these differences were maintained at the 26- and 52-week
      follow-ups. Both groups experienced a similar statistically significant
      improvement in pain over the short and long term. A significantly greater number
      of subjects in the soft tissue treatment (Astym) group achieved a successful
      outcome at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: Soft tissue treatment (Astym) plus eccentric
      exercise was more effective than eccentric exercise only at improving function
      during both short- and long-term follow-up periods. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Soft
      tissue treatment (Astym) plus eccentric exercise appears to be a beneficial
      treatment program that clinicians should consider incorporating into the
      management of their patients with insertional AT.

PMID- 26893310
TI  - Early-Onset Mild Type Leukoencephalopathy Caused by a Homozygous EARS2 Mutation.
AB  - Childhood leukoencephalopathies are a broad class of diseases, which are
      extremely rare. The treatment and classification of these disorders are both
      challenging. Nearly half of children presenting with a leukoencephalopathy remain
      without a specific diagnosis. Leukoencephalopathy with thalamus and brain stem
      involvement and high lactate (LTBL) is a newly described childhood
      leukoencephalopathy caused by mutations in the gene encoding a mitochondrial
      aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase specific for glutamate, EARS2 Magnetic resonance images
      show a characteristic leukoencephalopathy with thalamic and brain stem
      involvement. Here, we report a different clinical course of LTBL supported by
      typical MRI features in a Turkish patient who presented with a history of failure
      to walk. The EARS2 gene mutation analysis identified a c.322C>T transition,
      predicting a p.R108W change. This is the first reported early-onset mild type
      LTBL caused by a homozygous EARS2 mutation case in the literature.

PMID- 26893312
TI  - Targeting the MEK signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
      patients with RAS aberrations.
AB  - With the advancement in understanding the biology of non-small cell lung cancer
      (NSCLC), therapies focused on novel molecular pathways have come to the forefront
      of NSCLC treatment. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical aspects
      underlying the targeting of RAS aberrations in NSCLC with special focus on MEK
      inhibitors which work by inhibiting the principal downstream mediator of RAS
      aberrations with a view on how to optimize outcomes with these agents.
      Preclinical evidence of the activity of MEK inhibitors in KRAS-mutant NSCLC has
      pushed forward the clinical development of these agents (namely selumetinib and
      trametinib) in KRAS-mutant NSCLC particularly in combination with other agents. A
      number of randomized studies have been launched to confirm the activity of these
      agents and to establish their position in the treatment armamentarium of NSCLC.

PMID- 26893318
TI  - Trends in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for the Treatment of Acute
      Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to describe patient characteristics and trends in the use
      of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the treatment of acute
      respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the United States from 2006 to 2011.
      METHODS: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to isolate all patients aged 18
      years who had a discharge International Classification of Diseases, Ninth
      Revision diagnosis of ARDS, with and without procedure codes for ECMO, between
      2006 and 2011. RESULTS: We examined a total of 47 911 414 hospital discharges,
      representing 235 911 271 hospitalizations using national weights. Of the 1 479
      022 patients meeting the definition of ARDS (representing 7 281 206 discharges),
      775 underwent ECMO. There was a 409% relative increase in the use of ECMO for
      ARDS in the United States between 2006 and 2011, from 0.0178% to 0.090% ( P =
      .0041). Patients treated with ECMO had higher in-hospital mortality (58.6% vs
      25.1%, P < .0001) and longer hospital stays (15.8 days vs 6.9 days, P < .0001).
      They were also younger (47.9 vs 66.4 years, P < .0001) and more likely to be male
      (62.2% vs 49.6%, P < .0001). The median time to initiate ECMO from the time of
      admission was 0.5 days (interquartile range [IQR] 4.9 days). CONCLUSION: There
      has been a dramatic increase in ECMO use for the treatment of ARDS in the United
      States.

PMID- 26893317
TI  - Admission to the Intensive Care Unit is Associated With Changes in the Oral
      Mycobiome.
AB  - A prospective exploratory study was conducted to characterize the oral mycobiome
      at baseline and determine whether changes occur after admission to the intensive
      care unit (ICU). We found that ICU admission is associated with alterations in
      the oral mycobiome, including an overall increase in Candida albicans.

PMID- 26893311
TI  - Inhaled corticosteroids and the increased risk of pneumonia: what's new? A 2015
      updated review.
AB  - There is a considerable amount of evidence that supports the possibility of an
      increased risk of pneumonia associated with prolonged use of inhaled
      corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      (COPD). However, as yet, no statistically significant increase in pneumonia
      related 30-day mortality in patients on ICS has been demonstrated. The lack of
      objective pneumonia definitions and radiological confirmations have been a major
      source of bias, because of the similarities in clinical presentation between
      pneumonia and acute exacerbations of COPD. One of the newer fluticasone furoate
      studies overcomes these limitations and also provides an assessment of a range of
      doses, suggesting that the therapeutic window is quite narrow and that
      conventional dosing has probably been too high, although the absolute risk may be
      different compared to other drugs. Newer studies were not able to rule out
      budesonide as responsible for pneumonia, as previous evidence suggested, and
      there is still need for evidence from head-to-head comparisons in order to better
      assess possible intra-class differences. Although the exact mechanisms by which
      ICS increase the risk of pneumonia are not fully understood, the
      immunosuppressive effects of ICS on the respiratory epithelium and the disruption
      of the lung microbiome are most likely to be implicated. Given that COPD
      represents such a complex and heterogeneous disease, attempts are being made to
      identify clinical phenotypes with clear therapeutic implications, in order to
      optimize the pharmacological treatment of COPD and avoid the indiscriminate use
      of ICS. If deemed necessary, gradual withdrawal of ICS appears to be well
      tolerated. Vaccination against pneumococcus and influenza should be emphasized in
      patients with COPD receiving ICS. Physicians should keep in mind that signs and
      symptoms of pneumonia in COPD patients may be initially indistinguishable from
      those of an exacerbation, and that patients with COPD appear to be at increased
      risk of developing pneumonia as a complication of ICS therapy.

PMID- 26893319
TI  - Mayo Registry for Telemetry Efficacy in Arrest Study: An Assessment of the
      Utility of Telemetry in Predicting Clinical Decompensation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Our study assesses the utility of telemetry in identifying
      decompensation in patients with documented cardiopulmonary arrest. METHODS: A
      retrospective review of inpatients who experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest from
      May 1, 2008, until June 30, 2014, was performed. Telemetry records 24 hours prior
      to and immediately preceding cardiopulmonary arrest were reviewed. Patient
      subanalyses based on clinical demographics were made as well as analyses of
      survival comparing patients with identifiable rhythm changes in telemetry to
      those without. RESULTS: Of 242 patients included in the study, 75 (31.0%) and 110
      (45.5%) experienced telemetry changes at the 24-hour and immediately preceding
      time periods, respectively. Of the telemetry changes, the majority were
      classified as nonmalignant (n = 50, 66.7% and n = 66, 55.5% at 24 hours prior and
      immediately preceding, respectively). There was no difference in telemetry
      changes between intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients and among patients
      stratified according to the American Heart Association telemetry indications.
      There was no difference in survival when comparing patients with telemetry
      changes immediately preceding and at 24 hours prior to an event (n = 30, 27.3%
      and n = 15, 20.0%) to those without telemetry changes during the same periods (n
      = 27, 20.5% and n = 42, 25.2%; P = .22 and .39). CONCLUSION: Telemetry has
      limited utility in predicting clinical decompensation in the inpatient setting.

PMID- 26893321
TI  - Bluetongue: Defra warns of risk to the UK later this year.

PMID- 26893320
TI  - Recruiting African Americans with peripheral artery disease for a behavioral
      intervention trial.
AB  - We report recruitment strategies for an NIH-funded trial focused on African
      Americans with peripheral artery disease (PAD). We present complete recruitment
      efforts for this 1-year trial, 5-year study. Eligibility included the following:
      African American, a resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) ? 0.99, a short physical
      performance battery (SPPB) score of 10 or lower, English speaking, telephone
      access, and absence of coronary ischemia during a submaximal treadmill test.
      Recruitment included mailings of brochures to zip codes in which more than 50% of
      residents were African American, advertisements, community events, and
      physician/clinic referrals. We telephone-screened 3511 persons, of whom 792 did
      not recall the method by which they learned about the study. We randomized 174
      participants. Mailings yielded the highest percentage of randomized participants
      (n=60, 34.4%), followed by television advertisements (n=42, 24.1%), followed by
      community events (n=24, 13.8%). In conclusion, to recruit African Americans with
      PAD for a clinical trial, investigators should consider mailings of brochures,
      television advertisements, and community events. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER
      NCT01321086.

PMID- 26893322
TI  - Evidence of colistin resistance in the EU 'worrying'--ECDC.

PMID- 26893324
TI  - Research awards to help accelerate control and eradication of bovine TB.

PMID- 26893325
TI  - Vet suspended from the Register after admitting dishonest conduct.

PMID- 26893326
TI  - WHO recommends against bringing ketamine under international control.

PMID- 26893329
TI  - Support for rabies control and prevention in Africa.

PMID- 26893331
TI  - Working together on developing veterinary vaccines.
AB  - Suzanne Jarvis reports from the recent conference of the Veterinary Vaccinology
      Network, which brought together more than 100 delegates to consider some of the
      successes in vaccine development, as well as the challenges ahead. 

PMID- 26893332
TI  - Coalition aims to increase availability of fish medicines.

PMID- 26893333
TI  - Assessing the fitness of equids for transport.

PMID- 26893334
TI  - Summary of suspected adverse events, 2014.
AB  - The following article has been produced by the pharmacovigilance unit at the
      Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to provide a summary of some of the
      results from its surveillance work carried out in 2014. 

PMID- 26893335
TI  - Measuring body temperature: how do different sites compare?

PMID- 26893336
TI  - Wild animal welfare.

PMID- 26893337
TI  - Reducing the risk of copper toxicity in dairy cattle.

PMID- 26893338
TI  - Acquired Fanconi-like syndrome cases associated with dried chicken and duck meat
      ingestion.

PMID- 26893339
TI  - Passion for poultry.
AB  - William Garton's interest in poultry began when he was a boy. Despite trying many
      aspects of veterinary medicine as a student, it was poultry-specific work that he
      enjoyed most. As a poultry intern with the Minster Veterinary Practice he wrote a
      monthly blog for Vet Record Careers, and he is now associate poultry director for
      the practice's north-west branches. 

PMID- 26893340
TI  - Drosophila astrocytes cover specific territories of the CNS neuropil and are
      instructed to differentiate by Prospero, a key effector of Notch.
AB  - Astrocytes are crucial in the formation, fine-tuning, function and plasticity of
      neural circuits in the central nervous system. However, important questions
      remain about the mechanisms instructing astrocyte cell fate. We have studied
      astrogenesis in the ventral nerve cord of Drosophila larvae, where astrocytes
      exhibit remarkable morphological and molecular similarities to those in mammals.
      We reveal the births of larval astrocytes from a multipotent glial lineage, their
      allocation to reproducible positions, and their deployment of ramified arbors to
      cover specific neuropil territories to form a stereotyped astroglial map.
      Finally, we unraveled a molecular pathway for astrocyte differentiation in which
      the Ets protein Pointed and the Notch signaling pathway are required for
      astrogenesis; however, only Notch is sufficient to direct non-astrocytic
      progenitors toward astrocytic fate. We found that Prospero is a key effector of
      Notch in this process. Our data identify an instructive astrogenic program that
      acts as a binary switch to distinguish astrocytes from other glial cells.

PMID- 26893341
TI  - G2 phase arrest prevents bristle progenitor self-renewal and synchronizes cell
      division with cell fate differentiation.
AB  - Developmentally regulated cell cycle arrest is a fundamental feature of
      neurogenesis, whose significance is poorly understood. During Drosophila sensory
      organ (SO) development, primary progenitor (pI) cells arrest in G2 phase for
      precisely defined periods. Upon re-entering the cell cycle in response to
      developmental signals, these G2-arrested precursor cells divide and generate
      specialized neuronal and non-neuronal cells. To study how G2 phase arrest affects
      SO lineage specification, we forced pI cells to divide prematurely. This produced
      SOs with normal neuronal lineages but supernumerary non-neuronal cell types
      because prematurely dividing pI cells generate a secondary pI cell that produces
      a complete SO and an external precursor cell that undergoes amplification
      divisions. pI cells are therefore able to undergo self-renewal before transit to
      a terminal mode of division. Regulation of G2 phase arrest thus serves a dual
      role in SO development: preventing progenitor self-renewal and synchronizing cell
      division with developmental signals. Cell cycle arrest in G2 phase temporally
      coordinates the precursor cell proliferation potential with terminal cell fate
      determination to ensure formation of organs with a normal set of sensory cells.

PMID- 26893343
TI  - Reelin and cofilin cooperate during the migration of cortical neurons: a
      quantitative morphological analysis.
AB  - In reeler mutant mice, which are deficient in reelin (Reln), the lamination of
      the cerebral cortex is disrupted. Reelin signaling induces phosphorylation of LIM
      kinase 1, which phosphorylates the actin-depolymerizing protein cofilin in
      migrating neurons. Conditional cofilin mutants show neuronal migration defects.
      Thus, both reelin and cofilin are indispensable during cortical development. To
      analyze the effects of cofilin phosphorylation on neuronal migration we used in
      utero electroporation to transfect E14.5 wild-type cortical neurons with pCAG
      EGFP plasmids encoding either a nonphosphorylatable form of cofilin 1
      (cofilin(S3A)), a pseudophosphorylated form (cofilin(S3E)) or wild-type cofilin 1
      (cofilin(WT)). Wild-type controls and reeler neurons were transfected with pCAG
      EGFP. Real-time microscopy and histological analyses revealed that overexpression
      of cofilin(WT) and both phosphomutants induced migration defects and
      morphological abnormalities of cortical neurons. Of note, reeler neurons and
      cofilin(S3A)- and cofilin(S3E)-transfected neurons showed aberrant backward
      migration towards the ventricular zone. Overexpression of cofilin(S3E), the
      pseudophosphorylated form, partially rescued the migration defect of reeler
      neurons, as did overexpression of Limk1. Collectively, the results indicate that
      reelin and cofilin cooperate in controlling cytoskeletal dynamics during neuronal
      migration. 

PMID- 26893344
TI  - Control of patterns of symmetric cell division in the epidermal and cortical
      tissues of the Arabidopsis root.
AB  - Controlled cell division is central to the growth and development of all
      multicellular organisms. Within the proliferating zone of the Arabidopsis root,
      regular symmetric divisions give rise to patterns of parallel files of cells, the
      genetic basis of which remains unclear. We found that genotypes impaired in the
      TONNEAU1a (TON1a) gene display misoriented symmetric divisions in the epidermis
      and have no division defects in the underlying cortical tissue. The TON1a gene
      encodes a microtubule-associated protein. We show that in the ton1a mutant,
      epidermal and cortical cells do not form narrow, ring-like preprophase bands
      (PPBs), which are plant-specific, cytoskeletal structures that predict the
      position of the division plane before mitosis. The results indicate that in the
      cortex but not in the epidermis, division plane positioning and patterning can
      proceed correctly in the absence of both a functional TON1a and PPB formation.
      Differences between tissues in how they respond to the signals that guide
      symmetric division orientation during patterning might provide the basis for
      organised organ growth in the absence of cell movements. 

PMID- 26893342
TI  - Antagonism between Gdf6a and retinoic acid pathways controls timing of retinal
      neurogenesis and growth of the eye in zebrafish.
AB  - Maintaining neurogenesis in growing tissues requires a tight balance between
      progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. In the zebrafish retina,
      neuronal differentiation proceeds in two stages with embryonic retinal progenitor
      cells (RPCs) of the central retina accounting for the first rounds of
      differentiation, and stem cells from the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) being
      responsible for late neurogenesis and growth of the eye. In this study, we
      analyse two mutants with small eyes that display defects during both early and
      late phases of retinal neurogenesis. These mutants carry lesions in gdf6a, a gene
      encoding a BMP family member previously implicated in dorsoventral patterning of
      the eye. We show that gdf6a mutant eyes exhibit expanded retinoic acid (RA)
      signalling and demonstrate that exogenous activation of this pathway in wild-type
      eyes inhibits retinal growth, generating small eyes with a reduced CMZ and fewer
      proliferating progenitors, similar to gdf6a mutants. We provide evidence that RA
      regulates the timing of RPC differentiation by promoting cell cycle exit.
      Furthermore, reducing RA signalling in gdf6a mutants re-establishes appropriate
      timing of embryonic retinal neurogenesis and restores putative stem and
      progenitor cell populations in the CMZ. Together, our results support a model in
      which dorsally expressed gdf6a limits RA pathway activity to control the
      transition from proliferation to differentiation in the growing eye.

PMID- 26893347
TI  - GATA4 regulates Fgf16 to promote heart repair after injury.
AB  - Although the mammalian heart can regenerate during the neonatal stage, this
      endogenous regenerative capacity is lost with age. Importantly, replication of
      cardiomyocytes has been found to be the key mechanism responsible for neonatal
      cardiac regeneration. Unraveling the transcriptional regulatory network for
      inducing cardiomyocyte replication will, therefore, be crucial for the
      development of novel therapies to drive cardiac repair after injury. Here, we
      investigated whether the key cardiac transcription factor GATA4 is required for
      neonatal mouse heart regeneration. Using the neonatal mouse heart cryoinjury and
      apical resection models with an inducible loss of GATA4 specifically in
      cardiomyocytes, we found severely depressed ventricular function in the Gata4
      ablated mice (mutant) after injury. This was accompanied by reduced cardiomyocyte
      replication. In addition, the mutant hearts displayed impaired coronary
      angiogenesis and increased hypertrophy and fibrosis after injury.
      Mechanistically, we found that the paracrine factor FGF16 was significantly
      reduced in the mutant hearts after injury compared with littermate controls and
      was directly regulated by GATA4. Cardiac-specific overexpression of FGF16 via
      adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (AAV9) in the mutant hearts partially rescued
      the cryoinjury-induced cardiac hypertrophy, promoted cardiomyocyte replication
      and improved heart function after injury. Altogether, our data demonstrate that
      GATA4 is required for neonatal heart regeneration through regulation of Fgf16,
      suggesting that paracrine factors could be of potential use in promoting
      myocardial repair. 

PMID- 26893346
TI  - Progressive developmental restriction, acquisition of left-right identity and
      cell growth behavior during lobe formation in mouse liver development.
AB  - To identify cell-based decisions implicated in morphogenesis of the mammalian
      liver, we performed clonal analysis of hepatocytes/hepatoblasts in mouse liver
      development, using a knock-in allele of Hnf4a/laacZ This transgene randomly
      undergoes a low frequency of recombination that generates a functional lacZ gene
      that produces beta-galactosidase in tissues in which Hnf4a is expressed. Two
      types of beta-galactosidase-positive clones were found. Most have undergone three
      to eight cell divisions and result from independent events (Luria-Delbruck
      fluctuation test); we calculate that they arose between E8.5 and E13.5. A second
      class was mega-clones derived from early endoderm progenitors, generating many
      descendants. Some originated from multi-potential founder cells, with labeled
      cells in the liver, pancreas and/or intestine. A few mega-clones populate only
      one side of the liver, indicating hepatic cell chirality. The patterns of labeled
      cells indicate cohesive and often oriented growth, notably in broad radial
      stripes, potentially implicated in the formation of liver lobes. This
      retrospective clonal analysis gives novel insights into clonal origins, cell
      behavior of progenitors and distinct properties of endoderm cells that underlie
      the formation and morphogenesis of the liver.

PMID- 26893348
TI  - Mushroom body defect is required in parallel to Netrin for midline axon guidance
      in Drosophila.
AB  - The outgrowth of many neurons within the central nervous system is initially
      directed towards or away from the cells lying at the midline. Recent genetic
      evidence suggests that a simple model of differential sensitivity to the
      conserved Netrin attractants and Slit repellents is insufficient to explain the
      guidance of all axons at the midline. In the Drosophila embryonic ventral nerve
      cord, many axons still cross the midline in the absence of the Netrin genes (NetA
      and NetB) or their receptor frazzled. Here we show that mutation of mushroom body
      defect (mud) dramatically enhances the phenotype of Netrin or frazzled mutants,
      resulting in many more axons failing to cross the midline, although mutations in
      mud alone have little effect. This suggests that mud, which encodes a microtubule
      binding coiled-coil protein homologous to NuMA and LIN-5, is an essential
      component of a Netrin-independent pathway that acts in parallel to promote
      midline crossing. We demonstrate that this novel role of Mud in axon guidance is
      independent of its previously described role in neural precursor development.
      These studies identify a parallel pathway controlling midline guidance in
      Drosophila and highlight a novel role for Mud potentially acting downstream of
      Frizzled to aid axon guidance. 

PMID- 26893349
TI  - 20-Hydroxyecdysone activates Forkhead box O to promote proteolysis during
      Helicoverpa armigera molting.
AB  - Insulin inhibits transcription factor Forkhead box O (FoxO) activity, and the
      steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) activates FoxO; however, the mechanism
      is unclear. We hypothesized that 20E upregulates phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5
      trisphosphate 3-phosphatase (PTEN) expression to activate FoxO, thereby promoting
      proteolysis during molting in the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera. FoxO
      expression is increased during molting and metamorphosis. The knockdown of FoxO
      in fifth instar larvae results in larval molting failure. 20E inhibits FoxO
      phosphorylation, resulting in FoxO nuclear translocation. Insulin, via Akt,
      induces FoxO phosphorylation and cytoplasmic localization. 20E represses insulin
      induced Akt phosphorylation and FoxO phosphorylation. 20E, via ecdysone receptor
      B1 (EcRB1) and the ultraspiracle protein (USP1), upregulates PTEN expression,
      which represses Akt phosphorylation, thereby repressing FoxO phosphorylation. The
      non-phosphorylated FoxO enters the nucleus and attaches to a FoxO-binding element
      in the upstream region of the Broad isoform 7 (BrZ7) gene to regulate BrZ7
      transcription under 20E induction. 20E upregulates FoxO expression via EcRB1 and
      USP1. FoxO regulation of BrZ7 expression regulates Carboxypeptidase A expression
      for final proteolysis during insect molting. Hence, 20E activates FoxO via
      upregulating PTEN expression to counteract insulin activity and promote
      proteolysis. 

PMID- 26893345
TI  - Split top: a maternal cathepsin B that regulates dorsoventral patterning and
      morphogenesis.
AB  - The vertebrate embryonic dorsoventral axis is established and patterned by Wnt
      and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways, respectively. Whereas
      Wnt signaling establishes the dorsal side of the embryo and induces the dorsal
      organizer, a BMP signaling gradient patterns tissues along the dorsoventral axis.
      Early Wnt signaling is provided maternally, whereas BMP ligand expression in the
      zebrafish is zygotic, but regulated by maternal factors. Concomitant with BMP
      activity patterning dorsoventral axial tissues, the embryo also undergoes
      dramatic morphogenetic processes, including the cell movements of gastrulation,
      epiboly and dorsal convergence. Although the zygotic regulation of these cell
      migration processes is increasingly understood, far less is known of the maternal
      regulators of these processes. Similarly, the maternal regulation of dorsoventral
      patterning, and in particular the maternal control of ventral tissue
      specification, is poorly understood. We identified split top, a recessive
      maternal-effect zebrafish mutant that disrupts embryonic patterning upstream of
      endogenous BMP signaling. Embryos from split top mutant females exhibit a
      dorsalized embryonic axis, which can be rescued by BMP misexpression or by
      derepressing endogenous BMP signaling. In addition to dorsoventral patterning
      defects, split top mutants display morphogenesis defects that are both BMP
      dependent and independent. These morphogenesis defects include incomplete dorsal
      convergence, delayed epiboly progression and an early lysis phenotype during
      gastrula stages. The latter two morphogenesis defects are associated with
      disruption of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton within the yolk cell and
      defects in the outer enveloping cell layer, which are both known mediators of
      epiboly movements. Through chromosomal mapping and RNA sequencing analysis, we
      identified the lysosomal endopeptidase cathepsin Ba (ctsba) as the gene deficient
      in split top embryos. Our results identify a novel role for Ctsba in
      morphogenesis and expand our understanding of the maternal regulation of
      dorsoventral patterning. 

PMID- 26893351
TI  - The transcription factor SOX6 contributes to the developmental origins of obesity
      by promoting adipogenesis.
AB  - An association between impaired fetal growth and the postnatal development of
      obesity has been established. Here, by comparing adipocytes differentiated from
      mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) taken from the umbilical cord and derived from
      normal and growth-restricted neonates, we identified the transcription factor
      SOX6 as highly expressed only in growth-restricted individuals. We found that
      SOX6 regulates adipogenesis in vertebrate species by activating adipogenic
      regulators including PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha and MEST. We further show that SOX6
      interacts with beta-catenin in adipocytes, suggesting an inhibition of WNT/beta
      catenin signaling, thereby promoting adipogenesis. The upstream regulatory region
      of the MEST gene in MSCs from growth-restricted subjects harbors hypomethylated
      CpGs next to SOX6 binding motifs, and we found that SOX6 binding is impaired by
      adjacent CpG methylation. In summary, we report that SOX6 is a novel regulator of
      adipogenesis synergizing with epigenetic mechanisms. 

PMID- 26893350
TI  - Wnt/beta-catenin signaling enables developmental transitions during
      valvulogenesis.
AB  - Heart valve development proceeds through coordinated steps by which endocardial
      cushions (ECs) form thin, elongated and stratified valves. Wnt signaling and its
      canonical effector beta-catenin are proposed to contribute to endocardial-to
      mesenchymal transformation (EMT) through postnatal steps of valvulogenesis.
      However, genetic redundancy and lethality have made it challenging to define
      specific roles of the canonical Wnt pathway at different stages of valve
      formation. We developed a transgenic mouse system that provides spatiotemporal
      inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by chemically inducible overexpression
      of Dkk1. Unexpectedly, this approach indicates canonical Wnt signaling is
      required for EMT in the proximal outflow tract (pOFT) but not atrioventricular
      canal (AVC) cushions. Furthermore, Wnt indirectly promotes pOFT EMT through its
      earlier activity in neighboring myocardial cells or their progenitors.
      Subsequently, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is activated in cushion mesenchymal
      cells where it supports FGF-driven expansion of ECs and then AVC valve
      extracellular matrix patterning. Mice lacking Axin2, a negative Wnt regulator,
      have larger valves, suggesting that accumulating Axin2 in maturing valves
      represents negative feedback that restrains tissue overgrowth rather than simply
      reporting Wnt activity. Disruption of these Wnt/beta-catenin signaling roles that
      enable developmental transitions during valvulogenesis could account for common
      congenital valve defects. 

PMID- 26893352
TI  - The ciliary marginal zone of the zebrafish retina: clonal and time-lapse analysis
      of a continuously growing tissue.
AB  - Clonal analysis is helping us understand the dynamics of cell replacement in
      homeostatic adult tissues (Simons and Clevers, 2011). Such an analysis, however,
      has not yet been achieved for continuously growing adult tissues, but is
      essential if we wish to understand the architecture of adult organs. The retinas
      of lower vertebrates grow throughout life from retinal stem cells (RSCs) and
      retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) at the rim of the retina, called the ciliary
      marginal zone (CMZ). Here, we show that RSCs reside in a niche at the extreme
      periphery of the CMZ and divide asymmetrically along a radial (peripheral to
      central) axis, leaving one daughter in the peripheral RSC niche and the other
      more central where it becomes an RPC. We also show that RPCs of the CMZ have
      clonal sizes and compositions that are statistically similar to progenitor cells
      of the embryonic retina and fit the same stochastic model of proliferation. These
      results link embryonic and postembryonic cell behaviour, and help to explain the
      constancy of tissue architecture that has been generated over a lifetime. 

PMID- 26893353
TI  - Identification of a small-molecule ligand of the epigenetic reader protein
      Spindlin1 via a versatile screening platform.
AB  - Epigenetic modifications of histone tails play an essential role in the
      regulation of eukaryotic transcription. Writer and eraser enzymes establish and
      maintain the epigenetic code by creating or removing posttranslational marks.
      Specific binding proteins, called readers, recognize the modifications and
      mediate epigenetic signalling. Here, we present a versatile assay platform for
      the investigation of the interaction between methyl lysine readers and their
      ligands. This can be utilized for the screening of small-molecule inhibitors of
      such protein-protein interactions and the detailed characterization of the
      inhibition. Our platform is constructed in a modular way consisting of orthogonal
      in vitro binding assays for ligand screening and verification of initial hits and
      biophysical, label-free techniques for further kinetic characterization of
      confirmed ligands. A stability assay for the investigation of target engagement
      in a cellular context complements the platform. We applied the complete
      evaluation chain to the Tudor domain containing protein Spindlin1 and established
      the in vitro test systems for the double Tudor domain of the histone demethylase
      JMJD2C. We finally conducted an exploratory screen for inhibitors of the
      interaction between Spindlin1 and H3K4me3 and identified A366 as the first
      nanomolar small-molecule ligand of a Tudor domain containing methyl lysine
      reader.

PMID- 26893355
TI  - Long-range looping of a locus control region drives tissue-specific chromatin
      packing within a multigene cluster.
AB  - The relationships of higher order chromatin organization to mammalian gene
      expression remain incompletely defined. The human Growth Hormone (hGH) multigene
      cluster contains five gene paralogs. These genes are selectively activated in
      either the pituitary or the placenta by distinct components of a remote locus
      control region (LCR). Prior studies have revealed that appropriate activation of
      the placental genes is dependent not only on the actions of the LCR, but also on
      the multigene composition of the cluster itself. Here, we demonstrate that the
      hGH LCR 'loops' over a distance of 28 kb in primary placental nuclei to make
      specific contacts with the promoters of the two GH genes in the cluster. This
      long-range interaction sequesters the GH genes from the three hCS genes which co
      assemble into a tightly packed 'hCS chromatin hub'. Elimination of the long-range
      looping, via specific deletion of the placental LCR components, triggers a
      dramatic disruption of the hCS chromatin hub. These data reveal a higher-order
      structural pathway by which long-range looping from an LCR impacts on local
      chromatin architecture that is linked to tissue-specific gene regulation within a
      multigene cluster.

PMID- 26893354
TI  - Categorical spectral analysis of periodicity in nucleosomal DNA.
AB  - DNA helical twist imposes geometric constraints on the location of histone-DNA
      interaction sites along nucleosomal DNA. Certain 10.5-bp periodic nucleotides in
      phase with these geometric constraints have been suggested to facilitate
      nucleosome positioning. However, the extent of nucleotide periodicity in
      nucleosomal DNA and its significance in directing nucleosome positioning still
      remain unclear. We clarify these issues by applying categorical spectral analysis
      to high-resolution nucleosome maps in two yeast species. We find that only a
      small fraction of nucleosomal sequences contain significant 10.5-bp periodicity.
      We further develop a spectral decomposition method to show that the previously
      observed periodicity in aligned nucleosomal sequences mainly results from proper
      phasing among nucleosomal sequences, and not from a preponderant occurrence of
      periodicity within individual sequences. Importantly, we show that this phasing
      may arise from the histones' proclivity for putting preferred nucleotides at some
      of the evenly spaced histone-DNA contact points with respect to the dyad axis. We
      demonstrate that 10.5-bp periodicity, when present, significantly facilitates
      rotational, but not translational, nucleosome positioning. Finally, although
      periodicity only moderately affects nucleosome occupancy genome wide, reduced
      periodicity is an evolutionarily conserved signature of nucleosome-depleted
      regions around transcription start/termination sites. 

PMID- 26893356
TI  - Using intron position conservation for homology-based gene prediction.
AB  - Annotation of protein-coding genes is very important in bioinformatics and
      biology and has a decisive influence on many downstream analyses. Homology-based
      gene prediction programs allow for transferring knowledge about protein-coding
      genes from an annotated organism to an organism of interest.Here, we present a
      homology-based gene prediction program called GeMoMa. GeMoMa utilizes the
      conservation of intron positions within genes to predict related genes in other
      organisms. We assess the performance of GeMoMa and compare it with state-of-the
      art competitors on plant and animal genomes using an extended best reciprocal hit
      approach. We find that GeMoMa often makes more precise predictions than its
      competitors yielding a substantially increased number of correct transcripts.
      Subsequently, we exemplarily validate GeMoMa predictions using Sanger sequencing.
      Finally, we use RNA-seq data to compare the predictions of homology-based gene
      prediction programs, and find again that GeMoMa performs well.Hence, we conclude
      that exploiting intron position conservation improves homology-based gene
      prediction, and we make GeMoMa freely available as command-line tool and Galaxy
      integration.

PMID- 26893357
TI  - Lipopolysaccharide derived from the digestive tract activates inflammatory gene
      expression and inhibits casein synthesis in the mammary glands of lactating dairy
      cows.
AB  - To meet the nutrition requirements of lactation, dairy cows are usually fed a
      high concentrate diet (HC). However, high-grain feeding causes subacute ruminal
      acidosis (SARA), a metabolic disorder that causes milk protein depression. This
      study aimed to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) released in the
      rumen on inflammatory gene expression and casein synthesis in mammary glands of
      lactating dairy cows fed a HC diet. We found that milk protein was significantly
      decreased in the HC group after 15 weeks of feeding. Overall, LPS concentrations
      in the rumen fluid, lacteal artery and vein were increased in the HC group.
      Transcriptome microarray was used to evaluate alterations in the signaling
      pathway in mammary glands. Signaling pathways involved in inflammatory responses
      were activated, whereas those involved in protein synthesis were inhibited in the
      HC group. mRNA expression involved in inflammatory responses, including that of
      TLR4, NF-kappaB and pro-inflammatory genes, was increased in the HC group, while
      alphas1-casein (CSN1S1), beta-casein (CSN2), mTOR and S6K gene expression were
      decreased. Moreover, protein expression was consistent with the corresponding
      gene expression. After feeding with an HC diet, LPS derived from the rumen
      increased inflammatory gene expression and inhibited casein synthesis in the
      mammary glands of lactating dairy cows fed a HC diet.

PMID- 26893358
TI  - DEPTOR suppresses the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and
      predicts poor prognosis.
AB  - As a naturally occurring inhibitor of mTOR, accumulated evidence has suggested
      that DEPTOR plays a pivotal role in suppressing the progression of human
      malignances. However, the function of DEPTOR in the development of esophageal
      squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. Here we report that the
      expression of DEPTOR is significantly reduced in tumor tissues derived from human
      patients with ESCC, and the downregulation of DEPTOR predicts a poor prognosis of
      ESCC patients. In addition, we found that the expression of DEPTOR negatively
      regulates the tumorigenic activities of ESCC cell lines (KYSE150, KYSE510 and
      KYSE190). Furthermore, ectopic DEPTOR expression caused a significant suppression
      of the cellular proliferation, migration and invasion of KYSE150 cells, which has
      the lowest expression level of DEPTOR in the three cell lines. Meanwhile,
      CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of DEPTOR in KYSE-510 cells significantly promoted
      cellular proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, in vivo assays
      further revealed that tumor growth was significantly inhibited in xenografts with
      ectopic DEPTOR expression as compared to untreated KYSE150 cells, and was
      markedly enhanced in DEPTOR knockout KYSE-510 cells. Biochemical studies revealed
      that overexpression of DEPTOR led to the suppression of AKT/mTOR pathway as
      evidenced by reduced phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR and downstream SGK1, indicating
      DEPTOR might control the progression of ESCC through AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
      Thus, these findings, for the first time, demonstrated that DEPTOR inhibits the
      tumorigenesis of ESCC cells and might serve as a potential therapeutic target or
      prognostic marker for human patients with ESCC. 

PMID- 26893359
TI  - Transcriptomic analysis of stage 1 versus advanced adult granulosa cell tumors.
AB  - Ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCT) are hormonally-active neoplasms
      characterized, in the adult-subtype, by a mutation in the FOXL2 gene (C134W).
      They exhibit an indolent course with an unexplained propensity for late
      recurrence; ~80% of patients with aggressive, advanced stage tumors die from
      their disease; aside from surgery, therapeutic options are limited. To identify
      the molecular basis of advanced stage disease we have used whole transcriptome
      analysis of FOXL2 C134W mutation positive adult (a)GCT to identify genes that are
      differentially expressed between early (stage 1) and advanced (stage 3) aGCT.
      Transcriptome profiles for early (n = 6) and stage 3 (n = 6) aGCT, and for the
      aGCT-derived KGN, cell line identified 24 genes whose expression significantly
      differs between the early and stage 3 aGCT. Of these, 16 were more abundantly
      expressed in the stage 3 aGCT and 8 were higher in the stage 1 tumors. These
      changes were further examined for the genes which showed the greatest fold
      change: the cytokine CXCL14, microfibrillar-associated protein 5, insulin-like 3
      and desmin. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified overexpression of genes on
      chromosome 7p15 which includes the homeobox A gene locus. The analysis therefore
      identifies a small number of genes with clearly discriminate patterns of
      expression arguing that the clinicopathological-derived distinction of the tumor
      stage is robust, whilst confirming the relative homogeneity of expression for
      many genes across the cohort and hence of aGCT. The expression profiles do
      however identify several overexpressed genes in both stage 1 and/or stage 3 aGCT
      which warrant further study as possible therapeutic targets. 

PMID- 26893360
TI  - BK K+ channel blockade inhibits radiation-induced migration/brain infiltration of
      glioblastoma cells.
AB  - Infiltration of the brain by glioblastoma cells reportedly requires Ca2+ signals
      and BK K+ channels that program and drive glioblastoma cell migration,
      respectively. Ionizing radiation (IR) has been shown to induce expression of the
      chemokine SDF-1, to alter the Ca2+ signaling, and to stimulate cell migration of
      glioblastoma cells. Here, we quantified fractionated IR-induced migration/brain
      infiltration of human glioblastoma cells in vitro and in an orthotopic mouse
      model and analyzed the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling and BK channels. To this
      end, the radiation-induced migratory phenotypes of human T98G and far-red
      fluorescent U-87MG-Katushka glioblastoma cells were characterized by mRNA and
      protein expression, fura-2 Ca2+ imaging, BK patch-clamp recording and transfilter
      migration assay. In addition, U-87MG-Katushka cells were grown to solid
      glioblastomas in the right hemispheres of immunocompromised mice, fractionated
      irradiated (6 MV photons) with 5 * 0 or 5 * 2 Gy, and SDF-1, CXCR4, and BK
      protein expression by the tumor as well as glioblastoma brain infiltration was
      analyzed in dependence on BK channel targeting by systemic paxilline application
      concomitant to IR. As a result, IR stimulated SDF-1 signaling and induced
      migration of glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, paxilline
      blocked IR-induced migration in vivo. Collectively, our data demonstrate that
      fractionated IR of glioblastoma stimulates and BK K+ channel targeting mitigates
      migration and brain infiltration of glioblastoma cells in vivo. This suggests
      that BK channel targeting might represent a novel approach to overcome radiation
      induced spreading of malignant brain tumors during radiotherapy. 

PMID- 26893361
TI  - Zinc finger protein ZBTB20 is an independent prognostic marker and promotes tumor
      growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma by repressing FoxO1.
AB  - Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 20 (ZBTB20) is a new BTB/POZ-domain gene
      and a member of the POK family of transcriptional repressors. Notably, the role
      of ZBTB20 and its underlying mechanisms involved in hepatocarcinogenesis are
      poorly investigated. In this study, the expression of ZBTB20 was significantly
      overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. The positive expression
      of ZBTB20 was associated with large tumor size, high Edmondson-Steiner grading
      and advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) tumor stage. Additionally, HCC patients
      with positive expression of ZBTB20 had a poorer 5-year survival. Multivariate
      analyses revealed that ZBTB20 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor
      for HCC. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that ZBTB20 promoted
      HCC cell viability, proliferation, tumorigenicity, and cell cycle progression.
      Mechanistically, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E were increased, while p21 and p27 were
      decreased by ZBTB20 in HCC cells. FoxO1 was inversely correlated with ZBTB20
      protein expression in the same cohort of HCC specimens. We further revealed that
      FoxO1 was transcriptionally repressed by ZBTB20 in HCC. Moreover, restoration of
      FoxO1 expression partially abrogated ZBTB20-induced HCC cell proliferation and
      growth entry in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that
      ZBTB20 may serve as a prognostic marker and promotes tumor growth of HCC via
      transcriptionally repressing FoxO1. 

PMID- 26893362
TI  - RACK1 overexpression is linked to acquired imatinib resistance in
      gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
AB  - Although treatment with imatinib, which inhibits KIT and PDGFR, controls advanced
      disease in about 80% of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients,
      resistance to imatinib often develops. RACK1 (Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1)
      is a ribosomal protein that contributes to tumor progression by affecting
      proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and migration. Here, we found that c-KIT
      binds to RACK1 and increases proteasome-mediated RACK1 degradation. Imatinib
      treatment inhibits c-KIT activity and prevents RACK1 degradation, and RACK1 is
      upregulated in imatinib-resistant GIST cells compared to non-resistant parental
      cells. Moreover, Erk and Akt signaling were reactivated by imatinib in resistant
      GIST cells. RACK1 functioned as a scaffold protein and mediated Erk and Akt
      reactivation after imatinib treatment, thereby promoting GIST cell survival even
      in the presence of imatinib. Combined inhibition of KIT and RACK1 inhibited
      growth in imatinib-resistant GIST cell lines and reduced tumor relapse in GIST
      xenografts. These findings provide new insight into the role of RACK1 in imatinib
      resistance in GIST. 

PMID- 26893363
TI  - mDia1 regulates breast cancer invasion by controlling membrane type 1-matrix
      metalloproteinase localization.
AB  - Mammalian diaphanous-related formin 1 (mDia1) expression has been linked with
      progression of malignant cancers in various tissues. However, the precise
      molecular mechanism underlying mDia1-mediated invasion in cancer cells has not
      been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that mDia1 is upregulated in
      invasive breast cancer cells. Knockdown of mDia1 in invasive breast cancer
      profoundly reduced invasive activity by controlling cellular localization of
      membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) through interaction with
      microtubule tracks. Gene silencing and ectopic expression of the active form of
      mDia1 showed that mDia1 plays a key role in the intracellular trafficking of MT1
      MMP to the plasma membrane through microtubules. We also demonstrated that highly
      invasive breast cancer cells possessed invasive activity in a 3D culture system,
      which was significantly reduced upon silencing mDia1 or MT1-MMP. Furthermore,
      mDia1-deficient cells cultured in 3D matrix showed impaired expression of the
      cancer stem cell marker genes, CD44 and CD133. Collectively, our findings suggest
      that regulation of cellular trafficking and microtubule-mediated localization of
      MT1-MMP by mDia1 is likely important in breast cancer invasion through the
      expression of cancer stem cell genes. 

PMID- 26893364
TI  - PD-L1 expression is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in head and
      neck squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Virus-associated malignancies and sarcomatoid cancers correlate with high PD-L1
      expression, however, underlying mechanisms remain controversial. We evaluated the
      correlation between PD-L1 expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
      in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).Tumor tissues from 50 patients
      with HNSCC were evaluated for PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry, which showed 32
      (64.0%) were PD-L1 positive (PD-L1+). Interestingly, PD-L1 expression was
      significantly associated with EMT (P = 0.010), as assessed by low E-cadherin and
      high vimentin expression. The overall survival of PD-L1+ patients with EMT
      features was significantly worse than those without EMT features (P = 0.007). In
      an independent validation cohort (N = 91), as well as in HNSCC cases of The
      Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, high PD-L1
      expression was also associated with the high probability of an EMT signature,
      referred from the GEO dataset, GSE4824. Survival analysis confirmed PD-L1+/EMT+
      patients had a poorer prognosis than PD-L1+/EMT- patients in the TCGA cohort. PD
      L1 positivity can thus be divided into two categories according to the absence or
      presence of EMT. PD-L1 expression is also independently associated with EMT
      features in HNSCC. 

PMID- 26893365
TI  - A genetic variation in microRNA target site of ETS2 is associated with clinical
      outcomes of paclitaxel-cisplatin chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - The present study was performed to investigate the association of single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the miRNA target sites with the
      clinical outcomes of first line paclitaxel-cisplatin chemotherapy in advanced
      NSCLC. Eighty SNPs in miRNA binding sites of cancer related genes selected from
      18,500 miRNA:target bindings in crosslinking, ligation, and sequencing of hybrids
      (CLASH) data were investigated in 379 advanced NSCLC patients using a sequenom
      mass spectrometry-based genotype assay. qRT-PCR and luciferase assay were
      conducted to examine functional relevance of potentially functional SNPs in miRNA
      binding sites. Of the 80 SNPs analyzed, 16 SNPs were significantly associated
      with the clinical outcomes after chemotherapy. Among these, ANAPC1 rs3814026C>T,
      ETS2 rs461155A>G, SORBS1 rs7081076C>A and POLR2A rs2071504C>T could predict both
      chemotherapy response and survival. Notably, ETS2 rs461155A>G was significantly
      associated with decreased ETS2 mRNA expression in both tumor and paired normal
      lung tissues (Ptrend = 4 * 10-7, and 3 * 10-4, respectively). Consistently, a
      decreased expression of the reporter gene for the G allele of rs461155 compared
      with the A allele was observed by luciferase assay. These findings suggest that
      the four SNPs, especially ETS2 rs461155A>G, could be used as biomarkers
      predicting the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients treated with first-line
      paclitaxel-cisplatin chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26893366
TI  - Early onset of hypertension and serum electrolyte changes as potential predictive
      factors of activity in advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib: results from
      a retrospective analysis of the HCC-AVR group.
AB  - Hypertension (HTN) is frequently associated with the use of angiogenesis
      inhibitors targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and appears
      to be a generalized effect of this class of agent. We investigated the phenomenon
      in 61 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving sorafenib.
      Blood pressure and plasma electrolytes were measured on days 1 and 15 of the
      treatment. Patients with sorafenib-induced HTN had a better outcome than those
      without HTN (disease control rate: 63.4% vs. 17.2% (p=0.001); progression-free
      survival 6.0 months (95% CI 3.2-10.1) vs. 2.5 months (95% CI 1.9-2.6) (p<0.001)
      and overall survival 14.6 months (95% CI9.7-19.0) vs. 3.9 months (95% CI 3.1-8.7)
      (p=0.003). Sodium levels were generally higher on day 15 than at baseline (+2.38,
      p<0.0001) in the group of responders (+4.95, p <0.0001) compared to patients who
      progressed (PD) (+0.28, p=0.607). In contrast, potassium was lower on day 14 (
      0.30, p=0.0008) in the responder group (-0.58, p=0.003) than in those with
      progressive disease (-0.06, p=0.500). The early onset of hypertension is
      associated with improved clinical outcome in HCC patients treated with sorafenib.
      Our data are suggestive of an activation of the renin-angiotensin system in
      patients with advanced disease who developed HTN during sorafenib treatment. 

PMID- 26893367
TI  - Podoplanin is a component of extracellular vesicles that reprograms cell-derived
      exosomal proteins and modulates lymphatic vessel formation.
AB  - Podoplanin (PDPN) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays crucial roles in
      embryonic development, the immune response, and malignant progression. Here, we
      report that cells ectopically or endogenously expressing PDPN release
      extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain PDPN mRNA and protein. PDPN
      incorporates into membrane shed microvesicles (MVs) and endosomal-derived
      exosomes (EXOs), where it was found to colocalize with the canonical EV marker
      CD63 by immunoelectron microscopy. We have previously found that expression of
      PDPN in MDCK cells induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Proteomic
      profiling of MDCK-PDPN cells compared to control cells shows that PDPN-induced
      EMT is associated with upregulation of oncogenic proteins and diminished
      expression of tumor suppressors. Proteomic analysis of exosomes reveals that MDCK
      PDPN EXOs were enriched in protein cargos involved in cell adhesion, cytoskeletal
      remodeling, signal transduction and, importantly, intracellular trafficking and
      EV biogenesis. Indeed, expression of PDPN in MDCK cells stimulated both EXO and
      MV production, while knockdown of endogenous PDPN in human HN5 squamous carcinoma
      cells reduced EXO production and inhibited tumorigenesis. EXOs released from MDCK
      PDPN and control cells both stimulated in vitro angiogenesis, but only EXOs
      containing PDPN were shown to promote lymphatic vessel formation. This effect was
      mediated by PDPN on the surface of EXOs, as demonstrated by a neutralizing
      specific monoclonal antibody. These results contribute to our understanding of
      PDPN-induced EMT in association to tumor progression, and suggest an important
      role for PDPN in EV biogenesis and/or release and for PDPN-EXOs in modulating
      lymphangiogenesis. 

PMID- 26893368
TI  - Cinacalcet inhibits neuroblastoma tumor growth and upregulates cancer-testis
      antigens.
AB  - The calcium-sensing receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that exerts cell
      type specific functions in numerous tissues and some cancers. We have previously
      reported that this receptor exhibits tumor suppressor properties in
      neuroblastoma. We have now assessed cinacalcet, an allosteric activator of the
      CaSR approved for clinical use, as targeted therapy for this developmental tumor
      using neuroblastoma cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDX) with
      different MYCN and TP53 status. In vitro, acute exposure to cinacalcet induced
      endoplasmic reticulum stress coupled to apoptosis via ATF4-CHOP-TRB3 in CaSR
      positive, MYCN-amplified cells. Both phenotypes were partially abrogated by
      phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. Prolonged in vitro treatment also promoted dose
      and time-dependent apoptosis in CaSR-positive, MYCN-amplified cells and,
      irrespective of MYCN status, differentiation in surviving cells. Cinacalcet
      significantly inhibited tumor growth in MYCN-amplified xenografts and reduced
      that of MYCN-non amplified PDX. Morphology assessment showed fibrosis in MYCN
      amplified xenografts exposed to the drug. Microarrays analyses revealed up
      regulation of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) in cinacalcet-treated MYCN-amplified
      tumors. These were predominantly CTAs encoded by genes mapping on chromosome X,
      which are the most immunogenic. Other modulated genes upon prolonged exposure to
      cinacalcet were involved in differentiation, cell cycle exit, microenvironment
      remodeling and calcium signaling pathways. CTAs were up-regulated in PDX and in
      vitro models as well. Moreover, progressive increase of CaSR expression upon
      cinacalcet treatment was seen both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, cinacalcet
      reduces neuroblastoma tumor growth and up-regulates CTAs. This effect represents
      a therapeutic opportunity and provides surrogate circulating markers of
      neuroblastoma response to this treatment. 

PMID- 26893369
TI  - Graded effects of unregulated smooth muscle myosin on intestinal architecture,
      intestinal motility and vascular function in zebrafish.
AB  - Smooth muscle contraction is controlled by the regulated activity of the myosin
      heavy chain ATPase (Myh11). Myh11 mutations have diverse effects in the
      cardiovascular, digestive and genitourinary systems in humans and animal models.
      We previously reported a recessive missense mutation, meltdown (mlt), which
      converts a highly conserved tryptophan to arginine (W512R) in the rigid relay
      loop of zebrafish Myh11. The mlt mutation disrupts myosin regulation and non
      autonomously induces invasive expansion of the intestinal epithelium. Here, we
      report two newly identified missense mutations in the switch-1 (S237Y) and coil
      coiled (L1287M) domains of Myh11 that fail to complement mlt Cell invasion was
      not detected in either homozygous mutant but could be induced by oxidative stress
      and activation of oncogenic signaling pathways. The smooth muscle defect imparted
      by the mlt and S237Y mutations also delayed intestinal transit, and altered
      vascular function, as measured by blood flow in the dorsal aorta. The cell
      invasion phenotype induced by the three myh11 mutants correlated with the degree
      of myosin deregulation. These findings suggest that the vertebrate intestinal
      epithelium is tuned to the physical state of the surrounding stroma, which, in
      turn, governs its response to physiologic and pathologic stimuli. Genetic
      variants that alter the regulation of smooth muscle myosin might be risk factors
      for diseases affecting the intestine, vasculature, and other tissues that contain
      smooth muscle or contractile cells that express smooth muscle proteins,
      particularly in the setting of redox stress.

PMID- 26893371
TI  - Clinicopathological Characteristics of Patients with Gastric Cancer according to
      the Expression of LIN28A.
AB  - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although LIN28A is known to potentially play a role in the
      oncogenesis of various cancers, whether LIN28A expression is a predictor of poor
      prognosis in patients with gastric cancer has not been fully explored. We sought
      to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics according to the expression of
      LIN28A in numerous gastric cancer tissue samples. METHODS: LIN28A expression was
      evaluated by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of a tissue microarray comprising
      288 gastric cancer tissues and 288 adjacent normal tissues. Clinicopathological
      characteristics, including overall survival, were compared according to LIN28A
      expression. RESULTS: The IHC staining score was lower for the cancer tissues than
      the normal tissues (p<0.001). However, no significant differences were observed
      in the clinicopathological characteristics between the low and high LIN28A
      expression groups. In addition, the 5-year overall survival rate did not differ
      between the two groups: 75.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.3% to 81.7%)
      versus 71.6% (95% CI, 63.3% to 80.9%) for low versus high expression,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of LIN28A did not appear to play a
      distinct role in predicting the clinicopathological characteristics of patients
      with gastric cancer. In addition, LIN28A expression was not an independently
      associated factor for overall survival in patients with gastric cancer.

PMID- 26893372
TI  - Association between exhaled inflammatory markers and asthma control in children.
AB  - The relationship between exhaled inflammatory markers and asthma control in
      children is unclear. To explore the association between inflammatory markers in
      exhaled breath (fractional nitric oxide (FeNO), volatile organic compounds
      (VOCs), cytokines/chemokines) and asthma control. To assess whether exhaled
      inflammatory markers are able to discriminate between children with persistently
      controlled/uncontrolled asthma. 96 asthmatic children were followed-up in a one
      year observational study. Every 2 months, the following parameters were assessed:
      asthma control, FeNO, lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and
      forced vital capacity (FVC), exhaled VOCs, and cytokines/chemokines in exhaled
      breath condensate (EBC). Random Forest was used to analyse the relationship
      between exhaled inflammatory markers and asthma control. For each model, patients
      were randomly selected for a training set and validation set. To assess the
      accuracy of the classification models, receiver operating characteristic-curves
      (ROC-curves) were generated. No significant association was found between the
      exhaled inflammatory markers (FeNO, markers in EBC, VOCs) and asthma control
      (area under the ROC-curve 49%). However, 15 exhaled VOCs could discriminate
      between subgroups of children with persistently controlled and uncontrolled
      asthma during all clinical visits (area under the ROC-curve 86%). Adding FeNO and
      markers in EBC to this model, did not lead to a more accurate classification
      (area under the ROC-curve 87%). There was no association between exhaled
      inflammatory markers and asthma control in children. However, children with
      persistently controlled or uncontrolled asthma during the 12 month study period
      could be discriminated by a set of VOCs. 

PMID- 26893370
TI  - Neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of adrenoleukodystrophy: the roles of the
      Bubblegum and Double bubble acyl-CoA synthetases.
AB  - Debilitating neurodegenerative conditions with metabolic origins affect millions
      of individuals worldwide. Still, for most of these neurometabolic disorders there
      are neither cures nor disease-modifying therapies, and novel animal models are
      needed for elucidation of disease pathology and identification of potential
      therapeutic agents. To date, metabolic neurodegenerative disease has been modeled
      in animals with only limited success, in part because existing models constitute
      analyses of single mutants and have thus overlooked potential redundancy within
      metabolic gene pathways associated with disease. Here, we present the first
      analysis of a very-long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) double mutant. We show
      that the Drosophila bubblegum(bgm) and double bubble(dbb) genes have overlapping
      functions, and that the consequences of double knockout of both bubblegum and
      double bubble in the fly brain are profound, affecting behavior and brain
      morphology, and providing the best paradigm to date for an animal model of
      adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a fatal childhood neurodegenerative disease
      associated with the accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids. Using this more
      fully penetrant model of disease to interrogate brain morphology at the level of
      electron microscopy, we show that dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism via
      disruption of ACS function in vivois causal of neurodegenerative pathologies that
      are evident in both neuronal cells and their supporting cell populations, and
      leads ultimately to lytic cell death in affected areas of the brain. Finally, in
      an extension of our model system to the study of human disease, we describe our
      identification of an individual with leukodystrophy who harbors a rare mutation
      in SLC27a6(encoding a very-long-chain ACS), a human homolog of bgm and dbb.

PMID- 26893373
TI  - Ketamine augmentation for outpatients with treatment-resistant depression:
      Preliminary evidence for two-step intravenous dose escalation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Preliminary evidence supports the safety and efficacy of subanesthetic
      ketamine as an experimental antidepressant, although its effects are often not
      sustained beyond one week. Studies are lacking that have examined the sustained
      effects of escalating ketamine doses as augmentation in outpatients with
      treatment-resistant depression. Therefore, the aims of this study were twofold:
      (1) to assess the safety and antidepressant efficacy of two-step, repeated-dose
      ketamine augmentation and (2) to assess the duration of ketamine's antidepressant
      efficacy as augmentation to ongoing antidepressant pharmacotherapy for 3 months
      after the final infusion. METHODS: Fourteen patients with treatment-resistant
      depression were eligible to receive augmentation with six open-label intravenous
      ketamine infusions over 3 weeks. For the first three infusions, ketamine was
      administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg over 45 minutes; the dose was increased to
      0.75 mg/kg over 45 minutes for the subsequent three infusions. The primary
      outcome measure was response (as measured on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-28
      items). RESULTS: After the completion of three ketamine infusions, 7.1% (1/14)
      responded; after all six ketamine infusions, 41.7% (5/12) completers responded
      and 16.7% (2/12) remitted. Intent-to-treat response and remission rates at the
      end of the final infusion were 35.7% (5/14) and 14.3% (2/14), respectively.
      However, all but one responder relapsed within 2 weeks after the final infusion.
      CONCLUSION: Repeated, escalating doses of intravenous ketamine augmentation were
      preliminarily found to be feasible, efficacious and well tolerated. Interaction
      with concomitant medications and elevated level of treatment resistance are
      possible factors for non-response.

PMID- 26893374
TI  - Intracellular pH Modulates Autophagy and Mitophagy.
AB  - The specific autophagic elimination of mitochondria (mitophagy) plays the role of
      quality control for this organelle. Deregulation of mitophagy leads to an
      increased number of damaged mitochondria and triggers cell death. The
      deterioration of mitophagy has been hypothesized to underlie the pathogenesis of
      several neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Parkinson disease. Although some
      of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control are
      described in detail, physiological or pathological triggers of mitophagy are
      still not fully characterized. Here we show that the induction of mitophagy by
      the mitochondrial uncoupler FCCP is independent of the effect of mitochondrial
      membrane potential but dependent on acidification of the cytosol by FCCP. The
      ionophore nigericin also reduces cytosolic pH and induces PINK1/PARKIN-dependent
      and -independent mitophagy. The increase of intracellular pH with monensin
      suppresses the effects of FCCP and nigericin on mitochondrial degradation. Thus,
      a change in intracellular pH is a regulator of mitochondrial quality control. 

PMID- 26893375
TI  - The Binding of Syndapin SH3 Domain to Dynamin Proline-rich Domain Involves Short
      and Long Distance Elements.
AB  - Dynamin is a GTPase that mediates vesicle fission during synaptic vesicle
      endocytosis. Its long C-terminal proline-rich domain contains 13 PXXP motifs,
      which orchestrate its interactions with multiple proteins. The SH3 domains of
      syndapin and endophilin bind the PXXP motifs called Site 2 and 3 (Pro-786-Pro
      793) at the N-terminal end of the proline-rich domain, whereas the amphiphysin
      SH3 binds Site 9 (Pro-833-Pro-836) toward the C-terminal end. In some proteins,
      SH3/peptide interactions also involve short distance elements, which are 5-15
      amino acid extensions flanking the central PXXP motif for high affinity binding.
      Here we found two previously unrecognized elements in the central and the C
      terminal end of the dynamin proline-rich domain that account for a significant
      increase in syndapin binding affinity compared with a previously reported Site 2
      and Site 3 PXXP peptide alone. The first new element (Gly-807-Gly-811) is short
      distance element on the C-terminal side of Site 2 PXXP, which might contact a
      groove identified under the RT loop of the SH3 domain. The second element (Arg
      838-Pro-844) is located about 50 amino acids downstream of Site 2. These two
      elements provide additional specificity to the syndapin SH3 domain outside of the
      well described polyproline-binding groove. Thus, the dynamin/syndapin interaction
      is mediated via a network of multiple contacts outside the core PXXP motif over a
      previously unrecognized extended region of the proline-rich domain. To our
      knowledge this is the first example among known SH3 interactions to involve
      spatially separated and extended long-range elements that combine to provide a
      higher affinity interaction. 

PMID- 26893376
TI  - The Arf GTPase-activating Protein, ASAP1, Binds Nonmuscle Myosin 2A to Control
      Remodeling of the Actomyosin Network.
AB  - ASAP1 regulates F-actin-based structures and functions, including focal adhesions
      (FAs) and circular dorsal ruffles (CDRs), cell spreading and migration. ASAP1
      function requires its N-terminal BAR domain. We discovered that nonmuscle myosin
      2A (NM2A) directly bound the BAR-PH tandem of ASAP1in vitro ASAP1 and NM2A co
      immunoprecipitated and colocalized in cells. Knockdown of ASAP1 reduced
      colocalization of NM2A and F-actin in cells. Knockdown of ASAP1 or NM2A
      recapitulated each other's effects on FAs, cell migration, cell spreading, and
      CDRs. The NM2A-interacting BAR domain contributed to ASAP1 control of cell
      spreading and CDRs. Exogenous expression of NM2A rescued the effect of ASAP1
      knockdown on CDRs but ASAP1 did not rescue NM2A knockdown defect in CDRs. Our
      results support the hypothesis that ASAP1 is a positive regulator of NM2A. Given
      other binding partners of ASAP1, ASAP1 may directly link signaling and the
      mechanical machinery of cell migration. 

PMID- 26893377
TI  - The B3 Subunit of the Cone Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Channel Regulates the Light
      Responses of Cones and Contributes to the Channel Structural Flexibility.
AB  - Cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels play a pivotal role in
      cone phototransduction, which is a process essential for daylight vision, color
      vision, and visual acuity. Mutations in the cone channel subunits CNGA3 and CNGB3
      are associated with human cone diseases, including achromatopsia, cone
      dystrophies, and early onset macular degeneration. Mutations in CNGB3 alone
      account for 50% of reported cases of achromatopsia. This work investigated the
      role of CNGB3 in cone light response and cone channel structural stability. As
      cones comprise only 2-3% of the total photoreceptor population in the wild-type
      mouse retina, we used Cngb3(-/-)/Nrl(-/-) mice with CNGB3 deficiency on a cone
      dominant background in our study. We found that, in the absence of CNGB3, CNGA3
      was able to travel to the outer segments, co-localize with cone opsin, and form
      tetrameric complexes. Electroretinogram analyses revealed reduced cone light
      response amplitude/sensitivity and slower response recovery in Cngb3(-/-)/Nrl(-/
      ) mice compared with Nrl(-/-) mice. Absence of CNGB3 expression altered the
      adaptation capacity of cones and severely compromised function in bright light.
      Biochemical analysis demonstrated that CNGA3 channels lacking CNGB3 were more
      resilient to proteolysis than CNGA3/CNGB3 channels, suggesting a hindered
      structural flexibility. Thus, CNGB3 regulates cone light response kinetics and
      the channel structural flexibility. This work advances our understanding of the
      biochemical and functional role of CNGB3 in cone photoreceptors. 

PMID- 26893380
TI  - Outcomes of redo pulmonary valve replacement for bioprosthetic pulmonary valve
      failure in 61 patients with congenital heart disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Although all bioprostheses used for pulmonary valve (PV) replacement
      (PVR) are prone to failure and will require redo PVR, data pertaining to the
      outcomes of this procedure are lacking. The objective of this study was to
      evaluate outcomes of redo PVR for bioprosthetic PV failure in patients with
      congenital heart disease. METHODS: A retrospective review of 61 patients who
      underwent redo PVR for bioprosthetic PV failure between November 1999 and June
      2013 was performed. Univariable analyses were used to identify the factors
      associated with postoperative adverse events (PAEs). RESULTS: The median age at
      initial PVR was 7.0 years (1.6-36.5 years) and the median age at redo PVR was
      13.5 years (7.6-43.3 years). Fundamental diagnoses were tetralogy of Fallot (n =
      20), pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n = 20), double outlet
      right ventricle (n = 7) and others (n = 14). The median valve size was 25 mm (18
      28 mm). There were 2 hospital deaths (3.3%). Eighteen patients (29.5%)
      experienced PAEs. PAEs were associated with higher preoperative right ventricular
      systolic pressure (105 +/- 22 vs 89 +/- 19 mmHg, P = 0.016) and longer
      cardiopulmonary bypass time (219 +/- 77 vs 164 +/- 59 min, P = 0.007).
      Completeness of follow-up was 98.3% and the median duration of follow-up was 5.5
      years (0.1-14.3 years). There were 3 late deaths. The actuarial survival rate at
      10 years was 83.7 +/- 8.0%. Eleven patients underwent the second redo PVR during
      follow-up. The rate of freedom from the second redo PVR at 10 years was 58.8 +/-
      11.9%. The rate of freedom from both PV reintervention and structural valve
      deterioration (SVD) at 10 years was 32.0 +/- 13.3%. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial
      number of the patients experienced mortality or morbidities after redo PVR.
      Higher preoperative right ventricular systolic pressure and longer
      cardiopulmonary bypass time were associated with PAEs. By 10 years after the redo
      PVR, approximately two-thirds of patients will require PV reintervention or
      manifest SVD.

PMID- 26893379
TI  - Fibromodulin Interacts with Collagen Cross-linking Sites and Activates Lysyl
      Oxidase.
AB  - The hallmark of fibrotic disorders is a highly cross-linked and dense collagen
      matrix, a property driven by the oxidative action of lysyl oxidase. Other
      fibrosis-associated proteins also contribute to the final collagen matrix
      properties, one of which is fibromodulin. Its interactions with collagen affect
      collagen cross-linking, packing, and fibril diameter. We investigated the
      possibility that a specific relationship exists between fibromodulin and lysyl
      oxidase, potentially imparting a specific collagen matrix phenotype. We mapped
      the fibromodulin-collagen interaction sites using the collagen II and III Toolkit
      peptide libraries. Fibromodulin interacted with the peptides containing the known
      collagen cross-linking sites and the MMP-1 cleavage site in collagens I and II.
      Interestingly, the interaction sites are closely aligned within the quarter
      staggered collagen fibril, suggesting a multivalent interaction between
      fibromodulin and several collagen helices. Furthermore, we detected an
      interaction between fibromodulin and lysyl oxidase (a major collagen cross
      linking enzyme) and mapped the interaction site to 12 N-terminal amino acids on
      fibromodulin. This interaction also increases the activity of lysyl oxidase.
      Together, the data suggest a fibromodulin-modulated collagen cross-linking
      mechanism where fibromodulin binds to a specific part of the collagen domain and
      also forms a complex with lysyl oxidase, targeting the enzyme toward specific
      cross-linking sites. 

PMID- 26893381
TI  - Impact of time interval between donor brain death and cold preservation on long
      term outcome in lung transplantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Brain death (BD) is associated with various systemic responses and a
      cascade of inflammatory reactions. It is still unknown how the time interval from
      BD to cold preservation (CP) affects outcome after lung transplantation (LTx).
      This report investigates the impact of the time interval from BD to CP on long
      term outcome in LTx. METHODS: We reviewed 250 consecutive recipients who
      underwent LTx at our institution between January 2000 and December 2011. In Group
      I (n = 212), the time interval from BD to CP was <24 h, and in Group II (n = 38)
      >24 h. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to determine the
      risk factors affecting survival. RESULTS: The median time from BD to CP was 18.6
      h (range 9-65). The rate of postoperative complications was comparable (P = 0.8).
      The 30-day mortality rate was 7.5% in Group I and 0% in Group II. The 5-year
      survival rate was better in Group II [70% (95% CI: 48.5-83.8%)] than in Group I
      [66% (95% CI: 58.3-72.5%)] without statistical significance (P = 0.3).
      Intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use was identified as a
      significant risk factor for survival [HR = 1.7, (95% CI: 1.1-2.6), P = 0.01].
      CONCLUSION: In our cohort, the time interval from BD to CP had no impact on long
      term outcome after LTx.

PMID- 26893378
TI  - The Different Conformational States of Tissue Transglutaminase Have Opposing
      Affects on Cell Viability.
AB  - Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is an acyltransferase/GTP-binding protein that
      contributes to the development of various diseases. In human cancer cells, tTG
      activates signaling pathways that promote cell growth and survival, whereas in
      other disorders (i.e. neurodegeneration), overexpression of tTG enhances cell
      death. Therefore, it is important to understand how tTG is differentially
      regulated and functioning to promote diametrically distinct cellular outcomes.
      Previous structural studies revealed that tTG adopts either a nucleotide-bound
      closed conformation or a transamidation-competent open conformation. Here we
      provide evidence showing that these different conformational states determine
      whether tTG promotes, or is detrimental to, cell survival, with the open
      conformation of the protein being responsible for inducing cell death. First, we
      demonstrate that a nucleotide binding-defective form of tTG, which has previously
      been shown to induce cell death, assumes an open conformation in solution as
      assessed by an enhanced sensitivity to trypsin digestion and by small angle x-ray
      scattering (SAXS) analysis. We next identify two pairs of intramolecular hydrogen
      bonds that, based on existing x-ray structures, are predicted to form between the
      most C-terminal beta-barrel domain and the catalytic core domain of tTG. By
      disrupting these hydrogen bonds, we are able to generate forms of tTG that
      constitutively assume an open conformation and induce apoptosis. These findings
      provide important insights into how tTG participates in the pathogenesis of
      neurodegenerative diseases, particularly with regard to the actions of a C
      terminal truncated form of tTG (TG-Short) that has been linked to such disorders
      and induces apoptosis by assuming an open-like conformation. 

PMID- 26893382
TI  - The prognostic value of metastatic lymph node number and ratio in oesophageal
      squamous cell carcinoma patients with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of metastatic lymph node
      number (MLN) and ratio (MLR) in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)
      patients with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiation. METHODS: Two thousand one
      hundred and fifty-one OSCC patients receiving oesophagectomy with (n = 850) or
      without (n = 1301) neoadjuvant chemoradiation were included. The MLN was
      categorized into 0 (N0), 1-2 (N1), 3-6 (N2) and more than 7 (N3); the MLR was
      categorized into 0, 0-0.2 and >0.2. The prognostic value was evaluated with
      survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the
      Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In patients without neoadjuvant chemoradiation, the
      3-year overall survival rates were 54.8, 34.4, 21.8 and 6.5% with MLN = 0, 1-2, 3
      6 and more than 7, respectively (P < 0.001). The 3-year overall survival rates
      were 54.7, 31.2 and 14.2% with MLR = 0, 0-0.2 and more than 0.2, respectively (P
      < 0.001). In patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, the 3-year overall
      survival rates were 49.0, 28.4, 12.5 and 0.0% with MLN = 0, 1-2, 3-6 and more
      than 7, respectively (P < 0.001). However, the survival curves of MLN = 3-6 and
      MLN >=7 overlapped on the Kaplan-Meier plots. In contrast, MLR demonstrated good
      ability to show the survival differences on the Kaplan-Meier plots. The 3-year
      overall survival rates were 48.9, 27.3 and 0.0% with MLR = 0, 0-0.2 and more than
      0.2, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both MLN and MLR were significant
      prognostic factors in OSCC patients regardless of neoadjuvant chemoradiation. But
      in patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, the survival rates were similar
      between ypN2 and ypN3 patients, suggesting that there was no necessity of
      separating patients into ypN2 and ypN3 stages.

PMID- 26893384
TI  - Laparoscopic surgical treatment of hepatic splenosis. A case report.
AB  - AIM: Isolated hepatic splenosis is a rare but possible condition in abdominal
      surgery. At radiological imaging liver splenosis mimics malignant or pathological
      condition of the liver; obtaining a certain diagnosis prior to surgery is
      difficult. For this reason, the patients undergo to unnecessary operation, with a
      laparotomy access. We report a case of suspicious liver mass removed
      laparoscopically and revealed as hepatic splenosis. CASE REPORT: A 31 years old
      man patient was admitted to our Institution because of upper chronic abdominal
      pain. Thirteen years before the recovery the patient was operated of splenectomy
      with laparotomic incision. Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance
      demonstrated the presence of suspicious hepatic mass in the III segment. RESULTS:
      The mass has been radically excised with laparoscopic approach. Postoperative
      stay was good and patient was discharged seven day after the operation. At
      histological examination ectopic splenic tissue on liver surface was found
      (socalled splenosis). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Hepatic splenosis is not a rare
      condition and should be considered with the differential diagnosis especially in
      patients who had previous splenectomy and absence of liver cirrhosis.
      Laparoscopic exploration should always be preferred for the diagnosis of
      uncertain liver mass. Few works report laparoscopic excision for liver splenosis.
      For experience at our Institution laparoscopic procedure has an important role to
      get the diagnosis and it is also a feasible approach for minimally invasive
      resection. KEY WORDS: Laparoscopy, Liver, Splenosis.

PMID- 26893386
TI  - Research challenges in palliative and end of life care.

PMID- 26893383
TI  - Structural Basis of the Interaction between Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 (TSC1)
      and Tre2-Bub2-Cdc16 Domain Family Member 7 (TBC1D7).
AB  - Mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an autosomal
      dominant disorder characterized by the occurrence of benign tumors in various
      vital organs and tissues. TSC1 and TSC2, the TSC1 and TSC2 gene products, form
      the TSC protein complex that senses specific cellular growth conditions to
      control mTORC1 signaling. TBC1D7 is the third subunit of the TSC complex, and
      helps to stabilize the TSC1-TSC2 complex through its direct interaction with
      TSC1. Homozygous inactivation of TBC1D7 causes intellectual disability and
      megaencephaly. Here we report the crystal structure of a TSC1-TBC1D7 complex and
      biochemical characterization of the TSC1-TBC1D7 interaction. TBC1D7 interacts
      with the C-terminal region of the predicted coiled-coil domain of TSC1. The TSC1
      TBC1D7 interface is largely hydrophobic, involving the alpha4 helix of TBC1D7.
      Each TBC1D7 molecule interacts simultaneously with two parallel TSC1 helices from
      two TSC1 molecules, suggesting that TBC1D7 may stabilize the TSC complex by
      tethering the C-terminal ends of two TSC1 coiled-coils. 

PMID- 26893388
TI  - Multilevel Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Feeling Word Checklist-24.
AB  - Emotional reactions are a vital part of the therapeutic relationship. The Feeling
      Word Checklist-24 (FWC-24) is an instrument asking the clinician (or the patient)
      to report to what degree he or she has experienced various feelings during a
      therapeutic interaction. The aim of this study was to assess the factor structure
      of the clinician-rated FWC-24 when taking dependencies in the data into account.
      The sample was deliberately heterogeneous and consisted of 4,443 ratings made by
      101 psychotherapists working with different psychotherapy methods in relation to
      191 patients of different ages, genders, and with different primary diagnoses. A
      random intercept-only model revealed large intraclass correlation coefficients at
      the therapist level, indicating that a multilevel analysis was warranted. A two
      level exploratory factor analysis with therapists as the between level and
      patients plus sessions as the within level was conducted. The items from FWC-24
      were found to be best represented by four factors on the between level and four
      factors on the within level. The factor structures were largely similar on the
      two levels and were labeled Engaged, Inadequate, Relaxed, and Moved. The
      different factors explained different amounts of variance on different levels,
      indicating that some factors are more therapist dependent and some more patient
      dependent.

PMID- 26893389
TI  - The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory: A Bifactor Model, Dimensionality, and
      Measurement Invariance.
AB  - The current study examines a bifactor model for the Youth Psychopathic Traits
      Inventory (YPI) in a Dutch community sample of adolescents ( N = 2,874). The
      primary goal was to examine the latent structure of the YPI with a bifactor
      modeling approach. Furthermore, the study examines the dimensionality and
      measurement invariance of the YPI. Results show that a bifactor model at subscale
      level fits the YPI best. The general psychopathy factor influences the 10
      subscales of the YPI strongly, indicating that the YPI seems to be rather
      unidimensional than multidimensional. Nevertheless, the dimensions still explain
      nearly one third of the variance found. Findings imply that the bifactor model of
      the YPI should be used when examining relations with outcome variables, with a
      focus on the total score of the YPI, while factor scores should be reported with
      caution. Furthermore, the bifactor model appears invariant for gender, age, and
      ethnic background.

PMID- 26893390
TI  - The cis-regulatory switchboard of pancreatic ductal cancer.

PMID- 26893391
TI  - Emancipation from transcriptional latency: unphosphorylated STAT5 as guardian of
      hematopoietic differentiation.

PMID- 26893392
TI  - Singer K, Fisher B. Studies on abnormal hemoglobins, VI: electrophoretic
      demonstration of type S (sickle cell) hemoglobin in erythrocytes incapable of
      showing the sickle cell phenomenon. Blood. 1953;8(3):270-275.

PMID- 26893393
TI  - Breast cancer and thrombosis: timing matters.

PMID- 26893394
TI  - Shooting the messenger (RNA) in B-cell lymphoma.

PMID- 26893395
TI  - Not only TKI! Targeting FLT3-ITD by autophagy.

PMID- 26893396
TI  - Platelet production: new players in the field.

PMID- 26893397
TI  - Might haplo "be the (better) match"?

PMID- 26893399
TI  - Flipping the Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classroom with Team-based Learning:
      Comparison of Cognitive Testing Performance for Medical Students at the
      University of California, Irvine, United States.
AB  - PURPOSE: It aimed to find if written test results improved for advanced cardiac
      life support (ACLS) taught in flipped classroom/team-based Learning (FC/TBL) vs.
      lecture-based (LB) control in University of California-Irvine School of Medicine,
      USA. METHODS: Medical students took 2010 ACLS with FC/TBL (2015), compared to 3
      classes in LB (2012-14) format. There were 27.5 hours of instruction for FC/TBL
      model (TBL 10.5, podcasts 9, small-group simulation 8 hours), and 20 (12 lecture,
      simulation 8 hours) in LB. TBL covered 13 cardiac cases; LB had none. Seven
      simulation cases and didactic content were the same by lecture (2012-14) or
      podcast (2015) as was testing: 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQ), 20 rhythm
      matchings, and 7 fill-in clinical cases. RESULTS: 354 students took the course
      (259 [73.1%] in LB in 2012-14, and 95 [26.9%] in FC/TBL in 2015). Two of 3 tests
      (MCQ and fill-in) improved for FC/TBL. Overall, median scores increased from
      93.5% (IQR 90.6, 95.4) to 95.1% (92.8, 96.7, P=0.0001). For the fill-in test:
      94.1% for LB (89.6, 97.2) to 96.6% for FC/TBL (92.4, 99.20 P=0.0001). For MC: 88%
      for LB (84, 92) to 90% for FC/TBL (86, 94, P=0.0002). For the rhythm test: median
      100% for both formats. More students failed 1 of 3 tests with LB vs. FC/TBL
      (24.7% vs. 14.7%), and 2 or 3 components (8.1% vs. 3.2%, P=0.006). Conversely,
      82.1% passed all 3 with FC/TBL vs. 67.2% with LB (difference 14.9%, 95% CI 4.8
      24.0%). CONCLUSION: A FC/TBL format for ACLS marginally improved written test
      results.

PMID- 26893400
TI  - Obesity and associated factors in youth with an autism spectrum disorder.
AB  - Weight status on children and youth with autism spectrum disorder is limited. We
      examined the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children and youth with autism
      spectrum disorder, and associations between weight status and range of factors.
      Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder aged 2-16 years (n = 208) and
      their parents participated in this study. Body mass index was calculated using
      the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts and the
      International Obesity Task Force body mass index cut-offs. The Autism Diagnostic
      Observation Schedule was administered. Parents completed questionnaires about
      socio-demographics, diagnosed comorbidities, sleep disturbances, social
      functioning and medication of youth with autism spectrum disorder. The prevalence
      of overweight/obesity in participants with autism spectrum disorder was 35%. One
      quarter of obese children and youth (25.6%) had obese parents. There was a
      significant association between children and youth's body mass index and maternal
      body mass index (r = 0.25, n = 199, p < 0.001). The gender and age, parental
      education, family income, ethnicity, autism spectrum disorder severity, social
      functioning, psychotropic and complementary medication use of children and youth
      with autism spectrum disorder were not statistically associated with their weight
      status. Findings suggest the need for clinical settings to monitor weight status
      of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in a bid to manage or prevent
      overweight/obesity in this population. Incorporating a family system approach to
      influence health behaviours among children and youth with autism spectrum
      disorder especially for specific weight interventions is warranted and should be
      further explored.

PMID- 26893401
TI  - Strategies for implementing implementation science: a methodological overview.
AB  - A key reason for the consistent gaps between evidence and practice across all
      areas of medicine is that there has been little attempt to identify or target
      factors critical for successful implementation of an evidence-based intervention.
      There is either no explicit implementation strategy or the strategy is based on a
      best guess rather than on a systematic assessment of crucial barriers and
      enablers. A different approach is needed to close the evidence-practice gap and
      thereby achieve the triple aim of improved health, improved patient experience
      and reduced healthcare costs. We present three fundamental principles of
      implementation science, which is a methodology that offers a systematic and
      comprehensive approach to improving healthcare practice and a series of 'how to'
      steps to conduct implementation science research. In an accompanying article, a
      scoping review of the types of implementation science research conducted in
      emergency medicine is reviewed, and several of the principles related to this
      review are discussed. 

PMID- 26893402
TI  - EGFR mutation detection on routine cytological smears of non-small cell lung
      cancer by digital PCR: a validation study.
AB  - Highly sensitive genotyping techniques are useful to detect epidermal growth
      factor receptor (EGFR) mutations on lung cancer cytological samples, when these
      specimens feature only few neoplastic cells. This study aimed to validate digital
      PCR (dPCR) methodology on cytological material. In plasmid model system, dPCR
      allowed for the detection of a minimal percentage (1%) of EGFR mutant alleles.
      Cytological samples (n = 30), with neoplastic cell percentage ranging from 10% to
      80% and yielding a quantity of extracted DNA ranging from 1.75 to 60 ng/uL were
      selected. Results previously generated by fragment length and TaqMan assays (n =
      8 exon 19 deletions, n = 2 L858R mutations and n = 20 wild-type DNA) were
      compared with those obtained by dPCR. Data were highly concordant (96.6%).
      However, dPCR detected an additional L858R mutation that had been missed by
      TaqMan assay on a paucicellular smear. This mutation was confirmed by cloning PCR
      products and sequencing. Thus, dPCR can reliably be used to increase EGFR
      mutation detection rate on scarcely cellular lung cancer smears.

PMID- 26893403
TI  - Illustrations reduce contamination of midstream urine samples in the emergency
      department.
AB  - AIMS: Urinalysis provides direction in diagnosis and treatment of patients in the
      emergency department (ED). Midstream urine (MSU) collection from female patients
      has a high contamination rate. Verbal instruction by nurses to patients reduces
      contamination but is inconsistent owing to lack of time and professional
      knowledge. This study aimed to determine if an alternative mode of instruction
      requiring minimal staff input may be effective. METHODS: A pseudorandomised
      controlled trial was undertaken with 240 female patients for whom urinalysis was
      clinically required. No change was made to normal practice with regards to verbal
      instruction. Prior to collecting their sample the intervention cohort received
      illustrated instruction on how to collect a clean uncontaminated MSU sample. The
      control cohort received no illustrated instruction. Compared outcomes were rate
      of contamination on urinalysis, defined as 10 or more epithelial cells per high
      power field, and answers to a structured patient questionnaire. RESULTS:
      Contamination rate was reduced from 40% to 25% by the intervention. According to
      patient survey responses, verbal collection instructions were seldom given and
      the actions of hand washing, cleaning with a towelette, and voiding then stopping
      were significantly higher in the intervention group. The illustrations were well
      received by over 95% of patients and were considered to be clear and effective
      especially for patients with reading difficulties and/or from a non-English
      speaking background. CONCLUSIONS: Illustrated urine collection instructions were
      well accepted by female ED patients, improved the rate of proper MSU collection
      and reduced the rate of urinalysis contamination in the ED.

PMID- 26893404
TI  - Primary Breast Lymphoma in a Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is an unusual clinical entity
      accounting for 0.4-0.5% of all breast neoplasms. The usual presentation includes
      a painless palpable mass similar to that of breast carcinoma. Diffuse large B
      cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common identifiable type of PBL based on the
      histopathological examination. CASE REPORT: We report an unusual case of a 43
      year-old Indonesian woman who presented with a 7-month history of a painless mass
      in the left breast. A core needle biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration of large
      atypical lymphoid cells. The immuno-histochemical biomarkers confirmed the
      diagnosis of a DLBCL. A bone scan showed no evidence of bone metastasis. It was
      treated non-surgically, based on the decision of the breast multidisciplinary
      team (MDT). The patient was treated with 4 cycles of combination chemotherapy
      with R-CODOX/IVAC. A follow-up PET scan revealed non-significant mild F-18
      fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake at the periphery of the residual left breast
      mass, indicating a radiologically favorable response. CONCLUSIONS: Early and
      accurate diagnosis of PBL is crucial for selecting the appropriate MDT treatment
      strategies to avert potentially harmful surgical interventions.

PMID- 26893405
TI  - Fibrinogen supplementation after cardiac surgery: insights from the Zero-Plasma
      trial (ZEPLAST).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen supplementation has been proposed both to prevent and
      treat postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery. The optimal fibrinogen
      concentration trigger and target values and the fibrinogen concentrate dose
      required remain uncertain. This subanalysis of data from the Zero-Plasma Trial
      (ZEPLAST) assessed target fibrinogen values and the corresponding fibrinogen
      concentrate dose for supplementation. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis
      of 116 subjects included in the randomized, placebo-controlled ZEPLAST trail.
      Data considered were fibrin-based thromboelastometry (FIBTEM) maximum clot
      firmness (MCF) determined by whole-blood thromboelastometry (ROTEM) before and
      after placebo or fibrinogen concentrate, Clauss fibrinogen concentration after
      placebo or fibrinogen concentrate, postoperative bleeding and severe bleeding
      (SB). The association between FIBTEM MCF and Clauss fibrinogen concentration was
      tested with linear regression analyses. The predictive value for SB of FIBTEM MCF
      and Clauss fibrinogen concentration was tested with receiver operating
      characteristic analyses. RESULTS: There was a good association between FIBTEM MCF
      and Clauss fibrinogen concentration in the baseline study population (r(2) =
      0.66), which worsened in fibrinogen-supplemented subjects. Both FIBTEM MCF and
      Clauss fibrinogen concentration yielded a good discriminative power for SB (area
      under the curve 0.721 and 0.767, respectively). The negative predictive value for
      SB was 100% for a Clauss fibrinogen concentration of 287 mg dl(-1) and 98% for an
      FIBTEM MCF of 14 mm. Based on these newly defined target values, the dose of
      fibrinogen concentrate needed would be 3 g lower than the dose used in ZEPLAST.
      CONCLUSIONS: A dose of fibrinogen concentrate rarely exceeding 2 g might be
      sufficient to prevent bleeding in cardiac surgery.

PMID- 26893406
TI  - Paediatric procedural sedation using ketamine in a UK emergency department: a 7
      year review of practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ketamine is growing in popularity for procedural sedation in the
      paediatric population, yet safety concerns remain. We performed a retrospective
      review of practice and outcomes of paediatric ketamine sedation using the World
      SIVA International Sedation Task Force reporting tool. METHODS: A retrospective
      inspection of the dedicated emergency department electronic sedation database and
      subsequent note and sedation chart review was performed for all paediatric
      sedations throughout a 7 yr period from September 2006. All adverse events were
      stratified. RESULTS: During the study period, procedural sedation was provided
      for a total of 243 children, of whom 215 were sedated with ketamine, most
      commonly for wound management (n=131). The median patient age was 4 yr (14 months
      to 15 yr), and 63.7% were male. Of the total, 76.7% were discharged home either
      directly (n=101) or after brief observation (n=64). One patient required
      subsequent general anaesthesia after a failed sedation with paradoxical
      agitation. Of the total, 9.8% of patients had an adverse event, the most severe
      risk stratification being 'minor risk'. All interventions were 'minimal risk'.
      There were no 'sentinel risk' outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the
      ongoing use of ketamine for paediatric procedural sedation in the emergency
      department by emergency physicians. Relatively high resource requirements mean
      that ensuring adequate numbers of procedures may prove challenging.

PMID- 26893407
TI  - Contemporary management of acute and chronic deep venous thrombosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This review aims to provide an update on the management of deep
      vein thrombosis (DVT). SOURCES OF DATA: A systematic search of PubMed, Google
      Scholar and Cochrane databases was carried out. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Direct oral
      anticoagulants (DOACs) are as effective and easier to use than vitamin K
      antagonists for the treatment of DVT. Catheter-directed thrombolysis can reduce
      post thrombotic syndrome in patients with iliofemoral DVT. Compression bandaging
      can help heal a venous ulcer. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: Compression hosiery to
      prevent post thrombotic syndrome. Long-term evidence to show clinical benefit of
      using endovenous therapies to restore deep vein patency. GROWING POINTS:
      Developing imaging methods to identify patients who would benefit from venous
      thrombolysis. The evolution of dedicated venous stents. AREAS TIMELY FOR
      DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Understanding the mechanisms that lead to stent occlusion
      and investigation into the appropriate treatments that could prevent in-stent
      thrombosis is required.

PMID- 26893408
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Streptomyces silvensis ATCC 53525, a Producer of Novel
      Hormone Antagonists.
AB  - Streptomyces silvensis produces nonribosomal peptides that act as antagonists of
      the human oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. Here, we present the genome
      sequence of S. silvensis ATCC 53525 and demonstrate that this organism possesses
      a number of additional biosynthetic gene clusters and might be a promising source
      for genome-guided drug discovery efforts. 

PMID- 26893409
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Strain from
      Vietnam, HUA-14PED96, with a Large Genomic Deletion.
AB  - A highly virulent strain of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causing severe
      diarrhea has recently emerged in Vietnam. Genomic sequences from a novel strain,
      HUA-14PED96, isolated from a Vietnamese piglet with serious diarrhea show
      relatively high identity with U.S.-like PEDV strains, and have a 72-nt deletion
      in the open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) gene. 

PMID- 26893410
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Shewanella sp. Strain P1-14-1, a Bacterial Inducer of
      Settlement and Morphogenesis in Larvae of the Marine Hydroid Hydractinia
      echinata.
AB  - The assembly and annotation of the draft genome sequence of Shewanella sp. strain
      P1-14-1 are reported here to investigate the genes responsible for interkingdom
      interactions, secondary metabolite production, and microbial electrogenesis. 

PMID- 26893411
TI  - Genome Sequence of a Gram-Positive Diazotroph, Paenibacillus durus Type Strain
      ATCC 35681.
AB  - Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Paenibacillus durus type strain
      ATCC 35681, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen even in the presence of nitrate. 

PMID- 26893413
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of the Type Strain of Aeromonas schubertii, ATCC 43700.
AB  - We sequenced the complete genome of the type strain of Aeromonas schubertii, ATCC
      43700. The full genome sequence of A. schubertii ATCC 43700 is 4,356,858 bp,
      which encodes 3,842 proteins and contains 110 predicted RNA genes. 

PMID- 26893412
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Two Pseudoalteromonas Strains Isolated from Roots and
      Leaf Blades of the Seagrass Zostera marina.
AB  - Here, we present the draft genome sequences for Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain UCD
      33C and Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica UCD-48B. Pseudoalteromonas sp. UCD-33C was
      isolated from Zostera marina roots and P. lipolytica UCD-48B from Z. marina leaf
      blades, both collected in Woods Hole, MA. These assemblies contain 4,479,285 bp
      and 4,592,435 bp, respectively. 

PMID- 26893414
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of the Photoheterotrophic Chloracidobacterium thermophilum
      Strain OC1 Found in a Mat at Ojo Caliente.
AB  - Metagenomics of an enrichment culture from a New Mexico hot spring allowed the
      description of a draft genome of a Chloracidobacterium thermophilum strain for
      the first time outside Yellowstone National Park with a surprisingly high degree
      of identity with the type strain. 

PMID- 26893415
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of a Thermophilic Cyanobacterium from the Family
      Oscillatoriales (Strain MTP1) from the Chalk River, Colorado.
AB  - The draft genome (57.7% GC, 7,647,882 bp) of the novel thermophilic
      cyanobacterium MTP1 was determined by metagenomics of an enrichment culture. The
      genome shows that it is in the family Oscillatoriales and encodes multiple heavy
      metal resistances as well as the capacity to make exopolysaccharides. 

PMID- 26893416
TI  - Genome Sequences of Streptomyces Phages Amela and Verse.
AB  - Amela and Verse are two Streptomyces phages isolated by enrichment on
      Streptomyces venezuelae (ATCC 10712) from two different soil samples. Amela has a
      genome length of 49,452, with 75 genes. Verse has a genome length of 49,483, with
      75 genes. Both belong to the BD3 subcluster of Actinobacteriophage. 

PMID- 26893417
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Subclinical
      Bovine Mastitis in Brazil.
AB  - Here, we present the draft genome sequences of four Staphylococcus aureus strains
      isolated from mastitic milk collected from animals with subclinical
      manifestations. Three of them were typed as sequence type 126 (ST126), a genotype
      with no genome sequence available. ST126 is found in several herds of southern
      Brazil and is described as a bovine pathogen strongly associated with milk around
      the world. 

PMID- 26893418
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Pantoea ananatis Strain AMG521, a Rice Plant Growth
      Promoting Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from the Guadalquivir Marshes in Southern
      Spain.
AB  - The rice endophyte Pantoea ananatis AMG521 shows several plant growth-promoting
      properties and promotes rice yield increases. Its draft genome was estimated at
      4,891,568 bp with 4,704 coding sequences (CDS). The genome encodes genes for N
      acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) synthases, AHL hydrolases, hyperadherence (yidQ,
      yidP, and yidR), fusaric acid resistance, and oxidation of lignin, highlighting
      its biotechnological potential. 

PMID- 26893419
TI  - High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Low-pH-Active Veillonella parvula Strain
      SHI-1, Isolated from Human Saliva within an In Vitro Oral Biofilm Model.
AB  - We announce here a draft genome sequence of Veillonella parvula strain SHI-1,
      obtained from healthy human saliva, discovered to be active at low pH using
      metatranscriptomics within an in vitro oral biofilm model. The genome is composed
      of 7 contigs, for a total of 2,200,064 bp. 

PMID- 26893420
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Paenibacillus etheri sp. nov. SH7T, a Methyl Tert-Butyl
      Ether Degrader.
AB  - We report here the draft genome sequence of Paenibacillus etheri sp. nov. SH7(T)
      (= CECT 8558(T) = DSM 29760(T)), isolated from a hydrocarbon-contaminated soil
      pilot plant in Granada, Spain. The bacterium was isolated and sequenced due to
      its methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-degrading properties. 

PMID- 26893421
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Aspergillus niger Strain An76.
AB  - The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger has become one of the most important
      fungi in industrial biotechnology, and it can efficiently secrete both
      polysaccharide-degrading enzymes and organic acids. We report here the
      6,074,961,332-bp draft sequence of A. niger strain An76, and the findings provide
      important information related to its lignocellulose-degrading ability. 

PMID- 26893422
TI  - Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence and Annotation of the Tropical japonica
      Group of Asian Cultivated Rice (Oryza sativa L.).
AB  - We announce here the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of the tropical
      japonica rice, along with its genome structure and functional annotation. The
      plant was collected from Indonesia and deposited as a germplasm accession of the
      International Rice GenBank Collection (IRGC 66630) at the International Rice
      Research Institute (IRRI). This genome provides valuable data for the future
      utilization of the germplasm of rice. 

PMID- 26893423
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Tepidimonas taiwanensis Strain MB2, a Chemolithotrophic
      Thermophile Isolated from a Hot Spring in Central India.
AB  - Tepidimonas taiwanensis strain MB2 is a thermophile isolated from a hot spring
      located in central India. Here, we report a 28,49,160 bp draft genome sequence of
      Tepidimonas taiwanensis MB2. The genome shows properties of sulfur metabolism,
      nitrogen fixation, ammonia metabolism, assimilation of organic acids, and a wide
      variety of proteases. 

PMID- 26893424
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Two Novel Amoeba-Resistant Intranuclear Bacteria,
      "Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis" and "Candidatus Berkiella aquae".
AB  - "Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis" and "Candidatus Berkiella aquae" are
      obligate intranuclear endosymbionts of freshwater amoebae. Here, we present the
      draft genome sequences of these two bacteria, with total sizes of 2,990,361 bp
      and 3,626,027 bp, respectively. 

PMID- 26893425
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of "Candidatus Methanomethylophilus" sp. 1R26, Enriched
      from Bovine Rumen, a Methanogenic Archaeon Belonging to the
      Methanomassiliicoccales Order.
AB  - Here, we present the draft genome of "Candidatus Methanomethylophilus" sp. 1R26,
      a member of the newly described Methanomassiliicoccales order of Euryarcheaota.
      The enrichment culture was established from bovine rumen contents and produced
      methane from trimethylamine and methanol. The draft genome contains genes for
      methanogenesis from methylated compounds. 

PMID- 26893426
TI  - Complete Genome Sequencing of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus 1, Subgenotypes 1n and
      1o.
AB  - To gain further insight into the genomic features of bovine viral diarrhea virus
      1 (BVDV-1) subgenotypes, we sequenced the complete genome of BVDV-1n
      Shitara/02/06 and BVDV-1o IS26NCP/01. The complete genome of Shitara/02/06 and
      IS26NCP/01 shared 77.7 to 79.3% and 78.0 to 85.7% sequence identities with other
      BVDV-1 subgenotype strains, respectively. 

PMID- 26893427
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Type Strain Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 10558.
AB  - Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 10558(T) was isolated from a patient with infective
      endocarditis in 1946 and announced as a type strain in 1989. Here, we report the
      2,154,510-bp draft genome sequence of S. gordonii ATCC 10558(T). This sequence
      will contribute to knowledge about the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. 

PMID- 26893428
TI  - Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of Trichoderma gamsii T6085, a Promising Biocontrol
      Agent of Fusarium Head Blight on Wheat.
AB  - Trichoderma gamsii T6085 is a promising beneficial isolate whose effects consist
      of growth inhibition of the main agents causing Fusarium head blight, reduction
      of mycotoxin accumulation, competition for wheat debris, and reduction of the
      disease in both the lab and the field. Here, we present the first genome assembly
      of a T. gamsii isolate, providing a useful platform for the scientific community.

PMID- 26893429
TI  - Characterization of a Salivirus (Picornaviridae) from a Diarrheal Child in
      Guatemala.
AB  - The complete genome sequence of a salivirus was identified in a stool sample from
      a Guatemalan child with acute gastroenteritis during a 2009 norovirus outbreak.
      This genome (genotype A1 strain GUT/2009/A-1746) shares 82% to 94% genome-wide
      nucleotide identity with saliviruses from the United States, China, Germany, and
      Nigeria, representing the first salivirus sequence from Central America. 

PMID- 26893431
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KT-0184, Isolated in South
      Korea.
AB  - Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KT
      0184, from the Beijing family. This genome will provide insight into the
      evolution and adaptation of M. tuberculosis KT-0184 in human hosts. 

PMID- 26893432
TI  - First Complete Genome Sequence of Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi, an Emerging
      Bacterial Pathogen of Salmonids.
AB  - Tenacibaculum-like bacilli have recently been isolated from diseased sea-reared
      Atlantic salmon in outbreaks that took place in the XI region (Region de Aysen)
      of Chile. Molecular typing identified the bacterium as Tenacibaculum
      dicentrarchi. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the AY7486TD
      isolate recovered during those outbreaks. 

PMID- 26893430
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Citrobacter freundii Strain
      P10159, Isolated from Urine Samples from a Patient with Esophageal Carcinoma.
AB  - Citrobacter freundii is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause diarrhea,
      septicemia, meningitis, and urinary tract infections. We report here the complete
      genome sequence of C. freundii strain P10159, isolated from urine samples from a
      patient in China with esophageal carcinoma. The genome has 5,080,321 bp and 4,768
      coding sequences, with a G+C content of 51.7%. 

PMID- 26893433
TI  - High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Leucobacter sp. Strain G161, a Distinct and
      Effective Chromium Reducer.
AB  - Here, we report the genome sequence for Leucobacter sp. strain G161 due to its
      distinct and effective hexavalent chromium reduction under aerobic growth
      conditions, followed by facultative anaerobic incubation. The draft genome
      sequence of Leucobacter sp. G161 comprises 3,554,188 bp, with an average G+C
      content of 65.3%, exhibiting 3,341 protein-coding genes and 55 predicted RNA
      genes. 

PMID- 26893434
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phage-Resistant Variant PA1RG.
AB  - Bacteria have evolved several defense systems against phage predation. Here, we
      report the 6,500,439-bp complete genome sequence of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      phage-resistant variant PA1RG. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and de
      novo assembly revealed a single contig with 320-fold sequence coverage. 

PMID- 26893435
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum Strain KTEN-1510 with
      Genotype A/G-C, Isolated from an Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) in the
      Kagami River, Kochi, Japan.
AB  - In this paper, we describe the draft genome sequence of Flavobacterium
      psychrophilum strain KTEN-1510, with genotype A/G-C. This strain was isolated in
      October 2015 from the gills of an ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) in the
      upper Kagami River in central Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island, Japan. 

PMID- 26893436
TI  - Draft Genome Sequences of Two Vibrio splendidus Strains, Isolated from Seagrass
      Sediment.
AB  - Here, we present the draft genome sequences of Vibrio splendidus UCD-SED7 and UCD
      SED10 (phylum Proteobacteria). These strains were isolated from sediment
      surrounding Zostera marina roots near the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory
      (Bodega, Bay, California). These assemblies contain 5,334,236 bp and 5,904,824
      bp, respectively. 

PMID- 26893437
TI  - Complete Genome Sequence of a Chinese Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and
      Respiratory Syndrome Virus That Has a Further Deletion in the Nsp2 Gene.
AB  - Here, we report the complete genome of a Chinese highly pathogenic porcine
      reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) characterized by a further
      29-amino acid (87 nucleotides) deletion in its Nsp2-coding region compared to the
      prototype of the HP-PRRSV JXA1 strain. 

PMID- 26893438
TI  - Draft Genome Sequence of Acinetobacter johnsonii MB44, Exhibiting Nematicidal
      Activity against Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Acinetobacter johnsonii MB44 was isolated from a frost-plant-tissue sample, which
      showed noteworthy nematicidal activity against the model organism Caenorhabditis
      elegans. Here, we report the 3.4 Mb draft genome of A. johnsonii MB44, which will
      help in understanding the molecular mechanism of its ability to infect nematodes.

PMID- 26893440
TI  - Testosterone may improve sexual function and mood in older men with low levels.

PMID- 26893439
TI  - Interaction Between Polymorphisms of IFN-gamma and MICA Correlated with
      Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND We explored the relationship of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and MHC
      class-I chain related gene A (MICA) genes polymorphisms with hepatocellular
      carcinoma (HCC) risk, and tried to determine whether the interaction existed
      between these two genes polymorphisms on the basis of HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS
      Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)
      method was used to detect the genotypes of the 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms
      (SNPs) and to analyze the correlation of each SNP with HCC susceptibility in 120
      HCC patients and 124 healthy people. The association strength between the 3 SNPs
      and HCC is represented with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
      Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested by chi2 test in the control group.
      RESULTS GG genotype of IFN-gamma rs2069727 polymorphism had apparently different
      distributions in case and control groups (P<0.05), and might confer increased
      risk of HCC (OR=3.40, 95%CI=1.23-9.38). Analysis of MICA rs2596542 polymorphism
      also yielded the same result (OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.10-7.67), as did their risk
      alleles. Specifically, the interaction between rs2596542 and rs2069705
      polymorphisms increased the HCC risk by 1.41 times and between rs2596542 and
      rs2069727 polymorphisms the increased risk of HCC by 5.56 times. CONCLUSIONS IFN
      gamma rs2069727 and MICA rs2596542 polymorphisms may be related to the incidence
      of HCC. Interaction exists between the polymorphisms of IFN-gamma and MICA, which
      may increase risk of HCC. 

PMID- 26893441
TI  - Subtle presentation of active primary biliary cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B: a
      case report.
AB  - We are describing an interesting case of two chronic liver diseases in a 48-year
      old Chinese woman. While chronic hepatitis B is a common entity in Asia, the
      patient was later found to have active, asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis
      due to a persistently elevated alkaline phosphatase level after optimal hepatitis
      B virus DNA suppression on antiviral therapy. This report emphasizes the
      importance of keeping a high index of suspicion for another potential liver
      disease process even after a patient has been successfully treated for a primary
      liver condition. Clinical vigilance, especially in atypical clinical
      presentations, can result in early accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.

PMID- 26893442
TI  - The effect of disc-shaped gastric resection of anastomosis site on reducing
      postoperative dysphagia and stricture after esophagogastric anastomosis in
      patients with esophageal cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Esophagectomy remains the most reliable technique for managing
      esophageal cancer, but anastomotic complications including postoperative leak,
      ischemia and stricture negatively affect outcomes of this specific surgery. The
      aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel method of
      esophagogastric anastomosis for reducing postoperative dysphagia and stricture
      formation. METHODS: Eighty patients who were scheduled for esophagectomy due to
      esophageal cancer were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention and
      control (40 each). In the control group, the esophagogastric anastomosis was
      performed with a linear gastric incision, whilst in the intervention group a new
      method of disc-shaped gastric resection for anastomosis was applied.
      Postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The
      incidence of postoperative dysphagia and anastomotic stricture was significantly
      lower in the disc-shaped resection group (dysphagia 45% vs 75%, P = 0.02;
      stricture 12.5% vs 32.5%, P = 0.03), whilst the length of stay in an intensive
      care unit (ICU), anastomotic leakage and other complications were not
      significantly different between the two groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION:
      Anastomotic complications can be reduced by improving surgical techniques. The
      decreased incidence of postoperative dysphagia and anastomotic stricture in our
      study may be partly due to providing the proper diameter for the site of
      anastomosis when using the disc-shaped gastric resection method. Hence, this new
      method can improve the clinical outcomes of patients who undergo esophagectomy
      with esophagogastric anastomosis.

PMID- 26893443
TI  - Intraoperative Hydroxyethyl Starch and its Effects on Different Fibrinogen
      Measurements.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intravenous fluids with synthetic colloids such as hydroxyethyl
      starch (HES) are known to interfere with plasma fibrinogen concentration
      measurements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an HES
      solution on fibrinogen measurements in a clinical setting. METHODS: The study was
      performed in patients who received at least 1 L of HES during intracranial tumor
      resection surgery. Blood samples were drawn before the start of surgery
      (baseline), after infusion of 1 L of HES, and at later time points. The
      fibrinogen concentration was measured using 3 different methods: (a) enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), (b) Clauss method with a photometric readout,
      and (c) Clauss method with an electromechanical readout. In addition, the fibrin
      based clot quality was evaluated with the thromboelastometric FIBTEM test.
      RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled, and 25 patients were included in the
      analysis. The fibrinogen concentrations at baseline were 2.2, 2.3, and 2.6 g/L
      and after 1 L of HES 1.6, 1.7, and 1.9 g/L as measured by ELISA, the photometric
      test, and the electromechanical test, respectively. The electromechanical Clauss
      test measured significantly higher concentrations at these time points. The
      relative decrease, however, was comparable between methods (31%, 29%, and 25%,
      respectively) but significantly lower than the 44% relative decrease with FIBTEM
      maximum clot firmness. CONCLUSION: Despite providing different fibrinogen
      concentration values at baseline, the relative decrease in fibrinogen
      concentration after HES infusion was comparable among the 3 tests. In contrast,
      fibrin-based clot quality was more affected than fibrinogen concentration tests
      by HES infusion.

PMID- 26893444
TI  - Etiopathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Thromboembolism in Inflammatory
      Bowel Disease.
AB  - The close relationship between inflammation and thrombosis affects the
      progression and severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The prevalence of
      venous thromboembolism (VTE) varies between 1% and 7% among patients with IBD.
      The VTE risk in patients with IBD is at least 3 times higher than that in the
      normal general population. The absolute risk is very high during hospitalization,
      active disease, and surgery. The IBD-related VTE occurs at younger ages and
      recurs more frequently. The development of thrombosis in IBD is due to the
      interaction of many hereditary and acquired risk factors. Each patient diagnosed
      with IBD should be evaluated for a personal and family history of thrombosis and
      for prothrombotic drug use. Although procoagulant factors are increased during
      the natural course of inflammation, natural anticoagulants and fibrinolytic
      activity are decreased. Although IBD is accepted as a prothrombotic condition,
      there is no treatment that can remove this risk from daily practice. Patient
      training is required to control important factors, such as long-term
      immobilization and smoking. Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
      should be avoided. Inducing permanent disease remission must be the key approach
      for the prevention of thrombosis. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the
      basis of prophylactic treatment, which reduces the thrombosis risk by 50%.
      Prophylaxis with LMWH should be administered to all patients with IBD
      hospitalized due to disease attack or surgery. Long-term or even life-long
      anticoagulation therapy should be planned if there is insufficient disease
      control, recurrent VTE attacks, positive thrombophilia tests, or thrombosis in
      vital veins.

PMID- 26893446
TI  - Five minutes with . . . John Appleby.

PMID- 26893445
TI  - Evidence-Based Development and Rationale for Once-Daily Rivaroxaban Dosing
      Regimens Across Multiple Indications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, has been developed to meet
      clinical needs in a broad range of indications in adults: prevention of venous
      thromboembolism after elective hip or knee replacement surgery, treatment and
      secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism, prevention of stroke and systemic
      embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation having one or more risk
      factors, and in Europe, prevention of atherothrombotic events after an acute
      coronary syndrome in patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers. However, the
      precise dose and regimen vary with the indication, leading to this effort to
      provide clarity concerning the appropriate use of rivaroxaban. This article
      reviews the clinical development program for rivaroxaban and summarizes the
      evidence for each approved, indication-specific dose regimen. RESULTS: Although
      initially investigated for twice-daily dosing, early observations, including the
      finding that the pharmacodynamic effects of rivaroxaban last longer than the
      elimination half-life, suggested that once-daily dosing might be attainable and
      effective. These observations were evaluated within the extensive phase II
      program, which, together with pharmacology studies, provides the evidence
      underpinning the selection of once-daily regimens for most, but not all, of the
      approved clinical indications for rivaroxaban. CONCLUSION: The evidence for each
      dosing regimen demonstrates that although pharmacology studies are of paramount
      importance, dose regimens must be subjected to careful empirical validation. Once
      daily dosing was shown to be clinically appropriate for most rivaroxaban
      indications. Furthermore, a "one size fits all" approach to dosing frequency is
      unlikely to result in a regimen that yields optimal patient outcomes across
      different indications.

PMID- 26893447
TI  - Intensive Care Nurses' Views and Practices for Eye Care: An International
      Comparison.
AB  - Eye care is an important area of critical care. However, lack of eye care studies
      is a common issue across the globe. The aim of this study is to determine the
      views and practices of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses on eye care in Turkey and
      Palestine. This descriptive study was conducted using a self-administrated
      questionnaire. The data were collected from 111 nurses in nine kinds of ICUs in
      two education hospital. Normal saline (75.9%) was the most commonly reported
      solution for eye hygiene among the Palestinian nurses, and gauze soaked in normal
      saline or sterile water (64.3%) were the most frequently used supplies by the
      Turkish nurses. Although both Palestinian and Turkish ICU nurses took some
      precautions to prevent eye complications in critical patients, there were some
      gaps and insufficiencies in the eye care of ICU patients. There is a need for
      continuing training in this area.

PMID- 26893448
TI  - Complete Atrioventricular Block as a Complication of Varicella Infection in a
      Child: Recovery With a Single Dose of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy.

PMID- 26893454
TI  - Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis Sheds Light on the Diversity and Origin of
      the MLO Family of Integral Membrane Proteins.
AB  - Mildew resistanceLocusO(MLO) proteins are polytopic integral membrane proteins
      that have long been considered as plant-specific and being primarily involved in
      plant-powdery mildew interactions. However, research in the past decade has
      revealed that MLO proteins diverged into a family with several clades whose
      members are associated with different physiological processes. We provide a
      largely increased dataset of MLO amino acid sequences, comprising nearly all
      major land plant lineages. Based on this comprehensive dataset, we defined seven
      phylogenetic clades and reconstructed the likely evolution of the MLO family in
      embryophytes. We further identified several MLO peptide motifs that are either
      conserved in all MLO proteins or confined to one or several clades, supporting
      the notion that clade-specific diversification of MLO functions is associated
      with particular sequence motifs. In baker's yeast, some of these motifs are
      functionally linked to transmembrane (TM) transport of organic molecules and
      ions. In addition, we attempted to define the evolutionary origin of the MLO
      family and found that MLO-like proteins with highly diverse membrane topologies
      are present in green algae, but also in the distinctly related red algae
      (Rhodophyta), Amoebozoa, and Chromalveolata. Finally, we discovered several
      instances of putative fusion events between MLO proteins and different kinds of
      proteins. Such Rosetta stone-type hybrid proteins might be instructive for future
      analysis of potential MLO functions. Our findings suggest that MLO is an ancient
      protein that possibly evolved in unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes, and
      consolidated in land plants with a conserved topology, comprising seven TM
      domains and an intrinsically unstructured C-terminus. 

PMID- 26893455
TI  - Evolution of a Heavy Metal Homeostasis/Resistance Island Reflects Increasing
      Copper Stress in Enterobacteria.
AB  - Copper homeostasis in bacteria is challenged by periodic elevation of copper
      levels in the environment, arising from both natural sources and human inputs.
      Several mechanisms have evolved to efflux copper from bacterial cells, including
      thecus(copper sensing copper efflux system), andpco(plasmid-borne copper
      resistance system) systems. The genes belonging to these two systems can be
      physically clustered in a Copper Homeostasis and Silver Resistance Island
      (CHASRI) on both plasmids and chromosomes in Enterobacteria. Increasing use of
      copper in agricultural and industrial applications raises questions about the
      role of human activity in the evolution of novel copper resistance mechanisms.
      Here we present evidence that CHASRI emerged and diversified in response to
      copper deposition across aerobic and anaerobic environments. An analysis of
      diversification rates and a molecular clock model suggest that CHASRI experienced
      repeated episodes of elevated diversification that could correspond to peaks in
      human copper production. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that CHASRI originated in
      a relative ofEnterobacter cloacaeas the ultimate product of sequential assembly
      of several pre-existing two-gene modules. Once assembled, CHASRI dispersed via
      horizontal gene transfer within Enterobacteriaceae and also to certain members of
      Shewanellaceae, where the originalpcomodule was replaced by a
      divergentpcohomolog. Analyses of copper stress mitigation suggest that CHASRI
      confers increased resistance aerobically, anaerobically, and during shifts
      between aerobic and anaerobic environments, which could explain its persistence
      in facultative anaerobes and emergent enteric pathogens. 

PMID- 26893456
TI  - Coevolution between Nuclear-Encoded DNA Replication, Recombination, and Repair
      Genes and Plastid Genome Complexity.
AB  - Disruption of DNA replication, recombination, and repair (DNA-RRR) systems has
      been hypothesized to cause highly elevated nucleotide substitution rates and
      genome rearrangements in the plastids of angiosperms, but this theory remains
      untested. To investigate nuclear-plastid genome (plastome) coevolution in
      Geraniaceae, four different measures of plastome complexity (rearrangements,
      repeats, nucleotide insertions/deletions, and substitution rates) were evaluated
      along with substitution rates of 12 nuclear-encoded, plastid-targeted DNA-RRR
      genes from 27 Geraniales species. Significant correlations were detected for
      nonsynonymous (dN) but not synonymous (dS) substitution rates for three DNA-RRR
      genes (uvrB/C, why1, and gyrA) supporting a role for these genes in accelerated
      plastid genome evolution in Geraniaceae. Furthermore, correlation between dN of
      uvrB/C and plastome complexity suggests the presence of nucleotide excision
      repair system in plastids. Significant correlations were also detected between
      plastome complexity and 13 of the 90 nuclear-encoded organelle-targeted genes
      investigated. Comparisons revealed significant acceleration of dN in plastid
      targeted genes of Geraniales relative to Brassicales suggesting this correlation
      may be an artifact of elevated rates in this gene set in Geraniaceae. Correlation
      between dN of plastid-targeted DNA-RRR genes and plastome complexity supports the
      hypothesis that the aberrant patterns in angiosperm plastome evolution could be
      caused by dysfunction in DNA-RRR systems. 

PMID- 26893457
TI  - Bilateral robotic priming before task-oriented approach in subacute stroke
      rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the treatment effects of bilateral robotic priming
      combined with the task-oriented approach on motor impairment, disability, daily
      function, and quality of life in patients with subacute stroke. DESIGN: A
      randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Occupational therapy clinics in medical
      centers. SUBJECTS: Thirty-one subacute stroke patients were recruited.
      INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive bilateral priming
      combined with the task-oriented approach (i.e., primed group) or to the task
      oriented approach alone (i.e., unprimed group) for 90 minutes/day, 5 days/week
      for 4 weeks. The primed group began with the bilateral priming technique by using
      a bimanual robot-aided device. MAIN MEASURES: Motor impairments were assessed by
      the Fugal-Meyer Assessment, grip strength, and the Box and Block Test. Disability
      and daily function were measured by the modified Rankin Scale, the Functional
      Independence Measure, and actigraphy. Quality of life was examined by the Stroke
      Impact Scale. RESULTS: The primed and unprimed groups improved significantly on
      most outcomes over time. The primed group demonstrated significantly better
      improvement on the Stroke Impact Scale strength subscale ( p = 0.012) and a trend
      for greater improvement on the modified Rankin Scale ( p = 0.065) than the
      unprimed group. CONCLUSION: Bilateral priming combined with the task-oriented
      approach elicited more improvements in self-reported strength and disability
      degrees than the task-oriented approach by itself. Further large-scale research
      with at least 31 participants in each intervention group is suggested to confirm
      the study findings.

PMID- 26893458
TI  - Patient participation groups in general practice: what are they for, where are
      they going?

PMID- 26893461
TI  - Chronic Pelvic Pain Caused by Laxity of the Uterosacral Ligaments: Are the
      Posterior Fornix Syndrome and the Allen-Masters Syndrome Synonyms?

PMID- 26893462
TI  - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm as a Long Time Cause of Low Back Pain and Vertebral
      Scalloping.

PMID- 26893460
TI  - Introgression maintains the genetic integrity of the mating-type determining
      chromosome of the fungus Neurospora tetrasperma.
AB  - Genome evolution is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including
      selection, recombination, and introgression. The regions determining sexual
      identity are particularly dynamic parts of eukaryotic genomes that are prone to
      molecular degeneration associated with suppressed recombination. In the fungus
      Neurospora tetrasperma, it has been proposed that this molecular degeneration is
      counteracted by the introgression of nondegenerated DNA from closely related
      species. In this study, we used comparative and population genomic analyses of 92
      genomes from eight phylogenetically and reproductively isolated lineages of N.
      tetrasperma, and its three closest relatives, to investigate the factors shaping
      the evolutionary history of the genomes.We found that suppressed recombination
      extends across at least 6 Mbp (~ 63%) of the mating-type (mat) chromosome in N.
      tetrasperma and is associated with decreased genetic diversity, which is likely
      the result primarily of selection at linked sites. Furthermore, analyses of
      molecular evolution revealed an increased mutational load in this region,
      relative to recombining regions. However, comparative genomic and phylogenetic
      analyses indicate that the mat chromosomes are temporarily regenerated via
      introgression from sister species; six of eight lineages show introgression into
      one of their mat chromosomes, with multiple Neurospora species acting as donors.
      The introgressed tracts have been fixed within lineages, suggesting that they
      confer an adaptive advantage in natural populations, and our analyses support the
      presence of selective sweeps in at least one lineage. Thus, these data strongly
      support the previously hypothesized role of introgression as a mechanism for the
      maintenance of mating-type determining chromosomal regions.

PMID- 26893459
TI  - Targeted resequencing identifies PTCH1 as a major contributor to ocular
      developmental anomalies and extends the SOX2 regulatory network.
AB  - Ocular developmental anomalies (ODA) such as anophthalmia/microphthalmia (AM) or
      anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) have an estimated combined prevalence of 3.7 in
      10,000 births. Mutations in SOX2 are the most frequent contributors to severe
      ODA, yet account for a minority of the genetic drivers. To identify novel ODA
      loci, we conducted targeted high-throughput sequencing of 407 candidate genes in
      an initial cohort of 22 sporadic ODA patients. Patched 1 (PTCH1), an inhibitor of
      sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, harbored an enrichment of rare heterozygous
      variants in comparison to either controls, or to the other candidate genes (four
      missense and one frameshift); targeted resequencing of PTCH1 in a second cohort
      of 48 ODA patients identified two additional rare nonsynonymous changes. Using
      multiple transient models and a CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutant, we show
      physiologically relevant phenotypes altering SHH signaling and eye development
      upon abrogation of ptch1 in zebrafish for which in vivo complementation assays
      using these models showed that all six patient missense mutations affect SHH
      signaling. Finally, through transcriptomic and ChIP analyses, we show that SOX2
      binds to an intronic domain of the PTCH1 locus to regulate PTCH1 expression,
      findings that were validated both in vitro and in vivo. Together, these results
      demonstrate that PTCH1 mutations contribute to as much as 10% of ODA, identify
      the SHH signaling pathway as a novel effector of SOX2 activity during human
      ocular development, and indicate that ODA is likely the result of overactive SHH
      signaling in humans harboring mutations in either PTCH1 or SOX2.

PMID- 26893463
TI  - Epidural Glucocorticoid Injections for Spinal Stenosis, Interlaminal at the Worst
      Level.

PMID- 26893464
TI  - Reply to: Is It Not Important that We Ask the Right Question, the Right Way, on
      an Appropriate Sample of Patients?

PMID- 26893465
TI  - AAPM 2016 Annual Meeting Abstracts.

PMID- 26893466
TI  - AAPM 2016 Annual Meeting Late-Breaking Abstracts.

PMID- 26893467
TI  - Patient feedback for quality improvement in general practice.

PMID- 26893468
TI  - WHO sets out $56m Zika virus response plan.

PMID- 26893470
TI  - Multiple Metazoan Life-span Interventions Exhibit a Sex-specific Strehler-Mildvan
      Inverse Relationship Between Initial Mortality Rate and Age-dependent Mortality
      Rate Acceleration.
AB  - The Gompertz equation describes survival in terms of initial mortality rate
      (parameter a), indicative of health, and age-dependent acceleration in mortality
      rate (parameter b), indicative of aging. Gompertz parameters were analyzed for
      several published studies. In Drosophila females, mating increases egg production
      and decreases median life span, consistent with a trade-off between reproduction
      and longevity. Mating increased parameter a, causing decreased median life span,
      whereas time parameter b was decreased. The inverse correlation between
      parameters indicates the Strehler-Mildvan (S-M) relationship, where loss of low
      vitality individuals yields a cohort with slower age-dependent mortality
      acceleration. The steroid hormone antagonist mifepristone/RU486 reversed these
      effects. Mating and mifepristone showed robust S-M relationships across
      genotypes, and dietary restriction showed robust S-M relationship across diets.
      Because nutrient optima differed between females and males, the same manipulation
      caused opposite effects on mortality rates in females versus males across a range
      of nutrient concentrations. Similarly, p53 mutation in Drosophila and mTOR
      mutation in mice caused increased median life span associated with opposite
      direction changes in mortality rate parameters in females versus males. The data
      demonstrate that dietary and genetic interventions have sex-specific and
      sometimes sexually opposite effects on mortality rates consistent with sexual
      antagonistic pleiotropy.

PMID- 26893469
TI  - Gender Differences in the Combined Effects of Cardiovascular Disease and
      Osteoarthritis on Progression to Functional Impairment in Older Mexican
      Americans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Comorbidity (COM) is an important issue in aging. Cardiovascular
      disease (CVD) and osteoarthritis separately and together may modify the
      trajectories of functional decline. This analysis examines whether specific and
      unrelated COMs influence functional change differently and vary by gender.
      METHODS: A cohort study of 1,789 (aged 60 years and older) Mexican Americans was
      followed annually for up to 10 years. We created four groups of COM (CVD alone,
      lower body osteoarthritis alone [OA], neither, or both). We employed mixed
      effects Poisson models with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) as the
      outcome. We tested whether the association between COM and decline in functional
      status differed by gender. RESULTS: IADL impairments in those with CVD, OA, or
      both were significantly higher at baseline and increased more rapidly over time
      compared to those with neither condition. Compared to women with no COM, the
      number of IADL impairments in women with CVD alone were 1.36 times greater, with
      OA were 1.35 times greater, and both conditions were 1.26 times greater. Compared
      to men with no COM, IADL impairments in men with CVD alone were 1.15 times
      greater, OA alone were 1.12 times greater, and both were 1.26 times greater.
      CONCLUSIONS: Over time, the influence of COM on functional decline differs by
      specific combinations of COM and by gender. Aggregate COM scales obscure the
      biological and temporal heterogeneity in the effects of COM. Time-dependent
      specific COMs better assess the development of impairment. Women experience a
      higher burden of functional impairment due to COM than men.

PMID- 26893471
TI  - The Road to C4 Photosynthesis: Evolution of a Complex Trait via Intermediary
      States.
AB  - C4 photosynthesis enables high photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency as
      well as high nitrogen and water use efficiencies. Given the multitude of
      biochemical, structural and molecular changes in comparison with C3
      photosynthesis, it appears unlikely that such a complex trait would evolve in a
      single step. C4 photosynthesis is therefore believed to have evolved from the
      ancestral C3 state via intermediary stages. Consequently, the identification and
      detailed characterization of plant species representing transitory states between
      C3 and C4 is important for the reconstruction of the sequence of evolutionary
      events, especially since C4 evolution occurred in very different phylogenetic
      backgrounds. There is also significant interest in engineering of C4 or at least
      C4-like elements into C3 crop plants. A detailed and mechanistic understanding of
      C3-C4 intermediates is likely to provide guidance for the experimental design of
      such approaches. Here we provide an overview on the most relevant results
      obtained on C3-C4 intermediates to date. Recent knowledge gains in this field
      will be described in more detail. We thereby concentrate especially on
      biochemical and physiological work. Finally, we will provide a perspective and
      outlook on the continued importance of research on C3-C4 intermediates. 

PMID- 26893472
TI  - Promotion of Cyclic Electron Transport Around Photosystem I with the Development
      of C4 Photosynthesis.
AB  - C4 photosynthesis is present in approximately 7,500 species classified into 19
      families, including monocots and eudicots. In the majority of documented cases, a
      two-celled CO2-concentrating system that uses a metabolic cycle of four-carbon
      compounds is employed. C4 photosynthesis repeatedly evolved from C3
      photosynthesis, possibly driven by the survival advantages it bestows in the hot,
      often dry, and nutrient-poor soils of the tropics and subtropics. The development
      of the C4 metabolic cycle greatly increased the ATP demand in chloroplasts during
      the evolution of malic enzyme-type C4 photosynthesis, and the additional ATP
      required for C4 metabolism may be produced by the cyclic electron transport
      around PSI. Recent studies have revealed the nature of cyclic electron transport
      and the elevation of its components during C4 evolution. In this review, we
      discuss the energy requirements of C3 and C4 photosynthesis, the current model of
      cyclic electron transport around PSI and how cyclic electron transport is
      promoted during C4 evolution using studies on the genus Flaveria, which contains
      a number of closely related C3, C4 and C3-C4 intermediate species. 

PMID- 26893474
TI  - The wrist that was not straight.

PMID- 26893473
TI  - Endurance training in early life results in long-term programming of heart mass
      in rats.
AB  - Being born small for gestational age increases the risk of developing adult
      cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study aimed to examine if early-life
      exercise could increase heart mass in the adult hearts from growth restricted
      rats. Bilateral uterine vessel ligation to induce uteroplacental insufficiency
      and fetal growth restriction in the offspring (Restricted) or sham surgery
      (Control) was performed on day 18 of gestation in WKY rats. A separate group of
      sham litters had litter size reduced to five pups at birth (Reduced litter),
      which restricted postnatal growth. Male offspring remained sedentary or underwent
      treadmill running from 5 to 9 weeks (early exercise) or 20 to 24 weeks of age
      (later exercise). Remarkably, in Control, Restricted, and Reduced litter groups,
      early exercise increased (P < 0.05) absolute and relative (to body mass) heart
      mass in adulthood. This was despite the animals being sedentary for ~4 months
      after exercise. Later exercise also increased adult absolute and relative heart
      mass (P < 0.05). Blood pressure was not significantly altered between groups or
      by early or later exercise. Phosphorylation of Akt Ser(473) in adulthood was
      increased in the early exercise groups but not the later exercise groups.
      Microarray gene analysis and validation by real-time PCR did not reveal any long
      term effects of early exercise on the expression of any individual genes. In
      summary, early exercise programs the heart for increased mass into adulthood,
      perhaps by an upregulation of protein synthesis based on greater phosphorylation
      of Akt Ser(473). 

PMID- 26893476
TI  - Inflammation-Dependent IL18 Signaling Restricts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth
      by Enhancing the Accumulation and Activity of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes.
AB  - Chronic inflammation in liver tissue is an underlying cause of hepatocellular
      carcinoma. High levels of inflammatory cytokine IL18 in the circulation of
      patients with hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with poor prognosis. However,
      conflicting results have been reported for IL18 in hepatocellular carcinoma
      development and progression. In this study, we used tissue specimens from
      hepatocellular carcinoma patients and clinically relevant mouse models of
      hepatocellular carcinoma to evaluate IL18 expression and function. In a mouse
      model of liver fibrosis that recapitulates a tumor-promoting microenvironment,
      global deletion of the IL18 receptor IL18R1 enhanced tumor growth and burden.
      Similarly, in a carcinogen-induced model of liver tumorigenesis, IL18R1 deletion
      increased tumor burden. Mechanistically, we found that IL18 exerted inflammation
      dependent tumor-suppressive effects largely by promoting the differentiation,
      activity, and survival of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Finally, differences in the
      expression of IL18 in tumor tissue versus nontumor tissue were more predictive of
      patient outcome than overall tissue expression. Taken together, our findings
      resolve a long-standing contradiction regarding a tumor-suppressive role for IL18
      in established hepatocellular carcinoma and provide a mechanistic explanation for
      the complex relationship between its expression pattern and hepatocellular
      carcinoma prognosis. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2394-405. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26893477
TI  - Activation of the MDA-5-IPS-1 Viral Sensing Pathway Induces Cancer Cell Death and
      Type I IFN-Dependent Antitumor Immunity.
AB  - Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5, IFIH1), a cytosolic innate
      pattern recognition receptor, functions as a first line of defense against viral
      infection by sensing double-stranded RNA. Ectopic expression of MDA-5 has been
      shown to induce cancer cell death, but the mechanism of action by which MDA-5
      exerts these cytotoxic effects is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that ectopic
      expression of MDA-5 via replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad.Mda-5) initiates
      multiple signaling cascades, culminating in cytotoxicity and type I IFN
      production in mouse and human prostate cancer cells. This intrinsic dual activity
      of MDA-5 required the adaptor protein IFNbeta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1, MAVS)
      and could be functionally uncoupled. MDA-5 lacking N-terminal caspase recruitment
      domains (CARD) engaged an intracellular death program in cancer cells but was
      unable to efficiently stimulate the expression of IFNbeta. In contrast to cancer
      cells susceptible to MDA-5-mediated cytotoxicity, normal cells were highly
      resistant and instead developed a robust type I IFN response. Strikingly,
      intratumoral delivery of Ad.Mda-5 led to regression of preestablished prostate
      cancers and development of long-lasting antitumor immune memory, which was
      primarily attributed to the activation of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes
      and/or natural killer cells. Using the CARD-truncated MDA-5 mutant, silencing of
      IPS-1, and antibody blockade of the IFNalpha/beta receptor, we further
      demonstrate that type I IFN signaling was crucial for in situ MDA-5-induced
      protective antitumor immunity. Therefore, deliberately targeting the
      evolutionarily conserved MDA-5-IPS-1 antiviral pathway in tumors can provoke
      parallel tumoricidal and immunostimulatory effects that bridge innate and
      adaptive immune responses for the therapeutic treatment of cancer. Cancer Res;
      76(8); 2166-76. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26893475
TI  - Transcriptome Profiling of Tiller Buds Provides New Insights into PhyB Regulation
      of Tillering and Indeterminate Growth in Sorghum.
AB  - Phytochrome B (phyB) enables plants to modify shoot branching or tillering in
      response to varying light intensities and ratios of red and far-red light caused
      by shading and neighbor proximity. Tillering is inhibited in sorghum genotypes
      that lack phytochrome B (58M, phyB-1) until after floral initiation. The growth
      of tiller buds in the first leaf axil of wild-type (100M, PHYB) and phyB-1
      sorghum genotypes is similar until 6 d after planting when buds of phyB-1 arrest
      growth, while wild-type buds continue growing and develop into tillers.
      Transcriptome analysis at this early stage of bud development identified numerous
      genes that were up to 50-fold differentially expressed in wild-type/phyB-1 buds.
      Up-regulation of terminal flower1, GA2oxidase, and TPPI could protect axillary
      meristems in phyB-1 from precocious floral induction and decrease bud sensitivity
      to sugar signals. After bud growth arrest in phyB-1, expression of dormancy
      associated genes such as DRM1, GT1, AF1, and CKX1 increased and ENOD93,
      ACCoxidase, ARR3/6/9, CGA1, and SHY2 decreased. Continued bud outgrowth in wild
      type was correlated with increased expression of genes encoding a SWEET
      transporter and cell wall invertases. The SWEET transporter may facilitate Suc
      unloading from the phloem to the apoplast where cell wall invertases generate
      monosaccharides for uptake and utilization to sustain bud outgrowth. Elevated
      expression of these genes was correlated with higher levels of cytokinin/sugar
      signaling in growing buds of wild-type plants.

PMID- 26893478
TI  - In Vivo Visualization and Characterization of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
      in Breast Tumors.
AB  - The activation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program is a
      critical step in cancer progression and metastasis, but visualization of this
      process at the single-cell level, especially in vivo, remains challenging. We
      established an in vivo approach to track the fate of tumor cells based on a novel
      EMT-driven fluorescent color switching breast cancer mouse model and intravital
      two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Specifically, the MMTV-PyMT, Rosa26-RFP
      GFP, and Fsp1-Cre triple transgenic mouse model was used to monitor the
      conversion of RFP-positive epithelial cells to GFP-positive mesenchymal cells in
      mammary tumors under the control of the Fsp1 (ATL1) promoter, a gate-keeper of
      EMT initiation. RFP-positive cells were isolated from the tumors, sorted, and
      transplanted into mammary fat pads of SCID mice to monitor EMT during breast
      tumor formation. We found that the conversion from RFP- to GFP-positive and
      spindle-shaped cells was a gradual process, and that GFP-positive cells
      preferentially localized close to blood vessels, independent of tumor size.
      Furthermore, cells undergoing EMT expressed high levels of the HGF receptor, c
      Met, and treatment of RFP-positive cells with the c-Met inhibitor, cabozantinib,
      suppressed the RFP-to-GFP conversion in vitro Moreover, administration of
      cabozantinib to mice with palpable RFP-positive tumors resulted in a silent EMT
      phenotype whereby GFP-positive cells exhibited reduced motility, leading to
      suppressed tumor growth. In conclusion, our imaging technique provides a novel
      opportunity for visualizing tumor EMT at the single-cell level and may help to
      reveal the intricacies underlying tumor dynamics and treatment responses. Cancer
      Res; 76(8); 2094-104. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26893481
TI  - Correction.

PMID- 26893479
TI  - Drosophila Brat and Human Ortholog TRIM3 Maintain Stem Cell Equilibrium and
      Suppress Brain Tumorigenesis by Attenuating Notch Nuclear Transport.
AB  - Cancer stem cells exert enormous influence on neoplastic behavior, in part by
      governing asymmetric cell division and the balance between self-renewal and
      multipotent differentiation. Growth is favored by deregulated stem cell division,
      which enhances the self-renewing population and diminishes the differentiation
      program. Mutation of a single gene in Drosophila, Brain Tumor (Brat), leads to
      disrupted asymmetric cell division resulting in dramatic neoplastic proliferation
      of neuroblasts and massive larval brain overgrowth. To uncover the mechanisms
      relevant to deregulated cell division in human glioma stem cells, we first
      developed a novel adult Drosophila brain tumor model using brat-RNAi driven by
      the neuroblast-specific promoter inscuteable Suppressing Brat in this population
      led to the accumulation of actively proliferating neuroblasts and a lethal brain
      tumor phenotype. brat-RNAi caused upregulation of Notch signaling, a node
      critical for self-renewal, by increasing protein expression and enhancing nuclear
      transport of Notch intracellular domain (NICD). In human glioblastoma, we
      demonstrated that the human ortholog of Drosophila Brat, tripartite motif
      containing protein 3 (TRIM3), similarly suppressed NOTCH1 signaling and markedly
      attenuated the stem cell component. We also found that TRIM3 suppressed nuclear
      transport of active NOTCH1 (NICD) in glioblastoma and demonstrated that these
      effects are mediated by direct binding of TRIM3 to the Importin complex.
      Together, our results support a novel role for Brat/TRIM3 in maintaining stem
      cell equilibrium and suppressing tumor growth by regulating NICD nuclear
      transport. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2443-52. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26893483
TI  - Aging Slows Access to Temporal Information From Working Memory.
AB  - Objectives: To evaluate the impact of aging on controlled memory search
      operations, we investigated the retrieval of temporal order information from
      working memory (WM). Method: Young and older adults completed a relative
      judgments-of-recency (JOR) task. In each trial, participants studied 5-item lists
      and were presented with two probes from the study list. Participants indicated
      the probe that had appeared more recently in the study list. Results: Analyses of
      accuracy data showed that young adults were more successful in correctly
      detecting the more recent probe compared with older adults. To evaluate the
      retrieval dynamics, we applied Hacker's (1980) serial scanning model on reaction
      time data. Results from the model fits revealed that older adults were slower in
      engaging in the serial memory search operations required to access temporal order
      information from WM. Discussion: These findings suggest that this age-related
      impairment in a JOR task might arise from a slower deployment of controlled
      memory operations, such as serial search.

PMID- 26893480
TI  - PR55alpha Subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A Supports the Tumorigenic and
      Metastatic Potential of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Sustaining Hyperactive
      Oncogenic Signaling.
AB  - The protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) holoenzyme consists of a catalytic subunit, a
      scaffold subunit, and a regulatory subunit. Based on loss-of-function analysis
      using PP2A catalytic inhibitors or inhibition via tumor viral antigens, limited
      studies suggest that PP2A is a putative tumor suppressor. However, PP2A has also
      been shown to facilitate the activation of oncogenic signaling pathways when
      associated with specific regulatory subunits. In this study, we investigated the
      possible oncogenic role of PP2A in pancreatic cancer. We found a striking
      increase in the expression of PR55alpha (PPP2R2A), a PP2A regulatory subunit, in
      pancreatic cancer cells compared with normal pancreatic epithelial cells.
      Consistently, PR55alpha expression was markedly elevated in pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma tissues compared with adjacent normal pancreatic tissues (P <
      0.0001) and correlated with poor survival of pancreatic cancer patients (P <
      0.0003). RNAi-mediated depletion of PR55alpha in pancreatic cancer cell lines
      resulted in diminished phosphorylation of both AKT and ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1) and
      decreased protein levels of beta-catenin (CTNNB1). Accordingly, pancreatic cancer
      cells with reduced PR55alpha expression exhibited significantly impaired
      properties of transformation, including attenuated cell growth, clonogenicity,
      mobility, and anchorage-independent growth. Moreover, orthotopic implantation of
      PR55alpha-depleted pancreatic cancer cells into nude mice resulted in markedly
      reduced tumorigenicity (P < 0.001) and distant metastases. Together, these
      results suggest that PR55alpha promotes pancreatic cancer development by
      sustaining hyperactivity of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, including AKT,
      ERK, and Wnt. These studies also provide a basis for exploring PR55alpha as a
      diagnostic or therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2243
      53. (c)2016 AACR.

PMID- 26893484
TI  - In the balance: evolving trends in the satisfaction of junior doctors inside and
      outside work.

PMID- 26893485
TI  - miR-223 contributes to the AGE-promoted apoptosis via down-regulating insulin
      like growth factor 1 receptor in osteoblasts.
AB  - Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been confirmed to induce bone quality
      deterioration in diabetes mellitus (DM), and to associate with abnormal
      expression of miRNAs in DM patients or in vitro Recently, miRNAs have been
      recognized to mediate the onset or progression of DM. In the present study, we
      investigated the regulation on miR-223 level by AGE-BSA treatment in osteoblast
      like MC3T3-E1 cells, with real-time quantitative PCR assay. And then we examined
      the inhibition of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression by
      miR-223, via targeting of the 3' UTR of IGF-1R with real-time quantitative PCR,
      western blotting and luciferase reporter assay. Then we explored the regulation
      of miR-223 and IGF-1R levels, via the lentivirus-mediated miR-223 inhibition and
      IGF-1R overexpression in the AGE-BSA-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells. It was
      demonstrated that AGE-BSA treatment with more than 100 MUg/ml significantly up
      regulated miR-223 level, whereas down-regulated IGF-1R level in MC3T3-E1 cells.
      And the up-regulated miR-223 down-regulated IGF-1R expression in both mRNA and
      protein levels, via targeting the 3' UTR of IGF-1R Moreover, though the AGE-BSA
      treatment promoted apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells, the IGF-1R overexpression or the
      miR-223 inhibition significantly attenuated the AGE-BSA-promoted apoptosis in
      MC3T3-E1 cells. In summary, our study recognized the promotion of miR-223 level
      by AGE-BSA treatment in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. The promoted miR-223
      targeted IGF-1R and mediated the AGE-BSA-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells. It
      implies that miR-223 might be an effective therapeutic target to antagonize the
      AGE-induced damage to osteoblasts in DM. 

PMID- 26893487
TI  - Response to: 'Evaluation of the association between anticarbamylated protein
      antibodies and longitudinal course of functional ability in rheumatoid arthritis'
      by Ajeganova et al.

PMID- 26893486
TI  - Allopurinol dose relative to renal function and risk of hypersensitivity
      reactions.

PMID- 26893488
TI  - Effects of colchicine on risk of cardiovascular events among patients with gout:
      as evidence accrues, is it time for a randomised trial?

PMID- 26893490
TI  - Engaging Older Adults in Environmental Volunteerism: The Retirees in Service to
      the Environment Program.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE) is a program
      designed to promote participation of older people in volunteering for the
      environment. Based on principles of adult learning and best practices for the
      development of effective volunteer programs, RISE engaged older individuals in
      environmental volunteering and involved them in community stewardship activities.
      Design and Methods: This article details the development and formative evaluation
      of RISE. We describe program assessment, benefits to the community, and effects
      on participants. Results: The program successfully recruited individuals new to
      environmental volunteering and substantial hours of volunteer time were provided
      to communities. Program satisfaction was high and preliminary evidence suggests
      positive outcomes from RISE participation. Implications: The innovative structure
      combined with local relevance of the RISE program has the potential to expand
      older adults' engagement in environmental volunteerism.

PMID- 26893489
TI  - Middle-Aged Offspring's Support to Aging Parents With Emerging Disability.
AB  - Purpose of the Study: A vast literature has examined family caregivers, but few
      studies explore transitions from providing ordinary support to parents to
      situations involving increasing dependency. Using 2 waves of data, we examined
      how parents' increasing disability in activities of daily living (ADL) is
      associated with changes in everyday support patterns, relationship quality, and
      psychological well-being of middle-aged offspring, taking into account other
      informal and paid help to the parent. Design and Methods: Three hundred and
      eighty middle-aged adults reported on everyday support they provided to each
      parent (N = 487) and parent's ADL at baseline and 5 years later. Results:
      Increased parents' disability led to increases in offspring's support, in
      particular tangible support. Support given by offspring was lower when parents
      received paid help but was not affected by help from other informal members
      (e.g., family members, friends). Increased disability was associated with
      decreases in positive relationship quality with parents; as well, offspring who
      provided actual help with ADL reported increases in negative relationship
      quality. Implications: The effects of increasing parents' disability on
      relationship quality and involvement of other informal and paid help may have
      implications for the longer-term impact of care on both offspring and their
      parents.

PMID- 26893491
TI  - Evaluation of Subscription-based Culture Change Models in Care Settings: Findings
      From a Systematic Review.
AB  - PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Person-centered culture change models to which aged care
      service providers subscribe are gaining increasing traction. It has been
      suggested that culture change initiatives broadly are subject to a range of
      issues. It is difficult, however, to draw out from the existing literature
      specific information about the scope and quality of evidence regarding
      subscription-based approaches. The purpose of this study was to identify and
      review the peer-reviewed literature regarding these subscription-based models.
      DESIGN AND METHODS: The review used the Joanna Briggs Institute process and
      tools. Studies reporting on subscription-based person-centered culture change
      models in health and aged care, published in peer-reviewed literature in English
      up to and including 2015 were identified and assessed. In all, 28 articles
      reporting on 33 studies were included in the review. RESULTS: There was no single
      model for which a significant body of evidence was identified, and approaches to
      outcomes were fragmented. Research approaches varied. Rigor and reporting were of
      concern; however, strengths of the evidence base included generally adequate
      sample sizes and the use of multiple methods including large data sets and
      standardized scales. IMPLICATIONS: Despite their structured approaches, research
      and evaluation for subscription-based models are limited, ad hoc, and fragmented.
      A more comprehensive program of research that is embedded in the implementation
      process is needed. Recommendations include use of longitudinal study designs,
      attention to implementation and contextual factors, and measurement of both
      process and outcomes across the full range of culture change domains.

PMID- 26893492
TI  - Increased Nicotiana tabacum fitness through positive regulation of carotenoid,
      gibberellin and chlorophyll pathways promoted by Daucus carota lycopene beta
      cyclase (Dclcyb1) expression.
AB  - Carotenoids, chlorophylls and gibberellins are derived from the common precursor
      geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). One of the enzymes in carotenoid biosynthesis
      is lycopene beta-cyclase (LCYB) that catalyzes the conversion of lycopene into
      beta-carotene. In carrot, Dclcyb1 is essential for carotenoid synthesis in the
      whole plant. Here we show that when expressed in tobacco, increments in total
      carotenoids, beta-carotene and chlorophyll levels occur. Furthermore,
      photosynthetic efficiency is enhanced in transgenic lines. Interestingly, and
      contrary to previous observations where overexpression of a carotenogenic gene
      resulted in the inhibition of the synthesis of gibberellins, we found raised
      levels of active GA4 and the concommitant increases in plant height, leaf size
      and whole plant biomass, as well as an early flowering phenotype. Moreover, a
      significant increase in the expression of the key carotenogenic genes, Ntpsy1,
      Ntpsy2 and Ntlcyb, as well as those involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll
      (Ntchl), gibberellin (Ntga20ox, Ntcps and Ntks) and isoprenoid precursors (Ntdxs2
      and Ntggpps) was observed. These results indicate that the expression of Dclcyb1
      induces a positive feedback affecting the expression of isoprenoid gene
      precursors and genes involved in carotenoid, gibberellin and chlorophyll pathways
      leading to an enhancement in fitness measured as biomass, photosynthetic
      efficiency and carotenoid/chlorophyll composition.

PMID- 26893493
TI  - Dissecting stimulus-specific Ca2+ signals in amyloplasts and chloroplasts of
      Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures.
AB  - Calcium is used by plants as an intracellular messenger in the detection of and
      response to a plethora of environmental stimuli and contributes to a fine-tuned
      internal regulation. Interest in the role of different subcellular compartments
      in Ca(2+) homeostasis and signalling has been growing in recent years. This work
      has evaluated the potential participation of non-green plastids and chloroplasts
      in the plant Ca(2+) signalling network using heterotrophic and autotrophic cell
      suspension cultures from Arabidopsis thaliana plant lines stably expressing the
      bioluminescent Ca(2+) reporter aequorin targeted to the plastid stroma. Our
      results indicate that both amyloplasts and chloroplasts are involved in transient
      Ca(2+) increases in the plastid stroma induced by several environmental stimuli,
      suggesting that these two functional types of plastids are endowed with similar
      mechanisms for handling Ca(2+) A comparison of the Ca(2+) trace kinetics recorded
      in parallel in the plastid stroma, the surface of the outer membrane of the
      plastid envelope, and the cytosol indicated that plastids play an essential role
      in switching off different cytosolic Ca(2+) signals. Interestingly, a transient
      stromal Ca(2+) signal in response to the light-to-dark transition was observed in
      chloroplasts, but not amyloplasts. Moreover, significant differences in the
      amplitude of specific plastidial Ca(2+) changes emerged when the photosynthetic
      metabolism of chloroplasts was reactivated by light. In summary, our work
      highlights differences between non-green plastids and chloroplasts in terms of
      Ca(2+) dynamics in response to environmental stimuli.

PMID- 26893494
TI  - STP10 encodes a high-affinity monosaccharide transporter and is induced under low
      glucose conditions in pollen tubes of Arabidopsis.
AB  - Pollen tubes are fast growing, photosynthetically inactive cells. Their energy
      demand is covered by specific transport proteins in the plasma membrane that
      mediate the uptake of sugars. Here we report on the functional characterization
      of AtSTP10, a previously uncharacterized member of the SUGAR TRANSPORT PROTEIN
      family. Heterologous expression of STP10 cDNA in yeast revealed that the encoded
      protein catalyses the high-affinity uptake of glucose, galactose and mannose. The
      transporter is sensitive to uncouplers of transmembrane proton gradients,
      indicating that the protein acts as a hexose-H(+)symporter. Analyses of STP10
      mRNA and STP10 promoter-reporter gene studies revealed a sink-specific expression
      pattern of STP10 in primordia of lateral roots and in pollen tubes. This
      restriction to sink organs is mediated by intragenic regions of STP10 qPCR
      analyses with cDNA of in vitro grown pollen tubes showed that STP10 expression
      was down-regulated in the presence of 50mM glucose. However, in pollen tubes of
      glucose-insensitive plants, which lack the glucose sensor hexokinase1 (HXK1), no
      glucose-induced down-regulation of STP10 expression was detected. A stp10T-DNA
      insertion line developed normally, which may point towards functional redundancy.
      The data presented in this paper indicate that a high-affinity glucose uptake
      system is induced in growing pollen tubes under low glucose conditions and that
      this regulation may occur through the hexokinase pathway.

PMID- 26893495
TI  - Implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in young individuals: comparison
      of conventional and subcostal approaches-a single-centre experience.
AB  - AIM: The aim of our study is to compare two approaches of implantable cardiac
      defibrillator (ICD) implantation, conventional (supra/subpectoral) and subcostal
      in young adults in terms of procedural complications and adverse events
      encountered during follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: From January 2007 to December
      2013, all patients under the age of 50 years who received an ICD in our centre
      were included in this study. Patient's hospital records were analysed for
      procedural complications and adverse events during follow-up until December 2014.
      Data from device on first interrogation after implantation and on follow-up were
      also noted. A total of 106 patients of which 40.6% had Brugada's syndrome (65.1%
      male, age 33.6 +/- 10.97 years) were included in analysis; 71 (61%) had ICD
      placed in (sub/supra) pectoral and 35 (33%) in subcostal position. Only seven
      patients received an epicardial lead system. During the follow-up period of 2.1
      +/- 1.8 years, 84.90% of the patients had no adverse events. Most of the
      complications, procedural and during follow-up, occur in conventionally placed,
      pectoral ICD. Lead follow-up data in both groups, conventional and subcostal,
      showed no difference in right ventricular (RV) shock impedance and R wave
      sensing, P-value = 0.56 and 0.77, respectively. Lead survival was 95 and 97%,
      respectively, in conventional and subcostal groups over a mean follow-up of 2.1
      +/- 1.8 years. Log-rank test for lead survival was not significant in terms of
      site of implantation. CONCLUSION: To the best our knowledge, this is the first
      study demonstrating subcostal ICD placement in young adults and resulting in
      equivalent to better outcomes when compared with conventionally placed pectoral
      ICD. Subcostal ICD placement might be considered an alternative option in young
      adults as it results in better procedural outcomes and also comparable rate of
      adverse events during follow-up, but bigger studies with a larger number of
      patients are needed for a definitive conclusion.

PMID- 26893496
TI  - Performance of handheld electrocardiogram devices to detect atrial fibrillation
      in a cardiology and geriatric ward setting.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the usability, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of two
      handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) devices for atrial fibrillation (AF)
      screening in a hospital population with an increased risk for AF. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Hospitalized patients (n = 445) at cardiological or geriatric wards were
      screened for AF by two handheld ECG devices (MyDiagnostick and AliveCor). The
      performance of the automated algorithm of each device was evaluated against a
      full 12-lead or 6-lead ECG recording. All ECGs and monitor tracings were also
      independently reviewed in a blinded fashion by two electrophysiologists. Time
      investments by nurses and physicians were tracked and used to estimate cost
      effectiveness of different screening strategies. Handheld recordings were not
      possible in 7 and 21.4% of cardiology and geriatric patients, respectively,
      because they were not able to hold the devices properly. Even after the exclusion
      of patients with an implanted device, sensitivity and specificity of the
      automated algorithms were suboptimal (Cardiology: 81.8 and 94.2%, respectively,
      for MyDiagnostick; 54.5 and 97.5%, respectively, for AliveCor; Geriatrics: 89.5
      and 95.7%, respectively, for MyDiagnostick; 78.9 and 97.9%, respectively, for
      AliveCor). A scenario based on automated AliveCor evaluation in patients without
      AF history and without an implanted device proved to be the most cost-effective
      method, with a provider cost to identify one new AF patient of ?193 and ?82 at
      cardiology and geriatrics, respectively. The cost to detect one preventable
      stroke per year would be ?7535 and ?1916, respectively (based on average CHA2DS2
      VASc of 3.9 +/- 2.0 and 5.0 +/- 1.5, respectively). Manual interpretation
      increases sensitivity, but decreases specificity, doubling the cost per detected
      patient, but remains cheaper than sole 12-lead ECG screening. CONCLUSION: Using
      AliveCor or MyDiagnostick handheld recorders requires a structured screening
      strategy to be effective and cost-effective in a hospital setting. It must
      exclude patients with implanted devices and known AF, and requires targeted
      additional 12-lead ECGs to optimize specificity. Under these circumstances, the
      expenses per diagnosed new AF patient and preventable stroke are reasonable.

PMID- 26893497
TI  - Flecainide-metoprolol combination reduces atrial fibrillation clinical
      recurrences and improves tolerability at 1-year follow-up in persistent
      symptomatic atrial fibrillation.
AB  - AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects ~2% of the total population. In order to
      prevent AF recurrences, many anti-arrhythmic drugs are currently available, but
      most of them are burdened by serious side effects and suboptimal efficacy. The
      aim of the present study was to test efficacy and safety of a combination of
      flecainide and metoprolol in preventing AF clinical recurrences. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: This study is a monocentric, prospective, randomized, open-blinded trial
      on 173 patients with a recent episode of paroxysmal or persistent AF. Patients
      were randomized into group A (flecainide + metoprolol; n = 80), group B
      (flecainide only; n = 72), or group C (metoprolol only; n = 21). Main exclusion
      criteria were recent acute coronary syndrome, heart failure New York Heart
      Association class III-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction <0.40,
      atrioventricular conduction disorders, and severe bradycardia. Primary endpoint
      was symptomatic recurrence over 1-year follow-up. Secondary endpoint was quality
      of life (QoL) over 1-year follow-up, as assessed by the SF-36 and Atrial
      Fibrillation Severity Scale questionnaires. Combination therapy with flecainide
      and metoprolol significantly reduced recurrences at 1-year follow-up when
      compared with flecainide alone in the whole population (66.7 vs. 46.8%; P <
      0.001) and in patients with persistent AF (71.1 vs. 43.6%; P = 0.025) while
      adding beta-blocker therapy to paroxysmal AF showed no benefit over IC anti
      arrhythmic drug-only. Patients randomized to combination therapy experienced a
      significant improvement of QoL when compared with those assigned to a flecainide
      only regimen irrespective of AF type. CONCLUSION: Flecainide-metoprolol
      combination therapy improves effectiveness of rhythm control in persistent
      symptomatic AF and increases tolerability, with a concomitant reduction of side
      effects and a better compliance.

PMID- 26893499
TI  - Comment on 'Inserting the etonogestrel contraceptive implant'.

PMID- 26893501
TI  - One small SNP for receptor virus entry, one giant leap for hepatitis B?

PMID- 26893502
TI  - The utility of salutogenesis for guiding health promotion: the case for young
      people's well-being.
AB  - Twenty years have passed since the publication of the seminal paper 'The
      salutogenic model as a theory to guide health promotion' (Health Promot Int
      1996;11:11-18.), in which Antonovsky proposed salutogenesis and its central
      construct sense of coherence as a way of boosting the theoretical basis for
      health promotion activities. Since then there has been a notable amount of
      conceptual and empirical work carried out to further explore its significance.
      The aim of this paper is to critically assess the current theoretical status of
      salutogenesis and its utility to advance effective health promotion practice for
      young people. The assessment was carried out in the context of contemporary
      international policy agendas on well-being. An analytic framework was developed
      using the previous literature on the definition and function of theory. This
      organizing framework comprised four criteria: description, explanation,
      prediction and measurability. The paper concludes with a perspective on the
      status of salutogenesis as a theory and how it can be further developed.
      Specifically, the critical assessment highlighted that salutogenesis has been
      subjected to considerable empirical testing over the last few decades resulting
      in convincing evidence of the relevance and subsequent advancement of the idea.
      However, less emphasis seems to have been placed on a systematic process of
      testing and iteration to develop its theoretical basis. The paper identifies a
      number of aspects that should be developed to support the progression of
      salutogenesis to the next level. A research-practice cycle approach is proposed
      that can facilitate that important next step.

PMID- 26893500
TI  - The safety of vedolizumab for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Vedolizumab is a gut-selective antibody to alpha4beta7 integrin for
      the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). We report an
      integrated summary of the safety of vedolizumab. DESIGN: Safety data (May 2009
      June 2013) from six trials of vedolizumab were integrated. Adverse events were
      evaluated in patients who received >=1 dose of vedolizumab or placebo and were
      reported as exposure-adjusted incidence rates as the number of patients
      experiencing the event per 100 person-years (PYs) of exposure. Predictors of
      serious infection were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS:
      In total, 2830 patients had 4811 PYs of vedolizumab exposure (median exposure
      range, 1-1977 days). No increased risk of any infection or serious infection was
      associated with vedolizumab exposure. Serious clostridial infections, sepsis and
      tuberculosis were reported infrequently (<=0.6% of patients). No cases of
      progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy were observed. Independent risk
      factors for serious infection in UC were prior failure of a tumour necrosis
      factor alpha antagonist (HR, 1.99; 95% CIs 1.16 to 3.42; p=0.0122) and narcotic
      analgesic use (HR, 2.68; 95% CI 1.57 to 4.58; p=0.0003), and in CD were younger
      age (HR, 0.97; 95% CI 0.95 to 0.98; p<0.0001), corticosteroid (HR, 1.88; 95% CI
      1.35 to 2.63; p=0.0002) or narcotic analgesic use (HR, 2.72; 95% CI 1.90 to 3.89;
      p<0.0001). Investigator-defined infusion-related reactions were reported for <=5%
      of patients in each study. Eighteen vedolizumab-exposed patients (<1%) were
      diagnosed with a malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Vedolizumab has a favourable safety
      profile with low incidence rates of serious infections, infusion-related
      reactions and malignancies over an extended treatment period. TRIAL REGISTRATION
      NUMBER: NCT01177228, NCT00619489, NCT00783718, NCT00783692, NCT01224171,
      NCT00790933.

PMID- 26893503
TI  - National Profile of Physical Therapists in Critical Care Units of Sri Lanka:
      Lower Middle-Income Country.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The availability and role of physical therapists in critical care is
      variable in resource-poor settings, including lower middle-income countries.
      OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine: (1) the availability of
      critical care physical therapist services, (2) the equipment and techniques used
      and needed, and (3) the training and continuous professional development of
      physical therapists. METHODS: All physical therapists working in critical care
      units (CCUs) of state hospitals in Sri Lanka were contacted. The study tool used
      was an interviewer-administered telephone questionnaire. RESULTS: The response
      rate was 100% (N=213). Sixty-one percent of the physical therapists were men.
      Ninety-four percent of the respondents were at least diploma holders in physical
      therapy, and 6% had non-physical therapy degrees. Most (n=145, 68%) had engaged
      in some continuous professional development in the past year. The majority
      (n=119, 56%) attended to patients after referral from medical staff. Seventy
      seven percent, 98%, and 96% worked at nights, on weekends, and on public
      holidays, respectively. Physical therapists commonly perform manual
      hyperinflation, breathing exercises, manual airway clearance techniques, limb
      exercises, mobilization, positioning, and postural drainage in the CCUs. Lack of
      specialist training, lack of adequate physical therapy staff numbers, a heavy
      workload, and perceived lack of infection control in CCUs were the main
      difficulties they identified. LIMITATIONS: Details on the proportions of time
      spent by the physical therapists in the CCUs, wards, or medical departments were
      not collected. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of physical therapist services in
      CCUs in Sri Lanka, a lower middle-income country, was comparable to that in high
      income countries, as per available literature, in terms of service availability
      and staffing, although the density of physical therapists remained very low,
      critical care training was limited, and resource limitations to physical therapy
      practices were evident.

PMID- 26893505
TI  - Therapists' Perceptions of Application and Implementation of AM-PAC "6-Clicks"
      Functional Measures in Acute Care: Qualitative Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-Clicks" tools are
      functional measures used in acute care. No studies have identified reactions and
      perceptions of therapists in implementing these measures. OBJECTIVES: The purpose
      of this study was to explore therapists' perceptions regarding the application
      and implementation of AM-PAC "6-Clicks" tools. DESIGN: This study used a
      qualitative design with thematic analysis. METHODS: A convenience sample of 13
      physical therapists and occupational therapists participated in semistructured
      telephone interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded, after
      which thematic analysis was used to determine common themes. RESULTS: Five themes
      were identified: (1) unclear purpose, (2) lack of confidence in scoring, (3) too
      simple for decision making or generalizing patient function, (4) no effect on
      clinical routine, and (5) potential for communicating patient function across
      disciplines. LIMITATIONS: Participants came from one health care system. A
      relatively small percentage of staff agreed to participate in this study, and
      additional interviews might have revealed new themes. CONCLUSIONS: As
      participants in this study implemented the AM-PAC "6-Clicks" tools, they
      considered the role of the measures, how they fit within the context of practice,
      and their value. They also were concerned with the accuracy and feasibility of
      the tools. The tools were accepted as potentially valuable to assist
      administrative decisions and research; however, they were not perceived as
      particularly useful for routine patient care. Participants lacked complete
      confidence in the reliability of their scoring and expressed concern that the
      scores might be substituted for their clinical decision making. They also felt
      that the tools were too simple to fully reflect patients' overall function and
      were not useful alone for discharge planning. Participants believed the tools had
      the potential to be used for communication among colleagues about patients'
      physical function.

PMID- 26893506
TI  - Obstacle Crossing During Gait in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Cross-Sectional
      Study With Kinematic Analysis of Dynamic Balance and Trunk Control.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Balance problems are common in children who have cerebral palsy (CP)
      but are active and ambulant. Control of the whole-body center of mass is critical
      in maintaining dynamic stability during challenging mobility tasks, such as
      clearing an obstacle while walking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to
      compare trunk and lower limb kinematics and center-of-mass control in children
      with CP and those in children with typical development during obstacle crossing.
      DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-four children who were 5 to 17
      years of age (17 with CP and 17 with typical development) and matched in age and
      height completed 2 gait trials involving crossing a 10-cm obstacle. METHODS:
      Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were captured with a general-purpose
      3-dimensional motion tracking system and forceplates. Trunk data were captured
      with a validated model. RESULTS: All children cleared the obstacle with similar
      hip and knee kinematics, step length, and single-support duration. In children
      with CP, step width was increased by 4.81 cm, and center-of-mass velocity was
      significantly slower at lead limb toe-off (0.31 m/s) and during lead limb
      clearance (0.2 m/s). Children with CP showed altered trunk and pelvis movement,
      characterized by significantly greater pelvic obliquity, pelvic tilt, and trunk
      rotation throughout the task, increased lateral trunk lean during lead limb
      crossing (3.7 degrees ), and greater sagittal trunk movement as the trail limb
      crossed (5.1 degrees ). LIMITATIONS: The study was not powered to analyze
      differences between children with diplegia and those with hemiplegia.
      CONCLUSIONS: Children with CP required greater adjustments at the trunk and
      pelvis to achieve successful obstacle crossing. The increase in trunk movement
      could have been compensatory for reduced stability distally or for a primary
      problem reflecting poor proximal control. The findings suggest that
      rehabilitation should focus on both proximal trunk control and distal stability
      to improve balance.

PMID- 26893507
TI  - Effects of Pilates-Based Core Stability Training in Ambulant People With Multiple
      Sclerosis: Multicenter, Assessor-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pilates exercise is often undertaken by people with multiple
      sclerosis (MS) who have balance and mobility difficulties. OBJECTIVES: The
      primary aim of the study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of Pilates
      exercises with relaxation on balance and mobility. Secondary aims were: (1) to
      compare standardized exercises with relaxation and (2) to compare Pilates
      exercises with standardized exercises. METHODS: A multicenter, assessor-blinded,
      randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants with Expanded Disability
      Status Scale scores of 4.0 to 6.5 were randomly allocated to groups receiving 12
      weeks of Pilates exercises, standardized exercises, or relaxation. Assessments
      were undertaken at baseline and weeks 12 and 16 (primary outcome measure: 10
      Meter Timed Walk Test [10MTW]). RESULTS: One hundred participants (mean age=54
      years, 74% female) were randomized to study groups. Six participants relapsed
      (withdrew from the study), leaving 94 participants for intention-to-treat
      analysis. There was no significant difference in mean 10MTW measurements between
      the Pilates and relaxation groups. At 12 weeks, there was a mean reduction of 4.2
      seconds for the standardized exercise group compared with the relaxation group
      (95% confidence interval [relaxation group minus standardized exercise group
      measurements]=0.0, 8.4) and a mean reduction of 3.7 seconds for the Pilates group
      compared with the standardized exercise group (95% confidence interval [Pilates
      group minus standardized exercise group measurements]=-0.4 to 7.8). At 16 weeks,
      mean 10MTW times for the standardized exercise group remained quicker than those
      for the Pilates and relaxation groups, although the differences were
      nonsignificant. There were no significant differences between the Pilates and
      relaxation groups for any secondary outcome measure. LIMITATIONS: In this study,
      therapists were limited to a standardized basket of exercises that may have
      affected the study outcomes. Furthermore, choosing measures such as posturography
      to assess balance, accelerometry to assess walking, or a specific trunk
      assessment scale might have been more responsive in detecting changes in outcome.
      CONCLUSION: Participants did not improve significantly, either in the short term
      or at the 4-week follow-up, on the 10MTW after 12 weeks of Pilates exercises
      compared with 12 weeks of relaxation.

PMID- 26893504
TI  - NF-kappaB Signaling Pathway in Controlling Intervertebral Disk Cell Response to
      Inflammatory and Mechanical Stressors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) has a greater than 90%
      lifetime incidence and is one of the leading causes of chronic back pain in the
      United States. Despite the high societal cost of IDD, there is limited
      understanding of the biological effects of mechanical overloading on further
      degeneration. The transcription factor NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) has been
      implicated as a key mediator of disk cell response to inflammatory and mechanical
      stresses and represents a potential control point. OBJECTIVE: The study objective
      was to measure the effect of NF-kappaB signaling pathway inhibition on annulus
      fibrosus (AF) cell matrix synthesis and gene expression under conditions of
      combined inflammatory and mechanical stimulation. METHODS: Annulus fibrosus cells
      were harvested from rabbit intervertebral disks and grown in vitro on flexible
      plates. The cells were exposed to inflammatory and mechanical stimulation for 24
      hours with and without NF-kappaB inhibition. Nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB
      was measured via immunofluorescent staining. Intervertebral disk cell homeostasis
      was assessed via inflammatory, anabolic, and catabolic gene expression and via
      matrix synthetic ability. RESULTS: NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in response to
      interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) was reversed with exposure to NF-kappaB inhibition.
      NF-kappaB inhibition decreased matrix metalloproteinase-3, inducible nitric oxide
      synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression and prostaglandin E2 production
      response to combined inflammatory and mechanical stimulation. Proteoglycan and
      collagen synthesis were decreased by combined stimulation, but this effect was
      not reversed by NF-kappaB inhibition. LIMITATIONS: In vitro modeling of
      conditions within the disk may not fully reflect the response that AF cells have
      in native matrix. CONCLUSIONS: NF-kappaB signaling mediates catabolic and
      inflammatory responses to inflammatory and mechanical stimulation but does not
      mediate the decrease in matrix synthesis under combined harmful stimulation.
      Identification of key control points in the cellular responses to inflammatory
      and mechanical stimuli will facilitate rational design of exercise-based
      therapies and facilitate synergistic treatments of novel biochemical treatments
      with rehabilitation regimens.

PMID- 26893508
TI  - Medial Longitudinal Arch Development of Children Aged 7 to 9 Years: Longitudinal
      Investigation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It is unclear at what age the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the
      foot becomes stable in children. The influence of footwear on MLA development
      also is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the MLA
      development of children using a longitudinal approach. The relationship between
      wearing different types of footwear and MLA development also was explored
      longitudinally. DESIGN: This was a longitudinal cohort observational study.
      METHODS: The MLA of 111 healthy children (mean age=6.9 years, SD=0.3) was
      evaluated using 3 parameters (arch index [AI], midfoot peak pressure [PP], and
      maximum force [MF]) extracted from dynamic foot loading measurements at baseline
      (t0), 10-month follow-up (t1), and 22-month follow-up (t2). Information on
      footwear usage was surveyed. Linear mixed modeling was used to test for
      differences in MLA over time. RESULTS: The MLA of the children remained stable
      over time (AI: t0/t1/t2=0.25 [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.24, 0.26]/0.25 [95%
      CI=0.24, 0.26]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.26]; P=.95). When the children's sex was
      considered, the AI of boys decreased (higher arch) with age (0.26 [95% CI=0.24,
      0.27]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.27]/0.25 [95% CI=0.23, 0.27]; P=.02). Boys also
      displayed a flatter MLA than girls at age 6.9 years (AI: mean difference=0.02
      [95% CI=0.01, 0.04]; P=.02). At baseline, children who wore closed-toe shoes
      displayed the lowest MLA overall (AI: closed-toe shoes/sandals/slippers=0.26 [95%
      CI=0.24, 0.28]/0.24 [95% CI=0.23, 0.25]/0.25 [95% CI=0.24, 0.26]; P<.01).
      Children who used slippers at toddlers' age experienced a higher PP (flatter
      arch) in later childhood than those who wore sandals (mean difference=31.60 kPa
      [95% CI=1.44, 61.75]; post hoc P=.04). LIMITATIONS: Information on the type of
      footwear worn was self-reported and, therefore, may be subjected to recall bias.
      CONCLUSIONS: The MLA of children remained stable from 7 to 9 years of age. The
      child's sex and the type of footwear worn during childhood may influence MLA
      development.

PMID- 26893510
TI  - Coordination and Symmetry Patterns During the Drop Vertical Jump in People With
      Chronic Ankle Instability and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The drop vertical jump (DVJ) task has previously been used to
      identify movement patterns associated with a number of injury types. However, no
      current research exists evaluating people with chronic ankle instability (CAI)
      compared with people coping with lateral ankle sprain (LAS) (referred to as "LAS
      copers") during this task. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the
      coping movement and motor control patterns of LAS copers in comparison with
      individuals with CAI during the DVJ task. DESIGN: This was a case-control study.
      METHODS: Seventy individuals were recruited at convenience within 2-weeks of
      sustaining a first-time acute LAS injury. One year following recruitment, these
      individuals were stratified into 2 groups: 28 with CAI and 42 LAS copers. They
      attended the testing laboratory to complete a DVJ task. Three-dimensional
      kinematic and sagittal-plane kinetic profiles were plotted for the lower
      extremity joints of both limbs for the drop jump phase (phase 1) and drop landing
      phase (phase 2) of the DVJ. The rate of impact modulation relative to body weight
      during both phases of the DVJ also was determined. RESULTS: Compared with LAS
      copers, participants with CAI displayed significant increases in hip flexion on
      their "involved" limb during phase 1 of the DVJ (23 degrees  vs 18 degrees ) and
      bilaterally during phase 2 (15 degrees  vs 10 degrees ). These movement patterns
      coincided with altered moment-of-force patterns at the hip on the "uninvolved"
      limb. LIMITATIONS: It is unknown whether these movement and motor control
      patterns preceded or occurred as a result of the initial LAS injury. CONCLUSIONS:
      Participants with CAI displayed hip-centered changes in movement and motor
      control patterns during a DVJ task compared with LAS copers. The findings of this
      study may give an indication of the coping mechanism underlying outcome following
      initial LAS injury.

PMID- 26893509
TI  - Dietary Protein Intake and Lean Muscle Mass in Survivors of Childhood Acute
      Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Report From the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk
      for low lean muscle mass and muscle weakness, which may contribute to inactivity
      and early development of chronic diseases typically seen in older adults.
      Although increasing protein intake, in combination with resistance training,
      improves lean muscle mass in other populations, it is not known whether muscular
      tissue among survivors of ALL, whose impairments are treatment-related, will
      respond similarly. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate associations
      among dietary protein intake, resistance training, and lean muscle mass in
      survivors of ALL and age-, sex-, and race-matched controls. DESIGN: This was a
      cross-sectional study. METHODS: Lean muscle mass was determined with dual-energy
      x-ray absorptiometry, dietary information with 24-hour recalls, and participation
      in resistance training with a questionnaire. Participants were 365 survivors of
      ALL (52% male; 87% white; median age=28.5 years, range=23.6-31.7) and 365
      controls with no previous cancer. RESULTS: Compared with controls, survivors of
      ALL had lower lean muscle mass (55.0 versus 57.2 kg, respectively) and lower
      percentage of lean muscle mass (68.6% versus 71.4%, respectively) than controls.
      Similar proportions of survivors (71.1%) and controls (69.7%) met recommended
      dietary protein intake (0.8 g/kg/d). Survivors (45.4%) were less likely to report
      resistance training than controls (53.8%). In adjusted models, 1-g higher protein
      intake per kilogram of body mass per day was associated with a 7.9% increase and
      resistance training >=1*wk, with a 2.8% increase in lean muscle mass.
      LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional study design limits temporal evaluation of the
      association between protein intake and lean muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: The
      findings suggest that survivors of childhood ALL with low lean muscle mass may
      benefit from optimizing dietary protein intake in combination with resistance
      training. Research is needed to determine whether resistance training with
      protein supplementation improves lean muscle mass in survivors of childhood ALL.

PMID- 26893513
TI  - Financial incentives and mortality: taking pay for performance a step too far.

PMID- 26893511
TI  - Diaphragm Pacing as a Rehabilitative Tool for Patients With Pompe Disease Who Are
      Ventilator-Dependent: Case Series.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pompe disease is an inherited disorder notable for
      severe, progressive ventilatory compromise. Although ventilatory failure has been
      attributed to myofiber dysfunction secondary to diaphragmatic glycogen
      accumulation, neural involvement of the phrenic motor system is also a prominent
      feature. Direct diaphragm pacing supplements respiratory function in other
      disorders of the phrenic motor system. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that
      augmented neuromuscular activity via diaphragm pacing would promote weaning from
      mechanical ventilation in patients with Pompe disease who are unresponsive to
      conventional, muscle-directed treatments. CASE DESCRIPTION: Three patients with
      Pompe disease developed diaphragm paresis that resulted in chronic mechanical
      ventilation dependence. After preoperative inspiratory muscle strengthening
      exercises failed to improve function, fine-wire pacing electrodes were
      laparoscopically implanted into the diaphragm. Diaphragm conditioning was
      initiated the first postoperative week and consisted of gradual increases in
      stimulation parameters, lengthening of stimulation sessions, and ventilator
      weaning. Ventilation and intramuscular electromyographic activity were recorded
      periodically during conditioning to quantify diaphragm neuromuscular function.
      OUTCOMES: During paced breathing without mechanical ventilation, tidal volumes
      increased, and 2 patients were weaned from daytime ventilator dependence within
      the first 3 months of pacing, which has been sustained over the long-term. A
      third patient reduced reliance on daytime ventilation, but weaning was delayed by
      malacia of the large airways. In all patients, pacing appeared to facilitate
      spontaneous phrenic motor unit activity during independent breathing without
      ventilator or pacer support. DISCUSSION: The findings are consistent with the
      view that diaphragm pacing has potential rehabilitative value to reduce reliance
      on mechanical ventilation in people with Pompe disease, but further study is
      needed. Diaphragm pacing represents a paradigm shift in the management of
      respiratory insufficiency for Pompe disease that warrants further controlled
      examination.

PMID- 26893512
TI  - Balancing stakeholder needs in the evaluation of healthcare quality improvement.
AB  - Quality improvement (QI) efforts affect a broader range of people than we often
      assume. These are the potential stakeholders for QI and its evaluation, and they
      have valuable perspectives to offer when they are consulted in planning,
      conducting and interpreting evaluations. QI practitioners are accustomed to
      consulting stakeholders to assess unintended consequences or assess patient
      experiences of care, but in many cases there are additional benefits to a broad
      inclusion of stakeholders. These benefits are better adherence to ethical
      standards, to assure that all legitimate interests take part, more useful and
      relevant evaluation information and better political buy-in to improve impact.
      Balancing various stakeholder needs for information requires skill for both
      politics and research management. These challenges have few pat answers, but
      several preferred practices, which are illustrated with practical examples.

PMID- 26893514
TI  - Towards evidence based medicine for paediatricians.

PMID- 26893515
TI  - QUESTION 2: Vaccinating preterm infants in resource-poor settings: what is the
      incidence of apnoea, bradycardia and need for respiratory support?

PMID- 26893518
TI  - The role of toll like receptors in giant cell arteritis.
AB  - GCA is a common primary systemic vasculitis that results in granulomatous
      inflammation of medium to large arteries. Both innate and adaptive immune
      mechanisms combine to drive intimal hyperplasia, luminal stenosis and ultimately
      occlusion. While the pathogenesis of GCA is incompletely understood, the
      activation of resident adventitial dendritic cells via toll like receptors (TLRs)
      appears to be a crucial inciting event. Here we explore the role of TLRs in the
      pathogenesis of GCA, including their effects on dendritic cell and T cell
      activation and recruitment, putative infectious triggers for GCA and the
      potential of TLR inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in GCA.

PMID- 26893519
TI  - Cohort study to test the predictability of the NHS Institute for Innovation and
      Improvement Paediatric Early Warning System.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the predictability of the National Health Service Institute
      for Innovation and Improvement (NHSIII) Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS)
      score to identify children at risk of developing critical illness. DESIGN: Cohort
      study. SETTING: Admissions to all paediatric wards at the University Hospital of
      Wales between 1 December 2005 and 30 November 2006. OUTCOME MEASURES: Unscheduled
      paediatric high dependency unit (PHDU) admission, paediatric intensive care unit
      (PICU) admission and death. RESULTS: There were 9075 clinical observations from
      1000 children. An NHSIII PEWS score of 2 or more, which triggers review, has a
      sensitivity of 73.2% (95% CI 62.2% to 82.4%), specificity of 75.2% (95% CI 74.3%
      to 76.1%), positive predictive value (PPV) of 2.6% (95% CI 2.0% to 3.4%),
      negative predictive value of 99.7% (95% CI 99.5% to 99.8%) and positive
      likelihood ratio of 3.0 (95% CI 2.6 to 3.4) for predicting PHDU admission, PICU
      admission or death. Six (37.5%) of the 16 children with an adverse outcome did
      not have an abnormal NHSIII PEWS score. The area under the receiver operating
      characteristic curve for the NHSIII PEWS score was 0.83 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.88).
      CONCLUSIONS: The NHSIII PEWS has a low PPV and its full implementation would
      result in a large number of false positive triggers. The issue with PEWS scores
      or triggers is neither their sensitivity nor children with high scores which
      require clinical interventions who are not 'false positives'; but their low
      specificity and low PPV arising from the large number of children with low but
      raised scores.

PMID- 26893520
TI  - Variation in practice remains in the UK management of paediatric febrile
      neutropenia.

PMID- 26893521
TI  - Kerion celsi: a misdiagnosed scalp infection.

PMID- 26893522
TI  - QUESTION 2: Does amoxicillin exposure increase the risk of rash in children with
      acute Epstein-Barr virus infection?

PMID- 26893523
TI  - Factors That Influence the Decision to Undergo Labiaplasty: Media, Relationships,
      and Psychological Well-Being.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An increasing number of women are undergoing labiaplasty procedures;
      however, very little is known about the psychological factors that motivate women
      to seek out this procedure. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors that influence
      women's decisions to undergo labiaplasty. METHODS: Women seeking to undergo
      labiaplasty (n = 35) were compared with women who were not (n = 30). Standardized
      measures were employed to assess the patients' media exposure (television, the
      Internet, advertising, pornography), relationship quality, and psychological well
      being. RESULTS: Women's motivations for deciding to undergo a labiaplasty
      procedure were characterized as "appearance," "functional," "sexual," or
      "psychological" motivations, with concerns about the labia's appearance being the
      most commonly reported motivation. Correspondingly, women seeking labiaplasty
      were significantly less satisfied with the appearance of their genitals than the
      comparison group (P < .001). These women had also experienced greater exposure to
      images of female genitalia on the Internet (P = .004) and in advertisements (P =
      .021), and had internalized these images to a greater extent (P = .010). There
      were no differences between the two groups on the measures of relationship
      quality. However, significantly fewer of the women seeking to undergo a
      labiaplasty procedure were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the
      study (P = .039). There were also no differences between the two groups on the
      measures of psychological well-being, except that women seeking to undergo
      labiaplasty were less satisfied with their lives overall (P = .027). CONCLUSIONS:
      The findings identified media exposure and relationship status as important
      factors that influence women's decisions to undergo labiaplasty. LEVEL OF
      EVIDENCE: 3 Risk.

PMID- 26893524
TI  - The Safe Labiaplasty: A Study of Nerve Density in Labia Minora and Its
      Implications.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical techniques to alleviate labia minora hypertrophy are gaining
      popularity. Due to the rapidly growing number of labiaplasties performed around
      the world, there is concern for the safety of these procedures with respect to
      maintaining sensitivity to the genitalia and/or implications for sexual arousal.
      OBJECTIVES: An anatomic study aimed at identifying the nerve density distribution
      of the labia minora was performed to provide unique insight into performing
      labiaplasty while preserving sensation. METHODS: Four fresh tissue cadaver labia
      minora were analyzed. Each labia minora was divided into 6 anatomic areas. The
      samples from each of the 6 anatomic locations were analyzed for presence of nerve
      bundles using both a routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and a confirmatory
      immunohistochemical staining for S100 protein. Nerve density was analyzed under
      light microscopy, counted, and then expressed as percentage nerve density as well
      as number of bundles per square millimeter. RESULTS: Upon gross analysis, the raw
      data reveal that labia minora have a heterogeneous population of sensory nerves.
      When looking at percent nerve density, the data do not reveal any statistical
      differences between the anatomic locations. CONCLUSIONS: Most labiaplasty
      techniques can be performed safely and are unlikely to cause loss of sensation as
      the nerve density distribution in labia minora is heterogeneous.

PMID- 26893525
TI  - Commentary on: Factors That Influence the Decision to Seek Labiaplasty: Media,
      Relationships, and Psychological Well-Being.

PMID- 26893526
TI  - Tree-based methods for individualized treatment regimes.
AB  - Individualized treatment rules recommend treatments on the basis of individual
      patient characteristics. A high-quality treatment rule can produce better patient
      outcomes, lower costs and less treatment burden. If a treatment rule learned from
      data is to be used to inform clinical practice or provide scientific insight, it
      is crucial that it be interpretable; clinicians may be unwilling to implement
      models they do not understand, and black-box models may not be useful for guiding
      future research. The canonical example of an interpretable prediction model is a
      decision tree. We propose a method for estimating an optimal individualized
      treatment rule within the class of rules that are representable as decision
      trees. The class of rules we consider is interpretable but expressive. A novel
      feature of this problem is that the learning task is unsupervised, as the optimal
      treatment for each patient is unknown and must be estimated. The proposed method
      applies to both categorical and continuous treatments and produces favourable
      marginal mean outcomes in simulation experiments. We illustrate it using data
      from a study of major depressive disorder.

PMID- 26893527
TI  - Chemical Extractability of Pb in Field-Contaminated Soils: Implications for
      Estimating Total Pb.
AB  - Lead (Pb) is frequently present in urban soils at concentrations of concern for
      human health. Regulations for this metal are based on total soil concentrations
      as determined by acid digestion, but a less expensive screening test for Pb would
      be useful in facilitating more thorough soil testing of urban areas if it could
      be shown to correlate strongly to total soil Pb. In this study, three extractants
      (0.1 M citrate, Modified Morgan, 1 M nitric acid) were evaluated for their
      ability to estimate the total Pb in contaminated soils. Nitric acid not only
      extracted a greater fraction of total soil Pb, but also produced the strongest
      correlation to total Pb and is concluded to be the superior extractant for a soil
      Pb screening test. As the spatial distribution of Pb was observed in selected
      soils to be highly heterogeneous on the micron scale, thorough soil
      homogenization prior to testing is recommended.

PMID- 26893528
TI  - How Do Spherical Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles Grow during RAFT Alcoholic
      Dispersion Polymerization?
AB  - A poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMA) chain transfer agent (CTA) is
      used for the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) alcoholic
      dispersion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) in ethanol at 70  degrees
      C. THF GPC analysis indicated a well-controlled polymerization with molecular
      weight increasing linearly with conversion. GPC traces also showed high blocking
      efficiency with no homopolymer contamination apparent and Mw/Mn values below 1.35
      in all cases. 1H NMR studies confirmed greater than 98% BzMA conversion for a
      target PBzMA degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 600. The PBzMA block becomes
      insoluble as it grows, leading to the in situ formation of sterically stabilized
      diblock copolymer nanoparticles via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA).
      Fixing the mean DP of the PDMA stabilizer block at 94 units and systematically
      varying the DP of the PBzMA block enabled a series of spherical nanoparticles of
      tunable diameter to be obtained. These nanoparticles were characterized by TEM,
      DLS, MALLS, and SAXS, with mean diameters ranging from 35 to 100 nm. The latter
      technique was particularly informative: data fits to a spherical micelle model
      enabled calculation of the core diameter, surface area occupied per copolymer
      chain, and the mean aggregation number (Nagg). The scaling exponent derived from
      a double-logarithmic plot of core diameter vs PBzMA DP suggests that the
      conformation of the PBzMA chains is intermediate between the collapsed and fully
      extended state. This is in good agreement with 1H NMR studies, which suggest that
      only 5-13% of the BzMA residues of the core-forming chains are solvated. The Nagg
      values calculated from SAXS and MALLS are in good agreement and scale
      approximately linearly with PBzMA DP. This suggests that spherical micelles grow
      in size not only as a result of the increase in copolymer molecular weight during
      the PISA synthesis but also by exchange of individual copolymer chains between
      micelles and/or by sphere-sphere fusion events.

PMID- 26893529
TI  - delta13C and Water Use Efficiency in the Glucose of Annual Pine Tree Rings as
      Ecological Indicators of the Forests in the Most Industrialized Part of Poland.
AB  - In this study, stable carbon isotope ratios in the glucose samples were extracted
      from annual pine tree rings as bio-indicators of contemporary environmental
      changes in heavily urbanized areas. The sampling sites were located in close
      proximity to point source pollution emitters, such as a heat and power plant
      "Laziska" and steelworks "Huta Katowice" in Silesia (Poland). The analysed
      samples covered the time span from 1975 to 2012 AD, the time period of the
      development of industrialization and the modernization in the industrial sector
      in Poland, similarly as in Eastern Europe. This modernization was connected with
      EU legislation and the implementation of restrictive governmental regulations on
      emissions. The carbon isotope discrimination has been proposed as a method for
      evaluating water use efficiency. The measurements of carbon isotopes were carried
      out using the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to the
      elemental analyser. The delta13C values were calibrated relative to the C-3 and C
      5 international standards. Diffuse air pollution caused the variation in delta13C
      and iWUE (the ratio between CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance) dependency
      on the type of emitter and some local effects of other human activities. In this
      study, the first results of water use efficiency in glucose are presented. In the
      period of time from 1975 to 2012, the water use efficiency values increased from
      98 to 122 MUmol/mol.

PMID- 26893530
TI  - Direct and Indirect Links between Peer Factors and Adolescent Adjustment
      Difficulties.
AB  - The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the role of emotion
      regulation in the link between peer factors and adolescent adjustment
      difficulties. The sample consisted of 206 adolescents (ages 10-18 years) and
      parents. Peer factors (i.e., peer antisocial behavior, peer co-rumination, peer
      emotion regulation) and youth depressive symptoms were based on youth reports.
      Youth emotion regulation and antisocial behavior were assessed using parent and
      youth ratings. Results showed that peer antisocial behavior was directly (but not
      indirectly) related to youth antisocial behavior and depressive symptoms, whereas
      peer emotion regulation was indirectly (but not directly) related to both
      adolescent outcomes. In addition, peer co-rumination was indirectly related to
      youth antisocial behavior and directly and indirectly related to youth depressive
      symptoms. In general, the results indicated little evidence of moderation by
      adolescent age, sex, or ethnic differences. Implications for peer relationships
      as socialization contexts are discussed.

PMID- 26893531
TI  - Evaluating the Grammars of Children Who Speak Nonmainstream Dialects of English.
AB  - In this article, we review three responses to the study and evaluation of grammar
      in children who speak nonmainstream dialects of English. Then we introduce a
      fourth, system-based response that views nonmainstream dialects of English, such
      as African American English (AAE) and Southern White English (SWE) as made up of
      dialect-specific and dialect-universal features. To illustrate the usefulness of
      a system-based approach and to distinguish our two terms from others in the
      dialect literature, we present AAE and SWE relative clause data from two
      previously published studies. Following this, we present new findings from AAE-
      and SWE-speaking children's use of past tense and past participles to further
      demonstrate the value of examining larger units (i.e., systems) of a grammar to
      identify a child's language strengths and weaknesses. We conclude by arguing that
      a system-based approach moves clinicians, educators, and researchers beyond a
      preoccupation with the nonmainstream aspects of children's dialects while also
      moving us beyond Brown's 14 morphemes. Although the focus of the article is on
      assessment, the content is relevant to the treatment of grammar because effective
      promotion of any child's grammar (including the grammars of those who speak
      nonmainstream dialects of English) will occur only when clinicians, educators,
      and researchers begin to view the child's grammar as a system rather than as a
      sum of its parts.

PMID- 26893532
TI  - Caught in the act: phenotypic consequences of a recent shift in feeding strategy
      of the shark barnacle Anelasma squalicola (Loven, 1844).
AB  - Anelasma squalicola is a barnacle found attached to deep-water lantern sharks of
      the family Etmopteridae and is the only known cirriped on fish hosts. While A.
      squalicola is equipped with mouth and thoracic appendages (cirri), which are used
      for suspension feeding in conventional barnacles, its attachment device
      (peduncle) appears to have evolved into a feeding device, embedded into the
      tissue of its host. Here we demonstrate, through comparisons of the feeding
      apparatuses between A. squalicola and conventional suspension-feeding barnacles,
      that mouthparts and cirri of A. squalicola are highly reduced, and incapable of
      suspension-feeding activities. We show that in conventional suspension-feeding
      barnacles strong symmetries exist within these vital trophic structures. In A.
      squalicola strong asymmetries are widespread, indicating that those structures
      have been uncoupled from natural selection. The digestive tract is consistently
      empty, suggesting that feeding via cirri does not occur in A. squalicola. In
      addition, comparisons of stable isotope ratios (delta13C and delta15N) between A.
      squalicola, its shark host, and a conventional suspending feeding barnacle
      indicate that A. squalicola is taking nutrition directly from its host shark and
      not from the surrounding water. Our results strongly indicate that this barnacle
      has abandoned suspension feeding and now solely relies on obtaining nutrition
      from its host by a de novo evolved feeding mechanism.

PMID- 26893533
TI  - Comparative morphology of the forewing base articulation in Sternorrhyncha
      compared with a representative of Fulgoromorpha (Insecta, Hemiptera).
AB  - The forewing articulation of single species from each of the four subgroups of
      Sternorrhyncha (Aleyrodomorpha, Aphidomorpha, Coccomorpha, Psyllomorpha) was
      examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The species were compared
      with a species of Cixiidae (Fulgoromorpha), as an outgroup of Sternorrhyncha. We
      present the results of a comparative analysis of the forewing articulation in
      these five groups, propose a standardized terminology and compare our findings
      with those previously reported. The wing base of all examined species is composed
      of the following structures: anterior and posterior notal wing process, first,
      second, and third axillary sclerites, tegula, and axillary cord. The number of
      elements included in the wing base and the surrounding area is the greatest in
      Cacopsyllamali, the most complicated species from Sternorrhyncha. Based on the
      shape of axillary sclerites and the number of elements forming the wing base
      environment, Orthezia urticae (Coccomorpha) and Cixius nervosus (Fulgoromorpha)
      are the most similar. Among Sternorrhyncha, the most similar axillaries are those
      of Aphis fabae and Orthezia urticae, which is congruent with existing
      classifications. In this paper we show that the four groups from Sternorrhyncha
      exhibit their own distinct wing base morphology.

PMID- 26893534
TI  - Can orbital angle morphology distinguish dogs from wolves?
AB  - For more than a century, the orbital angle has been studied by many authors to
      distinguish dog skulls from their progenitor, the wolf. In early studies, the
      angle was reported to be different between dogs (49 degrees -55 degrees ) and
      wolves (39 degrees -46 degrees ). This clear difference was, however, questioned
      in a more recent Scandinavian study that shows some overlap. It is clear that in
      all studies several methodological issues were unexplored or unclear and that
      group sizes and the variety of breeds and wolf subspecies were small.
      Archaeological dog skulls had also not been studied. Our goal was to test larger
      and more varied groups and add archaeological samples as they are an evolutionary
      stage between wolves and modern dogs. We also tested the influence of measuring
      methods, intra- and inter-reliability, angle symmetry, the influence of
      variations in skull position and the possibility of measuring and comparing this
      angle on 3D CT scan images. Our results indicate that there is about 50 % overlap
      between the angle range in wolves and modern dogs. However, skulls with a very
      narrow orbital angle were only found in wolves and those with a very wide angle
      only in dogs. Archaeological dogs have a mean angle very close to the one of the
      wolves. Symmetry is highest in wolves and lowest in archaeological dogs. The
      measuring method is very reliable, for both inter- and intra-reliability (0.99
      0.97), and most skull position changes have no statistical influence on the angle
      measured. Three-dimensional CT scan images can be used to measure OA, but the
      angles differ from direct measuring and cannot be used for comparison.
      Evolutionary changes in dog skulls responsible for the wider OA compared to wolf
      skulls are mainly the lateralisation of the zygomatic process of the frontal
      bone. Our conclusion is that the orbital angle can be used as an additional
      morphological measuring method to discern wolves from recent and archaeological
      dogs. Angles above 60 degrees  are certainly from recent dogs. Angles under 35
      degrees  are certainly of wolves.

PMID- 26893535
TI  - Identifying the role of phonology in sentence-level reading.
AB  - Phonological properties of the words in a sentence have been shown to affect
      processing fluency and comprehension. However, the exact role of phonology in
      sentence comprehension remains unclear. If constituents are stored in working
      memory during routine processing and accessed through their phonological code,
      phonological information may exert a pervasive influence on post-lexical
      comprehension processes such as retrieval for thematic integration. On the other
      hand, if access to constituents in memory during parsing is guided primarily by
      syntactic and semantic information, the parser should be isolated from
      phonologically based effects. In two self-paced reading experiments, we tested
      whether phonological overlap between distractors and a retrieval target caused
      retrieval interference during thematic integration. We found that phonological
      overlap creates difficulty during the initial encoding of the filler, but there
      was no evidence that phonological overlap caused later interference when the
      filler was retrieved for thematic integration. Despite effects at encoding,
      phonological interference did not have a detrimental effect on comprehension.
      These results suggest that phonological information is not used as a retrieval
      cue during routine dependency construction in incremental sentence processing. We
      conclude by considering the potential importance of phonology in parsing under
      conditions of extraordinary syntactic and/or semantic interference.

PMID- 26893536
TI  - On the use of the serial dilution culture method to enumerate viable
      phytoplankton in natural communities of plankton subjected to ballast water
      treatment.
AB  - Discharge standards for ballast water treatment (BWT) systems are based on
      concentrations of living cells, for example, as determined with vital stains.
      Ultraviolet radiation (UV) stops the reproduction of microorganisms without
      killing them outright; they are living, but not viable, and ecologically as good
      as dead. Consequently, UV-treated discharge can be compliant with the intent of
      regulation while failing a live/dead test. An alternative evaluation of BWT can
      be proposed based on the assessment of viable, rather than living, cells in
      discharge water. In principle, the serial dilution culture-most probable number
      (SDC-MPN) method provides the appropriate measure for phytoplankton. But, the
      method has been criticized, particularly because it is thought that many
      phytoplankton species cannot be cultured. A review of the literature shows that
      although SDC-MPN has been used for more than 50 years-generally to identify and
      count phytoplankton species that cannot be preserved-its application to enumerate
      total viable phytoplankton seems to be new, putting past criticisms of the method
      in a different light. Importantly, viable cells need to grow only enough to be
      detected, not to be brought into sustained culture, and competition between
      species in a dilution tube is irrelevant as long as the winner is detectable.
      Thorough consideration of sources of error leads to recommendations for
      minimizing and quantifying uncertainties by optimizing growth conditions and
      conducting systematic comparisons. We conclude that with careful evaluation, SDC
      MPN is potentially an effective method for assessing the viability of
      phytoplankton after BWT.

PMID- 26893538
TI  - Leadership, OCB and Individual Differences: Idiocentrism and Allocentrism as
      Moderators of the Relationship between Transformational and Transactional
      Leadership and OCB.
AB  - We propose and test a framework which suggests that the relationships between
      leadership styles and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCB) are contingent
      upon employee cultural-based individual differences. More specifically, we
      examine whether followers' idiocentrism and allocentrism moderate the
      relationship between transformational and transactional leadership and followers'
      OCB. Survey data, collected from a sample of school teachers and their principals
      from the Israeli kibbutzim and urban sectors, support our hypotheses. We found
      the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB to be positive to
      the extent that allocentrism increases, and negative to the extent that
      idiocentrism increases. We also found the relationship between transactional
      leadership and OCB to be positive to the extent that idiocentrism increases and
      negative to the extent that allocentrism increases. Implications of these
      findings for research and practice are discussed.

PMID- 26893537
TI  - Efficient, Traceless Semi-Synthesis of alpha-Synuclein Labeled with a
      Fluorophore/Thioamide FRET Pair.
AB  - We have shown that thioamides can be incorporated into proteins through semi
      synthesis and used as probes to monitor structural changes. To date, our methods
      have required the presence of a cysteine at the peptide ligation site, which may
      not be present in the native peptide sequence. Here, we present a strategy for
      the semi-synthesis of thioproteins using homocysteine as a ligation point with
      subsequent masking as methionine, making the ligation "traceless."

PMID- 26893539
TI  - The emotional and physical impact of wet age-related macular degeneration:
      findings from the wAMD Patient and Caregiver Survey.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This was a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the physical and
      emotional impact of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) on a global
      cohort of patients who were receiving (or had previously received) antivascular
      endothelial growth factor injections, and caregivers (paid and unpaid). METHODS:
      The survey was performed in nine countries using an ophthalmologist-devised
      questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 910 patients and 890 caregivers completed the
      questionnaire. Most patients had been diagnosed and receiving antivascular
      endothelial growth factor injections for more than 1 year (74.7% and 63.8%,
      respectively), and many patients (82.1%) received support from a caregiver
      (usually a child/grandchild [47.3%] or partner [23.3%]). wAMD had a negative
      impact on most patients (71.6%); many rated fear (44.9%), sadness (39.9%),
      frustration (37.3%), and depression (34.0%) as common. It was linked to physical
      consequences, such as difficulty in reading (61.1%). Many effects were
      significantly greater in patients with a longer duration of disease or with wAMD
      in both eyes. Some caregivers (unpaid) also reported that caregiving had a
      negative impact on them (31.1%); many reported emotions such as sadness (34.9%)
      and depression (24.4%), but many also felt useful (48.4%). Overall, 27.2% of
      caregivers (unpaid) rated caregiving as inconvenient; this was linked to days of
      employment/personal obligations missed. CONCLUSION: wAMD has a significant
      negative impact on the lives of patients, including vision-related depression,
      poor mobility, and limitations in day-to-day activities. The impact on
      nonprofessional caregivers may be underestimated in terms of emotional impact
      (such as depression) and loss of productivity.

PMID- 26893540
TI  - Comparison between the EX-PRESS P-50 implant and trabeculectomy in patients with
      open-angle glaucoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the EX-PRESS P-50 implant compared to standard
      trabeculectomy (TBC). METHODS: Single-center prospective randomized study; 20
      eyes of 20 patients were treated with the EX-PRESS P-50 implant, and 20 eyes of
      20 patients with TBC, over a 19-month period. Records of all patients were
      reviewed and compared. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) <21 and
      >5 mmHg or a decrease of 30% of IOP. Failure was defined as >21 mmHg or decline
      in visual acuity. Statistical analysis was made with Student's t-test and chi (2)
      test analyzed with SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 8.6
      months (+/-4.9 months) for the EX-PRESS P-50 group and 9.6 months (+/-5.3 months)
      for the TBC group. The postoperative visual acuity and IOP were not significantly
      different. We report more complications in the EX-PRESS P-50 group. At 3, 6, and
      12 months follow-up, the control group was found to be free of complications,
      whereas multiple complications were observed in the EX-PRESS P-50 group at 3 and
      6 months follow-up. We found no differences in either group with respect to
      success. CONCLUSION: Both procedures are equally effective for the treatment of
      glaucoma, with 80% success in the EX-PRESS P-50 group and 72.7% in the control
      group.

PMID- 26893542
TI  - Antiviral therapy: a perspective.
AB  - This paper discusses extracorporeal removal of viral particles and their antigens
      from the blood as an auxiliary therapy. This hypothesis has not been reported
      before. In some chronic blood-borne viral infections, the virus remains systemic
      and persistent for extended periods of time, with adverse effects that weaken the
      immune system. Blood titers of virus and its toxins are proportional to the
      severity of the disease, and their reduction can alleviate symptoms, leading to
      improved health. Several blood-borne viral infections can be overcome by the
      young, but are life-threatening in the elderly. It is known that some older
      people have extreme difficulty tolerating viral infections such as influenza and
      the common cold. Further, several types of viral infection persist throughout the
      life of the individual and cannot be eliminated by conventional treatments. Well
      known infections of this type include HIV and hepatitis B. In the case of Ebola
      virus, patients remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.
      According to the present hypothesis, an extracorporeal viral antibody column
      (EVAC) is proposed for elimination or reduction of the blood viral titer when
      treating blood-borne viral infection. EVAC would selectively trap viral antigens
      and toxins in the blood into an extracorporeal circuit, while returning
      detoxified blood back to the patient's body. It is anticipated that EVAC would
      reduce mortality caused by blood-borne viral infections in the elderly since
      reduction of blood virus titers would improve health, leading to improved overall
      patient performance. Such enhancement would also make conventional therapies even
      more effective. EVAC could have a lifesaving role in treatment of viral illness,
      especially those involving lethal viruses such as Ebola, where the patient's
      recovery to a large extent depends on their general health status. EVAC would be
      for single use and appropriately disposed of after each detoxification procedure.
      When sufficient research has yielded positive results in animal models, EVAC
      could be used as a supportive treatment in humans along with conventional
      antiviral therapies. EVAC would not be suitable for all viral infections, but
      could be expected to decrease the casualties resulting from blood-borne viral
      infections. The EVAC approach would be efficient in terms of time, effort, and
      expenditure in the research and treatment of blood-borne viral infections. 

PMID- 26893543
TI  - Targeting the D1-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex reduces L-dopa-induced
      dyskinesia in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned Parkinson's rats.
AB  - L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) remains the most effective therapy for
      Parkinson's disease (PD), but its long-term administration is associated with the
      development of debilitating motor complications known as L-dopa-induced
      dyskinesia (LID). Enhanced function of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) and N-methyl-D
      aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is believed to participate in the pathogenesis of LID.
      Given the existence of physical and functional interactions between D1R and
      NMDAR, we explored the effects of uncoupling D1R and NMDA GluN1 (GluN1)
      interaction on LID by using the Tat-conjugated interfering peptide (Tat-D1-t2).
      In this study, we demonstrated in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned PD rat
      model that intrastriatal injection of Tat-D1-t2 alleviated dyskinetic behaviors
      and downregulated the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at Thr34 induced by levodopa.
      Moreover, we also showed intrastriatal administration of Tat-D1-t2 elicited
      alterations in membranous GluN1 and D1R expression. These findings indicate that
      D1R/GluN1 complexes may be a molecular target with therapeutic potential for the
      treatment of dyskinesia in Parkinson's patients.

PMID- 26893544
TI  - Curcumin enhances the cytogenotoxic effect of etoposide in leukemia cells through
      induction of reactive oxygen species.
AB  - Curcumin may exert a more selective cytotoxic effect in tumor cells with elevated
      levels of free radicals. Here, we investigated whether curcumin can modulate
      etoposide action in myeloid leukemia cells and in normal cells of hematopoietic
      origin. HL-60 cell line, normal myeloid progenitor cluster of differentiation
      (CD)-34(+) cells, and granulocytes were incubated for 4 or 24 hours at different
      concentrations of curcumin and/or etoposide. Brown Norway rats with acute myeloid
      leukemia (BNML) were used to prove the influence of curcumin on etoposide action
      in vivo. Rats were treated with curcumin for 23 days and etoposide was
      administered for the final 3 days of the experiment. Curcumin synergistically
      potentiated the cytotoxic effect of etoposide, and it intensified apoptosis and
      phosphorylation of the histone H2AX induced by this cytostatic drug in leukemic
      HL-60 cells. In contrast, curcumin did not significantly modify etoposide-induced
      cytotoxicity and H2AX phosphorylation in normal CD34(+) cells and granulocytes.
      Curcumin modified the cytotoxic action of etoposide in HL-60 cells through
      intensification of free radical production because preincubation with N-acetyl-l
      cysteine (NAC) significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect of curcumin itself and
      a combination of two compounds. In contrast, NAC did not decrease the cytotoxic
      effect of etoposide. Thus, oxidative stress plays a greater role in the cytotoxic
      effect of curcumin than that of etoposide in HL-60 cells. In vitro results were
      confirmed in a BNML model. Pretreatment with curcumin enhanced the antileukemic
      activity of etoposide in BNML rats (1.57-fold tumor reduction versus etoposide
      alone; P<0.05) and induced apoptosis of BNML cells more efficiently than
      etoposide alone (1.54-fold change versus etoposide alone; P<0.05), but this
      treatment protected nonleukemic B-cells from apoptosis. Thus, curcumin can
      increase the antileukemic effect of etoposide through reactive oxygen species in
      sensitive myeloid leukemia cells, and it is harmless to normal human cells. 

PMID- 26893541
TI  - Efficacy and safety of iron-chelation therapy with deferoxamine, deferiprone, and
      deferasirox for the treatment of iron-loaded patients with non-transfusion
      dependent thalassemia syndromes.
AB  - The prevalence rate of thalassemia, which is endemic in Southeast Asia, the
      Middle East, and the Mediterranean, exceeds 100,000 live births per year. There
      are many genetic variants in thalassemia with different pathological severity,
      ranging from a mild and asymptomatic anemia to life-threatening clinical effects,
      requiring lifelong treatment, such as regular transfusions in thalassemia major
      (TM). Some of the thalassemias are non-transfusion-dependent, including many
      thalassemia intermedia (TI) variants, where iron overload is caused by chronic
      increase in iron absorption due to ineffective erythropoiesis. Many TI patients
      receive occasional transfusions. The rate of iron overloading in TI is much
      slower in comparison to TM patients. Iron toxicity in TI is usually manifested by
      the age of 30-40 years, and in TM by the age of 10 years. Subcutaneous
      deferoxamine (DFO), oral deferiprone (L1), and DFO-L1 combinations have been
      effectively used for more than 20 years for the treatment of iron overload in TM
      and TI patients, causing a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality.
      Selected protocols using DFO, L1, and their combination can be designed for
      personalized chelation therapy in TI, which can effectively and safely remove all
      the excess toxic iron and prevent cardiac, liver, and other organ damage. Both L1
      and DF could also prevent iron absorption. The new oral chelator deferasirox
      (DFX) increases iron excretion and decreases liver iron in TM and TI. There are
      drawbacks in the use of DFX in TI, such as limitations related to dose, toxicity,
      and cost, iron load of the patients, and ineffective removal of excess iron from
      the heart. Furthermore, DFX appears to increase iron and other toxic metal
      absorption. Future treatments of TI and related iron-loading conditions could
      involve the use of the iron-chelating drugs and other drug combinations not only
      for increasing iron excretion but also for preventing iron absorption.

PMID- 26893545
TI  - Establishment of a novel therapeutic vector targeting the trigeminal ganglion in
      rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of herpes simplex keratitis, herpes simplex virus
      type 1 (HSV-1) infection begins in corneal epithelium cells and then progresses
      through the sensory nerve endings and finally travels up forward to the
      trigeminal ganglion (TG), where it remains as latent virus. The available anti
      HSV therapies do not completely suppress the recurrence of active HSV-1
      infection. The aim of this study was to establish a novel replication-defective
      (rd) HSV-1 (rdHSV) vector (rdHSV-interferon gamma [IFNgamma]) that could
      effectively target the TG. METHODS: Recombinant HSV-1 virus was inserted into a
      shuttle plasmid carrying IFNgamma to establish the rdHSV-IFNgamma vector. Safety
      was evaluated in vitro by 50% cellular cytotoxicity in transfected SH-SY5Y
      neuroblastoma cells and in vivo by Kaplan-Meier survival estimate and infection
      rate. Wistar rats were immunized with rdHSV-IFNgamma to evaluate the TG targeting
      efficiency. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays were used
      to evaluate IFNgamma mRNA and protein expression and rdHSV-IFNgamma localization.
      RESULTS: The rdHSV-IFNgamma vector was successfully constructed and showed high
      in vitro safety and overall survival and a corneal infection rate similar to that
      of control rats immunized with saline (control group; P>0.05). Real-time
      polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry assays confirmed IFNgamma
      expression and effective TG targeting on days 14 and 21, which increased with
      postimmunization time. Moreover, IFNgamma was expressed sufficiently in the TG
      tissues. CONCLUSION: The rdHSV-IFNgamma can act as an effective gene transporting
      vector that carries the therapeutic genes to the TG and triggers its expression.

PMID- 26893546
TI  - Randomized clinical trial: pharmacokinetics and safety of multimatrix mesalamine
      for treatment of pediatric ulcerative colitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid; 5
      ASA) use in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC). AIM: To evaluate pharmacokinetic
      and safety profiles of 5-ASA and metabolite acetyl-5-ASA (Ac-5-ASA) after once
      daily, oral administration of multimatrix mesalamine to children and adolescents
      with UC. METHODS: Participants (5-17 years of age; 18-82 kg, stratified by
      weight) with UC received multi-matrix mesalamine 30, 60, or 100 mg/kg/day once
      daily (to 4,800 mg/day) for 7 days. Blood samples were collected pre-dose on days
      5 and 6. On days 7 and 8, blood and urine samples were collected and safety was
      evaluated. 5-ASA and Ac-5-ASA plasma and urine concentrations were analyzed by
      non-compartmental methods and used to develop a population pharmacokinetic model.
      RESULTS: Fifty-two subjects (21 [30 mg/kg]; 22 [60 mg/kg]; 9 [100 mg/kg]) were
      randomized. On day 7, systemic exposures of 5-ASA and Ac-5-ASA exhibited a dose
      proportional increase between 30 and 60 mg/kg/day cohorts. For 30, 60, and 100
      mg/kg/day doses, mean percentages of 5-ASA absorbed were 29.4%, 27.0%, and 22.1%,
      respectively. Simulated steady-state exposures and variabilities for 5-ASA and Ac
      5-ASA (coefficient of variation approximately 50% and 40%-45%, respectively) were
      similar to those observed previously in adults at comparable doses. Treatment
      emergent adverse events were reported by ten subjects. Events were similar among
      different doses and age groups with no new safety signals identified. CONCLUSION:
      Children and adolescents with UC receiving multimatrix mesalamine demonstrated 5
      ASA and Ac-5-ASA pharmacokinetic profiles similar to historical adult data.
      Multimatrix mesalamine was well tolerated across all dose and age groups.
      ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01130844.

PMID- 26893547
TI  - Profile of rheumatology patients willing to report adverse drug reactions: bias
      from selective reporting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have a significant impact on human
      health and health care costs. The aims of our study were to determine the profile
      of rheumatology patients willing to report ADRs and to identify bias in such a
      reporting system. METHODS: Semi-intensive ADRs reporting system was used in our
      study. Patients willing to participate (N=261) completed the questionnaire
      designed for the purpose of the study at the hospital admission. They were
      subsequently classified into two groups according to their ability to identify
      whether they had experienced ADRs during the previous month. Group 1 included 214
      out of 261 patients who were able to identify ADRs, and group 2 consisted of 43
      out of 261 patients who were not able to identify ADRs in their recent medical
      history. RESULTS: Group 1 patients were more significantly aware of their
      diagnosis than the patients from group 2. Marginal significance was found between
      rheumatology patients with and without neurological comorbidities regarding their
      awareness of ADRs. The majority of patients reported ADRs of cytotoxic drugs. The
      most reported ADRs were moderate gastrointestinal discomforts. CONCLUSION: We may
      draw a profile of rheumatological patients willing to report ADRs: 1) The
      majority of them suffer from systemic inflammatory diseases and are slightly more
      prone to neurological comorbidities. 2) They are predominantly aware of their
      diagnosis but less able to identify the drugs that may cause their ADRs. 3) They
      tend to report mainly moderate gastrointestinal ADRs; that is, other cohorts of
      patients and other types of ADRs remain mainly undetected in such a reporting,
      which could represent a bias. Counseling and education of patients as well as
      developing a network for online communication might improve patients' reporting
      of potential ADRs.

PMID- 26893548
TI  - Optimal breast cancer screening strategies for older women: current perspectives.
AB  - Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths among older women, aged
      65 years or older. Screening mammography has been shown to be effective in
      reducing breast cancer mortality in women aged 50-74 years but not among those
      aged 75 years or older. Given the large heterogeneity in comorbidity status and
      life expectancy among older women, controversy remains over screening mammography
      in this population. Diminished life expectancy with aging may decrease the
      potential screening benefit and increase the risk of harms. In this review, we
      summarize the evidence on screening mammography utilization, performance, and
      outcomes and highlight evidence gaps. Optimizing the screening strategy will
      involve separating older women who will benefit from screening from those who
      will not benefit by using information on comorbidity status and life expectancy.
      This review has identified areas related to screening mammography in older women
      that warrant additional research, including the need to evaluate emerging
      screening technologies, such as tomosynthesis among older women and precision
      cancer screening. In the absence of randomized controlled trials, the benefits
      and harms of continued screening mammography in older women need to be estimated
      using both population-based cohort data and simulation models. 

PMID- 26893549
TI  - Reasons for elderly patients GP visits: results of a cross-sectional study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the frequency of reasons for
      elderly patients visits to a general practice (GP) setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
      Cross-sectional data from 8,877 randomly selected patients were assessed during a
      1-year period by 209 GPs in the German federal state of Saxony. The reasons for
      visits, performed procedures, and results of visits were documented. In this
      study, the data of patients aged 65 years and older are analyzed and the
      procedural and nonprocedural reasons for visits are described. RESULTS: In all,
      2,866 patients aged 65 years and older were included. The majority of patients
      (1,807) were female. A total of 4,426 reasons for visits were found, distributed
      on 363 International Classification of Primary Care-2 codes. In the mean, there
      were 1.5 reasons for a GP visit from each patient. The top five nonprocedural
      reasons for visiting the GP were: cough (1.8%), back complaints (1.6%), shoulder
      complaints (1.3%), knee complaints (1.1%), and dyspnea (1.0% of all reasons for
      visit). The top five procedural reasons for visiting the GP included follow-up
      investigations of cardiovascular or endocrine disorders and immunizations. The
      top 30 nonprocedural reasons for visits covered 21.9% of all reasons for
      visiting. The top 30 procedural reasons covered 54.3% of all reasons for visits.
      CONCLUSION: The current work indicates that people aged 65 years and older
      consult the GP more frequently for procedural than for nonprocedural reasons. The
      top 30 procedural and nonprocedural reasons for visits cover ~75% of all reasons
      for visits in these patients.

PMID- 26893550
TI  - Association of incidental emphysema with annual lung function decline and future
      development of airflow limitation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Emphysema is one of the prognostic factors for rapid lung function
      decline in patients with COPD, but the impact of incidentally detected emphysema
      on population without spirometric abnormalities has not been evaluated. This
      study aimed to determine whether emphysema detected upon computed tomography (CT)
      screening would accelerate the rate of lung function decline and influence the
      possibility of future development of airflow limitation in a population without
      spirometric abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects who participated in a
      routine screening for health checkup and follow-up pulmonary function tests for
      at least 3 years between 2004 and 2010 were retrospectively enrolled. The
      percentage of low-attenuation area below -950 Hounsfield units (%LAA-950) was
      calculated automatically. A calculated value of %LAA-950 that exceeded 10% was
      defined as emphysema. Adjusted annual lung function decline was analyzed using
      random-slope, random-intercept mixed linear regression models. RESULTS: A total
      of 628 healthy subjects within the normal range of spriometric values were
      included. Multivariable analysis showed that the emphysema group exhibited a
      faster decline in forced vital capacity (-33.9 versus -18.8 mL/year; P=0.02).
      Emphysema was not associated with the development of airflow limitation during
      follow-up. CONCLUSION: Incidental emphysema quantified using CT scan was
      significantly associated with a more rapid decline in forced vital capacity in
      the population with normative spirometric values. However, an association between
      emphysema and future development of airflow limitation was not observed.

PMID- 26893551
TI  - The lung function profile of once-daily tiotropium and olodaterol via
      Respimat((r)) is superior to that of twice-daily salmeterol and fluticasone
      propionate via Accuhaler((r)) (ENERGITO((r)) study).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Tiotropium + olodaterol has demonstrated improvements beyond lung
      function benefits in a large Phase III clinical program as a once-daily
      maintenance treatment for COPD and may be a potential option for the initiation
      of maintenance treatment in COPD. Despite guideline recommendations that combined
      long-acting beta2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids should only be used in
      individuals at high risk of exacerbation, there is substantial use in individuals
      at lower risk. This raises the question of the comparative effectiveness of this
      combination as maintenance treatment in this group compared to other combination
      regimens. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the effect on lung function of
      once-daily tiotropium + olodaterol versus twice-daily salmeterol + fluticasone
      propionate in all participants with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive
      Lung Disease 2 or 3 (moderate to severe) COPD. METHODS: This was a randomized,
      double-blind, double-dummy, four-treatment, complete crossover study in which
      participants received once-daily tiotropium + olodaterol (5/5 ug and 2.5/5 ug)
      via Respimat((r)) and twice-daily salmeterol + fluticasone propionate (50/500 ug
      and 50/250 ug) via Accuhaler((r)) for 6 weeks. The primary end point was change
      in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) area under the curve from 0 hour
      to 12 hours (AUC0-12) relative to the baseline after 6 weeks. RESULTS: Tiotropium
      + olodaterol 5/5 ug and 2.5/5 ug demonstrated statistically significant
      improvements in FEV1 AUC0-12 compared to salmeterol + fluticasone propionate
      (improvements from baseline were 317 mL and 295 mL with tiotropium + olodaterol
      5/5 ug and 2.5/5 ug, and 188 mL and 192 mL with salmeterol + fluticasone
      propionate 50/500 ug and 50/250 ug, respectively). Tiotropium + olodaterol was
      superior to salmeterol + fluticasone propionate in lung function secondary end
      points, including FEV1 area under the curve from 0 hour to 24 hours (AUC0-24).
      CONCLUSION: Once-daily tiotropium + olodaterol in participants with moderate-to
      severe COPD provided superior lung function improvements to twice-daily
      salmeterol + fluticasone propionate. Dual bronchodilation can be considered to
      optimize lung function in individuals requiring maintenance treatment for COPD.

PMID- 26893552
TI  - "Frequent exacerbator" is a phenotype of poor prognosis in Japanese patients with
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prognosis of Japanese patients with COPD who suffer repeated
      exacerbations is unclear, although Westerners with such episodes have a poor
      prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a 1-year prospective observational
      trial involving 90 Japanese patients with COPD: 58 nonexacerbators, 12 infrequent
      exacerbators, and 20 frequent exacerbators classified on the basis of
      exacerbation frequency (zero, one, and two or more exacerbations/year),
      respectively, during the previous year were observed prospectively for 1 year.
      The characteristics of frequent exacerbators, the frequency of exacerbation, and
      the period until the first event were then compared among the groups. RESULTS: A
      total of 78 patients completed the study. Frequent exacerbators had a
      significantly higher risk of frequent exacerbation in the following year than the
      case for nonexacerbators (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.94 [1.21-7.17],
      P=0.0340), but not in comparison with infrequent exacerbators (1.51 [0.49-4.63],
      P>0.05). The mean annual frequency of exacerbations in the following year was
      significantly (P=0.0020) higher in the frequent exacerbators (1.4
      exacerbations/year) than in the nonexacerbators (0.4), but not in the infrequent
      exacerbators (0.9, P>0.05). The mean period until the first exacerbation was
      significantly shorter in the frequent exacerbators than in the infrequent or
      nonexacerbators (P=0.0012). Independent risk factors for future frequent
      exacerbation included the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, more
      severe airflow obstruction, and use of inhaled corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Our
      present results indicate that Japanese COPD patients suffering frequent
      exacerbation have a poor prognosis. The characteristics of Japanese and Western
      COPD patients suffering frequent exacerbation are similar.

PMID- 26893553
TI  - No association between exacerbation frequency and stroke in patients with COPD.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a
      higher risk of stroke than the general population. Chronic inflammation
      associated with COPD is thought to contribute to this risk. Exacerbations of COPD
      are associated with a rise in inflammation, suggesting that there may be an
      association between exacerbation frequency and the risk of stroke. This study
      examined that association. METHODS: Using the UK Clinical Practice Research
      Datalink, COPD patients with a first stroke between January 2004 and December
      2013 were identified as cases and matched on age, sex, and general practice to
      controls with COPD but without a stroke (6,441 cases and 19,323 controls).
      Frequent exacerbators (FEs) were defined as COPD patients with >=2 exacerbations,
      and infrequent exacerbators (IEs) have <=1 exacerbation in the year prior to
      their stroke. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the
      association between exacerbation frequency and stroke overall, and by stroke
      subtype (hemorrhagic, ischemic, or transient ischemic attack). Exacerbations were
      also categorized into 0, 1, 2, or >=3 exacerbations in the year prior to stroke.
      RESULTS: There was no evidence that FE had an increased odds of stroke compared
      to IE (OR [odds ratio] =0.95, 95% CI [confidence interval] =0.89-1.01). There was
      strong evidence that the risk of stroke decreased with each exacerbation of COPD
      experienced per year (P trend =0.003). In the subgroup analysis investigating
      stroke subtype, FE had 33% lower odds of hemorrhagic stroke than IE (OR =0.67,
      95% CI =0.51-0.88, P=0.003). No association was found within other stroke types.
      CONCLUSION: This study found no evidence of a difference in the odds of stroke
      between IE and FE, suggesting that exacerbation frequency is unlikely to be the
      reason for increased stroke risk among COPD patients. Further research is needed
      to explore the association through investigation of stroke risk and the severity,
      duration, treatment of exacerbations, and concurrent treatment of cardiovascular
      risk factors.

PMID- 26893554
TI  - Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice reduces emphysematous changes and
      injury secondary to cigarette smoke in an animal model and human alveolar cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoke (CS) increases oxidative stress (OS) in the lungs.
      Pomegranate juice (PJ) possesses potent antioxidant activities, attributed to its
      polyphenols. This study investigates the effects of PJ on the damaging effects of
      CS in an animal model and on cultured human alveolar cells (A549). METHODS: Male
      C57BL/6J mice were divided into the following groups: Control, CS, CS + PJ, and
      PJ. Acute CS exposure was for 3 days, while chronic exposure was for 1 and 3
      months (5 days of exposure/week). PJ groups received daily 80 MUmol/kg via
      bottle, while other groups received distilled water. At the end of the
      experiments, different parameters were studied: 1) expression levels of
      inflammatory markers, 2) apoptosis, 3) OS, and 4) histopathological changes. In
      vitro, A549 cells were pretreated for 48 hours with either PJ (0.5 MUM) or
      vehicle. Cells were then exposed to increasing concentrations of CS extracted
      from collected filters. Cell viability was assessed by counting of live and dead
      cells with trypan blue staining. RESULTS: Acutely, a significant increase in
      interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression,
      apoptosis, and OS was noted in CS when compared to Control. PJ significantly
      attenuated the expression of inflammatory mediators, apoptosis, and OS.
      Chronically (at 1 and 3 months), increased expression of TNF-alpha was observed,
      and lung sections demonstrated emphysematous changes when compared to Control. PJ
      supplementation to CS animals attenuated the increased expression of TNF-alpha
      and normalized lung cytoarchitecture. At the cellular level, CS extract reduced
      cellular proliferation and triggered cellular death. Pretreatment with PJ
      attenuated the damaging effects of CS extract on cultured human alveolar cells.
      CONCLUSION: The expression of inflammatory mediators associated with CS exposure
      and the emphysematous changes noted with chronic CS exposure were reduced with PJ
      supplementation. In vitro, PJ attenuated the damaging effects of CS extract on
      cultured human alveolar cells.

PMID- 26893556
TI  - Preclinical animal study and human clinical trial data of co-electrospun poly(L
      lactide-co-caprolactone) and fibrinogen mesh for anterior pelvic floor
      reconstruction.
AB  - Synthetic and biological materials are commonly used for pelvic floor
      reconstruction. In this study, host tissue response and biomechanical properties
      of mesh fabricated from co-electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) and
      fibrinogen (Fg) were compared with those of polypropylene mesh (PPM) in a canine
      abdominal defect model. Macroscopic, microscopic, histological, and biomechanical
      evaluations were performed over a 24-week period. The results showed that PLCL/Fg
      mesh had similar host tissue responses but better initial vascularization and
      graft site tissue organization than PPM. The efficacy of the PLCL/Fg mesh was
      further examined in human pelvic floor reconstruction. Operation time,
      intraoperative blood loss, and pelvic organ prolapse quantification during 6
      month follow-up were compared for patients receiving PLCL/Fg mesh versus PPM.
      According to the pelvic organ prolapse quantification scores, the anterior
      vaginal wall 3 cm proximal to the hymen point (Aa point), most distal edge of the
      cervix or vaginal cuff scar point (C point), and posterior fornix point (D point)
      showed significant improvement (P<0.01) at 1, 3, and 6 months for both groups
      compared with preoperatively. At 6 months, improvements at the Aa point in the
      PLCL/Fg group were significantly more (P<0.005) than the PPM group, indicating
      that, while both materials improve the patient symptoms, PLCL/Fg mesh resulted in
      more obvious improvement.

PMID- 26893555
TI  - Determinants of change in physical activity during moderate-to-severe COPD
      exacerbation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Data are scarce on patient physical activity (PA) level during
      exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (eCOPD). The objective of
      the study was to evaluate the level and determinants of change in PA during an
      eCOPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study with
      recruitment from emergency departments (EDs) of 16 participating hospitals from
      June 2008 to September 2010. Data were recorded on socioeconomic characteristics,
      dyspnea, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%), comorbidities, health
      related quality of life, factors related to exacerbation, and PA in a stable
      clinical condition and during the eCOPD episode. RESULTS: We evaluated 2,487
      patients. Common factors related to the change in PA during hospital admission or
      7 days after discharge to home from the ED were lower PA at baseline and during
      the first 24 hours after the index evaluation. Age, quality of life, living
      alone, length of hospital stay, and use of anticholinergic or systemic
      corticosteroids in treating the exacerbation were associated with the change in
      PA among hospitalized patients. Predictors of change among patients not admitted
      to hospital were baseline FEV1% and dyspnea at rest on ED arrival. CONCLUSION:
      Among the patients evaluated in an ED for an eCOPD, the level and change in PA
      was markedly variable. Factors associated with exacerbation (PA 24 hours after
      admission, medication during admission, and length of hospital stay) and
      variables reflecting patients' stable clinical condition (low level of PA, age,
      quality of life, FEV1%) are predictors of the change in PA during a moderate-to
      severe eCOPD.

PMID- 26893557
TI  - Heterogeneous response of different tumor cell lines to methotrexate-coupled
      nanoparticles in presence of hyperthermia.
AB  - Today, the therapeutic efficacy of cancer is restricted by the heterogeneity of
      the response of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Since those therapies are
      also associated with severe side effects in nontarget organs, the application of
      drugs in combination with nanocarriers for targeted therapy has been suggested.
      Here, we sought to assess whether the coupling of methotrexate (MTX) to magnetic
      nanoparticles (MNP) could serve as a valuable tool to circumvent the
      heterogeneity of tumor cell response to MTX by the combined treatment with
      hyperthermia. To this end, we investigated five breast cancer cell lines of
      different origin and with different mutational statuses, as well as a bladder
      cancer cell line in terms of their response to exposure to MTX as a free drug or
      after its coupling to MNP as well as in presence/absence of hyperthermia. We also
      assessed whether the effects could be connected to the cell line-specific
      expression of proteins related to the uptake and efflux of MTX and MNP. Our
      results revealed a very heterogeneous and cell line-dependent response to an
      exposure with MTX-coupled MNP (MTX-MNP), which was almost comparable to the
      efficacy of free MTX in the same cell line. Moreover, a cell line-specific and
      preferential uptake of MTX-MNP compared with MNP alone was found (probably by
      receptor-mediated endocytosis), agreeing with the observed cytotoxic effects.
      Opposed to this, the expression pattern of several cell membrane transport
      proteins noted for MTX uptake and efflux was only by tendency in agreement with
      the cellular toxicity of MTX-MNP in different cell lines. Higher cytotoxic
      effects were achieved by exposing cells to a combination of MTX-MNP and
      hyperthermal treatment, compared with MTX or thermo-therapy alone. However, the
      heterogeneity in the response of the tumor cell lines to MTX could not be
      completely abolished - even after its combination with MNP and/or hyperthermia -
      and the application of higher thermal dosages might be necessary. 

PMID- 26893559
TI  - Preparation of finasteride capsules-loaded drug nanoparticles: formulation,
      optimization, in vitro, and pharmacokinetic evaluation.
AB  - In this study, optimized freeze-dried finasteride nanoparticles (NPs) were
      prepared from drug nanosuspension formulation that was developed using the bottom
      up technique. The effects of four formulation and processing variables that
      affect the particle size and solubility enhancement of the NPs were explored
      using the response surface optimization design. The optimized formulation was
      morphologically characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
      Physicochemical interaction among the studied components was investigated.
      Crystalline change was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD).
      Crystal growth of the freeze-dried NPs was compared to the corresponding aqueous
      drug nanosuspension. Freeze-dried NPs formulation was subsequently loaded into
      hard gelatin capsules that were examined for in vitro dissolution and
      pharmacokinetic behavior. Results revealed that in most of the studied variables,
      some of the quadratic and interaction effects had a significant effect on the
      studied responses. TEM image illustrated homogeneity and shape of the prepared
      NPs. No interaction among components was noticed. XRPD confirmed crystalline
      state change in the optimized NPs. An enhancement in the dissolution rate of more
      than 2.5 times from capsules filled with optimum drug NPs, when compared to
      capsules filled with pure drug, was obtained. Crystal growth, due to Ostwald
      ripening phenomenon and positive Gibbs free energy, was reduced following
      lyophilization of the nanosuspension formulation. Pharmacokinetic parameters from
      drug NPs were superior to that of pure drug and drug microparticles. In
      conclusion, freeze-dried NPs based on drug nanosuspension formulation is a
      successful technique in enhancing stability, solubility, and in vitro dissolution
      of poorly water-soluble drugs with possible impact on the drug bioavailability. 

PMID- 26893558
TI  - Efficient inhibition of ovarian cancer by degradable nanoparticle-delivered
      survivin T34A gene.
AB  - Gene therapy has promising applications in ovarian cancer therapy. Blocking the
      function of the survivin protein could lead to the growth inhibition of cancer
      cells. Herein, we used degradable heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanoparticles
      to deliver a dominant-negative human survivin T34A (hs-T34A) gene to treat
      ovarian cancer. HPEI nanoparticles were characterized and were found to have a
      dynamic diameter of 66+/-4.5 nm and a zeta potential of 27.1+/-1.87 mV. The
      constructed hs-T34A gene expression plasmid could be effectively delivered into
      SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cells by HPEI nanoparticles with low cytotoxicity.
      Intraperitoneal administration of HPEI/hs-T34A complexes could markedly inhibit
      tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of SKOV3 human ovarian cancer. Moreover,
      according to our results, apparent apoptosis of cancer cells was observed both in
      vitro and in vivo. Taken together, the prepared HPEI/hs-T34A formulation showed
      potential applications in ovarian cancer gene therapy. 

PMID- 26893561
TI  - Mechanistic analysis of Zein nanoparticles/PLGA triblock in situ forming implants
      for glimepiride.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The study aims at applying pharmaceutical nanotechnology and D
      optimal fractional factorial design to screen and optimize the high-risk
      variables affecting the performance of a complex drug delivery system consisting
      of glimepiride-Zein nanoparticles and inclusion of the optimized formula with
      thermoresponsive triblock copolymers in in situ gel. METHODS: Sixteen
      nanoparticle formulations were prepared by liquid-liquid phase separation method
      according to the D-optimal fractional factorial design encompassing five
      variables at two levels. The responses investigated were glimepiride entrapment
      capacity (EC), particle size and size distribution, zeta potential, and in vitro
      drug release from the prepared nanoparticles. Furthermore, the feasibility of
      embedding the optimized Zein-based glimepiride nanoparticles within
      thermoresponsive triblock copolymers poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-block
      poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) in in situ gel was
      evaluated for controlling glimepiride release rate. RESULTS: Through the
      systematic optimization phase, improvement of glimepiride EC of 33.6%,
      nanoparticle size of 120.9 nm with a skewness value of 0.2, zeta potential of
      11.1 mV, and sustained release features of 3.3% and 17.3% drug released after 2
      and 24 hours, respectively, were obtained. These desirability functions were
      obtained at Zein and glimepiride loadings of 50 and 75 mg, respectively,
      utilizing didodecyldimethylammonium bromide as a stabilizer at 0.1% and 90%
      ethanol as a common solvent. Moreover, incorporating this optimized formulation
      in triblock copolymers-based in situ gel demonstrated pseudoplastic behavior with
      reduction of drug release rate as the concentration of polymer increased.
      CONCLUSION: This approach to control the release of glimepiride using Zein
      nanoparticles/triblock copolymers-based in situ gel forming intramuscular
      implants could be useful for improving diabetes treatment effectiveness.

PMID- 26893560
TI  - Cytotoxicity of CdTe quantum dots in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: the
      involvement of cellular uptake and induction of pro-apoptotic endoplasmic
      reticulum stress.
AB  - Cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) have been proposed to induce oxidative
      stress, which plays a crucial role in CdTe QDs-mediated mitochondrial-dependent
      apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). However, the direct
      interactions of CdTe QDs with HUVECs and their potential impairment of other
      organelles like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in HUVECs are poorly understood. In
      this study, we reported that the negatively charged CdTe QDs (-21.63+/-0.91 mV),
      with good dispersity and fluorescence stability, were rapidly internalized via
      endocytosis by HUVECs, as the notable internalization could be inhibited up to
      95.52% by energy depletion (NaN3/deoxyglucose or low temperature). The
      endocytosis inhibitors (methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, genistein, sucrose,
      chlorpromazine, and colchicine) dramatically decreased the uptake of CdTe QDs by
      HUVECs, suggesting that both caveolae/raft- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis
      were involved in the endothelial uptake of CdTe QDs. Using immunocytochemistry, a
      striking overlap of the internalized CdTe QDs and ER marker was observed, which
      indicates that QDs may be transported to ER. The CdTe QDs also caused remarkable
      ER stress responses in HUVECs, confirmed by significant dilatation of ER
      cisternae, upregulation of ER stress markers GRP78/GRP94, and activation of
      protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase-eIF2alpha-activating transcription factor 4
      pathway (including phosphorylation of both protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase and
      eIF2alpha and elevated level of activating transcription factor 4). CdTe QDs
      further promoted an increased C/EBP homologous protein expression,
      phosphorylation of c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase, and cleavage of ER-resident caspase
      4, while the specific inhibitor (SP600125, Z-LEVD-fmk, or salubrinal)
      significantly attenuated QDs-triggered apoptosis, indicating that all three ER
      stress-mediated apoptosis pathways were activated and the direct participation of
      ER in the CdTe QDs-caused apoptotic cell death in HUVECs. Our findings provide
      important new insights into QDs toxicity and reveal potential cardiovascular
      risks for the future applications of QDs. 

PMID- 26893562
TI  - Nanodiamonds coupled with 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin, a plant bioactive metabolite,
      interfere with the mitotic process in B16F10 cells altering the actin
      organization.
AB  - For the first time, we coupled reduced detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) with a plant
      secondary metabolite, citropten (5,7-dimethoxycoumarin), and demonstrated how
      this complex was able to reduce B16F10 tumor cell growth more effectively than
      treatment with the pure molecule. These results encouraged us to find out the
      specific mechanism underlying this phenomenon. Internalization kinetics and
      quantification of citropten in cells after treatment with its pure or ND
      conjugated form were measured, and it was revealed that the coupling between NDs
      and citropten was essential for the biological properties of the complex. We
      showed that the adduct was not able to induce apoptosis, senescence, or
      differentiation, but it determined cell cycle arrest, morphological changes, and
      alteration of mRNA levels of the cytoskeletal-related genes. The identification
      of metaphasic nuclei and irregular disposition of beta-actin in the cell
      cytoplasm supported the hypothesis that citropten conjugated with NDs showed
      antimitotic properties in B16F10 cells. This work can be considered a pioneering
      piece of research that could promote and support the biomedical use of plant drug
      functionalized NDs in cancer therapy. 

PMID- 26893564
TI  - Neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome in bipolar disorder with psychosis.
AB  - Neuroleptics can induce not only physical adverse effects but also mental effects
      that produce deficit status in thought, affect, cognition, and behavior. This
      condition is known as neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome (NIDS), which includes
      apathy, lack of initiative, anhedonia, indifference, blunted affect, and reduced
      insight into disease. Although this old concept now appears almost forgotten,
      neuroleptics, whether typical or atypical, can make depression or bipolar
      disorder resemble other more refractory conditions, readily leading to mistaken
      diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The authors describe three cases of NIDS
      superimposed on depressive phase in bipolar disorder with psychosis, where the
      attending psychiatrist's failure to recognize NIDS prevented patients from
      receiving effective treatment and achieving remission. All cases achieved
      remission after reduction of neuroleptics and intensive therapy, including
      electroconvulsive therapy, for bipolar depression. The concept of NIDS was
      originally introduced for schizophrenia, and it has rarely been highlighted in
      other diseases. In recent years, however, atypical antipsychotics are being more
      often administered to patients with bipolar disorder. Psychiatrists, therefore,
      should also remember and exercise caution regarding NIDS in the pharmacotherapy
      of bipolar disorder with and without psychosis. The authors believe that the
      concept of NIDS needs to be reappraised in current psychiatry. 

PMID- 26893563
TI  - Peen treatment on a titanium implant: effect of roughness, osteoblast cell
      functions, and bonding with bone cement.
AB  - Implant failure due to poor integration of the implant with the surrounding
      biomaterial is a common problem in various orthopedic and orthodontic surgeries.
      Implant fixation mostly depends upon the implant surface topography. Micron to
      nanosize circular-shaped groove architecture with adequate surface roughness can
      enhance the mechanical interlock and osseointegration of an implant with the host
      tissue and solve its poor fixation problem. Such groove architecture can be
      created on a titanium (Ti) alloy implant by laser peening treatment. Laser
      peening produces deep, residual compressive stresses in the surfaces of metal
      parts, delivering increased fatigue life and damage tolerance. The scientific
      novelty of this study is the controlled deposition of circular-shaped rough spot
      groove using laser peening technique and understanding the effect of the
      treatment techniques for improving the implant surface properties. The hypothesis
      of this study was that implant surface grooves created by controlled laser peen
      treatment can improve the mechanical and biological responses of the implant with
      the adjoining biomaterial. The objective of this study was to measure how the
      controlled laser-peened groove architecture on Ti influences its osteoblast cell
      functions and bonding strength with bone cement. This study determined the
      surface roughness and morphology of the peen-treated Ti. In addition, this study
      compared the osteoblast cell functions (adhesion, proliferation, and
      differentiation) between control and peen-treated Ti samples. Finally, this study
      measured the fracture strength between each kind of Ti samples and bone cement
      under static loading. This study found that laser peen treatment on Ti
      significantly changed the surface architecture of the Ti, which led to enhanced
      osteoblast cell adhesion and differentiation on Ti implants and fracture strength
      of Ti-bone cement interfaces compared with values of untreated Ti samples.
      Therefore, the laser peen treatment method has the potential to improve the
      biomechanical functions of Ti implants. 

PMID- 26893566
TI  - Chronic organophosphate-induced neuropsychiatric disorder: a case report.
AB  - Chronic organophosphate (OP)-induced neuropsychiatric disorder is a rare
      condition following prolonged exposure to OP compounds. Due to the lack of valid
      diagnostic tools and criteria, very few cases are seen in clinical practice and
      are often misdiagnosed. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment that may
      increase the risk of morbidity or suicidality. In this paper, we present the case
      of a 35-year-old male who needed support in breathing from a mechanical
      ventilator and developed neuropsychiatric behavioral problems following ingestion
      of OP compounds, which lead to suicidality. The patient was treated by the
      psychiatric team with antipsychotic and antidepressants and improved following
      the regular use of medication. 

PMID- 26893565
TI  - Depot-medication compliance for patients with psychotic disorders: the importance
      of illness insight and treatment motivation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Noncompliance is a major problem for patients with a psychotic
      disorder. Two important risk factors for noncompliance that have a severe
      negative impact on treatment outcomes are impaired illness insight and lack of
      motivation. Our cross-sectional study explored how they are related to each other
      and their compliance with depot medication. METHODS: Interviews were conducted in
      169 outpatients with a psychotic disorder taking depot medication. Four patient
      groups were defined based on low or high illness insight and on low or high
      motivation. The associations between depot-medication compliance, motivation, and
      insight were illustrated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Generalized
      linear model showed a significant interaction effect between motivation and
      insight. Patients with poor insight and high motivation for treatment were more
      compliant (94%) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.821, 3.489) with their depot
      medication than patients with poor insight and low motivation (61%) (95% CI:
      0.288, 0.615). Patients with both insight and high motivation for treatment were
      less compliant (73%) (95% CI: 0.719, 1.315) than those with poor insight and high
      motivation. CONCLUSION: Motivation for treatment was more strongly associated
      with depot-medication compliance than with illness insight. Being motivated to
      take medication, whether to get better or for other reasons, may be a more
      important factor than having illness insight in terms of improving depot
      medication compliance. Possible implications for clinical practice are discussed.

PMID- 26893567
TI  - Sudoscan as a noninvasive tool to assess sudomotor dysfunction in patients with
      Fabry disease: results from a case-control study.
AB  - Hypohidrosis is a frequent and early symptom in patients with Fabry disease.
      Studies have reported improved sweating in patients treated with enzyme
      replacement therapy. A new method, Sudoscan, has been developed that is
      noninvasive, is quantitative, and can quickly evaluate sweat gland function. It
      is based on the electrochemical reaction between sweat chlorides and stainless
      steel electrodes in contact with the palms and soles. The aim of our study was to
      evaluate the Sudoscan as a tool to assess sudomotor dysfunction in patients with
      Fabry disease. Consecutive patients were prospectively recruited who had a
      diagnosis of Fabry disease, which had been confirmed genetically and/or by
      measurement of alpha-galactosidase activity in leukocytes. Healthy controls,
      matched (1:1) for age and sex, were also enrolled. Test results were expressed
      immediately as electrochemical skin conductance (ESC, uS) for hands and feet.
      Sudomotor dysfunction was considered absent, moderate, or severe if the ESC
      measured on the feet was >60 uS, between 60 and 40 uS, or <40 uS, respectively.
      Among the 18 patients, 11 had hypohidrosis or anhidrosis. Hand and feet ESCs were
      significantly lower in patients compared to their controls (P=0.0015 and
      P=0.0047, respectively). Among patients, 8/18 (44.5%) had a sudomotor
      dysfunction, moderate in three and severe in five cases. Hand and feet ESCs were
      significantly lower in those with hypohidrosis/anhidrosis compared to those
      without (P=0.0014 and P=0.0056, respectively). This study showed that Sudoscan
      provided a quick, noninvasive, and quantitative measurement of sudomotor function
      in Fabry disease patients. 

PMID- 26893569
TI  - Retraction.
AB  - [This retracts the article on p. 3507 in vol. 8, PMID: 26648742.]. 

PMID- 26893570
TI  - Retraction.
AB  - [This retracts the article on p. 2215 in vol. 8, PMID: 26345468.]. 

PMID- 26893568
TI  - The cost of inpatient death associated with acute coronary syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No studies have addressed the cost of inpatient mortality during an
      acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admission. OBJECTIVE: Compare ACS-related length of
      stay (LOS), total admission cost, and total admission cost by day of
      discharge/death for patients who died during an inpatient admission with a
      matched cohort discharged alive following an ACS-related inpatient stay. METHODS:
      Medical and pharmacy claims (2009-2012) were used to identify admissions with a
      primary diagnosis of ACS from patients with at least 6 months of continuous
      enrollment prior to an ACS admission. Patients who died during their ACS
      admission (deceased cohort) were matched (one-to-one) to those who survived
      (survived cohort) on age, sex, year of admission, Chronic Condition Index score,
      and prior revascularization. Mean LOS, total admission cost, and total admission
      cost by the day of discharge/death for the deceased cohort were compared with the
      survived cohort. A generalized linear model with log transformation was used to
      estimate the differences in the total expected incremental cost of an ACS
      admission and by the day of discharge/death between cohorts. A negative binomial
      model was used to estimate differences in the LOS between the two cohorts. Costs
      were inflated to 2013 dollars. RESULTS: A total of 1,320 ACS claims from patients
      who died (n=1,320) were identified and matched to 1,319 claims from the survived
      patients (n=1,319). The majority were men (68%) and mean age was 56.7+/-6.4
      years. The LOS per claim for the deceased cohort was 47% higher (adjusted
      incidence rate ratio: 1.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.37-1.57) compared with
      claims from the survived cohort. Compared with the survived cohort, the adjusted
      mean incremental total cost of ACS admission claims from the deceased cohort was
      US$43,107+/-US$3,927 (95% confidence interval: US$35,411-US$50,803) higher.
      CONCLUSION: Despite decreasing ACS hospitalizations, the economic burden of
      inpatient death remains high.

PMID- 26893571
TI  - Intracellular calcium is a target of modulation of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in
      the presence of IgA adsorbed to polyethylene glycol.
AB  - PURPOSE: Clinical and epidemiological studies have indicated that breastfeeding
      has a protective effect on breast cancer risk. Protein-based drugs, including
      antibodies, are being developed to attain better forms of cancer therapy.
      Secretory IgA (SIgA) is the antibody class in human breast milk, and its activity
      can be linked to the protective effect of breastfeeding. The aim of this study
      was to investigate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres with
      adsorbed SIgA on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. METHODS: The PEG microspheres
      were characterized by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The MCF-7 cells
      were obtained from American Type Culture Collection. MCF-7 cells were pre
      incubated for 24 hours with or without SIgA (100 ng/mL), PEG microspheres or SIgA
      adsorbed in PEG microspheres (100 ng/mL). Viability, intracellular calcium
      release, and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS:
      Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that SIgA was able
      to adsorb to the PEG microspheres. The MCF-7 cells that were incubated with PEG
      microspheres with adsorbed SIgA showed decreased viability. MCF-7 cells that were
      incubated with SIgA or PEG microspheres with adsorbed SIgA had increased
      intracellular Ca(2+) levels. In the presence of SIgA, an increase in the
      percentage of apoptotic cells was observed. The highest apoptosis index was
      observed when the cells were treated with PEG microspheres with adsorbed SIgA.
      CONCLUSION: These data suggest that colostral SIgA adsorbed to PEG microspheres
      has antitumor effects on human MCF-7 breast cancer cells and that the presence of
      large amounts of this protein in secreted breast milk may provide protection
      against breast tumors in women who breastfed.

PMID- 26893572
TI  - Potassium-3-beta-hydroxy-20-oxopregn-5-en-17-alpha-yl sulfate: a novel inhibitor
      of 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown the central role of 78 kDa glucose
      regulated protein (GRP78) in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival and
      chemoresistance. In the present study, we aimed to design a GRP78 inhibitor and
      test its potential to inhibit CRC cells growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computer
      aided drug design was used to establish novel compounds as potential inhibitors
      of GRP78. Discovery Studio 3.5 software was used to evaluate a series of designed
      compounds and assess their mode of binding to the active site of the protein. The
      cytotoxicity of the designed compounds was evaluated using the MTT assay and the
      propidium iodide method. The effect of the inhibitor on the expression of GRP78
      was evaluated by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Among the designed compounds, only
      potassium-3-beta-hydroxy-20-oxopregn-5-en-17-alpha-yl sulfate (PHOS) has a
      potential to inhibit the growth of CRC cells. Inhibition of cellular growth was
      largely attributed to downregulation of GRP78 and induction of apoptotic cell
      death. CONCLUSION: These results introduce PHOS as a promising GRP78 inhibitor
      that could be used in future studies as a combination with chemotherapy in the
      treatment of CRC patients. Our ongoing studies aim to characterize PHOS safety
      profile as well as its mechanism of action.

PMID- 26893573
TI  - Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani flavone inhibits proliferation, migration, and
      invasion of human lung carcinoma A549 cells.
AB  - Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani flavone (RTHF) is widely used as a traditional herb
      and has detoxification and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we
      investigated the potential effects of RTHF on the growth and metastasis of human
      lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and evaluated its mechanisms. A549 cells were
      treated with RTHF at various concentrations for different periods. In vitro Cell
      Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation methods showed that RTHF had dose- and
      time-dependent antiproliferation effects on A549 cells. A cell adhesion assay
      showed that RTHF decreased A549 cell adhesion in a dose-dependent manner. Cell
      invasion and migration were investigated using the Transwell assay and observed
      using an inverted microscope; the results showed that cell metastasis was
      significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group
      (P<0.01). Expression of metastasis-related matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and
      tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) was detected by real-time
      polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The results showed that the
      expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 decreased, while that of TIMP-2 increased
      significantly in the RTHF group when compared with the results of the control
      group. These results show that RTHF exhibits antigrowth and antimetastasis
      activity in lung cancer A549 cells by decreasing the expression of MMP-2/-9 and
      TIMP-1 and increasing that of TIMP-2. 

PMID- 26893575
TI  - Candidate genes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: current evidence and research.
AB  - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a group of common and lethal forms of
      idiopathic interstitial pulmonary disease. IPF is characterized by a progressive
      decline in lung function with a median survival of 2-3 years after diagnosis.
      Although the pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown, genetic predisposition
      could play a causal role in IPF. A set of genes have been identified as candidate
      genes of IPF in the past 20 years. However, the recent technological advances
      that allow for the analysis of millions of polymorphisms in different subjects
      have deepened the understanding of the genetic complexity of IPF susceptibility.
      Genome-wide association studies and whole-genome sequencing continue to reveal
      the genetic loci associated with IPF risk. In this review, we describe candidate
      genes on the basis of their functions and aim to gain a better understanding of
      the genetic basis of IPF. The discovered candidate genes may help to clarify
      pivotal aspects in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies of IPF. 

PMID- 26893574
TI  - The role of lasers and intense pulsed light technology in dermatology.
AB  - The role of light-based technologies in dermatology has expanded dramatically in
      recent years. Lasers and intense pulsed light have been used to safely and
      effectively treat a diverse array of cutaneous conditions, including vascular and
      pigmented lesions, tattoos, scars, and undesired hair, while also providing
      extensive therapeutic options for cosmetic rejuvenation and other dermatologic
      conditions. Dermatologic laser procedures are becoming increasingly popular
      worldwide, and demand for them has fueled new innovations and clinical
      applications. These systems continue to evolve and provide enhanced therapeutic
      outcomes with improved safety profiles. This review highlights the important
      roles and varied clinical applications that lasers and intense pulsed light play
      in the dermatologic practice. 

PMID- 26893578
TI  - Strategies to promote adherence to nutritional advice in patients with chronic
      kidney disease: a narrative review and commentary.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires extensive changes to food and lifestyle.
      Poor adherence to diet, medications, and treatments has been estimated to vary
      between 20% and 70%, which in turn can contribute to increased mortality and
      morbidity. Delivering effective nutritional advice in patients with CKD
      coordinates multiple diet components including calories, protein, sodium,
      potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and fluid. Dietary intake studies have shown
      difficulty in adhering to the scope and complexity of the CKD diet parameters. No
      single educational or clinical strategy has been shown to be consistently
      effective across CKD populations. Highest adherence has been observed when both
      diet and education efforts are individualized to each patient and adapted over
      time to changing lifestyle and CKD variables. This narrative review and
      commentary summarizes nutrition education literature and published strategies for
      providing nutritional advice in CKD. A cohort of practical and effective
      strategies for increasing dietary adherence to nutritional advice are provided
      that include communicating with "talking control" principles, integrating patient
      owned technology, acknowledging the typical food pattern may be snacking rather
      than formal meals, focusing on a single goal rather than multiple goals, creating
      active learning and coping strategies (frozen sandwiches, visual hands-on
      activities, planting herb gardens), and involving the total patient food
      environment. 

PMID- 26893577
TI  - Phosphate binders for the treatment of chronic kidney disease: role of iron
      oxyhydroxide.
AB  - Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder is frequent in patients with renal
      failure. It is characterized by abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism with
      resulting hyperphosphatemia, low serum vitamin D, secondary hyperparathyroidism,
      altered bone morphology and strength, higher risk of bone fractures, and
      development of vascular or other soft tissue calcifications. Besides the
      recommendation to reduce phosphorus dietary intake, many drugs are currently
      available for the treatment of calcium/phosphate imbalance. Among them, phosphate
      binders represent a milestone. Calcium-based binders (calcium carbonate, calcium
      acetate) are effective in lowering serum phosphate, but their use has been
      associated with an increased risk of hypercalcemia and calcifications. Calcium
      free binders (sevelamer hydrochloride, sevelamer carbonate, and lanthanum
      carbonate) are equally or slightly less effective than calcium-containing
      compounds. They would not induce an increase in calcium levels but may have
      relevant side effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms for sevelamer and risk
      of tissue accumulation for lanthanum. Accordingly, new phosphate binders are
      under investigation and some of them have already been approved. A promising
      option is sucroferric oxyhydroxide (Velphoro((r)), PA21), an iron-based phosphate
      binder consisting of a mixture of polynuclear iron(III)-oxyhydroxide, sucrose,
      and starches. The present review is focused on pharmacology, mode of action, and
      pharmacokinetics of sucroferric oxyhydroxide, with a discussion on comparative
      efficacy, safety, and tolerability studies of this drug in chronic kidney disease
      and patient perspectives such as quality of life, satisfaction, and
      acceptability. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide has proven to be as effective as
      sevelamer in reducing phosphatemia with a similar safety profile and lower pill
      burden. Experimental and clinical studies have documented a minimal percentage of
      iron absorption without inducing toxicity. In conclusion, the overall benefit
      risk balance of sucroferric oxyhydroxide is deemed to be positive, and this new
      drug may therefore represent a good alternative to traditional phosphate binders
      for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients. 

PMID- 26893580
TI  - Interleukin-6 is a potential therapeutic target in interleukin-6 dependent,
      estrogen receptor-alpha-positive breast cancer.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important growth factor for estrogen
      receptor-alpha (ERalpha)-positive breast cancer, and elevated serum IL-6 is
      associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: The role of the phosphorylated signal
      transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway was investigated in ERalpha
      positive breast cancer. A panel of cell lines was treated with exogenous IL-6. An
      IL-6 specific gene signature was generated by profiling ten ERalpha-positive
      breast cancer cell lines alone or following treatment with 10 ng/mL recombinant
      IL-6 or human marrow stromal cell-conditioned media, with or without siltuximab
      (a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody) and grown in three-dimensional tumor
      microenvironment-aligned cultures for 4 days, 5 days, or 6 days. The established
      IL-6 signature was validated against 36 human ERalpha-positive breast tumor
      samples with matched serum. A comparative MCF-7 xenograft murine model was
      utilized to determine the role of IL-6 in estrogen-supplemented ERalpha-positive
      breast cancer to assess the efficacy of anti-IL-6 therapy in vivo. RESULTS: In
      eight of nine ERalpha-positive breast cancer cell lines, recombinant IL-6
      increased phosphorylation of tyrosine 705 of STAT3. Differential gene expression
      analysis identified 17 genes that could be used to determine IL-6 pathway
      activation by combining their expression intensity into a pathway activation
      score. The gene signature included a variety of genes involved in immune cell
      function and migration, cell growth and apoptosis, and the tumor
      microenvironment. Validation of the IL-6 gene signature in 36 matched human serum
      and ERalpha-positive breast tumor samples showed that patients with a high IL-6
      pathway activation score were also enriched for elevated serum IL-6 (>=10 pg/mL).
      When human IL-6 was provided in vivo, MCF-7 cells engrafted without the need for
      estrogen supplementation, and addition of estrogen to IL-6 did not further
      enhance engraftment. Subsequently, we prophylactically treated mice at MCF-7
      engraftment with siltuximab, fulvestrant, or combination therapy. Siltuximab
      alone was able to blunt MCF-7 engraftment. Similarly, siltuximab alone induced
      regressions in 90% (9/10) of tumors, which were established in the presence which
      were established in the presence of hMSC expressing human IL-6 and estrogen.
      CONCLUSION: Given the established role for IL-6 in ERalpha-positive breast
      cancer, these data demonstrate the potential for anti-IL-6 therapeutics in breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26893581
TI  - EGFR testing and clinical management of advanced NSCLC: a Galician Lung Cancer
      Group study (GGCP 048-10).
AB  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the incidence of mutations in the epidermal
      growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
      in the Galician region of Spain and the clinical management and outcome of
      patients carrying EGFR mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All newly diagnosed
      advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients were screened for EGFR mutations in matched
      tumor samples (tissue or cytology specimens) and serum samples. RESULTS: Of 198
      patients screened for EGFR mutations in tumor samples, 184 had evaluable data
      and, of these, 25 (13.6%) had EGFR mutations (84% sensitizing mutations). EGFR
      mutation was found in serum in 14 (8.1%) patients (of 174 evaluable). Compared to
      matched tumor tissue, serum EGFR mutation testing specificity and sensitivity
      were 99% and 52%, respectively. All but two patients received gefitinib. Median
      progression-free survival and overall survival were 10 (95% confidence interval:
      4.8-15.3) months and 17.8 (95% confidence interval: 13.9-21.6) months,
      respectively, in patients carrying sensitizing mutations. CONCLUSION: The
      incidence of EGFR mutations in Galicia is consistent with previous data in Spain.
      Our results also support the feasibility of EGFR testing to guide treatment
      decision making using tumor tissue or cytology samples, or serum samples if tumor
      specimens are unavailable. These findings also confirm that first-line gefitinib
      is an active treatment option in Caucasians with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

PMID- 26893582
TI  - Benefit-risk assessment of golimumab in the treatment of refractory ulcerative
      colitis.
AB  - Significant advances in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC)
      have been made since the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha
      agents, especially for those who fail or do not tolerate conventional therapies.
      Two drugs, infliximab first, then adalimumab afterward, showed effectiveness in
      inducing and maintaining long-term remission both in pivotal trials as well as in
      clinical practice. However, approximately 25% of patients with UC, who fail or do
      not tolerate all available therapies, require a colectomy for refractory disease.
      The therapeutic scenario of UC has been recently upgraded by the introduction of
      golimumab, the latest anti TNF-alpha agent to be approved. Golimumab is a totally
      humanized monoclonal antibody, administered by a subcutaneous injection every 4
      weeks. Treatment with golimumab has shown to be effective to induce sustained
      clinical benefit in tough-to-treat patients with UC, including steroid and/or
      immunosuppressive refractory and steroid-dependent patients. In this review, we
      summarize all available efficacy and safety data of golimumab in UC, analyzing
      the potential therapeutic position for the treatment of refractory patients with
      UC. 

PMID- 26893579
TI  - Present-day challenges and future solutions in postoperative pain management:
      results from PainForum 2014.
AB  - This paper is a summary of presentations on postoperative pain control by the
      authors at the 2014 PainForum meeting in People's Republic of China.
      Postoperative pain is often untreated or undertreated and may lead to subsequent
      chronic pain syndromes. As more procedures migrate to the outpatient setting,
      postoperative pain control will become increasingly more challenging. Evidence
      based guidelines for postoperative pain control recommend pain assessment using
      validated tools on a consistent basis. In this regard, consistency may be more
      important than the specific tool selected. Many hospitals have introduced a
      multidisciplinary acute pain service (APS), which has been associated with
      improved patient satisfaction and fewer adverse events. Patient education is an
      important component of postoperative pain control, which may be most effective
      when clinicians chose a multimodal approach, such as paracetamol (acetaminophen)
      and opioids. Opioids are a mainstay of postoperative pain control but require
      careful monitoring and management of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting,
      dizziness, and somnolence. Opioids may be administered using patient-controlled
      analgesia systems. Protocols for postoperative pain control can be very helpful
      to establish benchmarks for pain management and assure that clinicians adhere to
      evidence-based standards. The future of postoperative pain control around the
      world will likely involve more and better established APSs and greater
      communication between patients and clinicians about postoperative pain. The
      changes necessary to implement and move forward with APSs is not a single step
      but rather one of continuous improvement and ongoing change. 

PMID- 26893576
TI  - Non-invasive prenatal testing for fetal chromosome abnormalities: review of
      clinical and ethical issues.
AB  - Genomics-based non-invasive prenatal screening using cell-free DNA (cfDNA
      screening) was proposed to reduce the number of invasive procedures in current
      prenatal diagnosis for fetal aneuploidies. We review here the clinical and
      ethical issues of cfDNA screening. To date, it is not clear how cfDNA screening
      is going to impact the performances of clinical prenatal diagnosis and how it
      could be incorporated in real life. The direct marketing to users may have
      facilitated the early introduction of cfDNA screening into clinical practice
      despite limited evidence-based independent research data supporting this rapid
      shift. There is a need to address the most important ethical, legal, and social
      issues before its implementation in a mass setting. Its introduction might worsen
      current tendencies to neglect the reproductive autonomy of pregnant women. 

PMID- 26893584
TI  - Mapping of Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) to five-dimension EuroQol
      (EQ-5D) health outcomes: an independent validation in a randomized control
      cohort.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mapping of patient-reported outcomes to the five-dimension EuroQol
      (EQ-5D) health index is increasingly being used for understanding the
      relationship of outcomes to health states and for predicting utilities that have
      application in economic evaluations. The 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale
      (MSWS-12) is a patient-reported outcome that assesses the impact of walking
      impairment in people with MS. An equation for mapping the MSWS-12 to the EQ-5D
      was previously developed and validated using a North American Research Committee
      on MS (NARCOMS) registry cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analysis retested
      the validity of the equation mapping the MSWS-12 to the three-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D
      3L) by using an independent cohort of patients with MS enrolled in a randomized
      controlled trial. Mapping was evaluated at two separate time points (baseline and
      week 4) during the clinical trial. The mapping equation's performance was
      subsequently assessed with mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error
      (RMSE) by comparing equation-based estimates to values elicited in the trial
      using the actual EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. RESULTS: The mapping equation predicted
      EQ-5D-3L values in this external cohort with reasonable precision at both time
      points (MAE 0.116 and RMSE 0.155 at baseline; MAE 0.105 and RMSE 0.138 at week
      4), and was similar to that reported in the original NARCOMS cohort (MAE 0.109
      and RMSE 0.145). Also as observed in the original NARCOMS cohort, the mapping
      equation performed best in patients with EQ-5D-3L values between 0.50 and 0.75,
      and poorly in patients with values <0.50. CONCLUSION: The mapping equation
      performed similarly in this external cohort as in the original derivation cohort,
      including a poorer performance in MS patients with more severe health-state
      severity.

PMID- 26893583
TI  - Rheumatoid polyarthritis suspected in an HIV patient with scleritis, peripheral
      ulcerative keratitis, and anterior uveitis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis are ocular
      manifestations found in many inflammations and infections. Therefore, their
      association should prompt a search for inflammatory or infectious causes that may
      be life-threatening, especially in the context of AIDS due to HIV infection.
      FINDINGS: We report the case of a 37-year-old female, first seen in 2011 with a
      nodular scleritis in the right eye and a peripheral ulcerative keratitis, a
      necrotizing scleritis, and a granulomatous anterior uveitis in the left eye, in
      the context of chronic polyarthropathies that had evolved over 6 months. The
      patient was diagnosed with AIDS (HIV) in 2008 and was on antiretroviral therapy
      for the past 2 years. Ophthalmic workup was negative for opportunistic infections
      and potential causes of scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis, and the
      patient was unresponsive to topical antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
      treatment. Ocular lesion resolution and articular swelling improvement was
      observed less than 6 weeks after sulfasalazine treatment. Based on American
      College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification
      criteria, and considering the good response to the treatment (sulfasalazine),
      diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made in the absence of confirmatory lab
      tests results. CONCLUSION: In the context of ocular manifestations associated
      with polyarthropathies, coexisting pathologies should be considered. Diagnostic
      workup of chronic inflammatory rheumatism should be carried out, even in the
      context of HIV/AIDS.

PMID- 26893585
TI  - Impact and feasibility of the Allied Health Professional Enhancement Program
      placements - experiences from rural and remote Queensland.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Allied health professionals practicing in rural and remote areas are
      often faced with barriers that prevent them from accessing professional
      development opportunities. In order to address this barrier, a tailored
      professional development program was developed and implemented by the Cunningham
      Centre in Queensland, Australia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
      benefits of the program to participants and their work units. METHODS: This study
      used a concurrent mixed methods longitudinal design to investigate the medium- to
      long-term benefits of one Allied Health Professional Enhancement Program
      placement. Surveys and individual interviews provided data at 2 weeks and at 6
      months post-placement. The study participants included the placement participant
      (a physiotherapist), their line manager, clinical supervisor, and the placement
      facilitator. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that the placement resulted in various
      reported benefits to the placement participant, as well as to service delivery in
      their home location. Benefits of the placement reported by the participant
      included increased confidence, improved knowledge and skills, increased access to
      professional networks, and validation of practice. Benefits to service delivery
      reported included improved efficiencies, improved patient outcomes, and positive
      impact on other team members. DISCUSSION: This study found that the Allied Health
      Professional Enhancement Program placement investigated was beneficial to the
      participant and to service delivery. In addition, the benefits reported were
      sustained at 6 months post-placement. Despite the fact that this study showcases
      experiences from one setting, the findings from this study and the lessons learnt
      may be transferrable to other similar programs elsewhere due to its
      methodological strengths (such as rich descriptions of the program and use of
      typical case sampling). While this study provides emergent evidence of usefulness
      of the program to participants and their work units, further studies are
      warranted to investigate the direct benefits of such placements on patient care,
      which remains as the holy grail of the impact of professional development
      opportunities. CONCLUSION: Allied Health Professional Enhancement Program
      placements can result in important benefits to the participant, their health
      service, and positively influence health care service delivery.

PMID- 26893586
TI  - Technology-enhanced learning should be employed alongside - not instead of -
      bedside teaching.

PMID- 26893587
TI  - Age patterns of racial/ethnic/nativity differences in disability and physical
      functioning in the United States.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Rapid population aging and increasing racial/ethnic and
      immigrant/native diversity make a broad documentation of U.S. health patterns
      during both mid- and late life particularly important. OBJECTIVE: We aim to
      better understand age- and gender-specific racial/ethnic and nativity differences
      in physical functioning and disability among adults aged 50 and above. METHODS:
      We aggregate 14 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey and
      calculate age- and gender-specific proportions of physical functioning and two
      types of disability for each population subgroup. RESULTS: Middle-aged foreign
      born individuals in nearly every subgroup exhibit lower proportions of functional
      limitations and disability than U.S.-born whites. This pattern of immigrant
      advantage is generally reversed in later life. Moreover, most U.S.-born minority
      groups have significantly higher levels of functional limitations and disability
      than U.S.-born whites in both mid- and late life. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of
      functional limitations and disability among U.S.-born minority groups and
      immigrant populations in older adulthood pose serious challenges for health
      providers and policymakers in a rapidly diversifying and aging population.

PMID- 26893589
TI  - Thai nurse cohort study: cohort profiles and key findings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Globally, the nursing profession faces shortages, high turnover, and
      inequitable distribution. These problems are particularly acute in South East
      Asia. The present paper describes the design and initial findings of the Thai
      Nurse Cohort Study (TNCS). METHODS: The TNCS is a longitudinal prospective cohort
      study comprising multiple age cohorts, initiated in 2009 and expected to run
      until 2027. Cohorts comprise registered nurses (RN) holding professional licenses
      granted by the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. Follow-up is at 3-year
      intervals, with new (younger) TNCS cohorts introduced and older, no-longer
      eligible members checked out. This maintains the cohort size as representative of
      the Thai RN population. The first survey round (2009) used a self-administered
      mailed questionnaire. The second round (2012) provided follow-up of the initial
      cohort and formed the baseline survey of new entries. RESULTS: The sampling frame
      for the first round was 142,699 licensed RN; 50,200 age-stratified participants
      were randomly selected and mailed the questionnaire, and 18,198 questionnaires
      were returned owing to incorrect addresses. Of the remaining 32,002 participants,
      18,756 (58.6 %) responded (average age 43.7 +/- 9.8 years). About 15.4 %
      (equivalent to 20,000 of the current RN population), reported an intention to
      leave their nursing career. The second round achieved a follow-up rate of 60.2 %.
      This round included 3020 participants randomly selected from 6402 new RN
      (response rate, 38.3 %; mean age 23.1 +/- 3.5 years). In this round, 11.2 %
      reported they intended to leave nursing in the next 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: These
      two survey rounds have highlighted that Thailand is facing critical nurse
      shortages. A high rate of nurses expressed an intention to leave the profession;
      the capacity to replace these potential losses is much lower.

PMID- 26893592
TI  - The economic burden of childhood pneumococcal diseases in The Gambia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of child death. However,
      the economic burden of pneumococcal disease in low-income countries is poorly
      described. We aimed to estimate from a societal perspective, the costs incurred
      by health providers and families of children with pneumococcal diseases. METHODS:
      We recruited children less than 5 years of age with outpatient pneumonia,
      inpatient pneumonia, pneumococcal sepsis and bacterial meningitis at facilities
      in rural and urban Gambia. We collected provider costs, out of pocket costs and
      productivity loss for the families of children. For each disease diagnostic
      category, costs were collected before, during, and for 1 week after discharge
      from hospital or outpatient visit. RESULTS: A total of 340 children were
      enrolled; 100 outpatient pneumonia, 175 inpatient pneumonia 36 pneumococcal
      sepsis, and 29 bacterial meningitis cases. The mean provider costs per patient
      for treating outpatient pneumonia, inpatient pneumonia, pneumococcal sepsis and
      meningitis were US$8, US$64, US$87 and US$124 respectively and the mean out of
      pocket costs per patient were US$6, US$31, US$44 and US$34 respectively. The
      economic burden of outpatient pneumonia, inpatient pneumonia, pneumococcal sepsis
      and meningitis increased to US$15, US$109, US$144 and US$170 respectively when
      family members' time loss from work was taken into account. CONCLUSION: The
      economic burden of pneumococcal disease in The Gambia is substantial, costs to
      families was approximately one-third to a half of the provider costs, and
      accounted for up to 30 % of total societal costs. The introduction of
      pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce this
      economic burden in this society.

PMID- 26893591
TI  - Quality of life in patients with food allergy.
AB  - Food allergy has increased in developed countries and can have a dramatic effect
      on quality of life, so as to provoke fatal reactions. We aimed to outline the
      socioeconomic impact that food allergy exerts in this kind of patients by
      performing a complete review of the literature and also describing the factors
      that may influence, to a greater extent, the quality of life of patients with
      food allergy and analyzing the different questionnaires available. Hitherto,
      strict avoidance of the culprit food(s) and use of emergency medications are the
      pillars to manage this condition. Promising approaches such as specific oral or
      epicutaneous immunotherapy and the use of monoclonal antibodies are progressively
      being investigated worldwide. However, even that an increasing number of centers
      fulfill those approaches, they are not fully implemented enough in clinical
      practice. The mean annual cost of health care has been estimated in international
      dollars (I$) 2016 for food-allergic adults and I$1089 for controls, a difference
      of I$927 (95 % confidence interval I$324-I$1530). A similar result was found for
      adults in each country, and for children, and interestingly, it was not sensitive
      to baseline demographic differences. Cost was significantly related to severity
      of illness in cases in nine countries. The constant threat of exposure, need for
      vigilance and expectation of outcome can have a tremendous impact on quality of
      life. Several studies have analyzed the impact of food allergy on health-related
      quality of life (HRQL) in adults and children in different countries. There have
      been described different factors that could modify HRQL in food allergic
      patients, the most important of them are perceived disease severity, age of the
      patient, peanut or soy allergy, country of origin and having allergy to two or
      more foods. Over the last few years, several different specific Quality of Life
      questionnaires for food allergic patients have been developed and translated to
      different languages and cultures. It is important to perform lingual and cultural
      translations of existent questionnaires in order to ensure its suitability in a
      specific region or country with its own socioeconomic reality and culture. Tools
      aimed at assessing the impact of food allergy on HRQL should be always part of
      the diagnostic work up, in order to provide a complete basal assessment, to
      highlight target of intervention as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of
      interventions designed to cure food allergy. HRQL may be the only meaningful
      outcome measure available for food allergy measuring this continuous burden. 

PMID- 26893595
TI  - Effects of heat-treatment on the stability and composition of metabolomic
      extracts from the earthworm Eisenia fetida.
AB  - Environmental metabolomics studies employing earthworms as sentinels for soil
      contamination are numerous, but the instability of the metabolite extracts from
      these organisms has been minimally addressed. This study evaluated the efficacy
      of adding a heat-treatment step in two commonly used extraction protocols (Bligh
      and Dyer and D2O phosphate buffer) as a pre-analytical stabilization method. The
      resulting metabolic profiles of Eisenia fetida were assessed using principal
      component analysis and NMR spectral evaluations. The heated Bligh and Dyer
      extractions produced stabilized profiles with minimal variation of the extracted
      metabolomic profiles over time, providing a more suitable method for metabolomic
      analysis of earthworm extracts.

PMID- 26893594
TI  - Steroidal saponins from the genus Allium.
AB  - Steroidal saponins are widely distributed among monocots, including the
      Amaryllidaceae family to which the Allium genus is currently classified. Apart
      from sulfur compounds, these are important biologically active molecules that are
      considered to be responsible for the observed activity of Allium species,
      including antifungal, cytotoxic, enzyme-inhibitory, and other. In this paper,
      literature data concerning chemistry and biological activity of steroidal
      saponins from the Allium genus has been reviewed.

PMID- 26893596
TI  - Bayesian module identification from multiple noisy networks.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATIONS: Module identification has been studied extensively in
      order to gain deeper understanding of complex systems, such as social networks as
      well as biological networks. Modules are often defined as groups of vertices in
      these networks that are topologically cohesive with similar interaction patterns
      with the rest of the vertices. Most of the existing module identification
      algorithms assume that the given networks are faithfully measured without errors.
      However, in many real-world applications, for example, when analyzing protein
      protein interaction networks from high-throughput profiling techniques, there is
      significant noise with both false positive and missing links between vertices. In
      this paper, we propose a new model for more robust module identification by
      taking advantage of multiple observed networks with significant noise so that
      signals in multiple networks can be strengthened and help improve the solution
      quality by combining information from various sources. METHODS: We adopt a
      hierarchical Bayesian model to integrate multiple noisy snapshots that capture
      the underlying modular structure of the networks under study. By introducing a
      latent root assignment matrix and its relations to instantaneous module
      assignments in all the observed networks to capture the underlying modular
      structure and combine information across multiple networks, an efficient
      variational Bayes algorithm can be derived to accurately and robustly identify
      the underlying modules from multiple noisy networks. RESULTS: Experiments on
      synthetic and protein-protein interaction data sets show that our proposed model
      enhances both the accuracy and resolution in detecting cohesive modules, and it
      is less vulnerable to noise in the observed data. In addition, it shows higher
      power in predicting missing edges compared to individual-network methods.

PMID- 26893598
TI  - Impaired angiogenesis in the enalapril-treated neonatal rat kidney.
AB  - PURPOSE: Nephrogenesis is normally accompanied by a tightly regulated and
      efficient vascularization. We investigated the effect of angiotensin II
      inhibition on angiogenesis in the developing rat kidney. METHODS: Newborn rat
      pups were treated with enalapril (30 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (control) for 7 days
      after birth. Renal histological changes were checked using Hematoxylin & Eosin
      staining. We also investigated the intrarenal expression of vascular endothelial
      growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1), VEGFR2, platelet-derived growth
      factor (PDGF)-B, and PDGF receptor-beta with Western blotting and
      immunohistochemical staining at postnatal day 8. Expression of the endothelial
      cell marker CD31 was examined to determine glomerular and peritubular capillary
      density. RESULTS: Enalapril-treated rat kidneys showed disrupted tubules and
      vessels when compared with the control rat kidneys. In the enalapril-treated
      group, intrarenal VEGF-A protein expression was significantly higher, whereas
      VEGFR1 protein expression was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The
      expression of VEGFR2, PDGF-B, and PDGF receptor-beta was not different between
      the 2 groups. The increased capillary CD31 expression on the western blots of
      enalapril-treated rat kidneys indicated that the total endothelial cell protein
      level was increased, while the cortical capillary density, assessed using CD31
      immunohistochemical staining, was decreased. CONCLUSION: Impaired VEGF-VEGFR
      signaling and altered capillary repair may play a role in the deterioration of
      the kidney vasculature after blocking of angiotensin II during renal development.

PMID- 26893597
TI  - Catch-up growth and catch-up fat in children born small for gestational age.
AB  - Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of perinatal
      morbidity, persistent short stature, and metabolic alterations in later life.
      Recent studies have focused on the association between birth weight (BW) and
      later body composition. Some reports suggest that fetal nutrition, as reflected
      by BW, may have an inverse programing effect on abdominal adiposity later in
      life. This inverse association between BW and abdominal adiposity in adults may
      contribute to insulin resistance. Rapid weight gain during infancy in SGA
      children seemed to be associated with increased fat mass rather than lean mass.
      Early catch-up growth after SGA birth rather than SGA itself has been noted as a
      cardiovascular risk factor in later life. Children who are born SGA also have a
      predisposition to accumulation of fat mass, particularly intra-abdominal fat. It
      is not yet clear whether this predisposition is due to low BW itself, rapid
      postnatal catch-up growth, or a combination of both. In this report, we review
      the published literature on central fat accumulation and metabolic consequences
      of being SGA, as well as the currently popular research area of SGA, including
      growth aspects. 

PMID- 26893599
TI  - Identification of 1p36 deletion syndrome in patients with facial dysmorphism and
      developmental delay.
AB  - PURPOSE: The 1p36 deletion syndrome is a microdeletion syndrome characterized by
      developmental delays/intellectual disability, craniofacial dysmorphism, and other
      congenital anomalies. To date, many cases of this syndrome have been reported
      worldwide. However, cases with this syndrome have not been reported in Korean
      populations anywhere. This study was performed to report the clinical and
      molecular characteristics of five Korean patients with the 1p36 deletion
      syndrome. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of the 5 patients were reviewed.
      Karyotyping and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analyses
      were performed for genetic diagnoses. RESULTS: All 5 patients had typical
      dysmorphic features including frontal bossing, flat right parietal bone, low-set
      ears, straight eyebrows, down-slanting palpebral fissure, hypotelorism, flat
      nasal roots, midface hypoplasia, pointed chins, small lips, and variable degrees
      of developmental delay. Each patient had multiple and variable anomalies such as
      a congenital heart defect including ventricular septal defect, atrial septal
      defect, and patent duct arteriosus, ventriculomegaly, cryptorchism, or hearing
      loss. Karyotyping revealed the 1p36 deletion in only 1 patient, although it was
      confirmed in all 5 patients by MLPA analyses. CONCLUSION: All the patients had
      the typical features of 1p36 deletion. These hallmarks can be used to identify
      other patients with this condition in their early years in order to provide more
      appropriate care.

PMID- 26893600
TI  - Factors associated with mumps meningitis and the possible impact of vaccination.
AB  - PURPOSE: Mumps meningitis is a common complication of mumps infection; however,
      information on mumps meningitis in the postvaccine era is limited. The purpose of
      the present study was to determine factors associated with mumps meningitis and
      to discuss the effect of vaccination on this disease. METHODS: We retrospectively
      reviewed patients younger than 19 years with mumps, diagnosed at a university
      hospital in Korea between 2003 and 2013. Patients were divided into groups with
      and without meningitis, and the clinical features of the 2 groups were compared.
      RESULTS: The study enrolled 119 patients: 19 patients with meningitis and 100
      patients without. Univariate analysis showed that older age (median: 15 years vs.
      9.5 years, respectively), a longer interval from last vaccination (median: 10.2
      years vs. 4.8 years, respectively), and febrile presentation (94.7% vs. 31.0%,
      respectively) were significantly associated with mumps meningitis. Sex, number of
      vaccination doses, bilateral parotitis, and the presence of complications other
      than meningitis did not differ between the 2 groups. In multivariate logistic
      regression analysis, age (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.89;
      P=0.04) and fever (odds ratio, 30.46; 95% confidence interval, 3.27-283.61;
      P<0.01) remained independent factors for mumps meningitis. CONCLUSION: Clinicians
      in the postvaccine era should be aware of the possibility of mumps meningitis in
      febrile cases of mumps in adolescents, regardless of the number of vaccination
      doses. To establish the role of vaccination in mumps meningitis, further studies
      will be necessary.

PMID- 26893601
TI  - Clinical features of Bednar's aphthae in infants.
AB  - PURPOSE: Although Bednar's aphthae are common and regress spontaneously, these
      lesions may lead to feeding intolerance and are often misdiagnosed, rendering
      examinations useless. This study sheds new light on the clinical features of
      Bednar's aphthae. METHODS: Sixteen neonates and infants were newly diagnosed with
      Bednar's aphthae via routine health check-ups in an outpatient clinic. Medical
      records were retrospectively reviewed, and the following parameters were
      analyzed; sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, and perinatal
      problems. A physical examination was carried out during the next outpatient visit
      to examine the healing process and check for the existence of scars or
      complications. RESULTS: Initial presentation included changes in feeding habits
      (n=10), longer feeding time, reduced intake, and increased irritability. In 6
      patients, Bednar's aphthae were discovered incidentally, without prior symptoms.
      Feeding posture and method of feeding are important causes of Bednar's aphthae.
      Eleven patients were fed in a horizontal position, whereas 5 patients were fed in
      a semiseated position. Fifteen patients were bottle-fed, whereas 1 patient was
      exclusively breastfed. After correcting the feeding position, the ulcerative
      lesions disappeared within 1 month of diagnosis. During the follow-up period,
      lesions did not recur in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests
      that Bednar's aphthae are caused by mechanical pressure. A diagnosis of Bednar's
      aphthae should be considered when lesions are found on the palate of infants and
      when symptoms seem to be feeding related. Proper education of parents can both
      treat Bednar's aphthae and easily prevent its recurrence.

PMID- 26893602
TI  - Intravenous levetiracetam versus phenobarbital in children with status
      epilepticus or acute repetitive seizures.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (i.v.)
      phenobarbital (PHB) and i.v. levetiracetam (LEV) in children with status
      epilepticus (SE) or acute repetitive seizure (ARS). METHODS: The medical records
      of children (age range, 1 month to 15 years) treated with i.v. PHB or LEV for SE
      or ARS at our single tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed. Seizure
      termination was defined as seizure cessation within 30 minutes of infusion
      completion and no recurrence within 24 hours. Information on the demographic
      variables, electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging findings,
      previous antiepileptic medications, and adverse events after drug infusion was
      obtained. RESULTS: The records of 88 patients with SE or ARS (median age, 18
      months; 50 treated with PHB and 38 with LEV) were reviewed. The median initial
      dose of i.v. PHB was 20 mg/kg (range, 10-20 mg/kg) and that of i.v. LEV was 30
      mg/kg (range, 20-30 mg/kg). Seizure termination occurred in 57.9% of patients
      treated with i.v. LEV (22 of 38) and 74.0% treated with i.v. PHB (37 of 50)
      (P=0.111). The factor associated with seizure termination was the type of event
      (SE vs. ARS) in each group. Adverse effects were reported in 13.2% of patients
      treated with i.v. LEV (5 of 38; n=4, aggressive behavior and n=1, vomiting), and
      28.0% of patients treated with i.v. PHB (14 of 50). CONCLUSION: Intravenous LEV
      was efficacious and safe in children with ARS or SE. Further evaluation is needed
      to determine the most effective and best-tolerated loading dose of i.v. LEV.

PMID- 26893603
TI  - Early onset of colorectal cancer in a 13-year-old girl with Lynch syndrome.
AB  - Lynch syndrome is the most common inherited colon cancer syndrome. Patients with
      Lynch syndrome develop a range of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC) and
      carry a mutation on one of the mismatched repair (MMR) genes. Although CRC
      usually occurs after the fourth decade in patients with Lynch syndrome harboring
      a heterozygous MMR gene mutation, it can occur in children with Lynch syndrome
      who have a compound heterozygous or homozygous MMR gene mutation. We report a
      case of CRC in a 13-year-old patient with Lynch syndrome and congenital heart
      disease. This patient had a heterozygous mutation in MLH1 (an MMR gene), but no
      compound MMR gene defects, and a K-RAS somatic mutation in the cancer cells. 

PMID- 26893604
TI  - Tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adolescent
      diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - We present a case of tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
      in a 14-year-old girl. The patient presented with weight loss, malaise, fatigue,
      prolonged fever, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Laboratory investigation
      revealed pancytopenia (white blood cells, 2,020 cells/uL; hemoglobin, 10.2 g/dL;
      platelets, 52,000 cells/uL), hypertriglyceridemia (229 mg/dL), and
      hyperferritinemia (1,420 ng/mL). Bone marrow biopsy showed a hypocellular bone
      marrow with a large numbers of histiocytes and marked hemophagocytosis; based on
      these findings, she was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
      Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with both the bone marrow aspiration and sputum
      samples revealed the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antitubercular
      therapy with immune modulation therapy including dexamethasone and intravenous
      immunoglobulin was initiated. The results of all laboratory tests including bone
      marrow biopsy and PCR with both the bone marrow aspiration and sputum samples
      were normalized after treatment. Thus, early bone marrow biopsy and the use of
      techniques such as PCR can avoid delays in diagnosis and improve the survival
      rates of patients with tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic
      lymphohistiocytosis. 

PMID- 26893605
TI  - Acceptability and use of ready-to-use supplementary food compared to corn-soy
      blend as a targeted ration in an HIV program in rural Haiti: a qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) is increasingly used as a
      component of food rations for adults with HIV. METHODS: We undertook a
      qualitative study to evaluate the acceptability and use of peanut-based RUSF
      compared to corn-soy blend (CSB) among adults living with HIV in rural Haiti who
      had been enrolled in a prospective, randomized trial comparing the impact of
      those rations. A total of 13 focus groups were conducted with 84 participants-42
      selected from the RUSF arm of the study, and 42 from the CSB arm-using a guide
      with pre-designated core topics and open-ended questions. RESULTS: We found that
      RUSF was highly acceptable in terms of taste, preparation, and packaging. Both
      types of food ration were widely shared inside and outside households, especially
      with children. However, while CSB was without exception stored with the communal
      household food supply, RUSF was frequently separated from the household food
      supply and was more often reserved for consumption by individuals with HIV.
      CONCLUSIONS: RUSF was a highly acceptable food ration that, compared to CSB, was
      more often reserved for use by the individual with HIV. Qualitative examination
      of the perceptions, use, and sharing of food rations is critical to understanding
      and improving the efficacy of food assistance for food-insecure people living
      with HIV.

PMID- 26893606
TI  - How to build your dragon: scaling of muscle architecture from the world's
      smallest to the world's largest monitor lizard.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The functional design of skeletal muscles is shaped by conflicting
      selective pressures between support and propulsion, which becomes even more
      important as animals get larger. If larger animals were geometrically scaled up
      versions of smaller animals, increases in body size would cause an increase in
      musculoskeletal stress, a result of the greater scaling of mass in comparison to
      area. In large animals these stresses would come dangerously close to points of
      failure. By examining the architecture of 22 hindlimb muscles in 27 individuals
      from 9 species of varanid lizards ranging from the tiny 7.6 g Varanus brevicauda
      to the giant 40 kg Varanus komodoensis, we present a comprehensive dataset on the
      scaling of musculoskeletal architecture in monitor lizards (varanids), providing
      information about the phylogenetic constraints and adaptations of locomotor
      muscles in sprawling tetrapods. RESULTS: Scaling results for muscle mass,
      pennation and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), all suggest that larger
      varanids increase the relative force-generating capacity of femur adductors, knee
      flexors and ankle plantarflexors, with scaling exponents greater than geometric
      similarity predicts. Thus varanids mitigate the size-related increases in stress
      by increasing muscle mass and PCSA rather than adopting a more upright posture
      with size as is shown in other animals. As well as the scaling effects of muscle
      properties with body mass, the variation in muscle architecture with changes in
      hindlimb posture were also prominent. Within varanids, posture varies with
      habitat preference. Climbing lizards display a sprawling posture while
      terrestrial lizards display a more upright posture. Sprawling species required
      larger PCSAs and muscle masses in femur retractors, knee flexors, and ankle
      plantarflexors in order to support the body. CONCLUSIONS: Both size and posture
      related muscle changes all suggest an increased role in support over propulsion,
      leading to a decrease in locomotor performance which has previously been shown
      with increases in size. These estimates suggest the giant Pleistocene varanid
      lizard (Varanus megalania priscus) would likely not have been able to outrun
      early humans with which it co-habitated the Australian landmass with.

PMID- 26893609
TI  - Erratum to: Consumers and their supporters' perspectives on poor practice and the
      use of seclusion and restraint in mental health settings: results from Australian
      focus groups.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13033-016-0038-x.]. 

PMID- 26893607
TI  - Mental Health Literacy for Anxiety Disorders: How perceptions of symptom severity
      might relate to recognition of psychological distress.
AB  - PURPOSE: Improving mental health literacy is an important consideration when
      promoting expedient and effective treatment seeking for psychological disorders.
      Low recognition serves as a barrier to treatment (Coles and Coleman, 2010), and
      this article examines recognition by lay individuals of severity for three
      psychological disorders: social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and major
      depression using a dimensional approach. DESIGN: Vignettes of mild/subclinical,
      moderate, and severe cases of each disorder were rated for severity by a team of
      expert assessors and 270 participants (mean age = 26.8; 76.7% women). FINDINGS:
      Difference ratings were calculated comparing participants' responses to scores
      from the assessors. A within-groups factorial ANOVA with LSD follow-up was
      performed to examine the effects of Diagnosis and Severity on difference ratings.
      Both main effects [Diagnosis, F(2, 536)=35.26, Mse=1.24; Severity, F(2,
      536)=9.44, Mse=1.93] and the interaction were significant [F(4, 1072)=13.70,
      Mse=1.13] all p's < 0.001. Social anxiety cases were underrated in the
      mild/subclinical and moderate cases, generalized anxiety cases were underrated at
      all three severities, and major depression cases were overrated at all three
      severities. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Judgments of severity may underlie the low
      recognition rates for social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
      Future efforts should focus on improved recognition and education regarding
      anxiety disorders in the population, particularly before they become severe.
      VALUE: This project demonstrates the importance of considering judgments of
      symptom severity on a continuum, and in a range of cases, rather than just the
      ability to correctly label symptoms, when determining whether or not people
      recognize psychological disorders.

PMID- 26893610
TI  - Treating symptoms or assisting human development: Can different environmental
      conditions affect personal development for patients with severe mental illness? A
      qualitative study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that a basic anomaly in self-experience may
      be a core factor in patients with severe mental illnesses. Given the importance
      of sense of self, the traditional treatment of symptoms might not be the most
      effective for these groups of patients. This qualitative study examines how
      differences in social environmental conditions, organized as education or
      treatment, might affect personal development in patients with severe mental
      illness. METHODS: A qualitative hermeneutical design was used. Data were
      collected through qualitative interviews. Informants included 14 patients in
      psychiatric treatment and 15 students at schools for adults with mental illness.
      Most informants were interviewed on two occasions, 6-8 months apart, totaling 47
      interviews. All participants had been diagnosed with severe mental illness with
      pronounced impact on daily functioning (most often psychoses or personality
      disorders) for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Findings and interpretations showed
      that the students experienced a supportive environment focused mostly on
      education. They described personal and enduring development in areas such as
      capacity for relationships, regulation of symptoms, subjective well-being, and
      integration in society. The patients experienced an environment focused more on
      treatment of their illness and less on personal development and interests. They
      described little development, much loneliness, a poor quality of life, an
      objectifying attitude of themselves and others, and hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS:
      Even if more research is needed, findings indicate that for this group of
      patients, problems may be closely related to identity development. Therefore,
      instead of solemnly focusing on specific symptoms, it might be more effective to
      support patients' personal and social development by offering intensive and
      lasting social environmental conditions. This includes stable and mutual
      relationships, intrinsically motivated activities, and an environment that
      supports personal choices, acceptance, and development.

PMID- 26893612
TI  - Application of multicolor banding combined with heterochromatic and locus
      specific probes identify evolutionary conserved breakpoints in Hylobates
      pileatus.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The question what makes Homo sapiens sapiens (HSA) special among
      other species is one of the basic questions of mankind. A small contribution to
      answer this question is to study the chromosomal constitution of HSA compared to
      other, closely related species. In order to check the types and extent of
      evolutionary conserved breakpoints we studied here for the first time the
      chromosomes of Hylobates pileatus (HPI) compared to HSA and Hylobates lar (HLA)
      by means of molecular cytogenetics. RESULTS: Overall, 68 new evolutionary
      conserved breakpoints compared to HSA could be characterized in this study.
      Interestingly, only seven of those were different compared to HLA. However,
      application of heterochromatic human DNA-probes provided evidence that observed
      high chromosomal rearrangement rates of gibbons in HPI happened rather in these
      repetitive elements than in euchromatin, even though most centromeric positions
      were preserved in HPI compared to HSA. CONCLUSION: Understanding genomes of other
      species and comparing them to HSA needs full karyotypic and high resolution
      genomic data to approach both: euchromatic and heterochromatic regions of the
      studied chromosome-content. This study provides full karyotypic data and
      previously not available data on heterochromatin-syntenies of HPI and HSA.

PMID- 26893611
TI  - Anoxic metabolism and biochemical production in Pseudomonas putida F1 driven by a
      bioelectrochemical system.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas putida is a promising host for the bioproduction of
      chemicals, but its industrial applications are significantly limited by its
      obligate aerobic character. The aim of this paper is to empower the anoxic
      metabolism of wild-type Pseudomonas putida to enable bioproduction anaerobically,
      with the redox power from a bioelectrochemical system (BES). RESULTS: The
      obligate aerobe Pseudomonas putida F1 was able to survive and produce almost
      exclusively 2-Keto-gluconate from glucose under anoxic conditions due to redox
      balancing with electron mediators in a BES. 2-Keto-gluconate, a precursor for
      industrial anti-oxidant production, was produced at an overall carbon yield of
      over 90 % based on glucose. Seven different mediator compounds were tested, and
      only those with redox potential above 0.207 V (vs standard hydrogen electrode)
      showed interaction with the cells. The productivity increased with the increasing
      redox potential of the mediator, indicating this was a key factor affecting the
      anoxic production process. P. putida cells survived under anaerobic conditions,
      and limited biofilm formation could be observed on the anode's surface. Analysis
      of the intracellular pools of ATP, ADP and AMP showed that cells had an increased
      adenylate energy charge suggesting that cells were able to generate energy using
      the anode as terminal electron acceptor. The analysis of NAD(H) and NADP(H)
      showed that in the presence of specific extracellular electron acceptors, the
      NADP(H) pool was more oxidised, while the NAD(H) pool was unchanged. This implies
      a growth limitation under anaerobic conditions due to a shortage of NADPH and
      provides a way to limit biomass formation, while allowing cell maintenance and
      catalysis at high purity and yield. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, this study
      proved the principle that a BES-driven bioconversion of glucose can be achieved
      for a wild-type obligate aerobe. This non-growth bioconversion was in high
      yields, high purity and also could deliver the necessary metabolic energy for
      cell maintenance. By combining this approach with metabolic engineering
      strategies, this could prove to be a powerful new way to produce bio-chemicals
      and fuels from renewables in both high yield and high purity.

PMID- 26893613
TI  - Ring chromosome 18 in combination with 18q12.1 (DTNA) interstitial microdeletion
      in a patient with multiple congenital defects.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ring chromosome 18 [r(18)] syndrome represents a relatively rare
      condition with a complex clinical picture including multiple congenital
      dysmorphia and varying degrees of mental retardation. The condition is
      cytogenetically characterized by a complete or mosaic form of ring chromosome 18,
      with ring formation being usually accompanied by the partial loss of both
      chromosomal arms. Here we observed a 20-year-old male patient who along with the
      features typical for r(18) carriers additionally manifested a severe congenital
      subaortic stenosis. To define the genetic basis of such a compound phenotype,
      standard cytogenetic and high-resolution molecular-cytogenetic analysis of the
      patient was performed. CASE PRESENTATION: Standard chromosome analysis of
      cultured lymphocytes confirmed 46, XY, r(18) karyotype. Array-based comparative
      genomic hybridization (array-CGH) allowed to define precisely the breakpoints of
      18p and 18q terminal deletions, thus identifying the hemizygosity extent, and to
      reveal an additional duplication adjoining the breakpoint of the 18p deletion.
      Apart from the terminal imbalances, we found an interstitial microdeletion of 442
      kb in size (18q12.1) that encompassed DTNA gene encoding alpha-dystrobrevin, a
      member of dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex. While limited data on the
      role of DTNA missense mutations in pathogenesis of human cardiac abnormalities
      exist, a microdeletion corresponding to whole DTNA sequence and not involving
      other genes has not been earlier described. CONCLUSIONS: A detailed molecular
      cytogenetic characterization of the patient with multiple congenital
      abnormalities enabled to unravel a combination of genetic defects, namely, a ring
      chromosome 18 with terminal imbalances and DTNA whole-gene deletion. We suggest
      that such combination could contribute to the complex phenotype. The findings
      obtained allow to extend the knowledge of the role of DTNA haploinsufficiency in
      congenital heart malformation, though further comprehensive functional studies
      are required.

PMID- 26893614
TI  - Inhibition of Toxic IAPP Amyloid by Extracts of Common Fruits.
AB  - The aggregation of the 37-amino acid polypeptide islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP,
      amylin), as either insoluble amyloid or as small oligomers, appears to play a
      direct role in the death of pancreatic beta-islet cells in type 2 diabetes. It is
      believed that inhibiting the aggregation of IAPP may slow down, if not prevent
      entirely, the progression of this disease. Extracts of thirteen different common
      fruits were analyzed for their ability to prevent the aggregation of
      amyloidogenic IAPP. Thioflavin T binding, immuno-detection and circular dichroism
      assays were performed to test the in vitro inhibitory potential of each extract.
      Atomic force microscopy was used to visualize the formation of amyloid fibrils
      with and without each fruit extract. Finally, extracts were tested for their
      ability to protect living mammalian cells from the toxic effects of amyloid IAPP.
      Several fruits showed substantial ability to inhibit IAPP aggregation and protect
      living cells from toxic IAPP amyloid.

PMID- 26893615
TI  - Surface antigens contribute differently to the pathophysiological features in
      serotype K1 and K2 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from liver abscesses.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The virulence role of surface antigens in a single serotype of
      Klebsiella pneumoniae strain have been studied, but little is known about whether
      their contribution will vary with serotype. METHOD: To investigate the role of K
      and O antigen in hyper-virulent strains, we constructed O and K antigen deficient
      mutants from serotype K1 STL43 and K2 TSGH strains from patients with liver
      abscess, and characterized their virulence in according to the abscess formation
      and resistance to neutrophil phagocytosis, serum, and bacterial clearance in
      liver. RESULTS: Both of K1 and K2-antigen mutants lost their wildtype resistance
      to neutrophil phagocytosis and hepatic clearance, and failed to cause abscess
      formation. K2-antigen mutant became serum susceptible while K1-antigen mutant
      maintained its resistance to serum killing. The amount of glucuronic acid,
      indicating the amount of capsular polysaccharide (CPS, K antigen), was inversed
      proportional to the rate of phagocytosis. O-antigen mutant of serotype K1 strains
      had significantly more amount of CPS, and more resistant to neutrophil
      phagocytosis than its wildtype counterpart. O-antigen mutants of serotype K1 and
      K2 strains lost their wildtype serum resistance, and kept resistant to neutrophil
      phagocytosis. While both mutants lacked the same O1 antigen, O-antigen mutant of
      serotype K1 became susceptible to liver clearance and cause mild abscess
      formation, but its serotype K2 counterpart maintained these wildtype virulence.
      CONCLUSION: We conclude that the contribution of surface antigens to virulence of
      K. pneumoniae strains varies with serotypes.

PMID- 26893616
TI  - De Novo sphingolipid synthesis is essential for Salmonella-induced autophagy and
      human beta-defensin 2 expression in intestinal epithelial cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sphingolipids are important for innate immune response to eliminate
      infected pathogens and involved in autophagy. On the other hand, nucleotide
      binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) served as an
      intracellular pattern recognition receptor to enhance host defense by inducing
      autophagy and the production of antimicrobial peptides, such as human beta
      defensin-2 (hBD-2). However, the role of sphingolipids in Salmonella-induced
      autophagy and hBD-2 response in intestinal epithelial cells has not been
      previously elucidated. METHODS: Salmonella typhimurium wild-type strain SL1344
      was used to infect SW480, an intestinal epithelial cell. hBD-2 and interleukin-8
      (IL-8) mRNA expressions were assessed in SW480 cells using RT-PCR, and
      intracellular signaling pathways and autophagy protein expression were analyzed
      by Western blot in SW480 cells in the presence or absence of inhibitors or
      transfected with siRNA. RESULTS: We demonstrated that inhibition of de novo
      sphingolipid synthesis repressed the membrane recruitment of NOD2 and autophagy
      related protein 16-like 1 (Atg16L1), suppressed Salmonella-induced autophagic
      protein LC3-II expression, and reduced NOD2-mediated hBD-2 response in Salmonella
      infected SW480 cells. Contrasting to the utilization of membrane cholesterol on
      maintenance of Salmonella-containing vacuoles and anti-inflammation by
      Salmonella, sphingolipids act on epithelial defense against the invasive
      pathogen. CONCLUSIONS: Our results offer mechanistic insights on the role of de
      novo sphingolipid synthesis in the innate immunity of intestinal epithelial cells
      to Salmonella infection. The pharmaceuticals enhancing or diet enriched with
      sphingolipids may induce the dual anti-bacterial mechanisms. The role of de novo
      sphingolipid synthesis on inflammatory bowel disease is deserved to be further
      investigated.

PMID- 26893617
TI  - The risk of metabolic syndrome after gestational diabetes mellitus - a hospital
      based cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at an increased
      risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) after delivery. Recently, the
      prevalence of both GDM and MetS has increased worldwide, in parallel with
      obesity. We investigated whether the presentation of MetS and its clinical
      features among women with previous GDM differs from that among those with normal
      glucose tolerance during pregnancy, and whether excess body weight affects the
      results. METHODS: This hospital-based study of two cohorts was performed in Kanta
      Hame Central Hospital, Finland. 120 women with a history of GDM and 120 women
      with a history of normal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, all aged between 25
      and 46 were enrolled. They all underwent physical examination and had baseline
      blood samples taken. All 240 women were also included in subgroup analyses to
      study the effect of excess body weight on the results. RESULTS: Although the
      groups did not differ in body mass index (BMI; p = 0.069), the risk of developing
      MetS after pregnancy complicated by GDM was significantly higher than after
      normal pregnancy, 19 vs. 8 cases (p  =  0.039). Fasting glucose (p < 0.001) and
      triglyceride levels (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in women affected. In
      subgroup analysis, cardiovascular risk factors were more common in participants
      with high BMI than in those with previous gestational diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The
      risk of MetS was 2.4-fold higher after GDM than after normal pregnancy.
      Cardiovascular risk factors were more common in participants with high BMI than
      in those with previous GDM. Multivariate analysis supported the main findings.
      Weight control is important in preventing MetS after delivery.

PMID- 26893620
TI  - PPARgamma activation reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced metastasis in a murine
      model of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during liver resection or transplantation for
      the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may increase the risk of
      metastasis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma)
      activation has been observed to exert a protective effect against hepatic I/R
      injury. However, whether PPARgamma activation exerts a protective effect against
      I/R-associated liver metastasis remains unknown. Therefore, the present study
      aimed to investigate the effects of the PPAR agonist rosiglitazone and the
      specific PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 on tumor metastasis following hepatic I/R.
      An experimental mouse model of hepatic I/R-induced HCC metastasis was designed in
      order to determine the effects of I/R on tumor metastasis in the liver. Four
      groups were established: Sham, control (I/R), rosiglitazone (Ro) and
      rosiglitazone with GW9662 (Ro + GW) groups. In the latter two groups, the
      treatments were administered intravenously 1 h prior to the induction of
      ischemia. Tumor load was measured 12 days after the procedure. Furthermore,
      tissue analyses were conducted to determine the expression levels of alanine
      aminotransferase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9,
      vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and
      PPARgamma. Rosiglitazone pretreatment appeared to significantly mitigate hepatic
      I/R injury, as indicated by serological and histological analysis. The levels of
      VCAM-1, MPO and MMP-9 expression in the Ro group were significantly reduced at 8
      h following ischemia compared with those in the control and Ro + GW groups. In
      addition, rosiglitazone inhibited the I/R-induced activation of NF-kappaB, and
      GW9662 attenuated the inhibitory effect. To the best of our knowledge, the
      present study is the first to report on the expression and the functional roles
      of PPARgamma in I/R-associated metastasis. Short-term treatment of mice with
      rosiglitazone, a potent PPARgamma agonist, confers protective effects against
      hepatic I/R-associated metastasis. Thus, PPARgamma may be a potential therapeutic
      target for the protection of the liver against I/R-associated metastasis.

PMID- 26893618
TI  - Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for the treatment of glioblastoma.
AB  - Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and devastating primary malignant
      intracranial tumor in adults. The current first-line treatment for patients with
      newly diagnosed GBM is surgical resection followed by radiotherapy plus
      concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. This treatment protocol may prolong the
      survival period of the patient, however it is not curative and more effective
      therapeutic strategies are required. GBM is a type of highly vascularized tumor
      with increased expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),
      which is a significant mediator of angiogenesis. Since angiogenesis is essential
      for tumor growth, anti-angiogenic therapies hold potential for the treatment of
      GBM, and targeting VEGF has demonstrated promising results in previous studies.
      Bevacizumab (BEV) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits
      VEGF and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a monotherapy
      treatment for patients with recurrent GBM and is associated with manageable
      toxicity. Previous studies have demonstrated that BEV may be an effective
      treatment for recurrent GBM, with prolonged progression-free survival and overall
      survival, and maintained patient quality of life and functional status. The
      present review article briefly outlines the mechanism of action of BEV and
      summarizes the current literature and clinical trial research on the role of BEV
      for the treatment of patients with recurrent and newly diagnosed GBM.

PMID- 26893619
TI  - Clinical and radiographic observations from four patients with primary hepatic
      lymphoma.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to delineate the radiographic and clinical
      features of primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL). Four histopathologically confirmed
      cases of PHL were analyzed with respect to the radiological, clinical and
      pathological characteristics. The main clinical manifestations included upper
      right quadrant pain and lymphoma-associated B symptoms, such as fever, night
      sweating and weight loss. All the patients had elevated serum levels of lactate
      dehydrogenase. Furthermore, all the patients underwent plain and enhanced
      computed tomography examinations, which identified low-density lesions without
      marked enhancement. Solitary masses were observed in two cases, while multiple
      focal lesions were noted in one case and diffuse multi-speckled nodules were
      observed in one case. Two patients underwent abdominal magnetic resonance
      imaging, which revealed lesions that were hyperintense on T1-weighted imaging
      (WI) scans and hypointense on T2WI scans, and exhibited slight to moderate
      enhancement with a dynamic contrast-enhanced protocol. In one case, vessels were
      visible within the lesion. Therefore, the present study concluded that PHL is a
      rare condition that exhibits non-specific clinical and radiological features. A
      combination of imaging results and clinical manifestations can be used to
      facilitate a diagnosis of PHL.

PMID- 26893621
TI  - Effect of local insulin injection on wound vascularization in patients with
      diabetic foot ulcer.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of local insulin
      injection on granulation tissue formation in the wounds of patients with diabetic
      foot ulcer. Thirty-two patients with diabetic foot ulcer were randomly divided
      into an insulin (n=18) and a control (n=14) group. In the diabetic foot ulcer
      wound, the insulin group were administered insulin and the control group were
      administered an equal volume of saline. Prior to injection and at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0
      and 4.0 h after injection, the fingertip blood glucose levels were determined.
      The growth of granulation tissue was assessed continuously for 12 days. Wound
      tissue was harvested at 0, 5, 7 and 12 days for the detection of CD34 expression
      by immunohistochemistry. The microvessel density (MVD) was calculated. No
      significant difference in the fasting blood glucose level was found between the
      two groups at any time-point (P>0.05). Growth of granulation tissue in the
      insulin group was more marked from 7 days after local insulin injection (24.87+/
      0.24) and was significantly different from that in the control group (18.66+/
      0.45) (P<0.01). New vessels were observed in the insulin group 3 days after
      insulin injection; however, there was no significant difference in MVD compared
      with the control group (P>0.05). The MVD in the insulin group increased markedly
      from 5 days after treatment, and the difference between the two groups was
      significant (P<0.01). In conclusion, local injection of insulin into the base of
      a diabetic foot ulcer has a significant effect on systemic blood glucose and may
      promote wound healing by improving the growth of granulation tissue.

PMID- 26893622
TI  - Isobavachalcone induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells via inhibition of
      the Akt and Erk pathways.
AB  - In the present study, the MGC803 gastric cancer cell line was used as an
      experimental model to evaluate the potential role of isobavachalcone (IBC) in
      cell apoptosis, migration and invasion. The inhibitory effects of IBC on cell
      proliferation were determined using a methylthiazolyltetrazolium assay. Cellular
      morphological changes were assessed using Wright-Giemsa staining, and cell
      apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. The results of the present
      study demonstrated that IBC inhibited the proliferation of MGC803 cells in a
      concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the wound healing and
      MatrigelTM Transwell(r) invasion assays demonstrated that IBC decreased cell
      migration and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting was
      used to determine the protein expression levels of caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2
      (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), as well as the key protein kinases
      in the Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) signaling pathways.
      During the IBC-induced apoptosis of MGC803 cells, transient activation of
      phosphorylated (p)-Akt and p-Erk inhibited the activation of Akt and Erk,
      upregulated Bax expression, downregulated Bcl-2 expression and activated caspase
      3. These results suggest that IBC inhibited the growth of MGC803 gastric cancer
      cells by regulating the protein expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. In
      addition, inhibition of the Akt and Erk signaling pathways may be important
      mechanisms underlying the IBC-induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.

PMID- 26893624
TI  - Puerarin attenuates the inflammatory response and apoptosis in LPS-stimulated
      cardiomyocytes.
AB  - Patients with septic shock suffer from high mortality rates, particularly when
      complicated by severe myocardial depression which is characterized by hypotension
      and a reduction in cardiac output. Inflammation is an important factor involved
      in the early stages of sepsis. The aim of the present study was to investigate
      the effect of the Chinese herbal compound puerarin (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 uM) on
      cardiomyocyte inflammatory response in a sepsis model using H9c2 cardiomyocytes
      stimulated with 1 ug/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The mRNA expression levels of
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-beta were evaluated using
      reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the
      protein expression levels of various factors were determined using western blot
      analysis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling
      was used to evaluate the apoptosis rates in the various groups, and
      immunocytochemical analysis was employed to determine the effect of puerarin on
      the nuclear translocation of p65 protein. The present study demonstrated that LPS
      stimulation increased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA expression levels, as compared
      with the controls (P<0.05). Following treatment with various concentrations of
      puerarin, the expression levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were markedly blunted,
      particularly in the LPS + 40 uM puerarin group (P<0.05 vs. the LPS group).
      Furthermore, puerarin administration significantly inhibited LPS-induced
      apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl
      transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining (TUNEL positive
      cells: LPS + 40 uM puerarin group, 5.5% vs. LPS group, 10.5%; P<0.01). In
      addition, puerarin significantly decreased LPS-induced phosphorylated nuclear
      factor (p-NF)-kappaB p65 and Bax expression levels, and increased the expression
      levels of Bcl-2, as compared with the LPS group (P<0.05). These data indicated
      that puerarin may serve as a valuable protective agent against cardiovascular
      inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 26893625
TI  - Increased expression of FERM domain-containing 4A protein is closely associated
      with the development of rectal cancer.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to detect the expression levels of FERM domain
      containing 4A (FRMD4A) in rectal cancer tissues and peripheral blood and to
      investigate the correlation between FRMD4A and cancer development. A total of 78
      consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty healthy individuals were
      used as the control group. The expression of FRMD4A in rectal cancer and the
      corresponding normal adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and
      western blotting. The expression of FRMD4A mRNA in peripheral blood was detected
      by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression
      of FRMD4A in rectal cancer tissues was found to be negatively correlated with the
      degree of differentiation, depth of invasion and Dukes' stage. A negative
      correlation was identified between FRMD4A and epithelial cadherin expression. The
      expression of FRMD4A in the peripheral blood of patients with rectal cancer was
      significantly increased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05).
      Expression of FRMD4A in the peripheral blood in the patients with lymph node
      metastasis was significantly increased compared with that in the patients without
      lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). These results indicate that the expression of
      FRMD4A is significantly increased in rectal cancer tissues and the peripheral
      blood of patients with rectal cancer, and the expression levels of FRMD4A are
      closely associated with differentiation, invasion of rectal cancer and Dukes'
      stage. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that FRMD4A may
      be used as a target for the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer.

PMID- 26893623
TI  - Inhibitory effects of 90Sr/90Y beta-irradiation on alkali burn-induced corneal
      neovascularization in rats.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of 90Sr
      90Y beta-irradiation in a rat model of alkali burn-induced corneal
      neovascularization (CNV). Alkali burn-induced CNV was induced in the right eyes
      of 30 female Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into the following three
      groups (n=10/group): i) The alkali burn control group, which received a balanced
      salt solution treatment; ii) group 1, which received treatment with angiogenesis
      inhibitors; and iii) group 2, which received 90Sr-90Y beta-irradiation treatment.
      A further 10 female Wistar rats comprised a blank control group and received only
      balanced salt solution. Digital photographs of the corneas were acquired and the
      area of NV was calculated. In addition, the expression levels of matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF
      receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 in alkali-burned rat corneas were determined using
      western blot analysis. The results suggested that the number of new vessels and
      the area of CNV were significantly decreased in groups 1 and 2, as compared with
      the alkali burn group at each time point (P<0.05). In addition, the number of
      inflammatory cells and the degree of edema were decreased in groups 1 and 2, as
      compared with the alkali burn group, with group 2 exhibiting the most marked
      reduction. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of MMP
      9, VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were significantly decreased in groups 1 and 2, as
      compared with the alkali burn control group, with group 2 exhibiting the most
      significant reduction (P<0.05). The results of the present study suggested that
      90Sr-90Y beta-irradiation and angiogenesis inhibitor treatments were able to
      inhibit alkali burn-induced CNV, although 90Sr-90Y beta-irradiation may be more
      effective.

PMID- 26893627
TI  - Correlation studies of barium on pulmonary infection under the assessment of
      VFSS.
AB  - Stroke is a common clinical disease resulting in somatic dyskinesia as well as
      different degrees of dysphagia. The aim of the study was to assess the results
      obtained from the utilization of 60% barium sulfate suspension and iohexol as
      contrast agents in video fluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), and compare the
      association between the clinical application of the two contrast agents and the
      incidence of pneumonia. A total of 60 cases of in-patients with dysphagia caused
      by stroke were selected and divided into two groups based on the diagnostic
      standard. No obvious differences were evident between the groups with regard to
      gender, age, position of stroke and the nature of stroke. The patients were
      divided into an iohexol group of 30 patients administered with 350 mgI/ml iohexol
      as a contrast agent, and a barium sulfate group of 30 patients administered with
      60% barium sulfate suspension as a contrast agent. A VFSS evaluation was
      implemented before and after 3 weeks of treatment, respectively, and the pharynx
      transit time was compared between the two groups of contrast agents according to
      the position of stroke. By using case-control studies, the incidence of pneumonia
      between the two groups of patients within 2 weeks after hospitalization was
      analyzed and the association between the complication probability with different
      contrast agents was analyzed. After 2 weeks in hospital, the incidence of
      aspiration pneumonia of the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).
      The incidence of pneumonia of the iohexol group was markedly lower than that of
      the barium sulfate group, which may be important for barium aspiration. In
      conclusion, in the VFSS of dysphagia after stroke and barium sulfate increased
      the incidence of pneumonia, and that iohexol was widely used in video
      fluoroscopy.

PMID- 26893626
TI  - Hepatic injury is associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with alteration
      of cyclin A and D1 in ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemic rats.
AB  - Hyperammonemia is considered to be central to the pathophysiology of hepatic
      encephalopathy in patients exhibiting hepatic failure (HF). It has previously
      been determined that hyperammonemia is a serious metabolic disorder commonly
      observed in patients with HF. However, it is unclear whether hyperammonemia has a
      direct adverse effect on hepatic cells or serves as a cause and effect of HF. The
      present study investigated whether hepatic injury is caused by hyperammonemia,
      and aimed to provide an insight into the causes and mechanisms of HF.
      Hyperammonemic rats were established via intragastric administration of ammonium
      chloride solution. Hepatic tissues were assessed using biochemistry, histology,
      immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry (FCM), semi-quantitative reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Hyperammonemic
      rats exhibited significantly increased levels of liver function markers,
      including alanine transaminase (P<0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.01),
      blood ammonia (P<0.01) and direct bilirubin (P<0.05), which indicated hepatic
      injury. A pathological assessment revealed mild hydropic degeneration, but no
      necrosis or inflammatory cell infiltration. However, terminal deoxynucleotidyl
      transferase dUTP nick end-labeling assays confirmed a significant increase in the
      rate of cellular apoptosis in hyperammonemic rat livers (P<0.01). FCM analysis
      revealed that there were significantly more cells in the S phase and fewer in the
      G2/M phase (P<0.01), and the expression levels of cyclin A and D1 mRNA and
      proteins were significantly increased (P<0.01). In summary, cell cycle arrest,
      apoptosis and an alteration of cyclin A and D1 levels were all markers of
      hyperammonemia-induced hepatic injury. These findings provide an insight into the
      potential mechanisms underlying hyperammonemia-induced hepatic injury, and may be
      used as potential targets for treating or preventing hepatic damage caused by
      hyperammonemia, including hepatic encephalopathy.

PMID- 26893628
TI  - Biological characterization of metanephric mesenchymal stem cells from the
      Beijing duck.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess self-proliferation and multi-directional
      differentiation abilities. Previous studies on MSCs have mostly focused on the
      bone marrow, lungs, pancreas and umbilical cord blood, with few studies on
      metanephric tissues in ducks. For the present study, the Beijing duck was
      selected as an experimental animal. Duck embryo metanephric mesenchymal stem
      cells (MMSCs) were studied. MMSC isolation culture, analysis of biological
      characteristics, induced differentiation and identification were performed in
      preliminary experiments. In the current study, surface antigens and gene
      expression patterns were detected using immunofluorescence, reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry. The induced cells,
      adipocytes, hepatocytes, epithelial cells and islet cells were identified by oil
      red O staining, periodic acid-Schiff staining, immunofluorescence and dithizone
      staining, respectively. RT-PCR was performed for detection of specific marker
      genes. The results suggested that the biological characteristics of MMSCs were
      similar to those of the MSCs previously analyzed. Primary MMSCs were sub-cultured
      to passage 21. The induced cells exhibit typical staining and immunofluorescence
      indicating the expression of specific genes. This demonstrates that MMSCs may be
      a novel alternative source of MSCs for experimental and clinical applications.

PMID- 26893629
TI  - Sevoflurane exerts a more marked influence compared with propofol on gene
      expression in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to elucidate the influence of the anesthetics
      propofol and sevoflurane on gene expression in patients undergoing coronary
      artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and to provide a basis for the selection of
      the appropriate anesthetic. The gene expression profiles of patients receiving
      one of the two anesthetics were analyzed prior to and following the induction of
      anesthesia. GSE4386 microarray data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus
      database was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by
      significance analysis of the microarray. The data set contained data regarding
      atrial tissue samples from 40 patients that underwent CABG, and that received
      either propofol (n=10) or sevoflurane (n=10) or were control subjects (n=20). The
      20 control samples comprised the same patients prior to undergoing CABG. The
      Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology (GO) Enrichment
      Analysis was applied to the DEGs using the Database for Annotation, Visualization
      and Integration Discovery functional annotation bioinformatics microarray tool. A
      total of 242 and 560 DEGs were identified in the human atrial samples treated
      with propofol and sevoflurane, respectively. Among these, 116 upregulated DEGs
      and no downregulated DEGs were found to be unique to sevoflurane, while 10
      upregulated and 212 downregulated DEGs were unique to propofol. The majority of
      the pathways that were significantly over-represented among the upregulated DEGs
      were associated with the immune response, such as Toll- and NOD-like receptors
      and Jak-STAT signaling pathways. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the
      downregulated DEGs unique to sevoflurane treatment were involved in the immune
      response and glucose metabolism, while the upregulated DEGs were associated with
      cellular ion homeostasis and epithelial cell development. Compared with propofol,
      sevoflurane appeared to exert a more marked effect on biological pathways, such
      as drug metabolism, glycolysis, cellular ion homeostasis and epithelial cell
      development.

PMID- 26893630
TI  - Radiation-induced anaplastic ependymoma mimicking a skull base meningioma: A case
      report.
AB  - The present study describes the case of a 63-year-old woman presenting with
      headache, dizziness and vomiting due to a an ovoid mass in the left pre-bulbar
      cistern, apparently arising from the lower clivus and the foramen magnum. The
      clinical history revealed the subtotal removal of a right cerebellar low-grade
      glioma 15 years previously and subsequent conventional 60-Gy radiotherapy.
      Notably, following gross total resection, histopathological examination showed
      microscopic features that resulted in a diagnosis of anaplastic ependymoma. The
      patient underwent surgery to remove the mass and post-operative chemotherapy with
      temozolomide. A progressive improvement of neurological signs and symptoms was
      observed during the postoperative course. At the 6-month follow-up, the patient
      was free from clinical and radiological recurrence. The unusual features of this
      rare secondary brain tumor were the extrassial location in the posterior fossa,
      the unusual age-associated location of the histological subtype and the fact that
      it closely mimicked a skull-base meningioma.

PMID- 26893631
TI  - Targeted transplantation of iron oxide-labeled, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem
      cells in promoting meniscus regeneration following a rabbit massive meniscal
      defect.
AB  - Repair of a massive meniscal defect remains a challenge in the clinic. However,
      targeted magnetic cell delivery, an emerging technique, may be useful in its
      treatment. The present study aimed to determine the effect of targeted intra
      articular injection of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled adipose
      derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) in a rabbit model of a massive meniscal
      defect. ASCs may be directly labeled and almost 100% of the ASCs were labeled
      with SPIO after 24 h; these SPIO-labeled ASCs may be orientated by magnet. The
      centrifuged SPIO-labeled ASCs precipitations may be detected by magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI). The anterior half of the medial meniscus of 18 New
      Zealand Rabbits was excised. After 7 days, the rabbits were randomized to
      injections of 2*106 SPIO-labeled ASCs, 2*106 unlabeled ASCs or saline. Permanent
      magnets were fixed to the outside of the operated joints for one day, and after 6
      and 12 weeks, the knee joints were examined using MRI, gross and histological
      observation, and Prussian blue staining. Marked hypointense artifacts caused by
      SPIO-positive cells in the meniscus were detected using MRI. Histological
      observation revealed that the anterior portion of the meniscus was similar to the
      native tissue, demonstrating typical fibrochondrocytes surrounded by richer
      extracellular matrix in the SPIO-ASCs group. Collagen-rich matrix bridging the
      interface and the neo-meniscus integrated well with its host meniscus.
      Furthermore, degenerative changes occurred in all groups, but intra-articular
      injection of SPIO-ASCs or ASCs alleviated these degenerative changes. Prussian
      blue staining indicated that the implanted ASCs were directly associated with the
      regenerated tissue. Overall, targeted intra-articular delivery of SPIO-ASCs
      promoted meniscal regeneration whilst providing protective effects from
      osteoarthritic damage.

PMID- 26893632
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned media suppresses inflammation-associated
      overproliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in a rat model of
      pulmonary hypertension.
AB  - Inflammation-associated overproliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells
      (PASMCs) is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary
      hypertension (PH). The administration of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned media
      (MSC-CM) has displayed benefits in the treatment of PH, however, the exact
      mechanism has yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine whether
      MSC-CM is able to suppress overproliferation of PASMCs in PH via
      immunoregulation. By the administration of MSC-CM to monocrotaline (MCT)-induced
      PH rats, and the development of an in vitro co-culture system comprised of PASMCs
      and activated T cells, the therapeutic effects of MSC-CM on PH, and the changes
      in the expression of correlated factors, including TNF-alpha, calcineurin (CaN)
      and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), were assessed.
      Immunohistochemical staining results indicated that MSC-CM was able to
      significantly suppress the production of TNF-alpha in MCT-induced PH and co
      culture systems; and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction
      results showed significant downregulation of the expression of CaN and NFATc2 in
      PASMCs (P<0.01). Furthermore, MSC-CM was able to significantly suppress CaN
      activity and NFATc2 activation (P<0.01), thus inhibiting the overproliferation of
      PASMCs. Finally, MSC-CM improved abnormalities in hemodynamics and pulmonary
      histology in MCT-induced PH. In conclusion, the findings of the current study
      suggest that administration of MSC-CM has the potential to suppress inflammation
      associated overproliferation of PASMCs due to its immunosuppressive effects in PH
      and, thus, may serve as a beneficial therapeutic strategy.

PMID- 26893633
TI  - MRI chemical shift imaging of the fat content of the pancreas and liver of
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the association between the content and
      distribution of fat in the pancreas and liver in patients with type 2 diabetes
      mellitus (T2DM). A total of 70 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM (T2DM group)
      and 30 healthy volunteers (normal control group) were enrolled in the present
      study. Dual-echo magnetic resonance (MR) chemical shift imaging was used to
      measure the fat content of the liver and the head, body and tail regions of the
      pancreas. In addition, the distribution of fat in the various regions of the
      pancreas, as well as the average fat content of the pancreas versus the liver,
      were compared. The fat content of the pancreatic head, body and tail regions of
      the T2DM group were 5.59+/-4.70, 4.80+/-3.75 and 4.89+/-3.86%, respectively. The
      fat content of these regions in the normal control group were 3.89+/-2.47, 3.30+/
      2.11 and 3.23+/-2.23%, respectively. The average fat content of the pancreas was
      5.19+/-3.75% for the T2DM group and 3.47+/-2.00% for the normal control group.
      The average fat content of the liver was 9.87+/-3.19% for the T2DM group and
      7.24+/-2.38% for the normal control group. Therefore, the results from MR
      chemical shift imaging suggested that there were no significant differences in
      the distribution of fat between the pancreas of patients newly diagnosed with
      T2DM and that from the healthy population; however, the average fat content in
      the pancreas of the T2DM group was significantly higher (F=3.597; P<0.05), as
      compared with the normal control group. In addition, there was no correlation
      between the fat contents in the pancreas and liver in patients newly diagnosed
      with T2DM and the healthy population.

PMID- 26893634
TI  - Observing the development of the temporomandibular joint in embryonic and post
      natal mice using various staining methods.
AB  - The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a specialized synovial joint that is
      essential for the movement and function of the mammalian jaw. The TMJ develops
      from two mesenchymal condensations, and is composed of the glenoid fossa that
      originates from the otic capsule by intramembranous ossification, the mandibular
      condyle of the temporal bone and a fibrocartilagenous articular disc derived from
      a secondary cartilaginous joint by endochondral ossification. However, the
      development of the TMJ remains unclear. In the present study, the formation and
      development of the mouse TMJ was investigated between embryonic day 13.5 and post
      natal day 180 in order to elucidate the morphological and molecular alterations
      that occur during this period. TMJ formation appeared to proceed in three stages:
      Initiation or blastema stage; growth and cavitation stage; and the maturation or
      completion stage. In order to investigate the activity of certain transcription
      factors on TMJ formation and development, the expression of extracellular matrix
      (ECM), sex determining region Y-box 9, runt-related transcription factor 2,
      Indian hedgehog homolog, Osterix, collagen I, collagen II, aggrecan, total matrix
      metalloproteinase (MMP), MMP-9 and MMP-13 were detected in the TMJ using in situ
      and/or immunohistochemistry. The results indicate that the transcription factors,
      ECM and MMP serve critical functions in the formation and development of the
      mouse TMJ. In summary, the development of the mouse TMJ was investigated, and the
      molecular regulation of mouse TMJ formation was partially characterized. The
      results of the present study may aid the systematic understanding of the
      physiological processes underlying TMJ formation and development in mice.

PMID- 26893635
TI  - Application values of clinical nursing pathway in patients with acute cerebral
      hemorrhage.
AB  - Acute cerebral hemorrhage accounts for approximately 25% of strokes for elderly
      patients. Consequently, treatments to improve prognosis should be identified. The
      aim of the present study was to examine the clinical values of the application of
      clinical nursing pathway for patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. Between
      January 2013 and January 2015, 92 patients diagnosed with acute intracerebral
      hemorrhage were enrolled in the study based on the guidelines recommended for
      providing appropriate surgical or conservative treatment and the sequence of
      admission. The 92 patients were randomly divided into the control and observation
      groups. Patients in the control group underwent routine nursing mode prior to and
      after admission, and underwent clinical nursing path model (hierarchical
      partitioning prior to admission to hospital plus general professional program of
      nursing in hospital) was applied to the observation group. Barthel index scores
      for the observation group were significantly higher than that of the control
      group. The length of hospital stay for patients in the observation group was
      significantly lower while the average score for patients' satisfaction on nursing
      care while in hospital was significantly higher than that of the control group,
      with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The incidence of
      complications such as fever, infection, bedsore, gastrointestinal function,
      electrolyte disturbances, and malnutrition, in the observation group was
      significantly lower, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The
      functional independence measure (FIM) and Fugl-Meyer scores after 6 months for
      the observation group were significantly higher, with statistically significant
      differences (P<0.05). In conclusion, application of the clinical nursing pathway
      for patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage significantly improved the clinical
      effects and nursing satisfaction, reduced adverse reactions, and had a greater
      clinical application value.

PMID- 26893636
TI  - Effects of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation on the imbalance of
      Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells following thoracotomy of patients with lung cancer.
AB  - An imbalance in the various T lymphocytes, including T-helper (Th)1, Th2 and Th17
      cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells, has been associated with immune
      dysfunction, and may occur following thoracotomy of patients with lung cancer.
      The use of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) has previously
      been demonstrated to exert immunoregulatory effects; therefore, the present study
      aimed to evaluate whether TAES was able to attenuate postoperative immune
      suppression in patients with lung cancer. Thoracic surgical patients with lung
      cancer (n=27) underwent TAES (frequency, 2/100 Hz; intensity, 4-12 mA) at the
      bilateral large intestine 4, pericardium 6, small intestine 3 and San Jiao 6
      acupuncture points for 30 min, prior to incision, and at 20, 44, 68, 92 and 116 h
      following thoracotomy. The number of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells, and the
      protein and mRNA expression levels of related cytokines were measured by flow
      cytometry, ELISA and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The balance of Th1,
      Th2, Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer was
      disrupted following thoracotomy. TAES administration increased the percentage of
      Th1 and Th17 cells, the protein expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and
      interferon-gamma, the mRNA expression levels of T-bet and RAR-related orphan
      receptor-gammat, and decreased the percentage of Th2 cells, IL-10 protein
      expression levels, and GATA binding protein 3 mRNA expression levels. The results
      of the present study demonstrated that TAES was able to partially attenuate the
      postoperative immune depression of patients with lung cancer, by regulating the
      balance of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells, and the expression levels of related
      cytokines and transcription factors; therefore, TAES may be considered to be a
      promising strategy for treating postoperative immune dysfunction in patients with
      lung cancer.

PMID- 26893637
TI  - Downregulation of CCR5 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer
      cells and is regulated by microRNA-107.
AB  - Cervical cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. C-C
      chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is hypothesized to be a key functional protein
      involved in tumorigenesis. However, the role of CCR5 in cervical cancer remains
      unclear. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western
      blot analysis were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression levels of
      CCR5 in human cervical carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, a small interfering RNA
      was employed to knockdown CCR5 in HeLa and C33A cells. MTT, colony formation and
      Transwell assays were performed to determine the effects of this knockdown on
      cell viability, proliferation and invasion. In addition, micro RNA (miR)-107 was
      identified as a potential candidate regulator of CCR5 using miR prediction
      algorithms, and the effects of miR-107 and its antisense miR on CCR5 mRNA
      expression were determined. The results of the present study indicated that CCR5
      is overexpressed in human cervical cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal
      tissues, and its downregulation inhibits cervical cancer cell growth and
      proliferation. Furthermore, the downregulation of CCR5 appears to suppress
      cervical cancer cell invasion. Finally, the tumor suppressor miR-107 was able to
      directly target CCR5 and inhibit its expression. These results suggest that the
      upregulation of CCR5, which is inhibited by miR-107, may play a carcinogenic role
      in cervical cancer and could provide a novel therapeutic target in the future.

PMID- 26893638
TI  - Combined interventional and surgical treatment for a rare case of double patent
      ductus arteriosus.
AB  - The present study describes the case of a 2.5-year-old girl with double patent
      ductus arteriosus (PDA) that was successfully treated following interventional
      and surgical treatment. Bilateral ductus arteriosus is a very rare condition,
      which is assumed to occur when the branchial-type arterial system transforms into
      the mammalian-type arterial system during the development of the aorta and its
      branches. This case was misdiagnosed as ordinary PDA by echocardiography prior to
      the first surgery and the surgery was not successful because of poor
      accessibility. Enhanced computed tomography subsequently showed situs solitus,
      atrial situs, levocardia, right-sided aortic arch with right-sided descending
      aorta, an isolated left subclavian artery and double PDA. Interventional
      treatment was performed and intraoperative aortic arch angiography showed that
      the descending aorta was the origin of the first funnel-type PDA (PDA-1). The
      left subclavian artery was not connected to the aorta but was connected to the
      pulmonary artery with a very narrow winding duct, which was PDA-2. Interventional
      treatment via PDA-2 also failed because passing a guidewire through the twisted
      PDA-2 was difficult. The child was immediately transferred to the surgical
      operation room for double PDA ligation and left subclavian artery reconstruction
      under median thoracotomy. The surgical procedure succeeded and the patient
      recovered quickly. The failure of the interventional treatment may be attributed
      to the difficulty in establishing a path. The soft tip of the hardened guidewire
      was relatively long. If the hardened part of the wire was sent to the appropriate
      place to support the pathway, the soft tip would be forced to enter the
      vertebrobasilar artery system. A similar problem was encountered when the left
      subclavian artery was selected for intervention. Shortening the length of the
      soft tip of the hardened guidewire may have enabled smooth completion of the
      establishment of the pathway. However, this type of hardened guidewire requires
      specific production.

PMID- 26893639
TI  - Effects of erythropoietin preconditioning on rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion
      injury and the GLT-1/GLAST pathway.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate whether erythropoietin (EPO)
      preconditioning affects the expression of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) and
      glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) and protects against rat cerebral
      ischemia-reperfusion injury. A total of 140 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly
      assigned to one of the following four groups: Sham, EPO-sham, middle cerebral
      artery occlusion (MCAO) and EPO-MCAO. Neurological function scores were obtained
      24, 36 and 72 h after reperfusion. Seventy-two hours after the induction of
      cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the number of apoptotic neural cells and the
      cerebral infarct volume of each group were measured. The mRNA levels of GLT-1 and
      GLAST were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, while the GLT-1 and GLAST protein levels were
      assessed using western blotting. The cerebral infarct volume was significantly
      increased in the MCAO group compared with that in the sham group (P<0.01);
      however, the infarct volume of the EPO-MCAO group was significantly lower than
      that of the MCAO group (P<0.01). In addition, the number of apoptotic cells found
      in the MCAO group was higher than that in the sham group (P<0.01), but the number
      of apoptotic cells in the EPO-MCAO group was significantly lower than that in the
      MCAO group (P<0.01). The GLT-1 and GLAST mRNA and protein levels were
      significantly decreased 72 h after the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (P<0.01)
      compared with those in the sham group, whereas the same levels were increased
      significantly in the EPO-MCAO group relative to those in the MCAO group (P<0.01).
      In conclusion, EPO preconditioning protected against cerebral ischemia
      reperfusion injury and upregulated the GLT-1 and GLAST expression.

PMID- 26893640
TI  - Computed tomography manifestation of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease: A pilot study.
AB  - Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is an acute
      event characterized by the worsening of a patient's respiratory symptoms. To the
      best of our knowledge, few studies have investigated the computed tomography (CT)
      manifestation of AECOPD. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the CT
      manifestations during AECOPD. In total, 40 patients with AECOPD admitted to the
      emergency department were enrolled. CT images obtained at the time of
      exacerbation and at the 3-month follow-up were paired. Clinical characteristics
      and routine blood test results were also recorded. Airway dimensions and
      attenuation per patient were quantified from the 3rd to the 6th generation of
      four bronchi by Airway Inspector Slicer 2.8. The emphysema extent was also
      quantified and lung infiltration was detected, classified and measured. The CT
      images showed an increased wall area percentage (WA%) and increased mean and peak
      wall attenuation during the AECOPD; however, the extent of emphysema did not
      change significantly. In total, 60% of AECOPD patients presented with lung
      infiltration, compared with those at the follow-up CT scanning. The presence and
      extent of segmental distribution consolidation was correlated with the neutrophil
      percentage (N%), with a statistically significant difference observed. The total
      volume of lung parenchymal infiltration was correlated with the white blood cell
      (WBC) count and N%; however, no significant correlations were detected between
      the presence or extent of acinar shadow, air space consolidation with lobular
      distribution, ground-glass attenuation with lobular distribution, thickening of
      the interlobular septa and signs of infection (including the number of main
      symptoms, body temperature, WBC count and N%). The WA%, mean wall attenuation and
      peak wall attenuation increased during AECOPD, but the emphysema extent was
      unchanged. Lung infiltration existed frequently; however, only consolidation with
      segmental distribution appeared to be associated with bacterial infection.

PMID- 26893641
TI  - Increased 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 and 17alpha-hydroxylase activities
      in a virilized adolescent female with adrenal adenoma: A case report.
AB  - In the present study, the case of a female patient with pseudo-hermaphrodism
      caused by an androgen-producing adrenocortical tumor is presented, and the
      possible mechanism is investigated. The expression of the luteinizing
      hormone/human chorionic gonadotrophin (LH/hCG) receptor in tumor tissues and
      normal adrenal tissues was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the
      activities of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD2), cytochrome P450
      17alpha-hydroxylase (CYP17) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (HSD3)
      enzymes were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression
      levels of 3beta-HSD2, 17beta-HSD3, CYP17 and LH/hCG receptor mRNA were determined
      by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Immunohistochemical staining
      for the LH/hCG receptor was negative in the tumor tissue and positive in the
      normal adrenal tissue. The activities of 3beta-HSD2 and CYP17 in the tumor tissue
      were higher than those in the normal tissue (P<0.01), whereas the activity of
      17beta-HSD3 was lower (P<0.01). The mRNA levels of 3beta-HSD2 and CYP17 were
      higher (P<0.01) and the levels of 17beta-HSD3 and LH/hCG receptor were lower
      (P<0.01) in the tumor tissue compared with those of the normal tissue. In
      conclusion, in the present study, a rare case of virilization by an androgen
      producing adrenocortical tumor is present. The results indicate that it may be
      associated with increased activities of 3beta-HSD2 and CYP17 but not with the
      expression of the LH/hCG receptor.

PMID- 26893642
TI  - Effect of an EDA-A1 gene mutant on the proliferation and cell cycle distribution
      of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
AB  - Ectodysplasin (EDA) gene mutation is associated with hypohidrotic ectodermal
      dysplasia (HED). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of
      ectodysplasin, transcript variant 1 (EDA-A1) on the proliferation and cell cycle
      of ECV304 human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Recombinant eukaryotic
      expression vectors containing mutant (M) and wild-type (W) EDA-A1 coding
      sequences, pcDNA3.1 (-)-EDA-A1-M and pcDNA3.1 (-)-EDA-A1-W, respectively, were
      transfected into ECV304 cells. The EDA-A1 gene was amplified by reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein was detected by
      western blotting. The EDA-A1 gene and protein were detected in ECV304 cells
      transfected with pcDNA3.1 (-)-EDA-A1-M and pcDNA3.1 (-)-EDA-A1-W, but not in
      ECV304 cells transfected with empty plasmid or cells that had not undergone
      transfection. Compared with the control group, the EDA-A1 gene mutant
      significantly decreased the proliferation of ECV304 cells and its inhibition rate
      was 45.70% (P<0.01), whereas the wild-type EDA-A1 gene did not cause such growth
      inhibition (P>0.05). A significant increase of the fraction of cells in the G0/G1
      phase of the cell cycle was observed in the ECV304 cells of the mutant group
      compared with wild type group, with an increase in the S phase population and a
      concomitant reduction in the G2/M phase population (P<0.05). These results
      indicate that compared with the wild-type gene, transfection with a mutant EDA-A1
      gene inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle of cultured HUVECs.

PMID- 26893643
TI  - Henoch-Schonlein purpura following high-voltage electric burn injury: A case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown cause, with
      immune-mediated inflammation of the small vessels, which is characterized by a
      series of clinical symptoms, such as purpuric rash, colicky abdominal pain,
      arthritis and acute glomerulonephritis. Twenty-one days following a high-voltage
      electrical burn injury, a 40-year-old man developed classic clinical symptoms of
      HSP, including purpuric rash on bilateral lower extremities and abdominal pain.
      The patient was diagnosed with HSP associated with high-voltage burn injury,
      which is an extremely rare phenomenon. The diagnosis was based on the clinical
      manifestations of purpuric rash, abdominal pain and arthralgia, as well as the
      findings of laboratory examinations [increased levels of serum immunoglobulin A
      (11.6g/l) and complements C3 (9.6 g/l) and C4 (7.6 g/l), and a positive fecal
      occult blood test]. The patient was treated with antihistamines (loratadine
      tablets; 10 mg/day), anti-inflammatory medication (methylprednisolone sodium
      succinate; 40 mg/day) and oral omeprazole magnesium. The symptoms gradually
      decreased within 2 weeks from treatment and no abnormality was observed at the 3
      , 6- and 12-month follow-ups. In patients who have suffered an electrical burn
      injury, this autoimmune disease may be caused by long-term inflammation.
      Therefore, examination of the liver and kidney functions of such patients is
      important in order to decrease the risk of post-traumatic immune system
      dysfunction.

PMID- 26893644
TI  - Proton pump inhibitor-induced exfoliative dermatitis: A case report.
AB  - A 74-year-old female patient was admitted to hospital following a road accident
      with pains in the chest, abdomen, waist, back, nose, left wrist and lower limbs.
      After 1 week, the patient presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, and thus was
      treated with protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), including lansoprazole, esomeprazole
      and omeprazole enteric-coated tablets, in order to inhibit acid secretion and
      attenuate bleeding. However, the patient developed skin rashes on the chest and
      right lower limb and foot 28 days following treatment initiation. The skin rashes
      spread and ulcerated after 3 days, and were associated with tracheal mucosal
      injury and hemoptysis. Subsequently, treatment of the patient with PPIs was
      terminated, after which the tracheal hemoptysis and skin rashes markedly
      improved. In addition, no new skin rashes appeared following termination of the
      PPI treatment. In the present case, long-term treatment of an elderly patient
      with PPIs may have induced exfoliative dermatitis, due to hepatic ischemia,
      hypoxia and acute renal failure, which may have decreased the metabolism of PPIs,
      resulting in the accumulation of PPI metabolites.

PMID- 26893645
TI  - Effect of pERK2 on extracellular matrix turnover of the fibrotic joint capsule in
      a post-traumatic joint contracture model.
AB  - Lentivirus (LV)-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)2 small
      interfering RNA (siRNA) has previously been demonstrated to reduce post-traumatic
      joint contractures: In the present study, the effect of ERK2 siRNA on
      extracellular matrix turnover within fibrotic joint capsules in post-traumatic
      joint contractures was examined. Rats were randomly assigned to one of three
      groups as follows: The non-operated control (CON), operated contracture (ORC) and
      contracture-treatment (CNT) groups. Representative post-traumatic joint
      contracture was created through 8 weeks of immobilization following intra
      articular injury. In the CNT group, LV-mediated ERK2 siRNA was injected into the
      model knee at days 3 and 7 after surgery. The posterior joint capsule was
      examined by western blotting, histology and immunohistochemistry to evaluate
      alterations in ERK2, phosphorylated (p)ERK2, total collagen, collagen I, collagen
      III, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-13 and tissue inhibitor of
      metalloproteinase (TIMP)-13. In the ORC group, pERK2 was elevated and total
      collagen, collagen I, MMP-1 and MMP-13 were significantly increased (P<0.01 vs.
      CON group); however, these were significantly decreased in the CNT group, and
      pERK2 was downregulated (P<0.01 vs. ORC group). Collagen III and TIMP-13 were
      markedly decreased in the ORC group (P<0.01 vs. CON group), but elevated in the
      CNT group (P<0.01 vs. ORC group). The present res4ults demonstrate unique
      pathological changes of the fibrotic joint capsule that are responsible for joint
      contracture following traumatic injury, and reveal that extracellular matrix
      turnover can be affected by pERK2.

PMID- 26893646
TI  - Synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles with block and sphere morphology, and
      investigation into the influence of morphology on biological toxicity.
AB  - In the present study, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) magnetic nanoparticles with block and
      sphere morphologies were synthesized using various surfactants, and the toxicity
      of the particles was analyzed by monitoring biomarkers of nanoparticle toxicity
      in zebrafish. The use of tartarate as a surfactant produced highly crystalline
      blocks of Co3O4 nanoparticles with pores on the sides, whereas citrate lead to
      the formation of nanoparticles with a spherical morphology. Co3O4 structure,
      crystallinity, size and morphology were studied using X-ray diffractogram and
      field emission scanning electron microscopy. Following an increase in
      nanoparticle concentration from 1 to 200 ppm, there was a corresponding increase
      in nitric oxide (NO) generation, induced by both types of nanoparticles [Co3O4-NP
      B (block), r=0.953; Co3O4-NP-S (sphere), r=1.140]. Comparative analyses indicated
      that both types of nanoparticle produced significant stimulation at >=5 ppm
      (P<0.05) compared with a control. Upon analyzing the effect of nanoparticle
      morphology on NO generation, it was observed that Co3O4-NP-S was more effective
      compared with Co3O4-NP-B (5 and 100 ppm, P<0.05; 200 ppm, P<0.01). Exposure to
      both types of nanoparticles produced reduction in liver glutathione (GSH)
      activity with corresponding increase in dose (Co3O4-NP-B, r=-0.359; Co3O4-NP-S,
      r=-0.429). However, subsequent analyses indicated that Co3O4-NP-B was more potent
      in inhibiting liver GSH activity compared with Co3O4-NP-S. Co3O4-NP-B proved to
      be toxic at 5 ppm (P<0.05) and GSH activity was almost completely inhibited at
      200 ppm. A similar toxicity was observed with both types of Co3O4-NPs against
      brain levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; Co3O4-NP-B, r=-0.180; Co3O4-NP-S, r=
      0.230), indicating the ability of synthesized Co3O4-NPs to cross the blood-brain
      barrier and produce neuronal toxicity. Co3O4-NP-B showed increased inhibition of
      brain AChE activity compared with Co3O4-NP-S (1,5, and 10 ppm, P<0.05; 50, 100
      and 200 ppm, P<0.01). These results suggested that the morphology of nanoparticle
      and surface area contribute to toxicity, which may have implications for their
      biological application.

PMID- 26893647
TI  - Fibroblastic reticular cell tumor of the breast: A case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Fibroblastic reticular cells (FBRCs) are basic mesenchymal cells that belong to
      the dendritic cell family. Primary extranodal FBRC tumor (FRCT) cases are rare,
      with only 19 cases reported in the literature thus far. However, none of these
      cases originated in the breast tissue. To the best of our knowledge, the present
      study reported the first FRCT case of the breast in a 57-year-old woman. The
      patient complained of a painless mass that was located in the right breast and
      was ~3.5*2.5 cm in size. The patient underwent modified radical mastectomy
      subsequent to the diagnosis of FRCT after analysis of the lumpectomy specimen.
      Pathological examination revealed that the tumor was mainly composed of oval and
      spindle cells, and was infiltrated with lymphocytes and plasma cells. The tumor
      cells were immunoreactive for vimentin and negative for CD21, CD35 and S-100
      protein. Six axillary lymph nodes were found to have been involved. Following
      surgery, the patient received four cycles of mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide and
      dacarbazine regimen chemotherapy (70 mg adriamycin day 1; 2.0 g ifosfamided days
      1-3; 0.4 g dacarbazine day 1-3), which cycled every 21 days. The patient was
      uneventfully followed-up for 20 months following chemotherapy. In conclusion, the
      present study reported what appeared to be the first case of primary breast FRCT.
      The diagnosis, treatment and prognosis details presented in this study will help
      improve the diagnosis of the disease.

PMID- 26893648
TI  - Protein kinase C-beta inhibitor treatment attenuates hepatic ischemia and
      reperfusion injury in diabetic rats.
AB  - Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury plays an active role in hepatic
      resection and transplantation. While the effects of protein kinase C (PKC)-betaII
      activation and the role of PKC-beta inhibitors are well understood in myocardial
      I/R in diabetes, they remain unclear in liver I/R. The aim of this study was to
      explore the effect of PKC-beta inhibition and the potential mechanism by which
      PKC-beta inhibitor treatment protects against hepatic I/R injury in diabetic
      rats. Diabetic rats were established and randomized into two groups. These were
      an untreated group (n=10), which did not receive any treatment, and a treatment
      group (n=10), orally treated with ruboxistaurin at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for 2
      weeks. The rats from the two groups were subjected to hepatic I/R. Aspartate
      transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured by
      enzymatic methods at 1, 3 and 5 h after I/R. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were examined by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay at the same time-points. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF
      kappaB) p65 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and western blotting.
      Apoptosis of hepatic cells was examined by the western blot analysis of caspase 3
      expression and by DNA ladder analysis. Pathological changes were examined using
      light and electron microscopy. Serum AST and LDH levels in the PKC-beta inhibitor
      treatment group were diminished compared with those in the untreated group
      (P<0.01). Serum TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 (P<0.01) levels were also decreased at
      different time-points in the PKC-beta inhibitor treatment group. The relative
      expression of NF-kappaB p65 and caspase 3 in the hepatic tissue was weakened in
      the PKC-beta inhibitor treatment group compared with that in the untreated group
      (P<0.01). Pathological changes in hepatic tissue were attenuated by the PKC-beta
      inhibitor. In conclusion, PKC-beta inhibitor treatment protected against liver
      I/R injury in diabetic rats. The mechanisms probably involved the attenuation of
      microvascular injury, reduced transport of injury-associated factors and
      diminishment of the activation of NF-kappaB p65.

PMID- 26893649
TI  - High expression of VEGF and PI3K in glioma stem cells provides new criteria for
      the grading of gliomas.
AB  - Glioma is a type of tumor derived from glial cells, which is associated with a
      high level of incidence and mortality. At present, the generation of a fast and
      efficient method to evaluate the malignancy grade of glioma is required. Cancer
      stem cells (CSCs) are currently attracting attention in oncological studies;
      therefore, the present study aimed to investigate novel biomarkers of glioma
      CSCs, in order to provide new criteria for the grading of glioma. The mRNA
      expression levels of CD133, (sex determining region Y)-box 2, nestin, vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) were
      detected in 15 human samples of high-malignancy glioma and 12 human samples of
      low-malignancy glioma in vitro. The mRNA expression levels of VEGF and PI3K were
      higher in the high-malignancy group, as compared with in the low-malignancy
      group. In conclusion, the mRNA expression levels of VEGF and PI3K in glioma CSCs
      may be considered a novel criteria for the grading of glioma.

PMID- 26893650
TI  - Hydrogen sulfide improves neural function in rats following cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation.
AB  - The alleviation of brain injury is a key issue following cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation (CPR). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is hypothesized to be involved in the
      pathophysiological process of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and exerts a
      protective effect on neurons. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      effects of H2S on neural functions following cardiac arrest (CA) in rats. A total
      of 60 rats were allocated at random into three groups. CA was induced to
      establish the model and CPR was performed after 6 min. Subsequently, sodium
      hydrosulfide (NaHS), hydroxylamine or saline was administered to the rats. Serum
      levels of H2S, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100beta were determined
      following CPR. In addition, neurological deficit scoring (NDS), the beam walking
      test (BWT), prehensile traction test and Morris water maze experiment were
      conducted. Neuronal apoptosis rates were detected in the hippocampal region
      following sacrifice. After CPR, as the H2S levels increased or decreased, the
      serum NSE and S100beta concentrations decreased or increased, respectively
      (P<0.0w. The NDS results of the NaHS group were improved compared with those of
      the hydroxylamine group at 24 h after CPR (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze
      experiment, BWT and prehensile traction test the animals in the NaHS group
      performed best and rats in the hydroxylamine group performed worst. At day 7, the
      apoptotic index and the expression of caspase-3 were reduced in the hippocampal
      CA1 region, while the expression of Bcl-2 increased in the NaHS group; and
      results of the hydroxylamine group were in contrast. Therefore, the results of
      the present study indicate that H2S is able to improve neural function in rats
      following CPR.

PMID- 26893651
TI  - Expression levels of cytokines and chemokines increase in human peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells stimulated by activation of the Toll-like receptor 5 pathway.
AB  - Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by Toll-like receptors
      (TLRs) activates innate and adaptive immune responses. Among the 11 members of
      the human TLR family, TLR-5 is known to play an important role in the defense
      against bacterial invasion by binding to flagellin, a conserved component of
      bacteria. Previous studies have demonstrated that the activation of TLR-5 induces
      the expression of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and interferon-beta. However, the
      aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of a wider range of immune
      related molecules upon stimulation with a TLR-5 agonist. Following isolation from
      healthy volunteers, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated
      with flagellin, a TLR-5 agonist. At 4 h after stimulation, quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and an antibody chip array were conducted to
      determine the mRNA expression levels of immune molecules and the protein
      secretion of immune molecules in the supernatant, respectively. The PCR results
      revealed that activation of TLR-5 significantly influenced the expression of a
      number of important molecules. In addition, the antibody chip array demonstrated
      the induction (IL-8) and inhibition [monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1,
      MCP-3 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha) of protein secretion following
      TLR-5 stimulation. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the importance of
      TLR-5 in regulating the biological function of PBMCs. In the future, research
      should focus on the roles of the candidate molecules in TLR-5-mediating
      functions.

PMID- 26893652
TI  - Small molecule compounds alleviate anisomycin-induced oxidative stress injury in
      SH-SY5Y cells via downregulation of p66shc and Abeta1-42 expression.
AB  - Oxidative stress and ageing are important factors contributing to the
      pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is associated with neuronal
      damage and beta-amyloid (Abeta) deposition. The p66shc adaptor protein is
      important for the regulation of oxidative stress and ageing. In the present
      study, SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were treated with anisomycin in order to
      establish a cell model of oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage. The results
      from quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      and western blotting demonstrated that anisomycin was able to stimulate the
      secretion of Abeta1-42 from SH-SY5Y cells and upregulate the expression levels of
      p66shc, which was associated with concomitant damage to SH-SY5Y cells. In
      addition, the protective effects of various small molecule compounds with
      antioxidant properties against neuronal damage were evaluated. Notably, treatment
      of SH-SY5Y cells with gallic acid was associated with significant downregulation
      of p66shc protein expression levels, reduced anisomycin-induced secretion of
      Abeta1-42, and increased superoxide dismutase activity and acetylcholine
      secretion levels. The results of the present study suggested that anisomycin is
      able to promote oxidative neuronal damage by inducing the secretion of Abeta1-42
      from neurons and increasing the neuronal expression of p66shc, and this damage
      may be attenuated by treatment with gallic acid. Therefore, gallic acid and
      similar small molecule compounds may be considered for the alleviation of
      neuronal oxidative stress injury in patients with AD.

PMID- 26893653
TI  - Ibuprofen targets neuronal pentraxins expresion and improves cognitive function
      in mouse model of AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity.
AB  - Aluminum is known to exert neurotoxic effects associated with various
      neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ibuprofen is a
      well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which has demonstrated potential
      efficacy in the treatment of numerous inflammatory and neurodegenerative
      disorders, including AD. The present study aimed to investigate the protective
      effects of ibuprofen on cognitive function, and the expression levels of neuronal
      pentraxins (NPs) and interleukin (IL)-1beta in an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)
      induced mouse model of neurotoxicity. The effects of ibuprofen (100 mg/kg/day for
      12 days) on learning and memory were evaluated in the AlCl3-induced neurotoxic
      mice using a Morris water maze and open field tests. In addition, ibuprofen was
      assessed for its effects on the expression levels of NPs and IL-1beta in the
      hippocampus, cortex and amygdala of the brain. Treatment of the AlCl3-treated
      mice with ibuprofen decreased anxiety levels (6.90+/-0.34 min) compared with the
      AlCl3-treated group (1.80+/-0.29 min), as indicated by the time spent in the
      central area in an open field test. Furthermore, the expression levels of NP1
      (1.32+/-0.47) and IL-1beta (0.99+/-0.21) were significantly decreased in the
      hippocampus of mice following ibuprofen treatment, as compared with the AlCl3
      treated mice (8.62+/-1.54 and 7.47+/-0.53, respectively). In the present study,
      ibuprofen was able to target novel structures in order to attenuate the
      inflammation associated with an AlCl3-induced mouse model of neurotoxicity; thus
      suggesting that ibuprofen may be considered a potential therapeutic option for
      the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including AD.

PMID- 26893654
TI  - Prognostic significance of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with
      hepatocellular carcinoma following transarterial chemoembolization.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an effective survival factor that is
      involved in the development and progression of various tumors. The aim of the
      present study was to investigate whether baseline serum IGF-1 levels are
      associated with time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) in patients
      with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have undergone transarterial
      chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 145 patients with HCC who underwent TACE as
      an initial treatment were enrolled in the study. Baseline serum IGF-1 levels were
      detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The patients were
      followed up for a median follow-up period of 47 months (range, 10.6-69.3 months).
      During the follow-up, 98 patients (76.6%) experienced disease progression and 59
      patients (46.1%) succumbed. The serum IGF-1 level was found to be significantly
      associated with hepatitis infection status, Child-Pugh class, bilirubin level,
      tumor size and nodularity, vascular invasion and the Barcelona Clinic Liver
      Cancer (BCLC) stage. Multivariate analysis was conducted, which indicated that
      BCLC stage, vascular invasion and serum IGF-1 were independent risk factors for
      disease progression. When clinical factors were examined as potential independent
      risk factors for OS, only advanced BCLC stage and low serum IGF-1 levels were
      found to be significantly associated with poorer OS. These results suggest that
      serum IGF-1 may serve as a predictor of the prognosis of patients with HCC
      undergoing TACE.

PMID- 26893655
TI  - Fangchinoline inhibits the proliferation of SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells by blocking
      cell cycle progression.
AB  - Fangchinoline (Fan) is a bioactive compound isolated from the Chinese herb
      Stephania tetrandra S. Moore (Fen Fang Ji). The aim of the present study was to
      investigate the effect of Fan on the proliferation of SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells,
      and to define the associated molecular mechanisms. Following treatment with Fan,
      Cell Counting Kit-8, phase contrast imaging and Giemsa staining assays were used
      to detect cell viability; flow cytometry was performed to analyze the cell cycle
      distribution; and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction
      and western blot assays were used to investigate changes in the expression levels
      of cell cycle-associated genes and proteins. In the present study, treatment with
      Fan markedly inhibited the proliferation of SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells and
      significantly increased the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell
      cycle in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05 for 2.5-5 um; P<0.01 for 10 um), whereas
      the percentage of cells in the S and G2/M phases were significantly reduced
      following treatment (P<0.05 for 5 um; P<0.01 for 10 um). Mechanistically, Fan
      significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent
      kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 (P<0.05 for 2.5-5 um; P<0.01 for 10 um), which are key
      genes in the regulation of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore,
      treatment with Fan also decreased the expression of phosphorylated retinoblastoma
      (Rb) and E2F transcription factor-1 (E2F-1) proteins (P<0.05 for 5 um; P<0.01 for
      10 um). In summary, the present study demonstrated that Fan inhibited the
      proliferation of SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells and induced cell cycle arrest at the
      G0/G1 phase. These effects may be mediated by the downregulation of cellular
      CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin D1 levels, thus leading to hypophosphorylation of Rb and
      subsequent suppression of E2F-1 activity. Therefore, the present results suggest
      that Fan may be a potential drug candidate for the prevention of lung cancer.

PMID- 26893656
TI  - Gallic acid decreases hepatitis C virus expression through its antioxidant
      capacity.
AB  - Gallic acid (GA) is a natural phenolic compound that possesses various biological
      effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anticancer,
      antiviral and cardiovascular protection activities. In addition, numerous studies
      have reported that antioxidants possess antiviral activities. Hepatitis C virus
      (HCV) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver diseases worldwide,
      but until recently, only a small number of antiviral agents had been developed
      against HCV. Therefore, the present study investigated whether GA exhibits an
      anti-HCV activity. The effects of GA on HCV expression were examined using a
      subgenomic HCV replicon cell culture system that expressed HCV nonstructural
      proteins (NSs). In addition, GA cytotoxicity was evaluated at concentrations
      between 100-600 mg/ml using an MTT assay. Huh-7 replicon cells were incubated
      with 300 mg/ml GA for different times, and the HCV-RNA and protein levels were
      measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and
      western blot analysis, respectively. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) was used
      as an antioxidant control and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was
      measured during the exposure. The results indicated that GA did not produce a
      statistically significant cytotoxicity in parental and HCV replicon cells.
      Furthermore, GA downregulated the expression levels of NS5A-HCV protein (~55%)
      and HCV-RNA (~50%) in a time-dependent manner compared with the levels in
      untreated cells. Notably, GA treatment decreased ROS production at the early time
      points of exposure in cells expressing HCV proteins. Similar results were
      obtained upon PDTC exposure. These findings suggest that the antioxidant capacity
      of GA may be involved in the downregulation of HCV replication in hepatoma cells.

PMID- 26893658
TI  - IL-17 promotes keratinocyte proliferation via the downregulation of C/EBPalpha.
AB  - Psoriasis vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by
      the hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes.
      CCATT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is abundant in the epidermis
      and is associated with the proliferation of keratinocytes. However, the role of
      C/EBPalpha in the proliferation of keratinocytes and the pathogenesis of
      psoriasis vulgaris are yet to be elucidated. In the present study, using two-step
      immunohistochemistry, the expression levels of C/EBPalpha and Ki-67 were examined
      in skin biopsies harvested from 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 30
      healthy control subjects. The proliferation index (PI) was calculated and the
      correlation between C/EBPalpha expression levels and the PI was assessed using
      Pearson's correlation coefficient. In addition, the effect on HaCaT immortalized
      human keratinocytic cells of treatment with various concentrations of interleukin
      (IL)-17 was investigated. Subsequently, cell proliferation rates were examined
      using a Cell Counting kit-8 assay and the mRNA and protein expression levels of
      C/EBPalpha were analyzed using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase
      chain reaction and western blotting, respectively, in order to analyze the
      effects of IL-17 stimulation on C/EBPalpha expression levels. C/EBPalpha
      expression was predominantly detected in the cytoplasm of the keratinocytes and
      C/EBPalpha expression levels were significantly lower in the psoriatic lesions
      (P<0.05), as compared with the control group. An inverse correlation was detected
      between the expression levels of C/EBPalpha and the PI in the psoriatic lesions.
      Furthermore, a significant increase in the cell proliferation rate and
      significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of C/EBPalpha
      were detected in HaCaT cells following treatment with IL-17. These results
      demonstrated that C/EBPalpha may act as a downstream target of IL-17 and may be
      associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

PMID- 26893657
TI  - Upregulation of microRNA-375 increases the cisplatin-sensitivity of human gastric
      cancer cells by regulating ERBB2.
AB  - Resistance to chemotherapy is a major challenge in the effective treatment of
      patients with gastric cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance
      in gastric cancer cells are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have
      previously been associated with cancer progression and sensitivity to
      chemotherapy; therefore, the present study aimed to identify miRNAs that may
      influence the sensitivity of human gastric cancer cells to cisplatin (DDP)
      treatment. Initially, miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the DDP
      sensitive SGC7901 human gastric cancer cell line and DDP-resistant SGC7901/DDP
      cell line were identified using high-throughput sequencing technology. miRNA-375
      (miR-375), which was shown to be downregulated in the SGC7901/DDP cells, has
      previously been associated with numerous types of cancer; however, to the best of
      our knowledge, a role for miR-375 in the DDP-sensitivity of gastric cancer cells
      has yet to be explored. In the present study, the expression levels of miR-375
      were significantly downregulated in the SGC7901/DDP cells, as compared with the
      SGC7901 cells, as demonstrated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction. In addition, upregulation of miR-375 significantly enhanced the
      anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of DDP, whereas downregulation
      of miR-375 decreased these effects. Subsequently, western blot analysis
      demonstrated that upregulation of miR-375 in the SGC7901/DDP cells increased
      their sensitivity to DDP treatment via regulating the protein expression levels
      of erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 and phosphorylated-Akt. The results of the
      present study indicate that the expression levels of miR-375 may influence the
      sensitivity of human gastric cancer cells to the effects of DDP; thus suggesting
      that a combination of miR-375 regulation and DDP may be considered a novel
      strategy in the treatment of patients with chemoresistant gastric cancer.

PMID- 26893659
TI  - SPAG9 controls the cell motility, invasion and angiogenesis of human osteosarcoma
      cells.
AB  - Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) is an oncoprotein involved in the progression
      of various human malignancies; however, its role in osteosarcoma (OS) remains
      poorly evaluated. The present study used MatrigelTM cell migration and invasion
      assays, tube formation assay, Cell Counting kit-8, quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate
      the role of SPAG9 in OS cell motility, invasion and angiogenesis. The results of
      the present study demonstrated that SPAG9 expression was upregulated in OS
      tissues, as compared with adjacent normal tissues, and knockdown of SPAG9 in an
      OS cell line inhibited cell motility and invasion via inactivation of
      metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated
      that silencing of SPAG9 in OS cells inhibited tube formation, the proliferation
      of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells, and suppressed vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and secretion, contributing to a
      reduction in angiogenesis. The results of the present study indicated that SPAG9
      may be an important regulator in OS and may be involved in metastasis. Therefore
      SPAG9 may be a promising target for the treatment of metastatic OS.

PMID- 26893660
TI  - IGF-1 and VEGF can be used as prognostic indicators for patients with uterine
      fibroids treated with uterine artery embolization.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum
      vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF
      1) levels and the prognosis of patients with uterine fibroids following uterine
      artery embolization (UAE) treatment. A total of 70 patients with uterine fibroids
      and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study between 2012 and 2014. The
      serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF were measured using ELISA. Multiple-factor
      analysis was performed to assess the association between serum levels of IGF
      1/VEGF and certain clinical characteristics, including size, location, number of
      uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Progression-free survival curves were analyzed
      using the Kaplan-Meier method. The serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in patients
      with uterine fibroids prior to UAE treatment were significantly higher than those
      in controls (P<0.05). At 1 week after UAE treatment, the serum levels of IGF-1
      and VEGF were significantly lower compared with those prior to UAE treatment. The
      serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF at 1 or 3 months after UAE treatment were
      significantly higher than those at 1 week after UAE treatment. The serum levels
      of IGF-1 and VEGF were significantly correlated with the clinical characteristics
      of uterine fibroids (P<0.05). Lower levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in the serum
      following UAE treatment were associated with an enhanced progression-free
      survival of patients. In conclusion, the levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in the serum
      following UAE treatment can be used as indicators of prognosis in patients with
      uterine fibroids.

PMID- 26893661
TI  - Sevoflurane inhibits the antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of sevoflurane on the
      antioxidant capacity, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) content and
      lifespan of erythrocytes. A 2% erythrocyte suspension was prepared from whole
      blood collected from healthy volunteers and then treated with sevoflurane at
      different concentrations (group A, 0%; group S1, 1%; group S3, 3%; and group S5,
      5%), in the presence or absence of 200 umol/l hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, or H in
      group names). In order to evaluate the effects of sevoflurane on the antioxidant
      capacity and NO metabolism of erythrocytes, the hemolysis rate, catalase (CAT)
      content and eNOS content were determined, while the labeled phosphatidylserine
      rate and forward scatter of erythrocytes were detected using flow cytometry.
      Group S3 showed the highest hemolysis rate in the absence H2O2, while treatment
      with H2O2 increased the hemolysis rate of groups S1 and S3 (P=0.027). The CAT
      content in groups treated with sevoflurane was significantly lower compared with
      that in the control (group A, air group). The CAT content in groups S1+H, S3+H
      and S5+H remained significantly lower compared with group A+H (P<0.05). The eNOS
      content of group A was similar to that of group S3, while the content in group S1
      was similar to that in group S5. In addition, the eNOS content of groups A and S3
      increased, while that of groups S1 and S5 was reduced upon H2O2 treatment
      (P<0.05). The results indicated that sevoflurane reduced the antioxidative
      activity of erythrocytes, decreasing the resistant ability to H2O2 damage and
      increasing the hemolysis rate. The underlying mechanism may be associated with
      the inhibitory effect on the CAT activity of erythrocytes. Sevoflurane also
      inhibited the generation of nitric oxide in erythrocytes and reduced the
      tolerance of erythrocytes against oxidative stress damage due to H2O2.

PMID- 26893662
TI  - Paeoniflorin ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis in rat models through oxidative
      stress, inflammation and cyclooxygenase 2.
AB  - Paeoniflorin has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, immune regulatory and pain
      relieving effects, amongst other roles. However, the mechanisms underlying the
      protective effects of paeoniflorin on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain under
      investigation; the objective of the current study was to evaluate these
      protective effects in the context of an RA model. Rats were randomly divided into
      5 groups, as follows: The control group, the RA rat model group, and the
      paeoniflorin groups, in which paeoniflorin was administered at concentrations of
      5, 10 and 20 mg/kg for 3 weeks. The pain thresholds and arthritic symptoms of the
      RA rats were measured. Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were also
      analyzed and western blot analysis was used to evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
      protein expression levels. Paeoniflorin significantly increased the pain
      threshold and decreased the arthritic symptoms in the RA rat model. Notably,
      paeoniflorin reduced the malondialdehyde concentration and increased the activity
      of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore,
      paeoniflorin attenuated the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB p65 unit, tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6, and reduced the COX-2
      protein expression level. The present study indicates that paeoniflorin
      ameliorates disease in rat models of RA through oxidative stress, inflammation
      and alterations to COX-2 expression.

PMID- 26893663
TI  - alpha1-blockers for the reduction of ureteric stent-related symptoms: A
      systematic review and meta-analysis.
AB  - The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the current evidence for the use of
      alpha1-blockers in relieving ureteric stent-related symptoms (USS). Electronic
      databases, including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library, were searched and two
      independent reviewers identified relevant parallel randomized controlled trials
      (RCTs), assessed trial quality and extracted data. Review Manager (version 5.2)
      was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the data. Significant advantages were
      demonstrated in the treatment group based on International Prostate Symptom Score
      (IPSS), voiding symptom sub-scores [mean difference (MD), -2.66; 95% confidence
      interval (CI), (-4.36, -0.96)], Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ)
      urinary symptoms score (MD, -5.84; 95%CI, -9.35 to -2.33), IPSS quality of life
      score (MD, -1.46; 95%CI, -2.64 to -0.28) USSQ quality of life score (MD, -0.69;
      95%CI, -1.10 to -0.28), USSQ pain score (MD, -3.97; 95%CI, -5.52 to -2.42),
      Visual Analog Pain Scale (MD, -1.53; 95%CI, -2.25 to -0.80) and USSQ general
      health score (MD, -1.82; 95%CI, -2.47 to -1.18). No significant differences were
      detected from the following results: IPSS storage symptom sub-score (MD, -0.93;
      95%CI, -2.28 to 0.43), USSQ sexual matters score (MD, -0.10; 95%CI, -0.79 to
      0.59), USSQ work performance score (MD, 1.64; 95%CI, -2.18 to 5.47) and USSQ
      additional problems score (MD, -2.02; 95%CI, -4.55 to 0.52). However, significant
      between-trial heterogeneity was detected following statistical analysis and there
      were insufficient data to trace its source. The existing RCT data supported the
      hypothesis that alpha1-blockers beneficially influence pain, urinary symptoms and
      the quality of life of patients with an indwelling ureteral stent.

PMID- 26893664
TI  - Enhanced anticancer effect of ABT-737 in combination with naringenin on gastric
      cancer cells.
AB  - Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality and is
      a frequently occurring cancer worldwide. Multiple drug resistance of gastric
      cancer cells leads to the poor prognosis. In addition, overexpression of anti
      apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 have been demonstrated in various
      cancer cells and is closely associated with drug resistance and poor prognosis.
      Naringenin is a flavonoid that has antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities
      in numerous cancer types. In the present study, naringenin and a Bcl-2 inhibitor,
      ABT-737, were used to investigate their combinative anticancer effect in the
      SGC7901 gastric cancer cell line. The results revealed that naringenin and ABT
      737 were able to inhibit SGC7901 cell growth and colony formation, alone or in
      combination. Furthermore, the combination of these drugs was found to further
      increase the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase. Naringenin and
      ABT-737 also decreased Akt activation and increased p53 expression, suggesting
      the involvement of these pathways in the inhibition of gastric cell growth.

PMID- 26893667
TI  - CORRIGENDUM.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2014.1581.].

PMID- 26893666
TI  - Adjunctive corticosteroids for the treatment of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia
      in patients with HIV: A meta-analysis.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of adjunctive corticosteroid
      treatment on Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in patients with human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A literature search of relevant randomized
      controlled trials (RCTs) published prior to March 2014 was performed using a
      number of websites, including PubMed, EMbase and Ovid, using the following
      keywords: Corticosteroids, glucocorticoide, cortisol, corticosterone,
      HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, P. jiroveci pneumonia, and PCP. All RCTs
      investigating the use of adjunctive corticosteroids for the treatment of P.
      jiroveci pneumonia in patients with HIV were evaluated in the present study.
      Stata 11.0 software was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) and 95%
      confidence interval (CI) following tests for consistency and potential biases.
      Six RCTs investigating a total of 548 patients were evaluated in the present meta
      analysis. The experimental groups (n=270) demonstrated a mortality rate of 15.2%
      (n=41); as compared with 27.7% (n=77) in the control groups (n=278). The present
      meta-analysis demonstrated that the RR and 95% CI were 0.55 and 0.35-0.85
      (P<0.05), respectively, following treatment with adjunctive corticosteroids. This
      result indicated that patients in the experimental group had a 0.55 times reduced
      risk of mortality compared with the control group. Therefore, the results of the
      present meta-analysis demonstrated that the administration of adjunctive
      corticosteroids for the treatment of P. jiroveci pneumonia in patients with HIV
      may reduce the mortality rate of patients in the early phase of the disease.

PMID- 26893665
TI  - Protective effects of patchouli alcohol isolated from Pogostemon cablin on
      lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice.
AB  - Patchouli alcohol (PA) is a tricyclic sesquiterpene isolated from Pogostemon
      cablin, which exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza and cognitive-enhancing
      bioactivities. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of
      PA on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal instillation of
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Dexamethasone was used as a positive drug for
      protection against LPS-induced ALI. The results of the present study demonstrated
      that pretreatment with PA significantly increased survival rate, attenuated
      histopathologic damage and lung edema, and decreased the protein content in the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice with ALI. Furthermore, PA
      significantly inhibited the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines,
      including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 in the BALF,
      downregulated the levels of myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, and upregulated
      the activity levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in lung
      tissue. These results indicated that PA may exert potent protective effects
      against LPS-induced ALI in mice, the mechanisms of which are possibly associated
      with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of PA.

PMID- 26893668
TI  - Diverse microRNAs with convergent functions regulate tumorigenesis.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate several biological processes, including
      tumorigenesis. In order to comprehend the roles of miRNAs in cancer, various
      screens were performed to investigate the changes in the expression levels of
      miRNAs that occur in different types of cancer. The present review focuses on the
      results of five recent screens, whereby a number of overlapping miRNAs were
      identified to be downregulated or differentially regulated, whereas no miRNAs
      were observed to be frequently upregulated. Furthermore, the majority of the
      miRNAs that were common to >1 screen were involved in signaling networks,
      including wingless-related integration site, receptor tyrosine kinase and
      transforming growth factor-beta, or in cell cycle checkpoint control. The present
      review will discuss the aforementioned miRNAs implicated in cell cycle checkpoint
      control and signaling networks.

PMID- 26893669
TI  - Primary Sjogren's syndrome initially presenting as submandibular mucosa
      associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report.
AB  - The present study reports the case of a 24-year-old female affected with primary
      Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), who presented with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
      (MALT) lymphoma of the submandibular gland. Reports of such cases, particularly
      in young patients, are very rare. The patient, who presented no oral or ocular
      symptoms prior to the development of the mass, underwent surgical ablation of the
      gland, and MALT lymphoma was diagnosed by histopathology. Since MALT lymphoma in
      the submandibular gland is rarely observed in otherwise healthy young females, a
      rheumatologist and an oncologist were consulted. Following a number of
      immunological tests, the results of the Schirmer's and Saxon tests were negative.
      However, the antinuclear antibody test revealed a speckled appearance, and there
      was also strong positivity for the serological markers of Sjogren's syndrome.
      Consequently, pSS was diagnosed, despite the fact that the patient did not
      fulfill all the diagnostic criteria for the disease. Therefore, MALT lymphoma in
      a single salivary gland should be used as a differential diagnosis for Sjogren's
      syndrome in young asymptomatic patients. Additionally, a multidisciplinary team
      is required for the treatment and management of these patients.

PMID- 26893670
TI  - Interleukin-6 as a potential molecular target in esophageal squamous cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - Knowledge of potential tumor markers may improve chemotherapeutic efficacy.
      Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in local tumor tissues is associated with cancer
      progression and poor prognosis in variety of cancer types. The aim of the present
      study was to investigate the role and potential application of IL-6 in
      determining the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma. KYSE170 and TE13 esophageal
      cancer cell lines were used to conduct cell- and animal-based experiments
      investigating biological changes and tumor behavior. Immunohistochemical analysis
      revealed that 70-80% of cancer cells exhibited positive staining for IL-6,
      compared with <15% of non-malignant epithelial cells. These immunohistochemical
      results were consistent with the mRNA expression levels detetced. The IL-6
      silencing vector significantly reduced invasion and proliferation of the two cell
      lines and attenuated tumor growth in xenograft mouse models (P<0.05). The IL-6
      silencing vector markedly reduced the presence of Ki-67 (a typical proliferation
      marker) and microvessel density, indicating that downregulation of IL-6 levels
      may greatly affect tumor growth and inhibition. The IL-6 silencing vector
      increased E-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression levels in
      the two esophageal carcinoma cell lines. This vector also regulated the release
      of IL-6 in cell supernatant and serum in KYSE170- and TE13-tumor-bearing mice.
      The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and cluster of
      differentiation 31 (a nuclear protein) immunoreactive molecules were also reduced
      by the IL-6 silencing vector. Therefore, IL-6 may be an important trigger in the
      progression of angiogenesis and endothelial tube formation within the tumor, and
      targeting IL-6 may be a promising strategy for the treatment of esophageal
      cancer.

PMID- 26893671
TI  - Correlation of FOXC1 protein with clinicopathological features in serous ovarian
      tumors.
AB  - Transcriptional factor FOXC1 has been demonstrated to play a key role in
      embryogenesis in animal studies and may participate in tumorigenesis. However,
      the specific function of this gene in ovarian tumors has not been fully
      determined. In this study, potential correlations between FOXC1 expression and
      clinicopathological features of serous ovarian tumors were investigated. FOXC1
      expression was analyzed in SKOV-3 and HO-8910 cell lines and serous ovarian tumor
      tissues. A significant correlation was observed between FOXC1 protein expression
      and pathological subtype as well as FIGO stage (P<0.05) in serous ovarian tumors
      in our retrospective study. No significant association was revealed between FOXC1
      protein expression and the clinicopathological factors of age, histological grade
      and volume of ascites (P>0.05). The results suggest that high expression of FOXC1
      protein may serve as a marker for benign serous ovarian tumors and a suggest a
      trend towards good prognosis.

PMID- 26893672
TI  - Risk factors of atherosclerosis during systemic therapy targeting vascular
      endothelial growth factor.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to examine the changes in intima-media thickness
      (IMT) and myocardial perfusion in association with other laboratory risk factors
      for atherosclerosis in patients treated with therapy that targeted vascular
      endothelial growth factor (VEGF). IMT, myocardial perfusion and laboratory risk
      factors of atherosclerosis were studied in 58 patients with metastatic colorectal
      carcinoma or metastatic renal cell carcinoma prior to and at 3-monthly intervals
      during anti-VEGF treatment. Compared with the pretreatment IMT, the results
      indicated that the IMT was consistently increased during therapy in the two
      patient groups. Patient blood pressure and concentration of troponin T increased
      transiently. An increase in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol and decrease in the concentrations of C-reactive protein and
      homocysteine were also observed. Novel myocardial ischemia was evident in
      individual patients. In conclusion, anti-VEGF therapy affects the laboratory risk
      factors of atherosclerosis and results in an acceleration of atherosclerosis, as
      demonstrated by increased IMT.

PMID- 26893673
TI  - miR-96 induces cisplatin chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells by
      downregulating SAMD9.
AB  - Cisplatin is effective as a single agent or in combination with other drugs for
      the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A concerning clinical
      challenge with cisplatin-based NSCLC chemotherapy is the intrinsic and acquired
      chemoresistance to cisplatin. The sterile alpha motif domain-containing (SAMD9)
      gene has been reported as a potent tumor suppressor gene that inhibits
      tumorigenesis and progression of NSCLC. microRNAs (miRNA) have been revealed to
      play important roles in the regulation of cancer chemoresistance. To the best of
      our knowledge the present study explored the role of miRNA/SAMD9 signaling in
      regulating cisplatin chemoresistance in NSCLC for the first time. Out of the
      several candidate miRNAs predicted to bind the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of
      the SAMD9 gene, miRNA-96 (miR-96) demonstrated significant target-sequence
      specific inhibition of the SAMD9 3'-UTR luciferase reporter activity in NSCLC
      cells. In addition, while NSCLC tumor samples exhibited significantly higher
      expression levels of miR-96 compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression
      levels of SAMD9 were significantly lower than those in adjacent normal tissues.
      miR-96 and SAMD9 were overexpressed and knocked down in the human NSCLC H358 and
      H23 cell lines and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin
      and cell apoptosis rate under cisplatin treatment were used as measures of
      cisplatin chemoresistance. The present results identified that overexpression of
      miR-96 in NSCLC cells markedly decreased SAMD9 expression and cisplatin-induced
      apoptosis, and increased the cisplatin IC50, which could be eliminated by
      overexpression of SAMD9. By contrast, knocking down miR-96 in NSCLC cells using
      antagomir-96 significantly increased SAMD9 expression and the cisplatin-induced
      apoptosis and decreased cisplatin IC50, which could be completely reversed by a
      knockdown of SAMD9. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that miR-96
      targets and downregulates SAMD9 in NSCLC, which decreases cisplatin-induced
      apoptosis and induces cisplatin chemoresistance in NSCLC cells. The findings of
      the present study add novel insights into the function of miR-96 and SAMD9 in
      cancer, as well as into the molecular mechanisms underlying NSCLC
      chemoresistance.

PMID- 26893674
TI  - Revealing the role of VEGFA in clear cell sarcoma of the kidney by protein
      protein interaction network and significant pathway analysis.
AB  - Despite clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) being the second most common
      renal tumor in children, its mechanism has not yet been fully investigated. The
      aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of vascular
      endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in CCSK development. Following preprocessing
      of the original GSE2712 data, the differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between
      14 CCSK and 3 fetal kidney samples were identified through Significance Analysis
      of Microarrays, using the R package. Pathway enrichment analysis was then
      performed on the DEGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was
      constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins
      database and the DEGs that were enriched in the most significant pathways.
      Following this, gene ontology analysis was performed on the VEGFA-associated
      genes, whilst transcription factor binding site analysis was conducted on the hot
      genes. A total of 2,681 DEGs, including 543 upregulated and 2,138 downregulated
      genes, were identified, and these were significantly enriched in pathways
      associated with cancer and focal adhesion. Furthermore, VEGFA, integrin beta1,
      integrin alphaV, v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 and endothelial
      growth factor receptor were identified as hot genes in the PPI network. In
      addition, the upregulated VEGFA-associated genes, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent
      kinase inhibitor 1B, affected kinase regulation, and the downregulated VEGFA
      associated genes, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, mesenchymal-epithelial
      transition tyrosine kinase receptor and kinase insert domain receptor, were
      enriched in the protein tyrosine kinase process. It was identified that VEGFA was
      regulated by restorer of fertility, erythromycin resistance methylase, GA binding
      protein subunit alpha, norepinephrine transporter, nuclear factor kappaB and Sp2
      transcription factor genes. Overall, VEGFA and its associated genes serve
      important roles during CCSK development, and alongside transcription factors,
      they may function as novel therapeutic targets for disease treatment.

PMID- 26893675
TI  - A comparative dosimetric study of volumetric-modulated arc therapy vs. fixed
      field intensity-modulated radiotherapy in postoperative irradiation of stage IB
      IIA high-risk cervical cancer.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to compare the dosimetry features of volumetric
      modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and fixed field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (f
      IMRT) in postoperative irradiation of stage IB-IIA high-risk cervical cancer.
      Fifteen patients exhibiting stage IB-IIA high-risk cervical cancer, who had been
      treated with postoperative adjuvant concurrent radiochemotherapy, were selected.
      The clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were delineated
      according to contrast computed tomography images. The planning target volume
      (PTV) was subsequently produced by using 1 cm uniform expansion of the CTV. The
      treatment plans were intended to deliver 50 Gy in 25 fractions. The OARs that
      were contoured included the bladder, rectum, small bowel and femoral heads. Dose
      volume histograms were used to evaluate the dose distribution in the PTV and
      OARs. VMAT and f-IMRT treatment plans resulted in similar dose coverage of the
      PTV. VMAT was superior to f-IMRT in conformity (P<0.05), and resulted in a
      reduction of OARs irradiated at high dose levels (V40 and V50) compared with f
      IMRT (P<0.05), particularly for the bladder. However, the doses of low levels
      (V10 and V20) delivered to OARs with f-IMRT were slightly reduced compared with
      VMAT (P<0.05). For ambilateral femoral heads, VMAT demonstrated improved sparing
      compared with f-IMRT, with regard to D5 (P<0.05). Furthermore, VMAT treatment
      plans revealed a significant reduction in monitor units (MU) and treatment time.
      VMAT techniques exhibited similar PTV coverage compared with f-IMRT. At doses of
      high levels delivered to OARs, VMAT demonstrated improved sparing compared with f
      IMRT, particularly for the bladder, while significantly reducing treatment time
      and MU number.

PMID- 26893676
TI  - Assessment of radioiodine therapy efficacy for treatment of differentiated
      thyroid cancer patients with pulmonary metastasis undetected by chest computed
      tomography.
AB  - Radioiodine therapy (RAI) has proven effective for the treatment of patients
      exhibiting differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with pulmonary metastases.
      However, the early detection of metastasis remains challenging, and various
      studies have reported variations in radioiodine treatment efficacy. The present
      study investigated whether RAI is an effective method for the treatment of DTC
      with pulmonary metastases undetected by computed tomography (CT). A retrospective
      study was performed, analyzing iodine-131 (131I) therapy in 21 DTC patients with
      lung metastases that were undetected by CT. All 21 patients were initially
      treated with radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants. Routine chest CT was
      performed prior to 131I treatment without diagnostic radioiodine whole-body
      scanning (DxWBS), and post-therapeutic WBS was performed 3-5 days subsequent to
      oral administration of 131I. The overall effectiveness rate was 95.2% (20/21).
      The rates for complete response (CR), partial response and no response were 23.8
      (5/21), 71.4 (15/21) and 4.8% (1/21), respectively. There were 12 patients with
      diffuse uptake, and the remaining 9 patients demonstrated focused and low uptake.
      The difference in CR rate between diffuse uptake and focused uptake patients was
      not statistically significant (P=0.123). A correlation was observed between
      thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and extrapulmonary metastases. All patients exhibited
      extrapulmonary metastases when Tg levels were >87.5 ng/ml (area under receiver
      operating characteristic curve, 1.0; P<0.001). Overall, DTC patients with lung
      metastases undetected by CT imaging responded well to 131I radiotherapy and
      demonstrated a positive prognosis. Serum Tg levels prior to 131I treatment may
      correlate with metastasis, and this may suggest a requirement for the performance
      of DxWBS prior to radiotherapy.

PMID- 26893677
TI  - Primary gastric natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with diffuse CD30 expression and
      without CD56 expression: A case report.
AB  - The majority of natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas occur in the nasal cavity
      and rarely involve the stomach. They possess a specific immunophenotype, with the
      expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)56, CD2 and CD3epsilon, but without
      CD3 expression. Few cases of NK/T-cell lymphoma have partial CD30 expression. The
      present study reveals a unique case of a 41-year-old female patient with gastric
      NK/T-cell lymphoma that did not express CD56 and diffusely expressed CD30.
      Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the tumor cells expressed
      CD3epsilon, CD43, CD30 and granzyme B and did not express CD2, CD4, CD5, CD7,
      CD8, CD56, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, CD20, paired box-5 or pan cytokeratin.
      Based on the immunostaining profile and morphological features, the initial
      diagnosis considered was gastric anaplastic large cell lymphoma. However,
      following a consultation with other pathologists, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
      status of the patient was investigated to exclude a diagnosis of NK/T-cell
      lymphoma. Notably, the signal for EBV RNA was diffuse positive. Therefore, the
      final diagnosis was corrected to NK/T-cell lymphoma. To the best of our
      knowledge, the present study is the first to report NK/T-cell lymphoma in the
      stomach with a diffuse CD30-positive and CD56-negative phenotype.

PMID- 26893678
TI  - Study on chemotherapeutic sensitizing effect of nimotuzumab on different human
      esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.
AB  - Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although,
      surgery, radio- and chemotherapy are used to treat the disease, the
      identification of new drugs is crucial to increase the curative effect. The aim
      of the present study was to examine the chemotherapeutic sensitizing effect of
      nimotuzumab (h-R3) and cisplatin cytotoxic drugs cisplatin (DDP) and 5
      fluorouracil (5-FU) on esophageal carcinoma cells with two different epidermal
      growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressions. The expression of EGFR was detected in
      the human EC1 or EC9706 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line using
      immunohistochemistry. The inhibitory effect of DDP and 5-FU alone or combined
      with h-R3 on EC1 or EC9706 cell proliferation was detected using an MTT assay.
      Flow cytometry and the TUNEL assay were used to determine the effect of single or
      combined drug treatment on cell apoptosis. The results showed that the expression
      of EGFR was low in EC1 cells but high in EC9706 cells. The inhibitory effect of
      the single use of h-R3 on EC1 or EC9706 cell proliferation was decreased. The
      inhibitory effect between single use of h-R3 alone and combined use of the
      chemotherapy drugs showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) on the
      EC1 cell growth rate, but showed a statistically significant difference (a=0.05)
      on EC9706 cell growth rate. The results detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL
      assay showed that the difference between single use of h-R3 alone and the control
      group was statistically significant with regard to the EC1 apoptosis rate effect
      (P<0.05), but not statistically significant for EC9706 (P>0.05). However,
      statistically significant differences were identified in the apoptotic rate of
      EC9706 cells between the h-R3 combined chemotherapy group and single chemotherapy
      group (P<0.05), but not on in the EC1 chemotherapy group (P>0.05). In conclusion,
      the sensitization effect of h-R3 on chemotherapy drugs is associated with the
      expression level of EGFR in EC1 or EC9706 cells. The cell killing effect of the
      combined use of h-R3 with DDP and 5-FU showed no obvious synergistic effect
      compared to the single-drug group, but only an additive effect.

PMID- 26893679
TI  - Expression of pY397 FAK promotes the development of non-small cell lung cancer.
AB  - Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression has been identified as associated with
      cancer development and metastasis. Autophosphorylation of FAK at tyrosine (Y) 397
      (pY397) performs a critical role in tumor cell signaling. However, few studies
      have evaluated the expression of pY397 FAK in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
      In the present study, pY397 FAK expression in NSCLC was investigated using
      immunohistochemistry. pY397 FAK staining scores were compared between various
      groups of specimens and the associations between clinical and pathological
      characteristics were investigated. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to
      determine the association between pY397 FAK expression and the prognosis of NSCLC
      patients. The results of the present study revealed that pY397 FAK expression was
      localized to the cytoplasm of lung cells, and that pY397 FAK was overexpressed in
      NSCLC tissues, as well as associated metastatic tissues, when compared with the
      corresponding non-tumor tissues. However, no significant difference was
      identified between the pY397 FAK expression in primary lesions and lymph node
      metastases. Furthermore, pY397 FAK staining scores were not found to be
      associated with the tumor size, gender, degree of differentiation, histotypes,
      presence of lymph node metastases or survival rate of NSCLC patients. These
      results indicate that pY397 FAK is involved with the development of NSCLC, but is
      not a prognostic marker for the disease.

PMID- 26893680
TI  - Role of BCL2-associated athanogene in resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy
      in non-small-cell lung cancer.
AB  - The present study aimed to address the pharmacogenetic role of BAG1 in platinum
      based chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in cultured
      human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. A total of 108 NSCLC patients (stages I
      IIIA) were treated with a standard chemotherapy regimen of cisplatin plus
      vinorelbine. Additionally, in vitro cultured A549 cells were treated with
      cisplatin in the presence or absence of tunicamycin. Cell proliferation was
      determined by MTT assay and protein levels were assessed via western blot
      analysis. Patients with BAG1-positive expression were revealed to have a
      prolonged survival time (progression-free survival, 24.0 months) compared with
      that of patients without BAG1 expression (21.6 months; chi2=18.018, P<0.05).
      Treatment of A549 cells with tunicamycin followed by cisplatin resulted in
      elevated BAG1 levels. In addition, tunicamycin was found to significantly enhance
      cisplatin-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 cells. The results
      indicate that BAG1 is important in cisplatin-induced cell death in lung
      adenocarcinoma, suggesting that endoplasmic reticulum stress may promote the
      sensitivity of NSCLC patients to chemotherapy.

PMID- 26893681
TI  - Resistance to the c-Met inhibitor KRC-108 induces the epithelial transition of
      gastric cancer cells.
AB  - Investigation of the mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies is essential
      as resistance acquired during treatment may lead to relapse or refractoriness to
      the therapy. Our previous study identified the small molecule KRC-108 as a result
      of efforts to find an anticancer agent with c-Met-inhibitory activity. In the
      present study, the changes accompanying resistance to KRC-108 were investigated
      in the gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 and its KRC-108-resistant clones by
      western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Increased expression of the c-Met
      protein was observed in KRC-108-resistant cells compared with that of the
      parental cells, and the phosphorylation of c-Met also increased in cell lines
      resistant to KRC-108. Resistance to the c-Met inhibitor was associated with cell
      morphological changes: MKN-45 parental cells, which had a round and poorly
      differentiated morphology, were altered to exhibit an epithelial cell-like
      phenotype in KRC-108-resistant clones. Consistent with the transition to an
      epithelial morphology, the expression of E-cadherin was increased in resistant
      cells. Using immunoprecipitation, an interaction between E-cadherin and the c-Met
      protein was observed in the KRC-108-resistant cells. Immunohistochemical analysis
      of human gastric carcinoma tissues revealed the co-expression of E-cadherin and c
      Met. These results suggest that the epithelial transition in KRC-108-resistant
      cells is mediated by recruiting E-cadherin to c-Met protein. Thus, the present
      study identified a mechanism used by cancer cells to confer resistance to
      anticancer agents.

PMID- 26893682
TI  - Myoferlin expression in non-small cell lung cancer: Prognostic role and
      correlation with VEGFR-2 expression.
AB  - Myoferlin is a protein that is associated with cellular repair following injury.
      The expression of myoferlin in breast cancer and pancreatic adenocarcinoma has
      been reported to correlate with tumor invasiveness, epithelial to mesenchymal
      transition and an adverse prognosis. In the present study, myoferlin expression
      was investigated in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), along with its
      association with patient prognosis and the expression of a number of other
      proteins. A total of 148 patients exhibiting NSCLC were enrolled in the present
      study. The survival data of all patients was examined, and myoferlin, vascular
      endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), epidermal growth factor receptor,
      E-cadherin, beta-catenin, thyroid transcription factor-1 and tumor protein p63
      expression was investigated via immunohistochemical staining of tissue
      microarrays. Myoferlin expression was detected in the cytoplasm of 75/148 (50.7%)
      of the NSCLC cases. In the adenocarcinoma cases, myoferlin-positive patients
      possessed a poorer prognosis (odds ratio, 2.94; P=0.339). In the squamous cell
      carcinoma cases, myoferlin expression was significantly associated with VEGFR-2
      expression (P=0.001). Immunohistochemical staining for VEGFR-2 and myoferlin
      expression indicated similar features and cytoplasmic staining in tumor cells. As
      VEGFR-2 is a significant target for novel anticancer therapies, it is anticipated
      that myoferlin may also possess the potential to become a novel clinical target
      for the treatment of NSCLC.

PMID- 26893683
TI  - Genomic mapping of pathways in endometrial adenocarcinoma and a gastrointestinal
      stromal tumor located in Meckel's diverticulum.
AB  - The present study reports the case of a 71-year-old female patient diagnosed with
      endometrial adenocarcinoma, which was confirmed by histopathology. In the course
      of performing an elective hysterectomy with adnexa removal, a solid tumor located
      in Meckel's diverticulum (MD) was identified and excised. Due to the unique
      nature of the lesion, the tumor tissue underwent broad mapping of any genomic
      alterations once the histopathological examination was completed. The genetic
      testing was conducted using a high-resolution microarray and resulted in the
      identification of 45 genomic abnormalities, including 4 chromosomal aneuploidies.
      Within those regions, alterations of 87 known cancer genes were assigned. The
      involvement of v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog gene
      alteration was noted to be a key player for triggering gastrointestinal stromal
      tumor transformation for this unusual case. A total of 12 genes, showing mutual
      interaction in different cancer types or involved in diverse cellular processes,
      were identified. These reported data may shed light on the carcinogenesis of a
      rare MD tumor.

PMID- 26893684
TI  - Primary intratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) that primarily occurs in the testes is particularly rare,
      with only retrospective studies and sporadic cases reported in the literature.
      The present study describes the case of a large, primary intratesticular RMS
      (ITRMS) that was treated with a radical inguinal orchiectomy (RIO) and a regimen
      of chemotherapy. The study also presents a review of the literature regarding
      primary ITRMSs, aiming to elucidate the clinical characteristics and optimal
      treatment of the disease. A 14-year-old male presented with a 1-year history of a
      slow-growing, painless, left scrotal mass. Magnetic resonance imaging identified
      a mass in the left scrotum with mixed signal intensity; no abnormal signals were
      identified in the right testicle and retroperitoneal lymph node. An X-ray of the
      chest demonstrated no evidence of metastasis. Subsequent to this, a left RIO was
      performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the
      final diagnosis of embryonal ITRMS. At 21 days post-surgery, an 18F
      fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT)
      scan identified widespread metastatic lesions in the lungs, local lymph nodes and
      bones, presenting as increased glucose metabolism nodules. Subsequently, the
      patient received six sequential cycles of adjunct chemotherapy. The patient is
      alive with disease in October 2015. The case described is noteworthy as it is an
      example of ITRMS, in which the patient received successful treatment. However,
      multidisciplinary treatment may further improve the outcome of the disease.

PMID- 26893685
TI  - Correlation between the overexpression of Yin Yang 1 and the expression levels of
      miRNAs in Burkitt's lymphoma: A computational study.
AB  - A growing number of studies have highlighted the role of microRNAs (miRNAs or
      miRs) in the development and progression of cancer. In particular, the aberrant
      expression of cancer-related proteins, such as oncogenes and tumor suppressors
      has been shown to correlate with the modulation of the expression of specific
      miRNAs. In the present study, we aimed to determine which downregulated miRNAs
      may be involved in modulating the expression of the oncogenic transcription
      factor, Yin Yang 1 (YY1). YY1 has been reported to be overexpressed in several
      malignancies and our previous studies have highlighted the significant
      correlation between the levels of YY1 and aggressive behavior in non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma (NHL). A total of 57 miRNAs that are potentially capable of targeting
      YY1 was identified through in silico approaches. The search of publicly available
      NHL datasets, including paired mRNA and miRNA data (GSE23026) highlighted a
      significant correlation (Pearson's correlation, r>0.5) between the expression
      levels of YY1 and the expression levels of a limited set of miRNAs, including miR
      363, miR-200a, miR-23b, miR-15a and miR-15b. Intriguingly, both hsa-miR-363 and
      hsa-miR-200a belong to the top 20 miRNAs that were found to be downregulated in
      Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) tissue compared to normal tissue. Although further
      validation studies are warranted, the identification of these two miRNAs
      associated with the upregulation of YY1 in BL may provide further insight into
      the pathogenesis of this tumor and may contribute to more personalized and
      targeted treatment approaches for patients with this disease.

PMID- 26893686
TI  - Regulation and clinical significance of the hypoxia-induced expression of ANGPTL4
      in gastric cancer.
AB  - Solid tumors are often exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha
      upregulates numerous target genes associated with the malignant behavior of
      hypoxic cancer cells. A member of the angiopoietin family, angiopoietin-like
      protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a hypoxia-inducible gene. The present study aimed to
      clarify whether ANGPTL4 is regulated by HIF-1alpha in gastric cancer cells. The
      study also assessed whether ANGPTL4 expression is associated with
      clinicopathological factors or HIF-1alpha expression in gastric cancer tissues.
      Hypoxia-induced ANGPTL4 expression was quantitatively analyzed using reverse
      transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in 10 gastric
      cancer cell lines. RT-qPCR was further employed to investigate the HIF-1alpha
      dependency of ANGPTL4 expression using HIF-1alpha-knockdown transfectant 58As9-KD
      and control 58As9-SC gastric cancer cells. The HIF-1alpha and ANGPTL4 expression
      levels were immunohistochemically analyzed in 170 gastric cancer tissue specimens
      and were assessed for any correlations with the clinicopathological factors
      and/or patient survival. Subsequently, hypoxia-induced ANGPTL4 expression was
      observed in 7 out of 10 gastric cancer cell lines. The hypoxic induction of
      ANGPTL4 was almost preserved in the 58As9-KD cells compared with that observed in
      the 58As9-SC cells, while the induction of known HIF-1alpha target gene, carbonic
      anhydrase 9, was completely suppressed in the 58As9-KD cells. In the gastric
      cancer tissues, ANGPTL4 expression was inversely correlated with the tumor depth,
      whereas HIF-1alpha expression was positively correlated with venous invasion. A
      survival analysis revealed that the expression of ANGPTL4 was significantly
      correlated with a longer survival time, whereas that of HIF-1alpha was correlated
      with a shorter survival time. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that
      hypoxia-induced ANGPTL4 expression is independent of HIF-1alpha in hypoxic
      gastric cancer cells. ANGPTL4 may be a favorable marker for predicting a long
      survival time, whereas HIF-1alpha predicts a poor prognosis, in gastric cancer
      patients. The hypoxic environment independently induces ANGPTL4 and HIF-1alpha,
      which are believed to exhibit adverse effects on tumor progression.

PMID- 26893687
TI  - Didymin reverses phthalate ester-associated breast cancer aggravation in the
      breast cancer tumor microenvironment.
AB  - The present study demonstrated two novel findings. To the best of our knowledge,
      it is the first study to demonstrate that regulated upon activation, normal T
      cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), produced by breast tumor-associated
      monocyte-derived dendritic cells (TADCs) following breast cancer cell exposure to
      phthalate esters, may contribute to the progression of cancer via enhancement of
      cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, the present study
      revealed that didymin, a dietary flavonoid glycoside present in citrus fruits,
      was able to reverse phthalate ester-mediated breast cancer aggravation. MDA-MB
      231 cells were treated with butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate
      (DBP) or di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Subsequently, the conditioned medium
      (CM) was harvested and cultured with monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mdDCs).
      Cultures of MDA-MB-231 cells with the conditioned medium of BBP-, DBP- or DEHP
      MDA-MB-231 tumor-associated mdDCs (BBP-, DBP- or DEHP-MDA-TADC-CM) demonstrated
      enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion. Exposure of the MDA-MB-231 cells
      to DBP induced the MDA-TADCs to produce the inflammatory cytokine RANTES, which
      subsequently induced MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation, migration and invasion.
      Depleting RANTES reversed the effects of DBP-MDA-TADC-mediated MDA-MB-231 cell
      proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, didymin was observed to
      suppress phthalate-mediated breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and
      invasion. The present study suggested that didymin was capable of preventing
      phthalate ester-associated cancer aggravation.

PMID- 26893689
TI  - Apelin-13 induces autophagy in hepatoma HepG2 cells through ERK1/2 signaling
      pathway-dependent upregulation of Beclin1.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Apelin-13 on
      autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and the underlying mechanism of
      the effect. The HepG2 cells were treated with Apelin-13 at a final concentration
      of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 umol/l for 24 h. Cells were also treated with 10
      umol/l PD98059 for 24 h. The expression of the extracellular signal-regulated
      kinase (ERK)1/2, phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and Beclin1 proteins were
      detected by western blot analysis. Beclin1 mRNA expression was also detected by
      reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Autophagy was observed using
      fluorescence microscopy subsequent to monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining.
      Following treatment with the various concentrations of Apelin-13, the expression
      of the ERK1/2 protein remained at a similar level, whereas the expression of
      pERK1/2 increased in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the control group,
      the increase was significant (P<0.05). Similarly, Beclin1 expression was
      upregulated at the protein and mRNA levels by Apelin-13 treatment in a dose
      dependent manner and was significantly increased compared with the control group.
      However, following treatment with the Apelin-13 inhibitor PD98059, the expression
      of pERK1/2, Beclin1 protein and Beclin1 mRNA were significantly decreased
      (P<0.05). In addition, Apelin-13 induced the autophagy of HepG2 cells in a dose
      dependent manner, as revealed by MDC staining. PD98059 inhibited autophagy of
      HepG2 cells induced by Apelin-13. Therefore, Apelin-13 may promote autophagy in
      HepG2 cells by inducing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and upregulating the
      expression of Beclin1.

PMID- 26893688
TI  - Interleukin-8: A potent promoter of angiogenesis in gastric cancer.
AB  - Angiogenesis is a critical process in the development of tumor malignancy and
      occurs at various stages of tumor progression. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a pro
      angiogenic factor produced by tumor-infiltrating macrophages that has been
      revealed to facilitate the development of angiogenesis in various cancers.
      However, whether IL-8 activates angiogenesis in gastric cancer remains unclear.
      The present study investigated the effect of IL-8 on the migration and
      canalization capacities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In
      addition, the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of selected
      angiogenesis markers, consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A,
      VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2, were assessed in the HUVECs. The HUVECs were
      co-cultured with human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and exposed to various
      concentrations of IL-8 (0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml). The migration and
      canalization abilities of the cells were detected by Transwell chamber and tube
      formation assays. Protein expression was detected using immunofluorescence and
      western blot analysis, and mRNA levels were assessed using reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein and mRNA levels of VEGF-A,
      VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were measured in HUVECs cultured for 24 h. IL-8 at
      concentrations of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml significantly promoted HUVEC cell
      migration (P=0.005, P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) and tube formation
      (P=0.039, P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively). IL-8 at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5,
      0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml significantly elevated the protein levels of VEGF-A (P<0.001)
      and VEGFR-2 (P=0.034, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). IL-8 at
      concentrations of 0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml significantly elevated the protein levels of
      VEGF-1 (P=0.037 and P=0.002, respectively). Similarly, IL-8 at concentrations of
      0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of VEGF-A
      (P=0.046, P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) and VEGFR-1 (P=0.042, P<0.001 and
      P<0.001, respectively). IL-8 at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 ng/ml
      significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of VEGFR-2 (P=0.003, P=0.005, P<0.001
      and P<0.001, respectively). In conclusion, IL-8 may be a potent promoter of
      angiogenesis in gastric cancer.

PMID- 26893691
TI  - Cerebellar liponeurocytoma: A case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Cerebellar liponeurocytoma is rare, and the clinical characteristics and
      treatment strategy remain unclear. In the present study, a case of cerebellar
      liponeurocytoma was retrospectively reported and a literature review was
      performed. A 45-year-old female presented due to occipital headaches, exhibiting
      a hoarse voice and a broad-based gait. Pre-operative magnetic resonance images
      revealed a lesion occupying the right hemisphere of the cerebellum and the
      inferior vermis, compressing the medulla oblongata from the right side, and
      extending through the foramen magnum to the C2 level. A total resection was
      performed, and pathological analysis of the lesion showed positivity for
      synaptophysin, S-100 and neuronal nuclear antigen, partial positivity for Olig-2,
      and negativity for glial fibrillary acidic protein and epithelial membrane
      antigen. In addition, the Ki-67 index was low (<5%). Thus, a diagnosis of
      cerebellar liponeurocytoma was determined. Total resection was successful and the
      patient was followed up closely. A review of the literature showed that
      cerebellar liponeurocytoma is mainly located in the cerebellum, with rare extra
      cerebellar cases. Certain studies have suggested that the tumor may be located
      supratentorially and subtentorially, and should be renamed as solely
      liponeurocytoma. Total resection of the tumor contributes to an improved
      prognosis, while a subtotal resection and high Ki-67 index lead to recurrence.
      The tumor is similar to a tumor of low malignancy, with long-term recurrence.
      Radiation is recommended when there is residual tumor, recurrence or when the Ki
      67 is high.

PMID- 26893690
TI  - Intracranial solitary fibrous tumors: A report of two cases and a review of the
      literature.
AB  - Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are uncommon, with the pleura as a site of
      predilection. Central nervous system SFTs, particularly intracranial SFTs, are
      extremely rare. The lesions are generally benign and localized, and surgery is
      the main therapeutic solution. The current study reports the cases of a patient
      who presented with right haunch pain, right leg weakness and paresthesias for
      several months, and a patient with a history of unexpected loss of consciousness.
      Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of lesions, with a spindle cell
      morphology evident on pathological examination. The immunohistochemical
      examination demonstrated a strong immunoreaction for cluster of differentiation
      34, which supported the diagnosis of an SFT. Following a near-total resection,
      the patients had a good neural prognosis. The present study also provides a
      literature review, discussing the imageological and pathological characteristics
      of SFT, and the diagnostic methods that aid in distinguishing the entity from
      other spindle-cell central nervous system tumors.

PMID- 26893692
TI  - Ectopic congenital bronchogenic cyst accompanied by infection appearing in the
      cervical region of an elderly female patient: A case report.
AB  - Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are rare congenital cystic lesions arising as a
      development malformation in the trachea-bronchial system during the embryonic
      period. The cysts mostly occur in the mediastinum, with an extremely low
      morbidity rate in the oromaxillofacial-head and neck region. The age distribution
      of patients who present with BCs shows a significant predominance towards young
      individuals compared with the elderly. The current study reports the case a 70
      year-old female who presented with a painful mass in the right cervical region.
      Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound showed a heterogeneous
      hypodense cystic lesion accompanied by infection. A mass of gaseous density was
      observed on repeat CT following antibiotic therapy. The pathological examination
      after complete resection revealed a BC, which can also be easily misdiagnosed as
      common congenital cervical cysts, such as a branchial cleft cyst or a
      thyroglossal duct cyst, among others. There was no recurrence or any discomfort
      during the 34-month follow-up period.

PMID- 26893693
TI  - Complete response of giant desmoplastic small round cell tumor treated with
      chemoradiotherapy: A case report.
AB  - Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare tumor that mainly affects
      adolescents, and typically involves the abdominal and pelvic peritoneum. The
      present study reports one case of giant DSRCT, treated with concurrent
      chemoradiotherapy, and reviews the available medical literature. A 38-year-old
      man presented with a 3-month history of pain in the left lower abdomen and
      nausea, associated with decreased appetite and weight loss. Computed tomography
      (CT) showed a 12.3*7.9 cm confluent solid mass in the lower abdomen and pelvic
      cavity. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and the final pathological
      diagnosis was DSRCT. Following laparotomy, the patient was treated with external
      beam radiotherapy to the whole abdomen and pelvis to a dose of 40 Gy plus a 20 Gy
      boost to the residual disease. The results indicated that synchronous
      chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin combined with
      radiotherapy significantly improved locoregional control of DSRCT and a complete
      response, as measured by CT assessment 2 months subsequent to radiotherapy. In
      conclusion, DSRCT is a rare malignancy requiring multidisciplinary treatment,
      including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The results of the present
      study confirm that radiotherapy has a significant role in the treatment of
      advanced abdominal DSRCT and may contribute to durable remission.

PMID- 26893694
TI  - Malignant intrasellar meningioma presenting as an invasive pituitary
      macroadenoma: A rare case report and literature review.
AB  - Intrasellar meningiomas are rare tumors that have the ability to mimic non
      functioning pituitary adenomas. The majority of meningiomas are slow-growing and
      benign, therefore an intrasellar meningioma with malignant histological features
      is extremely rare. The present study describes the case of a malignant diaphragm
      meningioma that was controlled through combined chemotherapy, following subtotal
      surgical resection. The patient's symptoms ceased and no tumor recurrence was
      detected at the 3-year follow-up. Hormone levels were also observed as normal.
      Further investigation of similar cases may aid in achieving an accurate pre
      operative diagnosis. This would prove particularly beneficial in regards to
      intrasellar meningiomas due to their specific location and surgical treatment.
      The present study analyzes the requirement of chemotherapy for the treatment of
      these unique tumors.

PMID- 26893695
TI  - Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach: A case report of a rare type of gastric
      cancer.
AB  - Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) is a rare type of gastric cancer
      with an extremely poor prognosis. The current study reports a rare case of HAS,
      characterized by gastric cancer and infiltration of cancer cells into the left
      liver lobe, as well as lymphadenectasis. The expression of alpha-fetoprotein
      (AFP) was markedly increased in the tumor cells of the liver neoplasms. A gastric
      biopsy indicated highly, moderately and poorly differentiated papillary
      adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent two cycles of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin
      (130 mg; day 1) and capecitabine (2 mg, twice daily; days 1-14). At 7 weeks after
      the chemotherapy, an expanded gastrectomy and radical resection of left lung lobe
      were performed on the operable lesion. AFP expression was significantly decreased
      following the procedure. A literature review was also conducted by searching
      PubMed/Medline, indicating that surgery and chemotherapy may positively affect
      the outcomes of HAS patients.

PMID- 26893696
TI  - MicroRNA-497 regulates cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver.
      MicroRNA-497 (miR-497) is known to be downregulated in several types of human
      cancer; however, the expression, function and underlying mechanisms of miR-497 in
      HCC remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated miR-497 expression
      in HCC samples and HCC-derived cell lines using reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of one of the
      predicted common targets of miR-497, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF
      1R), was assessed using western blot analyses and immunohistochemistry. The role
      of miR-497 in regulating the proliferation of HCC-derived cells was also
      investigated in vitro and in vivo. Of 60 paired specimens from HCC patients, miR
      497 was downregulated in 42 cancer specimens compared with adjacent non-cancer
      tissues. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that IGF-1R
      expression was significantly increased in HCC compared to control tissues. In
      addition, overexpression of miR-497 was observed to inhibit colony formation and
      tumor growth in MHCC-97H human HCC cells. Conversely, SMMC-7721 human HCC cells
      transfected with a miR-497 inhibitor exhibited enhanced colony formation and
      tumor growth. Finally, IGF-1R protein, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling
      pathway-associated proteins and cyclin pathway-associated proteins were
      differentially expressed between miR-497-overexpressing cells and miR-497
      silenced cells. These results indicate that miR-497 may be a potentially
      effective gene therapy target.

PMID- 26893697
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cells promote tumor angiogenesis via the action of transforming
      growth factor beta1.
AB  - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may influence the growth and metastasis of various
      human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the
      underlying mechanisms via which MSCs are able to affect malignancies require
      investigation. In the present study, the potential role of MSC in the
      angiogenesis of HCC was investigated. A total of 17 nude mouse models exhibiting
      human HCC were used to evaluate the effects of MSC on angiogenesis. A total of 8
      mice were injected with human MSCs via the tail vein, and the remaining 9 mice
      were injected with phosphate-buffered saline as a control. A total of 35 days
      subsequent to the injection of MSCs, the microvessel density (MVD) of tumors was
      evaluated by immunostaining, using cluster of differentiation 31 antibody. The
      mRNA levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1, Smad2 and Smad7 were
      detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
      Protein expression levels of TGFbeta1 and vascular endothelial growth factor
      (VEGF) in tumor tissues were analyzed using ELISA. Compared with controls, MVD in
      MSC-treated mice was significantly increased (28.00+/-9.19 vs. 18.11+/-3.30;
      P=0.006). The levels of TGFbeta1 mRNA in the MSC-treated group were 2.15-fold
      higher compared with the control group (1.27+/-0.61 vs. 0.59+/-0.39; P=0.033),
      and MVD was higher in the group exhibiting increased TGFbeta1 mRNA levels
      compared with the control group (26.50+/-9.11 vs. 19.44+/-6.14; P=0.038). In
      addition, a close correlation between the expression levels of TGFbeta1 and VEGF
      was identified. The results of the present study suggested that MSCs may be
      capable of enhancing the angiogenesis of HCC, which may be partly due to the
      involvement of TGFbeta1.

PMID- 26893698
TI  - Primary localized amyloidoma of the renal pelvis: A case report and literature
      review.
AB  - Primary localized amyloidomas of the renal pelvis are challenging to diagnose,
      due to non-specific imaging results and the unusual location. The present study
      reports a rare case of primary localized amyloidoma of the renal pelvis and aims
      to illustrate the challenges in pre-operatively discriminating between this
      disease and transitional cell carcinomas. The present study identified that the
      mass was situated in the left renal pelvis using ultrasonography. A
      nephroureterectomy was performed following careful preparation. Finally,
      histopathological studies revealed that the tumor consisted of massive diffuse
      deposits of amyloid and microscopic amorphous eosinophilic material, which
      stained positively for Congo red, demonstrating potassium permanganate digestion.
      Consequently, a diagnosis of amyloid light chain-type amyloidoma was determined.
      Systematic examinations were performed following the unexpected diagnosis, which
      eliminated the possibility of amyloid associated-type amyloidoma. In total, 4
      months post-surgery, the patient remained tumor-free.

PMID- 26893699
TI  - Prolonged complete response following gemcitabine-erlotinib combined therapy in
      advanced pancreatic cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal types of malignant solid tumor and is
      typically associated with a poor prognosis. The majority of patients are
      diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, therefore, the median survival period is
      <6 months. Recently, a number of basic research projects and clinical trials were
      undertaken with the aim of improving treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer;
      however, only one agent, erlotinib, passed the clinical trials. Erlotinib is an
      inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor, which when overexpressed in
      cancer, promotes angiogenesis, cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. The US
      Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approved erlotinib in
      combination with gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic
      cancer. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to report a
      case of pancreatic cancer treated with this regimen alone to achieve a complete
      response (CR). A 40-year-old male with a medical history of chronic pancreatitis
      and hypertension was diagnosed with medically inoperable adenocarcinoma of the
      pancreas. Following palliative surgery, the patient began palliative gemcitabine
      and erlotinib chemotherapy. After three months, this treatment strategy resulted
      in a CR, as determined by imaging studies. Therapy was discontinued after 14
      months due to the development of peritoneal metastases and the patient was
      referred for treatment with the folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and
      oxaliplatin regimen. A CR is rarely reported in pancreatic cancer, however, a
      treatment strategy of gemcitabine and erlotinib may induce rapid regression of
      advanced-stage disease.

PMID- 26893700
TI  - MicroRNA-205 increases the sensitivity of docetaxel in breast cancer.
AB  - Chemotherapy has been widely used in breast cancer therapy, but the efficacy of
      chemotherapy is intimately associated with the sensitivity of therapeutic drugs
      to breast cancer. Docetaxel is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug in breast
      cancer treatment, but further improvement to its efficacy has thus far proved
      difficult. microRNAs (miRs) are a class of endogenous, small, non-coding RNAs,
      which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miR-205, a
      regulator of HER-3, is reported to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. In the
      present study, the reintroduction of miR-205 is shown to inhibit cell
      proliferation and clonogenic potential, and increase the sensitivity of MCF-7 and
      MDA-MB-231 cells to docetaxel. miR-205 also shows a synergistic effect with
      docetaxel in vivo. The present study provides a novel strategy to increase the
      sensitivity to docetaxel in breast cancer patients.

PMID- 26893701
TI  - Large moderately-differentiated ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a 13-year
      old female: A case report.
AB  - Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary, also known as androblastoma, is a rare
      neoplasm from the group of sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary. The tumor
      accounts for <0.5% of all primary ovarian neoplasms. The clinical signs and
      symptoms of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors can be associated with either hormonal
      production or the presence of a mass-occupying lesion. In the current study, a 13
      year-old female was diagnosed with a stage Ic ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor
      following abdominal pain and distension. One month after a right oophorectomy,
      the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scan was negative for residual or
      recurrent tumor. The overall 5-year survival rate for moderately-differentiated
      (grade 2) and poorly-differentiated (grade 3) Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors is 80%,
      and long-term follow-up is therefore highly advised in this patient.

PMID- 26893702
TI  - Overexpression of S100A14 in human serous ovarian carcinoma.
AB  - S100 calcium binding protein A14 (S100A14) is a member of the S100 protein family
      that plays an important role in the progression of several types of cancer. In
      the present study, the expression and clinical effect of S100A14 was evaluated in
      serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC). SOC tissue specimens and a panel of normal
      ovarian and fallopian tubal tissue specimens were obtained between November 2008
      and August 2012 from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University.
      Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of S100A14 in the
      SOC and normal control tissues. In addition, ELISA was performed to assess
      S100A14 expression in a subset of serum samples. The association between the
      expression of S100A14 in SOC and the corresponding clinical and pathological data
      was analyzed. The IHC results revealed that S100A14 was mainly located in the
      cytoplasm of the majority of SOC cells, and the expression levels of S100A14 in
      the tumor tissues were significantly increased compared with the levels
      identified in normal ovarian specimens (P<0.001). Consistently, the serum levels
      of S100A14 in patients with SOC were also increased compared with the levels in
      healthy individuals (P<0.001). S100A14 expression was similar in the epithelium
      of SOC lesions and the fallopian tube, which supported the dualistic model for
      ovarian serous carcinogenesis. Additional analysis of the expression of S100A14
      and corresponding clinical and pathological data revealed the correlation between
      the elevated expression of S100A14 and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.
      However, the protein level of S100A14 was not associated with the pathological
      stage, differentiation or metastasis of SOC. Overall, the present results
      demonstrate that S100A14 is likely to be involved in the resistance of SOC to
      platinum-based chemotherapy.

PMID- 26893703
TI  - A peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the larynx: A case report and
      literature review.
AB  - Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are malignant tumors comprised of small
      round cells of neuroectodermal origin. Current evidence indicates that peripheral
      PNETs (pPNETs), which arise in the non-central nervous system, possess
      histological similarity to Ewing's sarcoma. Though the occurrence of pPNETs in
      the head and neck region is rare, these are aggressive malignant tumors, and long
      term survival rates following diagnosis remain poor. The current report presents
      a case of pPNET and evaluates its significance with regard to previous studies.
      In the present case, a tumor was located in the larynx of the patient, and was
      diagnosed as pPNET. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that tumor cells were
      positive for cluster of differentiation 99. The patient was treated with surgery,
      multiagent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Five years subsequent to treatment, the
      patient had survived and demonstrated no evidence of disease recurrence. In
      existing literature concerning pPNET located outside the head and neck region, it
      is recommended that patients are treated with a combination of resection with a
      wide surgical margin, multiagent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The present case
      report concluded that the combination of surgery, systematic chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy, offers an improved outcome for pPNET localized to the head and neck
      region, compared with any of these therapies alone.

PMID- 26893704
TI  - Ovarian involvement of a desmoplastic small round cell tumor of unknown primary
      origin with lymph node and lung metastases: A case report.
AB  - Desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) were initially characterized as
      exhibiting divergent differentiation and were extremely aggressive, belonging to
      the family of 'small round blue cell tumors'. Due to a male predominance, to
      date, only 15 cases in women have been reported in the English literature. The
      present study describes a case of DSRCT in a young woman who initially presented
      with ovarian masses accompanied with lymph node and lung metastases. A correct
      diagnosis was reached by combining the hematoxylin and eosin, and
      immunohistochemical staining results. Following surgery, the patient underwent
      the chemotherapy and, 3 months later, is in a good condition. The study also
      provides an overview of this uncommon disease.

PMID- 26893705
TI  - A giant neurothekeoma of the left shoulder blade: A case report.
AB  - Neurothekeoma is a rare myxoma of the peripheral nerve sheath. The current report
      presents a case of a giant neurothekeoma with a partially-formed capsule, scapula
      erosion and unclear biological behavior, which originated in the intermuscular
      space between the left trapezius muscle and scapula. The patient was initially
      misdiagnosed with a fibromatosis using computed tomography and magnetic resonance
      image scanning. Diagnosis of the neoplasm was confirmed by pathological and
      immunohistochemical examination, revealing a neurothekeoma with unclear
      biological behavior. The patient underwent a wide and complete local resection.
      Using a comprehensive postoperative follow-up strategy, it was determined that
      the patient recovered well. The tumor was ~17*16*10 cm in size and was in contact
      with the scapula. The purpose of the present study was to describe a rare giant
      neurothekeoma and review the diagnostic techniques utilized to reach a definitive
      diagnosis. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were recommended
      for the diagnosis of neurothekeoma. There have been no previous reports regarding
      neurothekeomas exhibiting malignant transformation. Early and complete surgical
      resection is considered to be an effective method of treating this type of
      neurothekeoma.

PMID- 26893706
TI  - Situs inversus totalis with a mature teratoma of the posterior mediastinum: A
      case report.
AB  - Situs inversus totalis is an unusual disease with a low incidence. The co
      existence of situs inversus totalis with a teratoma is extremely rare. To the
      best of our knowledge, there is no data on the association between situs inversus
      totalis and teratoma in the literature. The present study therefore describes the
      first such case in a 23-year-old female. The patient presented with intermittent
      chest tightness, which had lasted for ~3 years. Following radiological
      examination, the patient was diagnosed with situs inversus totalis and a mature
      teratoma in the posterior mediastinum. Surgical resection was performed to remove
      the teratoma and the patient subsequently made a full recovery. Follow-up X-ray
      and computed tomography examinations were performed 6 months after surgery, which
      revealed no disease recurrence.

PMID- 26893707
TI  - Continuous prostate-specific antigen rise despite salvage radiotherapy following
      radical prostatectomy: Pattern of clinical relapse and predictive factors.
AB  - Salvage radiotherapy for post-prostatectomy biochemical recurrence does not
      always control the disease. It would be useful to identify patients who would not
      benefit from radiotherapy to the prostate bed prior to making treatment
      recommendations. One such group of patients is those who experience continuously
      rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) despite radiotherapy. The purpose of this
      study was to identify risk factors for continuous PSA increase and the pattern of
      radiological relapse during follow-up. We performed a retrospective comparison of
      two patient groups with PSA decline or continuous increase following salvage
      radiotherapy to the prostate bed. All patients received 3-D conformal
      radiotherapy (35 fractions of 2 Gy). Patients with continuous PSA increase were
      more likely to have had complete surgical resection (negative margins) and a
      shorter interval to radiotherapy (<24 months). However, the only statistically
      significant risk factor was Gleason score. Sixty-four percent of patients with a
      Gleason score of 9 developed continuously increasing PSA, indicating that
      residual subclinical cancer was not located in the prostate bed. The median time
      to radiological recurrence was 43 months. Isolated pelvic nodal recurrence was
      uncommon. Almost all patients with radiological recurrence had high-risk disease,
      in particular stage pT3. In conclusion, the majority of patients with
      biologically aggressive tumors with Gleason score 9 were not adequately treated
      with prostate bed radiotherapy alone. The predominant pattern of radiological
      recurrence was outside of the pelvis. Therefore, the problem of distant
      micrometastases has to be addressed.

PMID- 26893708
TI  - Acute lymphocytic leukemia mimicking spondyloarthritis in an adolescent: A case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - The present study describes the case of an 18-year-old adolescent male exhibiting
      acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), complicated by the onset of the symptom of
      sacroiliitis mimicking spondyloarthritis. Atypical features including an enlarged
      spleen, poor effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, low levels
      of hemoglobin, a low platelet count, a low neutrophil count and increased levels
      of monocytes, indicated the possibility of hematological malignancy. Bone marrow
      examination confirmed the diagnosis of ALL. The patient received chemotherapy and
      the symptoms were dramatically relieved. To the best of our knowledge, the
      current study reports the second published case of a patient with ALL presenting
      with sacroiliitis. Sacroiliitis as an onset manifestation of ALL may result in
      misdiagnosis, therefore, a differential diagnosis is essential when atypical
      features are present.

PMID- 26893709
TI  - Aneurysmal bone cyst on the left zygomatic arch concomitant with bilateral
      inferior turbinate gasification in an adult female: A case report.
AB  - The simultaneous occurrence of an aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) on a zygomatic arch
      with bilateral inferior turbinate gasification is extremely rare, and no previous
      studies are available. Here we report the case of a 34-year-old Chinese Han
      female who presented with hyperplasia of the left maxillary bone for one and a
      half years. The patient was observed to have an ABC on the left zygomatic arch
      concomitant with bilateral inferior turbinate gasification, as indicated by X-ray
      computed tomography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography and three-dimensional
      maxillofacial reconstruction. The patient underwent surgical resection of the
      cyst, and no postoperative symptoms were observed during the 4 years of follow
      up. The etiology of this case is considered to be associated with a gene
      abnormality.

PMID- 26893710
TI  - Targeting of NHERF1 through RNA interference inhibits the proliferation and
      migration of metastatic prostate cancer cells.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory
      factor 1 (NHERF1) gene knockdown, using short-hairpin RNA (shRNA), on the
      malignant behaviors of prostate cancer cells. A pSuper.puro NHERF1 shRNA vector
      was transfected into PC-3M prostate cancer cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Stable
      cell lines were obtained and NHERF1 knockdown was verified through western blot
      analysis. MTT assays were then used to measure PC-3M cell proliferation; in
      addition, cell migration was assessed using a wound healing assay. Flow cytometry
      was employed in order to determine the effects of NHERF1 knockdown on apoptosis.
      Expression levels of apoptotic pathway proteins B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl
      2-associated X protein were then determined by western blot analysis. The results
      demonstrated that shRNA knockdown of NHERF1 significantly suppressed the
      proliferation of PC-3M cells by >50%. In addition, knockdown of NHERF1
      significantly inhibited the migration of PC-3M cells. PC-3M cells harboring
      NHERF1 shRNA exhibited significantly increased apoptosis, with an ~4-fold
      increase compared with that of the parental PC-3M cells and cells transfected
      with an empty vector. Furthermore, the results revealed that knockdown of NHERF1
      reduced the protein expression of Bcl-2, although the expression of Bax was
      unaltered. In conclusion, NHERF1 knockdown using shRNA inhibited the
      proliferation and migration of PC-3M cells and promoted apoptosis, highlighting
      the role of NHERF1 in prostate cancer progression.

PMID- 26893711
TI  - Downregulation of miR-362-5p inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of
      human breast cancer MCF7 cells.
AB  - An increasing number of studies have indicated that the deregulation of microRNAs
      (miRNAs) contributes to tumorigenesis and metastasis. In the present study,
      significant upregulation of miR-362-5p was identified in the breast cancer MDA-MB
      231 and MCF7 cell lines compared with the control CCD-1095Sk cell line. The
      inhibition of miR-362-5p was demonstrated to significantly inhibit the cell
      proliferation, migration and invasion of human breast cancer MCF7 cells. In
      addition, the knockdown of miR-362-5p induced G1 arrest and promoted apoptosis in
      the breast cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations confirmed that the tumor
      suppressor gene CYLD is a direct target of miR-362-5p. The ectopic expression of
      miR-362-5p represses CYLD expression, whereas miR-362-5p inhibitor treatment
      induces CYLD protein expression and decreases NF-kappaB expression in the
      downstream signaling pathway. Thus, these findings may provide novel insights
      into the molecular mechanisms through which miR-362-5p regulates breast cancer
      cell proliferation, migration and invasion. This study also suggests that miR-362
      5p may act as a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of breast
      cancer.

PMID- 26893712
TI  - Effect of miR-155 knockdown on the reversal of doxorubicin resistance in human
      lung cancer A549/dox cells.
AB  - Doxorubicin has been widely used in the treatment of cancer. However, acquired
      doxorubicin resistance severely hinders the application of the drug. In the
      present study, doxorubicin resistance was investigated in lung carcinoma.
      microRNA-155 (miR-155) was found to be upregulated in the doxorubicin-resistant
      A549/dox cell line. Suppression of miR-155 in this cell line considerably
      reversed doxorubicin resistance, and doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and cell cycle
      arrest were recovered. Furthermore, reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction and western blot analysis revealed that miR-155 suppression
      downregulated the expression of multidrug resistance protein 1, multidrug
      resistance-associated protein 1, breast cancer resistance protein, glutathione S
      transferase-pi, Survivin and B-cell lymphoma 2, and upregulated the expression of
      caspase-3 and caspase-8. In addition, it was found that miR-155 suppression
      inhibited the activation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. The
      transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein-1 was
      also downregulated. In summary, the present results indicate that miR-155 may
      participate in doxorubicin resistance in lung carcinoma. The current study
      provides a novel target for lung carcinoma treatment.

PMID- 26893713
TI  - Expression and clinical significance of Sirt1 in colorectal cancer.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to examine the expression of Silent
      information regulator 1 (Sirt1) in colorectal cancer and peritumoral normal
      mucosa tissue, and therefore analyze the role and molecular mechanism of Sirt1 in
      the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer tissue specimens were
      employed as the experimental group, and adjacent normal mucosa tissues >5 cm from
      tumor lesions were used as the control group. The expression of Sirt1 was
      detected by the immunohistochemical streptavidin peroxidase detection method in
      paraffin-embedded sections, whilst Sirt1 protein expression was examined by
      western blot analysis in the fresh tissues. Sirt1 protein was primarily expressed
      in the nuclei of the tumor cells, and positive staining was brownish-yellow in
      color. The relative expression quantities of Sirt1 in the peritumoral normal
      rectal mucosa and rectal carcinoma were 1.15 and 2.62, and the differences
      between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression
      level of Sirt1 in colorectal carcinoma was significantly associated with the
      depth of tumor invasion, differentiation and tumor size (P<0.05). Sirt1
      expression was also found to be associated with tumor tissue type, lymph node
      metastasis, Duke's stage and patient age. These characteristics combined may
      therefore be used as markers for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer
      pathogenesis.

PMID- 26893714
TI  - Glaucocalyxin A inhibits the growth of liver cancer Focus and SMMC-7721 cells.
AB  - Liver cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and hepatoma demonstrates
      a poor long-term prognosis. The present study reports that glaucocalyxin A (GLA),
      a natural product isolated from Rabdosia umbrosa, inhibits the growth of the
      liver cancer Focus and SMMC-7721 cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
      The present study revealed that GLA arrested the liver cancer cells at the G2/M
      stage of the cell cycle and led to decreased expression of caspase 3 and the
      cleavage of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase. Overall, the present
      study demonstrated that GLA inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells by G2/M
      stage cell-cycle arrest and cell apoptosis.

PMID- 26893715
TI  - Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax in an osteosarcoma patient with pulmonary
      metastases: A case report.
AB  - Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication of chemotherapy in the treatment
      of lung neoplasms. It is relatively common in osteosarcoma lung metastases
      patients following chemotherapy, but the cause is still unknown. Here, we report
      a case of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax occurring in a 40-year-old female in
      whom lung metastases from osteosarcoma were treated with combination
      chemotherapy. The patient had osteosarcoma on the right side of the mandible, and
      developed bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Through contrasting chest computed
      tomography, pneumothorax was identified at the site of the pulmonary metastases
      and occurred following the formation of bullae. The pneumothorax and bullae were
      produced after the patient received chemotherapy. In October 2014, the patient
      succumbed to the disease due to hemorrhage of the primary osteosarcoma lesions.

PMID- 26893717
TI  - Downregulation of BC200 in ovarian cancer contributes to cancer cell
      proliferation and chemoresistance to carboplatin.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve an
      important role in carcinogenesis. BC200 is a lncRNA that is reportedly associated
      with ovarian cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate this
      potential association between BC200 and ovarian cancer, and to subsequently
      analyze the biological function of BC200 in the disease. BC200 expression was
      compared in ovarian cancer tissue and normal ovarian tissue samples through the
      use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To allow the biological function
      of BC200 in ovarian cancer to be analyzed, small interfering RNA was used to
      knock down the expression of BC200 in SKOV3 and A2780 ovarian cancer cells. The
      proliferative, invasive and migratory abilities of the cells were identified by
      means of cell counting kits and Transwell assays. Carboplatin was also used to
      treat the ovarian cancer cells, and a luminescent cell viability assay was
      subsequently used to detect the sensitivity of the cells to the carboplatin. The
      results demonstrated that BC200 expression was reduced in ovarian cancer compared
      with normal ovarian tissue samples. In the SKOV3 and A2780 cells, BC200 exerted
      no effect on invasive or migratory ability, however, the inhibition of BC200 was
      demonstrated to promote cell proliferation. Additionally, it was observed that
      carboplatin induced BC200 expression in the cell lines, and that the inhibition
      of BC200 decreased the sensitivity of the cells to the drug. BC200 is therefore
      likely to have a tumor suppressive function in ovarian cancer by affecting cell
      proliferation. Furthermore, BC200 appears to serve a role in the mediation of
      carboplatin-induced ovarian cancer cell death.

PMID- 26893716
TI  - Polymorphic variants in the vitamin D pathway genes and the risk of ovarian
      cancer among non-carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations.
AB  - Previous studies have produced inconsistent results regarding the contribution of
      single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene to
      ovarian cancer (OC) in various ethnicities. Additionally, little has been
      established with regard to the role of SNPs located in the retinoid X receptor
      alpha (RXRA), vitamin D-binding protein [also know as group-specific component
      (GC)] and VDR genes in non-carriers of the breast cancer 1/2 early onset
      (BRCA1/BRCA2) gene mutations. All participating individuals in the present study
      were evaluated for BRCA1 mutations (5382incC, C61G and 4153delA) with HybProbe
      assays, and for BRCA2 mutation (5946delT) using high-resolution melting (HRM)
      analysis. The associations of 8 SNPs located in RXRA, GC and VDR were
      investigated in OC patients without the BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations (n=245) and healthy
      controls (n=465). Genotyping of RXRA rs10881578 and rs10776909, and GC rs1155563
      and rs2298849 SNPs was conducted by HRM analysis, while RXRA rs749759, GC rs7041,
      VDR BsmI rs1544410 and FokI rs2228570 genotyping was performed by polymerase
      chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In addition,
      the gene-gene interactions among all tested SNPs were studied using the epistasis
      option in PLINK software. The lowest P-values of the trend test were identified
      for VDR rs1544410 and GC rs2298849 as Ptrend=0.012 and Ptrend=0.029,
      respectively. It was also found that, in the dominant inheritance model, VDR BsmI
      contributed to an increased risk of OC [odds ratio (OR), 1.570; 95% confidence
      interval (CI), 1.136-2.171; P=0.006; Pcorr=0.048]. The gene-gene interaction
      analysis indicated a significant interaction between RXRA rs749759 and VDR FokI
      rs2228570 (OR for interaction, 1.687; chi2=8.278; asymptotic P-value=0.004;
      Pcorr=0.032). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that certain VDR and RXRA
      SNPs may be risk factors for OC in non-carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations in the
      Polish population.

PMID- 26893718
TI  - Picfeltarraenin IA inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokine
      production by the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway in human pulmonary epithelial
      A549 cells.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the effect of picfeltarraenin IA (IA) on
      respiratory inflammation by analyzing its effect on interleukin (IL)-8 and
      prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. The expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in
      human pulmonary adenocarcinoma epithelial A549 cells in culture was also
      examined. Human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells and the human monocytic leukemia
      THP-1 cell line were used in the current study. Cell viability was measured using
      a methylthiazol tetrazolium assay. The production of IL-8 and PGE2 was
      investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of COX2
      and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-p65 was examined using western blot
      analysis. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 ug/ml) resulted in the
      increased production of IL-8 and PGE2, and the increased expression of COX2 in
      the A549 cells. Furthermore, IA (0.1-10 umol/l) significantly inhibited PGE2
      production and COX2 expression in cells with LPS-induced IL-8, in a concentration
      dependent manner. The results suggested that IA downregulates LPS-induced COX2
      expression, and inhibits IL-8 and PGE2 production in pulmonary epithelial cells.
      Additionally, IA was observed to suppress the expression of COX2 in THP-1 cells,
      and also to regulate the expression of COX2 via the NF-kappaB pathway in the A549
      cells, but not in the THP-1 cells. These results indicate that IA regulates LPS
      induced cytokine release in A549 cells via the NF-kappaB pathway.

PMID- 26893719
TI  - Increased oncogenic microRNA-18a expression in the peripheral blood of patients
      with prostate cancer: A potential novel non-invasive biomarker.
AB  - MicroRNAs have been demonstrated to be stably detectable in peripheral blood,
      thus representing important sources of non-invasive biomarkers of various
      diseases, including cancer. Recently, microRNA-18a (miR-18a) has been revealed to
      be highly expressed in prostate cancer (PC) tissues, acting as an oncogenic
      miRNA. The present study evaluated miR-18a expression in the peripheral blood of
      patients with PC, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and healthy
      individuals, to assess the feasibility of using peripheral blood miR-18a as a
      potential non-invasive biomarker for PC. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral
      whole blood samples from 24 PC patients, 24 BPH patients and 23 healthy control
      individuals. The expression of miR-18a was assessed by reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that miR-18a
      expression was significantly higher in PC patients than in BPH patients and
      healthy controls [fold change (mean +/- standard deviation), 5.5+/-1.4 for PC,
      1.5+/-0.5 for BPH and 1.2+/-0.6 for controls; P<0.005]. Higher miR-18a expression
      was strongly associated with PC [odds ratio (OR), 4.602; 95% confidence interval
      (CI), 2.194-9.654; P=0.001], but was not significantly associated with BPH (OR,
      1.2; 95% CI, 0.7-2.02; P=0.332). Despite the small number of patients, which
      limits the statistical power of the study, higher miR-18a expression was observed
      to be significantly correlated with certain clinicopathological parameters,
      including Gleason score >7 and pathological tumor stage 3/4 (P<0.005). A receiver
      operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that miR-18a discriminated PC
      patients from BPH patients and healthy controls [area under the curve (AUC),
      0.805; 95% CI, 0.704-0.906). Furthermore, use of the ROC curve to discriminate PC
      from BPH patients yielded an AUC of 0.878 (95% CI, 0.783-0.972). In summary, the
      present results indicate that miR-18a expression is significantly increased in
      peripheral blood of patients with PC compared with that of BPH patients and
      healthy individuals, and that higher miR-18a expression is associated with
      progression of PC. Peripheral blood oncogenic miR-18a may serve as a potential
      novel non-invasive biomarker for PC that also facilitates discrimination between
      PC and BPH.

PMID- 26893720
TI  - MicroRNA-126 inhibits the migration and invasion of endometrial cancer cells by
      targeting insulin receptor substrate 1.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to serve important roles in the
      development and progression of human cancer, primarily through the direct
      targeting of oncogenes or tumor suppressors. It has been previously suggested
      that miR-126 may be associated with endometrial cancer (EC). However, the exact
      role of miR-126 in the migration and invasion of EC cells has not yet been
      studied. The present study demonstrated that the expression of miR-126 was
      significantly decreased in EC tissues when compared with matched normal adjacent
      tissues. The current study reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction was performed in order to examine the expression level of miR-126. Wound
      healing and transwell assays were used to examine cell migration and invasion. A
      luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the targeting relationship and
      western blotting assay was performed to detect the protein expression.
      Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-126 significantly inhibited EC SKOV3 cell
      migration and invasion. Molecular mechanism investigation established that
      insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) functioned as a direct miR-126 target, and
      its expression was negatively regulated by miR-126 at a post-transcriptional
      level in the SKOV3 cells. Additionally, the overexpression of IRS1 reversed the
      inhibitory effect of miR-126 overexpression on SKOV3 cell migration and invasion.
      In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that miR-126 inhibited EC cell
      migration and invasion, at least partially through the direct targeting of IRS1,
      suggesting that miR-126 may aid the treatment of EC metastasis.

PMID- 26893721
TI  - Coexistence of adenomyosis and endometrioid endometrial cancer: Role in surgical
      guidance and prognosis estimation.
AB  - The aim of the current study was to diagnose the concomitant presence of
      adenomyosis (AM) in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) in order to evaluate
      its value as an oncological prognostic marker. A retrospective analysis of 289
      patients diagnosed with EEC who underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo
      oophorectomy and pelvic-lymphadenectomy was conducted. The total cohort included
      37 patients in Group A (those with concomitant AM and EEC) and 252 patients in
      Group B (those affected only by EEC). The following factors were evaluated:
      Presence or absence of AM, tumor grade, depth of myometrial invasion, tumor size,
      lymphovascular space involvement, lymph node status, peritoneal cytology,
      concomitant detection of endometrial atypical-hyperplasia or polypoid endometrial
      features and tumor stage according to the International Federation of Gynecology
      and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification. Uterine examination of different sections
      of uterine cervix, corpus, myomas and cervical or endometrial polyps was
      performed. The diagnosis of AM was confirmed when the distance between the lower
      border of the endometrium and the foci of the endometrial glands and stroma was
      >2.5 mm. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were performed when
      possible; continuous variables were analyzed using a Student's t-test, and
      categorical variables were analyzed by the chi2 test or Fisher's exact test. The
      association between FIGO stage and group was determined to be significant: 83.8%
      of Group A patients were categorized as FIGO stage I, vs. 68.7% of Group B
      patients. In addition, Group A was associated with lower grades in FIGO stage,
      myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, lymph node involvement and
      tumor size. The findings suggest that the intraoperative evaluation of the
      presence of AM in patients with EEC may aid surgeons in estimating oncological
      risk and in selecting the most appropriate surgical treatment.

PMID- 26893722
TI  - Papillary oncocytic cystadenoma of a palatal minor salivary gland: A case report.
AB  - Papillary cystadenomas of the salivary gland are uncommon, benign, encapsulated
      or well-circumscribed, multicystic tumors with intracystic papillations. In a
      large review, papillary cystadenoma constituted 2% of all minor salivary gland
      tumors. The present study reports an extremely rare case of a papillary
      cystadenoma arising from the palate that demonstrated oncocytic features. A 60
      year-old man was referred by his dentist to the Second Department of Oral and
      Maxillofacial Surgery at Osaka Dental University Hospital for the diagnostic
      evaluation of a mass of the left palate. An incisional biopsy was performed and
      the microscopic findings were interpreted as consistent with a papillary
      oncocytic cystadenoma. Therefore, the lesion was excised under general
      anesthesia. The post-operative course was uneventful and no recurrence had
      developed 5 years subsequent to surgery.

PMID- 26893723
TI  - Association between the expression levels of TAZ, AXL and CTGF and
      clinicopathological parameters in patients with colon cancer.
AB  - Colon cancer accounts for a large proportion of all the cancer-associated
      morbidities worldwide. Genetic analysis and stratification of patients based on
      survival may identify genetic signatures potentially useful for prognostic or
      treatment planning purposes. Previous studies have reported that the messenger
      (m)RNA expression levels of tafazzin (TAZ), AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL)
      and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were able to predict the survival of
      patients with colon cancer in two independent colon cancer datasets. However,
      limited clinicopathological data were available from these two datasets. By
      contrast, a large colon cancer dataset comprising 566 patients has been recently
      published in the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which contains data regarding
      tumor stage and location, and genetic status of mismatch repair (MMR), Kirsten
      rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine
      kinase (BRAF) and tumor protein p53 (TP53). In the present study, the mRNA
      expression levels of TAZ, AXL and CTGF were evaluated, and the TAZ-AXL-CTGF
      signature was correlated with the available pathological parameters and survival
      data. Overexpression of TAZ, AXL and CTGF was observed to be associated with
      severe pathological stage, deficiency in MMR, colon cancer subtype C4 and
      mutations in the BRAF gene. In addition, overexpression of TAZ-AXL-CTGF was
      associated with short overall survival in patients with mutations in the TP53
      gene, colon cancer subtype C6, proficient MMR and wild-type status of the KRAS
      and BRAF genes. Furthermore, the prognostic value of TAZ-AXL-CTGF overexpression
      was observed to be independent of all the clinicopathological parameters and
      mutational statuses analyzed. The results of the present study confirm the
      previously reported findings, and suggest that the TAZ-AXL-CTGF mRNA signature is
      a potential prognostic indicator in colon cancer.

PMID- 26893724
TI  - Incidence and risk factor analysis for sarcopenia in patients with cancer.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence of and
      possible risk factors associated with sarcopenia among cancer patients. Patients
      with cancer were examined through the use of lumbar magnetic resonance imaging,
      and clinical data was collected between September and December, 2012, at Jilin
      Province Tumor Hospital (Changchun, China). The data was subsequently compared
      between patients with and without sarcopenia. Of the 113 treated cancer patients,
      96 patients [39 males (L3 index, <52.4 cm2/m2) and 57 females (L3 index, <38.5
      cm2/m2)] suffered from sarcopenia. Overall, the development of sarcopenia was not
      significantly associated with patient age or treatment, including surgery,
      chemotherapy or radiotherapy (P>0.05). The frequency of treatment-associated
      complications did not differ significantly between patients with or without
      sarcopenia. However, males were more inclined to develop sarcopenia than females
      (P=0.02). Patients with sarcopenia had significantly less lymphocytes than
      patients without sarcopenia (P=0.03). This was confirmed through multiple
      logistic regression analyses (P=0.046), which also identified that patients with
      cancer with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score >2 had a significantly
      increased risk of developing sarcopenia. Finally, the serum albumin level in
      sarcopenia patients was 36.18+/-4.65 g/l, which was not significantly less than
      that of patients without sarcopenia (39.67+/-3.69 g/l; P=0.11). The incidence of
      sarcopenia among patients with cancer is high, particularly for males. Further
      research with larger sample sizes would be beneficial, with the aim of verifying
      the results obtained in the present study. During the treatment of patients with
      sarcopenia, precaution should continue to be taken to prevent associated
      complications, including infection, diarrhea and myelosuppression.

PMID- 26893725
TI  - Oncogenic microRNA-142-3p is associated with cellular migration, proliferation
      and apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) serve an important role in the regulation of carcinogenic
      pathways. RCC is the most prevalent kidney cancer that occurs in adults. miRNAs
      have gained increasing attention due to their association with RCC tumorigenesis,
      serving as biomarkers for early detection and progression monitoring, and as
      potential targets for molecular therapy. Upregulation of miRNA-142-3p has been
      previously identified in RCC tissues by microarray profile, however, its
      expression and function in RCC have not yet been validated. In the present study,
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the relative
      expression of miR-142-3p in 53 paired RCC and adjacent normal tissues.
      Furthermore, wound healing, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
      bromide and flow cytometry assays were performed to analyze the impacts of miR
      142-3p on cellular migration, proliferation and apoptosis. The results
      demonstrated that miR-142-3p was significantly upregulated in RCC tissues
      compared with adjacent normal tissues. Downregulation of miR-142-3p, induced by
      chemically synthesized miR-142-3p inhibitor, significantly suppressed cell
      migration and proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis in 786-O and ACHN cells,
      supporting the theory that miR-142-3p may function as an oncogene in RCC. The
      potential clinical significance of miR-142-3p, as a biomarker and therapeutic
      target, provides rationale for further investigation into the miR-142-3p-mediated
      molecular pathway and how it is associated with RCC development.

PMID- 26893726
TI  - Combined RNAi targeting human Stat3 and ADAM9 as gene therapy for non-small cell
      lung cancer.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that human signal transducer and activator of
      transcription 3 (Stat3) and disintegrin and metalloproteinase 9 (ADAM9) are
      promising targets for RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene therapy for human non
      small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, in the present study, the recombinant
      lentiviral (Lv) small hairpin (sh)RNA expression plasmids Lv/sh-Stat3 and Lv/sh
      ADAM9, which targeted Stat3 and ADAM9, respectively, were constructed and
      subsequently infected into the A549 human NSCLC cell line. Cell proliferation,
      migration, invasion and apoptosis were determined in vitro in A549 cells
      following treatment with Lv/sh-Stat3 or Lv/sh-ADAM9 alone or in combination. In
      addition, the combined effect of Lv/sh-Stat3 and Lv/sh-ADAM9 gene therapy was
      evaluated in vivo using A549 xenograft models in nude mice. The in vitro
      experiments demonstrated that A549 cells treated with a combination of Lv/sh
      Stat3 and Lv/sh-ADAM9 exhibited a significant additive effect in their cell
      proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis abilities, compared with A549
      cells treated with Lv/sh-Stat3 or Lv/sh-ADAM9 alone. The in vivo experiments
      conducted in A549 xenograft tumor mouse models revealed that the combined
      treatment with Lv/sh-Stat3 and Lv/sh-ADAM9 exerted an additive effect on tumor
      growth inhibition, compared with the treatment with Lv/sh-Stat3 or Lv/sh-ADAM9
      alone. These results suggested that combined RNAi gene therapy targeting human
      Stat3 and ADAM9 may be a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.

PMID- 26893727
TI  - Novel cyclic pentapeptide H-15 induces differentiation and inhibits proliferation
      in murine melanoma B16 cells.
AB  - Sansalvamide A is a cyclic depsipeptide that is isolated from a marine fungus of
      the Fusarium genus. Sansalvamide A exhibits significant antitumor ability. The
      molecular formula and molecular weight of the novel sansalvamide A derivative H
      15 are C29H44BrN5O6 and 637.2475, respectively. In the present study, H-15 was
      found to inhibit the proliferation and induce the differentiation of murine
      melanoma B16 cells. A sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay was used to measure the
      inhibitory effects of 0.1, 1, 10, 50 and 100 uM H-15 on the B16 cells, and the
      results revealed that the inhibitory effects of H-15 exerted on the B16 cells
      occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the growth curve model
      of the B16 cells treated with 50 uM H-15 revealed that the effect of H-15 was
      also time-dependent. The differentiation morphology of the B16 cells was observed
      subsequent to treating the cells with H-15. An optical microscope was used to
      observe the differentiation morphology of the cells. In addition, melanin
      secretion increased in the B16 cells treated with 50 uM H-15. The expression
      levels of tyrosinase (TYR) were assayed by western blot analysis, and it was
      found that the cells treated with 50 uM H-15 for 48 h exhibited increased
      expression of TYR. The results of the present study indicated that H-15 may
      induce the differentiation of B16 cells.

PMID- 26893729
TI  - CORRIGENDUM.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3625.].

PMID- 26893728
TI  - In vitro analysis of the anticancer properties of scorpion venom in colorectal
      and breast cancer cell lines.
AB  - Scorpion venom contains various types of proteins and peptides that are able to
      act as inhibitors of neurotransmitter molecules. This is achieved primarily via
      the inhibition of ion channels. In addition, scorpion venom has been demonstrated
      to exhibit anticancer properties in prostate and breast cancer, as well as
      leukemia. The anticancer properties of scorpion venom are due to its inhibitory
      effect on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, which leads to reduced
      motility and invasion in tumor cells. The inhibitory effects of venom on MMPs
      additionally lead to a reduction in the metastatic potential of malignant tumors.
      In the present study, the effect of venom obtained from a local serpentarium
      facility was examined in colorectal and breast cancer cell lines. Cell motility
      and clonogenic survival assays revealed a significant decrease (60-90%) in cell
      motility and colony formation, two significant hallmarks of cancer survival,
      following treatment with various concentrations of venom. These results were in
      agreement with previous studies demonstrating the anticancer activity of scorpion
      venom. In conclusion, the venom utilized at the Research Center of Prince Sultan
      Military Medical City Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) possesses significant
      anticancer potential against colorectal and breast cancer cell lines.

PMID- 26893730
TI  - MicroRNAs in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
AB  - The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRs) has a significant impact on the
      biological characteristics of lymphocytes, and is important in the pathogenesis
      of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It has been demonstrated, using miR
      profiling and detecting distinct miR signatures, that certain miRs may accurately
      distinguish different subtypes and prognostic classifications of DLBCL, as well
      as distinguish DLBCL from other more indolent lymphomas, including follicular
      lymphoma. miRs are excellent biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In
      DLBCL, specific miR expression profiles in the tissues of patients are associated
      with prognosis and clinical outcome. Over the past decade, there has been
      substantial investigation concerning the pathogenetic, diagnostic and prognostic
      roles of miRs in DLBCL. The aim of the present review is to describe the aberrant
      expression of miRs in DLBCL, and the functions, potential clinical use and
      possible therapeutic targets of miRs in this disease.

PMID- 26893733
TI  - Circulating tumor cell count as a biomarker of a specific gastric cancer subgroup
      characterized by bone metastasis and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation -
      an early indicator of chemotherapeutic response.
AB  - The incidence of gastric cancer coupled with multiple bone metastases, and/or
      disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), is characterized by the clinical
      presentation of rapid progression and a poor prognosis, and differs from typical
      gastric cancers. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are negligible in typical
      advanced gastric cancers, however, a considerable number of CTCs in the
      bloodstream may be detected in the subgroup demonstrating multiple bone
      metastases and/or DIC. The present study analyzed two cases, with the first case
      regarding a 51-year-old male who exhibited a CTC count of 275 cells/7.5 ml
      following an initial, ineffective, chemotherapy cycle. The patient underwent a
      second chemotherapy course that was effective, and the cell count was observed to
      reduced to 2 cells/7.5 ml. A decreased CTC count was first confirmed on day 16
      following treatment. During the chemoresistant phase, the CTC count was observed
      to increase again. The second case presented by the current study describes a 59
      year-old female who exhibited a CTC count of 235 cells/7.5 ml prior to
      chemotherapy. This subsequently decreased to 7 cells/7.5 ml following an
      effective course of chemotherapy. Notably, the CTC count increased alongside
      disease progression in this case. Within the rare subgroup of gastric cancer
      patients with multiple bone metastases and/or DIC, CTC count may serve as an
      early biomarker allowing the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. However, due to
      the aggressive nature of this type of cancer, imaging analysis is not recommended
      as it may typically take several months to complete.

PMID- 26893731
TI  - Repurposing antipsychotics as glioblastoma therapeutics: Potentials and
      challenges.
AB  - Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most lethal primary brain
      tumor, with tragically little therapeutic progress over the last 30 years.
      Surgery provides a modest benefit, and GBM cells are resistant to radiation and
      chemotherapy. Despite significant development of the molecularly targeting
      strategies, the clinical outcome of GBM patients remains dismal. The challenges
      inherent in developing effective GBM treatments have become increasingly clear,
      and include resistance to standard treatments, the blood-brain barrier,
      resistance of GBM stem-like cells, and the genetic complexity and molecular
      adaptability of GBM. Recent studies have collectively suggested that certain
      antipsychotics harbor antitumor effects and have potential utilities as anti-GBM
      therapeutics. In the present review, the anti-tumorigenic effects and putative
      mechanisms of antipsychotics, and the challenges for the potential use of
      antipsychotic drugs as anti-GBM therapeutics are reviewed.

PMID- 26893732
TI  - Metformin: A candidate for the treatment of gynecological tumors based on drug
      repositioning.
AB  - Metformin is a first-line drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
      Recently, metformin has been reported to reduce the carcinogenic risk and inhibit
      tumor cell growth in glioma and breast cancer. The anticancer action of metformin
      involves the enhancement of phosphorylation of liver kinase B1, activation of
      adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and inhibition of mammalian
      target of rapamycin, which reduces cell growth. Metformin is anticipated to exert
      antitumor effects in gynecological cancer, and its efficacy for the treatment of
      endometrial, breast and ovarian cancer has been suggested in preclinical studies
      and clinical trials. Although the effect of metformin on cervical cancer remains
      to be examined in clinical trials, its antitumor effects have been reported in
      preclinical studies. Thus, the use of metformin for the treatment of
      gynecological cancer may become a successful example of drug repositioning,
      following establishment of the drug's antitumor effects, risk evaluation,
      screening and validation of efficacy.

PMID- 26893734
TI  - Screening and identification of post-traumatic stress-related serum factors in
      children with Wilms' tumors.
AB  - Wilms' tumors are one of the most common malignant, solid intra-abdominal tumors
      observed in children. Although potential tumor markers have been found,
      inflammatory cytokines interfere with the process of specific protein
      identification. The present study was undertaken to identify post-traumatic
      stress-related factors of Wilms' tumors and to verify the accuracy of early-stage
      tumor-specific serum protein markers. Serum samples were screened for
      differentially-expressed proteins using surface-enhanced laser
      desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Potential
      markers were isolated and purified using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and SDS
      PAGE. Following enzymatic digestion of the protein samples, the peptide fragments
      were detected with high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The
      obtained peptide mass fingerprint was searched in the Swiss-Prot protein sequence
      database via the Mascot search engine. Differentially-expressed proteins were
      verified using western blot analysis. Differentially-expressed proteins with a
      mass/charge of 5,816 were screened out using SELDI-TOF-MS, and significant
      differences between the tumor and control groups, and the trauma and control
      groups were observed. Target proteins were isolated and purified using SPE and
      SDS-PAGE. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) was found to be differentially expressed. In the
      serum of children with Wilms' tumors, there was an increase in the level of the
      post-traumatic stress-related inflammatory factor, Trx1, as compared with the
      normal control group. Thus, the results of this study indicate that Trx1 presents
      a potential post-traumatic stress-related factor of Wilms' tumors.

PMID- 26893735
TI  - Hearing loss due to metastasis of gastric cancer to temporal bone: A case report.
AB  - Metastatic temporal bone tumors are rare, and tend to be asymptomatic. The
      clinical symptoms consist of aural discharge, bleeding, hearing loss and facial
      nerve paresis. The most common origin of the metastasis is breast cancer, and
      other sites of the primary tumor include the thyroid gland, brain, lungs,
      prostate and blood. Clinical reports of hearing loss due to gastric cancer
      metastatic to temporal bone are rare. In the present study, a case of gastric
      cancer metastasis to temporal bone without other organ involvement is described.
      The patient presented with the symptom of hearing loss, and the metastatic tumor
      was diagnosed by radiological imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging,
      computed tomography and bone scan.

PMID- 26893736
TI  - Radiation-induced expression of IER5 is dose-dependent and not associated with
      the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy in cervical cancer.
AB  - This study aimed to investigate the expression of the immediate-early response 5
      (IER5) gene in cervical cancer tissues and explore the association between the
      expression of IER5 and the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy. We collected
      specimens by surgery or biopsy and obtained 53 specimens from tissues after
      radiotherapy and 16 specimens from tissues before radiotherapy.
      Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to assess the protein
      expression levels of IER5. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was
      performed to assess the mRNA expression levels of IER5. The protein and mRNA
      expression levels of IER5 in cervical cancer patients treated with radiation
      doses >=20 Gy were significantly higher than in those treated with radiation
      doses <20 Gy (P<0.05) and before treatment with radiotherapy. Moreover, the
      expression of IER5 was significantly positively correlated with the radiation
      dose (immunohistochemistry: r=0.548, P=0.019; qPCR: r=0.671, P=0.002; western
      blotting: r=0.573, P<0.0001). Radiotherapy induced the upregulated expression of
      IER5 and this was dependent on the radiation dose. However, the radiation-induced
      expression of IER5 was not associated with the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy
      in cervical cancer.

PMID- 26893737
TI  - Diagnosis and management of tumor-like hypophysitis: A retrospective case series.
AB  - Tumor-like hypophysitis is an uncommon sellar condition that presents as
      inflammatory lesions on the structures of the pituitary gland. The diagnosis and
      management of hypophysitis poses a significant challenge, as its clinical
      manifestation and appearance in imaging studies are difficult to distinguish from
      that of pituitary tumors. The present retrospective study summarizes two rare
      cases of primary granulomatous hypophysitis, two cases of lymphocytic
      hypophysitis, and three cases in which a pathological diagnosis was not
      determined due to the use of hormone replacement therapy only. The mean age of
      the patients studied was 45.71+/-22.16 years, and the patients comprised two
      males and five females. The clinical signs of hypophysitis included headache,
      fever, gradual decrease in visual acuity, nausea and vomiting. Enhanced magnetic
      resonance imaging revealed sellar and pituitary stalk lesions, with iso- or
      hypodense signals on T1-weighted images. Transsphenoidal surgery was performed in
      three cases. It was challenging to diagnose hypophysitis due to the lack of any
      significant specific clinical signs. A transsphenoidal biopsy with fast-frozen
      pathology is able to diagnose hypophysitis. Glucocorticoid therapy may be a
      potential treatment for hypophysitis, as complete removal of pituitary masses may
      disable pituitary function.

PMID- 26893738
TI  - Clinical analysis of 82 cases of carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation of
      the thyroid.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to summarize the clinical characteristics,
      diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of carcinoma showing thymus-like
      differentiation of the thyroid (CASTLE). A search of the relevant literature was
      conducted, which identified 82 cases of CASTLE reported to date. A review of the
      clinical and auxiliary examination data, treatment, pathological findings and
      follow-up of these cases was performed. The clinical manifestations of CASTLE
      varied and did not demonstrate specificity. During ultrasound examination, CASTLE
      was described as a solid and hypoechoic mass, and the echo was typically observed
      to be heterogeneous. In computed tomography (CT), CASTLE was demonstrated to be a
      well-defined, soft tissue density mass without calcification, which appeared
      enhanced following administration of contrast medium. In emission CT, CASTLE was
      revealed as a 'cold nodule'. A total of 78 patients underwent radical surgery,
      and 12 patients experienced recurrence. Lymph node metastasis did not promote
      recurrence, and postoperative radiation was not able to reduce the recurrence
      rate (P=0.144 and 1.000, respectively). The median follow-up time was 14 months
      (range, 1-312 months). Typical immunohistochemical examinations demonstrated the
      specimens to be positive for cluster of differentiation (CD)5, CD117, cytokeratin
      19, epithelial membrane antigen and tumor protein 63, and negative for
      calcitonin, thyroglobulin and thyroid transcription factor-1. Thyroid CASTLE is a
      rare malignancy whose exact diagnosis relies on pathological examination,
      particularly immunohistochemistry, since preoperative examinations are usually
      unable to provide an exact diagnosis. Radical resection is the primary treatment
      for CASTLE, which presents favorable prognosis.

PMID- 26893739
TI  - Heparanase regulates in vitro VEGF-C expression and its clinical significance to
      pancreatic ductal cell adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Heparanase (HPSE) and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) are important
      cytokines that promote metastasis and angiogenesis in numerous malignant
      neoplasms, however, their association remains unclear in pancreatic ductal cell
      adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The present study aimed to investigate whether HPSE has a
      positive correlation with VEGF-C expression and to uncover the role it plays in
      the in vitro invasion of BxPC-3 cells (a pancreatic carcinoma cell line), and to
      analyze the value of joint detection of HPSE and VEGF-C for PDAC patients. A
      recombinant plasmid, GV230/HPSE was constructed and BxPC-3 cells were transiently
      transfected with GV230/HPSE or siRNA against HPSE. The expression levels of HPSE
      and VEGF-C were compared using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)
      and immunoblotting. The metastatic potential of treated BxPC-3 cells was
      evaluated using a Transwell(r) invasion assay. The relative mRNA levels of HPSE
      and VEGF-C in 34 PDAC specimens were assessed by RT-qPCR. The results of the RT
      qPCR demonstrated a 10.7- and 3.24-fold elevation (P<0.01) of HPSE mRNA and VEGF
      C mRNA, respectively, in GV230/HPSE group, whereas the HPSE siRNA group were
      downregulated for these mRNAs (-2.45-fold, P<0.01; -1.84-fold, P<0.01). The same
      pattern for protein expression was detected using immunoblot assays. In
      Transwell(r) invasion assays 138+/-5 cells in GV230/HPSE group and 53+/-4 cells
      in siRNA group migrated through the Matrigel(r). A negative correlation between
      the mRNA levels of HPSE and VEGF-C in PDAC specimens and the prognosis factors of
      the postoperative patients was identified. Spearman rank correlation analysis
      indicated a positive correlation between HPSE and VEGF-C in PDAC (r=0.812,
      P<0.01). HPSE regulates the expression of VEGF-C and facilitates invasion of BxPC
      3 in vitro. Joint detection of HPSE and VEGF-C may therefore be clinically useful
      in determining the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

PMID- 26893740
TI  - A study of the potential anticancer activity of Mangifera zeylanica bark:
      Evaluation of cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the hexane extract and bioassay
      guided fractionation to identify phytochemical constituents.
AB  - The present study investigated the potential anticancer activity of the bark of
      Mangifera zeylanica, an endemic plant in Sri Lanka that has been traditionally
      used for cancer therapy. Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects were investigated in
      vitro using sulphorodamine assay, acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining,
      caspase-3 and -7 activity, DNA fragmentation and reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction in estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 and
      triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell
      line and MCF-10A normal mammary epithelial cells. Hexane extract demonstrated
      increased levels of cytotoxicity in cancer cells (IC50, 86.6-116.5 ug/ml)
      compared with normal cells (IC50, 217.2 ug/ml). Chloroform extract demonstrated
      increased cytotoxicity to normal cells (IC50, 92.9 ug/ml) compared with cancer
      cells (IC50, 280.1-506.5 ug/ml). Exposure to the hexane extract led to
      morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in the
      three cancer cell lines. Caspase-3 and -7 were significantly activated in MDA-MB
      231 and SKOV-3 cells, indicating the occurrence of caspase-dependent apoptosis in
      these cells, and caspase-independent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore,
      upregulation of proapoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein occurred in the three
      cancer cell lines, and antiapoptotic survivin was downregulated in MCF-7 and SKOV
      3 cells; by contrast, tumor protein p53 was upregulated only in MCF-7 cells,
      suggesting p53-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and p53-independent apoptosis in
      the remaining cancerous cell lines. In addition, fraction M1 obtained from
      bioactivity-guided fractionation of the hexane extract demonstrated increased
      cytotoxicity in cancer cells (IC50, 15.4-38.7 ug/ml) compared with normal cells
      (IC50, 114.6 ug/ml), with the highest cytotoxicity observed in MDA-MB-231 triple
      negative breast cancer cells. The hexane extract of M. zeylanica bark contained
      polyphenols and flavonoids, and caused free radical scavenging activity. Its gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry profile revealed the presence of long-chain
      hydrocarbons, including beta-sitosterol and beta-amyrin. Fraction M1 contained
      seven unknown compounds and a small number of known non-cytotoxic compounds.
      Collectively, results obtained in the present study indicate that the hexane
      extract of M. zeylanica bark mediates cytotoxic activities through induction of
      apoptosis in three cancer cell lines; thus, the hexane extract may be used to
      isolate novel anti-cancer compounds.

PMID- 26893741
TI  - Clinical correlation of calpain-1 and glypican-3 expression with gallbladder
      carcinoma.
AB  - Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) possesses a poor prognosis, which is primarily
      attributed to the lack of early and timely surgical intervention. Calpain-1 and
      glypican-3 have been implicated in the progression of various types of cancer.
      The present study aimed to detect the expression of calpain-1 and glypican-3 in
      GBC, and analyzed whether the expression levels of these proteins correlated with
      any clinicopathological variables. A total of 100 patients with GBC and 30
      patients with cholecystitis who accepted surgical treatment were enrolled in the
      present study. Pathological and clinical data were obtained from all patients.
      The expression of calpain-1 and glypican-3 was detected in paraffin-embedded
      tissues by immunohistochemistry. Calpain-1 expression was manually assessed with
      an immunohistochemical H-score with a slight modification. Glypican-3 expression
      was assessed as negative and positive. The correlations between protein
      expression and clinicopathological characteristics, and the associations between
      the proteins were analyzed. All patients exhibited positive expression of calpain
      1. Notably, the high expression rate of calpain-1 was significantly increased in
      patients with GBC, compared with patients with cholecystitis (32.0 vs. 6.7%;
      chi2=7.668; P=0.006), suggesting that calpain-1 expression may be associated with
      progression from cholecystitis to GBC. In addition, the positive rate of glypican
      3 expression was 53.0% in patients with GBC and 63.3% in patients with
      cholecystitis, with no significant difference (chi2=0.997; P=0.318). Furthermore,
      the expression of calpain-1 and glypican-3 had no significant correlation with
      gender, age, degree of tumor differentiation and tumor-node-metastasis
      classification in patients with GBC. Notably, the expression of calpain-1 and
      glypican-3 displayed a significant positive correlation in patients with GBC
      (r=0.517; P<0.01), but a significantly negative correlation (r=-0.856; P<0.01) in
      patients with cholecystitis. In conclusion, calpain-1 expression may be
      associated with progression from cholecystitis to GBC. Combined detection of
      calpain-1 and glypican-3 may be beneficial for prognosis assessment of GBC.

PMID- 26893743
TI  - Analysis of the prognosis of patients with testicular seminoma.
AB  - Testicular seminoma is a common malignancy, accounting for 35-50% of testicular
      tumors. Comprehensive therapies lead to good curative efficacy. However, the
      factors that affect prognosis remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present
      study was to analyze the 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rate of patients with
      testicular seminoma as well as the associated factors of prognosis. The clinical
      data from 58 patients diagnosed with testicular seminoma were collected betweeen
      January 1999 and January 2014. The survival rate for this group was evaluated
      using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associated factors of prognosis were analyzed
      using the log-rank test. The results showed that approximately 62.1% of the cases
      were in the 30- to 50-year age group. From this age group, 94.8% of patients
      survived for 3 years, 86.2% for 5 years and 70.7% for 10 years. A significant
      difference was identified for the different clinical stages, pathological types
      and postoperative treatment in the 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates (P<0.05). In
      conclusion, the clinical stages, pathological types and postoperative treatments
      significantly affect the prognosis of testicular seminoma. Selection of an
      appropriate method of treatment including the clinical stages and histological
      types, is the key element in testicular seminoma therapy.

PMID- 26893742
TI  - Evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of Cyperus longus extract, fractions and its
      essential oil on the PC3 and MCF7 cancer cell lines.
AB  - Cyperus longus is one of the Iranian endemic species. However, to date, and to
      the best of our knowledge, there are no availale academic reports on the
      cytotoxicity of this plant. Thus, this study was carried out to examine the in
      vitro anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of Cyperus longus extract,
      fractions and essential oil (EO) on MCF7 and PC3 cell lines. The chemical
      constituents of EO were identified using gas chromatography (GC)-mass
      spectrometry (MS) analysis. The cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium and
      incubated with various concentrations of the plant extract and fractions. Cell
      viability was quantified by MTT assay following 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure to
      (12.5-200 ug/ml) of the methanol extract, the dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), ethyl
      acetate (EtOAc) and water fractions, as well as the EO of the plant. The
      percentage of apoptotic cells was determined using propidium iodide staining of
      DNA fragments by flow cytometry (sub-G1 peak). The most effective fraction in the
      MCF7 cell line was the CH2Cl2 fraction (IC50 after 48 h, 25.34+/-2.01). The EtOAc
      fraction (IC50 after 48 h, 35.2+/-2.69) and the methanol extract (IC50 after 48
      h, 64.64+/-1.64) were also found to be effective. The IC50 values obtained for
      the PC3 cell line were 37.97+/-3.87, 51.57+/-3.87 and 70.33+/-2.36 for the CH2Cl2
      fraction, the EtOAc fraction and the methanol extract, respectively. Based on
      these data and due to the partial polarity of the most effective fraction (the
      CH2Cl2 fraction), we also examined the cytotoxicity of the plant EO. The IC50
      values after 48 h were 22.25+/-4.25 and 12.55+/-3.65 in the PC3 and MCF7 cell
      lines, respectively. DNA fragmentation assay also confirmed these data.
      Performing GC-MS analysis for the plant EO revealed that beta-himachalene
      (10.81%), alpha-caryophyllene oxide (7.6%), irisone (4.78%), beta-caryophyllene
      oxide (4.36%), humulene oxide (12%), viridiflorol (4.73%), aristolone (6.39%) and
      longiverbenone (6.04%) were the main constituents. Our results demonstrated that
      two of the constituents of Cyperus longus, viridiflorol and longiverbenone,
      should be investigated further as possible promising chemotherapeutic agents in
      cancer treatment.

PMID- 26893744
TI  - Mechanism of BMP9 promotes growth of osteosarcoma mediated by the Notch signaling
      pathway.
AB  - Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), also known as growth differentiation factor
      2, plays a key role in promoting osteosarcoma growth. However, the underlying
      mechanism remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to determine
      the mechanism of BMP9 promoting the growth of osteosarcoma mediated by the Notch
      signaling pathway. Osteosarcoma cell lines, 143B and MG63, were used for the in
      vitro experiments. Cell proliferation, cell migration and cell cycle
      transformation were monitored under various settings. The control and
      experimental groups used in the present study were BMP9 adenovirus (AdBMP9), a
      recombinant adenovirus expressing the dominant-negative mutant of Notch1 (AdR
      dnNotch1), AdBMP9+AdR-dnNotch1 and AdBMP9+compound E (blocker of the Notch
      signaling pathway). The results showed that Notch ligands DLL1, JAG1 and JAG2, as
      well as Notch receptors Notch1, Notch2 and Notch3 were markedly expressed in the
      two cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration ability increased in the AdBMP9
      group and were higher than that in the AdBMP9+AdR-dn Notch1 and AdBMP9+compound E
      group. Cell proliferation and migration in the AdR-dnNothc1 group was lower than
      that in the AdBMP9 group, although the differences were not statistically
      significant (P>0.05). The cell cycle ratio in the S/G2 phase increased
      significantly in the AdBMP9 group and was higher than that in the AdBMP9+AdR
      dnNotch1 and AdBMP9+compound E groups. By contrast, the ratio of the cell cycle
      in S/G2 phase in the AdR-dnNotch1 group was lower than that in the AdBMP9 group.
      The differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In conclusion, the
      results showed that the Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in
      mediating the growth of osteosarcoma promoted by BMP9.

PMID- 26893745
TI  - Effects of CIK on hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha and T-cell subsets on colon 26
      cancer xenograft mice.
AB  - Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy of the digestive tract with a high
      mortality rate. However, current treatment approaches such as radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy are ineffective. Thus, it is imperative to identify ways to treat
      recurrence and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      effects of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells on the hypoxia microenvironment
      and immune function in colon 26 cancer xenograft mice. A murine model of colon 26
      carcinoma tumors were divided into CIK, normal saline (NS) and control groups.
      Hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) mRNA in tumor tissue and the small
      intestine of mice was detected by FQ-PCR. The percentage of the CD4+, CD8+ and
      CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the spleen of mice was detected by flow cytometry. The tumor
      volume in the CIK group was smaller than that in the NS group and the difference
      was not significant (P>0.05). HIF-1alpha gene expression was present in the tumor
      tissue and small intestine. HIF-1alpha gene expression in tumor tissue was
      significantly higher than that in the small intestine (P<0.05), and lower in
      tumor tissue of the CIK group compared to the NS group (P<0.05) of xenograft
      mice. However, no HIF-1alpha expression was observed in the small intestine of
      healthy control mice. CD4+ T-cell percentage and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the spleen of
      xenograft mice was significantly lower than that of normal mice (P<0.05).
      Compared to the NS group, the CD4+ T-cell percentage was higher, whereas the CD8+
      T-cell percentage was lower in the CIK group (P<0.05). In conclusion, HIF-1alpha
      gene expression was present in the tumor tissue and small intestine. The immune
      function of colon 26 transplanted in tumor mice was decreased. Additionally, CIK
      improved the microenvironment of tumor hypoxia and promoted immune
      reconstitution.

PMID- 26893746
TI  - High RhoA expression at the tumor front in clinically localized prostate cancer
      and association with poor tumor differentiation.
AB  - Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) has been reported as essential to the
      invasion process and aggressiveness of numerous cancers. However, there are only
      sparse data on the expression and activity of RhoA in clinically localised
      prostate cancer. In numerous cancers, tumour cells at the invasive front
      demonstrate more aggressive behaviour in comparison with the cells in the central
      regions. In the present study, the expression and activity of RhoA was evaluated
      in 34 paraffin-embedded and 20 frozen prostate tissue specimens obtained from 45
      patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localised cancer. The
      expression patterns of RhoA were assessed by immunohistochemical staining and
      western blotting. Additional comparisons were performed between the tumour
      centre, tumour front and distant peritumoural tissue. RhoA activity was assessed
      by G-LISA. Associations between RhoA expression and the clinical features and
      outcome of the patients were also analysed. The present study found an increasing
      gradient of expression from the centre to the periphery of index tumour foci.
      RhoA expression was significantly increased at the tumour front compared to the
      tumour centre, which was determined using immunohistochemistry (P=0.001).
      Increased RhoA expression was associated with poor tumour differentiation in the
      tumour front (P=0.044) and tumour centre (P=0.039). Subsequent to a median follow
      up period of 52 months, the rate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse was
      increased in patients with higher RhoA expression at the tumour front when
      compared with patients with lower RhoA expression (62.5 vs. 35.0%), although the
      difference was not significant (P=0.09). There was no association between RhoA
      expression and the PSA level or pathological stage in the present study. In
      conclusion, RhoA expression was increased at the tumour front and was associated
      with poor tumour differentiation in the tumour front and tumour centre,
      indicating the potential role of RhoA in prostate cancer. RhoA expression may
      also act as a prognostic factor in prostate cancer. The present data provide a
      foundation for novel therapeutic approaches by targeting RhoA in prostate cancer.

PMID- 26893747
TI  - Identification of genes and signaling pathways associated with squamous cell
      carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the genes and signaling pathways
      associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by bioinformatics analysis. For
      this purpose, the GSE2503 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus
      database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 6 normal skin and
      5 SCC samples were analyzed using the Linear Models for Microarray Data package.
      Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed,
      followed by functional annotation and construction of a protein-protein
      interaction (PPI) network. Subnetwork modules were subsequently identified and
      analyzed. A total of 181 DEGs, including 95 upregulated and 86 downregulated
      DEGs, were identified, in addition to 20 GO biological processes terms enriched
      by upregulated DEGs and 14 enriched by downregulated DEGs. The upregulated DEGs
      were enriched in 18 pathways, and the downregulated DEGs were enriched in 7
      pathways. Following functional annotation, three upregulated transcription
      factors (TFs), including hypoxia inducible factor 1, alpha subunit (HIF1A), and
      six downregulated TFs were identified. In the PPI network and subnetwork, matrix
      metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), also known as interstitial collagenase, and
      interleukin 8 (IL8) were the hub genes with the highest degree of connectivity
      (degree =8). Integrin alpha (ITGA)6 and 2 were enriched in several pathways,
      including focal adhesion and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. DEGs of
      SCC were primarily enriched in pathways associated with cancer and cell adhesion.
      Therefore, DEGs such as IL8, MMP1, HIF1A, ITGA6 and ITGA2 may be potential
      targets for the diagnosis and treatment of SCC.

PMID- 26893748
TI  - Identification of genes and pathways associated with pancreatic ductal
      adenocarcinoma by bioinformatics analyses.
AB  - This study aimed to explore the underlying genes and pathways associated with
      pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by bioinformatics analyses. Gene
      expression profile GSE43795 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus
      database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between six PDAC and five non
      neoplastic pancreatic tissue samples were analyzed using the limma package. Gene
      ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed, followed by
      functional annotation and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction.
      Finally, the sub-network was identified and pathway enrichment analysis was
      performed on the contained DEGs. A total of 374 downregulated and 559 upregulated
      DEGs were identified. The downregulated DEGs were enriched in GO terms associated
      with digestion and transport and pathways related to metabolism, while the
      upregulated DEGs were enriched in GO terms associated with the cell cycle and
      mitosis and pathways associated with the occurrence of cancer including the cell
      cycle pathway. Following functional annotation, the oncogene pituitary tumor
      transforming 1 (PTTG1) was upregulated. In the PPI network and sub-network, cell
      division cycle 20 (CDC20) and BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B
      (BUB1B) were hub genes with high connectivity degrees. Additionally, DEGs in the
      sub-network including cyclin B1 (CCNB1) were mainly enriched in the cell cycle
      and p53 signaling pathways. In conclusion, the cell cycle and p53 signaling
      pathways may play significant roles in PDAC, and DEGs including CDC20, BUB1B,
      CCNB1 and PTTG1 may be potential targets for PDAC diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 26893749
TI  - 99mTc-MDP uptake in SPECT/CT by a bladder hernia simulating inguinal metastasis:
      A case report.
AB  - A 72-year-old male with a history of prostate cancer and high prostate specific
      antigen levels underwent 99mtechnetium-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) single
      photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), to identify
      bone metastasis. The patient possessed no previous history of serious illnesses
      or surgical procedures and no family history of malignancies. A whole-body CT
      scan revealed an intense MDP uptake in the right inguinal region on the anterior
      view, but not in the posterior view, which was suspected to be a metastatic
      lesion. However, there was no evidence of bone metastasis on the CT scan. In
      addition, an increased 99mTc-MDP uptake was indicated on the SPECT images in the
      right inguinal region, which appeared to be separate from the main bladder
      activity. CT images of the pelvis revealed an inferior tongue-like extension of
      the bladder into the right inguinal region. Fused SPECT/CT axial images indicated
      the circular accumulation of the 99mTc-MDP in the medial right groin, with well
      defined walls that connected the accumulation to the bladder. The final diagnosis
      was a bladder hernia (T2N0M0), which may have been responsible for the
      misdiagnosis of bone metastasis due to the use of radiopharmaceuticals (99mTc
      MDP) that were mainly excreted through urination. Considering the comprehensive
      situation of the patient, radical prostatectomy was performed. The bladder hernia
      was subsequently monitored by follow-up examination every 3 months, and remains
      alive and under follow-up to date.

PMID- 26893750
TI  - Evaluation of the improved tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy technique following
      radical cystectomy in cases of invasive bladder cancer complicated by peritoneal
      metastasis.
AB  - Radical cystectomy, as the most common surgical treatment for patients with
      invasive bladder cancer (IBC) complicated by peritoneal metastasis, is usually
      accompanied by a urinary diversion procedure. In this study, we evaluated the
      improved tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy technique by comparing the resulting
      clinical effects with either a traditional ureterostomy and an ileal conduit
      urinary diversion. Clinical data from 85 patients who underwent 1 of the 3
      procedures between April 2012 and April 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. In
      total, 30 patients underwent improved tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy, 28
      patients underwent a traditional cutaneous ureterostomy and 27 underwent an ileal
      conduit urinary diversion following radical cystectomy. The incidence of
      complications, including stoma infection, nipple atrophy, terminal necrosis,
      urine leakage, external orifice stenosis, uronephrosis and ureterectasia in the
      group of patients treated with the improved tubeless ureterostomy technique was
      significantly lower than that of the patients in the other 2 groups, and the
      difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, the duration of
      the surgery, intra-operative bleeding, the duration of the hospitalization period
      and the time to extubation in the patients treated with the improved tubeless
      ureterostomy technique were significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with the
      patients in the other 2 groups. Finally, the health-related quality of life of
      the patients treated with the improved tubeless ureterostomy technique was
      significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the patients in the other 2 groups.
      The findings of our study demonstrated that the use of the improved tubeless
      cutaneous ureterostomy technique following radical cystectomy in patients with
      IBC complicated by peritoneal metastasis resulted in improved clinical effects.
      Thus, improved tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy may be a promising alternative for
      enhancing the quality of life of patients with IBC.

PMID- 26893752
TI  - Effect of hydrothorax EGFR gene mutation and EGFR-TKI targeted therapy on
      advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.
AB  - Lung cancer is a malignancy with the highest incidence of morbidity and mortality
      worldwide. The lack of effective detection methods leads to the ineffectiveness
      of convetional therapy. The aim of the current study was to analyze the
      hydrothorax epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in patients with
      advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural effusion. A new
      method for clinical treatment was developed through a comparison of the
      difference of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI)-targeted therapy. Between
      January 2013 and January 2015, 68 cases diagnosed with advanced non-small lung
      cancer and malignant pleural effusion, were enrolled in the study. Previous first
      line chemotherapeutic treatment schemes had been unsuccessful. EGFR 19 and EGFR
      21 sites were detected for all the patients. Platinum-based drugs were provided
      for patients with wild-type EGFR. These patients served as the control group and
      underwent four cycles of treatments, with each cycle lasting 3 weeks. TKI
      medicine Gefitinib (IressaTM) was administered to patients with mutant EGFR tid,
      po, for a duration of 4-8 months. These patients served as the experimental
      group. There were 41 cases of EGFR mutations, of which 13 cases had EGFR 19 site
      mutations, 16 cases EGFR 21 site mutations, and the remaining 12 cases had 2 site
      mutations. EGFR mutations were not significant for gender, age, tumor type, stage
      and diameter (P>0.05). The results showed that the six-month survival rate,
      progression-free survival time (PFS), objective response rate (RP) and disease
      control rate (DCR) in the experimental group were higher than those in the
      control group. The drug side-effects in the experimental group indicated no
      statistical differences compared to the control group (P>0.05). The incidence of
      EGFR mutation was higher in patients with advanced non-small lung cancer and
      malignant pleural effusion. Targeted therapy improved the survival rate and was
      deemed to be a safe and effective method for patients with EGFR mutations.

PMID- 26893751
TI  - Expression profiling of selected microRNA signatures in plasma and tissues of
      Saudi colorectal cancer patients by qPCR.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been advocated as potentially robust and highly
      stable biomarkers of diverse disease conditions including cancer. The primary aim
      of this study was two-fold: i) to profile the expression levels of selected
      mature miRNA signature genes, such as miR-145, miR-195, miR-29 and miR-92, in a
      paired-study design of 20 colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues from patients versus
      adjacent neoplasm-free mucosal tissues employing reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction; and ii) to examine their expression level
      in the plasma of the same CRC patients in relation to the age-matched plasma of
      healthy controls. Statistically significant (P<0.01) increases in miR-29 (2.5)
      and miR-92 (2.6) were observed in CRC tissues compared with adjacent neoplasm
      free mucosal tissues. Profiling of CRC plasma samples showed that the expression
      levels of circulating miR-29 and miR-92 were significantly higher (P<0.01) than
      in the age-matched normal plasma. By contrast, miR-145 and miR-195 exhibited
      significant (P<0.05) decreases in their mean expression levels in CRC tissue
      samples in relation to the normal tissues. The mean expression levels of miR-145
      and miR-195 were significantly lower (P<0.05) in CRC plasma than the healthy
      controls. Distinct stage-dependent changes in the expression level of the four
      miRNA gene profiles were observed between stages II and IV plasma of CRC patients
      relative to the control plasma. Taken together, the results clearly reflect a
      similar trend for the four miRNA expression levels in tissue and plasma as well
      as the positive correlation in the levels of miRNAs in tissues and plasma. These
      findings may be useful to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal
      carcinogenesis and to underscore the potential of the investigated miRNAs as
      novel early diagnostic biomarkers of CRC.

PMID- 26893753
TI  - Juxtaglomerular cell tumor: A case report.
AB  - The current study reports the case of a 29-year-old female with a long-standing
      history of hypertension and headaches who presented to the Outpatient Clinic of
      The Central Hospital of Lishui (Lishui, Zhejiang, China). Abdominal ultrasound
      and contrast-enhanced computed tomography were performed, which showed a left
      renal neoplasm, prompting a diagnosis of renal angiomyolipoma or renal cell
      carcinoma. After a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed, a number of
      different diagnoses were suggested by several pathologists from eight hospitals.
      Considering the patient's gender, age, medical history, histopathological
      features and immunohistochemistry, a final diagnosis of a juxtaglomerular cell
      tumor (JGCT) was established. The present study therefore indicates that the
      possibility of a JGCT should be considered when young adults present with renal
      parenchymatous tumors and high blood pressure. In addition, pathologists must
      take clinical information into account to form a precise diagnosis.

PMID- 26893754
TI  - Primary dumbbell-shaped epidural myxoid liposarcoma of the thoracic spine: A case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - Myxoid liposarcoma frequently occurs in the deep soft tissue of the extremities,
      particularly in the thigh. The present study describes an extremely rare case of
      primary dumbbell-shaped epidural myxoid liposarcoma of the thoracic spine
      occurring in a 22-year-old woman. Although preoperative magnetic resonance
      imaging findings were thought to be compatible with schwannoma, the pathological
      diagnosis of the resected tumor was myxoid liposarcoma. The patient underwent
      three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide, and
      exhibited no symptoms or signs of local recurrence or metastasis for 18 months
      post surgery. The present case suggests that, when radiologically diagnosing
      spinal epidural tumors, clinicians should consider the possibility of myxoid
      liposarcoma.

PMID- 26893755
TI  - A clinicopathological study of atypical leiomyomas: Benign variant leiomyoma or
      smooth-muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential.
AB  - Atypical leiomyomas are histopathologically recognized by moderate to severe
      pleomorphic atypical tumor cells showing low mitotic counts without coagulative
      tumor cell necrosis. The histopathological features and clinical behavior of
      these tumors are unclear. The surgical management of these lesions includes
      myomectomy and hysterectomy. The current study presents 5 cases of women with
      atypical leiomyomas that were managed surgically. The clinicopathological
      characteristics of the patients and recurrences were analyzed. The median age of
      the patients was 43 years old. While 3 out of 5 patients were treated by
      hysterectomy (with or without salpingo-oophorectomy), the remaining 2 patients
      were treated by myomectomy. The median mitotic index was 3 mitotic figures/10
      high-power fields. The post-operative course of all patients was uneventful, and
      there was no evidence of local or distant recurrence in a median follow-up time
      of 72 months. The treatment of choice for atypical leiomyomas is hysterectomy.
      However, myomectomy may be an option for fertility sparing cases. A thorough
      consultation with regard to the uncertain behavior of such tumors and a rigorous
      follow-up must be offered in such patients.

PMID- 26893756
TI  - Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with RANBP2 and ALK gene rearrangement with
      bland cytological features mimicking desmoid-type fibromatosis: A case report and
      review of the literature.
AB  - Here, we present an uncommon case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT)
      involving the mesentery. The tumor was composed of loosely arranged round-to
      spindle-shaped tumor cells with amphophilic cytoplasm in an inflammatory and
      myxoid background. The mitotic activity was low (1 per 50 high-power fields) and
      the tumor cells lacked cellular atypism. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells
      demonstrated strong nuclear membranous staining with anaplastic lymphoma kinase
      (ALK). In situ hybridization for ALK gene rearrangement revealed a splitting
      apart of the two signals within the tumor cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase
      chain reaction revealed that the tumor harbored a ran-binding protein 2 (RANBP2)
      ALK rearrangement. IMTs are usually characterized by epithelioid-to-round cells
      featuring increased mitotic activity, occasionally demonstrating unusual tumor
      cells and more aggressive clinical behavior. To date, 23 IMTs have been reported
      with RANBP2 and ALK gene rearrangements. However, the present case demonstrated
      indolent cytological features, leading to a difficulty in differentiating it from
      desmoid-type fibromatosis.

PMID- 26893758
TI  - Efficacy of p16 and Ki-67 immunostaining in the detection of squamous
      intraepithelial lesions in a high-risk HPV group.
AB  - p16 and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry can be used as an ancillary method for the
      diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) versus atrophic change and
      atypical squamous metaplasia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the
      efficacy of these two immunohistochemical markers in the accurate interpretation
      of cervical biopsies and correlate this data with human papilloma virus (HPV)
      infection status. The study included 103 formalin-fixed cervical punch and cone
      biopsy samples, with corresponding HPV DNA test data. Histopathological staining
      with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunohistochemical staining for p16 and Ki-67
      were reviewed by two pathologists. The positivity of p16 and Ki-67 increased
      significantly with the severity of the cervical lesion in patients with a high
      risk-HPV (HR-HPV) infection status (P<0.001). However, there was discordance in
      the HPV-negative group. Furthermore, concomitant diffuse, strong and block
      positive staining of p16, and a high Ki-67 index were implicated in high-grade
      SIL in the HR-HPV group. Thus, the two markers were efficient in advancing the
      diagnostic accuracy of cervical biopsies in the HR-HPV group; however,
      application of immunohistochemical results should be carefully considered in the
      HPV-negative group.

PMID- 26893759
TI  - Xanthogranulomatous gastritis of the remnant stomach mimicking a malignant tumor:
      A case report.
AB  - Xanthogranulomas are known to develop in the gallbladder and kidney.
      Xanthogranuloma of the stomach is a rare disease, and to the best of our
      knowledge, only a few cases have been reported to date. The present patient was a
      64-year-old man who underwent a wide resection of the stomach following a
      Billroth-I reconstruction for a gastric ulcer ~40 years prior to the current
      presentation. Due to tarry stools, a gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed,
      leading to identification of an ulcerated gastric lesion located at the previous
      suture line at the lesser curvature of the remnant stomach. This lesion was
      elevated, appearing to indicate a submucosal tumor. Positron emission tomography
      revealed uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose radiotracer by the tumor. Although not
      indicated by the biopsy specimens, a malignant tumor of the remnant stomach was
      suspected, in the form of a malignant gastrointestinal tumor or remnant gastric
      cancer. Curative resection of the tumor was successfully performed. Histological
      examination of the resected specimens revealed xanthogranulomatous inflammation
      consisting of foamy histiocytes and plasma cells, however, no cancer cells were
      observed. The tumor was diagnosed as xanthogranulomatous gastritis that mimicked
      a malignant tumor of the remnant stomach. The present study therefore indicates
      that inflammatory tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
      malignant tumors.

PMID- 26893760
TI  - A modified method for the culture of naturally HPV-infected high-grade cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia keratinocytes from human neoplastic cervical biopsies.
AB  - Few studies on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) keratinocyte cultures are
      available due to the numerous technical and methodological problems associated
      with the in vitro cultivation of these cells. The present study investigated an
      applicable and effective method for the in vitro cultivation of high-grade CIN
      keratinocytes from human neoplastic cervical biopsies. Human neoplastic cervical
      tissue sections were obtained and digested using type I collagen in order to
      dissociate the cells. The cells were seeded in tissue culture plastic plates that
      were coated with rat tail collagen type I and contained modified keratinocyte
      serum-free medium (K-SFM) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum. The medium was
      replaced with K-SFM on days 3, 5 and 7, respectively. The unattached cells were
      recovered and the cell viability was determined accurately using the Trypan Blue
      exclusion method. The expression of keratin 14 (K14), keratin 19 (K19), keratin
      17 (K17) and P63 was assayed using immunofluorescence in order to identify the
      presence of CIN keratinocytes. The present results indicated that the attachment
      rate of CIN keratinocytes significantly increased between 56.75+/-1.76% on day 3
      and 77.09+/-3.55% on day 5, and became relatively stable between days 5 and 7.
      The cell viability significantly decreased between 83.00+/-0.50% on day 5 and
      68.17+/-1.04% on day 7. The passaged CIN keratinocytes maintained the original
      unequally sized, abnormally shaped morphology and did not undergo
      differentiation. In addition, the passaged CIN keratinocytes exhibited the same
      human papilloma virus (HPV) genotype that was detected in the original primary
      cells. K14 and K19 were expressed in the majority of the normal and CIN
      keratinocytes, whereas K17 and P63 were expressed only in high-grade CIN
      keratinocytes. The present study proposes a simple and practical method for
      rapidly obtaining highly purified naturally HPV-infected high-grade CIN
      keratinocytes from small neoplastic cervical tissues, and provides an appropriate
      first medium change time for the primary culture of CIN keratinocytes.

PMID- 26893757
TI  - Expression levels of SOX2, KLF4 and brachyury transcription factors are
      associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - The prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients is affected by
      tumor recurrence and metastasis, and cancer stem cells are hypothesized to be
      involved in these processes. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine
      whether the expression levels of five stem cell-related transcription factors,
      sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), octamer-binding transcription factor 4
      (Oct4), avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (c-Myc), Kruppel-like
      factor 4 (KLF4) and brachyury, are associated with metastasis and survival in
      OSCC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of these
      proteins in biopsy specimens obtained from 108 OSCC patients. The results
      revealed that the expression of SOX2, Oct4, KLF4 and brachyury were significantly
      associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.002, P=0.031, P=0.003 and P=0.007,
      respectively). In addition, the expression of KLF4 and brachyury were
      significantly associated with distant metastasis (P=0.014 and P=0.012,
      respectively). Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that SOX2 and KLF4 are
      predictive factors for lymph node metastasis [odds ratios (ORs), 4.526 and 4.851,
      respectively], and KLF4 is also a predictive factor for distant metastasis (OR,
      9.607). In addition, OSCC patients with low co-expression of SOX2, KLF4 and
      brachyury exhibited a significantly lower disease-specific survival rate (78.6
      vs. 100%; P=0.025; chi2=5.033) and disease-free survival rate (60.7 vs. 90.9%;
      P=0.015; chi2=5.897) when compared with OSCC patients with high co-expression of
      these factors. The results indicate that SOX2, KLF4 and brachyury serve important
      roles in tumor progression, and these transcription factors may thus represent
      clinically useful prognostic markers for OSCC.

PMID- 26893761
TI  - Epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions and the regulatory function of the ZEB
      family during the development and progression of ovarian cancer.
AB  - This study assessed the role of epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions and the
      regulatory functions of the ZEB family during the development and progression of
      ovarian cancer. E-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were analyzed using
      immunohistochemistry in a series of ovarian tissues that included normal tissue,
      benign tumors, borderline tumors, malignant tumors and metastatic lesions. The
      correlation between E-cadherin and ZEB was analyzed. We also analyzed the
      association between the expression of the four factors and clinicopathological
      features in ovarian cancer. The results revealed that E-cadherin was weakly
      positive in normal ovarian epithelium. Cytoplasmic E-cadherin was significantly
      increased in benign tumors (P<0.01) and further increased in borderline tumors
      and ovarian cancers. However, cytoplasmic E-cadherin was markedly reduced in
      metastatic lesions (P<0.01). Membranous E-cadherin was increased in benign
      tumors, but decreased progressively in borderline, malignant and metastatic tumor
      tissues (P<0.05). The expression profile of vimentin was opposite to that of
      membranous E-cadherin. Membranous E-cadherin was negatively correlated with ZEB2
      expression (r=-0.514). Additionally, cytoplasmic E-cadherin, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were
      associated with the FIGO stage of ovarian cancer. ZEB1 was also correlated with
      ascitic fluid volume. Our results suggest that epithelial-mesenchymal
      interconversions are dynamically regulated during the development and progression
      of ovarian tumors. ZEB2, but not ZEB1, may regulate the expression of membranous
      E-cadherin during these processes.

PMID- 26893762
TI  - Coexistence of follicular lymphoma and an unclassifiable myeloproliferative
      neoplasm in a treatment-naive patient: A case report.
AB  - Myeloproliferative neoplasms are associated with lymphoproliferative diseases
      following the administration of cytotoxic drugs or exposure to radiation, but are
      rare prior to therapy. The present study reports the case of a 61-year-old female
      with a history of transient ischemic attack. The patient, who presented with a
      palpable mass in the epitrochlear area of the left arm, was simultaneously
      diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and an unclassifiable myeloproliferative
      neoplasm. Excisional lymph node biopsy revealed stage I follicular lymphoma
      (grade 1). Laboratory findings demonstrated leukocytosis, erythrocytosis,
      thrombocytosis and decreased erythropoietin. Biopsy of the bone marrow revealed
      hypercellularity, with predominance of erythroid cells, and large polylobated
      megakaryocytes with increased mitotic figures, but no evidence of lymphomatous
      infiltration. The janus kinase 2 V617F mutation was also detected in the cells
      derived from the bone marrow specimen. Following local excision of the lymph node
      in the left epitrochlear area, radiation was delivered to the involved field, at
      a dose of 24 Gy in 12 fractions. The patient was started on hydroxyurea (1 g
      twice per day, orally) 2 weeks subsequent to radiotherapy, and was administered
      500 mg twice per day as maintenance therapy. At the six-month follow-up, the
      white blood cell count, hemoglobin levels and platelet count had reduced, and the
      patient was in a healthy condition. A computed tomography scan of the neck, chest
      and abdomen indicated no abnormalities. To the best of our knowledge, the present
      study is the first case report of follicular lymphoma coexisting with an
      unclassifiable myeloproliferative neoplasm in a previously healthy patient.
      Molecular and genetic studies are required to further evaluate this infrequent
      disease association.

PMID- 26893763
TI  - MicroRNA-877 acts as a tumor suppressor by directly targeting eEF2K in renal cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis. However, little is known about
      their role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the present study, the function of
      the miRNA miR-877 in RCC was investigated, and its expression levels in blood and
      paired RCC tissues were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Bioinformatics analysis predicted eukaryotic elongation
      factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) to be the potential mRNA target of miR-877, which was
      verified by luciferase assay. The expression levels of eEF2K in RCC tissues were
      evaluated by western blot analysis and qPCR. The proliferation and migration
      abilities of RCC cells were measured by MTT and in vitro wound healing assays,
      respectively. The present results indicated that the expression levels of miR-877
      were downregulated in blood and paired RCC tissues, whereas the expression levels
      of eEF2K were upregulated in RCC tissues. In addition, overexpression of miR-877
      and knockdown of eEF2K significantly reduced the proliferation and migration
      abilities of RCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, miR-877 affected the eEF2K/eEF2
      signaling pathway in these cells. In conclusion, the present study has
      demonstrated that miR-877 suppresses the proliferation and migration abilities of
      RCC cells by modulating the eEF2K/eEF2 signaling cascade. Therefore, miR-877 may
      be considered a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of RCC.

PMID- 26893764
TI  - Aneurysmal bone cyst secondary to a giant cell tumor of the patella: A case
      report.
AB  - The patella is an unusual location for primary and metastatic bone tumors to
      develop. The most frequently encountered primary osteolytic lesions at the
      patella include giant cell tumors of the bone (GCT), chondroblastoma and
      aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC). However, the presentation of an ABC originating
      secondary to a GCT at the patella is rare. The present study describes such a
      case in a 46-year-old female. The differential diagnosis of the condition was
      extensive. The patient underwent curettage and the addition of bone cement to
      fill the defect. Pathological analysis of the resected tissue demonstrated that
      the lesion was consistent with an ABC forming secondary to a GCT. A 3-month
      follow-up was completed subsequent to the surgery, with a computed tomography
      scan demonstrating no evidence of recurrence. However, frequent and continuous
      observations of the patient following diagnosis are planned in order to evaluate
      the long-term efficacy of the surgical treatment. To the best of our knowledge,
      the present study describes the third reported case in the literature of this
      rare, double synchronous, benign tumor located at the patella.

PMID- 26893765
TI  - Novel somatic mutations identified by whole-exome sequencing in muscle-invasive
      transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
AB  - Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the one of the most commonly observed types
      of cancer globally. The identification of novel disease-associated genes in TCC
      has had a significant effect on the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer;
      however, there may be a large number of novel genes that have not been
      identified. In the present study, the exomes of two individuals who were
      diagnosed with muscle-invasive TCC (MI-TCC) were sequenced to investigate
      potential variants. Subsequently, following algorithm and filter analysis, Sanger
      sequencing was used to validate the results of deep sequencing.
      Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to observe the differences in HECT, C2
      and WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HECW1) protein expression
      between tumor tissues and para-carcinoma tissues. A total of 6 nonsynonymous
      mutation genes were identified in MI-TCC, identified as copine VII, RNA binding
      motif protein, X-linked-like 3, acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member
      2A, HECW1, zinc finger protein 273 and trichohyalin. Furthermore, 5 cases were
      identified to possess a HECW1 gene mutation in 61 MI-TCC specimens, and all of
      these were point mutations located at exon 11 on chromosome 7. The mutation
      categories of HECW1 had 4 missense mutations and 1 nonsense mutation. IHC
      revealed that HECW1 protein was expressed at significantly increased levels in MI
      TCC compared with normal bladder urothelium (P<0.001). The present study provided
      a novel approach for investigating genetic changes in the MI-TCC exome, and
      identified the novel mutant gene HECW1, which may possess a significant role in
      the pathogenesis of TCC.

PMID- 26893767
TI  - Uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors: A case report and literature
      review.
AB  - Uterine tumors with ovarian sex cord-like elements are a rarely observed type of
      uterine body tumor with unknown etiology, and are divided into two groups:
      Endometrial stromal tumors with sex cord-like elements (ESTSCLEs) and uterine
      tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors (UTROSCTs). While ESTSCLEs are commonly
      associated with metastasis and recurrence, there is limited data in the relevant
      literature concerning the behavior of UTROSCTs. However, UTROSCTs are typically
      benign in nature. Although case numbers are limited, extra-uterine or lymph node
      metastasis has been reported. Surgical approaches may be altered according to the
      patient's age and desire for future fertility. Hysterectomies with bilateral
      salpingo-oopherectomy or hysteroscopic tumor resection are reported to be safe
      surgical treatment options. However, in the current report, a case of UTROSCT
      initially misdiagnosed as adenosarcoma following hysteroscopic tumor resection is
      presented. Staging surgery revealed the precise diagnosis of the tumor using
      appropriate immunohistochemical evaluations, and led to the discovery of a
      secondary tumor focus in the myometrium, adjacent to the location of the
      previously excised tumor. Thus, hysteroscopic resection is questionable as a
      definitive surgical treatment in patients exhibiting UTROSCT. If hysteroscopic
      resection is the selected treatment, close follow-up with diagnostic imaging is
      recommended.

PMID- 26893766
TI  - Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in colon confounded by prior history of colorectal
      cancer: A case report and literature review.
AB  - A 66-year-old male underwent left hemicolectomy for rectal adenocarcinoma in
      2008. Five years later he was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain. A
      computed tomography scan revealed notable thickening of the middle of the
      ascending colon wall, and colonoscopy revealed an ulcerofungating mass of 3*3 cm
      in the cecum and extending to the ascending colon. Under the consideration of
      cancer recurrence, laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed directly.
      Surgical specimens revealed sheets of large pleomorphic lymphoid cells with
      nuclei of different sizes, nucleoli and mitotic phases visible in most cells.
      These tested positive for CD45, CD20 and CD79a diffusely, but negative for CD3,
      CD5, Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and ALK. The Ki-67 proliferation index was 40%. Epstein-Barr
      virus in situ hybridization did not reveal any positive signals in any of the
      tumor cells. Based on these findings, the recurrent tumor was diagnosed as
      diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient could have avoided surgery and
      received chemotherapy only; however, the case was confounded by the patient's
      prior history of colorectal cancer due to the rarity of colon lymphoma following
      rectal cancer in the same patient. It is therefore essential to investigate
      carefully and differentiate between potential lesions during routine
      postoperative colonoscopy following colorectal cancer surgery, as patients may
      present with rare colon lymphoma, which may be confused with a recurrence of
      colorectal cancer.

PMID- 26893768
TI  - Curcumin mediates reversion of HGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition via
      inhibition of c-Met expression in DU145 cells.
AB  - The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signaling pathway results in cancer cell
      scattering and invasion, and has been reported to participate in several types of
      cancer, including prostate and colorectal cancer. The downstream phosphorylation
      cascade of HGF, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase and
      phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway, regulates epithelial-mesenchymal
      transition (EMT). However, the mechanism by which these signaling pathways govern
      EMT, and whether certain kinases are able to respond to specific EMT effectors,
      remains to be elucidated. In the present study, an increase in the levels of
      vimentin, rather than co-regulation of certain EMT marker proteins, was observed
      in response to HGF-induced EMT in DU145 prostate cancer cells. In addition, it
      was observed that curcumin abrogated HGF-induced DU145 cell scattering and
      invasion. Furthermore, curcumin was able to effectively inhibit the HGF-induced
      increase in the levels of vimentin by downregulating the expression of
      phosphorylated c-Met, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Snail. In
      conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that curcumin was able
      to reverse HGF-induced EMT, possibly by inhibiting c-Met expression in DU145
      prostate cancer cells.

PMID- 26893769
TI  - Treatment and functional result of desmoplastic fibroma with repeated recurrences
      in the forearm: A case report.
AB  - Desmoplastic fibroma, alternatively known as aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid
      tumors, occurs in the form of benign locally aggressive tumors that possess a
      high rate of recurrence. The forearm bones are rarely involved. The current study
      presents a case of desmoplastic fibroma in the distal forearm of a 23-year-old
      man. The tumor was widely resected, and the bone defect was reconstructed using
      an autologous vascularized fibular graft during the resection procedure. The
      patient experienced recurrence three times and underwent four resections during
      the subsequent 3 years following the initial resection. After 10 years of follow
      up, the patient's functional recovery remains positive. Despite the implication
      that surgical resection may be involved in the development of aggressive
      fibromatosis, surgical wide local excision and functional reconstruction were
      recommended for the treatment of the present patient.

PMID- 26893770
TI  - Advanced prostatic ductal carcinoma in a patient with a long survival time
      following a total pelvis exenteration: A case report.
AB  - Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate (DAP) is a rare variant of prostate cancer,
      and has poorly-identified clinical characteristics. Few cases have been
      previously reported in Chinese males and DAP is more commonly reported in
      Caucasian males over 70-years of age. In the present study, a 55-year-old Chinese
      male patient that demonstrated typical lower urinary tract symptoms and normal
      prostatic-specific antigen levels underwent a transurethral resection of the
      prostate. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with DAP. A total pelvis
      exenteration was then conducted successfully. During the 40-month follow-up, the
      patient remained progression-free. A review of the literature was conducted in
      order to assess the clinical course, diagnosis, prognosis and optimal management
      for DAP. The review indicated that DAP is more likely to demonstrate an
      aggressive clinical course and an unfavorable prognosis; therefore, once the
      diagnosis has been confirmed, an aggressive management strategy is recommended
      for the patient, even in the case of metastatic disease.

PMID- 26893771
TI  - Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome following combinatorial
      cisplatin and pemetrexed therapy for lung cancer in a normotensive patient: A
      case report and literature review.
AB  - Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a rare neurological
      syndrome of the brain, causing symptoms such as headaches, seizures, altered
      mental status and visual disturbances. The condition is predominantly associated
      with hypertension, eclampsia, renal impairment, cytotoxic drugs,
      immunosuppressive agents and molecular targeted agents, but the precise
      underlying mechanism of RPLS is not fully understood. The present study describes
      the case of a 65-year-old female patient with stage IIA non-small cell lung
      cancer who received cisplatin/pemetrexed treatment at the Leo W. Jenkins Cancer
      Center. Following 3 cycles of this therapy, the patient was referred to the
      Emergency Department of Vidant Medical Center with an altered mental status,
      subsequently presenting with epileptic seizures, a fever and a headache. A
      neurological examination revealed generalized hyperreflexia and paraparesis, with
      extensor posturing of the bilateral lower extremities. The lumbar puncture and
      electroencephalography results were normal, but cranial computed tomography (CT)
      scans revealed attenuation abnormalities in the bilateral parietal region and the
      left occipital lobe, with suspected metastasis. Cranial T2-weighted magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) indicated bilateral regions of increased signal intensity
      in the occipital, temporal and periventricular white matter. The patient was
      treated with anticonvulsants, steroids and antihypertensive drugs, recovered
      gradually from the symptoms and regained full consciousness. However, the patient
      reported residual weakness, presenting with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
      score of 3, reflective of an inability to independently perform daily activities
      and self-care. A brain MRI performed 10 days later demonstrated that the
      subcortical edema had partially subsided. The patient was discharged on day 15
      post-admission. A follow-up cranial CT examination 1 month later indicated a
      partial resolution of the abnormalities. The present report reviews similar
      associated cases, and also discusses the clinical features and mechanisms
      underlying RPLS. Although it is typically reversible, RPLS is a serious and
      potentially life-threatening adverse condition if left untreated. Early
      recognition of this condition is crucial for the prompt control of the patient's
      blood pressure or withdrawal of cytotoxic drugs in order to reverse this
      syndrome.

PMID- 26893772
TI  - Pituitary metastasis of choriocarcinoma: A case report.
AB  - Choriocarcinoma is an aggressive obstetric or gynecological neoplasm with a high
      malignant potential. It is a form of gestational trophoblastic disease and often
      secondary to hydatidiform mole, and intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy.
      Choriocarcinoma has a proclivity to metastasize to the lung, vagina, pelvis or
      liver in over 50% of patients, which always occurs in the early stage of the
      disease. With an appropriate amount of chemotherapy, the tumor may be treated
      effectively. However, pituitary metastasis of choriocarcinoma is extremely rare.
      To the best of our knowledge, no cases of choriocarcinoma metastasizing to the
      pituitary have been cited previously. Here, we report a case of choriocarcinoma
      that presented with pituitary metastasis.

PMID- 26893774
TI  - The regulation of cancer cell migration by lung cancer cell-derived exosomes
      through TGF-beta and IL-10.
AB  - Tumorigenesis has been considered to be as a result of abnormal cell-cell
      communication. It has been proposed that exosomes act as communicators between
      tumors and their microenvironment and have been demonstrated to be involved in
      tumorigenesis and subsequent metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the
      role of exosomes in these processes remains elusive. The present study sought to
      determine the underlying mechanisms. Using two lung cancer cell lines, it was
      demonstrated that exosomes derived from metastatic small cell lung cancer cells
      (NCI-H1688) have greater effects on cancer cell migration, compared with exosomes
      derived from primary non-small cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H2228). Further
      characterization of the contents of the exosomes demonstrated that there were
      increased levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in exosomes from NCI-H1688 cells compared
      with exosomes derived from NCI-H2228 cells, in particular under hypoxia. Blockade
      of TGF-beta and IL-10 with antibodies confirmed that these cytokines were
      essential for the regulation of cancer cell migration. Taken together, the
      results of the present study indicated that exosomes derived from cancer cells
      regulated the cellular migration of tumor cells through TGF-beta and IL-10, which
      may provide a novel approach for developing therapeutic methods against cancer.

PMID- 26893773
TI  - Changes in expression of WT1 during induced differentiation of the acute myeloid
      leukemia cell lines by treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and all-trans
      retinoic acid.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 5-aza-2'
      deoxycytidine (decitabine; DAC) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on Wilms'
      tumor 1 (WT1) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in vitro. The methylation status of
      the WT1 promoter was analyzed using methylation-specific polymerase chain
      reaction (MSP). The expression level of WT1 was detected by reverse transcription
      quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effect of DAC and ATRA on cell
      differentiation was evaluated by flow cytometry. The WT1 gene was methylated in
      U937 cells, but unmethylated in SHI-1 and K562 cells; the U937 cells did not
      express the WT1 gene, but the SHI-1 and K562 cells highly expressed the WT1 gene.
      DAC and ATRA, alone or in combination, exhibited no effect on the expression
      level of WT1 in the U937 cells and on the differentiation of the K562 cells. The
      combined treatment of DAC and ATRA markedly decreased the WT1 expression levels
      of the SHI-1 and K562 cells, and induced the differentiation of the SHI-1 and
      U937 cells. In the SHI-1 cells, WT1 expression changed inversely to the dynamic
      changes of cluster of differentiation 11b-positive rates. In conclusion, the
      combined treatment of DAC and ATRA has clinical therapeutic potential in acute
      monocytic leukemia patients with high WT1 expression and a poor response to
      standard induction chemotherapy.

PMID- 26893775
TI  - ERbeta overexpression results in endocrine therapy resistance and poor prognosis
      in postmenopausal ERalpha-positive breast cancer patients.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of estrogen receptor
      (ER) beta in the prognosis of ERalpha-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal
      women, and its effect on the efficacy of endocrine therapy. Tissue specimens from
      195 patients with postmenopausal breast cancer were analyzed. ERbeta expression
      levels were detected using immunohistochemical staining. Kaplan-Meier analysis
      was performed to assess patient survival, and the difference in survival was
      analyzed using the log-rank test. Cox regression was utilized to evaluate
      prognostic factors. The results revealed that the disease-free survival rate
      decreased dramatically as ERbeta expression levels increased in all
      postmenopausal ERalpha-positive breast cancer patients, and ERbeta expression was
      identified to be an indicator of poor prognosis in cases of this disease.
      Similarly, in postmenopausal ERalpha-positive breast cancer patients undergoing
      endocrine therapy, high ERbeta expression levels reduced the disease-free
      survival rate and were correlated with poor patient prognosis. However, in such
      patients who were not treated with endocrine therapy, disease-free survival rate
      and prognosis were not significantly affected by ERbeta expression. In
      conclusion, ERbeta overexpression led to endocrine therapy resistance and poor
      prognosis in postmenopausal ERalpha-positive breast cancer patients, suggesting
      that ERbeta may affect breast cancer prognosis via an increase in endocrine
      therapy resistance.

PMID- 26893776
TI  - Combined fibrinogen concentration and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic
      marker of gastric cancer.
AB  - Certain patients with early gastric cancer succumb to recurrent disease and
      cancer-associated complications. The key cause of recurrence is challenging to
      determine, since clinical blood markers that are able to predict the tumor
      properties of gastric cancer are limited. The present study investigated the
      fibrinogen concentration and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in blood specimens
      from patients with gastric cancer, and assessed the clinical applicability of
      combining the fibrinogen concentration with the NLR (CFS-NLR) as a prognostic
      marker of gastric cancer. The present study consisted of 275 patients with
      gastric cancer, who were divided into three groups: Those possessing
      hyperfibrinogenemia (>=305 mg/dl) and a high NLR (>=2.34; CFS-NLR 2 group); those
      possessing either hyperfibrinogenemia or a high NLR (CFS-NLR 1 group); or those
      that possessed neither abnormality (CFS-NLR 0 group). The CFS-NLR was
      significantly associated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis,
      lymphovascular invasion and tumor stage (P<0.0001). The prognostic differences
      among the three groups were significant (P=0.0016). Therefore, the CFS-NLR may be
      a potentially useful blood marker for predicting tumor progression and the
      prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

PMID- 26893777
TI  - Gamma Knife radiosurgery for the treatment of cavernous sinus hemangiomas.
AB  - The present retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcome of patients with
      cavernous sinus hemangioma (CSH) treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS).
      Between August 2011 and April 2014, 7 patients with CSHs underwent GKS. GKS was
      performed as the sole treatment option in 5 patients, whilst partial resection
      had been performed previously in 1 patient and biopsy had been performed in 1
      patient. The mean volume of the tumors at the time of GKS was 12.5+/-10.2 cm3
      (range, 5.3-33.2 cm3), and the median prescription of peripheral dose was 14.0 Gy
      (range, 10.0-15.0 Gy). The mean follow-up period was 20 months (range, 6-40
      months). At the last follow-up, the lesion volume had decreased in all patients,
      and all cranial neuropathies observed prior to GKS had improved. There were no
      radiation-induced neuropathies or complications during the follow-up period. GKS
      appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality for the management of
      CSHs.

PMID- 26893778
TI  - Downregulation of Foxc2 enhances apoptosis induced by 5-fluorouracil through
      activation of MAPK and AKT pathways in colorectal cancer.
AB  - The chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is fundamental for the treatment of
      colorectal cancer (CRC); however, drug resistance to 5-FU may occasionally occur.
      Abnormal expression of Forkhead box C2 gene (Foxc2) has been identified in
      several human cancers, but the role of Foxc2 in the progression of CRC remains
      unclear. The present study established a stable Foxc2-short hairpin (sh)RNA cell
      line, which was confirmed by western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase
      chain reaction. The Foxc2-shRNA cells were treated with 5-FU and the cell
      viability was determined by an MTT assay. Western blot analysis was performed to
      investigate the signaling pathway involved in 5-FU treatment. The present study
      identified that 5-FU increased the percentage of apoptotic CRC cells among the
      Foxc2/RNA interference-transfected cells compared with cells transfected with an
      empty vector. Therefore, the downregulation of Foxc2, induced by 5-FU, may
      enhance apoptosis by the downregulation of apoptotic factors, including B cell
      lymphoma-2 and pro-caspase-3, in Foxc2-shRNA CRC cells. Furthermore, the mitogen
      activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein
      kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways were essential for the sensitization effect of Foxc2
      to 5-FU treatment. Overall, these findings reveal the mechanisms behind Foxc2
      depletion and 5-FU treatment of CRC and suggest that Foxc2 enhances resistance to
      apoptosis, induced by 5-FU, through the activation of MAPK and P13K/AKT pathways,
      and may serve as a valuable clinical prognostic marker for CRC.

PMID- 26893779
TI  - Clinical value of prenatal echocardiographic examination in the diagnosis of
      fetal cardiac tumors.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical value of prenatal
      echocardiographic examination in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac tumors. In total,
      the cases of 8 fetuses with fetal cardiac tumors, which were identified by
      prenatal ultrasound examination in The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang
      University between January 2012 and January 2014, were retrospectively analyzed.
      The size, shape, location, activity and hemodynamic changes of the lesions were
      described in detail, and the patients were followed up. Out of the 8 identified
      cases of fetal cardiac tumors, 2 fetuses contained tumors only in the left
      ventricular cavity and 6 fetuses contained tumors of the left and right
      ventricular cavities, interventricular septum and apex of the heart. Overall, 5
      of the 8 female patients requested termination of the pregnancy and labor was
      induced. The fetuses were pathologically confirmed to possess rhabdomyoma. In
      addition, 1 patient was followed-up for 5 weeks, and the tumor in the fetal heart
      cavity was found to have enlarged and developed in multiple regions when follow
      up was performed. The patient then requested termination of the pregnancy and
      labor was induced. The fetus was pathologically confirmed to possess rhabdomyoma.
      The remaining 2 patients insisted on continuation of the pregnancy and the
      fetuses were followed up during gestation and subsequent to birth by
      echocardiographic examination. Prenatal echocardiography may precisely position
      and diagnose occupying lesions of the fetal heart, which is of considerable value
      in clinical decision making and instruction for treatment.

PMID- 26893781
TI  - Overexpression of ErbB2 renders breast cancer cells susceptible to 3-BrPA through
      the increased dissociation of hexokinase II from mitochondrial outer membrane.
AB  - ErbB2 is known to upregulate glycolysis in breast cancer, however, the precise
      mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, ErbB2 upregulated Hexokinase II
      (HK II) activity by increasing the binding of HK II to the mitochondrial outer
      membrane. Dysregulated glucose metabolism in high ErbB2-expressing breast cancer
      cells induces susceptibility to glucose starvation and glycolysis inhibition.
      Additionally, HK II has a tendency to dissociate from the mitochondria outer
      membrane in ErbB2-overexpressing cells following treatment with the HK II
      inhibitor, 3-BrPA. Furthermore, 3-BrPA treatment results in decreased
      mitochondria membrane potential and release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm in
      ErbB2-overexpressing cells, leading to activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic
      signaling pathway. In summary, the results demonstrate a novel mechanism for
      ErbB2-activated glycolysis and reveal that 3-BrPA is effective in reducing ErbB2
      positive breast cancer cell viability by targeting HK II in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 26893780
TI  - Pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictive marker for
      pathological response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
AB  - An elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be
      associated with the pathological response to neoadjuvant therapies in numerous
      types of cancer. The aim of the current study was to clarify the association
      between pre-treatment NLR and the pathological response to preoperative
      chemoradiotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients. This retrospective analysis
      included data from 56 consecutive patients whose tumors were completely
      surgically resected. All patients received preoperative therapy, consisting of
      gemcitabine-based chemotherapy (alone or in combination with S-1) combined with
      40 or 50.4 Gy irradiation, prior to surgery. Predictive factors, including NLR,
      platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), modified Glasgow prognostic score and
      prognostic nutrition index, were measured prior to treatment. A comparison was
      made between those who responded well pathologically (good response group, Evans
      classification IIb/III) and those with a poor response (Evans I/IIa). NLR was
      determined to be significantly higher in the poor response group. Multivariate
      analysis identified an elevated NLR as an independent risk factor for the poor
      pathological response [odds ratio (OR), 5.35; P=0.0257]. The pre-treatment NLR
      (>=2.2/<2.2) was found to be a statistically significant predictive indicator of
      pathological response (P=0.00699). The results demonstrate that pre-treatment NLR
      may be a useful predictive marker for the pathological response to preoperative
      therapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

PMID- 26893782
TI  - Clinical significance of microRNA-155 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of microRNA-155 (miR-155) in
      hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent normal tissues, and assess its
      correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of this tumor type. miR-155
      expression was detected in 40 HCC tissue samples and 40 samples of adjacent tumor
      free tissue using fluorescent reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
      reaction (RT-qPCR). The association between miR-155 expression,
      clinicopathological features and 1-year relapse-free survival (RFS) in HCC and
      adjacent normal tissue samples was analyzed. RT-qPCR results revealed that, in 25
      cases (62.5%), miR-155 expression levels were significantly increased in HCC
      tissues compared with the expression levels observed in pericarcinomatous tissues
      (P<0.05). miR-155 expression was observed to be significantly correlated with
      vessel invasion, Edmonson classification and clinical stage (P<0.05). However,
      miR-155 expression was not significantly correlated with gender, age, tumor size,
      tumor number, hepatitis B virus DNA copy number, cirrhosis or concentration of
      alpha-fetoprotein (P>0.05). A positive correlation was observed between late TNM
      classification of malignant tumor stage and 1-year RFS (P<0.05). Patients
      exhibiting high miR-155 expression levels were observed to exhibit a lower 1-year
      RFS than that of patients with reduced expression of miR-155 (48 vs. 73.3%),
      however this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.105).
      Additionally, correlations were observed between miR-155 expression and reduced
      differentiation, increased invasiveness and late stages of HCC. The current
      results demonstrated that miR-155 may be involved in the tumorigenesis of HCC and
      may be associated with clinical characteristics of HCC patients. Additional
      studies are required to clarify the mechanism of miR-155.

PMID- 26893783
TI  - Real-world efficacy, toxicity and clinical management of ipilimumab treatment in
      metastatic melanoma.
AB  - Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, the anti-cytotoxic T
      lymphocyte-associated protein 4 checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab has delivered a
      survival benefit of >=3 years in a subset of metastatic melanoma patients. After
      participating in the registration trial, patients were treated with this agent in
      routine practice. Toxicity and efficacy of agents in "real world" settings may
      differ from trials. The present study aimed to evaluate, with respect to toxicity
      and outcome, all patients treated with ipilimumab to date at the Princess
      Margaret Hospital (Toronto, Canada). Patients treated with ipilimumab between
      2008 and 2013 were identified, and patient characteristics (age, gender, tumour
      burden, oncogenic mutation status, number of treatments received and toxicities
      from treatment) were collected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall
      survival (OS) were calculated from the commencement of ipilimumab treatment.
      Associations between clinical characteristics and outcome or toxicity were
      assessed. Between 2008 and 2013, 129 patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma
      were treated. Since, during this period, ipilimumab was approved in the second
      line setting, ipilimumab was delivered in the second or subsequent line in all
      patients, and 70% did not receive any further anticancer therapy. Immune-related
      toxicities were observed, the onset of which varied from 1 to 162 days. The
      majority resolved within 6 weeks of the final treatment, with the exception of
      endocrinopathies and bowel related toxicity. The median PFS and OS were 2.83 and
      8.44 months, respectively. No pre-treatment factor independently predicted
      toxicity. The number of infusions (4 vs. <=3) and presence of toxicity were
      significantly associated with superior survival. The onset of toxicity secondary
      to ipilimumab could occur later than previously reported. Toxicities were
      manageable, but required long-term vigilance.

PMID- 26893784
TI  - Multiple malignant inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of the jejunum: A case
      report and literature review.
AB  - Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare neoplastic lesions with a
      tendency for locally aggressive behavior and recurrence. IMTs most frequently
      occur in the soft tissues of children and young adults, with the lungs being the
      most commonly affected site; however, it has been recognized that any anatomical
      location may be involved. IMT in the jejunum is extremely rare, with only one
      case previously reported in the literature. The current study describes the case
      of a 42-year-old woman presenting with intermittent abdominal pain and small
      bowel intussusception that was identified during a laparotomy. Surgical resection
      of the jejunum, revealing 3 exophytic tumors, provided specimens for analysis.
      Following histological examination, a diagnosis of IMT was made. A review of the
      literature regarding this rare disease is also presented to emphasize the risk of
      local recurrence and the importance of adequate long-term follow-up.

PMID- 26893785
TI  - Rare occurrence of cavitation of lung metastases following effective targeted
      therapy: A case report.
AB  - The metastasis of malignant tumors to the lung is relatively common; however,
      cavitation of metastases is extremely rare in clinical cases, and the various
      mechanisms are controversial. The majority of irregular metastatic cavities form
      naturally and are detected incidentally when patients are examined prior to any
      therapeutic measures. The current study presents the case of a lung
      adenocarcinoma patient with total cavitation of intrapulmonary metastases
      following effective targeted therapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing
      Medical University. The morphological changes were followed up for three years.
      This patient presented thin-walled and smooth clean cavities, which provides an
      indication of the effectiveness of treatment.

PMID- 26893787
TI  - Serious neutropenia following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced
      breast cancer: A case report.
AB  - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been widely used in patients with locally advanced
      breast cancer (LABC) to increase the chance of breast conservation. Among the
      most active adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide are
      the most common drugs used for breast cancer in adjuvant and advanced settings,
      and taxanes are added to neoadjuvant regimens to improve the pathological
      complete response rates. However, chemotherapy is often associated with a variety
      of acute and long-term side effects, and neutropenia is one of the most common
      chemotherapy-associated toxicities. Lethal neutropenia is rarely reported in
      clinics. The present study reports the case of a patient with LABC that received
      1 cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy [intravenous docetaxel (75 mg/m2),
      pirarubicin (45 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2) on day 2 in 3-weekly
      intervals] and succumbed to neutropenia and subsequent multiple organ dysfunction
      syndrome. The present study suggests that neutropenia may be associated with
      significant mortality if not managed appropriately. Based on the findings of the
      present study, individual chemotherapy regimens, dosing schedules, effective
      methods of the prevention and management of neutropenia, and the management of
      the discharged patient require additional consideration.

PMID- 26893786
TI  - MicroRNA-26a induces osteosarcoma cell growth and metastasis via the Wnt/beta
      catenin pathway.
AB  - MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are a type of highly conserved, small non-coding RNA that
      are vital to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression via base
      pairing with target mRNA 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs). Several studies have
      indicated that the abnormal expression of miRNAs occurs frequently in human
      osteosarcoma (OS). In the present study, the role of miR-26a in the progression
      and metastasis of OS was investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction, a luciferase activity assay, cell viability assay, in
      vitro migration and invasion assays, transfection and western blot analysis. miR
      26a was upregulated in OS tissues and cell lines, and the expression of miR-26a
      was indicated to affect the proliferation, migration and invasion of OS Saos-2
      cells. At the molecular level, the results showed that glycogen synthase kinase
      3beta (GSK-3beta) was identified as a target of miR-26a, and the ectopic
      expression of miR-26a inhibited GSK-3beta by directly binding to the 3'-UTR.
      Therefore, the expression of miR-26a was negatively correlated with GSK-3beta in
      the OS tissues. These data suggest that miR-26a is significant in the
      proliferation of human OS cells due to the direct regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin
      signaling.

PMID- 26893788
TI  - Mediastinal lymph node metastasis of renal cell carcinoma: A case report.
AB  - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) may metastasize to mediastinal lymph nodes without any
      abdominal lymph node involvement. The present study describes an autopsy-proven
      case of RCC presenting with a large mediastinal mass; the case had been
      previously misdiagnosed as small cell lung carcinoma due to imaging analysis
      results, an elevated serum level of neuron-specific enolase and the presence of
      small atypical cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Despite RCC
      occurrence being rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis,
      particularly when a mass located in the kidneys presents with metastases to the
      mediastinal lymph nodes, even if there is no involvement of the abdominal lymph
      nodes and the primary lesion is of a small size.

PMID- 26893789
TI  - Myeloid cell leukemia-1 is a molecular indicator for malignant transformation of
      oral lichen planus.
AB  - Oral lichen planus (OLP), characterized by a chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory
      condition, is a common disease of the oral cavity. Retrospective and prospective
      epidemiological data suggest that OLP is considered to have malignant potential.
      However, it is unclear as to which types of molecules may cause malignant
      transformation of OLP. In the present study, the presence of myeloid cell
      leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was studied by western blot
      analysis in 11 OLP and three normal oral mucosa (NOM) samples and in two human
      oral cancer cell lines. The functional role of Mcl-1 in oral cancer cells was
      analyzed using a trypan blue exclusion assay and soft agar assay. Mcl-1 was
      strongly expressed in the OLP and the two oral cancer cell lines compared with
      NOM, whereas Bcl-2 was not. Sorafenib and mithramycin A decreased cell viability
      in MC-3 and HSC-3 oral cancer cells and at same concentration they reduced the
      expression level of Mcl-1 in the two cell lines. The two chemicals affected Mcl-1
      protein and significantly inhibited neoplastic cell transformation in the two
      cell lines. We suggest that the malignant potential of OLP may be associated with
      the expression of Mcl-1, and that downregulation of Mcl-1 may prevent malignant
      transformation of OLP to oral cancer.

PMID- 26893791
TI  - A Measure to Target Antipoverty Policies in the European Union Regions.
AB  - The reformed cohesion policy (CP), which is the major investment tool in the
      European Union (EU) for delivering the Europe 2020 targets, will soon make
      available substantial funds to improve the quality of life of the EU citizens
      through supporting the economic and social development of the EU's regions and
      cities. Because the reformed CP has intensified the emphasis on measuring
      results, also with respect to reducing poverty and social exclusion, this paper
      is about measuring poverty to better target EU local policies. We propose a
      measurement of poverty at the sub-national level in the EU by means of three
      poverty components describing absolute poverty, relative poverty and earnings and
      incomes. The core data source is the cross-sectional European Statistics on
      Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) micro-data, waves 2007-2009. Data
      reliability at the sub-national level is statistically assessed and the regional
      level is described whenever possible. To calculate the poverty components, an
      inequality-adverse type of aggregation is applied in order to limit
      compensability across indicators populating a component. No aggregation is,
      however, performed across the three components. In the computations of income
      related indicators, individual disposable income adjusted for housing costs, used
      as a proxy for the costs of living, is used. Poverty is confirmed to be a multi
      faceted phenomenon with clear within-country variability. This variation depends
      on the type of region likely linked to the urbanisation level and, consequently,
      to the costs of living. The proposed measure may serve to better target anti
      poverty measures at the local, sub-national level in the EU.

PMID- 26893792
TI  - Pneumocephalus and Pneumorrhachis After Spinal Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis are rare complications of
      neurosurgery. When a closed system such as the head and spinal area get injuried,
      it becomes open and the air can come in through that opening. In this case, we
      present a case of pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal fusion surgery.
      CASE REPORT: Herein we present a case of diagnosis and treatment of
      pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal fusion surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      patient developed postoperative pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis as a late
      complication secondary to an infection. We wanted it to be considered as an
      important problem.

PMID- 26893793
TI  - Doppler Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Penile Mondor's
      Disease: Case Report and Literature Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Penile involvement is a rare, self-limiting, benign genital
      condition. In Mondor's disease the underlying pathology is thrombophlebitis of a
      superficial vein. CASE REPORT: In this case report, we want to present a rare
      Penile Mondor's disease with literature review. CONCLUSIONS: While the diagnosis
      can be based on history, physical examination and Doppler ultrasound, the
      necessity of both MRI, MR angiography and intracavernosal vasoactive agent
      administration can be questioned. Both MRI and intravenous vasoactive agent
      administration may be helpful in suspicious cases for differential diagnosis and
      to eliminate other etiologies like pelvic mass or thrombosis.

PMID- 26893794
TI  - A Rare Case of Polyorchidism: Four Testes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Polyorchidism or supernumerary testis means more than two testes. It
      is very rare and to the best of our knowledge, there have been only about 200
      cases reported. CASE REPORT: In this case report we want to present radiological
      features and assessment of a patient with four testicles. CONCLUSIONS: If the
      vascularity and echogenicity of the scrotal mass is similar with the normal
      testis parenchyma, multitestis should be considered. The MRI might not provide us
      with additional information to USG or CDUSG, thus it is not necessary to perform
      it if there is no suspicion of malignancy.

PMID- 26893795
TI  - Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the anal wall in a Nigerian.
AB  - Documented reports of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are relatively few
      in the sub-Saharan continent. The body of evidence points towards anal wall
      involvement being a rarity indeed. In this article we document a 61 year old
      Nigerian man who presented with bleeding per rectum and in whom the histological
      features (including immunohistochemistry) of the biopsied anal lesion was GIST. 

PMID- 26893796
TI  - [Bacteriological characteristics of the peritoneal dialysis fluid infections].

PMID- 26893797
TI  - Measles outbreak in a poorly vaccinated region in Cameroon: a case series study,
      public health challenges and recommendations.
AB  - Measles is a highly contagious viral infection and still a leading cause of
      vaccine-preventable deaths in Africa; especially in unvaccinated populations. We
      reviewed the medical reports of the measles outbreak that occurred in Misaje, in
      the North west region of Cameroon from 11/03/2015 to 14/05/2015. Six measles
      cases were recorded during this period; three of them complicated by bacterial
      infections. Measles should be considered as a differential diagnosis for any
      febrile rash especially among poorly vaccinated populations. Primary preventive
      methods implemented by clinicians could help control outbreaks; especially with
      delays in public health intervention. Also, gaps in health policies in Cameroon
      should be addressed to scale up vaccination coverage in remote communities like
      Misaje to reduce the incidence of measles outbreaks. 

PMID- 26893798
TI  - [Percutaneous cystostomy with Kelly clamp: indications, technique and results].

PMID- 26893800
TI  - [Hydatid cyst of the pancreas revealed by acute pancreatitis: report of a case].

PMID- 26893799
TI  - [Interest in visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol iodine with colposcope
      in screening of cervical lesions in Gabon].

PMID- 26893801
TI  - Cardiac metastasis from a renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Here we report a case of asymptomatic right ventricular tumor, for which surgical
      removal was done. Pathology reveals that the mass is a metastasis of a renal
      carcinoma. 

PMID- 26893802
TI  - [Exophthalmos of the left eye in favor of orbital adenoid cystic carcinoma:
      report of a case].

PMID- 26893803
TI  - [A case of spinal cord atrophy in a professional diver].

PMID- 26893804
TI  - [Bilateral hypertrophy of Wharton duct revealing Sjogren syndrome].

PMID- 26893805
TI  - [Ramsay Hunt syndrome].

PMID- 26893806
TI  - Histomorphometric study of brachiocephalic artery of Japanese quail.
AB  - Brachiocephalic arteries in quails are large arteries which are arising
      separately from the aortic arch. The aim of the present study was to determine
      the histomorphometric aspects of brachiocephalic arteries in the Japanese quail.
      The different layers of the brachiocephalic artery were studied quantitatively in
      10, 20 and 60 days-old Japanese quail; (n = 6) and both sexes. Luminal diameter,
      thickness of the intima, media and adventitia, the percentage of the intima,
      media and adventitia, as compared with the total wall thickness were determined.
      It was found that luminal diameter and whole artery thickness increased by age (p
      < 0.05). In addition, the tunica media was the thickest layer, then tunica intima
      and at last tunica adventitia (p < 0.05). The muscularity of the right
      brachiocephalic artery was more than that of the left one (p < 0.05).
      Histomorphometric study of brachiocephalic arteries of Japanese quails showed
      that increasing of age causes increase of internal and external diameters of the
      artery and this increase in females was more than males. 

PMID- 26893808
TI  - Detection of Arctic and European cluster of canine distemper virus in north and
      center of Iran.
AB  - Canine distemper virus (CDV) creates a very contagious viral multi-systemic
      canine distemper (CD) disease that affects most species of Carnivora order. The
      virus is genetically heterogeneous, particularly in section of the hemagglutinin
      (H) gene. Sequence analysis of the H gene can be useful to investigate
      distinction of various lineages related to geographical distribution and CDV
      molecular epidemiology. Since vaccination program is conducted only in large
      cities of Iran, CD still remains as one of the major causes of death in dogs in
      this country. In order to monitor H gene, CDV has been detected in 14 out of 19
      sampled dogs through the amplification of nucleoprotein (NP) gene in nested-PCR
      assay. In the next step 665 bp of H gene was amplified in 9 out of 14 NP-gene
      positive dogs. Phylogenetic analysis distinguished two distinct CDV genotypes in
      Iran. JN941238 has been embedded in European cluster and JN941239 has been
      embedded in Arctic cluster. Nucleic analysis has been shown high difference among
      both Iranian CDV lineages with CDV vaccine strains. 

PMID- 26893807
TI  - Synbiotic enhances immune responses against infectious bronchitis, infectious
      bursal disease, Newcastle disease and avian influenza in broiler chickens.
AB  - Increased susceptibility of birds to avian pathogens in intensive husbandry
      system has emphasized on necessity of improvement of innate and specific immune
      responses of birds by the fast establishment of a beneficial microflora and
      immune stimulator factors to guarantee healthy and low-price products. During
      this study, 192 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross-380) in four groups with three
      replicates per group were used to investigate effectiveness of synbiotic Biomin
      Imbo on immune responses of the chickens following routine vaccination against
      Newcastle disease (ND), avian influenza (AI), infectious bronchitis (IB) and
      infectious bursal disease (IBD). The results of this study indicated that
      supplementation of Biomin Imbo in diet enhanced humoral immune responses
      significantly in the case of ND, IB, IBD (p = 0.049, p = 0.020, p = 0.036,
      respectively), but insignificantly in the case of AI (p = 0.160) following
      vaccination of the chickens against these most common important viral poultry
      diseases. It was more effective following vaccination with live than killed
      vaccines. In conclusion, application of synbiotic Biomin Imbo, as a feed-additive
      adjuvant promotes acquired humoral immune responses of broiler chickens. 

PMID- 26893810
TI  - Copper and zinc concentrations in uterine fluid and blood serum during the
      estrous cycle and pre-pubertal phase in water buffaloes.
AB  - To investigate uterine fluid and serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) variations
      during the estrous cycle in water buffaloes, 71 genital tracts and blood samples
      were collected from the abattoir in Urmia, Iran. The phase of the estrous cycle
      was determined by examining ovarian structures; 18, 15, 16 and 22 were pro
      estrous, estrous, met-estrous and diestrous, respectively. The uterine fluid was
      collected by gentle scraping of the uterine mucosa with a curette. Blood serum
      and uterine fluid samples of 71 pre-pubertal buffalo calves were also collected
      and treated in similar manners. The mean (+/- SEM) total serum (77.10 +/- 1.50 ug
      dL(-1)) and uterine fluid (296.40 +/- 9.40 MUg dL(-1)) Cu in cyclic cows was
      higher than the values of 54.00 +/- 1.10 MUg dL(-1) and 133.40 +/- 5.70 MUg dL(
      1) in pre-pubertal calves, respectively. Blood serum (114.60 +/- 3.20 MUg dL(-1))
      and the uterine fluid (349.90 +/- 8.90 MUg dL(-1)) Zn content in cyclic cows were
      also higher than those (98.80 +/- 1.50 MUg dL(-1) and 246.6 +/- 4.50 MUg dL(-1)
      respectively) in pre-pubertal calves. Serum Cu in pro-estrus and estrus were
      lower than those in other stages and also lower than those in the uterine fluid.
      The lowest serum Zn content was recorded in pro- and met-estrus, while in the
      uterine fluid it was observed in estrus. In all stages of estrous cycle the
      uterine fluid Zn content was significantly higher than those of the serum. These
      results suggested that during the estrous cycle in the buffalo cows, Cu and Zn
      were actively secreted in uterine lumen and were not dependent on blood serum.
      The values also increased after puberty. 

PMID- 26893809
TI  - Effects of tail fat on recovery times of anesthesia with isoflurane in fat-tailed
      Iranian Lori-Bakhtiyari lambs.
AB  - In the present study, the effect of tail fat on recovery times in intact sheep
      and sheep with a ligated median sacral artery following similar anesthetic
      exposure with isoflurane was investigated. This study was performed using seven
      healthy fat-tailed Iranian Lori-Bakhtiyari ewe lambs. The lambs were anesthetized
      twice at two week intervals (the experiment was performed in two stages). After
      mask induction with isoflurane in 100% oxygen, sheep were intubated and
      anesthesia was maintained for 4 hr using a rebreathing system. Induction and
      extubation times and time to sternal recumbency and attempts to stand were
      recorded during anesthetic induction and recovery (Stage 1). Two weeks later,
      prior to the second anesthesia, the median sacral artery (MSA) was ligated under
      epidural anesthesia in sheep. All sheep were anesthetized as mentioned above
      (Stage 2). No significant differences were observed for the induction time
      between two stages (p > 0.05) but extubation, sternal recumbency and attempts to
      stand times were significantly longer in intact sheep (Stage 1) after 4 hr
      anesthesia with isoflurane (p < 0.05). Recovery time was decreased following MSA
      ligation in fat-tailed sheep, which suggested that body fat had a major role in
      the recovery time of isoflurane in sheep. We developed an animal model to
      investigate fat drug solubility of isoflurane gas. Therefore, using less-soluble
      in fat anesthetics is better than high-soluble anesthetics for prolonged
      anesthesia to decrease postoperative complication in obese patient. 

PMID- 26893811
TI  - Mercury concentrations in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) tissues, sediment and
      water from fish farm along the Karoun River in Iran.
AB  - The Karoun River is major source of water for warm?water fish culture industry in
      southwest of Iran. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      distribution of mercury in tissues of marketable common carp and in bottom
      sediments of fish farms in Khouzestan province. This study was carried out on 45
      fish farms that are located on the bank of the Karoun River in Khouzestan
      province, south-west Iran. Concentration of mercury (Hg) was determined using
      spectrophotometery in three tissues (muscles, liver and gills) of farmed common
      carp (Cyprinus carpio), water and bottom sediments of fish farms collected from
      three regions (North, center and south) of the Karoun River, in Khouzestan
      province, Iran. The concentrations of Hg in muscle tissue (2.71 mg kg(-1) dry
      matter) of fish from the south were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than from the
      other two sites. In the center and south sampling zones, Hg concentration in
      muscle was found to be above the maximum tolerable values provided by Food and
      Drug Administration standards. The Hg concentration of fish farm sediment and
      water samples were ranged as 0.46 to 0.48 mg kg(-1) dry matter and 3.10 to 4.11
      MUg Hg L(-1), respectively. Finally, Hg concentrations at downstream site were
      higher than upstream site. 

PMID- 26893812
TI  - Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk in Kerman, Iran.
AB  - Listeria monocytogenes as one of the most important pathogen in public health
      concerns is transmitted through consumption of contaminated food. The pathogen
      has been considered as a potential source of contamination of raw milk and dairy
      products. This research was aimed to investigate prevalence of L. monocytogenes
      in raw milk in Kerman region. In the summer of 2011, a total number of one
      hundred raw milk samples were collected from bulk tanks of some dairy farms and
      tested for iap and actA genes using polymerase chain reaction. Among the 100
      samples, five isolates (5.0%) were detected as L. monocytogenes based on
      phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Considering the low frequency of L.
      monocytogenes in this study, raw milk cannot be omitted as a potential source of
      food contamination for the population of the region. To achieve more accurate
      isolation, identification and control of L. monocytogenes in raw milk, it is
      suggested that new standard laboratory methods be implemented as well as
      biosafety outreach programs, management techniques and education. 

PMID- 26893813
TI  - The effect of the hexanic extracts of fig (Ficus carica) and olive (Olea
      europaea) fruit and nanoparticles of selenium on the immunogenicity of the
      inactivated avian influenza virus subtype H9N2.
AB  - Influenza is a contagious viral disease that is seen in avian, human and other
      mammals, so its control is important. Vaccination against influenza virus subtype
      H9N2 is one of the ways in controlling program, for this reason several vaccines
      has been produced. Recently, application of inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines in
      poultry for controlling low pathogenic avian influenza is increasing. At present,
      oils that are used as adjuvant in commercial vaccines are mineral oils, which not
      only lack immunizing effect, but also produce some detriments. The aim of this
      study is the evaluation the immunogenicity of vegetable oils, which are more
      metabolizable and safer than mineral oils. In this study the efficacy of hexanic
      extracts of fig (Ficus carica) and olive (Olea europaea) fruit and also nano
      selenium on the immunogenicity of the inactivated avian influenza virus subtype
      H9N2 was evaluated in broiler chickens. The results indicated that the prepared
      emulsions could elicit a little degree of immunity, but they could not inhibit
      the anamnestic response and infection. With regard to the results, it seems that
      the intact mixture of fig and olive fruit hexanic extracts could not be
      administered as an immunoadjuvant in the vaccine, and about nano-selenium. In
      spite of positive effect on the immunogenicity of avian influenza virus subtype
      H9N2, it still needs more work. 

PMID- 26893815
TI  - Effects of mannan oligosaccharide supplementation on growth, some immune
      responses and gut lactic acid bacteria of common carp (Cyprinus Carpio)
      fingerlings.
AB  - This study was conducted to determine the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS)
      on growth, some immune responses and gut lactic acid bacteria of common carp.
      Four experimental diets containing 0%, 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.20% MOS were prepared.
      Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of fish with initial
      average weight of approximately 14 g. After eight weeks, survival rate was high
      in all treatments with no significant difference (p > 0.05). Growth performance
      including final weight, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) did not
      differ among the treatments. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better when the fish
      were fed 0.05 to 0.20% MOS diets. The alternative complement activity, lysozyme
      activity and serum total Ig were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) greater in
      fish fed 0.20% MOS diets. Although the total intestinal bacterial counts were not
      affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05), the lactic acid bacteria levels were
      significantly elevated in fish fed MOS diets (p < 0.05). These results indicated
      that oral administration of MOS at 0.20% elevated the immune response, improved
      FCR and modulated intestinal microbiota of common carp. 

PMID- 26893814
TI  - Effects of essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica on the oxidative stress in
      experimental hyperthyroid male rat.
AB  - This work analyzes the effects of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) on
      the thyroid and antioxidant system, assessed by measuring levels of tri
      iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
      malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase
      (GPx) activity. Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats (225 +/- 25 g) were divided
      into five equal groups: one control and four hyperthyroid groups that received
      placebo, 200 mg kg(-1) body weight of vitamin (Vit.) E, 225 mg kg(-1) body weight
      of SKEO, 200 and 225 mg kg(-1) body weight of Vit. E and SKEO together,
      respectively. Hyperthyroidism was induced by administering of L-thyroxin in
      drinking water. After 30 days of L-thyroxin consumption, serum T3 and T4 levels,
      TSH, and oxidative stress indices were determined. Significant increase in serum
      T3, T4 and MDA concentrations with a simultaneous significant decrease in TSH,
      GSH level and GPx activity were observed in hyperthyroid group (p <0.05). In the
      treatment groups, SKEO and/or Vit. E can compensate serum MDA elevation and GPx
      activity reduction. Only, SKEO + Vit. E could compensate the decline of GSH
      levels in response to hyperthyroidism. Supplementation of SKEO, plus Vit. E as
      antioxidants is useful in attenuating lipid peroxidation and may potentially
      benefit hyperthyroid patients. 

PMID- 26893816
TI  - Serological study of small ruminant lentiviruses in sheep population of Khorasan
      e-Razavi province in Iran.
AB  - Maedi-Visna (MV) virus and caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) virus known as
      small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) cause chronic diseases in susceptible
      animals. The main reservoirs of these viral agents are sheep and goat. In sheep,
      MV virus causes a disease as the same name of the virus. This is the first
      seroprevalence survey of SRLVs in sheep population of Khorasan-e-Razavi province
      in Iran. Two hundred and twenty sheep from 30 flocks in 12 regions of the
      province were selected by random cluster sampling method. Serum samples were
      analyzed for the presence of antibodies against MV/CAE viruses. The
      seroprevalence in sheep was 34.5% (95.0% CI: 28.3 to 40.7%). Totally, the
      seroprevalence was in the range of 6.7 to 72.2 %. In 26 flocks of sheep (89.6%;
      95.0%CI: 74.4 to 98.8%), at least one seropositive case was detected. The
      relationship between seropositivity and age, sex, flock size and breeds of sheep
      were statistically analyzed. In logistic regression model, only age was
      correlated with SRLV seroprevalence (p < 0.05). This study showed relatively high
      seroprevalence against SRLVs in sheep population in this area of the country. Due
      to difficulty in clinical diagnosis, chronic course of the disease, the absence
      of effective vaccine and treatment and huge economic loss, more epidemiological
      studies with regards to prevention and control of the disease are necessary. 

PMID- 26893818
TI  - Congenital multi-organ malformations in a Holstein calf.
AB  - A 5-day-old female Holstein calf was necropsied because of lethargy, recumbency
      and anorexia. At necropsy, multiple gross defects were evident in several organs,
      including unclosed sutures of skull bones, asymmetrical orbits, doming of the
      skull bones, hydrocephalus, hydranencephaly, cleft palate, brachygnathia,
      ventricular septal defect, mitral valve dysplasia and rudimentary lungs. On
      microscopic examination, pulmonary hypoplasia was characterized by reduced number
      of alveoli, replacement of peri-bronchiolar smooth muscles with connective tissue
      and small masses of undeveloped cartilage around the small airways. The present
      report is the first description of the congenital pulmonary hypoplasia
      accompanied by numerous malformations in Holstein breed. 

PMID- 26893817
TI  - In vitro histological investigation of interactions between rat decellularized
      large intestine scaffold and human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between rat intestine
      decellularized scaffold and human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells. Rat
      large intestine was dissected in fragments and decellularized by physicochemical
      methods. The scaffolds were loaded by human adipose derived mesenchymal stem
      cells expressing green fluorescent protein. Microscopic sections were prepared
      from the scaffolds after two weeks of culture with stem cells and studied by
      histological methods. The interactions of scaffolds with MSCs were also studied
      by electron microscopy. Histological and electron microscopy studies revealed
      human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, migration, division and maintenance during
      the 14 days of culture in vitro. According to the results, scaffolds prepared
      from rat intestine matrix could be a suitable scaffold for studying in vitro cell
      behaviors such as division, migration and attachment. These various behaviors of
      cultured cells might be due to inductive effects of the extracellular matrix
      derived scaffold. However, more investigations are required to discover the exact
      effects of this scaffold and its interactions with mesenchymal stem cells. 

PMID- 26893819
TI  - Abnormal bisubclavian trunk arising from the aortic arch determined by cadaver
      dissection of a native dog: A case report.
AB  - Congenital anomalies of the great thoracic vessels have been reported in 20% of
      dogs and cats. In some cases, the vascular ring anomalies remain unrecognized
      throughout the lifetime of an animal. This report describes a case with an
      unusual vascular ring anomaly (VRA) that was detected during dissection on a
      cadaver of an approximately two-year-old male native mixed breed dog. No history
      of the animal's life was available. But, good physical condition and age of the
      animal based on dentition indicated the anomaly was perhaps asymptomatic. Two
      main branches of the aorta were identified with the initial branch being a
      bicarotid trunk followed by a bisubclavian trunk. The left subclavian and
      aberrant right subclavian arteries formed a very short trunk and arose directly
      from the aortic arch. No dilatation cranial to the esophageal sulcus was found.
      To the authors' knowledge, our case is the first report of such anomalies perhaps
      without any clinical signs in a native dog in Iran. 

PMID- 26893820
TI  - No relationship between early postnatal testosterone concentrations and autistic
      traits in 18 to 30-month-old children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some previous research has suggested that testosterone prenatally
      contributes to gender differences in autistic traits, but little is known about
      the role of testosterone during early postnatal development (mini-puberty). Two
      prior studies found no sex difference in testosterone postnatally in saliva
      samples and detected little to no relationship between testosterone postnatally
      and autistic traits in toddlers. These findings may reflect late measurements of
      testosterone at 3 to 4 months of age, after the peak of mini-puberty at 1 to 3
      months of age. The present study examined the relationship between testosterone
      at 1 to 3 months of age and autistic traits at 18 to 30 months of age. FINDINGS:
      Testosterone was measured in saliva samples collected from children at 1 to 3
      months of age. When the children (40 boys, 47 girls) reached 18 to 30 months of
      age, parents completed the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q
      CHAT). Boys had higher concentrations of testosterone postnatally and higher Q
      CHAT scores than girls. However, testosterone did not correlate with Q-CHAT
      scores in boys, girls, or the entire sample. CONCLUSIONS: The current results
      suggest that testosterone during the early postnatal period does not contribute
      to later autistic traits. Given our relatively small samples and therefore
      limited power, however, further research could usefully examine if testosterone
      in saliva samples collected during the peak of mini-puberty in larger groups
      predicts autistic traits or other traits that show gender differences.

PMID- 26893821
TI  - Treatment with FTY720 has no beneficial effects on short-term outcome in an
      experimental model of intracerebral hemorrhage.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No evidence-based therapy is available for patients with acute
      intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In view of the profound inflammatory reaction in
      the perilesional tissue, we investigated in a well-characterized experimental
      model whether the administration of the immunomodulator fingolimod (FTY720) is
      neuroprotective in acute ICH. METHODS: ICH was induced by means of a stereotactic
      intrastriatal injection of collagenase type VII-S. FTY720 (1 mg/kg) was
      administered intraperitoneally 1 h after ICH induction. Hematoma volume was
      assessed spectrophotometrically at 24 h after ICH induction. The following
      endpoints were determined at 24 and 72 h, respectively: mortality rate and
      neurologic outcomes, edema formation, and MMP-9 activity. RESULTS: Twenty-four
      hour after ICH induction, hematoma volume was not statistically different between
      groups. No difference was found in mortality and neurologic outcomes at 24 and 72
      h between FTY720 treated mice and controls. Edema formation was present in both
      groups on the ipsilateral side with no statistical difference between groups at
      both time points. No difference was found in MMP-9 levels after 24 and 72 h
      between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that FTY720 has no beneficial
      effects in the acute phase of experimental ICH.

PMID- 26893823
TI  - N- and O-glycan cell surface protein modifications associated with cellular
      senescence and human aging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Glycans play essential roles in biological functions such as
      differentiation and cancer. Recently, glycans have been considered as biomarkers
      for physiological aging. However, details regarding the specific glycans involved
      are limited. Here, we investigated cellular senescence- and human aging-dependent
      glycan changes in human diploid fibroblasts derived from differently aged skin
      donors using a lectin microarray. RESULTS: We found that alpha2-6sialylated
      glycans in particular differed between elderly- and fetus-derived cells at early
      passage. However, both cell types exhibited sequentially decreasing alpha2
      3sialylated O-glycan structures during the cellular senescence process and showed
      similar overall glycan profiles. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a senescence-associated
      decrease in sialylation and increase in galactose exposure. Therefore, glycan
      profiling using lectin microarrays might be useful for the characterization of
      biomarkers of aging.

PMID- 26893824
TI  - Absence of low back pain to demarcate an episode: a prospective multicentre study
      in primary care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that an episode of low back pain (LBP) be
      defined as: "a period of pain in the lower back lasting for more than 24 h
      preceded and followed by a period of at least 1 month without LBP". Previous
      studies have tested the definition in the general population and in secondary
      care populations with distinctly different results. The objectives of this study
      (in a primary care population) were to investigate the prevalence of 1) the
      number of consecutive weeks free from bothersome LBP, 2) the prevalence of at
      least four consecutive weeks free from bothersome LBP at any time during the
      study period, and 3) the prevalence of at least four consecutive weeks free from
      bothersome LBP at any time during the study period among subgroups that reported
      >30 days or <=30 days of LBP the preceding year. METHOD: In this prospective
      multicentre study subjects with LBP (n = 262) were consecutively recruited from
      chiropractic primary care clinics in Sweden. The number of days with bothersome
      LBP was collected through weekly automated text messages. The maximum number of
      weeks in a row without bothersome LBP and the number of periods of at least four
      consecutive weeks free from bothersome LBP was counted for each individual and
      analysed as proportions. RESULTS: Data from 222 recruited subjects were analysed,
      of which 59 % reported at least one period of four consecutive weeks free from
      bothersome LBP. The number of consecutive pain free weeks ranged from 82 (at
      least one) to 31 % (9 or more). In subjects with a total duration of LBP of <= 30
      days the previous year, 75 % reported a period of 4 consecutive weeks free from
      bothersome LBP during the study period whereas this was reported by only 48 % of
      subjects with a total duration of LBP of >30 days the previous year. CONCLUSION:
      Prevalence of four consecutive pain free weeks is found in the majority of
      subjects in this population logically reflects duration of LBP within the sample
      and may be applied on patients in primary care to demarcate a LBP episode.

PMID- 26893825
TI  - A survey of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease patients in Shanghai
      area and literature review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Levodopa and dopamine agonists are the main treatments for
      Parkinson's disease (PD) in recent years. Increased drug dosages are linked to
      some severe side effects, one of which is impulse control disorders (ICD). Many
      studies have reported the related risk factors of ICDs, such as dopamine agonist,
      male sex, younger age, earlier age of onset and so on. This study aims to
      investigate the incidence of ICD in Chinese PD patients from Shanghai area,
      explore the association of ICD with dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). METHODS:
      Two hundred seventeen PD patients were consecutively recruited from the Movement
      Disorder Clinic of Ruijin Hospital from March to October 2013. Minnesota
      Impulsive Disorders Interview was used to assess the PD patients. PD patients
      with possible ICD would undergo a further interview by a movement disorder
      specialist to confirm the diagnosis. Clinical information was also collected.
      RESULTS: Nine PD patients (4.15 %) showed ICD behaviors as follows:
      hypersexuality (4, 1.84 %), pathological gambling (3, 1.38 %), binge eating (1,
      0.46 %), compulsive shopping (1, 0.46 %). Compared with the non-ICD PD group, ICD
      PD group took more dopamine agonists (LED 119.4 +/- 86.4 mg/d vs 60.5 +/- 80.5
      mg/d, P = 0.019), had higher total levodopa equivalent dosage (TLED 912.81 +/-
      878.73 mg/d vs 503.78 +/- 359.14 mg/d, P = 0.031), and had higher H&Y stage (2.33
      +/- 0.87 vs 1.41 +/- 0.52, p = 0.013). However, logistic regression analysis
      didn't reveal the above factors as independent risk factors of ICD behaviors in
      our study. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ICDs behaviors in PD patients in our
      study is much lower than in western countries. ICD-PD group took higher dopamine
      agonists and higher total levodopa equivalent dosage, even though logistic
      regression analysis didn't reveal them as independent risk factors.

PMID- 26893826
TI  - miR-126: A novel regulator in colon cancer.
AB  - Colon cancer is one of the most common, lethal diseases worldwide. Tumor
      metastasis and chemotherapy resistance are the main reasons for its poor
      prognosis and high fatality rate. Tumor development is thought of as one of the
      most complex cellular events as it is a multi-step cascading process involving
      infinite proliferation, invasion and immigration. Recently, increasing studies
      have demonstrated that microRNA-126 (miR-126) has an important role in colon
      cancer. The expression of miR-126 decreased significantly in colon cancer,
      particularly in highly metastatic cell lines. miR-126 controls tumor cell growth,
      metastasis and survival via inactivation of the oncogene signaling pathway,
      indicating that miR-126 may serve as a therapeutic target for anticancer therapy.
      Potentially, miR-126 was also reported to be an ideal molecular target as a novel
      biomarker for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer due to its changeable
      expression level. In the present review, the current knowledge regarding
      regulatory function of miR-126 is summarized along with its underlying mechanisms
      in colon cancer.

PMID- 26893822
TI  - Failed upregulation of TFAM protein and mitochondrial DNA in oxidatively
      deficient fibers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease locomotor muscle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Low mitochondrial content and oxidative capacity are well-established
      features of locomotor muscle dysfunction, a prevalent and debilitating systemic
      occurrence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
      Although the exact cause is not firmly established, physical inactivity and
      oxidative stress are among the proposed underlying mechanisms. Here, we assess
      the impact of COPD pathophysiology on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity,
      biogenesis, and cellular oxidative capacity in locomotor muscle of COPD patients
      and healthy controls. We hypothesized that the high oxidative stress environment
      of COPD muscle would yield a higher presence of deletion-containing mtDNA and
      oxidative-deficient fibers and impaired capacity for mitochondrial biogenesis.
      METHODS: Vastus lateralis biopsies were analyzed from 29 COPD patients and 19
      healthy age-matched controls for the presence of mtDNA deletions, levels of
      oxidatively damaged DNA, mtDNA copy number, and regulators of mitochondrial
      biogenesis as well the proportion of oxidative-deficient fibers (detected
      histologically as cytochrome c oxidase-deficient, succinate dehydrogenase
      positive (COX(-)/SDH(+) )). Additionally, mtDNA copy number and mitochondrial
      transcription factor A (TFAM) content were measured in laser captured COX(
      )SDH(+) and normal single fibers of both COPD and controls. RESULTS: Compared to
      controls, COPD muscle exhibited significantly higher levels of oxidatively
      damaged DNA (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels = 387 +/- 41 vs. 258 +/-
      21 pg/mL) and higher prevalence of mtDNA deletions (74 vs. 15 % of subjects in
      each group), which was accompanied by a higher abundance of oxidative-deficient
      fibers (8.0 +/- 2.1 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4 %). Interestingly, COPD patients with mtDNA
      deletions had higher levels of 8-OHdG (457 +/- 46 pg/mL) and longer smoking
      history (66.3 +/- 7.5 years) than patients without deletions (197 +/- 29 pg/mL;
      38.0 +/- 7.3 years). Transcript levels of regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis
      and oxidative metabolism were upregulated in COPD compared to controls. However,
      single fiber analyses of COX(-)/SDH(+) and normal fibers exposed an impairment in
      mitochondrial biogenesis in COPD; in healthy controls, we detected a marked
      upregulation of mtDNA copy number and TFAM protein in COX(-)/SDH(+) compared to
      normal fibers, reflecting the expected compensatory attempt by the oxidative
      deficient cells to increase energy levels; in contrast, they were similar between
      COX(-)/SDH(+) and normal fibers in COPD patients. Taken together, these findings
      suggest that although the signaling factors regulating mitochondrial biogenesis
      are increased in COPD muscle, impairment in the translation of these signals
      prevents the restoration of normal oxidative capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Single fiber
      analyses provide the first substantive evidence that low muscle oxidative
      capacity in COPD cannot be explained by physical inactivity alone and is likely
      driven by the disease pathophysiology.

PMID- 26893827
TI  - Epigenetics in systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease, with
      mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. Previous studies have proposed that
      genes and environments are required for lupus to develop and flare. It has been
      found that epigenetics have a significant influence on SLE. The present review
      will concentrate on epigenetics in SLE. There are a number of studies reporting
      that autoreactive T cells and B cells in patients with SLE have evidence of
      altered patterns of DNA methylation, modifications of histones and microRNA
      (miRNA). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are another type of noncoding RNAs, which
      have an important role in epigenetics. lncRNAs may possibly become a new hotspot
      in SLE.

PMID- 26893828
TI  - Pim-1 kinase as cancer drug target: An update.
AB  - Proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus-1 (Pim-1) is a
      serine/threonine kinase that regulates multiple cellular functions such as cell
      cycle, cell survival, drug resistance. Aberrant elevation of Pim-1 kinase is
      associated with numerous types of cancer. Two distinct isoforms of Pim-1 (Pim-1S
      and Pim-1L) show distinct cellular functions. Pim-1S predominately localizes to
      the nucleus and Pim-1L localizes to plasma membrane for drug resistance. Recent
      studies show that mitochondrial Pim-1 maintains mitochondrial integrity. Pim-1 is
      emerging as a cancer drug target, particularly in prostate cancer. Recently the
      potent new functions of Pim-1 in immunotherapy, senescence bypass, metastasis and
      epigenetic dynamics have been found. The aim of the present updated review is to
      provide brief information regarding networks of Pim-1 kinase and focus on its
      recent advances as a novel drug target.

PMID- 26893829
TI  - Analysis of the prognostic risk factors of idiopathic membranous nephropathy
      using a new surrogate end-point.
AB  - Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is one of the most common causes of
      nephrotic syndrome (NS) in adults. The latest study of the chronic kidney disease
      prognosis consortium showed that a 30% decrease in the estimated glomerular
      filtration rate (eGFR) within 2 years could cover more patients and showed a
      better correlation with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), as compared with serum
      creatinine (SCr). The aim of the present study was to analyze prognostic factors
      of ESRD using a 30% decrease in eGFR within 2 years as the end-point. The medical
      records of patients who were diagnosed as having IMN by clinical pathology
      between February 2011 and August 2012 and had been followed up for >=24 months
      were analyzed retrospectively. A 30% decrease in eGFR or the occurrence of ESRD
      were the end-points. Factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed by the chi2
      test and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the cumulative risk of
      risk factors was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve. A total of 73 patients with IMN
      were confirmed by clinical pathology. Blood pressure, tubulointerstitial injury
      area (TIA), glomerular sclerosis ratio, SCr, blood urea nitrogen, cystatin C,
      serum albumin and 24-h urine protein. In total, 28 patients (38.4%) reached the
      observation end-point. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only
      age >=60 years, serum albumin <25 g/l and TIA >25% were independent risk factors
      for predicting the occurrence of end-point events in the two groups (P<0.05),
      which increased the risk of the occurrence of end-point events in IMN patients by
      3.471-, 3.195- and 6.724-fold, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the
      occurrence of end-point events within 2 years was significantly higher in IMN
      patients whose age was >=60 years, serum albumin <25 g/l and TIA >25% (log-rank
      P=0.004, P=0.024 and P=0.001). The results of the present study revealed that age
      >=60 years, low serum albumin concentrations and severe tubulointerstitial injury
      are independent risk factors for the occurrence of ESRD in IMN patients.

PMID- 26893831
TI  - Neurological function following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion is improved by the
      Ruyi Zhenbao pill in a rats.
AB  - The present study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of
      the Ruyi Zhenbao pill on neurological function following cerebral
      ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent middle cerebral
      artery occlusion following reperfusion. The rats received intragastrically either
      sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (control and model groups) or Ruyi Zhenbao pill at
      doses of 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg. Neurological function was assessed by cylinder,
      adhesive and beam-walking tests after 14-day Ruyi Zhenbao pill treatment.
      Neurogenesis and angiogenesis were detected using immunofluorescence staining.
      The expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth
      factor (NGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Treatment with 0.4 and 0.8 g/kg Ruyi Zhenbao
      for 14 days significantly improved neurological function, and increased the
      number of von Willebrand Factor- and neuronal nuclear antigen-positive cells in
      the ischemic hemisphere of rats. Ruyi Zhenbao pill treatment also significantly
      enhanced the expression levels of BDNF, NGF and VEGF in the ischemic hemisphere.
      The results demonstrated that the Ruyi Zhenbao pill improved neurological
      function following ischemia in rats. The mechanisms of the Ruyi Zhenbao pill are
      associated with increasing the expression levels of BDNF, NGF and VEGF, and
      subsequently promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the ischemic zone.

PMID- 26893830
TI  - Fas-670A>G polymorphism is not associated with an increased risk of acute myeloid
      leukemia development.
AB  - The association between the increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and
      Fas promoter polymorphisms has been reported previously; however, the results are
      inconclusive. The present study performed one case-control study to investigate
      the association, and a total of 98 AML patients and 2,014 healthy controls were
      genotyped. The data showed that the distribution of Fas-670AA, GA and GG
      genotypes among the AML patients were not significantly different from those of
      the healthy controls, all P>0.05. Following this a sub-study was conducted to
      analyze individuals who neither smoked nor drank. The results demonstrated that
      there was still no significant association between the Fas-670 polymorphism and
      risk of AML development, all P>0.05. Furthermore, in order to address a more
      accurate estimation of the association, a meta-analysis was conducted. Data were
      systematically collected from the Pubmed, EMBASE and the Wanfang Library. A total
      of 3 studies were included in this meta-analysis, which contained 1,144 AML cases
      and 3,806 controls. No significant association was detected between the Fas
      670A>G polymorphism and AML risk [GA+GG vs. AA: odds ratio (OR) 0.93; 95%
      confidence interval (CI), 0.79-1.09; GG vs. AA: OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.24; GA
      vs. AA: OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.94-1.32; GG vs. AA+GA: OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79-1.12; G
      vs. A: OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.91-1.12; all P>0.05). The analysis clearly indicated
      that there was no significant connection between the Fas-670A>G polymorphism and
      the increased risk of AML.

PMID- 26893832
TI  - Expression of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta is a risk factor for
      triple negative breast cancer relapse.
AB  - Patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a higher rate of distant
      recurrence and a poorer prognosis than those with other breast cancer subtypes.
      Therefore, it is important to study the mechanism of TNBC relapse. A
      retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of receptor protein
      tyrosine phosphatase zeta (PTPRZ1) and pleiotrophin (PTN) was performed for 325
      cases of breast cancer. These samples included 66 cases of luminal A breast
      cancer, 67 cases of luminal B breast cancer, 78 cases of Her-2-enriched breast
      cancer, 78 cases of TNBC and 36 cases of relapsed TNBC (RTNBC). In addition, 30
      control specimens and 30 cases of metastasized lymph nodes were examined. PTPRZ1
      and PTN were highly expressed in the RTNBC group. Compared with the RTNBC group,
      significant differences in the expression of PTPRZ1 were observed between the
      TNBC, BC and control groups. A significant difference was observed in the
      expression of PTN in the BC group (P<0.05) compared to RTNBC, and there were no
      significant differences in the expression of PTPRZ1 and PTN among the molecular
      subtypes. No significant correlation was observed between the expression of
      PTPRZ1, PTN, ER, PR, Her-2 and ALN and the tumor size or menopause status. No
      significant correlation was identified between the expression of PTPRZ1 and PTN
      and the expression of CD24 and CD44. In summary, high expression of PTPRZ1 may be
      an independent risk indicator for TNBC recurrence and metastasis.

PMID- 26893833
TI  - Minocycline induces protective autophagy in vascular endothelial cells exposed to
      an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.
AB  - Minocycline has been reported to exhibit advantageous effects on ischemic stroke;
      however, the precise mechanism of minocycline remains to be established. In the
      present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to
      in vitro simulated ischemia/reperfusion conditions to determine the potential
      effect of minocycline-induced autophagy on HUVEC damage under oxygen-glucose
      deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The study demonstrated that minocycline enhanced
      autophagy in a dose-dependent manner in HUVECs exposed to OGD/R, and only low
      dose minocycline protected HUVECs from OGD/R-induced damage. Subsequently, 3
      methyladenine (3-MA) was added into the culture media and the protective effect
      of minocycline was abolished. At the same time, it has been observed that
      simultaneous treatment with 3-MA also inhibited the autophagy activity induced by
      minocycline. This finding could suggest that autophagy induced by minocycline
      serves as one of the potential protective mechanism underlying the beneficial
      effects of minocycline on ischemic injury.

PMID- 26893834
TI  - Association of genetic variants with atrial fibrillation.
AB  - Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified various genes and loci
      that confer susceptibility to coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction
      among Caucasian populations. As myocardial ischemia is an important risk factor
      for atrial fibrillation, we hypothesized that certain polymorphisms may
      contribute to the genetic susceptibility to atrial fibrillation through affecting
      the susceptibility to coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was
      to examine the possible association of atrial fibrillation in Japanese
      individuals with 29 polymorphisms identified as susceptibility loci for coronary
      artery disease or myocardial infarction in the meta-analyses of GWASs in
      Caucasian populations. The study subjects comprised 5,470 Japanese individuals
      (305 subjects with atrial fibrillation and 5,165 controls). Genotypes for 29
      polymorphisms were determined by a method that combines the polymerase chain
      reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes with suspension array
      technology. Comparisons of the allele frequencies by the chi2 test revealed that
      rs599839 (G->A) of the proline/serine-rich coiled-coil 1 gene (PSRC1, P=0.0084)
      and rs11556924 (C->T, Arg363His) of the zinc finger, C3HC-type containing 1 gene
      (ZC3HC1, P=0.0076) were significantly (P<0.01) associated with atrial
      fibrillation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age,
      gender, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the prevalence
      of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia revealed that
      rs599839 (P=0.0043; odds ratio, 1.56; dominant model) and rs11556924 (P=0.0043;
      odds ratio, 1.93; dominant model) were significantly associated with atrial
      fibrillation, with the minor G and T alleles, respectively, representing risk
      factors for this condition. PSRC1 and ZC3HC1 may thus be susceptibility loci for
      atrial fibrillation in Japanese individuals.

PMID- 26893835
TI  - Efficacy of alogliptin in preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
      progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.
AB  - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents one of the most common
      causes of chronic liver disease worldwide and is characterized by chronic liver
      inflammation and fibrosis leading to cirrhosis and increased risk of liver cancer
      in a proportion of patients. Effective anti-fibrotic agents have yet to be
      approved for the treatment of NAFLD. The present study aimed to evaluate the
      efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4-I) in the prevention of NAFLD
      progression in NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was a single arm,
      multi-centre, non-randomised study of NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes. NAFLD
      was diagnosed according to ultrasonographic findings. All the patients received
      25 mg/day of alogliptin for 12 months. The efficacy of alogliptin in preventing
      NAFLD progression was assessed using overall NAFIC scores [non-alcoholic
      steatohepatitis (NASH), ferritin, insulin and type IV collagen 7S] and individual
      component scores according to baseline haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Of the 39
      patients enrolled in the study, 16 patients (40.3%) had NAFIC scores >2 points,
      indicating the presence of NASH. NAFIC scores markedly decreased following 12
      months of alogliptin administration, but remained >2 points in 10 patients,
      indicating that NASH may have persisted in these patients. The relative risks for
      persistent NASH were 4.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-40.0) in the highest
      HbA1c tertile group compared with those in the lowest group. However, no
      statistically significant linear trend was observed across all HbA1c categories
      (P=0.145). DPP4-I may have efficacy against NAFLD progression in patients with
      type 2 diabetes with relatively lower HbA1c levels. DPP4-I may represent a
      potential new therapeutic strategy for the prevention of disease progression in
      NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26893836
TI  - Morphological and functional changes of the optic nerve following traumatic optic
      nerve injuries in rabbits.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological changes of the
      optic nerve following traumatic injuries and decompression at different times
      after injury, and to observe the changes of the visually evoked potentials, to
      identify the relevant associations between surgical opportunity and the clinical
      effect of traumatic optic nerve injuries. Rabbits were chosen as the animal model
      for the study. All the rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (A-E),
      representing the normal control, decompression in 48 h, in 1 week, in 2 weeks and
      non-decompression groups, respectively. The pattern reversal visual evoked
      potentials (P-VEP) and morphological changes of the optic nerve were observed.
      The P-VEP of each healthy rabbit revealed typical NPN contours, while NPN waves
      in the injured rabbits were low and flat. The latent period of the P-wave was
      lengthened and the amplitude was reduced. The differences of the latent period
      and amplitude pre- and post-trauma were statistically significant. The
      morphological changes were also assessed. In the normal control group, the
      astrocytes of the optic nerve exhibited a cylindrical form and were arranged
      evenly on the vertical section. The neural fibers were arranged neatly, were even
      following application of a dye, and the cross section exhibited a normal
      configuration of the blood vessel. For the 48-h decompression group, the
      arrangement of the astrocytes was even on the vertical section, and vacuoles,
      slight swelling of the nerve, exudation around the blood vessel and a small
      amount of astrocytic hyperplasia were observed in the damaged area. In the non
      decompression group there were large areas of necrosis, clear nerve
      demyelination, serious exudation around the blood vessel and astrocytic
      hyperplasia were observed. In conclusion, the optic nerve decompression is
      beneficial to protect the visual function in indirect optic nerve injuries.
      Visual function may be improved by decompression in 48 h compared to 2 weeks. In
      order to prevent secondary axon injury and to protect visual functions, the
      decompression should be performed as soon as possible.

PMID- 26893837
TI  - Expression profiling of microRNAs in optineurin (E50K) mutant transgenic mice.
AB  - An E50K substitution in the transcription factor optineurin (OPTN) induces
      primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). To explore the potential role of microRNAs
      (miRNAs) in E50K OPTN-induced POAG, miRNA expression profiling was performed on
      retinal samples from OPTN (E50K) transgenic and wild-type mice. The retinas were
      collected from 30 transgenic and 30 wild-type mice, and miRNA expression was
      evaluated using a genome-wide miRNA microarray. miRNAs that were differentially
      expressed in retinal samples from OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice were identified and
      validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT
      qPCR). Additional gene ontology and signaling pathway analyses were performed
      using bioinformatics tools. A total of 48 miRNAs exhibited increased or decreased
      expression in the retinas from OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice when compared with the
      expression in the retinas from wild-type mice. A total of 5 miRNAs with increased
      expression in OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice could be grouped into one cluster as
      they belong to the miR-8 family and may act as regulators in the development of
      POAG in OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice. RT-qPCR results confirmed significantly
      increased expression of miR-141 in the retinas of OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice as
      compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, these results show that certain miRNAs
      are differentially expressed in the retinas of OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice and
      may play roles in the pathogenesis of POAG induced by OPTN (E50K).

PMID- 26893838
TI  - Investigation of testosterone-mediated non-transcriptional inhibition of Ca2+ in
      vascular smooth muscle cells.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of short-term testosterone
      treatment on Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of male rats. Cells
      were loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent indicator Fura-2 and
      intracellular Ca2+ signals of VSMCs were measured using a Nikon TE2000-E live
      cell imaging workstation. The baseline level of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration
      ([Ca2+]i) in resting state VSMCs was ~100 nmol/l. Testosterone alone led to a
      slow increase in [Ca2+]i, but there was no significant difference compared with
      the ethanol vehicle control. When VSMCs were stimulated with a high-potassium
      solution (containing 42 mmol/l of K+), [Ca2+]i rose rapidly and remained at a
      high plateau level. Short-term treatment using physiological (40 nmol/l) or
      supraphysiological (4 umol/l) levels of testosterone at either the plateau phase
      or the pretreatment stage could significantly inhibit the [Ca2+]i increase
      induced by high-potassium solutions. Testosterone coupled to bovine serum albumin
      also had a similar effect and repetitive testosterone interventions over a short
      time-frame led to inhibition. Testosterone has a non-transcriptional inhibition
      effect on the [Ca2+]i of VSMCs and acts with the cell membranes of VSMCs to
      inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ channel-mediated Ca2+ influx, which may be one of the
      mechanisms underlying testosterone-mediated vasodilation.

PMID- 26893839
TI  - 5-HTR2A and IL-6 polymorphisms and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
AB  - At present, variants of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (5-HTR2A) and
      interleukin-6 (IL-6) genes may be susceptible markers to develop for obstructive
      sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Therefore, the aim of the present study
      was to explore the potential associations between the 5-HTR2A and IL-6 single
      nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and OSAHS. In total there were 130 cases and 136
      controls collected for genotyping of 5-HTR2A (rs6311) and IL-6 (rs1800796) SNPs.
      The association of these SNPs with OSAHS risk were evaluated by computing the
      odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from multivariate unconditional
      logistic regression analyses with adjustment for gender and age. The results
      indicated that the genotype and allele frequencies in these two loci (rs6311 and
      rs1800796) were not significantly different between the cases and controls.
      However, carrying the 'C' allele of rs6311 has a protective effect against OSAHS
      via the gender-specific comparison (P=0.0409; OR, 1.744; 95% CI, 1.021-2.978).
      The 'G' allele and 'CG' genotype distribution of rs1800796, and 'C' allele and
      'CT' genotype distribution of rs6311 have significant differences between the
      mild and moderate group (P<0.05). Similarly, the genotype distribution of rs6311
      has differences between mild and severe cases (P=0.0026). The current research
      demonstrated that variants of rs6311 have an association with OSAHS in males.
      Additionally, polymorphisms of rs6311 and rs1800796 have relevance to the
      severity of OSAHS.

PMID- 26893840
TI  - Genotyping of clinical varicella-zoster virus isolates collected from Yunnan in
      Southwestern China.
AB  - Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) belongs to the alpha-herpesvirus family.
      Genetically, it is stable and is divided into several genotypes based upon the
      genetic variations. The genotypes of VZV are rarely studied in the Southwestern
      region of China. In the present study, the common genetic variations in the VZV
      genes were examined in 42 VZV isolates collected from the patients with herpes
      zoster in the Yunnan province (Southwestern China). The restriction fragment
      length polymorphism analysis of open reading frames (ORFs) 38, 54 and 62 in the
      VZV genes showed that all the collected VZV isolates were PstI, BglI and SmaI
      positive. The R5 variable-repeat region in these isolates was variable (R5A:
      46.4%; R5B: 53.6%). The sequencing data of ORFs 1, 21, 22 and 54 indicated that
      41 of the 42 collected VZV isolates could be grouped into genotype J or J1. Only
      one VZV isolate was identified as genotype A1 or M2. No new substitutions in the
      sequenced fragments were found in the collected VZV isolates. The results of the
      present study provided a preliminary genetic characterization of the VZV strains
      in the Yunnan province of Southwestern China.

PMID- 26893841
TI  - A novel HCFC1 variant in male siblings with intellectual disability and
      microcephaly in the absence of cobalamin disorder.
AB  - Approximately 10-15% of intellectual disability (ID) cases are caused by genetic
      aberrations affecting chromosome X, a condition termed X-linked ID (XLID).
      Examination by whole-exome sequencing of two male siblings with microcephaly and
      suspected XLID with an unknown genetic basis revealed that they were both
      hemizygous for a predicted pathogenic variant (p.Ala897Val) causing a non
      synonymous substitution of an evolutionary conserved amino acid within the host
      cell factor C1 (HCFC1) gene. Subsequent analysis determined that this was a rare
      variant not identified in 100 control individuals or in online databases of
      control individuals. Recent studies have reported mutations affecting HCFC1 in
      patients with ID and dysmorphic features that are associated with defective
      cobalamin metabolism. Biochemical investigations did not find evidence of an
      association between the variant identified in the present study and cobalamin
      metabolic disorder. This study offers further support for mutations of HCFC1
      being implicated in XLID and microcephaly, but that these are not necessarily
      associated with cobalamin disorder.

PMID- 26893842
TI  - Chemical study of the Chinese medicine Pi Han Yao.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to ivnestigate the chemical constituents of the
      Chinese medicine Pi Han Yao (Gueldenstaedtia delavayi Franch) decoction.
      Following this, the quantitative determination of the formononetin and maackiain
      content in Pi Han Yao was established. The chemical constituents were isolated by
      column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by analysis of
      spectrometric data and chemical evidence. High-performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC) was used for the determination of the formononetin and maackiain content
      in Pi Han Yao. Seven flavanones were isolated from the Pi Han Yao decoction. Five
      of the chemical structures were elucidated as 1, 7,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy
      isoflavanol; 2, maackiain; 3, formononetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside; 4, formononetin;
      and 5, 9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-adenosine. The other two compounds and their
      structures require further study. Additionally, the linear range of formononetin
      and maackiain were 0.03992-0.3992 and 0.0292-0.292 ug, and their recoveries were
      100.31 and 100.44%. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 1-5 were obtained
      from Pi Han Yao for the first time. The HPLC method use for determination of
      formononetin and maackiain in Pi Han Yao was simple, accurate and reliable.
      Findings from the present study suggest that these methods may be used to
      evaluate the quality of Pi Han Yao and provide an experience basis for quality
      standards of this medicinal material.

PMID- 26893843
TI  - Silencing of FRAT1 by siRNA inhibits the proliferation of SGC7901 human gastric
      adenocarcinoma cells.
AB  - Frequently rearranged in advanced T cell lymphomas-1 (FRAT1) positively regulates
      the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3
      mediated phosphorylation of beta-catenin. FRAT1 is a proto-oncogene, implicated
      in tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of FRAT1
      silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of SGC7901 cells. FRAT1 in SGC7901
      cells was silenced by RNA interference. Reverse transcription-quantitative
      polymerase chain reaction was used for the analysis of FRAT1 mRNA and western
      blotting was used to evaluate FRAT1 and beta-catenin protein levels. Cell
      proliferation was analyzed by the MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution and
      apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of FRAT1 mRNA, FRAT1
      and beta-catenin protein in FRAT1-silenced SGC7901 cells were reduced
      significantly compared to untreated cells. The proliferation of FRAT1 silenced
      SGC7901 cells decreased significantly The FRAT1 silenced SGC7901 cells were
      arrested at G0/G1 stage to a greater degree, and apoptosis was increased. In
      summary, silencing of FRAT1 inhibits SGC7901 cell proliferation and induces
      apoptosis, possible through a reduction in beta-catenin expression. FRAT1 may
      serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

PMID- 26893844
TI  - Association of the interleukin-18 receptor 1 and interleukin-18 receptor
      accessory protein polymorphisms with the risk of esophageal cancer.
AB  - Esophageal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated fatalities and
      the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer. In addition to environmental risk
      factors, genetic factors may have a significant role in esophageal cancer
      carcinogenesis. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted to evaluate the
      genetic effects of functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the interleukin
      18 (IL-18), IL-18 receptor 1 protein (IL-18R1), IL-18 receptor accessory protein
      (IL-18RAP) and IL-28B on the development of esophageal cancer. In total, 380
      esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases and 380 controls were recruited
      for the present study. The IL-18 rs360719 A>G, IL-18R1 rs13015714 G>T, IL-18RAP
      rs917997 C>T and IL-28B rs8099917 T>G genotypes were determined. No association
      was observed between the IL-18R1 rs13015714 G>T, IL-18RAP rs917997 C>T and IL-28B
      rs8099917 T>G polymorphisms and the risk of ESCC. However, in stratification
      analyses, a significantly decreased risk of ESCC associated with the IL-18R1
      rs13015714 G>T polymorphism and a significantly increased risk of ESCC associated
      with the IL-18RAP rs917997 C>T polymorphism was evident among male patients and
      patients who smoked or consumed alcohol. These findings highlighted that
      functional polymorphisms IL-18R1 rs13015714 G>T and IL-18RAP rs917997 C>T may
      contribute to ESCC susceptibility among these subgroups. However, the present
      results were obtained with a limited sample size and further epidemiological
      studies are warranted to clarify the role of IL-18R1 and IL-18RAP variants in the
      development of ESCC.

PMID- 26893845
TI  - Analysis of XRCC2 and XRCC3 gene polymorphisms in pancreatic cancer.
AB  - The double-strand break DNA repair pathway, including XRCC2 and XRCC3 genes, is
      implicated in maintaining genomic stability and therefore could affect the
      pancreatic cancer risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical
      significance of the XRCC2 and XRCC3 gene polymorphisms in patients with
      pancreatic cancer. The present study included 203 patients: 101 with pancreatic
      cancer and 102 healthy controls. The Arg188His XRCC2 and the Thr241Met XRCC3 gene
      polymorphisms have been studied in DNA isolated from blood samples. The
      associations of the analysed genotypes and clinical data at diagnosis have been
      evaluated. The frequencies of the genotypes of the Arg188His XRCC2 and Thr241Met
      XRCC3 polymorphisms did not differ significantly between patients and controls.
      The study did not identify a correlation between the XRCC2 and XRCC3 genes
      polymorphisms and tumor size or localisation. Analysed polymorphisms were also
      not associated with the gender and age of the patient, or the presence of
      regional or distant metastases. In conclusion, the present study did not suggest
      an association between the Arg188His XRCC2 and the Thr241Met XRCC3 polymorphisms
      and the clinical data of patients with pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 26893846
TI  - Association between MMP-2 expression and prostate cancer: A meta-analysis.
AB  - Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a member of the MMP family, which is
      associated with numerous types of cancer. Although it has been widely reported,
      the prognostic value of MMP-2 expression in prostate cancer (PCa) remains
      controversial. Thus, the present meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the
      association and prognostic value of MMP-2 expression in PCa. PubMed, Cochrane
      Library and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched
      for all the published case-control studies on the association between MMP-2
      expression and PCa until July 2015. The odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence
      intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the association of MMP-2 expression and
      PCa. ORs and 95% CIs were applied to clarify this association. Several subgroup
      analyses were also conducted according to different indexes in the case group. In
      total, 8 studies including 675 patients were included in the final meta-analysis.
      The results of the meta-analysis showed that MMP-2 expression in the PCa group
      was significantly higher than that in the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
      group (95% CI, 0.06-0.15; Z=10.48; P<0.00001). Furthermore, MMP-2 expression was
      significantly associated with Gleason Score (95% CI, 0.18-0.68; Z=3.09; P=0.002)
      and clinical stages (95% CI, 0.12-0.82; Z=2.36; P=0.02), and not significantly
      associated with Gleason score serum prostate specific antigen (95% CI, 0.30-1.66;
      Z=0.80; P=0.43). In conclusion, MMP-2 is overexpressed in PCa tissues compared
      with BPH. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly associated with the grade of
      PCa malignancy.

PMID- 26893847
TI  - Associations of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene polymorphisms
      with risk of ischemic stroke.
AB  - Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) has an important function in
      the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to
      investigate the correlation between the variation of polymorphisms (R92H and
      V279F) in PAF-AH and ischemic stroke. A total of 375 patients with ischemic
      stroke and 370 healthy controls were recruited into the study. Polymorphisms of
      V279F and R92H in PAF-AH were detected by polymerase chain reaction and DNA
      direct sequencing method. No significant association was observed between V279F
      and ischemic stroke. However, the RH+HH genotype, RH genotype and H allele of
      R92H were significantly associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke
      (P=0.02, P=0.03 and P=0.02, respectively), In addition, these correlations
      remained following adjustment for confounding risk factors of stroke.
      Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed that a significant association with R92H
      was identified in the large-artery atherosclerotic stroke subgroup. These
      findings indicated that variation of R92H in the PAF-AH gene may contribute to
      ischemic stroke susceptibility in the population studied.

PMID- 26893849
TI  - Development of combined thymic carcinoma and thymoma in an extrathymic lesion
      during long follow-up for recurrent thymoma.
AB  - The present study reported a rare case of combined thymic squamous cell carcinoma
      and thymoma exhibiting a mass on the left chest wall. The patient underwent
      thoracotomy for invasive thymoma 15 years previously, however, suffered a relapse
      in the left intrathoracic space. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and partial
      resection, as secondary surgery for the intrathoracic mass, were performed. The
      histological findings in the resected specimens revealed type B3 thymoma. As the
      patient developed a left chest wall mass and pain in 2013, the mass was resected.
      The histological findings indicated two separate components composed of type B3
      thymoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistological findings revealed that
      the thymoma cells were positive for CD5, while the thymic carcinoma cells were
      negative for CD5. Several reports have demonstrated the coexistence of thymic
      carcinoma and thymoma in the primary thymus, however, the development of a
      combined tumor in an extrathymic lesion is extremely rare. The present case had a
      long follow-up for recurrent thymoma. The present case indicated that the
      development and/or coexistence of malignant components in the thymoma must be
      taken into consideration for the treatment and/or management of patients with
      thymoma and that a pre-existence of CD5 expression in thymoma and the lost change
      may be associated with the process of malignant transformation.

PMID- 26893848
TI  - Metabolism of arachidonic acid by the cytochrome P450 enzyme in patients with
      chronic Keshan disease and dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Keshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy. The etiology of KD is selenium
      deficiency; however, it is not the only one and there is no effective approach to
      preventing and curing this disease. The aim of the present study was to explore
      the differences in the role of arachidonic acid (AA) by the cytochrome P450
      enzyme between chronic KD (CKD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and control
      patients. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used
      to detect the CYP1A1 and CYP2C19 gene expression levels in 6 CKD patients, 6 DCM
      and 6 healthy controls. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was applied to
      detect serum protein expression of CYP1A1 and CYP2C19, AA and epoxyeicosatrienoic
      acids (EETs), and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (20-HETE) in 67 CKD patients,
      28 DCM, and 58 controls. The present results showed that the expression levels of
      CYP1A1 and CYP2C19 genes were significantly upregulated compared with the control
      group (P<0.01). The expression level of the CYP1A1 protein in the CKD (49.55+/
      35.11 pg/ml) and DCM (46.68 +/-13.01 pg/ml) groups were enhanced compared with
      the control group (44.33+/-16.76 pg/ml) (P<0.01). The production of the CYP2C19
      protein in the CKD (57.52+/-28.22 pg/ml) and DCM (56.36+/-11.26 pg/ml) groups was
      enhanced compared with the control group (51.43+/-10.76 pg/ml). The
      concentrations of AA in the CKD (126.27+/-47.91 ng/ml) and DCM (133.24+/-58.67
      ng/ml) groups were also significantly increased compared to the control (78.16+/
      23.90 ng/ml) (P<0.001). The concentration of 20-HETE in the CKD (198.34+/-17.22
      ng/ml) and DCM (194.46+/-20.35 ng/ml) groups were also significantly increased
      compared to the control (130.10+/-16.10 ng/ml) (P<0.001). The only difference
      between CKD and DCM was for the expression of the CYP1A1 gene and protein. The
      maximum concentration of EETs was in the control group (44.37+/-6.14 pg/ml), and
      the other two groups were lower than the control group (P<0.001). These findings
      indicated that AA-derived CYP450 metabolites may have a critical role in the
      pathogenesis of KD and DCM. Upregulation of the CYP2C19 gene and frequent protein
      expression may be a protective compensation reaction, while CYP1A1 may aggravate
      myocardial injury.

PMID- 26893850
TI  - Clinical characteristics and pathology of thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of
      the kidney: Report of 3 cases and a literature review.
AB  - Thyroid-like follicular carcinoma (TLFC) of the kidney is an extremely rare type
      of renal tumor, which has not been classified under a known subtype of renal cell
      carcinoma. It is histologically similar to the primary thyroid follicular
      carcinoma; however, the characteristics lack thyroid immunohistochemical markers.
      The aim of the present study was to illustrate the clinical characteristics of 3
      new cases along with a review of the literature. The patients were compared with
      regards to gender, age, location and size of the tumor, imageology, morphology,
      immunohistochemistry and prognosis. According to the limited data, TLFC occurs
      mainly in young women and its clinical manifestations have no difference with
      other renal tumors. Its imageological features resemble a large spectrum of
      benign and malignant renal and extra-renal conditions, which should be eliminated
      in the diagnostic process. Confirmed diagnosis depends on the examination of
      pathology and immunohistochemistry. Surgical ablation is the preferred
      therapeutic method. Currently, TLFC has a relatively good prognosis; however,
      this conclusion requires further cases and long-term follow-ups. Improving the
      understanding of TLFC can help avoid misdiagnosis and prevent inappropriate
      treatment.

PMID- 26893851
TI  - Mogamulizumab treatment of refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma following
      autologous stem cell transplantation: A case report.
AB  - Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) represents a small heterogeneous group of non
      Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that accounts for ~10% of NHLs in western countries and
      ~25% of NHLs in Japan. The disease remains extremely difficult to treat.
      Therefore, novel treatment modalities are required. Mogamulizumab is a humanized
      immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that targets CC chemokine receptor 4. To
      the best of our knowledge, the efficacy of mogamulizumab in patients who are
      refractory to conventional chemotherapy following autologous stem cell
      transplantation has not been investigated previously. The present study reports a
      patient with PTCL who relapsed following autologous stem cell transplantation and
      became resistant to salvage chemotherapy, in whom mogamulizumab showed evident
      efficacy without severe adverse event.

PMID- 26893853
TI  - High expression of HEF1 predicts a poorer prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma:
      A retrospective study.
AB  - Human enhancer of filamentation 1 (HEF1), a scaffold protein, is highly expressed
      in a variety of cancer types and is involved cancer cell growth, migration and
      invasion. The prognostic value of HEF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains
      to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the association
      between the expression of HEF1, the clinical/pathological parameters and survival
      in HCC. In the present study, immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate
      the protein expression of HEF1 in 123 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and their
      adjacent normal liver tissues. Spearman's rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier plots
      and Cox regression model were used to analyze the data. Overexpression of HEF1
      protein was observed in HCC tissue when compared with their adjacent non
      malignant liver tissue. High expression of HEF1 correlated with higher advanced
      tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage and vascular invasion (P<0.05). In univariate
      and multivariate analysis, the expression of HEF1 was identified as an
      independent prognostic factor in the 123 patients with HCC. In subgroup analysis,
      high expression of HEF1 correlated with a poorer prognosis in advanced (TNM
      III+IV) stages (P<0.05). These findings demonstrated the potential value of
      detecting the expression of HEF1 by immunohistochemistry as a prognostic
      biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with HCC.

PMID- 26893852
TI  - Valganciclovir and bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma: A single-institution
      experience.
AB  - Prolonged treatment with adjuvant valganciclovir has been shown in one
      retrospective study to exert a significant effect on overall survival (OS) in
      newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, studies
      evaluating the effectiveness of valganciclovir in the treatment of recurrent GBM
      have not been performed. We evaluated the effect of valganciclovir in the
      recurrent setting in combination with bevacizumab therapy. A retrospective
      analysis was performed on patients treated for recurrent GBM with off-label
      valganciclovir and bevacizumab at Vanderbilt University. We identified 13
      patients who received valganciclovir plus bevacizumab at some point during their
      treatment, 8 of whom were started on valganciclovir and bevacizumab concurrently
      upon first recurrence, whereas 5 had valganciclovir added to their bevacizumab
      regimen prior to a second recurrence. of these patients, 12 were pathologically
      confirmed to have GBM, and 1 patient was diagnosed with gliosarcoma. We also
      identified an institutional cohort of 50 patients who had not been exposed to
      valganciclovir, but were treated with bevacizumab for first recurrence. The
      progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months (PF6) and median OS (mOS) in the
      valganciclovir plus bevacizumab group was 62% and 13.1 months, respectively, for
      all 13 patients, and 50% and 11.3 months, respectively, for the 8 concurrently
      treated patients. In the institutional bevacizumab cohort, the PF6 and mOS were
      34% and 8.7 months, respectively. In this retrospective analysis, valganciclovir
      in combination with bevacizumab exhibited a trend toward improved survival in
      patients with recurrent GBM. However, given the small sample size and the
      retrospective nature of this study, a larger prospective study is required to
      confirm these results.

PMID- 26893855
TI  - One-step nucleic acid amplification assay for intraoperative prediction of
      advanced axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients with sentinel
      lymph node metastasis.
AB  - The one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay is used to
      semiquantitatively measure the cytokeratin (CK)19 mRNA copy numbers of each
      sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer patients. The aim of the present study
      was to evaluate whether the diagnosis of >=4 LN metastases is possible using the
      OSNA assay intraoperatively. Between May, 2010 and December, 2014, a total of 134
      patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) of positive SLNs
      were analyzed. The total tumor load (TTL) was defined as the total CK19 mRNA
      copies of all positive SLNs. The correlation between TTL and >=4 LN metastases
      was evaluated. Of the 134 patients, 31 (23.1%) had >=4 LN metastases. TTL
      >=5.4*104 copies/ul evaluated by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis
      was examined along with other clinicopathological variables. In the multivariate
      analysis, only TTL >=5.4*104 copies/ul was correlated with >=4 LN metastases
      (odds ratio = 2.95, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-7.97, P=0.022). Therefore, TTL
      assessed by the OSNA assay has the potential to be a predictor of >=4 LN
      metastases and it may be useful for the selection of patients with positive SLNs
      in whom ALND may be safely omitted.

PMID- 26893854
TI  - Immunohistochemical expression levels of p53 and eIF4E markers in histologically
      negative surgical margins, and their association with the clinical outcome of
      patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Molecular markers can be used to identify residual cancer at the surgical margins
      of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and assist in evaluating the
      complete resection of the tumour. The purpose of the present study was to
      investigate the expression levels of prognostic molecular markers at the
      histological tumour free surgical margins. In the present clinical retrospective
      study, 24/48 patients were selected with negative surgical margins for further
      analysis with immunohistochemical staining. Contingency tables and Fisher's exact
      tests were used to investigate the association between the expression levels of
      p53 and eukaryotic translation imitation factor 4E (eIF4E) with the clinical
      outcomes for patients with HNSCC. The expression levels of p53 and eIF4E were
      54.2 and 87.5%, respectively, in the surgical margins of patients with HNSCC. A
      total of 3/7 patients with recurrent cancer (42.8%) were identified with p53
      positive margins, and 6 (85.7%) patients exhibited recurrence with eIF4e-positive
      margins. No statistically significant differences were identified for the
      recurrence risk between the overexpression of p53 and eIF4E in the surgical
      margins (P=0.88 and P=0.99, respectively). The eIF4E marker appears to be a more
      marked prognosticator compared with p53, as overexpression of eIF4E was
      identified in the margins of 6/7 patients with local recurrence.

PMID- 26893856
TI  - Intravenous low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with intracardiac extension: A
      CASE OF inaccurate tumor location on contrast-enhanced computed tomography.
AB  - We herein report a case of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with
      intracardiac extension in a 58-year-old woman with a uterine tumor with
      intravascular involvement. The tumor was suspected preoperatively to be an
      endometrial stromal sarcoma by magnetic resonance imaging. The extent of
      intravascular involvement was determined to be below the level of the renal veins
      on preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). However,
      perioperative echography revealed that the tumor extended to the right atrium. An
      emergency cardiotomy with extracorporeal circulation was required. The risk of
      tumor embolism was reduced through transection of the inferior vena cava, but the
      tumor was difficult to remove completely. Postoperative hormonal therapy reduced
      the size of the residual tumor and no recurrence was detected for 1 year. The
      preoperative contrast-enhanced CT was unable to detect the free-floating
      intravascular tumor. This case illustrates a limitation of CT and indicates that
      accurate determination of the tumor extent for planning a surgical strategy in
      similar cases should be performed using multiple imaging methods.

PMID- 26893858
TI  - Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma in pre-existing keratocystic
      odontogenic tumor: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) is a rare type of
      odontogenic carcinoma that arises within the jaws. PIOSCC has no initial
      connection with oral mucosa and possibly develops from the residues of the
      odontogenic epithelium or from an odontogenic cyst or tumor. The diagnosis of
      PIOSCC can be difficult as it must be differentiated from other odontogenic
      carcinomas, such as malignant ameloblastoma, from SCCs arising from the overlying
      oral mucosa, from the primary tumors of the maxillary sinus or nasal mucosa, and
      from the tumors that have metastasized to the jaws from other primary sites. The
      present study reported a rare case of a 59-year-old male patient with a course of
      keratocystic odontogenic tumor for 25 years, between 1988 and 2013, which
      eventually transformed into PIOSCC after at least five recurrences and
      corresponding treatments. The mandible excision and titanium plate reconstruction
      was performed. Follow-up examinations have revealed no sign of recurrence thus
      far. The present study discussed this case from three aspects of clinical
      history, radiological examination and pathological features.

PMID- 26893857
TI  - Evaluation of in vivo efficacy of radiofrequency ablation with D-sorbitol in
      animal liver.
AB  - Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) enables cauterization of liver cancer
      in a limited number of sessions without major complications. In contrast to the
      efficacy of this technique, the size of coagulation necrosis is limited due to
      increased impedance. D-sorbitol has been used as an irrigating fluid during
      transurethral resection of the prostate, since it is considered to be a
      dielectric fluid. In order to determine whether D-sorbitol enhances the effect of
      RFA, RFA was performed by slowly injecting 3% D-sorbitol near the tip of the RFA
      needle. The maximum of the total injected volume of D-sorbitol was 20 ml and RFA
      was terminated if the threshold of impedance was exceeded. RFA and D-sorbitol RFA
      were performed in 5 different parts of pig livers and dog livers in vivo. The
      total volumes of coagulation necrosis in the D-sorbitol RFA group were
      significantly higher compared with those in the RFA group. The total delivered
      energy in the D-sorbitol RFA group was also higher compared with that in the RFA
      group, due to the suppression of impedance elevation. No significant
      complications, such as bleeding or damage, were observed during the D-sorbitol
      RFA procedure in the in vivo model. In conclusion, RFA combined with D-sorbitol
      increases the total volume of coagulation necrosis through controlling impedance
      in the ablated liver and, therefore, D-sorbitol may be useful for the treatment
      of liver cancers.

PMID- 26893859
TI  - Denosumab-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw affects osteoclast formation and
      differentiation: Pathological features of two cases.
AB  - Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is caused by antiresorptive
      (bisphosphonates and denosumab) and antiangiogenic agents, with the first report
      of denosumab-related ONJ emerging in 2010. To date, although certain case reports
      on denosumab-related ONJ have been published, those of ONJ caused by a single
      application of the drug are scarce. In addition, only one report described the
      histopathological features of this condition, although not completely; only the
      sequestrum resected by conservative surgery was evaluated. Although conservative
      treatment is recommended, the effectiveness of extensive surgery in the early
      stages of bisphosphonate-related ONJ has been described in recent years. Here we
      report the clinical and histopathological features of denosumab-related ONJ
      caused by single application of the drug, which was treated by extensive surgery
      in two patients. Histopathological analysis revealed a decreased number of
      osteoclasts in viable bone around the sequestrum, and these appeared
      morphologically immature, as indicated by the presence of very few nuclei. These
      findings are different from those for bisphosphonate-related ONJ and may assist
      in elucidating the mechanism underlying denosumab-related ONJ. Furthermore,
      extensive surgery may be effective for the management of this condition.

PMID- 26893860
TI  - Genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinoma with a micropapillary component.
AB  - Pulmonary adenocarcinoma (PA) with a micropapillary component (PA-MPC) is known
      as an aggressive subtype of PA. The molecular profiles of PA-MPC have not been
      well characterized. the pathological reports of patients who underwent surgical
      resection for lung cancer between April, 2004 and May, 2012 were reviewed. Of the
      674 patients diagnosed with PA, 28 were found to have MPC. A total of 138
      resected PAs without MPC were selected in the same period to serve as age-,
      gender- and smoking status-matched controls to the PA-MPC group. Mutational
      status was determined by the following two methods: SNaPshot assay based on
      multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), primer extension and capillary
      electrophoresis that was designed to assess 38 somatic mutations in 8 genes
      [AKT1, BRAF, endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral
      oncogene homolog (KRAS), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1, neuroblastoma
      RAS viral oncogene homolog, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase,
      catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) and phosphatase and tensin homolog]; and a PCR
      based sizing assay that assesses EGFR exon 19 (deletions), EGFR exon 20
      (insertions) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 exon 20 (insertions).
      echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase
      fusion gene (EML4-ALK) was screened by ALK immunohistochemistry and confirmed
      using the reverse transcription PCR assay and the break-apart fluorescence in
      situ hybridization assay. Regarding genetic alterations, 13 (46.4%) of the 28 PA
      MPCs harbored mutually exclusive mutations: 9 (32.1%) EGFR mutations, 1 (3.6%)
      KRAS mutation and 3 (10.7%) EML4-ALK fusion genes. PAs without MPC harbored 42
      (30.4%) EGFR mutations, 17 (12.3%) KRAS mutations, 3 (2.2%) EML4-ALK fusion genes
      and 1 (0.7%) PIK3CA mutation. EML4-ALK fusion genes appeared to occur
      significantly more frequently in PA-MPCs compared with PAs without MPC (P=0.027).
      Although the sample size was small, our study suggests that the molecular
      pathogenesis of PA-MPC may be different from that of other adenocarcinomas.

PMID- 26893861
TI  - Occurrence of an intrathoracic desmoid tumor following breast cancer treatment: A
      case report.
AB  - Desmoid tumors are rarely observed tumors that develop from deep muscle and
      aponeurotic tissues. They are histologically intermediate, and exhibit a local
      aggressive course. These tumors have been observed in the abdominal region, and
      are rarely encountered in the thoracic wall. The most effective treatment appears
      to be surgery. A 59-year-old female patient was admitted with the complaint of
      right breast pain and a palpable mass. The patient had undergone a modified
      radical mastectomy surgical procedure of the right breast due to invasive breast
      carcinoma 10 years before. A mass with a soft tissue density and a size of 44*22
      mm was detected in the thoracic computed tomography of the patient, which
      subsequently resulted in biopsy followed by surgery. As a result of the
      pathological examination of the mass, the diagnosis was determined as desmoid
      tumor. Due to the closeness of the tumor to the surgical margin, the patient was
      administered radiotherapy and maintenance imatinib treatment was started.

PMID- 26893862
TI  - Adenocarcinoma of the lung with concomitant ALK fusion gene and EGFR gene
      mutation: A case report and literature review.
AB  - Targeted therapy is currently a very popular approach to cancer treatment.
      Personalized targeted therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is based on
      the mutation status of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat
      sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, B-Raf proto-oncogene and anaplastic lymphoma
      kinase (ALK) fusion gene, with different mutations requiring different treatment.
      Herein, we present a rare case of adenocarcinoma of the lung harboring EGFR- and
      ALK-activating mutations simultaneously. The patient is currently on pemetrexed
      and carboplatin chemotherapy and faring well; follow-up will be continued. It is
      recommended that the biological behavior of cancers with coexisting genetic
      mutations and their clinicopathological characteristics are more closely
      investigated in future studies, in order to determine the sensitivity of such
      cancers to targeted drugs and select the optimal agent.

PMID- 26893863
TI  - A rare case of oligoastrocytoma with atypical symptoms initially diagnosed as
      multiple sclerosis: A case report.
AB  - Oligoastrocytoma (OA) is an extremely rare tumor that may be difficult to
      diagnose, as it mimics multiple sclerosis (MS) clinically and radiologically. OA
      and MS are both space-occupying lesions. The symptoms of OA are complex and
      depend on tumor location and size. The clinical symptoms of OA are frequently not
      typical of glioma; therefore, OA is associated with a high misdiagnosis rate. We
      herein share our experience with diagnosing a rare OA case with atypical
      symptoms, which was initially diagnosed as MS, while stereotactic biopsy provided
      the final diagnosis. Due to the rarity and high misdiagnosis rate of OAs, it is
      suggested that clinical physicians update their knowledge regarding brain tumor
      classification and increase their awareness of rare tumor occurrence.

PMID- 26893864
TI  - Primary peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the thyroid gland: A case report and
      literature review.
AB  - Primary peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) of the thyroid gland are rare,
      with fewer than 30 cases reported in the medical literature to date. Primary
      PNSTs of the thyroid gland are classified into malignant and benign PNSTs. The
      benign PNSTs may be further subclassified into neurofibromas and Schwannomas.
      This is the case report of a 51-year-old male patient presenting with multiple
      primary PNSTs involving the left lobe of the thyroid gland. The patient underwent
      total excision of the thyroid gland and the pathological results indicated a
      Schwannoma with Antoni type A and B cells. The literature was reviewed briefly
      and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of multiple
      primary PNSTs of the thyroid gland.

PMID- 26893865
TI  - Lessons from the past: Long-term safety and survival outcomes of a prematurely
      terminated randomized controlled trial on prophylactic vs. hemoglobin-based
      administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients with chemotherapy
      induced anemia.
AB  - Prophylactic erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) administration for
      chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is not supported by current guidelines. Long
      term follow-up of patients WHO had been treated with ESA for CIA in the past may
      provide useful information. In 2002, we undertook a prospective, randomized phase
      III trial of prophylactic vs. hemoglobin (Hb)-based (threshold: 11 mg/dl) ESA
      administration in patients with solid tumors and CIA. ESA administration FOR CIA
      was permanently suspended in 2007 in view of published data at that time, while
      patient surveillance continued. Among 630 evaluable patients, 38.6% were male,
      50.9% had advanced cancer at diagnosis, 40.6% had Hb levels <12 mg/dl at baseline
      and 47.9% received ESA prophylactically (1:1 randomization). The major tumor
      types included colorectal (36.0%), breast (20.6%), non-prostate genitourinary
      (11.0%) and lung CANCER (8.4%). After a median follow-up of 85.4 months, 358
      patients had relapsed and 380 had succumbed to the disease. Patients in the
      prophylactic ESA group (GROUP A; experimental arm), as compared with those in the
      Hb-based group (GROUP B; iron supplementation alone), exhibited A significantly
      more prominent increase in median Hb levels, particularly in the subset of
      patients with non-metastatic disease (two-sided P<0.01) among patients receiving
      chemotherapy for advanced cancer, those who received ESAs prophylactically
      exhibited a lower incidence of CIA (all grades: P=0.014, grades 3-4: P=0.034) and
      fatigue (all grades: P<0.001, grades 3-4: P=0.055), but a higher rate of a
      composite outcome encompassing all thrombosis-related events (all grades:
      P=0.043, grades 3-4: P=0.099). These differences were less prominent in the group
      of patients who received adjuvant treatment. There were no significant
      differences in overall mortality and relapse/progression rates between the two
      groups. therefore, prophylactic, compared with Hb-based, administration of ESAs
      for CIA in patients with solid tumors, was found to be associated with a
      significantly lower incidence of anemia and fatigue, but with a marginally higher
      rate of thrombosis-related adverse events, particularly in patients receiving
      first-line chemotherapy for advanced cancer.

PMID- 26893866
TI  - Association of the p53 or GSTM1 polymorphism with the risk of nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma: A meta-analysis.
AB  - p53 and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) are the most popular suppressor
      genes. Several previous studies demonstrated positive associations of these gene
      polymorphisms with numerous cancer types, including hepatocellular cancer, while
      the association between p53/GSTM1 polymorphisms and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma
      (NPC) risk was inconsistent and underpowered. However, no studies investigating
      the combinational effect of these two genes on NPC risk were performed. To
      confirm the effects of p53 and GSTM1 polymorphisms on the risk of NPC, a meta
      analysis of all the available previous studies associating p53 and GSTM1 with the
      risk of NPC was performed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science and
      SD database until November 2014 was performed to identify the relevant studies.
      The data were extracted by two independent authors and pooled odds ratio (OR)
      with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Meta-regression and subgroup
      analyses were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. Finally, five
      studies with 1,419 cases and 1,707 controls were included for the p53
      polymorphism and three studies with 837 cases and 1,299 controls were included
      for the GSTM1 polymorphism. Regarding p53, a significantly increased NPC risk was
      observed in the overall population (C vs. G, OR, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.045-1.483;
      P=0.014; additive models: CC vs. GG, OR, 1.579; 95% CI, 1.100-2.265; P=0.013 and
      CG vs. GG, OR, 1.230; 95% CI, 1.039-1.456; P=0.016; dominant model, OR, 1.321;
      95% CI, 1.127-1.549; P=0.001; recessive model, OR, 1.429; 95% CI, 1.017-2.009;
      P=0.040). Concerning GSTM1, a significantly increased NPC risk was observed in
      the overall population (null versus non-null, OR, 1.282; 95% CI, 1.075-1.530;
      P=0.006). In the subgroup analyses stratified by the source of controls, a
      significant association of p53 with NPC risk was also demonstrated, while no
      association with GSTM1 was observed. Therefore, the p53 G72C polymorphism may
      have a susceptible role in the carcinogenesis of NPC, while genetic deletion of
      GSTM1 may contribute to increased susceptibility to NPC. Further large and well
      designed studies are required to confirm this association.

PMID- 26893867
TI  - Preoperative mean corpuscular hemoglobin affecting long-term outcomes of
      hepatectomized patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
AB  - Pretreatment anemia has been reported to be associated with survival in several
      solid tumor types. In terms of survival, only limited data on the hemoglobin
      (HGB) level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been published and no data on
      mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) level in HCC is available. The present study
      sought to examine the role of HGB and MCH levels in predicting long-term survival
      of patients with HCC who undergo resection. A retrospective study of 399
      consecutive patients (1987-1994) who underwent hepatic resection for HCC in Sun
      Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre was performed. Serum HGB and MCH levels were
      examined preoperatively, and their prognostic capabilities were evaluated by
      Cox's proportional hazard model. Among the whole cohort, the HGB level appeared
      to be positively correlated with the MCH level (P<0.001). Survival analysis
      revealed that low levels of HGB (P=0.007) and MCH (P<0.001) were correlated with
      shorter overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that MCH level was
      independently associated with OS (P<0.001), however, not HGB (P=0.278). In
      addition, 129 patients with large HCC (>=10 cm) tended to have a poorer OS
      (P<0.001) when compared with patients with smaller HCC. On subanalysis of
      patients with large HCC, MCH level also retained its stratified significance
      (P=0.001). Along with common clinicopathological variables, these results
      suggested that MCH, however, not HGB, may be useful in assessing prognosis for
      patients with HCC who undergo hepatectomy, particularly in identifying patients
      with large HCC who are most likely benefit from resection.

PMID- 26893868
TI  - Circulating microRNA-21 as a potential diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer: A
      meta-analysis.
AB  - MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is overexpressed in the serum of patients with colorectal
      cancer (CRC), suggesting that miR-21 is a promising diagnostic biomarker for CRC.
      Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic value of serum
      miR-21 in CRC patients. This meta-analysis included 9 studies with 746 CRC
      patients and 476 healthy controls. Two independent researchers identified and
      extracted study characteristics from eligible studies that were searched from
      literature databases. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed in
      accordance with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. Bivariate
      and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic models were used in
      the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 72% [95%
      confidence interval (CI), 62-80] and 85% (95% CI, 80-88), respectively. The
      pooled positive- and negative-likelihood ratios were 4.65 (95% CI, 3.42-6.33) and
      0.33 (95% CI, 0.24-0.47), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio value was 14.03
      (95% CI, 7.65-25.74), and the area under the summary receiver operator
      characteristic curve was 0.87. The present results indicated that miR-21 has a
      potential diagnostic value with moderate sensitivity and good specificity for
      CRC. Further prospective studies must be conducted to evaluate the diagnostic
      accuracy of miR-21.

PMID- 26893869
TI  - Curative effect of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in advanced or
      recurrent uterine sarcoma.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of bevacizumab (BEV)
      combined with chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent uterine sarcoma. The clinical
      data of 4 patients with advanced or recurrenct uterine sarcoma, who received
      treatment with BEV combined with chemotherapy in our hospital between May, 2006
      and May, 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. We estimated the chemotherapy
      response rate [complete response (CR) + partial response (PR)], clinical benefit
      rate [CR + PR+ stable disease (SD)], progression-free survival (PFS) and overall
      survival (OS), and evaluated treatment safety and toxicity reactions. Of the 4
      patients, 1 achieved CR, with a disease-free survival time of 96 months; 1
      achieved PR, with a PFS of 13 months and an OS of 25 months; 1 achieved SD, with
      a PFS of 9 months and an OS of 24 months; and 1 developed progressive disease,
      with a PFS of 3 months and an OS of 9 months. The response rate (CR+PR) was 50%,
      and the clinical benefit rate (CR+PR+SD) was 75%. Treatment-related adverse
      reactions occurred in all 4 patients, including bone marrow suppression and
      gastrointestinal reactions. Of the 4 patients, 1 developed grade 4 bone marrow
      suppression (thrombocytopenia), whereas the remaining 3 patients developed grade
      2 bone marrow suppression (leukopenia). Of the 4 cases, 2 developed grade 2
      gastrointestinal reactions, and the remaining 2 patients grade 1 gastrointestinal
      reactions. Therefore, BEV combined with chemotherapy was able to effectively
      control advanced or recurrent uterine sarcoma, was well-tolerated, and is
      considered to be a safe and effective candidate treatment for this type of tumor.

PMID- 26893870
TI  - Identification of DLC-1 expression and methylation status in patients with non
      small-cell lung cancer.
AB  - In order to determine whether the deleted in liver cancer-1 (DLC-1) gene is
      deregulated in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and to assess the
      contribution of molecular alterations in DLC-1 to lung carcinogenesis, a total of
      84 tissue specimens (30 NSCLC and 30 corresponding adjacent normal tissues; 5
      benign tumor and 5 corresponding adjacent normal tissues; and 10 pulmonary bullae
      and 4 corresponding adjacent normal tissues), were obtained from 45 patients who
      underwent curative surgical resection. DLC-1 mRNA expression was evaluated by
      reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its
      protein level was assessed by western blot analysis. A significant downregulation
      of DCL-1 at the mRNA and protein levels was observed in NSCLC tissues when
      compared to benign lung tumors and normal lung tissues (P<0.001). To further
      determine whether the decreased expression of DLC-1 at the mRNA and protein
      levels is associated with the methylation of its promoter, methylation-specific
      PCR was performed following extraction of genomic DNA from the samples. DLC-1
      promoter methylation was identified in 7 of the 30 (23.3%) NSCLC tissue samples,
      but not in the corresponding adjacent normal tissues from NSCLC patients or in
      lung tissues from non-NSCLC patients. Our data indicated that DLC-1
      hypermethylation may play a crucial role in lung carcinogenesis and may be a
      target for the treatment of NSCLC.

PMID- 26893871
TI  - Symptoms at diagnosis as independent prognostic factors in retroperitoneal
      liposarcoma.
AB  - The prognostic factors of retroperitoneal liposarcoma have yet to be clearly
      determined due to its rarity, whereas the prognostic value of symptoms at
      diagnosis has never been evaluated to date. In this context, we reviewed 24
      consecutive patients with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma who underwent
      surgical resection with curative intent at our institution. The Kaplan-Meier
      analysis and the log-rank test were used to estimate progression-free survival
      (PFS; primary endpoint) and sarcoma-specific survival (SSS; secondary endpoint).
      The effect of various clinicopathological factors, including symptoms at
      diagnosis, on these two endpoints was assessed with a Cox proportional hazards
      model. During the study period, 11 patients (45.8%) developed recurrence after
      the initial surgery and 8 (33.3%) succumbed to retroperitoneal liposarcoma, with
      a median follow-up of 64 months. A total of 16 patients (66.7%) had symptoms at
      diagnosis, while the remaining 8 (33.3%) were diagnosed incidentally. The
      symptoms were palpability of the tumor (n=8); abdominal pain/fullness (n=3);
      flank pain/fullness (n=2); lower extremity pain (n=1); testicular pain due to
      varicocele (n=1); and discomfort on urination (n=1). Patients with symptoms at
      diagnosis were significantly more likely to develop recurrence (log-rank test,
      P=0.0196) and were also more likely to succumb to sarcoma (P=0.0778) compared
      with asymptomatic patients. On the multivariate analysis, symptoms at diagnosis
      and dedifferentiated components were independent predictors of poor PFS, while
      positive surgical margins were predictors of poor SSS. Given that symptoms at
      diagnosis are easily accessible for physicians, they may prove to be useful
      additional prognostic factors for primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

PMID- 26893872
TI  - Surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer
      patients with unexpected persistent pathological N2 disease.
AB  - Patients with mediastinal lymph node (LN) downstaging following neoadjuvant
      chemotherapy exhibit improved outcomes compared with patients with persistent N2
      disease. The aim of this study was to compare clinicopathological characteristics
      and survival between patients with unexpected and expected persistent N2 disease
      following surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective
      analysis included 348 patients with NSCLC who underwent surgery following
      chemotherapy at the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of
      Medicine, between 1995 and 2012. According to the results of the imaging
      examinations and postoperative pathology, the patients were divided into three
      groups, namely groups I (nodal downstaging, pN0-1), II (expected persistent N2
      disease) and III (unexpected persistent N2 disease). The rates of overall
      survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier
      method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the
      independent risk factors for OS and DFS. The mortality rate was 1.1% during the
      postoperative period. Perioperative complications occurred in 45 patients
      (12.9%). The 5-year OS rate was 32.2, 6.3 and 25.9% in groups I, II and III,
      respectively (group I vs. III, P=0.023; and group III vs. II, P<0.001). The 5
      year DFS rate was 30.1, 5.1 and 22.4% in groups I, II and III, respectively
      (group I vs. III, P=0.012; and group III vs. II, P<0.001). Grouping, predicted
      forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, N downstaging and skip N2 metastasis were
      identified as independent predictive factors associated with OS, whereas the
      independent risk factors associated with DFS were grouping and N downstaging.
      Patients with unexpected persistent N2 disease exhibited better survival compared
      with those with expected persistent N2 disease. Surgery following chemotherapy
      remains the optimal approach for a proportion of patients with persistent N2
      disease.

PMID- 26893873
TI  - Capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of an exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor
      in the small intestine of a young adult woman: A case report.
AB  - Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal tumors that mainly arise
      in the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually asymptomatic and are incidentally
      discovered during endoscopy or surgery. Diagnosis is confirmed by histological
      examination of the specimen. This is the case report of an asymptomatic GIST of
      the small intestine diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy. The tumor was
      initially suspected to be a leiomyoma, as GISTs in young adults are rare and are
      mainly discovered incidentally during colorectal cancer screening. The patient
      was a 35-year-old woman with occult gastrointestinal bleeding, with a normal
      medical history. An endoscopic assessment of the upper and lower GI tract
      (gastroscopy and colonoscopy) was performed, but did not reveal any
      abnormalities. Subsequently, an exophytic tumor initially suspected as leiomyoma
      or external pressure was detected in the small intestine by capsule endoscopy. A
      computed tomography scan was suggestive of a soft tissue tumor arising from the
      small intestine. A surgical specimen was obtained and the immunohistochemical
      examination revealed that the tumor was positive for CD117 and discovered on GIST
      1 markers, while the markers of carcinoma, melanoma and lymphoma were negative,
      which was consistent with a diagnosis of a low-risk GIST with a mitotic count of
      <5/50 high-power fields. In this study, we aimed to present in detail the capsule
      endoscopic and radiological characteristics, as well as the findings of the
      histological examination of the surgical specimen. In conclusion, when occult
      blood is detected in the stool, even when gastroscopy and colonoscopy reveal no
      abnormal findings, small intestinal lesions should be suspected. Exophytic small
      intestinal GISTs, although rare, particularly in younger patients, they should be
      considered by physicians in the differential diagnosis of obscure GI bleeding of
      unknown origin, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Capsule endoscopy may
      be considered to be the first choice as a diagnostic tool for obscure GI
      bleeding.

PMID- 26893874
TI  - An assessment of interfractional bladder, rectum and vagina motion in
      postoperative cervical cancer based on daily cone-beam computed tomography.
AB  - Interfractional variations of the bladder, rectum and vagina may affect the
      accuracy of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy in patients with
      cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess the interfractional variations with
      daily kV cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). All the patients were instructed
      to control the filling status of the bladder and rectum. CBCT images were
      obtained daily after set-up and the bladder, rectum and vagina were contoured on
      each CBCT scan. All the contours were transferred to the planning CT following
      image fusion. Interfractional variations in pelvic organs were assessed with CBCT
      based on two reference lines, which were identified as A (the midsaggital line
      across the superior border of pubic symphysis) and B (a parallel line 1.5 cm
      above line A). The mean volume (range) of the bladder and rectum was 156.5 (1.7
      626.5) and 48.2 (11.3-139.7) ml, respectively. The uniform planning target volume
      (PTV) margin of 10 mm failed to encompass the vagina in 17.3 and 18.1% of the
      fractions on lines A and B, respectively. The motion of the vagina (standard
      deviation) was 0.3 (0.3) and 0.1 (0.5) cm on lines A and B, respectively. The
      anteroposterior dimension and position of the vagina were significantly affected
      by the filling status of the bladder (P<0.05), but not by that of the rectum.
      Although instructions were given, the interfractional variations of the vagina
      and other pelvic organs were significant, which may exceed the uniform PTV
      margin; therefore, more effective methods to decrease these variations should be
      investigated.

PMID- 26893875
TI  - Recurrence patterns and risk factors following thoracoscopic esophagectomy with
      radical lymph node dissection for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to clarify the therapeutic effect of
      thoracoscopic esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection based on the
      recurrence pattern, and identify the risk factors for relapse-free survival in
      patients with esophageal cancer. The recurrence patterns in 140 patients who
      underwent complete thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy between January 2003 and
      December 2012 were investigated. The risk factors for recurrence were examined by
      univariate and multivariate analysis. Mediastinal recurrence in association with
      initial lymphatic metastasis was precisely analyzed. Esophageal cancer recurred
      in 49 (35.0%) of the 140 patients. The median recurrence time was 259 (45-2,560)
      days after the initial treatment. The patterns of initial recurrence among the
      140 patients included hematological recurrence in 24 patients (17.1%), lymphatic
      recurrence in 26 (18.6%), pleural dissemination in 5 (3.6%), peritoneal
      dissemination in 2 (1.4%), and local recurrence in 4 (2.9%). Lymphatic recurrence
      within the mediastinal regional lymphatic stations occurred in only 8 (5.7%) of
      the 140 patients. Univariate analysis for relapse-free survival showed that the
      statistically significant variables were a tumor location in the upper third of
      the esophagus, stage of pT3 or pT4, presence of nodal metastasis, pStage of III
      or IV, presence of a residual tumor, performance of preoperative chemotherapy and
      performance of postoperative therapy. Multivariate analysis showed that only
      nodal metastasis and a positive residual tumor were statistically significant
      independent risk factors for relapse-free survival. Lymphatic recurrence within
      the mediastinum, particularly the station around the bilateral recurrent
      laryngeal nerves, was infrequent and independent of the initial metastatic
      distribution. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection
      provides favorable locoregional control. Lymphatic recurrence within the
      mediastinal regional nodes is infrequent and independent of the initial lymph
      node metastasis. A pathological residual tumor and lymph node metastasis are
      significant risk factors for recurrence.

PMID- 26893876
TI  - Cyclophosphamide combined with mitoxantrone and cytarabine is an effective
      salvage regimen for patients with acute myeloid leukemia who experienced primary
      induction failure or relapse.
AB  - Salvage regimens containing mitoxantrone have been successfully used for the
      treatment of primary induction failure or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.
      However, the combination of cyclophosphamide with mitoxantrone and cytarabine
      (MAC) has never been assessed in these patients. A total of 91 patients,
      including patients with primary induction failure (n=44) and relapsed (n=47),
      were treated with a salvage MAC regimen, which consisted of mitoxantrone,
      cytarabine and cyclophosphamide. The overall complete remission rate was 74.7
      (68/91) and 72.7% (32/44) for primary induction failure, and 76.6% (36/47) for
      relapsed patients. The overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were
      72.1 and 59.7% at 1 year, 42.9 and 47.1% at 3 years, and 36.7 and 43.0% at 5
      years, respectively. Only one patient succumbed to mortality during induction
      therapy. The toxicity level was acceptable. Therefore, the present study
      demonstrated that MAC is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen for
      salvage in patients experiencing primary induction failure or relapse. This
      treatment significantly improved the prognosis.

PMID- 26893877
TI  - Tyrosine kinase inhibitors improve parenchymal findings of liver cirrhosis in a
      patient exhibiting concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma and renal cell cancer.
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell cancer (RCC) are malignancies,
      which are chemotherapy resistant and fatal at the advanced stages. Previously
      developed tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used in the treatment of advanced stage
      disease. In the present case study, a patient using sunitinib for stage IV RCC
      presented with HCC following 2 years of treatment. A patient who exhibited Child
      Pugh class C cirrhosis initially, exhibited a marked improvement of
      hepatocellular parenchyma findings following treatment with sunitinib. Sunitinib
      is suggested to have preventive effects on the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and
      cirrhosis in vitro, via an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and anti
      platelet-derived growth factor mechanism. However, no clinical supportive study
      has been performed until now. Improvement of liver functions may be explained in
      this manner. Therefore, investigations are required with different doses of
      sunitinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors in order to evaluate the efficacy
      on treatment of cirrhosis progression.

PMID- 26893878
TI  - The interaction between oral melphalan and gastric antisecretory drugs: Impact on
      clinical efficacy and toxicity.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to clarify whether gastric antisecretory drugs
      affect the clinical efficacy and toxicity of orally administered melphalan in
      patients with multiple myeloma. A total of 10 patients receiving bortezomib plus
      oral melphalan and prednisolone (VMP) therapy between December 2011 and November
      2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into a control
      group (seven patients) and a concomitant group (three patients, who were also
      administered with gastric antisecretory drugs). The gastric antisecretory drugs
      included rabeprazole sodium (two patients) and famotidine (one patient). No
      significant differences between the groups were observed in either the
      characteristics of the patients or the VMP regimen. The levels of monoclonal
      protein (M protein) in the control group tended to decrease (with a VMP cycle
      dependency), although they were primarily stable in the concomitant group. During
      the second and third VMP cycles, the levels of M protein were markedly lower in
      the control group compared with the concomitant group. All the patients in the
      control group achieved a partial response, whereas those in the concomitant group
      exhibited stable disease. Hematological toxicity levels were revealed to be
      comparable between the two groups, whereas gastrointestinal toxicity was more
      prevalent in the control group. In conclusion, the results of the present study
      suggested that the clinical efficacy of melphalan may be reduced by the co
      administration of gastric antisecretory drugs. This interaction may result in
      decreased toxicity and clinical efficacy of melphalan.

PMID- 26893879
TI  - Connexin subtype expression during oral carcinogenesis: A pilot study in patients
      with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
AB  - Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and connexin (Cx) expression
      were reported in association with carcinogenesis in various types of tumours. In
      an earlier histomorphometric study, the protein levels of Cx subtypes 26, 43 and
      45 were differentially expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC),
      corresponding lymph node metastases and dysplasia-free oral mucosa. Moreover,
      membrane Cx43 acted as an independent prognostic marker in OSCC tissues. This
      study aimed to confirm the expression of described Cx subtypes at the mRNA level.
      Hence, a reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)
      analysis of Cx26, Cx43 and Cx45 gene expressions was performed in paired
      carcinoma and mucosa samples of 15 OSCC patients. Additionally, we assessed the
      interaction between Cx subtype expression and clinicopathological routine
      parameters. The RT-qPCR analysis revealed that Cx26 was downregulated in OSCC
      (P=0.01), while Cx43 was marginally upregulated in cancer tissue (P=0.04). Cx45
      was significantly overexpressed in OSCC tissue compared with the intraoral mucosa
      controls (P<0.01), and remained unchanged at different tumour stages. No
      significant interactions between differential Cx subtype expression and
      clinicopathological routine parameters were observed. In conclusion, Cx
      regulation at the transcriptional level appears to be an early event during the
      initiation and development of OSCC, and is maintained during further progression.
      However, the mRNA-protein correlation is variable. This may be indicative of post
      transcriptional, translational and degradation regulations being associated with
      the determination of Cx protein concentration during oral carcinogenesis.

PMID- 26893880
TI  - Predictive factors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patient tolerance to
      high-dose cisplatin in concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
AB  - Although high-dose cisplatin is the standard regimen of concurrent
      chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell
      carcinoma (HNSCC), varying levels of patient tolerance towards cisplatin have
      been reported, and the predictive factors of cisplatin tolerance remain to be
      elucidated. The present study retrospectively reviewed newly diagnosed HNSCC
      patients who received CCRT. Cisplatin (80 mg/m2) was administered every 3 weeks.
      The proportion of high-dose cisplatin-tolerant patients (cumulative cisplatin
      dose, >=200 mg/m2) was determined, and the predictive factors of cisplatin
      tolerance were analyzed in a logistic regression analysis. Between June 2006 and
      March 2013, a total of 159 patients were treated with CCRT. The median follow-up
      time was 36.7 months. A total of 73 patients (46%) tolerated a cumulative
      cisplatin dose >=200 mg/m2; male gender [odds ratio (OR), 25.00; P=0.005] and
      high body surface area (BSA) (>1.80 m2; OR, 2.21; P=0.032) were significantly
      predictive of high-dose cisplatin tolerance. The high-dose cisplatin-tolerant
      patients had a significantly higher complete response (CR) rate (82 vs. 67%,
      P=0.045); however, there were no significant between-group differences in the 3
      year OS (79.5 vs. 81.2%, P=0.59) or PFS (70.4 vs. 44.6%, P=0.076) by cisplatin
      tolerance. In clinical practice, approximately one-half of the patients tolerated
      high-dose cisplatin in CCRT. Male gender and high BSA could be predictive of
      cisplatin tolerance.

PMID- 26893882
TI  - Improving the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department.
AB  - The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department is
      challenging due to the wide range of non-specific symptoms, lack of clinical
      diagnostic criteria, and imperfect investigations. Various scoring systems exist
      in an attempt to limit unnecessary investigations in those with low risk of PE.
      Following a baseline audit and subsequent PDSA cycles we implemented a flowchart
      for use in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism encouraging the correct use
      of the Wells Score and Pulmonary Embolism Rule out Criteria (PERC). The standard
      used for comparison was based on the NICE guidelines for diagnosis of PE with the
      addition that PERC could also be used if appropriate. Data was collected over
      four week periods before and after the introduction of our flowchart in two
      emergency departments in Melbourne. We aimed to increase documentation of pre
      test probability, reduce inappropriate investigations, and increase the use of
      interim parenteral anticoagulation where there was a delay to imaging. Results
      showed an increase in the documentation of pre-test probability and the
      proportion of investigations requested that were inappropriate was reduced. The
      percentage of inappropriate d-dimers was reduced from 36% to 24%; the percentage
      of inappropriate CTPAs was reduced from 34% to 10%; and the percentage of
      inappropriate V/Q scans was reduced from 42% to 14%. Implementation of a simple
      diagnostic algorithm led to an increase in documentation of pre-test probability
      and a reduction in inappropriate and unnecessary investigations. This
      intervention may be applicable to other emergency departments where similar
      issues in diagnosing pulmonary embolism exist. 

PMID- 26893881
TI  - Anastomosing hemangioma: The first case report in the bladder.
AB  - A rare neoplasm, termed 'anastomosing hemangioma' (AH), has been previously
      described in the genitourinary tract. To date, 29 cases of AH have been reported
      in the literature, and the case reported in the present study is, to the best of
      our knowledge, the first AH described in the urinary bladder. It is essential to
      distinguish AH from malignant vascular tumors due to the different treatments
      required and the prognosis. The patient in this case study was asymptomatic, with
      a neoplasm of ~1 cm within the right wall of the bladder. Pathologically, the
      lesion was predominantly composed of a structure comprising a small vascular
      cavity and irregularly fenestrated anastomosing vascular channels, with no clear
      atypia of the endothelial cells.

PMID- 26893883
TI  - Using visual prompts to aid analgesia prescribing.
AB  - Analgesia prescribing is fundamental to a patient's journey, affecting length of
      stay and patient experience. Laminated prompts are used throughout the NHS
      Foundation Trust to aid doctors prescribing. A baseline questionnaire was carried
      out to gather doctors' prescribing habits and current ability to convert opioids
      to their morphine equivalent. Ninety three percent of doctors said they were
      moderately to extremely confident when prescribing analgesia. However, when asked
      to carry out a simple opioid conversion only 14% answered correctly. Eighty three
      percent of doctors said they were prescribing laxatives alongside opioids
      frequently (57%) or almost all the time (25%). When actual rates were sampled
      only 14% of patients were prescribed a concurrent laxative. Laminated pain
      management guideline cards were created and distributed to doctors at sign in for
      weekly teaching. Doctor interviews were carried out to see if they were in
      possession of a prompt card and a simple opioid conversion question was asked. If
      they did not have a prompt card at the time of interview they were issued with
      one after answering the conversion question. Rates of concurrent laxative
      prescribing were collected from the electronic prescribing record of patients on
      the acute medical unit. Posters were displayed in doctors' offices and drug
      rooms. Laxative prescribing rates were re-collected and compared with the survey
      responses. Distribution of laminated prompts increased accuracy of opioid
      conversion by 86%. Error rates fell as prompt prevalence increased until there
      was 100% prevalence and 0% error. Concurrent prescribing of laxatives increased
      to 50% after posters were displayed around the acute medical unit. Doctors
      reported they were confident when prescribing analgesia. They reported that they
      often prescribed concurrent medications, however this did not relate to actual
      prescribing practices. Visual prompts improved doctors analgesia conversion
      knowledge and prescribing practices. Laminated prompt cards are now incorporated
      in new doctors' induction packs. 

PMID- 26893884
TI  - Targeted case finding for dementia in primary care: Surrey Downs dementia
      diagnosis project.
AB  - Currently less than half of the estimated number of people with dementia in
      England receive a formal diagnosis of dementia or have contact with specialist
      dementia services. Case finding focused on high risk groups may be an effective
      way to identify the undiagnosed. This joint Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning
      Group and Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust quality improvement project
      aimed to increase the rate of dementia diagnosis across Surrey Downs using
      specialist link nurses (SLNs). Thirty three GP surgeries covering the entire
      Surrey Downs area took part in the project. Individuals at high risk of
      developing dementia were identified from GP electronic disease registers, and
      were offered screening at their GP practices by SLNs, using a combination of mini
      cognitive test (Mini-Cog) and functional assessment questionnaire (FAQ). Suitable
      individuals who screened positive were seen by their GP and where appropriate
      referred to secondary care services for further evaluation. Based on the presence
      of risk factors, 6657 (11.9%) people were identified from a total population of
      55 845 over 65s, and 1980 (29.7%) completed the screening assessment. Three
      hundred and fifty eight (18.1%) individuals screened positive and were referred
      to their GP, who referred 205 (57.2%) of them to the memory services for further
      assessment. Of those referred, 164 (80%) had a comprehensive specialist
      assessment. Forty one (20%) declined further assessment, and their GPs were
      informed. The mean age of the cohort who completed the comprehensive assessment
      was 82.3 years (SD=4.26), and were predominantly white and male. Fifty four
      (32.9%) had mild cognitive disorder (MCD), and 101 (61.6%) patients were
      diagnosed with dementia. The most common dementia was mixed type (43; 42.6%),
      followed by Alzheimer's dementia (32; 31.7%). The most common risk factor among
      patients with cognitive impairment (MCD or dementia) was hypertension (69; 44.5
      %), followed by ischemic heart disease (64, 41.3%). Nurse led case finding for
      cognitive impairment in a high risk population identifies people with dementia
      who are not yet formally diagnosed. The combined use of brief instruments to
      assess cognitive functioning and functional capabilities is helpful in
      identifying individuals with possible dementia. 

PMID- 26893885
TI  - Improvement of fluid balance monitoring through education and rationalisation.
AB  - Fluid input/output charts in hospital inpatients are a valuable source of
      information for doctors reviewing intravenous fluid prescription, but are
      notorious for being incomplete and inaccurate. Lack of awareness of the
      importance of fluid balance amongst nursing staff and an excess of unnecessary
      monitoring are two factors contributing to the problem. We conducted a quality
      improvement project on the respiratory ward in a large district general hospital
      aiming to specifically address these two factors. Pre-intervention audit showed
      that only 53% of input/output monitoring was clinically indicated, with an
      average chart completion of 50%. Using e-Learning and verbal presentation to
      raise awareness around fluid balance, we implemented a new system whereby daily
      medical review of charts lead to rationalisation of monitoring. Post-intervention
      audit showed a 93% reduction in unnecessary monitoring, with corresponding
      increases in completion (40%) and accuracy (48%) of remaining charts. In
      conclusion, education has enabled a culture change on the ward that has
      drastically increased the quality of fluid balance monitoring. 

PMID- 26893886
TI  - Reduction of referral to assessment time for an older adults community mental
      health team.
AB  - Anecdotal evidence suggested that waiting times within the older adults community
      mental health team (OA CMHT) had been increasing over time. An assessment and
      evaluation was indicated to ensure best quality care was provided for patients. A
      comparison was made between waiting times in January to December 2011 compared
      with August 2013 to July 2014. In 2011 the mean number of days until initial
      assessment from the point of referral was 12 days for routine cases, and 3.6 days
      for urgent cases. The re-audit showed the number of days increased to 15.89 days
      for routine cases, and 9.81 days for urgent cases. Contributory factors were
      reviewed, and it was felt that to address this problem, a duty worker role was
      necessary. The role of the duty worker was divided into triaging and allocating
      work. The triaging process was to ensure all urgent cases were highlighted early
      and acted upon. The duty worker's role was also to gather sufficient information
      from the referrer, to reduce the risks of inadequate knowledge delaying
      assessment. In addition, the allocating process required the duty worker to
      designate a clinician in charge of the case upon receipt of referral. This
      ensured that clinicians were able to offer the earliest possible appointment slot
      for the initial assessment, and thus reduce waiting times. Following
      implementation, findings from September 2014 to February 2015 showed an
      improvement in average waiting times, as well as an improvement in the percentage
      of assessments reviewed within previously set standards. For routine reviews, the
      mean time until assessment was 10.68 days. For urgent reviews, the mean time
      until initial assessment was 6.8 days. However, it was noted that majority of
      urgent reviews were still not being reviewed in time. The outcomes of this study
      demonstrated an improvement of both waiting times, and percentage of patients
      being seen within set standards following a single intervention. In the current
      climate of cost efficiency savings, it is important for services to continue to
      find ways to streamline and improve upon current practices, to ensure the best
      outcome for patients. 

PMID- 26893887
TI  - Improving information availability in vascular surgical clinics. A service
      evaluation and improvement project.
AB  - This prospective service evaluation was designed to assess the availability of
      critical information required in vascular surgical clinics. All the data was
      collected via a repeated questionnaire, and the outcomes from each cycle were
      used to highlight where intervention was required to improve the surgical clinic
      experience. The first audit identified outpatient clinic deficiencies and allowed
      for problem analysis. Two Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycles then were undertaken.
      Interventions following each cycle included consultant access to online duplex
      scans and secretarial access to referral letters. Results from the first cycle
      showed that approximately 20% of clinic appointments were missing information and
      only 30% of these issues were resolved during the clinic using a work around.
      Following the first intervention; the numbers of missing patient notes reduced to
      4.3% (10.5%), and referral letters to 3.6% (4.6%). Although the numbers of
      missing duplex scan results increased to 6.5% (3.3%), the new system of online
      scan results allowed for all scans to be accessed during the clinic. Following
      results of a second PDCA cycle, vascular surgical secretaries were given access
      to 'choose and book', a database of GP referral letters. Post intervention, all
      missing referral letters (2%) could be accessed immediately within the clinic
      setting. Data driven interventions and repeated PDCA cycles can improve hospital
      systems for minimal cost. With an annual clinic turnaround of 2500 patients,
      these interventions can reduce clinic delays and potential harm caused by
      unavailable records for up to 500 patients a year. 

PMID- 26893889
TI  - Reducing the overuse of betahCG measurements in the emergency gynaecology clinic.
AB  - Serial betahCG testing can be a helpful tool in deciding how to manage pregnancy
      of unknown location. Its use in emergency gynaecology clinics can prevent
      unnecessary admission and intervention. However, despite NICE Guidelines on when
      it is safe to opt for conservative management, it was identified that there was a
      problem with over-testing of betahCG when patients could be discharged with
      instructions to repeat a urinary pregnancy test in two weeks. Two PDSA cycles
      were undertaken to improve the awareness of NICE guidelines: the first involved
      formal and informal educational sessions and the second involved the inclusion of
      a guideline summary on the front of patients' notes when they were having serial
      betahCG tests for doctors to refer to. Case notes were reviewed for 157 women who
      had betahCG tests at baseline and 48 hours. Of these, 139 were suitable for
      serial betahCG testing, and 83 of these were suitable for discharge after 48
      hours. Of the 83 patients that were eligible for discharge, there were 31
      unnecessary betahCG tests done, 23 of which were prior to intervention. A
      significant improvement was noted, with between 4-10 unnecessary betahCG tests
      per fortnight prior to intervention, 0-3 following the first intervention, and 0
      2 following the second. Reduction in unnecessary betahCG testing has positive
      implications for patients, who do not have to take unnecessary time off work,
      prolong an already very distressing period, and have unnecessary blood tests.
      There are also cost and time saving implications for the hospital. 

PMID- 26893888
TI  - Importance of patient-centred signage and navigation guide in an orthopaedic and
      plastics clinic.
AB  - Gulshan & Nanji Orthopaedic and Plastics Center at the North York General
      Hospital is the second busiest site after the emergency department serving more
      than 26,000 patients annually. Increase in patient flow, overworked staff, and
      recent renovations to the hospital have resulted in patients experiencing long
      wait times, and thusly patient dissatisfaction and stress. Several factors
      contribute to patient dissatisfaction and stress: i) poor and unfriendly signage;
      ii) inconsistent utilization of the numbering system; and iii) difficulty
      navigating to and from the imaging center. A multidisciplinary QI team was
      assembled to improve the patient experience. We developed a questionnaire to
      assess patient stress levels at the baseline. Overall, more than half of the
      patients (54.8%) strongly agreed or agreed to having a stressful waiting
      experience. Subsequently, based on patient feedback and staff perspectives, we
      implemented two PDSA cycles. For PDSA 1, we placed a floor graphic (i.e. black
      tape) to assist patients in navigating from the clinic to the imaging centre and
      back. For PDSA 2, we involved creating a single 21"*32" patient-friendly sign at
      the entrance to welcome patients, with clear instructions outlining registration
      procedures. Surveys were re-administered to assess patient stress levels. A
      combination of both interventions caused a statistically significant reduction in
      patient stress levels based on the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U Tests. The
      present project highlighted the importance of involving stakeholders as well as
      frontline staff when undertaking quality improvement projects as a way to
      identify bottlenecks as well as establish sustainable solutions. Additionally,
      the team recognized the importance of incorporating empirical based solutions and
      involving experts in the field to optimize results. The present project
      successfully implemented strategies to improve patient satisfaction and reduce
      stress in a high flow community clinic. These endpoints were achieved by
      incorporating patient friendly signage, as well as improving patient flow
      directors. 

PMID- 26893891
TI  - Introduction of a junior doctors' handbook: an essential guide for new doctors.
AB  - The transition period for new junior doctors is a daunting and challenging time,
      as vast amounts of information specific to each hospital, ward, and job must be
      learnt while maintaining patient care standards.[1] In NHS Tayside, Scotland,
      tips and guidance for each job are informally handed over from previous junior
      doctors to the next, resulting in an unreliable and unsustainable handover of
      information. Time must then be spent by new doctors learning the intricacies and
      practicalities of their new job, rather than spending time focusing on patient
      care. Our aim was to improve this transition period for new junior doctors to NHS
      Tayside through the creation and implementation of a junior doctors' handbook,
      which would provide information and practical advice on day to day life as a
      junior doctor. We hoped to implement this project by August 2015 to coincide with
      the arrival of these new doctors to NHS Tayside. Through repeat PDSA cycles we
      created a sustainable and reliable junior doctors' handbook, containing a
      centralised hub of information for doctors that was accessible through our health
      board's website. The junior doctors' handbook has been a highly beneficial
      resource that has been praised for its detailed information on all aspects of day
      to day life for doctors in NHS Tayside. Feedback also demonstrated that doctors
      felt the junior doctors' handbook had improved their efficiency. Our hope is that
      this project can continue to be developed within our hospital, but also to be
      used as an idea outside our health board to improve the transition period for new
      doctors on a wider scale. 

PMID- 26893890
TI  - Improving residents' handovers through just-in-time training for structured
      communication.
AB  - In a recent quality assurance project we learned that nearly half of the
      handovers we examined were characterized as unsatisfactory by our residents, who
      provided examples in which their anxiety had been piqued and patient care had
      been affected. These reports substantiated a growing body of literature on the
      relationship between the quality of handover and the quality of patient care, so
      we sought to improve the quality and consistency of the in-hosptial handovers
      undertaken by our internal medicine residents. Senior residents attended morning
      report for three consecutive month long blocks and evaluated the quality of the
      handovers using an observational protocol comprised of 16 aspects of effective
      handover. During the first block, the resident observed a median of eight of the
      16 practices occurring across the 46 handovers, and a large amount of
      variability. At the beginning of the subsequent block we presented a concise
      introduction to a structured handover procedure (SBARR). The median quality of
      the subsequent 33 handovers rose to 11, and the variability decreased
      considerably. In the next block we refined the SBARR orientation to focus on the
      errors observed in the previous blocks, and the improvement in the quality and
      variability was sustained. The minor change, which requires few resources to
      sustain, had a favourable impact on the quality of our residents' in-hospital
      handovers. 

PMID- 26893892
TI  - Improving Documentation and Communication Using Operative Note Proformas.
AB  - Accurate and detailed documentation of surgical procedures is part of good
      clinical practice, set out by the General Medical Council (GMC). Knee arthroscopy
      often involves large data sets which require accurate documentation for future
      assessment and management. This study assesses the quality of documentation of
      knee arthroscopy, followed by an evaluation of the implementation of a novel
      operative proforma. A review of 30 consecutive knee arthroscopy operation notes
      were analysed for missing information, set against a standardised 30 point
      criteria. An operation proforma was then introduced, and a further 30 consecutive
      knee arthroscopy operation notes were analysed. We evaluated allied health
      professional satisfaction with a Likert point scale survey of 21 allied
      healthcare professionals (recovery and ward nurses, and physiotherapists)
      following introduction of the proforma. The mean number of missing items on a 30
      point scale was 8.8 (range 0 to 23). Examination under anaesthesia was missed in
      43% of cases, tourniquet time in 37% of cases, and wear results in 17% of cases.
      Following introduction of the proforma, the mean number of missing items was 1.1
      (range 0 to 24; p <0.001). This rose to 3.8 after one year (p <0.001) before
      improvement to 0.7 (p <0.01) with a new and improved proforma. Eighty percent
      strongly agreed the operation note was clearer, 90% strongly agreed it was more
      legible, 90% strongly agreed it was more understandable, 50% strongly agreed
      there was more information recorded, and 100% strongly agreed on the proforma
      having been improved. Knee arthroscopy is a common procedure with large data
      sets, which can often be missed or incomplete. A standardised proforma results in
      a statistically significant improvement in documentation and reduces the
      incidence of missing information. They are subjectively clearer, more legible,
      and generally better compared with handwritten notes. This study demonstrates the
      improvements in healthcare documentation, both clinically and legally, following
      introduction of a simple proforma. This concept should be applicable to different
      specialities and procedures in healthcare. 

PMID- 26893893
TI  - Low stimulus environments: reducing noise levels in continuing care.
AB  - In the low stimulus environment project, we aimed to reduce the levels of
      intrusive background noise on an older adult mental health ward, combining a very
      straightforward measure on decibel levels with a downstream measure of reduced
      distress and agitation as expressed in incidents of violence. This project on
      reducing background noise levels on older adult wards stemmed from work the team
      had done on reducing levels of violence and aggression. We approached the problem
      using quality improvement methods. Reducing harm to patients and staff is a
      strategic aim of our Trust and in our efforts we were supported by the Trust's
      extensive programme of quality improvement, including training and support
      provided by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the trust's own Quality
      Improvement team. Prior to the project we were running a weekly multi
      disciplinary quality improvement group on the ward. We established from this a
      sub-group to address the specific problem of noise levels and invited carers of
      people with dementia on our ward to the group. The project was led by nursing
      staff. We used a noise meter app readily downloadable from the internet to
      monitor background noise levels on the ward and establish a baseline measure. As
      a group we used a driver diagram to identify an overall aim and a clear
      understanding of the major factors that would drive improvements. We also used a
      staff and carer survey to identify further areas to work on. Change ideas that
      came from staff and carers included the use of the noise meter to track and
      report back on noise levels, the use of posters to remind staff about noise
      levels, the introduction of a visual indication of current noise levels (the
      Yacker Tracker), the addition of relaxing background music, and adaptations to
      furniture and environment. We tested many of these over the course of nine months
      in 2015, using the iterative learning gained from multiple PDSA cycles. The
      specific aim was a decrease from above 60dB to below 50dB in background noise on
      the wards. Following our interventions, we have managed to decrease noise levels
      on the ward to 53dB on average. The success of this project to date has relied on
      the involvement of ward staff and carers - those most affected by the problem -
      in generating workable local solutions. As many of the change ideas amounted to
      harm free interventions it was easier for us to make a case to test them out in
      the real-life setting. Nevertheless we were surprised at how effective such
      seemingly simple ideas have been in improving the environment on the ward. We
      have incorporated the change ideas into routine practice and are advising other
      wards on similar projects. 

PMID- 26893894
TI  - Improving the quality of operative notes by implementing a new electronic
      template for upper limb surgery at the Royal Derby Hospital.
AB  - The RCS has published clear and succinct guidelines dictating the necessity for
      the documentation of legible and timely surgical operative notes and exactly what
      should be included. A baseline study within the upper limb unit at our trust
      showed a 71.1% adherence with the RCS guidelines with an average delay of typing
      of notes after dictation was 11.6 days. This quality improvement project designed
      and developed a bespoke electronic surgical notes template built within an
      existing database driven software within the Trust. After implementation of the
      templates we found no delays in full operative notes being typed and a 100%
      adherence with the RCS guidelines. This project significantly improved the
      quality and timely production of electronic surgical notes within a sustainable
      electronic software solution. 

PMID- 26893895
TI  - Availability of ambulance patient care reports in the emergency department.
AB  - Clinical handovers of patient care among healthcare professionals is vulnerable
      to the loss of important clinical information. A verbal report is typically
      provided by paramedics and documented by emergency department (ED) triage nurses.
      Paramedics subsequently complete a patient care report which is submitted
      electronically. This emergency medical system (EMS) patient care report often
      contains details of paramedic assessment and management that is not all captured
      in the nursing triage note. EMS patient care reports are often unavailable for
      review by emergency physicians and nurses. Two processes occur in the
      distribution of EMS patient care reports. The first is an external process to the
      ED that is influenced by the prehospital emergency medical system and results in
      the report being faxed to the ED. The second process is internal to the ED that
      requires clerical staff to distribute the fax report to accompany patient charts.
      A baseline audit measured the percentage of EMS patient care reports that were
      available to emergency physicians at the time of initial patient assessments and
      showed a wide variation in the availability of EMS reports. Also measured were
      the time intervals from patient transfer from EMS to ED stretcher until the EMS
      report was received by fax (external process measure) and the time from receiving
      the EMS fax report until distribution to patient chart (internal process
      measure). These baseline measures showed a wide variation in the time it takes to
      receive the EMS reports by fax and to distribute reports. Improvement strategies
      consisted of: 1. Educating ED clerical staff about the importance of EMS reports
      2. Implementing a new process to minimize ED clerical staff handling of EMS
      reports for nonactive ED patients 3. Elimination of the automatic retrieval of
      old hospital charts and their distribution for ED patients 4. Introduction of an
      electronic dashboard for patients arriving by ambulance to facilitate more
      efficient distribution of EMS reports. Implementation of change strategies did
      not result in a significant improvement in the percentage of EMS reports
      available to emergency physicians at the time of initial patient assessment.
      However, tracking both external and internal processes that influence EMS report
      availability showed the internal process time from fax report receipt to
      distribution significantly improved. This improvement reflected the change
      strategies that were all directed at improving the internal process. EMS patient
      care reports are more efficiently processed and distributed in the ED due to
      change strategies implemented that targeted the ED's internal process of EMS
      report distribution. The external process responsible for transmitting EMS
      reports to the ED is the limiting factor that prevents consistent timely access
      of EMS reports by emergency physicians and will require dedicated improvement
      strategies. 

PMID- 26893896
TI  - Reducing calls missed by the hospital telephone exchange from 26% to less than
      10.
AB  - A hospital's telephone exchange is the first point of contact for patients and
      their attendants to take appointments, to collect healthcare related information
      and to connect to the hospital in case of emergencies. At Sitaram Bhartia
      Institute of Science and Research the doctors, patients, and attendants often
      complained about the inefficiency of the hospital exchange. In February 2012, a
      doctor raised her concern of calls not being picked up at the exchange with the
      senior management and a QI project was initiated to tackle the problem. Baseline
      data showed that about 26% of incoming calls to the hospital during 8am to 8pm
      were not being picked up. On the basis of the baseline data, call audits, staff
      interviews, and observations the project team identified the defects. These
      defects were categorized under four headings - manpower, equipment, processes,
      and environment. The team proposed several change ideas. Some of these change
      ideas were implemented immediately. Three proposed change ideas were tested
      through individual PDSA cycles. The percentage of missed calls dropped from 26%
      to 18.1% after the first cycle and then to 9.6% and 6.5% after the subsequent
      cycles which involved testing of two other additional change ideas. These changes
      were implemented and a benchmark of no more than 10% calls to be missed was set.
      For nearly three years we have held the gains and have met the benchmark of
      missing not more than 10% calls coming to the hospital exchange between 8am to
      8pm. The contributing factors to the success have been the involvement of
      frontline workers, an expert and engaged head of department, and senior
      leadership support. 

PMID- 26893897
TI  - Raising the issue of DNAR orders in vascular surgery patients.
AB  - The Tracey Report has recently raised the status of Do Not Attempt Cardio
      Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) orders in the hospital setting.[1] Guidelines
      are in place both nationally and locally to provide advice to clinicians on when
      to discuss DNACPR, and the approach to be taken. There was concern that on a busy
      regional vascular surgery unit, discussion of resuscitation status was not
      regular practice. Consequently, some patients were at risk of being
      inappropriately resuscitated, particularly out of hours. The North Bristol
      Somerset and Gloucester DNAR decision tree[2] was the tool used to decide whether
      a patient should have a documented discussion and/or a DNACPR form completed. We
      correlated the outcome of the decision tree with the presence of a DNACPR form or
      documented resuscitation discussion. Baseline measurements from all vascular
      inpatients on the vascular surgery unit demonstrated that only 27% had a DNACPR
      form or documented discussion in concordance with the DNACPR Decision Tree
      outcome. The aim of this project was to increase the proportion of patients with
      concordance of the DNACPR decision tree outcome with documented discussion or
      DNACPR form. The following three simple interventions raised concordance from 27%
      to 64% of patients on the vascular surgery unit. 1. Including resuscitation
      status of each patient as a column in the doctors daily handover. 2. Posters in
      staff only areas to highlight the meaning of DNACPR and raise awareness of the
      DNACPR decision tree. 3. Educational meeting surrounding DNACPR with the vascular
      surgery consultants, led by a care of the elderly consultant . This project has
      highlighted how raising awareness around DNACPR increases discussion amongst the
      clinical team surrounding resuscitation status of a patient. Consequently, this
      enables discussion to be had with patient and their family. 

PMID- 26893898
TI  - Antimicrobial stewardship: Improving antibiotic prescribing practice in a
      respiratory ward.
AB  - International efforts have mandated guidelines on antibiotic use and prescribing,
      therefore the focus is now on encouraging positive behavioral changes in
      antibiotic prescribing practice. Documentation of indication and intended
      duration of antibiotic use in drug charts is an evidence-based method of reducing
      inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. It is also a standard detailed in our local
      antimicrobial guidelines. We collected baseline data on compliance with
      documentation of indication and duration in drug charts in a respiratory ward
      which revealed compliance rates of 24% and 39% respectively. We introduced
      interventions to improve accessibility to the guideline and to increase awareness
      by distributing antibiotic guardian pocket cards with a three-point checklist and
      strategically-placed mini-posters. We also aim to increase team motivation by
      obtaining their feedback in multidisciplinary team meetings and by introducing
      certificates for their involvement in the quality improvement process. The
      results of the second cycle post-intervention showed an increase in compliance
      rates for documentation of indication and duration of 97% and 69% respectively.
      After a further awareness and discussion session at the multidisciplinary team
      meeting with the local antimicrobial management team audit nurses, a third cycle
      showed compliance rates of 94% and 71% for indication and duration respectively.
      This project has highlighted the importance of improving accessibility and of
      encouraging interventions that would bring about a change in personal value and
      subsequently in behavior and individual practice. 

PMID- 26893899
TI  - Analgesia in hip fractures. Do fascia-iliac blocks make any difference?
AB  - Despite recent national advances in the care for the hip fracture patient,
      significant morbidity and mortality persists. Some of this morbidity is
      attributable to the analgesia provided in the hospital setting. The National
      Institute of Health and Care Excellence and the Association of Anaesthetists of
      Great Britain and Ireland recommend the use of simple oral analgesia including
      opioids, with fascia-iliac blocks (FIB) used as an adjunct. Literature review
      reveals a paucity of evidence on this. The aim of this project was to evaluate
      the proportion of patients receiving a fascia-iliac block prior to operative
      intervention. A secondary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of these blocks
      through analysis of pre and post-operative opioid usage, post-operative delirium,
      time to bowel opening, and naloxone use. Patients who received a fascia-iliac
      block received significantly less post-operative and total analgesia (p=0.04,
      p=0.03), had lower rates of delirium (p=0.03) and those patients which were
      discharged directly home had a shorter inpatient stay (p=0.03). No patients who
      received a fascia-iliac block (FIB) needed naloxone to reverse opioid toxicity,
      whilst two without fascia-iliac block did. The results of the project eventually
      led to the introduction of a hip fracture care pathway which incorporates a
      single shot fascia-iliac block for all patients who are eligible. Within a two
      year study period, compliance with fascia-iliac blocks improved from 54% to 90%.
      Our experience shows a great improvement in compliance with fascia-iliac blocks
      in the pre-operative period. This work has also underpinned the introduction of a
      new hip fracture care pathway ultimately to better patient care and outcomes. 

PMID- 26893900
TI  - Improving the inspection and manual cleaning of dental instruments in a dental
      hospital.
AB  - Within the dental hospital setting, it is a frequent occurrence to find residual
      cement contaminating instruments in a newly opened kit having undergone the
      decontamination cycle. Any instrument found to be contaminated then cannot be
      used, as the area underneath the cement is not sterile. This in itself has
      several repercussions. These include: cross-contamination, since there is a
      chance that the cement will be removed and the contaminated instrument used;
      cost, as each new kit that will be opened due to contaminated instruments will
      incur decontamination costs; and finally time, which most importantly has an
      impact on patient experience. Our baseline data recording focussed on finding out
      the severity of the problem, which instruments were most affected, and how this
      affected patient treatment, using a questionnaire. Within the paediatric
      department, 27% of examination kits contained a contaminated instrument, almost
      one third of all kits used. This quality improvement project utilized a poster
      and team huddle discussions to raise awareness of the problem and successfully
      reduced the number of contaminated instrument kits to 7% over a period of four
      weeks. 

PMID- 26893901
TI  - A quality improvement project to tackle under-reporting of hazards by doctors by
      using an anonymous telephone hotline.
AB  - An anonymous hazard reporting hotline was established for doctors to use on two
      general medical wards at Weston General Hospital (WGH) in North Somerset in
      England during an eight day period in July/August 2014. Doctors were encouraged
      to report hazards and near misses or just start a conversation about a concern.
      The existing computer based significant event system remained alongside the
      hotline and was to be used where actual harm had come to a patient. A team of
      consultants and quality improvement administrators monitored the hotline on a
      daily basis, categorized the level of risk being reported and ensured, where
      possible, that action was taken to address the doctors' concerns. The hotline
      increased reporting rates from two per month to 25 in eight days. The system
      identified 13 amber (medium risk) and five red (high risk) hazards which would
      otherwise not have been known about. This author believes these five high risk
      reports alone make the case for a new, quicker, easier, and anonymous reporting
      system for doctors at WGH urgent and irrefutable. 

PMID- 26893902
TI  - Profiling of Alzheimer's disease patients in Puerto Rico: A comparison of two
      distinct socioeconomic areas.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The Latino/Hispanic community in the United States is at higher risk
      of developing Alzheimer's disease than other ethnic groups. Specifically,
      Caribbean Hispanics showed a more severe Alzheimer's disease symptomatology than
      any other ethnic group. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the mortality
      rate associated with Alzheimer's disease in Puerto Rico is higher than that
      reported in the United States. Moreover, the mortality rate associated with
      Alzheimer's disease was higher among Puerto Rican living in Puerto Rico than
      those in the mainland United States. There is also a differential geographical
      distribution of mortality rate associated with Alzheimer's disease in Puerto
      Rico, which may be associated with differential socioeconomic status and/or
      access to healthcare. However, there is no information regarding the clinical
      profile of Alzheimer's disease patients in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Here, we present
      the results of a retrospective study directed to profile Alzheimer's disease
      patients clustered into two groups based on areas previously determined with low
      (Metro Region) and high (Northwest-Central Region) mortality rate associated with
      Alzheimer's disease in Puerto Rico. RESULTS: Significant difference in the age-at
      diagnosis and years of education was found among patients within the two studied
      regions. Despite these differences, both regions showed comparable levels of
      initial and last Mini Mental State Examination scores and rate of cognitive
      decline. Significant difference was also observed in the occurance of co
      morbidities associated with Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The differential
      profile of Alzheimer's disease patients correlated with differences in
      socioeconomic status between these two regions, suggesting that covariant
      associated with social status may contribute to increased risk of developing
      Alzheimer's disease. Further studies should be conducted to determine the role of
      socioeconomic factors and healthy living practices as risk factors for
      Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 26893904
TI  - Home-range use patterns and movements of the Siberian flying squirrel in urban
      forests: Effects of habitat composition and connectivity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Urbanization causes modification, fragmentation and loss of native
      habitats. Such landscape changes threaten many arboreal and gliding mammals by
      limiting their movements through treeless parts of a landscape and by making the
      landscape surrounding suitable habitat patches more inhospitable. Here, we
      investigate the effects of landscape structure and habitat availability on the
      home-range use and movement patterns of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys
      volans) at different spatial and temporal scales. We followed radio-tagged
      individuals in a partly urbanized study area in Eastern Finland, and analysed how
      landscape composition and connectivity affected the length and speed of movement
      bursts, distances moved during one night, and habitat and nest-site use. RESULTS:
      The presence of urban habitat on movement paths increased both movement lengths
      and speed whereas nightly distances travelled by males decreased with increasing
      amount of urban habitat within the home range. The probability of switching from
      the present nest site to another nest site decreased with increasing distance
      among the nest sites, but whether the nest sites were connected or unconnected by
      forests did not have a clear effect on nest switching. Flying squirrels preferred
      to use mature forests for their movements at night. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      suggest that the proximity to urban habitats modifies animal movements, possibly
      because animals try to avoid such habitats by moving faster through them.
      Urbanization at the scale of an entire home range can restrict their movements.
      Thus, maintaining a large enough amount of mature forests around inhabited
      landscape fragments will help protect forest specialists in urban landscapes. The
      effect of forested connections remains unclear, highlighting the difficulty of
      measuring and preserving connectivity in a species-specific way.

PMID- 26893903
TI  - Double-layered hyaluronic acid/stearic acid-modified polyethyleneimine
      nanoparticles encapsulating (-)-gossypol: a nanocarrier for chiral anticancer
      drugs.
AB  - This study aimed to enhance the water solubility and antitumor efficacy of (-)
      gossypol. Polyethyleneimine conjugated with stearic acid (PgS) was used for
      loading and protecting (-)-gossypol through hydrogen bonding. Double-layered
      hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified PgS nanoparticles encapsulating (-)-gossypol [(-)-G
      PgSHAs] were prepared through a two-step fabrication process. The nanoparticles
      possessed a uniform spherical shape with a dynamic size of 110.9 +/- 2.4 nm,
      which was determined through transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light
      scattering analysis. The encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading capacity of (
      )-G-PgSHAs were 72.6% +/- 3.1% and 9.1% +/- 0.42%, respectively. The IR spectra
      of the samples confirmed the protection effect of hydrogen bonding on the optical
      activity of the encapsulated (-)-gossypol. (-)-G-PgSHAs exhibited a controlled
      and tumor-specific release because of the high expression of HAase in the tumor
      region. The tumor-targeting feature of PgSHAs due to HA-receptor mediation was
      confirmed by in vitro cell uptake and in vivo near infrared fluorescence imaging.
      The in vitro test showed that the (-)-G-PgSHAs had similar cytotoxicity to free (
      )-gossypol and was smaller than that of the encapsulated (+/-)-gossypol [(+/-)-G
      PgSHAs]. The in vivo study of the anti-cancer effect of (-)-G-PgSHAs revealed
      that (-)-G-PgSHAs had a more enhanced tumor-suppression effect and reduced
      systemic toxicity compared with free (-)-gossypol and (+/-)-G-PgSHAs (P < 0.05).
      Therefore, PgSHA was a useful (-)-gossypol nanocarrier that exhibits high
      biocompatibility, tunable release of drug, and tumor-targeting characteristics
      for cancer treatment. In addition, this double-layered nanocarrier provided novel
      strategies for the encapsulation of other chiral drugs.

PMID- 26893905
TI  - Semen quality of 4480 young cancer and systemic disease patients: baseline data
      and clinical considerations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Except for testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease, baseline data on
      semen quality in case of cancers as well as systemic pathologies of the young
      adult are scarce or based on low sample size. METHODS: Semen quality in patients
      having testicular cancer (TGCT, n = 2315), Hodgkin's disease (HD, n = 1175), non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n = 439), leukemia (L, n = 360), sarcoma (S, n = 208),
      brain tumour (BT, n = 40), Behcet's disease (Behcet's, n = 68) or multiple
      sclerosis (MS, n = 73) was studied and compared to that of 1448 fertile men
      candidates for sperm donation (CSD) and 208 partners of pregnant women (PPW). All
      samples were studied following the same methodology in a single laboratory. Post
      freezing and thawing semen characteristics were also studied. RESULTS: The
      percentage of normozoospermic men was only 37 % for L patients and lower than 60
      % for TGCT, NHL, S and BT. The level of sperm production was differently
      decreased according to pathologies, the median total sperm count in TC and L
      patients being four times lower (p < 0.01 when compared to CSD and PPW). The
      lowest percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa was found for L and BT
      patients (both, p < 0.01 compared to CSD and PPW). The percentage of
      morphologically normal spermatozoa was also reduced in cancer patients,
      especially in BT patients. Progressive motility after thawing in patients was
      about half that observed among candidates for sperm donation. In almost half of
      the semen of patients with testicular cancer or leukemia, the total number of
      motile spermatozoa per straw was less than 0.5 * 10(6) compared to 4.3 * 10(6) in
      CSD. CONCLUSIONS: The present data confirm on large series the deleterious impact
      of various cancers of the young adult on semen quality, establishing thus
      baseline data for future studies. Owing to the post-thaw quality of the frozen
      straws, future fertility projects for the majority of the patients studied (in
      case there is no post-treatment recovery of spermatogenesis) should necessitate
      an ICSI to provide the best chance of paternity whatever the fertility check-up
      in the female partner.

PMID- 26893907
TI  - Erratum to: A retrospective study to identify risk factors for somnolence and
      dizziness in patients treated with pregabalin.
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40780-015-0022-7.]. 

PMID- 26893906
TI  - Circulating nucleosomes as predictive markers of severe acute pancreatitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The components of nucleosomes, which contain DNA and histones, are
      released into the circulation from damaged cells and can promote inflammation. We
      studied whether the on-admission levels of circulating nucleosomes predict the
      development of severe acute pancreatitis (AP), in particular among the patients
      who present without clinical signs of organ dysfunction. METHODS: This is a
      prospective study of 74 AP patients admitted to Helsinki University Hospital from
      2003 to 2007. Twenty-three patients had mild, 27 moderately severe, and 24 severe
      AP as defined by the revised Atlanta criteria. 14/24 severe AP patients had no
      sign of organ dysfunction on admission (modified marshall score <2). Blood
      samples were obtained on admission and the plasma levels of nucleosomes were
      measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The on-admission
      levels of nucleosomes were significantly higher in severe AP than in mild or
      moderately severe AP (p < 0.001 for all), higher in non-survivors (n = 8) than in
      survivors (p = 0.019), and correlated with the on-admission levels of C-reactive
      protein (p < 0.001) and creatinine (p < 0.001). Among the AP patients who
      presented without organ dysfunction, the on-admission nucleosome level was an
      independent predictor of severe AP (p = 0.038, gender-adjusted forward-stepping
      logistic regression). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating nucleosome levels may be helpful
      in identifying, on admission to hospital, the AP patients who present without
      clinical signs of organ dysfunction, and, yet, are bound to develop organ
      dysfunction during hospitalization.

PMID- 26893909
TI  - Light enhanced bone regeneration in an athymic nude mouse implanted with
      mesenchymal stem cells embedded in PLGA microspheres.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Biodegradable microspheres fabricated from poly (Lactic-co-glycolic
      acid) (PLGA) have attracted considerable attention in the bone tissue
      regeneration field. In this study, rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) adherent
      to PLGA microspheres were implanted into athymic nude mice and irradiated with
      647 nm red light to promote bone formation. It was found that irradiating rMSCs
      with high levels of red light (647 nm) from an LED (light-emitting diode)
      increased levels of bone specific markers in rMSCs embedded on PLGA microspheres.
      RESULT: These increased expressions were observed by RT-PCR, real time-QPCR,
      immunohistochemistry (IHC), and von Kossa and Alizarin red S staining.
      Microsphere matrices coated with rMSCs were injected into athymic nude mice and
      irradiated with red light for 60 seconds showed significantly greater bone
      specific phenotypes after 4 weeks in vivo. CONCLUSION: The devised PLGA
      microsphere matrix containing rMSCs and irradiation with red light at 647 nm
      process shows promise as a means of coating implantable biomedical devices to
      improve their biocompatibilities and in vivo performances.

PMID- 26893910
TI  - Resistant hypertension caused by stenosis of the aorta in elderly women: three
      case reports.
AB  - Arterial hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in older than
      middle-aged patients. Reported incidence of secondary hypertension in this age
      group is around 10%. To evaluate secondary hypertension, history taking and
      physical examination should be precise, which are usually not routinely performed
      in busy outpatient clinic. Here, we report three cases of elderly women who are
      taking antihypertensive and visited outpatient clinic for uncontrolled
      hypertension. Their diagnosis of aortic stenosis was delayed, and its presence
      was suggested by detection of high abdominal aortic flow velocity during
      transthoracic echocardiography. This case report gives us lessons that suspicion
      of secondary hypertension and careful physical examination are most important to
      make diagnosis early. 

PMID- 26893908
TI  - The EPIICAL project: an emerging global collaboration to investigate
      immunotherapeutic strategies in HIV-infected children.
AB  - The EPIICAL (Early-treated Perinatally HIV-infected Individuals: Improving
      Children's Actual Life with Novel Immunotherapeutic Strategies) project arises
      from the firm belief that perinatally infected children treated with suppressive
      antiretroviral therapy (ART) from early infancy represent the optimal population
      model in which to study novel immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at achieving ART
      free remission. This is because HIV-infected infants treated within 2-3 months of
      life have a much reduced viral reservoir size, and rarely show HIV-specific
      immunity but preserve normal immune development. The goal of EPIICAL is the
      establishment of an international collaboration to develop a predictive platform
      using this model to select promising HIV therapeutic vaccine candidates, leading
      to prioritisation or deprioritisation of novel immunotherapeutic strategies. To
      establish this platform, the EPIICAL Consortium aims to: develop predictive
      models of virological and immunological dynamics associated with response to
      early ART and to treatment interruption using available data from existing
      cohorts/studies of early-treated perinatally HIV-infected children; optimise
      methodologies to better characterise immunological, virological and genomic
      correlates/profiles associated with viral control; test novel immunotherapeutic
      strategies using in vivo proof-of-concept (PoC) studies with the aim of inducing
      virological, immunological and transcriptomic correlates/profiles equivalent to
      those defined by the predictive model. This approach will strengthen the capacity
      for discovery, development and initial testing of new therapeutic vaccine
      strategies through the integrated efforts of leading international scientific
      groups, with the aim of improving the health of HIV-infected individuals.

PMID- 26893912
TI  - Clinical hypertension: a new era.
AB  - We are delighted to announce the launch of the new journal Clinical Hypertension.
      Clinical Hypertension is an open-access, peer-reviewed, online journal, which
      will publish scientific investigation of the highest quality in the field of
      blood pressure regulation and pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of
      hypertension. The editors encourage the submission of original articles that deal
      with basic, clinical, and population studies of hypertension and related fields,
      such as cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, neuroscience, vascular biology,
      physiology, pharmacology, cellular and molecular biology, and genetics. 

PMID- 26893911
TI  - Depressor action and vasorelaxation of methylene chloride fraction extracted from
      Rubus coreanum.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to examine whether methylene
      chloride (CH2Cl2) fraction extracted from Rubus coreanum affects the
      contractility of the isolated thoracic aortic strips and blood pressure of
      normotensive rats. METHODS: One of the common carotid arteries or of the femoral
      arteries was catheterized with a polyethylene tubing. The tubing was connected to
      a pressure transducer, and pulse of the mean arterial blood pressure was recorded
      on a biological polygraph continuously. RESULTS: The CH2Cl2 fraction (range, 200
      to 800 MUg/mL) significantly depressed both phenylephrine (PE, 10 MUM)- and high
      K(+) (56 mM)-induced contractile responses of the isolated thoracic aortic strips
      in a concentration-dependent fashion. In the simultaneous presence of N(omega)
      nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) (an inhibitor of nitric
      oxide [NO] synthase, 300 MUM) and the CH2Cl2 fraction (400 MUg/mL), both PE- and
      high K(+)-induced contractile responses were recovered to the significant level
      of the corresponding control response in comparison with inhibition of CH2Cl2
      fraction treatment alone. Moreover, in the simultaneous presence of the CH2Cl2
      fraction after pretreatment with 0.4% CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)
      dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate), both PE- and high K(+)-induced contractile
      responses were recovered to the significant level of the corresponding control
      response compared to the inhibitory response of CH2Cl2 fraction treatment alone.
      Also, in anesthetized rats, the CH2Cl2 fraction (range, 0.3 to 3.0 mg/kg)
      injected into a femoral vein dose-dependently produced depressor responses. This
      hypotensive action of the CH2Cl2 fraction was greatly inhibited after treatment
      with phentolamine (1 mg/kg), chlorisondamine (1 mg/kg), L-NAME (3 mg/kg/30 min),
      or sodium nitroprusside (30 MUg/kg/30 min). Intravenous infusion of the CH2Cl2
      fraction (range, 1.0 to 10.0 mg/kg/30 min) markedly inhibited norepinephrine
      induced pressor responses. DISCUSSION: Taken together, these results demonstrate
      that the CH2Cl2 fraction causes vascular relaxation in the isolated rat thoracic
      aortic strips as well as hypotensive action in anesthetized rats. These
      vasorelaxation and hypotension of the CH2Cl2 fraction seem to be mediated at
      least by the increased NO production through the activation of NO synthase of the
      vascular endothelium and the inhibitory adrenergic modulation.

PMID- 26893914
TI  - Spontaneous rupture of a renal artery pseudoaneurysm in a previously hypertensive
      patient.
AB  - Previously, renal artery pseudoaneurysms were thought to be extremely uncommon.
      However, these lesions are now being detected more frequently as incidental
      findings on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and the extensive
      use of angiography. The incidence of ruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysms is
      very low. We report a case of a giant renal artery pseudoaneurysm (9.4-cm
      diameter) with severe left flank pain and a syncopal attack in a young woman who
      did not control high blood pressure for a couple of years. 

PMID- 26893913
TI  - Wall shear stress in hypertensive patients is associated with carotid vascular
      deformation assessed by speckle tracking strain imaging.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Wall shear stress (WSS) is critically important in both vascular
      remodeling and atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and
      deformation parameters have been used as relevant indicators of carotid
      atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between
      hemodynamic parameters in the common carotid artery (CCA) and the severity of
      carotid atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Carotid
      artery ultrasound was performed in 100 untreated hypertensive patients.
      Morphologic and hemodynamic parameters of the CCA, including peak and mean WSS,
      global circumferential strain, peak posterior radial strain assessed by two
      dimensional speckle tracking method, and IMT, were measured. RESULTS: In patients
      with hypertension, there were significant correlations between carotid strain
      parameters and peak/mean WSS. Stepwise multiple regression analysis for carotid
      strain parameters after adjustment for age, carotid IMT, and brachial pulse wave
      velocity showed that peak WSS was an independent determinant of peak posterior
      radial strain (p = 0.009) and global circumferential strain (p = 0.002).
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that local shear stress is associated with
      carotid vascular deformation, which could be an underlying mechanism for the
      progression of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26893915
TI  - 2013 Korean Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of
      hypertension: part I-epidemiology and diagnosis of hypertension.
AB  - The standardized techniques of blood pressure measurement in the clinic are
      emphasized and the indications for ambulatory and/or home blood pressure
      monitoring are specified more broadly. The epidemiologic findings specific to
      Korean population related to blood pressure are reviewed. Cardiovascular risk of
      hypertensive patients are stratified based upon the data of a Korean population
      cohort study. 

PMID- 26893918
TI  - Increased pulse wave velocity and augmentation index after isometric handgrip
      exercise in patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD),
      which is expected to be increased due to a generalized atherosclerotic process of
      human body, may be more evident after the acute increase of blood pressure (BP)
      or peripheral vascular resistance. Isometric handgrip exercise is a simple and
      easily applicable method to achieve this goal. We investigated the changes of
      hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness indexes after handgrip exercise in
      patients with CAD. METHODS: Forty-two subjects, who underwent coronary
      angiography (CAG), were enrolled. After CAG, baseline arterial waveforms were
      traced at the aortic root and external iliac artery using right coronary
      catheters. Arterial waveforms were recorded at 1, 2, and 3 min in the aortic root
      and at 3 min in the external iliac artery after isometric handgrip exercise at
      30% ~ 40% of the maximal handgrip power. Augmentation pressure (AP) and
      augmentation index (AIx) were measured at aortic pressure waveforms. Pulse wave
      velocity (PWV) was calculated using the ECG-gated time difference of the upstroke
      of arterial waveforms and the distance between the aortic root and the external
      iliac artery. RESULTS: Thirty patients had CAD (CAD group), and others showed no
      significant coronary stenosis (non-CAD group). Baseline hemodynamic parameters
      including AIx and PWV were not different between both groups. After isometric
      handgrip exercise, central systolic blood pressure (BP), central diastolic BP,
      central pulse pressure, peripheral systolic BP, and peripheral pulse pressure
      were increased in all patients. AIx inclined significantly from 1 min after
      exercise only in patients with CAD (before 17.7% +/- 9.7% vs. 3 min after
      exercise 22.3% +/- 10.7%, p < 0.001). PWV also increased significantly after
      exercise only in patients with CAD (before 10.03 +/- 1.99 m/s vs. 3 min after
      11.09 +/- 2.45 m/s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Arterial stiffness indexes at rest
      were not different between patients with and without CAD. After isometric
      handgrip exercise, increased arterial stiffness became evident only in patients
      with CAD.

PMID- 26893919
TI  - Diurnal variation of flow-mediated dilatation in healthy humans.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) via ultrasound
      has been established as a reliable non-invasive measurement of endothelial
      function. However, the guidelines mention nothing regarding diurnal variation of
      FMD. Thus, we investigated the FMD in healthy people and diurnal variation of
      FMD. METHODS: Twenty-five apparently healthy persons participated in this study.
      All participants had no history of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, or
      diabetes and used any medication. For each volunteer, the measurements were
      repeated in the morning and afternoon on two different days. We checked capillary
      blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL),
      and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. RESULTS: The average of FMD
      measurements was 8.45% +/- 2.39%. The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood
      pressure, heart rate, lipid profiles, and glucose levels were similar between the
      morning and afternoon measurements after 9-h fasting. There was no significant
      difference of FMD measurements between the morning and afternoon (8.32% +/- 2.27%
      and 8.58% +/- 2.56%, p = 0.329). Moreover, there was significant correlation
      between FMD in the morning and afternoon (r = 0.856, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our
      study shows measurement of FMD was 8.45% in healthy Koreans. Also, there was no
      significant difference of FMD measurements between the morning and afternoon.

PMID- 26893920
TI  - The relationship between hypertension and sleep duration: an analysis of the
      fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-3).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular
      disease (CVD). The majority of patients, however, cannot easily maintain a
      healthy blood pressure. Therefore, lifestyle modifications are important and may
      include getting enough sleep. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      relationship between sleep duration and hypertension, as defined by the Joint
      National Committee (JNC) 7 and JNC 8 guidelines. METHODS: We used the data from
      6,365 individuals aged >= 18 years based on national data from a representative
      sample of the 5(th) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-3 in
      2012. The participants were divided into three categories: JNC 7, JNC 8, and
      newly excluded only. The duration of sleep was classified as less than 5, 6, 7,
      8, or more than 9 hours. RESULTS: Compared with the appropriate sleep duration of
      7 hours, with a sleep duration of less than 5 hours, the recommended
      pharmacological treatment of hypertension rate increased 1.908-fold (95% CI =
      1.483-2.456) according to the JNC 8 guidelines and 1.864-fold (95% CI = 1.446
      2.403) according to the JNC 7 guidelines. However, there was no statistical
      difference with the other sleep categories. DISCUSSION: The recommended
      hypertension treatment rate increased significantly in the less than 5 hours
      sleep group according to the JNC 8 guidelines. To manage hypertension
      effectively, it may be useful to maintain a lifestyle of sleeping more than 6
      hours.

PMID- 26893916
TI  - 2013 Korean Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of
      hypertension. Part II-treatments of hypertension.
AB  - Treatment strategies are provided in accordance with the level of global
      cardiovascular risk, from lifestyle modification in the lower risk group to more
      comprehensive treatment in the higher risk group. Considering the common trend of
      combination drug regimen, the choice of the first drug is suggested more
      liberally according to the physician's discretion. 

PMID- 26893922
TI  - The approach of general practitioners in Lagos to the detection and evaluation of
      hypertension.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypertension (HTN) control is a major public health and clinical
      challenge. A number of guidelines exist globally to assist in tackling this
      challenge. The aim of this study was to determine conformity of the HTN detection
      and evaluation practices of a sample of Lagos-based general practitioners (GPs)
      to international guidelines. METHODS: Self-administered structured questionnaires
      were used to collect data from a cohort of GPs attending continuing medical
      education programs in Lagos. RESULTS: Out of the 460 GPs that were approached,
      435 agreed to participate in the study, with questionnaires from 403 GPs
      analyzed. The average age and number of years post-registration of the GPs were
      40.0 +/- 11.3 years and 14.3 +/- 11.1 years, respectively. Two thirds (n = 269)
      were in private practice. Their daily average total and HTN patients' loads were
      17.4 +/- 14.3 and 4.4 +/- 3.5, respectively. Awareness of HTN guidelines was
      46.7% (n = 188), while 18.1% (n = 73) was able to name one or more HTN
      guidelines. The approaches of these GPs to the detection and evaluation of HTN
      and their relationships to the GPs' experience were heterogeneous. DISCUSSION:
      The approach of the GPs to detection and evaluation of HTN though heterogeneous
      is unsatisfactory and may partly contribute to poor HTN control in Nigeria.
      Strengthening the capacity of GPs in this regard through continuous medical
      education may greatly improve HTN control.

PMID- 26893917
TI  - 2013 Korean Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of
      hypertension: part III-hypertension in special situations.
AB  - Different treatment strategies are suggested for special situations. Hypertension
      is common in the elderly and frequently accompanied by or complicates other
      clinical conditions such as metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, heart
      failure, stroke, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. 

PMID- 26893921
TI  - Role of echocardiography in clinical hypertension.
AB  - Hypertension is a major and correctable cardiovascular risk factor. The correct
      diagnosis of hypertension and precise assessment of cardiovascular risk are
      essential to give proper treatment in patients with hypertension. Although
      echocardiography is the second-line study in the evaluation of hypertensive
      patients, it gives many clues suggesting bad prognosis associated with
      hypertension, including increased left ventricular (LV) mass, decreased LV
      systolic function, impaired LV diastolic function, and increased left atrial size
      and decreased function. Along with conventional echocardiographic methods, tissue
      Doppler imaging, three-dimensional echocardiography, and strain echocardiography
      are newer echocardiographic modalities in the evaluation of hypertensive patients
      in the current echocardiographic laboratories. Understanding conventional and
      newer echocardiographic parameters is important in the diagnosis and assessment
      of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. 

PMID- 26893924
TI  - Relationship between uric acid and blood pressure in different age groups.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Serum uric acid (UA) has been known to have a positive association
      with blood pressure (BP). However, the relationship between serum UA and BP in
      different age groups is unclear. METHODS: A total of 45,098 Koreans who underwent
      health examinations at Korea Association of Health Promotion with no history of
      taking drugs related with UA and/or BP were analyzed for determining the
      relationship between serum UA and BP. RESULTS: In men <40, serum UA was
      significantly associated with systolic (beta = 0.25, p = 0.002) and diastolic BP
      (beta = 0.41, p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, diabetes, dyslipidemia, body
      mass index, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Men between ages 40 and 59
      showed similar results regarding diastolic BP. The association between serum UA
      and BP was stronger in women <40 (beta = 0.54, p < 0.001 for systolic BP; beta =
      0.65, p < 0.001 for diastolic BP) and in between 40 and 59 (beta = 0.51, p <
      0.001 for diastolic BP). The association was not significant in men and women
      >=60. The odds ratios (ORs) of hyperuricemia for hypertension were 1.25 (95%
      confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.45; p = 0.003) and 1.33 (95% CI, 1.11 to
      1.60; p = 0.002) in men <40 and in between 40 and 59, respectively, in the
      multivariate analysis. The OR was 2.60 (95% CI, 1.37 to 4.94; p = 0.0034) in
      women <40. The relationship between hyperuricemia and hypertension was not
      significant in other age/gender groups. DISCUSSION: In contrast to the elderly of
      60 and over, the non-elderly showed significant associations between serum UA and
      BP.

PMID- 26893925
TI  - Carotid intima-media thickness is not related with clinical outcomes in young
      hypertensives.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Careful observations of long- and short-term outcomes associated
      with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) are relatively limited. METHODS: A
      total of 2,972 patients (male:female = 1,960:1,012; mean age = 62 +/- 12 years)
      who underwent carotid IMT measurements from September 2003 to March 2009 were
      divided into four groups. Group I (n = 271; mean age, 42 +/- 7.8 years) included
      normotensive younger subjects (males, <45 years and females <55 years), group II
      (n = 992; mean age, 63 +/- 9 years) included normotensive elderly subjects, group
      III (n = 177; mean age, 46 +/- 7.8 years) was hypertensive younger subjects, and
      group IV (n = 1,532; mean age, 63 +/- 10.2 years) was hypertensive elderly
      subjects. We analyzed the clinical and cardiovascular events in the younger
      hypertensive subjects based on IMT measurements. RESULTS: The baseline
      characteristics of the subjects showed that carotid IMT increased in the elderly
      subjects and in patients with hypertension. Poor clinical outcomes, such as all
      cause death and major adverse cardiac events, were related with age, not with
      hypertension. Among the conventional risk factors, age and the highest quartile
      level of right maximum carotid IMT were related with major adverse events (young:
      odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25 to 0.9 vs. OR, 1.73;
      95% CI, 1.20 to 2.49). The patients in the highest quartile of carotid IMT had
      worse survival outcomes than those with the lowest IMT (p = 0.03). DISCUSSION:
      Subjects with hypertension had increased carotid IMT levels. Controlling
      hypertension and carefully evaluating carotid IMT are important to prevent
      cardiovascular events even in younger subjects with hypertension.

PMID- 26893923
TI  - Angiotensin II induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in podocyte, which would be
      further augmented by PI3-kinase inhibition.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Angiotensin II (Ang II) contributes to the pathological process of
      vascular structures, including renal glomeruli by hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic
      direct effects. On renal effects, Ang II plays an important role in the
      development of proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis by the modification of podocyte
      molecules and cell survival. In the present study, we investigated the effect of
      Ang II on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in podocytes. METHODS: We cultured
      mouse podocytes with increasing doses of Ang II and evaluated ER stress markers
      by Western blotting. RESULTS: Ang II increased Bip protein, an ER chaperone, in a
      dose-dependent manner at 24 h, which was ameliorated by losartan, an angiotensin
      II type 1 receptor antagonist. Ang II also increased ER stress markers, such as
      phospho-PERK, phospho-eIF2alpha, and ATF4 proteins of podocyte, significantly in
      a dose-dependent manner at 24 h. Increased phospho-PERK and ATF4 proteins were
      further augmented by phosphoinositide 3 (PI3)-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, which
      suggested that Ang II could induce podocyte ER stress of PERK-eIF2alpha-ATF4 axis
      via PI3-kinase pathway. DISCUSSION: These studies suggest that Ang II could
      induce podocyte ER stress of PERK-eIF2alpha-ATF4 axis via PI3-kinase pathway,
      which would contribute to the development of podocyte injury induced by Ang II,
      and the augmentation of PI3-kinase would be a therapeutic target.

PMID- 26893926
TI  - Casual blood pressure of adolescents attending public secondary schools in
      Maiduguri, Nigeria.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Although evidence exists that adolescents' hypertension could lead
      to adults' hypertension, it is a general belief that measures for early detection
      and treatment of this condition is seldom undertaken especially in medically
      underserved communities such as Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. This study
      investigated the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among adolescents in
      Maiduguri, Nigeria, and explored the association between undiagnosed hypertension
      and adolescents' physical characteristics and parental socio-demographic factors.
      METHODS: Participants' physical characteristics were assessed, and information on
      their socio-demographics including parental socioeconomic status were obtained.
      Blood pressures and heart rates of the participants were also measured three
      times at 5-10-min period. RESULTS: The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension
      among the students was 13.2 %, and overwhelming majority (82.4 %) of the
      hypertensive students were in the prehypertensive stage, while 17.6 % were in the
      stage 1 classification of hypertension. Higher prevalence of undiagnosed
      hypertension was observed for the females compared to the male adolescents (X (2)
      = 15.49, p = 0.001), and presence of undiagnosed hypertension is positively but
      tenuously linked to age (r = 0.11, p = 0.01), body mass index (r = 0.10, p =
      0.01), and parental income (r = 0.26, p = 0.02) of the students. DISCUSSION: This
      study suggests that any effective programs designed to mitigate undiagnosed
      hypertension among adolescents in this city should include strategies that
      address possible barriers to physical activity and exercise among female
      adolescents in the society.

PMID- 26893927
TI  - Impaired deformability of circulating erythrocytes obtained from nondiabetic
      hypertensive patients: investigation by a nickel mesh filtration technique.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is associated with microcirculatory disturbance, and
      erythrocyte deformability is a major determinant of the microcirculation.
      However, impairment of erythrocyte deformability in hypertensive patients in
      relation to antihypertensive treatment is unclear. The present study aimed to
      investigate this impairment in hypertensive patients under treatment using a
      highly sensitive and quantitative nickel mesh filtration technique. METHODS:
      Deformability was evaluated by filterability, defined as the flow rate of a
      hematocrit-adjusted erythrocyte suspension relative to that of saline under a
      specific filtration pressure in a pressure-flow curve obtained by continuous
      filtration. Baseline characteristics of hypertensive patients (n = 101) and age
      matched normotensive subjects (n = 14) were obtained from medical records, and
      diabetic patients were excluded. RESULTS: Erythrocyte deformability in the
      hypertensive group was significantly (p = 0.010) lower (87.8 +/- 2.2 %) than that
      of the normotensive group (89.4 +/- 1.7 %) and inversely proportional (r = 
      0.303, p = 0.002) to the mean blood pressure (BP) measured on blood sampling for
      the filtration study. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that
      this impairment was mostly attributable to the mean BP (p = 0.001), whereas
      current smoking and episodes of stroke or coronary artery disease were not
      contributors. DISCUSSION: These findings indicate that erythrocyte deformability
      is impaired in the hypertensive patients, which depends on the current BP control
      rather than target organ damage.

PMID- 26893928
TI  - Clinical attributes, treatment, and control in hypertension (CATCH)-a French and
      Italian longitudinal patient database study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is
      frequently associated with other CVD risk factors. Despite recent improvement in
      blood pressure (BP) control in Europe, a substantial proportion of patients fail
      to achieve BP targets. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used longitudinal
      patient databases (LPDs) in France and Italy to examine CVD risk profiles,
      treatment patterns, and BP goal attainment in hypertensive patients treated in
      real-world clinical practice between 2007 and 2008. Overall, 147,964 and 140,189
      eligible patients from LPDs in France and Italy, respectively, were prescribed an
      antihypertensive medication in 2007. RESULTS: Among patients with hypertension
      with other risk factors (France 88 %, Italy 83 %), the most prevalent risk
      factors were being elderly (France 66.9 %, Italy 70. 9 %), followed by
      hypertension combined with dyslipidemia (France 36.7 %, Italy 23.9 %) and
      isolated systolic hypertension (France 32.5 %, Italy 24.2 %). The odds ratios for
      target BP attainment were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in patients with
      hypertension without other risk factors vs patients with hypertension with other
      risk factors (1.41 [95 % confidence interval 1.35, 1.48] in France; 1.38 [1.31,
      1.46] in Italy). The odds of BP control were significantly lower for patients
      with vs patients without an associated CVD risk factor (range 0.54 to 1.10
      France; 0.59 to 1.17 Italy). DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that the
      majority of treated hypertensive patients in France and Italy have at least one
      additional CVD risk factor. Despite treatment with antihypertensive medications,
      blood pressure attainment was substantially less optimal in patients with an
      associated CVD risk factor compared to patients without an associated CVD risk
      factor.

PMID- 26893929
TI  - A psychosocial perspective of medication side effects, experiences, coping
      approaches and implications for adherence in hypertension management.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: This study examined whether psychosocial variables influenced
      patients' perception and experience of side effects of their medicines, how they
      coped with these experiences and the impact on medication adherence behaviour.
      METHODS: A hospital-based mixed methods study using quantitative and qualitative
      approaches was conducted with hypertensive patients. Participants were asked
      about side effects, medication adherence, common psychological symptoms and
      coping mechanisms with the aid of standard questionnaires and an interview guide.
      RESULTS: The experiences of side effects-such as palpitations, frequent
      urination, recurrent bouts of hunger, erectile dysfunction, dizziness, cough,
      physical exhaustion-were categorized as no/low (39.75 %), moderate (53.0 %) and
      high (7.25 %). Significant relationships between depression (x (2) = 24.21, p <
      0.0001), anxiety (x (2) = 42.33, p < 0.0001), stress (x (2) = 39.73, p < 0.0001)
      and side effects were observed. A logistic regression model using the adjusted
      results for this association is reported-depression [OR = 1.9 (1.03-3.57), p =
      0.04], anxiety [OR = 1.5 (1.22-1.77), p <= 0.001] and stress [OR = 1.3 (1.02
      1.71), p = 0.04]. Side effects significantly increased the probability of
      individuals to be non-adherent [OR = 4.84 (95 % CI 1.07-1.85), p = 0.04] with
      social factors, media influences and attitudes of primary care givers further
      explaining this relationship. Personal adoption of medication modifying
      strategies, espousing the use of complementary and alternative treatments and
      interventions made by clinicians were the main forms of coping with side effects.
      DISCUSSION: Results from this study show that, in addition to a biomedical
      approach, the experience of side effects has biological, social and psychological
      interrelations. The results offer more support for the need for a multi
      disciplinary approach to healthcare where all forms of expertise are incorporated
      into health provision and patient care.

PMID- 26893930
TI  - Hypertensive emergencies: a new clinical approach.
AB  - The expression 'hypertensive urgencies' includes many diseases. The unifying
      features of these diseases are a high level of arterial pressure and acute
      distress of one or more organs. The aim of the review was to define the idea of
      the 'acute hypertension' as a new concept, different from 'chronic hypertension'.
      Acute hypertension might be related to 'organ damage' because it is the cause,
      the consequence or an effect of the acute stress. We compounded a narrative
      review which has included analyses of 373 articles. The structure of the search
      strategy included a literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and
      Google Scholar databases. We applied the following inclusion criteria:
      prospective double-blind randomised controlled trials, experimental animal work
      studies, case-control studies and recruiting patients representative of the
      general sick population. In this review, the diseases included in the term
      'hypertensive emergencies' share 'acute' hypertension. This is a new idea that
      emphasises the suddenly increased arterial pressure, irrespective of the initial
      arterial pressure and independent of the goals of hypertension control. The
      'hypertensive emergencies' have been grouped together in three subsets: (1)
      diseases that result from acute hypertension that is caused by faulty regulation
      of the peripheral circulation (acute primary hypertension), (2) diseases that
      produce hypertension (acute secondary hypertension) and 3) diseases that have
      hypertension as an effect of the acute stress caused by the principle disease
      (acute associated hypertension). This review highlights a novel idea: acute
      hypertension is a common sign of different diseases characterised by the sudden
      surge of arterial pressure, so overwhelming the difference between hypertensive
      emergencies and urgencies. The judgment of acute hypertension is independent of
      the initial arterial pressure, normotension or hypertension and is linked with
      the transient failure of the baroreflex. Hypertensive emergencies are grouped
      together because all of these diseases require prompt therapy to prevent the
      negative outcomes of acute hypertension. 

PMID- 26893931
TI  - Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function in children and adolescents
      with essential hypertension.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in children
      and adolescents with essential hypertension tend to be underdiagnosed. The aims
      of this study were to investigate left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic
      dysfunction in the subjects with essential hypertension defined by ambulatory
      blood pressure monitoring. METHODS: A total of 38 Korean subjects aged 9-19 years
      without secondary causes of hypertension were reviewed. Ambulatory blood pressure
      monitoring was done in the 38 subjects to diagnose hypertension and gain the
      information of blood pressure pattern. The subjects were divided into two groups:
      a group with elevated blood pressure (BP) index (n = 29) and a group with normal
      BP index (n = 9). Two-dimensional ultrasound with M-mode imaging and tissue
      Doppler imaging were performed to measure left ventricular mass index and to
      assess the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass
      index(g/m(2.7)) was significantly higher in the group with elevated BP index than
      the group with normal BP index, but there were no differences in left ventricular
      diastolic dysfunction evaluated by E/A ratio and E/E' ratio. Left ventricular
      mass index was related only with body mass index, while any of the ambulatory
      blood pressure monitoring parameters did not predict left ventricular
      hypertrophy. In terms of diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension, E/E'
      ratio in the subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy was higher than that in
      the other subjects without left ventricular hypertrophy. DISCUSSION: Left
      ventricular mass index is significantly correlated with body mass index in
      children and adolescents with essential hypertension, and the diastolic
      dysfunction could be in higher risk in subjects with left ventricular
      hypertrophy.

PMID- 26893932
TI  - Change in fatty liver status and 5-year risk of incident metabolic syndrome: a
      retrospective cohort study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Fatty liver is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) but it may
      also occur without MetS. Whether resolution of fatty liver in the general
      population affects risk of MetS is unknown. Our aim was to determine whether a
      change in fatty liver status (either the development of new fatty liver or the
      resolution of existing fatty liver) would modify the risk of de novo MetS.
      METHODS: Two thousand eighty-nine people without hypertension, diabetes, and MetS
      were examined at baseline and at 5-year follow-up using a retrospective cohort
      study design. Fatty liver status was assessed at baseline and at follow-up by
      ultrasonography. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs)
      for de novo MetS at follow-up were calculated controlling for the potential
      confounders, compared to the reference group (people who never had fatty liver at
      baseline and follow-up). RESULTS: During follow-up, fatty liver developed in 251
      people and fatty liver resolved in 112 people. After the adjustment for multiple
      confounders, persisting fatty liver and incident fatty liver development were
      associated with de novo MetS, with aHR of 2.60 (95 % CIs [1.61,4.20]) and 3.31
      (95 % CIs [1.99,5.51]), respectively. Risk of new MetS in resolved fatty liver
      group was attenuated with insignificant aHR of 1.29 accompanying 95 % CIs of 0.60
      and 2.80. DISCUSSION: Development or maintenance of fatty liver is positively
      associated with occurrence of new MetS. Resolution of fatty liver status has
      similar risk of de novo MetS with those who never had fatty liver. Therefore,
      cautious management is needed with those with fatty liver.

PMID- 26893933
TI  - The relationship between left ventricular mass index and body composition in new
      diagnosed hypertensive patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is considered a public health burden and
      most common cause of mortality in all over the world. The latency time for
      developing CVD may be several decades. the objective of this study was to examine
      the relationship between body composition and Left Ventriculare Mass Index (LVMI)
      in newly diognosed hypertensive patients. METHODS: We enrolled 120 new-diagnosed
      hypertensive patients (mean age 45 +/- 8 years) who admitted to our nephrology
      clinic. Body fat percentage (BFP) was measured by bioelectrical impedance (BIA).
      Echocardiography examinations were performed for all patients. RESULTS: Mean
      values of Waist hip ratio, Body mass index, Body fat percentage, Systolic blood
      pressure, Diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher for females than
      males (all p values <0.05). The female patients had higher LVMI than male
      patients (94.8 +/- 13.1 vs 89.2 +/- 14.6, p < 0.05). The study patients were
      divided into 3 groups according to their BFP defined by BIA. Group 3 patients,
      who exhibited higher body fat, had significantly higher BMI (p < 0,05), total
      leukocyte count (p < 0.05), CRP (p < 0.05), triglyceride (p < 0.05), and female
      predominance. Group 3 patients were statistically older than group 1 patients
      (46.2 vs. 40.6 years, p < 0.05). Additionally, LVMI levels were higher in Group 3
      than Group 1 (p < 0.05) (Table 3). In logistic regression analysis, independent
      factors affecting LVMI were age, weight, gender and BFP (all p values were
      <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BFP was associated with higher LVMI, in newly diognosed
      hypertensive patients. Its use results in significantly lower proportions of
      individuals with LVH in the population, in particular among hypertensive and the
      obese patients.

PMID- 26893934
TI  - Association among epicardial fat, heart rate recovery and circadian blood
      pressure variability in patients with hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epicardial fat tissue is known to have an unique endocrine function
      which affect the cardiac autonomic system. Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a simple
      non-invasive measurement that assesses autonomic nervous system dysfunction. We
      aimed to investigate the association among epicardial fat thickness (EFT), HRR
      and circadian blood pressure (BP) variation in patients with hypertension.
      METHODS: A total of 358 consecutive patients who underwent both 24-hour
      ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and a treadmill test were enrolled.
      Echocardiographic EFT and HRR, defined as peak heart rate minus heart rate after
      a 1-min recovery time, were measured. Patients were classified according to the
      ABPM; 147 patients with hypertension with a dipping pattern at night (dippers),
      140 patients with hypertension with a non-dipping pattern at night (non-dippers)
      and 71 normotensive controls. RESULTS: EFT was significantly higher in
      hypertensive patients, especially in the non-dipper group, compared to the
      controls (non-dippers, 7.5 +/- 2.9 mm; dippers, 6.6 +/- 1.6 mm; controls, 5.5 +/-
      2.1 mm; p < 0.001). HRR was significantly lower in both hypertensive groups as
      compared to the control group and was the lowest in the non-dipper group (non
      dipper, 26.6 +/- 18.6; dipper, 29.5 +/- 21.5; control, 71.4 +/- 19.8; p < 0.001).
      EFT was significantly correlated with age, body mass index, 24-hour mean systolic
      BP and 24 h mean BP variability, whereas exercise duration, metabolic equivalents
      (METs) and HRR were inversely correlated with EFT. Furthermore, EFT > 6.7 mm was
      associated with a blunted HRR with 76 % sensitivity and 61 % specificity (ROC
      area under curve: 0.71, 95 % confidence interval, CI = 0.65-0.76, p < 0.001). In
      a multivariate analysis, EFT (odds ratio, OR = 3.53, 95 % CI = 1.20-10.37, p =
      0.022) and 24-hour mean BP variability (OR = 1.09, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.16, p =
      0.005) were independent predictors of a blunted HRR defined as HRR <= 12 beats (n
      = 63) in patients with hypertension. CONCLUSION: EFT and HRR were significantly
      correlated with circadian BP variability in patients with hypertension. EFT and
      circadian BP variability were independent predictors of blunted HRR, which
      suggests a link between epicardial fat and autonomic dysregulation in
      hypertension.

PMID- 26893935
TI  - Non-invasive assessment of vascular alteration using ultrasound.
AB  - It is well known that arterial function relates to cardiovascular morbidity and
      mortality. The noninvasive technology for the assessment of arterial function has
      developed as the importance of prevention of early cardiovascular disease has
      been emphasized. Over 2-D and Doppler echocardiography, speckle-tracking
      echocardiography has emerged as a valuable ultrasound imaging technique that
      allows for an objective and quantitative evaluation of global and regional
      myocardial function. Recently, several studies have extended its applicability
      beyond cardiac chambers, such as artery. Measurement of carotid arterial strain
      with speckle tracking ultrasound has been shown to be feasible and reliable. This
      review describes the new ultrasound techniques to assess arterial function and
      their clinical implications. 

PMID- 26893937
TI  - Mesoglycan attenuates VSMC proliferation through activation of AMP-activated
      protein kinase and mTOR.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation contributes
      significantly to intimal thickening in atherosclerosis and restenosis diseases.
      Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in VSMC proliferation
      though the activation of multiple growth-promoting signals. Mesoglycan, a natural
      glycosaminoglycans preparation, is reported to show vascular protective effect.
      However, the mechanisms by which mesoglycan inhibits proliferation of VSMC are
      not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether mesoglycan exert therapeutic
      effect via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its underlying mechanism.
      METHODS: We cultured VSMC with increasing doses of mesoglycan. AMPK activation
      was measured by western blot analysis and cell proliferation was measured by flow
      cytometry. RESULTS: Mesoglycan dose- and time- dependently increased the
      phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr(172)) and its upstream target, LKB1 (Ser(428)) and
      its downstream, ACC (Ser(79)) in VSMCs. Mesoglycan also blocked the PDGF
      stimulated cell cycle progression through the G0/G1 arrest. AMPK DNalpha1, AMPK
      DNalpha2 or AMPK siRNA reduced the mesoglycan-mediated inhibition of VSMC
      proliferation. AMPK signaling activated by mesoglycan regulates mTOR
      phosphorylation which closely related to cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: These
      data suggest that mesoglycan-induced AMPK activation suppress the VSMC
      proliferation via mTOR-dependent mechanism and mesoglycan may have beneficial
      effects on vascular proliferative disorders such as atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26893936
TI  - The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio reflects the severity of obstructive sleep apnea
      syndrome and concurrent hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Chronic intermittent hypoxia, platelet activation and inflammation
      all play roles in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS),
      which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the relationship of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)
      as a new biomarker showing systemic inflammation and platelet distribution width
      (PDW) as an indicator of platelet activation to the severity of OSAS. METHODS: A
      total of 290 patients suspected with OSAS who underwent a full night of
      polysomnography were included. The patients were placed into 4 separate groups
      according to their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores; the control group (AHI <5),
      mild OSAS group (AHI 5-15), moderate OSAS group (AHI 16-30), and severe OSAS
      group (AHI >30). CVD risk was defined by the presence of hypertension, diabetes
      mellitus, current smoking, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Higher AHI groups were
      significantly correlated with increasing age, body mass index, systolic blood
      pressure and male sex. PLR and PDW were also significantly associated with AHI (r
      = 0.417 for PLR and r = 0.227 for PDW, all p-values < 0.001) and the Epworth
      sleepiness scale (r = 0.160 for PLR and r = 0.189 for PDW, all p-values <0.05).
      Multivariate regression analysis revealed that AHI >=9.2 (adjusted odds ratios
      [OR] 5.03, 95 % confidential interval (CI) = 1.67-15.2, p = 0.004) and PLR >=159
      (adjusted OR 2.81, 95 % CI = 1.34-5.91, p = 0.006) were independently associated
      with the presence of hypertension. CONCLUSION: PLR and PDW are associated with
      OSAS severity. PLR may also be useful as a systemic biomarker for the concurrent
      hypertension in OSAS patients.

PMID- 26893938
TI  - Prevalence and characteristics of resistant hypertension at primary clinics in
      Korea: a nationwide cross-sectional study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although resistant hypertension (RH) is known to be associated with
      higher rates of cardiovascular events than is non-RH, there are no reported data
      on the prevalence of RH in Korean patients. We evaluated the prevalence and
      characteristics of RH among hypertensive patients treated at primary clinics in
      Korea. METHODS: Between August 2010 and January 2011, 247 primary care physicians
      enrolled 3088 patients with essential hypertension. We acquired demographic and
      anthropometric data using a questionnaire, evaluated blood pressure, and
      conducted a variety of laboratory tests using serum and urine. RH was defined as
      systolic blood pressure >=140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >=90 mmHg with the
      use of three antihypertensive agents of different classes, including a diuretic,
      or controlled hypertension with the use of four or more medications. RESULTS: We
      analyzed 3088 patients with hypertension, 48.3 % of whom were men. The mean age
      of patients was 64.3 +/- 11.3 years and the prevalence of RH was 7.9 %. Patients
      with RH were more likely to be men, and to have higher waist circumference,
      increased blood levels of HbA1c, triglycerides, and serum creatinine, lower blood
      levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and higher rates of current smoker,
      history of heart failure or coronary artery disease, and electrocardiographic
      left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), than were patients with non-RH (all
      comparisons, P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, RH was shown to be
      significantly associated with the following conditions: presence of
      electrocardiographic LVH (odds ratio [OR] 2.23, 95 % confidence interval [CI]
      1.34-3.71), current smoker (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.27-2.40), renal impairment (OR
      1.65, 95 % CI 1.23-2.22), abdominal obesity (OR 1.60, 95 % CI 1.20-2.13), and
      cardiovascular diseases (OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.04-2.17). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence
      of RH was relatively low at primary clinics in Korea compared with the prevalence
      reported in other countries. RH was associated with electrocardiographically
      confirmed LVH, renal impairment, current smoker, abdominal obesity, and
      cardiovascular diseases. These are the first reported data of RH in Korea. Our
      findings may be helpful in the early detection and thorough clinical management
      of patients with RH at primary clinics.

PMID- 26893939
TI  - Lifestyle including dietary habits and changes in coronary artery calcium score:
      a retrospective cohort study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: General diet and lifestyle are considered to have an effect on levels
      of atherosclerosis but previous studies have shown inconsistent results. The aim
      of this study was to investigate whether macronutrient intake, physical activity
      and depressive symptoms are associated with progression of preclinical
      atherosclerosis in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 2623 individuals
      from Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Health Screening Center in South Korea were
      enrolled between 2010 and 2012 and had follow-up at 2013. Every participant
      received a non-enhanced coronary computed tomography (CT) and completed
      questionnaires for food intake frequency, depression and physical activity
      levels. The study population was divided into two groups according to CAC
      progression, namely CAC group (CAC score >0) or non-CAC group (CAC score <= 0),
      and were compared according to macronutrient intake, degree of depressive
      symptoms and physical activity. RESULTS: A total of 2175 subjects were eligible
      for the analysis and among them, 592 subjects had progression of CAC. Total
      energy, carbohydrate and fat intake showed significant differences between the
      two groups (p-values of 0.01, 0.021 and 0.016 respectively). However, levels of
      protein intake did not vary for the two groups (p = 0.286). Depressive symptoms
      and extent of physical activity were similar between the two groups. Multivariate
      analysis was conducted with adjustment for possible confounding factors. The
      hazard ratios for CAC progression were not different according to macronutrient
      intake, degree of depressive symptoms and physical activity. CONCLUSION: In this
      large relatively healthy population based observational study, CAC progression
      showed no significant association with total energy intake, proportion of
      macronutrient intake, depressive symptom and physical activity.

PMID- 26893941
TI  - Prevalence of resistant hypertension and associated factors for blood pressure
      control status with optimal medical therapy using Korean ambulatory blood
      pressure monitoring registry data.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Resistant hypertension (RH) may be one of the cause of the plateau in
      improving the control rate in hypertension (HT) management. The misdiagnosis of
      RH by clinic blood pressure (BP) is important clinical problem. Aim of the study
      were to investigate the prevalence of RH by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
      (ABPM) and the factor associated with control status of ambulatory BPs. METHODS:
      For 1230 subjects taking one or more antihypertensive medication (AHM) enrolled
      in the Korean Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (Kor-ABP) registry, the
      prevalence of RH was calculated which was defined as uncontrolled BP by three AHM
      classes including diuretic or BP in need of four or more AHM classes. The
      prevalence determined by clinic versus ambulatory BP was compared. RESULTS: The
      age was 59.3 +/- 12.5 years, and 44.3 % were female (n = 1230). Among them 72
      subjects were taking three AHM drugs including diuretics and 105 subjects were
      taking four or more AHM classes. With uncontrolled daytime ambulatory BP in 41
      among 72 subjects, prevalence of RH was 11.9 % (146/1230). By using nighttime BP
      criteria, there was significant difference in the prevalence of RH for clinic
      versus nighttime BP (146/177 vs. 159/177, p = 0.0124). For control status of
      daytime BP, masked uncontrolled BP was 16.9 % and controlled BP with white-coat
      effect was 14.1 %. For nighttime BP control status, odd ratios for smoking
      (0.624), drinking (1.512), coronary artery disease (0.604), calcium antagonist
      (1.705), and loop diuretics (0.454) were all significant. CONCLUSION: The
      prevalence itself was 11.9 % by daytime BP and it was significantly higher when
      using nighttime BP criteria. Control status of daytime BP was misclassified in
      31.0 %. Smoking, drinking, coronary artery disease, calcium antagonist, and loop
      diuretics were associated with nighttime BP control status.

PMID- 26893942
TI  - The role of abnormal metabolic conditions on arterial stiffness in healthy
      subjects with no drug treatment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Subjects with abnormal metabolic conditions had increased risk for
      cardiovascular disease. We investigated the role of abnormal metabolic conditions
      on arterial stiffness in healthy subjects with no drug treatment. METHODS: A
      total 601 subjects (age 48.7 +/- 11.8 years, male 46.2 %, hypertension 19.1 %)
      were enrolled. Major cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic conditions and
      parameters (pre-diabetes, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, fasting blood
      sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin), lipid profiles, hsCRP, and brachial ankle
      pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured. RESULTS: Subjects with metabolic
      syndrome (n = 200) had higher baPWV than in subjects without metabolic syndrome
      (n = 401) even after adjustments for age, sex and presence of hypertension
      (1435.9 +/- 212.2 vs. 1336.5 +/- 225.0 cm/sec, p < 0.001). The differences of
      baPWV among normal FBS, prediabetes and diabetes mellitus groups are significant
      (P for trend = 0.036) by multivariate analysis (adjustments for age, sex, office
      systolic blood pressure). Subjects with diabetes mellitus (n = 30) had higher
      baPWV than in subjects with normal FBS (n = 384, 1525 +/- 267.1 vs. 1341.5 +/-
      224.1 cm/sec, P = 0.016 adjustments for age, sex, office systolic blood
      pressure). BaPWV in subjects with prediabetes (n = 187) was slightly higher, but
      not statistically significant than in subjects with normal FBS (P = 0.377). Of
      interest, FBS was one of the independent predictors for increased baPWV (beta =
      0.809, 95 % CI 0.222-1.397, p = 0.007) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS:
      Subjects with abnormal metabolic conditions have increased arterial stiffness
      independent of age and BP which may contribute to the development of
      cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 26893940
TI  - Electrocardiogram derived QRS duration associations with elevated central aortic
      systolic pressure (CASP) in a rural Australian population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prolonged electrocardiogram QRS durations are often present in
      hypertensive patients. Small increases in QRS duration serve as independent risk
      factors for both increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Aortic
      stiffness is associated with increases in central aortic systolic blood pressure
      (CASP). However CASP and ECG QRS duration interactions have not been established
      in rural community populations. Our aims are to determine if QRS duration > 100
      msec is associated with an elevated CASP measure in an Australian rural
      population. METHODS: A retrospective cross sectional population was obtained from
      the CSU Diabetes Screening Research Initiative data base where 68 participants
      had both central aortic pressure recorded and ECG derived QRS duration. Central
      aortic pressure was determined by directly recording radial arterial tonometry
      and brachial cuff pressure (HealthStats, Singapore). Resting 12-lead
      electrocardiograms were obtained from each subject using a Welch Allyn PC-Based
      ECG system. RESULTS: The population had a mean CASP of 137.8 mmHg, higher than
      previously reported in other population studies. In 8/68 subjects with a
      prolonged cardiac QRS duration >120 msec, CASP ranged from 129 mmHg - 182 mmHg.
      When subgroup analysis was stratified on the basis QRS duration <100 msec and
      >=100 msec significant differences (p = 0.036) were observed for mean CASP, 130.6
      mmHg +/- 15.6 (SD) versus 140.6 mmHg +/- 16.8 (SD), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      Our results suggest that an arbitrary CASP reading greater than a value 140 mmHg
      raises suspicion of a prolonged QRS duration. QRS durations >=100 msec in an
      aging rural population are associated with higher CASP measures. Our results also
      suggest in aging Australian rural populations CASP is likely to be elevated,
      possibly due to age related aortic stiffening.

PMID- 26893944
TI  - Future of the Smartphone for Patients and Healthcare Providers.

PMID- 26893943
TI  - Picking a bone with WISP1 (CCN4): new strategies against degenerative joint
      disease.
AB  - As the world's population continues to age, it is estimated that degenerative
      joint disease disorders such as osteoarthritis will impact at least 130 million
      individuals throughout the globe by the year 2050. Advanced age, obesity,
      genetics, gender, bone density, trauma, and a poor level of physical activity can
      lead to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis. However, factors that lead
      to degenerative joint disease and involve gender, genetics, epigenetic
      mechanisms, and advanced age are not within the control of an individual.
      Furthermore, current therapies including pain management, improved nutrition, and
      regular programs for exercise do not lead to the resolution of osteoarthritis. As
      a result, new avenues for targeting the treatment of osteoarthritis are
      desperately needed. Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a
      matricellular protein and a downstream target of the wingless pathway Wnt1, is
      one such target to consider that governs cellular protection, stem cell
      proliferation, and tissue regeneration in a number of disorders including bone
      degeneration. However, increased WISP1 expression also has been associated with
      the progression of osteoarthritis. WISP1 has an intricate relationship with a
      number of proliferative and protective pathways that include phosphoinositide 3
      kinase (PI 3-K), protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain
      enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB), interleukin -6 (IL-6), transforming
      growth factor-beta, matrix metalloproteinase, small non-coding ribonucleic acids
      (RNAs), sirtuin silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1
      (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), and the mechanistic target of rapamycin
      (mTOR). Taken together, this complex association WISP1 holds with these signaling
      pathways necessitates a fine biological regulation of WISP1 activity that can
      offset the progression of degenerative joint disease, but not limit the cellular
      protective capabilities of the WISP1 pathway.

PMID- 26893945
TI  - Patient Accounting Systems: Are They Fit with the Users' Requirements?
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A patient accounting system is a subsystem of a hospital information
      system. This system like other information systems should be carefully designed
      to be able to meet users' requirements. The main aim of this research was to
      investigate users' requirements and to determine whether current patient
      accounting systems meet users' needs or not. METHODS: This was a survey study,
      and the participants were the users of six patient accounting systems used in 24
      teaching hospitals. A stratified sampling method was used to select the
      participants (n = 216). The research instruments were a questionnaire and a
      checklist. The mean value of >=3 showed the importance of each data element and
      the capability of the system. RESULTS: Generally, the findings showed that the
      current patient accounting systems had some weaknesses and were able to meet
      between 70% and 80% of users' requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The current patient
      accounting systems need to be improved to be able to meet users' requirements.
      This approach can also help to provide hospitals with more usable and reliable
      financial information.

PMID- 26893946
TI  - Development and Evaluation of a Smartphone Application for Managing Gestational
      Diabetes Mellitus.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an application
      (app) that provides tailored recommendations based on lifestyle and clinical data
      entered by the user. METHODS: Knowledge and functions required for the
      gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) management app were extracted from clinical
      practice guidelines and evaluated through an online survey. Common and tailored
      recommendations were developed and evaluated with a content validity index.
      Algorithms to link tailored recommendations with a patient's data were developed
      and evaluated by experts. An Android-based app was developed and evaluated by
      comparing the process of data entry and recommendation retrieval and the
      usability of the app. After the app was revised, the user acceptance of the app
      was evaluated. RESULTS: Six domains of knowledge and 14 functions were extracted.
      Seven common and 49 tailored recommendations were developed. Nine lifestyle and
      clinical data elements were modeled. Eight algorithms with 18 decision nodes
      presenting tailored recommendations based on patient's data and 12 user interface
      screens were developed. All recommendations obtained from the use of app
      concurred with recommendations derived by algorithms. The average usability score
      was 69.5 out of 100. The user acceptance score with behavioral intention to use
      was 5.5, intrinsic motivation 4.3, the perceived ease of use score was 4.6, and
      the perceived usefulness score was 5.0 out of 7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The
      GDM management knowledge and tailored recommendations obtained in this study
      could be of help in managing GDM.

PMID- 26893947
TI  - Convergence of Health Level Seven Version 2 Messages to Semantic Web Technologies
      for Software-Intensive Systems in Telemedicine Trauma Care.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To present the technical background and the development of a
      procedure that enriches the semantics of Health Level Seven version 2 (HL7v2)
      messages for software-intensive systems in telemedicine trauma care. METHODS:
      This study followed a multilevel model-driven approach for the development of
      semantically interoperable health information systems. The Pre-Hospital Trauma
      Life Support (PHTLS) ABCDE protocol was adopted as the use case. A prototype
      application embedded the semantics into an HL7v2 message as an eXtensible Markup
      Language (XML) file, which was validated against an XML schema that defines
      constraints on a common reference model. This message was exchanged with a second
      prototype application, developed on the Mirth middleware, which was also used to
      parse and validate both the original and the hybrid messages. RESULTS: Both
      versions of the data instance (one pure XML, one embedded in the HL7v2 message)
      were equally validated and the RDF-based semantics recovered by the receiving
      side of the prototype from the shared XML schema. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrated the semantic enrichment of HL7v2 messages for intensive-software
      telemedicine systems for trauma care, by validating components of extracts
      generated in various computing environments. The adoption of the method proposed
      in this study ensures the compliance of the HL7v2 standard in Semantic Web
      technologies.

PMID- 26893948
TI  - Intelligence System for Diagnosis Level of Coronary Heart Disease with K-Star
      Algorithm.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and
      it is important to diagnose the level of the disease. Intelligence systems for
      diagnosis proved can be used to support diagnosis of the disease. Unfortunately,
      most of the data available between the level/type of coronary heart disease is
      unbalanced. As a result system performance is low. METHODS: This paper proposes
      an intelligence systems for the diagnosis of the level of coronary heart disease
      taking into account the problem of data imbalance. The first stage of this
      research was preprocessing, which included resampled non-stratified random
      sampling (R), the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE), clean data
      out of range attribute (COR), and remove duplicate (RD). The second step was the
      sharing of data for training and testing using a k-fold cross-validation model
      and training multiclass classification by the K-star algorithm. The third step
      was performance evaluation. The proposed system was evaluated using the
      performance parameters of sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction value
      (PPV), negative prediction value (NPV), area under the curve (AUC) and F-measure.
      RESULTS: The results showed that the proposed system provides an average
      performance with sensitivity of 80.1%, specificity of 95%, PPV of 80.1%, NPV of
      95%, AUC of 87.5%, and F-measure of 80.1%. Performance of the system without
      consideration of data imbalance provide showed sensitivity of 53.1%, specificity
      of 88,3%, PPV of 53.1%, NPV of 88.3%, AUC of 70.7%, and F-measure of 53.1%.
      CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results it can be concluded that the proposed system
      is able to deliver good performance in the category of classification.

PMID- 26893949
TI  - New Alert Override Codes for the Drug Utilization Review System Derived from
      Outpatient Prescription Data from a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Korea.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This paper proposes new alert override reason codes that are
      improvements on existing Drug Utilization Review (DUR) codes based on an analysis
      of DUR alert override cases in a tertiary medical institution. METHODS: Data were
      obtained from a tertiary teaching hospital covering the period from April 1, 2012
      to January 15, 2013. We analyzed cases in which doctors had used the 11
      overlapping prescription codes provided by the Health Insurance Review and
      Assessment Service (HIRA) or had provided free-text reasons. RESULTS: We
      identified 27,955 alert override cases. Among these, 7,772 (27.8%) utilized the
      HIRA codes, and 20,183 (72.2%) utilized free-text reasons. According to the free
      text content analysis, 8,646 cases (42.8%) could be classified using the 11 HIRA
      codes, and 11,537 (57.2%) could not. In the unclassifiable cases, we identified
      the need for codes for "prescription relating to operation" and "emergency
      situations." Two overlapping prescription codes required removal because they
      were not used. Codes A, C, F, H, I, and J (for drug non-administration cases)
      explained surrounding situations in too much detail, making differentiation
      between them difficult. These 6 codes were merged into code J4: "patient was not
      taking/will not take the medications involved in the DDI." Of the 11 HIRA codes,
      6 were merged into a single code, 2 were removed, and 2 were added, yielding 6
      alert override codes. We could codify 23,550 (84.2%) alert override cases using
      these codes. CONCLUSIONS: These new codes will facilitate the use of the drug
      drug interactions alert override in the current DUR system. For further study, an
      appropriate evaluation should be conducted with prescribing clinicians.

PMID- 26893950
TI  - Clinical Alarms in Intensive Care Units: Perceived Obstacles of Alarm Management
      and Alarm Fatigue in Nurses.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the current
      situation of clinical alarms in intensive care unit (ICU), nurses' recognition of
      and fatigue in relation to clinical alarms, and obstacles in alarm management.
      METHODS: Subjects were ICU nurses and devices from 48 critically ill patient
      cases. Data were collected through direct observation of alarm occurrence and
      questionnaires that were completed by the ICU nurses. The observation time unit
      was one hour block. One bed out of 56 ICU beds was randomly assigned to each
      observation time unit. RESULTS: Overall 2,184 clinical alarms were counted for 48
      hours of observation, and 45.5 clinical alarms occurred per hour per subject. Of
      these, 1,394 alarms (63.8%) were categorized as false alarms. The alarm fatigue
      score was 24.3 +/- 4.0 out of 35. The highest scoring item was "always get
      bothered due to clinical alarms". The highest scoring item in obstacles was
      "frequent false alarms, which lead to reduced attention or response to alarms".
      CONCLUSIONS: Nurses reported that they felt some fatigue due to clinical alarms,
      and false alarms were also obstacles to proper management. An appropriate
      hospital policy should be developed to reduce false alarms and nurses' alarm
      fatigue.

PMID- 26893952
TI  - Correction: Prerequisites for Effective Implementation of Telemedicine: Focusing
      on Current Situation in Korea.
AB  - [This corrects the article on p. 251 in vol. 21, PMID: 26618031.]. 

PMID- 26893951
TI  - Conversion and Data Quality Assessment of Electronic Health Record Data at a
      Korean Tertiary Teaching Hospital to a Common Data Model for Distributed Network
      Research.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A distributed research network (DRN) has the advantages of improved
      statistical power, and it can reveal more significant relationships by increasing
      sample size. However, differences in data structure constitute a major barrier to
      integrating data among DRN partners. We describe our experience converting
      Electronic Health Records (EHR) to the Observational Health Data Sciences and
      Informatics (OHDSI) Common Data Model (CDM). METHODS: We transformed the EHR of a
      hospital into Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) CDM ver. 4.0 used
      in OHDSI. All EHR codes were mapped and converted into the standard vocabulary of
      the CDM. All data required by the CDM were extracted, transformed, and loaded
      (ETL) into the CDM structure. To validate and improve the quality of the
      transformed dataset, the open-source data characterization program ACHILLES was
      run on the converted data. RESULTS: Patient, drug, condition, procedure, and
      visit data from 2.07 million patients who visited the subject hospital from July
      1994 to November 2014 were transformed into the CDM. The transformed dataset was
      named the AUSOM. ACHILLES revealed 36 errors and 13 warnings in the AUSOM. We
      reviewed and corrected 28 errors. The summarized results of the AUSOM processed
      with ACHILLES are available at http://ami.ajou.ac.kr:8080/. CONCLUSIONS: We
      successfully converted our EHRs to a CDM and were able to participate as a data
      partner in an international DRN. Converting local records in this manner will
      provide various opportunities for researchers and data holders.

PMID- 26893953
TI  - Pain management in patients receiving palliative care.

PMID- 26893954
TI  - Solid Dose Form of Metformin with Ethyl Eicosapentaenoic Acid Does Not Improve
      Metformin Plasma Availability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of ethyl
      eicosapentaenoic acid on pharmacokinetics of metformin. Pharmacokinetic profiles
      of metformin and ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid when delivered separately or
      together in solid dose form were investigated and compared to determine whether
      the solid dose resulted in an altered metforminpharmacokinetics when given with
      or without food. METHODS: A single-center, open-label, repeated dose study
      investigated the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of metformin when administered in
      solid dose form with ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid compared to co-administration
      with icosapent ethyl, an ester of eicosapentaenoic acid and ethyl alcohol used to
      treat severe hypertriglyceridemia with metformin hydrochloride. Non-compartmental
      PK methods were used to compare area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC)
      and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) between patients randomized to either the
      ester or separate medications group under both fasting and fed conditions.
      RESULTS: Using these two PK parameters, results showed that metformin
      availability was higher under fasting conditions when delivered separately from
      icosapent ethyl. There were no group differences in the fed condition.
      CONCLUSIONS: The solid dose form of metformin and ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid did
      not improve the pharmacokinetics of metformin in terms of plasma availability,
      suggesting that little is to be gained over the separate administration of ethyl
      eicosapentaenoic acid and metformin hydrochloride.

PMID- 26893955
TI  - Evolution of universal review and disclosure of MRI reports to research
      participants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although incidental findings (IF) are commonly encountered in
      neuroimaging research, there is no consensus regarding what to do with them.
      Whether researchers are obligated to review scans for IF, or if such findings
      should be disclosed to research participants at all, is controversial. Objective
      data are required to inform reasonable research policy; unfortunately, such data
      are lacking in the published literature. This manuscript summarizes the
      development of a radiology review and disclosure system in place at a
      neuroimaging research institute and its impact on key stakeholders. METHODS: The
      evolution of a universal radiology review system is described, from inception to
      its current status. Financial information is reviewed, and stakeholder impact is
      characterized through surveys and interviews. RESULTS: Consistent with prior
      reports, 34% of research participants had an incidental finding identified, of
      which 2.5% required urgent medical attention. A total of 87% of research
      participants wanted their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results regardless of
      clinical significance and 91% considered getting an MRI report a benefit of study
      participation. A total of 63% of participants who were encouraged to see a doctor
      about their incidental finding actually followed up with a physician. Reasons
      provided for not following-up included already knowing the finding existed (14%),
      not being able to afford seeing a physician (29%), or being reassured after
      speaking with the institute's Medical Director (43%). Of those participants who
      followed the recommendation to see a physician, nine (38%) required further
      diagnostic testing. No participants, including those who pursued further testing,
      regretted receiving their MRI report, although two participants expressed concern
      about the excessive personal cost. The current cost of the radiology review
      system is about $23 per scan. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to provide universal
      radiology review of research scans through a system that is cost-effective,
      minimizes investigator burden, and does not overwhelm local healthcare resources.

PMID- 26893957
TI  - Effects of early and late cheiloplasty on anterior part of maxillary dental arch
      development in infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.
AB  - Objectives. The objective of this study is to compare the impact of early and
      late reconstruction of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate on the growth and
      development of the front of the dentoalveolar arch. Methods. This study was
      carried out in the years 2012-2015 at the Clinic of Plastic, Reconstructive and
      Aesthetic Surgery in Banska Bystrica. Infants with unilateral complete cleft lip
      and palate were divided into 2 groups according to the timing of lip
      reconstruction. Group A consisted of infants with early lip reconstruction
      realised in the first 14 days of life. Group B consisted of infants with later
      lip reconstruction-realised in the third month of age. Maxillary dental casts
      were obtained for each child in four periods-in the first 14 days of life, in the
      third month, in the sixth month and in the age of one year. These were followed
      by the identification, measurement and evaluation of anthropometric parameters.
      Results. Significant differences were occurred after the reconstruction of the
      lips in linear and angle measurements between infants in the A and B groups.
      Conclusion. The early surgical reconstruction of the lips in the first 14 days of
      life has a positive effect on the growth and development of the anterior segment
      of the dentoalveolar arch. Early lip reconstruction forms a continuous pressure
      on the frontal segment, resulting in the earlier remedy of anatomical properties
      and creates appropriate conditions for the best development of this area. 

PMID- 26893958
TI  - Comparison of upper body strength gains between men and women after 10 weeks of
      resistance training.
AB  - Resistance training (RT) offers benefits to both men and women. However, the
      studies about the differences between men and women in response to an RT program
      are not conclusive and few data are available about upper body strength response.
      The aim of this study was to compare elbow flexor strength gains in men and women
      after 10 weeks of RT. Forty-four college-aged men (22.63 +/- 2.34 years) and
      forty-seven college-aged women (21.62 +/- 2.96 years) participated in the study.
      The RT program was performed two days a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the
      training period, peak torque (PT) of the elbow flexors was measured with an
      isokinetic dynamometer. PT values were higher in men in comparison to women in
      pre- and post-tests (p < 0.01). Both males and females significantly increased
      elbow flexor strength (p < 0.05); however, strength changes did not differ
      between genders after 10 weeks of RT program (11.61 and 11.76% for men and women,
      respectively; p > 0.05). Effect sizes were 0.57 and 0.56 for men and women,
      respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests that men and women have a
      similar upper body strength response to RT. 

PMID- 26893956
TI  - On the impact of masking and blocking hypotheses for measuring the efficacy of
      new tuberculosis vaccines.
AB  - Over the past 60 years, the Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has
      been used worldwide to prevent tuberculosis (TB). However, BCG has shown a very
      variable efficacy in different trials, offering a wide range of protection in
      adults against pulmonary TB. One of the most accepted hypotheses to explain these
      inconsistencies points to the existence of a pre-existing immune response to
      antigens that are common to environmental sources of mycobacterial antigens and
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Specifically, two different mechanisms have been
      hypothesized to explain this phenomenon: the masking and the blocking effects.
      According to masking hypothesis, previous sensitization confers some level of
      protection against TB that masks vaccine's effects. In turn, the blocking
      hypothesis postulates that previous immune response prevents vaccine taking of a
      new TB vaccine. In this work we introduce a series of models to discriminate
      between masking and blocking mechanisms and address their relative likelihood. We
      apply our methodology to the data reported by BCG-REVAC clinical trials, which
      were specifically designed for studying BCG efficacy variability. Our results
      yield estimates that are consistent with high levels of blocking (41% in Manaus 
      95% CI [14-68]- and 96% in Salvador -95% CI [52-100]-). Moreover, we also show
      that masking does not play any relevant role in modifying vaccine's efficacy
      either alone or in addition to blocking. The quantification of these effects
      around a plausible model constitutes a relevant step towards impact evaluation of
      novel anti-tuberculosis vaccines, which are susceptible of being affected by
      similar effects, especially if applied on individuals previously exposed to
      mycobacterial antigens. 

PMID- 26893959
TI  - Taxonomic and systematic revisions to the North American Nimravidae (Mammalia,
      Carnivora).
AB  - The Nimravidae is a family of extinct carnivores commonly referred to as "false
      saber-tooth cats." Since their initial discovery, they have prompted difficulty
      in taxonomic assignments and number of valid species. Past revisions have only
      examined a handful of genera, while recent advances in cladistic and morphometric
      analyses have granted us additional avenues to answering questions regarding our
      understanding of valid nimravid taxa and their phylogenetic relationships. To
      resolve issues of specific validity, the phylogenetic species concept (PSC) was
      utilized to maintain consistency in diagnosing valid species, while
      simultaneously employing character and linear morphometric analyses for
      confirming the validity of taxa. Determined valid species and taxonomically
      informative characters were then employed in two differential cladistic analyses
      to create competing hypotheses of interspecific relationships. The results
      suggest the validity of twelve species and six monophyletic genera. The first in
      depth reviews of Pogonodon and Dinictis returned two valid species (P.
      platycopis, P. davisi) for the former, while only one for the latter (D. felina).
      The taxonomic validity of Nanosmilus is upheld. Two main clades with substantial
      support were returned for all cladistic analyses, the Hoplophoneini and
      Nimravini, with ambiguous positions relative to these main clades for the
      European taxa: Eofelis, Dinailurictis bonali, and Quercylurus major; and the
      North American taxa Dinictis and Pogonodon. Eusmilus is determined to represent a
      non-valid genus for North American taxa, suggesting non-validity for Old World
      nimravid species as well. Finally, Hoplophoneus mentalis is found to be a junior
      synonym of Hoplophoneus primaevus, while the validity of Hoplophoneus oharrai is
      reinstated. 

PMID- 26893960
TI  - Effectiveness of adaptive silverware on range of motion of the hand.
AB  - Background. Hand function is essential to a person's self-efficacy and greatly
      affects quality of life. Adapted utensils with handles of increased diameters
      have historically been used to assist individuals with arthritis or other hand
      disabilities for feeding, and other related activities of daily living. To date,
      minimal research has examined the biomechanical effects of modified handles, or
      quantified the differences in ranges of motion (ROM) when using a standard versus
      a modified handle. The aim of this study was to quantify the ranges of motion
      (ROM) required for a healthy hand to use different adaptive spoons with
      electrogoniometry for the purpose of understanding the physiologic advantages
      that adapted spoons may provide patients with limited ROM. Methods. Hand
      measurements included the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP), proximal
      interphalangeal joint (PIP), and metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) for each finger
      and the interphalangeal (IP) and MCP joint for the thumb. Participants were 34
      females age 18-30 (mean age 20.38 +/- 1.67) with no previous hand injuries or
      abnormalities. Participants grasped spoons with standard handles, and spoons with
      handle diameters of 3.18 cm (1.25 inch), and 4.45 cm (1.75 inch). ROM
      measurements were obtained with an electrogoniometer to record the angle at each
      joint for each of the spoon handle sizes. Results. A 3 * 3 * 4 repeated measures
      ANOVA (Spoon handle size by Joint by Finger) found main effects on ROM of Joint
      (F(2, 33) = 318.68, Partial eta (2) = .95, p < .001), Spoon handle size (F(2, 33)
      = 598.73, Partial eta (2) = .97, p < .001), and Finger (F(3, 32) = 163.83,
      Partial eta (2) = .94, p < .001). As the spoon handle diameter size increased,
      the range of motion utilized to grasp the spoon handle decreased in all joints
      and all fingers (p < 0.01). Discussion. This study confirms the hypothesis that
      less range of motion is required to grip utensils with larger diameter handles,
      which in turn may reduce challenges for patients with limited ROM of the hand. 

PMID- 26893961
TI  - Improving the peer-review process and editorial quality: key errors escaping the
      review and editorial process in top scientific journals.
AB  - We apply a novel mistake index to assess trends in the proportion of corrections
      published between 1993 and 2014 in Nature, Science and PNAS. The index revealed a
      progressive increase in the proportion of corrections published in these three
      high-quality journals. The index appears to be independent of the journal impact
      factor or the number of items published, as suggested by a comparative analyses
      among 16 top scientific journals of different impact factors and disciplines. A
      more detailed analysis suggests that the trend in the time-to-correction
      increased significantly over time and also differed among journals (Nature 233
      days; Science 136 days; PNAS 232 days). A detailed review of 1,428 errors showed
      that 60% of corrections were related to figures, authors, references or results.
      According to the three categories established, 34.7% of the corrections were
      considered mild, 47.7% moderate and 17.6% severe, also differing among journals.
      Errors occurring during the printing process were responsible for 5% of
      corrections in Nature, 3% in Science and 18% in PNAS. The measurement of the
      temporal trends in the quality of scientific manuscripts can assist editors and
      reviewers in identifying the most common mistakes, increasing the rigor of peer
      review and improving the quality of published scientific manuscripts. 

PMID- 26893962
TI  - The effect of agmatine on trichothecene type B and zearalenone production in
      Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum and F. poae.
AB  - Agmatine and other putrescines are known for being strong inducers of
      deoxynivalenol (DON) production in Fusarium graminearum. Other important species
      produce DON and/or other trichothecene type B toxins (3 acetylated DON, 15
      acetylated DON, Fusarenon-X, Nivalenol), such as F. culmorum and F. poae. In
      order to verify whether the mechanism of the regulation of trichothecene type B
      induction by agmatine is shared by different species of Fusarium, we tested the
      hypothesis on 19 strains belonging to 3 Fusarium species (F. graminearum, F.
      culmorum, F. poae) with diverse genetic chemotypes (3ADON, 15ADON, NIV) by
      measuring trichothecene B toxins such as DON, NIV, Fusarenon-X, 3ADON and 15ADON.
      Moreover, we tested whether other toxins like zearalenone were also boosted by
      agmatine. The trichothecene type B boosting effect was observed in the majority
      of strains (13 out of 19) in all the three species. Representative strains from
      all three genetic chemotypes were able to boost toxin production after agmatine
      treatment. We identified the non-responding strains to the agmatine stimulus,
      which may contribute to deciphering the regulatory mechanisms that link toxin
      production to agmatine (and, more generally, polyamines). 

PMID- 26893963
TI  - A method to construct a points system to predict cardiovascular disease
      considering repeated measures of risk factors.
AB  - Current predictive models for cardiovascular disease based on points systems use
      the baseline situation of the risk factors as independent variables. These models
      do not take into account the variability of the risk factors over time.
      Predictive models for other types of disease also exist that do consider the
      temporal variability of a single biological marker in addition to the baseline
      variables. However, due to their complexity these other models are not used in
      daily clinical practice. Bearing in mind the clinical relevance of these issues
      and that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide we show
      the properties and viability of a new methodological alternative for constructing
      cardiovascular risk scores to make predictions of cardiovascular disease with
      repeated measures of the risk factors and retaining the simplicity of the points
      systems so often used in clinical practice (construction, statistical validation
      by simulation and explanation of potential utilization). We have also applied the
      system clinically upon a set of simulated data solely to help readers understand
      the procedure constructed. 

PMID- 26893964
TI  - Bodily action penetrates affective perception.
AB  - Fantoni & Gerbino (2014) showed that subtle postural shifts associated with
      reaching can have a strong hedonic impact and affect how actors experience facial
      expressions of emotion. Using a novel Motor Action Mood Induction Procedure
      (MAMIP), they found consistent congruency effects in participants who performed a
      facial emotion identification task after a sequence of visually-guided reaches: a
      face perceived as neutral in a baseline condition appeared slightly happy after
      comfortable actions and slightly angry after uncomfortable actions. However,
      skeptics about the penetrability of perception (Zeimbekis & Raftopoulos, 2015)
      would consider such evidence insufficient to demonstrate that observer's internal
      states induced by action comfort/discomfort affect perception in a top-down
      fashion. The action-modulated mood might have produced a back-end memory effect
      capable of affecting post-perceptual and decision processing, but not front-end
      perception. Here, we present evidence that performing a facial emotion detection
      (not identification) task after MAMIP exhibits systematic mood-congruent
      sensitivity changes, rather than response bias changes attributable to cognitive
      set shifts; i.e., we show that observer's internal states induced by bodily
      action can modulate affective perception. The detection threshold for happiness
      was lower after fifty comfortable than uncomfortable reaches; while the detection
      threshold for anger was lower after fifty uncomfortable than comfortable reaches.
      Action valence induced an overall sensitivity improvement in detecting subtle
      variations of congruent facial expressions (happiness after positive comfortable
      actions, anger after negative uncomfortable actions), in the absence of
      significant response bias shifts. Notably, both comfortable and uncomfortable
      reaches impact sensitivity in an approximately symmetric way relative to a
      baseline inaction condition. All of these constitute compelling evidence of a
      genuine top-down effect on perception: specifically, facial expressions of
      emotion are penetrable by action-induced mood. Affective priming by action
      valence is a candidate mechanism for the influence of observer's internal states
      on properties experienced as phenomenally objective and yet loaded with meaning. 

PMID- 26893966
TI  - Four-dimensional noise reduction using the time series of medical computed
      tomography datasets with short interval times: a static-phantom study.
AB  - Backgrounds. This study examines the hypothesis that four-dimensional noise
      reduction (4DNR) with short interval times reduces noise in cardiac computed
      tomography (CCT) using "padding" phases. Furthermore, the capability of reducing
      the reduction dose in CCT using this post-processing technique was assessed.
      Methods. Using base and quarter radiation doses for CCT (456 and 114 mAs/rot with
      120 kVp), a static phantom was scanned ten times with retrospective
      electrocardiogram gating, and 4DNR with short interval times (50 ms) was
      performed using a post-processing technique. Differences in the computed
      tomography (CT) attenuation, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution
      with modulation transfer function in each dose image obtained with and without
      4DNR were assessed by conducting a Tukey-Kramer's test and non-inferiority test.
      Results. For the base dose, by using 4DNR, the CNR was improved from 1.18 +/-
      0.15 to 2.08 +/- 0.20 (P = 0.001), while the CT attenuation and spatial
      resolution of the image of 4DNR did not were significantly inferior to those of
      reference image (P < 0.001). CNRs of the quarter-dose image in 4DNR also improved
      to 1.28 +/- 0.11, and were not inferior to those of the non-4DNR images of the
      base dose (P < 0.001). Conclusions. 4DNR with short interval times significantly
      reduced noise. Furthermore, applying this method to CCT would have the potential
      of reducing the radiation dose by 75%, while maintaining a similar image noise
      level. 

PMID- 26893967
TI  - Testing the effects of perimeter fencing and elephant exclosures on lion
      predation patterns in a Kenyan wildlife conservancy.
AB  - The use of fences to segregate wildlife can change predator and prey behaviour.
      Predators can learn to incorporate fencing into their hunting strategies and prey
      can learn to avoid foraging near fences. A twelve-strand electric predator-proof
      fence surrounds our study site. There are also porous one-strand electric fences
      used to create exclosures where elephant (and giraffe) cannot enter in order to
      protect blocs of browse vegetation for two critically endangered species, the
      black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi). The
      denser vegetation in these exclosures attracts both browsing prey and ambush
      predators. In this study we examined if lion predation patterns differed near the
      perimeter fencing and inside the elephant exclosures by mapping the location of
      kills. We used a spatial analysis to compare the predation patterns near the
      perimeter fencing and inside the exclosures to predation in the rest of the
      conservancy. Predation was not over-represented near the perimeter fence but the
      pattern of predation near the fence suggests that fences may be a contributing
      factor to predation success. Overall, we found that predation was over
      represented inside and within 50 m of the exclosures. However, by examining
      individual exclosures in greater detail using a hot spot analysis, we found that
      only a few exclosures contained lion predation hot spots. Although some
      exclosures provide good hunting grounds for lions, we concluded that exclosures
      did not necessarily create prey-traps per se and that managers could continue to
      use this type of exclusionary fencing to protect stands of dense vegetation. 

PMID- 26893965
TI  - Sorted gene genealogies and species-specific nonsynonymous substitutions point to
      putative postmating prezygotic isolation genes in Allonemobius crickets.
AB  - In the Allonemobius socius complex of crickets, reproductive isolation is
      primarily accomplished via postmating prezygotic barriers. We tested seven
      protein-coding genes expressed in the male ejaculate for patterns of evolution
      consistent with a putative role as postmating prezygotic isolation genes. Our
      recently diverged species generally lacked sequence variation. As a result, omega
      based tests were only mildly successful. Some of our genes showed evidence of
      elevated omega values on the internal branches of gene trees. In a couple of
      genes, these internal branches coincided with both species branching events of
      the species tree, between A. fasciatus and the other two species, and between A.
      socius and A. sp. nov. Tex. In comparison, more successful approaches were those
      that took advantage of the varying degrees of lineage sorting and allele sharing
      among our young species. These approaches were particularly powerful within the
      contact zone. Among the genes we tested we found genes with genealogies that
      indicated relatively advanced degrees of lineage sorting across both allopatric
      and contact zone alleles. Within a contact zone between two members of the
      species complex, only a subset of genes maintained allelic segregation despite
      evidence of ongoing gene flow in other genes. The overlap in these analyses was
      arginine kinase (AK) and apolipoprotein A-1 binding protein (APBP). These genes
      represent two of the first examples of sperm maturation, capacitation, and
      motility proteins with fixed non-synonymous substitutions between species
      specific alleles that may lead to postmating prezygotic isolation. Both genes
      express ejaculate proteins transferred to females during copulation and were
      previously identified through comparative proteomics. We discuss the potential
      function of these genes in the context of the specific postmating prezygotic
      isolation phenotype among our species, namely conspecific sperm precedence and
      the superior ability of conspecific males to induce oviposition in females. 

PMID- 26893969
TI  - Bagworm bags as portable armour against invertebrate predators.
AB  - Some animals have evolved the use of environmental materials as "portable armour"
      against natural enemies. Portable bags that bagworm larvae (Lepidoptera:
      Psychidae) construct using their own silk and plant parts are generally believed
      to play an important role as a physical barrier against natural enemies. However,
      no experimental studies have tested the importance of bags as portable armour
      against predators. To clarify the defensive function, I studied the bagworm
      Eumeta minuscula and a potential predator Calosoma maximoviczi (Coleoptera:
      Carabidae). Under laboratory conditions, all bagworm larvae were attacked by
      carabid adults, but successfully defended themselves against the predators'
      mandibles using their own bags. The portable bags, which are composed mainly of
      host plant twigs, may function as a physical barrier against predator mandibles.
      To test this hypothesis, I removed the twig bags and replaced some with herb leaf
      bags; all bag-removed larvae were easily caught and predated by carabids, while
      all bag-replaced larvae could successfully defend themselves against carabid
      attacks. Therefore, various types of portable bags can protect bagworm larvae
      from carabid attacks. This is the first study to test the defensive function of
      bagworm portable bags against invertebrate predators. 

PMID- 26893968
TI  - Heat shock protein 90 is involved in the regulation of HMGA2-driven growth and
      epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cells.
AB  - High Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a nonhistone chromatin-binding protein
      which acts as a transcriptional regulating factor involved in gene transcription.
      In particular, overexpression of HMGA2 has been demonstrated to associate with
      neoplastic transformation and tumor progression in Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Thus,
      HMGA2 is a potential therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Heat Shock Protein 90
      (Hsp90) is a chaperone protein required for the stability and function for a
      number of proteins that promote the growth, mobility, and survival of cancer
      cells. Moreover, it has shown strong positive connections were observed between
      Hsp90 inhibitors and CRC, which indicated their potential for use in CRC
      treatment by using combination of data mining and experimental designs. However,
      little is known about the effect of Hsp90 inhibition on HMGA2 protein expression
      in CRC. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Hsp90 may regulate HMGA2
      expression and investigated the relationship between Hsp90 and HMGA2 signaling.
      The use of the second-generation Hsp90 inhibitor, NVP-AUY922, considerably
      knocked down HMGA2 expression, and the effects of Hsp90 and HMGA2 knockdown were
      similar. In addition, Hsp90 knockdown abrogates colocalization of Hsp90 and HMGA2
      in CRC cells. Moreover, the suppression of HMGA2 protein expression in response
      to NVP-AUY922 treatment resulted in ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome
      dependant degradation of HMGA2. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated silencing of HMGA2
      reduced the survival of CRC cells and increased the sensitivity of these cells to
      chemotherapy. Finally, we found that the NVP-AUY922-dependent mitigation of HMGA2
      signaling occurred also through indirect reactivation of the tumor suppressor
      microRNA (miRNA), let-7a, or the inhibition of ERK-regulated HMGA2 involved in
      regulating the growth of CRC cells. Collectively, our studies identify the
      crucial role for the Hsp90-HMGA2 interaction in maintaining CRC cell survival and
      migration. These findings have significant implications for inhibition HMGA2
      dependent tumorigenesis by clinically available Hsp90 inhibitors. 

PMID- 26893970
TI  - Spatial structure arising from neighbour-dependent bias in collective cell
      movement.
AB  - Mathematical models of collective cell movement often neglect the effects of
      spatial structure, such as clustering, on the population dynamics. Typically,
      they assume that individuals interact with one another in proportion to their
      average density (the mean-field assumption) which means that cell-cell
      interactions occurring over short spatial ranges are not accounted for. However,
      in vitro cell culture studies have shown that spatial correlations can play an
      important role in determining collective behaviour. Here, we take a combined
      experimental and modelling approach to explore how individual-level interactions
      give rise to spatial structure in a moving cell population. Using imaging data
      from in vitro experiments, we quantify the extent of spatial structure in a
      population of 3T3 fibroblast cells. To understand how this spatial structure
      arises, we develop a lattice-free individual-based model (IBM) and simulate cell
      movement in two spatial dimensions. Our model allows an individual's direction of
      movement to be affected by interactions with other cells in its neighbourhood,
      providing insights into how directional bias generates spatial structure. We
      consider how this behaviour scales up to the population level by using the IBM to
      derive a continuum description in terms of the dynamics of spatial moments. In
      particular, we account for spatial correlations between cells by considering
      dynamics of the second spatial moment (the average density of pairs of cells).
      Our numerical results suggest that the moment dynamics description can provide a
      good approximation to averaged simulation results from the underlying IBM. Using
      our in vitro data, we estimate parameters for the model and show that it can
      generate similar spatial structure to that observed in a 3T3 fibroblast cell
      population. 

PMID- 26893971
TI  - Is type-D personality trait(s) or state? An examination of type-D temporal
      stability in older Israeli adults in the community.
AB  - Background. Type D personality was suggested as a marker of poorer prognosis for
      patients of cardiovascular disease. It is defined by having a score of 10 or more
      on both sub-scales of the DS14 questionnaire, Social Inhibition (SI) and Negative
      Affectivity (NA). As Type D was designed to predict risk, its temporal stability
      is of prime importance. Methods. Participants in the current study were 285
      community volunteers, who completed the DS14, and other personality scales, at a
      mean interval of six years. Results. The prevalence of Type D did not change. The
      component traits of Type D showed rank order stability. Type D caseness temporal
      stability was improved by using the sub-scales product as a criterion. Logistic
      hierarchical regression predicting Type D classification from Time1 demonstrated
      that the best predictors were Time1 scores on NA and SI, with the character trait
      of Cooperation, and the alexithymia score adding some predictive power.
      Conclusions. The temporal stability of the component traits, and of the
      prevalence of Type D were excellent. Temporal stability of Type D caseness may be
      improved by using a product threshold, rather than the current rule. Research is
      required in order to formulate the optimal timing for Type D measurement for
      predictive purposes. 

PMID- 26893972
TI  - The furculae of the dromaeosaurid dinosaur Dakotaraptor steini are trionychid
      turtle entoplastra.
AB  - Dakotaraptor steini is a recently described dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Upper
      Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. Included within
      the D. steini hypodigm are three elements originally identified as furculae, one
      of which was made part of the holotype specimen. We show that the elements
      described as D. steini 'furculae' are not theropod dinosaur furculae, but are
      rather trionychid turtle entoplastra referable to cf. Axestemys splendida. The
      hypodigm of D. steini should be adjusted accordingly. 

PMID- 26893973
TI  - Apparent source levels and active communication space of whistles of free-ranging
      Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in the Pearl River Estuary and
      Beibu Gulf, China.
AB  - Background. Knowledge of species-specific vocalization characteristics and their
      associated active communication space, the effective range over which a
      communication signal can be detected by a conspecific, is critical for
      understanding the impacts of underwater acoustic pollution, as well as other
      threats. Methods. We used a two-dimensional cross-shaped hydrophone array system
      to record the whistles of free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa
      chinensis) in shallow-water environments of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and
      Beibu Gulf (BG), China. Using hyperbolic position fixing, which exploits time
      differences of arrival of a signal between pairs of hydrophone receivers, we
      obtained source location estimates for whistles with good signal-to-noise ratio
      (SNR >=10 dB) and not polluted by other sounds and back-calculated their apparent
      source levels (ASL). Combining with the masking levels (including simultaneous
      noise levels, masking tonal threshold, and the Sousa auditory threshold) and the
      custom made site-specific sound propagation models, we further estimated their
      active communication space (ACS). Results. Humpback dolphins produced whistles
      with average root-mean-square ASL of 138.5 +/- 6.8 (mean +/- standard deviation)
      and 137.2 +/- 7.0 dB re 1 uPa in PRE (N = 33) and BG (N = 209), respectively. We
      found statistically significant differences in ASLs among different whistle
      contour types. The mean and maximum ACS of whistles were estimated to be 14.7 +/-
      2.6 (median +/- quartile deviation) and 17.1+/- 3.5 m in PRE, and 34.2 +/- 9.5
      and 43.5 +/- 12.2 m in BG. Using just the auditory threshold as the masking level
      produced the mean and maximum ACSat of 24.3 +/- 4.8 and 35.7 +/- 4.6 m for PRE,
      and 60.7 +/- 18.1 and 74.3 +/- 25.3 m for BG. The small ACSs were due to the high
      ambient noise level. Significant differences in ACSs were also observed among
      different whistle contour types. Discussion. Besides shedding some light for
      evaluating appropriate noise exposure levels and information for the regulation
      of underwater acoustic pollution, these baseline data can also be used for aiding
      the passive acoustic monitoring of dolphin populations, defining the boundaries
      of separate groups in a more biologically meaningful way during field surveys,
      and guiding the appropriate approach distance for local dolphin-watching boats
      and research boat during focal group following. 

PMID- 26893975
TI  - Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Neck: Review of the Literature and Case Report.
AB  - Spindle cell lipomas (SCL) are benign, slow growing tumors arising most
      frequently in the subcutaneous tissue of the upper back, posterior neck, and
      shoulders in males aged 40-70 years. Local excision is generally curative.
      Classification of lipomatous tumors has progressed recently, and tumors of
      similar morphology and unusual presentation are increasingly reported, thereby
      making correct diagnosis even more vital. SCL require pathologic differentiation
      from liposarcoma, other spindle cell neoplasms, and myxoid lesions for treatment
      purposes. Cytology, histology, and cytogenetics, in conjunction with clinical
      presentation, are paramount in arriving at the correct diagnosis of spindle cell
      lipoma. We present a case report with characteristics typical of an SCL along
      with a literature review to further elucidate the diagnosis and surgical
      treatment of this soft tissue tumor. 

PMID- 26893974
TI  - Validation of reference genes for quantitative RT-PCR normalization in Suaeda
      aralocaspica, an annual halophyte with heteromorphism and C4 pathway without
      Kranz anatomy.
AB  - Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)
      is a powerful analytical technique for the measurement of gene expression, which
      depends on the stability of the reference gene used for data normalization.
      Suaeda aralocaspica, an annual halophyte with heteromorphic seeds and possessing
      C4 photosynthesis pathway without Kranz anatomy, is an ideal plant species to
      identify stress tolerance-related genes and compare relative expression at
      transcriptional level. So far, no molecular information is available for this
      species. In the present study, six traditionally used reference genes were
      selected and their expression stability in two types of seeds of S. aralocaspica
      under different experimental conditions was evaluated. Three analytical programs,
      geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, were used to assess and rank the stability of
      reference gene expression. Results revealed that although some reference genes
      may display different transcriptional profiles between the two types of seeds,
      beta-TUB and GAPDH appeared to be the most suitable references under different
      developmental stages and tissues. GAPDH was the appropriate reference gene under
      different germination time points and salt stress conditions, and ACTIN was
      suitable for various abiotic stress treatments for the two types of seeds. For
      all the sample pools, beta-TUB served as the most stable reference gene, whereas
      18S rRNA and 28S rRNA performed poorly and presented as the least stable genes in
      our study. UBQ seemed to be unsuitable as internal control under different salt
      treatments. In addition, the expression of a photosynthesis-related gene (PPDK)
      of C4 pathway and a salt tolerance-related gene (SAT) of S. aralocaspica were
      used to validate the best performance reference genes. This is the first
      systematic comparison of reference gene selection for qRT-PCR work in S.
      aralocaspica and these data will facilitate further studies on gene expression in
      this species and other euhalophytes. 

PMID- 26893976
TI  - Long-term Patency of Primary Arterial Repair and the Modified Cold Intolerance
      Symptom Severity Questionnaire.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to assess the long-term arterial patency
      of repaired arteries in the upper extremity and any morbidity resulting from the
      subsequent occlusion of these vessels. Concurrently, a new questionnaire, the
      modified Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (mod CISS) questionnaire, was
      developed to allow for better assessment of cold intolerance. METHODS: Thirteen
      patients who had undergone repair of the radial (4 patients), ulnar (6 patients),
      brachial (1 patient), digital (1), and an undefined lower arm artery (1) were
      examined using questionnaires, physical examination, and high-resolution
      ultrasound. RESULTS: Outcome measures that were statistically significantly worse
      in the group of patients who presented with nerve injuries included cold
      intolerance symptoms, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Michigan
      Hand Questionnaire, and grip strength (middle setting on dynamometer). The
      results from the mod CISS correlated with high statistical significance with the
      results of the CISS score for the injured hand. Of note, wrist extension was
      significantly better with patent arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Sixty-seven percent of
      arterial repairs remained patent at 6 years (mean) follow-up. The presence of
      nerve injury has a higher impact on the outcome metrics assessed in this study
      than arterial patency. Our modification of the CISS score enhances its utility as
      a survey of cold intolerance.

PMID- 26893978
TI  - Use of Video Clips to Assess the Outcomes of Bilateral Hand Transplantation.
AB  - Given the initial success of hand transplantation, there has been increased
      interest in determining functional independence and activities of daily living
      after hand transplantation. However, the metrics and methodologies used to study
      these outcomes have not yet been standardized. The goal of this article was to
      assess the role of video clips in assessing the outcomes of bilateral hand
      transplantation. We have performed 3 bilateral hand transplantations at our
      institution. Video clips were taken at standardized time points on our index
      bilateral hand transplantation patient, and the patient sent multiple home-video
      clips demonstrating new aspects of function when these improvements have
      occurred. The index patient demonstrated functional independence and activity of
      daily living performance without assistance in video clips ranging from 9 months
      to 2.5 years posttransplantation. He completed the 9-hole peg test with his left
      hand at 9 months follow-up and with both the hands by 1.5 years. His own video
      clips demonstrated his ability to perform spontaneous tasks including lawn
      mowing, driving and swimming. In our experience, the video tools aid in assessing
      outcomes of hand transplantation and may be incorporated along with multiple
      objective scoring tests. They can also be used to generate additional
      standardized tests for functional assessment and may allow retrospective grading
      as new scoring systems are developed. 

PMID- 26893977
TI  - The Importance of Hand Appearance as a Patient-Reported Outcome in Hand Surgery.
AB  - Hand appearance is meaningful to patients because hands are an essential part of
      human interactions, communication, and social integration. Recent literature
      indicates that hand aesthetics is an important, measurable patient-reported
      outcome. In hand surgery, several outcome instruments exist that accurately
      measure functional outcomes, but aesthetics is often overlooked or imprecisely
      measured. This makes comparison of disease burden and effectiveness of therapies,
      as they pertain to aesthetics, difficult. This special topic article outlines the
      aesthetic features of the hand, how literature is evaluating the appearance of
      the hand in outcomes research, and proposes a novel approach to assessing hand
      aesthetics. 

PMID- 26893979
TI  - A Practical Surgical Technique to Expose the Mental Nerve in Narrowing
      Genioplasty.
AB  - In this article, the authors present a practical surgical technique using the
      anatomical character of the inferior alveolar nerve to fully expose the mental
      nerve (MN) in narrowing genioplasty. During the procedure, a rectangular
      mandibular outer cortex adjacent to the mental foramen is removed before the
      osteotomy. The objective is to avoid the injury of the MN from the reciprocating
      saw or bur and offer abundant space for the surgical operation. The technique has
      a minimal learning curve and will be useful to plastic surgeons to minimize
      unintentional cutting or pulling injury to the MN in narrowing genioplasty. 

PMID- 26893980
TI  - Asian Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Economic, cultural, and regulatory phenomena may explain recent
      popularization of implant-based augmentation in Asia; but the collective Eastern
      experience remains limited. Asian surgeons and their patients rely on evidence
      based medicine that originates elsewhere and may not be entirely relevant.
      Distinct anatomic and cultural features of Asian women warrant a tailored
      approach to breast augmentation. We explore the Asian experience with a thorough
      exploration of the recent literature. METHODS: A literature search was performed
      for articles written after 2000, of Asian women who underwent augmentation
      mammoplasty using MEDLINE, Embase, and Pubmed Databases. Technique and outcomes
      data were summarized. RESULTS: Twelve articles reported outcomes of 2089 women.
      Korea contributed most series (English language, 7), followed by China (3),
      Taiwan (1), and Japan (1). Silicone implants were used in 82.1% of women studied,
      and almost exclusively after 2009. More round (68.9%) than anatomic implants
      (31.1%) were placed. Non-inframammary (axillary, areolar, and umbilical)
      incisions were used in 96.9% of cases. Nearly all implants were positioned below
      the muscle or fascia; subglandular placement accounted for 1.1% of cases.
      Implant/nipple malposition (1.3%), capsular contracture (1.9%), hematoma (0.6%),
      and infection (0.2%) rates were reported in most series. Undesirable scarring was
      the most frequent complication (7.3%), but was reported only in 4 of 12 series.
      CONCLUSIONS: Studies of Asian women undergoing augmentation mammoplasty are
      limited, often with ill-defined outcomes and inadequate follow-up. As experience
      accumulates, an expanding literature relevant to Asian women will provide
      evidence-based guidelines that improve outcomes and patient satisfaction, and
      foster innovation.

PMID- 26893981
TI  - Delphi Study Consensus Recommendations: Patient Selection and Preoperative
      Planning Measurements for Natrelle 410.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is considerable variation in the planning and implementation
      process for breast augmentation. Although general guidelines are available, the
      distinctive characteristics of the Natrelle 410 breast implant warrant surgical
      guidelines specific to this device. This study aimed to develop consensus
      recommendations for patient selection and preoperative planning for Natrelle 410
      in primary breast augmentation. METHODS: Surgeons were invited to participate in
      this study, which used a modified Delphi method. Participants completed 2 rounds
      of online surveys, with the second round (Recommendations Survey) based on
      responses from the first round. Respondents also listed their top priorities for
      using Natrelle 410 implants. RESULTS: Participants (n = 22) reached consensus on
      15 of 18 criteria for patient selection; tuberous breasts, patient preference
      regarding upper pole shape, and asymmetry of the breasts were the top 3 patient
      characteristics considered appropriate for the use of Natrelle 410. Consensus was
      reached on 38 of 51 items related to preoperative planning, with 8 measurements
      and 6 markings recommended by the participants. Patient-desired outcome was
      considered the most essential element for Natrelle 410 implant selection; quality
      of skin envelope and height and width dimension of the breast were selected as
      the most essential elements for Natrelle 410 implant volume selection.
      CONCLUSIONS: The modified Delphi method resulted in consensus recommendations for
      patient selection and preoperative planning in primary breast augmentation with
      the Natrelle 410 breast implant. These recommendations and priorities, used in
      concert with a surgeon's clinical experience, are designed to optimize surgical
      outcomes.

PMID- 26893982
TI  - Delphi Consensus Recommendations: Intraoperative Technique and Postoperative
      Management of Patients with Natrelle 410 Implants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anatomically shaped, form-stable Natrelle 410 breast implants were
      approved in Europe in 1993 and in the United States in 2013. Although general
      guidelines for breast augmentation are available, the distinctive characteristics
      of Natrelle 410 warrant specific guidelines for this device. The goal of this
      study was to generate consensus recommendations for intraoperative technique and
      postoperative management with Natrelle 410 in primary breast augmentation.
      METHODS: Surgeons were invited to participate in the study, which used a modified
      Delphi method. Participants completed 2 rounds of online surveys; the second
      survey (Recommendations Survey) was generated based on first survey results.
      Respondents also listed top priorities for use of Natrelle 410. RESULTS:
      Participants (n = 22) reached consensus on 15 of 18 perioperative and surgical
      techniques; dual-plane placement, tight pockets, and limiting the boundaries of
      dissection were among intraoperative techniques considered most important for
      Natrelle 410. Consensus was reached for 18 of 32 items regarding postoperative
      management and 6 of 9 open-ended postoperative activity restrictions. Consensus
      on activity restrictions with specified time limits were similar to consensus
      recommendations on general restrictions. Top participant-identified
      intraoperative and postoperative management practices for Natrelle 410 were dual
      plane placement of the implant and wearing a bra postoperatively, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Delphi method identified consensus recommendations on a broad
      range of intraoperative techniques and postoperative management practices for
      primary breast augmentation with Natrelle 410. These recommendations and
      priorities provide surgeons with a framework that, together with the surgeon's
      experience, will contribute to optimal clinical outcomes with Natrelle 410.

PMID- 26893983
TI  - Reconstruction of Chopart's Amputation Stump Using Artificial Dermis Combined
      with Free Anterolateral Thigh Flap.
AB  - A 63-year-old man dropped a metal chunk onto his left foot during his work and
      suffered a crush injury of the left forefoot. He underwent Chopart's amputation
      followed by stump coverage with sole skin at the orthopedic department on the
      same day. He was referred to our department for reconstruction because of poor
      vascularization and subsequent necrosis of tissue at the stump. After the
      necrotic tissue was debrided, exposure of the talus bone was noted. An artificial
      dermis was then applied to the stump wound, followed by local negative pressure
      wound therapy. After 3 weeks, the generation of a strong dermis-like tissue was
      observed at the site of artificial dermis grafting. We then performed flow
      through free anterolateral thigh flap grafting to reconstruct the stump wound.
      This procedure involved suturing of the peroneal muscle group and tibialis
      anterior muscle, which were cut off during Chopart's amputation, and suturing the
      soft tissue surrounding the calcaneus firmly to the fascia lata of the
      anterolateral thigh flap, followed by suturing of the flap to the skin defect of
      the left foot. There were neither postoperative complications, such as skin ulcer
      and equinus/varus deformity, nor need for secondary repair of the grafted flap,
      so the patient was able to smoothly enter a rehabilitation program including gait
      training. The current reconstruction technique for the tissue defect following
      Chopart's amputation, consisting of artificial dermis grafting, negative pressure
      wound therapy, and flow-through free anterolateral thigh flap grafting, enabled
      safe and smooth gait rehabilitation with a forefoot prosthesis. 

PMID- 26893984
TI  - Total Columella Reconstruction Using Nasocheek Flap and Septal Cartilage Graft.
AB  - The use of the nasocheek sulcus flap with a cartilage strut provides an
      aesthetically pleasing result in total columella reconstruction. This provides
      thin hairless skin appropriate for the subunit. Mohs surgery aids in limiting the
      excision to the tumor involved area, providing a complete clearance and
      conserving precious units, which have an impact on the reconstructive options.
      The method of reconstruction described here is simple and easily reproducible,
      providing an optimal result with almost no donor site morbidity. 

PMID- 26893985
TI  - Pediatric Stinger Syndrome: Acute Brachial Plexopathy After Minor Trauma.
AB  - The "stinger" or "burner" is a form of transient brachial plexopathy termed for
      its characteristic knife-like pain extending from the neck to the fingertips.
      Muscle weakness and paresthesia are oftentimes associated symptoms and are
      similarly temporary. Commonly observed in athletes of contact sports, the stinger
      results from high force trauma causing either traction/direct compression to the
      brachial plexus or extension/compression of the cervical nerve roots. We describe
      a pediatric case of a stinger in a 14-year-old boy, which was caused by a
      relatively low force trauma accident. Our management strategy and recommendations
      are discussed. 

PMID- 26893986
TI  - Persistent Pain and Sensory Abnormalities after Abdominoplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Persistent postsurgical pain is a well-recognized problem after a
      number of common surgical procedures, such as amputation, thoracotomy, and
      inguinal hernia repair. Less is known about persistent pain after cosmetic
      surgical procedures. We, therefore, decided to study the incidence and
      characteristics of persistent pain after abdominoplasty, which is one of the most
      frequent cosmetic surgical procedures. METHODS: In September 2014, a link to a
      web-based questionnaire was mailed to 217 patients who had undergone
      abdominoplasty between 2006 and 2014 at the Department of Plastic Surgery,
      Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. The questionnaire included questions about
      pain and sensory abnormalities located to the abdominal skin, and physical and
      psychological function; patient satisfaction with surgery was rated on a 4-point
      scale. RESULTS: One hundred seventy patients answered the questionnaire. Fourteen
      patients (8.2%) reported pain within the past 7 days related to the
      abdominoplasty. Abnormal abdominal skin sensation was common and reported by 138
      patients (81%). Sensory hypersensitivity was associated with the presence of
      persistent pain. Satisfaction with the procedure was reported by 149 (88%)
      patients. The majority of patients reported improvement on all physical and
      psychological factors. Patients with pain were more often disappointed with the
      surgery and unwilling to recommend the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients
      were satisfied with the procedure, although abnormal abdominal skin sensation was
      common. However, there is a risk of developing persistent neuropathic pain after
      abdominoplasty, and patients should be informed about this before surgery.

PMID- 26893987
TI  - LED Light Characteristics for Surgical Shadowless Lamps and Surgical Loupes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Blue light has more energy than longer wavelength light and can
      penetrate the eye to reach the retina. When surgeons use magnifying loupes under
      intensive surgical shadowless lamps for better view of the surgical field, the
      total luminance is about 200 times brighter than that of typical office lighting.
      In this study, the effects of 2 types of shadowless lamps were compared.
      Moreover, the effect of various eyeglasses, which support magnifying loupes, on
      both the light energy and color rendering was considered. METHODS: The light
      intensity and color rendering were measured on 3 variables: light transmittance,
      light intensity, and color rendering. RESULTS: Under shadowless lamps, the light
      energy increased with low-magnification loupes and decreased with high
      magnification loupes. Filtering eyeglasses reduced the energy, especially in
      conditions where the low-magnification loupe was used. The best color-rendering
      index values were obtained with computer eyeglasses under conventional light
      emitting diode shadowless lamps and with no glass and with lightly yellow-tinted
      lenses under less-blue light-emitting diode. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgeons are
      exposed to strong lighting throughout their career, and proper color rendering
      must be considered for easier recognition. Light toxicity and loss of color
      rendering can be reduced with an appropriate combination of shadowless lamps and
      colored eyeglasses.

PMID- 26893988
TI  - Tissue Expanders in Skin Deficient Ventral Hernias Utilizing Component
      Separation.
AB  - Skin deficient complex ventral hernias are complicated surgical cases that have
      multimodal approaches. There is no current consensus on the management of those
      patients who also have concomitant stomas or enterocutaneous fistula. We present
      2 cases in which the senior authors were able to apply tissue expanders above and
      between the abdominal wall in patients with an enterocutaneous fistula or stoma.
      After expansion and final closure, the patients did not experience recurrent
      hernias. 

PMID- 26893989
TI  - The Role of Muscle Flaps for Salvage of Failed Perforator Free Flaps.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the most heroic efforts, sometimes free flaps fail.
      Perforator free flaps are not invincible and can suffer the same fate. The real
      challenge is how to decide what is the next best choice for achieving the desired
      outcome. METHODS: Over the past decade, 298 free perforator flaps were used in
      our institution. Total failure occurred in 16 patients, and partial failure
      requiring a second free flap occurred in an additional 6 patients for a true
      success rate of 93%. All failures had some form of secondary vascularized tissue
      transfer, which included the use of muscle flaps in 9 (41%) different patients.
      RESULTS: Initial flap salvage after a failed perforator free flap was attempted
      with 12 perforator and 5 muscle free flaps as well as 1 perforator and 2 muscle
      local flaps. These were not all successful, with loss of 3 muscle free flaps and
      3 perforator flaps. Tertiary free flap coverage was successful in 3 cases using 2
      muscle flaps and 1 perforator free flap. Local fasciocutaneous flaps or primary
      wound closure was used in the remaining individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical
      tissue transfers can be the most rewarding and at the same time the most
      challenging reconstructive endeavor. Persistence in achieving the desired outcome
      can require multiple steps. Perforator flaps are an important asset to obtain
      this goal. However, muscle flaps can still be a useful alternative, and the
      message is that they should not be overlooked as sometimes a viable option.

PMID- 26893990
TI  - Costal Grafting in Mandibular Reconstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of mandibular bone defect is a common indication in
      craniomaxillofacial surgery, and free fibular flap is the gold standard for this
      indication. However, there are alternatives; nonvascular bone grafting is one of
      them, and we present the costal grafting for mandibular reconstruction, a classic
      technique that is reliable, efficient, and produced less morbidity than the
      technique of using composite free flaps. METHOD: A 9-year retrospective review of
      54 patients treated surgically for mandibular reconstruction was performed. The
      criterion mainly analyzed was graft survival. The surgical technique was
      described in detail. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients with mandibular bone defect
      were identified. Five symphysis, 46 corpus, and 20 ramus defects were considered.
      These patients underwent reconstruction by costal grafting, and the engrafting
      was successful in 92.6% of cases. Dental rehabilitation with dental implants was
      realized in 70% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The approach described in this article
      allowed the authors to obtain good results with costal grafting for mandibular
      reconstruction and dental rehabilitation. Costal grafting is a good alternative
      for fibula free flap in specific indications. Reconstruction of mandibular bone
      defect is a common indication in craniomaxillofacial surgery. Since the 1980s,
      the gold standard for these defects is the use of free fibular flap.(1) In some
      cases, this technique is contradicted; the surgeon then has several possibilities
      for the use of free osteomyocutaneous flaps (iliac crest, scapula, and serrato
      costal flaps).(2-8).

PMID- 26893992
TI  - Perpendicular Strut Injection of Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Deep Wrinkles.
AB  - Although various injection techniques of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler for facial
      rejuvenation have been developed, correction of deep wrinkles/grooves, such as
      the nasolabial fold (NLF), with intradermal or subdermal injections remains
      difficult. We tested the intradermal HA injection method to place multiple HA
      struts by (1) inserting a small needle perpendicularly to the wrinkle and (2)
      injecting HA as intradermal struts with the skin fully stretched by the
      practitioner's fingers. The results of both NLFs in 10 patients suggest that this
      technique improves NLFs and maintain the effects more consistently than
      conventional techniques, although the effects of both methods were almost lost
      after 6 months. Selective and/or combined application of this technique may
      enhance the current approach to facial rejuvenation with dermal fillers. 

PMID- 26893991
TI  - Cost-Utility Analysis: Sartorius Flap versus Negative Pressure Therapy for
      Infected Vascular Groin Graft Managment.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sartorius flap coverage and adjunctive negative pressure wound
      therapy (NPWT) have been described in managing infected vascular groin grafts
      with varying cost and clinical success. We performed a cost-utility analysis
      comparing sartorius flap with NPWT in managing an infected vascular groin graft.
      METHODS: A literature review compiling outcomes for sartorius flap and NPWT
      interventions was conducted from peer-reviewed journals in MEDLINE (PubMed) and
      EMBASE. Utility scores were derived from expert opinion and used to estimate
      quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Medicare current procedure terminology and
      diagnosis-related groups codes were used to assess the costs for successful graft
      salvage with the associated complications. Incremental cost-effectiveness was
      assessed at $50,000/QALY, and both univariate and probabilistic sensitivity
      analyses were conducted to assess robustness of the conclusions. RESULTS: Thirty
      two studies were used pooling 384 patients (234 sartorius flaps and 150 NPWT).
      NPWT had better clinical outcomes (86.7% success rate, 0.9% minor complication
      rate, and 13.3% major complication rate) than sartorius flap (81.6% success rate,
      8.0% minor complication rate, and 18.4% major complication rate). NPWT was less
      costly ($12,366 versus $23,516) and slightly more effective (12.06 QALY versus
      12.05 QALY) compared with sartorius flap. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the
      robustness of the base case findings; NPWT was either cost-effective at
      $50,000/QALY or dominated sartorius flap in 81.6% of all probabilistic
      sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: In our cost-utility analysis, use of adjunctive
      NPWT, along with debridement and antibiotic treatment, for managing infected
      vascular groin graft wounds was found to be a more cost-effective option when
      compared with sartorius flaps.

PMID- 26893993
TI  - Forequarter Amputation and Immediate Reconstruction with a Free Extended Humeral
      Radial Forearm Flap.
AB  - A forequarter amputation is a radical ablative surgical procedure that includes
      the entire upper extremity with its shoulder girdle. We present a 53-year-old
      woman with a solid slow growing tumor in her right shoulder of 15 x 20 cm in
      diameter. Resection and immediate reconstruction with a free radial forearm flap
      extended from the distal third of the arm to the midpalmar region, taking the
      humeral artery and the cephalic vein as a main peddicle. The final outcome is
      shown at six weeks after the surgery. 

PMID- 26893994
TI  - Incidence of Seromas and Infections Using Fenestrated versus Nonfenestrated
      Acellular Dermal Matrix in Breast Reconstructions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) provide clinical benefits in breast
      reconstruction but have been associated with increased postoperative
      complications, most frequently seromas. Fenestration of the ADM before insertion
      into the reconstructed breast may reduce the incidence of postoperative
      complications. In this retrospective analysis, postoperative complications were
      assessed after breast reconstruction with or without fenestrated ADMs. METHODS:
      Patients who underwent immediate 2-staged implant breast reconstructions using
      ADM at a single center were assessed. The number of reconstructed breasts was
      stratified by ADM fenestration status and ADM type. The incidence of seroma,
      infection, extrusion, and explantation, and cosmetic score, was compared within
      the 2 stratified groups. A multivariable regression was performed to identify
      independent risk factors associated with these complications and aesthetic
      outcome. RESULTS: In total, data from 450 patients who had 603 breast
      reconstructions using either AlloDerm or FlexHD demonstrated a significantly
      higher incidence of seroma with nonfenestrated ADMs (20%) versus fenestrated ADMs
      (11%; P = 0.0098). Rates of infection and explantation, and cosmetic score, were
      not influenced by fenestration status. In the multivariable analysis, ADM
      fenestration remained a significant protective factor for seroma formation.
      FlexHD also yielded a lower incidence of extrusion (P = 0.0031) and a higher
      cosmetic score (P = 0.0466) compared with AlloDerm after adjusting for other risk
      factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support ADM fenestration for
      reduction of seroma incidence in breast reconstruction, without affecting
      cosmetic results. Additionally, the choice of ADM may reduce extrusion incidence
      and improve aesthetic outcomes.

PMID- 26893995
TI  - Evaluation of the Effects of Bile on the Arterial Tonus in a Rabbit Model.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hepatic artery anastomosis is an essential part of live-donor liver
      transplantation, and during this anastomosis, an unusual contact between bile and
      vessel ends is observed. In this study, the effects of this nonphysiological
      contact in a rabbit model were evaluated. METHODS: The study was designed in 2
      steps-in vitro and in vivo. Three groups were established for the in vitro study.
      In the first group, vessels were incubated in Krebs solution with 5% bile for 1
      minute. In the second group, vessels were kept in Krebs solution with 5% bile for
      5 minutes. Vessels in the control group were kept in Krebs solution without bile.
      All groups were examined for responses to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agents
      in organ bath system. The specimens were evaluated immunohistochemically and
      histopathologically. In the in vivo step, microvascular anastomosis was performed
      bilaterally. Right carotid artery was anastomosed during bile contamination as
      study group, and left carotid artery was anastomosed without bile contamination
      as control group. Blood flow indexes were measured. RESULTS: The results of the
      in vitro study revealed decreased responses to contractile and relaxing agents in
      the first study group compared with that of the control group (P < 0.0001). There
      was no response obtained in the second study group. The Doppler ultrasound
      results revealed no difference between preoperative and postoperative flow
      indexes (P > 0.05). There was no postoperative spasm in the study group. However,
      there was significant vasospasm in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
      Vessels exposed to bile have decreased contractile and relaxing responses, and
      this effect increases with exposure duration.

PMID- 26893996
TI  - Denying the Obvious: Four Extreme Cases of Neglected Tumors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relatively common phenomenon of patients
      neglecting tumors as part of a denial mechanism to presumably cope with the
      obvious, outward and clearly visible signs of cancer. As a result of this tumor
      neglect, disease progression continues unchecked, resulting in excessive tumor
      growth, invasion of nearby structures, (often) metastatic spread, and significant
      disfigurement. METHODS: In this case series, we present 4 extreme cases of
      neglected tumors that posed significant reconstructive challenges and explore the
      biopsychosocial components of tumor neglect. RESULTS: In this series, we present
      4 cases representing various cases of extreme tumor neglect. These 4 cases
      required multidisciplinary efforts involved in tumor resection, adjuvant
      treatments and the complex reconstructive efforts after tumor extirpation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The tumor neglect phenomenon is of broad interest to the field of
      plastic and reconstructive surgery. Given the complex patient factors that
      contribute to the extreme state of disease progress upon presentation, all cases
      required extensive extirpative efforts with complex and challenging
      reconstructive solutions. Cases of extreme tumor neglect provide insight into the
      biopsychosocial underpinnings of this specific patient population and have
      implications for a further understanding of the potential immunoprotective effect
      of these large, longstanding, and often nonmetastatic tumors.

PMID- 26893997
TI  - Open-book Splitting of a Distally Based Peroneus Brevis Muscle Flap to Cover
      Large Leg and Ankle Defects.
AB  - Large soft-tissue defects in the lower leg and ankle are a major problem for
      plastic surgeons. Many local flaps that are either proximally or distally based
      have been previously described to cover small defects. Larger defects may require
      a distant flap that is either pedicled or free. The peroneus brevis muscle flap
      is a well-known distally based safe flap that is used to cover a small defect.
      METHODS: Ten distally based peroneus brevis muscle flaps were elevated in 10
      patients (8 males and 2 females) with major lower third leg and ankle defects
      that were 6-12 cm in length and 6-10 cm in width, with open-book splitting of the
      proximal portion of the muscle to cover these large defects. RESULTS: Flap
      survival was excellent, and partial skin graft loss in two cases healed with
      dressing. The average flap length was 10 cm, ranging between 6 and 12 cm. The
      average flap width was 8 cm, ranging between 6 and 10 cm. The donor site also
      healed uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: Open-book splitting of the distally based
      peroneus brevis muscle flap is ideally suited for moderate to large defects in
      the distal third of the lower leg and ankle. This modification of the distally
      based peroneus brevis muscle flap offers a convincing alternative for covering
      large defects of up to 12 * 10 cm in the distal leg and ankle region.

PMID- 26893998
TI  - Response to Video Capture of Plastic Surgery Procedures Using the GoPro HERO 3+:
      Patient Privacy and Compliance.
AB  - Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. 

PMID- 26894000
TI  - Safety and Efficacy of Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Gel for Breast Enhancement.
AB  - Long-term follow-up data following 2 breast enhancement treatments with
      stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA) gel are limited. Although HA gel is no longer
      marketed for breast enhancement, there is a clinical need for information about
      follow-up of previously treated women. A multicenter, noncomparative study was
      conducted in women seeking breast enhancement. Subjects received 1 treatment of
      HA gel (maximum, 100 mL/breast); a subgroup underwent retreatment 9 months later.
      Follow-up was conducted for 24 months after last treatment; endpoints included
      magnetic resonance imaging for estimation of gel degradation, adverse events,
      breast examinations, Global Esthetic Improvement Scale, and satisfaction ratings.
      Seventy-one subjects received 1 treatment, with 22 (31%) receiving retreatment
      after 9 months. Twenty-four months after last treatment, the mean percentage of
      remaining gel was 17% in the single-treatment group and 21% in the retreatment
      group; complete degradation had not occurred in any subject. The most commonly
      reported treatment-related adverse events were implant-site nodules, medical
      device implantation events, capsular contracture associated with breast implant,
      and injection-site nodules; most were mild to moderate and required no
      intervention. Based on subject Global Esthetic Improvement Scale ratings, 36% of
      breasts in the single- treatment group and 50% of breasts in the retreatment
      group were improved 24 months after last treatment, but subject satisfaction had
      returned to baseline levels. Some gel remained in all subjects 24 months after
      last treatment. Although single treatment and retreatment were generally well
      tolerated, physicians need to be aware of common treatment-related complications
      to manage them adequately. 

PMID- 26893999
TI  - Subcutaneous Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: Surgical, Functional, and
      Aesthetic Results after Long-Term Follow-Up.
AB  - Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction can be achieved more easily by means of
      soft-tissue replacement devices such as dermal matrices and synthetic meshes. The
      feasibility of a subcutaneous approach has been recently investigated by some
      studies with different devices functioning as implant support. Aim of this study
      is to analyze the long-term results, both objective and subjective, of a previous
      nonrandomized trial comparing prepectoral (subcutaneous) and retropectoral breast
      reconstructions. METHODS: Patients enrolled in a nonrandomized prospective trial,
      comparing the standard retropectoral reconstruction and the prepectoral
      subcutaneous approach, using a titanium-coated mesh in both techniques, were
      followed up and evaluated for long-term results. Cases were compared in terms of
      the causes and rate of reinterventions, of the postoperative BREAST-Q
      questionnaire results, and of an objective surgical evaluation. RESULTS: The
      subcutaneous group had a rate of implant failure and removal of 5.1% when
      compared with 0% in the retropectoral group. Aesthetic outcome was significantly
      better for the subcutaneous group both at a subjective and at an objective
      evaluation. Capsular contracture rate was 0% in the subcutaneous group.
      CONCLUSIONS: A higher rate of implant failure and removal, although not
      significant, always because of skin flaps and wound problems, should be taken
      into account for a careful patients selection. The subcutaneous breast
      reconstruction shows good long-term results. A coherent subjective and objective
      cosmetic advantage of this approach emerges. Moreover, no capsular contracture is
      evident, albeit in a relatively limited number of cases.

PMID- 26894001
TI  - Technical Improvements to a Rat Brachial Plexus Avulsion Model via a Posterior
      Surgical Approach.
AB  - Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. 

PMID- 26894002
TI  - Subcutaneous Tissue Expander Placement with Synthetic Titanium-Coated Mesh in
      Breast Reconstruction: Long-term Results.
AB  - A subcutaneous, prepectoral, muscle-sparing approach has been recently described
      for implant-based breast reconstruction. This is a preliminary series of 2-stage
      breast reconstructions by means of tissue expander placed subcutaneously with the
      support of a titanium-coated polypropylene mesh. A pilot series of cases was
      started in 2012. Inclusion criteria were informed consent, age less than 80
      years, normal body mass index (range, 18.5-24.9), no T4 and metastatic cancers,
      no comorbidities, and nonsmoking patients. Expander losses, infections, seromas,
      skin/nipple necrosis, wound dehiscence, and reinterventions were registered in
      follow-up visits. Furthermore, patients were followed up in second-stage
      procedures and for at least 1 year from implant positioning to collect any
      surgical complication, reinterventions, cosmetic outcome, and oncological data.
      Between June 2012 and March 2014, 25 cases were enrolled in the study.
      Expander/implant loss rate was 0%. Skin/nipple necrosis rate was 4%. Infections
      rate was 12% after first-stage and 4% after second-stage procedure. Seromas rate
      was 0%. Five (20%) fat graft procedures were performed over the expander before
      second-stage reconstruction, and no reinterventions were required after second
      stage. Patients mean score was 99 for cosmetic outcome satisfaction, in a 0-100
      scale. Subcutaneous 2-stage reconstruction with synthetic mesh proved safe and
      feasible. Patients satisfaction is very good after 14 months median follow-up
      form definitive implant placement. Although the present study involved only a
      small number of cases, a tissue-expander subcutaneous reconstruction seems to
      have promising results. Whenever pectoralis major muscle can be spared, a
      conservative reconstruction might be an option. 

PMID- 26894003
TI  - Mechanobiology and Mechanotherapy of Adipose Tissue-Effect of Mechanical Force on
      Fat Tissue Engineering.
AB  - Our bodies are subjected to various mechanical forces, which in turn affect both
      the structure and function of our bodies. In particular, these mechanical forces
      play an important role in tissue growth and regeneration. Adipocytes and adipose
      derived stem cells are both mechanosensitive and mechanoresponsive. The aim of
      this review is to summarize the relationship between mechanobiology and
      adipogenesis. PubMed was used to search for articles using the following
      keywords: mechanobiology, adipogenesis, adipose-derived stem cells, and
      cytoskeleton. In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that adipogenesis is
      strongly promoted/inhibited by various internal and external mechanical forces,
      and that these effects are mediated by changes in the cytoskeleton of adipose
      derived stem cells and/or various signaling pathways. Thus, adipose tissue
      engineering could be enhanced by the careful application of mechanical forces. It
      was shown recently that mature adipose tissue regenerates in an adipose tissue
      engineering chamber. This observation has great potential for the reconstruction
      of soft tissue deficiencies, but the mechanisms behind it remain to be
      elucidated. On the basis of our understanding of mechanobiology, we hypothesize
      that the chamber removes mechanical force on the fat that normally impose high
      cytoskeletal tension. The reduction in tension in adipose stem cells triggers
      their differentiation into adipocytes. The improvement in our understanding of
      the relationship between mechanobiology and adipogenesis means that in the near
      future, we may be able to increase or decrease body fat, as needed in the clinic,
      by controlling the tension that is loaded onto fat. 

PMID- 26894004
TI  - A Subglandular Breast Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst Following Postsurgical Shunt
      Migration.
AB  - Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage catheters have been associated with numerous
      complications in various anatomic locations, because of migration, infection, and
      obstruction. However, breast-related CSF shunt complications tend to occur
      infrequently or have seldom been reported in the empirical literature. Therefore,
      a case is presented detailing a breast pseudocyst caused by migration and
      subsequent coiling of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the right breast pocket. To
      the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case that has been reported
      in the peer-reviewed literature of a pseudocyst resulting from a CSF drainage
      catheter coiling around the breast implant post pancreaticoduodenectomy.
      Moreover, this case highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary procedural
      awareness, particularly in regards to breast, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and
      pancreatic procedures. 

PMID- 26894005
TI  - Chronic Sclerosing Osteomyelitis of the Mandible Treated with Hemimandibulectomy
      and Fibular Free Flap Reconstruction.
AB  - Primary chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible is a rare condition that presents
      with a long-standing chronic facial swelling over the mandible, pain with
      mastication, and trismus. With no clinically appreciated acute phase, the
      aetiology often remains unknown. Many patients achieve adequate symptom control
      with broad-spectrum antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and surgical
      debridement, or decortication of bone sequestration. However, because of the
      rarity of primary chronic osteomyelitis and the extensive involvement of the
      mandible that can result, we present a case of a 32-year-old woman with chronic
      disease of the left mandible requiring a left hemimandibulectomy and fibular free
      flap reconstruction. Few such cases have been reported in the literature, which
      require such extensive resection and reconstruction to control long-standing
      symptoms. 

PMID- 26894006
TI  - Infection in the Nasal Tip Caused by Acellular Dermal Matrix.
AB  - A 19-year-old female patient visited our clinic for rhinoplasty. She complained
      about her low take-off point, which was apparent in profile view, and wanted
      slight tip projection. She refused additional cartilage harvesting from ears or
      ribs but consented to the use of homologous tissue, including acellular dermal
      matrix, for her dorsum and tip. Septoturbinoplasty was performed, and only a very
      small amount of septal cartilage could be harvested. It was used as both the
      columellar strut and the alar rim graft. Nasal dorsum and tip were augmented with
      acellular dermal matrix. Three months postoperatively, she experienced a few
      episodes of edema and redness on her nasal tip, followed by pus exudation from
      the nasal skin. Six months postoperatively, she underwent revision rhinoplasty
      for removal of inflamed grafts, and onlay tip graft with homologous rib cartilage
      was performed. Nasal dorsum or tip grafts are an integral part of Asian
      rhinoplasty. Autogenous tissue is the gold standard for grafting materials.
      However, the limited availability of autogenous tissue and the preference of
      patients and surgeons for artificial surgical implants make Asian rhinoplasty
      challenging. Unavailability of autogenous cartilage and patient refusal of
      artificial implants led to the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the nasal
      dorsum and tip for this case. This is the first report of postoperative
      complication because of infection rather than absorption after ADM use. 

PMID- 26894007
TI  - The Role of Embryologic Fusion Planes in the Invasiveness and Recurrence of Basal
      Cell Carcinoma: A Classic Mix-Up of Causation and Correlation.
AB  - The facial embryologic fusion planes as regions of mesenchymal and ectodermal
      fusion of the primordial facial processes during embryological development have
      been suggested to influence the spread, invasiveness, pathogenesis, and
      recurrence of cutaneous carcinoma. This study sought to establish whether basal
      cell carcinoma (BCC) originating in embryologic fusion planes has a greater
      propensity for earlier depth of invasion, leading to an increased rate of lesion
      recurrence. METHODS: Facial BCCs excised in a single surgeon practice over 2
      years were allocated into 2 anatomic domains according to their correlation with
      embryologic fusion planes. Lesion depth of invasion, surface area, and margins of
      excision were analyzed in conjunction with recurrence data over the following 70
      80 months. RESULTS: Of the 331 lesions examined, 70 were located in embryologic
      fusion planes. No difference was found in the mean surface area and depth of
      invasion for lesions located in the 2 domains (P > 0.05). Ten lesion recurrences
      were identified, none of which were located in embryologic fusion planes.
      Recurrent lesions were excised with a significantly greater percentage of close
      and incomplete excision margins (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BCC arising in
      embryologic fusion planes are not more invasive or at greater risk of recurrence.
      Excision margins seem to have the greatest influence on lesion recurrence.
      Because of the paucity of superfluous tissue and the cosmetic and functionally
      sensitive nature of these areas of embryologic fusion, specialist treatment of
      these lesions is recommended to ensure that adequacy of excision is not neglected
      at the cost of ease of closure and cosmesis.

PMID- 26894008
TI  - A Multisite Study of Oral Clefts and Associated Abnormalities in Thailand: The
      Epidemiologic Data.
AB  - This study aimed to obtain epidemiological data of birth incidences of cleft lips
      and/or cleft palates (CLP) in the Thai population with associated risk factors.
      METHODS: The data were collected for a period of 12 months between 2003 and 2004
      for infants' deliveries with CLP and associated risk factors in all hospitals of
      6 provinces from 4 regions of Thailand. The birth incidence, related factors with
      cleft birth, and linkage with geographical area were analyzed by the geographic
      information system. RESULTS: Phitsanulok, Saraburi, and Khon Kaen had higher
      birth incidences for CLP of 2.01, 1.69, and 1.66 per 1000 live births,
      respectively, and the overall birth incidence was 1.51 per 1000 live births.
      There were a total of 112 cleft births (61 males and 51 females) with 43 cleft
      lips, 18 cleft palates, and 51 cleft lips + cleft palates. The northeast region
      had infants with different gestational ages at birth and mothers with higher
      intakes of vitamins and a use of vitamin A supplement or retinoic acid than
      others. A use of folic acid supplement was low in all 4 regions. CONCLUSIONS: The
      varied incidence of CLP may reflect the incomplete accuracy of case
      ascertainment. A number of challenges were addressed. The geographic information
      system was helpful for more background investigation and planning of cleft care
      management. Our study enables future studies of etiological factors and future
      birth registries.

PMID- 26894009
TI  - Free Pulp Transfer for Fingertip Reconstruction-The Algorithm for Complicated
      Allen Fingertip Defect.
AB  - We present a review of all the cases of free toe pulp transfer and an algorithm
      for application of free pulp transfer in complicated Allen fingertip defect.
      METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent free toe pulp transfer for fingertip
      reconstruction by the senior author. Twelve cases were Allen type II with oblique
      pulp defect, 4 were Allen type III, and 1 patient had 2 fingertip injuries
      classified both as type IV. According to the algorithm presented, for the type
      III defects where the germinal matrix is still preserved, we use free pulp
      transfer and nail bed graft to preserve the nail growth instead of toe to hand
      transfer. For the type IV injuries with multiple defects, a combination of web
      flap from both big toe and second toe is possible for 1-stage reconstruction.
      RESULTS: All pulp flaps survived completely. Static 2-point discrimination ranged
      from 6 to 15 mm (mean: 10.5 mm). No patient presented dysesthesia, hyperesthesia,
      pain at rest, or cold intolerance. The donor site did not present any nuisances
      apart from partial skin graft loss in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: We tried to classify
      and modify the defects' reconstruction according to Allen classification. Free
      toe pulp transfer is a "like with like" reconstruction that provides sensate,
      glabrous skin with good color and texture match for fingertip trauma, and minimal
      donor site morbidity compared with traditional toe to hand transfer.

PMID- 26894011
TI  - Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising from a Breast Implant Capsule.
AB  - Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast comprises less than 0.1% of
      all breast cancers. Literature review reveals only 1 reported case of an SCC
      arising from the capsule of a breast implant. The authors describe, herein, a
      primary SCC arising from the capsule of a long-standing silicone breast implant. 

PMID- 26894010
TI  - A Prospective Study Assessing Complication Rates and Patient-Reported Outcomes in
      Breast Reconstructions Using a Novel, Deep Dermal Human Acellular Dermal Matrix.
AB  - The value proposition of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) taken from the deep
      dermis is that the allograft may be more porous, allowing for enhanced
      integration and revascularization. In turn, this characteristic may attenuate
      complications related to foreign body reactions, seromas, and infection. However,
      this is juxtaposed against the potential loss of allograft structural integrity,
      with subsequent risk of malposition and extrusion. Despite the active use of
      novel, deep dermal ADMs, the clinical outcomes of this new technology has not
      been well studied. METHODS: This is a prospective study to evaluate surgical and
      patient-reported outcomes using a deep dermal ADM, FlexHD Pliable. Surgical
      outcomes and BREAST-Q patient-reported outcomes were evaluated postoperatively at
      2- and 6-month time points. RESULTS: Seventy-two breasts (41 patients) underwent
      reconstruction. Complication rate was 12.5%, including 2 hematomas and 7 flap
      necroses. One case of flap necrosis led to reconstructive failure. Notably, there
      were no cases of infection, seroma, or implant extrusion or malposition. Average
      BREAST-Q scores were satisfaction with outcome (70.13 +/- 23.87), satisfaction
      with breasts (58.53 +/- 20.00), psychosocial well being (67.97 +/- 20.93), sexual
      well being (54.11 +/- 27.72), and physical well being (70.45 +/- 15.44). Two
      month postoperative BREAST-Q scores decreased compared with baseline and returned
      to baseline by 6 months. Postoperative radiation therapy had a negative effect on
      satisfaction with breasts (P = 0.004) and sexual well being (P = 0.006).
      CONCLUSIONS: Deep dermal ADM is a novel modification of traditional allograft
      technology. Use of the deep dermal ADM yielded acceptably low complication rates
      and satisfactory patient-reported outcomes.

PMID- 26894012
TI  - Total Single-Stage Autologous Breast Reconstruction with Free Nipple Grafts.
AB  - Outstanding results are difficult to achieve in postmastectomy reconstructions in
      obese ptotic patients. We describe an autologous single-stage reconstruction with
      free nipple grafts that is best suited for these difficult patients. This
      technique allows for delayed volume supplementation with implants or fat grafting
      but does not commit the patient to additional surgery. It avoids the common
      complications of immediate implant-based reconstructions. This technique is also
      an excellent option in patients with a known requirement for radiotherapy as it
      does not sacrifice a valuable autologous flap nor does it subject the patient to
      capsular contracture, infection, and extrusion. It also obviates the
      psychological trauma that many women suffer awaiting a reconstruction after
      radiotherapy. We believe it should be considered as a first-line reconstructive
      option. 

PMID- 26894013
TI  - Microvascular Staged Phalloplasty Preserving Original Glans in a Severe
      Hypospadias: A Case Report.
AB  - Penile reconstruction is usually performed in patients with gender dysphoria;
      with penile loss because of trauma, infection, and tumors; and with congenital
      deformities like severe hypospadias, in which standard techniques do not achieve
      a good result. Hypospadias are one of the most common inherent genital anomalies
      in boys. Many surgical procedures have been published for total phallic
      reconstruction aiming at a functionally and aesthetically pleasing. We present a
      case of reconstruction of the penis in a severe hypospadias in a 40-year-old man
      by transferring the original glans to the forearm flap and a stiffening procedure
      with an osteocutaneous fibular flap 3 months after first surgery. Three months
      postoperatively, the final result was an acceptable sexual intercourse, normal
      voiding, and quite normal appearance. Microvascular staged phalloplasty
      preserving original glans in a severe hypospadia could be considered a surgical
      option for micropenis. Technical difficulties and microsurgical advanced skills
      are the main drawback of this approach. 

PMID- 26894014
TI  - Novel Principles and Techniques to Create a Natural Design in Female Hairline
      Correction Surgery.
AB  - Female hairline correction surgery is becoming increasingly popular. However, no
      guidelines or methods of female hairline design have been introduced to date.
      METHODS: The purpose of this study was to create an initial framework based on
      the novel principles of female hairline design and then use artistic ability and
      experience to fine tune this framework. An understanding of the concept of 5
      areas (frontal area, frontotemporal recess area, temporal peak, infratemple area,
      and sideburns) and 5 points (C, A, B, T, and S) is required for female hairline
      correction surgery (the 5A5P principle). The general concepts of female hairline
      correction surgery and natural design methods are, herein, explained with a focus
      on the correlations between these 5 areas and 5 points. RESULTS: A natural and
      aesthetic female hairline can be created with application of the above-mentioned
      concepts. CONCLUSION: The 5A5P principle of forming the female hairline is very
      useful in female hairline correction surgery.

PMID- 26894015
TI  - Conservative Management of Wound Dehiscence Following Pediatric Cavus Foot
      Surgery: A Case Series.
AB  - Cavus foot surgeries are relatively common procedures in pediatric orthopedics.
      Following surgery, the tensile forces exerted on the wound by the newly corrected
      foot may hinder soft tissue healing and lead to wound dehiscence. Treatments
      including skin grafting and other plastic surgery procedures have been described
      in order to manage this complication. However, the effectiveness of conservative
      treatment regimens in cases of large dehiscence of these wounds has not yet been
      reported. METHODS: The charts of 7 patients between the ages of 7 and 19 who had
      surgical correction of severe cavus deformity and who developed wound dehiscence
      postoperatively were reviewed. All patients were treated conservatively with
      regular cleaning with chlorhexedine and application of different ointments and
      dressings along with surgical debridements. Three patients also received
      antibiotics. The primary outcome was wound healing as documented by clinical
      notes and photographs. RESULTS: The treatment was successful in producing the
      desired outcome in all cases with no other systemic or wound complications
      developing. Complete wound healing was obtained within a median time of 6 months
      and 5 days of treatment without the need for skin grafting or other plastic
      surgery procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients with wound dehiscence
      postcavus foot surgery, conservative management with minimal surgical debridement
      and regular cleaning and dressing of the wound is a viable treatment option that
      has been shown to be effective in 7 cases. It should be considered in such
      patients before proceeding to more invasive surgical treatment.

PMID- 26894017
TI  - "Walk the Rim, Feel the Bone" Technique in Superior Sulcus Filling.
AB  - Superior sulcus filler injection is a nonsurgical method to rejuvenate the upper
      face. Blindness and stroke are devastating complications of facial filler
      injection. This study describes an injection technique that minimizes the risk of
      blindness and includes a case study demonstrating the cosmetic benefits of this
      procedure. To avoid retrograde injection of filler embolus into the ophthalmic
      artery, we advocate a "'walk the rim, feel the bone" approach. Small boluses of
      hyaluronic acid filler are given in preperiosteal plane, avoiding the superior
      orbital foramen. 

PMID- 26894016
TI  - Hyperspectral Imaging for Burn Depth Assessment in an Animal Model.
AB  - Differentiating between superficial and deep-dermal (DD) burns remains
      challenging. Superficial-dermal burns heal with conservative treatment; DD burns
      often require excision and skin grafting. Decision of surgical treatment is often
      delayed until burn depth is definitively identified. This study's aim is to
      assess the ability of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to differentiate burn depth.
      METHODS: Thermal injury of graded severity was generated on the dorsum of
      hairless mice with a heated brass rod. Perfusion and oxygenation parameters of
      injured skin were measured with HSI, a noninvasive method of diffuse reflectance
      spectroscopy, at 2 minutes, 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours after wounding. Burn depth was
      measured histologically in 12 mice from each burn group (n = 72) at 72 hours.
      RESULTS: Three levels of burn depth were verified histologically: intermediate
      dermal (ID), DD, and full-thickness. At 24 hours post injury, total hemoglobin
      (tHb) increased by 67% and 16% in ID and DD burns, respectively. In contrast, tHb
      decreased to 36% of its original levels in full-thickness burns. Differences in
      deoxygenated and tHb among all groups were significant (P < 0.001) at 24 hours
      post injury. CONCLUSIONS: HSI was able to differentiate among 3 discrete levels
      of burn injury. This is likely because of its correlation with skin perfusion:
      superficial burn injury causes an inflammatory response and increased perfusion
      to the burn site, whereas deeper burns destroy the dermal microvasculature and a
      decrease in perfusion follows. This study supports further investigation of HSI
      in early burn depth assessment.

PMID- 26894018
TI  - Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition in polycystic kidney disease: From bench
      to bedside.
AB  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common life
      threatening hereditary disease in the USA resulting in chronic kidney disease and
      the need for dialysis and transplantation. Approximately 85% of cases of ADPKD
      are caused by a mutation in the Pkd1 gene that encodes polycystin-1, a large
      membrane receptor. The Pkd1 gene mutation results in abnormal proliferation in
      tubular epithelial cells, which plays a crucial role in cyst development and/or
      growth in PKD. Activation of the proliferative mammalian target of rapamycin
      (mTOR) signaling pathway has been demonstrated in polycystic kidneys from rodents
      and humans. mTOR inhibition with sirolimus or everolimus decreases cysts in most
      animal models of PKD including Pkd1 and Pkd2 gene deficient orthologous models of
      human disease. On the basis of animal studies, human studies were undertaken. Two
      large randomized clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine
      of everolimus or sirolimus in ADPKD patients were very unimpressive and
      associated with a high side-effect profile. Possible reasons for the unimpressive
      nature of the human studies include their short duration, the high drop-out rate,
      suboptimal dosing, lack of randomization of "fast" and "slow progressors" and the
      lack of correlation between kidney size and kidney function in ADPKD. The future
      of mTOR inhibition in ADPKD is discussed. 

PMID- 26894020
TI  - Impact of initial blood flow on outcomes of vascular access in hemodialysis
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Direct access flow measurements are considered the most useful
      surveillance method for significant stenosis, and ultrasound dilution has become
      the most popular and validated technique. The goal of this study was to evaluate
      access flow (Qa) at the time of first cannulation and its relationship to the
      survival of vascular access in Korean hemodialysis patients. METHODS: We
      conducted a prospective observational study from May 2004 to June 2011. We
      enrolled 60 patients (36 men) who underwent the first access operation between
      January 2004 and December 2005 and were followed-up for surveillance. RESULTS:
      Maturation failure occurred in nine patients (15%). Mean time to first use was
      1.8+/-1.2 months after surgery. The patients were followed-up for a mean of
      50.5+/-25.9 months. There were 25 deaths and six kidney transplants in patients
      with a functioning access. The total percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
      incidence was 50 in 27 patients (0.14/access-year). The initial Qa was 757.5+/
      476.4 mL/minute. First cannulation time was not significantly correlated with
      initial Qa (r=0.234, P=0.075). A total of 22 of the 60 patients (36.7%) had an
      initial Qa<500 mL/minute. Maturation failure, initial Qa<500 mL/minute, and the
      use of antiplatelet agents were risk factors for poor primary patency. Diabetic
      status and use of a graft were risk factors for low cumulative patency.
      CONCLUSION: An initial Qa<500 mL/minute is a risk factor for poor primary
      patency, while an initial Qa<500 mL/minute is not a risk factor for low
      cumulative patency or mortality.

PMID- 26894021
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus according to body composition in recipients of
      kidney transplants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Currently, the dosage of tacrolimus used after transplantation is
      based on the patient's body weight. However, there is a low correlation between
      body weight and body composition in kidney transplant recipients. In this study,
      we evaluate the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus according to body composition in
      18 Korean kidney transplant recipients with stable graft function. METHODS: Body
      composition parameters were calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
      Pharmacokinetic profiles were determined 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after treatment
      with tacrolimus and were compared between high- and low-level median body
      composition groups. The values of C0, C1, C2, C3, and C4 were used in determining
      an abbreviated area under the curve (AUC) for tacrolimus. RESULTS: The mean body
      mass index (BMI) and body composition values were as follows: BMI, 24.3 kg/m(2);
      lean mass, 49.8 kg; and fat mass, 17.4 kg. There were no statistical differences
      in pharmacokinetic profiles between groups with different BMIs. However, the C0
      and C4 in the high-fat group were significantly elevated compared with those of
      the low-fat group (P=0.024 and 0.031, respectively). Furthermore, the C0, C2, C3,
      and C4 and the AUC were significantly different between the two lean mass groups
      (P=0.007, 0.038, 0.047, 0.015, and 0.015, respectively). Other variables, such as
      waist circumference and arm muscle circumference, did not differentiate between
      the pharmacokinetic profiles of tacrolimus. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these
      data suggest that tacrolimus dose monitoring based on body composition may
      provide adequate dosage leading to favorable long-term outcomes.

PMID- 26894019
TI  - Epigenetic modifications and diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication associated with both type 1 and
      type 2 diabetes, and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Conventional
      therapeutic strategies are not fully efficacious in the treatment of DN,
      suggesting an incomplete understanding of the gene regulation mechanisms involved
      in its pathogenesis. Furthermore, evidence from clinical trials has demonstrated
      a "metabolic memory" of prior exposure to hyperglycemia that continues to persist
      despite subsequent glycemic control. This remains a major challenge in the
      treatment of DN and other vascular complications. Epigenetic mechanisms such as
      DNA methylation, nucleosomal histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs control
      gene expression through regulation of chromatin structure and function and post
      transcriptional mechanisms without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Emerging
      evidence indicates that multiple factors involved in the etiology of diabetes can
      alter epigenetic mechanisms and regulate the susceptibility to diabetes
      complications. Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of histone lysine
      methylation in the regulation of key fibrotic and inflammatory genes related to
      diabetes complications including DN. Interestingly, histone lysine methylation
      persisted in vascular cells even after withdrawal from the diabetic milieu,
      demonstrating a potential role of epigenetic modifications in metabolic memory.
      Rapid advances in high-throughput technologies in the fields of genomics and
      epigenomics can lead to the identification of genome-wide alterations in key
      epigenetic modifications in vascular and renal cells in diabetes. Altogether,
      these findings can lead to the identification of potential predictive biomarkers
      and development of novel epigenetic therapies for diabetes and its associated
      complications. 

PMID- 26894022
TI  - Use of low-dose sulodexide in IgA nephropathy patients on renin-angiotensin
      system blockades.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite using renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockades, some of the
      patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy often had persistent proteinuria
      of more than 500 mg/d. They need to be managed further by alternative methods to
      halt the progression of the disease; these methods could also be applied safely
      over a long period of time. In this context, sulodexide has been studied for the
      management of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried
      out involving 20 patients with IgA nephropathy who had been taking sulodexide (50
      mg daily) as an add-on therapy together with an optimal dose of RAS blockades
      during 2008-2009. We evaluated the proteinuria reduction rates and renal function
      changes. RESULTS: During 11.1+/-72.7 months of follow-up duration, urinary
      protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) decreased for 1.57+/-0.6 to 1.17+/-0.7 g/g
      (P=0.032). Twenty-five percent of the patients showed a greater than 50%
      reduction of UPCR, and 40% had a UPCR of less than 1.0 g/g at their final
      observations. The analysis of the factors contributing to the effect found that a
      higher pretreatment UPCR showed a significant correlation with the UPCR decrease
      (r=0.45, P=0.047). Neither the adverse effects nor the renal function impairments
      were documented during the management. CONCLUSION: Low-dose sulodexide has an
      additional modest antiproteinuric effect on IgA nephropathy undergoing RAS
      blockade therapy.

PMID- 26894023
TI  - Clinical characteristics of acute renal failure with severe loin pain and patchy
      renal vasoconstriction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) with severe loin pain and patchy renal
      vasoconstriction (PRV) is a syndrome presenting with sudden loin pain after
      anaerobic exercise. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the
      efficacy of diagnostic imaging studies of patients with this syndrome. METHODS:
      We retrospectively selected 17 patients with ARF accompanied by loin or abdominal
      pain who showed multiple patchy wedge-shaped delayed contrast enhancements on a
      computerized tomography scan. Information about the clinical characteristics,
      including the nature of pain and combined symptoms, suspected causes, such as
      exercise, drug or alcohol intake, and renal hypouricemia, and the results of
      laboratory and imaging tests were gathered. RESULTS: The mean age of patients
      with episodes of ARF accompanied by loin pain was 23.0+/-6.5 (range 16-35) years
      old. Pain was mainly located in the loin (70.6%) or abdominal area (76.5%) and
      continued for approximately 3.5+/-4.0 days. Exercise was suspected as a primary
      cause of disease in 12 (70.6%) patients. Maximal serum creatinine was 5.42+/-3.16
      (1.4-12.1) mg/dL 3.1+/-1.8 (1-7) days after the onset of pain. The peak level of
      serum uric acid was 9.41+/-2.91 (6.0-15.8) mg/dL. All of the patients recovered
      to near-normal renal function, and one patient showed hypouricemia after
      recovery. CONCLUSION: ARF with severe loin pain and PRV can present with loin or
      abdominal pain, even without a history of anaerobic exercise. Careful history
      taking and appropriate imaging studies are critical in the diagnosis and
      management of this syndrome.

PMID- 26894024
TI  - Plasma leptin concentrations are greater in type II diabetic patients and
      stimulate monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 synthesis via the mitogen-activated
      protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Leptin is an adipokine that is recently reported to be a biomarker of
      systemic inflammation. Although atherosclerosis causes cardiovascular diseases,
      it is not clear whether leptin contributes to the acceleration of this process.
      In this study, we investigated whether alterations of plasma leptin levels were
      related to diabetic nephropathy and systemic inflammation. In addition, we
      examined the physiologic action of leptin in cultured vascular smooth muscle
      cells (VSMCs). METHODS: A total of 126 type 2 diabetic participants and 37
      healthy controls were studied. The diabetic participants were divided into three
      groups according to stage of nephropathy. We investigated whether leptin induced
      monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (MCP-1) synthesis through the mitogen-activated
      protein kinase (MAPK) pathway using cultured VSMCs. RESULTS: Plasma leptin
      concentrations were significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the
      controls. Plasma leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass index,
      fasting and postprandial blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol,
      urinary albumin excretion, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and MCP-1
      plasma levels, and negatively correlated with creatinine clearance values. In
      cultured VSMCs, leptin increased MCP-1 production in a dose-dependent manner, and
      this stimulating effect of leptin on MCP-1 expression was reversed by the MAPK
      (MEK) inhibitor PD98059. In addition, leptin stimulated the phosphorylation of
      MEK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and E26-like transcription factor,
      which are components of the MAPK pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these findings
      suggest that activation of leptin synthesis may promote MCP-1 activation in a
      diabetic environment via the MAPK pathway in VSMCs and that it possibly
      contributes to the acceleration of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 26894026
TI  - Laparoscopic biopsy-proven lupus nephritis in autosomal dominant polycystic
      kidney disease.
AB  - A 48-year-old woman with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
      presented with generalized edema and arthralgia. She showed evidences of acute
      glomerulonephritis including nephrotic-ranged proteinuria. Because her serologic
      test results were consistent with those for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
      we performed laparoscopic renal biopsy that confirmed World Health Organization
      (WHO) class IV lupus nephritis. She was treated with steroids and intravenous
      cyclophosphamide pulse therapy and eventually started hemodialysis 8 years after
      the lupus nephritis was diagnosed. To our knowledge, this is the first case
      wherein a patient with ADPKD underwent a laparoscopic biopsy for diagnosing lupus
      nephritis. 

PMID- 26894025
TI  - Hyperuricemia as a marker for progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The variable clinical and histopathological manifestations of
      immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) make it difficult to predict disease
      progression. A recent study showed that hyperuricemia, a condition common in
      hypertension and vascular disease, may contribute to renal dysfunction and
      histological changes including renal arteriosclerosis, tubular atrophy, and
      interstitial fibrosis. Herein, we investigated the clinical significance of uric
      acid level at the time of biopsy, as a marker of IgAN progression. METHODS: We
      included 193 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. Renal disease progression was
      defined as serum creatinine elevation above 1.2 mg/dL or over 20% elevation from
      baseline. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid level >=7.3 mg/dL in men
      and >=5.3 mg/dL in women, which were 1 standard deviation above the mean value in
      the normal subjects. RESULTS: The hyperuricemia group (n=50) had higher blood
      pressure, body mass index, and serum creatinine, and a greater amount of
      proteinuria and a lower glomerular filtration rate than the nonhyperuricemia
      group (n=143). Hyperuricemia increased the risk of IgAN progression (odds ratio,
      4.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-15.66). The disease progression group (n=26)
      had a greater frequency of hyperuricemia, hypertension, and nephrotic range
      proteinuria than the nonprogression group (n=119). The renal survival analysis
      showed that the hyperuricemia group had a higher rate of IgAN disease
      progression. CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia at the time of diagnosis is an important
      marker for IgAN progression.

PMID- 26894027
TI  - Cytokine gene polymorphisms: Can these differentiate renal disease entities?

PMID- 26894028
TI  - A case of membranous nephropathy associated with relapsing polychondritis.
AB  - Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, chronic, and potentially fatal
      multisystemic inflammatory disorder targeting cartilaginous structures. This
      disorder is frequently associated with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic vasculitis,
      connective tissue diseases, and hematologic disorders, but renal involvement is
      unusual. In the literature, associated renal pathology includes mesangial
      expansion, IgA nephropathy, tubulointerstitial nephritis, and segmental
      necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. We report a case of a 49-year-old male
      found to have RP and nephrotic syndrome, with confirmed membranous nephropathy on
      kidney biopsy. He responded well to corticosteroids and cyclosporine. This is the
      first case of renal associated RP confirmed by renal biopsy in Korea. Membranous
      nephropathy associated with RP has never before been reported. 

PMID- 26894029
TI  - The use of tacrolimus in the management of minimal change disease.

PMID- 26894030
TI  - Understanding and exploiting hepcidin as an indicator of anemia due to chronic
      kidney disease.
AB  - Hepcidin, produced by the liver, is the master regulator of iron balance. Serum
      hepcidin is increased by high iron stores, blocks intestinal iron absorption, and
      impairs storage iron release. Conversely, iron deficiency lowers hepcidin levels
      and enhances intestinal iron absorption and the release of storage iron. As with
      ferritin, hepcidin is an acute phase reactant. Consequently, inflammation
      increases hepcidin and leads to impaired iron absorption, lowers serum iron and
      transferrin saturation, and contributes to the anemia of chronic kidney disease
      (CKD). We review the physiology of iron absorption, its relationship to hepcidin
      and the transmembrane iron transporter ferroportin, the role of hepcidin in CKD
      related anemia, and the possible diagnostic implications and limitations of using
      hepcidin as a marker of iron status. 

PMID- 26894031
TI  - Where do we stand on human diabetic nephropathy?

PMID- 26894032
TI  - Erratum: Asymptomatic renal pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous renal biopsy
      [Volume 32, Issue 2, June 2013, pp. 87-89].
AB  - [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.krcp.2013.04.006.]. 

PMID- 26894034
TI  - Clinicopathological role of kidney injury molecule-1 in immunoglobulin A
      nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is an early and sensitive
      biomarker of acute kidney injury, but it is unclear if it is a biomarker of
      chronic glomerulonephritis. We evaluated whether urinary KIM-1 levels in patients
      with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy can be a marker to reflect
      clinicopathological severity and predict the prognosis. METHODS: We measured
      urinary KIM-1 levels in 40 patients (15 males; mean age 36.6+/-12.9 years) with
      IgA nephropathy and 10 healthy people (5 males; mean age 37.3+/-9.6 years) as
      controls. The correlation of urinary KIM-1 levels with patients' clinical
      parameters, histological grades, and follow-up data were analyzed using the
      modified H. S. Lee grading system and tubulointerstitial change scores. RESULTS:
      Urinary KIM-1 levels were higher in patients with IgA nephropathy than healthy
      controls (P=0.001). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that
      urinary KIM-1 levels had a direct correlation with H. S. Lee grade and
      tubulointerstitial inflammation (P=0.004 and P=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION:
      In patients with IgA nephropathy, urinary KIM-1 has a significant correlation
      with histopathologic severity.

PMID- 26894033
TI  - Comprehensive approach to diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in
      patients with diabetes. This complication reflects a complex pathophysiology,
      whereby various genetic and environmental factors determine susceptibility and
      progression to end-stage renal disease. DN should be considered in patients with
      type 1 diabetes for at least 10 years who have microalbuminuria and diabetic
      retinopathy, as well as in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes with
      macroalbuminuria in whom other causes for proteinuria are absent. DN may also
      present as a falling estimated glomerular filtration rate with albuminuria as a
      minor presenting feature, especially in patients taking renin-angiotensin
      aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi). The pathological characteristic features
      of disease are three major lesions: diffuse mesangial expansion, diffuse
      thickened glomerular basement membrane, and hyalinosis of arterioles.
      Functionally, however, the pathophysiology is reflected in dysfunction of the
      mesangium, the glomerular capillary wall, the tubulointerstitium, and the
      vasculature. For all diabetic patients, a comprehensive approach to management
      including glycemic and hypertensive control with RAASi combined with lipid
      control, dietary salt restriction, lowering of protein intake, increased physical
      activity, weight reduction, and smoking cessation can reduce the rate of
      progression of nephropathy and minimize the risk for cardiovascular events. This
      review focuses on the latest published data dealing with the mechanisms,
      diagnosis, and current treatment of DN. 

PMID- 26894036
TI  - Assessing Risk-Taking in a Driving Simulator Study: Modeling Longitudinal Semi
      Continuous Driving Data Using a Two-Part Regression Model with Correlated Random
      Effects.
AB  - Signalized intersection management is a common measure of risky driving in
      simulator studies. In a recent randomized trial, investigators were interested in
      whether teenage males exposed to a risk-accepting passenger took more
      intersection risks in a driving simulator compared with those exposed to a risk
      averse peer passenger. Analyses in this trial are complicated by the longitudinal
      or repeated measures that are semi-continuous with clumping at zero.
      Specifically, the dependent variable in a randomized trial looking at the effect
      of risk-accepting versus risk-averse peer passengers on teenage simulator driving
      is comprised of two components. The discrete component measures whether the teen
      driver stops for a yellow light, and the continuous component measures the time
      the teen driver, who does not stop, spends in the intersection during a red
      light. To convey both components of this measure, we apply a two-part regression
      with correlated random effects model (CREM), consisting of a logistic regression
      to model whether the driver stops for a yellow light and a linear regression to
      model the time spent in the intersection during a red light. These two components
      are related through the correlation of their random effects. Using this novel
      analysis, we found that those exposed to a risk-averse passenger have a higher
      proportion of stopping at yellow lights and a longer mean time in the
      intersection during a red light when they did not stop at the light compared to
      those exposed to a risk-accepting passenger, consistent with the study hypotheses
      and previous analyses. Examining the statistical properties of the CREM approach
      through simulations, we found that in most situations, the CREM achieves greater
      power than competing approaches. We also examined whether the treatment effect
      changes across the length of the drive and provided a sample size recommendation
      for detecting such phenomenon in subsequent trials. Our findings suggest that
      CREM provides an efficient method for analyzing the complex longitudinal data
      encountered in driving simulation studies.

PMID- 26894037
TI  - Toxic effects of the administration of Mikania glomerata Sprengel during the
      gestational period of hypertensive rats.
AB  - Herbal medicine is an ancient practice that has been gaining acceptance of the
      medical class through scientific studies that prove its effectiveness. However,
      its use should still be cautious. Medicinal plants have potential toxic effects
      not yet discovered, and may have unproven interactions with other medications.
      The use of drugs during pregnancy is still very dangerous and vigorously studied;
      however, there are few studies of herbal medicines in pregnant women. Existing
      studies prioritize on teratogenic or abortifacient effects. The aim of this study
      was to analyze the toxic effects of Mikania glomerata Sprengel administration,
      popularly known as "guaco" during the gestational period of hypertensive rats.
      For this experimental groups consisting of pregnant Wistar rats received
      treatments with guaco extract (1 to 2 mL). In order to analyze the possible toxic
      effects of guaco during pregnancy, weight gain of rats was assessed during
      pregnancy; reproductive performance of rats, morphological parameters, and fetal
      placental histology were compared. Although some parameters presented significant
      differences, we can conclude that changes prioritized by literature, such as
      toxicity, vasodilation and hypotension, have not been caused by guaco. The only
      fetal changes observed were due to the maternal hypertension. Some studies have
      reported vasodilator and hypotensive effects of guaco. However, only a few
      studies exist, and its actual effects remain unknown. Specific studies should be
      developed with higher doses of guaco for a definitive conclusion of its toxic and
      non-toxic effects. 

PMID- 26894035
TI  - Comparison of exit site infection and peritonitis incidences between povidone
      iodine and normal saline use for chronic exit site care in peritoneal dialysis
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Catheter-related exit site infection is a major risk factor for the
      development of peritonitis and can contribute to failure of treatment maintenance
      in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Although povidone-iodine can be used for
      exit site care, the irritation induced by the local application of povidone
      iodine could lead to secondary infection. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical
      effectiveness of normal saline compared with povidone-iodine as a method of exit
      site care in chronic PD patients. METHODS: In all, 126 patients undergoing PD
      treatment for>6 months between January 2006 and December 2009 were enrolled. Data
      were retrospectively analyzed for the incidence of exit site infection and
      peritonitis for 2 years prior to and after December 2007. In addition, we
      identified the incidences of catheter-related infections during follow-ups from
      January 2010 to December 2013. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 58.8+/
      12.9 years. The incidences of exit site infection and peritonitis were one
      episode per 64.6 patients-months and one episode per 40.4 patients-months in the
      povidone-iodine group, respectively, whereas these were one episode per 57.5
      patients-months and one episode per 45.6 patients-months in the normal saline
      group, respectively. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria most frequently caused
      catheter-related infections in both groups, culture-negative infections were
      dominant in the normal saline group. CONCLUSION: Exit site care using normal
      saline did not increase the incidence of exit site infection and peritonitis.
      Therefore, normal saline may be an alternative treatment for exit site care in
      patients receiving PD.

PMID- 26894038
TI  - Cardiotoxicity of Senna occidentalis in sheep (Ovis aries).
AB  - The cardiotoxicity of Coffee senna (Senna occidentalis) was investigated in sheep
      that were fed diets containing its seeds, which are recognized as the most
      poisonous part of such weed. Dianthrone, the main toxic component of S.
      occidentalis, is known to impair mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, leading
      to myofiber degeneration. In this study, fifteen ewes were fed 0%, 2% or 4% of
      seeds of S. occidentalis for 63 days. Non-specific markers of myocyte injury and
      electrocardiograms were undertaken at baseline, and at 14, 35, and 63 days after
      the animals were first fed the diets, while histopathology of heart samples was
      performed at the very end of the study. Our results showed an increase in serum
      AST and LDH over time, while CK-MB did not change significantly. Changes that
      could be ascribed to myocardial damage were not documented in the
      electrocardiograms. Cardiac histopathology demonstrated only mild-to-moderate
      vacuolar degeneration, myofiber edema and disarray, structural disorganization,
      and cellular necrosis. In conclusion, S. occidentalis caused myocardial fiber
      degeneration in a dose-dependent fashion, but the electrocardiogram was not able
      to identify these lesions non-invasively. Because the markers of myofiber injury
      used in this study lack specificity, they may not be used to support cardiac
      impairment objectively, despite some of them did change over time. 

PMID- 26894039
TI  - Operational contemporary diagnostic reasoning.

PMID- 26894040
TI  - Porcelain gallbladder.

PMID- 26894041
TI  - Conidial heads (Fruiting Bodies) as a hallmark for histopathological diagnosis of
      angioinvasive aspergillosis.
AB  - Aspergillosis is a mycosis that afflicts immunocompetent and immunocompromised
      hosts; among the former it exhibits different clinical pictures, and among the
      latter the infection renders an invasive form of the disease. The histologic
      diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis is somewhat challenging mostly because of
      some morphological similarities between other fungi. However, when present, the
      conidial heads are pathognomonic of aspergillosis. The authors present the case
      of a 68-year-old woman who was submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem cell
      transplantation in the pursuit of multiple myeloma treatment. The post
      transplantation period was troublesome with the development of severe
      neutropenia, human respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia, and disseminated
      aspergillosis, which was suspected because of a positive serum galactomannan
      antigen determination, and resulted in a fatal outcome. The autopsy findings
      showed diffuse alveolar damage associated with angioinvasive pulmonary
      aspergillosis with numerous hyphae and conidial heads in the lung parenchyma
      histology. The authors call attention to the aid of autopsy in confirming the
      diagnosis of this deep mycosis, since only the research of the galactomannan
      antigen may be insufficient and uncertain due to its specificity and of the
      possibility of false-positive results. 

PMID- 26894042
TI  - Bacterial sinusitis and its frightening complications: subdural empyema and
      Lemierre syndrome.
AB  - The symptoms of a previously healthy 14-year-old female with an initial history
      of tooth pain and swelling of the left maxillary evolved to a progressive
      headache and altered neurological findings characterized by auditory
      hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and aggressiveness. She was brought to the
      emergency department after 21 days of the initial symptoms. An initial computed
      tomography (CT) scan showed frontal subdural empyema with bone erosion. The
      symptoms continued to evolve to brain herniation 24 hours after admission. A
      second CT scan showed a left internal jugular vein thrombosis. The outcome was
      unfavorable and the patient died on the second day after admission. The autopsy
      findings depicted rarefaction of the cranial bone at the left side of the frontal
      sinus, and overt meningitis. The severe infection was further complicated by
      thrombophlebitis of the left internal jugular vein up to the superior vena cava
      with septic embolization to the lungs, pneumonia, and sepsis. This case report
      highlights the degree of severity that a trivial infection can reach. The unusual
      presentation of the sinusitis may have wrongly guided the approach of this
      unfortunate case. 

PMID- 26894043
TI  - Congenital generalized lymphangiectasia: a rare developmental disorder for non
      immune fetal hydrops.
AB  - Firstly described by Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century, congenital generalized
      lymphangiectasia is a rare entity characterized by dilation of lymphatic vessels,
      and was recently classified in primary or secondary lymphangiectasia. Generalized
      forms may be diagnosed during pre-natal follow-up with ultrasound examination,
      and, depending on its severity, the newborn outcome is very poor. The authors
      report the case of a female newborn with a previous diagnosis of fetal hydropsy
      who was born after a full-term gestation with respiratory failure due to
      bilateral voluminous pleural effusion and ascites. Physical examination also
      disclosed syndromic facies. Despite all efforts of the intensive supportive care,
      the patient died after 24 days of life. The autopsy findings were consistent with
      the diagnosis of congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia. The authors call
      attention to this rare diagnosis in patients with cavitary effusion and
      respiratory insufficiency at birth. 

PMID- 26894044
TI  - Streptococcus agalactiae septicemia in a patient with diabetes and hepatic
      cirrhosis.
AB  - Streptococcus agalactiae is a well-known pathogen during pregnancy and in
      neonates. Among non-pregnant adults, invasive infection, although rare, is
      showing increasing frequency, especially in chronically ill, immunosuppressed, or
      older patients. Although rare, the clinical features of meningeal infection
      caused by S. agalactiae are similar to other bacterial meningitis. The authors
      report the case of a middle-aged man previously diagnosed with hypertension,
      diabetes mellitus, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who was admitted at the
      emergency department with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 11/12, generalized spasticity,
      bilateral Babinski sign, and hypertension. The clinical outcome was bad, with
      refractory shock and death within 24 hours of hospitalization. The
      bacteriological work-up isolated S. agalactiae in the cerebral spinal fluid
      (CSF), blood, and urine. An autopsy revealed meningoencephalitis, acute
      myocardial infarction, and pyelonephritis due to septic emboli. The authors point
      out the atypical CSF findings, the rapid fatal outcome, and the importance of
      including this pathogen among the etiologic possibilities of invasive infections
      in this group of patients. 

PMID- 26894045
TI  - The infantile-onset form of Pompe disease: an autopsy diagnosis.
AB  - Pompe disease (PD) is a rare, inherited autosomal recessive metabolic disorder
      caused by the deficiency of the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme
      described in 1932 by the Dutch pathologist Joannes Cassianus Pompe. The
      prevalence of PD ranges from 1:40,000 to 1:300,000 births and depends on
      geographic and ethnic factors. Clinical manifestations may vary from a rapidly
      progressive disabling disease with cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly, weakness,
      generalized hypotonia, and death within the first year of life, to a mild
      presentation characterized by slowly progressive myopathy predominantly involving
      the skeletal muscles. The laboratory diagnostic gold standard is represented by
      the determination of the alpha-glucosidase activity. However, the muscle
      histology may also yield the diagnosis by evaluating the tissular glycogen
      accumulation. Until recently, supportive measures constituted the unique
      available therapy. Currently, the administration of the recombinant GAA is being
      used with promising results. The authors present the case of a 5-month-old boy,
      previously diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy since the age of 2 months,
      who presented acute heart failure accompanied by biventricular dilation followed
      by refractory shock and death. The autopsy findings confirmed the glycogen
      accumulation disease. 

PMID- 26894046
TI  - Cardiac sarcoidosis with severe involvement of the right ventricle: a case
      report.
AB  - We present the case of a patient who underwent cardiac transplantation with the
      diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Once the explanted heart was
      examined, a type of granulomatous myocarditis compatible with cardiac sarcoidosis
      was observed. However, there was severe involvement of the right ventricle, with
      markedly reduced width of the muscular layer and extensive fibrofatty
      replacement, findings similar to the ones encountered in cases of arrhythmogenic
      right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Confocal immunofluorescence analysis
      revealed a reduced signal for plakoglobin and desmoplakin at the cardiac
      intercalated disks. The immunoreactive signal for desmin showed the typical
      sarcomeric distribution but not a concentrated signal at the intercalated disks,
      a pattern previously seen in an 11-year-old girl with Carvajal syndrome bearing a
      C-terminal truncating mutation in the desmoplakin gene. This case illustrates the
      difficult and challenging work involved in performing a differential diagnosis
      among idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, isolated cardiac sarcoidosis, and ARVC,
      all of which are clinical entities known to masquerade as one another. 

PMID- 26894047
TI  - Subserous lymphangioma of the sigmoid colon: an uncommon cause of acute abdomen
      in pediatric patients.
AB  - Lymphangioma is a rare, benign lesion derived from a malformation of the
      lymphatic system, which is more frequently found in the head, neck, and axilla.
      However, it may be present anywhere in the body, and the diagnosis involves
      adults as children with some distinct clinical features among them. In pediatric
      patients, abdominal cystic lymphangioma occurs mostly in the mesentery presenting
      abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, or, more rarely, hemorrhage. The authors
      report the case of a child with a short-course history of fever, abdominal pain,
      and constipation. The physical examination disclosed the presence of an abdominal
      mass and signs of peritoneal irritation. Imaging was consistent with a cystic
      lesion compressing the sigmoid colon and laterally displacing the remaining
      loops. Exploratory laparotomy was undertaken, and a sigmoidectomy, followed by
      Hartman's colostomy, was performed. Histological examination revealed the nature
      of the lesion as a cystic lymphangioma. The authors highlight the clinical
      features of this entity and call attention to this disease in the differential
      diagnosis of acute abdomen or abdominal pain, mainly in pediatric patients. 

PMID- 26894048
TI  - Ganglion cysts in the lateral portal region of the knee after arthroscopy: report
      of two cases.
AB  - A ganglion cyst (GC) is a mucinous or gelatinous-filled benign tumor overlying a
      joint or tendon sheath, which commonly arises in the dorsal and volar wrist side
      but may occur anywhere in the body. Although cystic lesions around the knee are
      common, the occurrence of GCs are rare. Ganglia may arise from intra or extra
      articular, soft tissue, intraosseous, or periosteal location. Symptoms may vary
      according to the size and location. After the more frequent performance of
      magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of a knee joint, the number of
      incidental, asymptomatic lesions have been increasingly diagnosed. The etiology
      of GC remains unclear; however, trauma and a flaw in the joint tissues may
      explain its appearance. The authors report two cases of women aged 47 years and
      37 years who presented pain and swelling in their left knees following
      arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy. The former was surgically treated and
      had a favorable outcome, while the latter had conservative treatment and a gloomy
      outcome. 

PMID- 26894050
TI  - Morphometric Study of Nasal Bone and Piriform Aperture in Human Dry Skull of
      Indian Origin.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Nasal bone and piriform aperture shows racial and geographical
      differences because of variable climate. The aim of this study was to evaluate
      the dimensions (maximal width and length), the size and the shape of the piriform
      aperture (PA) and their sexual dimorphism in North Indian adult. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: In this observational study, dimension of piriform aperture and nasal
      bone were measured using digital vernier caliper after assessing landmarks around
      the piriform aperture on the norma frontalis in Frankfurt plane in 40 skull of
      Indian orgin. RESULTS: The mean width of the piriform aperture was 24.9+/-1.59 mm
      in males and 22.77+/-1.57 mm in females, the mean length was 29.57+/-3.28mm in
      females and 31.16+/-3.58mm in males. The difference between males and females was
      significant, and our data correlates well with the previously data acquired from
      humans skulls. Most of North Indian skulls have platyrhine type of piriform
      aperture (triangular to oval shape with pyriform aperture index of 0.79). Mean
      length and width of nasal bone were 17.58+/-2.47mm and 12.1+/-0.97mm respectively
      without sexual. CONCLUSION: Shape and size analysis of the piriform aperture and
      nasal bone showed the existence of a significant sexual dimorphism. These results
      encourage us to go further with functional and imaging correlations. This study
      will also be helpful in forensic research and anthropology.

PMID- 26894049
TI  - Morphometric Study of Subpubic Angle in Human Fetuses.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The symphysis pubis is formed at the confluence of the pubic bones.
      Each pubic bone consists of a body and two rami; the superior ramus is joined
      with the ilium and the inferior ramus with the ischium. The two bones meet in the
      midline at the pubic symphysis. The two inferior rami at the lower border of
      pubic symphysis subtend the subpubic angle. In females the subpubic angle is more
      than 90 degrees  and in males it is less than 90 degrees . Most of the previous
      studies on the subpubic angle have been in children or adults, therefore data on
      fetuses did merit. AIM: The aims of the present study were to measure the
      subpubic angle in developing human fetuses of different gestational age, whether
      it is sex dependent and to compare the results with that in the adults. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Anatomy JN
      Medical College, AMU Aligarh, over a period of two years. A total of 41 fetuses
      immersion fixed in 10% formalin were obtained from the museum department of
      anatomy. For the purpose of study fetuses were divided into five groups according
      to gestational age. Group I comprises fetuses of 14-18weeks, group II 19-22weeks,
      group III 23-26weeks, group IV 27-30weeks, groupV >30weeks of gestation. Pubic
      symphyses were dissected, cleaned and subjected to radiological examination in
      the anteroposterior plane. With the help of radiographs subpubic angle was
      measured. Readings obtained were analysed statistically. RESULTS: Subpubic angle
      ranged between 58 degrees -64 degrees  throughout intrauterine life. Maximum
      angle (63 degrees - 64 degrees ) was observed in group I and V and in the rest of
      the groups it was less than 60 degrees , with highly significant (p-value<0.001)
      increase in the last group. Statistically significant sexual dimorphism was
      observed in group I and II fetuses (p-value <0.001). Subpubic angle was more in
      females during the first half and in the terminal part of gestation. CONCLUSION:
      Subpubic angle remained acute throughout the intrauterine life, with significant
      widening in fetuses more than 30 weeks of gestation. Marked sexual dimorphism was
      noticed only in fetuses of 14-18 weeks and 19-22 weeks of gestation fetuses,
      although the values were invariably less than 90 degrees  (acute) in both the
      sexes but in females towards the higher side as in adults. Assessment of
      symphysis and subpubic arch during antenatal ultrasonography of pregnant women
      can be done to diagnose congenital widening of the symphysis or absence of
      symphysis altogether.

PMID- 26894051
TI  - Is There a Correlation between Languages Spoken and Intricate Movements of
      Tongue? A Comparative Study of Various Movements of Tongue among the Three Ethnic
      Races of Malaysia.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Tongue is mainly used for taste, chewing and in speech. In the
      present study, we focused on the secondary function of the tongue as to how it is
      used in phonetic pronunciation and linguistics and how these factors affect
      tongue movements. OBJECTIVE: To compare all possible movements of tongue among
      Malaysians belonging to three ethnic races and to find out if there is any link
      between languages spoken and ability to perform various tongue movements.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 450 undergraduate medical students participated
      in the study. The students were chosen from three different races i.e. Malays,
      Chinese and Indians (Malaysian Indians). Data was collected from the students
      through a semi-structured interview following which each student was asked to
      demonstrate various tongue movements like protrusion, retraction, flattening,
      rolling, twisting, folding or any other special movements. The data obtained was
      first segregated and analysed according to gender, race and types and dialects of
      languages spoken. RESULTS: We found that most of the Malaysians were able to
      perform the basic movements of tongue like protrusion, flattening movements and
      very few were able to perform twisting and folding of the tongue. The ability to
      perform normal tongue movements and special movements like folding, twisting,
      rolling and others was higher among Indians when compared to Malay and Chinese.
      CONCLUSION: Languages spoken by Indians involve detailed tongue rolling and
      folding in pronouncing certain words and may be the reason as to why Indians are
      more versatile with tongue movements as compared to the other two races amongst
      Malaysians. It may be a possibility that languages spoken by a person serves as a
      variable that increases their ability to perform special tongue movements besides
      influenced by the genetic makeup of a person.

PMID- 26894053
TI  - A Rare Case of Mandibular Exostoses and its Review.
AB  - Mandibular exostosis is a type of bony prominence caused due to hyperostosis in
      the mandibular bone. They are benign, broad-based surface masses on the outer or
      facial aspect of the jaw bones; slowly enlarge over the years to form the bulky
      masses. During the period between the 10th to 13th week of intrauterine life,
      changes in the structure of the Meckel's cartilage and the protrusion of the
      medial lamina of the mandible onto the cartilage can result in the formation of
      such exostosis. We discuss here a very rare case of a 49-year-old male, in which
      the buccal exostoses formed underwent changes in size and shape due to certain
      factors, resulting in a bony bar formation in the mandibular anterior region. 

PMID- 26894052
TI  - Two Cases of Rectus Sternalis Muscle.
AB  - The sternalis muscle, an uncommon anatomical variant of the chest wall
      musculature, though perhaps well known to anatomists, is quite unfamiliar to
      clinicians and radiologists despite attempts to highlight its clinical importance
      in recent years. During routine dissection for undergraduate medical teaching, in
      the department of anatomy, we came across two cases of sternalis muscle. The
      first was a unique case of unilateral right sternalis with contralateral
      insertion on the left sternocleidomastoid, and the second case where bilateral
      presence of the muscle was noted with ipsilateral insertion. The former was
      supplied by medial pectoral nerve and the latter by lower intercostal nerves.
      Usually present between the pectoral and superficial fasciae, wide ranging
      prevalence and morphology have been attributed to this muscular variant. Opinions
      differ on its development and nerve supply. Its presence can be misdiagnosed as a
      wide range of benign and malignant anterior chest wall lesions and tumours, but
      it is also of great use as a pedicle flap or flap microvascular anastomosis in
      reconstructive surgeries of anterior chest wall, head and neck and breast. In
      this paper, two cases of sternalis muscle which presented very differently from
      each other are discussed. 

PMID- 26894054
TI  - Evaluation of Serum Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A & Plasma D-Dimer in
      Acute Coronary Syndrome.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a spectrum comprising unstable
      angina pectoris, ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) & Non ST Elevated
      Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) is the major cause of presentation in Emergency
      Department today. Though ECG and cardiac enzymes are used for diagnosis, they
      mislead the diagnosis sometimes and delay in treatment initiation. This leads us
      to search certain new parameters which reflect the pathophysiology of ACS.
      Markers of plaque stability like Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A and D
      Dimer, a marker of ongoing thrombosis are found to be better markers in early
      diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic competence of PAPP-A and D-Dimer in
      acute coronary syndrome over CK-MB and to compare with the inflammatory marker
      High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) which is associated with
      atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients presenting with acute
      onset of chest pain to Emergency Department with or without ECG changes served as
      cases and 50 healthy people served as controls. Serum PAPP-A is measured by
      Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), D-Dimer and hs-CRP by using Latex
      Turbidimetry method. RESULTS: A statistical significant difference of PAPP-A and
      D-Dimer was noted between the ACS and controls (p < 0.001) whereas CK-MB shows no
      much difference (p 0.09). Statistically significant positive correlation is noted
      between parameters. CONCLUSION: PAPP-A marker of plaque instability and D-Dimer
      marker of ongoing thrombosis are raised in acute coronary syndrome and thus can
      be considered as one of the marker in ACS for diagnosis.

PMID- 26894056
TI  - Assessment of Various Biochemical Parameters and BMI in Patients with Skin Tags.
AB  - INTRODCTION: Acrochordon or fibroepithelial polyp, commonly known as Skin tags
      (STs) are one of the most common benign skin condition, consisting of skin
      projecting from the surrounding skin, usually occurring on the eyelids, neck and
      axillae. Studies have found an association of STs with conditions such as
      obesity, diabetes mellitus and atherogenic lipid profile. Abdominal obesity and
      the consequent insulin resistance are said be important contributing factors for
      diabetes, dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. AIM: To highlight the
      association of lipid profile, BMI, glucose, HbA1c and leptin levels in patients
      with STs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case control study conducted at
      tertiary care hospital in South India from April 2013 to May 2014. The cases were
      chosen those who are having minimum of 3 STs attending the dermatology clinic. A
      total of 171 patients were screened, out of which 126 satisfied the criteria for
      inclusion and were included in the final analysis. The significance of the
      difference between the groups was assessed by Student t-test (two tailed,
      independent) to find the significance on continuous scale between two groups on
      metric parameters, between cases and controls and p-value of <0.05 were
      considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Maximum cases were in males and
      in age group of 41-50 years. There was significant association between STs and
      triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol
      and leptin levels. Other parameters were also altered but no statistically
      significant difference was seen. CONCLUSION: STs are associated with change in
      markers of obesity and dyslipidaemia. Patients with STs need suitable
      interventions like weight reduction, smoking cessation, change in dietary habits.
      STs may also play a role in early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

PMID- 26894055
TI  - Adipokines and their Relation to Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic
      Kidney Disease.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of
      cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a
      key element in connecting kidney disease to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and
      cardiovascular (CV) complications. Further, inflammation is implicated in ED in
      CKD. Besides these, adipose tissue factors were thought to have a role in
      inflammation and ED in CKD. AIM: It is proposed to evaluate the concentration
      changes of adipokines, inflammatory and ED markers in CKD patients compared to
      healthy controls. Further, to assess the associations between adipokines,
      inflammation and ED in CKD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 CKD
      patients were included and classified into 3 groups based on Glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR). Group I (n=40) patients had a GFR between 60-119
      ml/min/1.73m(2) (stage I, II), group II (n=40) had 15-59 ml/min/1.73m(2) (stage
      III, IV) and group III (n=40) had <15 ml/min/1.73m(2) (stage V). Forty healthy
      subjects served as controls. Adiponectin, Leptin, Interleukin-10 (IL-10),
      Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were estimated by
      ELISA. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was estimated by
      immunoturbidimetry and NO by Griess method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mann-Whitney U
      test was used to compare the difference in variables between controls and CKD
      patients. One-way ANOVA Kruskalwallis test was used for comparison of variables
      between groups in CKD patients. Spearman's rank correlation was used to explore
      the associations between variables. Simple univariate linear regression analysis
      was used to predict the value of variable from another variable. RESULTS: A
      significant increase in leptin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-6/IL-10 ratio, hsCRP and
      decrease in adiponectin, IL-10, NO was observed in CKD patients compared to
      controls (p<0.05). In CKD patients, adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, IL-6/IL-10 ratio,
      TNF-alpha were significantly increased and IL-10 levels were decreased from group
      I to group III (p<0.05). In group III CKD patients IL-6 showed a significant
      negative correlation with NO (r=-0.557; p=0.005). In linear regression analysis
      also, IL-6 showed a significant negative association with NO (B+/-SE=-0.038+/
      0.11; p=0.002) in CKD patients. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that
      adipokine levels are altered from initial to final stages of CKD due to renal
      dysfunction which in association with an exaggerated inflammation may contribute
      to the ED and CV events.

PMID- 26894057
TI  - Evaluation of Specificity and Sensitivity of Oral Fluid for Diagnosis of
      Hepatitis B.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B viral infection is a global health issue. Various
      screening and confirmatory serological tests have evolved in the past few decades
      for detection of hepatitis B. However, oral fluid as an alternative to blood
      could provide substantial advantages. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic
      efficacy of oral fluid in detecting hepatitis B surface antigen using Enzyme
      Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salivary and blood
      samples were collected from 40 seropositive and 40 seronegative patients of
      hepatitis B viral infection and were subjected to ELISA test for hepatitis B
      surface antigen. Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the statistical
      significance and Kappa (K) statistic was used to assess the degree of agreement
      between serum and oral fluid samples. The p-value <0.05 was considered as
      significant value. RESULT: A sensitivity and specificity of 100% of oral fluid
      assay was obtained for the diagnosis of hepatitis B infection. The degree of
      agreement between saliva and serum for detection of hepatitis B was found to be
      perfect (Kappa value =1). CONCLUSION: Oral fluid testing can be an interesting,
      alternative for hepatitis B infection for diagnosis and screening for
      epidemiological purposes. Further research necessitates for the implementation of
      saliva as a diagnostic tool.

PMID- 26894058
TI  - Normal Motor and Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity of Radial Nerve in Young Adult
      Medical Students.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Normal nerve conduction velocity of radial nerve is essential for
      differential diagnosis of various type of radial neuropathies, C7 radiculopathy
      and nerve lesion. AIM: To study normal motor and sensory nerve conduction
      velocity of radial nerve in young adult medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Fifty medical students of either sex from first year, aged between 17- 20 year,
      were recruited for this nerve conduction study of radial nerve using surface
      electrode. Motor Nerve Conduction Velocity (MNCV) and Sensory Nerve Conduction
      Velocity (SNCV) of radial nerve of both hand were taken out and analysed for
      statistical significance and standard deviation. RESULTS: The mean Motor Latency
      (ML) in right and left hand were 8.11 msec and 8.01msec respectively, Amplitude
      (A) 9.08mv and 8.65mv respectively and MNCV was 66.81m/sec and 67.05m/sec
      respectively. The SNCV were 51.41 m/sec and 51.48m/sec in the right and left hand
      respectively. CONCLUSION: The normative value of motor and sensory NCV of radial
      nerve in male and female young medical students were established. The data were
      within the favourable range as compared with the existing data from other
      researchers for radial nerve. There were no difference statistically found in the
      radial nerve motor and sensory NCV of right and left hand of either sex.

PMID- 26894059
TI  - A Comparative Analysis of Dietary Habits on Sensory Motor Association and Heart
      Rate Variability during Menstrual Cycle.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dietary habits can make a big difference on both physical and
      mental aspects of the body. Menstrual disorder frequently affects the quality of
      life of adolescent and young adult women. Menstrual cycle irregularities may be
      associated with psychological stress, and endocrine disturbances. Monitoring of
      sensory-motor association and cardiovascular activity across the menstrual cycle
      has not been evaluated with dietary habits. AIM: The present study was carried
      out to bridge the relationship between dietary habits and endogenous sex hormone
      mediated sensory motor association and heart rate variability (HRV) among young
      females during different phases of menstrual cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      present study was carried out on healthy volunteered 100 female medical students
      in the age group of 19-25 years with regular menstrual cycle. Group I (n=45)
      vegetarians, Group II (n=25) eggetarians and Group III (n= 30) non-vegetarians,
      where n denotes the number of individuals in each group. Sensory-motor
      association (reaction time) and cardiovascular activity (HRV) was evaluated.
      RESULTS: We observed among all the dietary habits (vegetarians, eggetarians and
      non-vegetarians) the reaction time and HRV was comparable in follicular and
      menstrual phase, however it was significantly altered in luteal phase when
      compared to follicular and menstrual phase. Moreover, among all the dietary
      habits, non-vegetarians showed more significant alteration of reaction time and
      HRV in luteal phase when compared to vegetarians and eggetarians, as well as
      there was positive correlation between visual and auditory reaction time and
      negative correlation between LF and HF in luteal phase, among all the dietary
      habits. CONCLUSION: We concluded sensorimotor association and regulation of
      autonomic tone is modified in luteal phase comparable to follicular phase and
      menstrual phase; however non-vegetarian had showed more significant alterations
      as compared to eggetarians and vegetarians. These suggest that sympathetic
      nervous activities are predominant in the luteal phase as compared to follicular
      phase, and this sympathetic dominance is more among non-vegetarians, which may be
      due to their higher BMI. The alterations in the balance of ovarian hormones might
      be responsible for these changes. Long-term intake of vegetarian diets may
      facilitate vagal regulation of the heart without increasing the sympathetic
      modulations of the cardiovascular system.

PMID- 26894060
TI  - Study of Electrophysiological Changes in Sensory Nerves Among Diabetic Smokers.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Neuropathy is one of the most troublesome complication affecting
      individuals with diabetes. The resultant loss of function in peripheral nerves
      causes loss of protective sensations and impairs patient's ability to perceive
      incipient or even apparent ulcerations in the feet. AIM: This study was
      undertaken to test the hypothesis of alteration in electrophysiological
      parameters of nerve before actual manifestations of neuropathy in type 2 diabetic
      patients and to analyse the effect of smoking on Sensory Nerve Conduction
      Velocity (SNCV) of diabetic subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and
      twenty diagnosed diabetics were taken as cases while 30 healthy non diabetics
      were taken as control. Case group was divided into diabetic non-smoker and
      diabetic smoker. Diabetic smoker were further subdivided into light smoker,
      moderate smoker and heavy smoker according to smoking index. After detailed
      history and physical examination SNCV of median and ulnar nerve in upper limb and
      sural nerve in lower limb was performed. RESULTS: On comparison of SNCV of median
      and ulnar nerve of upper limb and sural nerve of lower limb between control and
      diabetic non-smoker only sural nerve of diabetic non smoker showed significant
      bilateral decrease. There was significant bilateral decrease in SNCV of median
      and ulnar nerve of diabetic heavy smoker when compared to control and diabetic
      non smoker. Similarly, SNCV of sural nerve of diabetic heavy smoker was
      significantly decreased when compared with control, diabetic non-smoker, diabetic
      light and moderate smoker. A negative and statistically significant correlation
      was found between SNCV and smoking index. CONCLUSION: Present study indicates
      that nerves of lower limbs are more susceptible to diabetic assault as compared
      to upper limb suggesting that long nerves are commonly affected. Also, apart from
      duration and severity of diabetes, smoking itself is an independent factor for
      diabetic neuropathy.

PMID- 26894061
TI  - Measuring Respiratory Pressures with Mercury Manometer in Low Economic Health
      Care Settings- An Analytical Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Health care economics restricts many health centers from using hi
      tech diagnostics equipment. Mercury manometers are used for calibration of
      pressure transducers. If standardized it would be a cost effective, simple
      alternative to transducers in low economic settings. AIM: To analyse the
      feasibility of mercury manometer usage in respiratory pressure measurement.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental study was conducted with 30 healthy
      volunteers of age group 17-19 yrs. They were recruited by using simple random
      sampling method. The volunteers were made familiarized to lab environment,
      instrument and techniques of maximum inspiratory (Pimax) and expiratory pressures
      (Pemax). Then parameters were recorded using mercury manometer connected to
      different syringes as mouth piece (2.5 ml, 10 ml, and 20 ml) and with
      sphygmomanometer. Statistical analysis was done by using IBM SPSS statistics
      version 21. RESULTS: The Pimax was 111.07 +/- 6.53 with a 2.5 ml syringe as mouth
      piece. With 20 ml syringe it was 61.47 +/- 9.98. PEmax with 2.5 ml syringe was
      70.33 +/- 8.19 with a confidence limit of 2.93 and with sphygmomanometer was
      99.33 +/- 8.16 with a confidence limit of 2.92. There was a change in recorded
      pressure and the correlation analysis result showed a significant difference from
      both above and below 10 ml mouth piece range. CONCLUSION: Mercury manometers
      could be used for recording respiratory pressures in low economic facilities once
      standardized. Size of syringe to be used as mouth piece needs further more works
      although this study finds 10 ml syringe as suitable.

PMID- 26894062
TI  - Alternate Nostril Breathing at Different Rates and its Influence on Heart Rate
      Variability in Non Practitioners of Yoga.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Heart rate variability is a measure of modulation in autonomic
      input to the heart and is one of the markers of autonomic functions. Though there
      are many studies on the long term influence of breathing on HRV (heart rate
      variability) there are only a few studies on the immediate effect of breathing
      especially alternate nostril breathing on HRV. This study focuses on the
      immediate effects of alternate nostril breathing and the influence of different
      breathing rates on HRV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done on 25 subjects
      in the age group of 17-35 years. ECG and respiration were recorded before
      intervention and immediately after the subjects were asked to perform alternate
      nostril breathing for five minutes. RESULTS: Low frequency (LF) which is a marker
      of sympathetic activity increased, high frequency (HF) which is a marker of
      parasympathetic activity decreased and their ratio LF/HF which is a marker of
      sympatho/vagal balance increased immediately after 6 and 12 minutes in comparison
      to baseline values whereas there was no significant difference in the means of
      these components when both 6 and 12 minutes were compared. CONCLUSION: Immediate
      effects of alternate nostril breathing on HRV in non practitioners of yogic
      breathing are very different from the long term influence of yogic breathing on
      HRV which show a predominant parasympathetic influence on the heart.

PMID- 26894063
TI  - Can Panton Valentine Leukocidin Gene And Clindamycin Susceptibility Serve As
      Predictors of Community Origin of MRSA From Skin and Soft Tissue Infections?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Community associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
      (CA-MRSA) strains have begun to replace Hospital Associated MRSA (HA-MRSA)
      strains in hospital settings all over the world. With the epidemiological
      distinctions between these strains beginning to become ill-defined, the
      categorisation of a strain as CA-MRSA or HA-MRSA is dependent on molecular
      methods to detect the presence of SCCmec (Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec)
      elements. However other markers like the presence of Panton Valentine Leukocidin
      toxin (pvl) genes or Clindamycin susceptibility may also be associated with
      community origin of MRSA. AIM: To determine the prevalence of CA-MRSA among MRSA
      strains isolated from skin and soft tissue infections and to evaluate the
      usefulness of Panton Valentine Leukocidin and Clindamycin susceptibility as
      markers of community origin of MRSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred isolates
      of MRSA from skin and soft tissue were studied for the presence of SCCmec IV and
      V genes and Panton valentine leukocidin gene by Polymerase chain reaction.
      Inducible clindamycin resistance was screened for using the D-test. STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS USED: Fischer's exact test. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
      RESULTS: Eighteen out of 100 MRSA strains were found to be CA-MRSA based on
      presence of SCCmecV. The proportion of Panton Valentine Leukocidin gene carriage
      among CA- MRSA as compared to HA-MRSA was found to be statistically significant
      (p<0.0001). Among the CA-MRSA strains, 94.4% were found to be susceptible to
      Clindamycin as against only 13.4% of the HA-MRSA strains (p<0.0001). The odds of
      an MRSA strain being CA-MRSA if it was both Clindamycin susceptible and PVL gene
      positive was calculated to be 68.25 (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Both Clindamycin
      susceptibility and pvl gene carriage were found to be independent predictors of
      community origin of MRSA, but taken together the association was highly
      significant.

PMID- 26894064
TI  - Enhancing Phenotypic Detection of ESBL in AmpC co-producers by using Cefepime and
      Tazobactam.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Routine phenotypic methods employing clavulanate and third
      generation cephalosporins to detect ESBL are not promising for isolates that co
      produce an inhibitor-resistant beta lactamase like AmpC. AIM: Enhancing
      phenotypic detection of ESBL in AmpC co-producers by using cefepime and
      tazobactam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 245 isolates of Escherichia coli
      (123), Klebsiella spp. (87), Proteus spp.(20), Enterobacter spp. (9) and
      Citrobacter spp.(6) obtained over a period of 2 years from January 2013 to
      December 2014 from urine samples of hospitalized patients were studied. The
      isolates were simultaneously screened for ESBL and AmpC production. AmpC
      production was confirmed by modified three -dimensional test (MTDT). ESBL
      production was confirmed by original double disc synergy test, phenotypic disc
      confirmatory test (PDCT) and modified double disc synergy test (MDDST) and the
      results compared. RESULTS: AmpC production was confirmed in 113 (46.1%) isolates
      by modified three dimensional test out of 143 screened positive for AmpC. Of the
      192 isolates screened positive for ESBL, ESBL production was confirmed in 162
      (66.1%). DDST detected ESBLs in only134 (54.7%) while additional 28 (11.4%) ESBL
      positive isolates were detected by MDDST. PDCT detected total 145(59.2%) ESBL
      positive isolates, with cefotaxime and cefotaxime + clavulanate detecting 139
      (56.7%) and ceftazidime and ceftazidime + clavulanate detecting additional 6
      isolates. All the 28 (11.4%) isolates which were additionally detected ESBL
      producers by MDDST showed positive three dimensional test i.e. AmpC co producers.
      DDST detected ESBL in none of AmpC positive isolates while PDCT detected ESBL in
      11 isolates showing AmpC co-production. In MDDST cefepime was the best
      cephalosporin in detecting ESBL in presence of AmpC production. It showed
      synergism with amoxicillin-clavulanate in 11(39.3%) isolates and in 24(85.7%)
      isolates with piperacillin-tazobactam. Third generation cephalosporins 
      cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefpodoxime were not able to detect ESBL in AmpC-co
      producers. CONCLUSION: Modification of double disc synergy tests that combine
      piperacillin-tazobactum with cefepime enhances the possibility of ESBL detection.

PMID- 26894065
TI  - Prevalence of LRTI in Patients Presenting with Productive Cough and Their
      Antibiotic Resistance Pattern.
AB  - AIM: To find out the prevalence of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) such
      as bacterial, fungal, mycobacterial infections etc. in patients with productive
      cough of duration less than 15 days and to rule out the patients having previous
      history of tuberculosis or having treatment of tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Outdoor and Indoor patients of Department of Medicine and Chest & TB,
      SRG hospital and Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar were included. After sample
      collection the specimens were sent to the Microbiology department, for processing
      of Gram staining, Acid fast staining, KOH mount and bacteriological culture and
      sensitivity. RESULTS: A total of 200 samples were obtained from the outpatient
      and inpatient Department of Medicine and Chest & TB of which 66% were male and
      34% were female. Seventy seven percent of samples were culture positive for both
      single pathogen and mixed infection of which 56.5% were male and 20.5% were
      female as males are more at risk for LRTI. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most
      prevalent pathogen (71/193), followed by coagulase positive Staphylococci i.e.
      COPS (43/193). More resistant pattern was found in coagulase negative
      Staohylococci (CONS) showed 61.11% Methicillin Resistant Staohylococci (MRS)
      incidence compared to 41.86% in COPS, also regarding Extended Spectrum Beta
      Lactamase (ESBL) production Escherichia coli showed incidence of 36.36% as
      compared to other gram negative bacilli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most
      resistant organism found based on the antibiotic susceptibility pattern while
      Proteus mirabilis was the most sensitive organism. CONCLUSION: Lower respiratory
      tract infections can spread easily among community and indiscriminate use of
      antibiotics contributes to their therapeutic failure. Area-wise studies on
      antimicrobial susceptibility profiles are essential to guide policy on the
      appropriate use of antibiotics to reduce the morbidity and mortality and also to
      control the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in local area.

PMID- 26894066
TI  - Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Children with Bloody Diarrhea Referring
      to Abuzar Teaching Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Escherichia coli O157: H7 are recognized as important aetiological
      agents of diarrhea in children, particularly in developed countries. AIM: The aim
      of the study was to determine the rates of detection of E. coli O157: H7strains
      among children in Ahvaz, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2010 to December
      2010, 137 diarrheal stool samples of children were collected. E.coli was
      identified by standard microbiological techniques. O157 or O157:H7 subtypes
      discerned by serological tests. RESULTS: Of the 137 E. coli isolates,
      enteropathogens were found in 53 (38.7%) of the patients as follow: Shigella spp.
      (75.5%), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli) (16.9%), Campylobacter spp. (3.8%) and
      Salmonella spp. (3.8%). None of the isolated E. coli was O157:H7 serotype.
      CONCLUSION: This shows that non-O157:H7 E. coli are the major cause of paediatric
      infections in this region of Iran.

PMID- 26894067
TI  - Pleural Nocardiosis in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.
AB  - Nocardiosis is a rare infection that has attracted attention with its increased
      rate of occurrence in the recent years. In India there is a rare documentation of
      the pleural involvement in nocardiosis. We report here a case of pleural
      nocardiosis caused by Nocardia brasiliensis in an immunocompetent patient. This
      case highlights the importance of considering nocardiosis as a differential
      diagnosis in patients with pleural lesions. 

PMID- 26894068
TI  - The Application of Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis in Clinical Studies.
AB  - Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis is a method applied in separating large segments
      of deoxyribonucleotide using an alternating and cross field. In a uniform
      magnetic field, components larger than 50kb pass a route through the gel and
      since the movement of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules are in a Zigzag form,
      separation of DNAs as bands carried out better via gel. PFGE in microbiology is a
      standard method which is used for typing of bacteria. It is also a very useful
      tool in epidemiological studies and gene mapping in microbes and mammalian cell,
      also motivated development of large-insert cloning system such as bacterial and
      yeast artifical chromosomes. In this method, close and similar species in terms
      of genetic patterns show alike profiles regarding DNA separation, and those ones
      which don't have similarity or are less similar, reveal different separation
      profiles. So this feature can be used to determine the common species as the
      prevalence agent of a disease. PFGE can be utilized for monitoring and evaluating
      different micro-organisms in clinical samples and existing ones in soil and
      water. This method can also be a reliable and standard method in vaccine
      preparation. In recent decades, PFGE is highly regarded as a powerful tool in
      control, prevention and monitoring diseases in different populations. 

PMID- 26894069
TI  - Volume Conductivity and Scatter Parameters as an Indicator of Acute Bacterial
      Infections by the Automated Haematology Analyser.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Complete blood picture is the first and foremost investigation
      ordered for evaluation of acute infectious processes which require early and
      prompt intervention. With the advent of automated Coulter ((r)) Haematology
      analysers, the Volume, Conductivity & Scatter parameters of the leucocytes could
      be analysed for the early detection of the infections. AIM: To evaluate the
      clinical usefulness of Volume, Conductivity & Scatter parameters of neutrophils &
      monocytes in predicting the onset of acute bacterial infections. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from 94 patients with infections (systemic
      infections n=36 & localised infections n=58) and 46 control subjects were studied
      using the Volume, Conductivity & Scatter parameters by the Coulter Haematology
      analyser. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in the mean channel of
      neutrophil volume & mean channel of monocyte volume from patients with infections
      (both systemic & localised) as compared with control subjects (Mean Neutrophil
      Volume: 158.3 +/- 13.7 vs 137.2 +/- 4.3; p<0.001) & (Mean Monocyte Volume:
      177.8+/- 16 vs 161.7 +/- 6.04; p <0.001). However, there was no significant
      difference in the Mean Neutrophil Volume of patients with systemic infection &
      localised infections (160.5+/-17.5 vs 156.8+/-10.5, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The
      Volume, Conductivity & Scatter parameters like Mean Neutrophil Volume & Mean
      Monocyte Volume are more sensitive parameters and could prove to be a quick
      diagnostic indicator of acute bacterial infections.

PMID- 26894070
TI  - Elevated Factor VIII Levels and Shortened APTT in Recurrent Abortions.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Thrombotic disorders have been found to be associated with
      recurrent abortions. Several risk factors have been identified. APTT reflects the
      common pathway and intrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade and hence is a good
      marker for thrombotic work. Elevated factor VIII: C has also been identified as
      risk factor for recurrent miscarriage. This study aims at identifying association
      of elevated factor VIII levels, shortened APTT and recurrent abortions in Indian
      population as little has been studied about this and the literature available is
      also based on studies done in European population. This study also aims to find
      whether shortened APTT can be an independent risk as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Women referred to the obstetrics department with a history of early recurrent
      early pregnancy loss (at least three pregnancy losses before 13 weeks of
      gestation) were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were elevated CRP
      levels, positive antiphospholipid antibodies, endocrine, immunological or
      anatomical cause of embryo demise. A total of 68 cases of recurrent abortion were
      included in this study, 68 normal pregnant females (<15 weeks of gestation) were
      also included as controls with no history of abortion. The age group of the cases
      as well as control was 20-45 years. Activated partial thromboplastin time and
      factor VIII assay (one stage APTT based) were done on the blood samples. RESULTS:
      Increased factor VIII levels were seen in 25 cases (36.4%); 19 cases showed
      shortened APTT (27.3%); 12 cases showed both increased factor VIII levels as well
      as shortened APTT (18%). All risk factors were negative in 36 cases (52.9%). None
      of the controls showed elevated factor VIII levels or shortened APTT. The mean
      APTT values of the control subjects was 31.01 and cases were 27.01 (p=0.001). The
      mean factor VIII levels of case were 152.85% and control 144.953% (p=0.012).
      CONCLUSION: There was significant association between recurrent abortions and
      elevated factor VIII :c levels and shortened APTT. Shortened APTT was also
      identified as an independent risk factor.

PMID- 26894071
TI  - Quality Measures in Pre-Analytical Phase of Tissue Processing: Understanding Its
      Value in Histopathology.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Quality monitoring in histopathology unit is categorized into three
      phases, pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical, to cover various steps in
      the entire test cycle. Review of literature on quality evaluation studies
      pertaining to histopathology revealed that earlier reports were mainly focused on
      analytical aspects with limited studies on assessment of pre-analytical phase.
      Pre-analytical phase encompasses several processing steps and handling of
      specimen/sample by multiple individuals, thus allowing enough scope for errors.
      Due to its critical nature and limited studies in the past to assess quality in
      pre-analytical phase, it deserves more attention. AIM: This study was undertaken
      to analyse and assess the quality parameters in pre-analytical phase in a
      histopathology laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study
      done on pre-analytical parameters in histopathology laboratory of a tertiary care
      centre on 18,626 tissue specimens received in 34 months. Registers and records
      were checked for efficiency and errors for pre-analytical quality variables:
      specimen identification, specimen in appropriate fixatives, lost specimens, daily
      internal quality control performance on staining, performance in inter-laboratory
      quality assessment program {External quality assurance program (EQAS)} and
      evaluation of internal non-conformities (NC) for other errors. RESULTS: The study
      revealed incorrect specimen labelling in 0.04%, 0.01% and 0.01% in 2007, 2008 and
      2009 respectively. About 0.04%, 0.07% and 0.18% specimens were not sent in
      fixatives in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. There was no incidence of specimen
      lost. A total of 113 non-conformities were identified out of which 92.9% belonged
      to the pre-analytical phase. The predominant NC (any deviation from normal
      standard which may generate an error and result in compromising with quality
      standards) identified was wrong labelling of slides. Performance in EQAS for pre
      analytical phase was satisfactory in 6 of 9 cycles. CONCLUSION: A low incidence
      of errors in pre-analytical phase implies that a satisfactory level of quality
      standards was being practiced with still scope for improvement.

PMID- 26894072
TI  - An Affordable, Indigenous Polarizer-Analyser System with Inbuilt Retardation
      Plate Function to Detect Birefringence using 3D Glasses: An Experience.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Polarizing microscope plays a vital role in few but unique
      situations. A pair of cross polarizers is used to confirm the presence of
      birefringent substances. Also, a red retardation plate is needed to evaluate the
      sign of birefringence. However, a polarizing microscope especially with
      retardation plate is very expensive. Thus, an affordable yet effective substitute
      using the 3D Polaroid glasses used for '3D movies' would enable widespread use of
      the polarizing system. AIM: To study the use of 3D polaroid glasses procured from
      cinema halls in detecting birefringence substances and to study the red
      retardation plate function in them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Passive 3D Polaroid
      glasses were procured from cinema halls. They were arranged in aspecific manner
      to obtain polarized light. Red retardation plate function can be obtained by
      changing the arrangement of the glasses. These glasses were used with various
      available models of different light microscope manufacturers. Various specimens
      observed included amyloid deposits, woven and lamellar bone, skeletal muscle
      striations, urate crystals, cholesterol crystals, suture material and glove
      powder. The comparison was based on subjective interpretation of intensity and
      quality of birefringence. Sign of birefringence was also determined whenever
      relevant. RESULTS: The birefringence observed by our system was comparable to the
      commercially available polarizing system with respect to intensity and quality.
      Also, there were no false positive /negative results when compared with the
      commercial Polarizing microscope. Moreover, the system had an inbuilt red
      retardation plate to determine sign of birefringence. CONCLUSION: The system is
      efficient, cheap, easily accessible, portable and compatible with all models of
      light microscopes.

PMID- 26894073
TI  - Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Meningiomas with
      Reference to Proliferative Markers p53 and Ki-67.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Meningiomas are slow growing primary central nervous system (CNS)
      tumours attached to the duramater, which arise from the meningothelial cells of
      the arachnoid. Grading of meningioma based on histological findings assisted with
      supplementary immunohistochemical studies, predicts the prognosis of meningioma
      with good precision. AIM: To evaluate proliferative markers and correlate with
      various histological subtypes and grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 224
      meningiomas, diagnosed between January1995 and October 2011were graded according
      to WHO 2007 criteria. Immunostaining for p53 and Ki-67 markers were performed on
      100 cases. RESULTS: There was female predominance. There were 194 Grade I, 24
      Grade II and 6 Grade III meningiomas. Brain invasion noted in 18(8%) meningiomas
      predominantly in grade III followed by grade II. Recurrence was seen in 7 (3.1%)
      cases, most common in psammomatous followed by angiomatous meningioma.
      Immunostaining showed p53 positivity in 72.5% of grade I, 83.3% of grade II and
      all the cases of grade III tumours. Ki-67 Labelling Index (LI) consistently
      increased from grade I to grade III tumours. CONCLUSION: p53 and Ki-67 LI
      correlated well with increasing histological grade and biological behaviour of
      meningioma.

PMID- 26894074
TI  - Crescentic Glomerulonephritis Associated with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
AB  - Tuberculosis of kidney and urinary tract is caused by members of the
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Kidney is usually infected by haematogenous
      spread of bacilli from focus of infection in the lungs. Glomerular involvement in
      tuberculosis presenting as a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is a rare
      entity. We report a rare case of crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with
      pulmonary tuberculosis in a 26-year-old man. Patient was treated with
      corticosteroids, haemodialysis, intravenous immunoglobulin and four cycles of
      plasmapheresis. He did not respond to 4-drug anti-tuberculosis treatment for
      renal pathology and was switched over to maintenance haemodialysis. However, he
      responded to pulmonary TB. 

PMID- 26894075
TI  - Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma- A Case Report.
AB  - Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour with a bimodal
      peak. But its extraskeletal variant is very rare. It arises exclusively in soft
      tissue without at any skeletal attachment. It accounts for 2% of all soft tissue
      sarcomas. It is usually diagnosed as an incidental finding during imaging. Here,
      we are presenting a case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma diagnosed incidentally
      during imaging in a 30 years old male for its rarity. 

PMID- 26894076
TI  - Primary Epithelioid Angiosarcoma of Spleen: A Case Report and Review of
      Literature.
AB  - Splenic angiosarcomas are usually secondary tumours, and only few primary cases
      have been encountered. We report a unique primary case of epithelioid
      angiosarcoma arising in the spleen in a male patient 55-year-old and presented to
      our hospital as a medical emergency with acute abdomen and haemorrhagic ascitis.
      CT revealed splenic focal lesion and suggested that this abdominal haemorrhage
      was due to ruptured splenic haemangioma, thus abdominal exploration and
      splenectomy were done. The histopathological examination showed an infiltrating
      ill-defined growth formed of high grade epithelioid cells arranged in sheet-like
      growth pattern, with occasional papillary appearance. The presence of rudimentary
      vascular channels lined by epithelioid endothelial cells with occasional
      intraluminal erythrocytes suggested vascular tumour origin. The neoplastic cells
      showed diffuse expression of CD31 together with focal expression of cytokeratin
      (CK) and CD34. Because of its epithelioid morphology and unmistakable positivity
      for CK, this case may be easily misdiagnosed as a metastatic carcinoma, which is
      not uncommon finding in the spleen. Epithelioid angiosarcoma is a rare type of
      vascular tumour in the spleen, which co-expresses vascular and epithelial markers
      making its distinction from metastatic carcinoma is sometimes difficult. 

PMID- 26894077
TI  - Giant left Atrial Myxoma Induces Mitral Valve Obstruction and Pulmonary
      Hypertension.
AB  - Atrial myxomas are the commonest benign primary tumours of the heart. They are
      generally 2 to 6 cm in size. Depending on their size and site may result in
      mitral valve obstruction which may lead to pulmonary hypertension. Clinical
      symptoms may suggest the presence of a myxoma but echocardiography is the
      mainstay of diagnosis and confirmation is by histopathology. A well-formed,
      organized thrombus is a common differential. The report of an unusually large
      left atrial myxoma that occurred in a 54-year-old male causing mitral valve
      obstruction and pulmonary hypertension is presented here. 

PMID- 26894078
TI  - Molar Pregnancy Presents as Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy: A Rare Case Report.
AB  - The incidence of hydatidiform mole is 1 per 1000 pregnancies. The occurrence of
      hydatidiform mole in ruptured tubal pregnancy is very rare. We report an unusual
      case of molar pregnancy in the right fallopian tube which presented as an
      adherent adnexal mass. The present case conveys the importance of histological
      examination of products of conception which helps the pathologist to provide an
      appropriate diagnosis, thereby the clinician can offer appropriate counseling and
      follow up to the patient. 

PMID- 26894079
TI  - Cytodiagnosis of a Cutaneous Clear Cell Malignancy: Metastatic Renal Cell
      Carcinoma on Chin.
AB  - Clear cell type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is most common urological
      malignancy. Several diagnostic challenges arise when it presents as a cutaneous
      nodule, being an uncommon presentation. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of
      a cutaneous nodule is crucial for distinguishing primary tumours from metastatic
      tumours because cutaneous metastases represent a terminal stage of illness. Due
      to considerable overlap of cytomorphological features determination of primary
      warrants need of detailed clinical history and close inspection of every
      cytological detail. We report here a case of cutaneous metastasis of RCC on chin
      in a patient 11 years after nephrectomy. Though there are reports of RCC
      metastases diagnosed on histology, there are fewer cytology case reports.
      Cytological differential diagnosis has been discussed for arriving at the final
      diagnosis in case of clear cell tumours. Early and accurate diagnosis is
      mandatory for optimal treatment. Cytodiagnosis of cutaneous metastasis of RCC is
      uncommon due to its low suspicion index in cutaneous nodules. More so, it
      presents late and an unusual sites due to its resemblance to common
      dermatological diseases. 

PMID- 26894080
TI  - Eccrine Porocarcinoma of the Scalp: A Rare Case Report with Review of Literature.
AB  - Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a potentially lethal neoplasm of the skin that
      arises from the intraepidermal portion of the eccrine sweat glands. It was
      previously known as eccrine adenocarcinoma or malignant eccrine poroma. It
      commonly occurs between 60 to 80 years of age, usually arising from hands and
      feet. However, few case reports on involvement of rare sites such as scalp, face
      and eyelids are present in literature. We herein report an unusual case of
      porocarcinoma arising on the right parieto occipital region of scalp in a 29-year
      old young female patient. To the best of our knowledge, there have been fewer
      than 20 cases of porocarcinoma arising on scalp with fewer than 10 cases seen in
      younger age group reported previously in the literature. 

PMID- 26894081
TI  - Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp of the Ileum Presenting with Acute Intestinal
      Obstruction In An Adult Patient: A Case Report.

PMID- 26894082
TI  - Antecedent Drug Exposure Aetiology and Management Protocols in Steven-Johnson
      Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, A Hospital Based Prospective Study.
AB  - AIM: The study sought to identify the magnitude and characteristic of severe
      cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR's) like Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic
      Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was
      conducted by the Department of Pharmacology in association with Department of
      Dermatology in SMHS hospital. The study was carried out from June 2013-June 2015
      on hospitalized cases of cutaneous adverse drug reaction reporting in hospital.
      The SCAR's were reported in a structured questionnaire based on adverse drug
      reaction (ADR) reporting form provided by the Central Drug Standard Control
      Organization (CDSCO) Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India.
      The SCAR's were analysed for their characteristics, causality, severity and
      prognosis. Causality assessment was done by using a validated ADR probability
      scale of Naranjo as well as WHO Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UMC) system for
      standardized case causality assessment. The management protocol were analysed for
      their clinical outcome through a proper follow up period. RESULTS: A total of 52
      hospitalized cases of cutaneous adverse drug reactions were reported during the
      study period. We identified a total of 15 cases (28%) of SCAR's involving 9(17%)
      of SJS and 6 (12%) of TEN. SJS was seen in 2(22%) males and 7(78%) females. TEN
      was seen in all females (100%) and in no male. Drugs implicated in causing these
      life threatening reactions were identified as anticonvulsant agents like
      carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT) and Lamotrigine (LTG), oxicam NSAID,
      Sulfasalazine and levofloxacin. Despite higher reported mortality rates in SJS
      and TEN all patients survived with 2 patients surviving TEN suffered from long
      term opthalmological sequelae of the disease. CONCLUSION: Present study suggest
      that drug induced cutaneous eruptions are common ranging from common nuisance
      rashes to rare life threatening diseases like SJS and TEN, SJS/TEN typically
      occur 1-3 weeks after initiation of therapy. Aromatic AED's, LTG, oxicam NSAID's,
      sulfasalazine and levofloxacin have a tremendous potential to trigger SCARS's. To
      ensure safe use of pharmaceutical agents and better treatment outcomes post
      marketing voluntary reporting of severe rare and unusual reactions remains
      inevitable.

PMID- 26894084
TI  - Risk of Acute Kidney Injury with Amikacin versus Gentamycin both in Combination
      with Metronidazole for Surgical Prophylaxis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infection is one of the most important complication
      of surgery. It increases the mortality and morbidity. In order to decrease the
      incidence of surgical site infections perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis has
      been recommended in certain types of clean and clean contaminated surgeries.
      Aminoglycosides are indicated as surgical prophylaxis for prevention of surgical
      site infection in patients with B-lactam allergy. AIM: The present study was
      carried out to study and compare the renal safety profile of single high dose
      gentamycin and amikacin as surgical prophylactic antibiotic. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: Prospective and randomized study was carried out on 100 patients for
      over one year period in a tertiary care teaching hospital of western Uttar
      Pradesh, India. Patients in amikacin group received amikacin 15 mg/kg +
      metronidazole 500 mg intravenously single dose and those in the gentamycin group
      had gentamycin 5 mg/kg + metronidazole 500 mg intravenously single dose, one hour
      prior to incision. RESULT: A total of 16% patients of amikacin group and 24%
      patients of gentamycin group developed acute kidney injury within one week of
      drug administration. The rise in serum creatinine was temporary as all patients
      had normal serum creatinine level at one month follow up. CONCLUSION:
      Aminoglycoside intravenous single high dose is not safe as surgical prophylaxis.

PMID- 26894083
TI  - Effectiveness of Revised Pharmacology Record Books as a Teaching-Learning Method
      for Second Year Medical Students.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The goal of teaching medical undergraduates Pharmacology is to form
      a sound foundation of therapeutics. The pharmacology record books are maintained
      as a part of the curriculum. The purpose of this study was to obtain feedback of
      the medical students about the new record adopted in the institution after major
      revision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a questionnaire based study done in a
      Government Medical College of Kerala in February 2013. The data was analysed
      using SPSS. The feedback on clinical pharmacology exercises was given positive
      and negative scores. RESULTS: Majority (64.5%) opined that the content in
      pharmacology record was good. A total of 78.1% completed the record during
      discussions in practical classes. Majority wrote the records for understanding
      pharmacology. For 79.8% General Pharmacology exercises were most relevant, 33.8%
      considered Clinical Pharmacology exercises to be the most thought provoking. Drug
      use in special groups received the maximum positive score. CONCLUSION: The new
      improved pharmacology record is an effective teaching-learning method. Inclusion
      of more clinically oriented exercises has increased the interest of the students
      in the subject.

PMID- 26894085
TI  - A Randomised Open Label Comparative Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Latanoprost
      and Timolol in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Timolol, a beta blocker, is the most commonly prescribed first line
      therapy in the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma. Latanoprost, a
      prostaglandin analogue, is a novel drug in glaucoma therapy. Its efficacy has to
      be proved for it to be included under the first line therapy in the treatment of
      primary open angle glaucoma. AIM: To compare the efficacy of Latanoprost with
      that of Timolol in the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: In this study the enrolled patients were randomly divided into two
      groups by block randomization. The sample size was determined to be 60 in each
      group. One group received 0.005% of Latanoprost once daily in the evening and the
      other group 0.5% of Timolol twice daily. The efficacy was measured in terms of
      intraocular pressure at scheduled follow up visits. RESULTS: At the start of the
      study, intraocular pressures of both groups were comparable. At the end point,
      reduction of intraocular pressure among Latanoprost group was significantly
      greater than that of Timolol group (9.72 vs 7.27, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION:
      Latanoprost was found to be superior to Timolol in reducing the intraocular
      pressure in treatment of patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

PMID- 26894086
TI  - Various Possible Toxicants Involved in Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review.
AB  - About 300 million people across the world suffer from thyroid gland dysfunction.
      Environmental factors play an important role in causation of autoimmune thyroid
      diseases in susceptible individuals. Genetics contributes to 70% of the risk. In
      order to reduce the risk, we need to understand the association of environmental
      agents with thyroid dysfunction. These factors are especially relevant for those
      at increased risk due to positive family history. The ideal study to see the
      impact of a thyroid toxicant consists of directly measuring the degree of
      exposure to toxicant in an individual with his thyroid status. Knowledge of
      various factors influencing thyroid dysfunction can help in interpreting the
      results of such studies in a better way. This article is an attempt to highlight
      the various possible toxicants affecting thyroid function so that adequate
      measures can be undertaken to control excessive exposure in future to reduce the
      prevalence of thyroid disorders. 

PMID- 26894087
TI  - A Comparison Between Phorbol 12 Myristate 13 Acetate and Phorbol 12, 13
      Dibutyrate in Human Melanocyte Culture.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Melanocyte culture is an integral part of the studies of skin
      biology and cosmetic applications. After the introduction of selective medium for
      the culture of human melanocyte using Phorbol 12-myristate13-acetate (PMA) in
      1982, a lot of methods of culturing were tried but till date PMA is a preferred
      mitogen because of its cost effectiveness compared to growth factors. We have
      tried to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of another phorbol ester, Phorbol
      12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) in melanocyte culture because of its less hydrophobic
      nature compared to PMA. This property minimizes the trace amount of mitogen in
      cell culture after washing off and hence does not interfere in other biological
      assays. AIM: To evaluate the differences in the melanocyte survival rate,
      morphology and mitotic index when grown in media supplemented with PMA and PDBu.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Foreskins were collected from children undergoing
      circumcision. Epidermal cells were isolated from foreskin and cultured using PMA
      and PDBu. Melanocytes in culture were monitored for the better establishment and
      documented. In proliferative assay, melanocytes were treated with PMA and PDBu
      for 24, 48 and 72 hours and proliferation was measured using 3-(4,5
      Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay method.
      RESULTS: When cultured, melanocytes acquired proliferative status and bipolar
      morphology quicker in PDBu medium than in PMA medium. Keratinocytes survived as
      contamination in PMA medium whereas PDBu medium had minimal keratinocytes. MTT
      assay showed that PDBu has higher proliferative induction capacity than PMA. In
      even lower concentration of PDBu in medium, melanocytes survived till 72 hours
      without significant cell loss in compared to PMA medium. CONCLUSION: PDBu can be
      a valuable replacement for PMA in human melanocyte culture. Higher proliferation
      induction, unfavourable to keratinocyte survival and less hydrophobicity make
      PDBu a promising alternative for quicker establishment of pure human melanocyte
      cultures especially in cosmetic in vitro experimental dermatology.

PMID- 26894088
TI  - Skill Learning Through Early Clinical Exposure: An Experience of Indian Medical
      School.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Indian Medical curriculum being discipline based, there is a line
      of demarcation between preclinical and clinical subjects. The challenges in
      medical education include the methods that would enhance the clinical education
      quality; one such method been Early Clinical Exposure (ECE). ECE can help to
      instill the skill component of medical education in the first year students
      helping to minimize the line of demarcation. Hence this study was undertaken to
      assess the skill learning of students through early clinical exposure and to
      collate the perception of them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study,
      students of 1(st) MBBS were exposed to ECE as an adjunct teaching method with
      preset modules. They were evaluated by Objectively Structured Clinical
      Examination (OSCE). Feedback was obtained from 1(st) MBBS and also from the same
      students after passing the 1(st) MBBS in 4(th) semester. RESULTS: Significant
      differences in pre and post OSCE scores were noted (p<0.0001). Seventy six
      percent students rated ECE as an excellent tool. Second year students also
      perceived ECE held in 1(st) year was helpful to correlate topics and increasing
      confidence. CONCLUSION: ECE had an effective influence on learning as manifested
      in skills gained by the students and their perceptions of ECE being helpful
      prospectively in their routine clinical posting.

PMID- 26894089
TI  - Using Movies to Strengthen Learning of the Humanistic Aspects of Medicine.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Movie screening and activities have been used during the last two
      semesters (spring and summer 2015) to strengthen the learning of communication
      skills, empathy, professionalism, and greater understanding of the process and
      death and dying at the Xavier University School of Medicine. AIM: The present
      manuscript describes the movie screening and activities. Student feedback
      regarding the sessions is also mentioned. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The activity was
      conducted among basic science undergraduate medical students and student feedback
      was obtained. A cross-sectional study design was used. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Feedback was obtained towards the end of June 2015 using a questionnaire designed
      by the authors. Participants were asked to rate their degree of agreement with
      the set of statements and provide an overall rating for the sessions. No
      demographic information was collected. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Cronbach's alpha was
      calculated as a measure of internal consistency. The normality of distribution of
      the scores of individual statements and of the overall rating was determined
      using one sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The average scores were calculated.
      Free text comments were tabulated. RESULTS: Forty-nine of the 63 students (77.8%)
      participated in the study. Cronbach's alpha was 0.868 indicating a high level of
      internal consistency. The median scores indicating the degree of agreement with
      most statements ranged from 3 to 5. The mean participant rating of the sessions
      was 7.10 (maximum possible score 10). A few participants provided free text
      comments regarding the sessions. CONCLUSION: Student feedback about the session
      was positive. Impact of the session on humanistic issues, professionalism and
      death and dying should be studied in future.

PMID- 26894090
TI  - Comparison of Flow and Volume Incentive Spirometry on Pulmonary Function and
      Exercise Tolerance in Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Surgical procedures in abdominal area lead to changes in pulmonary
      function, respiratory mechanics and impaired physical capacity leading to
      postoperative pulmonary complications, which can affect up to 80% of upper
      abdominal surgery. AIM: To evaluate the effects of flow and volume incentive
      spirometry on pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in patients undergoing
      open abdominal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was
      conducted in a hospital of Mangalore city in Southern India. Thirty-seven males
      and thirteen females who were undergoing abdominal surgeries were included and
      allocated into flow and volume incentive spirometry groups by block
      randomization. All subjects underwent evaluations of pulmonary function with
      measurement of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first
      second (FEV1), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). Preoperative and postoperative
      measurements were taken up to day 5 for both groups. Exercise tolerance measured
      by Six- Minute Walk Test during preoperative period and measured again at the
      time of discharge for both groups. Pulmonary function was analysed by post-hoc
      analysis and carried out using Bonferroni's 't'-test. Exercise tolerance was
      analysed by Paired 'T'-test. RESULTS: Pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and PEFR)
      was found to be significantly decreased in 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) postoperative
      day when compared with preoperative day. On 4(th) and 5(th) postoperative day the
      pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and PEFR) was found to be better preserved in both
      flow and volume incentive spirometry groups. The Six-Minute Walk Test showed a
      statistically significant improvement in pulmonary function on the day of
      discharge than in the preoperative period. In terms of distance covered, the
      volume- incentive spirometry group showed a greater statistically significant
      improvement from the preoperative period to the time of discharge than was
      exhibited by the flow incentive spirometry group. CONCLUSION: Flow and volume
      incentive spirometry can be safely recommended to patients undergoing open
      abdominal surgery as there have been no adverse events recorded. Also, these led
      to a demonstrable improvement in pulmonary function and exercise tolerance.

PMID- 26894092
TI  - A Cross Sectional Study on Acceptability and Safety of IUCD among Postpartum
      Mothers at Tertiary Care Hospital, Telangana.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: India is world's 2(nd) largest populated country. It is first to
      introduce family planning services. IUCD is most effective, safe, long acting and
      do not interfere with coitus. Immediately or within 72 hours after delivery of
      placenta in a health care facility is convenient for those who are in outreach
      area, where family planning facilities are less available. OBJECTIVES: To study
      the socio demographic profile of parturients attended to obstetric ward for
      delivery. To assess the acceptability and safety of IUCD among study population.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among eligible
      postpartum women at Gandhi hospital secunderabad. Counseling was given about
      IUCD. After obtaining consent, Cu-T 380 was inserted in a 250 women, followed up
      to 6 weeks. The reasons for both acceptance and decline were recorded. RESULTS:
      Mean age of acceptance was 23.70+/-2.95 years. Majority were from urban area
      (79.75%). Acceptance was more in those who completed their secondary school level
      education (23.3%). Women undergoing caesarean section were accepting PPIUCD, more
      frequently than those who underwent normal vaginal delivery. Majority (67.12%)
      accepters told that they accepted IUCD because it is a reversible method. Main
      reported complications were pain abdomen (17.14%), bleeding (14.28%). Expulsion
      rate was 6.8%. Most common reason (40%) for removal of IUCD was inclination to
      other methods. CONCLUSION: Even though expulsion rate high with, acceptance was
      high IUCD when it is inserted in postpartum period.

PMID- 26894091
TI  - Reliability and Validity of Standing Back Extension Test for Detecting Motor
      Control Impairment in Subjects with Low Back Pain.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is a chronic health problem with high socioeconomic
      impact. Specific diagnosis or treatment approach has not yet effectively
      established to treat chronic low back pain. Standing Back Extension Test is one
      of the clinical measures to detect the passive extension subgroup of Motor
      Control Impairment (MCI); which could have an impact on spinal stability leading
      to recurrent chronic low back pain. Reliability and validity of this test is not
      fully established. AIM: To determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability
      and concurrent validity of the Standing Back Extension Test for detecting MCI of
      the lumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 subjects were included in
      the study, 25 patients with Non Specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) (12 men, 13 women)
      and 25 healthy controls (12 men, 13 women) were recruited into the study. All
      subjects performed the test movement. Two raters blinded to the subjects rated
      the test performance as either 'Positive' or 'Negative' based on the
      predetermined rating protocol. The thickness of Transverse Abdominis (TrA) muscle
      was assessed using Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI). STATISTICAL TEST
      USED: For reliability, the kappa coefficient with percent agreement was
      calculated and for assessing the validity Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC)
      curves and Area under the Curve (AUC) were constructed. RESULTS: The standing
      back extension test showed very good intra-rater (k=0.87 with an agreement of
      96%) and good inter-rater (k=0.78 with an agreement of 94%) reliability and high
      AUC for TrA muscle. CONCLUSION: The standing back extension test was found to be
      a reliable and a valid measure to detect passive extension subgroup for MCI in
      subjects with low back pain.

PMID- 26894093
TI  - Determination of Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Screening Tests using
      a Mathematical Formula in Place of Invasive Blood Tests.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: True prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus in a population can be
      obtained by using invasive tests but it is practically difficult on large scale.
      AIM: To find out the feasibility of mass non-invasive screening test to detect
      the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in rural population of India with the help of
      a mathematical formula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From population of 18800 residing
      in two adjacent rural areas of Delhi, a systematic random sample of 1005 adult
      subjects was screened for diabetes by using urine benedicts test, Canrisk
      questionnaire, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation-Indian Diabetic Risk Score
      (MDRF-IDRS) and determined prevalence of diabetes (pA) gauzed by each of these
      screening tests. Simultaneously, each subject's glycaemic status was confirmed by
      standard fasting Plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG)
      levels. The blood test was also used to determine true prevalence which was cross
      checked with the prevalence estimated (Pe) by the above stated screening tests
      using a mathematical formula. RESULTS: The true prevalence of T2DM in more than
      18 years of population by Fasting Plasma Sugar (FPS) was 4.5% while that by using
      mathematical formulae that estimated by urine test, Canrisk test and MDRF-IDRS
      was 4.4%, 4.4 and 4.3% respectively. When more than 35 years age-group was
      selected, true prevalence was 7.4% and estimated prevalence by Canrisk test was
      7.1% (as against gold standard of Fasting) and 6.9% (as against PP). By fasting
      urine test it came out to be 7.2% and by PP urine test it was 7.4%. In population
      l8-35 years, the prevalence of diabetes was 1.1% by plasma glucose test. By using
      Canrisk, it came out to be 1.04%. CONCLUSION: Individual screening tests such as
      urine, Canrisk and MDRF-IDRS can be used to estimate prevalence rates of diabetes
      in rural areas by means of mathematical formula which would be close to true
      estimates.

PMID- 26894094
TI  - Application of WHO 'Near-Miss' Tool Indicates Good Quality of Maternal Care in
      Rural Healthcare Setting in Uttarakhand, Northern India.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Women who experienced and survived a severe health condition during
      pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum are considered as 'near-miss' or severe acute
      maternal morbidity (SAMM) cases. Women who survive life-threatening conditions
      arising from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth have many common
      aspects with those who die of such complications. AIM: To evaluate health-care
      facility preparedness and perfor-mance in reducing severe maternal out comes at
      all levels of health care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried
      out over a period of 12 months under the Department of Community Medicine. The
      cross-sectional study included all the women (937) attending health-care
      facilities, at all levels of health care i.e. Primary, Secondary & Tertiary level
      in Doiwala block of Dehradun district. This study was conducted as per the WHO
      criteria for 'near-miss' by using probability sampling for random selection of
      health facilities. All eligible study subjects visiting health-care facilities
      during the study period were included, i.e. who were pregnant, in labour, or who
      had delivered or aborted up to 42 days ago. RESULTS: It was found that all women
      delivering at the THC received oxytocin to prevent postpartum haemorrhage.
      Treatment of severe post-partum haemorrhage by removal of retained products was
      significantly associated with levels of health care. Majority (94.73%) women who
      had eclampsia received magnesium sulfate as primary treatment. CONCLUSION:
      Application of WHO 'near-miss' tool indicates good quality of maternal care in
      rural healthcare setting in Uttarakhand, North India. The women would have
      otherwise died due to obstetrics complications, had proper care not been provided
      to them in time.

PMID- 26894095
TI  - Mobile Phone Usage and its Health Effects Among Adults in a Semi-Urban Area of
      Southern India.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, mobile phone usage has been increased dramatically which
      could affect the health of the people. India has the second largest number of
      mobile phone users. However there are only few studies conducted in India to
      assess its effects on health. AIM: To determine the prevalence and pattern of
      mobile phone usage and to assess the relationship between certain selected health
      problems and mobile phone usage among adults. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community
      based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kottakuppam, a town panchayat in
      Villupuram district of Coastal Tamil Nadu, Southern India. It is a semi-urban
      area with a population of about 16,000. Majority of the residents are Muslim by
      religion and belong to different socio economic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. A total of 2121
      study participants were interviewed by the pre-final medical students through
      house-to-house survey using a pretested structured questionnaire. The
      questionnaire included the variables such as socio demographic profile, mobile
      phone usage and pattern, selected health problems, perceived benefits and threats
      and blood pressure. Selected health problems included headache, earache, neck
      pain, tinnitus, painful fingers, restlessness, morning tiredness, tingling
      fingers, fatigue, eye symptoms, sleep disturbance and hypertension. STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS USED: Only 2054 were included for data analysis using SPSS 17 version.
      Proportions were calculated. Chi-square test was used to measure the p-value. The
      p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The
      prevalence of mobile phone usage was 70%. Calling facility (94.2%) was used more
      than the SMS (67.6%). Health problems like headache, earache, tinnitus, painful
      fingers and restlessness etc., were found to be positively associated with mobile
      phone usage. There was negative association between hypertension and mobile phone
      usage. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mobile phone usage was high. There was
      significant association between selected health problems and mobile phone usage.
      In future, higher studies are required to confirm our findings.

PMID- 26894096
TI  - Prevalence of Anaemia among Postnatal Mothers in Coastal Karnataka.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Postpartum is the most neglected period in reproductive cycle of
      woman. Prevalence of anaemia in developing countries ranges from 50-95%. AIM: To
      estimate the prevalence of anaemia among postnatal mothers. SETTING AND DESIGN: A
      community based cross-sectional study among recently delivered mothers residing
      in field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical
      College, Manipal, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included 401
      respondents who were selected using stratified random sampling with proportionate
      allocation from all rural health centres. Data was collected by personal
      interviews followed by haemoglobin estimation by indirect cyanomethaemoglobin
      method. RESULTS: The prevalence of postnatal anaemia was 26.5% (Anaemia =
      Hb<12gm/dl). There were no cases of severe anaemia. Postnatal anaemia was
      predominantly seen in mothers of age < 20 years and half of the mothers with
      inter-pregnancy intervals less than two years were found to be anaemic.
      Illiteracy was identified as a significant variable (OR=11.23, 95% CI = 1.90
      65.08) for postpartum anaemia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anaemia was
      significantly lower in the present study; however sustained efforts have to be
      made to further lower the prevalence of postnatal anaemia in order to promote the
      health and well-being of women.

PMID- 26894097
TI  - Safe Injection Practices in Primary Health Care Settings of Naxalbari Block,
      Darjeeling District, West Bengal.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Unsafe injection can transmit many diseases to patients, injection
      providers and healthy people of community. AIM: To find out critical steps
      whether executed according to recommended best practice methods, availability of
      equipments in health facilities for safe injection practices and some important
      steps of waste disposal methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This facility-based cross
      sectional observational study was conducted among 30 Auxiliary nurse midwives
      (ANM) & 27 nursing staffs (NS) to assess certain aspects of their practice while
      administrating injection and disposal of the disposables. Health facilities were
      also observed to asses necessary equipments of safe injection and waste disposal
      methods. RESULTS: Among the health workers 93.3% ANM and 100% NS took sterile
      syringe from sterile unopened packet, all of the study subjects washed hand
      before giving injection, 13.3% of ANMs and 8% of NS are fully vaccinated against
      Hep B, 53.3% of ANM and all NS are practices non recapping. Only 13.33% sub
      centres along with PHC & BPHC had at least one puncture resistant leak proof
      container, 86.7% sub centres, PHC are free from loose needles. Transport for off
      side treatment is the method of waste disposal in case of 73.3% cases sub
      centres, PHC & BPHC. CONCLUSION: There is need to educate, train and motivate
      service providers in proper methods of giving injection along with improve the
      adequacy of supply of required equipments.

PMID- 26894098
TI  - Spectral Analysis of Hypernasality in Cleft Palate Children: A Pre-Post Surgery
      Comparison.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Change in resonance is the most commonly experienced speech
      problems in children diagnosed with cleft lip and palate. The degree of nasality
      during normal speech production is maintained by the changes in velopharyngeal
      port. These variations in speech signal are reported to be successfully captured
      using acoustical tools like spectral analysis. AIM: The present study
      investigated to note voice low tone to high tone ratio (VLHR) values for
      phonation samples of individuals with cleft palate before and after surgery.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty children with congenital cleft of palate within 8
      to 15 years of age participated in the study. Three trials of sustained vowels
      (/a/,/i/ and /u/) were recorded at their comfortable pitch and loudness level in
      a noise free room using a hand held dynamic microphone. Praat software that
      utilized Hillenbrand algorithm was used to extract the VLHR values for samples
      recorded before and after recovery from the surgery. RESULTS: Statistical
      analysis revealed significant decrease in VLHR values after surgery in comparison
      to before the surgery. Analysis of Variance revealed statistical significant
      difference at 95% confidence level. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that VLHR
      parameter could be used as an index to measure nasality and can be included in
      the routine tool assessment protocol.

PMID- 26894099
TI  - Head and Neck Tuberculosis: Scenario in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North Eastern
      India.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis has affected mankind since time immemorial and with
      emergence of AIDS both extrapulmonary and pulmonary tuberculosis presents
      increased morbidity and mortality along with an increased financial burden upon
      the developing nations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a hospital based
      observational study of one year duration carried out in the Department of ENT in
      a tertiary care hospital of North Eastern India. RESULTS: Total of 63 cases were
      detected. Females comprised 60.3% of the study population as against 39.7% males.
      Most commonly affected age group were of 15 to 24 years age (57.1%). Cervical
      tubercular lymphadenitis was the most common lesion 90.5% (57 cases) followed by
      laryngeal tuberculosis 7.9% (5 cases) and tubercular otitis media with
      mastoiditis 1.6% (1 case). Level II lymph node was mostly affected either single
      or in groups (75.4%) followed by level III node (57.9%). Successful outcome of
      the treatment with Category I regimen was achieved in 96.8% of the cases.
      CONCLUSION: Head and neck tuberculosis is not an uncommon disease and though
      cervical lymphadenitis is the most common presentation, isolated involvement of
      the larynx, ear and other subsites are not an entirely unknown entity. The
      clinical presentation of tuberculosis of the head and neck region can be varied
      and often misleading. It is therefore important for the clinician to be aware of
      the condition and consider it in their differential diagnosis.

PMID- 26894100
TI  - A Hospital Based Study Regarding Awareness of Association Between Glycosylated
      Haemoglobin and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Individuals.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common microvascular
      complications seen in diabetic patients after a long term of uncontrolled
      glycaemic status as assessed by glycosylated Haemoglobin A (HbA1c). Hence
      awareness of glycaemic control is necessary to prevent vision threatening
      complications. AIM: To assess the awareness regarding association between
      glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients
      and to assess the impact of lack of this knowledge on the severity of diabetic
      retinopathy (DR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital based cross-sectional
      study was conducted in the ophthalmology OPD on 200 adult diabetic patients,
      between November 2012 and January 2013, who were assessed for their knowledge
      regarding association between HbA1c and its impact on the progress of DR. The
      study was done with the help of a semi structured questionnaire which included
      demographic details, literacy levels, diabetic status and awareness of HbA1c.
      STATISTICS USED: Cochran Armitage test for trend, Fisher Exact test, chi-square
      for trend and Student's t test. RESULTS: Among the 200 diabetic individuals
      attending our OPD, 180 (90%) were aware of the importance of blood sugar levels
      and its fluctuation in type 2 diabetes. Only 23 (11.5%) were aware of HbA1c
      whereas 10 (5%) misinterpreted it as levels of haemoglobin, 3 (1.5%) did not
      completely comprehend. About 164 (82%) patients were not aware of the
      significance or the terminology of HbA1c. Out of the 200 patients, 58 patients
      showed presence of some grade of DR. Amongst these 58 patients, 7(12.1%) were
      aware of HbA1c and all the11 patients with clinically significant macular oedema
      (CSME) were aware of the risk factors of elevated blood sugar levels but ignorant
      of HbA1c. Among the remaining 142 individuals who showed no signs of DR, 16
      (27.5%) were aware of and comprehended the role of HbA1c. CONCLUSION: Our study
      highlights the gross ignorance of role of HbA1c in the progress of DR among
      diabetic individuals. It is a known fact that the risk of DR reduces by 35% for
      every 1% reduction in HbA1c. Hence a strict control of blood sugar level with
      regular monitoring of HbA1c can help diabetic individuals in prevention of
      progress of DR, thus preventing severe vision loss.

PMID- 26894102
TI  - Orbital Metastasis of Cervical Carcinoma - Case Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - The orbit is a frequent site of metastasis, particularly from the breast,
      prostate gland and the lung. Carcinoma of the cervix metastasizing to the orbit
      is rare. We report a 27-year-old woman with Stage II B cervical cancer who
      presented with progressive painless protrusion of the left eye of one month
      duration associated with diplopia. Histology of the orbital mass was similar to
      that of the cervical cancer and reported as squamous cell carcinoma. She received
      palliative radiation to the left orbit 30 Gy in 10 fractions along with
      chemotherapy (Paclitaxel and Carboplatin). This resulted in regression of the
      proptosis. We review published literature of cases of carcinoma of the uterine
      cervix with metastasis to the orbit. 

PMID- 26894101
TI  - Visual Outcome of Traumatic Cataract at a Tertiary Eye Care Centre in North
      India: A Prospective Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: One of the most common presentations of blunt and penetrating
      ocular trauma is traumatic cataract. It remains a significant cause of visual
      impairment and physical disability among adults and children. It is associated
      with various ocular injuries. AIM: To evaluate the associated ocular injuries and
      final outcome of patients with traumatic cataract along with their demographic
      features and modes of trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study done in
      Department of Ophthalmology in M.L.B. Medical college, Jhansi from February 2010
      to July 2011. A total of 48 patients diagnosed as a case of traumatic cataract
      were subjected to a detailed history, systemic and local examination with
      relevant investigations. Medical or surgical managements were done accordingly.
      Patients were subsequently followed-up and visual acuity was recorded.
      Appropriate statistical tests were applied. RESULTS: A 54.2% patients sustained
      penetrating trauma while 45.8% got blunt injury. Out of total, 79% patients were
      males while 50% were less than 15 years of age. Causative agents were stone, wood
      items, stick, metal objects etc. Among blunt trauma cases, 64% of the patients
      had visual acuity <6/60 while among penetrating trauma cases nobody had acuity
      >6/18. Anterior segment was more involved as compared to posterior segment. A
      38.5% patients had corneal opacity among penetrating injury patients. The
      interval between trauma and surgery was less than one month among 75% of
      patients. After three months of surgery, 43.7% patients had visual acuity of
      >6/18. CONCLUSION: This study provides recent data of patients hospitalized after
      ocular trauma and diagnosed as a case of traumatic cataract. Traumatic cataract
      occurs mostly in younger males. Surgical intervention is necessary to improve
      visual outcome. Good visual outcome was obtained in nearly half of the patients.
      Traumatic cataract patients can have good visual outcome depending upon proper
      management.

PMID- 26894103
TI  - Granulocytic Sarcoma in an Adult with Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
AB  - Granulocytic sarcoma is an extramedullary tumour consisting of malignant
      granulocytic precursor cells that is common among children with acute myeloid
      leukaemia (AML). We report a case of orbital granulocytic sarcoma in an adult
      with relapsed undifferentiated AML-M0. It presented as bilateral medial canthal
      swellings. An incisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma.
      The swelling resolved with re-induction chemotherapy. 

PMID- 26894104
TI  - A Comparative Study of Pre and Post-prandial BP Recordings in Obese and Non Obese
      Young Adults.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with varied combinations of abnormalities in
      the autonomic nervous system. Studies have shown that obese people who have a
      higher sympathetic tone have higher catecholamine levels. This can predispose to
      arythmogenesis and sudden death. AIM: To study pre and post-prandial BP
      recordings in obese and non obese young adults in the age group of 18 to 45
      years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 50 obese and 50 non
      obese patients admitted to our hospital over a period of three months. The
      patients are randomly selected and the BMI is calculated. Both systolic and
      diastolic blood pressure is measured in supine position of the right arm using
      digital electronic blood pressure monitor. BP recordings are taken 30 minutes
      before and 30 minutes after meals. Then fall in BP is recorded. RESULTS: From
      this study we found that the mean systolic (pre-prandial 124.36, post-prandial
      116.6) and diastolic blood pressure (pre-prandial 78.8 and post-prandial 75.4) is
      higher in obese than non obese patients. The study was statistically significant
      which was found by paired t-test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The fall in BP was
      significantly higher in obese (12 patients out of 50) than non obese (5 patients
      out of 50) patients. Probably obese patients had reduced cardiac sympathetic tone
      which caused post-prandial hypotension more than non obese patients.

PMID- 26894105
TI  - Study of Adverse Effect Profile of Parenteral Zoledronic Acid in Female Patients
      with Osteoporosis.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is still a under recognized entity in the population.
      Osteoporosis-related fractures can be prevented if people at risk can be
      screened, diagnosed and treated early. Bisphosphonates remain the mainstay of
      osteoporosis treatment as they have multimodal action. Oral bisphosphonate
      therapy has, significant gastrointestinal side effects leading to noncompliance.
      Of late parenteral Zoledronic Acid is being used as once or twice yearly infusion
      for the treatment of osteoporosis. AIM: Our article studies the side effect
      profile and tolerability of parenteral Zoledronic Acid, one of the most potent
      bisphosphonate used in clinical practice in patients with osteoporosis. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: This study was done in KMC hospitals where 49 patients diagnosed
      with osteoporosis were included for the study. After obtaining a written informed
      consent each patient received one infusion of 5 mg Zoledronic Acid as per
      standard treatment protocol. Patient was monitored for clinical improvement and
      development of any adverse effects. CONCLUSION: In our study all subjects
      reported significant pain relief after infusion of Zoledronic Acid. Zoledronic
      Acid had very few serious adverse effects that can be prevented through pre
      infusion screening, maintaining good hydration and careful patient monitoring. In
      our population the patients only experienced mild symptoms of pyrexia, arthralgia
      myalgia and influenza like symptoms which resolved with symptomatic treatment.

PMID- 26894106
TI  - A Study on the Role of Heart Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein in the Diagnosis of
      Acute Myocardial Infarction.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Heart type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP) has been proposed as
      an early cardiac biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial Infarction (AMI)
      using animal models and clinical samples. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the
      role of H-FABP in early detection of AMI by comparing its sensitivity,
      specificity and predictive value with Creatinine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) and Cardiac
      Troponin I (cTnI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive
      study of 50 patients admitted with the diagnosis of AMI at a tertiary care
      hospital in South India. The study group was categorised in to those coming to
      the hospital within four hours of symptom onset and those coming in between 4 to
      12 hours. H-FABP was compared with those of troponin T and myoglobin tests.
      RESULTS: Among patients presenting within four hours of symptom onset, the
      sensitivity of H-FABP was 60% and was significantly higher than that of cardiac
      Troponin I (cTnI, 18.8%) and Creatinine Kinase (CK)-MB (12.5%). But specificity
      was only 23.53% and was less than that of cTnI (66.67%) and CK-MB (100%). In
      patients presenting during 4 to 12 hours of symptom onset, the sensitivity of H
      FABP was 86.96% which was comparable to that of cTnI (90.9%) and CK-MB (77.3%).
      The specificity was 60% in the 4-12 hours group which was comparable to that of
      cTnI (50%) and CK-MB (50%). CONCLUSION: The H-FABP is a sensitive biomarker for
      the diagnosis of AMI in the initial hours after symptom onset when the standard
      biomarkers may not be elevated, but it is less specific. During 4-12 hours of
      symptom onset it is as sensitive and specific as standard cardiac biomarkers
      troponin and CK-MB. Due to these factors H-FABP can be considered as a promising
      cardiac biomarker which can be used along with troponins and CK-MB at present.

PMID- 26894107
TI  - Prescribing Pattern of Oral Antihyperglycaemic Drugs, Rationality and Adherence
      to American Diabetes Association (ADA) Treatment Guidelines among Type 2 Diabetes
      Mellitus (T2DM) Postmenopausal Women.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Oral antihyperglycaemic prescription trends keep on changing and
      thus the drug prescription trend study may prove to be powerful exploratory tool
      for health care providers. AIM: To investigate trends in prescriptions of oral
      antihyperglycaemic drugs (OHDs) among postmenopausal women suffering from T2DM in
      India and evaluate the rationality and adherence to ADA treatment guidelines.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional descriptive prescription
      audit (n=500) was carried. Postmenopausal women were interviewed in their local
      language using pre-tested pre validated questionnaire after verbal informed
      consent at a teaching tertiary care hospital of north India. Oral
      antihyperglycaemic drugs (OHDs) drugs were categorized as per the pharmacological
      classification. Adherence to available clinical practice
      guidelines/recommendations issued under American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2015
      Guidelines as well as rationality of these prescriptions were assessed using WHO
      Guide to Good Prescribing. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 58.14+/
      12.86. Mean duration since menopause was 5.3 years and of T2DM was 9.5 years. A
      93.4% of the prescriptions had only OHDs whereas 6.6% of the prescriptions had
      various insulin preprations + OHDs (p<0.0001). Biguanides followed by
      sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, DPP-inhibitors and alpha-glucosidases
      inhibitor were prescribed in 85.6%, 59.8%, 26.6%, 26% and 12.2% respectively as
      monotherapy or in combination. Among biguanides, metformin was the most
      frequently prescribed OHDs. In spite of black box warning on pioglitazone, it was
      prescribed in 26.6% as FDC. However, clear increase use of vidagliptine was
      noticed upto 26%. Among combinations most frequent was metformin plus glimipride
      followed by voglibose plus metformin, whereas, among FDC, metformin plus
      glimipride followed by metformin plus vidagliptine were most frequently
      prescribed. CONCLUSION: Metformin was the most common OHDs to be prescribed
      followed by glimepiride. Although pioglitazone still continues to be prescribed
      after safety alert but apparently it appears that the share of pioglitazone has
      been shifted to vidagliptin or combinations like metformin plus glimipride.
      Polypharmacy, high use of FDC, & prescription by brand names were some of the
      irrationalities. Relatively low adherence to ADA treatment guidelines was
      observed.

PMID- 26894108
TI  - Relation between Vitamin D Deficiency and Severity of Chronic Obstructive
      Pulmonary Disease-A Case Control Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic
      inflammatory disorder characterized by irreversible and progressive limitation of
      expiratory airflow. COPD is now considered as a systemic disease with several
      extra-pulmonary manifestations which include osteoporosis, muscle weakness,
      arrhythmia, stroke, cancer etc. The role of vitamin D in skeletal integrity is
      well established. Role of it in several other diseases like autoimmune,
      infectious, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases has been increasingly
      recognised. Data on vitamin D status in COPD in Indian population was limited
      while those comparing vitamin D with stage, pack year and body mass index were
      lacking. AIM: To assess Vitamin D in subjects with COPD and matched controls and
      also to study the variability in serum vitamin D levels with COPD disease
      characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 162 patients aged 18-65 years
      from south India presenting to kasturba hospital were included in the study.
      Serum 25- hydroxy-vitamin D were measured in 81 COPD patients (combined COPD
      stage A-D) and compared with 81 age and gender matched controls. Level < 20 ng/ml
      defined deficiency. Risk estimate with Odds ratio and association of COPD
      characteristics with Vitamin D was assessed using logistic regression analysis.
      RESULTS: COPD patients had an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency compared to
      controls after adjustment for age and gender(OR =2.687 (1.40,5.13)). Variables
      associated with lower 25(OH) D levels in COPD patients were higher pack year
      (p=0.001), current smoking status (p=0.026), Low BMI (p=0.02), and GOLD stage III
      IV (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: COPD was associated with an increased risk of vitamin
      D deficiency, and there was a significant association between vitamin D levels
      and Combined COPD stage severity. Also, a higher pack year and a low BMI are
      associated with lower levels of vitamin D.

PMID- 26894109
TI  - Lady Windermere Syndrome: A Very Rare Entity In Indian Medical Scenario.
AB  - Bronchiectasis is a common respiratory disorder, which we come across in clinical
      practice. Patients with bronchiectasis are prone to infections, especially of
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, non-tubercular Mycobacterial infections may
      also set in, though rare. Here, we report an unusual case of Mycobacterium avium
      complex infection in a case of middle lobe bronchiectasis that was seen in a
      middle-aged immunocompetent female, a syndrome known as Lady Windermere Syndrome.

PMID- 26894110
TI  - A Rare Presentation of Lupus Nephritis Flare up with Posterior Reversible
      Leucoencephalopathy.
AB  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with various neurologic or
      psychiatric abnormalities and Posterior Reversible Leuco Encephalopathy Syndrome
      (PRES) is very rare neurological manifestation in SLE. PRES is associated with
      various clinical manifestations, like, seizures, visual loss, headaches, vomiting
      altered mental status and rarely focal neurological deficits. Other predisposing
      condition associated with PRES is eclampsia, accelerated hypertension, uraemia,
      transplantation, autoimmune diseases and/or use of immunosuppressive drugs. It is
      important to recognise PRES since it is a potentially reversible. We describe an
      unusual case of PRES caused by uraemia during lupus flare up in a patient with
      biopsy proven class IV lupus nephritis who presented with features of
      asymmetrical quadriparesis which completely reversed after haemodialysis sessions
      and treating lupus flare up. In our case she presented with quadriparesis which
      is a rare presentation and hypertensive encephalopathy was not present. 

PMID- 26894111
TI  - Spontaneous Subdural Haemorrhage: A Rare Association with Plasmodium Vivax
      Malaria.
AB  - Malaria is an endemic disease in tropical countries and disease of universal
      importance. Central Nervous System (CNS) complications of malaria are severe and
      associated with significant mortality. Thrombocytopaenia in malaria causing
      haemorrhagic CNS complications is rare. We report a case of 35-year-old male
      patient presented with headache, vomiting and was diagnosed to have subdural
      haemorrhage (SDH). On examination patient was found to be febrile with peripheral
      smear showing evidence of Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax) infection with severe
      thrombocytopaenia. In endemic regions with malaria, SDH being rare presentation
      of malaria should be considered as a differential diagnosis in febrile patients
      with neurological manifestations. Rarity of spontaneous SDH in malaria and
      raising awareness amongst treating physicians about the same is the driving
      factor for reporting this case. 

PMID- 26894112
TI  - A Rare Case of Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (s-IBM).
AB  - Sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM) is an acquired inflammatory myopathy.
      Clinical presentation is variable. The usual presentation is progressive weakness
      and atrophy of the arms and leg muscles, especially of the quadriceps femoris
      which is invariably affected. It is classified under inflammatory myopathies,
      along with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. We present a case of s-IBM who
      presented with gradually progressive quadriparesis with characteristic quadriceps
      wasting and weakness in neck flexors. Electromyography revealed myopathic
      potential and muscle biopsy revealed features of inclusion body myositis. 

PMID- 26894113
TI  - Severe Hypokalaemia, Hypertension, and Intestinal Perforation in Ectopic
      Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Syndrome.
AB  - Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is a rare cause of the
      Cushing's syndrome. The occurrence of the ectopic ACTH syndrome presenting with
      severe hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypertension has been highlighted
      in case reports. However, presentation with lower gastrointestinal perforation is
      not known. We report the case of a 70-year-old male patient with severe
      hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypertension, and colonic perforation as
      manifestations of an ACTH-secreting small cell lung carcinoma. Ectopic ACTH
      syndrome should be kept in mind as a cause of hypokalaemia, hypertension, and
      intestinal perforation in patients with lung carcinoma. 

PMID- 26894114
TI  - Typhoid Fever, Below the Belt.
AB  - Genital ulcers occur due to infective, inflammatory, malignant and drug-related
      causes. In tropical countries such as India, such ulcers are due to parasitic,
      tubercular, rickettsial and bacterial (sexually transmitted infections)
      aetiologies. Typhoid fever is endemic in the tropics. Except "rose spots", skin
      manifestations in typhoid fever are unusual, and they are missed due to pigmented
      skin. Patients do not often complain of genital ulcers due to shame or fear.
      Genital examination is not routinely performed in typhoid fever. We describe
      scrotal ulcers as the presenting symptom of typhoid fever, which subsided with
      appropriate therapy. 

PMID- 26894115
TI  - Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis in a Patient with Subclinical Hyperthyroidism: A
      Rare Case.
AB  - Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon disorder. Though many cases of
      hypokalaemic periodic paralysis are reported in overt hyperthyroidism,
      hypokalaemic paralysis in subclinical hyperthyroidism is very rare. Subclinical
      hyperthyroidism is characterised by circulating TSH levels below reference range
      and normal thyroid hormone levels. We describe a case of 32-year-old Asian male
      who presented to the emergency department with acute onset weakness and
      hypokalaemia with no previous history of thyroid disorder or any signs and
      symptoms suggestive of hyperthyroidism. He was subsequently diagnosed with
      Graves' disease with subclinical hyperthyroidism. 

PMID- 26894117
TI  - Acute Pancreatitis in a Patient with Complicated Falciparum Malaria.
AB  - Malaria is one of the most common protozoan diseases, especially in tropical
      countries. The clinical manifestation of malaria, especially falciparum malaria
      varies from mild acute febrile illness to life threatening severe systemic
      complications involving one or more organ systems. We would like to report a case
      of complicated falciparum malaria involving cerebral, renal, hepatic system along
      with acute pancreatitis. The patient was successfully treated with anti malarial
      and other supportive treatment. To the best of our knowledge there are very few
      reports of acute pancreatitis due to malaria. Falciparum malaria therefore should
      be added to the list of infectious agents causing acute pancreatitis especially
      in areas where malaria is endemic. 

PMID- 26894116
TI  - Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in a Housewife Exposed to Aspergillus flavus in Poor
      Living Conditions: A Case Report.
AB  - Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) or Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (EAA) is a
      disease resulting from immunologically induced inflammation in response to
      inhalation of a wide variety of airborne allergens. The condition develops mainly
      in non atopic individuals sensitized to organic dust due to repeated exposures.
      It is a relatively rare disease constituting upto 2% of interstitial lung
      diseases. Knowledge of classical High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of
      lung findings aid in early diagnosis. We report a case of subacute
      hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a housewife who despite being symptomatic
      remained undiagnosed for two years. She showed a good response to therapy, but
      soon relapsed. Visit to her home revealed that she lived in a damp house full of
      moldy walls. 

PMID- 26894118
TI  - Isolated CNS Blast Crises in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Presenting as Hypertrophic
      Pachymeningitis and Bilateral Optic Neuritis: A Case Report.
AB  - Extramedullary blast crises of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) involving CNS is
      rare and usually accompanies systemic relapse. Isolated CNS blast relapse is an
      extremely uncommon event. A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with chronic phase
      (CP) CML two years back at our hospital and was started on imatinib 400 mg daily.
      Patient achieved haematological and cytogenetic remission at three and 12 months
      respectively but was non-compliant with medications thereafter. He presented to
      our emergency with headache and bilateral visual loss. CNS examination revealed
      neck rigidity and fundoscopy revealed disc edema with retinal vein dilatation and
      haemorrhages. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis
      and a positive cytospin for myeloid blasts. MRI brain suggested pachymeningeal
      enhancement involving falx cerebri and tentorium along with bilateral optic nerve
      thickening. Patient maintained cytogenetic remission at current presentation. A
      diagnosis of isolated CNS blast crises with pachymeningitis and bilateral optic
      nerve involvement was made and two doses of intrathecal chemotherapy were
      administered. However, patient died due to a rapidly downhill course. A
      previously unreported finding of pachymeningitis with bilateral optic neuritis
      has been highlighted in this case, along with a brief review of this rare
      condition. 

PMID- 26894119
TI  - Urinary Tuberculosis with Renal Failure: Challenges in Management.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: India is the country with the highest burden of TB, an estimated
      incidence figure of 2.1 million cases of TB for India out of a global incidence
      of 9 million according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics for 2013.
      Renal impairment in these patients is slow and due to continuous infection
      causing destruction of renal mass. Reconstruction of urinary tract which is
      frequently required for patients with Urinary TB poses significant challenges.
      This paper analyses these challenges. AIM: To analyse challenges in
      reconstruction of urinary tract in patients with urinary tuberculosis and renal
      failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with renal tuber-culosis were
      seen from August 2011 to August 2013. We faced major problem in outcomes of
      surgery in patients with multifocal disease. RESULTS: Out of 31 patients 18
      patients were males and 13 were females. Total 11 patients had serum creatinine
      more than 2mg/dl (1.5 mg/dl being upper normal range of our laboratory) at the
      time of presentation. These patients had simultaneous kidney, ureter and bladder
      involvement or with bilateral disease. Four of these patients underwent uretero
      calicostomy, five patients underwent augmentation cystoplasty with bilateral
      ureteric reimplantation and two patients underwent ileal conduit as they were
      having serum creatinine of more than 2.5 mg/dl. All patients who underwent
      ureterocalicostomy had re stricture and failure of surgery and augmentation
      cystoplasty had raised creatinine requiring second procedure in the form of
      percutaneous nephrostomy. Patients with ileal conduit remained stable with
      overnight bladder drainage at bed time. CONCLUSION: Though renal failure is not
      considered contrain-dication for augmentation cystoplasty, reconstruction using
      large segment of bowel predisposes them to metabolic complications and sepsis.
      Use of short segment of ileal conduit with continued drainage at night in
      creatinine above 2.5 mg% is reasonable option for augmentation to avoid further
      metabolic complications.

PMID- 26894121
TI  - Spinal Intradural Schwannoma with Acute Intratumoural Haemorrhage: Case Report
      and Review.
AB  - Schwannomas account for around half of all intradural spinal tumours, with
      chronic progressive symptoms as the most common presenting features.
      Intratumoural haemorrhage as a presenting feature of spinal schwannoma is very
      rare and only 11 cases have been reported till date. Authors here report a
      previously asymptomatic 40-year-old male who presented with acute onset
      paraplegia 12 hours after a minor trauma. MR imaging revealed a C7-D3 intradural
      extramedullary lesion with features of acute blood and showing no enhancement.
      Emergency laminectomy and complete removal of the mass was performed and
      histopathology revealed features of schwannoma with haemorrhage. Patient had
      modest improvement of his neurological deficits at a follow-up of 6 months.
      Pertinent literature is reviewed in brief. 

PMID- 26894120
TI  - Impact of Coagulation Profile on Outcome of Head Injury.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, head injury is recognized as a major public health
      problem. Head injury patients often develop consumptive coagulopathy in the
      absence of other trauma or haemorrhages. The release of tissue factor from the
      damaged brain is postulated as the cause of coagulopathy. AIM: To know the impact
      of coagulation profile derangements and their effect on the outcome of head
      injury patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients in the age group of 20-70
      years admitted with isolated head injury were taken. Samples of complete
      haemogram (CBC), prothrombin time (PTI), partial thromboplastin time (PTK), D
      Dimers and fibrinogen were taken within 24 hour of admission. Coagulopathy was
      defined as platelet counts < 100,000 cells/mm(2) and PTI >15 seconds or a DIC
      score more than 4. The outcome in each group was measured according to Glasgow
      outcome score. Coagulation abnormalities were analysed. RESULTS: In case of
      severe head injury, p-values in patients who died with regard to DIC score,
      Prothrombin time and APTT were found to be significant (p< 0.05). For D-Dimers,
      fibrinogen and platelets counts the p-value was not significant. In case of
      moderate head injury, p-values in patients who died with regard to DIC score,
      platelet count, Prothrombin time, D-Dimer and APTT were found to be significant
      (0.05). For fibrinogen level it was insignificant. The mean DIC score and mean
      GOS in the severe head injury patients was significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION:
      Patients with isolated head injury are at risk of development of coagulation
      abnormalities, which is associated with poor outcome. Based on our results we
      also emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of coagulation abnormalities in
      isolated head injury patients.

PMID- 26894122
TI  - Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis, A Rare Site for a Commonly Known
      Malignancy.
AB  - Chronic nephrolithiasis predisposes to squamous metaplasia and subsequently SCC
      which is a rare malignancy of the upper urinary tract. A 60-year-old woman with a
      long standing history of renal calculi presented with flank pain and fever.
      Investigations revealed a mass in the superior pole of a non functioning left
      kidney while the right kidney was sub optimally functioning, hydronephrotic and
      there was presence of bilateral staghorn calculi. Patient underwent decompression
      of right kidney by double j stenting and left radical nephrectomy that revealed
      well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of renal pelvis. Most SCC of the
      renal pelvis present with advanced disease and dismal prognosis while our patient
      presented with localized disease without lymphatic and distant metastasis. Thus
      radical nephrectomy can be curative if the disease can be diagnosed at an earlier
      stage. This emphasizes the need of early treatment of nephrolithiasis to prevent
      the development of SCC and screening of patients with long standing staghorn
      calculi. 

PMID- 26894123
TI  - Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome with Embryonal Cell Carcinoma along with
      Ectopic Cross Fused Kidney.
AB  - Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) is a form of internal male
      pseudohermaphroditism, where there is normal development of male secondary sexual
      characters, along with the presence of bilateral fallopian tubes and uterus.
      Majority of these cases go undetected and some cases are accidentally diagnosed
      while investigating for other problems. Cross fused renal ectopia is a condition
      where one kidney lies in the opposite side, fused to the other kidney. We present
      an extremely rare case of a phenotypical male presenting with mass per abdomen
      and bilateral cryptorchidism, turned out to have uterus with bilateral fallopian
      tubes, ectopic cross fused right kidney and Embryonal cell carcinoma of left
      undescended testis. 

PMID- 26894124
TI  - Comparison of the Perioperative Outcomes of a Vessel Sealing Instrument-Assisted
      Technique with a Conventional Technique in Abdominal Myomectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In gynaecologic practice, LigaSure Precise(TM) is generally used in
      endoscopic and open surgeries, such as hysterectomy, adnexectomy, and cancer
      surgery. However, there is no case report or main research article where LigaSure
      Precise(TM) has been used for myomectomy. We want to compare a technique using a
      vessel sealing instrument with a conventional technique in abdominal myomectomy.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five women who underwent abdominal myomectomy were
      divided two groups: (1) a vessel sealing instrument-assisted technique (24
      patients); and (2) a conventional technique (31 patients) between January 2011
      and December 2014 at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Gulhane
      Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. The data for the operation times, the
      occurrence of perioperative complications, the hospitalization times, and changes
      in haemaglobin and haematocrit levels for the two techniques were collected and
      compared. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 48 minutes for the vessel sealing
      instrument-assisted technique and 54 minutes for the conventional technique. No
      statistically significant differences were determined for haemoglobin and
      haematocrit changes, hospital stay and perioperative complications. CONCLUSION:
      We did not find any difference in the occurrence of complications, changes in
      haemoglobin or haematocrit levels, or hospital stay. The vessel sealing
      instrument-assisted technique is feasible and effective in reducing operation
      times.

PMID- 26894125
TI  - Trends of Various Techniques of Tubectomy: A Five Year Study in a Tertiary
      Institute.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Female sterilization is one of the best and effective methods of
      contraception for women who have completed their family. Tubectomy during
      caesarean operation and minilaparotomy are popular methods in developing
      countries whereas laparoscopic sterilization and hysteroscopic tubal occlusion
      are the preferred methods in developed countries. AIM: To know the trends,
      incidence and immediate complications of methods of female sterilizations
      performed at our institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective
      analytical study conducted at our tertiary care centre from January 2010 to
      December 2014 in Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka. The
      case files of all the patients who underwent sterilization were taken from the
      medical records section and reviewed in detail. The cases were grouped as
      caesarean tubectomy, minilaparotomy and laparoscopic sterilization, based on the
      abdominal entry. For minilaparotomy and during caesarean tubectomy, modified
      pomeroy's technique was used. For laparoscopic sterilization, falope rings were
      used. Data was analysed by Karl Pearson's correlation co-efficient method and Chi
      Square test. The p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 5442
      cases of female sterilization, 2872 underwent caesarean tubectomy, remaining half
      underwent minilaparotomy (1306) and laparoscopic sterilization (1264).
      Sterilizations were significantly more during puerperal period (caesarean
      tubectomy + post abortal + postpartum) compared to interval period. There was an
      increasing trend in caesarean tubectomy and laparoscopic sterilization. There
      were 11 procedure related complications in the laparoscopic sterilization, one in
      caesarean tubectomy and none in minilaparotomy. Two deaths were reported in
      minilaparotomy, one in laparoscopic sterilization and four in the caesarean
      tubectomy, which were due to septicaemia. CONCLUSION: An increasing trend in
      caesarean tubectomy and laparoscopic sterilization is seen in this study. Female
      sterilization should be individualized based on the timing, place and surgeons
      experience. Sepsis is a major cause of death and asepsis could be compromised
      when female sterilization is done in large numbers in camps. Hence target related
      approach towards female sterilization should be avoided. Laparoscopic
      sterilization has more procedure related complications, which can be better
      handled in tertiary care centres.

PMID- 26894126
TI  - Open-label, Prospective, Investigator Initiated Study to Assess the Clinical Role
      of Oral Natural or Synthetic Progesterone During Stimulated IUI Cycles for
      Unexplained Infertility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Unexplained infertility remains as one of the important subtype of
      infertility that follows expectant management with Intrauterine Insemination
      (IUI) in most cases. AIM: To evaluate the clinical role of progesterone
      supplement as luteal phase support for women with unexplained infertility
      following stimulation protocol with Clomiphene Citrate (CC)/Human Menopausal
      Gonadotropin (HMG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An investigator initiated study to
      survey the success rate for first cycle of IUI following stimulation protocol
      with CC/HMG & luteal phase support with oral natural or synthetic progesterone
      was conducted. 120 patient records between observation period of Jan to May '14
      were retrieved especially for subjects undergoing IUI procedure for Unexplained
      infertility. Patients with baseline Serum (Sr). progesterone records who received
      Oral Natural Micronized Progesterone Sustained Release (Oral NMP SR) (N=45) or
      Dydrogesterone (n=33) following CC/HMG induction protocol and human Chorionic
      Gonadotropin(HCG) Inj., were further analysed following Luteal Phase Support(LPS)
      with oral natural or synthetic progesterone. RESULTS: Baseline demographics
      showed 78 patients with mean age, weight and cycle duration of 29.5 yrs, 57.3 kg
      & 28.6 days respectively. Progesterone was supplemented as Oral NMP SR 200/300 mg
      OD or Dydrogesterone 10 mg bid in 22, 23 and 33 patients respectively. In all
      cases ovulation was triggered with HCG inj., followed by IUI within the next 48
      hours while baseline sr. progesterone levels were being assessed. Medicines and
      Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) UK recommended therapeutic
      compliance to suggest sr. progesterone levels of >=14ng/ml were recorded as Mid
      luteal levels in all of these patients. This therapeutic compliance was noted in
      82.2% & 78.8% of the patients treated with oral NMP SR or Dydrogesterone
      respectively. Pregnancy was observed amongst 5 and 10 patients treated with oral
      NMP SR and Dydrogesterone respectively at the end of 'First' IUI cycle. Both the
      groups were well tolerated with drowsiness documented in three cases for Oral NMP
      SR. CONCLUSION: Clinical supplementation with ONMPSR suggests therapeutic
      compliance and alternative strategy to conventional formulations while offering
      dosing convenience with minimal side effects.

PMID- 26894127
TI  - A Comparison Between Non-Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy and Total Abdominal
      Hysterectomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Hysterectomy is one of the most common gyneacological surgeries
      performed worldwide. The vaginal technique has been introduced and performed
      centuries back, but has been less successful due to lack of experience and
      enthusiasm among Gynaecologists, due to a misconception that the abdominal route
      is safer and easier. AIM: To evaluate the most efficient route of hysterectomy in
      women with mobile nonprolapsed uteri of 12 weeks or lesser by comparing the intra
      and postoperative complications of vaginal and abdominal hysterectomies.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed
      wherein, 300 consecutive patients requiring hysterectomy for benign diseases were
      analysed over a period of 2 years (December 2012-November 2014). Group A (n =
      150) underwent vaginal hysterectomy (non descent vaginal hysterectomy, NDVH)
      which was compared with group B (n = 150) who had abdominal hysterectomy. The
      primary outcome measures were operative time, intraoperative blood loss,
      postoperative analgesia, hospital stay, postoperative mobility, blood
      transfusion, wound infection, febrile morbidity and postoperative systemic
      infections. Secondary outcome measures were conversion of vaginal to abdominal
      route and re-laparotomy. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between
      the two groups. There were no intraoperative complications in either group.
      Regarding operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain,
      postoperative blood transfusion, mobilization in post operative ward,
      postoperative wound infection, febrile morbidity, duration of hospital stay, p
      value was significant in vaginal hysterectomy compared to abdominal hysterectomy.
      Regarding postoperative systemic infections, p-value was not significant. None of
      the cases in the vaginal group were converted to abdominal route and none of the
      cases in the whole study group underwent re-laparotomy. CONCLUSION: The present
      study concludes that patients requiring hysterectomy for benign non prolapse
      cases may be offered the option of vaginal hysterectomy which has quicker
      recovery, shorter hospitalization, lesser operative and postoperative morbidity
      compared to abdominal route.

PMID- 26894128
TI  - Awareness and Determinants of Contraceptive use among Nursing Mothers in Bellary,
      Karnataka.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The nursing mothers, who have already delivered a child in recent
      period, may prefer to avoid or delay future pregnancy, or may not even have given
      a thought about it. Among those who prefer to delay next pregnancy, many are
      unaware of family planning practices. This is mainly influenced by the prevailing
      sociodemographic factors in their families. AIM: To study the prevailing
      Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of contraception and the influence of
      sociodemographic factors on family planning practices among the healthy nursing
      mothers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2500
      healthy breast feeding mothers who delivered at Medical College Hospital (MCH),
      Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences(VIMS), Bellary during Dec 2011 to Nov
      2013. They were interviewed using a pre structured questionnaire in the post
      natal wards on 2(nd) to 7(th) postpartum day. Later these mothers were educated
      and counseled regarding various suitable contraceptive methods. The data
      collected were analysed using percentage and chi- square test. RESULTS: The
      proportion of willingness for contraception is more among women in the age group
      19-29 years, among literate husband and wife, among women belonging to nuclear
      families and with higher socioeconomic status. Muslim women were least receptive
      to contraceptive advice. Regarding awareness of contraceptive methods only 46%
      had knowledge regarding family planning methods. A total of 43% mothers opted to
      limit family size. Among 16% of mothers who did not want to limit family size,
      70% had no male child. In most of the families, final decision regarding family
      planning method was taken by husband alone or by elders. The most important
      reason for lack of family planning practices was lack of awareness (57.2%).
      CONCLUSION: Many of the nursing mothers are not aware of contraceptive practices.
      But these women are very receptive to contraceptive advice. Also, the decision of
      family planning depends not only on the couples but even on elders of the family.
      Hence, a combined family approach to educate and counsel the entire family
      including elders is needed. The major determinant is education of the entire
      family regarding family planning practices.

PMID- 26894129
TI  - Prenatal Diagnosis of Umbilical Artery Aneurysm with Good Fetal Outcome and
      Review of Literature.
AB  - Umbilical artery aneurysm is a rare condition. Till date, 14 cases are reported
      and only 4 had good fetal outcome. Umbilical artery aneurysm is associated with
      high risk of fetal aneuploidy and fetal demise. Though umbilical cord anomalies
      are rare, they are associated with significant fetal morbidity and mortality. We
      report a case of umbilical artery aneurysm which was detected at 33 weeks of
      gestation on ultrasonography as an anechoic cyst close to cord insertion with
      turbulent blood flow in it. The patient was hospitalized and with intensive fetal
      surveillance and early delivery, a live born fetus was achieved. Baby's karyotype
      was normal. Pathologic examination confirmed umbilical artery aneurysm close to
      cord insertion. 

PMID- 26894130
TI  - Amniotic Band Syndrome - A Dreaded Condition.
AB  - Amniotic band syndrome is a unique condition in which amnion a normal structure
      causes complications. A case of second gravid, obese who is a known diabetic came
      to OPD at 13 weeks pregnancy for regular antenatal check up. A routine
      ultrasonogram was advised in which multiple anomalies were noted and the
      diagnosis of amniotic band syndrome was made. The parents were counseled for
      medical termination of pregnancy and after obtaining the consent termination were
      performed and the parents were asked to postpone the next pregnancy for minimum 6
      months. This anomaly as seen in this patient could be due to risk factors like
      diabetes and obesity. 

PMID- 26894131
TI  - A Rare Cause of Placental Abruption: Uterine Torsion.
AB  - Uterine torsion is defined as a rotation on its long axis and it is a dangerous,
      unexpected obstetric emergency. We report a case of uterine torsion at 32 weeks
      of gestation in a singleton pregnancy. A 37-year-old woman with multiple prior
      cesarean deliveries referred to emergency unit of our hospital at 32 weeks of
      gestation with severe abdominal pain and mild vaginal bleeding. Ultrasonography
      showed a single fetus in vertex position, with a normal amniotic fluid. Fetal
      biometer was appropriate for 32 weeks of gestation. Placental location was
      anterior with a subchorionic hypoechogenic small area which was suspected to be a
      sign of placental abruption. An emergency cesarean section was performed under
      general anesthesia. The 180 degrees  uterine torsion was diagnosed and it was not
      possible to perform detorsion of the gravid uterus by exteriorization by
      pfannenstiel incision. Posterior hysterotomy was performed and a male baby of
      1830 grams weight was delivered. The newborn was transported to Neonatal
      Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of another hospital and discharged within two weeks.
      Patient recovered well and was discharged on second postoperation day. Uterine
      torsion is a very rare and life threatening situation. In unexpected cases
      posterior low transuerse hysterotomy is generally performed and it is suggested
      as a safe choice when detorsion was not accomplished. It is not easy to keep in
      mind the possibility of uterine torsion in cases of abdominal pain during
      pregnancy. Because it generally causes abruption, management of abruption is
      vitally important to prevent fetal mortality. 

PMID- 26894132
TI  - A Prospective Study on Functional Outcome of Internal Fixation of Tibial Pilon
      Fractures with Locking Plate using Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis
      Technique.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Managing pilon fractures is still a great challenge for surgeons in
      terms of reduction and fixation. The soft tissue anatomy and the bony
      configuration, results in angular and rotational instability and other bony and
      soft tissue complications. AIM: To evaluate the results of minimally invasive
      plate osteosynthesis using locking plates in management of fractures of tibial
      pilon in terms of radiological fracture union, restoration of ankle function and
      complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 patients with Ruedi Allgower
      class I, II & III fresh pilon fractures were taken into this study. All the
      patients underwent ankle spanning external fixator application on the day of
      presentation as a first stage. Wound debridement was done in patients with open
      fractures. Associated distal fibula fractures were fixed in the first stage. The
      second stage comprised of a definitive plate fixation using the minimally
      invasive plate osteosynthesis technique. This employed minimal periosteal and
      soft tissue dissection through a medial approach to the ankle. Postoperatively,
      all patients were reviewed at week six and 12 when partial weight bearing and
      full weight bearing mobilization was started respectively. The final review was
      done at 24 weeks when the final assessment of function was done as per the
      Mazur's scoring criteria. Analyses were done using frequency and proportions. Chi
      square tests were used to assess the test of association. RESULTS: Three patients
      had excellent inference, nine patients had good inference, five patients had fair
      and one patient had poor inference as per the Mazur's scoring criteria. Two
      patients had scar dehiscence as a complication and one patient had a fixed
      equines deformity of the ankle who was under RuediAllgower class III. CONCLUSION:
      Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis is an excellent method of treating pilon
      fractures with very good functional results and minimal complication rate.

PMID- 26894133
TI  - Osteosynthesis in Distal Radius Fractures with Conventional Bridging External
      Fixator; Tips and Tricks for Getting Them Right.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Distal radius fractures are the commonest fractures occurring in the
      upper extremity, accounting for 15-20% of patients treated in emergency
      department. Although distal radial fractures were described 200 years ago, they
      still remain as unsolved fractures with no clear guidelines. It is often reported
      that anatomical reduction has a bearing on the functional outcome. AIM: To study
      the management of distal end radius fracture by utilizing the principle of
      ligamentotaxis where in the reduction obtained by closed means is maintained by
      external fixator till solid bony union occurs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of
      26 cases were selected for study by scrutiny of the inclusion and exclusion
      criteria. Most of our cases were treated with external fixator within 8 hrs of
      injury. Small A.O external fixator (bridging ex-fix) with 2 pins each in radius
      and 2(nd) metacarpal percutaneously was used for all the cases. Selective k wire
      fixation was done in cases of instability. Fixator was removed after 6 weeks.
      Guided physiotherapy was ensured in all the cases. Patients were followed up for
      an average of 9 months. RESULTS: Modified Gartland and Werley scoring system was
      used to evaluate the overall functional results. Excellent to good results were
      achieved in 88.45% of our cases while fair result was in 11.54 %. One case had
      pin loosening and two other cases had malunion. CONCLUSION: External fixator used
      for ligamentotaxis is an effective method of treating unstable extraarticular and
      complex intraarticular fractures of distal radius. Improved anatomical
      restoration with early rehabilitation has produced favourable functional outcome
      in our series. The complications like pin tract infection is rare due to the
      availability of superior antibiotics and sterile surgical technique.
      complications like wrist and finger stiffness has improved with physiotherapy.

PMID- 26894134
TI  - Unstable Intertrochanteric Fracture Fixation - Is Proximal Femoral Locked
      Compression Plate Better Than Dynamic Hip Screw.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intertrochanteric fractures are one of the most common fractures
      encountered in our practice. Most of them need operative intervention and union
      is achieved. As per the literature dynamic hip screw (DHS) is the gold standard
      for the treatment of these fractures, however problem arises with maintenance of
      neck shaft angle and proper reduction in unstable intertrochanteric fractures.
      The situation gets more complex when "cut out" of femoral head screw occurs
      either alone or in combination with varus collapse when they are treated with
      DHS. Here we are giving results of unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated
      with Proximal Femoral Locked Compression Plate (PFLCP) as compared with similar
      patients treated with Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study
      included a total of 27 patients (17 males, 10 females) with unstable
      intertrochanteric fractures who were subjected to PFLCP treatment from March 2011
      to November 2012 in one group. Another was a similar group of 35 patients treated
      with DHS from March 2008 to February 2010. Results of group 1 were compared with
      group 2. Detailed clinical conditions of all patients, duration of surgery, blood
      loss, length of incision and duration of image intensifier use were recorded.
      Patients were revisited at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after
      operation. Results were evaluated clinically by Harris hip Score and
      radiologically for fracture union. Progress of union and complications (limb
      shortening, varus collapse, cut out of femoral head screw and medialization of
      distal fragment) were recorded. RESULTS: Among 27 patients treated with PFLCP,
      one patient expired 6 week postoperatively and one patient lost to follow up, so
      25 patients were evaluated for final outcome of which 23 (92%) showed union at
      follow up of 12 months. One patient developed bending of proximal screws and
      three developed varus collapse. Among the group treated with DHS, eight patients
      developed varus collapse, seven developed medialization and three had femoral
      head screw cut out. According to Harris hip Score 88% cases had good to excellent
      result in PFLCP group whereas only 60% cases in the DHS group had good to
      excellent result. CONCLUSION: Treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures
      with proximal femoral locked plate (PFLCP) can give good healing, with a limited
      occurrence of complication.

PMID- 26894135
TI  - Primary Extrapulmonary Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis of the Sternum without
      HIV Infection.
AB  - Skeletal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for about 9% of all TB cases. Tuberculosis of
      the sternum is not a common presentation. The case of primary multidrug-resistant
      (MDR) TB of the sternum is even rare. So far no such case has been reported in
      the medical literature. Herein, we present the very first case of primary
      extrapulmonary MDR TB of the sternum in a 21-year-old immunocompetent Indian
      female who presented with chest pain and an increased swelling over the anterior
      chest with an intermittently discharging sinus. She was diagnosed with multidrug
      resistant tuberculosis of the sternum without the active pulmonary disease.
      Conservative management with oral multidrug antitubercular therapy (ATT)
      completely cured the patient. 

PMID- 26894136
TI  - Mystery of Sciatica Resolved - A Rare Case Report.
AB  - Schwannomas are common, benign, slow growing tumours of peripheral nerve sheath
      arising from the schwann cells of the neuroectoderm. They do not transverse the
      nerve but remain within the sheath on top of the nerve. They rarely present in
      the sciatic nerve. Sciatic schwannomas may mimic symptoms of herniated disc,
      usually with radiation of pain to buttocks and thigh region with inability to
      walk for long distances and sometimes may present with claudication. In the
      absence of low back pain and with a normal Lumbo-Sacral MRI study, causes
      intrinsic to sciatic nerve needs to be thought off, which often delays the
      diagnosis. Rarity in our case-patient presented with tingling sensation and
      inability to squat on hard surface for more than 10 minutes with a normal x-ray
      and MRI study of lumbosacral spine. 

PMID- 26894137
TI  - Intraosseous Epidermoid Inclusion Cyst of Distal Phalanx: A Rare Entity.

PMID- 26894138
TI  - Study of Weight Patterns in Exclusively Breast Fed Neonates- Does the Route of
      Delivery have an Impact?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Physiological weight loss is seen in all breast fed neonates. The
      route of delivery may have an effect on the neonatal weight loss/gain in these
      exclusively breast fed babies. Additional assistance and support for exclusive
      breast feeding is needed by mothers who undergo cesarean section. AIM: To study
      and compare the weight patterns in full term exclusively breast fed neonates born
      by normal vaginal route versus cesarean section in the first month of life.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective observational study. Healthy, full
      term neonates born by normal vaginal route or cesarean section in a rural
      tertiary hospital with uneventful perinatal periods were included. Exclusive
      breast feeding was given to all neonates with supervision and encouragement to
      the mothers. Primary outcome measure- Weight loss of the neonates at 24 hours and
      72 hours of life. RESULTS: Neonates delivered by cesarean section showed a higher
      weight loss (% of birth weight) at 24 hours {mean(sd)} than those delivered
      vaginally {3.2 (1.9) vs 2.2 (1.2); p-value=0.0016}. At 72 hours, the cesarean
      neonates had higher weight loss than vaginally delivered neonates {5.9 (3.1) vs
      4.7 (2.5); p-value=0.0314}. At 28 days of life, the neonates born by cesarean
      section showed lower weight gain than those delivered by vaginal route {10.9
      (2.1) vs 11.9 (2.3); p-value=0.0244}. CONCLUSION: The route of delivery has a
      significant impact on the physiological weight loss seen in exclusively breast
      fed neonates. Babies delivered by cesarean section showed significantly higher
      weight loss in the first week of life, and lower weight gain at the end of first
      month than babies born by vaginal route.

PMID- 26894139
TI  - Parameatal Urethral Cyst in a Newborn-A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
AB  - Parameatal urethral cysts are rare congenital lesions of the penis that are
      usually <1cm in diameter in the paediatric population and do not create any
      urinary difficulties. Their natural course is either to resolve or to be
      surgically excised without any postoperative complications. We report a case of a
      newborn with a parameatal urethral cyst that produced voiding difficulties and
      was treated by surgical excision. 

PMID- 26894140
TI  - Celiac Axis, Common Hepatic and Hepatic Artery Variants as Evidenced on MDCT
      Angiography in South Indian Population.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: With the increase in the hepatobiliary, pancreatic surgeries and
      liver transplantation, being aware of the anatomic variations of the celiac axis
      and the hepatic arteries is of paramount importance. AIM: To illustrate the
      normal anatomy and variants of the celiac axis and the hepatic arteries with
      multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) angiography in South Indian population
      and determine the potential variations in the celiac axis anatomy and the hepatic
      arteries, thus assisting the hepatobiliary surgeon and the interventional
      radiologist in avoiding iatrogenic injury to the arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Two hundred patients undergoing abdominal CT angiography from July 2014 till July
      2015 were retrospectively studied for hepatic arterial and celiac axis anatomical
      variation. The anatomic variations in our study were correlated with other
      studies. RESULTS: The celiac axis (CA) and the hepatic artery (HA) variations
      were analysed as per criteria laid by Song et al., and Michel. Out of 15 possible
      CA variations, 5 types of celiac artery variations were seen in 14 patients. A
      normal CA was seen in 179(89.5%) patients of the 200 patients. In the remaining 7
      patients, the CA anatomy was classified as ambiguous since there was separate
      origin of the right and left hepatic arteries from the CA with absent common
      hepatic artery (CHA). The CHA originated normally from the celiac axis in 94% of
      the cases. Variation of CHA origin was seen in 5 patients. Normal HA anatomy was
      seen in 114 (57%) patients. Variation in HA anatomy was seen in 86 (43%)
      patients. Origin of the right hepatic artery (RHA) from the hepatic artery proper
      was seen in 182 (91%) patients and replaced origin of RHA from the superior
      mesenteric artery (SMA) was seen in 18 (9%) of the cases. Accessory RHA was seen
      in 7(3.5%) patients. The left hepatic artery (LHA) originated from the hepatic
      artery proper in 186 (93%) patients and replaced origin of LHA from the left
      gastric artery (LGA) was found in 14 (7%) patients. Accessory left hepatic artery
      was found in 22(11%) cases. Double hepatic artery seen in 7(3.5%) patients. CHA
      replaced to LGA was seen in 1 patient (0.5%). CHA trifurcation was seen in 11
      (5.5%) patients. CHA was replaced to SMA in 4 (2%) cases. CONCLUSION: Our study
      identified the normal anatomy and variations in celiac axis and hepatic arterial
      anatomy in South Indian population, which correlated well with studies in other
      populations.

PMID- 26894141
TI  - Colour Doppler Evaluation of Extracranial Carotid Arteries: A Clinical and
      Radiological Correlation.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis (i.e. hardening and thickening of arteries) causes
      vascular remodeling, obstruction of lumen, abnormalities of blood flow and
      reduced oxygenation of target tissues. Manifestation of atherosclerosis in the
      form of either Myocardial Infarction or Stroke is the major cause of morbidity
      and mortality. This study evaluated extracranial carotid arteries of patients
      (>60 years) who presented with risk factors of atherosclerosis and determined the
      association of risk factors with carotid abnormalities. AIM: To evaluate the
      prevalence of atherosclerosis, haemodynamic and morphological changes that take
      place in extra cranial portion of carotid arteries in patients with risk factors
      of atherosclerosis (Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Smoking, Stroke, Coronary
      Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolaemia) and determine the association of risk
      factors with carotid abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective cross
      sectional analytical study included the examination of Extracranial carotid
      arteries of 1043 patients over a period of 2 years (2013-2015) using duplex
      ultrasound. Assessment of CCA-IMT, ICA-IMT and percent stenosis was done using a
      linear probe of 8-12 MHz. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Correlation between risk factors
      of atherosclerosis, wall thickness of common carotid (CCA-IMT), internal carotid
      arteries (ICA-IMT) and stenosis was studied using statistical tools like multiple
      logistic regression analysis and analysis of variance (p<0.05) using SPSS 17.0.
      RESULTS: Maximum percent stenosis increased with increase in age. Prevalence of
      severe stenosis (>70%) was low while the prevalence of mild stenosis (<50%) was
      quite high. In all age groups, stenosis was more prevalent and more severe in men
      as compared to women. Hypertension showed the strongest positive correlation with
      all three measures of interest CCA-IMT, ICA-IMT and maximum percent stenosis.
      Stroke history showed strong positive correlation with CCA-IMT and stenosis.
      Smoking, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypercholesterolaemia, Heart disease showed strong
      association with all three measures as well. Atherosclerotic plaques were mostly
      found at the site of carotid bifurcation. CONCLUSION: CCA-IMT was strongly
      associated with hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus. ICA-IMT was strongly
      associated with hypertension and history of heart disease. Percent stenosis was
      strongly associated with smoking and history of heart disease.

PMID- 26894142
TI  - Age-Related Normogram for Ovarian Antral Follicle Count in Women with Polycystic
      Ovary Syndrome and Comparison with Age Matched Controls Using Magnetic Resonance
      Imaging.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Antral Follicle count (AFC) is a reliable marker for ovarian
      reserve. Previous studies have used transvaginal ultrasound for estimation of
      AFC, however we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for estimation of AFC and
      for creating an age-related normogram in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
      (PCOS) and compared it with normal patients. AIM: The aim of this study is to
      create an age related normogram for AFC in women with PCOS and to compare that
      with women without polycystic ovarian syndrome using MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      A total of 1500 women were examined, out of which 400 fitted the criteria for
      PCOS. They all underwent MRI study and similar age matched women without PCOS
      also underwent MRI examination. Normogram for AFC were obtained using LMS
      software and a percentile chart was obtained. RESULTS: Normogram for AFC in PCOS
      women showed decline in number of AFC as the age progresses and the decline was
      linear. The normogram for AFC was compared with equal number of patients without
      PCOS and they also showed decline in AFC as the age progresses, however the
      decline was exponential and faster. CONCLUSION: Age related normogram for AFC is
      widely used and considered as best clinical predictor for ovarian response in
      assisted reproductive technology. Knowledge of ovarian reserve is important in
      PCOS and non-PCOS females as PCOS patients are at risk for ovarian
      hyperstimulation syndrome during gonadotrophin theraphy. MRI is an equally
      effective and in some times better alternative to transvaginal ultrasound as it
      has got its own advantages.

PMID- 26894143
TI  - Multiple Enchondromatosis: Olliers Disease- A Case Report.
AB  - Olliers disease is a rare disease characterized by widespread enchondromas with a
      unilateral predominance, in early childhood. The diagnosis is based on clinical
      and conventional radiological evaluations. The prognosis for olliers disease is
      difficult to assess. Enchondromas in olliers disease present a risk of malignant
      transformation into chondrosarcomas. Due to its rarity literature focusing on
      olliers disease is limited. This case report discusses the case of a 12-year-old
      female who presented with difficulty in walking, leg pain and multiple painless
      swellings in hands and legs for a period of 2 years. 

PMID- 26894144
TI  - A Case of Cervical Spine Tuberculosis in an Infant.
AB  - Tuberculosis of cervical spine is an extremely rare entity in infants with only
      few case reports available in the literature. The diagnosis is often delayed due
      to less dramatic effects of paraplegia or quadriplegia in an infant as compared
      to older paediatric population. Along with clinical and laboratory
      investigations, imaging plays a crucial role in defining the extent of
      involvement, evaluation of complications, providing suitable differential
      diagnosis and monitoring response to treatment. Tuberculosis typically involves
      the discovertebral complex while involvement of isolated vertebral body or
      multiple vertebrae without involving the intervertebral discs is much less
      common. We present such an unusual case of cervical spine tuberculosis in an
      infant involving a single vertebral body without adjacent intervertebral disc
      involvement complicated with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and communicating
      hydrocephalus. The early medical intervention in this case resulted in early
      diagnosis, active treatment and resultant near normal recovery. 

PMID- 26894145
TI  - A Case Report of Metronidazole Induced Neurotoxicity in Liver Abscess Patient and
      the Usefulness of MRI for its Diagnosis.
AB  - Metronidazole is a very widely used drug for the treatment of multiple ailments
      caused by anaerobic bacteria as well as some protozoan parasites. Though its
      usual side effects are not very serious, yet sometimes it may cause profound
      adverse effects like neurotoxicity. We present here a case of liver abscess. The
      patient was treated for a long time with metronidazole and developed sudden onset
      neurotoxicity which was diagnosed by MRI. The present case also highlights the
      need of vigilant monitoring of patients on metronidazole for symptoms of
      neurotoxicity and the usefulness of MRI for diagnosis of the same. 

PMID- 26894146
TI  - A Case of Metastatic Esophageal Carcinoma in a Pregnant Woman with Radiologic
      Findings.
AB  - The incidence of all malignant tumours during pregnancy is extremely rare and
      esophageal carcinoma ranges from 0.07 to 0.1% of all malignant neoplasms. The
      physiological changes during pregnancy frequently mask the complaints and
      symptoms related to the disease. The physical and physiological clinical
      conditions limit the diagnostic approaches. Therefore, the stage of cancer at the
      time of diagnosis is usually advanced. The management with cancer surgery and
      chemotherapy regimens must be modified in pregnant women in order to minimize
      fetal and maternal risks. Here, we report a very rare case of metastatic
      esophagus cancer in a 39-year-old woman with 28 weeks of pregnancy and aim to
      show the ultrasound (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with
      treatment and follow up management. 

PMID- 26894147
TI  - Renal Papillary Necrosis: Role of Radiology.
AB  - Renal Papillary Necrosis (RPN) is idefined as Ischemic necrobiosis of the papilla
      in the medulla of the kidneys. Variety of etiological factors are recognized
      which cause papillary necrosis, such as analgesic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus,
      urinary obstruction and sickle cell haemoglobinopathy. The early diagnosis of RPN
      is important to improve prognosis and reduce morbidity. Radiological Imaging
      offers early diagnosis and can guide prompt treatment of papillary necrosis and
      can minimize a decline in renal function. Here we report three cases of RPN with
      typical imaging findings. One of them was diabetic and hypertensive female with
      recurrent Urinary tract Infections and other was a male with no known co
      morbidity. Both of them were diagnosed to have renal papillary necrosis on CT
      scan and were managed operatively and conservatively, respectively. Third case
      was a healthy female being investigated to be renal donor for her son. Here RPN
      was an incidental finding and was treated conservatively. Thus CT scan could
      detect it pre-operatively and complications due to transplantation of a kidney
      with papillary necrosis were avoided. So, we want to emphasize the importance of
      Radiology, particularly CT scanning in detection of RPN and to guide early and
      prompt treatment. 

PMID- 26894148
TI  - Persistent Primitive Hypoglossal Artery (PPHA) - A Rare Anomaly with Literature
      Review.
AB  - Persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA) is a rare embryonic carotid
      vertebrobasilar artery anastomosis. Hypoglossal artery arises from the internal
      carotid artery (ICA) between the C1 and C2 vertebral levels and traverses through
      the hypoglossal canal to join the vertebro-basilar system. We present a rare case
      of an anomalous right sided PPHA as a sole supply to posterior circulation of
      brain with absent/hypoplastic bilateral vertebral arteries in a two year child
      who had presented with acute left sided haemiplegia. Three dimensional time of
      flight magnetic resonance angiography identified an anomalous vessel arising from
      the right internal carotid artery at the level of axis vertebra and joining the
      vertebra-basilar arterial system after coursing through the right hypoglossal
      canal. This anomaly when present may predispose the person to aneurysm formation,
      ischaemia in the posterior circulation and atherosclerotic disease of the
      intracranial vessels. 

PMID- 26894149
TI  - Multiple Isolated Enteric Duplication Cysts in an Infant - A Diagnostic Dilemma.
AB  - Completely isolated enteric duplication cysts are a rare variety of enteric
      duplication cysts having an independent blood supply with no communication with
      any part of the adjacent bowel segment. We report a case showing two completely
      isolated enteric duplication cysts originating in the greater omentum and
      transverse mesocolon in an infant. Multiple isolated enteric duplication cysts
      involving non-contiguous bowel segments have not been previously reported in the
      literature. In addition the transverse mesocolon duplication cyst was infected
      showing septations and loss of double wall sign resulting in difficulty in
      imaging diagnosis. Both the cysts were excised and confirmed on histopathology. 

PMID- 26894150
TI  - Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Patient Outcomes and their
      Predictors.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Cardiac arrest continues to be a common cause of in-hospital
      deaths. Even small improvements in survival can translate into thousands of lives
      saved every year. AIM: The aim of our prospective observational study was to
      elicit the outcomes and predictors of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation
      among adult patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: All in-hospital adult patients (age
      >14) who suffered cardiac arrest & were attended by a Code Blue Team between
      1(st) January 2012 & 30(th) April 2013 were part of the study. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was assessed in terms of:
      Response time, Presenting initial rhythm, Time to first defibrillation, Duration
      of CPR and Outcome (Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), Glasgow outcome
      scale (GOS) at discharge). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Age, GOS and mean response time
      were analysed using t-test and ANOVA. Logistic regression was applied to
      determine the significance of the various factors in determining mortality.
      RESULTS: ROSC was achieved in 44% of a total of 127 patients included in our
      study. Asystole/Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) was the most common
      presenting rhythm (87.5%). The survival to discharge was seen in 7.1% patients of
      whom only 3.9% patients had good neurological outcome. Regression and survival
      analysis depicted achievement of ROSC during CPR, absence of co-morbidities and
      shorter response time of code blue team as predictors of good outcome.
      CONCLUSION: We found poor outcome of CPR after in-hospital cardiac arrest. This
      was mainly attributed to an initial presenting rhythm of Asystole/PEA in most
      cases and delayed response times.

PMID- 26894151
TI  - Multimodal versus Conventional Approach for Postoperative Pain Relief in Oral
      Cancer Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Multimodal analgesia includes regional anaesthesia in the form of
      nerve block may improve recovery along with optimal rehabilitation and early
      resumption of day-to-day activity following major surgery. Conventional general
      anaesthesia consists of premedication, induction, intubation and maintenance.
      AIM: The aim of the study is to compare the multimodal versus conventional
      approach in oral cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were
      randomly allocated into three groups, 30 patients in each group using the
      computer generated random table to one of the following groups: Group A: Fentanyl
      1 MUg/kg, Group B: Fentanyl 1 MUg/kg + bupivacaine local infiltration, Group C:
      Fentanyl 1 MUg/kg + bupivacaine local infiltration + Dexemedetomidine infusion
      (Loading 0.5 MUg/kg, Maintenance 0.2MUg/kg/hr). RESULTS: No significant (p>0.05)
      difference was found in mean arterial pressure and heart rate at different time
      intervals among the groups. The VAS was lower in Group C than Group B and A. The
      ramsay sedation scale was higher in Group C than Group B and A. The rescue
      analgesic for 24 hour was lower in Group C than Group B and A. The time of first
      time analgesia requirement was significantly (p=0.001) higher in Group C than
      Group B and A. The rescue analgesic was significantly (p=0.001) lower in Group C
      (39.29+/-19.67) than Group B (68.33+/-18.49) and A (160.83+/-35.16). CONCLUSION:
      Multimodal analgesia has beneficial haemodynamic effects during oral cancer
      surgery with reliable postoperative analgesia and sedation and less postoperative
      complication. Dose of drugs used in our study is not associated with any major
      adverse effect.

PMID- 26894152
TI  - Effectiveness of Stellate Ganglion Block Under Fuoroscopy or Ultrasound Guidance
      in Upper Extremity CRPS.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is an effective technique which may
      be used to manage upper extremities pain due to Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
      (CRPS), in this study we tried to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure
      under two different guidance for management of this syndrome. AIM: The purpose of
      this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrsound guide SGB by comparing
      it with the furoscopy guided SGB in upper extermities CRPS patients in reducing
      pain & dysfuction of the affected link. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients
      with sympathetic CRPS in upper extremities in a randomized method with block
      randomization divided in two equal groups (with ultrasound or fluoroscopic
      guidance). First group was blocked under fluoroscopic guidance and second group
      blocked under ultrasound guidance. After correct positioning of the needle, a
      mixture of 5 ml bupivacaine 0.25% and 1 mL of triamcinolone was injected.
      RESULTS: These data represent no meaningful statistical difference between the
      two groups in terms of the number of pain attacks before the blocks, a borderline
      correlation between two groups one week and one month after the block and a
      significant statistical correlation between two groups three month after the
      block. These data represent no meaningful statistical difference between the
      patients of any group in terms of the pain intensity (from one week to six months
      after block), p-value = 0.61. These data represent a meaningful statistical
      difference among patients of any group and between the two groups in terms of the
      pain intensity (before the block until six months after block), p-values were
      0.001, 0.031 respectively. CONCLUSION: According the above mentioned data, in
      comparison with fluoroscopic guidance, stellate ganglion block under ultrasound
      guidance is a safe and effective method with lower complication and better
      improvement in patient's disability indexes.

PMID- 26894153
TI  - Comparison of Epidural Bupivacaine, Levobupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine in
      Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Levobupivacaine is the s-isomer of racemic Bupivacaine. It is less
      cardio, neurotoxic and equally potent local anaesthetic compared to its racemate.
      It is known to cause less Depression of myocardial contractility. Dexmeditomidine
      when used via epidural route has synergistic effect with local anaesthetics.
      Majority of patients presenting for vascular surgery are elderly and have
      associated co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery
      disease. We intend to study safety and efficacy of epidural Levoupivacaine and
      Dexmedetomidine in this group of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty adult
      patients undergoing lower limb vascular surgery under lumbar epidural anaesthesia
      were randomly allocated to three groups. All groups were preloaded with 10ml/kg
      of crystalloid solution. B group was scheduled to receive 15 ml of racemic
      Bupivacaine, L-group was scheduled to receive 15ml of Levobupivacaine and LD
      group received 15ml of Levobupivacaine with 0.5 mics/kg Dexmeditomedine. Time to
      onset of sensory block to T-10, maximum sensory level achieved, Bromage scale,
      time to two segment regression, time to total regression, sedation level achieved
      and patients assessment of quality of anaesthesia were assessed. Haemodynamic
      parameters were monitored throughout study period. Adverse effects were noted and
      treated appropriately. RESULTS: Baseline parameters were comparable among all the
      groups. Time to onset of sensory block to T-10 and maximum level of block
      achieved, was comparable among the groups. Time to two segment regression and
      time to total regression was significantly prolonged in LD group compared to
      other two groups. There was significant bradycardia noted in LD group which
      required treatment. CONCLUSION: Levobupivacaine can be safely used in elderly
      high risk patients undergoing vascular surgery. Addition of dexmedetomidine
      prolongs the duration of anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia.

PMID- 26894154
TI  - In Spinal Anaesthesia for Cesarean Section the Temperature of Bupivacaine Affects
      the Onset of Shivering but Not the Incidence: A Randomized Control Trial.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Postoperative shivering is a frequent event after cesarean section
      under spinal anaesthesia. Shivering is uncomfortable for the patient and may
      interfere with monitoring. The exact aetiology of shivering is unknown and
      therefore has no definite treatment. AIM: The temperature of injectate affects
      the spread of drug and so its effect. Therefore the aim of this study was to
      compare the effect of temperature of bupivacaine on post-spinal shivering in
      cesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomized,
      controlled, double-blind clinical trial 105 ASA-I/II pregnant women scheduled for
      caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were selected and randomized into
      three groups of 35 each. In all pregnant women spinal anaesthesia was achieved
      with 2.2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine given either at L3-L4 or L4-L5
      interspace. The temperature of bupivacaine was adjusted to 4 degrees C (group
      T4), 22 degrees C (group T22) and 37 degrees C (group T37). Shivering
      characteristic, onset and incidence was noted. All three groups were compared
      using analysis of variance (ANOVA), adverse effects was compared using chi-square
      test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test. The p-value < 0.05-considered as significant and
      p-value <0.01-considered highly significant. RESULTS: There were no differences
      between the groups regarding age, weight, height, amount of fluid used and blood
      loss. The incidence of shivering was 51.42%, 51.42% and 45.71% in group T4, group
      T22 and group T37 respectively, this difference in the incidence was
      statistically not significant (p=0.858). However, the onset of shivering was
      earliest (9.87+/-1.82 min) in group T4 as compared to 14.27+/-3.02 min and
      12.16+/-2.89 min in group T22 and group T37 respectively and this difference in
      the onset was highly significant (p= 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In spinal anaesthesia
      for cesarean section, the temperature of bupivacaine does not influence the
      overall incidence of post spinal shivering; however cold bupivacaine can provoke
      early onset of shivering.

PMID- 26894155
TI  - Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Pre-Emptive Caudal Epidural Ropivacaine for
      Lumbosacral Spine Surgeries.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Pre-emptive caudal epidural is a proven technique for providing
      analgesia for spinal surgeries. Prolonged pain relief with no motor blockade is
      desired for early mobilisation. AIM: Present study aimed to evaluate the effect
      of addition of Inj dexmedetomidine to caudal ropivacaine on the duration of
      analgesia, haemodynamic profile and the associated side effects. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: In this prospective double-blind study a total of 60 patients undergoing
      lumbosacral spine surgery were randomised to receive 20 cc of pre-emptive caudal
      epidural injection of either inj ropivacaine 0.2% (Group R, n =30) or a mixture
      of Inj ropivacaine 0.2% and Inj dexmedetomidine 1 MUg/kg (Group RD, n =30) under
      general anaesthesia after the patient was positioned prone for surgery. VAS
      scores, heart rate, blood pressures and time to rescue analgesia were recorded at
      regular intervals for the first 24 hours. Data analysis was carried out using
      Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, V 10.5 package). RESULTS: Mean VAS
      scores were significantly lower in the RD group for up to 12 hours following the
      caudal block. No clinically significant haemodynamic changes were noted in either
      of the groups. No other side effects were seen in both the groups. CONCLUSION:
      These results suggest that inj dexmedetomidine is an effective additive to inj
      ropivacaine for pre-emptive caudal epidural analgesia in lumbosacral spine
      surgeries.

PMID- 26894156
TI  - Ventilating Patient with Refractory Hypercarbia: Use of APRV Mode.
AB  - A 70-year-old patient referred to our critical care unit with the diagnosis of
      type II respiratory failure with shock. Patient was a known case of COPD for last
      20 years. His chest radiology revealed bilateral infiltrates. Patient was managed
      conservatively in the form of antibiotics, vasopressor and ventilatory support
      with SIMV/VC mode. After ventilation with SIMV/VC mode for half an hour his blood
      gases revealed increasing PaCO2 levels. The same result was obtained with PC mode
      and ASV and his PaCO2 level reached above 170 mmHg. Then APRV mode was tried with
      modified settings. The results obtained were satisfactory and in next 24 hours
      PaCO2 decreased to <66mmHg along with an increasing P/F ratio. APRV is the not
      recommended as primary mode of ventilation in COPD but in resistant cases it can
      be helpful as it improves alveolar recruitment and pressure support is added to
      reduce hypercapnia. 

PMID- 26894157
TI  - Bilateral Carpal Spasm Under Spinal Anaesthesia During Abdominal Hysterectomy: A
      Case Report.
AB  - Acute hypocalcaemia is a medical emergency that can have catastrophic
      implications like tetany, seizures, cardiac arrythmias or laryngospasm if left
      untreated. We are presenting a case of a 30-year-old female patient undergoing
      total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoopherectomy under spinal
      anaesthesia. She developed unexpected bilateral carpal spasm intraoperatively
      which was promptly diagnosed and successfully managed with intravenous calcium
      administration. We conclude that the anaesthetist should be aware of the clinical
      presentation of acute hypocalcaemia, its causes and emergency management in the
      perioperative period to prevent any adverse outcomes. 

PMID- 26894158
TI  - The Difficult Paediatric Airway: Two Cases of large Cystic Hygroma.
AB  - This is a report of a two cases of difficult intubation experienced in paediatric
      surgical cases. Both the infants, aged one and three-month-old respectively, had
      very large cystic hygroma of the neck area. Prior hematological and radiological
      investigations (USG and CT scan of the swelling) and preanaesthesia check up was
      done and cases were posted for surgical excision. Case I had difficult airway due
      to pressure of the tumour/cystic hygroma over the airway and posed difficulty for
      intubation, but was managed well. Case II had respiratory distress during
      preoperative period. She had been postponed for surgical excision of the cystic
      hygroma of neck twice due to the difficulties experienced during intubation.
      Needle aspiration of hygroma fluid helped to reduce the respiratory distress, and
      the size of the tumour as well, which further helped in the smooth intubation
      after a week. The postoperative period was uneventful in both the infants. 

PMID- 26894159
TI  - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children of Conflict Region of Kashmir
      (India): A Review.
AB  - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs due to traumatic events. The last
      two decades have seen various traumatic events in Kashmiri population, which has
      led to psychological impact on all population, especially children. PTSD is one
      of the psychiatric disorders occurring after witnessing of traumatic events. A
      review of literature regarding PTSD in children of Kashmir (India) has been done
      to assess the prevalence, causes, neurobiology, risk factors and psychiatric co
      morbidity associated with it. 

PMID- 26894160
TI  - A Retrospective Study of the Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Males:
      Viral Infections in Emerging Trend.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be a major
      public health problem with significant burden on the society even after so many
      health care programmes being organized by the governmental and non-governmental
      organizations and awareness created among general public about STIs. Male
      patients are common visitors to STI clinic than females who are generally traced
      as a contact in our society. AIM: The aim of this study was to give an overview
      of the pattern of STIs among males at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a
      period of 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the
      data collected from the clinical records of all male patients, who had attended
      the STI clinic of Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital, Chengalpattu, Tamil
      Nadu, for various complaints during the 5 year period from 2010 to 2014 was
      carried out. All male patients with confirmed STIs were included in the study and
      those patients without any evidence of STIs either clinically or serologically
      were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Out of the 4454 male cases who had
      attended the STI clinic, 175 (3.93%) patients had STIs. Genital wart accounted
      for the maximum number among the STIs with 61 cases (34.86%), followed by genital
      herpes 56 (32%), urethral discharge 19(10.86%), non-herpetic genital ulcerative
      diseases 17(9.71%) and serological test for syphilis (RPR) was reactive in 22
      (12.57%) patients. HIV was positive in 68 (1.53%) among the total 4454 male
      patients attended the clinic. CONCLUSION: Viral STIs occur significantly more
      than the bacterial STIs because of its incurable and recurrent nature. Health
      programmes should be still more focused on creating awareness about the minor
      STIs and to remove the stigma so that the patients attend the proper health care
      facilities in the early stage itself for treatment thereby, complications and
      further transmission of the STIs can be avoided.

PMID- 26894162
TI  - Benign Lymphangioendothelioma - A Case Report.
AB  - Benign lymphangioendothelioma is an uncommon locally infiltrative lymphatic
      tumour, presenting as a slow-growing, asymptomatic, reddish-violaceous macule or
      plaque. Histopathologically, it is characterized by thin-walled endothelial-lined
      spaces that are interspersed between strands of collagen. It must be recognized
      and differentiated from angiosarcoma, early Kaposi's sarcoma, in view of major
      differences in treatment and prognosis. A 24-year-old female presented with a
      raised lesion over the left leg since 2 years which was associated with minimal
      itching. Biopsy of the lesion showed thin walled vascular channels lined by
      single layer of bland endothelial cells at the dermo-epidermal junction, few
      vessels in the dermis. 

PMID- 26894161
TI  - Effect of Topical Application of the Cream Containing Magnesium 2% on Treatment
      of Diaper Dermatitis and Diaper Rash in Children A Clinical Trial Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Diaper dermatitis is referred to the inflammation in outer layers
      of the skin in the perineal area, lower abdomen, and inner thighs. The lesions
      are maculopapular and usually itchy, which could cause bacterial or candida
      infection, and predispose the infants to penis or vaginal and urinary infection
      and lead to discomfort, irritability, and restlessness. The drugs which have been
      so far administered for this disease (topical steroids) cause special
      complications for the sensitive skin in this area. Magnesium (Mg) is known for
      its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. AIM: The aim of the present
      study was to study the effect of the cream containing Mg 2% on treatment of
      diaper dermatitis and diaper rash in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this
      clinical trial study, 64 children aged less than two years old with diaper
      dermatitis referring Paediatric Ward of Hajar Hospital were randomly assigned to
      two groups of 32. Group one was treated with the combined cream Mg 2% and
      Calendula and group two with Calendula cream alone. The duration of recovery was
      compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The duration of recovery was
      significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (p
      value<0.001), but there was no significant difference in the lesions size and
      diapers' number between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the finding of this
      study, Mg is effective on treatment of diaper dermatitis and could be used for
      treating diaper dermatitis and other types of dermatitis.

PMID- 26894163
TI  - Inguinal Lymph Nodes in Carcinoma Penis-Observation or Surgery?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In Indian sub-continent the presentation of carcinoma penis is
      variable. Mostly presents with palpable inguinal lymph nodes but not confirm of
      metastases. AIM: To evaluate whether all clinically positive nodes are metastatic
      and decide when to address inguinal lymph node. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      retrospective observational study on carcinoma penis from a regional cancer
      centre of south India over a period from 2001 to 2012. All the clinical,
      investigational, operative, pathology details and follow-up data were collected
      from patient records. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty cases of carcinoma penis
      have been identified and 112 cases had clinically positive nodes. In 74 cases
      fine needle cytology was positive for malignancy and they have been addressed
      with block dissection with surgery of primary lesion. At two years follow up, 70
      patients were identified with inguinal lymph node metastasis and block dissection
      was performed and all was were positive for malignancy on histology. The rate of
      recurrence is related to the T stage of the primary tumour. CONCLUSION: It can be
      concluded that elective surgery is appropriate for palpable inguinal lymph nodes
      and prophylactic nodal dissection in high risk cases of carcinoma penis.

PMID- 26894164
TI  - Multiple Primary Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma of the Jejunal Mesentery: A Case
      Report and Review of Literature.
AB  - Liposarcoma arising primarily from the intestinal mesentery is a rare malignancy.
      Malignancy is said to be synchronous when there is occurrence of two or more
      tumours that have not spread from a common site or recurred and show no evidence
      of metastasis. Multiple synchronous primary liposarcoma of the mesentery is a
      very unusual clinical finding. Here, we report a rare case of synchronous
      multiple primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma of jejunal mesentery in a 36-year
      old female patient. Radiological investigations aided in making a provisional
      diagnosis of an ovarian malignancy. A staging laparotomy was performed and
      general surgeon's help was sought due to the presence of three separate jejunal
      mesenteric masses of sizes 8x6 cms, 6x6 cms and 25x20 cms respectively. Complete
      excision of mesenteric masses with one feet of involved jejunum was done and a
      jejuno-jejunal anastomosis made. The histopathology report was indicative of
      multiple dedifferentiated liposarcoma of jejunal mesentery. Postoperatively
      patient received Doxorubicin, Dacarbazine and Ifosfamide based adjuvant
      chemotherapy in view of poorly differentiated tumour. Patient remains tumour free
      for the last 12 months of follow up. 

PMID- 26894165
TI  - Tensile Bond Strength of Self Adhesive Resin Cement After Various Surface
      Treatment of Enamel.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: In self adhesive resin cements adhesion is achieved to dental
      surface without surface pre-treatment, and requires only single step application.
      This makes the luting procedure less technique-sensitive and decreases
      postoperative sensitivity. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate bond
      strength of self adhesive resin after surface treatment of enamel for bonding
      base metal alloy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the labial surface of 64 central
      incisor rectangular base metal block of dimension 6 mm length, 5mm width and 1 mm
      height was cemented with RelyX U200 and Maxcem Elite self adhesive cements with
      and without surface treatment of enamel. Surface treatment of enamel was
      application of etchant, one step bonding agent and both. Tensile bond strength of
      specimen was measured with universal testing machine at a cross head speed of
      1mm/min. RESULTS: Least tensile bond strength (MPa) was in control group i.e.
      1.33 (0.32) & 1.59 (0.299), Highest bond strength observed when enamel treated
      with both etchant and bonding agent i.e. 2.72 (0.43) & 2.97 (0.19) for Relyx U200
      and Elite cement. When alone etchant and bonding agent were applied alone bond
      strength is 2.19 (0.18) & 2.24 (0.47) for Relyx U200, and 2.38 (0.27) 2.49 (0.16)
      for Max-cem elite. Mean bond strength was higher in case of Max-cem Elite as
      compared to RelyX U200 resin cement, although differences were non-significant (p
      > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surface treatment of enamel increases the bond strength of
      self adhesive resin cement.

PMID- 26894166
TI  - Computed Tomographic Evaluation of K3 Rotary and Stainless Steel K File
      Instrumentation in Primary Teeth.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The intention of root canal preparation is to reduce infected
      content and create a root canal shape allowing for a well condensed root filling.
      Therefore, it is not necessary to remove excessive dentine for successful root
      canal preparation and concern must be taken not to over instrument as
      perforations can occur in the thin dentinal walls of primary molars. AIM: This
      study was done to evaluate the time preparation, the risk of lateral perforation
      and dentine removal of the stainless steel K file and K3 rotary instrumentation
      in primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five primary molars were
      selected and divided into three groups. Using spiral computed tomography the
      teeth were scanned before instrumentation. Teeth were prepared using a stainless
      steel K file for manual technique. All the canals were prepared up to file size
      35. In K3 rotary files (.02 taper) instrumentation was done up to 35 size file.
      In K3 rotary files (.04 taper) the instrumentation was done up to 25 size file
      and simultaneously the instrumentation time was recorded. The instrumented teeth
      were once again scanned and the images were compared with the images of the
      uninstrumented canals. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data was statistically analysed
      using Kruskal Wallis One-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-Test and Pearson's Chi-square
      Test. RESULTS: K3 rotary files (.02 taper) removed a significantly less amount of
      dentine, required less instrumentation time than a stainless steel K file.
      CONCLUSION: K3 files (.02 taper) generated less dentine removal than the
      stainless steel K file and K3 files (.04 taper). K3 rotary files (.02 taper) were
      more effective for root canal instrumentation in primary teeth.

PMID- 26894167
TI  - Can MMP-9 be a Prognosticator Marker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Invasion and metastasis of malignant tumours severely endanger the
      life of cancer patients. Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the commonly found
      malignancies in the oral cavity and its survival rate has not improved from past
      few decades. Since an important risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma is
      the presence of epithelial dysplasia, it is necessary to check the presence of a
      prognosticator marker in both of them. As matrix metalloproteinase's (MMP's) are
      involved in degradation of type IV collagen, which are one of the important
      components of extracellular matrix components which play a relevant role in
      several steps of tumour progression such as invasion and metastasis. We have
      studied MMP-9 expression to evaluate its prognostic potential in oral cancers as
      well as oral epithelial dysplasia along with tissues of normal oral epithelium.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression was examined using immunohistochemistry
      procedure with MMP-9 in 100 samples including cases of epithelium from normal
      oral mucosa, oral dysplastic lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma. One set of
      formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of the three categories were stained
      by haematoxylin and eosin. The sections were then evaluated under microscope.
      Data was examined for statistical significance using SPSS 13.0 by Mann-Whitney
      Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test. RESULTS: With MMP-9 gain of expression was noted
      from Control group to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cytoplasmic staining was seen
      with MMP-9. Statistically highly significant differences were seen between oral
      epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma and statistically
      significant differences were found between the control group and the oral
      squamous cell carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that oral
      squamous cell carcinoma shows higher MMP-9 expression as compared to oral
      epithelial dysplasia followed by epithelium from normal oral mucosa. However, no
      correlation was found among the histological grades of oral squamous cell
      carcinoma.

PMID- 26894168
TI  - Comparison of the Root End Sealing Ability of Four Different Retrograde Filling
      Materials in Teeth with Root Apices Resected at Different Angles - An Invitro
      Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Insufficient apical seal is the significant reason for surgical
      endodontic disappointment. The root-end filling material utilized should avoid
      egress of potential contaminants into periapical tissue. AIM: The aim of this
      study was to compare the sealing ability of four root-end filling materials MTA,
      Portland cement, IRM, RMGIC in teeth with root apices resected at 0 and 45 angle
      using dye penetration method under fluorescent microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Hundred extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were sectioned horizontally at
      the cement-enamel junction. After cleaning, shaping and obturation with gutta
      percha and AH Plus sealer, the tooth samples were randomly divided in two groups
      (the root apices resected at 0 degrees  and 45 degrees  to the long axis of the
      root). The root resections were carried out by removing 2 mm and 1 mm in both the
      groups. Following which 3 mm deep root-end cavities were prepared at the apices
      and the root were coated with nail varnish except the tip. The teeth in both the
      group were randomly divided into four subgroups each (Pro root MTA, Portland
      cement, IRM and Light cure nano GIC Ketac N-100). All the retrofilled samples
      were stored in acrydine orange for 24 hours after which they were cleaned and
      vertically sectioned buccolingually. The sectioned root samples were observed
      under fluorescent microscope. RESULTS: The root apex sealing ability of Mineral
      Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) was superior to Portland cement, Intermediate
      Restorative Material (IRM) and LC GIC. IRM demonstrated the maximum apical
      leakage value among all the materials. Portland cement and LC GIC showed
      comparable sealing ability. CONCLUSION: The angulation whether 0 degrees  or 45
      degrees  angle did not affect the sealing ability of all the four materials used,
      MTA proved to be one of the superior materials for root-end filling.

PMID- 26894169
TI  - Impact of Aprotinin - A Proteolytic Enzyme on Postsurgical Symptoms in Patients
      Undergoing Third Molar Surgeries.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Dealing with postoperative pain and inflammation remains an arena
      for never ending research. Different agents have been the subject of many studies
      to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant postoperative sequel. Extraction of third
      molars is often associated with significant deterioration in oral health related
      quality of life (physical, social and psychological) in immediate postoperative
      period. The complaints of pain, swelling and limitation of mouth opening, which
      ensue as a result of acute inflammatory response, are frequent consequences of
      postsurgical procedures involving extraction of impacted 3(rd) molars. AIM:
      Aprotinin, a naturally occurring protease inhibitor was assessed for its
      effectiveness in plummeting postsurgical pain and swelling, after surgical
      removal of impacted 3(rd) molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty randomly selected
      adult patients age ranging from 16-35 years, who required simultaneous surgical
      removal of bilateral impacted mandibular third molars were recruited. Before the
      surgical procedure, randomly selected side of the patient was injected with 1 m
      of 10,000 Kallikrein Inactivator Units (KIU) of aprotinin sub-mucosally around
      the surgical site and the contra lateral side with 1ml of isotonic saline as a
      control following which adequate local anaesthesia was obtained. The surgical
      removal of impacted 3(rd) molars was conducted in a similar manner on both test
      and control sides on all patients. Postoperatively, the patients were evaluated
      for pain and swelling for one week i.e., 1(st), 2(nd) and 7(th) day. RESULTS: It
      was observed that there was marked clinical reduction in postoperative pain and
      swelling. There were no adverse affects observed after using aprotinin.
      CONCLUSION: Since, the current pharmacologic agents being used have adverse
      effects and associated morbidity which still pose a problem, aprotinin a
      naturally occurring agent could be efficiently used after surgical extraction of
      3(rd) molars in management of postsurgical symptoms and improve patient comfort
      and quality of life. In future, further studies with use of aprotinin in a large
      number of patients and comparative studies with other drugs are required.

PMID- 26894170
TI  - The Release of Elements from the Base Metal Alloys in a Protein Containing
      Biologic Environments and Artificial Saliva - An Invitro Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It has been reported that protein containing solutions can
      accelerate the release of elements from the base metal alloys. AIM: This study
      aims to determine whether the solution in which an alloy is submerged and the
      exposure time have any effect on the amount of release of elements from the Ni-Cr
      and Co-Cr alloys. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 126 specimens were made from
      the Ni-Cr alloy and 42 specimens were made from Co-Cr alloy in the form of 5mm
      diameter discs, 2mm in thickness. Dissolution experiments were carried out in
      Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and artificial saliva for a period of seven weeks and
      atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for elemental analysis. STATISTICAL
      ANALYSIS: T-test was done to correlate the difference of elemental release from
      both BSA and artificial saliva. ANOVA test was done to compare the release at
      different time intervals and to compare the release of elements at different time
      intervals within a particular solution. TUKEY HSD test was done for comparison
      between the elements in a particular solution. RESULTS: The results showed that
      the elemental release was seen in both the solutions with a significant increase
      of release in BSA. The release of elements from the Ni-Cr alloy showed the
      predominant release of Cr. CONCLUSION: The protein containing solution showed
      maximum release of elements from Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloys. The elements that
      released from the alloys never reached their threshold for toxic effects. Hence
      these alloys can be safely used in fabrication of metal restorations without any
      ill effects.

PMID- 26894171
TI  - Oral Health Status of Underground Coal Mine Workers of Ramakrishnapur, Adilabad
      District, Telangana, India - A Cross-Sectional Study.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Standard of living and quality of life of people has been improved
      by the expanding industrial activity, but at the other end it has created many
      occupational hazards. Coal mining is one of the major age old industries
      throughout the world and in India. Till date very less literature is available
      worldwide and in India concerning the oral health status of laborers in this
      field. AIM: To assess the oral health status of underground coal mine workers,
      oral hygiene practices, alcohol and tobacco habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A
      cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among the underground coal mine
      workers of a coal mine located in Adilabad district, Telangana, according to the
      criteria described in the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment
      form (2013). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were done. RESULTS: A
      total of 356 workers participated in the study. Ninety percent of the subjects
      were with tobacco and/or alcohol habits. Dental caries was prevalent in more than
      half (55.6%) of the study subjects with a mean DMFT of 2.32+/-2.99. About 48.3%
      study subjects were with untreated dental caries and 20.3% subjects were with
      missing teeth. DMFT <==6 was seen in 45.5% of subjects and 10.1% have DMFT scores
      >==7. Periodontal disease was the most prevalent condition seen in the population
      with 94.4% subjects having unhealthy periodontium in terms of gingival bleeding
      and/or periodontal pockets. About 186 (52.25%) and 145 (40.73%) of subjects were
      with 0-3mm and 4-5mm loss of attachment respectively. Fourteen percent of
      population showed dental traumatic injuries. CONCLUSION: The findings highlighted
      the high caries prevalence, higher periodontal disease, traumatic injuries which
      requires immediate intervention.

PMID- 26894172
TI  - A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug
      Therapy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Gingival overgrowth, a well-known side effect of chronic phenytoin
      therapy has also been known to be caused by other anti epileptic drugs (AED's).
      Various factors like plaque, gingival inflammation, and periodontal health have
      been postulated to effect gingival overgrowth. AIM: To identify the AED having an
      effect on gingival overgrowth and to study the factors affecting it. MATERIALS
      AND METHODS: Three groups of 30 children each on monotherapy of phenytoin, sodium
      valproate, and carbamazepine were longitudinally followed for six months. Their
      oral and epileptic health status was assessed and were monitored for change in
      plaque levels, gingival inflammation, probing depth and the status of gingival
      overgrowth at baseline, at the end of 3 months and finally at the end of 6
      months. The data was recorded and statistically analysed. RESULTS: Phenytoin
      caused gingival overgrowth in a significant number of children (53.6%) within 3
      months. Sodium valproate also led to gingival overgrowth, but not upto
      statistically significant levels. Patients on carbamazepine did not show any
      signs of gingival overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth is seen more on buccal side, in
      the anterior segment and in the lower arch. No correlation could be found
      between, either plaque level, or gingival inflammation with gingival overgrowth.
      Probing depth could be positively correlated with gingival overgrowth.
      CONCLUSION: Phenytoin is the drug, which can be chiefly implicated for causing
      gingival overgrowth. Sodium valproate carries the potential for gingival
      overgrowth, although only up to clinically insignificant levels in 6 months.
      Carbamazepine can be considered a safe drug in children in relation to gingival
      overgrowth.

PMID- 26894173
TI  - An Evaluation of Retentive Ability and Deformation of Acetal Resin and Cobalt
      Chromium Clasps.
AB  - AIM: To compare the retentive ability and deformation of Acetal resin with Cobalt
      Chromium clasps via Insertion Removal apparatus after subjecting them to
      stimulate clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Materials used for this study are
      commercially available Cobalt-Chromium alloy namely Wironit, Bego, Germany and
      Acetal resin namely Biodentaplast, Bredent, Germany. The test samples were
      divided into two major groups based on the type of materials used in the study.
      Each major group is further subdivided into two sub groups based on the retentive
      undercut depths used to engage the clasps. So a total of 20 specimens were
      prepared, comprising of 5 specimens in each sub group. Then the specimens were
      tested for retention force and deformation. RESULTS: The results of this study
      indicate that acetal resin clasps are resistant to deformation and may offer a
      clinical advantage over the conventional metal clasps. The retentive force of
      acetal resin clasps did not decrease over the cycling periods. This would be
      attributed to the resilient nature of acetal resin. Under the conditions of the
      present study cobalt chromium clasps lost retentive force within 730 cycles of
      placement and removal and continued to lose retentive force during the remaining
      test period. CONCLUSION: This invitro study demonstrated that retentive force of
      cobalt chromium clasp is superior to that of Acetal resin for removable partial
      dentures. As acetal resin clasps exhibits greater flexibility and long term
      retentive resiliency, it can be used for removable partial dentures where
      aesthetics or periodontal health is a primary concern.

PMID- 26894174
TI  - Oral Radiology Safety Standards Adopted by the General Dentists Practicing in
      National Capital Region (NCR).
AB  - INTRODUCTION: With advancement in diagnostic techniques, the utilization of
      radiologic examination has risen to many folds in the last two decades. Ionizing
      radiations from the radiographic examination carry the potential for harm by
      inducing carcino-genesis in addition to the diagnostic information extracted.
      Radiation doses utilized in the course of dental treatment might be low for
      individual examinations but patients are exposed to repeated examinations very
      often and many people are exposed during the course of dental care. Therefore,
      principles of radiation protection and safety are necessary for the dentists to
      follow to ensure minimum and inevitable exposure. AIM: The aim of this study was
      to investigate the knowledge and behaviour of general dentists practicing in the
      National Capital Region (NCR) regarding radiation safety during oral radiographic
      procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a questionnaire based cross
      sectional study. A total of 500 general dentists were contacted to participate in
      the study. The target population entailed of general dentists practicing in the
      National Capital Region. Data was computed and tabulated in Microsoft excel sheet
      and statistical analysis was performed with the help of SPSS version 21.0.
      RESULTS: The total response rate recovered was 70.6% and the respondents
      comprised of 59% and 41% males & females respectively. Only 64.8% of the general
      dentists contemplated thyroid to be the most important organ for radiation
      protection. Only 28.8% of the general dentists followed the position & distance
      rule appropriately. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the knowledge and
      behaviour of the general dentists and the practices adopted by them regarding
      radiation safety is not satisfactory. To ensure the following of basic and
      necessary guidelines for radiation safety and protection, strict rules with
      penalties should be implemented by the state councils and new and interesting
      methods of education for this spectrum of the field should be introduced.

PMID- 26894175
TI  - The Efficacy of Topical Hyaluronic Acid 0.2% in the Management of Symptomatic
      Oral Lichen Planus.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a condition frequently referred to the
      specialist dental clinic for diagnosis and management. It is a disease of the
      skin and mucous membranes with oral manifestations too. It varies in appearance
      from keratotic to erythematous and ulcerative form. Immunosuppressants are
      frequently used for patients but some of these drugs could be implicated in
      malignant transformation, thus there is a clear need to find an alternative
      therapy for OLP. AIM: To evaluate the relief of symptoms and reduction in the
      size of the lesions of lichen planus with 0.2% hyaluronic acid topical
      application and to compare the efficacy of topical hyaluronic acid (0.2%) with
      that of patients on placebo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled study
      was conducted on 50 symptomatic and biopsy proven patients with lichen planus.
      The subjective symptoms like Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the objective
      symptoms like degree of erythema and mean area of the lesion were recorded
      preoperatively and on day 7, day 14, day 21 and day 28. The selected patients
      were divided randomly into group-I comprising of 25 patients who received topical
      0.2% hyaluronic acid therapy for 14 days and group-II comprising of 25 patients
      who received topical application of placebo for 14 days. The statistical tests
      used were Mann-Whitney U test, t-test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test by ranks and
      paired t-test. RESULTS: Symptomatic effect of soreness evaluation- there was a
      significant reduction in VAS scores in the test group as compared to placebo,
      similarly there was also significant reduction in the degree of erythema, change
      in the size of the lesion and area of the lesion in the test group. There was
      significant improvement in relief of symptoms, in the degree of erythema and mean
      area of the lesion in Group-I when compared with group-II. CONCLUSION: Topical
      application of 0.2% Hyaluronic acid showed a significant clinical response when
      compared to topical placebo. It is easy to use; hence a frequent application
      scheme should be advised to improve the efficacy of hyaluronic acid.

PMID- 26894177
TI  - Comparative Evaluation of Antifungal Effect of Titanium, Zirconium and Aluminium
      Nanoparticles Coated Titanium Plates Against C. albicans.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The topographical modifications may vary from millimeter wide
      grooves to nano size structures. Recently growing nano technology is rapidly
      advancing surface engineering in implant dentistry. This advancement has resulted
      in difference in surface properties including the morphology, chemistry, crystal
      structure and mechanical properties of the implant. AIM: To evaluate the
      anticandidal effect of titanium, zirconium and aluminium nanoparticles against C.
      albicans at 24 hours, 72 hours and one week time interval. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      According to ISO/TR 11175:1993, the samples were prepared with the dimension of
      20mm diameter and 1mm thickness in grade IV titanium. A total of 40 samples were
      made and the samples were divided into four groups. The samples without coating
      were Group-A (control), samples coated with titanium nano particles were Group-B,
      samples coated with zirconium nano particles were Group-C and samples coated with
      aluminium nano particles were Group-D. The samples were cleaned by sonicating in
      acetone and subsequently in water three times for 15 min. Then they were treated
      with TiO2, ZrO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles. The discs were sterilized under uv
      radiation and placed in SDA for C.albicans. The colonies were counted in 24, 72
      hours and one week intervals. RESULTS: The values were statistically analyzed
      using one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD Test. Significance p-value was < .001, which
      showed that significant difference in C.F.U among the groups in titanium coated
      samples at 24 hours, 72 hours and one week time intervals. CONCLUSION: TiO2
      nanoparticles coated titanium plates showed significant anticandidal effect
      compared to ZrO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles at 24, 72 hours and one week time
      interval.

PMID- 26894176
TI  - Aesthetic Crown Lengthening Using Chu Aesthetic Gauges And Evaluation of Biologic
      Width Healing.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The principles of biologic width have governed the literature and
      served as a clinical guideline during the evaluation of perio- restorative
      interrelationships. An adequate understanding of this concept is paramount to
      ensure adequate form, function, aesthetics and comfort of the dentition. Biologic
      width violation has become a common problem as most of the practitioners tend to
      underestimate the amount of tooth structure that must be exposed during a crown
      lengthening procedure. Also, adding to the confusion, there is a lack of general
      agreement regarding the amount of tooth structure that must be exposed above the
      crest of bone for restorative purposes. AIM: The aim of this study was to perform
      aesthetic crown lengthening using Chu aesthetic gauges and evaluate the healing
      of biologic width. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 teeth in 15 patients were
      included into the study of which 30 teeth required crown lengthening and 60 teeth
      shared a proximal surface with the experimental teeth. Aesthetic crown
      lengthening was performed using the Chu aesthetic gauges. Presurgical and
      intraoperative data were recorded at baseline, three and six months at six sites
      per tooth. RESULTS: The computed data suggest that although the positional
      changes of the periodontal tissues stabilize by three months, the biologic width
      if adequate crown lengthening is carried out re-establishes itself by three
      months to the original vertical levels and further gets stabilized by six months.
      CONCLUSION: A step by step approach to periodontal aesthetic crown lengthening
      using Chu aesthetic gauge can serve to be vital for successful, predictable, and
      aesthetic restorative outcome.

PMID- 26894178
TI  - Assessment of Salivary Gland Function Using Salivary Scintigraphy in Pre and Post
      Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Diagnosed Thyroid Carcinoma Patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Thyroid carcinoma represents less than 1% of all cancers. The first
      line of treatment for thyroid cancer is partial/total thyroidectomy. High-dose
      Iodine(131) therapy using Iodine radioisotopes is commonly used in patients with
      well differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total thyroidectomy. In this process,
      the non-thyroidal tissues, such as, salivary gland, stomach and breast tissues
      also take up radioactive iodine. Salivary gland scintigraphy is widely accepted
      as a sensitive and valid method for evaluation of salivary gland dysfunction
      after Radioactive Iodine(131) Therapy (RIT). AIM: To assess and compare the
      salivary flow rates, relative uptake and ejection fractions in parotid and
      submandibular glands just before and one month after Iodine(131) therapy.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 24 patients diagnosed with well
      differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent partial/total thyroidectomy and
      were due for radioactive iodine therapy. These patients were divided into two
      groups based on the lesion based dosimetry (Group A: 60-100Gy; Group B: 100
      150Gy). Salivary gland assessment was done by salivary gland scintigraphy before
      and after RIT. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data collected was tabulated and
      statistically analysed using SPSS software version16 using paired t-test and
      individual sample t-test. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in the
      uptake percent and ejection fraction percent in the parotid and submandibular
      glands before RIT and one month after RIT was observed in the study. CONCLUSION:
      We inferred from the study that there was an overall decrease in uptake percent
      and ejection fraction percent one month post RIT in both parotid and
      submandibular glands. Also, a statistically significant difference was noted in
      the uptake and ejection fraction percent between Group A and Group B concluding
      the fact that the damage is dose related.

PMID- 26894179
TI  - Evaluation of Salivary Nitric Oxide Levels in Smokers, Tobacco Chewers and
      Patients with Oral Lichenoid Reactions.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical, acts as a signalling molecule
      affecting numerous physiological and pathological processes. Role of nitric oxide
      as a mediator in tobacco related habits and the resultant oral lichenoid
      reactions was assessed. AIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the
      salivary nitric oxide levels in normal patients with that of smokers, tobacco
      chewers and patients with oral lichenoid reactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One
      hundred and twenty patients were enrolled in the study which included 30 healthy
      patients without any chronic inflammatory lesion and habit as controls (group I),
      30 smokers without the habit of tobacco/betel nut chewing and any oral lesion
      (group II), 30 tobacco chewers without the habit of smoking and any oral lesion
      (group III) and 30 histologically confirmed cases of oral lichenoid reaction with
      the habit of tobacco usage (group IV). Saliva from these patients was collected
      and the nitrite concentration was assessed. RESULTS: Our results concluded that
      there was highly significant increase in the nitric oxide levels in smokers,
      tobacco chewers and patients with oral lichenoid reactions compared to that of
      controls. Also, there was a significant increase in nitric oxide levels in
      patients with smoking associated oral lichenoid reactions in comparison with
      smokers and in patients with lichenoid reactions associated with tobacco chewing
      in comparison with tobacco chewers. CONCLUSION: Estimation of salivary nitric
      oxide levels is a simple, non-invasive procedure and could be analysed to suggest
      the role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of these lesions. The increased
      activity of the enzyme may indicate that nitric oxide has a pathophysiological
      role in these lesions.

PMID- 26894180
TI  - Clinical Evaluation of Low Level Diode Laser Application For Primary Teeth
      Pulpotomy.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Inspite of latest advances in the materials and techniques
      practiced for the treatment of pulpally infected teeth with better reported
      success rate, still the question arises for safety and effectiveness of these
      medicaments. AIM: The objective of the present study was to compare the
      effectiveness of the Low Level Laser Therapy to Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA)
      when used for pulpotomy in vital human primary molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The
      sample consisted of 40 primary molars from 29 children aged four to seven years.
      The teeth were selected based on clinical, radiographic criteria and randomly
      allocated to two groups. All the 40 primary molars were subjected to standard
      pulpotomy procedure, where in 20 molars received MTA (Group I) and 20 molars
      received LLLT (Group II) pulpotomy. Children were recalled at 3, 6 and 12 months
      intervals and pulpotomised molars were examined clinically and radiographically.
      Data was analysed using chi-square test. RESULTS: MTA showed 94.7% success rate
      at all the three intervals, where as LLLT showed a success of 95% at three
      months, which decreased gradually to 85% at six months and 80% at 12 months.
      Intergroup comparisons were not significant. CONCLUSION: Low level laser therapy
      can be considered for primary teeth pulpotomy and its success is comparable to
      MTA pulpotomy technique.

PMID- 26894181
TI  - ZACD: A Retrograde Panoramic Analysis among Indian Population with New System of
      Classification.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Zygomatic Air Cell Defect (ZACD) has been considered as a normal
      radiographic variant with a spare knowledge. This should be judged before any
      surgical procedure of the temporal region as lack of which can lead to infections
      of cranium and may other complications. AIM: The present study was undertaken to
      estimate the prevalence and characteristics of ZACD and to propose a
      classification for the same using digital panoramic radiography. MATERIALS AND
      METHODS: A total of 6825 digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated
      retrospectively of subjects aged between 4-90 years from both genders. The
      radiographs were evaluated by 4 (four) oral radiologists and the ZACD was
      recorded only when the decision was indisputable. RESULTS: Out of 6825 digital
      panoramic radiographs evaluated ZACD was noticed in 133 subjects with an overall
      prevalence of 1.94%. A male predilection was noted in the present study with the
      maximum prevalence during the second, third and fourth decade of life and as the
      age increases its prevalence decreases. Most commonly it was found to be
      unilateral and the unilocular presentation being more common. CONCLUSION: Most of
      the finding of the present study is in acceptance with those conducted
      previously, but some of the finding contradicts those in the previous ones. It
      can be because of low sample size of the previous studies. Moreover this study
      gives a new system to classify these defects to help diagnose the nature of the
      defect.

PMID- 26894182
TI  - The Effects of In-Office Reconditioning on the Slot Dimensions and Static
      Frictional Resistance of Stainless Steel Brackets.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Orthodontists are commonly faced with the decision of what to do
      with loose brackets, and with inaccurately located brackets that need
      repositioning during treatment. One solution is to recycle the brackets. The
      potential effects of reconditioning a bracket are dependent upon many factors
      which may result in physical changes like alteration in slot tolerance, which may
      influence sliding mechanics by affecting frictional resistance. AIM: To study and
      compare the dimensional changes in the bracket slot width and depth in
      reconditioned brackets from unused brackets under scanning electronic microscope
      and to study and compare any consequent effects on the static frictional
      resistance of stainless steel brackets after reconditioning and in unused
      brackets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dentarum manufactured 90 stainless steel central
      incisors edgewise brackets of size 0.22 X 0.030" inch and 0 degrees  tip and 0
      degrees angulation were taken. 60 samples for measuring frictional resistance and
      30 samples for measuring slot dimensions. Ortho organizers manufactured stainless
      steel arch wires 0.019 X 0.025" straight lengths 60 in number were considered for
      measuring static frictional resistance. RESULTS: The mean slot width and depth of
      new brackets were 0.0251" and 0.0471", which exceeded the manufacturers reported
      nominal size of 0.022" X 0.030", by 0.003" and 0.017". The reconditioned brackets
      demonstrated a further increase in mean slot width and depth to 0.028" and
      0.0518" that is by 0.0035" and 0.0047" which is statistically significant
      (p=0.001, 0.002). The mean static frictional forces of the reconditioned brackets
      was nearly similar to that of new brackets that is 0.3167N for reconditioned
      brackets and 0.2613 N for new brackets. CONCLUSION: Although the reconditioning
      process results in physical changes to bracket structure this does not appear to
      result in significant effect on ex-vivo static frictional resistance.

PMID- 26894183
TI  - An Evaluation of Upper and Lower Pharyngeal Airway Width, Tongue Posture and
      Hyoid Bone Position in Subjects with Different Growth Patterns.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: It is important to evaluate the position of the hyoid bone in
      relation to the tongue at the beginning of orthodontic treatment so that during
      the treatment, its position may be directed hence overall impact on airway could
      be assessed. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the upper and lower
      pharyngeal airway dimensions, posture of tongue and hyoid bone position in young
      adults with different growth patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample size of the
      study included 90 post-adolescent subjects, within the age range of 18-32 years.
      Based on the different growth pattern of the face, subjects were divided into
      Group I (n=30; average growth pattern), Group II (n=30; horizontal growth
      pattern) and Group III (n=30; vertical growth pattern). Lateral cephalogram were
      traced and analysed manually by the same investigator for evaluation of upper and
      lower pharyngeal airway, tongue posture and hyoid bone position. The intergroup
      comparison of upper and lower pharyngeal airway dimensions, posture of tongue and
      hyoid bone was performed with one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: The results showed
      that upper oropharyngeal widths were significantly different in different facial
      skeletal patterns (p=0.00). Subjects with vertical skeletal pattern have
      significantly narrower upper airways than those with horizontal skeletal pattern
      (p= 0.025). There was significantly higher difference in position of dorsum of
      the tongue in vertical growth pattern group (p=0.00). The hyoid bone was
      positioned farther from the mandibular symphysis in brachyfacial subjects,
      reflected by the larger H-RGN (Hyoid- retrognathion) values compared with the
      dolichofacial and normal subjects (p=0.044). CONCLUSION: The upper oropharyngeal
      width was found to be narrower in subjects with vertical growth pattern. The
      dorsum of the tongue is seen to be placed higher in subjects with vertical growth
      pattern. The hyoid bone was more inferiorly and posteriorly positioned in
      subjects with horizontal growth pattern. Variations are seen in upper and lower
      oropharyngeal widths, posture of the tongue and hyoid bone position in all the
      growth patterns.

PMID- 26894184
TI  - Pleomorphic Adenoma in Retromolar Area: A Very Rare Case Report and Review of
      Literature.
AB  - Among all neoplasms affecting head and neck region, salivary gland neoplasms are
      rare. Pleomorphic adenomas are the most common benign salivary gland tumours
      making up to 50% of major and minor salivary gland tumours. Intraorally
      pleomorphic adenoma is mostly found on palate and lips and very rarely in
      retromolar area. Here we are reporting a rare case of pleomorphic adenoma in
      right lower retromolar area in a 31-year-old female, the lesion was excised in
      toto with safety margins under local anaesthesia and postoperative follow up
      after six months didn't showed any recurrence. 

PMID- 26894185
TI  - Ameloblastic Fibrodentinoma: Report of a Case in an Infant.
AB  - Ameloblastic fibrodentinoma (AFD) is a debatable neoplasm with respect to its
      clinical, biological and histopathological diagnosis. The clinical and
      radiological presentation may mimic ameloblastic fibro odontoma, odontoma,
      ameloblastic fibroma and cemento-ossifying fibroma. We report an interesting case
      of AFD occurring in canine region of mandible in a one-year-old infant. From a
      review of English language literature, to the best of our knowledge this is the
      first case occurring in an infant. The purpose of this case report is to create
      awareness among the clinicians to make the best possible management of this
      controversial pathologic entity. 

PMID- 26894186
TI  - Ackerman's Tumour - A Case Report.
AB  - Ackerman's tumour or Verrucous Carcinoma (VC) is a distinct form of Squamous Cell
      Carcinoma (SCC). It is predominantly seen in elderly men and strongly associated
      with the use of tobacco. In oral cavity it occurs predominantly in buccal mucosa
      followed by gingiva, palate and floor of the mouth. Clinically it manifests as
      proliferative finger like projections resembling a cauliflower which is
      characteristic of its diagnosis. Histologically, papillary or verruciform surface
      and parakeratin plugs between the surface projections are seen with an intense
      infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells in the connective tissue thus it
      requires enormous expertize for diagnosis. Although VC is illustrated as a benign
      lesion with minimum aggressive potential over a period of time it can evolve into
      SCC. Hence most appropriate management of Ackerman's tumour is early diagnosis
      and surgical excision of the lesion. With this above background, we hereby report
      an enticing case of verrucous carcinoma in a left retromolar trigone extending
      into lower alveolar ridge in a 52-year-old male patient. 

PMID- 26894187
TI  - Total Extraction as a Treatment for Anaemia in a Patient of Glanzmann's
      Thrombasthenia with Chronic Gingival Bleed: Case Report.
AB  - Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder
      affecting the megakaryocyte lineage and is characterized by lack of platelet
      aggregation on stimulation. The molecular basis is linked to quantitative and
      qualitative abnormalities of alphaIIbbeta3 integrin. Most of the patients with
      severe Glanzmann's thrombasthenia have spontaneous gum bleeding and persistent
      low haemoglobin levels. Often these patients are addressed with local haemostatic
      measures and platelet coverage. We report a case of a severe Glanzmann's
      thrombasthenia with chronic gingivitis and associated spontaneous gum bleed with
      chronic low haemoglobin levels, managed subsequently with total dental extraction
      under appropriate platelet and recombinant factor VIIa coverage. Further follow
      up of the patient substantiated the treatment protocol with increased and stable
      haemoglobin levels, thus emphasizing the need for total dental extraction in
      patients with severe Glanzmann's with chronic spontaneous gum bleed, as a
      definitive treatment option, which has not been reported so far in the
      literature. 

PMID- 26894188
TI  - Intralesional Sclerotherapy - A Novel Approach for The Treatment of Intraoral
      Haemangiomas.
AB  - In infancy and childhood haemangiomas are the most common neoplasms in head and
      neck region with an occurrence of about 60%. Approximately 40%-50% of all
      haemangiomas resolve incompletely, leaving permanent changes in the skin, such as
      telangiectases, epidermal atrophy, hypopigmentation or redundant skin with fibro
      fatty residue but a few stubborn, problematic haemangiomas may result in serious
      disfigurement and dysfunction, and even become life-threatening. Most
      haemangiomas are managed by conservative methods that include corticosteroids
      (either systemic or local injection), sclerotherapy, interferon-alpha, laser
      therapy, embolization, cryotherapy, and radiation. Due to risk of haemorrhaging,
      surgical removal for small vascular lesions is not considered and it is more
      invasive than sclerotherapy. This case report presents the efficacy of
      intralesional sclerotherapy for the management of haemangiomas on dorsum and
      lateral border of tongue. 

PMID- 26894189
TI  - Periodontal Intervention in Speedy Orthodontics-A Case Report.
AB  - The use of orthodontic treatment in adult patients is becoming more common and
      these patients have more specific objectives and concerns related to facial and
      dental aesthetics, specially regarding duration of treatment. Dentists are on the
      lookout for techniques for increased efficiency in orthodontic treatment.
      Alveolar Corticotomy-assisted orthodontic treatment is a recent orthodontic
      technique that is recently gaining wide acceptance and is recorded as effective
      means of accelerating orthodontic treatment. A 17-year-old female patient was
      undergoing orthodontic treatment for the past one year but during her space
      closure, a visual examination confirmed a buccal thickening that was encountered
      in the buccal plate between premolars and canine. Periodontal intervention
      involved elective alveolar decortication in the form of dots performed around the
      teeth that were to be moved. This was carried out to induce a state of increased
      tissue turnover and a transient osteopenia, which further helps in faster rate of
      orthodontic tooth movement. Its main advantages are reduction of treatment time
      and post-orthodontic stability. 

PMID- 26894190
TI  - Neurilemmoma of the Vagus Nerve in the Poststyloid Parapharyngeal Space.
AB  - We report a large vagal neurilemmoma in the poststyloid compartment of the
      parapharyngeal space. A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a
      feeling of discomfort in the left upper neck. Computed tomography showed a 30mm x
      30mm x 40mm mass with inhomogeneous internal enhancement in the left carotid
      space. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 30mm * 30mm * 40mm heterogeneous
      mass in the area of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. We gave a
      provisional diagnosis of neurilemmoma or vagal paraganglioma in the
      parapharyngeal space preoperatively based on the results of physical examination
      and imaging. We selected a transcervical-transmandibular approach. Under general
      anaesthesia, a tumour originating from the vagus nerve was completely extirpated
      while protecting the internal and external carotid arteries. Although mild
      postvagotomy dysphagia and hoarseness were seem for 6 months postoperatively,
      symptoms resolved and the patient showed a satisfactory course without recurrence
      after 10 years. Histological examination of the excised specimen showed antoni A
      and antoni B pattern. Positive immunoreactivity for S-100 protein was identified,
      but negative results were obtained for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin and
      neurofilament. The tumour was diagnosed as neurilemmoma of the vagus nerve. 

PMID- 26894191
TI  - Direct Sinus Lift and Immediate Implant Placement Using Piezosurgical Approach- A
      Case Report.
AB  - Numerous studies have shown that placement of implants in the maxillary region
      with resultant successful osseointegration can be achieved by the use of sinus
      lift procedures using piezosurgical technique. In this case report a middle aged
      patient had come to the outpatient department of A. J. Institute of Dental
      Sciences with a chief complaint of missing right posterior molar. Since the
      radiographic ball marker showed only 4 mm bone below the sinus in #16 region,
      direct sinus lift procedure was done for placement of a dental implant.
      Piezosurgery was performed, as it reduces the risk of damaging vital soft tissues
      such as nerves, dura matter and blood vessels. To stabilize the implant in the
      maxillary sinus region and also to stimulate bone regeneration, gamma irradiated
      cancellous allograft was used. Periapical radiographs were taken 10 months after
      implant placement which showed good bone growth over the implant collar. Bone
      formation in the maxillary antrum was seen clearly in the panoramic radiograph.
      Using piezosurgical unit, sinus lift procedure with sinus grafting proved to be
      less traumatic and more successful. 

PMID- 26894192
TI  - Management of Chronic Hyperplastic Pulpitis in Mandibular Molars of Middle Aged
      Adults- A Multidisciplinary Approach.
AB  - The molar tooth of children and young adults is a common site for chronic
      hyperplastic pulpitis (pulp polyp). It rarely occurs in middle aged adults. This
      condition is usually characterized by extensive involvement of the pulp,
      dictating the extraction of involved tooth. Extraction of permanent molars can
      lead to transient or permanent malocclusion, aesthetic, phonetic and functional
      problems. Here we report a case of pulp polyp in mandibular first molar of a 33
      year-old woman that grew into the carious cavity. The aim of this case report is
      to describe the diagnosis of a chronic hyperplastic pulpitis involving the
      permanent molar as well as to describe its management in order to preserve them
      as a functional unit of the dentition. 

PMID- 26894193
TI  - Head Injury- A Maxillofacial Surgeon's Perspective.
AB  - Injuries and violence are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. A
      substantial portion of these injuries involve the maxillofacial region. Among the
      concomitant injuries, injuries to the head and cervical spine are amongst those
      that demand due consideration on account of their life threatening behaviour.
      Studies have shown that facial fractures have a strong association with traumatic
      brain injury. Knowledge of the types and mechanisms of traumatic brain injury is
      crucial for their treatment. Many a times, facial fractures tend to distract our
      attention from more severe and often life threatening injuries. Early diagnosis
      of these intracranial haemorrhage leads to prompt treatment which is essential to
      improve the outcome of these patients. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon should
      be able to suspect and diagnose head injury and also provide adequate initial
      management. 

PMID- 26894194
TI  - Clinical Tip for Adjusting Reverse Pull Facemask/Headgear Assembly.
AB  - Point of force application is critical in predicting the result of reverse pull
      headgear assembly. Different people have suggested different point of force
      application. A clinical tip is provided for adjusting the hook of intraoral
      stabilizing appliance, so that it rests on zero moment line which helps in
      translatory movement of maxilla. Simple and effective clinical method of
      adjusting the reverse pull headgear is illustrated here along with its
      biomechanical justification. 

PMID- 26894195
TI  - Supplemental Maxillary Permanent Central Incisor or Macrodontia of Lateral
      Incisor! A Diagnostic Challenge.

PMID- 26894196
TI  - Crouzon Syndrome: Report in a Family.

PMID- 26894197
TI  - Clinico-Radiologic Perspective of a Case of Hemifacial Microsomia.

PMID- 26894198
TI  - Images in Medicine - Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome: A Rare Case Report.

PMID- 26894199
TI  - A 13-Month-Old With Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis With Features of Renal
      Malakoplakia.
AB  - Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is an uncommon chronic inflammatory renal
      disorder caused by chronic infection with gram-negative bacteria leading to
      destruction of the renal parenchyma and replacement with foamy lipid-laden
      macrophages. Renal malakoplakia is another rare form of chronic inflammatory
      granulomatous disease in the kidney associated with infection usually occurring
      in adults with immunocompromised status or debilitating disease. It is hallmarked
      by the finding of foamy histiocytes with distinctive basophilic inclusions
      (Michaelis-Gutmann bodies). We present a case of a 13-month-old male with history
      of congenital hydronephrosis who presented with clinical and radiologic findings
      suggestive of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. However, further pathologic
      studies revealed the presence of Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, which are
      pathognomonic for renal malakoplakia. With this case we hope to bring further
      evidence to support that these two conditions are not mutually exclusive but
      rather represent two pathologic processes on the same disease spectrum. 

PMID- 26894200
TI  - Adaptation Strategies of Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament
      Reconstruction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite the strong implications for rehabilitation design, the
      capability of individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)
      to adapt and store novel gait patterns have not been well studied. PURPOSE: To
      investigate how reconstructive surgery may affect the ability to adapt and store
      novel gait patterns in persons with ACLR while walking on a split-belt treadmill.
      STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Gait adaptation was compared
      between 20 participants with ACLR and 20 healthy controls during split-belt
      treadmill walking. Gait adaptation was assessed in slow- and fast-adapting
      parameters by (1) the magnitude of symmetry during late adaptation and (2) the
      amount of the asymmetry during de-adaptation. RESULTS: Healthy individuals
      adapted a new walking pattern and stored the new walking pattern equally in both
      the dominant and nondominant limbs. Conversely, individuals with ACLR displayed
      impairments in both slow-adapting and fast-adapting derived gait adaptation and
      significant differences in behavior between the reconstructed and uninjured limb.
      CONCLUSION: While surgical reconstruction and physical therapy are aimed at
      improving mechanical stability to the knee, the study data suggest that
      fundamental features of motor control remain altered. After ACLR, participants
      display an altered ability to learn and store functional gait patterns.

PMID- 26894201
TI  - Histoplasmosis-Associated Hospitalizations in the United States, 2001-2012.
AB  - We examined trends in histoplasmosis-associated hospitalizations in the United
      States using the 2001-2012 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample. An estimated
      50 778 hospitalizations occurred, with significant increases in hospitalizations
      overall and in the proportion of hospitalizations associated with transplant,
      diabetes, and autoimmune conditions often treated with biologic therapies;
      therefore, histoplasmosis remains an important opportunistic infection. 

PMID- 26894202
TI  - An interesting variety.

PMID- 26894203
TI  - Visual dysfunction, but not retinal thinning, following anti-NMDA receptor
      encephalitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess structural and functional changes in the afferent visual
      system following anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. METHODS: In this cross
      sectional study including 31 patients after acute NMDAR encephalitis and matched
      healthy controls, visual function was assessed as high-contrast visual acuity
      using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts and low-contrast
      sensitivity using Functional Acuity Contrast Test. Retinal changes were measured
      using optical coherence tomography with assessment of peripapillary retinal nerve
      fiber layer (pRNFL) and macular intraretinal layer thicknesses. Residual clinical
      impairment was described using the modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: High-contrast
      (logMAR 0.02 +/- 0.14 vs -0.09 +/- 0.14, p < 0.001) and low-contrast (area under
      the curve 1.89 +/- 0.21 vs 2.00 +/- 0.26, p = 0.039) visual acuity were reduced
      in patients in comparison to healthy controls. More severely affected patients
      performed worse in visual acuity testing than patients with good recovery (logMAR
      -0.02 +/- 0.11 vs 0.08 +/- 0.17, p = 0.030). In contrast, patients did not differ
      from matched healthy controls in pRNFL or in thickness of intraretinal layers,
      including the ganglion cell complex, the inner nuclear layer, the outer nuclear
      and plexiform layers, and the photoreceptor layer. CONCLUSIONS: After acute NMDAR
      encephalitis, patients have mild visual dysfunction in comparison to matched
      healthy controls, while retinal structure appears unaltered. These observations
      could point to an impairment of anterior or posterior visual pathway NMDAR
      function that is similar to dysfunction of NMDAR in cerebral cortex and
      subcortical structures. Alternatively, residual cognitive impairment might reduce
      visual function.

PMID- 26894204
TI  - Serum lipid antibodies are associated with cerebral tissue damage in multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peripheral immune responses as measured by serum
      antigen arrays are linked to cerebral MRI measures of disease severity in
      multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, serum samples
      were obtained from patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 21) and assayed
      using antigen arrays that contained 420 antigens including CNS-related
      autoantigens, lipids, and heat shock proteins. Normalized compartment-specific
      global brain volumes were obtained from 3-tesla MRI as surrogates of atrophy,
      including gray matter fraction (GMF), white matter fraction (WMF), and total
      brain parenchymal fraction (BPF). Total brain T2 hyperintense lesion volume
      (T2LV) was quantified from fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. RESULTS:
      We found serum antibody patterns uniquely correlated with BPF, GMF, WMF, and
      T2LV. Furthermore, we identified immune signatures linked to MRI markers of
      neurodegeneration (BPF, GMF, WMF) that differentiated those linked to T2LV. Each
      MRI measure was correlated with a specific set of antibodies. Strikingly,
      immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to lipids were linked to brain MRI measures.
      Based on the association between IgG antibody reactivity and each unique MRI
      measure, we developed a lipid index. This comprised the reactivity directed
      against all of the lipids associated with each specific MRI measure. We validated
      these findings in an additional independent set of patients with MS (n = 14) and
      detected a similar trend for the correlations between BPF, GMF, and T2LV vs their
      respective lipid indexes. CONCLUSIONS: We propose serum antibody repertoires that
      are associated with MRI measures of cerebral MS involvement. Such antibodies may
      serve as biomarkers for monitoring disease pathology and progression.

PMID- 26894205
TI  - Cytokine profiles show heterogeneity of interferon-beta response in multiple
      sclerosis patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum cytokine profiles for their utility to determine the
      heterogeneous responses to interferon (IFN)-beta treatment in patients with
      multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or
      clinically isolated syndrome receiving de novo IFN-beta treatment were included
      in this prospective, observational study. Number of relapses and changes in
      disability were assessed 2 years prior to and 2 years after initiation of
      treatment. Sera were collected at baseline and after 3 months on therapy.
      Cytokine levels in sera were assessed by Luminex multiplex assays. Baseline
      cytokine profiles were grouped by hierarchical clustering analysis. Demographic
      features, changes in cytokines, and clinical outcome were then assessed in the
      clustered patient groups. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were included in the
      study and clustered into 6 distinct subsets by baseline cytokine profiles. These
      subsets differed significantly in their clinical and biological response to IFN
      beta therapy. Two subsets were associated with patients who responded poorly to
      therapy. Two other subsets, associated with a good response to therapy, showed a
      significant reduction in relapse rates and no worsening of disability. Each
      subset also had differential changes in cytokine levels after 3 months of IFN
      beta treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is heterogeneity in the immunologic pathways
      of the RRMS population, which correlates with IFN-beta response.

PMID- 26894206
TI  - Serum peptide reactivities may distinguish neuromyelitis optica subgroups and
      multiple sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess in an observational study whether serum peptide antibody
      reactivities may distinguish aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody (Ab)-positive and 
      negative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and relapsing-remitting
      multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: We screened 8,700 peptides that included
      human and viral antigens of potential relevance for inflammatory demyelinating
      diseases and random peptides with pooled sera from different patient groups and
      healthy controls to set up a customized microarray with 700 peptides. With this
      microarray, we tested sera from 66 patients with AQP4-Ab-positive (n = 16) and
      AQP4-Ab-negative (n = 19) NMOSD, RRMS (n = 11), and healthy controls (n = 20).
      RESULTS: Differential peptide reactivities distinguished NMOSD subgroups from
      RRMS in 80% of patients. However, the 2 NMOSD subgroups were not well
      discriminated, although those patients are clearly separated by their antibody
      reactivities against AQP4 in cell-based assays. Elevated reactivities to myelin
      and Epstein-Barr virus peptides were present in RRMS and to AQP4 and AQP1
      peptides in AQP4-Ab-positive NMOSD. CONCLUSIONS: While AQP4-Ab-positive and 
      negative NMOSD subgroups are not well-discriminated by peptide antibody
      reactivities, our findings suggest that peptide antibody reactivities may have
      the potential to distinguish between both NMOSD subgroups and MS. Future studies
      should thus concentrate on evaluating peptide antibody reactivities for the
      differentiation of AQP4-Ab-negative NMOSD and MS.

PMID- 26894207
TI  - Autopsy-proven demyelination associated with infliximab treatment.

PMID- 26894208
TI  - Degos disease mimicking primary vasculitis of the CNS.

PMID- 26894209
TI  - Direct Care Worker Training to Respond to the Behavior of Individuals With
      Dementia: The CARES(r) Dementia-Related BehaviorTM Online Program.
AB  - Only a handful of online training programs are available for direct care workers
      (DCWs) to acquire the strategic skills needed to improve dementia care in
      instances of challenging or inappropriate behavior. Utilizing pre- and post-test
      data from a convenience sample of 40 DCWs, the present study sought to determine
      (a) whether DCWs' knowledge of responding to dementia-related behavior increased
      following participation in the CARES(r) Dementia-Related BehaviorTM Online
      Training Program (or CARES(r) Behavior) and (b) if CARES(r) Behavior was
      acceptable and useful. The average number of correct scores on a dementia care
      knowledge measure was significantly higher among DCWs after viewing the online
      modules when compared with pre-test scores (p < .01). Descriptive empirical and
      open-ended data also suggested that the interactive, "real-world" content of
      CARES(r) Behavior was feasibly delivered online, acceptable, and may influence
      how DCWs deliver clinical care to individuals with dementia-related behavior.

PMID- 26894210
TI  - The World Learns Together.

PMID- 26894212
TI  - Operating Room Time Savings with the Use of Splint Packs: A Randomized Controlled
      Trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The most expensive variable in the operating room (OR) is time. Lean
      Process Management is being used in the medical field to improve efficiency in
      the OR. Streamlining individual processes within the OR is crucial to a
      comprehensive time saving and cost-cutting health care strategy. At our
      institution, one hour of OR time costs approximately $500, exclusive of supply
      and personnel costs. Commercially prepared splint packs (SP) contain all
      components necessary for plaster-of-Paris short-leg splint application and have
      the potential to decrease splint application time and overall costs by making it
      a more lean process. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing OR time
      savings between SP use and bulk supply (BS) splint application. METHODS: Fifty
      consecutive adult operative patients on whom post-operative short-leg splint
      immobilization was indicated were randomized to either a control group using BS
      or an experimental group using SP. One orthopaedic surgeon (EMB) prepared and
      applied all of the splints in a standardized fashion. Retrieval time, preparation
      time, splint application time, and total splinting time for both groups were
      measured and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The retrieval time, preparation
      time and total splinting time were significantly less (p<0.001) in the SP group
      compared with the BS group. There was no significant difference in application
      time between the SP group and BS group. CONCLUSION: The use of SP made the
      process of splinting more lean. This has resulted in an average of 2 minutes 52
      seconds saved in total splinting time compared to BS, making it an effective cost
      cutting and time saving technique. For high volume ORs, use of splint packs may
      contribute to substantial time and cost savings without impacting patient safety.

PMID- 26894211
TI  - Giant Cell Tumor of Bone - An Overview.
AB  - Giant Cell tumors (GCT) are benign tumors with potential for aggressive behavior
      and capacity to metastasize. Although rarely lethal, benign bone tumors may be
      associated with a substantial disturbance of the local bony architecture that can
      be particularly troublesome in peri-articular locations. Its histogenesis remains
      unclear. It is characterized by a proliferation of mononuclear stromal cells and
      the presence of many multi- nucleated giant cells with homogenous distribution.
      There is no widely held consensus regarding the ideal treatment method selection.
      There are advocates of varying surgical techniques ranging from intra-lesional
      curettage to wide resection. As most giant cell tumors are benign and are located
      near a joint in young adults, several authors favor an intralesional approach
      that preserves anatomy of bone in lieu of resection. Although GCT is classified
      as a benign lesion, few patients develop progressive lung metastases with poor
      outcomes. Treatment is mainly surgical. Options of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
      are reserved for selected cases. Recent advances in the understanding of
      pathogenesis are essential to develop new treatments for this locally destructive
      primary bone tumor. 

PMID- 26894214
TI  - Type II Intertrochanteric Fractures: Proximal Femoral Nailing (PFN) Versus
      Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS).
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intertrochanteric fracture is one of the most common fractures of the
      hip especially in the elderly with osteoporotic bones, usually due to low-energy
      trauma like simple falls. Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) is still considered the gold
      standard for treating intertrochanteric fractures by many. Not many studies
      compare the DHS with Proximal femoral nail (PFN), in Type II intertrochanteric
      fractures (Boyd and Griffin classification). This study was done to compare the
      functional and radiological outcome of PFN with DHS in treatment of Type II
      intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: From October 2012 to March 2015, a
      prospective comparative study was done where 30 alternative cases of type II
      intertrochanteric fractures of hip were operated using PFN or DHS. Intraoperative
      complications were noted. Functional outcome was assessed using Harris Hip Score
      and radiological findings were compared at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.
      RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 60 years. In our series we found
      that patients with DHS had increased intraoperative blood loss (159ml), longer
      duration of surgery (105min), and required longer time for mobilization while
      patients who underwent PFN had lower intraoperative blood loss (73ml), shorter
      duration of surgery (91min), and allowed early mobilization. The average limb
      shortening in DHS group was 9.33 mm as compared with PFN group which was only
      4.72 mm. The patients treated with PFN started early ambulation as they had
      better Harris Hip Score in the early post-op period. At the end of 12th month,
      there was not much difference in the functional outcome between the two groups.
      CONCLUSION: PFN is better than DHS in type II intertrochanteric fractures in
      terms of decreased blood loss, reduced duration of surgery, early weight bearing
      and mobilization, reduced hospital stay, decreased risk of infection and
      decreased complications.

PMID- 26894213
TI  - The Effect of the Silicone Ring Tourniquet and Standard Pneumatic Tourniquet on
      the Motor Nerve Conduction, Pain and Grip Strength in Healthy Volunteers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The pneumatic tourniquet (PT) is routinely used in upper and lower
      limb operations by most orthopaedic surgeons. The silicone ring tourniquet (SRT)
      was introduced in clinical practice over the last decade. Clinical as well as
      comparative studies have been published in volunteers concerning its safety and
      efficacy. The aim of this study was to investigate the postoperative effect of
      the silicone ring tourniquet (SRT), primarily on the motor nerve conduction, and
      secondarily on the pain and grip strength, in comparison to the effect of the
      pneumatic tourniquet (PT) in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Both tourniquets were
      applied in the forearm of the dominant arm in 20 healthy volunteers and were kept
      on for 10 minutes. Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale and grip
      strength was measured with a hand dynamometer. We evaluated the following
      parameters of median nerve conduction: motor conduction velocity (MCV), latency
      (LAT) and amplitude (AMP). RESULTS: Pain score at the time of tourniquet
      application was higher in SRT group but the alteration in pain scores in PT group
      was higher, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The grip strength was reduced
      by the application of both tourniquets; however there was a significantly higher
      reduction in the SRT group (P<0.05). The conduction impairment of the median
      nerve was worse in the PT group than in the SRT one, according to the changes in
      MCV (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Median nerve conduction was affected more after PT
      application as compared to the SRT. Nevertheless, the reduction of grip strength
      was higher after the SRT application.

PMID- 26894215
TI  - Supracondylar Osteotomy in Valgus Knee: Angle Blade Plate Versus Locking
      Compression Plate.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There are few studies comparing the biomechanical properties of
      angled blade plate and locking compression plates in supracondylar osteotomy. In
      the current randomized study, we prospectively compared the clinical and
      radiological outcomes of supracondylar osteotomy using these two plates. METHODS:
      Forty patients with valgus knee malalignment were randomly assigned to two equal
      numbered groups: angled blade plate and locking compression plates. All of the
      patients underwent medial closing wedge supracondylar osteotomy and were followed
      for one year. Before and after the operation the valgus angle and mechanical
      lateral distal femoral angle were compared between groups. Also, the rate of
      complications were compared. RESULTS: After the operation, the mean valgus angle
      and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle improved significantly in the two
      groups (P<0.001). Although, the preoperative amount of the valgus angle and
      mechanical lateral distal femoral angle were the same, at the last visit the
      valgus angle (5.4+/-2.1 versus 3.1+/-1.8; P=0.032) and mechanical lateral distal
      femoral angle (87.6+/-2 versus 89.7+/-3.2; P=0.041) were significantly lower and
      higher in the angled blade plate group, respectively. Nonunion occurred in four
      patients (20%) in the locking compression plates group (P=0.35). CONCLUSION:
      Based on having a larger valgus angle and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle
      correction in the angled blade plate group and considerable rate of nonunion in
      the locking compression plate group, the authors recommend using the angled blade
      plate for fixation of medial closing wedge supracondylar osteotomy for patients
      with valgus malalignment. However, more long-term studies are required.

PMID- 26894216
TI  - Sleep Disturbance and Upper-Extremity Disability.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although upper-extremity disability correlates with psychosocial
      aspects of illness the association with sleep disturbance in upper extremity
      disability is less certain. To evaluate whether sleep disturbance is associated
      with upper-extremity disability among patients with upper extremity illness,
      accounting for sociodemographic, condition-related, and psychosocial factors.
      METHODS: A cohort of 111 new or follow-up patients presenting to an urban
      academic hospital-based hand surgeon completed a sociodemographic survey and
      measures of sleep disturbance (PROMIS Sleep Disturbance), disability (PROMIS
      Upper-Extremity Physical Function), ineffective coping strategies (PROMIS Pain
      Interference), and depression (PROMIS Depression). Bivariate and multivariable
      linear regression modeling were performed. RESULTS: Sleep disturbance correlated
      with disability (r=-0.38; P<0.001) in bivariate analysis. Symptoms of depression
      (r=-0.44; P<0.001) and ineffective coping strategies (r=-0.71; P<0.001) also
      correlated with upper-extremity specific disability in bivariate analysis. Pain
      Interference was the only factor associated with disability in multivariable
      analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance is not as strongly or directly
      associated with symptom intensity and magnitude of disability as ineffective
      coping strategies. Interventions to reduce pain interference (e.g. cognitive
      behavioral therapy) hold great potential to decrease musculoskeletal symptom
      intensity and magnitude of disability, and perhaps even sleep disturbance.

PMID- 26894217
TI  - Double-button Fixation System for Management of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint
      Dislocation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Surgical treatments for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation
      present with some complications. The present study was designed to evaluate the
      double-button fixation system in the management of acute acromioclavicular joint
      dislocation. METHODS: This cross sectional study, done between February 2011 to
      June 2014, consisted of 28 patients who underwent surgical management by the
      double-button fixation system for acute AC joint dislocation. Age, sex, injury
      mechanism, dominant hand, side with injury, length of follow up, time before
      surgery, shoulder and hand (DASH), constant and visual analogue scale (VAS)
      scores, and all complications of the cases during the follow up were recorded.
      RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 33.23+/-6.7 years. Twenty four patients
      (85.71%) were male and four (14.28%) were female. The significant differences
      were observed between pre-operation VAS, constant shoulder scores and post
      operation measurements. There were not any significant differences between right
      and left coracoclavicular, but two cases of heterotrophic ossifications were
      recorded. The mean follow-up time was 16.17+/-4.38 months. CONCLUSION: According
      to the results, the double-button fixation system for management of acute
      acromioclavicular joint dislocation has suitable results and minimal damage to
      the soft tissues surrounding the coracoclavicular ligaments.

PMID- 26894218
TI  - Treatment Outcome of Intramedullary Fixation with a Locked Rigid Nail in Humeral
      Shaft Fractures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the treatment outcome of
      humeral shaft fractures with a locked rigid intramedullary nail in patients
      indicated for surgical treatment. METHODS: In this descriptive-cross sectional
      study, all patients were followed up for one, six, and 18 months post
      operatively. The Short Form Questionnaire (SF-36) and Constant Shoulder Score
      were applied. RESULTS: Of 78 included patients (mean age: 35), one patient had a
      soft tissue infection, one had secondary radial nerve palsy, eight had non-union,
      one had elbow limited range of motion in extension, and three patients had
      decreased shoulder range of motion. The Constant Shoulder Score and Short Form
      Questionnaire Score (SF-36) increased in all patients, although aged women showed
      lower improvement. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary nail fixation in the humeral shaft
      fracture may be associated with high rates of non-union.

PMID- 26894220
TI  - Influence of Sexuality in Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major clinical condition and research
      is commonly done to find suitable treatment options. However, there are some
      degrees of spontaneous recovery after SCI and gender is said to be a contributing
      factor in recovery, but this is controversial. This study was done to compare the
      effects of sexual dimorphism on spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury in
      Wistar Rats. METHODS: Spinal cord lesions were made by compressing the cord at T9
      level and making a spinal cord contusion. Routine care of each rat was done
      daily. The LSS scoring system was used to measure the locomotion of these rats
      and to compare the recovery rate between male and female rats. RESULTS: The
      results suggested that there was no significant difference between the two sex in
      recovery. CONCLUSIONS: To be female does not seem to be a prognostic factor for
      recovery after SCI. However, this preliminary study should be repeated in other
      animals and in larger cohorts.

PMID- 26894219
TI  - Prognostic Value of Impaired Preoperative Ankle Reflex in Surgical Outcome of
      Lumbar Disc Herniation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several prognostic factors exist influencing the outcome of surgical
      discectomy in the patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The aim of this
      study is to evaluate the relationship between severity of preoperative impaired
      ankle reflex and outcomes of lumbar discectomy in the patients with L5-S1 LDH.
      METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 181 patients (108 male and 73 female) who
      underwent simple discectomy in our orthopedic department from April 2009 to April
      2013 and followed them up for more than one year. The mean age of the patients
      was 35.3+/-8.9 years old. Severity of reflex impairment was graded from 0 to 4+
      and radicular pain and disability were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS)
      and Oswestry disability index (ODI) questionnaires, respectively. Subjective
      satisfaction was also evaluated at the last follow-up visit. Chi-square and
      Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare qualitative variables. RESULTS: Reflex
      impairment existed in 44.8% preoperatively that improved to 10% at the last
      follow-up visit. Statistical analyses could not find a significant relationship
      between the severity of impaired ankle reflex and sex or age (P=0.538 and
      P=0.709, respectively). There was a remarkable relationship between severity of
      reflex impairment and preoperative radicular pain or disability (P=0.012 and
      P=0.002, respectively). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that a more severity in ankle
      reflex impairment was associated with not only less improvement in postoperative
      pain and disability but also less satisfaction rate (P<0.001 in all three).
      CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with L5-S1 LDH, more severe ankle reflex impairment
      is associated with less improvement in postoperative pain, disability, and
      subjective satisfaction.

PMID- 26894221
TI  - How Much are Emergency Medicine Specialists' Decisions Reliable in the Diagnosis
      and Treatment of Pediatric Fractures?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Considering the importance of an early diagnosis and proper decision
      making in regards to the treatment of pediatric distal radius and elbow
      fractures, this study examines emergency medicine specialists' accuracy in the
      diagnosis and treatment of these patients. METHODS: From 2012 and 2013, children
      less than 14 years old who were referred to an academic hospital emergency
      department with elbow or distal radius fractures were enrolled. Initially,
      patients were examined by an emergency medicine specialist and then they were
      referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Type of fracture and the proposed treatment of
      two specialists were compared. RESULTS: In total, there were 108 patients (54
      patients in each group) with a mean age of 8.1+/-3.3 years. Identical diagnosis
      in 48 cases (88.9%) of distal radius and 36 cases (66.7%) of elbow trauma were
      observed. We found a difference between diagnosis of the two specialists in
      diagnosing lateral condyle of the humerus fracture in the elbow group and growth
      plate fracture in the distal radius fracture group, but the differences were not
      significant. Among 108 patients, 70 patients (64.8%) received identical
      treatment. CONCLUSION: Although the emergency medicine specialists responded
      similarly to the orthopedic specialists in the diagnosis of pediatric distal
      radius and elbow fractures, diagnosis of more complicated fractures such as
      lateral condylar humoral fractures, distal radius growth plate and for choosing
      the proper treatment option, merits further education.

PMID- 26894222
TI  - Which Route of Tranexamic Acid Administration is More Effective to Reduce Blood
      Loss Following Total Knee Arthroplasty?
AB  - BACKGROUND: The most appropriate route of tranexamic acid administration is
      controversial. In the current study, we compared the efficacy of intravenous (IV)
      and topical intra-articular tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss and
      transfusion rate in patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty.
      METHODS: One hundred twenty 120 patients were scheduled to undergo primary total
      knee arthroplasty. Patients were randomly allocated to three equal groups: IV
      tranexamic acid (500 mg), topical tranexamic acid (3 g in 100 mL normal saline)
      and the control. In the topical group, half of the volume was used to irrigate
      the joint and the other half was injected intra-articularly. The volume of blood
      loss, hemoglobin (Hb) level at 24 hours postoperative, and rate of transfusion
      was compared between groups. RESULTS: The blood loss and Hb level were
      significantly greater and lower in the control group, respectively (P=0.031).
      Also, the rate of transfusion was significantly greater in the control group
      (P=0.013). However, IV and topical groups did not differ significantly in terms
      of measured variables. No patient experienced a thromboembolic event in our
      study. CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid is a useful antifibrinolytic drug to reduce
      postoperative blood loss, Hb drop, and rate of blood transfusion in patients
      undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The route of tranexamic acid administration
      did not affect the efficacy and safety.

PMID- 26894223
TI  - A Survey on Transfusion Status in Orthopedic Surgery at a Trauma Center.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Increased costs and mortality associated with inappropriate blood
      transfusions have led to investigations about blood request and blood transfusion
      techniques. We investigated the transfusion status in patients who underwent
      orthopedic surgery in Poursina Hospital (Rasht, Iran) to optimizing blood usage
      and determine if a scheduled transfusion program for every orthopedic surgery
      could improve blood transfusion management. METHOD: In this descriptive
      prospective study, all orthopedic surgeries in Poursina Hospital, Rasht, between
      April to June 2013 were reviewed. All patient information was recorded,
      including: demographics, type of surgery, hemoglobin level, cross-match test,
      duration of surgery, and blood loss, and transfusion. Based on the one-way ANOVA
      and independent samples test analysis, cross-match to transfusion ratio and
      transfusion possibility, the transfusion index, and maximal surgical blood order
      schedule were calculated to determine blood transfusion status. RESULTS: Among
      872 selected orthopedic surgery candidates, 318 of them were cross-matched and
      among those, 114 patients received a blood transfusion. In this study, the cross
      match to transfusion ratio was 6.4, transfusion possibility 36.47%, transfusion
      index 0.6, and maximal surgical blood order schedule 0.9. CONCLUSION: We found
      that blood ordering was moderately higher than the standard; so it is highly
      recommended to focus on the knowledge of evidence based on transfusion and
      standard guidelines for blood transfusion to avoid over-ordering.

PMID- 26894224
TI  - A Survey of Blood Request Versus Blood Utilization at a University Hospital in
      Iran.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Reservation of blood leads to blood wastage if the blood is not
      transfused. Therefore, in some centers only blood type and screen are evaluated.
      In this study, the efficacy of a blood crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio was
      measured and then compared with the standard levels. METHODS: This prospective
      study was conducted during one year in a university hospital. During this period,
      398 patients for whom blood had been requested were studied. In these patients,
      at the first surgical type, the laboratory tests (hematocrit, hemoglobin,
      platelet count, and prothrombin time) and the number of preoperative crossmatched
      and intraoperative transfused blood units were recorded. Then the crossmatch-to
      transfusion ratio, transfusion probability, transfusion index, and correlation
      between related factors, and the transfusion ratio were evaluated. RESULTS: In
      this cross-sectional study, blood was requested for 398 patients. According to
      available blood unit deficiency, from 961 blood unit requisitions, only 456 units
      were crossmatched and 123 units were transfused. The crossmatch-to-transfusion
      ratio, transfusion probability, and transfusion index were 3.71 (7.81 if all
      requisitions were crossmatched), 16.83%, and 0.31, respectively. The most
      unfavorable indexes were observed in patients who had ear, nose, and throat
      surgeries (0 transfused from 19 crossmatched blood units) and obstetric and
      gynecologic surgery (crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio was 18.6). The best indexes
      were related to thoracic surgery and neurosurgery (crossmatch-to-transfusion
      ratio was 1.53 and 1.54, respectively). There were no significant correlations
      between hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, and prothrombin time with the
      number of transfused blood units (P = 0.2, 0.14, 0.26, and 0.06, respectively).
      CONCLUSION: The data for the crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio, transfusion
      probability, and transfusion index were suboptimal at this center, especially for
      ear, nose, and throat and obstetric and gynecologic surgeries. Further
      multidimensional studies and determination of a new model for blood requests and
      to decrease blood wastage are needed.

PMID- 26894225
TI  - Intramuscular Lipoma of the Thenar: A Rare Case.
AB  - Lipomas are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors. They are located either
      subcutaneously or under the investing fascia in intramuscular or intermuscular
      regions. The reported frequency of intramuscular lipomas among all benign
      adipocytic tumors is 1.0%-5.0% and for intermuscular lipomas is 0.3%-1.9%. The
      frequency of these lesions is the same in all age groups, but in adults deep
      seated-lipomas are most commonly discovered between the ages of 30 and 60. The
      most common sites of involvement of intramuscular lipomas are the large muscles
      of the extremities, especially those of the thigh, shoulder, and upper arm.
      Intramuscular lipomas of the hand are extremely rare and only few cases have been
      reported in the literature. In cases with hand location, they may present with
      functional deficit or neurovascular compromise due to the effect of the mass. We
      report an unusual case of a large intramuscular lipoma of the thenar that was
      treated with surgical excision due to the impairment of hand function. 

PMID- 26894226
TI  - An Isolated Mass in the Palm, Starting Manifestation of Sarcoidosis.
AB  - Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that is characterized with noncaseating
      granulomatous nodules which present in multiple organs specially lungs (90%).
      Incidence of masses due to Sarcoidosis in upper extremity is low and most cases
      present in association with involvement of pulmonary hilary lymph nodes. In this
      article we present a rare case of Sarcoidosis which presented as a single soft
      tissue mass in hand without osseous or pulmonary hillary lymph node involvement.
      Incidence of involvement of musculoskeletal system is 1-5 %, mostly it occurs in
      small bones in hands and feet. In most cases involvement of soft tissue in
      extremities is accompanied with bone lesions. Those cases of soft tissue
      involvement are generally coincide with pulmonary lymph nodules. To the authors'
      knowledge, this is the first case of Sarcoidosis that presents without spreading
      in bones or pulmonary hilar lymph nodes. 

PMID- 26894227
TI  - Compartment Syndrome of the Calf Due to Nicolau Syndrome.
AB  - We report a case of Nicolau syndrome in a 15 months old girl following an
      intramuscular injection of penicillin 6.3.3 in her left buttock. This case is
      unique because she developed compartment syndrome in her left calf far from her
      injection site. Her toe's tips gangrened in the course of her ailment. We
      hypothesized that the compartment syndrome might be produced by a probable intra
      arterial injection that had produced embolic obstruction of the small and medium
      size arteries in her leg or a probable perineural or periarteial injection had
      produced secondary sympathetic stimulation, extensive vasospasm, compromised
      microcirculation and the development of compartment syndrome. 

PMID- 26894228
TI  - Platelet-Rich Plasma for Frozen Shoulder: A Case Report.
AB  - Frozen shoulder is a glenohumeral joint disorder that movement because of
      adhesion and the existence of fibrosis in the shoulder capsule. Platelet-rich
      plasma can produce collagen and growth factors, which increases stem cells and
      consequently enhances the healing. To date, there is no evidence regarding the
      effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma in frozen shoulder. A 45-year-old man with
      shoulder adhesive capsulitis volunteered for this treatment. He underwent two
      consecutive platelet-rich plasma injections at the seventh and eighth month after
      initiation of symptoms. We measured pain, function, ROM by the visual analogue
      scale (VAS), scores from the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
      questionnaire and goniometer; respectively. After first injection, the patient
      reported 60% improvement regarding diurnal shoulder pain, and no night pain.
      Also, two-fold improvement for ROM and more than 70% improvement for function
      were reported. This study suggests the use of platelet-rich plasma in frozen
      shoulder to be tested in randomized trials. 

PMID- 26894229
TI  - Shiftwork, Sleep Habits, and Metabolic Disparities: Results from the Survey of
      the Health of Wisconsin.
AB  - BACKGROUND: With the expanding demand for a 24-hour society, the prevalence of
      sleep deprivation and other sleep-related health problems is increasing.
      Shiftwork is an occupational health risk of growing significance because of its
      high prevalence and because of its potential role as a determinant of
      socioeconomic-related health disparities. AIMS: The aim of this study was to
      examine the associations of shiftwork with overweight status and type 2 diabetes,
      and explore whether a history of sleep problems mediates or modifies these
      associations. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted
      among 1,593 participants in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (2008-12) who
      were employed and reported work characteristics (traditional schedule or
      shiftwork) and sleep habits and history of sleep problems (insomnia, insufficient
      sleep, wake time sleepiness). Objective measures of body mass index (BMI) and
      type 2 diabetes were used. RESULTS: Shiftworkers were more overweight than
      traditional-schedule workers (83% vs. 71% with BMI>=25) and reported more sleep
      problems, such as insomnia symptoms (24% vs. 16%), insufficient sleep (53%
      vs.43%), and sleepiness (32% vs. 24%). The associations between shiftwork and
      being overweight or diabetic were stronger among those reporting insufficient
      sleep, but the interaction was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS:
      Shiftworkers face disparities in metabolic health, particularly those with
      insufficient sleep. Improved understanding of the relationship between sleep and
      metabolic states can inform healthcare providers' and employers' efforts to
      screen high-risk individuals and intervene with workplace wellness initiatives to
      address these disparities.

PMID- 26894230
TI  - Prophylactically Decontaminating Human Islet Product for Safe Clinical
      Application: Effective and Potent Method.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transplanting pancreatic islets into recipients must be safe and
      effective to treat Type 1 diabetes. Islet quality and quantity are important,
      however, the final product must also be free from microbial contamination and low
      endotoxin levels. METHODS: This study explored a method to eliminate
      contamination in manufacturing islets for transplantation. A simple (single
      antibiotic, n=164) and refined (triple antimicrobial agents, n=279) pancreas
      decontaminating methods were used to test their effects on reducing the
      contamination rates in the islet final product. A total of 443 pancreata were
      processed for islet isolations. Three samples for microbial tests (Gram stain,
      aerobic, and anaerobic culture) were taken at pre-process (pancreas
      preservation), post-isolation, and post-culture. Endotoxin levels were measured
      only for islets considered for transplantation. RESULTS: Out of 443 pancreata
      used for islet isolation, 79 (17.8%) showed signs of contamination in pre-process
      samples; 10 (2.3%) were contaminated in both pre-process and in the final product
      (post-isolation and post-culture) samples. Contamination rates in which pre
      process and final product samples were positive for contamination was
      significantly lower using the refined method (refined vs. simple method: 5% vs.
      20.5%, p=0.045). Identical microbial species were present in both pre-process and
      in the final product. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the refined
      method reduces the rate of contamination of the islet final product and is safe
      for clinical application. Moreover, it may be used as a standard method during
      human islet manufacturing facilitating the application of a biological license
      agreement from United States Food and Drug Administration.

PMID- 26894231
TI  - microRNAs as Biomarker in Depression Pathogenesis.
AB  - Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major health concern with alarming rates of
      completed suicide. Thus, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of
      this disorder. In addition, disturbingly high rates of relapse and low rates of
      recovery make it urgent not only to develop targeted treatments but to identify
      biomarkers that can predict treatment response for individual patients. MicroRNAs
      (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by
      modulating translation, mRNA degradation or stability of mRNA targets. The role
      of miRNAs in disease pathophysiology is emerging rapidly. Several recent studies
      have suggested the possible role of miRNAs in synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis,
      and stress response, all implicated in MDD. Emerging studies showthe direct role
      of miRNAs in the development of depression phenotype. More recently, the role of
      miRNAs in prognosis and treatment response is being considered for various
      disease pathophysiology, including MDD. The review discusses the recent studies
      demonstrating the role of miRNAs in MDD and whether miRNA can be used as a
      biomarker for MDD pathogenesis and treatment response.

PMID- 26894233
TI  - Barriers and Negative Nudges: Exploring Challenges in Food Journaling.
AB  - Although food journaling is understood to be both important and difficult, little
      work has empirically documented the specific challenges people experience with
      food journals. We identify key challenges in a qualitative study combining a
      survey of 141 current and lapsed food journalers with analysis of 5,526 posts in
      community forums for three mobile food journals. Analyzing themes in this data,
      we find and discuss barriers to reliable food entry, negative nudges caused by
      current techniques, and challenges with social features. Our results motivate
      research exploring a wider range of approaches to food journal design and
      technology.

PMID- 26894232
TI  - Analysis of miRNA in Normal Appearing White Matter to Identify Altered CNS
      Pathways in Multiple Sclerosis.
AB  - Genetic studies suggest that the immune system is the greatest genetic
      contributor to multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility. Yet, these immune-related
      genes do not explain why inflammation is limited to the CNS in MS. We hypothesize
      that there is an underlying dysregulation in the CNS of MS patients that makes
      them more vulnerable to CNS inflammation. The sparsity of CNS-related genes
      associated with MS suggests that epigenetic changes in the CNS may play a role.
      Thus, a miRNA profiling study was performed in NAWM of MS patients and control
      subjects to determine if specific CNS pathways can be identified that may be
      altered due to miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional dysregulation. There were 15
      differentially expressed miRNAs found in the MS patients' NAWM. Pathway analysis
      indicated that the MAPK pathway and pathways associated with the blood-brain
      barrier were predicted to be significantly affected by these miRNAs. Using target
      predication and mRNA analysis, an inverse relationship was found between miR-191
      and BDNF, SOX4, FZD5 and WSB1. The pathway and target analysis of the MS
      associated miRNAs suggests that MS patients' CNS is more prone to inflammation
      and less capable of repair, yet enriched in neuroprotective mechanisms.

PMID- 26894234
TI  - Stress granules (SG) and processing bodies (PB) in viral infections.
AB  - During reaction to stress caused by viral infection, RNA granules are formed in
      order to protect mRNA. Stress granules (SG) and processing bodies (PB) provide
      cell homeostasis and mRNA stability. They are formed, for example, during polio
      virus and MRV (mammalian orthoreovirus) infections. Some viruses, such as
      influenza virus and HTLV-1 (Human T-lymphotropic virus 1), block the formation of
      granules. In addition, there are viruses like West Nile Virus, Hepatitis C Virus
      (HCV) or human Herpes viruses, which influence the functioning of the granules. 

PMID- 26894237
TI  - Quantum Entanglement and Chemical Reactivity.
AB  - The water molecule and a hydrogenic abstraction reaction are used to explore in
      detail some quantum entanglement features of chemical interest. We illustrate
      that the energetic and quantum-information approaches are necessary for a full
      understanding of both the geometry of the quantum probability density of
      molecular systems and the evolution of a chemical reaction. The energy and
      entanglement hypersurfaces and contour maps of these two models show different
      phenomena. The energy ones reveal the well-known stable geometry of the models,
      whereas the entanglement ones grasp the chemical capability to transform from one
      state system to a new one. In the water molecule the chemical reactivity is
      witnessed through quantum entanglement as a local minimum indicating the bond
      cleavage in the dissociation process of the molecule. Finally, quantum
      entanglement is also useful as a chemical reactivity descriptor by detecting the
      transition state along the intrinsic reaction path in the hypersurface of the
      hydrogenic abstraction reaction corresponding to a maximally entangled state.

PMID- 26894240
TI  - Stochastic Multiconfigurational Self-Consistent Field Theory.
AB  - The multiconfigurational self-consistent field theory is considered the standard
      starting point for almost all multireference approaches required for strongly
      correlated molecular problems. The limitation of the approach is generally given
      by the number of strongly correlated orbitals in the molecule, since its cost
      will grow exponentially with this number. We present a new multiconfigurational
      self-consistent field approach, wherein linear determinant coefficients of a
      multiconfigurational wave function are optimized via the stochastic full
      configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo technique at greatly reduced
      computational cost, with nonlinear orbital rotation parameters updated
      variationally based on this sampled wave function. This extends this approach to
      strongly correlated systems with far larger active spaces than it is possible to
      treat via conventional means. By comparison with this traditional approach, we
      demonstrate that the introduction of stochastic noise in both the determinant
      amplitudes and the gradient and Hessian of the orbital rotations does not
      preclude robust and reliable convergence of the orbital optimization. It can even
      improve the ability to avoid convergence to local minima in the orbital space,
      and therefore aid in finding variationally lower-energy solutions. We consider
      the effect on the convergence of the orbitals as the number of walkers and the
      sampling time within the active space increases, as well as the effect on the
      final energy and error. The scope of the new protocol is demonstrated with a
      study of the increasingly strongly correlated electronic structure in a series of
      polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, up to the large coronene molecule in a complete
      active space of 24 pi electrons in 24 orbitals, requiring only modest
      computational resources

PMID- 26894242
TI  - Long-Range Corrected DFT Meets GW: Vibrationally Resolved  Photoelectron Spectra
      from First Principles.
AB  - We propose an entirely nonempirical and computationally efficient scheme to
      calculate highly reliable vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra for
      molecules from first principles. To this end, we combine nonempirically tuned
      long-range corrected hybrid functionals with non-self-consistent many-body
      perturbation theory in the G0W0 approximation and a Franck-Condon multimode
      analysis based on DFT-calculated frequencies. The vibrational analysis allows for
      a direct comparison of the GW-calculated spectra to gas-phase ultraviolet
      photoelectron measurements of neutral and anionic molecules, respectively. Direct
      comparison of the calculated peak maxima with experiment yields mean absolute
      errors below 0.1 eV for ionization potentials, electron affinities, and
      fundamental gaps, clearly outperforming commonly used G0W0 approaches at similar
      numerical costs.

PMID- 26894243
TI  - Large-Scale Quantitative Assessment of Binding Preferences in Protein-Nucleic
      Acid Complexes.
AB  - The growing number of high-quality experimental (X-ray, NMR) structures of
      protein-DNA complexes has sufficient enough information to assess whether
      universal rules governing the DNA sequence recognition process apply. While
      previous studies have investigated the relative abundance of various modes of
      amino acid-base contacts (van der Waals contacts, hydrogen bonds), relatively
      little is known about the energetics of these noncovalent interactions. In the
      present study, we have performed the first large-scale quantitative assessment of
      binding preferences in protein-DNA complexes by calculating the interaction
      energies in all 80 possible amino acid-DNA base combinations. We found that
      several mutual amino acid-base orientations featuring bidentate hydrogen bonds
      capable of unambiguous one-to-one recognition correspond to unique minima in the
      potential energy space of the amino acid-base pairs. A clustering algorithm
      revealed that these contacts form a spatially well-defined group offering
      relatively little conformational freedom. Various molecular mechanics force field
      and DFT-D ab initio calculations were performed, yielding similar results.

PMID- 26894239
TI  - Critical Analysis of Cluster Models and Exchange-Correlation  Functionals for
      Calculating Magnetic Shielding in Molecular Solids.
AB  - Calculations of the principal components of magnetic-shielding tensors in
      crystalline solids require the inclusion of the effects of lattice structure on
      the local electronic environment to obtain significant agreement with
      experimental NMR measurements. We assess periodic (GIPAW) and GIAO/symmetry
      adapted cluster (SAC) models for computing magnetic-shielding tensors by
      calculations on a test set containing 72 insulating molecular solids, with a
      total of 393 principal components of chemical-shift tensors from 13C, 15N, 19F,
      and 31P sites. When clusters are carefully designed to represent the local solid
      state environment and when periodic calculations include sufficient variability,
      both methods predict magnetic-shielding tensors that agree well with experimental
      chemical-shift values, demonstrating the correspondence of the two computational
      techniques. At the basis-set limit, we find that the small differences in the
      computed values have no statistical significance for three of the four nuclides
      considered. Subsequently, we explore the effects of additional DFT methods
      available only with the GIAO/cluster approach, particularly the use of hybrid-GGA
      functionals, meta-GGA functionals, and hybrid meta-GGA functionals that
      demonstrate improved agreement in calculations on symmetry-adapted clusters. We
      demonstrate that meta-GGA functionals improve computed NMR parameters over those
      obtained by GGA functionals in all cases, and that hybrid functionals improve
      computed results over the respective pure DFT functional for all nuclides except
      15N.

PMID- 26894238
TI  - Efficient Algorithms for Estimating the Absorption Spectrum within  Linear
      Response TDDFT.
AB  - We present a special symmetric Lanczos algorithm and a kernel polynomial method
      (KPM) for approximating the absorption spectrum of molecules within the linear
      response time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) framework in the
      product form. In contrast to existing algorithms, the new algorithms are based on
      reformulating the original non-Hermitian eigenvalue problem as a product
      eigenvalue problem and the observation that the product eigenvalue problem is
      self-adjoint with respect to an appropriately chosen inner product. This allows a
      simple symmetric Lanczos algorithm to be used to compute the desired absorption
      spectrum. The use of a symmetric Lanczos algorithm only requires half of the
      memory compared with the nonsymmetric variant of the Lanczos algorithm. The
      symmetric Lanczos algorithm is also numerically more stable than the nonsymmetric
      version. The KPM algorithm is also presented as a low-memory alternative to the
      Lanczos approach, but the algorithm may require more matrix-vector
      multiplications in practice. We discuss the pros and cons of these methods in
      terms of their accuracy as well as their computational and storage cost.
      Applications to a set of small and medium-sized molecules are also presented.

PMID- 26894235
TI  - Halophilic microorganisms in deteriorated historic buildings: insights into their
      characteristics.
AB  - Historic buildings are constantly being exposed to numerous climatic changes such
      as damp and rainwater. Water migration into and out of the material's pores can
      lead to salt precipitation and the so-called efflorescence. The structure of the
      material may be seriously threatened by salt crystallization. A huge pressure is
      produced when salt hydrates occupy larger spaces, which leads at the end to
      cracking, detachment and material loss. Halophilic microorganisms have the
      ability to adapt to high salinity because of the mechanisms of inorganic salt
      (KCl or NaCl) accumulation in their cells at concentrations isotonic to the
      environment, or compatible solutes uptake or synthesis. In this study, we focused
      our attention on the determination of optimal growth conditions of halophilic
      microorganisms isolated from historical buildings in terms of salinity, pH and
      temperature ranges, as well as biochemical properties and antagonistic abilities.
      Halophilic microorganisms studied in this paper could be categorized as a
      halotolerant group, as they grow in the absence of NaCl, as well as tolerate
      higher salt concentrations (Staphylococcus succinus, Virgibacillus
      halodenitrificans). Halophilic microorganisms have been also observed
      (Halobacillus styriensis, H. hunanensis, H. naozhouensis, H. litoralis,
      Marinococcus halophilus and yeast Sterigmatomyces halophilus). With respect to
      their physiological characteristics, cultivation at a temperature of 25-30
      degrees C, pH 6-7, NaCl concentration for halotolerant and halophilic
      microorganisms, 0-10% and 15-30%, respectively, provides the most convenient
      conditions. Halophiles described in this study displayed lipolytic, glycolytic
      and proteolytic activities. Staphylococcus succinus and Marinococcus halophilus
      showed strong antagonistic potential towards bacteria from the Bacillus genus,
      while Halobacillus litoralis displayed an inhibiting ability against other
      halophiles. 

PMID- 26894241
TI  - What Exactly Is the Light Emitter of a Firefly?
AB  - Firefly bioluminescence attracts people by its glaring beauty and fascinating
      applications, but what is the light emitter of a firefly? The answer to this
      question has been explored since before the 1960s. The unanimously accepted
      answer is that excited-state oxyluciferin is the light emitter. The complexity of
      this question arises from the existence of six chemical forms (keto, enol, keto
      1, enol-1, enol-1', and enol-2) of oxyluciferin. After decades of experimental
      and theoretical efforts, a consistent conclusion was almost reached in 2011:
      excited-state keto-1 is the only light emitter in fireflies. However, the debate
      is raised again by the latest in vitro experimental results. This study will
      solve this contradiction via hybrid quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics
      (QM/MM) calculations combined with molecular dynamics (MD). The calculations were
      performed in the real protein for the six chemical forms of oxyluciferin and
      their corresponding analogues employed in the latest experiments. By considering
      the real environment, the pH value, and a possible equilibrium of the chemical
      forms of oxyluciferin in vivo, the calculated results indicate that the main
      emitter is still the excited-state keto-1 form.

PMID- 26894236
TI  - Environmental parameters conditioning microbially induced mineralization under
      the experimental model conditions.
AB  - Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation is one of the
      biomineralization types closely dependent on the parameters of the
      microenvironment. Minerals are precipitated as a product of environmental and
      bacterial cell interactions, however, this system has very little control via
      microorganisms. The aim of research was to determine the influence of abiotic
      factors (pH, temperature, agitation speed of bacterial culture and calcium ion
      source) on the mineralization induced by Arthrobacter sulfureus, Bacillus muralis
      and B. atrophaeus strains under the standard laboratory conditions. Because of
      the key role of urease in biomineralization, processes occurring in environments
      with and without the urea were compared. For this purpose, cultivation of
      bacteria (A. sulfureus, B. muralis and B. atrophaeus) was carried out in B4
      liquid medium for 5 days with various environmental parameters (pH 6-9;
      temperature 25-44 degrees C; speed of agitation 0-180 rpm, different calcium
      sources). It was noticed that the pH and the speed of agitation clearly affect
      the amount of the calcium carbonate that formed. Our observations suggest that
      the highest precipitation rate takes place in alkaline pH between 8-9, with
      shaking at 180 rpms. Among studied sources of calcium ions (calcium acetate,
      calcium chloride and calcium nitrate), calcium acetate demonstrated the strongest
      potential in the biomineralization process. Moreover, work presented here
      demonstrates that the correlation between cultivation temperature and
      biomineralization process cannot be clearly evaluated. The morphology and size of
      calcium carbonate minerals was strain-specific, although affected by the presence
      of urea in the surrounding solution. 

PMID- 26894244
TI  - Demographics, training   satisfaction, and career plans of   Canadian oral and
      maxillofacial   surgery residents.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the demographics, training
      satisfaction, and career plans of Canadian oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS)
      residents. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online survey
      that was distributed via e-mail to all current Canadian OMS residents. The
      completion rate of this survey was 88.9%. Eighty percent of residents were
      satisfied with their surgical education overall. Residents were most satisfied
      with their training in the areas of facial trauma and orthognathic surgery.
      Satisfaction was lowest in the areas of facial cosmetic surgery, maxillofacial
      reconstructive surgery, cleft and craniofacial surgery, and dental implantology.
      A majority of residents, 78.1%, indicated that they would prefer to be trained in
      an MD-integrated OMS certificate program. Seventy-two percent of residents
      indicated that they would like to complete a fellowship following graduation. The
      most desirable career path was a combination of private practice and academic
      practice, with 75.0% of residents selecting this option. Overall, Canadian OMS
      residents were pleased with their training in the traditional scope of OMS, apart
      from dental implantology. Among the current generation of trainees, there appears
      to be a proclivity for a broader scope of practice, dual-degree training, and
      post-graduate fellowship training.

PMID- 26894245
TI  - Idarucizumab, a Humanized, Monoclonal  Antibody Fragment for Immediate Reversal 
      of Dabigatran.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of idarucizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody
      fragment, as a specific reversal agent for the anticoagulant activity of
      dabigatran and to review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetic properties, efficacy,
      and safety of this agent. METHODS: A literature search was conducted consisting
      of a PubMed database using the MeSH term idarucizumab and the key word dabigatran
      antidote. Studies evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and
      efficacy of idarucizumab for the reversal of the anticoagulant activity of
      dabigatran were included. RESULTS: Idarucizumab represents a novel treatment
      option as it is the only humanized, monoclonal antibody fragment that
      specifically binds to dabigatran. Studies evaluating reversal of dabigatran
      induced anticoagulation have demonstrated immediate, complete, and sustained
      effects with idarucizumab. Idarucizumab did not overcorrect thrombin generation.
      Additionally, evaluations have shown that dabigatran can be safely reinitiated 24
      hours after the administration of idarucizumab. The United States Food and Drug
      Administration granted priority review for the biologic license application and
      accelerated approval for idarucizumab. CONCLUSION: Idarucizumab represents an
      encouraging development in the reversal of dabigatran. Its novel mechanism of
      action, pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and lack of thrombotic events contribute
      positively to its use in patients who experience bleeding or for those who
      require emergent surgery or procedures.

PMID- 26894246
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26894247
TI  - [Not Available].

PMID- 26894248
TI  - Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure.

PMID- 26894250
TI  - Geoscience: Ups and downs.

PMID- 26894249
TI  - Chris Marshall (1949-2015)--a personal reflection and tribute.

PMID- 26894251
TI  - Ronald M. Burde (1938-2015).

PMID- 26894252
TI  - Electronic Properties of Zigzag Graphene Nanoribbons Studied by  TAO-DFT.
AB  - Accurate prediction of the electronic properties of zigzag graphene nanoribbons
      (ZGNRs) has been very challenging for conventional electronic structure methods
      due to the presence of strong static correlation effects. To meet the challenge,
      we study the singlet-triplet energy gaps, vertical ionization potentials,
      vertical electron affinities, fundamental gaps, and symmetrized von Neumann
      entropy (i.e., a measure of polyradical character) of hydrogen-terminated ZGNRs
      with different widths and lengths using our recently developed thermally
      assistedoccupation density functional theory (TAO-DFT) [Chai, J.-D. J. Chem.
      Phys. 2012, 136, 154104], a very efficient method for the study of large strongly
      correlated systems. Our results are in good agreement with the available
      experimental and high-accuracy ab initio data. The ground states of ZGNRs are
      shown to be singlets for all the widths and lengths investigated. With the
      increase of ribbon length, the singlet-triplet energy gaps, vertical ionization
      potentials, and fundamental gaps decrease monotonically, while the vertical
      electron affinities and symmetrized von Neumann entropy increase monotonically.
      On the basis of the calculated orbitals and their occupation numbers, the longer
      ZGNRs are shown to possess increasing polyradical character in their ground
      states, where the active orbitals are mainly localized at the zigzag edges.

PMID- 26894253
TI  - Computational Benchmarking for Ultrafast Electron Dynamics: Wave  Function
      Methods vs Density Functional Theory.
AB  - Attosecond electron dynamics in small- and medium-sized molecules, induced by an
      ultrashort strong optical pulse, is studied computationally for a frozen nuclear
      geometry. The importance of exchange and correlation effects on the
      nonequilibrium electron dynamics induced by the interaction of the molecule with
      the strong optical pulse is analyzed by comparing the solution of the time
      dependent Schrodinger equation based on the correlated field-free stationary
      electronic states computed with the equationof-motion coupled cluster singles and
      doubles and the complete active space multi-configurational self-consistent field
      methodologies on one hand, and various functionals in real-time time-dependent
      density functional theory (TDDFT) on the other. We aim to evaluate the
      performance of the latter approach, which is very widely used for nonlinear
      absorption processes and whose computational cost has a more favorable scaling
      with the system size. We focus on LiH as a toy model for a nontrivial molecule
      and show that our conclusions carry over to larger molecules, exemplified by ABCU
      (C10H19N). The molecules are probed with IR and UV pulses whose intensities are
      not strong enough to significantly ionize the system. By comparing the evolution
      of the time-dependent field-free electronic dipole moment, as well as its Fourier
      power spectrum, we show that TD-DFT performs qualitatively well in most cases.
      Contrary to previous studies, we find almost no changes in the TD-DFT excitation
      energies when excited states are populated. Transitions between states of
      different symmetries are induced using pulses polarized in different directions.
      We observe that the performance of TD-DFT does not depend on the symmetry of the
      states involved in the transition.

PMID- 26894254
TI  - Biological Warfare Plan in the 17th Century-the Siege of Candia, 1648-1669.
AB  - A little-known effort to conduct biological warfare occurred during the 17th
      century. The incident transpired during the Venetian-Ottoman War, when the city
      of Candia (now Heraklion, Greece) was under siege by the Ottomans (1648-1669).
      The data we describe, obtained from the Archives of the Venetian State, are
      related to an operation organized by the Venetian Intelligence Services, which
      aimed at lifting the siege by infecting the Ottoman soldiers with plague by
      attacking them with a liquid made from the spleens and buboes of plague victims.
      Although the plan was perfectly organized, and the deadly mixture was ready to
      use, the attack was ultimately never carried out. The conception and the detailed
      cynical planning of the attack on Candia illustrate a dangerous way of thinking
      about the use of biological weapons and the absence of reservations when
      potential users, within their religious framework, cast their enemies as
      undeserving of humanitarian consideration.

PMID- 26894255
TI  - Self-Assembly of 4-(Diethylboryl)pyridine: Crystal Structures of the Cyclic
      Pentamer and Hexamer and Their Solvent-Dependent Selective Crystallization.
AB  - Two distinct oligomeric structures were obtained by the self-assembly of 4
      (diethylboryl)pyridine (1). In the (1)H NMR spectrum of 1 in CDCl3, at least two
      sets of signals were observed for the pyridyl alpha- and beta-hydrogen atoms. ESI
      MS, VPO, and TLC analysis revealed that 1 assembles mainly into a mixture of
      cyclic pentamers and hexamers in solution via intermolecular boron-nitrogen
      coordination bonds. Crystallization of 1 in THF by vapor diffusion of EtOH or in
      CHCl3 afforded the cyclic hexamer incorporating one THF molecule (16.THF) or 1.5
      mol equiv of chloroform molecule (16.CHCl3), respectively. Similarly, a solution
      of 1 in a mixture of benzene and hexane furnished the cyclic pentamer bearing two
      benzene molecules (15.C6H6). It seems that the solvent differences affected the
      crystallization of the two distinct cyclic oligomers of 1, either of which was
      cocrystallized predominantly with the solvent molecule. Thermogravimetric
      analysis of the crystals and NMR studies of the solution revealed that the
      noncovalent interactions between the host and guest are not strong enough to hold
      the guest molecule in the cavity. 

PMID- 26894257
TI  - What factors mediate the relationship between global self-worth and weight and
      shape concerns?
AB  - The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether the relationship between
      global self-worth and weight concerns and global self-worth and shape concerns
      was mediated by pertinent body image factors, while controlling for gender and
      estimated BMI. Participants were 775 adolescents (56% male) aged 12-18years
      (M=14.6; SD=1.50). Mediation analysis revealed a direct and a mediated effect
      between global self-worth and two body image models: 1) weight concerns and 2)
      shape concerns. The strongest mediators in both models were physical appearance,
      restrained eating, and depression. Partial mediation was observed for both
      models, indicating that body image factors which span cognitive, affective, and
      behavioral constructs, explain the association between global self-worth and
      weight and shape concerns. Implications for future research, weight and shape
      concern prevention and global self-worth enhancement programs are discussed. 

PMID- 26894258
TI  - In Situ Monitoring and Mechanism of the Mechanochemical Formation of a
      Microporous MOF-74 Framework.
AB  - Mechanochemistry provides a rapid, efficient route to metal-organic framework Zn
      MOF-74 directly from a metal oxide and without bulk solvent. In situ synchrotron
      X-ray diffraction monitoring of the reaction course reveals two new phases and an
      unusual stepwise process in which a close-packed intermediate reacts to form the
      open framework. The reaction can be performed on a gram scale to yield a highly
      porous material after activation. 

PMID- 26894256
TI  - Highly accelerated cardiac MRI using iterative SENSE reconstruction: initial
      clinical experience.
AB  - To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative performance of an accelerated
      cardiovascular MRI (CMR) protocol that features iterative SENSE reconstruction
      and spatio-temporal L1-regularization (IS SENSE). Twenty consecutively recruited
      patients and 9 healthy volunteers were included. 2D steady state free precession
      cine images including 3-chamber, 4-chamber, and short axis slices were acquired
      using standard parallel imaging (GRAPPA, acceleration factor = 2), spatio
      temporal undersampled TSENSE (acceleration factor = 4), and IS SENSE techniques
      (acceleration factor = 4). Acquisition times, quantitative cardiac functional
      parameters, wall motion abnormalities (WMA), and qualitative performance (scale:
      1-poor to 5-excellent for overall image quality, noise, and artifact) were
      compared. Breath-hold times for IS SENSE (3.0 +/- 0.6 s) and TSENSE (3.3 +/- 0.6)
      were both reduced relative to GRAPPA (8.4 +/- 1.7 s, p < 0.001). No difference in
      quantitative cardiac function was present between the three techniques (p = 0.89
      for ejection fraction). GRAPPA and IS SENSE had similar image quality (4.7 +/-
      0.4 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.6, p = 0.09) while, both techniques were superior to TSENSE
      (quality: 4.1 +/- 0.7, p < 0.001). GRAPPA WMA agreement with IS SENSE was good
      (kappa > 0.60, p < 0.001), while agreement with TSENSE was poor (kappa < 0.40, p
      < 0.001). IS SENSE is a viable clinical CMR acceleration approach to reduce
      acquisition times while maintaining satisfactory qualitative and quantitative
      performance. 

PMID- 26894260
TI  - Entrapment of Water at the Transmembrane Helix-Helix Interface of Quiescin
      Sulfhydryl Oxidase 2.
AB  - Little is known about how a membrane can regulate interactions between
      transmembrane helices. Here, we show that strong self-interaction of the
      transmembrane helix of human quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 2 rests on a motif of
      conserved amino acids comprising one face of the helix. Atomistic molecular
      dynamics simulations suggest that water molecules enter the helix-helix interface
      and connect serine residues of both partner helices. In addition, an interfacial
      tyrosine can interact with noninterfacial water or lipid. Dimerization of this
      transmembrane helix might therefore be controlled by membrane properties
      controlling water permeation and/or by the lipid composition of the membrane. 

PMID- 26894261
TI  - Corrigendum.

PMID- 26894259
TI  - Cognition and Indicators of Dietary Habits in Older Adults from Southern Brazil.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between unhealthy dietary habits and
      cognition in older adults from Southern Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional
      study analyzed data from the second wave of a population- and household-based
      epidemiological survey (2013-2014) conducted in the city of Florianopolis. A
      total of 1,197 older adults (778 women) over 60 years old participated in the
      study. Cognition, the dependent variable, was measured by the Mini-Mental State
      Examination (MMSE). The independent variables were the following indicators of
      unhealthy dietary habits: low intake of fruits and vegetables (<= 4
      servings/day); fish (< 1 serving/week); and habitual fatty meat intake (yes/no).
      Adjustments were made for age, education level, income, smoking status, alcohol
      intake, leisure-time physical activity, depression symptoms, chronic diseases,
      and body mass index. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were
      performed, considering sampling weights and stratification by gender. RESULTS:
      The mean MMSE scores for men and women were 25.15 +/- 5.56 and 24.26 +/- 5.68,
      respectively (p = 0.009). After adjustments, in women low fruit and vegetable
      intake (<= 4 servings/day) was independently associated with the lowest MMSE
      scores. No associations were found in men. Additionally, women's mean MMSE scores
      increased as their daily frequency of fruit and vegetable intake increased (p =
      0.001). CONCLUSION: Women with low fruit and vegetable intake according to the
      World Health Organization (WHO) have lower cognition scores. Regular intake of
      fruits, vegetables, and fish in exchange of fatty meats may be a viable public
      policy strategy to preserve cognition in aging.

PMID- 26894262
TI  - Controlled Folding, Motional, and Constitutional Dynamic Processes of
      Polyheterocyclic Molecular Strands.
AB  - General design principles have been developed for the control of the structural
      features of polyheterocyclic strands and their effector-modulated shape changes.
      Induced defined molecular motions permit designed enforcement of helical as well
      as linear molecular shapes. The ability of such molecular strands to bind metal
      cations allows the generation of coiling/uncoiling processes between helically
      folded and extended linear states. Large molecular motions are produced on
      coordination of metal ions, which may be made reversible by competition with an
      ancillary complexing agent and fueled by sequential acid/base neutralization
      energy. The introduction of hydrazone units into the strands confers upon them
      constitutional dynamics, whereby interconversion between different strand
      compositions is achieved through component exchange. These features have
      relevance for nanomechanical devices. We present a morphological and functional
      analysis of such systems developed in our laboratories. 

PMID- 26894263
TI  - Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation burden and thromboembolic events: piecing
      evidence together.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Contributory evidence on a direct association between asymptomatic
      atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and thromboembolic events is conflicting and
      contradictory. The aim of the article is to gather evidence available for a
      direct correlation between burden and stroke. METHODS: A literature search was
      performed to capture studies reporting data on the impact of asymptomatic AF
      burden on the risk of stroke. Data was then extracted from each included study
      including burden of AF, hazard ratio (HR) for stroke, and CHADS2 score. A random
      effects meta-analysis was carried out on the log-transformed HRs for different
      subgroups of AF burden. A meta-regression was performed on the two variables:
      burden of asymptomatic AF and CHADS2 score. RESULTS: The random-effect pooled
      analysis performed on a single subgroup of the six studies reporting data on HR,
      showed a HR of 2.150 (95% CI 1.523-3.003) for stroke during asymptomatic AF
      compared to sinus rhythm. At univariate meta-regression, no correlation was
      detected between burden of asymptomatic AF and HR for stroke (p-value 0,874).
      When CHADS2 score was included in the regression model as a covariate, no
      significant association was detected (p-value 0,939). CONCLUSION: A direct
      correlation between burden of asymptomatic AF and HR for stroke cannot be
      detected in our pooled analysis. However, due to the limitations acknowledged in
      the analysis, our findings need to be confirmed in large cohort studies.

PMID- 26894265
TI  - Erratum to: The Clinical Utility of TIMP3 Expression in ACTH-Secreting Pituitary
      Tumor.

PMID- 26894264
TI  - Aripiprazole Increases the PKA Signalling and Expression of the GABAA Receptor
      and CREB1 in the Nucleus Accumbens of Rats.
AB  - The GABAA receptor is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and
      regulated by PKA signalling. Current antipsychotics bind with D2-like receptors,
      but not the GABAA receptor. The cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 (CREB1)
      is also associated with PKA signalling and may be related to the positive
      symptoms of schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of antipsychotics
      in modulating D2-mediated PKA signalling and its downstream GABAA receptors and
      CREB1. Rats were treated orally with aripiprazole (0.75 mg/kg, ter in die
      (t.i.d.)), bifeprunox (0.8 mg/kg, t.i.d.), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, t.i.d.) or
      vehicle for 1 week. The levels of PKA-Calpha and p-PKA in the prefrontal cortex
      (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and caudate putamen (CPu) were detected by Western
      blots. The mRNA levels of Gabrb1, Gabrb2, Gabrb3 and Creb1, and their protein
      expression were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blots, respectively. Aripiprazole
      elevated the levels of p-PKA and the ratio of p-PKA/PKA in the NAc, but not the
      PFC and CPu. Correlated with this elevated PKA signalling, aripiprazole elevated
      the mRNA and protein expression of the GABAA (beta-1) receptor and CREB1 in the
      NAc. While haloperidol elevated the levels of p-PKA and the ratio of p-PKA/PKA in
      both NAc and CPu, it only tended to increase the expression of the GABAA (beta-1)
      receptor and CREB1 in the NAc, but not the CPu. Bifeprunox had no effects on PKA
      signalling in these brain regions. These results suggest that aripiprazole has
      selective effects on upregulating the GABAA (beta-1) receptor and CREB1 in the
      NAc, probably via activating PKA signalling. 

PMID- 26894266
TI  - Diabetes in Thailand: Status and Policy.
AB  - Like other countries in the Western Pacific region, Thailand is facing increasing
      numbers of patients with diabetes due to unhealthy diets, high obesity rates, and
      an aging society. Diabetes is a considerable burden for developing countries as
      it reduces quality of life, increases mortality, and drives up healthcare costs.
      The disease detection rate in Thailand has improved in recent years, but glycemic
      control remains suboptimal and significant numbers of patients suffer from
      complications. Universal healthcare coverage has increased access to care, but
      inequality exists between different health plans and non-medication diabetes
      supplies are not yet widely covered. Diabetes self-management education has not
      yet been standardized and a multidisciplinary team approach is not widely
      utilized. The Thai government recognizes the burden of diabetes and has launched
      nationwide programs of health promotion and disease prevention. In addition,
      local initiatives have targeted reductions in specific complications, including
      retinopathy and diabetic foot problems, which has resulted in better disease
      prevention and treatment. Along with strategic public health planning, increased
      collaboration between private and public sectors, enhanced professional training,
      increased use of technology and data management, and equitable distribution of
      care are all needed to improve outcomes of patients with diabetes in Thailand.

PMID- 26894268
TI  - Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer-1 Is a Prognostic Predictor for the Recurrence
      and Progression of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the expression of tumor
      suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC1) and clinicopathological characteristics of
      patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and evaluate the
      prognostic significance of TSLC1. METHODS: TSLC1 expression in 241 specimens of
      NMIBC was examined by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between TSLC1
      expression and clinicopathological characteristics was evaluated using the chi
      square test. The prognostic significance of TSLC1 was analyzed by univariate,
      multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: The total
      negative rate of TSLC1 expression was 47.3% in NMIBC. Decreased expression of
      TSLC1 was correlated with a higher clinical stage, higher pathological grade, the
      number of tumors, lager tumor size, tumor recurrence and progression. TSLC1
      expression was an independent risk factor for predicting tumor recurrence (p =
      0.005) and progression (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Decreased expression of TSLC1 is
      correlated with the malignancy of NMIBC tissues and low TSLC1 expression may
      serve as a predictor for bladder cancer recurrence and progression.

PMID- 26894267
TI  - Application potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) based tissue
      engineering for spinal cord defect repair in rat fetuses with spina bifida
      aperta.
AB  - Spina bifida aperta are complex congenital malformations resulting from failure
      of fusion in the spinal neural tube during embryogenesis. Despite surgical repair
      of the defect, most patients who survive with spina bifida aperta have a multiple
      system handicap due to neuron deficiency of the defective spinal cord. Tissue
      engineering has emerged as a novel treatment for replacement of lost tissue. This
      study evaluated the prenatal surgical approach of transplanting a chitosan
      gelatin scaffold seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the
      healing the defective spinal cord of rat fetuses with retinoic acid induced spina
      bifida aperta. Scaffold characterisation revealed the porous structure, organic
      and amorphous content. This biomaterial promoted the adhesion, spreading and in
      vitro viability of the BMSCs. After transplantation of the scaffold combined with
      BMSCs, the defective region of spinal cord in rat fetuses with spina bifida
      aperta at E20 decreased obviously under stereomicroscopy, and the skin defect
      almost closed in many fetuses. The transplanted BMSCs in chitosan-gelatin
      scaffold survived, grew and expressed markers of neural stem cells and neurons in
      the defective spinal cord. In addition, the biomaterial presented high
      biocompatibility and slow biodegradation in vivo. In conclusion, prenatal
      transplantation of the scaffold combined with BMSCs could treat spinal cord
      defect in fetuses with spina bifida aperta by the regeneration of neurons and
      repairmen of defective region. 

PMID- 26894270
TI  - Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and Associated Factors among Women in Rural
      Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In developing countries, inadequate access to effective screening for
      cervical cancer often contributes to the high morbidity and mortality caused by
      the disease. The largest burden of this falls mostly on underserved populations
      in rural areas, where health care access is characterized by transport
      challenges, ill equipped health facilities, and lack of information access. This
      study assessed uptake of cervical cancer screening and associated factors among
      women in rural Uganda. METHODS: This descriptive cross sectional study was
      carried out in Bugiri and Mayuge districts in eastern Uganda and utilised
      quantitative data collection methods. Data were collected using a semi-structured
      questionnaire on cervical cancer screening among females aged between 25 and 49
      years who had spent six or more months in the area. Data were entered in Epidata
      3.02 and analysed in STATA 12.0 statistical software. Univariate, bivariate and
      multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 900 women, only 43 (4.8%)
      had ever been screened for cervical cancer. Among respondents who were screened,
      21 (48.8%) did so because they had been requested by a health worker, 17 (39.5%)
      had certain signs and symptoms they associated with cervical cancer while 16
      (37.2%) did it voluntarily to know their status. Barriers to cervical cancer
      screening were negative individual perceptions 553 (64.5%) and health facility
      related challenges 142 (16.6%). Other respondents said they were not aware of the
      screening service 416 (48.5%). The independent predictors of cervical cancer
      screening were: being recommended by a health worker [AOR = 87.85, p<0.001],
      knowing where screening services were offered [AOR = 6.24, p = 0.004], and
      knowing someone who had ever been screened [AOR = 9.48, p = 0.001]. CONCLUSION:
      The prevalence of cervical cancer screening is very low in rural Uganda.
      Interventions to increase uptake of cervical cancer screening should be
      implemented so as to improve access to the service in rural areas.

PMID- 26894269
TI  - The psychosocial experience of individuals living with osteogenesis imperfecta: a
      mixed-methods systematic review.
AB  - PURPOSE: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder (prevalence:
      1:10,000), leading to bone fragility, frequent fractures, and varying degrees of
      physical limitations. Despite a substantial amount of research on the genetics,
      pathophysiology, and treatments related to OI, there remains a paucity of
      knowledge concerning the lived psychosocial experience of the OI population. This
      mixed-methods systematic review aimed to review, appraise, and synthesize the
      literature on the psychosocial experience of children and adults with OI with the
      goal of identifying implications for research, practice, and policy-making.
      METHODS: Using a systematic methodology, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed
      methods studies were accessed through database searching, screened, assessed for
      eligibility, and appraised. Data from the selected studies fulfilling the
      eligibility and quality criteria were extracted and synthesized using thematic
      analysis with an inductive approach. RESULTS: A total of four qualitative and 20
      quantitative studies, with various study designs and methodologies ranging in
      quality, were included in the review (n = 800; comprising 610 children and 175
      adults with OI types I, III, IV, and V, ten parents and five healthcare
      professionals). Six themes were identified: intellectual feats, isolation and
      feeling different, fear of fractures, coping with challenges, adapting by
      learning new skills, and social relationships. CONCLUSION: These findings
      highlighted key aspects of the experiences of children and adults with OI and
      will be essential for improving the quality and direction of research, tailoring
      clinical interventions addressing the psychosocial needs and quality of life of
      individuals with OI, and raising awareness among caregivers, healthcare
      professionals, administrators, and policy-makers associated with the OI
      population.

PMID- 26894272
TI  - New Family of Octagonal-Prismatic Lanthanide Coordination Cages Assembled from
      Unique Ln17 Clusters and Simple Cliplike Dicarboxylate Ligands.
AB  - Novel high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters (Ln17) are generated in situ in the
      coordination-driven self-assembly. A metal-cluster-directed symmetry strategy for
      building metal coordination cages is successfully applied to a lanthanide system
      for the first time. A new family of octagonal-prismatic lanthanide coordination
      cages UJN-Ln, formulated as [Ln(MU3-OH)8][Ln16(MU4-O)(MU4-OH)(MU3-OH)8(H2O)8(MU4
      dcd)8][(MU3-dcd)8].22H2O (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er; dcd = 3,3
      dimethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylate dianion), have been assembled from the
      unique Ln17 clusters and simple cliplike ligand H2dcd. Apart from featuring
      aesthetically charming structures, all of the compounds present predominantly
      antiferromagnetic coupling between the corresponding lanthanide ions.
      Additionally, the intense-green photoluminescence for UJN-Tb and magnetic
      relaxation behavior for UJN-Dy have been observed. Remarkably, UJN-Gd shows a
      large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) with an impressive entropy change value of 42.3
      J kg(-1) K(-1) for DeltaH = 7.0 T at 2.0 K due to the high-nuclearity cluster and
      the lightweight ligand. The studies highlight the structural diversity of
      multigonal-prismatic metal coordination cages and provide a new direction in the
      design of cagelike multifunctional materials by the introduction of lanthanide
      clusters and other suitable cliplike ligands. 

PMID- 26894271
TI  - Stereological assessment of normal Persian squirrels (Sciurus anomalus) kidney.
AB  - The functions of the mammalian kidney are closely related to its structure. This
      suggests that renal function can be completely characterized by accurate
      knowledge of its quantitative morphological features. The aim of this study was
      to investigate the histomorphometric features of the kidney using design-based
      and unbiased stereological methods in the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus),
      which is the only representative of the Sciuridae family in the Middle East. The
      left kidneys of five animals were examined. Total volume of the kidney, cortex,
      and medulla were determined to be 960.75 +/- 87.4, 754.31 +/- 77.09 and 206.1 +/-
      16.89 mm3, respectively. The glomerular number was 32844.03 +/- 1069.19, and the
      total glomerular volume was estimated to be 36.7 +/- 1.45 mm3. The volume and
      length of the proximal convoluted tubule were estimated at 585.67 +/- 60.7 mm3
      and 328.8 +/- 14.8 m, respectively, with both values being greater than those
      reported in the rat kidney. The volume and length of the distal convoluted tubule
      were calculated at 122.34 +/- 7.38 mm3 and 234.4 +/- 17.45 m, respectively, which
      are also greater than those reported in the rat kidney. Despite the comparable
      body weight, the total number and mean individual volume of glomeruli in the
      Persian squirrel kidney were greater than those in the rat kidney. Overall, the
      stereological variables of the kidneys elucidated in this study are exclusive to
      the Persian squirrel. Our findings, together with future renal physiological
      data, will contribute to a better understanding of the renal structure-function
      relationship in the Persian squirrel.

PMID- 26894273
TI  - Appropriateness, Reasons and Independent Predictors of Consultations in the
      Emergency Department (ED) of a Dutch Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Cohort
      Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Consultations occur frequently in the emergency department (ED) of
      tertiary care centres and pose a threat for patient safety as they contribute to
      ED lengths of stay (LOS) and overcrowding. The aim of this study was to
      investigate reasons and appropriateness of consultations, and the relative impact
      of specialty and patient characteristics on the probability of a consultation,
      because this could help to improve efficiency of ED patient care. METHODS: This
      prospective cohort study included ED patients presenting to a Dutch tertiary care
      centre in a setting where ED physicians mostly treat self-referred and
      undifferentiated patients and other specialists treat referred patients.
      Consultations were defined as appropriate if the reason of consultation
      corresponded with the final advice, conclusion or policy of the consulted
      specialty. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the
      relative contribution of specialty and patient characteristics on consultation.
      RESULTS: In the 344 (24% (95% CI 22 to 26%)) of the 1434 inclusions another
      specialty was consulted, resulting in a 55% increase of ED LOS. ED physicians
      more often consulted another specialty with a corrected odds ratio (OR) of 5.6
      (4.0 to 7.8), mostly because consultations were mandatory in case of
      hospitalization or outpatient follow-up. Limited expertise of ED physicians was
      the reason for consultation in 7% (5 to 9%). The appropriateness of consultations
      was 84% (81 to 88%), similar between ED physicians and other specialists (P =
      0.949). The patient characteristics age, comorbidity, and triage category and
      complaint predicted consultation. CONCLUSION: In a Dutch tertiary care centre
      another specialty was consulted in 24% of the patients, mostly for an appropriate
      reason, and rarely because of lack of expertise. The impact of consultations on
      ED LOS could be reduced if mandatory consultations are abolished and predictors
      of a consultation are used to facilitate timely consultation.

PMID- 26894275
TI  - What is the Optimal Amount of Protein to Support Post-Exercise Skeletal Muscle
      Reconditioning in the Older Adult?
AB  - Hyperaminoacidemia following protein ingestion enhances the anabolic effect of
      resistance-type exercise by increasing the stimulation of muscle protein
      synthesis and attenuating the exercise-mediated increase in muscle protein
      breakdown rates. Although factors such as the source of protein ingested and the
      timing of intake relative to exercise can impact post-exercise muscle protein
      synthesis rates, the amount of protein ingested after exercise appears to be the
      key nutritional factor dictating the magnitude of the muscle protein synthetic
      response during post-exercise recovery. In younger adults, muscle protein
      synthesis rates after resistance-type exercise respond in a dose-dependent manner
      to ingested protein and are maximally stimulated following ingestion of ~20 g of
      protein. In contrast to younger adults, older adults are less sensitive to
      smaller doses of ingested protein (less than ~20 g) after exercise, as evidenced
      by an attenuated increase in muscle protein synthesis rates during post-exercise
      recovery. However, older muscle appears to retain the capacity to display a
      robust stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in response to the ingestion of
      greater doses of protein (~40 g), and such an amount may be required for older
      adults to achieve a robust stimulation of muscle protein synthesis during post
      exercise recovery. The aim of this article is to discuss the current state of
      evidence regarding the dose-dependent relationship between dietary protein
      ingestion and changes in skeletal muscle protein synthesis during recovery from
      resistance-type exercise in older adults. We provide recommendations on the
      amount of protein that may be required to maximize skeletal muscle reconditioning
      in response to resistance-type exercise in older adults. 

PMID- 26894274
TI  - Correlates of Gross Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic
      Review and Meta-Analysis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Gross motor competence confers health benefits, but levels in
      children and adolescents are low. While interventions can improve gross motor
      competence, it remains unclear which correlates should be targeted to ensure
      interventions are most effective, and for whom targeted and tailored
      interventions should be developed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review
      was to identify the potential correlates of gross motor competence in typically
      developing children and adolescents (aged 3-18 years) using an ecological
      approach. METHODS: Motor competence was defined as gross motor skill competency,
      encompassing fundamental movement skills and motor coordination, but excluding
      motor fitness. Studies needed to assess a summary score of at least one aspect of
      motor competence (i.e., object control, locomotor, stability, or motor
      coordination). A structured electronic literature search was conducted in
      accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta
      Analyses statement. Six electronic databases (CINAHL Complete, ERIC, MEDLINE
      Complete, PsycINFO(r), Scopus and SPORTDiscus with Full Text) were searched from
      1994 to 5 August 2014. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the relationship
      between potential correlates and motor competency if at least three individual
      studies investigated the same correlate and also reported standardized regression
      coefficients. RESULTS: A total of 59 studies were identified from 22 different
      countries, published between 1995 and 2014. Studies reflected the full range of
      age groups. The most examined correlates were biological and demographic factors.
      Age (increasing) was a correlate of children's motor competence. Weight status
      (healthy), sex (male) and socioeconomic background (higher) were consistent
      correlates for certain aspects of motor competence only. Physical activity and
      sport participation constituted the majority of investigations in the behavioral
      attributes and skills category. Whilst we found physical activity to be a
      positive correlate of skill composite and motor coordination, we also found
      indeterminate evidence for physical activity being a correlate of object control
      or locomotor skill competence. Few studies investigated cognitive, emotional and
      psychological factors, cultural and social factors or physical environment
      factors as correlates of motor competence. CONCLUSION: This systematic review is
      the first that has investigated correlates of gross motor competence in children
      and adolescents. A strength is that we categorized correlates according to the
      specific ways motor competence has been defined and operationalized (object
      control, motor coordination, etc.), which enables us to have an understanding of
      what correlates assist what types of motor competence. Indeed our findings do
      suggest that evidence for some correlates differs according to how motor
      competence is operationalized.

PMID- 26894276
TI  - Islet inflammation in type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 26894278
TI  - A Common Phenotype Polymorphism in Mammalian Brains Defined by Concomitant
      Production of Prolactin and Growth Hormone.
AB  - Pituitary Prolactin (PRL) and Growth Hormone (GH) are separately controlled and
      sub-serve different purposes. Surprisingly, we demonstrate that extra-pituitary
      expression in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is coordinated at
      mRNA and protein levels. However this was not a uniform effect within
      populations, such that wide inter-individual variation was superimposed on
      coordinate PRL/GH expression. Up to 44% of individuals in healthy cohorts of mice
      and rats showed protein levels above the norm and coordinated expression of PRL
      and GH transcripts above baseline occurred in the amygdala, frontal lobe and
      hippocampus of 10% of human subjects. High levels of PRL and GH present in post
      mortem tissue were often presaged by altered responses in fear conditioning and
      stress induced hyperthermia behavioral tests. Our data define a common phenotype
      polymorphism in healthy mammalian brains, and, given the pleiotropic effects
      known for circulating PRL and GH, further consequences of coordinated CNS over
      expression may await discovery. 

PMID- 26894279
TI  - Reliability of Task-Based fMRI for Preoperative Planning: A Test-Retest Study in
      Brain Tumor Patients and Healthy Controls.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) continues to develop as
      a clinical tool for patients with brain cancer, offering data that may directly
      influence surgical decisions. Unfortunately, routine integration of preoperative
      fMRI has been limited by concerns about reliability. Many pertinent studies have
      been undertaken involving healthy controls, but work involving brain tumor
      patients has been limited. To develop fMRI fully as a clinical tool, it will be
      critical to examine these reliability issues among patients with brain tumors.
      The present work is the first to extensively characterize differences in
      activation map quality between brain tumor patients and healthy controls,
      including the effects of tumor grade and the chosen behavioral testing paradigm
      on reliability outcomes. METHOD: Test-retest data were collected for a group of
      low-grade (n = 6) and high-grade glioma (n = 6) patients, and for matched healthy
      controls (n = 12), who performed motor and language tasks during a single fMRI
      session. Reliability was characterized by the spatial overlap and displacement of
      brain activity clusters, BOLD signal stability, and the laterality index.
      Significance testing was performed to assess differences in reliability between
      the patients and controls, and low-grade and high-grade patients; as well as
      between different fMRI testing paradigms. RESULTS: There were few significant
      differences in fMRI reliability measures between patients and controls.
      Reliability was significantly lower when comparing high-grade tumor patients to
      controls, or to low-grade tumor patients. The motor task produced more reliable
      activation patterns than the language tasks, as did the rhyming task in
      comparison to the phonemic fluency task. CONCLUSION: In low-grade glioma
      patients, fMRI data are as reliable as healthy control subjects. For high-grade
      glioma patients, further investigation is required to determine the underlying
      causes of reduced reliability. To maximize reliability outcomes, testing
      paradigms should be carefully selected to generate robust activation patterns.

PMID- 26894277
TI  - Improved glucose regulation in type 2 diabetic patients with DPP-4 inhibitors:
      focus on alpha and beta cell function and lipid metabolism.
AB  - Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is an established glucose-lowering
      strategy for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. DPP-4 inhibitors reduce
      both fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels, resulting in reduced HbA1c
      with low risk for hypoglycaemia and weight gain. They act primarily by preventing
      inactivation of the incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic
      polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1, thereby prolonging the enhanced
      endogenous levels of these hormones after meal ingestion. This in turn causes
      islet and extrapancreatic effects, including increased glucose sensing in islet
      alpha and beta cells. These effects result in increased insulin secretion and
      decreased glucagon secretion being more effective in hyperglycaemic states and
      reduced insulin secretion and increased glucagon secretion being more effective
      during hypoglycaemia. Other secondary pharmacological actions of DPP-4 inhibitors
      include mobilisation and burning of fat during meals, decrease in fat extraction
      from the gut, reduction of fasting lipolysis and liver fat and increase in LDL
      particle size. These actions contribute to the clinical effects of DPP-4
      inhibition, and the reduced demand for insulin could also lead to a durability
      benefit. This review summarises the current knowledge of the secondary
      pharmacological actions of DPP-4 inhibitors that lead to improved glucose
      regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes, focusing on alpha and beta cell
      function and lipid metabolism. 

PMID- 26894280
TI  - Patterns of MHC-DRB1 polymorphism in a post-glacial island canid, the
      Newfoundland red fox (Vulpes vulpes deletrix), suggest balancing selection at
      species and population timescales.
AB  - As the only native insular Newfoundland canid between the extinction of the wolf
      in the 1930s and the recent arrival of coyotes, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes
      deletrix Bangs 1898) poses interesting questions about genetic distinctiveness
      and the post-glacial colonization history of the island's depauperate mammalian
      fauna. Here, we characterized genetic variability at the major histocompatibility
      complex (MHC) class II DR beta1 domain (DRB1) locus in 28 red foxes from six
      sampling localities island-wide and compared it with mitochondrial control region
      (CR) diversity and DRB1 diversity in other canids. Our goals were to describe
      novel DRB1 alleles in a new canid population and to make inferences about the
      role of selection in maintaining their diversity. As in numerous studies of
      vertebrates, we found an order-of-magnitude higher nucleotide diversity at the
      DRB1 locus compared with the CR and significantly positive nonsynonymous-to
      synonymous substitution ratios, indicative of selection in the distant past.
      Although the evidence is weaker, the Ewens-Watterson test of neutrality and the
      geographical distribution of variation compared with the CR suggest a role for
      selection over the evolutionary timescale of populations. We report the first
      genetic data from the DRB1 locus in the red fox and establish baseline
      information regarding immunogenetic variation in this island canid population
      which should inform continued investigations of population demography, adaptive
      genetic diversity, and wildlife disease in red foxes and related species.